This Boston Hospital Is Feeding Patients Through Its Rooftop Farm
09 September 2019
Health + Wellness
Boston Medical Center Rooftop Farm - Featured Project
Carrie Golden believes the only reason she's diabetes free is because she has access to fresh, locally grown food.
A few years after the Boston resident was diagnosed with prediabetes, she was referred to Boston Medical Center's Preventative Food Pantry as someone who is food insecure. The food pantry is a free food resource for low-income patients.
<p>"You become diabetic because when you don't have good food to eat, you eat whatever you can to survive," Golden says. "Because of the healthy food I get from the pantry… I've learned how to eat."</p><p>Three years ago, the hospital launched a rooftop farm to grow fresh produce for the pantry. The farm has produced 6,000 pounds of food a year, with 3,500 pounds slated for the pantry. The rest of its produce goes to the hospital's cafeteria, patients, a teaching kitchen and an in-house portable farmers market.</p><p>The hospital joined a handful of medical facilities across the country that have started growing food on their roofs. The initiative is the first hospital-based farm in Massachusetts and the largest rooftop farm in Boston. The facility's 2,658-square-foot garden houses more than 25 crops, organically grown in a milk crate system.</p><p>"Food is medicine. That's why we're doing what we're doing," says David Maffeo, the hospital's senior director of support services. "Most urban environments are food deserts. It's hard to get <a href="http://www.ecowatch.com/tag/local-food" rel="noopener noreferrer">locally grown food</a> and I think it's something that we owe to our patients and our community."</p><p>Lindsay Allen, a farmer who has been managing the rooftop oasis since its inception, says her farm's produce is being used for preventative care as well as in reactive care. She says 72 percent of the hospital's patients are considered underserved, and likely don't have access to healthy, local <a href="http://www.ecowatch.com/tag/organic" rel="noopener noreferrer">organic</a> food.</p><p>What people put in their bodies has a direct link to their health she says, adding that hospitals have a responsibility to give their patients better food.</p><p>"I generally feel that hospital food is pretty terrible and gross, which I always find ironic since that's where we are sick and at our most vulnerable and we need to be nourished," she says.</p><p>In addition to running the farm, Allen teaches a number of farming workshops to educate patients, employees and their families on how to grow their own food. The hospital's teaching kitchen employs a number of food technicians and dieticians who offer their expertise to patients on how they can make meals with the local produce they're given.</p><p>This is part of the medical center's objective to not only give patients good food, but also provide them the tools to lead a healthy life.</p><p>Golden, who has used the pantry for the last three years, says the experience has changed the way she looks at food.</p><p>"I've gone many days with nothing to eat, so I know what that feels like when you get something like the food pantry that gives you what you need to stay healthy," she says. "I appreciate all the people that put their heart into working in the garden. If only they knew how we really need them."</p><p><em>Reposted with permission from our media associate <a href="https://modernfarmer.com/2019/09/how-one-boston-hospital-is-feeding-patients-through-its-rooftop-farm/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Modern Farmer</a>.</em></p>
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"As mayors of the world's great cities we recognize our responsibility to ensure every building, whether historic or brand new, helps deliver a sustainable future for our citizens" - Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo. Pixabay
The world's most iconic skylines are going green. Nineteen city leaders from the C40 coalition signed the Net Zero Carbon Buildings Declaration on Thursday to ensure all new buildings operate with a neutral carbon footprint by 2030.
The mayors of Copenhagen, Johannesburg, London, Los Angeles, Montreal, New York City, Newburyport, Paris, Portland, San Francisco, San Jose, Santa Monica, Stockholm, Sydney, Tokyo, Toronto, Tshwane, Vancouver and Washington, DC also pledged to ensure all buildings in the cities—old or new—will meet net-zero carbon standards by 2050, according to a press release. The cities are home to 130 million people combined.
<p>
Buildings are often a city's largest source of greenhouse gas emissions due to
<a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/fossil-fuels">fossil fuels</a> being used for heat, hot water and other energy needs. <a href="http://www.eia.gov/tools/faqs/faq.cfm?id=86&t=1" target="_blank">About 39 percent</a> of the total energy consumption in the U.S. comes from the residential and commercial sectors. In megacities such as London, Los Angeles and Paris, buildings account for more than 70 percent of their overall emissions. These structures are not only driving <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/climate-change/">climate change</a>, but the <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/air-pollution">air pollution</a> emitted from the buildings is also a public health concern.
</p><p>
<a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/teslas-massive-gigafactory-will-be-net-zero-energy-powered-by-100-rene-1882120175.html" target="_blank">Net-zero buildings</a>, however, are <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/stanford-professors-new-zero-net-energy-home-sets-the-standard-for-gre-1891181313.html">incredibly energy-efficient</a> and meet any remaining energy needs from <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/renewable-energy" target="_blank">renewable energy</a> sources. Not only are these green buildings environmentally and socially beneficial, but they also offer economic benefits, such as cost savings on utility bills for tenants and higher property value for owners.
</p><p>
"Combating climate change is a moral necessity, an environmental imperative, and an economic opportunity—and Los Angeles is proud to be a leader in creating our clean energy future," said Mayor Eric Garcetti in statement. "By pledging to reduce the carbon footprint of our buildings, cities are moving us another step closer to the goals of the Paris Agreement–and the promise of lower emissions, less pollution, and more renewable energy innovation."
</p><p>
The pledges were made ahead of the
<a href="http://globalclimateactionsummit.org/" target="_blank">Global Climate Action Summit</a> in San Francisco next month and align with the <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/paris-agreement" target="_blank">Paris agreement</a> goal of keeping global temperature rise below 1.5 degrees Celsius.
</p><p>
<span></span>"Delivering on the commitments made today will require a united effort, as city governments do not have direct control over all the buildings in a city. This commitment includes a pledge to work together with state and regional governments and the private sector to drive this transformation, and calls on national governments for equal action," the press release stated.
</p><p>
As part of the commitment, the cities will develop a roadmap to reach net-zero carbon buildings as well as a suite of supporting incentives and programs. Each year, they will release a report on their progress towards meeting their targets.
</p><p>
"Paris is home to some of the world's most beautiful and iconic buildings. As mayors of the world's great cities we recognize our responsibility to ensure every building, whether historic or brand new, helps deliver a sustainable future for our citizens," said Anne Hidalgo, the mayor of Paris, in a statement. "With this commitment cities are getting the job done, concretely delivering on the Paris Agreement and building better cities for generations to come. One more time, the future is taking place in cities."</p>
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</p><div id="cbdf7" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="P0CPWB1576662710"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="872082676362211328" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">.@IEA: World Can Reach 'Net Zero' Emissions by 2060 to Meet #Paris #Climate Goals https://t.co/SrsMCYTuWz @mzjacobson @billmckibben @BillNye</div> — EcoWatch (@EcoWatch)<a href="https://twitter.com/EcoWatch/statuses/872082676362211328">1496755687.0</a></blockquote></div>
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Like many other plant-based foods and products, CBD oil is one dietary supplement where "organic" labels are very important to consumers. However, there are little to no regulations within the hemp industry when it comes to deeming a product as organic, which makes it increasingly difficult for shoppers to find the best CBD oil products available on the market.
<p>Here you can learn about the importance of organic hemp oil, why it's better for the environment, and which CBD companies actually make trustworthy products with sustainable farming processes. origins which weigh heavily on many consumers who want to buy a product that's produced in the best way possible for not only themselves to ingest, but for the environment as well through sustainable farming methods. </p><h2>What Is CBD Oil?</h2><p>First things first, CBD stands for cannabidiol, and it's a cannabinoid found within cannabis sativa plants. This plant compound is believed to have many potential benefits, and it is primarily derived from hemp plants via a CO2 extraction process. </p><p>Since CBD is extracted from industrial hemp, which contains only trace amounts of THC (the psychoactive component in cannabis plants), this means that CBD won't make you feel high like marijuana, which has much higher levels of THC that causes psychoactive effects. Instead, the effects of CBD are much more subtle and promote a general sense of calm and relaxation in most users.</p><h2>What Makes a CBD Oil Organic?</h2><p>In terms of organic labels, perhaps the most important (and prominent) certification comes from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). This government organization has been labeling foods as "organic" for many years, but what exactly does this certification entail? Essentially, a label indicating that a product is "USDA Organic" or "Certified Organic" means that at least 95% of the ingredients are obtained from organic sources.</p><p>For a crop to be considered organic by the USDA, it must be grown without the use of industrial solvents, irradiation, genetic engineering (GMOs), synthetic pesticides, or chemical fertilizer. Instead, farmers rely on natural substances and <a href="https://www.usda.gov/media/blog/2012/03/22/organic-101-what-usda-organic-label-means" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">mechanical, physical, or biologically based farming</a> techniques to cultivate healthy and organic crops.</p><p>Before the passage of the 2018 Farm Bill, no hemp-derived products could be dubbed as "certified organic" since the hemp plant and its extracts were still categorized as a Schedule I Controlled Substance. However, it's still difficult for CBD companies to obtain a USDA certified organic label for their products due to the legal grey area that still surrounds CBD extracts. </p><p>Because of these challenges, and due to the fact that industrial hemp has only recently become an agricultural crop, very few CBD oils are USDA certified organic. Rather, many CBD products contain hemp extracts from plants that were grown in organic conditions but may not be federally certified.</p><h2>What are the Best Organic CBD Oil Brands?</h2><p><em>Each product featured here has been independently selected. If you make a purchase using the links included, we may earn commission.</em></p>
<h2>Why Organic Hemp Oil Matters</h2><p>Hemp is a unique plant, not only for its rich cannabinoid content, but also for its ability to absorb a wide variety of components in soil. But this trait poses great risks when it comes to the creation of CBD products derived from hemp.</p><p>Because hemp has a high capacity for compound uptake, this means that the plants can retain <a href="https://www.remedyreview.com/industry/lab-test-results/" target="_blank">harmful chemicals like pesticides</a>, heavy metals, and other residual solvents. This is especially true when it comes to synthetic chemicals that are more toxic to humans, and difficult to remove once they have been absorbed by the hemp plant.</p><p>Organic farming practices help reduce the risk of hemp crops absorbing harsh chemicals that may later end up in CBD oil after extraction. When you're taking CBD as a wellness supplement to help alleviate your symptoms or improve your overall well-being, the last thing you want is to ingest compounds that might negatively outweigh the benefits of CBD. This is an important reason to look for third party lab test results when shopping for CBD products since these certificates of analysis can show the full cannabinoid and terpene profile of a hemp extract, as well as test results that search for the presence of any residual solvents.</p><p>In addition to creating a better end product, organic farming practices are also better for the environment. Sustainable and organic farming methods may <a href="https://www.helpguide.org/articles/healthy-eating/organic-foods.htm" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">reduce pollution, conserve water, reduce soil erosion, increase soil fertility, and use less energy</a>. The use of natural pest deterrents as opposed to chemical pesticides is also better for nearby animal populations and ecosystems.</p><h3>Organic vs. Natural</h3><p>While there are only a select few companies offering certified organic ingredients in their products, almost every brand in the CBD market creates "natural" products. The term "all-natural" or "plant-based" does not mean that a product is organic, and since hemp oil is a natural derivative of hemp plants, these products are often referred to as all-natural. However, there are some synthetic CBD oils that should be avoided because they are chemically constructed and may produce unwanted side effects that are not caused by naturally derived CBD extracts.</p><h2>What are the Benefits of Organic CBD Oil?</h2><p>There's a long list of potential CBD oil health benefits, and some of the most common wellness advantages include:</p><ul class="ee-ul"><li><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2503660/" target="_blank">Chronic pain relief</a></li><li><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4604171/" target="_blank">Anti-anxiety effects</a></li><li>Better sleep</li><li><a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/inner-source/201901/cbd-oil-mental-health-should-you-take-it-too" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Improvements in mood</a></li><li>Internal balance and regulation</li></ul><p>When dealing with pain, inflammation, sleep issues, and mental health struggles, it can be hard to find sufficient treatment options. The use of certain prescriptions can cause unwanted side effects, yet they are often the only solution for patients with these medical conditions. In search of other therapies, people have started to flock towards CBD oil as an alternative remedy for a variety of conditions. However, it should be noted that CBD products are not approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and you should seek your doctor's advice before using CBD if you have a serious medical condition.</p><h2>Look at the Labels Before You Buy CBD Oil</h2><p>When you go online to buy CBD oil, you'll quickly realize there is an overwhelming number of brands that are saturating the market. It can be difficult to determine which products are truly as good as they make themselves out to be. Always look for up-to-date third-party lab tests so you know you are getting a great product, and don't hesitate to contact the brand if you have any additional questions. And if you're intent on purchasing 100% organic CBD oil, it's best to look for certified products or brands that are held to strict regulatory standards.</p><p><strong>Melena Gurganus </strong>is the Reviews Editor at EcoWatch. She is passionate health and wellness and her writing aims to help others find products they can trust. Her work has been featured in publications such as Health, Shape, Huffington Post, Cannabis Business Times, and Bustle.<br></p>
Spruce
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNDY4NjI3OC9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYyOTM2NzgzOX0.axY0HjeqRctJsR_KmDLctzDpUBLBN-oNIdqaXDb4caQ/img.jpg?width=980" id="774be" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="8379f35b1ca8a86d0e61b7d4bfc8b46e" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" alt="spruce organic cbd oil" /><p>As one of the best brands in the business, Spruce CBD is well-known for its potent CBD oils that feature many additional beneficial phytocannabinoids. This brand works with two family-owned, sustainably focused farms in the USA (one located in Kentucky and one in North Carolina) to create its organic, small product batches. The max potency Spruce CBD oil contains 2400mg of full-spectrum CBD extract, but the brand also offers a lower strength tincture with 750mg of CBD in total.</p>
$89
CBDistillery
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNDcwMjkzNC9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYyMTU4OTM4Nn0.ypRdeDSBcE87slYrFfVrRwtJ2qGIK6FD5jBB4pndTMo/img.jpg?width=980" id="b473b" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="9930b53c9d58cb49774640a61c3e3e75" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" alt="cbdistillery cbd oil" /><p>All of the products from CBDistillery are <a href="https://ushempauthority.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">U.S. Hemp Authority Certified</a>, and for good reason. The company only uses non-GMO and pesticide-free industrial hemp that's grown organically on Colorado farms. Its hemp oils are some of the most affordable CBD products on the market, yet they still maintain a high standard of quality. CBDistillery has a wide variety of CBD potencies across its product line (ranging from 500mg to 5000mg per bottle) and offers both full-spectrum and broad-spectrum CBD oils to give customers a completely thc-free option.</p>
$35
FAB CBD
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNDY4NjIyNS9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY2NDIwOTEyMn0.MlTjz096FJ0ev_-soK7_Z-FeQeJczWoeh9Qi9SSkHsY/img.jpg?width=980" id="04b26" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="76aa4862f44603242e318982acea6646" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" alt="fab cbd oil" /><p>For an organic CBD oil that has it all, FAB CBD offers plenty of variety for any type of consumer. All of its products are made with zero pesticides and extracted from organically grown Colorado industrial hemp. FAB CBD oil comes in five all-natural flavors (mint, vanilla, berry, citrus, and natural) and is also available in four strengths (300, 600, 1200, and 2400mg per bottle).</p>
$39
NuLeaf Naturals
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNDY4NjIxOS9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY1NzExNTgyMX0.D6qMGYllKTsVhEkQ-L_GzpDHVu60a-tJKcio7M1Ssmc/img.jpg?width=980" id="94e4a" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="3609a52479675730893a45a82a03c71d" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" alt="nuleaf naturals organic cbd oil" /><p>As an industry-leading brand, it comes as no surprise that NuLeaf Naturals sources its CBD extract from organic hemp plants grown on licensed farms in Colorado. The comany's CBD oils only contain two ingredients: USDA certified organic hemp seed oil and full spectrum hemp extract.</p><p>NuLeaf Naturals uses one proprietary CBD oil formula for all of its products, so you will get the same CBD potency in each tincture (60mg per mL), but can purchase different bottle sizes depending on how much you intend to use.</p>
$38.50
Charlotte's Web
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNDcwMjk3NS9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY0MzQ0NjM4N30.SaQ85SK10-MWjN3PwHo2RqpiUBdjhD0IRnHKTqKaU7Q/img.jpg?width=980" id="84700" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="a2174067dcc0c4094be25b3472ce08c8" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" alt="charlottes web cbd oil" /><p>Perhaps one of the most well-known brands in the CBD landscape, Charlotte's Web has been growing sustainable hemp plants for several years. The company is currently in the process of achieving official USDA Organic Certification, but it already practices organic and sustainable cultivation techniques to enhance the overall health of the soil and the hemp plants themselves, which creates some of the highest quality CBD extracts. Charlotte's Web offers CBD oils in a range of different concentration options, and some even come in a few flavor options such as chocolate mint, orange blossom, and lemon twist.</p>
$60
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Vertical farms have been touted as a way to feed a rapidly urbanizing world population (I've waxed poetic about them myself.) Critics of the trending technology, however, contend that these energy-intensive hubs are too costly and perhaps impractical to maintain.
Sure, the naysayers have a point, but what if vertical farms did more than just feed mouths? In Stockholm, Sweden, the Plantagon CityFarm located in the basement of the iconic DN-Skrapan building in the Kungsholmen district has a whole other purpose besides nourishing the office workers on site—the farm also recycles its heat to warm the offices above.
<p style="">
The underground farm, which will start production early next year, stores the heat emitted by the LEDs used to grow veggies and then reuses that energy to heat the property. This stroke of genius allows the venture to pay nothing in rent.
</p><p style="">
"[The building owner] agreed to give us a free lease for three years, so we don't pay one single Swedish kroner for the room," Plantagon cofounder Hans Hassle told
<a href="https://www.fastcompany.com/40503488/this-underground-urban-farm-also-heats-the-building-above-it" target="_blank">FastCompany</a>. "This is the challenge, very often, for urban farmers: If you really want to grow things in the city, you have to find new business models that actually make the food not too expensive in the end."
</p><p>
FastCompany reported that the system will save the office building 700,000 kilowatt-hours of energy a year, roughly worth three times as much as the previous tenant of the space had paid in rent.
</p><p style="">
Notably, the office building and the farm will work together symbiotically. "The CityFarm under the DN-Skrapan will provide its surplus heat to the offices and in exchange [receive] CO2 from the people who work there," the developers said.
</p><p>
The farm is expected to produce 100 kilograms of fresh vegetables daily and, like many other indoor farming ventures, it recycles most of its water and does not need to use any herbicides or pesticides.
</p><p style="">
The Swedish company has a goal of opening a total of ten such facilities in the Stockholm area by 2020, and it has started a
<a href="https://www.fundedbyme.com/en/campaign/8246/plantagon-international-ab-3/?type=e" target="_blank">crowdfunding campaign</a> for the planned expansion.
</p><p>
<span></span>"The reason for a crowdfunding campaign is that we believe that people that care about the future of cities, food production and the health of our planet should be given the opportunity to be a part of the solution," <a href="http://urbanagnews.com/blog/plantagon-is-building-10-underground-city-farms-in-stockholm/" target="_blank">said</a> Owe Pettersson, CEO of Plantagon International. "To us, it is important to create and expand together, showing that we are a movement for healthy sustainable food. Together, we can make a difference for safe food production in cities—now and in the future."
</p><div id="8e05a" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="7GL2941576664040"><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-version="4" style=" background:#FFF; border:0;
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Trending
Green roof of the Denver Environmental Protection Agency. Denver Green Roof Initiative
Denver is the latest city to mandate rooftop gardens or solar installations on new, large buildings, joining San Francisco, New York, Paris, London and other cities around the world with similar green roof measures, the Associated Press reported.
The Colorado capital ranks third in the nation for highest heat island and eighth in the nation for worst ozone/particulate pollution, according to the Denver Green Roof Initiative, a grassroots group that advocated for the city's green roof ordinance, Initiative 300.
<p>Although the official tally is not in, the ballot initiative had 54 percent approval as of Thursday, signaling that the measure is headed towards victory. The vote will be certified on Nov. 24.</p><p>Initiative 300 creates a new building code that requires green roofs or solar panels for most buildings 25,000 square feet or larger that are constructed after Jan. 1, 2018. </p><p>The Associated Press noted that the measure is more stringent than other green roof mandates, as it requires many existing buildings to be retrofitted with green roofs when the old roof wears out. Older buildings that cannot support the load of a green roof can get an exemption.<br></p><p>"These required building improvements would significantly reduce long term operating costs by lowering energy consumption and increasing the longevity of a roof," the Denver Green Roof Initiative <a href="http://www.denvergreenroof.org/2017/10/23/to-the-people/" target="_blank">stated</a> on its campaign website. "A green roof lasts 2-3 times as long as a traditional roof because the waterproofing membrane is protected from damage by the elements and workers by covering it with a growing medium and plants."</p><p>The measure did not have an easy road to passage. Denver Mayor Michael Hancock opposed the initiative over worries that it could drive up the costs of construction projects. Also, several Denver businesses <a href="http://denver.cbslocal.com/2017/11/08/green-roof-initiative-denver/" target="_blank">spent $250,000</a> in an advertising push against the plan. </p><p><span></span>Department of Community Planning and Development spokeswoman Andrea Burns told the <a href="http://www.denverpost.com/2017/03/05/denver-rooftop-garden-heat-island-effect/" target="_blank">Denver Post</a> in March that the department would prefer to give architects and engineers "the flexibility to design a roofing system that works best for their needs and their budgets."</p><p>Following the vote, however, Burns conceded to <a href="http://denver.cbslocal.com/2017/11/08/green-roof-initiative-denver/" target="_blank">CBS4</a> that "it will be a little bit of work in the next few weeks, but green roofs are already possible in Denver. It's just a matter of making those agreements that are part of Initiative 300 work with our system now. We're going to make this work for the people of Denver." </p><p>The Denver Green Roof Initiative admits that green roofs cost about $15 more per square feet than a traditional black roof but pointed out that the green roof will pay for itself in about six years. <br></p><p>"Even though the extra cost would be offset in as soon as 6.2 years, most developers choose not to incorporate them because they build the building then sell it," the group <a href="http://www.denvergreenroof.org/the-project/" target="_blank">said</a>. "They don't see those energy and storm-water savings. They don't save the money from roof longevity. Yet they are still able to sell the building for more money with these improvements!! We believe that the developers of Denver could be doing more to negate their footprint in our beautiful city. We believe green roofs are the answer."</p><p>The initiative was <a href="http://www.denvergreenroof.org/endorsements/" target="_blank">endorsed</a> by several green builders and environmental groups. </p><p>"Initiative I-300 will contribute to improving Denver's air quality, increasing the energy efficiency of its buildings, mitigating the urban heat island effect, managing storm water runoff, and creating habitat for pollinators and other insects," said Lauren Petrie, <a href="https://www.foodandwaterwatch.org/state/colorado" target="_blank">Food & Water Watch</a>'s Rocky Mountain Region Director. "We are dedicated to a more sustainable future in Denver and believe that passing this green roof initiative will be a vehicle for asserting our human desire for cleaner air and water, and cooler urban temperatures. </p><p>The Denver Green Roof Initiative stressed in a <a href="https://www.facebook.com/denvergreenroof/" target="_blank">Facebook post Friday</a> that even though Initiative 300 passed, there are still "tremendous hurdles to overcome due to push back from those in power."<br><span></span></p><p>"This is a battle won against climate but the war doesn't stop here," the post stated. "We must all get active and fight for our values, because we are stronger together. Thanks again for the overwhelming support. The citizens of Denver have a healthier, more sustainable future because of YOU!"<br></p>
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Tesla/Electrek
Many people might balk at the idea of living in a home that's the size of a treehouse, but Tesla, Inc. just created a tiny house fit for its larger-than-life CEO, Elon Musk.
The Tesla Tiny House is currently being towed on the back of a Model X around Australia to exhibit the company's products and to teach the public how to generate, store and use renewable energy for their own home, according to Electrek.
<p>
"We want to bring the Tesla Tiny House to you, so you can fully experience what it means to be self-powered," the company said.
</p><p>
Musk touted about the company's latest showcase on Twitter:</p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-twitter_embed">
</p><div id="46d1b" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="E4DAQY1553274952"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="897232757629173760" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">Tesla Powerwalls can support houses of any size, but the cool thing is we can tow this house around with a Model X! https://t.co/MmQl8BPetY</div> — Elon Musk (@Elon Musk)<a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/statuses/897232757629173760">1502751933.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p></p><p>
The Tesla boss then commented, "I want one too!" after a fan tweeted, "Sign me up for a tesla tiny house"</p><p>
The 100 percent renewable energy-powered abode measures approximately 20 x 7 x 13 feet in size with an exterior clad in locally sourced, chemical-free sustainable wood. </p><p>Naturally, the house features a slew of Tesla products, including solar panels (but not Tesla's
<a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tesla-solar-roof-2468676709.html">solar roof tiles</a>) and the <a href="https://www.tesla.com/powerwall" target="_blank">Powerwall</a>, the company's at-home battery with a built-in inverter.
</p><p>
The company provided some more details about the interior of the small space to Electrek:
</p><p style="margin-left: 20px;">
"Powered by 100% renewable energy via a 2 kW solar system and Powerwall, Tiny House contains a mobile design studio and configurator which can calculate how your home can generate clean energy from the sun using solar panels, storing it in Powerwall to use throughout the day and night, which can all be
<a href="https://electrek.co/2017/04/20/tesla-powerwall-solar-app/" target="_blank">monitored and controlled by the Tesla app</a>."
</p><p>
Here are some other specifics of the Tesla Tiny House:
</p><ul class="ee-ul">
<li>Weight – 2 tonnes</li>
<li>Dimensions – 6m x 2.2m x 4m</li>
<li>Solar generation – 2kW PV system of 6 panels</li>
<li>Solar storage – 1 x Tesla Powerwall</li>
<li>Exterior – Clad in locally sourced, chemical-free, sustainable timber</li>
</ul><p>
Tesla collaborated with Australian sustainable architecture firm
<a href="http://www.archiblox.com.au/" target="_blank">Archiblox</a> on the rolling, prefabricated house. The firm posted an Instagram video of the display in Melbourne:</p><div id="ebc8d" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="SCNLT91553274952"><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-version="4" style=" background:#FFF; border:0;
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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BXxWWtxl17R/" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif;
font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;
word-wrap:break-word;" target="_top">Archiblox on Instagram: “A massive thanks to Tesla for reaching out to Archiblox to collaborate on the Tesla Tiny House. Our two loves the thoughtful footprint by…”</a></p>
</div></blockquote></div><p>
The Tesla Tiny House is currently touring around major Australian cities, but you can also request a tour for your own town via <a href="https://www.tesla.com/teslatinyhouse" target="_blank">this link</a>.</p><p>
"Our next stop could be in your town, tell us where you'd like to see us," Tesla said.
</p>
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Craftsman tiny house by Zyl Vardos. Abel Zyl / Shuttertstock
Late last year, the tiny house community celebrated a watershed moment—an official appendix in the 2018 version of the International Residential Code, the model building code used by most jurisdictions in the U.S.
"There are many things that are monumental in the adoption of tiny house construction codes by the IRC," cheered Thom Stanton, the CEO of small space developer, Timber Trails. "Among them, that architects, designers, builders, community developers and (maybe most importantly) zoning officials have a means of recognizing tiny houses as an official form of permissible dwelling."
<p>Although it will take a few years for local governments to formally adopt the new code, the appendix gave the tiny house movement something it had long sought: Legitimacy.</p><p><strong>What's a Tiny Home?</strong></p><p>Tiny homes are generally between 100 to 400 square feet and can be built on wheels or a permanent foundation. Some might deride these micro-homes as glorified trailers, but there's a lot to admire about the lifestyle. </p><p>The architectural and cultural phenomenon emerged after the 2007-2008 housing market collapse, as recession-scarred folks abandoned the McMansion fantasy and chose to significantly downsize. Proponents of tiny houses tout their cheaper costs, freedom from unnecessary material possessions and a smaller environmental footprint (<a href="https://tinyhousebuild.com/tiny-houses-infographic/" target="_blank">see infographic</a>).</p><p>Frankly, some of these dwellings—like <a href="https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/15808932" target="_blank">this</a> 240-square-foot, completely off-grid tiny house nestled in a Hawaiian rainforest paradise—make me want to leave it all behind too.</p><p>Enthusiasts also suggest that tiny homes could <a href="http://www.alternet.org/news-amp-politics/tiny-house-village-portlands-homeless-find-dignity" target="_blank">address homelessness</a> and add affordable housing options in cities experiencing extensive gentrification and rising costs of living.</p><p>Portland, Oregon, for instance, needs tiny houses "to keep its own identity in place," Michelle Boyle, who lives in a tiny house in nearby Sherwood and hosts the <a href="http://tinyhousepodcast.com/episodes/s1e1-tiny-house-podcast-begins" target="_blank">Tiny House Podcast</a>, told <a href="http://portlandtribune.com/pt/9-news/354859-234173-picture-tiny-houses-in-big-numbers" target="_blank">Portland Tribune</a>. </p><p>"In order to encourage diversity in your population, you have to encourage diversity in your housing stock," she added.</p><p>Indeed, Oregon's largest city has seen home prices <a href="http://www.oregonlive.com/front-porch/index.ssf/2017/05/portland_home-price_increases.html" target="_blank">outpace</a> much of the nation. The median price of homes currently listed in Portland's metro area is $404,990, according to <a href="https://www.zillow.com/portland-metro-or_r394998/home-values/" target="_blank">Zillow</a>.</p><p>"There are people who Portland would love to have living in our city, but they can't afford it any more," local small-scale developer Eli Spevak told the Tribune.</p><p>Tiny homes are certainly cheaper than building or buying a "regular"-sized house because of their small size. Prices for tiny homes vary widely, but <a href="https://money.good.is/features/price-check-tiny-houses" target="_blank">GOOD Money</a> crunched the numbers and determined that a DIY tiny house costs between $20,000 to $30,000. Contracting a professional builder or buying a prefabricated unit ranges from $50,000 to $449,000 (like this luxurious 315-square-foot "<a href="https://www.aol.com/article/finance/2017/02/06/is-this-the-most-expensive-tiny-home-in-america/21708252/" target="_blank">mini mansion</a>" in Maryland).</p><p><strong>Why Go Tiny?</strong></p><p>Despite the proliferation of HGTV reality shows and documentaries on the topic, tiny house living is far from the norm. New American homes are actually bigger than ever. The typical single-family home in the U.S. is <a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2016/07/lawns-census-bigger-homes-smaller-lots/489590/" target="_blank">roughly 2,500 square feet</a>, about 50 percent larger than in the late 1970s.</p><p>Some might find tiny living too small and even <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/five-people-who-abandoned-their-tiny-homes-2015-7" target="_blank">abandon ship</a>. The <a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2013/12/the-health-risks-of-small-apartments/282150/" target="_blank">Atlantic</a> examined the psychological toll of living in New York City's first micro-apartments, which range from 260 to 360 square feet, and warned about possible claustrophobia and crowding-related stress for some residents.</p><p>"Sure, these micro-apartments may be fantastic for young professionals in their 20s," Dak Kopec, the director of design for human health at Boston Architectural College, said in the article. "But they definitely can be unhealthy for older people, say in their 30s and 40s, who face different stress factors that can make tight living conditions a problem."</p><p>Then there's the whole legal issue. Although these rules are slowly evolving (i.e., the new tiny house appendix), the country's decades-old zoning regulations and patchwork of building codes just won't allow you to wheel or construct a tiny house onto whatever empty lot you like and call it home.</p><p>There are two types of tinys with specific rules for each. First, there's the tiny house on a foundation, which is legally considered an Accessory Dwelling Unit. ADUs—small or tiny homes built on the same property of an existing home—are subject to local laws such as minimum square footage requirements and will probably require a permit to build.</p><p>The second type is the portable tiny house, or a tiny house on wheels, which is typically classified as a recreational vehicle (RV), meaning it could require licensing and registration at a state transportation department. <a href="http://minimotives.com/2014/06/25/where-can-you-park-a-tiny-house/" target="_blank">Legally parking</a> a tiny house on wheels is also a frequent issue that also varies by jurisdiction.</p><p>Because of all these rules, tiny housers sometimes live <a href="http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/tiny-houses-are-trendy-minimalist-and-often-illegal/" target="_blank">under the radar</a> and just cross their fingers that a nosy neighbor won't alert the authorities.</p><p>If that isn't enough of a headache, online you'll find a whole host of other <a href="https://www.trulia.com/blog/buy-a-tiny-house-mistake/" target="_blank">complaints</a> (it's just a fad; they're difficult to resell) as well as <a href="https://www.vox.com/a/new-economy-future/tiny-houses" target="_blank">thoughtful arguments</a> (the unavailability of open space and the high cost of land in urban centers) against tiny homeownership.</p><p><strong>The New Minimalism</strong></p><p>Tiny homes aren't for everyone, but it's clear that their popularity is far from waning. An expanding list of <a href="http://www.tinyhousecommunity.com/map/communities/#0/-85/-472" target="_blank">micro-communities</a> are popping up around the country and in January 2016, Fresno, California became the <a href="http://www.yourcentralvalley.com/news/fresno-first-city-in-nation-to-set-zoning-standards-for-tiny-houses-as-second-dwellings" target="_blank">first city</a> in the nation to develop tiny house-specific codes. Fellow Californian city Ojai followed Fresno's footsteps <a href="https://tinyhousebuild.com/tiny-houses-on-wheels-legal-in-ojai-california/" target="_blank">not long after</a>.</p><p>Back in Portland, the famously progressive city has become an epicenter of the tiny house movement (<a href="https://vimeo.com/151916585" target="_blank">of course</a>) and is even a <a href="https://accessorydwellings.org/2017/02/27/the-ascension-of-adus-in-portland/" target="_blank">national leader</a> in ADU development. In 2016, the city granted about as many building permits for ADUs as for regular single-family homes.</p><p>And late last month, with very little fanfare, Idaho became the first state in the nation to adopt the tiny house appendix.</p><p>"This is a huge step forward for everyone who wants to live legally in their tiny home," <a href="https://tinyhousebuild.com/idaho-adopt-tiny-house-appendix/" target="_blank">declared</a> Andrew Morrison of Tiny House Build a day after the vote. "There is still a lot of work to be done in Idaho, but this is absolutely the best outcome from yesterday's vote."</p><p>Morrison, a veteran tiny house builder, co-authored the tiny house appendix and spearheaded efforts to get it approved. He is now working on an appendix <a href="https://tinyhousebuild.com/tiny-house-appendix-adoption-process/" target="_blank">specifically</a> for movable tiny houses.</p><p>As the Portland Tribune noted, "many obstacles remain before tiny houses on wheels get the same treatment as ADUs here and elsewhere, but many say it's inevitable, given spiking house and rent prices and the growing popularity of tiny houses." </p><p>At least for now, it looks like this movement is not-so-tiny after all.</p><p><em>Reposted with permission from our media associate <a href="http://www.alternet.org/environment/how-tiny-homes-could-spur-affordable-housing-ease-gentrification-reduce-consumerism-and" target="_blank">AlterNet</a>.</em></p>
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The Santalaia in Bogotá, Colombia
The largest vertical garden in the world looks like a living, breathing green giant in Bogotá, Colombia's densely populated capital.
<p>
The Santalaia building, erected by biologist and botanist <a href="http://www.paisajismourbano.com/ignacio-solano" target="_blank">Ignacio Solano</a> with vertical garden and green roof firm <a href="http://groncol.com/" target="_blank">Groncol</a>, gives much-needed greenery to the sprawling city. </p><p>Located in the Rosales barrio, the multi-family residential building features of 3,117 square meters (33,551 square feet) of plants. The building is nine stories above ground and two stories underground and was completed in December 2015 after 16 months of planning and construction. </p><p>About 115,000 plants of 10 different species were incorporated in the project, which Groncol <a href="http://www.greenroofs.com/projects/pview.php?id=1769" target="_blank">says</a> helps reduce urban <a href="http://www.ecowatch.com/how-green-infrastructure-minimizes-the-impacts-of-climate-change-1881953368.html">heat island effect</a> and produces oxygen for 3,000 people yearly . </p><p>"The architect's intent was to produce a uniform green layer with real plants," <a href="http://www.greenroofs.com/projects/pview.php?id=1769" target="_blank">said</a> Pablo Atuesta, general manager of Groncol. "He would have preferred to have only one species, but since it was too risky, we built several prototypes with different plants that would give us a uniform green tone and plant volume. </p><p><span></span>"The building should enhance the comfort and well being of its inhabitants, and the designer wanted the sensation of being surrounded by plants so as not to feel as though you were living in a dense urban environment like the one we have in Bogotá," Atuesta added.</p><p><span></span>The lucky family living in one of the penthouses even has a private rooftop garden and playground. </p><p>A specially designed hydroponic irrigation system hydrates the massive vertical garden that consists of plants such as dwarf Hebe, asparagus fern, rosemary, vincas and spathiphyllum flowering plants, among others. <br></p><p><span></span>"Designing irrigation, water recycling systems, as well as plant selection were some of the biggest challenges with the Santalaia project. The Santalaia building is also using water from the apartments' showers for irrigation," Atuesta said. "Among many technical details, we installed humidity and radiation sensors to optimize water consumption as well as a water treatment plant so as not to have any water waste." </p><p>Take a tour of the lush green building: </p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-youtube"><span style="display:block;position:relative;padding-top:56.25%;" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="610e2a267cad9ffc94f4d84de1f984cb"><iframe type="lazy-iframe" data-runner-src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/8TRtGoHnNsQ?rel=0" width="100%" height="auto" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;"></iframe></span></p>
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Trending
Vancouver, Canada.
The climate crisis is a problem caused by humans that can be solved by humans. These three cities are proving it.
While a lot of media coverage around the crisis is doom and gloom, cities around the world are coming up with powerful solutions on the local level. Here's how a Canadian city, an American city and a Chinese city are taking on climate action.
<h4>1. North America's First Renewably Powered City<br>
</h4><p>
<strong>City:</strong> <a href="http://solutions.sustainia.me/solutions/north-americas-first-renewably-powered-city/" target="_blank">Vancouver, Canada</a>
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Vancouver's ambitious vision to power the city entirely on <a href="http://www.ecowatch.com/renewable-energy/">renewable energy</a> will help curb emissions from its two biggest emitters: transport and buildings.
</p><p>
Vancouver is the first city in North America to develop a renewable city strategy to derive 100 percent of the city's entire energy needs from renewable sources by 2050. To achieve this goal, the city is prioritizing efforts around reducing emissions from its most polluting sectors, buildings and transportation and increasing the use and supply of renewables. In the transport sector, this includes measures such as the promotion of renewably powered car-sharing fleets and the development of standards to support renewably powered private vehicles. Simultaneously, retrofits of existing buildings and ensuring the grid energy supply is 100-percent renewable will spur the clean energy shift for the city's building stock.
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Underpinning the strategy is an innovative energy system model that maps energy demand across the year and by time of day, matching it with an energy supply model to identify the most economical ways energy demand can be met by renewable sources. In this way, Vancouver is using cutting-edge technology—employed for the first time by a municipality—to solve pressing energy concerns and guide plans for a 100 percent renewable future.
</p><p>
<strong>The Result: </strong>80<strong> </strong>percent reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, from 2007 levels, by 2050 due to the renewable city strategy.
</p><h4>2. Legal Ordinance for Solar-Powered Buildings</h4><p>
<strong>City:</strong> <a href="http://solutions.sustainia.me/solutions/legal-ordinance-for-solar-powered-buildings/" target="_blank">New York, New York</a>
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New York City's government agencies are now legally required to assess potential
<a href="http://www.ecowatch.com/tag/solar">solar</a> PV retrofits at all municipal buildings.<br>
</p><p>
In 2016, New York City passed a law requiring local government agencies to assess all city-owned rooftops for solar photovoltaic (PV) potential, in order to support the city's goal to install 100 MW of solar PV on municipal property by 2025. Agencies must report on factors including the potential reduction in energy use and greenhouse gas emissions, the financing of the project and whether buildings' rooftops are suitable for a solar installation. In keeping track of the projects, the city will also take into consideration the financial savings accruing from CO2 emissions reductions in order to better reflect the value of the retrofits.
</p><p>
To date, the city has installed 8.8 MW of solar PV across 52 municipal buildings. Informed by the government agencies' evaluations, New York City plans to develop a strategy to expand the initiative to 4,000 city-owned buildings, which include schools, hospitals, libraries, courthouses, firehouses, offices, police precincts, wastewater treatment plants and recreation centers and which will help the city reach its goal to reduce citywide greenhouse gas emissions 80 percent by 2050.
</p><p>
<strong>The Result: </strong>35,000 metric tons of CO2 emissions will be reduced by solar projects by 2025.
</p><h4>3. Low-Carbon Megacity Encourages Green Growth</h4><p>
<span></span><strong>City:</strong> <a href="http://solutions.sustainia.me/solutions/low-carbon-megacity-encourages-green-growth/" target="_blank">Guangzhou, China</a>
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Guangzhou is planning for an increasing population and rising demand for energy with a multi-sector, low-carbon plan for green growth, targeting industry, infrastructure and buildings.
<br>
</p><p>
Guangzhou, a megacity with a population exceeding 13 million, is still in a stage of rapid economic development and urban construction. In 2012, Guangzhou launched the Pilot Low Carbon City Implementation Plan in an effort to reduce greenhouse emissions through systematic measures in the growing city. The plan includes the elimination of outdated industrial capacity and equipment and the promotion of energy-efficient technologies and green, low-carbon buildings. Transport infrastructure is also being targeted, with a new public transport system mainly based on rail transit.
</p><p>
Both market mechanisms, such as limiting entry permits for high-carbon projects to control greenhouse gas emissions, and institutional mechanisms, such as stricter emissions standards, have been used to promote low-carbon development under the plan. Green industries have developed quickly in the city, with an added value of $4.2 billion in 2014, an 11.1 percent increase compared to the previous year. As a commitment to the plan, Guangzhou announced in 2015 it will reach its carbon emissions peak by 2020.
</p><p>
<strong>The Result: </strong>35.9M tons of CO2 emissions reduced between 2010 and 2014.
</p><p>
<em>Republished from the <a href="http://solutions.sustainia.me/cities/" target="_blank">Cities100 guide</a> (the work of<a href="http://www.sustainia.me/" target="_blank"> Sustainia</a>, <a href="http://www.c40.org/" target="_blank">C40 Cities</a> and <a href="http://www.realdania.org/" target="_blank">Realdania</a>) with permission.</em>
</p><div class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="c92db6c4466b3d4d1527bdb646fec412"><div class="fb-video" data-href="https://facebook.com/EcoWatch/videos/10154253959651479/" data-allowfullscreen="true"></div></div>
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A rendering of Babcock Ranch. Photo credit: Babcock Ranch
By Marlene Cimons
It was love at first sight for Richard and Robin Kinley. But it took a sunset to seal the deal.
The Kinleys, both 59 and living in Atlanta, visited southwest Florida in January to look at Babcock Ranch, a planned community that could become the most sustainable town in America.
<div id="049ba" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="H406ZA1491220470"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="729277203851169792" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">'World's Most Sustainable City' to Run on 100% Solar https://t.co/op2nY6QS44 @Green_Europe @globalactplan</div> — EcoWatch (@EcoWatch)<a href="https://twitter.com/EcoWatch/statuses/729277203851169792">1462708209.0</a></blockquote></div><p>When finished, Babcock Ranch, located about 20 minutes from Fort Myers, will be powered almost entirely by the sun, turning to natural gas on cloudy days. Homes will be energy-efficient, many of them constructed with insulated panels designed to handle any type of Florida weather.<br></p><p>The town will be walkable and bikeable, with 50 miles of nature trails. Residents will be able to plant crops in community gardens. Houses will be set near sidewalks so neighbors can more easily interact with one another. To encourage homeowners to drive <a href="http://www.ecowatch.com/tag/electric-vehicles">electric vehicles</a>, the town will install numerous charging stations. Its public vehicle fleet will be electric and driverless.</p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-rebelmouse-image"><img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy85NjcwNTM0L29yaWdpbi5wbmciLCJleHBpcmVzX2F0IjoxNjQ5MzY0MzcyfQ.dklqNsLuEnVDMU0dG8udBScnF4exVjISKAFTGbqZfZA/img.png?width=980" id="23efd" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="43771f55d64a934c55407e9d156d0465" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image"><small placeholder="add caption..." class="image-media media-caption">Richard and Robin Kinley. </small><small placeholder="add photo credit..." class="image-media media-photo-credit"><a href="https://www.babcockranch.com/" target="_blank">Babcock Ranch</a></small></p><p>The Kinleys found all of this irresistible. Returning to their hotel room after their tour, Kinley suggested to his wife: "Let's go back tonight and look at the sunset. We sat on the grass near this little lake, on the lot we were interested in and watched the sun go down. Everything just fell into place. We loved it."<br></p><p>The Kinleys were the first to buy a home at Babcock, where construction is now just getting underway. They expect to move into their one-story ranch style house in time for the fall and winter holidays.</p><p>"If I sat down and wanted to design a community from scratch, this would be it," said Kinley. "I love having a front porch where I can talk to my neighbors and a downtown area within a five-minute walk."</p><p>This is exactly what Babcock Ranch's developer, Syd Kitson, CEO of Kitson & Partners, had in mind when he conceived of the idea of creating a town that aims "to go back to the way we used to live when we were younger, where you know your neighbors and has the things you remember when you were growing up," he said. "We are dead set on proving that development and preservation can work hand-in-hand."</p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-rebelmouse-image"><img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy85NjcwNTQwL29yaWdpbi5qcGciLCJleHBpcmVzX2F0IjoxNjE4MTA2ODI2fQ.IOvnzjkYB-mLjm92Neya1neB1ObbTWjTQV6H4Kxo6n8/img.jpg?width=980" id="b3d44" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="ef836bb46422337f9f82633ae6b13604" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image"><small placeholder="add photo credit..." class="image-media media-photo-credit"><a href="https://www.babcockranch.com/" target="_blank">Babcock Ranch</a></small></p><p>He traces his connection to nature to his childhood. "When I was very young, my parents didn't allow us to stay inside," Kitson said. "We went camping, deep into the woods for weeks at a time and I developed a deep love of the land. I appreciate what it means. I think people intuitively understand that you feel better when you are in the woods or on top of a mountain. I really believe you will live longer and have a better life."</p><p>On July 31, 2006, Kitson's company completed its purchase of 91,000 acres along Florida's southwest coast and that same day sold 73,000 acres back to the state and to Lee County in what has been described as the largest single land preservation agreement in Florida's history. The agreement kept the vast majority of the land untouched, allowing ranching operations to continue and leaving Kitson with nearly 18,000 acres—an area about the size of Manhattan—for development.</p><p><span></span>The Babcock Ranch plan calls for 19,500 homes, schools, shops, green spaces, lakes and nature trails. Eventually, they plan to add condos and apartments. Someday, as many as 50,000 people will live there.<br></p><p>Kitson says that, to achieve his goal of having, as he describes it, the first <a href="http://www.ecowatch.com/tag/solar">solar</a> town in America, he found an ally in Florida Power & Light. The utility company built a new solar power plant in Charlotte County, whose 343,000 solar panels will supply power to Babcock Ranch.</p><p>In the evenings or on sunless days, the town will be powered by natural gas "until we get that solar storage puzzle solved," Kitson said. Finding ways to store solar power "is very important and we want to be a living laboratory to implement that into Babcock," he said.</p><div class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="f9d726dbced0cd12a499ca7fca171591"><div class="fb-video" data-href="https://facebook.com/EcoWatch/videos/10154251178541479/" data-allowfullscreen="true"></div></div><p>Mitch Pavao-Zuckerman, assistant professor of environmental science and technology at the University of Maryland's college of agriculture and natural resources—who is not involved with Babcock Ranch—calls the creation of a nearly all-solar town "a great opportunity to learn more about the feasibility of these kinds of developments."</p><p>"It could allow for testing how efficient these kinds of decentralized systems are in real settings and also how they respond to variability in weather—and solar production—and potential risks to the network," he added. "They've put a good deal of consideration into the physical and aesthetic design of the community and elements of environmental sustainability."</p><p>For starters, the homes will strive to be energy efficient. Brian Bishop, president of <a href="http://newpanelhomes.com/" target="_blank">New Panel Homes</a>, which manufactures—and will supply—the structural insulated panels for one of the home builders at Babcock Ranch, said the houses from his building kits all will meet standards established by the <a href="http://floridagreenbuilding.org/" target="_blank">Florida Green Building Coalition</a>, which administers green certifications throughout the state.</p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-rebelmouse-image"><img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy85NjcwNTQ3L29yaWdpbi5qcGciLCJleHBpcmVzX2F0IjoxNjE2MzY3NDI5fQ.hFRQbEbaxMBHl2NQKxEPlvgUztRH2h2OwcJEkYHvi6k/img.jpg?width=980" id="963c4" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="f1fc899167372dfe56373e3d59601aa0" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image"><small placeholder="add caption..." class="image-media media-caption">This 75 MW solar array will supply power to Babcock Ranch. </small><small placeholder="add photo credit..." class="image-media media-photo-credit"><a href="https://www.babcockranch.com/" target="_blank">Babcock Ranch</a></small></p><p>Bishop predicts that the energy cost for each house will run no more than about $90 a month. Because these homes must be air tight to be energy efficient, his team also ensures the air quality. "Our customers want a green, healthy, nontoxic home with a tiny electric bill, that is disaster safe," Bishop said. "This isn't just some quirky thing for yuppies. Everybody benefits."<br></p><p>Not everyone, however, is happy with the Babcock Ranch project. The <a href="http://southfloridawild.org/" target="_blank">South Florida Wildlands Association</a>, a nonprofit that works to protect <a href="http://www.ecowatch.com/tag/wildlife">wildlife</a> in the state, argues that the town will prevent the endangered Florida panther from expanding its current breeding grounds. Only about 100 of these panthers remain in the wild.</p><p>"This is one of the worst locations they could have chosen to build the city of the future," said Matthew Schwartz, executive director of the association. "It will preclude the panthers from using that area."</p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-rebelmouse-image"><img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy85NjcwNTU4L29yaWdpbi5qcGciLCJleHBpcmVzX2F0IjoxNjIwOTIxNTIxfQ.3A_050n0NQKi5Mc58vH66sXEP3OV4KSP9Po01QbH14Q/img.jpg?width=980" id="883a3" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="c0e94180bfd34e39f3f9ab9dd58e635c" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image"><small placeholder="add photo credit..." class="image-media media-photo-credit">U.S. National Park Service</small></p><p>But Eric Draper, executive director of <a href="http://fl.audubon.org/" target="_blank">Audubon Florida</a>, points out that panthers have never used the Babcock area for breeding. "There were no established panthers on the land," he said. "The land is a good distance from where the panthers currently live and breed and [there's] no reason to think they will someday cross the [Caloosahatchee] river—[the northern boundary of their current active habitat]—and migrate there."<br></p><p>Still, Kitson & Partners, working with the state, set aside 17,000 acres in the preserved area for panther habitat, if they should ever try to migrate there. The animals, however, still would have to find a way to cross the river, as the only routes there are bridges with vehicle traffic.</p><p>For his part, Kitson hopes his future town "will be a model for the rest of the country, maybe even the world," he said. "The greatest thing we can do is create a model that works economically and where people want to live."</p><p>The Kinleys are believers. Kinley hopes his company will approve a transfer. If not, he may retire. "That's the worst case scenario and that's not a bad worst case scenario," he said. He laughed. "After we signed the papers and they told us we were the first ones, I joked and said you should name the lake behind our house after us."</p><p>To be sure, he was just kidding. But they liked the idea, so that's what <a href="http://www.homesbytowne.com/states/pdfs/siteplans/hbt-fl-babcock-siteplan-lake-timber.jpg" target="_blank">they did</a>.<br></p><p> <em>Reposted with permission from our media associate <a href="https://nexusmedianews.com/the-most-sustainable-town-in-america-a4330330700a#.me154fxzs" target="_blank">Nexus Media</a>.</em></p><div class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="df41528c606627be438bfdfb07f9eddb"><div class="fb-video" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/EcoWatch/videos/1454350374577895/" data-allowfullscreen="true"></div></div>
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Gorgeous Hotel Constructed From Shipping Containers Leaves Landscape Untouched
10 March 2017
Popular
Photo credit: Quadrum
By Amanda Froelich
From transforming shipping containers into homes to reassembling them into vivacious greenhouses, there is a lot one can do with the apparatuses. But construct a gorgeous hotel? Why not.
<p>Building a hotel with shipping containers is exactly what architects Sandro Ramishvili and Irakli Eristavi did and the outcome is extraordinary. Named <a href="http://quadrum-gudauri.com/" target="_blank">Quadrum</a>, the creation maintains a minimalist style and is located approximately 2,200 meters (1.36 miles) above sea level. In fact, it is the first boutique hotel located in the Upper Gudauri, Republic of Georgia. Built into the sloping terrain, the shipping container rooms cascade down the mountain.</p><div id="8011c" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="OI64EW1491237713"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="780048584880173056" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">4 Reasons Why the Shipping Container Housing Trend is Here to Stay https://t.co/Hlbj1B5ouZ @GreenBuildNews</div> — EcoWatch (@EcoWatch)<a href="https://twitter.com/EcoWatch/statuses/780048584880173056">1474813049.0</a></blockquote></div><p>The aim of the project was to "safeguard the environment from the harmful effects of work and leisure." Not only has the landscape remained untouched, all materials used to build the hotel are environmentally friendly and were sourced from local businesses.</p><p>Copter <a href="http://www.boredpanda.com/quirky-shipping-container-hotel-at-2200-meters-above-sea-level/" target="_blank">shared</a> images of the exciting project with Bored Panda and we think you'll be just as blown away by the shipping container hotel as we were.</p><p></p><div class="slide slideshow" data-id="31254">
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<p></p><p><em>Reposted with permission from our media associate <a href="http://www.trueactivist.com/extraordinary-hotel-built-2200-meters-above-sea-level-is-made-from-shipping-containers/" target="_blank">True Activist</a>.</em><br></p>
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Copenhagen International School's new building in the Nordhavn district features the largest solar facade in the world. The 12,000 solar glass panels can generate 300 megawatt hours of electricity per year, more than half of the school's annual energy needs. After much anticipation, the pre-K to 12th grade campus opened last month.
The unique sea-green hue of the panels was created by the research institute Ecole Polytechnique Federale in Lausanne (EPFL) after more than a decade of development. By using the process of light interference, the researchers achieved the tiles' distinctive color without using any pigments and without reducing energy efficiency.
Students are excited about the school's environmentally friendly features such as the individually angled solar panels, the numerous windows that let in plenty of natural lighting, as well as the green roof.
"It means so much to me that the school is moving to a new campus that is committed to sustainability," said Copenhagen International School director Jennifer Weyburn. "The kids can learn things about sustainable solutions for the future."
The vegetables and fruits growing in the greenhouses can be eaten and can "teach kids where food actually comes from," said 12th grade student Aoife Sweeney.
The solar facade has a total area of 6,048 square meters, making it "one of the largest building-integrated solar power plants in Denmark," according to the designers at CF Møller Architects.
Here are some of the building's other impressive sustainable features:
- High performance thermal insulation
- Daylight photovoltaic cells / solar heating
- Ventilation
- Passive solar design
- Energy efficient design
- High insulation values
- Low energy windows
- Green roof
- LCA sustainable planning
- Rainwater harvesting
- Prefabricated components
- Flexibility
- LED
- Healthy building
- Noise minimization
- Natural ventilation
- Low-energy standard (2020)
As stated in Phys.org:
"The researchers' aim was to be able to define the color of their solar panels—such as brick red, royal blue, golden yellow or sea green—by ensuring that only certain wavelengths are reflected. This required a series of digital simulations and a special manufacturing process, and it took 12 years to get from the first sample to the first colored solar facade. The researchers developed special filters, which they applied to the glass panels in nanometric layers. The filter design determines which wavelengths of light will be reflected as visible color. The rest of the sunlight is absorbed by the solar panel and converted into energy."
Denmark's capital, Copenhagen, is one of the world's greenest cities. It aims to become the first carbon neutral capital by 2025. In December, the city announced plans to shed coal, oil and gas from the city's 6.9 billion kroner ($1.1 billion) investment fund.
Forest lovers will appreciate the beautiful modern glass home recently built in a secluded glade near Madrid. Penelas Architects' Hidden Pavilion was completed in 2016 in a quiet forest just northwest of Spain's capital city.
The Hidden Pavilion is located in a forest northwest of Madrid, Spain
Photo credit: Miguel de Guzmán + Rocio Romero
The Hidden Pavilion has a total floorspace of 70 sq m (753 sq ft).
Photo credit: Miguel de Guzmán + Rocio Romero
The Hidden Pavilion was designed by Penelas Architects.
Photo credit: Miguel de Guzmán + Rocio Romero
The Hidden Pavilion is surrounded by trees.
Photo credit: Miguel de Guzmán + Rocio Romero
The Hidden Pavilion is located in a forest northwest of Madrid, Spain.
Photo credit: Miguel de Guzmán + Rocio Romero
The Hidden Pavilion's veranda cantilevers over a waterfall.
Photo credit: Miguel de Guzmán + Rocio Romero
The Hidden Pavilion is topped by a rooftop terrace.
Photo credit: Miguel de Guzmán + Rocio Romero
The Hidden Pavilion is located in a forest northwest of Madrid, Spain.
Photo credit: Miguel de Guzmán + Rocio Romero
The Hidden Pavilion is a minimalist but attractive two-story home designed to accommodate human residents and surrounding trees. The second floor is carefully angled to allow room for a 200-year-old holm oak so it can continue its life unimpeded. The structure also includes openings in the roof terrace and veranda that allow younger trees to spread out.
The 753-square-foot Hidden Pavilion has a bedroom, bathroom, patio and large closet on the first floor, and a kitchen and dining area on the second floor. The floors are connected by a spiral staircase. The basic structure of the house is made of steel and the interior areas that aren't glass are cherry wood.
The walls are mostly made of glass to encourage immersion in nature and there are currently no window coverings.
While the forest encompasses much of the house, a trip to the rooftop veranda offers panoramic views of the local environment. In addition to the open roof, there is a spacious second-floor veranda that perches over a small waterfall. Chimney-like tubes in the ceiling encourage light to travel into the home, which is mostly shaded.
The Hidden Pavilion was designed "as a secluded place for meditation," and "to instill a sense of nature," Design Boom shared.
Construction began on the Hidden Pavilion "some time ago," head architect Dr. José Luis Esteban Penelas told New Atlas. It paused in 2010 and was completed in 2016.
Penelas appears to have achieved a delicate balance between the needs of human habitation and a desire to honor and appreciate the natural environment surrounding the home. Penelas Architects is based out of Madrid and Penelas teaches at the European University of Madrid. His other notable projects include Juan Carlos Park and the plaza for the Reina Sofia Modern Art Museum.
Couple Builds Greenhouse Around Home to Grow Food and Keep Warm https://t.co/HvnDcMVJEy @Earth911 @TerraCycle— EcoWatch (@EcoWatch)1449024917.0