The Union Flats is a LEED Platinum-certified housing community
Jan 22, 2020: Prefab architecture and energy efficiency go hand-in-hand at The Union Flats, one of the largest completed modular housing developments in Northern California. Located in Union City directly across a new public plaza and the local BART station, the transit-oriented community celebrates walkability and the outdoors with its amenities and proximity to green space.
Hundreds of red plastic crates are repurposed into a public mosque in Indonesia
Jan 22, 2020: One green-thinking firm, Parisauli Arsitek Studio, has managed to find a way of giving new life to hundreds of discarded plastic crates.
Carbon-negative snack company AKUA offers kelp jerky and pasta
Jan 22, 2020: Seaweeds are becoming quite the catch for health- and eco-conscious brands and consumers.
Off-grid home is inspired by the iconic Australian Akubra hat
Jan 22, 2020: The Australian Akubra hat is one of the many symbols of the country, and one architectural team has used the hat's recognizable form as inspiration for a spectacular off-grid home in the small NSW town of Nundle.
Modular homes in Sweden are specially designed for solar panels
Jan 22, 2020: Swedish firm Street Monkey Architects has unveiled new solar-powered, prefabricated modular homes in Örebro, Sweden.
Luzinterruptus turns plastic waste into Death by Plastic eco-art for COP25
Jan 21, 2020: Made from plastic waste and transparent fabric, the glowing environmental art installation depicts a crime scene-like visual with a series of people-shaped sculptures lying on the ground.
CRA proposes reconfigurable roads and a floating garden to revitalize Luganos waterfront
Jan 21, 2020: Carlo Ratti Associati (CRA) and Mobility in Chain (MiC) have unveiled a technologically savvy plan to better connect the Swiss city of Lugano with the beautiful Lugano Lake.
China plans to phase out single-use plastics by 2025
Jan 21, 2020: China is set to enact a plastic ban to phase out the production and use of many single-use plastic items by 2025.
Self-sustaining Ugandan surgical facility provides healthcare to underserved areas
Jan 21, 2020: The architects created a modular, easily replicable surgical facility to provide ambulatory surgical procedures for underserved populations in resource-poor regions.
New tiny home for glamping on Governors Island offers guests the best views of NYC
Jan 21, 2020: Outlook Shelter offers guests a glamping experience with city vistas they won't find anywhere else.
Cross-laminated timber makes this Scottish home climate resistant
Jan 20, 2020: Scottish firm Mary Arnold Foster Architects has unveiled a stunning home made out of several timber “pods” and tucked into the idyllic landscape of the Scottish Highlands. Clad in cross-laminated timber (CLT) and covered with slats of charred larch, which provide the home with resilience, the Nedd home was built on concrete pillars and set in between two outcrops to minimize damage to the landscape.
NAWA reveals hybrid electric motorcycle at CES 2020
Jan 20, 2020: It’s not the first electric motorcycle on the market, but the NAWA Racer is currently the most talked about after a big reveal at CES 2020 in Las Vegas.
Modern farmhouse in Italy pays homage to its agricultural surroundings
Jan 20, 2020: Tucked into the rolling wheat fields of the Italian region of Le Marche, the Border Crossing House is a private residence that pays homage to the area's rich agricultural history.
"Embroidered filtering skin helps library regulate light
Jan 20, 2020: French design practice Serero Architectes Urbanistes has recently completed the new Bayeux Media Library, a light-filled cultural institution that connects the northwestern French commune’s historical roots to its future development zones.
Architect makes playful puzzle pavilion for Design Week Mexico
Jan 20, 2020: At the eleventh Design Week Mexico, Mexican architect Gerardo Broissin has created the Egaligilo Pavilion, an eye-catching structure made with large jigsaw puzzle-shaped concrete pieces. Installed on the grounds of Mexico City’s contemporary art museum Museo Tamayo, the boxy pavilion draws the eye with its puzzle-inspired form and bubble-like protrusions designed to deliberately obscure views of the interior. Inside is a lush garden that remains exposed to the outdoor elements thanks to small slits...
Ramboll helps Lombok locals build earthquake-resistant bamboo housing
Jan 17, 2020: Back in 2018 when Lombok was struck by several earthquakes, some of which measured up to magnitude 7, local communities around the seismic region were greatly affected by loss. After the series of earthquakes settled, there were over 500 dead, 129,000 homes damages and 445,000 people homeless.
Planet Beyond earbuds combine tech, sustainability and fashion
Jan 17, 2020: These high-tech earbuds double as unique jewelry.
The Haeckels Victorian-style bathing machine has a sauna inside
Jan 17, 2020: Is there anything better than self-care by the sea? UK-based skincare brand Haeckels is on a mission to reintroduce the local community of Margate Beach to the healing powers of the ocean.
Airstream unveils new 2020 camper with smart technology
Jan 17, 2020: Airstream is a long-standing American legend beloved by many roaming road warriors, but now the iconic campers have been given a sleek modern makeover.
New Marine Education Center in Malm raises climate change awareness
Jan 17, 2020: In Malmo, Sweden, the recently completed Marine Education Center is giving visitors a closer look at the effects of climate change and sustainable technology.
12 surprising things that arent vegan
Jan 16, 2020: It’s hard sticking to a vegan lifestyle.
Stunning, sustainable lodge blends into beautiful landscape
Jan 16, 2020: Romanian architecture firm BLIPSZ has created a near-autonomous holiday home that combines the charms of rural Transylvanian architecture with a sustainable and contemporary design aesthetic.
Children hurt after Delta jet dumps fuel on schools
Jan 16, 2020: On January 14, a Delta jet malfunctioned, dumping jet fuel over Los Angeles area schools. The incident affected over 50 people, including students from Park Avenue Elementary, San Gabriel Elementary, Graham Elementary, Tweedy Elementary, 93rd Street Elementary and Jordan High School.
Immersive, dystopian exhibit shows what life could be like post-climate change
Jan 16, 2020: As a wake up call to the possible effects of global warming, Superflux has created immersive art that explores the possible consequences of sea level rise for city dwellers in coastal areas.
Transparent, prefab tiny cabin offers the best views of the Italian Alps
Jan 16, 2020: If you need a little getaway, there is a beautiful, tiny cabin retreat in the Italian Alps calling your name.
Passive solar community in Brazil combines social justice and sustainability
Jan 15, 2020: To empower a marginalized community in Brazil’s Maranhão state, São Paulo-based architecture firm Estudio Flume has completed Castanha de Caju, a new headquarters for a women’s agricultural cooperative that doubles as a a welcoming community hub.
Rolls-Royce unveils prototype for world's fastest electric plane
Jan 15, 2020: Innovation is the name of the game for luxury industry leaders like Rolls-Royce, so it’s no surprise they have a variety of sustainable travel projects in the works. Last month, Rolls-Royce released its newest project — an all-electric plane set to take flight later this spring.
The low-impact Bridge House hovers over a stream in Los Angeles
Jan 15, 2020: Starting with the foundation, the bridge design suspends a large portion of the structure, minimizing the impact on the landscape.
New study on a recently discovered chlorophyll molecule could be key to better solar cells
Jan 15, 2020: Photosynthesis, the process by which some organisms convert sunlight into chemical energy, is well known. But, it is a complex phenomenon, which involves a myriad of proteins. The molecule Chl f, a new type of chlorophyll, is known to play a part in photosynthesis, but owing to its recent discovery, its location and functions are not understood. Scientists have now analyzed in detail the protein complex involved in photosynthesis and uncovered several new aspects about Chl f.
Couple turns old van into home-on-wheels for just $1K
Jan 15, 2020: IKEA offers an almost infinite amount of space solutions for any type of abode, but for one couple looking to convert an old van into a home on wheels, IKEA products were their saving grace. Ambitious couple Grace Aquino and her husband Marlon were on an extremely tight budget when they decided to turn their old van into a full-time home so that they could travel the world.
Snhetta to revitalize Midtown Manhattan with vibrant garden
Jan 15, 2020: Midtown Manhattan will soon become much greener thanks to New York City Planning Commission’s unanimous approval of Snøhetta’s design for a new privately-owned public space (POPS) in 550 Madison, a Philip Johnson-designed postmodernist landmark. Designed as a “vibrant sensory retreat,” the new public space will take the shape of a lush garden—the largest of its kind in the district—that will become a haven for both people and urban pollinators. The garden is being developed as part of...
A nearly century-old Copenhagen school gets an eco-friendly makeover
Jan 14, 2020: Originally built in 1929, the building had long been hidden away from the surrounding neighborhood; this comprehensive transformation, completed in 2019, has now integrated the structure into the urban fabric.
This minimalist, solar-powered home stands strong against earthquakes
Jan 14, 2020: The modern, solar-powered home is situated on a hilly slope with the help of a protective and stabilizing wall along a surrounding orchard.
Wearable garden vest is nourished by wearer's own urine
Jan 14, 2020: With the potential to grow up to 40 crops, the lush, green vest is irrigated by urine filtered through reverse osmosis.
Quorn introduces carbon footprint labeling
Jan 14, 2020: By reading carbon labels, consumers may be motivated to make better and more sustainable choices.
This dynamic parking garage doubles as a public sculpture
Jan 13, 2020: In Denmark’s fourth largest city of Aalborg, Copenhagen-based architecture firm Sangberg has designed a deceptively simple parking garage that offers much more than parking spaces. Dubbed the Parking House G2, the monolithic building features a dynamic and lightweight facade of extruded aluminum slats that “animates itself” in different ways depending on how and from where it’s viewed. The aluminum slats of the playful graphic facade were also engineered with reusability in mind and to encourage...
Fun, eco-friendly things to do in Portland
Jan 13, 2020: Many entrepreneurial folks have started unusual businesses and events, which often surprise and delight visitors. If you’ve always wanted to visit a vegan strip club or watch an adult soapbox derby race, Portland is for you.
Cool retro boats restored with electric motors
Jan 13, 2020: For those planning a summer day on the waterways of Lake Michigan, there's a new ecological option that will help you spend the day boating in sustainable style. Located on the lake's eastern shore, Retro Boat Rentals has unveiled a collection of fiberglass boats from the 50s and 60s that have been restored using state-of-the-art electric motors.
Passive House principles inspire this sustainable home
Jan 13, 2020: Australian architecture firm POLYstudio has recently completed A House for All Seasons, a contemporary family home with an emphasis on energy efficiency. Commissioned by a young family, the sustainable new dwelling was designed with a flexible layout to accommodate the clients’ evolving needs within a relatively compact footprint.
Can solar geoengineering mitigate both climate change and income inequality?
Jan 13, 2020: New research finds that solar geoengineering -- the intentional reflection of sunlight away from the Earth's surface -- may reduce income inequality between countries.
Fisker debuts an electric luxury SUV for $37,500 at CES
Jan 10, 2020: The new Fisker Ocean, debuted at CES, will come with many sustainable features — inside and out.
3XN unveils new, sustainable building for UNSW Sydney
Jan 10, 2020: Following a rigorous international competition, Danish architectural firm 3XN has won the bid to design the University of New South Wales’ (UNSW) new Multipurpose Building — a project that the architects say will have a “focus on resilience and environmental sustainability.”…
This lovely lampshade is made from cabbage
Jan 10, 2020: Veggie Lights are just that — lamp shades made out of red cabbage leaves.
ZHA gets the green light for worlds first all-timber soccer stadium in England
Jan 10, 2020: The timber soccer stadium will aim to be carbon neutral.
Growing strained crystals could improve performance of perovskite electronics
Jan 9, 2020: A new method could enable researchers to build more efficient, longer lasting perovskite solar cells and LEDs. By growing thin perovskite films on different substrates, engineers invented a way of fabricating perovskite single crystals with precisely deformed, or strained, structures.
The Garden House features greenery and bee-friendly landscapes
Jan 9, 2020: The Garden House by Christos Pavlou Architecture is a physical representation of the potential for urban gardens to create micro-climates that improve the living conditions of cities rather than make additional contributions to climate change.
Your eco-friendly travel guide for New York City
Jan 9, 2020: It’s easy to get caught up in New York’s frenetic energy, but there are plenty of opportunities to find some beauty and tranquility within the city's nonstop nature.
Impossible Foods debuts plant-based pork at CES
Jan 9, 2020: Impossible Foods has unveiled its newest meatless product, Impossible Pork.
BIG presents a sustainable living laboratory town in Japan for Toyota at CES
Jan 9, 2020: Created in collaboration with Toyota Motor Corporation, the project will be the world’s first urban incubator dedicated to the advancement of all aspects of mobility with a focus on sustainability, from renewable energies to shared mobility.
5 growing environmental nonprofits to support in 2020
Jan 8, 2020: Here are five fledgling nonprofits you may not have heard of yet, but that are already inspiring movements, pushing for legislation and combating climate change.