Page 59 - Green Builder Magazine Nov-Dec 2017 Issue

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SMART CITIES

and buildings in the development. Not necessarily feasible when
each homeowner has to consider this individually, the developer
has taken the approach to provide this on a large scale and get the
benefits of scale.
■ Solar energy.
■
■ There is fiber optic internet flowing to all houses. You see how
■
good, high-speed connectivity helps villages in India as well as in
the U.S. Again, getting the benefit of scale makes a difference when
one is planning for 7,500 homes.
■ The same grade of energy-efficient, higher-end appliances will
■
be in all residences.
■ Advanced fire, smoke and safety detection systems installed
■
in all homes.
It is difficult for consumers to select these when they are just
options. It is difficult for most builders to include them in their
developments. In this project, there is vision in the approach of
CREDIT: WHISPER VALLEY/TAURUS DEVELOPMENT GROUP sold—and will be growing. I’ll be following this subject and others
providing this to everyone as an integral part of the community. This
project already has 50 homes under construction—some already

like this as smart communities continue to develop further. GB

Terry Beaubois is an architect in Palo Alto, Calif. He is CEO of the
internet startup BKS (Building Knowledge Systems) LLC, and an

January 2018 Green Builder Symposium in Orlando.
Smart and EcoSmart. A 7,500-home adjunct lecturer at Stanford University. He will be presenting at the
development underway in Austin, Texas,
promises many of the same green upgrades
planned for India’s Smart Villages project.
and then all villages and then the state, the nation and the world, STAY TUNED:
is a function of improving internet coverage in India. This allows
villagers who have never sold products online—weavers, potters, Upcoming Smart
farmers with agricultural products such as rice, cashews, shrimp
and coconut—to consider making their products available through
websites that the villagers are being taught how to use. Communities articles
Speaking of communication: I would be remiss if I did not clarify
that in addition to contributing my experience and talent to the ■ ■ Disaster planning. We often think that disasters happen to
efforts in India, a primary reason for me being involved in the Smart other people or other countries, but each community should
Villages is for what I can learn about India’s smart community design be created and improved with awareness that natural disasters
that can be applied in the U.S. I was asked to clarify that fact in can occur anywhere.
the coursework goals of my Smart Communities course module for ■ ■ NASA technology. Looking at the transferring of aerospace
“Smart Villages—India” with other lecturers. This knowledge can be technology to the building industry.
of value to communities everywhere. And every time I visit India, I ■ ■ Virtual reality as a communication tool in the building
learn things that can benefit communities in the America—just as industry, based on a recent VR meeting with the Mayor of
U.S. experiences can benefit India. Liverpool, England, about smart communities, and connecting
U.S. and U.K. efforts.
MEANWHILE, BACK IN THE U.S.... ■ ■ Factory-fabricated buildings. An article on new
The same can be said with the Whisper Valley project in Austin, approaches to factory-fabricated buildings and parts of
Texas. The launch recognized local politicians who helped guide the buildings, related to the Green Building Industry.
project to a successful opening, from the perspective of the political ■ ■ More from Silicon Valley. I recently met with Google again
climate. The businesses involved in the project were each recognized about Smart Communities in India and in the U.S. In addition
for their contribution to getting the project underway. In the case to working with the Austin project for Google fiber to those
of Whisper Valley, the developer, Taurus Development Group, has homes, Google is involved in Smart Communities in significant
approached this 7,500-unit development with some innovative ideas, ways. IBM is involved with Smart Communities globally, and
including: specifically in India and the U.S. GB
■ A geothermal concept being put in place for all of the houses
■
www.greenbuildermedia.com November/December 2017 GREEN BUILDER 57

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