Category: Sustainable Living

‘Mr. Blandings’ Is Now 75. What Can His Dream House Tell Us About Ours?

The 1948 film starring Cary Grant and Myrna Loy celebrated leaving city life and spreading out in suburbia. Even then, it was a questionable idea.
Europe’s Cities Rely on Age-Old Ways to Stay Cool as Heat Waves Intensify

Architectural styles and construction materials can significantly reduce the need for air-conditioning during heat waves, according to sustainable architecture experts.
Replacing Your Lawn? Try Planting Pawpaw or Persimmon Trees

Or just start by planting a few pawpaw or persimmon trees. Chances are, you’ll want more.
How One Man Saved a 19th-Century Cabin in Ontario

Building a big new house would have been easier and cheaper. But saving the 19th-century structure resulted in something better.
Corporate Landscaping Opts for Native Plants Over Manicured Lawns

More companies are eschewing manicured grass in favor of native plants, a shift driven by the environmental costs of installing and maintaining lawns.
Renaissance Nonprofit Focuses on Upcycled Couture

Renaissance, a French nonprofit, focuses on producing upcycled pieces made in the couture style while providing job training opportunities.
They Turned a Tiny Cabin in Coastal Washington Into Their Island Escape

The 825-square-foot house was theirs for $275,000. But there was one big drawback: Without a foundation, it was sinking into the earth.
E.V. Ride-Sharing Programs Bring Cleaner Transportation to Low-Income Communities

An innovative E.V. ride-sharing program is bringing low-cost clean transportation to an agricultural town in California’s Central Valley. Others are following suit.
Priced Out of NYC, They Bought a Tiny Suburban Home in New Jersey. Now What?

The 900-square-foot house had three bedrooms, but the children’s were shoe-box size. Updating them required ingenuity and ideas from “An American in Paris.”
The Beauty of a One-Bedroom House? No Room for Guests.

When two designers created their own country retreat, they knew they wanted the opposite of what most of their clients ask for: Something tiny.
Burning Man Becomes Latest Adversary in Geothermal Feud

Festival organizers are trying to block plans to build a clean energy plant in the Nevada desert, highlighting the struggle to combat climate change and the cost of clean power.
Why You Should Forget What You Think You Know About Housing in L.A.

Los Angeles, a city known for its conventional single-family homes, may offer some of today’s most innovative solutions for multifamily housing.