Archive for the ‘Sustainable Architecture’ Category

Solimpeks Corp has unveiled a hybrid solar panel, Volther hybrid photovoltaic-solar thermal collector, that incorporates both Photovoltaic technology, as well as providing domestic hot water.

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Typically, one of the larger impediments to efficient energy harnessing from a PV system, is the fact that as the panel heats up, the efficiency drops off.  By tying the two systems together, the domestic hot water collector acts as a cooling device for the PV portion of the panel, not only limiting the footprint of a dual system, but also improving the performance of the PV portion.

Traditional PV systems loose efficiency at the rate of 1/2% per degree of temperature increase.  Research and Develompent at Solimpeks claims that PV efficiency has been tested as high as 28%, while producing 104-160 degree water.  By stabilizing the panel at 113 degrees, approximately 20% more electrical output is produced, as when compared to a traditional PV system with the same peak output.

According to the company, tests by independent organizations have shown that an average single family residence in Northern Europe would need 270 square feet to meet their hot water and electrical demands.

Solimpeks Volther offers two different models, emphasizing either hot water collection, or electrical energy production.  The PV utilizes monocrystalline silicon cells, and the hot water portion uses copper tubing.

The first system was installed in May, 2010 in England, and the company sells directly to the US market from Turkey.

MarkWagner<>Gravitas

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Posted by Mwagner on 11 August 2010 at 11:14 am under Alternative Materials, Detailing, Energy Star, Engineering, Information, LEED, Materials/Methods, Sustainable Architecture, The Industry.
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Additional Sustainable Links, credit due to the USGBC for assembling this exhaustive, continuously updated resource: www.USGBC.org

Life Cycle Analysis & Costing

Materials, Guides & Certification
Media

Product Certification & Testing
Research Centers

Residential Resources

Sustainability/Miscellaneous

Ecosystem

Sustainability
Urban Sustainability
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Posted by Mwagner on 17 June 2009 at 6:42 pm under Code Requirements, Design Considerations, Information, LEED, Sustainable Architecture.
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We hope to provide you with another resource to track down information regarding sustainable design, and green building.  We have relied heavily on the USGBC for many of these www.USGBC.org.

Codes and Standards

Design Tools

Design Resources

Energy

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Posted by Mwagner on 11 June 2009 at 12:00 pm under Information, Reading List, Sustainable Architecture.
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Often when we think of materials suppliers for building our homes, or even working on a DIY home improvement project, we instinctively include the big box home improvement store or regional contractor oriented building supplier. I have found a few sources locally that I want to suggest and bring to your attention. Some are specific to Boise, but the concepts are not, and chances are they can be found in your city with a quick search.

  • Green building supply stores. Many city’s have storefronts that contain sustainable building products under one roof where you can educate yourself on how a product’s choice may impact your health, or the energy used to create it, or replace it (lifecycle costs). Locally we have a store called Green Foundations that has many products for all areas of construction. I suggest you stop by if you are in the Treasure Valley or find a similar store in your area where you can make an informed decision about the products that are going into your home.
  • Recycled Building Materials Supply. All buildings have a life cycle, and even more so the styles and functions of the interior of the home. Although I am a proponent of heirloom homes that last many, many generations and investing in timeless design for interior furnishing and fixtures, many things have their day. In addition to style considerations though, there are many functional materials that can be refashioned or reconditioned for new uses. I think there is more soul in materials that already have a history and stories. We are working with a client now on an extensive remodel and the pride of her new home will be the reuse of the front door from her existing home. Another client of ours makes sure to point out the structural beam in their new home that was worked in from the house that he grew up in. Whether your sources are from a major remodel or moving a home, if you look around, there are materials everywhere that are just waiting to be put to good use. We have a local architectural salvage, recycled building materials supply store in Boise called Second Chance. I just got a solid wood closet door for $25 that was quoted at $125 from the big box. Last summer I got wood shingles for a shed, real chunks of wood, not the see through wood shakes you see at retail stores. Browse your local store to see what they have and you can add some character to your project and save a sink, door, or light switch from being created. Finally on Second Chance, or your local equivalent, take your extra stuff down there. They take all useable building materials, it might be closer than the dump.
  • Craigslist. Craigslist isn’t just for finding a used car or football tickets, it’s also a great place for renewable building materials. This source of materials is another two way street, its a great place to keep your unused things out of the garbage and a great place to pick up new and used materials for your new home or remodel. I recently purchased two bathroom sinks for a remodel we are working on. This had many advantages, the most obvious is financial, two flawless Kohler sinks and fixtures for 40% of the retail cost. Equally important to me though is knowing that the embodied energy of those sinks is not entirely my responsibility. I also enjoy the community aspect of Craigslist, through all of my buying and selling transactions comes interaction with my neighbors. In the sink example, I met a builder who I had seen her work all over town for the last few years but had never met and we talked about her work. Those kind of contacts don’t happen at the self checkout at Home Depot. Windows, flooring, granite for your countertops, trusses for a garden shed, its new every day under the materials category on Craigslist.

So I encourage you to think about different sources for the materials in your home whether they be new green, reconditioned or reused. There are sources out there to be found if you think outside the big box….get it?

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Posted by Dhurd on 3 October 2008 at 1:55 pm under Alternative Materials, Information, Materials/Methods, Sources, Sustainable Architecture.
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Five or six years ago we had the chance to design a beautiful rammed earth home for the foothills of Boise north of 24th Street. We went through an extensive design process with the client and developed a final design that you can see here (Rammed Earth Example). Early in the design development phase we had a weekend design charette with Todd Jersey. Todd came to Boise and presented the client and our design team some examples of his work and passed on some of his experience with rammed earth.

Rammed Earth Boise

Rammed Earth Boise 2

Gravitas Rammed Earth Designs

If you are unfamiliar with rammed earth, it is one of the world’s most common building materials.  Calling rammed earth alternative is somewhat relative then, it is alternative to the norm in our area, lets say that. The method of construction works by compacting earth within a temporary form to create a solid earth wall. Sands and soils from the site and surrounding areas are laid in a form work similar to concrete forms and mixed with a small amount of Portland cement and compacted. Each layer is applied 4”-6” at a time so you end up with beautiful striations as you work your way up to a full height wall. The embodied energy of rammed earth is quite minimal compared to many types of construction in that the majority of the materials for the home are from the site, or from very close by the site. For this foothills home we explored other sources in the valley for soils with unique colors to add to the striated effect of the finished wall.

Rammed Earth example from acewaterproofing.com Example from Ace Waterproofing

Rammed Earth Wall from Tangle Foot Master BuildersExample from Tangle Foot Master Builders

Unfortunately the project is on hold for the time being but in the mean time the owner, Paul Lamon has been educating himself and working on some rammed earth projects in Arizona. Paul is now the local expert on rammed earth and you can learn more about what he is doing and more about rammed earth on his site. http://www.idahoearthbuilders.com

We are still hopeful that this or a similar rammed earth project with Paul will continue someday and we can work together on one of Boise’s first rammed earth homes. We know of a rammed earth garden wall that was built in another part of the foothills that might be featured in a later edition of the Contemporary Homes blog, but If you know of any other rammed earth homes in Idaho or the Treasure Valley area let us know and we can add some images.

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Posted by Dhurd on 29 August 2008 at 10:00 am under Alternative Materials, Sustainable Architecture.
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