Inhabitat










Jason Sahler

Jason Sahler is Inhabitat's operation's assistant as well as a contributing writer. Jason recently graduated from NYU with a B.A in Sustainable Development. Focusing on a holistic approach to sustainability, he looked to find connections between different disciplines and issues crossing different systems. He is a devout follower of small businesses and anything "SLOW". Jason brings his love for the the outdoors and his passion for finding sustainable solutions, to pretty much everything he does...Oh and he is a professed Craft Beer Geek.
Jason Sahler
May 29, 2008

COAL PLANT DEATHWATCH MAP!

by Jason Sahler

Coal plant deathwatch, earth2tech deathwatch, Coal plant cancellations, coal plant closures, coal plant deathwatch Earth2Tech, google energy maps, coal energy, renewable energy, greenhouse gas emissions coal

As actions to combat climate change have heated up, many coal plants have finally begun to cool down. (And its about time!) Whether from the realization that coal is a leading cause of greenhouse gas emissions such as CO2 (as well as dirty and destructive in their extraction and processing of the coal itself) or just from the fear that regulation may cause undo financial hardships, many coal plants have been put on the back burner or nixed all together. Our compadres over at Earth2tech have put together a great interactive google map which shows the locations of coal plants that have fallen to the wayside, documenting the demise of these obsolete, smog belching beasts and presenting the info in powerful graphic form.

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May 2, 2008

FreeGreen: Bringing Green Design to the Masses!

by Jason Sahler and Ali Kriscenski

free green home designs, Cornell University solar decathlon, Dave Wax Independent Energy Homes, Dave Wax FreeGreen, Ben Uyeda FreeGreen, Cornell University zero-energy home, custom designed green homes, FreeGreen Suburban Loft, FreeGreen green homes, freegreen_1.jpg

2005’s Solar Decathlon blew us away, but we were particularly fascinated by a stunning Solar House from Cornell University. This team brought a beautiful zero-energy home to the mall in Washington, D.C., and had just launched ZeroEnergy Design, a home design firm focused on zero-energy design. Continuing their momentum as green home design gurus, two of the Cornell Solar Decathlon team members have just launched a new endeavor aimed at bringing custom green design to the masses through an innovative business model called FreeGreen. Started by David Wax and his partner Ben Uyeda, FreeGreen is making green home designs free to everyone!

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April 18, 2008

PREFAB FRIDAY: Clara Cabin by hiveMODULAR

by Jason Sahler

Prefab, Hive Modular, Minnesota, Bryan Meyer, Anne Ryan, modular housing, cabin, wilderness, rural living, architecture, small homes, cabin1.jpg

As spring pushes forward and lazy, summer nights begin to envelop us, many people will daydream of the great outdoors and when they will be able to camp in tents and hike again. For those who prefer a little more accommodations and accoutrements, the Clara Cabin from hiveMODULAR is a perfect solution. You get all the comforts of cabin life - a bed, reprieve from the bugs, and weather - while still being able to connect to the surrounding nature. Designed and built by hiveMODULAR partner Bryan Meyer and his wife, Anne Ryan, this little woodland getaway is a great example of how versatility makes small spaces livable.

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April 12, 2008

Recycled Paper Flat-pack Baskets from Engage Green

by Jason Sahler

recycled materials, Leonor Mendoza, Engage Green, biodegradable, home goods, brightbold5.jpg

One of the biggest tenets of living a sustainable life is doing more with less, and as we grapple with reducing our carbon footprints we have to take a closer look at how we equip the world we live in. These beautiful recycled paper baskets from award-winning artist Leonor Mendoza are definitely a step in the lighter footstep direction. Made from recycled paper and cotton woven together, these colorful and multifaceted mats sport corner buttons allowing them to go from a colorful placemat to functional basket in seconds.

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April 11, 2008

CO2 SAVER: Sustainable Lakeside House in Poland

by Jason Sahler

CO2 Saver, Piotr Kuczia, Poland, Lake Laka, passive solar, solar thermal, locally source, Upper Silesia, co2saver1.jpg

Optimizing passive solar gain and using untreated local wood, this sustainable home on Lake Laka in Poland was designed by architect Piotr Kuczia. The south side soaks up the sun reducing the amount of active heating, while the north side opens up to vistas of the lake. Many of the materials were locally sourced, reducing the amount of unnecessary transport required for construction, hence the moniker CO2 saver. But there are many other ways that this home saves on CO2.

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April 3, 2008

VERS AUDIO’s Handcrafted Wood Speakers

by Jason Sahler

VERS AUDIO

We have seen mobile media players go green by utilizing the wind, the sun and our own muscles, what about when we use those gadgets in our home? Vers Audio has taken on the task to provide our homes with a more sustainable sound, with a more sustainable design. Vers Audio’s Vers 2x uses a sustainably harvested cherry wood veneer, providing your mp3 players with a sleek green home.

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