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.

M.A.R.S Floating Wind Generator

Magenn Power’s MARS is a Wind Power Anywhere™ solution with distinct advantages over existing Conventional Wind Turbines and Diesel Generating Systems including: global deployment, lower costs, better operational performance, and greater environmental advantages.
MARS is a lighter-than-air tethered wind turbine that rotates about a horizontal axis in response to wind, generating electrical energy. This electrical energy is transferred down the 1000-foot tether for immediate use, or to a set of batteries for later use, or to the power grid. Helium sustains MARS and allows it to ascend to a higher altitude than traditional wind turbines. MARS captures the energy available in the 600 to 1000-foot low level and nocturnal jet streams that exist almost everywhere. MARS rotation also generates the "Magnus effect" which provides additional lift, keeps the MARS stabilized, and positions it within a very controlled and restricted location to adhere to FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) & Transport Canada guidelines.

The Advantages of MARS over Conventional Wind Turbines: Wind Power Anywhere™ removes all placement limitations. Coast-line or off-shore locations are not necessary to capture higher speed winds. Reaching winds at 1,000-feet above ground level allow MARS to be installed closer to the grid. MARS is mobile and can be rapidly deployed, deflated, and redeployed without the need for towers or heavy cranes. MARS is bird and bat friendly with lower noise emissions and is capable of operating in a wider range of wind speeds - from 4 mph to greater than 60 mph.

The Advantages of a MARS combined Wind and Diesel Solution over a Diesel Generator-only solution: MARS can complement a diesel generator by offering a combined diesel-wind power solution that delivers power below 20 cents per kWh. This compares to a wide range of 25 cents to 99 cents per kWh for diesel-alone, reflecting the high fuel and transportation costs in remote areas. The MARS combined solution allows lower pollution and green house gas emissions. It also results in lower handling, transporting, and storage costs.

MARS Target Markets: Developing nations where infrastructure is limited or non existent; off-grid combined wind and diesel solutions for island nations, farms, remote areas, cell towers, exploration equipment, backup power & water pumps for natural gas mines; rapid deployment diesel & wind solutions (to include airdrop) to disaster areas for power to emergency and medical equipment, water pumps; on-grid applications for farms, factories, remote communities; and wind farm deployments.