Earth Activism

SolarShip’s Solar Cargo Helium Plane Is a Futuristic Airship That Actually Exists

People have talked about building futuristic airships for zero emissions cargo shipping for a long time, but most of these green blimps remain on the drawing board. One company, SolarShip, has taken the steps to bring its vision of a green shipping future to life, recently completing the initial test flights for its solar helium plane. The prototype blends the concepts of blimp and airplane by placing a blimp lined with solar panels over an airplane cockpit and landing gear, and using solar power to propel the plane into the air. SolarShip plans to build three sizes of this ship: the small Caracal, the mid-size Chui, and the 30-tonne cargo hauler Nanuq. It appears to be the mid-sized Chui in the test flight video below.

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Post tags: alternative transportation, green airship, green logistics, green plane design, green shipping, green transportation, helium blimp, helium blimp plane, solar blimp, solar plane, Solar Ship, SolarShip, SolarShip helium plane, zero emissions cargo plane, zero emissions shipping

Subarquitectura’s 360° House Embraces Geometry With a Spiraling Floor Plan

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Post tags: 360 house, andres silanes, carlos banon, circular design, circular house, david frutos, fernando valderrama, geometry, green design, loop house, modern home, Modern Homes, subarquitectura, sustainable architecture green architecture, sustainable design

INTERVIEW: Architect and Author Alejandro Bahamon on ‘REMATERIAL From Waste to Architecture’

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Post tags: "sustainable architecture", Alejandro Bahamón, Architecture, book review, eco design, green architecture, Green Building, green design, green materials, Maria Camila Sanjinés, material reuse, Recycled Materials, rematerial, Rematerial from waste to architecture, reuse, Sustainable Building, Waste

5 Super Efficient Tiny NYC Apartments

From Smart cars to micro wind turbines, we are firm believers in the idea that bigger isn’t always better, especially when it comes to living spaces. Whether its a prefab cabin on an open lot of land or a studio apartment in a city center, smaller spaces mean smaller carbon footprints. Plus, there’s no need for a sprawling pad when you can transform any space into a super efficient home with a little creativity, no matter how small it is. Here we’ve rounded up five of our favorite tiny New York City apartments that showcase the best of small space living with lofted beds and unfolding walls. Hit the jump to see for yourself!

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Post tags: efficient nyc apartments, graham hill apartment, green design, green interiors, Jordan Parnass Digital Architecture, JPDA, loft apartments, lofted beds, normal projects, normal projects unfolding apartment, nyc studio apartments, one size fits all, small apartments, small nyc apartments, studio apartments, sustainable design, treehugger, Unfolding apartment

New Study: Kids’ Brains Absorb Twice as Much Cellphone Radiation as Adults

Could giving a cell phone to your kid be considered child abuse? Cell phones are widely believed to cause cancer because of the radiofrequency electromagnetic fields they use. Now, a new scientific study published in the journal Electromagnetic Biology and Medicine finds that kids’ brains may absorb much more cellphone radiation as adults’ brains. According to the report, cell phones are currently certified using a model of an adult’s head, which greatly underestimates the radiation absorption rate for a smaller head.

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Post tags: cancer, cell phones, Children, health risks, Inhabitots, kids, mobile phones, radiation

Macquariums: Iconic Candy-Colored Apple iMacs Recycled into Aquariums!

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Post tags: apple, Apple G3 iMac, eco design, green design, imac, innovative fish tanks, Jake Harms, mac, Macquariums, recycled Mac computer, sustainable design, upcycled computer

Knit a Sweater for a Penguin and Help Save an Oil-Spill Victim’s Life

1,000 penguins have already perished in the aftermath of the recent oil spill in New Zealand.  Now, the country is asking for help from knitters to protect the adorable birds from ingesting the oil while preening.  The “penguin jumpers” will keep them safe and warm until they can get cleaned up.  Click ahead to learn more about the project and get the free pattern to start working on your penguin sweater!

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Post tags: eco-fashion, Ethical Fashion, fashion philanthropy, green fashion, knitting, New Zealand, oil spills, penguins, Sustainable Fashion, sustainable style

HOW TO: Make a DIY Cardboard Box Robot Costume for Halloween

Need some inspiration to get started on some awesome DIY costumes for the kids this Halloween?  Cindy Young, mom of the adorable robot above and founder of green parenting blog One Part Sunshine entered this costume in our Green Halloween Costume Contest last year.  Click ahead to learn step by step how to copy this creation or start working on your own to enter in our 2011 Green Halloween Costume Contest.

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Post tags: diy costumes, diy halloween costumes, diy kids robot costume, diy robot costume, green halloween, halloween kids costumes, how-to robot costume, robot costume, robot halloween costume

STL Architects Design an Amazing Sustainable Circular Tower for Taichung City

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Post tags: "sustainable architecture", Architecture, circular architecture, circular tower, clean air, eco design, green architecture, green design, stl architects, stl circular tower, sustainable design, taichung city, Taiwan, vertical garden, vertical gardens

GREEN GUIDE TO PREFAB: The History of The Kit Home

Prefabricated housing has seen a surge in popularity over the last few years as an affordable, eco-friendly and modern alternative to custom stick-built housing or suburban tract homes. Although prefab construction has experienced a recent spike in popularity in this past decade, the idea of prefabricated building construction is nothing new – prefab designs have been around for over a century, embedded in the history of the modern architecture movement. In order to really understand prefab housing, we’re going to dive into a history lesson and take a look back at the prefab home movement during the last century.

Inhabitat is pleased to announce the launch of a brand new six-part series, The Green Guide To Prefab Housing, where we are enlisting the expertise of graduate architect, former Lindal Cedar Homes CEO and green design consultant Michael Harris. In our first three installments, Michael introduces us to the prefabricated home as a modern, green design alternative, analyzing the roots of factory-made housing and how its core concepts have converged with the precepts of sustainability and modernism. How has factory-built housing been informed by modernism and the green movement? And how has prefab construction influenced green, modern design? Jump ahead to part one this series where Michael will take you on an in-depth tour of a particular type of prefab package; the kit-home.

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Post tags: Acorn House, carl koch, case study house, Charles and Ray Eames, deck house, Eco Architecture, economical home, factory made homes, flat pak architecture, green architecture, green guide to prefab, history of modernism, history of prefab design, history of prefab homes, history of prefabricated housing, homes on wheels, Lindal Cedar Homes, lindal homes, michael harris, mobil homes, mobile homes, modern family homes, modern home, modern trailer homes, modernism, non-volumetric homes, portable homes, prefab architecture, Prefab Homes, prefab industry, prefabricated architecture, prefabricated homes, Sears Roebuck Kit House, Sir Walter Lindal, trailer homes, Truck Chassis homes, volumetric homes, Walter Gropius

We Talk With Tracen Gardner of Reclaimed Space About Prefab Building & Salvaging Materials

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Post tags: artisan homes, artisan prefab building, artisan prefabs, hand made prefab homes, handmade prefabricated homes, off grid homes, off-grid, prefab building, prefabricated building, Reclaimed Materials, reclaimed space, reclaimed space buildings, reclaimed space homes, reclaimed space prefab, Recycled Materials, Tracen Gardner, Tracen Gardner reclaimed space

VIDEO: Andrea Air Purifier Uses a Plant to Clean the Air in Your Home

Click here to view the embedded video.

The Andrea Air Purifier is a brilliant partnership between man and plant that accelerates nature’s natural ability to clean air in order to detoxify the atmosphere inside your home. We had a chance to sit down with Tom Hadfield from Andrea to talk about how this amazing gadget is able to clean the air in your home 1,000 times better than a normal houseplant. Check out our video interview above!

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Post tags: air cleaning plants, air clearing plants, andrea air purifier, clean air, clean air naturally, clean home, green cleaning products, green home design, green home products, Greener Gadgets

Japan’s Prius C Brochure Leaked Ahead of Official Introduction [PICS]

The brochure for the Japanese domestic market Toyota Prius C was just leaked ahead of the vehicle’s official intro at this year’s Tokyo Motor Show, giving us a sneak peak at its real-world numbers. Japan’s Prius C retains many of the styling details we saw in the Detroit auto show concept car unveiled last year, but it’s Yaris-small and claims a combined output of 100 horsepower from its hybrid drivetrain.

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Post tags: alternative transportation, green automotive design, green car, green transportation, green vehicle, hybrid car, hybrid vehicle, Japanese Prius C photos, prius, Prius C brochure, Prius C sneak peak, Toyota, toyota prius, Toyota Prius C

Snøhetta’s Norwegian Wild Reindeer Centre Pavilion was Inspired by the Robust Landscape

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Post tags: cnc wall, contemporary Norwegian architecture, environmental pavilion, green pavilion, Norwegian pavilion, Norwegian Tourist pavilion, Norwegian Wild Reindeer Foundation, Snøhetta Mountain, Snohetta architecture, Tverrfjellet plateau, wood wall

14 Eco-Friendly Boots for the Fashionable Fella

Boots are a great way to add some oomph to any outfit, and they can easily be a go-to style weapon for a jeans and t-shirt guy. Just in time for fall, we’ve rounded up 14 eco-friendly boots to kick around in until the hot sun emerges once again. So whether you’re a dude looking for something rugged, or a fine fella set on a pair that’s a little more streamlined, we’ve got you covered. Hit the jump for our favorite eco picks for autumn!

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Post tags: Brave GentleMan, Danner, Dr. Martens, eco friendly shoes, eco-friendly boots, Hunter, LL Bean, Made in the U.S.A., men’s eco clothing, men’s eco-fashion, Novacas, Oliberte, sustainable boots, sustainable shoes, Swims, Timberland, Tretorn, Vegan Boots, vegan shoes, Vegetarian Shoes, vintage boots, vintage clothing, vintage fashion, Wolverine

Jean Nouvel’s Shipping Container Restaurant Sprouts on Seguin Island in Paris

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Post tags: Architecture, arnaud daguin, eco design, eco restaurant, Green Building, green building france, green design, green island, greenhouse, jean nouvel, les grandes tables, Paris, renault cars, Restaurant, seguin island, Sustainable Building, sustainable design

Japanese Manufacturer Recycles Old Bras Into Fuel!

Because they’re typically made of fabric and wire that’s difficult to take apart and repurpose, used bras are among the hardest garments to recycle. But for women who are concerned about the environment (or who are worried about perverts picking through their trash), enter Triumph International, which is now accepting used bras in select Japanese stores and recycling them into power-generating fuel. Triumph started providing free plastic bags to customers in April and May, and it will convert them into refuse-paper-and-plastic fuel for industrial use.

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Post tags: Japan, lingerie, recycling, refuse-paper-and-plastic fuel, Triumph Japan, underwear, Wacoal, womens clothes

GIVEAWAY: Win a 3M DIY Home Improvement Starter Kit!



DIY projects are a fun, green way to spruce up your home, but if you’re anything like us, you’ll think up a fantastic project and then realize you don’t have all the tools to make it happen. So to help your DIY projects get off to a smooth start, we’ve teamed up with 3M to give away a DIY Home Improvement Starter Kit. Packed with two 3M LeadCheck swabs, a roll of scotch blue tape, three stages of sandpaper, one pair of gloves, a respirator, and some stylish safety glasses, the starter kit has everything you need to tackle your next project.

1. Participate in the translation sweepstakes being hosted on 3M’s Facebook Page (you’ll need to “Like” the page in order to participate). In addition to the prize package, 1 winner a week will win a $250 weekly cash prize for the best translations, so enter here!

2. Post a comment below with the translation you gave for the contest. You need to complete this step in order to be in the running to win the prize, so don’t forget it!

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Post tags: 3m, 3m contest, 3m giveaway, 3m home improvement starter kit, 3m respirator, 3m safety glasses, 3m sandpaper, 3m supplies, 3m tools, DIY, diy home improvement, diy projects, do it yourself, do it yourself projects, em blue tape, green design, green renovations, inhabitat 3m contest

HOW TO: Make a DIY Statue of Liberty Costume for Halloween

Lena Sekine made this majestic Lady Liberty costume for her daughter Maya last Halloween.  Because it was a favorite in our 2010 Green Halloween Costume Contest, we thought some of you might want to check out the how-to and recreate it for your own daughter (or yourself!).  Click ahead to find out exactly how Lena pulled it off so you can follow along or get inspired to submit your own DIY kid’s costume in the 2011 Inhabitots Green Halloween Costume Contest.

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Post tags: diy costumes, diy halloween costume, diy halloween costumes, green halloween, halloween costume, how to make a statute of liberty costume, statue of liberty costume, statue of liberty diy halloween costume, statue of liberty halloween costume

Scandinavian Scientists Develop Textile That Fixes Its Own Tears

A self-healing raincoat? It sounds like something out of a comic book, a group of Scandinavian researchers working for the EU project Safe@Sea have been developing a new type of textile coating that automatically seals tears on the surface of waterproof workwear. The goal is to create a new generation of “intelligent” clothing for professional fishermen. Working with the plastic material polyurethane, scientists have added micro-capsules containing a liquid sealant to the coating of the fabric. When the coating tears, the capsules burst and release the sealant, which hardens when it comes in contact with water and air.

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Post tags: eco textiles, eco-fashion, fishermen, intelligent clothing, rainwear, Safe at Sea, Safe@Sea, Technology

Thought Your Drive Was Bad? Try Commuting into Mexico City

Currently more and more cities continue to grow and act as hubs for employment around the world. It's unlikely that the issues associated with commuting will disappear anytime soon. To try to gain more knowledge on peoples attitudes concerning traffic congestion IBM conducted the 2011 Commuter Pain Survey. By using a speedometer graphic IMB ranked the emotional and economic toll of 20 different cities around the world. According to IMB, the index is comprised of 10 issues: 1) commuting time, 2) time stuck in traffic, agreement that: 3) price of gas is already too high, 4) traffic has gotten worse, 5) start-stop traffic i... Read the full story on Planet Green
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Our Girls and Boys Need More Exploring the Stars, and Less 'Dancing with the Stars'

What do little girls want to grow up to be? Princesses? How about scientists and teachers? Time Warner Cable and other corporations (Discovery included) are behind a push to foster "Green Girls" and boys for the next generation. Time Warner recently helped put on a program with the New York City Parks Department where girls learned about the ecology of dragonfilies and damselflies (how appropriate). Now some girls, my two daughters included, may think bugs are yucky, but they think science and "saving the Earth" are cool. And what... Read the full story on Planet Green
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Solar-Powered Recycled Pavilions Unveiled for the 2012 London Olympics

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Post tags: "sustainable architecture", AC-CA, Design Competition, eco design, green architecture, Green Building, green design, london olympic games information pavilion, London Olympics, olympics, pavilion, Recycled Materials, solar panels, Solar Power, Sustainable Building, sustainable design, temporary pavilion

6 Awesome Parks Made From Rehabilitated Urban Structures

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Post tags: eco design, green design, green parks, green spaces, Landscape Architecture, Nature, outdoors, parks, picnic, public parks, summer activity, top 6, urban parks

Vertical Safari: Crazy Skyscraper Zoo has a Built-in Ferris Wheel

Influx Studio has proposed a crazy plan that launches the traditional zoo far into the future. Submitted for consideration to the city of Buenos Aires, the project was inspired by wildlife safaris in which visitors drive around to free-roaming animals — except it takes the concept to its vertical limit. Influx combines the safari with the city with a futuristic animal skyscraper that joins the urban skyline.

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Post tags: Buenos Aires, eco design, ferris wheek, green design, influx studio, Skyscraper zoo, sustainable design