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Companies who make durable products could cheat the recession while saving the planet
No Impact Man — ... In an article in Metropolis Magazine, writer John Hockenberry suggests that, in the present economy, the only way to coax money out of consumers' wallets is to give us what we wanted all along: products that last and don't go obsolete or break down in a year. ...

Heirloom Design
Worldchanging: Bright Green — ... environment, a short lifespan would be useful so that the product can be replaced as soon as sustainable technology is available. At the other end of the spectrum, in some types of products -- like rapidly changing technology -- the idea of heirloom design can be taken to creative new heights. It could take the form of long-lasting hardware that accepts software upgrades: perhaps, for example, a permanent computer or cell phone case, with replaceable insides (more on this topic in John Hockenberry's terrific article for Metropolis magazine ). Taking that idea to its furthest ...