Eco-Vlog

The new TSG Foundation site is located on an 11-acre parcel of land in the Sonoran Desert in Scottsdale, Arizona . Some of the sustainable features include rammed earth construction, zinc tile exterior cladding, solar power, desert landscaping with native and drought-tolerant  plants , and energy-efficient LED lighting. “Like the beauty of a physical building that is designed by principles to nurture health, respect for its environment, longevity, and a source of peace and joy, building the inner life of a human being is designed to produce similar outcomes – if it is built utilizing similar principles,” said Gita Saraydarian, Founder and President of TSG Foundation. Built to embody the principles of the  Living Building Challenge  — a green building standard similar to LEED that focuses more on human health — the center has aligned its construction values with those of the challenge (Health and Happiness, Equity, Energy, Water , Materials, Place and Beauty). ...

Residents of Louisiana are stuck in the dark following destructive Hurricane Ida on Sunday. Officials are still counting losses and have said that it may take weeks before power is restored in some areas. The hurricane hit Louisiana with winds at speeds of 150 mph (240 km/h). Ida is now the fifth strongest hurricane to hit the U.S. mainland. Officials have confirmed the death of one person. Further, about 1 million residents of Louisiana are in the dark following destroyed power supply systems. Related: Climate change doubles natural disaster costs in the US According to CNN, about 25,000 workers from across the country are currently fighting to restore power . The workers are expected to bring back normalcy in phases, but some areas may wait longer than others before power returns. New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell said that although the hurricane was one of the strongest in history, protection measures helped reduce casualties and losses. “The systems we depended on to save li...

The U.S. Office of Climate Change and Health Equity will be charged with protecting vulnerable communities from climate-driven disasters. Responding to President Joe  Biden’s  executive order on climate change, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced the new office Monday. “History will judge us for the actions we take today to protect our world and our health from  climate change ,” said HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra in a statement released Monday. “The consequences for our inaction are real and worsening. We’ve always known that health is at the center of climate change, and now we’re going to double-down on a necessity: fighting climate change in order to help protect public health in our communities.” Related: Evacuations ordered as Caldor Fire moves toward Lake Tahoe OCCHE plans to play a pivotal role in protecting  health  both in the U.S. and abroad. Its mandate includes identifying communities that face disproportionate exposur...

We’ve written about the  problems with single-use coffee pods  before — a majority of these little capsules end up in landfills and contribute to the world’s growing plastic pollution issues. There are plenty of alternatives, from  biodegradable  and compostable pods to refillable pods, but for coffee lovers reluctant to switch to sustainable alternatives, there’s the Cup Hero. Inventor Connor Feeney got the idea while watching his family make their morning cups of coffee using popular disposable coffee pods, and upon taking one apart discovered that the components were all either recyclable or compostable. At the same time, the process of separating the plastic , foil, and organic materials by hand was too difficult and messy to do on a regular basis. Armed with a masters degree in engineering from Northwestern University, Feeney designed the Cup Hero himself, later performing the marketing, intellectual property, distribution, and finance, as well.  Related...

Wind and Wellington, New Zealand go hand in hand. Finding an outdoor space with an escape from the constant wind became the primary goal when Spacecraft Architects began designing this home for a young family seeking shelter from the elements. Dubbed Finally a Court House, the centralized courtyard was the starting point for this roughly 80-square-meter home that features two bedrooms, main living areas, two separate conservatories and a studio, in addition to the court garden. Every room in the house faces the central courtyard, offering views through high-efficiency powder-coated aluminum windows with clear double glazing, which provide  natural light  throughout. In addition, the windows open to provide ventilation and passive solar heating. Related: Energy-efficient Wanaka Wedge House offers views of the Southern Alps The home offers a tight envelope and is highly insulated for energy efficiency. It’s placed on a thermally broken natural concrete slab that reduces he...

The e-bike industry is exploding around the world as people adopt the idea of an environmentally-friendly alternative for the daily commute and a way to enjoy the outdoors. Creative minds are introducing e-bike innovations such as energy generation from tire rotation and creative new body styles. Evie Bee, a woodworker, model maker and university student, has melded her passions into a unique and beautiful wooden e-bike she calls Electraply. Bee says, “The design of the bike was inspired by my love for the cafe racer and scrambler motorcycles of the past (the Great Escape anyone?) and the desire to honour and continue this iconic design through a modern interpretation.” She goes on to explain she has a “passion for sustainable design and combining modern manufacturing methods with traditional construction techniques.” Related: Blix Packa, the electric bike that wants to replace your car Electraply is composed predominantly of layers of sustainably sourced poplar ply, wh...

Over the weekend, evacuation warnings were issued to the residents of South Lake Tahoe as the Caldor Fire advanced. Additional evacuation orders now include El Dorado County. Toxic smoke clouds South Lake Tahoe, causing fear among locals and vacationers. On Friday, only 12% of the fire was contained. Continuously blowing winds escalated small spot fires , making containment more complex for firefighters. Despite the tough conditions, firefighters are working fast, aiming to prevent the fire from descending further. Related: California Caldor Fire destroys town, keeps raging “We’re trying to keep it west of the 89, and definitely trying to keep it from Lake Tahoe,” Rosie Smith, an assistant engine operator with the U.S. Forest Service, said. “It’s just the extreme fire behavior that we’ve had over the last few weeks has made it difficult for us really to get ahead of the thing.” The Caldor Fire started roughly two weeks ago and has expanded quickly despite firefighters’ best effo...

England has announced a planned ban on polystyrene cups and single-use plastic cutlery and plates. But frustrated activists say the government is moving way too slowly. This autumn, the English government will start coming up with a plan to curtail single-use plastic and polystyrene perhaps within a couple of years. Meanwhile, the  EU  banned these same items in July. Related: 4ocean and Poralu Marine present BeBot, the beach cleaning robot The English government has a firmer plan for a plastic packaging tax, which will go into effect in April 2022. Companies that use plastic with less than 30% recycled content will have to pay a tax of £200 per ton of plastic. This measure seeks to encourage the use of  recycled  material. “We’ve all seen the damage that plastic does to our  environment ,” said George Eustice, environment secretary, as reported by The Guardian. “It is right that we put in place measures that will tackle the plastic carelessly strewn across...

House Under Shadows is actually two houses, connected through  passive design  elements to provide efficient space for two families in a sustainable way. The structure is located in Karnal, Haryana, India, and was designed by Zero Energy Design Lab. The two separate houses each feature all the elements of comfortable housing with attention to net-zero features while honoring the culture of the area. In a press release, the architects reported, “the design was inspired by the proximity and architectural elements of a palatial hotel in Karnal – Noor Mahal’s ‘chowk’ and ‘chhatris’ which are elements derived from the traditional Indian ‘havelis.’” Related: The Cantilever House combats a hot climate with sustainable design The homes are oriented north to south to take advantage of natural sun and cooling in the North Indian climate. Glazed windows minimize heat and glare while allowing  natural light  and views. They also facilitate natural ventilation. A central ...

Do you want to live on Mars? There have been books and movies about what it might be like, but now there’s a Mars replication right on Earth, and it needs inhabitants to test out the environment. Advanced 3D-printing technology company ICON, known for delivering the first permitted 3D-printed home in the U.S. and providing the world’s first 3D-printed community of homes in Mexico, has now turned its efforts towards the Red Planet. Well, technically Mars Dune Alpha will sit at the NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. But it will be inhabited by everyday citizens in order to measure  food  requirements, physical reactions and mental performance in a trial run for the future of Mars living. Related: Nüwa, the design for a self-sustaining city on Mars   “This is the highest-fidelity simulated habitat ever constructed by humans. Mars Dune Alpha is intended to serve a very specific purpose–to prepare humans to live on another planet for a long, long time. We...