Whitelines Swedish Paper

Swedish paper company Whitelines recently released a new collection of eco-conscious notebooks and paper.

Their products are known for white lines as opposed to the dark lines found on many more conventional styles of notebooks and paper.  The concept is simple - the designer, Olof Hansson believes white "non-conflict" lines on paper are less distracting than dark - making the writing experience more focused and pleasurable.

Whitelines products are ideal for graphic or industrial designer as well as writers.
All notebooks produced by the company are labeled with their CO2 footprint.  All products are made in Sweden in a production process they company says causes "very low environmental stress in all parts of the production/logistics chain."  Their paper mill does not emit any carbon dioxide.

I've been using a Whitelines notebook for several weeks now and appreciate what an excellent writing pad this is.  The notebook is perfect for a designer to carry with them and sketch out ideas while on the bus or train. 

Whitelines products are available in the US online and at specialty writing/design supply stores.

Check Mr Bill's FLICKR stream for some writing samples on Whitelines paper

How to Pack a Zero Waste Lunch

Bringing lunch with you to school or work is a great way to eat better and save money.  While there are many benefits to packing your own lunch there is one major environmental concern: single use disposable packaging generates significant amounts of waste.

The Center for American Progress (CAP) just ran a great short piece on how to green up your child's school lunch.  CAP estimates each average school-age child who has mostly single serving packaged items in their lunch generates 67 pounds of waste each school year. CAP suggests packaging a zero-waste lunch.

Here’s the basic things to remember:

1) Reuse your beverage container. Use a thermos or a reusable water bottle to carry liquids.

2) Pack a reusable lunch bag. Using the same lunch bag every day creates no waste and is an affordable one-time purchase. You can probably even reuse a bag you already have.

3) Buy in bulk. Buy family-sized packages of cookies, crackers, and chips, rather than individually packaged snacks, and then pack the desired amount each day.

4) Use reusable containers for food. Use Tupperware, or whenever possible wash out old food packaging for reuse. This is great for transporting leftovers.

5) Rise out of old food containers. Reuse old food packaging to avoid throwing it out.

6) Bring your fork from home. Remembering to pack reusable utensils will prevent wasting hundreds of plastic forks, knives, and spoons every year. You can also keep a set of washable cloth napkins on hand to prevent unnecessary use of paper ones.

It’s almost always easier, and cheaper, to replace disposable packaging items with reusable materials. And they’ll save you less trips to the store in the long run, as well as money on things such as plastic and paper bags.

via Center for American Progress

A Nice Thanksgiving

Hope everyone in had a nice Thanksgiving holiday.  Its always nice to gather with family and friends sharing a nice dinner. 

Its also fun to incorporate family items into things like the table setting.  This photo I took shows part of the table arrangement my mother did using her favorite Evesham pattern dinnerware,  a wonderful family heirloom silver bowl some red pears and hydrangea flowers from the yard. 

I thought the setting was beautiful and charming.  It was also very satisfying because it used so many things of meaning to our family.

Hammarby: Swedish Eco-Suburb of the Future

BY ALEXANDER HOGAN

Good design can change the world. Don’t believe me? Take a look at the community of Hammarby, a suburb of Stockholm, Sweden. Once an industrial wasteland claimed by gangs as their territory, good design and careful planning have transformed this urban blight into an up and coming global model for eco-minded change. 

Change. No other word or motto seems more vital and timely today. And what’s so appealing and interesting about the Hammarby model is the complete transformation that it embodies. Every building has been designed to meet the goals of reducing waste, specifically CO2 emissions. Roofs conceal solar panels, hand rails also hold solar strips to fuel the energy needs of this community. 

The design community, guided by the demands and desires of the citizenry and planners has created a fully integrated eco-city. A trip to the city website offers you a chance to investigate more of the philosophy and goals behind this rising suburban community. Don’t worry if your Swedish is rusty, an English language site is available and fully functional. The site notes

“The core of the environmental and infrastructural planning can be summarized in an eco-cycle model. The model for the handling of energy, waste and water is known as the Hammarby Model. It has been developed by Fortum, Stockholm Water Company and the Stockholm Waste Management Administration.”

In other words the community of Hammarby Sjostad hopes to emit half the CO2 of other new housing areas. They propose to do this by reforming water and sewage technology, recycling, reforming design to keep healthy, environmentally sound materials in mind, and developing buildings which use renewable fuels.  Consumers are drawn to the area because of an active choice to live in an area in which the very buildings themselves embody their values. 

So are the Swedish some group of super eco-logical thinkers? No, they simply made the choice to organize and plan out collectively their goals. We have the same opportunity now in the United States. If we organize as consumers and as communities and lay out a set of objectives we can accomplish them through design and responsible consumerism in the same way that the citizens and planners of Hammarby accomplished their dream city. Collective action and dialogue is just as important for social change in this century as it has been in every century past. Sure, let Hammarby be a model, but let our own intellects guide our way. 

Having traveled extensively on three continents, Alexander Hogan has seen the impact of environmental degradation and unreflective consumerism in many different societies. He is a professor of political science and author of the blog The Happy Gentleman where he documents his life as a foodie, amateur photographer and advocate of responsible consumerism. Contact him at letsemailalexander@gmail.com

Hearst Tower

On Friday I had the opportunity to tour Hearst Tower with Hearst Senior V.P. for Integrated Media, Jeff Hamill.

Hearst Tower is Norman Foster's magnificent creation on 57th & 8th Avenue in NYC and is the new home to the Hearst Corporation. 

Foster preserved six stories of Joseph Urban's original Hearst Building to serve as a base for his new tower design.  Using the original building's outer structure creates a wonderful open atrium at the base of the new Hearst Tower. 

Hearst Tower is the first office building in NYC to receive a Gold LEED rating from the US Green Building Council.

The atrium includes the Icefall sculpture, a two-story structure of 595 separate hand cast glass blocks with constantly varying computer controlled water flowing.   The Icefall cascading waterfall is fueled by rainwater collected on the roof of the building.  The sculpture provides a wonderful welcome to visitors as well as serving to humidify the atrium. 

Icefall serves as a base for Richard Long's enormous Riverlines fresco which is the primary focal point in the atrium. 

Hearst Tower is a marvel of design and efficiency.  It is supported by a steel diagrid and twelve angled mega columns.  From the exterior the building looks like a series of four story triangular frames. 

The building layout is just amazing.  The 44th floor offers spectacular views of the city and offers conference and meeting facilities for staff.  Hallways on the 43 and 44th floors are lined with spectacular art from the Hearst collection including several pieces from Chinese installation and pyrotechnic artist Cai Guo-Qiang. 

I had the opportunity to see the Good Housekeeping test labs on the 29th floor of Hearst Tower.  Here Good Housekeeping Magazine tests and evaluates a wide range of products and awards the Good Housekeeping Seal.  The Good Housekeeping lab was designed by the New York firm C& R Partners in conjunction with Foster & Partners.

I was impressed by the Hearst Tower and the company's setup in their new home.  Its a dramatic improvement for the company and its employees.

photos: Foster + Partners

Drink: Barbara Lynch's new Bar in Boston's Fort Point

I had the opportunity to check out some adaptive reuse at Barbara Lynch's new bar Drink on Congress St in Boston's Fort Point neighborhood. The bar just opened last month.

Architect and designer Jeffery Katz of C & J Katz was kind enough to let me join a group of Intar grad students from RISD he was leading on a tour of Drink as well as the new restaurant he and his wife are designing above the bar.

Katz and his firm did a wonderful job with Drink. They preserved much of the existing structure and their design showcases the building's character. Their work shows you can be both sensitive to sustainability as well as unique and cutting edge.

Drink's interior is one of clean lines meet industrial charm. The bar design creates plenty of unique space and includes a center section where fresh herbs are grown. Foot rests are made of pipe, stools from galvanized metal.

The mixology at Drink is of a very high level of sophistication.  What makes the bar's concept work is the approachable nature of the bartenders - they create an atmosphere of willingness to share their knowledge and skills with guests.  Combine these aspects with the creative license allowed to their expert bartenders and you have a winning concept. 

I also had the chance to see Barbara's latest restaurant, which is very much under construction. It has yet to be named but seems likely to follow her other gem No. 9 Park in name,

The restaurant will be incredible when its completed and is designed to provide the ultimate in service to customers.

Thanks to Jeffrey, who in addition to his design work has been a professor at RISD for many years and to the bartenders at Drink – what a wonderful, elegant bar!

If your in Boston and are looking for a classy drink and some beautiful design check it out.

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Finding Great Vintage Cookware

One of the primary items I search for at second hand shops and garage sales is vintage cookware.

My favorite items to look for are vintage cast iron, stainless steel and copper pans and pots.

For a variety of reasons there is an abundance of used cookware available often times at real bargain prices.  I find many items are donated to goodwill or sold at garage sales by people who have changed the style of their kitchens or who don't like the look of a weathered pan.

Being someone who places a premium on quality and who appreciates the look of a seasoned pan I am in heaven when I find used cookware.

Sadly most people who discard classic pots and pans often will replace them with an inferior product which is frustrating and completely unsustainable.

Some of my favorite things to find are vintage Griswold cast iron.  Their design is so simple and elegant and their industrial look is very appealing to me.

I recently found a great pair of stainless steel pots on eBay made by Polaris of Norway (pictured). The design is magnificent, clean lines, highly functional beautiful stainless steel.

Polaris worked with a number of top Scandinavian designers over the years and their products are known for being of superior quality. I use my two Polaris pots all the time I love them.

Five tips for finding vintage cookware:

Determine what you like – cast iron, enameled cast iron, vintage enamel, stainless, copper etc and spend some time learning about the different manufacturers and designs they have produced.

Buy pieces you like and don't be afraid to mix and match

Tag sales and church sales are where you'll get the best bargains on vintage cookware.

Look for vintage products made in the USA or Europe the quality on these items are usually very high.

If copper is your interest learn the difference between a decorative piece and piece designed for use. Keep in mind that often the best decorative pieces are ones that have been used for many years as they develop a beautiful patina and show wonderful signs of use. 

When I buy vintage cookware I am always buying pieces that are usable.  For me the enjoyment comes from using the pieces as well as having them in my kitchen.

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Five Places to Find Incredible Used Bargains

Last week I posted five tips for finding sustainable items on eBay.  eBay is one of my favorite places to find bargain quality items cheap.

Today I am sharing suggestions for the five best places to find quality sustainable items. I believe quality used items are sustainable as they aren't a new product, often prevent something from ending up in a landfill and many times are made better than similar new products today.

There are a whole of options for finding great used goods but five stand out as clear winners in my mind.

Garage/tag sales: Nothing beats a great tag sale. Look for advertisements in your local paper, on Craigslist or just around town. Almost every Saturday here in Rhode Island I am up and out the door early hitting the local tag sales. I especially look for moving sales as often the sellers need to move items and are much more willing to bargain.

Church sales:  These can be great! You'll often find the lowest prices at church sales. There is normally a large variety of items at church sales – often these sales are advertised for several weeks and are part of larger festivals or events.

Thrift stores: Thrift stores vary tremendously and their stock is constantly changing. Many times a trip to the thrift store is either great or you leave with nothing so it can be frustrating. Check your local area for chain thrift stores like Savers or the Salvation Army. Also many churches or community centers have thrift stores. Prices are generally higher per item than you'll find at tag or church sales but still tremendous bargains can be had.

Flea Markets: Flea markets can be great – check out one of my favorite blogs, Eddie Ross for proof. Eddie posts often about the finds he has from the various flea markets in NYC. There are flea markets all over the country – often the more rural ones tend to have lower pricing so keep that in mind.  Urban flea markets are usually more expensive.  I've been to flea markets all over the country and world and you never know what you'll find.  Down south in the Houston area many great furniture finds can be had for very fair prices.

School/organization sales: Like church sales sales hosted schools or other organizations to raise money can be a great place for bargains. The pricing is often higher than you'll find a church sale as many times tables are rented to people to sell their goods. These sales are like mini flea markets. Check your local papers and CL for locations

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Renee Loux Easy Green Living

Renee Loux's Easy Green Living is a practical guide to incorporating green and more sustainable habits into all aspects of your home and lifestyle. 

Easy Green Living is written in a very effective style.  Its not threatening and in your face like some other books on the subject and Loux doesn't take the doom and gloom approach.  She is very approachable in her writing.  The book reads as if it were a knowledgeable friend providing advice and because of this I think it has wide appeal.

Living a more sustainable life is new to many people and Loux respects that in her writing not talking down to readers who many have just realized the benefits of making a lifestyle change.  Just the same seasoned readers who have already incorporated green tendencies into their lifestyle will find Easy Green Living an informative resource with many suggestions on how to continue their pursuit.

Well over 300 pages of information including suggestions and recommendations for specific resources and products await the reader in Easy Green Living.

Loux has written two other books, Living Cuisine and The Balanced Plate and is the host of It's Easy Being Green on Fine Living.

She is known for her whole-foods philosophy and brings that same logic to the home, garden and even beauty routines.  Her style is to incorporate green choices in every part the home from kitchen to bedroom. Being informed is so important and that is where this book shines.  It allows readers to learn about different choices and options they have when making changes.

Renee Loux demonstrates that being green at home is easy, affordable, and better in every sense of the word.  She discusses the daily choices we face that can keep the home, personal care, and beauty routines free of toxins. 

The book is full of "5 step" lists, products and recipes for green cleaning, helpful charts, safer choices for every room, and inspirational advice.

If you are looking for an excellent all around guide to living a greener more eco-friendly lifestyle then I'd highly recommend Easy Green Living. 

Buy Easy Green Living on Amazon.com

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Finding a Good Used Coffee Maker

Reviving a Classic Braun Coffee Maker

If you are a coffee drinker you know the importance of a good quality coffee maker. Most of the units you can buy new these days aren't well built and are almost exclusively made in China.

I've always been a fan of the classic Braun coffee makers and refusing to participate in the disposable appliance cycle it seems everyone in this country is on I keep my eyes open at garage sales and thrift shops for the the older Brauns.

Many of the early Braun coffee makers were made in Germany and sold with reusable filters. The coffee isn't barista grade when brewed but its a damn good cup of coffee as Agent Cooper in Twin Peaks often said.

At a thrift store in Massachusetts I like to frequent I ran into a German made Braun model 3097 complete with a Schott carafe and swiss gold filter. I picked up the coffee maker for $2.99 all it needed was a cleaning.

Restoring a coffee maker usually only requires running a couple cycles of white vinegar and water through the system and giving it a good external cleaning. Using a Skoy cloth, castile soap and and old toothbrush I had the unit in coffee brewing condition in about a day.

I love the industrial design of the old Braun products.

I have two Braun coffee makers the other one I picked up at a church sale for $2 is an Aeromaster – which is a classic icon of industrial design.

Many of these older Braun's were deemed “out of style” by homeowners and replaced with other more modern looking units.

They are now at the height of fashion and look great in a kitchen. If you're looking for a highly functional and well designed coffee maker keep your eyes peeled for a German made Braun at a tag sale, thrift shop or on eBay.

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