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There are a lot of things wrong with the way we build our cities, and in these hard times, there is a lot wrong in the way we are href="http://www.treehugger.com/files/2010/03/building-codes-saved-lives-in-chile.php">rebuilding them, or unbuilding them as the case may be. These activists were out the other night trying to stop the demolition of href="http://www.treehugger.com/files/2010/03/the-greenest-building-is-the-one-already-standing.php">41 historic buildings in Brantford, Ontario, that are coming down because some people think that this is better than trying to fix them. But fixing them is greener, and just one of many things we could do to make our cities and buildings better, more efficient and healthier.
Read the rest of href="http://www.inhabitat.com/2010/03/10/big-steps-to-make-our-cities-and-buildings-better/">Big Steps To Make Our Cities and Buildings Better
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Here's a neat material technology you can integrate into your next product concept: Thin film tactile surface sensors. Sensor Products Inc. is a company specializing in the mapping of tactile pressure, and the data they glean can lead to design improvements for everything from windshield wipers to mattresses to body armor.
A few examples: Their Tactilus Real-Time Surface Pressure Mapping Technology, for example, is an electronic skin that precisely measures pressure distribution and magnitude and relays that data to a computer; their Bodyfitter surface sensor measures seat surface, back rest and head rest pressure for furniture and wheelchairs; and they even make a Damage Indicating Paint that can be sprayed onto a product or part--and once a predetermined amount of contact pressure is applied, microcapsules suspended in the paint will burst, revealing the precise wear spot as a different color.
Check out their dozens of applications and products here.
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Hey Inhabitat readers! Is your laundry room in desperate need of a clean green makeover? Does your washing machine waste buckets of water and is your dryer a drain your electricity bill? Well you’re in luck – Inhabitat is teaming up with href="http://www.methodhome.com/">Method to give away an href="http://www.laundryroommakeover.com/">incredible green laundry room renovation worth $8,500! One lucky winner will receive an eco renovation by Method that comes complete with a new energy efficient washer and dryer in addition to a year’s supply of href="http://www.methodhome.com/">Method cleaning supplies — including their recently released line of href="http://www.methodhome.com/products-methodlaundry.aspx">laundry products. We’ll also be bringing you a series showcasing tips and tricks to create a smarter, greener, and cleaner laundry room, so href="http://www.laundryroommakeover.com">enter the sweepstakes today and stay tuned for more!
href="http://www.laundryroommakeover.com">ENTER THE METHOD LAUNDRY ROOM MAKEOVER SWEEPSTAKES >
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Antonio Scarponi, founder of Conceptual Devices, has worked out a way to fold your regular hoodie into a laptop bag, baby carrier, pillow, backpack and strap bag. Memorize it to impress people in a pinch. Might also be good for that lazy look (come on, we know you can pull it off).
