Finally something to fight the food shortage problem!! Conceptualized by Dickson Despommier, a professor of public health at Columbia University, this is sure to be both environmentally friendly and economically profitable. Added to this the dream of preserving a little of the country in the city is a utopian one which now will help fight global warming too. The professor believes that only by allowing significant portions of the Earth’s farmland to return to forest do we have a real chance of stabilizing climate and weather patterns. Merely reducing energy consumption would not suffice.

Allowing forests to regrow where crops are now cultivated, he believes, would reduce carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Besides, with the world’s population expected to increase to 3 billion by 2050 and almost 80 per cent of farming land in use, the idea has never been more relevant. The best way very rationally Despommier argues, is to change the way we farm.

Dr. Despommier estimates that it would cost $20 million to $30 million to make a prototype of a vertical farm, but hundreds of millions to build one of the 30-story towers that he suggests could feed 50,000 people. “I’m viewed as kind of an outlier because it’s kind of a crazy idea,” said he. The revolutionary scientist envisions blocks of vertical farms in the world’s biggest cities, each structure 30 stories high that could potentially be as productive as 588 acres of land and grow up to 12 million lettuces a year.

Currently he is in discussions with potential investors to build the first prototype. For Dr. Despommier, the high-rise version is on the horizon. “It’s very idealistic and ivory tower and all of that,” he said. “But there’s a real desire to make this happen.”

Via dailymail

The expected look of a synthetic tree

Scientists in the US may have found a quick solution to problems of an endangered environment with what they like to call a Synthetic Tree. From the looks of the scientific study involved, this tree will be able to help in soil remediation and heat transfer. Simulating the process of transpiration the tree bolsters the theory that transpiration in trees and plants is a physical process only. Yes, not looking one inch like a real tree, the synthetic tree would function like one. It will draw carbon dioxide out of the air, as plants do during photosynthesis, and retain the carbon which is one of the most damaging gases for the environment.
The expected results look promising. The tree can help in a passive heat transfer for cars and buildings. The scientists also expect it to build better soil remediation systems by pulling the contaminated fluid out of the soil without the use of more liquid. In the same way, the technology can also draw water out of dry soil without having to dig a well.
We have our fingers crossed.
Via zeenews

This is one of the best news coming out of Congo and the bloody war that has plagued the nation and its borders now for long. Africa is a continent of amazing natural resources and some very special animals which are rare and amazing. It is only stupid for the nations of the continent to engage in never ending, meaningless conflicts when the whole of Africa has greater demons to deal with- Poverty, disease and ignorance. In a positive move in all this, Congo’s government chose to withdraw more than 1,000 troops from an area in eastern Congo near Virunga National Park.

There are only about 700 mountain gorillas left in the wild, and Virunga National Park is thought to provide homes to around 72. The threat to their survival is ever-present as ten mountain gorillas were killed last year. While the rebels still take shelter in these forests, it is a giant step by the government in an attempt to demilitarize the land and protect some of the most magnificent animals of the African jungles. The rebel group, led by Nkunda, still roams these lands and its time they took a step from their side to help save the rare species.

The Congo government receives plenty of slack for lot of stuff and rightfully so, but in this case credit must go to them for thinking of the larger cause.� Hopefully common sense will prevail and the park will be demilitarized very soon so that the park staff can get back to protecting and studying the rare Mountain Gorillas.

Via Ecoworldly

‘Green is in’ and it seems to be growing ‘in’ to a way of life that is becoming a part of our homes more and more with each passing day. There was a time when people perceived green gadgets as ungainly stuff that would appear out of place in their sophisticated and stylish homes. But today perception has been radically altered by modern designers who are capable of weaving magic via their production of revolutionary gadgets. Eco-friendly gadgets and alternate sources of energy are now more popular than ever before thanks to their innovative designs.

Photosynthesis is a device by designer Vivien Muller, which is a solar-cell bonsai lookalike, tree charger. You can charge your cell, your Mp3 player or a number of other electronic gadgets by plugging in to the tree. With its’ 57 photovoltaic panels, the sun can power your tree during the day. Obviously you need to place it close to a window with plenty of sunshine and it will just go about doing its job quietly.

While the entire concept looks great and the ‘Metallic’ look is really futuristic, it would have been nice if it had little dots of LED that would be powered up at night to create a more spectacular visual display. Since LEDs consume little power, it would still be ideal for charging up your gadgets. Irrespective of all that, Photosynthesis lives up to its name for sure.

Via Yankodesign

In one way or another we all ought to be conscious of the verity that the oodles of food items which are getting wasted today would actually roll out to be a giant impasse for us in imminent future. Subsequently in order to isolate generations from this grim trouble an eco canvasser named Sang Hoon Lee has come out with a most up-to-date technique identified as “Green Cycler.” By means of this ambiance friendly modernism, we can essentially confer an amazing green treatment to spoiled and misused foodstuff since this instigated eco mechanism would effectively putrefy frittered away food into valuable fertilizer for the plants.

This structure is aptly named as Green Cycler as it would help purge out the exasperating spoiled food stink away from the surrounds. Likewise it would be of splendid support in rapid growth of plant as of the nutrients offered to it by the decomposed food turned stimulant matter.� Besides this the plant’s “going to be ready status” in this Green Cycler is exhibited by a downward going light beam.

Hence, undeniably this green concept would authentically sort out the food waste dilemma in a very short cross of time.

Via Coroflot

All over the world Brazil stands fourth in green house emanations just after China, U.S and Indonesia as deforestation rate is gradually increasing there. It holds around 60% of Amazon Rainforest area therefore it transpires to be principally accountable for conserving their surroundings. Recently, Brazil’s President has commenced an international fund to safeguard valuable Rainforest and it has been held firmly that nations giving their financial support would not be tolerated to probe concerning the conservation endeavors.

The management of finances collected from worldwide fund would be taken over by a Brazilian Government bank. Augmentation ventures like condom making from tree rubber and various other advanced scientific researches would also be shored up by these globally received funds. I hope this unwavering stride towards the greener world may positively pull off triumph in impending future.

Via AFP

What happens when we do not switch off that light in the room before leaving it? Or when we cook elaborate meals on pans and not the pressure cooker? Or even when we go to meet a couple of friends on an evening out with each of us going the same way from the same place in different cars? Does it really matter if we let the water running while we are doing the dishes; it only makes it easier, doesn’t it? Well, while all these things make life easier for us, what we are implicitly doing is literally murdering our children. It might sound a little radical but come to think about it, if there is no earth to live on, no food to eat, no air to breathe, is there really any chance for the future generations? What seems trivial now has grave consequences if we, the most advanced species on the planet, the one that’s been blessed with intellect and wisdom; do not look at the bigger picture. With the polar ice melting faster than we speak, what are the most definitive ramifications of global warming? Let me put it in simple words. The ice is melting and in a couple of decades it would be nonexistent. Hundreds of thousands of species co-existing in that ecosphere would perish which would inadvertently mean a huge chaos in the food chain. These species have already started to show disturbing behavioral changes. Without the ice, the layer of coolness, so to speak, would cease to be and that would mean that the earth would be warmer. Think of the bread that you eat every day. Wheat production relies heavily on that layer of coolness. Connect the dots. Do the math. You remember hurricane Katrina. Think of the damage cause due to hurricane Katrina and multiply it with thousand and that would give you a conservative figure of damage cause when cities after cities will drown. Irony of it all, water everywhere and yet not enough.

What needs to be done? We need to use that wisdom and listen to the inner voice every time we do something that we know to be harmful for our planet. Turn off that power switch, rethink that car-pool, turn off the tap, and plant that extra tree. There’s so much more that needs to be done. Don’t you think that what would have happened if the billions of dollars spent in creating bombs and other weapons of mass destruction were spent on taking definitive measures to counter global warming? We need to make a choice. We can either chose to live or chose to perish.

�

via Source

Gardening connects us with nature and brings us joy & peace which many people would vouch for. Taking you a step further in your eco concerns & gardening skills, comes this simple yet beautiful eco-designer Torre plant pot from Zurich-based Postfossil Design Collective. Designed especially for indoor gardening, this lovely pot grows with your potted plants thereby giving them full freedom to evolve their roots below soil and flourish lavishly above earth.

This becomes possible as a result of a flexible design comprising individual ceramic rings. As the user attaches these new elements (filled with fresh earth), it effectively cuts back the user’s painful task to re-pot their actively developing seedlings and saplings!

Torre is the brainchild of designer Annina Gaehwiler and is available through her website. It comes in 3 varieties: Terracotta, White and Black; each in a choice of finishing: Smooth, Lined or Raw. She designed Torre in a manner that each ring element comes in two different radii for bigger and smaller plants. Besides, there’s no limitation to the kind of plants you want to pot in case you thought Torre is fit for only straight shooting stems! Go ahead and experiment with sprawling and hanging plants. Torre is equivalent to Flexibility + Sustainability!

Via: postfossil

Those who can afford a rooftop garden or a plush green lawn do that. What about those of us who put up in flats and only dream about having a mini garden for ourselves within our houses? For such folks, Dutch designer Daniel Schipper has created an affordable, foldable greenhouse to plants your own mini-greens in form of tiny flower varieties or may be even grass sprouts!

The mini-garden delight is lightweight, portable, eco-friendly (made out of recycled plastic) and has a foldable roof for easy storage. Its base is also recycled out of plastic composite. The no-fuss and minimalist appliance requires just 3 little steps: unfold, snap, and water. The greenhouse is carved for small spaces like balconies, roof terraces, town gardens or city houses.

A passout of The Design Academy Eidhoven, Schipper loves to churn out simple, easy-to-use and sustainable designs for products like shelters, chairs etc. A look at his portfolio will tell you how ’simplicity’ as a principle is at the core of the designer’s varied products. All his projects accentuate upon three aspects viz. functionality, fold-ability and like I mentioned earlier aswell, sustainability.

His latest greenhouse project has been well appreciated in Netherlands and he is now on the lookout for some like-minded fellow to help him put this nouveau creation of his in production.

Via DanielSchipper

With the shrinking of arable land in every country on our planet, the possibility of vertical farming is taking shape in the minds of futuristic-planners, scientists and agriculturists. The horizons are being stretched by modern designers to bring out concepts that involve growing your veggies, fruits & flowers on skyscrapers! One such being Dr. Dickson Despommier’s vertical farm concept which he fondly calls his zucchini-in-the-sky vision. He created the model of this vertical farm back in 1990’s with his batch of medical ecology students.

The design displays tall sky-kissing green buildings- where people grow edible plants, fruits vegetables even legumes as per their requirements. Dr. Despommier, whose name in French means “of the apple trees,” is a professor of public health at Columbia University. Since 1999, has been spreading the seeds of his radical idea in lectures and through his Web site. Unachievable as his sky-high dreams seems to be, Scott M. Stringer, the Manhattan borough president and another big city dreamer has laid his eyes upon radical farming concepts and have quite liked Despommier’s model.

Stringer’s office is now actively busy in “sketching out what it would take to pilot a vertical farm,” and he plans to undertake a feasibility study within next few months, according to the man himself. Well, the future does seem to be bright enough for all such daring designers and ‘green’ achievers for careful planning and lot of hardwork is what it takes to achieve the impossible looking feats!

Via NYT