Tag: Energy Efficiency
-
Colorado’s First Passive House
Brookfield Residential’s Midtown Residence Eight in Denver, is the first Colorado home to receive the Passive House Institute U.S. (PHIUS) certification. It is also the first house made by a US production builder to receive this certification. The home was designed by KGA Studio Architects. To achieve the Passive House certification, the home has a…
-
Researchers Develop Semi-Transparent and Decorative Solar Cells
A team of researchers at the University of Michigan has successfully developed a prototype of a semi-transparent photovoltaic solar cell, which they hope will make solar arrays more attractive to consumers and lead to a more widespread adoption. Existing solar panels are far from aesthetically pleasing, but this new invention could be used to cover…
-
A Tiny House EcoVillage for the Homeless
The YouthBuild Program in collaboration with the Alternative Energy Program at New Market Skills Center are busy building a so called Tiny House EcoVillage, which will consist of three 70 square foot tiny mobile sleeping units, and 30 larger, permanent tiny houses. These will be placed in Quixote Village, which is part of Olympia, WA’s…
-
Solar Bridge in London Completed and Operational
Blackfriar’s Bridge, which is the largest solar bridge in the world and part of London’s Blackfriar’s railway station, is finally finished. Work on the structure started in 2009 as part of the worldwide energy conservation efforts. The bridge crosses the river Thames and the solar panels that now cover it were installed by the firm…
-
A Home That is Heated and Cooled Organically
A team of students at Waseda University in Japan have constructed a prototype for a house that can be heated by composting straw. They dubbed the dwelling the “Recipe for Life” house. Using the heat generating composting process for the purpose of heating a dwelling is not a new idea, but it is definitely one…