What a 44 Year-Old Toaster Can Teach Us About Sustainable Design

Posted on October 20, 2009 by Tim Hurst .

How $2 bought me one of the best appliances I own
I like my toast. I’m one of those people that believes bread simply tastes and performs a better when thoroughly warmed and a little crispy on the outside. So you can imagine my consternation when my toaster recently stopped working. It’s not that the toaster [...]

Far Foods Carbon Footprint Labels

Posted on August 14, 2009 by Matt Embrey .

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So you are buying organic and mostly local, that’s pretty good, but if you live in New England like me come winter time local produce is a little harder to come by so end up buying tomatoes from… China!? The fact is there’s no reliable and easy way to know where your produce is [...]

Does the Package Make the Green Product?

Posted on May 28, 2009 by Beth Buczynski .

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We blame corporations for a lot- and for good reason: they are responsible for large percentages of the pollution, emission-heavy production, poor worker conditions and consumption-driven mindsets that plague our planet and society. However, it is said, “to whoever much is given, of him [or her] will much be required.” Though the big-box names have huge potential for leaving destruction in their wake, they also have the clout to power big changes. Recently, several mainstream companies have started making strides toward this change in the form of sustainable packaging. Here are some to look out for…

Reduce & Reuse with the Green Box Pizza Box

Posted on April 30, 2009 by Matt Embrey .

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Here’s another great packaging innovation called the Green Box. Basically it’s a regular pizza box that is pre-perforated so it can serve several uses: 1) Pizza Box 2) Dinner Plates & 3) Space Saving Storage Box.

HangerPak: Shirt Packaging Doubling as a Hanger

Posted on April 27, 2009 by Matt Embrey .

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“I buy t-shirts online and they always come wrinkled and I always run out of coat-hangers. So I designed a sustainable, reusable way to send and keep your t-shirts.”

Seasteading: Homesteading the High Seas

Posted on April 16, 2009 by Derek Markham .

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Seasteading is a movement to begin homesteading on the high seas, building permanent dwellings on the ocean. It’s one of the most innovative ideas that I’ve seen that addresses many of the issues that arise with building on land, within a particular political system.
“We believe that current political systems are outdated and work poorly, for [...]

Rainwater HOG: Discrete and Functional Rainwater Catchment

Posted on April 11, 2009 by Derek Markham .

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This summer, give your local water supply a break by catching rainwater for watering your yard and garden. It’s low-tech, passive, and the yield of water from one rainfall can be phenomenal. A barrel or two under your gutter downspouts is the quick and easy solution, but if you’re looking for a better looking rainwater [...]

Practical Solar Heliostat System: Solar Thermal Heating with Mirrors

Posted on March 21, 2009 by Derek Markham .

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Direct sunlight exactly where you want it, for heating, lighting, or whatever purpose you like. The world’s first computer-controlled heliostat system from Practical Solar reflects the sun’s energy into your house for heating and lighting, taking advantage of solar energy that doesn’t even directly reach your house. The system can be installed using just hand tools, but the high-tech tracking technology software does the hard work for you, controlling the angle and the focus as the sun moves through the sky, making for an efficient, practical thermal heating setup.

Europe Gets the Electric-Solar Blues

Posted on March 14, 2009 by Beth Buczynski .

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Demonstrating true innovation and a passion for sustainability that’s unfortunately not mirrored by their American counterparts, European car makers Pininfarina and Bollore have created a hybrid vehicle that truly embodies environmental friendliness, from wipers to its non-existent tailpipe.

Dirt(y) Clean Energy Powered Lamp

Posted on March 11, 2009 by Matt Embrey .

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With all the focus on clean energy, I thought this clever little lamp is powered by dirt(y) clean energy was pretty interesting. Marieke Strap’s Soil lamp literally harnesses it’s energy from mud. Similar to the process of the microbial fuel cell, the metabolic reaction that is generated by mud, copper and zinc filled cells creates enough energy to power the highly efficient LED.