Just as a bird scavenges to find exactly the right materials to build its nest, so did the Missouri University of Science and Technology create their entry for the U.S. Department of Energy 2015 Solar Decathlon. Reduce, reuse and recycle are the foundation or “Three Rs” for green living. This team took that to new…
Paul Sawchuk is a junk removal specialist working with JUSTJUNK®, a leading junk removal service provider. Learn more about Paul at www.JUSTJUNK.com. Knowing where to dispose of debris and other waste materials leftover from a project is the first step for efficient operation and cleanup. Following are five steps to make sure cleanup is quick…
Heating and cooling any large building takes a special approach, but the tallest buildings are something altogether different. Typical tall buildings use the same heating and cooling methods as any other. It’s more a matter of installing a system that’s large enough and strong enough to serve the whole building. But when a skyscraper soars…
Engineering is all about rational thought processes, analyzation, critical thinking and problem solving. It’s not about creativity and intuition. Except that maybe it is. How can you improve your intuition? More than that, why would you want to? Engineers are trained to make decisions based on reasoning. But intuition might help all of the other…
Every job comes with risks, but some jobs are much more dangerous than others. A retail worker stocking shelves could slip and fall. But a firefighter or cell tower climber could encounter a dangerous situation or health issue when help is too far away for anyone to notice. Worker safety is the reason why Honeywell…
Is there anyone whose name is more closely related to home improvement than Bob Vila? Since 1979, his expertise has helped take green building from a fringe idea to the mainstream. Younger folks might not even realize that he helped put the now-famous show This Old House on the map. He’s made a career of…
In a world where the climate is anything but stable and energy conservation is on everyone’s mind, the U.S. Department of Energy challenges college-level design and build teams to create energy efficient, affordable and good-looking solar-powered homes in its Solar Decathlon competition. This year’s winner is SU+RE House, a project by Stevens Institute of Technology.…
Everyone talks about leadership. It’s important for taking your career, your department and even your whole firm in the right direction. But have you ever given any thought to “followership?” Sure, it’s not really a word. But maybe it should be. While everyone is busy thinking about personal advancement and being a team leader, being…
It’s a sad fact of life that tall buildings, especially glass ones, act as dangerous obstacles for bird populations. They’re directly in the line of flight, and they’re often nearly invisible until it’s too late. But instead of accepting the unfortunate demise of so many birds as a hazard of the urban landscape, a new…
What could be better than a floating version of the perfect vacation home in a sunny, warm climate? How about one that’s off the proverbial grid and totally self-sufficient? The Floatwing is a floating dream home that’s not just designed with a low carbon footprint and made for efficiency. It produces more energy than it…
