Inhabitat - Sustainable Design Innovation, Eco Architecture, Green Building » Elliot Chang

Glass Lab Turns Waste From Local London Businesses Into Beautiful Recycled Products

Elliot Chang — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 21:00:41 +0000

Glass Lab is a system for collecting and processing waste glass from small businesses in London. Developed by Royal College of Art student Diana Simpson Hernandez, Glass Lab collects glass waste for free from enrolled businesses in the local vicinity and uses the glass as raw material to manufacture products for the public sector. The collected glass bottles are crushed on-site and graded into fine, medium and coarse filaments. These grades are combined with a vegetable bio-resin binder to produce strong and weatherproof products such as light bollards, tiles and street furniture. This project is based around the idea of viewing waste as a resource and using cast-off materials to create alternative economies at local level to empower small businesses and communities.

+ Glass Lab

+ Golondrina Design

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Post tags: Diana Simpson Hernandez, Glass Lab, green design, green materials, green products, RCA, recycled glass, Recycled Materials, Royal College of Art, sustainable design, Sustainable Interiors, sustainable products

Matt Fajkus Architecture’s Bat House Visitor Center Provides Vital Nesting Grounds for Bats

Elliot Chang — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 21:00:19 +0000

The Bat House Visitor Center by Matt Fajkus Architecture is a fully-integrated, sustainable building that provides much-needed nesting space for bats. To offset the rigid prefabricated wood frames of the overall structure, a series of folded “origami” plates provide an effective enclosure for bat chambers as well as suitable landing areas.

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Post tags: "sustainable architecture", animal habitat, Animals, bat house, Bat House Visitor Center, bats, conservation, green architecture, green design, Matt Fajkus Architecture, Rocket Bat House, sustainable design

Aaron Maret’s Pocket Shelter is an Amazing Tiny Home Fit for Small-Space Living

Elliot Chang — Fri, 31 May 2013 22:00:55 +0000

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Post tags: "sustainable architecture", Aaron Maret, green architecture, green design, handbuilt house, house on wheels, pocket shelter, small space living, sustainable design, tiny home

Beautiful Steam-Bent Hertfordshire Hammocks are Made From Sustainably Sourced Wood

Elliot Chang — Thu, 30 May 2013 21:00:41 +0000

Designer/maker Richard Foxcroft recently brought together ancient barrel making and boat building techniques to create a beautiful line of wooden hammocks. Foxcroft’s Hertfordshire Hammocks are made of English oak from a sustainably managed woodland, and they’re designed to look good, feel good and last for many years. The wood is steam-bent to create comfortable curved shapes, and a stand is available in case there aren’t any trees nearby.

+ Hertfordshire Hammocks

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Post tags: "green furniture", green design, Hertfordshire Hammocks, oak hammock, Richard Foxcroft, sustainable design, sustainably sourced wood, swing, wood furniture, wood hammock, woodworking

Lumos Solar’s New Solarscape Structures Provide Shade and Renewable Energy

Elliot Chang — Thu, 23 May 2013 21:00:15 +0000

Lumos Solar just unveiled their newest product: a modular and customizable photovoltaic structure called the SolarScape. Perfect for patio covers, pool awnings, carports, walkways, bus stops and commercial overhead applications, Lumos SolarScapes provide an aesthetic and architectural solution for providing shade and renewable energy. The structures are based around the award-winning LSX Frameless Module System, and their versatile design allows renewable energy to be integrated into everyday life in entirely new ways.

+ Lumos Solar

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Post tags: alternative energy, green design, lumos solar, lxs canopy, lxs frameless solar modules, photovoltaic panels, renewable energy, solar panels, Solar Power, solarscapes, sustainable design

Reclamation Etchworks Creates Modern Spirit Decanters From Recycled Glass Bottles

Elliot Chang — Mon, 20 May 2013 21:00:15 +0000

Reclamation Etchworks creates modern day spirit decanters for your home bar by upcycling bottles collected in local San Francisco restaurants. With the help of an entire community of bartenders they were able to amass an inventory of empty bottles to repurpose and provide with a permanent ‘shelf life’. They’re available on Kickstarter only until June – so strike while the iron is hot and help launch a new sustainable design business today!

+ Reclamation Etchworks

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Post tags: alcohol decanter, decanter, green design, green drinks, green food, green interiors, green kitchen, Reclamation Etchworks, recycled bottles, recycled decanter, Recycled Materials, San Francisco, sustainable design, Sustainable Interiors

WE CARE Solar Suitcase Saves Mothers’ and Babies’ Lives by Providing a Vital Light Source During Childbirth

Elliot Chang — Fri, 17 May 2013 19:00:31 +0000

In the developing world, mortality rates for expectant mothers total over 300,000 deaths each year. The WE CARE Solar Suitcase is a brilliant new device that aims to reduce this figure by providing hospitals in off-grid areas with access to a steady source of energy and light. Designed by Dr. Laura Stachel and her husband Hal Aronson, the system includes high-efficiency LED lights, a universal cellphone charger, 12V DC outlets, a set of 40 or 80 watt solar panels, and a 12 amp-hour sealed lead-acid battery.

Willem Heeffer Creates Upcycled Heinz Beanz Can Chandeliers for Helsinki’s Midhill Restaurant

Elliot Chang — Thu, 16 May 2013 21:00:02 +0000

Dutch designer Willem Heeffer used 334 recycled cans to create a series of luminous upcycled chandeliers and furnishings for Top Chef Hans Välimäki’s new Midhill American diner in Helsinki, Finland. Heeffer collected the tins from local restaurants, cleaned them, and then transformed them into fork and knife holders, bar lights, a floor-to-ceiling storage display and three chandeliers. The chandeliers are made from 21 Heinz Beanz classic cans each. The lamps fit perfectly into the interior designed by Martina Rosenqvist and Vera Öller, who used old corrugated roof panels to clad the bars. The single Heinz Beanz can that started it all is for sale at Willem Heeffer‘s website.

+ Willem Heeffer

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Post tags: Finland, green design, green interiors, Hans Valimaki, Heinz Beanz, Helsinki, Martina Rosenqvist, Midhill Restaurant, recycled cans, Recycled Materials, sustainable design, Vera oller, Willem Heeffer

Flat Pack LED World Lamp is Made From Lightweight Recycled Materials

Elliot Chang — Tue, 07 May 2013 21:00:19 +0000

The World Lamp is a new shop light that pairs energy-efficient LEDs with a clever collapsible design that packs flat to ship and can be easily assembled once it arrives. The World Lamp uses about half the energy of a conventional 4’ fluorescent shop light, and it weighs less than 2.5 lbs. The lamp’s body is made of lightweight recycled material, and it can be either hung from the ceiling or stood up vertically. If you’re a fan of this project you can support it on Kickstarter here!

+ World Lamp

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Post tags: "flat pack", energy efficient lighting, flat pack lighting, green design, green interiors, green lighting, LED, led lamp, light emitting diode, shop light, sustainable design, sustainable lighting, world lamp

Chissick Design Turns Salvaged Wood Scraps Into Beautiful Fused Furniture

Elliot Chang — Mon, 06 May 2013 21:00:20 +0000

Chissick Design just unveiled a new collection of beautiful fused wood furniture. Each piece is made of scrap wood collected from different carpenters that is fused together to create unique pieces of sustainable furniture. The salvaged wood furnishings range from credenzas and chairs to shelves and tables, and each piece is defined by the form of the materials collected.

+ Chissick Design

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Post tags: "green furniture", "sustainable furniture", beneton, chissick design, eli chissick, green design, green furnishings, green interiors, recycled wood, salvaged wood, scrap wood, sustainable design

Daniel Svahn’s Minimalist Picnic Table is Made From a Pile of Salvaged Timber and Two Straps

Elliot Chang — Thu, 02 May 2013 21:00:54 +0000

Swedish designer Daniel Svahn has created a clever conceptual table called Picnic that is made of wood salvaged from storm-felled trees. The minimalist design takes the form of a cube of stacked planks held in place by two ratcheting industrial straps. The extruded planks form an impromptu picnic table that seats two.

+ Daniel Svahn

Via Homecrux

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Post tags: Daniel Svahn, green design, green interiors, picnic, picnic table, reclaimed wood, salvaged wood, sustainable design, Sustainable Interiors, sustainably sourced wood, wood table

Agustina Bottoni’s Monolithic Brut Barbecue Set is Made From Recycled Coconut Coir

Elliot Chang — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 21:00:43 +0000

“Brut” is a monolithic stool and barbecue set designed by Agustina Bottoni that is produced by casting a compound of cement and coconut coir (an agricultural waste). Bottoni’s low-tech, DIY casting process uses accessible products – most of which are available at IKEA stores. The recycled material has proven to be water and fireproof, which makes it ideal for springtime barbecues.

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Post tags: "green furniture", "sustainable furniture", agricultural waste, Agustina Bottoni, barbecue, Brut, coconut coir, DIY, do it yourself furniture, green design, ikea, recycled coconut coir, Recycled Materials, stool, sustainable design, Sustainable Materials

LAST DAY: Enter to Win a $1000 Prize in Lighten Up! An LED Lighting Design Competition

Elliot Chang — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 21:35:15 +0000

TODAY IS THE LAST DAY TO ENTER!

Calling all architects, interior designers and lighting designers! Do you have a spectacular architecture or interior project that uses LED lighting? Share it with the world today in our Lighten Up! An LED Lighting Design Competition. We’re looking for the best and the brightest examples of residential and commercial interior lighting designs that make use of energy-efficient LEDs. Exceptional designs will be put up to a popular vote, and the top 15 entries in both categories will be reviewed by a panel of expert judges who will determine which two winning submissions should be awarded a $1000 gift certificate for use towards Elemental LED products. Judging will be based on aesthetics, creativity, innovation and how well LEDs have been employed a project’s space. Enter your work in either the residential or commercial categories (or both!) by TODAY Monday, April 22, 2013.

ENTER THE LIGHTEN UP! COMPETITION >

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Post tags: "lighting design", and led lighting design competition, design a lamp, Design Competition, eco design contest, eco lamp, elemental LED, elemental led lighting design, elemental led store, green design competition, green lamp, industrial design competition, inhabitat competition, inhabitat contest, lamp design, lamp design contest, LED bulb, led lamp design, led light design, Lighten Up, Lighten Up! An LED Lighting Design Competition, lighting contest, lighting design competition, lighting design contest, product design competition, win this

Infographic Shows the Impact of Rising Sea Levels and Eroding Coastlines Around the World

Elliot Chang — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 21:00:38 +0000

This infographic by Vouchercloud details some of the perils facing mankind and thousands of species as a result of melting icecaps and rising oceans. The greatest influence on the current increase in ocean volume is not the melting of ice caps, but the increase in ocean temperature. With over 50% of the world’s population living in coastal areas the Red Cross estimates that inland communities will be set to receive 200 million environmental refugees by 2050. Read on for a closer look.

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Post tags: Climate Change, coastline, Environment, eroding coastlines, global warming, infographic, polar ice caps, rising sea levels, sea level, Sustainability, water issues

University of Warwick Competing to Develop the World’s Fastest Human Powered Submarine

Elliot Chang — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 21:00:17 +0000

Engineering students at the University of Warwick are developing what could very well be the world’s fastest human-powered submarine! The vehicle is dubbed the HPS Shakespeare and it will attempt to beat the speed record of 8.08 mph currently held by a team from Montreal. The Warwick team is led by Dr Ian Tuersley and it includes students from around the world.

+ University of Warwick

Via Damn Geeky

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Post tags: european international submarine race, green design, green transportation, green vehicle, hps shakespeare, human powered submarine, human-powered vehicle, sustainable design, university of warwich

Uon Lights: Battery-Free Rechargeable Bike Lights Launch on Indiegogo

Elliot Chang — Mon, 01 Apr 2013 20:30:51 +0000

Uon Lights are rechargeable bicycle lights that increase the visibility of cyclists at night and allow them to signal their intentions to turn. Designed by Singapore-based Tan Yong Kuan and Malvina Fransisca Wijaya, the lights are designed to encourage cycling as an eco-friendly mode of transportion and reduce the ecological footprint of using disposable batteries. Uon Lights just launched a crowdfunding campaign on Indiegogo to support the project – check it out here and donate today!

+ Uon Lights

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Post tags: battery-free bike light, bicycling, bike, bike lights, bike turn signals, cycling, cycling safety, green design, green gadgets, led light, rechargeable bike lights, safe biking, sustainable design, uon lights

Re Rag Rug Creates Gorgeous Handmade Rugs From Recycled Thrift Store Sweaters

Elliot Chang — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 21:00:24 +0000

Re Rag Rug is an experimental design and crafts project initiated in August 2012 by designers Katarina Brieditis and Katarina Evans in Stockholm, Sweden. Their goal is to develop one unique rag rug each month for a full year using different types of recycled materials and a variety of techniques ranging from sewing to plaiting, crocheting, knitting, macramé, rolling, cutting, applique, and embroidery. The designers’ goal is to work in a free and experimental manner to create innovative rugs – the fact that they’re made out of recycled materials is an added bonus.

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Post tags: eco rug, green decor, green design, green interiors, re rag rug, Recycled Materials, recycled rug, recycled textiles, sustainable arts and crafts, sustainable design, Sustainable Interiors

All-Electric Grizzly Robotic Vehicle Can Tackle Practically Any Terrain

Elliot Chang — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 21:00:43 +0000

Clearpath Robotics has designed an all-electric utility vehicle called the Grizzly that can trek over practically any terrain. The large ATV-like robotic vehicle has 8 inches of ground clearance and huge 26” tires, and it can carry a payload weighing up to 600 kg. The Grizzly has an 80 horsepower electric engine that can propel it at speeds up to 11 mph, and the front axle articulation of 16 degrees means that the robot can take on 6-inch obstacles without losing traction or lifting even a single wheel off the ground.

+ Clearpath Robotics

Via Damn Geeky

Grizzly Electric Vehicle Clearpath Robotics

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Post tags: Clearpath Robotics, electric 4x4, electric four-wheeler, electric vehicle, ev, green car, green design, green technology, green transportation, Grizzly Electric Vehicle, robotic vehicle, sustainable design, sustainable transportation

Menthol Architects’ Plant-Covered Bicycle Parking Pod also Doubles as a City Furniture

Elliot Chang — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 21:00:58 +0000

‘Cars versus bikes’ is an ongoing saga playing out in cities all over the world as riders and drivers fight for road and parking space. Menthol Architects tackles the problem of parking chaos with their design for a plant-covered bicycle parking pod. The idea creates a piece of modern city furniture that offers a place for cyclists to safely park their bike, while facilitating greenery, benches and a space for a vending machine and advertising that could help support care of the unit.

+ Menthol Architects

The article above was submitted to us by an Inhabitat reader. Want to see your story on Inhabitat? Send us a tip by following this link. Remember to follow our instructions carefully to boost your chances of being chosen for publishing!

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Post tags: bike and bus, bike parking, bike pod, Bike Rack, city furniture, Menthol Architects, modular city furniture, plant covered bus stop, plant-covered bicycle parking pod, urban furniture

Interior Design Arts Unveils Gorgeous Timber-Framed Home in Watchung, New Jersey

Elliot Chang — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 21:00:28 +0000

This gorgeous timber-framed home was designed and built by the artisans at Interior Design Arts. The team combined their passion for natural aesthetics with modern amenities to turn this home into a magnificent work of art. The home possesses immeasurable charm – from the hand-crafted woodwork and exposed timber beams to the custom copper accents and exposed brick walls.

+ Interior Design Arts

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Post tags: green architecture, Green Building, green design, handcrafted, handcrafted home, Interior Design Arts, Sustainable Building, sustainable design, timber framed home, wood home