EQUITY GREEN

Focusing on Zero Energy and High Efficiency

Check it out:

++Building An Energy Efficient America:  Zero Energy and High Efficiency Buildings [Download Full Report at Environment America]

Also, if you didn't get your hands on a Wall Street Journal today, you missed an opinion piece written by T. Boone Pickens titled "My Plan to Escape the Grip of Foreign Oil" where Mr. Pickens outlines his 10-year plan to reduce America's reliance on foreign oil by more than 1/3 over the next 5 to 10 years.  Very interesting piece and well-deserved dialogue.  He sees the writing on the wall and feels an extreme urgency to get out from under the shadow of foreign oil.

++My Plan to Escape the Grip of Foreign Oil [WSJ]

Green Guru Challenge [Michelle Kaufmann on YouTube]

Michelle Kaufmann recently posted a video on YouTube calling people out to participate in a "recycle in style" challenge.  She wants to see your creativity in making re-use of everyday items and/or things you might normally throw in the trash.  To participate, make a video and post it in response to hers on YouTube.  

Greensburg House X

 

++Greensburg House X [Flickr]
++Greensburg Greentown [website]

Rotating Skyscrapers

Woman Uses Retired 747 To Build Dream Home

Real Estate Appraisers Must Learn To See Green Value

"A challenge for green finance is the ongoing struggle among appraisers and underwriters to understand the value and risk of sustainability."--Scott Muldavin, Executive Director of the Green Building Finance Consortium in San Rafael, CA. 

West Coast Green 2008 [San Jose]

 

It's back!  Welcome to the largest residential green building movement get-together!  Featuring over 380 exhibitors, 6,000 industry professionals, and this WCG is featuring a "Homeowner Day" where the public can have full access to the tradeshow.  Click for a list of the speakers and exhibitors.  West Coast Green is an opportunity to share best practices and get ideas on the green movement.   

++West Coast Green [website]
++West Coast Green:  mkLotus Showhouse [Dwell blog]

Bio-Tech Firm Genzyme First To Fill Green Space

Yesterday, the guys at Genzyme (NASDAQ: GENZ) held a conference call with green bloggers to discuss their green building efforts.  As far as I know, Genzyme is one of the first bio-tech firms to really embrace and enter the green building space.  Led by Rick Mattila, director of enviornmental affairs, and Lisa Hartman, principal environmental engineer, the group discussed the Genzyme Center (corporate headquarters) based in Cambridge, Mass., which was awarded the LEED-Platinum certification, the highest green rating a building can receive.  When asked what was the biggest bang for their buck in building the Genzyme Center, Rick responded...

Plans For A Green Mega City [Popular Science]

Whether we are talking urban sprawl or the Ghostburb phenomenon, our nation and global economies and enviornments are definitely in flux.  Our reliance on big oil has us feeling the pinch every time we fill up.  The energy and economy crisis of '08 provides a great opportunity for advancement...advancement in new technology and business ventures.  Odds are, something huge is going to hit...but who knows when.  In the meantime, there are a lot of ideas of what life may be like in the future.  Popular Science has a cool site describing what they call the "Green Mega City."  The Green Mega City integrates a pod car, driverless bus, energy highway, Maglev Skytrain, Algae Park, power sidewalks, etc. into the whole city's infrastructure.  Just click the navigation arrows for descriptions of each.   

++The Green Mega City [Popular Science]
++McCain Offers $300 Million Prize For New Auto Battery [FoxNews]
++Ghostburbs [ABC News Video]

Greensburg Cubed To Help Residents Rebuild City After Devastation

On May 4, 2007, a tornado struck the town of Greensburg, Kansas.  Yesterday, I posted about Studio 804, a design-build program at the University of Kansas School of Architecture and Urban Planning, and how they are helping the residents of Greensburg rebuild after the tornado.  Add KSU to the list of schools helping out.  During this past spring, the graduate architectural design studio at Kansas State University will help to rebuild the city through a design-build project called G3:  Greensburg Cubed.  Greensburg Cubed will design and construct modules, 10'x10'x10' cubes, that highlight sustainable materials and demonstrate green construction methods to meet a community need.  Check out the video...I think the Book Nook and the Ice Cube are awesome designs and can picture them in parks and cities across the country.  If I could, I would put a Book Nook in my backyard!