Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Bali’s New Big Tree Chocolate Factory is the World’s Largest Commercial Bamboo Structure

Meshmatics Combines Chicken Wire and Bamboo Paper into Brilliant Soft Lights

Sustainable Materials,Green Products,Green Lighting,Decorative Objects,hanging lamp,chicken wire,bamboo paper,Amsterdam design studio
This is definitely pretty honest and simple. It looks cool too!

Scotland to Build Two-Blade Offshore Wind Turbine with Helicopter Landing Pad


At least two of these wind turbines are going to be built just off the coast of Scotland. The unique two-bladed design, which features a landing pad on top, require less maintenance and will help Scotland to one day hopefully achieve their goal of 100% renewable energy.

Nick Fraser Creates Fun and Functional Decor from Standard Pipework

Green Products,Green Home decor,Green Materials,Decorative Objects,DIY,British design,pipeworks,recycled pipe,memphis collective,pastel colors,pipes coat hanger
I guess you can say this guy is repurposing the pipes and valves, but it would be cooler if the pipes were still in use... until someones heavy coat breaks the mainline and floods the house.

Northwestern University Researchers Create Breakthrough Batteries That Could Give EVs 500 Mile Range, 10 Minute Charge Time Read more: Northwestern University Researchers Create Breakthrough Batteries That Could Give EVs 500 Mile Range, 10 Minute Charge Time | Inhabitat - Green Design Will Save the World

Kung Battery, Harold Kung, quick-charging battery, lithium ion battery, breakthrough, world's first, battery breakthrough, battery technology, electric car, electric vehicle, EV, Northwestern University, Advanced Energy Materials, Xin Zhao, Cary M. Hayner, Mayfair C. Kung, vehicle charge, vehicle charging
Maybe if this technology takes off in the next few years, fully electric powered cars will be more realistic  for everyone to have.

Student-Built Biofuel Truck Breaks World Land Speed Record at 155 MPH! Read more: Student-Built Biofuel Truck Breaks World's Land Speed Record at 155 MPH!

These students from Boise set out to break the biofuel vehicle land speed record and thats exactly what they did. The truck is powered by a large i6 diesel engine that has been converted to run a mixture of cottonseed and sunflower oil. The team hopes to break 200 mph by fueling the vehicle with canola oil instead.

HOK Architects Unveil Porsche’s Green-Roofed North American Headquarters Read more: HOK Architects Unveil Porsche's Green-Roofed North American Headq

UNICEF’s Clever LEGO-Inspired Bricks Provide Food, Water, and Shelter to Disaster Victims Read more: UNICEF’s Clever LEGO-Inspired Bricks Provide Foo

Alpine Ski Apartments are Wrapped in a Modern Scalloped Skin Read more: Stunning Alpine Ski Apartment are Wrapped in a Modern Scalloped Skin

this complex apartment is made of materials taken from its surrounding environment.

Bright Ideas from Buenos Aires: Minimahuella

Argentina based company is focusing on re-purposing things in a creative way.

Harnessing the Untapped Energy in Water Pipes

http://www.good.is/post/harnessing-the-untapped-energy-in-water-pipes/

Bus Systems Are Miles Ahead on Green Transport Technology

http://www.good.is/post/bus-systems-are-miles-ahead-on-green-transport-technology/

Monday, November 21, 2011

Maya pedal bikes


These guys repurpose bike for all sorts of cool stuff for the 3rd world...check it out!

Greenest of the Green...

This dope building was designed to be very green...the greenest of the green... It was crowned the greenest building of the year in Australia.

Coke is helping the world of sustainable ID once again...


dCoca-cola is getting is hands into more sustainable projects...



Big namers hoping to have ZERO Discharge soon...


These big companies are helping to lead the way for other companies by becoming ZERO discharge by 2020.

Sunday, November 20, 2011

Sustainable Cardboard Chair Design Inspired By Volvo C30 Taillight

The chair was chosen as tops in the Sustainable Design category at the Volvo for life design awards. The design combines the tail light cluster of the volvo and a modern chair.

Transglass

a very interesting way to reuse glass bottles.

Saturday, November 19, 2011

a sustainable bench for chefs done right.

At the National Theatre in England, the Terrace Bar & Food restaurant just received new benches, tables, and stools with built in planters. The benches and tables themselves were assembled with salvaged timber and offer a warmer take on furniture for the outside seating of the restaurant. The planters are currently used by the working chefs as they grow their own herbs on site.

AYO lamp

Now here's a lamp that makes you do the work to make it look good. The lamp itself is super simple since it's based on a rebar frame but lacks a lamp shade. That's where you step in. Always wanted to have a lamp with green crate for a lamp shade? Wait no more... AYO (Add Your Own) lamp is here!

a lamp made from sand?

We should have seen this coming! We've all used the 3D printer at school and are familiar with the process. Just add glue to the printed pieces and wait for it to dry. The same principle was applied to these lamps. Except, it's not made from the powder in the Z-printer. It's sand. Formed over a simple mold like as a sand castle. Then, add glue, and BAM! lamp shade made from sand.

a cafe who's environmentally adept

Deptford Cafe is most likely the most environmentally sensible cafe that London has to offer. Why of course, that is a decommissioned subway cart. And the pastries? All homemade by local bakers that live just a stones-throw away. Oh yeah, and herbs that they use, it's from the community garden located right behind the trains themselves.

a solar-panelled curtain

Ok, picture this... It's just passed noon and you just popped in a new DVD that was just released. But, what the heck... there's more glare coming off of your tv screen than Bruce Willis' scalp on a sunny day in Arizona! So what do you do?... Shut the curtain or blinds, right? Now imagine if your curtains can absorb the sunlight that its blocking and store it as energy in which it can reuse later at night. Now this is where the liteON solar curtain come in.

adaptive cardboard

Sure, packaging and shipping can be very wasteful but it is oh-so-important to our everyday lives. Everyday, thousands of over-sized boxes are shipped because of the odd shade object held within its structure. Now, with this new version of flexible cardboard, objects with unique shapes can be packed without shipping "air" and amping up the cost for using a large box. Just imagine how much material can be saved if everything can be shipped with this new cardboard.

"public transportation"?

With our busy lives, we sometimes forget there are information out there for us to help us use public transportation. For the longest time I did not even know about 511.org, but now that I know what it is and how it can help us, even visitors, to plan their trip around the Bay, I thought I should share this LINK. Yes, public transpiration... it doesn't go 90MPH, but it gets you from point A to point B, you don't have to drive, you won't get lost, and you don't have to pay for gas!

how to wear green...


This article talks about how "wearing green" does not mean you have to get out of your way and wear something you are not comfortable wearing.

Based on this article, in order to be greener when it comes to clothing, you need to keep these ideas in mind:

Don't trust commercials,
Ask yourself "do I really need it?"
Take good care of your clothes
Forget about dry cleaning
and Repurpose.

If you think about it, by following most of these ideas, we can live a greener life... we can do this to almost everything in life. From to kitchen to bathroom, to technology, and even food...

Car-Free cities?

National Geographic posted an article about 12 cities that are either car-free zones or have largest green space in the world. For example Curitiba, a city in Brazil os considered one of the greenest cities because it has 560 square feet of green space for every one of its 2 million residents. This is one of the highest rates in the world for cities. It is refreshing to see there are places on this planet that are promoting green space and green living.
GreenLiving is a great site for people who want earth friendly goods for their house. From home improvement (paint, flooring, ...) to home decor, to kitchen and bathroom, this website covers a lot of goods that one might want to buy to improve the look of their house, way of living, and help keeping toxic and trash out of land fields.



A lot of people think "living green" means live with no quality. Looking at this website I can tell it's a lot easier to go green than one might imagine. I can find a lot of materials on this website that people can use to improve their way of living, and at the same time try to be as environmental friendly as possible.

GREEN-TECHNOLOGY dot ORG



Green Technology, a non-profit initiative, is designed to inform government efforts toward sustainability. By providing a forum that the government can communicate with those in the private sector, who are developing and distributing green technologies, Green Technology is trying to help us move toward a brighter future.


They hold events in parts of California to have the government and private sectors meet with the public, to inform one another of possible green technologies and solutions.


Their next event is on April 26 and 27, 2012 in Sacramento. More Info

I think the more events and opportunities we have to bring the government and private sectors together the better chance we will have educating them, and the public, of all the possibilities. Knowing what we can do to slow down the distraction of the planet, and what our solutions are, or could be in the future, is a great step towards living green and making better decisions. 

Friday, November 18, 2011

Wha?

I believe this. Just being in New York I definitely experienced the strange weather. Seeking refuge in the subway station.

Upgrade?

This material is as light as Styrofoam. It's infused with gases to make it lighter. So is this an upgrade from Styrofoam? Can we use it now for packaging.

Design Issues: Is Sustainability just Recycling Deferred?


Sustainability or recycling? – There’s a case for both approaches to dealing with the World’s runaway affair with personal possessions. But however we look at it, even the most durable of products will end up being recycled at some point, and therefore, sustainability is essentially about delaying the inevitable. The problem with the concept of sustainable consumption lies in the consumers’ willingness or otherwise to embrace durability, in what is a largely fashion conscious, technology driven world. Durability may be a fashionable design concept today but what of tomorrow? New technology usually requires a new platform, so how do we achieve technical refreshment in an aging product? And how might we benefit from improved safety systems when we are saddled with a long-term product relationship? (Imagine how far behind the leading edge you would be now if the computer you were using had been manufactured in 2001!)

Thursday, November 17, 2011

Acca Kappa’s Biodegradable BIOCETA Brushes are Made from Sustainable Wood Read more: Acca Kappa's Biodegradable BIOCETA Brushes are Made from Sustainable Wood | Inhabitat - Green Design Will Save the World

Need a new toothbrush??? These new brushes from Acca Kappa are totally sustainable made from biogradeable cellulose which is found in cotton balls, and wood for the bristles. Get your new toothbrush for only $7!!!

Friday, November 11, 2011

When plastic bags save lives

The Peepoo bag, invented by Swedish Anders Wilhelmson, allows safe and clean way to dispose of human waste. This is essentially vital in rural areas where water and toilets are not available. This bags are very useful in emergency situations.

Two million trees to be planted by Ghanaian church

with the help of the US campaign Interfaith power and light, Ghana was able to plant two million trees that will help their communities to self-sustained themselves.

Daoism embraces ecology in its teachings

China Daoist association have incorporated ecology wisdom in its teaching. There are thousands of Daoist temples across china, and all of them have to follow this plan. this plan will teach people how to be more ecological friendly and to have a healthier lifestyle.

Levi’s, H&M, Adidas Debut Apparel Made With Eco-Friendly “Better Cotton”

more and more companies are trying to be more sustainable. Big companies such as Levis, H&M and Adidas have designed jeans with sustainable cotton, but this is only the first step. In the future, they are planning to have a greater variety of clothing using this material.

Greenpeace links Italian fashion to destruction of Amazon rainforest

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=xm2L7nTKio4

in contrast to my other post about sustainable fashion in brazil. i found another post about how other fashion companies are destroying the amazon rainforest. this video shows whats really happening in brazil.

Salmon skin and milk - fashion fabrics of the future?

A new way to create sustainable fabric. Ultra, a Malaysian company, came up with a new colletion using salmon skin and milk. their idea with this collection is that people will only use ten pieces of clothing in a year. Each piece can be put together with other pieces and make another piece of clothing.

Green Movement

Asia takes eco-resort to the next level. Places such as Cambodia, Vietnam and China have created eco-friendly resorts. they only used sustainable materials in their constructions

Brazil’s Eye on Sustainable Fashion

brazilians are focusing in eco-friendly fashion design. they are mainly using organic materials such as organic cotton, bamboo and recycled PET

Thursday, November 10, 2011

The Ryno Electric Unicycle is a One-Wheeled Muscle Machine Read more: The Ryno Electric Unicycle is a One-Wheeled Muscle Machine | Inhabitat - Green



This is a electric power unicycle. The designer looked at the Segway and developed a different way of doing it. This is a pretty cool idea for those who want a cheaper and eco-friendly transportation.

Cooksack - Solar Cooking

Cooksack owners can go camping without using fuel as it is solar powered.

Samsung to Launch Flexible OLED Cell Phone in 2012 Read more: Samsung to Launch Flexible OLED Cell Phone in 2012 | Inhabitat - Green Design Will Sa

Samsung is going to be launching Flexible phone!?! Pretty awesome new technology and definitely a new material to look out for future products.

Tripp Trapp High Chair

The Tripp Trapp Chair grows with the child, meaning you don't end up with a baby chair you can't use anymore.

Why French Press is Green

French pressed coffee may seem to be a luxury. But really it's an instant way to save money and is the most green efficient way to make your coffee.

Deo-Crystal

100% pure and natural, contain no harmful aluminums or parabens and are made with pharmaceutical grade mineral salts

Faking Green (Greenwashing)

This is an article pertaining to 'greenwashing' which is corporations trying to fake being 'green' to gain popularity. 

Caroma Toilet

The Caroma Toilet is a faucet-toilet combo that uses grey water used in the faucet to flush the toilet. Its pretty clever but i dont know how hygienic it is to clean yourself over the toilet...

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

New Hybrids Will Pump it Up



Altair Product Design recently unveiled what it says is the world’s first series hydraulic hybrid transit bus and says it delivers twice the fuel economy of a conventional diesel bus. UPS has experimented with hydraulic hybrid delivery trucks, and even Chrysler is getting in on the act with a hydraulic hybrid minivan that could deliver a 60 percent increase in fuel economy during city driving.

2012 Volt Drives Family Off of Oil, Saves $30,000

A Casualty for Solar in California


The latest casualty has struck Californian solar companies as Stirling Energy Systems files for bankruptcy. What we see is yet another innovative solar energy firm unable to cope with the changing economic and market forces in the solar energy field.

Japanese Develop a Robot Guide Dog


The Japanese company NSK has developed a guide dog that uses a Microsoft Kinect sensor to visualize the world around it and lead its owner out of danger. The dog glides around on four legs that have wheels attached to them instead of feet, and when it senses an obstacle it begins to climb. Using its hinged legs, the pooch climbs up and down stairs — albeit very slowly — with its charge following safely behind guided by a handle attached to the back of the dog.