Biomimicry: the solution lies in Nature

Great article on Janine Benyus, author of Biomimicry.

Sensing that there were broader applications at the intersection of ecology, commerce, technology, and materials science, she cofounded the Biomimicry Guild in 1998 and developed models for applying biomimicry to industrial design and systems. Among her growing list of clients are Levi Strauss, NASA, Nike, Patagonia, Procter & Gamble, S.C. Johnson, and General Electric.

Buy the book now.

Interview with Living Homes Green PreFab

Like most architects, I have a special place in my heart for pre-fab buildings, especially if they are part of the new crop of green pre-fab ones. Financial Times has this great article with Steve Glenn of Living Homes:

Please don’t call it the greenest home on the planet,” says Steve Glenn of his house in Santa Monica, California. “A yurt or a mud hut in Africa might be the greenest home on the planet – not this house.”

His first living home received an impressive Platinum LEED certification.

Hear Steve Glenn live at The Commonwealth Club on July 9th

Learn more about Living Homes here.

CNet Story on Energy Efficient Lighting

CNet recently interviewed me for a story they did on energy efficient lighting.

The most interesting part of the story are the comments at the bottom of the page. There seems to be some confusion about LED bulbs. In reality: LEDs consume less energy than incandescents but still more than a compact fluorescent (CFL Bulb). CFL bulbs are still the most energy efficient when you compare it to an equal amount of light given off. This will change soon, I'm sure, but for right now, the LED bulbs still use slightly more energy than a CFL.

Ceilings affect mood?

Room ceiling heights affect how people think.

"When a person is in a space with a 10-foot ceiling, they will tend to think more freely, more abstractly. They might process more abstract connections between objects in a room, whereas a person in a room with an 8-foot ceiling will be more likely to focus on specifics."

Winners of the 2007 National Design Awards

The winners of the 2007 National Design Awards has been released by the Cooper-Hewitt Design Museum in New York.

Francis Ching was given a special award. As any Architecture student will tell you, Ching's books were required reading.

Greening San Francisco

ABC World News Tonight did this story on the Greening of San Francisco. It quickly covers a raction of the great things going on here, including the green roof of the new Academy of Sciences; the new solar panels on Giants Stadium; and the new PUC building powered by wind, solar and water powered elevators.

Read transcript here
Watch Video Here

Vertical gardens of Patrick Blanc

Look at the beautiful vertical garden architecture of Patrick Blanc.

Plants don’t need soil in any situation because the soil is merely nothing more than a mechanic support. Only water and the many minerals dissolved in it are essential to plants, together with light and carbon dioxide to conduct photosynthesis. Wherever water is available all year long as in tropical forests or in temperate mountain forests, plants can grow on rocks, tree trunks, and slopes free-of-ground.

Thinking of being your own contractor?

Here's a good cautionary tale of why you should rethink being your own contractor. There is a huge difference between a handyman and a contractor - a state license for starters.

This house collapsed when the homeowner inadequately braced the foundation he was replacing. Luckily, no one was hurt (even the dog was rescued!). He had permits, but not a proper contractor.