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Topic Page: Architecture
Can we create a green American dream home? Can we take those green building methods to a larger scale? Can we build a green office park? PF Members think so. Have an idea in Architecture? Tell us
Related Categories : | Clean Tech | Efficiency | Engineering | Green Building | Green Communities | Green Living |
Featured Ideas
Webisodes Related to Architecture
Building Green for the Future
This week, we take you into the classroom and look at how some organizations are hoping that kids will be “sustainability natives.”
An Innovative Approach to Water Conservation
THIS WEEK: Our rapidly increasing consumption of water is creating concerns about what the world would be like without any! One team, however, created an innovative solution to the planet’s quickly disappearing water. Check it out in this week’s webisode!
Empowerhouse: Community-Based Sustainable Living
THIS WEEK: How to turn a Solar Decathlon house into a home. GW students Melissa Turley and Jon Fenech followed Team Empowerhouse through the Solar Decathlon. Their innovation? Making it affordable enough to be a Habitat for Humanity home.
WATCH!
A Solar Conversation with Secretary Chu
THIS WEEK: In this week’s webisode, Planet Forward’s Frank Sesno interviews Secretary of Energy, Dr. Steven Chu at the 2011 Solar Decathlon! Chu talks about the coolest innovations, and even wonks out a bit on r-values and building materials.
SD2011 Trend: Green Roofs
Check out this week’s webisode where Planet Forward’s host Frank Sesno speaks with Don Ferrier of the National Association of Home Builders at the Solar Decathlon about the costs and benefits of green roofs.
Solar and the City – Team New York’s Solar Decathlon House
THIS WEEK’s WEBISODE: The Solar Decathlon teams are in Washington DC! Check out Team New York’s Roof Pod — it sits atop a sky rise building and helps generate power PLUS: Brendan Owens, Planet Forward’s newest Expert weighs in the use of new building materials.
WATCH!
Solar Decathlon – Tennessee’s on Top
Viewers voted and TENNESSEE is on top in the race for the Solar Decathlon! Check out the Tennessee team’s use of solar energy, insulated windows and a remote control iPad. Ask expert Bill Worthen what HIS thoughts are on the Tennessee team’s Living Light House.
WATCH!
DOE's Solar Decathlon Brings #SunnyIdeas to Planet Forward
This week, we begin Planet Forward’s coverage of the Solar Decathlon! 20 collegiate teams from around the world are designing and building sustainable solar homes. In this week’s WEBISODE, we take a look at the unique use of water in The University of Maryland‘s home.
WATCH!
Bringing Experts to the Innovators
Innovators need feedback to make their great ideas even better. So, we try to connect experts with our PF innovators every chance we get. In our WEBISODE this week, a top architect gives feedback to 3 ideas — green urban rooftops, hemp-based building materials and large-scale passive solar. Bill Worthen, the National Director and Resource …Read More…
Is Your City HOT? The Benefits of Storm Water Management
This week, our WEBISODE focuses on “GreenStreets,” a project from Drexel University Professor and NSF funded scientist, Franco Montalto. Got storm water? He’s working on a solution!
ICLEI’s Martin Chavez On Sustainable Growth & Smart Cities
This week, Planet Forward host Frank Sesno sits down with Martin Chavez, Executive Director of ICLEI. The focus? Smart cities! Learn what your city can do to grow and adapt to a changing planet. More>>
LEEDing after Disaster: AIA Architect on Why You Should
Can your community turn tragedy into opportunity? Bill Worthen, American Institute of Architects’ National Director and Resource Architect for Sustainability, sits down with us to talk about LEED certification and how disaster can provide opportunity to build back better.
The Phantom of the Outlet
Students at the University of Nebraska are developing technology to combat vampire energy and we want to know if you think it’s a good idea. What are your thoughts on these smart houses?
Solar Artist Sculpts with Renewables
Environmental artist Rein Triefeldt calls on more than just stone to make his sculptures. In this week’s webisode, we look at his innovative way of making solar beautiful. Sorry Garden Gnome, these front lawn ornaments aren’t just pretty decoration, they produce energy too. Watch>>
Ditch the Peanuts, Pack with Shrooms
In this week’s webisode, Planet Forward host Frank Sesno skypes with Eben Bayer, CEO and Co-Founder of Ecovative Design about the company’s sustainable product that is replacing styrofoam packaging material and home insulation. Watch>>
Ogden’s Green City on a Hill
Planet Forward hosted a LIVE event during the White House’s GreenGov Symposium, a conference focused on making all levels of government more sustainable. In this week’s webisode, the U.S. General Services Administration shows how restoring a building can change a city, even if it means moving some bats! Click on the video to learn what …Read More…
Waiting for the Sun…to Pay Off
On the one hand, it’s a positive sign for renewable fans… a small family business making a go of it in solar and wind power. This Long Island family has been installing small-scale solar and wind energy packages in back yards, reducing homeowner’s electricity bills to almost zero. But, on the other hand, it illustrates …Read More…
Planet Forward: Our Energy Future
Our first TV special focused on great ideas from you, our members, about how we as a country should approach our energy future. Originally broadcast on April 15, 2009 on PBS.
TV Segments Related to Architecture
Creating Eco-Friendly Cement
Researchers at Drexel University are trying to lower cement’s carbon footprint by using technology of the past to build sidewalks the future.
Solar Innovations at the Solar Decathlon
Lean green design teams from around the world produced some winning ideas at this year’s Solar Decathlon. Maryland won DOE’s top prize, but we staged our own vote. From Vermont, Middlebury College got the nod.
Watch
Innovations at the Solar Decathlon
Planet Forward host Frank Sesno tours the Solar Decathlon with Don Ferrier, home builder and President of Ferrier Custom Homes. Take a look at some of the top innovations at the SD2011!
Amphibious House (Your Loss, Hurricane Irene)
As the east coast picks up after Hurricane Irene, ask yourself this: would you invest in a house that can float only when it needs to? Planet Forward host Frank Sesno, brings you the story for this month’s Nightly Business Report segment.
Solar Decathlon: The Race to Build the Most Efficient Solar Home
Peek into the solar powered house designs from Middlebury College in Vermont and University of Maryland. It’s all for the Solar Decathlon competition sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy.
Building a Green Community
When Greensburg, Kansas was devastated by a tornado in 2007 the residents took it as an opportunity to rebuild as an environmentally friendly town. Watch our latest piece from PBS’ Nightly Business Report.
Planet Forward on Nightly Business Report: Innovation at one of New York’s Iconic Structures
How many windows are in the Empire State Building? Watch our Nightly Business Report segment to find out and learn about the building’s innovation retrofit.
Articles From the Blog Related to Architecture
A Few Smart Ideas to Clean Up and Re-energize Cities
More people live in cities now than in any other time in human history–nearly half the world’s population. They are the economic engines of our society, but they are also the source of 80% of global greenhouse gas emissions. We all have a choice in where we live, and a lot of us are moving …Read More…
Five Ideas for Building Better, More Efficient Homes
It’s winter and you’re probably realizing how awful your insulation is – I’m looking at you, Seattle — and also starting to rethink that last addition to the house where you used single-pane windows that now render the room useless. When faced with this dilemma, building owners wonder how to become more efficient at little …Read More…
Top 10 States for LEED Green Buildings
Ashley Katz Media Manager U.S. Green Building Council Today, USGBC released its top 10 list of states with the most LEED-certified building square footage per capita. The District of Columbia leads the nation, with more than 31 square feet of LEED-certified space per person in 2011, and Colorado is the leading state, with 2.74 square …Read More…
Leaked Policy Draft Makes Green Building a Priority at Rio+20
By Maggie Comstock Associate, Policy U.S. Green Building Council Climate policy wonks are used to reading leaked draft text in advance of international negotiations. However, the 19 page draft text for the upcoming United Nations Convention on Sustainable Development Rio+20 Conference is unique for being leaked so far in advance of the June meeting. Climate …Read More…
Every Penny Counts: Tracking Building Performance to Save Money and Resources
Lauren Riggs, LEED AP Manager, LEED Performance U.S. Green Building Council This post originally appeared on FacilitesNet. In today’s economy, every penny counts. And as building owners and facility managers know all too well, every penny adds up. When the lights in your 30-story office building are left on an extra hour each day, or …Read More…
Help this New England Church Become More Efficient
Recently, a Planet Forward member emailed me to ask how her church should become more energy efficient, especially considering their tight budget. I’m opening up the question to you, our community of experts.
Center for Green Schools and UTC Announce New Findings on Green Schools
At the annual Greenbuild Conference Expo in Toronto, the Center for Green Schools and United Technologies Corp. held a press conference to announce findings from a new independent study conducted on green schools, as well as initiatives the Center will be taking in 2012. The results of the survey brought light to the fact that Americans are concerned about …Read More…
The Dragonfly: An Urban Farm for NYC
The Dragonfly is an urban farm that hopes to help New York City adapt to the nearly one million more residents that are estimated to occupy they city by 2030. The designers say the greenhouse could supply food to Manhattan and Queens. What would you think about this new skyline?
Check out our photo album and Weigh in!
A Window Into Efficiency
Every year, I spend countless hours putting those plastic sheets over my windows for insulation. The bigger the window, the bigger the pane in the glass, the more time I spend and the more energy I lose to the winter. We often neglect insulation when it comes to energy expenditures because it only lowers heating …Read More…
What’s Next in Green Building?
Do you have an idea for the next big innovation in green building? If you submit a video that tells your story in one minute or less, you could find it on display at the world’s largest green building expo. In 1891, Clarence Kemp, a Baltimore-based entrepreneur that sold home heating equipment, came up with …Read More…
Energy Innovations at a Big Apple Icon
Planet Forward and PBS explore how the Empire State Building is greening its giant footprint.
“Green is so 2008…”
Serious Materials CEO Kevin Surace says, “Green is so 2008.” After interviewing him, along with an energy expert, a green tech consultant, and a BBC producer, I’m beginning to think that’s right. Green for green’s sake may be history. Do you remember 2008? Global Warming was so hot back then. Now in 2010 over 41% …Read More…
Seattle Prioritizes Green Building
The City of Seattle recently announced Priority Green, a new program that provides incentives for and prioritizes green construction projects. This program, says the city, will promote and facilitate green innovation, design, and efficiency The city breaks its program, announced by the Seattle Department of Planning and Development, into three categories, Expedited, Facilitated, and Tools. …Read More…
LEED: Green Standard or Black Magic?
Is the U.S Green Building Counsel’s coveted LEED Certification full of crap? No not really but it is very far from perfect. All too often green gurus and real-estate agents sing the praises of LEED certifications but when looked at more thoroughly there are many loop holes in the actual report card system so that …Read More…
LEED Certified: A Green Standard or Black Magic?
Is the U.S Green Building Counsel’s coveted LEED Certification full of crap? No not really but it is very far from perfect. All too often green gurus and real-estate agents sing the praises of LEED certifications but when looked at more thoroughly there are many loop holes in the actual report card system so that …Read More…
LEED next steps for green buildings
As a consultant focused on maintenance, renovation and life-extension of non-residential building roofs, I found this article (http://www.greenbiz.com/blog/2010/10/07/leed-and-future-green-building) makes some great points regarding the evolution of LEED, and lays out important challenges and opportunities for companies using LEED performance as a business driver. The LEED-EBOM approach is in many ways more problematic than LEED for …Read More…
Can’t stand the heat? Get insulation!
Think turning down the AC is the only way to decrease energy use for heating and cooling in your home? Think again. According to the Department of Energy, heating and cooling account for 56% of the energy usage in your home. You can change this. You don’t have to get rid of your heater or …Read More…
Are You Sealing and Saving?
I had never heard about energy audits before I shot a piece on Pascal Maslin, a local Washington, D.C. energy efficiency expert. Much less did I know that the single biggest contributor to inefficient homes is not insulation or appliances rather insufficient sealing. Now that may or may not come as a surprise but Pascal’s …Read More…
One House = Three Cars?
We all admit that the growing trend today is to be “green” and energy efficient. Some people buy hybrid cars, some swear by compact fluorescent bulbs, others even mount solar panels and wind turbines to their homes! Well, homeowners, you’re in for a big surprise — you can be trendy AND reduce your emissions without …Read More…
UNI-SOLAR Powers One of the Largest Solar Roof Installations in Paris
Another big project (link below) …over 370, 000 sq ft of leading-edge BIPV…designed, installed and funded through private and public sector collaboration, albeit in France, but still an impressive accomplishment. And note that the technology was chosen because it yielded optimal PV performance in a “moderate” climate…showing that PV can have significant impact outside of …Read More…
LEED next steps for green buildings
As a consultant focused on maintenance, renovation and life-extension of non-residential building roofs, I found this article (http://www.greenbiz.com/blog/2010/10/07/leed-and-future-green-building) makes some great points regarding the evolution of LEED, and lays out important challenges and opportunities for companies using LEED performance as a business driver. The LEED-EBOM approach is in many ways more problematic than LEED for …Read More…
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