January 19th, 2012
Via SmartPlanet, a report detailing an ambitious rooftop solar project in China. As the article notes: A 500-megawatt solar project is huge. Normally, it sprawls across terra firma, wherever there is ample land to accommodate endless rows of photovoltaic panels or sun-reflecting mirrors. Rooftop installations are left for far smaller deployments. So says common wisdom. […]
Read more »Rooftop Soccer, Outdoor Movies: The New Strip Mall?
December 27th, 2011
Via The Globe and Mail, an interesting article on the future of the strip mall, including potential innovative uses of roofspace thereon: Imagine a strip mall that allows pedestrians to walk up a ramp onto a grassy rooftop to play soccer in the summer and toboggan in the winter. Picture these mundane suburban retail spaces […]
Read more »December 26th, 2011
Via Freakonomics, an interesting article on the possibility of a rooftop solar “bubble” forming: Rooftop solar in California. (Photo: 4johnny5) Government efforts to boost affordability and expectations of unsustainably high investment returns generated a booming market that’s destined to crash. I’m talking, of course, about the market for rooftop solar, which has grown exponentially in […]
Read more »Harnessing The Sun’s Energy for Water and Space heating
December 18th, 2011
Courtesy of Grist.org, an article on the global pace of solar thermal energy development. As the report notes: The pace of solar energy development is accelerating as the installation of rooftop solar water heaters takes off. Unlike solar photovoltaic panels that convert solar radiation into electricity, these “solar thermal collectors” use the sun’s energy to […]
Read more »December 13th, 2011
Via City Farmer News, a report that a high density “VertiCrop” vertical growing system in will be established on the top level of a parkade in the Vancouver’s downtown core: 535 Richards Street in downtown Vancouver. “…Vancouver-based Valcent Products Inc. has signed a memorandum of understanding to install its first “VertiCrop” high-density vertical growing system […]
Read more »NYC Green Roofs Battle Stormwater Overflow
December 8th, 2011
Via Columbia University’s State of The Planet blog, an interesting article examining the enormous stormwater capture capabilities of Green Roof systems. As the report notes: Green Roofs are becoming increasingly popular in New York City for their numerous environmental and economic benefits. Economically, they can lower energy costs through added insulation and lowered air conditioning […]
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