Green Building Blog - Jetson Green

Greentainer Project in Gandino Italy

The Greentainer Project in Gandino, Italy is yet another expression of container architecture, albeit this time it's for a more whimsical application.  The project used one, standard-sized, 40-foot container and transformed it into a structure that's mobile, flexible, and self-sufficient.  In its current form, Greentainer is perfect for multiple uses and almost infinite locations, plus the rooftop solar panels provide all the energy necessary to run the heating and cooling system, lights, and other devices.  So you could potentially use it for a party, event, grand opening, art show, or any other scheme you can come up with. 

Verdier Upgrades Solar Eco-Camper

Over a year ago, we mentioned Verdier Van & Camper's Eco-Camper, the posh recreational throwback to VW's Westfalia, and it looks like the Solar Power Eco-Camper has a new look.  Verdier now offers five different personalities of the award-winning vehicle: Woody, Geeky, Ebony, Blueberry, and Purity.  The eco-camper configuration is an add-on package available in any personality and entails solar panels, hybrid engine, Sun Tracker system, two gazebos, a second floor area, sliding door with integrated ladder, folding furniture, cargo storage, etc.  The price?  $129,000. 

RINCON 5 Green Prefab Now at $179k+

You've probably heard about Marmol Radziner Prefab's latest single-module offering called the RINCON, right?  RINCON is the moniker for their latest modular series, a line of homes that can double as a small prefab dwelling or ancillary living structure, you name it.  The name is inspired by the Spanish word for "nook" -- an apt description for this little accessory structure.  The largest model in the series is RINCON 5, and it's a 660 sf model with full kitchen, living room, bedroom, and deck area.

Rapid Rooms Modular Green Shed

Sustain, Toronto-based designer of the popular miniHome, is on a roll and just released renderings of their new Rapid Rooms suites.  Buildings for the Future of London retained Sustain to design the 4 x 5 meter (16 x 13 feet, 215 square feet) modular unit that comes complete with an accessible bathroom, living area, bedroom, and kitchenette.  It's a turnkey solution that can be installed in your backyard or wherever for almost any situation.  Maybe you want an extra work space.  Maybe you need a spot for that extra family member.  Or maybe you just need a little more room.  Whatever your need, Rapid Rooms are super insulated (R40) and come with the same materials as other miniHomes.  You can also grab the optional solar PV system, too. 

Schwimmhaus Modern Green Houseboat

I've seen houseboats -- boats designed or modified to be used primarily as permanent dwellings -- in Portland, Oregon and always wondered what it'd be like to live in one.  I could certainly live in something like this, what with the green roof and modern aesthetic.  It's called the Schwimmhaus and was designed by confused-direction in Germany.  Don't be fooled by the images, though, because this is just a model.  The real version should be finished in Spring 2009.  At a size of 14 m long, 4 m tall, and 3 m wide, Schwimmhaus will feature a spacious living room, kitchen, bathroom, and loft bedroom.   It'll also be eco-friendly, too, with features such as the living roof and wood reclaimed from an old farm barn.

Off-Grid Emergency Response Studio

I'm completely fascinated by this Emergency Response Studio.  The gist is that Paul Villinski created a solar-powered, mobile artist's studio from an old FEMA-style trailer -- it's off-grid, sustainable, and an excellent example of eco-reuse.  But there's more.  According to an article in the LA Times, apparently Villinski tried to buy one of the 143,123 FEMA trailers purchased by the government in the aftermath of Katrina, that is, until the government stopped selling them and began buying them back due to formaldehyde fumes from glues used to secure rugs, plywood, and other fixtures.  So he bought this one for $5,015 from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife through a GAO auction.  And after getting rid of the nesting rodents, he cleaned it up and pimped it out for an exhibit called Prospect .1 New Orleans starting early November 2008. 

Air Breeze Off-Grid Wind Turbine Improves Upon Popular Air-X

If you've heard of the popular Skystream 3.7 by Southwest Windpower, then you're probably familiar with their smaller wind turbine called Air-X.  Air-X was introduced in ~2001 and flew off shelves, selling over 100,000 units.  Building on the success of Air-X, Southwest Windpower recently released Air Breeze, its next iteration of the successful small wind generator.  I first noticed an ad for Air Breeze in Natural Home Magazine last September and have since seen news of it popping up everywhere.  Air Breeze was engineered to be quieter, more efficient, and more effective at lower wind speeds ...

Ideabox Finds Success with Confluence Modern, Expands with Cubes!

Back in February 2008, Ideabox exhibited their Confluence Modern design at the Portland Home & Garden Show.  The images above and below are of the Confluence Modern at this show, with Design Within Reach furnishings and Nick Williams / Sycamore Canyon landscaping.  Confluence Modern, like the other Ideabox designs, is built to be just the right size.  It's a 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom home that maximizes all of its 840 square feet.  And if you're not familiar with Ideabox (we mentioned them way back in August last year), they strive to build smart, efficient, and modern homes.  Energy Star everything.  Use less of everything and when used, using locally sourced, natural, and renewable materials. 

Modern Prefab Cabin Available For Rent on East Coast

If you've been listening to the chatter on prefab and thought: "What's the big deal with prefab homes?" or "Why would anyone ever want to own a prefab?", now's your chance to find out.  In his most recent update from A Prefab Project, Chris dropped a link to his shiny new website for Lost River Modern, a prefab cabin in Lost River, West Virginia.  And as you can tell from the images on the new website, Lost River Modern is quite incredible to look at.  Designed by Resolution: 4 Architecture, creators of the original Dwell Home, Lost River Modern is the first and only res4 home available for guests.  You can (and probably should) rent the place and completely chill out.  I see some slots are already filled up, so if you're interested in testing the prefab waters on the East Coast, you better get on it quick. 

Recycled Pallet Structure Gets A Human Touch

About ten years ago, I worked at UPS in their "boneyard" -- a place where all the pallets were unloaded and strewn in huge heaps on an asphalt parking lot.  We'd neatly stack the pallets, place them in a trailer, and UPS would get rid of them, netting about $0.25 per pallet saved.  At the time, I didn't realize the amount of pallets in circulation around the globe.  It's estimated that there are about 2 BILLION ordinary unit load pallets in circulation globally, and about two-thirds of these are only used once.  It's further estimated that U.S. companies throw away roughly 4 billion board feet of wood pallets every year.  Pretty crazy, I know. 

So HDR Architecture came up with Unit Load_Redux, a temporary exhibition intended as a probe for sustainable living through the redux of pallets and the use of bicycle energy.