- 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 September 25, 2005 - October 1, 2005
Total this week: 87
Small Car Comeback in US
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 10. 1.05
The Washington Post has an article on the changing automotive market. "We are seeing people who are driving $40,000 Suburbans trading them in on $15,000 Corollas," said Mathews, who manages a dealership in a state where big trucks and sport-utility vehicles rule the roads. "The last 30 days have been unlike anything I've ever seen in the automotive industry." Civics, Focuses and Corollas are flying off the lots - in certain cases they are being bought straight off the shipping trucks - and unsold full size SUVs are piling up (despite all the incentives and discounts). ...
Indigenous Designs at REI
by Justin Thomas, Virginia on 10. 1.05
Indigenious Designs makes men's and women's clothing with some very sustainble principles behind their line. Over half of their products come from knitting co-ops and non-goverment organisations in Ecuador, Peru, and India, under fairtrade arrangements. See our previous post for more info. Now the outdoor store, REI, is selling Indigenous Designs clothing at some pretty good prices. This women's hoody is made of organic cotton in India, and is selling for around $33. :: Indigenious Designs at REI...
Conflict-Free Bling
by Erin Courtenay - Madison, WI on 10. 1.05
The bling binge has ignited a major increase in the diamond market. Recognizing the opportunity to encourage a diamond trade that is fair, equitable and benefits communities where the diamonds are mined and crafted - Kimora Simmons, founder of Baby Phat fashions and wife of Hip-Hop mogul Russell Simmons - partnered with diamond distributor M. Fabrikant to create Simmons Jewelry Co. The company inspects all diamonds to ensure they are conflict free and a large percentage of the profits benefit communities affected by the diamond trade. Recently, the company, which started in 2004, announced the release of a not-so-eco-but-nonetheless-socially-conscious $35,000 case for the Sony PSP portable gaming system. The iced out case is made out of a pound of gold, alligator skin (tsk!) and yellow and black conflict-free diamonds. Story via eco.psfk...
The Roundabout: Harnessing Kid Power to Pump Water!
by Justin Thomas, Virginia on 10. 1.05
A South African nonprofit that developed a way to use children's merry-go-rounds to power water pumps in rural areas in Mozambique. More than 700 of these Play-Pumps have been installed in South Africa, and there are plans to install 100 more in Mozambique. The Play-Pump, invented by Roundabout Outdoor, uses a very simple method to alleviate the back-breaking chores of hauling water over long distances in rural Africa, where more than 300 million people lack safe drinking water. Through a borehole, the pump can siphon 1,400 liters per hour at 16 revolutions per minute from 40 meters below the surface. The water is pumped into a 2,500-liter tank that sits 7 meters above the ground. ...
Solar Decathlon in Washington DC, Oct 7-16
by Justin Thomas, Virginia on 10. 1.05
The Solar Decathlon is a event that brings 18 college and university teams from around the globe to participate in a solar competition to design, build, and operate the most attractive and energy-efficient solar-powered home. (See our previous post on one of the housing designs.) Student teams built their solar houses on their respective campuses and will transport them to the National Mall in Washington, D.C., where they will form a solar village. The solar village will be open to the public October 7-16. The Decathlon consists of ten contests, based on these categories: Architecture, Dwelling, Documentation, Communications, Comfort Zone, Appliances, Hot Water, Lighting, Energy Balance and Getting Around. This contest is the 2nd Solar Decathlon, with the first occurring in 2002. :: Solar Decathlon ...
Eco-Showerhead - The Real Deal From Real Goods
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 10. 1.05
First, we posted about the WaterTile by Kohler, but some of you weren't impressed by the 2.5 gallon/minute flow rate (and the $199 price was steep). Okay, we're listening, so we posted about Bricor's One Gallon Per Minute Showerhead (with a more reasonable price of around $40). Better, no? Well, an anonymous reader found an even better deal: A low-flow showerhead by Real Goods that has a flow rate of 1.2 gallon/minute and a "pause" button that allows you to stop the water while soaping up or applying shampoo (and the price is $12!). Not as sexy as the WaterTile, but a clear winner on the "less is more" front.
::Real Goods Low-Flow Showerhead...
NYC Hurricane Katrina Fundraiser Needs Volunteers
by Justin Thomas, Virginia on 10. 1.05
Here's a call to native New Yorkers to help out with a Hurricane Katrina fundraiser:
We at Architecture for Humanity are extremely grateful to everyone at Spring Gallery in Brooklyn who are working hard to organize a Silent Auction Benefit for our Hurricane Katrina Relief efforts. This event will take place on Sunday October 2nd from 6-9 pm and they need a few more people to help out. They need people to man the tables, register bidders, process payments,and just overall lend a hand. If you've got nothing going on Sunday night, here's your chance to get a little culture in your life and help out a worthy cause at the same time. Jason Buchheit the New York chapter is volunteering to help out on Sunday so if you are interested you can contact him at 718.974.4456, or contact the Spring Gallery directly....
Forestry--but Naturally
by Christine Lepisto, Berlin on 10. 1.05
What Berliner could walk past the Treehugger posters appearing throughout the city without a second glance? The clever design leaves the passer-by with the imprint of the source of more information, waldwirtschaft-aber naturlich! (Forestry – but naturally!). But is it a mind-washing campaign? The evil hand of industry shaking government hands behind closed doors to win the right to shave the land bald and replace natural growth with fertilized transplants uglier than hair-plugs? Will hikers be confronted by the muddy scars of large equipment using the forest floor as factory? For those who don’t read German, the interesting facts behind the campaign are noted here. With the rising price of heating fuels, the spectre of this campaign could cast a shadow on doors near you soon.
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The Natural Confectionery Company
by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 10. 1.05
The post a week ago on Halloween treats and then munching snacks on a recent bushwalk reminded me of The Natural Confectionery Company. A 60 year old business, they introduced a limited line of jelly confectionery, back in 1991, that was free from artificial flavours and colours, a bit of a rarity back then. A handful of years later, the brand underwent a name change and the whole thing just exploded. Now they are the “most popular jelly product on Australian supermarket shelves”. We imagine the sweets success mirrors the growth in organic and farmers markets, in that shoppers have become more interested in the origins of their food. Admittedly an organic apple, grown locally from heirloom seeds is greener and healthier, but every now and then a little splurge is OK. And if you are going to eat junk, then at least it’s good to know that the taste (‘Sour’ ones are best) and colour is naturally sourced. A shame they don't use organic sugar. (And alas for vegans, the gelatine comes from beef). ::The Natural Confectionery Company...
Nissan Shows "Pivo" Concept Electric Vehicle
by Justin Thomas, Virginia on 09.30.05
Asian carmakers surely do have a penchant for strange, concept electric vehicles. Nissan throws their hat in the ring with the "Pivo" car, seen here. It was created in partnership with Japanese artist Takashi Murakami at the company’s Nissan Ginza Gallery in downtown Tokyo. Nissan will show the car at the upcoming Tokyo Motor Show. It features an innovative cabin that revolves 360 degrees, eliminating the need to reverse. It has a compact body, making the car exceptionally easy to maneuver. For power, it uses Nissan's high-performance lithium-ion battery and Super Motor. :: Nissan via Green Car Congress ...
Safeway To Use Renewable Energy
by Justin Thomas, Virginia on 09.30.05
Safeway has announced that it will purchase 100% renewable energy to power the company's 270 fuel stations, 15 stores in San Francisco, and the Safeway corporate campuses in Pleasanton and Walnut Creek, California. It will become one of the largest buyers of green energy in the United States and an EPA "Green Power Partner." Under the partnership, Safeway has agreed to purchase 78 million kilowatt hours in the form of wind energy. This means it will become California's largest buyer of renewable energy. Safeway is also announcing a new organic product line marketed as "O" Organics in its stores. :: GreenBiz via TriplePundit...
October 5th: Petrocollapse Conference In New York
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 09.30.05
Next week, a very promising conference about peak oil (primer) and what comes after is taking place in New York City. The list of speakers is impressive and includes James Howard Kunstler and Jan Lundberg among many others. "The idea for a conference in New York titled Petrocollapse is the brainchild of Andrew McKillop, one of the speakers for the conference. His idea was to have key peak oil experts present their knowledge to the public. [...] The audience is encouraged to be participants at the conference, and we all hope to come away well informed, better connected and hopeful of positive action for these interesting times." The where & when is: The Community Church of New York Unitarian Universalist, 40 E. 35th Street, New York, NY 10016, October 5, 2005 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
::The Petrocollapse Conference, via ::Peak Oil NYC...
Instant Survey: Guilty Pleasures
by Jeremy McCumber on 09.30.05
Residential Home 2005 AIA Green Project Winner
by Justin Thomas, Virginia on 09.30.05
This home, called the "Eastern Sierra House", is the winner of the AIA COTE award for a residential home. It was designed by Arkin Tilt Architects. Sited some 20 miles south of Carson City, it was designed to showcase a variety of green building practices. The house is virtually energy independent: careful shading, high insulation values, and thermal mass, aided by flushing from cool night air, prevent overheating in the summer. Solar hot-water panels located at the edge of the terrace feed a deep-sand-bed hydronic heating system and provide domestic hot water. A grid-intertied photovoltaic system meets the home's electricity needs....
Bricor's One Gallon Per Minute Showerhead
by Justin Thomas, Virginia on 09.30.05
Some readers were underwhelmed by the 2.5 GPM showerhead we featured recently. There are, indeed, other showerheads with greater water efficiency out there — one example is this 1 GPM showerhead from Bricor. Bricor also offers a range of showerheads that use a "vacuum technology" similar to Oxygenics, but they are reportedly much quieter. They range in price from $37 to $45. :: Bricor...
Umbra on the Health Impacts of Biking in Traffic
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 09.30.05
Grist Magazine's Umbra Fisk, in the tradition of Cecil Adams, answers reader mail on various subject. The last edition of her column was about a question from someone who was wondering "if the benefits [of bike commuting] (exercise, sunshine, free and fast transport) are outweighed by the negatives (primarily breathing in diesel and other exhaust, but I'd also throw in the risk of almost getting run over, despite the cheap thrills)." Interestingly, Umbra finds that "while you may be hurting your health by biking in urban traffic, you are not hurting it as badly as you could be." This is explained by the way pollutants (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene and nitrogen oxides) are scattered on the road: "The nasties are densest at the middle of the traffic zone, and less intense on the edges. [...] studies show you get the biggest hit of the nasties when you're inside a car. Sure, a personal Mobile Emissions Source appears hermetic, but it's an illusion: MES occupants are very close to sucking on the tailpipe of the MES just ahead of them. In a bus, riders' lungs are a bit above these sources. And bikers and pedestrians are on the outskirts."...
$100 Hand-Crank Laptop Almost a Reality
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 09.30.05
Thanks to Nicholas Negroponte and the Media Lab at MIT, children in developing nations around the world will have access to technology. Negroponte, the co-founder of the Lab, said MIT and his non-profit, One Laptop Per Child, is in discussions with five countries -- Brazil, China, Thailand, Egypt and South Africa -- to distribute up to 15 million test systems to children. The idea is that governments will pay roughly $100 US for each laptop, and distribute them for free. The laptops will largely be powered by a side-mounted hand-crank, and can be juiced up with convential electric current or batteries, when they're available. The proposed design of the machines calls for a 500MHz processor, 1GB of memory and an innovative dual-mode display that can be used in full-color mode, or in a black-and-white sunlight-readable mode. One display design being considered would also consume unconventionally low amounts of power and money; Negroponte said the technology can be used to produce displays that cost roughly 10 cents per square inch. "The target is $12 for a 12-inch display with near-zero power consumption," he said. The systems will be Wi-Fi and cell phone-enabled, and along with four USB ports, will include something called "mesh networking," a peer-to-peer concept that allows machines to share a single internet connection. Negroponte said the current plan is to produce 100 million to 150 million units by 2007. ::CNET via ::Gizmodo...
Gaia Goods Handmade Recycled Products
by Kara DiCamillo, Newport, Rhode Island on 09.30.05
Gaia Goods, a company that has been designing personal and home accessories for almost 15 years, is now introducing to the United States market a line of trendy, colorful and affordable items made from reclaimed plastic bags in association with ConserveUSA. This process does not involve the use of dyes or colors, is very unique and operates on fair trade standards. We all know that disposable bags are a major threat to our environment so we’re happy to see a company offering an alternative for one of our biggest waste problems. We agree with Gaia in the hopes that one day these bags will be considered unnecessary but until then we do hope that people take the proper steps in recycling them properly. Products available include handbags, totes, photo frames and desk accessories. ::Gaia Goods...
Ecoralia – Constructive Recycling
by Petz Scholtus, Barcelona, Spain on 09.30.05
Ecoralia is a Spanish company based in Madrid which is giving recycling a very good name. We have all become experts now at separating our waste and optimistically putting the right materials in the right recycling bins. Unfortunately while our intentions are good the reality is that not nearly enough glass, plastic or paper is actually being recycled into new products. So it is always great to find companies who are specifically working to make use of our dedication to recycling. Ecoralia set out in 2003 to reduce industrial waste, reduce deforestation and improve the sustainability of the construction business....
Greenbuilding or Greenwashing?
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 09.30.05
We picked up a sample of a product at a local homeshow- tiles to put on your basement floor to keep it warm and comfortable. We noticed a logo for "greenbuilding" and a note about it being recognized as a green product. Wondering how a sheet of formaldehyde-filled particle board glued to Styrofoam SM could be a green product, we asked the salesman, who said "it saves energy". We are sorry- if you think saving energy alone makes you green, we have a few over-insulated, underventilated, mouldy and toxic condos to sell to you. Sticking a label on your product where all of google cannot find the organization that called you green does not make you green; this is greenwashing plain and simple. We will not publish their name because their website and other literature have no mention of this, so perhaps they have had a change of heart. However we are interested in any other egregious examples of greenwashing that readers have seen. We will try to think of an appropriate prize for the best submission- perhaps a plaque made out of particleboard and styrofoam. ...
Pop Wallcoverings
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 09.30.05
Pop wallcoverings offer a fun, modern alternative to plain old white walls. These three-dimensional, form-pressed beauties might also make a nice ceiling, and, while they're available in light birch, warm cherry and rich walnut, we're most interested in the cork version. Both sound-absorbing (any TreeHugging musicians building a studio out there, perhaps?) and sustainable, cork is one of those materials we love to see anywhere: walls, floors, furniture, shoes; the list goes on and on. Pop can be purchased through the Hightower Group, starting at $15 US per element. ::Pop via design*sponge...
Katrina Waste Stretches Around The World
by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 09.30.05
The Sydney Morning Herald, via Reuters, reports that the waste from Hurricane Katrina’s tangle with New Orleans amounts to an estimated 22 million tonnes. According the article, the debris now in south-eastern Louisiana would fill 3.5 million garbage trucks. A spokesman for the US Army Corps of Engineers is quoted as saying "The trucks would stretch 36,500 miles [58,728 kilometres]. They would reach all the way around the Earth at the equator and you would still have enough trucks left over to stretch from New York to Denver," One particularly disturbing note in the piece relates to the damaged cars. Estimates as high as 300,000 totalled vehicles have been made. Strangely the tyres are being stripped for recycling, but all the remaining metal is apparently headed to landfill. Surely it has to be cheaper to re-smelt them, instead of digging fresh iron ore out of the ground. As we’ve noted before using recycled steel can give energy savings of 75%. Sure hope Reuters got it wrong. [Pic from ABC News Katrina gallery] ::Sydney Morning Herald ...
The Whopper by Phat Cycles
by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 09.30.05
As we were just speaking of New Orleans, one or two of you might remember back to when Dennis Hopper and Peter Fonda set out from Los Angeles for that fair city. In the seminal movie Easy Rider they cruised the highways and byways of America on chopper motorbikes. Here be the same thing but without all those nasty carbon emissions. Probably not the most practical mode of transport for a city courier or cross-country tourer. Though, as tipster Carl B put it, when referring to his friend who has a Phat Cycles bike, “He said it was like pedaling a La-Z-Boy around.” They do seem like a wild ride -- even funsters like Jim Carrey and Robin Williams have been espied aboard such steeds. The Whopper shown here is but one model. (They have more than I’ve got front spokes.) It sports a Shimano Nexus 7 speed hub and front disc brakes. ::Phat Cycles...
Konarka and Textronics to Make Solar Suits
by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 09.30.05
A joint development program has just been announced. Konarka and their light-activated Power Plastic and Textronics with their ‘electronic textile systems’ are planning to bring us renewable, wearable energy sources for personal electronic devices. If the results equal the vision we will see flexible, coloured and patterned textiles that will use light to charge our ever increasing array of gadgets. And thus “overcome the shortcomings of conventional power technologies by enabling consumers to have energy generation ability with them at all times.” In the press release, Daniel McGahn of Konarka notes, “This joint effort will show designer-label manufacturers how we can bring new benefits to consumers through their everyday clothing and fashion accessories, including increased levels of convenience, freedom of use and performance while minimally affecting the garments’ overall weight, size or appearance.” Via Sportstextiles (subscription required). See what each company has been up to before this, by visiting ::Konarka and ::Textronics...
Nominations for Hollywood's Greenest
by Erin Courtenay - Madison, WI on 09.29.05
The Environmental Media Association recently announced the nominees for their annual EMA Awards. The awards recognize those in the entertainment industry that have helped raise environmental awareness via their movies and televised programs. The awards are presented to writers, producers, directors, actors, and others who actively expressed their concern for the environment through their work. The Environmental Media Awards have also honored those in the industry who have gone above and beyond their peers in consistently including environmental practices, story lines and rolemodeling. Such honorees have included Keely and Pierce Brosnan, Jayni and Chevy Chase, Blythe Danner, Dave Matthews Band, Daryl Hannah, Alanis Morissette, Willie Nelson, Edward Norton, Rob Reiner and John Travolta.
Read on to see this year's nominees....
Karla Calderon Bio
by Karla Calderon on 09.29.05
Dirtt- a Green Office System
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 09.29.05
If you are going to be a cube farmer, it might as well be an organic cube farm. Dirtt is the perhaps questionable name for the new system from the creator of SMED- a demountable office system that is as elegant and sophisticated as any, but is also designed to be as sustainable and healthy as can be. It is all non-VOC and formaldehyde free with water based finishes, carefully thought out and beautifully detailed. They are trying really hard- they even point out that their employees drive Priuses and Smart Cars to work. Nice website and cool tools too. Alas, it is still extruded aluminum and it is still a cube farm.::Dirtt thanks, tipster Rose...
Better Basics for the Home: Simple Solutions for Less Toxic Living
by Justin Thomas, Virginia on 09.29.05
Many household and personal care products can actually be made in the home relatively easily, when you have the right ingredients and, as Napoleon Dynamite would say, "the skills". To this end, Better Basics for the Home, offers more than 800 simple and practical alternatives to common household toxins, covering everything from skin care to gardening. Author Annie Berthold-Bond asserts: "Mixing up face creams or wood stain isn't much different than cleaning the windows with vinegar, soap, and water instead of using Brand Name X, or making a cake with flour, eggs and milk instead of buying a mix. With a few simple staples we can clean our houses, wash our hair, rid the dog's bed of fleas, and do many other things as well." For those of us looking beyond the Seventh Generation and Ecover products, this is a good book to have. :: Amazon...
Les Petits Plaisirs d'Andrea
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 09.29.05
Andrea Jourdan lived in Europe for twenty years and spent much of it making olive oil. She returned to Montreal and opened a grocery store, but she says "you can't keep the girl out of the kitchen" and started cooking again, making wonderful jams, chocolate and sauces. She believes in local sourcing- "in Europe, people eat what they produce, they are so proud of their work. I buy local directly from the producers so that I know what I am getting." Where she cannot buy local she buys organic. Worth a look (and a taste- it's wonderful) ::Les Petits Plaisirs d'Andrea...
Recycled Glass Mosaic Tiles by Sandhill
by Justin Thomas, Virginia on 09.29.05
Sandhill is an Alaskan company that was awarded a grant from the Alaska Science and Technology Foundation to develop an innovative glass-fusing technology which utilizes 100% recycled glass. The outcome of a two year research project resulted in the Sandhill's glass tile line. Not only are the products made from 100% recycled glass, which is otherwise destined for landfills, each tile takes half as much energy to produce as a ceramic tile, and one fourth the energy it takes to produce a cast-glass tile. :: Sandhill Industries...
Handmade, Recycled Paper by PaperMojo
by Justin Thomas, Virginia on 09.29.05
PaperMojo has a large selection of handmade papers made of tree-free fibers such as mulberry, kozo, lokta and recycled cotton rag gathered from around the world. They import the paper from India, Nepal, Thailand, Japan, France and Italy, and some of the paper is made in the U.S. by local artists. The paper costs about $3 to $5 for a 22" x 30" sheet. It's great if you want to wrap your gifts in something different. ...
Your new car makes me Green with Envy.
by Ruben Anderson, Vancouver, BC on 09.29.05
A new kind of greenspace rolled out for this year’s International Car-Free day in Vancouver, BC – a Car Park. The Vancouver Design Nerds, a fluid group of designers, architects, artists and videographers, rescued a 1973 Pontiac LeMans from a local scrap yard and transformed it into a rolling vegetable garden. (Full Disclosure: I am a founding Design Nerd)
Coinciding with the City of Vancouver’s launch of the One Day campaign to reduce greenhouse gases, the Car Park was a massive hit on Car Free Day. It caused double-takes all day long and became the backdrop to endless happy tourist photos. (Other cities take note, the One Day campaign, like the Car Park, is Open Source. Make it yours.)
The Car Park is also a winner of the Vancouver City Planning Commision’s 21 Places competition, which solicited entries to enhance underutilized urban spaces.
The best thing about the Car Park is that you can have one too. Here’s how we did it.
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Today's Eco-Event: "Eat Local Challenge"
by Erin Courtenay - Madison, WI on 09.29.05
Got plans to eat out today? Even if you don't, consider taking part in the "Eat Local Challenge." Today 150,000 diners at corporate, university, and museum restaurants from Seattle to Washington D.C. can choose to eat a 100 percent locally grown meal, made entirely of ingredients from within 150 miles of the kitchen where they are served. Palo Alto-based Bon Appétit Management Company, the national food service provider which runs all of the restaurants, launched the challenge to raise awareness about where the food on our plates comes from....
Investing in Alternative Energy with PBW
by Ben Engebreth, New York City on 09.29.05
We touched on it briefly here, but I think it's worth highlighting the relatively new Exchange-traded Fund with the ticker PBW that tracks the ^ECO index, also know as The WilderHill Clean Energy Index. As the name implies, the index and it's ETF allow you to buy into a portfolio of companies that are pursuing clean energy development. It's the easiest way I've seen (just purchase PBW through your brokerage) to date to get good exposure to a broad array of technologies that the TreeHugger mentality supports. Companies in the fund include Evergreen Solar, Distributed Energy Sys, Ballard Power Systems, Kyocera Corp Adr, and 30+ others. The full list is here. Anyone have any thoughts on the other companies? ...
Almost: Fair Wear Apparel
by Kara DiCamillo, Newport, Rhode Island on 09.29.05
Fair Wear is manufactured in Bangladesh where factory wages are the lowest in the world (six cents an hour!), but don’t worry, we think this company has a great mission: “To provide you with stylish clothing at an affordable price, while giving fair pay to the workers that made it.” Fair Wear has an agreement with the factory in which they send 1/3 (or 33.33%) of their gross income back to be distributed among the factory workers as a bonus to their regular pay. Their mission simplified: “Transform a sweatshop into living wage jobs.” Although their project is more socially conscious than environmentally-friendly, founder Stephanie McMillan tells us that they are working on sourcing organic cotton and finding non-polluting dyes. We like the TreeHugger tee best, of course (graphic shown). ::Fair Wear...
Infinity Chair by Crafactor
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 09.29.05
As we've noted before (on several occasions, in fact), it's not always easy to find TreeHugger-worthy furniture built with rattan, and it's a shame. It grows best under a tree canopy (preserving rainforest habitats) and, like bamboo, can grow very quickly. It is a beautiful, renewable, durable material, so we're happy to see it put to such good use with the Infinity Chair, which is made entirely from rattan. A group of Thai designers has reinterpreted the aesthetic of traditional materials and crafts to make use of modern technology, with striking results. The rest of Crafactor's 2005 collection is worth a look as well, with clean designs and modern lines throughout their chairs, tables and more. ::Crafactor via ::Inhabitat...
RISD Unveils Their Solar Decathlon Entry
by Kara DiCamillo, Newport, Rhode Island on 09.29.05
It’s been almost a year since we brought you the story about Austin’s designers who entered the Solar Decathlon, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy, and now we’re thrilled to report that the unveiling of the 18 entries will be on October 7-16 on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. Shown here is a rendering from the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) whose design is an 800-square-foot exhibition home that meets all the energy needs of a typical family using only the power of the sun. This two year work-in-progress design has been on display in Providence and will soon be dismantled and transported to Washington. Judging will be on October 12 and is divided into 10 contests, ranging from architecture, to dwelling, to appliances and hot water. An overall winner of the Solar Decathlon will be announced on October 14th. Thanks for the tip, Guinevere H. and good luck! ::RISD (press release)...
Treehuggery on MTV — It's Your Vote
by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 09.29.05
Psst! Wanna get in on some guerilla marketing? Ssshh. Not so loud. Look here in my coat, got a lovely selection of reality TV programs - going cheap. No cost to you. All ya gotta do is vote. Wouldn’t ya wanna see a show on the box that is about bicycles, music, adventure, community, and environmentalism? Today, right here, right now, we can give you just that. Pedal across to MTV and keep Kipchoge in the race to win a mainsteam TV slot for his “Out of the Woods" show. Kipchoge is a co-founder of Xtracycle and a mate of the inventors of both Fossil Fool bike lights and the Bike Blender. These are three favs on Treehugger, so we figure you’d go for seeing Kipchoge and his pals sell the low impact, human-powered, eco message on the tube too. Important Reminder: DON’T vote for him. Vote for the others to CANCEL their shows and keep Kipchoge as a ‘survivor’. Go forth Treehuggers, save the day and get a cool, green show onto the teev. ::MTV Reality TV Voting...
Organic Earth Magazine
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 09.29.05
After staggering out of our first Greendrinks do last week, we found a new Canadian magazine in our hands. It had fascinating articles about foraging in urban and rural Canada for Elderberries, puffballs and dandelions; discussions about local political issues, and a piece by one of our heroes, Hap Wilson, titled "Environmentalism Begins at Home" (Hap wrote and illustrated amazingly detailed guides of whitewater rivers in Quebec that have let us live to tell the tales). Printed on recycled paper with vegetable ink, and full of ads for products that we will milk for treehugger posts for weeks. Not much on the website at ::Organic Earth...
Mercado Global - Goods For Good
by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 09.29.05
When it comes to opening ones purse or wallet for a donation to a charity we all want to know where that money is really going. But how many of us ponder the same thing about the products we buy? Worn Again footwear do provide a tag showing where their dollars are apportioned. And Mercado Global do something a little similar. Take this $38 San Juan Wrap, for example. From each wrap $16.58 goes towards Guatemala’s San Juan community cooperative’s scholarship program. The above sum equal to a child’s education for about 3 months. So far the program has raised $10,639.84 USD for a variety of such projects. Not bad for 10 months worth of sales. The variety of goods on offer are made under fair trade agreements by 178 members of 14 women’s cooperatives. In fact, 85% of purchases go back to the women’s employment and their childrens education, with the remainder used to find markets for their wares in the US. Mercado Global’s operational overheads are covered by generous donors. PS: The model is that 'everywhere woman' Summer Rayn Oakes, whom we noted earlier was involved. ::Mercado Global...
E-Solex from Pininfarina
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 09.29.05
Pininfarina, the Italian designer of Ferrari, is set to launch an electric version of the legendary Solex 3800. The flashy moped works with an electric engine, tops out at about 22 miles per hour (35 km/h) with a range of nearly 20 miles (about 30 km), and weighs about 70 pounds (slightly less than 35 kg). An extra battery, to increase its range, will be an available option. It will be officially unveiled at the Mondial du Deux-Roues ("International Two Wheel Show") in Paris from October 1-9. ::E-Solex via ::Luxist...
Dio LED Path & Park Lights
by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 09.29.05
The Dio is said to be a socially and ecologically responsible light. Not entirely sure of the social aspect, but the eco side of things seems to come from its use of Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs). Now, apparently the Dio packages up a bank of LEDs with some new technology to get enough lumens out that they provide illumination for pathways and parks, equivalent to moonlight. Maybe that should be marslight, because in their standard configuration it’s an orangey glow, as seen here. Each light, we read, operates at “80% less power than a conventional globe. This saves approximately 7000 litres of oil per light per year.” One of their other selling points is that they reduce light spill, i.e, that wasted light escaping into the night sky above city streets, that gives those fascinating satellite photos, you use to see in National Geographic, but is otherwise lost energy. ::Dio Park Lights...
2005 Conde Nast Green List
by Erin Courtenay - Madison, WI on 09.28.05
The September issue of Conde Nast Traveler announces the magazine's annual "Green List" of top ecotourism destinations, resorts and tour operators. This year's highest honor goes to Jean-Michel Cousteau Fiji Islands Resort. Conde Nast Traveler looks for operations that "demonstrate how they preserve natural surroundings, contribute to local cultures, and provide a rich guest experience." Continue reading to view a list of Traveler's top ranking resorts. Via Shoppingblog...
WaterTile by Kohler
by Justin Thomas, Virginia on 09.28.05
This new, stylish WaterTile showerhead from Kohler is wall-mounted and uses a maximum of 2.5 gallons per minute (as a comparison, most showerheads before the 1990s used five to seven gallons a minute). Style and efficiency — a great match. The price can't make a triparted winner though — it's available for $199. :: Kohler...
Instant Survey: Sustainable Housing
by Jeremy McCumber on 09.28.05
Scrapile Designers Intreviewed by Inhabitat
by Justin Thomas, Virginia on 09.28.05
Jill from Inhabitat recently interviewed the Scrapile designers Carlos Salgado and Bart Bettencourt. She queries them in depth about their methodologies and motivations. Apparently, the make very effective of the wood they gather, and recycle it more than once, using smaller and smaller pieces. The results are some interesting new designs, a few of which are seen here. See also our previous posts here. :: Inhabitat...
Geothermal Energy Can Be Sexy
by Justin Thomas, Virginia on 09.28.05
You can use geothermal methods to heat and cool your house. If you dig a channel six feet down in the ground under your house, you access an area where the temperature remains relatively constant year-round. To find out more, visit the Geoexchange web site, which has more information that you've ever want to know about this sort of thing. So how do you make it sexy? We'll that's up to you — how to use all the geothermal heat....
National Downshifting Week
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 09.28.05
The National Downshifting Week comes from the UK and will be 1 year old next April (the second edition is from April 22nd to 28th, 2006, but we see no reason why it shouldn't be an everyday event). It's gaining ground all over the world with its simple concept: People are basically asked to live more simply, take time for themselves, act to protect the environment, turn off the TV and reconnect with loved ones, etc. The official website is predictably simple and low-tech, but it contains many good suggestions for individuals, companies, schools & children. Things most of us know, but knowing is not enough - action is required. More below....
A Vision of a World of Hemp
by Justin Thomas, Virginia on 09.28.05
There is a theory that optimizing use of hemp in modern society would be a startingly effective move in terms of our manufacturing capabilities. Many people do not grasp the range of benefits that would be realized. Here is a full vision presented by John Roulac in his book Hemp Horizions: The Comeback of the World's Most Promising Plant: ...
Pigs Seen Attempting Flight Over Rockies
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 09.28.05
Perhaps this story comes under the "Wings of Truth Will Set You Free" banner. Rocky Mountain News carried a story today about a new direction in climate change policy. Well, almost. While at a Climate Change conference held at the Omni Iterlocken Resort, the Director of the US Climate Change Science Program said global climate change is ""probably the most important environmental issue facing the world...We know that humans are influencing the climate. There's no question about that," said James Mahoney, director of the U.S. Climate Change Science Program...."Not signing Kyoto doesn't mean that this government isn't doing anything," said Mahoney, who later amended his description of climate change to say it's "one of" the world's most important environmental issues"...
Volvo To Have World's First CO2-Free Auto Plant
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 09.28.05
Volvo wants to make its Tuve (which is in Göteborg, as far as I know) truck plant CO2-free. To achieve that goal, the plant will be heated and powered solely by biofuels and wind power. Volvo will first try to achieve energy savings of 20% through efficiency and, in partnership with Göteborg Energi, they will build five large wind farms and a biofuel plant next to the Tuve Volvo plant. The construction is expected to be finished during 2007. "The five wind power plants alone will increase the amount of wind-power generated electricity in Sweden by 4%." But Volvo doesn't intend to stop there, they also plan to make more of their installations CO2-free in the future....
DIY Eco-Tech: Last Chance to Vote
by Sean Fisher, Cincinnati, Ohio on 09.28.05
There are only two days left to vote for the winner of our DIY Eco-Tech Contest. We will tally the votes as of 11:59 pm on Thursday, 9/29, and send off to the winner a Voltaic Systems backpack, a 2 year subscription to MAKE Magazine, and a limited edition MAKE T-shirt. We are counting on you to make sure that the best entry wins. So, if you were planning on voting, make sure you do so ASAP. If you were not planning on voting, you should go ahead and vote anyway. All you need to show our fantastic finalists your appreciation is a simple click of the mouse.
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The World Solar Challenge 2005 Has a Winner
by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 09.28.05
The Dutch have now won the World Solar Challenge 3 times in a row. They crossed the finish line today, having driven 3,021 km (1,877 miles) in a record time of 29 hours and 11 minutes, breaking their own record by 43 mins. While the cars were sometimes travelling at speeds over 110kph (68 mph) they were required by race rules to stop each day at 5pm. On the final day, the Dutch team, with their car called the Nuna 3, were amazed that they were able to keep driving even with cloud cover. The Nuna 3 team, with cumulative experience in the race, have been able to streamline their vehicle and significantly reduce its weight, while maximising power returns from optimal exposure of the car’s photovoltaic panels to the sun, at every opportunity. Via ABC News Online. More results and pics at ::World Solar Challenge...
Swap-O-Rama-Rama in New York City
by Kara DiCamillo, Newport, Rhode Island on 09.28.05
October is right around the corner (can you believe it?) so if you live in the New York City area mark your calendars for October 9th. From 2pm-7pm at the Clemente Soto Velez Cultural Center (located in Manhattan's lower east side) Swap-O-Rama-Rama kicks off its yearlong series of seasonal do-it-yourself style events along with a massive clothing swap, in which the public exchanges, redesigns, recycles, and re-brands used clothing in a process of collective creativity. ...
Giant Knotweed Extract: An Organic Fungicide
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 09.28.05
A giant knotweed (Reynoutria sachalinensis) cluster grows outside my window, put there to offer some summer shade and be cut down in fall to return the southern sun. Seemed like a good idea at the time, as knotweed gets over 12 feet high and was much easier to get going and more drought tolerant than bamboo. But as I found out, knotweed is also highly invasive. And, it grows a half foot per night. Yipes. Way too renewable for my taste. So, I'd been thinking for some time about pouring a couple of gallons of horticultural vinegar on the root clusters, untangling myself from the knot I'd woven. Then this news: a simple exract of plant tissue using alcohol results in a botanical fungicide that EPA looks ready to permit for commercial use. More details below the fold.
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Speak Clothing
by Kara DiCamillo, Newport, Rhode Island on 09.28.05
If you’re like us, when we see products being designed for a good cause it gives us that warm, fuzzy feeling and Speak Clothing does just that. The line consists of t-shirts made from 100% organic cotton for women and children. Each t-shirt is printed with a beautifully designed American Sign Language symbol with the word in English below it that reads one of these four: play, laugh, run and breathe. Founder Liz Murphy got her inspiration while learning sign language with her hearing impaired son. The purpose of Speak is to motivate and inspire others to learn sign language and proceeds from the sale of the shirts go to deaf education to benefit children. The t-shirts are manufactured in a sweatshop free, living wage environment and are available for wholesale. ::Speak Clothing...
Planet in Focus- the International Environmental Film and Video Festival
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 09.28.05
We know, too much Toronto stuff, but how can we not cover film festivals opening with gala films like The Real Dirt on Farmer John and the one we want to see, Car Culture. The International Environmental Film and Video Festival opens in Toronto tonight and runs through Sunday. "Planet in Focus is Canada’s most acclaimed International Environmental Film and Video festival. Our annual film fest showcases compelling documentaries, animation, dramatic features, shorts and experimental works that celebrate, question and establish varied ways of viewing the state of our world. " ::Planet In Focus...
EcoTimber: Friendly Floors For All
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 09.28.05
EcoTimber offers sustainable wood floors of all kinds, with sources from certified well-managed forests to reclaimed and recycled wood to the TreeHugger favorite, bamboo. They specialize in wood products from forests that are certified well-managed according to the rules of the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), and offer a versatile range of services, from single-family residential to general contracting to developers and corporate clients. EcoTimber's customers include some big names like Nike, Disney, Pottery Barn, Patagonia, and Whole Foods Market, and even sustainability guru Bill McDonough, who had this to say: "Everyone in my office has been most pleased with EcoTimber's collaborative professionalism, care, and prompt attention to our needs. We recommend them highly as an important source and resource." You can get more info, including on where to buy EcoTimber, at their website. ::EcoTimber...
Non-profit Prefab being built in Toronto
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 09.27.05
An extraordinary prefab structure is being erected in downtown Toronto this week. The St Clare Multifaith Housing Society, which converted a medical building into housing for the poor and the formerly homeless, is adding two floors and doing it modern prefab, designed by Toronto's very talented Levitt Goodman Architects. Going prefab was supposed to minimize disruption and speed construction, as the building below is occupied. We will update with plans shortly, but in the meantime the show starts on the sidewalk at 25 Leonard Avenue....
High-Performance Hybrids
by Justin Thomas, Virginia on 09.27.05
The New York Times recently published an article about high-performance hybrids — some prototypes and some real cars that are currently on the street. One prototype is this Enigma, which is a sleek roadster built like a Lotus Elise that will one day sell for $185,000. It's a prototype but its maker, Jim Burns, believes it's the future of hybrids. "We’ve got to produce a car that makes 14 year old boys excited," he told the New York Times Magazine. "We got to have got to have the squealing. The smoking. The tires popping off". :: New York Times via Eco.PSFK...
"Tour of Colorado" Solar Homes
by Justin Thomas, Virginia on 09.27.05
The Colorado Renewable Energy Society is holding its annual tour of Solar Homes on October 1st and 2nd. On this self-guided tour you can visit homes that use a variety of strategies to reduce their energy bills through efficiency measure and solar design. On October 1, the Boulder Area Tour starts at the Center for Resource Conservation, 1702 Walnut St., Boulder. Sixteen homes will be featured in Saturday’s Boulder Tour. The Denver Area Tour, on October 2, starts at the Visitor Center of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (ReourceNREL) in Golden, where participants can see exhibits dealing with solar and energy efficient homes. The Denver Tour will highlight fourteen homes throughout the metro area. :: Tour of Colorado via: Off-Grid...
SolCool: A Solar Air Conditioner
by Justin Thomas, Virginia on 09.27.05
A company called SolCool is marketing this "Hybrid Solar Chiller" as the first solar air conditioning system that utilizes a combination of 12-volt solar/back-up battery energy and 110-volt power. The 2-Ton AC platform with its 85-watt solar module is also capable of doubling its tonnage by a series of zoned, water-cooled fan coils. The "hybrid chiller" can continue operation under the assistance of solar energy and back-up battery reserve for hours during power outages. Other features include 12V emergency lighting options and a complete off-grid system. :: SolCool...
A Better Hand-Cranked LED Flashlight
by Justin Thomas, Virginia on 09.27.05
This hand-cranked flashlight provides 25-30 minutes of light, after one minute of charging. This is better than most hand-cranked flashlights, which need to be constantly wound or shook to keep them lit. The flashlight operates on an internal rechargeable lithium battery, which is recharged via the hand crank. It has a waterproof and shockproof shell. You can use either one or all three of the LEDs. The battery can be recharged 500 times (with proper use). The replacement batter is a standard CR2032 lithium coin cell. It's somewhat similar to the Jonta flashlight, but less expensive and with less frills.
Available from: Amazon ($16.00) ...
Whole Foods To Open Lifestyle Store
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 09.27.05
Natural foods giant Whole Foods Market is planning on opening a "lifestyle" store in West Hollywood in late October. The new store, set to open October 28, will not sell any food, but instead will feature an array of lifestyle products reflective of its industry-leading earth-friendliness, from clothing to handbags to paint. The 2,000-square-foot store, which sits in the same shopping complex as an existing Whole Foods, was built using sustainable and environmentally-friendly materials: flooring, shelves, walls, paint, hemp curtains for the dressing rooms and even reclaimed and reused furniture as displays and for sale. As for the goods available inside, the store will carry some of TreeHugger's favorites, like Loomstate and Edun jeans, Indigenous Designs' hand-knit sweaters, and a variety of organic cotton baby clothes. To help round out the sustainable living experience, collections of sustainable living books and magazines will also be available. ::Whole Foods via ::Planet Ark....
Beware: That New Car Smell is Toxic!
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 09.27.05
Do you like that "new car" smell? Yes? Do you sniff glue? No? Well, check this out: "New car smell could contain up to 35 times the health limit set for volatile organic chemicals in cars in Japan, making its enjoyment akin to glue-sniffing. The chemicals found included ethyl benzene, xylene, formaldehyde and toluene used in paints and adhesives," and "the van was found to contain 113 kinds of volatile organic chemicals, mostly hydrocarbons. It took four months to fall below the safe limit set by the state but shot above it again in the hot summer months even after two years."...
NearSea Naturals – Organic Fabric
by Kara DiCamillo, Newport, Rhode Island on 09.27.05
Just a few weeks ago we received a tip especially for our crafty TreeHuggers about Bam Boo Yarn and this time we bring you another tip for those that sew. NearSea Naturals offers organic cotton fabrics and textiles including corduroy, fleece, wool and bamboo blends. They also have all of the necessary accessories needed to complete your project, such as organic thread, stuffing and elastic and bamboo buttons. NearSea Naturals is a family business that was started as a collaboration of work-at-home-moms and is now located in a solar powered facility in New Mexico. Thanks for the tip, Angela B.! ::NearSea Naturals...
Toyota Dream House Includes Plug-In Prius
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 09.27.05
Last Sunday, the 6-month public exhibition of the Toyota Dream House concept ended (yes, they also build houses - you learn something new everyday). It is partly green, and partly high-tech gadget extravagenza (which is not so green). The most interesting part to us treehuggers is certainly the plug-in Prius (a prototype?) and unidentified electric vehicle in the garage. Both can recharge their batteries via some kind of console that stands in the middle of the garage and the juice comes partly from solar panels on the roof and sides of the house, and from a fuel cell (yes, the house is hybrid). In case of natural disaster (Japan isn't short on those), the Prius can act as a generator and power the house for 36 hours (we assume that's for one tank of gasoline, so more than 36 hours if you have more gasoline on hand). More pictures of the outside, inside and gadgets below....
"Air Suit" for Green Building Renovation in Hiroshima
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 09.27.05
After subconsciously reading the title as about a "hair suit" I realized this building 'renovation' just added an air layer between a double envelope: e.g. an "air suit". And what better name could there be for two new "skins" draped over a 40+ year old building. It took some more thought to figure out why it won a Holcim Foundation Sustainable Construction Award for 2005. Perhaps the confusion stemmed from a similar US technique used on apartment flats dating from the late 1950's. Garish colored glass facade elements were simply covered over (no fooling) with punched sheet metal plates held off from the original facade by 2 foot triangular brackets. Back to our subject. The winner's explanation goes like this: "Traditionally it was easy to reuse and recycle of Japanese architecture because of wood construction (sic). Now, we are facing problem of these massive heavy tough materials [for the] first time in our history. We have to find the way to handle these first generation reinforced concrete buildings..."...
Toyota Introduces New Campaign For “Hybrid Synergy Drive”
by Kara DiCamillo, Newport, Rhode Island on 09.27.05
Now all of you know that we’ve been writing a ton about Toyota lately, but rightfully so as they’ve announced some great initiatives in the past few months. Here’s the latest: yesterday Toyota launched a wide-range campaign that will include marketing, auto shows and educational elements all to build awareness of its Hybrid Synergy Drive which powers the Prius, Highlander and future hybrids as well. Read on......
Off the Grid: Harmony Dawn Retreat
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 09.27.05
We never shut up about our planting of a green roof, but have to do one last post here about the Harmony Dawn Retreat where this all took place. We do not post everything we see of "green architecture" because while this site is about sustainability and green issues, it is also most definitely about design, and so many projects we see are really green or really drop dead gorgeous, but few are both. As an architect this treehugger understands the dichotomy- that's why we write instead of design. Carolyn Moss's Harmony Dawn Retreat is an interesting study....
Havaianas IPÊ Line for Endangered Species
by Paula Alvarado, Buenos Aires on 09.27.05
We know the summer is ending for all you Northerns, but we South American treehuggers are just getting into spring and it just seems right to think about a new pair of sandals. Rubber is not a great material, we know, but some of us can't live without a pair of flip flops in the beach, and at least these have a good cause behind.
This line of sandals from the Brazilian brand Havaianas was developed alongside with the Ecologic Investigations Institute (IPÊ, because of the Brazilian abbreviation) to help spread the word on the country’s most endangered species and to gather funds to prevent their disappearance.
The association between the brand and the institute goes back to July 2004, and since they launched the campaign they’ve had four times the sales volume they had expected. Which is good news, as 7% of that money goes to the IPÊ for its environmental education programs, investigation, and landscape conservation, among others....
Serious Treehouses
by Justin Thomas, Virginia on 09.26.05
Land+Living recently featured some treehouses with intriguing designs behind them. Various architects take treehouses beyond the concept of a playhouse in the backyard. The "treehouse" seen here by Marcio Kogan in Brazil was built up to the canopy, and allows trees to puncture through the roof at points, creating a contemporary elevated living space. :: Land+Living
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New "Green" Toshiba Laptops
by Justin Thomas, Virginia on 09.26.05
This week, Toshiba exhibited the first "green" laptops ever to fully comply with the new environmental RoHS regulations. These rules were put forth by the European Parliament to reduce the use of lead, mercury, and other potentially hazardous chemicals in the production of new electronic equipment. The twin Tecras, the "Tecra S3" and "Tecra M3" are available early, well before the deadline of July 1, 2006. The M3 retails for about $2700 and weighs about 5 pounds. The Tecra S3, with a list price around $2500 is a desktop replacement with a 15" TFT display. :: Toshiba...
The Street-Smart Naturalist
by Justin Thomas, Virginia on 09.26.05
Want to see urban surroundings in a new light? The Seattlest recently interviewed David Williams, author of the The Street-Smart Naturalist. About the book, they say:
It's about the natural world, but not the natural world that exists out there on the peninsula or up in the mountains. This is the world we live in every day. Just like the title suggests, David picks his way through the neighborhoods of Seattle, exposing and illuminating the nature that slips through the cracks in the pavement. He's got a geology degree, actually, so he's liable to spend a few pages on the history of the pavement itself at any time.:: The Street-Smart Naturalist...
Sustainable Pillows by K Studio
by Justin Thomas, Virginia on 09.26.05
The materials used to make these pillows were well thought-out by the mother-and-daughter team of Mary and Shelley Klein. For them, sustainable was the only way to go: hence, they chose organic cotton, hemp and and recycled wool. They look similar to cushions we featured by Sharon Spain. The pillows are available from $98 to $164 online. :: K Studio...
Instant Survey: Intelligent Design
by Jeremy McCumber on 09.26.05
Eco Motor Boat - Is it Possible?
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 09.26.05
A reader forwarded us the following question from Thrifty Fun: "I am moving down near the water and I would like to buy a boat, ideally a motor boat. I was wondering if there is an eco-friendly way to go about this. Are their eco-friendly boats with motors? Any info or tips would be appreciated." Since nobody has answered the question over there, we figured that we'd try to answer it over here. Unfortunately, we're more of the kayak type than the motor-boat type, so we're asking our readers for help. We figure that with a diesel boat, biodiesel would be the way to go, like in this case, but we think that only fairly big boats have diesel engines (but we could be wrong about that) so it's probably not very helpful....
Yet more on Green Roofs
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 09.26.05
For those who want more information on green roofs than was provided in yesterday's post, CityHippy coincidently covers them in a more academically if less physically rigourous post. ::CityHippy...
GridPoint's Instant-On Backup for Renewable Power
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 09.26.05
Plug and play power management/battery bundles are coming to the renewable power field. Renewable energy systems force owners of existing buildings into a fundamental choice. Either configure the entire home or business to be grid idependent, or dabble in it, the latter course requiring you decide in advance which appliances will get backup power when the grid is down, re-do the building circuits accordingly, and, finally, hire a professional installer to custom rig critical circuits to a solar panel array,batteries, conditioner, and so on. So many choices. What to do first?...
Bamboo Is The New Cotton (in a good way)
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 09.26.05
If you know Treehugger, you know that we like bamboo almost as much as if we were pandas, so we were happy to learn that the LA Times published an article yesterday about the virtues of bamboo. The title of this post is a quote from Linda Loudermilk, an "artist-couturier" from Los Angeles. She also said: "[bamboo] has all the properties that you physically want out of cotton, plus some. Bamboo is more antibacterial than cotton or wool, which are very absorbent and hold moisture in. Because bamboo wicks moisture away, it's great for your circulation and skin." You can learn more about Linda Loudermilk and her clothes on her website....
Onya Bags- A Clever Replacement for Plastic Shopping Bags
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 09.26.05
We do go on about plastic grocery bags and what a blight they are. Yet how often are we shopping and realize that we did not bring our box/canvas carrier/reuseable bag and guiltily take one or two for our groceries. Onya has a clever solution to the problem: Its bag comes with a pouch and becomes your key chain, so you always have it with you. Andrea Zittel: our new role model
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 09.26.05
We talk often about living with less but artist Andrea Zittel does more than talk- she lived six months in one dress; designs remarkable furniture; has created a series of intricate folding living units that challenge every notion about multifunctional furniture; has created living pods and stations on her property that blow away most of our beloved modernist prefabs. Where were we? read ::New York Times and visit her site at ::A-Z (check out the living units) and visit Houston's ::Contemporary Art Museum if it hasn't blown away....
Peeing in your pants – the ideal public toilet accessory for women.
by Petz Scholtus, Barcelona, Spain on 09.26.05
Yes we women suffer! Why is it that the queue for the women’s toilet is always twice as long as the men’s? We are always crossing our legs in public places hoping to hold on till we get home or at least to a decent café. In more outward bound situations women generally have to air their backsides in all weathers while the men just unzip and away they go! Well the good news ladies is that Treehugger has become increasingly aware of products out there on the market, developed specifically to allow women to pee in comfort.
Yes it’s an age old problem that we girls continue to deal with, whether you are trained in the art of hovering over the dirty toilet seat (good for the thigh muscles!) or an expert in arranging toilet paper to cover the seat, or have developed such strong bladder control that you never need to go. For such a normal call of nature its never very simple process! Well there are some women out there who clearly just won’t stand for squatting anymore, they want to take their stand next to the men.
There seems to be two camps of urinating apparatus, the disposable and non-disposable. We want to find out not only which are the most effective but also the most environmentally friendly. ...
Recycled Tyres Bags and Furniture by Mecha
by Paula Alvarado, Buenos Aires on 09.26.05
Boy we’ve looked for this woman everywhere! We first checked her work in an Mtv show, but her website was down and we couldn’t find any link to her. A few weeks later, magically one of her friends named her in his personal blog and voilá!.
Mexican designer Metztli Mancilla Hernandez, a.k.a. Mecha, works with different types of recycled materials. The one that caught our attention was this collection of recycled tyres bags, which look amazingly cool to be tyres. The collection is appropriately called In Route, and was first launched a year ago.
“The concept is to create functional pieces in the form of gardens”, she says. “For the furnitures, the tyres are first collected from the deposits, cut in quarters, cleaned and then re-cut in straps. They are applied to make the furniture, and the rubber is then polished”, adds Mecha. For the bags, the tyres are cut in halves, then in patterns, and sewed.
Bags are from 30 to 45 dollars. Chairs and the cubes go from 180 to 200. She delivers to the USA and Europe (more pictures in the extended).
In her website there is also a line of accessories from recycled clothing, including some nice Gwen-Stefani-style necklaces with ties, and some e-mail addresses to contact her. ::Mecha
Thanks to Jesus Torres for the hook up!
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Glutos Low Emission Kitchen Wood Oven
by Christine Lepisto, Berlin on 09.25.05
For many people on this earth, a renewable fuel is near to hand and may even currently be superfluous: according to the technical agency for renewable raw materials in Germany (FNR), one third of the annual wood growth in Germany goes unused. And as a renewable raw material, the CO2 emissions of wood burning are balanced by the uptake of CO2 in the growth of restocked trees. Of course, wood burning kitchen stoves are not a new idea. Long before anyone was concerned about CO2 emissions, the smoke and smell of wood burning in contrast to the shiny cleanliness of the modern electrical technology led to the decline of wood stoves. Today, with our enlightened selection of technology, the wood stove is still rarely welcome in the modern kitchen. And where still in use for home heating or cooking, wood burning is a disproportionate contributor to deterioration of air quality: in the own home or for the entire neighborhood in dense populations. In recent years, the development of more efficient stoves for home heating has made great progress (see Treehugger's report on the EPA changout campaign). The Glutos stove, developed with support of the FNR and the German consumer protection agency, hopes to return renewable fuel to the kitchen. And as a bonus: the pleasure and comfort of beautiful flickering flames under the evening cookpot and an alternative for those looking to further their independence from swinging energy costs and the depletion of non-renewable resources.
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Green Roofs: A primer
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 09.25.05
The things we do for this gig. We write a lot about green roofs, and when invited to help in the installation of one, we couldn't say no and call ourselves treehuggers. Toronto intern Architect Carolyn Moss of Moss Sund Inc. designed the off-grid Harmony Dawn Retreat to have a green roof over the yoga studio (at left in picture). About 30 volunteers showed up to learn about them in a truly hands-on experience. ...
SELCO Solar Lights Rural Lives
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 09.25.05
Listed as a finalist in the Ashden Sustainability Awards for it's simply designed, turnkey solar product, SELCO's motto appears to be "Solar electricity is expensive for the rich; but it is cheap for the poor." SELCO also was listed among the 25 "innovators" that recently won the 2005 Tech Museum Awards (Silicon Valley area of California) for using science to improve lives in countries such as China, Chile, Thailand, Africa, and Brazil. TreeHuggers come in poor and rich models as well; maybe we ought to look into their business model. From its base in Bangalore, SELCO has installed 38,000 solar home systems across India, and become expert in finding ways to make solar affordable to virtually all income groups. The following additional examples are taken largely from the Ashden Awards announcement.
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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.
