Harvard Law Study Addresses Green Building Liabilities
Report outlines potential legal risks involved with green building.
Green Building
Durability Ranked First Among Green Building Attributes
Architects said long-term durability is the most important quality in green building products.
California Issues Statewide Building Standards
New standards do not go far enough in promoting resource efficiency according to environmental advocates.
Can Green be Gold?
Proponents say green buildings are worth more than conventional ones. Now there are signs that the market is starting to agree.
Solar Comes Standard in New Sacramento Subdivision
Solar is increasingly being incorporated in new California housing developments, but the price is usually out of reach for the average person. Premier Homes is building a 95-home subdivision in the Sacramento area where an average priced home will come with solar and energy efficient features as standard. Premier has offered solar as an option in previous developments, but the price tag was in the $500,000 range. Single-family homes in the Sacramento development will range in price from $244,900 to $332,990. The energy-efficient features add $10,000-15,000 to the cost of a home and include: * efficient heating and air conditioning, including Energy Star-rated appliances and windows* tight duct work and R-38 insulation; * on-demand tankless water heater * fluorescent lighting* a 2-kilowatt photovoltaic (PV) system Premier expects residents to spend 60% less on energy bills compared to conventionally built homes.The homes will conform to the US Department of Energy’s “zero-energy” design and to SMUD Solar Advantage and Advantage Homes. SMUD (Sacramento Municipal Utility District), the local utility, is giving Premier $200 per home for advanced energy-efficiency features and about $7,000 per home toward the cost of each solar PV system. SMUD also offered $20,000 to help market the homes. Since […]
AIA's Top Ten Green Projects 2003
The Chicago Center for Green Technology, Colorado Court and Herman Miller Marketplace are among AIA's 10 Green Building Project winners for 2003.
A Compelling Model of Market Transformation
LEED is the most powerful voluntary environmental market transformation tool Ive encountered. Here's why.
Three Firsts for Green Buildings
NY Governor George Pataki dedicated the first “green” residential high rise building – The Solaire in Battery Park City in downtown New York City. It is first new residential construction completed in the area (near the former World Trade Center) since September 11, 2001, and is the first beneficiary of the state’s green building tax credit. The 27 story, 293 unit building will use 35% less energy (65% less during peak hours) and half the water of comparable conventional buildings. The design and materials result in healthier indoor air and more natural light. A building integrated solar system (BIPV) supplies 5% of the electricity. The Solaire has an on-site black water system to eliminate the use of potable water for the building’s flush system and supply the heating, ventilation and air conditioning cooling tower. It also contains a storm water catchment system to irrigate the rooftop garden. “The Solaire’s dedication to energy efficiency, air quality, water conservation and preservation of natural resources is groundbreaking, establishing it as a benchmark for urban sustainable development and for “green” buildings worldwide,” said Pataki (excerpted from Environmental News Service). At the other spectrum of green building, Builders for Social Responsibility, a group of Vermont […]
Sustainable Business: Economics, Architecture & Banking
Local designers, contractors, and materials participated in building Oregon's Bank of Astoria, empowering and serving the community.
AIA's Top Ten Green Building Projects for 2003
This year’s American Institute of Architects (AIA) Top 10 Green Building projects were honored on May 1st at the National Building Museum and will be again at the AIA National Convention and Design Expo in San Diego, California on May 9th. They were chosen based on a positive contribution to their community, comfort for building occupants, and reduced environmental impacts through strategies such as: reuse of existing structures, connection to transit systems, low-impact site development, energy and water conservation, use of green construction materials, and design that improves indoor air quality.The projects incorporate commonly used green building features: passive and active solar heating and cooling, natural ventilation, daylighting, high-efficiency lighting and appliances, and less common techniques of earth-sheltered or straw-bale construction. Winners include a spectrum of building types – new construction and renovation of office, retail, residential, academic, and institutional facilities. The Chicago Center for Green Technology, for example, is an ambitious LEED Platinum design that uses almost 50% less energy than comparable construction, gets over 17% of its energy from solar and used 36% recycled materials in its construction. All of tenants are involved in environmental-related pursuits including Spire Solar Chicago (solar panel manufacturer), Green Corps (landscape training) and […]
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