The company’s founders, who commercialized networking technologies for Cisco Systems, leveraged their knowledge of computer networking to develop this network-based energy efficiency solution. Several key techniques and aspects of internet working that made it successful in businesses large and small — simplicity, speed, reliability, scalability, and robust data communications — can now be applied to a building’s lights to make them energy optimized, easier to manage and maintain, and vastly more flexible than lights on electric wiring.

Redwood’s simpler and more cost-effective integrated power-and-control platform is comprised of three key products: the Redwood Engine, the core of the Redwood platform, which provides centralized power, communications, processing, and policy control for up to 64 LED light fixtures; the Redwood Adapter, which profiles and powers the LED fixtures, and includes sensors for light, temperature, power, and occupancy; and the Redwood Wall Switch, an intelligent dimmer switch that fits into any standard wall box.

The Nipa House can be found on the countryside of the Phillipness. It is constructed from nipa leaves and bamboo. Firstly a Bamboo frame is constructed, then the Nipa Leaves are sewn into ‘pawod’ and used to cover the Bamboo Frame.

2. Yurts: Kazakhstan

Yurts are traditional houses used by the Kazakh villagers of Kazakhstan, They still live in Yurts and herd livestock as their ancestors have done for generations. A yurt is a portable, felt-covered, wood lattice-framed dwelling structure used by nomads in the steppes of Central Asia.

3. Palm Hut: Jamaica

The Palm Hut / Thatch Hut can traced on the timeline of Jamaican History to as far back as the time of Slavery. It is constructed from dried palm leaves and wood, presently Palm Hut are mostly found in Tourism Areas where they are used as Spas and Bars along the Jamaican beaches.

4. Glass House: Connecticut, USA

Designed by Philip Johnson, this unique glass house is one of the world’s most beautiful and yet least functional homes.

There is also a spice storage bins equipped with sniffers. If a spice is losing its potency, the sniffer alerts the user by using different colors.

[Electrolux Silver]

This surely is the most daring and innovative house ever built and it won’t be an overstatement if we call it the house of your dreams. The architect really deserves a pat on the back, it looks really good. The property is located in Bowdon, Cheshire and is up for grabs if you can come up with the £2,000,000 asking price. See photos after the jump.

[Country-life]

What even makes them more eco-friendly is the option to get solar panels, rainwater collection systems and even wind turbines which can be installed whenever needed. There is also a full functional kitchen which comes with energy efficient appliances, built in cupboards and sofa, shelving units, desk and work station, CFL light fixtures and under cabinet lighting, low flow aerated shower heads, dual flush toilets and in floor heating.

The two storey pod can accommodate 3 to 4 bedrooms, three storied pod can accommodate 5 bedrooms, a games room, living room, and a 3rd floor viewing lounge. These pods comes with a starting price of $13,565 USD for the bare bones one storey 4m shell to $97,080 for the 2 storey 8m turnkey model.

More Photos

[Home QN]

Grand Canal Theatre is a landmark that creates a focus for its urban context, specifically Grand Canal Square, the new urban piazza at the waterfront of Grand Canal Harbour. The Theatre becomes the main façade of a large public piazza, designed by Martha Schwartz Partners, framed by a five star hotel and residences on one side and an office building on the other.

Mr. Libeskind explains further “Dublin is a city resurrected over the last 10 years and it’s just breathtaking what has happened. It has been transformed from an ancient city to one that is vibrant – it’s youthful, it’s exciting, it’s dynamic. I believe that’s what architecture can do for a city, and cultural institutions such as the Grand Canal Square Theatre will just add to that incredible atmosphere.”

The theatre entrance facade from the plaza was modeled based on the concept of the theatre curtain. The façade is comprised of two overlapping, folding glazed screens, with the main theatre entrance situated in between – allowing visitors to enter as if through a stage curtain.

The theatre’s auditorium design concept draws on shipbuilding imagery in reference to the former docklands area. Suspended ‘sails’ conceal the technical gantries and equipment while the large protruding ‘rib’ volumes on the side walls evoke the timber members of an old boats hull.

The judging committee, including Citysearch Los Angeles Editor Kelly Wardle, selected Lozano-Ruiz’s photo as the winner of the free online photo contest out of hundreds of entries based on its visual interest, content and creativity. The winning photo features four silhouetted figures jumping simultaneously for joy on a La Jolla beach in front of a picturesque sunset. Lozano-Ruiz’s now award-winning photo earned her a Las Vegas Love package valued at more than $2,000, including round-trip airfare for two, two nights in a Tower Suite at Treasure Island Casino and Resort, a relaxing massage at Oleksandra Spa & Salon and tickets to a live show.

“Many of the photos captured the real beauty and uniqueness of what so many people love about where they live,” Wardle said. “Selecting a winner was quite a challenge, but, in the end, it was impossible to ignore the range of powerful emotions elicited from Lozano-Ruiz’s photo.

“The moment I looked at it, I wanted to jump right in and enjoy that sunset on the beach as I have so many times right here in L.A.”

Lozano-Ruiz was selected as the winner of the online photo contest over four other finalists – Victoria Borjesson (Oxnard, Calif.), Todd DeGroff (Bothell, Wash.), Aimee Hossler (Seattle) and Jodi Luker (Agoura Hills, Calif.)To view the photos from all of the finalists,

A home built using TPR contains approximately 18 tons of recycled plastic waste, while each modular home contains up to four tons. TPR homes can be up to 12% cheaper than standard build, and can be erected on site within 4 days. The houses have an estimated life cycle of more than 60 years and the TPR elements are 100% recyclable. The first Pilot Affresol “TPR™” frame home has been erected in Swansea, Wales.

The building site itself was a dark and uninviting space, but the architects managed to make this incredibly beautiful home look perfectly in sync with its surroundings.

[weburbanist]

The feature that stands out the most in the design is the glass-bottom swimming pool suspended high in the air on the left and the continuous continuous spiral design inside.

[Luxist]