Plant Power: How Photosynthesis May Be the Next Big Thing in Energy

While it may seem like technology out of a science-fiction film, plants may just be the next big thing in energy in the real world. Here is what we know about this new energy right now. Photosynthesis 101 That week spent covering photosynthesis in middle school was a long, long time ago, so here’s a quick refresher of the basics. …

SFMOMA Expansion Plans – Vertical Garden

Who else is excited for the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art’s expansion plans? Recently announced is a huge vertical garden or living wall of native plants expanding the entire block. Not only that, we can also expect: The largest public living wall of native plants in San Francisco 130,000 sqft of gallery space covering indoor and outdoor exhibits 15,000 …

Northwest EcoBuilding Guild Building Slam! 2011

Ten projects. Ten slides. Ten minutes. Emceed by Patti Southard, of the King County Green Tools Program, this year’s Annual Green Building Slam! put on by the Northwest EcoBuilding Guild is sure to be interesting. What: Annual Green Building Slam! Where: Bastyr University Auditorium When: Saturday, September 10, 2011 from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. Cost: $20 Advance (before 9/8)/ …

Eco-Development and Sustainable Renovation

I’ve noticed an interesting trend lately. The renovation of old buildings. Gorgeous old buildings gutted and rebuilt from the inside-out, as green and sustainable new structures. An exciting (and well-publicized) example of this is the Sanctuary development on Capital Hill in Seattle. The original church was built in the early 1900s and has been a distinctive landmark of the neighborhood …

USGBC’s Green Home Guide Beta

Many of us are familiar with the LEED rating system from the United States Green Building Council (USGBC), which is a third party green building rating system for commercial and residential buildings. The LEED rating system has been adopted by the U.S. government and is used with all new construction and major renovation of federal buildings. LEED certifies buildings on …

Eco-Friendly Bark Shingles Home Siding

Thinking about re-siding your home? Take a look at this eco alternative. Just like a trees own weather proofing, these bark shingles insulate, protect, and are virtually maintenance free. It is made up of tulip tree bark waste from timber operations that would otherwise get burned, mulched, or left to rot. Lasting up to 75 years, renewable, sustainably harvested and …

Greening of Seattles Paramount Theater

Seattle is a pretty green city, both in vegetation and environmental awareness (although the lack of public transportation situation is mind boggling), so it is only fitting that one of the most recognizable entertainment icons is getting a green revamp. The Paramount Theater near the heart of downtown Seattle is in the process of a green upgrade, starting with the …

North America’s Largest Living Green Wall

PNC now holds the title for the largest living green wall in North America currently hanging on the exterior of their Pittsburgh headquarters building located at One PNC Plaza. With approximately 14,448 plants covering 602 modular panels, the 2,380 square-feet living mural really livens up the 30-story building. The eight varieties of plants, installed by locally sourced (within a 500 …

Solé Solar Roof Tiles by SRS Energy

Keeping in the solar powered theme of my last post, I wanted to focus a bit less on tongue-in-cheek novelty and hone in on some serious design. Many architects, homeowners and commercial building owners out there aren’t very fond of the blocky look of solar panels, especially if their roof is highly visible or conforming to a specific style. For …

New Solar Panel Powered Stadium in Taiwan

A beautiful integration of renewable energy and modern green design, the recently finished solar stadium in Taiwan will welcome the 2009 World Games to 3,300 lights and two jumbo screens all on 100% solar energy. Designed by Toyo Ito, the 14,155 sq meter roof consists of 8,844 solar panels generating 1.14m KWh (that is 1.14 gigawatt hours of electricity) a …