Green Building & Misc. Articles
Toward a BIM Paradigm
A systems approach to building information modeling should not be confused with the notion of a single building information model. Implementing BIM does not mean that all of the information about a building must be compiled into a single data file, reside in a single physical location, or be maintained by a single business entity throughout the life cycle of the building.
The notion of a comprehensive life cycle building information model - while conceptually appealing - is problematic from a business point of view. Often cited as one of the primary goals of a BIM implementation strategy, the single building model is beyond the reach of any end user today for the same reason that it has been out of reach for 30 years: neither the technology nor the market conditions needed to support it exist.
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Workers Want Green Jobs, Not Astroturf
This week, the Made in America tour heads to Gary, Indiana, where workers will rally in support of green jobs and climate legislation. These men and women recognize that Gary's ailing steel plants can be revived by producing parts for wind turbines, hybrid car batteries, and other clean energy solutions.
This is why they are coming together to support the clean energy bill. And this is what real grassroots look like.
A new Washington Post poll shows that most Americans approve of the Obama administration's efforts to shift to clean energy. Likewise, August polling by Zogby International showed that seven in ten Americans support clean energy legislation and want to see it passed in the Senate.
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Illinois adopts green building code for new homes
Illinois Governor Pat Quinn signed new legislation into law Friday creating statewide minimum energy efficiency standards for new homes.
The product of years of negotiations, House Bill 3987-the Energy Efficient Building Act-brings Illinois in line with the latest International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) for new residential construction, updated automatically every three years. The Energy Efficient Building Act represented an agreement between environmental groups, architects, and Illinois homebuilders.
"This bill will increase the energy efficiency standards for new and renovated homes, and ultimately reduce our carbon footprint," said Governor Quinn. "It is important here in Illinois that we make a commitment to thinking and acting green, and this important legislation will help us carry out that mission."
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UQM and BorgWarner Team on Electric Drive.
UQM Technologies has announce that it is collaborating with BorgWarner electric powertrain products for all-electric and hybrid-electric passenger automobiles. Initially, the companies are working together to integrate UQM Technologies' PowerPhase(R) electric propulsion system with BorgWarner's 31-03 eGearDrive(tm) transmission for the all-electric CODA front-wheel drive five-passenger sedan, scheduled for introduction in the California market in mid-2010.
Delivering nearly 2,000 Nm (1,500 ft-lbs) of torque with a gear ratio of approximately 6.5 to 1. The UQM/BorgWarner package will propel a mid-size passenger vehicle at highway speeds with economical, high powertrain efficiency.
The UQM PowerPhase electric propulsion system has a peak power rating of 100 kW (134 horsepower) and a continuous power rating of 45 kW (60 horsepower). It delivers peak torque of 300 Nm (221 ft-lbs) and continuous torque of 160 Nm (118 ft-lbs). With a diameter of only 280 mm (11 inches) and a weight of 46 kg (102 lbs), this motor will fit easily in a wide range of passenger vehicles, including subcompacts. The system also features optimized four-quadrant performance, dynamic torque, speed and voltage control, and system energy efficiency of over 90 percent across a substantial portion of its power curve.
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New York launches green building program
New York is the latest in a growing list of state and city governments mandating green building for government-owned facilities. Governor David A. Paterson has signed the State Green Building Construction Act and all new construction and major renovations must meet green building guidelines.
Although the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED certification system is one of the most popular green building standards in the world, New York's State Green Building Construction Act will be based off of as of yet unwritten guidelines. The state's Office of General Services (OGS) will be crafting new green building standards for state buildings.
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New Design Keeps Buildings Standing And Habitable After Major Earthquakes
ScienceDaily (Sep. 4, 2009) - A new earthquake-resistant structural system for buildings, just successfully tested in Japan, will not only help a multi-story building hold itself together during a violent earthquake, but also return it to standing up straight on its foundation afterward, true and plumb, with damage confined to a few easily replaceable parts.
The team that designed the system was led by researchers at Stanford University and the University of Illinois. During testing on a massive shake table, the system survived simulated earthquakes in excess of magnitude 7, bigger than either the 1994 Northridge earthquake or the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake in California.
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Growing Green Roofs
ScienceDaily (Sep. 4, 2009) - One way to maximize the eco-friendly factor of a structure is to include a green roof-and this doesn't refer to the paint color. "Greening" a roof, or covering a roof with vegetation, is gaining popularity in North America, where the number of green roofs increased 30% from 2006 to 2007. Benefits of green roofs include improved storm water management, energy conservation, reduced noise and air pollution, improved biodiversity, and even a better return on investment than traditional roofing.
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New Graphene-based, Nano-material Has Magnetic Properties
ScienceDaily (Sep. 5, 2009) - An international team of researchers has designed a new graphite-based, magnetic nano-material that acts as a semiconductor and could help material scientists create the next generation of electronic devices like microchips.
The team of researchers from Virginia Commonwealth University; Peking University in Beijing, China; the Chinese Academy of Science in Shanghai, China; and Tohoku University in Sedai, Japan; used theoretical computer modeling to design the new material they called graphone, which is derived from an existing material known as graphene.
Graphene, created by scientists five years ago, is 200 times stronger than steel, its electrons are highly mobile and it has unique optical and transport properties. Some experts believe that graphene may be more versatile than carbon nanotubes, and the ability to make graphene magnetic adds to its potential for novel applications in spintronics. Spintronics is a process using electron spin to synthesize new devices for memory and data processing.
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Greening University Classrooms: Adding Plants Increases Student Satisfaction
ScienceDaily (Sep. 6, 2009) - In today's frenetic world, many urban dwellers spend more than 80% of the day indoors. Bringing nature in to living spaces by enhancing homes and offices with ornamental plants has become another popular facet of the move to "green" our lives. In addition to their aesthetic beauty, indoor plants have been shown to offer psychological and restorative values, such as reduced tension, better coping mechanisms, and increased concentration and attention.
Researchers have found that the presence of houseplants in homes and workplaces can reduce eye irritation and stress, motivate employees, improve concentration, and even reduce air impurities. Plants appeared to have a positive effect on headaches and fatigue and hoarseness, and employees even reported having less dry skin when plants were introduced to offices. Interior plants have also been shown to increase work productivity; in one study, employees' reaction time on computer tasks improved by 12% when plants were present.
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