Fall 2010

2nd Annual Eco-Choice Awards By Sue Marquette Poremba

Most Innovative

WINNER: Emerson House by brinca dada

A dollhouse with working solar panels won the Eco Choice award for Most Innovative for New York-based brinca dada. Emerson House, designed by Tim Boyle, has glass windows and sliding doors, and 23 LED lights powered by solar panels. Having the solar panels face a source of bright consistent light can have them working to power the dollhouse lights. The houses are built from wood that meets California Air Resources Board (CARB) certification. Houses are decorated with non-toxic and lead-free wood stains and paints.

“We wanted to make a toy that parents would love to look at, kids would love to play with, and that would be easy on the environment,” says Doug Rollins, founder and CEO of brinca dada. “I worked as a toy buyer for years and had to buy a lot of ugly toys. Eventually, I found an architect, and we began to develop toys that have really amazing design along with a great play value.”

www.brincadada.com

NOTABLES

Ameico

Animal glasses for children are designed by Kapdesign in Winterthur Switzerland. Manufactured by City of Winterthur, Department of Social Works. Sixteen different animal motifs are sandblasted onto the surface of these glasses, which come from the bottoms of recycled beer bottles.

www.ameico.com

Jewelry from IDesign

Artist Atara de Lange uses a mix of pure and natural materials to create her work which tread the line between pure art and commercial fashion. Items such as these are often handmade using rubber and polymers. Made in Israel.

www.idesigndistribution.com

Sue Marquette Poremba

Sue Marquette Poremba is a freelance writer based in State College, PA. She specializes in technology, engineering, energy, and IT security topics. She has also published over a dozen essays and is the author of a book about the Philadelphia Phillies.