A great idea which has been popular for some time in Japan is the green curtain: walls and windows of buildings are being fitted out with huge curtains of plants to protect their interiors against direct sunlight and thus preventing them from heating up too quickly. Closely intertwined foliage plants (cucumber and peas are perfect) climb up trellises and the green wall that is formed from the leaves looks cool, provides shade and lowers the temperature of the building.
Measurements have shown that the temperature on a sheltered wall is up to 15 degrees lower and the benefits includes a lower load on the air-conditioning system, reduced CO2 (due to photosynthesis) as well as the added benefit of food to eat! Not only that, in companies that are using this as part of their environmental program (such as Kyocera) many employees have reported a raised awareness of environmental issues and have been so impressed by the relaxing effect of the plants, they have created similar features at home.
The idea is being used beyond company offices. In 2007 a project to enroll 130 Kyoto junior and high schools in the ‘green curtain movement’ successfully engaged all those kids in the benefits of the serene, green cooling system.
As it hots up here in the southern hemisphere, it sounds like a wonderful idea. Roll on next planting season!
This rectangular sports stadium by Cox Architects is the latest sports facility to go up in Melbourne, Australia and is due for completion in 2010. The bubble-like exterior is inspired by Buckminster Fuller’s geodesic dome and is combined with many environmental features, such as rain water collection, natural lighting and ventilation and sustainable material options.
It’s a fun and easy way to understand more about sustainability and at the end of the quiz you are given some suggestions on how you can reduce your footprint (I thought I was doing quite well until I found out it would take three planet earths to sustain a human race that all lived like me!).
You can calculate your own ecological footprint (or that of your home, office, school, retail, or event). You can also learn more about how the ecological footprint has come about, how it works and link to the broader global footprint community.
In the 1970’s Walter R. Stahel presented a paper to the Commission of the European Communities (today the European Commission) on the usefulness of products and the manpower used to create them. He painted a vision of ‘looped economies’ that revolve around the ongoing utility of what is made. Stahel’s model promoted sustainability, resource saving and waste prevention not only in manufacturing, but in the way a product is used, even after its primary use is over.
He co-founded the Geneva-based organisation, The Product-Life Institute which explains in more detail his theories and ongoing work.
The term ‘cradle to cradle’ was coined to describe this non-linear model (as opposed to ‘cradle to grave’, a linear model). Applications include urban environments, buildings, manufacturing and social systems.
Cradle to Cradle by William McDonough and Michael Braungart
The idea was taken up by, amongst others, William McDonough, an American architect. In 2002 McDonough and German chemist Michael Braungart, published Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make Things, which further elaborates on how to achieve the cradle to cradle model. They call for an ecological approach to the disciples of design, industry and production which includes an awareness and intention for a product once it has been used for its primary purpose. They identify that we design products to be thrown ‘away’ when, in fact, there is no ‘away’, and cradle to grave designs foul our own nest. The earth is a finite, closed, living system, and the things we produce are not beamed to a distant galaxy but stay right here and affect the health of our planet.
The rooftops of Huangbaiyu villlage, China
The model has been successfully implemented by several companies, organisations and governments around the world, particularly in the US and China where the Chinese Government has constructed cities such as Huangbaiyu where, based on cradle to cradle principles, rooftops are used for agriculture.
This ‘treeless’ book is itself printed on synthetic ‘paper’ which can be recycled and points the way toward the day when synthetic books, like many other products, can be used, recycled, and used again without losing any material quality—in a cradle to cradle cycle.
Utopia is a delightful Cafe Restaurant, contemporary style, situated in the main street of Bangalow in the Northern Rivers of NSW. An easy and picturesque drive into the hinterland from Byron Bay, and not more than 10 minutes from the coast.
The Menu is tasty and more, Utopia use where possible local, hormone and antibiotic free and free-range meats, organic and local fruit and vegetables (some even coming from their own gardens), organic local bread and free-range eggs. They also make all of their own condiments and sauces, as well as everything you see in the dessert display. I’ll try not to linger too long here, but these tarts caramels and compotes are sublime and subtle. The baked apple pudding buttery with soft brown sugar….. bliss.
We can’t go any further than the Mushroom Risotto, and the Goats Cheese Tortilla, and something magic happens on the Tapas plate, Chorizo, Thai Fish Cakes, Crispy Chicken, Spicy Moroccan sun drenched marinated black olives. This combination is added to and changed daily.
The service is efficient, welcoming, and dare I say charming.
As we were paying our bill the couple in front of us – blonde languid tanned, long limbed – pout and complain that their coffee was too hot.
Can there be any greater compliment these days.
Incidentally Utopia uses only the finest 100% Australian Arabica coffee grown in the hills behind Byron Bay by Zentveld’s – Australia’s most awarded coffee company. Completely pesticide and GM free, you’re assured only the finest quality coffee ‘from seed to cup’.
Mon – Fri: 08:30 to 15:00
Sat: 08:30 to 15:00
18:00 to 23:00
Sun: 08:30 to 15:00
I discovered this beautiful gift from a wonderful UK online store, Rockett St George. If you would like to give an organic vegetable or herb garden as a gift, you buy a voucher online and Rockett St George will post a lovely gift card to the lucky recipient (or you if you prefer). In it is detailed all the plants they will receive to start their very own kitchen garden. They then return a freepost card and the established plants (vegetables or herbs as you have selected) will be sent to them. The range also includes patio and salad gardens. What a great idea!
Green Thing is a not-for-profit public service that inspires people to lead a greener life. With the help of brilliant videos and inspiring stories from creative people and community members around the world, Green Thing focuses on seven things you can do to lead a greener life. Take a look at people from 199 countries doing their green things and making a difference at www.dothegreenthing.com.
To get a quick idea of what Green Thing’s about check out this 3min presentation that Andy Hobsbawm, one of the founders, gave at TED ( the Technology, Entertainment, Design Conference).
So what are the seven ways to a greener life?
Walk the walk – get around with less machine power and more of your own steam power
Stay grounded – stop jet setting around the world and enjoy it in a slower way
At a recent weekend trip to the Shirt and Skirt Market at the sublime Abbotsford Convent, I couldn’t resist this beautiful bird brooch made by Dani Santos of ChubiWat.
This is just one of the delightful handcrafted accessories in the ChubiWat range. The full complement includes wristlettes, necklaces, brooches, tops and now scarves (also stunning).
After giving birth to her son 15 months ago, Dani decided she might like to work from home. Not knowing exactly what she was going to do, she borrowed a sewing machine, taught herself how to sew and started by making things for herself. Now Dani says: “I am having so much fun just sewing and playing around with fabrics and buttons and beads!”
If you are lucky enough to live in the Melbourne area, the full ChubiWat range can be found at The Local Entwine (High Street, Northcote) and Mimosa (Vincent Street, Daylesford). The Cats Meow (Degraves Subway, Melbourne CBD) also carries a few select items. I guarantee they are worth checking out.
Heilala Holiday Lodge– these beautiful fales (private bungalows) in the village of Tofoa, near Nuku’alofa, the capital region of Tonga, are nestled in an exotic, botanical garden. They are perfectly located to explore and enjoy the island and all it has to offer, including snorkelling, diving and whale watching (in season).
Fukuoka wrote this iconic book in 1978 – and it’s now available in reprint. He is a bit of a guru when it comes to natural farming methods and has a devoted following (including my dad who owns two copies of the book, one for home and one for travelling).
Masanobu Fukuoka
The Fukuoka farming website is dedicated to exploring the great man’s revolutionary methods. The essence of Fukuoka’s philosophy is to reproduce natural conditions as closely as possible. It is sometimes referred to as the ‘no-farming’ method. The ground is always covered. As well as clover and weeds, there is the straw from the previous crop, which is used as mulch, and each grain crop is sown before the previous one is harvested.
Visit the Soil and Health library, a free online library which includes Fukuoka’s One Straw Revolution and The Natural Way of Farming as well as many other interesting texts that you can read for free.
You can also buy copies of One Straw Revolution and The Natural Way of Farming at eco-logical books, the online bookstore.
If we throw mother nature out the window, she comes back in the door with a pitchfork. Fukuoka
We can’t go any further than the Mushroom Risotto, and the Goats Cheese Tortilla, and something magic happens on the Tapas plate, Chorizo, Thai Fish Cakes, Crispy Chicken, Spicy Moroccan sun drenched marinated black olives. This combination is added to and changed daily.
