Hikers and bicyclists traveling through the foothills of Boedigheim, Germany now have a new place to stop, as construction was recently finished on this gorgeous Field Chapel constructed entirely from recycled and renewable materials.

So many things lying around the house (or refrigerator) can be re-used to make useful and beautiful creations. So rather than tossing them in the trash (or compost bin), why not follow Federico Otero’s example and transform them into elegant examples of DIY design. The Origen lamp is formed from several 30-pack egg crates interlocked around a light bulb that gives off a soft, warm glow. We can only imagine what he could do with the 23 applesauce jars we've been saving.

Germany’s sleek surPLUShome finished first in an incredible upset victory in this year's Solar Decathalon. The German team took top honors in the Net Metering and Engineering categories to secure their second Decathlon win. This year’s home features a sleek, dark facade that is almost completely covered in photovoltaic panels and can provide more than twice the amount of energy it needs.