Thinking Energy
News
September 03, 2010
- Europe's seas get criteria for good environmental status
The European Commission has adopted a decision outlining the criteria necessary to achieve good environmental status for Europe's seas. This will help Member States to develop coordinated marine strategies within each regional sea to achieve the EU's objective of good environmental status for all marine waters by 2020 and allow progress to be compared between regions. Good status means that the overall state of the environment in marine waters provides ecologically diverse and dynamic oceans and seas which are healthy and productive. - about 9 hours
source: (Energy Enviro Latest News) - Custom Prefab Completed in St. Paul
Hive Modular, a prefab company out of Minneapolis, recently completed this custom modular home on a sloping corner lot in St. Paul. Sandwiched between mid-century modern neighbors, the 1,864 square foot prefab features contemporary oak finishes and landscaping from none other than Rosenlof/Lucas. Check it out below from a few different perspectives.
This is the X-Line 012 model with two bedrooms and two bathrooms. Hive aims for airtight construction and uses 2x6 exterior wall framing, R19 insulation, and R44 engineered floor and roof trusses.
The company also uses low-VOC and green materials while minimizing construction waste in controlled factory conditions.
Hive Modular is one of a handful of businesses out there consistently building contemporary prefabs. If you like this one, you'll certainly like some of these others, including this B-Line Medium in Minneapolis, this X-Line in Vadnais Heights, and this B-Line Medium in St. Paul.
[+] Get more info on Green Homes from Hive Modular.
Credits: Hive Modular.
- about 10 hours
source: (Jetson Green) - UN climate chief: World cannot afford worsening disasters
The world cannot afford escalating disasters of the kind recently witnessed in Pakistan and Russia, the top UN climate change official said on Thursday, underscoring the need for governments to take swift action to lead the world towards a low-carbon future. "There is a growing sense of urgency amongst governments that they need to take this next step in Cancun," Christiana Figueres, said on the margins of a financing for climate change meeting in Geneva. She stressed that "concrete proposals on how to do financing are now required." - about 16 hours
source: (Energy Enviro Latest News) - Modern Eco Dwelling Unit in Beacon Hill
Seattle allows backyard cottages -- legally referred to as detached accessory dwelling units (DADU) -- in certain single-family situations. These structures aren't without controversy but can helpful when taking on a renter or housing extra family. BjarkoSerra Architects designed this DADU for a family in Beacon Hill, and it will be built in the next year or so to a Built Green 5-Star rating.
As shown in the rendering above, Beacon Hill DADU will have abundant windows for natural lighting, SIPs for an airtight and energy-efficient envelope, and rainwater harvesting for garden irrigation and stormwater management.
Clad in Western Red Cedar, the project will also have roof-mounted solar systems for hot water and electricity and will be built with recycled and otherwise green materials. I'll try to follow up with this DADU upon the completion of construction. It will be beautiful.
Credit: BjarkoSerra Architects.
- about 19 hours
source: (Jetson Green) - Construction begins on south-west's largest wind farm - about 22 hours
source: (Renewables)