FRIDAY5 – August 10, 2018

The key to passive design is to minimize the energy used by the building.  While active strategies usually consist of heating and cooling, there are a number of passive design measures that can increase the energy efficiency of a building.  A recent article from Metal Architecture explores tips on achieving more energy efficiency, which include utilizing metal construction products, which can have an impact on the building envelope.  Read more here.
 

Last week we shared with you, our new charitable initiative called MillerClapperton Cares.  We are honored and delighted to be working with the Kyle Pease Foundation as one of our first charitable recipients.  Their journey has been an incredible one; a testament to their commitment and perseverance to make it possible for all to compete.  “Where there’s a wheel, there’s a way.”  

Since being notified just two months ago in early June, that they were invited to the Ironman World Championship in Kona, HI, they have been racing to make all the preparations in order to compete in October.  MillerClapperton is stepping up to help with equipment logistics; building the crates, arranging for shipping to and from Hawaii, and helping to raise money to cover the shipping costs.  We hope you will consider donating to this very special cause.  With just 3 weeks remaining, we have a little more than halfway to go to reach our goal of $20,000.  The brothers are an inspiration to all of us and we want to help them spread their message with the World.

They were recently featured in a piece by USA Today’s Humankind series and we invite you to watch it here.  Did you miss last week’s introduction to MillerClapperton Cares?  Learn how we are giving back to our community here and making it an annual philanthropic commitment.
 

The future beyond Earth may hold more than a quick layover at a tourist destination.  If we actually pursue colonization on other planets, we would need the tools to construct long-term habitable structures.  Swamp Works lab is a lean internal team of engineers at the Kennedy Space Center who is currently looking to solve the problem of how to build on other planets. 

Since transporting heavy building materials to space is out of the question, and having humans spend time and energy on construction in a harsh environment seems impractical, engineers are designing robots that can build with local materials and withstand the extreme environment.  Read more about the future of extraterrestrial architecture here.