New York City’s new LED streetlights, which will use 30% less energy, will have “multiple lenses that can be configured to dial in specific lighting ‘footprints’ of uniform brightness.”  Their “coverage patterns” will be tailored to their location — park, street corner, and mid-block.  So not only will they reduce regular pollution, they’ll make a dent on light pollution as well.

A standard travel mug is much more practical — they usually have handles and tops that won’t spill — but this ceramic cup with silicone lid wins the design stakes.

Did you know Starbucks gives you a small discount if you use a reusable mug?  Employees and other customers usually look at you like you’re crazy, but every little helps.

Send e-cards like you give a damn.  Via 1Sky.

aja:

No, New York is not underwater (yet, anyhow) - that’s a clever ad for HSBC by Ogilvy & Mather Mumbai ad agency in India. The bank wanted to raise awareness of the dangers of global warming, so the clever ad guys glued an aerial photo of a city’s skyscrapers to the base of a swimming pool … the effect of a submerged cityscape is fantastic!

The Global Warming Swimming Pool: Swimming Above a Submerged City

“There’s no such thing as waste water.”

— Landscape architect Josiah Cain of Design Ecology, who worked on the design for the California Academy of Sciences’ distinctive living roof (above).

// NYT

Viral marketing in Amsterdam for MTV Switch, MTV International’s Global Climate Change Campaign. (The Cool Hunter).

hrrrthrrr:

“Flat Bulb” is designed by korean designer Joonhuyn Kim. Unlike ordinary bulbs, its volume is 1/3 smaller, reducing the cost of packaging and transport. Also, its slim shape allows bulbs to be easily stacked and prevents breakage as it does not roll. His work was on display as part of 100% design tokyo.

boutofcontext:

Clever. Design changes can bring big increases in efficiency/waste reduction. See also: Marco touching on a less-design-driven, but still-meaningful reduction in the footprint of video game packaging.

Me:

Of course, we shouldn’t be using incandescents at all, but: cool.

Via whatonearth, alexrambles & meghanelizabeth.

Using a clothing dryer is one of the naughtiest things most people do in their homes — well, carbon-wise, anyway.  The average machine accounts for about 6-10% of household energy use and costs about $160 a year to run.

Second Nature Design, a sustainable landscape firm based in San Francisco, created this “laundry grove” — a pair of hand-wrought recycled and powder-coated steel trees where the owners can hang out their wash to dry au naturel.

I love this witty, scuptural solution to an energy problem.  Alma Hecht, owner of Second Nature, says she she may produce the trees for retail.  I interviewed her for 3Qs, so stay tuned for more.