Utility giant aims to build America's biggest wind farm paid for by customers

One of the United States' biggest utility companies, American Electric Power, aims to build a 2,000 megawatt wind farm, the Wind Catcher Energy Connection project — and they want consumers to pay for it, Bloomberg reported. The $4.5 billion farm would serve people in four states. Related: Conservative billionaire

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Intuits new green-roofed campus is an indoor/outdoor dream office

Intuit’s new Marine Way Building (MWB) in Mountain View, California, aims to become an antidote to the trend of building insular campuses across Silicon Valley. WRNS and Clive Wilkinson Architects joined forces to design a human-centered, urban-minded workplace that connects to both nature and the public realm. The development comprises two new office buildings and two new parking structures as major additions to Intuit’s existing campus, originally developed in the 1980’s as a suburban...

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Here's why you might see a cancer warning on your coffee in California

The battle has been raging for years: is coffee a carcinogen or not? A judge in California wants to put the matter rest, after declaring that there's enough evidence for risk that California coffee sellers should have to post a warning. Via CNBC

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/heres-why-you-might-see-a-cancer-warning-on-your-coffee-in-california
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Turtle hatchlings spotted on Mumbai beach for the first time in nearly 20 years

Plastic used to pile five feet high in some spots on Versova beach in Mumbai, but in 2015, lawyer Afroz Shah launched what the United Nations described as the "world's largest beach cleanup project" — and people recently spotted Olive Ridley turtle hatchlings there. It's the first time turtles have been born on this beach in years.

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/turtle-hatchlings-spotted-on-mumbai-beach-for-the-first-time-in-nearly-20-years
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Trump's border wall threatens Texas plants and wildlife

If it is ever built, the wall set to physically divide the nearly 2,000 mile border between the United States and Mexico poses a threat to vulnerable wildlife and plants as well as to the growing ecotourism industry in the border regions of Texas. Norma Fowler and Tim Keitt, scientists at the University of Texas Austin, have published a letter that outlines the potential ecological damage from such a major project. Currently, Texas has walls only along approximately 100 miles of its border with Mexico. "Up...

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UPS declares the "beginning of the end" for combustion engines by making its London fleet entirely electric

UPS has announced major investments in its vehicle charging infrastructure as the company moves to electrify its delivery fleet, one of the largest vehicle fleets in the world. In London, the company recently deployed innovative smart grid technology that is capable of supporting a fully electric fleet of 170 trucks or more. Prior to the smart grid development. "The breakthrough signals the beginning of the end of a reliance upon traditional combustion engine powered vehicles," said the company in...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/ups-declares-the-beginning-of-the-end-for-combustion-engines-by-making-its-london-fleet-entirely-electric
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Tesla voluntarily makes their biggest recall ever for 123,000 Model S vehicles

Tesla just issued their biggest ever recall. 123,000 Model S cars are involved; the automaker said they noticed excessive corrosion in power steering bolts, The Verge and Agence France Presse reported. They're voluntarily recalling the cars and will retrofit those with the part. Related:

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Leaked memo shows that EPA staffers were told to downplay the reliability of climate science

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) employees received talking points that appear to fit right in with Administrator Scott Pruitt's hesitancy over humanity's role in climate change. Meant to develop "consistent messages about EPA's climate adaptation efforts," the talking points underscored uncertainties in what we know about climate change — and concluded with, "Administrator Pruitt encourages an open, transparent debate on climate science."

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This tiny house on wheels can expand to meet the owner's needs

This tiny house on wheels, built to withstand extreme climates, can expand in order to adjust to specific user needs. The Tiny House Company's newest design, named Swallowtail, can be used as a primary home, weekender, studio, extended living space, or anything in between. The design was inspired by post-war homes– it features a butterfly roof, timber screen, plywood cladding and corrugated sheeting. The butterfly roof has an integrated box gutter and downpipe for easy connection and rainwater...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/this-tiny-house-on-wheels-can-expand-to-meet-the-owners-needs
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This prefab cabin is designed to take you off grid in the Scottish Highlands

A new piece of prefab architecture will soon bring artists, researchers, and travelers closer to the spectacular Scottish Highlands. Artist Bobby Niven and architect Iain MacLeod designed the Artist Bothy, a multipurpose cabin prefabricated in Scotland from sustainable materials. Conceived as an artist residency space, the gabled hut promises a low-impact and off-grid immersion in nature. The Artist Bothy was born from the Bothy Project, a network of off-grid artist residency spaces...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/this-prefab-cabin-is-designed-to-take-you-off-grid-in-the-scottish-highlands
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Sprawling nets suspended mid-air turn a forest into a climbing wonderland

You don’t need to know how to climb a tree to enjoy this marvelous climbing maze suspended in a Guangdong forest. When the school affiliated to the Luofu Mountain Chinese Classics Institute wanted to encourage children to pursue more physical activity, the school tapped Chinese design studio unarchitecte to design a place conducive to play in the forested valley. Taking inspiration from nature, the designers created the Climbing Park of Luofu Mountain, a system of white nets and climbing areas...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/sprawling-nets-suspended-mid-air-turn-a-forest-into-a-climbing-wonderland
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Every project on DonorsChoose.org was just funded by a $29 million cryptocurrency donation

DonorsChoose.org lets teachers crowdsource funding for their education needs, with over 35,000 open campaigns asking for everything from robotic kits to field trips. At least, there were 35,000 campaigns open last week. But as of earlier this week, there were zero campaigns thanks to an incredible $29 million donation from cryptocurrency startup Ripple that fulfilled every single one. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=--hmccyunhI Ripple contributed $29 million to 35,647 open campaigns, funding...

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The world's biggest Arctic lake isn't as resistant to climate change as scientists thought

Scientists used to think Lake Hazen, located around 560 miles away from the North Pole, could be out of the reach of human impact. But new research led by geographer Igor Lehnherr of the University of Toronto Mississauga reveals the High Arctic lake is responding quickly to climate change. Lehnherr said in the university's statement, "Even in a place so far north, it's no longer cold enough to prevent the glaciers from shrinking. If this place is no longer conducive for glaciers to grow, there are...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/the-worlds-biggest-arctic-lake-isnt-as-resistant-to-climate-change-as-scientists-thought
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10 things you need to know about living in the 2018 Airstream Globetrotter travel trailer

Have you ever dreamed of packing your bags and hitting the road on an Airstream adventure? You're not alone. The Airstream is a marvel of modern design - and it has captured the hearts of dreamers, design fans, and free-spirited travelers for decades. This space-age capsule carries the promise of freedom, comfort and self-sufficiency wherever it goes - and we recently had the chance to take one for a spin along the rugged coastline of California. Follow along on our adventure to find out 10 things...

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Conservationists sound the alarm to address 'America's wildlife crisis'

A coalition of conservationist groups have called for urgent action to address the drastic decline in American wildlife. According to their recently released report, one in three animal species in the United States is vulnerable to extinction while one in five face a severe threat amid a serious decline in American biodiversity.

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/conservationists-sound-the-alarm-to-address-americas-wildlife-crisis
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Scientists are launching human trials for a cancer 'vaccine' that cured 97% of tumors in mice

Scientists at Stanford University are currently preparing for the first human test of what has been described as a cancer "vaccine," a treatment which eliminated up to 97 percent of tumors during trials with mice. Appropriately 35 people with lymphoma will begin the trials before the end of 2018. Not technically a vaccine, the new cancer treatment is a kind of immunotherapy that involves an injection of two agents directly into a tumor. These agents then stimulate the production of T cells, which...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/scientists-are-launching-human-trials-for-a-cancer-vaccine-that-cured-97-of-tumors-in-mice
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The world's largest solar energy project planned for Saudi Arabia could be 100-times bigger than any other

200 gigawatts of solar power. $200 billion. 100,000 jobs. Those are the numbers attached to what could be the biggest solar energy project in the world, under a deal signed by Saudi Arabia and Japanese conglomerate company SoftBank, Bloomberg and Reuters reported. The move could help Saudi Arabia, the largest oil exporter in the world, progress from oil to renewables. Related:

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Astronomers are baffled by a newly-discovered galaxy that lacks dark matter

For the first time, scientists have identified a galaxy, NGC1052-DF2, that seems to lack the presence of dark matter. “These ultra-diffuse galaxies have a huge variety of properties,” study lead author Pieter van Dokkum told Gizmodo. “Some have a lot of dark matter, and some have no dark matter. There’s such an enormous range.” In an odd way, NGC1052-DF2's lack of dark matter may serve as evidence for the existence of dark matter by demonstrating that there is much astronomers do not...

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This glass cabin in Iceland lets you watch the Northern Lights from your bed

This luxury glass cabin in Island lets you enjoy views of the Northern Lights and amazing sunsets from the comfort of your bed. Encased in glass, the Panorama Glass Lodge exposes its visitors to the natural spectacle of its remote location while providing all the amenities of a cozy home for two. The house is located by the Greenland sea, just a 30-minute drive from Reykjavík. As a family-owned property available for rent, it provides full privacy to its guests while offering panoramic views...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/you-can-watch-the-northern-lights-from-bed-in-this-glass-cabin-in-iceland
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How floating solar panels are helping the Maldives ditch diesel fuel

Tropical islands boast pure natural scenery, but their energy sources are often anything but pure. Islands in the Maldives rely on polluting diesel, and Swimsol is working to change that. Since many of the islands are tiny — you can walk across some of them in under 10 minutes — there isn't much space for solar power, so Swimsol turned to the seas. Related:

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/how-floating-solar-panels-are-helping-the-maldives-ditch-diesel-fuel
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$300M live-work campus gets green light to replace former juvenile jail in NYC

Green spaces, affordable housing, and over 300 jobs are coming to the south Bronx. The Peninsula, a mixed-use development designed by WXY architecture + urban design and Body Lawson Associates, just received the City Council go-ahead. Located in the Hunts Points peninsula, the $300 million initiative will transform the former Spofford Juvenile Detention Center into a greenery-filled live-work campus spread out across five acres. First unveiled in 2016, The Peninsula aims to transform...

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Foster+Partners unveil design for first-ever Vatican Pavilion at the Venice Architecture Biennale

For the first time ever, Vatican City will be represented at the Venice Architecture Biennale. Curated by Francesco Dal Co, the Pavilions of the Holy See will comprise 10 temporary chapels each designed by a different architect. Foster + Partners, chosen to design a chapel on the Venetian island of San Giorgio Maggiore, just unveiled their chapel design set in a quiet wooded space. Created in collaboration with Italian furniture manufacturer Tecno, Foster+Partners’ Vatican City...

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This beautiful, barn-inspired visitor center has nine movable sections that let in natural light

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MINI just unveiled an amazing all-electric model of their iconic car

MINI blended inspiration from the past and future for an all-electric car with a retro flair: the classic Mini Electric. The company said this unique car signals their commitment to zero emissions technology. In a statement, they said, "The spontaneous power of its electric motor provides a new dimension to the unmistakable go-kart feeling that helped propel the British small car in its original form to worldwide popularity." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I4TSTohwG3U

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Mice are eating nesting seabirds in the Pacific alive

On the Midway Atoll in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, invasive mice are attacking nesting albatrosses, causing gruesome wounds that bleed profusely. Why would mice do this? Scientists think it may be because they are drinking the birds' blood. Non-native species cause a majority of seabird extinctions around the world, and mice have become a particularly bad problem on the island since just 2015, attacking the birds from behind and causing open woods on the heads and necks. The Midway...

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Newly discovered Amazon structures change what we know about ancient civilization

Researchers at the University of Exeter have discovered 81 earthworks known as geoglpyhs along 1,200 miles across the Amazon Rainforest. This evidence indicates that the dense, difficult-to-navigate region was once home to up to ten million people prior to European colonization. "There is a common misconception that the Amazon is an untouched landscape, home to scattered, nomadic communities. This is not the case,” said study researcher Dr. Jonas Gregorio de Souza in a statement. “We have found...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/newly-discovered-amazon-structures-change-what-we-know-about-ancient-civilization
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Scientists say mass warning signs exist and they can be observed today

Is Earth staring down a mass extinction? Recent research from an international team of scientists reveals warning signs for the biggest mass extinction in our planet's history were apparent far earlier than experts had thought — and we can glimpse such indicators now. Related:

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/scientists-say-mass-warning-signs-exist-and-they-can-be-observed-today
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China reports meeting its 2020 carbon intensity goals three years early

ads   Related: Less fertilizer, greater crop yields, and more money: China’s agricultural breakthrough   Via Reuters Images via

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Extreme fossil fuel financing has surged to $115BN under Trump

Financing for extreme fossil fuels, like tar sands, swelled in 2017, according to a new report from multiple environmental organizations. They tracked 36 of the largest banks in the world to discover they poured $115 billion into these polluting projects, up 11 percent from 2016, according to the Rainforest Action Network (RAN). The Independent said this increase reversed progress made after world leaders signed the Paris Agreement in 2016 on slashing investments in carbon-intensive fossil fuels. ...

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Scientists discover a huge new human organ hiding in plain sight

Researchers have revealed their unusual discovery of a new human organ, the interstitium, which consists of a series of fluid-filled, shock-absorbing compartments that shield body tissues. The interstitium was previously thought to be dense layers of connective tissue. However, Dr. David Carr-Locke and Dr. Petros Benias identified it as an organ while scanning a patient's bile duct for signs of cancer. The doctors collaborated with New York University pathologist Dr. Neil Theise to further explore...

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This sinuous, green-roofed Media Library in France looks like it floats in mid-air

Just like its sinuous form meandering and blurring the line between the inside and the outside, the programs and activities of the new Media Library in Thionville, France, mix and blend into each other to create a truly public space. Dominique Coulon & associés designed the building by stacking simple independent systems and create tension in the space and how it’s read. The building aims to promote a new kind of media library- one that allows members of the public to curate their own experiences...

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Off-grid Fossil Discovery Exhibit camouflages into the Texan desert

Big Bend National Park isn’t just a place of stunning landscape beauty—the Texan park is also paleontological paradise. To tell the story of the area’s rich fossil history, Texan architecture studio Lake | Flato designed the Fossil Discovery Exhibit, a series of interpretive pavilions that draws inspiration from the surrounding topography. The unstaffed, low-maintenance building operates off grid and draws energy and water from solar panels and a rainwater catchment system. Created...

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Kengo Kumas competition-winning aquatic center connects land and sea in Copenhagen

Kengo Kuma & Associates beat out the likes of BIG and 3XN Architects in a design competition for a new waterfront cultural center that will form part of Copenhagen’s artificial Paper Island (Papirøen). Chosen unanimously by the jury, Kuma’s winning scheme will offer leisure and recreational facilities housed within pyramidal volumes echoing the roof profiles of Christiansholm island. The buildings will also be built of brick in reference to traditional Danish craft. Revealed earlier...

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Elon Musk's Boring Company to sell life-size 'LEGO-like' bricks dug from the earth

People signed up in droves for hats and flamethrowers from The Boring Company, and founder Elon Musk isn't stopping there. He announced his latest idea on Twitter: kits of massive interlocking bricks created with tunneling rock. The first kit will be inspired by ancient Egypt — think pyramids or a Sphinx. Related:

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Shell oil just unveiled a plan to move the world away from fossil fuels

Royal Dutch Shell just laid out a proposal to move us away from its own product. The company's Sky scenario is part of its plan to help the world meet the goals set forth in the Paris climate agreement. The plan would shift people away from oil and towards hydrogen and electric transportation in order to keep global warming under the 2 degrees that most scientists think of as the tipping point for climate change.  

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/shell-oil-just-unveiled-a-plan-to-move-the-world-away-from-fossil-fuels
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Land degradation could displace 50 to 700 million people by 2050

Land decay is undermining the well-being of two-fifths of all the people on Earth, or around 3.2 billion people, according to an Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) three-year assessment penned by 100 experts hailing from 45 countries. It's the first comprehensive land health assessment, according to Agence France Presse (AFP) — and assessment co-chair Robert Scholes of South Africa said land degradation is "pushing the planet towards a sixth...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/land-degradation-could-displace-50-to-700-million-people-by-2050
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Waymo adds 20,000 Jaguar electric SUVs to its self-driving car service

Waymo, an autonomous vehicle company owned by Google's parent company Alphabet, will add 20,000 all-electric Jaguar I-PACE SUVs to its self-driving car fleet over the next two years. The stylish I-PACE SUVs will be one of several vehicles available for use in the upcoming Waymo Service, a self-driving car service set to debut in 2018.   Related:   Via Images via

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Scientists create 'umbrella' spray to protect coral reefs from sun damage

Researchers have crafted a new liquid substance that can be sprayed onto the surface of the water above vulnerable coral reefs, shielding them from intense UV and visible light beaming down from the Sun. In doing so, the spray may help to defend reefs from extreme bleaching events. 50,000 times thinner than a human hair, the biodegradable spray is made from a natural lipid and calcium carbonate, a key component of coral reefs. A study

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/scientists-create-umbrella-spray-to-protect-coral-reefs
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Most active volcano in Europe 'sliding into the sea'

Volcanic eruptions or lava flows you've heard of, but what about a volcano sliding into the sea? Scientists say that's exactly what's happening to Mount Etna, which The Open University described as the most active volcano in Europe. Related:

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Scientists create revolutionary ultra-white paint inspired by beetles

Researchers have unveiled a new super-white coating, made of cellulose and inspired by the Cyphocilus beetle native to Southeast Asia.

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/scientists-create-revolutionary-ultra-white-paint-inspired-by-beetles
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Four living trees grow through this dreamy treehouse retreat in Montana

Nestled on a private wooded seven acres that act as a gateway to the Glacier National Park in Montana, this treehouse is a childhood dream made true. A spiral staircase leads to the two-story cabin that can fit up to five people and has two living trees growing through its interior. Although spacious enough to accommodate a group of people, the Montana Treehouse Retreat is also a perfect romantic getaway for two. The treehouse grand entrance is a spiral staircase custom crafted around a giant...

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Worlds largest single-domed tropical greenhouse unveiled for France

A lush paradise of waterfalls and tropical plants has been unveiled in Coldefy & Associates’ designs for Tropicalia, the world’s largest tropical greenhouse under one roof. Proposed for Pas-de-Calais, France, the 215,000-square-foot greenhouse will be sheathed beneath a double-insulated dome and designed for energy efficiency and include heat recycling. The $62 million project will feature a variety of tropical landscapes filled with flora and fauna and linked by a one-kilometer walking path. Created...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/worlds-largest-single-domed-tropical-greenhouse-unveiled-for-france
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Green-roofed Copenhagen sports center comprises light-filled timber volumes

Livability in Copenhagen’s Ørestad City received a big boost with the completion of a green-roofed multipurpose sports facility next to Bjarke Ingels Group’s terraced Mountain Dwellings. Designed by NORD Architects, the sports center may be more modest than its eye-catching neighbor with its lower profile and natural materials palette, but achieves admirable goals of social sustainability and inclusivity thanks to its welcoming and fully accessible design that’s open 24/7 to the public. Designed...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/green-roofed-copenhagen-sports-center-comprises-light-filled-timber-volumes
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World's rarest marine mammal could face extinction under Trump administration

Under 30 vaquita porpoises live in the wild — but Donald Trump's administration may have violated federal laws around their protection, according to a lawsuit recently filed by conservation groups. Natural Resources Defense Council staff attorney Giulia Good Stefani said in a statement, "This lawsuit might be the vaquita's last chance." Related: Trump administration 'declares war' on West Coast turtles, dolphins, and whales

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/worlds-rarest-marine-mammal-could-face-extinction-under-trump-administration
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Oslo's new airport city could power the entire surrounding community

This proposal for a sustainable smart city near Oslo Airport envisions a large complex powered entirely by renewable energy. The scheme, designed by Norwegian practices Haptic Architects and Nordic – Office of Architecture, aims to become the world’s first energy positive airport city with the capacity to sell surplus energy to surrounding buildings and communities. The project is backed by the country’s shift from the reliance on fossil fuels to renewable energy and its readiness...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/oslos-new-airport-city-could-power-the-entire-surrounding-community
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America's oldest gun manufacturer files for bankruptcy

Fresh on the heels of the country-wide protests for gun control reform, Remington has filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection after sales slumped from 2016. The timing seems like a perfect reaction to the recent backlash to the school shooting at Stoneman Douglas High School, but the cause is more likely to be Donald Trump.

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/americas-oldest-gun-manufacturer-files-for-bankruptcy
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This hexagonal indoor farm grows more food in less space with 90% less water

Design meets indoor gardening in Hexagro Urban Farming's Living Farming Tree, a modular growing system suited for everyone from apartment dwellers to hotels.

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/this-hexagonal-indoor-farm-grows-more-food-in-less-space-with-90-less-water
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Studio Roosegaarde's Waterlicht shows NYC sea level height if we don't take climate action

Rising sea levels, precipitated by climate change, threaten to overwhelm the world's cities if we do nothing. Studio Roosegaarde brought this message to the United Nations Headquarters in New York City last week in an artistic demonstration with Waterlicht New York. The light display mimicked the height of 2012's Hurricane Sandy. Related: Daan Roosegaarde reveals vision for air-purifying Smog Free Drones

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Winners of the 2018 Architecture at Zero competition announced

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from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/winners-of-the-2018-architecture-at-zero-competition-announced
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Orange snow covers the mountains across Eastern Europe

The mountains of Russia, Bulgaria, Romania, and Ukraine have been splashed with new color, with the snow-covered mountains having taken on an orange hue. Although the snow may look more like orange sherbet than usual, observers are advised to not eat it. The unusual orange color has been added to the snow by way of the Sahara Desert. While the mountains may present an otherworldly aesthetic, the phenomenon is actually quite normal and occurs every five years, according to meteorologists. Sand turned...

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AeroMobil reveals flying taxi that transforms from car to electric airplane

Designed for both the skies and the streets, the AeroMobil 5.0 is the latest futuristic creation from the Slovakia-based flying car company. The flight of the Vertical Take-Off Vehicle (VTOL) is powered by two electric rotors embedded in retractable wings that deploy when needed. A rear propeller is also included to provide the vehicle with midair thrust.   Related:   Via Images via

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/aeromobil-reveals-flying-taxi-that-transforms-from-car-to-electric-airplane
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A modern makeover put this prefab home in touch with its picturesque surroundings

Related: + Via

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/a-modern-makeover-put-this-prefab-home-in-touch-with-its-picturesque-surroundings
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Temporary lantern-like housing for refugees could slot beneath bridges

Design studio 1week1project has proposed a creative way to tackle the ongoing refugee crisis in Paris, where thousands of refugees are still estimated to be sleeping rough. In a proposal called “Illuminate Paris!”, the designers envision a series of modular lantern-like shelters that could provide temporary housing beneath the capital’s bridges. Built of recycled materials, the cylindrical structures could also be used for other purposes, from retail to performance space, and would cast an...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/temporary-lantern-like-housing-for-refugees-could-slot-beneath-bridges
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Top 5 Green Gadgets That Will Save You Energy and Money

One of the biggest myths of sustainable design is that you have to spend lots of green in order to go green. Fortunately, there's a plethora of great gadgets out there that stand to cut down your bills while reducing the amount of electricity you consume.

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/top-5-green-gadgets-that-will-save-you-energy-and-money
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New Zealand just eradicated 200,000 mice from a single island

New Zealand just exterminated 200,000 mice from a single island in an extermination unlike anything we've seen before. Invasive species can wreak havoc on the environment, and as much as we hate to hear about the mass killing of any animals, sometimes it's the best way to rescue a struggling ecosystem. In New Zealand, invasive predators like rats, mice and possums have overrun islands and local bird species, invertebrates and plants have been destroyed. Entirely eradicating mice on the Antipodes...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/new-zealand-just-eradicated-200000-mice-from-a-single-island
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The ground under a West Texas oil patch is moving 'at alarming rates'

Residents of small towns, infrastructure, and oil and gas pipelines could be at risk from the ground heaving and sinking in West Texas after years of fossil fuel production, according to a new study from Southern Methodist University (SMU) scientists. Research scientist Jin-Woo Kim said in an SMU statement, "This region of Texas has been punctured like a pin cushion with oil wells and injection wells since the 1940's and our findings associate that activity with ground movement."

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/the-ground-under-a-west-texas-oil-patch-is-moving-at-alarming-rates
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Atacama 'alien' skeleton's identity revealed by genetic testing

Genetic testing has revealed the true identity of an exceptional mummy found in Chile's Atacama Desert, a skeleton which appears so strange that some have claimed it as evidence of alien life. In truth, the remains are that of a human individual known as Ata, a girl with unique mutations, who is believed to have been stillborn or died shortly after birth. Despite skeletal features similar to those of a child between six and eight years old, Ata was only six inches tall. She also had two fewer ribs...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/atacama-alien-skeletons-identity-revealed-by-genetic-testing
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Chevron admits "there's no debate about climate science" in court hearing

"From Chevron's perspective, there's no debate about climate science," attorney Theodore Boutrous Jr. said in a courtroom tutorial on the subject. In a case that's pitted big oil companies like Chevron and Exxon against the cities of San Francisco and Oakland, which allege the fossil fuel corporations should pay for measure like seal walls to deal with the impacts of climate change, United States District Judge William Alsup called for a two-part climate change science tutorial — and Science Magazine...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/chevron-admits-theres-no-debate-about-climate-science-in-court-hearing
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New ESA mission to explore the "atmospheres of hundreds of planets"

Humans may not have put boots down on another planet yet, but we've discovered thousands of exoplanets out there in the cosmos — and the European Space Agency (ESA)'s next science mission could give us new insight into some of those celestial bodies. They just selected the Atmospheric Remote-sensing Infrared Exoplanet Large-survey (ARIEL) mission from three candidates to launch what Nature described as the "world's first space telescope dedicated to studying the atmospheres of exoplanets." ...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/new-esa-mission-to-explore-the-atmospheres-of-hundreds-of-planets
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Gorgeous Dutch home in a converted church seeks buyers

A stunning church-conversion just fifteen minutes from Amsterdam has hit the market in Muiden, Netherlands. The adaptive reuse project kept its historical 1920s details intact –from vaulted ceilings to stained glass windows—while giving the interior a bright and contemporary revamp. The property, Singelstraat 26, is listed on Sotheby’s for sale—but you’ll have to call in to get the price. Spread out across two levels, the renovated church offers 290 square meters (3,121 square...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/gorgeous-dutch-home-in-a-converted-church-seeks-buyers
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This plant-based spray makes fruits and veggies last up to four times longer

How do you preserve fruits and vegetables after harvest? Generally, you need cold temperatures. But what if there was an alternative to refrigeration? That question inspired Santa Barbara-based Apeel Sciences, which created Edipeel, a post-harvest protection product created with edible extracts from plants. Inhabitat spoke with CEO James Rogers about the product, which forms a micro-climate around each piece of food so it lasts at least double the amount of time it would otherwise. Related: +...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/this-plant-based-spray-makes-fruits-and-veggies-last-up-to-four-times-longer
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Non-profit uses machine learning and solar energy to protect the rainforest

San Francisco-based non-profit Rainforest Connection has created a unique, technologically advanced system to defend the rainforests of Brazil. The high-tech protection system incorporates machine learning and solar energy to operate devices called Guardians, which listen to the rainforest and send real-time messages to live responders if illegal logging activity is detected.

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/non-profit-uses-machine-learning-and-solar-energy-to-protect-the-rainforest
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This adventurous couple revamped an old Airstream into a dream house on wheels

An Atlanta-based couple stumbled upon an old Airstream on eBay and decided to transform it into a home on wheels perfect for avid travelers like themselves. They revamped the Airstream in 10 months and made sure it was road-ready. Sheena and Jason found the trailer, which they affectionately named Mavis, on eBay. The original owners intended to use it as a retirement home, but their plans fell through, leaving the Airstream in storage for eight years. The couple renovated the structure themselves,...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/this-adventurous-couple-revamped-an-old-airstream-into-a-dream-house-on-wheels
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Poor urban design could be at fault for Uber driverless car crash

Uber's self-driving cars are grounded after a fatal accident over the weekend — but a Cato Institute article questions if bad urban design was really to blame. Elaine Herzberg, the woman killed, was using a pedestrian path the institute described as poorly designed just before she attempted to cross a street. Related: Uber grounds all self-driving vehicles after fatal Arizona accident Via

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/poor-urban-design-could-be-at-fault-for-uber-driverless-car-crash
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Modern desert home is a sculptural extension of the landscape

Specht Architects completed the Sundial House, a modernist home that derives its name from the changing play of light and shadow indoors. Set atop a ridge in Santa Fe, New Mexico, the award-winning residence is built to look and feel like a sculptural extension of the landscape with impressive panoramic views of the surrounding mountains. Oriented for optimal views of the Sangre de Christos mountains, the Sundial House makes the most of its views with large expanses of glass protected...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/modern-desert-home-is-a-sculptural-extension-of-the-landscape
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Schmidt Hammer Lassen designs BREEAM-seeking brewery renovation in Riga

Schmidt Hammer Lassen Architects has beaten the likes of Henning Larsen and Zaha Hadid Architects in a competition to design Kimmel Quarter, a major urban revitalization project in Riga, Latvia. Located in the capital’s Central District, the project will be centered on the redevelopment of Brewery Kimmel, a 19th century beer brewery rich in history. The adaptive reuse scheme will preserve the site’s historical roots while adding new mixed-use programming that follow sustainable design principles....

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/schmidt-hammer-lassen-designs-breeam-seeking-brewery-renovation-in-riga
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Dwell on Design returns to Los Angeles this April

Attention, design lovers! The 13th annual Dwell on Design conference is returning to the Los Angeles Convention Center from April 5-7, 2018. A longtime magnet for design enthusiasts and professionals, Dwell on Design showcases the latest in modern architecture, design, technology, and more. This year, the conference also boasts designer Jonathan Adler, photographer Seph Lawless, and educator Paula Wallace among its speakers. The exhibition kicks off on Wednesday, April 4 at the Pacific Design...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/dwell-on-design-returns-to-los-angeles-this-april
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INTERVIEW: Bridget Hilton, Founder of LSTN Sound Co.

Inhabitat: How did you come to start this company? What were you doing before? How did you come to pair up with Starkey Hearing? Bridget: LSTN was actually started the company to help fund Starkey Hearing Foundation. It wasn’t an afterthought. I had been interested in social enterprise for a while, buying products like Warby Parker glasses and TOMS shoes. One day I saw a video on YouTube about a woman my age hearing for the first time. I found out there are 360 million people just like this with...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/interview-bridget-hilton-founder-of-lstn-sound-co
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Spending bill would open the world's largest intact temperate forest to logging

In South East Alaska sits the world's largest intact temperate forest, with towering trees that have been around for over a millennium. But if Trump and his cronies have their way, those trees won't be around much longer. As part of the budget bill being negotiated today, Alaska senator Lisa Murkowski is pushing to increase old-growth logging in the state, and if it passes, it could mean destroying one of the last old-growth coniferous trees in the United States. Even worse, it's all to support the...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/spending-bill-would-open-the-worlds-largest-intact-temperate-forest-to-logging
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Bill McKibben on how to protect the earth from a Trumpocalypse

If you've been feeling overwhelmed in the face of President Donald Trump's overtures to resuscitate oil pipelines or build environmentally and humanly destructive walls, and fearful of the environmentally destructive steps he may take in the future, you're not alone and you can take action alongside others who feel the same way. Inhabitat talked with activist and author Bill McKibben about how Earth lovers can take action in a grim political climate. Related:

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/bill-mckibben-on-how-to-protect-the-earth-from-a-trumpocalpyse
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The public health impact of Hurricane Harvey is worse than we've been told

Over six months since Hurricane Harvey decimated much of Central America and the American Gulf Coast, the public still does not have the answers it needs regarding the full public health impact of the powerful storm. This is of particular concern for Texas, in which the nation's most substantial energy corridor is based. 500 chemical plants, 10 refineries and more than 6,670 miles of oil, gas and chemical pipelines are located in the impact area of Hurricane Harvey. Nearly half a billion gallons...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/the-public-health-impact-of-hurricane-harvey-is-worse-than-weve-been-told
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The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is growing at an exponential rate

Researchers have observed that the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, now three times the size of France, is showing signs of exponential growth. In a new study published in the journal Nature, scientists provide a detailed analysis of the garbage patch, a monumental effort that required two planes and 18 boats to complete. “We wanted to have a clear, precise picture of what the patch looked like,” Laurent Lebreton, study lead author and lead oceanographer for the Ocean Cleanup Foundation, told the...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/the-great-pacific-garbage-patch-is-growing-at-an-exponential-rate
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A plan to cool the Earth with salt

Could salt be the answer to climate change woes? Senior scientist Robert Nelson of the Planetary Science Institute floated the concept at the Lunar and Planetary Science Conference in Texas, suggesting salt sprinkled above clouds could hold off sunlight and cool our planet, according to Science Magazine. But as with many geoengineering ideas, this one isn't without controversy. Related:

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/a-plan-to-cool-the-earth-with-salt
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Congress rejects Trump's renewable energy budget cuts

Congress has reached a deal on the $1.3 trillion budget for fiscal year 2018, an agreement that does not include the cuts to clean energy demanded by the Trump Administration. President Trump's budget proposal would have cut funding from carbon capture and storage technology while increasing funding for new coal technologies. In this instance, Congress pushed back. For example, the omnibus spending bill increases funding for the Department of Energy's (DOE) Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/congress-rejects-trumps-renewable-energy-budget-cuts
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Media lab built from recycled shipping containers pops up in half a day

Four recycled shipping containers have found a new lease on life as Bard College’s new media lab in upstate New York. Quick, affordable, and modern, MB Architecture’s speedy lab solution for the Bard College Department of Experimental Humanities has the added benefit of a folding glass door that blurs the boundary between indoors and out. Prefabricated offsite, the Bard College Media Lab was installed in just half a day and fully operational within a few weeks. Located in the...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/media-lab-built-from-recycled-shipping-containers-pops-up-in-half-a-day
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This passively cooled house in Australia features a green roof, recycled brick, and ocean views

Perched on the steep block in Newcastle, New South Wales, this family house captures views of the ocean, the Merewether Ocean Baths, and the city. Austin Maynard Architects replaced the original dilapidated house with a new three-level home propped on three giant steel ‘paperclips’. The owners of the house, Basil and Jo, commissioned the architects and asked for a daylit house with clean lines and views of the ocean. Named Greenacres, the house utilizes the steep topography to create different...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/this-passively-cooled-house-in-australia-features-a-green-roof-recycled-brick-and-ocean-views
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20% of US population produces 46% of food-based emissions

A monumental new study demonstrates that one-fifth of the American population is responsible for nearly half of all food-based emissions. Popsci reports that people who eat a lot of animal protein, especially beef, account for a larger share of greenhouse gas emissions — although, author Sara Chodosh also illustrates the extreme complexity behind the study's potentially groundbreaking conclusions. Read on for a closer look. Published in Environmental Research Letters specifically sought...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/20-of-us-population-produces-46-of-food-based-emissions
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'World's smallest computer' could be manufactured for under 10 cents

Need a computer tinier than a single grain of salt? IBM's got you covered. At the IBM Think 2018 conference, the company unveiled what they're calling the world's smallest computer — and according to IBM, it "packs several hundred thousand transistors into a footprint barely visible to the human eye."

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/worlds-smallest-computer-could-be-manufactured-for-under-10-cents
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This caf in Vietnam is a modern-day Hanging Gardens of Babylon

This glass and steel building in Vietnam–a present for the owner’s wife- is filled with beautiful hanging plants that bring life into the interior. Architecture studio Le House designed An’garden Café as a mix of industrial design inspired by Vietnam’s traditional coffee shops and a dream-like interior landscape. With its verdant interior, the building reminds of Hanging Gardens of Babylon. Providing a serene environment amidst the noisy streets of Ha Hoi, the project is an exclusive...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/this-cafe-in-vietnam-is-a-modern-day-hanging-gardens-of-babylon
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Herzog & de Meuron designs a Horizontal Skyscraper for Moscow

Building on an urban waterfront often means compromised views for existing structures, but that’s not the case for the “Horizontal Skyscraper” in Moscow. As part of an urban revitalization plan for an abandoned historic brewery, Herzog & de Meuron unveiled designs for two new residential blocks that will be elevated 115 feet into the air and supported by slender white stilts. By raising the contemporary additions, the Swiss architects guarantee coveted panoramic views for residents and a preserved...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/herzog-de-meuron-designs-a-horizontal-skyscraper-for-moscow
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Beautiful Bah' House of Worship unveiled for Papua New Guinea capital

The temples of the Bahá'í Faith are renowned for their beauty—and the new national Bahá'í House of Worship in Papua New Guinea will be no exception. The Bahá'í International Community unveiled yesterday the design for the national Baha’i House of Worship of Papua New Guinea, a latticed domed temple open to all regardless of religion. Locally based architects Henry Lape and Saeed Granfar created the design with the country’s over 700 distinct cultural groups in mind in hopes of creating...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/beautiful-bahai-house-of-worship-unveiled-for-papua-new-guinea-capital
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Check out this Amsterdam house created with trash and items from eBay

Garbage doesn't need to simply be garbage; it can be utilized to build new things, according to Frank Alsema. Gizmodo shared Alsema's story: he's a retired TV producer who's been fashioning his home, Palais Récup, or Palace Recover, out of such garbage and items he uncovered on the Dutch eBay. His north Amsterdam home serves as a laboratory for sustainable living. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L_9Q88cw5gM

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/check-out-this-amsterdam-house-created-with-trash-and-items-from-ebay
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Researchers discover a completely new ocean zone swimming with new species

After six years of researching the uncharted depths of coral reefs in the Caribbean Sea, scientists just gave us our first glimpse and an entirely new ocean zone called the rariphotic zone. This column of water sits 130 to 490 feet below the sea surface where it is too dark for photosynthesis, but above the dark fathoms of aphotic zone. But just because photosynthetic reef building isn't happening here, the newly-designated zone is anything but barren. Scientists found 4,436 individual...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/researchers-discover-a-completely-new-ocean-zone-swimming-with-new-species
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The amount of plastic in the ocean could triple in 10 years

Plastic in the ocean could treble between 2015 and 2025, according to a new report for the United Kingdom government. The Foresight Future of the Sea report said the marine environment faces "unprecedented change as a result of direct human activity and climate change." The report also said the global ocean economy could double to $3 trillion by 2030, with opportunities like deep-sea mining and offshore renewable energy. Related:

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/the-amount-of-plastic-in-the-ocean-could-triple-in-10-years
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The world's first subsidy-free offshore wind farm is being built in the Netherlands

The world's first unsubsidized offshore wind farms are currently under construction in the Netherlands, which hopes to rapidly increase its renewable energy capacity. The underlying economics of offshore wind energy have become so favorable in the Netherlands that the project will require no public funds to be completed. Expected to be operational in 2022, the two wind farms are being built in the North Sea by Swedish energy firm Vattenfall.

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/the-worlds-first-subsidy-free-offshore-wind-farm-is-being-built-in-the-netherlands
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New pay-what-you-can restaurant opens in Fort Worth, Texas

Opened by a married couple in Fort Worth, Texas, Taste Community Restaurant offers excellent food within a pay-what-you-can model, in which many guests in need eat for free. "Specifically," Taste Community chef and co-founder Julie Williams told Dallas Morning News, "the missing middle 90 percent of the hungry who are not homeless and don't qualify for government assistance. They might be choosing between food and medical bills or medication, be a single parent trying to make ends meet, be between...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/new-pay-what-you-can-restaurant-opens-in-fort-worth-texas
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Stricter climate regulations could save 150 million lives worldwide

Researchers have calculated that the enactment of stronger climate regulations across the globe could result in the prevention of up to 150 million premature deaths. Many of these deaths are caused by the same chemicals that cause the global temperature to rise. Much of the public health benefits of strictly regulating greenhouse gases would be concentrated in South Asia, with nearly 13 million lives spared in large Indian cities alone if air pollution is curtailed. Cairo, Egypt and Lagos, Nigeria...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/stricter-climate-regulations-could-save-150-million-lives-worldwide
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World's first mass-producible 3D-printed electric car will cost under $10K

The world's first mass-producible, 3D-printed electric car is set to revolutionize the auto industry. An Italy-based electric car company XEV and 3D printing material company Polymaker launched the tiny LSEV during a recent press conference held at the 3D-Printing Cultural Museum in Shanghai. In a statement, Co-founder and CEO of Polymaker Dr. Luo Xiaofan said, “XEV is the first real mass production project using 3D printing. By saying real, I mean there are also lots of other companies using 3D...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/worlds-first-mass-producible-3d-printed-electric-car-will-cost-under-10k
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Newly launched GOES-S satellite will help scientists make accurate predictions about extreme weather

No matter what the current presidential administration wants you to think, the climate is changing. The increase in devastating storms and natural disasters are one of the most telling signs. Today’s meteorological infrastructure, however, is having trouble keeping up with the sheer size and scope of these changes — until now. The GOES-S Satellite, launched by the National Oceanic and Atmosphere Administration (NOAA) in March 2018 plans to fill in those gaps and provide valuable...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/newly-launched-goes-s-satellite-will-help-scientists-make-accurate-predictions-about-extreme-weather
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Helsinki unveils plan to reach carbon neutrality by 2035

Finland's capital city has unveiled an action plan to reach carbon neutrality, accelerating the goal by 15 years. In 2017, Helsinki resolved to switch their target year from 2050 to 2035. In the meantime, they plan to cut greenhouse gas emissions (from 1990 levels) 60 percent by 2030. The plan, called Carbon Neutral Helsinki 2035, outlines 143 specific actions that will result in reduced energy consumption and a greater share of renewable energy sources. In a press release, city officials said,...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/helsinki-unveils-plan-to-reach-carbon-neutrality-by-2035
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Floating sky gardens and rooftop terraces join two halves of this tower in Taiwan

The Commercial Bank Headquarters, designed by Aedas, is a 656-foot tower that’s broken up in two pieces held together by a series of ‘floating’ transparent glass boxes. The architects drew inspiration from the Chinese character ‘中’ on the logo of the Taichung Commercial Bank. The 40-story high tower is a mixed-use development comprising the Taichung Commercial Bank Headquarters and an internationally-branded five-star hotel. Instead of stacking all the large functions such as the ballroom...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/floating-sky-gardens-and-rooftop-terraces-join-two-halves-of-this-tower-in-taiwan
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Gleaming copper-colored steel wraps a solar-powered Dutch sports campus

You don’t need to be a sports fanatic to be taken with Sportcampus Zuiderpark—a €50 million sports park designed to promote a healthier society in The Hague, Netherlands. Completed by British design studio Faulkner Browns Architects, the green-roofed recreational facility draws the eye with its copper-hued steel ribbon that changes color throughout the day and its sensitive approach to human scale. Completed June 2017, the 33,000-square-meter Sportcampus Zuiderpark comprises...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/gleaming-copper-colored-steel-wraps-a-solar-powered-dutch-sports-campus
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Scientists aim to use lasers to turn light into matter

adsa   Related:   Via Phys.org Images via Imperial College London

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/scientists-aim-to-use-lasers-to-turn-light-into-matter
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New evidence suggests a massive magma plume under Yellowstone Park

A new study reveals that beneath Yellowstone there's evidence of a massive plume of magma that could run from Mexico all the way to the park. The presence of a plume has been debated by scientists for years, but if one does exist, it helps explain the heat that bubbles to the surface in the park and someday help us understand why it exists where it does. Researchers at the University of Texas found evidence for a plume under the park using seismic data obtained from listening stations across...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/new-evidence-suggests-a-massive-magma-plume-under-yellowstone-park
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SOM's net-zero Paris skyscraper will be one of the most sustainable buildings in Europe

Related: + Via

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/soms-net-zero-paris-skyscraper-will-be-one-of-the-most-sustainable-buildings-in-europe
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New electric bike offers so much storage, you won't miss your car

The CERO One electric cargo bike offers customizable storage space for riders, easing a transition from automobiles to environmentally friendly, and increasingly practical, electric bicycles. Electric bikes, or e-bikes, are 10 to 20 times more efficient than a car and offer a more accessible, motorized biking experience. E-bike manufacturers are increasingly serving the needs of urban consumers, who have become accustomed to the convenience of car cargo space. CERO One offers a novel modular cargo...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/new-electric-bike-offers-so-much-storage-you-wont-miss-your-car
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Oil and gas leases open up in Bears Ears National Monument area

Despite all its rhetoric to the contrary, the Interior Department is offering up 51,000 acres of oil and gas leases in the areas surrounding Bears Ears National Monument. Conservationists warn that fossil fuel extraction threatens priceless Native American artifacts, historical sites, dinosaur fossils and the southern Utah environment. The move comes just weeks after it was revealed that mining and extraction interests played the primary role in determining the new boundaries of Bears Ears and Grand...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/oil-and-gas-leases-open-up-in-bears-ears-national-monument-area
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Stunning temporary beach pavilion rises in Lebanon's Tyre Coast Nature Reserve

Wood, metal ties and ropes come together in this temporary space in Lebanon, forming a lightweight and deployable structure that aims to raise awareness of marine biodiversity and responsible use of the coast of Tyre. The Tyre Nature Reserve Hub, named MARAH, was designed by Architecture students of the American University of Beirut who used the project as an experiment in building of lightweight and temporary systems, as well as creating spaces that have a large social and programmatic impact. Some...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/stunning-temporary-beach-pavilion-rises-in-lebanons-tyre-coast-nature-reserve
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The world's last male northern white rhino has died in Kenya

Devastating news for wildlife enthusiasts today: Sudan, the world's last male northern white rhino, has died. Ol Pejeta Conservancy and the Dvůr Králové Zoo announced the 45-year-old rhino was euthanized at the 90,000-acre non-profit wildlife facility Kenya on March 19 after being unable to overcome age-related muscle and bone degeneration or debilitating skin wounds. "His condition worsened significantly in the last 24 hours; he was unable to stand up and was suffering a great deal," Ol Pejeta...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/ol-pejeta-conservancy-announces-the-worlds-last-male-northern-rhino-has-died
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The Buitenhuis is a tiny house you can rent in the woods of the Netherlands

Related: + Via

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/the-buitenhuis-is-a-tiny-house-you-can-rent-in-the-woods-of-the-netherlands
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Uber grounds all self-driving vehicles after fatal Arizona accident

An autonomous Uber vehicle killed a woman in Tempe, Arizona on Sunday, and the company has since halted all self-driving tests across the country. Elaine Herzberg, 49, was reportedly pushing a bicycle full of plastic bags when she abruptly shifted from a center median into a lane of traffic, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. Tempe police chief Sylvia Moir said that it would have been difficult for any vehicle, autonomous or otherwise, to have avoided the collision. Some incredibly...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/uber-grounds-all-self-driving-vehicles-after-fatal-arizona-accident
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Vincent Callebaut's Arboricole tower brings vertical agriculture to the city

Vincent Callebaut Architectures, known for green projects that combine smart building with advanced renewable energy solutions, unveiled a new “biophilic” design that brings agriculture to the city. The sinuous building, named Arboricole, allows its residents to grow food on their own terraces thanks to permaculture. The design aims to answer a vital question- how can we adapt our European historic cities to climatic change, to the phenomena of strong floods, heavy rains, and current heat...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/vincent-callebauts-arboricole-tower-brings-vertical-agriculture-to-the-city
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Swooping rooflines make this proposed Silicon Valley home a sculptural work of art

Cambridge-based design studio WOJR has proposed an unusual Silicon Valley home that stands out from the pack with its swooping rooflines and sculptural appearance both inside and out. Located in Los Altos, the House of Horns will be built on top of an existing foundation originally intended for an “elaborate Spanish style home.” In contrast to the former proposed designs, the new dwelling embraces minimalism with clean lines and a restrained neutral palette. Though the project...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/swooping-rooflines-make-this-proposed-silicon-valley-home-a-sculptural-work-of-art
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Riken Yamamoto unveils green-roofed designs for Taiwans Taoyuan Museum of Art

Taiwan’s Taoyuan City is often passed over for its glitzier neighbor Taipei, but a new proposed art museum could give the city an extra boost in attracting new talent and tourists. Kanazawa-Based Riken Yamamoto & Field Shop unveiled competition-winning designs for the Taoyuan Museum of Art that comprises a pair of dramatically sloped green-roofed buildings. Dubbed “The Hill,” the multipurpose art museum will be located in the heart of the city and serve as a new community hub. Created...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/riken-yamamoto-unveils-green-roofed-designs-for-taiwans-taoyuan-museum-of-art
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Just before he died, Stephen Hawking predicted the 'end of the universe'

Just before he died, Stephen Hawking was working on a groundbreaking study that predicted the end of the world and sought to prove the multiverse theory. His co-author Professor Thomas Hertog, of KU Leuven University in Belgium, says that the work is so important that Hawking could - and "should" - have received a Nobel Prize had he not passed away last week. Hawkings paper, titled "A Smooth Exit From Eternal Inflation," looked at ways in which humans could identify parallel universes...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/just-before-he-died-stephen-hawking-predicted-the-end-of-the-universe
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Agtech start-up Plenty plans to grow hydroponic peaches

San Francisco-based Plenty is expanding the possibilities of what can be grown in indoor farms, with its sights set on peaches. Plenty uses a hydroponic growing system, which feeds crops through a steady flow of nutrient-rich water, to grow high-quality, local produce. This kind of system is typically used to grow annual crops, not perennial trees like peaches. Nonetheless, Plenty's success has the company confident that it can break new ground. "[Plenty's kale] is nothing like the tough, bitter...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/agtech-start-up-plenty-plans-to-grow-hydroponic-peaches
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Airbus wants to harpoon a satellite and bring it back to Earth

The aeronautics company Airbus is currently testing a one-meter long harpoon that they hope to use to catch an abandoned space station called Envisat and pull it back to Earth. This particular proposal aims to develop a technology capable of dealing with the rising problem of space debris. “If we can design a harpoon that can cope with Envisat, then it should be able to cope with all other types of spacecraft including the many rocket upper-stages that remain in orbit,” project engineer Alastair...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/airbus-wants-to-harpoon-a-satellite-and-bring-it-back-to-earth
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Scientists create protein-packed mats that fight pollution

Researchers have created a mat composed of active proteins that have the ability to absorb chemical pollution. In a study published in Science, scientists document how they successfully extracted an active protein from a cell without killing the protein, a breakthrough that could pave the way to a new class of pollution-fighting technology. “We think we’ve cracked the code for interfacing natural and synthetic systems,” study author and professor at the University of California, Berkeley Ting...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/scientists-create-protein-packed-mats-that-fight-pollution
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Scientists predict catastrophic loss of forest fauna and flora with existing CO2 emissions

If we don't do something to slow our carbon emissions, we could lose up to half of all the plant and animal species in the world's forests. A new report by the World Wildlife Federation shows that a temperature increase of more than 1.5 degrees Celcius would decimate the flora and fauna of the vital ecosystems in Asia, Africa, North America, South America and Australia. Since scientists project that we are likely headed towards a rise of 3.2C, the implications could be disastrous. According...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/scientists-predict-catastrophic-loss-of-forest-fauna-and-flora-with-existing-co2-emissions
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Swiss police to replace diesel fleet with 7 Tesla Model X-100Ds

The Swiss police are electrifying! The Basel-Stadt canton announced in a recent press release that they plan to replace their fleet of diesel vehicles with seven Tesla Model X-100D electric vehicles. Although the purchase will be expensive, at about $147,000 a piece, the police are convinced their overall costs will fall. Plus, they expressed concern about their environmental impact. In addition to lower maintenance costs, the police expect the resale value of Tesla vehicles to be greater...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/swiss-police-to-replace-diesel-fleet-with-7-tesla-model-x-100ds
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Antony Gibbon's Flux House is a modern-day moat

Related: + Antony Gibbons

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/antony-gibbons-flux-house-is-a-modern-day-moat
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Pulling the "magic" Maya Nut tree back from near-extinction

A French-Colombian NGO is racing against time to save the Maya Nut tree from obscurity. A remarkable tree that produces a highly-nutritious fruit, Brosimum alicastrum once grew in abundance from Mexico to Brazil, but has since been decimated by deforestation, Phys.org reports. Now Envol Vert is reforesting parts of Colombia's northeastern Guajira region in order to reintroduce locals to its numerous uses. Director Daisy Tarrier tells Phys.org, "The guaimaro is a magic tree". + Envol...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/pulling-the-magic-maya-nut-tree-back-from-near-extinction
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Tactile 'Cabin of Curiosities' was built with 4,500 3D-printed ceramic tiles

Related: + Via

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/tactile-cabin-of-curiosities-was-built-with-4500-3d-printed-ceramic-tiles
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LifeEditeds newest home brings off-grid luxury to Maui

If you loved LifeEdited’s shape-shifting Manhattan apartment from a few years ago, prepare to be stunned by the design consultancy’s latest project—an off-grid luxury Maui home that produces more energy than it needs. While LifeEdited:Maui is more than double the size of the transforming Manhattan project, the Hawaii home was likewise built to push the envelope in sustainable luxury design. The home, built for LifeEdited founder Graham Hill, boasts the top of the line in eco-friendly and space-saving...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/lifeediteds-newest-home-brings-off-grid-luxury-to-maui
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The 'Dutch Mountains' will be the world's largest wooden building

Related: + Dutch Mountains project Via Dutch Mountains project

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/the-dutch-mountains-will-be-the-worlds-largest-wooden-building
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A British billionaire is building the world's biggest battery to rival Elon Musk's

British billionaire  Sajneev Gupta is building the world's biggest battery in Australia, dwarfing Elon Musk's battery project that currently holds the title. South Australia is home to a 100MW battery the size of a football field, which came online last November. Now, Gupta plans to build his own 120MW battery at a storage facility at Whyalla Steelworks, which he purchased last year. South Australia had a once-in-a-lifetime storm in 2016, which prompted the state to examine ways to prevent...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/a-british-billionaire-is-building-the-worlds-biggest-battery-to-rival-elon-musks
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Despite Trump's rhetoric, US officials are still working to stop climate change

When Trump stepped away from the historic Paris climate agreement and proposed slashing the EPA and climate research budget, he signaled to the world that reducing carbon emissions wasn't a priority for the US. But what Trump says and what his government does are two different things. While Trump continues to bloviate, federal agencies and scientists keep collaborating in international efforts to fight climate change. Despite what Trump has said, the State Department, government scientists,...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/despite-trumps-rhetoric-us-officials-are-still-working-to-stop-climate-change
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Trump fills his wildlife protection board with big-game trophy hunters

A new federal advisory board commissioned to rewrite rules governing the import of hunted animal trophies has been packed by President Trump with big-game trophy hunters, many of whom maintain close relations to President Trump and his family and are most likely to support Interior Secretary Zinke's agenda. Zinke's approach is guided by the belief that the most effective way to protect endangered animals is to facilitate their killing by American hunters. A social media and background review by...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/trump-fills-his-wildlife-protection-board-with-big-game-trophy-hunters
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The companies storing energy in cold air

While renewable sources of energy are gaining strength in their ability to generate electricity, energy storage remains an obstacle standing in the way of wide adoption. To fill this gap, some companies are thinking outside the box and investing in developing energy storage that relies on cold air. “Compressed air is an interesting technology,” Ravi Manghani, director of energy storage at Greentech Media told the BBC. “It can be a form of bulk storage.” Alacaes in Switzerland is one company...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/the-companies-storing-energy-in-cold-air
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How millennials are changing home design

You won't be hard-pressed to find an article about the next industry Millennials are killing. As more of them become homeowners, it’s no surprise that their tastes are starting to impact home design as well. As a group, Millennials have huge buying power, and the design world is taking notice of these preferences. Take a look at several home design trends that appeal to the millennial generation such as green-focused fashions, small space living, and dual-purpose furniture trends. ADD GALLERY 1....

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/how-millennials-are-changing-home-design
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Less fertilizer, greater crop yields, and more money: China's agricultural breakthrough

Nearly 21 million farmers in China adopted recommendations from scientists in a 10-year study in an effort to improve the sustainability of agriculture in the country — and according to a Nature news article, all together the farmers were around $12.2 billion better off. Related:

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/less-fertilizer-greater-crop-yields-and-more-money-chinas-agricultural-breakthrough
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Light-filled apartment in Le Corbusiers Cit Radieuse hits the market for $741,000

Related: Via Photographs via

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/light-filled-apartment-in-le-corbusiers-cite-radieuse-hits-the-market-for-741000
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Conservationists rid Florida of invasive iguanas by smashing their heads

Invasive iguana populations have soared in Florida, and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission launched a $63,000 research project to figure out the best way to get rid of the lizards. But some people are taking issue with one method: that of smashing in the iguanas' heads. Related:

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/conservationists-rid-florida-of-invasive-iguanas-by-smashing-their-heads
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Futuristic spaceship Lucas Museum breaks ground in Los Angeles

MAD Architects has revealed new renderings of the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art that’s just broke ground in Los Angeles’ Exposition Park this week. Founded by “Star Wars” creator George Lucas, the museum will take on a fittingly futuristic spaceship-like appearance crafted in MAD Architects’ iconic curvaceous style. The $1.5 billion museum is expected to be complete and open to the public by the second half of 2021. Since winning the International Competition of the Lucas...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/futuristic-spaceship-lucas-museum-breaks-ground-in-los-angeles
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New images capture Zaha Hadids luxury High Line condos in NYC

Photographers Hufton+Crow have captured new images of 520 West 28th, the Zaha Hadid-designed luxury condos that loom large over New York City’s High Line Park. Completed last year, the LEED-seeking curvaceous building is a stunning sculptural triumph that’s equally impressive indoors with its wealth of high-tech amenities. The building’s expressive steel facade has an undeniably futuristic feel, yet its handcrafted elements pay homage to Chelsea’s industrial past. Located in...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/new-images-capture-zaha-hadids-luxury-high-line-condos-in-nyc
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These electric Porsche 911s can go 250 miles on a single charge

Related: + Voitures Extravert Via Asquire Mag Voitures Extravert, electric cars, electric porshwe

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/these-electric-porsche-911s-can-go-250-miles-on-a-single-charge
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6 cool cave homes that stay comfortable in summer and warm in winter

Cave homes have come a long way since prehistoric times. Far from primitive, many modern cave dwellings are surprisingly luxurious, comfortable, and beautiful places to call home. In addition to their head-turning location, cave homes tend to be very energy efficient thanks to their naturally insulating earth walls that keep the inside air at comfortable temperatures year-round without need for heating or cooling. We’ve rounded up six such abodes that could make you wanting a cave home of your...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/6-naturally-insulated-cave-homes-that-stay-cool-in-summer-and-warm-in-winter
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Urban Rivers designs a multiplayer Trashbot Game to clean the Chicago River

The non-profit organization Urban Rivers is currently fundraising to deploy a remote-controlled, trash-cleaning robot on the Chicago River. Urban Rivers already has a prototype out in the water and hopes to expand this into a full-fledged, multiplayer internet game, in which users could direct the trash-cleaning robot using simple keyboard directions.

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/urban-rivers-designs-a-multiplayer-trashbot-to-clean-the-chicago-river
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Space10 is taking on fast food with bug-based burgers and meatballs

Space10 is re-inventing our favorite dishes in a delicious and sustainable way. We've all heard that meat is awful for the environment, but that doesn't make the cravings for a juicy burger easier to ignore. And what's a backyard barbecue without the hot dogs? Thanks to Space10's Bug Burger, not-Dog and Neatball, you don't have to give up your fast food favorites while still staying virtuous AF. Space10 is all about figuring out ways to make the future a better place to be. They've tackled...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/space10-is-taking-on-fast-food-with-bug-based-burgers-and-meatballs
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The melting Arctic is already changing the ocean's circulation

In the far North Atlantic, scientists have uncovered new evidence that an unusual infusion of freshwater into the ocean may already be affecting the ocean's circulation. Mostly likely sourced from melting glaciers in Greenland or Arctic sea ice, the freshwater remains on the surface of the ocean for longer than denser saltwater. This could affect the ocean's natural process known as convection, in which northbound surface water becomes denser and colder, thus sinking then traveling south at great...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/the-melting-arctic-is-already-changing-the-oceans-circulation
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Meet the Monocabin, a tiny home rental mere steps from the Aegean Sea

Related: Via Photographs via

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/meet-the-monocabin-a-tiny-home-rental-mere-steps-from-the-aegean-sea
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Ryan Zinke claims wind energy contributes to global warming

Wind turbines kill 750,000 birds every year, according to Donald Trump's Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke. There's one problem with that shocking figure: it's wrong. Zinke also condemned wind power for its carbon footprint, while saying the Interior Department should partner with fossil fuel companies. Related:

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/ryan-zinke-claims-wind-energy-contributes-to-global-warming
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This French art collective is building the world's largest hanging garden

Related: + Les Machines de L’ile Via This is Colossal Les Machines de L’ile, the Heron Tree project

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/this-french-art-collective-is-building-the-worlds-largest-hanging-garden
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90% of bottled water contains microplastics, according to a new study

If you thought you were safe drinking bottled water, think again. The Guardian reports that a new study commissioned by Orb Media has found microplastics in 90 percent of 259 bottles of water tested. Surveying several brands in nine different countries, scientists from the State University of New York in Fredonia told The Guardian some of the bottles contained twice as many plastic particles as tap water they had previously studied. To highlight the particles in any given sample, the scientists...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/90-of-bottled-water-contains-microplastics-according-to-a-new-study
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BIG unveils designs for bow tie-shaped National Theater of Albania

Albania’s capital of Tirana is undergoing exciting changes—including a new National Theater of Albania designed by Bjarke Ingels Group. The proposed bow tie-shaped theater is an extension of the government’s ongoing efforts for turning the city into a greener, more pedestrian-friendly place to live, work, and travel. Designed to replace the existing theater, the 9,300-square-meter contemporary complex will be located in downtown Tirana and host local and touring theater companies within a 3-in-1...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/big-unveils-designs-for-bow-tie-shaped-national-theater-of-albania
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PUP Architects disguises a tiny house as a rooftop air duct

PUP Architects disguised a dwelling as a rooftop air duct to bring attention to London’s housing crisis. The unusual pop-up pavilion is the winner of this year’s Architecture Foundation Antepavilion competition for sustainable housing alternatives. The “guerrilla habitation” project playfully exploits development loopholes by fashioning a habitable rooftop space atop a canal-side warehouse in east London. PUP Architect’s H-VAC structure beat out 128 proposals in property...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/pup-architects-hides-a-dwelling-inside-a-rooftop-air-duct-shaped-pavilion
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China is winning the war on air pollution

When it comes to air pollution, China is notorious for having some of the worst on the planet. So in 2014, the country declared war on smog, and the results are in: China is killing it. In just four years, pollution is down 32 percent on average. Now, the country is leading the way in proving to the world that meaningful change is possible. Getting to this point wasn't easy. The Chinese government has been very aggressive in controlling pollution.

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/china-is-winning-the-war-on-air-pollution
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USDA withdraws Obama-era animal welfare standards for organic meat, eggs and dairy

The United States Department of Agriculture has officially withdrawn an Obama-era rule that would have established basic animal welfare standards for organic meat, eggs, and dairy products. The Trump Administration justified its reversal by claiming that the rule "exceeds the department’s statutory authority and that the changes to the existing organic regulations could have a negative effect on voluntary participation in the National Organic Program." The Organic Livestock and Poultry Practices...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/usda-withdraws-obama-era-animal-welfare-standards-for-organic-meat-eggs-and-dairy
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"Have to have see-through," says Trump of border wall

Donald Trump keeps plowing ahead with his border wall idea, and during his trip to California looked over eight wall prototypes in Otay Mesa. His feedback? "You have to have see-through," the president told reporters according to CBS Los Angeles. "You have to know what's on the other side of the wall. You could be two feet away from a criminal cartel and you don't even know they're there." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IWCsSenJNmk

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/have-to-have-see-through-says-trump-of-border-wall
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Studio Gang unveils plans to renovate and expand the Arkansas Arts Center

Studio Gang just unveiled first images of the renovation and extension project expected to strengthen the connections between different spaces of the Arkansas Arts Center. The new scheme will comprise a series of glazed pavilions with pleated roofs as an addition to the arts center, as well refurbishment of the existing exhibition, education and performance facilities. Studio Gang collaborated with landscape architect Kate Orff of SCAPE to deliver a design that is expected to increase visitor...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/studio-gang-unveils-plans-to-renovate-and-expand-the-arkansas-arts-center
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Beloved physicist Stephen Hawking passes away at 76

Stephen Hawking, the brilliant and iconic British scientist who inspired countless millions with his intellect and his humanity, has died at 76. After being diagnosed with a degenerative motor neuron disease that left him nearly completely paralyzed at age 21, Hawking found strength in humor and the boundless exploration of science. “My goal is simple,” he famously said. “It is complete understanding of the universe, why it is as it is and why it exists at all.” Throughout his life, Hawking...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/beloved-physicist-stephen-hawking-passes-away-at-76
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New nanowood insulation is more environmentally friendly than Styrofoam

Scientists have created a new insulating material from wood that bests Styrofoam: it's "stronger and much more environmentally friendly," according to the University of Maryland. Their material, called nanowood, can come in thin, flexible pieces or in blocks. Related: Incredible new "super wood" is as strong as steel

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/new-nanowood-insulation-is-more-environmentally-friendly-than-styrofoam
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Family of five moves from a 2,100-square-foot-house to a beautifully renovated school bus

Related: + Via

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/family-of-five-moves-from-a-2100-square-foot-house-to-a-beautifully-renovated-school-bus
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'Acoustic lighthouses' could warn birds about wind turbines

Birds and humans don't always co-exist peacefully — millions of the small animals fly into buildings, wind turbines, cell towers, and even planes per year. William & Mary behavioral biologist John Swaddle is working to translate understanding of bird behavior into technology that hopefully could save their lives, and his Acoustic Lighthouse could help birds fly around man-made structures. Related:

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/acoustic-lighthouses-could-warn-birds-about-wind-turbines
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This hand-built island is the start of Copenhagens parkipelago of floating public spaces

A tiny wooden island floating in Copenhagen harbor is bringing life and interest back to the city’s waters. Australian architect Marshall Blecher and Magnus Maarbjerg of Danish design studio Fokstrot designed CPH-Ø1, an experimental floating island park buoyed by recycled plastic bottles that could bring about more floating public spaces all along the city’s waters. Created as a prototype for the Copenhagen Islands project, the 215-square-foot timber island is punctuated by a single linden tree...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/this-hand-built-island-is-the-start-of-copenhagens-parkipelago-of-floating-public-spaces
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MVRDV redesign of Europes largest urban shopping center breaks ground in France

Construction has kicked off on Lyon Part-Dieu, MVRDV’s competition-winning design for Europe’s largest downtown shopping center that promises much more than retail therapy. Conceived as an antidote to the existing mall’s car-centered design, the new shopping center will emphasize the public realm with a human scale and pedestrian friendly experience. The mall will be integrated into the urban fabric and bring in greenery with landscaped areas from the ground floor to the public green roof....

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/mvrdv-redesign-of-europes-largest-urban-shopping-center-breaks-ground-in-france
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These 3D-printed off-grid tiny houses can withstand hurricanes and earthquakes

These 3d-printed off-grid homes, manufactured by Ukrainian startup PassivDom, are not only completely self-sufficient, but can also withstand hurricanes and earthquakes. The "gadget houses" use solar power for all its energy requirements and come as fully furnished modules with self-learning control systems that users can manage remotely by smartphone. The houses use solar energy to satisfy all the energy needs of their occupants: climate control (heating and cooling), air humidity, air quality...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/these-3d-printed-off-grid-homes-can-withstand-hurricanes-and-earthquakes
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Construction resumes on the tallest tower in the world

Construction on the world's tallest building has been stalled at the 63rd floor of Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture's Jeddah Tower in Saudi Arabia. Now, according to the local news, construction has resumed. Once completed, which is slated to happen in 2020, the building will rise 3,281 feet (1,000 metres) into the sky. Right now, the world's tallest building is the 2,716 foot-tall Burj Khalifa in Dubai. Related: + Via

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/construction-resumes-on-the-tallest-tower-in-the-world
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New evidence shows humans survived massive volcanic eruption 74,000 years ago

Researchers have uncovered evidence that groups of humans survived a massive volcanic eruption at the Toba caldera, a supervolcano in Sumatra, and its fallout by going coastal. “It is possible that people moved out of terrestrial locations and into this more productive coastal zone,” study co-author Curtis Marean told Inverse. “Think of it as a refuge.” Inland wildlife, plants and fungus faced a greater disruptive impact than those located closer to the coast, a key fact that enabled savvy...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/new-evidence-shows-humans-survived-massive-volcanic-eruption-74000-years-ago
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