arthur brutter + ido bruno: earthquake proof table
by: Designboom - Weblog, 2012-01-13 20:58:00 UTC

showing at the london design museum at the 'design of the year 2012' exhibition. this earthquake-proof table provides both protection and passageways for accessibility. 

read more

first eco PODhotel in flims, switzerland
by: Designboom - Weblog, 2012-01-15 15:30:00 UTC

this hotel is not a hotel! this is camping in the 21st century. enjoy the vicinity to a real snow paradise.

read more

Taking a Bite Out of Plastic Use with Preserve
by: Greener Design, 2012-01-15 12:45:15 UTC

Eric Hudson, founder and president of Preserve, talks about recycled-plastic toothbrushes, the evolution of its products into new markets, and the importance of good design for green products.

Green Cars at NAIAS 2012
by: Eco Geek Latest, 2012-01-10 19:00:06 UTC

Two years ago, automakers were scrambling to out-green each other and to emphasize their green halo, and the show's main floor included an 'Electric Avenue' with all manner of unusual vehicles (most of which have not returned). But the age of the bamboo thumb drive has already passed. As we noted last year, hybrids and electric drive vehicles now just seem to be an expected part of the mix in a manufacturer's line. Along with this, relatively simple features like auto-start/stop are becoming more prevalent in more models.

A couple of new companies on this year's show floor were particularly interesting. These include Coda, a company that is selling electric drive cars. They seem to have just a single model, but the company looks like a more complete contender than BYD, another Chinese manufacturer that has been at show the past couple of years, was not present at this year's show. (The Coda body and battery are manufactured in China, but final assembly takes place in the US.)

VIA Motors is another newcomer to the main floor. Like AMP Motors, VIA is modifying existing vehicles (in this case GM pickups, SUVs and vans) to convert them into extended-range electric vehicles. With the improved efficiency and all electric drive, VIA states their vehicles get "over 100 mpg in typical daily driving."

Some of the other green entries appearing at this year's show include:

Honda - although the Civic Natural Gas is this year's Green Car of the Year, it seems to be a sideshow to the rest of the Honda display.

Ford - the Focus is being built in a variety of configurations, with gasoline, hybrid and plug-in hybrid powertrain versions all available. The Ford C-MAX is a multi-activity vehicle (MAV) that will be Ford's "first dedicated hybrid vehicle line."

Chevrolet - the Volt is there, but not with a big display, and Eco options for the Malibu and Cruze are also sharing the green attention. Small cars are also a part of the Chevrolet program, but with more of an emphasis on appealing to young buyers than on efficiency.

Volkswagen - unveiled the Jetta hybrid with a combined fuel economy of 45 mpg. It's a mild hybrid with only very limited electric drive range, but gives VW another high mileage option to diesel. Also, the E-Bugster EV.

Toyota - the Prius c was unveiled as the smallest member of the Prius series with an under $20k price tag. Other Prius models include the third-generation base Prius, the larger Prius v, and the plug-in Prius.

Nissan - after not appearing at last year's show, Nissan had a presence this year that included the LEAF, which was also available on the Ride & Drive track.

Tesla - the Model S sedan was on display, along with a bare frame showing the battery platform.

previously: Connected Cars a Theme for NAIAS 2012

images: EcoGeek

Hacktastic Mosquito Trap Made From Old Charger Case, Computer Fan, Cell Phone Battery, LEDs, & Bag
by: TreeHugger Design, 2012-01-14 19:05:00 UTC
A mosquito trap made from old electronics parts is more effective than sprays or coils.

IBM: Lithium air battery prototype in 2013, production in 2020
by: Gizmodo , 2012-01-13 22:56:17 UTC
Researchers are working on a lithium air battery that will make electric vehicles as practical as gas-powered cars.

Originally posted at The Car Tech blog

Apple Speaks Openly, Discloses Environmental And Rights Issues Among Its Suppliers [Updated]
by: fast company, 2012-01-14 00:53:16 UTC

The giant consumer technology firm revealed in its "Apple Supplier Responsibility Report" for 2012, available for perusal here, that it had carried out 229 individual audits among its diverse and largely secrecy-shrouded supplier chain. Looking for responsible behavior across all aspects of its business, Apple paid attention to labor and human rights, health and safety, environmental impact and more ephemeral aspects like ethics and business practices. The targeted firms covered the full range from individual component suppliers to assembly firms like Foxconn.

According to Apple itself, the report represents "a level of transparency and independent oversight that is unmatched in our industry," with the independent aspect coming from plans to let the Fair Labor Association carry out its own similar audits. Summarizing its audit, and actually admitting to slight errors and inadequacies in earlier audits, the company notes: "We continue to expand our program to reach deeper into our supply base, and this year we also added more detailed and specialized audits to address safety and environmental concerns. We know that finding and correcting problems is not enough. Apple-designed training programs educate workers about local laws, their fundamental rights as workers, occupational health and safety, and Apple’s Supplier Code of Conduct. Today there are more than one million people who know their rights because they went to work for an Apple supplier."

This position is interesting, given the recent eye-grabbing headlines coming from Foxconn--which is one of its biggest suppliers. Over a hundred workers in a Foxconn plant in Wuhan, China, had threatened mass suicide because their company had moved them ad-hoc to a different production line, with a potentially dangerous lack of training and imbalanced pay conditions. Though the situation has now been resolved, reportedly with the resignation of many of the workers involved in the scandal, it's a black PR mark for Foxconn and thus its prestigious overseas clients of which Apple is the best known. Foxconn had previously been embroiled in a different suicide scandal, which though potentially overblown by a sensation-seeking press, did speak to non-ideal working conditions in Foxconn factories--with stress to deliver to Apple as the cause. 

A small number of explosions in Foxconn facilities is another bad episode in its recent history, with the blame laid on inadequate dust extraction in machining facilities causing dust explosions, fatalities and injuries, and terrible headlines. Apple has also faced criticism from global groups like Greenpeace about its allegedly poor environmental footprint, largely stemming from dangerous practices among its supply chain companies.

Among these issues, Apple also disclosed that some suppliers, mainly at individual component level (a lower margin business than product assembly) were operating with child laborers--an amazingly frank admission although Apple explained that the hirings may be unintentional, in line with ad hoc hiring practices. Following its own strict policies, the firm will push for radical changes in infringing firms. Apple notes it requires "suppliers to return underage workers to school and finance their education through our Child Labor Remediation program" with free education and continued payments.

As part of its audit trail, Apple has also revealed in full its extensive list of suppliers for the year 2011. Though there will be modifications to this list for 2012, it's also an unusually open move by Apple. Speculation on these moves would naturally lead to the fact that, with the death of Steve Jobs, Tim Cook is now CEO and his expertise over the years has actually been in perfecting Apple's supply chain so it can command in the markets it now leads in.

Update: Tim Cook's internal email to staff concerning the report has been revealed via French site MacGeneration.com. A full English version is accessible there, but the letter follows more or less the same thread as the introduction to the report itself. Cook concludes "No one in our industry is driving improvements for workers the way Apple is today. I encourage you to take some time to read more about these efforts, so that you can be as proud of Apple's contributions in this area as I am." 

[Image: Flickr user mwiththeat ]

Chat about this news with Kit Eaton on Twitter and Fast Company, too.

Foldable Velo Chic Concept makes biking effortless and practical for women
by: The Design blog, 2012-01-13 13:18:35 UTC
Asmita Prasad:

The Velo Chic by Guo-Shiung Hung is an innovative new bicycle concept that focuses solely on the needs of female users and non-bikers to promote the use of bicycles as a viable mode of transportation in cities and smaller communities. The target user of the Velo Chic would primarily be non-biking female users who live in apartments with limited space in urban areas.

Since cycling is viewed as a sports-oriented activity and is seen as a tiring task, these users are not too enthusiastic about using bicycles as a mode of daily commute. The goal of the Velo Chic design is to ultimately reintroduce biking to the segment of urban dwellers and to promote cycling as a relaxing and practical mode of traveling and commuting in the city.

With a folding hinge and handlebar, the Velo Chic is also a very storage-friendly and can be compacted to sit neatly in a corner. The neat basket that the bicycle comes pre-fitted with allows users to carry small loads like daily groceries etc. with ease. The bicycle uses a Sussex shaft-driven system to make pedaling almost effortless and the bicycle also comes with an Gruber electric power assist system which allows users to run the bicycle in all-electric mode.

Via: Popmonbo

CES 2012: Best green gadgets
by: The Design blog, 2012-01-14 07:42:29 UTC
Shahnawaz Naaz:

The advancement in science and technology has allowed the designers and the engineers to design and develop gadgets that are eco friendly as well as energy efficient. These days several companies are manufacturing high-tech products that are sustainable and green. Many companies unveiled such products during the 2012 Consumer Electronics Show (CES). Here is a list of nine best green gadgets put on display during the 2012 CES.

What is the Definition of Good Green Design? Two Brave Little Toasters Demonstrate Two Different Approaches
by: TreeHugger Design, 2012-01-13 13:36:00 UTC
Adi Zaffran reinvents a toaster out of simple, local materials. Thomas Thwaites tried to build the real thing. Which approach is better?