by: Gizmag Emerging Technology Magazine, 2013-01-15 12:47:14 UTC
A new library to be opened in Bexar County, Texas, will provide visitors with a bank of e-Readers for borrowing e-books ... but books of the traditional paper variety will be glaringly absent. The project marks the first public library to be built as an all-digital service and just to make sure library-goers are in no doubt that it's the 21st century, the interior will feature a design influenced by Apple retail stores.
..
Continue Reading San Antonio to open first bookless public library
by: Environmental Leader, 2013-01-15 14:50:49 UTC Honda, GM and Volkswagen are among the automakers showcasing environmentally friendly cars at the Detroit Auto Show, which opened yesterday. The annual expo, with features more than 500 concept vehicles, cars and trucks, continues previous years’ trends towards more electric and hybrid vehicles with greater fuel efficiency. Here are some show highlights: On Monday, Volkswagen [...]
If you spend any amount of time stuck behind a desk, chances are you’ve put a lot of thought into what kind of chair you’re sitting in, whether it’s because you love the one you have or it’s horribly uncomfortable and you need a new one (that would be me). Luckily there are companies like Teknion that have your back, quite literally, with office chairs like their latest, the Responsive Back Technology (RBT) Task Chair.
This chair not only supports the user’s back, it actually resembles it by looking like a rib cage or spinal column. Its goal is to encourage proper posture by actually conforming to the user’s back. As someone who looks like their head is close to their desktop by day’s end from sitting too long with no support, it’s nice to know that there’s a chair that continues to adjust to your back all day in hopes of keeping your posture where it’s supposed to be.
In Germany, a new train with a system that uses the energy from braking is making rail travel even more efficient than it already was.
There is a lot of debate about whether rail really is greener than air or car travel. Some researchers have said the environmental damage caused by railway construction could offset the benefits, and that ridership needs to hit relatively high levels--and encourage switching from other modes--before the costs are worth paying. Still, on a per-passenger CO2-per-mile basis, trains generally do better the rest. And, it seems likely that trains will make faster efficiency improvements than airlines (the latter’s emissions targets stretch well into the century).
Consider this recent announcement from a German engineering company called MTU Friedrichshafen. Working with Germany’s rail operator, Deutsche Bahn, the company has developed a hybrid locomotive that cuts energy use and carbon emissions by 25%. The system claws back kinetic energy that’s normally lost during braking, converting it to electricity that’s stored in a battery.
by: Design 4 Sustainability, 2013-01-31 19:33:31 UTC
Tropical hard wood is often used for its durability and its aesthetics. Deforestation in the tropics is however a problem and increases climate changes. ...
by: Design 4 Sustainability, 2013-01-29 22:14:03 UTC
*Creation “9707”: Bamboo Chair*
The Bamboo chair was designed to commemorate the ten year anniversary of Hong Kong’s return to China. The chair ...
by: Design 4 Sustainability, 2013-01-29 22:13:22 UTC
KeepIt is a shoebox that can be folded into a shoe rack. It encourages consumers to pay greater attention to what they do with product packaging.
...
by: Design 4 Sustainability, 2013-01-26 07:12:10 UTC
PIE studio uses only renewable and sustainable natural resources, recycled/recyclable synthetic materials and non-toxic additives in its designs and ...
by: Design 4 Sustainability, 2013-01-24 07:02:05 UTC
GreenBottle is made of two parts: a sturdy paper outer shell and an inner liner made of recycled plastic which holds the milk and keeps it fresh.
...
by: Design 4 Sustainability, 2013-01-22 19:07:06 UTC
To complement the aluminum extrusion "B-table":http://www.design-4-sustainability.com/products/166-aluminum-extrusion-table-up-to-a-length-of-5-meter ...
by: Design 4 Sustainability, 2013-01-21 17:30:25 UTC
Konstantin Grcic started the Extrusions collection, designed for Bd Barcelona design, with Table B. Its name is as simple and technical as the design ...
by: Design 4 Sustainability, 2013-01-20 17:56:40 UTC
Organic farming isn’t easy in China, but Tony’s Farm is doing its best. Located in the Shanghai area, it delivers organic vegetables to its member’s ...
by: Design 4 Sustainability, 2013-01-19 16:40:00 UTC
Henkel's MiraFoil liquid coating is an environmentally responsible and sustainable alternative to foil board laminating and hot foil stamping; that ...
by: Design 4 Sustainability, 2013-01-16 16:05:59 UTC
I have been writing on "OLED technology before":http://www.design-4-sustainability.com/materials/62-oled-organic-led-s-power-efficient-light-surfaces ...
Comments by our Users
Be the first to write a comment for this item.