Green Building Elements

Unsafe Levels of Formaldehyde in New Homes

Linda Kincaid, MPH, CIH — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 03:22:41 +0000

Being green means saving energy. However, being green also means staying healthy. A study released today indicates those two goals may be at odds with each other in new homes.

Today the California Air Resources Board (CARB) released a study of indoor air quality in new homes. The report found that new homes have too little ventilation and too much formaldehyde.

Ventilation in the majority of homes did not meet code.

The median 24‐hour outdoor air exchange rate was 0.26 air changes per hour; 67 percent of the homes were below the California building code requirement of 0.35 air changes per hour…

Inadequate ventilation causes formaldehyde to concentrate inside homes. All homes in the study had unsafe levels of formaldehyde.

Nearly all homes had formaldehyde concentrations that exceeded guidelines for cancer and chronic irritation, while 59 percent exceeded guidelines for acute irritation.

Formaldehyde causes asthma, bronchitis, sinus infections, and headaches. Formaldehyde is also a carcinogen, and it has been linked to leukemia.

Testing is the only way to know the formaldehyde concentration in a home. Test badges cost as little at $40 each, including laboratory analysis. An industrial hygienist can locate materials that emit formaldehyde.

Dune Architect Transforms Desert Sand into Dwellings for the Green Wall Sahara Shelterbelt

Lucille Chi — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 00:28:45 +0000

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Above, creative architecture student Magnus Larsson shares his incredible idea to help settlers along the harsh Sahara desert. His proposed process of re-structuring sand is a building material process already researched for helping strengthen earthquake prone land with sustainable bacteria that turns shifting sand into a solid mass.

Looks like Larsson is creating sandcastles out of desert land. Brilliant! His Holcim Foundation winning proposal could very well transform life in that region as the Sahara green wall shelterbelt is planted across the African continent. The possibilities are endless as the quality of life will improve for so many along the Sahara.

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TED Talks: Architecture in the Future that Repairs Itself?

Lucille Chi — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 06:00:30 +0000

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This short Technology and Entertainment Design Conference clip is by Rachel Armstrong who states :

“Scientists need to work outside their own areas of expertise to make new technologies that are pertinent to the 21st century and to collaborate, both with other scientific disciplines and the arts and humanities.”

“Metabolic materials” - is what TED Fellow Rachel Armstrong researches - construction materials that possess some of the properties of living systems, and can be manipulated to “grow” architecture.

Rachel thinks of this as we think about awesome parks or gardens because “metabolic materials” are made from terrestrial chemistry…

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US Green Building Council to Honor Hospitality Design Challenge Winners

Lucille Chi — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 15:38:02 +0000

USGBC, the Hospitality Industry Network (NEWH) and the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) have admirably joined together to sponsor the Sustainable Suite Design Competition. The goal of this hospitality design contest is to help drive green design practices within the hotel industry.

This competition provides an ideal platform for professional (and student) teams internationally to present their ideas and approaches to green hotel room interior design.

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Smarter Cities ~ Project of the Natural Resources Defense Council

Lucille Chi — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 17:17:43 +0000

Have you heard about NRDC’s Smarter Cities?

“When thinking about the urban environment, more often than not problems come first to mind. Less commonly thought about is the potential presented by cities, potential to rethink and reshape their environments responsibly.

Today urban leaders—mayors, businesses and community organizations—are in the environmental vanguard, making upgrades to transportation infrastructure, zoning, building codes, and waste management programs as well as improving access to open space, green jobs, affordable efficient housing and more. If they succeed in making their cities more efficient, responsible and sustainable, what will result will be smarter places for business and healthier places to live.”

Find out what is smart and green near you. Join the team and start reporting the success of your city!

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Special release of the Green Tax Guide, 2009

GO Media Sponsor — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 22:09:24 +0000

Green tax incentives at the federal and state levels are finally helping to convert our country to a green collar economy. In the wake of the recent Stimulus Package, and economic rescue legislation of 2008, several energy efficiency and renewable tax incentives have been extended to encourage energy efficiency, green buildings and renewable technologies. The Green Tax Guide helps you to understand these incentives and positively impact your bottom line. This useful resource can be downloaded at: www.GreenTaxGuide.net

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Greening Your Home

Kelly Vaughn — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 17:17:27 +0000

How lessons-learned from a state-of-the-art net-zero project can help us all reduce our impact

Now that everyone is finally talking about green buildings, the question becomes “Where do we need to go from here?”

The answer? Net-zero.

That’s what a panel of experts told an audience assembled last month at Rocky Mountain Institute’s symposium in San Francisco, RMI2009.

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Architectural Firm in Barcelona Drafts Solar Media Screen for Taipei’s New Music Center

Lucille Chi — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 17:29:39 +0000

Taipei Pop Music Center has opened up an amazing architecture design competition for it’s new building. Nabito Architects has drafted and shared their vision of the new Taipei Pop Music Center composed of a “photovoltaic screen and a wall of LED panels”

The screen of the Pop Music Center may:

have a LED media wall reporting news, weather, event info and ads.
be powered entirely by the sun and set an example for green energy in the city of Taipei
include photovoltaic cell technology, with an LED wall
have controls set by a central computer, to show all events scheduled and more

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Three Rivers Eco Resort in Dominica

Lucille Chi — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 03:43:27 +0000

3 Rivers Eco Lodge is an enchanted sustainable hotel encampment consisting of hillside terraced cottages. Rainforest preservation, indigenous tree planting programs and organic gardens are at the heart of this green resort.

Retreat features include:

solar water heaters
self composting toilets
biodegradable, locally made soaps and furnishings
environmental education through conservation
a yoga studio
indigenous tree planting projects
green globe info
organic gardens
rainforest preservation

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Coco Eco Bed and Breakfast in Australia

Lucille Chi — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 21:58:02 +0000

Coco Eco is an award winning bed and breakfast named both after the area it is located (Coconut Well, Australia) and the ecological principles that it embraces such as:

solar powered facilities
black & grey water recycled and purified in Wastewatergarden®.
plantation & recycled timbers
solar passive design principles
building footprints designed to minimize impact on local flora and fauna
reduced use of chemicals & PVC products
recycling programs
organic vegetable garden & free range eggs

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