INHABITAT INTERVIEW: Green Architect & Cradle to Cradle Founder William McDonough
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INTERVIEW: Ed Mazria, Founder of Architecture 2030 Introduces the 2030 Palette
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.
6 of the World's Top Green Playgrounds
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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8 Tips to Keep Your Summer Fruits and Vegetables Fresher for Longer
Fascinating Knitic Machine Prints Scarves that Match Your Brainwaves
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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Dubai's Sustainable City Will be Powered by 600,000 Square Feet of Solar Cells
6 Ways to Spend Father's Day with Your Dad in NYC
D-House Urban Sandwich: Aging Polish Home Renovated with a Sky Garden Oasis
Vodafone Unveils Smartphone-Charging Shorts Just in Time for Festival Season
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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Product Review: The BioLite Campstove Charges Your Gadgets as You Cook a Meal
15 Fantastic Green Gift Ideas for Father's Day
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!
5 Ways to Make a Last-Minute Father's Day Gift from a Recycled Necktie
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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Exbury Egg: Amazing Self-Sustaining Floating Office Launches in the UK
Chamfer Home: Tiny Self-Sufficient House Operates Off-Grid in Any Locale
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.
Heatherwick Studio Unveils Plans for Lush New River Thames Garden Bridge in London
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.



















