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http://sustaininteract.com

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100% Daylight for Friends School’s Dining Hall

“The lights are off all day! 1,200 students of the Friends School of Baltimore eat, socialize, and study as part of a tight knit community without the use of a single light bulb. Their new Dining Hall, designed by Ziger/Snead Architects, uses an array of 21 skylights to bathe the entire room in 100% natural daylight – creating a clean, elegant place for students and faculty. Even on heavily overcast days, exterior ambient light can provide enough illumination to completely replace artificial lighting – reducing electricity consumption and providing occupants with all the other proven benefits natural daylight.” Design solutions like this prove their is a sustainable solution to most problems and that we do not need to waste energy unnecessarily.

What Would You Ask Nature?

“Thanks to a smart TED talk by biologist Janine Beynus that made the rounds a few years ago, books like Biomimicry: Innovation Inspired by Nature, and new online resources like AskNature.org, more and more designers are realizing a simple truth when trying to find responsible, ecological solutions: If we’re trying to do it, chances are, nature already did it better.

Biomimicry is quickly becoming a cornerstone of sustainable design, but for designers who want to incorporate biomimicry into their work, many don’t know where to start. Some famous biomimetic solutions have gotten passed around the mainstream press–including examples like self-cleaning surfaces modeled on lotus flowers, or the sticky repositionable tape inspired by gecko feet–but biomimicry isn’t as easy as using nature as a crib sheet. “One of the big realizations that designers have when they play with biomimicry is that it’s not a tool, it’s a mindset shift,” says Dayna Baumeister, who co-founded the Biomimicry Guild with Benyus in 1998. “Because of that–because of the fundamentally different way of thinking–it’s hard.”

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Power Aware Cord

Similar to the earlier entry that ejects your power cable when the device is charged, this product makes you more aware of the power you are using.
“Power strips are used on a daily basis in most homes as a means of ‘transporting’ energy to the products we use every day. The ‘Power-Aware Cord’ is a re-designed electrical power strip in which the cord is designed to visualize the energy rather than hiding it. The current use of electricity is represented through glowing pulses, flow, and intensity of light. Expressing the presence of energy through light can inspire people to explore and reflect upon the energy consumption of electrical devices in their home. “

C02 Capture

“Scientists at UCLA have developed synthetic crystals that trap gasses like a smart sponge. The crystals are highly selective, allowing them to achieve a 400% improvement in CO2 capture over current technologies.

The crystals are three-dimensional and code information in the same manner as DNA. While not as sophisticated as DNA, the developers consider it a significant advancement in chemistry and materials science.

The scientists hope the technology could be used to capture CO2 from both large sources like power plants, and smaller ones like vehicle exhausts and smaller factories. The material could also potentially be used to convert CO2 into a fuel.

Ideally, these highly efficient crystals could be used for CO2 capture in lots of different settings while we try to transition to cleaner technologies.”

Device Ejects Plug When Gadget is Charged

This power-saving device, physically disconnects consumer electronics from the outlet. It is hard to tell when electronics are or are not taking energy and many never stop taking energy if they are plugged in (e.g. cellphone chargers). this product solves that problem by using a timer circuit and electromechanics to eject its plug which disconnects your device from the wall outlet. Once the plug falls out, all energy consumption stops and only resumes once the plug is inserted again.

Wooden Keyboard

This is a nice idea, made from one piece of wood and laser etched for durability. Just the price that lets it down, $950

Bill Gates: the Most Important Climate Speech of the Year?

On Friday 12th February, “the world’s most successful businessperson and most powerful philanthropist did something outstandingly bold, that went almost unremarked: Bill Gates announced that his top priority is getting the world to zero climate emissions.”

“Gates spoke about his commitment to using his massive philanthropic resources (the Gates Foundation is the world’s largest) to make life better for people through public health and poverty alleviation (“vaccines and seeds” as he put it). Then he said something he’s never said before: that is it because he’s committed to improving life for the world’s vulnerable people that he now believes that climate change is the most important challenge on the planet.

Even more importantly, he acknowledged the only sensible goal, when it comes to climate emissions, is to eliminate them: we should be aiming for a civilization that produces no net emissions, and we should be aiming to live in that civilization here in the developed world by 2050.”

Obama’s State of the Union

Having dragged it’s heels for years during the George W Bush years America is finally beginning to drive the climate change debate forward. Listen to President Obama’s words in his State of the Union speech this week. “I know that there are those who disagree with the overwhelming scientific evidence on climate change [...] But here’s the thing–even if you doubt the evidence, providing incentives for energy efficiency and clean energy are the right thing to do for our future” is the key phrase, but his speech was peppered with other climate-change references and warnings:

We still have a long way to go but, with America on board and it’s enormous access to research within the scientific community, this has to be a better thing?

One Water

This has to be one of the greatest initiatives I have seen. “The One Foundation is the charitable division of Global Ethics Limited. We are a UK-based registered charity that works with communities in Africa to address the most pressing humanitarian needs, such as clean drinking water, nutrition and HIV/AIDS testing.” 100% of the companies profits from selling bottled water go to building PlayPump® water systems in Africa.
“Sometimes the best solutions are the simplest ones. Like the amazing PlayPump® water systems you help fund every time you buy a bottle of One Water.

The PlayPump® uses a specially crafted children’s roundabout to pump water from deep underground. So, as children spin on the roundabout, fresh, clean water is pumped from a borehole into a storage tank for use by the entire community.

It’s a simple idea but one that is changing the lives of thousands of African people. Now, instead of walking for hours to collect water, children can go to school and the entire community benefits from access to fresh drinking water.

A PlayPump® provides much more than clean water. It provides a community with a sustainable resource that saves time and energy and facilitates education, hygiene and health. Plus, excess water can be used to irrigate vegetable gardens, giving communities the opportunity to grow and sell their own crops. “

Apple’s New iPad

Finally after month’s of speculation Apple have revealed their new product iPad. At the moment opinion seems split between the hard core Mac fraternity and the speculative Windows users. There is no doubt though that Apple are going to sell millions of iPads and just like the iPod and iPhone it will make a massive difference to our lives, the way we access the web, view video and still images, read books and manage our lives.
Apple have a very good record when it comes to sustainability and there products are designed to minimise their environmental impact.The iPad is no exception. LIke the iPod, iPhone and iMac, MacBook Pro etc it has been designed by English designer Jonathan Ive. Ive’s and Apple’s Steve Jobs attention to detail and functionality is remarkable.
“iPad embodies Apple’s continuing environmental progress. It is designed with the following features to reduce environmental impact:
* Arsenic-free display glass
* BFR-free
* Mercury-free LCD display
* PVC-free
* Recyclable aluminum and glass enclosure”
You can get more info on Apple’s environmental Reports here: http://www.apple.com/environment/reports/

A New Breed of Eco-Designers

I came across these on the http://www.fastcompany.com/ web site. Below are a few examples of designers challenging our use of every day items and coming up with novel solutions for a sustainable future.

Garden Greetings
Botanical PaperWorks
“Most people bury the greeting cards they receive in drawers, but you can bury Garden Greetings in the backyard and watch them sprout into flowers or herbs. Embedded with seeds, the cards are “tree-free” — instead, Botanical PaperWorks uses 3.5 tons of paper waste a year. The cards retail for $5 apiece at specialty stores such as Paper Source.”

Din-ink
Zo-Loft
“Approximately 39 billion pieces of disposable cutlery are used in the United States each year; that’s 42 place settings per person. These 100% biodegradable, nontoxic, and hygienic pen caps take chewing on your Bic to a new level. Made from natural starch and fiber, the reusable caps, a Designboom “Dining in 2015″ winner, will be available in October.”

Green Box
Environmentally Conscious Organization
“Americans “use a pizza box for 30 minutes and then throw it away,” says ECO chief executive William Walsh. We toss up to 2.2 billion boxes a year. Walsh’s idea: more mileage per box. By adding perforation marks to divide the top into four plates, he eliminates additional waste. And the bottom can be folded into a fridge-friendly leftover case. Walsh is talking to the top pizza chains to make his to-go alternative box populi.”

Ditto Hangers
GreenHeart Global
“Every year, 3.5 billion wire hangers and 8 billion plastic ones rack up landfill space. “It’s hidden,” says CEO Gary Barker, “but they’re just a tremendous burden on the environment.” Barker’s primary goal is to replace the disposable hangers of dry-cleaners, hotels, and retailers, and he has won design awards for the pressed-paperboard hanger he created exclusively for Adidas’s Slvr stores. Growing consumer demand for the hangers, which hold 20 pounds, has led him to sell 10 for $15 via Amazon, and Bed Bath & Beyond commissioned its own 10-pack ($10).”

Dinnerware
VerTerra
“”The next wave in eco-awareness is compostability,” says VerTerra chief operating officer Josh Parker. VerTerra steams, heats, and pressurizes fallen palm leaves, processing 10 to 12 tons a month into high-end disposable dinnerware. The plates, bowls, and trays aren’t just compostable but also biodegradable, and they’re the china of choice in tier-one luxury boxes at the new Cowboys Stadium. They’re also being rolled out at Whole Foods for just $6.50 for eight.”

EcoCradle
Ecovative Design
Imagine a Styrofoam replacement so natural it could be mistaken for mushroom risotto. EcoCradle is made from agricultural by-products, such as rice hulls, and mushrooms, which serve as a binding agent for the packing material. “In nature, there is no litter,” says CEO Eben Bayer. EcoCradle can then be molded to fit products as varied as TVs and glassware. To meet demand, Ecovative Design will scale up production to 10,000 units of packaging a month by the end of the year.

Recycle Match

“Recycle Match is an Online Market for Transforming Commercial Waste Into Value. Our web based marketplace provides a solution to reduce costs and environmental impact by converting waste streams from one company into useful materials for another company. By uncovering hidden value, RecycleMatch creates new cost savings and potential revenues for all parties while enabling supply chain solutions that can benefit the environment and your sustainability initiatives.”
This really is a great idea, we should all try and encourage initiatives like this. Lobby your company to make use of Recycle Match.

MOAB Ink Jet Paper

Quality printing from sustainable source can be problematic but Moab by Legion photographic Paper ~ A Fine art Archival Photographic paper made with all natural and sustainable fibers and strands such as, bamboo, rice and cotton offers a realistic solution. Moab paper is true air-dried, acid, lignin and OBA-free.”

The Prix Pictet: World’s First Environmental Photography Award

12 of the world’s leading photographers were shortlisted for the Prix Pictet, the first photography award dedicated to sustainability. Can a photograph really help to sustain the planet? According to The Prix Pictet, “It depends on the photograph.” The contest mobilizes the medium of photography to bring the message of sustainability to the public.
This years winner is Nadav Kander who was also responsible for the amazingObama’s People exhibition.

The 11th Hour

“Leonardo Di Caprio’s 2007 followup from Al Gores “An Inconvenient Truth” about the current enviromental crisis in the form of ecosystem destruction,mass species extinction and global warming and looks to the future.The film includes interviews from Stephen Hawking,Wangari Maathai,David Suzuki and Mikhail Gorbechev along with many others.Copyright of Warner Independent Pictures. “
Watch it here:

Ray Anderson on Sustainability

“Ray Anderson, the Chairman and Founder of Interface Inc, the word’s largest modular carpet company. Long before many companies took up the environmental cause, Ray identified the importance of sustainability, not just in terms of the way we live but also the way we work. The result for his business? Reduced costs, increased innovation, inspired employees and incredible amounts of goodwill.

Ray was a key adviser to the Clinton administration on environmental policy and was one of TIME Magazine’s 2007 “Heroes of the Environment.” He also appeared in the 2003 documentary The Corporation alongside Michael Moore and in Leonardo DiCaprio’s environmental film The 11th Hour.”

Michael Reynolds – Garbage Warrior

“Michael Reynolds is an architect based in New Mexico and a proponent of “radically sustainable living.” He has been a forceful and controversial critic of the profession of architecture for its failure to deal with the amount of waste that building design creates.’
Michael has a radical approach to design and architecture and how we can adopt a sustainable approach to living and has caused a great deal of controversy amongst fellow professionals.

The Water Cube

The National Aquatics Center, also known as the Water Cube, was photographed by ex AUCB student Marcel Lam for the 2008 Beijing Olympic project. The building has some interesting energy efficiency characteristics and was built with the latest building materials. Watch the video below for more info:

Click on the image below for more info:

Zero Energy – The GreenPix Wall

“GreenPix is a groundbreaking project applying sustainable and digital media technology to the curtain wall of Xicui entertainment complex in Beijing, near the site of the 2008 Olympic Games. Featuring the largest color LED display worldwide and the first photovoltaic system integrated into a glass curtain wall in China, the building performs as a self-sufficient organic system, harvesting solar energy by day and using it to illuminate the screen after dark, mirroring a day’s climatic cycle.” Click on the image below for more info:

+ FuseProject

“Yves Behar is the founder of San Francisco-based FuseProject, a visionary industrial design and brand strategy firm that has designed and produced such engaging products as the XO Laptop for the One Laptop Per Child program. While not necessarily thought of as a “green designer,” Mr. Behar’s engaged, thorough design process and socially-conscious projects like OLPC demonstrate his commitment to thoughtful, responsible design.”

2010 sees the release of the new OLPC XO-20, the new laptop will employ dual sunlight-readable touchscreen displays in a smaller, folding e-book form factor.

Soon to be followed in 2012 by the XO-3.

“The list of features is enough to make your eyes cross: waterproof, twice as thin as an iPhone, semi-flexible 8.5″ by 11″ touchscreen, wireless induction charging, and energy consumption under one watt. And it will cost a mere $75. At least this is what is being claimed of the XO-3, the third generation One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) designed by Yves Behar.”

MIT’s Nicholas Negroponte sparked the OLPC non-profit venture in 2005 to bring affordable ($100), web-connected computers to school kids the world over. Things haven’t gone exactly to plan (the computers still cost well over $100 and poor nations aren’t quite clamoring for them as anticipated), but the project rolls onward, recently unveiling the conceptual design and hard-to-fathom specs of XO-3, due out in 2012.

Here are some other articles on Yves Behar’s designs and design philosophy, click on the images below:

INTERVIEW: YVES BEHAR ON SUSTAINABILITY

Yves Béhar Unveils the World’s Fastest Electric Motorcycle

Yves Béhar’s Recyclable Y Water Bottle