Air quality index,Components from olive tree, Scent-tech #234 / February 23,2024 (Friday) / Confidential |
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Acquaintance #1) A friend who, when inquiring about switching from annual lease renewal to monthly rent in the apartment they were residing in, received the news that they would have to pay almost $5,000 per month by adding $1,500 to the current monthly amount. |
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Acquaintance #2) A Ph.D. researcher working in a laboratory in the notoriously expensive East Bay of San Francisco is currently exploring options for their first home. Despite a decent salary, they find it challenging to locate a suitable house in the range of 800-900 million won. With a growing child around the age of 2, they are looking for a home with at least a 6-7 out of 10 rated school district, considering a standard 3-bedroom house. However, finding a property meeting these criteria has proven to be quite elusive. They express a sense of frustration and self-doubt, wondering if, given their hard work, they should be able to afford a home that meets their family's needs. |
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Both in Korea and the United States, buying a house has become an overwhelming challenge. Especially during seasons like the continuous rainfall caused by the 'Atmospheric River' phenomenon in California, where it doesn't stop raining for a week, more and more people are realizing the sense of stability and warmth that having their own home can bring.
Individuals seeking to maximize their personal space and live efficiently are exploring various lifestyles worldwide, striving to save on living expenses and gain a sense of stability. Wald City has developed the Proto Habitat, which can be completely assembled and disassembled in just five days and offers a flexible space that can expand up to 90 square meters of floor space. This option caters to those who desire a flexible living space.
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Due to limited construction space, the Australian studio Durbach Block Jaggers has created the Pencil Tower Hotel, a modular hotel with a pencil-like structure inserted between existing buildings. |
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In the UK, 28-year-old Harrison, wanting to avoid spending more than 75% of his salary on apartment rent, has transformed a large garbage bin into his home. Living on a plot borrowed from a charity, he pays only $62 per month to the waste disposal company, and it took just three weeks to build his home. The construction, including wood, insulation, and fixtures, cost $4,620, while furniture, including storage cabinets and a mattress, amounted to about $380. Despite the limited 25-square-foot space, he claims that living a minimalistic lifestyle poses no significant challenges. The main difficulty lies in the absence of washing facilities, forcing him to use an external water source and wash dishes in glass bottles. While lacking shower facilities and relying on an external portable toilet, the convenience of a 15-minute bicycle commute to work and the pleasures of a lavish city make adapting to this new lifestyle surprisingly quick and manageable. |
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Harrison's Skip House seems to defy the conventional notion of an ideal home pursued by others, presenting itself as a solution to seek true happiness and satisfaction. Rather than cynically resigning to the negative aspects of reality, he has discovered a way to live a simple yet abundant life, saving both money and resources while minimizing the environmental impact.
Reflecting on various tiny houses prompts a reconsideration of consumerism and the culture of possession. It encourages practicing finding happiness in small spaces and discovering personal elements of one's life, emphasizing that even in modest dwellings, a fulfilling and content life can be pursued. |
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Redfin now includes air quality scores in home listings.
Redfin is a U.S. real estate platform that facilitates convenient online home transactions, bearing similarities to Korean apps like Zigbang and Dabang. While displaying key metrics for homes, Redfin now provides air quality information, offering prospective homebuyers insights into potential exposure to fine dust and ozone.
The Air Factor score for homes not only reveals current air quality but also allows checking estimated air quality for the next 30 years, considering the impact of temperature and humidity changes in the region using climate change models. Moreover, Redfin comprehensively offers risk climate data such as floods, fires, heatwaves, and strong winds through First Street. |
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[Jenna's Insight]
Given the alarming 477% increase in poor air quality due to wildfires in the U.S. West from 2000 to 2021, considering air quality when choosing a home becomes crucial. Prolonged exposure to air pollution not only heightens the risks of cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, cancer, and other health issues but also negatively impacts lung development and cognitive abilities. Redfin's efforts underscore the importance of environmental considerations in the real estate market, and as awareness of climate change grows, home sellers and buyers are increasingly sharing concerns about air quality.
In the midst of this societal trend, how can our company assist individuals in understanding the risks associated with extreme weather events through data?
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Ford's Innovation: Components Made from Olive Wood
Spain accounts for 44% of the world's olive oil production, with approximately 300 million olive trees. The massive amount of waste generated annually through pruning is being addressed by Ford engineers in Cologne, Germany, in collaboration with the sustainable biodegradable bio-composite project called COMPOlive. They are transforming pruned olive trees into a new category of biocomposite fibers to create components.(Video) |
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The injection-molded parts, made from 40% olive tree fibers and 60% recycled polypropylene plastic, exhibit excellent durability in both simulation and actual Ford vehicle tests. They are not only lightweight compared to traditional plastics but also well-suited for use in existing interior components, such as footrests.
This is not Ford's first instance of incorporating sustainable waste into vehicle components. The Mach-E's Frunk Insert, for instance, is crafted from recycled yogurt cups, and the Bronco Sport interior features a Harness clip made from recycled ocean plastics.
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[Jenna's Insight]
The collaboration with COMPOlive offers mutual benefits for both companies. Ford can reduce its dependence on traditional plastics, while olive oil producers can generate new revenue by repurposing previously discarded biodegradable waste. Currently relying on over 1,400 primary vendors to supply parts from over 1,000 diverse materials, Ford faces the need for innovations beyond olive wood recycling to achieve its goals of global carbon neutrality by 2050 and a circular design approach. |
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Automotive Weekly: Personalized Digital Fragrance Instead of New Car Smell
When Lincoln unveiled the completely redesigned Nautilus at the end of last year after four years, the core theme of this model was 'personalization.' It not only featured customizable screen visuals but also allowed adjustments to seat positions and massage options according to individual preferences, allowing the driver to transform the vehicle into their own space for relaxation and recharging. The introduction of Lincoln's Rejuvenate, a digital fragrance, was highlighted at the time of the reveal, and this week, more details and four additional scents have been disclosed. These scents, embedded in cartridges with microchips, are added to the center console, designed to enhance the driver's mood.
- Mystic Forest: Rich blend of cedarwood, patchouli, amber, and yuzu citrus with a hint of earthiness.
- Ozonic Azure: Invigorating fusion of fragrant patchouli, freesia, and spicy undertones.
- Violet Cashmere: Harmonious blend of rich violet, grapefruit, and golden citrus.
- Cloud Balsam: Refreshing blend of dense pine needles, mossy oak, crushed tonka, and vanilla bean.
- Serene Seashore: Luminous combination of juicy melon, fragrant lily, musk, and bright lemon notes.
- Twilight Embers: Enchanting sweet blend of patchouli, floral jasmine, fresh apple, and deep leather.
- Sunlight Retreat: Emphasized by sandalwood and rose, this blend features bright red fruits and balsamic notes.
Scents are becoming a crucial element in the realm of personalization. Often referred to as the 'key to unlocking memories,' the scent-tech industry is gaining promising prospects by providing aromatic spatial experiences, elevating cognition through pleasant fragrances, and delivering unique experiences. Korean startup Deep Scent has already developed a smart diffuser that allows users to remotely control the intensity and concentration of scents through a smartphone app. Meanwhile, Israeli startup Moodify is developing an app that uses AI models to categorize and eliminate unpleasant odors by automatically combining neutralizers, promising to remove unpleasant smells from spaces.
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Automotive Weekly: Rivian and Lucisd may face financial challanges
"According to the cash reserve reports from last year for Rivian and Lucid, Rivian currently holds $7.8 billion in cash. However, it reported a loss of $3.7 billion last year, and at the current rate, it is estimated to have only about a two-year runway. Rivian is currently cutting fixed and variable costs, and the vehicle manufacturing cost has decreased to $80,000 per unit. Nevertheless, it still experiences a loss of $43,000 on every truck and van it sells.
On the other hand, Lucid has depleted $365 million in cash and currently has only $1.4 billion left. While it has almost a four-year cash cushion, costs continue to rise, and there is no visible improvement in last year's total revenue decline. The $3 billion operating loss is 19% worse than the loss in 2022, indicating that the situation may not improve soon. Lucid sold 8,428 cars last year and expects to produce about 9,000 this year. However, to maintain the current cost structure, an estimated 45,000 or more vehicles need to be sold. (The road ahead seems challenging)."
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"Going on a business trip, I'll be taking a break from UpClose America for the next two weeks. During this time, I'll gather lots of news and trends to bring you a fresh perspective in two weeks. Adios! See you soon! ^^🤚" |
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Written by Jenna Chwee
Kia Design America
jchwee@hatci.com
101 Peters Canyon Rd.
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