ZAC Chandon Rpublique housing development emphasizes the contrast between dark and light

The project comprises a cluster of simple volumes made more interesting by breaking them up visually through the use of two different materials. Concrete was used for the structure left visible along the sides, with stainless steel sheets help dematerialize the buildings. Related: [BP] Architectures’ M9-C is an Integrated, Energy-Efficient Mixed-Use Housing Development in Paris The shading screens protrude slightly from the facades, introducing planar elements to the strong volumes. They...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green BuildingInhabitat – Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/zac-chandon-republique-housing-development-emphasizes-the-contrast-between-dark-and-light
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Smart birdhouses called TreeWiFi give free WiFi when the air quality improves

Trees give free WiFi when the air quality improves with a smart birdhouse from TreeWiFi. An Amsterdam based start-up called TreeWiFi builds birdhouses that measure air pollution and that make the levels of pollution visible through an LED status light and a high tech roof that illuminates the entire tree at night. Air quality data is sent to a server where it is analyzed and made public for everyone to see. When the server detects an improvement in air quality it allows the birdhouse to share...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green BuildingInhabitat – Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/new-post-submission-188
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High-end upcycling shops with beautiful metal tab designs pop up in London

Two up-cycled pop-up shops in London Gudjon Thor Erlendsson of AUDB (au-db.com) and Andreas Krause of Krause Architects (krausearchitects.com) have just completed a design for two new pop-up stores in London. One on the busy Regents Street in the west-end, and another on Redchurch Street in Shoreditch. The projects, were carried out for the fashion label Bottletop a social enterprise making high-end fashion accessories. The Bottletop Foundation empowers young people to protect themselves. The...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green BuildingInhabitat – Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/high-end-upcycling-shops-with-beautiful-metal-tab-designs-pop-up-in-london
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This zany two-person tent looks like a Star Trek shuttlecraft

Related: + Dave Delisle Via My Modern Met Dave Delisle, star trek, tent, design, star trek tent, geeky toys, star trek designs,

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green BuildingInhabitat – Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/zany-two-person-tent-mimics-a-star-trek-shuttlecraft
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T.Bar: enormous living green walls of lichen and moss line refreshing Panama Fusion restaurant

http://www.contemporist.com/2016/05/21/this-fast-food-restaurant-feels-like-youre-dining-in-a-park/ http://propixelpanama.com/contact-us/ http://www.tbarpanama.com/menu.html http://www.dosgarquitectos.com/#a=0&at=0&mi=2&pt=1&pi=10000&s=0&p=0

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green BuildingInhabitat – Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/t-bar-enormous-living-green-walls-of-lichen-and-moss-line-refreshing-panama-fusion-restaurant
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Tesla's Gigafactory to host a grand opening party on July 29

Ain’t no party like a Tesla party! The California-based luxury car company (turned battery company) is gearing up for the grand opening of its enormous Gigafactory, located outside Reno, Nevada. Tesla announced late last week that the battery factory will open in just two months, with a celebration scheduled for July 29. Oddly, this grand opening will be a lot different than most others, in that the factory is nowhere near fully operational and construction will continue long after party goers...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green BuildingInhabitat – Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/teslas-gigafactory-to-host-a-grand-opening-party-on-july-29
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Donald Trump believes California farmers who say "there is no drought"

Climate denier Donald Trump makes no bones about the fact that he doesn’t believe humans are contributing to climate change, calling it a ‘hoax’ proctored by the Chinese. Now he’s adding another scientific fact to the list of things he doesn’t believe in: the severe drought that has plagued California for the past five years. In a speech in Fresno on Friday, Trump claimed that a group of “50 or 60 farmers” told him, right before he took the stage, that “there is no drought.” And...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green BuildingInhabitat – Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/donald-trump-believes-california-farmers-who-say-there-is-no-drought
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China added half of new global wind power capacity in 2015

China is making massive investments in clean energy as the government works on meeting climate targets and cleaning up polluted cities. Wind is an example of the Asian nation's dominance in the renewable energy sector. According to a new report from research and consulting firm GlobalData, China accounted for nearly half of all new global wind energy installations in 2015, installing 30.5 gigawatts. The most populous country in the world beat second place United States by a wide margin -- the U.S....

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green BuildingInhabitat – Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/china-added-half-of-new-wind-global-wind-power-capacity-in-2015
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A2OFFICE transforms Porto townhouse into a modern daylit residence

The building, comprising a basement, two floors, attic and small patio, is located in the central part of Porto. A single staircase connects all the levels. In order to facilitate a spatial flow and openness, the architects introduced an interconnected social area on the lower levels. Related: The Outerio House is a 3 Meter Wide Modernist Renovation Two bedroom suites were placed on the top floor. In order to preserve the memory of a lantern that lit the first floor, the team formed three...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green BuildingInhabitat – Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/a2office-transforms-porto-townhouse-into-a-modern-daylit-residence
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Modular Amuneal shelves create flexible wall storage for tight spaces

When it comes to small interiors, walkable floor space is prime real estate. That's why vertical storage is now the name of the game. Specially made in the city of brotherly love, Amuneal is one company that takes wall storage very seriously; their Collector's Shelving System is a fully adjustable, luxurious, vertical framework that can be customized for any sized space. The state-of-the-art system is built in Philadelphia with oxidized oak shelves and a solid brass framework that attaches...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green BuildingInhabitat – Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/modular-amuneal-shelves-create-flexible-wall-storage-for-tight-spaces
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World's largest commercial rooftop solar array is on a shopping mall in the Philippines

A shopping mall in the Philippines now boasts the world’s largest commercial rooftop solar array, which generates 2.9 MW of clean energy to help run the mall’s operations. The project is also the biggest private solar power system designed for self-consumption in the country. The Philippines-based property developer behind the venture, Robinsons Land, has plans to add rooftop solar panels to its other retail centers, for a total of 12.5 MW by the end of this year. The 2.9 MW solar...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green BuildingInhabitat – Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/worlds-largest-commercial-rooftop-solar-array-is-on-a-shopping-mall-in-the-philippines
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Bangkok's Siam Discovery retail center gets a major redesign from Japanese firm nendo

The previous design of the retail center, with its deep layout and narrow entry, created problems for the traffic flow of pedestrians, which is one thing a shopping center does not want. The architecture and design firm was called in to help, and the new design addresses the previous issues by extending the circular atriums throughout the building and creating a canyon-like path stretching nearly 200 feet to the back of the building. Related: Along one side of the atrium, a series of 220...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green BuildingInhabitat – Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/bangkoks-siam-discovery-retail-center-gets-a-major-redesign-from-japanese-firm-nendo
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New government study links cell phones to cancer

A new study backed by the U.S. government reportedly found a new link between cell phone use and cancer, a concern that has been gathering more evidence over the decades. The National Toxicology Program’s study is still incomplete at this time, yet partial findings reveal a relationship between specific radio frequencies and tumor growth in male laboratory rats. The way some publications are reporting the news, you would expect to have a grapefruit-sized tumor growing in your skull...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green BuildingInhabitat – Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/new-government-study-links-cell-phones-to-cancer
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Apple-inspired timber sauna is hidden within a grassy green slope

The sauna takes on a circular shape in reference to the shape of an apple and the cycle of nature. The curved concrete entrance envelopes visitors within a welcoming shaded nook with outdoor furnishings. Inside, the small sauna is lined with timber and features rows of wooden seating that evoke the classic apple crate. Contemporary spherical lamps are suspended from the ceiling, however, are unnecessary in the daytime when ample amounts of natural light stream through a full-height glazed rear window...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green BuildingInhabitat – Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/apple-inspired-timber-sauna-is-hidden-within-a-grassy-green-slope
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Modular Wikkelhouse wrapped in 24 layers of cardboard snaps together in a day

"Wikkelhouse is what you get when an everyday material finds a groundbreaking purpose," Fiction Factory told Dezeen. "Using cardboard as its main building material, Wikkelhouse is a cutting-edge sustainable house with a beautiful design and exceptional constructive strength." Related: Affordable pop-up house snaps together like LEGOs While your cardboard boxes at home may wither in the presence of water, Wikkelhouse's layers are covered in a protective, waterproof film and then finished...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green BuildingInhabitat – Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/modular-wikkelhouse-wrapped-with-layers-of-cardboard-snaps-together-in-a-single-day
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May 31 Green Energy News

Headline News:

• The currents of the Bay of Fundy would easily generate enough power for all of Atlantic Canada’s needs, but have been too monstrously strong to be tamed. Now, Cape Sharp Tidal is betting on two turbines it will start installing in June. Each 2-MW turbine weighs 1,000 tonnes. [Globalnews.ca]

A turbine being built for the Cape Sharp Tidal project. Andrew Vaughan / The Canadian Press.

• UK-based company Renovare Fuels Limited has co-invented technology which can convert landfill gas into high-quality clean energy in the form of liquid diesel and gasoline fuel suitable for all motor vehicles. This would allow landfill operators to sell the fuel for vehicles. [Renewable Energy Focus]
• The electric bus market has been singled out as a potential game changer for battery development, due to growing e-bus demand and the need for sizeable batteries to power them. A report highlights the prospects of this industry and the significant role being played by China. [Power Technology]
• Wind energy is growing faster than any other type of energy generation in the USA. The American Wind Energy Association is clearly proud of the results achieved over the last five years: The installed capacity more than doubled over five years, to almost 74 GW at the end of 2015. [Sun & Wind Energy]
• Neyveli Lignite Corporation Ltd will set up a 20-MW solar project in Andaman and Nicobar Islands. India’s Ministry of New and Renewable Energy has proposed to install about 50-MW of solar PVs on Attam Pahar, South Andaman and at Kishorie Nagar, North Andaman. [Business Standard]

For more news, please visit geoharvey – Daily News about Energy and Climate Change.

from Green Energy Times http://www.greenenergytimes.net/2016/05/31/may-31-green-energy-news-3/
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New research shows plants respond to touch

Plants are mysterious. They surround us but we can't really communicate with them, leaving researchers to speculate on how they might interact with us and each other. University of Western Australia (UWA) scientists discovered a new intriguing aspect of plants: they appear to respond to touch. There's no visible sign, according to the scientists, who recently released their research in the journal Plant Physiology. Instead they noticed that plant genes expressed themselves differently...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green BuildingInhabitat – Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/new-research-shows-plants-respond-to-touch
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Gorgeous wooden horn speakers are made from reclaimed liquor barrels

https://vimeo.com/165917138 Fiddle + Hammer was founded by Jordan Waraksa, who brought his background in sculpture and music into the making of the Bellaphone. The design was developed over a decade. “The horn is a testament to harnessing the resonant and warm qualities of the wood which they are carved from,” said Waraksa. Each custom-built speaker can be built to a variety of sizes, from two feet in height to a towering six feet. Related: Gigantic wooden megaphones amplify the sounds...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green BuildingInhabitat – Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/gorgeous-wooden-horn-speakers-are-made-from-reclaimed-liquor-barrels
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Copenhagen's South Harbor School rises from the sidewalk to promote community

The building is located in a densely populated area that required additional educational facilities. As the new public school, the building merges its institutional and maritime qualities. With various seating and walking areas rising from the sidewalk onto the roof of the building, the school aims to become an active part of the community. Related: World’s First LEGO School to Open in Denmark this August The interior features spaces of different heights and natural lighting, ensuring...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green BuildingInhabitat – Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/copenhagens-south-harbor-school-rises-from-the-sidewalk-to-promote-community
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Swedish students design one of the worlds most energy-efficient rail-bound vehicles

New World Record! In far away Sweden a new important world record was set on the 28:th of May. University of Dalarna tested and competed with what probably is the most energy-efficient rail bound people-transporter that the world has yet seen. When the on-site measuring team checked the energy efficiency figures with those of Shell Eco Marathon, it actually seems as though the Eximus 1 probably could be the most energy efficient people transporter in the world – rail bound or otherwise!...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green BuildingInhabitat – Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/swedish-students-design-one-of-the-worlds-most-energy-efficient-rail-bound-vehicles
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Flat green roof helps Casa Guaruj integrate with the forest in Brazil

Casa Guaruja features orthogonal forms dominated by large overhangs, and plenty of outdoor spaces overlooking a thick pine forest. The main living space and outdoor deck of the three-story residence are raised to the level of the tree canopies with bedrooms located on the level below. Related: The Breezy, Beautiful Brazilian Leaf House The main living space opens onto the deck and swimming pool area and is sheltered underneath a green roof that helps cool down the interior during the hottest...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green BuildingInhabitat – Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/flat-green-roof-helps-casa-guaruja-integrate-with-the-forest-in-brazil
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Marcia Ball brings Gulf Coast Blues to SolarFest in Manchester, VT on July 16th

Five-time Grammy Nominee Marcia Ball and her band will be rocking SolarFest with her soulful combination of boogie and blues, headlining on Saturday night, July 16th, at its new location at the Southern Vermont Arts Center in Manchester.
Mike Bailey, SolarFest Trustee said, “What a good time to have Marcia’s smart songwriting and powerful party tunes on her only Vermont performance this summer, as we gather to share ideas and innovations while surrounded by beauty and art on Mt. Equinox.”
SolarFest will be held on July 15th & 16th, 2016 at the beautiful campus of the Southern Vermont Arts Center in Manchester, Vermont, situated amid over one-hundred acres of pristine forest in the heart of the Green Mountains, but located within a four-hour drive of Boston, Montreal, and New York City.
This two-day gathering of ideas and innovations begins the third decade of SolarFest’s solar-powered festival of energy education through the arts. Surrounded by the beautiful art on Mt. Equinox, SolarFest combines wide-ranging workshops, thought-provoking speakers, and the latest innovative technologies with top quality musical performers, including a singer-songwriter competition, along with Theater-in-the-Woods and many other family-friendly activities.

About SolarFest – www.solarfest.org
Since its inception in 1995, SolarFest promotes artistic excellence and community-building while providing both general and detailed information on a wide range of sustainable living topics. The mission of this 501(c)3 non-profit corporation is quite simple, and vital: SolarFest connects people, the arts, ideas and technology, fostering partnerships to create a vibrant present and a sustainable future.
About Marcia Ball – www.marciaball.com The Texas-born, Louisiana-raised musical storyteller has earned worldwide fame for her ability to ignite a full-scale roadhouse rhythm and blues party every time she strolls onto the stage. Her groove-laden New Orleans boogie, deeply soulful ballads and rollicking Gulf Coast blues have made her a one-of-a-kind favorite with music fans all over the world. In 2010, she was inducted into the Gulf Coast Music Hall of Fame and in 2012 into the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame. She’s received a total of six Living Blues Awards, nine Blues Music Awards, and has received five Grammy Award nominations. Members: Marcia Ball – Piano, Vocals; Don Bennett – Bass; Damien Llanes – Drums; Michael Schermer – Guitar; Eric Bernhardt – Tenor Saxophone.

from Green Energy Times http://www.greenenergytimes.net/2016/05/30/marcia-ball-brings-gulf-coast-blues-to-solarfest-in-manchester-vt-on-july-16th/
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Marine scientists in Hawaii unearth an ancient minivan-sized sea sponge

We’ve all heard stories about enormous deep sea worms and sharks the size of a city bus. It turns out, those aren’t the only incredibly huge creatures hiding beneath the waves. A team of researchers in Hawaii have discovered the largest sea sponge known to science, and it’s as big as a minivan. Located near the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument, the sea sponge is thought to be several centuries old, if not more. The expedition took place in the summer of 2015. Researchers...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green BuildingInhabitat – Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/marine-scientists-in-hawaii-unearth-an-ancient-minivan-sized-sea-sponge
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G7 leaders agree to stop subsidizing fossil fuels by 2025

The G7 hammered one more nail in the fossil fuel industry's coffin. As many countries pursue clean energy technology and progress towards renewable energy, the G7 wrote in a declaration of their determination to "accelerate our work towards the transition to an energy system that enables a decarbonization of the global economy." They agreed to stop subsidies for fossil fuels by 2025. At a Japan summit, the world leaders discussed issues such as global economic growth, refugees,...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green BuildingInhabitat – Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/g7-leaders-agree-to-stop-subsidizing-fossil-fuels-by-2025
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Brilliant SUNplace table lets you cook with magnified sunlight on a cast iron surface

We’ve shared some solar-powered cooking options in the past, ranging from giant sun-baked ovens to scorching hot solar stoves. Now, here’s another sun-based cooking contraption, with a twist. Sunplace is a “solar cooking table” designed to not

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green BuildingInhabitat – Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/brilliant-sunplace-table-beams-solar-energy-on-a-cast-iron-cooking-surface
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Hanging highway garden in So Paulo would filter 20% of car emissions

Related: + Triptyque Architecture Via World Architecture News Triptyque Architecture, sao paulo, urban design, Hanging highway garden, green design, reduce emissions, traffic contamination, sustainable design, hanging gardens, green gardens, urban gardens, climate change, clean air initiatives, brazil design, sao paulo architecture, sao paulo urban design

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green BuildingInhabitat – Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/hanging-highway-garden-in-sao-paulo-would-filter-20-of-car-emissions
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Harvard chemist engineers a superbug that converts inhaled CO2 into fuel

Over the past few years, the number of headlines relating to the increasing levels of carbon dioxide emissions have skyrocketed, and it’s pretty much all bad news. However, one scientist has been looking for ways to turn our collective frowns upside down, and now he thinks he’s found it. Harvard Professor of Energy Daniel G. Nocera says he’s engineered a bacterium that inhales CO2 and excess hydrogen, and then turns them into alcohol fuel. Nocera, known as the man who invented...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green BuildingInhabitat – Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/harvard-chemist-engineers-a-superbug-that-converts-inhaled-co2-into-fuel
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Dreamy holiday home by the lake makes the most of a small footprint

Commissioned by a family of five who sought a simple country getaway from Bratislava, the holiday home is sited on an island in the Danube River overlooking beautiful lakeside views. With only 65 square meters to work with, the architects organized the home around a large open-plan central living room and exposes a tall vaulted ceiling to create a sense of spaciousness. Natural light pours into the building through large glazed folding doors that open up to the adjacent lake and extend the footprint...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green BuildingInhabitat – Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/dreamy-holiday-home-by-the-lake-makes-the-most-of-a-small-footprint
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Statue of Liberty, Venice among world heritage sites at risk from climate change

The Statue of Liberty, Venice, Stonehenge, Galápagos islands and Easter Island are among the 31 natural and cultural world heritage sites in 29 countries that are threatened by climate change, according to a new report. Titled "World Heritage and Tourism in a Changing Climate," the study was launched by UNESCO, the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) and the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) at the the UN Environmental Assembly in Nairobi, Kenya. "Globally, we need to better...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green BuildingInhabitat – Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/statue-of-liberty-venice-among-world-heritage-sites-at-risk-from-climate-change
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May 30 Green Energy News

Headline News:

• New Hampshire’s utility siting regulators have extended their deadline for action on the Northern Pass transmission project to September 30, 2017, delaying plans for the $1.6 billion, 192-mile power line by months. Eversource Energy had hoped to get its permits this year. [MassLive.com]

Eversource has proposed to bury 60 miles of the infrastructure in the White Mountain National Forest. Photo placed in the public domain by its author, Ken Gallager. Wikimedia Commons.

• Saudi Arabia’s planned privatizations represent the biggest investment banking opportunity in emerging markets, according to Citigroup. The shakeup of the biggest Arab economy has been unprecedented, as the country seeks to reduce its reliance on oil after prices went low in 2014. [Bloomberg]
• Canada’s status as an “energy superpower” is under threat because the global dominance of fossil fuels could wane faster than previously believed, according to a draft report from a Canadian federal government think-tank. It sees fossil fuels becoming relegated to “minority status.” [CBC.ca]
• After a start to the year it would no doubt rather forget, Hydro Tasmania has revealed that technologies the utility developed for the King Island Renewable Energy Integration Project will be used to help transform the remote, off-grid South Australian township of Coober Pedy. [RenewEconomy]
• The Dlouhe Strane pumped storage plant in the Czech Republic was built to balance electricity demands between day and night, but as renewable sources of energy have taken an increasing share of electricity generation, it now contributes to the stabilization of the power grid. [The Columbian]

For more news, please visit geoharvey – Daily News about Energy and Climate Change.

from Green Energy Times http://www.greenenergytimes.net/2016/05/30/may-30-green-energy-news-3/
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EWG's 2016 best and worst sunscreen lists are outis your favorite listed?

The heat is on, and the sunscreen should be, too. Choosing the best sunscreen for your family is an increasingly challenging task, especially as companies change their formulas every few years. When it comes to the most effective protection against the sun’s harmful UV rays, not all sunscreens are created equally. Fortunately, the Environmental Working Group (EWG) compiles a list of the best and worst sunscreens on the market each year, broken down by products for adults and kids. This year’s...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green BuildingInhabitat – Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/ewgs-2016-best-and-worst-sunscreen-lists-are-out-is-your-favorite-brand-listed
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China's eco-civilization plan calls for 23% forest cover by 2020

Besides the United States, China has done more than any other country to contribute to climate change. But while China's greenhouse gas emissions are rapidly warming the planet, the Asian nation is quickly shifting its focus to climate change mitigation to ensure a sustainable biosphere for future generations. According to a new United Nations report, China plans to build an "ecological civilization" that could be a model for the rest of the world. The eco-civilization project includes an initiative...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green BuildingInhabitat – Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/chinas-eco-civilization-plan-calls-for-23-forest-cover-by-2020
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Slovenia built a habitable structure with latticed wooden bookshelves

The project responds to the Biennale's theme "Reporting from the Front" by functioning like an abstract home doubling as a curated library that allows visitors to explore the concept of dwelling. It is also a nod to the seminal 1956 Patio & Pavilion project Alison and Peter Smithson. Curators Aljoša Dekleva and Tina Gregorič of Dekleva Gregorič Architects conceived an inhabitable wooden structure made of a lattice system of bookshelves that marries public and private space. It creates a temporary...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green BuildingInhabitat – Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/slovenia-built-a-habitable-home-of-latticed-wooden-bookshelves
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President Obama visits Hiroshima, speaks out against nuclear weapons

About 71 years after the United States dropped a nuclear bomb on Hiroshima, Japan, President Obama visited the site and placed a wreath before the cenotaph at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park. It is the first visit by a "sitting U.S. President." Both Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and President Obama delivered speeches, and Obama spoke out against nuclear weapons. According to The Washington Post, Japanese citizens "longed" for a U.S. president to publicly recognize those lost...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green BuildingInhabitat – Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/president-obama-visits-hiroshima-speaks-out-against-nuclear-weapons
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Dreamy holiday home by the lake makes the most of a small footprint

Commissioned by a family of five who sought a simple country getaway from Bratislava, the holiday home is sited on an island in the Danube River overlooking beautiful lakeside views. With only 65 square meters to work with, the architects organized the home around a large open-plan central living room and exposes a tall vaulted ceiling to create a sense of spaciousness. Natural light pours into the building through large glazed folding doors that open up to the adjacent lake and extend the footprint...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green BuildingInhabitat – Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/dreamy-holiday-home-by-the-lake-makes-the-most-of-a-small-footprint
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Finnish pavilion sparks debate about the surge of asylum seekers in Europe

Curated by Marco Steinberg, the Finnish Pavilion takes on a simple and pragmatic boxy shape painted with a blue-white color scheme reminiscent of the country’s flag colors. The pavilion opened its doors last week with conversations that delved into current issues, housing solutions, and pathways to integration. Related: “Refugees Welcome” is the sharing economy’s response to the crisis in Europe “Today, Europe’s challenge is less about building new cities than about transforming...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green BuildingInhabitat – Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/finnish-pavilion-sparks-debate-about-the-surge-of-asylum-seekers-in-europe
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Shed of the Year shortlist includes a crocodile home and Star Wars-inspired shed

There are four finalists in eight categories: Unexpected, Eco, Cabin/Summerhouse, Workshop/Studio, Pub/Entertainment, Budget, Historic, and Unique. The sheds were described by the Shed of the Year's shedblog as "outrageously spectacular" and "extravagant." For some of the sheds, those descriptors are understatements. Related: Solar-Powered 2013 Shed of the Year is Topped With an Old Fishing Boat The Crocodile House, home of an African dwarf crocodile, is just the beginning. The 32 shed...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green BuildingInhabitat – Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/shed-of-the-year-shortlist-includes-crocodile-home-and-star-wars-inspired-shed
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Dreamy holiday home by the lake makes the most of a small footprint

Commissioned by a family of five who sought a simple country getaway from Bratislava, the holiday home is sited on an island in the Danube River overlooking beautiful lakeside views. With only 65 square meters to work with, the architects organized the home around a large open-plan central living room and exposes a tall vaulted ceiling to create a sense of spaciousness. Natural light pours into the building through large glazed folding doors that open up to the adjacent lake and extend the footprint...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green BuildingInhabitat – Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/dreamy-holiday-home-by-the-lake-makes-the-most-of-a-small-footprint
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Zappos redesigns its shoe boxes to be infinitely reusable

With more and more of us now ordering basic goods online, the average person's life is starting to include more cardboard than ever before. Online shoe retailer Zappos has decided to do its part in cutting down on cardboard waste by redesigning its packaging in a truly innovative way. Instead of ending up in a landfill, each box is able to take on a second life as a fun or useful craft project. READ MORE >  

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green BuildingInhabitat – Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/zappos-redesigns-its-shoe-boxes-to-be-infinitely-reusable
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Wilson Solar Grill Stores the Sun's Energy for Nighttime Fuel-Free Grilling

Many of us will be firing up our grills this weekend for some well-deserved barbecue time. After all, barbecuing is one of America's greatest pastimes, but it certainly isn't one of our most environmentally friendly. Whether you prefer charcoal, wood chips

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green BuildingInhabitat – Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/wilson-solar-grill-stores-the-suns-energy-for-nighttime-fuel-free-grilling
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How To: 6 Steps To an Easy and Delicious Summer Fruit Pie

Step One: Make the Pie Dough You can use just about any recipe, but I use a modified version found in Deborah Madison’s Vegetarian Cooking for Everyone. 2 cups organic flour 1/2 teaspoon sea salt 8 tablespoons cold unsalted organic butter (if

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The 'Tower of Souls' Crematorium Would Turn the Ashes of Dead Bodies into Memorial Diamonds for the Structure

The concept behind SIN.studio's Tower of Souls is based on the path between the materiality of our earthly life and the immateriality of the following unknown. The tower consists of two fundamental parts: the Underground and the Overground. The Underground

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green BuildingInhabitat – Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/the-tower-of-souls-crematorium-would-turn-the-ashes-of-dead-bodies-into-memorial-diamonds
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Solar-powered floating home in Portugal generates a year's worth of energy in just six months

Friday offers four different models for Floatwing, each providing different levels of autonomy depending on the type of installed equipment. The best-outfitted Floatwing is for off-grid applications and relies on solar energy, a wastewater treatment plant with advanced tertiary treatment, a mini supply water treatment plant, and stored fuel to achieve self sufficiency. In addition to renewable technologies, Floatwing’s carbon footprint is further reduced through the use of “low environmentally...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green BuildingInhabitat – Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/solar-powered-floating-home-is-perfect-for-romantic-off-grid-adventures
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Agustina Bottoni's Monolithic Brut Barbecue Set is Made From Recycled Coconut Coir

"Brut" is a monolithic stool and barbecue set designed by Agustina Bottoni that is produced by casting a compound of cement and coconut coir (an agricultural waste). Bottoni's low-tech, DIY casting process uses accessible products - most of which are available

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green BuildingInhabitat – Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/agustina-bottonis-monolithic-brut-barbecue-set-is-made-from-recycled-coconut-coir
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12 easy no-bake desserts perfect for satisfying your sweet tooth in summer

Are you looking for a way to satisfy your sweet tooth without turning on the oven? You’re in luck. We’ve whipped up a dozen delicious no-bake dessert recipes perfect for the summer season. These vegan treats—many of which are gluten-free as well—are easy to make and can be stored in the fridge or freezer and served as a chilled snack. Keep reading to see all 12 recipes. READ MORE>

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May 29 Green Energy News

Headline News:

• Venice, Stonehenge, and the Statue of Liberty are among more than two dozen World Heritage sites threatened by climate change, according to a UNESCO report. Emissions from burning fossil fuels are causing the greatest environmental threat facing the sites. [Mashable]

Statues on Easter Island are threatened by rising seas. Photo by Aupaelfary. CC BY-SA 3.0 unported. Wikimedia Commons.

• The US solar market is expected by year’s end to have grown 119% over 2015 numbers, with the number of panels installed providing a whopping 16 GW of power, more than doubling last year’s previous record-breaking 7.3 GW, according to Boston-based GTM Research. [Toledo Blade]
• A glitzy new process, under development at the National Energy Technology Laboratory, uses gold nanoparticles to convert CO2 into usable chemicals efficiently. The breakthrough is “carbon negative” and might lead to an effective industrial-scale way to reduce CO2 emissions. [Energy.gov]
• Saudi Arabia can meet its growing power needs solely through solar projects with energy storage, according to a deputy minister of the Ministry of Economy and Planning. He said at the MENASol 2016 conference, “We should actually put a hiatus on power plants using fossil fuels.” [Utilities-ME.com]
• According to HIS Technology, a US-based economic and energy market research company, Africa’s total solar power capacity, estimated at 312 MW in 2013, grew to 1,315 MW in 2015, and is projected to reach 3,380 MW by 2017, a tenfold increase over a period of four years. [Sierra Express Media]

For more news, please visit geoharvey – Daily News about Energy and Climate Change.

from Green Energy Times http://www.greenenergytimes.net/2016/05/29/may-29-green-energy-news-4/
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Idaho mom built a tiny house for her family and their Great Dane

Macy Miller built her own tiny house in Boise, Idaho, but it isn't just Miller living there - she also shares the space with her kids, partner and one giant dog. Choosing to focus on experiences rather than stuff, the space requires some clever thinking and a few tight squeezes, but the whole gang lives happily together in just 196 square feet. READ MORE >

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green BuildingInhabitat – Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/idaho-mom-built-a-tiny-house-for-her-family-and-their-great-dane
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Floating prefab homes overlook gorgeous river views in Thailand

Though Kanchanaburi is already famous for its floating houses, the X-Float stands out from its predecessors with its distinct design that blends a contemporary aesthetic with vernacular influences. Described as the “volumetric evolution of a raft,” the X-Float is crafted with a lightweight steel frame and clad with fiber cement siding and plywood. The prefab architecture was constructed offsite and then towed in place. Located at a bend of the River Kwai, the floating homes are carefully...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green BuildingInhabitat – Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/floating-prefab-homes-overlook-gorgeous-river-views-in-thailand
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Google and Levi Strauss created a smart jacket that let's you control your phone

Google and Levi Strauss joined together to make a “smart” jacket that looks low-tech, but is literally woven full of technology. The interactive textile features conductive yarns and electronics that lets you use your smartphone without needing to pull it out of your pocket. Need a skip a song? Swipe your sleeve. Imagine how handy this kind of clothing could be while riding a bike or making your way through a crowd. READ MORE >

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green BuildingInhabitat – Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/google-and-levi-strauss-created-a-smart-jacket-that-lets-you-control-your-phone
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How to make edible LEGO jello shot minifigs for your next summer soiree

vegetarian lego, agar agar, agar agar shots, vegan jello, vegan jello shots, vegetarian jello, jello lego, vegan lego pieces, edible lego pieces, edible legos, alcoholic jello, jello shot recipe, vegan snacks, vegan party foods, yuka yoneda

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green BuildingInhabitat – Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/how-to-make-edible-lego-jello-shot-minifigs-for-your-next-summer-soiree
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The ingenious duvet cover trick that will change your life (VIDEO)

Step 1: Turn your duvet cover inside out and lay it flat on your bed so that the opening is at the foot of your bed. Step 2: Next, lay your comforter or blanket on top of your duvet cover and make sure that the corners are all matched up and aligned. Step

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green BuildingInhabitat – Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/the-ingenious-duvet-cover-trick-that-will-change-your-life-video
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8 scrumptious vegan BBQ recipes to enjoy this summer

©woodleywonderworks Teriyaki Grilled Eggplant Grilling eggplant brings out a rich, smokey flavor, making each slice the perfect main dish to eat alone or pile on a bun. Try an Asian twist by adding some home-made Teriyaki Marinade. The porous eggplant will

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green BuildingInhabitat – Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/8-scrumptious-vegan-bbq-recipes-for-summer
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Four stylish green grills for a sustainable Memorial Day

Like many Americans, you may be lighting up the barbecue this holiday weekend — but if you want to set yourself apart from the bands of boring black grills, take a cue from our guide to stylish green grills. From DIY creations to hot spots that also double

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green BuildingInhabitat – Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/four-stylish-green-grills-that-will-make-your-memorial-day-bbq-memorable
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May 28 Green Energy News

Headline News:

• Solar panels are sprouting amongst the corn fields and on the rooftops of Minnesota, and more can be expected soon. At the end of 2015, the state calculated that its solar electric capacity had reached 35 MW. By the end of this year, it projects the total will be 400 MW. [West Central Tribune]

Kandiyohi Power Cooperative solar garden in Minnesota. Photo by Rand Middleton / Tribune.

• A recent decade-long study following the lives of over 6,000 US residents has shed some new light on the connection between air pollution and heart disease. It showed that people living in areas with more outdoor air pollution accumulate deposits in the arteries that supply the heart. [CleanTechnica]
• The main European electricity companies will invest nearly €85 billion over the next four years to speed up their strategic transformation to enable them to deal with the foreseeable drop in coal and gas prices. They plan to focus more on renewable energy and networks. [The Corner Economic]
• According to SUN DAY Campaign analysis of data on the first quarter of 2016, electric generation by wind rose 32.8% from first quarter 2015 and set a new record of 6.23% of total generation. Similarly, electrical generation from utility-scale solar thermal and PVs grew by 31.4%. [North American Windpower]
• Dartmouth College has released a historic report recommending fossil fuel divestment. It provides a full assessment of the pros and cons of fossil fuel divestment, but goes further still by providing a more comprehensive decision analytic approach to divestment. [CleanTechnica]

For more news, please visit geoharvey – Daily News about Energy and Climate Change.

from Green Energy Times http://www.greenenergytimes.net/2016/05/28/may-28-green-energy-news-2/
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Eco-friendly Zagbox snaps together in a pinch for unique multipurpose storage

Title: Zagbox: unique and beautiful containers for display and storage Body: Ikea-style flat pack meets eco-friendly design and simple assembly in Zagbox, which is a line of containers for household objects designed to be beautiful, useful, and environmentally

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green BuildingInhabitat – Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/eco-friendly-zagbox-snaps-together-in-a-pinch-for-unique-multipurpose-storage
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San Francisco's first community-built living wall is a drought-resistant masterpiece

We’re talking about an enormous wall of plants in California, where a severe drought has robbed residents of much-needed water for several years. With that in mind, Goldberg and her team at Planted Design created the 1,200-square-foot living mural from 3,200 native, drought-tolerant plants. The mural also includes an ingenious irrigation system, fed by a 1,350-gallon recirculating rainwater collection tank. Copper gutters and 200 feet of irrigation help keep the plants happy in the midst of a water...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green BuildingInhabitat – Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/san-franciscos-first-community-built-living-wall-is-a-drought-resistant-masterpiece
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Halfbike 2.1 combines all the best things about biking and running

Last year, Halfbike became the most funded vehicle on Kickstarter. Now, after refining and perfecting the original design, they are back with Halfbike 2.1. Combining all the best parts from bike riding, running and scooting, Halfbike is a completely new way to get around. According to the designers, Halfbike "awakens your natural instinct to move" and is as fun for commuting as it is for just riding around. To ride, you stand in a natural walking position, but unlike a bicycle or scooter, you use...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green BuildingInhabitat – Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/halfbike-2-1-combines-all-the-best-things-about-biking-and-running
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Join Building Trust's 2016 workshop for a chance to design + build a new school hall in Sierra Leone

Those looking to gain experience in the field of architecture and humanitarian design will have the chance to partake in a hands-on workshop to design and build a new school hall in Sierra Leone. The project, which has been in development with Building Trust International and We Yone Child Foundation for the past two years, will allow interested participants to gain experience in humanitarian design and several sustainable building techniques and architectural styles. Prospective designers and builders...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green BuildingInhabitat – Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/join-building-trusts-2016-workshop-for-a-chance-to-design-build-a-new-school-hall-in-sierra-leone
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IKEA reaches for net positive energy status in the next four years

IKEA, famed Swedish retailer after our own hearts, is taking a giant leap forward in the sustainability department. The chain has announced its goal to be “all in” to have a net positive impact on the environment with a multi-pronged strategy of renewable energy investments, energy efficiency techniques, emissions reductions in the supply chain. The company will even redesign some products to encourage more eco-friendly behaviors in its customers. The retailer’s efforts earned the company a...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green BuildingInhabitat – Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/ikea-reaches-for-net-positive-energy-status-in-the-next-four-years
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Sparkly clean floating river pool proposed for Australia's polluted Yarra River

Waterway pools have been gaining popularity around the world. From New York City's proposed floating + POOL to river pools already built in Zurich, Berlin, and Paris, people are working around the fact that many city rivers are polluted. One such waterway is the Yarra River in Melbourne, Australia. Non-profit Yarra Swim Co. is working to make the river 'swimmable' once more, and one way they're pursuing those goals is by working with Arup to develop a Yarra Pool. According to Yarra...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green BuildingInhabitat – Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/sparkly-clean-floating-river-pool-proposed-for-australias-polluted-yarra-river
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Foster + Partners' Droneport will launch aerial vehicles to deliver medical supplies in Africa

In their latest project, Foster + Partners switches gears from large-scale airports to something much smaller and unexpected: drones. The international design studio unveiled plans for the Droneport, a transit hub to support unmanned flying vehicles in the delivery of emergency supplies to remote areas in East Africa. Foster + Partners developed the Droneport proposal in collaboration with Afrotech, and has plans to complete the initial three buildings by 2020.

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green BuildingInhabitat – Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/foster-partners-unveils-droneport-proposal-to-help-save-lives-in-east-africa
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Donald Trump vows to nix Paris climate deal and pave way for Keystone XL pipeline

This week, Donald Trump became the presumed Republican nominee in the race to the White House, and almost immediately outlined an energy plan that could radically change the course of history. Speaking at an oil and natural gas conference in North Dakota on Thursday, Trump promised to withdraw the U.S. from the COP21 climate agreement, open up Atlantic offshore oil drilling, and welcome the construction of the controversial Keystone XL pipeline. Effectively, Trump would reverse many key decisions...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green BuildingInhabitat – Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/donald-trump-vows-to-nix-paris-climate-deal-and-pave-way-for-keystone-xl-pipeline
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This Canadian passive house factory was built from its own prefab wood panels

The firm estimates the factory will produce 971 less metric tons of carbon dioxide each year, when compared to a facility built from concrete. A heat-recovery ventilation system and incredibly well-insulated walls help reduce carbon emissions, making the BC Passive House Factory an example of the very ideals it promotes. Screens made from two-by-fours make up the building’s facade, with each side featuring unique spacing between the wood to accommodate its relation to the sun. The firm stated,...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green BuildingInhabitat – Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/this-canadian-passive-house-factory-was-built-from-its-own-prefab-wood-panels
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Toyota Prius has the best gas mileage of any car Consumer Reports has ever tested

While the green car industry has been obsessed with the latest electric cars, like the Tesla Model 3, some mainstays, like the Toyota Prius hybrid continue to shine. Consumer Reports has just revealed that the all-new 2016 Prius has recorded the best gas mileage of any car in publication's history. With a combined 52 mpg rating the all-new Prius outperforms any other hybrid on the market without a plug. Last year Consumer Reports recorded a combined rating of only 44 mpg with the last...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green BuildingInhabitat – Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/toyota-prius-has-the-best-gas-mileage-of-any-car-consumer-reports-has-ever-tested
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'Nightmare' bacteria found in the U.S. resists all known antibiotics

Worry over drug-resistant bugs has been mounting. In China last November, bacteria resistant to "last-resort drug" colistin was detected in pigs and people. Other countries began to research, and Europe and Canada discovered the bacteria as well. Now, government officials announced the first case in the United States. A 49-year-old woman in Pennsylvania went to the doctor for symptoms akin to a urinary tract infection, and did not respond to antibiotics. She had not traveled during...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green BuildingInhabitat – Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/nightmare-bacteria-found-in-the-u-s-resists-all-known-antibiotics
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Affordable Main Stay House in Austin keeps occupants cool without air conditioning

The Mayfair restaurant in London has commissioned four leading florists to create a gorgeous botanical installation that would celebrate the British countryside and reference the ongoing Chelsea Flower Show. The designers used birch, roses, foxgloves and lilies to form different, fairytale-like spaces under one roof. The The Flower Appreciation Society decorated the entrance to the restaurant, designed by James Wyatt in 1779, creating a beautiful passage leading visitors to the reception area....

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green BuildingInhabitat – Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/affordable-main-stay-house-in-austin-keeps-occupants-cool-without-ac
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Mars is emerging from a 400,000 year-old ice age

A new study has found that Mars is emerging from an ice age that ended about 400,000 years ago. While scientists have long believed that the planet has undergone several rounds of ice ages in the past, there have been few physical measurements to actually prove the theory. Now, the journal Science has published the first map of the red planet's ice deposits, along with confirmation of the planet's icy past. Just like Earth, researchers have found that Mars undergoes cycles of planetary...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green BuildingInhabitat – Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/mars-is-emerging-from-a-400000-year-old-ice-age
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5 buildings around the world that memorialize tragic losses of life

9/ll Memorial image © Amanda Silvana Coen for Inhabitat; other images via Daniel Libeskind, Koji Fujii/Nacasa & Partners, 1 Week 1 Project, and jaime.silva on Flickr

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green BuildingInhabitat – Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/5-buildings-around-the-world-that-memorialize-tragic-losses-of-life
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Tom Dixon transforms a 17th-century London church into a chic co-working space

The motivation behind the project began with Baughen’s desire to make the church more available to the daytime residents and creative workforce of Clerkenwell, an area in central London. The temporary intervention also gave Dixon the opportunity to display his new lighting and furniture products against a stunning historic backdrop with soaring ceilings and huge stained glass windows. “As the Church evolves and adapts to the new conditions of the 21st century, the opportunity of opening...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green BuildingInhabitat – Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/tom-dixon-transforms-a-17th-century-london-church-into-a-chic-co-working-space
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Molekule air filter annihilates pollutants at a molecular level

The new molecular air filtration system by Molekule is making big waves with its attention to the tiniest details. Not only does the filter trap nasty pollutants, it completely destroys them at a molecular level, including elements 1000 times smaller than what a HEPA filter can handle. It just might produce the purest air one can hope to have in their home. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j_xXHAyYfqk Using an innovative technology dubbed Photo Electrochemical Oxidation (PECO) the Molekule...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green BuildingInhabitat – Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/molekule-air-filter-annihilates-pollutants-at-a-molecular-level
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May 27 Green Energy News

Headline News:

• Wyoming is the only state with a generation tax. A proposal to raise the tax for wind-generation could disrupt plans to build the massive 3-GW Chokecherry and Sierra Madre project. The proposal would put the wind tax at $3.91/MWh, while coal and gas plants pay $1.77 to $3.49/MWh. [reNews]

Some Wyoming lawmakers want to a tax on the wind to be higher than a tax on coal. Credit: sxc.

• Donald Trump pledged to make the US energy independent by reducing dependence on foreign oil and rolling back environmental regulations restricting oil and natural gas exploration. He vowed to cancel the Paris climate agreement and cut off all US funding for UN climate change initiatives. [CNN]
• Exxon Mobil stockholders passed a proposal to nominate outside candidates to the board with 62% support. The move could affect the company’s decisions on climate change. The New York City Comptroller, fiduciary for five pension funds, filed the proxy access resolution. [Scientific American]
• Solar Power now has more employees than either the Oil & Gas or Coal Extraction industries in the United States. The solar industry employed approximately 208,000 individuals at the end of 2015 versus more than 185,000 in oil and gas, or 190,000 in coal extraction. [Electrek]
• Cutting edge progress in flow battery technology is taking place in such areas as nanotechnology, membrane improvements and membrane-less systems. A more mundane energy storage breakthrough, from a research team at MIT, focuses on a way to eliminate the pumps. [CleanTechnica]

For more news, please visit geoharvey – Daily News about Energy and Climate Change.

from Green Energy Times http://www.greenenergytimes.net/2016/05/27/may-27-green-energy-news-3/
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Leonardo DiCaprio and Arnold Schwarzenegger's foundations team up to combat climate change

Two organizations backed by Hollywood star power recently announced a partnership to pursue climate action. The Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation will give a grant of $650,000 to R20 Regions of Climate Action (R20), started by Arnold Schwarzenegger. According to a statement, the sum will go towards "renewable energy, energy efficiency, and waste management initiatives." Using the grant, R20 will identify green initiatives to benefit people around the world, construct projects, and then...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green BuildingInhabitat – Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/leonardo-dicaprio-and-arnold-schwarzeneggers-foundations-team-up-to-combat-climate-change
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Bosnian retiree handcrafts a stunning VW exterior from over 50,000 pieces of oak

Bojic, a resident of Celinac near Banja Luka, Bosnia, describes his timber car as a “labor of love.” He started with the bodywork of a regular Beetle and then covered it with timber tiling and custom wooden fittings, from a steering wheel to hubcaps, all of which were handmade in his garden workshop. Related: Toyota’s gorgeous Setsuna car is made from 86 handcrafted wooden panels All parts of the bespoke cruiser are fully functional. To top it all off, Bojic wears a custom hat covered...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green BuildingInhabitat – Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/bosnian-retiree-handcrafts-a-stunning-vw-exterior-from-over-50000-pieces-of-oak
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Montreal home expansion adds light and warmth without sacrificing an existing poplar tree

Located in Plateau Mont-Royal, the 1700-square-foot home expansion project was designed with primary consideration to preserving the large poplar rooted in the backyard. The addition would have to maintain respect for the centurion home’s original character while maximizing the space between the existing exterior wall and the root system of the enormous tree, which wasn’t much. It was a tall order, so Microclimat served up a tall solution. The three-level addition rises over the rear garden with...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green BuildingInhabitat – Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/montreal-home-expansion-adds-light-and-warmth-without-sacrificing-an-existing-poplar-tree
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TGH Architects Gives California's Hupomone Ranch a LEED Platinum Upgrade

With a nod toward a traditional barn house, Hupomone Ranch is clad with a peaked two story glass façade, which floods the interior with light while showcasing the rolling hills of the family’s property. On the ground floor, an open plan living room overlooks

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green BuildingInhabitat – Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/tgh-architects-gives-a-leed-platinum-upgrade-to-hupomone-ranch-in-california
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NOAA's LEED Gold marine research facility embodies San Diego's coast

Inspired by the topography of La Jolla Cove, this sustainable marine research facility appears to emerge from the contours of the coast, reshaping the relationship between marine scientists and their environment. An outgrowth of the effort to relocate an existing

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green BuildingInhabitat – Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/noaas-leed-gold-marine-research-facility-embodies-san-diegos-coast
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Multi-use Box Hyperactive sofa can be transformed to suit any space

The Hannabi Urban Nomad Box Hyperactive sofa system is a transforming sofa designed with first-time home buyers, those who move often or those who live in small spaces in mind. Urban Nomad allows for easy variability particularly if living space is at a premium. The four basic elements can be used for sleeping, lounging, having meals on and more - all with the size of a little couch. The mobile back-rest provides stable support while the two sides allow for multiple positions. The Urban Nomad is...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green BuildingInhabitat – Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/multi-use-box-hyperactive-sofa-can-be-transformed-to-suit-any-space
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Husband and wife team designs timeless reclaimed wood structures

Established in 2002 by wife and husband designer-builders, Monica Reskala and Christopher Weiss, MRCW operates a 3200 sq. ft woodshop with extensive inventory of locally and sustainably harvested lumbers. Using mostly reclaimed woods, MRCW is a design & build practice dedicated to crafting beautiful, timeless structures. From architecture to landscape structures to furniture, design and construction go hand in hand, informing one another throughout the process. MRCW departs from a...

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San Francisco nabs significant federal funding for hydrogen and fuel cell efforts

San Francisco's embrace of hydrogen and fuel cell technologies for local transportation just got a big boost from the federal government. The Energy Department's (DOE) Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) will direct nearly $4.5 million in funding for San Francisco's efforts to increase the deployment of fuel cell electric vehicles and hydrogen infrastructure. In addition, Strategic Analysis, Inc. was selected to analyze the cost competitiveness for hydrogen and fuel cell technologies. DOE...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green BuildingInhabitat – Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/san-francisco-nabs-significant-federal-funding-for-hydrogen-and-fuel-cell-efforts
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An undulating brick roof in Iran that's made for walking

The building houses a retail space on the ground floor and offices on the upper level. Its undulating roof meets the pavement and function as a public space where people can walk, sit and play. The retail space invites passers-by to enter the building. Related: Traditional windows transform the facade of Tehran apartment building into art "I don't describe the roof as a staircase because stairs are an element that repeats, but this element has different scenarios, dynamics and qualities...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green BuildingInhabitat – Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/this-undulating-brick-roof-in-iran-is-made-for-walking
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'Kinetic' rooftop garden uses pallets and plants to create the illusion of movement

The Kinetic Garden is located in the heart of Brera district in Milan. Piuarch used pallets to create triangular flower beds and flooring containing four plant species- two varieties of salad in red and green colors and two pansy in orange and blue. The plants are arranged in repetitive straight lines, defining strips of color that create an interesting chromatic effect. Related: Habitat Horticulture completes largest indoor living wall in California The arrangement of plants aims to create...

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Brilliant diamond highway interchange eliminates dangerous lefthand turns

Just about every time we drive, we're forced to make left turns, risking head-on or 90-degree collisions with cars coming from the opposite direction. Left turns are dangerous but taken for granted. Yet this innovative highway interchange design, called a diverging diamond, avoids the hazardous turns altogether. It's been proven to significantly increase safety. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=24jMVZszPTY Diverging diamond interchanges may appear complicated at first glance, but research...

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Chile introduces world's first metro to be powered largely by renewables

Public transportation offers a sustainable alternative to masses of individual automobiles, yet many systems still run on unsustainable power sources. Chile's is particularly extensive: around 2.2 million people ride the Metro de Santiago every day. This week, President Michelle Bachelet announced that the country's mass transit system will soon be 60 percent powered by renewable energy. This is an exciting step for South America's second largest subway system in terms of length. Chile's...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green BuildingInhabitat – Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/chile-introduces-worlds-first-metro-to-be-powered-largely-by-renewables
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Benthem Crouwel Architects named designer of new Paris airport metro station

In Paris, a major expansion project is underway on the city’s metro system. The new Grand Paris Express Ligne 17 is expected to be completed by 2024, and will include nine metro stations on its nearly 17-mile (27 km) route, which will serve two major airports. Société du Grand Paris, the agency overseeing the new metro line, has chosen Benthem Crouwel Architects to design the new metro station at the Charles de Gaulle Airport, which boasts more foreign destinations than any other airport in the...

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Vintage Eichler home receives open and airy remodel that still preserves its roots

Specially known for their reverence for the famed Eichler homes, Klopf Architecture has helped one couple transform their cramped quarters into an open and inviting space. The team was able to give the space more modern flow, while still retaining its vintage appeal.   It was important to both the owners and the Klopf team to honor the Eichler design, but to also bring the space into the 21st century. Much of the original mahogany paneling and courtyard zinc wall panels were preserved, as...

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This solar-powered Green Village in South Africa will be completely car-free

A new project by architecture firm Swisatec will break ground soon in Cape Town, South Africa, where the firm plans to build a self-contained, luxury "Green Village" that is the first of its kind on the entire continent. Taking up approximately 40 hectares of land, the village will contain 1,000 apartment units, as well as all the amenities its residents need to conduct their daily business, including doctors' offices, boutiques, schools, and more. While this may sound like any number of other luxury...

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See inside NYC's first micro apartment building + transforming furniture for tiny spaces

http://inhabitat.com/?s=%22nyc+media%22 + Urban Green + NYC Media

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VIDEO: How to install Voltaic solar panels on your car

In the old days, if you wanted a solar panel, you had to buy one of those giant clunky things that were not only pricey, but also a real pain in the you-know-what to install. But times have changed, thanks to companies like Voltaic Systems who are leading

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Avant-garde school in Chicago will teach kids how to grow their own organic food

Located in Chicago’s Garfield Ridge neighborhood, the AGC is a fast-growing K-8 Public Charter School that will soon welcome a pre-K program. To accommodate its growing student body, AGC hired Studio Gang to design a new campus that eschews traditional schooling for a model that encourages curiosity and embraces natural systems into everyday learning. As a result, the typical boxy classroom is traded for a series of indoor and outdoor learning environments grouped together into “learning neighborhoods”...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green BuildingInhabitat – Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/avant-garde-school-in-chicago-will-teach-kids-how-to-grow-their-own-organic-food
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Four florists filled a London restaurant with luscious botanical art installations

The The Flower Appreciation Society decorated the entrance to the restaurant, designed by James Wyatt in 1779, creating a beautiful passage leading visitors to the reception area. Once they reach the restaurant's Gallery dining room via a staircase decorated with roses and various flowers, visitors can enjoy an area filled with vintage furniture designed by Martin Creed, featuring a wall lined with sketches by artist David Shringley. Related: Artisan Moss’ plant paintings effortlessly bring...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green BuildingInhabitat – Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/four-florists-filled-a-london-restaurant-with-lucious-botanical-art-installations
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May 26 Green Energy News

Headline News:

• More than 8.1 million people worldwide are now employed by the renewable energy industry, a 5% increase from last year, according to the International Renewable Energy Agency. The report said that, while renewables jobs grew, thermal energy sector jobs fell. [reNews]

The wind industry employed 1.1 million workers globally last year (sxc)

• Northern Power Systems, based in Barre, Vermont, said following a strategic review that it would focus on distributed energy including the design, manufacture and sale of distributed wind turbines and integrated microgrid and distributed energy storage solutions. [reNews]
• The price of oil has gone above $50 a barrel for the first time in 2016 as supply disruptions and increased global demand continue to fuel a recovery. The rise followed US data on Thursday showing that oil inventories had fallen, largely due to supply disruptions following fires in Canada. [BBC]
• Solar energy could overtake nuclear ambitions in Saudi Arabia as the kingdom looks to shake up its power sector. At a conference in Dubai, the deputy economic minister said solar is significantly cheaper and also lacked the security risks that come with nuclear power. [The National]
• Echoing the Energy Department’s SunShot initiative goal of achieving grid parity for solar power, a new program from the Energy Department’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory is aiming at making desalination as inexpensive as water from natural sources. [CleanTechnica]

For more news, please visit geoharvey – Daily News about Energy and Climate Change.

from Green Energy Times http://www.greenenergytimes.net/2016/05/26/may-26-green-energy-news-3/
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Despite protests, Poland commences logging in Europe's last primeval woodland

The Polish government has commenced controversial logging in the Bialowieza Forest, home to the European bison and 20,000 other wildlife species. The government claims it is logging to protect the forest, but environmental groups don't buy it. Greenpeace Poland and WWF Poland formally complained to the European Commission. According to Konrad Tomaszewski, national forest director, trees will be chopped down "to stop forest degradation" as a spruce bark beetle has infested some of the...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green BuildingInhabitat – Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/despite-protests-poland-commences-logging-in-europes-last-primeval-woodland
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Light-filled dentist clinic shows how good design can calm patient fears

Like many medical environments, the LeXin dental clinic is dominated by white surfaces that give the interior a hygienic and pristine feel. However, Canon and Mengshu’s design notably departs from the norm with their unusual take on the reception room that looks more like a cozy living room rather than the typical waiting room. Floor cushions, a variety of seating styles, and ample natural light help create a calming home-like environment. Related: Shift Architecture + Urbanism Transforms...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green BuildingInhabitat – Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/light-filled-dentist-clinic-shows-how-good-design-can-calm-patient-fears
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Sustainable high-rise keeps cool in sultry Singapore with passive design and green roofs

The tropical climate and dense urban area of Singapore demand housing that accommodates both factors. Each phase of this project’s planning takes into consideration the need for low-environmental impact cooling needs, down to which direction the buildings face. The Terraces feature apartments facing the distinct bisecting waterway and adorned with rippling Juliet balconies, which mimic casual waves on the buildings’ facades. Related: Sweden’s first round Passive House boasts an innovative...

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A powerful day of global energy leadership — live!

The seventh annual Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM7) will gather energy ministers from the world’s largest and most forward-leaning countries working together to accelerate the global transition to clean energy through high-impact, real-world action.

The Public-Private Action Summit on June 2 will feature keynote speeches, panel discussions and fireside chats with global clean-energy leaders, including energy ministers, corporate executives and others. The livestreamed event will highlight ambitious clean-energy efforts and include new announcements of leadership initiatives, as well as other overall domestic and global clean-energy and climate goals in a post-COP21 world.

Join GreenBiz.com livestream co-hosts Joel Makower and Lauren Hepler, starting at 8:30AM PST for what promises to be an extraordinary day of speakers and conversations.

Sign up now to save your spot and receive a reminder email.  Sign up at http://go.greenbiz.com/kN0NT0V00Jh00JSCOe0V40Y

from Green Energy Times http://www.greenenergytimes.net/2016/05/25/a-powerful-day-of-global-energy-leadership-live/
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DOE Zero Energy Ready Home Program Update: Housing Innovation Awards Reminder!

Applications due June 15th!

Just a reminder that the deadline for submitting Housing Innovation Award applications has been extended to June 15th.  It is recommended you start working on your applications now so you are able to get help if any questions arise.  Remember, you are competing against the best of the best so it is incredibly important that you submit a well thought out and complete application.  

In case you missed the two webinar presentations on applying for the awards, or just want a refresher as you fill out your application, a copy of the presentation is now available on the Housing Innovation Awards webpage.  This webinar will walk you through the application process and give you several insightful tips and successful strategies when applying for the awards.  Housing Innovation Award applications for award winning homes will be used to populate our Tour of Zero, so it is helpful to think about your application like you are building your own tour site.  

Don’t miss this chance to be recognized as one of the nation’s leading builders, delivering the home of the future to American homebuyer’s today!  If you have any questions related to the Housing Innovation Awards or the application process, the Zero Energy Ready Home team is happy to answer them.  You can contact us at 301-889-0017 or via email at zero@newportpartnersllc.com. 

We are excited to see the great homes each of you are building and are looking forward to the Housing Innovation Awards ceremony at the EEBA Conference and Expo in Dallas, TX, September 27^th-29^th. 

Apply Now!

from Green Energy Times http://www.greenenergytimes.net/2016/05/25/doe-zero-energy-ready-home-program-update-housing-innovation-awards-reminder/
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Parabosol is a portable solar-powered water treatment system for remote areas

More than 1 billion people globally lack access to safe drinking water. Parabosol is a portable solar powered water treatment system for use in remote areas. The system purifies water by using parabolic mirror that boils water at a temperature up to 400

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green BuildingInhabitat – Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/parabosol-is-a-portable-solar-powered-water-treatment-system-for-remote-areas
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Tree Vase promotes tree health with an adaptable support system made from bamboo

Trees add much more than a spot of shade and a leafy green canopy to our cities. A healthy urban canopy can help our cities thrive with benefits from reducing the heat island effect to raising property values wherever they’re planted. Unfortunately, many tree guards and grates can compromise the health of the trees and pedestrian safety, which is why National Taipei University of Technology student Wen-Hsien Kuo designed the Tree Vase, a recyclable tree support system constructed from bamboo that...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green BuildingInhabitat – Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/tree-vase-promotes-tree-health-with-an-adaptable-support-system-made-from-bamboo
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Jinja homewares are handcrafted from 100% recycled textile waste

Jinja launches new website and sustainably designed products, Whisper from Nature collection by portuguese designer Norma Silva. Portugal based eco-design producer and studio Jinja has launched a brand new selection of interior products made from 100% recycled textile waste. Portuguese designer Norma Silva founded Jinja in Porto, Portugal in 2012. Jinja designs and produces a wide range of original, handcrafted homewares products made from 100% recycled textile waste. Jinja has a passion for sharing...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green BuildingInhabitat – Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/jinja-homewares-are-handcrafted-from-100-recycled-textile-waste
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Movpak hybrid backpack and electric skateboard is a commuter's dream

Movpak is a funky solution to a common urban commuting problem: how to get you, and all your stuff, to your destination quickly and easily. A hybrid backpack and electric skateboard, Movpak was designed to help commuters with short trips in between other transportation methods—those last few blocks, or miles, between the bus or subway stop and the office, for instance. With an Indiegogo campaign underway and booming, Movpak is skating onward with new ideas about solo transportation. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QmsIitiymCA Movpak...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green BuildingInhabitat – Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/movpak-hybrid-backpack-and-electric-skateboard-is-a-commuters-dream
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