Inhabitat

The New Bouwkunde Architecture Proposal Swoops Like a Skateboard Ramp

Back in 2008, a devastating fire tore through the Bouwkunde building where the Faculty of Architecture at the Delft University of Technology resided, resulting in a loss of more than just a structure, but also a home base for many students and faculty. To put the tragedy in the past, the university set out to start anew with a design competition to rebuild the Bouwkunde that would focus on community, sustainability, and adaptability. One of the designs is from Adam Wojtalik for his masters project, and resembles the biggest skateboard ramp you’ve ever seen. His clever solar panel-clad design for The New Bouwkunde features well thought out work areas for both students and faculty and lots of public space for relaxing and meeting.

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National Solar Homes Tour Kicks Off This Weekend!

by Bridgette Meinhold, 10/02/09

If you’re looking for something to do this Saturday, may we suggest checking out the amazing Solar Homes Tour, which will be happening this weekend in many cities around the country? The American Solar Energy Society (ASES) is hosting their 14th Annual National Solar Tour, which is said to be the world’s largest grassroots solar event. Planned for Saturday, October 3, communities and cities around the nation will open up their solar powered homes for the public to visit and learn more about solar power. If you’ve always wanted to see photovoltaic and solar thermal systems in action, this is a great chance to do so – and the fact that the whole tour consists of already existing homes and structures makes it inherently better for the Earth than many other tours!

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Vatican to Build Europe’s Largest Solar Power Plant

by Jorge Chapa, 04/20/09

The Vatican is going solar in a big way. The smallest country in the world recently announced that it intends to spend 660 million dollars to create what will effectively be Europe’s largest solar power plant. This massive 100 megawatt photovoltaic installation will provide enough energy to make the Vatican the first solar powered nation state in the world!

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London Approves a Solar Powered Student Tower

by Bridgette Meinhold, 04/09/09

By 2011 the city of Wembley will have a spiraling new student housing tower powered by solar panels. Located close to Wembley Stadium, this multi-tiered tower designed by London-based CZWG will contain 435 student rooms. The solar-powered tower is part of a planned redevelopment that will help regenerate and enhance the local urban landscape.

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PREFAB FRIDAY: Sean Godsell’s Gorgeous Glenburn House

Wandering through the Australian Hills north of Melbourne, it would be easy to miss this deceptively simple, yet elegant house nestled into the surrounding countryside. But once you have reached this beautiful abode designed by Sean Godsell it’s hard to forget it. These hills are not just the home of this dynamic dwelling, but they act to protect it from the often harsh Australian weather and provide shade from the blazing sun.

Solar Energy Cogeneration Solution from SolarWall

Solar photovoltaics are, depending on the day, between 8-15% efficient meaning much of the sun’s energy’s is lost as heat. While solar thermal systems offer a way to harvest this heat energy for heating water or interior spaces, this option has usually displaced the electricity generating PV on rooftops. A new system from SolarWall, the SolarDuct PV/T, offers a combination of solar photovoltaic and solar thermal in one assembly providing a means to heat and power from the sun with one product.