Green Energy News | June 10, 1996

June 10, 1996 – Vol.1 No.11

ENERGIES... week of June 10, 1996

A NEW SOLAR AGE could replace the Industrial Age in a vision by British architect Sir Richard Rodgers. Planners, architects and civic leaders from around the world met at a United Nations sponsored conference in Istanbul last week to discuss the future of the world’s cities. Environmentally clean and a strong sense of family and community were key themes of ideas for cities most of us will never see.

Rogers’ dream of clean energy to power cities has been built into a new courthouse of his design in Bordeaux, France. Central air conditioning is accomplished by running ventilation ductwork through a cool waterfall outside the building.

STEEL FRAMED HOUSES may be more prevalent in the future. The Iron and Steel Institute would like to see 25% of all new homes built in steel by the turn of the century.

Aside from being stronger than traditional wood frame homes, steel houses are environmentally friendly and energy efficient. Steel framing components are largely produced from recycled junk cars (plenty of those to go around), thicker wall framing members means thicker insulation, and fewer of them (farther apart) means fewer gaps in the insulation.

Already in Florida steel framed houses are becoming commonplace. Termites, rampant in the Sunshine State, don’t feast on steel and the homes hold up better against hurricane force winds. If, as some experts predict, global warming takes hold, stronger, more frequent hurricanes may blast through coastal states like Florida. Property insurance companies, which pay much of the tab for storm damage, may give the biggest boost to the steel home industry.

THE “ENERGY STAR” label may be on more products in the coming years. New laser computer printers which turn on only when needed and shut down after use are often granted the Energy Star label by the EPA for their energy efficiency.

Other products which are energy frugal, such as home electronics, appliances, even homes themselves may soon be able to stick on the label.

Here’s a challenge. Develop the first Energy Star home and build it in steel. For information (brochures, video, tech support) regarding steel framed houses contact the Iron and Steel Institute at 1-800-79STEEL (1-800-797-8335).