Eco Friendly Architecture

Green building and solar energy
Passive solar homes in which solar energy is used through photovoltaic and active solar techniques. Green building architects use recycled materials such as bricks, tiles, woods and bamboos. Gravel that is properly packed is used instead of concrete in parking lots which replenishes ground water resources. It helps to protect natural resources such as energy, land and water.

Materials used for buildings
The materials used for the constructions should be appropriate. Building constructions should consist mainly of wood as it is eco friendly and the least amount of energy is used. Eco friendly architecture should have provisions for ground water recharge and rain water harvesting. The use of cement, steel and aluminum are replaced by natural elements. The main point on which green architecture focuses on is to maintain harmony with the features and resources that surrounds the building. The building is generally surrounded with greenery so that fresh oxygen circulates freely in the air. It also aims in improving the productivity of employees, to protect the health of people living around, reducing air and water pollution and also to reduce land degradation. Insulated concrete and panels, straw bales are also considered to be ecologically friendly and hence are also used. The main thing that helps to create such building is the design. The designs that are used to construct buildings should harvest water, light and air. Terrace garden or aqua house can be constructed at the roof to provide a cooling effect to the house. Gardens can be decorated with small pebbles and various other plants to give the house a touch of greenery. Provisions for generating electricity through solar energy are also an important necessity. Aluminum produces a lot of pollution and therefore it should be totally avoided.

Read Original: protectearth.net

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Power Plant to Amusement Park

If an abandoned nuclear power plant doesn’t sound like a fun place to spend an afternoon with the family, you clearly have never visited Wunderland Kalkar. The unusual German amusement park was built in what was once intended to be a nuclear power station, turning a potential environmental hazard into a family-friendly attraction that brings hundreds of thousands of visitors to the town each year.

Construction was started in 1972 but protesters, worried about the effects of nuclear power, halted the project for more than a decade. The plant was finally completed at a cost of around $4 billion, but thanks to ongoing political debate and funding problems it would never actually provide power to Kalkar and surrounding areas. In 1991 the project was officially abandoned.

In 1995 the property was purchased by Dutch entrepreneur Hennie van der Most who has a knack for turning old industrial properties into something new and fantastic. Since the power plant was never actually put into use, there are no health concerns or environmental issues for visitors to worry about. Instead, they can ride the exciting rides and be happy to know that they are supporting the environmentally-sound concept of adaptive reuse.

(all images via: Wunderland Kalkar)
The amusement park even uses some of the unique power plant features in its new overall design.

Read original: Nuclear Family Fun: Power Plant to Amusement Park?!