Renovated 1960s A-frame cabin proves that clever design triumphs over square footage

This 1960s A-frame cabin went through a rehabilitation that transformed it into a beautiful home tailored to the needs of its owners. Architect Jean Verville collaborated with the client in creating a compressed dwelling that favors spatial qualities over usable square footage. The architect gutted the entire structure in order to create a space that rejects the monotony of the preestablished organization dictated by the form. The new layout decreased the living area through densification and...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/renovated-1960s-a-frame-cabin-proves-that-clever-design-triumphs-over-square-footage
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This map shows how uninformed Trump's global warming tweet is

If it's cold outside, that proves global warming false, right? That's President Donald Trump's logic, according to his tweet from last night. Vox found a map from Climate Reanalyzer, an effort of the Climate Change Institute at the University of Maine, showing just how incorrect the president is. Right now, North America and Canada are the most unusually cold places on Earth.

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/this-map-shows-how-uninformed-trumps-global-warming-tweet-is
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Thresher sharks die in Massachusetts - likely due to cold shock

Winter is here, and even animals are feeling the impact. The Atlantic White Shark Conservancy responded to calls of two thresher sharks stranded on Massachusetts beaches, and said the sharks likely succumbed to cold shock. Related:

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/thresher-sharks-die-in-massachusetts-likely-due-to-cold-shock
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Universal DNA vaccine could make yearly flu shot a thing of the past

There were 7,000 confirmed cases of the flu in the United States by the end of November - double the amount from the same time the prior year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. University of Washington School of Medicine researchers are hoping to one day offer an alternative to the annual flu shot: a one-and-done DNA vaccine. The vaccine would protect from all flu virus strains - even as the viruses genetically change. Related:

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/universal-dna-vaccine-could-make-yearly-flu-shot-a-thing-of-the-past
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Dutch utilityplans massive windfarm island

TenneT, the primary electric utility company in the Netherlands, is planning to construct a "windfarm island" in the North Sea. This island would serve as an operational hub for a network of nearby offshore wind farms at a facility that would dwarf any current such centers. The plan, already in its advanced stages, proposes Dogger Bank, 125km (78 miles) off the East Yorkshire coast of England, as a potential location for the wind farm island. Once constructed, the hub would transmit electricity...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/dutch-utility-plans-massive-windfarm-island
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Artists are turning the U.S.-Mexico border fence into the worlds longest peace-themed mural

As the Trump administration pushes towards building a new border wall, American and Mexican artists are working to turn the old border fence into an over a mile-long gorgeous mural. Mexican-born, American-educated artist Enrique Chiu is leading a binational effort to turn the fence into a work of art which spreads a message of peace to people crossing the border. Last December, Chiu launched The Mural of Brotherhood, enlisting over than 2,600 volunteers to paint uplifting messages on the...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/artists-are-turning-the-u-s-mexico-border-fence-into-the-worlds-longest-peace-themed-mural
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2017 was the UK's 'greenest year' for energy

The United Kingdom recently marked its greatest year ever for the use of clean energy, breaking 13 national renewable energy records in the process. According to a report by the National Grid, the UK generated more power from renewable sources than fossil fuels for the first time throughout the month of June. Great Britain also achieved its first full 24 hours of electric power without burning coal in April. These and other achievements for the use of renewable energy are the result of years of British...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/2017-was-the-uks-greenest-year-for-energy
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This solar-powered cabin is a dreamy green getaway in the Colorado Mountains

Perched on a rocky cliff at 10,000 feet elevation, the Big Cabin | Little Cabin offers unique views of Colorado’s Sangre de Cristo mountains, the Collegiate Peaks, and the South Platte River. Renée del Gaudio Architecture designed the residence as a pair of solar-powered cabins which capture the essence of traditional cabins through a modern interpretation. A thick forest surrounds the site to the north and offers a sense of privacy and protection to the occupants of the cabin. Gabled roofs...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/this-solar-powered-cabin-is-a-dreamy-green-getaway-in-the-colorado-mountains
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New giant octopus species discovered near Alaska

You wouldn't expect humans to have missed a whole species of giant octopus - but researchers recently revealed that's exactly what we did. The giant Pacific octopus, which is the biggest octopus we know about on the planet, is in reality two species. Alaska Pacific University undergraduate student Nathan Hollenbeck led research to discover what the team is calling the frilled giant octopus.

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/new-giant-octopus-species-discovered-near-alaska
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Chophouse Row mixes modern and vintage in a trendy Seattle pedestrian haven

A recent act of adaptive reuse has produced one of the trendiest hotspots in Seattle. Graham Baba Architects and SKL Architects teamed up to creatively blend old and new into Chophouse Row, a multi-year mixed-use project in Capitol Hill with apartments, offices, restaurants, and retail. A blend of vintage and modern, Chophouse Row has bloomed into a beloved pedestrian haven and an urban redevelopment success story. Completed spring 2015, Chophouse Row densely packs loft office space,...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/chophouse-row-mixes-modern-and-vintage-in-a-trendy-seattle-pedestrian-haven
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Mirrored nativity in Italy invites passersby to reflectliterallyfor the holidays

The holiday season is a time for reflection—a tradition that Italian studio thesignlab took to its literal meaning with the installation of a nativity crib clad in mirrored panels. Located in the center of Tuscany’s Piazza San Michele, the contemporary pavilion’s use of mirrors invites passersby to observe and celebrate the diversity of the people around them. The reflective building, named Welcome Difference, appears to disappear in the historic plaza during the day but calls attention to...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/mirrored-nativity-in-italy-invites-passersby-to-reflect-literally-for-the-holidays
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Memorizing light installation is powered by visitors' collective heartbeat

Related: + Via

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/memorizing-light-installation-is-powered-by-visitors-collective-heartbeat
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China reveals more than 18,000 officials failed to protect the environment

Pollution is synonymous with many of China's major cities. But the past year has seen cleanup efforts like factory closures or an environmental police force in Beijing - and now a national crackdown has revealed more than 18,000 officials either didn't take action or didn't perform well in their jobs to protect the environment since 2016. China's environmental inspection head Liu Changgen told reporters, "We will not let the inspection become a passing gust of wind. It needs to keep blowing all the...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/china-reveals-more-than-18000-officials-failed-to-protect-the-environment
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E-Fan X marks start of electric passenger plane revolution

The E-Fan X is a hybrid electric-jet plane that may herald a new era of electric power in transportation. Designed by a consortium that includes Airbus, Rolls-Royce and Siemens, the E-Fan X will offer partially electric powered flights that are cheaper, quieter, and more sustainable. This breakthrough in energy-transportation technology, which may encourage the growth of short-distance, small-to-medium passenger capacity aircraft, could alter “Aviation has been the last frontier in the electrification...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/e-fan-x-marks-start-of-electric-passenger-plane-revolution
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New 1 km solar expressway opens in Jinan, China

China is getting in on the solar road-building action. Qilu Transportation Development Group developed a one-kilometer, or around 0.6-mile, stretch of solar road near Jinan, the capital city of China's Shandong Province. Quartz said three layers comprise the expressway: the solar panels rest in the middle with insulation below and transparent concrete on top. Related: France officially opens world's first solar panel road

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/new-1-km-solar-expressway-opens-in-jinan-china
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"Garbage emergency" declared in Bali as clean-up unfolds

The Indonesian island of Bali recently declared a "garbage emergency" in response to the overwhelming amount of plastic waste that has floated ashore, spoiling pristine beaches. “When I want to swim, it is not really nice. I see a lot of garbage here every day, every time,” said Vanessa Moonshine, a traveler from Australia, according to 24Matins. Although places in Indonesia have been described as "paradise on earth," the nation of more than 17,000 islands has some work to do to reclaim its...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/garbage-emergency-declared-in-bali-as-clean-up-unfolds
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Scientists warn that the Arctic will never be frozen again

 

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/scientists-warn-that-the-arctic-will-never-be-frozen-again
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The spinning house uses the force of hurricanes to anchor itself to the ground

The Self-Excavation Hurricane House is designed to cleverly use the hurricane’s strength to withstand extreme wind loads. Margot Krasojević Architects designed the building to move with the hurricane, yet provide enough resistance and weight, to dig itself into its own excavated engineered landscape. The house features a helicoid retaining wall along which part of the structure can rotate with the hurricane and thus mobilize its hydraulic pivots. This allows it to burying itself as it turns. The...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/the-spinning-house-uses-the-force-of-hurricanes-to-anchor-itself-to-the-ground
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It took only five hours to assemble this modern prefab house in Spain

It took less than four months to build this modern prefab home in a factory, and only five hours to assemble it on-site in a charming natural setting in Valdés, a small town in the Asturias, northwest of Madrid. Studio [baragaño] designed the Montaña House as a mix between a traditional home and a granary. The designers drew inspiration from the architectural style of traditional residential architecture of the region, as well as granaries built in wood and raised on pillars, typical of the...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/it-took-only-five-hours-to-assemble-this-modern-prefab-house-in-spain
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ZhongAn Tech is developing facial recognition for chickens in China

What if you could stare into the eyes of the organic chicken you'd be eating in a few months? Chinese insurance technology company ZhongAn Technology plans to develop facial recognition so users can check in on chickens they've bought. Their GoGo Chicken program also outfits birds with GPS trackers so people can monitor their future supper's movement in real time. Related:

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/zhongan-tech-is-developing-facial-recognition-for-chickens-in-china
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Cozy timber home embraces the Australian bush with a split form

Moloney Architects completed the Two Halves Home, a striking timber-clad home that takes its name from its two seemingly separated but interconnected pavilions. Located in the bushland of central Victoria, the modern residence was commissioned by owner-builder clients who sought a home that embraced the outdoors and social uses, while maintaining a sense of seclusion and privacy. The resulting light-filled home gives off a contemporary yet cozy feel with large windows that invite the outdoors in. Set...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/cozy-timber-home-embraces-the-australian-bush-with-a-split-form
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Glowing Maggies Center by Steven Holl Architects opens in London

Just in time for the holidays, Steven Holl Architects completed the latest Maggie’s Center, a building the U.S. firm describes as having “a new joyful, glowing presence.” The luminous building at St Bartholomew’s Hospital in London is one in a network of drop-in centers with the charitable purpose of helping anyone who has been affected by cancer. Filled with natural light during the day and lit from within at night, this new Maggie’s Center is a sculptural beauty that takes inspiration...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/glowing-maggies-center-by-steven-holl-architects-opens-in-london
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Elon Musk shares pictures of his red Tesla Roadster ready to blast off to Mars

Leave it to Elon Musk to follow up on a crazy idea. Earlier this month, when he said he'd send his personal red Tesla Roadster to Mars aboard SpaceX's Falcon Heavy rocket, some people wondered if he was joking. But the SpaceX CEO appears to be going through with the plan, and shared images of the electric car aboard the nose cone to launch atop the rocket. Related: Elon Musk is

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/elon-musk-shares-pictures-of-his-red-tesla-roadster-ready-to-blast-off-to-mars
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Resilient infrastructure proposal aims to protect San Francisco Bay from rising sea levels

Related: EPA Grant Will Help Protect New York’s Salt Marshes + Resilient Design Bay Area + SCAPE Landscape Architecture Resilient Design Bay Area, public sediment, SCAPE Landscape Architecture bay area marshes,

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/resilient-infrastructure-proposal-aims-to-protect-san-francisco-bay-from-rising-sea-levels
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Geothermal-powered forever home targets environmental and social sustainability

Japanese influence weaves throughout the stunning Pound Ridge Residence, a luxurious forever home in rural New York designed by Tsao & McKown Architects for an acclaimed international clothing designer and her husband. The strong architect-client relationship spanning the course of 20 years granted the architects design control not just over the architecture, but the landscape, interiors, and custom furnishings as well. Built to target environmental and social sustainability, the timber-framed house...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/geothermal-powered-forever-home-targets-environmental-and-social-sustainability
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Cities in Scotland to start universal basic income trials

Select residents of Glasgow, Edinburgh, Fife, and North Ayrshire will soon begin receiving unconditional monthly payments as part of a Scottish universal basic income experiment. Universal basic income (UBI) is a policy that offers direct unconditional income for all citizens to ensure that everyone benefits from a basic standard of living. It is currently being tested in developed countries like Scotland and has attracted £250,000 (~$334,500)

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/cities-in-scotland-to-start-universal-basic-income-trials
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Historic White House tree to be chopped down

The Jackson Magnolia that has flourished on the White House South Lawn since the 1800s is coming down. Brought by President Andrew Jackson from Tennessee, and said to be planted in memory of his wife Rachel who died not too long after his 1828 election, the tree is slated for removal later this week. According to CNN, First Lady Melania Trump made the call as the tree is reportedly too decayed to stay in place. Related: Via CNN Images via

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/historic-white-house-tree-to-be-chopped-down
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Double whirlpool spotted in nature for the first time

Scientists at the University of Liverpool have observed "double whirlpools" in the natural world for the first time. Until now, the unusual fluid dynamics phenomenon had only been theoretically envisioned.

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/double-whirlpool-spotted-in-nature-for-the-first-time
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This ultra-chic Paris micro studio is part home, part transformer

Related: Cool micro studio in Budapest makes the most out of 344 square feet + Batiik Studio Via Apartment Therapy Photography

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/this-ultra-chic-paris-micro-studio-is-part-home-part-transformer
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Lightweight suspended tree tent can hold a whopping 700 pounds

After many nights with a root or a rock in their backs, the Tentnest team created a tent that could be set up anywhere in just 15 minutes, suspended above the ground and holding up to 330 kg (728 pounds). Related: This hybrid hammock tent lets you float between the trees + Tentnest Kickstarter Tentnest, Tentnest Kickstarter, tent design, floating tents, lightweight tents, tent backpacks,

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/lightweight-suspended-tree-tent-can-hold-a-whopping-700-pounds
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How the world's first floating city could restore the environment

The Seasteading Institute signed a memorandum of understanding with the French Polynesian government earlier this year, and Inhabitat recently spoke with Joe Quirk, co-founder of Blue Frontiers and Seasteading Institute seavangelist to hear more about the vision for the world's first floating city.

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/how-the-worlds-first-floating-city-could-restore-the-environment
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Green-roofed San Francisco townhouse features an indoor swing

Feldman Architecture completed Fitty Wun, a luxury townhouse in San Francisco that embraces the clients’ “work hard, play hard” approach to life. Built for a family with three energetic young boys, the spacious light-filled abode is undeniably stylish yet still offers plenty of room for play—and a fantastic indoor swing. But one of our favorite features of the three-story home is actually an escape from all that excitement: the green-roofed terrace with sweeping neighborhood views. An...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/green-roofed-san-francisco-townhouse-features-an-indoor-swing
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Beautiful Japanese cat tree for design-conscious pet owners costs 1 million yen

Beautiful architecture isn’t limited to humans—architects and designers are creating stunning structures for animals too, including this sculptural piece for the design-conscious cat owner. Designer Yoh Komiyama collaborated with Japanese cat product company RINN to craft the Neko Cat Tree, a beautiful tubular cat tree that’s a far cry from the ugly cat furnishings most are familiar with. Made with quality materials sourced from around the globe, the stylish and functional Neko Cat Tree makes...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/beautiful-japanese-cat-tree-for-design-conscious-pet-owners-costs-1-million-yen
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How to make edible utensils that you can eat after you use (VIDEO)

how to make edible cutlery, make your own edible utensils, make edible utensils, diy edible cutlery, bakeys edible cutlery, bakeys edible spoons, edible spoons, edible utensils, how to make edible utensils, yuka yoneda, inhabitat diy We all know how wasteful plastic utensils can be for the environment, which is why Narayana Peesapaty's edible cutlery made of biodegradable (and delicious) materials has been gaining tons of attention. Peesapaty's Kickstarter campaign has already raised over four...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/how-to-make-edible-utensils-that-you-can-eat-after-you-use-them-video
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DIY: Learn how to make Waldorf-style whole wheat bread at home (VIDEO)

Pint-sized patissier Petey Rojas is back again with a brand new recipe to share! This time, our favorite four-year-old teaches us how to bake delicious Waldorf-style whole wheat bread using just a few simple ingredients (flour, salt, water, yeast). This yummy

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/diy-learn-how-to-make-waldorf-style-whole-wheat-bread-at-home-video
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How to recycle your holiday tree

  As the holidays come to a close, the gifts have been given, the cookies have been eaten, and your holiday tree is more than likely starting to look a little crisp around the edges. It's at this point in the holiday season that the realities

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/recycling-your-xmas-tree
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The world's first vending machine for the homeless just launched - and it's totally free

Homeless people in the United Kingdom can now obtain food or items like socks or toothbrushes at no cost any time of day with a recently installed vending machine. New charity Action Hunger aims to work alongside existing charities tackling the issue of homelessness with the vending machines that can offer necessities at hours when charities may not be operating. The charity has plans to expand across the UK and to New York City in early 2018. Related:

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/the-worlds-first-vending-machine-for-the-homeless-just-launched-and-its-totally-free
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How to reuse and recycle your post-holiday waste

Want to get a P.H.D. in what to do with your P.H.W.? (That's short for post-holiday waste in case you didn't know.) While you may not have heard of the term (we kind of just made it up), we're pretty sure you know what we're talking about - the crumpled wads

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/what-to-do-with-all-that-stuff-after-christmas
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7 Luminous, Lantern-Like Houses that Glow in the Dark

Cherry Tree House by Tom Hare Acclaimed willow sculpture Tom Hare recently completed an enchanting glowing tree house built atop an old cherry tree. The spherical, nest-like structure is woven from willow sticks and lights up at night to cast an ethereal

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/7-luminous-lantern-like-houses-that-glow-in-the-dark
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6 ways to make your life more "Hygge" - the Danish secret to happiness

Unless you are from Denmark, the concept of “hygge” was likely foreign to you until recently. In the past few years, however, this idea of “cozying around” has gained serious traction and with good reason. In this big, loud, harsh world, many of us are desiring a return to good company, simple pleasures, and mindfulness for the moment. While some retailers are looking at hygge as a trend, it actually been around for centuries (originally by way of Norway) and is integral to Danish culture,...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/6-ways-to-make-your-life-more-hygge-the-danish-secret-to-happiness
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Architects experiment with terracotta in the fight against climate change

There are several reasons architects have drawn on terra cotta for thousands of years, according to the University at Buffalo: the building material is durable, breathes, offers a natural system to transfer water and heat, lasts for hundreds of years, and can be sculpted, transforming buildings into artwork. Now, architects are exploring a new reason to turn to terra cotta: to combat climate change. Ceramicists, engineers, and architects converged on Buffalo this year for the Architectural Ceramic...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/architects-experiment-with-terracotta-in-the-fight-against-climate-change
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Super-insulated modern log cabin withstands frigid Finnish winters in style

Winters in Finland can plunge to a freezling -22 degrees Fahrenheit, but those chilling temperatures are no match for this well-insulated log cabin. Crafted by Helsinki-based company Pluspuu, this Log Villa on the Coast was commissioned as a client’s second home on the Turku coast. The light-filled abode harnesses geothermal energy for heating and cooling, and boasts superior insulation as well as triple-glazed windows. Built by Ollikaisen Hirsirakenne Oy with the latest Finnish...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/super-insulated-modern-log-cabin-withstands-frigid-finnish-winters-in-style
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OLIO launches revolutionary food sharing app to reduce waste

Two London-based entrepreneurs have created OLIO, an online aim that seeks to reduce food waste through social networking. After creating an account, OLIO users can upload photos and descriptions of foods, such as extra vegetables, surplus canned goods, or leftover meals, that they wish to share. Since launching in early 2016, OLIO has gained 322,000 users, with more than 400,000 food transactions made on the app. A third of OLIO's regular users are from low-income households. OLIO co-creator

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/olio-launches-revolutionary-food-sharing-app-to-reduce-waste
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Consumers in Germany were paid to use electricity this holiday season

The cost of electricity in Germany has decreased so dramatically in the past few days that consumers have actually been paid to use power from the grid. While this "negative pricing" is not the norm in Germany, it does occur from time to time, as it did this holiday weekend.

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/consumers-in-germany-were-paid-to-use-electricity-this-holiday-season
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New Arval HQ uses geothermal and solar energy to achieve complete power self-sufficiency

The new headquarters for car rental company Arval uses geothermal and solar energy to achieve complete self-sufficiency and a zero-emission status. Pierattelli Architetture designed the new building, named Photovoltaic Bolt, which features huge photovoltaic wings with flexible solar panels installed on a lightweight steel structure. The architects designed the headquarters as a Climate House Class A building without emissions. The complex is characterized by huge photovoltaic wings with about...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/new-arval-hq-uses-geothermal-and-solar-energy-to-achieve-complete-power-self-sufficiency
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Hot electron research could open up greater efficiencies for solar energy

Hot electron research is heating up solar and renewable energy research, according to the Department of Energy's Argonne National Laboratory. Nanoscientists there uncovered faster ways to convert power from light to energetic electrons - which could allow for higher efficiencies for solar power. created hybrid nanomaterials - smaller than the width of human hair - Related:

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/hot-electron-research-could-open-up-greater-efficiencies-for-solar-energy
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Delightful climbing 'trees' let budding adventurers safely play to their heart's content

Related: + Via

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/delightful-climbing-trees-let-budding-adventurers-safely-play-to-their-hearts-content
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This lawyer wants Big Oil to pay for climate change

Steve Berman is perhaps best known for winning a $206 billion settlement from tobacco companies in the 1990s, although he's taken on big companies like Enron and Volkswagen. Now he's setting his sights on fossil fuel companies. Vice spoke to Berman about his lawsuit demanding five of the most powerful oil companies in the world pay for causing climate change.

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/this-lawyer-wants-big-oil-to-pay-for-climate-change
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Canadas newest funicular makes one of North Americas largest urban parklands more accessible

Edmonton wants you to see it from a new point of view—literally. The Canadian city recently launched a $24 million funicular that links the valley floor to a 20-meter cantilevered lookout with sweeping views of the North Saskatchewan River. Clad in the eco-friendly timber material Kebony, the cable-mechanized incline elevator designed by Canadian firm Dialog Architects taps into an old yet charming transit method in hopes of boosting tourism and access to the Edmonton River Valley, one of North...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/canadas-newest-funicular-makes-one-of-north-americas-largest-urban-parklands-more-accessible
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Chinas first magazine library is housed in a renovated Beijing hutong

Local architects Fon Studio breathed new life into a Beijing hutong, converting the historic residence into a chic neighborhood library claimed to be the nation’s first magazine library. Located next to a picturesque man-made canal, the Spring Whispers Book Club is an adaptive reuse project that preserves parts of the original structure while injecting an undeniably contemporary vibe. Nestled within Dongcheng District, Spring Whispers Book Club is set within a historic Beijing neighborhood...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/chinas-first-magazine-library-is-housed-in-a-renovated-beijing-hutong
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10 ways to have a green Christmas this year

1. Make your own recycled gift wrap:  Did you know that some Christmas gift wrapping isn't even recyclable? Keep bags of trash out of the landfill by creating your own simple gift wrap from recycled shopping bags or brown kraft paper.  You can also spruce

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/10-ways-to-have-a-green-christmas-this-year
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Artist transforms parents home into a gingerbread house for Hansel & Gretel

The home’s frosting and peppermint candy details were fashioned by hand out of lightweight foam board, expertly painted to give depth to the project. Nylon rope was tied together and stretched across the rooftop to give the appearance of icing, as well. Related: Artist transforms parents' home into the ultimate monster house Neighbors say the home is truly a sight to behold, especially with its nighttime spotlights. The photo of the home may be edited to remove neighboring homes and utility...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/artist-transforms-parents-home-into-a-gingerbread-house-for-hansel-gretel
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Scientists hypothesize why earthquakes happen where they shouldn't

Scientists at the University of Kentucky and the University of Memphis may have learned why earthquakes often occur in places far from the boundary of any tectonic plate, where earthquakes are usually expected. The slow, steady grind of tectonic plates and the tension released by tectonic activity

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/scientists-hypothesize-why-earthquakes-happen-where-they-shouldnt
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First public ultra-fast EV charging station in Europe is now operational

An utra-fast electric vehicle (EV) charging station that just opened in Germany can offer EVs a range of 100 kilometers, or around 62 miles, in a snappy five minutes. It's the first public station with the super fast chargers in Europe. Four cars can be charged at the same time at the station at 175 kilowatts. Related:

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/first-public-ultra-fast-ev-charging-station-in-europe-is-now-operational
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The farmers growing food across frigid northern latitudes

Although frost has arrived in most subtropical regions of the world, farmers still carry on even in the most extreme cold climates with the help of innovative technology and thoughtful design. Polar Permaculture Solutions of Norway and the Inuvik Community Greenhouse and Arctic Greens project of Alaska are examples of defiant, determined agriculture in the Arctic. With features such hydroponic systems, insulated greenhouses, and compost-warmed geodesic domes, these farms are far from frozen despite...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/the-farmers-growing-food-in-frigid-northern-latitudes
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Two protective layers keep this angular house in Chile cool in the summer

The angular Two Skins House, designed by architect Verónica Arcos, is enveloped in two layers which maintain stable temperatures throughout the year. Perched on high cliffs north of Santiago, capital of Chile, the house features generous openings that offer views of the Pacific Ocean. The house has a simple rectangular plan and faceted walls that add drama to the space. Dark pine planks used as cladding add more variation to the exterior surfaces. Pine and other wooden structural panels were...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/two-protective-layers-keep-this-angular-house-in-chile-cool-in-the-summer
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NASA picks two finalists for exciting new robotic mission

NASA is planning a robotic mission for the mid-2020's, and they've chosen two finalists for where that mission might venture. One option could snag a sample from a comet nucleus. The other could land on Saturn's moon Titan - which scientists think holds an ingredient for life and also has enough energy resources for a United States-sized colony. Related:

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/nasa-picks-two-finalists-for-exciting-new-robotic-mission
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Shanghai flying car tower to clean the air with a 50,000-plant vertical forest

Flying cars are moving from the realm of science fiction to reality - and Richard's Architecture + Design (RA+D) helmed by architect Richard Moreta Castillo has already designed a tower pioneering drone car infrastructure. The Smart Power Long tower, a condominium building planned for Shanghai, features landing pads for flying cars. The futuristic concept is super green, according to RA+D, and will feature a vertical forest in which 50,000 trees and shrubs can scrub the skies.

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/shanghai-flying-car-tower-to-clean-the-air-with-a-50000-plant-vertical-forest
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New York delivers huge blow to the fossil fuel industry

New York just sent a big message to the fossil fuel industry. The state is freezing all fossil fuel investments and turning to renewable energy instead - and they are divesting almost $400 billion in public pension funds from fossil fuel holdings, according to Grist. Governor Andrew Cuomo's statement said the New York Common Fund has nearly $1 billion invested in ExxonMobil alone - but his office described such investments as risky "as both New York State and the world back away from the use of fossil...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/new-york-delivers-huge-blow-to-the-fossil-fuel-industry
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Whimsically windswept cabin-like kiosks are designed to soothe urban stress

A trio of tilted cabin-like kiosks is inviting visitors to escape the stresses of urban life in Mount Royal Park, the most frequented park in Montreal. Atelier Urban Face designed the three minimalist kiosks in the image of a hamlet to encourage congregation. Each building’s dramatically tilted shape is a playful expression of wind strength. Atelier Urban Face sought to create an artistic refuge that would complement the landscape. “They are not only respectful of the mountain,...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/whimsically-windswept-cabin-like-kiosks-are-designed-to-soothe-urban-stress
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Enchanting Christmas tree nursery is made from 16,000 recycled drink cartons

A glowing Christmas wonderland has popped up in Hong Kong with an inspiring environmental story. Local studio AaaM Architects transformed 16,000 recycled drink cartons into a festive Christmas tree nursery aimed at raising environmental awareness and promoting recycling. Named ‘Jungle All the Way’, the collection of 36 festive trees was created with the help of over 1,600 primary school students and is located in the courtyard of a revitalized heritage building. The 16,000 recycled...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/enchanting-christmas-tree-nursery-is-made-from-16000-recycled-drink-cartons
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Creative DIY gifts you can make yourself

Making your own DIY gifts this holiday season is a smart way to ensure that your gift will be one-of-a-kind, and it doesn’t hurt that it’ll probably save you some cash too. We've rounded up a list of cool and creative homemade presents for the 2014 holiday

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/20-creative-diy-gifts-you-can-make-yourself
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Canadian TV host facing backlash after bragging about killing a cougar

A Canadian TV host is being met with outrage after bragging about killing a cougar. The Edge host Steve Ecklund shot the cougar in Northern Alberta and posted photos of it on his Facebook page earlier this month. Later, he posted photos of cooking the cougar's meat. Now, people are calling Ecklund out on social media as he defends his decision. https://www.facebook.com/steve.ecklund.1/posts/1586156528127389?pnref=story Related: via CBCNews

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/canadian-tv-host-facing-backlash-after-bragging-about-killing-a-cougar
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Our solar system is now tied with Kepler-90 system for number of planets circling a star

Eight planets circle our sun (sorry, Pluto), but our solar system is no longer unique in that number. NASA recently announced the discovery of an eighth planet circling the star Kepler-90, tying our solar system with that one for number of planets. Machine learning from Google helped researchers discover Kepler-90i, a rocky, hot planet that orbits Kepler-90 every 14.4 days. Related:

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/our-solar-system-is-now-tied-with-kepler-90-system-for-number-of-planets-circling-a-star
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Artist turns golden leaves of Sacramento Gingko tree into inspiring works of art

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from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/artist-turns-golden-leaves-of-sacramento-gingko-tree-into-inspiring-works-of-art
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France completely bans fracking and oil extraction

The French Parliament recently passed into law a complete ban on the extraction of oil and gas within any of France's territories. Beginning in 2040, fracking, oil drilling, and other extraction methods will be banned across France. Meanwhile, no new permits to extract fossil fuel in France will be given. Although this law highlights France's commitment to take action against climate change, it is primarily a symbolic gesture. France imports 99% of the oil and gas that it consumes, extracting only...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/france-completely-bans-fracking-and-oil-extraction
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US to lift restrictions on making viruses deadlier and stronger

The United States National Institute of Health (NIH) announced on Tuesday that it will soon be ending a three-year moratorium on funding research projects that aim to make pathogens more powerful than they are naturally. The restrictions were put in place during the Obama Administration while the NIH created a more comprehensive system of risk-benefit analysis for the research. Now that such a system has been developed, the NIH is moving forward with its plans to develop more dangerous forms of deadly...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/us-to-lift-restrictions-on-making-viruses-deadlier-and-stronger
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Spend the night in this magical Hobbit House tucked into the Washington shire

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from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/spend-the-night-in-this-magical-hobbit-house-tucked-into-the-washington-shire
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Oiio Oto transportation pods that climb buildings - the solution to LA traffic?

  https://vimeo.com/242527121

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/oiio-oto-transportation-pods-that-climb-buildings-the-solution-to-la-traffic
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Gorgeous green-roofed studio features a rainwater reflecting pool

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from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/gorgeous-green-roofed-studio-features-a-rainwater-reflecting-pool
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Boeing to reveal mysterious space plane of the future

Boeing is set to release a new plane that the company claims to be "the future of air power." In a video posted on Twitter, Boeing, one of the largest aircraft manufacturers in the world, offered a glimpse of its new creation, which seemed to bear some resemblance to the Batmobile. The plane is being developed by Phantom Works, Boeing's advanced design division, and is being kept tightly under wraps until its to-be-announced reveal date. However, rumor has it that Boeing's new aircraft may be suited...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/boeing-to-reveal-mysterious-space-plane-of-the-future
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Gorgeous copper-clad home celebrates craft in the Pacific Northwest

Boasting lakeside views and a strong attention to craftsmanship, the Brook Bay Residence is a gorgeous luxury home nestled on Washington’s Mercer Island. Architect Rick Sundberg, currently Principal at Sundberg Kennedy Ly-Au Young (SKL) Architects, designed this two-story residence that embraces the outdoors yet preserves client privacy. Copper and dark-stained cedar wrap around the handsome home that’s filled with high-end materials and the clients’ extensive art collection. Located...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/gorgeous-copper-clad-home-celebrates-craft-in-the-pacific-northwest
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Clever switches use your OCD tendencies to save electricity

Do you have a habit of forgetting to turn off the lights? Thai designer Pakaporn Teadtulkitikul has a smart solution for those of us with obsessive-compulsive tendencies. Meet the OCD Switch, a clever light switch that takes advantage of our preference for pattern and symmetry to encourage users to turn the lights off and save electricity. When turned on, the switch is visually misaligned with its background, only to be set back in its proper place once turned off. Winner of a 2017...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/clever-switches-use-your-ocd-tendencies-to-save-electricity
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Architects use local materials to turn an abandoned resort in Beijing into a remarkable hotel

This renovation project undertaken by SYN Architects turned an abandoned resort estate in Beijing into a high-end luxury hotel that emphasizes the surrounding natural scenery and amplifies the sensation of “natural wilderness”. The Creek Park Hotel was built using locally sourced natural materials such as firewood, pebble stone and wood. The hotel is located in Beijing’s Pinggu District, 15km away from the Jinhai Lake International Resort’s Area. It replaces an abandoned resort...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/architects-use-local-materials-to-turn-an-abandoned-resort-in-beijing-into-a-remarkable-hotel
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Boston just officially banned single-use plastic bags

Boston just became Massachusetts' 60th town to pass a ban on plastic bags. Mayor Martin Walsh recently signed the measure that will go into effect next December. And a statewide ban proposal is pending before the legislature. Related:

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/boston-just-officially-banned-single-use-plastic-bags
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11 buy-nothing gifts of time

Giving someone a great gift they'll really treasure doesn't mean dropping a ton of cash. Sometimes the best gift you can give a friend or loved one is something much less tangible: your time. This year skip the store-bought gifts and give your loved ones a

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/11-green-gifts-of-time-to-celebrate-the-holiday-season
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Tiny treadmills for turtle hatchlings help scientists evaluate their stamina

When baby sea turtles are born, within their first 24 hours they make the journey from the nest to the ocean. The trek which should take a few minutes sometimes lasts a few hours in urban settings where artificial light can disorient the hatchlings. Florida Atlantic University scientists employed wee treadmills and little swimsuits to dig into the turtles' swimming performance after crawling for so long - and they were surprised by what they found. Related:

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/tiny-treadmills-for-turtle-hatchlings-help-scientists-evaluate-their-stamina
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"Microplastics have been found in mussels everywhere scientists have looked"

Mussels might serve as a global "bioindicator of microplastic pollution," Chinese researchers suggested last year, as the creatures remain in the same area, unlike fish, and reside on the seabed where plastics can end up. They might have been right - a new study from the Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA) uncovered plastic in 76.6 percent of individual blue mussels. Reuters pointed to other studies where researchers found microplastics near China, Belgium, Britain, Canada, and Chile -...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/microplastics-have-been-found-in-mussels-everywhere-scientists-have-looked
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Scientists discover that exploding stars impact weather on Earth

Researchers at the Technical University of Denmark have learned that the cosmic rays emitted when stars explode have a measurable impact on weather patterns on Earth. Supernovae, which occur at the very end of a star's life and result in a massive explosion, discharge ions, which affect cloud formation upon reaching Earth's atmosphere. As cloud formation increases, weather on Earth becomes cooler. “Finally we have the last piece of the puzzle explaining how particles from space affect climate...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/scientists-discover-that-exploding-stars-impact-weather-on-earth
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Beautifully renovated Norwegian cottage combines old and new under one pitched roof

Local craftsmen carried out every part of the renovation of this fifty-year-old cottage designed by architect Atle Sørby. Norwegian design studio bark arkitekter took on the task of redesigning the building in a way that balances the relationship between modern functional requirements and original architecture. Selestranda House occupies a relatively flat site surrounded by long sloping fields, dunes and beaches, separated only by narrow roads and old drystone walls. It features a pitched roof...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/beautifully-renovated-norwegian-cottage-combines-old-and-new-under-one-pitched-roof
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The most powerful micro-scale biological solar cell ever created

Two Binghampton University scientists designed a small biological solar cell that could be useful for lab-on-a-chip devices, which are typically a few square centimeters in size. Their solar cells generate a greater power density for a longer period of time than other similar cells, making them the most powerful ones we've created. Related: This living solar wallpaper harvests energy thanks to photosynthesis

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/the-most-powerful-micro-scale-biological-solar-cell-ever-created
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Futuristic art center in China has detachable rooms that can bike around town

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from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/futuristic-art-center-in-china-has-detachable-rooms-that-can-bike-around-town
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Hundreds of dead sharks wash up on the shores of the Persian Gulf

Officials in Iran came across a gruesome sight this week: hundreds of dead sharks washed up on shore. The cause isn't some natural phenomenon, though. Hunters capture the sharks, saw off the fins and toss them back into the water, where they get caught up in currents and eventually wind up on land. Hossein Delshab, an official in the city of Bushehr, told a local new agency that hundreds of dead sharks had recently washed up on the shores of Shif island, raising "an alarm about the extinction...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/hundreds-of-dead-sharks-wash-up-on-the-shores-of-the-persian-gulf
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Jaw-dropping hotel made of ice and snow opens in Sweden

ICEHOTEL is back and it’s as magical as ever. Located 200 kilometers north of the Arctic Circle in the Swedish village of Jukkasjärvi, this ephemeral hotel of ice and snow is rebuilt every winter for a few spectacular months and its unique luxury suites sculpted by select artists from around the world. From sleeping in a giant Fabergé Egg to the arms of King Kong, the experiences and incredible artistic skill of these individually themed rooms are guaranteed to send a chill up your spine. Now...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/jaw-dropping-hotel-made-of-ice-and-snow-opens-in-sweden
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Thousands of tomato-sauce jars to turn into tomato architecture at Mutti

An endless red waterfall of tomatoes will wow visitors at the new headquarters for Mutti, one of the world’s leading tomato brands, that processes 300,000 tons of the fleshy vegetables every year. Carlo Ratti Associati just unveiled their competition-winning designs for the new masterplan and factory in Italy that playfully taps into something they call “tomato architecture.” In addition to the public viewing areas for the live processing of tomatoes—up to 5,500 tons per day—the visitor...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/thousands-of-tomato-sauce-jars-to-turn-into-tomato-architecture-at-mutti
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Gorgeous home overlooking Sea of Galilee has sun-shielding sliding facade

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from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/gorgeous-home-overlooking-sea-of-galilee-has-sun-shielding-sliding-facade
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Manta5's new electric water bike lets you cycle on rivers and lakes

Forget about biking on boring old roads. New Zealand-based Manta5 designed a hydrofoil bike that allows cyclists to glide atop water. Equipped with a battery and quiet 400-watt electric motor and battery, the Hydrofoiler XE-1 is poised to make a splash in the cycling world. Related:

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/manta5s-new-electric-water-bike-lets-you-cycle-on-rivers-and-lakes
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Renewable energy could face tax problems in Republican compromise

Renewable energy advocates initially breathed a sigh of relief when the Republican tax bill reworked a provision that could have disrupted the industry's $12 billion tax-equity market, Bloomberg reported. But a closer look reveals the bill includes what the publication described as "hidden pitfalls that could undercut its benefit." Law firm Stoel Rives partner Greg Jenner told Bloomberg, "If Congress thought they were eliminating the trouble for renewables, they were wrong. It's a question of how...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/renewable-energy-could-face-tax-problems-in-republican-compromise
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How fungi made Earth's atmosphere livable - new study

Fungi played a very important part in creating an atmosphere suitable for animal life by symbiotically supporting early plants to extract minerals from rocky soil. The earliest plants to dwell on land did not have well developed roots or vascular systems. Fungi, among the earliest colonizers of land, then facilitated the transfer of phosphorus from the rocky soil to the primitive plants, which required the mineral to photosynthesize. "The results of including data on fungal interactions present...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/how-fungi-made-earths-atmosphere-livable-new-study
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Firefighter's self-built tiny house is an earthship on wheels

Steve's 140-square-foot house was built as part of a weekend workshop in collaboration with Vancouver tiny house builder Ben Garrett.Steve, a firefighter from Edmonton, Canada is doing in his Earthship-inspired tiny home on wheels https://youtu.be/8iJicC_69q8 Steve decided to install an incinerating toilet in the bathroom. Hot water comes via a propane-powered on-demand water heater.The home has been designed to be flexible with its hook-ups: it can go off-grid if Steve purchases...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/firefighters-self-built-tiny-house-is-an-earthship-on-wheels
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Floating solar rig from Columbia University harvests hydrogen fuel from seawater

Engineers at Columbia University have created a "solar fuels rig," which floats on the ocean, captures solar energy, then uses that energy to extract hydrogen from the seawater. Hydrogen is a clean source of energy, though methods to extract it have often proven too costly or energy intensive to be viable. A typical hydrogen extraction system uses water electrolysis, in which H2 and O2 are separated by sending an electric current through water and divided by a membrane, which is usually very delicate....

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/floating-solar-rig-from-columbia-university-harvests-hydrogen-fuel-from-seawater
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This Iowa home built across a ravine is heated and cooled by the earth

The Ravine Residence spans a ravine in rural Iowa, providing expansive views of the surrounding forest. Architecture studio BNIM designed it as a way to connect its inhabitants to nature and provide optimum privacy using existing topography and vegetation. The house is tucked away in a heavily wooded area in rural Iowa that required a dramatic solution which would span the ravine running down the middle of the site. The entrance and bedrooms are located on opposite banks, and the primary living...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/this-iowa-home-built-across-a-ravine-is-heated-and-cooled-by-the-earth
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INTERVIEW: How one man is fighting to save the world's last living root bridges

INTRO What piqued your interest in botanical architecture? As long as I can remember, I’ve always had a strong interest in historical architecture. I love old forts, palaces, and ruins. Then, after travelling to Northeast India as part of a university study abroad in 2009, I became fascinated with the tribal cultures of that region. The root bridges at the time seemed like a sort of intersection of these two interests. But, frankly, before I visited the Khasi Hills, in the...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/interview-how-one-man-is-fighting-to-save-the-worlds-last-living-root-bridges
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All of Toyota's cars will be either hybrid or fully electric by 2025

Toyota has concentrated mainly on hydrogen fuel cell vehicles and hybrid cars instead of electric vehicles. But the company made a big announcement in Tokyo this week: every Toyota and Lexus model will be available fully electric or with an electric option in just around eight years. They're shooting for sales of 5.5 million electrified vehicles by around 2030. Related:

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/all-of-toyotas-cars-will-be-either-hybrid-or-fully-electric-by-2025
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Old stables morph into a curvy eco-conscious home

Minimal environmental impact was a guiding design principle behind True North, a home built from the bones of 19th century horse stables and a decaying midcentury cottage. Designed by Melbourne-based TANDEM Design Studio, the quirky two-story home takes its sinuous shape from a challenging triangular site. A seamless curving steel skin wraps around the home in a continuous pleated loop. Named after its sunny corner site, True North was built for an architect and his family with a...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/old-stables-morph-into-a-curvy-eco-conscious-home
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Spectacular green roof tops Vancouvers double LEED Platinum convention center

Vancouver’s stunning convention center doesn’t shy away from breaking records—not only is the building home to Canada’s largest green roof, but it also recently became the world’s first double LEED Platinum-certified convention center. Designed by LMN Architects, Vancouver Convention Centre West—possibly the world’s “greenest” convention center—is a spectacular example of eco-credentialed architecture that aims to restore the area’s ecology through beautiful and engaging design....

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/spectacular-green-roof-tops-vancouvers-double-leed-platinum-convention-center
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The world's first 100% solar-powered train launches in Australia

A train entirely powered by solar energy is now rolling down tracks in Byron Bay, Australia. The Byron Bay Railroad Company refurbished a three-kilometer, or almost two-mile, stretch of tracks and restored a heritage train, outfitting it with a 6.5 kilowatt solar array with flexible solar panels. A limited service launched over the weekend, with full service commencing in January. Related:

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/the-worlds-first-100-solar-powered-train-launches-in-australia
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'Water cremation' plans paused over fears liquefied remains could get in water system

The funeral industry could benefit from more environmentally friendly options. But water companies in the United Kingdom have balked at one cremation alternative. Sandwell Council was working with UK-based Resomation to offer what's called water cremation when the water firm covering the region refused them a permit. Regulation body Water UK said, "It is the liquefied remains of the dead going into the water system. We dn't think the public will like the idea." Related: 'Green Cremation...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/water-cremation-plans-paused-over-fears-liquefied-remains-could-get-in-water-system
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BP revisits clean energy commitment with $200 million solar investment

Oil giant BP has invested $200 million to acquire partial ownership of a solar power developer. BP's investment in British-based Lightsource is a return to form for a company that once prided itself on progressive commitments to clean energy. Prior to the devastating 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill, BP had invested billions in renewable energy, spoke openly and frequently about the dangers of climate change, and even went so far as to rebrand as "Beyond Petroleum." After a lull in clean energy action,...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/bp-revisits-clean-energy-commitment-with-200-million-solar-investment
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All 16,000 of this Chinese megacity's bus fleet will be electric by year's end

Shenzhen, China - home to more than 11 million people - rolled out a pilot of electric buses all the way back in 2011, before many other cities. Even so, they had thousands of buses running on diesel until recently - but by the end of 2017, the megacity's entire fleet of buses will be electric.

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/all-16000-of-this-chinese-megacitys-bus-fleet-will-be-electric-by-years-end
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Carnivorous marsupial alive and well after being presumed extinct for 100 years

A carnivorous marsupial thought to be extinct in the region for a century has been found alive in the Australian state of New South Wales. The crest-tailed mulgara, one of two mulgara species, is known to have endured in the arid region of Central Australia. Its discovery in Sturt National Park near the northwest corner of New South Wales is a surprise, considering that the crest-tailed mulgara's presence in the region was previously limited to fossilized bone fragments. Documenting the crest-tailed...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/carnivorous-marsupial-alive-and-well-after-being-presumed-extinct-for-100-years
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Green-roofed 2022 Winter Olympic center echoes the surrounding ski slopes

The new Four Season Town Reception Center in Beijing mimics the surrounding slopes and ski tracks which will become the center point for the activities during the 2022 Winter Olympics. Group GSA designed the building as two interlocking green-roofed volumes that represent an extension of the surrounding landscape. Located at the main entrance of the Four Seasons Resort – the closest resort to the 2022 Winter Olympics host town, Chongli, the center will be used as an information hub for the activities...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/green-roofed-2022-winter-olympic-center-echoes-the-surrounding-ski-slopes
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India plans to build the worlds largest solar-wind power plant

Related: India added more rooftop solar in 2017 than the past 4 years combined Via Cleantechnia   https://inhabitat.com/?s=india

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/india-plans-to-build-the-worlds-largest-solar-wind-power-plant
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Switzerland just opened the world's steepest funicular railway

Starting Sunday, the tiny village town of Stoos, Switzerland will claim fame as home of the steepest funicular railway in the world. The funicular will move from a station in Schwyz-Schlattli valley, scaling 1,300 meters (4,265 feet) of mountain along a 1,720-meter track, climbing or descending 743 meters (2438 feet) along slopes as steep as 110% (47.7º). Incredibly, despite the unforgiving gradients, the train, which is made up of two cylindrical cabins, automatically levels to allow passengers...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/switzerland-just-opened-the-worlds-steepest-funicular-railway
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Floating forest of bamboo pops up in Jerusalem

Jerusalem is famed for stone, but a recent appearance of bamboo in the city has been turning heads too. Students at Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design built a Bamboo Pavilion that can be easily assembled, disassembled, and moved thanks to a simple construction system of ropes and 3D-printed joints. The experimental structure was designed with the help of computer modeling to simulate dozens of possible reconfigurations. Located at the entrance courtyard of the academy’s architecture...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/floating-forest-of-bamboo-pops-up-in-jerusalem
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Pinecone-shaped apartment building unveiled for former military camp in Norway

Reiulf Ramstad Arkitekter just unveiled a striking apartment complex for the town of Ski, Norway. The 4,000-square-meter residences will take on a sculptural, pinecone-like shape with high-end apartment units in the green new neighborhood in Ski Vest. Set on the site of a former military camp, the building derives design inspiration from the historic site context. Commissioned by Solon Eiendom, the Ski Vest tower will offer 50 apartments when complete. In addition to its former military...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/pinecone-shaped-apartment-building-unveiled-for-former-military-camp-in-norway
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Israeli bus company to invest $2.2M in wireless charging electric roads

Inhabitat covered ElectRoad, an Israeli startup developing electric vehicle-charging roads, earlier this year, and now the company could receive a big investment from Tel Aviv transportation service Dan Bus Company. ElectRoad's technology draws on electric coils underneath roads so EVs can charge up without a charging port - all while they're driving.

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/israeli-bus-company-to-invest-2-2m-in-wireless-charging-electric-roads
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Simba Snoozeliner night bus will let passengers sleep on their way home

We doze off on public transportation 27 times a year, according to James Cox, CEO of United Kingdom-based sleep brand Simba. So the company came up with an idea: the Simba Snoozeliner, a bus with 14 sleep pods outfitted with Simba mattresses, noise-canceling headphones, and liver-cleansing Milk Thistle. A steward will even be on hand to wake people up at their stop. Related:

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/simba-snoozeliner-night-bus-will-let-passengers-sleep-on-their-way-home
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Millions of insect species will go extinct before we even discover them

Via The Guardian

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/millions-of-insect-species-will-go-extinct-before-we-even-discover-them
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Alaskan city's temperatures spiked so significantly NOAA algorithms thought they were wrong

Via Denver Post

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/alaskan-citys-temperatures-spiked-so-significantly-noaa-algorithms-thought-they-were-wrong
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Minimalist Revugia retreat is nestled amidst Germany's Black Forest

First images of the Revugia spa and wellness resort show a complex of beautiful cabins and treehouses nestled in the middle of a forest in Germany. Designed by architect and digital artist Matthias Arndt, founder of lichtecht, for German developer Tidevand Bau , the resort will be built using wood, natural stone and glass and have a minimal impact on its natural surroundings. The Revugia resort will comprise 50 junior and senior suites in the main building and over 30 more scattered around the...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/minimalist-revugia-retreat-is-nestled-amidst-germanys-black-forest
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Retractable solar sails to help power "world's most eco-friendly cruise ship"

Peace Boat has been sailing the world since 1983, laboring to build a culture of peace through education and environmentally responsible travel. They recently unveiled their new Ecoship, designed by Oliver Design, that could take to the seas in 2020. A closed-loop water system, whale-inspired hydrodynamic hull, and retractable solar sails are among the features that make this ship, according to Oliver Design, the "world's most eco-friendly cruise ship." Related:

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/retractable-solar-sails-to-help-power-worlds-most-eco-friendly-cruise-ship
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Ore Streams: Studio Formafantasma creates striking furniture from salvaged e-waste

Related: + Via

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/ore-streams-studio-formafantasma-creates-striking-furniture-from-salvaged-e-waste
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Solar power plus batteries could topple 10GW of US natural gas peaker plants

Natural gas peaker plants step in when electricity demand is high, but their days could be numbered. Solar energy and battery storage prices have plummeted enough to make them competitive with some of those plants - and could soon take over 10 gigawatts (GW).

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/solar-power-plus-batteries-could-topple-10gw-of-us-natural-gas-peaker-plants
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Luxurious eco-resort overlooks Sri Lankans most famous wildlife park

Sri Lanka’s most celebrated wildlife park is famous for leopards, elephants, and sloth bears—and now Yala National Park is also known for a stunning, sustainably minded safari camp next door. Designed by Nomadic Resorts and Bo Reudler Studio, the Wild Coast Tented Lodge is an eco-resort with organic architecture set between golden beaches and the national park’s jungles. Located on the country’s southern tip, the “five-star” lodge welcomed its first guests in November 2017 and promises...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/luxurious-eco-resort-overlooks-sri-lankans-most-famous-wildlife-park
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Passive solar home stays naturally cool without AC in Australia

Air conditioning and heating are rarely used at the Summer Beach House, a home in Somers, Australia that uses passive solar principles for thermal comfort year-round. Adrian Bonomi Architect designed this single-story home for a retired couple looking for a compact summer dwelling with a strong connection to the outdoors. To that end, the architects used natural materials in construction and installed ample glazing to take in landscape views. Designed with strong modernist influences,...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/passive-solar-home-stays-naturally-cool-without-ac-in-australia
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How to make your own green terrarium to keep or give away for the holidays

MATERIALS: A clear glass jar, vase, bowl, glass, or whatever interesting glass container you have on hand Rocks, pebbles or recycled glass chunks Activated charcoal (sometimes called activated carbon) Potting soil appropriate for your plants Moss

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/diy-how-to-make-your-own-green-terrarium-to-keep-or-give-away-for-the-holidays
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NASA uses Google's artificial intelligence to discover the 8th planet in a distant solar system

The Kepler Space Telescope launched in 2009 and since then, it has discovered 2,337 exoplanets, many of which could be possible candidates for hosting life. The most exciting discovery, made in 2015, was that of Kepler-425b, the first discovered Earth-sized planet in a habitable zone around a star. Related:

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/nasa-uses-googles-artificial-intelligence-to-discover-the-8th-planet-in-a-distant-solar-system
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16 last minute gifts for the green procrastinator

STUFF THEY LOVE BOX It's happened again - you have just a few hours left until your holiday gift exchange and you're utterly present-less. Luckily, your local supermarket, drugstore or whatever else is still open can actually be a treasure trove of practical

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/14-last-minute-gifts-for-the-green-procrastinator
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Trump signs bill that recognizes climate change as a threat to the US

This past Tuesday, President Trump signed a bill into law that formally recognizes climate change as a national security threat to the United States. While the president has long railed against climate change and advocated for increased usage of fossil fuels, the Trump Administration and a Republican-controlled Congress have nonetheless taken a small but significant step towards formally recognizing climate change. For some time, the United States military has accepted the dangers of climate change...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/trump-signs-bill-that-recognizes-climate-change-as-a-threat-to-us
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Laser-driven fusion energy leaves no radioactive waste - and it's within reach

Dramatic advances in lasers could get us closer to fusion energy. An international team of 11 scientists are pursuing what was once thought to be impossible, according to the University of New South Wales (UNSW): fusion power with hydrogen-boron reactions. They describe this in their recently published study as the ideal clean fusion process: the technique needs no radioactive fuel elements and doesn't leave toxic radioactive waste. Related:

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/laser-driven-fusion-energy-leaves-no-radioactive-waste-and-its-within-reach
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512-year-old Greenland shark may be the oldest living vertebrate on Earth

A recently identified 512-year-old Greenland shark may be the world's oldest living vertebrate. Although scientists discovered the 18-foot fish in the North Atlantic months ago, its age was only recently revealed in a study published in the journal Science. Greenland sharks have the longest lifespan of any vertebrate animal, so it is perhaps unsurprising that the species would boast the oldest living individual vertebrate as well. Nonetheless, the fact that this creature may have been born as early...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/512-year-old-greenland-shark-may-be-the-oldest-living-vertebrate-on-earth
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A futuristic mirrored agora is landing in Brussels like a giant flying saucer

Danish architects COBE and Belgian architects BRUT unveiled their competition winning design for Place Schuman in Brussels, Belgium–a proposal that transforms a busy roundabout into a vibrant urban space and meeting point. The design is inspired by the shape of the European Parliament’s hemicycle, a reflective roof covering an urban agora. Place Schuman is a heavily trafficked roundabout located in the heart of Brussels. It is surrounded by the main institutions of the European Union, including...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/a-futuristic-mirrored-agora-is-landing-in-brussels-like-a-giant-flying-saucer
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Tesla's all-electric semi truck has a bold new competitor

Just one month ago, Elon Musk made headlines with his the debut of his revolutionary Tesla Semi Truck. The super-sized electric marvel is able to get 500 miles on a charge, reach 60 mph in five seconds without a trailer, and regenerative braking able to recover 98% of kinetic energy to the battery. Impressive? Yes. But there's another kid in town with designs to beat Musk to the market with an electric rig of his own.  

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/teslas-all-electric-semi-truck-has-a-bold-new-competitor
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Denmark just opened the "worlds most humane" maximum security prison

Related: + Via

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/denmark-just-opened-the-worlds-most-humane-maximum-security-prison
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Here's how much land area we'd need to power Bitcoin with solar

You've probably been hearing about how much electricity bitcoin is consuming: more than 33 terrawatt-hours in 2017. The Land Art Generator Initiative created a graphic revealing just how much land we'd need to generate enough energy from solar panels to power bitcoin sustainably. This year, we'd need an array larger than San Francisco.

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/heres-how-much-land-area-wed-need-to-power-bitcoin-with-solar
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Architecture students transform an old Alabama bank into a town library

A historic bank in a tiny Alabama town has been reborn into a surprisingly elegant library with looks rivaling a chic retail store. The project, called Newborn Library, was completed in 2013 as part of Rural Studio, an Auburn University student design-build program with a focus on community design. The adaptive reuse and expansion project preserves much of the historic architectural elements while using modern construction technologies, such as CNC techniques, to create a contemporary interior. Located...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/architecture-students-transform-an-old-alabama-bank-into-a-town-library
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Flexible greenery-covered prefab pops up in just 3 months in Vietnam

Brick and concrete dominate Vietnam’s built landscape, but Module K is helping to usher in a new contemporary building type that’s prefabricated, flexible, and transportable. The Vietnamese design studio recently completed Serene House HCMC, a modular steel structure in Ho Chi Minh City that only took three months to realize from concept to completion. Located in the hipster district Thao Dien, this modern building mixes modernist style with Indochine influences. Nestled between...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/flexible-greenery-covered-prefab-pops-up-in-just-3-months-in-vietnam
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5 festive Christmas ornaments you can make from recycled paper

Decoupage Christmas Trees What you'll need: Recycled cardboard (cereal boxes, mailers, boxes, old notebook covers) Colorful recycled papers (we used stationery and maps) Glitter Mod Podge or white glue Paintbrush Pen Scissors Needle and thread (gold or silver) First create a template Christmas tree shape (it should be symmetrical) on a piece of cardboard or cardstock. Cut it out and then trace the template onto a piece of recycled cardboard. You'll need two Christmas tree cutouts for...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/5-festive-christmas-ornaments-you-can-make-from-recycled-paper
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MIT engineers just unveiled living, glowing plants

What if you could read a book at night not with the help of a lamp or flashlight, but with a glowing plant? That's the vision Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) weaves with new research from their engineers. They embedded nanoparticles into watercress leaves, inducing the greenery to emit dim light for almost four hours. Related:

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/mit-engineers-just-unveiled-living-glowing-plants
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11 buy-nothing gifts of time

Giving someone a great gift they'll really treasure doesn't mean dropping a ton of cash. Sometimes the best gift you can give a friend or loved one is something much less tangible: your time. This year skip the store-bought gifts and give your loved ones a

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/11-green-gifts-of-time-to-celebrate-the-holiday-season
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San Jose city council approves tiny home village for homeless

San Jose has been struggling with homelessness, and now think they have an answer: tiny homes. The City Council recently voted nine to two approving a pilot program to construct a 40-unit tiny house village. Architecture firm Gensler unveiled two conceptual designs created pro-bono for the city earlier this month, with houses designed to be both aesthetically attractive and efficient.

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/san-jose-city-council-approves-tiny-home-village-for-homeless
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Turns out blood-sucking ticks really did plague the dinosaurs

Scientists have found the first solid evidence that prehistoric ticks consumed dinosaur blood. The discovery of a 99-million year old piece of amber in Myanmar offers a rare glimpse into the lives, big or small, of Creataceous animals. Trapped within the fossilized sap, the tick is seen grasping onto a feather presumed to be from a feathered dinosaur. Though Mezozoic-era blood-sucking insects encased in amber have become part of the public's imagination thanks to the Jurassic Park films, the fossil...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/turns-out-blood-sucking-ticks-really-did-plague-the-dinosaurs
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Local Roots shipping container farms achieve cost parity with traditional farming

99 percent less water 4,000 lettuce heads every 10 days. Los Angeles-based vertical farming company Local Roots achieves all that in their shipping container farms - but today they announced they've also reached cost parity with traditional farming. They plan to deploy over 100 of their TerraFarms in 2018. Inhabitat checked out their mobile TerraFarm in Manhattan and met co-founders Eric Ellestad and Matt Veil to hear more. Related:

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/local-roots-shipping-container-farms-achieve-cost-parity-with-traditional-farming
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SunPower shingles solar cells to boost solar panel efficiency by 15%

SunPower, a San Jose-based manufacturer of solar panels, has achieved a 15% efficiency increase in its panels in part by incorporating a novel design: shingling solar cells. For only $9 in additional costs from adding solar cells, SunPower's P Series solar panels can be structured like shingles, maximizing direct sunlight exposure and raising efficiency. Because of this increase in efficiency through a relatively simple design tweak, SunPower's stock jumped 12% as investors recognized the potential...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/sunpower-shingles-solar-cells-to-boost-solar-panel-efficiency-by-15
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Abandoned sugar refinery transformed into gorgeous hotel in the mountains of China

Related: Renovated Sugar Refinery to Provide Sweet New Homes in Brooklyn + Vector Architects Via Dezeen Vector Architects

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/abandoned-sugar-refinery-transformed-into-gorgeous-hotel-in-the-mountains-of-china
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Gorgeous Belize eco-resort will be 100% carbon neutral

Related: Nevis is on track to become the world’s first carbon-neutral island + Itz’ana Resort & Residences Itz’ana Resort & Residences, carbon neutral hotels, sustainable hotels, carbon neutral resorts, green design, sustainable resorts, green travel,

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/gorgeous-belize-eco-resort-will-be-100-carbon-neutral
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Scientists use banana skins to create new cancer detection technique

Via Huffington Post

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/scientists-use-banana-skins-to-create-new-cancer-detection-technique
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Solar-powered forever home is a modern take on the rustic farmhouse

‘Waste not want not’ seems to be a motto of Horseshoe Farm Residence, a modern solar-powered farmhouse built with reclaimed materials in North Carolina. The clients, a couple seeking an off-grid forever home, tapped design-build firm Buildsense to craft the two-story home set on land the couple had lived on and used for over 15 years. Modern finishes paired with rustic recycled materials like the brick and barn siding give the home a timeless appeal perfect for aging in place. Located...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/solar-powered-forever-home-is-a-modern-take-on-the-rustic-farmhouse
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Stunning chapel in Japan brings a fractal forest indoors

Not all chapels need stained glass windows and soaring archways to take your breath away. This Japanese timber chapel in Nagasaki injects a stunning fractal-like forest indoors for an instant wow factor. Yu Momoeda Architecture Office designed the minimalist chapel with floor-to-ceiling windows to take in sweeping views of the surrounding views of the national park and sea. The boxy 125-square-meter Agri Chapel is a modern interpretation of Oura-Tenshudo, Japan’s oldest timber gothic...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/stunning-chapel-in-japan-brings-a-fractal-forest-indoors
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14 green holiday gifts for gadget geeks

Looking for a great green gift for the gadget lover on your list? GREEN GIFTS FOR GADGET GEEKS >

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/14-green-holiday-gifts-for-gadget-geeks
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The World Bank will stop funding oil and gas projects after 2019

Another group plans to stop financing oil and gas projects: this time, it's one of the world's leading financial institutions, the World Bank. The organization made the announcement at the One Planet Summit today, as part of their efforts to assist developing countries in meeting the goals of the Paris Accord.

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/the-world-bank-will-stop-funding-oil-and-gas-projects-after-2019
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11 charitable green gifts that give back

Today is Giving Tuesday - and to celebrate we've rounded up 14 eco-friendly organizations that make gift giving a truly philanthropic act. Voltaic donates up to three solar power kits to aid workers for every solar charger it sells, the National Wildlife Federation

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/inhabitat-green-holiday-gift-guide-gifts-that-give-back
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Macron offers 18 scientists the chance to "Make Our Planet Great Again"

France's president Emmanuel Macron had an answer to President Donald Trump's decision to tug America out of the Paris Agreement: invite scientists to research climate change solutions in France. The Make Our Planet Great Again initiative now has its first class: 18 scientists from around the world. They'll move from institutions like Princeton University, Stanford University, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to France. Related:

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/macron-offers-18-scientists-the-chance-to-make-our-planet-great-again
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Scientists find the Earth's constant hum is best heard from the ocean floor

European scientists have determined that the Earth's unceasing humming is best heard from the ocean floor. Although the sound is far below the human hearing threshold, the Earth is constantly humming. While scientists have been aware of the Earth's humming since 1959, with more definitive research emerging in 1998, the source of the sounds remains a mystery. Nonetheless, recent research using ocean-bottom seismometer stations has provided scientists with a clearer picture of the phenomenon than ever...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/scientists-find-the-earths-constant-hum-is-best-heard-from-the-ocean-floor
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Trump signs directive to send astronauts to the Moon and Mars

President Donald Trump's administration has made overtures about sending American astronauts back to the moon. Yesterday, he signed Space Policy Directive 1, calling for a United States-led program with private sector partners to send humans back to the moon, and then to Mars. Harrison Schmitt, the most recent living human to walk on Earth's satellite, was present at the signing, which happened 45 years to the minute after he landed on the moon. Related:

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/trump-signs-directive-to-send-astronauts-to-the-moon-and-mars
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Video of starving polar bear rips your heart out of your chest

To more vividly portray the plight of the polar bear, conservationist Paul Nicklen recorded photos and videos of polar bears struggling to survive in a warming Arctic. With now-viral footage that Nicklen describes as so wrenching that "it rips your heart out of your chest," Nicklen hopes to motivate action to save the bears and their polar climate. If that fails, he hopes to at least document this tragic ecological period. "When scientists say bears are going extinct, I want people to realize what...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/video-of-starving-polar-bear-rips-your-heart-out-of-your-chest
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Hanoi's koi cafe has a thriving ecosystem complete with an aquaponic garden

This café in Hanoi, Vietnam, hides a koi aquarium behind a traditional tile façade that resembles fish scales. Farming Architects designed the space as a small ecosystem with an indoor waterfall and an aquaponics vegetable garden. The café is nestled in an existing three-story building in Hanoi to which the architects added a steel frame. Its ground floor houses the fish pond filled with colorful koi carp, known as the Japanese national fish. The seating area next to it provides direct views...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/hanois-koi-cafe-has-a-thriving-ecosystem-complete-with-an-aquaponic-garden
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New 3D-printed algae could revolutionize the way we make things

Related: + Via

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/new-3d-printed-algae-could-revolutionize-the-way-we-make-things
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Scientists find surprising methane-based ecosystem in underwater Yucatan caves

Underwater caves have been described as one of Earth's final unexplored frontiers. And an international team recently dove into the flooded caves of the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico and found methane-chomping bacteria. The compound offers the foundation of the food web in these caves, which have an ecosystem similar to that of deep ocean cold seeps. Related:

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/scientists-find-surprising-methane-based-ecosystem-in-underwater-yucatan-caves
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Light-filled extension camouflages itself into a hillside

Ellena Mehl Architects skillfully disguised a modern new extension inside the terraced gardens of a traditional Provencal farmhouse in southeast France. Located in an old hamlet dating back to before the 19th century, the new addition, named SPE House, is undeniably contemporary yet complements the historic landscape with its use of stone, a nod to the nearby retaining walls. Wild grass covers the terraced roof and minimizes the building’s visual impact on the landscape. The 120-square-meter...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/light-filled-extension-camouflages-itself-into-a-hillside
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Wild grasses grow atop an Icelandic homes folded roof

Wild grasses and heather temper the hard lines of this striking modern home in Iceland. Reykjavik-based Studio Granda designed B14, a villa partially built from the recycled remains of the clients’ former dwelling. The undulating landscaped roof appears to mimic the nearby Bláfjöll mountain ridge, while the roofline’s valleys and folds help collect rainwater that tricks down the walls in open copper channels. B14’s unusual fan-like roof takes inspiration from the site’s...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/wild-grasses-grow-atop-an-icelandic-homes-folded-roof
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HOW TO VIDEO: Make Delicious Raw Almond Cranberry Christmas Cookies!

Everybody loves sweet treats at the holidays, but many of us who are trying to stay in shape would rather consume healthy sweets packed with protein, good fats, fiber and vitamins than processed grains and sugar. That's why these amazing RAW COOKIES made purely

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/how-to-video-make-delicious-raw-vegan-almond-cranberry-christmas-cookies
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China Bans 'Foreign Waste,' causing recycling turmoil in America

When you drop those bottles and plastic containers off to be recycled, do you know where they go? The United States exports around one third of recycling, and almost half of that heads over to China. But China recently decided to ban some solid garbage, saying foreign waste often has too many hazardous or dirty non-recyclable items. This has prompted some waste collection and recycling companies to take items that could have been recycled to landfills. Related:

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/china-bans-foreign-waste-leading-to-recycling-turmoil-in-america
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13 heirloom gifts that will stand the test of time

A gift that will stand the test of time is one that can be treasured by many people - not just the current recipient! Heirloom gifts such as cast iron cookware, pocketwatches, and rare books can literally last for generations if loved and cared for properly,

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/14-heirloom-gift-ideas-that-will-stand-the-test-of-time
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This result is of cosmic significance, says scientist of new form of matter

Physicists at the University of Illinois have announced the exciting news that they have discovered a new form of matter known as excitonium. Although theorized more than half a century ago, excitonium was only recently confirmed in experiments by the research team, which also included scientists from University of California and Berkeley, and University of Amsterdam. Excitonium is composed of a type of boson, a composite particle whose unique qualities enable excitonium to serve as a superconductor,...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/this-result-is-of-cosmic-significance-says-scientist-of-new-form-of-matter
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America's first private high-speed train could take 3M cars off the roads

America isn't exactly known for high-speed train travel. But a new express train project taking off in Florida could change that - and will be the first private, high-speed rail service in the country. Brightline, owned by Florida East Coast Industries, will allow people to travel from Fort Lauderdale to Miami in half an hour, on trains propelled by diesel electric engines. Related:

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/americas-first-private-high-speed-train-could-take-3m-cars-off-the-roads
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