Food Freight - Best Practice Food Distribution Systems
by: VEIL - Victorian Eco Innovation Lab, 2011-02-28 10:23:39 UTC
This report assesses Best Practice Food Distribution Systems that might contribute to achievement of significant environmental improvements (i.e. reductions in GHG emissions) and/or reduce vulnerabilities in food systems.

Leadership was identified in five categories:

·       Farmer and consumer led initiatives (e.g. farmers' markets; coops; online hubs etc);

·       Food retailers;

·       Food manufacturers and marketers;

·       Third party logistics providers; and

·       Local councils, State and Federal Governments.

38 different initiatives were studied and results were extracted for each category, regarding:

·       Drivers and motivations;

·       Innovative aspects and opportunities;

·       Obstacles and challenges; and

·       Lessons learned - applicability to future initiatives.

This report highlights a wide range of alternatives that can help to decrease GHG emissions, and potentially reduce vulnerability in food distribution systems. Rather than advocating for a unique approach to be used, this report shows that each player in the chain has potential to contribute to the development of sustainable and resilient food distribution systems, whether at a local, national or international level.

Similarly, there are opportunities for players in each category to learn from and develop ideas from the others. The opportunities for abatement, and the creation of more resilient and sustainable supply chains, are significant.

For more information, contact Kirsten Larsen or Silvia Estrada-Flores.

This report is part of a larger food freight project, see also project description and Understanding Victoria's F&V Freight Movements.

TEDTalks : Dale Dougherty: We are makers - Dale Dougherty (2011)
by: TEDTalks (video), 2011-02-01 15:44:00 UTC
America was built by makers -- curious, enthusiastic amateur inventors whose tinkering habit sparked whole new industries. At TED@MotorCity, MAKE magazine publisher Dale Dougherty says we're all makers at heart, and shows cool new tools to tinker with, like Arduinos, affordable 3D printers, even DIY satellites.

Material ConneXion Announces its MEDIUM Award for Material of the Year
by: Sustainable Design News, 2011-02-21 01:36:08 UTC

Material ConneXion announced Novacem's Carbon Negative Cement as the winner of its second annual MEDIUM Award for Material of the Year. The award recognizes materials juried into the company's Materials Library in 2010 that demonstrate outstanding technological innovation and the potential to make a significant contribution to the advancement of design, industry, society and economy. In addition to Novacem's Carbon Negative Cement, the company recognized nine honorable mentions as exemplary material innovations that will change the way we design in 2011 - from product and packaging to architecture.

Netherlands Looks at Combining Solar Energy with Cycle Paths
by: Mother Nature, 2011-02-25 15:20:05 UTC
Solar technology is great for generating renewable energy and revolutionizing transportation as we know it, but they also require a lot of space. One solution is to look at incorporating existing roadways and cycle paths. Bicycle-friendly Netherlands offers a smart solution with this latest project by Dutch research organization TNO. Remember Scott Brusaw’s Solar Roadways project? His concept involved using the U.S. superhighway infrastructure to supply the country’s current energy demands. Brusaw proposed using a system... Read the full story on Planet Green

Portable Breast Scanner Detects Cancer in Real-Time Without X-Ray Radiation
by: Inhabitat , 2011-02-28 17:44:20 UTC

Each year breast cancer claims the lives of 465,000 women around the world — however this scourge can often be defeated if detected early. To aid in the fight against breast cancer Professor Zhipeng Wu of the University of Manchester has developed a portable breast scanner the size of a lunchbox that can detect and highlight cancer in real-time using much less radiation than x-rays.

Read the rest of Portable Breast Scanner Detects Cancer in Real-Time Without X-Ray Radiationhttp://www.inhabitat.com/wp-admin/ohttp://www.inhabitat.com/wp-admin/options-general.php?page=better_feedptions-general.php?page=better_feed

---

Permalink | Add to del.icio.us | digg
Post tags: Breast cancer scanners, breast scanners, Design for Health, health devices, health technology, medical devices, Professor Zhipeng Wu manchester university

The Streetflyer is a Bike That Simulates the Feeling of Flying
by: Inhabitat , 2011-02-28 21:40:14 UTC

Who hasn’t fantasized about being able to fly above the clouds? While human beings have come up with ways to mimic the feeling, here’s an option for those of us who are, frankly, a little too wussy to try out base jumping or hang-gliding right off the bat. Created by Dr. Carsten Mehring, the Streetflyer is a human-powered, light-weight carbon-fiber vehicle that allows you to get a running start and then simply put your legs up to get you into a horizontal hang-gliding position using a body-harness. You won’t be more than 3 feet above the ground, but you can imagine how freeing it will feel to “soar” through the streets in the Superman position (though you may not look as cool as you feel). The concept vehicle could also be used for rehabilitation purposes since it allows the user to be in a suspended vertical position while propelling themselves forward with no impact to their limbs.

+ Streetflyer

Via IncredibleThings

---

Permalink | Add to del.icio.us | digg
Post tags: alternative transportation, bicycle, bike, bike that feels like flying, clean transportation, eco design, flying bike, green design, green transportation, street flyer, streetflyer, sustainable design

World’s First Wireless Electric Bike Also Powers Gadgets Using Regenerative Power
by: Inhabitat , 2011-02-28 23:53:26 UTC

We are big fans of electric bikes here at Inhabitat, but Daymak have raised the bar by creating the first ever completely wireless bike – almost. The brand new Shadow eBike hosts only a bit of wiring hidden away in the front hub, still placing it far ahead its competition which will usually comes entangled within an array of wires on its frame. But beyond its sleek and clean form, this eBike also boasts a USB port, a charging port, an LED battery power display, regenerative breaks and a wheel that doubles up as a generator!

Read the rest of World’s First Wireless Electric Bike Also Powers Gadgets Using Regenerative Powerhttp://www.inhabitat.com/wp-admin/ohttp://www.inhabitat.com/wp-admin/options-general.php?page=better_feedptions-general.php?page=better_feed

---

Permalink | Add to del.icio.us | digg
Post tags: brammo, commute, daymak, ebicycle, ebike, electric bike, electric vehicle, ev, shadow, shadow ebike, Technology, wireless, wireless electric ebike

Zero Waste Denim: Cutting Edge Approach to Sustainable Design
by: Sustainable Design News, 2011-02-03 07:39:39 UTC

Parsons The New School for Design and Loomstate will showcase a collaboration to create zero waste denim fashions in an exhibition on view at the Sheila C. Johnson Design Center at Parsons. Through muslin prototypes, garment patterns, video and photography, the exhibition will provide visitors with a behind-the-scenes look at this cutting-edge approach to sustainable design, which is the focus of a new course of study at Parsons. Through the school's collaboration with Loomstate, Rogan Gregory and Scott Mackinlay Hahn's eco-friendly label, they will produce one of the student-designed looks as part of their Fall 2011 collection.

WWF Showcases Sustainable Rattan Use Amid Design Revival
by: Sustainable Design News, 2011-02-21 00:44:06 UTC

Natural rattan belongs to the design classics and it is making a comeback in design circles. Unfortunately, conventional forestry practices may damage tropical forests when the rattan is harvested. To avoid this forest destruction, WWF has set up a European Union funded programme for sustainable production and processing of rattan in the Mekong region.

Rematerialise: Catalogue of Sustainable Design Resources
by: Sustainable Design News, 2011-02-26 07:28:17 UTC

After 17 years of research sustainable design expert Jakki Dehn is launching Rematerialise, a catalogue of eco-friendly materials for use in the construction industry. From insulation made from mushrooms to kitchen tops created from recycled glass, Kingston University has catalogued more than 1,000 different sustainable materials for use in the construction industry.