tagged w/ recycled materials
-
In his book, A Coming of Wizards, Michael Reynolds said four mystical beings, whom he called “wizards,” appeared to him in psychedelic visions and gave him ideas that have guided his work. He wrote that the wizards taught him to “de-normalize” his thinking and tap into his own, personal “energy band.”
The source of his vision was unconventional. The results of his mystical inspiration, however, have been practical successes in the real world.
Mike is the inventor of the Earthship, a home design that uses recycled materials and nature’s own solar machinery to create snug, self-sufficient houses. When I met him in 1982, he’d already been building Earthships for the better part of a decade. They were scattered across northern New Mexico and southern Colorado.
They weren’t like any other houses in the world. Mike had spontaneously — maybe instinctively — set out to solve several different puzzles at the same time. He wanted his houses to be energy independent, comfortable and beautiful, and he wanted to reutilize waste materials in their construction.
Mike Reynolds half-buried his houses in south-facing hillsides and created their south walls entirely from high-quality insulated glass so they would capture the heating energy of the sun. He built durable, moisture-proof roofs, buried them in insulating soil, and planted native plants on them so the roof could grow its own summer shade, which naturally thinned and let the sun warm the roof in winter. He invented a unique ventilation system that pulled cool air from outside and pushed overheated air out through skylights during warm weather.
The Earthships needed to store solar energy to use overnight and during cold, dark weather. Mike designed massive, 4-foot-thick interior walls and positioned them in the sunlight streaming in from the south-facing windows. He constructed thick floors of concrete and adobe that soaked up sunshine all day and then radiated warmth at night.
Old tires, bottles and tin cans were overflowing our landfills, so Mike decided to use them as building materials. The thick interior walls of his Earthship homes are made from old tires. Other walls use cans and glass bottles in the same manner as bricks, mortared with concrete or adobe. The “bottle walls” are left exposed so that sunlight shines into whimsical rooms through a mosaic of multicolored bottles and jars salvaged from the dump.
To stay off of costly, inefficient utility grids, Mike outfitted his houses with photovoltaic solar electricity, wind turbines and water collection systems. Other systems in the houses filter water from the sinks and bathtubs and reuse it in the toilets.
Because creating an Earthship is a labor-intensive process, Mike kept the mechanics simple. He figured few contractors would sign up to build Earthships. They are effectively handmade. They take a lot of hours. So he developed building techniques for amateurs. Anyone can quickly learn how to build a wall from concrete and tin cans or bottles. He invented a method of packing sand inside stacks of used tires to create the thick, stable interior walls. You can master the process in a few hours. After they’ve been stuccoed, Earthship homes have a beautiful natural shape and store a lot of thermal energy. In winter, they exude warmth through cold nights. In summer, they stay cool in the heat of the day.
Built-in planters grow food year-round inside Earthships. One owner picks bananas in the middle of winter from a tree that sits in the window of an Earthship situated at 7,000 feet elevation in the Rocky Mountains. Some of the unique structures include indoor goldfish ponds.
Mike built several Earthships himself, but soon he was coaching an army of Earthship builders, most of them do-it-yourselfers who wanted to play a personal role in the creation of their own homes. Earthships have been built in every shape and size imaginable, from little one-room, beer can bungalows to late actor Dennis Weaver’s multimillion-dollar Earthship estate in Ridgeway, Colo. Construction of Weaver’s 8,500-square-foot home reportedly repurposed 3,000 old tires and more than 350,000 discarded aluminum cans.
There are Earthship subdivisions and complexes of Earthship condominiums. Earthships now stand in Jamaica, Mexico, India, Japan, South America, Europe and Africa. Mike is the subject of a documentary film, Garbage Warrior, and has been interviewed on every major television network.
Not every Earthship home is beautiful, at least not to passersby. But look in the eyes of Earthship owners and you’ll see an unmistakable glow of enthusiastic affection when they talk about their homes, especially if they built the houses themselves. To their owners, even the funkiest Earthships are lovable. And some of them are architectural wonders.
The early prototypes were experimental. Some of them seemed to soak up cold right out of the earth, and no woodstove would heat them. Others broiled their occupants, summer and winter. Sometimes Mike went back and fixed them with a new idea or two. Sometimes the homeowners sorted out the solutions themselves.
Still, nearly 40 years after their invention, Earthships are at the cutting edge of residential architecture.
I’ve ridden up and down dirt roads with Mike, looking at Earthship homes and listening to him talk about them. Although he was a licensed architect, the history of architecture wasn’t interesting to him. Obviously he didn’t operate in any established tradition. He didn’t even seem to be interested in the history of the Earthship, his own creation. Mike talked mostly about the future — a future in which the Earthship philosophy of beauty and efficiency would be a major force in the world. The Earthship was, after all, invented for the future. Mike incubated the contemporary philosophy of “humanitarian design,” the practitioners of which now include Nathaniel Corum, a man who designed hurricane-resistant housing in Haiti, built straw bale homes on a Navajo reservation, and built the cabin for Plastiki, the yacht made from discarded plastic bottles that sailed across the Pacific Ocean in 2010. Whether they realize it or not, present-day architects owe their identity, in part, to Mike Reynolds.
You don’t see many references to Mike’s visiting wizards on any of the thousands of websites about Earthships these days. Wizard visitations obviously don’t get a lot of credit for the achievements of today’s humanitarian designers and architects. But I’ve kept my copy of A Coming of Wizards as a reminder that sometimes a visionary needs to “de-normalize” how we think about things.In his book, A Coming of Wizards, Michael Reynolds said four mystical beings, whom he... more
-
-
(CNN) -- The way Tom Szaky sees it, just about everything you put in your trash can, you can send to him.
Well, his company, that is.
TerraCycle will take hard-to-recycle items or garbage such as juice pouches, chip bags, toothbrushes and pens and work with companies to reuse them in backpacks, park benches, cutting boards and other items.
"Our goal is to open in every country around the world and collect every type of waste," Szaky said by phone between business meetings in San Francisco. "We have big ambitions to try to solve this for all. Our model works for every type of garbage so why not bring it to everyone?"
The TerraCycle model works like this: You sign up to be in a brigade -- say the candy wrapper brigade. You collect them, box them up and send them (for free) to a TerraCycle collection center. The company will donate 2 cents per wrapper to a school or charity. Checks range from $10 to "big dollars," Szaky said.
TerraCycle was founded in 2001 as a organic fertilizer company. Szaky, then a student at Princeton University, went to a friend's place where red wiggler worms were fed leftovers and produced a liquid waste that worked pretty well as a plant food.
Szaky entered the idea of doing the compost tea on a mass basis in a university contest but finished fourth. Undeterred, he started maxing out credit cards and borrowing cash to start a new "worm poo" company.
Three trying years later, he had a product to sell to major home improvement stores.
He also had a unique idea for how to get spray bottles for his product. He started a "Bottle Brigade," where volunteers sent in used soda containers. Some companies were fascinated by the idea and inquired about working together.
"I started getting calls from people in industry, and they asked if we could expand this to other waste streams," he said.
The second brigade (juice pouches) started in 2007, and now TerraCycle collects "hundreds of different types of waste in 14 countries," he said.
The company collects 1 million juice pouches every two to three days.
Sharon Ernst, a fifth-grade teacher in East Amwell Township, New Jersey, said her school has collected enough juice pouches and candy wrappers to pay most of the costs of its environmental club.
The kindergarten-through-eighth grade school, which has about 500 students, won a TerraCycle contest last year by collecting more than 54,000 candy wrappers in a two-month period. In total, the school has sent back more than 200,000 items.
"My room does look like a recycling center," Ernst said, laughing. "Some of the kids really get into it. I even have parents who collect at their jobs."
The school has been collecting for more than three years, going back to a time when Ernst wanted to find a way to make money for the club that was tied to sustainability. She heard TerraCycle would collect Capri Sun pouches and pay the school for them.
And if you've ever sent a kid off to school, you've likely included some juice drink at some point. All it took was setting up a collection bin in every teacher's room and a couple in the cafeteria. The school joined other brigades as the company added them.
Now the school gets two checks a year, sometimes as big as $1,500, Ernst said. The children also get a lesson in two of the three Rs (reduce, reuse, recycle).
"They see that they can play a part," she said. "I tell them all the time that recycling is going to be even bigger as they grow up. They are starting to realize the role they have in that."
They also get a chance to be more hands-on with their science. Ernst uses the recycling money to buy gloves, tools and seeds for the school garden, and the students see firsthand some of the things in their textbooks.
Ernst said the school will probably sign up for the newest brigade, which collects the Solo cup -- the plastic cups you see at birthday parties, backyard cookouts and tailgates. TerraCycle and Solo announced the partnership last week, saying the money will be donated to schools or Keep America Beautiful, a nonprofit group that sponsors neighborhood cleanups and other community improvement projects.
Another new project is a test in Brazil, where residents can send in used diapers. Yes, used diapers.
Just take the poopy drawers, put them in a bag and mail them to TerraCycle, Szaky said.
The baby waste is composted, while the plastic is pelletized and used in other plastic products, said Albe Zakes, a TerraCycle spokesman.
TerraCycle doesn't actually make new products, Szaky said. It sells the recovered waste to companies that usually would use virgin materials. One of the companies it works with is Expo pens. TerraCycle collects pens, melts the plastic, and Expo makes new pens with the material.
It makes more sense environmentally to do it this way, Szaky said.
He said the five dedicated scientists at TerraCycle have done a "tremendous number" of life-cycle tests to determine which products would be best to recycle rather than throw in a landfill or burn for energy.
"In every case, it's better to recycle," he said.(CNN) -- The way Tom Szaky sees it, just about everything you put in your trash can,... more
-
-
After their highly anticipated, highly coveted (& highly purchased) capsule collection by Alber Elbaz of Lanvin, the fabric scrap was so plentiful that H&M made their collection, Waste, from the remains.
When I first heard about this collection… I admit I was a bit dumbfounded. So many different thoughts, such little time to fully think them through.
Here are a few of them:
"Wow. An entire collection made from scraps? That seems a) unrealistic b) resourceful c) like a lot of fucking waste."
"Scraps are recyclable, and that’s cool… But is it really that good for anyone if ALL the never-will-degrade fabrics are made into more things for people to spend too much money on?"
"These pieces are a bit shit."
Then, Jen and I explored the concept a little more to find that only one store per country is participating.
Oh.
How do you feel about the concept (& look!) of H&M’s Waste collection?
http://www.awakenedaesthetic.com/2011/02/waste-by-hm-repurposed-clothing-from-lanvin/After their highly anticipated, highly coveted (& highly purchased) capsule... more
-
-
As the Pecan Street Festival came to a close this weekend in Downtown Austin, local designers gave new life to old clothes. A fashion show Sunday afternoon showcased outfits made from recycled materials.As the Pecan Street Festival came to a close this weekend in Downtown Austin, local... more
-
-
These pieces of art are incredible and stunning.
You will find your favourite characters among them. They are all made of steel.
Some of them take for about three months to be completed.These pieces of art are incredible and stunning.
You will find your favourite... more
-
-
Vicarious by Nature (VbN) is an eco-friendly brand that represents men’s and women’s contemporary clothing while fostering the ideals of quality and style with a “naturally” conscious approach.
Their Fall 2010 collection, now in stores, is a great example of how aesthetic and sustainability can come together to create something amazing. All products are made with organic and/or recycled fabrics.
http://www.awakenedaesthetic.com/2010/08/vicarious-by-nature-fall-2010-lookbook/Vicarious by Nature (VbN) is an eco-friendly brand that represents men’s and... more
-
-
With the population increasing at a staggering rate, many schools are struggling just to figure out how they're going to provide each student with enough space to learn.
That's why American Modular Systems (AMS), one of the largest modular manufacturers in the West, decided to create the Gen7 modular classroom- a high-quality, energy-efficient, green learning space that can be constructed and delivered to schools in need quickly and affordably.
Constructed using a high amount of recycled and recyclable materials with low- and zero-VOC interiors, and a learning-enhancing acoustical design, the first-ever Gen7 modular classrooms were delivered earlier this month to the Bolsa Knolls Middle School in Salinas, Calif.
Keep reading: http://ow.ly/2iQRbWith the population increasing at a staggering rate, many schools are struggling just... more
-
-
-
Artists use whatever tools or media they have at their disposal to create. Skater and artist Haroshi uses old skateboard decks. Haroshi spent years skating and, over time, collected a room full of boards he had used, each with special meaning to him. Not wanting to toss out these memories, the skater/artist decided to repurpose them as artwork.
Read more: http://www.whitespace.bz/ws/web/forms/pulse/PulseMainArticle.aspx?id=450Artists use whatever tools or media they have at their disposal to create. Skater and... more
-
-
A countdown of stories about off-beat homes and unusual ways of living. In Part 4 we take a tour of an old railway sleeper car that's been renovated into a modern living space.A countdown of stories about off-beat homes and unusual ways of living. In Part 4 we... more
-
-
ctv
-
added this
-
2 years ago
- |
-
A countdown of stories about off-beat homes and unusual ways of living. In Part 5 we'll meet a guy who's building an ecological dream home deep in the woods of Northern California.A countdown of stories about off-beat homes and unusual ways of living. In Part 5... more
-
-
ctv
-
added this
-
2 years ago
- |
-
We've seen evidence of this before with the creation of cow-dung-composed EcoFaeBricks which are said to reduce 1,693 tons of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere on a yearly basis. Another eco-building product, UltraTouch Natural Cotton Fiber Insulation, converts recycled, shredded denim into batts that can be fitted between joists, studs and beams and generally releases no volatile organic compounds or air pollutants. One of the most outstanding innovations in recent years is Greensulate's line of rigid panel home insulation composed entirely out of agricultural by-products and fungal mycelium.
While all of the aforementioned are notable in their own right, they may have some serious competition now that Gert de Mulder's ‘Recy-Blocks' have burst onto the scene. The rectangular 100% plastic waste construction components are created by pressing reclaimed packaging material - which far too often ends up being a landfill casualty - into pillow shaped forms that achieve a solid state due to their exposure to high heat. Practical for internal and external building applications, the darling of Rotterdam's Material Xperience 2010 conference can also take on a far more decorative edge with the addition of pressed flowers.
http://www.greenwala.com/profiles/3446-Kieran-K/blog/4591-Recy-Blocks-Eco-Building-Material-Made-Out-Of-100-Plastic-TrashWe've seen evidence of this before with the creation of cow-dung-composed... more
-
-
Have an old sweater that's just lost its charm over the years? Give it a new life as a sweet scarf. If you lack the knitting skills to DIY then ask Haik Avanian's mom to do it for you. But do it soon because that's just what she's making this month... next month it might be a beanie, iPod case, cut-off gloves or socks. Send your sweater to Reknit and vote for what she should reknit next month.
http://incrediblethings.com/style-and-gear/reknit-sweaters-turned-scarves/Have an old sweater that's just lost its charm over the years? Give it a new life... more
-
-
tj241
-
added this
-
2 years ago
- |
-
Growing up in Southern California, Spencer Brown has always been a self-proclaimed tree-hugger. In 2005, during a move across town, Spencer was shocked to see the large amount of cardboard and packing materials that were used in his move. Luckily, his frustration gave way to creating the first earth friendly moving company, Rent-A-Green Box. The flagstone of his company is the RecoPack, a lightweight, stackable container made from recycled plastic. They are rented, not sold, to people moving their belongings, delivered to the customer’s old home by trucks powered by vegetable oil, then picked up at the new home after they’ve served their purpose. Spencer estimates that you can cut moving costs in half by using a green moving company as opposed to the standard practices. Hmmm, saving money and protecting the environment…seems like a no-brainer! Susan sits down with Spencer to talk about the future of this much-needed and growing industry.Growing up in Southern California, Spencer Brown has always been a self-proclaimed... more
-
-
If you compare the shape of umbrellas and skirts I guess someone could say they have a little something in common. That someone is Cecilia Felli who has discovered that umbrella material is the perfect candidate for upcycling into skirts and dresses. Since umbrellas have a tendency to break down when you need them most, there’s no shortage of old umbrella material lying around and the concept is so simple most people can create their own umbrella skirts.
http://www.whitespace.bz/ws/web/forms/pulse/PulseMainArticle.aspx?id=341If you compare the shape of umbrellas and skirts I guess someone could say they have a... more
-
-
These are made with either organic cotton or scraps from big manufacturers. It was great to meet and connect with Jeph. On top of that they're fair trade, they help their workers with loans and they're a Certified Green Business!These are made with either organic cotton or scraps from big manufacturers. It was... more
-
-
Good office space can be hard to come by, and even then it doesn’t come cheap. Orange County printing company MVP found a creative, affordable and convenient alternative – they turned part of an industrial warehouse into office space. Of course, being a warehouse, it wasn’t equipped with fancy things like private offices, climate control, and break rooms. MVP’s solution? They grouped ten 20-foot shipping containers inside the warehouse to serve as offices.
http://www.whitespace.bz/ws/web/forms/pulse/PulseMainArticle.aspx?id=332Good office space can be hard to come by, and even then it doesn’t come cheap.... more
-
-
~y2009m11d1-Get-love-drunk-off-Junkprints
-
-
Not sure what to do with that tin can once its contents have become part of your dinner? You could always recycle it, or maybe re-use it and add a little industrial chic to your living space.Not sure what to do with that tin can once its contents have become part of your... more
-
-
Hollywood is known for its excess, but it appears that several film studios are reigning it in, at least where the environment is concerned. A recent report from the Solid Waste Task Force claims movie studios diverted 63% of their solid waste to recycling plants instead of landfills. This ‘solid waste’ is classified as things such as sets, and that 63% easily translates to 40.2 million pounds of waste. That’s a lot. It means Hollywood reduced enough emissions to equal the removal of 7, 315 cars from the road.Hollywood is known for its excess, but it appears that several film studios are... more
-
