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Pritzker Prize Winner Announced
Estadio Municipal de Braga
The prestigious Pritzker Architecture Prize was awarded yesterday to Portugal’s Eduardo Souto de Moura. The international prize is given each year to honor a living architect whose body of built work shows “talent, vision, and commitment, which has produced consistent and significant contributions to humanity and the built environment through the art of architecture.”
Souto de Moura won the award for his Estadio Municipal de Braga, the football stadium of Braga, Portugal, and home to the Sporting Clube de Braga. The stadium is colloquially referred to as “The Quarry,” as it is carved into the Monte Castro quarry.
Among Souto de Moura’s other projects are offices, museums, colleges and other public buildings, a Porto, Portugal Metro station, just to name a few. To see more of Souto de Moura’s work, visit the Pritzker Architecture Prize site, linked above.
photo by Luis Ferreira Alves
Posted in Sage Happenings
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Sage Builders: Design-Build Services
At Sage Builders, we provide two main types of service: design-build and construction. Take a moment to get to know the design-build side of our business!
Design-build is an integrated project-delivery system, merging design and construction into a single process which is managed from beginning to end by Sage Builders. There are many reasons why this method of project delivery is more efficient and effective, but here are a few of the most important advantages of this service:
- You’ll save money and time. Our designers and builders work together as a cohesive team to anticipate and prevent the type of hangups that can pop up and ruin a schedule or budget in other projects.
- You’ll know what to expect. All construction issues and cost concerns will be dealt with during the design phase, leading to fewer surprises when the construction process actually begins.
- You’ll enjoy more flexibility. If adjustments or new ideas need to be incorporated, it is much easier to do so when the design and construction teams are under the same roof.
- You can rest easy. Communicating with a single project coordinator through the entire process ensures simplicity and continuity for the client.
To learn more about our New England-based green design-build company, visit Sage Builders!
See more of our work in our Portfolio.
What Does “Low-VOC” Mean?
If you are interested in sustainable design and green building techniques, you’ve probably seen the phrase “low-VOC” bandied about, but do you know what it means?
“VOC” stands for “volatile organic compounds,” and are emitted as gases from a number of common household and construction products. These VOCs include a range of chemicals that can have some pretty scary short- and long-term health effects.
VOCs are emitted from a variety of solids and liquids- everything from paints, lacquers, paint strippers and cleaning supplies to pesticides, building materials, furniture, office equipment, wood preservers and stored fuels, just to name a few. The effects of breathing in VOCs from these products can range from eye, nose, and throat irritation, headaches, and nausea, to kidney, liver, and neurological damage, and even cancer.
Fortunately, there have been many developments in low-VOC building products, like paint, flooring, and varnishes. Read more about VOCs on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency air quality information page, and contact us at Sage Builders if you are considering a home remodeling project and want to “go green” for the good of your family and the environment!
photo via Flickr
EPA Proposes National Standard for Mercury Pollution from Power Plants
Yesterday the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed the first national standards for mercury, arsenic and other toxic air pollutants from power plants. The new standards will require plants to install pollution control devices which will cut harmful emissions of mercury, arsenic, chromium, nickel, and acid gases.
The measure is expected to have far-reaching health implications, including the prevention of up to 17,000 premature deaths and 11,000 heart attacks a year, 120,000 cases of childhood asthma symptoms and 11,000 cases of pediatric acute bronchitis. The standards are also expected to prevent over 12,000 emergency room visits and hospital admissions, and result in 850,000 fewer days of work missed due to illness.
In addition to all of the positive effects on public health, the new rule is estimated to provide 31,000 short-term construction jobs, as well as 9,000 long-term utility jobs. EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson made a statement, saying-
Today’s announcement is 20 years in the making, and is a significant milestone in the Clean Air Act’s already unprecedented record of ensuring our children are protected from the damaging effects of toxic air pollution…With the help of existing technologies, we will be able to take reasonable steps that will provide dramatic protections to our children and loved ones, preventing premature deaths, heart attacks, and asthma attacks.
To read more about this exciting environmental development, visit the EPA news release.
photo by Michael Caven (CC)
Neighborhoods Go Green Exhibit
An interesting exhibit opened this week in Washington, D.C.- “Neighborhoods Go Green! Scaling up Sustainability.” Using the LEED for Neighborhood Development system as a guide, the exhibit explores the fundamentals of a sustainable neighborhood community.
The show, which is on display now at the DC headquarters for the American Institute of Architects, is co-curated by the U.S. Green Building Council, the Chicago Architecture Foundation, and Farr Associates. Rick Fedrizzi, the President, CEO and Founding Chair of the U.S. Green Building Council had this to say about the exhibit:
“Neighborhoods Go Green!” celebrates the projects around the world that are helping transform our neighborhoods into walkable, sustainable and economically thriving communityes…The exhibit hightlights the link between the importance of sustainability and the places where we all live and work.
LEED for Neighborhood Development focuses on a few key principles, including
- new urbanism
- green building
- smart growth
- reducing urban sprawl
- increasing choices in transportation for residents
- decreasing dependence on cars
- promoting healthy lifestyles
- protecting threatened species
Are you interested in remodeling or adding an addition, and also want to create a more environmentally conscious home? Contact Sage Builders to find out how we can help make your house more sustainable, energy efficient and beautiful.
photo via Christopher Woo
Northeast Sustainable Energy Association
At Sage Builders, we are proud to be a member of the Northeast Sustainable Energy Association, an organization dedicated to advancing the “adoption of sustainable energy practices in the built environment.”
For the past 35 years, NESEA has worked to build and nurture a network of professionals committed to sustainable energy and building practices, as well as conscientious energy use. As the leading U.S. regional membership organization promoting sustainable energy solutions, NESEA has helped further the cause of environmentally conscious building and design in ten states, from Maine all the way down to Washington DC.
The three core elements NESEA strives to advance are
- “a multi-disciplinary network of professionals”
- “sustainable energy solutions for the built environment”
- “proven results in the field”
If you are considering a remodel or addition for your New England home, make sure to call us at Sage Builders! Energy efficiency and sustainable practices aren’t only beneficial to the environment, they can also add up to big savings for you in the long run!
logo via NESEA on Facebook
ThinkGlass Eco-Friendly Countertops
Are you looking for an environmentally-conscious countertop material for your home? If so, you might want to check out the beautiful glass countertops produced by ThinkGlass. Whether your style is subtle and sedate or more vibrant and charismatic, their range of recyclable glass counters has something to fit your home.
Besides being 100% recyclable, the counters are maintenance-free and highly durable, so they will last for quite a long time. No sealants or harsh chemicals are used in their production; they are emission free and do not negatively impact air quality; compared to granite, they are Radon free; and they are certified by NSF International as safe for food preparation. And as if ThinkGlass didn’t already have enough green “street cred” to convince you, it also gives 10 points for LEED homes and 23 points for NAHB Model Green Homes.
If you want to transform your New England area home with a green remodel or addition, contact Sage Builders today!
images via ThinkGlass
What is Green Design?
The green building industry has grown by leaps and bounds in recent years, but here at Sage Builders, we’ve been creating environmentally-conscious homes for our clients for over a decade. We work with our clients to make design and construction decisions that not only show a concern for the conservation of natural resources, but also fit our clients’ lifestyle needs.
When planning a project, our focus is always on the two true requirements of “green” building- energy efficiency and durability. Proper insulation and air sealing reduce the client’s heating and cooling demand and cost, while high-efficiency heating, ventilation, and air conditioning equipment, combined with high-efficiency lighting and moisture management combine to ensure that the home is not only energy efficient but also comfortable and healthy.
By creating a target energy budget, we can help our clients to make a very real impact on the environment. Our designers will develop an integrated and aesthetically-pleasing design that achieves the desired energy conservation levels through product selections, building techniques, and design specifications. If you are interested in improving your New England area home with a “green” remodel or addition, contact Sage Builders today!
You can read more about our green approach at Sage Builders LLP.
TREEPODS: Carbon-Scrubbing “Urban Furniture”
Designed by Mario Caceres and Cristian Canonico
We love finding out about all of the green ideas and projects going on right here in New England, and this post on Inhabitat really caught our attention here at Sage Builders. Check out TREEPODS: Carbon-Scrubbing Artificial Trees for Boston City Streets.
These beautiful artificial trees were designed by Mario Caceres and Christian Canonico for the SHIFTboston Urban Intervention Contest to help cleanse the air on Boston’s city streets. The TREEPOD system, a great use of biomimicry, replicates natural processes to convert carbon dioxide into oxygen, but also harvests solar and kinetic energy. Seesaws on the base of each tree power displays that elaborate on the de-carbonization process, and the harvested solar and kinetic energy also fuel the air filtration process and interior lights.
The trees, fabricated from recycled drink bottles, will be sleek, modern, and stark white, with a vaguely lung-inspired aesthetic, and at night, they will be illuminated with a beautiful, vibrant mix of color.
For more images and information about the TREEPODS, read the full article on Inhabitat (linked above), and visit SHIFTboston to learn more about their projects and events.
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