GRID Arendal Library of Sustainability maps

This service is an on-going project to collect and catalogue all graphic products that have been prepared for publications and web-sites from the last 15 years in a wide range of themes related to environment and sustainable development.

Earth Day

Today is Earth Day, so you have the perfect excuse to consume sustainable experiences to spice it up. Here some suggestions:

- Build a project from the guys at Readymade
- Set aside stuff to be re-used during Konninginendag
- Set plants and flowers over the house
- Switch off that light & unplug unneeded devices
- Build up a solar air heater

Puma Folding Bike

On a recent trip to US we spotted few interesting sustainable initiatives that called our attention. The following four posts show the most eye-catching ones.

It seems that the guys of Puma are exploring new business opportunities by partnering with bike manufacturer Biomega and gear specialist Vexed Generation. The result is UM (Urban Mobility) a concept embracing a folding bike and a collection of urban gear. According to what we saw at the Puma Store, the bike is robust and has lots of details that make it and interesting artifact. Furthermore, the catalogue mentions that it has “all the benefits of a folding bike but without looking like one”. Regarding the gear, we saw a sneaker designed for street bike performance which protects your pants from the chain meanwhile looking pretty cool.

Puma UM site

HP meets Starbucks

You are all well aware that Starbucks is present all over the States, becoming in relatively short time a business success by offering “premium” coffee while keeping a commitment with the environment and societal issues. We mention earlier the acquisition of Ethos, a water company donating 5 cents per bottle to water projects in developing countries. So, what was going to be next surprise when getting our favorite “Moka Frappuccino Grande”? A partnership with printer manufacturer HP to "take away old PC’s, printers and guilt”. Imagine the scope of this campaign; millions of Americans are asked to use HPs take back system every time they put cream in their coffee. HP has been recently awarded for this initiative, amongst others.
Check the flyer hanging at DfS….on top of the printer!

HP Recycle site
HP Global Citizen Report

Zipcar: Car Sharing

Meanwhile car sharing initiatives can be found all over Europe, not so many are present in the US. But if it happens that you visit Boston, New York, Washington DC or Denver, you can use the services of Zipcar. The company rents cars that have parking lots spread through the city applying rates according to hours using the service.
Convenience of the system is twofold: flexibility of use (private transportation when needed) and attractive localization system. When visiting the site, availability and location of cars is shown using Google Maps.

Tasty Energy Saving Initiative

Last, but not least an energy saving initiative with wine and cheese flavor. Visiting a medical research lab in Boston we spotted this ad hanging form the message board. The note invites lab teams to save energy by switching off the fumes hood when not used, after two weeks monitoring energy consumption a winner lab will receive a wine & cheese party!!

It cannot be that something like this never happened at some other places, and I’m not pointing at you…Shall we do a competition? DfS vs. DDI? How is in?

Rotterdam Tour on Video

Check the Sustainable Rotterdam Blog for a videosnap of the tour