Cement Pet Houses That Double as Planters

Hi bloggers, we are sharing a really awesome post from Urban Gardens! thanks for sharing with ours your feedback.

Gotta say, I just love these lightweight cement dog and cat houses that double as planters from French company, Loft Dog. Even if you don’t one, almost makes you want to get a pet just to have one these.

Made of micro-concrete, with two coats of an ornamental coating for a polished effect. Weigin in at 5 kg or about 11 lbs, the critter homes are offered in a few styles…

Great for outdoors…

Or indoors…

I’d love the Cocoon, above, in the garden as they look a bit like rocks.

Loft Dog offers 5 bed design models, like this one above.

Designing in collaboration with a company that specializes in concrete technology, all the houses and beds are available in a range of colors, though I must say I still really like the natural cement color.

For the real cosmopolitan dog, the New York style skyscraper-inspired bed.

I might add a soft blankie inside to cushion the pet, but they are stylish, oh so stylish.

Lotus House of Michelle Kaufmann architect

5 Prefab Homes

1. WEEHOUSE

At just $125 per square foot, the WeeHouse is a single module that can be plopped on just about any site, including a rooftop. The basic unit is framed with steel and wood, and comes with tongue-and-groove bamboo flooring, and Ikea cabinetry, kitchens and sinks. Despite what the name implies, don’t let it size fool you- this is one awesome modern residence.

2. TINY TUMBLEWEED HOUSE

Founded on his personal philosophy and desire for low-impact living, Jay Shafer’s Tiny Tumbleweed House has represents what he calls “subtractive design,” rejecting typical spatial assumptions and opting for clarity through conscientious use of space. This tiny house ranges from 40-500 square feet and accommodates a whole slew of needs from home office to vacation home or full-time residence. They’re also road-ready for the ultimate nomadic portability.

3. SUSTAIN MINI HOME

The Sustain MiniHome is quite the compact green machine, packing a ton of green materials and technologies into a small but very livable space. No vinyl, formaldehyde, toxic adhesives or finishes, all water-based or plant oil-based finishes, FSC certification, natural ventilation… the list goes on and on. Not to mention, it’s portable, modern, and cutely compact!

4. LOFTCUBE

Not only is the LoftCube tiny, it can be strategically plopped on a rooftop so as to not consume any additional footprint. Especially in urban environments where there’s nowhere to go but up, LoftCube provides a small but clever solution to your housing needs. Built by Werner Aisslinger, LoftCube also boasts an affordable pricetag at just $55,000, and can be easily transported to your next rooftop location via helicopter.

5. MICROCOMPACT HOME

This tiny residential cube packs a highly-functional punch, providing a double bed, bathroom, lobby, dining space for 4-5 people, and state-of-the-art entertainment technology, all for just 50,000 Euros. And size-wise, it measures in at a tiny 2.65 m cubed (roughly 77 sq ft), but incorporates everything a person needs in a home in its super compact design.

Read more: Top 5 Tiniest Prefab Homes Weehouse – Inhabitat - Green Design Will Save the World

Ford EcoBoost Engine 2011

Ford announced it was cutting the amount of water used in vehicle production by 30% by 2015. While this environmental initiative is worth praise itself, in the past week, Ford has followed up this announcement with three more reasons why environmentalists may want to consider Ford’s eco friendly cars, before they settle on the Leaf, Spark, i, or Volt. Keep reading below to see how Ford is staying green in 2012.

1. Recycled and sustainable materials in vehicles

The newest edition of the Ford Escape is going to have its bolsters (inside parts of doors) made from Kenaf, a plant fiber similar to bamboo and related to cotton and okra, in place of what used to be made with oil-based resin. Not only is the raw material far more sustainable than what was previously used, it’s also lighter, amount to a reduction of 25% in the total weight of the door bolster. Lighter doors means less fuel is required to move the car, which in turn makes the vehicle more fuel efficient. And from an environmental standpoint, the use of kenaf in the bolster production will offset 300,000 lbs of oil-based resin every year in North America alone.

2. Tripling EcoBoost deployments

While it would be nice if everyone was ready to switch over and drive a hybrid or electric car, the fact is we aren’t there yet. So for those who are still buying vehicles powered by traditional fuel, Ford has something to appeal to your environmental side: a unique fuel efficient engine called the EcoBoost, which has so far been limited to a few models. However, in 2012 Ford is tripling the number of vehicles which will be shipped with EcoBoost technology, making a standard gasoline-fuelled car more fuel efficient by maximizing the amount of energy that’s produced from each drop of fuel. In other words, “the performance of a V8 with the fuel economy of a V6″.

3. An electric car and an award-winning plug-in hybrid

2012 will see Ford releasing the Focus Electric, complete with a home charging system and MyFord mobile app to monitor your eco-friendly car’s performance and battery life. The new electric car will also feature seats made with 100% recycled materials. The 2012 Ford Focus Electric will be out later this year and priced at around $40,000 before taking advantage of Federal Tax Credits ($7,500 for electric cars).

This year, Ford is also releasing a plug-in hybrid vehicle, the C-Max Energi, which just received Green Car Journal’s 2012 Green Car Vision Award. The C-Max Energi (pictured in the header banner) is Ford’s first foray into the plug-in hybrid market, but for a late bloomer the car is expected to be released with a range of 500 miles. The C-Max Energi is being released later this year, and although Ford has yet to announce pricing for the car, it’s being estimated between $35,000 and $40,000

Read originaly from: www.greenerideal.com/vehicles/8769-vehicles/ford-eco-friendly-cars-2012/

EcoFabulous Construction

Eco Friendly Architecture

Green building and solar energy

Passive solar homes in which solar energy is used through photovoltaic and active solar techniques. Green building architects use recycled materials such as bricks, tiles, woods and bamboos. Gravel that is properly packed is used instead of concrete in parking lots which replenishes ground water resources. It helps to protect natural resources such as energy, land and water.

Materials used for buildings

The materials used for the constructions should be appropriate. Building constructions should consist mainly of wood as it is eco friendly and the least amount of energy is used. Eco friendly architecture should have provisions for ground water recharge and rain water harvesting. The use of cement, steel and aluminum are replaced by natural elements. The main point on which green architecture focuses on is to maintain harmony with the features and resources that surrounds the building. The building is generally surrounded with greenery so that fresh oxygen circulates freely in the air. It also aims in improving the productivity of employees, to protect the health of people living around, reducing air and water pollution and also to reduce land degradation. Insulated concrete and panels, straw bales are also considered to be ecologically friendly and hence are also used. The main thing that helps to create such building is the design. The designs that are used to construct buildings should harvest water, light and air. Terrace garden or aqua house can be constructed at the roof to provide a cooling effect to the house. Gardens can be decorated with small pebbles and various other plants to give the house a touch of greenery. Provisions for generating electricity through solar energy are also an important necessity. Aluminum produces a lot of pollution and therefore it should be totally avoided.

Read Original: protectearth.net

See our next publication. You can see a video about EcoFabulous Construction

Power Plant to Amusement Park

If an abandoned nuclear power plant doesn’t sound like a fun place to spend an afternoon with the family, you clearly have never visited Wunderland Kalkar. The unusual German amusement park was built in what was once intended to be a nuclear power station, turning a potential environmental hazard into a family-friendly attraction that brings hundreds of thousands of visitors to the town each year.

Construction was started in 1972 but protesters, worried about the effects of nuclear power, halted the project for more than a decade. The plant was finally completed at a cost of around $4 billion, but thanks to ongoing political debate and funding problems it would never actually provide power to Kalkar and surrounding areas. In 1991 the project was officially abandoned.

In 1995 the property was purchased by Dutch entrepreneur Hennie van der Most who has a knack for turning old industrial properties into something new and fantastic. Since the power plant was never actually put into use, there are no health concerns or environmental issues for visitors to worry about. Instead, they can ride the exciting rides and be happy to know that they are supporting the environmentally-sound concept of adaptive reuse.

(all images via: Wunderland Kalkar)

The amusement park even uses some of the unique power plant features in its new overall design.

Read original: Nuclear Family Fun: Power Plant to Amusement Park?!

Vertical Parking Lots

Urban centers may benefit greatly if more commuters started using bikes instead of cars, but the problem of where to put those bikes is a somewhat difficult one. Public bike racks take up space that is often in high demand – but this concept would solve that problem by using the spaces that normally go unused.

The concept is ingenious in its simplicity: it is a human-powered revolving rack that can hold up to 36 bikes at a time. Riders attach their bikes to an empty space on the rack, then when they are ready to leave they hop on the human power generator (a small stationary bike) to move their own bike around to the bottom position. Then they just grab it and go – simple, clean, and even healthy.

(all images via: ArchDaily)

Read More: Vertical Parking Lots: Brilliant Urban Bike Hanger System

Smartphone Apps That Will Help You Save Energy

1. iPhone Energy UFO : Visible Energy’s iPhone app works in tandem with the Visible Energy UFO Power Center (a series of four smart power strips installed at home) to provide on-the-go visual feedback of electricity consumption and cost. In addition to providing information on the power usage of each power strip, the app also shows energy costs and gives users the option to turn outlets on and off on a daily schedule. It’s cheaper than installing an entire home energy management system.

2. Control4 Mobile Navigator: This home energy app, available for the iPhone, Blackberry, and Android, allows users to control everything from security, lighting, and temperature to music and video. The app is similar to Wiser’s offering. iPad users can also download a separate Control4 app.

3. MeterRead: This handy iPhone app lets you read your electricity meter using your phone. Each time you check it, the app tell you how many kilowatt hours (kWh) of power were used since the last read. That information can then be used to predict your total energy usage over the next 30 days.

4. Wiser: Anyone who owns a Wiser Home Control energy management system would be wise to download the iPhone app, which provides a 3G or wireless connection to your system. That means everything from lighting to security, climate and even camera monitoring can be controlled from your phone. So if you, for example, forgot to turn off the lights in the living room, you can just click them off remotely using the app.

5. SunPower Monitoring System: SunPower’s innovative Solar Electric Home Energy Management System lets you monitor energy produced from SunPower-branded solar systems in real time. The iPhone app offers statistics on the lifetime energy generation of the panels as well as daily production, usage, and net energy use.

Read more: 5 Smartphone Apps That Will Help You Save Energy | Inhabitat - Green Design Will Save the World

6 Green Easy Gifts For Valentine’s Day

You can do green gifts for your girlfriend, boyfriend, husband or wife. Only need imagination. These picture are green gifts example. !go ahead!

Original post: 6 Super Easy DIY Gifts For Your Valentine’s Day Sweetie

Picture: ecoture and inabitad

Tires are 100% Recyclable

Bridgestone recently unveiled an airless tire of its own at the Tokyo Motor Show. Bridgestone’s air-free concept is supported by a mesh of spokes that are made of thermoplastic resin. The material is flexible and durable, and best of all, it’s 100-percent recyclable!

Read more: Bridgestone's New Air-Free Tires are 100% Recyclable | Inhabitat - Green Design Will Save the World

Bridgestone’s pavilion " Future Seed"

Images © Phuttipan Aswakool and Luke Yeung

After the floods in 2011, Thailand has been rebuilding, and the BOI Fair is part of a larger effort to encourage those efforts and restore economic and public confidence. Bridgestone’s theme is “Going Green For the Future” with the goal of showcasing environmentally friendly technologies, materials and products that can help Thailand recover and grow in a more sustainable way.

The pavilion, named “Future Seed,” refers to Bridgestone’s high performance products and technologies as well as their company commitment to sustainability. The exhibition design is by DesignLAB and construction is coordinated by Pico.

Read the original here: Bridgestone Pavilion Showcases Innovative Eco Technologies at Green Fair in Bangkok

7 Ways Your Web Hosting Company Can Help You Go Green

The OurChurch.Com case study:
While the environmental movement is most often identified with the political left, care for God’s creation has become a mainstream issue important to many Christians.  According to Catalyst  Leadership Digital Magazine:
“90% of evangelicals (as well as 62% of mainline Protestants and 52% of Catholics) would like to see fellow Christians take a more active role in caring for creation in a biblical way.”
“45% of evangelicals report making environmentally conscious life-style changes in the past year.”
With that in mind there are a number of ways your web hosting company can help your organization take better care of God’s creation.

1) Send an eNewsletter – If your organization prints and mails a paper newsletter, consider switching to an electronic newsletter.  This will save lots of paper and ink.  If you mail your newsletters, it will save lots of postage as well.  If you think some people will resist an eNewsletter, give people the option to continue receiving the paper version.   Even if some people still opt for the paper version, you’ll still cut your paper use by half.

2) Print teasers, post stories – If you do print a weekly bulletin, program, or newsletter and believe it’s absolutely essential to continue it, you could reduce your printing needs by only putting essential information or teasers in the print form and referring people to your website for more information or the rest of the story.

3) Set-up an eStore – If you are a local retailer, setting up ecommerce on your website not only makes good business sense, but it can help the environment as well.  It saves people a trip to your store, which cuts down on auto pollutants.

4) Opt for electronic invoices – If you receive paper invoices for web services, see if your host gives you the option for invoicing by email or automated billing.  OurChurch.com has led the way on this as we’ve been doing electronic invoices exclusively since our inception 12 years ago.

5) Chose SEO over direct mail – If you do any direct mail marketing, have you ever considered how much paper waste that generates?  And with postage and printing rates rising and response rates falling, direct mail doesn’t yield the return it used to.  Doing search engine optimization (SEO) for your website so it rankings in the top 10 for your targeted keywords, can bring better results and is 100% environmentally friendly.

6) Get a new website instead of a Yellow Pages ad – An estimated 540 million phone books weighing on average 3.62 points are printed every year.  That’s nearly 1 million tons of paper.  It takes 24 million trees and 380 million gallons of oil to produce all those phone books.  What’s worse is that most people hardly ever use them anymore.  Most people search online instead of searching the Yellow Pages.  If you have purchased ads in the Yellow Pages in the past, consider investing that money in a new website, which requires no trees or oil to produce and will probably give you a better return on your investment.

7) Choose a green hosting company – When looking for a web hosting company usually things like cost, disk space, and customer service ratings are a top the list of criteria, but have you considered how green your web host is?  Some web hosting companies use renewable energy.  Others allow their staff to work telecommute.  In fact, we estimate that OurChurch.Com prevents about 50,000 pounds of CO2 emissions each year by allowing our staff to work from home offices.

The great thing about theses options is that most of them will not only help save the environment but they’ll also help save you money.
What are you thoughts on these green options?  Got any other ways your website or web hosting company can help you go green?