Tag Archives: social design

India’s Barefoot Solar Engineers Are Building a Brighter Future

By robincapper | Published: November 9, 2009
Throughout India there are many rural villages that are completely removed from the grid. With no source of power for cooking, light, and heating they currently must rely on firewood, kerosene or diesel for fuel. Now green jobs are blossoming throughout these remote areas as the Orissa Tribal Empowerment & Livelihoods Programme trains women and youth to become barefoot solar engineers . This brilliant initiative provides a bright future for the semi-literate and illiterate rural poor by teaching them to harness the sun through the construction of photovoltaic systems and solar powered lanterns
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Stunning Open Air Library Pops Up in East Germany

By admin | Published: November 3, 2009
What began as an assemblage of 1,000 empty beer cartons pulled together by residents in East Germany has now evolved into an incredible open air public library. Designed by Karo Architekten in collaboration with local residents, the grassroots project revitalizes a post-industrial district in Magdeburg, Germany by creating a cultural center and pop-up library where books are free to take and leave 24 hours a day. Opened this past June, the project introduces plenty of green space and reuses the facade of an old warehouse to beautiful effect. Read the rest of Stunning Open Air Library Pops Up in East Germany Permalink | Add to del.icio.us | digg Post tags: book sharing , east germany , green design , karo architects , magdeburg , open air library , post-industrial renovation , public library , Recycled Materials , sustainable design
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Habitat for Humanity and PG&E Support Green Neighborhood in Oakland, CA

By teachertubeEDU | Published: October 29, 2009
Recently we took the trip to Oakland, CA to visit a Habitat for Humanity East Bay Project of particular interest for its pairing of energy-efficient homes with families in need of housing. What was once a deemed by the EPA and the Department of Toxic Substances as a blighted property due to its history as a battery salvage yard has become a sunny neighborhood haven for children to play and families to grow together. It was no small feat remediating some 300,000 cubic yards of soil and bringing in clean fill, but with buildable real estate and housing scarce, the effort is sure to improve more than just the site itself as happy families move into homes that they have taken part in building.
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