A modern problem of the off-grid and outdoorsy lifestyle is how to keep your devices powered. Battery packs are one option, but they have limited use and can be heavy and bulky. The team at Aurea Technologies has come to the rescue with the Shine Turbine, a compact and lightweight wind-poweredturbine that offers renewable energy to outdoor enthusiasts who need […]
Wind Powered Portable Charger
Green Roof Makes This House A Sustainable Top Choice
Lazy House’s design emphasizes the relationship between house, garden and city. Each element flows together in this beautiful, harmonious home. Part of a new urban area in the Czech Republic, Lazy House is located above the Zlín valley on a slope that connects to the Lazy residential district. With its lower floor base sunk into the slope, the house has […]
Bottled Water Environmental Impact Is 3500 Times Higher Than Tap Water
Research led by the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal) has found that bottled water’senvironmental impact is 3,500 times higher than tap water’s. In a study conducted to determine bottled water’s impact in Barcelona, it was established that it is more costly both financially and ecologically when people use bottled water instead of tap water. The study found that if […]
Concrete Microbiome Acts As A Warning System
Concrete may not seem like a particularly hospitable environment for life, but bacteria do actually live inside it. A new study led by the University of Delaware has examined this concrete microbiome to find out how they get there, how they change over time, and how we might use them in future to monitor or even repair defects. Bacteria can […]
Papermelon Makes Jewelry From Upcycled Paper
Devi Chand is the founder and passionate artist behind Papermelon, a jewelry company with sustainability and beauty as its primary missions. Papermelon jewelry is constructed from upcycled paper, which is collected from friends, neighbors and well-wishers. The paper types vary wildly but include newspapers, magazines, storybooks, paper bags, gift wraps, calendars and pamphlets. Chand decided on paper as a result of […]
Immune Signalling Molecules Boosts Fat Burning
There are different types of fat in the body that perform very different roles, and by promoting the production of one over the other scientists hope to develop new forms of treatment for conditions like obesity and diabetes. Scientists in China have identified a new mechanism by which the immune system boosts the production of fat in one of its […]
Gradient Offers Lower Energy Footprint
As the Earth continues to warm, passive designs for natural ventilation and heating are no longer enough in many areas. To escape extreme temperatures in either direction, effective air conditioning and warming are becoming an increasingly essential element of home design. Yet, it comes at a cost to the environment in the form of high energy usage. A company called Gradient has […]
Utility Knife Turns Into Scraper
The tried and true form factor of a utility knife is one many will be familiar with, but toolmaker ToughBuilt has just introduced one with a very handy trick up its sleeve. The handtool carries a switchblade-like design but rather than concealing the sharp edge, a push of a button sees it flip 90 degrees to instantaneously turn into a […]
Europe’s Largest “Pipe House”
Cantilevering dramatically out of a small hill in Russia, the recently completed Russian Quintessential is conceived as both a stunning piece of modern art and a weekend getaway. Its reflective facade and tubular shape certainly make an impression, and contains a compact but comfortable-looking dwelling inside. Russian Quintessential was designed by Sergey Kuznetsov, who also holds the prestigious title of […]
Modular Living Lodge Tents
Japanese outdoor gear company Snow Peak has introduced a flexible new shelter that could mean backcountry fun for the whole family, or perhaps just high comfort for an intimate group of campers. The newly launched Living Lodge features a modular design, which enables it to be set up as either a spacious tent complete with patio, or an even more […]