A refrigerator is perhaps the most common appliance in every household kitchen. Without it, most of us would have no idea how to keep our food fresh and preserved. Refrigerators, however, use tremendous amounts of electricity and are one of the most energy-intensive appliances in our homes. Might there be other ways to preserve our food without relying on fossil fuel energy supplied by a refrigerator? The Energetic Cost of […]

Many major cities across the world have been adopting zero-waste strategies that they hope to demonstrate within the next few decades. Sydney has embraced a rather bold strategy to push the hub to 90% zero-waste by the year 2030. Officials plan to focus on residential and industrial spaces, along with buildings within the city and larger public spaces. The new approach requires major adjustments including regular food, e-waste, and textile […]

Covered in heat-trapping asphalt and concrete, cities can become urban heat islands that can stay hot even into the late-night hours. According to some studies, the heat-stress index for many European cities will double by 2050, when compared with adjacent rural areas. By 2100, some cities may even see a temperature increase of 8 degrees Celsius. While adding more trees and creating larger areas of shade seems like a perfect […]

Is it possible to stay warm during winter without a fossil fuel powered central heating system? Straw bales are one of the most common left over products from farms in the United States. In many places, excess straw bales are burned leading to huge amounts of contamination. Straw bales, however, are some of the most insulated construction materials available. When designed together with passive solar design, a straw bale home […]

Sustainability has many definitions. The dictionary meaning of it suggests it means the ability to sustain or endure. However, it is noteworthy that the United Nations World Commission on Environment and Development (WCED) Brundtland report known as “our common future” published in 1987 served as one of the mediums for making sustainability a popular global issue. Sustainable development was defined in the report as the “development that meets the needs […]

Riding a bike is a sustainable, green, eco-friendly transport option, right? Well, “it’s not what you do, it’s the way that you do it” as the old saying goes. If you want to know how to destroy the planet faster, undermine community spirit and generally be ‘part of the problem’ in all ways possible by riding your bike, then you’ll love this step-by-step guide! 1. The more greenhouse emissions, the […]

What do you do with those large limbs and logs that fall from the trees around your home after a windstorm? Unless you heat your home with wood, chances are that you either call a tree service to cut them up and take them away or line them up on the curb for the garbage truck to deal with. Hügelkultur garden beds offer a fantastic way to use those limbs […]