Fire Sprinklers Anyone?? 2009 IRC Changes
photo via constructiondeal.com
I just read that, according to the 2009 IRC Building Codes, all new homes after January 1, 2011 will be required to have fire sprinklers. Some legistlation has been passed in Arizona and North Dakota to over-rule this code, but other states are embracing it. I haven’t heard anything specific about Utah. I think it’s kind of absurd. It would most likely add some $5,000 dollars to the cost of new construction, and a false alarm could cost thousands more. I have to admit, though, that I’m no expert on the subject, so maybe I’m missing something. If anybody has some new info, please let me know.
Ville Hara / Korkeasaari Lookout Tower
Photo: Jussi Tiainen, HUT photography laboratory
I just thought this tower was awesome. It was designed by a student (I’m assuming the student’s name was “Hara”) from the Helsinki University of Technology, and built by a group of eight architecture students. There’s an interesting lookout from the top because it sits on the edge of the Korkeasaari Zoo in Helsinki, Finland.
Photo: Jussi Tiainen, HUT photography laboratory
The structure and all of the decking is made of wood, and the structure is fastened together with some 600 bolts.
Your Official Backflow Preventer Tester
Now I Can Test This!!
That’s right everybody… I passed the test, and have now become a back flow preventer tester. I can’t wait to get started!! So, I like to make fun of the concept, and I originally made fun of the 1 week class; but it turns out that people have died because of backflow. I think that I’ve gotten ahead of myself. Backflow is the idea that our drinking water can possibly be contaminated by water that has been through the city’s pipes and then, for any number of reasons, gets polluted and sucked back into the city’s pipes. It is far fetched, but how about the guy that turned on his shower and acid (???!!!) came out of his shower head. Or maybe one of the incidents here in Utah where somebody went to fill up their glass with soda, at a restaurant, and antifreeze came out. It’s estimated that there are 10,000 incidents reported annually. So the class was to teach us about backflow prevention and to teach us how to test the actual mechanism that prevents the backflowage. It’s more technical than it sounds.
Finally, Friday shows up and we’re all ready to take the test. I want you to feel with me the pressure of one week worth of classes, $550 worth of company money, 1 written exam, 1 lab exam, and 30 redneck guys (like me) pretending we understand what a “reduced pressure principle backflow prevention assembly” is. My bloodpressure was through the roof, and on top of it all I had to argue with the guy that was testing me to get him to pass me. Turns out he was wrong, even though he failed me to begin with, and I passed… feeyew! I sat in my truck and talked to my wife for about 20 minutes before I could calm my nerves enough to brave a freeway. So next time you leave a hose sitting in acid suspended 50 feet in the air, and suspect that the water main is going to break, remember to check the atmospheric pressure breaker at the hose bib so that you don’t hurt somebody.
Bonded Logic’s Cotton Insulation
photo via Bonded Logic's website
Hugging insulation is not really something we see children doing every day. The reason hugging is allowed here is that Bonded Logic has created an insulation using denim scraps from textile mills. They figure they have saved about 200 tons of denim from landfills. LEED credits are available because there are no VOC or off-gassing problems, cotton is a rapidly renewable resource, and UltraTouch is made of 85% post-industrial recycled content. Also, to reach an R-value of 30 UltraTouch needs to be 8″ thick, while the typical Owens Corning Pink Fiberglass Insulation needs to be 9.5″ thick. The only potential problem is water absorption, which would affect the R-value, but if water has reached your insulation that’s the least of your worries. I’m always glad to see innovative products like UltraTouch.
Backflow Prevention
So this whole week I’m at school to get certified as a “Backflow Preventer Tester.” It’s taking up a little more of my schedule than I was hoping so I don’t think I’ll be posting, but I’ll see if I can squeeze some of the info in someday. For a look at how much fun I’m having, check out the web page for the American Backflow Prevention Association.
Cool City #5: Curitiba, Brazil
photo via henribergius
In writing these articles on these cities, I have called them “Cool Cities.” I didn’t really want to call them “Green Cities” becuase I feel somewhat skeptical about the whole “Green Rush.” Obviously, there are incredible things that are being done, and incredible things that need to be done, to prevent our daily habits from slowly rotting our planet. However, I fear that being green has become a trend that people get into because of guilt-trips or hip bumper-stickers on the back of Subarus. We, humans, tend to get wrapped up in causes that are absolutely wonderful, and we look down on those that aren’t as involved or enlightened. Our error is that we forget the very thing our important causes should point back to: humans.
That’s where Curitiba comes in. Instead of lengthy studies and arguments about “the environment,” when I was studying Curitiba, I found articles on people. Studies say that 99% of Curitibans are happy with their town. 99%! One of the most impressive aspects of Curitiba is its ability to deal with the very poor. One article says that “Curitiba may have broken the back of its social problems.” This statement comes from program after program helping those in need actually get what they need. For instance, if you bring in a bag of collected garbage the city will give you a bag of food. This makes the city, even the slums, clean- and it gives the people that live in the city a sense of pride. Also, a section of large farmland was purchased by the city and cleared so that homeless people could own a piece of land. The city helped with materials, but the people had to build their own homes. The city also provided one hour with an architect so that the homes would be unique and personalized. Thanks to a dedicated mayor and urban planner, Jaime Lerner, people seem to be at the center of what makes this city unique.
Curitiba is also, of course, green. There are 150 square feet of green space for every inhabitant (one article I read said 580 square feet per inhabitant?), 115 kilometers of bike lanes, walking – no car- zones, and a world renowned bus system (some 85 cities are working on replicating it). Here is a city that, to me, has got it right: Environment- important, Humans- most important. For a great article on Curitiba check out the article, by Bill McKibben, entitled: Curitiba: A Global Model For Development.
Throwback to Cool City: London 1853
I was on a hunt this morning for the first city to legislate against pollution. I may be wrong, but the earliest thing that I could find was London in 1853. The act was called the Smoke Nuisance Abatement Act. It was pushed through the House by a man named Mr. Palmerston and their were, apparently, quite a few prosectutions of companies that didn’t adhere to the act. If anyone knows of anything any earlier let me know.
Cool City #4: Portland, Oregon
photo by DubbaG
Portland, Oregon is commonly placed #1 among the U.S.’s green cities. Why? Categories like “transportation,” “electricity,” “green policy” and “recycling efforts” usually separate the city from the competition. The City of Portland even has a “Green Building Program” to inspire, support and promote green buildings within the city limits. Popsci.com reports that “half its power comes from renewable sources, a quarter of the workforce commutes by bike, carpool or public transportation, and it has 35 buildings certified by the U.S. Green Building Council.” I went on to Oregon.gov and found a 46 page document produced by the City of Portland Office of Sustainable Development on how to make your business more environmentally friendly. I read most of it, and it has some rock-solid ideas in it. Lastly, Inhabitat.com said that Portland, Oregon is “consistently named the number-one city for bicyclists.” It’s always more expensive to be green, but the idea is that it’s better in the long run; and Portland gets that. They seem to be leading The United States of America in what is beginning to be called “The Green Rush.”
Cool City #3: Reykjavik, Iceland
Andreas Tille
Reykjavik, Iceland comes in as Cool City #4. Though there’s no order to the way these cities are coming to you on The Architecture Program, Reykjavik was rated #1 by HowStuffWorks.com and Grist.com. Some of the incredible actions that this city is taking are:
- Zero fossil fuel by 2050 (using hydrogen instead)
- 72% of total energy needs for the city, currently, come from renewable sources
- Free electricity for electric vehicles
- Free parking for environmentally friendly cars, footpaths will be broadened and the number of drinking fountains and benches increased
- Takes part in Nordic Cities Environmental Indicators Project, which monitors specific environmental parameters
- 500,000 trees will be planted within the city limits
- Pledging to become the cleanest city in Europe
All of these comprise what is called the “Green Steps of Reykjavik.” Not much of a wonder that it’s ranked as one of the greenest, if not the greenest, city in the world.
Cool City #2: Vancouver
Thom Quine
Vancouver, Canada has officially been named our Cool City #2. Especially for their efforts to make their 2010 Olympics the greenest yet. Imagine capturing methane gas from a landfill to use for heating the Olympic Village. That doesn’t sound like a fun job, but Vancouver plans on doing it. Also, their Community Centre is going to be LEED platinum, while the other buildings in the village are going to be LEED gold. Besides the Olympic efforts, Vancouver already leads the world in hydroelectric power; and is investing in solar, wave, tidal and wind power sources to reduce environmental impact. I also read that they are using solar powered trash compactors in their waste baskets to minimize the amount of times their garbage trucks have to collect the waste. Keep up the good work Vancouver.
