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Green Building
House Tour: A Net-Zero Energy Home in Vermont
I recently visited beautiful northern Vermont, and the South Farm Homes development in Hinesburg. This six-home development aims for "net-zero" status, meaning that the homes will generate as much power as they use over the course of a year. Environmental features include active PV solar panels integrated into the metal roofing of each home and significant southern glass, which provide solar gain (as well as lovely views of the surrounding valley).
Michelle Kaufmann Designs Closing Doors
I am very sad to report that Michelle Kaufmann Designs is closing, due in part to the credit crisis and the closing of factories used to manufacture MKD homes. The green prefab firm, located in Oakland, CA, designed homes guaranteed to achieve either gold or platinum LEED ratings, the two highest ratings from the US Green Building Council. Homes such as the Glidehouse and mkLotus won MKD international acclaim, and were proof that prefab and green were a natural fit.
Coveted Crib: Cottage Rehab
The owners of this 1930s cottage loved the feel of their home, but not its lack of spaciousness. The homeowners turned to CG&S Design-Build , one of Austin, TX’s premier residential design-build firms, to renovate and expand their home.
Even though the cottage has now doubled in size (to a little over 2,500 square feet), the home still retains the small footprint and feel of the original home.
Coveted Crib: An Austin Green Home
When planning a new home, the owners of a home in Texas wanted to take advantage of the gorgeous views in the neighborhood. Thus, a three-story, 3,100-square-foot home was envisioned for a steep hillside in Austin. The public areas of the home, such as the living and dining areas, are located on the top floor, where the family and guests can gaze out at the stunning views.
In the News: Rammed Earth Construction Gets Updated
From adobe to cob masonry, people all over the world have built with earthen materials to create their homes. Now, one form of earth building — rammed earth — has been given a technological update. In the San Francisco Chronicle article "Sonoma Couple's House Shows Mexican influence," husband and wife Bruce Needleman and Edna Hayes recount the process of building their beautiful earthen home.
The Obama Girls Go Green at School
On Friday, CasaSugar let you know about the American Institute of Architecture's offer to help the White House become an international model of energy efficiency. If President-elect Barack Obama takes AIA up on the offer, he'll really be getting somewhere with his aforementioned green building goals. But, as it turns out, Obama has already begun to walk the walk: after much ado, he and Michelle have decided to send their daughters, Malia and Sasha, to an environmentally friendly, LEED-platinum school, the Sidwell Friends School in D.C.
The White House: A Model of Energy Efficiency?
2009 will certainly be the dawning of a new age for the United States, and now that Barack Obama has been named president-elect, he should be prepared to follow through on his aforementioned goals. He needs to walk the walk. In the green building department, he proposed investing in infrastructure, advancing energy efficiency and sustainable buildings, and developing a 21st century transportation system.
Guess What This Building Is Made From?
This Buddhist temple was constructed from over 1 million of these items. Can you tell me what it was? (Check out the color for a clue.)
Casa Verde: Michelle Kaufmann's Quick Construction
Whether she's making cool eco craft projects or designing innovative homes, Michelle Kaufmann is definitely one of my eco heroes.
Michelle designs green, prefab homes that are both beautiful and cost-effective. These homes are guaranteed to achieve either gold or platinum LEED ratings, the two highest ratings from the US Green Building Council.
Casa Verde: A Handmade Home Gets Some TLC
Last year, I told you about my brother's handmade home, which he built in an eco fashion for a surprisingly small amount of money. However, nothing much had been done with the home's interior. This year, he and his wife made a lot of interior changes in the home to spruce it up.
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