A Passive House Grows in BKLYN, Shipping Container Market, Solar-Power EV Charging Stations - Inhabitat NYC Mar 18th

Dear NYC Inhabitants- As spring (finally) rolls in, 2011 is shaping up to be New York City's greenest year yet. Record numbers of New Yorkers are greening their homes, Brooklyn Bridge Park received the city's first solar-powered EV charging station, and the DOT approved plans for 12 pop-up pedestrian plazas. Plus, Urban Space Management unveiled plans for a shipping container market in Downtown Brooklyn. But the week's most excitng news comes from Williamsburg, where Loadingdock5 completed its first passive house in NYC -- and we got a sneak peak! LOCAL INHABITAT NYC STORIES First Look Inside Williamsburg's Newest Passive House Shipping Container Market Coming to Downtown Brooklyn First Solar-Powered EV Charging Station for NYC Eco Eatery in Brooklyn Will Use Green Materials Pop-Up Cafes to Take Over Traffic Lanes, Create Plazas Freshkills Park Could Be Delayed Due to Sinking Fields EPA Rejects NYC's 10-Year PCB Removal Timeline NEWS FROM JAPAN Strong Building Codes Save Millions in Tokyo During Quake Shigeru Ban Develops Shelter for Earthquake Relief How Will the Crisis in Japan Affect Global Nuclear Policy? THE WEEK IN OTHER DESIGN NEWS Morphing Kinetower Skyscraper Concept Is a Mindbender Smart EV Transformed Into Sparkling Disco Ball! Packaging the Future: Biodegradable Planter Pots MVRDV's Amanora Vertical City Breaks Ground Green Your Home's Windows With Expert Christine Marvin Skyscraper in Venezuela is World's Tallest Shanty Town   KIDS STORIES FROM INHABITOTS Seattle Treehouse is a Retreat for Kids and Adults Alike Mark Anderson's LEGO Alphabet Spaceships WEARABLE STORIES FROM ECOUTERRE Transform Your Hoodie into Nearly Anything Lady Gaga Designs Prayer Bracelet for Japan Thanks for reading everyone - catch you next week in spring! Jill and Jessica Your Faithful NYC Inhabitat Editors --  Inhabitat http://www.inhabitat.com Follow us on twitter: http://twitter.com/inhabitat