MetaEfficient Reviews » Architecture

REI’s LEED Certified Stores

benjamin — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 19:15:20 +0000

LEED Gold REI Store In Round Rock, TX (image: REI)

REI’s newest LEED certified retail stores are evidence that smart business and environmental responsibility sometimes lead down the same path. These new stores enjoy lower operating costs, and customers appreciate the company’s dedication to sustainable building.

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An Energy Producing Home In Disguise

benjamin — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 23:24:44 +0000

The Energy Producing Home (image: Neumann Developments)

Who says that a home with cutting-edge energy efficiency has to look like an ultra-modern pod? This recently completed Wisconsin home packs so much energy tech that it makes money by selling electricity back to the grid, and it still keeps a low neighborhood profile.

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Hyper-Efficient House Completed In Virginia

Justin — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 05:27:48 +0000

Hyper-Efficient LEED Platinum In Virginia

This new home in Virginia was designed for optimal efficiency. It’s the first to receive LEED platinum in Virginia.

Optimal elements that set it apart: an integrated rain water collection system (the site design features zero site runoff for a one-inch rain event), integrated geothermal wells, and exceptional indoor air quality.

The home was built by Metro Green and designed by Kaplan Thompson Architects.

Found via Preston Koerner. Thanks Preston!

Chicago’s Green Alley Initiative

benjamin — Tue, 26 May 2009 18:30:36 +0000

Chicago's Green Alley Initiative (photo: Chicago DOT)

Urban alleyways. Grubby places that only scrappy cats or cop-show perps could love, right? Not in Chicago, where the Department of Transportation is giving them some serious TLC with its recently implemented Green Alley Program. This city-wide renovation initiative will offer some surprising environmental benefits and improve quality of life for residents.
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World’s First 100% Solar-Powered Stadium

Justin — Fri, 15 May 2009 19:29:21 +0000

A couple of years ago, we wrote about a 1.3 megawatt solar-powered stadium in Switzerland. A new solar powered stadium has been built in Taiwan for the 2009 World Games in July. Designed by Japanese architect Toyo Ito, the stadium incorporates 8,844 solar panels on the roof. The roof will generate enough energy to power the building’s 3,300 lights and two giant television screens. (more…)

“Low-E” Windows Maximize Buildings’ Energy Efficiency

benjamin — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 19:12:10 +0000

“Low-E” Windows Maximize Buildings’ Energy Efficiency (photo: EWC)

Low-E stands for low emissivity, and these windows are constructed to minimize heat transfer through the glass. Since windows are essentially huge holes in the walls of a building, choosing a low-E window design that’s appropriate for local climate and architecture can greatly increase a structure’s thermal efficiency, while reducing energy use and utility costs.
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City Of Green Rings To Be Built In Korea

Justin — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 05:00:18 +0000

A Dutch architecture group MVRDV have won a competition to design a city center for Gwanggyo, a new city which could be built south of Seoul, Korea. The town is planned to be a self-sufficient city of 77,000 inhabitants. (more…)

GreenFiber Cocoon Insulation: Energy Efficiency From Recycled Material

benjamin — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 02:18:09 +0000

GreenFiber Cocoon Insulation: Energy Efficiency From Recycled Material (photo: GreenFiber)

One of the simplest ways to improve a home’s energy efficiency and comfort is to make sure that it is properly insulated. Cocoon Insulation from North Carolina-based GreenFiber is a highly efficient insulator, offering more convenient installation and higher R-values than common alternatives, as well as utilizing recycled source material.
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Update: Bank Of America Tower, Greenest Skyscraper In The U.S.

benjamin — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 21:50:02 +0000

Bank of America Tower, Greenest Skyscraper In The U.S. (photo: BoA)

A while back, MetaEfficient profiled what could be the greenest skyscraper in America, the Bank of America Tower in New York City. Located in midtown Manhattan at One Bryant Park, the 945-foot tall, 55-story structure is scheduled to open later this year. Here’s a closer look at some of the groundbreaking features that should help the building earn a coveted LEED Platinum designation.
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The Bardessono Inn: 93% Of Construction Waste Reused

Justin — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 18:05:25 +0000

In Napa Valley, the newly opened Bardessono Inn and Spa is perhaps the greenest luxury hotel in the country. There are several innovative features that make Bardessono a model for green builders. Perhaps most impressive is the fact that 93 percent of the Bardessono’s construction waste was recycled — an unusally high amount. Materials like wood, steel and paper which would normally be trashed were reused in the construction of the Inn. (more…)