| This Big City

Jun

Tricycle House: The Latest in Ultra-Flexible Accommodation

Categories: Asia and the Pacific, Bikes, Transport

by Forum for the Future

The bijou tricycle house is made of translucent plastic with sides and arched roof folded in the style of an accordion. Using origami-like techniques, the interior can be turned into a kitchen, dining area, bedroom or bathroom. Read more

May

Utah Develops Wireless Charging for Buses

Categories: Public Transport, Transport, USA and Canada

Comments: No

by Forum for the Future

Breakthroughs in inductive power transfer are promising to transform the prospects for electric buses, starting in Utah. Read more

May

Crowdfunding a Sustainable Chicago School

Categories: Buildings, Non-residential, USA and Canada

Tags: Chicago

Comments: No

by Forum for the Future

A public charter school in Chicago has launched an ambitious campaign to build a net positive energy campus, securing more than $50,000 through a crowdfunding campaign. Read more

May

New Ventilation System Keeps Buildings Fresh But Warm

Categories: Buildings, Non-residential, UK

Comments: No

by Forum for the Future

A Cambridge University spin-off has an innovative solution for ventilating sealed buildings involving mixing fresh (but cold) incoming air with interior air. Read more

May

The Economic and Educational Value of Retrofitting Schools

Categories: Buildings, Non-residential, UK

Comments: No

by Forum for the Future

With the potential to reduce carbon consumption and energy costs, retrofitting older schools makes sense. And schools are increasingly discovering the education value of retrofitting too. retrofitting its school is an investment that Impington Village College, near Cambridge in England, can’t afford not to make. Especially given that its annual carbon emissions – currently at 101.33kgCO2/m2 – are double the national average. Read more

May

Producing Sustainable Solar Panels Without Rare Materials

Categories: Buildings, Components

Comments: No

by Forum for the Future

The energy that comes out of solar panels is renewable, but what about the panels themselves? Not so much - today’s leading solar panels owe their high sunlight-to-electricity conversion rates to the use of rare elements. The pressure is on to find a way of making solar power even more sustainable. Read more

Apr

City Council to Save £3.5 Million Through Recycling

Categories: Energy and Services, Planning, UK

Comments: No

by Forum for the Future

Last year, for the first time since records began, local authorities recycled, composted or reused more waste than they sent to landfill. Despite the extra complexity and cost in collecting different kinds of refuse, some local authorities are finding their waste bills are falling as recycling rates rise. Read more

Apr

Pacific Island Trials Aquaponics for Food Supply. Will Cities be Next?

Categories: Asia and the Pacific, Energy and Services, Governance, People, Planning

Comments: No

by Forum for the Future

Aquaponics - a type of farming which combines aquaculture (raising fish) with hydroponics (cultivating plants without soil) - could hold the answer to food supply for islands in the Pacific. Could it also provide cities with a new method of food production? Read more