An urban wind and solar energy system that may actually work

Building-integrated wind turbine technology has been receiving a lot of heat for not being able to deliver what it promises in terms of energy production.

Fast Co. Exist profiles a system that places the turbines where they can actually turn. The WindRail was designed in Zurich, Switzerland, where there isn’t enough space for a wind or solar park. Sitting between a building’s façade and the roof edge, the system combines wind and solar energy harvesting, taking advantage of the building’s air flows, even if it's in the middle of a city.

The system was developed by the Anerdgy. “When wind flows around the building, it creates a pressure difference between the façade and the rooftop. The façade has a higher wind pressure,” CEO of Anerdgy Sven Koehler told Fast Co. Exist. “Because we are channeling the wind and making a connection between the high and low pressure areas, the speeds are faster and we have more energy.”

Koehler, an engineer and economist, came up with the idea with the help of his parents. After years of research, he came up with the WindRail System and started the company in 2012.

According to the company, pressure effect accounts for 50% of the power the WindRail generates. The device comes in two meter modules and can generate 1,500 to 2,000 kWh a year. For comparison, the average U.S. home uses 10,837 kWh a year, Fast Co. Exist reports.

| Oct 19, 2011

Another drop for Architecture Billings Index

Positive conditions seen last month were more of an aberration.

| Oct 17, 2011

THOUGHT LEADER: Allan Bilka, Senior Staff Architect and Secretariat to the IGCC

Allan Bilka, RA, is a Senior Staff Architect and Secretariat to the International Green Construction Code (IgCC) with the International Code Council, based in the ICC’s Chicago district office. He also serves as staff liaison to the ICC-700 National Green Building Standard. He has written several ICC white papers on green building and numerous green-related articles for the ICC. A registered architect, Bilka has over 30 years of combined residential design/build and commercial consulting engineering experience.

| Oct 17, 2011

Austin's newest urban apartment complex under construction

Complex sits on a four-acre waterfront site along Lady Bird Lake with spectacular city and lake views, and is slated to open spring 2013.

| Oct 17, 2011

Big D Floor covering supplies to offer Johnsonite Products??

Strategic partnership expands offering to south and west coast customers.

| Oct 14, 2011

AISC develops new interoperability strategy to move construction industry forward

AISC is working to bring that vision to reality by developing a three-step interoperability strategy to evaluate data exchanges and integrate structural steel information into buildingSMART's Industry Foundation Classes.

| Oct 14, 2011

University of New Mexico Science & Math Learning Center attains LEED for Schools Gold

Van H. Gilbert architects enhances sustainability credentials.

| Oct 14, 2011

BD+C Survey on Building Information Modeling: The Good, the Bad, and the Solutions

In a recent survey conducted by Building Design+Construction, more than 75% of respondents indicated they currently use BIM or plan to use it. Respondents were also asked to comment on their experiences with BIM, what they liked and disliked about BIM, and what BIM-related advice they would give to their peers.