Automate Your Garden With HavestGeek’s Plant Monitoring Technology
The urban gardening movement is quickly entering the Information Age. Designed by Mike Alt, HarvestGeek is a program that monitors the condition of your fruits and veggies in order to produce the greatest yield. The self-described “Modern Farmer’s Almanac” utilizes a sensor (affectionately dubbed the “HarvestBot”) placed in the soil to gather data and send it to the cloud. Once configured, the software can send notifications via Twitter, Facebook, SMS, or email. The HarvestGeek software can also be used to program equipment such as fans to set specific temperatures or switch on automated water pumps.
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No Comments | posted February 10, 2013 by Jeff Dinkle
GSA to Abandon LEED Endorsement
Rather than releasing its final report on LEED and other rating systems, the agency posts recommendations and asks for more feedback.
A victory for lobbyists? It should be easier to pitch the industry status quo to individual federal agencies that don’t specialize in buildings.
Want to have a say in whether federal agencies keep using LEED? Here’s your chance.
Following up on a 2012 report, the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) is requesting public comments on its long-awaitedrecommendations about green building certification systems. Here’s our quick-and-dirty summary of the committee’s findings. You have sixty days to get back to GSA.
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No Comments | posted February 10, 2013 by RedTusk
Sam Rodell | Architect AIA Publishes Groundbreaking Paper
Sam Rodell | Architect AIA Publishes Groundbreaking Paper PR Web (press release) In his paper, “The Beauty of Passive Design: Post Industrial Simplicity in Architectural Systems,” Rodell challenges the public to seriously consider emerging building practices, such as Passive House Design and SIREWALL, to reduce oil dependency and … and more
No Comments | posted February 10, 2013 by Jeff Dinkle
5 Ways to Celebrate Chinese New Year with Feng Shui
This year, Chinese New Year falls on Sunday, February 10th. We say goodbye to the dragon and welcome the year of the snake. There are magnificent parades, dancing in the streets, dragon costumes all around, and the entire continent of Asia is in celebration. But what is Chinese New Year all about? This momentous occasion marks the beginning of spring in the Lunar calendar, a time for new beginnings and renewal. To ring in this new year, why not make some feng shui adjustments to bring some balance to your home? Feng shui is an Asian art……..
No Comments | posted February 10, 2013 by
Introduction to Insulated Concrete Form Construction
If you’d like to live in a green energy-efficient home but think it’s too expensive, think again. Today homebuilders can use surprisingly affordable building technology that offers significant benefits in energy efficiency, safety and home comfort for little to no cost difference compared to traditional building methods. This white paper introduces insulated concrete forms (ICFs), its various applications, and the advantages it provides when building a home.
No Comments | posted February 10, 2013 by kdaniel
Higher-ed institutions leading the way to sustainability
You may think that universities and corporations don’t have much in common from a sustainability perspective. But a decent-size university manages the equivalent of office buildings, restaurants, hotels, laundry services, hospitals, auto repair, retailers, waste haulers, and even small energy utilities. As such, universities and companies have a lot to learn from ……….
No Comments | posted February 10, 2013 by Jeff Dinkle
Go To Sleep in a Sleepbox
When I first showed the Sleepbox in 2009, I wondered if the concept would ever get to reality. In 2011, The Arch Group showed a working model in Sheremetyevo International Airport, Moscow. It has proven to be such a success that they have built a hotel out of them in…………
No Comments | posted February 10, 2013 by kdaniel
Passive House and Building Energy 13
January 30, 2013 By Paul Eldrenkamp Passive House and Building Energy 13 One person has single-handedly transformed the conversation about high-performance building in the US, and it only took her a couple of years to do it. Katrin Klingenberg of PHIUS deserves enormous credit for the speed and passion with which the Passive House standard has gained [...]
Comments Off | posted February 1, 2013 by Jeff Dinkle
An Intro to Passive House
The world must decrease its carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions considerably, in the range of eighty to ninety percent over the next few decades. Every use of energy is now under review, and we are finding that the greatest producers of CO2 are not automobiles and airplanes but buildings. As a consequence, developers, architects, and planners are looking for solutions to build structures that employ considerably less energy than even the top rated green structures of today.
If you are interested in getting more information on passive house contact Eco Custom Homes at 404 303 7280 or email to info@ecocustomhomes.com, and we will be happy to provide you with a free educational seminar.
Comments Off | posted January 25, 2013 by Jeff Dinkle
New mobile app gives Energy Star ratings
“The CodeGreen Energy App is just the kind of tool we have been waiting for. It makes finding and comparing Energy Star Scores of thousands of buildings so quick and easy. Making this data transparent is a dream come true for the Energy Efficiency Marketplace,” said Robert Sauchelli, national program manager, Energy Star Service and Product Provider Partnership.
Comments Off | posted January 25, 2013 by kdaniel