Start Spreading the News . . . .

Well the BrightBuilt Barn has truly arrived. In the Home section of the NEW YORK TIMES that is! A short pithy piece on the project and the cool glowing lights that monitor energy production and consumption were featured in Thursday's paper. We are so pleased that an organization like the Times is picking us up because the project will reach a much wider audience (not just us design and green tech groupies) who will have their consciousness raised about the cool side of being green.

Here is a link: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/15/garden/15tools.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=brightbuilt&st=cse

A Working Manifesto

In the spirit of Sustainability and Collaboration, we - The BrightBuilt Team - dedicate ourselves:

-To immediately share all concepts, details and systems of the first BrightBuilt project (BB001) with all interested others

-To try to evoke critical thought and invite feedback, with the aim of improving these systems

-To work with builders to offer this first BrightBuilt model, as well as any subsequent prototypes, to others at a reasonable cost and with a greatly reduced construction timeline

-To encourage others to build and test their own BrightBuilt projects as examples of livability, sustainability and attainability

-To create a central online space for learning and interaction among like-minded parties

-To maintain ongoing transparency of operational performance, with the live and historical energy performance of all BrightBuilts continuously visible to all

These are ambitious goals. We look for the collaboration and input of others in the global community. If you are interested in taking part in this grand, and potentially transformative experiment, please sign up at www.brightbuiltbarn.com to be kept in the loop, or simply start commenting below...

More Great Press

BrightBuilt Barn had a banner day, being favorably mentioned on two premiere eco-blogs on the same day.

First, a follow-up post by Preston Koerner of Jetson Green blog, who first reviewed us back in September:

http://www.jetsongreen.com/2008/12/brightbuilt-bar.html

Second, an extremely favorable mention in Treehugger - headlined "BrightBuilt Barn is Built, Bright, and Beautiful":

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2008/12/bright-built-barn-built.php

And we are expecting more to come....

Light Skirt in action!

The light skirt is finally up and running and the first snow has fallen, giving BrightBuilt that striking glow we've anticipated since the initial renderings. To view more of Naomi Beal's latest pictures, go here: BrightBuilt Barn Photos

LEED Platinum Buildings Go Mainstream

Preston Koerner at the Jetson Green blog has compiled a compendium of 33 buildings who have achieved, or are in the process of receiving, Platinum ratings from the US Green Building Council's Leadersip in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) initiative.

The link is here:

http://www.jetsongreen.com/2008/12/leed-platinum-p.html

BrightBuilt Barn is referenced in the article. Now that construction is complete, we are in the process of applying for a LEED Platinum rating - we will keep you posted on our progress through the rigorous certification process.

More on LEED can be found here:

http://www.usgbc.org/DisplayPage.aspx?CategoryID=19

German PassivHaus Construction Similar to BrightBuilt

Yesterday's New York Times contained an article on German "PassivHaus" construction; you can read it here:

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/27/world/europe/27house.html?_r=1&partner=rss&emc=rss

Passive Houses use superinsulation and strict air tightness to reduce the heating energy requirements of a building by 70% - 90%. BrightBuilt Barn has used some of these same concepts to create its own approach to sustainability.

The Wikipedia entry explaining the history and background of Passive Houses is here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Passive_house

The PassivHaus concept grew out of a collaboration in the late 1980s and early 1990s between two professors of architecture, Professor Bo Adamson of Sweden and Dr. Wolfgang Feist of Germany. Over time, their ideas were codified into a standard of building performance, as described on this English-language page of the PassivHaus Institut's webpage (most of which is in German):

http://www.passiv.de/English/PassiveH.HTM

The UK branch of the PassivHaus movement has an English-language website with more information here:

http://www.passivhaus.org.uk/index.jsp?id=667

It's gratifying to see advanced but pragmatic approaches to sustainability in building design and construction begin to get recognition in the mainstream press.

Last Pieces of the Puzzle?

Here are photos of the concrete sink and kitchen countertop at Jon Meade's shop today. They are just about the final substantial outstanding items which the Barn awaits.

They were a long time coming but look quite beautiful. Jon is a true artisan. They should go in next week. The final blower door test will follow shortly after!