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September 30, 2008

West Coast Green 2008: The H2OG Rainwater Storage System

by Daniel Flahiff

rainwater h2og, rainwater recycling system, modular rainwater recycling, recyclable materials, rainwater storage system, water storage, green gardening

Every once in a while we come across an idea so fresh and simple it seems incredible that it has not been thought of before. The Rainwaterhog is just such an idea - the H2OG system is a modular rainwater harvesting system that is a ‘game-changer’ in the water harvesting and storage industry. The easy-to-install system “boldly fits where no water storage has fit before” and is expandable, reusable, and 100% recyclable.

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September 30, 2008

Plastic Bottle Boat to Cross the Pacific Ocean

by Jorge Chapa

plastic boat, plastiki expedition, david de rothschild, boat made from plastic bottles, recyclable boat

Eco-celebrity David de Rothschild has decided to show the world what to do with its discarded plastic bottles. For his recent project, the Plastiki Expedition, the adventurous environmentalist plans to build a 60-foot boat made out entirely out of recycled materials and then sail it across the entire Pacific Ocean! The ambitious excursion aims to capture the world’s imagination while drawing attention to the state of our oceans, the idea of waste, and the unacceptable reality of pollution.

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September 30, 2008

TRANSPORTATION TUESDAY: Chrysler’s Bubbly GEM Peapod

by Jorge Chapa

GEM Peapod, chrysler electric ev, jeep ev, dodge electric, electric vehicle, fuel efficient vehicle

Chrysler recently revealed the GEM Peapod, a Neighborhood Electric Vehicle that uses no gasoline and emits no pollutants, making it perfect for city driving. Those of you who read our Car of the Future series may recall that smaller vehicles are more efficient, easier to park, and consume less resources, which makes them strong candidates for the future of personal transportation.

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September 30, 2008

TRANSPORTATION TUESDAY: Chrysler Reveals the Dodge EV

by Jorge Chapa

dodge ev, chrysler electric ev, jeep ev, dodge electric, tesla roadster competition, chrysler takes on tesla, electric vehicle, fuel efficient vehicle

Recently Chrysler revealed a lean green supercar that can hit 0-60mph in five seconds flat! The Dodge EV features an emission-free 200 kW electric motor and has a driving range of 150-200 miles, leaving GM’s Chevy Volt in the dust. The sleek all-electric vehicle is not intended to compete with consumer-oriented cars - it has its sights set on the Tesla Roadster!

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September 30, 2008

London Design Festival 2008: Inhabitat’s Highlights

by Antonia Halse

london design festival, sustainable furnishings, sustainable design, green design, industrial design, sustainable materials, eco-friendly materials

This year’s London Design Festival was an incredible event that showcased some of the world’s most acclaimed designers in addition to a host of upcoming talents. From innovative furnishings and lighting solutions to clothing and accessories, this year’s event featured a variety of cutting-edge concepts in sustainable design. Read on for our highlights from the event!

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September 29, 2008

One Day Left to Vote: Help Project H win $10,000

by Inhabitat

Project H Design, Project H, design for humanity, Design for Education, Ideablob, Kutamba school for AIDS orphans, Kutamba, Emily Pilloton, design for math

With one day left in the contest, Project H is in the lead to win $10,000 from Ideablob, but their lead is narrowing and THEY NEED YOUR VOTE! As we broadcasted last Monday, the product design nonprofit Project H Design is hoping to win the $10,000 to fund their Design For Education project in which they’re designing math toys for a school for the Kutamba School for AIDS orphans in Uganda. It’s becoming a closer and closer race by the minute, so please take 2 clicks of your mouse to vote for Project H (founded by Inhabitat’s own Emily Pilloton). Voting ends Tuesday night at 11:59 pm Central Time.

HELP PROJECT H WIN $10,000 BY VOTING ON IDEABLOB HERE>>>

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September 29, 2008

Columbia Materials Conference on Concrete - with Lafarge

by Jill Fehrenbacher

Conrete Conference, Lafarge, Columbia Materials Conference on Concrete, Columbia GSAPP, sustainable design, eco concrete, green concrete

Calling all architects in New York City who like concrete!

From October 1st through the 3rd, Columbia’s Graduate School of Architecture is organizing a series of conferences on materials. This year the conference will be focused around concrete. In an exclusive partnership with concrete company Lafarge, the conference will turn the spotlight on future developments and potential uses for this ever-surprising material, exploring the boundaries between materials science, engineering, and design. Leading architects, engineers and academics will come together around the theme of concrete to discuss environmental restrictions and the quest for aestheticism at a time of intense urbanization. Are you an architect in the tri-state area who is interested in innovations in concrete? If so, come check out this conference at Columbia University. To register for the event click here >

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September 29, 2008

WEST COAST GREEN 2008: Highlights from the Show

by Mike Chino

west coast green, san jose west coast green, sustainable building conference, sustainable building exposition, green architecture, green building, sustainable materials, green technology

This past weekend Silicon Valley erupted in a fantastic celebration of sustainable design as green building experts from all disciplines converged in San Jose for West Coast Green. From architects, contractors and interior designers to eco entrepreneurs and clean tech mavens, this year’s exposition focused an incredible spectrum of skills towards the common goal of greening the built environment, the world’s largest source of greenhouse gas emissions. The conference itself showcased an incredible set of sustainable strategies including solar power provided by SolaRover, recycled carpeting and finishings, compostable food and beverage containers, and carbon neutrality. Read on for our highlights from the show!

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September 29, 2008

San Francisco’s New Sustainable Civic Center

by Jorge Chapa

san francisco civic center, green civic center, redevelopment of the civic center, redeveloping san francisco, new san francisco, san francisco goes green, clinton global initiative, gavin newsom

For the past several years, the city of San Francisco has made strident efforts push forward and transform itself into the greenest city in the United States. Taking this goal one step further, Mayor Gavin Newsom recently announced an incredible plan to transform the city’s Civic Center into a sustainable resource district”. San Francisco’s renewed green heart will feature solar panels, wind turbines, and living roofs, reducing the city’s carbon footprint by 2,225 tons - the equivalent of 1,286 San Francisco households!

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September 29, 2008

Paris’ Green Generali Tower to Rule La Defense

by Haily Zaki

generali tower, valode et pistre, sustainable skyscraper, la defense, paris sustainable skyscraper, green building paris, generali skyscraper

No, we’re not breaking news about an eco-revolt in Paris, but the Generali tower designed by international firm Valode & Pistre definitely marks a coup for sustainable design. Slated for completion in 2012, the soaring new office tower will incorporate an unprecedented level of environmental systems and features, and represents the culmination of EPAD’s modernization campaign to make La Defense one of the most remarkable business centers in Europe. The renewed business district will be known both for its economic grandeur as well as it environmental and architectural progressiveness.

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September 29, 2008

London Design Festival: CAPtivate Lamp by Lula Dot

by Kate Andrews

CAPtivate Lamp, Lula Dot, recycled pet bottles, recycled materials, sustainable lighting, green design, 100% design, london design festival, lighten up

Composed entirely from damaged PET bottles and an eclectic assortment of found bottle caps, CAPtivate is an innovative lamp designed by London based studio and gallery Lula Dot. A gorgeous re-use of recycled materials, the design took center stage at 100% Design as part of [re]design’s “Lighten Up” exhibition (the follow up to 2007’s Sit Up exhibition).

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September 28, 2008

SUSTAINABLE STYLE: Loyale Organic Cotton ‘Faux Fur’ Throw

by Abigail Doan

Loyale, Loyale Collection, Loyale Pomeroy Throw, Loyale faux fur throw, Loyale vegan throw, Loyale organic cotton Pomeroy throw, Loyale eco fashion, Loyale sustainable style, Loyale eco chic, Jenny Hwa loyale, eco fashion accessories, organic blanket, NYC eco designers, eco home furnishings, eco chic lifestyle, green lifestyle

Nothing says eco luxury like a sumptuous ‘faux fur’ blanket made of 100% organic cotton to swaddle yourself or your loved ones in. Eco chic layering has taken on new, cozy dimensions with this luxurious Pomeroy throw from Loyale’s Fall 2008 Collection. Perfect for late night snuggling, reading books under, or simply stretching out on after a really yummy home-cooked meal - it’s exciting news that Loyale has ventured into stylish home designs for chic green living. Even better, the Pomeroy is ideal for families with newborns and toddlers who are indulging in ‘tummy time’ or their first crawling forays. Great for gift giving or simply investing in as an eco friendly alternative to the fluffy stuff that simply doesn’t make the green grade.

Check out our coverage of Loyale’s Pomeroy ‘faux fur’ throw for families over at Inhabitots

September 28, 2008

SUSTAINABLE STYLE: Eko-Laborative Fashion Week Exhibit

by Abigail Doan

Eko-Laborative, Eko Laborative, Eko-Laborative exhibition, Spring 2009 NY Fashion Week Eko-Laborative, Ekovaruhuset, EKO-LAB, EKO-LAB collective, EKO-LAB eco fashion, EKO-LAB eco designers, Ekovaruhuset NY eco boutique, sustainable style Eko-Laborative, green fashion Eko-Laborative, NY Fashion Week eco fashion

It’s not every day that a fashion show leaves you hungry for more, particularly when it comes to organic ingredients of the most delectable kind. This how I felt after the exquisite Eko-Laborative exhibition during NY Fashion Week. The designs were so rich and provocative, I was convinced that I had chanced upon a whole new cornucopia of eco-chic style. Staged as a fashion-forward collaboration between Ekovaruhuset’s ‘House of Organic’ and the new design collective, Eko-Lab, Eko-Laborative was a fine example of slow design effectively putting the brakes on fashion week madness. As a curated demonstration of sustainable style that blends organic and fair-made with true textile artistry, the designers behind this timely exhibit really had something wholesome cooking in their lab of eco-friendly fashion.

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September 28, 2008

London Design Festival 2008: Print and Paper Workshop

by Kate Andrews

Greengaged, London Design Festival, Recycling paper, Waste reduction, Recycled paper, Sustainable printing

Did you know that recycling a single ton of paper can save 7000 gallons of water, 17 trees, 380 gallons of oil, 3 cubic yards of landfill space and 4000 kilowatts of energy!? Statistics like these were key points at a sustainable print and paper workshop at the London Design Festival’s sustainability hub, Greengaged. The workshop, hosted by UK-based nonprofit enterprise Three Trees Don’t Make a Forest, set out to explore how different print processes affect the paper’s recyclability, and how you can reduce the impact through the design process.

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September 27, 2008

Nine Planets Wanted! UN Climate Change Exhibition

by Abigail Doan

Nine Planets Wanted, UN Climate Change Exhibit, United Nations Nine Planets Wanted, One Planet One Chance, UNEP, UNDP, global warming, environmental art climate change,  UN visitors lobby gallery, NYC environmental art, Zago design, Zago LLC, Waste-Bcn, recycled car interior bean bags, climate change eco art, NYC eco art

All eyes have been on the General Assembly sessions at the United Nations HQ this past week, and with good reason, there is a heck of a lot of work to be done in getting our planetary house in order. Aiding this mission is a site-specific art installation called, Nine Planets Wanted!, designed by team ZAGO LLC as part of the United Nations Development Programme’s One Planet, One Chance campaign on climate change and social inequality. There is already a wealth of information to digest on global warming, including alarming statistics and abstract data. So to avoid the possibility of information overload, ZAGO thoughtfully opted to create a multi-media lounge where visitors can take some much needed time to ponder the state of the planet by stretching out in recycled beanbags (made from discarded car interiors) and simply be present.

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September 27, 2008

London Design Festival: Eco Cooler by DeWeNe

by Kate Andrews

Eco Pot, EcoCooler, DeWeNe, David Weatherhead, Greengaged, London Design Festival 2008, eco-friendly kitchen ware

A beautiful and functional piece of kitchen ware, the ‘Eco Cooler’ by DeWeNe (Designs We Need) was introduced at the London Design Festival earlier last week. Cressida Granger, founder of DeWeNe gave a short presentation at London Design Festival’s sustainability hub, Greengaged. In addition to their inspiring Hook & Go trolley, Cressida showed their most recent project, this hand-made terracotta fruit bowl and root vegetable storage pot.

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September 27, 2008

London Design Festival: WeWantTap by Provokateur

by Kate Andrews

WeWantTap, bottled water, bottled water consumption, bottled water waste, greengaged, london design festival 2008, provokateur, tap water campaign, tap water

Is there a need for bottled water? On Thursday, we questioned whether Fiji’s eco-friendly efforts were really that green. And it seems that the folks at the London Design Festival were thinking about the bottled water controversy as well. At the Greengaged best practice case studies earlier this month at the London Design Festival, Joshua Blackburn presented a pro-tap water campaign developed by communication design agency, Provokateur. With a desire to bring about positive changes in consumer behavior, WeWantTap is both a campaign and product line. The campaign is simple, though the ambition is big, as Joshua explained: “We want to develop an initiative to take on the bottled water industry.”

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September 26, 2008

Arterra Green High-Rise Opens in San Francisco

by Piper Kujac

Arterra, San Francisco, LEED development, LEED condominium, sustainable building

Some of the AIA San Francisco Home Tours took us to parts of this city by the bay that are changing so rapidly, they are barely recognizable. The much-anticipated residential development, Arterra High-Rise, is one such spanking new project. The building is in what is part of a larger, 300-acre development known as Mission Bay. This part of San Francisco, along the south waterfront is built almost entirely on fill and represents the residual economic effects of the late 1990s ‘dot-com boom’, much like the mid 1880s gold rush led to the rapid development of what is now the Financial District in San Francisco.

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September 26, 2008

PREFAB FRIDAY: Recycled Shipping Container Harbinger House

by Olivia Chen

west coast green 2008, west coast green, lawrence group, sg blocks container house, prefab house, sustainable building, eco friendly building

Recycled shipping containers are becoming more and more popular as a viable sustainable building material, and this year’s West Coast Green show house highlights this growing trend. The showroom highlight of this year’s event is Lawrence Group’s SG Blocks Container House, fashion out of five shipping containers and a plethora of other eco-friendly building materials. As a prefab, the home is affordable, cute, and easy to assemble — demonstrated by the fact that the model at West Coast Green was erected in less than 5 hours.

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September 26, 2008

Chinese Paper Brick House at Architecture Biennale

by Evelyn Lee

Paper-Brick House, Li Xianggang Studio, Venice Biennale 2008, Chinese Pavilion, sustainable building, Sichuan earthquake, Chinese earthquake

With a structural system reminiscent of Shigeru Ban’s Paper Church, Architect Li Xianggang’s Paper-Brick House showcasing at this year’s annual Architecture Biennale in Venice, Italy is a mesmerizing paper fortress. Composed of paper tubes, paper boxes, and adhesive tape (and some metal connections), the materials work together to mimic a brick house. And something about it makes me nostalgic for the cardboard forts of my youth which only required an empty basement, a lot of boxes, and my imagination fully intact.

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September 25, 2008

IS IT GREEN?: FIJI Bottled Water

by Adrianne Jeffries

fiji water, bottled water, Barbara Chung, plastic bottles

Bottled water is anathema to many hardcore environmentalists. Taking water from the land and sky, putting it into containers made from oil, and shipping it around the world defies core eco-friendly values in many ways. Yet premium bottled water producer FIJI Water is aggressively marketing itself as green. You may have seen ads with the slogan “Our Promise, Our Progress” or “Every drop is green” and images of a bottle of FIJI Water next to a big green earth. On the bottle itself, the iconic hibiscus flower is now joined by a prominent green water droplet, and the back of the bottle invites you to visit FIJIGreen.com to find out more about the environmental impact of the water you’re drinking.

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September 25, 2008

Pearl Academy of Fashion by Morphogenesis

by Bridgette Steffen

Pearl Academy of Fashion, Morphogenesis, Indian Architecture, passive cooling method, sustainable architecture, natural ventilation system, jaali

Creating a sustainable building was a fusion of old-school building techniques and modern technology in the design for the Pearl Academy of Fashion. Designed by Morphogenesis, an architecture firm based in New Delhi and Pune, the academy is extremely energy efficient thanks to its use of cooling methods traditionally found in buildings in the hot-dry desert climate of Rajasthan. Situated in Jaipur, India, the finished structure is a sight to behold and looks like an incredible place to go to school.

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September 25, 2008

SG Blocks Container House Debuts at West Coast Green

by Mike Chino

sg blocks harbinger house, west coast green, shipping container prefab, sg blocks prefab, SGBlock House, shipping container house, prefab shipping containers, green building, sustainable architecture, recycled shipping container, recycled materials

West Coast Green kicked off this morning and we’re excited to reveal this year’s stunning show house: the SG Blocks Harbinger prefab! Composed of five recycled shipping containers, the home features a durable steel envelope that is capable of withstanding hurricanes in Florida and earthquakes in California. A paragon of sustainability, the Harbinger house also features FSC-certified woods, solar panels, rainwater recycling, and an Agilewaves resource monitoring system. Designed by the Lawrence Group, the prefab was fabricated in a month and assembled on-site in just 4 hours and 47 minutes!

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September 25, 2008

Fighting Forest Fires with Tree Power

by Bridgette Steffen

forest fire prevention, forest fire, tree electricity, tree power, forest fire sensor

We all know that trees are generous givers. They eliminate carbon dioxide, provide a home for little critters, and offer us shade.  However, there seems to be one last untapped resource: trees can also produce small amounts of electricity. And now researchers at MIT have begun to develop a way to harness that power so trees can finally do something for themselves: track climate changes that will help minimize damage from forest fires.

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September 24, 2008

BUMBERSHOOT 2008: The Plastic Bottle Greenhouse

by Alexandra Kain

bottle house, jasmine zimmerman, recycled bottle greenhouse, recycled materials, plastic water bottles, plastic waste

This year, Americans will drink more than 30 billion single-serving bottles of water. To raise awareness of the alarming problem of plastic waste, Jasmine Zimmerman created the Bottle House - an open-roofed greenhouse made from hundreds of recycled plastic bottles. It’s an excellent example of repurposing a harmful and overlooked material into one that will grow vegetation, and Jasmine plans to exhibit the greenhouse in empty lots, rooftops, parks, and vacant buildings to help spread the word. We caught up with the structure in Seattle at Bumbershoot 2008, where it was joined by a number of socially and environmentally charged installations and performances.

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