Author Archives: nspitz

AskNature.org from the Biomimicry Institute

By nspitz | December 10, 2008

Biomimicry brings nature’s solutions to design problems and AskNature.org brings current internet technology to the biomimicry discussion.
AskNature.org, created by the Biomimicry Institute, offers the beginnings of an encyclopedia of nature’s solutions to common design problems such as structural support, adhesion, energy harvesting, and cleaning. Natural design solutions are linked to products based on that solution [...]

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350 ppm

By nspitz | December 10, 2008

Global warming is happening faster than predicted and human activity is responsible.
The most recent science tells us that unless we can reduce the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere to 350 parts per million, we will cause huge and irreversible damage to the earth.
350 is the number that leading scientists say is the safe [...]

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The Case For Deconstruction.

By nspitz | November 11, 2008

In October of 2006 the developer and design-build team of the ‘Uptown Monterey’ project [Trader Joe's] committed to making it the first LEED certified shopping center in the state of California… with little to no flexibility in the schedule or budget.
A key component was the deconstruction of a former grocery store on site, followed by [...]

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