Green Housing Is Springing Up In Canada

Canadians have clearly expressed their interest in green housing as a second, $300 million sustainable development project is now underway in Quebec. The project, dubbed Cité Verte, will boast 800 residences starting at $350,000 and plans to cut water consumption by 50% and use 30% less energy. The community will employ several new green technologies to achieve this reduction such as: a biomass plant to convert wood waste into clean power for heating and hot water production as well as a series of vacuum-operated, color-coded waste chutes that suck material into a series of tubes to deposit waste into the appropriate waste, recycling, or compost bins. In addition to these innovations, Cité Verte will feature narrower streets to demote traffic, self-service bikes, green roofs, LED street lamps, solar panels and a basin to capture and recycle rain water.

This is the second project of its kind in Canada. The first was Dockside Green in Victoria’s Inner Harbour. Dockside Green was the first community development to apply for and achieve LEED Platinum certification and is completely carbon-neutral. The mixed residential, commercial and light industrial complex boasts several alternative energy solutions including, solar panels, building wind-turbines, a wood-based biomass gasification system, and the recovery of waste heat from municipal sewage. Additionally, the community has an on-site waste water treatment and re-use system that is estimated to save over 52 million gallons of potable water. With the addition of the 18 million gallons of non-potable water that has been treated and can be used for irrigation, flushing toilets, water features, or sold in excess, the community saves more water than Greater Victoria’s regional water use on the driest day of the year!

These innovative new housing developments are the beginnings of what is promised to be a long tradition in Canada. Canadians have expressed their interest in the projects with 82% of survey respondents claiming that they would be willing to invest more money in a home if it were certified green. Industry and government are responding to these trends, Quebec City Mayor Regis Labeaume claims, “We want green projects to become our trademark.” and has pledged to initiate two more green development projects within the next 20 years. With over 35% of greenhouse gas emissions coming from residential housing, Mark Hutchinson, director of the Green Buildings Programs for the Canada Green Building Council sees the potential growth in these kinds of developments, “There is a trend towards the greening of development, and green neighbourhoods are going to be the way of the future if we want to reduce substantially our environmental footprint”. These developments are a notable beginning of a long path to reducing the environmental load of residential housing.

Via $300 M Eco Neighborhood for Quebec, Green house takes on a new meaning, and Dockside Green.

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Get Political With Timberland’s “Don’t Tell Us It Can’t Be Done” Campaign.

In December, 192 nations from around the world will come together in Copenhagen to attempt to ratify a new global climate change treaty, designed to replace the soon-to-expire Kyoto protocol. COP15 represents a significant opportunity to take action on climate change. Through the Don’t Tell Us It Can’t Be Done campaign, Timberland hopes to rally the power of individuals and consumers around the world to affect this process positively by challenging government leaders to set standards for emissions.

Timberland is challenging world leaders at COP15 to commit to reducing global emissions – even if that means a cap and trade system. Even with the restrictions that such a model could produce, Timberland is confident that it would force innovation in industries everywhere and that businesses, as problem solvers, would find a way to adapt without passing the cost to the consumer, just as Timberland has. Through measures such as improving lighting design, using renewable energy sources at Timberland facilities and building all new US stores to LEED specifications, Timberland has reduced its direct carbon emissions by 27% since 2006 – all while achieving cost savings.

As part of this campaign, individuals can make their voices heard by signing an online petition at www.donttellusitcantbedone.com or by going through Facebook.com/timberland and Earthkeeper.com. The petition asks world leaders to come to an agreement on fair and binding climate legislation that clearly sets a limit for greenhouse gas emissions; and then asks them to step aside and let businesses innovate and lead the way to finding solutions to achieve those limits.

In addition to signing the petition, visitors can learn about other ways to address climate change or stay up-to-date with happenings at the conference from December 7 – 18. An on-the-ground correspondent will be providing daily updates and exclusive interviews at www.donttellusitcantbedone.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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A Better World By Design Conference

Today marks the last day of the Better World by Design Conference between Rhode Island School of Design and Brown University. This year, the conference has grown to 500 attendees from all over the globe. The event has brought together a global community of innovators to Providence, Rhode Island, to reach across disciplines and unite under a common goal. Presenters have been sharing inspiring and engaging stories all weekend. It’s been a very motivational event we’re feeling refreshed and ready to put all of this new knowledge into practice!

To take a look at the list of speakers here.

For more information on the conference and to get on the mailing list for their 2010 event, see www.abetterworldbydesign.com.

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Eco-Innovative Residences from a Rag Factory

Images from Onion Flats

A Philadelphia architecture firm, Onion Flats converted a rundown industrial site into a creative residential complex. Previously a collapsed and vacant dump site in Fishtown, Philadelphia, “Rag Flats” is the result of experimental exploration of local urban dwelling and energy efficiency.The Rag Flats exemplifies innovative conversion of historic buildings into modern living spaces. The site features a 6000 gallon cistern to store rainwater. Different scales of residential units reflect Onion Flats’ consideration of density, intimacy, and privacy in an urban community. The building features an individually metered, 32KW photovoltaic panel system, green roof gardens and earth friendly flooring.

Today, the Rag Flats established itself as a hub for the community, bringing people from the Southern Philadelphia and Fishtown together. Tenants and friends are able to enjoy parties and other events in this remarkable green space.

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Chilewich Textiles Earns CRI Green Label Plus Certification

Chilewich flooring’s highly eclectic and modern collection of durable, U.S.-made fabrics has just been awarded the Carpet and Rug Institute’s (CRI) Green Label plus. For all those that don’t know, yes there is an institute solely devoted to Carpets and Rugs and yes they even have their own green certification. The CRI label is awarded to carpets, rugs, and even vacuum cleaners that meet or exceed stringent criteria for low chemical emissions and help improve indoor air quality.

Chilewich’s modern commercial-grade woven vinyl wall-to-wall flooring, floor tiles, custom floor mats, wall coverings, and upholstery fabrics now meet or exceed industry standards for VOC emissions and can help improve indoor air quality. Depending on location Chilewich fibers can also help earn LEED points during construction.

Although Chilewich does not consider its flooring completely green, the CRI certification is a step in the right direction and its refreshing to see a company that’s aware of its environmental impact but has made a commitment to continually improve and seek out post-consumer fillers and sustainable polymers for its future products.

Chilewich Website

CRI Website

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The Health-Conscious and Eco-Friendly Chair

Herman Miller has created what might just be the ultimate computer chair. The Embody chair was designed with expert advice from Physicians and PhDs to not only be comfortable but also be good for ones health and environmentally friendly at the same time. The Embody is said to greatly improve oxygen flow and even reduce your heart rate. The chair promotes good posture, something that can be extremely beneficial for those who spend countless hours in front of a computer. The back of the Embody was built to mimic the spine and is constantly active and can conform to your back through a full range of motions

In addition to its amazing ergonomics, the Embody chair is 95% recyclable, has 42% recycled content, and contains no PVCs. The Embody is Cradle-to-Cradle silver certified, GREENGUARD certified and can even provide credits for LEED certification.

The one major downside of the chair is its hefty price, around $1,600 dollars. Although expensive, the Embody is an extremely well crafted and thought out chair, that is not only comfortable and good for your health, but also better for the environment, they don’t get much better than that.

For more information check out Herman Millers Website

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Put a Little Hemp in Your Concrete

In Europe, the oft-stigmatized hemp plant is becoming a widely accepted, environmentally friendly alternative source to concrete or brick in the building industry, but sadly has yet to gain any real traction in the US market. Hemp based concrete, a mixture of aggregate hemp stalks, sand, lime and concrete, is becoming more widespread in Europe due to it being a rapidly renewable resource, its impressive thermal and sound dampening qualities and its small carbon footprint.

Hemp-based concrete cannot be used for load bearing walls but is still a very versatile material; it can be cast into blocks or in a solid mass around timber frames, and can even be sprayed onto many surfaces. It is extremely energy efficient and can be used in multiple applications including roof and under floor insulation, in casting solid walls and as wall filler around a timber-framed building.

The stalks of the hemp plant, once considered waste, are processed and used as a renewable, fast growing aggregate in the concrete. Hemp is an extremely hardy plant, requires little maintenance, pesticides or water but unfortunately has been mired in controversy do to its close ties with a certain close relative. Today, numerous companies like Tradical and Hemcrete are prospering in Europe and their hemp-based products have successfully been implemented in a wide range of projects. Like many large industries, America’s building industry is slow to accept and adopt new methods and technologies, but the promise of hemp-based concrete certain; its future in the US however is not.

To find out more visit www.americanlimetec.com

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