Posts Tagged ‘innovation’

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 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.

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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.

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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.

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Posted in Eco-Art, Eco-living, Eco-style, Ideas we ♥, Make a difference | No Comments »

Triple gift

Sunday, October 17th, 2010

Can you remember the gifts (including cards) you gave in the past year . Or the gifts received in the past year . A few perhaps. One possible reason is that the process of buying the gift was one of the countless trips to retail stores. Contrast that with the experience of a gift you made or the gift someone specially made for you. Doesn’t that bring back a huge smile and plenty of memories ?

Birthday coming up ? Search stores for some cool cards . Larger , pop up type cards stand a good chance of being purchased. Or search the net for some equally impressive online cards complete with animation , music. In all of this the best you feel you can do is to make a trade off among available options based on -

- What you feel the recipient would appreciate

- What you find acceptable to give

- Price of the product

In the modern day urban world most things are bought (v/s created yourself). Most things have gotten complex (some unnecessarily so). Ads pop up everywhere we go creating expectations and aesthetic standards that need a whole eco system of companies to create.

Now , let’s explore creativity. Many people still associate and confuse creativity with the ability to draw. If you did not do well in art class you probably labelled youself as ‘not creative’. Nothing could be further from the truth. You ARE creative.

Time constraints coupled with unrealistic aesthetic standards can cause most of us to shy away from expressing their creativity and love by way of hand-crafted gifts.

The next time you want to give a gift consider making something. Build up muscle . If the idea of making a gift sounds daunting start with a card and the packaging. You’ll enjoy making it. The persons you give it to will LOVE it.

A gift you make would be a gift thrice over – it’s a gift to be recipient , a gift to yourself and a gift to the planet.

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Posted in Eco-Art, Ideas we ♥ | 3 Comments »

Daily Awesome feedback

Friday, September 24th, 2010

We loved the awesome feedback campaign. It was wonderful to open up email and facebook to see the truly awesome feedback.

Let’s dissect what happens when awesome feedback is given – the recipient is touched , inspired , energized , feels acknowledged/loved. The person giving the feedback feels upbeat. The positive energy of the person giving the feedback and that of the person receiving it set ripples of joy into motion making for a more joyous universe.

So , here’s the awesome feedback campaign in a new form. Resolve to give awesome feedback to at least 2 people daily. Your parent, spouse ,child, grand parent , colleague , friend , neighbor , cab driver, fruit vendor , competitor , someone you come across online doing awesome work , boss, teacher – everyone is included. Do this for a while and you’ll start to wonder if you have moved to another universe. People suddenly look happier, confident.

Now, the guidelines of the awesome feedback campaign -

- Keep it genuine.

- Acknowledge/Celebrate what might otherwise be taken for granted ( e.g my sister is always helpful. Acknowledge/celebrate her for being so)

- Look at unexplored facets of the person.

- Share the feedback with enthusiasm , joy and humility

- Don’t expect the person to visibly melt or display gratitude. This is not a quid pro quo.

- Share your feedback creatively – speak , write , do something .

Now, let’s do the math…

365 x 2 (minimum) = 730  This is the Minimum number of times in a year you’ll give awesome feedback.

730 + 730 = 1460 smiles and sparks of joy – within you and the recipient.  1460 is a very conservative estimate. Our experience shows that the smiles tend to be way more frequent.

Will the people whose day you make with your feedback stay passively quiet even if you don’t tell them about the awesome feedback resolve ? Very , very unlikely . Joy is infectious.

Let’s assume for a moment that you gave awesome feedback to 730 different people and each one of them in turn consciously or otherwise spread the cheer . 730 x 730 = 532,900 sparks of joy.

(imagine what will happen when you extend awesome feedback to more than 2 persons daily )

A happy person is creative , kind , generous and content.

Many happy persons = more joyous , humane , creative , equitable, meaningful world.

It can all start with your awesome feedback.

Get started .

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Posted in Ideas we ♥, Make a difference | 6 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.

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Posted in Eco-living, Ideas we ♥, Make a difference | 1 Comment »

Thank You

Thursday, September 16th, 2010

A heart-felt Thank You to everyone who participated in the ‘Awesome Feedback‘ campaign . It was beautiful to see Clean Planet through your perspective. We’re delighted, impressed, inspired by the breadth and depth of the feedback received.We loved several of the suggestions. It catalyzed a whole lot of discussion which will soon be presented as new initiatives.

Clean Planet is a labor of love . To stay true to our vision we’ve made tough choices – big and small . Several of which will probably never be visible (or at least discussed by us ) or so we thought. We were quite amazed by some of the feedback.

Clean Planet is about enabling an inspired community that takes consistent action towards a more sustainable , equitable and joyous world. It’s our way of honoring and giving back to the world we are privileged to be a part of.

The planet needs consistent , thoughtful action – small and big. While no one can do everything . Everyone can do something.Let’s also remember that this is our home. Your voice – more importantly – your action matters.

Going forward you will see a whole range of initiatives ranging from new products to change-inspiring campaigns. Do participate,reflect , share , spread the word , take action.

Thank you for being part of the Clean Planet Community.

p.s – 15 of you have won a Clean Planet Tote. We’re certain it will be your companion in the journey to making a Clean(er) Planet. Each bag comes fitted with some special attachment that will keep reminding you to use it !

p.s – all the winners have been notified via email.

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Posted in Ideas we ♥ | 8 Comments »

Past and future of a product

Tuesday, August 24th, 2010

Interesting chair by Scott Garcia that serves as a reminder of the origin of the chair.

Awareness of the origin and the future of a product may enable more thought in purchases ? More thoughtful

purchases ?

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

Drive happier

Thursday, August 5th, 2010

Nissan recently announced that some of their future models will spray Vit C on it’s occupants *. Guess Nissan is trying to make the car journey (for the users ) healthier , more comfortable . And to differentiate Nissan from it’s competition.

* your computer bag will be equally moisturized !

World over – more than better cars we need way better roads and public transport . The absence of which is adding to the car population of the planet.

It would be really great if vehicle companies start to use their clout and resources to improve road conditions / support citizen initiatives for better roads ( written from an Indian perspective ).

Undoubtedly the car journey these days is getting longer and more stressful . Millions of people spend precious minutes and hours each day in the confines of their vehicle. Nissan is spot on in the endeavor to improve the experience.

Here are somethings vehicle manufacturers , marketers can do….

- Offer small wind chimes that can be hung in the car . The sound of a delicate wind chime is soothing (the wind chime in my room is chiming it’s approval )

- Offer delicate aroma products suitable for a car . There are perfume dispensers for cars . But most of them are so strong that one needs to open the window to diffuse the smell ! Ideally the product should be(it definitely can be)  biodegradable .

- Create a mechanism where messages can flash on the screen of the music player / TV / special screen : Kindness , love , joy , action inspiring messages -

- Between now and the time you reach your destination – think of 3 good events that happened today

- In 1 min – think of 2 people who bring you immense joy. Acknowledge them for the gift of their presence

- In the next 2 hours do something to help another person without any expectation of a payback

- Remember to thank the universe for all the blessings

- Smile

- Make another person smile

- Don’t use plastic bags

…..the list could go on.

Why depend on car manufacturers to improve the journey ?  DIY .

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

Cool Chair hangers

Saturday, July 31st, 2010

Cool hangers from chairs . Currently on sale at Resign .

Stuff like this sparks off ideas for recycling objects creatively .

Share your ideas with us.

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Posted in Eco-style, Ideas we ♥ | No Comments »

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