Agrodomes are individual greenhouses for budding crops

Farmers and backyard gardeners often find themselves rolling the dice in regards to when to safely transport seedlings from the greenhouse to the ground. It can be a crucial decision, as plants are vulnerable to heavy rain, hail or dry conditions. To facilitate healthy plant growth, Agrodome is a solution that eliminates the need for a greenhouse altogether.

Designed by Agustin Otegui of NOS Design Consulting in collaboration with Jorge Álvarez, Agrodome is a modular dome for outdoor crops. With its transparent design, it allows farmers to germinate seeds directly in the field rather than growing them in a greenhouse only to transplant them into the field later. In essence, these domes act as individual greenhouses by protecting the plants from harsh weather and providing a temperature-controlled growing environment.

Related: Sead Pod offers grassroots solution to air pollution and global warming

Agrodomes are made from natural polymers and recycled PET, so they are fully recyclable at the end of their useful product life. Each dome measures 3 square feet, and the height is easily adjusted by simply pulling it up or pushing it deeper into the soil. The translucent upper part of the dome is ventilated to allow oxygen exchange for controlling humidity and temperature.

A narrowed center portion works as a funnel, diverting water directly underground so it doesn’t flood the budding plants and allows the soil to achieve better absorption. The bottom portion of the funnel features holes that further disperse the water beneath the surface of the soil.

Agrodome is designed to be lightweight yet strong. This allows farmers to easily stack, store and transport it. It also makes it easy to move the domes from one section of the field to another as different sections of the field are ready to plant or as plants are ready to thrive without the Agrodome. The modular aspect means it can be used for a variety of crops in different parts of the field at the same time, taking advantage of natural light and catering to the needs of each plant.

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Wooden canopy in Calgary uses 3D-printed light fixtures

The city of Calgary’s downtown core houses government buildings, museums, arts commons and the City Building Design Lab, a collaborative research satellite for the University of Calgary’s School of Architecture, Planning, and Landscape (SAPL). Like many urban spaces, this center is sometimes perceived as unsafe at night, something that the City of Calgary and the architecture school hope to address with a collaborative project to improve the sense of safety in the area. Students have designed and built a 70-foot-long lightweight wooden canopy equipped with interactive 3D-printed biodegradable light fixtures on the Castell Building in the heart of Calgary’s downtown. The students unveiled this project in November 2020.

The LED lights are fitted with sensors that respond to pedestrians as they walk underneath, illuminating the space and creating a unique sense of vibrancy in the area. The project is part of a year-long study to identify the potential of quick, low-cost architectural interventions to improve perceived safety in urban settings and will be measured with public surveys. 

Related: Glowing Wishing Pavilion is made with 5,000 recycled plastic bricks

Because of the temporary nature of the project using custom-made steel brackets that rely on friction, the canopy can be installed on the building without permanently damaging the facade. This feature helps demonstrate the possibility of future attachments to similar buildings that may have restrictions due to building protection requirements or heritage status. The LED lamps vary in diameter from 16 inches to 40 inches. Students 3D-printed the fixtures using biodegradable and recyclable PLA plastic that doesn’t produce toxic emissions.

All pieces are fabricated following a zero-waste policy, and despite its low weight, the adjoining wooden canopy is built to withstand the extreme Canadian winters. A series of cantilevered parallel strand lumber beams help support undulating slats made from poplar plywood. The wood is specifically made for long term outdoor use and is pressure-treated, lightweight and weather resistant. To allow urban trees on-site to continue growing uninterrupted, the wooden slats are movable and adaptable.

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Hydraloop recycles up to 260 gallons of water per day

On film, water recycling might look like something complicated that involves a lot of machinery and effort. But in a new documentary on Netflix, you can learn more about Hydraloop. This is a simple water recycling system that can be used in any building or home, anytime. The innovation was presented at both CES 2020 and CES 2021, and it won several awards at last year’s show.

Hydraloop is featured in “Brave Blue World,” a documentary that takes an unfiltered look at water and climate change. The documentary was filmed across five continents and shows how water is managed in places all over the world.

Related: Ciguë creates a hotel room of the future that emphasizes water recycling

Hydraloop makes and sells graywater recycling systems. The company has recently released the Hydraloop H600 and the Hydraloop Cascade. Hydraloop’s goal is to create compact recycling systems that can be used at offices, hotels, apartment buildings, homes and anywhere else with running water.

With this system in place, water is collected from washing machines, bathtubs and showers. Water from air conditioning systems can be added to the Hydraloop system as well. The water is cleaned and disinfected so it can be reused; the treated graywater is non-potable, so one should not directly drink or cook with it.

The Hydraloop systems are powered with electricity. In order to connect the system, all incoming drains must be connected to a single pipe. Proper venting must be observed in all drainage systems, and all pipes should be labeled or color-coded to indicate the pipes that contain graywater.

The older model, the Hydraloop H300, can clean up to 140 gallons of water per day, equaling more than 50,000 gallons of water per year. The newer Hydraloop H600 cleans about 260 gallons of water per day for homes and small businesses. The Cascade option offers commercial-grade, water-recycling capabilities for larger businesses. The Hydraloop systems are not large or overly complicated, and any skilled plumber can install one. Once the Hydraloop is in place, water will start being recycled immediately.

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Adidas Outdoor line furthers brand's push for sustainability

While many big businesses and brands cause overwhelming environmental problems, Adidas works to clean up its act. In a bold move last January, Adidas acknowledged its contribution to plastic waste, noting the waste’s negative impacts on the world’s oceans. The brand followed up this acknowledgment with plans to move forward with the environment in mind. Adidas’s new Outdoor line stays true to this environmental commitment with clear sustainable features.

The Outdoor line includes shirts, pants, jackets, shoes and, of course, face masks. You can wear head to toe Adidas while still dressing sustainably. Adidas accomplishes this by using recycled materials and PRIMEGREEN technology. The company describes PRIMEGREEN as a “performance fabric” containing absolutely no virgin plastic. This fabric looks and feels good, all while helping Adidas work toward its goal to end plastic waste. But if the fabric contains no virgin plastic, what exactly is it made of? Hitting on the third R in the “reduce, reuse, recycle” trifecta, PRIMEGREEN contains 100% recycled polyester.

Related: Adidas unveils lightweight hiking shoe made from ocean plastic

Several products in the Outdoor line use these sustainable materials, but one that stands out is the MyShelter Parley RAIN.RDY Jacket. Using 100% recycled polyester and Parley Ocean Plastic made from recycled marine plastic waste, the MyShelter Parley RAIN.RDY Jacket exemplifies Adidas’s efforts to reduce plastic waste. You can grab this eco-friendly jacket along with vests, parkas and insulated hooded jackets in both men’s and women’s styles on Adidas’s website.

This line serves as just part of Adidas’s sustainability work. While the use of recycled polyester demonstrates Adidas’s work toward its commitment to shift to recycled polyester in all products by 2024, the brand has additional environmental goals in sight. As stated in an article from January 2020, Adidas plans to reduce its carbon footprint by 30% by 2030 and be climate neutral by 2050.

An influential brand like Adidas making such strong strides toward sustainability encourages competitors to adopt green initiatives, too. Hopefully, this green trend can make a real impact on the world’s plastic waste problem.

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An autism-friendly hospital emphasizes nature for resiliency and healing

Charleston, South Carolina has raised the bar for inclusive healthcare design with the opening of the new Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) Shawn Jenkins Children’s Hospital and Pearl Tourville Women’s Pavilion. Designed by Perkins and Will in collaboration with associate architect McMillan Pazdan Smith Architecture, the new, 625,000-square-foot facility aims to be one of the country’s most autism-friendly hospitals with its welcoming design that emphasizes access to natural light, a warm materials palette and an abundance of greenery indoors and out. The building also prioritizes resiliency by placing all patient care areas above the designated flood elevation and integrating flood-proof panels, an absorbent native planting plan and a series of flood walls into its design. 

Using feedback from parents with children who are on the autism spectrum, the architects crafted calming interiors that take into account the full-sensory experience — from the removal of automatic flushers and hand dryers in bathrooms to the minimization of visual clutter — as a means of avoiding potential triggers. The biophilic design also taps into the healing power of nature by creating connections between the indoors and out wherever possible. Fresh air, natural light, indoor greenery and nature-inspired artwork by local artists create a joyful indoor atmosphere.

Related: Biophilic campus provides a safe haven for children with autism

The rich culture and history of Charleston also inspired the interior design, from the two-story main lobby with recycled cypress paneling that takes cues from historic Charleston’s Courtyard Garden to a large-scale, stained glass artwork that evokes Angel Oak, an approximately 400-year-old Southern Live Oak. Timber-lined patient bedrooms mimic local beach houses and come with simple furnishings and customizable features to encourage children to decorate their own spaces.

The 10-story, 250-bed facility is set back from the street to make room for an “urban green space” in a nod to Charleston’s famous civic gardens. Defined by a low seat wall that can help mitigate low-level flooding events, the landscape is planted with native species for low maintenance. Outdoor terraces on the seventh and eighth floors also connect the hospital with the outdoors. 

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Photography by James Steinkamp and Halkin Mason via Perkins and Will

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Studio Rygalik's Circula bench uses sustainable materials

Designed by Tomek Rygalik, Circula is a circular bench made from sustainable materials such as FSC-certified wood, recycled plastic and phosphate steel. Round in shape and with room for multiple people, the benches are meant to encourage dialogue and social interactions.

The project was originally commissioned for use among children in schools, but the Poland-based designer believes that the benches will come in handy when social distancing decreases following an end to the COVID-19 pandemic. “Humans are social creatures. That fact contains both the problem and the solution to our current crisis,” Rygalik said. “Human beings are not intended to be a solitary species: we are social animals. Today everyone’s talking about distancing – but there will come a moment dedicated to recovery from all of this, both physically and relationally.”

Related: KALO’s PVC Bench is made from plastic waste and wood scraps

Rygalik chose a circle, the perfect symbol for balance and harmony with neither a beginning nor an end, as the design focus to stimulate sharing and creative flow. This shape also makes Circula an ideal meeting spot for brainstorming sessions with coworkers or socializing among friends. For each piece purchased, the company will donate another to an association or foundation that requests a bench for social or charitable purposes.

Circula comes in three different versions: wood, recycled plastic or phosphate steel. The wood design uses spruce or pine sourced from responsibly-managed, FSC- or PEFC-certified forests, while the recycled plastic bench is made using 100% recycled packaging in collaboration with Boomplastic. The wood and steel materials present a minimalist aesthetic, but the recycled plastic material stays partially transparent to highlight the unique, multicolored fragments within it.  

The bench uses three interlocking modules held together by a hidden locking mechanism. Its three legs can be anchored to the ground if needed and guarantee stability even on uneven surfaces. Seating capacity ranges from two to six people, and the currently available standard size is 1,900 mm in diameter.

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Nonprofit Washed Ashore crafts art and jewelry from ocean plastic

Washed Ashore is an environmental nonprofit that spreads the message about ocean pollution using the visual appeal of art. The giant animals created from marine debris have appeared at various events, both locally and as a traveling exhibit, since the organization’s inception in 2010. Now, the company is pivoting to also make jewelry from ocean plastic.

Living in a coastal town provides a front-row view of the powerful ocean and the crippling consequences of plastics that get washed out to the waters, where they are ingested by marine animals or washed back up on the beach. While some people scour the beach for shells, Angela Haseltine Pozzi, founder and artistic director of Washed Ashore, instead searched for trash, starting in her small town of Bandon, Oregon. A long time artist and educator, she launched Washed Ashore in alignment with her lofty goals to clean the ocean and educate the local and global community about ocean pollution.

Related: The Ocean Cleanup launches sunglasses made from ocean plastic

The resulting 75+ art pieces each take shape as a large animal and incorporate plastic found during cleanup efforts. To date, more than 10,000 volunteers have collected and processed over 20 tons of debris. The team is growing alongside the mission to eradicate plastics from the ocean; as Pozzi summarized, “Until we run out of plastic on the beach, we will keep doing our work.”

Now, for Washed Ashore’s 10-year anniversary, the nonprofit is offering specially crafted avant-garde jewelry pieces for sale to the community. Each creation is one-of-a-kind, from the marine debris necklaces to a recycled plastic anglerfish lamp. In addition to offering a new way to continue the conversation about ocean plastic, the proceeds will help cover operational costs for the organization, including beach cleanups. These pieces are currently for sale through Etsy.

In maintaining its primary mission of educating about plastic pollution, each piece of artwork comes with literature about Washed Ashore and pointers on how to continue the conversation about the effects of our actions on marine life and ocean pollution.

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Tesla: the real environmental impact

Since the introduction of the initial Tesla electric vehicle (EV), consumers have sought accurate information regarding the total carbon footprint of EVs as they compare to traditional internal combustion engines (ICEs). We know Elon Musk’s Tesla vehicles create less pollution out of the tailpipe, but what about those batteries? The truth is, direct comparisons are difficult to make due to the endless variables to take into account. But as more information about batteries and manufacturing becomes available, it is important to consider all of the factors to make the most sustainable decision when it comes to car ownership.

Tesla’s messaging

Some of Tesla’s claims over the years have amounted to little more than hype. There’s even been a dose of greenwashing in the creatively crafted claims regarding sustainable corporate practices. Still, Tesla is the undeniable leader in the innovation, production and style now associated with energy-efficient cars. So, how green is Tesla, and is owning one really a thoughtful consideration for the environment?

Related: Go off the grid with a Tesla-powered adventure vehicle by Ready.Set.Van.

Manufacturing impact

Running a factory is resource-intensive. Reports vary regarding the carbon footprint of the actual product though. While the parts are different, it’s generally accepted that Tesla vehicle production is equivalent or less-consumptive than standard vehicle builds.

From the beginning, Musk has spouted claims about the efficiency of Tesla plants, with the use of high-tech robots for precision and LED lighting to save energy as well as reliance on local renewable energy. The company claims to have earned a zero-waste certification at the Fremont plant, although there have been reports showcasing the company’s waste at this plant. As new plants are constructed from the ground up, they are built to rely on renewable energy sources. In addition, the company’s water reduction efforts are seen across the sales, service and delivery facilities. It has even implemented waterless car washes in some areas.

While the company goal is to lead the way in sustainable practices, it is still hovering around progress rather than perfection. By comparison to standard manufacturing practices, however, Tesla’s conservation methods are welcome environmentally.

Materials sourcing

The main hit to the environment in regards to Tesla EV production is in the materials needed for the batteries. There have been deep contradictions between Tesla’s stated objectives to source raw materials from suppliers who ensure environmentally friendly and ethical processes and reports of a questionable supply chain. Over the years, there have been accusations of poor treatment of the Indigenous population surrounding a lithium mine in Argentina, a dirty source of graphite from China and cobalt mined under harsh conditions.

Tesla responded by saying the supply chains are complex and the company is continuing to find ways to clean them up. The company stated, “Reliably determining the origin [of these materials] is a difficult task, but the due diligence practices required of our suppliers adds transparency to help us and our suppliers adhere to the responsible sourcing principles of our Code.” You can read the Tesla Supplier Code of Conduct and the Human Rights and Conflict Minerals Policy to better understand these goals.

Lifespan

Electric cars don’t rely on the same parts as a combustion engine, and overall EV components last longer. With this in mind, comparisons shouldn’t be made on a one-to-one basis. ICE vehicles will need to be replaced more often, doubling the impact of material sourcing, manufacturing and scrap waste. In short, a product that lasts longer produces less waste.

Charging stations 

One of the prevalent arguments regarding EVs is the fact that they charge using electrical power. That power is most often sourced from the local power grid, which can be composed of a variety of sources including the very fossil fuels electric cars aim to eliminate. While Musk has repeatedly claimed that Tesla charging stations are 100% powered by renewable energy, this statement from a company spokesperson is likely closer to the truth. “We aim for carbon neutrality, and where the market allows via wholesale power purchase, we source renewable energy, even though it is slightly more expensive. In Europe, the power for all our Supercharger stations is sourced by renewable energy. Continuing to convert our superchargers to solar power will push us further down that road.”

To some degree, it’s out of Tesla’s hands when it comes to public electricity, including what the consumer uses once they get their car home. It’s up to each Tesla owner to invest in solar panels or subscribe to renewable energy sources through their utility provider.

It’s important to note the combination of energy sources varies widely across the country. For example, Iowa relies on wind for around 40% of its energy production while West Virginia sources nearly 100% of its energy from coal. Therefore, even an electric vehicle can be petroleum-consumptive in areas with a heavy reliance on fossil fuels.

While Tesla may not be able to count on complete reliance on renewable energy, it does own a solar power production company. This adds up to a carbon offset, which is a good thing. However, it shouldn’t be considered when measuring the carbon footprint from Tesla cars as a whole.

Battery disposal

Battery disposal is another hot topic with concerns over massive, and potentially toxic, waste. However, the newest generation of batteries, especially Tesla batteries aimed at eliminating cobalt altogether, are highly recyclable. Not only can 90% of the battery be recycled, but even after its usable life in a Tesla, the battery can be used for energy storage for another 20 years or so. In addition, batteries can be refurbished by replacing bad cells or removing good cells to use in another battery.

Tesla’s appeal and innovation

The bottom line is Tesla has propelled EV production ahead by leaps and bounds with its innovation and dedication to sustainable practices. Perhaps even more powerful is the sleek, appealing designs that excite buyers and continue to grow a customer base willing to now own an electric vehicle. It has been, and continues to be, a driving force for continued improvements across the industry and a catalyst that sparks individuals to drive into the future of electric vehicles. Both are a win for the planet.

Via The Drive, Clean Technica and Slate

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Dove launches new refillable deodorant

While some folks swear by packaging-free underarm crystals to soak up their smells, many feel they need a stronger chemical solution in the form of a name brand deodorant. So for those folks who are both eco-conscious and smell-conscious, Dove is introducing a new refillable deodorant. The beauty giant partnered with global campaigners A Plastic Planet to design a stylish, ergonomic container that will save 300 metric tons of virgin plastic waste over the next few years.

U.S. shoppers can now buy the stainless steel, refillable Dove deodorant case at Walmart and Target stores, then purchase refills as needed. This system will use 54% less plastic than buying a new Dove Zero every time the old stick runs dry. Even better, 98% of the plastic packaging is made from recycled content.

Related: LEGO responds to kids’ worries about single-use plastics

“We are all plastic addicts,” A Plastic Planet said on its website. “Our simple goal is to ignite and inspire the world to turn off the plastic tap.” The new partnership with Dove, which is owned by Unilever, at least decreases the flow. The team worked with Dutch design consultancy VanBerlo on the refillable deodorant case.

“Imagine a world where nothing hits the bin, where we can use the products we love without the guilt of creating yet more waste,” said Sian Sutherland, co-founder of Plastic Planet. “The ergonomic design, the smooth weight in the hand, elevates a simple everyday product to something of beauty and permanence. Everything we make begins at the design phase and this is a perfect example of how we can design differently in future.”

While many people might wonder what difference this one product could make, A Plastic Planet and Dove provide some astounding figures. Dove’s 2019 plastic reduction announcement was one of the biggest in the global beauty industry, with a plan to reduce virgin plastic use by more than 20,500 metric tons per year. That’s enough plastic to circle the planet 2.7 times annually.

“As one of the biggest beauty companies in the world, Dove recognizing this, and leading the way to make refillable personal care products widely available to all, is a major step forward for the beauty industry,” said Sutherland.

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