Today, Blu Homes and Michelle Kaufmann announced that Blu Homes has purchased all the assets of mkDesigns, including the rights to several Michelle Kaufmann Designs (MKD) homes, such as the Glidehouse, Breezehouse, mkLotus, and mkSolaire.*  With the news, Michelle Kaufmann has joined the advisory board of Blu Homes and will consult the company in applying the MKD designs to Blu Homes’ fold out modular technology.  Michelle will also start her new practice, Michelle Kaufmann Studio, where she will focus on custom, net-zero energy homes, sustainable communities, and eco resorts.

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Update 10/29/09: The Fortino Modern Green Prefab Debuts!

Salem, Oregon based Ideabox has been creating some buzz lately with their new home design, the Fortino, which will be revealed at the Seattle Home Show 2, October 22-25, 2009, at Qwest Field.  After a little coaxing, Ideabox was kind enough to let us see these renderings and a floor plan in anticipation of the big event.  Fortino will include 1,250 square-feet of loft-like living shared between two bedrooms, two bathrooms, and a kitchen, dining room, and living room. 

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• Going green pays off.
• Turning an old building green.
• Taking the LEED in new geographies.
• Taking green homes to a whole new level.
• Sustainability: it's not about lightbulbs.
• Using coal residue to make a greener brick.
• Retrofits can cut energy use, save money.
• Making the old house do.

Congratulations to RJTAG and Ecopacker in our Confessions of a Radical Industrialist giveaway.  Congratulations also to RHurley, Happywren, and Davidclaflin in our Green School Primer giveaway.  Make sure to follow @jetsongreen on Twitter for more news, links, and commentary.

You already know that we're media sponsors for West Coast Green 2009.  If the self-sustaining show home isn't enough to get you out, maybe the living walls or Innovation Pipeline will.  Or maybe some of the keynote speakers, such as Ray Anderson, Gavin Newsom, Andrew Winston, or Cameron Sinclair, will get you out.  Who knows?!  The marketing campaign is in full swing, and we have three more reasons you should register now:

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This summer Gerding Edlen Development opened a 51-unit apartment building in Portland, Oregon called The 20 on Hawthorne.  The 20 is over 50% leased already and LEED Silver certification is pending.  Homes range in price from $900-$2,500 and in size from 502 to 968 square feet.  Perhaps more interestingly, though, this building has a stackable, automated parking system that fetches cars in about 30-40 seconds on average.  It's pretty cool to watch. 

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