There are a lot of different things that all nations share, and one of them is sports. There are huge sports arenas all over the world, but we also should consider that these need a lot of energy to function or to be able to host different sports events. Knowing this, there are some sports stadiums that went to the extremes, and now they are totally green.

(photo by http://www.ecofriend.com)

Dragon Stadium

You can find this one inTaiwanand this is the first sports stadium to be entirely green, presented in 2009. There are 8,844 solar panels that are meant to offer the stadium the energy that it needs, of 1.14 kWh. With this it is possible to light all the 3,300 lights and the two scoreboards. There is even some extra energy produced, and this is sold by the government.

Stade de Suisse

This stadium is to be found inBern,Switzerlandand it has 7,000 solar panels on the roof since 2005. These produce 1,200,000 kWh that is just enough to supply with power 400 households.

AT&TPark

The stadium is the home of San Francisco Giants. In this case there have been only 600 panels used of 120 kW each. It is true that this stadium isn’t as impressive as the other ones that have been mentioned, the panels produce enough electricity to power the scoreboards, equivalent to the needs of 40 households.

Easy Credit Stadium

It is home to FC Nurnberg football club, and so you might have guessed that it is located in Germany. The solar system of the stadium has been added in 2006. It can be found on the roof, and it is able to produce 140 kWh each year.

FenwayPark

This is one of the most important stadiums in the history of baseball, home to the Boston Red Sox. Although it has been opened in 1912, there has been some work done with it later, in 2008, when the solar panels have been added. These offer enough power to supply about 37% of the needed hot water. There are some other ecological features as well that the stadium comes with, including well timed irrigation, recycling, composting and a lot more.

People should make a sport of going green, and the truth is that there is some competition among the buildings to be as green as possible. We can expect to see some more advancements of this kind in the future.

We all heard about the tragedy that happened at the World Trade Center, but that is the past and now the world will see there something new and something more than eye-catching.

The new skyscraper is going to be LEED certified. This is a special kind of certification given to those buildings that have been built with a special aim: saving energy, reducing CO2 emissions, being water efficient, intelligent resource management or increasing indoor environment quality.

The builders of the building are going for the gold certificate, that would be a first for a building of this kind. This would mean zero CO2 footprint, and reducing the energy needs 20% below the requirements.

(photo credit: http://inhabitat.com)

Energy

One of the most important parts of the project is to have dimming lights. This means that in case there is enough light coming from the windows, the lights would be dimmed, reducing the needs for energy.

Another advantage of the idea is that it won’t only help with energy consumption, but it will be healthier to work in the offices for the workers; they will have an increased productivity, they will have healthier bones and they won’t be affected by minor illnesses.

Air

During the process of building the skyscraper the workers are allowed to use only ‘clean diesel’ that is said to be one of the cleanest fuels of them all. The idea has been so effective that the authorities require all the constructions to use such fuels, except for the construction of roads. Another action that has been taken is to get all the machines equipped with filters to keep the air cleaner.

Some measures will also be taken after the construction is over; there will some other monitors added as well that are meant to control the level of CO2 to see the evolution of the air quality.

Rainwater

There is a lot of rain falling in New York, and so the designers of the tower will not allow it to run into the draining systems, but they are going to use it in an evaporative cooling system.

Hudson

New York, just as the majority of the areas of the U. S. needs air conditioning in the majority of the year, and the designers have found a good way to achieve this with a minimal impact on the environment: using the water of Hudson River as the cooling element. The system will be used in the non-commercial areas too.

Two distinct projects, in different parts of the world by different architects and yet they stand out due to their futuristic and green approach. One of them was built keeping in mind the carbon footprint, the idea was to create maximum built space on minimum land area and the other aimed at energy conservation at all possible levels to reach a 60% energy saving rating.

The NLF has been designed as a luxurious high-rise residential project. The project is in Nilufer district, Bursa, Turkey. It has been designed, by GAD Architecture (a New York and Istanbul based firm) in association with Dara Kirmizitoprak. It is a landmark project for the city of Bursa.

Given the stipulation of a small site carbon print, it was essential that the building be a high rise and tower over the other constructions in the city. Built on site area of 2,250sq m, the building boasts of an awe inspiring 40,000 sq m of total construction which will be surrounded by live vegetation at every level.

Beside residences, the project includes retail space, restaurants, offices and space for social activities. The residential tower follows five levels of office and three levels of retail space.

The top level is a restaurant with an unobstructed 360 degree view of the surroundings. The building has a helipad above the restaurant and its unique turning ellipse shape, ensures that the residences have beautiful sweeping balconies and create a unique view that changes as you move around it.

Noain City Hall, Navarra, Spain has been built with only one thing in mind, energy conservation to the maximum. The brilliant design is credited to Zon-e Arquitectos who have concentrated on both active and passive energy saving systems. The building hardly resembles a government building, but is more like a nature reserve.

The building’s face will be completely covered with vegetation of different colors to help with its energy conservation aim. The design utilizes natural light to its maximum in order to keep energy costs down.

It is designed as a series of layers, facilitating the free flow of light. The open air space in the center of the building is surrounded by offices that benefit from the natural light. The walls don’t reach the ceiling bringing the light in.

The entrance is like a translucent skin that glows in the dark and filters sunlight in the daytime. The skin also acts as a sunshade to cut down on solar impact. The plants growing on the façade absorb solar radiation and act as insulation at night and during winter.

They provide fresh moist air and bring nature closer to work space not to mention that geo thermal energy is the main source of energy for this green building.

The majority of people would have never thought that golf courses will look any different from the look they have nowadays.

Well… in this case they never heard about the upcoming projects that seem to revolutionize the traditional concept of golf, and add a whole new aspect to it.

One of the most spectacular golf courses that already have a concept design is said to be built in the Maldives. This region is best known for the underwater life that it has, and this is exactly what the designers will take advantage of.

Their purpose is to create a floating golf course with 18 holes that would be connected through underwater tunnels. The budget of this project is of about $500 million.

To realize the golf course there will be several artificial islands built, each of them having 2-3 holes. It is important about the course that it will have no footprint on the environment. This is only possible because it is said to have some special techniques of water cooling, use of solar energy and sweet water collection through desalination while floating on salty water.

The new course would be located only five minutes away from the Male International Airport. After the course will be built, the creators would like to design luxury accommodation that would also be connected via underwater tunnels.

The accommodations will overlook the golf course and the coral reefs getting the visitors in touch with the beauty of underwater world. The project is supposed to be finished in 2015.

The creators of the project expect the tourism in the Maldives to boost because the majority of golf fans would like to visit this course, preferably several times. The new project is also said to help the economy of the country.

A similar project has been already created in Idaho. The Coeur d’Alene Golf and Spa Resort is known for the floating island it has. This is the first thing that the visitors observe from the parking lot.

The golf course has 14 holes, and four of them can be found on the island. There is another famous hole, the fifth, which is blocked by a hulking rock. For this the players need a high tee to be able to shoot over the rock.

Another thing that the course is really well known for is the service that it offers. There are numerous golf carts that have mahogany paneling and heated leather seats. In order to get to the island, there is water taxi that would get you there.

As you might see, the game of golf has become a lot more lately, than it has been at the beginning. In our days it isn’t that important to play and score, but to brag about the places that you have visited. If those places are closer to the environment than ever the beauty they carry is admired even more.

You can be sure that in case you tell your friends that you have been at one of these places, they will be surprised and you will get the opportunity to tell them all about the trip. The green touch will make the golf even more popular and the perspective of such projects makes this elegant sport a flag ship for the natural welfare.

The main point of the green zoo keeping concept is to make sure that these do not make any harm to the surrounding area and also that they are comfortable for both the inhabitants and the visitors. In some cases the “greenness” of the zoos would come from the fact that they need less physical space while in other cases the materials used would be eco-friendly.

While at the moment the whole idea seems to be a little futuristic, there are some projects in progress that would rebuild some of the existing zoos to offer them a new look and also to follow the green rules. One of these projects has been created by Hila Davidpu, Eli Gotman, Tal Gazit, and Hofi Harari.

It would be created in a small man-made island in Buenos Aires and it would look like a skyscraper. This vertical zoo will be beautiful, organic and functional at the same time. The proposal got the name of “Eco-cliff”, because it is meant to look like a natural cliff that would offer nesting for the migrating birds.

For some it might seem unnatural to house animals in such a structure, but the creators wish to keep animals that naturally would be living in such environments. Nonetheless at the moment it isn’t clear whether the zoo has been created to hold some other kinds of animals as well.

The animal enclosures made of steel would represent the inner core of the zoo, with a footpath winding around it. The nets and cables would offer support for the vegetation and would offer a more natural look.

Another example of green zoo keeping could be met outside St. Petersburg, Russia. The main idea would be to recreate Pangaea, the huge continent that later turned into the 7 continents known today.

The zoo of the city is showing signs of aging, and it is becoming too large for the city. There has been a large space found, where the animals would be more comfortable and where they would have a more natural setting. The visitors will find a mixture of artificial ad natural in the zoo, but the priority would be the needs of the animals. One question that still remains is regarding the sustainability of the project.

This new structure would be placed on an archipelago and each of the continents would be represented by an island, connected by walkways. In case of Northern America and Eurasia the zoo will be set up as a recreation of the Arctic ice.

The zoo is meant to represent a metaphor of history and it also shows the connection between man and nature. The designers tried to create a perfect world and to place it in the real one.

The main difference between the two cases presented is the space used. While the first one would like to use as little space as possible, the second one would spread across 1.15-square-miles, but it would offer more space to the city itself, to develop new homes and business spaces.

Is it possible to live in a city and to breathe clean air in the same time? According to some engineers, the two concepts might be placed besides each other. The technology that we have at our hands makes everything possible including the repairing of the harm that has already been done.

For example, theoretically, some engineers could offer New York City fresh air by ‘feeding’ on the pollution that the city creates. The name of this revolutionary new idea is Bubble Wrap and it has been created by Ben Lee and Andrew Tetrault.

The whole idea is based on an active and living infrastructure that would take away the things that the citizens hate about New York and replace all the pollution with fresh air.

The bubbles would have plants in them that could clear the air and release the fresh air at ground level. The polluted air is driven to the bubbles and these will get it scrubbed. The bubble structure would also offer some extra space and this could be home to cultural and other kinds of events.

According to the designers, the system would work as a ‘parasite’, but in reality the relationship is a symbiotic one – it takes something and offers something else in return.

Another great idea, that at the moment seems to be more than just a simple idea has been created by Vincent Callebaut. He decided to mix technology with design and he offered a whole new meaning to the concept of ‘green building’.

Just as in the previous case, the building would help with the problems regarding pollution just by sitting there.

The prototype project will be built in Paris, and the interesting thing about it is that it is covered by 250 square meters of solar photovaltic panels that have been coated with titanium dioxide.

This system would work as a catalytic system and so it would produce electric energy. The titanium dioxide also reacts with the air particles, breaking it down and so it reduces the pollution.

It also comes with a lot of green surface and it catches rainwater that would be used within the building. One part of the building consists of a wind tower that is able to generate electricity from the power of wind. This part has a cylindrical structure with a spiral pattern that comes with axis turbines moving because of the wind power while producing energy.

Go green, people. More and more people are talking about the importance of a “green” lifestyle, and although in the last period this concept has gained a lot of popularity, it isn’t a totally new idea.

Ebenezer Howard already made some suggestions regarding this matter in 1898. Still the huge amount of pollution made this matter of a significant importance in our days. Also the development of technology has made it possible to actually create such cities in the future.

One of these green cities is planned to be created in India, between Pune and Mumbai. The location of the city is just perfect for eco-friendly living. It is located on a hill, that rises 3000 ft above sea level, and there is also a stream, seasonal waterfalls and rolling hills.

The secret of the success of this city is the economic sustainability that it is hoped to be achieved.

One of the most ambitious projects that have been developed regarding green cities is the one that will create the Masdar Green City. This is supposed to be built in Abu Dhabi and the budget of the project is of $20 billion.

The total size of the city would be of 6 sq km, and it would be home to a 60 MW solar plant. Besides solar energy, the city would also be using geothermal energy and water recycling systems.

The city of Hanoi would also have a new look, when becoming eco-friendly. The 145 hectares city will be home to about 20,000 people. The plan of the city is meant to combine the local culture with an urban note.

In the end there will be a city that is pedestrian friendly and also has schools, healthcare facilities and leisure centers. What more could a “green” person ask for?

With the destruction in Haiti comes the need to build housing that can stand up to such natural disasters and not collapse under their destructive nature. St Val Architect studio has designed eco-friendly houses for the Port au Prince, housing project.

The design takes inspiration from the traditional art of bamboo baskets. These baskets are generally shaped like a cocoon and are weaved from natural plant fibers available locally.

These green houses are contributing towards the reconstruction work in Haiti. They adhere to the green concept right down to their building material.

These residential units are being built with a view towards minimum adverse effects for the structural density in the area. The building materials have been sourced locally too.

Similar naturally sustainable house designs are under study for the tsunami prone regions of South East Asia. The Geiger Research Institute of Sustainable Building is creating a prototype of this bamboo housing structure.

These are made from low cost locally procured materials. They are being designed to survive hurricanes, earthquakes and tsunami.

Built entirely of bamboo, including the foundation, the houses promise to give maximum space to the families at the minimum costs and hopefully also minimize the destruction caused by the angry elements of nature.

The prototype will be a two level housing unit with two independent units that will share utility areas and stairs. The house has cooking, dining and socializing areas. The upper floor, about eight feet from ground has bedrooms and a continuous running verandah all around.

The lower level is built only two steps up from the ground level, and is built on a fill pad that is retained by sand bags.

Right from the foundation to the two units, the house uses locally procured, natural and low cost materials like sandbags, bamboo culms, studs, top plate and sole plates, wood dowels and bags filled with rice hull.

With increasing green consciousness, it is now becoming more relevant to think about green cities rather than about green building.

An entire eco friendly green city is no longer a science fiction fantasy. The concept is now becoming a reality with Tianjin Eco city in China. The city has been designed by the Surbana Urban Planning Group and it is under construction being barely a ten minute ride from the Tianjin Economic Development Area.

This futuristic city which will be spread over 30 sq kms is expected to be the home of 350,000 people. It is being built with the latest green technologies and will open the way to more such green cities in China.

One of the highlights would be the different landscapes that the residents will be able to choose from. Among others they can opt for Solarscape (sun powered) or Earthscape (greenery clad).

The eco city will use sustainable technologies including renewable sources like wind, solar power, rainwater recycling, waste water treatment and sea water desalination.

The city residents are expected to use the public transport system to reduce carbon emissions pollution. The city will have a lightning fast light rail system which will make commute a breeze.

The city is proposed to have seven different sectors – an Eco Valley, a Lifescape, A Solarscape, a Windscape, an Urbanscape, an Earthscape and last but not the least, the Eco corridors. Each of these sectors will have distinct features and play their different roles in the Eco city.

Lifescape is proposed to be surrounded with greenery and will have soil topped mounds to counteract the other high rise buildings in the city. Solarscape is being planned as the civic and administrative center for the city.

The city will be multilayered and compact and this will be well demonstrated in the Urbanscape with its stacked programs that will be interconnected with sky bridges.

The Earthscape on the other hand will be the suburbs and will showcase stepped architecture with maximum public green spaces. The hundred year old village of Qingtouzi will be transformed by the Windscape into a relaxation and recreational venue for the citizens of the Eco City.

Generally, constructing a green building is seen as a very expensive adventure. According to a recent study from World Business Council for Sustainable Development, the costs for a green building will rise to 300% over the cost of a standard one in spite of the fact that so far the cost increase was estimated only at 17 %.

All over the world, the architects and engineers endeavor in such daring project with the purpose of making the public more receptive to the alternative options for building a house. The results of their work are futuristic works of art whose purpose is to make the best of living comfortably and protecting the environment.

A green building is a building that uses resources efficiently whether those resources are energy, water or building materials. It improves human health by improving the air.

Under the circumstances that show the standard buildings as being some of the major pollutants in the world, the green building can be more that just an attempt to make a better world.

More and more daring projects are considered by the large building companies because, in spite of the higher price, the market encourages the immobile trend to follow a “greener” approach towards building investments.

New Green Tower from Miami looks like a giant piece of Swiss cheese because of the uniform holes in the shell that covers the building. The shell is actually an exoskeleton and consists of a structure that isolates the building sustaining the turbines that offer shade and a natural ventilation.

The sky–scraper is 116 meter tall. It is the daring result of a creative cooperation from Chad Oppenheim (architecture and design), Buro Happold and Ysreal Seinuk from energy consultancy.

The building that cost 40 million dollars incorporates residential space as well as commercial space. The price of the residential space is rising from 400000 dollars per apartment to 1 million dollars/commercial space.

The green technologies are the wind turbines, photovoltaic panels and solar water heating. As a plus the floors are made of recycled glass and bamboo.

The designers hoped that this amazing architectural piece would attract tenants with a taste for green lifestyle and they were not wrong because nowadays more and more corporate enterprises choose to conduct their businesses in eco friendly buildings.