The description also mentions MVRDV's work, which is covered in a 4 minute video, and is a pretty good description of why urban ag/vertical farming alone isn't really the answer. Sorry the video isn't narrated, I seem to remember seeing a version that was but can't find it.
Showing posts with label Innovation. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Innovation. Show all posts
Monday, February 14, 2011
Neat video
I just came across this really interesting video from WORKac about what it would take to grow all of New York's food within a 100-mile radius of the city. The plan isn't really practical, but that also isn't so much the point. The figures and approaches are thought provoking, and the general conclusions are also pretty compelling. The whole thing is less than 5 minutes.
Saturday, February 5, 2011
Bridging Into Renewable Energy
The proposed bridge would harness solar energy through a grid of solar cells embedded in the road surface, while wind turbines integrated into the spaces between the bridge’s pillars would be used to generate electricity from the crosswinds. The solar highway would stretch 12.4 miles, with the bridge's wind turbines generating enough electricity to power 15,000 houses a year (or 115,000, according to GizMag...). It would also include panoramic viewing points and entirely self-sufficient solar greenhouses. Visitors to the park will be able to stop and buy the local produce grown in these greenhouses.
Gizmodo | New Italian Blood | GizMag
Gizmodo | New Italian Blood | GizMag
Thursday, January 27, 2011
One million electric vehicles by 2015? Biden outlines three-part plan to achieve goal
Vice President Joe Biden, speaking today at an advanced battery manufacturer in Indiana, picked up where the president left off.
"As you heard President Obama say last night, this Administration is forging a new path forward by making sure America doesn’t just lead in the 21st Century, but dominates in the 21st Century," Biden said at Ener1, per a White House transcript. "We’re not just creating new jobs -- but sparking whole new industries that will ensure our competitiveness for decades to come -- in industries like electric vehicle manufacturing.
READ MORE
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Earthquakes, Icebergs and More At Your Fingertips
The new EarthObserver App, for the iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch, features all sorts of fascinating maps on the planet's natural elements, from tectonic plates to the flow of oceanic and atmospheric currents, to earthquake zones and snow covers.
It was created at Columbia University's Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory using dozens of databases from institutions worldwide, which are constantly updated which means you're always seeing the latest information the world's knowledge bases have to offer. You can zoom in to view deep-sea trenches, or zoom out to view how the layers of earth's crusts overlap.
Grab the app now while it's still free -- it may later be offered for a small fee.
Tree Hugger via Gizmodo
It was created at Columbia University's Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory using dozens of databases from institutions worldwide, which are constantly updated which means you're always seeing the latest information the world's knowledge bases have to offer. You can zoom in to view deep-sea trenches, or zoom out to view how the layers of earth's crusts overlap.
Grab the app now while it's still free -- it may later be offered for a small fee.
Tree Hugger via Gizmodo
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Cities: Atlanta, Georgia
· 19th in the US City Sustainability Ranking in 2008
· Leads the Southeast in LEED registered buildings
Beltline Project
1. Background
· Idea came from the thesis of a grad student at Georgia Tech, Ryan Gravel, 1999
· The large issue preventing Atlanta from being more sustainable is urban sprawl. - There are 5,000 people living in the city of Atlanta and 5,000,000 people in the metropolitan area.
· The thesis addressed the need for an infrastructure system that could promote and sustain economic growth in a way that would promote a more sustainable lifestyle.
· The original project would create a 22-mile long loop around city and construct a light rail system around city accompanied by a linear park and 33-miles of multi use trails. Because of the projects growing support many other projects have been added.
· The Beltline began being built in 2006 and in 2010 many walkways and parks connecting parts of Atlanta have been opened up for public use.
· This is a 25-year project, funding has been approved for the first 5 years. It is projected to cost 2.8 billion dollars.
2. Environment
· The project plans on cleaning up over 1,100 acres along the Beltline that have been designated as “brown fields”, areas where the Environmental Protection Agency has declared that it may be complicated to develop because of the presence of hazardous substances, contaminants, or pollutants.
· The added parks will increase Atlanta’s green space by 40%, which will add over 1,300 acres of new park space.
· These parks include retention ponds that protect against flooding
· An old quarry is in the planning stages to become a 2.5 billion gallon water supply that is meant to supplement Atlanta’s water supply and can be supply water for 30 days to all of Atlanta in case of a drought. The quarry will also add 3.000 more acres of park to the Beltline.
3. Transportation
· The Beltline will allow city residents, who prefer not to use a car or can not afford one, to travel to all of Atlanta’s surrounding neighborhoods as well as connect to the already existing MARTA transit system as well as bus roughs.
· The Beltline is expected to reduce Atlanta’s carbon footprint by 665,000 metric tons per year simply by reducing the amount of cars on the roads
· The trails promote people to walk or bike to there destinations rather than ride in a car, which also promotes a healthier lifestyle.
4. Economy
· The Beltline allows for the northern and eastern portions of Atlanta to continue to grow in a way that can sustain its growing population and prevent congestion.
· The project will promote growth in the southern and western parts of the city by creating easier access and will attract simple amenities like grocery stores to areas that do not have easy access to them.
· The project promotes a more even growth through out the city.
· There is a green space job-training program to train workers so that they can get jobs working on the beltline. As of 2010 100% of the graduates of the program have been employed and usually work on projects in there own neighborhoods.
· With new development comes a higher property tax. To take this into account, the city of Atlanta plans to implement the largest affordable housing initiative that has ever been undertaken in the city.
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
New International Sustainability Standard for Cell Phones
UL Environment is working to develop a new set of standards for mobile devices that will green up the industry worldwide. UL is an independent evaluator of products, ensuring they meet certain standards, and the new-ish environmental arm looks at issues such as materials sourcing, energy use, and recyclability. Considering we have some 5 billion cell phones on the planet right now, with more rolling off the manufacturing belts every day, and that they're used in nearly every corner of the world, holding electronics manufacturers to certain sustainability standards is an important step forward.
According to the release, the standard will consider the entire life cycle of cell phones, from raw material extraction to disposal. This means issues such as conflict minerals (minerals mined in conflict zones, which further fuels the wars) all the way to e-waste dumps will be addressed. So too will energy efficiency, using recycled materials in the making of the device, minimizing packaging waste, as well as the health and environment within manufacturing plants will be analyzed during evaluation.
Similar to EPEAT, the rankings will be listed as silver, gold and platinum. It's a smart idea because it unifies ranking systems and makes green products easier for consumers to identify. And of course, the easier it is for consumers to identify a green product, the more likely they are to take that into consideration when purchasing.
According to the release, the standard will consider the entire life cycle of cell phones, from raw material extraction to disposal. This means issues such as conflict minerals (minerals mined in conflict zones, which further fuels the wars) all the way to e-waste dumps will be addressed. So too will energy efficiency, using recycled materials in the making of the device, minimizing packaging waste, as well as the health and environment within manufacturing plants will be analyzed during evaluation.
Similar to EPEAT, the rankings will be listed as silver, gold and platinum. It's a smart idea because it unifies ranking systems and makes green products easier for consumers to identify. And of course, the easier it is for consumers to identify a green product, the more likely they are to take that into consideration when purchasing.
Floating Bike Path is One Response to Rising Waters
The bike path is designed out of foamed concrete, which floats on the water but is stable. This may be particularly valuable because of its applicability in the context of climate adaptation.
TreeHugger via Gizmodo
London's Bike Superhighways Bring 70% Increase in Cycling
London's bike superhighways are incredibly successful, as the front-page GOOD story remarks. According to the findings in study by Transport for London, there were 70% more cyclists out on the streets of London in October of 2010 than there were the previous year.
GOOD has more:
that means that the number of bikers on the streets pre-superhighways was 70 percent lower than it is now that the superhighways have been installed. That's some effective bike promotion, if I've ever seen it ... Will other cities see this information and start doing more for bike lane planning than simply laying them on the side of the street?That's right -- bike use everywhere jumped, not just on the superhighways. The safe, elegant lanes evidently inspired more folks to dust off their old ten-speeds and hit the roads.
From TreeHugger via Gizmodo
How Can a Cathedral Built From Trash Look So Beautiful?
Don Justo has been building this beautiful cathedral of trash for 50-odd years now, and is almost finished. Since he left his life as a monk 50 years ago and began building the cathedral (which is modelled on St. Peter's in Italy, along with the White House and other cathedrals and churches), he's built it up to 131-feet high, and just needs to add a roof and a few windows. Most of his building matter came from salvaged materials and junk, which he built up on his own land over 8,000sq/m with his own two hands.
Inhabitat has mad photos.
Thursday, January 6, 2011
E News: January 6
New Data Reveals Mid-size Cities May Be Hotter For Jobs than Larger Cities
CareerBliss.com released the report Tuesday, detailing its projections for the 20 best hiring cities in America this year. The press release is titled "CareerBliss Data Shows Bigger (Cities) Isn't Always Better For Hiring in 2011"; weird grammar aside, the headline intends to highlight cities like Charlotte, N.C. and Hartford, Conn. that crept into the Top 20 list.
But the top of the list was still dominated by big cities, and Chicago was right up there.
Dead Birds Fall From Sky In Sweden, Millions Of Dead Fish Found In Maryland, Brazil, New Zealand
The Huffington Post, Jan. 5
UPDATE: Wildlife officials say that even more previously unreported dead birds were found in Kentucky last week.
Millions of dead fish surfaced in Maryland's Chesapeake Bay in the U.S., Tuesday, while similar unexplained mass fish deaths occurred across the world in Brazil and New Zealand. On Wednesday, 50 birds were found dead on a street in Sweden. The news come after recents reports of mysterious massive bird and fish deaths days prior in Arkansas and Louisiana.Green Design Predictions for 2011
As we kick off 2011, there's no better time to reflect on the past year and to make some predictions as to what the coming year may hold. In what's become a bit of a tradition here at Inhabitat, we asked some of our favorite movers and shakers in the green design space to share their forecasts for what 2011 may mean for sustainable design, architecture and the natural and social environment. From the proliferation of share programs and bike culture, to eco-innovations in technology to make building and energy management easier — read on for what some of the most eminent minds in the green design world have to say about 2011.
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