This past weekend Silicon Valley erupted in a fantastic celebration of sustainable design as green building experts from all disciplines converged in San Jose for West Coast Green. From architects, contractors and interior designers to eco entrepreneurs and clean tech mavens, this year’s exposition focused an incredible spectrum of skills towards the common goal of greening the built environment, the world’s largest source of greenhouse gas emissions. The conference itself showcased an incredible set of sustainable strategies including solar power provided by SolaRover, recycled carpeting and finishings, compostable food and beverage containers, and carbon neutrality. Read on for our highlights from the show!
Our contest winners Steven Hussey and Daniel Flahiff joined Mike Chino at the third annual West Coast Green. Situated at the San Jose Convention Center in the heart of Silicon Valley, this year’s conference showed a marked shift towards integrating clean technology solutions in green building applications.
Left: A fleet of Food Map container gardens next to the Harbinger House. Right: Beautiful bamboo architecture, a collaboration between BambooDNA, Hyphae Design Laboratory, and The Natural Builders.
The entire venue was interspersed with gorgeous living wall panels provided by Succulent Gardens
Award-winning biologist and broadcaster David Suzuki gave an incredible keynote about finding the “eco” in economy.
Left: The City Tour for Solar increased awareness for solar power with an interactive mobile exhibit. Right: IDEO‘s Aquaduct Mobile Filtration Vehicle bicycle purifies water as you pedal!
The Watermill: an atmospheric water collection device that condenses water vapor from within your home and purifies it for reuse.
The Rainwater HOG is a modular rain storage system that is stackable, recyclable, and easily expandable.
The Kirei booth dazzled with beautiful paintings that re-imagined the sustainable surface as a canvas for artistic endeavors.
Left: Whyrhymer Furniture showcased a gorgeous collection of sustainable furniture. Their sleek sculpted pieces use FSC certified, renewable, and reclaimed hardwoods, and are finished using plant based oils and resins. Right: The Reclaimer‘s PLOG is a sustainably sourced portable structure composed entirely of timber reclaimed from urban construction sites.
Al Gore gave a knockout closing keynote where he re-issued his call for 100% renewable energy in the United States and focused upon the need to “bail in” alternative energies.
Stay tuned for in-depth reports on our favorite designs!
For more photos check out our West Coast Green Flickr Set >
+ West Coast Green
Photos by Daniel Flahiff, Steven Hussey, and Mike Chino
