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	<title>green.mnp &#187; solar</title>
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		<title>Livin&#8217; Off the Grid</title>
		<link>http://green.myninjaplease.com/?p=1564</link>
		<comments>http://green.myninjaplease.com/?p=1564#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 18 Oct 2008 20:07:00 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>green</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[DIY Green]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[batteries]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[geothermal]]></category>
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		<description><![CDATA[Despite how kitschy this video is, the guy has a certain charm about him (I think it&#8217;s his tiny carbon footprint). Our friend here doesn&#8217;t make it look completely easy or anything, but still manages an amazing proof of concept design here. Not to be a fearmonger, or something, but I hope this type of [...]


Related posts:<ol><li><a href='http://green.myninjaplease.com/?p=727' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: Toyota?s Green Design Videos'>Toyota?s Green Design Videos</a></li>
<li><a href='http://green.myninjaplease.com/?p=1201' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: Video Sundays: Back Yard Sustainability'>Video Sundays: Back Yard Sustainability</a></li>
<li><a href='http://green.myninjaplease.com/?p=1229' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: Video Sundays: Building Green'>Video Sundays: Building Green</a></li>
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			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://green.myninjaplease.com/?p=1564"><em>Click here to view the embedded video.</em></a></p>
<p>Despite how kitschy this video is, the guy has a certain charm about him (I think it&#8217;s his tiny carbon footprint).  Our friend here doesn&#8217;t make it look completely easy or anything, but still manages an amazing proof of concept design here.  Not to be a fearmonger, or something, but I hope this type of design makes it to your ordinary consumer (read: Joe Six-Pack) before it&#8217;s too late!</p>
<p>Why another video, you ask?  Well, why our resident green expert is on her mini-sojourn, we must keep the house tidy.  Expect more and better to come soon.</p>


<p>Related posts:<ol><li><a href='http://green.myninjaplease.com/?p=727' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: Toyota?s Green Design Videos'>Toyota?s Green Design Videos</a></li>
<li><a href='http://green.myninjaplease.com/?p=1201' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: Video Sundays: Back Yard Sustainability'>Video Sundays: Back Yard Sustainability</a></li>
<li><a href='http://green.myninjaplease.com/?p=1229' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: Video Sundays: Building Green'>Video Sundays: Building Green</a></li>
</ol></p>]]></content:encoded>
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		<title>Greening The New Republic</title>
		<link>http://green.myninjaplease.com/?p=1539</link>
		<comments>http://green.myninjaplease.com/?p=1539#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 23 Jul 2008 12:39:56 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>orangemenace</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[DIY Green]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[YouTube]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[clean businesses]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[climate change]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[current events]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[green]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[solar]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[So I realize that most of you probably know more about the &#8216;green&#8217; movement, &#8216;sustainability&#8217;, global warming, etc, than the average reader of The New Republic &#8211; but I still thought these videos were worth checking out. Especially when Majora Carter is involved &#8211; as she is a ninja extraordinaire. ::videos via The New Republic&#8216;s [...]


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<li><a href='http://green.myninjaplease.com/?p=1389' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: LEGO Group: Greening the Minds of Children'>LEGO Group: Greening the Minds of Children</a></li>
<li><a href='http://green.myninjaplease.com/?p=1204' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: Majora Carter: Building Sustainable Cities'>Majora Carter: Building Sustainable Cities</a></li>
</ol>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><center><embed type='application/x-shockwave-flash' src='http://canwest.a.mms.mavenapps.net/mms/rt/1/site/canwest-tnr-pub01-live/current/tnr_small/canwestembedded/client/embedded/embedded.swf' id='mediumFlashEmbedded' pluginspage='http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer' bgcolor='#000000' allowScriptAccess='always' quality='high' name='smallFlash' play='false' scale='noscale' menu='false' salign='LT' scriptAccess='always' wmode='false' height='305' width='320' flashvars='playerId=tnrallsmall&#038;referralObject=1970465' /></center></p>
<p>So I realize that most of you probably know more about the &#8216;green&#8217; movement, &#8216;sustainability&#8217;, global warming, etc, than the average reader of <em><a href="http://www.tnr.com/">The New Republic</a></em> &#8211; but I still thought these videos were worth checking out. Especially when <a href="http://architecture.myninjaplease.com/?p=2544">Majora Carter</a> is involved &#8211; as she is a ninja extraordinaire.</p>
<p><center><embed type='application/x-shockwave-flash' src='http://canwest.a.mms.mavenapps.net/mms/rt/1/site/canwest-tnr-pub01-live/current/tnr_small/canwestembedded/client/embedded/embedded.swf' id='mediumFlashEmbedded' pluginspage='http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer' bgcolor='#000000' allowScriptAccess='always' quality='high' name='smallFlash' play='false' scale='noscale' menu='false' salign='LT' scriptAccess='always' wmode='false' height='305' width='320' flashvars='playerId=tnrallsmall&#038;referralObject=1987232' /></center></p>
<p>::<em>videos via <a href="http://www.tnr.com/index.html">The New Republic</a>&#8216;s <a href="http://www.tnr.com/environmentenergy/index.html">Environment + Energy section</a></em>::</p>


<p>Related posts:<ol><li><a href='http://green.myninjaplease.com/?p=675' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: Green Energy TV'>Green Energy TV</a></li>
<li><a href='http://green.myninjaplease.com/?p=1389' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: LEGO Group: Greening the Minds of Children'>LEGO Group: Greening the Minds of Children</a></li>
<li><a href='http://green.myninjaplease.com/?p=1204' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: Majora Carter: Building Sustainable Cities'>Majora Carter: Building Sustainable Cities</a></li>
</ol></p>]]></content:encoded>
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		<title>GreenPix Zero Energy Media Wall</title>
		<link>http://green.myninjaplease.com/?p=1535</link>
		<comments>http://green.myninjaplease.com/?p=1535#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 30 Jun 2008 15:15:06 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>orangemenace</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[eco-friendly products]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[fo' real?]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[green]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[my ninjas please!]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[renewable energy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[solar]]></category>
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		<description><![CDATA[Installed on the Xicui entertainment complex in Beijing [near the site of the 2008 Olympic Games], GreenPix is a sustainable LED media display applied to the glass curtain wall. with integrated photovoltaic cells. The largest color LED display in the world, GreenPix will also incorporate the photovoltaic system integrated into a glass curtain wall system [...]


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<li><a href='http://green.myninjaplease.com/?p=335' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: Israeli firm: Seaweed could be used to solve energy crisis'>Israeli firm: Seaweed could be used to solve energy crisis</a></li>
</ol>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a target="_blank" href="http://www.greenpix.org/"><img id="image3172" alt="greenpix_media_wall-1.jpeg" src="http://architecture.myninjaplease.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/06/greenpix_media_wall-1.jpeg" /></a></p>
<p>Installed on the Xicui entertainment complex in Beijing [near the site of the 2008 Olympic Games], <a target="_blank" href="http://www.greenpix.org/">GreenPix</a> is a sustainable LED media display applied to the glass curtain wall. with integrated photovoltaic cells.  The largest color LED display in the world, GreenPix will also incorporate the photovoltaic system integrated into a glass curtain wall system in China. The intention is for the building to &#8216;mirror a day&#8217;s climatic cycle&#8217;, harvesting energy from the sun to power the LED display after dark.</p>
<p><img id="image3173" alt="greenpix_media_wall-2.jpeg" src="http://architecture.myninjaplease.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/06/greenpix_media_wall-2.jpeg" /></p>
<p>Designed by <a target="_blank" href="http://www.sgp-architects.com/">Simone Giostra &#038; Partners Architects</a> along with the ninja masters over at <a target="_blank" href="http://www.arup.com/">Arup</a>, the LED media wall will &#8220;provide the city of Beijing with its first venue dedicated to digital media art, while offering the most radical example of sustainable technology applied to an entire building’s envelope to date&#8221; says Giostra. The building opens to the public in June of 2008, marked by special video installations and performances by a number of different artists.  Here&#8217;s some additional info:</p>
<blockquote><p>GreenPix is a large-scale display comprising of 2,292 color (RGB) LED’s light points comparable to a 24,000 sq. ft. (2.200 m2) monitor screen for dynamic content display. The very large scale and the characteristic low resolution of the screen enhances the abstract visual qualities of the medium, providing an art-specific communication form in contrast to commercial applications of high resolution screens in conventional media façades.</p></blockquote>
<p><img id="image3174" alt="greenpix_media_wall-3.jpeg" src="http://architecture.myninjaplease.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/06/greenpix_media_wall-3.jpeg" /></p>
<p>All this information + seriousness aside &#8211; is this thing actually green / sustainable? I mean, it&#8217;s siiick, sure &#8211; you&#8217;ve got to love beautiful displays of modern technology, and the integration of digital media in architecture. But, does using all that PV to power a giant LED display really make the project green or is it just a wash? Just a thought&#8230;</p>


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<li><a href='http://green.myninjaplease.com/?p=895' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: SIEEB Solar Energy-Efficient Building'>SIEEB Solar Energy-Efficient Building</a></li>
<li><a href='http://green.myninjaplease.com/?p=335' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: Israeli firm: Seaweed could be used to solve energy crisis'>Israeli firm: Seaweed could be used to solve energy crisis</a></li>
</ol></p>]]></content:encoded>
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		<title>PopSci&#8217;s Top 50 Greenest US Cities</title>
		<link>http://green.myninjaplease.com/?p=1292</link>
		<comments>http://green.myninjaplease.com/?p=1292#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 03 Mar 2008 11:07:28 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>jessie</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[analysis]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[geothermal]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[green]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[green living]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[hydro]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[mass transit]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[recycling/trash]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[renewable energy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[science]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[sustainable architecture]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[zero-emissions and hybrids]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[I am a little behind the times, but at the beginning of February Popular Science Magazine came out with their list of America&#8217;s 50 Greenest Cities. They compiled the list based on four criteria &#8211; electricity (10 points), transportation (10 points), green living (5 points) and recycling &#038; green perspective (5 points). Here are the [...]


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<li><a href='http://green.myninjaplease.com/?p=130' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: Tire paths'>Tire paths</a></li>
<li><a href='http://green.myninjaplease.com/?p=1204' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: Majora Carter: Building Sustainable Cities'>Majora Carter: Building Sustainable Cities</a></li>
</ol>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img width="450" height="217" id="image1293" alt="popsci.png" src="http://www.myninjaplease.com/green/http://green.myninjaplease.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/03/popsci.png" /></p>
<p>I am a little behind the times, but at the beginning of February Popular Science Magazine came out with their list of <a target="_blank" href="http://www.popsci.com/environment/article/2008-02/americas-50-greenest-cities">America&#8217;s 50 Greenest Cities</a>.  They compiled the list based on <a target="_blank" href="http://www.popsci.com/environment/article/2008-02/americas-50-greenest-cities?page=1">four criteria</a> &#8211; electricity (10 points), transportation (10 points), green living (5 points) and recycling &#038; green perspective (5 points).  Here are the top 20:</p>
<p>1. Portland, Ore. 23.1<br />
2. San Francisco, Calif. 23.0<br />
3. Boston, Mass. 22.7<br />
4. Oakland, Calif. 22.5<br />
5. Eugene, Ore. 22.4<br />
6. Cambridge, Mass. 22.2<br />
7. Berkeley, Calif. 22.2<br />
8. Seattle, Wash. 22.1<br />
9. Chicago, Ill. 21.3<br />
10. Austin, Tex. 21.0<br />
11. Minneapolis, Minn. 20.3<br />
12. St. Paul, Minn. 20.2<br />
13. Sunnyvale, Calif. 19.9<br />
14. Honolulu, Hawaii 19.9<br />
15. Fort Worth, Tex. 19.7<br />
16. Albuquerque, N.M. 19.1<br />
17. Syracuse, N.Y. 18.9<br />
18. Huntsville, Ala. 18.4<br />
19. Denver, Colo. 18.2<br />
20. New York, N.Y. 18.2</p>
<p>Check the PopSci site for the <a target="_blank" href="http://www.popsci.com/environment/article/2008-02/americas-50-greenest-cities">full list</a> and all the details.  They also highlight <a target="_blank" href="http://www.popsci.com/environment/gallery/2008-02/how-americas-greenest-cities-got-green">6 case studies</a> of cities making concerted efforts to green themselves.</p>
<p>Oakland: Zero Emission Bus<br />
<img id="image1286" alt="greencity_bus.jpg" src="http://www.myninjaplease.com/green/http://green.myninjaplease.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/03/greencity_bus.jpg" /></p>
<p>Chicago: Make Power, Save the Heat<br />
<img id="image1287" alt="greencity_chi.jpg" src="http://www.myninjaplease.com/green/http://green.myninjaplease.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/03/greencity_chi.jpg" /></p>
<p>San Francisco: Sunroofs in Fog City<br />
<img id="image1288" alt="greencity_sanfran.jpg" src="http://www.myninjaplease.com/green/http://green.myninjaplease.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/03/greencity_sanfran.jpg" /></p>
<p>Santa Rosa: Tapping Geysers for Watts<br />
<img id="image1289" alt="greencity_santarosa.jpg" src="http://www.myninjaplease.com/green/http://green.myninjaplease.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/03/greencity_santarosa.jpg" /></p>
<p>Salt Lake City: Heating Homes from Waste<br />
<img id="image1290" alt="greencity_saltlakecity.jpg" src="http://www.myninjaplease.com/green/http://green.myninjaplease.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/03/greencity_saltlakecity.jpg" /></p>
<p>New York City: Turning the Tides into Electricity<br />
<img id="image1291" alt="greemcity_nyc.jpg" src="http://www.myninjaplease.com/green/http://green.myninjaplease.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/03/greemcity_nyc.jpg" /></p>
<p>Another interesting analysis of green spots in the US was listed by a PopSci reader in the comments.  Check the <a target="_blank" href="http://www.eredux.com/states/">site</a> for an interesting interactive state-by-state look at green stat&#8217;s across the country.</p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://www.eredux.com/states/"><img width="437" height="266" id="image1284" alt="us_carbon_map.jpg" src="http://www.myninjaplease.com/green/http://green.myninjaplease.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/03/us_carbon_map.jpg" /></a></p>
<p>[<a target="_blank" href="http://www.popsci.com/environment/article/2008-02/americas-50-greenest-cities">popsci.com</a>]</p>


<p>Related posts:<ol><li><a href='http://green.myninjaplease.com/?p=916' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: The Greenest Monster'>The Greenest Monster</a></li>
<li><a href='http://green.myninjaplease.com/?p=130' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: Tire paths'>Tire paths</a></li>
<li><a href='http://green.myninjaplease.com/?p=1204' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: Majora Carter: Building Sustainable Cities'>Majora Carter: Building Sustainable Cities</a></li>
</ol></p>]]></content:encoded>
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		<title>Behnisch Architekten &#8211; Pittsburgh RiverPark</title>
		<link>http://green.myninjaplease.com/?p=1272</link>
		<comments>http://green.myninjaplease.com/?p=1272#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 26 Feb 2008 18:00:31 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>orangemenace</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[current events]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[green]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[green living]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[renewable energy]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[sustainable architecture]]></category>
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		<description><![CDATA[[Image: RiverPark Night Rendering] Here is a little more information on the Pittsburgh RiverPark by Behnisch Architekten . Menace hit y&#8217;all with a post on work they exhibited at the GSD back in September of the year past. So here is the skinny on the RiverPark: Is: A competition-winning design that incorporates green urban design [...]


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<li><a href='http://green.myninjaplease.com/?p=1204' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: Majora Carter: Building Sustainable Cities'>Majora Carter: Building Sustainable Cities</a></li>
<li><a href='http://green.myninjaplease.com/?p=1565' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: Green Drinks!'>Green Drinks!</a></li>
</ol>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img width="447" height="447" alt="riverparc-01.png" src="http://architecture.myninjaplease.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/riverparc-01.png" /></p>
<p>[<em>Image: RiverPark Night Rendering</em>]</p>
<p>Here is a little more information on the Pittsburgh RiverPark by <a title="behnisch architects" href="http://www.behnisch.com/">Behnisch Architekten</a> . Menace hit y&#8217;all with <a title="ecology, design, synergy" href="http://architecture.myninjaplease.com/?p=1920">a post</a> on work they exhibited at the GSD back in September of the year past. So here is the skinny on the RiverPark:</p>
<p>Is: A competition-winning design that incorporates green urban design initiative in the form of various height and size mixed-use buildings.</p>
<p>Now: <a title="Pittsburgh" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pittsburgh,_Pennsylvania">Pittsburgh</a> is a city with a lack of housing in their core downtown area [cities such as NYC, Toronto, &#038; Boston have a good mix of housing throughout their concrete jungles].</p>
<p><img width="446" height="356" alt="riverparc-04.png" src="http://architecture.myninjaplease.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/riverparc-04.png" /></p>
<p>[<em>Image: RiverPark Waterfront Rendering</em>]</p>
<p>Aim: For people to re-examine the &#8216;American Dream&#8217; &#8211; a house in the &#8216;burbs, 2.5 kids, etc. &#8211; for an all-in-one living experience within a pedestrian-friendly, developing area of downtown Pittsburgh.</p>
<p>Proposed: RiverPark &#8211; &#8216;an urban rejuvenation project&#8217; that merges an ensemble of flexible, green mixed-use buildings on six acres. The design incorporates 700 residential units overall, varying the forms and styles of the proposed units. Mixed in with the residences will be retail shops, restaurants, lifestyle facilities [such as a gym], a hotel and convention hall facilities.</p>
<p><img width="447" height="267" alt="riverparc-02.png" src="http://architecture.myninjaplease.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/riverparc-02.png" /></p>
<p>[<em>Image: City Rendering 01</em>]</p>
<p>Anyone in design school who has had the pleasure [however excruciating it may have been at the time] to formulate their own ideas on how mixed-use buildings [or areas] should be formed know how difficult it is to a. come up with something that works, b. have it function in terms of space, flow, engagement to the existing city fabric, and c. look good, period.  Add green-specific systems into the mix, and one is designing a whole other beast all together.  But  hakuna matata, my ninjas, cause Behnisch got it all locked in.</p>
<p>Green?:  There are a number of systems included in the design of the RiverPark.  In terms of energy, there will be a [noiseless!] wind turbine at the water front, photovoltaics integrated into the south facing facade, and an underground water heating/ cooling pump.  The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microclimate">micro-climate</a> within the RiverPark was also reimagined with the use of green roofs and landscaping and water features [probably to regulate the super-high humidity in the summer and strong cold fronts in the winter].  The staggered building heights allow for direct sunlight to pass through the buildings and shine uninhibited onto the water front.</p>
<p><img width="447" height="359" alt="riverparc-05.png" src="http://architecture.myninjaplease.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/riverparc-05.png" /></p>
<p>[<em>Image: Energy Concept Diagram</em>]</p>
<p><img width="441" height="351" alt="riverparc-06.png" src="http://architecture.myninjaplease.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/riverparc-06.png" /></p>
<p>[<em>Image: Micro-Climate Concept Diagram</em>]</p>
<p>The Behnisch RiverPark design can really be used as a stepping-stone for success in most American cities that have not already had major downtown renovations.  I have walked around a city like Toronto [where it fronts The Harbor] and the pedestrian interaction and general activities that occur daily along the waterfront really engage a multitude of individuals and their varied interests [note: did anyone know Toronto has an <a title="powerplant" href="http://www.thepowerplant.org/">art museum</a> along the waterfront?  Get up north and visit, my ninjas!  Also get into the city and visit <a title="gardiner" href="http://www.gardinermuseum.on.ca/default_noflash.aspx">here</a> and <a title="royal ontario" href="http://www.rom.on.ca/index.php">here</a> too].  Also, as the time of day changes the activities also change with it.  It&#8217;s kinda a mix of Providence&#8217;s Water-Fire and Baltimore&#8217;s Inner Harbor, except i don&#8217;t feel like I&#8217;m gonna get mugged walking around at night.  Canada just produces more docile ninjas, i guess.</p>
<p><img width="451" height="180" alt="riverparc-03.png" src="http://architecture.myninjaplease.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/riverparc-03.png" /></p>
<p>[<em>Image: City Rendering 02</em>]</p>
<p>All images &#038; information from the <a href="http://www.behnisch.com/">Behnisch website</a>.  Peace.</p>
<p>[[Post by DUBS]]</p>


<p>Related posts:<ol><li><a href='http://green.myninjaplease.com/?p=1292' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: PopSci&#8217;s Top 50 Greenest US Cities'>PopSci&#8217;s Top 50 Greenest US Cities</a></li>
<li><a href='http://green.myninjaplease.com/?p=1204' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: Majora Carter: Building Sustainable Cities'>Majora Carter: Building Sustainable Cities</a></li>
<li><a href='http://green.myninjaplease.com/?p=1565' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: Green Drinks!'>Green Drinks!</a></li>
</ol></p>]]></content:encoded>
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		<slash:comments>1</slash:comments>
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		<item>
		<title>Madrid&#8217;s &#8216;Air Tree&#8217;</title>
		<link>http://green.myninjaplease.com/?p=1238</link>
		<comments>http://green.myninjaplease.com/?p=1238#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 01 Feb 2008 09:00:19 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>brent</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[fo' real?]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[green]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[landscapes]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[recycling/trash]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[renewable energy]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[sustainable architecture]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://green.myninjaplease.com/?p=1238</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Winner of the 2004 &#8216;Eco Boulevard&#8216; competition held by the Madrid Municipal Housing Corporations Residential Innovation Office [that's a mouthful], Urban Ecosystems&#8217; &#8216;Air Tree&#8216; project consists of 3 pavilions situated within a 500 meter by 50 meter boulevard. Designed as the initial &#8216;attraction&#8217; for the site, the pavilions have been conceptualized as a &#8216;prosthesis&#8217; &#8211; [...]


Related posts:<ol><li><a href='http://green.myninjaplease.com/?p=1228' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: Autodesk: Take 2 Minutes, Plant A Tree'>Autodesk: Take 2 Minutes, Plant A Tree</a></li>
<li><a href='http://green.myninjaplease.com/?p=122' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: Recycle your Christmas Tree'>Recycle your Christmas Tree</a></li>
<li><a href='http://green.myninjaplease.com/?p=22' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: ?Tree Art?'>?Tree Art?</a></li>
</ol>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a target="_blank" href="http://www.ecosistemaurbano.com/#"><img alt="air_tree-5.jpg" id="image2616" src="http://architecture.myninjaplease.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/air_tree-5.jpg" /></a></p>
<p>Winner of the  2004 &#8216;<em>Eco Boulevard</em>&#8216; competition held by the Madrid Municipal Housing Corporations Residential Innovation Office [that's a mouthful], <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ecosistemaurbano.com/#">Urban Ecosystems&#8217;</a> &#8216;<em>Air Tree</em>&#8216; project consists of 3 pavilions situated within a 500 meter by 50 meter boulevard.</p>
<p><img alt="air_tree-3.jpg" id="image2618" src="http://architecture.myninjaplease.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/air_tree-3.jpg" /></p>
<p>Designed as the initial &#8216;attraction&#8217; for the site, the pavilions  have been conceptualized as a &#8216;prosthesis&#8217; &#8211; around which social interaction/revitalization, plant life, and future spaces can grow. The structures are therefore temporary &#8211; acting merely as a magnet to draw new life to the site. The boulevard will be gradually filled with trees and plant-life, until such a time when &#8216;air-conditioned spaces are no longer needed, when the area becomes fixed&#8217;. The pavilions will then be dismantled &#8211; leaving behind a void in the new growth [images above].</p>
<p><img id="image2617" alt="air_tree-2.jpg" src="http://architecture.myninjaplease.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/air_tree-2.jpg" /></p>
<p>A light, easily assembled/dismantled [and recyclable!] structure, the &#8216;<em>Air Tree</em>&#8216; is energy self-sufficient &#8211; using only the power it can capture through a number of photovoltaic panels. Any energy not used by the pavilions themselves is sold back to the grid, the proceeds from which go to maintain this new urban park.</p>
<p><img alt="air_tree-1.jpg" id="image2619" src="http://architecture.myninjaplease.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/air_tree-1.jpg" /></p>
<p>While the boulevard will eventually grow into a park &#8211; these &#8216;<em>Air Trees</em>&#8216; will work to do the same job as the trees will in the future. Along with providing a defined, shaded place to congregate [like the base of a tree], the pavilions will actually condition the air. Within the metallic screen/skin of the &#8216;<em>Air Trees</em>&#8216; is a layer of plantings &#8211; small trees running around the perimeter of the pavilions.</p>
<blockquote><p>…[there are] simple air conditioning systems installed in the air tree. They are evapotranspirators. This is a natural way to air condition a space, not a part of commercial strategy. Rather, it creates naturally conditioned spaces between 8-10°C cooler than the surrounding streets where the residents can take active part in the public domain [<a target="_blank" href="http://greenlineblog.com/">via</a>].</p></blockquote>
<p><img alt="air_tree-4.jpg" id="image2620" src="http://architecture.myninjaplease.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/air_tree-4.jpg" /></p>
<p>And oh yeah &#8211; they look pretty ill too. They should build some of these bad-boys here in the Bean, on that <a target="_blank" href="http://boston.com/beyond_bigdig/">no-man&#8217;s-land</a> the Big Dig has left us&#8230;</p>
<p>::For more interesting/provocative &#8216;<a target="_blank" href="http://www.myninjaplease.com/green/">green</a>&#8216; projects, visit <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ecosistemaurbano.com/#">ecosistema urbano</a> &#8211; additional information for this post via <a target="_blank" href="http://greenlineblog.com/">Greenline</a>::</p>


<p>Related posts:<ol><li><a href='http://green.myninjaplease.com/?p=1228' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: Autodesk: Take 2 Minutes, Plant A Tree'>Autodesk: Take 2 Minutes, Plant A Tree</a></li>
<li><a href='http://green.myninjaplease.com/?p=122' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: Recycle your Christmas Tree'>Recycle your Christmas Tree</a></li>
<li><a href='http://green.myninjaplease.com/?p=22' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: ?Tree Art?'>?Tree Art?</a></li>
</ol></p>]]></content:encoded>
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		<slash:comments>1</slash:comments>
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		<item>
		<title>Jacques Ferrier : Hypergreen</title>
		<link>http://green.myninjaplease.com/?p=1222</link>
		<comments>http://green.myninjaplease.com/?p=1222#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 26 Jan 2008 09:43:15 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>brent</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[green]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[green living]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[passive solar]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[renewable energy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[solar]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[sustainable architecture]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[wind]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[The Hypergreen tower, designed by Jacques Ferrier for a competition in Paris, is a 250 meter / 60 storey tall mixed-use &#8216;green&#8217; building [hence 'hypergreen']. The building&#8217;s structure emerges as an intricate concrete lattice system, wrapping the facade in the woven pattern and allowing for the floorplates to be nearly column free. This structural system [...]


Related posts:<ol><li><a href='http://green.myninjaplease.com/?p=752' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: Jacques Ferrier : Hypergreen'>Jacques Ferrier : Hypergreen</a></li>
<li><a href='http://green.myninjaplease.com/?p=1192' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: RES4: House for an Artist'>RES4: House for an Artist</a></li>
<li><a href='http://green.myninjaplease.com/?p=763' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: dynamic architecture = green architecture'>dynamic architecture = green architecture</a></li>
</ol>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a target="_blank" href="http://www.jacques-ferrier.com/"><img id="image1426" alt="ferrier-2.jpg" src="http://architecture.myninjaplease.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/06/ferrier-2.jpg" /></a></p>
<p>The <a target="_blank" href="http://www.bdcnetwork.com/info/CA6445662.html?nid=2073">Hypergreen tower</a>, designed by <a target="_blank" href="http://www.jacques-ferrier.com/">Jacques Ferrier</a> for a competition in Paris, is a 250 meter / 60 storey tall mixed-use &#8216;green&#8217; building [hence 'hypergreen']. The building&#8217;s structure emerges as an intricate concrete lattice system, wrapping the facade in the woven pattern and allowing for the floorplates to be nearly column free. This structural system also creates an interesting intermediate space between the building&#8217;s glazing, where Ferrier has apparently planned for some exterior gardens / greenery.</p>
<p><img id="image1425" alt="ferrier-1.jpg" src="http://architecture.myninjaplease.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/06/ferrier-1.jpg" /></p>
<p>What makes the Hypergreen tower green, you ask [other than the name]? How about its:</p>
<ul>
<li>geothermal heat pumps</li>
<li>photovoltaic panels</li>
<li>integrated wind turbines [seen at the top of the building]</li>
<li>earth cooling tubes</li>
<li>vegetated sky lobbies</li>
<li>a roof garden</li>
<li>rainwater recovery system</li>
</ul>
<p>&#8230;and the aforementioned flexible / adaptable column-free floor plates.</p>
<p><img id="image1427" alt="ferrier-3.jpg" src="http://architecture.myninjaplease.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/06/ferrier-3.jpg" /></p>
<p><img id="image1429" alt="ferrier-5.jpg" src="http://architecture.myninjaplease.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/06/ferrier-5.jpg" /></p>
<p>::images from <a target="_blank" href="http://www.jacques-ferrier.com/">Jacques Ferrier Architecte</a>, project via <a target="_blank" href="http://jetsongreen.typepad.com/jetson_green/">Jetson Green</a>::</p>
<p>::<a target="_blank" href="http://www.bdcnetwork.com/info/CA6445662.html?nid=2073">listen to the podcast</a>::</p>


<p>Related posts:<ol><li><a href='http://green.myninjaplease.com/?p=752' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: Jacques Ferrier : Hypergreen'>Jacques Ferrier : Hypergreen</a></li>
<li><a href='http://green.myninjaplease.com/?p=1192' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: RES4: House for an Artist'>RES4: House for an Artist</a></li>
<li><a href='http://green.myninjaplease.com/?p=763' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: dynamic architecture = green architecture'>dynamic architecture = green architecture</a></li>
</ol></p>]]></content:encoded>
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		<slash:comments>2</slash:comments>
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		<item>
		<title>Hybrid Solar Lighting</title>
		<link>http://green.myninjaplease.com/?p=1223</link>
		<comments>http://green.myninjaplease.com/?p=1223#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 23 Jan 2008 09:00:16 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>brent</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[YouTube]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[eco-friendly products]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[green]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[solar]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://green.myninjaplease.com/?p=1223</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Lighting is a HUGE drain on power all over the world &#8211; with people leaving their home lights on at all times, retail spots actually needing lighting for such large portions of the day, and many buildings just never having their lights turned out [because of how long it takes them to heat up or [...]


Related posts:<ol><li><a href='http://green.myninjaplease.com/?p=757' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: Hybrid Solar Lighting'>Hybrid Solar Lighting</a></li>
<li><a href='http://green.myninjaplease.com/?p=734' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: Reintroducing the Sun : Parans SP2'>Reintroducing the Sun : Parans SP2</a></li>
<li><a href='http://green.myninjaplease.com/?p=855' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: Solar Trees by Ross Lovegrove'>Solar Trees by Ross Lovegrove</a></li>
</ol>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a target="_blank" href="http://www.ornl.gov/sci/solar/"><img id="image1341" alt="hybrid-solar-lighting.jpg" src="http://architecture.myninjaplease.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/05/hybrid-solar-lighting.jpg" /></a></p>
<p>Lighting is a HUGE drain on power all over the world &#8211; with people leaving their home lights on at all times, retail spots actually needing lighting for such large portions of the day, and many buildings just never having their lights turned out [because of how long it takes them to heat up or something? seems like a stupid reason to me...].</p>
<p>So what&#8217;s the solution? Turn off the lights when you leave a room, set timers, use energy efficient lamps, etc etc etc&#8230;all great suggestions. A better solution tho, for those buildings that need lighting during the daylight hours, is to <span style="font-style: italic">actually</span> harness the light of the sun &#8211; and redirect it into your interiors.</p>
<p>We bring you &#8220;<a target="_blank" href="http://www.ornl.gov/sci/solar/">Hybrid Solar Lighting</a>&#8216;, from <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ornl.gov/">Oak Ridge National Laboratory&#8217;s</a> &#8216;Solar Technologies Program&#8217; &#8211; fiber optics that are connected to a &#8216;solar collector&#8217; [which tracks the sun's position throughout the day], which filters the visible light into a fiber optic receiver. These fiber optics are then fed throughout the building, and the natural sunlight is blended with the standard florescent interior lighting &#8211; creating a more natural lighting condition within the building. This is not only saving some users up to 60% on their electrical bills, but is also increasing sales in some retail spaces [40% more?], and helping to address issues such as S.A.D. [seasonal effective disorder].</p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQ5MiLqb5VE&#038;eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fgroups%2Emyspace%2Ecom%2Findex%2Ecfm%3Ffuseaction%3Dgroups%2EgroupProfile%26groupID%3D105760430%26Mytoken%3D1AB22501%2DEB42%2D4201%2D97"><p><a href="http://green.myninjaplease.com/?p=1223"><em>Click here to view the embedded video.</em></a></p><br />
</a></p>


<p>Related posts:<ol><li><a href='http://green.myninjaplease.com/?p=757' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: Hybrid Solar Lighting'>Hybrid Solar Lighting</a></li>
<li><a href='http://green.myninjaplease.com/?p=734' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: Reintroducing the Sun : Parans SP2'>Reintroducing the Sun : Parans SP2</a></li>
<li><a href='http://green.myninjaplease.com/?p=855' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: Solar Trees by Ross Lovegrove'>Solar Trees by Ross Lovegrove</a></li>
</ol></p>]]></content:encoded>
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		</item>
		<item>
		<title>RES4: House for an Artist</title>
		<link>http://green.myninjaplease.com/?p=1192</link>
		<comments>http://green.myninjaplease.com/?p=1192#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 09 Jan 2008 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>brent</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[geothermal]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[green]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[green living]]></category>
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		<description><![CDATA[The Artist&#8217;s Retreat, a recently [Fall, 2007] completed project RES4, is a 2550 SF prefab project in Southampton, NY. Manufactured by Integrity Building Systems, the &#8216;sustainable&#8216; residence takes advantage of it&#8217;s natural surroundings through the integration of a solarium and a large roof deck into the design &#8211; highlighting the views of the &#8216;breathtaking natural [...]


Related posts:<ol><li><a href='http://green.myninjaplease.com/?p=1153' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: Low Impact Woodland Home'>Low Impact Woodland Home</a></li>
<li><a href='http://green.myninjaplease.com/?p=59' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: House of Green'>House of Green</a></li>
<li><a href='http://green.myninjaplease.com/?p=600' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: Keyhole House : eco friendly London living'>Keyhole House : eco friendly London living</a></li>
</ol>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img id="image2396" alt="res4_artist-6.jpg" src="http://architecture.myninjaplease.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/12/res4_artist-6.jpg" /></p>
<p>The <a target="_blank" href="http://re4a.com/?t=0&#038;c=197">Artist&#8217;s Retreat</a>, a recently [Fall, 2007] completed project <a target="_blank" href="http://re4a.com/">RES4</a>, is a 2550 SF prefab project in Southampton, NY. Manufactured by <a target="_blank" href="http://www.integritybuild.com/">Integrity Building Systems</a>, the &#8216;<a target="_blank" href="http://architecture.myninjaplease.com/?p=1920">sustainable</a>&#8216; residence takes advantage of it&#8217;s natural surroundings through the integration of a solarium and a large roof deck into the design &#8211; highlighting the views of the &#8216;breathtaking natural landscape&#8217;. The 3-Bedroom house is shared by an artist + mother, and includes an office/study, art studio,combined kitchen/dining/living. 3 baths, and the previously mentioned solarium + roof deck.</p>
<p><img id="image2397" alt="res4_artist-2.jpg" src="http://architecture.myninjaplease.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/12/res4_artist-2.jpg" /></p>
<p>&#8216;<a target="_blank" href="http://architecture.myninjaplease.com/?cat=40">Sustainable</a>&#8216;/<a target="_blank" href="http://www.myninjaplease.com/green/">&#8216;green&#8217; technologies</a> used in the <a target="_blank" href="http://architecture.myninjaplease.com/?cat=41">house</a> include <a target="_blank" href="http://www.geothermal.org/">geothermal heating + cooling</a>, three arrays of high efficiency <a target="_blank" href="http://www1.eere.energy.gov/solar/photovoltaics.html">photovoltaic modules</a> have the capacity to produce 10,500 kwh/yr[their first electric bill was actually a credit], modular prefab construction and maintenance free materials, <a target="_blank" href="http://www.inhabitat.com/2007/12/10/building-modelled-on-termites-eastgate-centre-in-zimbabwe/">natural ventilation</a>, and the use of local Southampton ground vegetation.</p>
<p><img id="image2398" alt="res4_artist-plan.jpg" src="http://architecture.myninjaplease.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/12/res4_artist-plan.jpg" /></p>
<p>The design is based on RES4&#8242;d investigation into the &#8216;<a target="_blank" href="http://re4a.com/?t=1&#038;c=0"><em>Modern Modular</em></a>&#8216; &#8211; a type of &#8216;kit-of-parts&#8217; that RES4 uses to develop their projects. Variations on 7 different building typologies &#8211; <em>Single Bar, L Series, Double Wide, Courtyard, T Series, Triple Wide, + Z Series</em> &#8211; have been created by RES4, and are expanded upon and built based on site conditions and client needs/preferences.</p>
<p><img id="image2399" alt="res4_artist-4.jpg" src="http://architecture.myninjaplease.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/12/res4_artist-4.jpg" /></p>
<p><img id="image2401" alt="res4_artist-3.jpg" src="http://architecture.myninjaplease.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/12/res4_artist-3.jpg" /></p>
<p><img id="image2400" alt="res4_artist-5.jpg" src="http://architecture.myninjaplease.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/12/res4_artist-5.jpg" /></p>
<p>Prefab and &#8216;green&#8217; or not &#8211; seems like a pretty big house for two people, doesn&#8217;t it?</p>
<p>More RES4 on <a target="_blank" href="http://www.myninjaplease.com/">MNP</a>:</p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://architecture.myninjaplease.com/?p=1391">RES4 : Dwell Home</a></p>


<p>Related posts:<ol><li><a href='http://green.myninjaplease.com/?p=1153' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: Low Impact Woodland Home'>Low Impact Woodland Home</a></li>
<li><a href='http://green.myninjaplease.com/?p=59' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: House of Green'>House of Green</a></li>
<li><a href='http://green.myninjaplease.com/?p=600' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: Keyhole House : eco friendly London living'>Keyhole House : eco friendly London living</a></li>
</ol></p>]]></content:encoded>
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		<slash:comments>2</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Building A Straw Bale House: Clearing the Site</title>
		<link>http://green.myninjaplease.com/?p=1148</link>
		<comments>http://green.myninjaplease.com/?p=1148#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 03 Dec 2007 03:45:36 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>jessie</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[DIY Green]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[eco-friendly products]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[green]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[green living]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[interview]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[passive solar]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[solar]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[straw bale house]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[sustainable architecture]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[I have a progress update from the field of my dad&#8217;s straw bale house. He visited my sister and her family in New Mexico in mid November and started clearing the land at the site. If you are new to the green.mnp Building A Straw Bale House series, check out the first entry to read [...]


Related posts:<ol><li><a href='http://green.myninjaplease.com/?p=987' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: Building A Straw Bale House: Concept to Construction'>Building A Straw Bale House: Concept to Construction</a></li>
<li><a href='http://green.myninjaplease.com/?p=1478' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: Building A Straw Bale House: The Journey Begins'>Building A Straw Bale House: The Journey Begins</a></li>
<li><a href='http://green.myninjaplease.com/?p=1295' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: Straw Bale House: In Anticipation of Construction'>Straw Bale House: In Anticipation of Construction</a></li>
</ol>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img alt="view.jpg" id="image1145" src="http://www.myninjaplease.com/green/http://green.myninjaplease.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/12/view.jpg" /></p>
<p>I have a progress update from the field of my dad&#8217;s straw bale house.  He visited my sister and her family in New Mexico in mid November and started clearing the land at the site.  If you are new to the green.mnp <a target="_blank" href="http://www.myninjaplease.com/green/?cat=66">Building A Straw Bale House</a> series, check out the <a target="_blank" href="http://www.myninjaplease.com/green/?p=987">first entry</a> to read about the design and software my dad has developed for his and my mom&#8217;s dream green retirement home.</p>
<p>Here is what he had to say:</p>
<p>I recently took a six day trip to Albuquerque. My agenda was to clear the site and check in with my builder, Cadmon Whitty, and Anissa Hogeland, the architect who is turning my conceptual design into construction drawings.</p>
<p>I stayed with my daughter and son-in-law and got a chance to catch up with them and my grandson, Joshua, 4, and see my new granddaughter, Skyler, 8 months!</p>
<p>When Anissa first laid out the house on a topo drawing of the site (a little $1400 survey cost) she suggested that floor joists over a crawl space might be cheaper than a slab on grade, due to the slope of the site and the amount of fill we would need to bring in for the slab. I was reluctant at first about losing the thermal mass in the slab, but I talked it over with Cadmon and he said that a two inch layer of lightweight concrete over the wooden subfloor works well for holding the radiant heating tubing. He did a top-of-the-head cost estimate that indicated this approach would be a bit cheaper than the slab and fill. When I ran this new approach through my energy model I was surprised to find that it didn&#8217;t increase the heading and cooling swings appreciably. This is because there is still a lot of thermal mass in the interior walls &#8211; cinder block with every other cavity filled with cement or earth. Once you have &#8220;enough&#8221; thermal mass, adding more has progressively less effect. I&#8217;m now glad about the crawl space, as it will make plumbing and other systems much more accessible. This is an environmental improvement too &#8211; less <a target="_blank" href="http://architecture.myninjaplease.com/?p=2097">cement</a> with its embedded CO2 emissions.</p>
<p>Clearing the site began with renting a chainsaw and chipper, and deciding just where the house will sit on the site. After marking out a few rough corner locations I began cutting away. It&#8217;s sad to cut down healthy trees, but there&#8217;s no way around it within the house footprint.</p>
<p>After the first day at the site I came home with a terrible stiff neck and shoulders. I guess that was from a day of chainsawing after not doing any for several months. Maybe stress or sleeping wrong had a part in it too. It stayed with me for the whole trip. Nights were the worst &#8211; just turning over in bed was a slow, painful process. One of the unexpected joys of building a house at age 66.</p>
<p>With breaks for lunch and some minor troubles with the chipper it took two days of chainsawing and two days of chipping. At the end I ran out of time and gas in the chipper with just a small part of the last brush pile left. There are now several stacks of firewood and  two piles of chips which will provide some landscaping mulch. From my Coast Guard days I&#8217;ve named the piles after two small conical islands outside the entrance to the harbor at Saint John&#8217;s, Newfoundland, which are affectionately know by sailors as <a target="_blank" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mae_West">Mae West</a>.<br />
<img alt="maewest.jpg" id="image1146" src="http://www.myninjaplease.com/green/http://green.myninjaplease.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/12/maewest.jpg" /></p>
<p>There will be more clearing at the south edge of the lot, but already the view is quite something. There is a broad valley of rolling hills, fields and forest, with several mountain ranges receding into the distance. I&#8217;m so glad I reoriented the house design to make the most of the view!</p>
<p>Another high point was the hospitality shown by the neighbor on one side, who helped me considerably with the chipping. His help and tool box saved my bacon when the chipper jammed one time. I also met the neighbors on the other side &#8211; a nice young couple who I&#8217;m looking forward to knowing better.</p>
<p>I also talked with a couple of mortgage brokers about construction financing. There will be applications and financials to fill out for that. I&#8217;d like to be the general contractor for the job, as that could save some money. But I also know that all the scheduling and phone calls to subs are not my strangth &#8211; I&#8217;m a poor manager. &#8220;General contractor&#8221; involves several kinds of insurance, several kinds of risks, and the managing of the subs and the scheduling of the construction process. I&#8217;m hoping to work out an allocation of the different elements between Cadmon and myself that will make the most sense.</p>
<p>That&#8217;s it for now. Coming up will be the detailed final design, building permits, and negotiations with banks and the builder. We&#8217;re planning to start construction in early April.</p>
<p>Jack Partridge, 11/24/07</p>
<p><img alt="dadskyler.jpg" id="image1147" src="http://www.myninjaplease.com/green/http://green.myninjaplease.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/12/dadskyler.jpg" /></p>


<p>Related posts:<ol><li><a href='http://green.myninjaplease.com/?p=987' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: Building A Straw Bale House: Concept to Construction'>Building A Straw Bale House: Concept to Construction</a></li>
<li><a href='http://green.myninjaplease.com/?p=1478' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: Building A Straw Bale House: The Journey Begins'>Building A Straw Bale House: The Journey Begins</a></li>
<li><a href='http://green.myninjaplease.com/?p=1295' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: Straw Bale House: In Anticipation of Construction'>Straw Bale House: In Anticipation of Construction</a></li>
</ol></p>]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://green.myninjaplease.com/?feed=rss2&amp;p=1148</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>7</slash:comments>
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		<item>
		<title>Dirty Silicon + Cali Sun =</title>
		<link>http://green.myninjaplease.com/?p=1022</link>
		<comments>http://green.myninjaplease.com/?p=1022#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 26 Oct 2007 04:24:45 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>jessie</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[clean businesses]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[green]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[renewable energy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[solar]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://green.myninjaplease.com/?p=1022</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Clean energy, ninjas! Cali/Berlin-based start-up company, CaliSolar has developed a way to use lower grade silicon to produce photovoltaic cells, thanks to research done at UC Berkeley by former Professor Eike Weber who is now in Germany at the Frauhofer Institute. The difference between the 99.99999% purity of electrical grade silicon that most PV manufacturers [...]


Related posts:<ol><li><a href='http://green.myninjaplease.com/?p=442' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: Cheaper, More Efficient Solar Cells'>Cheaper, More Efficient Solar Cells</a></li>
<li><a href='http://green.myninjaplease.com/?p=484' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: The Power-Spar PV/Thermal system.'>The Power-Spar PV/Thermal system.</a></li>
<li><a href='http://green.myninjaplease.com/?p=104' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: New World Record Achieved in Solar Cell Technology'>New World Record Achieved in Solar Cell Technology</a></li>
</ol>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Clean energy, ninjas!  Cali/Berlin-based start-up company, <a target="_blank" href="http://calisolar.com/">CaliSolar</a> has developed a way to use lower grade silicon to produce photovoltaic cells, thanks to research done at UC Berkeley by former Professor Eike Weber who is now in Germany at the Frauhofer Institute.</p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://calisolar.com/"><img alt="solardirtysilicon.jpg" id="image1021" style="width: 227px; height: 227px" src="http://www.myninjaplease.com/green/http://green.myninjaplease.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/solardirtysilicon.jpg" /></a></p>
<p>The difference between the 99.99999% purity of electrical grade silicon that most PV manufacturers use and the 99% purity of &#8216;dirty&#8217; metallurgical grade silicon is profound.  Not only is the lower grade silicon cheaper ($20-$50/kg versus $150-$250/kg for electrical grade), but there is vastly more of it available, with 1.2 million tons/year made, as opposed to only 70,000 tons/year of electrical grade.  Both of these qualities &#8211; cost and raw material supply, are crucial to the sustainability of the PV solar industry.  The reason most PV companies don&#8217;t use the cheaper dirty silicon is that impurities in the material get in the way of the capture and conversion of sunlight to energy:</p>
<blockquote><p>Photovoltaic solar panels generate electricity by separating negative charges from positive charges contained in the sunlight that strikes them. The negative charges (electrons) are then captured, converted to AC power, and then used to power things in your house. Pure silicon is usually needed because impurities prevent electron capture.CaliSolar gets around this by isolating the impurities during manufacturing. The impurities can be channeled into the borders between crystals, Johnson said, which don&#8217;t generate electricity anyway. The impurities can also be coaxed, through chemical and physical forces, to &#8220;float&#8221; to the top of a wafer, where they can be etched off. In other words, it nullifies the effect of the impurities by coming up with ways to ensure that the impurities aren&#8217;t uniformly distributed.</p></blockquote>
<p><img alt="solarwafer.jpg" id="image1020" style="width: 227px; height: 148px" src="http://www.myninjaplease.com/green/http://green.myninjaplease.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/solarwafer.jpg" /></p>
<blockquote><p>The solar cells coming out of CaliSolar&#8217;s labs are already roughly competitive with standard silicon solar cells in terms of efficiency, said Johnson, a former networking executive. If CaliSolar can mass manufacture solar cells with a 14 percent efficiency rating&#8211;which means that they will convert 14 percent of the sunlight that strikes them into electricity&#8211;these solar cells will cost far less than the 16 percent efficiency cells that are common on the market today.</p></blockquote>
<p>The key word here is &#8216;if&#8217;. CaliSolar will need to raise $30-50 million in order to get an industrial sized manufacturing plant up and running.  They have raised $9 to get a smaller prototype factory going.</p>
<p>[<a target="_blank" href="http://www.news.com/8301-10784_3-9803094-7.html">cnet news</a>]</p>
<blockquote />


<p>Related posts:<ol><li><a href='http://green.myninjaplease.com/?p=442' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: Cheaper, More Efficient Solar Cells'>Cheaper, More Efficient Solar Cells</a></li>
<li><a href='http://green.myninjaplease.com/?p=484' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: The Power-Spar PV/Thermal system.'>The Power-Spar PV/Thermal system.</a></li>
<li><a href='http://green.myninjaplease.com/?p=104' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: New World Record Achieved in Solar Cell Technology'>New World Record Achieved in Solar Cell Technology</a></li>
</ol></p>]]></content:encoded>
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		</item>
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		<title>Building A Straw Bale House: Concept to Construction</title>
		<link>http://green.myninjaplease.com/?p=987</link>
		<comments>http://green.myninjaplease.com/?p=987#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 21 Oct 2007 17:18:27 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>jessie</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[DIY Green]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[eco-friendly products]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[green]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[green living]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[interview]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[passive solar]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[solar]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[straw bale house]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[sustainable architecture]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://green.myninjaplease.com/?p=987</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Since I was a little girl, my dad has been indoctrinating me with a love and respect for the environment. He&#8217;s a true outdoors-man and conservationist and has been recycling, composting, shutting off the lights and turning down the heat since before it was easy or cool, despite the (occasional) aggravation of his family. Now [...]


Related posts:<ol><li><a href='http://green.myninjaplease.com/?p=1148' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: Building A Straw Bale House: Clearing the Site'>Building A Straw Bale House: Clearing the Site</a></li>
<li><a href='http://green.myninjaplease.com/?p=1478' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: Building A Straw Bale House: The Journey Begins'>Building A Straw Bale House: The Journey Begins</a></li>
<li><a href='http://green.myninjaplease.com/?p=1295' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: Straw Bale House: In Anticipation of Construction'>Straw Bale House: In Anticipation of Construction</a></li>
</ol>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a target="_blank" href="http://www.strawbale.com/straw-bale-photos/album/72157601047540738/photo/921725063/Wolf-Gulch-Farm-Wolf-Gulch-Farm-truth-window.html"><img width="449" height="299" id="image986" alt="truthwindow.jpg" src="http://www.myninjaplease.com/green/http://green.myninjaplease.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/truthwindow.jpg" /></a></p>
<p>Since I was a little girl, my dad has been indoctrinating me with a love and respect for the environment.  He&#8217;s a true outdoors-man and conservationist and has been recycling, composting, shutting off the lights and turning down the heat since before it was easy or cool, despite the (occasional) aggravation of his family.  Now that he and my mom are getting close to their retirement years, he has decided to take his environmental consciousness to the next level.  About a year ago he began researching and making plans to build an energy efficient straw bale house in the East Mountain area outside of Albuquerque, New Mexico.  The ultimate do-it-yourself-er (and all around smart ninja), he has designed a home and written his own software program to lay out preliminary building plans and model a dynamic energy balance for the house.  With the model done and property bought, he is now moving on to the next stages of development.  He has handed his conceptual designs over to an architect to get final design and construction drawings and he is working with a builder in Albuquerque who has experience in straw bale construction.  This weekend he will be visiting the site in New Mexico.  I asked him to say a few words (I got more than a few) for green.mnp about his concept, design and software:</p>
<p><strong>Solar House Software</strong><br />
I&#8217;m a software developer. This house project has many aspects where software can help &#8211; creating building designs and plans, analyzing energy systems, and keeping track of the many kinds of information and resources involved in a construction project. So I&#8217;ve developed my own &#8220;House&#8221; software, which is geared to the design and building of an energy efficient solar house. It&#8217;s a combination of a people and resources organizer, an architectural drafting program, a building project estimator, and a solar heating and cooling energy analysis program.</p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://www.myninjaplease.com/green/http://green.myninjaplease.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/livingroomviewplan.jpg"><img width="449" height="277" id="image984" alt="livingroomviewplan.jpg" src="http://www.myninjaplease.com/green/http://green.myninjaplease.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/livingroomviewplan.jpg" /></a></p>
<p><strong>Energy Design</strong><br />
The principles of passive solar heating are very simple: heavily insulate the building envelope, include a lot of thermal mass inside the insulated space, and put most windows on the south side, with overhangs or landscaping for summer shading. Depending on where you are located, these simple elements can greatly reduce or even eliminate your fuel use and heating costs. A big step in reducing your carbon footprint.</p>
<p>Ever since I started focusing on this project I&#8217;ve been horrified to notice how most of our current housing stock totally ignores passive solar design principles. Drive around almost anywhere and look at the windows on the houses. You will see virtually no orientation to the sun. This should change drastically, at least for new construction, if we are to start doing our part on global warming.</p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://www.myninjaplease.com/green/http://green.myninjaplease.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/livingroomviewsouthelev.jpg"><img width="449" height="277" id="image985" alt="livingroomviewsouthelev.jpg" src="http://www.myninjaplease.com/green/http://green.myninjaplease.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/livingroomviewsouthelev.jpg" /></a><br />
<em>South elevation</em></p>
<p>One of the books I found most helpful on energy design was <a target="_blank" href="http://www.amazon.com/Passive-Solar-House-Independent-Living/dp/0930031970">The Passive Solar House</a>, by James Kachadorian. He is an engineer, and he includes all the information and tables you need to perform a rough energy analysis of passive solar heating. He advocates a system of storing heat energy in the thermal mass of a concrete slab resting on a bed of cinder blocks. The cinder blocks are arranged to form channels through which air circulates, storing heat energy in the slab or pulling from it, depending on the time of day and the season.  The ability to store and retrieve thermal energy is important in a passive solar design, to even out the temperature swings during the 24 hours of the day. So I included a cinder block based slab in my initial designs.</p>
<p>Starting with some of Kachadorian&#8217;s energy calculations I began writing energy analysis into the program. To cover some additional aspects I had to give myself a crash course on heat transfer engineering. The program now uses the accepted principles of modeling the &#8220;heat energy balances&#8221; of the outside surfaces, inside surfaces, and room air temperature. And it allows me to model different strategies and systems of heating and cooling.</p>
<p>An energy analysis is just not a simple thing. You are looking at lots of variables and how the all interact. I groped around for a while with how to display and evaluate the findings. What I arrived at was a graph showing room temperature, and the temperatures of the walls, thermal mass, etc. over the 24 hours of a day. By viewing this graph under various scenarios I can evaluate a range of design options and solar strategies for both winter and summer needs.</p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://www.myninjaplease.com/green/http://green.myninjaplease.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/24hrmodelcbslabwinfanoff.jpg"><img width="450" height="276" id="image980" alt="24hrmodelcbslabwinfanoff.jpg" src="http://www.myninjaplease.com/green/http://green.myninjaplease.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/24hrmodelcbslabwinfanoff.jpg" /></a><br />
<em>Focus first on the green line &#8211; room temperature. It shows the large temperature swing (about 8 degrees) of the basic passive solar, without running air through the cinder block channels in the slab. The temperature swing would be much greater without all the passive thermal mass in the slab and interior cinder block walls.<br />
</em></p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://www.myninjaplease.com/green/http://green.myninjaplease.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/24hrmodelcbslabwinfanon.jpg"><img width="448" height="276" id="image981" alt="24hrmodelcbslabwinfanon.jpg" src="http://www.myninjaplease.com/green/http://green.myninjaplease.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/24hrmodelcbslabwinfanon.jpg" /></a><br />
<em>The green room temperature line shows that running the room air through the slab can moderate the highs and lows some, but only reduces the temperature swing from about 8 degrees to about 6 degrees.  </em></p>
<p><strong>East Mountain Energy Strategy</strong><br />
I&#8217;ve come to feel that our chosen location in the East Mountain area of greater Albuquerque has one of the easiest possible climates for a solar home. While the winter temperatures can get down in the teens at night, there is plenty of sunshine for solar heating. With good insulation and some thermal mass there is no problem bringing in enough passive solar heat. The main heating problem is avoiding too much temperature swing &#8211; overheating in the afternoons.</p>
<p>And, being at a higher altitude than Albuquerque itself, the summer temperatures never get above the nineties &#8211; ok, so far! But more importantly, they always fall to the low sixties or below at night.  That means that cool night air can be brought in and absorbed by the thermal mass, which then will keep the house comfortable through the heat of the day.<br />
This all sounds fine in principle, but the real test is quantitative. Can the winter and summer temperature swings inside the house be kept within an acceptable range. That&#8217;s where the 24 hour graph tells the tale for each scenario &#8211; each combination of outside temperature range and heating or cooling strategy.<br />
<strong><br />
From cinder block slab to hot water tank.</strong><br />
What the 24 hour graphs showed was that the cinder block slab system did only a moderately good job of evening out winter temperature swings. I could have a range of around 8 degrees  &#8211; say 71 in the early morning and 79 in mid-afternoon. That might be fine or it might be a little much &#8211; hard to say until you live in it!</p>
<p>But I also began to realize that there was not enough extra heat storage to do much about cloudy days. I would need to burn some kind of fuel for the cloudy or stormy times. This is not the end of the world, and I enjoy using a wood stove. But I also liked the idea of getting as close to 100 percent solar as possible. So I looked into using a set of solar collectors on the roof and a large water tank for thermal storage. Water is a much more efficient and flexible medium for storing heat energy than cement. Running hot water through tubing in the slab to provide radiant heat is a well accepted technique. And I liked that using such a system would also provide domestic hot water.  The big benefit was that I could store up enough heat for several days of cloudy weather, depending on the size of the water tank. A bonus was that I knew Miki would love to have a spa, and the spa would make a good &#8220;heat sink&#8221; for the excess hot water generated in the summer.</p>
<p>So I tweaked the software to model this system as an alternative to the cinder block slab. This &#8220;active&#8221; solar system adds to the initial cost, though that cost is partly offset by eliminating the slab cinderblocks. Combined with the basic passive solar design, it provides much better temperature control (around a 3 degree swing), all our hot water, heat for two or three cloudy days, and heat for the spa. As a result, I feel that the hot water system is best for us. It will be more expensive to install, but cheaper to run and more environmentally friendly.</p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://www.myninjaplease.com/green/http://green.myninjaplease.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/24hrmodelwatertankwinpumponventon.jpg"><img width="447" height="276" id="image982" alt="24hrmodelwatertankwinpumponventon.jpg" src="http://www.myninjaplease.com/green/http://green.myninjaplease.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/24hrmodelwatertankwinpumponventon.jpg" /></a><br />
<em>Here&#8217;s the water tank system with the pump (red dots) providing radiant heat via the slab in the late night and early morning hours, and the outside vent (blue dots) removing excess heat in the afternoon. The green line shows the three degree temperature swing.</em></p>
<p>This is where things stand now.  I need to verify or calibrate my energy analysis against a reliable commercial or government program.  I&#8217;m working with an architect to turn my conceptual plan into a finished design and construction drawings. I also have a builder in Albuquerque who is experienced with straw bale construction. We start with the garage this fall, and then the main construction next year. I&#8217;m planning more installments of this article to document the building process. I would welcome any comments or suggestions.</p>
<p>-Jack Partridge, Bahama, NC<br />
Be expecting more posts on the progress of my dad&#8217;s straw bale house over the next weeks, months&#8230;year.  I am especially excited to get to construction time, when we will all go out to New Mexico to help stack up the straw bale frame.  Building the house will be a whole family &#038; friends affair.<br />
I know this is a long post already, but here is a great video from <a target="_blank" href="http://www.strawbale.com/">strawbale.com</a> that dispels some of the myths about straw bale construction, as well as showcases some beautiful straw bale homes:<br />
<p><a href="http://green.myninjaplease.com/?p=987"><em>Click here to view the embedded video.</em></a></p></p>


<p>Related posts:<ol><li><a href='http://green.myninjaplease.com/?p=1148' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: Building A Straw Bale House: Clearing the Site'>Building A Straw Bale House: Clearing the Site</a></li>
<li><a href='http://green.myninjaplease.com/?p=1478' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: Building A Straw Bale House: The Journey Begins'>Building A Straw Bale House: The Journey Begins</a></li>
<li><a href='http://green.myninjaplease.com/?p=1295' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: Straw Bale House: In Anticipation of Construction'>Straw Bale House: In Anticipation of Construction</a></li>
</ol></p>]]></content:encoded>
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		<title>World Solar Challenge</title>
		<link>http://green.myninjaplease.com/?p=991</link>
		<comments>http://green.myninjaplease.com/?p=991#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 20 Oct 2007 06:48:11 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>jessie</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[current events]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[fo' real?]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[green]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[solar]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[whips]]></category>
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		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://green.myninjaplease.com/?p=991</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Tomorrow (Sunday) marks the beginning of the 2007 Panasonic World Solar Challenge. The Challenge: Design and build a car capable of crossing the vast and imposing continent of Australia using only sunlight as fuel and to prove it, in the spirit of friendly competition against others with the same goal. Inspired by adventure and fuelled [...]


Related posts:<ol><li><a href='http://green.myninjaplease.com/?p=104' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: New World Record Achieved in Solar Cell Technology'>New World Record Achieved in Solar Cell Technology</a></li>
<li><a href='http://green.myninjaplease.com/?p=916' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: The Greenest Monster'>The Greenest Monster</a></li>
<li><a href='http://green.myninjaplease.com/?p=1271' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: The 2030 Challenge: No Coal'>The 2030 Challenge: No Coal</a></li>
</ol>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a target="_blank" href="http://www.wsc.org.au/"><img width="450" height="298" id="image989" alt="wscimage.jpg" src="http://www.myninjaplease.com/green/http://green.myninjaplease.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/wscimage.jpg" /></a></p>
<p>Tomorrow (Sunday) marks the beginning of the 2007 <a target="_blank" href="http://www.wsc.org.au/">Panasonic World Solar Challenge</a>.</p>
<blockquote><p>The Challenge: Design and build a car capable of crossing the vast and imposing continent of Australia using only sunlight as fuel and to prove it, in the spirit of friendly competition against others with the same goal.</p>
<p>Inspired by adventure and fuelled by the spirit of friendly competition, the event attracts teams from corporations, research and educational institutions around the world.</p>
<p>2007 will be the 20th anniversary since the first World Solar Challenge was staged.</p></blockquote>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://www.wsc.org.au/"><img width="449" height="299" id="image990" alt="image.jpg" src="http://www.myninjaplease.com/green/http://green.myninjaplease.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/image.jpg" /></a></p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://wsc.org.au/Be.Part.of.It/Photos/17.October/"><img width="450" height="291" id="image988" alt="wscimage3.jpg" src="http://www.myninjaplease.com/green/http://green.myninjaplease.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/wscimage3.jpg" /></a></p>
<p>[<a target="_blank" href="http://www.wsc.org.au/">world solar challenge</a>]</p>


<p>Related posts:<ol><li><a href='http://green.myninjaplease.com/?p=104' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: New World Record Achieved in Solar Cell Technology'>New World Record Achieved in Solar Cell Technology</a></li>
<li><a href='http://green.myninjaplease.com/?p=916' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: The Greenest Monster'>The Greenest Monster</a></li>
<li><a href='http://green.myninjaplease.com/?p=1271' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: The 2030 Challenge: No Coal'>The 2030 Challenge: No Coal</a></li>
</ol></p>]]></content:encoded>
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		<slash:comments>3</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>foto av dagen 10.11.07</title>
		<link>http://green.myninjaplease.com/?p=923</link>
		<comments>http://green.myninjaplease.com/?p=923#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 12 Oct 2007 00:46:41 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>jessie</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[foto av dagen]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[green]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[solar]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://green.myninjaplease.com/?p=923</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Since photo del dia and photo du jour are already taken. Besides, the Scandinavians really know their greens. Monhegan Island Lighthouse Related posts:foto av dagen 10.17.07 foto av dagen 04.09.08 foto av dagen 09.17.08


Related posts:<ol><li><a href='http://green.myninjaplease.com/?p=964' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: foto av dagen 10.17.07'>foto av dagen 10.17.07</a></li>
<li><a href='http://green.myninjaplease.com/?p=1417' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: foto av dagen 04.09.08'>foto av dagen 04.09.08</a></li>
<li><a href='http://green.myninjaplease.com/?p=1555' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: foto av dagen 09.17.08'>foto av dagen 09.17.08</a></li>
</ol>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Since <a target="_blank" href="http://www.myninjaplease.com/?cat=35">photo del dia</a> and <a target="_blank" href="http://architecture.myninjaplease.com/?cat=43">photo du jour</a> are already taken.  Besides, the Scandinavians really know their greens.</p>
<p><img width="450" height="300" alt="dsc_0037.JPG" id="image922" src="http://www.myninjaplease.com/green/http://green.myninjaplease.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/dsc_0037.JPG" /></p>
<p>Monhegan Island <a target="_blank" href="http://www.lighthouse.cc/monhegan/index.html">Lighthouse</a></p>


<p>Related posts:<ol><li><a href='http://green.myninjaplease.com/?p=964' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: foto av dagen 10.17.07'>foto av dagen 10.17.07</a></li>
<li><a href='http://green.myninjaplease.com/?p=1417' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: foto av dagen 04.09.08'>foto av dagen 04.09.08</a></li>
<li><a href='http://green.myninjaplease.com/?p=1555' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: foto av dagen 09.17.08'>foto av dagen 09.17.08</a></li>
</ol></p>]]></content:encoded>
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		</item>
		<item>
		<title>The Greenest Monster</title>
		<link>http://green.myninjaplease.com/?p=916</link>
		<comments>http://green.myninjaplease.com/?p=916#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 11 Oct 2007 10:38:17 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>jessie</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[clean businesses]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[current events]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[green]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[news]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[recycling/trash]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[solar]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://green.myninjaplease.com/?p=916</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[All you baseball loving ninjas out there, Red Sox fans in particular, this is for you. The Red Sox have a new five-year initiative to help Boston&#8217;s beloved Fenway Park go green. With plans on the drawing board for solar panels, a new recycling program, and locally grown produce at the concession stand, the Sox [...]


Related posts:<ol><li><a href='http://green.myninjaplease.com/?p=1292' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: PopSci&#8217;s Top 50 Greenest US Cities'>PopSci&#8217;s Top 50 Greenest US Cities</a></li>
<li><a href='http://green.myninjaplease.com/?p=82' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: Construct a Solar Cell in Your Kitchen'>Construct a Solar Cell in Your Kitchen</a></li>
<li><a href='http://green.myninjaplease.com/?p=385' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: 2006: The year of renewable energy?'>2006: The year of renewable energy?</a></li>
</ol>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>All you baseball loving ninjas out there, Red Sox fans in particular, this is for you.</p>
<p><img alt="soxaldschamps2007.JPG" id="image1100" src="http://www.myninjaplease.com/green/http://green.myninjaplease.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/11/soxaldschamps2007.JPG" /></p>
<blockquote><p>The Red Sox have a new five-year initiative to help Boston&#8217;s beloved Fenway Park go green. With plans on the drawing board for solar panels, a new recycling program, and locally grown produce at the concession stand, the Sox are heating it up.</p></blockquote>
<p><img alt="fenwaypark2007.JPG" id="image1101" src="http://www.myninjaplease.com/green/http://green.myninjaplease.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/11/fenwaypark2007.JPG" /></p>
<blockquote><p>Recycling. Solar panels. What is it that has suddenly inspired the Red Sox to go as green as their famous short left-field wall known as the Green Monster? Hey, this is sports. So think competition. And while the American League&#8217;s Red Sox and Cleveland Indians may have tied this year for the best win-loss record in baseball, it turns out that the Indians beat out the Sox on going green by already putting in more than 8,000 watts of solar panels at Jacobs Field.</p></blockquote>
<p><img alt="soxalds2007.JPG" id="image1102" src="http://www.myninjaplease.com/green/http://green.myninjaplease.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/11/soxalds2007.JPG" /></p>
<blockquote><p>And what&#8217;s more, the National League is ahead of both American League teams, with the Colorado Rockies lighting up their scoreboard with 10,000 of solar and the San Francisco Giants becoming giants in major league solar with a whopping 120,000 watts. But the Red Sox organization is famous for coming from behind. Down three games to none in the 2004 pennant race against the Yankees they went on to win the World Series. They say, when it comes to going green, &#8216;bring it on.&#8217;</p></blockquote>
<p><img alt="soxfans2007.JPG" id="image1103" src="http://www.myninjaplease.com/green/http://green.myninjaplease.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/11/soxfans2007.JPG" /><br />
Photos  courtesy of yours truly, because that&#8217;s right my ninjas, I was there.</p>
<p>[<a target="_blank" href="http://www.loe.org/shows/segments.htm?programID=07-P13-00040&#038;segmentID=4">living on earth</a>]</p>


<p>Related posts:<ol><li><a href='http://green.myninjaplease.com/?p=1292' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: PopSci&#8217;s Top 50 Greenest US Cities'>PopSci&#8217;s Top 50 Greenest US Cities</a></li>
<li><a href='http://green.myninjaplease.com/?p=82' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: Construct a Solar Cell in Your Kitchen'>Construct a Solar Cell in Your Kitchen</a></li>
<li><a href='http://green.myninjaplease.com/?p=385' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: 2006: The year of renewable energy?'>2006: The year of renewable energy?</a></li>
</ol></p>]]></content:encoded>
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		</item>
		<item>
		<title>SIEEB Solar Energy-Efficient Building</title>
		<link>http://green.myninjaplease.com/?p=895</link>
		<comments>http://green.myninjaplease.com/?p=895#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 04 Oct 2007 12:00:29 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>brent</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[green]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[passive solar]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[solar]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[sustainable architecture]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://green.myninjaplease.com/?p=895</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[So, this project is just siiick &#8211; on some futuristic, super-dynamic looking green design. The Sino-Italian Ecological and Energy-Efficient Building (SIEEB) at Tsinghua University in Beijing was designed to maximize both passive + active solar efficiency &#8211; using a push/pull effect in the stacking of floors to create overhangs and setbacks for passive solar, and [...]


Related posts:<ol><li><a href='http://green.myninjaplease.com/?p=987' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: Building A Straw Bale House: Concept to Construction'>Building A Straw Bale House: Concept to Construction</a></li>
<li><a href='http://green.myninjaplease.com/?p=442' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: Cheaper, More Efficient Solar Cells'>Cheaper, More Efficient Solar Cells</a></li>
<li><a href='http://green.myninjaplease.com/?p=378' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: His energy bill is $0.00'>His energy bill is $0.00</a></li>
</ol>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a target="_blank" href="http://www.sinoitaenvironment.org/indexe02.asp"><img id="image1984" alt="sieeb-1.jpg" src="http://architecture.myninjaplease.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/sieeb-1.jpg" /></a></p>
<p>So, this project is just siiick &#8211; on some futuristic, super-dynamic looking green design.  The <a target="_blank" href="http://www.sinoitaenvironment.org/indexe02.asp">Sino-Italian Ecological and Energy-Efficient Building</a> (SIEEB) at <a target="_blank" href="http://www.tsinghua.edu.cn/eng/index.jsp">Tsinghua University</a> in <a target="_blank" href="http://architecture.myninjaplease.com/?p=1577">Beijing</a> was designed to maximize both passive + active solar efficiency &#8211; using a push/pull effect in the stacking of floors to create overhangs and setbacks for passive solar, and an <a target="_blank" href="http://www.myninjaplease.com/green/?p=108">impressive</a> <a target="_blank" href="http://www.myninjaplease.com/green/?p=442">photovoltaic</a> <a target="_blank" href="http://www.myninjaplease.com/green/?p=717">system</a> consisting of over 1,000 square feet of PV panels.</p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://www.mcarchitects.it/"><img id="image1985" alt="sieeb-2.jpg" src="http://architecture.myninjaplease.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/sieeb-2.jpg" /></a></p>
<p>This stepping south-oriented facade creates a trellis-like canopy system with the photovoltaics &#8211; along with some plantings &#8211; to both shade/passively cool the building, while maximizing the amount of south-facing PV installed. The hanging plants also contribute to offsetting [if only slightly] the CO2 produced by the building, which the architects [<a target="_blank" href="http://www.mcarchitects.it/">Mario Cucinella</a>] already have to a minimum through the use of gas engines with electric generators to account for the remainder of the building&#8217;s energy needs [after the PV].</p>
<p><img id="image1986" alt="sieeb-3.jpg" src="http://architecture.myninjaplease.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/sieeb-3.jpg" /></p>
<p><img alt="sieeb-4.jpg" id="image1988" src="http://architecture.myninjaplease.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/sieeb-4.jpg" /></p>
<p>::via <a target="_blank" href="http://www.inhabitat.com/">Inhabitat</a>::</p>


<p>Related posts:<ol><li><a href='http://green.myninjaplease.com/?p=987' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: Building A Straw Bale House: Concept to Construction'>Building A Straw Bale House: Concept to Construction</a></li>
<li><a href='http://green.myninjaplease.com/?p=442' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: Cheaper, More Efficient Solar Cells'>Cheaper, More Efficient Solar Cells</a></li>
<li><a href='http://green.myninjaplease.com/?p=378' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: His energy bill is $0.00'>His energy bill is $0.00</a></li>
</ol></p>]]></content:encoded>
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		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Solar Panel Concrete</title>
		<link>http://green.myninjaplease.com/?p=897</link>
		<comments>http://green.myninjaplease.com/?p=897#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 04 Oct 2007 11:42:30 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>brent</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[DIY Green]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[fo' real?]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[green]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[renewable energy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[solar]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://green.myninjaplease.com/?p=897</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[solar panels on phones have been around for a while now, and a company claims to have developed printable/paintable panels : solar panels have also been officially placed on the wheels of bicycles, so why are there not sidewalks made of solar panel concrete? Related posts:Compact Solar Concentrators Ready For Installation in California Cheaper, More [...]


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<li><a href='http://green.myninjaplease.com/?p=442' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: Cheaper, More Efficient Solar Cells'>Cheaper, More Efficient Solar Cells</a></li>
<li><a href='http://green.myninjaplease.com/?p=108' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: Solar Panels made from Blueberries'>Solar Panels made from Blueberries</a></li>
</ol>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a target="_blank" href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2007/09/26/shiny-electric-bicycle-has-solar-wheels/"><img width="433" height="274" src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autobloggreen.com/media/2007/09/solarebike.jpg" /></a></p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://www.ecogeek.org/content/view/721/">solar panels</a> <a target="_blank" href="http://www.nokia.com/A4136001?newsid=775492">on phones</a> <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ecogeek.org/content/view/721/">have been around for a while now</a>, and <a target="_blank" href="http://www.itweek.co.uk/vnunet/news/2194672/boffins-build-printable-solar">a company claims to have developed printable/paintable panels</a> : <a target="_blank" href="http://tech.blorge.com/Structure:%20/2007/05/06/motorola-sheds-light-on-solar-powered-cell-phones/">solar panels</a> have also been <a target="_blank" href="http://www.autobloggreen.com/2007/09/26/shiny-electric-bicycle-has-solar-wheels/">officially</a> placed on the wheels of bicycles, so why are there not sidewalks made of <a target="_blank" href="http://www.pinktentacle.com/2007/04/new-cement-conducts-electricity-like-metal/">solar panel concrete</a>?</p>


<p>Related posts:<ol><li><a href='http://green.myninjaplease.com/?p=233' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: Compact Solar Concentrators Ready For Installation in California'>Compact Solar Concentrators Ready For Installation in California</a></li>
<li><a href='http://green.myninjaplease.com/?p=442' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: Cheaper, More Efficient Solar Cells'>Cheaper, More Efficient Solar Cells</a></li>
<li><a href='http://green.myninjaplease.com/?p=108' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: Solar Panels made from Blueberries'>Solar Panels made from Blueberries</a></li>
</ol></p>]]></content:encoded>
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		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Solar Trees by Ross Lovegrove</title>
		<link>http://green.myninjaplease.com/?p=855</link>
		<comments>http://green.myninjaplease.com/?p=855#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 28 Sep 2007 14:20:58 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>jessie</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[eco-friendly products]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[green]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[green art]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[green living]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[solar]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.myninjaplease.com/green/?p=855</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Speaking of biomimicry&#8230; Solar Tree is a solar-powered street lighting systemdesigned by Ross Lovegrove for the Museum for Angewandte Kunst (MAK) in Vienna. The lighting has been engineered by Artemide in collaboration with Sharp Solar. A project stimulated by the MAK in Vienna that celebrates DESIGN, NATURE AND ART. Therefore it represents the DNA of [...]


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<li><a href='http://green.myninjaplease.com/?p=757' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: Hybrid Solar Lighting'>Hybrid Solar Lighting</a></li>
<li><a href='http://green.myninjaplease.com/?p=106' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: Google plants &#8216;Solar Trees&#8217;'>Google plants &#8216;Solar Trees&#8217;</a></li>
</ol>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Speaking of <a target="_blank" href="#Life%20Creates%20Conditions%20Conducive%20to%20Life">biomimicry</a>&#8230;</p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://www.dezeen.com/2007/09/27/solar-tree-by-ross-lovegrove/"><img width="450" height="360" id="image852" alt="render_green_040412_0001.jpg" src="http://www.myninjaplease.com/green/http://green.myninjaplease.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/09/render_green_040412_0001.jpg" /></a></p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://www.dezeen.com/2007/09/27/solar-tree-by-ross-lovegrove/"><img id="image853" alt="render_green_040412_0002.jpg" src="http://www.myninjaplease.com/green/http://green.myninjaplease.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/09/render_green_040412_0002.jpg" /></a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.dezeen.com/2007/09/27/solar-tree-by-ross-lovegrove/"><img id="image854" alt="lovegrove-mak_render_green_040412_0004.jpg" src="http://www.myninjaplease.com/green/http://green.myninjaplease.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/09/lovegrove-mak_render_green_040412_0004.jpg" /></a></p>
<blockquote><p>Solar Tree is a solar-powered street lighting systemdesigned by <a href="http://www.rosslovegrove.com/">Ross Lovegrove</a> for the <a href="http://www.mak.at/">Museum for Angewandte Kunst</a> (MAK) in Vienna. The lighting has been engineered by <a href="http://www.artemide.com/">Artemide</a> in collaboration with <a href="http://solar.sharpusa.com/solar/home/0,2462,,00.html">Sharp Solar</a>.</p>
<p>A project stimulated by the MAK in Vienna that celebrates DESIGN, NATURE AND ART. Therefore it represents the DNA of our times and the need to converge the most advanced technologies with that of the beautification of our collective environment.</p>
<p>The SOLAR TREES communicate more than light… they communicate the trust of placing beautifully made, complex natural forms outside for the benefit of all of society becoming a museum that if folded inside out, the museum as an incubator of change in society… and with this the promotion of environmental science and the joy of the new aesthetics made possible by the digital process.</p></blockquote>
<p>[<a target="_blank" href="http://www.dezeen.com/2007/09/27/solar-tree-by-ross-lovegrove/">dezeen</a>]</p>


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<li><a href='http://green.myninjaplease.com/?p=106' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: Google plants &#8216;Solar Trees&#8217;'>Google plants &#8216;Solar Trees&#8217;</a></li>
</ol></p>]]></content:encoded>
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		<item>
		<title>Lunar Power?</title>
		<link>http://green.myninjaplease.com/?p=786</link>
		<comments>http://green.myninjaplease.com/?p=786#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 14 Sep 2007 03:43:15 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>brent</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[YouTube]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[fo' real?]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[green]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[renewable energy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[science]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[solar]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[space]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.myninjaplease.com/green/?p=786</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Google&#8217;s &#8216;Moon 2.0&#8242; Lunar X-Prize is challenging private companies to a race to the moon [and various other Lunar tasks] &#8211; suggesting that the moon will be n important resource for the Earth, as silicon can be mined there, and used to construct large solar arrays to power our cities with &#8216;green&#8217; energy. Far fetched? [...]


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</ol>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://green.myninjaplease.com/?p=786"><em>Click here to view the embedded video.</em></a></p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://googlesystem.blogspot.com/2007/09/google-lunar-x-prize.html">Google&#8217;s &#8216;Moon 2.0&#8242;</a> Lunar <a target="_blank" href="http://www.xprize.org/">X-Prize</a> is challenging private companies to a race to the moon [and various other Lunar tasks] &#8211; suggesting that the moon will be n important resource for the Earth, as silicon can be mined there, and used to construct large solar arrays to power our cities with &#8216;green&#8217; energy.</p>
<p>Far fetched? Probably &#8211; but leave it to Google to get people excited about traveling to the moon again [they should team up with Apple, then they'd be unstoppable], and to give us a semi-legit reason for going.</p>
<p>One problem I see, however, is that while it would be &#8216;green&#8217; energy [assuming any of this were to happen], it will still be run by private companies and sold to us for whatever they [or the 'market'] decide its worth. One commonly overlooked issue with sustainability is its social side. If all the power is being sold off for the largest profit possible, controlled by the few and rationed to the masses, then its still not 100% &#8216;sustainable&#8217;.<br />
But hey, let&#8217;s hope it works.</p>


<p>Related posts:<ol><li><a href='http://green.myninjaplease.com/?p=229' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: The Moon’s replacement for fossil fuels?'>The Moon’s replacement for fossil fuels?</a></li>
<li><a href='http://green.myninjaplease.com/?p=580' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: Power through human waste'>Power through human waste</a></li>
<li><a href='http://green.myninjaplease.com/?p=484' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: The Power-Spar PV/Thermal system.'>The Power-Spar PV/Thermal system.</a></li>
</ol></p>]]></content:encoded>
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		<item>
		<title>Seville&#8217;s Solar Thermal Power Plant</title>
		<link>http://green.myninjaplease.com/?p=717</link>
		<comments>http://green.myninjaplease.com/?p=717#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 26 Aug 2007 14:46:58 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>jessie</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[clean businesses]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[green]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[solar]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.myninjaplease.com/green/?p=717</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Morning Edition, August 22, 2007 · A company in Spain has started producing household electricity from a solar power plant near Seville. The technology is called concentrated solar thermal energy, which means it uses heat from the sun to run steam turbine generators. And running it doesn&#8217;t generate any greenhouse gases. It&#8217;s Europe&#8217;s first commercial [...]


Related posts:<ol><li><a href='http://green.myninjaplease.com/?p=484' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: The Power-Spar PV/Thermal system.'>The Power-Spar PV/Thermal system.</a></li>
<li><a href='http://green.myninjaplease.com/?p=306' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: Wave power plant goes online'>Wave power plant goes online</a></li>
<li><a href='http://green.myninjaplease.com/?p=485' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: Solar Thermal Cooling'>Solar Thermal Cooling</a></li>
</ol>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a target="_blank" href="http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=13826548"><img style="width: 450px; height: 315px" id="image718" alt="tower500.jpg" src="http://www.myninjaplease.com/green/http://green.myninjaplease.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/08/tower500.jpg" /></a><br />
<a target="_blank" href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/6616651.stm"><img style="width: 451px; height: 200px" id="image715" alt="solar_mirrorswide_bbc_416.jpg" src="http://www.myninjaplease.com/green/http://green.myninjaplease.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/08/solar_mirrorswide_bbc_416.jpg" /></a></p>
<blockquote><p><span class="program"><em><a href="http://www.npr.org/templates/rundowns/rundown.php?prgId=3">Morning Edition</a>, </em></span><span class="date">August 22, 2007 · </span>                         A <a target="_blank" href="http://www.solucar.es/">company</a> in Spain has started producing household electricity from a solar power plant near Seville.</p></blockquote>
<blockquote><p>The technology is called concentrated solar thermal energy, which means it uses heat from the sun to run steam turbine generators. And running it doesn&#8217;t generate any greenhouse gases.</p>
<p>It&#8217;s Europe&#8217;s first commercial solar thermal power plant — and it&#8217;s called PS-10.</p>
<p>&#8220;PS-10 is an 11-megawatt electric power plant and it&#8217;s providing electricity for a population of about 6,000 houses,&#8221; says Valerio Fernandez, the engineer in charge of the plant built by the Spanish renewable energy company, Abengoa. The plant has been operational since March 2006 and is still being expanded.</p>
<p>The solar energy concentrated at the top could easily melt metal, Fernandez says. But water pumped through them stops them from melting. That water eventually turns to steam, powering the turbines at the base.</p></blockquote>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/6616651.stm"><img id="image716" alt="solar_reflect_inf416.gif" src="http://www.myninjaplease.com/green/http://green.myninjaplease.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/08/solar_reflect_inf416.gif" /></a></p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://www.solucar.es/">Solúcar</a> is the Spanish company responsible for the solar thermal tower.  They also have an assortment of other solar technologies in their repertoire, including cylinder-parabolic collectors, parabolic dishes and photovoltaics.</p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://www.technologyreview.com/microsites/spain/solar/index.aspx"><img width="404" height="326" id="image720" alt="solarweb_2.jpg" src="http://www.myninjaplease.com/green/http://green.myninjaplease.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/08/solarweb_2.jpg" /></a></p>
<p>[<a href="http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=13826548">NPR</a>; <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/6616651.stm">BBC</a>; <a target="_blank" href="http://www.technologyreview.com/microsites/spain/solar/index.aspx">Technology Review</a>]</p>


<p>Related posts:<ol><li><a href='http://green.myninjaplease.com/?p=484' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: The Power-Spar PV/Thermal system.'>The Power-Spar PV/Thermal system.</a></li>
<li><a href='http://green.myninjaplease.com/?p=306' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: Wave power plant goes online'>Wave power plant goes online</a></li>
<li><a href='http://green.myninjaplease.com/?p=485' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: Solar Thermal Cooling'>Solar Thermal Cooling</a></li>
</ol></p>]]></content:encoded>
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		<slash:comments>3</slash:comments>
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		<item>
		<title>DIY: Energy load evaluation made easy.</title>
		<link>http://green.myninjaplease.com/?p=687</link>
		<comments>http://green.myninjaplease.com/?p=687#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 31 Jul 2007 18:56:56 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>green</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[fuel economy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[solar]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[sustainable architecture]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.myninjaplease.com/green/?p=687</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The Kill A Watt has been an absolute mainstay device in the Solar world for many years now and i am glad i can now offer it to those that are working to get off grid.If you are not inclined towards doing all of the calculations to match your home with the solar you will [...]


Related posts:<ol><li><a href='http://green.myninjaplease.com/?p=740' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: Sidwell Friends School [green.MNP]'>Sidwell Friends School [green.MNP]</a></li>
<li><a href='http://green.myninjaplease.com/?p=385' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: 2006: The year of renewable energy?'>2006: The year of renewable energy?</a></li>
<li><a href='http://green.myninjaplease.com/?p=440' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: Underwater Turbines Tap River Energy'>Underwater Turbines Tap River Energy</a></li>
</ol>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img alt="cool_1e-747832.jpg" id="image686" src="http://www.myninjaplease.com/green/http://green.myninjaplease.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/07/cool_1e-747832.jpg" /></p>
<blockquote><p>The Kill A Watt has been an absolute mainstay device in the Solar world for many years now and i am glad i can now offer it to those that are working to get off grid.If you are not inclined towards doing all of the calculations to match your home with the solar you will need to reduce or get completely offline,I do now offer a load evaluation consulting service.This would provide absolutely accurate data on how many panels,batteries,correct wire guage,trackers(or fixed array) and type of inverter you might need.Would also include recommendations on which appliances to replace with links to suitable alternatives.All that is needed is your household Kill A Watt data and your city to calculate yearly insolation data.If interested there are online load sheets and contact forms on <a target="_blank" href="http://www.hughessolarenergy.com">hughessolarenergy</a>  to get the process started!</p></blockquote>
<div align="left">via ;:: <a target="_blank" href="http://hughessolar.blogspot.com/2007/05/test-1.html">hughessolar.blogspot</a></div>


<p>Related posts:<ol><li><a href='http://green.myninjaplease.com/?p=740' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: Sidwell Friends School [green.MNP]'>Sidwell Friends School [green.MNP]</a></li>
<li><a href='http://green.myninjaplease.com/?p=385' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: 2006: The year of renewable energy?'>2006: The year of renewable energy?</a></li>
<li><a href='http://green.myninjaplease.com/?p=440' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: Underwater Turbines Tap River Energy'>Underwater Turbines Tap River Energy</a></li>
</ol></p>]]></content:encoded>
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		<item>
		<title>Nick&#8217;s back from ASES</title>
		<link>http://green.myninjaplease.com/?p=679</link>
		<comments>http://green.myninjaplease.com/?p=679#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 23 Jul 2007 05:53:23 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>brent</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[green]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[policy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[solar]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.myninjaplease.com/green/?p=679</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Our correspondent on the ground, Nick C., just got back to us with a report from ASES. We appreciate Sun Ra as well. Heres what he had to say: It been a hot second my ninjas, but I just got back from the American Solar Energy Society conference in Cleveland Ohio. Big things are on [...]


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<li><a href='http://green.myninjaplease.com/?p=104' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: New World Record Achieved in Solar Cell Technology'>New World Record Achieved in Solar Cell Technology</a></li>
<li><a href='http://green.myninjaplease.com/?p=141' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: Powered by Solar, Financed by a Third Party'>Powered by Solar, Financed by a Third Party</a></li>
</ol>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Our correspondent on the ground, Nick C., just got back to us with a report from ASES.  We appreciate Sun Ra as well.  Heres what he had to say:</p>
<blockquote><p>It been a hot second my ninjas, but I just got back from the American Solar Energy Society conference in Cleveland Ohio.  Big things are on the horizon for the solar industry, from First Solar&#8217;s announcement that they have signed contracts for in excess of 650 MW of PV at a cost of $1.88 per watt.  Why is this particularly exciting?  Well, right now the market price is somewhere in the range of $3.50 a Watt (<a target="_blank" href="http://www.renewableenergyaccess.com/rea/news/story?id=49298">http://www.renewableenergyaccess.com/rea/news/story?id=49298</a>).  Do your thing First Solar, is what I say.  On the federal level, there is some really cool legislation being considered in both the House ( H.R. 550) and Senate (S.590) that would extent the Investment Tax Credit for solar for up to 8 years and eliminate the $2000 tax credit cap for residential solar systems.  What does this all mean???   The investment tax credit (check SEIA.org) currently covers 30% of a solar systems cost for both commercial and residential applications, though there is a cap of $2000 for residential.  The newly proposed legislation would extend this credit for 8 years (meaning all those capitalist banker types will be a lot more amenable to throwing investment dollars at solar) and eliminate the cap for residential systems (meaning the average systems of 3.5 kW that now costs about $35 k minus would be eligible for a credit of over $10,000 instead of the capped $2000).  What&#8217;s it all mean?  Each one of those dollars brings us a little bit closer to grid cost parity, energy independence and no more of that stinking, nasty coal.</p>
<p>From an industry growth perspective, the Prometheus Institute has recently released projections (<a href="http://www.Prometheus.org">Prometheus.org</a>) that the solar industry will maintain its phat growth (40% that is) through 2010, that&#8217;s both production capacity and installations.  That means a lot more solar, falling PV prices, and a big middle finger to the fossil fuel economy.   I also attended presentations from Spectrolab that outlined their 44% efficient concentrating PV technology (<a target="_blank" href="http://spectrolab.com/prd/terres/cell-main.htm">http://spectrolab.com/prd/terres/cell-main.htm</a>)  And our good friends at SunPower are also introducing a 23% efficient polysilicon wafer (SunPower presentation at ASES), now given the industry standard ain&#8217;t much better than 16%, id say we should be looking for big things from SunPower and co.</p>
<p>All and all, while the stuffy ass reporters at the NYT, seem to think that we are way too excited about solar (<a target="_blank" href="http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/16/business/16solar.html?_r=1&#038;oref=slogin">http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/16/business/16solar.html?_r=1&#038;oref=slogin</a>), I&#8217;d say they got it wrong, we are just seeing the tip of the iceberg.  The growth I suspect we are looking at will be in terms of orders of magnitude (10x) rather than incremental).  And as a wise ninja once said, &#8220;space is the place, and the sun is the one&#8221;</p></blockquote>
<p><em>thanks to nick</em></p>


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<li><a href='http://green.myninjaplease.com/?p=104' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: New World Record Achieved in Solar Cell Technology'>New World Record Achieved in Solar Cell Technology</a></li>
<li><a href='http://green.myninjaplease.com/?p=141' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: Powered by Solar, Financed by a Third Party'>Powered by Solar, Financed by a Third Party</a></li>
</ol></p>]]></content:encoded>
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		<title>More Pop For the Dollar</title>
		<link>http://green.myninjaplease.com/?p=599</link>
		<comments>http://green.myninjaplease.com/?p=599#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 25 May 2007 06:12:51 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>green</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[fo' real?]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[green]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[green living]]></category>
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		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.myninjaplease.com/green/?p=599</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Well, props to this ninja from our neighbor state, VT, who managed to construct a furnace out of soda cans.  Taking advantage of a wall that faced toward the south on his garage exterior, Daniel Strohl stacked soda cans in coluns inside of a box, after drilling them out. Then, this dude painted the cans [...]


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</ol>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Well, props to this ninja from our neighbor state, VT, who managed to construct a furnace out of soda cans.  Taking advantage of a wall that faced toward the south on his garage exterior, Daniel Strohl stacked soda cans in coluns inside of a box, after drilling them out.</p>
<p><img width="449" height="286" alt="soda can furnace" title="soda can furnace" src="http://blog.hemmings.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/04/solarbox_1059_resized.jpg" /></p>
<p>Then, this dude painted the cans black for maximum sun absorption and arrayed them as columns, sort of how your regular air heater would work.</p>
<p><img alt="solar powered furnace" title="solar powered furnace" src="http://blog.hemmings.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/04/solarbox_1301_resized.jpg" /></p>
<p>A whole lot of caulking later, he had something that looked like the figure above- to which he attached an air hose to feed into his garage.  Using this message he was able to get an 80 degree heat differential, which ain&#8217;t shabby.</p>
<p><img alt="solar powered furnace finished" title="solar powered furnace finished" src="http://blog.hemmings.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/04/solarbox_1453_resized1.jpg" /></p>
<p>On the blog there&#8217;s a whole bunch of updates and comments.  Many of the readers suggest ways in which the design could be improved.  If you want to make one of these things, let us know and maybe we&#8217;ll finance you.  We&#8217;ll at least post about it!</p>
<p>Originally from <a target="_blank" href="http://blog.hemmings.com/index.php/2007/04/26/almost-free-garage-heat-just-drink-a-lot-of-soda/#more-3769">Hemmings Auto Blog</a> via <a target="_blank" href="http://www.makezine.com/blog/archive/2007/04/how_to_almost_free_garage.html?CMP=OTC-0D6B48984890">MakeZine</a>.  Click the links to find out more.</p>


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</ol></p>]]></content:encoded>
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		<title>Maryland Expands RPS: 1,500 MW Solar by 2022</title>
		<link>http://green.myninjaplease.com/?p=556</link>
		<comments>http://green.myninjaplease.com/?p=556#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 13 Apr 2007 22:26:08 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>jesseashlin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[current events]]></category>
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		<description><![CDATA[Maryland has passed through their House legislation to increase solar energy. Their target is half of California&#8217;s, yet Maryland has only a sixth the population! Expected to be signed by the Governor of Maryland within the coming weeks, the legislation will require 0.005% of the state&#8217;s electricity supply to be generated from solar starting in [...]


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</ol>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://www.renewableenergyaccess.com/rea/news/story;jsessionid=8EC5D897E0A1F95E3B7F17FA29244FE1?id=48102"><img width="314" height="307" src="http://www.renewableenergyaccess.com/assets/images/story/2007/4/12/1332_BP_MD.jpg" /></a><br />
Maryland has passed through their House legislation to increase solar energy.  Their target is half of California&#8217;s,  yet Maryland has only a sixth the population!</p>
<blockquote><p><em>Expected to be signed by the Governor of Maryland within the coming weeks, the legislation will require 0.005% of the state&#8217;s electricity supply to be generated from solar starting in 2008 &#8212; increased incrementally each year until reaching the required 2% by 2022. If an electricity supplier fails to comply with the RPS they must pay a fee into the Maryland Renewable Energy Fund.</em></p>
<p><em>The Fund will be administered by the Maryland Energy Administration and used to make loans and grants to support the creation of new renewable energy sources within the state.</em></p>
<p><em>&#8220;It&#8217;s huge. It will really put Maryland at the forefront of solar energy,&#8221; said Senator Rob Garagiola, who sponsored Senate Bill 595.</em></p></blockquote>
<p>[<a href="http://www.renewableenergyaccess.com/rea/news/story;jsessionid=8EC5D897E0A1F95E3B7F17FA29244FE1?id=48102">RenewableEnergyAccess</a>]</p>


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<li><a href='http://green.myninjaplease.com/?p=658' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: H.R. 6: CLEAN Energy Act of 2007 &#8211; is it enough?'>H.R. 6: CLEAN Energy Act of 2007 &#8211; is it enough?</a></li>
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		<title>Solar Thermal Cooling</title>
		<link>http://green.myninjaplease.com/?p=485</link>
		<comments>http://green.myninjaplease.com/?p=485#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 06 Apr 2007 15:01:48 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Pheezatron</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[eco-friendly products]]></category>
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		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.myninjaplease.com/green/?p=485</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[&#8220;Renewable Air Conditioning&#8221; Natural Energy Technologies is selling a solar thermal cooling (STC) system made from the solar collectors used in concentrating solar power (CSP) systems, and absorption chillers, used in combined cooling, heating, and power (CHP) systems. When the sun&#8217;s not shining, the chillers can still operate using heat from hot water storage tanks, [...]


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</ol>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://www.naturalenergytechnologies.com/"><img src="http://www.naturalenergytechnologies.com/Images/STC-Process.jpg" /></a></p>
<p>&#8220;Renewable Air Conditioning&#8221;</p>
<p>Natural Energy Technologies is selling a solar thermal cooling (STC) system made from the solar collectors used in concentrating solar power (CSP) systems, and absorption chillers, used in combined cooling, heating, and power (CHP) systems.<br />
<a href="http://www.naturalenergytechnologies.com/"><img src="http://www.naturalenergytechnologies.com/Images/Cochise%20On%20Sun.JPG" /></a></p>
<blockquote><p>When the sun&#8217;s not shining, the chillers can still operate using heat from hot water storage tanks, boilers or on-site generators. In addition, STC systems could operate in conjunction with existing CHP systems or electric chillers.</p>
<p>Ideally, an STC can be sized to shave peak cooling loads and provide hot water (for domestic use or for space heating), depending on which energy stream is more valuable. Often, it&#8217;s as simple as using the STC system for cooling in hot weather, and for hot water in cooler weather.</p></blockquote>
<p>The website even let&#8217;s you <a href="http://www.naturalenergytechnologies.com/calculator.php">calculate</a> the cost of a system and how long until it pays for itself.</p>
<p>More at [<a href="http://www.naturalenergytechnologies.com/">Natural Energy Technologies</a>]</p>


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