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sumisom | Ideas

Double Platinum

It’s already called the world’s greenest museum…but it just got a little greener. The California Academy of Sciences in the U.S. opened in 2008 as a model of eco-friendly technology, and the U.S. Building Council gave it a platinum award. Now, the museum has won another – two times platinum, and as environmentally-conscious as ever.

The structure itself (right in the heart of Golden Gate Park) is an homage to sustainability and green living: it has a hilly, plant-covered living roof, insulation made of recycled denim, an entire canopy of solar panels and other green technology. And there’s a lot to see inside, too, like an aquarium, a planetarium and a natural history museum. National Public Radio in the U.S. did a report on the museum when it first opened, and they shared some amazing pictures here. Check them out!

Date

September 28, 2011

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sumisom | Ideas

Oldies but Goodies

Ecovelocity is the biggest eco-motor show in the UK and it showcases a variety of environmentally-friendly makeovers. Basically, it focuses on how to give old cars a fresh, green look to bring them up to date with modern style and the latest clean technology for cars.

So if you want to upgrade to an environmentally-friendly car for the roads, the low-carbon motor show proves that you don’t have to spend a lot of money to get what you want. The show runs from Septemer 8th – 11th in a former coal-fired power station called Battersea Power Station in London.

Date

August 2, 2011

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sumisom | Ideas

Does Going Green Pay Off?

We wanted to share an interesting article we found on the Wall Street Journal today about the costs of going green. Across Europe, towns and cities are investing in sustainable architecture – buildings that run on clean energy, like solar or wind power.

The article says even though we might assume eco-friendly buildings will save on energy bills and increase property values, that hasn’t actually been proven yet. The costs of constructing green buildings is in itself quite expensive, and it’s too soon to back up the claim that the investment pays off in the end.

So is Europe moving too fast with its boom in green construction? Or will lower utility bills and higher property value will make up for the costs quickly? Let us know what you think…

Date

July 20, 2011

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sumisom | Ideas

Eco-friendly and Fast

The idea of building your own green home from start to finish can be a daunting one, especially because a lot of eco-friendly design can be pretty expensive. But the Guardian recently featured a cheap and really quick option: a German company called Meisterstück Haus creates pre-built panels and pieces for your house, and builders can put it all together in just 3 days. That doesn’t include the time it takes to add plumbing and electricity and everything else you might need in a home, but it’s still pretty impressive, especially for a 3-bedroom house!

The houses are made of sustainable materials and insulated to be air-tight, which can drastically cut down on heating consumption and costs in the winter.

Is your house eco-friendly? How?

Date

June 30, 2011

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sumisom | Ideas

White House not so green

Last October, U.S. President Barack Obama’s administration announced the White House would be getting a new, green touch – solar panels. And they were supposed to be in place by this spring. Well, it’s now summer and there’s not a single solar panel on the White House.

The president said he wanted to lead by example, and a lot of climate activists are holding him to that. They urged the government to meet the deadline, and they haven’t given up that fight now that the deadline has passed.

What do you think? Could the White House use a green makeover? And will we see solar panels on the famous building?

Date

June 22, 2011

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