The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)enhanced enforcement effortsthis year, doubling financial penalties issued to polluters and issuing the first-ever arrest for a climate change-related crime, the agency said in a report Thursday.The EPA said it concluded more than 1,850 civil cases, a 3.4% increase over 2023, and charged 121 criminal defendants, a 17.6% increase over the previous year. The revitalized enforcement and compliance efforts resulted in the reduction or elimination of more than 225 million pounds of pollution in overburdened communities, the agency said in its final report on Biden-era enforcement actions before President-elect Donald Trump takes office in January.The agency said it issued $1.7 billion in fines and penalties, more than double the 2023 total and the highest level in seven years.Bolstered by 300 new employees hired since last year, the enforcement program focused on 21st century environmental challenges, including climate change, environmental justice, and chemical waste, said David Uhlmann, EPAs assistant administrator for enforcement and compliance assurance. More than half the agencys inspections and settlements involved poor and disadvantaged communities long scarred by pollution, reflecting the Biden administrationsemphasis on environmental justice issues.Enforcement efforts included first-ever criminal charges for a climate change-related crime.A California man was charged in Marchwith smuggling climate-damaging air coolants into the United States. The case involved hydrofluorocarbons, a highly potent greenhouse gas also known as HFCs, a gas once commonly used in refrigerators and air conditioners.A 2020 law passed by Congressprohibits importation of HFCswithout allowances issued by the EPA. The law is part of a global phaseout designed to slow climate change.Uhlmann called enforcement of the HFC law a high priority for the United States and the world. Alongside methane, HFCs are one of the most significant near-term drivers of climate change. And the criminal program is front and center there, he said.In other highlights, engine maker Cummins Inc.paid more than $2 billion in fines and penaltiesand agreed to recall 600,000 Ram trucksas part of a settlement with federal and California authorities. Cummins was found to use illegal software that let Ram trucksmanufactured by Stellantisto skirt diesel emissions tests for nearly a decade.The fine is the largest ever secured under the federal Clean Air Act.The EPA and Justice Department also reacheda $241.5 million settlement with Marathon Oilfor alleged air quality violations at the companys oil and gas operations on the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation in North Dakota. The settlement requires Marathon to reduce climate- and health-harming emissions from those facilities and will result in over 2.3 millions tons worth of pollution reduction, officials said.Uhlmann, who was confirmed as head of the enforcement office last year, said in an interview that with the help of a spending boost approved by Congress, the agency has made consequential changes in how we approach enforcement at EPA.Weve revitalized an enforcement program that suffered more than a decade of budget cuts and was badly hampered by the [COVID-19] pandemic, he said. The agency also weathered a series of actions by former President Donald Trumps administrationto roll back environmental regulationsand reduce overall staffing.Weve strengthened the partnership between the criminal and civil programs, and weve also focused on moving our cases with greater urgency so that we provide meaningful results to communities in time frames that make sense to the people who are harmed when unlawful pollution occurs, Uhlmann said.With Trump set to return to the White House, Uhlmann said he hoped enforcement would not suffer, noting that a host of civil and criminal investigations begun in the past two years could bear fruit in 2025 and beyond. Trump, who has named former New York Rep. Lee Zeldin to be EPA administrator, has said he will again slash regulations and target what he calls onerous rules on power plants, factories, and oil and natural gas production.Uhlmann declined to speculate on how enforcement will change under Trump but said, Upholding the rule of law and making sure that polluters are held accountable and communities are protected from harmful pollution is not a partisan matter. We do enforcement at EPA based on the law, based on the facts, without regard to politics.So, you know, communities should expect that EPA will continue to protect them from harmful pollution.Matthew Daly, Associated Press

A projecting external staircase zig-zags up the perforated metal facade of the Lucila Rubio de Laverde School in Bogot, Colombia, designed by Peruvian practice Nmena Arquitectura.Located next to the Jaboque wetlands in the Engativa district, the school is part of a programme by the Mayor of Bogot to deliver 35 new public schools within walking distance of poorer neighbourhoods.Nmena Arquitectura has completed the Lucila Rubio de Laverde SchoolTo mediate between the adjacent road and the surrounding high-rise buildings, Nmena Arquitectura combined a cloistered, brick-clad form with a narrow, six-storey block shielded by screens of perforated metal that control ventilation and light.While the taller block contains classrooms solely for use by the school, the auditoriums, dining hall and sports facilities in the lower two-storey block were designed to be usable by the local community outside of school hours.The school has a perforated metal facade"The design reflects the commitment to accessible education and a resilient built environment adapted to the needs of the community," explained the studio."The cloister forms an active and porous edge that provides a part of the program to be used by the inhabitants of the area, in favour of an integrative experience of the public space and architecture with the community," it added.The concrete staircases double as seating spacesLarge concrete staircases that double as seating spaces link the two levels of the school's podium, each of which is organised around a sports court overlooked by the surrounding canteen and events spaces.Buffering the entrance from the road is an external plaza, which can be connected to the school's courtyard via a series of sliding glass doors.Read: Fjcstudio wraps Sydney school in perforated aluminium facadeIn the larger building, classrooms that line the northern edge are connected by an open corridor and are broken up by the insertion of double-height atria with areas of full-height glazing and balconies overlooking the Bogot river.This block is traversed via an external, projecting staircase shaded by black metal bars, which links spaces for the youngest children at the lower levels to those for older children at the top.The classrooms are connected by an open corridorFacing the river, the block presents a facade of red brick cut by ribbon windows and the school's atria, while overlooking the central cloister the building has been finished in perforated metal that creates a translucent effect."This element is proposed as a transparent volume, which incorporates double-height intermediate spaces and translucent interior planes allow the classrooms to extend into spaces without a defined use," explained the studio.The classrooms have translucent interior planes"The interior facade plane uses micro-perforated metal panels to ensure ventilation and bring light inside in a controlled manner without losing transparency," it added.Other projects recently completed in Bogot include the first of a pair of skyscrapers by the late British architect Richard Rogers, designed in the distinctive high-tech style that he helped establish in the 1970s.The photographer is by Jairo Llano.The post Nmena Arquitectura shades school in Bogot with perforated metal panels appeared first on Dezeen.

The latest edition of our weekly Dezeen Agenda newsletter features Jaguar's unveiling of an electric concept car in Miami. Subscribe to Dezeen Agenda now.British carmaker Jaguar's reveal of its Type 00 concept car sparked online controversy and drew mixed reactions, with one calling it a "design triumph" and another describing it as "an ugly, clunky behemoth".Presented this week at Miami art week, the car appeared in two standout colors Miami Pink and London Blue.Lego releases toy figures with sunflower lanyards to represent hidden disabilitiesThis week's newsletter also featured Lego's first minifigure with Hidden Disabilities Sunflower lanyards, an opinion piece by Anthony Paletta on office-building lobbies and the restored interiors of the Notre Dame cathedral.Dezeen AgendaDezeen Agenda is a curated newsletter sent every Thursday containing the most important news highlights from Dezeen. Read the latest edition of Dezeen Agenda or subscribe here.You can also subscribe to our other newsletters; Dezeen Debate is sent every Thursday and features the hottest reader comments and most-debated stories, Dezeen Dailyis our daily bulletin that contains every story published in the preceding 24 hours andDezeen In Depthis sent on the last Friday of every month anddelves deeper into the major stories shaping architecture and design.The post Dezeen Agenda features Jaguar's Type 00 concept car appeared first on Dezeen.

These electric cargo bikes, by Arkansas-based Gnargo Bike Co., are made from discarded steel bike frames. "After an environmentally friendly burn-off of existing finishes and oils, frames are fully sandblasted and brought back into our factory for quality check and modernization to begin." "Using custom jigs, we reshape the frame to create a stable, comfortable cargo platform, optimized for carrying groceries, kids, or gear." "Following fabrication, each bike undergoes powder coating in a wide spectrum of durable colors, ensuring longevity and resilience. Equipped with modern hydraulic disc brakes, OEM motors, lithium batteries, and a Shimano drive train, our cargo bikes promise reliability and performance at a great value powered by our circular economy supply chain."You can choose from different types of platforms:The bikes run from $2,900 to $3,500. The company says that for every bike purchased, "we fund the restoration of 2 bikes at community bike shops, which are then donated back to someone wanting a bike. This multiplier effect fuels our circular supply chain, amplifying our impact and fostering a future we are proud of. Together, we're not just building bikes; we're creating opportunities and momentum for positive change in our communities." Check 'em out here.

Every once in a while, you'll see a brilliant innovator steal the march on a major corporation. Czech entrepreneur Iva Papoukov developed a smartphone app called Brick My World, which uses photogrammetry to generate Lego instructions for any object you photograph. Lego, the company has to be kicking themselves for not thinking of this first; I wouldn't be surprised if they either purchase Papoukov's company or lawyer him out of business. Here's how it works:Brick My World has been handily Kickstarted, with 6 days left to pledge at press time. Sadly the app is, like many digital products these days, subscription-based; it will eventually cost $200 a year, which harried parents or Lego fanatics may see as chump change. On Kickstarter, however, they're offering lifetime access for a one-time $99 charge.

MVRDV is known for its incredible and high-profile projects and creations, but they recently dipped their toes into shipper container-based architecture. Called Klabu, this build is a solar-powered sports club for refugees! It is easily transportable and translates to club in Swahili. The club was designed in collaboration with a social enterprise called Klabu based in Amsterdam. They help and offer support to refugees, enabling them to rebuild their lives through sport.Designer: MVRDV x KlabuThe club is built from a standard shipping container with a length of 20 feet. It showcases an interior floor space of 150 sq ft. The container features a bright orange exterior, which has been heavily modified. The facades on the sides and front are operable to offer sufficient ventilation, while a canopy provides shading. The roof has been integrated with solar panels to offer renewable power. Numerous phone/smart device charging points have been installed, as well as a wireless internet system.Sometimes the most powerful design comes from the simplest concept. Taking a shipping container, ordinarily the most mundane, everyday object, and transforming it into a bright, multi-functional clubhouse providing sports opportunities for refugees has been a deeply rewarding challenge, said Gideon Maasland, director atMVRDV.By using a shipping container as the base, Klabu can deliver both the physical clubhouse structure and the necessary sports equipment in one go, forming a flat-packed sports clubhouse, said MVRDV. The Klabu clubhouse design is currently in its third iteration, with the latest version soon to be installed at the Azraq refugee camp in Jordan, which is home to approximately 41,000 Syrian refugees. This follows clubhouses designed by MVRDV operating in the Waraotuma a Tuaranoko shelter in Boa Vista, Brazil, supporting indigenous Venezuelans who had to flee their country, and the Mbera refugee camp in Mauritania, which provides safety for 100,000 Malian refugees.The Klabu clubhouse showcases a design that is easily replicable and transportable, so it is a great option to provide refugees with a safe, versatile, and entertaining space to socialize and interact. It can be reused in different locations, or duplicated as a scalable model, offering support to more than 120 million people who have been displaced all around the world.The post MVRDV Designs A Shipping Container-Based Solar-Powered Sports Club For Refugees first appeared on Yanko Design.

The use of personal commuters in cities is on the rise as people are becoming aware of the environmental impacts of our lifestyle. Kick scooters fit perfectly in the future of personal transportation and safety is one consideration thatll fuel their feasibility in the long run. While other modes of transportation come with advanced safety features, kick scooters are limited in that aspect.One of them is the spatial awareness of the surroundings in crowded cities. Whats behind you is one major blind spot thats only covered if you look back to be aware of whats happening. That in itself can be a driving hazard as one loses vision of whats happening right ahead and can also lead to loss of balance. The idea of these RearView Glasses is born out of the need to get over this catch-22 situation. Not only kick scooters, but the accessory is also useful for cyclists, delivery personnel and anyone who needs enhanced peripheral visibility.Designer: Ugly.DucklingThe concept is targeted towards Gen-Z who are normally carefree and need all the aids to drive safely in cities. Attaching rearview mirrors to a kickscooter is highly impractical, so the only option left is to have rearview mirrors on a pair of glasses. The RearView Glasses are a stylish solution as they have foldable mirrors integrated into the frames temple arms. Having high-quality convex mirrors promises a wider field of view to eliminate any blindspots, and give the rider a safe option to navigate the visual surroundings without moving the head.The design team went beyond the conceptual stage to create the prototype version of the RearView Glasses. Its frame is made from durable and lightweight material to keep the fatigue down with extended sessions of wearing. This novel approach to solving the rising safety issues of urban transportation is a holistic solution that balances the functionality, aesthetics and user experience. More than anything, the idea of RearView Glasses raises the bar for urban mobility standards since we are heading into a future dominated by emission-free personal mobility vehicles.The post RearView Glasses expand your peripheral vision for safely riding personal mobility vehicles first appeared on Yanko Design.

In this homevisualized by Anastasiia Novikovamodern design meets the warmth of natural materials. This means the space is stylish but equally inviting, showing us that modern design is anything but stark. From a show-stopping fireplace that exudes luxury to a thoughtfully designed home office that inspires productivityevery detail has been curated to balance function and beauty!The living room features a gray sectional paired with a darker-toned coffee table. The corkboard on the wall allows for quick customization, so you can pin your favorite photos on the go. The fireplace is the showstopper in the living room, adding luxury and coziness at the same time.The dining area features a rustic wooden table, which is, again, paired with darker-hued chairs. This really is the secret to maintaining visual interest in the interior! The black pendant lights flanking the massive planter easily form the focal point of the space.The kitchen in this interior open and airy but equal parts inviting. We see this achieved through wooden elements, especially the cabinetry and kitchen island. Simultaneously, luxury is factored in through matte black bar stools and a wine cabinet. The rattan pendant lights help add natural materials to the space.The show-stopper in the bedroom is Mother Nature! We see beautiful outdoor views through the large windows which double as decor in the interior. The bed is comfy and modern, while the white artwork adds texture. Theres also a cozy working nook (featuring wooden elements), perfect to work the day away.The vibe in the bathroom is largely industrial-style. A terrazzo floor sets the base, while a red brick wall factors in exposed elements. The freestanding bathtub makes sure you get that spa-like experience, though!The kids bedroom is compact but stylish. A single bed provides enough sleeping room for one, while the desk makes sure they have a designated spot to do their homework. The wall print adds a funky vibe to the space. And, simultaneously, the herringbone flooring makes sure the space is connected with the rest of the home.Last but definitely not the least is the home office. Or, what wed like to call, a hobby room. One corner has a desk for working, while the other corner houses a seat for you to practice your favorite activities (read: playing the guitar). A rustic red wall makes sure the space stays visually interesting.

Spine This is Gun Fu's new trailer packs a wallop of cinematic brawling that blends martial arts, graffiti, and guns.For those who take a little marshaled artillery in their martial arts.

Total Chaos promises Silent Hill and STALKER vibes from the developer of Turbo OverkillTotal Chaos is a bold first-person survival horror game from the tiny studio behind Turbo Overkill.