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How to build a solar-powered bike (lots of photos)

These pictures from the Sun Trip 2018 race prove the only limit is imagination. Congratulations to Sun Trip race winner Raf van Hulle (tech spec of his bike below).




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How to build a solar powered e-bike charging shed in sunny Eugene, Oregon

Kent Peterson does it with off-the-self stuff, but it should be easier than this.




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Why did people build houses "that just leak heat out"?

They really didn't have a choice, and they insulated their bodies, not their houses.




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New York's new e-bike rules are a botch that miss the entire point of the e-bike revolution

It simply doesn't recognize that some e-bikes are just bikes with a boost, and is unfair to older or disabled riders, or long distance commuters.




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Make your own DIY biogas digester

Clean energy is sometimes touted as space-age technology. Some of the principles, however, can be pretty darned simple.




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Peak wood? Or paranoia? Report claims wood pellet heating ruins forests

Report accuses wood burners of being naively careless when they should be worried




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This is the world’s ugliest color … and it’s on a mission

Tasked with finding the most heinous hue known to humans, researchers arrived at Pantone 448C – and the Australian government is putting it to good use.




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Looking up to radiant ceilings for heating and cooling

It's counterintuitive, but this prefab panel system from Messana makes a lot of sense.




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Talk to your radiators with these Philippe Starck designed thermostatic valves

"Siri, turn down the temperature in my bedroom please"




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Plug-and-play radiator integrates a battery to help lower electric bills

The Lancey electric space heater allows users to charge its battery during off-peak hours and use the electricity for heating during peak demand periods.




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Cold is deadlier than heat

A shocking 17 times more people die from cold than heat each year, according to Lancet study.




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Create a cozy escape (and save on heating) with a grown-up blanket fort

Everything you need to know about building a proper blanket fort.




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Turning household waste into hot water, new tech is a micro power plant for homes

The bin-sized device would turn household waste into fuel for heating hot water.




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Why you should sleep in a cool bedroom

Turn down the thermostat, crack a window, and ditch the blankets for some science-backed health benefits.




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Nest launches lower cost smart thermostat

It's less flashy. In fact, it kind of blends in. But it's still designed to save energy.




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2 rallying cries for a green building revolution: Reduce Demand! and Electrify Everything!

Previously titled "4 reasons why heat pumps are not going to save the planet" which was mean to heat pumps.




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How much energy is used to heat, cool, and light our homes in different U.S. climate regions?

Michael Sivak shows us the numbers.




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Why Ground Source Heat Pumps should not be called Geothermal, Chapter CLXXI

When even so-called experts don't know the difference, you must admit we have a problem here.




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7 tactics for staying warm in a cool house

Do the green thing and resist reaching for the thermostat.




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Radbot is a robot for rads that could reduce heating costs by 30 percent

It's a smart thermostat for hydronic heating systems and is not such a dumb idea.




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There's more to being comfortable and productive than just temperature

A study suggests we should turn up the heat; it's not so simple.




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8 ethical weatherproof boots to keep your feet warm and dry

Get set for cool, wet weather with this high-quality footwear.




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Coffee is severely threatened by climate change

Don't take your morning cup of coffee for granted. It may not be around in a few decades, according to a new report.




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Get warm and cozy with 10 ethical fall fashion picks

From sweaters to wraps to plush leggings, these casual and comfortable pieces will keep you toasty all autumn long.




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Meet the women who make your clothes

A group called Remake wants fast fashion to fall out of fashion, by revealing underprivileged garment workers to the world.




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Patagonia's new film focuses on fair trade fashion

The outdoor gear retailer plans to certify 30 percent of its clothes as fair-trade by the end of 2017.




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Tea-growers enraged by Sainsbury's withdrawal from Fairtrade

The UK grocery chain has long been a Fairtrade champion, but recently announced it would invent its own 'fairly traded' certification scheme.




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Hurrah for Sean Hannity! Welcome to the fight against the pod people!

It's a win-win all around as K-cup users on both sides of the political divide find reasons to smash their Keurigs.




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Your feminist shirt means nothing if it was made in a sweatshop

Eighty percent of garment workers are young women between 18 and 24. They are overworked, underpaid, and abused. That's where the real female empowerment needs to start.




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DoneGood connects shoppers with ethical, eco-friendly brands

Save time and effort spent shopping with this online database of companies committed to social and environmental causes.




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How long does it take to make clothes?

Knowing how many hours go into every shirt or pair of jeans should influence shoppers' opinion of the price tag.




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The high carbon cost of flying flowers

This Valentine's Day, shop local.




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Patagonia's new Silent Down coats push environmental standards even higher

Recycled fabric, down insulation, and fair-trade sewing make this a top pick if you're in the market for a new coat.




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Is fair trade floundering or flourishing?

The ethical shopping label is facing new competition from companies opting to create their own certification programs.




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Flatpack solar-powered refugee housing is IKEA's latest design

Most refugees live in refugee camps for an average of 12 years and most of that time it's in drafty, tattered tents. Now IKEA has a solar-powered camp house that is flatpack and quick to assemble.




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Never lose that wrench again: flatpack furniture is held together with magnets

Dutch designer Benjamin Vermeulen solves the problem of the missing nut or screw.




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Accordion-like flat pack bookshelf unfolds in seconds

Inspired by origami and looking a bit like an accordion, this no-tools-required bookshelf sets up in seconds to adapt to any space.




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Flat pack urban chicken coop lets you raise chickens on your balcony

This flat pack, do-it-yourself version of a chicken has a lot of features, but can it help raise happy chickens on a city balcony?




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Convert any desk into stand-up workstation with this affordable add-on (Video)

They are supposed to be better for your health, but standing desks don't come cheap. This inexpensive flat-pack design for a portable unit can turn your existing office furniture into a standing desk.




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A Soul Box in Arcadia, AKA a tiny house in Germany

There are some pretty wonderful things going on in this little structure.




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Gorgeous little flatpack cabin in the woods is made from cross-laminated timber

Norwegian architect Marianne Borge is designing a series of them in different sizes.




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MECCANO: Not just for kids anymore. Now you can furnish your home with it.

There is a whole new line of furniture that you can build, just like the toy.




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Room in a box: It's cardboard, it's cheap, it's strong and it all fits in a single box.

Kayak not included, but everything else a dorm room needs is.




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Take out your aggressions on Whackpack Furniture

It's like flatpack without the fasteners; you just bang it together with the big mallet that's harder to lose than an Allen key.




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What's killing our kids these days? It isn't IKEA furniture

It's all over the news: IKEA does recall of MALM dressers for toppling over and killing children.




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Furnish your flat with flatpack for under a grand with Greycork

A new furniture line is designed to be affordable to buy and fast to assemble.




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Flat pack 25 Lamp is one step toward biomimetic electricity-free lighting

Besides looking lovely, all proceeds from this lamp will go to a project that is developing electricity-free lighting that is inspired by nature.




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Flat-packed planters, firepits, portable BBQs, and tables require no tools for assembly

In stark contrast to other flat-pack furniture designs, Groovebox is meant to be as simple to put together as possible, with no fasteners, tools, or mammoth assembly instructions needed.




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RIP Gillis Lundgren, father of the modern flatpack and the Billy Bookcase

The bookcase was designed on a napkin because "Ideas are perishable"




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CRISSCROSS flat pack furniture modules assemble with no tools needed (Video)

This flexible line of furniture is made for people who are on the move a lot, and need furniture that's easy to assemble and customize.