The IBS 2009 in Las Vegas will bring along with many fresh ideas, some cool new blueprints for future buildings that will steal the spotlight in the coming years. But one tradition of the congregation that will once again be looked at closely for more reasons than one is the New American Home for 2009 that Microsoft and a few other select tech companies were involved in designing.

Though this year’s building was expected to be less lavish and more economic than previous versions because of the slowdown seen by the global economy and the real estate sector it’s just as grand as always, and has a plus. It introduces a whole new energy efficient concept.

Spread over 8,721 square feet in size, the home is a net zero-energy design – anything but a modest enterprise, that features nothing less than 56 solar panels that are responsible to generate all the energy it needs on a daily basis. Other than that, the house also uses ICFs, LED lighting, tankless water heaters, Energy Star appliances, airtight building construction and energy efficient windows.

• 55% whole house energy savings compared to benchmark (w/o solar)
• 77% whole house energy savings compared to benchmark (w/ solar)
• Total utility costs are ~$2,500 per year (electrical & natural gas)
• There’s a 10.64 kW solar pv system made of 56 solar panels

The New American Home seems to be like a blueprint for the future homes; grand and green. It’s one of the most amazing designs I’ve seen in a while and calling it a “dream home” just doesn’t do justice. Check out the gallery after the break.

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The fabulous New York Times building continues to be known for its brilliant green features and great energy saving campaign. Once an energy-guzzling media fort, the building has now turned into a green hub from where we not only get news, views and reviews, but also reduction in carbon emissions and power consumption.

The Times Company has installed Lutron’s Quantum management solution that includes daylight, occupant, target set point, time clock, and emergency lighting controls, which allowed them to save [!!!pdf] a staggering $315,500 annually in terms of electricity bills and has cut carbon emissions by a good 1,250 metric tons each year.

All these figures stem from the fact that the energy consumption has been cut down to 0.38 watts per square feet of lighting power from the earlier 1.28 watts, by using better techniques of daylight harvesting, occupancy sensing, light intensity control and scheduling.

With all these changes, the Times worried about glare control and employees comfort, but it seems like it worked out just fine, don’t you think? – via BusinessWire

Photo credits: Nic Lehoux