sustainable building

You can connect with guest Kiersten Washle on LinkedIn.

You can follow Chris Rawlings on LinkedIn and Bowerbird Energy on Instagram, YouTube, Facebook and Twitter.

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Visit Bowerbird Energy online at bowerbirdenergy.com. Please stay in touch and send us ideas about guests and future episode topics of Energy Sense at info@bowerbirdenergy.com.

Subscribe to the Energy Sense Podcast and find all episodes here.

Join our host, Jonathan Shaw in his chat with Gemma Cornwall, Head of Sustainability at AG Built Environment Consultancy.

Our Sustainability and Energy Performance Advisory team makes it easy to implement a sustainability strategy within any business, organisation or residential property. With our in-house Energy Assessors, AG will evaluate the potential material improvements that can be made to commercial and domestic properties and their associated costs. Learn more about our services: https://andertongables.co.uk/sustainability-energy-performance-advisory/

Learn more about Gemma's role at AG: https://andertongables.co.uk/our-people/gemma-cornwall/

Gemma on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gemma-cornwall-mrics-64429bb1

AG Built Environment Consultancy
We believe that buildings should be assets, not liabilities.

LET'S TALK.
www.andertongables.co.uk

What are solar windows?

Solar windows, also known as building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV), are windows that generate electricity from sunlight.  They are typically made with thin, transparent layers of photovoltaic material that can capture and convert solar energy into electricity while still allowing light to pass through, so as to avoid sacrificing visibility.  Solar windows are an emerging alternative to traditional solar panels in buildings and homes that can be seamlessly integrated into the design of the building and do not take up additional space.   

Conventional solar panels use silicon semiconductors, which absorb energy from both visible and invisible wavelengths of light.  However, solar windows need to allow visible light to pass through, so they use organic semiconductors instead. Organic semiconductors contain a large amount of carbon in their molecules and have narrow spectral absorption bands, meaning they only absorb wavelengths of light that are invisible to the human eye. This allows visible light to pass through the window while still generating electricity from sunlight.  Solar windows are an emerging technology; scientists are actively researching and developing new types of solar windows, such as transparent coatings, customizable smart windows, and switchable windows.    

Solar windows have the potential to make a significant contribution to renewable energy generation and the transition to a low-carbon economy.  By harnessing the power of sunlight, they can generate electricity for homes, buildings, and other structures, reducing reliance on fossil fuels and decreasing greenhouse gas emissions.  These windows may be particularly useful in buildings with large window areas or limited roof space for traditional solar panels, providing an alternative, or additional, way to generate electricity from renewable sources.    

Who is Professor Stephen Forrest?

Stephen Forrest, an engineering professor at the University of Michigan, is the co-author of two recent studies related to solar windows. The first study examines the costs associated with building and installing solar windows, while the second study focuses on a process for manufacturing large and efficient solar windows. As an expert in the field, Professor Forrest has valuable insights into the potential and challenges of solar windows as a renewable energy source.

Sources:

• https://www.nrel.gov/tech-deployment/buildings-research/solar-windows.html
• https://news.engin.umich.edu/2022/07/toward-manufacturing-semitransparent-solar-cells-the-size-of-windows/
• https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/materials-science/organic-semiconductor
• https://www.nrel.gov/news/press/2017/nrel-develops-switchable-solar-window.html
• https://www.anl.gov/article/customizable-smart-window-technology-could-improve-energy-efficiency-of-buildings
• https://www.science.org/content/article/skyscrapers-could-soon-generate-their-own-power-thanks-see-through-solar-cells
• https://www.cell.com/joule/fulltext/S2542-4351(22)00289-6?_returnURL=https%3A%2F%2Flinkinghub.elsevier.com%2Fretrieve%2Fpii%2FS2542435122002896%3Fshowall%3Dtrue
• https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlelanding/2020/se/d0se00910e/unauth
• https://www.science.org/content/article/ultrathin-organic-solar-cells-could-turn-buildings-power-generators

For a transcript, please visit https://climatebreak.org/could-windows-be-a-source-of-solar-energy-with-professor-stephen-forrest/

An exciting episode and topic for the future of bamboo architecture in the Americas. Jules De Laage is an architect, former Program Manager at Bamboo U and currently leading the team building Green School Tulum in Mexico. In this episode, we talk about what it’s like to bring bamboo designs into a new context that faces environmental challenges like hurricanes, which requires an entirely new design vocabulary to emerge as a response.

In This Episode We Discuss:

• What It Is Like To Build With Bamboo In Mexico
• Adapting To The Local Constraints
• Turning Constraints Into Creative Opportunities
• New Structural Systems For Hurricanes
• Bamboo Species and Heat Bending Bamboo
• Building Curves Without Compromising Structural Integrity
• Testing The Mechanical Properties Of Bamboo
• The Social Context For Bamboo In Mexico
• Training Carpenters To Work With Bamboo
• It Takes A Village To Grow Bamboo Buildings
• Bamboo U Alumni Working On Green School Tulum

Learn more about Green School Tulum at:

https://greenschooltulum.mx/

Jules’ is a guest speaker for The Fundamentals Of Building Bamboo Online Course: https://www.bamboou.com/courses

What does it take to pioneer the future of sustainable building? Join our thought-provoking conversation with Dr. Greg Kingsley, President, CEO, and founding partner of KL&A Engineers & Builders. Discover his journey from knowing he wanted to be a structural engineer in high school to becoming a driving force in the advancement of sustainable building practices.

Listen in as Dr. Kingsley reveals how his passion for Mass Timber and embodied carbon has shaped his career and the trajectory of KL&A Engineers & Builders. From code reform advocacy and vast personal education, to collaborating with timber companies, government organizations, and fellow engineers - Dr. Kingsley's vision for a healthy forest and circular economy is truly inspiring.

Don't miss the opportunity to learn from Dr. Kingsley as he shares his perspective on breaking down industry silos and the importance of putting oneself out there to foster innovation and resilience in the world of sustainable building. You'll walk away inspired and ready to make a difference in your own community and industry.

Want to build a Mass Timber project so you can stand out, sequester carbon and be a market leader? Connect with Cornerstone Timberframes to get started on the right track.

Want to learn how to design and build multifamily mass timber buildings so you can advance your career and build an incredible portfolio? Check out the Mass Timber Group Summit.

Want to hear more about Mass Timber and see cool projects using it so you can stay up to speed on the industry? Follow the Mass Timber Group on LinkedIn.

Sanne is a Bamboo U Alumni and an architect from Amsterdam. Together with her team, she is working on building an entire bamboo industry in Uganda- from plantation and harvesting to government support and building structures.

_______

In This Episode We Discuss:

4:05 Sanne’s First Bamboo Building Project

6:16 Building With Sustainable Materials In Uganda

7:20 Establishing The Overall System For A Bamboo Project To Be Possible

8:06 The Clients And Organisations Wanting To Build With Bamboo In Uganda

10:47 Setting Up A Bamboo Supply Chain

12:32 INBAR And Bamboo Seedlings

13:37 Setting Up A Database For Bamboo Uganda

14:43 Bamboo Species Of Africa

16:00 How Does Growing Bamboo Influence Your Designs

18:31 Bamboo Species Influencing Design

20:55 Opening A Bamboo Factory

22:18 Bamboo At The Nyege Nyege Music Festival

22:45 Building a 9000 sqm Bamboo Structure Over The Old Taxi Park In Uganda

25:35 Training Local Carpenters

28:18 Designing Within Constraints

31:35 Ubuntu: I Am Because We Are

32:40 Bringing The Right People Together

Learn more about Sanne and her team’s work:

@bkvvarchitecten

@sanneeekel

Sanne is an alumni of both Bamboo U’s The Fundamentals Of Building Bamboo Online Course and our 11 Day Build and Design Course: https://www.bamboou.com/courses

We’re thrilled to introduce Ken Williams, the Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Legalett Canada. With over 30 years of experience and a stack of awards under his belt, Ken is a true industry trailblazer.

Get ready to be amazed as Ken shares his incredible journey with Legalett, their award-winning ICF products, and how they're transforming the market.

You'll hear about the impressive energy efficiency achieved in their projects, like the remarkable Salus Clementine development, where each of the 42 units costs just $27 annually to heat!

We’ll hear about a huge pivotal moment when their website experienced a surge of inquiries, almost crashing, with over 500 people in North America seeking quotes for their projects in a week, when a good week would consist of only 25 inquiries. 

Ken will share how Legalett has evolved beyond being a supplier to becoming trusted leaders and experts in the Passive House community. Their commitment to certifications and staying up-to-date with the latest developments in Passive House principles has earned them this recognition.

We're also diving headfirst into the issues of reducing embodied carbon in construction as we explore the complexities of this topic and unveil innovative products and methods that are shaping a more sustainable future. Ken sheds light on the real cost of embodied carbon and challenges preconceptions that he wishes people would know sooner. 

So, get ready to be inspired, gain valuable insights, and witness the incredible transformation that Legalett has undergone in the pursuit of excellence within the Passive House industry.

We will learn about Jackie and her career in sustainability, from her early days as one of the first directors of the Canada Green Building Council to her present role as a Modular Consultant for NRB Modular. She will clarify the distinctions between modular construction and pre-fab build, their practical use cases, and some surprising benefits that she has learned along the way.

She will also share how NRB is responding to the growing demand for affordable housing and how they are expanding their capabilities by combining Passive House with modular construction through the King Williams project in Hamilton. She will also explain how they are qualifying for more funding by meeting the energy requirements of municipalities through the CMHC Co-Investment Fund.

Additionally, you will hear about their Passive House training and the significance of involving all the different roles, from design to construction, to ensure a seamless process.

Finally, we will delve into the issue of energy costs, how the build is determined depending on who pays for it, and who ultimately bears the responsibility for the costs.

In the second episode of Light Talks, the Zumtobel Group's podcast, the focus is on access to (affordable) housing, sustainable building solutions and related future housing concepts. Expertise is contributed by Roger Boltshauser, founder and architect of Boltshauser Architekten with offices in Zurich and Munich, and Carles Baiges, architect and member of the young architectural co-operative Lacol from Barcelona. Together with host Diana Panzirsch, the guests address economic aspects such as rising rents and construction costs. In 2021, Carles Baiges with Lacol won the Zumtobel Group Award in the Buildings category with their La Borda Cooperative Housing project, a wooden building in Barcelona. A year later, Baiges recognizes that wood is becoming more conventional and accepted as a sustainable building material. Parallels can also be found in Zurich: currently under construction is the high-rise H1 by Boltshauser Architekten, in hybrid construction with a wooden core – and at 75 metres high, one of the first buildings of its kind in Switzerland. Both architects agree that wooden houses are one way to make the built environment more environmentally friendly. However, they say it's much more about the big picture, not just focusing on or relying on a single building material. For them, sustainability aspects, cost issues, aesthetic visions and considerations about new ways of living situations must be compatible in the future.

In der zweiten Folge von Light Talks, dem Podcast der Zumtobel Group, stehen der Zugang zu (leistbarem) Wohnraum, nachhaltige Baulösungen und damit verbunden zukünftige Wohnkonzepte im Fokus. Die Expertise wird von Roger Boltshauser, Gründer und Architekt von Boltshauser Architekten mit Büros in Zürich und München, und Carles Baiges, Architekt und Teil der jungen Architektenkooperative Lacol aus Barcelona, beigesteuert. Gemeinsam mit Moderatorin Diana Panzirsch thematisieren die Gäste auch wirtschaftliche Aspekte wie steigende Mietpreise und Baukosten. 2021 gewann Carles Baiges mit Lacol und ihrem Cooperative-Housing-Projekt La Borda in Holzbauweise in Barcelona den Zumtobel Group Award in der Kategorie Buildings. Ein Jahr später konstatiert Baiges, dass Holz als nachhaltiger Baustoff immer konventioneller und akzeptierter ist. Auch in Zürich findet man Parallelen: aktuell im Entstehen das Hochhaus H1 von Boltshauser Architekten, in Hybridbauweise mit einem Holzkern – und mit 75 Metern Höhe eines der ersten Gebäude seiner Art in der Schweiz. Beide Architekten sind sich einig, dass Holzhäuser eine Möglichkeit darstellen, Bauten umweltfreundlicher zu gestalten. Aber es geht auch um das Gesamtbild, das sich nicht nur auf einen einzigen Baustoff konzentriert oder verlässt. Nachhaltigkeitsaspekte, Kostenfragen, ästhetische Visionen und Überlegungen über noch unkonventionelle Wohnsituationen müssen in Zukunft Hand in Hand gehen.

Hello! This is Episode 251, and in it, I’m continuing my conversation with Derek Layfield, Managing Director of Durra Panel.

[For all resources mentioned in this podcast and a free, downloadable PDF transcript, head to www.undercoverarchitect.com/251]

If you haven’t listened to part 1 of our conversation, you’ll find that in Episode 250. Head to www.undercoverarchitect.com/250 to listen now, or download the PDF transcript, and come back here when you’re all caught up!

As a reminder, Durra Panel is a densely compressed straw building panel used in a huge range of projects globally. 

Made in Australia, it’s an incredibly sustainable, durable, highly fire resistant building material that's also fully recyclable and biodegradable.

In Part 2 of my conversation with Derek, we learn more about how to work with Durra Panel. 

We talk more about the other finishes that Durra Panel is available in so it’s super functional in lots of applications, and also how to work with it, and how it compares to other products you might be familiar with. 

If you’d like to grab a full transcript of this episode, plus information on the resources we discuss, you can do that by heading to www.undercoverarchitect.com/251.

Now, let’s dive in!

SHOW NOTES:

If you’re struggling with understanding the overall steps for your project, what you should be focussing on and when, or how to best invest your efforts, energy and money to get a great outcome in your future home, I’ve created something super helpful for you.

Access my free online workshop “Your Project Plan” now >>> https://undercoverarchitect.com/projectplan

This free workshop will really help you understand the best steps to take wherever you’re at in your project, and how you can avoid some serious and expensive mistakes. 

Plus, I’ll share with you what to focus on and when, so you know you’re getting everything in order for a successful project and beautiful home. And you’ll get access to some great bonuses as well.

LISTEN TO THE PODCAST NOW.

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS PODCAST:

For links and resources mentioned in this podcast, head to >>> https://undercoverarchitect.com/251

Access my free “Your Project Plan” online workshop and awesome bonuses now >>> https://undercoverarchitect.com/projectplan

Access the support and guidance you need to be confident and empowered when renovating and building your family home inside my flagship online program >>> https://undercoverarchitect.com/courses/the-home-method/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Shamita a circular economy expert and the CEO and founder of the Malba Project. Through Malba Project, she strives to bring attention to the construction waste stream, and enable the transition to a circular construction sector in India. To read the show notes click here .

For people who are visually inclined watch the episode on Youtube.

🧱 Time Stamps 

00:00:00 - Intro 

00:04:05 - Background Story 

00:07:58 - What is Malba and The Malba Project? 

00:09:48 - Reasons for demolition of buildings 

00:15:13 - Rigid idea of ownership and changing dynamics 

00:17:15 - Demolition process and practices 

00:23:50 - C & D management and facilities 

00:26:05 - C & D management laws, practices in various countries 

00:32:35 - What is circular economy 

00:36:17 - Roadmap and challenges of The Malba Project 

00:39:30 - Top down vs Bottom Up approach 

00:42:13 - Role of designers

Connect with Tiny Farm Lab 

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Connect with The Malba Project
 

📰 Subscribe to our free weekly Tiny Farm Friends Newsletter: 

Every week we send a mail with tiny insights and resources to help you follow your countryside dream, create art, and build naturally.

The next one drops on Sunday!

Give it a try, it's free:

https://www.tinyfarmlab.com/newsletter

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Subscribe to our channel on Youtube - @tinyfarmlab

Email: Tinyfarmlab@gmail.com

Can a website help save the planet?  Joanna Abrams believes so.  Joanna Abrams is the CEO and Founder of Mindclick, a product intelligence platform that rates the environmental impact of manufacturers and their products.

Joanna’s journey into Mindclick is an entertaining listen, full of windy roads, detours, and even failures.  One of the highlights of this episode comes towards the end, when Joanna walks our host, Doug Shapiro, straight into an epiphany around why we sometimes lose sight of a way of living and thinking that really matters.

Learn more about Mindclick:

Sign-up to receive a FREE copy of the newest Imagine a Place journal:

Connect with Doug Shapiro on LinkedIn:

Follow Doug on LinkedIn.

Click here to get your copy of Doug's children's book—Design Your World.

Follow Imagine a Place on LinkedIn.

What if real estate could be used as a force for good, rather than further degradation?

It is no secret that the infrastructure our civilization is built upon is outdated, extractive, and harmful to our health and the environment. Buildings account for nearly 40% of all energy consumed globally and are notorious for wanton waste.

One person that has answered that question is Aaron Fairchild, co-founder and CEO of Green Canopy. Aaron's background seeking to do good and make an impact has roots dating to his time spent in Peace Corps and in the banking and the alternative energy sectors.

In 2008, Aaron and his co-founder Sam created Green Canopy in Seattle to see if they could create a better, healthier, greener homes. What started as deep retrofits morphed into net zero infill developments of single family and multifamily homes and communities.

Aaron and his team take a unique approach to green development and see scaling as an opportunity to drive change. With each energy efficient and healthy home they bring to the market they set a high water mark for other builders and developers to aim towards. During the company's existence they've seen 7-8% of new homes have sustainable features to now over 50% in the Seattle area.

Green Canopy brings a level of sophistication not commonly seen in the green building space. Their model has attracted investors that are seeking to do good with their funds while still returning a healthy profit. Their for-profit ventures also enable them to provide affordable housing options and work with community-based and socially justice organizations like Nehemiah Initiative Seattle and Habitat for Humanity.

This is a great podcast episode for those that are interested in the green building field and real estate professionals. Aaron has some incredible life lessons and take-aways that help to illuminate how one can make an impact in their lives, careers, and with their money. 

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At Latitude, we're more than a real estate firm; we're your partner in the transformation of homes, communities, and habitats towards healthy, resilient, and thriving communities.

By combining specialized real estate consulting services with a creative agency model, we work with property stewards and developers on capital and fundraising strategies, team formation, branding, marketing, and sales.

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Are you a professional wanting to create transformational outcomes with your work? Join the Regenerative Real Estate Community to get access to workshops, regenerative real estate investment opportunities, and connect to other leaders and culture creators within the greater real estate industry to create the impact you seek in your work.

Trees are one of our most precious resources in our community.  In this episode we look at a local organization and how they close the loop from arborists to artists.  Wisconsin Urban Wood has made some great contributions to area by helping to bring felled trees to other business to be made into usable lumber and locally made furniture.  Enjoy the discussion!

In this episode of Architecture, Design & Photography we sit down with Jesse Thompson, Architect and Co-Founder of Kaplan Thompson Architects.

More on Chris Magwood and the Endeavor Centre at: http://endeavourcentre.org/ and https://www.chrismagwood.ca/