Harvard sustainable product design article :   http://tmagazine.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/04/23/cool-green-or-both/

Festo

Sustainability –

 a benchmark for 

Festo

The principle of sustainability underpins all Festo's activities and vision. Our goal: the greatest problem-solving expertise in automation technology and close, systematic partnerships with our customers. The  result: business excellence in technology and didactics.


Environmental aspects of sustainability 
Festo has centred its activities on sustainability and long-term value enhancement, while the conservation of resources and an orientation towards environmental protection are permanently integrated in the vision and mission of the company.

SmartBird – bird flight deciphered

Aerodynamic lightweight design

SmartBird is an ultralight but powerful flight model with excellent aerodynamic qualities and extreme agility. With SmartBird, Festo has succeeded in deciphering the flight of birds – one of the oldest dreams of humankind.

This bionic technology-bearer, which is inspired by the herring gull, can start, fly and land autonomously – with no additional drive mechanism. Its wings not only beat up and down, but also twist at specific angles. This is made possible by an active articulated torsional drive unit, which in combination with a complex control system attains an unprecedented level of efficiency in flight operation. Festo has thus succeeded for the first time in creating an energy-efficient technical adaptation of this model from nature.

New approaches in automation

The functional integration of coupled drive units yields significant ideas and insights that Festo can transfer to the development and optimisation of hybrid drive technology.

The minimal use of materials and the extremely lightweight construction pave the way for efficiency in resource and energy consumption.

Festo already today puts its expertise in the field of fluid dynamics to use in the development of the latest generations of cylinders and valves. By analysing SmartBird's flow characteristics during the course of its development, Festo has acquired additional knowledge for the optimisation of its product solutions and has learned to design even more efficiently.

AirJelly

y, the remote-controlled jellyfish AirJelly does not swim through water, but instead glides instead through a sea of air thanks to its central electric drive unit and an intelligent, adaptive mechanism. It is able to do so because it consists of a helium-filled ballonett.

 

AirJelly's sole source of power is two lithium-ion polymer batteries connected to the central electric drive unit. It transmits the force to a bevel gear and from there to a succession of eight spur gears, which move the eight tentacles of the jellyfish via cranks. Each tentacle is designed as a structure with Fin Ray Effect^® . Propulsion of a ballonett by means of peristaltic motion is hitherto unknown in the history of aviation. AirJelly is the first indoor flight object with peristaltic drive. This new drive concept, with propulsion based on the principle of recoil, moves the jellyfish gently through the air.

AirJelly's environment is the air. Unlike AquaJell

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F_citFkSNtk

Origins Architects

Origins Architects is architectural bureau based in Rotterdam, Netherlands. They position themselves as oriented on sustainable approach in architecture, with careful attitude to environmental conditions and keeping local traditions in buildings.

For solving problem of energy-efficient building OA uses a standard for contemporary green architecture set of sustainable technologies in their projects, Origins Architects cannot be named innovative in this area and their main merit is successful combination of already developed technologies and pleasant design with strong links to traditional architecture; they just create simple buildings where habitants will live with pleasure.

Obviously, this bureau gives preferences to organic renewable materials. As a reference to traditional folk architecture, designers of Origins Architects make extensive use of wood and plywood both exteriors and interiors, that is understandable - wood is renewable and local material, at the same time it creates special atmosphere of lively breathing space, it keeps a spirit of a place.

The example of their work is 'eco -villa' in Nieuwveen, Netherlands. There was a task to design a house that will be independent of the engineering communications. For this aim, a house has been equipped PV solar panels (3 on diagram below) for electricity supply. Configuration of building and its glazing allow to achieve passive solar energy (1, 4) for lighting and heating through the whole year. The shape of roof gives opportunity to gather rain water in subterranean tank (2,6,7). Also they used geothermal energy (8) for heating and cooling in different seasons of the year. As it is illustrated with diagram from OA website, warm is collected and then spreaded by heat pump (9).

Are these applied techniques appropriate for South Holland conditions? This region has rather soft climate with average minimum temperature near +2° in winter season and maximum temperature +24° in summer period; average annual precipitation is near 650 mm. So, these conditions are favourable for collecting rain water for household necessities and combined usage passive solar energy and geothermal energy for heating effectively. Glazing surfaces of this house are oriented to the Sun's motion - they are placed on east, south, west facades of the building. It seems to me that there is a risk of overheating of the house in summer period. At the same time, cooling is organized with using geothermal energy; in principle, it should be sufficiently for creating comfortable conditions. It is not very clear about photovoltaic electricity supply and its effectiveness for this region. Netherlands has average annual level of solar irradiation near 1000 kWh/ m2, particular in region of South Holland this number is 825-1100 kWh/ m2. Ideally, it gives opportunity to get energy enough for needs of a small house, if solar panels have square more than 5 m2. At the same time, their placing only on the surface of the roof complicates collecting of solar energy in winter period - it would be more suitable to set up additional solar panels vertically.

http://www.oasd.nl/

Extraordinary Repurposed Furniture

REcreate is a cutting edge interior design range of furniture and lighting started by Katie Thompson.


Using pieces of discarded junk, Katie recreates a unique, recycled range of furniture, lighting and interior accessories, each piece infused with its own previous character but with a new function...

Products

By blending South African craftsmanship, with high end finishes and her own eclectic perfectionist flair, Katie creates an original end product with a new integrity that epitomizes the very best of South African design.

I regard Katie's style quite innovative although the attempts to reuse the old things have already happened from time to time among designers. First of all because of its success and demand (She has a shop, where you may buy different interesting works for your interior). Her trademark choice of color, texture and finish give her designs an ever element of surprise.
I find Katie's passion to give the new life to a hoarder of all useless, impractical, broken, colourful and shiny things as quite interesting approach which could be applied in many other spheres of design. For me her works can be described as a mix of art and design with a pieces of romance and homeliness.

The Porthole Window Table. An old porthole window is REused as a contemporary side table with custom made tapered solid brass legs and a smokey grey mirror top.

Side Table. This antique table top was found without its base and missing 1 drawer. It now sits happily on a new white gloss base with its original embossed leather top in perfect nick. Original drawers are in perfect shape, the missing drawer space, now painted white, fits a book, remote controls or such things you may wish to store!

Suitcase Chair Revrobe Cameo Blue. An old suitcase takes on a new life as a Suitcase Chair. The chair has a steel reinforced internal structure, upholstered in South African locally designed and printed fabric with an African inspired indigo cameo, and timber turned legs.

The Suitcase Chair – Metal Trunk Khaki Paisley. An old, well travelled metal trunk takes on a new life as a 2 seater sofa chair. With a steel reinforced internal structure, perfectly finished paisley buttoned upholstery fabric and bun feet.

Suitcase Chair – Leather case/yellow knit. A vintage leather suitcase is recreated into a gorgeous suitcase chair with a steel reinforced internal structure, stained timber turned legs and a perfectly chosen yellow woven fabric and tapestry brocade cushion. Price excludes cushion.

Suitcase Cupboard – St Thomas Hospital London. A little leather suitcase that once visited St Thomas Hospital in London SE1 has now been mended for good and has started its new life as a cupboard! Perfect for storage or display.

Fridge Cupboard. A broken little fridge becomes a quirky sidetable/cupboard

http://www.recreate.za.net/products/furniture

The Binary Collection

The Binary Collection

Inspired by pallets of obsolete computers and electronics that were collecting dust in a local warehouse. The table structure is made from the metal from computer towers that are riveted together and bent to the proper form. The surface is completely covered with a collage of motherboards, computer chips, led screens and hard drive disks held in place by sheet metal screws. The glass from the table was salvaged from an abandoned warehouse.

http://brcdesigns.com/furniture/binary-collection/binary-low-table/

We Are What We Do

"We Are What We Do" is a not-for-profit behaviour change company that creates ways for millions of people to do more small, good things.

The company's mission is to "make stuff that people want to buy or use and which have positive behaviours built in, aiming to reach massive audiences and help address major social and environmental issues."

They work for 100s of companies and charities to help them engage more people and do more good. The strategy of the company is quite simple but very efficient and smart. They gave up usual way of telling people what to do. Their campaign employ brilliant incentives to make people act in different ways. 

There are really interesting and successful projects in the portfolio of the company, the most of them encourage sustainable way of living from different perspective.

Back in 2007 the general public perceived the reusable shopping bags as "the presence of old ladies and eco warriors" and regarded such simple green behaviour as reusing shopping bags as a part of an "alternative lifestyle". The Company approached a UK's leading accessories designer, Anya Hindmach, on the creation of a simple and beautiful bag. All the bags  were sold out during 2 hours in Sainsbury's in the UK and Whole Foods in the US for a 15 Pounds price. Getting the bag seen on the arms of Kylie Minogue, Mischa Barton, Sienna Miller, Keira Knightley, Lily Allen, Erin O’Connor and Lily Cole was a crucial part of the success. Later the campaign were extended into a series of "Plastic Aint My Bag" materials for schools. The Company says that following the release of the campaign, the number of "single-use" plastic bags used in the UK has dropped by 43 per cent in the past 5 years.

The Company often organizes campaigns that facilitates ecologically friendly behaviour in an entertaining manner. For example, they found a witty decision to make people recycle their rubbish in a fun, non-preachy manner. Statistics say that attending open-air festivals people produce hundreds of tonnes of waste. "We Are What We Do" created a 12 meter long, pink dragon who "eats" rubbish. In this way the bins were brought to the people rather than expecting people to go to the bins, and to make the process of recycling part of the festival experience. 

To my mind, "We Are What We Do" represents a really successful example of business strategy that encourages sustainable thinking on a personal and corporate level. Go the We Are What We Do page and discover more about their fascinating business model and entertaining products. 

Green Lifestyle Quiz

I found that handful of quizzes at the National Geographic web page. Instead of being boring and advisory about everyday choices we all have to make in an attempt to improve our environment, NG chooses another tactics and puts in front of us seemingly simple questions to answer. All questions concern our daily life routines, from air conditioning and seasonal food to installment of solar batteries systems and gardening. I have tried myself in the half of the tests and was surprised to find out that I was too optimistic about my level of "sustainable" knowledge. Do you know that washing machine uses unbelievable 155 liters of water per load? Actually, washers are not the first water consumers in the home but are behind the toilets. If you believe that you are a seasonal food follower, it would be useful to know that meat is not a year round product but on the on the list of seasonal food in the company with apples and wild rice. Anyway, if you do not consider the most of the correct answers as the rules to lead a sustainable life (either due to their economical impracticality or impossibility for the Moscow way of life), you will have a chance to start living more consciously, think before do and, I hope, stop taking a bath instead of shower.

Source: National Geographic Green Guide