Weekly Energy Newsbriefs

BIOMIMICRY, CONSTRUCTAL THEORY, and ENGINEERING

Biomimicry, constructal theory, and engineering are intimately linked in some of the literature of the past decade or more. The following explain and describe the ways in which these three are linked:

1. "Natural Design with Constructal Theory" was co-authored by Adrian Bejan, J.A. Jones Distinguished Professor of Mechanical Engineering, Duke University, and Sylvie Lorente, Professor of Civil Engineering, University of Toulouse (INSA). The concept of natural design is explained and shown by example. The authors connect actual instances of natural design with constructal theory, an approach that finds principles of configurations that appear in nature in order to apply them in engineered design. See this article in Mechanical Engineering, September 2009, at http://memagazine.asme.org/Articles/2009/september/Natural_Design_Constructal.cfm.

2. "Constructal Theory: Introduction to the Inverse of Biomimicry" was written by Tim McGee who argues for a very broad application of constructal theory as it describes flow systems -- and the author believes that cities, rivers, and other entities are all flow systems. See this article on the Treehugger website, posted December 12, 2006, at http://www.treehugger.com/files/2006/12/constructal_the.php . It includes links to the following three of the same author’s remarks:

a. "Constructal Theory: Sustainability" is at http://www.treehugger.com/files/2006/12/constructal_the_2.php.

b. "Constructal Theory: The Science" is at http://www.treehugger.com/files/2007/01/constructal_the_3.php.

c. "Constructal Theory: The Applications" is at http://www.treehugger.com/files/2007/02/constructal_the_1.php.

BUILDINGS

The following three articles appeared in the September 2009 issue of Building Design and Construction; the first is about a new and sustainable public library, the second about a new NASA building, and the third about a new policy mandate for state buildings in Texas:

1. "Let There Be Daylight" was written by Jeff Yoders, Senior Associate Editor, Building Design and Construction. An architect introduced daylighting into a new public library in Champaign, Illinois, a structure designed to last a hundred years. In addition to clerestory windows and a massive skylight over the central stairway, solar tubes are employed to distribute daylight throughout the second floor. The library is a Silver LEED building. See this article at http://www.bdcnetwork.com/article/CA6687369.html.

2. NASA Sustainability Base is a web page on NASA’s Greenspace website. The website highlights Sustainability Base, which is NASA’s sustainable building on the campus of the Ames Research Center in Sunnyvale, California. While Sustainability Base is to be a zero-net-energy building that will drastically reduce water consumption and maintenance costs, it will be much, much more. See this web page which includes a video and other pertinent material at http://www.nasa.gov/centers/ames/greenspace/sustainability-base.html.

3. "Texas Mandates BIM for All State Projects" is a brief piece written by Jeff Yoders, Senior Associate Editor, Building Design and Construction. A building information (BIM) model is now required by the Texas Facilities Commission for all building design and construction efforts for state buildings whether they are for state government business or for state university use. See this article at http://www.bdcnetwork.com/article/CA6687382.html.

LEED (LEADERSHIP IN ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN)

LEED is a program of the U.S. Green Building Council certifying the environmental sustainability of single buildings and entire neighborhoods whether they are existing structures or are to be newly constructed. The following four articles address various LEED-related topics:

1. "5 Steps to a Higher LEED Certification" was written by Peter Szymanski AIA, LEED AP. The author explains how the LEED certification process includes the use of its Credit Interpretation Ruling (CIR) request to ask about unusual situations which may lend themselves to unusual design approaches. Additionally, the article lists the five recommended steps with an emphasis on integrated building design. See this article in ED+C (Environmental Design + Construction), September 2009, at http://www.edcmag.com/Articles/Feature_Article/BNP_GUID_9-5-2006_A_10000000000000656149.

2. "Higher-Ed Energy Conservation Tips" by Ron Wilkinson PE, LEED AP, takes the reader through energy conservation strategies for existing campus buildings through the regular cycles of operation, maintenance, and repair. The strategies are selected to position the buildings to achieve LEED certification in the Operations and Maintenance category of the LEED Existing Buildings program. The strategies include establishing a building management system that connects all campus buildings, addressing needed improvements in ventilation, sensors, and controls to increase lighting efficiencies, and more. See this Web-only article in +C (Environmental Design + Construction), September 1, 2009, at http://www.edcmag.com/Articles/Article_Rotation/BNP_GUID_9-5-2006_A_10000000000000650192.

3. "Laboratory Goes Through-the-Roof Green," by Tony Matter, tells the story of a laboratory building that was designed to achieve LEED-Gold certification. The building is a new addition to the Mount Desert Island Biological Laboratory (MDIBL), in Bar Harbor, Maine. While the planning for the new green facility and its many green features are described, the roof, heavily insulated with a locally-made product, is the focus of this article. See this Web-only article in ED+C (Environmental Design + Construction), September 1, 2009, at http://www.edcmag.com/Articles/Article_Rotation/BNP_GUID_9-5-2006_A_10000000000000650480.

4. "Paying Upfront Pays Off: Achieving High Environmental Standards Is Worth It in the Long Run," was authored by Elise Lipoff, Public Relations Specialist, Willis A. Smith Construction, Inc. The process of developing a new LEED-Gold headquarters for a construction firm is described­. See this article in Metal Construction News, September 2009, at http://www.moderntrade.com/Default.aspx?PublicationID=2&ArticleID=1587&Title=Paying+upfront+pays+off%3a+Achieving+high+environmental+standards+is+worth+it+in+the+long+run.

MILITARY

"Army Offers 14,000 Acres for Solar," by Ucilia Wang, describes the pilot program that the U.S. Army has begun on Fort Irwin in the Mojave Desert. It will be a 13-year long effort to bring solar, on a massive scale, to the California fort. See this article in Greentech Media, posted July 31, 2009, at http://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/army-offers-14000-acres-for-solar/.

PRODUCTS and PRODUCTS-TO-BE

These articles highlight two products that are quite interesting and describe some ongoing research in nanotechnologies which may result in any number of products in the future:

1. "The First Hybrid Sport Boat Cruises with More Peace, Less Pollution" is a brief article by Lauren Aaronson, Senior Associate Editor, Popular Science. This energy-saving boat will be on the market shortly. The author explains how engineers gave this boat enough power to overcome water resistance and to function efficiently even when the batteries need recharging. See this article in Popular Science, September 2009, at http://www.popsci.com/gear-amp-gadgets/article/2009-09/first-hybrid-sportsboad-makes-seas-cleaner.

2. "Robots That Eat Bugs and Plants for Power: Controversial robots devour biomass to gain energy independence" is an article by Susannah F. Locke, Assistant Editor, Popular Science. This product is not market-ready, but it is so inventive that it seems to deserve mention. The robots can absorb organic matter and turn it into energy via a microbial fuel cell or a small combustion engine. View this article in Popular Science, September 2009, at http://www.popsci.com/military-aviation-amp-space/article/2009-09/robots-eat-bugs-and-plants-power.

3. "Tiny Technologies Could Produce Big Energy Solutions," by Elizabeth Landau, CNN, reports on nanotechnology research that is energy-related. Though a very small part of the total of nanotechnology research, and, though decades may pass before it results in appreciable energy benefits, the possible products from solar cells to batteries are tantalizing. See this article on the CNN website, dated September 22, 2009, at http://edition.cnn.com/2009/TECH/09/22/nano.technology.energy/.

SCHOOLS

The following two articles, both written by Lucy Bodilly, Editor-in-Chief, Northwest Construction, appeared in the September 2009 issue of that journal:

1. "Local Architects Surpass Expectations with Designs to Match New Learning Models" discusses the several schools on the western side of Washington State that have been cited for awards that were won as a result of advanced and visionary architectural design. They include Marysville Getchell High School, Tacoma's Woodrow Wilson High School, Seattle's Woodrow Wilson High School, and Seattle's Panther Lake Elementary School. See this article at http://northwest.construction.com/features/archive/2009/0909_C_LocalArchitects.asp.

2. "Sustainable Building Supplements Learning at Seattle Schools" describes the bond-funded program by which the city of Seattle has been renovating or replacing a large number of its schools. Sustainability inside and outside the facilities is employed as a progressive design feature and as a learning opportunity for students. See this article at http://northwest.construction.com/features/archive/2009/0909_F4_SeattleSchools.asp.

WORKFORCE

"Growing the Next Work Force," by Alice Clamp, describes pilot programs sponsored by electric utilities in Georgia. The programs engage math and science high school teachers in the effort to show students the opportunities available to them in the energy sector when certain skill sets are developed. See this article in Public Power Magazine, September 2009, at http://www.appanet.org/newsletters/ppmagazinedetail.cfm?ItemNumber=25395&sn.ItemNumber=0.