Green Museums - California Academy of Sciences (VIDEO)


[Edit]
|
When San Francisco’s 150-year-old California Academy of Sciences reopens at the end of September 2008, it will be the largest public building to receive a LEED Platinum certification, making the museum a likely candidate for the greenest museum in the world. Located within picturesque Golden Gate Park, the California Academy of Sciences is a vanguard in green design. 60,000 photovoltaic cells cover the building’s exterior, providing 10% of its energy. But these solar cells aren’t the crown jewel of the museum’s green design--the 197,000-square foot living rooftop is. The curved roof of the museum features 1.7 million native plants. The vegetation is anchored to the undulating slopes with 50,000 porous and biodegradable trays, made from tree sap and coconut husks and laced together like patchwork to let the plants’ roots develop. The living roof will transform carbon dioxide into oxygen, absorb rainwater, and perhaps best of all, keep the interior of the building about ten degrees cooler than other similarly-sized edifices. Between the cooling effects of the living roof and the excellent wall insulation provided courtesy of batting that is made from recycled blue jeans, the museum won’t need air conditioning. To keep the building warm during the chilly Bay Area winter, a radiant heating system has been installed in the museum’s floors. Tubes carrying hot water are embedded in the building’s concrete floors, warming the floors themselves and reducing the building’s energy need by 10%. As you might expect by now, every aspect of the museum’s design has sustainability and energy-saving practices in mind. Floor-to-ceiling glass walls provide 90% of the building’s internal offices with natural light. Skylights will open and close automatically to provide light to the museum’s rainforest and aquarium and let hot air escape the building. Louvers will draw in cooler air from the skylights to help cool the lower floors. But what about the museum’s contents? While the building’s eco-friendly design is a sure draw for environmentalists around the world, it’s the museum’s attractions and exhibits that will bring the crowds. There is an enormous planetarium (one of the world’s largest), an aquarium that features a coral reef system straight from the Philippines, a flooded Amazon rainforest complete with native plants and animals from around the world, two restaurants that focus on fresh and healthy food, an observation terrace, and a special exhibit on the California Coast. Via: calacademy.org |
50 Eco Architecture Designs (CLUSTER)
Sustainability is a vital element required for modern architecture to qualify under the luxury category. All truly remarkable, award-winning buildings being constructed today are incredibly eco-friendly… [More]
Eco-Friendly Car Plants - Ford Rouge Truck Plant (VIDEO)
The Ford truck plant in Dearborn, Michigan was redesigned by William McDonough + Partners with the environment and sustainability in mind. This enormous manufacturing facility received a complete makeover… [More]
Green Japanese Cities - Sakai City Waterfront Mega Solar Power Generation Plan (GALLERY)
In a plan to become one of Japan’s leading “green” cities, the city of Sakai has announced the "Sakai City Waterfront Mega Solar Power Generation Plan." The ambitious project is one of the largest… [More]
Green Steel Skyscrapers - The Bow in Calgary by Foster + Partners (GALLERY)
Foster + Partners belong to the world’s most famous architectural firms, so when they announce new projects, we know the result will be great. Their heavy emphasis on sustainable building continues as… [More]
Folding Greenhouses - Daniel Schipper's Urban Gardening Idea (GALLERY)
Designer Daniel Schipper came up with this Folding Greenhouse which is perfect for city dwellers. "This light-weight, flexible and modular greenhouse is perfect for small spaces and unfolds faster than… [More]
Designing to be Green - Eco Tech Disassembly
Our appetite for electronic goods, especially cell phones and computers, is so voracious, we are now threatening to deplete valuable resources and generate huge amounts of toxic materials at the same time.… [More]
|
|
|
|
|












