Architecture & Design Archives

Ecocapsule- World’s Smallest Solar House

The Ecocapsule (or Eggo-capsule?) is a new form of mini Glamping. It may not be the prime spot to host a party, but for the chic, pod-dwelling nomads among us, the Ecocapsule is strides beyond a basic shelter and nicer looking than most trailers or RVs. If you've ever felt like leaving it all behind, you can live off the grid for up to a year. It's got a bed, kitchen, bathroom and work area, and a couple windows to let in the breeze. No need to plug into the grid — there's a wind turbine and bank of solar cells built in to charge a battery for light and heat, and rainwater is filtered and collected into a tank under the floor. Power Supply A 750-watt wind turbine and 600-watt solar array collect energy. Assuming outside temperatures stay between -13° and 104°F, the capsule can consistently produce all its own power. A super-efficient climate-control system helps: On its way to the exhaust fan, heated air passes through channels alongside fresh air, warming it up. Video E…

Sun Powered Fun: Solar Powered Theme Park in the Works

Now you can enjoy the thrilling rollercoaster rides and feel a sense of eco-altruism at the same time! The New Jersey theme park, Six Flags Great Adventure, is building a solar farm to power all of its rides. Due to be completed by late 2016, this will be the first park in the country to be completely self-powered. While the planned site will require the removal of 18,000 trees, these trees will eventually be replaced by 25,000 new trees as part of the long term project objectives.

Regardless of whether you love to ride the coasters, this is a step in the right direction towards proving that solar energy is a better and more economical alternative to fossil fuels. I wouldn’t be surprised to see more solar conversions cropping up in other construction projects in the coming year. The quiet solar revolution continues…

And just for fun, have you seen the awesome video of Jimmy Fallon and Kevin Hart on a roller coaster? Hila…

Google’s Amazing New Campus Revealed. Video…

Google reveals its greatest search results. Google’s search was global. Massive. Yet personal. Google was scouring the world, looking for a special architect for their own new campus. According to Google Vice President of Real Estate, Dave Radcliffe, their Search Results culminated in two “Best in Class” architects, Bjarke Ingels from Denmark and Thomas Heatherwick from the UK. Radcliffe assembled a veritable trifecta of function, form and beauty by teaming the ambitious, community-focused architect, Ingels and Heatherwick, renowned for his attention to human scale and beauty. The company that Revolutionized online search has now embarked on a paradigm-shifting mission to transform the workplace environment. They started with a question. “What is the best possible environment we can make to invent, engineer and make ideas happen?” Google's presence in Mountain View, California is so strong that the team felt the need to focus on developing a community, not a fortress. …

20 Universities That Encourage Green Living

1) Nanyang Technical University – School of Art, Design and Media - The architectural structure of this building maximizes interior daylight, makes smart use of lack of space and land in the local area, minimizes materials, and uses lower water and electricity uses. 2) Yale University – Kroon Hall - Kroon Hall at Yale University is made from 80% certified timber, 16% recycled content. Also, 34% of the purchased materials came from regional sources. As a result, there is an 81% reduction in annual potable water use, which saves an average 500k gallons of city water a year. They are also seeing a 61% reduction in energy use compared to a similar building and program. It features rooftop photovoltaic panel providing 25% of the building’s electricity. Half of the red oak paneling came from a forest in northern Connecticut that’s managed by the school itself. 3) Carnegie Mellon University – Gates and Hillman…

EPA’s 2013 Battle Of The Buildings Draws Over 3,000 Entries

Is your commercial building on an energy-efficient diet? If you've cut back the consumption, you may just be qualified for a one-of-a-kind contest sponsored by the Environmental Protection Agency. Here's the scoop from Beth Buczynski for Earthtechling. In a world of reality show competitions, it’s no surprise that the EPA has chosen to turn energy efficiency into a survival of the fittest contest. The 2013 “Battle of the Buildings” will pit commercial buildings against each other to save energy and fight climate change. All buildings and tenants that submit complete energy use data for calendar year 2013 (January 1, 2013 – December 31, 2013) using EPA’s custom report are invited to compete. This year, around 3,200 buildings qualified by monitoring and reporting monthly energy consumption using EPA’s online energy tracking tool, Portfolio Manager. Image via EPA In order to do well in the competition, property owners must get creative. Technologies that cut energy waste…

Solar-Powered Modular Relocatable Building Wins Top Eco Award

This article originally published on RenewEconomy Blue Planet Buildings, a Sydney based “solar energy building company” has won the Australian Business award for Best Eco Product in 2013 for a solar-powered, modular and relocatable building. Blue Planet says its structures have special solar panels built into the roof to power appliances such as air conditioners, computers and hot water systems, emit no carbon and in fact generate carbon offset credits. CEO Mark Ottery says the company has begun manufacturing and supplying the buildings for construction companies, government authorities, mine sites and farms – both in Australia and overseas. The buildings an be used both on or off grid (battery storage is available), are flat packed, making them easy to transport and install – and can be erected in less than an hour. Ottery says they are “clean, green, energy efficient and cheap to run.” Solar-Powered Modular Relocatable Building Wins Top Eco Award was origin…