GRAND DESIGNS SHOW

GRAND DESIGNS SHOW

A research trip to the Grand Designs show in the Excel Centre proved to be not as helpful as id hoped. Essentially the majority of the renewable energy stalls were all selling solar panels and there was a distinct lack of people trying to sell you a new way of building. It made me realise that alot of people who are interested in renewable energy and are building homes, may not be informed of all the options available to them. I feel that a greater awareness needs to be built around the fact that in order for us to live sustainably new homes need to change. I feel that the current building industry in this country is something that would be hard to crack. Tradesmen and women have used the same methods for many many years. But this is not to say that they wont. It is often the way in our society that for great change to come about there needs to be serious political backing.

KINGSPAN LIGHTHOUSE

KINGSPAN LIGHTHOUSE

Further research into passive building design by Kingspan who have designed the first prototype for modern day building.
The kingspan lighthouse is one of the first examples of a completely sustainable modern day home which has a mere annual energy bill of £30. It comes as a solution to the governments new code for sustainable homes where they have outlined a code for what new builds need to class as sustainable and zero-carbon.

Stefan Sagmeister

Lisbon Billboard 2009
sagmeister uses newsprint to create this billboard that once exposed to sunlight gradually fades to nothing. A great use of materials to exploit the suns potential.

SERVICE PLAN FOR AUSTRIA SOLAR

AUSTRIA SOLAR - SOLAR REPORT

Service plan produced this impressive piece of information graphics for Austria Solar and won best in show at One Show Design awards in New York. The information is printed with special inks that only reveal themselves under daylight. so effectively when the publication is closed the information disappears until opened again.

PREVENTION RATHER THAN CURE

After further thought into the best ways available for us to ensure a clean future i am slowly coming to the conclusion that we need to establish a prevention rather than cure attitude and awareness. After research into the active side of solar energy its clear to me that there is a considerable amount of problems surrounding solar panels. Solar panels are a great way to save money but cost a large initial payment. Now although this price is reducing quickly and their lifespan is increasing there is a limit. With the most up to date panels lasting around 25 years before they will then need completely replacing. With the additional components such as power inverters lasting alot less.
Therefore for us to sustain a carbon neutral existence for a greater period of time and to maximise the suns potential in all seasons it is in the very way that we build that needs to change. This is where i feel the passive side of solar energy is what needs the most investment and widespread awareness. We need to build in such a way that the suns energy can be effectively maximised for a number of energy types. I feel that solar panels are a great addition but we should not stop here as our building can be used to store alot more heat. Passive building design can also use the suns energy to regulate air flow throughout a home keeping it at a comfortable level.

The television programme Grand Designs documented the making of Britain's first acredited passive house. Where a couple set out to design and build a home that would be air tight and needs no heating.

First Broadcast on the 22nd of September 2010 Watch the episode here

Craig Colorusso: Sun Boxes

Craig Colorusso's Sun Boxes are a hypnotising sound installation that consist of a number small speakers that use solar power to generate sound. The speakers are placed in idyllic locations and generate calming tones as the sun shines across them. A really interesting and alternative way of utilising the suns energy to generate something really unique.

Check out his website here

PASSIVE & ACTIVE SOLAR ENERGY

PASSIVE AND ACTIVE SOLAR ENERGY

After further research into the field of solar energy i have learnt that there are two sepearate ways in which we are able to capture and utilise the suns power. It takes on average eight minutes and nineteen seconds for the suns light to reach the surface of the earth and once it has we can capture it either actively or passively.

ACTIVE

Active solar energy capture is when you have to use electronical/mechanical devices before you are able to start generating and using electricity. For example; a solar panel is a device used to capture the sunlight and convert it into energy. Another device needed before the electricity can be used is a power inverter.

PASSIVE

Passive solar energy capture is when no devices are needed to generate energy. Passive solar energy is most commonly known when it comes to building. The very ways in which we build our houses