A new model for prefabricated homes, Abōd® Shelters, is making a difference in South Africa, and designers hope that this solution can be made available to people around the world who suffer from poverty, homelessness, or are displaced by natural disasters.
Yet another creative manifestation of the shipping container, the Sauna Box from Castor is entirely self-sufficient, getting its electric power from solar panels and heat from a wood-fired stove for sustainability. An insulated 96” cube of sculptural corten steel (it is not a true shipping container), the water-tight Sauna Box is a custom-built prefab structure, can be shipped anywhere, and requires very little in the way of site preparation.
Every inch of land on the planet has climate factors that present challenges when it comes to building a safe home. H&P Architects hopes to alleviate the displacement of housing due to nature’s course, particularly the extensive loss of homes due to flooding in Southeast Asia. The Vietnamese design firm has created a disaster-resistant housing prototype that actually floats atop a base of oil drums when water levels get too high.
This living wall vertical garden at Hotel Ushüaia de Ibiza in Ibiza, Spain was designed by Urbanarbolismo who were assisted in the construction by Alicante forestal and Alijardín, and was the first greenwall garden system of its type.
Ceramic terracotta containers are interconnected but can retain unique substrates and vegetation. and porosity of the terracotta permits exchange of humidity. Drip and hand irrigation methods accommodate varying watering schedules.
This week in Jetson Green Energy News, we’re reporting on wind power in Australia and California, the smart homes and solar job market in the U.S., solar power in Germany, Sweden’s plans to be oil-free, Panasonic’s Solar Lantern Project, and a French winery that is going to make toothpaste from its carbon emissions. Plus, we have updated our calendar of upcoming green events.
The $1 billion AUD, 420-megawatt Macarthur Wind Farm is now feeding Australia’s electric grid. Owned by AGL Energy and Meridian Energy, the farm features the the Vestas V112-3.0 MW wind turbine. More than 50% of the cumulative wind power capacity in Australia has been installed by Vestas.
Project Profiles
