Innovative Folding Homes- Watch Tonight on DIY

Blu Homes with mkD has come up with an innovative wood/steel hybrid folding design which allows construction of the home in the factory, then the structure is folded and affordable transported to the site. The home unfolds quickly onsite as a complete house. 

This video shows this fascinating process unfold. Explore this innovative process more tonight with Blu Homes on the DIY Network Channel at 8pm. It will be featured on the premiere episode of "This New House". 

Or,  if you are near their factory in Massachusetts, they will be holding an Information Seminar on August 8, 10-12 and have a Factory Open House Tour 12-4

Drink Responsibly- Sustainable Water Vessels

In an effort to create a bottled water brand that would be kinder to the environment and give back a bit, Kevin Hockin found water shouldn't be bottled at all.  Instead, it should be boxed.  Part sustainable water company, part art project, part philanthropic project, and completely curious,  Boxed Water Is Better is a boxed water company.

While most plastic bottles are recyclable, they are made from PET (polyethylene terephthalate) manufacturing processes which creates more waste than paper and emits 3 times more carbon dioxide into our universe.  Boxed Water is Better is wrapped in fcs-certified packaging.  While better than plastic, we agree, it's still not as environmentally friendly as filling your own water  container from home.  One we really like is the Kor One--a simple sleek design with careful attention to both function and environment. 

Kor One gives back to the planet through water- based charities with their Thirst for Giving program as well as being a 1% for the Planet member.

Kor Stones, printed on Fiberstone, can be changed out to other inspirations, such as "Laugh Often", "Pass it Forward", "Find Balance" or "Be the Change".  A set of four is included with water bottles and additional sets are available.

Its special features include: a hinged cap for easy open and close, no cap to hold while drinking, a spout that easily takes  ice cubes and  a comfortable carry handle and soft bottom.

Reduce- Reuse- Recycle- /Saturday Shopping with Globally Gorgeous and Our Fav Finds on 1stDibs

Some of our latest finds--both esthetically pleasing and useful.

Pair of Le Klint Pendant Lights
Emmerson Troop

Michael Dumas Lucite Art Chair
Space 107
Pair of Burled Wood Wall Mirrors
Modern Times

Amazing Architectural Ceramic Wall Relief
Studio One 11

Modern Italian Wood Coffe Table
Stellar Union

Sustainable Vineyards And Wine Tours in Santa Barbara County

Anyone traveling to, or living near Santa Barbara should definitely put Sustainable Vine Tours on their "to do" list.  This tour highlights the region's rich history and covers  farming the grapes, walking through the vineyards and, of course, wine tasting. Door to door service from Santa Barbara and Santa Ynez, tours of 3 vineyards and a gourmet organic picnic lunch are included.  You're in the capable hands of  a guide who knows the winemakers personally and has a deep knowledge not only of  the area but also the wine making and farming processes.  

More and more wineries are using organic and bio dynamic farming methods.  This makes for a healthier wine and  ultimately a healthier planet because grapes are among the most pesticide- laden produce.

Organic wines range from being 70% to 100% "organic."  100% organic wines contain only naturally- occurring sulfites whereas wines labelled "Made with Organic Grapes" may have artificial sulfites and cannot qualify for the organic USDA seal. In bio dynamic practices, the wine is not only 100% organic but the farmer goes above and beyond-- making their own compost, using knowledge of the stars and planets to time what they do, and bringing the farming process more closely in tune with nature.

The Santa Ynez wineries featured in the tour all produce remarkable wines, maintain a high level of personal service and practice sustainable agriculture.  If you can't take the tour, visit the wineries directly or at least treat yourself to some organic bio dynamic wine delivered to your door.  

Ampelos Cellars ( Certified Sustainable, Organic and Bio Dynamic Vineyard)

Coquelicot Winery (Organic Vineyard)

 

Coquelicot has some beautiful pictures on their website of their vineyard, tasting room and the grape harvest.

Wine Ratings

Alma Rosa – Robert Parker 90 points 2005 Chardonnay, El Jabali Vineyard

Ampelos – Wine Spectator 91 points 2005 Pinot Noir "Rho" 

Beckmen – Wine Spectator 91 points 2007 Purisima Mtn. Vineyard Block 6 Syrah

Demetria – Wine Enthusiast 94 points 2005 Pinot Blanc

Presidio – LA Times #1 Cool Climate Syrah 2004 Artistic License

Sunstone – Wine Enthusiast 90 points 2003 EROS

Alma Rosa (Certified Organic Vineyard)

Demetria Estate (Bio Dynamic Vineyard)

Sunstone Winery (Certified Organic Winery)

Presidio Winery (Certified Organic and Biodynamic Vineyard)

To book a tour check out the Sustainable Vine Tours site here.

Green Roofs - Eco Luxury & Sustainable Building

Our beach house project in Montecito, California is moving along and we are in the stage of beginning installation of our green roof.  A "green roof" is a living system of plants installed over an insulation system which can be added to relatively-flat roofs. These roofs lower ambient heat in cities, filter and control storm water runoff, insulate the building below, and  add aesthetic qualities to otherwise solely utilitarian areas.

Our Green Roof Plans

Together with Earthform Design team and LiveRoof, we have drawn up plans for our particular roof,  covering two surfaces of our current project.  Not only does this roof have many obvious aesthetic benefits but the environmental benefits amount to a very high LEED certification as well.  Because we are shooting for the highest possible rating of LEED certification, Platinum, this is an obvious selection for a portion of our roof.  Solar panels will occupy other rooftop spaces.

Environmental benefits include heat mitigation, noise abatement, water conservation and reduction of storm water runoff (Heal the Ocean will be happy about this). Green roofs also help recreate habitat for butterflies, insects and songbirds. Succulent plant designs are great for areas with high fire dangers as they reduce the risk of fire.

John took a drive up the coast with the landscape architects at Earthform Design to the Native Suns Nursery, to select already- grown components of LiveRoof specifically for our project. We had the benefit of doing that because we are so close to Santa Maria.  Not only does being local to this nursery make this process more sustainable it also gave us the opportunity to hand- select more mature modules. Native Sons is the regional grower for the LiveRoof modular green roof system. LiveRoof is the first pre-vegetated modular roof system developed by growers and specifically designed to grow plants on a rooftop environment. John chose 1 x 2 foot modules of grasses and succulents and said it was like picking plants for the garden, except that this garden  just happened to be on a roof.   Some stepping stones were mixed into the design for maintenance.

Here's an example of a green roof completed in Southern California near the beach using just grasses.

A Sustainable Voyage on the Plastiki

Can you  imagine sailing from the US to Australia in a boat that was made of plastic bottles, 12500 to be exact.....?  Well, this event is happening now, and you can track the amazing team and their voyage.  The journey that began in San Francisco in March of 2010, and most recently in Samoa,  is on its final leg towards Australia.

In the spirit of other homemade and culturally historical boats, such as the KonTiki, the crew is making a courageous crossing.  The boat is constructed from plastic bottles and recycled/re-purposed materials to help bring awareness of the hazards of castoff plastics and the waste they create.  There is an island of plastic and chemical sludge called the North Pacific Garbage Patch, which is trapped by the North Pacific Gyre, or horse latitudes, and is roughly the size of Texas.  While its exact size is unknown, as it is a moving body of  chemical junk, it is a significant phenomenon resulting from discarded plastic debris.  There are more of these islands forming all over the globe, but this one is considered the largest. 

While Plastiki is not specifically dedicated to the awareness of the Great North Pacific Garbage Patch, it is dedicated to the awareness of plastic bag and bottle usage worldwide.  The goal is to direct attention toward alternative means and methods of living, especially to the mitigation of marine waste.  Partnering with HP and through Adventure Ecology, IWC and a slew of other sponsors, Plastiki's voyage is not only an adventure, but it is a vehicle for education about the need to change our planet and the way we live on it.  Kudos to the crew and amazing team that conceived and acted on a brilliant idea, and a phenomenal cause. 

We became more aware of marine junk after speaking with friends who travel the high seas and colleagues at Heal the Ocean, and Malama Maunalua, where we are actively participating in increasing others' awareness of our suffering oceans. 

 

Photos Courtesy Plastiki. See more amazing photos of their journey on their Flickr site.