Historically we've looked to nature to help forecast the weather; here are some indicators gleaned from generations of folk wisdom.

Droughts and possible water rationing have been in the news recently in California, Israel, Mexico, and Australia. As much of the water used is these regions is for watering gardens and lawns

The smart thermostat is now compatible with most home heating and cooling systems in the U.S. and Canada.

TreeHugger was founded as a sustainable design blog. From Alan Chochinov's 10 steps for sustainable design, through Yves Behar's predictions for sustainable design in 2011, to the

A compact chicken coop for city dwellers that wheels around the yard and fertilizes soil is on display at "Dwell on Design" this weekend. The show's awards recognize

An affordable, long-lasting and attractive chair made from 100% recycled and recyclable plastic, designed in Barcelona by Estudio Mariscal. Need it far away? Then just buy the seat and get local legs!

It seems like everybody who knows the Cradle-to-Cradle principles thinks they're brilliant, yet adoption of the methodology and design philosophy seems slow. What is holding it back? William McDonough answers.

In cars, houses, furniture and electronics, The trend was toward increasing repairability and simplifying recycling. Apple goes its own way.

It is all about the progression through the spaces.

KieranTimberlake and Lake|Flato team up with Bensonwood to offer OpenHomes

A new study reveals stress-reducing benefits for office workers when even just viewing a small plant on their desk.

Thanks to the folks at Daily Candy for this awesome tip! With the holidays coming up, and that inevitable office party or family gathering, maybe it's time to freshen up your kitchen

Where did your paper coffee cup come from? Does it support a red-cockaded woodpecker? Or a gopher tortoise?

It is a giant electric radiator that they forgot to turn on due to a software failure.

Your cat deserves better; this architecturally designed house for cats might be just the thing.

This small 355-square-foot apartment has been redesigned to be more space-efficient, enough to accommodate a family that loves to entertain and have guests sleep over.

Situated in a nature reserve along the Dutch coast, this unique structure not only serves as an observation post, it also provides extra bird habitats.

A handfull of states have been carrying the torch for rooftop solar.

Opportunities are everywhere. Even in poop.

There's just a few more days to submit your project to this fun contest, with the chance to win some great prizes!

Fan(c)Fan is a creation by Marco Gallegos which challenges this product's typical scale and materials.

A look at this year's Casa FOA, an exhibition which combines charity and patrimony conservation showcasing the best architecture and design from the Argentine capital.

Tiny-room specialists H2O Architects have come up with a superb design which accommodates four private sleeping areas while still doing this place's views justice.

Last year at ICCF the material du jour was felt; while its presence is still being, well, felt, this year the stuff that dreams are made of is cork. And not just thin sheets of cork but big honking blocks of the stuff. It is post-industrial recycled

Actually, the student designs steal the show every year at ICFF, the International Contemporary Furniture Fair held annually in New York. This year was not quite up to Pratt's spectacular exhibit from last year, but was close. Parsons I think Parsons the

Different themes seemed to be embedded in the Valencia Design Week. After spotting 6 great wooden flat-pack designs, I also found these little

It is the perfect local renewable material, and a great insulator too.

Stylish and innovative lighting is everywhere at the Design Festival this year.

It's not a competition but... here are some of the loveliest things at the London Design Festival

Chairs are us and there are lots of them on display at the Clerkenwell Design Week.

We should think differently about our material and finish choices.

The major brands, Avent, Disney First Years, Gerber, Dr. Brown, Playtex and Evenflow have all have agreed to stop selling baby bottles manufactured from the monomer Bisphenol-A (BPA). This

Using a non-chemical process based on traditional techniques, these furniture pieces are created with fish skins that would have otherwise gone to waste.

This is probably the most interesting 3D printed house concept we have seen yet.

The award-winning DropBucket is a recycled cardboard trash can that can be reused and/or recycled.

In a pretty self-explanatory piece, Bogota-based Unodot studio executes a simple useful idea for small spaces.

And then they yell at cyclists for not following the rules.

Buell motorcycles are fast, beautiful and expensive. How does Erik Buell's e-bike compare?

A lovely lounger made from reused trampoline parts.

Fashion designer Alexander Julian has clearly had enough of the University of North Carolina's aqua graduation gowns, he's gone and given his alma

Here's the drill on the Earth Drill toilet.

I really don't want to crap all over this new toilet design, but it is too complex, too expensive and no, it won't charge your phone.

One architect creates a series of intriguing artificial habitats for threatened bat populations.

It's so much nicer to feel a warm natural material in your pocket than cold slippery plastic.

Also tanks in your backyard and killer stairs

It is my favourite part of the Interior Design Show, the corner of the floor where all the young new designers get to strut their stuff.

Agenda 21 crazies, poison plastic people and hey, some green buildings and furniture!

Instead of designing it himself, Curro Claret gets people in risk of social exclusion to create and build Camper's shoe store in Barcelona, using reclaimed materials. The result is a fun store with a lot of personality.

yök commissions upcycled stools by ex homess people and Curro Claret

Astral Nature has the perfect mattresses: all natural ingredients and locally made just outside Barcelona. However, at yök Casa + Cultura we also needed an eco base. Luckily, Astral made some changes to theirs. The result: green beds, such luxury!