Oh and, we’re a lot noisier on twitter.

Read the article here.

Why printers fail to work after a number of prints.

Why lightbulb technology (pre-LED) had never advanced since 1879.

Why batteries always begin to not work, and gadget manufacturers never have a replacement.

Yes it was all planned.

From Inhabitat:

The ratio of the Oasia Downtown’s footprint to its vegetated surfaces is 750%, so the building may just be the tallest vegetated building in the world when completed in 2014. The design team aimed to create lush views inwards from every room. The building is hollowed out, and its program is set to one side or the other – the areas in between hold large open expanses filled with trees, flowers, and creeping vines. Four floors will act as verandas, providing a park-like experience.

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On a similar, but perhaps more epic note, they’re building the world’s first vertical forest. No seriously, it’s going to hold 900 small trees and plants, and have greenery cover 10000 sq metres (they’d get a hefty grant if they were in Singapore).

Oh yes, it is currently under construction; not just some lofty concept idea. More on that here.

We know about, and have extended our sympathies to the people in Japan after the March 11 tsunami. One of the major changes that Japan has had to soldier through was the fact that their Nuclear power supply, something they had bet heavily on to provide their energy, was crippled overnight.

The government started a nationwide campaign to improve the Japan’s energy usage, targeting a 15% decrease. How? Well firstly, air conditioning is mandated at 28 degrees C. Secondly, you are encouraged to dress like:

OK, those guys are supposedly from Japan’s Environment Ministry, probably trying to set an example. If you’re looking for something more contemporary, you can head over to Uniqlo and check out their ‘collection’.

I love it. Forcing people to dress down.

More here and here.

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Indonesia’s Batik Makers

Batik making is a tradition and artform that predates written records, and is synonymous with Indonesian and South East Asian culture . In 2009, it was added to UNESCO’s intangible heritage of humanity list. Yes, Batik is a lot lot more than that souvenir item that you bring home from your Eat Pray Love / Sort Out My Existential Problem journey to Bali.

But, did you know that Batik making is a chemical heavy and pollutive process that traditionally relies heavily on fossil fuels? In fact, according to Guardian, “batik businesses produce more CO₂ emissions than any other small or medium enterprise in Indonesia”.

So what can anyone do? Form The Clean Batik Initiative, of course!

From Guardian: The programme shares information on practical sustainability with government representatives through workshops on cost management and water and energy efficiency, gives producers technical assistance to help them adopt sustainable production, and promotes environmentally friendly batik to the public.

Yup, Environmental AND Cultural sustainability. #win

Read the whole article on Guardian

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Beijing’s Cycling Infrastructure

Here in Singapore, drivers seem to have a strange hatred for commuters on bicycles, and can’t get used to the fact that they are sharing the road with them (see comments thread of here, here, here, here, here and here, to take a look at this embarrassing phenomenon).

Meanwhile, in the rest of the world, cycling is a growing mode of transport. In Copenhagen for the best modern example, bikes are allowed on the train, and 36% of all Danish adults ride a bike to work daily or once a week.

Similarly, Beijing is targeting a cycling rate of 23%. The cycling rate was 50% historically, and until the 80’s, before the saturation of cars. Fast forward to today, the cars started saturating the air with smog, and the streets with themselves, and the humble bicycle has now come full circle. Today, new infrastructure for cyclists are being build, improved bike lanes, more parking facilities and a rental scheme to roll out 50,000 bikes by 2015.

More here

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Speaking of saturated air….

Malaysia Complains to Indonesia about the Haze

If you live in Singapore or Malaysia, you’d probably have experienced the haze first hand for yourself. Just search #haze on twitter, and you’ll see lots of funny comments about it.

In what is becoming a frequent event in the ASEAN political landscape, Malaysia has made a complaint to Indonesia about the current Transboundary Haze Pollution (don’t you love technical terms?). As most know, the cause of the haze is not “forest fires” of the ecological variety, but due to the land clearing agricultural (or, Palm Oil industry) activities in Indonesia. This practice has been outlawed by the Indonesian government of course, but enforcement has been less than successful.

In recent developments, flights have been diverted due to poor visibility, and my nose became all activist after I went for a walk last night (bad move). I think people aren’t treating this as “another one of those environment issues” anymore.

I hear they’re going to talk about this in the next ASEAN meeting, but I remember them saying that from the time I was in secondary school…

More on Jakarta Globe

EDIT: While everyone was complaining, Singapore readied a team to help out!

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Lucas Films Green HQ in Singapore, and it looks like a Sandcrawler

This is nice, Star Wars + Green Building. I get this impression that we are already in the sci-fi version of the future!

What’s planned (from The Wanderlister):

The building’s facade is made of low-iron glass, and supported with a metallic mesh frit layer behind it. This double layered glazing system enables all offices to have natural light, but without the solar-heat gain that can raise electricity bills because of too much air-con use. Additionally, canopy features on the roof, and in the gardens, decrease heat and temperature rising on the roof and ground surfaces. Terraces at the end of the building will be lush with vegetation, and will create shading for the floors below it, increasing the coolness within interior/exterior circulation routes and courtyard areas.

So when are they going to start building the BCA Platinum Certified  Death Star?

More on Inhabitat

Until we get that sorted out, we are offering free delivery for purchases of ANY amount and/or quantity to ANY location within Singapore.

Simply e-mail or give us a call with the item(s) you wish to purchase and we will contact you directly to arrange for delivery.

Can it be true..? FREE delivery???

Singapore Compact CSR Awards.

Globally, CSR is seen as a way to minimise the adverse effects of globalisation, enhance trust in society and address social and environmental issues facing all of us. It is increasing in scope and acceptance, and continues to be a key strategy in sustainable growth and development. Climate change, labour standards, water, food, energy shortages and other crises are adding to the CSR impetus as these issues come to the forefront of public attention.

The continually growing awareness of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), a responsible and strategic way of doing business in the region, led to the first Singapore Compact CSR Awards being launched last year, to recognise outstanding achievements in how companies behave towards the environment, the local community and their people.

Having received tremendous responses in 2010, the Singapore Compact CSR Awards opened for submission again this year in April, and closed early in July after receiving 49 entries across 4 categories: Best Workplace Award, Community Developer Award, Caring Employer Award, and Green Champion Award.

The Awards drew submissions from a range of organisations, including private corporations, social enterprises and co-operatives. In addition to the Award winners from each category, 2 organisations received Special Mentions for their commitment to CSR.

• Community Developer: This award recognises the company which shows a consistent approach to improving the wellbeing and quality of life of the community in which it operates. Successful candidates should have projects strategically relevant to its core business and the community, and articulate clear objectives, project plans, and identification of issues and stakeholders. Engagement and communication with stakeholders, and evaluated impacts with future plans for improvement should also be considered.
  Winner: Citi Singapore
• Caring Employer: This award honors employers who provided employment and care for disadvantaged groups in Singapore including persons with special needs, persons recovering from mental illness, ex-offenders and youths-at-risk. Clear, fair and systematic employment policies and processes as well as viable business goals should be in place, in tandem with adequate training and upgrading opportunities and clear consideration of and investment in the needs of socially-disadvantaged groups.
  Winner: KFC Management Pte Ltd
• Green Champion: This award recognises the company with the best practice in minimising environmental externalities and encouraging others to join similar efforts. Green programmes should be strategically relevant to a long-term goal, and the organisation should show clear evaluation of processes and outcomes, with significant efforts towards innovative products and services.
  Winner: Samwoh Corporation
• Best Workplace: This award recognises the company that best promotes equal opportunities, employment benefit, health and safety, flexible work arrangement, work-life balance, staff development and good labor relations and engagement.  These should be an integral part of corporate culture and operations.
  Winner: Maybank Singapore
• Special Mention Award:
  This award recognises companies which have shown outstanding performance in their unique capacities and business circumstances.
  Adrenaline Events & Education provides events management services and related education, and empowers multiple beneficiaries including the disabled, deaf and disadvantages youths, with multiple platforms for open communication within the company.
  Mirage Design & Landscape has provided key opportunities for ex-offenders with a conducive working environment and opportunities to receive accredited certification and skills for future job development.

CDL-Singapore Compact Young CSR Leaders Competition and Award

City Developments Limited (CDL) and the SIngapore Compact for CSR launched the CDL-Singapore Compact Young CSR Leaders Award early this year, a joint initiative aimed at:

• Educating and promoting CSR among future business and civic leaders, bankers, environmentalists, academics and journalists to appreciate the corporate, social, and environmental challenges and fundamental importance of weaving CSR principles into the fabric of any organisation.
• Advocating to youth that it is possible to embrace CSR for business excellence and sustainability, and provide youths a platform to execute CSR principles within a real-life business scenario.
• Encouraging and engaging SMEs to practice CSR and adopt potential strategies.

First Place: Murdoch University SIngapore (ADDP Architects)

They employed a structured approach towards implementation, using the SEE proposition:

• Sustaining the Environment;
• Empowering Employees; and
• Engaging the Community

Aligned with ADDP’s business, mission and values, the ‘SEE’ proposition embraces a pay it forward philosophy by espousing the importance of “doing good and doing it right” at start in order for the company to do well.

The team proposed that strategic alliances could be established with Habitat for Humanity and Architect for Humanity, among other measures.

Second Place: SMU (Siloso Beach Resort)

It was found that, despite their stay, many guests were unaware of the fact that Siloso Beach Resort is an eco-resort. The aim was, therefore, to bring this to the guests’ attention and encourage them to participate actively in these activities.

Due to the rich biodiversity in Sentosa, the team proposed several initiatives that will take advantage of this fact. These include an Adopt-a-Tree programme, a Biodiversity trail for guests, a Spice Garden tour with Pot-a-plant activities that will showcase the resorts efforts to grow its own spices, vegetables and herbs.

Third Place: NUS (Mainguard Security Services)

The team proposed five sub-strategies for Mainguard to be a CSR-practicing company:

• The use of an Enterprise Cloud System to manage employee-related issues online so as to enhance Mainguard’s welfare system, increase efficiency, and reduce the consumption of paper.
• The second strategy proposes the set-up of an online portal, the conduct of webinars on security-related issues and the conduct of periodic seminars as a follow-up. This is targeted at SMEs and non-profit organisations. These initiatives could help promote a safer and more secure workplace for Singaporeans.
• The third strategy proposes for the provision of security consultations and services for firms venturing overseas through collaborating with IE Singapore to promote a safer and more secure workplace beyond Singapore.
• The fourth strategy proposes for the re-packaging of Mainguard’s existing security services by developing an Efficient Security Solutions Package that features greater man-machine synergy and greener operations so as to reduce the unnecessary workload of Mainguard’s security guards, reduce electrical cost and encourage the disposal of materials in a green manner.
• The fifth strategy has an impact on the societal level. It proposes for the development of a Fire Emergency Plan (FEP) that better caters to disabled individuals, the development of better alert systems for disabled individuals, and the eventual revision of the general FEP guidelines so as to create a safer and more secure environment for disabled individuals.

See you there!

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Event: Eco Music Challenge 2011 Finale Concert
Venue: Orchard Central
Date: 27 August 2011, Saturday
Time: 1.30 – 5.00pm
Entry: Free

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Get on Facebook for more details.

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1. How do you maintain the system?

Worms love organic waste such as vegetables, fruit peels and plant cuttings. We would advise you to feed them a mix of wet (vegetables etc) and dry stuff, such as newspaper and dry leaves. Be warned that worms are sensitive to oil and salt, so avoid feeding them cooked food. Also avoid citrus, because worms don’t have skin to protect them from being burnt by citric acid.

The system should be placed in a cool and shaded area, indoors or outdoors. We would recommend elevating it so that pests can’t get into the system.

2. Will the worms escape?

Worms are afraid of light, they won’t venture out as long as you place your system near a light source. However, from our experience, there will be a couple of “commando worms” who will escape. This doesn’t happen very often, but rest easy, because worms are harmless!

3. How long do the worms live for?

Worms, like most other small creatures live for a short time, but reproduce very rapidly. They’re in fact, “renewing their population” in the system, so you’d typically not have to top them up  on a regular basis. With the right care, and food, your worm community will be thriving!

4. How does the compost compare with normal fertilisers?

Compost from worms are VERY fertile. You can see from the picture above (the bin in our shop) that there’s actually plants growing from the compost! A rough estimate is that vermicompost is 5 times more “potent” than normal compost.

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If you’re interested in purchasing a system or have more questions, get in touch with us!