101 Things Designers Can Do To Save The Earth offers many simple ways to work and create more sustainably. The site was inspired out of a collaboration between AIGA Seattle and the School of Visual Concepts. To get the full list via RSS click here.
Urban Ore is a shop in Berkeley California geared towards dramatically reducing waste by offering a outlet for recycling. They receive unwanted items and sell them “as is” to be reused or repurposed. At their facility you will find items like sinks, tubs, doors, windows and building materials. They accept cash, most major credit cards and of course Urban Ore trade credits.
The image above is from a local story about the establishment.
The wetlands of Louisiana are dissipating at an accelerated rate. Cypress trees are a major component to the wetland ecosystem. They retain sediment, prevent erosion and protect people who live in densely populated areas such as New Orleans when storms come. As the the United States is working to invest billions to restore the wetlands, Home Depot, Lowe’s and Wal-Mart are selling Cypress mulch. Most of coastal Louisiana is privately owned or claimed to be. Landowners have been selling their property to companies who mulch the trees (bark, branches and all). To find out how you can help prevent the deforestation of coastal Louisiana visit saveourcypress.org.
Does everyone remember how David Macaulay broke down basic mechanisms in The Way Things Work? Well, one website breaks down where stuff (in general) comes from in layman’s terms. Visit storyofstuff.com to learn more.
The best selling author of “The World is Flat” gives an insightful discourse on energy, green, and globalization at the 2006 Poptech conference.
The Center for Health, Environment and Justice (CHEJ) claims another victory after pushing Target and Apple to rethink their stance on PVC tainted products.
Reported by Sustainable Life Media here
The TranSglass line from Dutch product designer Tord Boontje is a great representation of reuse. These simple products are made from common bottles of many shapes, sizes and colors. They are manufactured by cutting and sandblasting the glass to give the bottles a new purpose in life. Since all bottles are different, the glasses and vases have a character that breaks away from standard mass production. Originally designed and sold in 1997, the line was revived and rereleased in 2005 through Artechnica under their Design with Conscience series.
Just as I was starting to feel bad about sending out more holiday cards that would ultimately end as refuse, I received a Reindeer Greeting from a friend. These electronic, festive cards cost less than the paper alternative ($0.79), and take a little off the top to donate to Architecture for Humanity. Created by the folks at re:vision, I have to give them credit for an easy to use web site, workable designs, and a good cause.
Send a card to a friend or colleague here: www.reindeergreetings.com
