Green Finance: Seeking a Way Out of China’s Pollution Crisis
by: Environmental Leader, 2015-04-28 14:13:27 UTC
I am excited about what lies ahead for green finance in China now that the Green Finance Committee was launched last week. The GFC comprises an elite group from China’s financial community including the top tier regulators, banks, asset managers, insurers and thought leaders. It marks a big step forward in China’s interest in green finance. A […]

Make your bed and kitchen disappear with Clei's latest transformers
by: TreeHugger Design, 2015-04-27 14:09:30 UTC
Murphy bed meets convertible kitchen

Handcrafted 'holistic' bike uses 40 layers of wood (Video)
by: TreeHugger Transportation, 2015-04-22 12:00:00 UTC
Sporting an attractive unibody frame, this meticulously handcrafted wooden bicycle is made to be strong yet flexible.

Reliable systems for recharging electric vehicles
by: Fraunhofer Research News, 2015-04-01 07:00:00 UTC
The success of electric vehicle networks depends on economical vehicles – and efficient power grids. Existing power lines were not designed for the loads generated by electric vehicles. Fraunhofer researchers have developed prototype software to show grid operators how many electric vehicles can be connected to their local grid.

Saving energy with smart façades
by: Fraunhofer Research News, 2015-04-01 07:00:00 UTC
Glass-fronted office buildings are some of the biggest energy consumers, and regulating their temperature is a big job. Now a façade element developed by Fraunhofer researchers and designers for glass fronts is to reduce energy consumption by harnessing solar thermal energy. A demonstrator version will be on display at Hannover Messe.

This Elegant, Organic LED Lamp May Be Pricey, But It's The Future Of Lighting
by: Co.Exist, 2015-04-24 13:20:00 UTC

The light bulb's reign is over.

If you thought LEDs were the future of lighting, you would be on the cutting edge, but only be partly right. The more far-out future is something called organic LED (organic light-emitting diodes), which offer several advantages over their conventional LED brethren.

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carbon wood bike uniquely fuses hand-craft, design and technology
by: Designboom - Weblog, 2015-04-26 18:01:27 UTC

'carbon wood bike' is an innovative bicycle handmade in italy using ash and mahogany woods, with incorporated layers of carbon fiber.

The post carbon wood bike uniquely fuses hand-craft, design and technology appeared first on designboom | architecture & design magazine.

Catskills Residence Crafted From Locally-Sourced, Sustainable Materials
by: design milk, 2015-04-23 17:00:04 UTC

Lang Architecture designed this two-story, model residence in the Hudson Woods community where 26 architect-designed homes will be crafted from locally-sourced, sustainable materials. The 2,800 square foot house rests within 131 acres of forest in the Catskills/Hudson River Valley area and features a flipped floor plan.

Each of the dwellings in Hudson Woods will be built with sustainability in mind and the buyers will get to choose between two house plans. The properties can be customized inside and out the the buyers specifications.

On one side, a 16-foot gable window overlooks a wrap-around deck and a pool surrounded by bluestone.

The upper level houses the living room, dining room, and kitchen under a pitched ceiling that’s covered in wood.

The kitchen features oak cabinets, concrete countertops and Smeg appliances.

Behind the kitchen, there’s a staircase that leads to two bedrooms below.

There’s also space for coats and storage.

Between the two bedrooms, there’s a bright den with two pictures windows on either side.

A separate garage/studio offers additional storage and living space.

Photos by Deborah DeGraffenreid.

High-Efficiency Ships Have Higher Asset Values, Longer Lifespans
by: Environmental Leader, 2015-04-24 10:55:28 UTC
Leading banks in the shipping industry, including HSH Nordbank and KfW IPEX-Bank, use energy-efficiency data in making investment and financing decisions, according to a survey by Carbon War Room. The global NGO says the banks indicated that vessel efficiency rankings — such as the A to G GHG Emissions Rating developed by independent ship vetting […]

Levi’s VP: 3 Ways to Engage Consumers in Sustainability
by: Environmental Leader, 2015-04-24 11:12:29 UTC
Levi Strauss & Co.’s vice president of sustainability, Michael Kobori, outlines three key ways in which businesses can bring sustainable practices to the level of the consumer in a blog post. First, he says, make consumers aware of their environmental impact. Levi’s recently launched a campaign to make sure people understood their own impact. When […]