Hydrogen Gas- the Fuel of the Future?

Dependency on foreign nations for fuel to run cars in America has long been an issue that both the government and scientists have been working to resolve. Now, a break-through has been made for a product to reduce fuel use and ultimately, to significantly reduce US dependency on foreign oil. Hydrogen gas run cars have made it to the streets and a trial is well under way in California. Four companies have come out with these hydrogen gas based cars, and there are 20 compatible gas stations in existence. The trial period for these cars to be test-driven and used daily by participants in the study will be a 4 year long process that will end in late 2012. The technology and luxury design of the cars is top of the line, and if they do hit the market, they will definitely be model cars for future designs. To read the article on the Hydrogen gas-run cars, click below!

http://www.latimes.com/features/home/la-hm-hydrogen-20100625,0,332248.story

HGTV Green House Giveaway 2010

(David L. Ryan/Globe Staff) http://www.boston.com/lifestyle/house/articles/2010/05/20

The Home & Gardening television network, HGTV, does a Green Home Giveaway sweepstakes every year where they design, construct, and furnish an environmentally sound home, and then give it away to the winner of the sweepstakes. The home to be given away had never before been located in New England until this year. The 2010 HGTV green home is located in Plymouth, Massachusetts and is modeled after the 1920s Cape-style homes.

Countless eco-friendly techniques and elements were used to create this home. A tower on the top level with glass on all four sides allows for natural ventilation and Low-E4 SmartSun windows have glass that blocks UV rays. There are solar panels on the roof, soy-based insulation on the interior, and Energy Stat appliances throughout the house, as well as a rainwater collection system. The design elements inside the home are also eco-friendly, using non-toxic paints and recycled materials for the kitchen counters, etc.

To see more pictures and to learn more about the environmentally sound elements of the home, visit the Boston Globe article below:

http://www.boston.com/lifestyle/house/articles/2010/05/20/hgtv_is_set_to_give_away_an_energy_efficient_home_at_the_pinehills_in_plymouth/

Second Glass- A 2010 Top 10 Green Building Product

As one of Sustainable Buildings’ Top 10 Green Building Products for 2010, Second Glass is an innovative new glass that be used for many purposes, and is also great for the environment. Windshields typically take up a lot of landfill space and the process of manufacturing new glass contributes to global warming. Instead of creating more new glass, the Second Glass company uses a patent-pending process to refurbish old, cracked windshields into new glass products. These products can be used in countless ways: as windows, doors, art pieces, bathroom accents, interior walls, etc. The recycled glass products created by Second Glass embrace a more environmentally sound alternative to new glass and each piece has unique and interesting natural designs within them that cannot be achieved using new glass.

To learn more about Second Glass, visit their website:

http://secondglass.net/

Green Tires

It seems that over the past couple of years, Hybrid and energy-efficient designed cars have become all the rage. While many companies have been focusing on what type of fuel these new eco-friendly cars will be running on and how they can cut down on greenhouse gas emissions, a new article highlights the research being done on “greening” the tires of cars, ultimately making them even better for the environment.

In the automobile industry, car tire production traditionally hasn’t gotten much press. What many people aren’t aware of is that each tire produced requires at least 5 to 10 gallons of petroleum. The carbon black filler used in tires is produced from oil, coal, or charcoal and was originally designed to allow cars to travel faster and smoother, however; the components of these tires do not decompose well and take mass amounts of energy to manufacture.

The new tires highlighted in a New York Times article are manufactured using vegetable processing oil instead of petroleum, as well as strong fibers from plant cellulose. The percentage of traditional synthetic rubber than decomposes poorly was reduced by 50 percent in the new tires, going from 22% of the tires composition to a more manageable 11%.

Sumitomo Inc, a Japanese rubber manufacturing company, introduced a prototype tire in 2008. The company hopes to market its new tires in 2013.

To read more about these new environmentally savvy tires, check out the article below!

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/20/automobiles/20TIRE.html?pagewanted=1&adxnnl=1&ref=science&adxnnlx=1277820072-I%20fNBe3INzwnU73DhA2PVQ

New Jersey Building Project Goes Green

The New York Times recently published an article about a green building project taking place in Hoboken, New Jersey. The plan is to build a large housing project, complete with an adjacent park, views of New York City, and best of all; the building will use 50-90 % less energy than today’s conventional buildings.

Much like Native Structures’ Providence LEED House, the project in New Jersey will be using fly ash and airtight concrete, significantly reducing the air conditioning and heating needed inside the building. The NJ building will also use an energy recovery system of ventilation, likely similar to the ERV system used in the Providence house.

The projects in New Jersey and the Providence LEED House have many parallels in their respective buildings designed to increase their energy efficiencies. Check out the article for more information on the project in New Jersey!

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/13/realestate/13njzo.html?ref=energy_efficiency

New Native Structures Projects

Check out the "Project Gallery" portion of the Native Structures website to see new additions to the projects Native Structures is leading. Photos and updates on the properties are now available!

http://nativestructures.com/project_gallery

Providence LEED House Update

June 8, 2010

Providence House Updates

The first LEED house in Providence, Rhode Island is well on its way to completion and remains a candidate home for Platinum certification. The home is almost completed, and all that remains to be done are minor details in the home’s interior, including plumbing and lighting fixtures, and details on its exterior, including front stairs and paint.

The construction on the home is also nearly finished, as the floors, ceilings and windows are already in place. The overall design of the home, created by Kite Architects, allows for the house to have an incredible amount of sunlight. The many large windows are placed strategically throughout the house, providing natural light all day long. The front doors to the house are uniquely beautiful and efficient at the same time. Much like the windows, the doors have elements of glass to allow for light to enter the home. They are also FSC- approved mahogany, which is environmentally sound wood.

The Energy Recovery Ventilator (ERV) is in place and improves indoor air quality while saving energy. The Smart Shell insulation package includes roof, ceiling, and exterior wall panels, as well as energy efficient windows and doors, all designed for high performance and the overall reduction of energy use in the home. The spray foam insulation was used in this home, complete with elements of soy and vegetable based products, all more biodegradable than traditional sheet insulation. With all of its details focused on energy efficiency and eco-friendly elements, this home is well on its way to achieving high LEED standards.

Check back soon for updates and pictures of this home in its final stages of completion!

*The pictures at the top of this entry capture some of the progress on the house. One image features the exterior of the home, another features the kitchen and highlights the large amount of natural light that enters the home, and the third picture is of the central staircase, highlighting the light captured by the open plan of the home.

June 2, 2010

As the process for LEED certification continues for the first LEED certified home in Providence, it is important to realize all the benefits that building such an environmentally sound house can provide, and how much work goes into achieving such a level of certification. In order to reach all the necessary points to gain certification, all members of the project team must be committed to completing the job in an eco-friendly manner. From the architect, engineer, and contractor to the landscape architect, interior designer and property management staff, it is necessary to have everyone on board in order to create a home that reaches top-notch sustainability levels and standards. If each member of the project team works together and remains committed to the goal of achieving a LEED certified home, than it makes the process of certification much smoother. As noted on the USGBC website, a LEED-certified building is designed to:

· Lower operating costs and increase asset value

· Reduce waste sent to landfills

· Conserve energy and water

· Be healthier and safer for occupants

· Reduce harmful greenhouse gas emissions

· Qualify for tax rebates, zoning allowances and other incentives

· Demonstrate a commitment to environmental respect and social responsibility

While designing and building a green home can be daunting, if each member of the project team works together to implement a plan to achieve the goals of their project, than it can ultimately result in LEED certification, tax reductions, an environmentally respectful home, and an example for other homes in the future. The environmental and financial benefits to achieving LEED certification are numerous, and as the Providence house project moves towards completion, the entire team is excited to see how their efforts to be sustainable will pay off.

http://www.usgbc.org/DisplayPage.aspx?CMSPageID=1988

http://www.usgbc.org/DisplayPage.aspx?CMSPageID=64

Updates on Charlestown Project

May 28, 2010

The project in Charlestown, RI is well under way and progressing successfully. It’s close proximity to the ocean led to the design of the house on piers, which has turned out to not only be a very smart idea structurally, but also extremely aesthetically pleasing. Tearing down the original house on this land and building from scratch has resulted in a home that is beautiful in structure, timeless in design, and eco-friendly in nature.

While many of the green aspects of this home haven’t even been put in place yet, it is still well on its way to becoming an environmentally sound home. The spray foam insulation used on this site has elements of soy and vegetable bases in them, making them more decomposable than traditional rolled insulation. The spray foam hardens and seals the house tightly, also resulting in reduced heat loss, meaning less usage and lower heating bills for the owners- always a plus!

Currently, porches are being constructed on both the second and third floors of houses’ exterior. On the interior, the framing and the studs that will ultimately separate the rooms within the home are in place. The windows and doors are installed as well. Stay tuned for more updates on this project!

Updates on Narragansett Project

May 28, 2010

The project in Narragansett is progressing well. The house is currently completely gutted- all that remains standing is the outer shell/ walls of the home, the interior studs, the exterior foundation, and the pillars on the interior of the home. No walls, ceilings, or floors are in place, and demolition is still occurring on the outside near the front door. When demolition is complete, the building process will progress and will incorporate green aspects into the home. One example of the eco-friendly elements of this home is the wood, which will be FSC certified (Forest Stewardship Council).