India aims to bring electricity connections to 40 million households

Millions of homes in India lack electricity. Prime minister Narendra Modi hopes to change that with his Power for All By 2019 plan. Under the scheme, 40 million households could obtain electricity connections - with the poor receiving them for free. Related: India cancels plans for coal power stations as solar prices hit record low

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/india-aims-to-bring-electricity-connections-to-40-million-households
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Bloombergs new London HQ rated worlds most sustainable office

Bloomberg’s new European headquarters in London scored a 98.5% against the latest BREEAM sustainability rating scheme—making it the world’s most sustainable office building, as designed. Certified BREEAM Outstanding with its design-stage score, the Foster + Partners-designed project uses 73% less water and 35% less energy than a typical office building. Innovative energy saving technologies are visibly integrated into the building, from the beautiful and multifunctional petal-leaf ceiling panels...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/bloombergs-new-london-hq-rated-worlds-most-sustainable-office
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Luxury lakeside hotel promises a return to nature in Italy

Architecture studio noa* mixes alpine and Mediterranean influences in their renovation of a family-run hotel in Italy. Located on a high plateau next to a small natural lake, Hotel Seehof is a luxury hotel that celebrates nature in its use of materials, design, and programming. The nature retreat features an undulating roof that mirrors Natz-Schabs’ mountain scenery while its earth-colored plaster and use of timber references the nearby forests. Hotel Seehof completed its major renovation...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/luxury-lakeside-hotel-promises-a-return-to-nature-in-italy
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This living hammock is a swinging seat made of soil-less plants

Can a fabric be woven from a plant? Spanish artist Ainhoa Garmendia, a member of Fabrica communication research center, believes it is possible. Her Naturalise installation is realized with soil-less living plants. It is a hammock that goes far beyond a mere functional object. It is a statement that calls to fight contemporary throw-away culture. “We are very used to short-life objects. We were taught that recycling is good, when the real solution is just not to produce waste. We take advantage...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/this-living-hammock-is-a-swinging-seat-made-of-soil-less-plants
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"You had to live it to believe it" - hundreds of polar bears rush to feast on one whale carcass

When a bowhead whale washed ashore at Wrangel Island in Russia, the polar bears were ready. They gathered to eat the carcass, and tourists captured the experience on camera. Estimates put the number of polar bears between 150 and 230. As there are around 20,000 to 25,000 of the animals on Earth, almost one percent of the world's polar bears, according to Gizmodo, could have assembled for the feast. Related:

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/you-had-to-live-it-to-believe-it-hundreds-of-polar-bears-rush-to-feast-on-one-whale-carcass
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Coca-Cola increased its plastic bottle production by a billion in 2016

In 2016, Coca-Cola increased its global production of single-use, throwaway plastic bottles by one billion, according to Greenpeace. Although the beverage behemoth does not publicly disclose its production numbers, an analysis by Greenpeace suggests a massive increase in output of plastic, which often end up in landfills, water ways, or in large islands of trash floating in the ocean. The world's largest soft drinks company contributes more than its fair share to a global plastic problem. It is...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/coca-cola-increased-its-plastic-bottle-production-by-a-billion-in-2016
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Paris banned all cars for a day to highlight pollution issue

People, not cars, traversed the roads for several hours in Paris, France yesterday. The government held what they deemed a Car Free Day, where the streets filled with bikers, walkers, and roller-bladers instead of smog-inducing emissions. Their goal for the day was to see public spaces less polluted and more peaceful. Related:

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/paris-banned-all-cars-for-a-day-to-highlight-pollution-issue
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