Subscribe to My Feed
Loading ...Design for the Environment (DfE)
« Previous Entries“Eco-Pillows”
Wednesday, January 28th, 2009When I first read in O Globo of the latest offering from Campinas-based Les Coussins to be shown in mid-February at the annual trade fair of Brazilian Association of High Decoration Furnishing Industries (ABIMAD), I contacted their owner/designer, Fátima Queiroz, to ask for pictures and permission to blog about it. Fátima was not only nice […]
Toward a Green Building Rating System for Mexico
Tuesday, October 2nd, 2007Quiz time, folks. Did you know that Mexico has one of the two Latin American buildings that are Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certified? That nine other Mexican projects await LEED certification by the US Green Building Council (USGBC)? That Mexico has had its own green building council since 2005? That the Council […]
LAC Explores Sustainable Consumption and Production Policy
Thursday, September 27th, 2007This past April São Paulo State’s environment agency, CETESB, hosted Brazil’s National Roundtable on Sustainable Sustainable Consumption and Production. At the end of June the top body of the five-nation MERCOSUR (Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, Venezuela), the Common Market Council (CMC), adopted a binding Decision calling for an action plan, program and common policy on […]
The Metals Industry Stance on Recycling and Recycled Content
Wednesday, March 28th, 2007At the end of November a coalition of entities representing major segments of the mining and metals industries* issued a joint “Declaration on Recycling Principles.” As you may have discerned by now, everything having to do with waste and recycling interests me. I downloaded the Declaration, jotted notes and questions in a draft post, and […]
Attention Eco-designers! Eco-diseñadores, ¡atención! Eco-desenhistas, atenção!
Wednesday, March 21st, 2007For those interested in eco-design in a developing country context in general, or in sustainable design for Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) in particular, listen up! The First International Symposium on Sustainable Design (ISSD), slated for Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil 04-06 September 2007, has issued a call for papers and speakers. Those wishing to present […]
Guadalajara Building Keeps Cool by Design
Saturday, January 6th, 2007Just read about this very interesting experiment in “sustainable office building design” in Guadalajara, Mexico. The office building was designed by Catalan architect Carme Pinos, in part with a view to providing a way to keep the occupants cool year-round in sunny Guadalajara without (energy-sucking) air conditioning. Read all about it at the Myninjaplease Architecture […]
The Stove of the Future May be Mexican
Thursday, December 14th, 2006Every year Electrolux Design Lab sponsors a competition aimed at producing greener appliances and accessories that are also stylish. In 2004 the winner was a waterless dishwasher, in 2005 a waterless washing machine. This year the theme was healthier lifestyles, and the first place winner was a multi-layered food carrier. But we’re not going to […]
Brazilians Seek to Design the Eco-Efficient Home
Sunday, November 19th, 2006In a prior entry I introduced you to the experiments of the Federal University of Santa Catarina’s (UFSC) Construction Systems Laboratory with constructing homes using PET bottles. Today I’ll introduce you to the work of another innovative part of the UFSC, the Energy-Efficient Construction Laboratory (LabEEE). LabEEE’s main mission is research and development in improving […]
Eco-Help for the Cold Chain
Wednesday, October 11th, 2006What is the connection between a black-tie awards show in the UK and fighting disease in the field in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC)? Answer: it’s in all how you keep cool. Last week Refrigeration and Air Conditioning (RAC) Magazine held its annual “Cooling Industry Awards” ceremony in the UK, replete with tuxedos and […]
Sparking Creative Eco-Thinking
Thursday, September 28th, 2006I ran across a news brief about this contest the other day over at Treehugger. if you’re not familiar yet with Treehugger, you should check it out. A great site on ecological issues and thought, particularly eco-design and environmentally friendly products and services. [And no, they did not pay me to say that!] General Electric […]