Whole Travel Blog

Starting next week, the US Green Building Council’s Leadership in Environment and Environmental Design (LEED) certification standards will be revised and require building owners to submit data about how much energy and water they use on an annual basis, and seek re-certification every two years. The USGBC says the data collected by annual reporting will help improve future revisions to the LEED standards. Senior Vice President of LEED, Scot Horst, said in a press release Thursday, “[this information] will bring to light external issues such as occupant behavior or unanticipated building usage patterns, all key factors that influence performance.”

Ever since architect Adam Kalkin debuted his Push-Button House, I’ve been intrigued by sustainable architecture. Kalkin’s Push-Button house is a dwelling made from an old shipping container. With the push of a button, the sides of the container unfold, and the container transforms from a metal box to a sleek and sophisticated living space. The Push-Button House debuted at Art Basel Miami Beach in 2005 and eventually spawned a Push-Button Cafe c/o Kalkin and Illy Coffee (great for caffeine addicts like myself).

Now California construction company Logical Homes will be expanding on Kalkin’s idea by making houses constructed from old containers available to the public. Ecofriend writes:

Logical Homes in California is gearing up to offer nine models of container homes for construction around Southern California. They are estimated to be about $100 cheaper than the average cost of per-square concrete construction in that area. Ranging from 640 to 3,250 square feet, these corrugated metal shipping containers are enhanced with large windows and custom paint. Energy-efficient appliances and bamboo flooring add to the eco-equation inside, while recycled denim insulation helps keep heating and cooling demands to a minimum.

Conveniently, these types of homes are also hurricane proof and fireproof, and much less susceptible to flood or water damage. It would be great to see a hotel develop a property using this model. It’s not just eco-friendly, it’s economically feasible too! And Kalkin and Logical Homes have me convinced that sustainability does not have to come at the expense of good design or comfort.

A Logical Homes prototype