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Green Walls: Commerce and Nature

March 1, 2010 By 4 Comments
green-wall

One thing about being a member of the business community here in Vancouver; we love getting together for chat and a few drinks, regardless of our respective industries.  This is a great city to do business in, while making friends at the same time. Recently, I attended an event put on by INGDirect at their Howe & Pender branch here in Vancouver.  It was a launch of their newly renovated space, which effectively turns the model of a traditional bricks and mortar bank branch into something … [Read more...]

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A “New” New Orleans With Green Building and Community Volunteering

February 17, 2010 By 2 Comments
new-orleans-holy-cross-community

A big theme on this blog of ours, and in some ways in all of the blogs you'll find attached to BuildDirect, is the idea of transformation and all of the things which that concept implies. In reference to green building, one big theme I've been reading about in the wider world is the human tendency to innovate in the face of adversity. The tendency to take that innovation and apply it to the benefit of local communities and to the education of people who live there seems to be another pattern. … [Read more...]

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Integrating Personal Public Transit and Green Building Best Practice

February 11, 2010 By 6 Comments
ultra-rapid-transit

In thinking more and more about how accessible public transit and urban planning using green building principles can dovetail, I came across this video.  Take a look! The system is to be implemented as a means of accessing Terminal Five at London's Heathrow airpport by the Spring of 2010.  A test track is currently in place in Cardiff, Wales.  Proposals for systems in San Jose, St.Louis, Ithaca NY, and other projects are at various points of development as well. Being something of a … [Read more...]

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Public Transit and Green Communities: Eat Your Vegetables!

February 8, 2010 By 2 Comments
rail-system

Perception is a funny thing. In some cities, doing without a car and relying on public transit is no big deal. In others, the very idea is entirely alien, even if the option of public transit is presented as a viable, and logical, option. I don't want everyone to think that I am down on car ownership. I like cars! They're convenient when visiting friends and family, or heading to public parks, or taking a cross-country trips to find yourself. They tend to be magnets for household detritus, … [Read more...]

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Green Building: Eco-Districts Need Eco-People

January 26, 2010 By 1 Comment
girl-in-meadow

There is a ton of news out there, seeming to be coming in by the minute, about specific buildings gaining LEED status.  Some of these buildings are quite high profile, which means that as a culture, we've got shining examples of what is possible when thinking about commercial scale buildings that are considered to be energy efficient. These examples are therefore indications of what green technology can potentially deliver across the board in terms of cost savings as well as a cleaner, and more … [Read more...]

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Green Neighborhoods: Culture Clash?

January 11, 2010 By 2 Comments
dont-walk

In the last year, I've gone without a vehicle.  That seems like a pretty simple situation for many who live in areas where public transit is easily accessible, along with grocery stores, parks, and libraries within walking distance.  Luckily, I now live in an area which more easily enables the car-less lifestyle on a number of fronts. But, my daughter and her mum live in an area of Greater Vancouver where car ownership seems to be assumed, and where public transit is not a first choice for most … [Read more...]

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Green Building Goes to School

November 24, 2009 By 1 Comment

Education has long been one of the major pillars of a healthy society.  And in recent years, the link between a healthy learning environment and the actual learning process has risen in prominence among parents and educators alike.  Not unlike the connection between green building and productivity, it is argued that kids can't learn when they're in a building that isn't conducive to their health. For instance, the use of natural light has an impact on mood which to me can be something of a health … [Read more...]

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What is a ‘Green Roof’?

November 13, 2009 By 5 Comments

As it has been mentioned in our Greenest Place in America article, the city is not known for its environmental friendliness.  But, this perception is  uninformed.  There is a great deal of work that has gone into making city life, and city planning, into a pursuit that is not only sensitive to the environment, but is actually active in addressing environmental issues like better air quality, greater energy efficiency,  and global climate change. One method which has been in place for a number … [Read more...]

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King Kong-Sized Green Building

April 15, 2009 By 3 Comments

One of film's most iconic moments is the finale of the 1933 film King Kong, when a giant gorilla named Kong, the ultimate symbol of the strength of the natural world,  is seen climbing atop the Empire State Building, the ultimate symbol of industry and modernity.  It was the contrast between two warring forces that packed such a punch.  And there is a strange kind of sadness when Kong meets his doom, falling from the tower to his death. But, times have changed since then. Here's an article … [Read more...]

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