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!
This past Thursday in Vancouver, artists got together to display works that dealt with energy in some way. Hosted by eatART, Art With Energy was in a gallery-setting, with giant kinetic sculptures and interactive displays interweaving the crowd. You can learn more about the artists’ work on the Art with Energy Blog, and check out the photos below.
One of the many cool open source initiatives we’ve been keenly following here at MAKE is the Open Source Ecology project and their Global Village Construction Set (GVCS). They’ve been on our radar ever since they won our Green Project Contest at the beginning of the year.
On a visit to the Heidelberg Project outdoor art installation in Detroit, we happened across longtime Detroit resident and artist Tim Burke. Tim filled us in on the tragedy of, and artistic opportunity in, the destruction of some of Detroit’s most interesting and historic buildings. In addition to losing architectural landmarks, artworks within these buildings are also lost.
A Spanish craftsman named Patelo skillfully designed and fabricated this tiny working V-12 motor from stock stainless steel, aluminum, and bronze for his grandchildren Sara, Carmen, Jose and Pablo. It took more than 1200 hours of work. Not counting the 222 screws, he machined all 261 pieces himself. The engine operates via compressed-air injection, has 12cm3 total displacement, 11.3mm cylinder heads, and a 10mm stroke on each piston.
Instructables user bfgreen makes small, lightweight, waterproof containers like this by sawing off plastic soda bottle necks right below the lip, flattening the cut edges on a file, applying cyanoacrylate glue, and clamping. Since these bottles are usually PET, they could also probably be solvent-welded with acetone and other common solvent cements.
…if you happen to have a vehicle with about 300,000 units on the odometer. From Alan Parekh’s always-delightful Hacked Gadgets.
This new Grow at Home Mushroom Garden is a bit of a departure from items usually found in the Maker Shed. We’ve noticed a trend toward urban agriculture and sustainable living which are completely embodied by this ingenious garden in a box. The brilliant design allows anyone to grow gourmet mushrooms right from the recycled packaging it arrived in.
