It's nice to have options when it comes to choosing a handbag and especially nice when all of your choices are relatively low impact. Once you've decided on the svelte Kiki bag, The Naughty Secretary Club gives you fifty fabric choices, all vintage barkcloth from the 40's and 50's. Fredda Perkins will then custom make your everyday masterpiece and send it all the way from Austin, TX. $75 ::
Naughty Secretary Club...
While design for the masses is a noble goal, unfortunately it usually means eco-compromise. Big box stores offer thrifty, cute, functional objects but they're generally made from toxic and non-biodegradable materials. Here's some fun, inexpensive lighting with mass appeal that won't break you or your conscience.
The lamp and its accompanying cd holder, waste basket and magazine holder (made from 98% recycled polyurethane) have been rescued from a land fill for your everyday use. Lamp is $34. ::
Gaiam...
No, "Shrub" is not the code name of a new hybrid or fuel cell car. Toyota has actually engineered a shrub called Kirsch Pink (a derivative of the Cherry Sage shrub) with some very interesting characteristics: "The new Kirsch Pink plant is reportedly 1.3 times more effective at absorbing NOx, SO2 and other air pollutants than its parent stock. [It] also diminishes the urban heat-island effect 1.3 times more effectively than the Cherry Sage". Toyota is targeting 10,000 sales at 380 yen (US$3.34) a piece during the first year. The main usage of the shrub is green roofs; "Toyota originally launched the Rooftop Garden business as a way to mitigate the heat-island phenomenon that is worsening with time in Japanese cities."
::Toyota creates air-purifying shrub, via
::Jalopnik,
::Green Car Congress...
We noted
Icebreaker's merino wool clothing
last fall, and this year they are offering some new releases, including this Women's Olympia Zip, which is made of 100% merino wool from New Zealand. Icebreaker claims that even after two weeks of use, it will not hold odor or lose its shape. It's available from
Outdoor Sports for $119....
We like alternatives to cars (walking, cycling, public transportation), so we are always looking for ways to make them more convenient and attractive.
A good example of that is the Transtrap. The device itself is not particularly green, but it makes using crowded public transportation easier and more comfortable, so the end result is quite eco-friendly. Another item that in itself might not be particularly green but can make life without a car easier (for cyclists, in this case) is this windscreen by Louis Garneau (a famous Canadian cyclist and cyclewear maker,
also famous for putting his arm around Elizabeth II). "This clear polycarbonate windscreen installs quickly and easily with Velcro to most helmets on the market. Helmet not included. Made in Canada." Some people might prefer traditional glasses, but this probably would give better visibility and protection.
::Google Search for Louis Garneau Windscreen,
::Louis Garneau Wind Screen at Nashbar, via
::Cyclelicious...
A brother and sister team bought 40 acres of land in Buena Vista, Colorado, with the intention of creating a whitewater park along the Arkansas River. Instead, they ended up developing a walkable neighborhood called
South Main, complete with mixed-use development that connects to the existing downtown. They expected the properties of the first phase of the development to sell out in a year or two. But they actually sold out in a month and a half. South Main has been designed "for people rather than cars," says Katie. ::
CNN story via
Walkable Neighborhoods...
According to most of the Nobel Prize coverage this past week, the pictured scientists share the 2005
Nobel Prize in chemistry, "
for their work to reduce hazardous waste in forming new chemicals:
specifically the development of the metathesis method in organic synthesis...". That's the kind of sound byte you get when people with "communication degrees" cover science. Much more than "hazardous waste reduction" makes it interesting. Metathesis, which was originally a term of linguistics, uses special catalysts that can lower energy inputs per unit of chemical production. The method also facilitates the use of plant oils as feedstock. For example, with the help of Mr. Grubbs, another researcher has designed and tested olefin-metathesis-based routes to producing various pheromones.
Materia, the "catalysts for change company", which distributes the needed catalysts for metathesis techniques, registered with the Environmental Protection Agency three insect pheromones: (E)-5-decenyl acetate, a pheromone of peach twig borer (Anarsia lineatella); a mixture of (E)- and (Z)-11-tetradecenyl acetate, of omnivorous leafroller (Platynota stultana); and a different mixture of (E)- and (Z)-11-tetradecenyl acetate, of Sparganothis fruit worm, a pest of cranberries and blueberries....
A few days ago, global ‘food’ giant Nestlé,
announced it was releasing Nescafé Partners’ Blend, a line of coffee endorsed by the much respected
FairTrade Foundation. The coffee has been “bought from democratic smallholder organisations certified to supply the international Fairtrade market, and traded according to agreed Fairtrade standards including payment of the Fairtrade price.” The Foundation say that people have been “pressing the major companies to offer Fairtrade coffees.” And here it is. But all are not happy with the Foundation.
Indymedia UK for one, reckon it “undermines its ......
Based in Gloucestershire, UK, Arbor Vetum makes furniture within a strong commitment to save tropical forests that once produce the reclaimed teak they use : Arbor Vetum guarantees that each of their products is 100% made from carefully salvaged and reclaimed teak timbers without the need to cut down living teak trees.
...
Okay, admit it. You love the wind wooshing past your ears and the balance for body, mind and soul that whisking off to work on your bicycle gives you. But when it comes to those dreaded maintenance tasks... well who doesn't have something better to do? But Topeak's Red Dot Design Award winning chainBOT is so sympathetic, you'll be looking for excuses to pull it out and make a little tweak.
...
All this recent talk of new hybrid cars and suchlike could lead one to believe that there were no interesting bikes out there, taking their role as the true green transport. Not so. Take just two models from the range by Mikado. We picture the 21 speed Quetzal first, simply because it's more eye-catching. Although having a steel frame, it weighs in at a respectable 19.25kg (42.35 lb) for a cycle with a semi-recumbent position. Designed for everyday riding, it has Shimano components, a Selle seat, and like the whole Mikado range is handcrafted in Canada. But of equal interest is the very classically styled 7 speed Volta city bike (pic below). It sports a power-assisted 25w motor from Sanyo. Mikado have been making such electric bikes since 1996, and reckon their models can attain about 40 km (25 mile) per charge. Observe the mudguards/fenders, just the thing to reduce the chances of arriving at work with a soggy derrière.
::Mikado...
SmartWool, a company whose wool clothing we've featured
previously, says it will pay New Zealand merino farmers a premium to end the practice of
mulesing their sheep. About half of New Zealand's merino farmers are believed to use the technique where skin is cut from a sheep's backside to reduce flystrike, a potentially deadly condition. SmartWool has said it will buy $NZ40 million worth of wool over the next seven years, but it wants its New Zealand suppliers to stop using mulesing by the end of this year. Mulesing is a common practice in Australia where it has been targeted in a campaign by animal rights group
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) which has pressured large clothing chains to
boycott Australian merino wool. This Women's Lightweight Zip-T Shirt by Smartwool is available from
BackCountry for $74.95....
Invented by Dante Bini, the
BiniShelter is a super-low-cost self-erecting house used for disaster relief that can be easily moved from location to location, and takes less than a half-hour to build. The Binishelter requires only three workers and can be constructed out of bamboo, clay, wood, Sheetrock, bark -- whatever material is at hand. The shelter can also be customized into large two-story buildings that could house schools, or into to single-family homes, or even combined into massive housing projects, depending on the needs of the community. A system of inflatable "sausages" can be installed beneath the house, which can be attached to an anchor, allowing the shelter to float like a buoy above the water. As floodwaters subside, the house would drift back down to the ground. "It might not land in the exact same location, but it will be close," Bini admits. ::
SF Gate via
The Greener Side...
Mazda will be displaying five new vehicles for the Tokyo Auto Show, three of which will be hybrids. One of them will be the Senku hybrid car, which is based on Mazda's RX-8. It will feature "flying wing" doors and, more interestingly, it will include solar cells that are embedded in the roof, according to
AutoWeek. Apparently, the solar cells will be used to help keep the hybrid batteries charged. The name means "pioneer" in Japanese. ...
Honda FCX Fuel Cell Car
Honda will unveil its new FCX hydrogen fuel cell vehicle concept at the Tokyo Motor show (Oct. 22nd to Nov. 6th,
more info here). As you can see in the picture above, the new FCX is quite different from the previous generation (
you can see pictures and read more about it here). The futuristic look and extreme interior space (it sure seems that way from the picture, in any case) are probably in part due to the fuel cell powertrain which doesn't have the same space and position limitations as a traditional internal combustion engine....
These 100% bamboo rugs have a non-skid rubber backing and a cotton border. They are very durable and reasonably sustainable rugs from
Bed, Bath and Beyond. Possible improvements on this product: using hemp border instead of cotton, ensuring that the bamboo is processed without formaldehyde, and manufacturing it in the U.S. (admittedly a long-term goal). They are priced at $14.99-$29.99 each. ::
Bed, Bath and Beyond
...
Now for something a bit on the light side of science and nature:
The BBC has announced the winners of fake Nobel Prizes for scientific achievements which "cannot, or should not, be reproduced". Four genuine Nobel prize winners presented the much-coveted (!) awards in a ceremony at Harvard University. We will reproduce the list of winners for each category below, but know that among the winners are the inventor of artificial dog testicles and a study called: "Pressures Produced When Penguins Pooh - Calculations on Avian Defaecation" (yes, a study on
penguin poo!). Another favorite of ours is: "A University of Minnesota team who set out to prove whether people can swim faster in water or sugar syrup". Clearly these experiments will lead to a better world!...
Ikea challenged 28 designers to produce socially and environmentally responsible products using simple and repurposed materials. The designers made use of materials such as fish nets, recycled packing crates, bamboo and Indian newspapers. The designs are featured on the
Ikea PS web site. Apparently, some of the products are already available in Ikea stores, and all items will be out by March 2006. These vases were created by
Hella Jongerius, they represent four different cultures and continents, and are engraved or painted by hand. The price for each is $39.99. ::
Ikea PS 2006 via
Cool Hunting...
For those of you that thought this writer should be thrown out of Treehugger for our post on
LED cufflinks, we contritely and apologetically offer Brightfeet LED lighted slippers. These have true environmental benefits, as you can save lots of energy by never turning on your lights; Put a
Petzl on our head and these on our feet and we might just go off the grid. Weight sensors turn on the shoe when you step into them so you cannot leave them on; Powered by lithium batteries and only $ 39.95. If they recharged by spring-powered generators as you walked, they would be perfect. Not exactly
Manolo pumps, but it will come.
::Bright Feet via
::Gizmodo...
Most people assume that if you are especially concerned about the quality of our environment you must be the "outdoorsy" type. It is true that many TreeHuggers developed an environmental ethic based on extraordinary experiences in nature, but that may not mean that we continue to pursue outdoor recreation. We're interested in knowing where our readers stand. As always, comments are welcome below.
...
This "CEO Handbag" from
ZigZag Designs is created using rubber, men's business shirts and recycled seatbelts. The shirts are used as an unusual interior lining. All of ZigZag's bags are one those one-of-a-kind, handmade sort-of-things. This one's priced at $50. ::
ZigZag Designs via
Great Green Goods...
Last month we ran a piece on bamboo, saying
buyer beware, not all supplies are the best they could be. EcoFlooring in Australia could put up a case for their BT Bamboo addressing many of the issues that Lloyd raised. They suggest their goods are from a Chinese supplier, who has been in the laminated bamboo floor business for over 10 years, and is ISO 9002 accredited for quality. Furthermore only mature Chinese Mao bamboo is used, harvested from bamboo forests monitored by the Chinese Department of Forestry. Apparently the adhesives are Finnish based Dynea 8000, which does not contain urea-formaldehyde. ...
One of California's finest wines is crafted right in the heart of LA County, in ritzy star-studded Bel Air. The heavy development and phenomenal prices for real estate make it an unlikely location, but as
Moraga vintners see it, these factors are greater motivation to make sure that they create first-rate wines. Moraga's owner, Tom Jones, is an ardent conservationist and has served as a trustee for the California Nature Conservancy for over 50 years. He sees the challenge of crafting fine wines in this intensely urbanized area not only as a creative opportunity for winemaking, but also as a statement about how open land can be cared for and valued. In an interview for the
LA Times article Jones shared he and his wife's dismay at the changes in the Southern California landscape; "Ruth and I were born and raised in California. We love this environment. To see it disappearing into cement…" Moraga recently started making the wine on premises (vs. sending grapes to Napa), cutting operation costs 10% thereby cutting down on emissions associated with picking, packing and shipping grapes elsewhere for wine production. Thank you for the tip Enrique!...
Russell Pinch founded Pinch Design in 2004 and had longed to work with hazel wood because he was stumped for another source for his pieces and we have to agree it was a good choice. Hazel wood, if coppiced the right way, is very sustainable and grows in five to seven years, to approximately 20 feet, and lives for 70-80 years. It is white to reddish, tough but flexible and when it is seasoned it is very hard. Hazel has been traditionally coppiced extensively to provide long sticks for a variety of uses and Pinch has capitalized on this. He tracked down a man in England that grew hazel trees for river dams and went into his forest to collect some branches. His Twig Bench and Twig Cube are sturdy pieces of furniture that are rustic yet work well in a contemporary room. Very cool but be prepared to pay the price. The Twig Cube goes for about $885 and the Twig Bench is about $2,030. Via
::New York Times ::Pinch Design...
We know you're all busy people, and that every once in a while, you
might let a day go by without catching up on your favorite Treehugger news. So, with that in mind, we've created The TH Week, a new weekly wrap up every friday covering a dominant theme you might have missed. This week, with hurricane amplified fuel shortages gripping the United States, and oil prices climbing worldwide, we had some welcome alternative energy news.
:: John has a great piece on new pressures
pushing Biodiesel into the mainstream.
:: Erwan distilled the news of a possible
first ever french wine fuel.
:: Kara aired out
Chicago's cleaner bus initiative.
:: Michael announced the triumphal
demise of Ford's Mega-Excursion.
:: And suggested you chomp on a carrot, and jump on a bike, 'cause
sales are going through the roof.
Until next week, keep on huggin'....
The British Medical Journal says that the death rate is double for pedestrians hit by SUV's over those hit by regular cars- because they are so much higher, instead of being thrown into the relatively flexible hood, the internal organs take the brunt of the load. There are also additional dangers when they back up since rear visibility is so poor. They suggest that "vehicles should have warning notices advising potential purchasers of the increased risk of severe injuries and death to pedestrians associated with these vehicles" we might add, particularly while driver is talking on the celphone and eating ramen noodles.
::BMJ Online...
Yesterday the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced that
CEO Jeffrey Immelt's firm (GE) and the EPA had agreed on a plan to dredge PCB-contaminated sediment from the Hudson River. Under the agreement's terms, GE will build the required sediment facility and perform the first phase of dredging. That process is slated to begin in spring 2007; the deal calls for GE to pay the government up to $78 million for past and future costs. Immelt's mega-conglomerate has already forked over some $37 million. Next time we see a wind farm proposal that incorporates GE turbines (a business GE bought from Enron) our cynicism can can just go away. Congradulations GE....
No doubt the first thing you thought about, when getting to college, was how to harness the sun to charge your Powerbook, external monitor and mobile phone, right? No. Well, maybe you weren’t Ross Nizle. By his own admission, an “avid reader of Treehugger” Ross wanted to get his teeth stuck into some alternative energy. Not being able to modify his dorm building, nor having access to the roof, he had to devise a clever solution. A weekend’s work later and he had it. Voilà! -- a balcony-boosted power plant, right out of his own room. Ross has kindly provided us with details of his website, so we can share all the specs, and heaps of pics, with intrigued treehuggers. If Ross keeps up this good form we optimistically expect he'll soon be harvesting rainwater and composting on that balcony too. :-) Bravo Ross, just don’t forget to attend lectures!
::Solar Dorm...
jGoodDesign melds retro and space-age design into one with their handblown glass pendants. Designer Jeffrey Goodman considers his designs to be a meeting of the urban vibe of his Greenwich Village studio with the nostalgia, wonder and amusement of his childhood in coastal New Jersey. According to their website, it was this childhood on the seashore, surrounded by the fragile ocean ecosystem, that Goodman learned to respect and honor his environment. These influences yield a unique, timeless and fun aesthetic. The Aqua Pendant lamp is an example of such, made from recycled glass and aluminum hardware treated with non-toxic finishes. Other works in the collection also use bamboo as an alternative to hardwood.
::jGoodDesign...
Well we seem to have riled a few TreeHugger readers earlier this week with our post on the
Polycart.
But we are always more encouraged rather than put off by strong debate so we decided to continue the shopping trolley theme today. The debate about the new Polycart seemed to centre around the merits of recycling metal versus plastic and which material had more longevity. For those of you who fear that this plastic trolley will put the good ol’ metal ones out of business well never fear because some designers have been working hard to give them a second life. As we mentioned in our comment on Monday’s post, our favourite young Spanish recyclers
Vaho have made a shopping trolley chair complete with original wheels so you can roll any which way, but the way you want to go!
We have also recently discovered
Reestore. ...
Here's another in our series of products that are a compromise between affordability and sustainability. (If you know of something less expensive and just as sustainable, feel free to comment.) This Flokati rug is hand-cut from 100% New Zealand wool, using a centuries-old process imported from Greece. The manufacturer claims the rugs are washed in waterfalls scattered throughout the Pindus mountains, creating a fluffy softness. Apparently, the 5th century Vlachs who lived in Samarina, the highest village on the Pindos Mountains, were the inventors of the Flokati Rugs. The women of the village, having access to the wool, would weave Flokati rugs to be sold at bazaars during the winter. This 8' x 11' rug is available for $269 from
Flokati Rugs....
There are some things that just seem to last forever. Perhaps it is constant maintenance and repair, good product construction, or possibly just luck. Whatever the case, these things are rare, and should be recognized. Not only do they ease our burdens ecologically and financially, they often have character that no new product could obtain. We would like to see your "Old Faithful". Send us a picture and short description of the thing you have been able to maintain through the years (and plan on keeping for many more) by Friday, October 21st. Email us at: contest [at] treehugger [dot] com and tell us why your "Old Faithful" is still going strong....
The votes have been tallied, and we have a winner for our DIY Eco-tech Contest: the
solar-powered hydrofoil sent in by reader Terrence Breitsameter and built by the Marquette Solar Energy Society. Terrence is the proud new owner of a new
Voltaic Systems backpack, and the Marquette Solar Energy society will receive the 2 year
MAKE Magazine subscription and limited edition MAKE t-shirt. Thanks to all those who voted and a special thanks to those who entered the contest. ...
We've have some discussions lately about what it would take to make people change their habits to less destructive ones. A certain segment of people thought that government policies and regulations would be necessary, and another segment thought that economic incentives were what would really make people change. Maybe we will have a mix of the two: Grist Magazine has
a very interesting piece on the idea of "
Domestic Tradable Quotas" (pdf) in the UK (basically, carbon rationing). The concept is explained in more detail below, but in short, it would be a way to precisely allocate a country's "carbon budget" among its citizens and monitor how it is spent via central carbon banking, thus ensuring that carbon emission reductions are not left to corporate, political and individual goodwill and hard to enforce regulations (we're seeing how hard it is for countries to reach their modest Kyoto goals). A gradual reduction of the yearly carbon budget would encourage conservation, but mostly spur research and development and create a very lucrative market for efficient technologies and products. People who spent less than their carbon allowance could sell it to those who spend more on carbon markets....
This intriguing table lamp is crafted in Spain out of recycled glass, and it's topped by a white burlap shade. Great use of sustainable materials. Note that this piece has outside European wiring due to the delicacy of the glass. The cord does not run through the inside of the lamp; instead, it comes out of the top and can be seen. It's priced at $158. ::
Bellacor...
In this series, we are searching for the most affordable products for the home, that are manufactured in a fairly sustainable manner. These Bethany Selene Wool Rugs are made of 100% New Zealand wool. The price for a 7'9 x 11'2 rug is $379. A rug produced locally would be the most sustainable, but for those homeowners on a budget, we think this type of product is a reasonable compromise. ::
Overstock ...
Treehugger has covered the world of green investing in the past (links to our previous posts can be found below), but we've always made it very clear that we're not directly recommending that you invest your hard-earned cash into certain funds or stocks; We are not financial advisors. With that being said, lets have a look at
Portfolio 21, a green mutual fund based in the US. Their website has a few Paul Hawken and Mathis Wackernagel quotes floating around (not a bad sign) and the description of the fund includes the following: "We believe that companies using sustainability principles as a core part of their business strategies are positioned to prosper in the future and can be more efficient and profitable today. Portfolio 21 concentrates on companies that have made a commitment to environmental sustainability and have demonstrated this commitment through their business strategies, practices and investments." You can
read more about their sustainable investment criteria here....
Don't get us wrong : We're not advocates of drunk driving. But one article in the October 6, 2005 edition of the New York Times definitely caught our attention : did you know that french wine sales had dropped dramatically, and that as a consequence France asked the European Union to approve the distillation of 150 million liters of the country's high quality Appellation d'Origine Controlée (AOC) wine ? ...
The city of Miami is booming with plans for a whopping 100 new buildings to be added. On February 9 & 10, 2006,
Metropolis Magazine will present Tropical Green, a two-day conference to explore and educate architects, interior designers, developers, city planners, politicians and voters on sustainable building and design in warm climates. Not only does the city need to consider eco-friendly design principles for environmental reasons, but also because this approach is a smart business investment, offering long-term profits and, in many cases, higher selling prices. Featured speakers will include green guru William McDonough, engineer Guy Battle, and founding USBGC chairman Rick Fedrizzi and topics will range from green development policies to sustainable interiors to earth-friendly technologies.
::Metropolis Magazine...
One small excerpt from today's New York Times lays out the scenario driver: "
In many parts of the country, retailers and distributors report tight diesel supplies. Jay Ricker, who owns 33 service stations and delivers fuels to 30 other stores, said farmers and truckers in the northeast Indiana towns he serves were struggling...In Atlanta, Tex Pitfield, another distributor, said the large regional terminals where his drivers pick up fuel are running out as early as 9 a.m. "This is insane," he said. "They need to ration this stuff..."" Anyone lucky enough to be driving a car capable of running on pure biodiesel has got to be feeling pretty smug. For you lucky ones, we suggest not boasting
too much. Certain models have a way of going up on the list of those more frequently stolen. Maybe prying off that little "TDI" logo would be good idea as a security measure. Oops...forgot: the french-fry odor is a dead giveaway. Well, at least enjoy it with a smile. And play Willie for us....
Someone was paying attention when we posted earlier about the
challenge presented to Green Building in a hurricane zone. Or
like minds follow similar paths. Regardless, the
design-build project at Lunarcon looks promisingly cool. We have it direct from them that the building integrated solar panels for this home under construction will come with accordian-style hurricane covers. Apparently, they take a modular approach, with each "unit" (one is shown in this picture) containing stand-alone solar panels, circuits, and backup. [
Once the practical stuff is in-hand, let's hope some serious attention gets paid to appearance.] The modules can be linked together according to customers' space and layout needs. Lunarcon already has
drop in hurricane shelters for sale, as shown on their main page. These 'drop-ins' give "shelter in place" a whole new dimension: good for a family or group of up to six to take refuge in during a hurricane or tornado. The decorated ones shown indicate it would be possible to artfully integrate them into landscape designs.
Aftermarket opportunity here for creative TreeHuggers. If we lived in Florida we'd want the drop-in shelter with integrated SPV panels capable of
keeping the wine and cheese cooler going, plus lights and stuff.
Got to have some 12V fans too....
Woody Harrelson called it "the best ice cream I've ever tasted!" except it's not ice cream, it is a hemp-based frozen dessert that hits every treehugger button ever pressed: "Our Cool Hemp frozen dessert ingredients are certified organic, certified kosher, locally grown, and certified Fairly Traded (no child slave labour in the production of cocoa and sugar, and guaranteed fair prices for farmers)...Our home office on Morninglory community farm is solar-powered, with wood and solar heat, and we use only recycled or tree free hemp paper." Not to mention, " Hempseeds are one of earth's most nutritious foods and are nature's source of perfectly balanced Essential Fatty Acids (EFAs)." As soon as we find our Birkenstocks we are off to
the Big Carrot for a cone, and offer our condolences to Americans who would be arrested for eating this.
::Cool Hemp ...
As the wine trend continues to explode we’ve brought you a slew of articles that have ranged from topics such as
solar powered wineries, to
synthetic vs. organic corks, to the
wine barrel folding chair. We’ve even talked about
recycled wine glasses you can use to drink your organic wines from. Now we’d like to introduce Appellation Wines & Spirits, the first wine shop in New York City that focuses on selling organic/biodynamic/natural wines. Owner Scott Pactor (formerly the assistant wine director at Balthazar) opened his store in Chelsea last month with the belief that “winemaking is an expression of the winemaker and their land and passion.” He strongly promotes wine education and has a bookshelf stocked with books ranging from viticulture to cooking. Each night guests are invited to share a new bottle from Appellation's inventory from 5:30-7:30. Can’t find what you’re looking for? Pactor will specially order a bottle for you and arrange for a wine consultant to deliver and actually pour the wine for you and your guests. Á votre santè! Via
::Daily Candy ::Appellations Wine & Spirits...
Treehugger loves LED's and doesn't mind dressing up occasionally, so what better fit than a pair of LED cuff links for our closet full of french cuff shirts. These ones are two hundred bucks, but we are certain that our friends at :
:Make will have a 49 cent version from paper clips and spare parts within hours.(hey, I can never find my cufflinks and they work perfectly well)
::Icuffs via
::Cnet...
This is the first in a series of "Sustainable & Affordable" posts that will highlight products for the home that meet those criteria. This low-profile chair is handwoven by Indonesian artisans out of renewable, fast-growing seagrass and includes a tufted cushion with an unbleached cotton blend cover. The frame is made of locally harvested Mango Wood with a clear, water-based lacquer finish. Available for $199 from
Hanson Products...
Earthweave is a company that Tipster Alicia S. thought we should mention. Kara had previously provided a link to them in her
eco-tip on non-toxic flooring, but we’ll take the opportunity of Alicia’s prompt to provide a tad more detail. Like the recently noted
Furnature bedding, Earthweave’s Bio-Floor line is suitable for those suffering from multiple chemical sensitivity. Naturally pigmented wool, free from dyes, pesticides and stain protection is the uppermost layer. The wool is tufted onto a primary backing of cotton and hemp, the latter offering mould and mildew resistance, combined with strength. These layers are bound with a biodegradable natural latex-style adhesive, derived from rubber trees. The secondary backing is that durable plant fibre - dear old jute. All of which creates a flooring free of toxins, that is free to be composted, at the end of its useful life. Four different flavours on offer — we’ve pictured the 38 oz Pyrenees style.
::Earthweave...
So you’ve been reading Treehugger for while and reckon your eco-knowledge is pretty damn good, huh? Well, try these questions: Which insect gives birth to its children and grandchildren at the same time? In which US city do police inspect the garbage cans to make sure the trash has been sorted properly? Certain fish are capable of climbing trees: True or False? What was found inside a hailstone that fell in the state of Mississippi in the US in 1894 -- a bird, turtle or pair of scissors? Thanks to computers, the consumption of paper has dropped sharply in the US: True or False? In which country has 75% of the wet tropical rainforest been destroyed: Chile, Congo or Australia. Just some of the 900 mind boggling questions in the environmental board game, Bioviva. ...
Created for remote communities, the
SolarPedal is a pump and water filtration unit that works with solar energy or back-up pedal power (using a mechanism similar to a bike). The unit pumps more than 10,000 liters of water per day using the sun as its primary power source. This device can lift up to 300 gallons per hour from a depth of 40-45m that can be pumped through a filter, and directed into an 85-gallon non-corrosive pressure tank. An automatic chemical feeder is included that disinfects the water through an automatic chlorinator and filter (perhaps an ozonator would have been better). ::
Moving Water Industries via
RenewableEnergyAccess.Com...
FindSolar.Com is an impressive new web site that helps answer two important questions: (1)Where can I find solar for my home or business? (2)How much will it cost? By entering your state and county, you get a detailed break-down of the costs for a solar installation, based on 3,100 electric utility rates, county-level solar radiation data, and any available local, state and federal tax incentives. Another useful featured of the site is the "
Find a Solar Pro", which helps you locate a solar installer in your area. The types of installers include: solar electric (PV), solar domestic hot water and pool/spa heating. Nearly 400 solar energy system installers and other solar pros from around the country are currently listed, and hundreds more are expected to be added in the coming months. Overall, this is a great site with a lot of relevant information available for free. ::
FindSolar.Com via
Renewable Energy Access...
There is a "
Sustainable New York" event happening this weekend (October 8 and 9), as part of the
Open House Network program. You are invited to:
Learn about ancient and innovative methods of sustainable design in talks and tours around town. Visit the following sites that incorporate principles of "green" design.
Open House New York educates the public about New York City’s architectural, historic and urban development by providing access to innovative and inspiring spaces. ::
Open House Network...
One of the great environmental debates revolves around the effectiveness of the "technological fix" vs. the "social fix." Proponents of the former believe that technological ingenuity will not only help us recover from current environmental damage, but could also usher in a fully sustainable future. On the other hand, there are those that argue that policy and enforcement are the keys to repairing and protecting the environment and that technology just ups the ante
(consider Monsanto's "sustainable agriculture" for example). Clearly, as with all realistic solutions, it will take a multi-faceted approach (thus no "both" answer below), with that in mind;
...
Your Treehugger homework for this week (previous homeworks can be found
here and
here) will seem obvious, but looking at public roads, it is self-evident that it is not that obvious to most people (once again, common sense is not so common). So your task is - if you have a car - to follow the speed limit (particularly on the highway) and to
explain the benefits of doing so to friends and family (most don't realize just how big a difference it can make). The whole point is to trade time for gasoline. When you drive at 120kph/75mph, you are burning about 20% more fuel than at 100kph/60mph (and even more than 20% if you are in a particularly non-aerodynamic vehicle like a SUV). You are also travelling 20% slower, so it will take you a bit more time to reach your destination, but unless you are a doctor answering a life or death call, a few extra minutes are probably fairly easy to find and could make you save up to 1/5th on gas (which means up to 20% less CO2 and smog-forming emissions in the air).
Make sure that your tires are properly inflated for even more savings. Bonus: Nobody likes speeding tickets and high speed accidents....
In Australia, WTWD is 7 October. (
In the US it’s on April Fools day - nice choice!) The Pedestrian Council down here have several aims for promoting the day. These include: better physical, mental & social health, reduction in car-dependency, improved use of public transport (less traffic, improved air quality, plus reductions of unnecessary vehicle emissions and global warming. Of course they are not suggesting you you perambulate the whole way to work, if that is, like 15km away, but they do want you to leave the car at home and get some exercise. As they say “It took human beings a million years to learn how to walk and fi fty years to forget.“ Employers and councils are encouraged to support the event, as it benefits them also (for example, “work-place physical activity programs have been shown to greatly reduce sick leave and increase productivity”). For more info, stroll over to
::Walk To Work Day...
To all the designers out there – hey, this one’s for you! Metropolis is looking for students and professionals from all design disciplines who have been working for 10 years or less to take place in the 2006 Metropolis Next Generation Design Competition, which aims to kick-start an entrepreneurial project that will benefit people and the earth. The competition's grand-prize winner will receive $10,000 in cash and coverage in Metropolis and on metropolismag.com. All entries must be postmarked by December 15, 2005 (although for a late fee applications will be accepted until January 15, 2006). An application form can be found
here. (PDF file)
::Metropolis Magazine...
My friend Tim's explanation about his Prius trailer was: "I just couldn't see keeping my beater SUV with these high gas prices, so I traded her in on this classic Prius". Then he added: "With this little invention I can afford our 10th annual Elk Hunting trip". And, "I just hope my buddy with the El Primo Grand Escalade won't give me too hard of a time". I then told Tim that trailering was an old idea; that, before 1970, when most families had one car, a guy kept his trailer parked by the garage, hitchin' it up for a vacation or to haul wood. Tim could tell I was suspicious and he bleated "Duoooh" before admiting that he'd
bought the little trailer from "off the internet". We talked awhile. Tim admitted that he'd been suckered like everyone else before he'd traded in his old SUV and got the"
Peanut". ...
In the last few months we’ve seen a number of television shows that have jumped on the eco-trend like
“Trippin’”,
“Wife Swap” and
“Off the Grid.” Heck we were even pushing for all you TreeHuggers to vote for
Kipchoge on MTV. Back in September a new show aired called “Coolfuel Roadtrip.” We wish we brought this to you sooner, but not to worry because they are slated for 18 episodes this season (one per week) so you can still catch show host Shaun Murphy travel 16,000 miles around the United States, with his loyal dog Sparky, exploring a variety of non-fossil fuels. Murphy uses hot rocks, cow manure, garbage and vegetable oil to power the different modes of transportation that he uses to fly, float and drive around to 30 different states. This show is guaranteed to please every member of the family as Murphy encounters many eco-celebs along the way. Via
::Grist Magazine ::Coolfuel Roadtrip...
Lyra Dining Chair from Environmental Language
Environmental Language (el for short) is out to prove that furniture can be both elegant and environmentally sound. As their website states, their furniture "balances well-being with living well", and their goal is to make this furniture "that maintain(s) the the highest standards of environmental responsibility." Sounds like a tall order, but it looks as though they're doing it: their Lyra Dining Chair won the 2004
ASID Excellence in Design Award in Furnishings and looks pretty good to us.
Eco-Friendly Design Allows for Customization!
Their site says the chair is customizable; presumably you can pick your favorite wood and/or upholstery to build it with, and you'll have a good list to pick from. They've got an impressive list of eco-products and materials used in their furniture, starting with locally reclaimed wood, on down through FSC-certified,
palm wood and even bamboo (which we've seen from el
before). Their upholstery is also worth a note, as they use natural latex foam, organic cotton and non-toxic glues to hold it all together. All in all, it's good-looking stuff built with good materials.
More on this customizable modern dining chair ::Environmental Language...
Sometimes Treehugger posts are easy- this one almost ran us down last night. In Toronto, we have grey boxes, blue boxes and the new green boxes for compostable materials, which are a huge success at reducing the amount of garbage we export to our friends in Michigan. Unfortunately we also have a growing rat population and thousands of very smart racoons, who figured out how to open the green bins within a week. To deal with this, Zion Shraiter and Srul Levy developed an attractive cedar box to keep this all in order and keep out the dreaded racoons, and a neat looking trailer to deliver them. This is a terrific, entrepreneurial response to a big problem in our city, and they earn serious hugs.
::Bin Solutions ...
We have discussed connecting our
exercise machines up to the grid before; this machine does not quite do that, despite its Treehugger name- It is a giant joystick with enough resistance in it that you burn 400 calories an hour controlling your Playstation or Nintendo. If they live up to their name and convert calories to kilowatts and put them back into the PowerGrid it will be revolutionary.
::PowerGrid Fitness via
::Wall Street Journal...
Gerry Cooklin, CEO of
South Cone, a sustainable furniture manufacturer, is issuing a challenge to 50 raw materials suppliers, retailers, and other furniture manufacturers, urging environmentally and socially responsible business practices. He said recently: "I challenge the industry to stop destroying the environment and join me in developing cooperative, sustainable business practices that will meet the changing consumer demands for greater corporate responsibility." Cooklin is hoping to spur interest in the Sustainable Furniture Council (SFC), a new group of industry leaders aiming to raise the bar for corporate responsibility the furniture business. "This group will define the future of sustainable furniture manufacturing. We will model the practices that all manufacturers should be following," said Cooklin. South Cone claims to be the largest furniture maker in Peru — they are headquartered in Gardena, CA. ::
South Cone via
sustainablog...
Initial tests of diesel-hybrid utility trucks indicate that they may have a 40%-60% reduction in fuel. Apparently utility trucks get better fuel reduction than passenger cars because they have massive batteries on board. The tests were performed on prototype hybrid utility trucks being used in the WestStart’s Hybrid Truck Users Forum (HTUF) pilot program. The target requirement for the hybrids was a 50% reduction in fuel consumption. The drive system in the utility trucks is in a pre-transmission parallel hybrid configuration, with a 44-kW permanent magnet motor mounted directly in front of the transmission, behind engine and clutch. Li-ion batteries provide the energy store. :: Via
Green Car Congress...
Quooker is a device from the U.K. that produces boiling water via a tap in your kitchen sink. The tap produces regular cold water, until you "push and turn" to get boiling water instead. It does this by heating the water to 212°F (100°C) in a vacuum-insulated, thermos-like tank, and holding it until it is ready to be used. There are two Quooker models: an 800W one and a 1600W one. Here are some technical specs for the Quooker: the tank capacity is 3L, the standby power consumption is quoted as "10W", and the time to heat from cold water is either 10 minutes or 20 minutes, depending on the model. It also has an active carbon filter that needs to be replace every three years. ::
Quooker via
OhGizmo!...
This beach tote by Reef wins on two counts: it is made out of jute burlap instead of PVC, and it has a bamboo handle. The juxtaposition of bright oranges and pinks against the understated, natural hue of the jute is vivacious and appealing. Hemp would have been a better choice over jute though, since the tote may encounter wet, potentially mold-incuding conditions. I will also have to take umbrage with the manufacturers if the orange dyes are petroleum-based and laden with undesirable chemicals. Available from
Amazon ($28.00) or
Island Surf ($14.98)...
Tipster Zack J. noticed this over at Geek Technique (love the name) and thought fellow Treehuggers might get a jolt out of it. Read a blow-by-blow description, complete with copious photos, of how Mark in the Netherlands takes apart a windup LED torch and converts it into a hand charger for his iPod. Not for the mechanically faint of heart, but it does show what is possible with a little curiosity, harnessed to knowledge and a willingness to try. Seems 30 mins of winding will get you two bars of charge on the iPod’s battery icon.
::GeekTechnique...
Designtex recently announced that their award-winning Shades and Screens collection are now available through Nysan Shading Systems’ extensive national network of distributors. Nysan is a division of the Hunter Douglas Contract, a leading developer of high quality, commercially-grade hardware and fabric solar control systems. They designed the first PVC-fabric for roller shades and solar control systems and recently we wrote about their
woven wood shades. The new partnership with Dytex and their Shades and Screens collection strengthens Hunter Douglas Contract’s ability to respond to an increasing demand for sustainable shading solutions. The decorative textiles and seven new patterns in the collection are PVC-free, versatile and can be specified for their solar properties on windows or for interior applications such as privacy screens or interior space dividers. On windows, they work to keep sunlight out while still allowing a view to the outside. As screens, they can be used to define a workspace or create a sense of privacy. Thanks for the tip, Meg O.!
::Designtex ::Hunter Douglas...
OK, I’m embarrassed. Somehow we seem to have gone 14 months and more than 3,000 posts, without a single mention of Furnature. Once again just goes to show how much good stuff is out there. Here is a company with generations of furniture craftsmanship, who went green about 11 years ago. Not because it made dolphins or pandas smile, but as a result of one of their customers developing a compromised immune system, following pesticides being used in her house. Three years of research resulted in a line of furniture that restores health to people suffering Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS). And, watta ya know -- it turns out that making sofas, seats and beds this way happens to be good for the natural environment as well. Ain’t that amazing? ...
Singer Joss Stone lends a helping hand (and wrist) to
Greenpeace with her designer
wristband. Proceeds go to help Greenpeace and the
Brit Trust. Joss joined with Greenpeace at Glastonbury to call for Blair to stand up to climate criminals and take action against climate change. ...
While reading this morning's headlines- (
Wall Street Journal: Sales of SUV's fall sharply;
Boston Herald: SUV Sales Running out of Gas;
Globe and Mail: SUV sales Tank) we are reminded of Bob Lutz's comment made in April this year. No need to wonder why GM is in the shape it is...
::Treehugger April 2...
If you're still debating with yourself (or online) about whether the premium price for a hybrid makes sense, stick your head out the window and breath deeply. Smell that savings? Miles per gallon is only part of the payback. A big chunk of sustainability gold lies under that brown cloud a-brewing. If you live in Denver or Los Angeles or Phoenix, for example, the health risk of plain brown wrapper ICE propulsion is up front and personal....
Bioplastics have graced our pages here at TreeHugger a number of times before, with specific products like
disposable cutlery and
disposable bags, and more generally, with posts like
this one. There's even been one that you can get at the Museum of Modern Art, like this
spork. Australian company Plantic throws their hat into the ring with their "plastic" that looks as though is used mostly in an egg-carton-like configuration, to house fancy chocolates and other delicate treats. Unlike most of those listed above, after just a few seconds in water, Plantic will disperse before your eyes. While it's a neat trick, this makes for an interesting "problem" for them: it won't stand up to many common uses for plastic. The braintrust is developing a product durable enough to withstand the rigors of widespread use; in the meantime, Plantic products, made of about 90 percent corn starch, will disappear from the compost heap in about three months.
::Plantic via
::We Make Money Not Art...
Chicago has certainly turned our heads these days between the new
eco-friendly elementary school, the
“Down in the Dumps” tour and the
“Beyond the Trailer Park” exhibit at The Field Museum, it’s no wonder TreeHugger’s editor,
Dominic Muren, lives there. Here’s one more to add to the eco-list for Chicago: Suburban school buses are now using a blended fuel containing soybean oil. The Cook-Illinois Corporation was the first school bus service to make the switch which is all part of the “Illinois Clean Bus Program” developed and administered by Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich and the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency. The purpose of the program is to provide a healthier environment for children by reducing the emissions from diesel powered school buses and improve the air quality in local communities. So far it has reduced exhaust emissions by about 25%. Operating more than 1,400 school buses in 26 communities, Cook-Illinois is the largest bus fleet in the country to use the healthier alternative and environmentally-friendly fuel. Illinois is one of several states starting to make the school bus switch to
biodiesel fuel. Others include Maine, West Virginia, Nevada, Kentucky and New Jersey. Via
::PR Newswire More information
::Clean School Bus USA, EPA ::CleanSchoolBus.org...
The
American Public Transportation Association (APTA) reports that the ridership of public transportation has increased in the US. "Increased use of public transportation is the single most effective way to reduce America's energy consumption, and it does not require any new taxes, government mandates or regulations," said PTA president William W. Millar. "With today's growing concern about energy security, transit is emerging as a critical part of the solution."...
We recently found this online tool called
Tailpipe Tally, but we forgot where it was that we saw the link (probably
Triple Pundit). It was created by
Environmental Defense and it is fairly simple to operate: You pick the vehicles that you want to learn more about, and it will create a table with the relevant information so that you can compare. In the first column it gives you the combined EPA fuel economy and the tailpipe emission rating, and in the following 6 columns you get: Estimated yearly fuel consumption, estimated yearly cost (although it is not very realistic - they assume gasoline at less than $2/gallon), carbon dioxide emissions (CO2), carbon monoxide emissions (CO), nitrogen oxides emissions (NOx) and hydrocarbon emissions....
Argentinean and Brazilian designers Christian Ullmann and Tania De Paula run since 2000 Oficina Nomade: an office dedicated to the sustainable development of products involving crafts communities from small Brazilian towns; and promoting the recycling of industrial waste and the use of renewable and biodegradable resources.
Oficina Nomade is one to the most active organisms in São Paulo’s eco-design scene. Ullman and De Paula have coordinated several exhibitions on the subject, including
Fashion & Design, part of the Sesc Pompéia Amazônia Project 2002;
Amazônia: A path for the luxury industry and Villa Lobos shopping
Natural Village.
The two also coordinated the
Design section at the
1st São Paulo Certified Products Fair and at the moment they are directing the
Innovation and Design Crafts Nucleus of the Brazilian Micro and Little Enterprises Support Service (SEBRAE).
At the beginning of his career, Ullman was the Secretary of the Argentinean IndustrialDesigners Association and received recognitions in Italy, Brazil and Argentina for his designs. Because of his investigations with artisan communities, he received an Honorific Mention in the
Chico Mendes Award in 2003......
We who preach that less is more liked the article in the New York Times that discussed how more people are looking at the quality of what they buy rather than the size. They point out that with fuel prices rising, smaller and more efficient makes sense, and "plywood palazzos" thrown up with cheap materials are losing their appeal.
::New York Times (free subscription may be required) and be sure to watch the slide show....
Small cars go upscale: The rich person's small car has arrived in Canada. We've covered extensively the increasing popularity and availability of small cars in North-America (
here and
here), so it was no surprise to learn that Mercedes is bringing the relatively small B-Class lineup to Canada, and if history is any indication, it should appear in the US in the next few years. We're not quite sure how to rate the B-Class, though. Should we applaud Mercedes for taking a step in the right direction by downsizing (a move that could attract luxury car fans to smaller vehicles), or is it an "almost" car because the fuel economy isn't quite as good as it could be?...
A tome-sized book on the
Modern Japanese House is soon to be released by Phaidon Press. Green designers find inspiration in the economic use of space and materials in Japanese homes. This book showcases many modern Japanese designs, dividing them into five chapters: Tiny Houses, Inside/Outside, Multi-Generation Houses, Work/Play and Vacation Houses. Architects featured include such familiar figures as Kazuyo Sejima, Jun Aoki, Shigeru Ban, Hitoshi Abe and Shuhei Endo, as well as lesser known practitioners such as Nobuaki Furuya, Hiroshii Nakao, among others. Available for $47.25 from
Amazon....
Treehuggers often face internal struggles when it comes to making the greenest, most sustainable choices. One contemporary example is electronic media. With the near unlimited options for getting media on-line from sources like Netflix, Peerflix and iTunes, it seems that our local video and music stores might start suffering. We all want to shop locally and support our community, but what about that fact that the media itself is environmentally unfriendly? Being able to download any CD, DVD, or video game and play it on our computers affords us the ability to completely do away with the wasted paper, plastic and metal required to create that media in the first place. Everyone wants to do their part to support their community and sustainability, so what's a Treehugger to do? As always, we encourage comments below.
...
Previously, we
noted Ikea's entry into the building world with their affordable, prefab
BoKlok homes (which roughly translated means smart living). BoKlok homes are hugely successful in Scandinavia and are lauded for their flexible open-plan layout, high ceilings and large windows. Now there's news that Ikea will build up to 100 BoKlok homes in Glasgow as part of the area's renaissance. The Glasgow City Council chose a consortium, which includes Ikea, as preferred developer for the Drumchapel new neighbourhood project, which is hoped to transform the area. ::
The Herald...
In a similar light (dark and smokey?) to
Green Drinks and
Green Links now comes Beermatting. Instead of scribbling down ideas, to save the world, on back of envelopes, you can head to the pub. As the creative juices start to flow, in union with the alcoholic beverages, you can pen them on those cardboard mats used for soaking up spills. Hence Beermatting. Founder Duncan advises that Beermatting is both a “daily blog, dedicated to sharing innovative business ideas that improve our World.” and a “networking/brainstorming event, for like-minded ideas people in Edinburgh, Scotland.” We spied ideas for clean oil, ethical investing, developing-world micro-loans, and even cultivation of
Bog Myrtle (which seems to have almost as many benefical properties, as those claimed by fans of
hemp.) and a sun-heat powered water pump, to name but a few.
::Beermatting...
Bart Bettencort is known for his eco-effective design work with
Scrapile whose work we have
featured previously. Bettencort also releases designs under his own name, including this series of ottomans made of hemp and bamboo. You can contact Bettencort directly for information about purchasing. ::
Bart Bettencort via
Design*Sponge...
This fire starter, called the
Swedish FireSteel, was originally developed for the Swedish Department of Defense. By moving an attached metal blade across the FireSteel magnesium alloy rod, you create friction and a nearly 5500°F (3000°C) spark to ignite whatever flammable materials you have available (dry grass, leaves or paper). ...
Months ago we set out to interview someone from the original Toyota Prius design team. That was a tall order, given the time, distance, and language barrier that stood between us and the engineers who designed the Prius released in Japan in 1997, then the US in 2001. We wanted to document how this transformational technology evolved, to get a glimpse of the human side and the insights that led to the latest model. This interview with Ms. Mary Nickerson, Technical Marketing Manager for Toyota, begins in the period when Toyota engineering staff came from Japan to learn what US customers had to say about the 2001 Prius (above, facing right), and get their ideas for design improvements leading up to the 2006 model (below, facing left)....
Surfing is getting more TreeHugger all the time. TH-friendly
surfboards,
non-profits and now, t-shirts. Wave Hound makes t-shirts spun from bamboo yarn for surfer dudes and dudettes, and aren't shy about promoting them. According to their website, "Once you wear one of our Bamboo T-shirts you will never want to wear another 100% cotton T-shirt." How can they be so sure? Again, according to their website, "Bamboo clothing will never stick to your body or skin even on the hottest of days and will always make you feel extremely cool under any condition." They also claim to have better moisture absorbtion and ventilation than cotton shirts, which sounds like a pretty good deal for anyone interested in hanging ten.
::Wave Hound...
“
The Polycart is an original product, wild, needs to be tamed. Technologically very advanced, one of its main functions is to enrich our perception of daily life, opening technological prospects with unforeseen implications…The Polycart is an opportunity of escaping from the mediocrity, routine and laziness which are poisoning us.”
Wow - sounds impressive right? These are the powerful opening words on
The Polycart’s website which beg the question just what is the Polycart? Well at first glance, I have to say the slight disappointment after those great opening lines is that it’s a shopping trolley which is being marketed for use in large supermarkets. As dedicated Treehuggers we can’t really endorse rampant consumerism in large multinational superstores, but on the other hand it could be argued that if you are going to shop it might be better to use an environmentally friendly shopping cart....
Speak Shop is an online tutoring model that helps Guatemalan professionals to have better incomes while providing a comfortable platform to learn Spanish.
According to Cindy Cooper, co-founder, “the site was created to provide more job opportunities to impoverished but expert Spanish tutors in Guatemala and to harness videoconferencing as a tool for learning languages and for cross-cultural interaction”.
“It's a fair trade marketplace where tutors set their own rates and hours and students choose freely among the options of tutors, prices and schedules –she says-. Tutors also get free training from Speak Shop to learn how to market their services and teach online. This is the first website to put tutors in control of their livelihoods, and it is changing lives”, adds Cooper....
Now and
then, we mention that the ever superb WorldWatch has a brilliant article on something of pertinence. But it’s hard to know where to start with the current issue. Our favourite was the fascinating article on religion and consumption. It explores how in their early days many religious persuasions adhered to a notion of “no poverty, no affluence” and how this strong sense of adequate sufficiency has been eroded over time, replaced by a rampant consumptive drive. But the article describes several positive case studies on ways this could be turned around. The whole issue is packed with other eye opening stuff. How about 15% of 6-11 year old Americans being overweight, up from 4% in the 60’s (Bring back billy carts, I say). Not only is it people who have got fat, but also cities. US sewage now includes 3 billion lbs (1.4 billion kg) of restaurant grease. Which in turn has all sorts of consequences, “Sewer rats love sewer fat; high protein builds their sex drive”. On another tack, Inuit out on the hunt for their fat are getting into trouble, due to global warming, which is resulting in unpredictable pack ice and weather conditions. Reading the weather, once a dependable age-old human barometer, has become so dangerous that these masterful outdoorsmen are now ......
The last Excursion land-boat was made at Ford's Louisville plant on Friday September 30th, 2005 (two days ago). Ford says that stopping production of the beast (at 9200 lbs/4170 kilograms standard gross weight, it probably had its own gravity field, and you could drown someone in the 44 gallons/166 liters fuel tank) was a business decision: In 2000, they sold 50,000 Excursions, and since then, sales have stalled. The sales of Ford's three biggest SUVs (Excursion, Expedition and Explorer)
have fallen by more than 24% in the first three months of 2005 alone (and gas costs a lot more now than it did in early 2005, so without the summer discounts, it would have been a lot worse). Unfortunately, Ford isn't converting the Louisville plant to the production of small fuel-efficient vehicles; it will instead make Ford Super-Duty trucks (at least more utilitarian than big SUVs, but still). We can expect to see more stories about SUV mammoths bitting the dust in the near future. Finally.
::Ford halts production of gigantic Excursion SUV, Thanks to reader
Kavi Turnbull for the tip....
In the past year, more bicycles than cars have been sold in the US. That hasn't happened since the 1973 oil crisis! "Bicycle sales are near an all-time high with 19 million sold last year [worth five to six billion dollars] -- close to the 20 million sold during the oil embargo in the early 1970s," said Tim Blumenthal, executive director of
Bikes Belong, an association based in Boulder, Colorado. "Some 87 million people [in the US] have climbed on a bike in the past 12 months," he adds.
::Bicycle sales boom in US amid rising gas prices,
::Bikes Belong, thanks to reader
fishtoes2000 for the tip....
Kati is a 25 year-old caption editor living in LA with a passion for long books and short hikes through the canyons...
After reading our
Eco-Showerhead and
Bricor posts, an avid reader pointed out that the same
low-flow showerhead from Real Goods can be found on
eBay for $10 (total of $4.95 savings when shipping is included). You can also bid on the auction get a better price. Another reader pointed out that the
Aqua Helix showerhead probably has the lowest rate of any showerhead, at .5 GPM. One
retailer was selling this showerhead at $27 but not to the general public, so if you want this showerhead, you may be better off contacting the manufacturer
directly. ::
Aqua Helix...
Our old
leaf blower just doesn't cut it any more. The DR leaf and lawn vacuum will pick up and shred 3100 gallons of leaves before it needs emptying. Its 7Hp Briggs and Stratton 2 stroke will probably be as polluting and obnoxious as the old blower, but since you tow it behind a 14 Hp tractor you pack double the punch. Perfect for removing every leaf so that you can efficiently fertilize your lawn.
::DR Power via
::New York Times...
Every so often comes a
narrative that puts everything in glowing perspective. This link takes you to ideas with real design patina, and appreciation calls for digesting the whole of it. Wharton Escherick is definitely the roots man. The narrative's musings about popular rejection of "department store culture" should sound familiar, and, as such, Escherick surpasses Rachel Carson in importance to designers who work in wood. If you've not seen much of him, TreeHuggers, you should definitly take the time to
explore this in full. Pardon the graphic simplicity, as it's a volunteer operation. If interested in a pilgrimage, know that the Esherick museum / home (pictured below) is visited by appointment only, and has limited hours, overseen, as it is, by relatives or old friends. That old oak out my window looks ever the better for him....
Sshhh! Come over here. I'll tell you a secret if you promise: a) not to run right out and buy a new SUV and/or b) to pony up 3.6 million euro ($4.3M) for my perpetual motion machine. Always optimistic, we treehuggers are often at risk of being sucked in to believing crazy claims or at least subject to great disappointment when our radar for bull by-product goes to high alert. But could the technology be taking a step closer to reality? Making highly visible rounds through the German media is a new firm,
Alphakat (German only) and partner
Nanokat (German/English), claiming to achieve 23 euro cents per liter ($1.00 per gallon) production costs with a 500L/hour unit already on the ground. And for the little man: the company is setting up for small investors to buy shares of a fund to drive the technology to the market.
...
For those of you that thought this writer should be thrown out of Treehugger for our post on LED cufflinks, we contritely and apologetically offer Brightfeet LED lighted slippers. These have true environmental benefits, as you can save lots of energy by never turning on your lights; Put a Petzl on our head and these on our feet and we might just go off the grid. Weight sensors turn on the shoe when you step into them so you cannot leave them on; Powered by lithium batteries and only $ 39.95. If they recharged by spring-powered generators as you walked, they would be perfect. Not exactly Manolo pumps, but it will come. ::Bright Feet via ::Gizmodo...
The British Medical Journal says that the death rate is double for pedestrians hit by SUV's over those hit by regular cars- because they are so much higher, instead of being thrown into the relatively flexible hood, the internal organs take the brunt of the load. There are also additional dangers when they back up since rear visibility is so poor. They suggest that "vehicles should have warning notices advising potential purchasers of the increased risk of severe injuries and death to pedestrians associated with these vehicles" we might add, particularly while driver is talking on the celphone and eating ramen noodles. ::BMJ Online...
As the LOHAS market gains momentum, TV programmers are looking to cash in. We're doing our best to keep up with all the green-themed tv shows out there. MTV, who planted a green seed with Cameron Diaz and Trippin’ debuted The Diary of Angelina Jolie & Dr. Jeffrey Sachs in Africa last month. The Philly-based GreenTreks Network production’s Life on the Delaware is planning to air on PBS’s 349 stations this Fall. 50 Ways To Save The Planet hosted by Danny Seo has even been added to the Cable In The Classroom programming. All these networks are helping to bring much needed eco-awareness to the masses and the MTV productions are a good indication that it’s surely slipping into the mainstream. The thought puts a big grin on our Treehugger faces, but we know - this is just the beginning.
[by Karla Calderon]...
Sometimes Treehugger posts are easy- this one almost ran us down last night. In Toronto, we have grey boxes, blue boxes and the new green boxes for compostable materials, which are a huge success at reducing the amount of garbage we export to our friends in Michigan. Unfortunately we also have a growing rat population and thousands of very smart racoons, who figured out how to open the green bins within a week. To deal with this, Zion Shraiter and Srul Levy developed an attractive cedar box to keep this all in order and keep out the dreaded racoons, and a neat looking trailer to deliver them. This is a terrific, entrepreneurial response to a big problem in our city, and they earn serious hugs.::Bin Solutions ...
Solar powered hydrofoils are fine, but for $24.95 you can get the plans for a pedal powered hovercraft. What could be cooler than that? Works on water or ice, with or without sunlight. ::Universal Hovercraft via ::Red Ferret...
While reading this morning's headlines- (Wall Street Journal: Sales of SUV's fall sharply; Boston Herald: SUV Sales Running out of Gas; Globe and Mail: SUV sales Tank) we are reminded of Bob Lutz's comment made in April this year. No need to wonder why GM is in the shape it is...::Treehugger April 2...
We who preach that less is more liked the article in the New York Times that discussed how more people are looking at the quality of what they buy rather than the size. They point out that with fuel prices rising, smaller and more efficient makes sense, and "plywood palazzos" thrown up with cheap materials are losing their appeal. ::New York Times (free subscription may be required) and be sure to watch the slide show....
