Read the rest of Canada’s Gorgeous Green-Roofed VanDusen Botanical Garden Visitor Centre Opens to the Public!

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Post tags: Canada architecture, energy efficient public buildings, green architecture, green design, green roof, Landscape Architecture, LEED Platinum building, living building, Living Building Challenge, net zero energy building, perkins+will, Solar Power, vandusen botanical garden visitor centre

It would appear that America’s City of Sin is going solar with news that Las Vegas will soon be powered by a massive 100MW 540 foot solar tower. Atop it will be 100-foot receiver that will received solar energy from the field of 10,000 large mirrors that will populate the area around the tower. Thanks to Nevada’s large amount of sunlight, it is hoped that the solar tower will be able to receive 10 to 15 hours of sunlight a day. The project, known as the Crescent Dunes Solar Energy Project, is being headed by American company SolarReserve, who is using a molten salt storage facility to deliver power to the grid once the sun has gone down. In a statement, the company said that they hope to complete the solar tower by the spring and aim to start delivering 110 megawatts by the end of 2013. Hopefully, not all of it will be used to power the famous Strip.

Read the rest of Massive New Solar Power Tower Set to Energize the Las Vegas Strip

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Post tags: crescent dunes molten salt, Crescent Dunes Solar Energy Project, las vegas solar power, las vegas solar tower, Solar Power, solar reserve Nevada project, solar tower crescent dunes, solar tower Nevada, solar tower solarreserve, solarreserve las vegas

London designer Omer Sagiv created this solar-powered concept car that looks like it’s straight out of the latest sci-fi movie. The concept car is referred to as the SPV (Solar Power Vehicle) and Sagiv states that it’s made of aluminum with flexible thin modules fixed to it and that the shaft in the center of the SPV functions as an in-built cooling system. The aerodynamic shape of the concept allows it to collect energy in any sunny environment. Even better, the concept can also use the extra energy that it collects from its solar panels to power its owner’s house!

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Post tags: automotive, automotive design, electric car, electric vehicle, ev, green transportation, news, Omer Sagiv, solar car, solar panels, Solar Power, Solar Power Vehicle, toyota prius

Read the rest of Marks Barfield Proposes a Soaring Bamboo Science Center for the Amazon Rainforest

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Post tags: amazon rainforest, amazon treehouse, bamboo architecture, bamboo treehouse, ecotourism, green architecture, green design, green rainforest architecture, Marks Barfield Architects, Solar Power, sustainable design

What if generating solar energy at home required little more than mixing some grass clippings with inexpensive chemicals? That’s exactly what MIT researcher Andreas Mershin has found to be the case. The scientist says creating a solar cell could be as easy as mixing any green organic material (grass clippings, agricultural waste) with a bag of custom chemicals and painting the mixture on a roof. Once the efficiency of Mershin’s system is improved, this type of solar technology could make cheap energy available in rural places and developing countries where people don’t have access to affordable energy. Read on to see a video of Mershin’s findings.

Read the rest of MIT Researchers Find a Way To Make Solar Panels from Grass Clippings

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Post tags: "clean energy", "solar energy", Andreas Mershin, biophotovoltaic, biophotovoltaics, green tech, massachusetts institute of technology, MIT, photovoltaic, renewable energy, Solar Power, solar power gro grass clippings, Technology

The Ecovila, located on the coast of São Paulo, is the first residential structure in Brazil to install solar panels that follow the motion of the sun. The solar system, along with two wind turbines, will provide enough energy for lighting and water pumping to support the entire village consisting of 58 houses. The system installed has the capacity to capture 350,000 liters of rainwater, and the design of the village boasts cross ventilation, 15 square meters of green area per resident, and an organic garden.

+ Ecovila

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Post tags: ecovila residence, sao paolo architecture, Solar Power, solar power brazil, wind power brazil

Read the rest of Georgetown Station is a Model for Low-Impact Mass Transit Outside Austin, Texas

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Post tags: "sustainable architecture", "wind power", "wind turbine", austin, CARTS, eco design, electric vehicle charging station, Georgetown Station, green architecture, Green Building, green design, green transportation, Jackson Mcelhaney, photovoltaics, public transportation, rainwater collection, renewable energy, Solar Power, Sustainable Building, sustainable design, texas, transit stop, whisper

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Post tags: "leed", AHBE, BWP, green rooftops, Heliphoto, industrial renovation, sites, Solar Power, sustainable rejuvenation

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Post tags: "energy efficiency", Austria, Daylighting, eco design, green design, KIKO, Ohnmacht Flamm Architekten, passive house, Solar Power, Sustainable Building, sustainable design, Tyrol Mountains

The U.S. Department of Energy has just announced the location of the 2013 Solar Decathlon – as well as the 20 lucky teams who will be competing for green design glory! After being kicked off the National Mall last year, organizers scrambled to find a back up location – and they’ve found a gem in the Golden State. This fall, the Orange County Great Park in Irvine, California will be filled with energy-efficient prefab homes as they duke it out to see which house can generate the most solar energy!

Read the rest of U.S. Department of Energy Announces the 2013 Solar Decathlon is Coming to California!

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Post tags: Department of Energy, orange county great park, orange county great park solar decathlon, solar, Solar Decathlon, solar decathlon 2013, solar decathlon 2013 news, solar decathlon news, SOLAR HOMES, solar news, Solar Power, solar powered homes, U. S. Department of Energy

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Post tags: advertising space, apostrophy's, Bangkok, Billboard House, capitalism, eco design, green design, hydroponics plants, Solar Power, sustainable design, Thailand, Urban design, urban dwelling

President Obama delivered his annual State of the Union address to the nation last night while standing firm on his believe that American ingenuity will carry us safely into a secure future. His overall message was that we need to clear up the partisan politics in Washington in order to write and pass legislation that overcomes the burdens of bureaucracy while opening doors to the technology of the future that can create jobs on American soil. He firmly spoke of his mission to bypass Congress in order to use public land to create clean energy, pledged government funding for innovation in clean technology and manufacturing here in America, promised to stay dedicated to reforms that keep our air clean and reduce emissions, vowed to force natural gas drilling to become safer, asked again for Congress to stop subsidizing oil, and spoke of incentives for businesses to lower their energy bills through power savings. Though he spoke briefly about the opening of new offshore oil drilling, we all know in a climate like that of Washington you’ve got to give a little to get a lot and the President, when it comes to green reforms, was asking for a lot.

Read the rest of Obama’s State of the Union Address Sets Forth a Green Blueprint for America

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Post tags: "clean energy", barack obama, climate change legislation, comprehensive climate change legislation, green energy, green energy legislation, obama, obama energy policy, obama green policy, obama state of the union, obama sustainable energy policy, politics, president obama, Solar Power, SOTU, state of the union, washington, washington green energy policy

A++ is working in collaboration with Seasif SUN-TEC, Luxferov and Nuovo Corso, to design and develop innovative, self-sufficient, modular residential units that can respond effectively to the global demand for housing. The new housing units will host innovative, lightweight and extremely sturdy frames that can be arranged to accomodate the orientation and insulation demands required by different climate zones. The modular structures will also be covered with a roof that integrates a new typology of solar panel that can both produce electrical energy and thermal energy to power, heat and cool the home. The goal of the new design is to not only reduce long-run costs for the inhabitant, but to create a comfortable and sustainable home.

+ A++

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Post tags: A++, eco building, energy efficient buildings, Green Building, low cost energy efficient housing, low-cost housing, Luxferov, Nuovo Corso, Seasif SUN-TEC, self-sufficient residential units, Solar Power, solar powered homes, zero energy homes

The designers behind Ski Dubai’s artificial ski slope, Snow World and B01 Arquitectos, have teamed up to improve on their original design with the world’s very first carbon-neutral indoor ski slope in Barcelona. If approved by Barcelona’s City Council, this new Snow World will be a component of the Zona Franca redevelopment project, which aims to transform a neglected industrial complex into a thriving residential area. Both the ski dome and housing area will be powered with renewable energy, while the extreme cooling necessary to maintain an artificial ski slope in a warm country will be achieved by harvesting the byproduct of converting liquefied natural gas back into its gaseous form.

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Post tags: artificial snow, B01 Arquiectos, Barcelona, barcelona ski slope, carbon neutral ski slope, carbon-neutral, eco design, green design, green ski slope, is it green, methane, natural gas, plant waste, renewable energy, Ski Dubai, ski slope, snow world, Solar Power, sustainable design

Dulas recently delivered the National Trust’s largest solar PV array in the UK at their grade I listed Llanerchaeron property in Wales. At just under 40 kWp (37.5kWp) and combined with the existing 7.5 kWp solar PV array, the installation should generate up to half of the electricity that the house requires. Having provided a full planning consultancy service for multiple solar PV sites across the National Trust portfolio in Wales, Dulas advised a free-standing ground mount ballasted array would provide the optimum solution to be delivered within tight timescales. Mike Clay of Dulas Ltd said of the installation: “By taking forward thinking steps and engaging with a highly experienced company the Trust has been able to best utilize the space available to gain maximum benefit from the feed in tariff. By prioritizing the installation Dulas was able to commission the project in time to take advantage of the highest feed in tariff rates providing the best possible financial rate of returns for the Trust.” The Trust has made a commitment to reduce its reliance on fossil fuels by 50% within the next eight years. It aims to cut carbon emissions from energy use for heat and electricity by 45%, beating the government’s target of a 34% reduction in CO2 by 2020.

+ Dulas

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Post tags: alternative energy, dulas, green design, green power, Llanerchaeron, National Trust, photovoltaic installation, renewable energy, solar installation, Solar Power, sustainable design, united kingdom, Wales

Singapore’s sprawling supertree-sprouting Gardens by the Bay are rapidly nearing completion – and one of the three indoor gardens, Bay East has already opened to the public with rave reviews. Designed by Grant Associates, the gardens are currently gearing up for their grand opening this June – hit the jump for fresh new photos of this amazing project!

Read the rest of Singapore’s Supertree-Sprouting Gardens by the Bay Set to Officially Open This June

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Post tags: "botanical garden", Bay South, eco design, gardens by the bay, grant associates, green design, indoor garden, natural filtration, rainwater harvesting, SInapgore, Solar Power, supertrees, sustainable design

Read the rest of US’s Largest Net Zero School Welcomes Students in Irving, Texas

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Post tags: "wind power", Corgan Associates, Corgan Associates architects, energy efficient schools, Fabral Metal Wall and Roof Systems, green architecture, irving isd, johnson middle school, lady bird johnson middle school, largest net zero school, LEED gold, net zero middle school, net zero school, net zero school texas, renewable energy, solar panels, Solar Power, wind turbines

Grant Korgan, Image ©High Fives Foundation

As you read this, a team of adventurers is cross-country skiing their way to the bottom of the world. But this is no ordinary Antarctic expedition – this is the first attempt made by an adaptive athlete to reach the South Pole on a sit ski. Marking the 100-year anniversary when Captain Robert Falcon Scott’s Terra Nova expedition reached the earth’s most remote spot, The Push: South Pole Adventure team is making history. The team is led by Grant Korgan, who injured his spinal cord, has no control of his legs from the knees down and has poor circulation in his feet. To keep his feet warm in the sub-zero temperatures, he’s relying on a Goal Zero portable solar photovoltaic system and some Therm-ic high-tech heated socks, without which he would never be able to reach his goal.

Read the rest of Solar Panels & Heated Socks Aid First Adaptive Athlete To Ski To the South Pole

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Post tags: adaptive athlete, goal zero, grant korgan, green design, heated socks, korg 3.0 movement, korg movement, portable solar charger, portable solar power, renewable energy, solar charger, Solar Power, south pole, south pole push, sustainable design, the push, the push a south pole adventure, therm-ic

Scientists at MIT and RWTH Aachen University may have revolutionized the effectiveness of concentrated solar plants – by emulating the pattern found on a sunflower, otherwise known in science as Fermat’s spiral. By rearranging the CSP’s massive heliostats, or mirrors, to resemble the yellow flower’s petals, the solar power harvester can take up 20% less space. Making the system more compact increases the CSP’s efficacy, giving it a higher potential for energy generation.


Read the rest of MIT Scientists Find Way to Maximize Concentrated Solar Plant Efficacy by Emulating a Sunflower’s Pattern

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Post tags: "solar energy", Concentrated Solar plant, eco design, Fermat Spiral, fermat's spiral, green design, green energy, green technology, heliostat, PS10 solar plant, Solar Power, sunflower angle, sunflower solar, sustainable design

Read the rest of Will Bruder’s Colorful Kimball Art Center Proposal is Powered By the Sun & Wind

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Post tags: "sustainable architecture", Daylighting, eco design, green architecture, Green Building, green design, green renovation, kimball art center, kimball art center renovation, kimball art center transformation, park city, Solar Power, Sustainable Building, sustainable design, Utah, will bruder, will bruder + partners, wind turbines