In 2010, the London Olympic Authority announced plans to make the London 2012 Olympics the "Greenest Olympics ever" by ensuring that they were fully sustainable and carbon neutral. Now two years later, controversy has arisen over whether or not the 2012 Olympics will be able to fully live up to these goals. Read on for 6 ways that this year's summer games have failed to be 'The Green Olympics'.

 

Read More >

1 email thisemail this facebook this facebook this

What if something as simple as an old plastic bottle filled with water could mean the difference between light and darkness? Rudimentary as it may sound, the almost no-cost solution is uplifting the quality of life of thousands of impoverished families in the Philippines who have no access to electricity and use dangerous kerosene lamps indoors. These makeshift solar lamps basically act as skylights, and reflect and amplify the rays of the sun during daylight hours – effectively performing the work of indoor lightbulbs – but without using any electricity at all. The organization behind the installation of the bottle lights, Isang Litrong Liwanag or 1 Liter of Light, was started by Filipino student Illac Diaz just a few years ago but their cause has inspired so many that now they’ve committed to a goal of placing 1,000,000 bottle lights in Filipino households. Read on to see how 1 Liter of Light has energized the people of its country to participate in lighting the way for their own future through this fascinating initiative.

This content series is brought to you in partnership with smartwater. smartwater, good taste travels well. To learn more click here.

Read More >

19 email thisemail this facebook this facebook this

 

 

The 2012 London Olympics could very well be the most sustainable Summer Games on record. Critics may be quick to highlight such sponsors as BP and Dow Chemical, and the creation of the world’s largest McDonald’s (albeit a temporary one), not to mention strange moments such as London Mayor Boris Johnson's move to manipulate pollution levels using dodgy chemicals. Nevertheless, no Olympic organizers have worked harder to make this massive event more environmentally responsible than London 2012. That commitment has carried over to many of the Games’ buildings, including the main Olympic Stadium, the lightest ever built. The 80,000 seat stadium boasts a bevy of sustainable construction features, including rainwater harvesting, a fabric roof and interesting choices in recycled materials. With no disrespect to the Game’s focal point, we here at Inhabitat have come up with what we believe are the six greenest buildings built for the 2012 London Olympics.

 

Read More >

2 email thisemail this facebook this facebook this

 

 

You've probably heard by now that the much-hyped light bulb phase-out begins this fall in the United States, which means it's high time to switch out any old energy-guzzling incandescent light bulbs you have for more energy-efficient options. Not sure which energy efficient light bulbs are best for you and your sophisticated design sensibility? Don't reach for that CFL bulb just yet! Light-emitting diode (LED) technology has advanced considerably over the past few years in terms of efficiency, durability, and appearance, which means today’s LED light bulbs are hands-down the best choice for design-savvy consumers who want to save money on their energy bill without sacrificing light quality or aesthetics. And because LED bulbs last up to 22 years, not only do you not have to worry about changing the bulb constantly and fiddling with your lamps – you’ll also save additional money from not having to buy new bulbs every year.

Wondering what types of lamps work best with the new generation of LED light bulbs? We’ve rounded up 24 of our favorite green, designer lamps that go well with low energy LED bulbs. From dramatic ceiling lamps and chandeliers, to floor lamps, task lamps and table lamps, read on for our top green lighting fixtures.

 

Read More >

14 email thisemail this facebook this facebook this

Food and fashion are two of the world’s greatest indulgences, and it was only a matter of time before those culinary and haute couture creatives found a way to fuse the two fields into one delectable idea. A new generation of fashion designers is looking to food and cooking for fresh ideas on how to fabricate fashionable and sustainable wares without using traditional textiles. See some of our favorite designs ahead. They’re good enough to eat — literally!

READ MORE >

0 email thisemail this facebook this facebook this

Memorial Day — the unofficial start of summer in the US — is behind us, and that means longer days and brighter sunshine in the coming months. When shopping for new sunglasses, there are a couple of important factors to take into account: A good pair of shades should protect your eyes from harmful UV rays, they should look cool, and they should also look out for the planet. Beginning with the “Malibu Tortoise” ($85) by Woodwear (pictured), we’ve rounded up our top 14 favorite green sunglasses of the season. Head over to Ecouterre to take a peek at them all.

READ MORE >

0 email thisemail this facebook this facebook this

 

 

Completed a full year in advance, the groundbreaking 2011 London Olympics Basketball Stadium is designed to be deconstructed and recycled. Every four years thousands of spectators converge on a lucky country pre-determined to be the best host for that year's Olympic Games, and until now, that privilege has been bestowed mostly on countries who could afford the mammoth building projects necessary to accommodate the throng. This could change with the innovative white-clad, recyclable basketball stadium, which was designed jointly by Sinclair Knight Merz, Wilkinson Eyre and KSS.

 

Read More >

7 email thisemail this facebook this facebook this

 

 

Many people dream of building their own home, but few actually bring that dream to fruition. If you're looking for some DIY inspiration, look no further than this post -- Inhabitat writer Rachel Ross proves that building a beautiful, healthy and sustainable abode is well within your reach. Rachel, who is a design consultant and co-owner of Mandala Homes, worked with her husband on creating not one, but a series of sustainable and ENERGY STAR rated yurts that fully embrace their beautiful wooded site located in Nelson, B.C., Canada! Jump ahead for Rachel's first-hand account detailing both the process and design, and get motivated to get your own yurt going!

 

Read More >

14 email thisemail this facebook this facebook this

 

 

After six years of planning, preparation and construction, London's Olympic Park is almost ready to host its first non-athlete visitors. The £7 billion Olympic Park contains several of the 2012 Games' biggest sporting venues, including the Olympic Stadium and the Zaha Hadid-designed Aquatics Centre, as well as the Olympic Village. And towering over the Olympic Park is Anish Kapoor's controversial ArcelorMittal Orbit observation tower, which is made from recycled steel and has received mixed reviews from observers. On Friday, the Opening Ceremony will mark the start of the 2012 Summer Olympics, and visitors will get their first look at the Olympic Park.

 

Read More >

1 email thisemail this facebook this facebook this

 

 

A forest of book-bearing trees has sprouted up on the streets of Prenzlauer Berg in Berlin! The program, called Forest Books by BauFachFrau, is part of the BookCrossing book swap club, which brings free books to public spaces around the globe. Neighborhood residents are welcome to leave a book they loved, or take one from the plastic protected hutches cut into the tree trunks.

 

Read More >

1 email thisemail this facebook this facebook this

If you haven’t tried pairing neons and prints yet, now’s the perfect time to finish off the summer season with a bang – sustainably, of course. Our in-house stylists have put together 6 neon and print-mixing eco-friendly outfits for your inspiration, along with some fail-proof tips, so you don’t have to worry about botching this brazen look!

READ MORE >

0 email thisemail this facebook this facebook this

 

 

Until 50 years ago, traveling by train was the definitive way to travel - in their heyday, railways represented the freedom and glamour of what is now fondly remembered as the Golden Age. That era has now sadly passed, and though train travel is enjoying a renaissance, many train stations have fallen into disrepair. But where some people see ruin, others see opportunity. And the romance of the railway is far from forgotten. Around the world, arches, tunnels and waiting rooms have struck a chord with creatives who see these urban spaces as perfect spots for upcycling and adaptive reuse. We’ve combed the globe for some of the best examples of renovated train stations - read on for our favorites!

 

Anila is editor-at-large at Loco2, a small company mad enough to tackle the complexities of European rail by making online ticket booking more accessible, giving expert advice in the Engine Room forum and generally waxing lyrical about the joys of train travel. You can follow Anila and Loco2 on Twitter, should the whim take you!

Read More >

1 email thisemail this facebook this facebook this