02/25/12 by Nathan | Latest Trends and Ideas | No Comments »
The goal of sustainable building is to create energy efficient abodes through creating building features that will support in delivering excellent energy performance. Some buildings though do not perform the way they are expected due to several factors.
The biggest factor that affects the downfall of energy performance in buildings is due to poor occupant habits. There is great importance in improving occupant education on energy savings and proper use of sustainable features of buildings so that the expected performance is reached. Occupant behavior is seen to increase energy use by significantly larger amounts as compared to poor maintenance and building operations.
The success of the energy-efficient features of a sustainable building relies hugely on the way the occupant manages the energy use. Although insulations, windows and HVAC systems are being controlled, there is no guarantee that it will deliver expected results unless occupants are educated enough on proper usage of sustainable building features and proper energy usage.
With this as the premier focus for sustainable building, there should be changes in design practices and energy codes, or else the post-construction energy usage and maintenance will not meet the expected ideal performance of the building design.
Occupants, owners and operators should know their specific roles in maintaining sustainable buildings and get informed with the trends and ordinances applied to enhance the success in green building energy-efficiency performance.
02/24/12 by Nathan | Latest Trends and Ideas | No Comments »
With the rise in green building and the rapid shift to sustainable lifestyle of modern people nowadays, we might have come to ask, what the future sustainable building technologies has in store for us.
In this modern era, everything is evolving fast; economies shifting, population rapidly growing and environmental or natural resources depleting. It is an age where wise decision making is a must when it comes to the kind of lifestyle to choose. Following modern trends and technologies must also taken account and most especially that we see through it that as technologies improve the natural world must be protected from depletion.
It is amazing how people try to set a trend on sustainable living. This way, modern lifestyle is supported by greener living. Lots of people choose sustainable building techniques and use of sustainable materials and with this rise we should also have to bear in mind the trends that come along the way.
Energy education is one of the most important things that every tenant or homeowner should have. It is important that everyone understands the effects and the significance of using energy efficient solutions. There will be a rise in density of young people who want to easy access to urban lifestyle and sustainable building. Also, the use of energy tracking devices will grow as they effectively help with tracking energy consumption and minimize energy overuse and cost.
More about green building trends.
02/23/12 by Nathan | Latest Trends and Ideas | No Comments »
Metal house? Glass house? Stone house? A lot of people today invest on innovative building technologies that may not only create a unique architectural effect but also brings in countless benefits to those who own them. Green building is also creating an edge on innovative architecture as it not only creates fantastic architectural designs but also promotes a greener option to modern living.
Sustainable building has become a trend setter when it comes to architectural building technologies. More and more people get into using sustainable materials and building techniques when it comes to putting up residential homes or vacation houses.
Stinson Beach House is one outstanding example of sustainable building that caters to contemporary living and lifestyle. The beach house is made with a combination of metal, cement board, glass and wood and other recycled materials. The house has sustainable features such as concrete floors, open cell foam insulation, and natural ventilation that help cut down energy consumption and cost.
The beach house has the design, structure, facilities, interior and overall look of a modern home. The use of sustainable materials and features made all the difference.
02/22/12 by Nathan | Latest Trends and Ideas | No Comments »
Australia has been pushing sustainable building technology and is finally come together a concept of sustainable architecture and education setting. A sustainable classroom blueprint has been thought to be unimaginable until LAVA, an architectural firm in Australia imagined and conceptualize an architectural design that will soon cater to future education.
The design is considered the most impressive green architectural concept of sustainable educational facility. Named the “classroom of the future”, it is a concept that will motivate innovative learning through the building’s mobile feature.
Some of the key sustainable features of the building concept are:
- Prefabricated roof and panels
- Underground water collection tanks
- Interconnection and customization of design to accommodate changing class numbers
- Evaporative cooling system to minimize energy use for heating and cooling
- Rooftop canopy for sun protection and rain water collection
- Customizable levels that can be changed to single or double storey, depending on educational needs
Aside from these, there is a higher expectation to motivate learning and development on children through the portable feature of the building to offer different learning environments. The proposed outdoor extension area will encourage outdoor activities which will be greatly beneficial for children’s pedagogic learning. The idea is to offer a learning environment that will at the same time be recreated to accommodate different learning activities, needs, and will become a start for a much better awareness to embrace sustainable educational facilities.
More about the classroom of the future.
