Buildings gobble up almost half the world’s energy and spew out nearly a third of global greenhouse gas emissions. Making them greener is the quickest, easiest way to avoid a climate catastrophe.
The Empire State Building is a 20th century icon. But she’s showing her years, so it’s time for a 21st century facelift. The world’s best-loved skyscraper is going green, helped by the Rocky Mountain Institute’s Caroline Fluhrer.
Donnachadh McCarthy refurbished his nineteenth century London home so efficiently that he now sells electricity back to the British national grid. How did he do it?
The European Union is banishing conventional lightbulbs. The move will save tons of CO2 and lots of money. Critics complain that the alternatives are costly, not bright enough, and contain harmful substances, but the end is nigh for lightbulb jokes.
Emily Wadhams of The National Trust for Historic Preservation in the United States explains how the preservation of historic sights and the idea of sustainable building go hand in hand.
It will never rival the beauty or fame of the Taj Mahal, but the CII-Sohrabji Godrej Green Business Centre in Hyderabad may be more important to India’s future, kick-starting a green building revolution. Allianz Knowledge took the tour.
There has been much talk about renewable energy production and reduced consumption. Now, engineers are looking at the link between the two: Could smart grids and power meters start an energy revolution?
Many ways to reduce energy costs are expensive. Badly insulated buildings, however, offer a huge potential for cost-effective improvements. Energy consultant Christoph Lehner explains how to find the leaky spots and why heat images can do the trick.
Abu Dhabi’s Masdar City promises many things: to be the world’s first carbon neutral city, a green-tech version of Silicon Valley, and a sustainable model for future urbanization. Can the desert utopia live up to the hype?
Green buildings were once the domain of visionary architects and their rich clients. Donald Soss and Steven Bushnell of Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company explain why green construction and renovation may become standard building practice, and why paying more now saves money down the road.
