Some 35 years ago, New York based Bates Masi + Architects designed a vacation home in Amagansett, Long Island. But when the couple who owned the house wanted to bring a more contemporary facelift to their house, they’ve been commissioned once again.

The home largely clad in wood was redone with an enlarged kitchen and dining areas, revitalized bathrooms and refinished floors, ceiling and walls. All this was done in such a refined and eco-friendly manner that they ended up bagging the 2008 Peconic Honor Award for Architecture/Renovations & Additions.

To expand and rebuild the new extension, the talented architects used salvaged cypress wood from the South wall and deck for the new siding, stair treads and risers. That allowed for a complete reuse of all the materials in the previous construction, reduced costs and saved on tons of wood. And also, it looks like the old spirit of the home was integrated with its new extension.

The intelligent design, smart use of materials and the seamless merger of the old and new elements, make the Re-Cover home a delight for both designers and environmentalists alike. [greenbuildingsNYC via Inhabitat]

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When the norm is NIMBY – Not In My Back Yard, there’s a town in Japan’s Fukushima, Prefecture, Naraha, that is willing to be the final disposal site for high-level radioactive waste.

There are some 10 nuclear reactors in Fukushima prefecture. The mayor of Naraha says the “town’s theme is coexistence with our nuclear plant. If safety can be guaranteed, and if our resident’s approve, we would like to host the site” (final disposal site).

How reasonable of them, no sarcasm intended.

A city willing to do their duty to reap the benefits of nuclear power as well as put itself forward for final disposal.

It will be the first time for a city with a nuclear power plant to host a final nuclear waste disposal facility. Imagine how much can be cut in transportation costs, eh?

Kudos to Naraha.

I can see Greenpeace now – wishing and hoping …la la la.

Source

Images by world-nuclear.org

Koala bears – those cute little fuzzy creatures, half squirrel, half bear, half something else from down under. Every zoo wants some, until now.

It costs more to feed six koalas at Osaka’s Tennoji Zoo than to feed the rest of the zoo’s animals put together. That comes to Y92million ($950,000) a year to feed them or $160,000 each per year = $450/day per animal. And the Tennoji Zoo spends Y85 million on all the other animals it cares for.

The fuzzy wuzzies feast on Eucalyptus trees which are cultivated in only seven locations in Japan. Hey! I have one in my front yard!

Koalas apparently only eat about 50 eucalyptus species, introduced to them by their mothers when they are still in their mother’s pouches.

It all boils down to how much zoo visitors are willing to shell out to see the little rascals and whether or not it adds up to the cost to feed and care for them.

After all, it’s always about the money. Isn’t it?

Images by FrankMaurer, jcolman, alumroot

For NASA’ prestigious Create the future Design Contest, designer Tai Chiem came up with this Movito electric ccooter. Integrating clean and green technologies along with a stylish design, Movito feature sleek aerodynamics and an ability to transform itself from a scooter to a highly efficient pod-like urban vehicle.

Powered by an all-electric engine with daft rechargeable batteries and a completely detachable base, the lightweight Movito is not just a cool electric scooter for the future and today’s roads, but also an efficient and clean carrier for your daily commuting.

Although it could be improved upon and despite being just a prototype for the moment, Tai’s Movito seems to be that close to mass production. Looks like a winner all the way, isn’t it? [via Coroflot]

A team of Chinese and American scientists excavated some well-preserved fossils in the Gobi Desert. The team says the herd of ostrich-like sinornithomimus lived some 90 million years ago.

“This is a very exciting discovery, because 99.9 percent of the time, we find a group of skeletons that died at different periods due to unknown causes,” said Paul Sereno, a University of Chicago professor on the excavation team. “The other 0.1 percent of the time, scientists consider themselves lucky to find small herds that have been well-preserved after floods or volcanic eruptions, similar to that of Pompeii.”

Twenty five young sinornithomimus were found near Suhongtu, a tiny, remote village in the Gobi desert about 370 miles (600 kilometers) west of Hohhot.

The scientists concocted a story saying the position of the dinosaur bones suggest the animals were looking for water at the edge of a lake, got stuck in mud and drowned in the mud.

Another paleontologist says the youngsters were left behind by their parents.

I like a good story as much as the next guy … but how do they know these things?

There’s a city in Japan called Oyashirazu. Oya = parent. Shirazu = don’t know. The city is named because a high tide came in as a parent and child were swimming together. The mother hurried to safety but forgot about her child as if she didn’t know she had a child to take care of.

Did these sinornithomimus (Chinese bird mimic) leave us a story to tell, too?

Image by pnp

More doom and gloom is predicted for the northeast portion of the United States.

New York City, Boston and other coastal cities are expected to get eight inches more than a possible 2-3 feet sea rise by 2100. Let me see, if it’s two feet, then two feet plus eight inches falls within the 2-3 feet prediction. Will the Northeast then still have to worry extra?

Scientists have been talking about rising sea levels due to global warming both from warm water expanding and melting of ice sheets. But, if the ice sheets melt, won’t that keep the warm water from expanding? I’m confused.

You can read about it more here.

But just a quick test – put some ice in a glass of water and mark the level. Let the ice melt and tell me or tell your friend what the resulting water level is AFTER the ice melts. And the way I understand it, if it is cold enough for the ice to melt, it’s warm enough for there to be more snow, thus offsetting the ice that melted.

Seriously, why is it always doom and gloom?

Image by schultzlabs

It is sometimes hard to believe that we ignore some of humanities most basic necessities in search of greater gains that actually cause more harm than good to the planet. Water is the harbinger for all civilized life and it seems that our utter disdain and disregard for this simple fact of life is going to cost us dearly in the years to come.

According to the latest survey report released by the United Nations – Water in a Changing World, if we do not improve the current situation then the planet will soon spiral downwards towards a looming water crisis.

The report forecasts that the current world population of 6.6 billion is set to rise by 2.5 billion by 2050 and that will put an immense pressure on freshwater resources that are already scarce. Unequal distribution of available resources, poor planning, lack of infrastructure and state funding have seen the mismanagement of vast water resources and it is now leading to a breaking point where major wars and conflicts could very well be caused due to lack of water.

The UN notes that the conflict in Darfur and the tussle between Israel and its Arab neighbors are already consequences of water shortage and are problems that stemmed from lack of proper water management.

Add to this the fact that growing biofuel production demands an excess of 180 cubic kilometers of irrigation water and nations like China and India with bustling population will soon find it hard to quench the thirst of their citizens.

With the Middle East and North Africa already reaching limits of their water resources, it seems that fast and smart measures are the only way to avoid impending global drought. But something can be done about it …

Image by bestrated1

We all know that PETA has been involved in some really crazy stuff to ensure that they promote their line of thinking and to make sure animals are safe and secure. Here, here, here and here are just a few, but we’re certain this one will leave even the most green-minded scratching their heads. Because unless you have some pervert and crazy fetish for George Clooney, it is almost certain that you would never really care for the new tofu that PETA has announced- the “Clofu”.

According to PETA president Ingrid Newkirk, the tofu combines the odor of George Clooney’s sweat with the delicious and wholesome taste of a tofu that encourages complete vegetarian habits.

“As a mammal, I’m offended”

To create this completely undesirable tofu, top minds have gone through the painstaking process of gas chromatography and mass spectrometry to replicate the essence and odor of Clooney’s sweat. There is nothing wrong in loving and idolizing a certain star, but this seems downright lunatic.

PETA has once again managed to do what they know best really wants to achieve- draw attention towards its cause. Guys that’s not the way to go vegetarian … don’t you think?

Image by pierrotsomepeople

Lithium ion batteries that are in the market today are already being hailed as major breakthroughs and are helping both the automobile industry as well as the electronic field in producing gadgets that are smaller, lighter and far more efficient than ever before.

But how about turning that up a couple of notches by creating cell phones that are fully charged in a matter of a few seconds and electric cars that can challenge an F1 vehicle for the top speed? As astounding as that sounds, the researchers at the famous Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) are moving ahead in that direction.

A couple of material experts at MIT have been in the process of designing a new Li-Ion cell that unlike traditional li-ion batteries, charge up faster and can even discharge energy in one single burst when needed. They’ve used a Lithium Phosphate coating to the existing batteries, the experts have succeeded in creating nano-scale tunnels for the swift movement of the electrons.

Considering that it’s just an enhancement to a technology that is already commercial, we’re expecting it to hit the market in the coming years.

Source: AFP
Image by kqedquest

Hey Army!

We’ve had some big news in the past few weeks and I wanted to share some of the biggest news with you today. American Electric Power Company, one of the major suppliers of electric energy in the United States, has signed on to the Pickens Plan to help us push for a 21st Century transmission grid.

AEP operates in 11 states and owns the nation’s largest electricity transmission system — so they are a key part of realizing our vision for wind. To bring more renewable energy to market, we must have transmission.

The Chairman, President and CEO of American Electric Power is a good friend and a very smart guy named Mike Morris. I want to introduce him to you because he gets it. And, because AEP has over 5 million customers, they get it, too.

Mike, say a few words to the 1.4 million members of the New Energy Army.

Thank you Boone. At American Electric Power we support a more diversified and domestic-based energy supply mix, increased energy efficiency and greater investment in new energy technologies. Energy will play a central role in our economic recovery and support for modernizing our electric system is stronger than ever. We know that as alternative energy sources continue to come to be harnessed, we will need a smarter, modern and more efficient transmission system that can move that energy from where it is being produced, often in remote locations, to where it is needed at any given time. Imagine meeting the high demand for electricity on a hot summer day in New York with power that includes wind from Kansas and a few hours later shifting that power to meet the same needs in southern California. We can’t do that today. We will only be able to do this if we modernize our transmission grid.

We want to be able to continue to deliver electric power where it is needed, when it is needed as efficiently and cleanly as possible. This is not only good business, for AEP, but it is good for America as we all work together to rebuild our economy. Boone?

Thank you, Mike. The Pickens Plan is much stronger for having partners like AEP. The Army is marching forward along a broader front because AEP is on board.

-T. Boone Pickens and Michael Morris

P.S.  AEP and the Pickens Plan are partners in the Virtual March on Washington that will take place April 1-3. Will you join us?