Sonia Renthlei: Rise in global temperature Naysayers argue that global warming is a natural progression and even if humans were to cease their activities, the earth’s atmosphere would still witness temperature rise. Nonetheless, human activity is significantly contributing to the burgeoning global warming. Taiwan Skyscraper The greenhouse effect is essential to our survival, keeping the earth warm enough for us and other living beings to thrive. The problem arises when too much heat is trapped in the atmosphere owing to increased emission of gases like methane, carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide. According to scientists, since 1925, the earth’s temperature has risen by 1.5 degrees Fahrenheit. What we’re seeing now are melting polar ice caps, an increase in the number of storms in the North Atlantic, an average of 15 every year as opposed to 10 before the year 1990, and a rise in carbon emissions in almost every country of the world. Melting of glaciers Most proponents of global warming have cited melting of glaciers and ice caps as a clear indicator of the greenhouse effect. According to a study, six major glaciers from the Greenland Ice Sheet recorded the same initial ice buildup in six years and each of these glaciers witnessed a slowdown during the warm years, when a greater amount of melt water was produced. Countries in low lying areas are at risk of being submerged if melting of glaciers continues at the current rate. Three main areas have been identified as being especially vulnerable. 1. Palau, Micronesia: Palau has gained recognition after figuring in the list of Seven Underwater Wonders of the World. The Pacific Island nation has a very rich underwater life, beckoning divers and researchers to study its rich biodiversity. Despite efforts to protect the area, however, Palau may just end up underwater if current trends continue. 2. Great Barrier Reef, Australia: Australia’s Great Barrier Reef is the largest coral reef system on the planet. Harboring 2,900 individual reefs, it’s a hot bed of marine activity. But, if waters rise, acidity levels can change and this could ultimately kill the reefs. As it is, Australia’s slow efforts to curb its carbon emissions has already led to substantial damage to the Great Barrier Reef. 3. Maldives, Indian Ocean: Maldives is already witnessing significant erosion on its borders. Aside from climate change, human activities like reclamation, illegal sand and coral mining have led to some houses collapsing because of sand bank erosion. The future of architecture Opinions are divided on the concept of climate change, as we all know and many companies, environmentalists and governments have called for change in policies to halt global warming. Architects and designers have already dreamed up housing projects that seek to minimize impact on the environment by utilizing green, non polluting energy and making provisions for effective waste management. An example is the Float House by Arman Fissette, which attempts to make use of Western Europe’s canal banks. The ‘house’ can either float or lean over an embankment, taking up just a meter of space so as not to affect canal traffic. Your world of tomorrow The five concepts listed below don’t envision living beneath the earth’s crust but do project surviving in underwater cities. Taiwan Skyscraper As part of the Annual Skyscraper Competition of 2006-09, Taiwanese designers came up with a concept of an underwater skyscraper that is self sustaining. The structure has an upper level garden as well as spheres that house offices, residences and lounges. Translucent soft plastic tubes act like elevators, transporting occupants from one level to the next. Food will be grown in the skyscraper itself and waste water will be properly treated for reuse. Electricity will be produced through solar, tidal and wind energy. Gyre Gyre Home design studio, Zigloo, created the Gyre Seascraper concept, an underwater science lab and resort at a dept of 400m, capable of housing gardens, offices, shops, restaurants, residences and recreational areas. A double hulled vortex covered in reinforced glass with concentric rings for each layer, Gyre will be powered by renewable energy through solar cells and wind turbines. Underwater nacelles will act like tidal generators when Gyre is anchored and function as thrusters for propulsion. Undersea Scraper, self sufficient tower undersea scraper self sufficient tower The Undersea Scraper designed by Spanish architects lfigeneia Arvaniti and Higinio Llames, hopes to give future victims of climate change some respite. The structure is self sufficient with the building’s skin having the capability of interacting with the surroundings for generation of tidal power. The dome, meanwhile, converts solar energy into power through photovoltaic generators. The double skin of the Undersea Scraper enables it to float or submerge by acting as a ballast tank. Scraper city Scraper city Malaysian designer, Sarly Adre Bin Sarkum, drew up a concept for the eVolo Skyscraper Competition titled the Water Scraper, which envisions integrating a floating island with an underwater skyscraper. The self sufficient structure generates renewable power by utilizing solar, wind and wave energy, and also produces its own food via aquaculture, farming and hydroponic techniques. A small forest dominates the top of the skyscraper while the lower levels house living spaces. Ballasts and tentacle like protrusions keep the Water Scraper upright. Underwater Skyscraper 7 by De Bever architects Underwater Skyscraper 7 by De Bever architects Conceived by De Bever architects, the Underwater Skyscraper 7 seeks to harmonize living with underwater surroundings. Not many details have been given but from what we can see, the city will house about 6,000 inhabitants with layers of concentric circles acting as living spaces. The benefits 1. Underwater skyscrapers will give vacationers and scientists a safe and non polluting platform to understand the world of oceans. 2. The structures will utilize renewable and clean energy as well as grow food through aquaculture, farming and hydroponics. 3. The skyscrapers will give us a way out and provide us shelter when effects of global warming reach an alarming stage, making living on land next to impossible. 4. Underwater cities use green technology and energy and we might eventually see mankind forever shedding his dependence on conventional energy systems. The challenges While underwater skyscrapers do give us an alternative, it’s obvious that they come with many drawbacks. 1. Sea storms: No technology can keep sea storms at bay and this poses a huge problem for underwater living. 2. Transportation: Since roads won’t be used anymore, we’d have to build whole new transport systems. 3. High humidity : Humidity is higher under water and there are no solutions yet on how to accommodate growing populations. 4. High cost: The cost of building underwater infrastructure will be huge, more than land based living. The bottom line There’s no doubt that underwater cities seem like an attractive solution to global warming. But, how do we ensure that air, water and food quality will be maintained? Moreover, how do we ensure that the ecosystem will be left undamaged by our activities? The sheer volume of work and capital needed to make underwater living feasible is one of the biggest obstacles we’d have to overcome. A far simpler and cost effective solution is turning our lifestyle around by incorporating green energy, proper waste management and innovative architecture in our way of life.

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Is future of human inhabitation heading below the waves?

Ishan Sidhu: Everyone is making himself a part of the recycling buzz, be it for fun or advertising. Cardboard as we know can be easily recycled and hence is among good sources of eco friendly raw materials. Furniture Industry has already tapped the traits of cardboard and has introduced green furniture, which is both trendy as well as environmentally friendly. Catching on the theme of recycling as a new marketing strategy for its annual sale, IKEA, world’s largest furniture retailer came up with the idea of making furniture with recycled cardboard. The furniture is created by AUGE Headquarters of Milan and is made from flatpack boxes used by IKEA for packing. IKEA Furniture out of its own cardboard Picture Gallery IKEA Furniture out of its own cardboard boxes These are created by noted Milanese agency, AUGE Headquarter. Dubbed as the ‘You Can Get More’ campaign, the furniture showcased includes a bed, a table lamp and a chair. The campaign emphasizes on the concept of quantity and has all the above mentioned items made exclusively from cardboard boxes. By assembling these three furniture pieces, AUGE Headquarters was able to advertise an impressive sale of 40%. This campaign has clearly sent across the message to its customers that packaging material is no waste and can be recycled for making useful things, in this case furniture. Via: Psfk

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IKEA recycles cardboard boxes into furniture

In a wide-ranging conversation with GreenBiz Executive Editor Joel Makower today, the co-founders of Method explained why a company created with environmental responsibility written into its DNA would distance itself from the green label.

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Want to Sell a Green Product? Don’t Call It Green

Tapping in to the massive — and often wasted — resource of employee ideas can provide a win-win-win — increasing employees' job satisfaction, saving money and reducing your environmental impacts.

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Hitting the Sweet Spot of Employees, Innovation & Sustainability

Sonia Renthlei: Environmentally friendly homes can reduce inhabitants’ carbon footprints, save resources and lead the way for others to live the same way. Most of us, however, have been living in homes that are pretty standard, in that they don’t help us reduce our carbon footprints. The US Department of Energy has been trying to further green living in terms of homes and has been organizing the Solar Decathlon for a while now. The international competition is a biennial event that challenges 20 college teams to come up with conceptual homes that utilize solar energy. The teams get to work on site, detailing their prefabricated houses for 10 days in a bid to take home the Solar Decathlon title. 2012’s competition is set to begin and we’re eager to see who wins the coveted prize. SLIDES SLIDES A team from the American University in Cairo has designed a solar powered home called SLIDES, as an entry into the 2012 Solar Decathlon. Making use of Egypt’s desert climate, they’ve proposed to install solar panels on the roof of the house. SLIDES is unique in that the façade of the house can slide out during the day and slide in during the evening. To combat the heat of the region, the team has made way for plenty of natural ventilation through the use of perforated designs on the façade. Adding to the green factor is the material the house will be constructed from; fiber reinforced polymer made from recycled plastic bags and wood waste and quite possibly, local papyrus. ekihouse ekihouse ekihouse, from the University of the Basque Country, is the next contender for the Solar Decathlon. The team has made use of wood extensively to create their solar powered house. This sun house eki , meaning sun in the Basque language, has the ability to contract during winter and expand during summer. The north façade of the house is isolated during the cold season and opens during warm climes to let in breeze. Moreover, the roof of the south façade opens to provide extra shading, in essence expanding the house. SunBloc SunBloc SunBloc is the project conceived by HelioMet, the team at London Metropolitan University. Their futuristic urban concept is built from lightweight materials in a parametric design, which uses solar energy that can also power surrounding buildings. The interior is contemporary with furniture and utilities integrated into the design that can be custom made to cater to the inhabitant’s needs and living style. Andalucia Team Patio 2.12. Andalucia Team Patio 2.12 Patio 2.12 is an entry by the Andalucia Team made up of students from the universities of Jaen, Malaga, Grenada and Seville. The concept is built around Mediterranean living and features a patio with living quarters built around it. The building system consists of structural shells that can be erected and disassembled quickly. No foundations are needed, save for punctual supports. The patio, which also houses a pergola structure, is connected to the housing modules via a similar support system. Since there are no foundations, Patio 2.12 can be taken down with minimal impact on ground surface. Solar panels are integrated into the housing modules as well as on the pergola. The Revolt House The Revolt House Delft University of Technology has presented its entry to the Solar Decathlon of 2012 with the Revolt House, a home that can float as well as rotate. Considering the amount of water available in The Netherlands, the team has sought to integrate the house with water, the latter having the ability to maintain stable temperatures, keeping inhabitants relatively warm during winters and cool during summers. The house can track the sun’s rays due to its revolving feature and harness its energy via solar panels on the roof. Inhabitants can also choose to change their locale through the Revolt House’s floating capabilities. ECOLAR ECOLAR ECOLAR is the entry by Germany’s Hochschule Konstanz University of Applied Sciences which envisions six modules – four for interior spaces and two for the outside. The walls and the roof are translucent, letting in daylight as a source of natural light. The roof is covered in solar cells to harvest solar energy which will be used to power the house. The house’s heating system is made up of a combination accumulator and a heat pump, of which the former acts as a heat storage and provides hot tap water. Waste water is treated through an effluent treater which can then be used for flushing toilets and washing clothes. Odoo Odoo The Budapest University of Technology and Economics has developed Odoo as its project for the Solar Decathlon. An outer shell covers the transparent house with a roof consisting of solar panels. Emphasis has been given to the courtyard, where majority of the recreational activities will take place. The students have incorporated plenty of glass to make use of as much natural light as possible.

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Solar powered homes that will compete in Solar Decathlon Europe 2012

Dattatreya Mandal: In an age of highfalutin automobile concepts and ostentatious architectural projects, our scope of imagination has certainly expanded beyond the domestic ambit. Interestingly, very few of us would have really thought about how a futuristic washing machine would look like in 2050. But, Orbit washing machine concept design by Electrolux, rendered by industrial designer Elie Ahovi, is bamboozling and worthy of your attention. Orbit Picture Gallery Orbit Orbit is a new washing machine concept by Electrolux. Set in the year of 2050, the designer has anticipated that majority of the global population, 74 percent to be exact, is shifting to urban areas. As an evolutionary impact of this city based environment, people would be surrounded by advanced technology. The Orbit washing machine will be one of those contraptions that truly epitomize this rampant technological progression on the domestic front. In the conventional scope, washing machines and associated drying components tend to use chemicals, high power and large spaces. Thus he came upon the practical and user friendly functionality of the Orbit; a self sufficient machine that would not require any soap or water to clean your clothes, while operating in a noise free ambiance. Oddly enough, it is the blatant novelty of the visual design that has seriously tickled our fancy. The designer has intriguingly envisaged the system to be of a completely spherical shape, along with a hollow ring like component fitted with magnets. The spheroid is composed of double layers of shatterproof glass with heat insulation and a superconductive material. For starting up the machine, the users just have to place the transparent sphere ,with unwashed clothes inside it, on the rim of the hollow ring. As for activation, this spherical drum is fitted with inconspicuous yet sturdy batteries that generate the required power. These batteries adhere to the self sufficient system of charging up by induction technology. Now, coming to the main working mechanism, the aforementioned spheroid is infused with liquid nitrogen to accentuate upon its superconductive capacity. So, once there is a level of persistent electric current flow through the spherical drum, a unique case of magnetic levitation occurs due to the effects of electromagnetism within the circular field helped on by the embedded magnets in the ring. This in essence, turns the floating spheroid into an electromagnet, which is automatically controlled by electrical impulses. Finally, coming to the washing mechanism, the spherical component follows the system of cryogenic cleaning. This includes a jet of solid carbon dioxide being purged at supersonic velocity from pipes installed within the spheroid, which in turn helps in removing all the stains and contamination from the clothes. Moreover, the negative ions from the reaction improve upon the freshness of the clothes and also purify the internal air. So, at the end of the day, the Orbit washing machine insinuates a totally sustainable form of cleaning clothes, without the wastage of water or use of chemical components. And since we have come across an innovative technology fueling this ‘green’ mechanism, the chances of its commercial success with future consumers becomes higher. Via: ElieAhovi

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Orbit washing machine concept eschews water and chemicals for cleaning

Jaspreet Kaur Walia: Denver-based New Town Builders have created a net zero energy house that has been designed to save a lot of energy and help preserve precious resource. The Zero Energy Home will leave eco lovers in a state of complete amazement as it takes energy efficiency to an all new scale. Production NZE Home Unveiled in Denver Picture Gallery Production NZE Home Unveiled in Denver The model home is priced at $424,000, which includes a 9.9 kW solar array. The builders kept in mind a few things while coming up with this environmentally friendly home. The basic frame of each home will be swapped into an insulating envelop. The roof will come wedged with photovoltaic electricity generating system, which will power the house. This makes sure that the outside cold is completely blocked, and the inside remains comfortable for dwellers. The water heaters, furnaces and air conditioners are highly efficient, which adds to its clean and green status. The construction style makes sure that seven percent or less cooled/heated air gets lost, thanks to the heating and air conditioning ducts used that will be tightened from time to time. The Zero Energy Home will easily produce the amount of energy it utilizes in a year’s span, which can be measured with the help of HERS rating or Home Energy Rating System. The Zero Energy Home will have a zero HERS rating, which is worth applauding. The home will be as comfortable and attention grabbing as an everyday home and will simultaneously be cost effective as well. It won’t burden owners with unusual or complex systems that require regular maintenance and monitoring. The outside wall of the eco coated home will be well sealed and insulated so that no energy escapes. This will be achieved by spraying foam having a thickness of 1 inch. The windows will have a decreased U value because of which they will become all the more energy efficient. The house will have energy star appliances, keeping up its efficiency. It will feature a 16 SEER or improved air conditioning system, furnace, tank less water heaters, a fresh air ventilator and an energy recovery exhaust fan. The house will sparkle with the presence of 100% LED and CFL lights, which will further save energy. Additional kilowatts of energy will be generated by the presence of extra photovoltaic panels. So, save energy and live a guilt free life while cutting down on your electricity and gas bills. Via: Jetsongreen

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Zero Energy Home helps say goodbye to energy bills forever

Abdul Vahid V: The new headquarters of the World Health Organization (WHO) in Amman, the capital of Jordan is a prominent green construction. The highly eco friendly four story structure also accommodates the Regional Center for Environmental Health Activities, sharing its reception, conference rooms, etc. and economizing on space. Designed by Amman-based builders the Engicon, the building has immense of green potential. UN Office Picture Gallery UN Office UN Office in Jordan Gets the Green Building Gold The building set up allows plenty of daylight for the interiors and at the same time reduces dependency on electricity to light up the office and corridors. Each office is smartly positioned inside the building and provides easy access to public transportation systems and allows efficient exploitation of pre-existing infrastructure. During construction, builders made all efforts to adapt a green process, using lowly sourced local materials only. As a result, the WHO headquarters has grabbed kudos for its green building, and has acquired the Certified Gold under Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), a world standard that certifies green buildings around the globe. The building features highly facilitated reception, library, meeting rooms and video conference rooms that have a green tag. The LEED consultation for the WHO building was provided by Energy Management Services INT. In fact, WHO built its headquarters following the foot steps of the Dutch Embassy in Amman, which was the first LEED certified project in the country. Around 13 similar green projects are underway in Jordan, claims the Jordan Green Building Council. Some of them are the Amman Institute, the Jordan National Financial Center and the Middle East Insurance Building. Via: GreenProphet

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WHO headquarters in Jordan gets a LEED-certified green building

Jaspreet Kaur Walia: Riding a bicycle is pollution free and keeps the environment clean and green. A lot of innovations in terms of bicycle designing have been made in the past and designers just don’t seem to run out of ideas that will give you a more eco friendly ride. Jazzing up with numerous bike designs is a Spanish architect turned designer named Jose Hurtado, who is credited for crafting the Twist Bike. It has an unconventional shape, which pushes people into a state of awe. Swiveling Cycles Picture Gallery Swiveling Cycles Jose Hurtado’s Twist Bike Concept is Uniquely Reversible. Twist Bike has an intuitive design and an unusual frame. The most amazing feature of the bike is its reversible nature. The seat and handle of Twist can turn around, which reverses the bicycle in no time. The wheels are hub less and the single arm of the design keeps the wheel on two points. The bike can further be driven by two people at the same time. It can be swapped into a tandem bike as the hub less wheels will act as a point of attachment for the second frame. Twist Bike comes smothered in minimalism and will let you change direction without turning the bicycle. It will help likeminded people connect and also allow them to display their love for the environment, all at the same time. The design is truly amazing and its easy transformation to a tandem bike is worth applauding. Via: Trendhunter

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Twist Bike: A reversible bike with an unusual frame

Sonia Renthlei: Old and unused materials usually end up in the town’s dump, once they’ve outlived their usefulness. This is the case with all consumer products. The problem lies in the fact that such discarding of materials adds significantly to landfills, posing hazards to health and the environment. Recycling has long been proposed as a solution to help reduce the garbage issue. Despite this, most of us do next to nothing to reinvent old products, and would rather discard them and buy new ones. A small section of people, however, strive to make beautiful art from old stuff. Using skateboards, they’ve created functional and trendy items that look good and serve a purpose as well. Pure Skateboard Shelf Pure Skateboard Shelf Why spend a few hundreds of dollars on brand new shelves when you can make your own? Patrick Drake has used his love for the environment to recycle old skateboards to make handy shelves that can hold books, magazines and decorative items. His project, called Pure Skateboard Shelf, utilized the natural shape of a skateboard along with the holes drilled in them so that any additional cutting or brackets were not needed. The skateboards’ trucks have been used as bookends which also prevent the boards from falling forward by acting as weights. For the base, Drake used a full skateboard complete with wheels as a stand. The wheels have been tightened such that they can’t roll, making the shelf stable. Elegant lounge chair Elegant lounge chair The simple shape of a skateboard is so versatile that is can be turned into almost anything. The elegant lounge chair has been crafted from old boards but you wouldn’t have guessed it. After all, who would have thought that old skateboards could look so elegant? Sitting on a metal frame are eight old boards minus the trucks and wheels. The boards have been covered with neoprene cushions to give the chair a leathery look and feel. Called the Jet Set Lounge Chair, it’s being marketed by Skate Study House. iPhone cases iPhone Cases A large number of us have an iPhone these days and since these expensive cellphones are delicate, they need protection from daily wear and tear. While there are many cases in the market, not many look as trendy and funky as those made by artist Lindsay Jo Holmes of Grove, made in collaboration with MapleXO. These limited edition iPhone cases have been made by cutting old skateboards into strips, which have then been glued together. The result is colorful cases in rainbow like hues that are durable and one of a kind. Colorful new old skateboard bench Colorful New Old Skateboards Bench Deckstool is the brain behind this awesome looking bench. Five feet in length, the company recycles old skateboards provided by customers or salvages the necessary materials to produce street urban design benches. Metal trucks act as support for the stands over which the wooden decks are placed. What makes the benches stand out is that the designs retain little scratches and nicks made by users in the past, lending the creations a familiar and more comfortable feel. Skateboard sculptures Skateboard Sculptures Moving away from functionality, Japanese artist, Haroshi, has teamed up with DLX Distribution and HUF to create wonderful pieces of art from used skateboards. So smooth are the designs that anyone would mistake them for something other than mere skateboards. Haroshi performs his magic by stripping old boards of their grip paint and then gluing them together in stacks. The result is a block of stacked boards that serves as the basis for his skill with a jig saw. The pieces are then polished to a fine sheen and sold to customers. Old skateboards transform into amazing artwork Old Skateboards Amazing Artwork A group of artists functioning under the name Nube are working to restore old skateboards into works of art. The artists are part of a project called Reskate which seeks to convert the finished boards into mini longboards. The boards, which are stripped and restored, are given to the artists who work their magic, creating limited edition pieces that have amazing details. The finished products were displayed at Berlin’s Pantocrator Gallery last year. Recycled skateboard stools Recycled Skateboard Stools Most skateboards feature amazing graffiti work that speaks of style and individuality. With the time taken to create such unique pieces, it’s always a shame that many are discarded. Deckstool, the same company that creates skateboard benches, has crafted trendy stools from reclaimed skateboards. The metal trucks are used as a joining point for the seat and stand, providing a sturdy support for users. Like its benches, Deckstool’s seats have elements of street urban designs that perfectly complement the identity of skaters.

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Best recycled products made from discarded skateboards