Uber-Eco-Towers: The Top Ten Green Skyscrapers

The Urban Cactus, Rotterdam 
UNDER CONSTRUCTION
The Urban Cactus is a residential project in the Netherlands that will offer 98 residential units on 19 floors. Thanks to the staggered design of the curvy balconies, each unit's outdoor space will get plenty of light from the sun. That means that this greenscraper really will be green when all the residents' gardens are in bloom. While this tower may lack in the technology department, its carbon-mitigation potential still looms high thanks to all the photosynthesis happening on the porch. Plus, its white color will help to mitigate the urban heat island effect.

9. 340 on the Park, Chicago 
NEARLY FINISHED
When 340 on the Park opens later this year in Chicago, it may become the first residential greenscraper in the city to meet LEED standards. The building is sure to be a wealthy EcoGeek's dream-come-true. If you have $700K to throw down on a 1600 square-foot condo, you can enjoy low utility bills thanks to the building's fully insulated windows and rainwater capture system. And the most awesome amenity is the multi-storey winter garden starting on floor 25.

  8.Waugh Thistleton Residential Tower, London 
ON THE DRAWING BOARD
On the other side of the pond, the Waugh Thistleton Architects have an eco-residential building in the works as well. This design will employ helical wind turbine technology previously on featured on EcoGeek. Four turbines attached to one side of the tower have the potential to generate 40,000kW hrs a year, more than 15% of its energy needs.
 7.The Burj al-Taqa (Energy Tower), Dubai 
ON THE DRAWING BOARD

If this 68-story super greenscraper becomes a reality, it may become the tallest of all eco-towers, thanks to the proposed 200-foot wind turbine that will sit atop the building. Burj al-Taqa will occupy #22 on the world's tallest buildings list should it gets the green light.
Wind isn't this greenscaper's only bag, however. Solar panels will cover a 161,459 square foot artificial island chain connected to the building and seawater will power Burj al-Taqa's air conditioner!

6. The Hearst Tower, New York City
OPEN FOR BUSINESS
The Hearst Tower became New York City's first skyscraper to achieve LEED Gold accreditation from the USGBC when it opened its doors last year. 80% of the steel used to make the behemoth was recycled. On the inside, the floors and ceiling tiles are made from recycled materials as well.
The diamond shapes on the building's façade aren't just for show either. The diagonal grid required fewer steel beams to achieve the same rigidity as a conventional skyscraper, and the design allows more natural light to enter the tower.
What's more, rainwater is collected on the roof and is funneled into a 14,000-gallon tank in the basement. The Hearst gathers enough water from the sky to account for 50% of the tower's usage. It's pumped into the cooling system, used for irrigating plants and for the innovative water sculpture in the main lobby.

5.The CIS Tower, Manchester England 
NEARLY FINISHED
Formerly on featured on EcoGeek, the CIS Tower outdoes the pretty much anyone in solar. Weighing in with over 7,000 panels on the façade and 24 wind turbines on the roof, the CIS Tower will be able to produce 10% of its energy needs all on its own.

4.The Lighthouse Tower, Dubai 
ON THE DRAWING BOARD
The Dubai International Financial Centre Lighthouse Tower plans to use 4000 photovoltaic panels on the south facing façade as well as three mega 225 kilowatt wind turbines to meet its electricity needs. Other details are sparse, if it was under construction this definitely would have broken into the top three.

3. Bank of America Tower, New York City 
UNDER CONSTRUCTION
The designers of Bank of America Tower, Cook + Fox Architects, are hoping to one-up the Hearst Tower by going for LEED Platinum certification. We'll see if they pull it off next year, when the building is slated to cut the red ribbon. Like the Hearst, The BOA tower will also use rainwater capture and floor-to-ceiling windows for natural lighting—but it will also employ even more EcoGeeky technologies. Natural gas fuel cells will create on-site electricity, and sunlight-sensing LED lights will maximize efficiency.
For more info on all of NYC's greenscrapers, check out this short film directed by Carol Willis titled Green Towers for New York: From Visionary to Vernacular 

2. The Pearl River Tower, Guangzhou, China 
UNDER CONSTRUCTION
Another greenscraper designed to harness winds at lofty heights, the Pearl River Tower will use internal wind turbines to keep the lights on. Fashioned like a giant wing, the tower pushes air through wind tunnels on two of the building's 71 stories. This eco-marvel of a building will also employ geothermal heat sinks, ventilated facades, waterless urinals, integrated photovoltaics and daylight responsive controls when it opens in late 2009.

1.The Bahrain World Trade Center Towers, Kingdom of Bahrain 
UNDER CONSTRUCTION
Three 96-foot propellers suspended between the towers will supply the 42-storey spires with over 1100 megawatts per year. The shape of the building itself will create an accelerated airflow for the jumbo blades. Here are some virtual views of the Arabian Gulf from various levels of the building. Real views can be appreciated later this year, when the building opens.
 Information for this article came from: The Skyscraper Museum (skyscrapers.org), archidose, ecomoto.org, Jetson Green, Metaefficient, Inhabitat, dezeen, engadget, Trendhunter and TreeHugger

                                                                                                                                                    - ecogeek

Green Vacations - 10 Eco Friendly Travel Tips

Planning your next vacation? And this time you want to ensure that you do so in an eco friendly way. So here are 10 tips on how you can travel 'green' and make sure that you do not leave a sizable carbon footprint while you tread the Earth.

1. Fly only if you must - Of course, flying is the fastest mode of transportation available today but it is also the most harmful to the environment. Airplane emissions are more detrimental to the ozone layer than ground transport because they occur higher up in the atmosphere. Hence, whenever possible try to travel by bus or train. If you have to drive to your destination, try to make room for as many people in the car as you can instead of using multiple vehicles. And if you simply must fly then book a direct flight.

2. Book an eco friendly hotel - The hotel industry has taken a step further to help protect the environment and there are many eco friendly accommodations available in tourist destinations all over the world. Hotels in this category ensure reduction in energy consumption through the installation of 'Energy Star' products or by using solar power, recycling programs or by asking their customers to buy local products and organic foods. For more information and ideas check out the 'Green' Hotels Association.

3. Invest wisely in a single destination - Instead of touring three different cities in two days, invest in a single destination and experience it more fully. This will give you an opportunity to truly explore your vacation spot, mingle with the locals and learn about their culture and enjoy some authentic delicacies. You can also seek out destinations that practice geo-tourism. National Geographic defines geo-tourism as - "tourism that sustains or enhances the distinctive geographical character of a place, its environment, heritage, aesthetics, culture and the well-being of its residents." For more information visit National Geographic's Center for Sustainable Destinations.

4. Plug out all electronic appliances before you leave home - Switch off all lights, fans, heating and cooling systems and plug out all electronic devices such as TV's, stereos, toasters and microwaves before you step out of your home. Electronics in the standby/off mode consume energy as well which is known as 'vampire energy'.

5. Stop your newspaper service - If you are going to be away for a while make sure you inform your newspaper to stop your service for that period or make arrangements for it to be delivered to your neighborhood school.

6. Travel light - Carry only what you absolutely must carry! This will also make it easier for you to take public transportation to get around. Instead of buying travel size versions for all products, fill up reusable containers with the products that you need to carry. Plastic water bottles damage the environment considerably and you may not find a recycling bin to dispose them while you are on the move. Carrying a reusable water bottle solves this problem.

7. Save energy during your stay at the hotel - Make sure you switch off all lights and adjust thermostats when you leave the hotel room. If you have not used any soaps, shampoos provided by the hotel, leave them in the unopened state so that they can be reused. Reuse towels and sheets whenever possible instead of requesting for fresh linen everyday. Open the drapes in the mornings to let in natural light instead of turning on the lights during the day.

8. Walk or rent a bike to check out the local attractions - Walking is the best way to savor any city and it is the most eco friendly way to get around! The other alternative is to rent a bike. There are many biker friendly cities all over the world and if you love to bike, here are some resources which you can refer for your next vacation. 

Bike friendly cities

Adventure Cycling Association

9. Buy gifts and souvenirs from local craftsmen - Refrain from buying the usual t-shirts and plastic items (which may be actually made in China!) and look for more meaningful gifts and souvenirs to carry back home. Visit the local crafts fairs, farmer's markets and antique stores to pick up items that are locally sourced.

10. Write a letter of appreciation to your hotel for their services - Once you are back do not forget to write a letter or an email appreciating your hotel for their eco friendly services. This will encourage them to promote their services even further.

Have a safe and 'green' vacation!                               

                                                                                                                                      - ecohomeresource                                                  

10 Ways to Make Your Home Eco Friendly

With global warming staring us in the face, it’s about time we all did our little bit to make our homes eco-friendly. We’re not talking lifestyle-altering changes here, but just small measures, which if added up, can make a world of a difference; and more importantly, a difference to our world.

1. Buying energy-efficient appliances is one of the most effective ways of saving energy. What’s more they are easily available and are not necessarily more expensive. New, energy saving bulbs consume as much as five times less energy as that used by older bulbs. Just replacing the bulbs in your house would be a small step for you, but literally a big step for mankind.
2. A typical home loses almost half its heat through its walls and roof. Insulating the roof and the walls could save you almost £400 in energy costs annually, which more than makes up for the relatively low initial cost of insulation.
3. Switching off an electronic appliance with a remote control merely puts it on standby and energy is still being used. Any appliance that is not in use should be put off at the power switch. This small act could save each household about £38 a year. Consider how much that translates to per neighborhood! Why not try using a plug in power meterto measure exactly how much electricity each household appliance consumes?
4. Installing an energy-efficient heating system in your house could reduce your energy consumption by 40 percent. Replace your old boiler with a more advanced model, which is designed to save energy.
5. Radiators lose a lot of heat from their rear. Placing reflective foil panels behind all radiators can help harness and use this heat. Foil panels are easily and cheaply available at most DIY stores.
6. While washing clothes in a washing machine you could save a lot of energy by running the machine with a full load and at a slightly lower temperature. As far as possible put your clothes outdoors to dry and avoid using the tumble dryer.
7. When boiling water in a kettle, boil only as much as you need. Boiling extra water is a waste of energy as well as time. If you use your kettle a lot, you may want to consider buying an eco kettle.
8. A smart electricity monitor is a clever little device that can break down the energy consumption of every appliance in the house and can give you your energy usage in real-time. Use it to help you ascertain which appliances are consuming too much energy and where you can cut down.
9. Turning down your thermostat just one degree can make a big difference to your total energy consumption while still keeping you comfortably warm.
10. Consider installing solar panels to create your own energy. One solar thermal can provide an astounding 50% of your annual hot water requirements. Mini home wind turbines are brilliant if you live in the open countryside. There are a range of portable solar chargers available that can be used around the house and in the garden to charge mobiles, mp3 players, etc.

                                                                                                                                                                                                       - eco-local

10 Ways to Make Your Home Eco Friendly

With global warming staring us in the face, it’s about time we all did our little bit to make our homes eco-friendly. We’re not talking lifestyle-altering changes here, but just small measures, which if added up, can make a world of a difference; and more importantly, a difference to our world.

1. Buying energy-efficient appliances is one of the most effective ways of saving energy. What’s more they are easily available and are not necessarily more expensive. New, energy saving bulbs consume as much as five times less energy as that used by older bulbs. Just replacing the bulbs in your house would be a small step for you, but literally a big step for mankind.
2. A typical home loses almost half its heat through its walls and roof. Insulating the roof and the walls could save you almost £400 in energy costs annually, which more than makes up for the relatively low initial cost of insulation.
3. Switching off an electronic appliance with a remote control merely puts it on standby and energy is still being used. Any appliance that is not in use should be put off at the power switch. This small act could save each household about £38 a year. Consider how much that translates to per neighborhood! Why not try using a plug in power meterto measure exactly how much electricity each household appliance consumes?
4. Installing an energy-efficient heating system in your house could reduce your energy consumption by 40 percent. Replace your old boiler with a more advanced model, which is designed to save energy.
5. Radiators lose a lot of heat from their rear. Placing reflective foil panels behind all radiators can help harness and use this heat. Foil panels are easily and cheaply available at most DIY stores.
6. While washing clothes in a washing machine you could save a lot of energy by running the machine with a full load and at a slightly lower temperature. As far as possible put your clothes outdoors to dry and avoid using the tumble dryer.
7. When boiling water in a kettle, boil only as much as you need. Boiling extra water is a waste of energy as well as time. If you use your kettle a lot, you may want to consider buying an eco kettle.
8. A smart electricity monitor is a clever little device that can break down the energy consumption of every appliance in the house and can give you your energy usage in real-time. Use it to help you ascertain which appliances are consuming too much energy and where you can cut down.
9. Turning down your thermostat just one degree can make a big difference to your total energy consumption while still keeping you comfortably warm.
10. Consider installing solar panels to create your own energy. One solar thermal can provide an astounding 50% of your annual hot water requirements. Mini home wind turbines are brilliant if you live in the open countryside. There are a range of portable solar chargers available that can be used around the house and in the garden to charge mobiles, mp3 players, etc.

                                                                                                                                                                                                       - eco-local

10 Ways to Make Your Home Eco Friendly

With global warming staring us in the face, it’s about time we all did our little bit to make our homes eco-friendly. We’re not talking lifestyle-altering changes here, but just small measures, which if added up, can make a world of a difference; and more importantly, a difference to our world.

1. Buying energy-efficient appliances is one of the most effective ways of saving energy. What’s more they are easily available and are not necessarily more expensive. New, energy saving bulbs consume as much as five times less energy as that used by older bulbs. Just replacing the bulbs in your house would be a small step for you, but literally a big step for mankind.
2. A typical home loses almost half its heat through its walls and roof. Insulating the roof and the walls could save you almost £400 in energy costs annually, which more than makes up for the relatively low initial cost of insulation.
3. Switching off an electronic appliance with a remote control merely puts it on standby and energy is still being used. Any appliance that is not in use should be put off at the power switch. This small act could save each household about £38 a year. Consider how much that translates to per neighborhood! Why not try using a plug in power meterto measure exactly how much electricity each household appliance consumes?
4. Installing an energy-efficient heating system in your house could reduce your energy consumption by 40 percent. Replace your old boiler with a more advanced model, which is designed to save energy.
5. Radiators lose a lot of heat from their rear. Placing reflective foil panels behind all radiators can help harness and use this heat. Foil panels are easily and cheaply available at most DIY stores.
6. While washing clothes in a washing machine you could save a lot of energy by running the machine with a full load and at a slightly lower temperature. As far as possible put your clothes outdoors to dry and avoid using the tumble dryer.
7. When boiling water in a kettle, boil only as much as you need. Boiling extra water is a waste of energy as well as time. If you use your kettle a lot, you may want to consider buying an eco kettle.
8. A smart electricity monitor is a clever little device that can break down the energy consumption of every appliance in the house and can give you your energy usage in real-time. Use it to help you ascertain which appliances are consuming too much energy and where you can cut down.
9. Turning down your thermostat just one degree can make a big difference to your total energy consumption while still keeping you comfortably warm.
10. Consider installing solar panels to create your own energy. One solar thermal can provide an astounding 50% of your annual hot water requirements. Mini home wind turbines are brilliant if you live in the open countryside. There are a range of portable solar chargers available that can be used around the house and in the garden to charge mobiles, mp3 players, etc.

                                                                                                                                                                                                       - eco-local

10 Ways to Make Your Home Eco Friendly

With global warming staring us in the face, it’s about time we all did our little bit to make our homes eco-friendly. We’re not talking lifestyle-altering changes here, but just small measures, which if added up, can make a world of a difference; and more importantly, a difference to our world.

1. Buying energy-efficient appliances is one of the most effective ways of saving energy. What’s more they are easily available and are not necessarily more expensive. New, energy saving bulbs consume as much as five times less energy as that used by older bulbs. Just replacing the bulbs in your house would be a small step for you, but literally a big step for mankind.
2. A typical home loses almost half its heat through its walls and roof. Insulating the roof and the walls could save you almost £400 in energy costs annually, which more than makes up for the relatively low initial cost of insulation.
3. Switching off an electronic appliance with a remote control merely puts it on standby and energy is still being used. Any appliance that is not in use should be put off at the power switch. This small act could save each household about £38 a year. Consider how much that translates to per neighborhood! Why not try using a plug in power meterto measure exactly how much electricity each household appliance consumes?
4. Installing an energy-efficient heating system in your house could reduce your energy consumption by 40 percent. Replace your old boiler with a more advanced model, which is designed to save energy.
5. Radiators lose a lot of heat from their rear. Placing reflective foil panels behind all radiators can help harness and use this heat. Foil panels are easily and cheaply available at most DIY stores.
6. While washing clothes in a washing machine you could save a lot of energy by running the machine with a full load and at a slightly lower temperature. As far as possible put your clothes outdoors to dry and avoid using the tumble dryer.
7. When boiling water in a kettle, boil only as much as you need. Boiling extra water is a waste of energy as well as time. If you use your kettle a lot, you may want to consider buying an eco kettle.
8. A smart electricity monitor is a clever little device that can break down the energy consumption of every appliance in the house and can give you your energy usage in real-time. Use it to help you ascertain which appliances are consuming too much energy and where you can cut down.
9. Turning down your thermostat just one degree can make a big difference to your total energy consumption while still keeping you comfortably warm.
10. Consider installing solar panels to create your own energy. One solar thermal can provide an astounding 50% of your annual hot water requirements. Mini home wind turbines are brilliant if you live in the open countryside. There are a range of portable solar chargers available that can be used around the house and in the garden to charge mobiles, mp3 players, etc.

                                                                                                                                                                                                       - eco-local

10 Steps to Reduce Your Carbon Emissions 10%

Here are ten ideas to reduce your carbon footprint

#1> Learn Read up about carbon emissions and the environmental impact of the choices you make--big and small--in living, eating, and transportation. Use a carbon footprint calculator. Here's are some websites you can check out if want to learn more: ACT on CO2, 10:10 UK, and Earth Hour.

#2> Save energy. Saving energy is all about conserving (using less) and being more efficient (using what you use better). You can conserve energy by turning off the lights when you're not in the room. You can be more efficient by buying compact-fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) that create the same amount of light with less energy. The same principle applies to the big stuff, too. The Energystar website provides lots of good information for household energy efficiency.

#3> Reuse and Recycle When you buy things, purchase items with less packaging or packaging that can be recycled. If you are lucky enough to have curbside recycling, use it--otherwise, learn where the nearest recycling center is and make a habit of taking your recyclables there--to make it even easier, talk to your neighbors about combining trips.

#4> Drive Less Drive less and save more. Plan ahead to combine trips. If you live somewhere that public transportation is an option, give it a try.

#5> Enlist Help Reach out to family, friends, and co-workers. Reducing our carbon footprint is a community effort. Talk with other members of your household about how to reduce your emissions. Talk with your friends about ways to share resources. If you are a member of an organization--a church or civic organization--discuss ways it can save money on energy bills and other non-renewable resources it uses.

#6> Eat less meat. Eating less meat is both good for you and for the planet. Switching to a plant based diet for even one day a week will make a difference. If you need some helping getting started, here a helpful guide.


#7> Grow your own fruits and vegetables. When you grown your own food you'll enjoy fresh, high quality food. You can also grow varieties you won't find in a supermarket and you'll know exactly what the food has or has not been exposed to.
There are many guides on how to grown your own fruits and vegetables. You can start small, team up with your neighbors, or--for city dwellers--even start with a view potted herbs. Growing food in your own neighborhood cuts carbon emissions considerably compared to food shipped hundreds or thousands of miles to your door.

#8> Buy local food. Join a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) and shop at farmer's markets.

#9> Fly Less. Yes, this is a hard one, but consider:

Planes get a respectable 43 passenger miles per gallon (pMPG), but they cause 1.9 times as much climate change per gallon of fuel burned, by virtue of their being up in the sky. So when we consider climate change, the plane's efficiency is more like 22.6 pMPG. That's worse than most cars. And if there are two people traveling in the car instead of flying, then the pMPG of the car is doubled, while the plane is stuck at 22.6 pMPG, because we're already figured the plane's pMPG on a per-seat basis. The only time that flying is better than driving for a given trip is if there's only one person in the car, and/or we're assuming a very low-mileage car.

If may be unavoidable to fly sometimes, but if you're considering you next vacation option, you might think twice and decide for the spot that is driving distance away.

#10> Kick the plastic habit: bottles and bags. I'm going to finish with one of the easier ones. Stop buying bottled water and start taking your own bags to the store. Plastic water bottles are really bad for the environment. There are many alternatives. Plastic bags are equally bad for the environment. Make it a habit to use reusable bags.