It is always a good idea to begin being eco-friendly from the very start. Molo has created an amazing ‘Softseat’ made from kraft paper and recycled cardboard. Hongtao Zhou has created even more interesting ‘Adjustable folding chair’ made only from small wood scraps which are recycled and they can be renewed as well.

Tanya Aguiniga has designed the ‘Soft Rock’ seat reusing sweatshirt and other recycled materials. I would say, furniture such as these would not only look good and improve your interior decor, but would also encourage you to live a green life. You could also encourage your friends and other visitors to do the same when they visit your place. I would say, it is very important to recycle and renew products instead of buying new stuff all the time!

Via: Design Addict

In most underdeveloped countries, people use mud pots in which they keep water to drink chilled water. These countries are poor and cannot afford refrigeration. In Africa, water is used to cool vegetables and food products when a refrigerator is not available. That idea is now used to create the Thermodynamic Cooler concept which is actually directed at emerging economies.

It needs no electricity and the water cooling helps to preserve food without a hitch. The design comes with a stackable design where the bowl can be used to store fruits. Thanks to a damp cloth everything remains fresh and cold and this would help the poor people of the third world keep their food clean and safe without having it spoiled by tropical temperatures. The only hitch is that water needs to be added from time to time.

Unfortunately these “emerging economies” are mostly countries in Africa and Asia where there is a severe shortage of water. While trying to save electricity, you would only be wasting water. Thus, I guess no energy can be created or destroyed and can only be transferred from one source to another, like an annoying scientist once said. You try to save electricity but end up spending water! Great design indeed!

Via: Tuvie

Sky-scrapers, shopping malls, traffic lights, automobiles, pollution- the current outdoors are slowly losing the nature’s beauty to development and modernization and people are digging out ways to bring this very beauty closer to their lives, into their homes. The Leaf Lamp is just one among those designs inspired by the Mother Nature’s gardens.

This floor lamp designed by Sofian Tallal of France seems like an exotic plant in the rain forests to the looks. Embracing the shape of a plant with green metallic and plastic stems and a pair of leaves, the lamp reflects white light with a medium frequency using LED bulbs and radiance filters providing a soothing effect to the interior. The hanging switch cords pose as shimmering dew drops can switch both the lamps on and off. The larger leaf on the top gives away an affectionate orangey glow, while the lower smaller one rotates about a 250 degrees angle and can be used as a study lamp.

Lamps are those room accessories which establish the ambiance of the place, and if the same lamp is giving you a nature’s treat in your own living room or study room, what more would you ask for?

Via Sofian Tallal

Designer Harc Lee has some innovative and cool ideas when it comes to saving the planet and making that small contribution towards a future that could eventually make a world’s difference. One of the simplest and most attractive ideas that he has come up with is to profess the usage of softdrink cans in a ‘naked’ fashion that does away with the usage of the toxic paint that comes on top. Now, firms like Pepsi and Coke would jump up at this idea and say that it would hurt the marketability of their product by making it less attractive. So just to drive the point home Lee has himself given us a glimpse with his design for a ‘paint-free’ Coke can.

The can carries a very simple, stylish and elegant design with a convex logo on top of the can that replaces all the paint. Easy to implement, trendy in design and saving tons of energy, we suggest multinational softdrink giants to seriously take a look at this ‘cool’ new way of marketing their product. If anything, the minimalist design only enhances the appeal of the can in a time and age ‘less is more’…

Behance

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 path towards a greener future is mainly dependant on the three principles of recycle, reduce and reuse. Recycling is a concept that is fast becoming popular across the planet with various designers, artists and craftsman quickly and effortlessly adapting to this latest trend. With their unmatched ingenuity and creative brilliance giving brilliant shape and precise function to seemingly useless trash, recycling is no longer a concept relegated to eco-geeks. The Handmade Fair trade urban backpack Pangolin for men and women is another one of those useful recycled items. Made from recycled inner tubes of trucks, nylon and canvas, this ultra-stylish and uber-cool backpack looks nothing like an accessory that has been rehashed or as if made from discarded waste.

The parts are alternately covered with recycled inner tubes of trucks attached to each other with a wing nut creating overlapping sliding parts that give the backpack the impression of an Armadillo back! Sporting three-button closure with durable rip-stop lining, Velcro interior and enough space to carry around everything you need from your MP3 player to your Notebook, the Backpack from Cyclus seems like a must for those who love to lead the way when it comes to fashion trends.

Considering that this handcrafted backpack is made by people from Colombia with a social disadvantage, such as single mothers, refugees and Indians of the Camentsa tribe, every single penny that you spend on this € 190 black beauty is surely well-spent!

Wannekes

You are guaranteed that you will not find another pair of Jordans like this anywhere else on the planet and in that sense, the ‘Junk Dunk’ Nike-styled pair of shoes offers you exclusivity that even Nike themselves might struggle to offer. Designed by artist Gabriel Dishaw, this very special piece of footwear is crafted from metal scraps and discarded parts of old computers making it the perfect showpiece in the home of any tech-geek. Though not very comfortable to sport and walk around in, this art piece would surely make for a great conversation piece and maybe even an inspiration when it comes to professing the message of recycling.

With each year global electronic waste growing exponentially and landfills vanishing at a fast pace, recycling and reuse are the only ways of saving our planet from an impending doom. This symbolic masterpiece by Dishaw both advocates the ‘green’ philosophy and also adds a very cool and trendy edge to it. Wish to promote ‘eco-friendly’ ideology among the young sports fans? Then it might be hard to find a more compelling piece of work to get them initiated on the green path than these Jordans… Up for sale, grab a pair right now!

Gabrieldishaw

Another shining beacon for green architecture and energy conservation, the Cité du Design in Saint-Etienne has just opened its green gates for the world to step into and the view of this grand façade is truly mesmerizing for environmentalists and commoners alike. Designed by LIN, the energy efficient Cité du Design is powered by a vast solar roof that drives the energy needs inside and is supplemented by a heat exchange and recovery system to reduce energy used for heating. The €41.5 million latest eco-friendly design consists of a latticed 3D external wall that is composed up of 14,000 equilateral triangles. These triangular blocks act both as heat and light regulators along with some of them converting the solar power into electricity.

To further reduce its energy needs the Cité du Design pre-conditioned air from the internal gardens is circulated throughout to ensure that the heating needs of the building are kept to a minimum. Integrating old with the new and the traditional with the energy-efficient, the latest symmetric solar marvel of Saint-Etienne is alluring both for lovers of design and energy conservation.

Merging visual delight with green needs, the complex of auditoriums, meeting rooms, exhibition space, media library, and indoor gardens with an observation tower, Cité du Design is another shining jewel in the eco-architecture crown.

Arplus/ Notcot

Science and Technology is ever advancing. Today some European scientists launched a satellite called “Smos Spacecraft”, which will make flood prediction easier by tracking water flows around the Earth. The satellite will also provide better weather forecasts and estimate the impact of climate change including drought. The satellite was lifted into space from the Plesetsk cosmodrome in northern Russia.

Smos also monitors photosynthesis and plant growth besides, being able to measure moisture to a depth of up to 7 feet. Apart from these, the satellite’s second job is to measure the changes in the salt content of the sea surface waters. This will provide a better understanding about what drives global ocean circulation patterns. Smos is set to conduct its mission over three years with a possible two year extension. Another ESA satellite called “Proba-2″ has been lifted today as well. It is designed to demonstrate in-orbit technologies.

Considering that the world is under a constant threat of “Global Warming” we need more such satellites to protect our environment. However, we must not always depend on these satellites to protect the world from dangerous catastrophes; rather we must be careful enough not to harm the environment by exploiting it for our momentary convenience.

Via: DailyMail

Europe is fast turning out to be a more than worthy rival for the pompous Middle East when it comes to green architecture and spectacular design, all being amalgamated into one singular astounding structure. The latest glassy crystalline wonder that is set to take center stage in the heart of German city of Düsseldorf is a prime example of these modern eco-marvels standing tall amidst concrete jungles. Conjured up by Daniel Libeskind for the design firm Kö-Bogen, the latest retail and shopping complex set for Düsseldorf is adored with a lavish green roof that enables it to save a fortune on both heating and cooling systems, as it acts as a perfect way to manage and maintain rainwater flow.

Connecting the two parts of the city and providing a perfect getaway for the early morning joggers, the rush hour office-goers and the leisurely folks who just wish to go around shopping and enjoying a perfect day, this green building is both efficient and effective, ensuring that it becomes the activity hub of Düsseldorf in the coming days. Located adjacent to the Hofgarten, Düsseldorf’s central park and the Rhine providing for a magnificient backdrop, the structure will be crafted from local limestone to ensure that it merges well with its historic surroundings.

Knowing German ingenuity, precision and craftsmanship, expect a world class eco-masterpiece standing tall in Düsseldorf in the near future.

Inhabitat