1. RENEWABLE
ENERGY
The key to sustainable development is
basically maintaining an appropriate
balance between development and
conservation.
In fact, environmental
management is essentially managing
human activities so as to minimize adverse
impacts on the environment.
Sustainable Construction
Management
2. New Record: Wind Powers 40% Of Spain
Wind Powers
Idea Of Renewable Technology
Wind power is breaking new records in Spain,
accounting for just over 40 percent of all
electricity consumed during a brief period last
weekend.
As heavy winds lashed Spain on Saturday
evening wind parks generated 9,862
megawatts of power which translated to 40.8
percent of total consumption.
Between Friday and Sunday wind power
accounted for an average of 28 percent of all
electricity demand in Spain. Spain’s wind
power generation equaled that of hydropower
for the first time in 2007.
Spain, which along with Germany and
Denmark, is among the three biggest
producers of wind power in the 27-nation
European Union, is aiming to triple the amount
of energy it derives from renewable sources
by 2020.
3. North America’s Largest Solar-Electric Plant
The plant, which cost $100 million to construct
covers 140 acres of land
Solar Powers
North America’s largest solar photovoltaic
system is now running and generating power —
about 30 million kilowatt-hours of electricity
annually. The 14 megawatt power plant is at the
Nellis Air Force Base in the sunny desert of
southern Nevada. It’s expected to save about $1
million in power costs annually, and reduce
carbon dioxide emissions by 24,000 tons each
year.
The photovoltaic system is made up of
72,000 solar panels. It’s enough to provide
30% of the electric needs on the base,
where 12,000 people work and 7,215
people live. But at 14 megawatts the power
output of this system is modest, compared
to the solar thermal Nevada One project
which generates 64 megawatts of power.
Idea Of Renewable Technology
4. 11 MW Solar Tower Complex Opens in Spain
The tower project is called “PS10″ and it uses
624 large movable mirrors called heliostats.
Each of the mirrors has a surface measuring
1,290 square feet that concentrates the Sun’s
rays to the top of a 377 foot high tower where a
solar receiver and a steam turbine are located.
The turbine drives a generator, producing
electricity.
PS10 is the first of a set of solar electric power
generation plants to be constructed in the same
area that will total more than 300 MW by 2013.
Power generation will be accomplished using a
variety of technologies.
Europe’s first concentrated tower open recently
near the sunny southern Spanish city of Seville.
The 11 megawatt plant took four years to build
— it was created by a Spanish energy company,
Solucar.
Idea Of Renewable Technology
5. Major Solar Power Plants In Portugal
Electric sun cells face the sun at a solar power plant in
Serpa, southern Portugal.
The sun sets over the solar power plant, one of the largest in
Europe
An engineer walks between sun power panels at the plant.
Spread across 60 hectares
Electric sun cells face the sun at a solar power plant in Serpa,
southern Portugal
Idea Of Renewable Technology
6. Madrid Spain Huge “Air Tree” Structure Produces Its Own Power and Oxygen
In Madrid, Spain they are currently building a huge structure called an “Air
Tree” or “Eco Boulevard de Vallecas”. The Tree was created by Urban
Ecosystem to be a social center, and to improve the surrounding
environment. The structure is also completely self-sufficient, generating all
its own power with solar cells. Any surplus energy is sold to the electrical
grid. It also produces oxygen using its arrays of plants and trees, hence
the “tree” appellation.
Idea Of Renewable Technology
8. Clean Technology Tower
Architect
Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture
Adrian Smith, Design Partner
Gordon Gill, Design Partner
Robert Forest, Management Partner
Project Team
Brad Wilkins, Brendan Gibbons, David Ellis, Ian Mills, Jorge Soler, Les Ventsch
Idea Of Renewable Technology
Innovative Tower To Feature Atrium Of Wind Turbines
9. Innovative Tower To Feature Atrium Of Wind Turbines
Building on principles of biomimicry, Clean Technology Tower utilizes
advanced technologies and climate-appropriate building systems to
foster a symbiotic relationship with its local environment. The tower is
sited and formed to harness the power of natural forces at its site- but
it refines the conventional methods of capturing those natural forces
to significantly increase efficiency. Wind turbines are located at the
building’s corners to capture wind at its highest velocity as it
accelerates around the tower.
Idea Of Renewable Technology
10. The Devonshire Building was designed by the
Dewjoc architecture firm. It is home to the
Institute for Research and Sustainability at the
University of Newcastle.
The Devonshire Building - Sustainable
solar shading for science structure.
The Devonshire Building is a landmark
six-storey edifice in the heart of
University of Newcastle’s campus and
is due to become operational in April
2004. It is home to the Institute for
Research and Sustainability and the
Regional E-Science Centre and is
therefore a pioneering construction
embracing recycled materials,
renewable energy and solar power,
reflecting the University’s commitment
to the environment.
The Devonshire Building – Sustainable Solar Shading
Idea Of Renewable Technology
11. The building’s large roof area also allowed the
construction of a rainwater harvest system. The rain
is collected via a symphonic rainwater system and
then fed into a 20,000 liter underground tank. If the
rainwater tank overfills, it overflows to a 40,000 liter
geothermal tank to replenish the water for a heat
sink that acts as a cooling source for the building
and services’ systems.
The Devonshire Building – Sustainable Solar Shading
Idea Of Renewable Technology
12. A fluid aesthetic façade solution
Steve Halsall, project architect with The Dewjoc
Partnership comments: “The prime objective to
the building design was the integration of the
solar shading with the façade design. Levolux
took up the challenge by taking on a proactive
role in the design development of the solar
shading system, which has resulted in a fluid
aesthetic façade solution.”
The Devonshire Building – Sustainable Solar Shading
Idea Of Renewable Technology
13. Stunning Solar Building Will Generate More Power Than It Needs
The Masdar Headquarters Building
Construction of Masdar City commenced with a
formal ground-breaking ceremony on February
9, 2008. The City will be constructed over
seven phases and is due to be completed by
2016. Masdar’s headquarters is part of phase
one and were completed end of 2010.
Masdar Headquarters will have the lowest energy
consumption per square foot, it will feature the largest
photovoltaic system and the largest solar thermal driven
cooling and dehumidification system. The building will also
have integrated wind turbines. It will consume about 70%
less water than a typical mixed-use building of its size.
Idea Of Renewable Technology
14. MASDAR HEADQUARTERS
MASDAR CITY, ABU DHABI, UAE
Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture has won an international
competition to design the Masdar Headquarters, the first building in
the zero waste, zero carbon emission Masdar City outside of Abu
Dhabi in United Arab Emirates. The Masdar Headquarters will be
the first mixed-use positive energy building in the world.
The Masdar Headquarters Building
Idea Of Renewable Technology
15. The Masdar Headquarters Building
The Masdar Headquarters building will produce more power than it needs (an energy positive
building). In fact, the solar roof (one of the largest in the world) will be constructed first, and it
will power the construction of the rest of the building. The video link on this page has a great
view of the sun-infused interior.
16. The 1.4 million square foot building was designed by Chicago architecture firm Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill. It
will serve as the centerpiece of Masdar City, which will end up being about a $22 billion development in Abu
Dhabi (the capital of United Arab Emirates).
The Masdar Headquarters Building
17. Here’s an example of day lighting at the Hong Kong
Science Park. Notice that the light is filtered through
translucent skylights and clerestories in a central
atrium, thus reducing glare and overheating. The top
of the building has shades, see them after the jump:Sunshades are extensively incorporated
into the external facades to shield direct
sunlight penetration, reducing heat gain to
the office so as to reduce electricity
consumption for air conditioning
Hong Kong Science Park – Solar Glass
Idea Of Renewable Technology
18. Hong Kong Science Park – Solar Glass
BIPV panels have been fitted to the facade, the louvers and
the roof canopy of the Buildings in Phase 1. The BIPV is
connected to the electricity grid and have an approximately
200 kilo-Watt output.
The installation of BIPV panels can pursue new clean
energy technologies, reduce consumption of natural
resources and cut emissions to the atmosphere. It can
save approximately 250MWh of electricity consumption
annually.
Idea Of Renewable Technology
19. German Parliament – 100% Renewable Power
The German Reichstag is expected to become the
greenest parliament building in the world, thanks to a
decision to rely solely on renewable energy. From late
summer the building is due to swap to green power
sources such as water, wind and solar energy,
replacing the conventional power that it has largely
relied upon until now.
Its extensive refurbishment in the late 1990s, including
the glass cupola designed by the British architect Sir
Norman Foster, had already won it plaudits. Ecologists
praised the building’s energy efficiency, which has led
to a 94% cut in its carbon emissions.
Its roof makes passive use of solar power and natural
light and its thick, well-insulated 19th-century walls
help retain warmth in winter and reduce the need for
air conditioning in summer.
At the moment biofuel generators in the basement
produce 40% of the building’s energy, for lighting,
heating, the flow of air conditioning and water, while
the rest comes mainly from coal and nuclear
supplies.
Idea Of Renewable Technology
20. Green Towers In Malaysia Modeled After Fleet of Ships
Sustainable Tower in Malaysia
These unusual, onion-shaped towers are designed for Precinct 4, or
the Putrajaya waterfront in Malaysia (30 kilometers south of Kuala
Kumpur).
Designed by Studio Nicoletti Associati, was inspired by ship sails and
traditional Islamic architecture.
The architect’s goal was to
design buildings that tell “of
its place of origin which is
culturally modern, Islamic and
tropical in nature.” Added to
this is Nicoletti’s extensive
experience in design and
construction for extreme
climates.
The Italian firm brought
sustainable strategies like
terraces, sunshades, natural
ventilation and integrated
green space into the design.
The buildings will source from
alternative energy and are
expected to produce 50%
less CO2 emissions than
similar residential projects.
Idea Of Renewable Technology
21. Green Towers In Malaysia Modeled After Fleet of Ships
A stunning new residential development is
planned for the Putrajaya waterfront known as
Precinct 4,
The design, however, is a refreshing and original
with unique, marine-inspired structures - which
also draw from traditional Islamic designs -
arranged in a permeable, radiating block of
bioclimatic architecture.
Idea Of Renewable Technology
23. 2007
Singapore
Sun, Wind and
Architecture
2006
Geneva,
Switzerland
Clever Design,
Affordable Comfort:
A challenge for low
energy architecture
and urban planning
2005
Beirut, Lebanon
Environmental
Sustainability: The
Challenge of
Awareness in
Developing
Societies
2004
Eindhoven, The
Netherlands
Built environments
and environmental
buildings
2003
Santiago, Chile
Rethinking
development : Are
we producing a
people oriented
habitat?
2002
Toulouse, France
Design with the
environment
2001
Florianópolis, Brazil
Renewable energy
for a sustainable
development of
the built
environment
2000
Cambridge, UK
Architecture, City,
Environment
2008
Dublin, Ireland
Towards Zero
Energy Building
PLEA stands for "Passive and Low Energy Architecture", a commitment to the development,
documentation and diffusion of the principles of bioclimatic design and the application of natural
and innovative techniques for sustainable architecture and urban design.
PLEA
