Jetson Green

Flickr Friday: Green Communities Certified Plaza Apartments

Shown above is the 9-story Plaza Apartments, which is recognized as the first Green Communities location in San Francisco, designed by Leddy Maytum Stacy Architects + Paulett Taggart Architects.  Plaza Apartments has 106 units for extremely low-income individuals (many were previously homeless).  Built for $22 million, with 106 units, your average cost per unit is about $208k (probably would sell for $250k each).  It's nice that some cities stylishly invest in the health and habitation of people that can't afford it.  See also SFGate + Press Release [PDF]. 

Ray Kappe, FAIA: 10 Most Important Principles to Success

Lately, Ray Kappe has been getting a lot of attention for his residences designed for LivingHomes, the Steve Glenn prefab company.  Kappe's first home has been featured all over the place for achieving the highest LEED certification possible, the Platinum rating.  I think his work is incredible, so I was studying his stuff when I came across this list of his, "the ten most important principles that helped make me a successful architect, planner, and educator."  In the interests of learning from those that are remarkable examples of continuing achievement, I thought I would be good to share his list with the JG readers.  Any thoughts?

1. Think positively, not negatively.
2. Accept structure but know that it is to be questioned and broken when necessary.
3. Always be willing to explore, experiment and invent.  Do not accept the status quo.
4. Know yourself and keep your work consistent with who you are and how you think.
5. Maintain good moral and social values.
6. Be humble, honest, compassionate, and egalitarian.
7. Have conviction about your work.
8. Be open and say yes to most ideas and requests. The good ones will be valuable, the bad ones will cease to exist.
9. Allow employees and fellow workers freedom and the ability to work to their strengths. Avoid hierarchy.
10. Money should be the residual of work, not the goal.  But do not compromise your worth.

Flickr Friday: Pre-Fab Pets

These are manufactured by Pre-Fab-Pets, which I think is based in San Diego, California.  They're a little on the high end, but what else would you expect?  If I can put together a spare $800, maybe I'll get one for the house wonder dog.  Or maybe I'll build it myself.  Looks cool, though. 

Interview: Steve Glenn - CEO of LivingHomes, by Core77

[Run time = 26 min.]  I've posted about LivingHomes here, here, and here.  Well, Steve Glenn is the company's CEO and Founder and he has some interesting things to say.  If you're still unsure about his green cred, he built the first LEED Platinum home in the United States (with the design help of Ray Kappe).  Enjoy...

Flickr Friday: Office of Mobile Design's ShowHouse

I've blogged about Jennifer Siegal's Office of Mobile Design (OMD) before.  What you see above is a picture of OMD's ShowHouse, located at 1650 Abbot Kinney Blvd., Venice, California.  Tag your photos with "jetsongreen," if you'd like to submit it for Flickr Friday. 

My Green Options: Toilets, Zero Energy Homes, Financially Smart Green Building + More

I've been writing an article a week for Green Options and wanted to pass on the links to some of my articles.  I think the toilets article is the most light-hearted...go give them a look if you're interested in the content. 

• Flush It All Away - the Green Way [02/22/2007]
• USGBC's New D.C. Headquarters Go Platinum [02/16/2007]
• Collective Power Program + Solar Power to Mountain View [02/09/2007]
• Technology Adoption Goal: Zero Energy Homes [02/01/2007]
• Education is Fastest Growing Green Building Sector [01/28/2007]
• Top 20 Financially Smart Green Building Strategies [01/26/2007]

Video: Construction 2.0 + CleverHomes

[Run time: 54:30 min.]  I was reading the Scobleizer and found a fairly substantial video interview with Toby Long, founder of the San Francisco-based, design-build firm CleverHomes.  Cleverhomes is one of those companies swimming upstream in a construction river of anti-progress, anti-innovation, and staunch traditionalism.  I love the Scoble laugh, seriously, it makes the interview pretty good.  Long talks about the interface of technology + construction, or what I'm calling Construction 2.0, with an added dimension of sustainability.  Going forward, the environmental consequences associated with construction need to be figured into a given project's analysis.  He also mentions structural insulated panels (SIPs), building information modeling (BIM), sustainability, and modern vernacular.  Get past the beginning and give it go...

TXU's Texas Coal Rush + Marc Gunther

I've blogged about this monstrous issue in the past, but I found Marc Gunther's article in Fortune Magazine to be a great explication of the situation.  When you stop to think about it, everyone in the world is coming out to oppose these plants.  The entire discussion gets confused with rhetoric of clean coal versus dirty coal, the benefits of carbon offsetting, and increases in demand with insufficient supply. 

If you let TXU frame the debate, you've already lost.  Start asking your own questions and stop believing everything they say. 

Case in point:  Q for TXU:  What are you going to do about all the mercury pollution that increases the risk of reduced brain function and developmental problems in about 630,000 children each year (at a societal cost of $8.7 billion)?  TXU Kim Morgan replies, "Not a problem...TXU's new plants will comply with the EPA's mercury rules."  Really?  How smug.  How about this: forget compliance, we don't want mercury damaging our society.  This is an externality that needs to be figured into the so called cheap price of coal energy.

Skyscraper Sunday: Arterra - The LEED-Certified San Francisco Treat

Arterra is an urban living, high-rise community in Mission Bay that will have a mixture of flats and townhomes of various sizes.  Arterra has three buildings: "Sky," a 16-level tower, "City," a 9-level building, and "Park," a 6-level building with 2-story homes.  Go to the Arterra website and you can watch a video that shows you the views from each building.  Because Arterra is a high-end lifestyle community, you will have benefits such as 24-hour concierge, state-of-the-art fitness center, community lounge, rooftop sun deck with lounge and barbecue, etc.  But, another feature of Arterra is that it will be the first LEED-Certified Green high-rise community in San Francisco. 

Green Features:
Arterra is going after LEED certification, so here are some of the current green amenities being planned:  formaldehyde-free cabinets (Studio Becker); low-emitting paint and carpets; high-efficiency water heating boiler; Kohler dual-flush toilets and other water-saving features; low-E, energy-efficient, insulated windows; Energy Star home appliances and gas ranges; bamboo for all standard kitchen floors; cork flooring at all elevator levels; recycled glass floors and FSC-Certified wood walls in entry-level lobby; bicycle storage in the parking garage; and recycled content panels for the exterior facade.  Arterra is being developed by Intracorp Companies. 

LivingHomes News: Ray Kappe v2 + LEED Silver

It looks like LivingHomes is lighting up the blogosphere again with more news.  I've talked about Living Homes here + here, and I really like the company, big-time.  So there are a few tidbits of news that you may find interesting:  (1) LivingHomes has committed to make all its homes LEED Silver, at a minimum, and will work with owners to pay for certification costs, and (2) LivingHomes has entered into a partnership with Enterprise Community Partners (ECP) to take some proceeds from LivingHomes sales and put them into a fund for affordable green home communities.  So we see LivingHomes expanding its target consumer base to allow for broader adoption due to possibly lower prefab costs--that said, these are green, architect-designed homes that command a price premium. 

Interestingly, you'll also find Ray Kappe's second design (RK2) on the newly redesigned LivingHomes webpage.  Pictured above, RK2 will be LEED Silver (Total Points = 50.5) and will have the following green benefits:  yearly energy savings enough to power the home for 2 months; yearly water savings enough to fill 2 swimming pools; 80% of construction waste diverted from landfills; and 67% construction from recyclable materials.  It will be about 2,215 square feet, with 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms.  RK2 looks to be the perfect fit for large lots with expansive views.  It will include an interior garden as well. 

IceCycle: Innovation in Thermal Energy Storage

Guest post contributed and co-authored by Mark Glover, CEO of Trinity Thermal Systems, and David Anderson, COO of Trinity Thermal Systems.  Mark and David are joint founders, inventors, and pioneers in green energy storage technology.

The Current Energy Situation
Storage is an integral part of every man-made system we have.  We have food in our pantries, fuel in our car gas tanks, and water in our water towers to meet our needs on demand.  Man’s greatest machine is our mass network of electricity and grid, but it does NOT have storage built in.  Which means, it is not only how much, but when we use electricity that is important.  Electrical supply and demand must perfectly balance every minute of every day; standby electric capacity must exist to instantly ramp up to the highest possible peak demand at a moments notice, with reserve capacity of ten to fifteen percent in case demand is under estimated or mechanical breakdown occurs.  If we fail to meet even a moment of this growing demand, we have blackouts or brownouts that paralyze our business economy and threaten the health of our families.

Noteworthy Green News: Week in Review

1. Wind Energy Scores Major Legal Victory in U.S. (Texas) - Horse Hollow Wind Energy Center in Texas, currently the world's largest wind farm, did not create enough noise to be considered a private nuisance.  Via Hugg. 
2. Google Plants Solar Trees - About a third of the 9,000 solar panels (total 1.6-megawatt solar system) Google's installing will take the form of overhanging parking shades at the million-square-foot campus in Mountain View. The others will be mounted on rooftops.
3. Boston Ready to Go Green - Boston is expected to become the first major city in the nation to require private developers to adhere to a strict set of so-called green-building standards, officials said yesterday.  (I need to fact check to determine whether it's the first city). 
4. Green State v. Brown State: Report Details California and Texas Energy Use - Despite its size California's per capita energy consumption ranks 46 out of the 50 states. Texans, on the other hand, are power hogs, with the state the 5th largest consumer of energy. Texas produces 10.2 percent of the country's coal-fired electricity; California a tenth of 1 percent. California, however, generates the most power from solar, wind and other non-hydro sources, accounting for about 26 percent of the U.S.'s renewable energy.

On that last note, I'm a Texan and I must say, doesn't it feel good to know that our state has become the laggard in terms of modernizing energy infrastructure and sourcing?  If we can find a way to boot out the rich executives that are hamstringing Texas' energy situation, there's a growing population of innovative leaders and thinkers that will generate returns for our future.  The question is, would you rather take the profits on your 35mm film sales OR would you like to own the patent on the digital camera? 

LEED-H New Urban Home by David Baker + Partners at Blue Star Corner

I hate to post this on Saturday, because I'm afraid it won't get a large readership, but I wanted to talk about David Baker + Partners' (DBP) new design for a development called Blue Star Corner.  The design is called the New Urban Home.  The New Urban Home philosophy blends loft and condominium attitudes, with a modern feel that tends to build up--not out.  This philosophy was brought to the Blue Star Corner development to create a sustainable (LEED for Homes), modern, urban design for the historic Park Avenue District in the Bay Area.  All the appliances will be Energy Star, all the plumbing will be water efficient, and the site is located near mass transit.  Blue Star Corner is planned for completion in mid-2007. 

Green Features:
The developer, Holliday Development, and DBP hope to achieve LEED for Homes certification on this project.  Here's some of what they're going to do:  will use recycled and non-toxic building materials, non-endangered woods, galvanized metal, bamboo flooring, and environmentally-fabricated CaesarStone quartz countertops; will try to source materials locally as much as possible (keeps money in local economy + eliminates the transportation/gas premium); open spaces will feature sustainable landscaping by Conger Moss Guillard Landscape; appliances will be energy-efficient with Duravit, Kohler, and Bosch brands; and much more. 

Other Amenities:
Units will include also Ann Sacks bathtubs, Sub-zero + Jenn-Air refrigerators, Bisazza tiles, Benjamin Moore paint, in-unit iPod docking stations, and personal garages with fold-up work stations.  This is all going in with the general setup with a master bedroom, living room, kitchen, and flex room.  To add to that, homes will be unique--they won't all have identical features, colors, or design.  It's important to cater to individuality. 

Extra Links:
New Urban Home at Blue Star Corner [Generalized Case Study]
David Baker + Partners Provide Design for "Green" Amsterdam-Inspired Townhouses [MHN]

GreenCity Lofts: A Modern Step in the Green Direction

First off, GreenCity Lofts LLC shows us how important it is to have a sleek, professional, informative website for your properties.  In the early stages construction, word-of-mouth increases and people start to notice what's going on.  Slap a huge sign up (with a rendering of course) and direct people to the web for more information while the building is still being finished.  A good website that's search engine optimized (SEO) will go a long way to promoting that new building's features and benefits.  I've gleaned my information from their GreenCity's website and an article in the December/January 2007 edition of Dwell Magazine.  Designed by Architect Robert Swatt, this eco-conscious complex has 62 units in 5 buildings, with units ranging in size from 500-2100 square feet, and prices from $495,000-$1,050,000 (800 - 2100 square feet). 

Green Features:
The building exceeds California Title 24 energy requirements by 15% and is Energy Star qualified; 95% of the demolition waste from construction was recycled; the steel superstructure + interior framing contain from 25-90% post-consumer recycled content creating a durable earthquake, fire, rot, mold, pest-resistant building; cement pours contain a minimum of 25% fly ash; the roof was painted gray to absorb less heat than the darker colored varieties; water efficient technologies collect rain water runoff for landscape irrigation; hydronic radiant floor heating with a gas-fired broiler saves 20-40% of the cost of conventional systems (and you have no noise or draft as in the forced-air systems); formaldehyde-free products were used where possible; zero + low-VOC paints, stains, and varnishes were used; units contain bamboo floors with other FSC-certified wood products; and lofts contain 2-3 walls with windows for abundant natural lighting. 

These places look really good, too.  One thing to consider, is the trade off when you create places with large, open, interior spaces.  It takes more energy to heat and cool larger spaces, but this may be mitigated some by using the hydronic radiant floor heating.  At least you don't have to walk on the cold bathroom tiles when you wake up in the morning!  Oh yeah, also, GreenCity Lofts is about a 13-minute walk from BART, on the border of Emeryville and Oakland at 1007 41st Street, at the corner of 41st Street and Adeline.  Watch the GreenCity Lofts' video. 

San Francisco Mayor Newsom + LetsGreenThisCity Dot Com

If you've watched the videos on my right sidebar, then you've heard San Francisco Mayor Newsom talk.  He's a big time supporter of going green and doing it for all sorts of reasons:  it's good business, good living, good for the city.  Right now, according to SustainLane, San Francisco is the #2 greenest city in the United States.  Well, SF is putting on a major campaign to be the greenest city in the United States and there's a new green website to support the cause.  www.letsgreenthiscity.com.  Simultaneous to the roll-out of the website, letsgreenthiscity placed a total of nine couches throughout the city in various places (City Hall, Alamo Square, Ferry Building, Justin Herman Plaza, in the Castro, etc.).  People, including Mayor Newsom, were provided the opportunity to get their picture taken on the couch, have it printed with soy-based ink, and frame it in recycled cardboard.  The entire deal is being sponsored by Pacific Gas + Electric Company (PG+E) and ReadyMade Magazine.  Oh yeah, and guess what, yours truly is a content partner for the website (unfortunately, my content says it's posted by "anonymous").  Exciting times! 

Modern + Green Gaia Napa Valley Hotel - LEED Gold

There's just one thing that I can't figure out: why aren't more hotels going green?  Recently, I blogged about Starwood Hotels creating a luxury, green hotel brand (and there's also the LEED-certified Orchard Garden), but why aren't all the other hotels going green?  I have two thoughts:  (1) post-9/11, hotels tanked and lost a lot of money, which they've really started to regain from 2004 until now...they're busy making money and don't want to shut the place down with expensive renovations; (2) the split between ownership and management leaves a decision making gap that prevents the hotel owner from undergoing large capital improvements; or (3) hotel owners are marketing their portfolios and green (the non-monetary kind) is the last thing on their minds.  But if you ask me, the hotel industry is so levered to energy costs that it's the only way to go.  Looks like Gaia Napa Valley Hotel agrees with me. 

Gaia is chasing LEED Gold (couldn't find it in the USGBC certification or registration directory), which is the second highest tier in the green building rating system.  Here are some of its green features:  chemical-free landscaping; energy-efficient heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning system using 15% less energy; various water conservation features; solar panels; zero-chlorofluorocarbon cooling system; 100% new growth-certified wood; specialty zero energy lighting throughout the hotel and public areas; and low emission paints and adhesives. 

The hotel incorporates extensive use of Solatubes.  These are tubular skylights that capture sunlight from the roof and direct it into the interior space through a diffusion shaft.  Imagine a periscope, except that it filters in light, not images.

Another thing I'd like to point out, is that this hotel is modern + green.  Innovation has advanced to the point that green looks good.  Plus, if you look at the first costs and the operating costs, in comparison to a non-green building, you're getting a great deal, so it's economic too.  Really, there's not other way to go, especially in the hotel industry!

Good Architectural Design = Happy Inhabitants

What's the point of architectural design?  Depends on who is using the building, but talented designers and architects around the world can do unbelievable things with buildings.  Today's post is an example of the power of well-designed living spaces.  Enter:  The Happy New House.  Designed by Neil M. Denari Architects (NMDA), the happy house is just that, a place where the Alan Family can express its "family brand."  They wanted a home renovation that expressed their distinct family attributes:  artsy but not artsy-fartsy, cultured but not elitist, spontaneous but not disorderly, informal but not messy, into Macs and iPods but not techie, and into the finer things of life but not extravagant. 

Noticeably, the architect went with multi-toned, bright colors to express the Alan Family brand.  The interior design includes a clever mixture of public and private spaces to allow for individuality, but still encourage "elbow-rubbing" opportunities.  Tons of integrated shelving blends into the modern design and helps reduce clutter, and the outdoor living room blurs the indoor/outdoor barrier, which allows the family to connect to the backyard area. 

We've all lived in places that just didn't work out that well.  The same place might fit another person completely, but the reality is, individuals and families do have differences that can be accounted for with creative design.  The extra cost of designing your home or office, just might pay dividends in productivity, livability, and enjoyability later on.  Yet another reason why first costs could be misleading.  See also Archinect.

Top Sustainable Cities: Portland + San Francisco, the Eco-Innovators

There are cities and leaders in the US that are taking bold steps to change public perception of green principles, and I wanted to share their words and vision with you.  I've included a new section on my right sidebar for some informative, watershed videos.  I use the word watershed because future generations will respect these leaders for their foresight, they will be heros.  Are you one of these leaders?  If you're a CEO, can you count yourself among the lonely ranks of eco-warriors like Ray Anderson, Jeff Immelt, and Lee Scott?  If you're a mayor, can you count yourself among the growing ranks of eco-leaders like Gavin Newsom, Tom Potter, Mufi Hannemann, Greg Nickels, and Will Wynn?  If you're not a mayor or CEO, are you an eco-leader in the world that you live in? 

There's a video on the right with Tom Friedman speaking.  You'll know him from the bestselling book, The World is Flat.  He makes some critical points, but one of the most important points is that the chase for sustainability will create money-making, business opportunities for innovation in the 21st century:  opportunities that the US is currently abdicating to China.  Do we want to shift our middle east energy dependence by becoming dependent on China for renewable energy technologies?

So SustainLane released its yearly Top 50 US Cities, which is a report card on urban sustainability.  I was surprised to find Dallas at #24; one thing that holds us back is our addiction to cars--I don't see how that will change without 10-30 years of persistent city planning + changing, considering how the city is currently laid out.  That's okay, however, the rankings are there to get us to study other cities and make positive changes.  You can read about each city at SustainLane.  I encourage you to watch the video on #1 Portland (urban transportation and LEED building superstar) and #2 San Francisco (recycling superstar). 

Container Architecture: DeMaria Design + The Pirkl's Home Video

[Total Time: 1:57 minutes] If you've ever been to a port terminal, you've seen the mass quantities of shipping containers used to transport goods all over the world.  With the trade imbalance--US importing more than exporting, the containers that aren't returned to their origin waste away here in the US.  But there are a few creative architects such as Adam Kalkin, Jennifer Siegal, and Peter DeMaria, who are using these containers as the basic structure for custom built homes.  The fact is, materials such as steel and wood cost big-time money and perpetually increase in price due to world demand; according to the video, Anna + Sven Pirkl are getting their 3,500 square foot (!) home built at $125 square foot (a pittance for that locality's custom build price that ballparks at $250 square foot).  The LA Times wrote an article about what the family is going to do with the home (think:  zip line + climbing wall). 

The architect, DeMaria Design, is innovatively sourcing the Pirkl's project materials.  Because they are using folding airplane hangar doors, both doors that usually cost $35,000 each, will cost half that price.  For insulation, DeMaria used NASA-developed ceramic coating insulation, which was sprayed on with a coat that is slightly thicker than a credit card.  They're even going saw the top off a container, put it in the ground, and use that for the basis of their backyard pool! 

Entrepreneurial New Resource Bank + Green Lending Residential Solar Systems

Sustainable business entrepreneurship requires sophisticated financiers, so I wanted to let the Jetson Green readers know about an innovative, newly-founded banking institution called "New Resource Bank."  They are "financing sustainable resources in [their] community."  The bank was started by a group of entrepreneurs with expertise in the banking industry, and their start-up story is revealing:  240 founding shareholders subscribed to $24.75 M of the bank's stock offering, and the community backed it as well bringing the initial subscription amount to $35 M--that's a 60% over-subscription.  This made it one of the largest initial capitalizations for a start-up bank in Northern California.  Talk about suppressed demand for sustainably-minded banking institutions and investments!

They are all about green.  The bricks + mortar bank was certified LEED-CI Gold.  Plus, they announced an alliance with SunPower Corp. (company that manufactures high-efficiency solar cells and panels) to provide one-step financing of residential solar energy installations.  Under the program, customers work out a home-equity type loan that allows monthly payments on the solar installation while they save money on their electricity bills.  Factoring in governmental incentives, and if there are local incentives, you could end up with a mad case of energy and financial independence.  Typical financing is for 25 years on a system ranging from $20,000-40,000 (before federal, state, + local incentives).  If you're a Californian, after the Governator's program kicks in, there should be no reason not to go solar.  Tip via GreenBiz.

Modern + Green Art: The Campbell Laird Collection

I've used the analogy before, but living the green life is similar to using web widgets--you try one out, figure out how it works, and start to enjoy the benefits of that new widget's functionality.  How about trying the green artwork widget?  Artwork can be green, too.  Depending on what you're looking for, you may want to hunt down FSC-certified wood frames or commission your favorite artist and have the piece done with eco-friendly paints.  Get creative and find a way to make your art green (i.e., use water-based paints as opposed to oil, etc.).  OR...you could also buy some of Campbell Laird's work. 

Laird is a popular, Tasmanian-born musician + artist who has produced art for heavy-hitters such as Dwell, New York Times, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, Entertainment Weekly, Trump Tower, Money, Smart Money, Macy's, American Express, PeopleSoft, Adobe, Quest, and the Wall Street Journal.  He has a serious web presence and a studio in Venice, California, if you're in the area and want to check out the work. 

According to Laird, his work "explores the structural relationships between line, shape and color...my aim is to create simple, meditative works that fit naturally in modern environments."  Here's the process:  each piece is printed on either 20 ml artist's cotton canvas or 310 gsm watercolor paper.  Laird uses high-quality, pigment-based inks with an archival rating of over 150 years.  Each piece is proofed, signed, numbered (up to 125), and sent out with a certificate of authenticity.  No solvents are used in the process from the ink to the final finish.  Ogle at :: 2modern.

OMD Prefab Video + Jennifer Siegal Interview

Recently, I blogged about Jennifer Siegal and Office of Mobile Design (OMD) and wanted follow up because I found this video of her Venice, California show house.  It's a short, 2-minute video packed with modern + green information and mentions the following products:  Japanese recycled grass board called "Kirei" (Japanese for pretty or beautiful), radiant heating ceiling panels called "People Heaters," the in-wall iPod sound system called iPort, energy-efficient appliances by Sub-zero, a tank-less water heater, and industrial-grade flooring in the bathroom to withstand heavy use.  Take a look at some of these products if you're doing a renovation and enjoy the video if you're interested in modern + green prefab. 

Fort Bliss Plans to Create Largest, 10 SQ Mile Solar Farm

We don't need no stinkin' coal!  Fort Bliss is right on the money with their visionary plan to build a 1-gigawatt (yes, that's what the article says), 10 square mile solar farm at Fort Bliss by 2010.  That's a big solar farm, and supposedly, the largest solar farm in existence is the 12-megawatt one in Germany.  Various projects and technology development will continue under a partnership between Fort Bliss and the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California.  The new technology, including a controller than can extract energy even on overcast days, should cut the cost of solar energy in half. 

U.S. Representative Silvestre Reyes (D-Texas) says the coal plants may not be necessary if the solar technology lives up to expectations.  The plan is to start powering Fort Bliss, and later, energy can be pumped into the national power grid to be exported nationwide.  In January 2007, post engineers will begin installing a 1.5 megawatt system.  After that, the project should explode with 20 megawatts in 2007, 40 megawatts in 2008, and 1 gigawatt in 2009. 

Interesting Applications:
"The new technology, which has been in development for about three years, is already charging the battery packs of soldiers in the 18th Airborne Corps and the 75th Ranger Regiment in Iraq and Afghanistan, Tudor said. That equipment includes hood-mounted Humvee panels that also can charge the vehicle's battery, pack-mounted systems that charge batteries as a soldier walks, and tent-mounted systems that can provide power for a heated sleeping pad and to charge other batteries." via El Paso Times.  See also KVIA News Report. 

Case for State + Local Renewable Energy Rebates: Solar Umbrella House (2006)

Green Wombat reports that the Governator was pumping up California's commitment to create 3,000 megawatts of new solar-produced, clean energy by 2017.  Think about that.  We're talking about governmental support for empowering and supporting residents to generate their own energy.  Relatedly, the Solar Umbrella House is a modern + green example of what can happen when home owners take advantage of the governmental benefits of clean energy subsidization.  It was an AIA/COTE Top Ten Green Project in 2006, by architect Pugh + Scarpa.  What more can I say than that the Solar Umbrella House looks good and sunlight provides 95% of the electricity (less than $300 /year in energy bills). 

In addition to being designed passively to optimize the balance of sun and shade, the home has 89 amorphous photovoltaic panels that are connected to the grid with a net meter provided by the city of Los Angeles.  The house is decked out with energy-efficient everything.  Indoor air quality is perpetually monitored.  The design is LEED-H (v2) consistent.  Certified wood, recycled materials + salvaged materials were used all over the place. 

COSTS:
The photovoltaic system, solar hot-water system, thermally broken glazing, and energy efficient appliances cost about $39,000.  Not cheap, but that's where rebates come in.  To pay for the solar panels, there was a $18,600 rebate from the City Department of Water and Power and a $4,000 rebate from the federal government.  After applying the rebates, the payback on this investment becomes 12 years, and the solar panel warranty lasts for 25 years.  Not bad. 

So what's the big deal?  If your city isn't on board with clean energy, there isn't a 12 year payback and you continue to buy electricity created from dirty coal plants (unless it's a green provider).  Which is better?  Option A) independent, site-generated electricity that pays for itself after 12 years + is warrantied for 25 years + creates lower electricity bills or B) no site-generated electricity + persistently increasing electricity bills + dirty air.  This is common sense, get your state and local governments to support renewable energy so that you can create a better living environment for your family.  If you do it like the Solar Umbrella House, you can do it in green style!

Jennifer Siegal, Office of Mobile Design, the Modern + Green Take Home

Quoting Jennifer Siegal, founder of Venica, California-based Office of Mobile Design (OMD):  "I'm interested in how technology is influencing the way we form communities...because our lifestyles are demanding more lightness, our buildings shouldn't be sitting so heavy."  Siegal was featured in the October 2006 issue of Fast Company magazine, and praised as a "fresh face from the front lines of design."  In a world where renderings are common and completed projects are not, aka, the prefab world, Siegal is really staking a claim in this ultra-stylish, sustainable chase for comfortable, affordable living. 

Siegal's work includes the Mobile Eco Lab (1998), Portable House (2001), Seatrain House (2003), and the Swellhouse.  Her most recent work is a modern, modular home product line called Take Home.  Go to the website and take a gander at her captivating architecture.  You'll find also that her work goes beyond the realm of aesthetics and mid-century modern vernacular and into sustainability.  That's going to be where architects will make a huge difference, I believe.  In addition to that, I think OMD is taking pro-active steps to clarify the pricing of their prefabs and make modern + sustainable living more affordable.

Sustainability:
Sustainability is a key issue in the design process at OMD.  Prefab presents the natural green benefit of avoiding all the construction waste that plagues stick-built construction.  With the Take Home, OMD also offers precision steel construction, high-end amenities (Italian Boffi kitchens + Duravit bathrooms), fully landscaped courtyards with pools, passive cooling systems, and AVAILABLE 100% solar power and water heating.  Also available is bamboo and radiant heated flooring.  Homes range in size from 800-5,000 square feet and cost $210-270 per square foot.  Not bad at all!

Extra Links:
Incoming! [Fast Company]
Office of Mobile Design [OMD + Prefab]
Siegal's Desert Hot Springs Development [the take home]

Blog Notes From Leo Marmol Lecture in Dallas (10/14/2006): Prefab + Environmentalism

On Saturday at the Frontiers of Flight Museum in Dallas, Leo Marmol was kind enough to spend an hour and talk about his firm's work in the design-build and prefab context.  I was looking forward to this lecture for about 2 months and was not disappointed.  Marmol lectured on his firm's work with mid-century modern residences and the four standards (Secretary of Interior Standards) for renovation:  preservation, rehabilitation, restoration, + reconstruction.  Towards the end of the lecture, he started to get into his firm's prefab work and environmentalism. 

Here are some notes...

• As a site-build firm, we know very intimately how inefficient and stupid architectural processes are.  We live with that stupidity everyday.  It's a really inefficient, wasteful, cumbersome process that we use to build today.  There's a lot of reasons why we still do it, but it's inherently wasteful, so our goal is to build as much as possible in the factory. 
• We've seen lumber + steel prices climb, and even labor is a little strained.  Materials are getting more and more scarce, more and more, therefore, valuable, and more and more expensive.  That will continue in the future. 
• We've seen the rise in design with the iPod and with Target enlisting Philippe Starke to create a toothbrush.  Design is a marketing opportunity to set your firm apart from the norm. 
• With Prefab, the goal is to provide clean, simple, modern living and do it as cost-effectively as possible.  So prefabrication is a means to deal with the rising construction costs. 
• If you're an architect and a builder, and you don't have guilt, you're not paying attention.  We put so much attention on the auto industry, but it pales in comparison to the architecture industry.  Architecture is the greatest polluting force on the planet.  There is no other industry on the earth that uses more of our earth's resources than construction and there is no other industry to releases so many polluting, bad things back to the earth.  Prefab allows us to deal with this guilt and be more efficient. 
• Sometimes the media gets it wrong with regards to prefab, but they are enthusiastic about this technology.  That enthusiasm can lead everyone astray.  Prefabs are not manufactured homes.  Prefabs won't save the world or deliver homes for under $100 a square foot.  Prefab is not a magic bullet.  They are cheap in comparison to custom, architect-designed homes (LA price:  $400-600 sq.ft.), but they are not necessarily cheap.  Building homes is difficult and takes lots of money + materials. 

It should be noted that Mr. Marmol's prefab division is making a conscious choice to be environmental in the construction of prefabs.  The prefabs are designed to receive LEED certification, made from recycled steel, employ Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs), and use FSC-certified wood, low-VOC Green Seal paint, solar panels, etc.  Each prefab is designed with the site in mind so the structure can be attentive to natural light and shading.  And if you're interested in seeing one, there's an open house in California (instructions below). 

Open House of the Desert House:
October 28, 1 pm - 6 pm
Desert Hot Springs, CA
RSVP NOT REQUIRED
Navigate the Website for Map

Fireman's Fund Insurance Company Makes Green Building Insurance Products Available

Seriously, yet another reason to build green buildings.  The list gets longer and longer.  Lower operating costs, higher resale (appraisal) value, healthier work environment, and better workforce productivity, etc.  Wells Fargo wants to finance green buildings.  Hines wants to develop them.  And now, California-based Fireman's Fund Insurance Company wants to insure them.  This is a smart business strategy.  If you're going to insure something, why not insure the top quality stuff?  As insurer, you're dealing with the elite, upper echelon of building developers, operators, and owners.  It's really a no-brainer...

The company will provide green coverage for commercial buildings certified as environmentally friendly in all 50 states starting in late October 2006.  It's the first insurance company to do so and will offer three different forms:

1. 5% discount on insuring buildings certified by programs such as USGBC's LEED process;
2. Insureds that suffer a loss will be able to replace the loss with green products and systems (even if slightly more expensive);
3. Commissioning--provides a post-installation inspection of systems put in after loss of more than $10k. 

Because there aren't that many green buildings, relative to standard-code buildings, option #2 looks to be the most promising to future insureds.  Who wouldn't want to be able to replace loss with top-notch, green systems and products? 

What this really comes down to, however, is another cost category that lowers costs for whoever is stuck with the burden of insurance.  With energy efficiency, one can lower the energy bills.  With efficient design, one can lower bills and gain value in heightened productivity.  With lower insurance costs, one can put more money in other areas or investments.  Unfortunately, only the smartest and most agile real estate firms are going to carpe diem and capitalize...they'll also keep making money in the market, too. 

Extra Links:
Insurance Industry Sees Real Value in Offering Discounts to Green Building Owners [Alison Ryan - BD+C]
Insurance Companies Take on Global Warming [Marc Gunther - Fortune]

Contemporary Furniture: Going Green with Exceptionally Designed Bicycle Parts

This isn't just some ordinary, run-of-the-mill furniture, slapped together with no thought for the environment, comfort, or design.  Andy Gregg founded Bike Furniture Design in the 90s with the seminal, original bike chair.  Since then, his collection has grown to include bar stools, high-quality tables, loveseats, and more chairs.  While his furniture is made primarily from recycled steel and aluminum bicycle rims, handlebars, and frames, his collection has grown to include parts from other transportation industries such as trains and planes. 

Again, this stuff isn't slapped together, it's pretty darn close to artwork.  Upholstery options include leather, rubber, cork, clear + colored acrylic, and vinyl.  And his business is starting to reach a tipping point.  In 2004, revenue picked up enough to allow Gregg to focus on the business.  Growing demand has pushed him to explore the use of new materials, and he keeps coming up with great pieces.  This can be attributed to his art and mechanics background.  So if you have an idea in mind, I'm sure he'd be able to crank it out (no pun intended). 

Extra Links:
Fortune Small Business Article
Silicon Valley's The Wave Magazine Article
HGTV "I Want That!" Episode #313

ScrapHouse Illustrates Re-use, Recycle, Repurpose Principles (aka Innovation)

The ScrapHouse is a "temporary demonstration home, blitz-built using scrap and salvaged material."  I looks really cool...so cool, you'd probably bid for it on ebay if you saw it.  What?  It's not on ebay; it doesn't exist anymore.  But it was built so cheap, you'd think it could be listed.  Buy it Now Price: under $2,000.  When you think about a 1,000 square foot house, you don't think about building one for $2,000.  That's exactly what a "rockstar team of local artists, engineers, architects, city officials, and builders" did in association with Public Architecture and ScrapHouse in SFC. 

Reuse is the operative word with this architectural feat.  It was built with materials collected from salvage yards, dumps, and waste piles at active construction sites.  Now, materials DO tend to walk away at construction sites, but from what I understand, there was no five-finger discounting involved with this process.  In all honesty, new building construction (non-LEED structures) generate tons of waste and scrap, and a lot of it can be used for a different project or purpose, depending on the necessity.  Again, another ebay concept applies:  "one person's junk is another person's treasure." 

Of course, they used Energy Star appliances inside and low- to no-VOC/formaldehyde free materials in the furniture and paint, etc.  The key take away point is that we need to think outside the box and get creative about using already existing materials (junk that's in abundance) in nascent, healthy ways.  That doesn't necessarily mean you live swap-meet-style (not that that's a bad thing), but it does mean that re-purposed, recycled stuff can be modern and swank.  We just need to get creative about finding that stuff.

Extra Links:
ScrapHouse Official Press Release 5/31/2006
Inhabitat Blog Post About Documentary Premiere

[September] Architectural Record House of the Month: Newport Beach - Heinfeld Residence

Architectural Record always seems to find some of the best modern + green residences in the country:  this month's spotlight is on Dan + Katherine Heinfeld's home designed by architectural firm LPA, Inc., in Newport Beach, California.  LPA has a strong commitment to incorporating green concepts in their designs; they're one of the earliest firms to get involved with the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED program.  Mr. Heinfeld is the president of LPA, so designing his own home included the added tension of getting it right, to prove to clients that green design can be modern + luxurious. 

Green Features:
The house really does include a slew of sustainable features...it's built with a Glu-lam and composite beam structure that comprises two stories, four bedrooms, and four bathrooms.  Three sides of the house wrap around a courtyard/pool-area.  The pocket glass and screen doors open up to the solar-heated pool area (Suntrek).  The entire house was designed for efficient natural lighting, including a mostly windowless eastern orientation, an extended roof overhang on the southwestern side, an insulated, translucent skylight in the main room (Kalwall Skylight), and mechanical sunshades in every room (Lutron). 

The house is powered almost completely by the 5.3 KW building integrated photovoltaics (Solar Integrated Technologies).  Also, the carpet tiles (Interface FLOR) and floor (Terrazzo) are both made with recycled content.  Of course, the paint is non-VOC, Eco-shield paint (Dunn Edwards).  LPA even provided the Xeriscaped landscaping.  Really, the Heinfelds didn't hold anything back when putting this green + modern masterpiece together. 

Extra Links:
House of the Month Article and Project Specs [Architectural Record]
LPA, Inc. Website
Cristian Costea Photos

Fab-ulous Friday: October 14, 2006 Leo Marmol Lecture on Marmol Radziner + Associates

On October 14, 2006, the DME (Dallas Modern Expo) Modern Lecture Series will host Leo Marmol of Marmol Radziner + Associates.  Marmol is set to speak on the following topic:  "From Design-build to Prefab:  The Process of Marmol Radziner + Associates."  This event is on Saturday from 2:00 - 3:00 pm, at the Frontiers of Flight Museum on Lemmon Avenue, and costs a mere $10 to attend.  Tickets can be purchased online, or at the door, but seating is limited.  For those of you that are die hard prefab enthusiasts, you can take a cheap Southwest Airlines flight into Love Field (right next door to the place) and attend the lecture. 

This is a preview of what Marmol plans to speak about: "Bridging the divide between architecture and construction, Leo Marmol has created a unique design-build practice led by architects that combines innovative design, thorough research, and construction precision into a holistic approach to restore and create meaningful modern spaces. The firm’s multidisciplinary approach combines architecture, landscape, interior design, furniture design, construction, and prefabricated housing to create the ability to manage the execution of designs with the same rigor with which they were designed. Leo will explain how the firm’s experience in restoration of mid-century modern homes has influenced new residential projects as well as the design and fabrication of the firm’s new line of modern prefab homes."

Marmol Radziner + Associates:
Marmol Radziner Prefab website.  As I'm writing this post, a Treehugger feed popped up announcing a Marmol Radziner Factory Tour. Treehugger calls their prefabs "the most beautiful prefab in the world."  In their factory, they produce steel-made homes that are easy to customize to modern + green standards.  Actually, they've been designed to achieve LEED certification:  they use structural insulated panels (SIPs), FSC-certified wood, low-VOC green seal paint, solar panels, natural light design, etc.!  These prefabs are the embodiment of everything Jetson Green espouses:  modern architecture + sustainable living.  This will be an awesome lecture event.

BusinessWeek Features Living Homes' Platinum Prefab & CEO Steve Glenn

This week's edition of BusinessWeek has a feature on Living Homes and the eco-entrepreneur Steve Glenn (founder of the company).  I've blogged about this company in the past, and CEO Glenn left some comments...needless to say, this is a sharp company.  You'll also find some information on corporate/commercial green building in the same magazine's one-page article on Toyota's new buildings. 

BusinessWeek Online was kind enough to post a slide show of Steve Glenn's LEED-H Platinum home (the first under the residential United States Green Building Council's standards). 

Glenn's house is the prototype for his new company called LivingHomes.  LivingHomes sells prefabricated houses with this design by architect Ray Kappe, for about $250 per square foot (not including land, site development, or transportation).  The manufacturing facility built this house in one day.  Generally speaking, green features add about 20% to the base cost of the home and generate about $1,500 in savings per year.  (disclaimer: these are all estimates, but if you take these figures seriously, there is no breakeven on a 30 year mortgage...but this calculation comes with a load of assumptions.)

The point:  this house is perfect for design-savvy, eco-concerned customers.  It is the perfect blend of green + modern.  Sometimes you have to pay a little more for nice things (and sometimes that price premium is illusory).  Here are a few costs of going green that the article pointed out:

• Recycled Water System:  $20,000
• Ventilation (whole house ceiling fan from Tamarack Technologies):  $1,200
• Fireplace (EcoSmart fireplace from Fire Co. is flue-less):  $?
• Hot Water (radiant heating system by Apricus Solar):  $33,000
• Living Roof (garden & deer grass roof by Great Outdoors Landscaping):  $8,000
• Electricity (Scott Corp. photovoltaic panels for up to 80% of house needs):  $12,000 (after $13,000 in state rebates & federal tax credits). 
• Lighting (bright bars of light diodes from American Permalight):  $95 per bar
• Windows (double-pane glass from Pilkington Group & sliding doors from Fleetwood Windows and Doors):  $33,000 for entire house.

Under the USGBC's LEED system, builders are encouraged to source materials locally (within about 500 miles) to receive points.  Right now, the LivingHomes manufacturing facility is located in Santa Fe Springs, California, so those of us in places like Texas will have a hard time getting this product.  While it can be shipped, some eco-conscious purchasers will balk at the transportation associated with hauling the house half-way across the country.  BUT, from what I understand, LivingHomes is in a growth phase and could be setting up facilities across the country as demand starts to heat up.  I hope CEO Glenn will drop a line if he's thinking about doing something in Texas!!  (hint, hint). 

Texas is Beating the Hell Out of California (in Wind Energy)

Texas has been known for its oil and gas barrons, but interestingly, it's just starting to be recognized as the alternative energy leader in the nation. Really? Here's the proof: Wired News posted an article claiming that Texas has overcome California as the nation's largets producer of wind energy. 

Texas capacity is currently 2,370 megawatts (power for 600,000 average homes) and California has 2,323 megawatts. So it's a slim marging, but that's what I call beating the hell out of California. That's okay, however, because Texas and California combined account for 47% of the nation's wind energy production. Both states are to be commended for these amazing achievements in wind energy production. This is a reflection of the business community's support for alternative, renewable energy.

What sets Texas apart as having the ability to adopt and lead the pack in alternative energy? First, energy independence and innovation is supported by businesses. Second, there's a lot of land and a lot of people. There are vast spaces available to experiment with wind farms, without getting in the way of people and without requiring huge amounts of money to acquire land.

Texas will likely be a pioneer in solar farms as well.  I recently blogged about a company called EnviroMission that is working on a solar tower. The Australia-based company is looking for sites near Dallas to establish a plant. That could be a very interesting, and disruptive technology...

On the other hand, Southern California has a company called Stirling Energy with a 4,500 acre solar plant in the works. This company plans to leverage its technology to provide electricity at a cost of 0.06 $/kWh. The dish collectors are made up of mirrors (not solar photovoltaics--thus eliminating the costly need for silicon) that focus the sun's rays on the engine. Their website is very informative, so check it out. 

So in addition to the California v. Texas wind farm competition, there looks to be some competition in the solar energy farm category as well. Who will be the next energy leader in the nation? It's fun to speculate, but in the end, all that matters is that consumers will have more options for electricity (more competition - cheaper electricity) and businesses that innovate will be rewarded with rents, license royalties, and future business. It's a win-win proposition for both states (and the nation).

Extra Links:
American Wind Energy Association
If Not Wind
Wind Energy Works