Story by Samantha Wittchen, Illustrations by Miguel CoThough it runs perfectly, Ric Temple’s Nissan Leaf can make him late. His electric-powered car rouses so much curiosity that Temple is regularly interrogated by passersby outside his South Philadelphia home. People take pictures of his car, as well as the charging station to which it’s attached. But
MoreThe rain screen system is composed of vertical boards over two layers of rigid insulationPeople often think the most important component of heating a home is the furnace. But sometimes, the furnace is secondary to other aspects of the home-heating equation.
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Chester county’s contemporary architecture continues to gain recognition for environmentally responsive design rooted in historic context. The newly constructed Lenfest Center, designed by Archer & Buchanan Architects, Ltd., exemplifies this sensitive design approach by drawing inspiration from agrarian “bank barn” structures.
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New partnership seeks to support companies creating green stormwater infrastructure, like this rain garden planting.What’s the stormwater buzz in Philly?
The Sustainable Business Network of Greater Philadelphia (SBN) is working with local businesses to enhance the stormwater infrastructure industry through Green Stormwater Infrastructure (GSI) Partners, a program to enhance technological and economic opportunities surrounding green
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story by Liz Pacheco | illustration by Melissa McFeetersWhen Mabel Wilson and her mother moved to Gray’s Ferry in 1929, her cul-de-sac block was lined with rowhomes. Soon though, many homes were abandoned and the City tore them down, leaving behind a block of empty lots. Looking at these new eyesores, Mabel
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story by Liz PachecoWITH MORE THAN 50 BOUTIQUE hotels in 24 cities, Kimpton operates on a large scale, making their sustainability initiatives all the more impressive. Their first hotel in Philadelphia, the Palomar, opened in September 2009 in the landmark Architects Building, and earned LEED Gold certification. This October, Kimpton opened their second
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Photo by Deva Watson When art teacher Deva Watson toured her new classroom at the Southwest Leadership Academy, she was disappointed to see it in shambles. The room looked more like a storage closert and paint was peeling off the walls. So, Watson decided to renovate the room. With little resources or funding, Watson partnered
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Longwood Gardens now boasts the largest green wall in North America. | Image via Frances Lincoln PublishersLongwood Gardens is well-known for its beautiful flowers and expansive gardens, but visitors may not realize that the horticultural center also boasts the largest green wall in North America. Designed as part of the new entrance space to the
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Image via images.google.comThe Philadelphia City Planning Commission is working on their Central District Plan and wants your input. Join them at two public meetings this month to discuss how the City’s downtown and surrounding neighborhoods will develop in the next 10 years. The meetings will be interactive to allow participants to help set priorities for
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The DesignPhiladelphia Festival is Oct. 10 to 14. For more information, visit designphiladelphia.orgThe eighth annual DesignPhiladelphia Festival is back in town this week, hosting events that showcase innovative design ideas around the city. Partnering with the University of Arts, DesignPhiladelphia aims to unite the entire design community in the city and provide a variety
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