Most of us strive to use less energy, consume fewer … The post 10 Green Apps To Help You Live More Sustainably appeared first on Earth 911.
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10 Green Apps To Help You Live More Sustainably
When a young family asked Sanuki Daisuke Architects to design a light-filled house with access to nature in Ho Chi Minh City, the local architecture firm knew from the get-go that it would be crafting a townhouse that was far different from the city norm. Located in a high-density residential area, the long and narrow property wasn’t large enough to accommodate a spacious garden, so the architects decided to bring the outdoors into the home instead. Dubbed the VOM House, the three-story townhouse opens up to the outdoors on the first and second floors to let daylight, wind and even rain inside for an indoor-outdoor living experience like no other. Named for the Vietnamese word that means arch, the VOM House comprises three floors defined by large arched and column-free spaces. Because the clients, a couple with a daughter, made the somewhat unusual request for only two bedrooms — most Vietnamese clients ask for more, according to the architects — the bedrooms were placed on the top floor. As such, the two lower floors can be used as “outdoor rooms.” Related: Villa in Vietnam prioritizes natural light and green space Despite the site’s small size, the architects managed to carve out a small front garden and back garden that bookend the home. The front garden flows seamlessly into a double-height “outdoor living space” on the ground floor that connects to the combined kitchen and dining space in the rear. The clients plan to turn the ground floor into a coffee shop in the future. A small study space that overlooks the downstairs living area is on the floor above. The bedrooms also connect to a roof terrace. To reinforce the connection with nature, trees and plants grow throughout the home. “Although the house is located in a tight residential area in Ho Chi Minh City, many ‘Outdoor Rooms’ create an open and rich living space ,” the architects explained. “We proposed a tropical living space where the family can always feel close to nature under these large arch spaces.” + Sanuki Daisuke Architects Photography by Hiroyuki Oki via Sanuki Daisuke Architects
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Dramatic arches usher nature inside an alley home in Vietnam
Air pollution has become a major problem in Hanoi, the capital city of Vietnam, that was ranked the seventh capital city with the highest average annual PM 2.5 concentration by the 2019 World Air Report. In a bid to improve air quality while encouraging healthier lifestyles, local architecture firm ODDO Architects has embarked on an ambitious project to transform the tail end of the city’s Banana Island into a 26-hectare subtropical alluvial forest with recreational activities. Dubbed the Green Lungs of Hanoi, the proposed design is based on a 15-year plan for developing a lush canopy with mature trees measuring 8 to 15 meters tall. Located close to the city center, Banana Island is a 7-kilometer-long island that is largely undeveloped and unoccupied. According to the architects’ site study, the island suffers from inefficient land use, lack of management and illegal land usage that’s tied to poor living conditions for families who live there without access to clean water or electricity. With “Green Lungs of Hanoi,” the architects want to turn the island into a welcoming green space for the public with forest trails, pedestrian bridges and recreational activities that emphasize connections with nature. Related: Fruit trees grow on the roofs of this rammed earth home in Hanoi To realize their vision that they’ve developed over the past 1.5 years, the architects plan to work closely with the local government and community to recruit a team of volunteers of all ages to plant native trees and oversee long-term maintenance. The project also aims to raise awareness of the region’s endangered bird species, which have dwindled in recent years. In addition to providing an attractive green respite for Hanoi citizens, the architects hope to create a biodiverse habitat to increase local fauna populations. “The alluvial soil on the island also poses an issue regarding flooding and landslides due to its softness,” the architects noted of one of the project challenges. “However with semi-aquatic tree species like the one Green Lungs proposes, the land surrounding the river will be reinforced and become much stronger: preventing landslides from occurring. The location of Banana Island is extremely favorable for a green space. With its large area, and central location, it acts as Hanoi’s Lungs — purifying the air quality but also reviving an ecosystem, attracting new biodiversity and becoming a valuable and rich alluvial forest amidst the city.” + ODDO Architects Images via ODDO Architects
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Architects propose a massive forest park to be the Green Lungs of Hanoi
Environmentalists usually promote reuse . But sometimes reusing does more harm than good. Such is the case with many of the used vehicles exported to poorer countries, according to a new report released by the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP). According to the report, between 2015 and 2018, 14 million secondhand light-duty vehicles were exported around the world. Light duty vehicles include sedans, SUVs and minibuses. Many of these came from the U.S., Japan and Europe, and 80% wound up in low- and middle-income countries. Africa received the majority of these used vehicles. Related: No new gas-powered cars by 2035, California governor says Unfortunately, many of these cars are poorly made or in bad shape. As they spew emissions from Addis Ababa to Dhaka, they make it even harder for economically stressed countries to mitigate climate change effects. The answer? More regulations about exactly which cars are worthy of staying on the road, and which should drive (or be towed) straight to the junkyard. “Cleaning up the global vehicle fleet is a priority to meet global and local air quality and climate targets,” said Inger Andersen, UNEP’s executive director. “The lack of effective standards and regulation is resulting in the dumping of old, polluting and unsafe vehicles. Developed countries must stop exporting vehicles that fail environment and safety inspections and are no longer considered roadworthy in their own countries, while importing countries should introduce stronger quality standards.” The report studied 146 countries, concluding that two-thirds had weak or very weak policies about importing used vehicles. However, countries that imposed stricter regulations scored better imports. For example, because Morocco only accepts vehicles that meet European emission standards and are less than five years old, it gets some of the best used cars. In addition to the 40% of used vehicles bound for Africa, 24% went to Eastern Europe, 15% to Asia-Pacific, 12% to the Middle East and 9% to Latin America. Vehicles are responsible for nearly a quarter of energy-related greenhouse gas emissions globally. + UNEP Image via Shilin Wang
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The environmental impact of used car exports
Arguments against embracing sustainable choices often suggest life will be … The post Earth911 Podcast: Thinking Through Post-Growth Living With Philosopher Kate Soper appeared first on Earth 911.
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Earth911 Podcast: Thinking Through Post-Growth Living With Philosopher Kate Soper
