Florida is a beautiful state, but an insidious threat lurks beneath our sunny skies: greenhouse gases. The biggest source of these gases is the combustion of fossil fuels, according to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. Combustion from cars and other vehicles makes up a vast portion of this amount.

If you think you need to drive a car or truck to commute to work, think again. In warm states like Florida, motorcycles are a viable and eco-friendly alternative. They’re more fuel-efficient than cars, which saves you money on gas and reduces the emission of greenhouse gases. This makes them ideal for people who are looking for a green and affordable way to get to work, especially if public transit isn’t good in your area.

Things to Consider

• To begin with, what type of bike should you get? While the big Harleys are alluring, the large models aren’t that more efficient than a compact automobile. According to The Dollar Stretcher, those looking for a fuel-efficient motorcycle should be prepared to give up some power and weight in exchange for its eco- and budget-friendly values.
• The upfront costs are another aspect of getting started. Along with the machine itself, you’ll need the proper clothing, insurance and possibly a motorcycle training course. While the cost of these things can add up, they are generally cheaper than buying a car, if you choose a modest bike.
• The South Florida rains are another consideration. Sudden, daily torrential cloudbursts are a signature feature in South Florida, especially from late spring to early fall. You’ll want to invest in excellent rain gear and good tires. Make sure your helmet protects your eyes from the rain and apply Rain-X to the visor to maintain good visibility.

Is a Motorcycle Practical for Commuting?

Yes. Motorcycle fans have devised ways to handle every practical consideration of using a bike for getting to work and back. You can use a backpack or but specialized motorcycle accessories from BikeBandit that make it easy to carry laptops, briefcases, lunches and other work-related items. If you’re worried about ruining your work clothes, take a tip from experienced city commuters and bring your fancy clothes with you in your bike’s luggage, and wear a weatherproof outfit for the actual ride.

To pack clothes so they don’t wrinkle, the travel experts at Fodor’s suggest you roll your T-shirts and use a square-fold for dress shirts. If you put your clothing into plastic dry-cleaning bags inside your luggage, you’ll reduce friction and, therefore, wrinkles.

What About the Radio?

You don’t have to give up this pleasure when you hop on a motorcycle. Some models have excellent entertainment systems, and you can purchase a helmet that comes with a radio built in.

With all of the benefits of motorcycles, there’s really no reason to stick to an emission-spewing automobile. 

Natural Architecture

Natural architecture is the work of architects and artists that take natural beauty and combine it into their masterpieces. This idea was developed to bring humans closer to nature, designer homes and buildings that blend in with their natural surroundings and use living materials to make the most spectacular architectural designs.

Natural architecture is when the surroundings are used as the framework when designing a new building and usually incorporates a team of architects and artists.

Where Did it All Start?

Natural architecture was the design idea of architect Frank Lloyd Wright back in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s. Before his death in the 1950’s Frank Lloyd Wright had designed some of the most spectacular natural architecture buildings and homes.

This carried on into the 1960’s when an artist group called the land art movement started creating spectacular art using only natural resources.

Falling Water House

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The most popular of all the natural architectural designs is Falling Water House which was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright in 1935. This property in Pennsylvania in the USA took two years to build. The house sits over a waterfall and Wright used this as the basis of the home.

The home has been listed as one of the twenty eight places to visit before you die.

Toad Hall

Toad Hall was designed by Patrick Dougherty in 2004. Dougherty uses the natural resources around him to create spectacular masterpieces. Most of his work uses wood which is weaved together making human sized homes. Whilst the building themselves are uniquely beautiful, they are designed to disintegrate, and become one with nature again!

Reed Chamber

Reed Chamber was designed by Chris Drury in 2002. The UK artist uses wood, reeds and natural surroundings to create some of the most beautiful natural architecture, which aims to reflect human interaction with nature. Reed Chamber is a spectacular demonstration of his use of reeds blending into the natural surroundings.

Taliesin West

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This resort in western Arizona is another of the Frank Lloyd Wright designs. He was inspired by the rugged landscape that surrounded the area and designed a property which not only blends into the surrounding landscape, but looks as though it is growing out of the earth.

This property is made of sand and stone combined with a canvas roof. All the materials come from the surrounding desert, and Wright was keen to harness as much natural light as possible in order to aid environmental efforts.

Nest House

Nest House was another of Patrick Dougherty’s designs. Located in southern Indian, this property is made from a variety of woods all weaved together in a selection of huts, cocoons and buildings. All made to human size, here Dougherty combines his carpentry skills with his love for the environment, to create a spectacular wonderland of natural architecture at its best!

As global warming becomes an increasing concern world over, the desire of a few designers to reconnect with our natural surroundings, is a pursuit we should champion. Their work aims to provide a framework for others, to make others, us, consider our natural surroundings, and challenge our preconceived ideas. Should our buildings last forever, or should they evolve over time, passing back into nature, as we ourselves do too?

Article contributed by Distinctive Doors.

There are more and more inventions for wind generated electricitiy to be fed to the grid on the horizon. Many inventors are taking into consideration the birds, wild life and of course the flickering shadows caused by the regular wind turbines.

There are new wind turbines that have been enclosed to a certain extent to keep the birds from hitting them but none have been as different as this one.

Dutch researchers have developed the EWICON, a bladeless windmill with no moving parts that produces electricity by pushing charged water droplets into the wind.

The current design of the EWICON consists of a steel frame holding a series of insulated tubes arranged horizontally. Each tube contains several electrodes and nozzles, which continually release positively-charged water particles into the air. As the particles are blown away, the voltage of the device changes and creates an electric field, which can be transferred to the grid for everyday use.

The EWICON was designed by architecture firm Mecanoo using technology developed by Delft Technical University researchers Johan Smit and Dhiradj Djairam. The video below demonstrates how the EWICON works.