Building the World’s Greenest Skycraper

Posted on May 24, 2011 by quest

The new Pittsburgh headquarters of PNC Financial building expected to set standard for green construction. The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. announced today that it plans to construct the world’s most environmentally friendly skyscraper. The Tower at PNC Plaza will be located on the Southeast corner of Fifth Avenue and Wood Street, the same Pittsburgh intersection where PNC has been headquartered for more than 150 years. Once complete in 2015, the approximately 40 story building will serve as PNC’s executive offices. At approximately 800,000 square feet, the Tower at PNC Plaza would be PNC’s largest building in Pittsburgh. Tentative plans call for approximately 300 underground parking spaces, street level retail and green rooftops. Erecting the planned $400 million Tower should create 2,500 construction jobs, with 500 workers at a time on the site during peak periods.

PNC opened its first green building in 2000. At that time, the 650,000 square foot PNC Firstside Center, on Pittsburgh’s First Avenue, was the largest LEED-certified building in the world. In 2010, PNC opened Three PNC Plaza, on Fifth Avenue in Pittsburgh, one of the largest LEED-certified mixed use buildings in the United States. PNC, which has more newly constructed buildings LEED-certified by the USGBC than any company on Earth, recently completed its latest green office building in Washington, D.C. LEED Platinum certified PNC Place at 800 17th Street sits just blocks from the White House and serves as PNC’s regional headquarters in the capital.The Tower at PNC Plaza will feature a double glass facade to enhance energy efficiency by reducing cooling costs and allowing natural airflow to the building. Using advanced sensors and metering, a state-of-the-art, high efficiency heating and cooling system will deliver conditioned air to specific zones of the building, as needed. The building will be oriented to take advantage of sunlight in workspaces, reducing the need for artificial light during the day.

The design team is also currently exploring fuel cells, solar panels, geothermal systems and other alternative power generation sources that will significantly reduce carbon emissions. The building’s green rooftops will collect rainwater and channel it for use in other parts of the structure, as well as reduce the heat gain associated with traditional rooftops.

PNC will own the building and occupy all of the office space, with tenants in the retail spaces at street level. The project is being designed by the Pittsburgh office of Gensler, the world’s largest architectural and design firm and the design architects for both Three PNC Plaza and PNC Place. Pittsburgh-based PJ Dick will serve as construction manager and U.K.-based Buro Happold will be the engineering firm. Paladino & Company of Seattle serves as the green building consultant.

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Eco Friendly Sustainable Clothes You Grow

Posted on May 22, 2011 by quest

The concept for BioCouture originated during the research for Suzanne Leeʼs book ʻFashioning The Future: tomorrowʼs wardrobe.’ A serendipitous conversation in 2003 with Dr. David Hepworth, a biologist and materials scientist, presented a new vision of future fashion – one that emerges fully-formed from a vat of liquid.

Rather than exploit plants or petrochemicals to provide the raw material for fabric BioCouture is  investigating the use of microbes to grow a textile biomaterial. Certain bacteria will spin  microfibrils of pure cellulose during fermentation which form a dense layer that can be harvested and dried. It can then either be used wet or molded onto a 3D form, like a dress shape, or dry it flat and then cut and sewed into a garment. From there it can readily be dyed and printed on the material and since it requires far less dye than other fibres it has a huge environmental advantage.

With so many environmental concerns related to the production, consumption and disposal of fashion textiles BioCouture is pioneering a new eco-friendly and sustainable alternative. The future scale up of this material would also seek to use waste streams, for example from the food or drinks industry, to fuel the microbial-cellulose production.

What Suzanne started as a fashion project has now evolved into a bio materials project. They are only just  beginning to imagine what other uses there might be for this material. Right now these clothes  are experimental prototypes and not commercially available, and, as the material is still in development. See: Susanne Lee on growing clothes

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Solar Energy Rooftop Project The Biggest in Canada

Posted on May 21, 2011 by quest

In a move hailed as the biggest rooftop solar energy project in Canada, the Toronto District School Board has approved a $445 million deal to add solar panels to almost every school roof over the next 20 years at no cost to taxpayers. Moreover, the company that will install the suncatchers will spend up to $121 million to repair millions of square feet of rooftop and give the board a share of the profits expected from selling the solar energy.

“This is groundbreaking; this reduces greenhouse gases and provides a learning opportunity for our students and leaves a legacy for more than 20 years — this is extraordinary,” said Trustee Howard Goodman. AMP Solar Ltd. Partnerships has offered to install panels on up to 450 of the board’s 524 roofs, replacing the worst roofs in the first three years. While Trustee Stephnie Payne warned the deal seemed too good to be true, Board Chair Chris Bolton called it “amazing” and said educators from around the world are calling for details. The solar panels are expected to generate 66 megawatts of green energy a year when all are installed, enough to meet the needs of some 6,000 average Toronto homes. Under the terms of the deal, AMP Solar Ltd. will be responsible for construction, technology, power generation, financing, roofing, operations and maintenance. It will pay the board rent for the rooftop space it uses for the panels.

Moreover, students will be able to learn about energy conservation by tracking the energy generated on the roof, noted Goodman. “Our students will not only be able to track the relationship between sunlight and electricity production, they will be going to school every day in a working power plant,” he said. “This will make abstract concepts tangible and inspire many of them to build their own small-scale model power plants, look into the work of Einstein, ponder the mysteries of quantum physics, investigate the economics of power production and consider the relative environmental and health impacts of different energy sources.” The board will unveil further details of the plan Thursday morning at Hillcrest Junior Public School near St. Clair Ave. W. and Bathurst St. Hillcrest already has solar panels on its roof that have inspired an after-school club called the Solar Inventors, which meets once a week to discuss solar energy and find ways to harness its power. The amount of power generated by the new project will vary from school to school, depending on the amount of sunlight each gets on its roof, said staff. AMP will invest a total of $450 million in the project, for which it hopes to raise about $106 million from the private sector and borrow the rest.

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Intersolar Europe Tracks The Future of Solar Power

Posted on May 18, 2011 by quest

Technological developments in the area of photovoltaics are advancing daily. As a result, the cost of solar power is falling and new concepts are being developed for generating electricity in the future. Photovoltaics plays a major role at the world’s largest exhibition for the solar industry, Intersolar Europe in Munich. From June 8-10, 2011, around 2,000 companies will showcase the latest trends and developments in this field alone, with photovoltaics once again occupying a large part of the exhibition. Approximately 300 of these companies work in both photovoltaics and solar thermal technology. In an exhibition space covering 165,000 square meters, a total of 2,200 companies from around the world will present their products and services in the areas of photovoltaics, PV production technology and solar thermal technology.

Faced with the environmental challenges that go hand in hand with supplying energy to an increasing global population, numerous incentive programs across the globe have emerged for developing renewable energy – most recently in India and China for example. At the same time, the German feed-in tariff is falling. Therefore, researchers and industry are working against the clock to achieve grid parity – the point at which electricity from photovoltaic installations can be sold at a competitive price.

Intersolar Europe not only focuses on technology itself, but also shines the spotlight on innovative applications and system solutions, such as those involved in using unconventional surfaces for photovoltaic installations. Alternative surfaces for photovoltaic installations – such as carport roofing – are currently taking center stage in the industry. Solar carports are a worthwhile alternative to conventional surfaces because no additional ground sealing is required and they offer huge potential. The largest installation of this type is located in Italy and is already boasting an output of six megawatts. The industry is currently developing multiple new ideas so that, in the future, the power generated from the carports may be used directly or indirectly for parked electric vehicles.

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Toys R Us Goes Solar With Huge Rooftop Solar Power

Posted on May 11, 2011 by quest

Toys”R”Us today announced plans to add the largest rooftop solar power installation in North America to its distribution center in Flanders, NJ. Staging for the system is currently underway and construction will conclude this summer. Upon completion, the 5.38 megawatt on-site solar mechanism will occupy 869,294 square feet and is estimated to generate 72 percent of the electrical needs for the Toys”R”Us® facility. “The unprecedented scope of this project furthers our already strong commitment to sustainability in our operations,” said Jerry Storch, Chairman and CEO, Toys”R”Us, Inc. “New Jersey’s leadership in providing renewable, clean energy opportunities for companies has helped pave the way for an installation of this size and underscores the state as a champion for solar energy growth across North America.”

This solar power installation will cover nearly 70% of the distribution center’s 1,281,000-square-foot roof and will consist of more than 37,000 ultra lightweight UNI-SOLAR® brand photovoltaic solar panels, manufactured by United Solar, a wholly owned subsidiary of Energy Conversion Devices. Depending on weather conditions, the system is expected to produce approximately 6,362,000 kilowatt hours of electricity each year. Generating the same amount of electricity using non-renewable sources would result in the release of an estimated 4,387 metric tons of carbon dioxide, the equivalent emissions from 860 passenger vehicles or that of the electricity used to power 532 homes annually. Constellation Energy, a leading supplier of power, natural gas and energy products and services for homes and businesses across the continental United States, will build, own and maintain the rooftop solar power system. Toys”R”Us will purchase the electricity generated by the system from Constellation Energy through a 20-year power purchase agreement.

Toys”R”Us has been working closely with state and community authorities to bring the project to fruition and ensure that the solar power structure complies with the requirements set forth by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, New Jersey Highlands Council and Mount Olive Township. The 20-acre rooftop solar installation at the Flanders distribution center utilizes space that would otherwise go unused and has been designed to meet the facility’s energy needs. The solar power system is comprised of thin-film photovoltaic panels that are flexible, lightweight, durable and maintain performance, even in sub-optimal lighting conditions. In addition, the non-ballasted, non-penetrating and removable racking system allows access to the roof and prevents debris build-up and maintenance issues.

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Monaco Acting On Green And Solar Ideals

Posted on April 24, 2011 by quest

The Principality of Monaco, with its idyllic Côte d’Azur location, has a rich sporting and cultural legacy – from the F1 Grand Prix and Tennis Masters to Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo and the Monte-Carlo Philharmonic and Opera companies – and, for more than 150 years, a deep commitment to protecting the environment. Long before ecological and environmental issues became world headlines and a cause célèbre, Monaco’s “Navigator Prince”, Albert I, sailed the globe’s oceans seeking ways to preserve them. More recently, Prince Rainier III ensured Monaco was at the forefront of environmental awareness and protection. During his 56-year reign, and alongside the Principality’s artistic and sporting evolution, Monaco became one of the most environmentally sensitive countries in Europe and one of the first nations to use reforestation to preserve its spectacular mountainous backdrop.

As part of environmental action, the Monte-Carlo SBM (Hotels) has set up an action plan aiming to encourage eco-friendly conduct and to meet international goals in environmental matters. This plan features 23 measures covering the following areas: information and awareness, energy and water consumption, waste management, reduction of greenhouse gas emission, use of recycled paper and eco-friendly products, and the reduction of the use of pesticides, herbicides and fungicides in green areas. The implementation of the plan in all SBM hotels and restaurants is subject to annual evaluations.

This month The Monaco Government Tourist Office is partnering with The Incentive Research Foundation (IRF) to donate solar car classroom kits that require assembly. It’s part of the The IRF’s 18th Annual Incentive Invitational April 27 to May 1, 2011 in Las Vegas. To show support for the local Las Vegas community, the solar car kits will support science projects in schools and educate the next generation about solar energy resources and going green with solar cars – Monaco Grand Prix style! The Pavilion will be open to all attendees from 12-3pm on Thursday and Friday at the Invitational registration location.