The Mapdwell Project is a collaborative effort by researchers, academics, and professionals at MIT to develop a community resource of research-driven and tested information on sustainable practices. The Sustainable Design Lab at MIT collaborated with design studio MoDE (Modern Development Studio) to create a user-friendly interface that makes complex data simple and easy to understand. The fundamental goal of Mapdwell is to deliver a tool that enables communities to make informed decisions about how to incorporate sustainable technologies like solar power into their lifestyles through community awareness and access to information about energy efficiency and smart development.

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Read the rest of MIT’s Mapdwell Project Tracks Sustainable Development Around the World

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Post tags: "sustainable development", green design, green graphics, green map, green technology, mapdwell, mapdwell project, MIT, renewable energy, solar exposure map, solar power map, sustainable design

It’s hard to keep track of all the greenhouse gases that are steadily collecting in the atmosphere – from auto emissions and coal plants to methane emissions from cattle and landfills. Fortunately, Ecofys has created an easy-to-understand infographic that breaks down the source and sector of the world’s largest greenhouse gas emitters.

Read the rest of Amazing Infographic Shows Where the World’s Greenhouse Gases Come From

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Post tags: carbon emissions, coal, coal power, deforestation, global emissions, green transportation, greenhouse gases, methane emissions, Waste, waste storage

Human development, global warming, and changing ecosystems have put many animal species around the world at risk of becoming extinct – and this interactive infographic shows the 100 most endangered species on the planet. You can search by species or by location using the interactive map feature, so find out which animals are at risk near you and pledge to protect them!

+ 100 Most Endangered Species Infographic

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Post tags: 100 most endangered species, Animals, conservation, endangered species, Environment, environmental destruction, extinct animals, green graphics and packaging, infographic, Nature, Wildlife

It’s Friday, which means many of us are just counting the minutes until happy hour. After enjoying a bottle of wine, it’s always a bit sad to dump the bottle in the recycling bin. Although there are plenty of upcycling options for wine bottles, many require a fairly large dose of creativity. Protea (PROH-tee-uh) is a new brand of wine that aims to unleash your inner upcycling genius while complementing your favorite dinner. Each Protea bottle is specifically made to be reused – for floral displays, to hold olive oil, or as a beverage container. The possibilities are practically endless!

Read the rest of Protea Debuts a Fetching New Wine Bottle that’s Designed to Be Upcycled

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Post tags: alcohol, Creative Reuse, Fashion, fashion designer, happy hour, Mark Eisen, Protea, recycling, South Africa, upcycling, wine, Wine Bottles

New research suggests that people with right wing views are less likely to buy light bulbs that are labeled as “pro-environment” due to the politicized nature of the carbon debate in the United States. In a study published last month in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Dena Gromet of Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania found that consumers’ purchasing decisions are divided along party lines.

Read the rest of Study Finds Conservatives Less Likely to Buy Light Bulbs Labeled as Good for the Environment

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Post tags: carbon emissions, cfl bulb, Climate Change, conservative, consumer, dena gromet, Environmentally Friendly, green, incandescent, jacquelyn ottman, liberal, light bulb, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, protect the planet, the new rules of green marketing, wharton school of the university of pennsylvania

With scores of new smartphones and tablets release every quarter, tons of electronic devices are thrown away – and they often wind up filling our landfills and polluting the environment. Electronic waste is a growing concern – over 2.4 million tons of waste was generated by gadgets in 2010 alone. This waste often includes toxic materials such as lead, mercury and lithium to name a few. This infographic by Metrofax discusses this growing concern, and how recycling e-waste can reduce its carbon footprint.

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Read the rest of Infographic Shows The Growing Concern of E-Waste

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Post tags: e-waste, e-waste infographic, e-waste recycling, electronic waste, electronics recycling, green design, green gadget, infographic, sustainable design, sustainable technology

Melbourne-based creative agency Eco Innovators is up to green mischief again with their new Design Play Cards – a deck of 50 quirky playing cards designed to challenge, inspire and explore sustainable design. Gamification is recognized as a valid educational tool, and the Design Play Cards assist educators in conveying complex approaches to design problem solving using fun and engaging exercises. The cards are divided into three groups: The ‘Design Problem’ set challenges players to solve social and environmental design issues, the ‘Design Inspiration’ set encourages players to find inspiration through real world solutions in action, and the ‘Design Strategy’ cards help players discover opportunities through sustainable design thinking.

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Read the rest of Eco Innovators’ Design Play Cards are a Fun Way to Learn About Sustainable Design

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Post tags: Design Education, design games, design play cards, eco innovators, eco playing cards, environment games, environmental education, green design, green design game, playing cards, sustainable design

Read the rest of Designer Aaron Mickelson Shows How a Product Can Be Its Own ‘Disappearing Package’

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Post tags: aaron mickelson, disappearing package, eco design, green, green design, green packaging, Packaging Design, Sustainable, sustainable design, sustainable packaging

The Unfiltered Truth About Water is an interactive infographic that explores the sometimes surprising causes of water pollution and provides tips on how we can conserve and protect our water sources. It was created by DBS>Interactive in Louisville, KY for Evergreen AES Environmental Services. Check out the full infographic here!

+ The Unfiltered Truth About Water

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Post tags: evergreen aes environmental services, green design, infographic, resource conservation, sustainable design, the unfiltered truth about water, water conservation, water efficiency, water infographic, water issues

The Lost Words just launched a line of 12 typographic, inspirational graphics available as prints or laser-engraved bamboo boards. The boards have a beautiful hand feel and they are sourced from sustainably managed bamboo plantations by a FSC certified producer. They just launched an Indiegogo campaign to purchase equipment to produce all of their products in-house – check it out and contribute here!

+ The Lost Words

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Post tags: bamboo, Forest Stewardship Council, fsc bamboo, fsc certified, green design, green graphics, green materaisl, green posters, renewable materials, sustainable design, the lost words

The world’s oldest trees are dying off at an alarming rate, according to recent study by Australian National University professor David Lindenmayer. Research conducted on some of the world’s greatest forests – from Yosemite National Park and the Brazilian Rainforest – shows that the die-off rate of trees between 100 to 300 years is a grave concern, and climate change is one of the biggest reasons for their decline. This beautiful infographic by Michael Paukner shows the locations of some of the world’s oldest – and most at risk – trees.

+ Michael Paukner

Via Kateoplis

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Post tags: australia university, ecological research, Michael Paukner, sustainable design, tree declining, trees dying off fast, World's Oldest Trees

Australian-German duo Chauntelle Trinh and Eckard Buscher have captured the urban identity of 16 cities from across America, Europe and Asia in an ethereal collection of urban maps intricately cut from paper. Each map is created with a laser cutter that can define details as small as .4 mm – the width of a needle. Trinh and Buscher say: “Metropolitan Cityscapes is an homage to the cities that inspire us. Every city is as unique, and as beautiful, as we are. The city is us.”

+ Metropolitan Cityscapes

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Post tags: Chauntelle Trinh, city maps, Eckard Buscher, eco-art, green art, green design, map art, maps, Metropolitan Cityscapes, paper art, papercut art, sustainable design, Urban design

Ashpalt concrete roads are slowly being replaced by more environmentally friendly options, such as Eco-Pave, which is based upon an organic resin. Another option road surface manufacturers are considering is the use of recycled plastics in road construction. This Road of the Future infographic outlines other technologies that could be available within the next 10 years – hit the jump to see it in full!

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Read the rest of Road of the Future Infographic Shows Better Ways to Build Streets

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Post tags: eco streets, eco-pave, green highways, green pavement materials, green roads, green roadways, recycled plastic roads, road of the future infographic, sustainable infrastructure, sustainable pavement materials, the road of the future

Countries around the world are becoming increasingly conscious of environmental issues, and major metropolitan centers are the new front line in the struggle to go green. But how are big cities taking on the challenge? This infographic from HouseTrip examines the measures being employed – from water consumption statistics to green building initiatives – in an attempt to find out which cities are embracing the green revolution. Check it out after the jump!

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Read the rest of Infographic Shows Which Cities are Embracing the Green Revolution Around the World

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Post tags: global development, Green Building, green design, green graphics, green lifestyle, greenest cities in the world, housetrip, infographic, sustainable design, sustainable lifestyle, Urban design, world's greenest cities

Here at Inhabitat we’ve been hoping for, and advocating, biodegradable packaging for years, but now designer entrepreneurs are thinking even bigger; how about packaging one could actually consume? Turning what was a waste product into something that could actually confer nutrition (and would degrade quickly if uneaten), could make litter a thing of the past. Several companies have been working on edible packaging over the last couple of years, and as the idea moves closer to reality, Time magazine even called it a ‘game changer’ for 2012. Read on for a look at the state of the art in edible packaging!

Read the rest of Packaging the Future: Edible Wrappers, Containers and Bags (Yum?)

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Post tags: biodegradable packaging, eco design, edible container, edible packaging, edible wrappers, green design, green food packaging, healthy food, molecular gastronomy, Monosol, packaging the future, Perpeceuticals, sustainable design, sustainable food, sustainable food packaging, sustainable packaging, sustainable produce, wikicell

The Buckminster Fuller Institute, a non-profit dedicated to accelerating the development and deployment of solutions which radically advance human well being and the health of our planet’s ecosystems, is launching their year-end fundraiser! BFI would like to offer any donor of $10 or more this newsprint poster of Fuller’s rarely seen 1928 drawing of the 4D tower light projections. Support BFI’s work and build your Fuller archive by donating today!

+ Buckminster Fuller Institute

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Post tags: 4D tower light projections, Art, bfi, Buckminster Fuller, buckminster fuller challenge, buckminster fuller institute, buckminster fuller print, diagram, donation, green design, print, social design, sustainable design

We showcased Agency of Design‘s prototype cO2 card in the past, and the firm just played a winning hand by launching a full suite of Energy Trumps! The deck of cards aims to help designers and consumers create and buy more environmentally sound products by identifying the environmental properties of 45 different materials. Each card presents key information so that producers can choose between materials in a fast and practical way.

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Post tags: agency of design, eco design, energy trumps, environmental research, product design, sustainable design resources

Maybe you have just moved or are remodeling your home, and you go to buy a brand new set of furniture. Once you unpack your tables and chairs, you’re left with a heap of cardboard just sitting there, waiting for the recycling bin. DIY Living gives its furniture packaging a second life by offering buyers instructions on how to fold the cardboard into functional pieces of home decor. With the help of printed directions, the box can become a bonus coffee table, stool or lamp shade.

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Post tags: "green furniture", cardboard, diy living, packaging, publicis, Singapore

HINT.FM‘s real-time map of wind speeds in the US is a useful tool to help us better understand the wind’s power and potential. The kinetic map was developed by Fernanda Viégas and Martin Wattenberg, who are exploring ways that data set in graphical form can help us think better collectively. The above image shows the powerful gusts that encircled the east coast as Hurricane Sandy made landfall last night.

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Post tags: graphic visualization of wind, HINT.FM, real time wind map, wind map, wind power map

UK-based renewable energy company Duncan Renewables made this great infographic which highlights the benefits of biomassfor domestic consumers. The infographic shows information about biomass use around the world – a hot topic since the introduction of the green deal by the UK government this month. The graphic demonstrates a range of statistics about how biomass can help the environment and provide a more sustainable heating source compared to fossil fuels. Duncan Renewables has mainly installed biomass boilers in large-scale commercial settings such as farms and leisure facilities, but as the infographic shows, with domestic customers now able to get help with the cost of biomass boiler installation it is becoming a more popular technology used for heating normal homes. Check out the full infographic after the jump!

+ Duncan Renewables

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Read the rest of INFOGRAPHIC: Understanding Biomass as a Renewable Energy Source

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Post tags: biomass, biomass boiler, Duncan Renewables, green deal, green design, green energy, green graphics, infographic, renewable energy, sustainable design, UK, Understanding Biomass

UTC Power has created an infographic that illustrates the real world applications of fuel cells. Fuel cells are an expensive and often complicated technology, which sometimes leads consumers and businesses to think of them as out-of-reach or too futuristic. Instead of a bevy of technical facts and figures, the infographic offers a fun, friendly and experiential portal that shows the prevalence of fuel cells in our everyday lives. Click the pic in our gallery below for a larger image, or head over to UTC Power’s Website for an interactive version that allows for further exploration of actual usage. This infographic strives to show that fuel cells are not a futuristic power source, but rather a common and effective source of renewable clean energy.

+ UTC Power

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Post tags: alternative energy, clean tech, clean technology, fuel cell, green design, green technology, hydrogen fuel cell, hydrogen power, infographic, renewable energy, sustainable design, uses for fuel cells, UTC Power

As Halloween approaches, it’s time to start carving jack o’ lanterns and concocting fabulous costumes. And as we do so, it’s worth remembering why it’s always best to create DIY costumes with materials found around the house or in thrift stores, and use the innards of those pumpkins to cook delicious seasonal treats. The infographic below shows how much waste is generated each year in the UK while celebrating annual holidays like Easter, Halloween, Valentines Day and Christmas. See the full graphic after the jump!

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Read the rest of INFOGRAPHIC: How Much Waste Is Generated in the UK by Major Holidays?

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Post tags: christmas card, christmas toys, easter eggs, food waste, holiday celebrations, holiday wastage, paper recycling, pumpkins halloween, Recycled Materials, valentines day cards

City University London’s giCentre, which is part of the City Collaborative Transport Hub, has created several visualizations that show the behavior and route preference patterns of the capital’s bike riders. Using Geographic Information (GI) and working with Transport for London (TfL), Professor of Visual Analytics Jo Wood and PhD candidate Roger Beecham analyzed data from the London Cycle Hire scheme to create these eye-catching visuals.

Read the rest of City University London’s giCentre Visualizes 10 Million Bike Trips in a Blaze of Blue Light

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Post tags: bikers, biking, City University London, City University London giCentre, commuting, cycles, cycling, giCentre, London, urban

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Post tags: andrew gorovenko, ceylon, great wall of china, leaves, tea, triptea, triptych

This map by interactive designer John Nelson catalogues 11 years of major US fires. After recent wildfires blazed in Colorado and Utah following long periods of dry weather, Nelson gathered satellite imagery from NASA to show not only the locations of major fires since 2001, but also to show the intensity of each of those events—as compared to the average summertime output of a nuclear power plant.

Read the rest of Incredible Map Shows 11 Years of Major US Fires

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Post tags: Climate Change, data maps, data visualization, fire intensity, forest service maps, global warming wildfires, hot spots, idv solutions, john nelson, nasa satellite imagery, US maps, US weather, wildfire megawatts