we love to watch TED presentations as they truly are "ideas worth spreading" and today we are presenting a pretty big idea:
bill gates proposes a new version of nuclear power generation known as "terrapower" which burns the traditional nuclear power generation depleted uranium waste (99% of what goes in to the current process becomes waste) and essentially generates no further waste... I'd love to be more clear but the man does a pretty good job of explaining: watch
pretty much every day I eat one or two Cliff Builders bars, a nutrious meal alternate that keeps me powered through the day of green design. I have been keeping the wrappers from these bars for ages as I can't stand the idea of them being plowed into a landfill somewhere. Now, thanks to Terracycle, I have a place to send them. These smart people have developed a host of products made from the wrappers and packaging of a number of products: its reuse and second life in action! they even have the collection and shipping figured out through their "brigades" of collection sites. best of all each of my wrappers generates two cents that gets donated through Terracycle to schoolds and non-profits.
So next time you consume: unconsume the package by checking out Terracycle and getting the package back into use!
several years ago we had the distinct pleasure of working with sculptor Patrick Dougherty to create the Wieden+Kennedy "Nest"
we now are about to create a similar lounge/conference space for Smiley Media in Austin, Texas called "Aerie" . We thought it appropriate to pay homage to the master at this time, thanks for the inspiration Patrick, we are looking forward to working with you again!
my takeaway aside from the fact that IBM is working on this is that PET currently must be downcycled, this clip offers a promise that PET may one day be reused for higher level articles... question is at what chemical imprint on the environment and communities where the processes and materials used to "stay-cycle" PET are employed.
Take 20 minutes and watch this incredible documentary on the acidification of our oceans. Gorgeous footage and horrifying facts bring light to the importance of awareness and the dire need for clean energy. Along the way you will see some incredible creatures and learn that the ocean's acid levels are causing stress on the entire food chain, from sea snails to whales.
We are aware of global warming, but the oceans are dealing with their own set of problems from the spike in carbon dioxide levels. According to the video if we don't change our habits in the next decade we risk transforming these ecosystems forever.
Produced for the Natural Resources Defense Council. NRDC.org
This Olympics, Vancouver is not only looking out for gold medals and snow levels they are also looking out for sustainability. Their twelve part plan involves becoming the first carbon-neutral Olympics, incorporating LEED standards, leaving lasting benefits on the community and awarding sustainable companies.
With an event this immense in scale it is incredible to think of how much damage and waste could be produced in such a short period. However, it seems that Vancouver has reversed and minimized this impact and is making a statement to the whole world and an example for Olympics to come.
Read more about it here
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Recently we received a package, and instead of styrofoam popcorns exploding out and clinging to everything, we were greeted with a new solution. They are called ExpandOS and are an inventive response to recyclable shipping. they are biodegradable, from post-industrial waste and are reusable. These lightweight cardboard pyramids latch together and create a web of support and according to a testimonial you can drop eggs off a 20-foot balcony and these little guys will protect them. It is innovations like this that can make a difference and we commend this company and hope that we receive more packages with these and please, please no more Styrofoam.
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our friends at Low Impact Living have a great new bit on how to deal with Tetra Pacs after use. we love soy milk and soups that come in these light-proof and shelf freindly packages. problem is what to do with them after use, and we abhor putting anything in a landfill. the article says:
Tetra Pak cartons are the most common name for aseptic cartons, which are used for liquid food items so they can be stored for up to one year without refrigeration. Aseptic means “free from pathogenic micro-organisms,” so this packaging process eliminates harmful elements from the food and packages them in a pre-sterilized container. This type of packaging also blocks light completely, in order to preserve vitamins A, B2, B6, B12, C and K, which are all photosensitive and would become damaged in the presence of light. Tetra Paks are are constructed from a 6 layers of materials.
read the full story here
we love the series called "the story of stuff"... in this episode they peel back the layers on Cap and Trade to show how this could be the worst idea ever. would it not be better to just start doing the right thing for the planet right now? to not prolong any corporations ability to continue doing the wrong thing until it becomes unprofitable for them to do so? have your say...
Our friends at Dwell have a great bit on our friend Rob Forbes and his latest endeavour. Here it is:
Rob Forbes is best known as the founder of the much beloved modern shop Design Within Reach. What people may not know is that Forbes has an abiding love of urban design, mobility, and most especially, bicycles. Forbes's newest venture is called Public and it's all about enabling and encouraging these passions. We talked to Forbes about mission-driven business, carlessness, and amateur modeling.
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NEW YORK (AdAge.com) -- When the Vancouver Olympic Games kick off on Feb. 12, visitors will find café furniture made from pine-beetle-salvaged wood, drink out of bottles made from 30% plant-based materials, and their beverages will be delivered via hybrid vehicles and electric cart. All are elements of Coca-Cola's first zero-waste, carbon-neutral sponsorship.
The effort has been years in the making, beginning with a relatively simple recycling effort for the Athens Olympic Games in 2000. Since then the company has layered in additional elements, like environmentally friendly coolers and shirts made out of plastic bottles.
"The world is evolving. The focus of the consumer is also changing," said Thierry Borra, Coca-Cola's director-Olympic Games management. "One thing that we know from the research is that sustainability is important to all of our customers and consumers. It has an impact on how consumers are perceiving our brand."
While corporate sponsors and event producers have been incorporating more eco-friendly elements in the last couple of years, Coca-Cola is one of the first major marketers to embark on a zero-waste, carbon-neutral sponsorship of an event as complex as the Olympic Games.
"It's aggressive for them to do it today and not set it as some future mission," said Andrew Winston, a sustainability consultant working on the U.S. bid for the World Cup and author of two books on green business. "The standard for what is expected of a sponsor or partner at a big event is rising pretty fast. This will definitely raise the bar."
read the complete article here
we found this sweet video through Facebook freind Amy Ruppel who always provides choice links and inspiration.
what we really like is the format, the little finger looking charachters deliver messaging withjout being a type of message themselves, they are not man or woman, black or white, rich or poor, left or right. we think this type of delivery could aid in the dissemination of truths about climate change and the environment. cudos to Christian Borstlap for this vision created for Dutch childrens charity Kinderpostzegels
Our carbon offsetting partner Terrapass recently posted this...
The UK government recently issued licenses for a staggering amount of offshore wind generation capacity:
While the Round 3 project to build 29 gigawatts (GW) by 2020 is a challenge equivalent to building eight Channel Tunnels in 10 years and requires a step-change in technology, it is achievable, Benj Sykes, Senior Technology Acceleration Manager, told reporters…
It would require setting up every year about 500 turbines — which are taller than the 180-meter “Gherkin” building in London — by around 2013, compared with around 280 achieved last year, and accelerate the speed to about 1,000 by 2019.
read the full story here.
we have been scanning the latest thinking of one of the most influential living humans. the gates notes is the personal site of bill gates, founder and chairman of microsoft. he has broken his content into simple buckets of thinking, learning and travels. in the learning section we found this video from /www.cam.ac.uk/
presenting thoughts on power use by David MacKay.
ran across this video done by sockeye creative for travel portland
it made me feel lucky about living here in Portland and also made me forgive all the clouds and rain lately. So....I'll book the most sustainable and affordable daycation available, and rediscover all the amazing things within walking/bus/or short driving distance. Also count down to the sunny days strolling through the Farmer's Market and ogling multnomah Falls.
Also the video reminded me that I tried Hopworks Lager last week like I promised in my new year's post and.... wow. carbon neutral and fantastic, it was on tap at a bar near my house, now I gotta get to the source and try more.
There is an interesting debate taking place out in the cyber world. After reading Harry Wakefield’s article on MOCO he proclaimed that 2009 was “the year that sustainable design and architecture became simply design and architecture.” His point is that the materials and the consciousness of sustainable practices and design have become automatic and permanently merged.
harry wakefield from his MOCO article
Wanting to reread this article I found a rebuttal on the Treehugger site. In the article by Lloyd Alter, he points out that sustainability is about accessibility and consuming less.
They both present intriguing points and stimulate an interesting discussion. What is important is to be conscious in all the decisions we make by creating responsible and reduced consumption. Both Alter and Wakefield agree that there is a ways to go, however reading these two articles makes me optimistic that we are all fighting for the same thing
Also check out Lloyd Alter's slide show of the best and worst in architecture this past decade.
image fo the terry thompson from Treehugger slideshow
it’s a new decade and along with posting more frequently I am making my resolutions to have an even greener/healthier/happier lifestyle, let me know if you have any suggestions or try some along with me, its amazing that by going greener, you can save money get healthier and not to mention rack up some good karma points.
From now on I promise to:
1. walk anywhere that is within 1 mile of me or take public transportation, challenge myself to see how long I can go without using my car
2. Utilize water. Make a rain barrel for watering indoor plants and buy more potted plants. Collect glass bottles to use and reuse as water bottles. pledge to never buy another plastic bottle
3. unplug it (computer, cell phone charger, tv, hair dryer....etc) and invest in a couple more power strips
4. check out Hopworks Urban Brewery, the only carbon neutral brewery in the world
5. LOCAL local local local…..eat at only local joints, buy local produce
6. turn down the heat! My heating bill was terrifying last month so I will be using the fireplace, closing blinds and drapes, grabbing an extra blanket and getting some use out of my new mittens
7. eat more vegetables, less meat. Try being a vegetarian one day every week
8. actually remember to use those reusable shopping bags
9. drink greener tea and coffee. boil water with an electric kettle versus stove top (more energy efficient.) Use loose leaf organic tea or ones with biodegradable filters, for coffee use a French press versus a machine. Bring my mug to coffee shops, only go to locally owned cafes
10. Think of even more lifestyle changes to lessen my footprint
HAPPY 2010,
michelle
we love the TED database of inspired presenters and one day intend to be on that stage with the SOLIDCORE meaning and design beliefs
a huge thanks and shout out of respect to Fuseproject for this heartfelt message as we start a new decade of human footprints on this Earth
our friends at Treehugger and specifically Lloyd Alter from Toronto are reporting on some great Green Sector job growth: the need for skilled climbers to aid in the construction of wind turbines. what better way to employ folks that posess the strength and skill needed to scale sheer rock faces than to have them help us remove our dependence on fossil fuels.
read the full article here.
Photographs by Jigar Mehta/The New York Times