Sustainable Development - Designing a City

Sponsored by By Autodesk, Carl Bass Introduction.
Narrated by Brad Pitt
Video 1
Can design influence and inspire people?
Bogota, Columbia


Video 2
Infrastructure investments

Video 3
Walkways and Bikeways

Enough Geothermal to Power the Globe

In my search for alternative energy sources from Wind & Solar power and alternative transportation fuels I forgot about a technology currently being integrated in Buildings. Most people focus so much on Transportation energy they fail to realize one of the largest consumer of energy and contributor to carbon in our atmosphere is energy use in our buildings. These are the buildings we live & sleep in an also the buildings we work and do recreation in. In past days cities would be established in locations that would lend to where there resources are. Today this isn’t the case; we have built mega cities thousands of miles away from the critical life blood that keeps it alive. Now you may say, what does this have to do with geothermal energy. Well nothing & everything; in some areas of the country Solar & wind power may be the option to create clean energy. For others this isn’t an option but Geothermal Energy may be available. I have worked on projects that have integrated geothermal energy to offset energy use in multiple buildings. Geothermal is not a new technology but is rarely discussed as an energy alternative and is a resource that can not only be affordable but truly sustainable. As you can see after reading this article I was excited about prospects that Geothermal energy could provide on a larger stage.

Make sure you visit the link to follow the story here: Enhanced Geothermal

SUSTAINABILITY IS THE FOUNDATION OF GREEN ARCHITECTURE

FROG ARCH was established to give an independent evaluation of products claiming to be Green. Each product reviewed in FROG ARCH has gone through a thorough evaluation based on a baseline building including the core criterion. Each Editor of FROG ARCH are LEED AP professionals and have a passion for Sustainable Design and are certifying LEED projects or have had projects certified using USGBC's LEED program.

Core Criterion:

• Energy Efficiency - This is the single most important building performance feature for our resources and being better stewards of the environment.
• Water Efficiency - In the Southwest US, the water shortage demands immediate attention. It is a high-priority, regional & National issue.
• Low-Impact Materials - The embodied energy of building materials is directly related to global energy use. Good selection of materials will extend the energy efficiency standard beyond the building walls. Consider the manufacturing processes, extraction, manufacturing, and shipping processes, recycled content, recyclability, life cycle, toxicity, and resource consumption when selecting materials. A evaluation on “Common sense” maintenance should also be considered (i.e. will the building manager truly follow instructions for maintenance).

16 Divisions - 13-16

Div 13- Special Construction
Div 14- Conveying Systems
Div 15- Mechanical
Div 16- Electrical

16 Divisions - 7-12

Div 7- Thermal & Moisture
Div 8- Doors & Windows
Div 9- Finishes
Div 10- Specialties
Div 11- Equipment
Div 12- Furnishings

16 Divisions - 1-6

Div 1 - Gen. Requirements
Div 2 - Sitework
Div 3- Concrete
Div 4- Masonry
Div 5- Metals
Div 6- Woods & Plastics