Solar for everyone...soon

I just found the most amazing slideshow of up and coming solar ideas for everyday objects. It is on this great site called treehugger.com which highlights many ways humans are improving.

link: solar-cell-prototypes-that-could-change-the-future

I love #3 - the little solar cells that sit on your desk and make power. And #9 is for my husband who is constantly being bitten by mosquitoes. I love the multiple ideas that fold out a solar panel during the day to capture energy to be used at night. So many solutions seem like they could work well on a person by person, simple daily level.

But I have to admit, my favorite is the solar powered refrigeration system. This one is small scale for use where electricity does not go, but I love the idea of it becoming the norm everywhere. The refrigerator is my largest home energy consumer which I would love to eliminate. I love the idea of using the natural heat of the sun to cool it all down. Who doesn't want a skylight in the kitchen?

Green renovation tax credits

A story headline with the words tax credits in it seldom get me to click on it, but I wanted to share a story I read in Architect magazine. It gives the tax code info on a new credit home or building owners can get when you renovate your house to better your energy use. You have to get the house tested to see how well you did, but it seems like it could be valuable.

For architects: it says if the owner does not need/want the tax deduction, they can transfer it to their architect. For instance the govmt will not use it, or if a big land owner has other deductions and does not need it. A great idea to give the designer incentive to do good work too.

Story here: green renovation tax credits

VOTE!

For my Honolulu architect friends, the AIA has opened voting for AIA members on the best of the best for the year. There is a ridiculously large amount of entrants this year, and some quite good work. Congrats HI architects, well done.

Voting only for members now....commoners vote next week.

http://www.aiahonolulu.org/vote

Energy Star project competition

The AIA is holding a competition on their Facebook page and asking us to vote as the jury. Sponsored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), this contest features the 2010 ENERGY STAR Challenge design projects intended to achieve carbon reductions of 50 percent or better. Each building shows it's Energy Star rating and CO2 reduction. I thought it was interesting how they asked us to vote on their energy saving merits as well as their beauty. I am proud of architects today for taking responsibility for improving energy use in buildings while remembering the value we supply by creating buildings that are also beautiful. Comment on the pics in this album: http://www.facebook.com/aia 

Beautiful Venice house

This house, designed by Maya Lin (the amazing woman who designed the Vietnam Memorial www.mayalin.com) is so beautiful. It is on a little strip of land right on Venice Beach with the residence on the beach and an office in the back. Just fantastic. I love the crisp stucco/concrete look to the finish. I wonder if they used soy based wood stain....

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/home_blog/2010/05/maya-lin-designs-a-venice-house.html

Green Flooring

At the USGBC Green Home Guide site today I found this really great (and rather extensive) article on different sustainable flooring options. Too many to choose from, all with pros and cons.
http://greenhomeguide.com/green flooring



I also recently talked to a woman at a sustainable building conference in Santa Monica about green concrete sealer. She recommended this great line that is soy based of all things. Who knew? They work for wood too, with pretty good ratings in ocean front exposure.
http://www.ecoprocote.com/

modular growing wall tiles

I just can't get enough of this image. I love how they look, and how they work.

http://inhabitat.com/2010/05/19/lifewall-modular-vertical-garden-panels-clean-the-air/#more-118602

i love my president

Obama just announced a plan to use the GM bailout money to refurbish old GM plants. Can this guy get any smarter?

http://inhabitat.com/2010/05/19/president-obama-allocates-800-million-to-repurpose-old-gm-factories/

World Trade Center - actually moving forward

A great article about the current state of all the building and designing going on at the WTC site. They are finally making some progress!

http://www.architizer.com/en_us/blog/dyn/2575/2575/?utm_source=facebook_status_wtc100504

decks - double your living space

I just came across this article on outdoor decks. A few nice spots, I just can't for the life of me like wicker. Not even after almost five years living in Hawaii.

I do like the spaces that utilize change in elevation - steps. And having space in the shade next to space in the sun is always great for added comfort.

I especially like slide 8 - i love the idea of the fire pit. I am not sure what the gap around it is to the owners, but to me it screams out as a great place for a hot tub.

http://realestate.msn.com/slideshow.aspx?cp-documentid=23650068

composting - the new recycling

I just came across this news report on composting. I can't believe this has hit the mainstream. Seems like a good idea to me. Our landfills have completely stopped working, time to take on the responsibility ourselves.

http://www.wavy.com/dpp/living_green/nbc-video-composting-the-next-recycling

Here is a link to one brand of compost bin I have found. http://www.naturemill.com/