- Emily Pilloton Discusses the Hippo Roller and other Designs for Humanity (Part One)
- Janine Benyus on Biomimicry in Design (Part Two)
- Janine Benyus on Biomimicry in Design (Part One)
- Andy Revkin - Climate in the Obama Age
- Fred Pearce - Confessions of An Eco-Sinner (Part Two)
- Fred Pearce - Confessions of An Eco-Sinner (Part One)
- Chris Goodall - Ten Techs to Save Our Butts (Part Two)
- Chris Goodall - Ten Techs to Save Our Butts (Part One)
Entries for June 12, 2005 - June 18, 2005
Total this week: 80
Be Cool: John Travolta on Hybrids
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 06.18.05
In the movie "Be Cool" John Travolta's Caddy is blown up and he is given a Honda Hybrid as a courtesy car. How he deals with this:
Martin (Danny Devito) Hey Chili, that your car?
Chili: Yes, Its the Caddilac of Hybrids.
Martin: A bit tight for a guy like you?
Chili: a small price to pay for the environment.
Martin: But what about speed? (its parked between Ferarris)
Chili: Martin, when you're important, People will wait. ...
Cows With Guns, by Dana Lyons
by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 06.18.05
Numbered among Treehugger readers are vegans and animal rights advocates, some of whom are less than thrilled by references we make to products containing wool, meat, leather and so on. As we will continue to offer a broad selection of eco-products, that may include such attributes, we thought it might be appropriate to, at least, honour their zeal and passion with this little tribute to Dana Lyon’s classic song. For the 1% of you that haven’t encountered Cows with Guns be prepared for an absolute treat. It has been a phenomenon. No.1 in Seattle, No. 2 on the Australian Country charts and 6 months in the Irish Top Forty. Since writing the song 10 years ago, Dana has seen it turn into a Penguin book and even a web-based Flash animated ‘feature’ (link below). Go watch, you’ll udderly love it. He’s even recorded a Spanish version: Vacas Con Pistoles ! (Dana has also released another children’s book The Tree, endorsed by primate conservationist Jane Goodall, with forwards by Julia Butterfly Hill and Pete Seeger.) ::Cows With Guns ...
Proper Tire Pressure For Better Mileage
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 06.18.05
Keeping your car's tire pressure at the optimal level is a small and easy eco-tip that would help save a lot of precious oil if everybody did it. The principle is simple: an under-inflated tire adds rolling resistance, so the engine has to work harder to move the car. Best way to understand it is to imagine pedaling on a bicycle that has almost flat tires. So it's easy to see why we strongly recommend that you buy an inexpensive tire gauge and make sure to check once in a while if your tires are at the recommended pressure....
Flaunt Magazine- The Green issue
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 06.18.05
Flaunt Magazine "has made it a point to consistently break new ground, earning itself a reputation as an engine of the avant-garde and an outlet for outsider culture". It is not your usual enviro mag. This month's green issue includes articles titled ecoville, the human sustain and our favourite: Treehugger.com knows what you should be reading ::Flaunt...
Nissan Will Build Altima Hybrid in Tennessee
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 06.18.05
Nissan, who wants to sell 50,000 units of its upcoming Altima hybrid in the year following its release, has decided which US plant will make the car (last time we posted about it they were still undecided): It will be in their Smyrna plant in Tennessee. "Nissan will invest $10.4 million for additional equipment and minor modifications to existing assembly lines at the plant in Smyrna," reports the Associated Press. Production will start in 2006, and the hybrid will be a 2007 model.
::Nissan Picks Tenn. Plant for Hybrid, via ::Green Car Congress...
Live from Paris: Airbus A380 in Flight
by Christine Lepisto, Berlin on 06.18.05
If you travel, it may be with anxiety that you ponder the future of flight whenever talk turns to the new Airbus A380. But if courtesy and mutual respect among fellow travellers facilitates boarding and the state of safety engineering science prevents the dreaded headlines, this plane will be a welcome advance in modern travel eco-efficiency. Airbus calculates that the plane will consume less than 3 litres of fuel per 100km per passenger (or get 80 miles per gallon per passenger), competitive with 1 passenger in the most economical car on the market, and 12% better than the competition in the skies.
The A380 will boast other eco-advantages, some of which were evident to visitors at the Paris Airshow:...
Instant Survey: Innovative Green Products
by Justin Thomas, Virginia on 06.17.05
We hope you like these surveys as much as we do — here's another one about some of the more innovative products out there.
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All Natural Air Freshener
by Kara DiCamillo, Newport, Rhode Island on 06.17.05
Opening up magazines, literally, blow you away these days with the stench of perfume or cologne. Room deodorizers are often too strong as well and the smell often lingers unwanted. A great way to freshen up your house, naturally, is to bring the outdoors in with the cuttings of fresh flowers from your own garden or your favorite local market. Not only do the beautiful fragrances linger throughout but it also adds color. Want to learn more? The Parrish Art Museum in Southampton, NY is offering a two-day event this weekend called “Landscape Pleasures” with guest speakers who will explain fragrances and scents from plants. Also included is a self-guided tour of six gardens throughout the Hamptons. If you can’t get out there this weekend, on July 9th the Brooklyn Botanic Garden will begin a two-month celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Alice Recknagel Ireys Fragrance Garden (shown above), the first garden in the country designed for the sight-impaired. (The cells that interpret smell are among the few in our brains that continue to be replaced throughout our lives.) Guided and self-guided tours will be available. ::Brooklyn Botanic Garden Via ::New York Times (subscription)...
Candle Night: Shed Some Light On Conservation
by Dominic Muren, Philadelphia, USA on 06.17.05
This Summer solstice, you can join Japan in its quest for increased energy conservation. Candle Night, begun in 2003 by a group of Japanese NGOs, is intended to raise awareness about the amount of energy that we use, versus the amount of energy we really need. Participating companies and individuals agree to spend two hours in candlelight on the evening of June 18th. Last year, over 6000 major Japanese businesses and structures turned their lights off, and this year is slated to be even bigger. And there's nothing stopping the whole world in solidarity against excessive energy use. Hopefully, spending an hour or two without lights will help people understand how lower energy use doesn't need to mean lower quality of life. :: Candle Night...
Waterwise Garden Software & Book
by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 06.17.05
A recent reader wanted more information on gardening. Well, we have offered leads for US native plants, how to plant a green roof (or wall), herbs in a bag and ’dinosaur’ trees. So to add to the mix, we now bring you the Waterwise Garden. Although a book, it is also available as software — both on CD or downloadable. Focusing on Xeriscaping and drought resistant plants, this software has over 550 colour photos, showing what the flower and mature plant looks like. It lists plants that can survive a fortnight or more without any watering. Organic pest control is a speciality with pics and descriptions of of both pests and their predators. Recipes for home-made sprays for pest control provided as well. The software runs on Linux, Mac, Solaris and Windows. Designed as a global reference, it has monthly planting calendars for both Northern and Southern hemispheres. $25 AUD ($19 USD) for the download version. ::Waterwise Garden...
What About Mercury From Compact Fluorescents?
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 06.17.05
Many people, when they learn that compact fluorescent bulbs contain mercury vapor, get skeptical about the much talked-about benefits of these and assume that traditional incandescent light bulbs are less damaging to the environment despite requiring more power and having shorter lives. After all, mercury is really bad stuff, right? "A toxic metal known to cause brain, spinal cord, kidney and liver damage in humans—does not break down easily and, once airborne, often finds its way into groundwater, rivers and the sea, where it can cause a host of contamination issues for wildlife and people alike." But as often is the case, the truth can be a bit counter-intuitive....
Old-Growth Again - Forever Redwood Furniture
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 06.17.05
Yes, some of this outdoor furniture is made from old growth wood – But wait! Don't go yet! There's a twist. They use logs that were left on the ground from when old growth forests were logged in the 1950s. They even harvest them with two horses named Ike and Sparky instead of with heavy machinery that would damage the soil. Their furniture seems quite heavy & robust. It should last almost forever, with thick boards that are bolted together and metal plates underneath the legs for "extra strength and protection". You can even ask them to make a customized piece if what they have doesn't fit your needs (including kid-sized versions). They state that their "true mission" is forest restoration; They make the furniture to fund the restoration of a 580-acre forest in Annapolis, CA, so if you buy from them you are helping a good cause....
Homemade Chopstick Set from Urban Fruit
by Kara DiCamillo, Newport, Rhode Island on 06.17.05
Are you tired of bringing that same bottle of wine to summer cocktail parties and picnics? Yup, us too. Here’s a fresh idea: Urban Fruit is an urban-influenced, eco-friendly accessory store that makes gift-shopping easy with tabs where you can shop by price. We like The Homemade Chopstick Set (in the “under $25” category), which also happens to be one of their top 10 sellers. It’s made from recycled scrap hard woods and includes six chopstick sets, six dipping bowls and six chopstick holders. One other thing we’d like to point out is that Urban Fruit has symbols under each product that tell you more information about it and gives you the opportunity to support a few non-profit organizations while you shop. ::Urban Fruit...
TreePuzzler
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 06.17.05
What king of expo would have a "Photo catalystic steel plate roof", where water [that] pours over sheet-iron coated with oxidized titanium, an optical catalyst, forms a thin film because of its diminished surface tension?The resulting accelerated evaporation by sunlight consumes more ambient latent heat, thus more quickly lowering the temperature beneath the roof.
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Clothworks
by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 06.17.05
100% Romanian hemp, hand printed with iron*, natural coconut buttons, no synthetic interlinings, labels printed onto organic fabric ‘scraps’. Sounds like the sort of thing that we’d be interested in. The Hemp Walnut Print Skirt at £95 ($174 USD) is just one of the products from Clothworks, of Bradford on Avon. Several impressive treehuggery enterprises emanate from this spot in the UK countryside. It’s also the home of the famed Moulton bicycle if you'll pardon the digression. We noticed that Clothworks do a line of organic cotton and organic linen fabric products for women and children, whilst also offering organic cotton sheets and duvet/doona/quilt (ah, the variances of the English language) covers for baby cots. And those said organic materials are of the certified kind. *Printing done with tannin is also available. ::Clothworks...
Voller Energy’s Portable Fuel Cell
by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 06.17.05
These guys might have some interesting technology happening but they sure need marketing help. Selling to the military they refer to their product by the slightly snappy name of ‘Portapack’ but to you and me, as Joe Public, they want us to get excited about the: wait for it .... ‘VE100 V3’. Mmmm. Anyhow, if one can look pass this shortcoming, you might find your very own portable fuel cell. Yep, just stick your normal pinned plug appliance into this 9 kg (20 lb) triangle and you get a result equal to that of connecting to the grid. No toxic emissions, just water as the other output. Appears you simply plug little canisters of hydrogen into the side to juice it up. Tho' these are probably not yet available at your corner store! Can do European 230 volts or US 110 volts, and even 12v DC gadgets designed for car lighter sockets. Seems pretty cool but will leave it to our tech-head readers to ponder more deeply. Found via Gizmag. ::Voller Energy Group...
Windfarms- Beauty or Blight? CONTEST CLOSED
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 06.16.05
Thanks to all who entered the beauty or blight competition. Our judges found most of the pictures beautiful, some questionable depending on your biases, and only this one really a blight and that is more because of all of the electrical infrastructure about it. Submitted by a certain G. Hill, our investigators have disqualified it because it comes from Spain, and our secretive founder is both in Spain and shares the name G. Hill. We suspect more than a coincidence.
With respect to the beauty side, we simply could not decide, so we have picked five and will let you decide through our new state of the art polling technology. There were others that we could not decide if they were beauties or blights so we will have a separate vote on that in a day or two. ...
The Brother "Cobra": Ultra Fast Prints + Ultra Low Power
by Dominic Muren, Philadelphia, USA on 06.16.05
Businesses which depend on printed documents and tight schedules have long relied on getting the fastest print times possible to keep their offices running. But these high ppm ratings come at an extreme energy cost, because fast printers have generally meant laser printers, and all the heat losses that go along with them. For example, even Samsung, who has a vocal environmental commitment recently produced a medium duty printer capable of 21ppm black / 5ppm color which clocks in at 45 watts while idling, and an electric bill smoldering 450 watts during a print! We're actually kind of speechless reading that number... Just a second... OK. Luckily, the folks at Brother Industries want us to have our cake, and eat it too...
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Retrobox: Recycling Computers For Profit
by Justin Thomas, Virginia on 06.16.05
RetroBox is a computer recycling firm, which also accepts electronic devices, dismantling them for recycling, but also reselling their components. Pictured here is the CEO of RetroBox, Stampp Corbin. He says there is money to make in recycling, and he wants to spread the word because his company has a business model that works well. ...
Your Money or Your Life
by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 06.16.05
In following up on requests Treehugger has had, for low cost ways to lead a greener life, we thought this book worthy of a mention. It will challenge how you live, the way you perceive both money and your time. Written umpteen years ago, its basic tenets are as relevant today, if not more so, as when first penned. The late Donella H. Meadows, author of the classic The Limits to Growth had this to say of it: “If you want to know how to make the maximum contribution you possibly can to the world -- and to your own happiness -- follow the steps in this book.” It is the inspiring story of Joe Dominguez and Vicki Robin, who found a way to make such a contribution and then documented the process that worked for them (and thousands since). Not for the faint of heart, but read it, to at least know there is another road you can take. ::Your Money or Your Life...
The EcoSmart Fire
by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 06.16.05
Sugarcane, potatoes, bananas, beetroot and even wheat, we are told all produce sugars, which can be fermented to produce alcohol. Just like good ‘ole moonshine, in fact. “Denature” this (reduce its 100% alcohol status) and you can call it Ethanol, Methylated Spirits or Acool à Bruler, etc, depending on your country. But rather than just call it names, you can harness this renewable fuel to heat a house. The EcoSmart Fire is a burner, which doesn’t require a ventilation flue. Though a fresh air source is recommended. The fuel doesn’t spit or spark, nor generate soot, smoke or harmful gases. The fires come in various configurations, available initially in Australia and New Zealand, with imminent distribution in the US and Canada. (The concept has been safely used by Swedish Trangia camping stoves for 50 years.) ::EcoSmart Fire...
Rawganique Organic Hemp Blend Towels
by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 06.16.05
Rawganique have an obvious passion for their mission of bringing goods to a broad market, which have an environmental and social benefit. In particular, they’re huge advocates of organic cotton and hemp. Recently they began selling what they call the “first and only” certified organic hemp. It is turning up in a bunch of their product from belts to jeans but one we thought worth mentioning is the towels. A plush blend of 65% organic hemp with the remainder 35% being organic linen, Both sourced from Europe. (The linen adds extra absorption.) It seems they partnered up with Ecolution, one of their hemp suppliers, to develop 60 acres of their fields for a crop that could receive organic certification, for the production of clothing, footwear, accessories, & home products. They also note that their product involves “no sweatshop, child, or underwaged labor involved at any step.” ::Rawganique...
More Green Chemicals Please
by Che-Wei Wang, Brooklyn on 06.16.05
A proposal for implementing a new interface for purchasing alternative chemicals in institutional and industrial labs by Kendra Bussey '05 and Jacqueline Tio '06 from the Department of Chemistry at MIT aim to steer the entire chemical industry towards using green chemicals.
"The project will develop data on the amounts and types of chemicals purchased by research laboratories; survey users to determine the uses for which these materials are employed; use Green Chemistry data bases to identify less toxic and less polluting alternatives; and make this information readily available to users. A key component will be to identify the barriers to implementation and means of encouraging independent researchers to adopt these strategies. The results will be incorporated into MIT's Environmental, Health, and Safety (EHS) Management System. Evaluation metrics will include ongoing monitoring of the amounts and types of hazardous waste requiring disposal."Their project titled "Encouraging Toxic Use Reduction (TUR) in Academic Laboratories" recently won the EPA P3 award.::MIT News...
Boston Organics
by Kara DiCamillo, Newport, Rhode Island on 06.16.05
Boston Organics founder Jeff Barry is addicted to fresh, organic produce. He got the idea living in San Francisco and upon moving back east decided to start a company on his own that offered organic fruits and veggies that were available all the time. Here’s how it works: for a weekly or biweekly fee ($25 or $35), Boston Organics delivers to your home a fresh box a fruits and vegetables that are USDA certified organic. You can check online to see what’s in the box for the week and it always depends on the season. Also included in each box is a newsletter with recipes, information and storage tips. Now one thing we have to note......
The TH Interview: Brian Reidy of MicroPlanet
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 06.16.05
Here is an interview with Brian Reidy, CEO of MicroPlanet. I could try to explain in some detail what his company does, but Brian does that much better than I could during the interview. All I will say is that it has to do with electric voltage regulators that apparently could optimize significantly our electricity consumption by reducing inefficiency in the current delivery system, thus saving energy and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The first part of the interview is more personal because I was curious to find out where he came from, the second part has more to do with his company and its technology, and the end has more general questions. I want to thank Brian for taking the time to give such detailed answers....
New study shows wind turbines don't harm birds
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 06.16.05
For those who thought they could survive the Long Emergency by standing under windmills and catching dinner, we have bad news. A recent Danish study shows that migrating birds learn quickly to avoid routes that pass through windfarms- less than one percent of the birds get close enough to risk a collision. The birds gave the turbines an even wider berth at night, sticking more closely to the middle of the corridors between turbines. Many avoided the wind farms altogether and found alternate routes. ::New Scientist...
Button-Battery Sized, Propane Fuel Cell for MP3 Players and Beyond
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 06.16.05
New Propane-Burning Fuel Cell Could Energize a Future Generation of Small Electrical Devices
"PASADENA, Calif.--Engineers have created a propane-burning fuel cell that's almost as small as a watch battery, yet many times higher in power density. Led by Sossina Haile of the California Institute of Technology, the team reports in the June 9 issue of the journal Nature that two of the cells have sufficient power to drive an MP3 player. If commercialized, such a fuel cell would have the advantage of driving the MP3 player for far longer than the best lithium batteries available"....
Aide Who Debased Reports Finds Job at Exxon
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 06.16.05
This is a follow up on a very un-treehugger story we covered a couple of days ago. In a shocking and unexpected turn of events (who'd have thought!), that same aide - Philip Cooney - who resigned as chief of staff of the White House's Council on Environment Quality (look at the second point in the middle column!) because he was caught doctoring global warming reports will start a new career at Exxon next autumn. "This is one of the fastest revolving doors I have seen," said Henry Waxman, a Democratic Congressman. We recommend that you read our recent post about that company, and please consider protesting with your wallet by not buying gas from them....
Send Us your Tips - Win 1 of 3 Products from Vessel!
by TreeHugger on 06.15.05
TreeHugger relies on our readers' great tips as to the latest modern+green products and services. Please send tips to tips at treehugger dot com.
Whenever we post something that you send us, we will thank you specifically in the post and put your name in a pool for the biweekly drawing (your odds are good!). Circa July 1, 2005, we will pick 3 names and send the winners one of 3 products from Vessel, our current TreeHugger sponsor. Please take a moment and visit them as they help support keeping TH a free resource for you!
Manufacturers, retailers, others: Please let us know if you would like to sponsor future tiplines. We have openings in a couple of months!...
New Laptop Bags From Hip and Zen
by Justin Thomas, Virginia on 06.15.05
Hip and Zen has introduced these new laptop bags made of recycled or "renewed" plastic. The renewing process uses a fraction of the energy of recycling — layers of plastic bags of various colors are placed on top of each other and fused together. The lining is made of canvas, and the trim of cargo tape. No dyes are used. These bags are handmade by cooperatives in India, and fairly traded. Due to the handmade and recycled nature of the bags, each bag will vary slightly in color and pattern. They are priced at $37.50. :: Hip and Zen...
Bokashi Composting System
by Justin Thomas, Virginia on 06.15.05
I mentioned the Bokashi Composting System in a previous post. A Treehugger reader, Alexander, tells us of his experience with Bokashi:I've been searching and searching the net for a way to compost within the confines of my small, urban apartment. Though it took forever, I found a system that is very easy and doesn't smell at all. It's based on 'effective microorganisms' and yields a few really nice benefits. The runoff from the bucket can be used to do two things: fertilize your household plants when diluted, or keep your drains clear when used at full strength.The composting bin seen above is built to work with Bokashi, it's made of 70% recycled plastic, and sells for around $30-50. WholeFoods will soon be selling sawdust inoculated with Bokashi. :: Happy Farmer Kitchen Composter...
The Robots Made Out of Junk Are Coming
by Justin Thomas, Virginia on 06.15.05
"Take me to your leader! We wish to talk with him about recycling!" Gordon Bennett makes these toy robots out of recycled materials from garbage dumps, basements and garage sales. The robots range in height from 14" to 25". The materials used are wood, metal, bakelite, glass, plastic, rubber and paint. Apparently each robot takes about a month to make, and they cost about $2000. :: Bennett Robot Works ...
New Furniture From Scrapile
by Justin Thomas, Virginia on 06.15.05
Those ingenious guys from Scrapile (Salgado and Bettencourt) are at it again, creating furniture from scraps of wood collected from local woodshops. They use non-toxic water-soluble glue, to construct each piece of furniture. Because of this process, no two pieces of furniture are the same. Click below to some storage boxes....
Greenspeed GT3 - A Folding Recumbent!
by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 06.15.05
Not only do you get to sit back, in a low slung recumbent but with the GT3, Greenspeed have added a double bonus. They suggest it will fold up, to fit in the back of car (if you must have one of those), in just 30 seconds. And at $2,595 USD they’ve reduced the cost to nearly half of their standard models, by doing stuff like reducing the usual 70 to 80 or so gears down to a paltry 27 !! Not really a bike, more of a trike, the Greenspeeds evolved in Australia, but have found a fanatical following worldwide, including in the US. Sporting two wheels at the front is supposed to increase stability and performance quite markedly. One of the touring models can even manage luggage loads of up to 36 kg (80lbs). ::Greenspeed Worldwide...
Soldius1 Solar Phone Charger
by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 06.15.05
If this gizmo works as well as the promo blurb says, then Soldius, of the Netherlands, are on to a good thing. Applying a mysterious, unexplained technology called Maximum Solar Power Tracking (MSPT), the Soldius1 is apparently capable of charging a mobile phone in just 2 to 3 hours. This is much faster than the previously reviewed Solio. As of April '05, it was said to be compatible with a host of phones from Motorola, Nokia, Samsung, Siemens, Sony Ericsson and most 3G models. Currently it appears not to handle iPods and Palms but anticipating such demand the company proffer this: “Soldius is presently involved in Solar Charging developments with leading manufacturers of Laptops/notebooks, PDA's, MP3 players, cameras and almost all other portable devices.” Forgoing an internal battery, as offered in the Solio, it weighs in at mere 85 gms (3 oz). Oh, and for those curious sparkies it has an output of 6.58V- 320mA. Seems that Vodafone are field trialling it in Australia. ::Soldius...
PledgeBank – I'll do it, if...
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 06.15.05
PledgeBank is the latest cool online social tool, and I suspect that it will become quite popular in the near future. The principle is simple: You pledge to do something if a certain number of other people pledge to do the same. The system can be used for a wide variety of things. For example, right now we have semi-celebrity Brian Eno who's pledging to "get three friends to sign up to the Proportional Representation Groundswell but only if 100 other people will pledge to sign up at least three of their friends too." Enviros, always on the cutting-edge, are already using it with pledges ranging from "will replace all the light bulbs in my house with low energy / long life bulbs" and "will buy only Fairtrade Tea, Coffee and Chocolate bars during the month of July" to "will clean-up the banks of the River Taff between Western Ave and Cardiff Castle" and "will Sign up for green electricity"....
Americans Want to Demand an Environmental Change
by Tim McGee, Western Massachusetts on 06.15.05
Would you believe that 92% of Americans say that they are worried about dependence on foreign oil? Or that 93% of Americans want the government to develop new energy technologies and require the auto industry to make cars and trucks that get better gas mileage? How about 32% of Americans don’t trust major news papers as a source of Environmental Information? Or that 53% of Americans think there is so much information and disagreement in the media that they don’t know who to believe? Well... it’s true. I was amazed at what I found in the news release of the ‘Environmental Poll’ -a yearly survey conducted on behalf of the Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies by Global Strategy Group. Where, among the interesting statistics, the survey (PDF) illustrates Americas growing concern for the environment, and increased frustration with the major news media and politicians, and our hope for a technological solution....
Ragbag Bags: Bag Rags Re-Bagged
by Dominic Muren, Philadelphia, USA on 06.15.05
In many parts of the less technologically developed world, and even in cities like Chicago, trash-picking is the livelihood of a significant group of people. Unfortunately, the resources gleaned from trash often are so base-grade, that they bring a paltry amount of income, and cause serious economic strife for families depending on that income. Ragbag is a manufacturer of personal accessories which uses old HDPE bags picked from the trash heaps of New Delhi to create new packs, folders, and personal items. By creating a product which more directly uses the trash pickers wares (as opposed to a bulk plastic recycler, who would pay next to nothing per bag), Ragbag raises the value of the picked bags, and the income of the families who depend on them......
Jillian With a J
by Kara DiCamillo, Newport, Rhode Island on 06.15.05
For many years, Jillian Olsen’s name was spelled with a “G” – even on her high school diploma! She thought she’d finally set it straight when she started Jillian with a J (a name we love by the way!) thanks to a nudge from one of her friends and a little frustration of her own. It seemed that every time she walked into cute boutiques to look for a great gift on a budget, she couldn’t find it. Located in Portland, Oregon, Jillian’s own boutique specializes in all-natural, cruelty-free bath and body products and is completely affordable. We love the Ocean Beautiful Bath Bomb ($5.00) that whisks us away to the clean scent of rain on a seashore. Shown above is When Good Peppermint Goes Bath ($10) made with 100% peppermint oil to help cool and relieve fatique. Jillian With a J also offers bath kits, funky accessories and handmade soaps. Want something else to perk you up? She offers a flat rate on shipping of $5.00, no matter what you order. The only catch is that you must remember to spell her name with a “J.” ::Jillian With a J...
California Wineries Switch to Solar Power
by Kara DiCamillo, Newport, Rhode Island on 06.15.05
With recent shortages, the need for alternative energy in California is urgent and the vintners are realizing that the sun not only ripens their grapes, but it provides power to their wineries as well. Shafer Vineyards, one of Napa Valley’s most prestigious wineries (its Hillside Select Cabernet Sauvignon is one of the most sought-after wines) became the first winery to switch to 100% solar power back in December. Additionally, Shafer has moved away from chemical-based farming and more towards organic farming in their vineyards – and many in Wine Country have noticed…...
Cheeseheads Working Overtime on Organic Dairy Demand
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 06.15.05
After 35 years of pretending organic milk is a silly TreeHugger thing, its almost too late for the majority of Wisconsin's farms to catch the market wave. According to Cheese Market News of May 20th (scroll down to find full story), "Consumer demand for organic dairy products has eclipsed industry expectations: growth predictions that once seemed overly optimistic are lower than actual growth. Yet, despite the market potential, organic companies are failing to cash in on the demand. There simply is not enough organic milk to keep the shelves fully stocked"..."Teresa Marquez, chief marketing executive for Organic Valley Family of Farms, LaFarge, Wis., says her company expected sales to increase by 20 percent in 2004. Instead, it had a 36 percent increase in sales". More insights after the fold....
Our Companions in Creation
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 06.15.05
This Treehugger is not a vegetarian, a conservative, an American or a Christian. Nonetheless he was blown completely away reading former Bush speechwriter Matthew Scully's conservative Christian case against factory farms in Canada's National Post. He sees it as a moral issue: " I had come to view the abuses of industrial farming as a serious moral problem, a truly rotten business for good reason passed over in polite conversation. Little wrongs, when left unattended, can grow and spread to become grave wrongs, and precisely this had happened on our factory farms." The Post had an edited version that is not online, but read the longer original ::Fear Factories in (arggh) the American Conservative....
Should we be Worried About Hybrid-Car Batteries?
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 06.15.05
We frequently hear it from hybrid-skeptics: "Ah, yes, nice car, fuel savings, etc, but wait until you have to pay to replace the batteries in a few years! Aren't these batteries polluting more than burning extra gas?" We always suspected that was BS and now and then an article seems to confirm it, but today it's HybridBlog's turn to tackle the subject with this post. They gathered from a few articles and by talking with carmakers that all the current big hybrid makers (Toyota, Honda, Ford) believe that their battery packs will last for the life of the vehicle....
The TH Interview: Stephane Barbeau from Vessel
by Che-Wei Wang, Brooklyn on 06.15.05
Stephane Barbeau along with Duane Smith founded Vessel in 2000 with love and determination to bring their own designs straight to the end user. Now, 5 years later, Vessel continues to foster new ideas into refined products with their philosophy in tact. Their product lines have grown and distribution has gone world wide. Many of their products (Cutting Tray, Squat, Workplace Dish Set, Candela,and Toro Tissue Ring) have been covered here on Treehugger.
Stephane Barbeau recently took some time out for a TH interview....
TreeHugger's First Instant Reader Survey!
by Justin Thomas, Virginia on 06.14.05
Here it is — our first instant survey for Treehugger readers. You'll get to see the current survey results immediately. Thanks for the feedback!...
Mark Macek: Enviro-responsible Furniture
by Dominic Muren, Philadelphia, USA on 06.14.05
Being green isn't just about alternative fuels, or alternative transportation, or how much you can recycle. Breaking the cycle of rampant consumption by purchasing high quality designs that use sustainable materials to make beautiful, lasting objects is another crucial piece. Mark Macek knows something about this, and his furniture speaks for itself......
SF Expected To Go With Green Purchasing
by Justin Thomas, Virginia on 06.14.05
In an effort to reduce pollution and environmental toxins, San Francisco could become the first city in the nation to favor "green" products in purchases from window cleaner to electricity to playground equipment. The philosophy, known as the "precautionary principle," is a response to the growing incidence of disease some health experts attribute to pollution and environmental toxins. For instance, a 2004 report from the Breast Cancer Fund found that scientific evidence shows some 85,000 synthetic chemicals are contributing to breast cancer by altering hormone or gene function....
Exxon on Global Warming
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 06.14.05
According to today's Wall Street Journal, Exxon President Lee Raymond doesn't think much of Global warming, the Kyoto Accords or Peak Oil. He thinks Shell and BP are wusses for investing in alternatives to fossil fuels while he funds skeptics and fights emission caps. Well, lots of treehuggers drive, and while our Prius's and echoes and hondas do not use as much gas it all adds up. Its time to start driving right by Exxon stations (Esso in Canada and UK) and filling up elsewhere, anywhere. Greenpeace has a website devoted to this ::Stopesso.org...
Gambarelli's Oxygena Air Purifying Floor Tiles
by Paula Alvarado, Buenos Aires on 06.14.05
The Oxygena line of floor tiles from Italian firm Gambarelli eliminates contaminating gases through its surface. The system is based in that the tiles contain titanium dioxide, an element which reacts to and eliminates polluting gases thus rendering them harmless. The company's website explains that when solar rays hit the surface of the tiles, titanium dioxide (thanks to its photo catalytic properties) produces active oxygen, which then oxidizes polluting gases. The gases are transformed into nitrate ions which, combined with water or other elements, become eco-efficient (scheme in the extended).
Oxygena is designed for outdoor applications (buildings, balconies, walkways, etc.), and it can help cleaning the air of nitric oxide and nitrogen dioxide produced by vehicles, central-heating systems and domestic cookers. It can also be laid indoors. ::Oxygena.
Through FayerWayer...
ladeco.fr : international business with strong ethics
by Erwan Pianezza, Locronan, Brittany on 06.14.05
Interview of Thierry Cayot, vibrant founder of ladeco.fr, online shop that offers all sorts of goodies for the house, from the smallest candle holder to huge teck cabinets. Thierry has a strong background of international import / export business. Like many managers in rich western countries, the root of his business model is find, buy, ship, and distribute. But Thierry's convictions go beyond the simple 'make money' paradigm. Anticipating forest management restrictions and fundamental social practise in South Asia, ladeco.fr is keeping an eye on the whole manufacturing process, from reforestation to the furniture factory. ...
Snooping on Nature with High-Tech Gadgets
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 06.14.05
A couple of months ago our friends at WorldChanging wrote about digital fire lookouts. Great little inexpensive devices that remotely monitor forests and can warn us of fires. They even run on solar energy. But we're going to go much farther than that with similar devices: Cameras and other high-tech sensors have been installed in a 30-acre patch of forest near Idyllwild (California) to monitor nature. With them scientists can "watch bluebird eggs hatch, measure the growth of ferns and study the impact of air pollution [...] eventually uncover ways to combat global warming, track the deadly mosquito-borne West Nile virus, detect water pollution before people drink it and predict the course of invasive plants that alter landscapes and choke off water sources," etc....
Hydrogen Storage for Fuel Cells: Carbon Nanotubes
by Tim McGee, Western Massachusetts on 06.14.05
We may get a chance to see hydrogen cars become a sustainable reality - and more importantly, people who like to protest nanotechnology in the buff (THONG). The National Institute of Standards and Technology theorist Taner Yildirim and physicist Salim Ciraci of Turkey's Bilkent University have a possible fix for storing/using hydrogen safely as a fuel – and it involves carbon nanotubes, titanium, and attention to design....
Manka’s Inverness Lodge
by Kara DiCamillo, Newport, Rhode Island on 06.14.05
Just an hour north of San Francisco is the beautiful Point Reyes National Seashore. With coastal hills, endless white sand beaches and many hiking trails that crisscross through 80,000 acres, Manka’s Inverness Lodge seems like the perfect fit. Located in a quirky former hunting lodge, the restaurant and inn is a culinary delight where the food is always fresh, seasonal, local and strictly organic... ...
Texans Save Their Rain
by Dominic Muren, Philadelphia, USA on 06.14.05
Those of the treehugger community who are especially miffed by a certain Texan might be tempted to cast the entire Lone Star State in the same tainted light. But nothing could be further from the truth. Who knows whether it's the frontier life, or the massive distance to reach infrastructure like water, electricity, or waste collection, but these guys are the mustard...
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Repsol YPF to Make Biodiesel in Argentina
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 06.14.05
The Spanish headquartered oil firm Repsol YPF (NYSE: REP) is planning to produce biodiesel in Argentina through the use of "advanced technology". Biodiesel is made through a chemical process in which the vegetable oil reacts with alcohol in the presence of a catalyzing agent. Glycerin, for which there are over 1,500 uses, is a valuable by-product of biodiesel synthesis. In this case, the glycerin would be from natural sources and potentially regarded as "organic".
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Turn-on: not a plane old house
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 06.14.05
At treehugger we keep talking about living with less, but we never ask the question- "why are we wasting all of that ceiling space?" Austrian architecture and design firm AllesWirdGut ("everything will go well," in German)has figured this out- turn it upside down and use it. They built their demo Turn-on for an exhibition in Vienna and it has been on a roll ever since. ...
Yamaha Pays Employees to Leave the Motorcycle Home
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 06.14.05
Yamaha Motor Corporation, a motorcycle manufacturer, has started to reward its employees for eco-commuting. To be eligible for the small monthly sum (1000 yen, almost $10 US), employees can walk, cycle (on a human-powered bike) or use public transportation. The frequency of the company's shuttle-bus has also been increased. This new system has encouraged more than 60 people to leave the car or motorcycle home - which is not the first thing you would expect from a gas-powered vehicle manufacturer - and those who have started walking or cycling have reported benefits such as enjoying the fresh air and being free from stressful traffic congestion....
Ask a Question to Jim Kunstler
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 06.14.05
The Author of The Long Emergency has agreed to do an interview with Treehugger. We've written our questions for him but want some from other treehuggers. Just put them in the comments section with your email address (or send them to lloyd(at)treehugger(dot)com if you do not want to leave your email address) And, its another Treehugger contest! If we pick your question we will send you a copy of James Howard Kunstler's the Geography of Nowhere (Because you have already read the Long Emergency, right?) Contest closes Friday June 17th....
Recycled Bags from Alchemy Goods
by Kara DiCamillo, Newport, Rhode Island on 06.13.05
If you’ve been reading TreeHugger for awhile, you know that when it comes to recycled rubber we do our homework and we admit that we don’t like a lot of the things we see. However, one of our tipsters, Steve A., sent us to Alchemy Goods, a small business in Seattle that makes bags from recycled materials. The bags have an exterior of recycled bike inner tubes from shops around Seattle making them completely waterproof, which we definitely like. The shoulder straps are made from recycled seat belts salvaged from junkyards and the zipper pulls are made from the valve stems of the same inner tubes that are used for the exterior. Each bag is assembled by hand, making no two bags the same. Alchemy prints the percent by weight of recycled content of each bag right on the logo inside the bag. It varies depending on the product, but it's great to see that they are educating the customer. One other nice feature is that all the bags Alchemy makes are guaranteed for life. ::Alchemy Goods...
Global Warming Skeptics May Soon Lose Another Battle
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 06.13.05
We all know at least one of them. They have read somewhere (Reader's Digest? A forwarded email? Michael Crichton?) a report that some researchers have found out that the atmosphere hasn't been warming in the past 40 years, or even that it was cooling down, it's all a hoax, etc. Or even worse, they are government officials who pretend to objectivity yet will use a few convenient studies to discard all the rest. It is known that many of the studies that skeptics and deniers point to are unreliable because the hyperspectral sensors that are mounted on satellites to measure the Sun and Earth's radiation, despite careful calibration on Earth, often get knocked around a little bit too hard during their launch into space and are thus rendered untrustworthy....
Recycling T-Shirts into Underwear
by Justin Thomas, Virginia on 06.13.05
Here's a trick — recycling T-shirts into underwear. SuperNaturale explains:
I know you've got them, lurking in drawers, the back of the closet, in the "giveaway" pile: those T-shirts that are, for various reasons, both unwearable and indispensable. They are too small, too big, too short, have a stain, a hole, or some other flaw, and yet you cannot bear to part with them.I took my old t-shirts and gave them new life. They were reincarnated as underwear.:: More details on SuperNaturale...
Soy-Based Lubricants
by Justin Thomas, Virginia on 06.13.05
SoyClean makes an all-natural, soy-based lubricant, which penetrates just as well as more toxic products. We're talking about the kind of lubricant you use on gears, valves and chains. When using it, there are no harmful fumes or vapors involved. And if you oil your bike with it, you won't be polluting your yard. It is priced at $6.49 for a 22oz spray bottle. SoyClean also makes soy-based paint strippers, strain removers, wood sealers and cleaners. Via MetaEfficient....
Make Your Own Mud Oven
by Justin Thomas, Virginia on 06.13.05
Here's a way to have pizzas and loaves baked in your backyard. You can build your own mud oven — they are surprisingly easy to make. The main ingredients are sand, clay and water. Here are some
instructions for constructing the mud oven seen above. See these step-by-step photos: Part 2. Here are some tips on make your oven more efficient. Here's a book on building an earth oven. Thanks to Kathreen and Rob for the tip....
hal 9003 – Ambient Lighting by spHaus
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 06.13.05
Here's a lamp that caught my eye. I can imagine having a few of those in my future listening room (some people want "home theaters", but I like music, so I want a nice, quiet & comfortable listening room) so that I can close down the main lights while listening and just have these cool ambient things that look a bit like distant skyscrapers. They are basically two fluorescents encased in a stainless steel tube with holes, with a hand-polished stainless steel base (the power of design!). They can be had in two sizes: 201 or 261 centimeters (79/102 inches), which corresponds to two 36w or 54w fluorescents. I think they look awesome, but can they be called green?...
Brazilian Natura's Ekos Products
by Paula Alvarado, Buenos Aires on 06.13.05
Ekos cosmetics line of products by Natura is made with resources of the rich Brazilian biodiversity extracted in a sustainable form and through Fair Trade. They are biodegradable and their packages contain recycled glass and paper. Better yet, they incorporate the concept of recharge, offering better prices for the extra fillings and a longer use of the packages. The products are inspired by the properties of native plants such as Maracujá and Cajú Chestnuts (just to name a few of the beautiful flavors), and include shampoo, hair conditioners, hydrating soaps, body lotions and perfumes. We can assure, by self experience, they're irresistible. The company is established in Brazil and Latin America, and just opened its first store in Paris, located in the Carrefour de la Croix Rouge, in the district of Saint Germain des Près, but all of their products can be purchased on line through its site. In addition, if you stay in the hotels' chain Blue Tree, you can enjoy Ekos amenities. ::Natura....
Amazingness is looking for publisher
by Petz Scholtus, Barcelona, Spain on 06.13.05
It is that time of year again when fledgling designers are fleeing the nest that is Design School to try and make their own way in the world. For any graduate designer the big wide world out there usually turns out to be tougher, smaller and more competitive than previously imagined, but this is even truer for the recent graduates of Eco-Design Degrees, of which encouragingly more and more are appearing. However, there are still relatively few design companies dedicating themselves to eco-design and eco-designers are most likely to be found fighting the good fight, as undercover agents, from within a well established practice. For these reasons we want to give a leg up to the most interesting graduate projects we’ve seen so far this year. We start with Anna Hillman who with a beautiful book has set out to bring our attention to the details of nature within our cities. ...
PET Bottle Containers by Miriam Mitsuko Utsumi
by Dominic Muren, Philadelphia, USA on 06.13.05
When you were little, no doubt you made little terrariums out of cut soda bottles, or maybe even used a sliced bottle as a bird feeder. But these new designs using woven strips of the familiar green and white PET leave all our kindergarten designs in the dust. Brazilian designer Miriam Mitsuko Utsumi takes this novel material as her medium and with it creates translucent jewels that are wonderfully functional....
London taxi firm goes green
by TreeHugger on 06.13.05
One of London's biggest cab firms has announced plans to go "carbon neutral". Radio Taxis has a fleet of 3,000 black cabs emitting almost 24,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide each year. Now the company is promising to spend £100,000 annually on environmental projects overseas to offset its emissions. Andrew Herbert, commercial director of Radio Taxis, said he wanted a "responsible" business, and that "facing up to climate change makes business sense"....
Biodiesel On Living On Earth
by Dominic Muren, Philadelphia, USA on 06.13.05
One of the biggest hurdles for treehugging business initiatives is just that: investors worry that it's more about the trees than the money. Luckily, some entrepreneurs are getting wise to this, and realizing that going green doesn't have to mean giving up the green. Public radio show Living On Earth recently covered the UC Berkeley business plan competition, and the recent numbers of environmentally-oriented business plans which have been competing there....
It's Rastra, mon, not Rasta!
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 06.13.05
Put on the Bob Marley while we tell you a tale about Rastra- an ICF (insulated concrete form) that is "a sustainable, energy efficient, environmentally correct construction system". Lets get it out of the way first to say that as an architect, we have not been fond of ICF's because one cannot be certain that trades have properly filled the voids; as a treehugger we thought that polystyrene and concrete were not the most appropriate sustainable materials. Then we learned about Rastra- Its made from recyled material and uses a lot less concrete than other ICF's we have seen....
New Green Radio Station: EcoShock
by Justin Thomas, Virginia on 06.13.05
Radio EcoShock is the internet's first 24/7 all environment radio station. It's non-profit and commercial free, playing environment news, interviews, features and select sounds of nature. Their "Five Minute Eco News" arrives from distant jungles, and from the chemical plant next door. Ecoshock has talk radio with guests and phone interviews. But you can be part of the show! Call in for free using Skype, or their local numbers. :: EcoShock...
Nuclear Energy Unsustainable: Won't Mitigate Climate Impacts
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 06.13.05
According to a controversial study...we TreeHuggers always always love a good energy source dust up...the nuclear fuel cycle is a complex process with many steps, some of which consume a large amount of fossil fuel. The corresponding carbon dioxide emissions have been calculated by by Jan Willem Storm Van Leeuwin, a senior consultant in energy systems, together with Philip Smith, a nuclear physicist"..."For high-grade ores the energy inputs are much less than the electricity generated. But, the quantity of known uranium reserves with ore grades richer than this level is so small, that it would only last for a few decades at the current usage rate". Add more nuclear plants for growing economies in China, India, Korea, Iran and so on and the sustainability of nuclear power, by these calculations, looks questionable indeed....
Tiara Showers - Two Heads are Better than One
by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 06.13.05
One of the simplest ways to make a green contribution is to reduce the energy and water load of your household. We’ve all heard the oft quoted answer to this dilemma: “shower with a friend!” The Australian made Tiara showerhead allows you to do this easily and still save hot water. It comes with two adjustable heads, that can be used alone or together, If a conventional showerhead uses 25 litres per minute, the Tiara can drop this to 4.4 litres/min for the one head and 8.8 ltr/min in dual mode. (The water is aerated to give you the same feel of water volume, without the overconsumption). Use one head for yourself and the other to wash your child ... or share with your significant other. Made of brass and rubber, the Tiara is said not to corrode or leak. ::Tiara Showers...
Eco-Tip: Environmental Choices by the UCS
by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 06.13.05
Many readers of TreeHugger have asked for direct actions they can take to reduce their environmental impact. In the early 90s there was a plethora of books addressing such interest. The seminal 50 Simple Things You Can Do To Save The Earth prime among them. Although now out of print, it can be obtained second-hand. A decade after that guide came out, the Union of Concerned Scientists released their own take. The Consumer's Guide to Effective Environmental Choices, was in their words, “the first comprehensive look at the full range of modern consumer activities, identifying those that cause the most environmental damage and those that cause the least.” It ruffled many feathers because it advocated focusing on the bigger issues and not fussing over debates such as paper or plastic bags and cloth or disposable nappies/diapers. The book is still available from USC, but we have also included a summary of their eleven key recommendations below....
Cosmos 1 - Solar Sailing Outta This World
by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 06.13.05
On 21 June 2005 a Russian submarine will fire an intercontential ballistic missile (ICBM). But there is no need to rush for the backyard bunker. The missile’s payload will be Cosmos 1, the world's first solar sail spacecraft. This will be deployed into Earths’s orbit, where It will unfurl eight massive sails, which it is hoped will propel the ship by sunlight, as photons bounce against the reflective fabric. The scientists and enthusiastic others that make up the joint project partners: The Planetary Society and Cosmos Studios, expect the unpersoned Cosmos 1 to be visible with the naked eye. It’s fantastic to see solar technology being taken to such heights. Let's also apply this degree of creativity to our transportation problems here, on the one planet that we know sustains life. ::Cosmos 1 Mission Tracking Site...
Germany to Review Nuclear Options
by Christine Lepisto, Berlin on 06.12.05
In Germany, the changing political winds are carrying the whisper of yet another angle on using nuclear power as a political tool in the fight to keep positive ratings in the “peak oil” era. Gerhard Schroeder has reacted to a poor showing by his party in recent state elections by calling for early Federal elections: hanging on his hope that the opposition party will not be prepared to bring a credible candidate forward with short preparation time. Meeting the challenge, the CDU has firmly stood behind the current party leader, Angela Merkel, and most pundits are expecting a close race. Now Merkel has initiated her campaign with the announcement that, if elected, she intends to reopen the standing agreement that all nuclear power will be phased out in Germany by the year 2021. The leaders inside the nuclear industry are hedging their response, repeating their commitments to the existing agreement while expressing their readiness to listen if the government insists on reopening the issue. And to get the idea accepted widely, Merkel has a card up her sleeve......
Hybrid Inventor Victor Wouk, 1919-2005
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 06.12.05
Hug a tree in memory of Dr. Victor Wouk, who died last month. In 1971 Dr. Wouk received an EPA grant to develop a hybrid car, along with a promise to fund a larger project if it met spec. Dr. Wouk had decided years earlier that all-electric cars were impractical because of the size of the batteries and had been looking for alternatives. He replaced the V-8 in a Buick Skylark with a Mazda rotary engine, electric motors, batteries and regenerative brakes. It met the strictest emission standards, got 30 MPG and hit 85 MPH. For reasons never explained, the EPA declined to follow through and only one was built. When the Prius came out in the states in 2001, Dr. Wouk proudly got one of the first....
Real Estate Frenzy from Fortune Magazine
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 06.12.05
Fans of Jim Kunstler's Geography of Nowhere and the Long Emergency will be particularly nauseous after reading Fortune Magazine's article Riding the Boom, now available free online. 22 year old speculators buy "threesies" and foursies" (multiple purchases) of suburban tract houses in the middle of nowhere around Phoenix and Las Vegas. Some do not know how many they own, but are confident that they will just keep going up in price. In the desert. Truly Nowhere. Its so tulipomanic. Why should Treehuggers care? Trees will fall, resources will burn to support this insanity. Put on Flowers from the Talking Heads and read ::Riding the Boom...
The Pollution Eating & Power Generating Bacteria
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 06.12.05
The "anaerobic dehalogenating" bacteria called Desulfitobacterium hafniense (microbiologists, feel free to correct me) has been discovered in the last decade and is able to feed on, and clean up, a variety of chlorinated compounds, solvents and there is even some evidence that it could dechlorinate polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs, nasty stuff). And if it didn't seem useful enough to you already, add to that a recent report that tells us that it also produces electricity and is resistant enough to possibly be used in future microbial fuel cell designs. ...
Got a problem? Bury it.
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 06.12.05
Some scientists are proposing pumping CO2 into the ground to let us keep burning fossil fuels without releasing greenhouse gases- they call it Carbon Dioxide Capture and Storage or CCS. The Guardian has done a lovely interactive report, showing how this could be done. They link to an article at the end that pretty effectively criticizes the idea. ::Guardian...
TreeHugger breaks it down for you in a series of in depth how-to articles that will help you green your life. No time like the present!
Here are a few recommended websites.
