In Sunday's New York Times Magazine, "Consumed" columnist Rob Walker (author of the excellent Buying In: A Secret Dialogue between What We Buy and Who We Are) looks at the work of Design 99, a Detroit-based creative duo using art to transform space in the troubled city. Two years ago, the husband-and-wife team purchased a house in East Detroit (for $1,900!), which they equipped......read more
Having been responsible for designing some of the most successful cars in Formula 1 history — including the iconic McLaren F1 supercar — Gordon Murray knows a thing or two about creating high performance vehicles. Of late, the British auto maestro has turned his considerable talents to designing a practical vehicle that is a great deal cheaper to own and run. His first creation,......read more
What if buildings could talk? David Benjamin and Soo-in Yang (aka "The Living") answer the question, helping lead the burgeoning movement of interactive architecture, which seeks to engage citizens with environmental and other issues. Living Light is a permanent outdoor pavilion in the heart of Seoul, Korea with a dynamic skin that lights up to show real-time air quality data in the......read more
In the age of global climate change, people are becoming more and more aware of their carbon footprints and taking measures to reduce them. Hybrid cars have become extremely popular, and some cars claim to be 'zero emission vehicles.' However, even if a vehicle does not create pollution, it is very likely that the source of the energy that is powering the vehicle does. The Nissan Leaf......read more
Rio de Janeiro is famous for its beaches, its carnival celebrations, its rich musical traditions, and the massive Christ the Redeemer statue that overlooks the whole city. For environmentalists, Rio is remembered as that hosted the 1992 United Nations Earth Summit, a landmark in global environmental awareness. When the coastal Brazilian city hosts the 2016 Summer Olympic Games, a gigantic......read more
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Wind energy could generate 20 percent of the electricity needed by households and businesses in the eastern half of the United States by 2024, but it would require up to $90 billion in investment, according to a government report released on Wednesday. For the 20 percent wind scenario to work, billions must be spent on installing wind towers on land and sea and about 22,000......read more
In a split-second, a photographer captures a striking image of a rare Iberian wolf on the hunt, leaping over a farm gate. The image is selected from over 43,000 entries, netting photographer Jose Luis Rodriguez the award for Environment Wildlife Photographer of the Year. Unfortunately for Rodriguez, allegations have been raised challenging the photo's "veracity". It seems that his......read more
Portland’s Renovo Bikes is quietly building a reputation for their super functional, slick-looking wooden bike frames. The lightweight, smooth-riding Pandurance Road Bike, from the company’s Panda bamboo series, is made from, you guessed it, bamboo, one of our planet’s most sustainable woods. Renovo's Panda series is green with no apologies for performance. As a......read more