Sean McDow: One Man’s Trash is Another Man’s Treasure
July 31st, 2007 -- Posted in Environment | No Comments »One man’s trash is Sean McDow’s treasure. The woodworker and furniture designer started making furniture during the winter of 2005 with little woodworking experience, and “quickly realized how much material is thrown away every day and decided to experiment.” Using primarily reclaimed fencing materials that had a ticket for the burn pile or landfill, he has built up a varied portfolio of tables, entertainment centers and stools; we like the “Sign Table” that incorporates a “legally obtained” (we’re told) Oklahoma railroad sign. His work has an easy, conversational appeal that goes well with the weathered wood. Though he insists “I am not a company” and that “I build fur…
Join Your Friends at Camp for Climate Action
July 31st, 2007 -- Posted in Environment | No Comments »Oh, to be young and in London for Climate Camp; gathering with other campers around the campfire singing songs and eating marshmallows at the end of the runway at Heathrow. Learning the ways of our ancestors in fire starting, fence climbing but mostly there for the solidarity of chums standing together, arm in arm for a giant game of Red Rover.
However this years camp might not be as bucolic as the last; The Airport Authority doesn’t want frisbees flying over their fences and wants to keep campers far away. To be extra certain that these wild lands w…
Sucking Invasive Algae Off of Reefs
July 31st, 2007 -- Posted in Environment | No Comments »Well, that’s one way to get rid of those troublesome algae: use an underwater vacuum cleaner to suck them clear off the reefs. Biologists in Hawaii are using devices known as “Super Suckers” to eliminate tons of gorilla ogo, a species of invasive algae that is killing coral reefs, fouling beaches and smothering beds of sea grass. Invasive algae have long been considered a grave threat because of their ability to outcompete local algal communities and coral alike, allowing them to gradually take over the reefs and, in so doing, drastically reduce species diversity in the area.
Super Suckers are made up of a pump and a tube to su…
Light Bulb Packaging: The Package Becomes the Product
July 31st, 2007 -- Posted in Environment | No Comments »Smart packaging design is definitely part of our green future, if for no other reason that packaging that goes in the garbage after you unwrap it is just dumb. Designer Olivia Cheung gets this, and put this ethic to work in her Light Bulb Packaging. An intricate, laser-cut paper box transforms from protective shell to beautiful lamp in a few quick bends and folds (an idea that reminds us of lite2go by knoend), leaving nothing to throw away, and nothing for you to do but bask in its warm glowing warming glow. Just be sure to pop a compact fluorescent bulb in there before…
From Somewhere
July 31st, 2007 -- Posted in Environment | No Comments »This hip looking shop has a long (for green fashion) history and started from nowhere. In 1997 its owner and designer started remaking vintage cashmere sweaters: with the wonders of crochet, a moth hole became a flower. She went on to make clothing out of reclaimed textiles and ends of line–the fashion industry’s waste. It has ended up here, as a colourful and vibrant line of clothes. Using ends and bits from textile mills all over Europe, the designer works with people in rehab in Italy to create these wild and witty dresses. There are skirts and tops in matching and not so matching prints, but it all works. Even the labels are made of recycled paper….
Eco-Libris
July 31st, 2007 -- Posted in Environment | No Comments »Eco-Libris wants American readers to put something back for all their bookworm pleasures. It
New Report Claims a Zero Carbon Britain is Within 20 Years Reach
July 31st, 2007 -- Posted in Environment | No Comments »Not so long ago, renewable energy pioneer Dale Vince (who we interviewed here) challenged Gordon Brown, the UK
Kite For Sail: Something Old is New Again
July 31st, 2007 -- Posted in Environment | No Comments »Whenever we do a story about solar-powered water craft some pundit will pipe up and say
Study Proves Good Design Means Healthier Patients
July 31st, 2007 -- Posted in Environment | No Comments »TreeHugger loves wood buildings; it sinks a lot of carbon and uses less energy to build. It is also warm and attractive, we have a natural affinity for it compared to say, concrete. Architect Tye Farrow likes it too; he wanted to bring elements of nature- sunlight, living trees, timber from British Columbia, symbols of life, into a hospital wing devoted to cancer and ambulatory care.
It also turns out that good design is good for your health too; a study was done by Queens University researcher Karen Parent, tracking 63 breast-cancer patients and 10 nurses through the cramped old building and a year later when the new cancer centre was open. According to Leslie Scrivener in the Sta…
Recycle Old Lightbulbs Into Salt and Pepper Shakers
July 31st, 2007 -- Posted in Environment | No Comments »Readymade has instructions for converting old incandescent bulbs into salt and pepper shakers using old bottle caps and a little wax. I am not at all certain about this; there used to be phosphors in those bulbs and the filament was surely slowly depositing something on it while it burned, but for those willing to risk it, it is another good way to keep yourself busy and keep your lightbulbs out of the garbage. We should probably all start hoarding our incandescents; they may be worth something at the antique shows in a few years. ::Readymade
And, if you liked that project, our patners in the