TRANSPORTATION

Eighteen-Year-Old Builds One-Man DIY Submarine Out of a Drainpipe

by Sherrell Dorsey , 05/25/13

filed under: DIY, Green Transportation, News

teen creates submarine, Justin Beckerman, new jersey teen submarine, nj teen creates submarine, lake hopatcong

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Post tags: Justin Beckerman, lake hopatcong, new jersey teen submarine, nj teen creates submarine, teen creates submarine

VIDEO: How to Get Started With Cloth Diapers

by Yuka Yoneda , 05/25/13

filed under: carousel showcase, DIY, Features, How To, Inhabitots, Video

Approximately 27.4 billion disposable diapers end up in US landfills each year, and once there, they take about 500 years to decompose! If you want to stop contributing the the problem with your baby’s diapers, (and maybe even potty train early) cloth diapers are a great option, but getting started with cloth diapers can be a bit intimidating for newbies. Inhabitots editor Julie Seguss recently got a tutorial in cloth-diapering by Carolyn Sutton of Charlie Banana to learn about the basics, and we made this handy video so that you can follow along step by step, and learn how to get started with cloth-diapering. Click here to check it out!

Walmart and Gap Still Refuse to Sign Bangladesh Workers' Safety Accord

by Mark Boyer , 05/25/13

filed under: Accessories and Fashion

In the weeks following the horrific Rana Plaza building collapse that killed 1,127 workers — one of the worst tragedies in the history of the garment industry — more than 30 of the world’s leading apparel companies signed an agreement vowing to protect the safety of garment workers. But two prominent American companies have refused to sign the accord. Wal-Mart announced plans to launch its own safety initiative, and Gap has refused to sign any agreement, citing liability concerns. In a recent LA Times op-ed, law professors James Brudney and Catherine Fisk call the companies’ fears over their financial and moral commitments “irrational.”

Group-Two Design's LED Chandelier is a Futuristic Interpretation of a Classic Light Fixture

by Morgana Matus , 05/25/13

filed under: carousel showcase, energy efficiency, gallery, Green Lighting, ICFF, new york design week

Long gone are the old-fashioned chandeliers outfitted with incandescent light bulbs and enough ornament to put a Christmas tree to shame. Group-Two Design recently brought their ultra-modern LED chandelier to this year’s International Contemporary Furniture Fair, and the futuristic fixture turned heads with its cutting edge design. Still paying homage to the shape of a conventional chandelier, the new form is a minimalist and energy-efficient interpretation of an old classic.

led chandelier, group-two design, icff, new york design week, 2013

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Post tags: 2013, caviar20, dwell, erica pecoskie, george siminopolous, green lighting, green lights, group tow lights, group-two design, icff light, ids toronto, International Contemporary Furniture Fair, LED Chandelier, LED lights, LEDs, new york design week, ny design week, radostar

ARCHITECTURE

NYC Beaches Open Today After Post-Hurricane Sandy Restoration and Improvements

by Yuka Yoneda , 05/25/13

filed under: Inhabitat NYC

Yesterday morning, Mayor Bloomberg and New York City Parks Commissioner Veronica M. White visited Coney Island to announce the opening of all New York City beaches for the 2013 season. The kick-off was even more special than in past years because it also included beaches in places like the Rockaways, Coney Island and Cedar Grove that were badly damaged by Hurricane Sandy. After the storm, there was speculation over whether these areas could be restored in time for Memorial Day weekend, but all doubts were erased this morning with the unveiling of even better, more resilient facilities at these locations.

Garrison Architects, Hurricane Sandy, nyc beach buildings, nyc prefab, post-Sandy construction, prefab beach buildings, sustainable design, hurricane sandy, nyc beaches open, when do nyc beaches open

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Post tags: Brighton beach Manhattan Beach, brooklyn beach, Cedar Grove, coney island, eco design, environmental sustainability, flood-proof construction, Garrison Architects, green building, green design, green NYC, Hurricane Sandy, Inhabitat Local New York City, Inhabitat NYC, jim garrison, new york city, nyc beach buildings, nyc beaches open, nyc prefab, Orchard Beach, post-Sandy construction, prefab beach buildings, Rockaway Beach, South Beach, sustainable design, when do nyc beaches open, Wolfe’s Pond

Miniature Lille Huset Dollhouses are Cute and Customizable Craft Projects

by Charley Cameron , 05/25/13

filed under: Inhabitots

Alyson Beaton’s adorable Lille Huset Dollhouses are miniature dollhouses that kids can create, color and customize as a simple, rewarding craft activity. Translating into “little house” in Norwegian, the Lille Huset dollhouses are simple enough for kids to assemble, and can be stacked and arranged to create entire miniature cities. Even better, the dollhouses are eco-friendly—made from 100% recycled paperboard and printed in the USA with a certified carcinogenic free printing process.

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Post tags: Alyson Beaton, children's activities, dollhouses, green toys, Kids Crafts, Lille Houses, Lille Huset

The XTOOL By Combo Collab Re-Imagines the Milk Crate as Interchangeable Storage and Furniture

by Sherrell Dorsey , 05/25/13

filed under: Inhabitat NYC

milk crate furniture, upcycled furniture, milk crate storage, milk crate seats, milkcrate chairs, recycled plastic chairs, milk crate seating, Mateo pinto, Carolina Cisneros, xtool, icff new york, international contemporary furniture fair, combo collab, local manufacturing, nyc furniture, sustainable furniture, eco friendly furniture

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Post tags: Carolina Cisneros, combo collab, Combo Collab's XTool Upcycled Milk Crate Seating & Storage Solution, eco friendly furniture, icff new york, international contemporary furniture fair, local manufacturing, Mateo pinto, milk crate furniture, milk crate seating, milk crate seats, milk crate storage, milkcrate chairs, nyc furniture, recycled plastic chairs, sustainable furniture, upcycled furniture, xtool

INTERIORS

Lights Up Your Walls with Mestyle's LED-Embedded Wallpaper

by Radhika Sawhney , 05/24/13

filed under: energy efficiency, Features, Green Home decor, green Interiors, Green Lighting, ICFF, new york design week

If your walls are looking a bit bland, how about lighting them up with this glamorous LED wallpaper by Mestyle? Spotted at ICFF at during New York Design Week, this innovative application of LEDs caught the eye of the Inhabitat Team with its subtle but stylish glow. The illuminated wallpapers are available as a collection of 22 unique designs, each depicting a different theme.

LED Wallpaper, Mestyle, ICFF, New York Design Week, Green Interiors, LED Lighting, Handcrafted Wallpapers, Green Home Decor, High Tech Wallpaper

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Post tags: green home decor, green interiors, Handcrafted Wallpapers, High Tech Wallpaper, ICFF, International Contemporary Furniture Fair, LED lighting, LED wallpaper, Mestyle, Modular Lamp, new york design week

ENERGY

Google X Buys Airborne Wind Turbine Company Makani Power

by Beth Buczynski , 05/24/13

filed under: News, Renewable Energy, Wind Power

Google X, the tech giant’s top secret experimental branch, recently announced that it will take over Makani Power, a startup that develops wind turbines that fly through the air like a kite, rather than being mounted on massive poles cemented into the ground. The acquisition is just one of many significant investments Google has made into renewable energy technologies, and indicates that airborne wind turbines might soon be ready to move out of the experimental phase and into commercial reality.

google x, makani power, renewable energy, wind turbine, airborne wind turbine, kite power, clean energy, Google

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Post tags: "clean energy", "wind turbine", 'kite power, Airborne Wind Turbine, Google, google x, makani power, renewable energy

ENERGY

Structures Showcases Its Snakelike S7 LED Lamp at New York Design Week

by Radhika Sawhney , 05/24/13

filed under: biomimicry, energy efficiency, Green Lighting, ICFF, new york design week, Renewable Energy

A floor lamp, bedside lamp and reading lamp all in one, S7 is a versatile new lighting design by Structures. Founded by sailor turned designer Nicolas Pichelin, Structures developed the fascinating and flexible LED lamp to have an interchangeable head which can be rotated 360 degrees. This ultra versatile lamp is being sold by Ameico is one of our green picks from New York Design Week this year.

S7 LED Lamp, S7 Push and Play Lamp, Structures, Nicolas Pichelin, Flexible LED Lamp, Snakelike LED Lamp, New York Design Week 2013, Energy Efficiency, Green Lighting, Modular Lamp

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Post tags: "energy efficiency", Flexible LED Lamp, green lighting, ICFF, International Contemporary Furniture Fair, Modular Lamp, new york design week, New York Design Week 2013, Nicolas Pichelin, S7 LED Lamp, S7 Push and Play Lamp, Snakelike LED Lamp, Structures

The Retyrement Plan Creates Indestructable Ottomans from Old Tires and Recycled Plastic

by Charley Cameron , 05/24/13

filed under: green furniture, Reader Submitted Content, Recycled Materials

The Retyrement Plan is a collection of outdoor weatherproof furniture items created from old, discarded automobile tires and recycled plastics. Anu Tandon Viera creates a woven upholstery of recycled plastic wrapper waste over a ‘frame’ of tires salvaged from old scooters to discarded trucks. The “virtually indestructible” ottomans are part of a collection that includes occasional chairs, pouffes, charpais and floor cushions made from well-traveled wheels, salvaged fabrics and reclaimed wood and bamboo.

+ The Retyrement Plan

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Post tags: Anu Tandon Viera, automobile tires, car tyres, recycled furniture, Recycled Materials, Recycled Plastic, retyrement project

INTERIORS

Moooi's Brilliant Heracleum II Chandelier Blossoms With LED Leaves

by Ana Lisa Alperovich , 05/24/13

filed under: carousel showcase, gallery, Green Home decor, green Interiors, Green Lighting, ICFF, new york design week

MOOOI, Marcel Wanders, Bertjan Pot, Green Events, energy efficiency, Green Lighting, new york design week, Green Home decor,

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Post tags: "energy efficiency", Bertjan Pot, green events, green home decor, green lighting, marcel wanders, Moooi, new york design week

PRODUCTS

The Best Green Designs from ICFF 2013 Day Two

by Mike Chino , 05/24/13

filed under: carousel showcase, Features, Green Design Events, Green Home decor, Green Products, ICFF, new york design week

Accretion Lamp, Kalin Asenov, icff, international contemporary furniture fair, new york design week, icff 2013, green design, sustainable design, green design events, design show, nydw, new york design week 2013, green interiors, sustainable interiors, green furniture, eco furniture, green products, green lighting, energy-efficient lighting, recycled materials

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Vertebral Chair, Erika Cross, icff, international contemporary furniture fair, new york design week, icff 2013, green design, sustainable design, green design events, design show, nydw, new york design week 2013, green interiors, sustainable interiors, green furniture, eco furniture, green products, green lighting, energy-efficient lighting, recycled materials

Laser-Cut Lamps, David Akairaia, icff, international contemporary furniture fair, new york design week, icff 2013, green design, sustainable design, green design events, design show, nydw, new york design week 2013, green interiors, sustainable interiors, green furniture, eco furniture, green products, green lighting, energy-efficient lighting, recycled materials

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Circa Lamp, Pablo Studio, icff, international contemporary furniture fair, new york design week, icff 2013, green design, sustainable design, green design events, design show, nydw, new york design week 2013, green interiors, sustainable interiors, green furniture, eco furniture, green products, green lighting, energy-efficient lighting, recycled materials

Recycled Ktichen Scubber Lamp, Nadia Belalia, icff, international contemporary furniture fair, new york design week, icff 2013, green design, sustainable design, green design events, design show, nydw, new york design week 2013, green interiors, sustainable interiors, green furniture, eco furniture, green products, green lighting, energy-efficient lighting, recycled materials

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Post tags: "green furniture", design show, eco furniture, energy efficient lighting, green design, Green Design Events, green interiors, green lighting, green products, ICFF, icff 2013, International Contemporary Furniture Fair, new york design week, New York Design Week 2013, nydw, Recycled Materials, sustainable design, Sustainable Interiors

ARCHITECTURE

Koji Tsutsui's Multicellular House Cascades Down a Steep Slope in Mill Valley, CA

by Mark Boyer , 05/24/13

filed under: Architecture, carousel showcase, green Interiors, Sustainable Building

Multicellular House, Mill Valley, Marin County, Koji Tsutsui, Koji Tsutsui & Associates

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Post tags: AIA san francisco, bay area, California, home tours, interior design, Koji Tsutsui, Koji Tsutsui & Associates, marin county, Marin Living Home Tours 2013, mill valley, modern architecture, Multicellular House, Northern California

INTERIORS

Nervous System's DIY App Lets Users Design Their Own Cellular Wooden Tables

by Tafline Laylin , 05/24/13

filed under: biomimicry, carousel showcase, green furniture, Green Home decor, green Interiors, Green Products, ICFF, new york design week

Nervous System took inspiration from the shapes and patterns of nature to create an app that lets users design their own “cellular” wooden coffee tables. Once a customer is happy with their online design, Nervous System uses a CNC router to carve it out of plywood. The Inhabitat team stopped by their booth at the International Contemporary Furniture Fair (ICFF) this week for a look at their first official prototype and we have to say that it’s pretty darn cool!