Sustainable Design

05/18/2026

A great new place in Brattleboro to check out! Reclaimed materials at its finest!

05/08/2026

Don't Miss the 2026 Downtown and Historic Preservation Conference on June 4th

The Downtown & Historic Preservation Conference is Vermont’s go-to gathering for people passionate about vibrant downtowns and preserving the places that make our communities unique. Connect with local leaders, community builders, and advocates at this energizing conference—share ideas, spark inspiration, and walk away with practical strategies to strengthen and revitalize the places we care about most, from housing and adaptive reuse to economic vitality and placemaking.

Learn more and register to attend in St Albans on June 4th: Register Here

Community Development Save the Date: June 4th and 5th, 2026 The Downtown and Historic Preservation Conference brings together a diverse group of stakeholders to network and learn about historic preservation, community planning and downtown revitalization. We are very pleased to announce that this ...

01/07/2026

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11/18/2025

In 2016, a tech enthusiast named Glubux built an off-grid power system using over 1,000 recycled laptop batteries connected to solar panels. Eight years later, he returned to the Second Life Storage forum to confirm that the setup is still running strong, proving that e-waste can be transformed into reliable clean energy. His project is a powerful example of how creativity and sustainability can meet to reduce waste and cut energy costs. Would you try powering your home this way?

11/18/2025

Thinking outside the waste stream...

In 2016, a tech enthusiast named Glubux built an off-grid power system using over 1,000 recycled laptop batteries connected to solar panels. Eight years later, he returned to the Second Life Storage forum to confirm that the setup is still running strong, proving that e-waste can be transformed into reliable clean energy. His project is a powerful example of how creativity and sustainability can meet to reduce waste and cut energy costs. Would you try powering your home this way?

08/04/2025

We will be presenting on Saturday at Solarfest!

07/16/2025

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MIT engineers have developed a passive hydrogel window panel that extracts drinking water from dry air without electricity, as observed in a sunlit Arizona test site.

The system features a layered hydrogel infused with hygroscopic salts and glycerol, which absorbs moisture overnight and releases it during the day using sunlight alone.

The v***r condenses into clean, drinkable water—up to 160 milliliters per panel daily—without filters, pumps, or power, functioning even in ultra-dry conditions like Death Valley, where it operates at near-zero humidity.

Multiple panels could supply a household’s needs, making it ideal for rooftops, off-grid cabins, refugee camps, or disaster zones due to its lightweight, modular design.

Unlike previous air-to-water devices reliant on electricity or active components, this fully passive system stands out, with a polymer design neutralizing residues to ensure safe water output.

Field trials with humanitarian agencies are underway, signaling practical application.

The establishment hails it as a breakthrough for the 2.2 billion facing water stress, but skepticism lingers—its 160-milliliter yield per panel may fall short for larger groups without significant scaling, and long-term durability in harsh climates or cost-effectiveness remains unproven.

This innovation leverages nature’s cycles, yet its real-world impact hinges on addressing these gaps beyond the lab.

06/27/2025

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🇳🇱 In the Netherlands, bricks are learning to breathe.

A green-tech innovation is transforming ordinary buildings into living walls — by designing bricks that invite moss to grow directly on their surface.

These moss-friendly bricks require no soil, no maintenance — just rain and wind.
And what they offer in return is remarkable:

🌱 Purify urban air
🌡️ Cool buildings and streets by up to 7°C
🌍 Capture and store CO₂ naturally

In the city of Leiden, schools and bus stops are being cloaked in moss — turning everyday walls into air-cleaning, climate-cooling ecosystems.

This isn’t just decoration. It’s a defense against urban heat and pollution.
A quiet, green revolution is rising — brick by brick.

04/01/2025

Looking forward to PRESENTING at this week's BBBD! See you there!

Make plans now to join us April 2 & 3 at the DoubleTree Hotel & Conference Center in South Burlington, VT for the 2025 Better Building by Design Conference.

09/05/2024

Today's harvest from our garden...