Breezy caravan-inspired annex uses passive design for thermal comfort

In Melbourne, Australia, a 1960s family home has been updated with a new contemporary extension that draws inspiration from a traveling caravan. Flanked by lush greenery, the Bent Annexe is filled with natural light and designed to follow passive solar principles for energy efficiency. The modern addition was designed by Australian architectural practice BENT Architecture for an outdoor-loving family of four and their two active Dachshunds. The primary goal of the Bent Annexe was to open...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/breezy-caravan-inspired-annex-uses-passive-design-for-thermal-comfort
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10 easy eco-friendly home decor tips

Decorating a home is intimidating enough without taking the environment into account, but choosing eco-friendly decor will be more beneficial in the long run. Here are some simple tips and rules for green alternatives in home decorating that will help reduce that carbon footprint and even save some money along the way. Perks of vintage The simplest way to positively affect the environment with your home decor choices is to buy pre-used. Some people even prefer a more wear-and-tear and the popular...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/10-easy-eco-friendly-home-decor-tips
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Net-zero Maine house is designed to blend into the forest with age

When the owner of a beautiful natural site in Falmouth, Maine tapped Portland-based architectural studio Kaplan Thompson Architects to design his house, it was clear from the beginning that the forested surroundings would play a major role in the design. Not only did the architects use a predominately timber palette to bring the woods indoors, but the two-story home was also engineered to produce all of its own energy to reduce impact on the environment. Dubbed the Blackwood House, the net-zero dwelling...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/net-zero-maine-house-is-designed-to-blend-into-the-forest-with-age
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7 ways to be a sustainable and eco-friendly pet owner

Whether we realize it or not, every choice we make for our furry friends has the potential to impact the environment. While the biggest challenge that eco-friendly pet owners face is the balance between the needs of our animals and the needs of the environment, keeping our pets healthy and happy should always come first. After all, they’re part of the family. If you’re trying to stick to sustainable living you don’t have to stop with your own footprint--keep your pet’s environmental paw print...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/7-ways-to-be-a-sustainable-and-eco-friendly-pet-owner
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NYCs plant-filled Greenery Unlimited is worlds first Biophilic Design Store

An enormous green wall and a 12-foot ficus tree await visitors at Greenery Unlimited, a newly opened retail store that’s been billed by Greenery NYC owners Rebecca Bullene and Adam Besheer as the “world’s first Biophilic Design Store.” Located in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, Greenery Unlimited is the first brick-and-mortar location for the botanic design and installation company, which has a thriving online presence and an impressive client list ranging from the likes of TED Talks and Google to...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/nycs-plant-filled-greenery-unlimited-is-worlds-first-biophilic-design-store
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Researchers find weedkiller ingredient Glyphosate in name brand beer and wine

Researchers have discovered Glyphosate — an ingredient found in some weedkillers — in name brand wines and beers. Scientists from U.S. PIRG tested 20 different alcoholic brands and found the troubling ingredient in 19 of the labels. A federal judge is currently examining the link between glyphosate and cancer because an individual is suing Monsanto, the company behind the popular weedkiller, Roundup, for giving them cancer. The director of U.S. PIRG, Kara Cook-Schultz, believes this is...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/researchers-find-weedkiller-ingredient-glyphosate-in-name-brand-beer-and-wine
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Azulik, an eco-paradise in Tulum, celebrates the four natural elements

The four elements of wind, fire, water, and air are reflected in every material, design, and spa offering throughout the campus of the Azulik resort in Tulum Mexico. With the goals of conservation and fair trade at every turn, Azulik is a 48-villa haven of relaxation built seamlessly into the jungle and along the postcard-perfect shoreline of the Caribbean. <!--more→ All of the villas are hand-built from wood with eco-friendly materials sourced locally. There are a range of accommodation...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/azulik-an-eco-paradise-in-tulum-celebrates-the-four-natural-elements
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An elegant car center in Thailand is made from 8 repurposed shipping containers

Related: + Via Archdaily Muangthongthani Carcare, shipping containers

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/an-elegant-car-center-in-thailand-is-made-from-8-repurposed-shipping-containers
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Giant tortoise believed extinct for 100 years is rediscovered

A member of a giant tortoise species once thought extinct was just spotted on a remote island in the Galapagos. Scientists discovered the female adult tortoise, commonly referred to as a Fernandina giant tortoise, off the island of Fernandina, and believe she is well over 100 years old. The group removed the tortoise from the island and brought her to a customized breeding facility on Santa Cruz Island. The scientists were part of a collaborative expedition funded by the Galapagos National...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/giant-tortoise-believed-extinct-for-100-years-is-rediscovered
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Meet Squid: Key West's solar-powered boat for dolphin tours

Visitors who want to see the 200 wild bottlenose dolphins who live around the lower Florida Keys now have a more eco option. Squid, the first lithium ion battery-powered, hybrid charter boat with electric motors, takes visitors on four-hour dolphin watching and snorkeling tours. Its electricity stores can be recharged by plugging in while at shore, via solar panels, or, when necessary, with a diesel generator. Sunflare solar panels are the secret to the Squid’s success. Since the boat carries...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/meet-squid-key-wests-solar-powered-boat-for-dolphin-tours
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This skincare and natural deodorant is made from apple cider vinegar

Transitioning to natural skincare isn’t always easy. If you’ve used conventional products for years, it can take some time for your skin to eliminate the build-up of chemicals. Sway is hoping to help with that transition with a line of detoxing natural deodorants and new vegan and cruelty-free skincare, all of which is primarily made from apple cider vinegar. Sway’s mission is to gently help your body adjust from a lifetime of personal care products laden with toxins, synthetic fragrances...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/this-skincare-and-natural-deodorant-is-made-from-apple-cider-vinegar
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Two energy-efficient cork homes are elevated off the landscape in northern Spain

Related: + López-Rivera Arquitectos Via Design Boom cork facade, cork panels

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/two-energy-efficient-cork-homes-are-elevated-off-the-landscape-in-northern-spain
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Designer creates algae-sourced alternative for plastic packaging

Food packaging has a become a target in the world of sustainability and environmentalism. Walk the aisle of any supermarket or look in your own shopping cart, and you’re likely to see package after package either made from petroleum-based plastic or wrapped in plastic. <!--more→ A few resourceful scientists and engineers have chosen to tackle the problem, including designer Margarita Talep who has developed an algae-based alternative to plastic. With the short life-cycle of most...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/designer-creates-algae-sourced-alternative-for-plastic-packaging
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Hong Kong welcomes Veda, the first vegetarian restaurant inside upscale hotel Ovolo

Hong Kong’s vegan and vegetarian scene has proliferated in the last few years, and now the autonomous territory of China has its first veg restaurant within a major hotel. Veda just opened inside the freshly revamped Ovolo Central Hotel. Well-known Australian vegetarian chef Hetty McKinnon devised the menu, and MALE and KplusK Associates designed the space. Despite an upsurge in the availability of veg foods, Hong Kong is still the world’s third largest per capita beef consumer, according...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/hong-kong-welcomes-veda-the-first-vegetarian-restaurant-inside-upscale-hotel-ovolo
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Recycling can get kids free books in southern Italy

An Italian bookseller has come up with a novel way to promote recycling. Michele Gentile, who owns Ex Libris Cafe in southern Italy, is giving away free books in exchange for plastic bottles and aluminum cans. Michele Gentile says he thought of the recycling program because he wanted to inspire children in the small town of Polla to read and be aware of the environment. To that end, his book giveaway is only being offered to school kids who donate one aluminum can and a plastic bottle to his...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/recycling-can-get-kids-free-books-in-southern-italy
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Kengo Kuma suspends a cocoon-like timber dwelling for minimal site impact

Prolific Japanese architecture firm Kengo Kuma and Associates recently worked their magic in the tiny Swiss village of Montricher at the foot of the Jura Mountains. There, the architects have designed a contemporary family home that’s partly suspended from an existing concrete canopy and wrapped with timber inside and out. Created for the Jan Michalski Foundation, the cocoon-like dwelling—named Suspended Forest—is meant to further the organization’s mission of fostering literary creation...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/kengo-kuma-suspends-a-cocoon-like-timber-dwelling-for-minimal-site-impact
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Man-made climate change now at the level scientists call 'five-stigma'

Scientists are warning that the proof for man-made climate change is now at a gold standard level. The announcement increases the call to limit greenhouse emissions to help prevent future rises in global temperatures. "Humanity cannot afford to ignore such clear signals," a team of U.S. scientists noted in their findings. Scientists say the evidence that humans are responsible for contributing to global warming is overwhelming and is now at the level they term "five-stigma." This means that there...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/man-made-climate-change-now-at-the-level-scientists-call-five-stigma
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Iceland approves killing of more than 2,000 whales

Iceland has just approved the killing of 2,000 whales over the course of the next five years. The country's government is allowing whaling companies to slaughter 217 minke and 209 fin whales per year until 2025, sparking outrage amongst environmental and conservation groups around the world. Officials in Iceland believe that killing these two groups of whales is sustainable and based on scientific studies. In fact, the minister of the fisheries department, Kristján Þór Júlíusson, says...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/iceland-approves-killing-of-more-than-2000-whales
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BREEAM Excellent-certified office of the future frames Bucharests restored Oromolu Villa

Bucharest-based architecture firm DSBA (Dorin Stefan Birou de Arhitectura) recently completed the Oromolu Office, a futuristic counterpart to its historic neighbor, the recently restored Oromolu Villa. Created as part of the Aviatorilor 8 complex in the heart of Bucharest, the three-story new-build was conceived as the “office of the future” with an eye-catching curvaceous glass curtain wall that helped the project achieve BREEAM Excellent certification. In addition to the triple-laminated facade,...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/breeam-excellent-certified-office-of-the-future-frames-bucharests-restored-oromolu-villa
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Loophole allows 1M tons of sludge to be dumped on Great Barrier Reef

The world's largest coral reef is facing a major sludge crisis. Australia's Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority just approved the dumping of one million tons of sludge on the delicate reef system thanks to a loophole in the country's law. Marine officials say that port industries have the right to dump waste that is dredged from the ocean floor wherever they want, including over the Great Barrier Reef. Environmentalists are concerned that the sludge will "smother" the reef and are looking...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/loophole-allows-1m-tons-of-sludge-to-be-dumped-on-great-barrier-reef
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8 sustainable innovations in construction materials

The construction industry is responsible for a large percentage of carbon emissions. From sourcing to design to material manufacturing to building construction, the CO2 output from projects around the world has a significant environmental impact. This has led to sustainable construction innovations that not only reduce the production of carbon dioxide, but also improve a building’s longevity, reduce energy bills, and increase the use of natural light. Here is a list of some innovative...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/8-sustainable-innovations-in-construction-materials
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Former concrete factory is reborn as a unique music-inspired high school in Denmark

Dutch architecture firm MVRDV and Denmark-based COBE Architects have just finished construction on the Roskilde Festival Folk High School, an unconventional school built inside a former concrete factory in Roskilde’s Musicon creative district just outside Copenhagen. Created to further the “lifelong learning” values of the world-famous Roskilde Music Festival that takes place every year in the small town, the high school follows an immersive and “non-formal adult education” championed by...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/former-concrete-factory-is-reborn-as-a-unique-music-inspired-high-school-in-denmark
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This on-the-go carafe heats or cools water instantaneously as you pour

Good news for coffee and tea drinkers: No more wasting time and energy waiting for the perfect cup. Thanks to Heatworks, the company that responsible for creating an innovative new heating carafe, you won’t have to. Using patented Heatworks’ Ohmic Array Technology, the DUO Smart Untethered Carafe has the power to heat water to the exact degree while you pour. The DUO Carafe has Frog Design to thank for its modern, sleek exterior, and is the third in a line of award-winning collaborations...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/this-on-the-go-carafe-heats-or-cools-water-instantaneously-as-you-pour
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LEED-seeking winery in Uruguay is built almost entirely of locally sourced materials

Nestled in the bucolic countryside of Garzón, Uruguay, the boutique winery Bodega Garzón produces estate-grown premium wines while keeping sustainability in mind. Designed by Argentina-based architecture firm Bórmida & Yanzón, the winery optimizes energy efficiency with insulating green roofs that total nearly an acre in size, rainwater harvesting and reuse, as well as a high-efficiency HVAC with heat recovery. Fitted with state-of-the-art technology, the 205,000-square-foot development is...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/leed-seeking-winery-in-uruguay-is-built-almost-entirely-of-locally-sourced-materials
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Architects use prefabricated glulam pillars and vibrant colors to create playful beach home in Rio de Janiero

Related: + Via Casa Praia Vermelha, prefabricated

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/architects-use-prefabricated-glulam-pillars-and-vibrant-colors-to-create-playful-beach-home-in-rio-de-janiero
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Botswana considers lifting elephant hunting ban due to overpopulation

Botswana is contemplating removing an elephant hunting ban that has successfully boosted populations over the past four years. Because of the increased number of elephants in the country, officials believe culling is needed to prevent conflicts between the mammals and people. Experts believe there are around 130,000 elephants in Botswana, a number that has steadily grown since the country adopted a hunting ban in 2014. Although Botswana's tourism sector has benefited greatly from the population...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/botswana-considers-lifting-elephant-hunting-ban
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This artist created a stunning art installation made from 168,000 plastic straws to encourage people to use less

Benjamin Von Wong wants to send a message: The smallest action can make the biggest impact. Even something as simple as saying “no thanks” to a plastic straw.  The world produces 260 million tons of plastic every year, and 10% of it ends up in our oceans either degrading at a painfully slow rate or not degrading at all. The numbers are constantly rising and soon the earth won’t be able to take it anymore. Among these troublesome pollutants is the humble plastic straw. Durable, too small...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/this-artist-created-a-stunning-art-installation-made-from-168000-plastic-straws-to-encourage-people-to-use-less
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New study predicts mass extinction in 140 years

A new study suggests that the old saying about history repeating itself is true. In this case, it’s taken 56 million years for earth to face another mass extinction. The research, released last Wednesday and published in Geophysical Research Letters, compares conditions in the Paleocene–Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM) with our planet’s present warming condition. Back in PETM days, carbon dioxide shot up, increasing Earth’s temperatures by 9 to 14 degrees. The tropical Atlantic heated up to...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/new-study-predicts-mass-extinction-in-140-years
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Art-inspired home sits as an 'abstract sculpture' in seaside town in Portugal

Related: + Guilherme Machado Vaz Via Design Boom Photography by José Campos Guilherme Machado Vaz, afife house

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/art-inspired-home-sits-as-an-abstract-sculpture-in-seaside-town-in-portugal
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Get ready to use soapnuts for everything from cleaning to self care

Cleaning with soapnuts (AKA soap berries) might seem like a new, eco-friendly trend, but the practice has actually been around for centuries. People in Nepal and India, as well as Native Americans, have known about the amazing cleaning powers of soapnuts for hundreds of years. But, if they are new to you, keep reading because you will be amazed at what this all-natural, sustainable cleaning product can do. What Are Soapnuts? Sapindus mukorossi - the Soapnut Tree - is native to India and the...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/get-ready-to-use-soapnuts-for-everything-from-cleaning-to-self-care
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A 1960s home gets a modern facelift with solar panels and rainwater collection

Needing more room to accommodate their growing family, a young couple enlisted the help of North Melbourne-based McManus Lew Architects to turn their single-bedroom villa into a modern three-bedroom dwelling. Built in the 1960s as part of a 10-unit development, the property—dubbed Kew Villa—needed to maintain a consistent exterior appearance to match the neighboring buildings; however, the interiors could be changed to better fit the clients’ contemporary lifestyle. The dwelling was also outfitted...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/a-1960s-home-gets-a-modern-facelift-with-solar-panels-and-rainwater-collection
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Vegetarian restaurant in the Maldives lets guests harvest their own food

Way out in the Indian Ocean, guests at a luxury Soneva resort are experiencing a farm to table experience—and they even get to harvest their own dinner. The Soneva Fushi just opened Shades of Green, its new vegetarian restaurant at the exclusive Maldives resort. The seed for the vegetarian restaurant was planted when Copenhagen-based Chef Carsten Kyster visited Soneva Fushi as a guest in March 2018. Kyster has worked at the River Café and The Sugar Club in London, as well as traveling and working...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/vegetarian-restaurant-in-the-maldives-lets-guests-harvest-their-own-food
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Believed extinct for 38 years, the world's largest bee has been found

Measuring in at four times the size of the average honeybee, Wallace's giant bee has been on the endangered species radar for decades and was feared to be gone forever. But after 38 years of searching, scientists have confirmed that the world's largest bee hasn't gone extinct just yet. A team of scientists hailing from the United States and Australia discovered a female giant bee on an island in Indonesia called North Moluccas. The bee was uncovered in a termites' nest and the team was able...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/believed-extinct-for-38-years-the-worlds-largest-bee-has-been-found
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China closes Mount Everest base camp after overwhelming trash problem reports

China is taking steps to clean up Mount Everest amid growing concerns about trash accumulation. The base camp at the foot of the world's tallest mountain is officially closed to tourists until further notice. The closure of the base camp comes after a surprising report from the Tibet Autonomous Region Sports Bureau, which claims it has picked up over 8 tons of trash from the site, including human waste and general garbage, last year alone. It is unclear when the base camp will open to tourists. "[N]o...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/china-closes-mount-everest-base-camp-after-overwhelming-trash-problem-reports
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Baux unveils sustainable acoustic panels made out of chemical-free pulp

Related: + Via Dezeen Plant-based acoustic panels,

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/baux-unveils-sustainable-acoustic-panels-made-out-of-chemical-free-pulp
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Lather is the PETA-approved skincare that reminds us all to slow down

From its natural ingredients to its carbon-neutral operations and its eco-friendly packaging, you’re going to want to lather up with Lather. First spied by Inhabitat at this year’s Indie Beauty Expo, Lather’s long line of sustainable, vegan skincare products have made themselves a new home in our medicine cabinets. Founded in 1999, Lather was started by Emilie Hoyt after she battled with migraines — which were partially caused by the harmful ingredients found in conventional skincare...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/lather-is-the-peta-approved-skincare-that-reminds-us-all-to-slow-down
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Saving the environment one hair wash at a time

In the ongoing dialogue surrounding water consumption, the length of your shower, how you water your yard and even your toothbrush usage probably come up. Another water-thirsty activity that should be part of the discussion is hair washing. Think about it. Daily shampooing by billions of people is destined to strain resources. So consider ways you can cut back on the suds, the water, and the money going down the drain. <!--more→ Hot Water Reduction Heating water is a major household...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/saving-the-environment-one-hair-wash-at-a-time
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Tesla Dog Mode is keeping dogs around the country safe and cool

For dog owners, there are few things worse than when people leave their pets in the car, especially when the temps are high. When cracking a window is not enough, Tesla is keeping dogs cool around the country with its first ever dog mode. Tesla dog mode is a specially designed feature that keeps the car cool whenever pets are left behind. It also shows the current temperature inside the car on a large touchscreen, just in case concerned citizens walk by. All Tesla owners have to do is touch...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/tesla-dog-mode-is-keeping-dogs-around-the-country-safe-and-cool
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A tiny, 96-square-foot rustic pavilion brings the outdoors in

Small and portable, this tiny structure offers a versatile shelter for the artist, fisherman, or weekend traveler. At only 96 square feet, it would make a micro home, but the space now called a pavillion is laid out for an effective workspace, storage shed, or traveling gallery for the products you produce. <!--more→ When Danish architect Anders Hermansen designed the pavillion ten years ago, he presented it as a moveable art piece. Perhaps more widely known for his vast furniture...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/a-tiny-96-square-foot-rustic-pavilion-brings-the-outdoors-in
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Amazon plans to reach net-zero carbon use by 2030

Amazon is continuing its dedication to sustainable energy and plans to reach net-zero carbon use by the year 2030. The e-commerce behemoth plans to accomplish this ambitious task by adding more renewable energy programs that will be incorporated in its shipping and packaging departments. Amazon already has several carbon cutting initiatives in place. This includes programs like Ship in Own Container, Frustration Free Packaging, and the Closed Loop Fund. The company has also invested in both...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/amazon-plans-to-reach-net-zero-carbon-use-by-2030
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Quirky glamping park on South Korean island includes modern 'pyramids' and renovated Airstreams

Related: Go glamping Wild West-style in these Conestoga covered wagons + Z_Lab Via Archdaily glamping, Around Follie, Around Follie glamping, glamping south korea,

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/quirkly-glamping-park-on-south-korean-island-includes-modern-pyramids-and-renovated-airstreams
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IKEA's new air purifying curtain will decrease indoor pollutants

IKEA has discovered a unique way to decrease indoor pollutants with a new air purifying curtain. The Swedish-based company has developed a material that absorbs and breaks down hazardous substances, improving indoor air quality. Atmospheric pollution is a major issue across the planet, especially in dense, urban environments. Scientists estimate that close to 90 percent of the world’s population lives in areas that suffer from poor air quality. IKEA hopes that its new curtain, called the...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/ikeas-new-air-purifying-curtain-will-decrease-indoor-pollutants
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Scientists believe lab-grown meat may be more harmful to the environment than farms

Scientists and environmentalists are always looking for ways to make meat consumption more environmentally friendly, but lab-grown meat may not be the solution. Scientists now say that synthetic meat might be more damaging to the environment than traditional cattle farms. Research has shown that cattle farms have played a role in global warming. In fact, scientists estimate that 25 percent of all greenhouse gases can be attributed to agriculture, with beef production leading the way in methane...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/scientists-believe-lab-grown-meat-may-be-more-harmful-to-the-environment-than-farms
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5 key benefits of green buildings on the environment and your lifestyle

The importance of buildings in society and everyday human life can’t be underestimated. They are the center of just about everything we do - from work to play - and for most people living without them is unimaginable. However, traditional structures are damaging the environment, and green buildings just might be one of the most powerful tools we can develop in the fight against climate change. According to National Geographic, by 2050 nearly 70 percent of the world’s population will be...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/5-key-benefits-of-green-buildings-on-the-environment-and-your-lifestyle
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Solar-powered Dutch home brings the coastal woods indoors

Dutch design studio Natrufied Architecture has embedded a solar-powered home into the coastal woods in the old artist town of Bergen, the Netherlands. Dubbed Bosvilla, the 4,305-square-foot abode is built with a variety of timbers, inside and out, that combine with floor-to-ceiling triple glazing to create an environment that feels like an extension of the outdoors. For energy efficiency, the architects blanketed the building with a green roof, used highly insulated materials, and installed 35 solar...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/solar-powered-dutch-home-brings-the-coastal-woods-indoors
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This Cradle to Cradle certified outdoor furniture raises the bar on sustainability

It’s no secret that single use plastic is a massive worldwide pollution and waste issue. While some companies have embraced the technology behind turning single-use plastic into fabrics and other materials as a way to remove it from the waste stream, they often only include a percentage of the recycled material, still relying heavily on virgin materials. Plus, producing waste during the process and following consumption of the product. <!--more→ Meanwhile, one company, loll Designs,...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/this-cradle-to-cradle-certified-outdoor-furniture-raises-the-bar-on-sustainability
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A modular classroom for environmental education pops up in a Barcelona park

Flexible, transportable, and cost-efficient, the modular classrooms created by local design studio Baena Casamor Arquitectes BCQ offer a sustainable new way to activate Barcelona’s public parks. Inspired by timber cabins, the prefabricated pop-up classroom is a multipurpose space sheathed in wood and crafted with a focus on environmental education for school groups and families. The architects recently installed a classroom prototype, AULA K, in the Parc de Can Zam with a built area of nearly 1,200...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/a-modular-classroom-for-environmental-education-pops-up-in-a-barcelona-park
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The Lantern is a portable home wrapped in a natural woven lattice

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from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/the-lantern-is-a-portable-home-wrapped-in-a-natural-woven-lattice
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6 of the best places to donate your things

When you are going through the tedious task of cleaning out your closets, it’s always nice to know that you can box up all of the items you no longer use and donate them to charity to help those in need. Unfortunately, there are charities out there that seem to prioritize profit over helping people. But, how can you tell which organizations will use your donations effectively, and which ones are looking to make money? The used clothing market is bigger than you might think - over $4 billion...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/6-of-the-best-places-to-donate-your-things
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Jamaica proposes ban to outlaw plastic bags, Styrofoam and plastic straws

In January, Jamaica initiated a plastic ban to curb its dependency on single-use plastics and prevent them from ending up in the island's landfills. The country uses more plastic bags per capita than just about anywhere on the planet, averaging around 500 bags a year per resident. The new ban will outlaw the use of plastic bags, Styrofoam and plastic straws. The law also includes the manufacturing and distribution of such products. The movement was led by a young senator in Jamaica's parliament...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/jamaica-proposes-ban-to-outlaw-plastic-bags-styrofoam-and-plastic-straws
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Ivory Queen sentenced to 15 years for illegal ivory smuggling

A Chinese woman was just hit with a 15-year prison term for smuggling illegal ivory in Asia. A court in Tanzania found Yang Feng Glan, who earned the nickname "Ivory Queen," guilty of illegally trading close to 2 tonnes of ivory tusks, which represents over 350 elephants. This is not the first time Glan has been charged with ivory smuggling. Back in the fall of 2015, she was busted for shipping 860 ivory pieces through Asia. The illegal goods were estimated to be worth around $5.6 million....

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/ivory-queen-sentenced-to-15-years-for-illegal-ivory-smuggling
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Zimbabwe hopes to bring attention to trafficking endangered species with the Pangolin Project

Zimbabwe is raising awareness about animal trafficking with the annual World Pangolin Day. The pangolin is the most often trafficked mammal in the entire world, with an estimated one million of the scaly creatures being sold in the black mark over the past ten years alone. The pangolin project hopes to curb those numbers and raise awareness about the growing problem of animal trafficking around the globe. Behind drugs, weapons and humans, animal trafficking is the fourth highest illegal trades...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/zimbabwe-hopes-to-bring-attention-to-trafficking-endangered-species-with-the-pangolin-project
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Essential eco-friendly fixtures to incorporate into your home

Being a steward of the environment means evaluating how many resources you and your family consume and consistently looking for ways to reduce your carbon footprint. The good news is that it’s pretty easy to make small changes to your home that can have a huge impact towards those goals. <!--more→ Water Costs WaterSense, a federal program sponsored by the Environmental Protection Agency provides information about the most water-efficient fixtures for your home. Look for a label that...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/essential-eco-friendly-fixtures-to-incorporate-into-your-home
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Don't forget to fight for these "less glamorous" endangered species

Not all endangered animals have their own PR firms to save them. Many are living humble lives outside the limelight. A new poster campaign, commissioned by NetCredit, aims to draw attention to these underdogs in the conservation movement. It’s not just the iconic species we see on nature documentaries that we’re at risk of losing forever. According to Luke Doyle, who worked on the campaign, “The research team gathered data from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to build a long list of species...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/dont-forget-to-fight-for-these-less-glamorous-endangered-species
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A green veil of plants protects this home from Ho Chi Minh City's heat

In the heart of Ho Chi Minh City’s concrete jungle, a compact family home has been infused with greenery thanks to the work of Vietnamese architecture firm Vo Trong Nghia Architects. Dubbed the Breathing House, the property is located in an extremely dense neighborhood on a plot measuring just 12.8 feet in width and 58.4 feet in length. To provide a connection to nature despite the constrained urban conditions, the architects wrapped three sides of the home in a “green veil” made of creeper...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/a-green-veil-of-plants-protects-this-home-from-ho-chi-minh-citys-heat
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VEJA unveils vegan sneakers made from corn waste

Ethical sneaker brand VEJA has unveiled their newest and arguably most impressive eco-friendly kicks yet—the Campo, a chic sneaker made with a new vegan and biodegradable fabric. The revolutionary material, called C.W.L., is made from a waxed canvas with 50 percent corn waste from the food industry. The Campo marks the first time C.W.L. has been used in the fashion industry. Developed by an Italian company, C.W.L. is organic cotton coated with PU and resin from the corn waste industry....

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/veja-unveils-vegan-sneakers-made-from-corn-waste
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Monarch butterfly conservation groups fight to conserve the species

According to the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation, an organization that monitors monarch butterfly populations, the number of monarch butterflies observed at 97 sites in 2018 was dramatically lower than the year before. In fact, the numbers dropped as much as 86%. That’s a startling statistic and is much higher than scientists expected to see. Worse yet, looking back twenty to thirty years, the records showed a population around 4.5 million, which means the rate has been dropping consistently...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/monarch-butterfly-conservation-groups-fight-to-conserve-the-species
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A solar-powered seaside home embraces contrast and scenic views

Related: + Woonpioniers Via Woonpioniers, Indigo Atelierwoning

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/a-solar-powered-seaside-home-embraces-contrast-and-scenic-views
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6 eco-friendly ways to incorporate hemp into your daily routine

After decades of “reefer madness,” the misinformation about Cannabis is finally starting to disappear, and the truth is coming out about the many benefits of the magical plant. However, many still don’t know the difference between cannabis, marijuana, and hemp, and continue to believe they are one and the same. They are not. In a nutshell, cannabis is a family of plants that have two major classifications - Cannabis Indica and Cannabis Sativa. Marijuana, which is what people consume...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/6-eco-friendly-ways-to-incorporate-hemp-into-your-daily-routine
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Environmental activists to take legal action against US Steel for polluting

Environmentalists are taking legal action against United States Steel Company (U.S. Steel) because of pollution in Pittsburg's Mon Valley. The Clean Air Council and PennEnvironment are suing the steel manufacturer for violating the Clean Air Act after a fire broke out at a facility in Clairton, Pennsylvania. "We cannot expect families to sustain this kind of health burden and trauma, and we cannot expect kids to learn, grow and flourish when they are confined to their homes, unable to breathe,"...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/environmental-activists-to-take-legal-action-against-us-steel-for-polluting
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Topas ecolodge aims to be a model of sustainability

From conception, the goal of the Topas Ecolodge in Vietnam has been to encapsulate sustainable practices at every turn. They also carry a heavy burden of social responsibility by focusing on providing local jobs and sourcing materials from the surrounding areas whenever possible. Nestled into a mountainous region in North Vietnam, they aim to assist the five local hill-tribes that remain largely untouched by the modern world. <!--more→ The vast majority of the 100 employees live in...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/topas-ecolodge-aims-to-be-a-model-of-sustainability
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6 places to find the best recycled building materials

If construction is in your future - either with a new home build or a remodel - using recycled materials for the project is definitely the way to go. Not only is using recycled materials good for the environment, but it is often much cheaper. Sometimes, you can even find recycled materials for free! To help you with your upcoming construction project, here is a list of some of the best places to find recycled items and materials. Habitat for Humanity Restore Outlets that accept building...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/6-places-to-find-the-best-recycled-building-materials
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This human-powered bakery can provide bread for 150 summer campers a day

Related: + Via Dezeen Human powered bakery

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/this-human-powered-bakery-can-provide-bread-for-150-summer-campers-a-day
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SUPERFARM design envisions an urban vertical farm that is energy self-sufficient

French design practice Studio NAB has proposed a large-scale vertical farm as a sustainable solution to urban population growth in the face of dwindling arable land. Envisioned for urban centers, the conceptual vertical agriculture facility—dubbed the SUPERFARM—aims to produce high-yielding food with high nutrition values, including but not limited to various seaweeds, edible insects, and fish raised in aquaponic systems. To minimize the SUPERFARM’s impact on the environment, the designers...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/superfarm-design-envisions-an-urban-vertical-farm-that-is-energy-self-sufficient
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Meet the all-natural face cleanser that will change your mornings

Most people wouldn’t mind starting the day with a bowl of warm, sweet oatmeal. So imagine taking that level of comfort and adding it to your skincare routine. This is exactly the kind of experience you get with Speak’s cleansing powder, a simple powder that comes packaged in an adorable glass jar. The best part of “01 Cleansing Powder” is the main ingredient, organic oats. After testing the cleanser for a few weeks, this product has become one of our favorite ways to start our day. Speak’s...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/meet-the-all-natural-face-cleanser-that-will-change-your-mornings
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Climate twins: which city will your city feel like in 2080?

The phrase “global warming” gets tossed around a lot, but do we really understand what it means and how it will feel? In the groundbreaking Paris Agreement, 195 countries agreed to limit global warming to 2 degrees Celsius - but how will those 2 degrees really affect our lives? A new study in Nature links 540 U.S. cities to other cities with a current climate that is similar to how those cities will feel in 60 years. As CityLab's Robinson Meyer explains, the study takes each city and finds...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/climate-twins-which-city-will-your-city-feel-like-in-2080
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Snhetta completes LEED Gold-seeking crystal workshop for Swarovski

International architecture firm Snøhetta is breaking the mold for industrial architecture with their contemporary and light-filled production facility for Swarovski Manufaktur. Designed to meet LEED Gold standards, this “crystal workshop for the 21st century” offers a spacious environment conducive for collaboration between the departments of design, product development, and production. Wrapped in glare-free glass, the building also features glass throughout the interior to emphasize lightness...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/snohetta-completes-leed-gold-seeking-crystal-workshop-for-swarovski
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This Garden Planner makes urban gardening easy

Gardening can seem like a daunting task. When to plant. What to plant in your area. How to effectively grow produce. When you start asking the questions, it may become too overwhelming to tackle. <!--more→ But don’t walk away from the idea of a balcony overflowing with produce just yet because the team at The Green Conspiracy understands your angst. With all of these questions in mind, they’ve designed a journal that can guide you through the process from initial planning to harvest....

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/this-garden-planner-makes-urban-gardening-easy
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Toxic bacteria found in microplastics on 3 different coastlines around Singapore

Scientists have found toxic bacteria on microplastics in waters around Singapore. The bacteria are believed to be one of the culprits behind coral bleaching and has been known to cause wound infections in people. Researchers working out of the National University of Singapore (NUS) discovered over an alarming 400 varieties of bacteria on a little under 300 chunks of microplastics. The samples, which are only around 5mm in size, were taken from three coastlines in the region: Changi Beach,...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/toxic-bacteria-found-in-microplastics-on-3-different-coastlines-around-singapore
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9 ways to add more houseplants to your home

Adding plants to your living space is an easy way to add beauty and character to your home. But, better aesthetics aren’t the only benefit of indoor gardening. Houseplants make your home’s air healthier, and they also make you happier. Plus, you can easily grow useful plants and herbs that work great for healthy cooking and as natural medicines. Even if you weren’t born with a green thumb or have a tiny space to work with, there are ways to go green with your decor. If you choose the...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/9-ways-to-add-more-houseplants-to-your-home
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Court allows Trump's border wall to violate several conservation acts

Donald Trump is moving forward with the construction of his controversial border wall, even if it means sidestepping important environmental laws. A federal judge ruled in favor of Trump's wall construction along California's southern border, a project that is expected to violate several conservation acts. The federal court ruled that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has the power to wave environmental laws in the construction of the border wall, including the National Environmental...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/court-allows-trumps-border-wall-to-violate-several-conservation-acts
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Senate approves major public lands bill

On Tuesday the US Senate reversed the trend of shrinking protected space by approving a public lands bill that adds 1.3 million acres of wilderness, creates five new national monuments, expands some national parks and reauthorizes the Land and Water Conservation Fund. This major new public lands bill is a hodgepodge of more than 100 individual bills related to conservation and outdoor recreation. Now more than 350 miles of river will attain the designation “wild and scenic,” which safeguards...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/senate-approves-major-public-lands-bill
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Nissan unveils incredible solar-powered mobile workshop for woodworkers

Related: + Studio Hardy Via Tree Hugger van conversion, Woodworkers' mobile workshop

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/nissan-unveils-incredible-solar-powered-mobile-workshop-for-woodworkers
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Compensation for conservation: water markets are economists' answer to scarcity

As cites grow and put more pressure on water sources, scarcity is an increasingly important issue. More than two thirds of the world's population experience a water shortage every year. Just because water continues to reach your tap does not mean your area isn’t experiencing a shortage. Instead, it could mean your town is forced to tap sources, such as rivers, faster than they can renew. Economists have introduced one solution – water markets – that assign a value to usage under the premise...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/compensation-for-conservation-water-markets-are-economists-answer-to-scarcity
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Biofase has discovered a unique way to recycle avocado pits

A Mexico-based company has discovered a unique way to recycle avocado pits. Biofase, a startup founded in Michoacan, Mexico, is using discarded waste from the fruit to create biodegradable utensils like avocado pit cutlery  and biodegradable straws. A biochemical engineer named Scott Munguia created Biofase in 2013. The company uses a technique that transforms avocado waste into bioplastics, which are then used to form materials. All of the products the company creates from the pits are fully...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/biofase-has-discovered-a-unique-way-to-recycle-avocado-pits
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Sculptural wood cabin is an alpine retreat with magnificent views

Perched high on weather-beaten mountain is the Hooded Cabin, a sculptural timber retreat with a rugged exterior and a sleek interior. The contemporary building is the work of Arkitektværelset, a Norwegian architectural practice that embraced the many environmental and building challenges that the project posed. From the high altitude mountain conditions of Imingfjell, Norway to the strict building regulations, the limitations not only shaped the iconic form of the cabin, but also encouraged “playful...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/sculptural-wood-cabin-is-an-alpine-retreat-with-magnificent-views
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Verizon pledges $1 billion for programs that help the environment

Verizon is fulfilling its promise to better the environment. Keeping true to its commitment to corporate responsibility, the telecommunications company has allocated $1 billion to spend on programs that have a positive impact on the environment. Last year, Verizon committed to convert 50 percent of its energy consumption to renewable sources over the next six years. To that end, Verizon borrowed $1 billion worth of funds from green bonds to pay for projects that invest in renewable energy...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/verizon-pledges-1-billion-for-programs-that-help-the-environment
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Sleep in this restored WWII air control tower full of historic charm

Related: + Airbnb Air Traffic Control Tower Via Curbed air control tower

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/sleep-in-this-restored-wwii-air-control-tower-full-of-historic-charm
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Lyft vows to help customers find electric vehicles with Green Mode

Lyft is making important strides to decrease carbon emissions in the ride-haling industry. The company just announced a new initiative called Green Mode, which will make it easier for customers to find electric vehicles (EVs) through their platform. The company, which was the first of its kind to get a carbon neutral label last year, is planning to introduce a score of electric vehicles in 2019. Putting thousands of EVs on the road will offer a more eco-friendly alternative to customers while...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/lyft-vows-to-help-customers-find-electric-vehicles-with-green-mode
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A rare 'Bambi' Airstream trailer becomes a stunning mobile office

Related: + Edmonds + Lee Architects Via Dezeen Edmonds + Lee Architects, Kugelschiff trailer

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/a-rare-bambi-airstream-trailer-becomes-a-stunning-mobile-office
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This is how climate change will impact wine

Look at a wine label, or chat with a wine connoisseur and you will find that wine has always been intimately connected to place and climate. Grapes taste different from region to region, and even grapes from the same vineyard taste different from year to year, depending on the weather that season. So, it is no surprise that drastically changing weather patterns have a huge, and confusing, impact on the wine industry. Increasing temperatures and climate volatility not only impact the flavor profiles...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/this-is-how-climate-change-will-impact-wine
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Rwanda hopes to increase energy efficiency with new cooling initiative

Rwanda has big plans for a more sustainable future and is launching a new cooling initiative that will increase energy efficiency within the country's booming electricity sector. As part of the new plan, Rwanda hopes to provide a cooling solution for food storage and indoor spaces without adding to the world's greenhouse gas problems. The new initiative, called Rwanda's National Cooling Strategy, assessed the current need for cooling products as well as the future market. Although countries...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/rwanda-hopes-to-increase-energy-efficiency-with-new-cooling-initiative
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An auditorium uses translucent ETFE panels for a surreal look

Spanish design firm SelgasCano has completed the surreal Plasencia conference center and auditorium in Spain. Shaped like a giant boulder, the multifaceted building is wrapped in a translucent skin that floods the interior with natural light during the day and glows like a lantern when illuminated from within at night. In contrast to its pale exterior, the interior is dominated with vibrant colors—from a bright orange entry hall to a deep red auditorium—that heighten the structure’s ethereal...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/an-auditorium-uses-translucent-etfe-panels-for-a-surreal-look
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Mining in Tasmania raises water pollution concerns to a new high

Tasmania's water pollution is becoming a major problem for local residents and wildlife. A new study discovered that metal contamination in the state's lakes are about as high as they get, raising concerns about the quality of water and food obtained from the region. The majority of the contamination can be traced to historic mining operations in Rosebery and Queenstown. The new study, which was conducted by the Australian National University, looked at six lakes in Tasmania, including Perched...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/mining-in-tasmania-raises-water-pollution-concerns-to-a-new-high
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MVRDV to dramatically revitalize Frances historic Palais du Commerce

Dutch design firm MVRDV has won a competition to renovate and expand the historic Palais du Commerce in Rennes, France. The impressive 19th century palace had once served multiple public functions but now suffers from disconnect with current civic life. Working in collaboration with co-architects Bernard Desmoulin for developers Frey and Engie Avenue, MVRDV plans to reactivate the former public building and transform it into an inviting mixed-use destination that will serve as the centerpiece of...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/mvrdv-to-dramatically-revitalize-frances-historic-palais-du-commerce
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Valentine's Day flower deliveries come at a huge cost to the environment

Americans purchase an estimated 250 million roses for Valentine's Day every year, many of which come via flowery delivery from South America. But shipping these roses in time for the holiday comes at a heavy cost to the environment. Colombia has become a major trading center for roses because of the Andean Trade Preference Act, which was passed under President George H.W. Bush. This act encourages farmers in the region to grow roses as an alternative to coca plants. Growing these precious petals...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/valentines-day-flower-deliveries-come-at-a-huge-cost-to-the-environment
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Will the pope go vegan for Lent?

Pope Francis is known for his simplicity, favoring what’s been called “papal athleisure” over the fine silks worn by his predecessors, and urging Christians to forego greed. He doesn’t want to be a millionaire. But will he turn down the chance to donate a million dollars to the charity of his choice? That’s what a group of celebrity vegans, led by twelve year-old Genesis Butler, are offering if Francis goes vegan for Lent. The group Million Dollar Vegan launched earlier this month by...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/will-the-pope-go-vegan-for-lent
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Oil rig off South Korea's coast to become a floating hotel that operates on tidal energy

Related: Tiny Toronto lighthouse serves multiple functions at once + tidal energy, wave energy

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/existing-oil-rig-off-south-koreas-coast-to-be-converted-into-floating-lighthouse-hotel-that-operates-on-tidal-energy
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A renovated Toronto home boasts energy savings of over 50%

Blending East Asian and Western influences to reflect the client’s Asian Canadian background, the Echo House is an elegant renovation and expansion project that follows ecologically sustainable principles. Designed by local architecture firm Paul Raff Studio, the home, which covers an expansive area of 11,140 square feet, is set on a two-acre property in the Bridle Path neighborhood of Toronto, Canada. Improvements to the existing structure as well as new high-efficiency heating, cooling, and ventilation...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/a-renovated-toronto-home-boasts-energy-savings-of-over-50
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A dilapidated garage transforms into an industrial-chic micro home

Related: + IM Interior Via Dezeen

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/a-dilapidated-garage-transforms-into-an-industrial-chic-micro-home
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Global warming makes 2018 the 4th hottest year ever

United States officials have confirmed that 2018 was the fourth hottest year on record. Scientists with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and NASA just revealed that temperatures were 1.5F higher than the worldwide average, which includes temperatures between 1951 and 1980. Excluding the top three hottest years, temperatures in 2018 were warmer than any year since 1880. That places 2018 slightly behind the top three temperatures on record: 2016, 2017 and 2015, respectively. According...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/global-warming-makes-2018-the-4th-hottest-year-ever
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Can the Caymans save the Caribbean's remaining coral reefs?

In January, the Department of the Environment in the Cayman Islands reported the success of an ongoing rehabilitation project to combat a massive disease spreading throughout the Cayman’s pillar coral species. The rapidly spreading disease, called “white band disease”, was first noticed on a famous dive site called the Killer Pillars in February 2018. It has ravaged pillar coral throughout the Caribbean and destroyed almost 90 percent of the species along the Florida coast. Scientists in...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/can-the-caymans-save-the-caribbeans-remaining-coral-reefs
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ODA to transform Rotterdams historic post office into a vibrant destination

After sitting vacant for over a decade, Rotterdam’s former Central Post Office, the Postkantoor, will soon undergo an extraordinary transformation into a vibrant, mixed-use destination. Designed by ODA New York, the adaptive reuse project will span 58,000 square meters and sensitively restore the building’s early 20th century architecture while injecting new programming ranging from retail to a five-star hotel. ODA will work in close collaboration with local architecture firm Braaksma & Roos...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/oda-to-transform-rotterdams-historic-post-office-into-a-vibrant-destination
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New research shows an organic diet shrinks pesticide exposure

The bad news isn’t news to many: Eating a conventional diet leads to pesticide buildup. But a new study published in Environmental Research reveals surprising good news. Switching to an all-organic diet quickly and significantly reduced synthetic pesticide levels in study participants. After six days of an all-organic diet, their pesticide and pesticide metabolite levels dropped by an average of 60.5 percent. Four American families from different races participated in the study, titled Organic...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/new-research-shows-an-organic-diet-shrinks-pesticide-exposure
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Polar bears invade small island in northern Russia, causing an emergency warning

Islands in northern Russia faced a crisis last weekend after a group of polar bears invaded the region. Officials in Novaya Zemlya issued an emergency warning for the small town of Belushya Guba, leaving residents scared to venture outside of their homes. Photos of polar bears invading garbage heaps surfaced over the weekend, while school officials say they have spotted the animals near buildings and homes in the area. Authorities in the town claim they have seen polar bears enter the town...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/polar-bears-invade-small-island-in-northern-russia-causing-an-emergency-warning
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Rising temperatures are putting the Global Seed Vault at risk

Climate change is putting Earth’s doomsday vault at risk. New research from Norway suggests that rising temperatures could melt the ice on the island where the Global Seed Vault is located, potentially endangering seed samples from around the world. The seed vault, which is capable of preserving some 2.5 billion samples, is located near the Arctic on an island called Svalbard. The Norwegian government manages the island with help from the Nordic Genetic Resource Center and Crop Trust. Frigid...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/rising-temperatures-are-putting-the-global-seed-vault-at-risk
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A 1970 home gets a modern, light-filled revamp in Santiago

When a family with three children sought a modern refresh for their aging home in the commune of Las Condes in Santiago, they turned to local architecture firm Cristobal Vial Arquitectos to lead the redesign. The house—which belongs to a set of 25 one-story homes originally designed by architects Christian de Groote, Victor Gubbins and Hector Mery—already enjoys access to two gardens, one to the north and the other to the south. The renovation emphasized these garden views by stripping away unnecessary...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/a-1970-home-gets-a-modern-light-filled-revamp-in-santiago
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How to grow 10 foods from kitchen scraps

Meal plans and grocery lists, the cycle never ends. While some of your foods may come from carefully cultivated seeds or seedlings planted in your garden, did you know that you can grow food from food? You may have heard that romaine lettuce regenerates easily if the base is placed in water, or that basil and cilantro cuttings will turn into entire plants, but there are many, many more foods that will grow from your kitchen scraps. Here’s a highlight reel. Bon appetit! <!--more→ 1....

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/how-to-grow-10-foods-from-kitchen-scraps
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Climate change to change the color of the oceans over the next 80 years

The color of the ocean is about to undergo some major changes. As a result of ongoing climate change, scientists are predicting that the color of the ocean will slowly become bluer over the next 80 years. The color difference is directly connected to microbial phytoplankton, which absorb sunlight near the surface of the ocean. As the acidity and temperature of the ocean rises, the number of phytoplankton is expected to decrease in certain regions. Once the phytoplankton populations drop off,...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/climate-change-to-change-the-color-of-the-oceans-over-the-next-80-years
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Concrete fins protect this visitor center from rising tides

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EPA criminal enforcement crumbling under Trump

Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) criminal enforcement numbers took a major hit over the past few years. A new study conducted by Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER) found that the agency had the lowest criminal case numbers since the late 1980s. Last year, the EPA only filed 166 criminal referrals. These referrals are sent to the Department of Justice for prosecution, and those numbers were adjusted to account for the latest government shutdown. As a reference...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/epa-criminal-enforcement-crumbling-under-trump
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Triangular treetop cabins offer an unforgettable stay in the Norwegian woods

Elevated on angled steel legs and clad in sleek black metal, the PAN Treetop Cabins tucked away in a forest two hours from Oslo are unlike your typical forest retreat. Located in the woods of Finnskogen (the Finnish Forest) in east Norway, the two cabins were designed by Oslo-based architect Espen Surnevik for Kristian Rostad and Christine Mowinckel, a couple who wanted to create an eco-friendly and sustainable tourism destination. Opened for bookings in late 2018, the pair of cabins offers all the...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/triangular-treetop-cabins-offer-an-unforgettable-stay-in-the-norwegian-woods
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Shellfish farmers push to use pesticides in oyster beds

Pesticide use for oysters is once again threatening Grays Harbor and Willapa Bay. Shellfish growers are making another push to allow for the spray of pesticides on clam and oyster beds in the region, which environmentalists and state officials say is a major risk to invertebrates, like the Dungeness crab. Oyster growers claim they need the pesticides to kill burrowing shrimp that harm oyster beds and prevent them from harvesting their product. The companies are looking to reverse a current...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/shellfish-farmers-push-to-use-pesticides-in-oyster-beds
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Bring your reef-safe sunscreens when visiting Key West

Key West is taking steps towards promoting reef-safe sunscreens. Officials on the Key West City Commission just approved a ban on sunscreens that have ingredients that are harmful to coral reefs. The new law, which almost passed unanimously, is scheduled to be put in place by 2021. The motion outlaws sunscreens in the city limits of Key West that feature octinoxate and oxybenzone, two chemicals that are thought to be connected to coral reef bleaching. There is some research that suggests these...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/bring-your-reef-safe-sunscreens-when-visiting-key-west
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Global warming will melt over 1/3 of the Himalayan ice cap by 2100

Asia’s Himalaya mountain range is about to undergo some major changes. New research predicts that global warming will melt up to two-thirds of the glaciers in the region by the year 2100, significantly affecting the 2 billion people who call the mountain range home. The alarming prediction will come to pass if global carbon emissions continue at their current rates. Even more disturbing is that one-third of the glaciers in the Himalaya and Hindu Kush range will still disappear even if governments...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/global-warming-will-melt-over-1-3-of-the-himalayan-ice-cap-by-2100
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Avoid allergies this spring with these 7 natural remedies

The 2019 allergy season is almost here, and that means many of us will soon be dealing with frequent sneezing and coughing, congestion, runny noses, headaches, and watery, itchy eyes. The spring allergy season in the United States usually starts in February and lasts until the summer, thanks to tree and grass pollination. Climate factors that can affect your seasonal allergy symptoms include things like pollen counts and mold growing in areas of high heat and humidity. Rainfalls and warm,...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/avoid-allergies-this-spring-with-these-7-natural-remedies
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Locally crafted childrens learning center doubles as an emergency shelter in the Philippines

Scandinavian design studio Native Narrative is raising the bar for after-school facilities in the rural Philippines with their recent completion of the Children’s Learning Center in the Island of Leyte’s Village Mas-in. Created in close collaboration with local NGOs and the local government, the prototype project was constructed from locally available materials and local, relatively unskilled, labor. The facility primarily serves as a child-friendly after-school space during weekdays and weekends,...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/locally-crafted-childrens-learning-center-doubles-as-an-emergency-shelter-in-the-philippines
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Spoil your lover with presents from our eco-friendly Valentine's Day gift guide

Valentine's Day can mean bouquets of cut flowers, chocolate wrapped in cellophane and a cardboard box, a trail of paper cards, gifts jazzed up with a polyester bow, and maybe even a bottle of wine with a plastic stopper. However, that’s all been done a million times before, and in the age of climate change, it’s time to start thinking outside the box and give your Valentine a romantic, eco-friendly day. These Valentine’s gift ideas might not be considered traditional, but they are creative,...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/spoil-your-lover-with-presents-from-our-eco-friendly-valentines-day-gift-guide
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This Australian property was redesigned with a sustainable, lush garden

The Shoreham House in Victoria, Australia was designed in the early 2000’s, but was in need of an update to the overall structure and gardens. The new architects wanted to update the home with sustainability in mind while respecting the original designers and builders. According to Tim Spicer Architects, “The renovation and addition needed a sensitive, well considered approach to create unity between the old and the new, without the obvious signature of new Architects. The design intent was to...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/this-australian-property-was-redesigned-with-a-sustainable-lush-garden
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Top 10 states for LEED green buildings in 2018

The United States Green Building Council (USGBC) has officially revealed the Top 10 states for LEED certification. The states that led the country in LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) standards constructed over 468 million square feet of green building space for a population of 128 million people. The USGBC has high standards when it comes to LEED certification. Buildings that fall under the LEED umbrella have a small carbon footprint, are energy efficient, use less water,...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/top-10-states-for-leed-leadership-in-energy-and-environmental-design
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14 vegan and vegetarian Valentine's Day dinner ideas

Valentine’s Day will be here before you know it. And, if you need some romantic vegan and vegetarian dinner ideas, look no further than this list of amazing appetizers, main dishes, sides, and desserts. There is even a recipe for vegan hot chocolate! French Salted Hot Chocolate This is a decadent vegan-friendly drink made with dark chocolate and whole milk and cream (or coconut milk and coconut cream), and then topped off with gourmet salt. This idea is from Champagne Tastes, and it is a...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/14-vegan-and-vegetarian-valentines-day-dinner-ideas
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Rep. Ocasio-Cortez releases Green New Deal resolution

On February 7th, House Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) released an official resolution for the highly debated “Green New Deal”. The resolution provides further information on the broad goals of the original proposal, however it remains abstract and nonbinding – and that is only if the House votes to approve it. The resolution delivers a more tangible framework upon which Ocasio-Cortez and her team plan to push for co-sponsors and move the resolution to the House and Senate floors. The...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/rep-ocasio-cortez-releases-green-new-deal-resolution
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Walmart's tiny home on wheels is embarking on a tour around the country

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from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/walmarts-tiny-home-on-wheels-is-embarking-on-a-tour-around-the-country
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Fast food industry under pressure to decrease its global footprint stat

Fast food is one of the most popular conveniences of modern society, but it comes at a huge risk to the environment. Amid growing concerns of agriculture and water risks, a group of global investors are putting pressure on the fast food industry to come up with a sustainable model to lower their footprint on the environment. The investors, who manage a combined $6.5 trillion, issued letters to six of the largest fast food chains in the United States. The letters asked the companies to explain...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/fast-food-industry-under-pressure-to-decrease-its-global-footprint-stat
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France is the first country to ban all 5 pesticides linked to bee deaths

In a decisive move, France became the first country to ban all five of the top pesticides blamed for bee die-off around the world. The phenomenon dubbed, “colony collapse disorder” has seen bees dying in record numbers and scientists are pointing fingers as neonicotinoid pesticides as the primary suspect. <!--more→ The European Union lead the charge by banning three of the pesticides: clothianidin, imidacloprid and thiamethoxam. However, France took it one step further by also...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/france-is-the-first-country-to-ban-all-five-pesticides-linked-to-bee-deaths
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A prefab home in Sydney celebrates indoor-outdoor living

Constructed in a Melbourne factory in just 12 weeks, this elegant and contemporary home in Sydney offers indoor/ outdoor living without compromising thermal comfort. First designed by Sydney-based architectural practice Fox Johnston, the home’s concept was later refined by Australian design/ build firm Modscape while honoring the architect’s design intent and the client’s demands. The prefabricated two-story family home taps into solar design principles to prevent solar heat gain and to ensure...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/a-prefab-home-in-sydney-celebrates-indoor-outdoor-living
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Eastern Puma officially extinct, allows for mountain lion reintroduction

Officials with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service have announced that the eastern puma, which used to range from Quebec and Manitoba to South Carolina and Illinois, is now extinct. The government agency has also removed the cougars from endangered species list. Taking the pumas off the endangered list will enable eastern states, such as New York, to reintroduce western pumas, also called mountain lions, into the region. The last eastern puma killed in the wild was in Maine over 80 years...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/eastern-puma-declared-officially-extinct-allowing-the-reintroduction-of-mountain-lions
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Flat-pack treehouse offers "extreme wilderness" glamping with a light footprint

British company Tree Tents International has unveiled their most innovative and adaptable glamping structure yet. Meet the Fuselage, a flat-pack treehouse that can be set up almost anywhere, even in the most challenging terrain. Dubbed by the firm as an “extreme wilderness cabin,” the cylindrical dwelling takes inspiration from modern aerospace design for its durable and lightweight structure. Designed with a triple-layer insulated skin, low-voltage radiant heating and a micro wood...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/flat-pack-treehouse-offers-extreme-wilderness-glamping-with-a-light-footprint
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9 ways to have an eco-friendly Valentine's Day

While there is no truth to the rumor that Hallmark invented Valentine’s Day, there is no denying that many people think of it as a manufactured holiday designed to sell cards, flowers, and chocolate. Every February 14th, millions of people buy cards and roses, and they drop a ton of cash on diamonds, gold, and silver. In 2019, Americans are expected to spend almost 20 billion dollars for the romantic holiday, and that breaks down to nearly $150 a person. All of that consumer spending leads...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/9-ways-to-have-an-eco-friendly-valentines-day
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Bottle recycling in Oregon hits 90 percent record high

In 1971, Oregon began a progressive movement towards recycling that has proved to be a resounding success. As the first state in the nation to initiate a bottle return bill, residents of the west coast state are long-accustomed to paying a bit more for their canned and bottled beverages. The idea is simple--pay a deposit when you purchase a six-pack and get that money back when you return the container to the store. In essence, the plan has been unchanged for nearly 48 years, but now the state is...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/bottle-recycling-in-oregon-hits-90-percent-record-high
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Students taking Lyft and Uber to class are taking LA's smog problem from bad to worse

Environmentalists are concerned by the number of students using transportation services like Lyft and Uber to get to classes. Students at UCLA use these alternative means of transportation around 11,000 times per week, and that is troublesome for a city that is already dealing with significant smog issues. Transportation staff at the university say that the majority of these trips are short in duration. Students who oversleep are also more likely to use Lyft or Uber because they need to get to...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/students-taking-lyft-and-uber-to-class-are-taking-las-smog-problem-from-bad-to-worse
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Sydneys vibrant Green Square Library and Plaza collects and reuses rainwater

Former marshland in Sydney has been transformed into the new Green Square Library and Plaza, a striking project that’s not only revitalizing one of the city’s oldest industrial areas but is also a shining beacon for sustainability. Designed by Sydney-based architecture and urban design practice Stewart Hollenstein in association with Stewart Architecture, the Green Square project features a semi-submerged underground library with a plaza on top. Energy efficiency drove the design as well, from...

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NASA finds cavity the size of Manhattan underneath Antarctic glacier

NASA just made a disturbing discovering underneath the Antarctic ice. A team led by the space agency found a huge cavity — around 1,000 feet high — under a glacier in Antarctica, and it is steadily expanding in size. Experts have predicted they would a large cavity somewhere underneath the Thwaites Glacier, which is located in West Antarctica, but they did not expect such a large one between the ice sheet and bedrock. Scientists discovered the expansive chamber using a mix of radar and satellite...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/nasa-finds-cavity-the-size-of-manhattan-underneath-antarctic-glacier
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Modern timber winery blends Japanese and Viennese influences

Wien-based architecture practice Architects Collective used innovative timber construction for the contemporary Nett Winery in the Pfalz wine region of Neustadt an der Weinstraße, Germany. Unlike traditional wine cellars that typically feature massive walls or industrial steel, this new winery features comparatively lightweight construction using ecological materials including a wooden outer shell and an inner structure of pumice-concrete. Inspired by Japanese architecture and Viennese modernism,...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/modern-timber-winery-blends-japanese-and-viennese-influences
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Women are essential to climate resilience in the Caribbean heres why

The impacts of climate change are felt most intimately by poor and rural women. Many women rely directly on nature for their income, and their lack of resources prevents them from shifting to alternate jobs or safer locations during disasters. However, the same factors that make women vulnerable - their connection to nature and ties to community - are also the strengths that make women critical and competent leaders in times of crises. In the Caribbean, climate experts are increasingly looking not...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/women-are-essential-to-climate-resilience-in-the-caribbean-heres-why
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This Norwegian alpine cabin fits together like a 3D timber puzzle

A new treat awaits hikers in Hammerfest, Norway—perched high on a mountain is a contemporary hiking cabin engineered to provide comfort, views, and architectural beauty above the Arctic Circle. Designed by Norwegian design studio SPINN Arkitekter and UK-based FORMAT Engineers, the recently completed cabin on the mountain Storfjellet is one of two Hammerfest Hiking Cabins—the second will be built on Tyven in 2019—created to promote hiking in the mountains around the region. The wooden structure...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/this-norwegian-alpine-cabin-fits-together-like-a-3d-timber-puzzle
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Fake trees could help in the fight against climate change

Planting trees is one of humanity’s best tools when it comes fighting climate change because they soak up carbon dioxide and convert it into branches and leaves, and that means less carbon pollution. But, since trees take up so much land and water, scientists are looking for other ways to draw down the carbon. And, a team from Germany thinks they might have the solution - artificial photosynthesis. The German scientists believe that this new technology could help in the fight against climate...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/fake-trees-could-help-in-the-fight-against-climate-change
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Circular, solar-powered beach house is a sustainable holiday retreat

A charming, circular escape from the city has popped up on an idyllic stretch of beach in New Zealand. Powered with solar energy and built with weather-resistant materials, the St Andrews Beach House is the work of Austin Maynard Architects, a Fitzroy-based design practice that prides itself on sustainable architecture. The “Euclidean form” of the dwelling was inspired by the beauty of the remote site and is designed to take advantage of views in all directions. Located on Victoria’s...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/circular-solar-powered-beach-house-is-a-sustainable-holiday-retreat
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Bureau of Land Management moves forward with the sale of sacred land

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is moving forward with the sale of land in the vicinity of New Mexico's Chaco Cultural National Historical Park. The land, which is considered sacred ground by Native Americans in the area, was approved amid heavy criticism from environmentalists and tribal leaders. The land is being purchased to pursue the development of oil and gas, with around 50 parcels of land up for grabs. One of the biggest issues surrounding the sale is that it was approved while...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/bureau-of-land-management-moves-forward-with-the-sale-of-sacred-land
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If you won't go vegan for yourself, will you do it for Beyonc?

If going vegan to help better the environment does not appeal you, why not try it out for Queen B herself? Beyoncé just announced a new vegan initiative on Instagram, and probably did more for the cause in a single post than anyone has done for the last decade. Last week, the iconic singer announced the start of The Greenprint Project, which aims to promote veganism with a very special offer from Beyoncé and her husband, JAY-Z. If you try out a plant-based diet through Beyoncé's program,...

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A midcentury warehouse becomes a vibrant office for creatives

Australian architecture and interior design firm Studio 103 has given a tired warehouse on Melbourne’s Hoddle Street in Abbotsford a new lease on life as their new modern and light-filled workplace. The adaptive reuse project sensitively references the building’s manufacturing history, from retaining existing architectural elements to the application of an industrial-inspired material palette. The rehabbed structure now serves as a modern and agile workplace that prioritizes health and wellbeing...

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These are our favorite beauty retailers from the Indie Beauty Expo

The beauty world can be a complicated place, especially if you’re looking to ditch products with intimidating lists of ingredients and make the switch toward eco-friendly skincare. This year, our team of savvy editors attended the Indie Beauty Expo in Los Angeles and scouted the best beauty products from independent retailers that don’t compromise quality ingredients for their carbon footprint. Here are our favorite brands from IBELA. Atar Atar offers luxurious, cruelty-free and vegan...

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Derelict building is wrapped in tin foil to protest lack of affordable housing in Warsaw

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New study claims climate change could be linked to heart defects in newborns

Climate change may be linked to heart defects in newborns. The Journal of the American Heart Association just released new research that shows how higher temperatures are related to congenital heart issues in babies born in warmer months. With climate change increasing, moms in the United States are exposed to more heat than ever before. Scientists have previously shown that women who are exposed to heat during their pregnancy have a higher chance of having a baby born with a congenital heart...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/new-study-claims-climate-change-could-be-linked-to-heart-defects-in-newborns
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This light-filled home and office in Portugal blurs indoors and out

On the outskirts of Ílhavo, Portugal, architect Maria Fradinho of the firm FRARI - architecture network recently designed and built her own industrial-inspired office and home using a modern and playful house-within-a-house concept. Sandwiched between two red-shingled homes, the contemporary abode stands in stark contrast to its more traditional neighbors. Dubbed the Arch House, the dwelling was named after the “theatricality” of its facade, a simple gabled shape with strong geometric lines...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/this-light-filled-home-and-office-in-portugal-blurs-indoors-and-out
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Australia will not reach its carbon reduction targets by 2030, claims new study

An international group called the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) released a damaging report on Australia's energy policies, placing doubts that the government will reach its carbon reduction targets by 2030. Australia previously agreed to cut carbon emissions by around 26 percent by the year 2030. Although the country will likely reach the carbon goals it set by 2020, the OECD claims they will not hit their target in 2030. "The country will fall short of its...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/australia-will-not-reach-their-carbon-reduction-targets-by-2030-claims-new-study
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Energy-efficient villa in Portugal uses locally sourced cork for insulation

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It's time to decide: clean your room or plant a tree

Are luxury and sustainability compatible? The Parq Vancouver complex in downtown Vancouver, British Columbia strives to have it all by balancing two luxury hotels, a casino and eight restaurants with LEED gold standards and a host of environmental initiatives. One of the Parq’s newer programs is a twist on foregoing housekeeping in favor of an alternative reward – something becoming more popular among hotels. At the Parq, when a guest checks in for more than two nights, they can skip room...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/its-time-to-decide-clean-your-room-or-plant-a-tree
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A beachside resort on a remote Indonesian island resembles a traditional village

Indonesian firm Atelier Riri Related: + Atelier Riri Via Dezeen Atelier Riri, Kiyakabin resort

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/a-beachside-resort-on-a-remote-indonesian-island-resembles-a-traditional-village
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Vulnerable nuclear waste stockpiles are becoming a"global crisis"

Nuclear waste is quickly becoming one of the world's biggest problems. Earth's growing stockpile of radioactive waste is troublesome because these chemicals remain in their radioactive state for several millennia — and we have yet to come up with a foolproof storage solution. A new study explored facilities that store nuclear waste in seven locations around the world, including the United States, France, Japan, Belgium, Britain, Finland and Sweden. Officials discovered that the majority...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/vulnerable-nuclear-waste-stockpiles-are-becoming-aglobal-crisis
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EU proposes plan to ban 90 percent of microplastics

Microplastics may appear small on the outside, but they take a major toll on the environment. Not only do these plastics ruin soil and jeopardize ocean life, but they also create health issues for people all around the world. Fortunately, a newly proposed ban on microplastics might offer a solution to this growing problem. This week, the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) put forth a new law that seeks to ban over 90 percent of Europe's microplastics. If countries in the European Union agree to...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/eu-proposes-plan-to-ban-90-percent-of-microplastics
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Reclaimed timber clads a chic pool house near Californian vineyards

California-based architecture and design firm Ro Rockett Design recently added a pool house to a Sonoma County retreat that’s become so alluring, the clients decided to turn it into their full-time residence. Located in the northern California town of Geyserville, the property boasts stunning views of rolling vineyards and the rugged coastal landscape. The Dry Creek Pool House is carefully sited to advantage of these impressive vistas and features a natural materials palette and minimalist design...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/reclaimed-timber-clads-a-chic-pool-house-near-californian-vineyards
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Time-saving supersonic airplanes could be a disaster for the environment

Supersonic airplanes might be making a major comeback, but environmental scientists warn these time-saving vehicles will add even more greenhouse gasses to the atmosphere than ever before. A group of regulators from around the world are scheduled to meet in Canada next week to discuss the impacts of supersonic travel on the environment. Ahead of the meeting, the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT) published an article about how supersonic planes impact the environment. According...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/time-saving-supersonic-airplanes-could-be-a-disaster-for-the-environment
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LEED Gold Gateway Arch Museum sports a 3-acre green roof in St. Louis

Praised for its use of sustainable materials and energy-saving features, the recently renovated Visitor Center and Museum at the Gateway Arch in St. Louis has just been awarded LEED Gold certification. Currently one of only eleven other LEED-certified National Park Service sites, the newly expanded development is the work of Cooper Robertson and James Carpenter Design Associates, in collaboration with Trivers Associates, and marks the centerpiece for the renewal of the 91-acre Gateway Arch National...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/leed-gold-gateway-arch-museum-sports-a-three-acre-green-roof-in-st-louis
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