Tag Archive | "Green living"
Green Roof Craze Strikes America
Europeans have known and enjoyed the benefits of Living Roofs, or Green Roofs, for many years. Only now, as the push to ‘go green’ has increased, are Americans finding the same cost and earth saving advantages. Living roofs not only increase energy efficiency, by reducing the amount of heat or cold radiated into a home or building, they also collect storm water runoff.
Continue reading...Cartrider: the Shopping Trolley Trike
Thursday, October 23, 2008
The idea of dragging the kids around a supermarket normally fills most parents with dread and fear. And those who don't have children are all too aware of the struggles parents seem to face come the weekly shop, which is probably why they choose to remain sans sproglings. Enter emerging Korean designer Jaebeom Jeong, creator of the new ‘Cartrider’ – half bicycle, half shopping trolley.
Continue reading...The Ancient Hula Hoop Buildings of China
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Set in lush green farmland is a cluster of buildings resembling alien spacecraft landing stations. Otherwise known as tulou, these earthen buildings are actually communal living spaces in southern China. Built mostly between the 12th and 20th centuries, tulou are thought to be early precursors to modern-day high-rise apartment blocks, able to house up to 80 families, or 800 people.
Continue reading...The Recycled Newspaper Bench
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
An ambitious French furniture designer has taken an unusual approach to using recycled materials in his work, and with great effect. Oscar Lhermitte, a young designer studying at London’s Central Saint Martins College of Arts and Design, has fashioned a way to use some of the thousands of [...]
Continue reading...Adventurer to Cross Pacific in Wave-Powered Boat
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Kenichi Horie recently sailed away from Hawaii on his way to Japan. ‘ Image by Mila Zinkova This everyday event was made special by the boat Horie used, called the Suntory Mermaid II. The vessel, which resembles a catamaran, will cross the Pacific using only the power of the waves.
Continue reading...Is Oprah Our Only Hope? Or, If Humanity Doesn’t Grow Up Fast, Can We Survive?
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
There seem to be two schools of thought on how we can get out of the messes we’ve created that are now coming to a head. Does it take Oprah to save us from ourselves? Image by Alan Light These include the climate crisis, overpopulation, peak oil (energy crisis), [...]
Continue reading...Health Department Blows $400,000 on Bottled Water
Monday, February 18, 2008
As the environmental problems associated with bottled water gain more attention, the industry has begun to suffer a backlash. Photo by Alex Anlicker Pundits are attempting to make drinking bottled water the new smoking, with the British environmental minister even calling bottled water “daft” and bordering on “morally unacceptable.”
Continue reading...Prince’s Eco-Home Gets Lower Eco-Rating For Not Using Plastic
Monday, February 11, 2008
Britain’s Prince Charles plans to build an eco-friendly home to spur the government towards greener housing policy, but his eco-friendly house design has now run into government regulation that says it’s not eco-friendly enough. The Prince has long been involved in a variety of environmental issues. He [...]
Continue reading...Global Warming Effects May Kill Off Hibernating Animals
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
The list of the effects of global warming keeps getting bigger and bigger. Nice marmot. Photo by Tnsnick Now scientists believe that global warming affects hibernating animals, causing them to wake up earlier. While this may seem
Continue reading...A Chocolate Box of Weirdness
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Thailand is both amazing and weird. This week has been a chocolate box of strange flavours that you’re unlikely to ever experience in the West. An area of Chiang Mai affected by forest fires recently set by residents. Photo by Richard Rhodes. Let me give you a taste: Rung [...]
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Thursday, November 20, 2008
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