Does the world, or your library, need another countertop material? Actually, yes when one as terrific as ECO comes along. I first saw it installed in a green showhouse and was wowed by its looks – an almost pure white polished surface – just one of 10 colorways.

But looks, as we know, are skin deep. ECO’s real story is deeply green and a compelling example of corporate commitment to environmental excellence.

Its green attributes begin with the raw materials. 75 percent are derived from post industrial or post consumer recycled materials: mirrors salvaged from houses, building and factories; glass from windshields, windows and bottles; gr...Read More

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As a kid, I would have gone gaga over this OFFI Spaceframe Builder's Kit, which is on sale right now (half off!) via Design Public. The building block system is made from recycled soda bottles to form rigid felt-ish building modules. They can be combined in any number of ways to create space ships, houses, dinosaurs and more. Perfect for your little budding architect, or maybe also for the corner of your home office. $99 at Design Public.

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DESIGN 21, the Social Design Network's mission is to “inspire social activism through design. It connects people who want to explore ways design can positively impact our many worlds, and who want to create change here, now.”

It believes in using the power of good design for greater purpose.

“We believe the real beauty of design lies in its potential to improve life…that each step in the design process is a choice that ripples out into our communities, our world and our lives. These choices are the result of informed ideas, greater awareness, larger conversations and, most importantly, the desire to do good. Social design is...Read More

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I'm not entirely sure if this qualifies as green, but I certainly think it deserves the title of Good Design. Designer Scott Amron has designed a "master key" that put all the others to shame. The Split-Ring-Key combines the key ring with the key itself, leaving us all thinking "why didn't we think of this before?" With the Split-Ring-Key, Scott commands "carry your keys on your other key!" The key blank, $3.50 each, can be cut by any key cutter to fit KW1 or SC1 keyways.

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Though just in concept phase right now, Che Pablo Popeye's "Start It Up" furniture kit seems to be the perfect answer for college dorms and cramped home offices. Made from only one material, honeycomb cardboard, Start It Up unfolds into a chair, a table, and wardrobe, all in a simple flat-pack style. All of the panels slot together without the need for hardware. Check out more of Che's work here.

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Today’s post was written by a guest blogger, Michele LeTourneur, IIDA, LEED
AP, Project Director at Envision Design, a LEED-CI Gold certified office. Michele has worked on 10 LEED-CI projects, including two Platinum certified projects.



So why is it so noisy in here and why aren’t you doing something about it?

Until USGBC created an acoustics credit for LEED for Schools, the field of acoustics had largely been ignored by the rating systems.  Even now, LEED for Schools remains the only rating system to address acoustics as a part of indoor environmental quality.

The IEQ credits address many open ...Read More

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From the always quippy Dutch Design camp, Erik De Nijs' latest furniture concept is inspired by tired travelers. The Suited Case "sofa" turns functional suitcases into comfortable lounge space. "The ‘suited case’ is a project which is inspired on the idea of people waiting during their trip. People often go and rest sitting on their suitcases, that is the starting point of this design," says Erik. Instead of taking old suitcases and conforming them into a seat, Erik began by reimagining the suitcase itself, in essence creating a two-in-one rede...Read More

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How many of you design airplanes? Not many, I suspect, and those that do aren’t likely paying a lot of attention to environmental issues. Airplanes have a terrible environmental reputation, deservedly so. As the least energy-efficient mode of travel, they spew a huge amount of carbons emissions and provide we the passengers with lousy interior air.

However, last week Southwest Airlines announced the debut of its “green plane” with environmentally friendly interior materials. Straight from the press release:

...Read More

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Designer Efecem Kutuk has come up with a concept for a folding chair that emerges out of a single sheet of plywoood- the designer's "Sheetseat" can be cut from a 3/4" inch, 4x8-foot sheet of plywood with almost no wasted material. The flat-pack seating is so thin, it can be slid underneath a door, and stored in the tightest spaces.

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This past week at the PopTech conference in Maine, Timbuk2 launched the latest solar bag, this time with a socially-conscious twist. The FLAP bag—Flexible Light and Power- is a partnership with Kennedy & Violich Architects (of the Portable Light Project), Timbuk2, and PopTech, to provide not just a bag, but mobile power and light using the durable materials Timbuk2 are known for. The built-in flexible solar panels charge during the day as you walk, then the flap detaches to reveal a refletive inside surface that, when curved around itself, throws glowing light arou...Read More

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Trend USA is a luxury brand of mosaic tile that has made a tremendous commitment to sustainability. According to CEO Andrea Di Giuseppe, "We have been rigorous in our efforts to innovate glass production and use post consumer recycled glass whenever possible. "

All of this is easily verifiable on Trend’s excellent sustainability website. It is chock full of information about the company - for example, an ongoing external assessment of life cycle of its products - but also green definitions and certifications. In August Trend Q, manufa...Read More

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Though the infamous International Contemporary Furniture Fair is still months away, their open competitions have begun! As a previous winner of the Design Schools' exhibition competition (with my team of colleagues from the School of the Art Institute), I can personally attest to the competition's valuable experience and rigor. The ICFF Studio has partnered with Bernhardt to invite designers to submit prototypes of products in any of the ICFF exhibition categories (the winners will display their prototypes at ICFF). More info here. Secondly, the Design Schools competition asks stu...Read More

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