At Inhabitat, we’re thankful that environmental awareness continues to spread and that the design industry continues to play a leading role in making sustainability a priority. We thought today might be a nice time to talk about the things we’re thankful for in the world of green design and architecture. There are a lot of new design innovations that come out all the time, but few and far between are the innovations we find truly groundbreaking and inspiring. In no particular order, here are some things we are thankful for here at Inhabitat:

1. THIN FILM PHOTOVOLTAICS
Photovoltaic technology is getting better and better every day! Viva la solar revolution!

2. LEDs
Light-Emitting-Diodes are the future of electric lighting. LEDs use just 10% of the electricity of regular tungsten bulbs, and last about 100x as long. From desk-lamps to Christmas lights, LEDs are so good and so widely available these days that you can replace just about every light in your house with LEDs for greater home energy efficient.

3. ONE LAPTOP PER CHILD PROJECT
This exemplary project merges stunningly innovative product design (hand powered laptops!) with social responsibility and thoughtful education and development initiatives. Go donate an XO laptop to a child in a developing country and you can get one for your own child for a limited time >

4. REALLY ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
We love how creative people are getting these days with renewable energy ideas. Energy crisis? – bring it on!

5. BETTER AND BETTER ECO FASHION
Sustainable style is finally getting seriously stylish, and more widely available. Now you have no excuse not to be green!

6. DESIGN FOR THE OTHER 90%
This inspiring exhibition (and accompanying book) reminds us thats ‘sustainable design’ is not just about solar-powered houses and electric cars. A large percentage of the world’s population still doesn’t have access to electricity, clean drinking water, or basic education. Thank you for reminding us of where our green design priorities should be.

7. CLEAN GREEN ECO GRAFFITI
A little bit of green street art brightens up everyone’s day

8. INHABITOTS
We’re thankful for the safe and healthy births of a number of new arrivals to the Inhabitat family this year

9. MUSHROOMS
From cleaning up oil spills, to insulating your home, to recycling wood, oh the things you can do with mushrooms and a little good old fashioned ingenuity.

10. Our readers! Thanks for continually reading us and commenting…you make it all worthwhile.
We’re grateful that we get to sit at this little hub of a global community of engaged readers who inspire each other and keep the design conversation dynamic every day. You, dear readers, are a source of great momentum for the sustainable design movement, and for that we thank you.

Here’s to another year of progress towards creating a more sustainable world. Have a wonderful holiday!