Inside George Bernard Shaw's rotating writing hut

Linking you up with some green building and energy stories:

What could today's passive house designers learn from George Bernard Shaw's rotating hut? Treehugger

Is sustainable design wearing thin? Guardian

China to create world's largest mega city Infrastructurist

Can straw bales be used to insulate under a concrete slab? Green Building Advisor

Future housing supply in Ireland — for some interesting commentary from the Ireland After Nama blog  about the Construction Industry Federation's call for new house building, see here and here.

As the election approaches, where are the parties' policies on housing and planning? Ireland After Nama

The Canadian ancestry of the passive house Treehugger

Profile of a passive house in Wisconsin Metro Hippie

Modern Rwandan education centre made with local materials Inhabitat

William McDonough is arguably the world's most famous green architect and is the father of cradle to cradle design. Here he is describing one of his planned eco-cities in China. Keep watching until the end, it gets good. This is taken from McDonough's Ted talk. There's a longer version of it here. 

 [video:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eY4o3WzCfmM&feature=player_embedded 500x400]

Happy new year to all Construct Ireland readers. We're getting right back into the swing of things here with a new issue due out before the end of the month. Here's a few interesting stories you might have missed over the holidays.

Six green building trends to watch for 2011 Jetson Green 

Ten more (slightly US-centric) trends for 2011, also from Jetson Green

A review of green technology in 2010 Guardian

Largest postwar prefab estate set to be demolished Guardian

Following on from Mark Stephens's blog posts for us on going off grid, here's another guide from Green Building Advisor

How one US town is dealing with the problem of vacant houses New York Times

Should dangerously cold houses be illegal? (I'm going with yes on this one) Treehugger

From the Ireland After Nama blog, a post on the "true extent of Dublin's functional urban region", and a series of interesting-sounding papers on the future of Dublin city

Here's some linkage for y'all.

Think Ireland's ghost estate problem is bad? China may have up to 64 million vacant homes Sustainable Cities Collective 

The UK is backtracking on plans for a green bank Guardian

Clare councillor wants to build on floodplain. Will we ever learn? Ireland After Nama

A striking renovation and extension project in Kentucky gets Leed Platinum status Treehugger

The most popular design and architecture posts of 2010 Treehugger

Crossway, an eco house featured on Channel 4 TV show grand designs, meets the passive house standard Green Building Advisor

A US perspective on using EPS to insulate foundations Green Building Advisor

Interesting analysis of the government's new greenhouse gas emissions targets Irish Economy

We're getting down to the real work on the January issue of the mag now. Expect to see case study articles on the renovated architectural landmark that is the former Carroll's cigarette factory in Dundalk, and on a couple of excellent passive houses. We'll also have features on the state of the economy, and on whether it makes more sense to use electrical-based heating devices as our power supply is gradually decarbonised. For now, here's some stories that might be of interest.  

Ireland helping to break logjam in climate talks Irish Times

In the Guardian, George Monbiot says the UK is shifting on its commitment to zero carbon homes. Not surprisingly, the Tory housing minister disagrees.

The cost of not going green for architects Architect magazine

Our cities need intelligent transport systems  Sustainable Cities Collective

Anyone want to buy an apartment in Donegal for 11 grand? Ireland After Nama

The Construction Industry Federation doesn't seem to like Nama terribly much Irish Times

New car engine generates electricity from exhaust heat Inhabitat

The solar industry is helping to revive declining industrial cities in the US midwest New York Times

The case for "clean construction" Reuters

Is there too much focus on building regulations and not enough on proper training for builders? Green Building Advisor

Ron and Collette Wardle started suffering ill health almost immediately after a sloppy energy upgrade. But reading a copy of Construct Ireland started a chain of events that led to the couple getting a brand new ventilation system — and seeing a marked improvement in their health.

Here's a few stories that might distract you somewhat from the economic doom that surrounds us. Actually though, if you want to be totally distracted, maybe ignore the first two.

On big currencies and big banks New Economics Foundation

Work begins on Europe's largest straw bale building The Guardian

Energy efficiency adds just $800 to the cost of a home, according to US research American Solar Energy Society

Are these the top ten green building products of 2010? Jetson Green

272kW hybrid solar installation launched in California Jetson Green

Green building priority number one — reduce energy use Green Building Advisor

China's coal consumption continues to grow New York Times

Five reasons electric cars will catch on The Infrastructurist

In 2005 Construct Ireland profiled the timber frame extension to Hannah and Martin Naughton’s Meath cottage. Five years later we’re returning to profile the upgrade of the original bungalow — a renovation that demonstrates how to detail dry lining without running the risk of mould growth

Randy Ralston and Mel Cronin aimed for the passive house standard with their upgrade, and though they didn’t quite get there they ended up with a house that produces more energy than it consumes, making it one of the country’s flagship green renovation projects.