News, Information and Networks

Architectural Green Solar Network

http://www.agsn.de/



The Architectural Green Solar Network is described as "a network for solar and ecological architecture" and aims to be an international forum with the the goal of promoting sustainable development leading to improvements in quality of life. The site contains lots of information, with sections covering news, design, projects, materials, energy, plants and learning. There is also a helpful classifieds directory. The site originates from Germany, which is the focus of much of its coverage; however, most of the site's content is also available in English. [GAS, 8 Sep 2006].



ENTRY NUMBER: sus-221000-01
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: Germany
PRIMARY GATEWAY LISTING: Sustainability » Resources
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Carfree Cities

http://www.carfree.com/




Accompanying and complementing the book Carfree Cities by J H Crawford, "Carfree cities offer a solution to the vexing problem of the urban automobile while also providing a better quality of life, reduced energy consumption, and improved long-term sustainability. Carfree cities could be as beautiful as Venice, and the pleasant public spaces provide an ideal setting to foster a sense of community". The site is excellent - rich in content and well designed, with lots of illustrated examples, a well-used discussion forum, an impressive section of links, and more. Well worth a visit, and awarded a Sapling Commendation. [GAS, 12 Nov 2007].



ENTRY NUMBER: tra-110303-01
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: United States
PRIMARY GATEWAY LISTING: Transport » Resources
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College Town Issues

--NEW URL-- http://www.collegetownlife.com/college/



College Town Issues concerns itself with "preserving walkable neighbourhoods adjacent to college/university campuses", and this attractively designed site presents information about issues related to student and year-round residents living and working together in college towns across the United States. The site itself is well organised, with links to relevant reports, articles and websites. Although the focus is on the US, many of the issues addressed also have resonance elsewhere. A new College Town News column features links to articles from newspapers (public and student) related to college town issues; while the majority of these news items come from the USA, articles from the UK and Canada also feature. [GAS, 15 Aug 2005].



ENTRY NUMBER: pla-161102-01
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: United States
PRIMARY GATEWAY LISTING: Planning » Resources
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Dexigner Design Portal

http://www.dexigner.com/



Dexigner is set-up as a large portal for the design industry, featuring databases, news, events, designers, design companies and feeds, and including design topics from 3D to floral to lighting to transport. At the moment some section are sparse, but Dexigner could develop into a comprehensive design resource. The website is fairly well designed though navigation is a little complex; however, like any large website it will take time to become familiar with the layout. [RB, 7 Nov 2006].



ENTRY NUMBER: cul-071106-01
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: United States
PRIMARY GATEWAY LISTING: Culture » Resources
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Diggers & Dreamers - The Guide to Communal Living in Britain

http://www.diggersanddreamers.org.uk/




Diggers & Dreamers describes itself as "the gateway for anyone interested in intentional communities in the UK". The site features communites of all shapes and sizes, including low-impact living, cohousing, Buddhists groups and permaculture collectives; a searchable database features over 100 such communities currently existing in Britain, while the 'Places Needing People' section highlights communities seeking volunteers or members. Other features include a news page, an extensive photo gallery, an archive of relevant articles, details of books on communal living, and an excellent page of links. The site's attractive and colourful design compliments its content, making Diggers & Dreamers an interesting and engaging place to visit. Awarded a Sapling Commendation. [GAS, 4 Oct 2005].



ENTRY NUMBER: sus-110304-01
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: United Kingdom
PRIMARY GATEWAY LISTING: Sustainability » Resources
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Earthwire UK

http://www.earthwire.org/uk/




Supported by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Earthwire UK is an environmental portal providing a free daily overview of environmental news from the United Kingdom, drawing from national, regional and local media sources. Earthwire also includes press releases and news from research organisations, the public sector, and environmental organisations, with a readership ranging from government officials and journalists to students, researchers and anyone else interested in current events and the environment. Coverage of environmental issues in the UK is split across regions or alternatively via topics, with heading including Agriculture, Biodiversity, Business and Industry, Climate and Atmosphere, Coastal and Marine Issues, Energy, Environmental Impacts, Extreme Weather Events, Forests and Woodlands, Freshwater, Pollution, Public Policy, Transport, Urban Areas and Waste. The topic navigation is not as user friendly as it could be, but will hopefully improve given time. For the technically savvy, an RSS feed is available at http://www.earthwire.org/feeds/getnews_uk_rss.xml. Awarded a Sapling Commendation. [RB, 27 Aug 2006].



ENTRY NUMBER: sus-270806-01
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: United Kingdom
PRIMARY GATEWAY LISTING: Sustainability » Resources
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Food Close

http://www.foodclose.co.uk/




Food Close provides reviews and advice about shopping for local produce in the Derby, Nottingham and Leicester areas with the intention of helping shoppers to cut food miles. Designed to supplement sites like Big Barn (a service that allows users to build their own personal network of favourite suppliers), Food Close offers more detailed advice about how to adapt to farm shopping instead of the usual supermarket approach, arguing that it is "possible to integrate these superb local sources into everyday shopping". Features of the Food Close site include a page listing the weekly markets across the three counties, with the ongoing addition of a separate page for each market, containing maps, photographs, parking information, stallholder links, and a general review of its overall atmosphere. Elsewhere, the Food Close blog features news updates from the markets, suppliers and producers, while an events section provides reports from recent food industry events. Complemented by a neat and engaging interface, Food Close is certainly a useful and innovative resource that could easily provide a model for similar sites elsewhere. Awarded a Sapling Commendation. [GAS, 6 Jun 2006].



ENTRY NUMBER: sus-060606-01
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: United Kingdom
PRIMARY GATEWAY LISTING: Sustainability » Resources
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Forest of Memories: Resources and Information Supporting Natural Burial in North America

http://www.forestofmemories.org/



From the author of Earthartist.com (a previous Sapling Site of the Month), Forest of Memories aspires to become a clearinghouse for information on the topic of natural burial - described as "a sustainable and spiritually fulfilling solution for people seeking to leave a legacy of care and respect for our planet". The site is attractively designed and easy to use, with informative sections covering background and FAQs, existing research and resources, state laws, products, professionals and consultants, and a list of existing and planned green burial grounds in the United States and Canada. Meanwhile, a series of blogs provide a forum for discussion about options and alternatives, environmental issues, and the ongoing development of the Forest of Memories site. [GAS, 27 Aug 2006].



ENTRY NUMBER: sus-160805-02
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: Canada
PRIMARY GATEWAY LISTING: Sustainability » Resources
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Intentional Communities

http://www.ic.org/



The website describes 'Intentional Community' as "an inclusive term for ecovillages, cohousing, residential land trusts, communes, student co-ops, urban housing cooperatives and other related projects and dreams"; this site is therefore intended to serve the growing communities movement, and provides important information and access to resources for seekers of community, existing and forming communities, and other friends of community. Features of the site include a useful listing of Intentional Communities on the web, a searchable Communities Directory, and an up-to-date events calendar. Information about the Fellowship for Intentional Community, described as "promoting community living and cooperative lifestyles across North America", is also provided. Overall, the look of the site may be a little dated - and a bit garish with its red hyperlinks - but its content is very good. [GAS, 29 Apr 2006].



ENTRY NUMBER: sus-060700-01
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: United States
PRIMARY GATEWAY LISTING: Sustainability » Organisations
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New Urbanism

http://www.newurbanism.org/




According to the site, "New Urbanism is the most important planning movement this century... It is an international movement to reform the design of the built environment, and is about raising our quality of life and standard of living by creating better places to live. New Urbanism is the revival of our lost art of place-making, and is essentially a re-ordering of the built environment into the form of complete cities, towns, villages, and neighbourhoods - the way communities have been built for centuries around the world. New Urbanism involves fixing and infilling cities, as well as the creation of compact new towns and villages". The site is a content rich resource dedicated to this theme of "creating livable sustainable communities". Sections cover news, conferences and events, books, and professional services in the 'Marketplace' directory. Other sections address key issues relating to New Urbanism, including sprawl, sustainability, transport and 'pedestrian cities'. On a slow connection the pages can take a little time to load, but this downside is balanced by the site being attractively designed, copiously illustrated and full of excellent content. Awarded a Sapling Commendation. [GAS, 24 Jun 2006].



ENTRY NUMBER: urb-310803-01
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: United States
PRIMARY GATEWAY LISTING: Urban Design » Resources
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Organics: The Composted Products Information Service from WRAP

http://www.wrap.org.uk/materials/organics/




The purpose of the Waste & Resources Action Programme (WRAP) is to create markets for recycled resources, with WRAP's 'Organics' site providing a showcase for the advantages gained through using recycled green waste to produce compost. The site is neat and attractive, and packed with interesting content - features include details about WRAP and Organics; news, events, publications and training information; details on how to produce, buy, sell, or use recycled compost; and a useful page of compost-related links. Awarded a Sapling Commendation. [GAS, 30 Oct 2005].



ENTRY NUMBER: sus-301005-01
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: United Kingdom
PRIMARY GATEWAY LISTING: Sustainability » Resources
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SalvoWEB

http://www.salvoweb.com/




Salvo aims to "support dealers who hold stocks of architectural salvage and garden antiques, reclaimed building materials and demolition salvage, and lastly recycled materials in order to encourage trade, to increase appreciation and awareness of historical crafts skills and manufacture, and to help reduce the amount of salvageable materials from old buildings and gardens going to landfill". This site, SalvoWEB, is an impressive resource containing everything needed to support that aim, featuring contact lists, dealers and craftspeople, architectural antiques, garden antiques, reclaimed building materials, higher value stock for sale and wanted, theft alerts and other information. Awarded a Sapling Commendation. [GAS, 6 Jun 2006].



ENTRY NUMBER: sus-060606-02
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: United Kingdom
PRIMARY GATEWAY LISTING: Sustainability » Resources
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Sponge

http://www.spongenet.org/




Sponge is a network of young property and construction professionals who share an interest in sustainable development. According to the site, "these individuals generally work in, or are associated with the development of our built environment; from bricks and mortar through design, engineering and planning to communities and regeneration". The aim of the site is to allow members to make the most of Sponge and of each other's enthusiasm and knowledge, providing information on events run by Sponge and relevant events run by other organisations, as well as information on how Sponge is getting involved with other projects and influencing policy. Up to date and attractively designed, the site also provides a discussion forum, useful links to other websites, and an excellent 'Library' section giving access to interesting and informative documents uploaded by Sponge and Sponge members. Overall, Sponge is a rich and innovative site that really excels at engaging with its users. Awarded a Sapling Commendation. [GAS, 20 Jun 2006].



ENTRY NUMBER: sus-160805-01
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: United Kingdom
PRIMARY GATEWAY LISTING: Sustainability » Resources
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Tree Hugger

http://www.treehugger.com/




Tree Hugger is a web magazine, covering anything that has a modern aesthetic yet is environmentally responsible. The site boasts a large readership who check out the latest news, reviews and recommendations for modern yet green products and services, and who use its directory to help facilitate their buying processes. Tree Hugger is well written and despite the name does not preach at you, but seeks to inform. Coverage is vast, with headings covering accessories, 'almosts', alternative energy, architecture, audio/video, aviation, bathroom, bedroom, bikes, biopolymer, books, botanical, cars and celebrities, through to solar, sports and technology. In addition, there is also a link to Hugg (http://www.hugg.com/) a sister site and green news story harvester. Here, "all posts start out in the queue. Each time a story is Hugged, it climbs the ranks. If a story gets enough Huggs, it jumps up to the front page where it can be seen by everyone who visits". There is also Tree Hugger TV (http://www.treehuggertv.com/), again a sister site, which offers a video version of the web magazine, featuring material produced by anyone who shares Tree Hugger's passions and can operate a video camera. Awarded a Sapling Commendation. [RB, 15 Jan 2008].



ENTRY NUMBER: lan-120906-03
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: United States
PRIMARY GATEWAY LISTING: Sustainability » Resources
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