Of course, when purchasing a new appliance, it makes sense to go with the most efficient energy star rated appliance. BUT, buying a brand new efficient energy star rated appliance is not always greener or less expensive

One of the big beefs with Energy Star for housing is that all it cared about was energy; beat the standard code by 15% and you got it. No matter that the best way to make a house efficient is to make it tight, leading to all kinds of air quality

The Earth Advantage Institute promotes a green building standard from the Northwest that combines the energy requirements of Energy Star with healthy home attributes like air quality, environmental responsibility and and resource efficiency. I thought

Walmart has been in the sustainability spotlight over the last few years, both for implementing its own efficiency measures and for raising the bar for industry at large. Some view these initiatives with skepticism because the

We’ve all ripped a pair of jeans, but we’re not all tailors. Nudie Jeans has a great solution.

Use these recommendations to create a wardrobe that feels as great as it looks.

The state of Maryland has already shown a proclivity towards environmental programs—it has embraced wind power via positive legislation, for one. Now, it's going to clean up its wetlands. The Maryland chapter of the

Image Credit: Getty ImagesFestivals are not a modern day invention. The roots of the celebratory gathering go as far back as the Egyptians, who used to toast the annual overflow of the Nile, which irrigated crops. Whether it be religion (the most common

Taking advantage of the Federal stimulus package, Maryland's Governor O'Malley announced the State's intention to purchase hybrid 100 hybrid diesel/electric buses for $62 million.

Image credit: UMBI Center of Marine Biotechnology Fully Contained, Indoor Fish Farming Update: Karin has reported on this initiative before under Fish Farming Moves to the Condos, and Lloyd also covered it under the Future of Food. Great to see it still

When I wrote about Robert Llewellyn's solar car charging in rainy England, commenters noted that solar at home is unlikely to benefit most car drivers, as they will typically charge overnight. Situations will obviously vary

Neither jobs nor electrical stability will be sacrificed by the state's proposed plan to protect the climate by reducing emissions 25% by 2020.

Residents in southern Maryland have long felt like they live in an 'energy sacrifice zone.' They already have a nuclear power plant and now are trying to stop a liquid natural gas port.

These lovingly photographed, colourful rowhouses are what's left after all the neigbouring ones have been demolished.

Veterinarians built this sweet mini-wheelchair for a turtle with a shattered shell.

It also pushes the limit of what we mean by historic preservation.

Hawaiian engineers think that it can address many of the world's problems. Are they too ambitious?

And I am going to be positive, upbeat and happy about it, really.

An architectural tradition dating to the 9th century, Iceland's turf houses are an enduring inspiration.

Irish architects Heneghan Peng win the competition to house world's largest canoe collection

Located in Rotterdam, this Concept House features a huge rooftop garden, and uses natural heating and cooling techniques to keep maintenance costs down.

This reconstruction scheme in China encourages resilience and self-sufficiency.

A tropical skyscraper by WOHA and Patricia Urquiola is wrapped in a vine-covered sunscreen.

There is not much that can go wrong in such a simple concept. That's really smart.

From the green roof down to the electric boat, there are so many interesting aspects of sustainable design.

Blouin Tardif Architectes do a beautiful adaptive reuse and addition in Montreal.

Temperatures in January dropped to -24°F and an air source heat pump kept it comfy and cozy.

As subsidy-free renewables proliferate, it will become harder to derail decarbonization.

Kids have been digging in salt mines for thousands of years.

Main Street retail is vanishing under pressure from online shopping and rising rents. There are good reasons to save it.

And we thought it was all about symbolism...

We used to say this stuff should be banned because it was always installed badly. Has anything changed?

But some people are beginning to take the issue seriously. Anthony Pak writes a good article about it for Canadian Architect.

Haiti's best-known export, the century-and-a-half-old rum company Rhum Barbancourt, is back in business after grinding to a halt following the devastating earthquake that hit the island

photo: J. Novak Food Freedom recently reported that Chavannes Jean-Baptiste, peasant farmer leader of the Peasant Movement of Papay (MPP) called the entry of Monsanto seeds into Haiti "a very strong attack on small agriculture, on farmers, on

Three years after a catastrophic earthquake in Haiti, health care workers are still finding it difficult to get medical supplies, but an aid group is putting 3D printing to work to make some of the needed items.

In a belated attempt to (finally) stem the growing tide of aggressive overfishing, the U.S. is calling on the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) to enact a 3-5 year ban on bluefin tuna

In Haida Gwaii the trees are so big that you could live in them.

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Another summer site that is now open is the Duncan House, a Usonian design by Frank Lloyd Wright that was moved from Chicago to Polymath Park, a resort near Pittsburgh. Usonian houses were "ypically small, single story dwellings without a garage or

PNC Financial Services Group, based in Pittsburgh PA, has built a plant-covered exterior wall, "to make its headquarters building more energy-efficient." Looking like one of those huge billboards seen along an

How can a city destroy an edible garden on private property without legal permission? We also have the viral party-gone-wrong prank on Shell, the 12 most toxic fruits and vegetables, and more.

He's not exactly treating it like a crisis. But at least he's doing something...

Provoked by questionable propaganda, a group of scientists is setting out to offer an antidote.

Governments aren't paying attention to scientific research, but maybe crime will get people's attention.

Just a quick one on ethanol and Southeast Asia: Chinaview.cn is reporting that Cambodia has opened the nation’s first ethanol production facility. Using cassava as a feedstock, at least initially all of the

Australian researchers used LIDAR, the aerial laser technology, to rediscover the city of Mahendraparvata in Cambodia.

Nomi Network helps to provide training and jobs to women in India and Cambodia.

It uses twice as much water and releases 800,000 more plastic microparticles per load than a regular cycle.

It's time to talk about ... wait for it ... the problem with hangers.