Wired has an interesting story about the Citizenrē Corporation, an energy startup who has made a simple promise of "Solar for free". Instead of making you pop for $25,000 or more in panels, inverters and other gear, Citizenrē says it will loan you a complete rooftop solar power system, install it for free and sell you back the power it generates at a fixed rate below what your utility charges. Sustainable lifestyle advocate and solar maniac in his own right Ed Begley, Jr. (remember him?) has just shot an eight-minute video for the company's website, and more than 7,000 people from Maine to San Diego have already signed up for systems. Not surprisingly, this model has generated a few skeptics, mostly from the more traditional sell-and-install solar photovoltaic community, some of whom simply don't think they can pull it off. It's a pretty far-out idea, full of twists that include multilevel marketing schemes, theoretical payback periods and secret manufacturing facilities; if it works, it'll be brilliant. If not...well, it wouldn't be the first time, but, still, wouldn't you want cheap, clean, renewable power for life? Read the whole thing over at [Wired] and learn more at [Citizenrē]
Dwell, the magazine that has long been a favorite around SSF for its tantalizing, inspiring look at modern living, architecture & design, has updated their website at dwell.com, and it's got some pretty cool new features. There's a new networking site, allowing users to quickly exchange expertise, develop concepts and share ideas with fellow designers, architects, builders and others in the Dwell community; they've added a video section (the first series chronicles a Dwell-inspired green building townhouse renovation in Harlem), podcasts, blogs, an online design database and market as well. "Our mission has always been to deepen our connection with the wonderfully engaged community of people who are inspired by modern architecture and design," says Michela O’Connor Abrams, President of Dwell. Surf on over and see for yourself if the new site fulfills this mission. [Dwell.com]
Popular Mechanics magazine has hopped on the sustainable bandwagon with their "Best of Green Design: Our Top 25" feature in their March issue. They've got a pretty good collection from a variety of design fields, including LivingHomes prefab pads, New Belgium Breweries' green brewing practices, Haworth's Zody Cradle-to-Cradle-certified office chair and Smith & Fong's bamboo ply furniture -- all good stuff. There's lots more to see in there, including the Solatube that we just posted about. At the heart of the issue, they're out to prove that saving money, energy and natural resources can all happen simultaneously. To see the nuts & bolts of green design, Popular Mechanics-style, pick up the issue or check it out on their site. [Popular Mechanics]
Taking the concept of using the sun's rays for light a step beyond simple skylights, Solatube gives you the ability to light interior spaces that aren't directly connected to the outdoors. Places like dark closets, dimly lit bathrooms or windowless room, and basement apartments are can enjoy the benefits of receiving natural light. So, how does it work? Sunlight is transported through a highly-reflected tube, essentially "piping" in light that helps brighten up interiors with minimal energy loss (and lots less than windows). As an added bonus of sorts, the dome-shaped lens is able to take in light at any time of day, so it doesn't require direct sunlight to entice light into the darkest corners. Learn more and see a video about how it works at the Solatube website. [Solatube] via [Cool Hunting]
Calling all graphic design enthusiasts: Architecture for Humanity is redesigning their logo, and they want your ideas! They're looking for a logo that will reflect both the mission and spirit of the organization, and the criteria include things like global recognition & versatility (applicable to chapters all around the world), reversible, using both light on dark and dark on light and versatile enough to be readable everything from silkscreened T-Shirts to dodgy fax machines in far off countries (read the full criteria here).
"1" Hotel and Residences, a concept claiming to be the first luxury, eco-friendly global hotel brand, was recently launched by the Starwood Capital Group. The concept will "combine the best of environmentally sustainable architecture and interior design with impeccable service and luxurious comfort," according to the press release. Among other sustainable ideals, "1" will adhere to green construction and operating principles and commit to environmentally sensitive consumption of natural resources, demonstrating that green principles can coexist and even enhance a luxury hospitality experience and healthy residential lifestyle. The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) is on board as an environmental advisor, with the initial goal of setting a new standard for environmental excellence and, over time, to transform the entire hotel industry...no small goal, indeed.
Recognizing the tremendous advancements made in industry, building, media and public policy that move the world toward a sustainable and secure future, Global Green's Designing a Sustainable and Secure World Awards will be presented tonight in New York City. The event features a reception and eco-auction, followed by dinner and a program that features a discussion with Green Cross International Chairman Mikhail Gorbachev. Award honorees include Goldman, Sachs & Co. (receiving the Corporate Design Award), Tesla Motors (receiving the Industrial/Product Design Award -- we've mentioned them not 
Washington, D.C. architect Carib Daniel Martin designed the Help House to provide emergency housing that is not just a roof over one's head, it also provides a sense of home. It's really amazing how much functionality he squeezed into the 8' x 12' space but it really is all there. AND it has a great asthetic which is what makes it so much more than just another portable temporary house. I actually came across a website with lots of tiny houses that are worth taking a peek at. Maybe we could all use a little downsizine now and then.
For anyone who missed the excellent series on PBS this summer, design: e2 is now available on DVD. Exploring the economies of being environmentally conscious, the series included six episodes (The Green Apple, Green for All, The Green Machine, Gray to Green, China from Green to Red and Deeper Shades of Green) and was narrated by Brad Pitt. From the design: e2 website: "Eight different topics - from sustainable architecture to water culture to alternative energy to organic farming to recycled clothing and more - are each presented in six thirty-minute episodes, challenging us to live smarter, live greener and live with the future in mind. DESIGN launches our e2 series and introduces us to the inventive leaders and technologies driving sustainable practices in the buildings where we live, work, and play. Through DESIGN, and future series - WATER, ENERGY, FOOD, TRANSPORTATION, BOTANICALS, TEXTILES, and HEALTH - e2 demonstrates that living in harmony with nature is not only a matter of progress; it's a matter of survival."
File this one under the "Yeah, that makes sense" category: Michigan Avenue Tower, in Chicago's South Loop neighborhood, is poised to become the first residential condominium in the Windy City to be powered by the wind. The building will use 100 percent renewable energy to power the 29-floor structure; the condo association brokered a deal to purchase renewable energy credits from Midwest Renewable Energy Credits in the amount that offsets the total quantity of electricity used by the building. The cost of purchasing wind credits to association members will be a little more, approximately $7 per unit per month, but the association plans to pick up the tab through smart investing of its reserves from its annual budget. [Michigan Avenue Tower] via [Hugg]
Everyone in New York City, take note! Mark your calendars for Saturday, October 7 for the fourth annual New York City Green Buildings Open House, hosted by GreenHomeNYC. Green buildings from across the five boroughs will open their doors to the public to show how aesthetics, quality, and affordability, can go hand in hand with environmentalism, human health, comfort, and well being.
Just launched today, Lexus Hybrid Living is a new site with information and ideas about experiencing a life filled with sustainable style. There are two sections: Hybrid Living Tours takes you on video podcast tours of New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco, guiding you to spas, hotels, boutiques and more; Hybrid Living Profiles features architects and fashion and interior designers who are on the cutting edge of the fusion of sustainability and style, and features some of our favorites, including Q Collection and Linda Loudermilk. Nice! [Hybrid Living Tour]
Much has been made of Brad Pitt's involvement with Global Green's design competition for rebuilding a sustainable New Orleans (we've featured it not 
Brad Pitt has been a busy guy lately. Between having a child with Angelina Jolie, making movies and promoting his involvement with Global Green's campaign to rebuild a greener New Orleans and sustainable Gulf Coast, he's a man on the move. Earlier this week, he and Global Green CEO Matt Peterson took time to chat with "The Today Show" on NBC about how he's helping bring green building into the national spotlight through the design contest that he's lending his name, time, talents and money to. He spoke with humility, passion and intelligence about helping New Orleans build green from the ground up, mentioning his new daughter as fresh inspiration and evangelizing green building as the wave of the future that's here today (read the full article and watch the video here).
Wow, check out this proposition by One Architecture, Ton Matton and NL Architects for the next generation windmill. Commissioned by the Dutch government, the proposed mill mimics a tree in design, can be nearly 400 ft (120 meters) high and can hold up to 8 turbines. The idea behind the design is that a tree-shaped mill is less intrusive in the flat Dutch landscape than the windmill farms they use now. What a great idea; more mills, more power, less intrusion, less mess. We love it when cool designs solve problems, and hope we're looking at the future of wind power. [Reluct] via [Bright] (site in Dutch)