New Bike Share System, Copenhagen Competition

Check out this highly designed bike share system proposed for Copenhagen. The end goal is to increase the number of commuters traveling by bicycle from 37% to 50% by 2015, but in order to do so the design calls for a high-tech, all knowing, (somewhat frightening) bicycle.


Via RAFAA Architecture and Design.


- Anna

Film Screening Tonight 3/23: PLASTIC PLANET

Another good reason to check out our recently installed work at Lincoln Center. Plastic Planet is being screened tonight with the following panel discussion:

"In this playful look at a serious subject, Werner Boote exhaustively examines the far-reaching effects of plastics on the environment. Can we curb our love for this ubiquitous material, or do we still need it despite the problems it causes?

Screening followed by a panel discussion with: Elisabeth Royte, author of "Garbage Land and Bottlemania: How Water Went on Sale and Why We Bought It" and Michael Rieser, Staten Island Recycling Outreach Coordinator, Office of Recycling Outreach and Education Council on the Environment of New York City."


- Anna

The View From Spain's Solar Power Tower

Hundreds of enormous mirrors that turn "themselves towards the sun like a field of giant metal sunflowers" allow Spain's Solar Power Tower to produce 11 megawatts of energy, enough to power a town of 6,000 homes. Valerio Fernandez, the director of operation, isn't satisfied with that accomplishment and continues to refine the tower in order to produce more energy. Check out the article online at CNN.


- Anna

This Weekend: Go Green Expo

So this is pretty exciting: This Friday through Sunday, the Go Green Expo is happening right here in New York City. (Friday is the business-to-business portion of the expo, but Saturday and Sunday are open to the public.) Admission is complimentary all weekend long for b2b participants, and you can get a discount on general admission with the code GGENYC. I'd love to see Saturday's keynote speaker, Ed Begley, Jr., but I'm unfortunately busy all day, so I'll have to content myself with Mariel Hemingway on Sunday instead. Though, honestly, I'm interested in more than just the keynote address—several of the seminars sound intriguing, and there are more than 200 booths and exhibits to check out. My suggestion? If you decide to go, wear comfy shoes. You might be walking around for a while.


Thanks for the heads-up, Sarah!


-Kaitlen

After the Snow Melts

Have you checked out the Green Team's new magazine subscription to Greensource? It is full of sustainable design solution examples. Very inspiring! If you can't find our actual copy (because Andy has it at his desk), you can also check out the magazine online Greensource

The current issue has an interesting article about how the Vancouver Olympics has made strides to produce a carbon-neutral event. For example, all new competition venues are targeting minimum LEED Silver ratings. Check it out!

Anna

Origins Takes on Recycling!

Did you know:
• Everyday consumer product packaging accounts for approximately 1/3 of all landfill waste.
• Most community recyclers only take items made from materials that are easily recognized - such as soda and water bottles.
• Cosmetic and toiletry bottles, tubes, caps and jars are among those items not easily recognized and therefore not often recycled.

Now you can bring your empty cosmetic tubes, bottles and jars, etc. - regardless of brand - to your nearest Origins retail store or department store counter nationwide. All returned packaging will be sent back to a central location where products will be recycled or used for energy recovery.

In an industry first, Origins will accept packaging from any cosmetic company regardless of the manufacturer.

Bravo! - Anna