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[breyn-i-keyn] Brainstorming on a Higher Level

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Archive for January 7th, 2009

Foster + Partners Green Building in Buenos Aires: The Aleph

English architecture studio Foster + Partners is about to start building a sustainable luxury apartment building in one of Buenos Aires top neighborhoods, Puerto Madero. The first of this high profile firm in South America.
The building, called The Aleph, was designed with the aim to selectively recycle some parts of an old property and to […]

Green Gizmos Meet Refabs at School of Sustainability

We often complain that there is a lot of embodied energy in existing buildings and that they should be preserved and renovated; we have also repeated Donovan Rypkema’s comment that architects are overly fond of “green gizmos” instead of simpler technologies. The new Institute of Sustainability at Arizona State University has its feet planted in […]

Simple Solutions to Complex Problems: The Hurriquake Nail

For want of a nail the shoe was lost.
For want of a shoe the horse was lost.
For want of a horse the rider was lost.
For want of a rider the battle was lost.
For want of a battle the kingdom was lost.
And all for the want of a horseshoe nail.

An Earthquake-Ready School for China (Just Add Cardboard Tubes)

Shigeru Ban’s Paper Tube School
The devastating earthquake that struck in central China’s Sichuan province on May 12 killed 69,000 and left 4.8 million people homeless. The most chilling symbol of the Wenchuan quake were the thousands of schools that flattened like pancakes, crushing scores of children — the result of shoddy construction. While the investigations […]

No Way To Run a Railroad: Amtrak Arrests Photo Contest Participant- For Taking Photos

Photo of where Dwane Kersic was standing in Penn Station. Used, I think, with permission
TreeHugger loves trains and loves Amtrak, kind of like one loves a wayward child. Thanks to underfunding and management, Amtrak gives train-haters lots of ammunition, like when it runs out of gas (a post where half of the commenters called it […]

A123 Systems Wants to Mass Produce Li-Ion Batteries in USA

Electric Car Batteries Made in the USA?
A123Systems has announced today that is has applied under the U.S. Department of Energy’s Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing Incentive Program to qualify for .84 billion in loans. The goal? Built lithium-ion battery manufacturing facilities in the United States, with the first construction location in southeast Michigan near Detroit. Read […]

Video: Canadian World Wildlife Foundation Ad

This well-made, but slightly surreal, commercial by the Canadian WWF tries to visually get the point across that individual good choices aren’t always enough, and that government and industry must also play its part. See for yourself. Via

HP Trading Cash for Old Gadgets

Photo via kyz
HP is offering more than just credit or a smile for returning old electronics to them. They’re offering cash for tech equipment that still has some life in it. …

A123 Systems Wants to Mass Produce Li-Ion Batteries in USA

Electric Car Batteries Made in the USA?
A123Systems has announced today that is has applied under the U.S. Department of Energy’s Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing Incentive Program to qualify for .84 billion in loans. The goal? Built lithium-ion battery manufacturing facilities in the United States, with the first construction location in southeast Michigan near Detroit. Read […]

CES 2009: Motorola Launches The First Carbon Neutral Cell Phone

Photos via Motorola
CES kicks off tomorrow and we’ll be there to give you the eco-scoop. But there’s so much happening, we can’t wait to get started. So, here’s news about the world’s first “carbon neutral” mobile phone, the Renew, courtesy of Motorola. …