Whether you’re overseeing a multi-storey residential development or a detailed custom home, improving how you manage your subcontractors can have a significant impact on project outcomes.

Start with Clear Expectations

Setting expectations early lays the groundwork for a strong working relationship. Every subcontractor should know exactly what’s expected from the outset—scope of work, timelines, deliverables, and standards. This means providing detailed documentation, drawings, and written agreements that leave little room for interpretation.

It’s also important to clarify who they report to and how updates should be communicated. Too often, site decisions get delayed because trades are unclear on who to ask or what information to provide. Consistency here saves a lot of time and avoids unnecessary confusion.

Schedule with Precision—and Share It

A common issue on complex jobs is trades arriving too early or too late, either getting in each other’s way or stalling progress. Accurate scheduling, shared early and updated regularly, helps prevent this. Your schedule should consider not just the start and end dates for each trade, but also their dependencies—what needs to be completed before they can begin.

Keeping your subcontractors in the loop is key. Share the full schedule with them, not just their slice of the project. When everyone can see how their work fits into the bigger picture, they’re more likely to flag potential conflicts or delays ahead of time.

Use a Central System for Communication

When messages are scattered across texts, emails, and phone calls, things are bound to get missed. And in a busy project, even a small oversight—like a delivery delay or missed change order—can throw off your timeline.

This is where having a single platform to handle all communication becomes valuable. Builders who use a construction management platform can streamline the way they work with subcontractors. Everything from task updates and scheduling to sharing files and site photos can happen in one place. It reduces the risk of someone missing a key update and ensures all trades are working from the same information.

Track Progress in Real Time

When managing multiple subcontractors across different parts of a build, having visibility into progress is crucial. Regular check-ins help, but site visits aren’t always practical—especially if you’re juggling several jobs.

Digital tracking tools allow supervisors to log updates on the go, mark tasks as complete, and add notes or issues. Subcontractors can do the same, providing updates and photos straight from site. This creates a shared, real-time view of what’s done and what’s outstanding, making it easier to spot problems early and reallocate resources if needed.

Manage Changes and Variations Proactively

Even with the best planning, changes will come up. A client might request a design tweak. A supplier may run out of stock. Weather delays one part of the build. How you handle these changes can make or break a project.

Clear variation processes help subcontractors stay aligned with the revised plan. Instead of verbal instructions or scattered emails, use written change orders that are logged and acknowledged. Having a system in place where subcontractors are notified and can access updated drawings or instructions helps reduce misunderstandings and rework.

Build Long-Term Relationships

Good subcontractors are worth holding onto. When you build a reputation as someone who communicates clearly, pays fairly, and runs a well-organised job site, trades are more likely to prioritise your work and perform at a higher standard.

One way to strengthen these relationships is to conduct post-project reviews. Ask for feedback on how the job ran, where they saw bottlenecks, and how things could be improved next time. A simple conversation at the end of a build can go a long way in building trust and cooperation for future projects.

Stay Ahead with the Right Tools

Today’s complex builds demand more than just phone calls and spreadsheets. Digital systems give builders the oversight and control needed to keep subcontractors aligned. From scheduling and communication to tracking progress and handling variations, having everything in one place removes a lot of the friction that slows down jobs.

Choosing the right construction management platform doesn’t mean overhauling your whole process overnight. Start with features that solve your biggest pain points, whether that’s scheduling, quoting, or managing documents. As you and your subcontractors grow more comfortable, you can build out from there.

Conclusion

Managing subcontractors on complex builds doesn’t need to be a source of constant stress. With a clear structure, open communication, and the right tools in place, builders can reduce delays, improve quality, and create a more positive site culture. The result? Projects that run smoother, finish on time, and strengthen your reputation with both clients and trades.

400W OptiSolex SolarBag Kit

This April, OptiSolex, has announced the launch of its new portable SolarBag kit, set to revolutionize how solar is consumed. The kit will be available to the public starting April 24th, 2025, from 9:00 am Pacific time via crowdfunding on Kickstarter.

The all-new 400W Portable SolarBag kit is a revolutionary technology for those looking to venture out to campsites or spend hours outdoors. The kit boasts of being lightweight, smaller than its competitors, and multipurpose. It can be unzipped into 200W solar panels or used as the full 400W when necessary.

In this review, we’ll look in-depth at the OptiSolex 400W Portable SolarBag kit, exploring its performance, target users, design features, compatibility with other systems, and overall value in today’s competitive market.

Target Audience

Fully unzipped 400W OptiSolex SolarBag Kit

The Optisolex 400W Portable SolarBag kit is designed with versatility in mind, making it ideal for a broad spectrum of users. 

One of the primary groups that would benefit from these kits is outdoor enthusiasts, including campers, hikers, RV travelers, and adventure seekers who often find themselves in remote areas where traditional electricity is unavailable. For these individuals, having a lightweight, high-output solar panel can make a significant difference in their overall experience, allowing them to power essential gear like lights, GPS devices, smartphones, and even small appliances without relying on noisy, gas-powered generators.

The kit is also well-suited for individuals focused on emergency preparedness. Power outages, natural disasters, and grid failures are becoming increasingly common due to extreme weather events and aging infrastructure. In these scenarios, having a reliable source of electricity for communication devices, medical equipment, or refrigeration can be life-saving. OptiSolex Portable  SolarBag kit provides a dependable solution for maintaining access to power when the grid goes down.

Another essential market segment includes those living or working off-grid—whether by choice or necessity. People residing in remote cabins, traveling in converted vans, or operating mobile workstations can utilize the Optisolex SolarBag as a sustainable power source that reduces dependence on fossil fuels or limited generator power. 

Performance and Efficiency

One of the most critical performance indicators for solar technology is a panel’s ability to convert sunlight into usable energy. The OptiSolex 400W Portable SolarBag leverages the N-type cell efficiency to convert up to 25% of the solar energy received, which is way better than PERC technology used in traditional solar panels. PERC solar panels only offer an efficiency of 21 – 23% in optimal conditions. When used in ideal conditions, the OptiSolex kit is well able to reach the indicated capacity, a fate that traditional PERC solar panels  cannot offer.

In this respect, the OptiSolex 400W Portable SolarBag kit has exceeded expectations. According to rigorous testing conducted by Inhabitat Labs, the panel reached a peak output of 360 Watts. This level of performance is rarely seen in other 400W portable solar panels, which often fail to meet their advertised wattage, particularly in less-than-ideal conditions.

When compared to similar products, the kit is 10 – 13 % more efficient . In a market where many products fall short of their promised output, OptiSolex outperforms standard products by a significant margin, placing it among the top contenders in the portable solar category.

Such strong performance isn’t just a marketing gimmick—it translates to real-world benefits for the user. That extra power can make a significant difference whether you’re trying to recharge a power station in cloudy weather or maximize efficiency on a short winter day. For critical tasks like powering communication equipment or running refrigeration units, achieving power as close to 400W can offer convenience and peace of mind.

Key Features and Performance

The design of the OptiSolex 400W Portable SolarBag kit reflects a clear understanding of what users need in a portable solar product, and this product does not disappoint. Some outstanding features of this kit include:

• Lightweight Construction: ​The kit weighs just 7.8kgs, almost half the weight for similar 400W products.
• Foldable Design: Thanks to its zipper design, the kit can be unzipped to give two individual 200W solar panels that can be used on their own when a 400W solar capacity is not necessary.
• Multi-Way Carrying Design: When folded up, the 400W Portable SolarBag can be carried as a backpack, briefcase or slingbag, each ideal for different occasions.
• 6 Charging Ports: The kit is multi-purpose thanks to the 3 charging ports in each 200W panel.  Designed to serve different outlets and devices, each 200W panel features 1 USB-C PD 45W and 2 USB-A18W.

Apart from the 400W Portable SolarBag, the key product that sets OptiSolex apart from its competitors is the SolexBrick S1 MPPT solar charge controller.

SolexBrick  S1 

One of the most outstanding features of OptiSolex solar kits is the SolexBrick S1 controller. This MPPT controller not only helps optimize output but also eliminates power surges. 

The SolexBrick S1 also boasts a shade-tolerant design, optimizing energy efficiency by minimizing losses under real-world conditions, such as partial shading. This capability ensures consistent performance, maximizing energy harvest even in less-than-ideal environments.​

The SolexBrick S1 is the smallest of its kind. Only 4.33 × 1.6 × 1.18 inches (110 × 42 × 30 mm) and weighing only 10.6 oz (300 g), this little powerhouse packs 99.5% MPPT efficiency, supports 12V/24V/48V batteries, and handles up to 450W per unit with seamless plug-and-play setup. Its IP68-rated aluminum casing shrugs off dust, water, and extreme temps (-40°F to 175°F), while a 10-year warranty (triple the industry standard) promises long-term reliability.

Installation Process

Installation is user-friendly, involving a straightforward three-step process: mounting the SolexBrick S1, connecting it to the solar panel’s junction box, and linking it to additional modules or a battery. This simplicity facilitates quick deployment and scalability.

Just Plug-and-Play! The kit also comes with a full installation guide, taking you through every step, so there is no worry about missing a thing.

Compatibility and Usage

OptiSolex has done an excellent job of ensuring its kits are compatible with various devices and power solutions. This is critical in a market where users often have a mix of gear—some may use a Jackery power station, others may have a Goal Zero Yeti, and others may rely on custom lithium battery setups. 

The OptiSolex 400W Portable SolarBag and SolexBrick S1 both use MC4 connectors, which are universally adapted by solar manufacturers. If you already have another solar kit at home, you can be sure it will seamlessly integrate with these devices. 

The OptiSolex 400W Portable SolarBag also pairs seamlessly with portable power stations and deep cycle  batteries (when used with the SolexBrick S1), so anyone can integrate the SolarBag seamlessly depending on their existing needs.

Whether you’re hosting an outdoor party and need to run speakers and lighting, embarking on a week-long camping trip where traditional charging options are unavailable, or preparing for unexpected power failures, the OptiSolex 400W Portable SolarBag kit provides a reliable and clean energy source. 

Pricing and Value

Most products that embody the value that OptiSolex is offering are expensive. However, this new innovation is not only helpful but also affordable. The complete kit, including 1 OptiSolex 400W Portable SolarBag, 1 SolexBrick S1, and setup accessories, goes for just $799. The early bird offer of $499 is still running at the time of writing and will run until the product is officially launched.

OptiSolex provides a 3-year warranty for the SolarBag and a 10-year warranty for the SolexBrick S1 controller, indicating its durability and resilience.

What sets OptiSolex apart isn’t just that their kits are more affordable—it’s that they outperform more expensive models. Many budget kits on the market promise big numbers but fall short in real-world performance tests. Some don’t include necessary accessories, have poor build quality, or lack proper weatherproofing. In contrast, OptiSolex kits meet their stated specifications while maintaining a lower price point.

 For budget-conscious consumers who don’t want to compromise on quality, it’s hard to find a better deal. The durability, ease of use, and consistent power output make the kit a smart investment for short-term and long-term preparedness.

Conclusion

In today’s world, where energy independence and sustainability are becoming increasingly important, having access to a reliable and portable power source can be a game-changer. The OptiSolex 400W Portable SolarBag kit strikes the perfect balance between power, portability, and price, delivering a product that exceeds expectations in almost every category.

Its outstanding performance—particularly the ability of the 400W panel to generate 360W of power—sets a new benchmark in the portable solar market. This kind of efficiency, coupled with a compact, user-friendly design and a remarkably low weight, makes OptiSolex a leading contender for anyone looking to harness solar energy

Check out the OptiSolex 400W Portable SolarBag Kit and other products on their Kickstarter page to find out more! 

Los Angeles is a city deeply connected to its natural surroundings. The sprawling landscape of hills and canyons has influenced the design of residential areas like Hollywood Hills, where homes are strategically perched to offer breathtaking views of the city below. This integration of nature into the urban fabric is a unique aspect of Los Angeles, providing residents with a sense of escape within the confines of the city.

One challenge that Los Angeles has faced over time is the need to integrate sustainable urban design. The city’s dependence on automobiles has led to notorious traffic congestion and air quality issues. Besides, the original city plan did little to factor in renewable energy, clean transport, and other sustainable living aspects. However, recent initiatives have aimed to reshape the urban landscape with an emphasis on public transportation, green spaces, and environmentally conscious architecture. Projects like the revitalization of the Los Angeles River and the expansion of the Metro rail system demonstrate the city’s commitment to a more sustainable and livable future.

What will it take to make Los Angeles sustainable?

In shaping the growth of large cities such as LA, it is necessary to have all hands on deck. Architects and designers play an integral role in transitioning major cities to sustainable spaces. The same can be said about Los Angeles as it makes bold steps towards becoming a net zero city.

This week, we sat down with two sustainable-focused designers from Woods Bagot Studio to discuss LA’s transition to a sustainable city. Matt Ducharme, West Coast Principal for Woods Bagot, and Russell Fortmeyer, Global Sustainability Leader at the Studio, had some important insights to offer. 

Matt and Russell agree that in transitioning Los Angeles to a sustainable city, it is necessary to move with the culture. Beyond the physical structures, Los Angeles embraces public art as an integral part of its urban design. Murals and street art adorn buildings across the city, contributing to its dynamic visual culture. The Arts District, once an industrial area, has been transformed into a vibrant neighborhood filled with galleries, studios, and murals that showcase the city’s commitment to fostering creativity.

Woods Bagot Studio has been at the forefront of championing a holistic approach to sustainability through integrating culture, lifestyle, and architecture. We talked about- “Renewing the Dream: The Mobility Revolution and the Future of Los Angeles-” a book recently produced by the studio. It shows in pictures and facts how difficult it is to transition to Los Angeles without integrating several aspects such as culture, government, and mobility. 

© Dennis M. Keeley: cover, 30. Image courtesy Rizzoli New York, Renewing the Dream: The Mobility Revolution and the Future of Los Angeles, 2023

The book, authored by several architects and sustainability experts at Woods Bagot, looks at case studies from history and even the present that are key to changing the face of LA. Among the factors of interest is the prospect of introducing e-charging stations instead of gas stations throughout the city. It also considers a shift in pop culture in terms of advertisement.

“We are talking about the impact of transitioning to clean energy and not just sustainable buildings. Think about replacing every gas station in LA with an E-charging station. This will have a massive impact on the carbon footprint but will also affect our electricity consumption,” said Matt while speaking to Inhabitat.

Who are the key players?

Although the two experts agree that designers and the public must play a central role in changing Los Angeles into a sustainable city, they say the responsibility ultimately rests with policymakers. According to Russel, sustainability is a wide concept that cannot be left to developers or designers alone. He says that the government must put in place policies and incentives to get the private sector moving.

“Of course, the role of transitioning such complex cities lies with the private sector. The government can’t spearhead every aspect of development. With that said, government policies should make it possible for the transition to happen. Providing incentives is one way they can help with this.” Said Russell

Woods Bagot, Beyond feature film screenings, the large-scale LED screens can provide the energized, dynamic backdrop for a wide variety of uses and activities, from community gatherings to product launch events to opening night parties to weeknight “hang-outs” bringing together residents and visitors from across Downtown Los Angeles and beyond. Image courtesy Rizzoli New York, Renewing the Dream: The Mobility Revolution and the Future of Los Angeles, 2023

Los Angeles is already changing, given California’s robust policies to attain net zero targets. For instance, a state law banning high-emission vehicles has removed over 200,000 vehicles from California roads this year alone. Such significant policies have changed how Los Angeles commutes and consequently impacted its carbon footprint.

At the heart of Los Angeles lies a diverse collection of neighborhoods, each with its own unique personality and architectural character. Understanding the unique challenges of these neighborhoods is necessary to be able to move forward. This is why designers and developers must work together to transition Los Angeles to full sustainability.

Russell says that the recently released book does not only target developers, but it looks to speak to all players. He argues that sustainability will be achieved when each of these parties takes up their role. The first step is awareness of the need to create a sustainable city and make sustainability desirable.

“I do think that architecture and design should make zero carbon desirable in the future,” said Russell. “This is why we are looking at a holistic approach by targeting culture and mobility- things that people can relate to.”

Woods Bagot is an architecture and design studio focusing on making sustainable architecture attractive. They have a global presence with offices in London, UK, Brisbane, Australia, Beijing, China, Los Angeles, USA, and Singapore, among other locations. They use case studies, history, culture, and empathy to champion sustainability as part of present and future architecture.

The focus on transitioning LA to a sustainable city helps shed more light on what can be done elsewhere to move the once giant polluting cities to sustainable living spaces. As the cities continue to evolve, the interplay between tradition and innovation must shape their design.

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Specht Architects designed the home, a 2,400-square-feet house that rests along the shores of the Saugatuck River in Connecticut. Purposefully built to create a small footprint and blur the lines between the home and the lush surroundings, Weston Residence’s first impression begins with the drive down from the road above where visitors get their first glimpse of multiple tiers of green roofs.

Related: These low-cost housing solutions are made from bamboo

Covered in locally-sourced succulent plants year-round, the roof effectively makes up a fifth facade of the home, and it’s not just visible from above. With one layer of the home crisscrossing the lower level, the bedrooms are situated in a way that layers the green design so it’s both visible and accessible from the bedrooms. 

The green spaces incorporated into the home help it meld into the surrounding 3.5 acres of forest and mature landscaping, a progression that can be seen from nearly every room in the home. Conceived with a goal of full immersion in the outdoor spaces, Weston Residence features copious natural light through unobstructed windows. 

When shade is needed, window blinds are readily available. Otherwise, they remain tucked away in a hidden track. This seamlessly connects the interior to the exterior with minimally obstructed views. Continuing the theme of openness throughout the home, spaces feature an open design. However, hidden doors can divide rooms for privacy when needed. 

The green roof and natural lighting also contribute to the energy-efficient design of the home, which also features glazed windows and natural materials throughout. Furthermore, glass is a familiar theme throughout the spaces, culminating with a glass-backed fireplace for transparency. Emphasizing the same clean lines, the volumes of the home are made from cast-in-place concrete and cement-board panels. Floors are made up of polished concrete and bamboo walls bring a natural element to soften the primarily glass and concrete interior design. 

Weston Residence offers a garage and guest suite, as well as living, dining and master bedroom spaces situated specifically to overlook the river alongside the home. 

+ Specht Architects

Images via Jasper Lazor 

What makes the Rivian R1T special?

Rivian has been working on their EV pickup trucks and SUVs for several years now, but it’s finally here. The first rollout of Rivian EV trucks is underway, and we got to drive the R1T pickup. The engineers at Rivian told us this pickup has been thoroughly over-engineered, and they’re not kidding. From daily driver tasks to off-roading, this thing does it all.

Related: New EV Lynk & Co. drives into the US with a 4-year warranty

The R1T is a pickup truck, an EV, an off-roading weekend car and even a camping vehicle. This one-of-a-kind electric pickup has a variety of options for road surface handling including Conserve mode, Snow, Off-Road, Sport and Standard operation. This allows the vehicle to adjust suspension stiffness, save the battery, help you stick to slippery roads and even raise or lower the ride height for various purposes. 

What we love about the R1T right off the bat is that it’s flexible. You can use this truck to drive down some pretty rough roads and stick to them. However, if you struggle to find a truck you can get in and out of without hoisting yourself up to the height of a horse saddle, the R1T has you covered.

Furthermore, ingress and egress are easy. The center console has a surface that will charge your iPhone wirelessly, plus a cordless Bluetooth speaker that pulls out from under the console to take you to the beach. 

What is truly impressive about this truck is that it has all the comforts of a daily driver EV, including a frunk (front trunk), electronically operated hood and rear gate and an air compressor built into the truck bed to inflate your tires. It even has the famous gear tunnel. 

Turn your R1T into a tent camper

This gear tunnel is a hole that goes directly through the center of the vehicle between the cab and the truck bed. It comes with some standard and some optional features including human and pet first aid kits and a handy footstool or seat built into the door on each side.

For an extra $6,000 (price subject to change), you can get the camping gear kit that pulls a stove, sink and prep counter out of the gear tunnel. This means you could use your Rivian for a commuter EV or work truck even if you live on rough roads, and then use it for camping as well as off-roading instead of buying an RV or camper.

That’s where the price starts to make sense. Rivian R1Ts range from $60,000 to $95,000. Our edition was tricked out to the tune of about $93,000, which is no chump change. But consider how much an RV costs ($100,000 to $300,000) or a tent camper pullout trailer ($60,000 to $100,000), now you see the truck does it all. You can drive the R1T to the local beach, take it off-roading, then set up for tent camping at night with your pets. This thing can do just about anything a standard pickup can do, and then some.

Extras in a Rivian R1T

As we mentioned previously, the engineers assured us they thoroughly over-engineered the R1T. We were happy to discover they did this in the nicest of ways. Every detail is thought through. There is a partial self-driving option that helps with maintaining the following distance and lane steering. 

You have to drive a Rivian to appreciate how lux it is. The flush door handles and side mirrors open when your key fob approaches the car. A key card held over the driver’s door or putting your foot on the brake while your key fob is in the car starts it automatically. The ride is smooth, but if you prefer a stiff, sporty performance, it’s available at the touch of a button.

The vehicle stops you from doing anything silly, such as when we tried off-road driving and sped up too much. The car simply dropped us back into standard driving mode and adjusted all the settings to make that ideal. 

The R1T comes with tons of extra features, so you might want to play around building out your options before ordering to figure out which vehicle is right for you. The tonneau cover for the truck bed is best understood in person as it fits together like a jigsaw puzzle but works great. You do have to pay them a couple of thousand extra dollars to paint your car anything other than silver. It adds up. But if you build out your ideal car first, you know what you’re getting into.

Still, take one for a test drive if it’s available. You’re going to love this thing. We dragged ours all over the place to run errands, deliver recycling, pick up groceries and other purchases. We also drove it on dirt and pavement and through rain, on pavement and rough back roads. It handled everything seamlessly. 

The interior screens are designed after Tesla, but we like how there is a separate screen for the driver display and the infotainment system. A lot of the technology is made by Rivian just for this vehicle line, so if you like tech, check out a test drive to see all the mapping and self-driving capabilities this car has, plus the bird’s eye view camera that keeps you out of trouble in traffic.

+ Rivian

Images via Rivian

Editor’s Note: This review is not sponsored by Rivian. All opinions on the car and company are the author’s own.

Construction effects the environment in diverse ways. Some of the effects are so easy to control and prevent. For instance, most construction projects often require land. Having proper land use planning can prevent issues such as deforestation and human-wildlife conflicts. At the same time, individual choices with a perspective of the future could reduce such issues.

Related: How sustainable is using salt as a building material?

Every person has a role to play in reducing construction-based pollution. The biggest role, however, lies with the developer. Whether you are building a home, a business premise or any other development, consider the idea of sustainability.

Sustainable construction is one which caters to today’s needs while considering the future of the ecosystem and the world at large. Developers can turn their projects into sustainable ones by selecting sustainable materials, avoiding unnecessary waste and considering energy efficiency.

A sustainable building can be described as one that is built with renewable and recyclable resources and one that reduces energy consumption. There are many factors that go into making a building sustainable. The good news is that there is no one rule-fit-all approach to sustainability. All you have to do is ensure that you think about the planet in the process.

Sustainable construction materials

The first step to sustainable construction is getting the right materials. 

If you are planning to start a construction project, there are many sustainable materials to consider. Most of these materials are more affordable than traditional construction ones. Further, they have been tested and are likely more durable. Let us look at the options you have for sustainable construction.

Ferrock bricks from recycled steel dust

Ferrock is a type of brick that is created by combining steel dust with silica obtained from ground glass. The brick is attained upon a reaction with carbon dioxide to create an iron carbonate. This carbonate is helpful to the ecosystem since it binds some atmospheric carbon dioxide. Secondly, it provides an alternative to pollution intense concrete walls. 

The other benefit is that these bricks are cheaper than traditional concrete stones since they are made from waste materials. However, the bricks are not yet available in the market on a large scale. If you are doing a small construction, Ferrock is something you may consider.

HempCrete bricks from hemp fiber

Hempcrete is a new type of building block developed from hemp fiber. This type of building material is rare and only just found its way into the market. However, it is quickly picking up pace due to its benefits. Hempcrete is estimated to have a lifespan of at least 300 years, way longer than traditional concrete. Most modern homes have a lifespan of 50 to 1000 years. This is an indication that hemp-based building blocks are actually better compared to traditional options.

Hempcrete is made from hemp fiber, which is very strong. Hemp grows very fast and can be produced in mass quantities. These blocks are also used without the need for concrete. They use special glue, which is more eco-friendly than cement.

Most importantly, the blocks offer good insulation, which reduces heating and cooling costs. Concrete is known for being a very poor insulator and hence high heating and cooling expenses.

Plant-based polyurethane rigid foam(PRF) for insulation

Rigid foam, a popular insulation option, is made from plastic and other CO2-intensive emission processes. Besides emission, the main components of the foam are chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), which have diverse side effects. The option of Plant-based Polyurethane foam eliminates the negative effects of traditional foam. Rigid foam has been in use since the 1970s and has been quite instrumental in providing home insulation. However, it is time to advance to a more friendly option of foam.

Plant-based polyurethane rigid foam is made from a combination of hemp, kelp and bamboo. This foam is environmentally friendly since it is made from readily available plants. Bamboo is the fastest-growing plant on earth and can be grown almost anywhere. Hemp can also be produced in large quantities. 

The main environmental benefit of plant-based foam is that it protects the house from mold and pests. Secondly, it has a high thermal value than traditional foam. This simply means it is more efficient as an insulator.

Smart glass windows for controlled lighting

Smart glass windows and doors are now becoming very popular. Most people who opt for these windows do not even know how sustainable they can be. Smart glass is made with PDLC liquid crystal film, which can transform your regular glasses into a tinted one or something similar. The smart windows use electricity, but it is worth the effort.

When these windows are used, they block direct UV and IR rays from reaching the house on hot days. This, in effect, controls the heat in your house and reduces heating costs. On cold days, they automatically allow UV rays to warm the house.

Besides temperature control, these glasses are good for personal privacy control. This technology is quickly developing and is an option you may consider for your sustainable construction.

Solar panel roofing

Solar panels are one of the sustainable construction materials that have been around for a long time. However, solar panels are no longer limited to just generating electricity. Today, there are diverse roofing options equipped with solar cells. A good example is solar panel roofing shingles. These are shingles just like the traditional ones except that they are equipped with solar cells. They generate electricity and power your home helping reduce power costs. 

Cross laminated timber (CLT)

CLT is a miracle construction material that is taking way longer than necessary to be embraced. Although some companies are already using it, it has failed short of expectations. CLT is a wood product developed in Europe in the early 1990s. It is made up of structurally graded lumber bound with glue. While the material may look like regular wood on the surface, it is structurally way stronger and more durable.

CLT boasts of strength to weight ratio equal to concrete. What this means is that the weight that concrete wall can sustain is equally sustainable by CLT. However, CLT is five times lighter in weight. Effectively, CLT can provide a faster and cheaper way of construction compared to concrete.

The upside of CLT is that it replaces concrete, a major contributor to carbon pollution. Secondly, it is a good insulator which reduces heating costs. On the downside, it relies on lumber, which could cause problems for our forests if fully embraced. 

These materials give us an idea of what it takes to attain sustainable construction. When we talk about sustainability in construction, it is necessary to have an open-minded approach. All of the above materials touch on various aspects of sustainability. Even so, when you choose a material, make considerations and weigh its pros versus cons. Avoid materials that are likely to cause more harm than good. 

Images via Pexels

So, after a steep learning curve, here is what I have learned about the best cut flower varieties for a sustainable home garden.

Related: Best garden flowers to plant for good luck

Spring and fall planted cut flower varieties

The first thing to consider when planting a sustainable cut flower garden is when you need to plant and where you will put the plants. Check out your garden at different times of day to check the light. Full sun will help you grow field plants like daisies, sunflowers and yarrow. Peonies and dahlias also love full sun most of the time.

For shade, try hellebore, hosta and maybe hydrangeas and irises to start. In a hot climate, you can grow greens and herbs in the shade, even picking flowering varieties that go in bouquets such as flowering basil, mountain mint (watch out: it’s invasive and hardy!) and succulents or globe artichoke.

If you have a combination of sun and shade, you might do well with roses, tulips, daffodils or climbing vines.

Also, consider the water needs of your plants and soil you have available. If you want to throw cosmos seeds in the ground, all you need is a water source and well drained soil and you’re off to the races. For pickier varieties of flowers like lisianthus, however, you have to calculate the perfect humidity, temperature and light while germinating indoors and then make sure you have the right climate to put them outside.

Research each variety of flower and plant them near each other grouped by sun and water needs. Most bulbs plant in the fall and seeds plant in the spring, but there are exceptions to this rule. For instance, you can plant bare peony roots in spring or fall, you just get different results such as delayed growth in some cases.

Best cut flower varieties for a sustainable garden

What makes flowers sustainable is how they are bred, produced and cared for once they are in your garden. You would start by finding sustainable suppliers (listed below), but then you have to plan how you are going to take care of your flowers.

One version of a sustainable garden is one that uses organic compost and makes the most of a small space. For this kind of garden often found on city lots, choose cut flower varieties that like rich soil such as organic roses and peonies, and then succession plant your flowers in several batches through the spring to stretch your bloom season all summer long. Flower varieties that do well succession planting in most climates include: cosmos, yarrow, fritillaria, tulips, dahlias, celosia, snapdragons and sunflowers.

You could even plant several varieties of sunflower or dahlias to change up what you see each part of your growing season. Or, to save even more space, plant your tulip bulbs above your other deeper bulb plants for blooms that pop up in the same space in different parts of the summer. Many short-blooming peony gardens or dahlia gardens overplant tulips and other small early spring bulbs to get two bloom seasons out of the same plot.

The low-water sustainable flower garden uses cacti, succulents and low-water flower varieties like field flowers (thistle, daisies, zinnias, cosmos) found in the Plains states to create beautiful flower gardens without a lot of water. If you choose this kind of garden, make sure you know when your cut flower varieties need water, as some need to be watered in pretty well and then can be left to their own devices over the summer.

Perennials would be a good choice here, too, as they need less work to get them re-established year after year, which can be a challenge in dry and hot environments. Also consider using mulch or rock gardening techniques to hold the soil moisture in place. No-till might work well for a dry flower garden for the same reason, keeping the soil layers in tact.

Large gardens have the most flexibility on which types of flowers you plant. You can probably find a variety of species of cut flower that love your micro climate. Just be careful not to get ahead of yourself. If you have a large space, start with certain types of flowers and experiment a few plants of each type per year until you figure out what works.

We planted rare roses in our cut flower garden thinking they would do as well as the heirloom roses around the house, but our extreme cold winters kept killing them off. It’s back to house garden roses for us. The weeds will also get away from you if you scale up too fast, so be sure you have a plan on how to manage weeds before you start. It may take a few tries before you find which method of weed control works for you.

For large gardens, start with a variety of plants for each growing season and group them by recommended companion planting varieties, or by sun and water needs. We started with a large fenced garden where one corner was greens and herbs, the other corner was dahlias and field flowers, a third area grew comfrey for composting, as well as some berry bushes and fruit trees, and the fourth corner was an experimental area for cover crops and extra flowers like peonies. After a couple years of rotating crops and trying different cut flower varieties, we decided the following:

• – The whole family loves dahlias and peonies for their easy care and big blooms.

• – Nobody likes invasive field flowers as they grow out of control so we cut back on yarrow and mountain mint (it’s still there, but we’re not planting it)!

• – Weed pressure is real, so we re-tilled half our garden with a tractor and stopped trying no-till when we realized weeds will grow on top of mulch and get taller than the flowers.

• – We gave up on certain varieties of flower that take finicky starting conditions like lisianthus. If this happens to you, you can still buy lisianthus plugs locally and not start them yourself, just like we do for tomatoes and peppers.

• – We found that roses and peonies really do prefer drip tape irrigation, but most other plants loved the overhead wobbler sprinklers. We will continue with a combo of watering options.

• – The pre-sprouting of dahlias was time-consuming, so this year we put dahlia tubers directly in the ground along with new peony plants and some direct-sow seeds for cut flowers. The pickier varieties didn’t do well, everything bloomed late, but it was much simpler. Try a few varieties of flowers and see if you have a preference for annuals or perennials, spring flowers or summer direct-sow seed flowers. Everyone has a favorite.

Organic bulb and seed retailers

For home gardening, you’re looking for online or local bulb and seed retailers that offer organic varieties of flowers or sustainably-sourced heirloom varieties. Some retailers have unique varieties of plants on offer, and others have better prices. You will want to shop around for a sense of fair pricing because this can vary widely by variety of flower.

For example, you can purchase heirloom peony varieties that run $70 per root instead of the average of about $15 per root for more common modern varieties. Many cut flowers have to be bred in a specific way such as grafting a rose onto a root stock, and that takes a lot of time and expertise. Expect to pay more for trademarked new bred varieties of flowers or the older heirloom varieties with the prettiest blooms.

Our favorite bulb and seed retailers are as follows. Keep in mind, even when some of these companies aren’t organic, they have a reputation for quality. This plays into sustainability because you need suppliers that are handling plants properly to avoid disease and poor quality to grow a thriving garden, as well as one that produces high germination rates:

• – Territorial Seed offers open pollinated and organic seed production on popular varieties of vegetables, herbs and cut flowers. Check out their beautiful Pheasant’s Eye Narcissus bulbs.

• – Johnny’s Seed also offers veggie and flower seeds and bulbs. This is a popular company for home gardeners and micro farmers with quality seeds and good germination rates. We love their lisianthus.

• – Park Seed offers organic flower seeds. They sell a lot of popular home garden varieties of pretty flowers, such as the small Thumbelina zinnias.

• – Eden Brothers rounds out the top four of our supplier list. That’s because this company has an unparalleled selection of popular cut flower varieties of beautiful blooms to choose from, including bulbs.

• – Grace Rose Farm sells rose bushes off their legendary farm so you can get a few of their unique rose varieties in your home garden.

• – Peony’s Envy also sells peony roots spring and fall in a wide variety of unique styles. They even teach you the difference between tree peonies and other popular varieties and how to care for them.

Images via Pexels

Wet savannah, shrublands and dense forest all come together in this part of the campus. Rice University is unique. It is one of the most biodiverse campuses in the nation and has more bird species than any North American campus.

Related: New timber observatory is an immersive forest experience

The pavilion is set in the midst of it all, surrounded by the landscape. It is open and simple, connected to nature and made from natural objects. There is no glass and no divisions. The natural world flows around and through here, making you a part of it. It’s the perfect place to study or just to hang out with friends.

Mass Timber Pavilion is made with cross-laminated timber taken from local forests and is a negative carbon use structure. That means it has reduced more CO2 emissions than it has created. The CLT is not painted or covered. It is left in a pure form, like the nature all around it. This was done intentionally, so you can really see the wood and really envision all the possibilities.

Moreover, CLT is engineered wood panel that is lightweight but durable. It holds up well against seismic activity and fire. It’s quick and easy to construct with and generates little waste with a low environmental impact. It can be used for walls, floors and roofs. It’s starting to become a favorite material for sustainable building. It’s easy to figure out why this is such a popular material in sustainable building, and why the students who designed this amazing structure chose it in the first place.

Graduate students Pouya Khadem and Lene Sollie worked with structural engineer Tracy Huynh to lead the design team. This project was designed by Professor Jesus Vassallo’s mass timber seminar at Rice.

+ Jesús Vassallo

Photography by Brandon Martin and Cesar Bejar

“Since we are very young, we are educated that the Earth is a woman,” Lucas said, looking from one to another, meeting our eyes with his open, direct gaze. “A friend. A sister. A lover. How do you steal the heart of a girl? Flowers and chocolate.” We all laughed, breaking the intensity of the ritual, as he added chocolate and flowers to the offering. Our coca leaves also joined the goodies for Pachamama. Lucas would go to a nearby mountain at the edge of Cusco, Peru later that night and burn the bundle.

Related: Archaeologists just discovered dozens of new Nasca lines in Peru

The shamanic ritual came at the end of a week of exploring Machu Picchu and Peru’s Sacred Valley. Our group of eleven Americans plus two local guides had been through a lot together — altitude sickness, challenging hikes, unusual cultural experiences, digestive issues, pan pipe cover tunes and massive amounts of shopping — and we’d done it all sober.  This was the first trip to Peru for the relatively new company Choose Life Sober Adventures, and everybody agreed it was a big success.

We all laughed, relieving the intensity of the ritual, as he added chocolate and flowers to the offering. Our coca leaves also join the goodies for Pachamama. Lucas will go to a nearby mountain at the edge of Cusco, Peru later that night and burn the bundle.

Rambling around archeological sites

The Sacred Valley is full of archeological sites, with Machu Picchu being the crown jewel. But we spent a lot of time wandering around various old structures around the area that were once used as temples, houses and other buildings. Our guides, Jose Soldevila and Wilfredo Huillca, helped us understand what we were looking at. They pointed out holes in the hillside at Pisac, which used to shelter mummies until grave robbers raided them. They explained irrigation and drainage systems, both in archeological sites and those still in use today, even in bigger cities like Cusco.

At the town of Chinchero — which at over 12,000 feet elevation is even higher than Cusco — we tiptoed through the church Spaniards built around 1607 on top of an Inca palace. The ornately painted ceilings were awesome, even though I felt bad about the Spanish ousting the Incas. Chinchero is a weaving center, and women in traditional clothes were selling piles of colorful textiles on the lawn in front of the church. Standing outside, looking down at even older terraced agricultural fields while women wove table runners, it felt like I was in several time periods at once. Then our group rambled six miles downhill. We passed between steep mountains of the Sacred Valley, balanced on ancient aqueducts where the path had crumbled, and watched people farm potatoes with hand tools before emerging from the trail into the tiny village of Urquillos.

Seeing Peru sober

Part of traveling sober is being more present — both in our minds and especially with other people. In addition to sharing meals, hikes and yoga classes, we talked openly in our nightly recovery meetings about our challenges and anxieties. This gave us a level of care and cohesion I haven’t seen on many previous group tours. If somebody didn’t show up for a meal, we were all texting or knocking on their hotel doors to make sure they were okay. It was the kind of group where if you’re not going to show up for something, you’d better preemptively warn everybody if you want any peace. It was a nice feeling. When altitude sickness laid me low, several people visited me in my hotel room, bringing me Sprite and pills for elevation sickness, and just showing they cared.

Marshall, who chose to be identified by his first name only, lives in Los Angeles and has been sober for nine months. It was his first time traveling sober.

“This early on you never know if you’re fully ready,” he said. “But being with a group of sober and like-minded people, I felt more secure in my decision to come. The temptation was way less and not feeling so isolated being the only sober person in the group made me feel more welcome and able to be myself.” Plus we stayed so busy he said he didn’t have time to think about drinking or using drugs. “It kind of baffles me that there aren’t more sober travel groups because this is a brilliant way to strengthen your recovery while seeing the world.”

Machu Picchu

From shamanic encounters to paddle boarding on beautiful Lake Piuray to sharing a meal with people in a remote mountain village, we had various Peruvian experiences. But the centerpiece of the trip was visiting Machu Picchu, one of the world’s most famous places. We left early from a night camping at Lake Piuray to reach the train station in the town of Ollantaytambo. It was a beautiful ride in a glass-domed car. We watched the vegetation become lusher as we descended into the cloud forest.

About half of our group chose to ride the train to Aguas Calientes for a relaxing afternoon of shopping, resting and wandering. The other half got off the train at kilometer 104, a popular place for a day hike through the Sun Gate and into Machu Picchu.

The hike was tough, as we climbed 1800 feet in three hours. Some of this was a dirt trail, but much was on old, uneven Incan steps. The climb involved lots of sweating, huffing and puffing. But the payoff was amazing views around every corner. The steep, tall Peruvian mountains are so beautiful, and the cloud forest is full of orchids and ferns. We had lunch by an incredible waterfall. On the way, we passed through the archeological site of Winaywayna. This terraced site is like a mini Machu Picchu, but with nobody around except our group of eight people and a lone guard stationed there to protect it.

After the first three hours of uphill, the next four involved a lot of up and down. The last 52 stairs to the Sun Gate were so steep we had to crawl. But once we reached the top, we got our first glimpse of Machu Picchu just another mile in the distance.

We arrived at the famous Inca complex at about four PM and were greeted by some rowdy llamas. Most of the tourists had gone home by then. We admired the temples, terraces and surrounding mountains, thrilled to see it, thrilled to have finished our hike, and very excited about the hot showers awaiting us in our Aguas Calientes hotel.

The next morning, we took the bus back to Machu Picchu for an organized tour where we learned about temples, irrigation, sacrifices and other important aspects of Inca life. That was great, too, but it didn’t compare to seeing Machu Picchu from the Sun Gate after a long hike.

If you go

Our group all flew into Cusco, where we met up and started our tour. If you can, arrive a day or two early to adjust to the elevation. At 11,152 feet, it was very high for a sea-level-dweller like me. Some of the members of our group started taking Diamox, a medicine used for altitude sickness, a day or two before. I stayed at Hotel Abittare, which would bring an oxygen tank to your room for free — an amenity I’d never used before.

Cusco is a very vegan-friendly town, with several vegan restaurants. I ate at Vegan Temple by Prasada twice. I enjoyed sitting on cushions on the floor, listening to Indian music, eating curry and dahl and drinking fresh juices. But the real reason I returned is how much the staff loves animals. They’d rescued a feisty kitten from the streets, and it was roaming the premises until they found it a more suitable home. I also met a couple of dogs who wandered in and out, looking for scraps. When I asked if one black dog got along with the kitten, a worker said, “Of course. Negro is an enlightened being of light.”

Cusco also has Peru’s first cat cafe, Catfetin. You can get coffee and attempt to interest a cat in playing with you. Try to go early. I went late in the day and the kitties were peopled out.

While in Peru, several times I broke my vow not to buy single-use plastic water bottles. But the tap water isn’t safe to drink, and I could not always find a place to refill my metal bottle. One of our group members had been smart enough to bring a LifeStraw water filtering bottle, which I spent the whole trip coveting.

Photography by Teresa Bergen

The project’s name reflects the German colonial influences of the city of Blumenau. In fact, the name derives from the street on which it is based, which was formerly known as Kaiserstraße, or “The Emperor’s Street.” The building’s design appreciates the city’s rich history while reflecting its path to innovation and modernity.

Related: Castelar 75 building is green inside and out

On the ground level, the building is entirely open. This allows for public access where pedestrians can interact. Visitors get to experience the building and get a feel for what the building is like to live in without entering the private spaces. They experience materiality of different textures, particularly the contrast of exposed concrete and natural vegetation. This gives the project a modern feel, whilst invoking a connection to nature. Moreover, the building features a stepped design with terraces that overlook the city. Through the building’s form, the designers ensured that each level would receive copious amounts of sunshine and natural airflow.

Each apartment features balconies with a private pool and lush gardens. This vegetation enhances biodiversity in the neighborhood and the area overall. Additionally, these terrace gardens create a microclimate on every level that mitigates the urban heat island effect. This effect occurs when infrastructure, such as buildings or roads, replaces greenery and land cover in urban areas. The infrastructure tends to absorb and re-emit a lot of heat, which results in pockets of heat called “heat islands.”

Besides its residential spaces, the building includes amenities for interaction and recreation. These include a gym, a toy library and a large private garden for residents, which features a playground and outdoor culinary space.

Because of its beautiful, environmentally-friendly design, Kaiserstraße has become internationally recognized and has become the first building in the city of Blumenau to win an Architizer Award. The project received the award in the residential category for apartment buildings with less than 10 floors.

Kaiserstraße’s construction is underway and will finish in 2024. The building will enhance the area by contributing an innovative, sustainable space to the urban fabric.

+ Alencar Arquitetura

Images via Alencar Arquitetura

A rural area of Ontario, Canada is slated to become the home of a brand-new development that is built around a working farm. Rather than being the property of one owner or one family of owners, this is a community where many people will come together to plant and harvest food and other organic crops. They will work to build a community based on regenerative agriculture and sustainability.

Related: Regenerative architecture in Japan is 100% off-grid

Originally, the land was going to be a golf course. Now, it will become Thornbury Acres, a farm-to-table community where everyone is connected to each other and to nature in a mutual relationship promoting health and well-being. Residents here will own their own homes, but will also share the responsibility for the maintenance and production of crops and other needs of the community.

There are 37 available homes and each one will come with its own 800 square-feet plot, so each homeowner can grow their own crops in their own soil, as well as have a hand in the community farming efforts. Around 60% of the land will be used for agriculture and recreation. That includes more than four and a half miles of walking trails.

The design includes spaces for the barn, a pond, a seedling facility, a windmill, pollinator gardens, herbal gardens and an apiary for bee hives. There will also be spaces for orchards, you pick berry farming and crop rotation fields. There will also be market plots, an existing aspen forest that is being left intact and a large barn.

It is a complete community that will have its own sewer system and it’s an intriguing idea that’s hard to ignore. Once, people managed to build civilizations by starting with settlements like this one. Who knows how this new agri-community will help shape the future?

+ Thornbury Acres

Images via Thornbury Acres

How rapidly is 3D printing growing?

Typically, we think of 3D printing as a very recent advancement in manufacturing. However, it actually has its roots in the 1970s. In the early 1970s, a man named Johannes F. Gottwald filed the first patent for the liquid metal recorder. This process involved producing objects from liquified metal, which solidified layer by layer, just like modern 3D printers.

Related: 3D-printed recycled waste can be turned into insulated walls

Gottwald’s concept was built on by Dr. Hideo Kodama in the 1980s, who suggested using polymers instead of metal, which could be cured using ultraviolet (UV) light. In 1986, Charles Hull and his company, 3D Systems Corporation, released the world’s first commercially-available 3D printer. Since then there have been significant advancements in 3D printing. These are typically to refine the additive manufacturing process to improve speed, efficiency, scale, costs and sustainability.

Based on a study carried out in early 2023 by Hubs, an online manufacturing platform, 3D printing is only set to grow in the coming years. In fact, the study showed that out of 1,035 participants, 71% of respondents indicated that they had increased the use of additive manufacturing in their companies in 2022, compared to 2021. Based on data from this study, the 3D-printing market is projected to grow by 17% to a whopping $19.9 billion in 2023.

Using additive manufacturing to enhance industries

Five industries are being transformed by innovations in 3D printing. Each of these are adopting the tool increasingly and it is likely to be a key component of these industries in the coming years.

Healthcare

Healthcare is an industry where 3D printing is beginning to play a key role. This is already being researched through bioprinting. 3D-bioprinting uses additive manufacturing as a tool to “print” living cells. This is done using bio-inks, which are made of natural or synthetic biomaterials and living cells. These inks are “printed” in layers, just like other 3D-printing systems, to emulate the structures of natural cell tissues.

3D bioprinting can be used across the healthcare field such as in bioengineering and even pharmaceutical development. For example, 3D-printed skin and bone grafts, implants and even organs are being researched for efficacy. Within the realm of pharmaceutical research, 3D-printed tissues can be used to accelerate drug testing. Though these fields are still undergoing much research and development, it is likely that in the next decade, 3D bioprinting will be more prevalent in the healthcare industry.

Food

While 3D-printed food has been around for a while, it has only been used on relatively small scales. Nowadays, with the lowered costs of 3D printers, the technology is being used to create customized foods. This includes producing foods with different textures and flavors, but also controlling nutrient profiles to benefit medical patients and the elderly.

3D-printed meats are also gaining speed. Since the animal agriculture and fishing industries are highly resource-intensive, 3D-printed meats/meat substitutes could be a potential substitute. Through these 3D-printed products, there would be less animal husbandry, which would consequently put less strain on the environment.

Fashion

3D-printed garments and shoes allow for greater design freedom and customization, as well as less material waste. Footwear is one area that 3D-printing has had a growing role in. For example, in 2021 Adidas revealed their 4DFWD running shoes. These feature 3D-printed midsoles to boost runners’ speed and agility.

Besides footwear, designers such as Julia Koerner and Bastian Müller are now exploring the realm of 3D-printed textiles. These have been developed in recent years and are now being featured at large-scale couture events. For example, the 2019 Met Gala featured a 3D-printed dress by Zac Posen in collaboration with Protolabs and GE Additive.

Motorsports

Since 3D printing allows for enhanced customization and design opportunities, teams from NASCAR, Formula 1 and MotoGP are adopting this tool. They are using additive manufacturing to produce prototypes, tools and even components for their cars. In doing so, they can create components that are lightweight and aerodynamic, thus boosting speed and performance in races.

Aerospace

The aerospace industry has been using 3D printing for a long time, across different realms. This includes manufacturing spare parts and even satellites for space exploration. Research and development is also exploring the possibilities of “printing” lunar and/or Martian habitats.

Currently, 3D printing is being used to speed up rocket production. One such example is the space launch startup Relativity. They have produced their first 3D-printed rocket called Terran 1, which is set to launch in late 2023.

What does the increase in 3D printing mean for sustainability?

As mentioned earlier, modern advancements in the realm of 3D printing are to enhance efficiency and scale, as well as to lower costs and boost sustainability. But how can 3D printing be good for the environment? There are several reasons.

Firstly, 3D printing allows for optimization. This means that items can be designed and manufactured to suit the specific needs of the final product. For example, in the aerospace industry, components are 3D-printed so that they are lightweight, which consequently results in less fuel consumption. By reducing an aircraft’s weight by just 20% leads to 10% improved fuel efficiency. Overall, this has immense benefits for the environment, especially since jet fuels come from fossil fuels that emit harmful greenhouse gases.

Another key reason why 3D printing can be sustainable is because of the nature of additive manufacturing. These processes are typically very efficient and tend to produce less waste than subtractive manufacturing technologies, such as CNC routing.

Additionally, depending on the material(s) used, products can be broken down at the end of their lifetimes. This material can be salvaged and re-manufactured into 3D-printer filaments, which contributes to a circular economy and prevents 3D-printed materials from ending up in landfills.

3D printing also allows for local production to take place on smaller scales. This prevents the reliance on larger production entities, which often require complex logistics and transportation. Through 3D printing, people can create what they need (especially at low volumes) in shorter time frames and without incurring extra costs.

Overall, through advancements in the realm of additive manufacturing, we can push the boundaries of design and production without putting excess strain on the environment.

via Hubs, UPM Biomedicals,

Images via Hubs

The most famous green roof of all time was the Hanging Gardens of Babylon. The gardens were documented as one of the seven wonders of the world at the time. Although similar to what a green roof looks like today, the engineering was quite different. The gardens were built over arched stones overlaid with waterproof reeds with thick tar.

Related: Green roofs cover this sustainable school in Prague

As modernity kicked in, most people switched to iron sheets, shingles and roofing tiles, among other options. With these options available, a few considered the idea of green roofing. As industrialization kicked in, more roofing options made the Hanging Gardens of Babylon seem like an ancient idea. 

Years of environmental degradation, thanks to the agricultural and industrial revolution, followed. Eventually, the effects of environmental degradation started showing up. The world soon realized that preserving green spaces was key to human survival. As a result, most people started paying attention to nature, leading to the revival of green roofs.

Modern green roofing technology took shape around the 1960s. It all started when Germany invented technology against roof ingress. The new technology was heavily marketed, and most people in Germany started adopting green roofs. Since then, many technologies have come up that have advanced green roofs. Today, green roofs are growing in popularity across the world, and America is leading the race. Research shows that the global green roofs market will grow by 17.7% in 2023 from $1.53 billion in 2022 to 1.80 billion. The market is expected to hit $3.31 billion by 2027. 

In simple terms, a green roof is any roof that features green living matter. Such roofs are designed in such a way that they can hold water and grow vegetation throughout the year. The U.S. General Service Administration (GSA) estimates that green roofs reduce storm runoff speed from roofs by 65%. 

In most cases, the vegetation grown on green roofs does not require plenty of water and hence often doesn’t have irrigation. However, installing a green roof is not a straightforward affair.

Before installing a green roof, you must consider the drainage system, the cost implications of creating several layers on your roof, and the maintenance aspects. 

Green roofs explained

There is more to green roofing than meets the eye. What most people crave is the green outer vegetation, but what they do not know is the details beneath. Classically, there are two types of green roofs: intensive and extensive.

The extensive roof design has a thin depth of soil with few layers, while the intensive one has multiple deep layers of soil with widely varied plant life. The main difference between intensive and extensive is the nature of the soil profile and the types of plants available. Intensive green roofs have a varied plant life, while extensive ones have few plant options.

Extensive roofs are also easy to set up and maintain compared to intensive ones. It is up to the homeowner to choose which option works.

In the design of a green roof, there are key factors that count. In the example of an extensive roof, the green section is placed like a rug over an area where people do not walk often. However, installation involves several steps. 

The first part to be installed over the roof is a special membrane used to protect the roof from water damage and root penetration. The protective membrane could be hot-applied rubberized asphalt or a synthetic layer of rubber. Root-repellent materials are also used in this stage of green roof installation to prevent plant roots from damaging the roof.

Once the protective membrane is installed, a drainage layer is put in place. The drainage is made up of pebbles or a special geocomposite drainage mat. Most people prefer having a filter cloth just above the drainage. On top of the filter, the layer of growing matter is well spread. This layer is made up of a growing medium of choice. 

Several types of plants do well on green roofs, including sedum, chives and delosperma, among others. These plants have shallow roots and are ideal for anyone trying to put up a green roof. Further, they are not thirsty for water, a key factor to consider when choosing green roof plants. 

Benefits of green roofs

Green roofs offer design, environmental and ecological benefits. On the design aspect, a green roof is one of the main ways to integrate nature into your home. It brings the beauty of the wild right into your home. They offer spectacular views from above and below where applicable. The roof is worth every penny when it comes to the aesthetic value it adds to a home.

Environmentally, a green roof is one of the best ways to create a microclimate in your home. They provide a cool, serene microclimate for your home. Even if you live in a hot area, a green roof will bring a cooling effect to your surroundings. Green roofs reduce the heat flux from your roof by up to 72% on hot days. You do not have to undergo expensive cooling costs if you install a green roof.

The other vital factor is the role that the roof plays in providing habitat for wildlife. Wild insects and birds may find your roof to be a good habitation just because you have installed a green roof. At the end of the day, it is a win-win for you and the ecosystem.

Disadvantages of green roofs

Green roofs are expensive, and this is one factor that most people don’t fully consider. You must first consider how much you are willing to spend before going for a green roof. According to Rand Engineers, it costs approximately $25 to $30 to install one square foot of a green roof. Note that this is exclusive of the cost needed to repair or install the normal roof underneath. If you are installing a normal roof that costs $30 per square foot, that means installing a green roof doubles your roofing cost.

Some extra weight piles up on the house when a green roof is used. If you intend to use a green roof, you must make sure you have a stable foundation and walls. As a result, you might have to spend a little more on your foundation and walls than you would without a green roof.

Green roof materials

The most important aspect of creating a green roof is picking the right material. Green roof materials can range from grass to bamboo and even solar panels. The most important aspect is to ensure that the material you choose has truly been verified to be green. Among the best green roof materials in the market include biodegradable canvas, Mexican Amazulu Grass, and Solar Panel roofs.

Is a green roof good for you?

A green roof is a win for the environment in many aspects. However, this does not mean it is good for you. Its environmental benefits are only applicable in situations where you intend to keep it for long. If you intend to replace yours in a few years, stick to a normal roof. Green roofs use so many materials underneath that they could be harmful to the environment. 

You should probably also consider your location and the cost of setting it up. Based on location, a green roof might be a bit problematic if you experience very cold weather. Green roofs bring a cooling effect. In cold regions, they may lead to extra heating costs. In hot or warm regions, green roofs are a perfect solution to bring in a cooling effect. In terms of cost, make sure you get the full picture of the cost requirements before you start installing the green roof. 

Image via Pexels

Plantasia

Plantasia Eatery is the newest, grandest vegan restaurant on the Flagstaff scene. Long-time restaurateur Cecily Maniaci opened Plantasia early in 2023. You can eat in the spacious patio, or enter through a foyer and pass beneath a gorgeous fake-flower archway into the dining room. There you’ll find an over-the-top green theme, from astroturf carpeting to bright, plant-themed upholstered booths and walls covered with fake ferns and other greenery. I visited just after Pride week, so rainbow flags studded the fern walls.

Related: Tucson Chef Wendy Garcia nominated for James Beard Award

Maniaci became interested in the vegan lifestyle when she went to a plant-based camping event in Sedona a few years ago.

“They drilled it in our heads, you are what you eat. You’re overweight and you’re going to die,” she said. A type II diabetic, she managed to get off insulin by changing her diet. “We are not a preventative society. We are a reaction society.”

The building Plantasia is in was a French restaurant for 35 years. Maniaci had a good time converting the space into her green theme. She told me that Flagstaff has a surprising traffic in astroturf. Every year the local baseball field sells its old turf and replaces it with new.

The food is sensational. I stuffed myself with a vegan cheese plate, grilled bread with balsamic, cauliflower wings and berry salad. Then there was dessert: chocolate cake and soft serve. The wings and the cake were my favorites. Specials change about every month and a half.

“We make 90% from scratch,” Maniaci said. In addition to their vegan chef, Plantasia has an in-house baker.

Toasted Owl

Maniaci also owns the multi-location Toasted Owl. We visited on a Monday morning, and the patio and the indoor dining area were quite busy. While Toasted Owl isn’t vegan, it has lots of veg choices. The vibe was welcoming and hippieish. It reminded me of going out for breakfast when I was attending University of California, Santa Cruz. Flagstaff has two Toasted Owls, and Maniaci is opening one in Phoenix this summer.

The patios at both the Toasted Owl and Plantasia are dog-friendly — to a point. Maniaci had to cut it down to four dogs per table because, “We were bombarded. There would be eight dogs, nine dogs. It’s Flagstaff. They bring their clan.”

Everything at the Toasted Owl is for sale — from the tables and chairs to the thousands of owl knickknacks. Maniaci says she loves to shop and she loves to eat. And she obviously has a particular fondness for owls. She has a storage place where she keeps her treasures, and replenishes them as they sell.

Vegan breakfast choices include hot cakes with apple and cinnamon, a breakfast burrito and vegan alternatives to eggs, bacon and burgers.

Java Juice

Tucked into a strip mall, Java Juice’s menu ranges from healthier acai fruit bowls to vegan junk food like chik’n nuggets and nachos. The café offers smoothies and coffee drinks and has an impressive array of both soft-serve and hard-packed vegan ice cream. Still well-nourished from a Toasted Owl breakfast, my husband and I opted for an ice cream lunch. He got a chocolate and cherry shake, I got horchata ice cream topped with some chocolate soft serve. If I lived in Flagstaff, I’d be hitting Java Juice a lot.

Morning Glory Cafe

Morning Glory is a local, organic vegan café that has been around since 1985. It’s a very pleasant breakfast spot with lots to choose from. We split the breakfast tacos — made with red pepper cashew cheese — and the banana pecan blue corn cakes. I make pretty good pancakes, but these delicious hotcakes made me reevaluate my recipe. What I’m missing is obviously the blue corn. So much better than your average pancakes! There’s also an intriguing dish called atole, which is an organic blue corn porridge with goji berries, chia and hemp seeds and other nutritious goodies. If you’re feeling daring, try the spiced mushroom cocoa made with raw cacao and adaptogenic mushrooms. I chose the more conventional mocha.

Cornish Pasty Co.

Pasties originate from Cornwall, England, and can trace their doughy history back to the 1200s. These handheld meals were popular with miners, who could hold onto the crimped side, or “handle,” while eating.

As the Cornish Pasty Co. website explained, “The miners hand would often be covered in arsenic from the mine, so the miners would discard the handle when they were done. The crusts were never wasted though, as many miners believed that ghosts, or ‘knockers,’ inhabited the mines, and the leftover crusts would keep these ghosts content.”

Flagstaff’s premier pasty restaurant features a rocker meets haunted house vibe, with darkly painted walls and sparkling chandeliers. A surprising number of pasties come stuffed with vegan fillings, including cauliflower vindaloo, Portobello mushrooms in Guinness gravy or a vegan Hatch chili burger, made with Impossible beef.

Cold Stone Creamery

Okay, it lacks the choices of the aforementioned Java Juice. But if Java Juice is closed, you can get a vegan ice cream fix at Cold Stone Creamery. I got their vegan special, Silk chocolate almond milk frozen dessert mixed with peanut butter, almonds and banana.

Photography by Teresa Bergen.

The Hidden Garden House is in Menteng, Indonesia. It’s really a series of buildings that are connected by a single large roof, which is designed with multiple skylights. The roof is divided into different areas and empty spaces, creating a diagonal loop that gives this design a truly unique style. The roof provides a 360-degree view of Jakarta.

Related: Indonesia’s Studio N is the Bali retreat of your dreams

To welcome nature into the house, the ground floor is open and transparent. There are no dividing walls, just open spaces that connect the entire house and connect to the natural world outside. The swimming pool reflects more light into the interior. Moreover, multilevel stacking gardens add more natural beauty to the design. The design truly honors the tropical environment and serves as a green oasis, with views of the city all around.

However, this building is about more than beauty, even the beauty of nature. It also harnesses the power of nature. The high-efficiency HVAC system minimizes energy consumption. Solar panels on the roof provide energy and smart house features are integrated throughout. The design also includes a library, study, dry pantry, the kid’s bedrooms and bathrooms, extra bedrooms in the basement, a home theater and storage and laundry areas, along with the main bedroom suite.

With all the greenery around it and the wide-open views, this modern home looks a bit like it’s lost out in the jungle. But the panoramic views of the city all around provide this is really a jungle oasis, a pretty green spot. The innovative, beautiful design will hopefully inspire many more bright green spots in the future.

+ RAD+ar

Photography by William Sutanto

The secret to developing a carbon-free garden is to be intentional about it. Carbon emissions emanate from all areas of our lives. This is the reason why you must specifically target to create a carbon-free garden. Some factors that contribute to carbon pollution in a home garden include regular use of gas-powered mowers, use of plastic plant supports, burning of garden waste and use of artificial fertilizers among other aspects. Controlling these factors contributes to creating a carbon-free garden.

Related: 5 unique and sustainable fencing options for your garden

To attain a carbon-free garden, you must take a twin approach. First, aim to reduce your carbon output to net zero if possible. Secondly, aim at sequestering excess carbon from the atmosphere. 

Data shows that 55% of Americans participate in gardening. With such a huge number of people actively participating in gardening, adopting carbon-free gardening is necessary. If you desire to attain a garden that is carbon-free, here are some ideas you could consider. 

Use self-made compost for fertilizer

The U.N. Environmental Program recommends composting as a method of reducing carbon emissions globally. This is because the choice of fertilizer has an impact on the carbon footprint of a garden. There are many ways that composting helps reduce carbon. First, composting helps you dispose of your organic waste responsibly. Secondly, you get free manure that is also friendly to the ecosystem.

The target should be to use peat-free compost manure. When you use peat-based compost you are equally contributing to global carbon emissions. Peat is a type of soil that is collected from peatlands. This material is often sold to gardeners in the form of compost to enhance plant growth. Its disadvantage is that it is collected from peatlands without replacement. A peatland may take up to 10 years just grow one centimeter of peat and extracting them can impact the environment negatively.

It’s important to note that, peatlands are very good holding grounds for excess CO2. When excavated, this CO2 escapes back into the atmosphere leading to more pollution. 

If you intend to help the world reduce carbon emissions, avoid peat compost in your garden. Secondly, avoid artificial fertilizers since they are also produced through carbon-intensive processes. Instead, compost your leftover foods at home and vegetables. 

Grow native plants to reduce the use of pesticide

Pesticides used on flowers can be a major source of carbon pollution. While the pesticide itself may not directly cause carbon pollution, the production process for such items is often carbon-intensive. The EPA recommends growing native flowers for gardeners to reduce carbon pollution among other benefits. Native plants are hardy and do not require strict care. Besides their resilience to pests, they also do not require regular mowing. Native plants may thrive with or above weeds that affect most plants. 

Plant trees to boost carbon sequestering

Trees play an important role in absorbing carbon from the atmosphere. As a gardener, you could play the role of carbon absorption by planting trees. You have the task of finding appropriate trees for carbon sequestration that thrive in your locality. Ideally, you should plant trees that are native to your locality. However, if they are not good at carbon absorption, consider better alternatives. 

Some of the best trees for carbon capture include silver maple, London plane, American sweetgum and pines, among others. You do not have to turn your backyard into a forest to make an impact. Just spread trees throughout your garden to help remove excess carbon from the atmosphere. With that said, avoid growing trees close to your house. If a tree is too close to the house it could cause damage when roots penetrate or if branches fall.

Grow grass alternatives to avoid mowing

Mowing is a major contributor to carbon emissions. Unfortunately, most gardeners still rely on gas-powered mowers. If you are into gardening, try and find an alternative to mowing. You may grow plants that do not require regular mowing or opt for alternatives to gas-powered mowers. 

There are many plants that do not require regular mowing. Some examples of plants you can grow in your garden include clove, chamomile and wildflowers. Alternatively, you may grow grass but avoid using a gas-powered mower. Instead, use an electric mowers, which are more efficient and affordable and offer a better alternative to gas mowers. 

Grow your own plant supports

Growing your plant supports goes a long way in reducing your garden’s carbon footprint. Besides reducing carbon pollution, planting supports help get rid of unnecessary waste. Most people use artificial plant supports, which are sometimes made out of polluting materials such as plastic. Such can have multiple negative effects on the environment. Instead of going for artificial supports, grow short trees and shrubs that may act as support for climbing plants.

Final plantings

The concept of carbon-free gardening is quite new, but it is attainable. The beauty of it all is that you do not have to make significant changes to your routine. Minor adjustments, such as changing from artificial to compost, can have a major impact. Where possible, help your garden to absorb some carbon from the atmosphere to balance the equation. 

Images via Pexels

What is Sweetgreen all about?

In short, Sweetgreen represents a new era of fast food — one that focuses on healthy ingredients and local community. It’s fast food reimagined and it began August 1, 2007 when three recent college graduates launched the flagship location in Washington D.C. Tired of having to choose between slow and expensive food options or food that was fast but unhealthy, the trio made a commitment to offering quality and convenient food as a better option.  

Related: Try vegan and gluten-free pasta from Charlie’s Table

What are Sweetgreen’s goals?

Every step along the 16-year journey has been focused on one central tenet. The company explains in its mission statement, “Our core values guide our actions and we aim to empower our customers, team members and partners to be a positive force on the food system. That’s why we’re building a transparent supply network, why we cook from scratch and why we’re building a community of people who believe in the power of real food.”

Thereby, transparency is at the very foundation of the company. With dozens of locations and more scheduled openings happening soon, Sweetgreen’s messaging is consistent across the board, and it centers around building healthier communities by connecting people to real food.

What can customers expect from Sweetgreen? 

At the top of the list of items customers can expect is fresh ingredients that are locally sourced and organic whenever possible. Even with that goal in mind, the words “organic” and “local” were recently removed from the menu in an effort to honor full transparency in instances where ingredients may have traveled further or come from a farm not certified as organic. To provide localized information, Sweetgreen restaurants post a source board. Online, customers can see specials that highlight local fare, such as Lobster Roll Salad in Boston, Garlic Chili Shrimp Bowl in Houston and Citrus Shrimp and Avocado in Miami.

While the menu is highly based on a diet emphasizing plants, it also incorporates a variety of responsibly-sourced animal products. For example, it only uses cage-free eggs for recipes that include eggs or mayonnaise. It also abides by the Better Chicken Commitment (BCC), which works to ensure humane animal treatment. This partnership means chickens have adequate space to move freely outdoors, are provided litter for digging and foraging, live in an atmosphere with natural or artificial light for both day and night and the entire process is evaluated by auditors. 

What are Sweetgreen’s sustainability aspects?

While not every small farm can burden the costs of growing organic exclusively, Sweetgreen focuses on selecting foods that are regionally sourced and sustainably grown. In fact, sustainability is the very pulse of the company, starting with a very public goal to achieve carbon neutrality by 2027.

“We believe that climate change is the defining challenge of our generation, posing a real and systemic threat to the health of people and the planet,” said Sweetgreen. “As restaurant leaders in an industry that drives 25% of global greenhouse gas emissions, it is our responsibility to use our platform and resources to confront this crisis head on.”

Sweetgreen started this transition by measuring its total carbon footprint across its operations. With this baseline, it plans to reach carbon neutrality by reducing emissions up and down the pipeline, which requires a focused look at where and how food is grown or raised. Sweetgreen partners with food providers who share its decarbonization mission.

The company supports the implementation and use of new technologies, such as those that convert manure into energy, thus minimizing the need for fertilizers. It also looks for agricultural operations that rely on regenerative farming practices and who place an emphasis on soil health. All of these actions add up to sustainable operations that benefit the environment and Sweetgreen customers. 

By collaborating with local farmers who prioritize water conservation, the use of renewable energy, erosion control, organic methods, etc., Sweetgreen calculates a 50% reduction in the footprint that comes from suppliers. From there, Sweetgreen takes the carbon reduction process in house with attention to developing menus that are highly plant based rather than rich in animal products. 

The company is currently focused on the green design, building materials and systems in its restaurants, evaluating viable solutions for energy efficiency, water conservation and even the carbon footprint of the furniture. 

Over the next few years, the team plans to continue to drive down the overall impact as much as possible. It will then offset any remaining carbon footprint to reach carbon neutrality. 

“At Sweetgreen, we have a saying: the choices we make about what we eat, where it comes from, and how it’s prepared have a direct and powerful impact on the health of individuals, communities and the environment. Today, with the future of the planet at stake, these words have never rang more true,” said the company.

+ Sweetgreen 

Images via Sweetgreen

Large industries such as automotive, aerospace and medicine may see a steep rise in the use of additive manufacturing in the coming years. Many companies have already been using 3D printing to make models and prototypes of products, whether that is buildings or cars. More recently, however, companies such as Cadillac have been using 3D printing as a way of streamlining end-use elements for cars. With both plastic and metal 3D printed parts, Celestiq, Cadillac’s sedan, is a lighter car that saves hundreds of thousands of dollars in manufacturing costs.

Related: New 3D printing technology uses soundwaves

Additive manufacturing

On the whole, additive manufacturing is more sustainable than other production methods. In industries like aerospace, producing more lightweight parts improves fuel efficiency because it requires less fuel to propel a lighter vehicle. Additive manufacturing also drastically cuts down repair time which saves money and improves efficiency in other ways. From start-ups to large companies, 3D printing is allowing innovation to occur by producing prototypes on-site, optimizing design and consolidating production for easy changes.

Additive manufacturing is changing the healthcare industry with the ability to make customizable prosthetics, implants, surgical instruments and even dentures. The ability to print these products at hospitals and doctor’s offices allows for easy point-of-care, making it easier for patients to get the care they need without going to another facility or waiting long periods of time between their diagnosis and care. AI is also aiding in the speed at which these products can be produced. However, 4D printing may even change the game further by creating implants that can change with a patient’s body over time or hydrogels that respond to stimuli to release a drug as needed.

From a financial standpoint, industries stand to gain a lot from 3D printing processes, but customers will gain independence too. With the ability to print spare parts right at home or in the office, consumers can save time and money that hiring someone to repair something or buying a new part would have otherwise cost. Additionally, they extend the life of the original product by easily replacing a piece of the whole rather than getting rid of the object altogether.

3D printing in fashion

3D printing is not just used in manufacturing industries where objects are being created. More and more people have begun using 3D printing in industries such as food and fashion. While footwear brands have toyed with 3D printing for years, there has not been a flourishing market for 3D-printed shoes. However, the possibilities with such footwear may be endless.

There are risks in the fashion and footwear industries when considering a long-term move to 3D printing. This change would mean an overhaul of design and production methods with an upfront cost of purchasing new machines and materials. It is a risk without guaranteed payoff, but the future benefits of recyclable shoes that can be customized to each consumer without producing new molds and be easily repaired are incredible. It is unique and it is a business risk, but it could be part of saving the planet from the thousands of shoes that end up in landfills every year.

3D printing food

Even more radical is 3D-printed food. Beginning with a paste-like consistency, purees are emitted from a syringe-like object and then the printer constructs shapes and designs fed to it from a computer. This process is not easily scalable, but restaurants, bakeries and food manufacturers are not shying away from trying out the technology. These make for experiences that are exclusive with gourmet food customizable to the diner, but the equipment is expensive and, so far, the results are limited by the ingredients available as a paste.

At Columbia University, however, researchers have begun using lasers to cook the food as it prints, opening up the world of baking and more elaborate dishes. In one experiment, they produced a slice of vegan cheesecake in 30 minutes. While the researchers believe the technology will continue to grow and gain interest, it is currently much too expensive for the average person to use on a regular basis.

What is the future for 3D printing?

Additive manufacturing and its ease of use have opened up a can of worms that may just be the next big thing in consumerism. For better or for worse, civilians in Myanmar are 3D printing guns to continue fighting in the civil war against the military-run government that has fighter jets and firearms on its side. Homes in Texas are being built with 3D-printed walls creating sustainable, efficient and customizable houses using robotic construction systems. Not all creations are so serious with toys, models and guitars being created for play and display.

From packaging and furniture to toys and homes, additive manufacturing has become a race against time and creativity as laymen and companies figure out what to do next. What we do know is that 3D manufacturing is a growing industry with a wide range of uses such as food for NASA space trips and prosthetics here on Earth. Additive manufacturing has the fascinating potential to be both sustainable and engaging.

Images via Pexels

The pavilion acts as a cultural hub for Mexico City, with spaces for museum-like displays, multi-purpose activities and community gatherings. The structure was built upon a low-CO2 concrete slab and relies on vertical steel beams combined with oxidized basalt walls for support. 

Related: Nearly all of the German Pavilion is recyclable

While the structural elements are anchored in green design, the surrounding gardens are where the project really shines. Carefully planned to provide environmental education and an understanding of the region’s ethnobotany, the gardens are grouped to highlight different contributions the plants offer. One area focuses on traditional edible plants while other areas put the spotlight on toxic, medical and religious varieties. Some species are also used in conjunction with the construction of the building, resulting in a green roof and a campus of trees. 

Pathways encourage visitors to meander through the gardens, taking in an understanding of the biocultural history of the chosen species. Basalt stone rings outline viewpoints, where visitors can digest the presentation of seven different ecosystems. These gardens follow the natural contours of the land while honoring cultural heritage related to circles and pyramids. 

Moreover, to maximize conservation, an irrigation system relies on gravity to transport water between the platforms. Rainwater harvesting hydrates plants on the rooftop garden and excess water at the end of the line is returned to the subsoil through a natural wetland filtering process. 

“CCA is a space providing conditions that allow visitors to enjoy its biodiversity, while raising awareness of the current climate change situation, and sharing knowledge of existing tools designed to stop and reverse it,” said A-001 Taller de Arquitectura.

+ A-001 Taller de Arquitectura

Images via A-001 Taller de Arquitectura, Isaac Uribe and Jorge Yáñez

Let’s take a closer look

The nonstick, aluminum set is $59 in slate blue or pink. It includes:

• – Two fry pans (8 inches and 9.5 inches)
• – Two saucepans with glass lids (1.5 quarts and 2.5 quarts)
• – Dutch oven with glass lid (5 quarts)
• – Two felt protector mats
• – Two cooking utensils (spoon and spatula)
• – Three ceramic prep bowls (6 ounces, 4 ounces and 2 ounces)
• – Tasty Recipe booklet

Related: Our Place pot and pan claim to be green multitaskers

What sets it apart from typical nonstick cookware is the “clean ceramic” that they are made out of. It is described to be made without PFAS, PFOA, PTFE and PFOS for a healthier (and tastier) cooking. With a longer lasting nonstick, the cookware is also dishwasher safe and claims to be suitable for all cooking surfaces — induction, electric, gas and glass.

Unboxing the Tasty cookware set

A representative reached out if I wanted to review the cookware and, because I do indeed need new equipment for my kitchen, I obliged. When I received the box, the first thing I noted was how incredibly light it was. I even wondered if everything, all 16 pieces of the set, was really in the box.

However, after opening it up, I was disappointed to find how much plastic was used. Each cookware is wrapped in a plastic sleeve along with paper separators as well. While the slate blue color looked really beautiful as an entire set, I hope in the future Tasty products will follow through in sustainability even in their packaging.

Into the test kitchen we go

As someone who lives with three other people, I had everyone use it daily for a duration of three weeks to really see what it can handle. To my surprise, not only is the cookware affordable, but it was ideal for everyone’s cooking necessities. It did what it needed to do — from crisping dumplings to cooking stews to grilling fish and much, much more. 

The stainless steel induction base meant it not only heat up quickly, but it cooked food evenly. Furthermore, as I noted when I picked up the box, they are all lightweight — which is perfect for someone who does not lift weights on the daily. The handles did not get hot while cooking and the lid handles are raised high enough that it won’t get too warm, but I suggest if you are leaving it on the stove for long-term to make sure to check surfaces before you burn yourself. 

Furthermore, the pots and pans could really take anything you cook on it, whether on high or low heat. In the duration that I tested them, the nonstick was still intact and I hope it lasts for a very long time. It made washing the dishes an easy task to tackle after making a complete mess of the kitchen. The booklet recommended occasionally conditioning the pots and pans with oil to maintain the nonstick.

Overall, I appreciate how the Tasty cookware achieves exactly what it set out to do — it is ideal for everyday stovetop cooking.

+ Tasty

Images via Tasty

Editor’s Note: This product review is not sponsored by Tasty. All opinions on the products and company are the author’s own.

Tendering to your turf is a fulfilling job, but the cycle of growing, watering and mowing is not healthy for the ecosystem. First, grass consumes way too much water, especially during the dry seasons. The EPA estimates that an average American family uses about 300 gallons of water per day. Of this water, 30% goes to watering gardens. 

Related: Should you switch your lawn for a better environment?

The second reason why grass is not good for your garden is the need for regular mowing. Mowing with gas-powered mowers contributes to carbon emissions. It is estimated that a single mower emits up to 87 pounds of CO2 into the atmosphere each year. Considering the number of people who participate in gardening, mowing alone could become a global disaster.

Keeping grass is an expensive affair, especially if you don’t have the time or resources to care for it. Thankfully, there are many other alternatives you may want to consider. If you stay in a region where grass constantly requires watering, consider plants with deeper roots. Such can draw water from deep within the ground reducing the watering cycles. At the same time, most of these plants do not require regular mowing. Below are some ideal alternatives to grass for a lawn.

Hens and chicks

Also referred to as common houseleek, “hens and chicks” is a type of flowering plant belonging to the family crassulaceae. This plant does well throughout the U.S., but is much better in the southern states. It is native to the mountains of southern Europe, but has adapted well to other regions of the world.

Hens and chicks is a wonderful replacement for traditional grass for many reasons — top of them being water efficiency. These flowers hardly require watering even during the dry seasons. They grow low, to a maximum of 24 inches. Further, they spread their leaves. Within two to three years, the plant will have grown to full maturity.

If you are looking for a grass alternative that is less susceptible to diseases, then hens and chicks is a good option. Additionally, the flower can grow in all types of soils, including sandy and stony regions.

Clover 

Clover is a plant in the family fabaceae of the genus trifolium. This plant sprouts out naturally in most regions. It is native to eastern Europe, but has spread to many other regions of the world. Clover grows very fast and blasts into beautiful white flowers. Since they have deeper roots than grass, they don’t require intense watering. They also do not require heavy mowing as grass.

With that said, you will still have to carry out maintenance work. Mowing is recommended once each month. However, this flower does not require the use of pesticides across the U.S.

Honeysuckle

More than 180 species of honeysuckle do exist. While there are so many species, all are very beautiful to the eye. One reason why you may want to replace grass with honeysuckle is its outstanding beauty. Further, this plant attracts plenty of bees and butterflies. If you would love to enjoy your time with some wild insects consider the honeysuckle. 

The honeysuckle grows to maturity within two to three years. This plant requires well-drained soil and can be quite particular with the nature of the soil. However, it has deep roots and does not require regular watering of grass. The plant grows vertically before it starts spreading out. You may have to wait a little longer before enjoying its beauty but it is worth the wait.

Ornamental grasses

Ornamental grasses are a wonderful replacement for regular grass. This is because they still give you a look and touch of grass without the maintenance needs. Most ornamental grasses do not require mowing and use way less water than regular lawns.

Ornamental grasses grow into distinct shapes that are attractive. They retain their shape even when it snows. Unfortunately, they are not ideal for areas where people walk regularly. Ornamental grasses are more like delicate flowers and may need to be mixed with other plants. 

There are many types of ornamental grasses to choose from. The most common include the Chinese silver grass, fountaingrasses and pampas grasses.

Moss

Moss is quite easy to grow compared to the other options listed above. Once the moss bed grows, you will never have to water or mow it. However, you should choose a location with shade. Moss will add color and beauty to your outdoors even better than traditional grass.

Moss might not be as hardy as traditional turf, but it does withstand some foot traffic. Further, moss does not require watering. You might have to water occasionally in dry seasons but not to the level of traditional grass. Besides being drought-resistant, moss also comes in diverse types and species. With such a colorful mix to choose from, it provides better decoration for your garden than grass.

Furthermore, moss is way easier to grow than traditional turf. It covers the surface in just one season and can be shaped at any time. The downside is that it does require mowing from time to time. Moreover, it thrives under shade and hence the need to either plant trees or provide artificial shade.

There are endless alternatives to grass for those who wish to be more sustainable with gardening. Most gardeners turn to turf for ground cover, which can be quite unsustainable in the long run. Grass requires too much watering and mowing. These alternatives try to regulate the amount of water used and reduce the need for regular mowing. Besides these factors, you should also consider aesthetics, maintenance costs and the long-term environmental impact of your garden. 

Images via Pexels

The GAF Cool Community project is working to help mitigate urban heat island effects by painting hot city surfaces such as pavement that absorbs heat and can cause burns on contact. GAF StreetBond pavement coatings feature an innovative technology called Invisible Shade — named by TIME magazine as one of its Best Inventions of 2022. It’s a product that can reduce temperatures of hot paved surfaces. And, of course, it comes in all shades and colors so you can coat a playground to make it less dangerously hot as easily as you could paint your city parking lots and streets to stave off the worst of a heat wave.

Related: New MIT passive cooling system works without electricity

Coating streets and roofs to minimize heat island effect

It’s possible to coat more than just the road surfaces. Rooftops also account for a large portion of heat island effect through radiation absorption. By painting city streets, roofs and other large surface areas with reflective coatings, it is possible to significantly cool the heat island effect and keep city dwellers much more comfortable in the summer sun.

“The U.S. has four million miles of roads and 61 billion square feet of roofing on commercial buildings (roughly equivalent to one million football fields), trapping heat at increasingly dangerous levels as global temperatures rise,” GAF reported.

And this isn’t just about comfort: heat world wide is getting dangerous as temperatures push into the triple digits beyond what the human body can cope with. From heat stroke to excessive heat deaths now numbering in the millions worldwide every year to social impacts like depression and suicide (a 1.8°F increase in average temperature correlates to a 1% increase in suicides), excessive heat is a threat to a peaceful society if it continues to rise. There have even been reports of increased crime (with an increase of 10% to 20% in aggravated assaults and assaults at high temperatures) and even hate speech spiking during heat waves (with a marked 22% increase in online hate speech originating from regions experiencing extreme heat).

Cool Community Project

Roofing company GAF is meeting this challenge with its Cool Community Project, a research project studying the impacts of cooling solutions to help turn America’s hardscapes back into liveable spaces during hot summer months. Roads, sidewalks, roofs… everything is fair game.

Preliminary results of the study indicate a reduction of 1.5 to 3.5 degrees Fahrenheit in air temperature and 10 degrees Fahrenheit at the surface level of hot streets. That could be the difference between burning your hands when you trip and fall on the sidewalk versus going about your business. GAF is continuing its study in the Los Angeles neighborhood of Pacoima, where GAF has painted over 700,000 square feet of city surfaces in solar reflective coatings.

What’s next? Cool roofing products! If we can combine solar and other renewable energy installations with city cooling solutions, we might be able to stave off the worst heat illness and societal consequences of climate change related heat effects to billions of people worldwide. Ask anyone living through the current widespread heatwave that has blanketed most of the U.S. in 2023: a 10-degree difference taking pavement from 113 degrees down to 103 makes a difference.

+ GAF

Images via GAF

Get to this amazing set of buildings through a pass that will take you through the mountains. You will see the farms surrounding the property and the buildings built right into the hillsides when you emerge on the other side. The restaurant expansion includes new catering areas, a fine dining area, a new fire kitchen, a farm store and a distillery.

Related: Sustainable ways to grow fruits, veggies, herbs and flowers

There’s a large new kitchen area with large prep and staff areas. There’s also a kitchen garden, which is tucked into a glass house for weather protection. The large glass house is a hybrid greenhouse and living space where people and plants live together in harmony. The living space has a sauna, fireplace and sleeping areas.

The glass makes it possible to see the beauty of the mountains all around, an incredible landscape that shows off the majesty of nature. There is sunlight everywhere in all the interior spaces, not to mention natural wood throughout. The wooden slat curtains can be used to control the flow of light and add privacy.

Moreover, food is produced on-site and renewable energy is used for the electricity and the heating and cooling systems. The glass house can accommodate 20 overnight guests. Existing structures, including the 17th-century stone house, have been renovated carefully.

The entire property is a tribute to nature, from the food people eat to the scenery that fills the eyes to the light, airy spaces and wellness features inside the house. This is what living in harmony with nature looks like, and it’s a design the world can copy.

+ PPAG architects

Images via Hertha Hurnaus

Tourism is one of the leading contributors to climate change. According to the U.N., tourism contributes up to 5% of all man-made emissions, with the rate expected to increase to 5.3% by 2030. Furthermore, tourism-related transport emissions account for about 22% of all transport emissions. 

Related: No car, no problem! 10 cities with great transit

Besides emission-based pollution, tourism also contributes heavily to plastic pollution. According to the U.N., at least eight out of 10 tourists litter single-use plastic, of which eight million tonnes end up in the ocean each year. This kind of pollution can be reduced by advocating for sustainable vacationing.

There are many ways in which vacationing can affect the environment. Sustainability can be attained if we take conscious steps to protect our natural resources. While vacationing allows us to enjoy the available natural resources, the sustainable steps we take preserve nature for future generations.

What does it take to be an ecotourist?

The term ecotourism is often used interchangeably with sustainable tourism. While they are related, they are not one and the same thing. A sustainable tourist is concerned about vacationing without having too much negative impact on the ecosystem. 

On the other hand, an ecotourist focuses on protecting nature, culture and social practices. Sustainability tends to take a more holistic approach to preserving nature, and social and cultural practices. Meanwhile, ecotourism mainly focuses on protecting nature.

If we look at it holistically, both ecotourism and sustainable tourism are important tenets to be embraced. Unfortunately, some practices that support both may be out of reach for individuals. There are some actions that can only be taken at policy development levels. However, there is a lot that can be done at a personal level. When it comes to ecotourism, your inspiration for others to take action is equally important. Unless you get your actions right, you may not be in a position to help others see the light. 

Tips to vacation in a sustainable manner

Vacationing in a sustainable manner starts from your planning. Vacationing can be hectic and inconveniences occur. If you are not careful, your vacation may turn out to be more harmful than you intended. The only way to avoid messing up everything is to plan well. When you are planning, take the following intentional steps to make your trip sustainable. 

Go for sustainable products

Write a packing list and go for sustainable products while you’re at it. When writing your packing list, you will notice that most of the items on it are basic essentials. If your home itself is already sustainable, you will not have a hard time shopping and packaging. If your home is not sustainable, you should make an effort not to carry the same effect on your vacation spot.

If you intend to shop for your vacation supplies, first get the shopping list right. It can sometimes be difficult to know what to pick and to avoid. Using a shopping list helps account for everything you will need. Do not put yourself under pressure when you step into the store. Simply read the labels and try avoiding products with a high carbon footprint, those that are not recyclable and those that affect natural resources.

Shopping list targets:

• – Avoid plastic packaged products where there are alternatives
• – Have zero tolerance for single-use plastics in your package
• – Go for eco and sustainably-produced products 
• – Avoid packing what can be provided by your host

Avoid high-emission means of transport

Your travel options can have a huge impact on your carbon footprint. Depending on your vacation destination, you have several options to choose from. For instance, if you are vacationing within your state or even a continent, taking an electric train would be more helpful than flying. The International Civil Aviation Association estimates that the aviation industry alone accounts for up to 2% of all greenhouse gas emissions. If you wish to reduce carbon emissions on your vacation, avoid airplanes where possible.

The same can be said about road transport. We all know that gas-powered motor vehicles are among the leading contributors to greenhouse gas emissions. Whenever you visit a new city, go for electric transportation options. If there are no electric options, opt for public transport. Taking a bus lowers your carbon footprint compared to getting a taxi.

The whole idea of sustainability is founded on your ability to take action despite how insignificant it may seem. Such simple actions go a long way in protecting the ecosystem and preserving natural resources.

Care for wildlife and nature

The best way to care for nature and wildlife is to follow the rules. As simple as it sounds, most tourists break the laws regularly. In the end, they affect nature and compromise its availability for future generations.

If a park says no to feeding wildlife, simply avoid feeding them. Most times, what we interpret as affection for wildlife puts them at risk. If parks allowed every person to feed animals, chances of the animals dying from food poisoning are high. Attain sustainability by keeping the laws and respecting those in charge. We also protect our lives from potential danger when we follow the set guidelines.

Respect local communities and learn from them

In our efforts to protect nature, we may fail to appreciate other people’s cultures. One key aspect of sustainability is the ability of nature to coexist with humanity. This has been possible in some communities for years. For instance, the Indigenous communities in the Amazon are a part of the forest’s life. Respecting their culture and appreciating their contribution will be the best approach to take. 

When you visit such local communities, take your time to learn from them. You may find them participating in some practices that may seem unfriendly to the ecosystem or wildlife. Instead of being critical, take your time to learn from their practices. Trying to listen and interact with communities opens more doors to bring in change than criticism does.

Share your experiences

Most people are not sustainability conscious. The reason for this is that they think it cannot be achieved. We have many ways to be sustainable and one is sharing your ideas. The sustainable option you choose may seem absurd to another person. However, sharing your experience may just help other people have different perspectives. For instance, spending a night at an off-grid cottage might seem boring to someone else. However, sharing the experience and explaining it to your friends may get them to appreciate it.

At the end of the day, sustainable vacationing should help you not only reduce negative environmental impact but also awaken society to such a reality. There is no one rule that fits all scenarios when it comes to sustainable vacationing. It’s a wide field and this article barely scratches the surface. However, it all starts with the intention to keep our earth healthy for our future. 

Images via Pexels

Inspired by Finland’s successful deposit system for beverage containers, the Textile Deposit has been making waves with its impressive results and potential for wider implementation. It works by offering citizens a small reward for their efforts. In this case, the prizes are coffee vouchers and passes to the local pool. It’s enough motivation to get the job done. During the initial pilot program, textile returns catapulted to levels 500% higher than without the incentives.

Related: Bottle recycling in Oregon hits 90 percent record high 

The birth of the textile deposit pilot program

As a leading environmental city and the European Green Capital of 2021, Lahti is committed to becoming a zero-waste city by 2050. With these long-term goals in mind, administrators launched the Textile Deposit scheme as an experimental project to explore whether small incentives could significantly boost the recycling rate of textile waste. 

“As a pioneer in urban environmentalism, Lahti has set a goal of being a waste free city by 2050. The textile deposit is a great example of an everyday innovation that directly aims to minimize the amount of waste and showcases the potential of discarded textiles as a raw material for industries and design,” said Veera Hämäläinen, the communications director for the City of Lahti.

Textile waste is a massive worldwide problem, as evidenced by the mounds of clothing left behind as a result of fast fashion and other consumption. But this doesn’t have to be the case because clothing and household linens can be converted into recycled fibers for countless applications. 

As a whole, the country of Finland has launched into a commitment to remedy this environmental issue. At the beginning of the year, it implemented legislation that required cities and municipalities to make separate collection bins for textile waste publicly available. The pilot program in Lahti was an extension of that policy aimed at encouraging high use rather than simply providing a drop point. 

The rollout of the textile deposit system

The city of Lahti collaborated with Salpakierto, a municipal company responsible for waste management in the region, to set up six collection points for textile waste.

In the past, a moderate number of people used the receptacles for textile collection, with each location regularly gathering around 70 kg of donated fabrics each week. Since the introduction of the Textile Deposit scheme, those same locations have begun collecting 350 kg of materials — a staggering 500% increase.

Hämäläinen expressed excitement about the results saying, “The Textile Deposit has been a runaway success. The results we’ve seen are a positive signal for systemic incentives for recycling. A nationwide deposit-based recycling system for textiles could give a significant boost to the recycling rate. In Finland, we’ve seen it with bottles and beverage cans, their recycling rate is well above 90% – could these kinds of incentives be applied across the board?”

Organizers hope so. The plan is to roll out separate collection receptacles for textile waste beyond Finland and across the EU by 2025. Mirroring the pilot incentive program success in Lahti could substantially increase the success of recycling efforts when they become widely available. 

“Our future depends on a circular economy, but it can’t just be the consumers’ responsibility to take care of recycling. With this pilot we want to ask what countries, cities and companies can do to help make recycling easier and more attractive to people. Deposits have worked well before, maybe there could be one for textiles in the future,” said Kimmo Rinne, development manager at Salpakierto.

Future industry opportunities

As Finland moves towards a circular economy for textiles, it also adds a new industry stream to the market. The Textile Deposit program coordinators reference research on the potential for future opportunities in the industry saying, “According to a report by McKinsey & Company, fiber-to-fiber recycling at scale could be achieved by 2030, creating a new and sustainable circular industry in Europe.”

A sustainable recycling model

Like Finland, many other locations have initiated bottle deposits to encourage similar behavior. In the United States, bottle returns began in Oregon in 1971 and have spread to only 10 states since that time. The idea is simple: charge the customer a small amount when they buy an item in a recyclable container, then refund that money when they return the container. It’s a highly effective practice that offers an incentive without additional costs so it stands to reason we could scale the idea not only to textiles, but to all types of recyclable items. 

The positive reinforcement creates a shift in consumer behavior that we desperately need while we battle pollution and waste around the globe. 

The bigger picture in Lahti

As the Textile Deposit scheme continues to inspire positive change in Lahti, the city is also launching a national design competition to find innovative uses for discarded textiles. This competition, organized in collaboration with the Sustainable Lahti Foundation, LAB University of Applied Sciences and Salpakierto, aims to foster creativity and entrepreneurship in the circular economy and offer a future for the textile recycling industry.

+ Salpakierto Ltd 

Images via City of Lahti

In addition to the low costs and reduced pollution from eliminating long transport emissions, the regionally accessed bamboo is a versatile product that’s suitable for a variety of uses. 

Related: Cutwork proposes innovative “just add water” housing for refugees

While bamboo is not new in construction, Blue Temple’s approach is an innovative spin on traditional methods that maximizes narrow shoots by bundling them together. The result of three years of research, this technique has drawn attention for its ability to provide low-cost and swift construction opportunities. In the case of the Housing NOW project, homes for refugees can be built in as little as a week and cost about the same as your average smartphone. 

Prefabricating the panels in the organization’s workshop expedites the process once the panels arrive onsite. With the help of the local community, structures offer a quick response for emergency housing in remote parts of the country affected by natural disasters and the results of governmental instability across the region. Locals are trained in the construction process, offering valuable skill building and a source of income. In this way, Blue Temple created a new industry that supports the economy and provides a task force that can respond to housing needs during the most urgent times.  

According to a press release by Blue Temple, “Since the military coup in Myanmar in February 2021, nearly two million people have been internally displaced in the country,” so this project is not only timely, but offers a template for similar regions around the globe. At this time, Blue Temple’s architecture design studio is seeking support to scale up the production of low-cost bamboo housing for refugees in vulnerable communities in Myanmar.

+ Blue Temple

Images via Nyan Zay Hte,  Raphaël Ascoli, Alex Dyl and Matias Bercovich

What is the American chestnut?

Why do we love the American chestnut? Well, it’s the tree version of quinoa, to create a very bad analogy. Chestnut trees are the gardener’s version of the perfect protein. They help shade and encourage other plants, create edible fruit that lasts for generations, which can also be ground for flour and their wood is used for furniture that is unparalleled in beauty. They can also be planted in locations that are transitioning from open fields back to forest, which makes them a very helpful tree to have around for gardeners or farmers reclaiming abandoned fields.

Related: Scientists are using gene-editing to repopulate chestnuts

The American Chestnut Foundation is on a mission the last 40 years to reintroduce this fascinating and multifaceted tree to its native range in the eastern U.S. Once prolific through Appalachia and down the east coast, the American chestnut is now little more than a note in the history books. But that can change. Here is what is being done and how you can help.

How to reintroduce an endangered tree species

Using scientific strategies, the American Chestnut Foundation is attempting to spread chestnut trees across the eastern U.S. using breeding, biotechnology and biocontrol.

According to the American Chestnut Foundation, it is taking a holistic approach toward chestnut restoration, utilizing a three-pronged research strategy known as 3BUR (Breeding, Biotechnology and Biocontrol United for Restoration). These are techniques for researching ways of reintroducing the American chestnut to help it spread across its native habitat as quickly as possible. The goal is to ask scientists and the public for assistance in replanting these traditional trees of the American landscape.

Identifying American chestnut trees

Originally, American chestnuts were cut down and decimated by chestnut blight. Many trees in North America today that look like American chestnuts are Chinese chestnuts or hybrids between Chinese chestnuts and American chestnuts, which made them resistant to the blight.

You can identify an American chestnut tree by looking at the shape and thickness of the leaves, dentation and luster of the leaves, angle of the leaf base, shape and color and hairiness of the buds, the presence and shape of stipules, the characteristics of the stem and so on. It’s quite involved.

A typical American chestnut has a thin, canoe-shaped leaf with a dull leaf surface and hooked or “breaking ocean wave” dentation on the leaf edges. Buds are often red or orange, smooth and pyramid shaped, protruding from the stem at a 45-degree angle. The nuts are released in spiky burs that must be collected off the ground while wearing thick leather gloves. The nuts can be roasted or stored.

You can help plant chestnut trees on your property, or have trees identified on your property that could be chestnuts using this handy chestnut tree identification guide. Or send in a sample to a local agricultural department that can identify chestnut trees. Tree samples are used in a dentataBase database to track inventory of wild trees.

Local chapters of the American Chestnut Foundation reach out to sample submitters to discuss next steps on maintaining or propagating chestnuts trees on their property. Trees may be candidates for harvesting open pollinated seed or for planned controlled pollination. Nuts of wild trees are planted in conservation orchards. Samples can also be used to identify the native range areas that have genetic diversity or less, which helps the program plan how to repopulate the species to its native range.

How to use chestnuts in your garden

Chestnut trees are slow growing, but last for generations. Though most were wiped out by the chestnut blight fungus, the remaining American chestnut trees are hardy and multi-purposed, both in fruit and wood and for cultivating a permaculture garden. Similar to an apple tree, you can grow a chestnut tree starting the size of a bush, and plant other shade-loving plants underneath that couldn’t otherwise survive an open field. Over time, the tree grows into a larger canopy, and a field can be reclaimed as functional food-producing forest planted around with other crops and trees.

That’s because you can plant a chestnut and wait a few years for it to grow nuts. In the meantime, use it as shade for low-lying plants of many other kinds. It can be quite challenging to grow some gardens from scratch in full sun. Even trees struggle to gain a foothold in scorching hot, dry field conditions common in today’s climate change-riddled American north.

The chestnut is one of those trees that supports other plants growing under and around it. It can help permaculture enthusiasts transition abandoned farm land back to productive food forests with slow transition from full-sun field crops to a gradual adjustment over to shaded forest garden. Plant herbs, low-lying fruits plants like raspberries, greens and other plants under a chestnut bush. As it grows, shift that to larger fruit trees and plants until you have a full air-cooling forest back in production that can be selectively harvested for wood, fruit, vegetables and herbs, or even mushrooms from fallen logs.

Chestnuts can grow in climate zones four to eight and need a winter chill of 300 to 750 hours below 45 degrees Fahrenheit. Trees grown from seed can take nearly 20 years to grow to production, so most trees bought from nurseries are grafted. These massive trees can grow 50 to 100 feet tall, producing nuts used for roasting and flour and wood that makes beautiful sturdy furniture. Chestnuts also attract pollinators and are easy to grow in moderate temperature zones because they are native to that habitat.

Many chestnuts were logged for wood before they could be killed by the chestnut blight, but this may have killed off blight-resistant trees. The loss of the American chestnut remains one of America’s greatest ecological disasters. If you would like to be part of helping restore the American chestnut, you can learn about chestnut tree care and get your own grove started by buying chestnut trees from tree farmers so in a few years you can roast chestnuts over an open fire, just like the traditional song reminisces.

Images via Pexels

The project started with the accidental discovery of a century-old Holm Oak tree trunk that had been brought down by nature. Located at the grounds of Villa San Michele, the trunk sits on part of the Monumental Park of Monte Ceceri —where Leonardo da Vinci did tests for his flying machines.

Related: Pine Bark Hut resembles an actual tree in a forest

Unlike Leonardo’s art, which has often left us with thousands of unanswered questions, Forsoultree was documented right from the start. From the moment the trunk was found, deliberate efforts to preserve and document started. The decision to call in Luca Gnizio was immediate. When he was called in, he immediately thought of giving the dead trunk some life.

Forsoultree tries to create life and meaning out of a dead tree by merging it with the surrounding environment. Over the past decade, Gnizio has made a name for himself, establishing a whole new form of art that collaborates with nature. In his work, he focuses on three Rs: reduce, reuse and recycle.

The Forsoultree takes on various aspects of his artistic approach. The aim of this project was not only to reuse but also to preserve and give life. The reason for trying to give life to a dead trunk can only be seen through the work itself. Anyone looking at the scene can be fooled into thinking that it is scripted. 

Traditionally, this type of wood would be considered waste. To Gnizio, what most people call waste can be repurposed to give more meaning to life. He has managed to create new levels of beauty with the trunk, merging it with the natural environment and using it as the focal point. 

Notably, it is the conversion of parts of the trunk into seats. He has managed to create two unique seats with the trunk still in its primary location. One seat gives an admirable view overlooking Florence while the other stares directly into the old quarry’s rocky walls. All around the trunk itself are breathtaking views of the park for any lover of the natural space.

If you think sitting on a dead trunk will be boring, what about bathing? Well, for now, the water is imaginary, but the basin is real. Gnizio has managed to carve out a deep basin with sufficient resting space. An adult can lie on the floor of the basin looking upwards and enjoy the serene surrounding nature. Unfortunately, the basin is only for artistic purposes. You may not be able to bathe in it, but you will surely enjoy the views.

“Forsoultree speaks of beauty and respect and reminds us that nothing belongs to us on this earth, where we are simply passing guests,” explained Luca Gnizio. “By physically entering the tree, we can establish an intimate and sensory dialogue with that part of us that is innate.”

Born in 1981 in Lodi, Gnizio inspired many through his unique sense of art. He uses what could be termed as rejects in the traditional sense and turns them into meaningful art. Since 2009, he has introduced a new field of art known as ECOSOCIAL. This new field is now internationally recognized and is often used by fellow artists to communicate different issues in society. Most of his work is made of recycled materials pushing many to be ecologically and socially conscious.

Gnizio art offers an opportunity for us to learn more about our environment and also appreciate life as it is, saying, “Forsoultree takes us into the depths of things, where primitive sensations are born, and connects us through our senses with a piece of eternity.”

+ Luca Gnizio

Images via Alessio Guarino and Luca Gnizio

Plateless lunches are just one way that rafting outfitters like Wilderness River Adventures (WRA) keep the national park pristine for the approximately 27,000 people who raft the Grand Canyon every year.

Related: Rafting outfitters focus on sustainability

The itinerary

I was on a seven-day motorized trip covering 188 miles and braving 67 named rapids. Our party included 17 passengers (three family groups and two couples) and four guides on two rafts. We all met up at WRA’s headquarters in Page, Arizona, then boarded a bus for our put-in spot at Lees Ferry. From there, it was all up to the guides, the river and chance.

The biggest chunk of each day was spent on our 35-feet raft, which weighed about eight tons fully loaded. Traveling in a motorized raft that big was relaxing. I’d only ever been on smaller, oar-powered boats before. I always dread that part of the safety speech where the guide says, “And if it’s totally dark, that means you’re trapped under the raft…” Not this time. These behemoths are very hard to flip and give a smooth ride. It was still plenty wet and exciting, but free of terror and back strain.

We stopped now and then for side hikes and waterfalls, or just to get some shade or play Frisbee under rock overhangs. Our trip leader, Richard Adkins, picked the camping spot each afternoon. Since camping is first come, first served, we never knew where we’d end up on any given night.

Sustainable camping

Our guides stressed the importance of leaving no trace at our campsites. Since humans are constantly eating and digesting, this can be a challenge. All our food leftovers were packed out in plastic bags inside metal boxes. As for the digesting part, well, that involved a lot more toileting instructions than most adults are used to getting. We learned that we were only allowed to pee directly into the river, or in a designated bucket kitted out with a toilet seat. This prevented the frequently used campsites from smelling like kitty litter boxes by midsummer.

All the solid waste and toilet paper went in a mini camp toilet that was packed out. This toilet was called Oscar. Why Oscar?

“Oscar was named after a very difficult passenger. And the name just kind of stayed,” said Adkins. “Since then we have made some acronyms for Oscar. Such as Ostensibly Superior Culinary Alleviation Receptacle. Or Outstanding Crapper Around Rivers.”

We could only use biodegradable soap in the fast-flowing Colorado River. No soap was allowed in smaller tributaries. One beautiful campsite, Olo, had a lovely natural waterfall with water much warmer than the Colorado. We had to resist the temptation to shower in it. Some very prepared campers brought a solar shower, which was a good solution for a nice end-of-day cleansing while standing in the Colorado River.  

Native knowledge

One of my trip highlights was being on a raft run by two native American women. Shyanne Yazzie, part of the Diné tribe (AKA Navajo), was our boat pilot. Kim Bighorse, an Apache, assisted her in the role called “swamper.” This team shared another side of the Grand Canyon, as learned from their families.

Eleven tribes once made their home in the Grand Canyon, Yazzie told me. But their stories are often overshadowed by those who came later.

“I feel like some people forget that the native people were here first,” Yazzie told me. “And any [explanation] that we do down here it’s always about John Wesley Powell, who was this great explorer. And a lot of the names, like side canyons and everything, are always about the people who were here after the native people.”  

We visited a couple of sites that are important to the original people of the canyon. One hike took us up to a place where Ancestral Puebloan people once stored grain. At the Unkar Delta, we saw broken pottery shards that have been there for hundreds of years. Unfortunately, Adkins noticed there were fewer shards when we visited than he’d seen on a trip a week earlier — even though visitors aren’t supposed to touch, let alone take, these artifacts.

“It’s leave no trace,” Yazzie said. “Just take pictures and memories. I feel like a lot of people always just want to like take, take, take, take, rather than give back or just enjoy it.”

Vegan-friendly

In addition to our mid-day sandwich stops, our guides cooked hot breakfasts and dinners for us at camp. They accommodated a variety of diets, including vegan, vegetarian and diabetic. I was constantly amazed by the amount and variety of supplies they had tucked away on those two rafts. As the sole vegan, I greatly appreciated they’d stocked up on delicacies like vegan cheese, eggs and sausages, in addition to fresh fruit and vegetables. This couldn’t have been easy, as their headquarters is in Page, Arizona — a nice town, but not exactly a vegan hotspot.

An ever-changing experience

Adkins has been taking passengers down the Colorado River for 29 years. Yazzie is in her seventh year with the company. Both agree that it’s never the same trip twice. The river changes, and so do the guests.

“You get to see the guests change throughout the trip,” Yazzie said. “You get to see them do things they never thought they would do. It brings out their sense of adventure as a kid out, even though they’re full adults. I feel this canyon definitely has a way of changing people.”

Before I went on the trip, I wondered what it would be like to be on a raft, in a canyon, day after day. But I didn’t get tired of the river or the canyon’s gargantuan rock formations. Or the chance to see bighorn sheep coming down from the heights for a drink, and darling lizards scurrying around every campsite. Yazzie mentioned the joy of “seeing things you don’t get to see in, we call it the rim world. Above the rim. I feel like everything down here is simple. But yet you can see how strong the force of Mother Nature is.”

Photography by Teresa Bergen

The German Sustainable Building Council (DGNB) certified the EDGE Suedkreuz Berlin project Germany’s most sustainable building in 2022. Since the summer of 2022, the building has served as the new German headquarters for energy supplier Vattenfall.

Related: Oregon green building design embraces timber throughout

This project was placed in a new urban district of Berlin that has mixed use buildings designated for housing, work, commercial outlets and cultural events. The larger of the two buildings is shaped like a trapezoid with an irregular footprint, and the second building has an elongated structure. The two buildings together form a street front facing Hedwig-Dohm-Strasse, including a new urban plaza with seating and green space outside.

The larger Carre building contains a light-filled atrium of 26 meters and two-story lobby of sever meters that faces the front plaza. The atrium is covered by a transparent ETFE foil roof supported by wood trusses. Glazed entrance area and panoramic windows complement the building’s floor-to-ceiling office windows for bright views from every angle, also helping to save on energy costs.

Additionally, under the foil roof are four tree trunk-shaped columns of lamellate spruce wood that stretch floor to ceiling like a greenhouse. At the base of each column is green space, surrounded by community and food areas. The “trees” carry platform structures for recreation and leisure at various heights. Filigree steps with white railings link the platforms and lead to office floors. On the fifth floor is a sky lounge with views and an exterior terrace overlooking the city. Wood is used throughout the building to act as support beams and decorative accents, giving the complex a true hybrid appearance. This design concept was developed by de Winder Architekten Berlin.

Moreover, the smaller Solitaire building of the EDGE complex also has a two-story lobby, with offices on floors two to seven located above a ground floor of eateries, and commercial spaces. You can access this second building through the plaza or by way of a central core with safety staircase and two elevators. Outside is a garden landscaped roof deck.

Both buildings are modular in layout for future proofing their functionality, the design avoiding load-bearing interior walls in favor of a circular space with a variety of possible uses. The pillars also house energy systems, including heat and power. The office spaces are air-conditioned via suspended smart ceilings. A basement garage makes space for 218-e-mobility spaces for tenants and 100 bicycle parking spaces with 32 additional exterior spots. All spaces are designed to be barrier free and accessible. Facades use weather resistant glass-fiber concrete panels, making them lightweight and recyclable. The facades also absorb CO2 in their thinly ground cement top layer, which decarbonizes the air around the facility.

EDGE Suedkreuz Berlin is the first project in Germany to be recorded for building construction with a 100% match on the MADASTER material database, with materials that can be reused and recycled. Prefab building panels and modules made construction more efficient with reduced construction waste and time. The hybrid combination of wood and concrete from CREE-Buildings can save up to 50% of CO2 per square meter of floor area compared to a traditional building. Even the roof of the Carre building was designed to be lightweight foil with filigree wood components to ensure better lighting inside and reduced material use while still withstanding wind loads of up to 100 kg.

EDGE Suedkreuz Berlin received the DGNB Platinum certificate with the highest score ever achieved in Germany of 95.4%. The complex was certified with DGNB Diamond for its outstanding design and architectural quality. The project also received a WELL v2 Platinum certification.

+ TCHOBAN VOSS Architekten

Images via HG ESCH and TCHOBAN VOSS Architekten

The study reached conclusions about the value of green homes by evaluating features on over 70,000 homes listed on Redfin from different regions around the country. Researchers also interviewed more than 1,000 people from a range of age groups. 

Related: These are the “smartest cities” in the US and Europe

Payless Power then compiled the information and found some interesting results about the values of green homes versus non-green homes. For the purpose of this study, green features are defined as properties with LEED/Energy Star certification, solar panels or other eco-friendly elements.

The increased value of green homes

According to the report, green design elements increase the value of a home an average of 41% compared to non-green homes. The study evaluates this value increase for homes in different cities. Their findings put Detroit, MI, at the top of the list where green homes boast an impressive 180% higher value than traditional homes. Next on the list was Chicago, IL where the average home price runs around $556,000 and the sales of green homes in the same area averages an elevated $1,535,000 (176%). Montgomery and Birmingham, both in Alabama, took the third and fourth spots while Philadelphia snagged the fifth position. 

Other areas with over 100% of increase of value due to features such as passive design, renewable energy, rainwater harvesting systems and LED lighting include St. Petersburg, FL, Raleigh, NC and Cape Coral, FL. At the bottom of the to 20 list, San Diego, CA offers a 65% increase in value for green features, but with traditional home prices averaging $1,165,000, the increased amount of $1,922,000 may be unattainable for most.  

These findings suggest that homeowners seeking to make eco-friendly upgrades may witness substantial returns on their investments in certain locations. Moreover, cities with lower home values for eco-friendly features offer opportunities for buyers to find green homes at a more affordable price point compared to conventional housing.

Green home prices across the country

When it comes to homes on the market that are considered green, the Payless Power study highlights areas with high availability and compares the average price of those properties to energy-efficient homes in other regions. Atlanta, Georgia, stands out as the city with the highest percentage of green homes for sale, with 87% of all listed properties featuring eco-friendly elements. However, despite this high prevalence, green homes in Atlanta have an average price of around $588,600, making them more accessible than other expensive cities.

The top three cities commanding the highest green home prices are San Francisco, CA (nearly $2.5 million on average), Scottsdale, AZ (nearly $2.2 million), and Boston, MA (over $1.6 million). On the other hand, cities like Detroit, MI (under $322,000), Yukon, OK (just over $340,000) and El Paso, TX (just over $362,000) offer more affordable access to the benefits of green homes. Other locations in the top 10 for cities where green homes are less expensive include several Texas locations like San Antonio, Corpus Christi, and Fort Worth. Also on the list is  Montgomery and Birmingham, AL, Clarksville, TN and Yonkers, NY.

The draw of green homes to different generations

Environmental consideration is foremost in the minds of young home buyers. In fact, millennials and Gen Zers were 27% more likely than baby boomers to buy a green home.

The study delved into the preferences of different generations concerning green homes. It revealed that a significant number of respondents expressed a desire to have eco-friendly features in their homes. The most sought-after green home features included energy-efficient appliances (54%), LEED/Energy Star certification or solar panels (49%), LED lighting (46%), energy-conserving insulation (46%) and smart energy-monitoring technology (33%), indicating a growing trend among younger homebuyers.

Advantages of going green

In addition to the increased property value of green homes, buyers are making an investment in lower monthly bills. With the most desired green home features being those that monitor or reduce energy consumption, prospective buyers have strong incentives to invest in environmentally sustainable properties.

Conclusion 

Whether you’re buying, selling, or looking to reduce energy costs, investing in a green home can be a smart and environmentally responsible decision. The benefits of green home features go beyond financial gains, providing homeowners with the satisfaction of contributing to a greener and more sustainable future.

Via Payless Power

Images via Pexels

Soon, Stockholm, Sweden will be the home of the largest urban construction project to be built out of wood in the entire world. In any material, this urban development would be stunning. In sustainable wood, it’s an example of environmentally-friendly construction.

Related: Would you work at this all-timber Amsterdam office?

Stockholm Wood City will be completed in 2027, with construction beginning in 2025. The city will encompass spaces for work and housing, along with restaurants and shops. More than 2,000 new homes and 7,000 office spaces will be added to the city when the project is complete. The design was created by Atrium Ljungberg.

“This is not only an important step for us as a company, but a historic milestone for Swedish innovation capability,” said Annica Anas, Atrium Ljungberg CEO.

Wood City’s design focuses on stored and shared, self-produced energy. The wooden buildings will have spaces for green plants, a design that will create a garden-like atmosphere. Wood is sustainable and an obvious benefit to the environment. It’s also a better insulator than steel and concrete and can also absorbs large amounts of CO2. Moreover, producing a ton of wood for building purposes generates far, far less emissions than cement or steel.

This huge new project is a full-scale urban development with spaces for living, working and shopping. It’s an example of how sustainable design can be used to create anything. It’s a message that Sweden hopes will resonate around the world.

+ Atrium Ljungberg

Images via Atrium Ljungberg / Henning Larsen

The flagship store was designed using parametric design and fabricated using biodegradable 3D-printed materials. Parametric design used computer software that employed algorithms to create complex, intricate geometries. One such example of this is the building’s base, which uses a parametric waffle form that is milled using a Computerized Numerical Control (CNC) machine. Because of these features, this building is the first of its kind in Latin America.

Related: 3D-printed recycled waste can be turned into insulated walls

The prefab structure is made of glue-laminated timber (GLT) made of pine. These were carefully cut to minimize waste. This was then capped with a lightweight 3D-printed shell. After the building serves its purpose in the next two years, it will be dismantled. The wood will be recycled and the biodegradable plaster shell will be crushed. This nutrient-rich powder can then be used as an agricultural fertilizer and will provide soils with calcium and sulfur to boost plant growth.

Moreover, the design stems from the coffee flower’s five petals, which come together to create a dome that is formed along five axes. In the center of the space, a round skylight brings in natural light and creates an atmosphere reminiscent of a temple with a biomimetic form. This creates a space with five entrances, equal in size and hierarchy. The entrances are flanked with glass to offer 360 degrees views out to the surrounding park.

To organize the interiors, the five “flower petals” that create the overall form serve as spaces for product displays. A circular screen made up of five LED panels showcases digital content.

Through its construction and location in a public park, the space achieves two key design intentions. Firstly, the project is accessible to the public and open to all. Secondly, the project’s design showcases the vast possibilities of sustainable design. The space encourages observers to reflect on how we design for the future, especially given the current climate crisis. This includes the use of innovative technologies and renewable materials.

+ Estudio Guto Requena

Images via Leonardo Finotti

Top watering systems for home gardens

Here are the top types of irrigation you can use for a home garden:

1. 1. Drip tape
2. 2. Traditional sprinklers on a hose
3. 3. In-ground sprinklers
4. 4. Wobbler or overhead sprinkler system
5. 5. Garden well

Related: Save water on your home garden with these helpful tips

These options all have pros and cons, so I’ll go through them one at a time. Then go check out the options for whichever system sounds like a good fit for you. It’s not always about quality or price, as you’ll see. Personal preference, physical availability versus automation and seasonal temperature ranges are big factors, too.

Drip tape irrigation

Drip tape irrigation is a form of watering system where you hook up black hoses in a grid from a main water source like a hose spigot or well, Then leave it on a timer that decides when to water the garden, sometimes divided into zones. Drip tape is popular for micro farms or home gardens where the space to water is smaller, but you want to water your plants and not all the weeds between them. Drip tape is super popular in areas where water is scarce, because it helps reduce water lost to evaporation. This makes it a great choice for dry climates or areas where water is expensive or restricted use.

Pros: Saves on water and water costs.

Cons: Drip take can get plugged by dirt easily and is work intensive to set out and remove if you have to pull it up before a cold winter, which could blow out your tape/pipes from freezing.

Sprinkler hose irrigation

The old-fashioned sprinkler on a hose is a perfectly viable option for your home garden, and very affordable. Most hoses cost about $30 per 25-feet length and sprinklers are in the same cost zone. You might have to replace your hose or sprinkler every year or two if it sits out, so this is a good option for people who want to manually water their garden as needed but don’t have it running every single day.

One thing that is great about sprinklers is that you can use them to test how much water your garden needs in different areas and move it around. You can also use sprinkler systems to test if your home water supply has high enough pressure to manage splitting your garden sprinklers into zones before you commit to any equipment long term.

Pros: Saves a lot of money on costs and it’s simple.

Cons: Sprinklers need to be moved around manually or put on timers with a hose splitter for zones. This can be more expensive or require you to replace equipment more frequently as basic sprinklers aren’t designed for heavy farm/garden use every day.

In-ground sprinkler system

When we built our house years ago, we must have told the plumber that we weren’t sure if we were going to install an in-ground sprinkler system because he supplied us with enough water flow to accomplish that. Without that feature, our home exterior spigot may not have had enough pressure to supply four garden zones with sprinklers and then wobbler sprayers for a large 60 feet by 100 feet garden that is (even better) located uphill from our house at a distance.

In-ground sprinkler systems may require you to prep your home water supply or upgrade plumbing, so make sure you ask a professional to give you a quote before ordering parts for this irrigation system. In-ground sprinklers work best for landscaping because you can place them near small planting beds or fruit trees and have them retract when not in use. Just be sure to blow out the pipes before winter so nothing freezes and bursts your pipes.

Pros: Saves time automating a complex watering of landscaping.

Cons: Expensive and not ideal for home garden/farm use.

Wobbler and overhead pivot irrigation

Now we’re getting to the larger garden and farming equipment. If you have tested sprinklers and need something that sprays a bit more evenly over your plants or want to upgrade to higher water pressure, wobbler sprinklers are a great option. We like the ones from Neversink Farm’s Connor Crickmore, who switched from being a software engineer to a small market farmer and invented a few tools along the way (flame weeder, stirrup hoe) to make things easier.

Wobbler sprinklers are set on top of posts you can move around, and like sprinklers you can use one or split your garden hoses into zones on a timer and automate watering. This was a lifesaver for us this year. The garden is still a hot mess after we were stuck inside for a month due to wildfire smoke sensitivities, but we happened to get the irrigation in the day before the smoke hit, so everything was watered evenly and automatically all month without a second thought from us. It’s awesome for micro farmers, big home gardens or anywhere you want broader sprinkler coverage.

Pros: Automates watering a large garden evenly.

Cons: Make sure you have the water pressure for this system, and they do cost a bit more than traditional sprinklers (though probably less than your average drip tape setup).

Garden well

If you’re getting serious about watering your garden or expanding your planting to something bigger than the average home garden, consider drilling a well or expanding the capacity of your existing well to handle the watering needs of a bigger space. Yes, this is expensive, but if you don’t have sprinkler system capacity from your home well or are able to drill a well on your property in the country, you should at least ask around about your options.

If you use an outdoor spigot and hose for a long time for a large garden, it can cause problems for your plumbing or give you unreliable water pressure that waxes and wanes. We have seen a tiny bit of this at our place, but for the most part, we lucked out and won’t drill a second well unless we significantly expand our garden to a micro farm.

Moreover, if you have an even larger property and want to set up a farm, look into overhead pivots, which are just wobblers inverted spraying downward from a big metal rig that rolls around your property to bring water where it’s needed. This is outside the scope of home gardening, but if you want to scale your home garden to a farm, a pivot might just save your farm during an unexpectedly dry summer.

Bonus: watering your crops this way instead of flooding your field with irrigation from a pipe that goes into furrows assures that you can save any crops that are protected from hard freeze. You do this by freezing their surface fruit/leaves with sprayed water at the beginning or end of your season. If you’re scaling up, this could save your whole fruit crop, but you’ll have to look into it more to learn the details.

Pros: Assures enough water and water pressure for a large garden or micro farm.

Cons: Expensive and requires professional installation and equipment in most cases.

Images via Pexels

Mount Vernon Library Commons is a public project that includes a library, community center and a huge parking area. The idea was to create one of the most sustainable projects in the entire region. This is the first publicly bid passive house project in the Pacific Northwest.

Related: Timber children’s library follows traditional techniques

Additionally, like all the best heroic tales, the designers at HKP Architects started by setting an impossible goal. They wanted to reduce the carbon footprint of the concrete used for the project by 30% to 35%. After collaborating with KPFF engineers, they found a way to reduce that footprint by 40%. Using scientific analysis, input from officials with the city of Mount Vernon, sustainability consultants and structural engineers, HKP created a building that is not just visually stunning, it’s a showcase of what the future of design is going to be.

Moreover, the design plan includes EV charging stations for electric vehicles and electric bikes and a huge photovoltaic array that provides solar energy. Resilient and native plantings will be all over the campus to reduce the need for irrigation. The garage is made to capture natural ventilation, which reduces the need for mechanical ventilation. Rain is collected via the stormwater management system, which is transferred to the underground modular wetland system.

Along with the specially-mixed, low-carbon concrete, the building is made with high-performance windows. The library commons was made to have a highly insulated envelope that prevents heat loss and reduces energy needs. The heat recovery ventilation system lowers energy demand as well.

Lastly, the interior of the building will be full of light and airy, open spaces. This is a building that is made for gathering, for learning and for engaging with the community. It’s a building for everyone and it’s a building that, hopefully, can help to influence the rest of the world.

+ HKP Architects

Images via HKP Architects

While solar panels are still quite inefficient, they are the most affordable source of renewable energy. Further, they can be installed on a small scale, something that cannot be said about wind, geothermal or other renewable energy options. With this perspective in mind, individuals, governments and policymakers continue to push for the use of solar panels to achieve the net-zero target.

Related: Incredible new solar cells are thinner than human hair

There are many interesting facts about solar panels and solar energy at large that most people do not know. According to Eco Watch, solar power holds the largest potential of all renewable energy technologies. Consequently, it must be accorded a multi-sectoral approach to bring this potential to life. Individual electricity consumers have a role to play in the journey of adopting solar energy. If you are interested in learning more about solar panels, here are nine interesting facts you should know.

Fact #1 The earth receives a continuous supply of 173,000 terawatts of solar

Even on a cloudy day, the Earth still receives an enormous amount of solar energy. Given that the sun is centrally positioned with respect to the Earth, it never stops shining. At every given point in time, the sun is releasing 173,000 terawatts of energy to the Earth. In just one hour, the energy supplied by the sun could cover the energy needs of the entire world for a year.

With this factor in view, companies are coming up with technologies for capturing solar energy for efficient home cooking. For as long as the sun shines, solar energy technologies will continue to evolve.

Fact #2 Solar panels technology is almost 150 years old

Solar panels are just starting to take root in most regions. You might be fooled to think that solar panel technology is new. On the contrary, solar panels have been around since 1883. In fact, the first photovoltaic (PV) effect was demonstrated as early as 1839 by French scientist Edmond Becquerel. 

Although scientists started working on solar technology much earlier, it was until 1883 that the first solar cell was created by French scientist Charles Fritts. In 1884, the scientist installed the first solar panel on a roof in New York. In 1922, Albert Einstein was recognized with the Nobel Prize for his work on the photovoltaic effect, which revolutionized solar panel technology. However, the development of solar panels has taken a slow pace. For a long time, the world preferred fossil fuels and hydroelectric power. It was until 1954 that the first practical solar cell was developed by Bell Laboratories.

Even with the development of workable solar cells, the world has still been slow to adopt solar technology. 

Fact #3 Solar panels have more uses other than just lighting

We mostly know solar panels for their ability to convert sunlight into electricity for lighting. This line of thought has made it quite difficult for most people to use solar panels. It is often thought that the electricity supplied by solar panels is not sufficient to run other domestic purposes.

Contrary to this belief, solar panels have diverse uses. They can be used to heat water for domestic use and even charge electric cars. Ideally, solar panels can perform all functions your grid connection does. However, the functions performed by a solar panel will depend on the size of your panels and location.

Fact #4 Solar panels are now a popular home improvement

Solar panels are now considered one of the most popular home improvements. A Pew Research Center survey shows that up to 39% of U.S. homeowners are considering installing solar. In the previous year, up to 8% of homeowners had installed solar panels. Interestingly, even those under the age of 30 hold a similar perspective. This is an indication that both the young and the old value solar panel installation as part of their property development.

Fact #5 You do not need planning permission to install solar panels in most regions

Due to the need to speed up solar uptake, most jurisdictions allow the installation of solar panels without the need for planning permission. However, this is only applicable to small-scale installations such as domestic roof solar. If you intend to install a commercial-scale solar system you must undergo approvals. 

In most cities across the U.S., installing solar panels is not considered a new construction but rather a home remodeling project. For most such projects, you may not need planning permission.

With that in mind, some solar installation projects may need permission. For instance, if you are developing a new house with a solar panel roof, you must get a planning permit. In the U.K., solar panels are listed under Permitted Developments. In other words, you can install solar panels in the U.K. without obtaining planning permission in most localities. Even so, it is necessary to confirm with your local authorities before embarking on a solar remodeling project.

Fact #6 The solar panel industry has created millions of jobs

According to the United Nations, the renewable energy sector created over 700,000 new jobs globally in the year 2022 only. These figures are a complete contrast to what those who oppose of renewable energy tend to portray. One of the reasons why technologies such as solar panels have waited so long to be adopted is the myth that renewable energy causes the loss of jobs.

The U.K. expects to create up to 60, 000 new jobs by 2035  in the solar energy sector alone. This goes to show that solar panels do not only reduce carbon emissions but also create employment. 

Fact #7 Global solar panel costs continue to drop

As the world rushes to adopt clean energy, there have been efforts to lower the cost of renewables. One area that has benefited is the solar panels sector. There are several factors that have resulted in these price drops. According to an IRENA report, solar panels have dropped in price by up to 82% in the past decade due to advanced production technology, incentives and funding from financial institutions.

Although solar panels have already experienced a significant price drop, they may still see further drops. Many institutions and governments are now funding studies that are revealing alternatives to traditional solar cells. With new and cheaper solar cell technologies coming up, it is only a matter of time before solar becomes even more efficient and cheaper.

Fact #8 Installing a solar boosts your home value

Solar panels are not only popular due to the energy they provide but also for the value they add to a home. Most people who install solar panels also think about the value it adds to their homes. A recent study by RICS  on properties in the U.K. found that homes with solar panels attracted up to a 2% increase in value. The same study also found that it takes approximately 10 years to repay your solar system. Considering that most people stay in their homes for more than 10 years installing solar offers financial benefits as well. Homeowners who do not resell their homes within a decade can enjoy more than 10 years of electricity free of bills.

Fact #9 Solar panel recycling is possible 

Solar panels are considered one of the best clean energy sources except for the fact that they are not fully recyclable. Most panels end up in landfills once they come to the end of their lifespan. More perturbing is the fact that they contain some toxic substances such as lead and cadmium that can harm the environment. However, solar panels are predominantly made up of silicon, which can be recycled. New findings now show that solar panel recycling is possible if necessary steps are taken.

Images via Pexels

Some are perennial pests, like plum curculio that attack peaches or striped cucumber beetles that eat up your cucumber plants. Other pests are influenced by the weather, including aphids, mites and scale insects. Finally, you have “boom and bust” type pests that come in waves of infestation, such as tent caterpillars and spongy moths (colloquially misnomered as the gypsy moth). Here is how to deal with pest pressure of each type in your garden, without using chemical pesticides.

Related: Save water on your home garden with these helpful tips

Perennial pest control for your organic garden

Plant pairings for organic pest control

Ideally, your first option for dealing with perennial pests is learning good plant pairings that naturally keep pests at bay. For example, marigolds can be planted around your garden in open spots at the ends of plant rows to keep away pests. From squash bugs and tomato worms to mosquitos and cabbage worms, marigolds are some of the most popular plants for natural organic gardening to keep pests at bay.

Neem for controlling white flies and pest infestation

If you have whiteflies, you know how hard it can be to get rid of this perennial pest. Most organic farms will remove diseased or infested plants to control pest pressure. But if it’s really getting to you and white flies are spreading from your beans to your potatoes and destroying your crop entirely, break out the neem oil. This oil is relatively harmless to humans and other mammals, but it does dessicate some insects on contact.

The only caution with neem is that you want to spray it diluted in water on your affected plants’ leaves top and bottom at a time of day when bees and butterflies aren’t active, such as a cloudy evening, and give them an hour to dry. Then the neem becomes harmless again, but it will kill off the pests attacking your plants.

Diotomaceous earth for organic pest control in the soil

Grubs and slugs can be one more devastating perennial pest in your organic garden. If you want to handle them the natural way, use some diatomaceous earth. According to Gardener’s Path, this organic pesticide has been used for decades to handle pests in the ground by cutting up the respiratory systems of bugs that inhale it or drying mucous membranes of breathing holes and lungs in various insects.

Diatomaceous earth (DE) is made of ground-up, prehistoric diatomic fossils, so these tiny oceanic skeletal pieces aren’t harmful for your garden, but beware any bugs that come in contact. It is effective on slugs, beetles, worms, fleas, mites and most spiders or insects, but doesn’t harm larger creatures. DE is safe around children, pets and adults, as long as none of them have asthma, as breathing in DE can be irritating to the lungs.

Weather-related garden pest infestations

In many areas of the U.S. and around the world, it has been an unusually hot year, with long stretches of drought followed by soaking rains. This can raise pest pressure as well as weed pressure, because only native hardy bugs and plants tend to do well in these more extreme conditions.

Identifying pests in your garden

To handle a weather-related pest invasion, first download an app that can help you identify the pest, or send a photo to your local agriculture extension office (usually associated with your local university) or post on a farmers group on social media to ask for identification help. One other way to identify garden pests is to pay attention to what plant it was found on and what season or behavior might be notable.

For example, if you see a stripy beetle only on your cucumber plants, that’s probably a cucumber beetle, while a spotted beetle on your potatoes is probably a potato bug. It’s not always that simple, but this will give you a head start figuring out where to start with pest control efforts.

Plan ahead to treat predictable garden pests

Once you know what pest you’re dealing with, you can also plan on treating your garden ahead of time for repeat pests. Maybe your spring has gotten suddenly hot and you can’t grow greens and cucumbers anymore. In that case, protect your vulnerable plants with extra screening, such as a cage around your broccoli to keep cabbage worms from laying eggs on the plants, and plan ahead to treat plum curculio in the right season before these worms eat through all your peaches yet again.

Screening and manual pest control methods

Can’t figure out what bug you’re dealing with? Try non-chemical pesticides in affected areas first, or screen off vulnerable plants that take the most pest pressure in your garden (you’ll have a sense for this after just a couple years of gardening).

Then, if that doesn’t work, make sure that you have enough air flow and space between your plants to prevent pest spread, and try to keep up with removing pests manually from your plants every time you weed. This can be ineffective if you wait too long, so if you really want to keep your garden organic, pay attention early and often to stay ahead of manual pest control.

Deterring insects is the best method

You might be surprised how much easier it is to learn about keeping pests out of your garden with deterrents like the marigolds mentioned earlier. In some climates, certain plants just don’t stand a chance against large numbers of grasshoppers that eat them to the ground. You might have to shape your garden around what can compete with weeds and pests in your area.

We planted some beans as a cover crop early in our gardening adventures, but planting them as cover meant they were too close together and white flies soon took over the patch and spread to our potatoes, eating all the leaves. We had to harvest our small potatoes early and spray with neem. But it was too late, and the next year the white flies were established, so we just gave up on the potatoes after two years and only plant bush beans now in limited numbers.

Fragrant astringent plants can often deter pests, too. Basil, mums, garlic, rosemary, lemongrass and petunias can all help keep pests away. If you don’t want to quit on potatoes like we did, try planting lavender, peppermint, sage, thyme, marigolds, fragrant flowers like peonies and other strongly scented flowers and herbs, which are surprisingly unappealing to many insects and even deer.

Our deer only eat plants by the house when they’re super hungry in the late fall, so a deer fence around the vegetable garden is enough deterrent. We still have ground hogs and rabbits tunneling into the garden, however, plus voles and birds eating most of the strawberries and raspberries. Sometimes you just have to plant what the pests don’t want to eat and call it a win.

Keep your plants strong to resist pest invasions

Finally, the best way to avoid pest invasions is to keep your plants healthy. Strong plants are less likely to be attacked than plants that have a weakness, such as damaged bark or a virus or mold that degrades a plant’s health and defenses. Follow the proper instructions on planting, pruning, watering, weeding, and spacing of each plant variety in your garden to avoid problems.

For example, we split our garden into watering zones but accidentally put some field flowers next to the peonies. Next thing we knew, the peony leaves were looking a bit moldy while the other thirsty plants thrived. Now that we have test our garden location for a few years, we have shuffled around the plants so they can stay healthy in proper plant pairings. This can also extend to how much light a plant needs. We never plant something that needs full sun behind a trellis of beans as it won’t get the right sun or water.

Avoid over fertilizing, too. Some plants like lilac bushes only flower when you don’t fertilize them, believe it or not. These types of plants will only grow larger and greener in the presence of too much nitrogen fertilizer. Know your plants before you put them in the garden to avoid problems where improper plant care causes pest or blooming problems.

One other option is to run your garden as an organic garden, but consider supplementing with GMO or disease-resistant plant varieties for types of plants you struggle to grow in your area. This could give you a leg up on pest pressure. Just make sure the plant isn’t invasive, or you’ll end up with it taking over the garden (looking at you both, mountain mint and yarrow).

You don’t want a sterile garden, don’t get me wrong. Mulch the plants that need to retain more water, and don’t worry if some mold shows up in the wood chips or soil. That is probably just mycelium, which helps plant roots exchange minerals under the soil. It’s when the stems or leaves look spotty or fuzzy, the leaves turn brown or get holes, or you see a large number of insects on your plants that you want to pay attention. Ideally, you would want to catch it sooner than that, but we all have our lives to live. If you do run into a pest problem, go through the options here or look up organic pesticides for more options.

Occasionally, you might have to remove a plant manually to avoid treating it with heavy chemicals, and that is unfortunate. It’s up to you to find the best balance for your plants and your land. Another option is to rotate your crops year to year so that larvae infesting the soil won’t find the plant they were previously feeding on. This works especially well with brassicas. By rotating your garden, you also assure that your plants are not pulling specific minerals out of the soil in one spot every year, and have a better chance of keeping your garden healthy and pest-resistant.

Images via Pexels

Eco Material Technologies, a producer of sustainable cement alternatives, and Hive 3D, an automated construction company, worked together to build five vacation rentals, all of which have been 3D printed with an Eco Material cement mixture called PozzoCEM Vite. It’s faster, cheaper to build and the walls are made of this eco-cement made of fly ash and other sustainable materials.

Related: Recyclable 3D-printed home is unveiled to the public

“By utilizing these mixtures, Eco Material’s green cement products can be manufactured at room temperature, instead of with high heat like traditional portland cement, drastically reducing emissions in the process,” explained Grant Quasha, CEO, Eco Material Technologies. 

Eco Materials product is not just more sustainable than traditional cement, it’s also stronger, lasts longer and sets in a few minutes, which allows for rapid construction of sustainable homes in a variety of climates.

Additionally, Hive 3D worked with CyBe Construction to create a small mobile construction printer and cement mixing system. The mortar is mixed on site with local aggregates at a lower cost than normal 3D printing mortars. This makes building 30% to 40% less expensive than traditional construction.

So, what is it like to build a home entirely out of concrete other than the roof? Hive 3D said it took just a few days to print each Casitas home, then about two months to get the homes ready for residents after installing electrical systems, plumbing, windows and other extras. But Hive 3D can print outdoor furniture, counter bases and all kinds of other features using the eco-cement, which also simplifies the rest of the building process. Even the insulation is made of proprietary cement foam.

The Casitas rental homes are 400 to 900 square feet and include a studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom models, designed for short-term rentals for a local festival season. Despite the current housing crisis, this still strikes us as a good way to get more people through these homes to experience 3D-printed sustainable architecture in a way they otherwise couldn’t. If you are thinking about a 3D-printed home, check them out for a short-term rental through Starred Sky Development, Hive 3D development and marketing partner. The building partners will continue to work together to build dozens of 3D-printed sustainable homes in the next few years.

+ Hive 3D Builders

Images via Eco Material Technologies and Hive 3D

Clean makeup is also a hard to define term, and it doesn’t account for allergies. Here are some common allergies you might run into while choosing clean makeup, and how to work around them.

Related: Carbon negative beauty brands leading us to a greener future

Metal allergies

The most common allergy I see in people choosing clean makeup is metal allergies. Nickel is probably the most common, but did you know the following metal allergies are also pretty common?

• – Nickel
• – Aluminum
• – Bismuth
• – Cobalt
• – Copper
• – Chromium

According to MedBroadcast, the above metal allergies can also be an issue for jewelry, watches and phone cases. Even clothing items can contain high levels of some metals.

To get around this, choose mineral makeup that has a matte finish. Look for pigments made from iron oxides to avoid a lot of dyes and minerals like bismuth that, like metals, create a shimmer in your makeup products, but also cause frequent cases of dermatitis. Mica is less likely to cause you problems, so that’s another great alternative.

Fruit and vegetable allergies

Believe it or not, one of the biggest problems you might run into when switching to clean makeup is fruit and vegetable allergies to natural ingredients. These natural ingredients can be wonderful alternatives to synthetic petroleum-based alternatives. That is, unless you’re allergic to them. Here are some common allergies to fruit and vegetable products found in clean makeup you might want to test one at a time:

• – Strawberry
• – Tomato
• – Avocado oil
• – Cocoa
• – Nuts or nut oils
• – Peach and plum
• – Melons
• – Zucchini and pumpkin squashes
• – Apples and pears
• – Kiwi

According to a government health site from Australia, the above ingredients are common triggers of allergic reactions. Really you can be allergic to almost anything, but you might also want to watch out for nightshade vegetables, which are also a common allergy trigger because they contain these inflammatory chemicals:

• – Potato starch
• – Eggplant
• – Tomato
• – Peppers

Keep in mind that peppers can include bell peppers or hot peppers, and many topical pain relief rubs contain capsaicin from hot peppers also used in local anesthesia. If you have sensitive skin, you might not need to be allergic to react to fruit enzyme peels like apple and pineapple face scrubs or retinol alternatives in makeup and moisturizers. They’re just too harsh for some skin types and leave redness and peeling beyond what is intended to refresh your skin.

Preservative allergies

Finally, preservative allergies are a common cause of allergic reactions. Preservatives that cause frequent allergic reactions include the following, according to a dermatology site called Dermanet from New Zealand.

• – Sulfites/sulfates
• – Benzoates
• – Antioxidants

If you can’t tolerate preservatives, one workaround is to look for natural products that use citric acid as a harmless preservative. Alternatively, buy oil-based formulas instead of water-based because these don’t need preservatives as often to stay fresh.

Keep in mind that you might have a reaction that goes beyond the skin rashes and redness we all could recognize. If you have shortness of breath, tongue or throat swelling, racing pulse or digestive upset and confusion, these are all symptoms of multi-systemic anaphylaxis and could require medical attention.

And remember, many brands claim their makeup is clean, but you might want to research ingredients on the Skin Deep database or read up on company websites about what makes their products truly clean before buying. There is no current industry standard for clean makeup, so for starters you will want to make sure the ingredient list is a dozen ingredients or less, and you can pronounce them.

Personally, my favorite clean makeup brands are the following, but remember they contain many fruit and vegetable ingredients, as well as a few metals and preservatives you might want to check or test one by one:

• – ILIA
• – RMS Beauty
• – 100% Pure
• – MG Naturals
• – Moonrise Creek
• – Toups & Co. Organics
• – Willow Tree Minerals

Images via Pexels

Providing a plant-based, vegan solution for the wholesale restaurant market, Charlie’s table offers a variety of fresh pasta options, which can be shipped directly. In addition, the company has developed a replacement for traditional semolina pasta, with a pasta flour blend that allows pasta makers to turn their favorite recipes into gluten-free, kosher and vegan pasta for their customers. 

Related: Wheat bran from pasta 3D prints into product displays

“We are thrilled to offer food service operators a high-quality pasta experience to their guests, including to those customers with dietary restrictions and preferences,” said Charlie’s Table Cofounder Bennett Hirsch. “We recognize the growing demand for plant-based, gluten and allergen-free options, and are proud our pasta offerings provide a taste and texture that delights consumers.”

One such customer, Bacione Pasta Shop, located in Bronxville, NY, put Charlie’s Table to the test with a blind sampling of the traditional house pasta paired against pasta made with Charlie’s Table’s pasta flour blend and General Manager Sabina Reci reported, “No one could tell the difference between the two pastas. Charlie’s Table pasta is virtually indistinguishable in taste and texture to the traditional semolina pasta I make every day.”

With a spike in customers seeking nutritious plant-based diets for reasons ranging from health to protecting the environment, restaurants are feeling the pressure to provide alternatives. 

Charlie’s Table Cofounder David Landay said, “We understand the challenges that food service operators face when it comes to offering safe and mouth-watering options for customers with dietary restrictions. Our goal is to make it easy for operators to provide a high-quality pasta experience that meets the needs of all their customers, without sacrificing taste, safety or efficiency.”

Most recently, the company released a line of products for the retail market too, with four-packs of pasta, family-size meals and soon-to-be-released pasta flour blend for those who want to make their own gluten-free pasta at home. 

Charlie’s Table also has an alter ego, a nonprofit sister company called Charlie’s Table Oasis. This philanthropic arm offers education about gluten-free living and how restaurants can support customer wishes for food options that meet their needs. The company donates a percentage of company profits to Broadway Cares, an organization aiding those who face food insecurity or who are looking for support in their venture to eat allergen and/or gluten free, vegan, Kosher or non-GMO.

+ Charlie’s Table

Images via Moriah Sawtelle

Over the years, people have developed different techniques to deal with this problem. Unfortunately, some of the widely used erosion techniques may not be ideal for gardening. Most gardeners prefer a small-scale approach to erosion control, and this is where the jute mesh comes to play.

Related: Indonesia builds a resilient “living shoreline”

The jute mesh is made from the jute plant, a natural fiber-producing plant. The plant is native to India and other parts of Asia, but can be grown in many other regions across the world. Its ability to be turned into long strands of fiber make it stand out in the preparation of fiber ropes. It is also used to make bags and other items that can be woven from fiber.

Also referred to as the hessian mesh, the jute netting can be quite effective in taming erosion. The mesh comes in different dimensions with different mesh opening sizes. The mesh opening size you choose should depend on the scale of erosion in your garden and the extent of the area you intend to cover.

Besides the fact that the jute mesh is available in custom sizes, it is also biodegradable. Gardening is intrinsically about maintaining a sustainable ecosystem. With the jute mesh, you will be using a biodegradable product that will not affect the environment. This mesh is entirely made out of jute fiber, which degrades after some time.

Thanks to the vast benefits of the jute mesh in taming erosion, farmers and policymakers are now adopting it. California specifically encourages the use of jute netting both in farms and gardens to tame erosion. The state says the jute mesh is more affordable compared to its alternatives. It is way cheaper than plastic mesh, although it is also sustainable and biodegradable.

Jute mesh installation steps

Before you acquire your jute mesh, determine the dimensions of the area to be covered. Order a mesh that is slightly larger than the area you intend to fit. Secondly, consider the type of plants available in your garden and the ones you intend to plant. The slitting on the mesh should give you sufficient room to place your plants in the ground. 

In case you already have some plants growing in the garden, consider getting a mesh with wide slitting.

You will need the following tools to install a jute mesh:

• – A trowel or shovel to dig trenches
• – A BioPin Applicator
• – U-shaped pins: 300 mm for loose soil, 200 mm for slopes, 150 mm for flat surfaces and 100 mm for solid firm soil
• – Pin driver, preferably a rubber mallet

Step 1: Prepare the land for laying the netting

Get your land ready by tilling it and leveling the surface. Remove any obstacles, such as tree stumps that may get in the way of the mat. It is ideal for laying a jute mat on a fairly flat surface. However, if your garden has mature trees or stumps, you may still wind it around such obstacles.

Step 2: Excavate and pin the mat on one end

Dig a trench at the point where you intend to roll the mat from. A recommended depth of eight inches and width of six inches should be your target. Insert the top edge of your mat in the trench and pin it to the sides using the rubber mallet. Using a shovel, backfill the trench with the soil excavated to hold the net firmly.

Step 3: Roll over the mat and backfill

To lay the rest of the mat, back-roll it over the designated area. You may have to use more than one roll of the jute matting. To lay the next roll, overlap it with the one already laid down. Use some pins to hold the two mats on the ground. Finish rolling the rest of the jute netting and hold it to the ground at the tail end with some pins. You do not need to dig a trench to hold the mat at the tail end. 

Step 4: Use plant stabilizer to plant

One key consideration to make when purchasing the jute mat is the nature of your garden and the amount of work you intend to undertake. If you are looking for a mat that will make your installation easier, opt for the slit option. With a slit mat, all you have to do is install and start planting. If it isn’t slit, you need to do the slitting personally.

For non-slit mats, use a pair of scissors to make slits where you intend to plant. Dig a hole in the cut fabric and add about one spoonful of plant stabilizer. The stabilizer will help the plant grow strong and hold firmly to the ground. With that, you will have installed the jute mat and planted your garden.

Disadvantages of a jute mesh

The jute mesh is not without its disadvantages. Despite being eco-friendly and quite affordable, the mat itself is quite weak. It gets even weaker when it stays in the water. If you experience heavy flooding, you may end up getting disappointed by the mesh.

Besides being quite weak compared to other options, it does not have a long lifespan either. Manufacturers of the jute mesh give it a lifespan of between six and 12 months. If you want your mat to last longer, go for a thick one that is more compact as opposed to one with wide mesh boxes.

Some alternatives weigh quite favorably over the jute mesh. The coir mesh, for instance, is stronger, more durable and still biodegradable. However, the coir mesh is way costlier than the jute one. The other option is plastic mesh, which is easily frowned upon for its environmental side effects. 

At the end of the day, you should find a solution to your garden erosion. The jute mesh forms an ideal option for most people due to its environmental and cost benefits. Nonetheless, for those who may need a more durable option, consider the coir mesh, as it is slightly stronger. For sustainability purposes, avoid the plastic mesh at all costs.

Images via Pexels

What causes forest fires?

Natural causes

Worldwide, up to 25% of wildfires are induced by natural factors, such as lightning or volcanic activity. One of the key causes for the increase in forest fires around the world has been climate change. This is because fire-prone conditions are exacerbated by the hotter and drier weather brought about by climate change. This leads to phenomena like high temperatures, strong winds and droughts, contributing to the ignition or spread of fires.

Related: How can the world combat the climate crisis?

Human-related causes

Humans are responsible for 75% of the world’s wildfires. However, in the U.S. alone, 84% of wildfires are caused by humans or human-related activities. Data shows that in the Northern Hemisphere, most fires are a result of negligence. This includes the burning of rubbish or debris and industrial accidents. These fires are consequently made worse by the hot, dry summer seasons induced by climate change, resulting in them spreading quickly and uncontrollably.

In more tropical or subtropical regions, forest fires are often caused by uncontrolled fires that are intended for land-use change. This includes land conversion for agriculture to meet industry demands. Additionally, human-induced factors such as diseased vegetation and degraded land as a result of logging, create areas susceptible to wildfires. As these factors continue to become more prevalent across ecosystems, they will continue to create conditions that will become more favorable for stronger and more frequent forest fires. In turn, they could have severe impacts on these biodiversity hotspots.

What are the effects of forest fires?

Wildfires cause several catastrophic effects on communities, economies and ecosystems, all of which are intermingled. Additionally, though they are often induced by climate change factors, forest fires form part of a vicious cycle that contributes to climate change.

Socio-economic effects

Unfortunately, one of the key threats of forest fires is how they negatively impact the health and well-being of communities in the affected regions. Each year, roughly 340,000 premature deaths occur as a result of respiratory and cardiovascular issues caused by wildfire smoke. In fact, smoke and haze can travel great distances, resulting in poor health even for those in areas that are not directly impacted by the fires. Besides health, wildfires impact all areas of life. For example, in Indonesia, over five million students were affected by the fire season, as schools were forced to close down for the safety of the local communities.

Wildfires can also have severe economic impacts. They cause billions of dollars of economic damage through the destruction of infrastructure, including water and food supplies, property, telecommunications and power facilities. Economies are also negatively affected by the large-scale evacuations that need to take place for the safety of locals in the region.

Environmental effects

As one can imagine, forest fires are an increasingly concerning threat to the environment. Unlike humans who are typically able to escape from these dangerous situations, wildfires can wipe out endemic species of plants, animals and other organisms in a given area. This causes severe threats to biodiversity and oftentimes, irreparable damage to these ecosystems. Depending on the severity and spread of the fires, large populations of wildlife can be impacted. For example, in the 2019 to 2020 Australian wildfires, three billion animals were estimated to have been displaced or killed.

Besides threats to biodiversity and local ecosystems, wildfires also have severe impacts on the world at large. Carbon dioxide (CO2) released into the atmosphere by forest fires exacerbates global warming, thus creating a vicious cycle that is affected by climate change, but also contributes to it. Consequently, this amplifies hot, dry seasons which result in more extreme fires, which further induce greater carbon emissions.

Currently, the CO2 emitted by global forest fires annually is equivalent to carbon emissions produced by the European Union each year. The consequences this could have on climate change are severe and are only increasing. In fact, due to the increase in deforestation, wildfires and rising temperatures, forests could go from being one of the world’s largest carbon sinks to becoming one of the largest carbon sources, as billions of tons of sequestered carbon could be released into the atmosphere.

How can we prevent forest fires?

In the U.S. alone, 7.5 million acres of land are lost to wildfires each year, with human-related causes being the primary culprit. While the weather can influence forest fires and their occurrences, human activity exacerbates the situation even more. Currently, the most common causes of human-induced forest fires are the burning of debris, overheated or sparking equipment/machinery and campfires. Fire prevention and control are only possible through the implementation of appropriate forest management plans and responsible behavior in forest ecosystems.

There are several ways for people to take precautions to prevent the start of accidental forest fires. The main component within each of these precautionary measures is being mindful of weather conditions and mitigating possible sources of ignition. By taking into account the methods of preventing wildfires, we can prevent the immense socio-economic and environmental repercussions that these phenomena have on local ecosystems.

Practicing responsible agriculture and garbage disposal

Agricultural activities that involve logging often use the burning of dried vegetation or debris to deposit nutrients into the soil. Burning rubbish is another related activity. While this is not the healthiest form of garbage disposal, it is a tactic that many use, particularly in more remote areas. Besides their immense threats to diversity, these activities are often the cause of wildfires. When ashes are not properly extinguished or weather conditions are poor, fires grow and spread to nearby ecosystems. These are aggravated by disposed plastics or petrol, as they can produce toxic fumes or explosions.

Preventing machinery-related and vehicular hazards

Spark-producing tools, hot equipment and over-heated engines are all key sources of wildfire ignition. Therefore, it is recommended to avoid using spark-producing tools as they can cause dry vegetation to catch fire. Additionally, refueling heated engines is dangerous and illegal, as it leads to combustion. In general, it is prudent to have fire-extinguishing equipment on hand to prevent the growth of small flares that could be caused by machines or vehicles.

Maintaining a safe campsite

While partaking in recreational activities, it is key to ensure that you maintain a safe environment. One such example includes making sure that campfires are completely extinguished. Another good practice is the safe disposal of hot items and cigarettes. This prevents sparks from growing into larger, uncontrollable flares. Finally, if fireworks are being lit, it is crucial to take wildfire prevention measures. Firstly, fireworks should not be lit in or near forests. Additionally, it helps to water the grass near the fireworks area and not start fireworks when it is windy, in order to prevent unexpected flares.

Via Global Forest Watch, WWF and EOS Data Analytics

Images via Pexels

Inauguration of Liander Westpoort regional office for Alliander was designed by De Zwarte Hond to become a beautiful workplace in Amsterdam, Netherlands. The design includes an office building, warehouses, test facilities, workshops, educational areas and parking. The facility will be a second home to 700 employees.

Related: Castelar 75 building is green inside and out

The design was made for sustainability, modularity and safety. This facility was made with sustainable materials with as little glue, foam and sealants as possible. The all-timber construction is sustainable and the design can grow as needed as the company and employee needs grow.

The façades are covered with Corten steel, a weather-resistant material that stands up to the elements. The interior is designed to encourage interaction and engagement. The large atrium has central wooden staircases where employees can interact with each other. The wandering staircase connects each floor at a different place. Employees can find themselves in different areas of the facility and get exposed to new people and processes within the company.

Additionally, this building is gas-free and energy-neutral. Thermal energy storage and solar panels keep the facility running. Materials were reused to create this design thanks to a circular economy approach that was used throughout the construction. Plants all around the buildings and on the buildings create natural habitats for birds, insects, small mammals and amphibians. Overall, 30% of the façade is green. Rainwater is stored on-site to provide irrigation for the plants. It’s all part of the nature-inclusive design.

This is also an all-inclusive design, with three different companies located on the site. People and nature can work together across different companies, different tasks and different goals. Thereby, this design is the proof of how an all-inclusive mindset can create a truly beautiful, healthy and sustainable world.

+ De Zwarte Hond

Images via Jaques Tillmans Foto Focus and Scagliola Brakkee

While we cannot pin the term sustainable to any single act, you may already have an idea of what a sustainable fence entails. Essentially, it is any fence that is ecologically and environmentally sensitive. In this view, even the slightest efforts to cut down greenhouse gasses, reduce water wastage and preserve nature are welcome.

Related: What do you need to know about plant walls?

To build a sustainable garden fence, consider using materials that are less harmful to the environment. For a long time, gardeners have relied on plastic and wood fences. In our sustainably sensitive society, things have changed. Gardeners now use biodegradable materials or those that are at least produced with minimal greenhouse pollution. Sustainable fencing also considers options that are less energy-consuming and ones that save natural resources such as water.

Given that sustainability is a multifaceted subject, make your decisions very carefully. For instance, going for a living fence made out of plants can help reduce atmospheric carbon pollution. However, if you plant trees that are water-thirsty on your fence, you may also end up hurting the limited water resources. It is therefore important to balance all aspects of sustainability as you build your garden fence.

With these factors at the back of your mind, here are five ideas for a sustainable garden fence.

1. Bamboo wood fence

Bamboo is one of the world’s fastest-growing plants. Some species of bamboo can grow by as much as three feet per day, according to One Tree. Note that bamboo is actually grass and not a tree and hence the fast growth rate. Interestingly, bamboo can grow up to 90 feet tall at maturity. For a plant that is easy to grow, using it as a fence is a sustainable step.

When it comes to fencing, bamboo is really among the top sustainable options. It boasts natural patterns that make it a beauty to behold. Secondly, it is one of the hardest and most durable plants on earth. When used on fencing, you should expect a considerably long lifespan of up to 20 years without any signs of weakness.

On the downside, bamboo might not be readily available in a market near you. If this is the case, consider growing your own. Bamboo is well tolerant to different types of climates and grows pretty fast. 

2. Rustic stone fence

A stone fence offers plenty of benefits apart from being sustainable. First, it is probably one of the most durable fencing options. Stones can last for centuries as long as they are well-installed. While you might need to use cement in some cases, there are stone fences that can be built entirely without introducing concrete. Stones are natural and will not introduce any chemicals to the environment.

Secondly, even if you decide to bring down the stone fence at some point, the final waste is natural earth. You will not have any foreign matter polluting the surface. Most importantly, stones are cheaper than most of the other fencing materials used.

You have several stone options to choose from, including travertine, marble and granite. Choose a stone color that blends easily with your garden for aesthetics. 

3. Biocomposite fencing material

Today, there are many types of biocomposite building materials. These are mainly fencing or construction materials made from fully or partially organic compounds. These materials act as a replacement for traditional construction options that do not pay much attention to sustainability. Some examples are Natures Composites fencing made from a combination of used plastic and natural wheat straw. Recycled Plastic Concrete can also fall under this category. 

The best part is that you get access to diverse colors for your fence beautification. The other advantage of such materials is that they are stronger and way more durable than plastic. The downside of such a fence is that it may be slightly more costly. Traditional materials such as wood and plastic are easily available. On the other hand, special composite materials may be slightly costly.

4. Plant a living fence

The living fence is one of the oldest ideas of fencing. Before humans started fencing their compounds with steel and concrete, plants were used to decorate and protect homes. The same idea is still widely applicable and can be used in your garden. The best part of using a living fence is that you do not have to introduce any non-organic material.

With the living fence, all you have to do is find a plant that covers the spaces well. Some plants that do well on the fence are the Leyland cypress, boxwood and honeysuckle. When choosing a plant to use on the fence, go for one that is attractive but also efficient in water consumption. Avoid plants that are water hungry such as white cedar and river birch if you will be using your tap water to irrigate. For those in regions that receive plenty of precipitation, there is no need to worry about water consumption.

Although the living fence ticks so many boxes in terms of sustainability and costs, it requires patience. Some green fencing plants could take as long as five years before taking shape. This means that you must be patient as you wait for your fence to mature. You must also be extra careful so that your tender plants do not get damaged by animals and humans.

The other key component of a living fence is the need to get rid of pests. Avoid planting trees or flowers that are susceptible to pests. Such may require using too many pesticides to the detriment of the environment.

5. Reclaimed lumber fencing

Recycling and reusing are part of sustainability. Reclaiming what would have become waste is one way to reduce clutter in the environment. If you have unused wood at home, work on them to make a fence. There are also timber yards that sell reclaimed lumber. This type of wood is much cheaper than purchasing fresh timber. Secondly, using reclaimed wood helps reduce deforestation in the long run.

Fencing with reclaimed wood has its disadvantages. One of the main factors that come out is the durability of the fence. Reclaimed wood has a much shorter lifespan than fresh wood. Even so, with appropriate treatment to fend off pests, the fence could last. Reclaimed wood is, therefore, best used in regions that are not commonly affected by wood-eating pests.

Final Take

If you are considering a sustainable garden fence, there are many options to choose from. However, they are not without their disadvantages. When installing a sustainable fence, consider its value to the environment, the cost of installation and its durability. Always weigh the negatives against the positives. At the end of the day, sustainability is a matter of making choices and accounting for their consequences.

Images via Pexels

The one-kilometer long awe-inspiring trail, developed by architects EFFEKT in conjunction with local contractor Inge Aamlid, rewards visitors with a 50-meters-wide circular viewpoint. It provides a breathtaking 360-degree panorama of the encompassing pine forest, nearby water and captivating rock formations.

Related: Barcelona’s spectacular promenade on the sea

Of paramount importance is the commitment to environmental stewardship inherent in this project. The design of the wooden boardwalk is thoughtfully attuned to the natural topography of the mountain, meticulously following its contours. It gracefully adheres to the mountain’s ridges and slopes, while extending to create scenic viewpoints and exhilarating vantage points where visitors can relish the views in the open air of the treetops.

Beyond its aesthetic grandeur, the treetop walk is designed to ensure inclusivity. Crafted as a universally accessible pathway, it caters to pedestrians, cyclists, parents with strollers and individuals utilizing wheelchairs. The load-bearing structure, boardwalk and railing are meticulously fashioned from locally-sourced pinewood. This choice of indigenous materials harmoniously integrates the structure with the surrounding pine trees, creating an optical illusion of the boardwalk harmoniously suspended within the forest’s embrace.

To realize the vision of enhancing access to the region without compromising its integrity, the EFFEKT team and Aamlid devised a wooden building system that relies on small, straight prefabricated elements, streamlining the transport and assembly of the materials and ensuring minimal site impact during construction. Aamlid’s utilization of local timber and craftsmanship techniques serves as an homage to Fyresdal’s historical logging era, imbuing the project with a sense of heritage and regional authenticity.

+ EFFEKT

Photography by Rasmus Hjortshøj

Drip tape watering hose

First up is the best way to save water on your home garden: drip tape. Drip tape is a black hose you attach to your garden water source and then poke holes where your plants are. Drip tape saves up to 80% of water from evaporation and can greatly reduce the watering needs of your garden because water only goes where it’s needed.

Related: Is human made rain the way to help the increasing droughts?

Water at the right time of day

If you live in a hot climate, you probably know that watering your garden in the morning will just make it evaporate in the hot sun. Try watering your garden just before sunrise, or after the heat of the day has passed. You don’t want to water at night or you will get mold on your plants, but any time away from noon sun should help you save water on irrigating your garden.

Put your sprinklers on a timer

Don’t have time to stand around watering or remembering when to go outside for optimal water conservation? You can buy timers that go on a standard sprinkler or split your garden into zones. This is a fantastic option for saving water if you grow plants that have different watering needs. Instead of wasting water soaking the whole garden, you can set your timer to water the thirsty plants longer, without wasting water or drowning the plants that don’t need that much.

Plant drought-resistant plants

You can also save water by planting vegetables, flowers and trees that are native to your area and won’t need a lot of extra water or attention. We like to grow zucchini even though no one really wants to eat it just because it’s so resilient in our Midwest climate regardless of the weather. In fact it’s one of the only plants growing normally during this bizarre growing season that started with late frost, then drought and heat, then wildfire smoke haze followed by soaking storms.

Cold-resistant plants

If you live in a northern climate, try growing plants that are cold resistant and like the amount of rain you get in the spring so you can save water by only watering in the peak of summer. You could also grow in a tunnel or greenhouse to preserve water, as plants in covered spaces don’t lose as much water to evaporation and have more controlled temperature. Just be sure to get a greenhouse or tunnel that allows you to control ventilation so you don’t cook your greens on a hot day. The best tunnels are low and removeable for flexibility with this. The best greenhouses have fans or ventilated windows so you can adjust temperature and moisture as the weather shifts.

Rock gardening to preserve water

Live in a hot or dry climate? Put down rocks around your plants that are thirsty in a row or a low wall to preserve water and nutrients in the soil from blowing away. Or use mulch around plants and use landscape fabric where appropriate to help hold moisture in the soil. Biointensive farming might also help you retain more moisture in a climate that’s heating up. In places like New Jersey, the climate is moving to subtropical, meaning you can plant later in the season, but you need to think about watering needs changing.

Subterranean gardening (no, really)

Here me out. There is an older gentleman currently growing oranges and other tropical fruits like figs in an underground tunnel off the back of his house in North Dakota. If your climate just isn’t cooperating, you could look into berming a garden or greenhouse into the ground to make ventilation and watering more even year round.

This is also an option for those of us in cold winter climates, and is a way to turn a desert climate into a tropical growing zone if you have the water to keep up. Water for these gardens could come from hoses or rainwater basins, and you can ventilate them on top like a greenhouse. Or dig drain tile into the ground below the frost line with blower fans that keep your greenhouse always the temperature of the soil beneath whatever is frozen. This is more labor intensive and more of an investment (also limited space), but it’s a great option for people who are determined to garden no matter what happens to the climate.

Images via Pexels

Phuis has a goal of lowering the heavy load that has been placed on electrical grids all over the country. Forever House was designed by Architect Christina Griffin and built using Phuis passive building techniques. Griffin’s goal was to show how environmentally-friendly homes can still be extremely New York chic.

Related: These zero energy ready homes are solar and energy efficient

The elegant, modern design she created is a perfect way to showcase it. This home began its life in 1905 as a pretty cottage. Now, it has earned the name Forever House. The name represents the home’s durability and sustainability. Any home that can have an entire second life as an eco-friendly dream more than a century after it was built certainly deserves the name Forever.

Additionally, the home was made for fossil-free living and matched Phius+ Source Zero standards. The home presented a challenge because it needed to be optimized for both the chilling winters and hot summers of New York. The result is a beautiful, innovative design that has beautiful views and an energy-efficient design in all seasons.

Inside, the interior is light and airy. It’s full of wood and big, open spaces. Through the windows, green spaces are visible because they fill up the area outside the home. Wooden ceiling beams add character to some rooms, where soft shades of paint play against the gleaming hardwood floors.

The Forever House not only looks modern, it’s full of innovative features and a minimalistic design. It has been revamped and redone for the modern era in the spirit of retrofitting. The architect wanted to set an example and show off all the possibilities you can find in this home.

+ Christina Griffin

Photography by Suzanne Levine and John Maggiotto

What is precision fermentation?

The process begins with scientists first identifying the DNA sequences that encode for the proteins, fats, flavors, enzymes, vitamins and other ingredients found in dairy products. They then insert these DNA sequences into microorganisms, such as yeast or fungi. These microorganisms are then fermented in tanks, much like beer is brewed. During the fermentation process, the microorganisms produce the desired ingredients, which are then purified and used to make dairy products.

Related: Plant-based eggs surge in popularity amidst shortage

Like other forms of fermentation, temperature regulation, steel tanks and oxygenators are all part of the standard equipment. The difference is that after the desired proteins are produced and separated out, the resulting powder is free of animal ingredients.

“We get to the same powder, but these are the cows,” said Irina Gerry, chief marketing officer at Change Foods in California, pointing to the fermenters in their San Jose lab.

What are the advantages of precision fermentation?

Precision fermentation has several advantages over traditional dairy production. First, it is more sustainable. The production of dairy products using precision fermentation requires less land, water and energy than traditional dairy production.

Second, it is more ethical. No animals are harmed in the production of dairy products using precision fermentation.

Third, it is more consistent. The ingredients produced using precision fermentation are identical to those found in animal products, which means that the dairy products produced using this technology will have a consistent taste, texture and nutritional value. In addition, they are lactose free and void of cholesterol, growth hormones and antibiotics.

What brands are using these dairy products?

There’s somewhere around two dozen precision dairy companies currently in different stages of launch. Perfect Day, a California-based company is leading the pack with products already on the shelves. On the other hand, Change Foods is a newcomer who is preparing to launch a line of powdered milk proteins that can be used as an ingredient, and also has its eyes set on a cheese product line in a few years.

TurtleTree is hoping to use the technology to develop a human breast milk alternative, which would provide a solution to baby formula shortages like we saw last year. Australian startup Eden Brew and U.S.-based New Culture are other notable names in the game.

What’s the future of precision fermentation in dairy?

The outlook for the success of these products is currently strong. Vegans, vegetarians and environmentalists who are concerned about animal welfare and climate change are eager to embrace alternatives to the livestock industry that is said to be the leading source of greenhouse gasses in the world. 

Although nut milks have filled the void for milk products, many non-dairy options of cheese have fallen short in regard to texture, taste and meltability. Precision fermentation products are perched to remedy this gap in the market with all forms of dairy foods that are more palatable as well as environmentally sustainable. 

Big-name brands have pounced on the opportunity to incorporate precision fermentation products, including contracts from Nestlé, Mars, Starbucks and General Mills. Perfect Day products can also be found in dairy products by Brave Robot, Modern Kitchen, California Performance Co. and Coolhaus.

But how do they taste and are they really a viable and sustainable solution to the pollution and other ravaging effects of the cattle industry? The jury is still out on this one, since the industry is so young. Most companies are currently only producing the base ingredient, which means food manufacturers are the ones putting them to use in new recipes. Inasmuch, we can expect a wide variety of qualities, tastes and performance of those final products being developed from the protein base. 

What about regulations for the precision fermentation industry?

As new technologies emerge, regulations are playing catch up. However, with the focus on informative and accurate food labeling in recent years, it stands to reason there’s precedence to monitor what’s happening in the precision fermentation world. 

“Precision fermentation dairy’s growth has to happen fast to be price-competitive with traditional animal dairy and to gain widespread adoption,” said Ravi Jhala, Perfect Day, Global Head, Commercial. 

With that in mind, the industry may get ahead of the regulations in the short term. After all, it’s currently up to companies to decide whether to market a product as “lactose-free, animal-free, dairy alternative, etc.” Moreover, at some point, we may need to redefine the category as separate from dairy altogether. 

Then there is the influence of the mighty powerful cow dairy industry, who has shown its stance in the fight against plant-based food and beverage companies who use common dairy labels like milk and cheese — ultimately without success so far.

To summarize, International Dairy Foods Association spokesman Matt Herrick said, “Our position is that FDA must develop a uniform, mandated disclosure approach to this technology to ensure labeling is truthful and not misleading for consumers.”

While the industry is ready for exponential growth as a solution for environmental damage, animal welfare, finding a viable protein source for less-developed populations and serving a void in the dairy-alternative market, there are likely to be growing pains for the industry as a whole while the weight of the dairy industry shoves against regulatory committees and the courts. 

Via Washington Post

Images via Pexels

The most energy-consuming home appliances

According to Duke Energy, there is something called a “brick” and a “wall wart” that is probably sucking up more than its fair share of energy in your home. A brick is a large black box often found attached to power cords used with laptop computers, TVs and some cable equipment. These bricks use energy continually when plugged in, so be sure to unplug or replace them when possible.

Related: Top U.S. clean energy trends to watch in 2023

A wall wart is a device with a large plug, such as a cell phone charger that has a bulky piece that plugs into the wall directly. Like a laptop brick charger, a wall wart will use energy continuously, so don’t leave these plugged in when not in use. Also consider plugging devices in to USB chargers and car charging ports when possible, because these don’t have the wall wart design.

You might find energy vampire devices around your home including the following:

• – Mobile/cellular devices
• – MP3 players
• – Video game consoles
• – Cable/satellite boxes
• – Digital TV converters
• – DVR, VCR and DVD players
• – Coffee makers and small kitchen appliances
• – Remote control devices
• – Devices with standby light or clock

How to reduce energy waste from home appliances

After you unplug energy-wasting devices when not in use, you can also find ways to control how much energy they are allowed to use. Try the following tips for devices and power cords you can’t replace:

• – Use power strips that turn off when not in use
• – Put a timer on your devices
• – Smart power strips or timers plugged into power strips automatically control power use
• – Put your devices in sleep mode
• – Unplug devices you don’t use every day (TVs, fans, mini fridges)
• – Replace new products that are energy efficient when you replace your devices

The most energy-hungry appliances will be your fridge, your furnace and A/C and any EVs you plug in to charge at home. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t take a big chunk out of your energy bill by looking at the small stuff, especially if it’s out of date and not energy efficient. Did you find an energy-wasting device in your home? Let us know in the comments what we missed on these lists.

Perch Energy lists the following as the most wasteful energy-sucking devices in your home:

1. 1. Heating and cooling: 45% to 50% the largest electricity consumer in the average household
2. 2. Water heater: 12%  
3. 3. Lighting: 9% to 12%
4. 4. Refrigerator: 8%
5. 5. Washer and dryer: 5%
6. 6. Electric oven: 3%
7. 7. Dishwasher: 2%
8. 8. TV and cable box: 2%

Don’t forget to change your lightbulbs to LEDs while you’re at it, and to do an energy audit of energy leakage from your home. Most A/C contractors can come out and see if you need extra insulation or other modifications to save on your energy bill.

Finally, if your home energy use is out of control, bid out your options for replacing your major energy systems themselves. A heat pump, electric furnace, house battery, new efficient washer and dryer, or updating your wiring could be just the thing to fix your energy vampire problem.

Via Duke Energy

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Reclaimed wood, terracotta and stones were used throughout this design. You will also see native California greenery all over the hotel. Repurposed and locally-soured materials were used throughout. That includes redwood salvaged from the Old San Francisco Bay Bridge and recycled rubber.

Related: A luxury resort was designed for conservation and protection

Moreover, an on-site herb garden provides ingredients for sustainable cocktails. There’s also an apiary for bees on site. The hotel food menu is full of farm-to-table options. The food and cocktails make use of sustainably sourced, organic ingredients. Some of them come from the hotel’s rooftop garden.

The restaurant has a green ceiling made up of 100% preserved plants. Reclaimed timber was used for the dining chairs. All rugs in all public spaces in the hotel are hand-woven by artists in underdeveloped counties. Meanwhile, the linens are sustainably sourced. You will find driftwood sculptures in the bathrooms. The decorative baskets were hand-woven in India and there is beautiful wood, art and greenery everywhere you look. The house cars are Audi E-Tron, all-electric cars.

The list of features and amenities goes on. The point is, this is a gorgeous, sustainable hotel that puts eco-tourism right at the forefront. San Francisco is a perfect destination for those who love the natural world and believe in preserving its beauty. This hotel is a showcase of just how that natural beauty can be preserved and celebrated.

In one 2020 research study, San Francisco was rated as the most eco-friendly city in the world for tourists. That’s a big claim to fame and there’s obviously a big need in the city for sustainable hotels like this one. The city is chock-full of vegan restaurants and eco-friendly tours. There are also more parks and wildlife preserves here than any other city in the world. In other words, this is the perfect place to celebrate the natural world.

+ 1 Hotel San Francisco

Images via 1 Hotel San Francisco

What is clean compost?

Clean compost is a natural fertilizer made of natural ingredients including the following:

1. – Yard waste and leaves
2. – Garden waste such as leftover plant stems
3. – Kitchen vegetable scraps and eggshells

Related: The push for local composting programs in the US

Clean compost is compost that avoids a lot of the following problems you don’t want in your garden:

1. – Pesticides
2. – Chemical fertilizers
3. – The wrong mineral balance in your soil
4. – Pests
5. – Non-beneficial molds

Why you need compost to keep your garden productive

When you first plant your garden, maybe you didn’t know your soil needed to have a certain balance of nutrients, or maybe you did test that and amend it. But soil needs to be constantly renewed and rebalanced to avoid your soil becoming less productive. This is because when you grow vegetables and flowers in your garden, they pull the nutrients they need out of the soil.

Got a lot of weed pressure? Even weeds will pull nitrogen and other nutrients out of the soil, along with your yearly planted crops. The problem with these soil nutrient imbalances is that it can cause your garden to grow less quickly over time. Some plants might even fail entirely, and it will be hard to pinpoint why. Here is how to avoid soil nutrient deficiencies making your garden less productive over time:

1. – Check your soil nutrient balance using a home soil nutrient test kit or mail your soil sample to your local agriculture department for testing (this is what some farmers do every year as their crop depends on healthy soil every year).
2. – Order compost from a local landscaper or organic farm to get started if you need a lot (or buy compost in a bag if you only need a little).
3. – Amend your soil with sand and extra lime (not the same as the fruit, this is made of limestone) if you are growing berries or acid-loving fruits.
4. – Buy an organic fertilizer that replaces the deficient nutrients in your soil, or make your own compost to keep the soil replenished every year.

Obviously, if you don’t want to go to all this trouble, the easiest option is to make your own compost. Great news! This is super easy and can become a natural part of gardening that uses garden waste you already have on hand.

How to make composting a natural part of gardening

If you’re gardening, even if you’re still at the stage of ripping up a field or lawn to plant a garden, you probably have some garden and yard waste lying around. Throw this in a pile in a convenient location such as just outside your garden. Here is the balance you want and what you can throw on that pile:

1. – Garden waste like plant stems, grass, and weeds (but don’t include weed seeds or they will end up back in your garden)
2. – Yard waste such as dry leaves from raking
3. – Kitchen scraps: this can include vegetables, fruits, eggshells, and coffee grounds but no animal fats please or your compost will turn rancid and rot
4. – A bit of water if it is dry

Turn your pile every couple of weeks, and plan on a pile that is several feet deep and wide at a minimum to give it enough heat and mass to start turning to dirt. Smaller piles will just sit. Larger piles could even catch on fire, so it’s best to have several piles at various stages of composting rather than your own mini landfill.

If you get bugs or your pile is wet and stinks, add more dry leaves. This will keep your compost balanced. To start, you might even want one-third green garden and kitchen waste and two-thirds dry leaves. Don’t have enough from your yard? I’m sure a neighbor or your local city composting department can help you out.

I know people in the city who take leaves from nearby curbs before leaf pickup. Out in the country where we live there are always dry leaves somewhere lying around the woods or yard. It’s a lot easier than you think once you learn how to keep your compost dry enough.

Once you have a compost pile going, you can throw wheelbarrows of garden waste and tins of kitchen waste on the pile until it’s a few feet high and wide, then move on to the next pile in a row. The oldest pile will be ready to use as compost in a couple of months, sooner if you live in a hot environment or turn it often. Even a passive compost pile will still compact down into useable dirt at the bottom, which you can fork over your plant beds in the spring.

Troubleshooting problems in your compost pile

So you followed this advice and your pile still looks like steaming animal poo? Well, there are a variety of methods for composting. I have given you the easiest one here, but you could also try the following if your climate or ingredients aren’t making very good compost for you, or it’s just not moving fast enough:

1. – Buy a compost bin with a lid to avoid looking at or smelling the compost until it’s ready (most rotate on a spit-like barrel spinner so you don’t have to fork the pile or have a door at the bottom to shovel out useable dirt without opening the top to turn the pile.
2. – Try other methods of composting called “hot composting,” in which you have larger piles or closed containers that sit longer but make better compost more reliably. The only caveat here is that if you hot compost, you need to be careful to follow instructions to the letter to avoid bacteria ending up in your garden.
3. – Give up and buy compost. It’s not the end of the world. Landscapers and farmers are happy to truck you an entire 100-yard load of compost for a fee, and your plants will be back in business.

Happy composting! Just remember that whatever you put into your compost comes out the other end. Avoid putting in anything that has pesticides, fertilizers, plastic or metal waste, glass (it’s not toxic, but it’s sharp!) or other trash in your compost input. Then what you get out will be black gold. The perfect soil for the most productive garden.

Images via Pexels

From its conception, Castelar 75 was designed with sustainability at the core. Now, it has achieved LEED Gold Certification. To achieve this prestigious award, the Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI) assesses how sustainable a building is. Credits are awarded for sustainability throughout the life cycle of the space, not just once it is built. This includes everything from the design, construction and running of the building.

Related: Biophilic Belgian Pavilion features futuristic sustainable design

A functional, biomimetic façade

One of the key features of Castelar 75’s design is the façade. It serves as one of the building’s primary sustainable strategies. The façade comprises of a brise-soleil created by angled vertical panels, which front the windows. This amplifies the shading provided by the brise-soleil, as the windows use low-emission double glazing to further minimize solar gain. The brise-soleil also shades ventilated terraces on each floor. Through these three elements, the building is protected from harsh sunlight and is provided with cross-ventilation, while featuring views to Lincoln Park. 

The brise-soleil is made from large Laminam slabs from the I Naturali collection. These slabs are reminiscent of natural stone and improve the building’s thermal insulation. Despite their large size, they are very lightweight and do not affect load-bearing structures. They are also very eco-friendly and recyclable. In fact, by using this material, the designers were able to earn more LEED credits. This is because the Laminam panels contributed to the building’s recycled material use, which totaled over 20%. 

Visually, the modules created on the facade are biomimetic, as they are an abstraction of the fractal nature of honeycombs. Each of the trapezoidal cells created by the Laminam slabs host pockets of greenery. Their playful, visually-pleasing nature creates a dynamic facade that reveals the character of the modern building.

+ DONIS

Images via César Béjar Studio

The most environmentally-friendly option: do not have a wedding. But that is not the most fun option or even what you might want to do. Instead, there are a few changes you can make to your big day or to your wedding attendance that can limit your impact on the planet while still having fun.

Related: From rings to cards, here’s how to make your wedding eco

Stay local with your venue and the companies you buy from

Though it may not be your first choice, staying close to home — within an hour’s drive of most guests — can cut carbon emissions by a lot. Many people may choose to drive in for the day and will not need to spend money on a hotel. Others may choose to stay close to the venue to walk or carpool over. Regardless of specifics, reducing travel time can make a big difference.

Of course, this may not be possible if you live far from your loved ones. The next best option is choosing venues that champion sustainability. These include LEED-certified buildings and even simply having a wedding outdoors and using nature as your backdrop. Additionally, hosting the ceremony and reception in the same or nearby places reduces travel time even more.

Whether close to home or not, a wedding brings people into an area, and it can be a boost to local businesses if you choose catering, photographers and florists close to the venue. This reduces their travel time, and you can encourage your guests to shop locally while they are in town as well.

Use recycled, reused or rented materials for decorations and invites

While it can take more time to thrift the exact dress or linens for your big day, it significantly reduces water waste and transportation emissions by doing so. Renting dresses and suits has never been easier, and there is a chance you can even borrow friends’ or family members’ clothes for the day. Your venue may have decorations you can use, or you can choose to decorate with potted plants to keep the space green.

When it comes to invitations, sending physical invites made of recycled paper is a good choice, but directing folks to your wedding website or sending digital invitations is even better. By having an online RSVP, people can more easily update their RSVP and you can stay informed. You reduce the amount of paper circulating and make it easy to find information leading up to the event, even if they do lose the original invite.

Invite fewer people

As stressful as it can be deciding who to invite and who not to, how many plus ones you are able to feed and whether to allow children, reducing the number of people in attendance is the easiest way to reduce waste. If you need more convincing: smaller weddings are on trend.

Smaller gatherings make your big day more intimate while reducing the amount of food that needs to be prepared and the size of the space you need to celebrate. With fewer people, they may even feel comfortable carpooling together.

If you are attending someone else’s wedding:

1. Stick to the gift registry

The bride and groom have spent many hours building their registry, whether it is for charity donations or specific things they want for their home. Please stick to that list. Just like when you receive a gift that you do not really want, they are unlikely to keep or use a gift they did not ask for. If you know the wedding party well, you can suggest guests contribute to their honeymoon fund or allow for digital gift cards. If you do wrap a physical gift, wrap it in brown paper or another material that can be easily recycled or reused.

2. Thrift, rent, reuse or borrow your clothes

If you have attended a different wedding, holiday party or fancy gathering in the last few years, chances are you already have something to wear. If you still want something new to you, try borrowing from a friend, renting or thrifting. These methods significantly reduce the amount of raw material and can save up to thousands of gallons of water. They also happen to be more budget-friendly and encourage you to pass your thrifted dress along to another friend later.

If you do end up with a new outfit for the occasion, try to search for environmentally-friendly materials such as hemp-based silk, organic cotton and other Fairtrade materials. Better yet, pick an outfit that you will wear again. Unless your friend’s wedding is black tie, it is likely that you can get away with an outfit that is reusable for brunch and date night, extending the life of the outfit.

3. Carpool, if you can

Especially if you know other people going to the wedding, try to carpool. This allows for more drivers to take turns driving if it is a long drive and reduces the number of cars on the road. Take advantage of group transportation if it is available. It is a fun way to meet other guests and reduce the driving you do all in the name of the environment. If you need to move yourself between the hotel, ceremony and reception, carpool if possible. Parking can be a pain, and with one car and several people, you can easily designate a driver to remain sober.

Eco-friendly options at weddings can appear to be more expensive at first glance, but a few small changes can be good for the planet as well as your budget. You do not have to give up your environmentalism for your big day, and who knows, you may even encourage others to incorporate sustainable practices into their weddings.

Images via Pexels

To work towards their goal of zero-waste design, D.DLAB created the WoodenWood Project. The system uses a combination of raw wood components and a digitally fabricated “wood-textile” to utilize wood waste. Hence, through this combination of traditional wood components and the 3D-printed “wood-textile,” WoodenWood maximizes the possibilities of design and circular expression by giving multiple forms of material waste a new life.

Related: What is 3D-printed wood and will it cut down waste?

Creating bespoke furniture

Using WoodenWood, D.DLAB developed seating elements that feature ergonomic chairs and stools. The 3D-printed components create a “wood-textile,” which serves as a mesh that creates a “woven” seat and back. This is extruded from a natural wood paste, which is made from Daika. Daika uses sawdust combined with cellulose-based binders to ensure biodegradability. The layers created by the robotic printing system create a “wood-textile” that resembles rattan. This is combined with scraps of raw wood that hold the 3D-printed elements together. The raw wood serves as the structural components of the seating elements, including the base and legs.

The seating elements that use the WoodenWood system take into consideration qualities like strength, aesthetics and ergonomics for optimal design. Thus combined with parametric design, it allows for bespoke seating elements which can be created within a mass production workflow.

In light of its innovative approach and blend of traditional and advanced systems, WoodenWood was featured at Milan Design Week 2023. It even earned a mention as one of 12 projects in the Fuorisalone sustainability category. Furthermore, it was selected for a gold prize in universal design by the Design Educates Awards jury for 2023.

+ Disrupt.Design Lab

Images via Disrupt.Design Lab

Because of this enormous challenge, the future of sustainable construction may lie with AI. AI is able to analyze building efficiency performance by sorting through massive amounts of data to pinpoint the best opportunities for sustainable design and optimal material usage. With a tool like AI, the future of sustainable construction could advance much faster than in the past and help architects and designers work with new design tools, sustainable materials and methods to create our sustainable buildings and cities of the future. For example, construction 3D printing guided by AI can recommend alternative building materials to save money and waste by replacing wasteful and expensive materials like concrete and steel, and plan out how construction materials could be recycled.

Related: AI reveals how climate change will impact our cities

AI analyzes data sets to find sustainable construction opportunities

LinkedIn recently ran an article that had this to say in praise of AI as a tool for sustainable construction and said, “In recent years, artificial intelligence (AI) has emerged as a promising tool for architectural design. AI algorithms can analyze vast amounts of data on building performance, climate conditions and user behavior to optimize building systems for energy efficiency, water conservation, waste reduction and other sustainability objectives.”

AI can also predict battery failures and optimize energy loads on the grid or within buildings. It can help predict or detect faults in building construction for earthquake zones or other areas prone to natural disasters such as hurricane-proof building design for coastal regions.

Think about the sustainable design process and how many factors play in to a sustainable building. You not only are building a system that is LEED certified and integrates sustainable efficient water and electrical systems or passive solar and heat retention. A designer also needs to plan the building for its environment. That means accounting for optimal use of sustainable construction materials for the local environment that are locally sourced or sustainably harvested. It also means minimizing shipping carbon emissions, hiring local workers where possible and working with flexible modular interiors to future-proof the building or using insulation and placing windows or glazed facades for balanced heat retention and ventilation.

Water harvesting or recycling can reduce water waste. Permeable pavers could help minimize runoff pollution to nearby streams. Many countries that are growing hotter from climate change have also started berming buildings to reduce A/C use. AI can help with all of this decision making and more. It’s likely that AI and designers guiding its analysis of sustainable construction methods and systems will create best practices for each climate zone of the world. Thereby, simplify the sustainable construction process for builders as green building becomes standard practice required by law to meet SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) and SDG 13 (Climate Action) global emissions goals.

How AI can make a difference in global emissions?

AI can continue to be used after construction to analyze how occupants use a building or community space, and to plan around occupant needs to minimize emissions. For example, AI can be used to automatically adjust heat and cooling levels according to how occupants use a building or based on time of day, or adjust building systems and warn occupants of excessive use according to seasonal droughts to reduce water waste and achieve SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) clean water goals. According to TS2.space, AI can additionally be used to monitor for problems that avoid costly building repairs, and can help retrofit older buildings with the most efficient energy upgrades to help building owners maximize efficiency without breaking the bank.

To promote circularity and reduce construction waste or building maintenance, AI can predict the best construction materials for a particular location or building use and plan out the most efficient shape, construction method or timeline for building in an efficient way.

Nokia says that 78% of telcos are relying on AI to improve the energy efficiency of their network energy use.

“From the originally produced energy in power plants only 90% ‘arrive’ at the network so there is already a loss of 10% during energy transmission,” said Nokia. “From this remaining energy about 80% is consumed by the radio access, the rest by transport, core and OSS. Thirty percent of that network energy (35% of the original energy) is consumed by auxiliary passive components such as air conditioning and power systems, so that only 70% (65% of the original energy) is consumed by the network elements itself.”

Finally, there are green spaces to plan and quality of life to consider for achieving SDG 15 (Life on Land) goals. AI can help plan out local landscaping plants, help improve air quality, and plan out how to integrate green spaces to connect surrounding building spaces and communities.

What if AI becomes our new robot overlords?

I’ve got good news for you. AI is a tool like any other computer that recognizes patterns and is particularly good at analyzing massive data sets, but for the moment it is not remotely conscious and still requires the oversight of intelligent and ethical human beings to guide its work. AI can be used to speed up the future of sustainable construction to construct sustainability standards for the construction industry, as well as make construction more efficient and affordable. All of that has to be handled with respect for humans, so it’s really up to us to make it work.

What do you think about the future of sustainable construction using AI? It might come down to how much faith you have in human nature and intelligence guiding the development of the technology and its potential uses, but that is true of every technology. Let us know your take in the comments.

Via AI Magazine

Images via Pexels

Developed by andblack Design Studio for Darwin Live Light, Darwin Bucky is a black box that can be used as a temporary or long-term building for exhibitions, theater productions, seminars, restaurants and many other events. There are several standout features of the Darwin Bucky, starting with the fact that it’s a removable and reusable structure. This ensures a soft footprint to protect the ecosystem and avoid excess waste after use.

Related: CABN modular homes will be part of a net-zero community

The Darwin Bucky encapsulates sustainable and efficient attributes. Through computer-modeled manufacturing processes, the structures can be fabricated anywhere in the world, significantly reducing transportation costs associated with other prefabricated buildings. Additionally, the flat-packed design enables easy transportation and quick assembly on-site, eliminating the need for a plinth or foundation. 

The Darwin Bucky draws inspiration from Buckminster Fuller’s Geodesic dome. This innovative structure features laser-cut, folded metal sheets bolted together to create an insulated, column-free and air-conditioned space. Available in two sizes, the Bucky can be customized and combined to create versatile clusters suitable for various purposes.

Darwin Bucky’s design philosophy aligns with the concept of cohabitation with nature, rather than inhabiting it. The use of legacy materials like steel, wood, aluminum and glass ensures durability and cost-effectiveness comparable to conventional buildings, while optimizing the use of steel to achieve material efficiency. The conical shape and triangulated planes on the fascia contribute to excellent acoustics, while lightweight, insulated modular panels ensure energy efficiency. The structure’s spacious volume and unique aesthetics create a unique and engaging spatial experience for occupants.

Lastly, the Darwin Bucky project goes beyond architecture by fostering community engagement and artistic expression. Through collaborations with local craftsmen and artists, the structure becomes an interactive space for cultural events and exhibitions. Paintings using the traditional “Gond” technique, featuring mythological characters as a commentary on society, adorn the outer surface, infusing the project with a rich sense of local heritage and storytelling.

+ Darwin Projects Pvt. Ltc

Images via Vinay Panjwani and Darwin Projects

Markers of organic produce

Many farms aren’t labeled organic even though they are, because it takes time and money and multiple inspections to be officially labeled organic. Some farms do go through this process for your reassurance, but many can’t afford it. You can get around this by asking your local farmers market vendors if they are organic or no-spray, and then asking the following questions to make sure it’s the truth:

1. 1. Are you officially listed as an organic farm? Are some parts of your farm organic and others not? Why is that?
2. 2. Are you no-spray, and do you use organic compost?
3. 3. Do you ever source your produce from other vendors?
4. 4. If I have food allergies or if I’m sensitive to pesticides, which products are the safest?

Related: Online farmers markets gain popularity during pandemic

Many farmers are happy to talk about their regenerative and no-spray farming methods, but just can’t officially call themselves organic. If you have chemical sensitivities, be sure to let them know. They might use a chemical pesticide on one crop because of pest pressure problems and can steer you away from that item. If they aren’t really selling organic produce or buy from other vendors to resell, you can likely get the truth out of them by asking about their farming methods.

No farmer would miss a chance to tell you all about their operations if you’re interested. If they’re not telling you the truth, they won’t know as much about organic farming methods if they haven’t invested the time to put these into practice.

Organic food co-ops

If you don’t have a farmers market near you, you can ask these same questions of your local bodega or organic food co-op. Many food co-ops are started by individuals like you who are sensitive to chemicals or have a lot of food allergies. You can often find great produce options through a local food co-op because they are ordering large quantities from an organic supplier and splitting the produce and meats and cheeses between a few dozen families. You can Google local food co-ops near you, or look at the following websites to find a food co-op in your area:

1. – The USDA Farmers Market Directory
2. – Local Food Directories
3. – USDA Local CSA Finder
4. – On-Farm Market Finder
5. – Grocery Co-op Finder
6. – Local Harvest CSA Finder

Many local homeschooling groups, holistic healer directories and chambers of commerce will also list local farms. If you have farms in your area that host agritourism events, you also might stumble on some fantastic on-farm markets. We have a local farm market grocery store near our house, plus several U-pick organic farms and a farmers co-op that hosts a local market monthly. The produce and other products can sometimes be pricey, but if you ask why you’ll learn about the superior quality and safety of organic produce plus a bunch of other yummy treats like homemade honeycomb, raw cheeses, homemade goats milk soap and more.

Small farms don’t need to be certified

The exception to the USDA organic rule where farmers need to be certified is when a farm nets less than $5,000 per year. Look around for what’s called micro-farms or farms on less than a few acres. Road-side farmers market produce stands are another great option, which you can find on roadside stands on farm properties or sometimes in parking lots at bigger strip malls where farmers host seasonal sales of flower and vegetable starts or sell off big seasonal crops of cherries, peaches, corn and watermelon.

We love finding new farm stands because the produce is super fresh, such as early season sweet corn. You probably need cash for these roadside stands that have a cash box, but if you find an on-farm market, you can usually use a credit card or QR code to pay or sign up for weekly or monthly subscription boxes.

Farms are increasingly switching over to products made from their on-farm produce and cash crops to make ends meet, so don’t be surprised if you find some amazing personal care products, jams, baked goods and gift items along with your organic produce. I don’t know about you, but I find that shopping at farmers markets and roadside stands in rural areas (or hippie towns like where I live) is a fantastic way to get started on gift shopping as well as find some of the best produce out there that is truly organic, local, farm-to-table.

Images via Pexels

The roof of the water catchment house plays a pivotal role in water collection. A wooden structure combined with a weaving device is used to collect dew, harnessing moisture from the air during the early morning and collecting rainwater. These water sources pass through a filtration system to ensure purity and can be stored for various uses, including drinking, cooking food and maintaining better hygiene practices.

Related: These countries are facing the biggest health impacts

The design integrates local weaving culture with housing and dew collection techniques to create sustainable and cost-effective solutions. By leveraging locally available materials such as bricks and wood, the designer created a practical and environmentally conscious approach to construction. The weaving technique not only adds aesthetic value, but also fosters a sense of community and emotional well-being among family members involved in the construction process.

Access to clean and safe water is a fundamental necessity, yet many people in Africa face arduous journeys of one to three hours to reach water sources that are often muddy and contaminated. Waterborne illnesses caused by consuming polluted water over time pose a significant threat to the health and well-being of individuals in these regions. Recognizing these pressing issues, Hong-En Lin embarked on a mission to provide assistance and improve access to cleaner water resources.

The award-winning design is a shining example of how green design can address the challenges of water scarcity and pollution in Africa. It is a model that can be replicated in other parts of the continent, providing a clean and sustainable water source for people who need it most.

Hong-En Lin’s water catchment house design showcases the potential of architecture to address pressing global issues. By combining sustainable materials, cultural traditions and innovative design thinking, this project exemplifies how architecture can contribute to providing clean water solutions while fostering community empowerment and resilience.

+ Micro Architecture Studio

Images via Hong-En,Lin

There is high flood risk in the area, which requires any new structure to be lifted above the base flood elevation. Strict zoning guidelines also needed to be met. To meet these guidelines and still make smart use of space, Fernando Fisben Architect built the garage and storage areas under the house. They’re enclosed within permeable partitions that allow the free flow of water in case of flooding. The house is raised, as required, and this design creates an overall look that is beautifully eye-catching.

Related: Colorado house becomes the first net-zero home in its city

Furthermore, the house itself is built with a sloped roof that has zinc cladding. This provides strength and durability against the harsh coastal climate and reduces rainwater run-off. Zinc requires less energy to produce than other building options, including copper and aluminum. This is a highly eco-friendly material that’s only going to get more popular in the future.

Additionally, there is a series of terraces that create outdoor living spaces. Native indigenous plants were preserved everywhere possible on the property. The terraces add green, natural beauty to the home, making nature a part of the design. The idea behind the design was minimal disturbance and sustainability. The house looks out over the water and native grasses, beautiful trees and an incredible natural world. Inside, the interior spaces are full of light and natural materials. There are hardwood floors and wide-open spaces everywhere.

This home shows that even design challenges can be met and they can be sustainable, comfortable and connected to the natural world. This house in Southampton posed some unique obstacles, but sustainable design ended up winning out. Hopefully, that will keep happening with construction projects all over the world.

+ Fernando Fisbein Architect

Images via BS ARQ and Fernando Fisbein Architect

With a product line that includes hand care, hair care and bath and body care items, Soapbox targets two fundamental aspects. The first is creating high-quality personal care products that are cruelty-free, vegan and free from parabens, sulfates and silicones. The second is giving back to communities around the globe by making philanthropy effortless.

Related: Nourish your body and the planet with Gut Glow

In addition to their dedication to natural products, Soapbox embarks on an inspiring humanitarian initiative. For each product purchased, Soapbox donates a soap bar through their network of nonprofit partners, both domestically and internationally, to communities in need. By doing so, the company ensures that basic hygiene essentials are accessible to everyone. This commitment has allowed Soapbox to donate over 30 million bars of soap.

The company’s mission revolves around empowering consumers to make a positive impact through their everyday purchases. Soapbox believes that by providing an effortless way to give back, they can significantly improve the lives of others. Furthermore, they strive to protect the environment by utilizing natural ingredients and supporting local economies. A shining example of this dedication is displayed in how the company goes about giving back. Bars of soap aren’t just shipped from the manufacturing plant in the U.S.

Instead, Soapbox aims to empower communities to create their own solutions by supporting localized soapmaking efforts through training and resource management. To deepen the sustainability of these soap-making endeavors, it creates a circular economy by using recycled or otherwise locally derived soaps. Soapbox achieves these goals on a global level by partnering with organizations who actively address environmental and humanitarian challenges. Some of these nonprofits include Clean the World Foundation (CTWF), Ecosoap Bank, Rise by Sundara, World Vision and the Carter Center. 

Sustainability lies at the heart of Soapbox’s business practices, both in the hunt for ingredients and when goods are shipped out. This is seen through the use of recycled materials for packaging. It maintains transparency in its ingredient lists, proudly outlining the function of all ingredients on its FAQ page. It also freely discusses the use of lye, glycerin and sustainably-sourced palm oil. Soapbox products are gluten-free, cruelty-free and made in the USA.

As an added level of transparency, each Soapbox product comes with a unique Hope Code, which is an alpha-numerical code stamped on the bottle. The Hope Code allows customers to track which project their purchase is supporting. By entering the code, customers can see photos from that project and more information about the work being done.

Soapbox products can be found online or in beauty supply stores, pharmacies and retail establishments across the country. The company takes pride in delivering exceptional customer service and offers a satisfaction guarantee on all their products.

Soapbox products personal review

Following our initial contact, the company offered to provide samples for review. As a result, they sent a full-size bottle of shampoo, conditioner, body wash and a hair-strengthening treatment. The family got involved for this review, using the products for a few weeks in order to provide feedback. 

Collagen and Fruit Enzymes Repairing Shampoo and Conditioner

This specific shampoo and conditioner is intended to repair damaged hair and improve the health of the strands. Overall, I’m not sure I can speak to the effectiveness of each product in this respect, but combined with the product reviewed below, the course of treatment seems to be working for my situation. 

The shampoo and conditioner offer a pleasant scent, but not one that overbearingly clings to the hair. The shampoo provides a nice suds and rinses clean, while the conditioner offers a satisfying richness and smooth application. 

Let’s Bond Hair Strengthening Treatment

I wasn’t sure what to expect from this product since it’s often difficult to establish a measurement of effectiveness. However, I’m happy to report a noticeable difference in the health of my hair. For some background, we have well water and use shower filters in an attempt to sift out harsh minerals that do a number on my hair. I do not color my hair, yet often struggle with damage and dryness. After a few weeks of using Let’s Bond, I noticed my hair felt softer. Surprisingly, it also reduced oil build up in between washings. I’m guessing this is in alignment with the philosophy that properly-moisturized hair doesn’t respond by producing excessive oil in the same way dry hair does. Whatever the biology behind it, it’s been an unexpected bonus.

Watermelon and Peony body wash

Our daughter quickly adopted the body wash, happy to provide feedback in exchange. She reports an appealing but somewhat intense scent, appropriate consistency for application, and a soft, moisturizing finish. 

+ Soapbox 

Images via Soapbox 

Editor’s Note: This product review is not sponsored by Soapbox. All opinions on the products and company are the author’s own.

This means health of our home planet as well as skincare, so ILIA’s products are now a uniquely clean offering that is also ultra-sustainable. ILIA runs a recycling program that instructs customers on how to dispose of their product packaging in recycling bins. The ILIA multi-stick palette is a favorite product of mine that I tried after developing worsening allergies and joint problems related to a connective tissue disorder and an immune disorder called Mast Cell Activation Syndrome, where your sensitive cell structure from fragile collagen makes your allergic reactions hair trigger.

Related: Ultimate vegan Amazon makeup brands gift guide

I mention this because many people like me are finally getting the right diagnosis after MCAS was discovered about 10 years ago to be different than another similar condition. COVID and climate change-worsened air pollution and seasonal pollen are provoking people who are prone to MCAS to have flareups, so many individuals are now looking for cleaner personal care products and reducing chemical load in their beauty routine.

Clean beauty with natural ingredients

Many people have sensitivities to ingredients in beauty products that aren’t true allergies. If you’re not sure why you keep reacting to personal care products, it can be quite a journey to figure out what works for you and what “clean” makeup really means. I hope that this review gives you a few pointers to help make it simpler.

ILIA focuses on clean, natural ingredients like coconut oil or avocado oil that serve as a base for mineral pigments. One thing you can look for when selecting clean beauty products is a line that avoids artificial dyes (Red 40 etc.) and uses iron pigments instead, with mica for shimmer. These ingredients are clean, and they even avoid sensitivities to natural mineral pigments like bismuth that might be clean, but can be harsh on the skin.

Look for a simple list of ingredients, too, maybe six to 20 ingredients long at most. Over time, I learned that my skin loves shea butter, but if you have nut allergies, you might prefer castor oil — which is a bit firmer, but helps you avoid shea nuts, almonds and so on. Some brands use vegetable and fruit powder pigments to color their products in addition to iron pigments.

I’m excited about this because even though I’m sensitive to high-histamine natural ingredients (tomatoes, strawberries, common food allergens because they are inflammatory) I can usually patch together a beauty routine using a variety of options from these plant-based ingredients. These are often very nourishing for your skin in place of artificial moisturizers containing mineral oils and ethylene plastics (yes, plastics).

ILIA’s abundant beauty products

ILIA’s multi-stick palette is a great example of their product line. It’s both convenient to have lip and cheek cream products and highlighter, bronzer and cream shimmer eye shadow all in one compact that is easy to open, plus you can pop the used insert out of your compact when it’s empty and recycle the compact shell at home. I find myself feeling silly for buying individual full-size beauty products now, because I don’t need much more than ILIA’s dewy SPF 40 Skin Tint moisturizing foundation serum, a bit of their concealer and some mascara. The palette has everything else I need.

ILIA knows that saving the planet has a lot to do with saving the rainforests, because they absorb so much carbon and balance the planet’s ecosystems. They partner with 1% For the Planet to plant trees in equatorial regions. The goal this year in 2023 is to plant one million trees by year’s end, this time in Ecuador where the rainforest is disappearing at the rate of 80,000 acres a day.

By planting new trees that can thrive in the local climate in waves, 1% For the Planet ensures that the future forests of the world remain regenerating. You can expect more great planet-saving work to come out of brands like ILIA. They were founded by people who know that our personal health does depend on the health of the planet. In addition, there is no reason to pollute ourselves by using toxic products and producing a bunch of waste that goes back in our landfills and waterways.

Choose ILIA for sensitive skin

Because of my severe allergies, which are both to chemicals and to many natural inflammatory ingredients in natural foods, I just about gave up on makeup and even shampoo over the past few years when my health condition flared. ILIA is a brand I can tolerate because they use calming skincare ingredients like jojoba and chamomile as top ingredients.

They are heavy metal-safe, too. I react to pigments, dyes and mineral shimmer like bismuth oxychloride and tin, even possibly oxalate crystals in inflammatory plants like berries and greens. Furthermore, ILIA sticks with safer iron oxides for the most part. I found that when I wasn’t putting a bunch of petroleum products on my skin or harsh enzymes or chemical peels like retinol or sulfate cleansers, my skin got much calmer and is clear for the first time in my adult life.

Ironically, I don’t need makeup anymore, but with ILIA, I just love the stuff. It has moisturizing, subtle and fun pigments, a variety of multi-purpose products and is good for the planet. If you have been looking for a clean sustainable beauty brand, check them out. From skincare and moisturizers to makeup, ILIA has something for everyone looking for clean beauty.

+ ILIA Beauty

Images via ILIA

Editor’s Note: This review is not sponsored by ILIA. All opinions on the products and company are the author’s own.

Clayton is building manufactured homes that meet Department of Energy Zero Energy Ready Home specifications. These homes are solar-ready and they have a lot of energy-efficient features. All the features and the solar capability will make energy costs highly affordable.

Related: OCEANIX Busan is the world’s first floating green community

“Energy efficiency is crucial for lowering monthly utility costs and maintaining long-term affordability,” said Clayton CEO Kevin Clayton. “We are driven to make energy-efficient homes an attainable option for home buyers across the country.”

These homes are built inside a DOE-certified facility and they are made to offer up to 100% of the home’s total energy usage when combined with renewable energy like solar panels. All these homes have a hybrid heat pump water heater, low-E windows, Energy Star Certified appliances, a high-efficiency heat pump or gas furnace, LED lighting and extra insulation to create a tight building envelope.

Additionally, Clayton is focused on sustainability in a number of ways. In 2022, Clayton diverted over 100 million pounds of waste from landfills using various recycling efforts. Clayton has also put measures in place to reduce emissions and has a long-term goal to plant more than four million native trees to restore forest ecosystems.

The homes are beautiful inside and out, with open floor plans and modern designs that make them feel spacious and comfortable inside. Features like recessed lighting, gorgeous backsplashes and open cabinets give these homes a modern look. Sunlight fills up the interior spaces. Thereby, sustainable living is something that should be accessible and easy for everyone.

+ Clayton

Images via Clayton Homes

The Environmental Protection Agency defines indoor air quality as how the air in and around buildings relates to the health and comfort of said building’s occupants. Indoor air pollutants might cause health effects soon after exposure, or they could show up years later.  Indoor air quality is a global issue. The World Health Organization estimates that every year, 3.8 million people die from harmful indoor air — especially due to fuel and dirty cook stoves. And pregnant women living with indoor air pollution may pass impaired lung function on to their babies.

Related: The little bird flips down when you have poor air quality

Fortunately, there are some easy fixes for at least certain causes of indoor air pollution. Let’s look at a few easy ways you can optimize your home air quality.

Vents and ducts

HVAC, vents and ducts are all about air circulation within your house, so they’re an obvious place to start. Have you ever changed a filter in your HVAC system and been disgusted by how filthy it is? That’s stuff you don’t want to breathe. Change your AC filters regularly, as well as those in your household appliances like your clothes dryer and your kitchen vents. Hire a professional to periodically clean out your air ducts to avoid buildup of mold, dust, dander and other icky stuff.

When cooking, use your stove’s vents. Gas stoves are especially notorious for releasing nitrogen dioxide and carbon monoxide. Electric burners aren’t innocent, either, though they produce pollutants at lower levels.

Rid your house of dust and dirt

Carpets and rugs are dust traps. On the plus side, they sequester particles from the air. On the minus side, left to their own devices, they fill up with more and more junk. Regularly vacuuming your rugs and carpets will help keep your indoor air fresher.

For a higher-tech solution, you could try buying Ikea’s new air-purifying curtains. These window covers are treated with a special coating that helps break down airborne chemicals and unsavory odors when a light source activates them.

Banish the damp

If you live somewhere humid, you have probably experienced mold. These small organisms play an important part in the ecosystem, breaking down dead material. But you don’t want to inhale them at home, where they can cause runny nose, itching, coughing, watery eyes and other unpleasant reactions. Mold is especially damaging to young children. Banishing mold early in life may have long-term health benefits and decrease the prevalence and severity of asthma later in life.

If you detect mold in your house, you need to clean it up. Moisture sources in your house might include a damp crawl space or basement, a poorly vented clothes dryer or leaks in the roof or the plumbing. You might need a dehumidifier to help dry out your space.

Beware of burning things

Did you know that cigarette smoke contains more than 7,000 chemicals? Yuck! Obviously smoking is not going to enhance the air quality of your house. And don’t think oh, it’s just an herb, no problem. According to the EPA website, “Secondhand marijuana smoke contains many of the same toxic and cancer-causing chemicals found in tobacco smoke and contains some of those chemicals in higher amounts.”

Incense is also not recommended for enclosed places, as it emits fine particles. Scented candles can irritate lungs, too. If you want to burn candles indoors, those made from beeswax or soy may be lung-friendlier than those that contain petroleum waste.

Wood-burning stoves emit smoke that can damage your lung tissue and result in lasting breathing problems. If you’re too attached to your wood-burner to say goodbye, open those windows.

Consider shopping secondhand

From these tips so far, you might think newer is better. That way, you avoid dust, mold and trapped secondhand smoke, right? While these are valid points, new furniture outgases volatile organic compounds, also known as VOCs. Glues, paints and fabrics all give off these compounds, which react with chemicals and sunlight in your home’s atmosphere to form lung-damaging particulates.

Instead, consider buying pieces of secondhand furniture, whose outgassing days are behind them. Of course, only choose clean-looking furniture, and vacuum it or otherwise clean it as soon as you bring it home.

Think simple

Sometimes the best solutions are the simplest. Instead of investing in lots of climate control measures, try opening your windows. And buy some houseplants. According to a 1989 NASA study on clean air, ferns, peace lilies, spider plants and Devil’s ivy are some of the best for removing carbon monoxide and formaldehyde from the air. While it would take a lot of plants to make a real impact in air quality, they freshen your home and will serve as a reminder to cultivate the healthy kind of atmosphere your lungs crave.

Via Petro

Images via Pexels

Developed by The Searial Cleaners and 4ocean, the Pixie Drone is a robot that keeps shorelines free of floating debris, including plastics, glass, metal and cloth. It is designed to do so without harming aquatic life. The drone can be remote-controlled or can operate autonomously by following a path set from a corresponding tracking app. In order to be a holistic solution for clearing up coastlines, the drone can operate in freshwater, brackish water and saltwater.

Related: Cleanup device removes 20,000 pounds of ocean plastic

The Pixie Drone serves as a small-scale solution to capture litter from the water’s surface. Compared to 4ocean’s other clean-up robots, the Pixie Drone is relatively small. It measures 64 inches (162.5 cm) long by 45.5 inches (115.7 cm) wide. This makes the design compact enough to tackle hard-to-reach areas along the coast where the use of large nets or other interventions may not be practical.

Despite its small size, the Pixie Drone has high operating capacities. For instance, the drone can work for up to six hours while in autonomous mode, making it useful to cover large areas without the need for constant supervision. Additionally, its internal basket also has a volume capacity of 160 liters and can hold up to 132 pounds of waste!

The best feature of the Pixie Drone is how easy (and fun!) it is to operate. The drone features a small camera that is linked to the remote controller, which helps navigate the drone’s path. This makes operating the drone become like playing Pac-Man in real life, where the machine “eats” floating aquatic debris. By creating an almost gamified system, the Pixie Drone works to educate and encourage people to actively partake in ensuring a clean environment, which could otherwise be a laborious, mundane task.

+ 4ocean

Images via 4ocean

One example of Yoga Design Lab’s offerings is their eco-friendly travel mat (1.5 mm), which is crafted from natural tree rubber and bonded with a microfiber suede surface. It eliminates harmful materials such as PVC, silicone and phthalates.

Related: Kane Footwear program upcycles your shoes into yoga mats

Yoga Design Lab places a strong focus on sustainability through the use of recycled materials. Their lightweight microfiber towels are made from post-consumer recycled plastic bottles, exemplifying the brand’s commitment to reducing waste and promoting a circular economy. These towels are lightweight, absorbent and quick drying, making them ideal for yogis on the move. 

In addition, the company incorporates recycled PET into a variety of their other products, including combo mats, bags and bolsters. By repurposing plastic waste into functional yoga accessories, Yoga Design Lab not only keeps plastic out of oceans and landfills, but also provides products that perform when measured for grip, absorption and softness.

Cork, another natural material, is also a star player in Yoga Design Lab’s product lineup. Their cork mats, wheels and blocks are derived from the outer bark of the cork oak tree, employing a sustainable harvesting process that allows each tree to regenerate fully. Unlike other materials, cork is naturally antimicrobial, ensuring odors and bacteria won’t linger. It also becomes grippier as it warms up, providing stability and support during yoga sessions. 

Yoga Design Lab’s commitment to sustainable materials extends beyond their core products. They use non-toxic, water-based inks to print their designs and are actively working to update their packaging, employing recycled kraft paper labels and boxes while minimizing waste. By focusing on every detail, the brand ensures their dedication to sustainability is present throughout the entire product experience.

+ Yoga Design Lab

Images via Yoga Design Lab 

Located in Los Angeles, California, this sustainable home features a central “void” using bridging stairs. This allows natural light to connect to the lowest levels of the building without wasting electricity. The basement is below grade with a courtyard between lower bedrooms to pull light all the way down into the basement level.

Related: The first home in California to be Zero Carbon certified

An automotive-inspired monocoque shell wraps around the body of the house in a sleek one-piece look that hugs the topography of the site. To break up the blocky appearance and reduce visual impact of the three-story building, the basement is concealed as a vegetated plinth. Landscaping uses tree canopy coverage for visual privacy.

Arshia Architects aimed for spatial quality to amend the neighboring area’s reliance on sizeable homes to balance with the neighborhood proportionally. Each story of the house is connected at half-floor levels to make use of the space that would otherwise be compartmentalized in this configuration.

What we love about this house besides its expert use of limited horizontal space is the buried podium that acts as a rainwater runoff filtration system for the site. RO54 meets and/or exceeds California green building and energy conservation standards. This includes low-flow plumbing, drought tolerant plants, rainwater filtration, photovoltaic integration for solar, high-efficiency building envelope and glazing to reduce energy use. Furthermore, HERS rated mechanical system and many more special features make up this unique home.

Interior materials include low VOC mica plaster, hardwood flooring and natural stone for their minimalist aesthetic, low impact and durable materials. The goal achieved here was a balance between durability, low maintenance and sustainable design.

The home has already won 18 international design awards, including the AMP Architecture Masterprize 2022, Global Future Design Awards 2022 and UDAD’s Urban Design and Architecture Design Awards 2022. This 6,774 square feet gem sits on a small 120 by 85 foot lot by using structural steel with some light gauge steel framing infill and wood joist framing over concrete retaining wall foundation with integral pigment (graphite iron oxide) finish. The exterior shell is made of CNC milled high-density urethane (HDU) boards coated in mineral plaster.

+ Arshia Architects

Images via Paul Vu, Renee Parkhurst and Yuheng Huang

Natural ingredients 

Greatfill crafts small batches of eco-friendly hand wash, body wash, dish soap, multipurpose cleaner and laundry detergent. All products include naturally-derived ingredients and pure essential oils. The ingredients list is proudly displayed on the website and the bag. You can expect to see things like sodium laureth sulfate (derived from coconuts), glycerin (plant derived conditioner), cocamidopropyl betaine (derived from coconuts), sodium chloride (mineral salt) and maltodextrin (plant based moisturizer), among others.

Related: Top 5 gadgets if you want a sustainable kitchen

Zero waste

Each product comes with a stainless steel bottle in the initial starter kit. Available in an assortment of timeless colors, the bottles are infinitely reusable and come with a lifetime warranty. 

With a durable food-grade steel bottle at the foundation, Greatfill eliminates the copious plastic spray and pump bottles that are ubiquitous in the home product market. Not only does this promote a solution for plastic waste, but the steel bottles pair with the company’s reusable refill pouches. Greatfill refill pouches are a bulk option, supplying between four and six refills per bag. Rather than disposing of them, however, the company makes it easy to ensure they stay out of the landfill. With your initial order, Greatfill sends a postage-paid envelope. After you collect five empty refill pouches, simply drop them into the envelope and return them to the company, where they will be sterilized and reused. 

Greatfill said, “We’re the only company in the U.S. that offers a completely zero-waste solution for consumers, businesses and institutions.”

While the zero waste aspect benefits the planet all along the supply chain, the health-conscious products focus on maintaining a safe environment within the home. In addition to using natural ingredients, all products are vegan friendly and are never tested on animals.

Giving back

The company’s mission is: “To eliminate single-use plastic by making refilling convenient, affordable and fun.” The inspiration came from the realization that recycling isn’t working as a sustainable solution for plastic waste. Greatfill reported, “Over two billion plastic bottles end up in our oceans and landfills every year,” making environmental protections a priority for the company. To support this goal, Greatfill is a member of 1% for the Planet where 1% of sales funnel to charities working to preserve and maintain oceans, rivers and lakes.

Greatfill products can currently be ordered online and will soon be coming to retail stores where you can refill pouches yourself. 

Personal review of Greatfill products

I was blessed to receive samples from the company to try out for review. Cofounder and CEO Mika Peterman was quick to respond to all requests and a package arrived a few days later. I was pleasantly surprised to see zero unnecessary packaging and a recyclable box. 

Inside the package was a gorgeous steel mossy/sage green bottle for the body wash and a body wash refill pouch, a lovely pink steel bottle for the multipurpose cleaner and a refill pouch, an informational pamphlet about Greatfill’s “fill-osophy,” products, efforts to reduce waste, involvement in environmental causes and finally a pre-paid envelope for returning used refill pouches after use. 

Greatfill body wash

We’ve moved our bottle of body wash around the house a few times, allowing the family to try it out at the kitchen sink and in the shower. The consensus is it has a pleasing scent and performs well. Personally, I like that it has a thick consistency so it stays on your hand until you’re ready to use it. The Citrus + Fir scent is appropriately named. I pick up on a subtle citrus balanced with a slight pine fragrance. The scent does not linger on the skin, which I appreciate as I am highly scent sensitive. I will note the product can make the shower floor slippery, although I’m not sure this is any more prevalent than with other types of liquid soaps. Overall, I’m in love with the bottle and the fact that it’s refillable with zero waste. 

Greatfill multi-purpose cleaner

This one is easy to review. I love everything about this product. Mildly scented, the Grapefruit + Mandarin offers freshness without any heavy or fake scents (again, thank you). Moreover, it simply does its job. In a household with three kids and seven domestic pets, I can say I’ve put it through the ringer. From cleaning up dog vomit to scrubbing out the refrigerator, wiping messes off the front of appliances and disinfecting the sink, Greatfill brought its A-Game. I haven’t put any of these surfaces under a microscope so I can’t attest to its sterilizing performance, but I can say it’s done what it’s supposed to do: clean multiple-surfaces.

It’s worth adding that I’ve reviewed many natural cleaning products and mostly love them all, for different reasons. However, I’ve found some to leave behind a film, be difficult to proportion correctly, or lead with an overwhelming smell. Greatfill carries none of these burdens and it comes in an endlessly reusable (and gorgeous) spray bottle. I’ve used it multiple times each day for over two weeks and haven’t yet used up a bottle so I expect a refill bag to last around three to four months. I’m sure for lower-use consumers it could easily stretch to six months per pouch.

 + Greatfill 

Images via Greatfill 

Editor’s Note: This product review is not sponsored by Greatfill. All opinions on the products and company are the author’s own.

Why 3D-printed meat?

Roughly one-third of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) are produced by the food industry. Rearing livestock and the resources to sustain them, including food and water, are key components of this. Additionally, agriculture, especially that of animals, utilizes over half of the habitable land on Earth. Furthermore, though animal products account for less than 20% of the world’s calories, animal agriculture takes up 80% of the land used for farming. 

Related: Check out the new 3D bio-printed meat from Steakholder Foods

With rising global populations, the demands for meat products are likely to rise concurrently. By utilizing new advancements in 3D bioprinting, these demands can be met without putting further strain on the planet. 3D-printed meat can allow for the control of the content inside the meat, which can boost its nutritional value without compromising texture and flavor.

How does it work?

The 3D printer works as an extruder and “prints” layers of printing material to create meat-like forms. The printing material can include plant-based ingredients such as vegetables or legumes, or cultured animal cells.

Pieces of meat or meat products are created in layers based on qualities such as desired shape and texture. Like traditional meat products, these need to be cooked before consumption.

3D-bio-printed meat, also referred to as lab-grown cultured meat, is made using the bovine stem cells from a chicken egg or cow. These stem cells are referred to as starter cells and are grown using a bioreactor, which produces a large quantity of the bio-material. Once enough biomass is produced, the cells are separated into edible muscle and fat tissues, which can be fed to the printer for printing.

What goes into the manufactured meats?

Depending on what is used to produce the meats, they can be made with or without animal-based products. For example, certain forms of 3D-printed meat use cultured animal cells, which are extruded layer by layer to form meat products. However, there are also other forms of 3D-printed “meat products” which are produced using only plant-based materials. These include ingredients such as legumes and vegetables, such as pea protein, beetroot, chickpeas and soy. These products can mimic the textures and flavors of meat, without using lab-cultured animal stem cells as a basis.

What are the advantages of 3D-printing meat?

The first key benefit of producing meat products through 3D printing is less reliance on animal agriculture. This consequently reduces GHG emissions and slashes the immense freshwater and land resources required to rear livestock. It also prevents animals from being placed in abusive rearing and slaughter situations and allows marine life populations to recover from overfishing.

Another important advantage is that 3D-printed meats are infinitely customizable. Based on consumer preferences, these products can be manufactured for optimal certain textures and flavors. The foods can even be customized to create meat alternatives for individuals who opt for plant-based diets.

Regarding health-related customizations, nutritional content can also be controlled. This includes levels of sugar, vitamins, minerals, protein and fats, which can be beneficial for those with chronic diseases or the elderly. To boost protein, one of the pathways that is currently being explored is within the field of entomophagy, which is the consumption of insects. Crickets have been known to have high protein levels and using them in the production of 3D bio-printed meats is likely to make them much more appealing for consumption to a larger audience. This maximizes the use of widely available resources (as crickets are abundant and easy to capture) and is a simple method of enhancing protein content in foods.

Eliminating waste is another benefit of 3D-printed meats. Food waste is a growing problem worldwide, but by 3D-printing food, companies can produce consistent, high-quality results. This means that these food products have optimal flavors and textures that make them the “perfect” cut of meat each time, thus preventing food waste.

What are the drawbacks?

Currently, there are a few drawbacks to 3D-printing food, which can make it a challenge to adopt on large scales. Despite the growing trends in 3D printing, manufacturing or purchasing a food-grade 3D printer can come with hefty initial costs. This can make 3D-printed products more expensive, particularly when companies are just starting up.

Additionally, conventional additive manufacturing systems are small-scale and can only extrude small amounts of product over a comparatively lengthy period. Except for a small handful of companies, large-scale 3D-printed food production is challenging to undertake. This makes it especially difficult to meet market demands sustainably.

Furthermore, because 3D-printing systems (especially food-grade ones) are still undergoing development, these manufacturing systems use up large amounts of energy. In fact, additive manufacturing food can consume up to 50 to 100 times more energy than that required for conventional food production. This, alongside the other challenges mentioned above, makes it difficult for 3D-printed meats to be implemented at large scales despite their social and environmental benefits.

What’s next?

Currently, companies like Mooji Meats and Steakholder Foods are pioneering 3D-printed meats for sale on medium to large scales. Through further developments to improve food-grade additive manufacturing systems, 3D-printed meats are likely to gain traction in the coming years. Through an increase in these sales, there would be lower demand for conventional meat. This in turn would reduce GHG emissions and strain on resources as there would be lessened animal husbandry and overfishing.

via SavorEat

Lead image via Pexels

Countries with the healthiest environments

Nordic countries came in at the top of the healthy list with notably cleaner land, air and water. 

Related: The best and worst US states for climate change

Iceland has the healthiest environment, with unpolluted air, low temperature increases, clean drinking water and good sanitation. However, exposure to ozone and CO2 emissions are still a concern.

Sweden also offers a relatively clean and livable environment with low exposure to dangerous air pollutants, clean drinking water and sanitation. However, it has a higher temperature increase compared to Iceland.

Finland has a similar climate to Iceland and Sweden and performs well in areas like low exposure to lead and air pollutants, clean drinking water, sanitation and lower ozone exposure.

Tied for fourth place is the United Kingdom and Ireland, both of which offer clean drinking water and relatively low exposure to lead and CO2 emissions. The U.K. outperforms Ireland in sanitation, while Ireland has a lower temperature increase and exposure to ozone and air pollutants.

Countries facing significant health impacts due to climate change

At the other end of the list lies countries dispersed around southern and western Africa, Mexico, Asia and the Middle East. 

Iran has the least healthy environment among the countries studied, with high exposure to PM2.5 particles, lead, ozone and volatile organic compounds. It also has a high temperature increase and CO2 emissions per capita.

Equatorial Guinea has poor air quality with high PM2.5 pollution levels, although it has lower levels of ozone and lead exposure compared to Iran. CO2 emissions per capita are also relatively lower.

Morocco experiences a considerable temperature increase and performs poorly in terms of PM2.5 exposure, lead exposure and sanitation. However, it has lower CO2 emissions compared to other countries.

Mongolia is also near the bottom of the health-quality list, facing challenges related to heavy pollution and smog, primarily caused by the burning of coal. It has high levels of PM2.5 exposure, lead exposure and CO2 emissions per capita.

Turkmenistan performs poorly in various factors, including PM2.5 pollution, temperature rise and CO2 emissions. However, its scores for other factors are closer to the international average.

The economically developed world

It’s interesting and important to note that many of the leading economies around the globe perform poorly in categories related to environmental and human health. 

Countries such as China, South Africa, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, UAE, the United States, South Korea, Taiwan and Poland experience significant levels of pollution and exposure to dangerous materials, indicating that pollution and unhealthy environments are global concerns.

The impact of climate change on human health

Whether you believe it’s caused by humans or not, the warming planet and changing climate brings a heavy impact to human health. 

Extreme weather events

Climate change is associated with an increase in the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events such as hurricanes, heatwaves, floods, wildfires and droughts. These events can lead to injuries, loss of life, displacement and damage to infrastructure, disrupting healthcare services and creating emergency situations that directly impact health.

Heat-related illnesses

Rising temperatures contribute to an increased risk of heat-related illnesses such as heat exhaustion and heatstroke. Heat waves can be particularly dangerous for vulnerable populations, including the elderly, children and individuals with pre-existing health conditions.

Infectious diseases

Climate change can influence the transmission patterns of infectious diseases. Changes in temperature, rainfall and humidity can affect the geographic range and prevalence of disease-carrying vectors such as mosquitoes and ticks. This includes diseases like malaria, dengue fever, Zika virus, Lyme disease and others, which can spread to new regions or become more widespread.

Air quality and respiratory issues

Climate change can worsen air quality by increasing the concentration of pollutants and prolonging the duration of smog episodes. Poor air quality contributes to respiratory problems such as asthma, allergies, and other respiratory diseases. Additionally, wildfires release harmful smoke and particulate matter into the air, further compromising respiratory health.

Food and water insecurity

Climate change impacts agricultural productivity and can lead to food and water scarcity in certain regions. Crop failures, changes in precipitation patterns and droughts can affect food production and availability, leading to malnutrition and food borne illnesses. Water scarcity can result in inadequate sanitation and hygiene, increasing the risk of waterborne diseases.

Mental health and well-being

Climate change-related events, such as natural disasters or displacement, can have profound psychological and emotional effects on individuals and communities. The stress, trauma and loss experienced during these events can contribute to mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and even increased rates of suicide.

Vulnerable populations, including the elderly, children, low-income communities and those with pre-existing health conditions, are often disproportionately affected by the health impacts of climate change. Mitigating climate change, adapting to its effects, improving public health infrastructure and implementing policies that address both climate and health are crucial for protecting human well-being in the face of this global challenge.

Via Medical Aid

Images via Medical Aid

With concern for at least five known toxins in tire wear products (TWPs), researchers grew lettuce in a hydroponic system, adding TWPs to the water to measure the effect. They found the chemicals traveled up to the edible leaves of the plants. Although the toxicity of some of the pollutants tested are unknown, there’s strong evidence measuring the link between a compound known as 6PPD-quinone and mass salmon deaths. As evidenced in a study reported in Science, even a small exposure to 6PPD-quinone killed Coho salmon in the lab environment. Based on that information, the study at UV explored how TWPs in streams and other water sources could impact the safety of agricultural products. 

Related: Researchers develop new stronger concrete from scrap tires

“Our measurements showed that the lettuce plants took up all the compounds we investigated through their roots, translocated them into the lettuce leaves and accumulated them there,” said Anya Sherman, PhD student at the Centre for Microbiology and Environmental Systems Science (CMESS) and co-first author of the study.

Taking it a step further, the team added whole tire pieces to the water to measure the absorbance. They discovered the lettuce still metabolized the chemicals. The research is young, but the conclusions of the study lead to more questions. 

“The plants processed the substances and in doing so they produced compounds that have not been described before,” said Thorsten Hüffer, senior scientist at CMESS. “Since we don’t know the toxicity of these metabolites, they pose a health risk that cannot be assessed so far.”

This specific study measured absorption via hydroponics and with the concerns produced from the results, the team will move on to evaluate the effects of adding TWPs to a soil-based growing environment instead. 

Throughout the experiment, the lettuce plants were exposed to diphenylguanidine (DPG), hexamethoxymethylmelamine (HMMM), benzothiazole (BTZ), N-phenyl-N′-(1,3-dimethylbutyl)-p-phenylenediamine (6PPD) and its quinone transformation product (6PPD-q). The study found lettuce readily absorbed TWP-derived compounds, with maximum concentrations ranging from approximately 0.75 μg g–1 for 6PPD to 20 μg g–1 for HMMM. Although the plants metabolized these compounds, several transformation products were identified, many of which proved to be more stable in lettuce leaves than the parent compounds.

The environmental impact TWP

What’s bad for the body is likely also bad for the environment and vice versa. While this specific study resulted in more questions than answers, the data is compelling enough to spark valid concerns for both humans and nature. 

According to the study, TWP emissions into the environment are estimated to be around 5.9 million tons per year worldwide. These particles can reach farmland soils through air, road runoff and the application of biosolids from wastewater treatment plants (WWTP). In Germany alone, it is estimated that between 1400 and 2800 tons of TWP are deposited on agricultural land annually through biosolid application. 

TWP introduce a wide range of organic compounds to farmland soils, and their effects on biota remain largely unknown. However, this isn’t the first study to identify environmental issues linked to tires. In fact, there are several conclusions scientists have previously established. 

Microplastics

As tires wear down over time, they release small particles known as microplastics into the environment. These microplastics are a significant contributor to plastic pollution in our ecosystems. They can contaminate soil, water bodies and even the air we breathe.

Water contamination

Tires contribute to water pollution in various ways. When it rains, water washes away tire particles from roads and deposits them into streams, rivers and other bodies of water. The chemicals and heavy metals present in tires can leach into the water, posing risks to aquatic life and potentially entering our drinking water sources.

Tire fires

Tire fires are a significant concern due to the environmental damage they cause. When tires catch fire, they release toxic smoke and pollutants into the air. These emissions contain harmful chemicals and pollutants, including dioxins, heavy metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which can have detrimental effects on air quality and human health.

Habitat destruction

Improperly disposed of tires often end up in landfills or abandoned sites, leading to habitat destruction and a challenge for animals. Accumulated tires create breeding grounds for pests and disease-carrying insects, disrupting the natural balance of ecosystems. Furthermore, tire piles can serve as fire hazards and are challenging to manage and clean up.

Soil contamination

Tires contain a variety of chemicals and heavy metals, such as zinc, lead and cadmium. When tires degrade or are improperly disposed of, these substances can leach into the soil, posing risks to plant life and potentially entering the food chain. Contaminated soil may require extensive remediation efforts to restore its health and fertility.

Carbon footprint

The tire manufacturing process and the energy required for their production contribute to greenhouse gas emissions. Additionally, the disposal of tires through incineration or landfilling releases carbon dioxide and other pollutants into the atmosphere. This contributes to climate change and further environmental degradation.

These definitive research conclusions amplify the importance of implementing proper tire management practices, such as recycling, finding alternative uses for waste tires and raising awareness about the environmental impact of tire disposal. 

Building on that knowledge, the UV lettuce study accentuates the need for a better understanding of the impact our daily commute has on the food we eat. 

Via New Atlas 

Images via Pexels

This lovely home is in Malibu and it’s not just zero carbon, it’s a carbon sink because of the sustainable materials used on the site. The standards set by the International Living Future Institute are considered to be the hardest to meet. This is the toughest third-party, zero-carbon certification to receive.

Related: Making zero carbon homes a reality

“The current net zero revolution calls for more active participants in the real estate industry,” said Scott Morris, a zero carbon developer on the project team. “If you are a property developer or construction company executive, it’s not acceptable to just be a spectator anymore. As one of only four buildings in the world to achieve ILFI’s Zero Carbon Certification, Zero One serves as a blueprint for responsible homebuilding, illustrating that sustainability and luxury can effectively coexist.”

Zero One was built with sustainably harvested local lumber and USA-sourced FSC lumber. The foundation is a raised timber design, rather than a concrete slab. California or FSC-engineered wood was used in place of structural steel wherever possible. The insulation is recycled blown-in cellulose. Standing-seam aluminum sourced from the U.S. was used for the roof.

Additionally, the dedicated energy recovery ventilator provides filtered air constantly. The water heat pump draws from the ambient atmosphere to create heat. There are six bedrooms, nine bathrooms, a saltwater pool and an organic fruit orchard with a large vegetable and herb garden. There’s even an apiary, which will provide fresh honey. Zero Two will be completed soon.

+ MariSol Malibu

Photography by Tanveer Badal Photography

The number one rule in camping is leave it better than you found it or leave no trace, which are common phrases found in parks across the country. It means not only taking care of the things you bring with you and making sure they also go home with you, but picking up things that others may have left behind to ensure nature is safe from as much human harm as possible. Sustainable camping can help you do this both while preparing to camp and while on your trip.

Related: Nestbox turns regular SUVs into camper vans

Picking and arriving at your campsite

When searching for your next great camping adventure, it is important to keep in mind that there are camping restrictions for a reason. Camping only in designated areas, whether on campgrounds or with permitted access, are important to keep the wildlife and you safe.

Especially during peak camping season, such as summer, it can be important to choose less crowded parks and campsites. Like the ecosystem, the infrastructure of parks can only handle so much human traffic before trash cans are full, paths are well worn out and park staff is stretched thin. Instead, choose a slightly less populated area that can sustainably support you. This will make your experience more fun while also ensuring you have a peaceful time with access to first aid and other supplies you need. Alternatively, you can camp in the off-season or during the week when fewer weekend campers may be present.

How you arrive at and get around your campsite can be just as important to the environment. If you can camp within driving distance, do it! This reduces the amount of time you are going to be traveling and keeps your flight footprint low. Carpooling when possible is the best option if multiple households are traveling to the same location. This reduces the number of cars on the road and the amount of carbon emissions generated. Once you have arrived at your destination, try to ride a bike or walk while you are there. This helps you stay in the fresh air and avoid getting in the car for short trips.

You are presumably camping to get out of the area you live in, see new sites and experience nature. No matter where you end up, you should be able to accomplish these goals while remaining eco-friendly.

Choosing and caring for gear

The first step to getting outside is having the supplies to do so. You will likely be in a more remote area with little to no access to indoor plumbing, air conditioning and readily available food. Being prepared is the first step in camping and that means gear. Questions to ask yourself include: How many people will be going with you and for how long? Who is able to carry their own supplies and who cannot? Where are you going and how close will you be to a grocery store if you need it? These answers will determine what backpacks, tents and gear you may need.

You can do a ton of helpful research on gear, but you will never know what works best for you until you test it out. Used, rented or borrowed gear is a great place to start. Not only are you not buying new products that use more greenhouse gases to produce, but you are also not wasting any or as much money if the product is not exactly what you need. Additionally, used gear tends to be cheaper with the same high quality and lifetime use at many outdoor stores. Stores like REI and Patagonia will repair your gear for free, or with just the cost of shipping, and they will also take your gear when you are done with it to give it a new home. They will also repair clothing in most cases.

Another solution is buying gear made from recycled materials. These often come at higher prices, but if you are looking for new gear, buying one made of used materials is a good compromise. Logically, many outdoor and camping companies are trying to do better for the environment and participate in the leave no trace philosophy in their manufacturing. That is good news for consumers who can find eco-friendly camping products far and wide.

Packing food and supplies

You want to carry the least amount of weight, especially if you are doing anything more than driving your car to a campsite. This often means we opt for pre-packaged trail mix, granola bars and oatmeal because they are light and easy to eat. However, they pose a single-use plastic problem when it comes to sustainability, and that problem only increases when you do not have easy access to a trash can.

The easiest solution to pre-packaged goods is buying ingredients in bulk and making or prepping your food before you leave. Homemade protein bars, granolas and various dried pasta or bean dishes are simple to prep before you go. Beeswax wraps, reusable plastic containers and silicon bags are all lightweight and allow you to store your food without plastic bags.

Just like we do not want to litter, it is also important not to bring toxic chemicals into the wilderness. Make sure you are using biodegradable soap and look for bars that can be used for showering, laundry and dishes. Use less water by doing your dishes once a day and showering less frequently than you would at home; you are just going to be dirty again anyway! Remember: dump our liquid waste into the earth and not waterways.

Choose reef-friendly sunscreens and natural bug sprays when possible. Bring reusable dishes, water bottles and cooking utensils to avoid unnecessary waste. And if you need to bring any portable chargers or lamps, try solar-powered devices that you can strap to your backpack or set on a table for electricity without emissions.

When in doubt, ask fellow campers. This can include friends and family, staff at outdoor stores or searching for tips on social media or online. Ample blogs and social media accounts exist to help new and experienced campers pack lighter, camp more sustainably and get more out of their trips.

Camping can be a cheaper vacation that gets everybody outside. Remember to collect any waste you may leave behind. Do your best to make small changes that will have a big impact, and leave it better than you found it.

Images via Pexels

C

This island is an incredible example of how nature can be harnessed but not destroyed. The buildings on the island are made with both natural and manmade materials. A combination of hempcrete, 3D-printed concrete and seaweed were used to create the buildings.

Related: A floating park above the piers of Manhattan, New York

The island is off the mainland of Nova Scotia, Canada, about 50 miles from Halifax. Buildings on the island include the Earth House, which is really nine interconnected buildings. The Wood House is also here, a garden suite near the eastern shore. Wind, geothermal energy and solar power are used to power the buildings on the island, which are carbon neutral.

Every room in this little village is made out of a different material. Some rooms are made from locally-sourced stone, stacked seaweed, compacted earth, hemp and glass brick. The Earth House is made totally out of thatch. It’s full of communal spaces and gathering areas, including a viking fire pit. There’s a bathhouse inspired by Japanese architecture. The soaking tubs were cut from bedrock. The stargazing room and meditation space are additional reminders of how amazing nature can be.

Additionally, the house was made entirely from wood that was already on the island. It has two bedrooms and plenty of comfortable living space. All the food for the island can be grown in the greenhouse, which is made of glass brick. The buildings also have green roofs to reduce stormwater runoff and provide a habitat for plants.

Vollebak Island is the first of its kind, a large-scale project showing that humans can live in harmony with the natural world. All the buildings here were designed to blend into the natural world around them and to provide amazing views of that world from within.

+ BIG

Images via Vollebak

A history of green walls

While often thought of as a modern system, the first plant walls were likely the hanging gardens of Ancient Babylon, in present-day Iraq. Historical records show that King Nebuchadnezzar II had them built for his wife in 600 B.C.E. Spring water flowed from the top of the palace walls and trickled down into the many terrace gardens, keeping the plants lush and flowering. This palace is likely to have been the first building with an in-built irrigation system.

Related: This giant green wall is a show-stopper at Warsaw skyscraper

The development of modern green wall systems is credited to Stanley Hart White, a landscape architecture professor at the University of Illinois. In the 1930s, he tested various prototypes of green wall systems in his backyard. Later on, in 1938, he patented his system under the name “Botanical Bricks.” These were modular plant units that could be stacked up to great heights. In 1988, the invention was popularized by French botanist Patrick Blanc. Blanc set up a vertical garden at the Paris Museum of Science and Industry, which brought this concept to the public.

How do green walls work?

Most living walls fall under one of three categories. These are panel or modular systems, felt systems and trellis systems. Designers will opt for one of these solutions based on a project’s location, scale, vertical structure and purpose.

Panels, modules or trays

These systems use wall panels or trays with pre-planted or prepped vegetation. This is usually grown in a nursery first and then incorporated into the panels before the installation onto an existing wall or prefabricated vertical structure. Hence, the method allows for lush, fully-grown plants to be installed on the wall, as opposed to them growing on-site over some time.

Once installed, this system is typically the easiest to maintain. This is because if plants in one unit start to wilt or become sick, that specific module or tray can be swapped out for another one with healthier vegetation, without disrupting the entire system. Additionally, for resource-conserving irrigation, vegetation can be watered through greywater pipes that run behind the panels, which helps cut down costs and conserves fresh water.

Panel systems are useful because they can be installed in both indoor and outdoor environments. They also work well irrespective of the climate and vegetation can be carefully selected to meet various design and site-specific needs. In fact, panels can feature a diversified plant palette, allowing vegetation with differing growth needs, such as water level and growing medium, to grow in a single space. Further, these qualities make them useful for brand statements and custom designs.

Felt systems

These green walls are similar to panel systems, except these wall panels have felt pockets that can be filled with growing medium. Seedlings from a nursery are then replanted into these pockets, which grow to form part of the larger system. Oftentimes, these types of plant walls are watered using an irrigation system that is built into the wall. This ensures that the plants remain hydrated by absorbing moisture that is distributed into the felt pockets.

Similar to the modular units, maintenance can be relatively easy. This is because maintenance is localized and can easily be done by swapping out plants or felt pocket panels that need to be changed.

Trellises

This system is most commonly used in exterior environments and is often projected off a wall or vertical surface. A secondary structure, typically a lattice made from metal or wood, is set up to serve as a framework for vegetation. Then, plants rooted in the ground or pots grow upwards and attach themselves to this vertical framework. Through their growth, the vegetation climbs upwards to fill up the gaps within the latticed structure of the trellis, creating a thick, hedge-like form of greenery.

Trellis systems can be more challenging to maintain. They often require external irrigation systems that are not integrated into their structural frame. Furthermore, as the plants grow, they need extra pruning and care to prevent overgrowth. This can make them hard to manage over time, as they become more densely woven into the “fabric” of the trellis.

What are the benefits of green walls?

Like any biophilic design feature, living walls have several benefits for those in the vicinity. Besides creating a visually-appealing environment, plant walls can have very practical and tangible effects on the surroundings.

One of the key benefits is that green walls create their own microclimate. This is a multi-faceted component, as these microclimates regulate temperatures and serve as a space that small plants, animals and other organisms can inhabit. By creating a microclimate, plant walls are excellent at improving biodiversity outdoors. They are also useful for reducing interior and exterior temperatures and creating temperature differences of several degrees.

For green facades, the plants prevent building surfaces from absorbing and re-radiating solar energy into the surroundings. Doing this helps mitigate the urban heat island effect. This means that cities, which are typically warmer than suburban and rural areas, can benefit from these microclimates, which regulate temperatures and create hubs for living creatures to thrive.

In addition to creating microclimates, green walls are excellent at boosting health and well-being. Currently, one of the most significant health-threatening concerns is the dangerous levels of pollutants and microparticles in urban environments. To combat this, plants are excellent at capturing these toxins through natural processes and cleaning the air we breathe. Additionally, biophilic design features like green walls have been shown to improve overall health and well-being, especially by lowering stress levels, boosting moods and enhancing mental well-being.

Alongside improving physical and psychological health, green infrastructure is beneficial for creating conducive living and working environments. The biophilic qualities have been shown to boost productivity and creativity. Meanwhile, the natural cushioning properties of the plants help dampen sounds for a more peaceful environment.

Biophilia is the key for future designs

Through these aforementioned benefits, it can be understood that biophilia is a key design strategy to support the health and well-being of living organisms in cities. By incorporating green infrastructure like green walls into urban and architectural designs, the aesthetic possibilities and socio-environmental benefits are endless.

Via Flora Urbanica, Biotecture and Ambius

Images via Pexels

The theme of sustainability features heavily in modern home designs, and rightfully so. Gone are the days when all that mattered was aesthetics. In the modern design of pergolas, it is key to make the design as sustainable as possible. Merging your pergola with nature makes it sustainable and livable at the same time.

Related: Unique pergola located in Japan merges with its environment

Building sustainable structures such as pergolas can be attained in several ways. For instance, a pergola can be made to be fully self-sufficient with renewable energy. Some designs eliminate the need for energy use at all. The design you go for will primarily depend on what area of sustainability you are targeting.

Let us look at some pergola designs that can help you attain sustainability.

Energy-efficient solar panel roof

Domestic energy consumption accounts for about 21% of the energy used in America. This value can be brought down by adopting sustainable home designs. In the case of a pergola, it can be as simple as using a solar panel roof.

There are several solar panel roofing options to choose from. You may decide to go for solar shingles or iron sheets. They are both trendy, presentable and, most importantly, sustainable. The beauty of shingles lies in the fact that they have a long lifespan of up to 30 years.

Given that most pergolas are very tiny in size, covering an entire roof with shingles should not be an expensive affair. If you are looking to design a pergola that is not connected to the grid, go for solar. This design will also save you massive electricity bills in the long run.

The downside of using solar on a pergola roof is that you might have to go for a slightly slanting design. As we know, most pergolas work well with cantilever roofs, which may not have a sufficient slope. To attain maximum sunlight exposure, you should consider slanting your solar roof.

DIY pergola with recycled materials

The materials used on a pergola can also help attain some level of sustainability. Developers have been able to build mansions from sustainable recycled materials. If such levels of structural accuracy can be attained with huge structures, it should be a no-brainer for your pergola.

There is a wide range of recycled materials to consider for your pergola. You may feel used shipping containers, leftover lumber, broken glasses and waste tiles, among others. Recycling whatever is available at home will not only help you cut the cost, but save the world from excess waste.

Regarding recycling, using non-sustainable materials such as plastic is encouraged. Using the waste plastic on your pergola will save it from ending up in our ecosystem. To your advantage, using recycled materials always means lower construction costs.

All organic pergola design

Construction waste accounts for a third of solid waste globally and contributes up to 40% of carbon emissions. These figures are indicative of the fact that most constructions use materials that are not degradable. The use of biodegradable materials can help get rid of excessive solid waste and reduce emissions.

For your pergola, aim for organic but trendy materials such as cross laminated timber (CLT), which is not only durable but also appealing. You may also use different types of timber and recyclable metals. For the roof, consider bamboo, grass and asphalt shingles. When choosing the materials to use, go for durability and pay attention to long-term environmental impact.

It is worth noting that the use of organic materials may prove quite challenging if you intend to go 100% organic. Even so, you may attain up to 90% organic material use.

The green pergola merged with the garden

Green does not always mean sustainable, but more often than not it means eco-friendly. In other words, even if you have made your pergola out of non-sustainable materials, you may still make it eco-friendly by going green.

One of the ways to go all out and attain sustainability is to build a naked structure and cover it up with climbing plants. You may also design walls with spaces for planting flowers and other greens. Make sure the outdoors of your pergola is also well decorated with greens to match your structure. You may also want to consider a green roof.

Minimalist pergola design

Minimalism is a concept that can help us save the world from unnecessary clutter. Do you need a pergola? If yes, what size is suitable for your use? These are some of the questions that can help you attain minimalism. If all you need is an outdoor resting place for one person, why not go for an arbor instead of a pergola?

Some ideas for minimalists include going for the smallest size possible and avoiding interior clutter with minimal seats. You may also go for a skeleton design instead of putting up walls to minimize the materials used.

Pergolas are an ideal way of beautifying your home. They offer a good opportunity to express your design ideas and showcase the beauty of your outdoors. In your desire to spice up your outdoor space, consider sustainability. There are many ways you may make your pergola sustainable. The few options above should give you a good starting point. 

Images via Pexels

The project is located on a narrow, flat site that measures only 37.5 feet (11.4 meters) wide. Because of this constraint, the house is made up of three floors, which include a fully subterranean basement. This makes the home distinct from the other single-story houses on the block.

Related: Rivendell net-zero energy house optimizes solar energy

Outdoor space is a key component of the house. However, the design team had to be creative with how to achieve this, especially because of the narrow nature of the site. As a result of the spatial constraints, the home opens up to the exterior without the use of a traditional lawn. For example, the front porch provides privacy, but offers a welcoming ambiance to the house.

Meanwhile, at the back of the house, bi-folding windows and doors open up to a large deck. The purpose of these windows and doors is to offer ventilation and natural views. The rear deck is shaded by the level above, which cantilevers off the structure to create terrace spaces on the upper level.

Fargo benefits from the site’s east-west orientation, as it provides the interiors with natural light and warm sunshine. The layout is also conducive to producing on-site solar power. Hence, the roof of the upper level features an arrangement of photovoltaic panels. Besides solar energy, a ground-source geothermal heat pump helps meet heating and cooling requirements. Through the use of these systems, this project became the first fully electrified and net-zero property in the city of Louisville. Unlike other homes in the area, it does not rely on natural gas distribution at all and solely runs on renewable energy.

+ DAJ Design

Photography by Jess Blackwell Photography

Each part of Gomi speakers are carefully evaluated on a sustainability scale. As a result, the company has created speakers that are handmade in the U.K. and incorporate recycled waste materials. 

Related: This eco-friendly wooden laptop is designed to curb e-waste

Therefore, Collection One is a line of limited edition portable Bluetooth speakers, developed using recycled waste plastic. Gomi reports the collection has diverted over six tons of waste from the waste stream and that each speaker incorporates the equivalent of 44 plastic bags in its production. In addition, the manufacturing gives a second life to used e-bike batteries. 

After use, Gomi builds on the eco-friendly design by offering trade-ins and repairs to extend the life of each speaker. Each of the 29 components can be removed and replaced or upgraded to promote a long-lasting and durable modular design. 

In a press release, the company said, “In the current climate of mass production, low-cost and low-quality products, Gomi aims to promote conscious purchase decisions.”

With a cradle-to-cradle design process, the company highlights a carbon neutral system. Gomi proudly claims the speakers offer superior sound quality and the ability to link speakers together for a surround sound experience. Along the way, the company also focuses on improving the often sterile look of their electronics with three colorways that were inspired by art. Made by hand, the marbling pattern is unique for every speaker. Each speaker in the limited release also features an individual edition number. 

Rishi Gupta, cofounder and CEO at Gomi said, “At Gomi we envision a world where waste is not seen as a problem, but as a resource that can be transformed into beautiful and unique masterpieces that fuse form and function. We believe that design is a force for change that can inspire equitable solutions to our throwaway culture, by acknowledging the value of waste and our responsibility towards all the stakeholders of our planet. ”

Tom Meades, cofounder and Chief Design Officer added, “Every material and design decision is filtered through our thinking ‘can it be repaired easily, can it be recycled easily’ — this is why we’re anti-glue, pro-modularity and proudly repair-for-life. At Gomi we are proving that there is a process to recycling properly, that we can create exciting products from waste, and bring beauty and individuality into tech.”

+ Gomi 

Images via Gomi 

This is Tesseract, a lovely Seattle home that sits on a bluff with a view of the water, the mountain and the nearby city. The home was originally designed by James Paul Jones to be an entertainment-friendly bachelor pad and his personal residence.

Related: Seattle apartment is an imaginative response to urban growth

The home was purchased by a young couple with children, and a bachelor pad really wouldn’t do. So the home has been revamped, rebooted and remodeled, in keeping with the principles of a more sustainable, more modern design. The idea was to bring the outside world into the home. Big windows and light fill up the interior spaces. The stunning natural beauty of Washington state contributes to the beautiful design, creating the perfect backdrop for the modern look of the home.

But the new owners had another goal: achieve net-zero energy. To assist in this, new insulation was added and the windows were replaced. A solar energy system was added and a radiant floor was installed to reduce energy use. The home now has a much more secure envelope to reduce energy loss. Meanwhile, the interior is full of warm wood and bright metals in a minimalist design that is modern and sleek. Soft cream accents fill spaces, a beautiful contrast against the glossy black you can see throughout the home.

Overall, this is a rebooted home that’s been reimagined and redesigned to suit the needs of new, modern owners. In every way, this home is a perfect model for others to follow when it comes to sustainable design.

+ Johnston Architects

Images via Rafael Soldi

Using a unique twisted design and geometric shapes, architects Perkins&Will created the design for Toronto’s York University. The School of Continuing Studies building has five floors and every one of them rotates to provide shading for the common areas below. The curtain wall is plated with reflective, brushed aluminum panels. This doesn’t hamper views, but it does reduce energy use. Low-carbon concrete was used to make up the structural core of the building.

Related: Google STEM lab creates opportunities for underprivileged youth

Moreover, the buildings has classrooms and areas for collaboration. It has private spaces for nursing mothers, a prayer room, a dining area with kitchen appliances and a yoga room. This building is not designed for the typical 20-something college student because there is no such thing as a typical college student. This facility is for other types of students. That includes those with young children, older students and newcomers to Canada.

Additionally, you can see right away that this is a different sort of construction. It’s not a normal box sitting on the ground. It’s an artistic, beautiful place. This is the largest continuing studies school of its kind in all of Canada.

“Through our design we wanted the School of Continuing Studies to achieve a rich identity, build community and create a culture of connectivity, both internally and externally,” said Safdar Abidi, higher education leader and Perkins&Will principal. “Our goal was to set a new benchmark nationwide, demonstrating how institutions can leverage the power of design to respond to its evolving landscape.”

Direct outdoor air ventilation and active chilled beams were integrated into the design. The building has 120,000 square feet of space and inside, it’s full of natural light. The twisted form of the building catches a lot of rays to illuminate the interior.

Lastly, the learning areas are made in a modular design in little clusters that can be reconfigured as needed. This building can adapt and change, like the natural world itself. This building shows that design, architecture and construction are not restricted to square shapes. Now, much more outside-the-box designs are needed.

+ Perkins&Will

Images via Doublespace Photography (ext.) and Tom Arban Photography (int.)

Whenever the terms sustainable and eco-friendly are used, most people intuitively associate them with green spaces. However, there is more to sustainability. Some green spaces may do more harm to your ecosystem than good. Gardens and ponds may not necessarily be sustainable or eco-friendly. Before you consider putting up one, it is necessary to review all potential benefits and downsides.

Related: Best garden flowers to plant for good luck

A garden pond refers to a water feature in a garden or any designated landscape in a natural way. Garden ponds are meant to improve exterior design while at the same time catering to their ecological needs. Most garden ponds are designed to create a home for wildlife such as fish, frogs and insects. However, they end up serving many other ecological purposes.

Before you get down to designing a pond for your backyard, check to see whether it is permitted in your region. There are diverse requirements when it comes to constructing ponds. In most cities, you will be required to get a permit, while in others you won’t require approvals. You must fulfill all the requirements to obtain the necessary permits. In New York State, for instance, ponds that exceed six feet in depth require a safety permit. The laws vary greatly and those intending to build a pond must check with the local regulatory organs. Regions where watershed system restoration activities are underway may have strict permitting requirements. 

Factors to consider before installing a garden pond

If the beauty of the backyard pond is the only reason you are trying to get one, you need to pause and reconsider. Ponds are a lot more than they look on the surface. Remember, a pond will not take care of itself after it has been installed. As a matter of fact, it could easily turn into a burden or a hazard. 

The first factor to consider should be water usage and disposal. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approximates that Americans use eight billion gallons of water on outdoor activities daily. For years, the agency has been appealing for less use of water on unnecessary outdoor activities. If your outdoor pond will end up using more water than it recycles, installing it will not do justice to the ecosystem. On the other hand, your pond might act as a water recycling system for water used outdoors and hence offer some water conservation benefits.

The other key factor you must consider is safety. Ponds can be dangerous in homes with children and pets. There are no requirements to fence ponds in most states. Besides the lack of such restrictions, most homeowners prefer leaving the ponds open for aesthetic purposes. With open ponds comes the danger of accidental drowning. Pets and children drown in ponds every day. According to the CDC, accidental drowning is the leading cause of death in children between the ages of one and four years. Most of these incidents occur at home in pools and ponds.

Tips to maintain a sustainable garden pond

If you decide to build a garden pond, make sure you make key considerations for easy maintenance. Some tips to keep at the back of your mind are:

• – Go for a small pond that is easy to manage and one that utilizes minimal water.
• – Avoid keeping animals that will require regular water filtration unless you are ready for it.
• – Use your pond as a system for water storage and recycling to reduce outdoor water usage at home.
• – If possible, source your pool water from the groundwater or surface water and not your tap water.

Ecosystem benefits of keeping a garden pond

Though maintaining a backyard pond may appear to be somewhat challenging, it has quite attractive ecological benefits. Ponds form some of the most beautiful natural surface water bodies. These bodies create microenvironments that are necessary for certain wildlife and plants. By building a pool at home, you support the plants and animals that thrive in such an environment. Besides wildlife, there are other key benefits of a backyard pond as outlined below.

Water conservation

A backyard pond can be an effective water conservation system, but this depends on many other factors. First, you must consider your source of water. If you receive plenty of precipitation in your region, constructing a backyard pond could help retain this water.

Besides retaining precipitation, a pond could also be helpful in trapping surface runoff from outdoor activities. For instance, if you do plenty of garden irrigation, a pool could help hold the excess runoff. This way, the water is preserved for future reuse.

Local wildlife support

The role of a backyard pond in promoting wildlife is quite obvious. There is a wide range of species that thrive in pool ecosystems. For instance, fish, frogs, turtles and snakes will love staying in a pond. Creating a pond provides a natural habitat for these species. At the same time, the pond also provides room for plants that thrive in marshy areas.

Less use of pesticides

Garden maintenance often requires the use of pesticides to deal with harmful pests. When you set up a pool, you may end up using less pesticides. For instance, frogs from your pond may naturally deal with grasshoppers. This is a simple solution that will prevent attacks on your flowers without the use of pesticides. Even so, ponds may also attract potentially harmful pests.

Creation of environmental awareness

Having a pond within your backyard creates environmental awareness for your family and friends. Naturally, most people do not pay much attention to environmental factors. The presence of a pond changes all the dynamics. People around a pond start to appreciate nature when they stay in such a natural environment. 

Negative effects of keeping a garden pond

A garden pond comes with its fair share of problems. The negatives of keeping a pond should not scare you, but should be an inspiration. Even so, it is necessary to consider these negatives when you set up a pond.

The first challenge you are likely to encounter is dealing with unwanted pests and insects. For instance, most still ponds will attract mosquitoes that can be harmful to your home. Other animals that could be attracted are snakes and scorpions. 

Besides the harmful animals, consider the cost of installing a pond. The cost varies greatly depending on the size of the pond you are aiming for. Furthermore, the cost can be affected by your source of water and water purification system. Keep in mind that you will also have to cater for maintenance costs once the pond is installed.

While the beauty and ecological benefits of a pond are an instant attraction, a lot of factors should be considered before building one. Carry out a conclusive survey on the legal requirements in your region before you start. Most importantly, consider the potential benefits against the negatives of holding a pond. 

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