TreeHotel in Sweden vs TreeRestaurant in New Zealand

As I browse a social networking site, I stumbled upon this unique concept of a hotel in Sweden that a friend has mentioned to me. The Treehotel allows you to live among the trees and birds, in harmony with nature. The concept is based on respecting the natural environment and to minimise disruption in both physically and visually. Local, sustainable materials such as wood is used in constructing the hotel. The tree houses use freezer toilets that freeze waste for later removal and "cinderellas", which incinerate waste in internal combustion chamber. This plumbing system is proven efficient, “The incinerators are perfectly safe and very efficient... One person using it every day for a year would only produce one single cup of ash residue.” said Anette Selberg, the hotel's marketing director.

Here is the construction video and details of each tree house!

Would you want to stay here?

The Bird's Nest : Discreet windows are hidden with branches. Access is by a retractable staircase.

The Mirrorcube : the one that has made the most headlines. The mirror reflects surrounding trees and creates an almost 'invisible house'.
To prevent birds colliding the tree hotel, an infrared film, visible for birds only, will be laminated into the glass panes.  

Want to see more? http://www.treehotel.se/

New Zealand has a similar design concept found in the Redwoods Treehouse, which holds a restaurant on a tree located near Warkworth north of Auckland. Access to the Treehouse is provided by an elevated tree-top walkway. Parts of the walkway are built using redwood milled on site. The vertical fins and slats are built from sustainably grown pine and poplar. Due to the complicated legislation system created by the RMA (Resource Management Act) 1991, the treehouse is currently closed until a resource consent is granted. 

Want to see more?  www.yellowtreehouse.co.nz/

                             //weblogsurf.com/new-zealand%E2%80%99s-yellow-treehouse-restaurant/

Top 5 Must-See Eco Inventions

I think we all have seen or heard a lot of new green or eco-inventions around the globe from the media. Some are interesting, some could be useful and some are just plain silly. Below is the list of eco-inventions that I believe are must-see and quite entertaining to read.

1. Solar-powered Bra

Yes you read right, Triumph International Japan has invented the first ever eco-friendly bra! The bra features a waist-mounted solar panel that powers a small electronic device you choose to connect. Which means that you can charge your phone when you're wearing this bra! Hmmm handy.

Image via Nikkei

Are you self-conscious about your bra cup size? Not to worry, this bra is not only environmentally- friendly, but it can also increase your bust size. A pair of reusable drink containers are attached to the bra cups to reduce the consumption of aluminium cans and plastic bottles while increasing bust size. Ah amazing.

2. Solar Jacket for Men

In a more serious note, this jacket may have a more promising future than the bra. It looks attractive, stylish and nothing out of the ordinary from a normal jacket - except that it is made from recycled plastic. 

Image via Ecouterre

The solar panels on the upper sleeves power up a heating device to keep you warm and toasty while at the same time can hold enough electricity to recharge your phone or iPod. The solar panels can be taken out at night to keep you looking normal in public and are also washable. Good stuff! The jacket comes with adapters for major communication devices. Problem? You can purchase this jacket for US$750 at Saks Fifth Avenue. 

3. Bio-degradable Car

The Phoenix is the world's first bamboo and rattan car to avoid the amount of wastes produced by old cars. The car was built in 10 days of bamboo, rattan, steel and nylon. 

Image via Inhabitat

The 153-inches long Phenix is unique with its organic fibers biodegradable skin that is designed to last the average of a person keeps a car - 5 years in industrialized countries and 10-20 years elsewhere. The skin however can be replaced inexpensively if the owner wishes to keep the car longer.

4. Eco Beer

A new discovery by engineers shows that using steam to brew the wort can reduce brewing time by half while also using half the energy! This could be one of those rare win-win situation for everyone -- beer companies make more profit and we all can drink beer while saving the planet!

Image via The Sun and Tim Parkinson

5. Eco-Boat

Earthrace is New Zealand's very own 100% biodiesel 100% carbon neutral boat that made headlines all over the world. The hull was composed of a composite carbon fibre with a non-toxic anti-fouling paint. Earthrace runs on 100% renewable biodiesel fuels and also has zero carbon footprint! 

Image via Earthrace Conservation

It runs on vegetable oil, animal fat and human fat alongside many other biodiesel fuels. Pete Bethune, a Kiwi skipper, underwent liposuction and donated enough of his body fat to make 100ml of biofuel. Dedication!

Futuristic Eco-City.... in China!

China is teaming up with Singapore in designing and developing a new Eco-City located in Tianjin, China. The 30 square kilometre Eco-city is based on a concept of 3-harmonies -- man living in harmony with man in the present and future generations; man living in harmony with economic activities; and man living in harmony with the environment.

(Yoneda, Y., 2011)

The plan of Tianjin Eco-City is called "a thriving city which is socially harmonious, environmentally-friendly and resource-efficient -- a model for sustainable development".

What are the green features of Tianjin Eco-City?

Energy Efficiency and Use of Clean, Renewable Energy

Eco-city will make use of the latest sustainable technologies such as solar power and wind power.

Green Buildings

The city will be divided into 7 distinct sectors -- a Lifescape, an Eco-Valley, a Solarscape, an Urbanscape, a Windscape, an Earthscape and Eco-Corridors. 

The Urbanscape will promote the compact and multilayered Eco-City, featuring stacked buildings interconnected by sky-bridges at multiple levels to make efficient use of vertical space (Yoneda, Y., 2011)

The Lifescape consist of a series of soil-topped mounds surrounded by greenery that will counteract with the towering apartment buildings in other sectors (Yoneda, Y., 2011).

The Earthscape is the suburb of the city, with stepped architecture that will maximize public green space (Yoneda, Y., 2011)

The Windscape will transform Qingtuozi, a century-old village surrounded by a small lake, into a public sphere for citizens to relax, socialize and recreate (Yoneda, Y., 2011)

Public green spaces as as the Eco-corridors that will be developed throughout the city (Yoneda, Y., 2011)

Green Transportation

The 30 square kilometre city is built just 10 minutes away from the business parks at the Tianjin Economic-Development Area making commute trips easy with advanced light rail transit system. Green trips such as the use of public transportation, cycling and walking will be promoted within the city. The target is at lest 90% of the trips made within the city are green trips!

Light rail system underground throughout the Eco-City promoting public transportation (Yoneda, Y., 2011)

Water Management

The low rainfall region of the city location may create issues. To overcome this, the Eco-city will draw a significant part of its water supply from desalinated seawater, rainwater recycling and recycled wastewater to reduce stress for water from rivers flowing through. Tap water will also be potable and up to international standards.

Waste Management

The "3Rs" -- Reduce, Reuse, Recycle -- will be promoted and adapted by residents in the Eco-city. Non-organic waste will be recycles and reused, while organic waste will be used as biomass for energy.

What's the timeframe?

The start-up phase of the project (3 sq km) is expected to be complete by 2013. The entire 30 sq km should be completed around 2020 with a projected population of 350,000 people.

(Yoneda, Y., 2011)

Many countries worldwide, including New Zealand, have developed Eco-cities or Eco-suburbs in order to move towards sustainable development and sustainable living. Tianjin Eco-City is China's move towards sustainable living that allows its citizens to live in harmony with the nature as well as exercising inter-generational equity.

What do you think?