Recently featured on Tiny House Talk, tiny home builder, Hobbitat, was started just over a year ago by Maryland custom home builder and historic restoration specialist, Bill Thomas.

Since 1995, Bill and his wife, Sue, had been designing and building homes as Blue Sky Ventures and, in 2011, they began constructing little buildings with reclaimed materials and decided to shift focus with Hobbitat when they began work on thirteen cabins for the Blue Moon Rising eco-tourism retreat on Maryland’s Deep Creek Lake.

Initially called “Hobs,” the rental cabins have been dubbed “Waldens” after Henry David Thoreau’s masterpiece. Prefabricated off-site using materials that are local and sustainable, reclaimed, or recycled, each Walden is distinct in personality and design.

Staying in a Walden at Blue Moon Rising gives you access to a variety of educational programs in environmental education, art and design, sustainable construction, wilderness survival, health and wellness, and other sustainability topics.

The property is also open to small groups for conferences and retreats. The Deep Creek Lake region is home to rolling hillsides, dense timber canopies, wildlife, and waterfronts that allow canoeing, kayaking, and pedal boating.

As Hobbitat is wrapping up construction of Waldens at Blue Moon Rising, they are taking requests for custom Hobs that can be based on a Walden or configured to meet the homeowners’ needs and preferences. Structures can be delivered to the home site virtually complete, with the ability to be set and weathertight in one day.

The recently opened Dubai Energy and Water Authority’s (DEWA) Sustainable Building in Dubai has been awarded LEED Platinum status, becoming the largest public sector building in the world to achieve that status and set a new standard in sustainable building construction. It is also the United Arab Emirates’ first public sector green building, was constructed with 36 percent recycled materials, features high-efficiency insulation, and has been designed to reduce water consumption by 48 percent and energy consumption by 66 percent.

The HVAC units in the 340,000 square foot building are linked to smart building systems. Power is generated by a solar power system with 600 kilowatt capacity and much of the lighting is provided by LED solutions. Public transportation is easily accessible and bicycle parking capacity is sufficient for half of the building’s occupants. Five percent of available vehicle parking spaces are reserved for hybrids and electric vehicles.

Water efficiency features of the building include storm water management, sewerage water treatment and reuse, a grey water treatment plant, water recycling for irrigation, low flow fixtures, regulators, sensor taps, and waterless urinals.

The building was showcased by the Supreme Council of Energy at the World Future Energy Summit (WFES) 2013 that was held in Abu Dhabi in January, which took part in the even to support the UAE’s long-term national initiative, Green Economy for Sustainable Development, that was launched by HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the UAE’s Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai. The Dubai Integrated Energy Strategy 2030 was developed with the goal of effectively reducing energy demand by 30% in 2030.

Located in the Swiss Mountains, this gorgeous 200-year-old home has received a variety of energy-efficient, sustainable upgrades by Savioz Fabrizzi Architects, who sought to maintain the home’s original beauty while achieving Swiss Minergie energy conservation standards.

The exterior remained untouched, and exposed concrete walls and screed floors were added to the interior to match the stone facade. The grey color scheme may seem drab to some, but the textural differences and pops of color, particularly the mustard yellow in the kitchen, keep it from looking dull or unfinished.

Thermal insulation is obtained through a concrete layer and foamed recycled glass, and the roof is equipped with 75 square feet of solar panels. The windows were replaced with bigger, better versions that provide more natural light and even better views of the scenic surroundings.

Overall, this home is the perfect blend of classic style and modern efficiency.

In a recent discussion with Dennis Shelden, Craig Webb, and Andrew Witt of Gehry Technologies, Frank Gehry talks about how, early in his career, he would get upset when electricians came into his buildings and punched holes in the walls to put wires in. Considering that the aerospace industry is developing systems for Skylab that were miniaturized and light, Gehry started to think about how to change the way we solve problems in urban design to be less dependent on distribution systems.

What came of ensuing talks with his colleagues is Mr. Gehry’s participation in the creation of a SUPRASTUDIO program to confront challenges of the grid and its impact on the environment and address the possibility of local power generation.

If you could whisper in Frank’s ear, what would you ask him to have the SUPRASTUDIO students focus on next fall?

About Frank Gehry

Frank Gehry is a Pritzker Prize-winning architect based in Los Angeles and the designer of the designer of the future Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial. He is known for his “paper architecture” design technique and many famous buildings:

• Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain
• MIT Ray and Maria Stata Center in Cambridge, Massachusetts
• Walt Disney Concert Hall in downtown Los Angeles
• Experience Music Project in Seattle
• Weisman Art Museum in Minneapolis
• Dancing House in Prague
• Vitra Design Museum andMARTa Museum in Germany
• Art Gallery of Ontario in Toronto
• Cinémathèque française in Paris
• 8 Spruce Street in New York City

About SUPRASTUDIO

SUPRASTUDIO at the UCLA Architecture and Urban Design is an architecture educational research platform that is designed to advance experimentation in architecture in collaboration with other building construction and design disciplines. Each program is a one-year course of study that can contribute to completion of a Masters of Architecture degree. During the course, students work on a specific research project in conjunction with industry professionals. Applications for the next SUPRASTUDIO program, which starts on August 5, 2013, are being accepted through January 7, 2013 from students who have obtained a Bachelor of Architecture degree from any NAAB accredited program in the United States, foreign equivalent, or a graduate degree in architecture.

If you’re wondering what it would be like to take a look inside an iconic home like the Breezehouse by Blu Homes, your opportunity to do so is this weekend. As the first home of its kind on the East Coast, the Breezehouse offers a unique living style that accentuates the natural beauty of the Hudson Valley with high ceilings, clean lines, floor-to-ceiling windows, and an intricate yet minimalist prefabricated style.

On May 18 and 19 at noon, Blu Homes will offer an exclusive design seminar for those interested in finding out more about the sustainable features, personalization options, and intricate design elements of the Breezehouse in Hudson Valley.

More information on the home and event is available at bluhomes.com. To get in touch with the company or for more information about the event, email info@bluhomes.com or call 866.887.7997.

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.