March 31 Green Energy News

Headline News:

• “XLCC Completes Concept Design For New Cable-Lay Ship” • XLCC, in a collaboration with Salt Ship Design, has completed the concept design of a cable-lay vessel, which it says will be delivered in the first half of 2025. The planned delivery of the XLCC CLV will support the Morocco-UK Power Project, the cable manufacturer said. [reNews]

XLCC CLS (XLCC)

• “Germany Issues ‘Early Warning’ Of Possible Gas Shortages As Russia Threatens Supplies” • Germany issued an “early warning” of potential natural gas shortages as a payments dispute with Russia is developing. The German government said there are no supply shortages now, but it urged consumers to reduce their use as far as possible. [CNN]
• “Vermont Panel Hears Strategies To Store Nuclear Waste In Boreholes” • The Vermont Nuclear Decommissioning Citizens Advisory Panel’s Federal Nuclear Waste Policy Committee meets to review potential nuclear waste storage issues. This week the panel heard from a company that is proposing to use borehole technology to store such waste. [WAMC] (‽)
• “Renewables Provided 24% Of US Electricity In December” • In December 2021, renewable energy sources accounted for 23.8% of electricity generation across the US. Wind energy alone accounted for 11.9%, while grid-scale solar energy accounted for 2.7%. In December 2019, the US got 17.5% of its electricity from renewable capacity. [CleanTechnica]
• “Severe Drought And Mandatory Water Cuts Are Pitting Communities Against Each Other In Arizona” • As the climate crisis intensifies, battle lines are beginning to form over water amid a decades-long megadrought. Some Arizona communities are facing the very real possibility of losing access to the precious water that remains. [CNN]

For more news, please visit geoharvey – Daily News about Energy and Climate Change.

* This article was originally published here

This net-zero house is full of possibilities for the future

People grow and change over time. That’s just human nature . Now, there’s a house that will also grow and adapt over time. After all, people evolve. Shouldn’t their homes do the same? House Zero is a field trial for a proprietary concrete wall printing system. It was collaboratively designed by Icon and Lake|Flato Architects. The plan allows the house to evolve and change even as it fits into the natural Texas landscape. The home has flexibility, which is a truly modern idea. Related: This net-zero Big Sur home has enough power to charge EVs Robotics engineers, software developers and material scientists worked together to design this printed concrete construction technique. As a result, the home uses net-zero energy. The concrete walls are framed with wood. It’s a simple and beautiful design that’s also ingenious. Additionally, the home is designed to be built with robotic construction. It’s made with 3D printing techniques. It has a flat roof, exposed wooden beams and lots of glass to create big windows with gorgeous views. Furthermore, the house has an insulated envelope to prevent energy loss. There are deep overhangs to shield the interiors from sunlight and rain. The three-bedroom, two-and-a-half-bath home blends beautifully into the surrounding landscape. Moreover, the concrete walls are reinforced with steel. More of the walls can be added fairly easily and inexpensively using the same technology. The printer is operated with a mobile app and only a handful of people are needed to operate it. The process is quicker and produces less waste than traditional construction methods. The capabilities of 3D printing are expanding, and a home like this shows what’s possible. + Icon and Lake|Flato Architects Images via Casey Dunn

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This net-zero house is full of possibilities for the future

* This article was originally published here

Microplastics contaminate human blood, says new study

New research published in Environment International has confirmed the presence of microplastics in the human blood. In a study involving 22 participants, 80% of the samples tested were found to have microplastics. This is the first study to prove that microplastics can reach the bloodstream. In previous studies, microplastics have been found in animals and human feces. The researchers say they found up to three different types of plastic in some blood samples. They also found particles as small as 0.0007mm in some cases. The findings now prove that microplastics can travel through the body and may lodge in organs. Further research is needed to determine plastic’s effects on the body. However, the researchers behind the study say plastic particles could damage body cells. Previous studies have shown that air pollution particles inhaled cause millions of early deaths annually. Researchers worry the same findings could apply to microplastics. Related: Hermit crab study shows microplastic’s affect on marine life Plastic pollution is a major problem in our modern world. Each year, tons of plastics are dumped into the environment. Previous studies have shown that microplastics now contaminate the entire world, including remote areas. A recent study found 10 times more  microplastic pollution  in the Atlantic than previously thought. Another study found high amounts of microplastics  deposited on sea floors . In 2020, one study established  microplastics in produce  sold at the market. This could be one of the sources of the microplastics found in human bodies. At this point, most food sources consumed by humans are likely contaminated by plastics. Another study conducted in 2021 found  microplastics in cows’ bloodstreams . In the latest study, researchers analyzed samples from 22 unknown blood donors. All donors were healthy adults living a normal lifestyle. Among the samples, 17 contained microplastic contamination. Half the samples contained PET plastic, commonly used in water bottles. “Our study is the first indication that we have polymer particles in our blood – ?it’s a breakthrough result,” said Professor Dick Vethaak, an ecotoxicologist at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. “But we have to extend the research and increase the sample sizes, the number of polymers assessed, etc.”  The research was funded by Common Seas and the Dutch National Organisation for Health Research and Development. Alongside 80 NGOs and some U.K. MPs, these organizations are calling for the U.K. government to further research microplastic’s impacts on humans. Via The Guardian Lead image via Oregon State University

See the rest here:
Microplastics contaminate human blood, says new study

* This article was originally published here

Meet Christian Smalls and Derrick Palmer, the DIY Duo Behind the Amazon Labor Union's Guerrilla Bid to Make History - THE CITY

Meet Christian Smalls and Derrick Palmer, the DIY Duo Behind the Amazon Labor Union's Guerrilla Bid to Make History  THE CITY

* This article was originally published here

The 7 Best DIY Bluetooth Speakers - MUO - MakeUseOf

The 7 Best DIY Bluetooth Speakers  MUO - MakeUseOf

* This article was originally published here

Scaling the Work

In this episode, Brandon Gordon talks about scaling the work needed to match the business.

Make farming easier with the Paperpot Transplanter and Other Small Farm Equipment at https://www.paperpot.co/

Follow PaperpotCo on IG https://instagram.com/paperpotco

Podcasts by Diego Footer: Microgreens: https://apple.co/2m1QXmW Vegetable Farming: https://apple.co/2lCuv3m Livestock Farming: https://apple.co/2m75EVG Large Scale Farming: https://apple.co/2kxj39i

Small Farm Tools https://www.paperpot.co/

* This article was originally published here

DIY Hair Spray: Make This Simple and Natural Homemade Hair Spray

This DIY hair spray is simple and natural. So stop using chemicals on your hair and make this fruit-based homemade hair spray recipe instead!

I was so excited to share this homemade hair spray recipe that I had a hard time conducting an adequate test phase! But after a month of use, I’m thrilled with the results. (UPDATE: I’ve been using this formula for over two years now, and won’t ever go back to store-bought!)

Here’s how and why I make my own DIY hair spray.

DIY Hair Spray Allows Me To Control Ingredients

Nowadays I have very thick, curly, long(ish) hair and need to use a generous amount of hair spray no matter how I style it. (My hair scares Matt if I don’t tame it with at least a little bit of hair spray.) I used to be a fan of maximum hold hair spray, but it left my hair so crunchy my 4-year-old nephew wanted to touch it every chance he got.

Also, the chemicals and cost of keeping my coif looking good frustrated me. I cringe when I think about the chemicals I inhale with cheap hair spray, not to mention that it sits on my hair all day. (Poison control categorizes hair spray as minimally toxic.)

The cost of natural hair spray tends to make me cringe too.

It’s time for something different. It’s time for homemade hair spray.

To my delight, Matt received a basic recipe for DIY hair spray from a DIYNatural reader named Charli. I. Was. Giddy!

I tested the recipe, made a few tweaks, and came up with this wonderful recipe for DIY hair spray.

Print

DIY Hair Spray: Citrus-Lavender

This DIY hair spray is simple and natural. So stop using chemicals on your hair and make this fruit-based homemade hair spray recipe instead!

Prep Time 5 minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes

Cooling Time 15 minutes

Total Time 40 minutes

Servings 9 ounces

Author Betsy Jabs

Cost $1

Equipment

• 1 Cheesecloth
• 1 funnel (stainless steel)
• 1 measuring cup (glass)
• 1 8-ounce mist spray bottle

Ingredients

• 1 whole orange (For dark hair OR use lemon for light hair, preferably organic to avoid having pesticides in your hairspray.)
• 2 cups filtered water (or distilled)
• 2-3 Tbsps high proof vodka (or other clear grain alcohol)
• 6-8 drops lavender essential oil

US Customary – Metric

Instructions

• Start your DIY hair spray by cutting a whole orange or lemon into wedges and combine with 2 cups of water in a small pot. Boil over medium-high heat until liquid is reduced by half.
  1 whole orange, 2 cups filtered water
• Strain liquid through cheesecloth into a measuring cup. If you boiled too much liquid out add water until you have 1 cup. Allow citrus juice to cool.
• Combine alcohol and essential oils in a small bowl, swirl to mix, then add to the cup of citrus juice. (Feel free to experiment with your favorite essential oil or leave them out altogether.)
  2-3 Tbsps high proof vodka, 6-8 drops lavender essential oil
• Use a funnel to pour your DIY hair spray into a spray bottle with a fine mister and shake to combine ingredients. Shake before each use.

Notes

This is not a maximum hold hair spray that will freeze a prom up-do or 80’s bangs. I can say with confidence that it’s a flexible-hold formula. I was a loyal user of firm-hold hairspray for years before trying this formula, now I PREFER this to my old sprays.

This DIY hair spray formula has been tested on my brunette hair. Use oranges for darker hair, and lemons only if your hair is light-colored. There is a chance the lemon can lighten your hair when exposed to sunlight.

Grab the orange or lemon sitting in your fruit bowl and give this homemade hair spray a whirl!

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DIY Hair Spray: Make This Simple and Natural Homemade Hair Spray was written by Betsy Jabs.

* This article was originally published here

Farming Doesn't Have to Be Full Time

In this episode, Curtis Stone talks about how you don't have to farm full-time if you want to farm. 

Make farming easier with the Paperpot Transplanter and Other Small Farm Equipment at https://www.paperpot.co/

Follow PaperpotCo on IG https://instagram.com/paperpotco

Podcasts by Diego Footer: Microgreens: https://apple.co/2m1QXmW Vegetable Farming: https://apple.co/2lCuv3m Livestock Farming: https://apple.co/2m75EVG Large Scale Farming: https://apple.co/2kxj39i

Small Farm Tools https://www.paperpot.co/

* This article was originally published here

Ponzu Sauce Recipe: A Japanese Umami Condiment and More

Ponzu sauce is a savory sauce with an umami flavor (pleasant savory taste). Often served with sashimi it also makes great marinades and more.

In the fall and winter, I think about comfort foods. One of those is a stir fry made with all those abundant fall vegetables. I looked high and low for something new in flavor and found it in ponzu.

What is Ponzu Sauce?

Ponzu is a savory sauce made for foods that are umami, which is Japanese for “pleasant savory taste.” It is considered by some as one of the five senses, but it seems to go deeper than that as being a totally separate taste sensation. Ponzu sauce is often used in umami dishes such as sashimi and shabu shabu. I’ve been using it for chicken marinade and grilling sauce and salad dressing.

Ponzu consists of soy sauce, citrus juice, vinegar, and dashi, a clear broth often used for soup stock. You can make your own by simmering kombu, a type of kelp, and bonito, a dried fish. After simmering for 30 minutes or so, solids are strained out and the broth is used. I make a batch of it and freeze it in ice cube trays. Then when I need it, I can take out 3 cubes or so and make my ponzu. It also comes pre-made for convenience. (Find it here.) You can leave out the dashi, but some say it’s critical for the umami sensation.

Easy Ponzu Sauce Recipe

Ingredients

• ½ cup lime juice – you can use any citrus, but I’ve found that lime has the best flavor (find organic pure lime juice here)
• 2 tablespoons rice vinegar (like this organic brand)
• 2 tablespoons mirin, or 2 tablespoons brown sugar (find mirin here)
• ⅓ cup soy sauce (find organic soy sauce here)
• ⅓ cup dashi, optional (learn to make your own here – most commercial dashi has MSG added)
• a few flakes of chili pepper (find organic chili pepper flakes here)

Directions

Simply combine all ingredients in a small bowl. I like to simmer mine together for about 15 minutes to mingle and concentrate the flavors. Then I strain it to get out the pepper flakes. Store it in a jar in the refrigerator for up to a month. There are several ways to use it. Here are a few ideas:

Ponzu Sauce Chicken

Take a medium chicken and cut it into pieces. Place all the pieces into a glass bowl and cover with ponzu. Roll the chicken pieces around to be sure all of them are covered in ponzu. Cover and refrigerate for a few hours. Don’t let it sit for more than six hours as fresh citrus juice can “cook” the chicken. Take the chicken out of the bowl after a few hours and place it on a baking sheet. Bake for 30 minutes at 350°. Larger pieces may take longer. The chicken can be eaten just as it is or you can use it in stir fry. I like to grill my chicken if it’s nice enough outside. The brown sugar in the ponzu makes a nice brown color on the skin.

Ponzu Salad Dressing

I love a light salad dressing that is full of flavor. Ponzu sauce makes it easy.

• ½ cup ponzu
• ¼ cup oil
• ½ cup chopped fresh herbs

Stir all of the ingredients together and pour over your salad. I use whatever herbs are in season, usually fresh oregano, basil, dill, and thyme. The oil can be almost any oil. I like the flavor in sesame, but you can use olive or hazelnut or whatever you choose.

Ponzu Sauce Stir Fry

Stir fry can be almost anything. This time of the year I use a lot of squash and root vegetables. My dinner tonight consisted of butternut squash, onions, mushrooms, sunchokes, corn, beans, peas, parsnips, and broccoli. We had a nice crop of late broccoli and have harvested over 30 pounds of sunchokes (Jerusalem Artichokes) so far. I cut everything up and have it ready in bowls so I can put it in in order of how it cooks.

I started with the squash and a few tablespoons of coconut oil. Next, I added parsnips and broccoli. The onions and parsnips were added next and then the rest after that. I throw on a bit of sea salt and cracked pepper. I don’t use much salt as the ponzu is salty. When everything is almost tender-crisp, I throw in the chicken that I pre-cooked with the ponzu sauce. Once it’s all hot, I pour about a cup of ponzu over and bring it up to a boil. When it’s boiling, I add a cornstarch and water mixture. Just take a few tablespoons of cornstarch and mix it into 1.4 cups of cold water.

Add some of this mixture to the boiling ponzu and stir through the stir fry. Add more cornstarch if necessary to make a nice sauce. Serve hot with a side of rice, or try quinoa for a nice change.

More Condiment Recipes

Check out our other condiment recipes.

How about you?

Do you have a favorite ponzu sauce recipe? Share your experience!

*******

Ponzu Sauce Recipe: A Japanese Umami Condiment and More was written by Debra Maslowski.

* This article was originally published here

It Just Takes Time to Build a Customer Base

In this episode, Chris Gilbert talks about how building a customer base takes some time. 

Make farming easier with the Paperpot Transplanter and Other Small Farm Equipment at https://www.paperpot.co/

Follow PaperpotCo on IG https://instagram.com/paperpotco

Podcasts by Diego Footer: Microgreens: https://apple.co/2m1QXmW Vegetable Farming: https://apple.co/2lCuv3m Livestock Farming: https://apple.co/2m75EVG Large Scale Farming: https://apple.co/2kxj39i

Small Farm Tools https://www.paperpot.co/

* This article was originally published here

How to Get Rid of Ants Naturally with Homemade Ant Bait That Works!

Knowing how to get rid of ants naturally is easier than it sounds! You’ll learn how to make homemade ant bait, diatomaceous earth, and more.

I take pride in my advanced detective skills, and I apply them to almost everything! For example, figuring out who ate a sticky snack on the couch, who wore muddy shoes in the house, and most importantly, where is the entry point of the army of ants invading our house?

When the ants invaded, I figured out how to get rid of ants naturally. And here’s how we did it!

How to Get Rid of Ants Naturally

Having ants everywhere outdoors doesn’t bother me. But when I see them treading upon the kitchen countertops I spring into action. Therefore, in the past two spring/summer seasons we have successfully rid our house of two different types of ants. Also, we decided it was time to show you how to get rid of ants naturally!

Identifying Ants

When learning how to get rid of ants naturally, detective work is an integral part of eradicating them. Furthermore, finding the most effective treatment for ants depends on the specific type you have invading your house. To explain, each species has different behaviors, preferences in food, and eradication solutions.

Some ants are specific to the region, so we only have experience dealing with certain types. So in this article, we’ll cover remedies for odorous house ants and carpenter ants. In addition, read the end of the article for tips that may work on other species.

Finally, for help identifying these ants, see the images here or here.

Odorous House Ants

You will find these ants anywhere you have sweets laying around.

Odorous house ants will leave a chemical pheromone trail wherever they travel. If you kill them, other ants will simply follow the trail and show up in the same places. For this reason, kill the entire colony.

When you see the first few ants, you can sponge them (and the surrounding area) with soapy water to eliminate the pheromone trail. Immediately work to figure out where they’re getting into your house, and begin placing homemade ant bait at the entry points.

How to Get Rid of House Ants

Homemade Ant Bait

Borax will kill odorous house ants, and powdered sugar will attract them.

Make a homemade ant bait by thoroughly mixing one part of borax with 3 parts powdered sugar.

Fill tiny containers (such as bottle caps) with this homemade ant bait and place them as close to the place where you suspect ants are entering your house. If you see trails of ants, place small containers of the mixture directly in their path. This prevents most of them from traveling all around your house if they have easy access to this sugary treat.

(Have pets or kids who might get into this powdery mixture? Try this instead: mix one cup of warm water with ½ cup sugar and 3 tablespoons of borax. Soak it up with cotton balls and place them in shallow dishes near ant trails.)

Resist the urge to kill all the ants you see. They will carry the bait back to the nest, unable to differentiate between the borax and sugar, and the borax particles will eventually kill the entire colony. The more homemade ant bait carried back to the colony, the fewer ants you will have.

More Tips for House Ants

Spray vinegar near baseboards, in any cracks, and on countertops where they may be traveling. You can allow the vinegar to dry on surfaces or wipe with a clean cloth – this eliminates their chemical trail and will deter some of the stragglers. Repeat several times a day. (find white vinegar here)

Practicing good sanitation practices is one of the best ways to make your home less attractive to ants. Keep spills, crumbs, and garbage cleaned up in the kitchen. Be sure to store all food – especially sweets – in tightly sealed containers or zip-top bags. They will get into things like jars of honey that have drips on the side or around the lid, so sealing the jar in a zip-top bag will protect it.

The ants will choose more desirable bait (like spilled soda or cookie crumbs) over this natural bait, so learning how to get rid of ants naturally means keeping your place clean!

Carpenter Ants

You will find Carpenter ants around homes in wooded areas. They don’t carry the homemade ant bait back to their nests, so you have to kill them at the source. This means you have to do a little detective work to find the nest(s). Don’t bother using the borax/sugar bait – they’ll just feed on it like little piggies at a trough.

They will typically live outdoors very close to the house, and eventually, enter your house in search of food and water.

How to Find the Carpenter Ants Nest

Carpenter ants live in wood and tunnel through it. The best clue to look for is small piles of very fine sawdust – the remains of the wood they have chewed through. You will typically find carpenter ant nests in moist wood in foundations, decks, woodpiles near your house, trees, gaps between boards, etc.

If you take some time to figure out where ants are entering the house, you can usually track them back to a nest. It’s easiest if you kill all the ants in sight, then watch for new ants to appear to determine their general entry point. This may give clues to holes that need to be sealed up, rotting foundations where they’re living, or cracks under doors they’re traveling under.

How to Get Rid of Carpenter Ants Naturally

Diatomaceous Earth

The best natural remedy we have found for eradicating carpenter ants is Diatomaceous Earth (DE). DE is completely natural and organic. It is made from tiny skeletal remains of algae-like plants.

DE is lethal dust for insects. Its microscopic razor-sharp edges will cut through the body of insects, drying them out and killing them. If ingested by carpenter ants, it will shred their insides. There are different types of DE, so keep in mind you must get food grade DE for pest control. (You do not want the DE that is sold for swimming pools – it has a different make-up.)

Food grade DE is completely safe to be used around kids and pets and can be sprinkled around the home and yard without posing a threat. Find food-grade Diatomaceous Earth here.

How to Apply the DE

In order to get rid of a colony of carpenter ants, DE must be injected directly into the nest. We used a medicine dropper to squirt dry DE into cracks where we found them nesting. You can also use a bulb duster gadget to spray it into cracks or holes. And remember, DE must be reapplied after it rains.

You can also mix the Diatomaceous Earth powder with water and apply using a spray bottle (either a small bottle or the pump-action yard sprayers). Simply mix 2 Tbsp of powder per quart of water and spray wherever you have problems with ants.

The best advice I can give to get the most out of your DE treatments is to stay on top of it! This pesky ant species may relocate their nests and find new ways into your house. If you see a resurgence, put your detective hat back on and find that nest.

How to Get Rid of Ants Naturally: Other Tips

Here are some remedies DIY Natural readers (thanks Y’all!) have used to treat ant problems:

• Some ants like protein and grease. Mix a spoonful of peanut butter with 1 tablespoon of sugar and 1 teaspoon of borax. Using a plastic straw, tap the end into the mixture repeatedly until the straw is full of the mixture. Cut the straw into ½ inch pieces and place them next to ant trails.
• Put a few drops of peppermint essential oil on a cotton ball and place it in areas ants are crawling around. (find 100% pure essential oils here)
• Sprinkle cinnamon (being careful not to get it on things that will stain) near entry points.
• Some ants dislike baby powder. Sprinkle around the perimeter of the house or indoors where ants are entering your house.
• Rub a little Vaseline near the areas they are entering the house.

Note: we also have a great article on how to get rid of aphids naturally.

(photo credit to Diane Jabs)

*******

How to Get Rid of Ants Naturally with Homemade Ant Bait That Works! was written by Betsy Jabs.

* This article was originally published here

March 9 Green Energy News

Headline News:

• “Europe Plans To Reduce Russian Gas Imports By 66% This Year” • Europe is planning to reduce consumption of Russian natural gas this year as it prepares for a complete break with its single biggest energy supplier over the war in Ukraine. EU officials outlined a plan to achieve energy independence from Moscow “well before 2030.” [CNN]

Wind turbines (Irina Iriser, Pexels)

• “Germany Rules Out Prolonging Its Nuclear Power Plants” • Berlin has ruled out extending the lifetime of its existing nuclear fleet, brushing aside energy security concerns after Moscow threatened to halt gas supplies to Germany in retaliation for Western sanctions in the Russia-Ukraine war. Closing the nuclear fleet is too far along to be reversed. [EURACTIV.com]
• “War in Ukraine: Fitch Ratings warns Russian bond default ‘imminent'” • Fitch Ratings has warned Russia is likely to soon default on its debts, as it downgraded the country’s bonds further into “junk” territory, almost to the bottom grade. The warning came after the EU, US, and UK said they will reduce or ban imports of Russian oil or gas. [BBC]
• “Vice Admiral McGinn: Renewable Energy Will Save Us From Dictators Whose Power Comes From Fossil Fuels” • Vice Admiral Dennis V McGinn wrote a piece for The Hill responding to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. He argued that renewable energy will save us from dictators powered by fossil fuels and called for the US to up its game on renewables. [CleanTechnica]
• “Hydrogen Truck Maker Nikola Leads EV Stock Rally As Biden Cuts Off Russian Oil” • Nikola, which aims to replace diesel-fueled semis with trucks powered by batteries and hydrogen, was one of the biggest stock market gainers among EV makers after President Biden said the US was cutting off imports of Russian oil because of its invasion of Ukraine. [Forbes]

For more news, please visit geoharvey – Daily News about Energy and Climate Change.

* This article was originally published here

Naytra Couture’s sustainable silk clothing uplifts artisans

Naytra Couture designs sustainable silk women’s clothing. The sustainable couture pieces include shirts, tunics and scarves — all made with zero plastics. “We have adopted an absolutely no plastic policy. We use 100% pure mulberry silk – no man-made fiber at all,” the company stated. Naytra Couture also works with manufacturing partners that are Standard 100 OEKO-TEX certified, and all packaging is eco-friendly. “Your Naytra tunic or scarf will come in a special design cotton bag, with a recycled paper box and with hand-tags made out from recycled paper,” the designers said. Related: Luxury vegan silk startup sets high bar for sustainable fashion How does Naytra Couture work? The company partners with female folk artists in Indian villages who create clothing designs based on traditional artwork motifs. As the Naytra Couture website explains, working with these artisans helps keep “the ancient folk art of Madhubani (meaning a “forest of honey”) alive.” The result is one-of-a-kind wearable art made of 100% silk. This female-founded, female-run company is driven by three key principles. These principles include eliminating the middleman to work with artists directly and pay them a fair wage. Additionally, the company donates a portion of its profits to support the elimination of curable blindness. Naytra, pronounced “neh-trah,” means “eyes” in Hindi and Sanskrit. This sustainable fashion house believes “our eyes are a window to our inner world — our feelings, thoughts and views of the universe.” Finally, the company’s third guiding principle is to “help mother earth by creating keepsake garments versus fast fashion.” Each tunic or scarf created by Naytra Couture is based on an artisan’s original painting. The designs are brightly colored, with animal and jungle motifs. If you’re looking for a statement piece or a treat to top off your wardrobe, Naytra Couture is a sustainable choice that uplifts underserved communities and helps make the world a better place. + Naytra Couture Images via Naytra Couture

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Naytra Couture’s sustainable silk clothing uplifts artisans

* This article was originally published here

3D printing powers this plan for a carbon neutral cacao village

Valentino Gareri Atelier has designed a village made using 3D printing and cacao waste for Ecuadorian chocolate manufacturer MUZE Cacao and nonprofit Avanti. This is the first of a planned global network of sustainable smart villages — a carbon-neutral circular economy for the cacao industry. The Cacao Eco Village is slated to be built in 2022 in Pedernales, a county in the coastal province of Manabi, Ecuador, where cacao farmers live. “We have pushed the circular economy core principles so much that they informed the design philosophy of the entire project,” said designer Valentino Gareri. “The cacao waste, result of the chocolate production process, will be re-utilized for 3D printing parts of the village. Waste is not only turned into a resource, but into architecture.” The sustainable architecture behind Cacao Eco Village focuses on five core principles: modular , functional, sustainable, tech-enabled and connected. This is no minimalist village of huts in the rainforest. The Eco Village will be a smart city. The modular principle is explored through extendable, replicable and adaptable spaces. The village will house co-living and co-working spaces and operate as a cacao processing plant, chocolate factory and educational and research center. Designers also hope to turn the village into an eco-tourism destination. The Eco Village is also self-sufficient through rainwater collection, solar power and natural ventilation. It will also incorporate local building materials such as bamboo , timber and 3D-printed structures formed of cacao shell waste biofilaments. “In the not-too-distant future, we will be able to design buildings entirely made of natural materials and recycle them at the end of their life cycle in order either to create new ones, or to return them back to nature,” Gareri said. How smart is this smart city? Eco Village is going for cutting edge with the use of blockchain, IoT (internet of things) tech integration, and NFTs.Still, Eco Village aims to keep the style of the village and its culture true to historical community traditions. The buildings use local and natural materials, and facades draw inspiration from the multi-colored Ecuadorian houses and the colorful fruits of cacao trees . Water tanks for rain collection are integrated into the rooftops. The shape of the rooftops was inspired by Ecuadorian art patterns. The Eco Village will also feature pedestrian/cyclist pathways and charging stations for electric vehicles . Cars and trucks are only allowed around the factory and production areas, making this a walkable and clean community. Designers are using a circular economy model as a creative solution for reducing the environmental footprint of the cacao industry, while also generating income, reducing resource dependency and minimizing waste .MUZE Cacao aims to create new ethical cacao-based products using the most out of the fruit (~80% is currently wasted). This will reduce waste and offset carbon while creating jobs for cacao farmers. The Village also hopes to be the Silicon Valley of circular economy innovators and attract inventors and testing facilities for AgTech, FinTech and FoodTech startups, manufacturers and researchers. + Valentino Gareri Atelier Via Dezeen Images via Valentino Gareri Atelier

Read the rest here: 
3D printing powers this plan for a carbon neutral cacao village

* This article was originally published here

This DIY project shrinks an M1 Mac mini to half its size - Input

This DIY project shrinks an M1 Mac mini to half its size  Input

* This article was originally published here

Sustainable design makes this forest home timeless

Atelier C by Nicholas Francoeur is an artists’ residence in Quebec that transcends common forms of green design. The house incorporates multiple sustainable design strategies and has even received LEED Platinum certification. The house is clad in charred cedar that complements the white aspen used for the soffits and ceilings. This dark, cedar exterior juxtaposes with the bright, airy interiors. A selection of tall, rectangular windows creates vertical framed views to the outside. This verticality and rhythm further emphasize immersion in the lush woods. Related: Off Grid House takes remote sustainability to new heights One of the clients’ main requests was to incorporate spaces for working on their creative pursuits. The couple practices writing, photography and music, thus requiring ample workspace. To meet this requirement, Atelier C boasts four studios. The two south-facing studios are dedicated to music and fabrication. The two that face the north are for photography and writing and are integrated into the floor plan as spaces that one circulates through instead of as two separate rooms. For Atelier C, Francoeur intended to shift from typical green architecture and infuse the project with beautiful, modern details that support sustainable design strategies. For him, the house’s functional components needed to be aesthetically pleasing, too. One such example is the mono-pitched roof and overhangs. Beyond their elegant appearance, they manage climatic conditions to enhance user comfort and project longevity. During the harsh winters, the roof slope and overhangs efficiently drain off the snow. In the warmer months, they limit direct sunlight in the summer afternoons, keeping the interiors naturally cool. To further support these thermal comfort strategies, the house uses double the insulation required by code, minimizing energy needed during colder months. Sustainable material choices were also an important consideration for the project. The clients opted to use natural materials wherever possible, including cellulose insulation and various types of timber . The designer also selected furnishings to limit Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) emissions without sacrificing aesthetics. Another green design aspect Francoeur considered is longevity. This meant prioritizing well-crafted technical details and a timeless design. Creating spaces with the intent of aging well is crucial, as architectural details become elegant and follow universal design principles instead of seasonal trends. Furthermore, the meticulous design details mean the project won’t require frequent renovations , thus minimizing costs and environmental impact. Through his work on Atelier C, Francoeur has been able to prove that sustainable architecture need not be unattractive and purely functional. Instead, through well-crafted details, environmentally-friendly design can be timelessly beautiful. Project collaborators include general contractor Renovia Inc., structure by Maisons Éléments, kitchen work by À Hauteur d’Homme, and cabinetry by Xavier Hackenbeck. + Nicholas Francoeur Photographs by Raphaël Thibodeau and Ronny Theriault

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Sustainable design makes this forest home timeless

* This article was originally published here