CONSTRUCTION BANK

The MagLev Wind Turbine is a big step forward in the world of wind power. By using magnetism to levitate the blades friction is eliminated and more power can be produced without any additional power expense (since the magnetics require no energy to run). The MagLev has a low threshold velocity for producing energy, could theoretically survive for centuries and can power up to 750,000 homes. Though the initial investment involved hundreds of millions of dollars the payoff is potentially huge.

The Lighthouse skyscraper is a 1000-foot-tall office skyscraper that is designed to use about half the water and energy of a typical high-rise building. The tower design employs solar energy collection and wind farming techniques coupled with strategies to reduce the use of and improve recovery of energy and water within the building. If/when built, this building will be a kind of working prototype for future green design in massive urban construction

The most impressive feature of the new Bahrain World Trade Centeris, no doubt, the three massive wind turbines situated between the two towers comprising the main building. Each of these 80-foot turbines projects from a bridge between towers. The shape of the towers themselves channels and accelerates air moving between them which will help the building generate even more power. It is by far the largest wind-powered design incorporated into a massive building project to date.

Like any good sustainable design the zeroHouse has all kinds of green bells and whistles, but it does something that many eco-friendly designs fail to do when they get too carried away with sustainability: it also looks extremely cool. Green home design strategies are balanced with beautiful prefabricated materials, colors and finishes

The zeroHouse collects solar power and can store energy for up to a week’s worth of use. It also gathers rainwater in an elevated 2700 gallon cistern so that gravity can do the work rather than tapping into the power supply. Waste is processed into dry compost below the house. Insulation and day-lighting are used to balance internal temperatures and maximize thermal performance.

The house has everything needed for a short-term getaway or long-term residence, including a living room, kitchen, bathroom, two bedrooms and an elevated, covered deck. Everything in the house is automatic, with master controls tied to a central laptop computer.

This seems to be more and more the trend within green design: building homes that take maximum advantage of versatile materials, prefabricated parts, energy indepedence and other sustainable design strategies while maximizing style, comfort and livability.