Ascent Solar Opens World Headquarters in Colorado

Ascent Solar “recycled” the 120,000 square-foot building pictured at 12300 Grant Street in Thornton, Colo., and expanded it to 145,000 square-feet, making renovations to house its headquarters and planned 30 megawatt (MW) capacity manufacturing lines that will produce solar modules that can power homes, commercial buildings and consumer devices, among other applications. Ascent Solar is expanding from its existing Littleton, Colo., facility,... 

Solyndra Offered $535 Million Loan Guarantee by the U.S. Department of Energy

Solyndra, Inc. announced that it is the first company to receive an offer for a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) loan guarantee under Title XVII of the Energy Policy Act of 2005. Solyndra, a Fremont, California-based manufacturer of innovative cylindrical photovoltaic systems, will use the proceeds of a $535 million loan from the U.S. Treasury’s Federal Financing Bank to expand its solar panel manufacturing capacity in California. “The leadership... 

SIPOS actuators aid valley water supply application

SIPOS Aktorik’s actuators have been selected by Mavel Srl for a solar system application to aid water management in the Aosta Valley, Italy. The installations are used to protect drains and pipes from debris during storm and flood conditions. The application confirms SIPOS’ expertise at aiding management and regulation of water in remote regions. A key reason for the selection of SIPOS 5 Flash technology was the flexibility afforded by the company’s... 

Economic Stimulus Package Can Light Up America

Even before the economic stimulus package goes before Congressional vote, the BetaLED™ manufacturing plant is ramped up to manufacture LEDway™, environmentally-friendly LED (light-emitting diode) streetlights, to meet increasing demand from cities across the country. “Governments, municipalities and utilities are planning energy savings and sustainability into their proposals for economic stimulus monies,” says Alan Ruud, president of Beta... 

Rental successes at Capital Square in Budapest

HOCHTIEF Development Hungary, the Hungarian subsidiary of HOCHTIEF Projektentwicklung, has found more tenants for Capital Square. The Hungarian electricity provider Budapesti Elektromos Müvek Nyrt (ELM?) signed up for almost 4,000 square meters of space. On another 1,500 square meters, the first office services center of FirstClients, a newly founded company providing office services, will be opened on April 1, 2009. CA Immo International had bought... 

KYOCERA and Independence Power Announce Completion of 268 kW Solar Power System in Burbank, California

As part of the construction of a new private aviation hangar at the Bob Hope Airport in Burbank, Calif., Independence Power has completed a 268 kW solar power system which meets 100% of the requirements for the new hangar and attached office building. The structure was built by Shangri-La Construction, and is occupied by Avjet Corporation. The structure has been certified at a LEED Platinum level, and is the first aircraft hangar to be entirely powered... 

Michigan School Pledges to Become First Carbon Neutral School in the World

Okemos High School launched its Alternative Energy and Sustainability Program and pledged to become the first high school in the world to go carbon neutral. The program aspires to attain this through energy efficiency, green energy and carbon offsets through mass volunteerism and global outreach programs. Given the enormous challenge of global warming and climate change Dr. John Lanzetta, Ph.D, Principal; Okemos High School said “This program... 

Aqua Tower, Chicago by STUDIO GANG ARCHITECTS

In an increasingly dense city like Chicago, views from a new tower must be negotiated between existing buildings. Aqua tower considers criteria such as views, solar shading and function to derive a vertical system of contours that gives the structure its sculptural form. Its vertical topography is defined by its outdoor terraces that gradually change in plan over the length of the tower. These terraces offer a strong connection to the outdoors and... 

Napa Valley’s Historic Bardessono Farmstead Morphs Into America’s Greenest Luxury Hotel

Phil Sherburne, a pioneer in modern green development, will open his long-awaited Bardessono hotel, restaurant and spa in California’s famed Napa Valley during the first week of February. The 62-room luxury hotel with its 92-seat restaurant and bar is situated on the Bardessono family farmstead in the heart of historic Yountville. Sherburne, who was hand-picked by the Bardessonos to develop their six-acre property, promised an ecologically-friendly... 

BBVA Tower Madrid

BBVA Tower is a skyscraper on the Paseo de la Castellana in Madrid. It is a monolithic building that stands on a square solar, formally separated from its surroundings and that is seen from great distances. Its facade was carateriza by having a series of overlapping rings that mark a horizontal streak on the surface that contrasts uniform vertical. Pictures of alvy, Erazo-Fischer and felipe_gabaldon from Flickr CC