Comments to the post What is the Best Way To Build A Wall? Not A Simple Answer wondered why we wanted to reinvent the wall. The consensus was "Having XPS on the exterior is, I think, the easiest and best solution." I will be

Are crops that produce their own pesticides as scary as they sound?

Even farmers who don't use organic practices are leaving genetically engineered crops behind.

We hear a lot about plastics breaking down at sea, but scientists are discovering that a shocking quantity of plastic enters the ocean already in microscopic form.

The island nation in the western Pacific wants to protect its coral reefs from toxic sunscreen runoff.

In honor of World Water Day, here are the sobering numbers behind the billions of people living without safe water.

Photo: Michael Graham Richard Twice As Much as 2009 Hybrid Production According to the Nikkei, Toyota is planning to ramp up hybrid vehicle production pretty significantly this year, with a goal of production 1 million hybrids annually in 2011 (up from

More than 8 million Toyota and Lexus vehicles have been recalled worldwide (including the 2010 Prius), and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has linked at least 52 deaths to unexpected acceleration in these vehicles. Although floormats

It makes perfect sense to make cars easier to see, night and day

Joining gDiapers, the US Postal Service and more, Surface iQ's commercial wallcoverings have earned Cradle to Cradle certification. The only printed commercial grade wallcovering to have earned this certification, Surface iQ's products have an

It's a good time of year to look at the benefits of slowing down.

What appeals to me most about Article 22's Peace Bomb Bracelet is the collection's history and story: Each piece has been made by Lao artisans from

Prior to the discovery, fewer than 1,000 grey-shanked doucs were known to exist, making them one of the 25 most endangered primates on the planet.

The Statue of Liberty may be a welcome sight to see for many entering the U.S. from around the world, but according to a recent NYC Health Department study, immigrant children are five times as likely as those born in the U.S. to suffer from lead

As if melting Himalayan glaciers weren't enough to radically (and perhaps catastrophically) reshape water supply in South Asia, a new report from researchers at Purdue University shows that summer monsoons could be

Forget for the moment about to what degree climate change has influenced the flooding in Pakistan. A new article in China Dialogue brings to light a new angle on one very aggravating factor on the overwhelming devastation: Illegal logging by the 'timber

As salinization impacts agriculture around the world—another effect of climate change that will hit already-vulnerable places and people the hardest—farmers, small-scale farmers in particular, have to figure out how to

Geothermal energy constantly gets overshadowed by other sources of clean energy, like wind and solar, because it's still more expensive. But with every passing year, it gets closer to its time in the spotlight.

Adding tea and herbs to facial steam is becoming popular among those who champion natural and non-toxic skin care.

More than just a comfortable habit, science has shown that sipping tea throughout the day improves and prolongs creative performance.

What the Club Sandwich Generation looks like in Tokyo, where it is unusual to renovate instead of starting from scratch.

The solar powered lupine menace has proven so successful at scaring away wild boar from Japanese farms that it’s going into mass production.

Peter Rickaby says he has "never been more optimistic about the possibility of change," but it will require some radical action.

A large section of a 140-year-old Western hemlock tree is faithfully reconstructed by hand from cast molds, using tiny pieces of reclaimed cedar that have been carefully glued together.

Or is it a missed opportunity?

Passive House multifamily buildings use almost no energy and don't cost much more than conventional buildings. They should be everywhere.

According to the Spanish newspaper El País last week, Spain will be the first big buyer of CO2 emission rights from Eastern Europe, in order to fulfil the Kyoto Protocol. In 2007, Spain's emissions had

Photo via StringBike The Bike, Unchained A group of designers in Hungary have done away with what has long been a staple of bicycle design, those oily old chains, with their creation, the StringBike. Instead of being propelled forward the traditional

New legislation would require polyester clothing to have a label warning about shedding in the wash.

Ephemeral and unexpected, this outdoor workspace is intended as an urban refuge.

This small space renovation turns a cramped space into one that has space for almost everything.

The name may give you visions of dogs mellowed out, but the Grateful Dog wants to make sure your dog is both happy and healthy throughout their entire stay. You can leave your dog for the day or the week, knowing that

Hemp isn't just for food, textile fiber, and fuel, but can also be a renewable and sustainable component of green buildings, as this crowdfunded project attempts to show.

Last week, California joined Oregon and Washington in signing a pact with British Columbia called the Pacific Coast Action Plan on Climate and Energy, which forms an alliance to set shared fuel standards and mandates for cutting carbon emissions.

Our favorite green building material is now made in Oregon

Photo: Gideon Tsang on Flickr We know that the concept of the "buy and sell handmade" blog Etsy has revolutionary implications for consumer culture and what it means to be part of a creative community. But does politics have a place in crafting

Save the sea creatures! Handcraft your own natural specimens using these these simple patterns, yarn and a crochet hook.

From knots and yachts to anchors and orcas, maritime motifs have escaped the marina to be embraced by seafarers and landlubbers alike.

'Slow' games make a comeback, as stylish jewelry with a twist.

Influenced by "Scandinavian mysticism and North American charm," these repurposed thrift store finds not only look stylish and comfortable, they also help divert discarded clothing from our landfills.

Compared to conventional shipping container homes, the Pod-Tainer has a relatively spacious interior, thanks to pop-outs on both sides.

Scientists have been studying the huge submerged landmass for decades and are now pushing for its recognition as a continent.

This industrial designer's 3D/4D printed, life-like forms ask the question of whether we can design and engineer "intelligent" plants that can adapt to environmental changes.

This is an urban design issue, a car design issue, and a demographics issue. Distracted walking is a rounding error.

But not all locals are happy, saying the mayor is treating the city like a theme park.

The tiny Italian car is now available in Europe.

This affordable tiny house was 3D printed using mud, rice husks and straw to create a "zero-kilometre" structure.

A new study has found that the air pollution from Alberta's massive tar sands operations is putting the health of downwind residents at risk by releasing unsafe levels of carcinogenic and toxic chemicals into the air.

Activists deliver a "No Tar Sands!" message to Sustainable Brands corporate conference via kayak flotilla

Video profile of University of New Hampshire Ecoline™ project. Video credit:UNH and Waste Management.The beginning of a new decade reminds us to also look back at the past 10 years to see how everything from daily tasks to new technologies have evolved.