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November 09, 2007
DOE Energy Efficient Buildings in 3D Google Earth
Google has a talented team of folks in Boulder, Colorado who have quietly been creating hundreds of high quality 3D building models for locations all over the world and adding them into the Google 3D Warehouse. I noticed recently they have been creating a series of buildings which are part of the US Department of Energy's (DOE) High Performance Buildings Database. The 3D models highlight buildings that are using energy-efficient equipment and designs. You can view the collection of over 80 3D building models. Each building has a description, and a link back to the DOE database with all kinds of information about the buildings.
For example, you can read about the Big Horn shopping center in Colorado which uses extensive daylighting and natural ventilation cooling systems to lower energy demand. The center has a roof-integrated photovoltaic solar power system, the largest commercial solar array in the state, and sells unused electricity back to the utility company. And you can look 
at the nicely made 3D building in Google Earth. Look for the Google Earth 4 "Download" link for each model to check each one out. Or, you can download the collection network link which shows all 3D models across the US for the DOE collection and click on the placemarks to select building models. To see other 3D models created by the Google 3D team, click here.
[UPDATE: A KML file was created to highlight these energy efficient buildings developed for the DOE. via the Google Earth Gallery.]
Posted by FrankTaylor at November 9, 2007 08:20 AM
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Posted by: KoS at November 9, 2007 10:03 PM
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Hmmmmm....wonder if they will add virtual stores anytime soon? :)
Nothing like shopping by fingertip.
KoS