Lloyd Alter
Lloyd Alter is managing editor of TreeHugger and editor of the Design section. He has been an architect, developer, inventor and prefab promoter. He now writes for green websites TreeHugger and Planet Green, and teaches sustainable design at Ryerson University School of Interior Design.
In the course of his work developing small residential units and prefabs, Lloyd became convinced that we just use too much of everything- too much space, too much land, too much food, too much fuel, too much money, and that the key to sustainability is to simply use less. And, the key to happily using less is to design things better.
Concerns about uncontrolled demolition and development led to a passion for historic buildings and neighbourhoods, so Lloyd got involved in the local preservation movement and served as President of theArchitectural Conservancy of Ontario from 2009 to 2011.
Latest Stories from Lloyd Alter
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Composting toilets are coming home
It's about time that we stopped wasting drinking water to flush away our waste; Allison Bailes did it and isn't complaining.
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Alex Wilson calls Bullitt Center "one of the most important commercial buildings of the past 50 years"
The BuildingGreen founder says it is " almost certainly the greenest office building in America if not the world."
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Micro House is designed to be stacked and packed
Studio Liu Lubin designs a housing unit that is transportable and stacks up like a 3D Tetris game.
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Shake is a Porta-potty for dogs
As people move into smaller spaces, dealing with dog waste can be a problem. Modko's latest design can help.
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Sweeping up at ICFF
A look at at some of the best and worst of the International Contemporary Furniture Fair
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How does the Trapeze Lamp actually work?
It's all in the really slick conductive ball joint, which lets it rotate completely around and around.
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Designing for Disaster: Which is better, modular or shipping container?
Another look at the question of what is the best way to build good housing in a hurry.
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Young designers impress at ICFF
Between the Designboom Mart, the Bernhardt Design exhibitors and the student work, young designers give ICFF its spark.
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The milk crate gets a makeover by Combo Colab
They turn the classic box into a modular furniture system at the Design Mart at ICFF
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Prefab lifeguard and comfort stations on New York beaches will open by Memorial Day
They have done in five months what normally times four years, in a process that should be a model for how it's done.
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Weaver steals show at ICFF
Sitting in the middle of the vast space, he demonstrates the traditional art of African weaving
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Old is new again with Russel Wright and Mel Smilow as we add another R to our list: Reissue
Classic Mid-Century modern designs are back at ICFF.
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Flat-packs from Parsons are designed for shipping
They all fit in standard UPS boxes or tubes
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Happy Eightieth Birthday, Tennessee Valley Authority
It may be old, dirty and coal powered now, but it was once a vision of a brighter future, was a giant stimulus project and helped win WWII.
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LEED Bashing: Plastic People trying to slip "Trojan Horse" amendments to gut LEED certification
Big Chem never misses a chance to try and keep plastics in green building.
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Should cyclists be able to do the "Idaho Stop"?
Should different rules apply to different modes of transport? "We have laws for dog licensing. Should parakeets have to wear a little collar with a tiny tag?"
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The Grow Home is back with these flatpack houses for Dutch first-time homebuyers
It's an old idea that keeps coming back, and just gets better with time: A house that adapts as your family changes
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Stair of the Week: The Glass House by AR Design Studio
Modern architectural stairs don't have to be deathtraps.
