Photo Credit: David Salafia

Ever heard of piezoelectricity? Don’t worry, neither has the majority of society.  Soon however, it might be making green news all over the place.  This so-called “charge that gathers in solid materials in response to strain” (like crystal and ceramic) has attracted the attention of the science and the business world alike. And this isn’t any sort of ‘negative’ strain per se; the strain refers to pressure that initiates a charge inside certain materials- like the pressure from walking on a sidewalk, for example. Or…dancing.

It all started in ‘da club’ in the Netherlands when the first sustainable dance club was founded, showcasing a dance floor equipped with piezoelectric materials. The electricity collected from rowdy club-goers was used to charge the surface color of the floor itself. Others have since followed suit, from a railway station in Tokyo that used the same type of energy collection to charge the whole fleet of ticket gates and displays, to a British supermarket that installed kinetic road plates to collect energy from shoppers driving over parking lot speed bumps. London even has plans to put “power-generating tiles” on the streets to supply electricity for bus stops and pedestrian crossings. The potential is huge- a company in Israel even plans to install similar strips of asphalt in their highways that would power nearly 2,500 homes.

While piezoelectric roads, sidewalks, and dance floors are not prevalent forms of energy generation quite yet, they are constantly growing- and the technology continues to get better. At some point, we may even be able to harness energy from normal things in our everyday lives, like utilizing the minuscule vibrations in our shirts and shoes to charge our phones and computers using PZT (an amazingly efficient material able to covert up to 80% of mechanical energy into electricity). Crazy, isn’t it?

Whether or not we see this innovative technology implemented on a larger scale in the near future, it goes to show that there are plenty of creative ways to produce electricity (or anything for that matter) using a sustainable approach. And some of them might start right at our feet. Literally.

Check out the details here.

Photo Credit: Inhabitat

From the amount of food wasted daily to the amount of un-environmentally friendly details in the design, the restaurant industry is not the most eco-conscious of all industries.  While we have seen a trend of incorporating local and organic produce (certainly worth noting), the physical restaurant itself isn’t so “green”, nor is the amount of food tossed-organic or not.  However, Arthur Potts Dawson set out to change the restaurant industries approach to sustainability and is making strides in changing the restaurant world as we know it- from the design to the dining experience itself.

Acornhouse and Waterhouse are two of the sustainable restaurants (one of which is totally zero-carbon!) this waste minimizing entrepreneur has opened thus far.  And when I say sustainable, I mean water filtration systems, reclaimed wood, recycled plastics, and second-hand seat cushions, amongst much else.  Waterhouse, located in London, is heated and cooled by the bordering canal, allowing for the utilization of hydroelectricity.  Both Waterhouse and Acornhouse are committed to a policy of ‘refuse, reduce, reuse and, where no alternatives exist, recycle’.   Now that’s forward thinking.

On top of a commitment to waste management, Potts Dawson is fully committed to fresh, seasonal produce- and he makes good use of it.  At Acorn House, there is no set portion of food per meal.  Instead, people choose how much food they want to eat.  If there are leftovers, he utilizes the food waste for his compost. “It’s all common sense” he says.  “Both are operated on an ecological shoestring, trying to minimise all types of waste — physical waste, wasted time, wasted space and wasted energy.”

Potts Dawson is also about to open The People’s Supermarket, set to be the most sustainable supermarket in the world. ” Talk about setting a good example.

Check out his TED talk here.

Photo Credit: Steve Jurveston

Walking up walls like a gecko?  Swimming like a shark?  Collecting water like a beetle? Using nature as the blueprint, these are just some of the possibilities that scientists are currently exploring.  This latest trend in creating new technologies and developing solutions to common environmental problems is called Biomimicry.

Instead of starting from scratch and trying to develop human-based designs, biomimicry uses nature as the primary source of inspiration for creating new and exciting ways of living.  Biomimicry has become an extremely attractive design principle as businesses look for ways to improve their operational efficiency, reduce waste and minimize their impact on the environment. And why not? Over the course of history, nature has evolved countless processes and systems that maximize efficiency and essentially minimize the creation of any waste.  From the smallest microbes to the largest predators, nothing is left to waste in the natural world.  So why not take these processes and mimic them to improve the sustainability of our industrial world?

One of the “coolest” examples of biomimicry can be found in Africa, where the design of a termite den was used to significantly improve the cooling efficiency of a large industrial complex.  It’s no surprise that the temperatures in Africa can reach highs well over 100 degrees Fahrenheit during the course of the day. While this heat can be scorching, one man happened to notice that termite dens tended to remain uncommonly cool.  Mick Pearce, architect of Eastgate Centre in Harare, Zimbabwe, decided to research the various designs of cooling chimneys and tunnels found in termite dens. Using the termites’ design principles, he revamped his 333,000 square-foot Eastgate Centre, which now consumes 90 percent less energy for heating and cooling than other buildings of similar size.

This is just one of the countless examples of nature providing the answers to many of the common problems currently facing our planet.  It’s time to use these amazing natural blueprints to design a cleaner, more efficient and more sustainable world.

For more fascinating examples of biomimicry used as a source of human inspiration, click here and here.

photo by Cocho

It’s 7:35 AM, Tuesday morning, and my Kesha ring-tone alarm clock encourages me to wake up “feelin’ like P. Diddy.” Just the start I need to get a good surf in before work.

But wait, the beach is closed. Again.

It was mornings like this that encouraged my CSI-like pursuit of an ocean polluting culprit. After acquiring some local water maps from my close friend Google, I was able to trace the pollutants back to the their source, the Tijuana River Valley Estuary. Here in the urbanized canyons of TJ, families are piecing together shantytowns that wash away in the rain. As a result, run-off consisting of tires, trash and human waste pollutes our watershed (Tijuana and San Diego alike).

Question: What do you do first? Treat the symptoms through beach clean-ups, or go to the source and implement long-term housing solutions in TJ?

Answer: “You do both at the same time.”

Those are the words of Steven Wright, co-founder of 4Walls International, an up-and-coming non-profit, training Tijuana families how to build self-sustaining homes out of the very trash that pollutes their own backyards. Constructed primarily out of dirt-packed tires and aluminum cans, these shelters use bio-mass to regulate indoor temperature. This means no heating or cooling costs for the family. But wait, there’s more. These homes are also designed to treat human waste, collect and filter rainwater, and produce a significant amount of food through a built-in greenhouse. Completely independent of public utilities, these miracle dwellings can be built for less than $5,000 a pop.

Steven Wright and his revolutionary non-profit is not only cleaning up our San Diego watershed, but is also providing families with a better future right across our border. They’re turning something nobody wants into something everyone needs. If 4Walls International was a guy, it would be the kind of guy you bring home to meet the parents. 4Walls International is a keeper.

To find out more or to donate to their relief efforts in TJ, click here, or follow them on facebook.

Photo Credit: Eld Mubarak

Eco friendly architecture is a trend that is starting to catch on all over the world. One of the most innovative green architects is Ralph Disch, a german business owner that has dedicated his life to designing eco friendly buildings with mainly the sun in mind.

It is widely known that solar energy is a great alternative energy source that is less harmful to the environment. Ralph Disch has taken this idea to a whole new level. He basically turns homes into individual power plants! Possibly his most creative and effective building is his own house, which was his inspiration, and much of Germany’s inspiration to starting the solar movement.  The house is mounted on a pole that allows it to rotate throughout the day with the sun, allowing the home to take full advantage of the suns energy. Solar panels that Disch mounted on his roof generate more energy than the house uses! The home’s finished off with plumbing that reuses water and utilizes rainwater. Plenty of other cool green gadgets are featured throughout the house, making this a truly sustainable home. This house has already motivated others to make the switch to eco friendly homes, and I hope to see this concept keep growing.

To see pictures of the house click here!

Photo Credit: Morris K. Udall Foundation

Recently, LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) has become the standard for buildings to get a “green” certification.  The certification, sponsored by the US Green Building Council, is handed out based on quality of materials, waste disposal, and energy efficiency.  However, a recent study has shown that the certification often overlooks a very important category, human health.

The certification is based on an aggregate score, so points are awarded for different parts of the buildings design and construction.  Depending on the total, the building is awarded a gold, silver, or platinum certification.  The problem is that the energy efficiency aspects of the buildings are weighted heavier than other categories.  In fact, a building could get the highest certification without improving the air quality at all.  Unfortunately, the system in place does little to keep hazardous materials out of building construction.  And since energy efficiency tries to reduce the air exchange between inside and outside, that hazardous air is more concentrated and can lead to health problems.

So how do we balance energy efficiency with human health?  The cost of using materials that are less toxic is generally more expensive so builders are hesitant to do it.  If they can get certification based on efficiency alone, then why spend the extra money?  The builders aren’t the ones that breathe in the air everyday.

People need to realize that LEED certification is not some panacea or scapegoat to build more and more.  The greenest building is one that is already built.  How much money in energy savings outweighs a person’s health?

To read the whole article, click here.

Photo Credit: Paul (dex)

Its been said that enough solar energy hits the earth every hour to power the world for years.  Now imagine if every building could take advantage of solar energy without the cost of installing solar panels?  For years, researchers have been trying to find a way of capturing solar energy without the expensive installation of solar panels.  Recently, a team of scientists developed a transparent spray-on application that turns any surface facing the sun into electricity-producing space.

EnSol, a Norwegian solar company, says that their goal of solar efficiency is over 20% and that the product should be ready for the market by 2016.  The spray on product is made up of metal nanoparticles that absorb and conduct electricity, much different than the silicon based solar panels used today.  The coating could be transparent with less power generation (for windows) or less transparent with more power generation (for sides of buildings, concrete, etc.).

This product will make solar applications much easier and allow people all over the world to apply it without much upfront cost.  Due to the high cost of solar panels, people are hesitant to do it even though it pays them back after a few years.  Having a spray on coating for roofs and the sides of buildings would be a huge step in the right direction.

For the full story, click here.

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The home of NBA’s Houston Rockets, The Houston Toyota Centre has recently earned certification through the US Green Building Council’s LEED for Existing Buildings: Operations and Maintenance Program. The venue becomes the only such one in Texas to be certified and joins Portland, Miami and Atlanta as the only NBA teams with green facilities.

This particular part of LEED certification refers to an existing buildings ability to utilize best practices to use less energy, water and natural resources, improve the indoor environment and uncover any operational inefficiencies.

Apart from environmental preservation there are a number of other benefits in incorporating LEED for Existing Buildings. LEED reduces overall costs of operations, provides problem-solving guidelines, improves building performance, creates healthier and more productive workspaces and promotes public recognition, in this case for the Houston Rockets. The operations and maintenance part of this refers to empowering the owners and managers with the tools to implement sustainable best practices and reduce environmental impacts of the building.

These select few teams who have endeavoured on obtaining LEED certification have received no financial assistance or pressure from the NBA. It takes only the efforts from one team to set of a chain reaction, which is what we are currently witnessing. Lets hope it filters down into other major sports to set an example for the rest of the world.

Read more…

Photo Credit: SunSD

If you are currently enjoying some summertime heat, a great way to spend the afternoon is by lazing around or in the good old swimming pool.  Even without the summer weather, taking a dip or swimming laps is an enjoyable past time.  However, chlorine has negative side affects on a person’s health, mainly affecting the respiratory system by causing increased rates in asthma and wheezing (and it turns some peoples’ hair green!).  Luckily, an eco-friendly, European solution has been recently gaining some popularity in the United States.  

Known by names such as the organic pond or natural pond, Natural Swimming Pools (NSPs) provide an alternative to chlorinated pools.  Instead of using chemicals to clean pool water, NSPs have separate pools which harbor biological filters- such as aquatic plants or animals, even- that filter the water naturally.  The whole pool is in essence its own, self-sustaining ecosystem.

For those who think that the idea of swimming in a murky pool filled with plants and the occasional animal is gross, never fear!  The result of the biological filter in NSPs is clear, refreshing, and healthy pool water.  There have been no reported health issues relating to NSPs.

So if you are thinking of installing a pool in your yard, consider a NSP.  Not only do these pools add tranquility to your backyard, they are a fun and sustainable.

Read more about NSPs here.

Desertification

It is estimated that we will lose 1/3 of hearable land by the end of the century, mostly due to desertification. However, the problem is happening way too slow to reach the headlines in our fast-paced media society. Desertification threatens the livelihood of millions as the dunes of the Sahara move south at about 600 meters a year. As sand is blown over the peaks of the dunes, it avalanches down and accumulates on the other side. This process affects 110 countries worldwide, and has lead to forced migrations, famines, and droughts. Fortunately, this problem can be solved. Magnus Larsson, an aspiring architect, has proposed an artistic and functional approach to stopping desertification.

The key is to prevent the sand from avalanching over the dunes. Previous projects, such as Green Wall Sahara, have attempted to plant a 6,000-mile line of trees across the desert, acting as a ‘sand net’. However, people who needed wood to improve their livelihood often cut the trees down. A more holistic approach has been proposed. Using a microorganism called Bacillus pasteurii, Larsson suggests we turn the sand into sandstone. The bacterium acts as cement, allowing us to build habitable structures inside the sand dunes. Not only does it stop desertification, but also provides, shelter, shade, and even allows the accumulation of condensation (making agriculture possible). The bacteria is also cheaper than cement by almost $100 per cubic meter. This radical approach to solving desertification could provide millions of people with affordable shelter, essentially turning the desert into a habitable environment.

To learn more click here.