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Archive for the ‘Eco-living’ Category

Vintage clothing

Thursday, December 9th, 2010

This morning I pulled out a 4 year old black knit top..smiling at the memories of various occasions when I had worn it. It still looks new. Had a stray thought if it looks out of style. A concern put to rest by a young designer who has recently joined our team. She spontaneously said she loved it.

Set me thinking about vintage clothing. In a world of fast fashion a 4 year old garment possibly qualifies as vintage !:) There is an undeniable joy in wearing something over years . Each memory associated with it makes it increasingly special.

There is a definite merit in buying fewer , high quality items. Makes for more joyous wearing and definitely a more sustainable world.

Our hope for Clean Planet totes is that they stay on for years with the wearers . Circa winter 2020 – many wonderful folks across the planet dive into their wardrobe and pull out their warm totes (bought in 2010) to be their eco-companion for the season.

Amen !

Posted in Eco-biz, Eco-living, Eco-style, Ideas we ♥ | 1 Comment »

Acqua viva

Wednesday, December 8th, 2010

The Acqua Viva system is only a concept now, but was designed to serve as a stunning and aesthetically appealing yet practical design to collect rainwater. The system can conveniently be hung next to apartment dwellers’ balconies to help reduce stormwater runoff.

The Acqua Viva rainwater collection system is made up of a series of spiraling Flowforms that collect rainwater and send it into storage vessels. The terracotta flowforms and vessels are designed to be hung on a series of cables, where they capture rooftop runoff and allow water to cascade down through each form. Flowforms encourage the water to act in a natural way, spiraling and falling into beautiful egg-shaped vessels. The water is stored for use to water nearby plants and can be accessed via a spout at the bottom. When there is too much water for the vessel, water spills out over the top and flows down through more flowforms and into the next vessel.

Love the zen like look of Acqua Viva. This by itself can persuade anyone to turn eco !:)

Posted in Eco-Art, Eco-biz, Eco-living, Eco-style, Ideas we ♥ | 1 Comment »

Bamboo grandeur

Tuesday, December 7th, 2010

Bamboo is the stuff of green dreams these days. Not only is it a winning combination of strong, lightweight and flexible; it also scores highly in the sustainable stakes, being super fast growing and easy to harvest locally in many parts of the world. What’s more, it is increasingly being lauded for its aesthetic qualities. None of this is news to any architect worth their salt – but one in particular, Vietnamese virtuoso Vo Trong Nghia, stands out for his exceptional bamboo designs.

The pictures above are of a massive structure made almost entirely of bamboo and other natural materials. Designed and constructed by Vo Trong Nghia , who is known as a somewhat of a bamboo building virtuoso, the domed structure is called the Water and Wind Cafe and resides in the Binh Duong province of Vietnam. Not only does the cafe showcase how versatile and strong bamboo , which is a rapid-growing renewable material, can be, it was also built without the use of even one nail!

What makes Nghia’s stand out is the dynamic domed shapes he is able to achieve with the material – especially without the use of modern machinery or metal structures. In fact, every bit of bamboo in the design was woven together using traditional Vietnamese weaving techniques.

The cafe’s frame measures 30 feet high and features an opening at the very top of the dome that allows daylight to stream inside. Like many other Vietnamese structures, it is covered in a local bush plant, which evokes an African-esque aesthetic. And contrary to what you might think about building with natural, local materials, the end result is not “homemade” looking at all and is actually rather streamlined and majestic.

This is a trail blazer in several ways-

- It’s possible to design large structures with natural , renewable , biodegradable materials

- It is possible to design something this huge without a nail

- The structure built can look awesome and inspiring

- The wisdom of a culture can find new and beautiful expression while creating a sustainable world

Each industry is plagued with self and world limiting beliefs . Creations such as these jolt , delight , inspire us to look afresh and create anew.

Tags: creative, decor, earth art, eco decor, eco heros, innovation, sustainable, vision
Posted in Eco-Art, Eco-biz, Eco-living, Eco-style, Ideas we ♥, Make a difference | 5 Comments »

Green School

Saturday, November 20th, 2010

John Hardy says that he was inspired to create the Green School after he watched ‘An Inconvenient Truth‘. It’s amazing what you can create and catalyze when you allow yourself to be inspired and follow it up with substantive action. Contrast that with watching something , getting all fired up for a while and then going back to life as usual.

It’s an interesting model that can be adapted in creative forms by educational institutes , communities and companies across the world – adapted for local environment , needs and culture.

Tags: business, creative, education, innovation, joy, sustainable, vision
Posted in Eco-biz, Eco-living, Ideas we ♥, Make a difference | No Comments »

Gift Green

Thursday, November 11th, 2010

GIFTS now have a new color – GREEN !

At Clean Planet we are committed to creative solutions for a joyous , sustainable world. A step in that direction is GIFT GREEN - fun , green gifting ideas. A space where you can get inspired and inspire others with your ideas for cool , green gifts.

The joy of creating something yourself is indescribable. In that sense a green gift is first and foremost a gift you give to yourself. To the recipient it’s an honor that you took the time and effort to create something. Besides the joy it brings – a green gift is planet friendly.

Welcome to Gift Green.

Tags: clean planet, creative, earth, earth art, eco decor, Gift Green, innovation, joy, recycling, sustainable, vision
Posted in Eco-Art, Eco-living, Eco-style, Ideas we ♥, Make a difference | No Comments »

The pursuit of convenience

Sunday, November 7th, 2010

The Japanese take convenience very seriously. A lot of things are structured to be ‘convenient’. Tea bags are individually packed in plastic sachets , likewise wet-tissues. Some brands even offer cookie packs where each cookie is packed individually. Most restaurants will offer wet tissues or towels individually packed in plastic. Vending machines are located in most streets/buildings dispensing the beverage of your choice in a variety of sizes. When it rains every mall/hotel/store sets up a stand in which your umbrella can get a plastic cover (to prevent water dripping inside the establishment ). Naturally (when it rains) you use a plastic bag for every such establishment you step into. The list can go on.

Multiply this activity a few million times just in Tokyo city and you can daily create a Mount Fuji of plastic.

Japan is by no means isolated in it’s pursuit of convenience and the consequent unnecessary damage to the planet. Most countries are on the same pursuit – faring better in some aspects and worse in others.

It would require (enormous) conviction , courage and creativity for businesses to create alternative ways to sell. The choice for a consumer is relatively easier – choose to buy products that don’t entail unnecessary packaging , carry your own water etc.

As consumers and businesses unless we choose to make a difference – this pursuit of convenience will make for an even more inconvenient future.

Tags: business, earth, plastic, restaurant, retail, shopping, super markets, sustainable, urban, vision
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The starfish and you

Monday, September 20th, 2010

One morning an elderly man was walking on a nearly deserted beach. He came upon a boy surrounded by thousands and thousands of starfish. As eagerly as he could, the youngster was picking them up and throwing them back into the ocean.

Puzzled, the older man looked at the young boy and asked, “Little boy, what are you doing?”

The youth responded without looking up, “I’m trying to save these starfish, sir.”

The old man chuckled aloud, and queried, “Son, there are thousands of starfish and only one of you. What difference can you make?”

Holding a starfish in his hand, the boy turned to the man and, gently tossing the starfish into the water, said, “It will make a difference to that one!”

It makes a difference that you carry a reusable bag daily and thereby reduce usage of plastic bags.

It makes a difference that you smile and and add to the joy quotient of the universe.

Your star fishes are waiting for you..

Tags: bag, clean planet, earth, joy, reusable bag, vision
Posted in Eco-living, Ideas we ♥, Make a difference | 3 Comments »

Green Roofs in Copenhagen

Sunday, September 19th, 2010

Copenhagen is now the first Scandinavian city to put a mandatory green roof policy into action. The new policy requires vegetation and soil to be a mandatory part in architectural planning; in particular, it covers all roofs with a slope less than 30 degrees, plus the refurbishment of older roofs. By putting this new green roof policy into action, it pushes the great Danish city one step closer to reaching their carbon neutral goal by 2025.

Now, as far as the green roofs go, there is a list of specific requirements to consider. Buildings with green roofs must be able to meet at least 2 of the following requirements:

The roof must absorb 50-80% of the precipitation that falls on the roof.
The roof must provide a cooling and insulating effect of the building and reduce reflection.
The roof must help make the city greener, reducing the urban heat island effect, counteracting the increased temperatures in the city.
The roof must contribute to a visual and aesthetic architectural variation that has a positive effect on the quality of life.
The roof must double the roof life of the roofing membrane by protecting it against UV rays, etc.

Superb initiative by Copenhagen. The green consequences of this requirement are several..

- Architects will have to learn about green roofs to incorporate them in their plans. The knowledge base in green roofing will shoot up.

- Innovation in green roofing (in Copenhagen to begin with ) will increase

- It would inspire architects and city planners in other parts of the planet to look at green roofs and other innovative eco ideas.

Tags: innovation, plants, sustainable, urban, vision
Posted in Eco-living, Ideas we ♥, Make a difference | 1 Comment »

Happy Today

Thursday, August 12th, 2010

Life is found only in the present moment. I think we should have a holiday to celebrate this fact . We have holidays for so many occasions – New Year , Christmas , Mother’s Day , Father’s Day , Earth Day – why not celebrate a day when we can live happily in the present moment all day long ? I would like to declare today “Today’s Day” , a day dedicated to touching the earth,touching the sky , touching the trees, and touching the peace that is available in the present moment.

Thich Nhat Hanh

Tags: joy, vision
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