Reforestation of City Space Milan, Italy

Architects have been struggling with the incorporation of renewable energy components into their projects as demanded by planning authorities. An example being solar panels on tower blocks in city centers. The electricity generated is intended to be used for space heating and ; the problem is that roof space is a relatively small area and incorporating technology into building facades is costly and not always effective.


Stefano Boeri has a different approach in his Vertical forest, Bosque Vertical  


for apartment blocks in Milan, Italy.

Spain helps out neighbour France in green power surge

Spain has bolstered its credentials as a world leader in renewable energy by exporting electricity to France for the first time. Heavy rain and strong winds during 2010 meant that renewables - principally hydro, wind and solar power - met 35 per cent of Spanish demand.

Wind power rose by 18.5 per cent in 2010 and now meets 16 per cent of demand. Luis Atienza, managing director of Spain's electricity grid, predicted that "within three years wind power will overtake nuclear as an electricity source". At its peak, on November 9, wind power met 43 per cent of demand.

This greening of the Spanish grid has not benefited the consumer, with prices likely to rise by nine per cent in 2011. The government sets electricity prices which have no direct correlation with production costs. (The Guardian)

Electricity prices will rise 9.8 % in 2011 and that is almost 40% since 2002.

Million dollar Eco Question - renewable energy

Renewable energy believable?

La Recherche

While the United Nations conference on climate in Poznan concluded with mixed results, the urgency to invest in renewable energy is more than ever. But wind, solar or biomass are they credible? Internet users interviewed Jean-Louis Bal on the relevance and viability of these energy alternatives. Here is this entire debate, which obviously remains open.

DEBATE WITH Jean-Louis Bal

Director of renewable energy ADEME

ECO friendly Villa Design

Sustainable Architecture > Eco Villa Design > Spain

_project Name: The Eco House

_location: Spain

_type: Modern Eco-Villa

_project type: Eco Design & build

_brief: To design and build a large, modern zero-carbon footprint villa.

_considerations: The long and narrow plot is located on a steep 45º gradient. The villa design had to be modern and incorporate lots of natural light.

_response: The final design features a variety of environmentally-friendly features: