The world should have known that the spawn of Jef Raskin, the “father” of the Macintosh computer, would one day revolutionize a genre of his own – office furniture. Enter the Bloxe, interlocking pieces of cardboard that click together like a life-size lego set to form walls, benches and tables. Aside from its green credentials (far superior to the toxic particle board that most office furniture is made of), the air spaces within the Bloxes help to dampen sound, so you won’t ever have to hear your cubicle mate fighting with her fiancee again! Plus the assemble process looks like a bit of fun if you are mechanically inclined.
Via: Green Tech Blog
After lagging behind almost every other major design industry trade organization, the American Institute of Architects has finally announced their own comprehensive sustainability initiative, “Walk the Walk.” While I like the idea of encouraging architects to “Walk the Walk” instead of talking the talk so much (as all you architects out there know we do too often), I think that the tag line “Architects Leading the Sustainable Evolution” is straight up revisionist history. Climatologists, physicists, engineers, industrial designers, and even interior designers led this charge. Us architects are just bringing up the rear, despite the fact that our buildings account for almost 50% of harmful emissions globally.
Much of the information found on their new site is aggregated from diverse sources, including the USGBC and AIA’s own Committee on the Environment (COTE), arguably far better clearing houses for green building information. I was hoping that there would be more resources here that address the number one objection to building green – the cost. While a hard number or percentage is difficult to come by, even for one specific green building project, a benchmark for building types, perhaps based on a large and comprehensive survey, is sorely needed. Colloquial knowledge suggests that the markup for a LEED building at the certified, or even silver level, could be zero. I would love to have data on hand to back this up, as would most architects when faced with this question from potential clients almost daily. AIA where are you? Leave the ambitious emissions targets to the engineers for a moment and lets get some more clients invested in the green buildings process to begin with.
Visit the AIA website for more information.
From the controversial musician Rufus Wainwright comes an evening to remember – on June 21st, from 12pm to 12am, a “Blackout Sabbath.” This would be 12 hours spent by you, and whomever you think you could tolerate for 12 straight hours, without your TV, cellphone, computer, air conditioning or even lights, no electricity use at all. Suggestions for activities include making a list of things that you could do in the coming year to help the environment. I think I might try a picnic. This idea not only resonates with me for sustainable reasons, but because I remember the East Coast blackout and the fun was had without the distractions of electricity. I remember how lovely and quiet and truly dark it was at night! The Blackout Sabbath also recalls the true meaning of the Sabbath, to rest, and to give our busy gadgets that are such extensions of ourselves a break as well. Mark your calendars.
