Tag: Concrete - Page 2
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Why Concrete's Colossal Footprint is More Complicated Than You Think (and Why That Matters to Everyone)
When one complains about the environmental footprint of concrete, the main issue is usually the carbon footprint that comes from the production of cement. But cement is only about 15% of
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Recycled Sidewalks Make Cool But Scary Traffic Medians (Photos)
At New York City's Queens Plaza, where seven subway lines meet under the foot of the Queensboro Bridge, there are some new, very interesting traffic medians. Just a facet of a $75 million project to reorganize,
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Self-Healing Concrete Could Mean Longer Life, Less CO2 Emissions
Concrete often cracks due to shrinkage, impact or loading, and then the moisture gets in, corrodes the reinforcing or spalls in freeze-thaw cycles. Michelle Pelletier, a University of Rhode Island master's degree candidate, has figured out a way to
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Gardening for Geeks is Called Domestic Terraforming
Science fiction fans usually think of terraforming at a terra scale, but Wired appropriates the term for our backyard gardens. They get some things right, like the use of currently trendy raised beds
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More Eco-Beauty at Twitter
Today there was new space added to the Twitter HQ, doubling their size. Designed by the lovely and talented Sara Morishige Williams (@sara), the newest spaces are consistent with the philosophy of the existing offices
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Green Materials Guide: An Intro to Green Flooring
We all walk on it every day, but don't often think of it. It's underfoot, and, for many of us, out of mind. But just because you trod on it doesn't mean you shouldn't pay close attention to the materials that make
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NOx-Sucking Sidewalks Could Save Lives (or at Least, Lungs)
Cement has not had an easy time trying to profile itself as a green building material - it's energy intensive and has high carbon dioxide emissions, and
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Daniel Goleman's Ecological Intelligence (Part Two)
In the second part of our interview, Daniel Goleman elaborates on how our ecological intelligence is woefully lacking, but points us toward technological tools that can up our IQ. GoodGuide, one of his favorites, offers a database of ratings on
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Daniel Goleman's Ecological Intelligence (Part One)
Even those of you with good, green intentions are being pretty much ineffective as you grope toward a hazy green mirage. Why? Your ecological intelligence—your knowledge of the real impacts of the things you buy and do—is pitifully low. Daniel Goleman
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The BiniShell is Back
Dante Bini is a visionary in the Bucky Fuller mode, an engineer experimenting with different technologies, construction techniques and scales, including vast cities in towers and in space. In the sixties, his ideas for lifting and shaping wet
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Re-Growth Pod Goes From Concept To Reality
We previously covered the Re-Growth Pod, the concept of a prefabricated dwelling that can be delivered quickly after a disaster, can in the short term stand alone, and in the longer term, "from little things big things grow."
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Hemeroscopium House: Prefab Gone Mad
What can one say about Hemeroscopium House in Madrid, by Antón García- Abril? It was built in just seven days, out of seven massive structural elements. And yes, that thing cantilevering out the front on top is a swimming pool.
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Re-Growth Pod: "From Little Things Big Things Grow"
Here is an interesting idea for the rebuilding of fire-ravaged Australia that might be appropriate in other parts of the world that are subject to wildfires. It is a precast concrete prefab dwelling unit that can stand alone or act as the core of a
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London's Lost Rivers to be Restored
We all know about the Thames--the ancient river flowing through the heart of London. But there are many more "lost rivers" which have been built over, buried , covered or turned into concrete channels throughout the years. London has
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No Infrastructure Investment for Concrete!
Making cement creates 5% of the world's greenhouse gases. Putting it into roads promotes consumption of fossil fuels. And where is the infrastructure investment going? States
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Super-Concrete to Store Solar Power in Works
Researchers at the University of Arkansas are working to develop a new way of storing thermal energy in concrete. They were given an award from the U.S. Department of Energy in the sum of $770, 000 dollars as part of the federal
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Big Step in Building: Use Green Gravel To Make Concrete
We go on about the problems with concrete, and how it is responsible for 5% of global Carbon dioxide production. There is a lot of research going on to deal with the carbon dioxide produced in the making of cement, which is the main problem. However
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More Uses For Old Lightbulbs: Concrete Wall Hooks
It is sort of like brass baby booties; when our walls are all embedded with LEDs and lighting is part of the fabric of our house, we will be able to answer the question "grandpa, what's a lightbulb?" If we have made these lovely concrete lightbulb wall
