Device concept lets you monitor and lessen personal carbon footprint

If you’re conscious about how we’ve been treating Mother Earth the past few years, decades, centuries, measuring carbon emissions is something that you’ve probably looked into. There are a lot of tips out there on how you can keep track of your own carbon footprint and how you can slowly lessen it. It may sometimes require a huge lifestyle change and we also need a visible tool to help us do this and see how we can help our environment recover.

Designer: YeEun Kim

The Toad House is a device that looks like a cross between an air purifier and a smart speaker but is actually something you can use to monitor how much carbon emission you’re using when you’re at home and make the necessary adjustments. It is inspired by a Korean children’s song that talks about building a new house from an old one which can be a metaphor in how we can repurpose wasted energy.

The product description can be a bit vague on how the device can actually measure your carbon emissions but it says the interface at the top of the house is where you can check how much you’re already using. This is probably connected to the app on your smartphone where you set targets and also see the values of the various appliances and gadgets in your house. It also says that the wasted power from your devices can be stored and then used for wireless charging later on.

This is still a concept for now but if it eventually becomes a product, it would be interesting to see if a gadget like this can really affect how you use energy. Eventually, there can also be studies if it indeed lessens carbon emissions when you have a visual reminder of how much you’re using and leaving in your environment. Probably what’s needed now though is more education on how people can measure their carbon footprints, at least in their personal use.

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Installation shows how data usage affects our ecological footprint

We rarely think about how all our internet and data usage actually does something to the environment. The last two years has seen a huge increase in data usage with a huge number of population staying at home, having online classes, endless zoom meetings, streaming movies and TV shows, crypto and NFT explosion, and other online things we do. There have been studies showing how much carbon dioxide is consumed with all this use so we need to be a bit more conscious about our ecological footprint.

Designer: Thijs Biersteker

The artist is known for his ecological artworks that create awareness about the current problems we’re facing. His latest art installation is called MB>CO2, a machine that shows the actual impact that online activities are having on the environment. There are three monitors showing a different activity on each one like a Zoom call, Spotify playlist, Netflix viewing, etc. They are then hooked up to a mini-computer which shows the calculations of the emissions for each of these actions.

The actions then trigger a release of carbon dioxide gas in a spherical terrarium with some plants. You will see the plants begin to visibly wilt as the carbon dioxide increases and as more internet activities happen. People can actually call into the installation so they can see the actual effect in real-time. The algorithm even takes into account where the caller is dialing in from and the hardware being used.

Of course, to show the impact of internet activity on the environment, you will also need to use the internet and devices. So the artist has tried to limit the impact of this installation by using recycled steel in the construction and choosing screens and computers with low energy consumption. He’s also limiting the operation of the installation machine to just half an hour every month to avoid actually killing the plants and limiting the carbon dioxide that will be released once the biotope is opened.

The purpose of the installation is to show the actual physical impact that internet use brings since it’s hard for us to visualize. All the electricity and energy that powers our devices and the data servers and centers contribute to the carbon footprints but we’re not really conscious of it. The artist is hoping that this installation will make us think about these things as we continue to browse the internet on our various devices.

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UK McDonald’s net-zero carbon restaurant tries to make the environment a bit healthier

You might have guilty feelings when chowing down on that hamburger, but one McDonald’s restaurant in the UK might at least let you feel good about staying green while you’re there.

Fast-food and health are two words that never really got along well with one another, and it isn’t just about humans’ bodily health either. Sometimes worse than other restaurants because of their nature and their processes, fast-food chains have also become perilous to the health of the planet, particularly through their net carbon emissions. As one of the world’s biggest culprits, McDonald’s is trying to set an example and opened the first net-zero restaurant in the UK, though it still comes up short of being net-zero in the true sense of the word.

Designers: Scurr Architects and AEW Architects for McDonald’s

It’s no longer enough to just say that you’re using recycled materials for cups or utensils these days. Those are important first steps, of course, but not enough to earn you a “net-zero” badge for your building. For that, you’ll need to significantly reduce your carbon emissions in almost every aspect, including the construction, operation, and demolition of the establishment.

McDonald’s Market Drayton branch in the UK tries to check off a few of those boxes, particularly in the materials they used. Wall insulation is made from sheep’s wool, while parking lot kerbstones are each made from 182 recycled plastic bottles. Even the signage is made from McDonald’s own coffee beans as part of the company’s “circular waste solution.” All of these while retaining the same familiar design of McDonald’s restaurants around the world, or at least in the UK.

The day-to-day operations of the restaurant are also almost zero, with power being provided by two on-site wind turbines and 92 square meters (990 square feet) of solar panels. Strictly speaking, however, the restaurant can’t be considered truly net-zero because it doesn’t take into account consumption-based emissions, according to Dezeen.

It’s still an important step forward for the company as well as the UK’s net-zero carbon buildings thrust, especially considering how much foot traffic and how many customers a single McDonald’s branch gets on a single day. That said, it’s also just one in tens of thousands of McDonald’s locations around the world that still have to adopt the fast-food chain’s sustainable programs. It’s just the first step, of course, and McDonald’s plans to move forward in the years to come, including vegan, plant-based menus by 2025.

Photos courtesy of Anthony Devlin/PA.

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This cabin can easily transported to remote places & reduces construction carbon emissions!

Ever since the pandemic, escapes to secluded local destinations have become the norm which means more cabin designs for us to explore! This is Cabana, a compact and functional cabin that is designed to facilitate a unique experience. Cabana was made to fit in any space and location while making sure it had minimum impact on the environment which guided every detail such as the choice of materials or the process of assembly. The black, boxy unit with contrasting warm wooden interiors feels like the perfect place to read my entire pile of unread books for days!

It offers a cozy refuge from the chaos of our fast-paced lives. Since reducing construction impact on the surrounding was a priority, the team chose steel, cement slabs, and reforested wood for the structure as well as sealing materials. This minimized material waste through leftovers, water consumption, and carbon emissions which increased the overall energy efficiency of Cabana from design to construction and ultimately its usage.

Cabana has a very warm ambiance which it owes to the thermal, lighting, and acoustic comfort provided by rock wool on the walls and ceiling, as well as large PVC frames – a material known for its excellent insulation – that are strategically positioned in order to facilitate cross-ventilation. I would have loved to see a rainwater harvesting system or solar panels to make it more energy-efficient and sustainable.

Additionally, the use of LED strips and a wood-burning stove also help maintain a cozy atmosphere without using excessive energy. “All these actions aim to reduce the need to use air conditioning systems, improve performance in the use of artificial lighting, and consequently minimize the consumption of electricity,” elaborates the team.

Cabana was developed so that it could bring a sustainable cabin design to remote locations. To make that easier, it was divided into multiple modules that could be carried by two people which eliminated the need for cranes and allowed the cabin to be assembled quickly and in usually hard-to-access places.

It can also be transported with the aid of just one box truck which reduces the logistics and all the adversities caused in the process. The metallic pile foundation was designed to minimize its impact on the surroundings and to reduce the use of concrete which actually is the construction industry’s biggest generator of carbon emissions.

The building system is suitable for most terrains, but if necessary, a specialized engineering team will consult the terrain conditions and a specific new foundation will be developed. The team will also accompany the owner with materials and tools to assemble the cabin efficiently and quickly.

It has two levels – the lower area is the living space with a kitchenette and a fireplace while the upper area is entirely a sleeping zone. The bed mattress rests on a raised wooden platform and is positioned in a way to let catch the view of the sky through a window on the angular roof without leaving your bed. Cabana offers a complete cozy cabin-in-the-woods vibe but with a modern aesthetic and a sustainable construction process!

Designer: Liga Arquitetura e Urbanismo

This planter made from porecelain, organic waste & carbon actively reduces greenhouse gas emissions!





As we transition out of a health crisis, we can’t rest because we still have to deal with the climate crisis. There is worldwide anxiety about climate change and we are already seeing its disastrous effects.  Many conscious consumers are embracing sustainable lifestyles and the idea of carbon tech which simply means ways to turn excess CO2 into everyday products. One such innovative design is the Potted Carbon planter which looks like a simple off-white stone speckled with black but is an innovative design with a new material that reduces carbon emissions!

The Potted Carbon planters are made from porcelain mixed with organic waste that has been diverted from landfills. Landfills were accounted for about 15% of the U.S.’s annual methane emissions in 2019, so diverting some of that waste could help make a dent in emissions while also showcasing the possibilities of the new material that can be used for things beyond pottery. This new base material is called OurCarbon™. California-based company, Bioforcetech, has developed a technology to sanitize carbon and lock it into place for thousands of years. They developed the material as a soil amendment, material additive, filter, and colorant so it can be used in multiple ways.

So how does the pot trap carbon? Well, when porcelain and OurCarbon™ are fired together in a kiln they become inseparable. Another secret ingredient is grit which is wasted silica that’s seen as a nuisance in the waste management industry. During firing, grit melts into a glass-like material, which solidifies as it cools, and works as the binder that sticks porcelain and OurCarbon™ together making it into a solid material that is then molded into a planter. OurCarbon™ partnered with Sum Studio and Oakland-based design studio Break to design the Potted Carbon planters and are looking to expand the use for the new material so that they can scale the impact on reducing carbon emissions.

You can fit a six-inch nursery pot snugly into the handmade Potted Carbon planter. You can also upsize the container for your four-inch nursery plant and give it space to grow. Each planter comes with DEN sustainable soil which is locally sourced, synthetic-free, peat-free soil ingredients shipped to you carbon neutrally in biodegradable packaging. The planter features a flat vertical face with indentations on opposite sides as a subtle homage to the handles on ancient pots. The indentations let you suspend a nursery pot on the rim without fully potting it, leaving room for drainage underneath.

Designer: OurCarbon, Sum Studio and Break

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This net-zero home produces no waste or carbon – aesthetics & sustainability co-existing in architecture!

Architects and designers all over the world are trying their best to incorporate sustainability in their work. Biodegradable, carbon-neutral, eco-friendly, etc. are not just trends or buzzwords, these imply that we may have potential solutions to reduce the load on our planet and slow down the climate crisis. Sustainable structures create an impact on an ‘architectural’ scale and that is why I am fascinated by Baboolal, a net-zero home that produces no waste or carbon. Baboolals stay in North Carolina and they realized that their entire community lives in the exact same cookie-cutter houses that consume excess energy and they knew they wanted to create change by setting an example.

Architect Arielle Condoret Schechter was up to the challenge of designing their dream net-zero home. The home had to be well-insulated, air-tight, and energy-efficient because to reach a net-zero energy bill, the structure has to produce as much energy as it consumes.  Therefore Babool house features a photovoltaic array on the roof to generates solar power. It is also covered with a white cool-roof membrane and the windows are triple-glazed and protected with deep roof overhangs to prevent energy loss.

The Babool house also had to be a functional place for the parents, children, and their pets along with being sustainable. The core is an open, airy, and inviting central common family area while all of them have their own private bedrooms to retreat to. The spacious floor plan includes a gourmet kitchen, elaborate dining, and living areas, as well as deck access across the back of the house. It also has a study/music room, laundry room, pantry, and a two-car garage. To bring the outside scenic landscape in, the architect added operable glass doors to reduce energy loss and increase the visual spaciousness. The design encompasses a progression: one enters the house from the south which opens up into the main living space looking out into the natural views in the north creating a powerful indoor-outdoor connection.

“Our driving concept for the Baboolal residence was the Japanese principle of ‘Shakkei’ – borrowed landscape or scenery. The north side of their property is adjacent to a gorgeous grassy meadow which is part of a neighbor’s property. This north side is the dominant view from the Baboolal residence, so we are ‘borrowing’ this view. Borrowing the landscape is not just a Japanese design principle, but also one used prominently in British landscape design since the 1700s,” said Schechter. The home’s layout seamlessly flows from one zone to another. The modern aesthetic and net-zero strategies combine to make the Baboolal home beautiful, energy-efficient, sustainable, and carbon-free!

Designer: Arielle Condoret Schechter

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