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said: "The solution to energy problems and climate change will be in many various alternative fuels, each with a smaller piece of the pie than petroleum h..." [read]

M.Aloisius said: "Actually if you're talking about thermal efficiency, there are gas turbines that can push 60% efficiency when waste heat is recovered to run a stea..." [read]

maxgladwell said: "Yeah, good post. http://www.maxgladwell.com/2008/06/green-search-more-than-just-a-query-part-i/..." [read]

Anthony said: "Cool. Now this is an intelligent move for any company that can afford the initial investment. I assume the 12MW is the peak power output the system..." [read]

Anthony said: "Just because someone is a scientist doesn't mean they are right. It means they are more likely to be right about particular questions in their fiel..." [read]

Exothermic Reaction said: "Before the NRC and DOE were infiltrated by anti-nuke environmental activists, they put out a book on how Thorium could be used as the perfect nucle..." [read]

Save 70% on Electricity and See the Results with Smart USB-programmable Power Strip

by Christine Lepisto, Berlin on 06.25.08
Design & Architecture

checktap power monitor strip image

The problem of phantom power -- the energy used by appliances doing nothing but standing by -- has earned a slew of solutions, of increasing sophistication. New to the list of options is CheckTap, which won the Grand Prix of the 2008 International Exhibition of Inventions of Geneva. CheckTap supports a USB link to your computer, so that the management of all peripherals can be optimized to the needs of the individual user.

Read more: Save 70% on Electricity and See the Results with Smart USB-programmable Power Strip

AFH UK to Build FareShare's Training Centre in London

by Leonora Oppenheim, London, UK on 04. 8.08
Design & Architecture

AFHUK-Fareshare.jpg

After recently telling you about a past project by AFH UK, the Arnica Drying Factory in Romania, we now bring you news of their latest voluntary design scheme that goes on site in London any day now. A multidisciplinary design team has been working with the national charity FareShare, since May last year, on their new training centre in Bermondsey in London and now the fruits of their labours are soon to put to good use. FareShare works to redistribute surplus food to disadvantaged and vunerable people around the UK.

Read more: AFH UK to Build FareShare's Training Centre in London

BuyGreen: Desks and Workstations

by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 03.14.08
Design & Architecture

Buy Green Desks and Workstations

The right desk is an essential part to any green workplace; it has a small footprint, so it doesn't take up too much space; its just the right size to allow you to spread out, without getting cluttered; and it has a place for everything you need, so you can stay organized. And, while the greenest desk is the one you already have, there may come a time where we all need to find a new place to put your laptop or desktop computer.

The desks you'll find here are all designed with the environment in mind, whether they employ responsibly-harvested wood, use non-toxic finishes that won't dirty your workspace's air, exercise really great design ideas that just use less stuff, or all of the above. Each is designed for longevity -- whether through super-sturdy materials or easily replaceable parts -- so it's likely that any on the list will be the last one you'll have to buy for a very, very long time. Hit the jump to get started...

Read more: BuyGreen: Desks and Workstations

Bloxes: Modular Cardboard Furnishings for the Office

by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 03.10.08
Design & Architecture

Bloxes: flat-pack cardboard boxes

Combining a handful of TreeHugger's favorite things, Bloxes are modular boxes built from flat-packed corrugated cardboard cutouts that can be used for everything from office furniture to modular walls. Inspired by LEGOs and utilizing some of the lessons you learned in high school geometry, Bloxes earn points for their smart, flat-packing design, modular construction and movability and surprising strength -- you can sit or even stand on the finished product.

Read more: Bloxes: Modular Cardboard Furnishings for the Office

Trunk Station: Home Office on Wheels

by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 02.29.08
Design & Architecture

trunk-station-office-workspace-in-use.jpg

For telecommuters and self-employed home-office dwellers (not to mention bloggers) who don't have the luxury of a dedicated home office, having a suitable space to work that isn't a desk next to your bed can be tricky. It's important to have space dedicated to work, or at least somewhere to easily stash your stuff if your dining table or sofa doubles as your home office.

Straight from Japan, the Trunk Station fills both needs, creating a little half-cube and enough space to work on a computer, store some files and other useful stuff you'll need to get from 9 to 5; when your workday is through, fold it up and roll it away, out of sight and out of mind. Vaguely reminiscent -- and probably more practical -- than the Design Pod, we aren't sure if we're crazy about the idea of having a home cubicle, but we think there'd be something very satisfying about literally closing up shop at the end of the day. What do you think -- would you work in the Trunk Station? Check out more pics -- what it looks like closed, empty, and few renderings -- after the jump. ::Caina (Japanese) via ::Unpluggd

Read more: Trunk Station: Home Office on Wheels

It Slices, It Dices: Smith Storage & Stool by Jonathan Olivares

by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 01.14.08
Design & Architecture

jonathan-olivares-smith-stool-storage.jpg

Just as "Smith" the surname has many uses (as the most-employed in the US, UK, Australia and New Zealand) as a family name, "Smith" the storage and stool has many uses around the house. Designed to have seven different functions, the utilitarian piece offers bookshelf-like interior storage space, a surface for sitting or use as a tabletop and casters for easy moving between various home and workspace-related uses.

With so many possibilities, it's ultimately up to the user to define what Smith fits best; we think it'd work pretty well for a handful of different things, and can probably be the less to your current more. Available at Nova68 via ::Better Living Through Design

Design Pod: All Your Home Office Needs, Now in a Convenient Pod

by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 01.10.08
Design & Architecture

design-pod-home-office.jpg

Bloggers, telecommuters and self-employed home-office dwellers, have we got something for you: the Design Pod, a complete home office that wraps up in a tidy little pod when not in use. Designed by Australia-based Andrew Maynard Architects, the sleek, self-contained office-on-wheels unfolds to reveal a chair, desk and storage space; when the clock strikes 5, everything goes back and you can use the pod to set your martini on.

Not for the claustrophobic, and more interesting concept than entirely practical idea, we love the idea that your home office can be so compact and self-contained, and truly be "put away" when you aren't working. Hit the jump to see the pod in various stages of function. ::Andrew Maynard Architects via ::The Design Blog

Read more: Design Pod: All Your Home Office Needs, Now in a Convenient Pod

Verdant Vocations: A Dentist?

by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 01. 7.08
Design & Architecture

Verdant-Dentist.jpg

Here’s the first in a series of posts about that third of our day spent beavering away at our chosen craft.

[Verdant: green, lush, rich. Vocation: calling, life's work, mission, purpose, function; profession, occupation, career, job, employment, trade, business, line, line of work, métier.]

A Green Dentist might :
1. buy Green Power to run their surgery
2. promote the use of replaceable head tooth brushes
3. email customers their invoice rather than printing them
4. advise customers of 'composite resin' as an alternative to mercury-based
amalgam fillings
5. install energy saving compact fluorescent and LED lighting where
appropriate
6. use natural ingredient mouthwashes in the surgery
7. employ low volatile organic compound (VOC) paints when refurbishing surgery and reception rooms
8. advise customers of the nearest public transport stops or bikeways
9. adhere strictly to government regulations for the safe disposal of waste mercury
10. have copies of quick-to-read Dr Seuss' The Lorax in the waiting room.

Read more: Verdant Vocations: A Dentist?
We'll be working on better category archives soon. In the meantime, take a look at the weekly archive if you really want to dig around, or use the search box at the top of the page.

TreeHugger breaks it down for you in a series of in depth how-to articles that will help you green your life. No time like the present!

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