A startup uses microbes to boost carbon sequestration
CategoriesSustainable News

A startup uses microbes to boost carbon sequestration

Spotted: The climate crisis has seen record-breaking levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide. Potential solutions range from renewable fuels to reforestation. But a growing band of researchers and biotech firms believe that one of the best solutions may be waiting right underfoot – microbes. Companies like Loam Bio (founded in 2019 as Soil Carbon Co.) believe that they can use tailored microbes to turn the world’s soil into a massive carbon sink, while also improving crops.

The company has developed a microbial seed coating that ‘supercharges a plant’s natural ability to store carbon in soil’. Farmers coat the seeds in the solutions before sowing. As the plants grow, they exude sugars into the soil. These are then converted into stable soil carbon by the microbes. This soil carbon is stored in tiny structures called micro-aggregates, which prevents the carbon from being released back into the atmosphere.

The added carbon also benefits plants by increasing soil health and leading to higher yields, boosting farmers’ revenue. Studies conducted by Loam show an increase in soil carbon of up to 17 per cent in a single season – which, if used on a global scale, would equate to drawing down 8 gigatonnes of CO2 each year. Loam CEO and co-founder Guy Hudson believes that, if applied to America’s entire soybean crop, the coating could offset the emissions from the country’s aviation industry.

“Using our naturally-derived products on crops across the globe will give the world the time it needs to adjust to a low carbon economy,” Hudson explains, adding, “Our modelling includes the fact that large proportions of the soil organic carbon we are building will be decomposed and respired back into the atmosphere. The stable remainder still leads to an environmentally significant amount of CO2 removal. Our aim is to increase the storage of carbon to levels higher than what our current agricultural systems are achieving.”

Carbon sequestration is increasingly being seen as a valuable tool in the arsenal of those seeking to slow climate change. And there is no shortage of idea. Innovations seen recently here at Springwise include an artificial leaf that captures carbon dioxide and a technology that makes sequestration cheaper and more efficient. 

Written By: Lisa Magloff

Website: loambio.com

Contact: loambio.com/contact-us/minneapolis

Reference

A software service optimises decentralised energy projects
CategoriesSustainable News

A software service optimises decentralised energy projects

Spotted: The transition to a net-zero economy will require huge changes in our energy infrastructure. Not only will the power grids of the future be cleaner – they will also be more decentralised. In the fossil fuel era, energy infrastructure was owned by a small number of large players. But in the future, the fossil fuel supply chain will be replaced by much smaller assets embedded within the built environment. In the words of Australian startup Gridcognition, the energy transition represents a move away from ‘big dumb machines, to small smart ones’.

This transition represents a huge opportunity for the industry but comes with its own problems. One of the trickiest issues is the complexity of planning and assessing each de-centralised project – something that is beyond the scope of even the most sophisticated traditional spreadsheets. Industry players need to understand the environmental impacts and commercial opportunities of a diverse range of energy assets – such as virtual power plants, microgrids, community energy systems, and electric vehicle charging points. And they must also consider how each project interacts with the wider energy ecosystem and commercial landscape. Much more sophisticated data analysis is needed, and this is where Gridcognition’s software aims to play an important role.

The startup’s software service allows customers to simulate different energy project options based on a wide variety of different parameters – such as technical considerations, geographic location, and tariffs. The simulations crunch all this complex data allowing the user to quickly compare options based on commercial performance measures (such as cashflow) or environmental considerations (such as amount of CO2 emissions saved). The software also allows users to create a ‘digital twin’ of a project that can be updated as the project is deployed.

Gridcognition’s software is designed to be used by a range of different players including energy providers, project developers, solutions providers, large energy users, and property businesses. The startup has already secured a number of high-profile clients and partners, such as Amazon Web Services, and announced in October 2021 that it plans to expand into the UK microgrid market.

Other smart energy innovations spotted by Springwise include
a startup reducing
the impact of electric hot water systems, and devices that bring smart
meter technology to hard-to-reach homes.

Written By: Matthew Hempstead

Email: hello@gridcognition.com

Website: gridcognition.com

Reference

New Contracts, Net Billing, Net Revenue and More
CategoriesArchitecture

New Contracts, Net Billing, Net Revenue and More

Lior Schnabel is a Co-Managing Partner at Precise, a company that provides financial management and control services for architectural and engineering firms across the USA and Europe. This article was written and researched with Yotam Kedem, who is a partner in Precise and the head of their USA office. 

To keep up with industry trends and stay ahead of the competition, our clients love to get info on what’s been going on in the architecture and engineering sector. In order to keep them and you up to date, we decided to collect and analyze data about project statistics and performance from 50 architecture and engineering firms based in the New York Tri-State area.

Five major criteria points we analyzed to reflect the industry trend: New Contracts, Net Billing, Net Revenue, Backlog, and number of Professional Employees. The starting point was Q1 of 2019 and we used it as the ‘index’ for the rest of the survey.

Below are the results of our findings up until December 31st, 2021:

Total Amount in New Contracts represents the total value of ‘new work’ that was signed in each quarter. After a slower Q3 2021 (which can be attributed to timing more than anything else), we see Q4 2021 reaching the highest level since the beginning of the survey in Q1 2019 (120% over the index). This is a very positive indicator that reflects that the volume of projects is growing substantially.

Net Billing represents work that was invoiced and we noted an increase in every quarter from Q3 2020. During Q3 2021 and Q4 2021 invoicing was higher than the index figure for the first time since the beginning of the pandemic. This means that workload is the highest we have seen for a very long time, including the pre-Covid era.

Net Revenue represents the net cash revenue collected. Following the positive Net Billing trend, we can see a consistent increase in cash collection since Q3 2020, and by Q4 2021 billing was back to pre-Covid levels. This means firms are in a more stable place financially right now, which translates to hiring and investments in the business (such as renovations, technology, and more). It is also important to emphasize that Net Revenue figures only include revenue streams from projects/clients (and don’t include any funds such as grants or PPP).

Backlog refers to the remaining fees/balance in contracts for the active projects in the firm i.e signed work that hasn’t been billed yet. Amid a small decrease in Q3 2021 (which again is mostly timing), we can see the backlog continues to improve every quarter since the big dip in Q2 2020 (i.e., beginning of Covid). Backlog is a great indicator of workload, and Q4 2021 had  the highest backlog since the beginning of the survey. This indicates that the workload is very high right now and It’s very promising to see the backlog continuing to increase even with billing increasing as well.

Number of Professional Employees refers to the number of technical, billable employees in the firm, (not including admin, IT, accounting or marketing staff). We are finally seeing staffing getting back to pre-Covid levels. Although the increase has been slower compared to other criteria such as backlog and billing, it still managed to get back to the index level. The increase in Professional Employees is due to the high workload in the industry  but it  lags behind because initially firms were reluctant to hire in Covid times due to the uncertainty as well as staff working remotely. Firms seem to be actively looking to hire at the moment, however it is much tougher than it used to be.

Specific Sectors

Although we can detect a high index in all criteria, the situation still varies significantly between different firms and sectors.

On the upside, the private residential sector, specifically single-family houses, has been consistently active and has continued to yield work since the early days of the pandemic and in recent months.

As for other sectors that slowed substantially during the pandemic such as housing , commercial and even public and hospitality projects, we have spotted a strong resurgence in the last two quarters.

On the downside, institutional work, such as libraries, higher education, hospitals etc., indicators are still very low.

To summarize, this is the first time since tracking started in Q1 2019 that all of the metrics reached or surpassed the index. We are pleased to see this and hope the trend will continue to progress in this positive direction or at least sustain it’s current levels. We will continue to track the numbers every quarter and report the industry trends accordingly.

Top image: The JACX by MdeAS Architects, Queens, New York, United States | Jury Winner, 2021 A+Awards, Office Building High Rise (16+ Floors)

Browse the Architizer Jobs Board and apply for architecture and design positions at some of the world’s best firms. Click here to sign up for our Jobs Newsletter.

Reference

An AI-powered mental health and wellness app for families
CategoriesSustainable News

An AI-powered mental health and wellness app for families

Spotted: According to Australian startup togetherAI, over 70 per cent of caregivers struggle to communicate with their children. And over the last three years, the likelihood of young people having a mental health problem has increased by 50 per cent. TogetherAI is helping families to have difficult conversations about mental health and wellbeing with an app that combines wellbeing expertise with artificial intelligence.

The togetherAI app was developed by a team with decades of experience in child psychology, research, and clinical care, and the startup’s wellbeing framework is based on empirical, evidence-based research and insights. Moreover, the company is quick to highlight that its solution is different to parent monitoring platforms which it says destroy communication. Instead, the app hopes to encourage timely conversations that develop positive mental health, build resilience, and keep children safe.

The app is based around several core features. Children create their own ‘digital companion’ that will check how they are feeling, share positivity, play games, and provide lessons on how to understand, manage, and talk about emotions. For parents, the app provides step-by-step conversation guides, as well as real-time insights into how their children are feeling. Based on these insights, the app’s AI-driven detection will flag to parents when conversations with children are necessary, and when best to have them. For the whole family, there is a messenger that enables private, secure, and personal messaging within the app.

TogetherAI is still early in its development, having only
been founded in 2021. According to Crunchbase,
the startup has raised A$3.7 million (around €2.4 million) in pre-seed and seed
funding.

Other mental health innovations spotted by Springwise
include an AI-powered
mental health companion, and a virtual
environment for treating phobias.

Written By: Matthew Hempstead

Mental health is a complex issue, and those in need of urgent help can find information about the services available on the United for Global Mental Health website.

Email: hello@togetherai.com

Website: togetherai.com

Reference

Diébédo Francis Kéré Makes History as the 2022 Pritzker Prize Winner
CategoriesArchitecture

Diébédo Francis Kéré Makes History as the 2022 Pritzker Prize Winner

Have your say in which architects will take home Architizer’s prestigious A+Awards: Public Voting opens this spring. Interested in next year’s program? Subscribe to our newsletter for updates.  

Burkina Faso-born architect, educator and social activist Diébédo Francis Kéré has made history after being named the 2022 Pritzker Prize laureate. Known as Francis Kéré, the founder of Kéré Architecture is recognized for his “commitment to social justice and engagement, and intelligent use of local materials to connect and respond to the natural climate, he works in marginalized countries laden with constraints and adversity, where architecture and infrastructure are absent.” He is the first African and the first Black architect to win the prize since it began being awarded in 1979.

Trained first as a carpenter and later as an architect, his deep knowledge and concern for materiality is visible in his work. Though based in Berlin, his practice often gravitates towards works throughout the continent of Africa. From contemporary school institutions to health facilities, and professional housing to civic buildings and public spaces, his designs steer clear of simple categorizations: global vs. local, aesthetic vs. social, and so on.

As the Pritzker jury succinctly put it, “Francis Kéré’s entire body of work shows us the power of materiality rooted in place. His buildings, for and with communities, are directly of those communities – in their making, their materials, their programs and their unique characters. They are tied to the ground on which they sit and to the people who sit within them. They have presence without pretense and an impact shaped by grace.”

Though many architectural enthusiasts around the world may only now be acquainting themselves with his larger body of work, they are likely already familiar with his design for the 2017 Serpentine Pavilion — a timber structure accented with indigo blue that ingeniously connected different times and spaces and reinterpreted form of the massive tree at the heart of his home town.

His signature architectural vocabulary of double roofs, thermal mass, wind towers, indirect lighting, cross ventilation and shade chambers (replacing conventional windows, doors and columns), confounds attempts to separate practicality from poetry in design. Yet, while Kéré’s architectural reputation is strongly tied to the work’s built realization, yet, his working images and visualizations are also remarkable in their own right.

“Francis Kéré’s work also reminds us of the necessary struggle to change unsustainable patterns of production and consumption, as we strive to provide adequate buildings and infrastructure for billions in need,” the Jury noted. “He raises fundamental questions of the meaning of permanence and durability of construction in a context of constant technological changes and of use and re-use of structures. At the same time his development of a contemporary humanism merges a deep respect for history, tradition, precision, written and unwritten rules.”

Have your say in which architects will take home Architizer’s prestigious A+Awards: Public Voting opens this spring. Interested in next year’s program? Subscribe to our newsletter for updates.  



Reference

Designer creates vegan-leather bags from leftover grape skins
CategoriesSustainable News

Designer creates vegan-leather bags from leftover grape skins

Spotted:  Chinese designer Meng Du has released a new collection of bags made with an alternative leather produced from leftover grape skins. The bags have been created in partnership with OddBird, a non–alcoholic wine producer based in Sweden.  

For her Unwasted collection, Du sourced the material from Planet of the Grapes, a French producer of materials and natural dyes made from waste grape skins. Planet of the Grapes uses a byproduct of wine production called grape marc. Grape marc consists of all surplus skins, pulp, pips, and stems of the fruit left over after pressing.

To make the leather alternative, the grape marc is sun dried and ground into a powder. The powder is then blended with other natural ingredients to create a liquid that is poured onto a fabric of natural stem fibres and left to dry again.

“The entire process takes around four or five weeks, as it starts off with the spreading out and the drying all of the grapes in the sunshine for a couple of weeks,” explains Planet of the Grapes co-founder Sam Mureau.

The collection features two models: a large squashed plastic milk carton looking bag called Unwasted Merlot, and a tin-can-like pack named Unwasted Chardonnay which is smaller. Du explains that she hopes the shapes will draw attention to the importance of recycling as well as encouraging consumers to rethink how their belongings are made. 

For the Unwasted Merlot, it takes about 1,200 grapes to create enough leather alternative – which is about 0.5 square metres of leather. The bags are currently available to pre-order before on-demand production begins later in the year.

Springwise has spotted innovations using leather alternatives made from hemp, apples, and mushrooms.

Written By: Katrina Lane

Email: info@oddbird.com

Website: oddbird.com/

Reference

A startup using open banking to create a loyalty programme for the planet
CategoriesSustainable News

A startup using open banking to create a loyalty programme for the planet

Spotted: Swedish fintech startup Gokind has set out to transform consumer awareness of brand sustainability. The company aims to encourage ethical, and environmentally conscious decisions by reaching customers through something they use every single day – their bank account.

The Stockholm-based startup has developed what they claim to be the world’s first loyalty programme for the planet. Leveraging expertise in behavioural science, software development, sustainability reporting, and business law, Gokind is making it easier for consumers to become eco-conscious. The startup encourages consumers to buy from more ethical and eco-friendly companies through rewards and loyalty incentives – using open banking to help customers understand which brands have sustainable practices.

To use the app, customers simply connect Gokind to their existing bank or credit accounts. With every purchase from an ethical or sustainable brand, customers will earn ‘impact credits’. The more ethical the brand, the more credits they get. The credits can then be exchanged for products and services, or put towards donations.

Thanks to the financial data they can access through open banking, Gokind can give consumers personalised advice and nudge them to make changes in their consumption habits – such as switching to a greener electricity provider or building credit with companies that support more diverse leadership.

Next steps in the company’s development include expanding beyond Sweden to provide sustainability insights to consumers across the world. 

Gokind is just the latest example of a fintech innovation that encourages sustainability. Others spotted by Springwise include a fintech app that powers the circular economy, and a credit card that tracks the carbon emissions associated with purchases.

Written By: Katrina Lane

Email: hi@gokind.co

Website: gokind.co

Reference

Webinar: Learn How Real-Time Visualization Works With Enscape!
CategoriesArchitecture

Webinar: Learn How Real-Time Visualization Works With Enscape!

You’re invited! Join Architizer for an engaging live webinar presented by Roderick Bates, Head of Integrated Practice at Enscape, and learn how to successfully implement real-time visualization at every stage of design, while also creating a more inclusive design process.

Hosted by Editor in Chief Paul Keskeys, Architizer’s first webinar on architectural visualization is one not to be missed! Hit the button below to sign up for the talk, which will take place at 12pm EST on Tuesday, March 29th:

Register for Event →

BIM/CAD software often lacks a visually intuitive interface, making it too far removed from reality to understand on a level sufficient to make rapid, informed design decisions. Real-time visualization is the missing link that bridges the gap between a BIM/CAD interface and a constructed project, helping both designers and their clients to envision what a design will actually look like when built.

Decision making, BIM model quality assurance, performance analysis, and coordination all benefit from bringing real-time visualization to the BIM/CAD workflow, and Roderick will show how to do this best.

By attending this webinar, you’ll learn how to:

  • Utilize real-time visualization to increase client and stakeholder understanding of the project design at every phase
  • Leverage real-time visualization to conduct individual and collaborative BIM/CAD model quality assurance workflows
  • Identify opportunities where real-time rendering can greatly reduce the time required for critical decision making

About Roderick

Throughout his career, Roderick has sought out and developed solutions to environmental challenges related to the design, construction, and operations of buildings. As the Head of Integrated Practice at Enscape, he is responsible for researching industry and market trends which are shaping the way Enscape customers work. Leveraging that industry knowledge, Roderick collaborates with Enscape Product and R&D leaders to assess new product development opportunities that will shape the future of building design. Previously, as a Principal at Kieran Timberlake, Roderick led the efforts to develop and commercialize software and hardware tools used by the greater the AEC community to improve the environmental and operational performance of buildings.

About Paul

Paul Keskeys is Editor in Chief at Architizer. An architect-trained editor, writer and content creator, Paul graduated from UCL and the University of Edinburgh, gaining an MArch in Architectural Design with distinction. Paul has spoken about the art of architecture and storytelling at many national industry events, including AIANY, NeoCon, KBIS, the Future NOW Symposium, the Young Architect Conference and NYCxDesign. As well as hundreds of editorial publications on Architizer, Paul has also had features published in Architectural Digest, PIN—UP Magazine, Archinect, Aesthetica Magazine and PUBLIC Journal.

Register for the Talk →

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‘Medical matchmaking’ provides personalised healthcare insights
CategoriesSustainable News

‘Medical matchmaking’ provides personalised healthcare insights

Spotted: Humanity is a collection of unique individuals who represent a complex mixture of medical realities. Yet traditional medicine is based on a ‘law of averages’ – treating patients based on generalisations about the population as a whole. This law of averages can be misleading, and in a world where the average American spends 52 hours looking for health information online each year, generalisations create misunderstandings. Information provided by ‘Dr. Google’ or Facebook is inadequate and doesn’t account for the specific characteristics of each individual.

Israeli startup Alike has come up with a novel multidisciplinary solution to this problem – using health data and machine learning to match people who are alike on a holistic level. The AI’s matchmaking takes into account considerations such as co-morbidities, lifestyle factors, age, and gender.

Patients are then put into contact with an anonymised community of ‘Alikes’ – people who share their exact clinical journey, lifestyle, and interests. Members of this community can share or receive relevant and personalised insights that help them to better manage their conditions.

The new technology is possible due to regulatory changes that make it possible for everyone to gain instant electronic access to their personal health records. The app allows users to automatically create a health profile through a direct connection with their health provider.

Given the sensitive nature of medical information, Alike has put in place stringent privacy controls. The data shared on the app is completely de-identified, which means all personal identifiers are removed. Every user is verified by their healthcare provider, and further measures including data encryption and data fuzzing are employed. This means that patients can benefit from the insights of other patients while maintaining their privacy.

Healthtech is booming, and other recent innovations spotted
by Springwise include a startup that provides
medical data for testing AI health solutions, and an at-home
hormone tracking app to empower women.

Written By: Matthew Hempstead

Email: hello@alike.health

Website: alike.health

Reference

Zero Accessory Dwelling Units (ADU): Low Income Housing that Works
CategoriesSustainable News Zero Energy Homes

Zero Accessory Dwelling Units (ADU): Low Income Housing that Works

We all know there is a considerable lack of affordable housing in the U.S. and that addressing it effectively has been challenging. Now that many states and municipalities are altering their zoning to allow Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs), there is a new opportunity to expand truly affordable rental housing – building low, cost zero energy ADUs – sometimes referred to as in-law apartments, garage apartments, attic apartments, tiny homes, or casitas. But how to make them truly affordable?

Small ADUs are Affordable

By their very nature, ADUs will cost less to rent because they are smaller, and building them uses fewer materials.  This is even more likely in an above the garage, basement, or attic ADU where existing structural elements can be used. They also have no land costs because they are built on an existing lot or above an existing garage. And there are no landscaping costs other than restoring any construction disruption. Sewer, water, and electricity are close at hand.  And, if they are zero energy ADUs, they will need no gas hook-up.  More importantly, they will have no, or almost no, energy bills for their residents.

Zero Energy Bills

There are two legs to affordability.  One is the rent – the other is the monthly utility bill. The second one is almost always overlooked when considering affordable housing, but high energy bills can play a devastating role in making an ADU rental unaffordable.  Zero Energy ADUs solve that problem and offer a more truly affordable rental.  The challenge is how to get to zero at least cost, so the rent can be kept low.

Cost Cutting Zero ADU Construction 

The first step in low-cost zero energy construction is conducting energy modeling on the planned structure.  Energy modeling will help select the lowest cost mix of energy-saving measures such as insulation and air sealing, energy-saving equipment, and solar. For example, energy modeling and price comparisons will quickly determine whether it is more cost-effective to use a heat pump water heater or add some additional panels and use a standard water heater – or whether to use insulation with a higher or lower u-value.

There are other potential savings related to the smaller size of an ADU.  Windows are expensive. Locating them to optimize light and views, and eliminating or reducing them where they are not needed, may allow smaller glazed areas. Since mini splits can be ductless, there is no need for ductwork.  Most ADUs can be heated and cooled with one small unit, which is quick and easy to install.  Since heat pump HVAC systems should never be oversized, smaller ones are usually the best choice. 

In small homes, such as ADUs, energy or heat recovery ventilation systems can be installed without ducts, using a Lunos e2 through-the-wall HRV or a Panasonic Whisper Quiet ERV to provide fresh filtered air. The size of the water heating system can be tailored to a smaller number of inhabitants. A smaller 30 or 50-gallon heat pump water heater is an excellent but more expensive option. Using a small well insulated standard electric water heater with added solar panels may be less costly. An even more economical option might be using one or two-point of use tankless electric water heaters – one in the bath and one in the kitchen – and adding sufficient solar to cover its energy use.

An ADU Solar Advantage

Another significant potential savings with constructing a stand-alone ADU is a second chance to install solar on the main property.  If the original home does not have a good solar orientation, it may be possible to orient and design an ADU with enough solar for both the original home and the ADU. Any ADU-related shed or garage can be designed to optimize solar exposure. Large roof overhangs to shade the southern or western sun to avoid overheating can also expand the solar area. Or depending on orientation, sufficient solar can be installed on the main home to supply both the main house and the ADU – or some panels can be installed on the sunniest areas of each roof. In any case, optimizing the number of solar panels will lower the cost of ownership and renting.

Small ADUs can Live Large

The key to a successful small ADU is designing it for large living.  Building inexpensive non-conditioned storage spaces outside of the conditioned ADU, either in an attached or stand-alone shed or added to a connected or stand-alone garage, is affordable and leaves room for ample storage outside and living inside.  Smart kitchen/dining areas design can provide all the amenities in a small space. Creating accessible storage spaces under stairs and over cupboards optimizes the use of space, as do multipurpose rooms like office-bedroom spaces.

Our Experience

We decided to add ADUs to our two small rental homes on two different properties in Bend, Oregon, where the city changed the code to allow ADUs. We conducted energy modeling to determine the least-cost path to zero. We sealed the building envelope using Aerobarrier and insulated it well.  We used a small heat pump mini split for HVAC and a small heat pump water heater, used one Panasonic Whisper Quiet ERV in the bath and one in the kitchen, and installed energy-efficient electric appliances, including an induction stove. We added generous unconditioned storage areas outside of each unit. Because neither of the existing small homes had a good solar orientation and the ADUs did, we added enough solar on each of the ADUs to power both the ADU and the original house on each lot. So they both became zero energy homes.

Perfect for Low Income Housing

We can profit from rents while the tenants enjoy no energy bills. We have rented out two units, with two more on the way, to people with low incomes, referred by local non-profit organizations, providing them with affordable small, well-designed living spaces with no energy bills.

By Joe Emerson

Joe is the founder of the Zero Energy Project

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