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Hive Modular, a prefab company out of Minneapolis, recently completed this custom modular home on a sloping corner lot in St. Paul.  Sandwiched between mid-century modern neighbors, the 1,864 square foot prefab features contemporary oak finishes and landscaping from none other than Rosenlof/Lucas.  Check it out below from a few different perspectives. 

This is the X-Line 012 model with two bedrooms and two bathrooms.  Hive aims for airtight construction and uses 2×6 exterior wall framing, R19 insulation, and R44 engineered floor and roof trusses. 

The company also uses low-VOC and green materials while minimizing construction waste in controlled factory conditions. 

Hive Modular is one of a handful of businesses out there consistently building contemporary prefabs.  If you like this one, you’ll certainly like some of these others, including this B-Line Medium in Minneapolis, this X-Line in Vadnais Heights, and this B-Line Medium in St. Paul.

[+] Get more info on Green Homes from Hive Modular.

Credits: Hive Modular.

Seattle allows backyard cottages — legally referred to as detached accessory dwelling units (DADU) — in certain single-family situations.  These structures aren’t without controversy but can helpful when taking on a renter or housing extra family.  BjarkoSerra Architects designed this DADU for a family in Beacon Hill, and it will be built in the next year or so to a Built Green 5-Star rating. 

As shown in the rendering above, Beacon Hill DADU will have abundant windows for natural lighting, SIPs for an airtight and energy-efficient envelope, and rainwater harvesting for garden irrigation and stormwater management. 

Clad in Western Red Cedar, the project will also have roof-mounted solar systems for hot water and electricity and will be built with recycled and otherwise green materials.  I’ll try to follow up with this DADU upon the completion of construction.  It will be beautiful. 

Credit: BjarkoSerra Architects.

Leave a comment below through the end of Friday, September 3, 2010, to be considered for this random book giveaway.*

Jerry Yudelson is a green building leader, but he’s also a professional engineer with a master’s degree in water resource development.  Relying on this background, Yudelson authored a new book called Dry Run: Preventing the Next Urban Water Crisis.  The truth is, as he explains, the global human population is expected to quadruple from 1950 to 2050, placing more and more stress on water resources.  Swift action is necessary to prevent a water crisis, and Dry Run provides a timely set of solutions. 

New Society Publishers provided us with a review copy of the book, which focuses on urban water use, as opposed to agriculture or industry use.  Yudelson discusses water crises all over the world (including Australia) and concludes that the general public needs to develop a “culture of conservation.” 

Gathering research and information from interviews of industry experts, the author deftly handles a variety of topics, including the difference between water efficiency and conservation, the linkage between energy and water use, and the relationship between various certification systems and water usage. 

Yudelson devotes a solid portion of text to what he calls the colors of water: blue water, graywater, brown water, blackwater, green water, zen water, and new water.  After that, Yudelson examines two Texas cities and two California cities — all hit with varying degrees of drought — and how each city successfully managed water issues. 

Speaking to activists, citizens, building managers, homeowners, designers, developers, and officials alike, Yudelson concludes with a 10-step program to drastically reduce water consumption and create green jobs at the same time.  It’s an important book for our generation and worth reading, particularly if you’re interested in doing something about water scarcity before it becomes a massive societal problem. 

[+] Buy Dry Run by Jerry Yudelson on Amazon.

*To participate in this giveaway contest, leave a
comment here by midnight MST on Friday, September 3, 2010.  One comment per person; use a valid email; available only in the United States.  By leaving a comment, you agree to the terms and conditions relating to giveaways on Jetson Green.

Recently I had the opportunity to talk with Kevin Romano of SquallCo Development about his new website and modern green homes offered on Long Beach Island. The development company has two home plans, the smaller called Akamai and the other called Ohana, which have been designed in a joint venture with Steve Midouhas. With these, SquallCo hopes to make warm, modern, sustainable homes more approachable to folks in the area.

Akamai, pictured in the first three renderings, is a 1,250 square foot home with three bedrooms and two bathrooms. At roughly half the size of typical new construction, Akamai uses natural lighting and indoor/outdoor spaces to provide a larger experience.

Ohana, pictured in the bottom two renderings, is a 2,250 square foot home with multiple living areas, two bedroom suites, and abundant outdoor space. This design works well in the multi-generational context by offering some privacy to each side.

SquallCo uses a hybrid model of on and off-site fabrication and expects to be able to build these homes in less than four to five months. With all design fees, permits, construction, landscaping, and finishes considered, cost of construction should be about $250 per square foot.

In terms of environmental strategies, SquallCo prioritizes reduction of energy use, reduction/elimination of toxins, reduction of water waste, and facilitation of 100% water permeability. Through design and construction, the idea is to reduce the environmental impact of each home from the beginning.

[+] Get more info on SquallCo Fresh Shore Homes.

Credits: SquallCo.

If Apple were to sell a homes, perhaps they would look something like this.  The v100 Mod Box is a 10′ x 10′ x 10′ cube made with green materials, state of the art appliances, and stylish fixtures.  It’s a new kind of structure that can be assembled by anyone — no tools required — and lives comfortably despite the fact that its footprint is so tiny. 

Shown is a pair of Mod Boxes.  One box has the kitchen and living room, while the other has the bedroom and bathroom.  Amenities include walnut cabinets, an induction cooktop, a Fagor refrigerator, and Duravit sinks and shower and toilet.  

The company that makes the v100 Mod Box was co-founded by Vincenz Saccento, an industry veteran behind the V2 Flat.  Saccento told me in a telephone conversation that v100 Mod Box will cost about the same as “stick and stucco” construction but the real value is in quick and easy assembly. 

Mod Box can be used for larger applications, such as for hotels and multifamily projects.  Saccento is working on a few such projects with builder and co-founder Robert Antonio Mazzullo and will share more detail in the coming months. 

In the mean time, keep in mind that this tiny prefab requires no nails, no screws, and no paint.  It’s low-maintenance and can be built anywhere in the world.  If it is what it sounds like, it could be the next generation of prefab and completely revolutionary. 

[+] Get more info on the v100 Mod Box.

Credits: Andrew Urban.

Roughly 39 articles later, it’s hard to believe it’s September with the new season fast approaching.  Last month, our most popular article on Facebook was this one on i-house 2.0, while the most shared article on Twitter was this one on an edible living wall.  For more green coverage, stay current with our weekly email newsletter delivered every Saturday.  Below you’ll find a gathering of links from last month. 

Developments & Projects:

• Natural Green Townhomes on the East Coast
• Fantastic Monastic Modules in Big Sur, California
• The Belmont Earns LEED Silver in Dallas
• Green Maxie Moderne Townhomes in Houston
• New Luxury LEED Vineyard Resort in Oregon

Prefab & Homes:

• Prefab Green Home Office in East Bay
• Net Zero Energy Sungazing House in Park City
• Clayton Homes Previews Stylish i-house 2.0
• LEED Platinum Remodel in North Carolina
• California LivingHome Earns LEED Platinum
• Traditional Style Passive House in Oregon
• Modern Green Courtyard House in Florida
• New Zero Series Prefab from Studio 101
• Flexible Kpod Tiny Studio from KitHAUS
• Low Impact Container Studio in Texas
• Compact Modern Fortino of Dreams
• Green Showhouse Planned in Missouri
• Smart Green Homes from Minimalist+
• Net Zero Playhouse in Orange County
• Blu Relaunches Glidehouse Green Prefab
• Modern Green LVL Prefab in British Columbia

Technology & Products Innovation:

• No-flush Touch-free Urinal for Homes
• Lush Edible Living Wall in Los Angeles
• Home Depot Selling Cheap LEDs Online
• Using Smart Insight to Conserve Energy
• Express: New Recycled Content Ceramic Tile
• RUBBiSH: Old Tires Now a Sink Surface
• Dune Stylish Wall Tiles by urbanproduct
• Vibrant Succulent Wall in Newport Beach
• Easy Plug-in Solar from Clarian Power

Interesting & Green News:

• Taking the Pulse of Green Consumers
• The (Green) Tiny House Movement
• Three Affordable Tiny Houses without Borders
• Finding and Selling Reclaimed Building Materials
• Best Comment: Square Footage Bashing
• Week in Review Archives

August Monthly Word Cloud by Wordle.

Planted in the middle of a working vineyard in Newberg, a small town in Willamette Valley, The Allison Inn and Spa is doing some amazing things in terms of reducing the ecological footprint associated with typically high-impact hospitality operations.  The resort was designed by GGLO to save 48% on utility costs, as well as reduce potable water use by 78% and overall water use by 37%, compared to a comparable non-green project. 

The Allison was completed in September last year and has been certified to the LEED Gold level.  The project includes 85 guest rooms, conference space, a spa, and a restaurant that sources a portion of its herbs, fruits, and vegetables on-site. 

In addition to a 10,000 square green roof (pictured below), which helps control stormwater runoff and minimize the need for energy, The Allison is powered in part by a 55 kW photovoltaic array.  Also, 3,800 square feet of solar hot water is collected on the roof for use in the kitchen, laundry, guest rooms, and spa. 

All together, The Allison received everything but two points in the energy category of LEED certification.  Other elements that contribute toward energy conservation include double-pane windows, variable refrigerant volume heating and cooling, and energy-efficient lighting and controls. 

About nine acres of the total project has a unique eco-turf that requires no fertilizer and little water, while providing a natural habitat.  There’s also a purple pipe that will be connected to the city’s reclaimed water line in the future to completely eliminate the use of potable water at The Allison. 

The resort features 325 pieces of art from local artists.  Furthermore, 24% of materials are regionally sourced and manufactured, 28% of materials contain recycled content, and just over half of wood products are FSC certified. 

[+] Stay at The Allison Inn & Spa in Willamette Valley, Oregon.

Credits: Barbara Kraft Photography (#2); GGLO (all others).