Ekokook by Faltazi Lab
Once upon a time some people decided to get a handle on their own future. They wanted to reducing their ecological footprint to the minimum, so in the course of the teens decade they introduced into everyday habitat efficient means for producing energy and reducing energy consumption, and for managing wastes. Concepts of industrial symbiosis had been in everyone’s mind for some time, but the big thing was to apply them effectively in the home. Working in closed cycle mode, they felt that each waste should be turned into a new resource, that each drop of water that fell on the roof or came from a tap should be used to the utmost instead of going straight down the drain, that each watt of wind and solar power produced by the house should be valorized on the spot. Little by little, the home of ‘Mr & Mrs Smith’, which had formerly been powered exclusively by fossil energies: coal, petroleum derivatives, gas… was becoming self-sufficient.
The different functions dependent on consumption of an immaterial energy such as electricity were upgraded to hybrid input of power sources. Wastes, which had once been evacuated and incinerated at considerable expense by the community, generating untold tons of ash and toxic gases harmful to the environment, were made subject to taxation by weight, which encouraged people to be more careful. People who were once just consumers became ‘consum’actors’, committed to changing their behaviour patterns and adopt eco-friendly habits. Once the means of taking immediate action were put within their reach, they seized hold of them and began changing things around, inventing new user protocols and spreading the good news.
Via & more: Ekokook
Book of the day: Green Design – Creative Sustainable Designs for the Twenty-First Century
You can buy this book in our on-line design bookshop
In this timely book, author Marcus Fairs helps readers understand the shift of green design from marginal to mainstream by featuring products and buildings that address immediate concerns about global warming and environmental degradation. Through vast architectural projects to modest one-off pieces of salvaged furniture, the book shows how the design world is responding to the environmental challenges of this century. Author Fairs demonstrates key developments in sustainable design as seen in lighting, houseware, furniture, textiles, products, interiors, architecture, and transportation, including the innovative use of fuel-cell technologies and ultra-lightweight materials.
The book shows how the introduction of eco-friendly materials is changing the products around us and charts the rise of low-energy lighting sources and their impact on lighting design. Emerging trends in green design are also covered, from recycling (reusing existing objects to create new products) to ethical sourcing (ensuring products come from sustainable sources). By presenting existing green innovations as well as visionary projects, Green Design paints a bright future in which technology and ethics merge for the benefit of people and the planet.
Kjellgren Kaminsky Architecture: Salongen 35 – passive houses, Malmo
In April 2009 Swedish firm Kjellgren Kaminsky Architecture won first prize in a competition for passive houses in the city of Malmo. This week it was announced that the houses will now be built. In addition to being passive houses the buildings will also have a number of further measures for ecological sustainability:
- all homes will be equipped with solar panels
- all homes have exterior venetian blinds – this will allow winter sun to enter and the building while the summer sun is reduced
- flower boxes, lawns, green walls and green roofs make the area into a green oasis
- environmentally friendly building materials will be widely used; for instance all wood is FSC certified
- all appliances are A rated for minimum energy consumption
- all taps are designed for minimal water consumption
- inhabitants are offered green electricity
Via & more: designboom
Zero emission: Nissan LEAF
The Nissan LEAF is a new five-door hatchback with an all electric drive train that is set to launch in the US and Japan in late 2010. While many car companies have been showing off electric concepts at the major autoshows for years, the Nissan LEAF is one of the first to make it to market. The car is driven by an 80 kw electric motor and a new compact lithium–ion battery. The battery takes only eight hours to recharge, when plugged into a regular household outlet. It has a maximum range of 160 km and a sleek interior that sets it out from the competition. The electric vehicle market is estimated to make up 10% of all new car sales by 2020.
Via & more: designboom
Book of the day: 1000 New Eco Designs and Where to Find Them
You can buy this book in our on-line design bookshop
As we become only too aware of the damage man has caused to the planet, more of us want to furnish and decorate our homes with products that do not harm the environment. But being sensitive to the environment does not mean you have to sacrifice good design. More and more designers are creating products that are both beautiful and ethical. 1000 New Eco Designs is a showcase of contemporary product design and interior products that are ecologically sound. Informative and visually inspirational, the book acts as a handbook, guiding readers through the complex issues involved in creating and choosing eco-friendly designs for the home. A series of icons show each product’s ‘green’ credentials; highlighting the use of recycled, sustainable, and locally-sourced materials as well as non-toxic, low-energy, and low-waste manufacturing processes, so that readers can see at a glance the individual characteristics of each design. The book also provides full information on where to source and buy the products featured.
Cannondale Dutchess bicycle by Wytze van Mansum
The Cannondale Dutchess is a result Wytze van Mansum’s graduation project at the Delft University of Technology, in collaboration with bicycle manufacturer Cannondale. The bicycle is designed for the female cyclist, with exploration in development and providing opportunities in which women can express their style in the urban environment. The Dutchess brings modern lines, longevity and is low maintenance. The rear fender of the bike acts as a structural part of the frame, supporting the carrier with a load of up to 50 kg. An arch connects the bicycle from the handlebars to the tail light both in a visual and structural manner. Its form also refers to the sturdiness, comfort and ease of ride drawn from the traditional old dutch bicycle.
Via & more: Designboom
COP15 Pavilion by MAPT
The City of Copenhagen’s overall goal for the city’s development is that Copenhagen will become an international, outstanding example of sustainable urban development. The same values form the basis for the framework of the North Harbour Exhibition. The sustainable container-pavilion has been developed by the architect’s office MAPT in collaboration with the City of Copenhagen.
Via & more: ArchDaily
Please Help the World – COP15 opening film
“Please Help the World”, film from the opening ceremony of the United Nations Climate Change Conference 2009 (COP15) in Copenhagen from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark. Shown on December 7, 2009 at COP15.
Director: Mikkel Blaabjerg Poulsen, producers: Stefan Fjeldmark and Marie Peuliche, cinematographer: Dan Laustsen, production designer: Peter de Neergaard, editor: Morten Giese, composer: Davide Rossi, sound design: Carl Plesner, production company: Zentropa RamBuk, advisory consultants: Mogens Holbøll, Bysted A/S and Christian Søndergaard, Attention Film ApS.
Via & more: COP15
Honda EV-N electric compact concept car
The EV-N is a new electric compact car which Honda will officially debut at the Tokyo Motor Show. The new vehicle is part of a series of electric cars, Honda will be showcasing this fall. The car runs on an electric battery and features a large solar roof to generate additional power. Inside the car will feature customizable seat covers and a small electric unicycle inside the passenger’s side door. The car’s front is a flat-panel with embedded lighting which can shine a variety of patterns. The back seats of the small car even fold flat for extra cargo room.
Via & more: designboom
ReNu Modular iPhone Charger Makes Solar Power Sleek
The problem with most built-in solar gadget chargers is that it just doesn’t make sense to stick your pricey phone in the sun for the whole day while you wait for it to charge. But the Regen ReNu modular solar panel takes care of that issue – the combination solar panel and battery pack attaches to the back of an iPod/iPhone dock or USB device for easy access to solar power. When you want to charge the panel, just remove it and place it near sunlight! The ReNu panel doesn’t work quickly–it takes 9 hours to charge in direct sunlight and 20 hours in indirect sunlight for 7-8 hours of music–but enterprising solar power lovers could easily charge one ReNu panel in the sun while another is in use. Regen’s $200 solar panel won’t be available until next year, but it’s already available for preorder on the company website.
Via & more: Inhabitat
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