Earlier this year, the World Record Academy awarded a home in Dillingham, Alaska with the record for the Tightest Residential Building.

In a video that documents the blower door test, the home’s owners and residents, Dr. Tom Marsik and Kristin Donalson, who designed and built the extremely insulated building, explain their motivation to push the limits of green building methods. The blower door test, which used a special attachment to get the most accurate reading, pressurized the building and then measured the flow that was needed to maintain the difference in pressure from the outside.

The key energy features of the home include its small size (600 square feet with two bedrooms and one bathroom), 28 inch thick walls, an extremely tight building envelope (0.05 ACH50), ventilation via a Heat Recovery Ventilator (HRV). The majority of the heat needed by the home is derived from internal heat gains (from lighting, appliances, passive solar, and body heat).

Only about 35 gallons of heating oil is needed each year to make up the difference between internal heat gains and needed heat. Windows are triple-pane, argon-filled with fiberglass frames. Appliances are Energy Star rated, lighting is supplied by CFLs, and plumbing fixtures are low-flow.

While extra insulation cost around $20,000 of the estimated construction costs of $169,500, the owners expect to save about $4,000 per year in energy costs.

The home design was based on an educational tool that was developed by the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF) Bristol Bay Campus Sustainable Energy Program, Passive Office, which was an experiment in energy-efficient building construction. Marsik is an assistant professor of sustainable energy at UAF.

Extensive details about the home’s specifications and construction can be found on the Alaska Energy Wiki where you can find links to more images and articles about the record-setting Dillingham house.

Designed by Charles Wright Architects to satisfy a desire for a carbon-neutral home, the Stamp House is located on the edge of the beachfront rainforest in Far North Queensland (FNQ), Australia, a region that includes over seventy national parks and contributes up to AU$700 million annually in agricultural products that include sugar cane, bananas, mangoes, and coffee.

The environmentally-sensitive home makes the most of the off-grid site’s natural amenities, overlooking an engineered water ecosystem that was developed in collaboration with Australian governmental organizations such as the Department of Environment and Resource Management (DERM) and Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS).

Formed of a combination of insulated precast and in-situ concrete, the cantilevered design protects the home from king tide inundation and flooding that can result from cyclonic activity. Its classification as a cyclone shelter is “category 5 cyclone proof.”

Its sustainable development features include total 250,000 liter water harvesting, recycling, and reticulation. Renewable solar energy is generated with solar backup that is not reliant upon fossil fuel. A tertiary sewerage treatment plant is located on-site, along with grey water recycling and irrigation. A thermal storage tank system provides for cooling and feeds back into the mechanical and hydraulic facilities. All systems are controlled by C-bus smart building automation.

A shortage of affordable housing in London has led to an increase in the number of homeless people on city streets, as young people who lose their supported accommodation benefits when securing full-time employment often can not afford deposits for affordable flat rentals.

Teaming up with the Waltham Forest Council, the Forest Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) in East London has found a way to respond to the need for transitional housing by converting recycled shipping containers into sustainable single-person dwellings that can be delivered to any site. Dubbed mYPad, the project makes the homes available to those who are newly employed at a rental price of £75 per week, which is approximately 30% of the local minimum wage pay rate, until they can save the necessary deposits for long-term rentals.

The first two prototype mYPad units were delivered last June and have been tested by staff and visitors, including Councillor Richard Sweden, Mayor of Waltham Forest, and Councillor Paul Douglas, who stayed overnight in one on March 21, 2013. “It was an extremely comfortable night’s sleep,” said Mayor Sweden. “They are very cosy units and a clever way of meeting a real need that lots of young people face.”

“It’s really comfortable,” said Forest YMCA Chief Executive, Timothy Pain, in an April 11, 2013 interview with BBC London 94.9. “I lived in one for three weeks as part of our nine months testing programme through British summer and British winter to make sure that it wasn’t like a fridge in the winter and  like an oven in the summer. It’s got a shower, it’s got a toilet and it’s got a sink. We work with a contractor for the Ministry of Defence, so that it’s vandal-proof and sustainable.”

Worcestershire-based architectural firm, Robert Kilgour & Associates, has contributed interior design for the mYPads, while design firm, Essence Design, is creating the exterior design and branding for the homes. Initial plans are for the mYPads to be located on two sites in East London.

“We are very pleased with the coverage the BBC have given the mYPads,” said Mr. Pain. “It’s allowed us to introduce the mYPad concept to a wider audience and in turn show that there is a credible solution to the affordable housing crisis.”

A faith-based charity that has been operating for more than forty years, Forest YMCA operates of the United Kingdom’s largest “direct-access” hostels for the homeless and is one of North East London’s biggest Third Sector organizations. A staff of 160 people provides assistance to young people to help them integrate into society and develop independent lifestyles by providing them with education, training, and employment. Forest YMCA is accepting donations for mYPads and other projects through JustGiving.com.

“Housing is an incredibly important priority for the Council, and one we take very seriously,” said Mayor Sweden. “This sort of innovative approach gives young people a chance to move from semi-independent accommodation to their own self-contained living space. Forest YMCA should be commended for taking this project forward.”

Daniel Schwaag and Allison Dring, of design firm, Elegant Embellishments, have developed a remarkable three-dimensional architectural tile that is capable of reducing air pollution in urban locations, is quick and easy to install, and provides visual appeal.

In response to the priorities that have been set by the EU Clean Air Strategy 2005 to reduce pollution deaths and pollution-related damages, Elegant Embellishments has developed prosolve370e tiles, which are coated with titanium dioxide (TiO2) to neutralize air pollutants. The tiles can be positioned near sources of pollution and, when installed on a facade, can serve to direct natural light into a building and reduce wind flow, thus generating turbulence that improves distribution of air pollutants across the surface of the tiles.

The complex grid pattern of the tiles has been based on that of sponges and corals but are easily assembled and mounted to a vertical grid. The hollow modules are constructed of ABS-polycarbonate plastic sheets that are vacuum-formed over aluminum. TiO2 and primers that can adhere to plastic substrate are applied in layers. When the coating wears thin, it can be cleaned with a damp cloth and resprayed without requiring removal of the grid.

The pollutant-reducing capability of the tiles occurs when ultraviolet rays activate the electrons in the coating’s 20-nanometer TiO2 particles, which break down VOCs and nitrogen oxides on contact, resulting in by-products of water and calcium nitrate that washes away when it rains. The facade of the Torre de Especialidades (described below) is expected to eliminate NOx in the equivalent of 8,750 vehicles per day.

To date, the prosolve370e tiles have been utilized in three projects: the enex100 retail complex in Perth, the Torre de Especialidades in Mexico City, the Al Bustan Complex in Abu Dhabi.

Prosolve370e 1050 series tiles were installed in the enex100 retail complex at St. George’s Terrace in downtown Perth, Australia in September 2009. Comprising around 750 tiles that cover about 800 square meters of a ceiling and wall, the feature can be seen from an entrance on Hays Street, through the food court and shopping areas, to the entrance on St. George’s Street. The project has received the Julius Eslicher Award for Interior Architecture and the MondoLuce Architectural Lighting Award from the A.I.A. Australia.

The Torre de Especialidades, part of del Hospital General Dr. Manuel Gea González in Mexico City, has been treated with a 100 meter long, curved screen on its 2500 square-meter facade along Avenida San Fernando, a street with heavy traffic in one of the country’s most polluted cities. While creating a visually complex and memorable addition to the building, the antimicrobial and de-polluting effects of the prosolve370e was a key consideration in its selection for the project.

Currently under construction, with expected completion this summer, six suspended, double-sided screens made from the prosolve370e 390 Series is being installed in the dining area of the hotel lobby in the Al Bustan Complex Abu Dhabi.

There’s no question that the use of glass in interior design can add a stunning visual element, but did you know that interior sliding glass doors can contribute to the energy efficiency of your home? In addition to allowing living spaces to be closed off when not in use to save on energy costs, glass doors can permit the flow of natural daylight and improve overall living quality of your home.

Glass doors can contribute to achieving U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) ratings. Use of glass can add LEED points for reductions in lighting power density. Using glass, especially if it is made of recycled and recyclable materials, instead of drywall is a good, sustainable, and eco-friendly choice and will promote better indoor air quality by reducing the use of emitting materials such as adhesives and sealants. In new construction or renovations, smaller living spaces can be designed by reducing the access space that is required by traditional doors.

Especially beautiful are the newest sliding glass doors that do not require a frame, permitting installation over existing doorways with minimal modification. They can be surface mounted or make use of recessed tracking that can be installed in the ceiling or left exposed on the wall.

Additional options include designs that are self-closing, telescopic, and pocket doors. Those that can be installed from floor to ceiling into corners of rooms will further open up the living spaces. Many new doors do not require floor tracks and can be utilized in homes of those who require accessibility features.

Glass options include tempered glass which is resistant to temperature changes and impact. Direct-to-glass digital printing has allowed designers to include permanent embellishments that improve aesthetics. Laminated “safety” glass that is made of multiple panels that is adhered to a polyvinyl butiral (PVB) layer is advisable to prevent glass breakage from shattering and increase acoustic privacy.

The new NASA Sustainability Base was designed by William McDonough + Partners to embody the spirit of NASA while fostering collaboration, supporting health and well-being, and exceed the requirements of LEED® Platinum with systems that will eventually use only renewable energy and closed-loop water maintenance facilities.

An exoskeleton approach provides for structural stability during seismic events, facilitates glare-free daylighting and shading, natural ventilation and connection to the outdoors, and flexibility of the workspace with its column-free interior.

Atop the two-story 50,000-square-foot building is a solid-oxide fuel cell and rooftop solar arrays, supplying the building with more energy than it requires and sending surplus electricity back into the grid where the Base is located at Ames Research Center in Mountain View, California. Currently running on natural gas, the fuel cell is ready to be converted to landfill gas when a source is available.

Built on the site in a configuration of linked structures that was inspired by the nearby wind tunnel, the construction did not disturb existing growth of stone pine and heritage redwoods and allows for most workers in the building to depend on daylight about 80-90% of the time.

A central computer optimizes building performance and controls lighting, heating, and cooling, coordinating weather forecasts with scheduled usage of building facilities, adjusting its formulas to learn from itself based on how close it achieves desired goals.

“Once we’ve demonstrated the performance of the technology, I want to work with private-sector vendors,” said Steve Zornetzer, the associate center director of NASA’s Ames Research Center, in a press release, referring to the base’s forward-osmosis water-filtration system that recycles wastewater for use as gray water. “We’ll license the technology to them and say, ‘You guys develop this and you put it on the marketplace for consumers to buy. We can really bring advanced technology to the built environment and make a difference.”

As GreenSource stated, “Houston, We Have a Solution: NASA’s new base harnesses space-age technology to take building performance to the next level. It’s one giant leap for green design.”

Located in Venice, California and designed by Brooks + Scarpa, the Yin Yang home provides private living spaces for a family that includes several children along with commercial office space for its owners and recently made the top ten list of Green Projects as compiled by the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Committee on the Environment (COTE).

Sustainability features include passive design strategies, R-21 blown-in cellulose insulation, a tight building envelope, and a 12 KW solar photovoltaic panel system that also provides shade and reduces overheating of the home. Eco-friendly and rapidly renewable materials that were used in construction include interior finishes with high recycled content and low emissions, FSC-certified flooring and cabinets, bamboo, composite stone and tile.

Exceeding California Title 24 requirements by almost 50 percent, the home has produced 100 percent of its energy. After living in the home for more than nine months, the owners had not yet received a power bill, due in part to high-efficiency solar water heaters, energy-efficient lighting, and Energy Star-labeled appliances.

A steel entry door on a solid facade leads into a courtyard and outdoor spaces, with a rear garden wall, that are integrated with the home’s interior by way of a 50-foot sliding glass door that leads into a main living room. Several exterior terraces and decks allow for an abundance of natural lighting and ventilation and ocean breezes all but eliminate the need for electrical cooling. Bedrooms on the upper floor open up to a green roof.

A new, green, custom home that has been built in Webster Grove, Missouri, is the work of Active House USA, a team of designers, builders, and materials manufacturers who are pooling their experience in environmentally conscious and sustainable building practices to construct homes around the world that utilize their Active House specifications, which combine focus on energy efficiency, healthy indoor climate, and minimal impact on the environment. To date, Active Houses are located in Portugal, Austria, Norway, UK, Italy, Netherlands, and Russia. The Webster Grove residence for the Smith family is the first Active House to be built in the United States and recently held its first open house.

Principal architect on the Smith residence is Jeff Day & Associates Architecture and interior design is by Lusso at Home, both of St. Louis, Missouri. The interior space makes generous use of natural finishes, including locally-sourced stone that is made from recycled materials and high fly-ash cement, custom shale, and flagstone. Local remnants of granite, marble, and Silestone were used for countertops.

Wood features are Northern red oak and repurposed wood that is made from reclaimed timber. Water-based, formaldehyde-free stains were used on the flooring. Custom cabinets were locally constructed of maple, walnut, and bamboo using low-VOC plywood and hardwood components; stain and sealer is also low-VOC. The open, three-level pine staircase channels light from rooftop Velux skylights. Other green choices for the interior include Green Label carpet and padding, Sherwin Williams no-VOC Harmony paints.

Energy efficiency in the Smith home is made possible by solar orientation, solar energy collectors, airtight building envelope, HVAC and water heating design, use of daylight, and natural ventilation.

Carrie and Shane Caverly built their first tiny home last year to reduce their overhead from a $1500 per month mortgage payment to $350 per month, which includes land rent, electricity, and water.

The Caverly’s eco-friendly 204 square foot home is built on a 5th wheel gooseneck trailer and features passive solar design, closed cell poly-iso foam insulation, low-E double-paned windows, FSC-certified manufactured wood siding, engineered wood flooring, post-manufacturer recycled framing lumber, on-demand hot water heater, low water incinerating toilet, recycled steel roof that collects rainwater, and grey water collection tank.

The bedroom is situated over the gooseneck hitch, with steps up to the bed that hide storage space and a dog kennel. More storage space is available over the bathroom, where they have located the bathroom sink inside the shower, and below the couch in the living room. The built-in porch at the back of the house is suitable for hauling a motorcycle or bicycles.

Shane is a building contractor and Carrie is an architectural designer. Together, they built their tiny home and have started a Clothesline Tiny Homes to build smaller houses and help others live a more efficient lifestyle in small spaces. A replica of their first tiny home is being sold being sold for $48,000 and they are accepting custom orders while fleshing out an online shop for downloadable design drawings, construction documents, and design consulting by the hour.

This sustainable remodeling project by Alterstudio Architects renovated a 1950s-era duplex in the Hyde Park historic district of Austin, Texas, into a contemporary single-family home that is both energy-efficient and water-conserving.

The locally-made brick facades and steel casement windows of the existing structure of the Avenue G House were maintained with the addition of a second story to create two double-height spaces with opposing interior box windows upon entry into the home. A family room and loft is accessible by a glass-railed steel stairway. In the private areas of the second floor, white oak panels connect spaces that feature natural lighting and cross-ventilation. On the main floor, walnut cabinetry hides storage spaces and a powder room.

“In an area of town where the houses are all made up of a collection of small rooms, entering into this home is radically different,” said Kevin Alter, one of three Alterstudio partners, in an interview with EcoBuilding Pulse.  “The house is now spatially open and dynamic, with sight lines going all the way through, and up into two double-height spaces, all filled with natural light.”

Sustainable features include Energy Star-rated windows, use of SFI-certified engineered lumber and low- and zero-VOC paint, a ground-source heat pump, Austin Water Conservation-certified toilets, abundant air sealing, and insulation that exceeds requirements of the Austin energy code. The mechanical systems and ductwork are located within the thermal enclosure and features a high-efficiency HVAC filter. Bathroom exhaust fans are connected to a timer and humidistat. A rainwater-harvesting system redirects roof runoff to a catchment system.

Alterstudio Architecture LLP of Austin, Texas maintains a “commitment to enhance and protect both the cultural and natural environments of the communities” for which it builds projects with a focus on long-term sustainability, promoting “an ecological approach that acknowledges the impact of finite resources as a positive contributor in the creation of an ethical architecture” while being “uplifting to its users and in harmony with its cultural context and natural surroundings.” The firm has won over sixty design awards.