Greenerbuildings

greenerbuildings.com has a wide range of topics such as design, energy, materials, land use, water use, and waste management. Each topic has articles that inform the reader about current projects, issues, and stories within different disciplines from around the world. The site has good information but I am not all together sure how credible the writers are. It looks like most of the articles are written by people who subscribe to the site or by staff members. None the less it is a place in which to find news on green architecture.

How green can fast food be?

I read an article that stated that Chopltle, which at one point had ties to McDonald's, has decided to build two "green" restaurants. In some ways I really think this is a good example of "green-washing." The article mentioned a lot of technology that would be implemented into the designs and although I think technology can help boost energy conservation there is a fine line in calling fast food "green." I have heard many stories of fast food chains building "green" buildings but yet the philosophy of fast food is far from sustainable. I appreciate companies stepping up to confront these major issues that we currently face but we need to be careful what we call green. There are without a doubt different shades of "green" but as soon as we settle for "green" fast food joints we may be masking an even larger problem.

Reuse or Recycle?

I have heard of a lot of different groups starting do use steel cargo containers as materials within different projects. Most of these projects started at the residential projects but I just read an article in which a firm built an office building for the Army out of these shipping containers. The idea of recycling these containers is good and the article talks about the amount of energy saved in converting these containers but can't those containers be reused as shipping containers? I mean if we start building tons of building out of these containers then we will then need to start manufacturing more containers to use as cargo containers. I think it makes since to convert a container into a building if the container would otherwise be destroyed but if it could be put back into the shipping system that would be the more sustainable use of materials. Maybe at some point we will localize markets in a way that we will no longer need as many cargo shipping containers but until then these containers play a huge role in global transportation.