From the company’s public relations rep:

Hakatai Glass Mosaic Tiles are now delivered carbon-neutral in a partnership with GreenShipping.com and the Bonneville Environmental Foundation. GreenShipping.com uses a CO2 emissions calculator and to provide a total, and Hakatai purchases carbon offsets from BEF to help fund the development of renewable energy.Neat stuff.  How do carbon offsets sit with you?  Would you consider buying them if they offset the footprint of a major project like a new home construction or massive addition to/remodel of an existing space? 

It’s a controversial topic, an attempt to reconcile those who believe minimalism and the “leave no trace” philosophy of environmentalism with the very carbon un-neutral building industry.  Thoughts?

• So this is a little off the beaten path for us, but I received a product release about some pretty little alternatives to paper towels.  File under: Implementing Green Style!  Who doesn’t like a chance for everything in the kitchen to coordinate?
•  The USGBC gives a big thumbs-up to the House of Reps for passing green incentives legislation.
• Natural Home magazine gives yet another peek into the massive design/build project that is the rebuilding of Greensburg, KS. 

All this, after the jump! (more…)

The products offered include Fu-Tung Cheng’s  Concrete Countertops Made Simple, countertop mixes in four colors, sealers, waxes and a finishing kit.  The company also held hands-on clinics in conjunction with the products launch for the public’s benefit at stores in Phoenix, Chandler and Tempe, which were well attended.  Read the complete release after the jump.

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In this episode of “Questions You Never Thought You’d Ask,” we ask ourselves: Is it a sink?  Is it a toilet?

If you were at K/BIS in Chicago last year, you might have seen me standing in at the Caroma booth in front of this, mesmerized.

I had been working on several green stories and was a few weeks away from launching this blog, and the topic I had become most interested in was the use of “used” water or greywater as a means to overall water conservation.

And then along comes the Profile Smart, the unit you see at left–it wasn’t available in the U.S. during K/BIS Chicago, but it is now. The unit is a dual flush HET with a 1.28/.08 gpf rating, which the company says will save a family that replaces a 1.6 gpf model approximately 5,000 gallons of water a year.

In the lingo of infomercials everywhere: BUT WAIT!  THERE’S MORE!

 The water saving increase when you factor in the sink that is integrated into the lid of the toilet.  In Caroma’s words:

“When the Profile Smart is flushed, fresh cold water is directed through the faucet for hand washing. This water then drains into the tank to be used for the next flush. This unique water and space saving design features chrome buttons built-in to the tapware design. It also features a large trapway, nearly double the industry average, virtually eliminating blockages and overflows. The installation process is quick and easy and does not require any special instructions.”

Now that’s an innovation–for the environmentalists, it means no more DIYgreywater lines from the sink to the toilet to outside gardens/ponds/etc. (illegal in some states, unregulated in others).  For the average user, though, it means yet another way to save water–good for the bills, good for the Earth.

The title says it all. Just received some new photography from Kirei (the carbonized bamboo doors at right with Kirei board inserts) and thought some pretty sustainability would be good for this Friday afternoon!

Kirei makes a collection of products: Kirei Board, Kirei Bamboo, Kirei Coco Tiles and Kirei Wheatboard. Manufactured from renewable and reclaimed agricultural fiber and low-or no-added-formaldehyde adhesives, the company is “dedicated to a new palette of beautiful, natural materials for interior designers to create elegant, sustainable and innovative kitchen and bath designs.”

It’s a versatile material; the company touts it as suitable for wall coverings, millwork, cabinetry and architectural accents, among other things.

TreeHugger covers Kirei used in furniture–see here.  And Vivavi’s showing a mod Kirei coffeetable here.

Ah, the things they’re doing with sorghum these days!

LED luminaires are the next big thing; clean light that beats the pants off compact fluorescents for longevity.  GE, the company that made the soon-to-be-outlawed incandescent what it is today, is innovating as fast as it can and is garnering some serious recognition for its efforts.

Everything you ever wanted to know about GE’s advancements in the world of light emitting diodes, after the jump.

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In TOTO’s own words:

“With over 1,500 Research and Design Engineers on staff in its global network, TOTO is constantly innovating new products, materials, and technologies to enhance its customers’ experience in, and the serene beauty of, their bath space.   “Continual innovation is an important aspect of our commitment to excellence,” said Lenora Campos, a company spokesperson.  “Our goal is to anticipate the needs of the consumer before those needs become apparent.  Each of these new innovations is ahead of its time.” 

TOTO’s new Luminist is a hybrid epoxy resin that combines the translucence of glass with exceptional impact-, heat-, and stain-resistance of a marble surface.  These qualities enable TOTO to craft from it bathtubs and lavatories that are not only beautiful and durable, but also can also be lit from below, opening up myriad design possibilities for subtle, ambient effects to influence the atmosphere of the bath.  This blend of qualities – beauty, lucidity, and durability – makes Luminist a designer’s fantasy material come to reality.  Luminist belongs to a family of materials – epoxy resins – that is more commonly found in airplane wings than the high-end bath.  This hybrid epoxy resin can withstand temperatures of up to an industry-high of 680°F — not to mention its ability to withstand scratching and high impact.  Its excellent machining properties make it versatile to use and easy to repair, and, as a toxin-free epoxy resin, no volatile organic compounds are released during its production, which benefits the environment.”

Pretty neat stuff.  More to come!