Category: Design

Biodegradable Plastic Packaging

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 Given the enormous volume of plastics that are polluting our oceans and sitting in landfills almost on a permanent basis, coming up with plastic packaging that’s convenient, inexpensive, and Earth-friendly is a huge positive development. The article features one person’s invention, then mentions others, as well.

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Margarita Talep develops

algae-based alternative to

single-use plastic packaging

 

Natashah Hitti

Dezeen

18 January 2019

 

Chile-based designer Margarita Talep has created a sustainable, biodegradable alternative to single-use packaging, using raw material extracted from algae.… Keep reading

OPEN OFFICE PLANS

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 Here’s an unusual piece of research that challenges the myth that open offices yield higher levels of communication and collaboration. In “Ye Olde days,” when most employees had their own office, the “Word” was that open office partitions led to greater collaboration and teamwork … and could allow a company greater flexibility to readily change layouts if the company were to grow or reorganize.

After a few years, people discovered that virtually no one ever changed the office layout. the flexibility myth died. … Keep reading

Smartphones & Energy

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Here’s an article about a way to save money – at a personal scale – while helping our planet … at a macro scale.

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Smartphones Are Killing The Planet

Faster Than Anyone

Expected

 Researchers are sounding the alarm after an analysis

showed that buying a new smartphone consumes as much

energy as using an existing phone for an entire decade.

 

By Mark Wilson

03.27.18

evidence

 

Before you upgrade your next iPhone, you may want to consider a $29 battery instead.… Keep reading

Great Streets

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Our physical environments can contribute mightily to the joy of sustainable living. Here are some excerpts from Allan Jacobs’ “Great Streets” – paraphrased, as necessary – that you may find helpful in enhancing your immediate or urban environment.

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 Guidelines for Great Streets

They are where you meet people – which is the reason for communities. It’s to be part of something that’s larger than oneself.  The interplay of human activity with the physical space has an enormous amount to do with the greatness of the street.… Keep reading

Tesla’s Solar Roof

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I enjoy the way in which Elon Musk is pushing the envelope, constantly exploring new ways to improve how we live. I’m not sure how his interstellar Mars-like explorations will play out, but I like the fact that he “walks the talk,” puts his money where his mouth is, and is actively “exploring possibilities.”

From a sustainability perspective, photovoltaic panels passed coal as the least expensive method for generating power. And driving electric cars is not only less expensive, but it’ll dramatically improve air quality (and reduce respiratory problems,) as well. … Keep reading