As news breaks that global carbon dioxide levels are at an all-time high, one scientist is developing “artificial trees“ to help cleanse the air and reduce greenhouse gas pollution. Columbia University’s Klaus Lackner has developed a carbon dioxide capturing material that acts as a powerful sponge – and it’s able to soak up CO2 faster than plants!

Read the rest of Klaus Lackner’s Artificial Trees Soak Up CO2 Emissions Faster Than Plants

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Post tags: artificial trees, carbon dioxide sucking plastic resin, carbon emissions, Columbia University Mudd Building, eco design, green design, greenhouse gas, Klaus Lackner, sustainable design

When Inhabitat’s Architecture Editor,  Bridgette Meinhold, heard about the earthquake in Haiti in 2010 and the massive devastation it caused, she wanted to help, and was drawn to start investigating different options for temporary shelters and disaster relief housing. This exploration gradually broadened to a larger focus on design for disaster-preparedness; seeking out what type of shelters can best withstand earthquakes, hurricanes, rising sea levels and tornados. Now I’m thrilled to say that after years of research, Bridgette has just published an incredible new book entitled Urgent Architecture: 40 Sustainable Housing Solutions for a Changing World. Urgent Architecture showcases inspiring and innovative ideas for resilient design – design that will withstand the test of time – surviving climate change, rising sea levels, manmade and natural disasters. I recently had a chance to interview Bridgette about her new book at Inhabitat HQ in NYC, and she gave me some fascinating insight into her inspiration for the book, the impact climate change will have on future housing and what she believes is necessary to create a more sustainable and responsive built landscape. Watch the video above for the interview, and if you want to learn more, you can get your own copy of Urgent Architecture here.

A full transcript of the interview with pics is available after the jump.

Read the rest of INTERVIEW: With Bridgette Meinhold, Author of ‘Urgent Architecture’

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Post tags: "sustainable architecture", adaptable housing, book review, bridgette meinhold, bridgette meinhold interview, design for disaster preparedness, design to withstand disasters, disaster design, disaster housing, Eco Architecture, eco design, green architecture, green books, green design, inhabitat book review, Prefab Housing, resilient architecture, resilient design, sustainable design, urgent architecture

Many people bemoan the fact that they can’t grow their own food (or even flowers) because they lack any kind of garden space, but guess what? You can actually grow more than you realize in really small areas as long as they get a bit of direct sun. Hell, you can even grow things indoors under a lamp, but there’s something special about plucking your own food from a stalk that’s been sitting in summer sunshine all day. In any case, whether you have a little concrete slab behind your house, a fire escape outside your window, or even a tiny balcony, your urban garden can be a veritable Eden of fresh, healthy, home-grown vegetables, and herbs.

Read the rest of DIY: How to Plant a Personal Garden In a Small Urban Space

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Post tags: balcony garden, companion planting, food, herbs, Organic vegetables, patio garden, patio gardening, self sufficiency, tomatoes, urban food gardening, urban food solution, urban garden, urban gardening, vegetables

Read the rest of Kamvari Architects’ Bridge-Like Crete Bioclimatic School is a Haven for Progressive Learning

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Post tags: Crete, Crete Bioclimatic School, eco design, green design, Kamvari Architects, outdoor classroom, sustainable design, sustainable school

It takes real skill to turn salvaged materials into something new and exciting, which is why we applaud Pickett Furniture‘s creative spin on recycling. They were on hand this weekend at BKLYN Designs, where we got to check out their unique handcrafted furnishings and accessories made from responsibly sourced wood and vintage textiles. Read on to see more of their eclectic and charming bamboo lamps, vintage Marimekko fabric pillows and kids’ toys!

READ MORE >

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Post tags: brooklyn chamber of commerce, Brooklyn Designs, eco design, furniture design, green design, home goods, house ware, industrial design, inhabitat, inhabitat nyc, Jeremy Pickett, new york city, pickett, Pickett Furniture Company, reclaimed wood, recycled aluminium, Recycled Materials, salvaged materials, salvaged wood, sustainable design, west elm

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Post tags: energy efficient stadium, evaporative cooling, natural ventilation stadium, Nigel Eckersall, passive cooling system, Qatar 2022 World Cup, Qatar FIFA Stadium, sports architecture, stadium passive cooling, sustainable stadium Qatar, Tangram Qatar Stadium, world cup 2022

Read the rest of David Trubridge’s Gorgeous New Manuka Lamp Casts Shadows Shaped Like Flowers

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Post tags: Bamboo Lamp, David Trubridge, eco-friendly lamp, flat pack lamp, green lighting design, ICFF, LED lights, Manuka, Manuka Lamp, Manuka tree, new york design week, New York Design Week 2013, New Zealand, ny design week, wanted design, Wanted Design 2013

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Post tags: "natural materials", 11 eco-tastic gifts for mother's day, Airplane Wrap, Buddha Belly Tea Kettle, Chrysocolla Cocktail "Hug" Ring, Diamond Hobo Bag, eco jewelry, eco-gifts, fair trade gifts, Forest Pool Necklace, green gift guide, green gifts, green holidays, green office, Indigenous, lotions, mother's day, novica, Orchid-infused lotion, Organic Aromatherapy Body Soap, organic ingredients, organic lotions, Organic soap, Piper Tate, recycled gifts, Recycled Glass Balloon Vase, Recycled Materials, Redwood Forest bonsai kit, south america, Succulent Wall Planter Kit, sustainable gifts, Trinity Wooden Cuff, upcycled gifts, VivaTerra

Polish designer Asia Piaścik‘s Sugarcloud Lamp takes its inspiration from a sweet recipe inspired by traditional Polish crocheting techniques. Here, white cotton is first crocheted and then stiffened with a simple solution made up of water and sugar. The technique dates back to a time when Poles would make crocheted decorations for their Christmas trees, but Piaścik modernizes the method by magnifying her forms. We originally spotted this beautiful design, amongst others, at last month’s Milan Design Week.

+ Asia Piaścik

Photos by Katherine Pascucci for Inhabitat and Asia Piaścik

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Post tags: Australian design, bamboo veneer, DIY, Edward Linacre, green lighting, green materials, interlocking, Melbourne Movement, Milan Design Week 2013, Milan Furniture Fair, recycling / compost, The Nest Lamp

Read the rest of Solar-Powered Salam Cardiac Centre is a Shipping Container Medical Facility in Sudan

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Post tags: "sustainable architecture", 2013 aga khan awards, Cargotecture, eco design, eco hospital, green architecture, Green Building, hospital, medical facility, salam cardiac centre, salam cardiac surgery centre, salam medical centre, shipping container hospital, shipping container medical facility, shipping containers, sudan, Sustainable Building, sustainable design, TAM architecture, TAM associati architecture, TAMassociati

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Post tags: Aga Khan, Aga Khan architecture, Aga Khan Award, global architecture, Heritage architecture, heritage tourism, indonesia, Indonesian architecture, Mbaru Niang, Mbaru Niang huts, preservation, UNESCO, Wae Rebo, Wae Rebo Village

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Post tags: eco design, green design, Jeffrey White, Salt Lake City affordable housing, Sarah House Project, shipping container home, sustainable design

Read the rest of MVRDV Breaks Ground on Green-Roofed Business District at Shanghai Hongqiao Airport

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Post tags: aedas, central business district, china, Daylighting, energy efficient building, global development, green roof, International Business District, MVRDV, natural ventilation, shanghai, Shanghai Hongqiao Airport, Sustainable Building

Toyota just unveiled the new ME.WE electric concept, which is a pick-up, convertible, off-roader and small city car in one. Toyota says that the ME.WE is simpler, more appropriate and more realistic than many of today’s cars that are about “passion and status.”

Read the rest of Toyota’s ME.WE Concept is an Electric Vehicle Without Any Excess

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Post tags: electric motor, electric vehicle, green city car, green convertible, green pickup, in-wheel electric motor, Toyota, toyota electric vehicle, Toyota green car, Toyota i-ROAD concept, Toyota ME.WE concept

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Post tags: "A liter of Light", "clean energy", david de rothschild, Eco Architecture, Green Building, green energy, hydroponics, Ilac Diaz, low tech, manilla, Philippines, plastiki, Recycled Materials, recycled plastic bottle pavilion, renewable energy, South Africa, Stephen Lamb, Sustainable Building, Touching the Earth Lightly

Jadav “Molai” Payeng, the man who spent 30 years planting a 1,360 acre forest in India, is at it again. Now that the forest is complete, the Indian farmer plans to spend the next 30 years planting another giant woodland by hand. Continuing his personal fight against deforestation, Payeng’s second 1,300 acre forest will transform another barren landscape in the region.


Read the rest of Indian Man Announces Plans to Plant Second 1,300 Acre Forest by Hand

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Post tags: 3600 acre forest, deforestation, eco design, fighting deforestation, green design, indian forest, Jadav Molai Payeng, Man plants 1, sustainable design

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Post tags: 3Gatti Architecture Studio, bamboo, Corten steel, Daylighting, eco design, foreign office architects, green design, madrid, natural ventilation, parasols, shanghai pavilion, Spain, steel, steel umbrellas, sustainable design, sustainable renovation

You’ve all heard the tired mantras about changing your lightbulbs and recycling at home in order to save the planet – are you yawning yet? Many consumers think that going green is a gesture of self-sacrifice that often comes at great expense and inconvenience – but nothing could be further from the truth. What many don’t realize is that going green is not really about doing something good “for the planet” but is instead about improving your own quality of life through making your environment safer and healthier. And one of the easiest places to start leading a greener and healthier life is in the home.

No one better epitomizes smart, healthy and stylish green living than Ecofabulous founder and cradle-to-cradle green designer Zem Joaquin. This eco jetsetter and green girl about town is well known for her phenomenal green parties, her insightful analysis of green products over on her site Ecofabulous, and her ability to make eco-friendly lifestyle choices feel glamorous and fun. We recently sat down with Zem to find out more about her gorgeous green home in the beautiful hills of Marin County, CA, and get her personal tips and tricks on how to make your home cleaner, greener and healthier through the power of smart design. Read on to find out about Zem’s secret tips for a green home, including – believe it or not – foot pedals on sinks!

Read the rest of 5 Tips to Make Your Home Safe, Green & Healthy from Zem Joaquin

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Post tags: 5 Tips to Green Your Home With Zem Joaquin, and look for non-toxic varieties, bamboo flooring, c2c, C2C design, cork floors, cork harvesting, cork tree, cradle-to-cradle design, cradle-to-crale, eco design, eco fabulous, eco floors, eco home, eco-friendly flooring, ecofabulous, foot pedals, green design, green flooring, green floors, green home, green lifestyle, green living, green style, greenguard certified, Harvesting cork in Portugal, healthy home, how cork is harvested, IAQ, improving indoor air quality, low VOC MDF, Marvin Windows, Medium Density Fibreboard, no-VOC MDF, non-toxic furniture, non-toxic home, nontoxic MDF, refurbishing vintage furniture, safe home, sick building syndrome, Think carefully about MDF, toxic home, toxic MDF, VOCs, Volatile organic ch, Volatile Organic Componds, Zem's daughter on her cork floor

Edward Linacre‘s Nest Lamp is a beautiful flat-pack pendant light crafted from fast-growing bamboo veneer. The lamp’s interlocking design is inspired by forms found in nature, such as the honeycomb structure of beehives.

Read the rest of Edward Linacre’s Beautiful Honeycomb Nest Lamp Packs Flat to Ship

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Post tags: Australian design, bamboo veneer, Edward Linacre, green lighting, green materials, interlocking, Melbourne Movement, The Nest Lamp

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Post tags: affordable disaster housing, bamboo housing, eco design, floating housing, green design, H&P Architects, Southeast Asia housing, sustainable design