LEED Gold home celebrates Utah's brilliant light and beauty

Designed to “celebrate Utah’s brilliant light and raw beauty,” this LEED Gold-certified family home in Utah embraces indoor-outdoor living throughout. Salt Lake City-based Sparano + Mooney Architecture crafted the home for clients who sought the perfect mountain home in Park City, Utah. Working in step with interior designer Julie Chahine of J Squared interior design and the clients who had a clear idea of what they wanted, the architects pulled together a sustainable and contemporary dwelling...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/leed-gold-home-celebrates-utahs-brilliant-light-and-beauty
via Inhabitat

A dome made of rearview mirrors, seat belts and soda bottles floats on Grand River

Husband-and-wife team Amanda Schachter and Alexander Levi of New York City-based SLO Architecture recently set afloat their latest iteration in their series of Harvest Domes—massive dome-shaped installations made from locally sourced, repurposed materials. Dubbed Harvest Dome 3.0, their most recent buoyant installation can be found in the Grand River of Grand Rapids, Michigan where it celebrates the waterway’s heritage and role in powering the city’s manufacturing legacy. Measuring twenty feet...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/a-dome-made-of-rearview-mirrors-seat-belts-and-soda-bottles-floats-on-grand-river
via Inhabitat

Environmental campaign floods UK Royal Mail with empty potato chip bags

The UK postal service has implored its public to stop mailing empty potato chip bags addressed without an envelope after a surge in chip bag mailings was encountered by their courier offices. The mailings are spurred by the launch of an environmental campaign urging the most popular brand of British spuds, Walkers, to reevaluate its packaging. The producer, owned by PepsiCo, is being met with a petition signed by over 310,000 people and an online campaign that is sending unknown numbers of empty...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/environmental-campaign-floods-uk-royal-mail-with-empty-potato-chip-bags
via Inhabitat

This eco-friendly wooden laptop is designed to curb e-waste

The innovators at I Am Eco (www.iameco.com) have produced the first eco-friendly computer system. The Dublin group took a look at computers on the market and became frustrated with the waste, the earth-damaging materials, and the toxic chemicals used in the mainstream electronic market. So they decided to do something about it. The sustainability of the iameco products starts with the design, which focuses on longevity. The company claims that their computers execute up to three times longer...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/this-eco-friendly-wooden-laptop-is-designed-to-curb-e-waste
via Inhabitat

Valuable wetlands are disappearing 3 times faster than forests, new study warns

Wetlands around the world are disappearing at an alarming rate. New research shows these valuable ecosystems are vanishing at a rate three times that of forests. Unless significant changes are made, the disappearance of wetlands could cause severe damage around the globe. The study, which was complete by the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, found that over a third of the wetlands on Earth disappeared over a 45-year period. The pace that wetlands are vanishing jumped significantly after the year...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/valuable-wetlands-are-disappearing-3-times-faster-than-forests-new-study-warns
via Inhabitat

Celebrate the season with this guide to sustainable fall activities

As the leaves and sunsets transition to a fall landscape of yellow, orange and red, you’re probably dragging out your boots and sweaters. But the end of summer doesn’t mean the end of outdoor fun. In the midst of temperatures dropping and the smell of pumpkin everywhere is the perfect time to plan some fall activities. When considering your options think about the potential impact on the environment that you’re aiming to enjoy and choose earth-friendly options! Here’s a list of sustainable...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/celebrate-the-season-with-this-guide-to-sustainable-fall-activities
via Inhabitat

This itsy-bitsy treehouse in Norway offers the ultimate off-grid escape

Related: + Glamping Hub Via Apartment Therapy Glamping hub, Tiny Norwegian Tree House

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/this-itsy-bitsy-treehouse-in-norway-offers-the-ultimate-off-grid-escape
via Inhabitat

Architect crafts a new work studio from an old shipping container

Related: + Via

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/architect-crafts-a-new-work-studio-from-an-old-shipping-container
via Inhabitat

Judge stops bear hunt and returns Yellowstone grizzlies to the endangered list

The hunt for grizzlies in Yellowstone national park is officially over. This week, a judge ordered that all grizzly bears living in or near the park be put back on the list of endangered species. The ruling stops the attempts of wildlife officials to issue hunting licenses for the bears, who have been protected from hunting the past four decades. According to The Guardian, the population of grizzly bears has risen in the last 30 years, going from around 135 to over 700 today. While the numbers...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/judge-stops-bear-hunt-and-returns-yellowstone-grizzlies-to-the-endangered-list
via Inhabitat

For the first time in 86 years, environmental activists in the UK sentenced to jail

Three men who participated in protests against Cuadrilla at a Lancashire fracking site are being jailed in the UK. The young demonstrators participated in the July 2017 push back that lasted approximately four days. Simon Blevins, 26, and Richard Roberts, 36, received 16 month sentences while Rich Loizou, 31, will be serving a 15 month sentence. These judgement come after the 12 month jail-time doled out to Julian Brock, 47, who pleaded guilty in an earlier hearing and earned an 18 month suspension...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/for-the-first-time-in-86-years-environmental-activists-in-the-uk-sentenced-to-jail
via Inhabitat

MIT develops a sustainable, mass timber-building prototype modeled after the longhouse

As sustainability measures becomes increasingly important in new construction, architects around the world are turning towards mass timber—even for larger scale projects. A design workshop at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology is dedicated to exploring the design and engineering potential of wood-based technologies and recently unveiled one such example project that can even be turned into an energy producer. Dubbed the Longhouse, the mass timber-building prototype is modeled after the traditional...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/mit-develops-a-sustainable-mass-timber-building-prototype-modeled-after-the-longhouse
via Inhabitat

The Clifftop House is dramatically perched atop a challenging cliff edge

When Brisbane design studio Joe Adsett Architects was asked to redevelop a “poorly constructed ‘character house’” in Teneriffe into a modern abode for a family of seven, they faced several challenges. One was the existing property, which could not be raised or lifted, meaning that the only buildable land left was a small sliver of land that lay between the existing home and clifftop. Fortunately, the clients were amenable to the idea of building a three-story cliff-edge extension on the challenging...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/the-clifftop-house-is-dramatically-perched-atop-a-challenging-cliff-edge
via Inhabitat

Explore the worlds driest desert at these eco-friendly geodomes

On the coastal edge of northern Chile’s Atacama Desert sits the Piedras Bayas Beachcamp, sustainable and mobile lodgings that offer a low-impact stay in the world’s driest desert. Chilean architecture firm MOREAS designed the eco-friendly retreat using local materials, non-contaminant sanitary systems and off-grid energy systems. Billed as a “sustainable tourism station,” the beach camp is oriented towards the water and offers an immersive experience in the virgin landscape. Elevated...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/explore-the-worlds-driest-desert-at-these-eco-friendly-geodomes
via Inhabitat

This family-friendly home is a beacon of modern energy-efficient design in Calgary

Located in one of the most coveted lots in Calgary’s inner-city neighborhood of Rosedale, this modern single-family home crafted by local design/build firm Alloy Homes was, as the firm puts it, “designed to lead by example.” Created with an undeniable contemporary aesthetic, the Rosedale House also pays homage to the local neighborhood vernacular with a large front porch, subdued color palette and other details that match the nearby homes. The home also emphasizes energy efficiency with its...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/this-family-friendly-home-is-a-beacon-of-modern-energy-efficient-design-in-calgary
via Inhabitat

A green-roofed ski cabin blends into the lush Canadian landscape

Wrapped in cedar planks dyed black and topped with a lush green roof, the Cottage in Sutton appears to meld into the landscape from afar. Montreal-based architecture firm Paul Bernier Architecte designed the 2,400-square-foot residence as a weekend retreat for a family of four avid skiers. Modern yet minimalist, the home prioritizes views of the outdoors, in particular the vistas towards Mount Sutton in the south. Set on a north-south axis, the rectangular home appears to emerge from...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/a-green-roofed-ski-cabin-blends-into-the-lush-canadian-landscape
via Inhabitat

The off-grid Eucalyptus tiny home radiates cool, Californian vibes

https://youtu.be/KYSE3OEzTIc Related: 8 tiny homes built tough for off-grid living + Minimaliste Houses Minimaliste Houses, Eucalyptus Tiny Home, tiny home design, tiny home living, minimalist home design, tiny home on wheels, solar energy, solar-powered tiny homes, off-grid system,

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/the-off-grid-eucalyptus-tiny-home-radiates-cool-californian-vibes
via Inhabitat

Plastic-eating mushrooms are the new superheroes in combating the growing waste crisis

A new study from the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew in London claims that fungi are capable of expediting the break-down of plastic waste. The aspergillus tubingensis fungus from Pakistan was featured in the State of the World's Fungi 2018 report, which also documented fungal growths found optimal in the production of sustainable building materials and others capable of removing pollutants from soil and wastewater. Whereas plastic generally takes years to degrade, the shroom, first discovered growing...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/plastic-eating-mushrooms-are-the-new-superheroes-in-combating-the-growing-waste-crisis
via Inhabitat

A greenhouse is transformed into an experimental living space in Taiwan

Taipei-based design practice BIAS Architects recently completed “Greenhouse as a Home,” an experimental installation that reinterprets the living areas of a traditional house as five climatic zones. Created for the 2018 Taoyuan Green Expo, the project invited the public to experience the buildings with all five senses, from feeling the climatic differences to eating fresh vegetables hydroponically grown in the installation. Greenhouse as a Home consists of five independent yet interconnected...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/a-greenhouse-is-transformed-into-an-experimental-living-space-in-taiwan
via Inhabitat

LA City Council unanimously agrees to ban the sale of fur

The Los Angeles City Council made a historic vote on Tuesday by unanimously agreeing to illegalize the sale of fur. The meeting resulted in a direct order to the L.A. City Attorney who is responsible for penning the formal policy outlining the new law. The document is expected to surface sometime next month and will effectively ban fur beginning two years from the date of its approval. When completed, this process will result in Los Angeles being the largest city in the United States to ban the sale...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/la-city-council-unanimously-agrees-to-ban-the-sale-of-fur
via Inhabitat

California implements plastic straw ban at dine-in restaurants

A monumental week of reforms forged by California lawmakers saw no signs of slowing by Thursday when groundbreaking legislation was brought into effect by Governor Jerry Brown. The statesman, who has chastised the overuse of single use plastics on several occasions in the past, proudly signed a bill banning restaurants from distributing plastic straws with their customers' beverages. While diners will still be given a straw if they specifically ask for one, the small hurdle could make leaps in curtailing...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/california-implements-plastic-straw-ban-at-dine-in-restaurants
via Inhabitat

MVRDV introduces a psychedelic blend of art and architecture in Paradise City

Dutch design firm MVRDV recently completed their latest project: The Imprint, an art-entertainment complex near Seoul’s Incheon Airport that toes the line between art and architecture. Completed as part of the city’s Paradise City complex, The Imprint features strikingly sculptural facades painted white and gold that can be easily recognized from the sky as passengers land at Incheon Airport. The eye-catching visuals of the windowless exteriors are echoed in the interiors, which were installed...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/mvrdv-introduces-a-psychedelic-blend-of-art-and-architecture-in-paradise-city
via Inhabitat

MAD unveils biophilic home of the future that produces all its own energy in China

Beijing-based MAD Architects recently completed their “home of the future” prototype, a net-zero energy pavilion that aims to blur the lines between indoor and outdoor living. Created in collaboration with Chinese renewable energy company Hanergy, the “Living Garden” features a curvaceous latticed roof topped with Hanergy solar panels that are angled for optimal solar conditions and generate enough electricity to satisfy the daily needs of a household of three. The contemporary, futuristic...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/mad-unveils-biophilic-home-of-the-future-that-produces-all-its-own-energy-in-china
via Inhabitat

This tiny home is afforded extra space thanks to a large deck

Barlo Smith and Shona Macpherson are putting a unique twist on the tiny house revolution. The Australian couple spent the last 20 years in the carpentry world and recently put their expertise to the test building a tiny house of their own. Smith and Macpherson’s house, called Sowelo, accommodates six people and features dual loft rooms (complete with skylights), a downstairs lounge, and 26 feet of outdoor deck space. The Sowelo house is powered by solar energy and is made from FSC plywood....

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/this-tiny-home-is-afforded-extra-space-thanks-to-a-large-deck
via Inhabitat

"Cheesy" solar charger kit empowers students in East Africa

SunMade Cheese is one of the most inspiring solar panel charger kits anticipated on the market in 2018. Playful in its design and highly functional, the device features a charging socket for flashlights, lighters, radios and even cell phones with mere sunlight. The device was developed by YOLK, the solar company applauded for its kickstarter project 'Solar Paper' in 2015 that has sold millions of dollars worth of units worldwide. The Solar Paper charger gained global recognition as the "world's thinnest...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/cheesy-solar-charger-kit-empowers-students-in-east-africa
via Inhabitat

UK's Co-op to ditch single-use plastic bags for biodegradable bags

A popular supermarket chain in the UK is taking a step towards bettering the environment by putting a stop to plastic waste. Co-op just announced plans to use compostable carrier bags that double as biodegradable waste bags in all of its stores. The new bags will replace the old plastic carriers, which were only single-use and non-biodegradable. Co-op is introducing the eco-friendly bags over the next few weeks. Stores in England, Wales and Scotland will receive the bags first, followed by outlets...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/uks-co-op-to-ditch-single-use-plastic-bags-for-biodegradable-bags
via Inhabitat

Peek inside the BIG-designed garden village for one of the world's best restaurants

After over three years of planning, Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) has completed the new home for Noma, an award-winning restaurant that was named four times as the best in the world by the ‘World’s 50 Best Restaurants’ rankings. Opened February 2018, Noma’s new restaurant location is just outside of Copenhagen’s city center on a lakefront site near the Christiania neighborhood. The 14,000-square-foot building is modeled after a “village” that consists of eleven single-story pavilions, each...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/peek-inside-the-big-designed-garden-village-for-one-of-the-worlds-best-restaurants
via Inhabitat

Samurai-inspired home keeps naturally cool in Melbourne

Drawing on the client’s appreciation for Japanese architecture and culture, Australian architecture firm SG2 Design created the Samurai Duplex, a pair of townhouses that take design cues from traditional samurai armor. Topped with a broken roofline reminiscent of a samurai helmet, the Samurai Duplex is a sculptural dwelling with a minimalist and modern aesthetic that responds to the natural environment. To meet the clients’ request for low maintenance, energy efficient units, the architects employed...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/samurai-inspired-home-keeps-naturally-cool-in-melbourne
via Inhabitat

A quirky bar in Shanghai is built from colorful recycled materials

A playful slice of Brazil has popped up on the streets of Shanghai in the form of Barraco, a Brazilian-themed bar designed by local practice Q&A (Quarta & Armando Architecture Design Research) and built with reclaimed materials sourced from demolition sites across the city. With ceilings constructed of colorful recycled doors and hanging swings used for bar seating, this whimsical hangout exudes a beach house feel with tropical drinks to match. The use of recycled and found materials also...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/a-quirky-bar-in-shanghai-is-built-from-colorful-recycled-materials
via Inhabitat

Go glamping Wild West-style in these Conestoga covered wagons

Related: Sheep Wagons Converted into Rustic (and Adorable) Mobile Living Spaces + Yosemite Pines Resort Via Apartment Therapyy Yosemite Pines Resort, Conestoga Wagons, Covered Wagons, glamping, yosemite glamping, glamping in yosemite,

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/go-glamping-wild-west-style-in-these-conestoga-covered-wagons
via Inhabitat

Flood frequency of the Amazon River has increased fivefold

New data suggests that flooding in the Amazon River has gone up in both intensity and frequency over the past 100 years. Scientists analyzed data points from the past century and believe the increase in flooding is linked to changes in ocean temperatures. Scientists have measured the river’s water levels for 113 years at the Port of Manaus in Brazil. The researchers found that large flooding events and extreme droughts have gone up over the past 20 to 30 years. In the early part of the century,...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/flood-frequency-of-the-amazon-river-has-increased-fivefold
via Inhabitat

Charming home uses local, natural materials to pay homage to a chestnut tree

Young Czech architecture firm Valarch studio has completed a modest yet elegant family house built largely of timber to reference the property’s old chestnut tree in the garden. Named the Chestnut House, the home spans a compact footprint of just 840 square feet and comprises two sections: a larger living area and a smaller, green-roofed technical area united via a multifunctional vestibule. All building materials were locally sourced wherever possible with an emphasis on natural materials. When...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/charming-home-uses-local-natural-materials-to-pay-homage-to-a-chestnut-tree
via Inhabitat

Mars candy company plans to fix the "broken" cocoa supply chain

Some big changes are ahead for Mars Wrigley Confectionery. The company, which produces some of the most popular treats in America, is revamping its cocoa supply to help combat poverty, child labor and deforestation. The company hopes its new strategy will be fully in place by the year 2025 and fix what it referred to as the “broken” cocoa industry. “The cocoa supply chain as it works today is broken,” the vice president of the company, John Ament, shared in an interview. Critics have...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/mars-candy-company-plans-to-fix-the-broken-cocoa-supply-chain
via Inhabitat

A sustainable tiny cabin powers this holographic lighthouse of the future

Lighthouses are beloved around the world for their architectural beauty and historical significance. But in recent times, the number of operational lighthouses has sharply declined due to the advancement of electronic navigation technology. In a bid to raise awareness of these romantic maritime towers and promote preservation, French designer Nicolas Abdelkader of Paris-based Studio NAB has proposed Hololightkeeper, an experimental and sustainable project that combines traditional maritime design...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/a-sustainable-tiny-cabin-powers-this-holographic-lighthouse-of-the-future
via Inhabitat

A stunning solar-powered pavilion is planned for pasta company Barilla

London-based firm, Open Architecture Systems, has just unveiled a gorgeous, solar-powered pavilion for Italian food company, Barilla. The pavilion will be a new addition to their headquarters in Parma, Italy. Related: Confluence Park’s new solar-powered pavilions collect rainwater and provide shade from the summer sun The pavilions are actually indipendent organic elements underneath the landscape canopy cover by photovoltaic panels that provide part of the energy requirement of the...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/a-stunning-solar-powered-pavilion-is-planned-for-pasta-company-barilla
via Inhabitat

Plastic straws are a thing of the past, but which reusable straw is best for the future?

The days where plastic straw wrappers litter the counter tops of restaurants, coffee shops and fast food joins are nearing their end. With several governments like Australia and the United Kingdom banning and taxing single-use plastic items and companies like Starbucks, Disney and Hyatt taking their own environmental stand by rejecting any further distribution of plastic straws, sustainable and reusable varieties of the pipettes have been popping up all over the marketplace. Related: Starbucks...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/plastic-straws-are-a-thing-of-the-past-but-which-reusable-straw-is-best-for-the-future
via Inhabitat

A sustainable campus is built from 22 recycled shipping containers

The International Sustainable Development Studies Institute in Thailand is taking their own teachings to heart with the development of a 17-shipping-container sustainable architectural design for their campus. The multi-unit complex includes classrooms, a library, gym, conference rooms, office, restrooms, kitchen, and outdoor spaces. Another container houses a cafe. <!--more--> As an institution aimed at teaching others about sustainability, the ISDSI made every effort to minimize...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/a-sustainable-campus-is-built-from-22-recycled-shipping-containers
via Inhabitat

Worlds largest Victorian glasshouse receives a glorious restoration

After five years of restoration work, the iconic Temperate House recently reopened to the public, bringing with it an astounding 10,000 plants—many of which are rare and threatened. Designed by Decimus Burston and completed in 1899, the Temperate House is the world’s largest Victorian glasshouse and iconic landmark of the Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew. To restore the building back to its full glory, Donald Insall Associates was called upon to sensitively renovate the greenhouse and insert modern...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/worlds-largest-victorian-glasshouse-receives-a-glorious-restoration
via Inhabitat

Harvest your own produce at this solar-powered wellness retreat

The Inn at Moonlight Beach puts a fresh spin on wellness retreats. The inn, located near San Diego, California, was built with the WELL Building Standards in mind, a practice that uses the nearby environment to improve the well-being of its guests. Here’s a look at how the inn, built by architect Shangwen Kennedy, is a perfect destination for your next wellness vacation. Biodynamic Gardens The gardens do more than just grace the perimeter of the inn, lending a lush backdrop to view the ocean....

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/harvest-your-own-produce-at-this-solar-powered-wellness-retreat
via Inhabitat

LEED-targeted condos bring Scandinavian design to a Quebec forest

Montreal-based real estate developer KnightsBridge has recently unveiled Arborescence, an eco-friendly condominium project on Quebec’s Bromont Mountain that will likely be the latest addition to their line of LEED-certified properties. Quebec design practice ABCP Architecture designed the residential development, which will comprise approximately 260 units all for four-season use. The gabled structures are inspired heavily by Scandinavian design both inside and out and will embrace the outdoors...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/leed-targeted-condos-bring-scandinavian-design-to-a-quebec-forest
via Inhabitat

Sustainable desert home has a small water footprint in Nevada

Las Vegas-based Hoogland Architecture designed the Arroyo House, a forever home for a couple with a penchant for the outdoors and sustainable design. Located in the tiny town of Blue Diamond just outside Las Vegas in the Mojave Desert, the Arroyo House enjoys panoramic views of the landscape with nary a neighbor in sight. The 3,875-square-foot dwelling takes advantage of the views with full-height glazing that’s protected from the sun by large overhangs, while the water conservation and recycling...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/sustainable-desert-home-has-a-small-water-footprint-in-nevada
via Inhabitat

Frank Gehry tops Facebook HQ expansion with a 3.6-acre rooftop park

Facebook recently unveiled a peek inside MPK 21, their newest campus building designed by Frank Gehry that was built in less than 18 months. Created as an extension to their headquarters in Menlo Park, California, this striking addition blurs the distinction between the indoors and outdoors with its massive walls of glass, expansive 3.6-acre rooftop garden, and sheltered courtyard—named The Town Square—planted with 40-foot-tall redwood trees. In addition to its abundance of plant life, the building...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/frank-gehry-tops-facebook-hq-expansion-with-a-3-6-acre-rooftop-park
via Inhabitat

Coop launches fragrance that smells of old milk to combat food waste

Food waste is a major issue all across the world but one Swedish-based company is doing something about it. A Swedish chain named Coop officially launched an old milk fragrance to urge citizens to use their sense of taste and smell before throwing away outdated food. A study by the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency shows that 30 percent of food waste in Sweden is still edible. To combat wasting this amount of food, Coop, a popular grocery chain in the country, developed a spray that smells...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/coop-launches-fragrance-that-smells-of-old-milk-to-fight-food-waste
via Inhabitat

Fight food waste with these 11 ways to use leftover greens before they spoil

Salads are one of the healthiest foods out there. While they are chalked full of nutrients, salads usually do not make good leftovers. Luckily, there are other uses for these tasty foods that won’t make you feel like you’ve wasted money. Here are 10 different ways you can use leftover greens before they spoil. Sautéed Greens Certain types of greens, like arugula, kale, chard and spinach, are ideal for making stir fries and sautés. You add these greens with shallots, peppers, and garlic,...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/fight-food-waste-with-these-11-ways-to-use-leftover-greens-before-they-spoil
via Inhabitat

Stefano Boeri Architettis iridescent tower breaks ground in Tirana

Stefano Boeri Architetti, the Italian architecture firm behind the vertical forest towers, has unveiled designs for the Blloku Cube, a mixed-use high-rise marked by its distinctive energy-efficient cladding. Located in the heart of Albania’s capital of Tirana, the Blloku Cube is a multifunctional center instrumental in the Tirana 2030 master plan—also designed by Stefano Boeri Architetti—that aims to breathe new life into one of the most prestigious districts in the city. Construction on the...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/stefano-boeri-architettis-iridescent-tower-breaks-ground-in-tirana
via Inhabitat

Germany premieres the first hydrogen-powered train in the world

At last, the world’s first hydrogen powered trains have made their global debut in the northern countryside of Germany. As of Monday, two Coradia iLint locomotives have been transporting passengers back and forth between the towns of Cuxhaven, Bremerhaven, Bremervoerde and Buxtehude found just west of the majoring Hamburg. The eco-efficient models were produced by French transportation engineers at Alstom, the same manufacturers who amazed the world in the early 1980s with their world record setting...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/germany-premieres-the-first-hydrogen-powered-train-in-the-world
via Inhabitat

This 1970s Airstream is an off-grid oasis for a family of six

Jonathan and Ashley Longnecker Related: Couple restores an old Airstream into a chic tiny home on wheels + Tiny Shiny Home Via Dwell Tiny Shiny Home, Airstream Renovation, Jonathan and Ashley Longnecker, airstream renovation into home, tiny home on wheels, living in an airstream, airstream design, tiny home design, tiny home DIY, interior design, tiny home interior design,

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/this-1970s-airstream-is-an-off-grid-oasis-for-a-family-of-six
via Inhabitat

Cities around the world lay the groundwork for a zero-waste future

Cities around the world are pledging to reduce waste over the next 12 years in an effort to curb global warming. During the Global Climate Action Summit, the C40 announced a new initiative that encourages cities to eliminate waste production and end the practice of waste burning. So far, 23 cities have agreed to become zero waste and will work towards that goal by the year 2030. Each city has agreed to cut down on waste that ends up in landfills by half over the next decade. The cities – which...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/cities-around-the-world-lay-the-groundwork-for-a-zero-waste-future
via Inhabitat

We love electric scooters but is the Bird trend actually bad for the environment?

The debut of city electric scooter programs within cities such as Austin, Washington D.C. and San Diego has been making headlines with promises of cleaner air and greener pastures, but is this really the case? Between LimeBike, Waybots, Spin, and Bird which has been newly introduced to the Los Angeles area, there are a plethora of companies jumping on the trend of promoting eco-friendly scooters to city planners and residents. As of late, however, urbanites have been asking why the craze? With public...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/we-love-electric-scooters-but-is-the-bird-trend-actually-bad-for-the-environment
via Inhabitat

California plans to launch its own satellite to monitor air pollution

California is planning to launch its own satellite to track air pollution. Governor Jerry Brown announced the major initiative amid President Donald Trump’s bid to decrease NASA’s part in monitoring climate change. Brown has not announced when the state will launch the satellite or how much it will cost taxpayers. Brown has long stood in opposition to Trump’s conservative administration, which has fought California’s tough emissions standards. With Trump cutting NASA funding for climate...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/california-plans-to-launch-its-own-satellite-to-monitor-air-pollution
via Inhabitat

France moves to reshape infrastructure and promote bicycle transportation

France plans to launch a major endeavor in order to triple the amount of cyclists on its streets within the next five years. The action will include building better bike lanes, providing financial incentives for commuters to switch to bicycle transportation, and cracking down on bike theft. The plan was announced by the French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe at a speech in Nantes, revealing that cycling accounts for only 3% of transportation in the European nation. Related: How to make American...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/france-moves-to-reshape-infrastructure-and-promote-bicycle-transportation
via Inhabitat

Passive House-inspired home ushers in spectacular Grand Tetons views

The sublime beauty of the Grand Tetons are fully embraced in the stunning House of Fir, a forever home that boasts sustainable and durable elements throughout. Designed by Wyoming-based architecture firm kt814 for a pair of retirees who actively volunteer for the National Park Service, this Jackson Hole abode was crafted to prioritize low-maintenance comfort with passive house design principles and universal design for aging in place. In fact, the home’s energy-efficient construction was put to...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/passive-house-inspired-home-ushers-in-spectacular-grand-tetons-views
via Inhabitat

An off-grid cabin on a remote island is inspired by Japanese design

Related: This tiny off-grid cabin in the UK is clad with reclaimed slate tiles + Maguire + Devine Architects Via Dwell Maguire + Devine Architects, Bruny Island Cabin, tiny cabin design,

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/an-off-grid-cabin-on-a-remote-island-is-inspired-by-japanese-design
via Inhabitat

Get ready for an adventure with this ultimate checklist of backpacking essentials

Lace up your hiking boots and trod into places inaccessible via horse, quad, or car. Backpacking allows you to explore the outdoors while enjoying a little distance from the crowds squished together at the state campgrounds. There’s just something about planning for, and carrying in, all the supplies you need for backwoods camping that is empowering and exciting. Once you’ve decided to give backpacking a try, make sure you’ve got the essentials covered. You will find that you can survive with...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/get-ready-for-an-adventure-with-this-ultimate-checklist-of-backpacking-essentials
via Inhabitat

Passenger service Gett launches carbon-free travel in the UK

The black car transportation service, Gett, which is used as an alternative to Lyft and Uber in the United Kingdom is embarking on a new endeavor - implementing carbon free and carbon positive rides for all of its passengers. The company, recognized by Forbes as one of the "top 15 explosively growing companies" has raised over $700 million in funding overall, including contributions for its various carbon offset programs that will achieve this new mission. The company's Sept 13 announcement  featured...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/passenger-service-gett-launches-carbon-free-travel-in-the-uk
via Inhabitat

DIY fall decor using upcycled items from thrift stores

Fall is a great time to bust out new decorations, but you don’t have to break the budget to make your house stand out. Making your own fall decorations is a great way to save money and help the environment at the same time. From floating shelves to fall clothing accessories, here are 8 fall decorations you can make from common thrift store items. Cake Stand Display Nothing says fall like fresh pumpkins. You can proudly display these fall staples using an old cake stand, or build your own from...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/diy-fall-decor-using-upcycled-items-from-thrift-stores
via Inhabitat

Henning Larsen unveils green, mountain-inspired buildings for Shanghai

Henning Larsen Architects has unveiled designs for the first phase of the “The Springs,” a mixed-use development currently underway in Shanghai that aims to embrace a “green living” lifestyle. Inspired by a style of traditional Chinese landscape painting called ‘shan shui,’ the Danish architecture firm crafted the buildings in the image of the dramatic mountain landscapes found throughout rural China. Trees and gardens will grow on top and around the stepped towers to create an immersive...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/henning-larsen-unveils-green-mountain-inspired-buildings-for-shanghai
via Inhabitat

Retro-inspired beach hut rotates to catch the sun's rays all day long

Related: + Jak Studio Via Dezeen Jak Studio

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/retro-inspired-beach-hut-rotates-to-catch-the-suns-rays-all-day-long
via Inhabitat

Shipping containers become a spectacular plant-covered gallery

São Paulo-based architecture studio SuperLimão and architect Gabriela Coelho recently completed GSC, a massive multi-use collectors gallery built from shipping containers and other metal materials. Located in a lush area of São Paulo, the spacious complex also contains an office, a gym, a small workshop, a kennel and additional gallery space for the client’s other prized items. The industrial character of the cargotecture project was softened with the addition of turf and potted plants while...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/shipping-containers-become-a-spectacular-plant-covered-gallery
via Inhabitat

Global movement will call out consumer brands most responsible for plastic pollution

The Story of Stuff Project is launching its global call to action in combatting plastic pollution worldwide. The ambitious initiative plans to identify the most pervasive polluter companies found in waste while simultaneously cleaning up costal and inland communities across the country. The plastic waste brand audit is the first of its kind and intends to underline responsibility and accountability at the very source of our world’s growing trash crisis. Related: Indonesia mobilizes 20,000 citizens...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/global-movement-will-call-out-consumer-brands-most-responsible-for-plastic-pollution
via Inhabitat

Google Street View cars will map air pollution in cities worldwide

Air quality sensors are coming to a Google Street View car near you. The tech giant just announced plans to introduce sensors from a San Francisco company called Aclima that test air quality in cities and towns all across the globe. The Google Street View cars take photographs and incorporate them into Google Maps. Aclima is installing the air quality sensors in vehicles based in Mexico City, Houston, and Sydney. The sensors will detect amounts of carbon dioxide, nitric oxide, carbon monoxide,...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/google-street-view-cars-will-map-air-pollution-in-cities-worldwide
via Inhabitat

A green-roofed underground extension breaks the mold for school architecture

When Singaporean architecture firm Park + Associates was tapped to design an extension for Nanyang Girls’ High School in the heart of the city, they knew that they’d have to think creatively. The brief called for two large four-story blocks that would house a variety of programs, including classrooms, a large performing arts center and a multipurpose indoors sports hall. To meet these requirements without overshadowing the school’s existing architecture, the firm built the spaces below ground—an...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/a-green-roofed-underground-extension-breaks-the-mold-for-school-architecture
via Inhabitat

NY man spends 6 years building this incredible, energy-efficient hobbit home

Related: + Via

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/ny-man-spends-6-years-building-this-incredible-energy-efficient-hobbit-home
via Inhabitat

This beautiful Washington cabin meets net-zero targets even in extreme temperatures

Nestled in a historic mining area in Washington State’s Cascade Mountains, a holiday retreat offers luxurious comfort without compromising sustainability targets. Despite the region’s freezing cold winters and extremely hot summers, Bainbridge Island-based Coates Design Architects crafted the Tumble Creek Cabin to net-zero energy standards using renewable energy and passive solar strategies rather than traditional energy consumptive cooling and heating systems. Powered by solar energy, the energy-efficient...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/this-beautiful-washington-cabin-meets-net-zero-targets-even-in-extreme-temperatures
via Inhabitat

Mobile app Karma tackles food waste with discounted meals

The 2016 launch of Karma in Sweden has brought about a new way of fighting food waste. Since then over 1,500 businesses such as restaurants, bakeries, cafes and hotels as well as the three largest supermarket chains in Sweden have joined the battle to reduce produce and meals that are thrown away despite being perfectly edible. The mobile app offers restaurateurs and retailers the opportunity to sell their otherwise wasted products at a fraction of a price to hungry Swedes and now Londoners as well. Related:...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/mobile-app-karma-tackles-food-waste-with-discounted-meals
via Inhabitat

Hurricane Florence could cause dangerous floods of toxic sludge and animal waste

Torrential rains are not the only thing Hurricane Florence will bring once it hits landfall. The massive storm is expected to dump record amounts of rain in the Southeastern United States, rain that could overflow toxic waste and animal manure sites along the coast. One toxic waste site in North Carolina is particularly vulnerable to the incoming storm. The state tasked Duke Energy Corp. with cleaning up coal-ash ponds in the area because they posed serious hazards to nearby communities. The...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/hurricane-florence-could-cause-dangerous-floods-of-toxic-sludge-and-animal-waste
via Inhabitat

A 6-foot-tall man lives comfortably in this custom tiny home

Related: + Via

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/a-6-foot-tall-man-lives-comfortably-in-this-custom-tiny-home
via Inhabitat

Two design students build a charming, off-grid summer cabin in a remote Finnish forest

https://vimeo.com/119255501 Related: Norwegian cabin weathers a harsh climate for breathtaking views + Studio Politaire Via Houzz Photography by Andre Boettcher Photography Studio Politaire, Summer Cabin Norway,

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/two-design-students-build-a-charming-off-grid-summer-cabin-in-a-remote-finnish-forest
via Inhabitat

Striking, solar-powered LA roundabout manages stormwater runoff with art

Public art and stormwater management go hand in hand in the Riverside Roundabout, a circular intersection that’s far more functional and eye-catching than your average traffic rotunda. Designed by local art studio Greenmeme, the Riverside Roundabout is the “first modern roundabout in Los Angeles” that doubles as a stormwater detention landscape vegetated with native, water-wise plants that also help fight air pollution. Powered with solar energy, the bio-retention installation is also marked...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/striking-solar-powered-la-roundabout-manages-stormwater-runoff-with-art
via Inhabitat

Natural Habitat Adventures launches world's first zero-waste vacations

In a travel-industry first, Natural Habitat Adventures is spearheading the first ever zero waste vacation package. The groundbreaking trip will take place in summer 2019 where 14 travelers are set to visit Yellowstone Park from July 6-12. The Safari America: Yellowstone Country adventurers will pioneer the sustainable travel industry, refusing, recycling, composting, upcycling, and reusing at least 99% of all waste produced during the trip. Sponsoring organisation, Nat Hab hopes to be able to avoid...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/natural-habitat-adventures-launches-worlds-first-zero-waste-vacations
via Inhabitat

Climate change is expected to bring more intense storms like Hurricane Florence

Hurricane Florence is on a collision course with the Southeastern United States. The immense and powerful storm will create high winds and surges along coastal towns and cities, but scientists are more concerned about how much rain Florence might produce. James Kossin, a climate scientist with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, says flooding is the biggest risk with the incoming hurricane. Florence is moving so slow across the ocean that it might come to a standstill once it...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/climate-change-is-expected-to-bring-more-intense-storms-like-hurricane-florence
via Inhabitat

Timber-clad modern home in New York takes a sensitive approach to the landscape

When an experimental modern dance choreographer tapped Anik Pearson Architects to design and build a legacy family compound in Upstate New York, the New York City-based firm took to the challenge by not only finding an appropriate site, but also designing the master plan, which includes the recently completed main house. Clad in timber and set on a steep slope, the spacious abode prioritizes low maintenance care, sensitivity to the environment and energy efficient design. In addition to the use of...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/timber-clad-modern-home-in-new-york-takes-a-sensitive-approach-to-the-landscape
via Inhabitat

ESCAPE offers free tiny home rentals that could earn you money

If you’ve ever wanted to earn some side cash with a tiny house rental but never had the means or time to invest in one, here’s your chance. After having long wowed us with their luxurious tiny house builds, Wisconsin-based ESCAPE Homes has launched the “Free ESCAPE Tiny House Program” and they’re looking to partner with anyone with a qualifying property. If you’re approved, ESCAPE will deliver and set up one of their award-winning homes as a rental unit on your site completely free of...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/escape-offers-free-tiny-home-rentals-that-could-earn-you-money
via Inhabitat

The ugly truth about the imperfect food movement

The imperfect food movement is rising in popularity as companies, like Imperfect Produce in Silicon Valley, capitalize on a growing trend around the country. Imperfect Produce offers boxes of ugly and misshapen produce to customers, saving a lot of food that would otherwise be discarded. While the movement is cutting down on food waste, small farmers are worried that it might have a negative affect on their livelihood. Origins Of The Imperfect Food Movement Startups like Imperfect Produce are not...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/the-ugly-truth-about-the-imperfect-food-movement
via Inhabitat

Role-playing video game sparks climate action in players worldwide

Research published last week in the journal PLoS One examined the effects of World Climate Simulation, a role-playing game of the UN Climate talks. The video game found that 81% of participants showed an increased desire to combat climate change. The catalyst even propelled inducements in players that identified with politics that favor free market systems and often neglect or deny human complicity in bringing about global warming and environmentally destructive climate trends. The game's ability...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/role-playing-video-game-sparks-climate-action-in-players-worldwide
via Inhabitat

Pipeline leaks 8,000 gallons of jet fuel into Indiana river

An oil company based out of Texas just confessed to dumping 8,000 gallons of jet fuel into an Indiana river. Buckeye Pipe Line, out of Houston, admitted that it detected a pressure loss in its fuel line last week. The break in the line poured fuel into a river near Decatur, Indiana, a town with a little under 10,000 people. Buckeye Pipe Line closed its line as soon as it detected the leak. Unfortunately, the leak still dumped thousands of gallons of jet fuel into St. Mary’s River, which runs...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/pipeline-leaks-8000-gallons-of-jet-fuel-into-indiana-river
via Inhabitat

A historic farmhouse is transformed into a modern home with a green roof

The building elements of a century-old farmhouse in Park City, Utah have been salvaged and transformed into a beautiful and contemporary new residence that pays homage to its historic rural past. Located on a nearly 80-year-old forested plot of spruce and cottonwood trees, the former farmhouse was beyond repair and needed to be demolished. Wanting to save the spirit of the farmhouse, the owners turned to Salt Lake City and Los Angeles-based design studio Sparano + Mooney Architecture to design a...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/a-historic-farmhouse-is-transformed-into-a-modern-home-with-a-green-roof
via Inhabitat

A sleek artist studio with Passive House elements projects over a cliff

Montreal-based MU Architecture recently completed a minimalist and modern addition that boasts dramatic landscape views of Lake Deauville and the Laurentians’ mountainous countryside in Quebec, Canada. Conceived as a multipurpose extension, the Workshop on a Cliff covers over 5,000 square feet of space and includes two superimposed garages, a workshop, a spacious creative room as well as a mezzanine level. The building is partially elevated on thin pillars so as not to disturb the tree line. Oriented...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/a-sleek-artist-studio-with-passive-house-elements-projects-over-a-cliff
via Inhabitat

Eco-friendly AgriNesture buildings promote agriculture and job growth in Vietnam

Although the majority of Vietnam’s population relies on agriculture, rapid industrialization and skyrocketing population in recent years has led to urban sprawl and the decimation of fertile agricultural land. To combat these trends, local architecture firm H&P Architects has made mending the relationship between people and nature one of the main guiding principles throughout their work. In their latest example of eco-friendly architecture, the firm created AgriNesture (Agriculture + Nesture),...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/eco-friendly-agrinesture-buildings-promote-agriculture-and-job-growth-in-vietnam
via Inhabitat

These Australian tiny cabins are designed to help us disconnect

Related: This off-grid, lunar lander-inspired tiny home is out of this world + CABN Via Archdaily CABN architects, Australian Tiny Home

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/these-australian-tiny-cabins-are-designed-to-help-us-disconnect
via Inhabitat

British Fashion Council commits to a fur-free London Fashion Week

London Fashion Week (LFW) will be the first event of its kind to go fur free. The British Fashion Council just announced that all of the designers at the event are excluding animal fur in their clothing lines. The move is a response to the criticism LFW has received over the past two years from activists and protestors alike. Over 250 protestors appeared at LFW last year, an increase from the 25 that showed up in 2016. With more people boycotting brands that use real fur, companies are starting...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/british-fashion-council-commits-to-a-fur-free-london-fashion-week
via Inhabitat

September heat waves are causing early dismissals in schools

Snow days are one of the best perks of winter, but they are not the only reason schools are closing due to inclement weather. Districts around the country are letting kids out because of excessive heat. Will these so-called “heat days” become the new norm? Schools on the east coast have been giving out more heat days than ever as record temperatures continue to hit New York, Connecticut and New Jersey. The cancellations are occurring more frequently in places that do not have adequate air...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/september-heat-waves-are-causing-early-dismissals-in-schools
via Inhabitat

Scientists working to help manatees poisoned by Florida red tide

The massive bloom of the toxic algae known as red tide has been raising states of emergency within Florida counties over the past few months as a result of ecological and health related damages. The harmful algal blooms are causing extensive fish kills as well as sickness and death in sea turtles, birds, and marine mammals such as manatees. Red tide accounts for 10% of manatee deaths in the last decade, however due to the current bloom cycle that ratio may jump to a tremendous 30% in the near future....

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/scientists-working-to-help-manatees-poisoned-by-florida-red-tide
via Inhabitat

10 money-saving tips for a green home

With more and more people becoming mindful about the environment, there has never been a better time to make your home greener. Not only does making your house more sustainable contribute to a better world, but it also puts money back into your pocket. Here are 10 ways in which you can turn your home into an environmentally friendly space. 1. Water Savings We usually think about sustainability in terms of energy savings. But being environmentally minded also means taking a closer look at water...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/10-money-saving-tips-for-a-green-home
via Inhabitat

This sustainable dog house has a green roof and solar-powered fan to keep cool

Related: + Via

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/this-sustainable-dog-house-has-a-green-roof-and-solar-powered-fan-to-keep-cool
via Inhabitat

Stow away on this stylish, minimalist floating hotel in London

If you’re looking for a more unique place to lay your head on your next trip to London, look no further than the Boathouse London, a stylish floating hotel docked on a city canal. Created in partnership with home design brand Made.com, this bespoke hotel and events space on the water was fashioned as “an industrial style barge turned contemporary bolthole” with help from interior designer Katie Hanton. Kitted out in Scandinavian-inspired style, the chic getaway comes with customizable experiences,...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/stow-away-on-this-stylish-minimalist-floating-hotel-in-london
via Inhabitat

Danish brewer Carlsberg to swap plastic 6-pack rings for glue

The Danish beer company Carlsberg is doing its part in cutting down plastic waste. The brewing company just vowed to stop using plastic to hold its cans together, instead opting for glue. Once the new policy is in full swing, Carlsberg will save around 1,200 tons of plastic every year. The chief executive of the company, Cees ‘t Hart explained how they experimented with some 40,000 variations before settling on the perfect glue. Hart described the glue as something similar in consistency to...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/danish-brewer-carlsberg-to-swap-plastic-6-pack-rings-for-glue
via Inhabitat

Burberry vows to stop burning unsold clothes and using real fur

Burberry will no longer destroy fashion items they cannot sell. The British company has officially vowed to stop its long-standing practice of burning clothes and bags they do not sell at the end of the year. Burberry’s policy change comes after the company was criticized by environmental agencies for how they disposed of their unsaleable products. In 2017, Burberry burned over $28 million worth of items to keep the products out of the hands of its competitors. The company feared that the materials...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/burberry-vows-to-stop-burning-unsold-clothes-and-using-real-fur
via Inhabitat

Blue dye could be the next key to harnessing renewable energy

Scientists at the University of Buffalo have discovered an adept way of storing renewable energy thanks to waste water produced from the textile industry. Polluted water containing blue dye, chemically referred to as methylene blue, has been found to have electrical properties and may soon be repurposed to revolutionize the battery industry in the near future. The revelation could help the textile industry, which is not known for its sustainable practices, reach a milestone in dealing with its water...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/blue-dye-could-be-the-next-key-to-harnessing-renewable-energy
via Inhabitat

A modern farmhouse in South Africa blends style with sustainability

Strey Architects and Associates are bringing a contemporary style to the countryside with their recent Link House. The home, which features a plethora of sustainable design elements, brings simple living to its finest by meshing the luxurious with the simple. In designing the Link House, Strey Architects and Associates were tasked with building a farmhouse that was both aesthetically attractive and humble. The result was a beautiful countryside home that features 3 bedrooms (1 extra guest room),...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/a-modern-farmhouse-in-south-africa-blends-style-with-sustainability
via Inhabitat

Artist revamps dingy interior of a 1962 Airstream with vibrant florals

Related: Couple restores an old Airstream into a chic tiny home on wheels + Bonnie Christine Via Design Sponge Bonnie Christine, airstream homes, renovated airstreams, how to renovate an airstream, living in an airstream, airstream interior design, floral wallpaper, homes on wheels, tiny home living, tiny home design,

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/artist-revamps-dingy-interior-of-a-1962-airstream-with-vibrant-florals
via Inhabitat

The Micropolis custom net-zero home generates all its own energy

When Cheryl and Ken Serdar saw one of the homes belonging to Micropolis®, a collection of sustainable and contemporary house plans designed by architect Arielle Condoret Schechter, knew they wanted a custom home based on the original 950-square-foot “Happy Family” plan. Taking into account the couple’s needs for extra space, Schechter designed a 2,222-square-foot dwelling that also offered all of the sustainable and modern design features defined in her Micropolis® line. Located in the Piedmont...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/the-micropolis-custom-net-zero-home-generates-all-its-own-energy
via Inhabitat

Deforestation in South America causes extinction of 8 bird species

The Spix’s macaw, a bird many would recognize as the star of the animated film Rio, is officially extinct. The macaw was listed among eight other bird species that have gone extinct in South America in the 21st century in a new study conducted by BirdLife International. While the majority of bird extinctions are associated with island species sensitive to invasive organisms and hunting, these new extinctions are linked to a growing problem in South America: deforestation. Stuart Butchart, a scientist...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/deforestation-in-south-america-causes-extinction-of-8-bird-species
via Inhabitat

Mass poaching in Botswana leaves behind 90 tuskless elephants

Ninety elephants have been poached in the nation of Botswana in what is being considered one of Africa's grimmest mass poaching sprees. The majority of the creatures poached for their valuable ivory were large bull elephants who carry large heavy tusks according to a statement by Elephants Without Borders on Tuesday. The group had been conducting an aerial survey of the animals over several weeks in tandem with Botswana's Department of Wildlife and National Parks when the discovery was made. Related:...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/mass-poaching-in-botswana-leaves-behind-90-tuskless-elephants
via Inhabitat

Indonesia mobilizes 20,000 citizens to clean up plastic pollution

Indonesia wastes upwards of 10 billion plastic bags every year, making it the second highest polluter of plastic in the entire world. To address its growing pollution problem, volunteers gathered around the country last month and participated in one of the largest plastic cleanups to date. The goal of the event was to educate citizens about the dangers of pollution and promote better recycling practices with young people. Over 20,000 people from 76 different areas participated in the event, which...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/indonesia-mobilizes-20000-citizens-to-clean-up-plastic-pollution
via Inhabitat

Wooden skyscraper city proposed for Stockholms most eco-friendly neighborhood

When Anders Berensson Architects was tapped by the Stockholm Center Party to design a new Stockholm neighborhood that would be the densest, tallest and most environmentally friendly in the city, the Swedish architecture firm responded with “Masthamnen,” a skinny timber “skyscraper city” elevated atop traditional city blocks. The mixed-use proposal includes a mix of residential, office space and retail in a pedestrian-friendly environment integrated with public parkland that connects the new...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/wooden-skyscraper-city-proposed-for-stockholms-most-eco-friendly-neighborhood
via Inhabitat

These low-energy prefab cabins are inspired by the Nordic concept of 'friluftsliv'

Related: This off-grid, prefab tiny cabin in Michigan fits a family of five + Koto Via Dezeen Koto Prefab Cabins,

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/these-low-energy-prefab-cabins-are-inspired-by-the-nordic-concept-of-friluftsliv
via Inhabitat

Solar-powered autonomous car could revolutionize travel

Related: + Via

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/solar-powered-autonomous-car-could-revolutionize-travel
via Inhabitat

The Kind Lab creates greener toothpaste that doesn't come in a tube

A tube of toothpaste is not the easiest thing to recycle. But what if you didn’t have to worry about recycling them at all? The Kind Lab, a company based out of Los Angeles, has officially come out with a toothpaste that doesn’t need a tube. The company calls it product Bite Toothpaste Bits, and it could revolutionize the way we brush our teeth. The King Lab, a company started by Lindsay McCormick, hand makes the toothpaste bites out of natural ingredients. These plant-based components have...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/the-kind-lab-creates-greener-toothpaste-that-doesnt-come-in-a-tube
via Inhabitat

Drone operators disturbing wildlife incur fines and jail time in Scotland

The number of cases in Scotland involving drone interference with animals on nature reserves has increased lately causing police and wildlife experts to become "increasingly concerned" for the welfare of the protected animals. Among the most intruded upon species are seals and several varieties of birds. While nature reserve managers and wildlife specialists are encouraging outsiders to watch and enjoy the nature and animals in the sanctuary, mounting numbers of injuries caused to the creatures as...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/drone-operators-disturbing-wildlife-incur-fines-and-jail-time-in-scotland
via Inhabitat

Energy-savvy art museum is anchored atop a historic Dutch dike

Rising out of a historic dike, the new Lisser Art Museum pays homage to the landscape’s historic context while offering a new contemporary cultural destination in Lisse, The Netherlands. Dutch architecture firm KVDK architecten headed the recently completed project and embraced smart sustainable solutions from the optimization of natural daylighting to gray water collection systems. Wrapped in earth-colored Petersen bricks, the modest, light-filled building feels like an extension of the forest...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/energy-savvy-art-museum-is-anchored-atop-a-historic-dutch-dike
via Inhabitat

Shipping containers inspire a light-filled musicians home

When a couple tapped Coates Design Architects to design a house that could accommodate their baby grand piano, they were also intrigued by the idea of using shipping containers to do the job. In response, the American architecture studio researched cargotecture solutions and settled on a cost-effective solution that combined traditional wood framing with a “container-like” design. Located on Washington’s Bainbridge Island, the Musician’s House features a layout optimized for acoustics as...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/shipping-containers-inspire-a-light-filled-musicians-home
via Inhabitat

Vintage red double decker bus is converted into a cool, retro hotel

Related: + Via

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/vintage-red-double-decker-bus-is-converted-into-a-cool-retro-hotel
via Inhabitat

Beautiful, light-filled home slots into a skinny lot in Vancouver

Faced with a unique lot size of 20 by 200 feet, Canadian design studio Randy Bens Architect was challenged to create a home with a sense of expansiveness despite the property’s back lane-like dimensions. Tapped by boutique builder Moosehead Contracting, the architects teamed up with Falken Reynolds Interiors to complete the Saint George House, a project that proves that beautiful and innovative design can still be had even on challenging sites. Interested buyers and design lovers will even get...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/beautiful-light-filled-home-slots-into-a-skinny-lot-in-vancouver
via Inhabitat

A Seattle midcentury home is restored to its original brilliance with a modern twist

When a young family reached out to Seattle-based design studio SHED Architecture & Design and interior designer Jennie Gruss for a redesign of their 1957 midcentury home in the city, the designers responded with a restoration that also integrated new modern details. Named the Hillside Midcentury, the home saw an interior remodel that leaned heavily on a mix of natural timber and brick to create a homey atmosphere. Contemporary furnishings, clean lines and an abundance of glazing help give the...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/a-seattle-midcentury-home-is-restored-to-its-original-brilliance-with-a-modern-twist
via Inhabitat

Lush greenery grows in and around this breezy Indian home

When LIJO RENY architects were tapped to design a modern house for the town of Tirur in the southern Indian state of Kerala—the name of which literally translates to “land of coconut trees”—there was no doubt that the region’s lush greenery would play a large part in the house design. To bring nature into the home as much as possible, the architects used a grid layout that accommodates an indoor courtyard, outdoor verandas and gave rise to the building’s name, the Regimented House. Numerous...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/lush-greenery-grows-in-and-around-this-breezy-indian-home
via Inhabitat