Top 10 green buildings by American Institute

The American Institute of Architects (AIA) and its Committee on the Environment (COTE) have selected the top 10 sustainable architecture and green design solutions.


The top 10 includes:

- City of Watsonville Water Resources Center by WRNS Studio. The new 16,000 square foot building consolidates three different city and county water departments and includes administrative offices, a water quality lab, educational space and a design that puts the story of water in California on display. The building, its systems and its landscape will serve to educate the public through exhibition and guided tours.

King Abdullah University of Science & Technology


- KAUST, Thuwal, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia by HOK. KAUST's new campus is the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's first LEED certified project and the world's largest LEED Platinum project.



Kroon Hall


- Kroon Hall by Hopkins Architects and Centerbrook Architects & Planners. Replacing a brownfield site, Kroon Hall was charged with being a net zero energy building. The project has a mix of active and passive design measures and visible, invisible and interactive building features.

- Manassas Park Elementary School + Pre-K by VMDO Architects. The school is conceived throughout as a teaching tool that shepherds children along a path of environmental stewardship. Interior extended learning spaces offer views of the neighboring mixed oak forest, while elementary classrooms face shady moss and fern-covered learning courtyards featuring 'fallen' trees.

- Manitoba Hydro Place by Kuwabara Payne McKenna Blumberg Architects and Smith Carter Architects and Engineers. The project was designed utilising a formal integrated design process to achieve goals of energy efficiency, healthy workplace environment, urban revitalisation, sustainability and architectural excellence. At 88 kwh per sqm annually, from a demand side, it is the most energy efficient large office tower in North America, with a 66 per cent improvement over the standard.



355 11th Street


- 355 11th Street by Aidlin Darling Design. The project is a LEED-NC Gold adaptive reuse of an historic (and previously derelict) turn-of the-century industrial building. The design team implemented a strategy of introducing subtle perforations into new zinc cladding to allow light and air into the occupied spaces.

- Michael J. Homer Science & Student Life Center by Leddy Maytum Stacy Architects. The design encourages scientific inquiry, linking the school’s science curriculum to building functions throughout the seasons – how it breathes, resists gravity, conserves precious resources and generates energy.

- Omega Center for Sustainable Living by BNIM Architects. The Center has been designed to clean water, return the clean water to the local systems and educate users about the process. Eco-Machine technologies were selected to clean the water, utilising natural systems including the earth, plants and sunlight. The entire building and water process utilise site harvested renewable energy achieving a net zero energy system.

- Special No. 9 House by KieranTimberlake. The project was designed to provide storm-resistant, affordable and ustainable housing options for the residents of New Orleans’ Lower Ninth Ward displaced by Hurricane Katrina. Key goals were to create safe, healthy and dignified housing to residents in a flood-prone area and to empower residents to return to improved living conditions that take advantage of New Orleans’ climate.

- Twelve|West by Zimmer Gunsul Frasca Architects LLP. Twelve|West was designed to achieve the highest levels of urban sustainability and is expected to earn a platinum rating under LEED NC overall and LEED CI for the office floors. An emphasis was put on selecting low-impact materials, including salvage, reclaimed and FSC-certified wood. Much of the concrete building structure is exposed on the interior minimising the use of finish material and providing ample thermal mass.

Australia sees its first zero emissions house opened

Working with industry partners Delfin-Lend Lease and the Henley Property Group and supported by the AusZEH consortium, CSIRO designed and built the demonstration house 30 kilometres north of Melbourne’s CBD in the community of Laurimar in Doreen, Victoria.

The 8 star energy-efficiency rated AusZEH showcases off-the-shelf building and renewable energy-generation technologies and new future-ready energy management systems.

The AusZEH is designed to produce enough ‘zero-emission’ electricity from 6 kW solar panels to supply all the operating energy needs of the household so that its net total CO2 or other greenhouse gas emissions is zero.

The director of CSIRO’s Energy Transformed Flagship, Dr Alex Wonhas, says the uptake of zero-emission housing in Australia could have a significant impact on reducing emissions nationwide.

"CSIRO scientists estimate that if all the new housing built in Australia between 2011 and 2020 were zero-emission houses, 63 million tons of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions would be saved," he says.

"This would be equivalent to taking all of Australia’s private cars off the road for two years and 237 days, or closing all Australia’s power stations for up to 100 days."

CSIRO’s Energy Transformed Flagship initiated the AusZEH project to demonstrate and evaluate how low-carbon housing can be achieved in Australia to reduce GHG emissions and create a more sustainable future for the nation.

For 12 months, the AusZEH demonstration house will become a home for an Australian family and a laboratory for CSIRO.

The house has been fitted with a unique energy management system developed by La Trobe University in partnership with CSIRO, which tracks energy use in the house and provides feedback via customised reports to household members.

This information on the performance of the ‘living’ house will be used to identify ways to improve the design of future zero and low-emission houses.

CSIRO initiated the National Research Flagships to provide science-based solutions in response to Australia’s major research challenges and opportunities.

Green Architect Projects Gaining Ground

Have you heard of green architecture, but are unsure exactly what it is? Green architecture concentrates on lowering the environmental damage done to the earth by putting up new buildings. This approach to putting up buildings while making it environmentally safe has been around for almost 30 years.

While green architecture was once viewed as highly unconventional, it's getting a lot more acceptable and popular. Many of the regulatory agencies are learning to recognize the advantages of the methods of green construction.

Today's green revolution can probably be tracked back to 1960s social awareness and the adoption of different methods of design. Green construction has made great strides since then. New techniques have been developed, new, innovative concepts and materials invented, and buildings have gotten greener.

A successful green project will reduce waste, use non-toxic materials, and pay close attention to the location and function of the building, as well as the climate that surrounds it. That's a far cry from "one size fits all" building methods of the past.

What makes a building green? There are a number of concepts that make up a green building. The main ones are energy efficiency, use of land, reduction of waste, materials used and the sustainability of the project. Green projects should use energy efficient electrical systems whenever possible, especially in the areas of heating and cooling. Gray water recycling, passive solar design, and the use of renewable power are all elements of this.

Building should be constructed to match the environment, rather than forcing changes to the site. Buildings should be located and oriented to take maximum advantages of their surroundings. Improved energy efficiency is the desired outcome and it makes for a building more pleasant to use. Use of land planning in the form of parking and transportation concerns become viable, too.

In a perfect setting the materials used should allow the building to be reused for other construction possibilities in the future producing minimal waste. Green architecture should reduce the dependence on wasteful and toxic materials and products, which is becoming much easier as the industry grows. Some buildings even reuse parts of other buildings, or waste materials such as old shipping containers.

Of course, not all projects labeled green are really green. Some are "greenwashed" - ordinary projects given a green veneer for respectability purposes. Others are built with good intentions but poor planning. That's why it's highly important and effective to know that all green projects be inspected carefully to ensure they are as safe for the environment as claimed. Helping the environment is complex, but it's worth it in the long run, with buildings being more usable and more sustainable years down the line.

The Strangest Eco-Friendly Buildings on Earth

Once in a while we come across a picture of an “eco-friendly” building that makes us stop and go “hmmm.”

What on earth were the architects thinking when they designed these exteriors?

1. The Oil Rig Eco Resort



The Morris design team proposed to turn one of the many oil rigs on the Gulf of Mexico into a self-sustaining eco-friendly resort hotel. The unique position in the middle of the ocean would make it a prime destination - you know - if it weren’t an oil rig.



The design was submitted as part of the John Hardy Group and Hospitality Design Magazine international design competition. The focus of the competition was on finding ways to innovate the hospitality industry. What an excellent way to turn some of 4,000 (yup, you read that right) oil rigs into autonomous luxury destinations. Because of the locations, each would have to create its own renewable energy source. We doubt we’ll see a structure like this any time soon, but we can dream.

2. Taiwan’s Green-Roofed Skyscrapers



NBBJ Architects, based out of Los Angeles, partnered with Fei & Cheng Associates to develop a series of three eco-friendly office towers to be constructed in Taiwan. Ground has already been broken and the three green buildings are expected to include incredible systems for heating, cooling, and efficient energy consumption.



NBBJ made sure that the location of the each tower would optimize its abilities to take advantage of natural daylight. Each building will also have a rooftop garden that will aid in interior insulation as well. The building is scheduled to open in 2012.

3. The Sliding House



An unassuming client contacted the Rijke Marsh Morgan design firm who then contracted with dRMM Architecture - he wanted a unique retirement home that resembled a country timber barn. What he got was a house made of glass with a wooden exterior that slides off and on.



Someone deserves a raise for designing this building. The cool thing is that the ability to cover and uncover the house will make it easier to both heat and cool throughout the year, resulting in stunning energy savings.

4. One Man’s Garbage is another Man’s Shelter



Max Wallack had an ingenious idea when it came to creating an entry for the PBS Design Squad Trash to Treasure competition. He took old plastic, packing peanuts, and wire and created a homeless shelter. It’s lightweight, can be easily assembled, and can keep the occupant insulated from the elements outside. Oh yea - and Max? He’s only 12 years old.

5. The Flying Hostel



Not sure where you’re going to stay on your next trip to Stockholm? Why not find your way to the 747-200 - a hostel which despite its appearance will never leave the ground.



This is the ultimate in recycling. Instead of turning this retired jumbo jet into a heap of rotting metal, it was salvaged and turned into a low-cost hostel. It remains in the Stockholm-Arlanda airport, is fully furnished, and is a great way to relax after a long trip. If you’re near the airport stop by to check it out - the airplane/hostel is open to visitors.

6. Bunny Lane



Designer Adam Kalkin designed this strange yet attractive home within a home, formally known as Bunny Lane. Located in New Jersey, the exterior of the building is a gigantic shed with roll-up doors and three stories of rooms that are kept to one end.



Inside the shed you’ll find a complete two-story home. Outside the home is a separate living room and if you roll up the shed doors you’ll enjoy sitting in a breezeway on what can only be described as a porch that looks like an overly furnished living room. The family living in the house can spend time in the interior house or in one of the nine rooms included as part of the shed itself.

7. StatoilHydro’s Eco Friendly Office

Over in Norway we’ll soon see an eco friendly office building for one of Norway’s largest oil companies - StatoilHydro. The design won first place in a competition and the building is scheduled for completion in 2012.



The new building will result in the merger of two distinct offices, creating not only an eco-friendly environment but eliminating waste associated with traveling between two offices, unnecessary courier services, and miscommunication. When viewed from above, the building is in the shape of a star, with five distinct wings lying over top of each other in a criss-crossed pattern.



This unique building will be equipped with a specialized heating and cooling system that significantly reduces the amount of power needed to energize such a large building.

8. The Shining Solar Skyscraper

In Shenzhen, the China Insurance Group ran a contest in which architects were asked to design a skyscraper for their new headquarters. The winning design came from Coop Himmelb(I)au, an Australian firm.



When completed, the tower will rise 49stories above the city’s skyline and include photovoltaic cells designed with a number of incredible features in mind. These cells will increase wind resistance, aid in naturally ventilating the building, provide shade from the sunlight, and contribute to the display of external banners.



When the building is finished it will have a section for business offices, a section for conferences and meetings, and a section for public businesses and events. The surrounding area will be complete with gardens and the entire site will be be equipped with solar and wind energy.

9. The Inflatable Diamond Grid Eco-Pavilion

Take, for example, the inflatable diamond grid eco-pavilion. This astounding creation was designed in response to a competition requesting an eco-friendly yet mobile space in which Yorkshire Forward could perform. The design was a collaboration of several talented architects.



Believe it or not, the entire stadium takes little more than an hour to inflate, will show no sign of wrinkling after transport, and can be modified depending on the size of the crowd that is anticipated. The building generates its own electricity and its self-sustaining design should make it opportune for even the most remote destinations.



So what do you think? Would you stay in any of these eco-friendly houses, hotels, or buildings? We can’t wait to see the end results, especially for the ones already under construction!

Futuristic architecture goes beyond green building

Architect David Fisher has taken the charming notion of revolving floor penthouse restaurants and turned it into something much, much bigger: a skyscraper in which every floor revolves, resulting in the first building which constantly changes its architectural shape.

The first two such skyscrapers are planned for Dubai and Moscow. The Dubai building already has 1000 reservation requests.

The building isn't just compelling because it looks really cool, either: it is an environmentally revolutionary concept.

The Dynamic Tower, the world’s first building in motion, takes the concept of green buildings to the next level: the Dynamic Tower will generate electricity for itself as well as other buildings nearby, making it the first skyscraper designed to be self-powered.

The building generates electricity from wind turbines mounted horizontally between each floor. For example, an 80-story building will have up to 79 wind turbines, making it a true green power plant. While traditional vertical wind turbines have some environmental negative impact, including obstruction of views and the need for roads to build and maintain them, The Dynamic Tower’s wind turbines are practically invisible. The Dynamic Tower turbines are also extremely quiet due to their special shape and the carbon fiber material they are constructed from.

Another environmentally green element of the Dynamic Tower is the photovoltaic cells that will be placed on the roof of each rotating floor to produce solar energy. At any time of the day, approximately 20 percent of each roof will be exposed to the sun, so a building that has 80 floors will equal the roofing area of 10 similar sized buildings.

In addition, natural, recyclable materials including stone, marble, glass and wood will be used for the interior finishing. To further improve the energy efficiency of the Dynamic Tower, insulated glass and structural insulating panels will be employed.

Article courtesy : Michele Lerner

Green Design and Earth-Friendly Architecture

Green Design is a term used to describe economical, energy-saving, environmental friendly, sustainable development. These resources explore the relationship between architecture and ecology, and show how you can use concepts of green design in your own home.

Green building-
Green building is the practice of increasing the efficiency with which buildings use resources — energy, water, and materials — while reducing building impacts on human health and the environment, through better sitting, design, construction, operation, maintenance, and removal — the complete building life cycle.

A similar concept is natural building, which is usually on a smaller scale and tends to focus on the use of natural materials that are available locally. Other commonly used terms include sustainable design and green architecture.

Green building materials-
Building materials typically considered to be 'green' include rapidly renewable plant materials like bamboo and straw, lumber from forests certified to be sustainably managed, dimension stone, recycled stone, recycled metal, and other products that are non-toxic, reusable, renewable, and/or recyclable (e.g. Trass, Linoleum, sheep wool, panels made from paper flakes, baked earth, rammed earth, clay, vermiculite, flax linen, sisal, seagrass, cork, expanded clay grains, coconut, wood fiber plates, calcium sand stone. Building materials should be extracted and manufactured locally to the building site to minimize the energy embedded in their transportation.

Can Green buildings save India from going grey?

A layman is very likely to show little interest in a speech or a discussion on green buildings. But, when the same person learns that there are only eight years left for us to save Mother Earth from the throes of emissions induced destruction, sitting up and taking notice is the only way out.

• What is a green building and what are the key requisites for constructing a green building?
  

A green building is the one that makes the greatest possible use of natural light and air and least possible utilization of energy and water. It uses industrial byproducts, emphasizes on recycling of waste water, harvesting of rain water, least use of air-conditioning, less production of carbon dioxide and tries to safeguard the environment in every possible way. Making a building green begins at the planning stage. The aim has to be kept in mind throughout. Secondly, safety is paramount in case of a green building. If a labourer dies while the construction is on, the building is never given a green certification.

After the construction is over, it is not possible to make a building green. There are various requisites for planning and constructing a green building.

Firstly, identifying a site for the construction of the building is very crucial. Ideally the site should be located in a centralized place so that the inhabitants can use public transport and less or no fossil fuel run vehicles.

Energy utilization should be optimum in a green building. Care should be taken to reduce the load of air conditioning on the power system.

Water discharge should be zero in a green building. Good green architecture reduces wastage of water in a big way. A green building should ideally have all waste water biologically treated and recycled. Ample structural specifications are incorporated in green buildings for harvesting rainwater. Grey water (water left after washing utensils and clothes) can be used for gardening and flushing purposes.

Maximum effort should be made in use of recycled materials in the construction of the building. Effort should be made to use fly ash Ready Mixed Concrete (20% fly ash + 100% cement) in construction. Aerated concrete blocks can be used instead of bricks for better insulation and heat rejection. Roof insulation should be done with clay rather than chemicals. Maximum bamboo products should be used for flooring.

• What is THE primary consideration while making a green building?
  

Though the term ‘green building’ says that it is about taking care of the environment, the comfort and considerations of the occupant is paramount. There is a standard to determine how good the Indoor Air Quality is, Carbon Dioxide content inside the building should be 400ppm over the ambient CO2 level.

Green buildings have the option of fresh air on demand. Coupled with effective and efficient cooling mechanism, green buildings can let occupants have a wonderful experience.