building green

[radfringe]

Every year around the solstice, a group of us get together at Shenandoah National park.

It's a small group of friends who live all over the US, and this gathering is a time to see and talk to each other and serve no other purpose. On the average we have about 15 people show up.

Ennywho, one friend of ours teaches architecture at a college in San Diego. His social circle out there includes academics as well as professional architects who design everything from houses to business buildings to industrial.

He's observed that in the past 3 years or so there has been a growing demand on his professional friends to design GREEN structures. Energy efficiency, combinations of solar/wind and conventional sources for energy, better insulation techniques, usage of "green" and/or recycled building materials are at the top of the list for design specs.

This includes renovations and/or additions to existing structures.

Although my friend lives in CA - his circle of professional architects and engineers are all over the US and they are saying the same thing. They are being asked to design GREEN

[Matsubara]

1. There's definitely a lot of interest in making buildings that are energy-efficient...

...that won't have sick building syndrome. Windows that open during nice weather, adjustable sun shades for the hot side of the building, less chemicals in the materials inside, solar panels. There are several new government buildings here that incorporate these technologies.

I used to work in an office with those damn windows that won't open. It sucks having to be in recirculated air ALL YEAR ROUND. It's about time this stuff really came into vogue in American workplaces.