Link: Matteriashop: Good Design + Smart Materials – a New Online Shop
TreeHugger reviewed the opening of the Matteriashop online store, a joint effort by Monica Potvin (Barcelona) and Anu Suominen (Finland) to combine good design with sustainable choice. The website demonstrates that it is possible to provide product lifecycle information in a way that helps the consumer make an informed decision, without overwhelming them. Product selection criteria include:
- charming functional design
- low or no toxicity
- imaginative reuse of reclaimed materials
- materials from renewable sources
- recycled / recyclable
- organic
- biodegradable
- sustainably grown
- energy efficient
- ethically produced
The main page groups products by category, taste, material and designer. Individual product pages each have several sections describing the product ('shop'), materials, designer, manufacturer and disposal. There is also a 'user' section that has been empty in all the products that I looked at. Pictures show more detail on the product design or provide usage examples.
The site does not try to quantify sustainability, but uses descriptive language which helps inform the consumer about broader issues. Taken from the 'materials' section of the Cork underlay large:
"Cork is a completely natural product, harvested without damaging or chopping down trees. It comes from the bark of the cork oak, and is harvested only once every nine or ten years.
Cork is a renewable resource and cork oak forests are one of the most sustainable natural systems, providing the habitat of several endangered species and supporting one of the highest levels of biodiversity among European forests."
Inderscience Publishers has announced three new journals.
International Journal of Society Systems Science (IJSSS):
"IJSSS eliminates the following "six barriers":
"The objectives of IJSSS are to call for attention to the interdisciplinary principles, architectures, techniques, methodologies, models, as well as the appropriate strategies, that can solve the various society-related dilemmas."
- the barrier between social and natural sciences
- the barrier between theory and applications
- the barrier between hard decision models and soft ones
- the barrier between different disciplines in the business world
- the barrier between government and industry
- the barrier between the ivory tower and real society"
International Journal of Sustainable Economy (IJSE)
"A sustainable economy is one characterised by development decisions, policies and practices that accelerate the need to do more with less by making better use of resources, increase investment, promote stability and competition, develop skills and reward work and respect the cultural experiences of societies. Sustainable development requires us to take a long term view of the economy, rather than adopting short term fixes. A sustainable economy includes economic stability and competitiveness, employment and education, a healthy environment and sound environmental practices. Areas related to sustainable economy are, in particular, sustainable economic growth, an innovative and knowledge-based economy, income security and employment stability, as well as a clean and healthy economy. IJSE aims to address the exposed sustainability issues in the field of economic theory and analysis."
"The objective of IJSE is to publish research papers which analyse all aspects of sustainable economic growth and development and to offer researchers and professionals the opportunity to discuss the most demanding issues regarding the sustainable economy."
International Journal of Sustainable Society (IJSSoc)
"IJSSoc bases its vision on eight 'balances' as follows:
- a balance between economic development and environmental protection
- a balance between real aggregate demand and aggregate supply
- a balance between human beings and nature
- a balance between consumption and preservation
- a balance between material and spiritual pleasures
- a balance between civil liberty and self-restraint
- a balance between hedonism and practicality
- a balance between science and society"
"... 'society systems science' or 'society science', as we have termed it, is the interface of natural science and social science, where both natural scientists and social scientists confront the real-world problems and challenges that exist in our society, and work towards formulating effective solutions.
IJSSoc aims to provide a professional forum for formulating, discussing and disseminating these solutions, which relate to the design, development, deployment, management, measurement, and adjustment of these social networks. They should form a common ground on which a sustainable society can be built, shared and supported by professionals from different disciplines."
Thanks to Fil Salustri for the information!
2008/01/21 added link to course/instructor details.
Thanks to Melissa Ferrato for the information.
The TRCA will be hosting two 1-day seminars on Life Cycle Costing for Green Building design on February 11 and 12, 2008. Registration for this course will be on a first come first serve basis.
Registration fee: $300 per person (includes refreshments, lunch, course materials and any applicable taxes)
Date (two options):
Monday, February 11, 2008
Tuesday, February 12, 2008Time (same for both date options): 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM (Sign-in/Coffee starts at 8:15AM)
Location: Black Creek Pioneer Village, North Theatre, 1000 Murray Ross Parkway, Toronto, Ontario, M3J 2P3
**Course and instructor details are provided in an MS Word attachment**
The deadline for RSVP is Friday, February 1st, and all registration payments must be received by Wednesday, February 6th.To RSVP, please respond to Lisa Rocha (lrocha<at>trca.on.ca) and indicate the day you wish to attend the course (February 11th or 12th), the number of individuals attending, their full names, and the organization with which each person is affiliated. Also, in the event that your preferred date is full, please indicate whether you are interested in attending on the other date available. Please note that the seminar maximum is 20 participants on each day, so it is recommended that you RSVP as soon as possible to secure your spot on your preferred date.
Registration fees should be paid by cheque, made payable to Toronto and Region Conservation Authority. In the memo line, please write "Registration fee for Life Cycle Cost Training Seminar"
Payments must be mailed to:Attn: Lisa Rocha
Toronto and Region Conservation Authority
5 Shoreham Drive
Downsview, Ontario
M3N 1S4
I have been using rechargeable batteries for a number of years, starting with nickel-cadmium and converting to nickel-metal hydride. Although definitely better than disposable batteries, I have never been able to get even close to the number of recharge cycles advertised before the batteries no longer would hold a useful charge..
I recently purchased a Maha PowerEx C9000 WizardOne charger, which can handle any combination of four NiMH or NiCD, in AA and AAA sizes. Each slot can be independently programmed to do a charge, refresh/analyze, break-in, discharge or cycle operation. The refresh/analyze operation does a charge/discharge/charge cycle to determine the actual battery capacity, an indicator of battery health. The break-in cycle 'forms' new batteries using an extended charging cycle and can also reactivate batteries that have not been used for a long period.
To speed up the refresh/analyze process, I tried topping up my batteries using my normal quick charger. In a few cases, I found that the PowerEX charger would be able to charge the supposedly charged battery considerably further, sometimes up to an additional 50% of rated capacity. This suggests that my quick charger was prematurely terminating the charge. I have also seen cases where repeated refresh/analyze cycles significantly improved the measured battery capacity, from 1700 mAh to 2500 mAh in one case, and from 300 mAh (effectively dead) to 1400 mAh in another.
At a minimum, the PowerEx charger will allow me to track battery capacity and ensure that all batteries in a set are matched (if one battery in a set has lower capacity, it becomes the 'weakest link'). Initial results suggest the charger will also significantly increase the lifespan of the batteries. The one downside is the size: at 11 x 17 x 4 cm (4.5" x 6.5" x 1.5") it is a bit larger for travelling.
Meeting: Construction Specifications Canada
Topic: Garden Roofing. A simplified approach through the modular greengrid garden roof system.
Where: Royal Canadian Legion, 828 Legion Road, Burlington, ON
Time: Registration: 11:30 AM
Lunch: Noon
Presentation: 12:45 PM
Cost: $20 per person
Please see meeting notice for further information and contact details.
Thanks to Melissa Ferrato for the pointer!
Link: Call for Faculty for CaGBC workshops / Le CBDCa recrute de nouveaux formateurs
In fulfilling its mission, one of the most important roles that the Canada Green Building Council (CaGBC) carries out is helping industry develop the necessary skills to deliver green buildings. Our most significant capacity-building activity to date has been delivering LEED® and other workshops across the country by a team of skilled Faculty.
As the demand for LEED training courses continues to increase, the CaGBC requires new Faculty to teach the following workshops:
- LEED® Canada for New Construction (NC); and
- LEED for Construction workshops.
The CaGBC is looking to add Faculty in the following locations:
- Atlantic Canada
- Toronto
- Montréal and / or Québec City
Faculty will be expected to be available to deliver between 3 and 6 workshops per year, including the LEED for Construction workshop.To be considered for one of these positions please complete BOTH of the following forms:
2008 Call for Faculty Application form (Word doc)
2008 Call for Faculty Qualification form (Excel doc)
You must submit these no later than 5:00pm EST, 18th January 2008 (for details on submitting forms and contact information, click on the link at the top of the post).
Thanks to Melissa Ferrato for the pointer!
Link: People power to warm new building in Stockholm
"A project from the Swedish state-held property administration company Jernhuset is planning to use the body heat from hundreds of thousands of people who pass through the Stockholm Central Station each day, to heat a new office building nearby."
The heat of 250,000 people passing through the station will be captured, rather than vented, and is expected to reduce the heating costs of the office building by up to 20%. The additional cost for piping and pumps is relatively inexpensive, at about U$31,000.
Like Using hot asphalt to heat buildings, this design taps into a locally available energy source that is well matched to the space heating requirements. It also applies a 'systems approach', turning a problem (the need to dissipate heat in the Central Station) into an energy-saving solution.
Thanks to Bernie Michalik for the pointer!
