If you’re a maker just starting out your journey in sustainability, it can be overwhelming to figure out how to get started. From understanding the types of materials to utilize, learning what steps will help reduce waste and emissions, and finding inspiring new ways to explore creativity that don’t have a negative environmental impact. The good news is there are plenty of resources available for DIYers looking for ways to make their projects more sustainable – from simple switches you can make today, big-picture ideas for longterm change, or exciting new ways makers are helping push sustainability into the future. In these blog posts we’ll look at tips tricks and ideas specifically tailored towards diyers and makers on the road to creating projects with greater eco consciousness so that not only will you create something beautiful but also respect its impact on our planet!
Photograph by Yifeng Song If you happen to be living in rural Bolivia, building a water pump isn’t going to include a visit to the local hardware store. Nor can you assume being able to plug into a power grid to operate your machine. So how do you get water? Essentially, this was the challenge […]
Photograph courtesy of Liz Cohen Five ratchet-wielding years, one East German automobile, and several coats of bikini wax — for Liz Cohen, it’s been a long, sticky trip. The performance and documentary artist has built one of the most improbable custom cars in the country, and has the pictures to prove it. Most recently on […]
Mary Lou Jepsen with XO Laptop, via Inhabitat GREENER GADGETS 2009 WHAT: The Second Annual Greener Gadgets Conference is a revolutionary event and exhibition promoting the importance of environmental stewardship in consumer technology innovation. This one day conference brings together electronics industry leaders, entrepreneurs, journalists and designers to address key green topics including sustainable design […]
Next year is going to be a big year folks, we’ll see more investment and emphasis on alternative energy than ever before, this will be our “space race” and our “moon landing”. The children of today will be the ones who will shape the next decade and the next century. As a parent, a friend, […]
James Burgett of ACCRC’s skull of junked electronics (photo via Dale Dougherty) The Alameda County Computer Resource Center could really use your help, as Dale writes on boingboing: ACCRC is in desperate straits. The Bay Area electronics recycler is going through tough times with an emergency re-org and a lack of funds to pay taxes […]
treasure stolen gold low the sun and busy bees prepare for winter We collected honey from our two backyard hives this fall and I’ve finally finished jarring it. The new hive, split from last year’s hive, produced over 20 pounds of honey. This is more than our first hive produced last year, but the older […]
What do you do with all those extra resistors, capacitors outdated Ic’s and dull red LEDs? Make SpareBots! Part sculpture, part recycling, SpareBots are a festive way to make figures, work with your hands and tell a story, like the SpareBot rodeo below: Flickr user Charlie Beldon has posted up some neat little sparebots into […]
