Mission One: Green Superbike!

"What do you get when you combine lithium-ion batteries with a high-performance electric motor and components straight from the racing circuit? Answer: The fastest production electric motorcycle in the world".

This is how Mission One describes this green superbike which promises frankly...a lot! Going "green" does not in any way mean that we have to sacrifice performance and the "Need for Speed"! On the contrary, its 100 foot-pounds of torque engine delivers a target speed of 150mph with a...battery pack. That's right, it uses a High Energy Lithium-Ion with Integrated Thermal Management System and can last up to 150 miles in a single charge. Recharge time is under 2 hours. How much would that cost? Less than $2!! More information can be found on their website. Take a look, and I promise you'll be mesmerized!

When and where can you buy the Mission One, and how much does it cost? They are now accepting reservations for the Premier Limited Edition of the Mission One, limited to 50 numbered units to be delivered in 2010. You have to complete a form. The deposit amount is $5000, and the sales price is $68,995. Pricy, but environmentally worth it (not to mention its style)!

Veg.itecture?

One of the most interesting structure concept involving green buildings is called Veg.itecture and is based on vegetation as the primary component of a building. Until now it didn’t get too much attention, but Ken Yeang looks to change this situation. Ken is one of the most active promoters of this architecture and his designs are considered masterpieces.

Most of Ken’s buildings are bioclimatic skyscrapers, which means that the structures is alligned with the sun, adjusted to the climatic conditions throughout the year and makes use of lighting and ventilation.

I find this concept really inspiring because it can transform a structure from "dead" to "living", which translates to a harmonic co-existence among nature. By respecting nature, nature will respect us and we will be living in a healthy, clean and above all eco-friendly environment. Post your thoughts!

Green Classrooms

A school in Lutz, Florida, officially opened the nation's first modular classrooms to be registered for Platinum certification from the US Green Building Council (USGBC) Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED(R)) for Schools program.

With the opening of nine new environmentally friendly, modular classrooms, Learning Gate Community School, a place where students learn how to incorporate green living into their daily lives, now sets a new standard in education and environmental responsibility.

A Platinum LEED(R) rating is the highest designation given by the USGBC for sustainable building practices. The LEED(R) for Schools program is even more stringent, according to contractors working on the project.

"Virtually every aspect of the buildings is recycled, renewable or organic," said Principal Patti Girard, founder of the environmentally focused charter school. "We used recycled steel frames, lumber approved by the Sustainable Forestry Initiative, and even soy foam insulation to build the classrooms. We'll even generate a portion of our own electricity by using solar-paneled awnings."

Lowe's Charitable and Educational Foundation awarded Learning Gate a $250,000 grant for the planning and building of the new green classrooms. In appreciation, Learning Gate honored Lowe's today by naming one of the three new buildings "the Lowe's Building."

Green technology in the new buildings will ensure maximum efficiency of lighting and temperature control, important in Florida's hot climate. The windows are designed to maximize natural light and photo-sensitive light fixtures gauge the amount of natural light coming into the rooms and self-adjust. Humidity indicators show when it's favorable to open the windows for a natural breeze. The school's six pre-existing buildings will be retrofitted to sustainable standards over time, according to Girard.

Principal Girard originally opened Learning Gate Community School in 2000 with a vision to develop a school dedicated to ecology and the environment. The Platinum designation, when received, will mark the achievement of turning that dream into a reality.

The school puts environmental sustainability at the center of its daily activities and curriculum. The campus features outdoor classroom settings and an award-winning organic garden where the students learn to grow and harvest food used in their daily lunch preparation.

"There's no rule that students have to sit in a classroom to learn," said Principal Girard. "Our students learn math by measuring growth rates of the vegetables in their garden and find inspiration to write essays while overlooking the pond or watching a fox run by. They're as likely to learn about science at our outdoor student-built weather station as inside one of our new green buildings."

This fall, the school expects to open an organic school kitchen and cafe, along with a program to serve students healthy lunches five days a week and teach them how to grow and prepare healthy and organic foods.