A recent study by Booz Allen Hamilton, prepared for the US Green Building Council, examined the overall impact of green building in 2015 and its projected impacts on the construction industry in future years. Its overall findings concluded that green building is growing at a pace much faster than conventional building and even predicts that it will account for one-third of all building in 2018, only a short 3 years away.
Read moreInflatable Bubble Building Hopes to Improve Air and Light Quality in Polluted Shanghai
After moving from his native Rome to Shanghai, China, architect Francesco Gatti noticed a distinct difference in the beauty of sky. The dull, gray, ultra-polluted sky of Shanghai left him hoping the sun would go down earlier, so he wouldn’t have to look at it anymore. When Gatti later realized how much better he felt when the room he was in had a frosted skylight, which accentuates the brightness of the sunlight, he decided to design a whole building around that concept.
Read moreUS Army Scientists Develop Smaller, Stronger, Cheaper Solar Cells
Photo by Mountain/ \Ash, CC BY 2.0
Solar technology has struggled since its inception to stay cost effective enough to make up for the large initial investment. Government subsidies have helped, but many fear that those will soon go away. Because of that, scientists are fighting to produce smaller, more powerful solar cells to bridge the gap between energy and cost savings and US Army scientists have made a new breakthrough in the technology.
Read moreScientists Create an Invisible Solar Cell That Transforms Windows into an Energy Source
According to the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), solar electricity use in the United States increased by 34% in 2014 versus 2013. This solar technology could turn a standard window into a viable energy source.
Read moreThis Infographic Will Catch You Up on the Latest Construction Technological Advances
The construction industry is historically late to adopt technologies, but it seems, as of late, that there have been all kinds of amazing technological advances in the industry, making it inevitable that at least a few will stick. While some of these advances are still being tested and evolving, others are slowly starting to infiltrate job sites and make a huge impact, whether it’s labor cost savings, energy savings, time savings, or creates a more sustainable end product.
This infographic will get you up to speed on the most exciting developments in construction technology...
Read moreFirst Completely 3D Printed Office to Be Built, Furniture and All
Dubai is no stranger to doing historic things in the construction industry, especially since it houses the World’s Tallest Building, the Burj Khalifa. This time, their putting themselves back into the news with the Word’s first completely 3D printed office building.
Read moreNew Thermal Imaging Phone Attachment Combines Mobility and Functionality
The FLIR ONE accessory attachment for IOS and Android comes with two cameras: one that takes photos and videos and one that captures the thermal image. The app then takes the images from both of the cameras and combines them in order to make one detailed image that would otherwise be blurry if it was a standalone thermal image
Read moreWhat to Do if You Find an Underground Storage Tank on Your Construction Job Site
Photo by the US Army Environmental Command
According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), there are over 500,000 underground storage tanks (USTs) in the United States that contain petroleum or other hazardous substances. The materials held in many USTs are dangerous to the earth and to humans if they are released from the tank. Find out what you should do if you find a UST on your job site...
Read moreCool Tools: Zero-Noise & Zero-Emissions Mobile Power Source
Photo courtesy of Boulder Power Technologies
Generators are great for supplying power to job sites where temporary power is not yet available, but, unfortunately, the loud noise and gasoline fumes also accompany the convenience. This can be especially problematic near residential neighborhoods where noise restrictions are in place, and in enclosed spaces, which cause hazardous air quality conditions for your employees. Boulder Power Technologies has just released a solution to this problem...
Read moreNew Roofing Material That Stays Cooler Than Ambient Air Temperature Has Huge Energy Savings Possibilities
Photo Courtesy of UTS Research Team
If given a choice between being on a roof in the summer or in the middle of a dessert, I’m not sure which one I would choose. Find out what a team of Australian researches have come up with to keep roofs cooler than the hot summer air around them...
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