Pencils aren’t as earth-friendly as we would like to think. The yellow pencils we all used growing up were made out of 4 billion trees, cut down worldwide leading to deforestation and habitat loss. TreeSmart Industries have come up with these resourceful pencils made out of recycled newspapers. Problem solved.

The latest addition to the studio, and what a brilliant idea! Designed by Patrick Morris and sold under the banner of  BOSKKE meaning ‘a small forest’ and that’s exactly what you can create with this intelligent eco-sensitive design. Not only does the sky planter look beautiful it also increases oxygen and filters air, bringing greater vitality to the built environment.

The work of William O’Brien , Assistant Professor of Architecture at the MIT School of Architecture and Planning and principal of an independent design practice in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

His research and creative practice have been fostered by an interest in the relationships between architecture, technology, landscape, and urbanism with an emphasis on the development of alternative resonances between natural and artificial systems.

On average, each tonne of paper removed from commercial correspondence saves:
* 18 trees
* 67,500 litres of water
* 9,500 kWh of power
* 3,300 kg of greenhouse gas emissions (CO2 equivalent or CO2e)

Visit the Greenwash Report for more information on paper and where to find the safe brands that are not made from old growth forest.

Brown Mountain is a magnificent example of forests of the Errinundra plateau that are under threat from clearfell logging. Trees in the forrest have been carbon dated at between 550 and 800 years old. The Brown Mountain forrest also provides a home to many critically endangered Australian native animals.

About 13 football fields of forest each and every day are clearfelled in East Gippsland. Relative to the size of this region, we are logging our natural forests at about the same rate as the Amazon is being cleared! Mostly the areas clearfelled are the original ancient forests, which many threatened species depend on for survival. They are also of World Heritage value. This unchecked destruction has resulted in years of campaigning and protests by the community both in the forests and in the cities.

Help Protect Brown Mountain, to show your support visit:

www.eastgippsland.net.au

From the guy’s at BD&E this 2380 square foot wall is soil based and includes many regional plants all acquired locally within 500 miles. Watering required in only 15 minutes per week and it cools the building by 25%, not only beautiful but it will reduce energy consumption as wella great example of good green design.

In the name of greener graphic design Matt Robinson and Tom Wrigglesworth seek to evaluate the ink efficiency of popular fonts.

Sommarnöjen provides the houses ready-built on site. Some are suitable for year-round use as well. The mini-houses are also great as additions to a larger dwelling – as guest houses, studios, workshops, separate bedrooms and of course, saunas.