“This building puts 4,450 households on two acres and it is actually designed with energy conservation in mind. By going huge they are getting tremendous manufacturing efficiencies; by going vertical they get the kind of repetition that makes it affordable. By going half a mile high and 220 stories they are going to get noticed.”

That is Lloyd Alter describing the sustainable case for what will be the world’s tallest building. See more pictures and a video here: One Building, One City: World’s tallest prefab, Sky City, is breaking ground in June

dishingdirty:

I’m tense because my boss uses disposable coffee cups in my presence. 

Loving this new series of retro-inspired posters about green living from Abes Market!

A recent study estimates how much fish China’s distant-water fleet has been catching around the world. During that decade to 2011, China has reported to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations an average yearly overseas catch of 368,000 tonnes. The actual numbers, according to the authors of the study who did detective work around the world, are closer to 4.6 million tonnes a year, over 12 times (!!!) the reported amount. Enough to make a big difference in the health of global fisheries, and enough to make any models of those fisheries significantly off.

Via China is overfishing its official catch number by 12x (!!!), report shows

I am celebrating Earth Hour this year not because it saves a whole lot of energy; I will admit that one hour doesn’t make a whole lot of difference and that driving to an Earth Hour event across town might be counterproductive. I am celebrating Earth Hour to stand up against negativity. To stand with millions around the world in a visible demonstration that we actually care about the planet, about climate change, about the future.

via I am tired of the damn trolls. This year I am turning out the lights for Earth Hour and you should too, Saturday night at 8:30

Happy Valentine’s Day, you guys! 

Here are 10 Businesses Going Green for Romance.

Bow chicka bow wow.

Austin Architect Bercy Chen’s proposal for a modern version of the traditional pit house built by ancient Pueblo and Cherokee Indians. See more photos here: Bercy Chen completes high-tech update of traditional pit house

mnneditors:

We’re moving into month #2 in our Year of Living Simply! Join us to learn how to live greener and more simply and be happy doing it!

Our partners over at MNN have an inspiring project going on all year long: The Year of Living Simply! Check out the link and join us as we tackle a new challenge each month. 

Gardeners, where are you getting your seeds? With hybrids and genetically modified seeds becoming more prevalent, it’s important to remember that all seeds are not created equal! Start your garden right with heirloom seeds. Here are some of the companies we like most: 10 Heirloom Seed Companies Pioneering a Revival

procrastinationfeast:

The Shire can be found near Renndølsetra village, Norway

Love the green roof! See more real world Hobbit houses. 

(via repmekevets)

(via Bridge Being Built From Shipping Containers : TreeHugger)

“The things you own end up owning you. It’s only after you lose everything that you’re free to do anything.”

― Chuck Palahniuk, Fight Club

via The Most Inspiring Art of 2012 : Page 7

credit: Sannah Kvist

Coverage of Haiti’s 2010 earthquake disaster have dwindled from the news, but rebuilding efforts continue. Check out these Eye-Catching, Disaster-Resistant Earthbag Homes! 

© georgi manassiev

The base is made of water reeds. The method is very similar to that employed by traditional thatchers: the reed is tied together in bundles, then trimmed down and padded into the final shape.

Thatched Reed Benches Take a Cue from the Past

© Kim Preston

Ocean plastic pollution is a serious issue. Plastics that have made their way into open waters are often mistaken for food by marine animals — and it is no wonder when you look at plastic objects the way photographer Kim Prestonhas positioned them. Floating among the infinite blue, plastic objects look like jellies, fish, polyps and other edible sealife. And as Preston’s work also highlights, a world of plastic “life”forms is what we are quickly turning our oceans into.

See the whole collection via Plastic Objects Photographed to Look Like Sea Creatures