Whole System Design

The Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) take pride in helping to design energy-efficient buildings that cost less than wasteful ones. The 3600-sq.-ft. Hawaii Gateway Energy Center in Kailu-Kona is a net-zero energy facility. The building forms a termal chimney: Sun-heated air flows up and out stacks in the sloped roof, pulling air that´s been cooled by 45-degree seawater into the work space below-no fans or convencional a/c is needed. Condensation from the cooling process supplies water for toilets and a garden. Smart architecture does away with the need for daytime electric ligthing.

And the center makes the electricity for its seawater pumps and other equipment with a 20-kilowatt photovoltaic array.

A cool way of showing that it is possible to live in a enviromentaly friendly planet without sacrificinf technology.

Sources: AIA

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