GreenGeezer

World's Largest Green Building Right Here in Chicago

Treehugger has figured out that the Merchandise Mart is the world's biggest green building, after reading an article in Business Week, apparently.   Of course, we already knew that, but it was nice to learn more about some of the details:

"'It can be like performing surgery while the patient is still awake,' says Mark Bettin.Bettin has never performed in an operating room. But as engineering vice-president at Merchandise Mart Properties, he has just finished a three-year, multimillion-dollar odyssey to cut the massive structure's consumption of energy, water, and materials. The effort required overhauling decades-old practices and technology, from replacing most of the Mart's 4,000-plus windows and upgrading rusty motors deep in its subbasements to taking better care of dust mops. The reward: At 78 years of age, the Merchandise Mart is now the biggest green building in the world."

Green Home Chicago

A new home in Chicago is a showcase for green features.  If it ever stops snowing, I plan on going over to take a look close up.  The Whitehead-Elniski Residence, designed by James & Kutyla Architecture,  features those very cool wind turbines that look like jousters' sticks and so much more.  The Green Bean site has all the details.  I'm also glad to see that they are using Horigan Urban Forest Products -- city trees that would be disposed of get a new life as reclaimed wood for furniture and other wooden structures.  The wood pictured below is from a Silver Maple tree damaged in a storm in Chicago's Washington Park.

Super-Recycled House from Aircraft Carrier

A friend sent me a link to a blog I hadn't heard of before, called Superuse.org: Where recycling meets design in order to share its account of a 727 jetliner reused as a home.

"Green Homes for Sale" pick of the week: Athens, OH

This affordable green home in Athens, Ohio uses some of my favorite green features: hydronic radiant floor heating, lots of insulation, and water-saving dual flush toilets and rain barrel diverters.  It has a compact floor plan and yet has four bedrooms.  I'll be those clerestory windows also allow for great air circulation,  and along with shade trees negate the need for air conditioning. Check out the full listing at the Green Homes for Sale website.

Ed Begley, Jr. to be Spokesperson for My Green Cottage

Ed Begley, Jr., the centerpiece of the celebrities-go-green cable show Living with Ed, has another gig as a spokesperson for the design/build company, My Green Cottage.   The company promises to build green homes that cost the same or less than conventional homes. They also do green remodels that avoid gutting and emphasize reuse.  They were in the spotlight during the California fires in which one of their houses was left standing while those around it burned to the ground.  In an  episode  of NBC's HouseSmarts, this fire-retardant quality was demonstrated by taking a blowtorch to the house.

Cheryl Teigs, Ed Begley and Rachelle on "Living with Ed"