Gensler has more than 3,000 professionals in 41 locations around the world, and together they have managed to make quite an impact with sustainable architecture. Granted, not every architecture firm has access to their level of resources, or their repeat clientele, but we decided to dig a little deeper to see if the sustainable trend is just an outward appearance of the firm’s design, or if the philosophy is carried throughout their office’s culture. We recently spoke to Gensler’s Irwin Miller to learn more about the firm’s stance on sustainable architecture, and why they feel it is so important to be involved with green business conferences like Opportunity Green.

Read the rest of INTERVIEW: Gensler’s Irwin Miller on Sustainable Architecture and Opportunity Green

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Post tags: "sustainable architecture", Architecture, Gensler, green architecture, Green Building, green conference, green design, inhabitat, Inhabitat LA, Inhabitat Los Angeles, Irwin Miller, Opportunity Green, Sustainable Building, Sustainable Conference, sustainable design

Frank Lloyd Wright meets modern day prefab in the stunning Mod.Fab home, developed by students at Taliesin West in collaboration with their Dean Victor Sidy and Inhabitat favorite Jennifer Siegal. The goal of the collaboration was to build a prototype prefab conducive to elegant and sustainable living within the heart of the desert landscape. It only took a single picture for us to become instantaneous fans, and from passive solar design to photovoltaic panels and SIPs we’re thoroughly impressed with the project’s sustainable elements.

Read the rest of MOD.FAB: Stunning Prefab by the School of Frank Lloyd Wright

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Post tags: green architecture, green design, Jennifer Siegal, modfab prefab, Office of Mobile Design, Office of Mobile Design. PrairieMod, PrairieMod, prefab architecture, prefab design, Prefab Housing, PreFab Modern, prefabricated architecture, school of frank lloyd wright, Sustainable Building, Taliesin West

Read the rest of BOOK REVIEW: KieranTimberlake Publishes Their Second Monograph, ‘Inquiry’

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Post tags: "sustainable architecture", Atwater, green architecture, Green Building, green design, inhabitat, Inquiry, KieranTimberlake, Levine Hall, Loblolly house, NLE Facde of the London Embassy, sustainable design, Sustinable Building

Stephen Lindsey of urbanproduct recently worked with Monde Ruelle Gallery to transform old hockey sticks into huge snowflake-shaped “Schtick” holiday ornaments at the Jardin Botanique de Montreal. A cabinetmaker by day, Lindsey was intrigued by the hockey stick’s unique shape, so he spent his evenings tracking down old wooden sticks that would otherwise be destined for the landfill and then transformed them into festive pieces of holiday cheer.

Read the rest of Recycled Hockey Sticks Transformed into Incredible Snowflakes at the Montreal Botanic Gardens

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California’s plans for high-speed rail are surging ahead in spite of national controversy over the cost of the project. A report from the state filed earlier this month found that the completed cost of the train would be three times more than originally anticipated – a total of $98 billion for a project that will not be fully finished until the year 2033. The 520-mile anticipated length of track would also pass through communities and farmland while cutting a six-hour drive down to 2 hours and 38 minutes of travel time. The Washington Post has cried “somebody please stop this train,” and local Republicans are calling it a waste, however the Golden State continues to blaze the way for the bullet train.

Read the rest of California’s High Speed Rail Plans Advance Despite Tripling in Cost

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Post tags: alternative transportation, California Bullet Train, california high speed rail, California Infrastructure Project, California Railway, governor, Infrastructure Project, inhabitat, Inhabitat LA, inhabitat sf, jerry brown, Large Transportation Project, public transportation, Transportation Project

Read the rest of Opportunity Green Sustainable Business Conference: Final Wrap

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Post tags: green conference, Green Design Events, green events, inhabitat, Inhabitat LA, Inhabitat Los Angeles, Los Angeles, Opportunity Green, social design, Sustainable Conference, sustainable design events, Sustainable Events

The fifth annual Opportunity Green sustainable business conference kicked off Wednesday evening at Los Angeles Center Studios to a VIP reception. Adrian Grenier and Peter Glatzer were on hand as recipients of the 2011 Eco-Maverick Awards for founding SHFT, a site that is “curating the culture of today’s environment.” On Thursday morning green design thought leaders including Yves Behar, Gavin McIntyre, and Aron Bosworth, also took to the stage, speaking to this year’s theme “Accelerate” while presenting their best ideas alongside stories from CEOs, entrepreneurs, government officials, and other agents of social change.

Read the rest of PHOTOS: Inhabitat’s Highlights from Day 1 of Opportunity Green

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Post tags: Active-E, BMW, BMW Active E, Business to Business, Green Awards, green conference, green design, green events, Green Mayor of the Year, inhabitat, Inhabitat Los Angeles, Opportunity Green, product design, starbucks, Sustainable Conference, sustainable design, Sustainable Events, Yves Béhar

Opportunity Green – the largest multidisciplinary sustainability business conference in the US – will be kicking off THIS WEEK running from November 10-11 at the Los Angeles Center Studios, and we’re thrilled to offer Inhabitat readers a 30% discount off ticket prices! Eco designer extraordinaire Yves Behar will be keynoting the opening day with a talk about “redefining design”, Entourage fans will have the opportunity to see Adrian Grenier on the big stage along with Peter Glatzer as they receive the Eco-Maverick Award for co-founding SHFT.com, and we’re looking forward to listening to Hannah Jones, Vice President of Sustainable Business and Innovation from Nike. The conference will also offer USGBC and AIA members the opportunity to earn education credits. So come join over 1,000 industry leaders and professionals in the sustainability field as they discuss their accomplishments, their struggles, and the inspiration they have gleaned from the past year – and make sure to enter the code INH30 to receive a 30% discount off registration fees!

REGISTER HERE >

+ Opportunity Green Conference

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Post tags: conference, Green Design Events, green events, inhabitat, Inhabitat LA, Inhabitat Los Angeles, Opportunity Green, Opportunity Green Business Conference, opportunity green conference, Shft, Sustainable Conferences, Sustainable Events, Yves Bahar

There are a lot of hybrid sedans out on the market these days, but the 2012 Civic Hybrid just happens to be the most fuel-efficient one available in the U.S. Inhabitat recently had an opportunity to take the new sedan out – complete with the new Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) hybrid drivetrain – and we have to admit that we enjoyed the ride. The new features and technology available in the 2012 Civic Hybrid offer a fuel economy rating of 44 mpg across the board for city/highway/combined driving — up from the 40/43/41 miles of the 2011 Civic. The 2012 design also features sleeker styling and the interior comes equipped with both cloth and a sustainably sourced leather alterative.

Read the rest of Inhabitat Takes a Spin in the New 2012 Honda Civic Hybrid

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Post tags: alternative transportation, green car, green transportation, Honda Civic 2012, honda civic hybrid, Honda hybrid, hybird, lithium ion, lithium ion battery, sustainable car, sustainable transportation

The 2nd generation Yaris will soon be hitting local dealerships, offering increased fuel efficiency at an incredible value. Recently, Inhabitat was asked to preview the Yaris, and we were more that happy to take the vehicle for a spin. With a mileage range of 38/highway, 30/city, and 35/combined, its sticker price of $14,115 offers a lot of bang for its buck. A product of Toyota — who has made a solid name for itself with the hybrid Pruis – the Yaris represents the company’s continued commitment to developing vehicles that ensure increased in fuel efficiency and top consumer value. Aimed at college students and young adults, Toyota hopes to capture the Y generation by running their first all-electronic campaign with the Yaris.

Read the rest of Inhabitat Takes the New Yaris 2012 for a Test Drive!

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Post tags: Drive Green, Economic Automobile, Economical Car, Gas Saving Auto, Gas Saving Car, green transportation, Inhabitat LA, Inhabitat Los Angeles, sustainable transportation, Toyota, Toyota Yaris

Orange 22 is hoping their fans will help them kick-start their new all-natural Botanist Minimal bench at the low price of $299 (MSRP $799.00). Constructed from sustainably harvested poplar and high-grade engineered veneers, the bench is smarter than it first appears. Composed of two distinct elements – a formed bent wood sleeve and a structural base – the bench utilizes spring-loaded pins hidden within the brace to create a seamless aesthetic that is free from unsightly hardware. We first covered Orange 22′s award-winning aluminum outdoor bench in 2007, and the new Botanist Minimalist bench fulfills numerous requests to make an all-wood version of the original for residential interiors. In order to get the project off the ground, Orange 22 has launched a KickStarter – for a very limited time only (fund-raising ends on Aug 28th), Botanist fans can get their hands on the new Minimal bench at a rock bottom price. So what are you waiting for?

+ Botanist on KickStarter

+ Orange 22 Design Lab

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Post tags: botanist, Botanist Minimalist, Contemporary Design, green bench, green design, green interiors, inhabitat, kickstarter, Orange 22, Sustainable Bench, sustainable design, Sustainable Interiors

Now that Barbie has taken on the profession of architecture, it’s about time for her dream house to receive a sustainable makeover. Thankfully, four out of the five finalists in AIA’s Architect Barbie Dream House Competition have very specific sustainable aspects incorporated into their design. While we are a bit confused as to why giraffes made it into two of the finalist homes, it’s fun to read the accompanying design statements for each home – one of which explains that “there’s more to Barbie than her love of fashion, and her home should reflect that complexity: fun and stylish, yet technologically sophisticated and environmentally conscious.”

Read the rest of Vote Now for Barbie’s New Sustainably Designed Dream House!

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Post tags: aia, architect, architect barbie, green design, green home, green house, inhabitat, sustaianble design, sustainable house

This Saturday JetBlue is offering $4 flights between the Burbank and Long Beach airports in an effort to help residents avoid the inevitable Carmegedon that will occur with the closing of a 10-mile stretch of the city’s infamously slow 405 freeway. We thought it was a joke when we first saw mention of the promotion, but the joke’s on the environment because they have already sold out their four scheduled flights for that day. The puddle-jumping flights will end up consuming tons of fuel to travel a minute distance that could easily be reached by more fuel-efficient vehicles – the shortest route between the two airports doesn’t even involve the 405!

Read the rest of JetBlue’s $4 Flights Take Off in Los Angeles & Take Down the Environment

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Post tags: Carmegedon, Inhabitat LA, Inhabitat Los Angeles, JetBlue, sustainable transportation, sustainable travel, TerraPass

Read the rest of LABC Celebrates the Best of Los Angeles Architecture!

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Post tags: "sustainable architecture", design awards, Emerson College Los Angeles Center, green architecture, Green Building, Green Design Awards, Hodgetts + Fung, John Cotton Architects, Killefer Flammang Architects, LABC, Los Angeles Business Center, Morphosis, safdie rabines architects, Sustainable Building, sustainable design award

Read the rest of The Best of Dwell on Design 2011, Reporting Straight from LA!

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Post tags: dwell magazine, dwell on design, eco design, green design, inhabitat, Inhabitat LA, Inhabitat Los Angeles, Inhabitots, sustainable design

The June gloom is lifting here in Southern California, and Inhabitat is looking for a few great interns ASAP before the summer sun starts blazing in July. That’s right – Inhabitat is looking for interns for the first time on the West Coast, and we hope you’re just as excited as we are to continue expand our editorial coverage in the City of Angels. Inhabitat is a rapidly growing green design website and there’s a lot to be done behind the scenes, so we’re looking for a rock star intern that can assist both our editorial and web development teams. But don’t think we want someone to fetch our coffee – as an Inhabitern, you’ll be given the opportunity to write for the site and play a central role in a stellar team, and you’ll have a great chance to grow and become a vital part of a small start-up. If you’re based in the Los Angeles area and are interested in getting involved, please read on! The deadline for applying is the last day is June 30th!

Read the rest of Inhabitat is Looking for Interns in Los Angeles!

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Post tags: blog internship, green design, green design internship, inhabitat announcement, Inhabitat intern, job opportunities, sustainable design, tech startup internship, writing gigs, writing internships

This beautiful felt Leaf Lamp features a light-as-air design that mimics the structural geometric forms found in plants and trees. Designer Peter Schumacher sought to use as little material as possible to create the lamp, which is composed entirely of wood and unbleached wool. All of the lamp’s components pack flat to ship, and they can be easily assembled in a variety of unique ways. If you’re a fan of the Leaf Lamp then vote for it in our Bright Ideas Lighting Design Competition!

VOTE FOR THE LEAF LAMP >

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Post tags: "flat pack", bright ideas competition, Felt Lighting, fibonacci, green design competition, green lighting, inhabitat, Nature Lighting, Peter Schumacher, Phillips, sustainable design competition, sustainable lighting, Wood Lighting

The Turbine Pendant Lamp is a great example of green design that is incredibly versatile as well. Its thoughtfully conceived form can be appreciated indoors and out — either hanging from the ceiling or sitting on a desk or side table. Made from 2 sheets of recyclable Yupo synthetic paper and two bamboo rods, the simple design is easy to produce and 100% recyclable. Better yet, the entire package can be shipped flat-packed, minimizing environmental impact. If you love the Turbine Lamp’s spiraling design as much as we do be sure to vote for it in our Bright Ideas Lighting Design Competition!

VOTE FOR THE TURBINE LAMP >

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Post tags: Bright Ideas, bright ideas competition, Chow Design, green lighting, inhabitat, LED, LED lighting, Philips, sustainable lighting

In a city known for its spas and hot springs, the community of Calistoga joined forces to build their own sustainable retreat, open to all local residents. The Calistoga Community Pool in Napa, California was made possible by its inhabitants who raised over $1.5 million to provide their own fun in the sun in the most sustainable way possible. The completely open community center, which parallells the pool area requires no air conditioning (with the exception of a small office), making full use of the warm climate and slight breezes that Calistoga offers. The butterfly roof was formed in such a way that it captures breezes, naturally ventilating and cooling the interior of the building.

Read the rest of Calistoga Residents Raise Money for Their Own Sustainable Retreat

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Post tags: "sustainable architecture", Callistoga, City of Callistoga, community building, green architecture, Green Building, Green Community building, green design, inhabitat, inhabitat san francisco, inhabitat sf, napa valley, Sustainable Building, Sustainable Community Building, sustainable design

Semigood Design’s Rift collection brings an heirloom quality to modern designs through simple streamlined forms and the tradition of handcrafted woodworking. Gentle tapers, solid wood construction, and hand-cut joinery add both to the beauty and durability of the Rift collection. The beauty of the collection is in its handcrafted artistry and the joinery that goes into completing these contemporary heirloom pieces that can be passed down from generation to generation.

Read the rest of Semigood’s Rift Collection Fuses Handcrafted Woodworking With Sustainability

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Post tags: dod, dwell, dwell on design, inhabitat, Rift Collection, SemiGood, SemiGood Rift, SemiGood Rift Collection