Architects Design an Eco-Friendly Home For Barbie
Barbie’s Dream House
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The winning designers, Ting Li, Assoc., LEED AP and Maja Paklar Assoc. AIA, offer sustainable features on the house that is United States Green Building Council (USGBC)-certified and includes solar panels, a roof with a landscaped garden and irrigation system, operable shading devices, bamboo flooring and low flow toilet and sink fixtures. Plus, the home encourages energy efficiency, with an efficient HVAC system, energy-efficient lighting and ENERGY STAR appliances that decrease energy use.Your Energy-Efficient Dream Home
- The Online Code Environment & Advocacy Network (OCEAN) offers a handy Energy Code Guide so you can see if your home meets national standards.
- Barbie isn’t the only one who can install ENERGY STAR appliances. Check out this Alliance and EnergyNOW! video that tells you more about energy-efficient appliances.
- You can also check out additional videos by the Alliance and EnergyNOW! that provide tips on how to make energy-efficient choices in your house.
- Do you live in the southeastern United States? Learn more about home retrofits with the Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance’s Better Buildings Program – SEEA WISE.
- And if your house is in need of Leadership in Energy Efficient Design (LEED) certification, check the USGBC Building Certification Rating Systems. Both existing and potential buildings can use these guidelines.
Blog Type: Efficiency News
Programs: Communications Program
Now that is hilarious. I love it.
Thank you all for your comments. We appreciate your feedback as to the overall efficiency of the home, but really wrote this post to highlight a competition that was meant to engage and inspire young people "to experience the world of architecture and the range of possibilities that design thinking offers.” Barbie has lived in mansions, castles, and multiple posh Malibu residences - "Barbie world" is certainly larger than life, and larger than many people would deem affordable or sustainable. But the meaning of the competition, to draw young people into the world of architecture, has much merit. And by the response this house has drawn, it seems like a second competition could easily run parallel to the original: I Can Be... Architectural Critic Barbie.
Initially I really thought this was a joke, but sadly it is not - and instead it represents all that is wrong with America! Come on USA - you have the most forward thinking desingers and scientists in the planet. Can you not do better than this? It is amusing to note that three of the comments above relate to the ridiculous size of the house in question. The only positive comment below comes from someone wanting to promote their product! (I do like LED lighting though!) LOL Just because you CAN specify a high performance appliance does not mean you need to throw every possible appliance into the house. This is classic Jevons Paradox - look it up Barbie (and Ting Li Assoc.) It is certainly possible to design a house - even in California - that does not require an HVAC system to provide comfort... Loads of unshaded glass in a hot climate is insane frankly. And what about renewable energy? Nope.... not a sausage! Maybe Barbie should cut out some of her 'global jet setting' and concentrate on learning what actually constitutes a energy efficient house... She clearly bunked on most of her architecture lectures despite being awarded AIA registration... Says a lot.
Alright, someone has to say it; did you all notice the unsupported 1st floor cantilever in that design. THAT doesn’t appear very “sustainable”…. All joking aside, I totally agree with the previous increduality about the size of this structure. This is sanctioned by the GBC?? This just further illustrates the flaws in the LEED process.
I am amazed that the Alliance to Save Energy would be promoting a 4,900 sf house for 2 to be held up as an example of the direction of home building. Just because a design can meet LEED standards doesn't mean that makes it a design to be strived for. This country's obsession for bigger is better and its associated over consumerism is pushing the limits of the worlds resources. Every square foot of that house is tying up embodied energy in all of the materials of its construction. What do you stand for?
I'm sorry but I don't think any home that comes in at close to 5,000 square feet should ever be called Eco-friendly. I don't even think Barbie is married at this point. Does she have any kids? I don't think so. A monstrous house for one person? If she opened this thing up to 9 of her closest friends, then maybe we could call this eco friendly.
