MNN - Mother Nature Network

The New York Times goes gardening and discusses how the recession and climate change are impacting the greenthumbed community. 

Jetson Green tours 81 Weatherby, a super modern, super green private residence in Atlanta (MNN's home turf) that's been recently completed. The pad boasts soy-based spray foam insulation, low-VOC paints and adhesives, ENERGY STAR appliances, Plyboo Bamboo flooring, a green roof, and more.

The Washington Post pays its respects to Millard Fuller (left), the founder of Habitat for Humanity. He passed away this week at the age of 76. 

Ideal Bite summons Mommy Dearest with alternatives to plastic and wire hangers. Bamboo and corn are just a couple options. 

Dwell talks shop with the owners of Spruce, a green modern design boutique in New Orleans. 

The New Republic gets prefabulous with a lengthy, investigative article on prefabricated housing. 

Inhabitat is keen on the TWEET-A-WATT, a power monitor that Twitters your home energy use. Online over-sharing has reached its peak, apparently. 

The Huffington Post gets cozy with a heatable organic cotton pillow. 

Fast Company whisks us away to Zira Island, a planned 1 million square-meter "futuristic eco-island" in the Caspian Sea that will have zero carbon footprint. The island — part of the nation of Azerbaijan — will have both a tourist resort and a residential area. 

ecofabulous provides a sneak peak of the new green-roofed, solar-paneled West Elm store in Emeryville, California. The home furnishings store had plenty of green loot prominently displayed, apparently.  

WebEcoist gets down and dirty with "Earthen Architecture: 15 of the World’s Dirtiest Buildings."

Der Spiegel answers an ages-old question: What happens to unsold Christmas trees in Germany? The answer: Elephants in German zoos spend the month of January eating them to stay "regular."  

Edificial goes live. The NYC-based "Brutal (but Constructive) Architecture Tabloid" from Breaking Media is edited by Ian Volner and Eva Hagberg, a friend of mine who contributes to Metropolis, The New York Times, Wallpaper*, and other titles. 

 

See ya next week with reportage from the opening of Green Depot, a green building supplies superstore on Manhattan's Bowery, a look at sustainable options for those planning on hitting the sheets over Valentine's Day weekend, and a round-up of green garbage cans and recycling containers. As always, feel free to drop a line with any tips, tidbits, or suggestions.