Green Building Blog - Jetson Green

Live The Box Multifamily Container Proposal Winners Announced!

A combination of various groups, including AIA Newark, Skanska, and Young Architects Forum, put together the Live The BOX competition to find innovative, visionary, and compelling proposals for container constructed, multifamily, mixed- use projects.  The competition received tons of interesting container design entries, but only three won (with three more Honorable Mentions).  Designs had to use standard shipping containers of 8'-6" height and either 20' or 40' length as main building blocks for the structure.  Make sure to check out the winners below ... Also, I'll update this article as I find better images. 

Aviator Energy Efficient Live/Work Units Planned for Steamboat Springs

I just received an email about an interesting project on the cusp in Steamboat Springs, Colorado called Aviator.  Aviator is a mixed-use, multifamily and storage units facility that's targeting LEED Gold certification.  Seeking superior energy efficiency for the project, Olson Development retained EcoSteel to provide the structure.  EcoSteel calculates that their company could contribute ~18 points towards overall certification of Aviator based upon energy efficiency (10), heat island effect reduction (1), and recycled, reused, and regional materials use (7). 

Matching Modern with Energy Efficiency

I'm in Huntington Beach this weekend taking a little r&r and didn't realize how much of the housing here is built like the townhomes above: with an urban feel -- tightly together with at least 2-3 levels.  These townhouses are located on 19th Street in Santa Monica and called Green on 19.  Three are already sold with the remaining two ready to go.  Green on 19 was designed by Jesse Bornstein to provide modern living while supporting the global community's need for energy efficiency. 

Duke Smart Home Shows Off Its Platinum Stuff

This isn't really new news since the Duke Smart Home opened almost a year ago, but I thought I would pass along images and information of the home because it's another compelling example of the livability of smart green design.  Realistically, the 6000 sf Duke Smart Home is more of a dormitory than a house, with roughly 10 students living in it at any given time, but it has at least a modicum of credibility with LEED Platinum certification already in hand.  The students, in addition to experimenting with various green projects and modifications to the home, are ambassadors that conduct tours and explain its sustainable features.  This active involvement between students, faculty, The Home Depot, and other sponsors, has created what seems to be abundant opportunities for everyone involved with the Duke Smart Home. 

Plus, as evident in the following images and video, this live in laboratory has quite the considerable list of green features:

Seattle to Become Testbed for Green Prefab Apartments?

Last October we blogged about the Inhabit prefab prototype built in Washington and designed by Mithun and Hybrid.  Since then, there hasn't been much news about the prototype, except that the initial two units are for sale right now.  Now comes news, however, based on an article in The Seattle Times, that Unico Properties is planning to bring Inhabit to market in a legit, 62-unit apartment complex that includes a few live/work spaces.  The development is planned for a site on Dexter Avenue North above Lake Union.  Unico has been quiet about the project because the land is still under contract and the permitting process has just begun.  But long and short, Seattle is on the cusp of becoming a major demonstration city for green, prefab apartments in the U.S. -- fantastic news for proponents of healthy, affordable, and stylish living spaces. 

The Commons Strives to be Nation's First Living Building Challenge Residence

In Portland two brothers, Dustin and Garrett Moon, have been getting some serious attention for their project, The Commons -- it could just be the first residence in the nation to meet the standards of the Living Building Challenge.  The Living Building Challenge is about getting to something that's truly sustainable, which is what I think the Moons are going after here.  If you look at their plans, The Commons will use green tech that you might not see in other so-called green homes. 

[Video] BedZED Zero Energy Homes

You've probably already heard about BedZED, but have you seen it?  It's Friday so feel free to watch a short little video about it.  BedZED is a 100-home, sustainable community in Beddington (UK) that's designed to be a Zero Energy Development.  Hence the Bed and the ZED.  The colorful wind-driven ventilation system gives it a quirky, kind of playful look -- but don't be fooled: This joint is all business.  Most of all, though, residents enjoy the sense of community and quality of life.

Cyprus Full Circle - a Fluid Four-Home Project

Something about this project is just too compelling to not blog about it.  Designed by Iosa Ghini Associati for the distant island of Cyprus, the plan calls for four family houses in the residential district in Nicosia.  The fluid, organic shape of the project ties each unit together.  When complete, Cyprus Full Circle will have a number of green design elements, including low-E glass panels, adjustable solar panels, rainwater capture and recycling, and heating storage for the winter.  The external walls also will be treated with photo catalytic concrete, which will transform harmful organic and non-organic matters into harmless compounds.  Anti-VOC architecture?  Incredible.

KieranTimberlake LivingHomes, Green Prefab for Versatile Residential Uses!

LivingHomes, the expert developer of modern, sustainable prefab, strikes again with a new collaborative relationship with award-winning architecture firm KieranTimberlake Associates, designer of the incredible Loblolly House.  The duo of KieranTimberlake and LivingHomes puts incredible background knowledge of prefabrication to use, which should enable LivingHomes to build faster, cheaper, and more green homes and townhouses.  LivingHomes shoots for a minimum of LEED for Homes Silver on all projects and is guided by the Z6 philosophy: zero energy, water, indoor emissions, waste, carbon, and ignorance.  Together with KieranTimberlake, LivingHomes has announced the development of the following:

• LivingHomes Building System (“LBS”),
• Expandable Single Family Residence, and
• New LivingHomes Townhouse. 

9onF LEED Homes Save Roughly 75% on Bills!

That's right, these LEED certified homes in Sacramento are saving some serious cashish on energy bills.  Roughly up to 75% on energy bills, that is, when the full power of the geothermal heating and cooling system is paired with the solar setup.  Not bad.  The project is called 9onF -- it's a nine-home community with three-level units ranging in size from 1,300 - 1,550 sf.  Prices start at roughly $495,000, and depending on which unit you buy, the home will vary slightly with the others.  For example, three units have solar panels, three have the option for solar, and the last three have too much shade (which is not necessarily a bad thing).  Also, the homes are maxed out with non-toxic finishes to provide a healthy indoor air quality, and being LEED certified and all, a home in 9onF is certain to have all sorts of green goodies.  I'd like to post some real pics if anyone out there has any ... 

++Eco Houses Hailed in Downtown Sacramento [sacbee]