Biomimicry and Green Building

How would nature build a house?

Earlier this year I had the good fortune to take part in a daylong biomimicry workshop offered by the American Institute of Architects’ Committee on the Environment and led by Dayna Baumeister of the Biomimicry Guild.

Biomimicry is a new methodology based on Janine Benyus’s highly acclaimed book, Biomimicry: Innovation Inspired by Nature. This emerging science involves studying nature’s most successful designs and mimicking them to solve a wide range of human challenges.

Studying how plant leaves photosynthesize may lead to insights into how to build smaller, more efficient solar cells. Analyzing the spirals that nature builds—think seashells, rams’ horns and undulating kelp—has already helped one company develop super-efficient fan blades and propellers.

Once Is Not Enough

Salvaged wood helps protect endangered forests—and the quality and beauty often can’t be beat.

For your next home improvement project, rather than buying new wood, consider using wood that’s been around the block a few times. With half the planet’s original forests already gone and global consumption of wood expected to increase 50 percent by mid-century, using wood that’s reclaimed from deconstructed structures or other salvaged sources is a good green strategy.

This British Columbia home was built from Douglas fir reclaimed from a deconstructed warehouse. Architect: Don Gurney. Photo: Linda Svendsen for Good Green Homes.

Salvaged wood helps protect endangered forests—and the quality and beauty often can’t be beat.

Keep these pointers in mind when buying reclaimed wood:

Buy from distributors. Some green builders, such as South Mountain Company on Martha’s Vineyard, buy large quantities of salvaged wood directly from the source—whether it’s a brewery replacing its redwood tanks or a salvager hauling up logs from a river bottom. Those of us who don’t need or want to go to those lengths can still find gorgeous material at lumberyards, salvage yards or other retailers that specialize in reclaimed wood.

Getting a Green Life: Just Say Yes

For years I would perk up my ears whenever I heard about someone who kept chickens in their backyard. “Wouldn’t that be the cat’s meow,” I’d think. “Eggs as fresh as can be, humanely treated hens, fertilizer for the garden, plus the antics of lively creatures right outside your door.”

And then I’d become, as my permaculture mentor Kevin Bayuk puts it, a major-league but-head. Yes, but I live in the city. Yes, but my yard is so small. Yes, but my dog will freak out. Yes, but I travel too much. Yes, but isn’t it more efficient to buy eggs at the store.

Good Green Cooking: Egga

I begged this recipe off of architect Cate Leger, whose mother Toni Putnam picked it up while traveling in Greece. The vibrant color of this easy souffle-like dish will brighten any meal. Serves 4.

8 eggs
1/2 to 3/4 lb. cheddar cheese, shredded or cubed (see note)
2 cloves garlic
Leaves from 2 to 4 sprigs of fresh basil
1 lb. fresh spinach, larger stems removed (or 4 red peppers or 4 medium zucchini, cut into chunks)

Dwell podcast

Can’t make it to an in-person event? Listen to Jennifer and Dwell editor Frances Anderton discuss the growing green movement at dwell.com/daily/podcasts/5853706.html.

Step It Up

On April 14, 2007, people all across the U.S. will rally in their communities to call for action on climate change. Get involved: stepitup2007.org

Dream Green Kitchens — Sunnyvale, CA 4/18/07

April 18, 2007  Sunnyvale, CA  7–8 pm
Dream Green Kitchens
Hosted by the City of Sunnyvale. Info & reservations: sunnyvalerecycles.org or (408) 730-7484.

Join Jennifer for a talk about what green means when it comes to the kitchen. Learn about techniques and products being used today to create kitchens that are beautiful, healthier for people and easier on the planet.

Remodel or Retrofit to Live Well — Petaluma, CA 5/12/07

May 12, 2007  Petaluma, CA  10am–2pm
Remodel or Retrofit to Live Well
Hosted by Daily Acts and the City of Petaluma. Info & reservations: daily-acts.org or (707) 789-9664.

A talk by Jennifer on green home remodeling will be followed by a tour of a 1940s Petaluma house that was remodeled to be super green and use zero net energy.

Recommended: The Return of the Solar Cat Book

The Return of the Solar Cat Book by Jim Augustyn. Greening your house doesn’t mean you have to check your sense of humor at the door. In this update to his 1979 solar energy classic, Augustyn mixes cat wisdom and humor with science and eco-politics. solarcat.com

Recommended: MyPetChicken.com

My Pet Chicken. If you’re hankering after hens for your backyard but can’t meet the 25-chick minimum order set by many hatcheries, go to mypetchicken.com. They’ll ship as few as three baby chicks via the U.S. Postal Service, in a box complete with its own heat source.