One type of building that does not often get mentioned in energy conservation discussion is commercial warehouses and storage facilities.  In order to conserve energy in these spaces it is important to identify defficiencies.  These buildings are unique in that the inhabitants do not desire typical interior temperatures, however, some products and materials held in warehouses require to be stored at a certain climate.  For this reason heating and cooling loads can still be a large contributor...

-- Recent developments in technology strive to induce an energy efficient mindset to the occupants of sustainable buildings.

Since early 2010, there has been alot of discussion about net zero energy buildings on the Sustainable Construction Blog.  It is evident that sustainable construction technologies have greatly advanced over the past few years; making net zero energy a viable goal for new construction projects. 

However, one very important aspect is often not emphasized enough when discus...

--Unfortunately, there is not a recipe for constructing a net zero energy building, but these guidelines provide a fundamental basis of how net zero energy is acheived through smart design and innovative technologies.

Alternative Energy Source

Alternative energy can come from a variety of sources: solar, wind, geothermal, and biomass.  These renewable energy sources can be harnessed in a variety of ways to provide power, heating, and cooling to a building and lower supplemental consumption by t...

    With the development of environmentally conscious construction projects across the world, there are still many demands of building materials that today’s technologies have not yet satisfied.  Looking at the two main structural building materials, steel and concrete, one in particular lacks characteristics of carbon neutrality.  While steel is nearing full recycled production, concrete remains a very carbon intensive process.  The main contributor to this trait is portland cement.  Port...

Sustainability in construction is a concept that can be accepted into a project to various extents.  In addition, the sustainability of a building can only be taken as far as the site and surround area allow.  This means a building can have all of the right energy efficient systems, building envelopes, and green materials but still may not provide a sustainable lifestyle or community to the people living, working, or visiting these buildings. 

This is where AECOM makes a difference in the s...

As London prepares to host the Summer Olympic Games of 2012, recent construction photos share the progress being made in this sustainable project.  This sustainable planning and construction project will develop an area that is economically depressed to provide for the community for many decades after the 2012 Olympic Games are over.  Photos courtesy of london2012.co.uk

The project focuses on developing one of the world’s largest solar power plants in Gila Bend, Arizona.  The facility will use renewable energy sources to provide a gross output of 280-MW, and supply 70,000 homes with power.

Who’s involved?  

Abengoa Solar:  Develops power plants using several applications of solar power technology

APS:  Leading producer of electrical power in Arizona

Dept. of Energy:  Recently agreed to invest almost $1.5 billion dollars in Abengoa ...

You have probably seen commercials and internet ads for the ‘Human Element’ campaign (Hu).  This campaign represents the commitment to sustainability and the future of human life by the Dow Chemical Company.  Dow has established a Sustainability 2015 Goals report that is responsible for dedicating their company’s research and development to new products that will help advance the building industry with correspondence to the government’s energy efficiency goals.

Their interest in su...

Windows are undoubtedly one of the greatest sources of heat transfer in a building.  New electrochromic, switchable window technology is a recently patented high-tech solution to this prominent building deficiency.    It may seem like something out of a sci-fi movie but switchable windows are sure to be a popular sustainable building technology in years to come. 

As part of the DOE’s $76 million dollar funding, Soladigm Inc. was awarded $3.47 million.  Soladigm is a company based out of...