Solé Tiles: An Integrated Solar Solution For Clay Tile Roofing

Solé Power Tiles are electricity-generating “barrel-style” tiles which can be installed in an integrated way with US Tile’s traditional clay tile roofing. The Solé Power Tiles install like a standard tile with no penetrations into the tile itself. The benefit to the consumer or developer is that the solar components are not readily visible.

Solar energy is a renewable alternative to power plants that burn fossil fuels, finite resources that contribute to pollution, global warming, as well as the reliance on imports for our energy security. Photovoltaic (PV) systems convert sunlight into electricity, powering everything from lamps to air conditioners in a residential or commercial building.

In PV systems, direct current (DC) electricity is produced. Appliances and machinery, however, operate on alternating current (AC). The DC energy produced by the panels is fed into an inverter that converts the DC power into AC power, which then feeds into the main electrical panel that powers a home or business. Any excess generation is fed back into the utility grid. Over a year, as a utility customer, your electricity bill is reduced by the energy you produce.

To learn more visit ustile.com and srsenergy.com.

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MIT Graduates Develop A Color-Changing Roof Tile

A team of recent MIT graduates has developed roof tiles that change color based on the temperature. The the tiles are white when the temperature is hot, allowing them to reflect away most of the sun’s heat. The reverse happens when the temperature is cold, they turn black to retain heat.

“The team’s lab measurements show that in their white state, the tiles reflect about 80 percent of the sunlight falling on them, while when black they reflect only about 30 percent. That means in their white state, they could save as much as 20 percent of present cooling costs, according to recent studies. Savings from the black state in winter have yet to be quantified.”

Read more at www.impactlab.com

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Address Sustainability, Especially In Tough Times

Have you been wondering about the progression of sustainability in our current economy? This new book which is hot off the press (literally being released today), Strategy for Sustainability: Building sustainable businesses in turbulent times, is a must-read. It highlights a comprehensive array of strategies and actions which companies can take to build triple bottom line businesses, especially in tough times. This book is truly remarkable, outlining an array of the best strategies for addressing unique environmental challenges at all types of companies. For many business owners, it will provide insight on how trends in society, technologies, and resources can affect their organization. It will also help readers to gain a better understanding of sustainability as a whole, and where they fall in the spectrum relative to other consumers and companies.

Adam Werbach is a premier thought leader on business initiatives around sustainability, Global CEO of Saatchi and Saatchi S, and the author of many influential writings on sustainability including the 1997 book Act Now, Apologize Later. In 1996, at age 23, Werbach was elected the youngest-ever President of the Sierra Club, the oldest and largest environmental organization in the United States.

Read more about the book at strategyforsustainability.com

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Sexy Solar Energy

We could not find a better image to exemplify the concept of passive solar technology. In short, passive solar technologies (the opposite of active solar) don’t use mechanical systems. On a basic level, solar energy (heat) is used to control the temperatures of water and air. Passive solar technologies are often employed in systems which are part of an environmentally friendly home.

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Humboldt Squids Inspire New, Environmentally Friendly Composite Materials

All squid species have protein-based teeth which are lightweight and tough. Scientists are looking to use this material to make products which are environmentally friendly as it’s an organic compound. They anticipate it being somewhat inexpensive to manufacture as the reactions involved in making squid teeth don’t require temperature extremes, exotic ingredients or harsh chemicals. The shells of clams and oysters, squid beaks, and exoskeletons of shrimp and lobsters are made of proteins and minerals in crystallized form. In the structures of shells and exoskeletons, crystals are the strength provider while the proteins acts as shock absorbers. It turns out that the circular teeth which are found in Humboldt Squids, don’t contain any crystals which was a big surprise to many scientists.

Through Biomimicry, biological adaptations have been playing an increasing role in helping designers, engineers, architects, and business leaders solve sustainable design and engineering challenges (see AskNature.org). In this case, scientists were intrigued by the architecture of the squids teeth, realizing the potential to use the same design in environmentally friendly composites. The basic principal is that the teeth are made from a mono-material with variations in the density and spacing of the pores at points in the structure of the teeth. At and near the base of the tooth, scientists found the pores to be closer together, making for a material which was softer and able to absorb the thrashing of the prey without breaking.

Via Discovery.com

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International Architect Hits Big with Harvard’s New Student Housing.

Architect Kyu Sung Woo has completed what is considered a great example of what environmentally considered design can do for residential space. His new student housing center for Harvard in Cambridge, MA is not only drop dead gorgeous, it’s designed to achieve a high level of LEED certification. The building is packed with renewable bamboo flooring, considered wall paneling, low VOC finishes, and regionally sourced siding with recycled content. His 115,000 sq ft project is a part of Harvard’s ongoing effort to house 50 percent of their undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral students. Kyu Sung Woo is a world renown architect. He has made great achievements, moving towards sustainability and evolutions in architecture. The Ho-Am Prize for the arts was awarded to him recently for $200,000. The award is commonly referred to as Korea’s Nobel Prize and has a 17 year history. Kyu Sung Woo represents the first ever architect who has received this sought-after award.

Below are links to two source articles which talk in detail about Kyu Sung Woo and his career.

worldarchitecturenews.com
archrecord.com

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Ecolect’s Materials Petting Zoo at IDSA Rhode Island’s Nextup Conference!

On Thursday September 25th, designers, business owners and individuals gathered together for ISDA Rhode Island’s Sustainability Conference in Providence. Presentations were given by four speakers; Meaghan O’Neal of TreeHugger.com, Sean Brennan & Kelly Sherman of Continuum, and Emily Pilloton of Project H Design spoke on the importance of understanding consumer behavior and choices. Emily discussed her current ongoing project, Hippo Roller, a water transportation device. Meaghan educated us about a new form of eco-friendly graffiti, and Sean and Kelly spoke passionately about the importance of the consumer mindset and understanding how consumers think about the environment. Most importantly, all of the guest speakers discussed ways of designing to guide consumers in choosing greener options. Afterwards, guests and speakers took part in an engaging discussion of causes, relevant issues, and solutions. Everyone congregated on the green roof of the historic and sustainably redeveloped, Peerless Lofts Building for cocktails and a small version of Ecolect’s Materials Petting Zoo, the cutting-edge traveling exhibition of environmentally considered materials.

Project H
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The Eco-Friendly Keg Party!

The infamous disposable plastic cup that has been a mainstay of college campuses around the country has finally received a much needed overhaul. The Solo Cup Company has just announced a launch of their first ever use of recycled content in a disposable cup for wide spread sale.

Solo’s Bare™ line of disposable plastic cups is made from 20 percent post-consumer recycled polyethylene (PET) plastic. According to Steve Jungmann, Solo Cup Company senior vice president of consumer sales and marketing, “Sustainability is an ongoing priority for Solo and for our consumers. Our Bare products deliver environmental benefits with all the performance, strength and style consumers expect. We are committed to providing alternative choices in convenience tableware while reducing our own footprint on the world’s environment.”

The Release of Solo’s Bare™ line of sustainable products is a step in the right direction for the disposable tableware industry. Not only are these cups made from recycled plastic, but they themselves can be recycled anywhere plastic bottles are accepted.

Although there is still a lot more that can be done in this industry, Solo has provided the weekend picknicker, or partygoer with more sustainable alternatives than ever before. Cheers to that!

www.barebysolo.com

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