Prefabricated Bamboo Homes in Costa Rica

If you have been following our posts we have been covering Bamboo as a sustainable building product quite a bit lately and this video continues our hunt for more facts, figures and examples of building with this hearty grass.

Plus, and it's a big "plus" we are on location and publishing the iBuildgeen Blog from Marbella, Guanacaste, Costa Rica where green building with sustainable materials and eco friendly practices are part and parcel with living in this ecologically supercharged part of the globe.

Enjoy and "Pura Bamboo" from Matt

IKEA Surpasses 85% Solar

IKEA, the world's leading home furnishings retailer, today officially plugged-in the solar energy system installed at its store in Stoughton, Massachusetts. The 118,000-square-foot PV array consists of a 590.8-kW (DC) system, built with 4,220 laminated panels. IKEA Stoughton's program will produce approximately 695,000 kWh of clean electricity annually, the equivalent of reducing 479 tons of carbon dioxide (CO₂), eliminating the emissions of 94 cars or powering 60 homes yearly (calculating clean energy equivalents at www.epa.gov/cleanenergy/energy-resources/calculator.html).

This installation represents the 38th completed solar project for IKEA in the U.S., with one more location underway, making the eventual IKEA solar presence nearly 90% of its U.S. locations, with a total generation of 38 MW. IKEA owns and operates each of its solar PV energy systems atop its buildings – as opposed to a solar lease or PPA (power purchase agreement) – and globally has allocated $1.8 billion to invest in renewable energy through 2015. This investment reinforces the long-term commitment of IKEA to sustainability and confidence in photovoltaic (PV) technology. Consistent with the company's goal of being energy independent by 2020, IKEA has installed more than 250,000 solar panels on buildings across the world and owns/operates approximately 110 wind turbines in Europe.

For the development, design and installation of the Stoughton store's customized solar power system, IKEA contracted with REC Solar, Inc., a national leader in solar electric system design and installation with more than 9,000 systems built across the U.S

"We at IKEA believe in the never-ending job of improving the sustainability of our day-to-day business," said Frank Briel, store manager. "The Stoughton coworkers are excited to help contribute to this goal with our newly operational solar energy system. We appreciate the support of the Town of Stoughton, National Grid and REC Solar, our partners in this project."

IKEA, drawing from its Swedish heritage and respect of nature, believes it can be a good business while doing good business and aims to minimize impacts on the environment. IKEA evaluates locations regularly for conservation opportunities, integrates innovative materials into product design, works to maintain sustainable resources, and flat-packs goods for efficient distribution. U.S. sustainable efforts include: recycling waste material; incorporating key measures into buildings with energy-efficient HVAC and lighting systems, recycled construction materials, warehouse skylights, and water-conserving restrooms; and operationally, eliminating plastic bags from the check-out process, phasing-out the sale of incandescent light bulbs, facilitating recycling compact fluorescent bulbs, and by 2016 selling and using only L.E.D. bulbs. IKEA also installed electric vehicle charging stations at nine stores in the Western U.S.

HVAC ROI: beyond energy efficiency

(Dallas, TX May 7, 2013) When it comes to helping your customers get the most out of their HVAC investment, there's more to the bottom line than swapping out an old, out-of-date system for a shiny, new, high-efficiency model. While the new, higher-performing system will instantly result in monthly utility savings they can see, there's more to ROI than efficiency ratings and first cost.

As businesses consider the purchase of packaged HVAC units, tallying the total ROI—from first cost, setup and installation to ongoing service and maintenance—is the best way to determine which system will offer your customers the best return in the long run.

Here's what to look for when choosing or replacing an HVAC unit:

Easy installation
Did the HVAC manufacturer do its research to find out what the contractor needs in order to make the system easier to install? Simplifying the installation process is a win-win for both the contractor and the end user. It all comes down to less time spent on the job, and fewer subcontractors needed to get the job done—which in turn equates to less cost to the end user, and potentially more time for contractors to add another job to the day's roster. Look for intelligent controls that verify proper system setup with a guided menu that reduces complexity of start-up and commissioning, and keyed and color-coded wire connectors that simplify field sensor or thermostat installation and prevent miswiring. These features add up to a quicker and easier installation process, ensuring equipment is installed correctly and helping contractors get to the next job quicker.

Factory-installed options
Everyone benefits from features that help save time and money. Factory-installed options are another way HVAC manufacturers help contractors, as well as end users, save money. These add-ons are typically created to ensure the unit runs at its maximum capability and efficiency, offering peace of mind to the contractor and increased savings to the end user. Look for intelligent controls <http://www.lennoxcommercial.com/products/commercial-controls.asp> that record and track the runtime of every major system component for quick and easy troubleshooting, and multi-stage air volume supply fan technology <http://www.lennoxcommercial.com/landing/msav.asp> that provides customers with increased comfort and savings all year long.

Service and maintenance savings According to research, facilities in which proper HVAC maintenance is completed will use at least 15 to 20 percent less energy than those where systems are allowed to deteriorate. Performing regular preventive maintenance can keep equipment operating at peak efficiency, helping customers save time and money in the process. Look for:

* Hinged door panels that make units easier to service and eliminate the need for screws, which can come loose during service and cause rooftop penetration
* Units with slide-out blower motor compartments that provide quicker, easier access to the unit's belt, blower motor and coils
* An isolated compressor compartment that allows performance checks during normal compressor operation without disrupting airflow


Choose a reliable HVAC manufacturer
When it comes to selecting energy-efficient HVAC for light commercial buildings <http://www.lennoxcommercial.com/products/packaged-rooftop-units/Landmark/> , Lennox Commercial is an industry leader. Lennox' 18 SEER Energence® units <http://www.lennoxcommercial.com/products/packaged-rooftop-units/Energence/> are designed with comfort, reliability, efficiency and ease of use and service in mind, providing peace of mind to contractors as well as end users. For more information, visit www.lennoxcommercial.com.


About Lennox Industries Inc.
A worldwide leader in residential and commercial heating and air conditioning systems, Lennox Industries Inc. is based near Dallas, Texas. Deeply committed to helping consumers and businesses reduce energy needs and lessen their environmental impact, the company offers a wide range of resources for improving efficiency, including a selection of ENERGY STAR® qualified products. Lennox Industries is a subsidiary of Lennox International Inc. and is a global leader in the heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration markets. Lennox International stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "LII." To learn more about Lennox International, visit www.lennoxinternational.com. To learn more about Lennox Industries, contact a Lennox sales representative or visit www.lennox.com <http://www.lennox.com/> .

Video: Sustainable distribution warehouse

This video shares sustainable building concepts that facility managers and building owners can use to incorporate into new construction or renovation of any type of distribution warehouse facility. It would be see more industrial centers around the globe incorporate these concepts.

Video: LEED School Campus Part 2

Here is Part 2 of a super informative video about a LEED certified school campus in Arizona. We had many re-Tweets and views after posting the first episode and think this one will net the same good reviews. Enjoy.

Video: Designing A LEED Campus Part One

This video is the next best thing to an in-person tour of a LEED certified green building project. The Architect does a great job of pointing out characteristics of the design and build that contribute to the overall "intelligence" of the structure - all of which have taken into consideration the hot, sunny and dry Arizona climate.

Video - What is Bamboo and why build with it?

Hello...this is Matt with today's green building video post. This video is helpful if you are considering bamboo as a building material for a home. The producer does a good job of explaining that bamboo is a sustainable and renewable grass - not a tree as many people believe. Happy Learning...

Hong Kong's First Zero Carbon Building - Video

This video was produced in 2012 but it's worth bookmarking for reference if you are a builder, architect or owner. Make note of the under-floor ventilation system combined with the over sized ceiling fans. I like the point the designer makes about cooling the body first. Now...is it affordable?

Posted by Matt Banes, iGreenBuild.com

How to Design and Build a Home in a Hot Climate

This video has some great insight if you are considering building in a hot climate. Pay close attention to the roof insulation advice.

Stay cool and enjoy this segment...Matt





This blog post was approved by iModular.com, a GBM Marketing, Inc. web property.

Green Roof Performance Monitoring

WEB-BASED WEATHER STATIONS TRACK PERFORMANCE OF GREEN ROOF DEMONSTRATION PLOTS AT AMHERST COLLEGE

BOURNE, MA, April 4, 2013 — Amherst College in Western Massachusetts has installed a series of research-grade, web-based weather stations to monitor the performance of two green roof demonstration plots for its new science center.

The college plans to cover the rooftop of the new building with vegetation to help offset interior cooling costs, and help the four-story, 250,000-square-foot facility blend in with its natural surroundings. The building, which is estimated to open in 2018, will house the college's various science departments and programs.

Green roofs are an increasingly-popular means to absorb rainwater, provide insulation, offer a habitat for wildlife, and lower urban air temperatures. Vegetation, which can completely or partially cover the roof, is planted over a waterproof membrane. These living roofs typically include drainage and irrigation systems.

Four web-based HOBO® U30 weather stations from Onset, a Massachusetts-based company, are being used to help track local weather conditions to determine the most prolific vegetation varieties for the college's proposed green roof.

The stations, which feature double-weatherproof enclosures, are outfitted with plug-in soil moisture and temperature sensors that were installed in the roof's soil matrix at various depths. They also include sensors for measuring air temperature, wind speed, wind direction, relative humidity, rainfall, barometric pressure, and solar-radiation data. The units are affixed to the top of an 8-foot shade wall, from which they transmit data wirelessly to the college's computer network via HOBOlink, a cloud-based data access service hosted by Onset. This allows for remote access to data on a 24/7 basis.

"Remote access to data is key to the success of this study because it eliminates sneaker traffic from the team's office in Boston to the site on campus," said Gregory Johnson, president at Vermont-based Kilawatt Technologies and consultant on the project. "In addition, members of the design team on the West Coast can access the data instantly."

The HOBO U30 weather stations can also be configured to send text and email alerts when measurements hit high and low values that exceed set tolerance.

The weather stations are collecting data from the demonstration plots every 15 minutes, 24 hours a day, for the duration of the 2012-2013 growing season. The data collected by the stations will help determine specific air temperatures, humidity levels, and moisture levels that yield the healthiest plants, and gauge how the green roof is performing.

ABOUT ONSET
Onset is the world's leading supplier of data loggers. The company's HOBO data logger and weather station products are used around the world in a broad range of applications, including building energy performance monitoring, water resources management, and ecological and agricultural research. Based on Cape Cod, Massachusetts, Onset has sold more than 2 million data loggers since the company's founding in 1981. Visit Onset on the web at http://www.onsetcomp.com.

ABOUT KILAWATT TECHNOLOGIES
Kilawatt Technologies, based in Shelburne, Vermont, provides a data-centric, statistically-based, energy and environmental management program. The methods involve continuous trending and analysis of energy and interior environmental data for commercial, multi-family, and industrial buildings. Visit Kilawatt on the web at http://www.kilawatt.com.