Taiga launches Orca, a 100% electric jet ski with a two-hour battery

Canadian company Taiga Motors, the creators of the world’s first electric snowmobiles, makes yet another splash in the luxury electric vehicle world with Orca, their first electric personal watercraft. Featuring full carbon fiber hull construction, the luxury jet ski forgoes gasoline in favor of a 23kWh battery that provides energy for up to two hours and can be charged by a regular outlet, standard automotive chargers, and DC fast charging. The high-performance electric jet ski will also be fitted...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/taiga-launches-orca-a-100-electric-jet-ski-with-a-two-hour-battery
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One plastic teabag can release billions of microplastics into your cup

The next time you are craving tea, choose the paper teabag or loose-leaf tea in a reusable infuser — just steer clear of the plastic teabag.

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/one-plastic-teabag-can-release-billions-of-microplastics-into-your-cup
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More than half of Europes native trees face extinction

The unfortunate decline is due to the combination of three paramount factors: problematic invasive species, unsustainable deforestation from logging and wood harvesting and urban development.

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/more-than-half-of-europes-native-trees-face-extinction
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Vancouver Food Tour showcases the city's vegan side

Join Inhabitat as we explore the best food the vegan scene in Vancouver has to offer.

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/vancouver-food-tour-showcases-the-citys-vegan-side
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All-bamboo retreat in Bali features all you need for a serene off-grid escape

Related: + Studio WNA Via Archdaily Hideout Falcon, Studio WNA, bamboo house, bamboo architecture

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/all-bamboo-retreat-in-bali-features-all-you-need-for-a-serene-off-grid-escape
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This bold, tiny retreat in Ontario measures just 100 square feet

When you want to keep a building footprint small, sometimes the only way to go is up.

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/this-bold-tiny-retreat-in-ontario-measures-just-100-square-feet
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Minnesota to implement low- and zero-emission clean vehicle standards

The measure places the Gopher State alongside 13 other states that have implemented clean vehicle emissions standards.

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/minnesota-to-implement-low-and-zero-emission-clean-vehicle-standards
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Repurposed coffee grounds provide sustainable clothing pigment alternative

Scientists from Iowa State University (ISU) recently unveiled a natural alternative to synthetic clothing pigment. This natural alternative is sourced from brewed coffee grounds.

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/repurposed-coffee-grounds-provide-sustainable-clothing-pigment-alternative
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MVRDV unveils pro-bono vision to reopen the lost canals of The Hague

In a bid to restore a lost part of nature to The Hague, MVRDV has unveiled a proposal to reopen the city’s 17th-century canals that were filled in between 1910 and 1970.

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/mvrdv-unveils-pro-bono-vision-to-reopen-the-lost-canals-of-the-hague
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Geometric pavilion with an inverted living garden holds court in a public square in Annecy, France

Almost 10 years ago, New York-based Behin Ha Design Studio erected an incredible green-walled living pavilion made out of recycled milk crates in the heart of Governors Island. Now, the plant-loving designers are back at it, unveiling a beautiful, inverted garden pavilion in a public square in Annecy, France.

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/geometric-pavilion-with-an-inverted-living-garden-holds-court-in-a-public-square-in-annecy-france
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Innovative fish adoption program protects San Marcos River from invasive species

The San Marcos Parks and Recreation Department has devised an innovative way to protect both the river and unwanted pet fish.

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/innovative-fish-adoption-program-protects-san-marcos-river-from-invasive-species
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IPCC landmark report warns about the state of the oceans, polar ice content and the climate crisis

The United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) — which is, in fact, the UN body responsible for communicating on the deteriorating climate — officially recognized the oceans as a critical component in the climate change crisis. Warming ocean temperatures are becoming commonplace and are melting ice sheets and glaciers and contributing to rising sea levels. Additionally, the warm waters affect the ocean’s oxygen levels. As these phenomena accelerate toward a tipping point, nature’s ecosystems will be disrupted, and human society will be adversely affected.

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/ipcc-landmark-report-warns-about-the-state-of-the-oceans-polar-ice-content-and-the-climate-crisis
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Disneys American parks will now offer hundreds of vegan menu items

The “Happiest Place” on Earth will begin adding hundreds of plant-based dishes.  The rollout will begin this October at Disney World, then make its way to Disneyland in 2020. The As Disney's Hydroponics "We're With It is

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/disneys-american-parks-will-now-offer-hundreds-of-vegan-menu-items
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Tooth: the eco-friendly toothbrush made from recycled and biodegradable materials

As ubiquitous as morning coffee is the practice of brushing your teeth. We know you’re conscientious about water consumption by turning off the faucet while you brush, but there’s that seldom discussed issue of toothbrush waste, mostly plastic, that equates to around 1,000,000,000 toothbrushes heading to the landfill annually, and that’s just in the United States. Luckily, some passionate designers from London have decided to develop a sustainable option to divert waste from landfills.

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/tooth-the-eco-friendly-toothbrush-made-from-recycled-and-biodegradable-materials
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Artist suspends a giant cube filled with images of ocean plastic inside a London museum

The installation highlights the burgeoning threat that plastic waste poses to the planet.

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/artist-suspends-a-giant-cube-filled-with-images-of-ocean-plastic-inside-a-london-museum
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Central Park to undergo $150M LEED Gold-targeted redesign

To cap the Central Park Conservancy’s 40-year renewal of Central Park, the nonprofit has unveiled designs to update the park’s north end with a LEED Gold-targeted recreational facility, a new pool, skating rink and other amenities.

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/central-park-to-undergo-150m-leed-gold-targeted-redesign
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Pacific heat wave threatens coral reefs in Hawaii and other regions

Researchers predict a major marine heat wave in the Pacific Ocean could prove disastrous to the fragile coral reefs along Hawaii’s Papa Bay and similar coastlines.

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/pacific-heat-wave-threatens-coral-reefs-in-hawaii-and-other-regions
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Honda makes largest renewable energy purchase of any automaker

Multinational auto manufacturer Honda Motor Company, headquartered in Tokyo, recently made the largest renewable clean energy purchase by any car maker.

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/honda-makes-largest-renewable-energy-purchase-of-any-automaker
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A solar-powered catamaran with a built-in plastic clean-up system sets sail off the coast of Ibiza

Tourists from all over the world flock to Spain's coastal regions throughout the year; however, the rising amount of plastic waste accumulating in the Mediterranean is threatening to do irreversible damage to these once-pristine waters. Thankfully, one forward-thinking cruise company is doing its part to keep the damage at bay.

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/a-solar-powered-catamaran-with-a-built-in-plastic-clean-up-system-sets-sail-off-the-coast-of-ibiza
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Student designs a chic wooden stand mixer that requires zero electricity

See the electricity-free stand mixer that can whisk, grate, mix, grind, squeeze and more to replace dozens of random kitchen gadgets.

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/student-designs-a-chic-wooden-stand-mixer-that-requires-zero-electricity
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Get away from the urban chaos in one of these 8 amazing eco-friendly treehouses

Related:

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/get-away-from-the-urban-chaos-in-one-of-these-8-amazing-eco-friendly-treehouses
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For 2019, the 10 worst cities for air quality are in California and Arizona

These are the 10 cities in the U.S. with the worst air quality.

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/for-2019-the-10-worst-cities-for-air-quality-are-in-california-and-arizona
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NRPA and Coca-Cola partner to install trash traps to clean Atlanta waterways

The initiative seeks to keep pollution out of estuaries the Proctor Creek feeds into, such as the Chattahoochee River and ultimately the ocean.

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/nrpa-and-coca-cola-partner-to-install-trash-traps-to-clean-atlanta-waterways
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How your salon visit contributes to your carbon footprint

Find out how one salon is changing the status quo of wastefulness in the industry.

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/how-your-salon-visit-contributes-to-your-carbon-footprint
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Olson Kundig unveils stunning net-zero family home in California

Related: + Olson Kundig Olson Kundig, California Meadow House

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/olson-kundig-unveils-stunning-net-zero-family-home-in-california
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Cutwork proposes innovative just add water housing for refugees

In a bid to alleviate the global refugee housing crisis, Paris-based design studio Cutwork developed a conceptual housing proposal that it says will only take one day and, at minimum, two people without special construction skills to assemble.

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/cutwork-proposes-innovative-just-add-water-housing-for-refugees
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US and Canada in drastic crisis with 3 billion birds lost since 1970

The expression "a canary in a coal mine" serves as advanced warning of danger, and it is a fitting phrase for a recent study that finds the United States and Canada's massive loss of nearly 3 billion birds, or 29 percent of their bird populations, since 1970.

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/us-and-canada-in-drastic-crisis-with-3-billion-birds-lost-since-1970
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Impossible Burger is now available in grocery stores

Previously found only at high-end restaurants and fast-food chains, the famous plant-based Impossible Burger now lines grocery store shelves in Southern California. Non on the West Coast? Don't worry. Impossible Foods will, in the next few weeks, announce when their cutting-edge meatless burger shall debut in East Coast grocery stores. By mid-2020, the Impossible Burger is expected to be available in every region nationwide.

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/impossible-burger-is-now-available-in-grocery-stores
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Two sustainable rental units dressed in reclaimed brick are self-sustaining through solar power

Melbourne-based firm Breathe Architecture has brought a bit of California style to a Melbourne suburb.

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/two-sustainable-rental-units-dressed-in-reclaimed-brick-are-self-sustaining-through-solar-power
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Old Paris railway site will transform into a carbon-neutral ecosystem neighborhood

An abundance of green will soon take over the heart of Paris with the transformation of the city’s old railway site, Ordener-Poissonniers, into a lush 3.7-hectare eco neighborhood.

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/old-paris-railway-site-will-transform-into-a-carbon-neutral-ecosystem-neighborhood
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Yosemite camping site unveils series of ADA-compliant tiny cabins

:os Angeles-based firm, M-Rad have unveiled a Related: + M-Rad Via Dezeen M-Rad cabins, universal design, tiny cabin, tiny cabin design, cabin living, cabin architecture, movable cabin, mobile cabins, X-Suite dwelling, universal design,

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/yosemite-camping-site-unveils-series-of-ada-compliant-tiny-cabins
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Climate change is a public health issue amounting to billions in medical costs

The environment shapes our society. Hence, as climate change worsens, so do healthcare costs.

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/climate-change-is-a-public-health-issue-amounting-to-billions-in-medical-costs
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Technology uses banana leaves as a biodegradable alternative to single-use plastic

Find out how banana leaves can be transformed into a sturdy, durable alternative to single-use plastic.

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/technology-uses-banana-leaves-as-a-biodegradable-alternative-to-single-use-plastic
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An abandoned market becomes a light-filled homeless shelter in London

We love it when old buildings can be put to good use, but it especially warms our hearts when communities use adaptive reuse to convert empty spaces into spaces specially designed to help those in need.

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/an-abandoned-market-becomes-a-light-filled-homeless-shelter-in-london
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Award-winning sustainable retreat offers a stylish defense against fire

Australian architectural firm Steendijk’s Bellbird Retreat is proof that designing for fire safety doesn’t have to mean compromising aesthetics.

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/award-winning-sustainable-retreat-offers-a-stylish-defense-against-fire
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Sono Motors self-charging solar electric car will feature an air-purifying moss interior

German mobility startup Sono Motors recently unveiled the first interior renderings for the Sion, a fully electric vehicle with full-surface solar integration that will feature a strip of air-purifying moss inside.

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/sono-motors-self-charging-solar-electric-car-will-feature-an-air-purifying-moss-interior
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New York allows students to miss class for the climate strike

Tomorrow, on September 20, a global climate strike is scheduled to bring awareness about the need for transformative action against the growing climate crisis.

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/new-york-allows-students-to-miss-class-for-the-climate-strike
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Spectacular rammed-earth dome home is tucked deep into a Costa Rican jungle

Located in the idyllic area of Diamante Valley, the House Without Shoes is an incredible rammed-earth complex made up of three interconnected domes, which are joined by an open-air deck that looks out over the stunning valley and ocean views.

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/spectacular-rammed-earth-dome-home-is-tucked-deep-into-a-costa-rican-jungle
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Algae Lamps are a work of art and natural shade in one

Algae is one of the newest materials to hit the market as a multi-purpose fiber. While it has been hauled out of the ocean, cultivated, dried, and processed into myriad products, it typically loses some of its allure in the process. So one designer spent years figuring out a way to use algae so that it maintains its natural essence, even when molded into a final product.  Algae Lamps are a product of this effort with lamp shades that are contoured for unique outcomes in shape and style. Each...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/algae-lamps-are-a-work-of-art-and-natural-shade-in-one
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Send your news tips to Inhabitat!

Help Inhabitat publish the most accurate, up-to-date environmental news stories.

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/send-your-news-tips-to-inhabitat
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MAD Architects unveils solar-powered Hyperloop transit system

The avant-garde architecture of Beijing-based MAD Architects has merged with Hyperloop’s futuristic transportation technologies with the unveiling of a new, solar-powered rapid transit system.

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/mad-architects-unveils-solar-powered-hyperloop-transit-system
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High levels of plastic byproducts discovered in children, study finds

Rather alarmingly, the study found toxic levels of plastic byproducts in 97 percent of the blood and urine samples gathered from 2,500 children tested.

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/high-levels-of-plastic-byproducts-discovered-in-children-study-finds
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Ireland plans to ban single-use plastics

In a move that has environmentalists cheering, Ireland recently overhauled its waste sector by announcing a ban on single-use plastics.

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/ireland-plans-to-ban-single-use-plastics
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These works of art record and provide shelter to urban wildlife

The Interaction Research Studio at Goldsmiths, University of London is proving that you don’t have to leave the city to experience wildlife. Inspired by both art and nature, the studio has created a series of habitats that use hidden cameras to capture images of wildlife.

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/these-works-of-art-record-and-provide-shelter-to-urban-wildlife
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Sustainable tech powers the Corten steel-clad Cube in Denmark

When Danish architectural firm Christensen & Co. Architects was asked to design the new headquarters for the Helsingør Power Plant, they felt it would be fitting if the project serve as an extension of the client’s commitment to sustainable supply technologies. Clad in Corten steel as a nod to the surrounding industrial architecture, the sustainably powered Forsyning Helsingør Operations Center has been dubbed The Cube after its geometric shape. For a reduced energy footprint, the office...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/sustainable-tech-powers-the-corten-steel-clad-cube-in-denmark
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Kengo Kuma unveils bold timber museum in Turkey that pays homage to the region's Ottoman heritage

The world-renowned architects of Kengo Kuma and Associates have just unveiled a stunning museum in Turkey. Located in Eskisehir, the Odunpazari Modern Museum features several stacked timber boxes that rise out of the ground at various angles, paying homage to the city's Ottoman heritage.

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/kengo-kuma-unveils-bold-timber-museum-in-turkey-that-pays-homage-to-the-regions-ottoman-heritage
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This year's ozone hole could be the smallest it has been in 30 years

For decades, scientists have closely observed the ozone layer, which protects Earth from the sun's harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation. This year, just in time for World Ozone Day, the European Union's Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS) announced the state of the ozone hole — its size is the smallest it has been in the past 30 years.

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/this-years-ozone-hole-could-be-the-smallest-it-has-been-in-30-years
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Robotic fish offer a solution to controlling invasive species

Invasive species have become a growing environmental challenge, causing serious harm to ecosystems. An interdisciplinary team from New York University (NYU) and the University of Western Australia are utilizing robotic fish to curb the damaging effects of invasive species by scaring the invaders enough so that they reproduce less.

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/robotic-fish-offer-a-solution-to-controlling-invasive-species
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Studio Gangs Solstice tower in Chicago is shaped by the sun

In Chicago’s Hyde Park neighborhood rises Solstice on the Park, a 26-story residential tower with an angular design that has been shaped by solar studies.

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/studio-gangs-solstice-tower-in-chicago-is-shaped-by-the-sun
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The 2019 Redress Design Awards showcased the very best of emerging eco-designers

Known for its work in reducing textile waste in the fashion industry, Redress has just hosted its 2019 Design Awards — the world's largest sustainable fashion design competition. Let's take a look at the winners!

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/the-2019-redress-design-awards-showcased-the-very-best-of-emerging-eco-designers
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Snhetta completes worlds northernmost energy-positive building

Snøhetta has once again raised the bar for sustainable architecture with its completion of Powerhouse Brattørkaia, the world’s northernmost energy-positive building.

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/snohetta-completes-worlds-northernmost-energy-positive-building
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Ace Hardware boosts efforts to phase out neonicotinoid pesticides

The world’s largest retailer-owned hardware cooperative, Ace Hardware, is becoming more “bee-friendly” by phasing out inventory products associated with neonicotinoid pesticides.

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/ace-hardware-boosts-efforts-to-phase-out-neonicotinoid-pesticides
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Climate fears affecting meat, bottled beverage and plastic production industries

The growing apprehension surrounding climate change is altering consumer behavior.

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/climate-fears-affecting-meat-bottled-beverage-and-plastic-production-industries
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Find Bliss in this natural, cruelty-free and affordable skincare

Bliss, a long-standing skincare and spa company, has been making natural, cruelty-free offerings for years, so we decided to test out some of its top sellers to find just how well these budget-friendly, natural skincare products work.

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/find-bliss-in-this-natural-cruelty-free-and-affordable-skincare
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Innovative orange juicer 3D prints bioplastic cups out of leftover orange peels

Related: + Via

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/innovative-orange-juicer-3d-prints-bioplastic-cups-out-of-leftover-orange-peels
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Canada unveils its first chemical-free public outdoor pool and it's gorgeous

Related: Chemical-free community swimming pool is filled with recycled rainwater filtered through plants + gh3* Photos via gh3* Borden Park Natural Swimming Pool, gh3*, natural swimming pools, chemical-free public pools, sand and granite filters, natural swimming pool design, urban planning, public swimming pools,

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/canada-unveils-its-first-chemical-free-public-outdoor-pool-and-its-gorgeous
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The planet is losing an area of forest cover the size of the UK each year

The rate of world deforestation continues to accelerate, despite governments’ promises to reverse it.

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/the-planet-is-losing-an-area-of-forest-cover-the-size-of-the-uk-each-year
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EPA repeals water protections, choosing industry over wetlands

The Trump administration has repealed the Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule, an Obama-era policy designed to protect waterways.

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/epa-repeals-water-protections-choosing-industry-over-wetlands
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The environmental cost of the pumpkin spice latte

Before you prove your loyalty to the iconic autumnal beverage, consider the effects your morning brew might have on the environment and your health, from the ingredients to the delivery.

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/the-environmental-cost-of-the-pumpkin-spice-latte
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LEED Platinum CoLab Building brings first-ever CLT structure to Virginia

Earlier this summer, William McDonough + Partners and HITT Contracting officially opened Co|Lab, an innovative research space in Falls Church that has received LEED Platinum certification for its high-performance design.

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/leed-platinum-colab-building-brings-first-ever-clt-structure-to-virginia
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Artist converts old city bus into public swimming pool

Related: + Via Designboom

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/artist-converts-old-city-bus-into-public-swimming-pool
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Taco Bell launches new menu for vegetarians

While in-the-know vegetarians have navigated Taco Bell’s menu for years, the fast food chain is moving plant-based food to the forefront with an official vegetarian section on its menu.

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/taco-bell-launches-new-menu-for-vegetarians
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EPA promises an end to animal testing

On Tuesday, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a move to "aggressively reduce animal testing" and to stop funding mammal tests by 2035.

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/epa-promises-an-end-to-animal-testing
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Psychedelic installation in NYC spotlights environmental issues with immersive art

The call for environmental awareness and action has been given a new voice in a visually stunning art installation that just opened its doors in New York City. Entitled Arcadia Earth, the temporary art exhibition immerses guests in a multi-sensory journey spotlighting pressing ecological issues—such as overfishing, plastic pollution, food waste, deforestation, and climate change—with vivid artworks designed with upcycled and reusable materials. The 18-room exhibition is powered by augmented and...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/psychedelic-installation-in-nyc-spotlights-environmental-issues-with-immersive-art
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Canadas largest shipping container market slated for Toronto

The people of Toronto are about to get the country's largest shipping container market, courtesy of local firm LGA Architectural Partners.

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/canadas-largest-shipping-container-market-slated-for-toronto
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Plumen Hive shade is 3D-printed and biodegradable

Light bulbs and lamp shades go together like peanut butter and jelly so when Plumen had an idea for a natural looking shade, they turned to designer Luke Deering with very specific goals in mind: make it elegant and make it sustainable. The Hive shade is the result of a vision to use biomorphic design to make a shade look like a natural honeycomb. Shadowing the design after well-sculpted art of the hive not only brings natural elements inside the living space, but also gives a nod to some...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/plumen-hive-shade-is-3d-printed-and-biodegradable
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Can an artificial leaf make the pharmaceutical industry greener?

Scientists in the Netherlands have developed a solar concentrator that looks and acts like a leaf. By putting chemicals in the artificial leaf’s microchannels, which resemble the veins on a real leaf, and exposing it to sunlight, solar reactions create medicine. “Depending on the choice of chemicals, almost any kind of medicine can be created in a fast and sustainable way,” promises a video on the Eindhoven University of Technology’s website. “Maybe we could be making malaria medication...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/can-an-artificial-leaf-make-the-pharmaceutical-industry-greener
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Tribute in Light endangers migrating birds

New York City’s annual September 11 Tribute in Light seeks to console a still-damaged city and commemorate those lost in the 2001 Twin Tower attacks. Unfortunately, the stunning beams of light also mesmerize birds, sometimes luring them to their deaths.

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/tribute-in-light-endangers-migrating-birds
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Apartment complex will be infused with vegetation to create a vibrant 'garden city'

Malmö-based archictect Jonas Lindvall has been chosen by the Swedish coastal city of Ystad to construct a plant-filled apartment complex.

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/apartment-complex-will-be-infused-with-vegetation-to-create-a-vibrant-garden-city
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Architecture students build temporary music festival venue using 160 repurposed apple bins

On Friday, August 2, the Pickathon Music Festival in Happy Valley, Oregon featured a temporary performance venue designed by the Portland State University School of Architecture. The project is another in a line of “diversion design-build” concept stages, known fondly as the “Treeline Stage,” built by the school for the festival since 2014. The very first Treeline Stage was made using wooden shipping pallets, but in the years since have also featured cardboard tubes, dimensional lumber and...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/architecture-students-build-temporary-music-festival-venue-using-160-repurposed-apple-bins
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This rechargeable camping headlamp is made out of sustainable wood and recycled aluminum

Recently launched on Kickstarter, the Origin Headlamp is not only a sustainable lamp, but it also boasts a powerful 300 lumen LED light that offers at least 10 hours of light and is guaranteed to lead you straight through your epic adventures.

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/this-rechargeable-camping-headlamp-is-made-out-of-sustainable-wood-and-recycled-aluminum
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American trophy hunter may get permit to bring slain rhino home

It seems counterintuitive. An American trophy hunter donates $400,000 to an anti-poaching organization in Namibia in exchange for the privilege of killing an endangered rhinoceros. President Trump may issue the permit for Chris Peyerk to bring his kill home with him, despite the Endangered Species Act specifying that it’s illegal to import endangered animals – whole or in part—unless it will enhance the species’ survival. Peyerk, owner of the Michigan business Dan’s Excavating, Inc.,...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/american-trophy-hunter-may-get-permit-to-bring-slain-rhino-home
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Supermarket happy hour reduces food waste

A Finnish supermarket chain is fighting food waste by offering steep discounts during a “happy hour.”

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/supermarket-happy-hour-reduces-food-waste
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Student designs an ecotourism hot-spot for the Iranian desert

A student finalist in this year’s Radical Innovation competition has found a possible solution for conserving Iran’s deserts while also promoting ecotourism in the region.

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/student-designs-an-ecotourism-hot-spot-for-the-iranian-desert
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This prefab tower was built using net-zero design principles

Located 100 kilometers from Beijing, the Lakeside Plugin Tower was developed as a model prototype for a city concept using sustainable, net-zero design principles.

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/this-prefab-tower-was-built-using-net-zero-design-principles
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A cluster of coast forest cabins brings a nature-loving family closer together

With their grown children living in different parts of North America, Indiana-based couple John and Pat Troth sought a retreat where they could bring their nature-loving family together in one place. To that end, the couple asked Seattle-based architectural firm Wittman Estes to transform a midcentury cabin in Washington’s Hood Canal into a getaway that would immerse their family into the coastal forest. Using repurposed materials, a simple and modern aesthetic, as well as an indoor/ outdoor living...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/a-cluster-of-coast-forest-cabins-brings-a-nature-loving-family-closer-together
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'The Blob' returns: marine heatwave settles over Pacific

The Blob is back … and no, it’s not a new Hollywood movie. Data scientists report this Blob – the last was in 2015 – refers to a marine heatwave or unusually warm waters. As for 2019’s blob, it’s the second largest to occur in the Pacific in the last 40 years. It encompasses 4 million square miles from Alaska to Canada and to Hawaii. Additionally, there is a larger area affected that us more than 3 degrees Celsius (5.4 degrees Fahrenheit) and hotter than normal for September. “It’s...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/the-blob-returns-marine-heatwave-settles-over-pacific
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Mountain in Sweden loses highest peak title as global warming shrinks it

Kebnekaise, the highest mountain peak in Sweden, has fallen victim to global heating.

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/mountain-in-sweden-loses-highest-peak-title-as-global-warming-shrinks-it
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This biodegradable T-shirt is made from trees and algae

The Vollebak Plant and Algae T-Shirt is an example of clothing that is produced with a vision for the end of the product lifecycle, when the shirt will biodegrade within a few months.

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/this-biodegradable-t-shirt-is-made-from-trees-and-algae
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Prefab houseboat in Prague features a spacious rooftop lounge

The Freedomky houseboat was directly created with a client's love of adventure in mind.

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/prefab-houseboat-in-prague-features-a-spacious-rooftop-lounge
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A 1940s cottage is transformed into a solar-powered Hanok-inspired home

Portland-based collaborative design practice Woofter Architecture has recently completed the expansion and renovation of a 1940s cottage in Portland, Oregon. Redesigned to follow the design concepts of traditional Korean houses known as ‘hanoks’, the residential project—dubbed the Wilshire House—has been remade into a courtyard layout and includes a new south-facing garden space. The home has also been thoroughly modernized and outfitted with sustainable features, including rain chains and...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/a-1940s-cottage-is-transformed-into-a-solar-powered-hanok-inspired-home
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Scientists warn we are now entering the plastic age

Water bottles, lunch bags and clothing laced with microfibers: welcome to what some are calling the "plastic age." A recent study reports plastic pollution caused by people is so all encompassing it’s deposited itself into our fossil record. Related: But this didn’t occur overnight as contamination has been building since 1945. “Our love of plastic is being left behind in our fossil record,” said Jennifer Brandon, at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/scientists-warn-we-are-now-entering-the-plastic-age
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Hurricane Dorian causes onshore oil spill in Bahamas

Besides demolishing homes, uprooting wildlife and ravaging forests, Hurricane Dorian has also caused an onshore oil spill in the Bahamas.

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/hurricane-dorian-causes-onshore-oil-spill-in-bahamas
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Recycling Identifying Device takes the guesswork out of figuring out what's recyclable

The ability to recycle materials has been around for generations, and as an increasing number of residential and commercial facilities take on the metal, plastic and glass, it has become a common task to put your recycling at the curb on garbage pick-up day.

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/recycling-identifying-device-takes-the-guesswork-out-of-figuring-out-whats-recyclable
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Naturalis Biodiversity Center reopens with a sustainable, future-proof renovation

After nearly a year of renovations, the Netherland’s prized Naturalis Biodiversity Center — a museum and research center with one of the largest natural history collections in the world — has just reopened to the public.

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/naturalis-biodiversity-center-reopens-with-a-sustainable-future-proof-renovation
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Hurricane Dorian threatens endangered bird species

Hell, hath no fury like Hurricane Dorian. Those on Abaco and Grand Bahama Island recently met Dorian as she made her presence known causing havoc to around 13,000 homes and at press time killing seven in her wake. Her fierce 185 m.p.h. winds forced people to hunker down or leave the islands altogether but they weren’t the only ones affected. Animals such as the endangered Bahama nuthatch bird living in the biomes aka pineyards also felt Dorian’s wrath. However, the Bahama nuthatch...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/hurricane-dorian-threatens-endangered-bird-species
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Germany to ban controversial weed-killer glyphosate by 2023

Reaching for the weed killer glyphosate in Germany won’t be an option much longer.

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/germany-to-ban-controversial-weed-killer-glyphosate-by-2023
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WOHA unveils a lush, net-zero Singapore Pavilion for the 2020 World Expo

Singapore-based architecture firm WOHA has unveiled plans to create a net-zero energy green oasis for 2020 World Expo Singapore Pavilion in the Dubai desert.

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/woha-unveils-a-lush-net-zero-singapore-pavilion-for-the-2020-world-expo
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Eco-friendly crematorium is envisioned for Santa Monica

Experimental architect Margot Krasojević has proposed a fantastical, solar-powered crematorium in Santa Monica that would not only use renewable energy for cremation, but would also give people the option to turn the ashes into tattoos, a concrete reef or even fireworks.

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/eco-friendly-crematorium-is-envisioned-for-santa-monica
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Breezy, prefab home stays naturally cool in tropical Costa Rica

Sustainable design practice A-01 (A Company / A Foundation) has combined traditional tropical architecture elements with modern prefabrication to produce the No Footprint House, a contemporary and energy-efficient abode that boasts a minimal environmental footprint.

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/breezy-prefab-home-stays-naturally-cool-in-tropical-costa-rica
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Eco-sensitive community in northern India harvests rainwater

Near the Himalayas, a new eco-conscious residential development known as the Woodside has taken root in the mountains of Kasauli, a small town in the northern Indian state of Himachal Pradesh.

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/eco-sensitive-community-in-northern-india-harvests-rainwater
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World's largest solar plant at sea is installed at Maldives resort

There’s more than sunbathers and yachts floating near the resort Lux* South Ari Atoll in the Maldives.

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/worlds-largest-solar-plant-at-sea-is-installed-at-maldives-resort
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Ireland will plant 440 million trees in 20 years

Ireland is about to get a whole lot greener.

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/ireland-will-plant-440-million-trees-in-20-years
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Locally sourced materials make up a timber home that mimics its forest landscape

On the edge of the southern regional city of Ballarat in Victoria, Australian design practice Porter Architects has completed the Ballarat East House, a modern home that embraces the surrounding treed landscape with large windows and a material palette of locally sourced Australian timber. Elevated off the ground to mitigate a tricky sloped site, the residence also emphasizes indoor/ outdoor living throughout. Spanning an area of 200 square meters on a half-acre lot, the Ballarat East House is...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/locally-sourced-materials-make-up-a-timber-home-that-mimics-its-forest-landscape
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Artist creates a living quilt to commemorate Santa Rosa fires

Memorials and national landmarks are common across the country as a way to draw respectfully remember events of historical relevance. This often takes the form of a statue or plaque, but following the Santa Rosa fires in October 2017, one artist took her own approach to remember the devastation, in the form of a living quilt.

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/artist-creates-a-living-quilt-to-commemorate-santa-rosa-fires
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Three visions unveiled for the future of La Brea Tar Pits

The Natural History Museums of Los Angeles County (NHMLAC) has unveiled three preliminary masterplan concepts for the world-famous La Brea Tar Pits — the only consistently active and urban Ice Age excavation site in the world.

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/three-visions-unveiled-for-the-future-of-la-brea-tar-pits
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Will iconic red beer pong cups be replaced by aluminum?

Used for decades at family picnics, beach parties and beer pong games, the familiar red plastic SOLO cup might be headed for extinction with a sleek, aluminum alternative that is endlessly reusable.

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/will-iconic-red-beer-pong-cups-be-replaced-by-aluminum
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Great Barrier Reef outlook decreases from 'poor' to 'very poor'

The world’s largest coral reef, where 400 types of coral as well as about 10 percent of the world's fish live, has gone from "poor" to "very poor."

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/great-barrier-reef-outlook-decreases-from-poor-to-very-poor
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Modular materials make up an eco-friendly restaurant in Taiwan

In Taiwan’s southern city of Kaohsiung, architect Ken Lo of Chain10 has crafted an eco-conscious restaurant for the third location of the Japanese grill restaurant chain Tan Zuo Ma Li.

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/modular-materials-make-up-an-eco-friendly-restaurant-in-taiwan
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This treehouse-inspired home in Los Angeles wraps around a cedar tree that grows through the roof

Known for its seemingly endless urban sprawl and noisy traffic, Los Angeles makes finding serenity no easy task. But Los Angeles- and Berlin-based firm Anonymous Architects has managed to create a soothing design that sits perched up high in a forest just a short distance away from the bustling cityscape.

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/this-treehouse-inspired-home-in-los-angeles-wraps-around-a-cedar-tree-that-grows-through-the-roof
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A shipping container is recycled into a chic nature retreat in Brazil

Proving that less can be more, architect Bruno Zaitter upcycled a secondhand shipping container into a 538-square-foot abode with a bedroom, bathroom, living and dining area, kitchen and an outdoor terrace.

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/a-shipping-container-is-recycled-into-a-chic-nature-retreat-in-brazil
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thredUP partnerships open the door to secondhand shopping at major retailers

The consignment retailer and secondhand shop recently kicked off RAAS, or Resale-As-A-Service, a project to attract traditional department stores to get on board with more sustainable fashion.

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/thredup-partnerships-open-the-door-to-secondhand-shopping-at-major-retailers
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Designer stylishly revamps a geodesic dome

Taking on a geodesic dome in the tiny Berkshires town of Becket was a new challenge for Jess Cooney Interiors — a challenge that the team overcame with much success.

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/designer-stylishly-revamps-a-geodesic-dome
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