National Geographic - Photographer: Bertrand Garbel - Green walls could save energy - Paris
Source: http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2013/03/pictures/130325-green-walls-environment-cities-science-pollution/
The future of the urban landscape?
UCF Unifying Theme
Our Planet. Our Education. Our Future.
http://www.ut.ucf.edu/
“Top 10 Solar Projects Under Construction.” I know, not my usual content. I just found these projects interesting.
theimportanceofbeingmodernist:
Doing It Justice: Brasilia Justice Ministry by Oscar Niemeyer-
Designed in 1962, the justice ministry was one of many buildings Niemeyer designed, for the then new capital of Brazil, Brasilia. The building is surrounded by a moat and water cascades from large concrete gutters suspended from the columns that form the facade of the building. Huge concrete louvres to the sides of the building, shield the internal glass walled ministry form the sun. Roberto Burle Marx, Niemeyer’s long time collaborator designed the water gardens.
A Gobi Desert Hotel Designed to Float on Sand!
as well as generating its own electricity and water
New Living Walls Use ‘Biological Concrete’ to Reduce CO2
This is a really interesting concept, but I wonder how the integrity of the building will hold up over time? Thoughts?
Making Dumb Buildings Energy Smart!
Commercial buildings around the world are looking to reduce energy costs, but overhauling electricity systems can be expensive. That is why Israeli startup BEEMTech came up with a way to save energy without changing the existing infrastructure.
Anyone know if this is the world’s first vertical farm? There are 100 of them in Singapore. I’ve heard the idea, but this is the first time I’ve seen them. (I’m not asking about roof farms!).
Vertical farms solve land problem in Singapore
With land prices at a premium in Singapore, vertical farms with rotating vertical racks present a sustainable solution while cutting down pollution.
Researchers from Spain’s University of Jaen have found a way to make a greener version of one of the most ubiquitous building materials: bricks. Using waste material from paper mills, they were able to create a brick that not only diverts waste from going to a landfill, but also requires less energy to produce.
Gizmag reports, “The scientists gathered cellulose waste from a paper mill, along with sludge left over from the purification process of that plant’s waste water. Those substances were then mixed with clay used in building construction, pressurized, and then extruded in one long sausage-like length. The bricks were subsequently sliced from that material, and fired in a kiln.”
The paper waste bricks need less time in the kiln than conventional bricks, which saves energy and money. The paper bricks also have low thermal conductivity, which means they would be good insulators for a building so energy would be saved once they were used in a home or business too.
More: Paper Waste Could be Made into Eco-Friendly Bricks : TreeHugger
See also: Paper Waste Makes World’s Grossest-Looking Bricks.
I PROMISE THIS ISN’T ABOUT POOP.
Five Reasons Why Urban Farming Is An Important Movement
The most important movement of our time, says this article. Do you agree?
