The recycled water is used to irrigate the roof gardens. Plus adds natural insulation.
Which incorporated being green and great design.
I photographed this project for the fine people at Dimeo Construction.
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Natick Collections (Mall) - Nuevelle Green Garden Roof
The roof of the Natick Collections (mall) - Nouvelle green garden roof was designed to collect and recycle water
The recycled water is used to irrigate the roof gardens. Plus adds natural insulation.
Which incorporated being green and great design.
I photographed this project for the fine people at Dimeo Construction.
The recycled water is used to irrigate the roof gardens. Plus adds natural insulation.
Which incorporated being green and great design.
I photographed this project for the fine people at Dimeo Construction.
Thursday, May 26, 2011
My New Ford Fusion Hybrid
Well I did it. Bought a new Ford Fusion Hybrid today. snow "Powder Blue" with a cream leather interior.
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Hybrid Cars Part 2
Test drove a Honda Civic with leather and Navigation (39 Highway 28 City). Hybrid's are not due in for months but is advertised to get 44 Highway and 41 City. Found the leather seats to be comfortable and car fit me well put but seats are not powered! Did feel a little low to the ground. Found the Navigation system's screen to be a little small and at an angle that over head light had a tendency to shine on it hence less readable. Did like that it repeats the key information on the dash new screen just to to the left of the speedometer. This is a very cool feature and I suspect you will see this added to a lot of cars. Found it to be a little noise-er then the Fusion. Understand the Hybrid does not have a pass through for my skies. Little tires. Priced on the web site at ~$27,500.00 The dilemma.. is it worth $5000.00 more for a bigger, less tinner, less MPG for the Fusion? (Which seems to be a more sturdy car) Plus wait several months to get it?
Monday, May 23, 2011
Hybrid Cars
I've been looking at Hybrid cars for a while now. A way to be green myself. Thought I would share my observations.
To start my mission was to get a vehicle that gets at least 40 MPG with high tech instrumentation/navigation system, blue tooth sync of my Iphone, leather seats, moon roof.
I started with the Toyota Prius. Which is frumpy and has lots of blind spots. Then I drove the VW Jetta and Audi A3 Diesel TDI, both of which are designed for a small 5 foot person. So when your in the drives seat the "B" column is in front of my shoulder, hence you are looking at it instead of the scenery. Honda Isight has the same issue plus it is so low to the ground you feel like your butt is on the road.
The Hyundai Sonata Hybrid. This has a lot of what I was looking for, good seating, touch screen navigation, leather seats, duel sun roofs and a pass through for skis and lithium batteries. But when you drive it on the highway it is loud! To loud to make a phone call or conduct business little alone enjoy the music. The rear end has this dragging sound like bad snow tires. I've now tried several to make sure it was not just a fluke car, all the same.
Next I tried the Ford Fusion, while this car from the outside has ok styling. It is quite, good touch screen navigation and other high tech features. But a little plain. My daughter says its a "female" car. I then tried the Lincoln MKZ hybrid (a Fusion in Lincoln "male" cloths) This is nice, a little quieter than the Fusion, more upscale details but is it worth $7000.00 more then the Fusion? I suspect not.
Next I tried the new Lexus CT, which has lots of pluses. Quite, good navigation system system, hatch back to house my skis. But again the car is designed for a 5 foot Japanese person with a small body frame, the seat back is narrow and squeezes in on your sides. Really too bad since I would probably buy this if it was not for the seat! To make sure it was not me I then tried the HS sedan and found it's seats designed for a bigger person. The HS is nice but only gets 35 MPG and is $10K out of budget.
Still in the wind is the soon to be released Kia Optima. Same styling. duel moon roofs, lithium batteries to allow for a ski pass through and touch screen navigation. Want to try it but in the mean time tried the non-hybrid version and found it has the same Korean issue as the Sonata, loud when your on the highway.
All the hybrids are in very short supply due to the Japanese tsunami which whipped out a lot of the parts and battery manufactured companies. Delivery any that are not all ready hear are in the months. IE late fall time frame. At this point I am leaning towards a Ford Fusion (which I have a deposit on.) one of the few available.
To start my mission was to get a vehicle that gets at least 40 MPG with high tech instrumentation/navigation system, blue tooth sync of my Iphone, leather seats, moon roof.
I started with the Toyota Prius. Which is frumpy and has lots of blind spots. Then I drove the VW Jetta and Audi A3 Diesel TDI, both of which are designed for a small 5 foot person. So when your in the drives seat the "B" column is in front of my shoulder, hence you are looking at it instead of the scenery. Honda Isight has the same issue plus it is so low to the ground you feel like your butt is on the road.
The Hyundai Sonata Hybrid. This has a lot of what I was looking for, good seating, touch screen navigation, leather seats, duel sun roofs and a pass through for skis and lithium batteries. But when you drive it on the highway it is loud! To loud to make a phone call or conduct business little alone enjoy the music. The rear end has this dragging sound like bad snow tires. I've now tried several to make sure it was not just a fluke car, all the same.
Next I tried the Ford Fusion, while this car from the outside has ok styling. It is quite, good touch screen navigation and other high tech features. But a little plain. My daughter says its a "female" car. I then tried the Lincoln MKZ hybrid (a Fusion in Lincoln "male" cloths) This is nice, a little quieter than the Fusion, more upscale details but is it worth $7000.00 more then the Fusion? I suspect not.
Next I tried the new Lexus CT, which has lots of pluses. Quite, good navigation system system, hatch back to house my skis. But again the car is designed for a 5 foot Japanese person with a small body frame, the seat back is narrow and squeezes in on your sides. Really too bad since I would probably buy this if it was not for the seat! To make sure it was not me I then tried the HS sedan and found it's seats designed for a bigger person. The HS is nice but only gets 35 MPG and is $10K out of budget.
Still in the wind is the soon to be released Kia Optima. Same styling. duel moon roofs, lithium batteries to allow for a ski pass through and touch screen navigation. Want to try it but in the mean time tried the non-hybrid version and found it has the same Korean issue as the Sonata, loud when your on the highway.
All the hybrids are in very short supply due to the Japanese tsunami which whipped out a lot of the parts and battery manufactured companies. Delivery any that are not all ready hear are in the months. IE late fall time frame. At this point I am leaning towards a Ford Fusion (which I have a deposit on.) one of the few available.
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Avenir Boston
It also has a very cool roof deck.
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Welcome to Green Energy Photography
Today I start my first blog promoting renewable energy. The first image I want to share is of solar panel in my favorite valley, Mad River Valley - Vermont. Home of Sugarbush and Mad River Glenn Ski areas. Skiing my other passion.
This site is on Rte. 100 in Warren, VT.
Second in yesterday's Boston Globe was a very interesting article about a old Boston Mill being used as a test site for solar energy.
This site is on Rte. 100 in Warren, VT.
Second in yesterday's Boston Globe was a very interesting article about a old Boston Mill being used as a test site for solar energy.
A showcase for building green
Firm arrives in Innovation District with a mission
The Fraunhofer Center is renovating this century-old South Boston building. (John Tlumacki/Globe Staff)
Look at the rundown interior of 5 Channel Center, a nearly 100-year-old building in the Fort Point neighborhood, said Nolan Browne; admittedly, it might be hard to see why the Fraunhofer Center for Sustainable Energy Systems would relocate there from Cambridge.
The firm, which is a subsidiary of the German research organization Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, helps start-up energy efficiency companies commercialize cutting-edge products and services. But right now, its designated new space looks pretty shabby, with paint peeling off the walls, pipes and wires dangling toward the dust, and office detritus littering the floor.
But picture 5 Channel Center as Browne, the group’s managing director, does: with a first-floor reception area showcasing the latest energy efficiency technologies, and a sixth-floor multiroom facade-research laboratory where siding, insulation, and other building materials can be tested and compared.
The firm, which is a subsidiary of the German research organization Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, helps start-up energy efficiency companies commercialize cutting-edge products and services. But right now, its designated new space looks pretty shabby, with paint peeling off the walls, pipes and wires dangling toward the dust, and office detritus littering the floor.
But picture 5 Channel Center as Browne, the group’s managing director, does: with a first-floor reception area showcasing the latest energy efficiency technologies, and a sixth-floor multiroom facade-research laboratory where siding, insulation, and other building materials can be tested and compared.
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