A living wall is a wonderful solution for improving the quality of the air inside our home or office. The plants will filter the air, enrich it with oxygen, and stabilize the humidity level. I love designing green walls since they free other surfaces of plants, minimizing the risk of damage to furniture and flooring.

One way of installing living walls inside your home or outside, is a Wally Pocket – a flexible container made out of breathable felt derived from recycled plastic bottles (PET). Thanks to the moisture barrier, it is safe to use indoors. Its modular nature allows for grouping in countless configurations, depending on the size of the wall or the type of application.

I like the fact that Wally Pockets are made in USA. I also appreciate that they are just one of many containers by Woolly Pocket.
Their other products can be used as free-standing plant containers (Islands) or modular gardens (Meadows).
You can even choose the color -  they are available in chocolate, camel and blue, in addition to black. The outdoor version is unlined, and some of the freestanding containers have cool zippers (so trendy!) to adjust the size.

This spring, I’m installing (planting?) my own living wall. How about you?

Old but good: Blue Man Group’s lesson on global warming

Danish company Sort of Coal makes it possible for us to try a natural purification agent known for centuries in Japan and Korea: white charcoal.

Unlike common charcoal, white charcoal does not leave dust or residue. It is made by heating pieces of oak and bamboo over a seven-day period in an oxygen-lacking environment. The resulting product retains the original shape and unique beauty of the real wood.

White charcoal has been always used to purify air, water, and body.
Its great absorption ability makes it useful for getting rid of air pollution, unwanted smells, and moisture. When added to water, it will remove chlorine and other impurities, softening the water and improving the overall taste. Soap made with white charcoal powder cleans pores, absorbs impurities, and removes dead skin, helping to take care of acne-prone skin.
Charcoal pieces can also be placed near the computer or TV – they create natural anions, reducing harmful ionization.

White charcoal is reusable and recyclable. Its purification qualities can be reactivated through exposure to boiling water or direct sunlight for a few months up to a few years.
Once it is no longer functioning as a purifier, the charcoal can be broken into pieces and used as a soil amendment.

Some air and water purification products by Sort of Coal are available on the US market through Design Within Reach.
The Sort Of Coal website offers a full array of products: sticks for water and other liquid purification, charcoal cubes, stems and panels for air purification, white and black soaps, and Chi balancing jewelry.
My favorites are white charcoal sculptures, made from Korean oak. They refresh the air in living or commercial spaces (offices and restaurants) and help to balance Chi energy, positively influencing both our well-being and the environment.

Designed for Herman Miller by Yves Behar, creator of  such remarkable designs like the Aliph Jawbone headset or red Toshiba laptop, the Leaf personal light is setting its own standards on the lighting market.

It is the first LED fixture that can provide both cool and warm light. As such, it uses only 8-9W (40% less than a 13W compact fluorescent lamp). It allows for 60,000-100,000 hours of use, which is about 8 times more than a conventional light bulb.
The LEDs usually generate significant amount of heat, but the Leaf is cool to the touch thanks to a special heat distribution system in the body of the fixture.

You can switch between cool light (task lighting) and warm light (mood lighting) and adjust the level of light by just sliding your finger. The Leaf will even remember the last selected setting for the next use.

The unique body that has a 37% recycled content and is 95% recyclable after the end of its lifetime, can be adjusted to folded position for reading and the arm can be straightened to lit up the whole room or illuminate the wall. And there are several colors (black, white, red, nickel and polished aluminum) to choose from, to coordinate with your decor.

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EcoSmart Aspect in private residence

The cold season finally got us here in Southern California. Shortly, there will be a fire burning bright in every family room, adding warm and cozy ambiance to our season’s spirit.

I have spotted recently a very cool (and eco-friendly) alternative to a traditional wood burning or gas fireplace: the EcoSmart fireplace line by Australian manufacturer The Fire Company. Those innovative, open, environmentally friendly fireplaces are fueled by denaturated ethanol (alcohol) and don’t require any utility connection for fuel supply. Denaturated ethanol burns clean, resulting in emission of carbon dioxide (CO2) and steam (H2O). That’s why the fireplace does not require flue for ventilation. You can choose between freestanding portable pieces, in-wall or outdoor weather-resistant products. Stainless steel, fiberglass, glass, leather, different color options, and many shapes and sizes are definitely a big design advantage, in addition to the green aspect.

EcoSmart Fires are not only beautiful, but their thermal input is 14 Mj/h – 13,000 BTU – 3.5 Kw/h – which is equivalent to 2 electric heaters, able to heat up to over 350 sq ft of living space. One 1-1⁄4 gallon (5 liters) of fuel would last from 7 hours on the maximum setting up to 20 hours on the minimum setting.

Countless design awards are a proof of this product line’s superiority in almost every aspect of green design. I hope I will soon report a successful installation of one of the EcoSmart fireplaces.