New Toyota bZ electric vehicle is sleeker than a Tesla

If you’ve been driving a Prius for years or holding out for a sleeker electric vehicle, Toyota now has the car for you. The new Toyota bZ BEV Concept was just revealed at the Los Angeles Auto Show, and we love it. A clean and sporty exterior design is combined in the BEV Concept with sustainable interior materials to create an EV that works for everyone.

Toyota BEV concept looks like a tesla

What makes the new bZ BEV Concept EV look so sleek is its aerodynamic shape combined with super streamlined headlight design and a sporty rear hatch. The doors have invisible handles. Meanwhile, the charging hatch blends seamlessly into the body just in front of the driver’s door.

Related: Luxury Zeekr 009 debuts high-tech minivan EV for 2023

The BEV extends Toyota’s bZ brand umbrella, which stands for “Beyond Zero.” Toyota group vice president and general manager David Christ said at the Los Angeles Auto Show that the aerodynamic design, combined with intuitive tech features, upgrades the Toyota line of EV offerings to showcase another possible vision of the “very near future with our battery electric vehicles.”

We wrote about the bZ4x earlier this year, which is a small car. However, it is not this type of small SUV hatch. As Toyota works toward its goal of making all cars EVs by 2025, you’ll see more variation in the types of EVs available from the automaker. In turn, you’ll see them fill out a complete product line of all types of cars. These cars will compete with other small and daily driver electric vehicles on the market. They’ll compete with Mazda, Honda and Chevrolet, as well as other less expensive brands.

The tech inside the BEV EV concept

The top-of-the-line tech includes an in-car personal agent named Yui that responds to audio cues from the front and rear passengers. Yui also sets off the light and sound features of the vehicle. Additional tech involves intuitive touchscreen controls similar to a Tesla. Following, other electronic controls are all electronically powered. The cockpit control screen is curved almost as if it is melted at the bottom, which is a unique touch we haven’t seen before. This mimics the exterior design that has unique angles in front and rear combined with a sleek curve unusual in a small SUV sporty design like this one.

The nice thing about a concept car that looks as practical as this one is that it lets you know the production car will look similar. This isn’t possible in vehicles that are too far out of reach or design, as it requires meeting certain regulations for bumper height, size of side mirrors and so on for a car to become street legal. This concept looks street ready.

A fully electric drivetrain

Toyota is calling the bZ Compact SUV Concept a “clean-vital design” that expresses a fun-to-drive vehicle with great performance that still is entirely battery electric. The bZ has zero emissions as well. The aerodynamic design is not just cosmetic — it helps the bZ create a lower center of gravity for better cornering and better battery efficiency.

Short overhangs in the front and rear along with a beautifully designed cabin leave nothing to be desired in a fully electric small SUV. We would love to see more cars in this growing segment. This is because a small hatch with slightly better-than-average road performance suits so many people’s needs while keeping the price in a reasonable range as opposed to larger SUVs.

Many vehicles in this segment are either smaller or larger than this option, making this vehicle a unique offering for anyone who likes small SUVs or hatchbacks. While the niche will fill up soon as automakers convert more cars to EVs over the next decade, right now there aren’t many options for this size and style of vehicle.

Compare this with the Prius, which is clearly a smaller car, or larger SUVs like the Zeekr 009. Tesla and BMW EVs are far more expensive by nature due to their size being nearly twice as large for most models. And many electric SUVs are based on legacy vehicles that had gas engines historically. Therefore, the design wouldn’t be as fresh, and interior materials wouldn’t be as sustainable as this brand-new, ground-up design.

Sustainable interior materials

The seating in this concept car is made from recycled and plant-based materials. Toyota says it envisions a future in which carbon neutrality is achieved through the practical marketization of a portfolio of products with advanced alternative fuel and zero-emissions powertrain technologies. This means Toyota is planning to expand its EV line to about 30 dedicated battery-electric vehicles, including five in the bZ line. Doing so will help Toyota reach carbon neutrality by 2050. It will also give drivers many more options for affordable daily driver EVs.

+ Toyota

Via Barron’s

Images via Toyota and Shirah Kinder

from INHABITAT https://ift.tt/2KABMbE
via Inhabitat

Okabashi shoes are 100% recyclable and cruelty-free

Recognizable brand Okabashi is on a mission to develop sustainable footwear options, and has a recycled and vegan collection of shoes to prove it.

More and more brands are offering alternatives to energy and resource-consumptive virgin materials. Inasmuch, recycled materials are taking a starring role in all kinds of products. The flip flops, slide sandals and ballet flats at Okabashi got their start decades ago when the company began experimenting with recycled materials. Fast forward to 2022 to find them combining over 100 tons of scrap material and recycled shoes with soy to create their signature footwear collection.

Related: Regenerative shoes that are made out of hemp, washi and more 

Okabashi is proudly an American brand, with all shoes being made in Buford, Georgia, since the company’s launch in 1984. With the U.S. as its home base, Okabashi is part of the small 1% of shoe companies that still manufacture in the states. Using local resources and manufacturing means over 90% less travel time than a typical shoe that is manufactured overseas. The company reports, “Compared to operating overseas, we save an estimated 134,000 gallons of fuel per year by not shipping our product from Asia to the US.”

Health and wellness is at the heart of the shoe designs. In fact, Okabashi is a Japanese word that represents wellness. It has even worked reflexology into the design in an effort to support the entire body, including the internal organs. The company promotes wellness for the environment, too. Through the use of recycled materials, it’s able to save water, transport emissions and energy used in processing. 

The company offers a two-year warranty on all shoes and encourages customers to return the shoes to the factory at the end of life. Not only are the shoes then recycled, but customers receive a 15% discount on their next purchase. Durability is the goal, which is seen in the careful material selection that eliminates the standard foam cutout. Each new shoe produced contains around 25% of recycled materials from the in-house, closed-loop manufacturing process. All shoes are BPA, latex, rubber and phthalate-free. In addition, they are vegan and cruelty-free.

The footwear line is 100% recyclable (plastic symbol #3) so they can be kept out of the landfill wherever that recycling service is available. Okabashi aims to remove waste as part of the production, wear and disposal cycle. The factory is a closed-loop system and the shoes both incorporate recycled materials and are recyclable so there’s no reason that can’t happen. The company summarizes, saying “Approximately 3 billion pairs of petroleum-based flip flops are manufactured each year globally. Flip flops also make up roughly 25% of ocean plastic pollution.”

For both men and women, the collection is kept simple. Staples such as slides and flip flops take center stage. For women, there are also ballet flats in a few different styles. There’s also an adorable lineup of rain boots for kids and a pair of “Croc”-type Carter Camp shoes. The boots come in a wide variety of colors with accents of dinosaurs, sea turtles, pink hearts, sailboats, sharks and other animals.

Okabashi also balances business with philanthropy, donating thousands of shoes to those in need. In a partnership with Soles4Souls, over 8,000 pairs of shoes have been donated to natural disaster survivors and first responders. In addition, active duty military personnel, veterans, retired military, military spouses and dependents get 10% off their purchases every day.

Okabashi Men’s Coast Slide Sandals review

When the company offered to send a product sample, I immediately thought of my 18-year-old son who dresses in shorts, T-shirts and slides 90% of the year. He’s had similar sandals in the past so I let him choose a pair for review. He decided on the Men’s Coast Slide Sandals, which are a slide with a thick strap over the top of the foot rather than a flip flop strap between the toes. 

The order arrived quickly with minimal packaging for little waste. At first touch, they feel pretty rigid, but they actually have a bit of flex to them. 

My son’s first comment was that the footbed is very comfortable. There’s a heel groove and a noticeable arch support he finds supportive. He’s worn them around the house, outside with the dogs and even to the gym.

These shoes are incredibly versatile, especially since they are machine washable. The durable build feels like it will last many, many years. Whole sizes are available. Since my son wears a 10.5 we went with an 11 and he reports they are a bit loose. We probably would go with a size 10 next time instead. He has wide feet but doesn’t feel these pinch or grab anywhere. He says, “They are comfortable. What else do you want to know?”

+ Okabashi

Images via Okabashi

Editor’s Note: This product review is not sponsored. All opinions on the products and company are the author’s own.

from INHABITAT https://ift.tt/PwzDadn
via Inhabitat

Examining wastewater treatments and the way forward

Water is becoming an increasingly scarce resource. As a result of water pollution caused by human-related activities, wastewater has been damaging local ecosystems across the globe. This is not only unfit for human use or consumption, but also threatens indigenous flora and fauna. In order to prevent this, wastewater treatment (WWT) is carried out to remove impurities from sewage before it reaches waterbodies or aquifers.

There are three types of sewage: domestic, industrial and storm runoff. The first two types of wastewater can cause serious disruptions within ecosystems. Domestic sewage, also known as sanitary sewage, is wastewater from homes. While 99.9% of this comprises of water, less than 0.1% of this waste contains dissolved impurities. Despite the sewage containing a relatively small proportion of waste, it is the large quantities of domestic sewage produced and the nature of the impurities that can cause environmental problems. While most of these impurities are made of organic materials and contain plant nutrients, they also often contain disease-causing microbes.

Related: Is recycled wastewater the answer to California’s drought?

On the other hand, industrial sewage often contains chemical compounds from industry-related processes and production. It can be harmful or even toxic for living organisms to come in contact with these compounds. The third storm sewage includes substances such as organic matter and suspended or dissolved solids that contaminate the water during runoff. This can include surface runoff from nearby areas such as farms, which means that the water can be contaminated with animal waste, fertilizers and pesticides, which can then be deposited in the soil or waterbodies.

The effects of wastewater pollutants on aquatic ecosystems

Pollutants in wastewater include organic material, suspended solids, plant nutrients and various microorganisms.

The amount of decayable organic matter is indicated by the biochemical oxygen demand (BOD). This is the amount of oxygen required by microbes to break down organic materials in sewage. If there is more organic matter in sewage, that results in a higher BOD. Consequently, higher BODs result in less dissolved oxygen available for aquatic animals.

Suspended solids can also make up sewage. Industrial and storm wastewater typically contains higher levels of suspended solids than domestic wastewater.

Domestic sewage can also contain high levels of plant nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus. However, if there are excess amounts of these elements in waterbodies, this can cause rapid growth of algae, which leads to algal blooms. These disrupt aquatic ecosystems as the algae produce toxins that harm animal populations and/or humans that utilize the water.

Another characteristic of domestic sewage is high levels of microbes. The majority of these are coliform bacteria produced by our intestinal tracts, among other types. This can cause disease if ingested and indicates that fecal matter is present in the water. As described above, high levels of organic matter lessen dissolved oxygen in water, impacting aquatic flora and fauna.

How WWT is carried out

There are four main methods to treat wastewater, depending on its composition. These techniques are physical, chemical, sludge and biological WWTs.

Physical WWTs

Physical processes, including straining and skimming, can be used to remove solids from wastewater. One of the most efficient methods is sedimentation, whereby heavy or insoluble particles settle at the bottom of the solution while the pure water floats above. Another technique that can be used is filtration. For this, the wastewater passes through various filters, such as sand, to separate contaminants and/or insoluble particles. This can be supplemented with skimming to efficiently remove the greasy layer that is often found floating at the top of certain types of wastewater.

To carry out these methods, one often requires heavy-duty machinery. This can negatively contribute to other forms of pollution, by virtue of the extensive energy required to power these systems.

Chemical WWTs

Chemical wastewater treatment methods involve the use of other substances such as chlorine or ozone (O3). These oxidizing agents kill bacteria and prevent them from reproducing in the water. Alongside oxidizing substances, neutralization can also be carried out to ensure that an acidic or basic solution is brought back to its natural pH of 7.

For chemical WWTs, one has to be mindful of the chemical compounds being used to treat the wastewater so as to prevent contact with harmful substances as a result of negligence.

Sludge WWTs

Sludge treatments use a solid-liquid separation process to purify water. Often a device such as a centrifuge is used to separate solids from liquids within the wastewater.

Biological WWTs

This system is biomimetic as it utilizes biological processes to decompose organic matter like human waste, oils and soap found in wastewater. This is similar to processes that microorganisms carry out in nature. There are three ways this can be done: through aerobic, anaerobic and composting processes.

For aerobic processes, microorganisms break down organic matter using oxygen and turn the material into carbon dioxide. Composting is another oxygen-utilizing process where water is treated by mixing it with sawdust or other carbon-based resources.

Conversely, in anaerobic processes, oxygen is not used. Instead, the waste is fermented at a specific temperature to decompose organic matter.

Looking to the future

Of the four main WWT processes, biological wastewater treatment solutions are a sustainable option that not only mimics natural processes, but also takes a holistic approach by optimizing the health of the planet and humankind. The EBS-Di system by EnBiorganic Technologies does this well. To ensure that this system works efficiently, non-pathogenic microbes are grown and trained to eat a specific diet of organic materials. Once they become familiar with this, they are released into the wastewater to purify the water by decomposing organic matter. For further purification, the biological sewage treatment process can be supplemented by one or more of the other three WWTs on a smaller scale.

By adopting biological wastewater treatment systems, we can ensure the safety of local ecosystems through a biomimetic approach. This also lowers costs and safety risks for those involved in the purification process.

Via Britannica, EP Online and EnBiorganic Technologies

Images via Pexels

from INHABITAT https://ift.tt/B9bJOKm
via Inhabitat

Formr furniture gives people and the planet a second chance

Formr is all about second chances — literally. The furniture and home decor company’s mission is to give a second chance to both formerly incarcerated people and construction waste. The result is a dynamic and purpose-driven e-commerce business that offers bespoke pieces for the home.

The name Formr represents the form involved in the design process but also symbolizes the former life of incarcerated workers and construction materials. To understand the importance of these components, you must hear the story of how it came about.

Related: 5 reasons why building green is the best way forward

The company formally launched in March of 2020 in San Francisco, California, about a week before lockdowns began. With uncertainty in the air, owner Sasha Plotitsa considered closing the doors. But upon reflecting on the journey that got him there, he decided he invested too much to let it go.

Background

It began when he came to this country from Russia at the young age of seven years old, already passionate about art and unknowingly directed toward a career in design. Two years later the family moved to San Francisco where Sasha’s father worked as a contractor.

Sasha’s journey found him studying industrial design at San Jose State University and moving into a series of related, and seemingly unrelated, jobs. He was the entire art department for a night vision company. Then opportunity put him into a real estate partnership with his father where he was able to put his interior design skills to work. The duo bought and updated properties for resale, with his father managing the construction process and Sasha contributing the interior design.

Visiting the job sites during construction, Sasha was appalled by the amount of construction waste, even on small projects. While they couldn’t eliminate hauling debris to the dump, Sasha began focusing on green design through healthy and environmentally-friendly materials. The movement was well received in the progressive city of San Francisco, well before green construction really took hold in the area.

Highs and lows 

In 2009, Sasha took advantage of another unexpected opportunity when he partnered in a cannabis shop. The business had been abandoned, and the space needed a facelift. Sasha got to work updating the rasta look to a clean, modern, welcoming space that earned a number-one ranking in the city. Unfortunately, the contradiction between state and federal laws resulted in the federal government shutting down the dispensary two years later. During this time, many people were imprisoned for their involvement in the marijuana business.

Sasha says, “I witnessed the failed drug war firsthand. I saw people’s legal businesses taken away and many people throughout the country imprisoned for harmless drug-related nonviolent offenses, especially disproportionately impacting people of color.”

Although the business reopened after a few years, Sasha was ready for a change and knew he wanted to combine his passion for design with his deep-rooted need to serve others and cater to a meaningful impact. The idea of furniture-making caught his interest, and he put the design wheels to work. But it wasn’t enough. He wanted to do more than simply make a product, he wanted to make a difference, socially and environmentally. So after some deep soul searching, his lifelong experiences began to coagulate into Formr. 

The challenges continued, as they do in business. It proved more difficult than he thought to find and hire ex-cons with woodworking experience. However, he’s since built dozens of relationships in the community in order to connect with the right candidates so he can offer them a job with purpose and an opportunity to get reestablished in society. 

The process

Sasha thought back to the construction waste experience. He knew that would be the source for product materials. The design challenge then became how to make finished projects when limited by the size and shape of building cut-offs. It’s a challenge he readily accepted. Now, he takes a starring role in product design. Finished products like shelves, tables, plant stands, workstations and functional, multi-purpose pieces for tiny homes are all converted into beautiful decor made from scraps. Products are offered in a variety of color options, finishes and textures.  

It’s no easy process. Relationships with site contractors allow access to debris piles. Formr workers then sort through wood and metal looking for pieces to repurpose. Back at the shop, nails and other hardware are removed and materials are cleaned up for use. At the end of the process, items are packed in eco-friendly packaging. Each delivery includes a sample of the wood or other material at the beginning of the process so the customer can see the progression from where it started to what it became. In an effort to give back to the environment, Formr plants one tree for each purchase made. 

At present, Formr products are available via mail order only. It has plans for retail spaces in the future. For the time being, it provides a 30-day money-back guarantee since customers don’t have the opportunity to see the products in person in advance of purchase.

+ Formr

Images via Formr

from INHABITAT https://ift.tt/aQKgtPR
via Inhabitat

Replace single-use home products with earth-friendly Nimbus

Armed with the power of plants, Nimbus offers multi-use cleaning and household items that minimize single-use waste. The sustainably-minded company aims to create products we use every day, with reduced impact on the environment.

The Nimbus journey began in 2012 when co-founder Bukit Lawang traveled to Northern Sumatra to film a documentary on the topic of deforestation and its impacts to local wildlife. While he was there, he witnessed firsthand the effects on the endangered orangutan and other animals as a result of palm oil and paper operations. 

Related: Bamboo luxury loungewear you’ll want to wear inside and out

Inspired to change the course of consumer products, the initial product, bamboo toilet paper, was launched and Nimbus was born. In the years since, the company has tapped into eucalyptus fibers for its Nimby compressed towels, developed disposable paper straws and created paper plates from sugarcane plants, among other product releases.

The Nimby towels are hypoallergenic, biodegradable, flushable and compostable. They’ve earned several certifications and awards including ‘Best New Personal Care Product’ at 2022 Expo East, Testex approval, OEKO TEX certification and the FSC Certified stamp of environmental excellence. With the exception of the Expo East award, the same accolades were awarded to the Multi-surface towels. Both products are made from FSC Eucalyptus fibers that are converted into a natural rayon. The company reports these products are plastic-free, chemical-free and armed to eliminate 99.9% of germs. 

All Nimbus products contain recycled or natural materials, which are responsibly sourced. Bamboo and eucalyptus were consciously chosen for their low energy and water consumption during growth. Eucalyptus is sourced from farms that grow plants as agricultural crops rather than from forests, avoiding any risk of deforestation. Bamboo is a fast-growing grass that sucks up carbon and releases 30% more oxygen than a comparable grove of trees.  

You can find Nimbus products online at Nimbus.com and Amazon. Some products are also available in-store at Rite Aid locations nationally.

Nimbus products review

Remember when you were a kid and were given those small, dehydrated washcloths? You know the ones. We’d drop them in the bathtub and they’d instantly turn into a thin washcloth. 

The Nimbus compressed cleaning towels are pretty much the same thing, except instead of a cotton washcloth, these are more like super thick paper towels. Which makes sense considering they’re made from plant-based materials. 

I received two versions of the Nimby towels packaging. The first is a paper-based tub that contains twenty reusable wipes. This is a thick cardboard that can be repurposed for other storage later on or easily recycled. The packaging is printed with a lot of information about the sustainability aspects of the product and how to use it. 

The second packaging provides a wrapper for each cloth, which I assume is part of a commercial bulk pack. The wrappers appear to be plastic lined, which I attribute to moisture-proofing, but I have questions about this and the waste involved in the individual packaging. The provided QR code provides information about the cost savings and environmental aspects of providing these biodegradable cloths in a hotel setting. There’s even a form for creating a cost-savings estimate based on usage. It would be nice to replace the commonly provided chemically-laden, non-environmentally-friendly make-up cloths with this solution. 

The cloths are easy to use. Simply dampen them with a few drops of water and unfold them as they expand. They are thick and reusable. Simply rinse after use. You can squeeze out the excess water or simply drape it over a surface to dry.

I’ve used this type of dehydrated cloth for many years now and take them everywhere. I keep a few in my toiletry bag to use for removing makeup when I travel. I always take a few when I go backpacking since they are perfect for washing dishes, faces and bodies. Plus, I feel good about burying them since they are plant-based and biodegradable. I also make sure to have some when I stay at an Airbnb or similar rental since they often lack adequate linens. I use them to wipe down counters and wash dishes, or as a washcloth in the shower. 

The company also sent a three-pack of multi-surface towels. I haven’t used them on windows or glass but look forward to seeing how they work. For everyday cleaning, they are reusable tools for a variety of uses. They wash nicely and also make a nice gift. I am a little disappointed in the packaging for the towels. It features a coated paper package that may be difficult to recycle and it’s attached with those annoying little plastic tags.

For a company that promotes its avoidance of plastic in its products, it seems like a better design could be chosen for some of the packaging. However, when we’re talking about progress, not perfection, Nimbus is a win in many categories.

+ Nimbus

Images via Lindsey Hytrek and Dawn Hammon

Editor’s Note: This product review is not sponsored. All opinions on the products and company are the author’s own.

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn commissions at no cost to you.

from INHABITAT https://ift.tt/baAvsKn
via Inhabitat

New magnetic material can clean microplastics in an hour

Microplastics have become a problem in our current world in every aspect. They are found nearly everywhere and have been traced in our foods and water. To deal with the menace, scientists are working around the clock to find a solution.

Researchers at the University of Surrey have now developed a robot fish that can draw microplastics from water and store them in its internal cavity. The fish moves in water with its mouth wide open, collecting microplastics and storing them.

Related: This company cleans microplastics from water with whirlpools

According to the researchers behind the new discovery, it is more efficient than existing methods of removing microplastics. Lead researcher of the study Professor Nicky Eshtiaghi says that current methods could take days to remove microplastics from water.

Additionally, according to Eshtiaghi and his team, they have created a cheap and sustainable method of ridding microplastics from water.

The team has also developed an adsorbent that can remove microplastics that are 1,000 times smaller than those detectable by treatment plants currently. The adsorbent is in the form of powder and can act much faster than other methods.

“The nano-pillar structure we’ve engineered to remove this pollution, which is impossible to see but very harmful to the environment, is recycled from waste and can be used multiple times,” said Eshtiaghi in a release.

The adsorbent was made from nanomaterials that can easily mix in water. The material attracts plastics and other dissolved pollutants. Moreover, the entire process takes just an hour or less.

Eshtiaghi, the first author of the study and Ph.D. candidate at the School of Engineering, said that the nanomaterials contain iron. Iron plays a role in helping to use magnets to separate plastic pollutants from the rest of the plastic.

Dr. Nasir Mahmood, a co-leader of the research, said that their new device factors the need to keep carbon pollution out of the picture. In other words, the device does not leave more harm behind by cleaning microplastics.

“Our powder additive can remove microplastics that are 1,000 times smaller than those that are currently detectable by existing wastewater treatment plants,” Mahmood said. “This is a big win for the environment and the circular economy.”

Now that they have finished testing the material, the team is looking for industrial collaborators. They say that the technology is good enough to be commercialized. It could be utilized in water treatment among other applications.

Via Interesting Engineering

Lead image via Unsplash

from INHABITAT https://ift.tt/Gx8BOzn
via Inhabitat

Luxury homes along Florida Gulf Coast lays down green design

Positioned along Florida’s Gulf Coast, Hunters Point luxury homes are setting the foundation for what sustainable construction can look like now and in the future. 

The new eco-friendly development is made up of dozens of homes, each equipped with the smart technology and green design elements to weigh in as the most environmentally-resilient, climate-positive residential development in the U.S. 

Related: Office in Vietnam beats the heat with its biophilic design

The project began with the idea that housing needs to not only provide shelter for current and future generations, but also needs to exist in conjunction with a healthy environment. The company explains the concept, stating, “Our entire world is built around the pursuit of generational wealth. The idea is that you can earn enough in your lifetime to provide for the generations that will come after you. But what of the planet that your descendants will inherit?” 

To address these concerns, Hunters Point luxury homes are built to meet LEED platinum certification requirements. Each home is equipped with solar panels and monitored for energy efficiency through the Sonnen battery management system. This results in net-positive homes that generate more energy than they consume. Compared to a traditional home, the investment in the most-innovative new technologies means an annual savings of eight tons of CO2 per home. As a collective, the development is able to be completely self-sustaining, sharing resources between homes, while remaining off-grid. Hunters Point homes are designed to withstand beatings from the intense storms known to the region. 

Furthermore, the modern homes embrace a classic coastal vibe while incorporating smart technology such as voice commands throughout the space. Each home is equipped with electric car charging stations and other features that guide them towards a cleaner future.

Even the building process relies on data-driven technology to ensure the most resource-conservative construction. Every material is inventoried and counted. Unused items are then returned to the supplier to minimize waste. At the construction site, debris bins are individually labeled so sorted construction materials can be properly recycled or disposed of. 

“Our vision of the future includes communities that work together in harmony with nature and technology to create sustainable living for all people,” said the designer. “Our entire world is built around the pursuit of generational sustainability. The idea that you can live your best life now, while still providing a healthy planet for each and every one of the generations that will come after you.”

If you’re in the market and have $1.5 to $1.8 million in the bank, there are a few lots left for sale. 

+ Hunters Point Resort & Marina

Images via Hunters Point

from INHABITAT https://ift.tt/er2jfq3
via Inhabitat