What if you could design your own lighting fixture in the time that it takes to unscrew a light bulb? That’s the premise behind Daniel Becker‘s Spark system, a series of energy-efficient LED bulbs that can be linked together to form beautiful light sculptures.

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Post tags: daniel becker, energy efficient lighting, green design, green Interiors, LED lights, Products, sparks, sustainable design

Over at TreeHugger we are saps for furniture that can slide under your door; flatpack isn’t just made by IKEA. Designers like Eric Ku are doing it with humor, inventing a flatpack alphabet – his Flatpack Chair is pretty self-explanatory. In Japan, Keiji Ashizawa channels Marcel Breuer with a steel flatpack cantilever chair that slides under the door. Read on for more examples of cutting-edge flatpack furniture.

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Post tags: "flat pack", efficient design, flatpack furniture, furnishings, green design, green Interiors, sustainable design

Clothes hangers are clogging our landfills at a rate of nearly 8 billion per year. We’ve recently brought you designers who have been developing brilliant ways to tackle the problem through eco-friendly materials and innovative new designs. Now industrial designers Alex Witko and Courtney Hunt at Organelle Design have hit upon another great idea — Hangeliers, wonderful chandeliers made from off-the-shelf plastic and wood hangers.

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Post tags: eco design, green design, green furniture, green Interiors, industrial design, Recycled Materials, sustainable design

Awe-inspiring design may not grow on trees, but it sure can dress up walls! Last year, architecture and product design group Nendo Studio completed the renovation of this gorgeous Moss House private residence in the Ebisu area of Tokyo, Japan. Taking inspiration from the plant life that scales the walls lining the nearby Shibuya River, the Nendo designers used dried moss to cover the interior walls with vine-like patterns. This custom wall treatment has a vivid color, a rich textural quality, and gives the starck white corridors a sense that the are alive.

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Post tags: artistic installation, ebisu japan, green Interiors, moss house, natural pattern, Nendo, Shibuya River, wallpaper

Shortly after Al Gore debuted An Inconvenient Truth the general public started giving a damn about climate change — at least superficially. And in a massive wave of effort to show off our new enviro-consciousness, every apartment, townhouse and megamansion from Norway to New Zealand swapped their incandescent light bulbs for more energy efficient CFLs, or compact fluorescent lamps. Watt for watt, there’s no question whether or not CFLs save energy as compared to their predecessors. But with the concerns of toxic mercury and the recent developments in LED technology, CFLs may not be the smartest choice for long-term sustainability. Read on for our in-depth report!

Read the rest of IS IT GREEN?: The Compact Fluorescent Light

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Post tags: cfl, compact fluorescent lamps, energy efficient lighting, green design, green Interiors, is it green, sustainable design

Researchers at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) recently announced a breakthrough in OLED technology that shatters all prior efficiency standards, reducing the ultra-thin lights’ energy consumption by 75%! That’s no small number – the development stands to raise the bar for energy efficient lighting by leaps and bounds. Literally (and figuratively) a cool technology, we are already enamored by the skinny profile of organic light emitting diodes, and we can’t wait to see their further integration into our everyday appliances.

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Post tags: energy efficient lighting, Flexible OLEDs, green design, green Interiors, lamp, Light, OLED, organic light emitting diode, sustainable design

Old bequeaths new in Varian Designs‘ beautiful reclaimed furniture, which blends found materials and craftsman techniques with a modern aesthetic. Each piece in this sustainably crafted line is finished using all-natural old-world techniques, and extra close attention is paid to the details and joinery. In the Bartizan Desk pictured above, wood and steel are artfully brought together with the addition of a simple box for storage. The overall effect is a modern line of furnishings that celebrates each piece’s unique history, and we were excited to see lead designer Forest Dickey recently debut his latest collection at Dwell on Design.

+ Varian Designs

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Post tags: forest dickey, green design, green furniture, green Interiors, Reclaimed Materials, Recycled Materials, sustainable design, varian design

The Timberland Company, known for it’s environmental stewardship and consistent ranking as one of America’s best companies to work for by Fortune and Working Mother Magazine, has just opened a new sustainable store at 474 Broadway in NYC. The sleek interior and ample use of reclaimed wood make for an inviting and earth-friendly shopping experience.

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Post tags: carbon neutral business, green architecture, green design, green Interiors, reclaimed wood, sustainable design, sustainable style, timberland nyc store

HEY DESIGN LOVING NEW YORKERS!

BKLYN Designs starts tomorrow and we couldn’t be more excited! Running from May 8-10, this awesome showcase of local furniture design kicks off NY Design Week, and is one of our favorite events of the year. We’ll be pressing our noses up against the glass bright and early tomorrow morning and – as soon as doors open – racing around to see all the fabulous eco-friendly furniture on display, so we can report it back to you guys this weekend.

This year at BKLYN Designs we’ll be doing something new: we’ll be giving out ‘Editors’ Choice Awards’ to recognize our favorite green designs from the show during our annual Mother’s Day Green Design Tour this Sunday. We’re looking forward to seeing fresh new furnishings, great green products, and energy-efficient lighting solutions, so stay tuned for more coverage to come and if you’d like to join us at the event you can pick up tickets here!

And if you’re not in NYC, keep it tuned to Inhabitat this weekend and next week for all the latest on BKLYN Designs 2009

+ BKLYN Designs 2009

+ Inhabitat BKLYN Designs Coverage

Read the rest of BKLYN DESIGNS STARTS TOMORROW!

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Post tags: bklyn designs 2009, green furniture, green Interiors, Green Lighting, inhabitat green design awards, locally sourced design, Products, sustainable design

DRUMROLL PLEASE!

New York Design Week is about to begin and we’re kicking things off this weekend with our first ever Green Design Awards at BKLYN Designs! Running from May 8-10, this incredible showcase of locally-sourced design is one of our favorite events of the year, and we’ll be giving out ‘Editors’ Choice Awards’ to recognize our favorite pieces during our annual Mother’s Day Green Design Tour this Sunday. We’re looking forward to scores of fresh new furnishings, great green products, and energy-efficient lighting solutions, so stay tuned for more coverage to come and if you’d like to join us at the event you can pick up tickets here!

+ BKLYN Designs 2009

+ Inhabitat BKLYN Designs Coverage

Read the rest of Inhabitat Giving Out Awards at BKYLN Designs 2009!

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Post tags: bklyn designs 2009, green furniture, green Interiors, Green Lighting, inhabitat green design awards, locally sourced design, Products, sustainable design

Where can one go to find breathtaking landscapes, artistic scenery and people with unique character? Punkaharju, Finland is one place, and PunkAlive goes to great measures to incorporate these qualities in their new furniture line that recently debuted at Zona Tortona during the Milan Furniture Fair. We spoke with Jukka Lommi and Jukka Rissanen on the opening day of the fair and learned about how PunkAlive is getting closer to nature by combining style with sustainability.

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Post tags: "sustainable furniture", green design, green Interiors, kerto, locally sourced wood, milan furniture fair 2009, punkalive, sustainable design, zona tortona

Heads up East Coast design junkies! BKLYN Designs, New York’s preeminent showcase of locally-sourced green design is kicking off next week from May 8th through the 10th, and Inhabitat will be on the scene to bring you all of the latest from the show. Based upon the tremendous success of last year’s event we’re looking forward to another weekend filled with brand new releases by an acclaimed set of sustainable designers, enlightening lectures, and our very own Jill Fehrenbacher will be hosting another Mother’s Day Green Design Tour. We’ll also be kicking off our first ever Inhabitat awards, where we will carefully vet all designs on display and give awards to our favorite green designers at this year’s show. Check out our BKLYN Designs coverage from last year and don’t miss out on this groundbreaking event – buy your tickets today!

+ BKLYN Designs 2009

+ BKLYN Designs 2008 Coverage

Read the rest of BKLYN Designs Begins Next Friday!

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Post tags: bklyn designs 2009, brooklyn design show, green design, green furniture, green Interiors, Products, Recycled Materials, sustainable design

Your favorite furniture fair is about to begin! Starting next week on Earth Day, the Salone Internazionale del Mobile will be in full swing from April 22nd through the 27th. We have a team of European design experts headed there now to bring you full coverage of the great green designs on display – from new chairs and eco-friendly furniture to innovative interiors, energy-efficient lighting, and more. As always, we’ll be showcasing our favorite designs and highlighting eco-friendly and sustainable ideas. Be sure to stay tuned starting Wednesday for up-to-the-minute coverage of this exciting annual event.

+ Salone Internazionale del Mobile 2009

+ Milan Furniture Fair 2008 at Inhabitat

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Post tags: eco-friendly furnishings, energy efficient lighting, green design, green Interiors, Milan Furniture Fair, salone milan 2009, sustainable design

So we know MIO’s Bendant chandelier has been around for a while, but like all good things, it’s worth revisiting—especially now, when embracing well designed, American-made products is more important than ever. The idea behind this pendant lamp, which comes flat-packed and ready to customize, is simple: leaf-like petals surround a central fixture and can be moved and arranged to suit individual tastes and lighting strategies—fan the petals out completely for maximum illumination, or stagger for more shade.

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Post tags: bendant pendant lamp, efficient design, flatpack light, green design, green Interiors, Green Lighting, mio design, recyclable materials, sustainable design

Located in Mexico City, Restaurant Japonez offers hungry souls searching for Asian-inspired dishes a serene landscape seated between a stunning living wall, wood, and an incredible glass enclosure. Designed by Serrano Cherrem Architects, the double-height space allows for tons of natural lighting during the day and lets in the city at night, creating a juxtaposition that brings the city indoors into the organic nature of the restaurant’s interior.

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Post tags: "living wall", "sustainable architecture", Green Building, green Interiors

Danish architect Knud Kapper has drawn from the tradition of handmade, mid century furniture to create the new eco-friendly Living Kitchen Architecture series which was recently unveiled in New York. The pieces are attentively hand built from solid woods that were harvested from sustainably managed forests under stringent regulations. Engaging, durable and finished with natural wood treatments, Kapper’s kitchen furnishings have a built-in longevity that embody the core meaning of the rooms they establish.

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Post tags: architect, certified wood, Danish, Denmark, eco-friendly, green furniture, green Interiors, Hansen Living, ICFF, Knud Kapper, Living Kitchen Architecture, Susan Serra, sustainable design

While putting your toddler in the middle of the forest is probably not the smartest thing in the world, bringing the forest to their room might just do the trick. The Amenity Nursery Collection has just been released, featuring some lovely nature inspired and environmentally friendly products to green your toddler’s crib.

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Post tags: 'baby crib, amenity, blankets, Environment, green Interiors, Health, inhabitot

This made the rounds on the blogosphere a couple of days ago, but in case you missed it, the Hot Fridge is an experimental refrigerator design by RCA student Hae-jin Kim, which makes use of the heat waste released from the refrigerator cooling process. Most normal (ie inefficient) refrigerators release heat out the back while they cool items inside.

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Post tags: green Interiors, Hot Fridge

Perfect for those moments when really wish you were somewhere else. Designed by Jason Miller, each Daydreams Mirror contains a tranquil nature image printed onto the reflective surface. When viewed, the printed image and reflection combine, transporting the viewer into an imaginary environment.

I’ve seen these puppies in the flesh, and they are really quite beautiful – whether you are looking to get away, or just bring a little bit of the great outdoors into your personal space.

Available for $399 from Generate

Via BLTD

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Post tags: Daydreams Mirror, green Interiors, Jason Miller

At the University of Guelph, near Toronto, green design is a literal term. The new Humber building, designed by Toronto firm Diamond Schmitt Architects, Inc., uses a wall of plants as a living air purifier for the 170,000-sq.ft. building.

The four-story biofilter is a thick jungle of ferns, ivy and other plants, working together to emit microbes that break down harmful airborne contaminants into water and CO2. The wall is self-cleaning, since pollutants are not absorbed into the plants, but actually broken down.
The biofilter was developed by biological researchers at the University of Guelph, including Alan Darlington, who now heads his own company, Air Quality Solutions, Ltd., to sell the living walls commercially.

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Post tags: "green wall", "living wall", Botanical, green Interiors