My daughter loves watching Bob the Builder, a resourceful building industry role model if there ever was one, helped as he is by a team of self-aware, autonomous, and conversational construction equipment. This morning's episode centred on a building project competition in Sunflower Valley, a place where traditional houses "just don't look right" according to Bob (voiced here in North America by actor, stand-up comic, and improv guy Greg Proops). Bob's idea is to build houses that 'blend in' … [Read more...]
Green Building: Bringing Construction in Step With the Future
September 8, 2009 By Leave a Comment
Recently, I read this article by John F. Wasik about the antiquated methodology used to build the homes we live in. Thanks to renowned green building designer and blogger Michelle Kaufman through whom I discovered the article via her blog. And thanks to her again for the image of the Smart + Wired Home image below. One of the most striking things about it is the contrast between the technology we now have at our disposal - cellphones, laptops, flat panel T.Vs, integrated audio systems, … [Read more...]
Green Building: Healthy Competition
September 2, 2009 By Leave a Comment
What's the best way to drive creativity, to push the boundaries of excellence, to raise the bar in any field? Well, it's usually by engaging our competitive spirits, with skills pitted against skills, vying for first place and the respect and adulation of one's peers. Recognizing and encouraging passion helps, too. Well, not only is this true in the world of sports and the performing arts, it's also true of architecture and design as it pertains to green building. Maybe this is not such … [Read more...]
Green Building From Outer Space … Sort of.
August 6, 2009 By Leave a Comment
This past July marked the 40th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing, when astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin walked on the surface of the moon, getting an historical perspective on our planet. For the first time, it was viewed objectively by the human eye, and captured for posterity on film. The images of our planet have since become iconic, inspiring the then-burgeoning environmental movement. This is not to mention how they sparked the imaginations of writers, world leaders, … [Read more...]
McKinsey Report: Green Building Can Save U.S 1.2 Trillion
July 30, 2009 By Leave a Comment
The recently published McKinsey report has outlined a significant dollar value attached to green building and energy efficiency; 1.2 trillion dollars. In addition, the investment in incorporating green building practices has also created tremendous job-creation possibilities. This is clearly good news in such economically uncertain times. Yet, the process isn't a simple one. The goal of creating more while using less is not only a logical one, but also one that pays better. And yet, the … [Read more...]
Prefab homes: a next step in green building?
July 15, 2009 By 3 Comments
I don't think it's a stretch to conclude that in this new millennium, we are being faced with something of a paradigm shift when it comes to the state of our environment and our impact on it. And I think this becoming true of owning a home too. Given the recent economic downturn which has caused many to face the possibility of losing their homes, or in trying to find ways of owning homes which offer greater efficiency and less expense, the time appears to be ripe for new solutions. So, what … [Read more...]
Solar powered buildings let the sun shine in
April 1, 2009 By 1 Comment
William F. Gibson, the science fiction writer who wrote the breakthrough novel which predicted the Internet, artificial intelligence, and hacker culture, Neuromancer, once said that 'the future is here, it's just not evenly distributed'. This is something of a comforting thought, given where green building seems to be going, with contests and practical applications of energy-efficient building practices originating in universities all over the world. Much like the development of the Internet, … [Read more...]
Green Building Programs In USA
November 14, 2008 By Leave a Comment
Did you know that there are over 90 green building programs in the USA? Or that the residential buildings use more energy than the automotive sector? Here’s a video that talks briefly about these issues and makes the point that green building, particularly in the residential sector, can make a huge difference to America’s energy consumption. I’ve talked about LEED and the NAHB programs in previous postings, and I’ll get into some others that are now emerging in the … [Read more...]
The Global Warming Context
August 5, 2008 By 1 Comment
It would certainly be possible to talk about green building with no reference to global warming. Energy efficiency in itself is a laudable goal. It provides incentive enough on the personal level to stimulate an abundance of activity. Everyone likes to save money. Innovation is fun. Solar heating is cool. Renovating is hot. The list goes on. Self-sufficiency may often be an underlying motive. The romantic desire to live like Thoreau, close to nature, by simple means, seems to be deeply embedded … [Read more...]
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