The Bendant chandelier by MIO Design is simply ingenious. It arrives flat with laser cut flaps that you mold into a design of your liking. Made from recycled and recyclable metal, this lamp like many of MIO’s collection is sleek, eco-friendly and affordable.
Available directly from MIO.
Check out this feature interview with MIO designers via Design Public.
The Blimp Soft Lamp by Mathmos bring a little dare-I-say-it “touch me” fun to a modern room. These handblown frosted glass bubbles stand about 4″ high & 6″ in diameter and cast a soft colorful glow by touching the top. Effects are created using microchip controlled LEDs which equates to playful lighting for the eco-conscious. Retails for $49 each at Plush Pod.
Never did I think I would post a project from Extreme Home Makeover (a designer’s worst nightmare), but I do give credit where credit is due.
This backyard yoga meditation studio uses color LED lighting and translucent polycarbonate walls to create an everchanging but always serene little sanctuary. The energy-efficiency of LEDs brings additional stress relief in the form of significant savings on electrical bills (which for Extreme Home Makeover McMansion owners must end up being pretty exorbitant).
Since I’m currently researching light fixtures like a banshee, more lighting finds are sure to follow.
Photo Credit: Richard Boyd Photography
Lighting: ColorCast lighting system by Color Kinetics
These clever and sleek pendant fixtures were made from recycled street lights. The green, amber, and ruby lenses seem to cast a jewel-like glow in a room. I appreciate too that each light comes with a energy efficient low wattage bulb. Gorgeous enough to stop traffic. Designed by San Francisco-based company Greenlight Concepts.
Living in Los Angeles, it’s impossible not to take advantage of sneak previews–even on the web. My friend Christopher Adjani, founder of the soon-to-be-launched G Living Network sent me this peek of G Living’s pilot show: “Grease Cars”–going live on the Web next Monday.
Hosts Ziya, Tara and Ananda are not your “traditional style earth Mamas” (to steal a phrase from Ziya), but hip, eco-chicks who will report on the exciting solutions and ideas to help folks adopt a fun, cleaner, greener lifestyle. See how Mandy Moore’s car gets greased on G.
A car that runs on Wesson or canola? Even the government of China has sent someone to LA to find out…Sneak a peek here. Actress Leslie Bega of the Sopranos, has also been plucked for her own gourmet raw food show coming soon.
One of the most ingenious products featured at the hauteGREEN exhibit last month was the ThermaLamp designed by London-based G|O|E Design. It literally relies on you to make the move from a conventional to eco-friendly bulb for it to work and “bloom.”
Step 1: Therma Lamp arrives in flat form on your doorstep. You install a standard incandescent bulb in the fixture to wilt the thermo-softening petals into a desired shape (finally making use of some of the excessive heat that emits from our everyday bulbs).
Step 2: Once you’ve achieved the look you want, switch the bulb to an eco-friendly, low wattage bulb. Voila, you’ve co-created an energy efficient, light sculpture.
What else makes them fabulously green:
They’re lightweight, require minimal packaging, made by local manufacturers, and as a thermo-softening plastic, it can be recycled (and has been made in part from recycled material).
You are also forced to part ways with that everyday light bulb if you want to keep your new piece of art from discoloring or turning brittle. You might even see some savings on your next electrical bill.
Although available primarily in Europe, G|O|E is able to ship to the US. Reasonably priced at £45.
Thanks to Campbell at G|O|E for giving me the ThermaLamp for Dummies tutorial and for answering my barrage of technical questions. I appreciate their candor about what pieces are eco-friendly and which aren’t in their collection — demonstrating their integrity as designers. That’s what I call being socially responsible.
Ah, nothing beats styling celeb, environmental advocate and architecture buff Brad Pitt to help generate media interest in green design. Back in April, Brad and national environmental organization Global Green USA teamed up to sponsor a eco-design competition to rebuild parts of New Orleans devastated by Katrina and create beautiful, sustainable livable homes and cities. Pritzker prize-winning architect Thomas Mayne of Morphosis has even been plucked as a juror.
There are three days lefts to sign up for the competition (registration is easy). The registration deadline has been extended to this Friday, June 16. General Entrance Fee is $100 or $25 for students. It’s an opportunity to challenge your best design thinking for a great cause, design and build a piece of history, or a chance to meet Brad Pitt or Thom Mayne (whichever floats your boat).
To register or donate to the green rebuilding in the wake of Katrina visit Global Green.
