CSI Project Solutions

Concrete doesn't typically top lists of sustainable materials, but Team New Jersey, a competitor in the 2011 Solar Decathlon, proves that it is possible to create a precast concrete net zero home. Comprised of students from Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, and the New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT), the team is the first in the competition's history to utilize concrete as their primary building material. The design of the eNJoy House exploits precast concrete's unique advantages, including modular assembly, energy efficiency, and a sculptural aesthetic.

The building industry is moving inevitably away from 2D paper drawings and toward 3D virtual modeling. When a new technology offers people a better way of doing something, they will eventually use it, even if it means overcoming old habits and facing a sometimes steep learning curve. The use of Building Information Modeling (BIM) has increased dramatically over the past few years, not just in architecture firms, but industry-wide. Construction firms that were early adopters of BIM now have the hard data to justify their choice: projects are taking less time and costing less money, and demonstrated mastery of state-of-the-art technology is winning these firms more jobs.

Tired of eating at the picnic table on the lawn but not interested in maintaining a wood deck? Look to make a lasting impression in your backyard by installing a paver patio. Paver patios are aesthetically pleasing and are relatively low-maintenance. If you hire a contractor, you can expect to pay $15–$20 a square foot, depending on where you live and what type of paver you have selected. If you are able to set aside some time and are willing to perform the work on your own, you could save 40%–60% by doing it yourself. Let's get started!

Exterior prehung doors allow you to replace your existing exterior door and frame with a single unit that includes a door, glazing, frame, threshold, weatherstripping, exterior trim, and predrilled holes for a lockset. According to CostHelper.com and depending on size, style, type, and material, a new exterior prehung door could cost anywhere from $75 to $5,000. Once you have ordered and received your new exterior prehung door, you can begin removal and installation.

Perhaps the only thing that traditional, fossil fuel-based electricity generation still has going for it is the ease of “turning on” a new account. Calling the local utility company… easy. Researching, installing, and financing renewable energies and alternative solutions… difficult. More and more, however, government entities and private companies are finding ways to help people to adopt newer technologies.

Bjarke Ingels Group's (BIG's) first North American project – a mixed-use residential building for Durst Fetner Residential (DFR) on West 57th Street in Manhattan, New York – is a crossbreed between the Copenhagen courtyard and the New York skyscraper according to Bjarke Ingels, founder of BIG. West 57th will house 600 residential units, as well as cultural and commercial programs, in 870,000 sq. ft. (80,826 m2). Its unique shape, reminiscent of a warped pyramid, preserves preexisting view corridors down adjacent streets and maximizes natural light. The following press release, courtesy of BIG, explains more about West 57th, which should achieve LEED Gold certification.

One of the final steps in completing a custom shower project is selecting and installing the shower fixtures. While the task of selecting a shower fixture from the wide variety of styles can be challenging, installing the fixture is a simple job. With basic plumbing tools and skills, any do-it-yourselfer can install a shower fixture. Join our host, Jeff Wilson, for a tutorial on installing a handheld shower fixture in the continuation of our custom bathroom series.

Thermal imaging or infrared thermography is a nondestructive maintenance method that uses infrared cameras to measure the amount of thermal radiation emitted by objects, which is converted to temperature. Normally, to measure the temperature of objects near room temperature requires the detection of radiation in the infrared wavelength range (which is much longer than that of visible light, i.e., approximately 400–700 nanometers). Infrared images are normally colorized so that objects that emit more thermal radiation than others will appear as brighter colors (yellow, red, and white). Cooler objects appear in darker blue, purple, or green colors. Although thermal imaging normally detects only surface temperatures, infrared signatures often indicate temperatures inside structures.

Depending on the age of your home, you may have single-pane windows or double-pane insulated windows. Replacing a broken single-pane window can be easily accomplished by a homeowner with the right tools, materials, and a little time, over the period of a week or so. However, if a double-pane insulated window breaks, you will need to replace it. You should contact the manufacturer of the window and replace the affected wooden glazed sash or vinyl window glass pack. If you cannot locate the manufacturer, you should hire a local glazier to replace the broken glass with a custom-fit sash or glass pack.

Much to the chagrin of many Spanish bar owners and restaurateurs, 2011 rang in the New Year with strict (and controversial) anti-smoking laws on January 2. For Spain and its “live and let live” attitude, these new regulations mark the end of an era for the country and its strong café culture of tapas, beer, and smoke. While the country is dedicated to eliminating smoke-filled spaces, Madrid is taking it one step further by actually creating healthy air one neighborhood at a time – starting with the Vallecas neighborhood south of the city. After years of ongoing development and poor city planning, the city council of Vallecas realized that the area was severely lacking in green areas. The city of Madrid (along with the European Union) launched a competition looking for architects that could create a viable social design that reflected the community’s environment-friendly goals.

Nonprofit Helps Communities to Rebuild After Disasters

During the Kosovo refugee crisis in 1999, the husband and wife team of architect Cameron Sinclair and journalist Kate Stohr realized that not many architects were involved in rebuilding after the war. So the couple formed Architecture for Humanity, a not-for-profit design services firm originally located in New York City that helps communities to rebuild infrastructure devastated by human or natural catastrophes.

FleX House by Team Florida

Although Florida is known for its picturesque, sandy beaches, it is also a heavily populated state, and it's growing. Finding a sustainable model for living in this hot, humid climate is a priority for students of four universities who comprise Team Florida, an entrant in the 2011 Solar Decathlon. Like other Solar Decathlon teams, it is a multi-disciplinary one, and each school brings specialties to the table: University of South Florida brings architecture, engineering, and clean energy research and communications; the University of Florida brings interior design and construction; Florida State University brings engineering and net zero expertise; and the University of Central Florida brings solar energy research.