Jetson Green

Zamore Homes Focuses on Stylish, Green Kit Homes

I've been noticing some chatter about Zamore Homes, an online company that provides ready-to-assemble kit-homes that are built with off-the-shelf components.  Zamore Homes is looking to capture the market that wants high design at a low price.  They do that by flat-packing and shipping components to a home site, all of which seem to come from various different places with the lowest possible transportation costs.  They also claim to provide simple instructions for contractors to put all the components together.  With simple designs and flat-packed parts, Zamore Homes estimates that their affordable, energy-efficient kit homes can be put together in under 20 weeks!

Lotus Bleu puts a New Spin on Vintage Furniture

Buying vintage furniture is super green, but it's not always easy to find pieces in great shape, especially upholstered items.  Lotus Bleu has fixed that problem for us.  They offer vintage pieces redone in new, modern fabrics.  Lotus Bleu is located in San Fransisco, but if you're not in the area, you can order right online.  Current items for sale are displayed in addition to items that have already been sold, to give you an idea of what might be available at any given time.

Top Green Picks from "How Green Are You?"

There's some stunning green work being featured on Dwell right now as a result of the "How Green Are You?" competition.  The basic idea of the competition, co-sponsored by Dwell and the AIA, is to find inspiring entries assessed on their sustainability, functionality, originality, cost effectiveness, and design.  Entrants can provide up to four images and a simple, 250-word description of the project -- about all you need to find some incredible designs.  I understand 100kHouse (pictured above) just entered their project, but I didn't see it on Dwell yet.  Below are a few of my favorite entries so far. 

JG Writers Make Top Green Girls & Guys Lists!

Well, I just want to kick out a shout to the writers at EarthFirst -- they've found a way to make us blush not just once, but twice.  Much to my surprise, I was invited on their list of Top 25 Hottest Guys in Green: 10 We Missed Last Time (scroll down to #7).  No worries, though, I'm working my way up the list, so hopefully you'll find me on the original Top 25 next year -- maybe somewhere between Brad Pitt and Leonardo Dicaprio?!  But enough about me, how about Jetson Green contributor extraordinaire Sarah Meredith Roe!  She made their list of Top 25 Hottest Girls in Green: 10 We Missed the First Time (scroll down to #3).  Sarah beat out green belles such as Sheryl Crow, KT Turnstall, Amber Valetta, and Norah Jones, just to name a few.  If that doesn't make a green writer blush, I'm not sure what does.  Thanks EarthFirst for thinking of Jetson Green!

Draft LEED 2009 Review and Discussion

As we noted here a few weeks ago, the draft for a new version of U.S. Green Building Council's LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) program was released for public comment and review.  In general, as a LEED Accredited Professional, what I saw in the program looked good.  The changes that are proposed will make improvements to the system.   Below is a discussion of changes we can look forward to in the next generation of LEED. 

The Platinum Look of Modern Green Kansas

Just a little over a year ago, on May 4, 2007, Greensburg, Kansas was smashed by a tornado that pretty much decimated everything.  Since that time, the city has made news all over the world for its ambitions to rebuild everything in an environmentally-friendly way.  City buildings larger than about 4000 sf will be LEED Platinum, etc.  So this building, 5.4.7 Arts Center, is an example of the green reconstruction process going on in Greensburg.  5.4.7 Arts Center is the first building certified as LEED Platinum in Kansas and has some incredible green elements -- not to mention three small wind turbines twirling away above the roof line. 

Sustainability Now Open to Free Online Registration

I just want to pass along a reminder relating to Sustainability Now, a free, virtual event highlighting the essential issues that matter right now for those creating a sustainable built environment.  Although the event will be broadcast from and with an emphasis on activity in the UK, I understand some of the content will also be highly relevant to professionals here in the U.S.  We've provided an article and an interview for the event, so keep your ears open for that.  Click here to register for the July 1-2, 2008 virtual conference and exhibition. 

[+] Green Events Page and Calendar [JG]

Green For the Wallet, Green Prefab in Demand, Popular Geothermal, City Scoots, + Dirty Cities [WIR]

• Appraisers look to measure value of green.
• Green buildings expected to receive lower financing.
• Going green is good for your wallet. 
• Eco-friendly, custom-built prefabs in high demand.
• Life and death of green design and forgoing LEED.
• Geothermal heating/cooling systems hit home.
• Habitat for Humanity LEED home blends into neighborhood.
• Here are ten of the world's dirtiest cities.
• How to scoot in a city built for cars.
• Green energy blooms in the desert of New Mexico.

*WIR = Week in Review; a Saturday showcase of excellent links.

DeFreitas Home Raises Bar for Modern Green Design

Sometimes the images just don't tell the whole story and that's where some quality video will do the trick.  I stumbled upon this video while doing research for a prior story and was blown away by the modern, green home.  It's ridiculous -- probably a dream residence for many of you out there.  The passive design, combined with good insulation, high performance glass, solar thermal panels, radiant flooring heating, and an efficient system, keeps this home operating very efficiently. 

CBOne Focuses on Luxury Green Home Market

Recently I was able to speak with Matthew Linden of ConsciousBuild, a San Luis Obispo-based company that's trying to make an eco-friendly contribution to the luxury home and lifestyle market.  ConsciousBuild is ramping up a website to be launched in July that aims to provide podcasts, videos, and access to information on green building practices, techniques, and materials.  Their first project, ConsciousBuildOne, or CBOne, was designed in the vernacular of Contemporary American Farmhouse and flies in the face of the notion that a green building needs to take any one particular form or shape.  Serving as both a residence and office, Linden hopes CBOne will be used as an educational model for the latest in eco products, techniques, and technologies.  Here's what's planned for the building: