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Curing Concrete in Cold Climates
According to a recent article in the Fairbanks (AK) News Miner (Eric Lidji, 03/29/07), a new technique for mixing concrete allows it to set quicker and remain unfrozen at colder temperatures.
The process—which was presented at the Cold Climate Housing Research Center in Fairbanks, AK—uses a chemical compound that is readily available to contractors. Because concrete loses strength as it freezes, contractors in cold climates like Alaska often have to build warming tents over projects in winter. The new process could allow contractors to pour concrete year-round in warmer Alaskan climates, and extend the building season by up to two months in colder climates. The developer of the process is working to secure funding for a mathematical model that would predict its stability in various conditions, and hopefully lead to future mixtures that can withstand even colder temperatures. To learn more, read the article.
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‘Self-Healing’ House Designed to Resist Earthquakes
According to recent articles in Ars Technica (Matt Ford, 04/03/07) and the University of Leeds (UK) Reporter (03/26/07), a high-tech villa designed to resist earthquakes by ‘self-healing’ cracks in its walls and monitoring vibrations through an intelligent sensor network will be built in the Greek mountains as part of a European-Union funded project. The home’s special walls will contain nano-polymer particles that, when squeezed under pressure, turn to liquid, flow into cracks, and harden to form a solid material. The home, which will be constructed with load-bearing steel frames and high-strength gypsum board, will act as a live-in laboratory; its walls will have wireless, battery-less sensors and radio frequency identity tags for collecting data about the building over time, such as any stresses and vibrations, temperature, humidity, and gas levels. Researchers involved in the project hope the home, which is due to be completed in December 2010, will help develop more earthquake resistant structures. To learn more, read the articles in Ars Technica and the Reporter.
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Help Planning Healthy Homes
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has developed a searchable database of relevant product emission studies. According to a release issued by NIST (02/19/07), the new database will allow investigators to immediately access information in order to estimate and mitigate the seriousness of indoor pollutant sources. NIST has also created a software tool called ContamLink that can transfer information from the databases into CONTAM, an indoor air quality modeling software program that predicts airflows and contaminant concentrations in multizone building systems. According to the release, the electronic databases, ContamLink, and the CONTAM program together should significantly accelerate understanding of indoor air pollution. For more information, read the release, or visit the CONTAM website.
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Dyeing for Cheaper Solar Panels
According to a recent release from Massey University (New Zealand), a new solar cell technology developed by the University’s Nanomaterials Research Centre could soon produce solar energy at a fraction of the cost of current silicon-based photo-electric solar cells. The technology uses a range of colored dyes, created from organic compounds similar to those found in nature, for use in dye-sensitized solar cells. According to the release, green demonstration cells, which use synthetic chlorophyll, can generate electricity even in low-light conditions. The cells are made from titanium dioxide—a plentiful, renewable, and non-toxic white mineral—and are expected to be about a tenth of the price of silicon-based solar panels. To learn more, read the release.
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U.N. Report: Buildings Can Play Key Role in Combating Climate Change
A recent study developed by the United Nation’s Environment Programme (UNEP) shows better architecture and energy savings in buildings could do more to fight global warming than all greenhouse gas reductions specified under the U.N.'s Kyoto Protocol, according to a Reuters report (Alister Doyle, 03/29/07). The report, Buildings and Climate Change: Status, Challenges and Opportunities, states that better use of concrete, metals, and timber in construction and less use of energy for home and office appliances and lighting could save billions of dollars in a sector that accounts for 30 to 40 percent of world energy use. The study found that homes use the most energy, ahead of stores, offices, and other commercial and industrial buildings like schools and hospitals. The report urges global action to promote greener buildings, and suggests several measures, such as switching to energy-efficient light bulbs, using better insulation and ventilation, and avoiding building homes that are larger than necessary. To learn more, read the article or visit the U.N. Environment Programme website.
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Green Homeowners More Satisfied
According to a recent press release (03/26/07), a new survey conducted by NAHB and McGraw-Hill Construction found a high rate of customer satisfaction among green homeowners. Eighty-five percent of respondents said they are more satisfied with their green homes than with their previous, traditionally-built homes. The survey also found that 63 percent of green buyers are motivated by the lower operating and maintenance costs that come with energy- and resource-efficient homes. The survey, which is the first research that has sized the true green home market, also characterizes typical green homeowner demographics and opinions about obstacles to green homes gaining market share. To learn more, read the release.
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Awards Honor Achievement in Green Home Building
Fourteen individuals and companies were honored for exemplary green building practices during the National Green Building Awards ceremony, held on March 25 in conjunction with the 9th annual NAHB National Green Building Conference. According to a recent article in Nation’s Building News (03/27/07), interest in the awards surged last year, resulting in a threefold increase in the number of entries. According to Ray Tonjes, chair of the NAHB’s Green Building Subcommittee, the winners are pioneers who have helped lead the way to market acceptance. Peter Rave, an expert in plant biology and science and a Time magazine “Hero of the Planet,” was the guest speaker during the ceremony. To learn more about the award and this year’s winners, read the article.
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ToolBase.org Featured Technology—Permeable Pavement
April showers may bring May flowers, but they also bring rainwater that rushes down driveways and sidewalks and into streets, picking up contaminants along the way. Traditional paving prevents rainwater from being filtered by the earth and may contribute to erosion caused by improper drainage. However, permeable pavement, one of the numerous innovations listed on the PATH Technology Inventory, uses substrate materials designed to handle water. Several types of permeable pavement systems exist, including porous asphalt and porous concrete, which both use the same mixing and application equipment as their impervious counterparts; plastic grid systems, which use high-strength plastic grids for supporting vehicles and preventing erosion; block pavers, which can create porous surfaces with the appearance of brick, stone, or interlocking paving materials; and plain gravel. View the PATH Technology Inventory Listing for Permeable Pavement or read the PATH Tip of the Month article on this technology.
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