I recommend watching this video about the work of charismatic Jack Sim, founder of the World Toilet Organization. He talks about poop and why we should be talking about it too.

Also, this is an interesting article about the Potty Lab, where they combine design techniques and anthropological research to figure out how people defecate in an effort to improve water quality and sanitation in the developing world.

Something to note: The average U.S shower head releases 2.5 gallons/minute. A ten minute shower would provide an elephant with its daily fill of water.”

What is the future of hotels? The Future of Hotels is Green. An initiative brought to you by hotel.info.

Lush Walls Rise to Fight a Blanket of Pollution in Mexico City: The vertical gardens recently installed by local architects in Mexico City aim to “scrub away both the filth and the image. One of three eco-sculptures installed across the city by a nonprofit called VerdMX, the arch is both art and oxygenator. It catches the eye. And it also helps clean the air.”

Credit: Rodrigo Cruz for The New York Times

What Is the Best Earth Day Pledge?: “One can find a plethora of ‘green’ actions from a variety of websites and programs. It is sometimes overwhelming to the average consumer; what is meaningful?… The one often overlooked opportunity is the yard. The cumulative impact of how people manage their own yards can have significant impacts on local, regional, and global environments.”

Smart Toilet & Sink Combo Uses Greywater to Flush: A Korean designer has come up with a clever way of saving water in the bathroom with his new device which “uses a double compartment system that stores greywater from a connected washbasin to flush the stainless steel toilet bowl below.”

© Jang Woo-seok

Chicago’s $7 Billion Plan to Fix Crumbling Infrastructure: “From expanding its largest airport to replacing century-old water pipes, Chicago introduces an ambitious construction plan that will be partly financed with public-private partnerships.”