Before I saw these photos, I never knew I wanted a catwalk, much less a backyard filled with pebbles. But now I know these are absolute must-haves for the modern, natural, sustainable home.
By day, these walkways are stylish and durable, but by night they are illuminated party machines. And they practically erase carbon footprints with their beautiful sparkly little lights.
So even though "modular steel, clean rectilinear LED-illuminated walkway and decking system" might be a mouthful to say, that's a small price to pay when trying to describe the most awesome modern eco-design ever.
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CATWALK is available with the following options:
- illuminated white panels, lit from the inside by small points of power-sipping L.E.D. light
- IPÉ, a beautiful, warm-hued, sustainable Brazilian hardwood (pictured below)
- Massaranduba, a sustainable Brazilian hardwood that takes on a clean, silver patina
Each CATWALK panel costs only $4 per year to power, if illuminated 24 x 7 x 365.Before I saw these photos, I never knew I wanted a catwalk, much less a backyard... more
Michael Reynolds, an architect from New Mexico, has an upcoming doc on the Sundance Channel about some pretty cool sustainable living. Here he is on Colbert talking about his projects and showing off some pretty rad homes.
I don't own a home yet, but a little more research into this, I'll probably settle down in a good 'ol plastic bottle home in my native San Antone!Michael Reynolds, an architect from New Mexico, has an upcoming doc on the Sundance... more
What are you wearing? Seriously! Have you ever stopped to think about what's in your pants? If not, there is a company that wants to turn your crank (get you thinking).
This pod is about a company that is changing the way people should think about their clothes - and their purchasing decisions in general.
It's all about NAU.What are you wearing? Seriously! Have you ever stopped to think about what's in your... more
Got some "eco-friends?" Or maybe you're feeling "eco-generous." This blog has some cool ideas for holiday shopping- "eco-style."Got some "eco-friends?" Or maybe you're feeling "eco-generous." This blog has some... more
Guerilla cuddler Juan Mann took his Free Hugs campaign from the streets of Australia via YouTube to Oprah Winfrey's TV studios. Along the way a lot of authority types got very worried about liability, bi-laws and red-tape, as like-minded cells of renegade huggers surfaced across the world. (We got our free hugs in Victoria, B.C..) At one point Mann got banned from doing his street corner hug deals in his hometown by city officials who couldn't get their heads around his hugs-not-slugs brand of subversion (see previous There's No Such Thing As A Free Hug story). So on October 22, 2007, Mann decided to move his Free Hugs campaign indoors for a while, offering an open house to anyone who fancied stopping by his humble abode at 30 Bucknell Street in Newtown, New South Wales - and that's when his troubles really began.
In the first 36 days of Mann's planned year-long open house, around 80 guests dropped in for a little hospitality. Some offered knowledge in return, others offered bribes (a TV producer offered cash if Mann would pull out of a scheduled interview with a rival station), and one rather-too-enthusiastic young lady even pinched Mann's bum after cooking him dinner. But on the whole, all seemed to be going well. Many of the conversations with those who stopped by were recorded and put up on the newly launched JuanMann.tv website, as well as on YouTube, where Mann has a burgeoning viewership.
Unfortunately one of Mann's new viewers turned out to be his landlord, who subsequently evicted him, complaining that his activities posed "a security risk to the building" and a potential "nuisance to the neighbors." Consequently, with just 21 days left in his current abode and a mere $9.16 in his pocket, the hapless hugger is on the hunt for a new place he can call hug-central.
Those who are sympathetic to Mann's plight can order a Free Hugs T-shirt from RemoGeneralStore.com/FreeHugs. Between now and Christmas you'll get one shirt free with every shirt ordered. And since 25% of the purchase price will go directly towards a new home that Mann says "you are more than welcome" to visit him in, it really is a great gift. Let's recap: buy one shirt, get one free, and get an open invitation to hang out with Mann at is new pad in NSW - plus all the hugs you can handle a bargain at just $31.22 (plus shipping).
by Nicole
Energy-saving light bulbs are the perfect gift for the person who has everything, since the kind of person who has everything is probably too busy watching their flat screen TV or playing with their Playstation 3 to take care of such eco-details. This is truly a gift that keeps giving, especially if you offer to fit them too (thus ensuring they don't go straight from the bottom of a Christmas tree to the back of a cupboard).
Buy an energy-saving E26 bulb from Ikea for a mere $3.99 and you'll likely save its recipient $30 in energy costs over its lifetime. Think about it, if you give four bulbs as a gift, which would cost you less than $16, it's really like giving away a whopping $120.
Ikea's energy efficient bulbs use up to 80% less energy than traditional bulbs, and last up to 10 time longer. What's more the company's so cool it gave all of its 9,600 British employees six of the bulbs to take home in an effort to save the planet, and promises to replace them for free when they eventually expire (see Guardian story). According to Energy Star, if every household in America replaced just one bulb with an approved low-energy replacement the emissions saved would be equivalent to more than 800,000 cars - now that is reason to celebrate!
by Marisa
In theory, it's so great: a season dedicated to showering the people we love with cherished gifts. I mean, it's pretty hard to argue against generosity. And yet somehow these altruistic roots often feel lost in the holiday shuffle, as we scramble to find something, anything, to place in that stocking or under the tree. Well, treat yourself to a relieved exhale: this year Daily Mantra has your back with 24 days of alternative gift ideas, prioritizing a more spiritual, eco-friendly, debt-free holiday season.
As our first holiday gift suggestion, inspired by this pretty fantastic ad, Daily Mantra simply reminds you that charitable gifting is always a fantastic holiday option. I mean, sure, you could spend hours, if not days, in a packed local mall, fighting crowds for some item your loved one may be receiving ten times already. Or you could put some Thanksgiving in your Christmas with a charitable donation, spreading the seasonal generosity among loved ones and beyond, throughout the year. Unsure where to begin? Simply visit www.charitynavigator.org for a searchable database of international charities, including a charity evaluator that rates each charity by effectiveness and financial health. Then sit back and enjoy an eggnog, while everyone else is at the mall.
by Nicole
James Blunt has been forced to return an experimental electric Mini Cooper he was loaned after he ran it into the ground. "It was the fastest car I've ever been in - totally silent, like a stealth Mini. That was part of the problem, said the singer to a reporter from the World Entertainment News Network. "I didn't crash it but I did break it and I was going too fast. I'm sure they've learnt from my mistakes."
One of only two prototype cars in the world, the ultra-eco Mini, which runs on two hi tech Lithium-ion batteries, was developed by engineers from NASA. Earlier the Daily Mantra reported that the regular U.K. production diesel version of the vehicle beat out Toyotas hybrid Prius in terms of its all round eco-friendliness, making the stylish Mini Cooper a beautiful car both inside and out.
Stella McCartney is bringing a "green" collection exclusively to Barneys New York.
The specialty retailer asked the designer, who has famously renounced meat and leather, to create the line. Barneys in February began an initiative to introduce eco-friendly and ethically produced products into its stores with the launch of the Loomstate for Barneys collection in 12 Co-op units.
WWD reports on Barneys continued eco-obsession, and their new exclusive collection by Stella McCartney.
But maybe more interesting than the story's newsy bits - Phillip Lim will also make organic dresses, Barneys will soon stock bamboo skateboards - is the assessment about Stella's line, from fashion director Julie Gilhart:
"It does not read organic in any way, shape or form."
If Stella's new line looks like her normal clothing, that's good news for shoppers, but some new issues do arise:
Are organic garments as durable as synthetically made ones, or will they self destruct - much like some of Stella's very expensive handbags?
And is eco-fashion really going to fix anything? Or is it too late (and too naive) to think that saving the world can happen with some earnestly sewn jeans?Stella McCartney is bringing a "green" collection exclusively to Barneys New York.... more
Before it was considered en vogue to go green, designer Linda Loudermilk was blazing the trails of eco-chic fashion. Now that Los Angeles Fashion week is following suit, Loudermilk remains ahead of the trends, taking her commitment to the environment to the next level: eco-luxury.
Celebs including Pink and the elusive Prince himself are slated to attend.Before it was considered en vogue to go green, designer Linda Loudermilk was blazing... more
