Green architect and co-author of the pivotal green design handbook Cradle to Cradle, William McDonough is one of the founders of the green design movement and one of the preeminent thought-leaders of our time. His approach to sustainable design spans the entire industry - from large-scale projects (like designing the largest and most ambitious green roof in the world) to developing the most rigorous green product standard available. We recently had the opportunity to speak with Bill at the GreenBuild Conference about his work and the future of green design. We were joined by Howard Williams, VP of Construction Specialties, a leading proponent of safe materials in products, who introduced the company's latest Cradle to Cradle-certified products. The thought-provoking and energetic conversation gave us a taste of how intimately intertwined design is with a product’s real-world impact - read on for our exclusive interview!

 

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When architect Ed Mazria announced that buildings account for nearly 50% of man-made greenhouse gas emissions, the building industry was taken aback. After a long career in passive solar architecture, he has taken on the goal of steeply reducing the carbon footprint of architecture – most notably with his 2030 Challenge, which aims to eliminate the use of fossil fuels in new construction, and to cut the use of fossil fuels in existing buildings by 50% by 2030. To help hit those targets, Mazria is launching a new initiative called the 2030 Palette—a robust, visually oriented online design tool which strives to help produce low-impact, people friendly projects. We recently visited Mazria’s offices in Santa Fe, where we spoke to the architect in-depth about his work and how sustainable development can save us from the worst climate change has to offer.

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School’s out for summer, and kids are hitting the swings, seesaw and slide at parks all around the country. While there are plenty of generic playgrounds for kids to choose from, there are also a bunch of great eco-friendly playgrounds that are made from recycled materials that promote creativity while lessening their impact on the environment. From a playground made from an upcycled wind turbine to a playground made from thousands of recycled tires, check out 6 of the world’s top green playgrounds.

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With its long days, plentiful sun and delicious fare, summer is without a doubt our favorite time of year. If you're like us here at Inhabitat, you're constantly drawn to your local fruit stand to scope out the season's ripest pickings. If you find that you scoop up more than you can munch on within just a few days, here are some handy tips to keep your favorite summer fruits and vegetables fresher for longer. And if you missed it, don't forget to check out our first handy guide here, which details how to care for and store produce commonly purchased year-round.

 

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A fascinating new digital fabrication technology called “Knitic” prints scarves that match your mood. Designed by Varvara Guljajeva and Mar Canet with input from researcher Sebastian Mealla, NeuroKnitting maps a person’s brainwaves after they have listened to ten minutes of classical music. This information is then plugged into the Knitic machine, which prints bi-color scarves that reflect the emotional data collected with an EEG headset.

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London-based Baharash Architecture was recently selected to design the phase 2 of the Dubai Sustainable City development – the first green residential community of its kind in Dubai. Master-planned by Stringa Planning Studio, the 46-hectare city will produce 50 percent of its own energy with solar panels and it will offset its carbon footprint by introducing alternative modes of transportation.

 

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Forget socks, ties or power tools; what your dad really wants for Father's Day is to spend it with his favorite kid - you! Whether you're 5 or 50, New York City will be buzzing with worthwhile things to do with your dad this Sunday, June 16th, and we've narrowed it down to our top 6 picks. From foraging for wild edibles to kayaking down the Hudson, check out our suggestions and enjoy them with your daddy-o.

 

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Poland’s Zalewski Architecture Group took on the challenge of designing a modern renovation for a 1930s-era urban house, and they came up with a striking green update. Located in the dense city of Zabrze, D House—Urban Sandwich, is a single family brick home capped with a lush green oasis. The roof contains a terrace hidden from the surrounding streets by a thick veil of foliage.

 

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British telecommunications company Vodafone wants people to be able to use their phones, even when they’re away from a power source for days on end at music festivals, for example. So this week, the company unveiled a pair of denim hotpants that can actually charge a cellphone by harnessing thermoelectric and kinetic energy. In addition to the Power Pocket shorts, Vodafone also unveiled a sleeping bag that transforms body heat into energy that can be used to charge a phone. These technologies aren’t commercially available just yet, but Vodafone says it will be testing them out at the Isle of Wright Festival in England this week.

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"Cook dinner and charge electronics anywhere with just a handful of kindling." That's the promise made by BioLite, maker of the BioLite Campstove, which runs on small twigs and converts the fire's thermal energy into electricity that can be used to charge portable electronics. This week, Inhabitat took the BioLite stove for a test drive to see how it performs, along with the BioLite Campstove Grill, and the results were mostly positive. The stove is easy to use, and as advertised, it does provide enough of an energy boost to enable you to make a couple calls when you're off the grid.

 

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Father’s Day is approaching quickly, and if the special dad in your life is an eco-minded type, you might be a bit stumped on what to get him this year. Lucky for you we’ve rounded up more than a few fantastic gift ideas that are sure to inspire smiles all around. From a selection of organic microbrews for the man who scoffs at the sight of Coors, to some great camping gear for that dad who loves to spend time outdoors, check out these 15 fab green gift ideas for Father’s Day!

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Father’s Day is just around the corner (June 16), and if you’re still scrambling to find a good gift for Dad, fear not. Instead of going out to a department store and dropping $50 on a silk tie, we’ve come up with five awesome DIY gifts that you can make from a recycled necktie. From a rockin’ guitar strap to a silky glasses case, head over to Ecouterre for some Father’s Day inspiration.

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Two years ago, a group of architects, artists and engineers announced plans to create a floating egg-shaped room to be occupied by artist Stephen Turner. Last month, the fruit of their labor was realized as the Exbury Egg, an energy-efficient, self-sustaining pod was launched in an estuary of the River Beaulieu in the UK. Turner will live in the egg for 12 months while he uses the space to study the life of a tidal creek and the ways in which humans interact with nature.

 

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The Chamfer Home is a tiny self-sufficient shelter with a clean modern design that is made from eco-friendly materials. Designed by S-Archetype, the portable living unit can operate completely off the grid, which means that it can be anchored just about anywhere – from a city rooftop to a patch of sand near the beach.

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Heatherwick Studio just unveiled plans for a new greenery covered pedestrian bridge to be built across the River Thames in London. Looking like a luscious garden suspended over the water, the bridge will be the first crossing built on the Thames since Foster and Partners’ Millennium Bridge opened in 2000, and it will connect Covent Garden with the South Bank.

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