Focus On Green Communities
The National Building Museum in Washington, DC is adding to their compilation of green communities across the US.
" The first section of Green Community explores sustainable planning strategies such as cleaning up and redeveloping brownfields and grayfields, transit-oriented planning, smart use of natural resources, land conservation, and minimizing waste. Each area will be illustrated by example green communities in the United States and around the world, including Greensburg, Kansas; Highlands' Garden Village, Denver, Colorado; Mendoza, Argentina; Hali'imaile Maui, Hawaii; and Masdar City, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates."
Exhibition furniture was prefabricated and its production ganged together to increase efficiency and reduce waste. The designers used new processes — printing text and images directly onto the panels and choosing materials with embedded colors and finishes — and old techniques, like silk-screening text directly onto the walls, to eliminate need for excess materials.
The exhibition's design incorporates a range of sustainable materials. Sustainably-harvested cork and recycled carpet tiles cover the floor. Panels and cases are fabricated with recyclable PETG plastic. Wood used throughout the exhibition was salvaged and reclaimed from other sources. The walls are painted with no-VOC paint.
Deep-Energy Retrofits for Existing Homes is a lecture available at the website.
An additional community listed on the website is in Grayslake, Illinois called Prairie Crossing.
