Enhance property value & attract residents by going green!
10 Questions for a Materials Chemist: Elise Fox
Feb 17th
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Elise Fox | photo courtesy of Savannah River National Laboratory |
At Savannah River National Laboratory (SRNL), Elise Fox works on a wide breadth of projects from fuel cells and batteries to concentrating solar power. She recently took some time to give us the download on advances in energy storage technologies, her favorite fictional chemist (hint: she’s an expert in charms and potions) and why she became a scientist.
Q: What promoted you to pursue a career in science?
Elise Fox: On some level I have always known I would be a scientist. It was just a matter of determining what kind.
Q: At SRNL, you work on materials science and technology. Why did you choose this field?
EF: I knew I wanted to be a chemist since the second day of Chemistry I in high school. After college I also knew I wanted to go a slightly different route than traditional organic, physical or analytical chemistry. So, I found an interdisciplinary materials science graduate program at Penn State where I studied catalysis in various energy applications, particularly focusing on how the properties of a ceramic support and alloying can influence the reactivity of the active metal center.
Luxury Green LABhaus Going Up in Jersey
Feb 17th
This luxury, modern, green home by LABhaus is under construction in New Jersey right now. It’s a stunning single-family home assembled with five, factory-built modules and some impressive green products and finishes. Plus, I’m happy to learn, the owners noticed our prior article mentioning the DIY Network’s search for new projects, and it looks as though the project will be featured on a future episode of “Dream Builders.”
Jersey LABhaus will have polyurethane SIP walls (R40), an insulated foundation (R13), insulation between floor levels (R19), and a roof assembly with 7″ of polyurethane foam, 5″ of blown cellulose, and 2-4″ of rigid foam (R60+). The exterior will be finished with a sleek combination of fiber cement and synthetic stucco.
Other than a tight, well-insulated shell, this home will have an ultra-efficient heat pump system, on-demand hot water, and pre-wiring for a state-subsidized solar array to be installed later.
Fixtures will be luxuriate and conservation oriented. That includes Duravit wall-hung toilets, Kohler sinks, a Kohler Karbon kitchen faucet, Kohler Stance bathroom faucets, Omnia steel hardware, Corian countertops, and Energy Star Jenn-Air appliances.
As shown below, the LABhaus prefab will have four bedrooms, three bathrooms, and a two-car garage. The total budget is $340,000, or just under $140 per square foot (including construction and site work). I expect to follow up in a few months upon completion, so keep an eye on this one.
Credits: LABhaus.
Related Articles on JetsonGreen.com:
- LABhaus Modern Modular Eco Homes
- Sustainable Luxury in the Vicino House
- Tiny Green Faberhaus Opens in Quebec
Hawaii Solar Power Doubles in 2010
Feb 16th
Hawaii residents’ photovoltaic solar installations nearly doubled in 2010 over 2009, according to Hawaiian Electric Co. A total of 3,967 solar power systems were connected to the HECO grid on Oahu, Maui and the Big Island, compared to 1,916 installations in 2009. The installations added 13 megawatts of capacity to the grid. “This will help all of us in Hawaii as we continue to make progress in cutting our dependence on imported oil,” said Robbie Alm, HECO executive vice president, in a statement.
According to analysts, the totals include systems that have Net Energy Metering agreements and systems with standard interconnection agreements. NEM agreements give customers the ability to receive full retail credit on their electric bills for the excess electricity generated from their solar systems, while standard agreements generate power solely for a customer’s use and do not supply the electrical grid.
Another reason for the tremendous increase in solar installations in Hawaii is that up to 65% of a solar installation’s cost can be covered by a combination of aggressive Hawaii state rebates and federal tax incentives. On top of this, Hawaiians pay, on average $0.285 per kilowatt hour as most the state’s electricity is produced by petroleum-burning generators. This is extremely high as compared to the rest of the state and as the price of oil fluctuates, so does the price for electricity in Hawaii. As a result, there is strong statewide incentive to switch to a different power source. The Hawaii Clean Energy Initiative found that 70% of Hawaii’s energy could come from clean sources by 2030.
There is additional good news, there is enough installed solar in Hawaii for the state to consider net metering. Net metering means that you only pay for the net amount of electricity that you use. With net metering, homeowners with solar installed are able to “bank” the excess electricity their solar system generates and receive credit up to 100% of their electric use bill at the full retail electricity price that they can use later.
Hawaii is also one the leaders in the U.S in solar water heaters as one in four single-family homes have them. Increasing clean energy sources in the beautiful tourist state is very sensible for business as well, because it protects the natural environment that is such a draw for millions of visitors.
Shelf-Pod: An Entire Japanese Home Lined with a Maze of Bookshelves
Feb 16th
What do you do when you have a large book collection? And we mean a ridiculously large collection. Well, you could live in an entire house lined with bookshelves like this one! Designed by Japan’s Kazuya Morita Architecture Studio in Moriguchi City, the entire interior of the home, which has been dubbed Shelf-Pod, is lined with an extensive latticework of laminated pine board. The designers even created a mosque-like domed roof for the house since the homeowner’s book collection consists primarily of Islamic history texts.
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Post tags: book shelf, Dozou, eco design, eco pod, green design, japanese architecture, japanese green architecture, Kazuya Morita Architecture Studio, Kumiko, multi use furniture, shelf pod, storage, wood craft, wooden pod
Green Home Expert Round-Up: All Our Top Experts’ Tips on How to Green Your Home!
Feb 16th
Our spectacular Green Home Expert Series has enlisted the help of five of the world’s top green experts in the fields of architecture, interiors, and energy to help you turn your home into a sustainable sanctuary – from your basement floor to the top of your roof. But for those of you who may have missed an installment or two, here’s your chance to catch up on the entire series! Hit the jump to check out sustainable architectural advice from Organic Architect Eric Corey Freed, five eco renovation tips from green home remodeler Sarah Susanka, and a bevy of electricity curbing initiatives from energy efficiency expert David Johnston!
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Post tags: 5 Tips, cut you energy bill, David Johnston, eco home, energy saving home upgrades, green architecture, Green Building, green design, green energy for the home, Green for your Home, green home, green homes, green remodeling, green your home, greenbuilding, Greenbuilding for dummies, HomeExpertSeries, Marvin Windows, saving energy, What’s working
Forceful Fluid: Scientists Discover a Starchy Substance with Oily Applications
Feb 16th
Bachelor kitchens are rarely known for their cleanliness. One reason is that bachelors can make a complete meal of condiments. Another is that when faced with a sudden spill, bachelors become instant innovators, grabbing anything within arms reach, whether paper towels, dirty socks or even cornstarch, to stem the flow of liquid.
In a sense, it’s not that different from the challenge recently faced by researchers at the Department of Energy’s Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) when they set out to find the proper mix of fluids needed to cap the powerful flow of oil that can occur during a spill, an objective that was principally driven by the failure of the top-kill method during last year’s oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.
Celebrating Black History Month with DOE's Christopher Smith
Feb 16th
Throughout the month of February, we’ve been introducing remarkable African Americans who are working to advance the President’s clean energy agenda. This week we’re highlighting Christopher Smith, the Department’s Deputy Assistant Secretary for Oil and Natural Gas in the Office of Fossil Energy. Below is a post he wrote that was also featured on White House blog earlier this month.
I’m lucky to have been raised by my parents, Raymond and Sue Ann Smith, who value education. As we celebrate Black History Month, I reflect on the fact that I grew up in a period that offered me many more opportunities than my parents had when they were my age. This is one of the things that motivated me to return to public service, and inspires me to work every day to create opportunities for all Americans.
Green Homes to Get Performance Labels
Feb 16th
Buying a home is a big, expensive deal. It’s important that you know what you’re getting. Ideally, prior to purchase, you should know about its performance in at least four categories: energy use, water use, indoor air quality, and building integrity. But, as a nation, we’re not there yet. We’re getting there, though.
Innovative Philadelphia-based developer Postgreen Homes is on the job in this regard. The company, developer of the 100k House and Passive Project, introduced this Home Performance Sticker on their blog yesterday. The sticker is based on the HERS Index, which provides an estimate of home performance and energy bills.
Since the HERS Index rating is derived from a third-party inspection, the information is certainly helpful. It all depends on how the occupant uses the place. If a purchaser grows grass in the basement, runs a call center in the loft, opens all the windows while running the HVAC system, and never shuts the fridge, the sticker won’t mean much.
Nic Darling, marketing and PR guy for Postgreen, said in the article: “We have talked about simple, mileage-style window stickers for homes before, but for some reason all that talk never led to action. We never actually created one for our own homes. Well, it’s time that oversight was addressed.”
Postgreen’s sticker is clear in that is shows the entire HERS Index spectrum and identifies where the average existing home, new home, and Energy Star home would be. At a 24, the represented home is a serious stud. Plus, like a car label, the viewer can see that the home has superior insulation, triple-pane windows, Energy Star appliances, etc.
Compare this to what KB Home unveiled the other day.
KB’s Energy Performance Guide is a step in the same direction and an innovation in the big builder realm. That said, from my viewing, the guide could be slightly ambiguous.
The way they’ve presented the “Spend More,” “Save More,” red to green spectrum, one might get the idea that a home with a HERS Index of 82 is better than it actually is. It doesn’t reveal any of the territory from 50-0 in the HERS Index.
In any event, the need for a home label akin to the food nutrition label has been discussed here and other places for some time – e.g., the Energy Performance Score and Home Energy Score. It’s a downright travesty that homes haven’t had them over the last 40-50 years, but I like where we’re heading.
What do you think of these home performance labels?
Related Articles on JetsonGreen.com:
- The Waxman-Markey Building Energy Performance Labeling Program
- The Nation’s First WaterSense Homes
- EPS: Miles Per Gallon Rating for Homes
New Mentor Program to Help Clean Energy Small Businesses
Feb 16th
At the White House’s recent announcement of Startup America, a new initiative to promote high-growth entrepreneurship, the Department of Energy and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) also announced the launch of an “Entrepreneurial Mentor Corps,” a one-year pilot program to connect clean energy startups with mentors.
The new mentoring initiative will pair clean energy small businesses with mentors who can help support these companies through early-stage challenges and increase their chance for success. The initiative targets clean energy small businesses who have previously received financial assistance from the Department through the Recovery Act.
Tiny Green Faberhaus Opens in Quebec
Feb 16th
The other day I previewed faberhaus Pavillon, a 376-square foot eco cottage on display at the Montreal Cottage & Country Home Show. Designed and built by Faberca, faberhaus gives folks a self-sufficient living space in the country. In other words, no electrical grid connection is necessary with solar power for the LED lights and propane power for the fridge, hydronic radiant heat, and everything else.
Faberhaus was fabricated in a factory and shipped to the site about 95% completed. The interior has an ethanol fireplace, polished concrete floors (ground level), laminated wood floors (upper level), retractable furnishings, walnut cupboards, concrete counters/sinks, and large windows.
The upper level is spacious enough for two adults and two children, while the furniture on the main level retracts to provide space for up to four more people, according to Faberca.
Pavillon is being offered at a base price of $89,000, which includes furnishings, mechanical systems, solar panels, propane gas supply, and radiant floors, but excludes land costs, taxes, land preparation, foundation, and potable/sewage connections. That works out to about $237 per square foot.
Credits: Eric Massicotte; Faberca (floor plans).
Related Articles on JetsonGreen.com:
- Self-Sufficient Tiny Home in Montreal
- Green Ideabox Fortino Opens in Oregon
- Net-Zero Energy Tiny House in Berkeley
Vincent Callebaut Unveils Coral-Inspired Carbon Neutral Eco Village for Haiti
Feb 15th
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Hydrofloor: Disappearing Pool Saves Energy and Space
Feb 15th
What if you had a swimming pool that could change shape according to your needs? Enter the Hydrofloor, a multitasking pool floor that can actually rise and lower to different levels. The pool can even disappear entirely to form a floor! This neat disappearing trick is also a huge energy saver, as the pool water is insulated and retains heat when not in use.
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10 Questions for a Bioenergy Expert: Melinda Hamilton
Feb 15th
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Melinda Hamilton | photo courtesy of Idaho National Laboratory |
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Meet Melinda Hamilton – she’s a bioenergy expert and the Director of Education Programs at Idaho National Laboratory. She recently took some time to share what she’s doing to help ramp-up U.S. competitiveness in science and technology, why Jane Goodall led her to a career in science and what can happen in a lab if you don’t start with a good plan.
Q: What sparked your interest to pursue a career in science?
Melinda Hamilton: The answer is kind of corny, but the truth is when I was young I used to watch National Geographic and the Jane Goodall series. That’s really what did it.
Q: What attracted to you bioenergy?
MH: It was sort of a combination of my education and interests – I had really, really gotten interested in plants and migrated more to plants and microbiology as I was pursuing my degrees. Then the bioenergy interest came when I got to INL with ability to use that background and education in something so important and that fit our mission. I started in bioenergy because it was such a fascinating use of plants.
Q: What projects are you working on right now?
MH: Right now my projects are focused around microbial conversion of different biomass sources. For instance, using animal waste or farm waste and converting it into biofuels and energy through microbial processes. The hope is to make cost effective, efficient, low carbon mechanisms for off-setting our petroleum energy use.
Blue Crest Prefab Set in Austin [Video]
Feb 15th
Austin-based Ma Modular, an offshoot of design-build firm KRDB, is on a mission to make affordable modern homes. Ma has a few modular projects that we’d like to mention in the near future, including this one under construction right now, the Blue Crest House.
Blue Crest House will have 1,900 square feet with three bedrooms, two-and-a-half bathrooms, a two-car garage, a screened porch, and a large deck for entertaining.
Designed by KRDB, the two-story home is undeniably modern, but it’s not the kind of modern that’s in your face or cold. I can’t wait to see how it turns out.
Ma Modular builds these homes with R19 walls, R30-R50 roofing, low-E insulated windows, and various green and otherwise sustainably harvested materials. Upon completion, I’ll follow up and share more detailed construction and design information.
The video was filmed and edited by Jim Bruno, producer of a prior video that we posted on the Austin Tiny House. These segments are part of Bruno’s work-in-progress documentary on eco-friendly, sustainable design and living.
[+] See more renderings/photos of Blue Crest House.
Credits: Ma Modular/KRDB.
Related Articles on JetsonGreen.com:
- Building an Austin Tiny House [Video]
- Modern Green Prefab by Ma Modular
- Blue Sky Homes Yucca Valley Prefab
Decking with 95% Recycled Content
Feb 15th
It may only be mid-February, but I imagine some of you are already planning Spring projects. If any of those involve decking perhaps Advanced Environmental Recycling Technologies has a recycled content material worth using: MoistureShield. The company just announced that certain lines of MoistureShield contain 95% total recycled content, as verified by ICC-ES.
A.E.R.T. encapsulates recycled wood fibers in recycled polyethylene plastic — 57% pre-consumer recycled content and 38% post-consumer recycled content — to provide a green deck material that, according to the company, resists rot, decay, moisture, and insects. MoistureShield also meets ground contact specifications.
MoistureShield sells at a “mid-range price” compared to other composites and can be installed with typical wood working tools.
At this time, products with 95% total recycled content include the Vantage Collection™ (decking and fascia), Elite Collection™ ( decking and fascia), Essential Collection™ (decking and fascia), MoistureShield railing, MoistureShield exterior trim, and EcoShield™ deck tiles. MoistureShield FR fire-rated decking contains 91% total recycled content.
Credits: MoisureShield.
Related Articles on JetsonGreen.com:
- Recycled Content Surfaces by Environite
- Versatile Recycled Content EcoGlass
- Ecotrax Recycled Content Floor Tiles
8 Green Design Valentines for the Designers We Love
Feb 14th
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Post tags: Ada Tolla and Giuseppe Lignano, architect crush, BIG Architects, bjarke ingels, design crush, designer crush, eco valentine’s day, Emily Pilloton, Fuseproject, green crush, green valentines day, hot architects, hot designers, hottest eco architects, hottest eco designers, inhabitat crush, inhabitat crushes, inhabitat valentines, loomstate, lot-ek, lotek, Mila Zelkha, Mint Condition Homes, project h, project h design, Ray Kappe, Rogan Gregory, scott hahn, valentine’s day, valentines to architects, valentines to designers, Yves Béhar
Bubbletree: Clear Prefab Bubble Tents for Romantic Exhibitionism in the Wild
Feb 14th
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Argonne Lab’s Breakthrough Cathode Technology Powers Electric Vehicles of Today
Feb 14th
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Jeff Chamberlain Speaks at Brookings Battery Forum | photo by Audra Capas, 5StarPR |
The Department of Energy has been investing in vehicle electrification for more than a decade, with results that speak for themselves: The battery technologies in almost all of the electric vehicles and hybrids on the road today were developed with support from the Department. As you may have read last month, one of those vehicles is the Chevrolet Volt, which gets power from a lithium-ion battery that uses breakthrough cathode technology invented and developed at the Department’s Argonne National Laboratory.
Last Tuesday, the Brookings Institute brought together some of the top minds working to research, develop and commercialize the innovative technologies that will help America meet the President’s goal of one million electric vehicles on the road by 2015. At the seminar, we caught up with Jeff Chamberlain, who leads Argonne’s Energy Storage Initiative, to get a sense of what goes into the kind of research and development that delivers breakthrough innovation.
Arizona Diamondbacks Moving to Solar Power
Feb 14th
The Arizona Diamondbacks are going solar. The team has elected to install solar panels at Chase Field in Phoenix as part of a shade structure on the stadium’s west side. Construction began at the beginning of February and is a joint project of the Diamondbacks, the Maricopa County Stadium District and Arizona Public Service Co. The structure is expected to be completed in May.
The photovoltaic system will generate 75 kilowatts of solar power, while the 17,280-square foot structure will provide Diamondbacks fans with extra summer shade near the ballpark’s western entrances and ticket booths. APS said it plans to use the solar facility as a technical demonstration project including electric-vehicle charging stations and helping to test a battery storage system. In addition, the project will also feature educational exhibits on elements of sustainable living such as renewable energy, energy efficiency, electric vehicles and recycling.
Two New Studies Show How Energy Consumers Respond to Smart Grid Technology
Feb 14th
Home-energy display mobile phone application that shows how much energy an appliance is consuming.
Courtesy of the Office of Electrecity Deliverability and Energy Reliability.
Last December, Department of Energy Assistant Secretary Patricia Hoffman challenged utilities to redefine customer service by finding ways to enable customers to participate more fully in their electric system. She emphasized that as utilities modernize the grid, involving customers in the process is essential in making the grid smarter, more secure, and more reliable.
As head of the Department of Energy’s Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability, Pat has helped lead the way by requiring that some utilities receiving Recovery Act Smart Grid funds study how consumers react to Smart Grid technologies. She has also encouraged utilities to share lessons learned about their customer outreach efforts with other utilities embarking on Smart Grid deployments.
A key requirement of a small number of the Department’s Smart Grid Investment Grants (SGIG) is the conduct of a consumer study with assistance from Lawrence Berkley National Laboratory and the Department. Oklahoma Gas & Electric (OGE), recipient of a $130 million Recovery Act SGIG award, is currently conducting one of these studies.
OGE’s study examines advanced metering, dynamic pricing, and customer education to determine how electricity consumption patterns can change if electricity is priced higher during peak periods. This type of “congestion pricing” has been used in other industries and has been shown to lessen demand. The question is: how well will it work with electricity and, more importantly, will customers like it?
Self-Sufficient Tiny Home in Montreal
Feb 14th
Faberhaus Pavillon, a 376-square foot eco cottage, was on display this past weekend at the Cottage & Country Home Show in Montreal. The Pavillon was designed and built by Faberca as a compact, self-sufficient space for folks interested in country living — those who want to “live in the great outdoors.“ Owners wouldn’t need an electrical connection with this retreat home because it’s powered by solar panels and propane.
The Pavillon is being offered at a base price of $89,000, which includes furnishings, mechanical systems, solar panels, propane gas supply, and radiant floors, but excludes land costs, taxes, land preparation, foundation, and potable/sewage connections.
With a complete kitchen and bathroom, faberhaus Pavillon accommodates about two adults and two children. Solar panels power LED lights, while propane powers the fridge and hydronic radiant heating system.
The compact structure is fabricated in a factory and arrives on the site about 95% complete.
The exterior is finished with steel, white cedar, and a mahogany or cedar stain finish. The interior has polished concrete (ground level), laminated wood floors (upper), retractable furnishings, walnut cupboards, concrete counters/sinks, and large windows. We’ll post pictures of the inside and outside in the near future.
Credits: Faberhaus.
Related Articles on JetsonGreen.com:
- Solar Sufficient LEED Home in Houston
- Blue Sky Homes to Build New Eco Home
- Home Office in a Tiny Green YardPod
Secretary Chu Hosts FY 2012 Budget Briefing
Feb 14th
UPDATE: We regret to say that due to technical difficulties, we will no longer be able to livestream today’s media briefing. Please see Secretary Chu’s powerpoint presentation below and check back for video of the full briefing event here on Energy.gov tomorrow.
At 1:30 PM EST today, Secretary Chu will host a media briefing on the Department of Energy’s Fiscal Year 2012 Budget Request.
As the Secretary said in his Friday post, he’ll outline how the budget request makes strategic investments in science, research and innovation — which will create jobs and position America to lead the global clean energy economy. And given the President’s commitment to fiscal responsibility, Secretary Chu will also outline how the FY 2012 budget will cut unnecessary spending.
You can view the Secretary’s PowerPoint presentation below.
BIG Unveils Eye-Popping West 57 Residential Tower Pyramid in NYC Today
Feb 13th
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Loft Style Mini House in Tiny Town
Feb 13th
This 566-square foot modern home sits on an infill lot in Toronto and has been getting a lot of attention in the last few months. That’s partially in response to the design and maybe some general interest in small homes — this one is roomy for an urban condo but small for a single-family house. The owner, Patrick Flynn, wanted something modern, low-maintenance, and minimalist and this place is all of those things.
The prior home, once used as a meth lab, was demolished, and Mini House was built in its stead. The narrow house, referred to as Mini House, was built on a 14′ x 70′ lot.
Mini House was designed by LineBox Studio with a loft-like layout, 17-foot ceilings, and simple materials: concrete floors, metal stairs, concrete block walls, painted white walls, no baseboards, and exposed plumbing and electrical.
The cost of construction was $210,000, while the total project cost, including land, soft costs, lawyer fees, city fees, city services, etc, was about $385,000, according to The Globe and Mail.
Credits: Arnal Photography; noticed a MoCo Loco.
Related Articles on JetsonGreen.com:
- Net-Zero Energy Tiny House in Berkeley
- Net-Zero Energy Tiny House in Berkeley
- Zevon Platinum Passive House in Utah
Colossal Green Volcano Building Rises in Italy
Feb 13th
A jaw-dropping feat of volcanic architecture has risen in the Italian city of Nola, just a stone’s throw away from the cataclysmic Mt. Vesuvius. Designed by Renzo Piano, the Vulcano Buono (“good volcano” in italian) is an epic cone-shaped commercial center crowned with a gorgeous sloping green roof. Piano’s “good volcano” contributes a vital new space to the southern edge of the Nola commercial district, which is the most most important freight terminal complex in southern and central Italy.
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Farts to Fuel: New Methane Processing Plant in Greenpoint, Brooklyn
Feb 12th
Flatulence as fuel may sound like a joke, but it’s becoming a reality in Brooklyn. Already in the works, National Grid is building a gas processing facility in Greenpoint, set to open in 2012. The facility will capture the excess methane from the Newtown Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant, which already treats 1.2 million cubic meters of raw sewage everyday. The escaping gas, which is a result of the purification process, has been a topic of complaint for years, causing foul smelling flares in the neighborhood. The new process will remove methane and carbon dioxide from the excess sewage gas, therefore eliminating the offensive fart smell. The odorless gas would then be added to National Grid’s gas distribution system. Sounds like a win/win to us!
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Eco Excess, Solar Attitudes, Efficiency Ventures, + Declining Standards
Feb 12th
- Be wary of roof-mounted small wind.
- 10 materials that could help save the earth.
- Nearly 80% of consumers view solar favorably.
- Duany predicts decline of green building standards.
- Square footage still trumps eco-friendliness.
- Insulation does not stop air infiltration.
- Energy efficiency still interesting.
Also, check out the latest green jobs and subscribe to our weekly newsletter for updates, article summaries, newsworthy links, and other site news.
Related Articles on JetsonGreen.com:
- Seeking Existing Home Energy Efficiency
- Investing in Energy Efficiency Pays
- Affordable, Solar Powered, Eco Housing
John Patrick Organic’s Fall 2011 Collection is an Eclectic English-Countryside-Inspired Mix
Feb 12th
John Patrick of Organic gave us lots of reasons to actually not mind the NYC chill this afternoon with his cozy knit-filled Fall/Winter 2011 collection. We were on the scene as he unveiled pretty paisley-print silk dresses, vegetable-tanned leather shorts and indigo-dyed organic-cotton poplin shirts to kick off the start of New York Fashion Week. Check out our exclusive photographs over at Ecouterre and get the full scoop behind JPO’s English-countryside inspired line.
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Post tags: eco-fashion, Ethical Fashion, Fall/Winter 2011, green fashion, Gretchen from Project Runway, Gretchen Jones, john patrick, john patrick organic, MothLove, New York Eco-Fashion Week, new york fashion week, New York Green Fashion Week, Organic, Sustainable Fashion, sustainable style
The Tropical Meera House Has a Curvaceous Meadow of Green for Its Roof
Feb 11th
Read the rest of The Tropical Meera House Has a Curvaceous Meadow of Green for Its Roofhttp://www.inhabitat.com/wp-admin/ohttp://www.inhabitat.com/wp-admin/options-general.php?page=better_feedptions-general.php?page=better_feed
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Post tags: “sustainable architecture”, Eco Architecture, green architecture, green design, green roof, guz, guz architects, meera, meera house, roof garden, singapore architecture, sustainable design
Artist Builds Incredible Coral Reef from Sunken Statues
Feb 11th
Located off the coast of Cancun, Mexico, artist Jason deCaires Taylor has created an incredible artificial reef of statues he calls the Silent Evolution. A compelling installation that took several months to complete, Silent Evolution embodies a spirit that shifts between sadness and awe, all while reminding us of the intricate relationship between man and nature.
Read the rest of Artist Builds Incredible Coral Reef from Sunken Statueshttp://www.inhabitat.com/wp-admin/ohttp://www.inhabitat.com/wp-admin/options-general.php?page=better_feedptions-general.php?page=better_feed
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Post tags: artificial reef, green art, marine life, reef, The Silent Evolution, underwater sculpture, water park
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