apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

The Los Angeles Times L.A. at Home blog had this great heads up post about a water recycling technology solution which could result in saving 5 gallons of perfect, mineral-free water for resuse in the garden daily straight from your air conditioner unit: the Airigator.

For a moment we considered doing back-to-back trade show duty in Las Vegas by attending this week's International Builder’s Show (we recently returned from Sin City to attend the 2010 Consumer Electronics Show for Unplggd). But then we realized were not masochists like that. Though we're glad we didn't have to brave the crowds and excess of Vegas, we are bummed out we didn't get to see the pint sized Osprey eco-cottage by Nationwide Homes this afternoon at its premiere.

The Flexio is aptly named, as this design concept by Wu Kun-chia, Wang Shih-ju, Chen Ming-daw and Liou Chang-ho offers a flexible form factor that is all powered by a solar cell. "What do you need that solar power for," you ask? For FM radio listening!

There's a lot to like on paper about the green-tech spec BenQ V2400 Eco: energy efficient LED edge-lit backlighting, 1920 x 1080 resolution with HDMI for HD content, and a handsome slim design made from 28% recycled plastic. But what's likely to make people smile is the small plastic grass card holder…

It's not much to look at, but the battery powered H2Orb from AquaOne Technologies is one of those devices that can prevent disasters from going from bad to downright, "empty your bank account" worse. The H2Orb senses toilet overflows and water leaks, sounding an alarm when either happens and automatically shuts off the water when disaster strikes.

The Eco Twinkle Light concept designed by Kenan Wang takes the mechanism of the old fashioned classroom pencil sharpener and connects it to a rechargeable battery and LED light to create a portable and eco-friendly lighting solution for indoors and outdoors.

Name: Casa Familia
Location: San Diego, Calif. (Point Loma)
Type: 1950 home

Kevin wrote in to share this this "reinterpretation of quintessential Southern California courtyard houses", a coastal remodel designed with home technology and energy efficiency at the core of its character. The technology rich home employs a wide assortment of smart design choices to reduce energy (-65%) and water consumption (-55%), while making an aesthetic impact indicative of the modern architectural movement toward eco-minded construction...

Antoine Morris and David Long of The Practice of Everyday Design wanted to create an all-in-one solution where they could rest, read, work on their laptops in a small, easy to convert space. What they devised is a remarkable ramshackle-chic mobile unit that is office, bedroom and storage all in one...

DIY YouTube star, Giannina Lezcano, show us how to reuse old clear-style light bulbs as decorative elements around the house. And don't blame us for what she's wearing...

Venom Power's Eco Alkalines batteries are a big fat zero: 0% Mercury, 0% Cadmium, 0% Lead . They're also certified Carbon Neutral by Carbonfund.org, with support going to the Paso Pacifico Return to Forest reforestation project...

Why waste valuable kinetic energy created while leisurely rocking when you could power an OLED lamp while doing so? That's probably the question that spurred on this design by Rochus Jacob, resulting in the Murakami Chair...

Practically everyone knows about Etsy, the marketplace of numerous wonderful handcrafted creations sold by the designers, artists and artisans themselves. (And we all have our favorite Etsy stores!) But do you know about Regretsy, a site dedicated to compiling the best of the worst sold over at Etsy? We've collected ten of our safe for work favorites...

The show-me shower system uses a LED display system to notify you how much water you use during your time in the shower. One LED is lightened up for every five liters of water consumed. Would you want something like this installed to help reduce household water use?

Unplggd reader Mod Mischief noted that there was a better looking version of the same idea we posted earlier this week of an old iMac repurposed into a hamster house, and upon review, we have to wholeheartedly agree...