Each week many of our readers reach out to us via email to help inform us of the many wonderful eco-initiatives they support and are involved with. We received an email today regarding the Common Fire Housing Co-op in New York’s Hudson Valley.
The Common Fire Housing Co-op is a 3,600-square-foot building located on 36 acres of land in Tivoli, New York. The total cost of the building was $1 million. Though initial construction was partially financed by donations from individuals and corporations throughout the US, and by New York State, residents primarily fund the venture by sharing the cost of the mortgage, food, utilities and maintenance.
Facts about the Common Fire Co-op:
* The Common Fire Co-op is the second “greenest” building in the United States and is the greenest building east of the Mississippi*.
* The USGBC has given the building a Platinum certification, the only one of its kind in New York state.
* It is one of only 18 buildings in the United States to receive Platinum certification in the New Construction category.
* The USGBC’s LEED certification is based on 69-points of criteria, with 26 points necessary for basic green building certification, 33 for a “Silver” certification, 39 for “Gold”, and 52 for “Platinum”. Common Fire received 57 green building certification points for its project.
* The “greenest” building in the U.S., based upon the most points ever given to one building in the New Construction category, is the Alberici Corporate Headquarters, in Overland, MO, which scored 60.
* The Common Fire Co-op is considered a net-zero energy building, because it generates enough electricity on site to meet all of its energy demands.
These are just a few of the many green features/achievements the Co-op has accomplished. To learn more about how they built the co-op and green technologies and materials they used, head over to their website located here.
Technorati Tags: green building, LEED Certification, Common Fire Housing Co-op, sustainable living, net-zero
Written by steve on May 1st, 2007 with no comments.
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I came across a really interesting webpage this morning during a random StumbleUpon session.
It describes the conversion of a 24′ x 16′ x 7′ swimming pool into a beautiful backyard pond - undertaken by Erik Kilk shortly after moving into his new home in Portland Oregon.
It’s not every day you hear about someone doing something like this, so the article certainly caught my attention and made me want to read more.
As much as I enjoy a nice swim on a hot summer day, the idea of having my own chlorinated swimming pool has never really appealed to me. Aside from being an artificial eye sore in general, I just don’t like the idea of using all those chemicals and potentially a fair amount of power as well.
I do however love the idea of natural swimming pools - something I hadn’t even really thought about until I came across the “Bio Pool” at John Todd Ecological Design.
But before I get sidetracked…
Here are some exerpts from Erik Kilk’s page:
The pond took me about five months of pacing myself to complete. I worked about an hour every few days, along with maybe an extra effort every couple of weekends. My goal was to fill the pond and get the flower beds planted in January. This allowed me to get pretty winter plants (so the pond would look nice in the winter). It also allowed the water to acclimate before things warmed up in spring and summer.
…
I used four truck loads of dirt, 400 sandbags, and countless hours of wheel barreling to fill in the swimming pool. Sandbags were used to help build multiple levels of pond depth. As I approached the height I wanted, I took my time and made sure I was making a perfectly level sandbag top edge. In the picture above the outer ring of sandbags is the edge of the pond (to be covered with rock). The dirt remaining to the edge of the swimming pool will become flower beds.
…
I was very concerned about having such a huge amount of water go bad on me that I planned on a pond filter. I didn’t want a huge ugly algae mess. I spent considerable time researching filters. On my previous home’s pond, a smaller typical yard pond, I built it like an aquarium — with an underground gravel filter with PVC pipe running through it. It worked fantastic and I had perfectly clear water for years. But someone warned me it will be hard to clean. So this time I used the same principle (since it worked so well the first time) but I built it external to the pond. In addition I had now learned about the vegi-filter concept which incorporated plants.
Needless to say, you really need to check out the full article yourself - the story wasn’t featured in ‘Better Homes and Gardens’ for nothing!
Here is the link: Erik’s Swimming Pool to Pond Conversion
The pictures alone are worth the visit!
I love his biofilter design - what a fantastic (natural) way to keep your pond water clean and clear!
I get the impression that Erik’s pond was created more for aesthetic garden appeal than to serve as a swimming hole, but reading the article certainly rekindled my interest in the ‘natural swimming pool’ concept.
I found a really interesting webpage on the subject (again, with great photos) at TotalHabitat.com
Have you ever seen how many pounds of chemicals go into a typical swimming pool? Have you ever read the warning labels on the chemicals used to sterilize typical swimming pools? The basic pHilosopHy behind water quality in a typical swimming pool is to kill everything short of killing the swimmer. There is another way.
Visualize this: you are lazily floating, toes up, in a pond of sparkling clear running water, surrounded by wild grasses. Hummingbirds land on nearby trumpet flowers and the scent of jasmine and mint is in the air. Is this a dream or some mid-life fantasy? Neither. You may just be part of a new trend in swimming the natural way -without chlorine or other harsh chemicals in the water.
Sounds pretty awesome to me! If I ever decide to build a pool, this would definitely be the route I would want to go.
Technorati Tags: swimming pool, natural swimming pool, pond, garden pond, chlorine, water pump, biofilter, algae, bio pool
Written by Bentley on April 16th, 2007 with 2 comments.
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A recent question from one of our readers re: ‘green driveways’ inspired me to do some research on the topic. From what I can tell there are two main approaches:
1) creating a driveway that is literally ‘green’ with vegetation, and 2) using some form of porous concrete or asphalt.
Both of these options have the advantage (over traditional driveway paving) of allowing rain water to drain into the ground, thus helping to remove pollutants and lessening the burden on storm sewers and local water bodies. The vegetative option has the added advantage of eliminating (or at least greatly reducing) the ‘heat island’ effect associated with paved areas, not to mention offering a certain natural aesthetic appeal.
Let’s look at the vegetative options first. Of course the easiest approach would be to simply rip out your driveway then plant grass - the downside of this approach however, is that over time the earth will get compacted and ruts will form. In order to maintain good drainage some sort of structural lattice is required - typically made of concrete/stone or high density plastic.
One example of the plastic lattice approach is Grasspave2, one of a number of innovative products offered by Invisible Structures Inc. Here is a blurb from the Grasspave2 page:
Grasspave2 is a structure which provides incredible load bearing strength while protecting vegetation root systems from deadly compaction. High void spaces within the entire cross-section enable excellent root development, and storage capacity for rainfall from storm events. Stormwater is slowed in movement through and across Grasspave2 surfaces, which deposits suspended sediment and increases time to discharge. Suspended pollutants and moderate amounts of engine oils are consumed by active soil bacteria, which are aided by the system’s excellent oxygen exchange capacity.
Be sure to check out the Invisible Structures website - they have a variety of intriguing drainage solutions.
If you are looking for some excellent ‘how to’ info on building your own green driveway I highly recommend checking out this HGTV article: A driveway that looks like a lawn. It takes you step by step through the process of installing your own turf driveway using a plastic lattice.
Ok, moving on the the topic of ‘porous pavement’…
There seems to be quite a lot of good info on this topic. Here is an exerpt from and interesting webpage about porous pavement:
What is porous pavement:
Porous pavement is a permeable pavement surface with a stone reservoir underneath. The reservoir temporarily stores surface runoff before infiltrating it into the subsoil. Runoff is thereby infiltrated directly into the soil and receives some water quality treatment. Porous pavement often appears the same as traditional asphalt or concrete but is manufactured without “fine” materials, and instead incorporates void spaces that allow for infiltration.
Why consider porous pavement:
Traditional stormwater management practices significantly reduce groundwater recharge has led to a number of environmental concerns in recent years. As infiltration decreases, base flows in streams are decreased and previously flowing, small streams now often dry up between rains. Homeowners and public water suppliers often rely on wells that tap groundwater. Without recharge, the threat exists that these drinking water supplies could dry up rapidly
If you are interested in learning more about this topic I highly recommend you check out the EPA’s Porous Pavement Factsheet
I also highly recommend this excellent article all about the advances in the porous pavement field (actually provides a lot of great info about alternative pavement options in general)
Technorati Tags: porous pavement, green driveways, grasspave2, drainage, rainwater, stormwater
Written by Bentley on March 22nd, 2007 with 3 comments.
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Just came across an interesting article at CNNMoney.com. Apparently Ted Turner’s daughter, Laura Turner Seydel, and her husband have built the largest eco-home in the U.S. - it will be the first home over 5000 sq ft to receive LEED certification.
She and her husband, Rutherford, an environmental lawyer, spent $1.5 million to construct EcoManor - some 10 percent extra for going green, estimates architect Bill Harrison. But he predicts that the Seydels’ energy costs will be 80 to 90 percent below average for a like-sized Atlanta home.
EcoManor was born four years ago when Laura - who serves on more than a dozen nonprofit environmental boards - and Rutherford bought a shabby two-bedroom cottage behind their sprawling hilltop home. They had planned to turn it into a guesthouse.
But a few weeks after their purchase, a magnificent 200-year-old oak, whipped by a storm, fell and crushed the tiny house. Ted Turner is the one who, after touring the devastation with Rutherford, prodded the Seydels to tear it down and rebuild. “And when they started from scratch, they decided to go eco-friendly,” Ted recalls.
Or more like eco-obsessive. Self-proclaimed environmental activists, the Seydels collect rainwater to fill their toilets - low-flush, dual-flow units from Japanese manufacturer Toto. (”Press button No. 1 when you go No. 1, and No. 2 when you go No. 2,” instructs Laura, 45, as we tour the master bathroom, which is naturally lit via four solar tubes.) Meanwhile, used “gray” water from the Seydels’ sinks and showers passes through filters and irrigates the lawn - which is drought-tolerant, of course.
Throughout the five-bedroom house (the Seydels have three children, 9, 11 and 14), the doors are wheat-core - yes, composed of wheat, and formaldehyde-free. In the first-floor study the wallpaper is recycled newspaper, though you’d never know it: It’s an elegant-looking linen white.
Be sure to check out the full article (includes a video tour): The first certifiably green mansion
The way I see it, even if the lifestyles of the rich and famous do tend to be a tad excessive (yes that’s an understatement), it’s at least nice to see someone making a real effort to lessen their impact (while many more will do absolutely nothing to change their ways).
By the way, you can also check out the Seydel’s website: www.EcoManor.com for more info.
Technorati Tags: ecomanor, ted turner, green home, green construction, rainwater recycling, solar power, solar panels, greywater, LEED
Written by Bentley on March 15th, 2007 with no comments.
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Just came across these:
Green Roof Training in Toronto
Related ItemsArticles
Education & Research
Roofing
Sustainable Design
Green Roofs for Healthy Cities (the North American trade association for the green roof industry) is bringing the following courses to Room 304, Metro Hall, 55 John Street in Toronto on the following dates:
March 29th, 2007: Green Roof Design 101 Introductory Course (2nd Ed.) from 8:30am-5:00pm
March 30th, 2007: Green Roof Infrastructure Design & Installation 201 from 8:30am-5:00pm
Learn More Here
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Green Roof Policy Development Workshops
This half-day workshop will be held in Room 207 of Ottonobee College at Trent University, Peterborough, Ontario, on March 22nd, 2007, and in Room 303 of Metro Hall in Toronto Ontario, on March 26th, 2007. Both workshops run from 9:00am-1:00pm, and will examine what kind of incentives currently exist in other jurisdictions, how the incentives are tied to performance standards and how policy makers can assess what types of incentive programs will work best in their areas. It will also provide a framework for planners and governmental agencies to gain an understanding of the multi-faceted impacts of green roofs and areas of consideration for implementing green roof policy. Tuition is $95 or $45 for NGOs and students.
Learn More Here
Technorati Tags: green roof, greenroof, green construction, toronto, sustainable, sustainability
Written by Bentley on March 15th, 2007 with 1 comment.
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Image courtesy of Plant Architect Inc
In one of our Green News posts a little while back I included a link to an article (from Torontoist.com) about Toronto’s Nathan Phillip Square redesign competition - more specifically, an article providing a run down of the four finalists vying for the crown.
Just the other day I saw a very quick news blurb on TV mentioning that a winner had been selected, so I made a mental note to look into it.
I learned via a recent Toronto Star article that the winner was the team lead by Plant Architect inc and Shore Tilbe Irwin & Partners. I was definitely happy to hear the news, since out of the four finalists (who all incorporated at least some ‘green’ features) this team was apparently the ‘greenest’.
Here is an exerpt from the Torontoist.com article mentioned earlier (Nathan Phillips Square Design Finalists Unveiled):
The firm dubbed their design “Agora Theatre,” alluding to the architecture of classical Athens where the agora is a public and social gathering space, whereas the theatre is a home for political debate and decision-making.
Plant/STI had a very strong focus on environmental aspects of the design, attempting to create an urban forest and significant tree canopy. It is the “greenest” out of the four designs, with promises to salvage existing materials to be recycled into new tiles and building a complex system for sustaining the site’s biomass. Rainwater and waste heat are to be recovered, and low-level lighting is intended so that the night sky can be preserved as much as possible.
Like each of the other designs, there is a focus on easing entry into the square, yet providing clearly demarcated entrances. The main entrance pavilion, which houses a tourist centre and attached restaurant, is a glass box with highly-visible rental bicycles, echoing the importance of alternative transportation. The Peace Garden would be relocated to the west strip and feature a new reflecting pool.
One of the most interesting elements is the public garden green roof on the podium level (surrounding the base of the dome). With a nod to Revell’s unrealized reflecting pool, there would be a polished black granite disc surrounding the rotunda in the centre of the garden which would feature a “lightstick garden,” providing subtle visual effects at night.
The walkways would be wood-decked, which is a fantastic touch, though seemingly expensive to maintain, though there is little else planned for the ugly colonnade save for one small section of transparent glass. The PATH exit would be reconfigured so that pedestrians would exit facing City Hall. Plant also wants to re-open the old observation deck at the top of the east tower (it’s ridiculous that this was closed in the first place).
Be sure to also check out Plant Architecture’s Nathan Phillip Square Competition page for a full description and a series of beautful images.
I’m not sure when construction might be expected to begin on the project, but I certainly look forward to seeing the revitalized square once it is finished.
Technorati Tags: toronto, nathan phillip square, green design, green contruction, rainwater recovery, rainwater recycling, natural landscaping
Written by Bentley on March 14th, 2007 with 1 comment.
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Thanks to Linton for the heads-up at Hugg about Michael Reynolds’ (of Earthship Biotecture) new documentary. The YouTube video features a trailer for the movie.
Some info from the Garbage Warrior site:
Shot over three years in the USA, England, India and New Mexico, Garbage Warrior is a feature- length documentary film telling the epic story of maverick architect Michael Reynolds, his crew of renegade house builders fron New Mexico, and their fight to introduce radically different ways of living. A snapshot of contemporary geo-politics and an inspirational tale of triumph over buereaucracy, Garbage Warrior is above all an intimate portrait of an extraordinary individual and his dream of changing the world!
Sounds pretty cool! There is no indication (on GW site) of when it might be released, but I will certainly make mention on the blog once I hear more.
Related EcoSherpa posts:
Ever Rented an Earthship?
Earthships Revisted
Technorati Tags: earthships, earthship biotecture, recycling, green contruction, green building, sustainable living, sustainable design
Written by Bentley on February 22nd, 2007 with no comments.
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Interesting article in Newsweek (link to follow) about a green apartment complex being built in Milan.
…Norman Foster’s Santa Giulia complex, now under construction in southeastern Milan, is part of a new wave of “sustainable architecture” that is turning green a luxury. Foster’s 120 square hectare “city within a city” will have classic energy savers like solar panels and heat pumps, and it will use “co-generation” technology in which heat emitted as a by-product of electricity generation is used to warm the building. But Foster has also looked at the big picture, forming the structural layout into a spiral shape around the private park, channeling air currents to allow breezy ventilation—and cutting out the need for air-conditioning—even during Italy’s humid summers. Foster will spend €2 billion on the project, and each apartment will go on sale for an average of €1.7 million. “If you want to save the planet, you have to think about how we live in cities,” says Stefan Behling, senior partner and sustainability expert at Foster & Partners. “You have to think, ‘how do you get people to live and work together and leave the minimum CO2 footprint?’” Santa Giulia, due for completion in 2010, offers a convincing answer.
The new complex is expected to have 60,000 inhabitants! Very cool. Obviously it would be great if this sort of concept was much more widespread and much more affordable for ‘average’ citizens, but I honestly think it’s just a matter of time!.
Here’s a link to the full article: A new luxury apartment complex in Milan is aimed at buyers who want to be environmentally conscious without too much sacrifice.
Technorati Tags: green living, green building, green construction, solar, cogeneration, sustainable, energy saving
Written by Bentley on February 19th, 2007 with 1 comment.
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In case you have not already heard…
From It’s Getting Hot In Here
This Tuesday, February 20 from noon-3:00pm, The New York Academy of Sciences will host the “2010 Imperative: Global Emergency Teach-In.” The teach-in on “global warming, climate change, and the built environment” will be broadcast live on the web at www.2010imperative.org. Speakers include James Hansen of NASA and environmental architect, Edward Mazria of Architecture 2030. The teach-in is intended to educate students, faculty, and practicing professionsals in the architecture, planning, and design communities and will be focused on ecological design in a world effected by global warming and climate change.
For more information go to www.2010imperative.org.
BTW, here is a recent Inhabitat interview with Ed Mazria (same interview can be found at WorldChanging): INTERVIEW: Ed Mazria from Architecture 2030 (includes info about the teach-in)
Sounds very interesting!
Technorati Tags: ed mazria, architecture 2030, green design, green contruction, green building, leed, carbon neutral, greenhouse gas emissions, global warming, climate change, sustainable
Written by Bentley on February 16th, 2007 with no comments.
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Sorry for the slow week! Looks as though Steve and I have entered another busy period with work commitments etc.
Have no fear though - with spring approaching (and exciting outdoor plans brewing) I have a feeling we’ll be posting much more regularly!
Anyway…
When I wrote my green dream house post last week, we received a comment from ‘Ryan & Megan’ informing us about their own green dream house project currently underway in Calgary Alberta.
I’m always interested to learn about real case studies so I popped over to their website for a look-see and was impressed with the wealth of info relating to green contruction and related topics.
From what I gather, they are still quite early in the construction phase so the website also provides an interesting and unique opportunity for readers to follow along and watch as this couple builds their eco home - a great way for us ‘dreamers’ to live vicariously through someone who is actually getting their hands dirty.
Here is a blurb from the ‘About Us’ section:
The couple is gathering content for their website from home-building sites, their own research and local companies involved in the project. The goal is to help others who may be thinking of using low-energy technologies but do not know where go for more information.
While the project is still in its infancy, the vision is to build an environmentally responsible, small foot-print house that blends into Calgary’s historical neighbourhood of Ramsay, just outside the downtown core. The house will be primarily made of concrete and heated by the earth — with insulated-concrete-forms and super high-efficiency gas heating. The website is updated daily with content such as site reports, local resources, eco-friendly interiors, environmentally responsible suppliers and new green technology.
If you are interested in matters relating to green construction, alternative energy and general green living, you should definitely drop by Ryan and Megan’s ‘Home Building, Renovating, and Eco-Friendly Blog‘ when you get the chance..
I for one will be very interested to keep tabs on their progress this year, and hopefully learn as much as I can about building a green home in Canada.
Technorati Tags: green contruction, green building, green design, alternative energy, green power, calgary, green home, eco home
Written by Bentley on February 2nd, 2007 with no comments.
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