R2R day 9
January 25, 2010, 12:50 PM
Filed under: Buildings, Design, Energy, Green, Living, Ridge to Reef, Water
Filed under: Buildings, Design, Energy, Green, Living, Ridge to Reef, Water
This week we are looking at sustainable building, taught by Ben Jones, and how we can incorporate green, recycled, and sustainable materials into good, efficient design. The farm at VISFI has many such buildings that serve as examples of the type of home or community center you would want to build in its given climate (tropical), to serve its needs (shelter, water, and energy) and to make use of appropriate materials (local sustainably harvested wood).
Today we discussed the principles of green or sustainable building which are:
- use green recycled and sustainable materials
- build passive energy systems
- minimize energy use
- prevent all erosion
- disturb the smallest amount of land possible, and leave as much vegetation possible
- use local materials when possible
When then talked about the steps you would take when designing and implementing a building starting with the conceptual design (what is it that you want to design), the schematic design (how will you design it, construct it), design development (blueprint), and construction documents (permits, zoning requirements, etc.)
As for the implementation phase we discussed steps to follow:
- survey the site
- set up erosion control systems
- foundation work
- sub-floor/electrical, plumbing
- structure
- roof’
- skin (interior and exterior walls)
- windows and doors
- floors/porches
- interior/finish work
During this week our class will have the opportunity to work on several sustainable building projects here on the farm including, thatching a bohio (a traditional Taino hut made of wood posts and palm leaves), laying a wood floor down on a new cabana, and setting up the ground work for a living bamboo jungle gym. This is going to be fun.
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Even Banks talk about Climate Change
I was just on Groovy Green, another eco resource blog site, and found this interesting image produced by HSBC. My first thought was, cool, and then, is this just another form of greenwashing; what do they do for the environment? So I did some research on the HSBC website and found that they are supporting several great organizations. I think I’m impressed.
The image depicts New Yorkers swimming in an over exaggerated sea level rise above the city. No, sea level will never rise this much, but if you live on the first or second floor of say a building in Battery Park you might be in trouble… possibly… unless we make some changes, NOW.
Green Posers- They want everyone but themselves to know that they care about the environment.
After educating the public some more about wind power today I thought of a term to classify a certain group of people I often come across. I call them Green Posers. These are the people who wear articles of clothing and accessories that promote being “green” and/or say they care about the environment by buy products that further carry this message. But do they actually uphold that mentality? The answer is no. These Green Posers are all around us and they really make a bad face for the numerous movements out there that are specifically trying to change social consciousness and get us on board with our planet’s sustainability and the future and survival of our species (let alone other species).
You may have also heard of Green Washing. This is when companies use advertising and marketing tools to convince the consumer that their product is green or environmentally friendly when in fact it is not. For instance there are a lot of oil companies that claim they are concerned about the environment. One of these such companies is Exxon Mobil- but did you know that they have caused up to a 17 million gallon oil spill in Greenpoint, Brooklyn? They did and they haven’t cleaned it up yet and in fact are fighting against cleaning it up. It’s called misleading, false advertising. See ExxonSecrets for more info. And visit this site for a source listing of Exxon-Mobil’s funding of climate change skeptics.
The Contaminated Zone, New York Magazine
So what is green anyways? I’d like to think it’s the beautiful, bountiful vegetation that this planet has provided us and thus provided the growth and survival of our species. It’s generally a good thing, so let’s not get confused with those green posers out there with their green washing techniques.
The term Green Posers already exists, check out this article
And look into the Greenwashing Index for more clues on companies that are tricking us daily.
If you’re fed up with New York where do you go?
I have been living in NYC for the past eight years and have just about had it. Why? I suppose I am ready to see, feel and breath in other places. Growing up in a more rural setting in Western Mass has imprinted this idea that I need to get back to nature. So where can I possibly go that offers all the riches of the city yet retains that natural environment that I crave?
Here is a list of the five greenest cities in the world as posted on Treehugger.
So where should I go?
