…the company boasts of illuminating its stores with low-wattage lightbulbs but positions outlets far from city centers, where taxes are low and commuting costs high—the average IKEA customer drives 50 miles round-trip. Cleverly, IKEA transfers transport and energy costs onto consumers, who are then handed the additional burden of assembling their purchases [source]. I’m a [...]
This blog will follow U.S. local governments that are curbing greenhouse gas emissions, reducing energy consumption, utilizing renewable energy sources, adapting to the impacts of climate change, and developing more sustainably. It will showcase their challenges, accomplishments, innovations, strategies, and lessons learned. ICLEI’s Local Action Blog launches to make available information on cities and counties [...]
Downturn in the housing market leads to rise in milk prices? Alex Tabbrok at Marginal Revolutions observed this curious correlation in Vermont. Recycling is at the heart of the relationship; who would have thunk!
Much is being said about the grand libertarian experiment in rebuilding New Orleans. We saw how reforming the education system was considered a case against public education and overall government intervention. Nicole Gelinas at the City Journal looks at the urban renewal efforts in New Orleans that are taking a similar libertarian slant and at [...]
Architect Vincent Callebaut’s latest project balances public galleries, meeting rooms and gathering spaces over canals and abandoned railroad tracks in the 19th Parisian district. Callebaut describes the process as an intention to “absorb and recycle by photo-catalytic effect the cloud of harmful gases (Smog) from the intense traffic near Paris” [source: Inhabitat]. Definitely a worthy [...]
Mukesh Ambani, India’s richest person is building a monstrous residence in the heart of densely-populated Mumbai. The structure is 490 feet tall and includes a corporate meeting facility along with his 35,000 square feet of private residence. Arzan however is impressed by the architectural aspects of the structure which might change the way high rises [...]
Dubai is home not only to most construction cranes building skyscapers but also to the world’s first zero emissions 322 meter tall structure. The Burj Al-Taqa Energy Tower will “use sun, wind, and water to create all of its own energy.”
“Try this experiment. Go knock on someone’s door in West Oakland, Watts or Newark and say: ‘We gotta really big problem!’ They say: ‘We do? We do?’ ‘Yeah, we gotta really big problem!’ ‘We do? We do?’ ‘Yeah, we gotta save the polar bears! You may not make it out of this neighborhood alive, but [...]
Ever wonder how you can increase mileage without having to convert to a hybrid or electric car? The Cleantech Blog tells us how simple design changes can affect your car’s mileage. I wonder what is keeping the Big Three from at least implementing such simple and basic design changes. On the other hand, this couple [...]
Ottawa is one of the cleanest and livable cities in the world but an energy and environmental think-tank, Pembina Institute suggests that Ottawa’s peripheral greenbelt is in fact encouraging sprawl and thus longer commutes.
[via Eco Geek]. Don’t they remind you of The Shire? You would expect a Hobbit to rush out any moment. Green (literally) roofs are getting increasingly common even in the United States. Apart from keeping the home interiors cooler, these roofs reduce significant stormwater runoff, protects the roof membrane from harsh weather, and are an [...]
A global survey revealed that “green” construction costs are dramatically lower than believed.
Will the design community respond to the challenge of building the twenty-first century city? Will they rally around the mayor’s plan? The Metropolis Magazine is asking whether designers and city planners will heed to Mike Bloomberg’s vision of creating a cleaner and greener New York City
WIRED and LivingHomes—a pioneer in green, prefabricated development— will open the doors to the first ever WIRED Home, a showcase of the best in sustainability, technology and design.
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