Archive for April 18, 2012

Simons Says ‘Get Help From an Architect for €50’

We are pleased to announce our participation once again in this year’s “Simon Open Door” initiative.

Anyone looking to build, renovate or extend their home or business may be interested in this initiative. Isabel Barros Architects will offer an hour long consultation in return for a donation of €50 to charity. All of the money raised goes towards the work of the Simon Communities of Ireland.

The Simon Communities of Ireland work with people who experience homelessness and housing exclusion in Ireland.

This is the eighth year that the Simon Communities of Ireland has partnered with the Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland. Over the course of this wonderful partnership almost €265,000 has been raised for the Simon Communities of Ireland.

 

Simon Open Door 2012

 

This is an exciting opportunity that allows anyone to get advice from an Architect no matter the size of their project. Our previous participation were very rewarding and the projects could not be more varied. From new builds to small extensions or houses that are not functional, the Architect has the most appropriate training and experience to help you with your building project.

For us, Architects, Simon Open Door is an interesting challenge and people always get amazed about how much can be done in one hour. And if that wasn’t enough we are helping the homeless with the donations you give to the Simon Communities. Everybody wins!

You can sign up for an appointment with Isabel Barros Architects on either Saturday 12th May or Sunday 13th May directly here, or with other registered Architects at www.simonopendoor.ie.

 

Read Testimonials about the Simon Open Door. Join Simon Open Door page in Facebook.

Guided Factory Tour at Fronius in Austria

Fronius Austria Factory

Fronius creates new technologies and solutions for monitoring and controlling energy. They are technological leaders in the field of battery charging systems, welding technology and solar electronics.

This tour was part of the Renewable Energy Research Trip to Austria that took place in November 2011.

The factory is impressive but unfortunately we weren’t allowed to take photos inside. The 38,000 sq.m. building features an innovative energy concept with one of the largest photovoltaic systems in Austria (615 Kwp/3600 sq.m.), a biomass power station (1500kw) and a geothermal system for heating and cooling.

Fronius Austria Factory Solar PV

Fronius Factory – Roof with solar photovoltaics

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Just the photovoltaic system on its own could cover the annual electricity consumption of 160 households.

 

Fronius Austria Factory Creche

View to the Fronius “Kinderland” creche

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Added extras, such as the Fronius “Kinderland” creche and staff restaurant, cater for the wellbeing of employees.

 

I was also very impressed with their HyLOG project.

“HyLOG” stands for Hydrogen powered Logistic System. The ambitious goal of this project is the implementation of an emissions-free and more efficient in-house logistics system in a real industrial application environment – in this case, at the Fronius facility in Sattled, Austria.

Fronius Austria Hydrogen Energy HyLog Project

Fronius HyLog Project

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Instead of batteries, logistical vehicles at the Fronius Sattledt location are operated using environmentally-friendly hydrogen.

The hydrogen used for the HyLOG vehicle is produced by Fronius in-house via an electrolysis process powered by the 615 kW PV system on the roof of the building. The hydrogen is then stored and made available for refueling via an in-house filling station infrastructure. The fuel cell drive integrated into the vehicle is used to convert the hydrogen into energy to operate the vehicle.

 

1. PV modules. 2. Electrolyser. 3. Hydrogen reservoir. 4. Hydrogen tank. 5. Fuel cell (on-board). 6. Electronic drive unit (on-board). 7. Inverter. 8. Sattledt production facility. 9. HyLOG truck.

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Here’s how it works: The PV modules (1) capture the sunlight and turn it into DC current. Power needed immediately at the Sattledt production facility (8) is made available by way of the electronic inverter module (7). The rest of the electric power is used by the electrolyser (2) to split water into its twin constituents, oxygen and hydrogen. The hydrogen is stored in a reservoir (3), and the oxygen is released into the atmosphere. The HyLOG vehicles are refuelled with this stored hydrogen at a filling station (4). Together, the fuel cell (5) and electronic drive unit (6) integrated in the HyLOG truck (9) turn the hydrogen into motive power. The main benefit of this zero-emission materials-handling solution is that refuelling with hydrogen only takes a few minutes, whereas conventional battery-powered warehouse trucks have to be recharged for 8 to 10 hours every time.

 

Isabel Barros

Isabel’s Picks for April 2012

4 LITTLE BIRDS PITCH BY OUR DOORSTEP

It’s Spring, it’s Easter and we love it!

IKEA, Solar wind-powered pendant lamp, Corque Design, Cork, Portugal, Cork seat, Vinco, 3form facet, space divider, Styley walls, turquoise wall paper

 

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1. SOLAR/WIND POWERED PENDANT LAMP

Manufacturer: Ikea

Designer: David Wahl

Product Name: Solvinden

Price Range: €30.49

Key Features: No costs for electricity; the solar panel and the wind power generator convert sunlight and wind to energy. Easy to use; no cables or plugs are needed. Creates interesting light effects when it rotates in the wind. Built-in LED light source.

Available in Ireland from: Ikea

 

2. WALL DECAL

Product Name:Blossoming Almond Branch – Gift Birds

Price Range: €45

Material: High quality, self-adhesive and waterproof vinyl.

Key Facts: Easy to install and removable but may not be repositioned or reused once applied to your wall or surface.

Available to Ireland from: Etsy

 

3. PARTITION SYSTEM

Trademark: 3form

Designer: Bloomming

Product Name: Facet

Price Range: n/a

Material: Eco-resin 3D shapes, aluminium frame and stainless steel attachment elements.

Key Features: Completely modular system with endless possibilities. Easy to install with only 5 components. Light weight. Infinite and interactive. Sustainable. UV resistant and antistatic. Each Facet can be rotated 360 degrees individually or in sets to create different patterns and transparency. Innovative space dividing and window screen system with a unique sculptural design that allows you to play with interior space, shade and light with interactive elements.

Available to Ireland from: 3form

 

4. CHAIR

Trademark: Corque

Designer: Toni Grilo

Product Name: Vinco

Price Range: n/a

Material: Natural agglomerate cork, rubber cork and polished steel.

Key Features: “Vinco” chair offers a sophisticated feel with natural touch, providing a unique sensorial experience with cork. “Vinco” aesthetical beauty derives from the original shape created by a set of “creases” in a cork flat board. The creases in “Vinco” form a volumetric structure out of a flat one aiming economy production. Reinforcing this concept the board assembles the polished steel structure by fitting, without any glue or screws.

Available to Ireland from: Corque

 

 

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