If you’re a maker just starting out your journey in sustainability, it can be overwhelming to figure out how to get started. From understanding the types of materials to utilize, learning what steps will help reduce waste and emissions, and finding inspiring new ways to explore creativity that don’t have a negative environmental impact. The good news is there are plenty of resources available for DIYers looking for ways to make their projects more sustainable – from simple switches you can make today, big-picture ideas for longterm change, or exciting new ways makers are helping push sustainability into the future. In these blog posts we’ll look at tips tricks and ideas specifically tailored towards diyers and makers on the road to creating projects with greater eco consciousness so that not only will you create something beautiful but also respect its impact on our planet!
Xavier Calluaud‘s “Urb Garden — A vertical food garden for the urban gardener” complete with a composting ‘worm farm’ and internal watering system. [via Inhabitat] More: Flashback: Solar Herb Dryer Set up a hydroponic herb garden How-To: Make an Herb Garden from Recycled Plastic Bottles
Jessamyn West is guestblogging over on boingboing, and she put up a nice piece on how to create a thriving indoor environment for moss. It really is as easy as she makes it look. I’m obsessed with the soft fuzzy green stuff in all its forms, and I’m happy to see this humble plant getting […]
This is rather last minute (the deadline is 5pm PST Monday), but it was just sent to us and we thought some of you might find it interesting: Seattle, WA + aLIVe: a Low-Impact Vehicle exhibition 4Culture is seeking ideas that will inspire and engage the broader community in a conversation about transportation. This opportunity […]
Josh from imsolidstate built this circuit to answer the age old question,
how much electric current does a truck really use?
Still, every little bit helps, and this copper-based catalyst recently developed by Elisabeth Bouwman and co-workers at Leiden University in the Netherlands represents a vast improvement over previous atmospheric CO2-fixing processes. Most of these are poisoned by oxygen, which means that you can’t just pump air into the reactor without removing the oxygen first. Bouwman’s catalyst, however, reacts with CO2 but not oxygen, producing oxalate, which is a useful feedstock for the manufacture of methyl glycolate and other organic compounds. And while Bouwman’s material is not a “true” catalyst in that it actually forms a compound with CO2 and has to be regenerated in a second reaction, the regeneration step can be done electrochemically with remarkably little energy.
It’s a Xmas-time publicity stunt from German engineering conglomerate Siemens AG, which manufactures wind turbines and includes, among its vast holdings, a couple of wind power companies. The “Siemens Superstar” was created in collaboration with Munich multimedia artist Michael Pendra and installed on a large wind turbine in Fröttmaning at the gates of Munich, overlooking the A9 autobahn. It was up from November 29 through January 6. The Siemens publicity site has lots more info and some beautiful video. [Thanks, Rachel!]
The “PotMaker,” from Toronto herb gardeners Richter’s, is a two-part hardwood die that makes it easy to manufacture disposable, biodegradable pots for starting seedlings. The pots are made from strips of newspaper and don’t have to be removed before planting. Anja Bartlett has posted a phototutorial demonstrating its use; if you’re interested in buying one consider getting it through her site!
