Saving the Trillium Forest – Racing down to the finish

While it does comes down to money, it’s about so much more than that. It’s about watching people from all over Island County and beyond, work together to save this giant piece of land. You cannot walk into a local store, cafe, or lumberyard without seeing donation jars with “Save the Forest Now” buttons and postcards on them. Hikers, joggers, birders, photographers, horseback riders, and other groups lead talks and rides through the property. Even small schoolchildren are not spared, helping raise funds and teaching people about why we need to Save the Forest Now [...]

Four Products at GLOBE 2010 Innovating Ways to Build Greener

As an owner/builder, I’m always on the lookout for new products that make a difference in how we build or use materials. Walking the tradeshow floor at Globe 2010, I found four products that caught my eye as we look toward the future of the built environment. [...]

Overhead and Underfoot: Building a green roof upside down.

It is so large at six acres that you never feel as if you are on an actual roof, and therein is the real beauty of it. Now in its second year of growth, the illusion is so surreal in an urban environment that it’s easy to disregard what lies beneath the top layer. [...]

Transforming the Global Footprint of American Business

Last Thursday, a panel of business leaders spoke at Antioch University to a full room of entrepreneurs, students, faculty and members of the business community. Each gave a great presentation on how their company is working to create social and environmental benefits through innovative practices. [...]

Green Dreams: Coveting Sustainable Glass Art

by Jen Pennington

As someone in the early stages of building my own home, (at this point, a bare earth foundation pad), when I actually allow myself the luxury of dreaming about kitchen finishes, I can’t help but look at the various treatments with a certain unrestrained design lust. My mind wanders to the rich variety of sustainable products that are out there and I thoroughly enjoy the diverse design options any one of them would offer.

While the new standard eco-friendly choices–bamboo, reclaimed wood, marmoleum, clay finishes–are already in mind, I find myself lingering over the concept of glass as a design feature. I’m not talking about nice little squares of recycled glass tiles that no one can see unless they’re taking a shower or against a backsplash. I’m talking about thick glass slab countertops so beautiful they may cause an uncontrollable drooling response. Continue reading Green Dreams: Coveting Sustainable Glass Art

When will Philips lamposts bloom?

by Jen Pennington

I can’t help but remark on a concept Philips is promoting for an outdoor lighting structure that transforms from a solar flower during the day to a wind turbine on cloudy days to a nightlight. It’s been out for a few months, but as a designer, I’m drawn to both it’s functional and [...]

A Different Picture of Sustainability

What does it mean to be sustainable as artist or photographer in an uncertain economy? Rare is the artistic occupation in life that leads to becoming the next Richard Avedon or Ansel Adams. Things have not changed much to alter the cliché of the struggling artist. But passion doesn’t write a check to pay the bills. The commercial and stock photography world is highly competitive, and to compete you need more than talent. [...]

*