Someone once rightly said, “Simplicity is indeed often the sign of truth and a criterion of beauty” and to prove this fact time and again, architects at Maryann Thompson created this beautiful zero impact home that is not just down-to-earth, but would surely bring its residents the contentment of environmental conservation. Recipient of the LEED Silver certification under the USGBC’s new pilot program for housing, the North Easton, MA residence is an economical, eco-friendly, present-day sustainable dwelling incorporated into a 5.5-acre site.

The house comprises many low-maintenance eco-friendly features. The vast windows on the front compliment its south-facing orientation thereby eliminating the need for artificial light and also letting in the warmth of the winter sun. A couple of pellet stoves and a proficient radiant heating system functioning on solar power take care of rest of the heating necessities. Ample cross ventilation and uneven roof shields purge the need for air-conditioners during summers. In addition, the house also has a recycled-tire rubber roofing system, reclaimed hardwood cabinetry, casework and flooring materials, recycled glass tiles and thermal efficient windows.

What more would an environmentalist want, to prove his/ her love for nature and their taste for the beauty that lies in simplicity!

Via The Alternative Consumer

The present fast paced lifestyle demands multi-functional centers which provide a shared hybrid place to cater to the needs of people. In unison, we also need these places to be equally environment-friendly. Organized around the concept of sharing and synergy, Denmark’s House of Music designed by Coop Himmelb(l)au is one such solar passive design wonder that recognizes and allows interaction between the various institutions within a single complex.

The complex comprises a U-shaped educational facility that is raised up behind a 1,300 seat symphonic concert hall that offers its audience a perfect balance of acoustics and sight-lines. The exterior exhibits a beautiful display of geometric designs with south-facing facade covered with thin-film photovoltaics that not only minimize the energy consumption, but also give a beautiful view of Aalborg city. The curvilinear and organic interior stands in total contrast to the exterior.

The building’s operable low windows bring in fresh air and optimum ventilation. The concrete walls and slab floors control the temperatures inside and store heat inside the structure. The Hall of Music also has auditoriums and public courtyards thus combining public and performance space with cultural and education functionality adding up to Denmark’s cultural heritage.

Via ArchDaily

When an architect designs a structure, the fore-most thing he does is to attempt and amalgamate it with its environs. That is how the buildings merge into their surroundings and look fabulous. Base Valley House is one such masterpiece built by an admirable aesthetic and eco-conscious designer.

The house has a glass roof which lets in the warm rays of the sun and its light during the day and a fascinating view of the night sky. The wooden interiors and ground flooring keep the rooms fresh, breezy and cool all round the year. The house has a carved out passage connecting it to the rocky bed of an adjacent stream that operates as an indoor circulation and gathering place. The stony walls are enclosed in a wire mesh running from outside of the house through the indoors.

I personally liked the Base Valley House because it has an artistic appeal with a beautiful backdrop and the worthwhile sustainability. What’s your say?

Via Dornob

The conventional houseboats have become history. What you are seeing here is a smooth and sustainable prefab MetroShip, which redefines the dwelling on water. Ace prefab constructor David Ballinger known for his work on presenting eco-friendly alternatives to traditional projects has emerged with MetroShip while he was making plans for altering his home in London.

The ship has umpteen green features like Sloan touchless water-conserving faucets, Solar-powered exterior LED lights, countertops made of recycled faux-granite acrylic, etc. A modern décor made using recycled frames and remnant fabric and the translucent thermal aluminum walls letting in natural light give its interior a high. It also has a fresh water tank and a high capacity tankless water heater.

MetroShip once again attests David Ballinger’s efficiency in prefab architecture and his penchant for the essence of nature and its protection.

Via TreeHugger

The idea does appear gross and disgusting at first. But it’s not like that we will have guys in hazmat suits shoveling raw sewage into gas tanks to run the buses. Biomethane is produced during a four-phase process called anaerobic digestion that uses microorganisms to break down everything from human waste and leftover food to lawn clippings and stuff swept from the slaughterhouse floor. Nearly 80 municipal buses in the City of Oslo will then be converted to run on biomethane thus captured from human waste.

The bottom line is that this switch will save 44 tons of CO2 per bus per year. Take into account the enormous amounts (estimated at 17000 tons per year) of CO2 that is being flared off into the atmosphere from Oslo’s sewage treatment plants too. Setting up the initial infrastructure required for biomethane production is not cheap, but the gas that gets produced is. On an average, biomethane gas will be 50 cents cheaper per liter than diesel, while conversion will require only minor modification to the buses.

Oslo thus aims not only to become one of the most environmentally sustainable capitals in the world, but also carbon-neutral by 2050. Way to go, Oslo!

Via: Wired

“Barn Beam” Chair: This traditionally styled lounge chair costing $3,250 is carved out of yellow pine barn beams and cypress domesticated from Grand Rapids, Michigan’s raised green house features stout armrests engraved from a solo beam. The woven lattice detail on the back and sides comprises mortised cypress.

Transitional ‘Marsh Grass” Chair: This exceptional chair is built out of sustainable walnut and cypress expenses $3,990. The adjustable backrest and the seat are carved out from solid walnut planks and the aesthetically positioned cypress spindles give it the contemporary look and offer the pleasure of viewing natural marsh grass.

Not only are the bodies of these chairs sustainable, but so are their soy foam, hypoallergenic duck feather and goose down cushions that give you the desired comfort.

Source: Urban-Diversions/The Alternative Consumer

Global warming is one among the most dreadful curses Earth is facing today. Now, the scientists have come to a conclusion that the future holds many more dark clouds like mass species extinctions, population explosion, resource scarcity and rising oceans, which we all have to live with. under these circumstances, a bunch of artists from New York have designed a floating eco-habitat called Waterpod in view of the supposed mass shifting towards a waterborne, nomadic existence.

The Waterpod imitates a triple-domed island occupying about 80 x 25 feet. Built out of recycled wood, metal, plastic, fabric and other materials straddling on an industrial barge, the structure boasts of umpteen eco-features like alternative energy, vertical agriculture, and food grown with purified water from the Hudson River, hybrid solar /wind system that would power the on-board machinery etc. Even though arrangement would at the start, function as a single inhabitat, the group plans turning it into a fully sustainable community with artistic activity.

This eco-habitat will set to sail from Newtown Creek between Brooklyn and Queens in May 2009 and will navigate along the East River to New York Harbor anchoring at several places in between. I find this idea quite fascinating, useful and eco-friendly! What about you?

Source: CleanTechnica

So, are you living like an eco-friendly person? Well, here’s one more thing that you would be happy to know about. Vers, the famous brand known for its sustainably built sound systems, just introduced the new Vers 1.5 R radio/alarm clock for iPod. In other words, the 1.5 R is not only good working as your bedside alarm clock but the compact size lets you use it as an iPod system anywhere you like.

The creators give credit to the customers, who apparently were eager to own something from Vers that worked as AM/FM/iPod and the alarm clock just got thrown in to add to the oh-so-many fringe benefits of owning a cool sound system.

On the eco dope, you will be happy to know that such a high quality system is completely in tune with nature. It is made up of wood that has been selected from managed plantation sources, 100% post-consumer recycled packaging materials and energy efficient components. Vers 1.5 R is available in Natural Bamboo, Natural Cherry, Natural Walnut and Dark Walnut just like the famous Vers 2X. The former two are priced at $199.99 each while the latter duo individually come for $219.99.

Via marketwatch

So, are you in search of some cool fashion statment in the green times of today? Well, look no further. We have  made a cool discovery of telephone wire bracelets by the eco-brand Original Women. The wrist accessories that we talk about are chic, sustainable and hand woven.

Made by Zulu basket weavers using only telephone wire, the texture of the weave and the patterns will make you fall in love with the art. Zulu communities have been known as expert basket weavers for ages. But now they have been marginalized. So the vulnerable artisans are innovating with the telephone wire into an art form that is gaining global recognition.

And there is a huge variety available. Pick your jewellery from copper, black, silver, brown and copper zebra and black and white zebra. So whether you are a teen or a grandma, everyone can have their pick. The 2” is a great size to easily accessorize any style.
The best part is that since the bracelets are made by hand, each piece is one of its own kind. So you can go ahead make a ‘unique’ fashion statement.

Priced at $35, the bracelets work towards helping female artisans earn a living and receive basic education, health education and HIV/AIDS support.

Via originalwomen

Working as a group is fun whether it is at home or at the office. If you are an eco-lover looking for appropriate furniture for your work place, then you got to take look at this. Philink table happens to be an innovation of Belgian architects Jeroen Theuns and Caroline Voet. This creative piece of furniture was introduced at the Interieur 08 by Koninklijke Ahrend who seems to be an ardent believer of the fact that the environment at the work place motivates the staff to work as a group.

Designed using the philink geometry, it offers umpteen collections of triangular and rectangular single pieces of furniture that can be re-arranged into various shapes according to your taste and requirement. The self-supporting table top of Philink is made out of sustainably cultivated giant bamboo with a nature waxed, or either green or white lacquered finish. The table is held up by the white or black coated steel legs fixed underneath.

This robust, light and economical furniture can be comfortably used both at home and office. Every set up with these pieces would give a new dimension to your décor with an eco-friendly touch.

Source: DesignAddict/ Philink