- 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 November 27, 2005 - December 3, 2005
Total this week: 117
Blogging the 2005 Montreal Climate Conference
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 12. 3.05
Thanks to reader Summer Rayne Oakes for letting us know about It's Getting Hot in Here, a blog about the events surrounding the 2005 United Nations Conference on Climate Change in Montréal. The site contains log entries, photos and videos. Feel free to explore it to learn more about the events, both official and unofficial, and drop a line to its creators Michael and Chris. ::It's Getting Hot In Here, ::Today: Global March for the Climate, ::December 3rd: Global March For The Climate...
Today: Global March for the Climate
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 12. 3.05
According to estimates we've seen on the news, about 40,000 people marched in Montréal (in the cold) today in favor of stronger action on global warming. Similar demonstrations (but most smaller in scale) took place in at least 32 cities across the globe. We are curious to know how many of our readers were present at these marches and what they can tell us (in the comment section of this post) about their experience. ::December 3rd: Global March For The Climate...
Room For Thought: Essays by Avi Friedman
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 12. 3.05
When Peter Drucker died a few weeks ago, we thought about the number of times we tried and failed to finish his masterwork "Management: Tasks and Responsibilities" and yet how much we loved his essays in "Adventures of a Bystander" where he discusses people he met in his long remarkable life. We were reminded of this when we read Avi Friedman's collection of essays about urbanism. We own all of his other books but this is the one worth reading- These are wonderful stories about his life; about community; about reinventing cities; even one about prefab. It is a warm and accessible discussion about urbanism- when good writers get personal rather than academic the stories can be affecting and effective. ::Room For Thought- Can't find it in the States yet but you can order from Ballenford Books...
Some Assembly Required: Contemporary Prefab Houses
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 12. 3.05
When you visit the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis you can see a show on Andy Warhol, or you can take in a major exhibition of Modern Prefab that runs until March 26. (We don't know if you can see Geoffrey Warner's Wee House as Warhol might have painted it but we like it a lot.) There is a panel discussion and reception on Thursday, December 8. Frigid Minnesota seems to be a hotbed of modern prefab; Both Charlie Lazor of Flatpack House and Geoff Warner of the Wee House hail from there and are represented in the show. ::Walker Art Center...
CLEVER Car Milestone: Crash Test
by Christine Lepisto, Berlin on 12. 3.05
In Europe, where automobile producers have committed to reduce the CO2 emissions of their fleets from today's average of 200 grams/km to 140, this EU-wide project has been on the radar since the CLEVER press release in April 2004. Now, CLEVER--for Compact Low-Emission VEhicle for uRban transport--has passed its first big test. In a head-on crash test, the innovative three-wheeler demonstrated very satisfactory performance, similar to a normal small car. Side-crash tests are planned. Further novelties include a natural gas engine with fuel-cartridge concept so the car can be used where a NatGas network is not yet complete. And unique software will manage the roll in the one-wheel passenger compartment while the two-wheeled luggage and motor compartment keeps both wheels on the ground; this should ensure CLEVER is FUN (see image on next page)....
The TH Week: Made Of The Good Stuff
by Dominic Muren, Philadelphia, USA on 12. 2.05
This week in Treehugger, our writers dug up some great new products that shine with an especially green light because of the unique materials they are made of. Whether it's high tech, or historic, the material makes the difference here:
::Michael freed us from nicks and dings with Nissan's no-scratch paint discovery.
::Lloyd cleared our consciences with Kirsten Muenster's ethically mined jewelery.
::Justin pointed out these Smartycat organic cat toys
:: And Kara kept our toes toasty with these corn-based socks.
Remember, it's not just the products, but the materials that go into them that make them greenest. Until next week, keep on huggin'....
AladdinPower Hand Generator
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 12. 2.05
The AladdinPower hand generator promises to make dead cell phone batteries a thing of the past by putting the power of charging in your hands, literally. And it's not limited to just cell phones; AlladinPower claims that it will charge just about anything with a rechargeable battery, including (but certainly not limited to) CB radios, rescue lights, rechargeable CD players, radios, tape players, etc. Each unit includes an emergency light and car (cigarette lighter) connector. There isn't a list of compliant manufacturers, though the website says it "universally connects to most cellphones regardless of brand, make, model, or manufacturer." AladdinPower's big brother, the "E Stepcharger" is coming soon, but until then, it looks like the only downside might be a hand cramp. US $59.95. ::Aladdin Power...
MAKE Magazine Gift Guide
by Sean Fisher, Cincinnati, Ohio on 12. 2.05
While we were busy making our Holiday Gift Guides, our friends at MAKE Magazine were creating their own DIY wishlist. In MAKE's Mostly Under $100 Gift Guide there is a bunch of cool stuff for the DIY TreeHugger: screwdrivers, soldering equipment, and even a deal on MAKE Magazine subscriptions (just maybe stay away from the PVC pipe). Everything you need in order to upkeep and reuse instead of simply replace. While you are over there, be sure to check out the TreeHugger on MAKE weekly DIY round-up on.
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"Orange Contempo" Recycled Glass Tumblers
by Justin Thomas, Virginia on 12. 2.05
These tumblers are handmade from molten crystal. Three designers: Alonso, Michael and Orfeo craft these six orange cylinders in translucent recycled "art glass". Michael is Swiss, Orfeo is Italian-American and Alonso is Mexican. The set of six is priced at $69.95 from Novica. They also come in green and red. ...
Brief for George W. Bush on Climate Change
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 12. 2.05
Not for the humor impaired, this confidential brief (pdf format) to US president George W. Bush is filled with childish fun. The cover claims that it is by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), but that's surely just part of the spoof. Thanks to Dave Roberts at Grist for posting about it. ::Confidential Brief (pdf), via ::Gristmill Blog...
Recycled Aluminum Tic Tac Toe Game
by Justin Thomas, Virginia on 12. 2.05
It's small. It's metallic. It's recycled aluminum. It's a tic-tac-toe game on this eco-friendly board with fish and bear shaped pieces. The price is $9.95. :: Canadian Geographic
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Recycled Diamond Spigot Jug
by Justin Thomas, Virginia on 12. 2.05
This "Diamond Jug" is made in Italy, using recycled green glass. Notice the brass spigot for serving — pretty cool eh? I would definitely serve all kinds of organic punch (spiked with organic vodka) to my guests over the holidays with this number. It's priced at $69.99. :: Chef's Professional Equipment
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Black Bear Recycled Journal
by Justin Thomas, Virginia on 12. 2.05
This is a recycled paper journal with matching note cards. It has 140 blank pages, with 10 matching blank note cards and ivory envelopes. It's made is the U.S., and is priced at $19.95. Good effort all round. See also these black bear notecards. :: Crow's Nest Trading...
Europe On Course To Beat Kyoto Objectives
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 12. 2.05
The Kyoto Protocol required of the 15 European Union (EU) countries (at the time, now there are more) to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions to 8% below the level they were at in 1990. The EU said yesterday that the emissions of these 15 countries would be 9.3% lower than 1990 levels by 2010. In the meantime, Canada doesn't seem to have much of a plan to reduce emissions except to buy carbon credits and the US isn't doing much, if anything, on the federal level (some state and city initiatives are encouraging). ...
Push-Button House by Adam Kalkin
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 12. 2.05
Shipping container prefab houses certainly aren't anything new (we featured them some time ago, here) but the latest incarnation from architect/artist Adam Kalkin is pretty darn slick, so we had to mention it. The Push Button House is exactly that: it starts as a shipping container until a button is pushed, and it turns into a house. Motorized walls unfold like a flower, revealing a fully functional house, complete with refined, understated furnishings. Kalkin is unveiling the house (in more ways than one) at Art Basel Miami Beach, a renowned art show that started yesterday and runs through the weekend. Fitting that the house's debut is at an art show; Kalkin fancies himself a fusion of artist and architect: "I'm not into the container per se. It's what I can do with it emotionally; transforming a commodity into poetry." No word yet on pricing or production schedules; his Quik House will go into production next month and will be priced between US $150,000 and $175,000. ::Adam Kalkin via ::Future Feeder and ::New York Times...
Reader Needs Help: Reclaimed Wood in Toronto?
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 12. 2.05
Reader Michael Obadia asks the following question: "My business of designing and building custom shelving systems is going well. Except for one major detail: I no longer want to use new material for my projects. I live in Toronto, Canada and I am really trying to get a method for which I can purchase reclaimed plywood, lumber, or anything that can be used for shelving. Thank you all." You can write in the comments below or email Michael at (idea)((@))(sympatico)((.))(ca) (make sure to remove all the anti-spam parentheses)....
Recycled Orchid Vases
by Justin Thomas, Virginia on 12. 2.05
These elegant vases are blown using recycled glass. They are intended to hold a orchid or single flower. They are priced from $15 to $34. :: Aero...
Nissan: Paint that Fixes Itself When Scratched
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 12. 2.05
Nissan has developed paint that is much harder to scratch (okay, that's not too impressive) but that also can fix itself. It more or less regenerates. "'Scratch Guard Coat' contains a newly developed high elastic resin [...] a car’s scratched surface will return to its original state anywhere from one day to a week, depending on temperature and the depth of the scratch." Details are thin on the production and chemicals used, but if it is not worse than regular paint to produce, it could help reduce the number of touch ups and complete re-paintings due to all kinds of accidents, thus reduce paint use and the emission of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). We're filing it in the "almost" category, but it should probably go in "maybe" (if we had it). ::Nissan Official Press Release, ::Nissan creates car paint that repairs scratches automatically, ::Scratches no match for Nissan's new car paint, ::Nissan Develops World's First Clear Paint That Repairs Scratches On Car Surfaces, ::Jalopnik...
Instant Survey: Airplane Travel
by Erin Courtenay - Madison, WI on 12. 2.05
Kirsten Muenster Jewelery: made from Ethically Mined Materials
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 12. 2.05
Kirsten Muenster designs and produces eco-friendly jewellery out of "materials whose sources do not exploit slave labour nor support corrupt organizations." It is all custom made and one-of-a-kind, so don't wait too long before ordering....::Kirsten Muenster Jewelry Thanks, tipsters Harry and Michael...
A Crack in the Edge of the World
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 12. 2.05
In 1906 an earthquake was reputed to have destroyed San Francisco- others said a fire did it, yet others said that gratuitous use of dynamite to create firebreaks destroyed more than the actual earthquake; that only 500 people died or 3000 people died; the whole thing is a bundle of contradictions. Simon Winchester's new book looks at all of this and tries to make sense of it, but only one conclusion is clear: Real Estate developers rule and everyone's vested interest was best served by rebuilding as quickly as possible in the same place, (Daniel Burnham be damned!) and that the same thing is going to happen again. ::Amazon...
Sublime - First International Ethical Lifestyle Magazine
by Petz Scholtus, Barcelona, Spain on 12. 2.05
"If you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far go together" This is the mantra of Damian and Laura Santamaria who are the directors of a motivated group of people starting what they proudly describe as the First International Ethical Lifestyle magazine. Indeed the momentum for the launch of Sublime Magazine has been growing steadily and surely since March 2004. They have invested much time and energy into setting up the company and putting together a stellar international team of writers, photographers and other contributors. In the notoriously competitive world of magazine publishing where several new publications go under each year, the Sublime team have been meticulous in their market research and have been testing their new formula through an online magazine that was launched in December 2004. They describe Sublime as belonging ‘to a new breed of international independent magazines that are ready to express themselves and take risks to produce something inspirational for our times. It will stand out from other magazine publications and meet a need in the consumer marketplace by reflecting the light of beautiful people and beautiful things as well as truthful and authentic content, in an artistic and transparent way.’...
Elite Finger Puppets
by Justin Thomas, Virginia on 12. 2.05
Well, some of our readers thought the octopus toy we featured from Kenya was a bit too expensive. So here's something for $12, from the same group. These fingers puppets are also made of natural wool yarn, treated with natural vegetable-based dyes.
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Suruga Bamboo Basketware
by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 12. 2.05
Somehow ‘basketweaving’ became a term of derision for someone apparently lacking in testoterone. Which is, of course, highly unjustified. For during the Japanese Edo period of 1600 to 1868 it would seem that warriors were, in times of peace, the key basketweavers. It still takes great skill to craft baskets, such as these, known as Suruga, from the Shizuoka Bamboo Ware Cooperative Association. The Japanese government thinks the guys who can do pull it off are such accomplished artisans they’ve officially recognised them as ‘Master Craftsmen’. 50 people take their lead, to fashion these exquisite looking vessels from thin rounded bamboo canes. Up to 1,000 such splints (sensuji) can fill a space of 90 cm (~1yard). Have a peek at how they do it in the show-and-tell on the site. ::Suruga Bamboo Ware...
CitizenShift: Media Activism in Canada
by Justin Thomas, Virginia on 12. 1.05
CitizenShift is a Canadian web magazine that integrates written, audio and visual media and provides a space where filmmakers and citizens can debate social issues.
Currently, they are featuring a project called, Diversidad, a film (still in production) following 15 young activists calling themselves The Deconstructing Dinner Caravan left Vancouver on their bikes, headed for Cancun, Mexico and The World Trade Organization's 5th Ministerial Meeting. ...
David Suzuki Foundation Hosts "Too Hot To Handle"
by Erin Courtenay - Madison, WI on 12. 1.05
According to one of our readers, "Plus Rien" by Les Cowboys Fringants ranks as one of the best environmental pop songs of all time. TreeHuggers can catch it live at "Too Hot To Handle," the David Suzuki Foundation musical event taking place Monday December 5 in Montreal. Designed to add heart and levity to the UN Conference on Climate Change, the night will be a high energy affair featuring champions of environmental causes, Les Cowboys Fringants. Also on hand will be indie pop wavers, The Stills and international globetrotter and turntable virtuoso, Kid Koala. Canada’s renowned environmentalist and broadcaster, David Suzuki, will speak about the urgent need to address climate change. The night will also feature MCs Mitsou and Melissa Auf Der Maur as well as some special guests, including David’s daughter Severn Cullis-Suzuki....
Environmental Economics on Treehugger Gifts
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 12. 1.05
Tim Haab makes an interesting point in Environmental Economics comparing the prices of gifts on Treehugger to roughly comparable items at Toy's R Us. We point out that Treehugger has entire categories of Gifts under $25, Gifts under $15, and our new Holiday Gift Guide has lots to look at that is affordable. ::Treehugger Holiday Gift Guide
In any case, our octopus is much cuter....
"Weird Eco Habits" Contest Finalist: Tree-Friendly Fence
by Sean Fisher, Cincinnati, Ohio on 12. 1.05
When Marc needed to build a fence in his backyard through where a tree already existed, he didn't cut the tree down, he built around it. Nominated by Marc's workmate, Christian Gloddy, Marc's "weird" eco habit is building tiny "portholes" in his fence in order to save a tree from being cut down. There is one potential downfall to this plan, but Marc (and Christian) seem to be ready, "Yeah, he’ll probably have to revise the fence as the tree grows over time, but the results are pretty cool looking." See more pics at Christian's site, Obvious Diversions.
All this week, TreeHugger is highlighting finalists for our "Weird Eco Habits" contest sponsored by Greenloop. Make sure to vote for your favorite "weird" habit starting this Friday....
WWF and Celeb Chef Launch "Clean and Green"
by Erin Courtenay - Madison, WI on 12. 1.05
The World Wildlife Fund and British celebrity chef Antony Worrall Thompson have teamed up to launch a new line of eco-friendly cleaning products. The line, Clean and Green, uses plant-based ingredients sourced from sustainable agriculture. The WWF tested and certified the products with a set of stringent criteria that examined the environmental impact of the cleansers. There are currently seven products in the line, including an anti-bacterial all purpose cleaner, kitchen degreaser, stain remover, odor neutralizer & air freshener, anti-bacterial handwash and an anti-bacterial washing liquid. Clean and Green products are available from WWF’s online store....
Low-Fire Ceramic Basket Bowl
by Justin Thomas, Virginia on 12. 1.05
This Basket Bowl is designed by Amy Adams and Handmade by Perch! in Brooklyn, NY. The bowl is efficiently constructed using a low-fire ceramic technique and a non-toxic glaze. Nice blend of functionality and aesthetics. The price is $48. :: Branch...
GE Free fundraiser screening tonight!
by Ruben Anderson, Vancouver, BC on 12. 1.05
Heads up all TreeHuggers in Vancouver BC. The Future of Food is opening tonight at the Fifth Avenue Cinema, 2110 Burrard St. Proceeds go to the Coalition for a GE Free BC.
Here is the synopsis from the official website:
There is a revolution happening in the farm fields and on the dinner tables of America -- a revolution that is transforming the very nature of the food we eat....
December 3rd: Global March For The Climate
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 12. 1.05
On December 3rd (in two days), international demonstrations on climate change will take place. Plans for the demonstrations were made at the World Social Forum in January of last year and the goal was for them to coincide with the Montréal Climate Conference. "We intend synchronised demonstrations around the world - in as many places as possible - to press for urgent action on climate change and directed, in particular against the Bush administration in the US for its failure to ratify Kyoto. [...] These demonstrations demand that the USA and Australia ratify the Kyoto Protocol immediately, and that the entire world community move as rapidly as possible to a stronger emissions reductions treaty that will be both equitable and effective in stabilising 'greenhouse' gases and preventing dangerous climate change." Mark your calendars: Saturday, December 3rd. For more information: ::International Demonstrations on Climate Change, ::Global March for the Climate, ::Montreal: UN Climate Change Conference Opens Today, ::Montreal 2005: Kyoto Protocol Now has Some Teeth...
Sustainably Harvested Maple Animal Puzzle
by Justin Thomas, Virginia on 12. 1.05
This puzzle was designed by Aoi Huber Kono and made by Naef Spiele in Switzerland. It's made with sustainably harvested maple wood, non-toxic paints. Elephant, monkey, lion, owl, rabbit or bear—all of these animal's faces can be made with the 25 pieces of this puzzle. You can also create your own imaginary animals, such as a "lion-owl" or an "elephant-bear". Priced at $98. :: Branch...
Eco Eco Clothing
by Justin Thomas, Virginia on 12. 1.05
Eco Eco is a new online clothing store from the U.K. One of the items they have available is this striped organic cotton fleece for kids, complete with faux horse head. Priced at £31. :: Eco Eco...
Montreal 2005: Kyoto Protocol Now has Some Teeth
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 12. 1.05
Yesterday was a historic day. Despite Saudi Arabia's attempts to block the agreement, most of the rules first outlined in the Marrakech Accords of 2001 were approved in Montréal. What this means is that the Kyoto Protocol now has a "rule book" that spells out how emissions will be reported and verified, that gives industrial nations credit if they help developing countries produce clean energy and explains the parameters for emission trading. Another interesting development: China is urging the US to join Kyoto. "We really feel pity that the U.S. has not yet, and is not going to join the Kyoto Protocol, not only because of the size of its total emissions, but also because of its higher per capita emissions," said director of the Department of Treaty and Law at the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. ::Kyoto gets a rule book, ::China Urges U.S. to Join Kyoto Treaty, ::UN talks adopt Kyoto rules on global warming, ::Montreal: UN Climate Change Conference Opens Today...
"Weird Eco Habit" Contest Finalist: Eco BDSM?
by Sean Fisher, Cincinnati, Ohio on 12. 1.05
John T. Unger's entry to the "Weird Eco Habits" Contest starts out, "eco-bdsm is probably a weird way to save the planet." Weird? Well, yes - but that is why we had to make it a finalist. It is not every day we get to feature green design in BDSM gear. When John started, however, he did not fully intend on getting into the eco-BDSM business, "I came up with the idea as I was trying to think of new products that could be made from rubber tires and happened to talk to a furniture maker who was considering using his scrap wood for spanking paddles." ...
Restaurant of the Week: Slice, New York City
by Kara DiCamillo, Newport, Rhode Island on 12. 1.05
New York City is known for their pizza and we love every bite of it. When we found Slice we thought, “could this pizza actually be good for you?” Well, sorta, let’s just say better than the others. Slice serves up their pies with a different twist of healthy alternatives. Choose from three different crusts (honey whole wheat, unbleached herb and spelt) and cheeses (organic, rice or soy mozzarella), two meats (organic sausage and organic, free-range chicken) and a load of veggies. They also serve by the slice for those late afternoon (or late night) pizza hankerings. If you’re picking up, check out their cool space on the Upper East Side (we like the bamboo floors) and if you’re ordering for delivery, they’ll be coming on their bikes. Hmm…we’ll start off with the “Skilled” please (black olives, eggplant, sundried tomato pesto sauce, soy mozzarella cheese on herb crust) and why don’t you guys throw a vegan brownie in there too. Via ::Daily Candy ::Slice...
Hemp Baby Towel and Scrubby Set
by Justin Thomas, Virginia on 12. 1.05
Nice! This baby towel set is handmade by artisans — in Transylvania of all places. The towel is vintage boiled linen fabric consisting of 80% hemp and 20% cotton. The materials used in these linens were grown without pesticides on family farms, then harvested, processed and spun by hand. It comes with a matching "scrubby mitt" that fits over your hand. Apparently, the set comes attractively packaged, and tied together with natural cotton thread. It's priced is $24. :: Branch ...
Audi R8 Wins First Le Mans Enviro Prize
by Erin Courtenay - Madison, WI on 12. 1.05
It may not be a hybrid or run on biodiesel, but the super-fast Audi R8 received the first-ever environmental award from judges at France's prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans Car Race. The race, which dates back to 1923 is a world class event in which high end racers from around the world compete to test driver and car endurance. The "Trophée pour l’Ecologie" was granted to the R8 team car for lowest fuel consumption in relation to the vehicle’s weight and average speed and the lowest possible engine noise. Is NASCAR next? Now that would be something… Via PaddockTalk ...
Sierra Club Supports Mixed Use Development Projects
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 12. 1.05
Wall Street Journal recently reported that "The Sierra Club is well-known for trying to stop big real-estate-development projects. But in a move that could help it gain new allies, the nation's best-known environmental group is starting to go to bat for some builders". Lets make sure we understand this in context. A mixed use development is like a post-modern company town, with design elements that enable living, shopping, transit, working, and playing, all on a single site. The result, as they say, is "live, work, play" in one relatively high density place. Kind of like growing up in a small town with decent amenities: hopefully lots of green ones. The best in class mixed use developments offer links to mass transit, sometimes linking direct to regional bike and hike trails. Another common element is to start by reclaiming a chemically tainted "brownfield" site for which no other responsible parties exist. Now back to the story. ...
Biodegradable and Recycled Pens from Industries of the Blind
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 12. 1.05
Manufacturing ink pens is something that we always thought would take great dexterity and a discerning eye for detail, and, from the info on this site, it certainly appears this is true. That's why we were rather amazed to find these biodegradable pens made by a group called Industries of the Blind, who've been around since 1933 and support and enrich the lives of the blind and visually impaired by offering them meaningful work. That's right, they hire blind and visually impaired people, who, in turn, help them produce, pack and ship various office supplies! These biodegradable pens, made from corn starch, even have refills available, so you can use the polymer pen over and over again, just as long as you don't leave it out in the rain or in the sink or bathtub or something. They also feature pens made of recycled plastic (51 percent post-consumer recycled polypropelene in the barrel, 100 percent post-consumer recovered polypropylene in the cap) although they don't make refills for these just yet. Still, impressive products from an unlikely source; looks like you have to call or email for pricing and purchasing. ::Industries of the Blind...
No-Nonsense guides to Life, the Universe and Everything
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 12. 1.05
Eighty years ago one had to own "the five foot shelf of books"- The Harvard Classics. Content was 100% Dead White Males, but it had everything a Gentleman needed to have read to hold a conversation at the club or cocktail party. The 21st century version, needed to hold one's own at an antiglobalism rally, culture jam or Greendrinks party is probably the series of No-Nonsense guides from the New Internationalist Co-operative. ...
Interview: Don Schmitt on Sprawl
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 12. 1.05
Donald Schmitt is partner in one of Canada's most prominent architectural firms and has strong opinions on urbanism and sustainability. He was recently interviewed on a remarkable website, Raisethehammer.org, dedicated to the revitalization of Hamilton, Ontario. This town of half a million has all of the assets a great city needs: industry,topography, location and a stunning harbour, yet somehow lost its way. Ryan McGreal is trying to bring it back and doing amazing work through Raise the Hammer; Don Schmitt has added his wisdom in this interview where they discuss sprawl, Jane Jacobs and designing liveable cities. ::Raisethehammer.org...
Ralper — More Fair Trade, Organic Cotton T-shirts
by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 12. 1.05
Justin has been highlighting a bunch of Sustainable and Affordable products. This has to qualify. A women’s fitted Tee with cap sleeves. Made of organic cotton and certified Fair Trade via the British Association of Fairtrade shops. And currently just a weeny £6 ($10.50 USD). Ralper is a British company whose aim is “to provide clothing with the same quality and style you find on the high street... but clothing that is ethically made.” They hope to “develop into the brand that gave the fashionable dresser the ability to buy ethical clothes.” Printed and plain T-shirts for women, and indeed for men too. ::Ralper...
Aprilia Enjoy - Power Assisted Bicycle
by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 12. 1.05
Walking to my post office box the other week, I was pulled up short. There in the window of this unassuming store was a slick looking electric bicycle. Nah, couldn’t be. I know we write about them in TreeHugger, but to see one in real life, well, it’s sorta like a celebrity spotter getting a glimpse of Brad. Anyhow the Aprilia 'Enjoy' comes in two flavours. Racing (shown here) and City. The extruded aluminium frame and aluminium alloy wheels compensate somewhat for the weight of the Ni MeH battery. This can apparently be charged on-or-off the bike in 3.5 hours, for 40 km (25 miles) of travel. In bicycle mode you can click through the Shimano 6 speed "Mega-Range" gearing. And reviews suggest it works perfecto at assisting ones’ normal riding action. The Racing model hefts on the scales at 29 kg (64 lb), and $2,530 AUD. (Although Apirilia is an Italian motorbike company, so is no doubt available elsewhere.) ::Aprilia Australia....
Cloud Cult: Greening the Planet, One Record at a Time
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 12. 1.05
We've recently been enjoying the latest release from Minnesota-based band Cloud Cult, and reading about them in Gristmill a couple days ago reminded us that we'd been meaning to jot something down about their rather amazing story. Heralded by some as the indie release of the year, Advice from the Happy Hippopotamus is complex, thoughtful and earnest, tackling the enduring "what does it all mean" question with aplomb while managing not to be preachy. Really interesting music, but that's not half of it. Behind Cloud Cult's recent rise to popularity is founder Craig Minowa, who has a tremedously varied and interesting background; while in pursuit of a degree in Environmental Science, he earned money shining shoes, driving an ice cream truck, fixing toilets and dressing up as Barney the dinosaur at kids birthday parties. All the while, he volunteered for a variety of nonprofits ranging from Clean Water Action to Citizens for a Better Environment and Greenpeace. He established Clout Culd as a not-for-profit, music-centered environmental and philosophical movement. In tandem with the band's self-created record label, Earthology Records, Minowa is doing some exceptional things that'll make any TreeHugger smile. Here's a sampling of their good deeds:...
Pioneer Millworks: Wind Powered, Reclaimed Lumber Yard
by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 12. 1.05
“An environmentally responsible choice, our timbers also provide a sense of continuity and a historical link. The past is revealed in the timber’s patina, grain and signs of previous use.” And pioneer millworks also reckon that timber frame builders appreciate their reclaimed lumber for its low moisture content and dimensional stability. This would seem to be credible claim, because their sister company New Energy Works (NEW), as ‘coincidence’ would have it, is a timber framing business. Pioneer supply a wide variety of salvaged timber, which is often used for flooring. Tipster Mike B. seemed particularly taken with their Australian Jarrah, which looks like rainforest-grown mahogany. However, in this case, the Jarrah was rescued from old woollen mills and used in a bathroom cabinet. To be greener yet, both Pioneer and NEW buy all their electricity from wind generated sources. ::Pioneer Millworks...
Ironweed Progressive Film Club
by Kyeann Sayer, Nomad on 11.30.05
Today's chuckle: Wall Street Journal on Hybrids
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 11.30.05
In the op-ed section of the WSJ today Holman Jenkins does a fake letter from Toyota, but makes an interesting claim about what happens when you do something to save energy:
"Petroleum not consumed by Prius owners is not "saved". It does not stay in the ground. It is consumed by someone else. Greenhouse gases are still released." We find this concept very interesting, refreshing and exciting- we can drive our Hummer to a seafood restaurant and order Chilean Sea Bass or Bluefin Tuna , perhaps a little Beluga as an appetizer. After all if we do not eat it someone else with an oversized sense of entitlement will go for it, so it might as well be us! We will pass by the Salvation Army major collecting money for Katrina victims, after all, other people will give, and are there no workhouses? Ayn Rand herself would call this logic twisted. Someone please ask me why I keep reading this fishwrap....
Knit Octopus
by Justin Thomas, Virginia on 11.30.05
Our first product from Kenya! This Knit Octopus is handmade by artisans in rural Kenya. The octopus is created with natural wool yarn treated with natural vegetable-based dyes. It's filled with acrylic (ah well, natural stuffing would have been better). The price is $92. :: Branch...
Cocoa Modular Scarf
by Justin Thomas, Virginia on 11.30.05
This scarf is handmade by Galya Rosenfeld, who works out of San Francisco. It's made of reclaimed ultrasuede (scraps from the upholstery industry). Her pieces are individually crafted, often without the use of thread, patterns or other tools found in traditional tailoring. Galya's pieces have been accepted into the permanent collection of The Costume Institute at The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. This scarf is priced at $224. :: Branch...
Sway Stool by Daniel Michalik
by Justin Thomas, Virginia on 11.30.05
This stool is made of 100% cork, which is reclaimed waste material from the bottle stopper industry. The central column of the stool, located directly under the spine of the user, is flexible, solid cork while the rest is perforated. The result is a seat that flexes and pivots under the weight of the user, responding to the slightest body movement. The user’s muscles remain slightly engaged to maintain balance, improving posture and circulation. Because cork is 100% waterproof and impervious to rot and mold growth, this piece functions as well outdoors as it does in. Priced at $348. :: Branch via Better Living Through Design
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Green Media: Environmental News Network
by Karla Calderon on 11.30.05
As the Environmental News Network’s initials suggest, they can be likened to CNN of the environmental world. ENN is a comprehensive eco-news source that utilizes radio, video and online media to spread the good green word. For you blog addicts that are more accustomed to quick shots of info, they offer Ecobytes. It's a quick list of four different news sections that can be added to your active desktop. The site also lists a weekly summary of international environmental news in the form of a top ten with links to the in-depth articles....
Custom Wooden iPod Case by Peter Kinne
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 11.30.05
Here's a creative, unique way to keep your iPod from getting scratched, scraped and otherwise defaced that doesn't involve the usual ubiquitous, unsightly leather cases. Designer Peter Kinne has developed a handy wooden case that keeps your baby safe and looks good, too; we think it would go great with the iPod bed we just featured. Complete with a padded interior, data ports for charging, synching and listening, and a positive-lock closure to keep "your sensitive electronics from becoming road pizza," the wood is birch, the metal bits are reclaimed stainless steel from salvaged bikes, and there is talk of bamboo in the future. We like the clean, simple look of it, and they appear to be pretty sturdy; as his site says, "it won't stand up to a steamroller, but it'll help against the dings and dents of normal life." Peter also does laptop and CPU tower units as well, lending a natural sensibility to what can be sterile, unforgiving electronics. ::Peter Kinne Design...
The Sad State of our Construction Industry
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 11.30.05
After being so inspired by Bill McDonough, we descended into the bunker to see the Construct Canada trade show and see what is new and green, with a big promotion of products with an ecobuild label. What a depressing experience- little green balloons labelled "GREEN PRODUCT" over products like silicone caulk. Why is it green? "um, it saves energy". ICF's- basements made of stryrofoam and concrete- are called "eco-block". Granite- how is blasting stone out of the Canadian Shield even vaguely green? We needed a shower after all of the greenwashing. Enough of this fake Greenlabelling. Give us real green products and real third-party certification.::"Green" products at Construct Canada...
Aeroponics for the Holidays
by Justin Thomas, Virginia on 11.30.05
OK, so maybe you're not ready for hydroponics — perhaps "aeroponics" is more up your alley. With aeroponics, your plant's roots are suspended in air and are periodically sprayed with nutrients. That's pretty much it — but it works, and the plants do grow quite abundantly. To get started you could try this "Carefree Window Garden Kit". At the base of the kit is a growing trough and the top has five removable growing stations. There's an air pump included to bubble the hydroponic nutrients. To start you growing there are six kinds of seeds provided: three kinds of specialty lettuces, basil, oregano and cilantro. The seeds are started in the provided rockwool blocks. The price is $49.95....
Sustainability + Functionality with William McDonough
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 11.30.05
What a remarkable 15 minutes of oratory from William McDonough this morning at Construct Canada’s Round Table on Sustainability and Functionality. One cannot report on such a tour de force, but can only quote some of the zingers:
“Nicholas Pevsner said that a bicycle shed is a building; a cathedral is architecture. I am not interested in efficiency or sustainability for its own sake, it is not an end in itself.”
“LEED is a checklist for people who don’t want to think…you get points for using recycled carpet made from PVC. PVC leads to dioxin and should be banned, but you get points for it.”...
Amadana Bamboo Earphones by Real Fleet
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 11.30.05
Based in Tokyo, the Amadana design philosophy of Real Fleet is steeped in Japanese culture, history and sense of beauty. They aim to create "a tool to go back to the life of who you are, a device to carry around who you are" and have done so with this snazzy earphones. Made with bamboo, each pair is unique, functional and unusually beautiful; we find few earphones in which form so closely follows function. The ear hangers are movable, so each pair of earphones can be custom-fit to each pair of ears. They're careful to note, comically, that the earphones won't climb walls, listen to the voice in your heart, or help you crack a safe, but they do look good for listening to music; they even have a diagram picture (check it out after the jump). It doesn't look like they're available just yet outside of Japan, but can be yours for 12,000 yen if you happen to be in Tokyo. Thanks to Andrew for the tip! ::amadana earphones...
Organic SmartyKat Toys
by Justin Thomas, Virginia on 11.30.05
After reading our post on the Scratchy Box for cats, a reader tipped us off to WorldWise. This company makes a range of cat toys using recycled materials, organic catnip. We like the SmartyKat WildStreak Wand and the BungeeBuddy. Great use of recycled materials. The toys are designed so that the catnip can be refilled easily. :: WorldWise...
Hemp Dog Leash
by Justin Thomas, Virginia on 11.30.05
This dog leash is made with 100% hemp. The hemp indicates a high durability factor here. It's 6 feet long, and it has a bronze clasp that is made in Italy. The price is $20.83. :: Hemp Sisters...
Hydroponics for the Holidays
by Justin Thomas, Virginia on 11.30.05
Here's a gift for those who'd like to get started with hydroponics. The TurboGarden is a complete hydroponics system in a compact container. It has a 2' by 3' growing area, and a large 25 gallon nutrient reservoir which contains a mineral rich nutrient solution. Periodically, the nutrient solution is pumped up to the top grow tray to water and nourish the plants until the grow media and roots are adequately hydrated. ...
Toyota Awarded for Voluntary Hazardous Waste Reduction
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 11.30.05
We heartily agree with those who say that metrics for gaging a product's environmental merits have to encompass the "life cycle" view. At the most basic level this means, for example, that a very efficient car made in a wasteful process does not pass muster. Same for a low mileage vehicle made in a highly resource efficient plant. On balance, the "use phase" of the low mileage vehicle outweighs gains made by the efficient manufacturing process. So when we see a car maker win awards for both categories its a very positive sign. Even better when that car maker is one of the few with a sales growth and increased profitability. Who might we be talking of? Toyota of course. ...
Instant Survey: Do You Drive An SUV?
by Justin Thomas, Virginia on 11.30.05
Arguments Against GMOs (and Industrial Agriculture)
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 11.30.05
We know some people that are not very impressed by some of the most common arguments against genetically modified organisms (GMOs). Saying that we don't know what will happen once they are introduced in nature, that they could be invasive, disturb the food chain, that we're going against nature, etc. We're not saying they're not valid concerns, but it all seems a bit too speculative for some people. So as time went on, we've identified a couple of more pragmatic arguments that seem to get these people's attention and that are hard to argue against... These arguments do no apply to all kind of GMOs, of course (there are all kinds), but they do to some of the widely used kinds....
Discovery TV Wants You for Off the Grid Reality Show!
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 11.30.05
Burgeoning reality TV stars, take note! Discovery US is producing a new documentary series about families who choose to make the move from city living to wilderness life, and they want you! If you've got ambitious plans of self-sufficient living and dreams of going off the grid, in a remote part of the US, you have the ironic opportunity to have this experience filmed and produced for television. Ricochet Films, who have produced such reality show heavyweights as Supernanny USA and How Not to Decorate, is looking for anyone seriously considering such a move; if you or anyone you know is in the market, email homestead at ricochet dot co dot uk for more info....
Green Drinks Holiday Party in New York City
by Kara DiCamillo, Newport, Rhode Island on 11.30.05
Mark your calendars for December 13th because the Green Drinks Holiday Party in NYC will be an event you won’t want to miss. From 7:00pm-11:00pm chat and mingle with other people with the same environmental interests as you. The event will be co-hosted by several other green groups, including: o2NYC, Green Home NYC, AIA COTE, Green Ground Zero, Brooklyn Green Drinks and Green-Links. So put on those holiday clothes (organic, of course) and come to Sweet and Vicious at 5 Spring Street (between Elizabeth and Bowery) and don’t forget the $10 cover. Cheers! For more information ::Green-Links...
In Cars for Treehuggers, Less is Definitely More
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 11.30.05
Where we live, one must have their older cars tested for emissions to get the licence plates renewed. Our 16 year old Miata passed with flying colours- you could suck on this tailpipe for a week and not get a headache. Hybrid Ford Escapes and, dare we say, Prius's, are not necessarily the only answer- less is more, smaller cars use less fuel and produce less exhaust. When in LA last week we saw the Toyota Scion for the first time- boxy and cute but big inside. We suspect that it can carry anything a family needs. Good design is as important as sophisticated technology and a whole lot cheaper; We need more of it.::Scion...
"Weird Eco Habit" Contest Finalist: Battery Drop
by Sean Fisher, Cincinnati, Ohio on 11.30.05
Walking through the streets of New York city, Dave Schmetterer sees a lot of litter - and it drives him absolutely crazy. Realizing he does not have the time to rid the city of all of this litter, Dave focuses his efforts on picking up as much of one type of litter as possible: batteries. Dave has great reasoning for concentrating on battery collection, "For those who don't know, disposable batteries are made of materials which can be captured and reused, and are mostly stainless steel. An awful lots of good material to be tossing in the trash. Rechargables can be incredibly toxic, as are older batteries that contain mercury. They shouldn't come near a landfill."...
Fair Trade Ornaments at World of Good
by Kara DiCamillo, Newport, Rhode Island on 11.30.05
We love these handmade, Fair Trade ornaments at World of Good for our tree this year. Shown above are our favorites, “Hello, Gourdgeous,” handmade by artisans in Peru. They represent a 2,000-year-old tradition where artisans carved, etched and burned ancient stories and local news into gourds. Not only are they beautiful to have in your own home but also make great host/hostess gifts! $9.99 each. Thanks for the tip, Long Chan L.! ::World of Good...
Sustainable Architecture
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 11.30.05
If you really want an impressive coffee table, put this on it. Since starting with shrines in the 17th century, the Takenaka Corporation has grown into one of Japan's biggest builders. They have just finished their head office as a shrine to sustainability and A+U did a book on it: "We have strived to provide an easy-to-understand description of the three key themes of the design of the New Tokyo Main Office Building: the creation of a highly efficient and high-quality workplace; the reduction of environmental load; and the pursuit of cost-performance." Be the first on your block. Read more at ::Japan Architect and get it from ::Ballenford Books...
Upcycle Art — DIY Re-manufacturing
by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 11.30.05
It would appear that Upcycle Art should’ve entered our Weird Eco Habits contest, because the results of their work are certainly outside the normal realm. The term ‘upcycle’ was selected to indicate that material from a discarded product can be repurposed into a new product, without being ground-up in the vast industrial process that is recycling. The pic here shows a lamp made from soda bottles. But visit the site and you’ll also be treated to very comprehensive step-by-step instructions (with photos) on how to make garbage bag compactors, mini light sabres, wallets, CD cases and bracelets from the likes of milk cartons, film canisters, juice containers and soda can ring pulls. While at least one of the products probably creates more waste that it saves, the overall theme of site is to inspire us to see the value of materials in a product that has passed its prime. Includes a short treatise on what normally happens to packaging, with spelling that is a quirky as the upcycle products. Thanks to Tipster Dan W. ::Upcycle Art...
Goodbye Batteries Bike Lights
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 11.29.05
We have seen pedals with LED's built in, but we can't use them because we wear bike shoes that clip on to our pedals. This is the answer: Bike lights that connect to the axle and are charged by magnets connected to the spokes. How elegant and simple. ...
Recycled Poetry Magnets
by Justin Thomas, Virginia on 11.29.05
These are cool magnetic words tiles for the fridge made from recycled materials. They are a little larger than standard word magnet tiles, and use a hand-written style script (like the kit name in the photo). Words include standard conjunctions, pronouns, and prepositions, as well as special theme words including: believe, pretend, happy, sleep, school, years, sister, always, share, etc. Priced at $9.95. :: Funky Fridge
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Pet Pods
by Justin Thomas, Virginia on 11.29.05
This Pet Pod is a living accommodation for cats of all sizes or for small dogs. The dome is hand-sculpted from recycled, biodegradable newspaper pulp. Despite, being made from a paper byproduct, it is reportedly sturdy and durable. The walls range from 1" in thickness towards the base to 0.25" in thickness at the very top. Comes with a round cushion which can be removed for washing by lifting the dome. Priced at $275. :: Postmodern Pets...
Fat Cat Big Mama's Scratchy Box
by Justin Thomas, Virginia on 11.29.05
This scratching box is made of recycled cardboard, and infused with catnip. A good gift for a cat hugger? It also comes with a package of organic catnip by ZOOM!. The price is $6.99 or $9.99. :: Petsmart
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BP Plans to Invest $8 Billion In Renewable Energy
by Justin Thomas, Virginia on 11.29.05
BP, Europe's largest oil company, plans to double spending on alternative and renewable energy, creating a business unit that may generate about $6 billion a year in revenue within a decade. The company will invest $1.8 billion over the next three years on solar, wind, hydrogen, and carbon-sequestration, focusing on new technologies that can replace oil-and-gas-based generation, which accounts for more than 40 percent of man-made greenhouse gas emissions, the company said. See this analysis on Worldchanging by Joel Makower. :: Fuel Cell Today and The Guardian...
Efficient Australian Tree House
by Justin Thomas, Virginia on 11.29.05
The Sydney Morning Herald recently featured a tree house built by Andrea Wilson and with her husband, Rod Simpson. Their tree house has windows covered with two types of materials: one of sail cloth, the other of polycarbonate. When open, they provide not only views down to the jetty at Wollstonecraft, but plenty of natural ventilation.
Across the open-plan space on a diagonal, the kitchen area can also be opened up by removing individual panels of recycled corrugated polycarbonate, each one fastened in place with a primitive catch featuring long wooden rods.
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Hemp Throw Blanket by Ecolution
by Justin Thomas, Virginia on 11.29.05
It's a throw blanket from Ecolution made of nothing but hemp. I kid you not — this blanket is woven out of 100% organic Romanian hemp using the latest hemp processing techniques. They have hackling (fibre separation) methods and air-finishing to create a soft hemp, without resorting to chemicals. This blanket outlast most others. It's priced at $57.71. There's also a "deluxe" version available for $71.10 :: Fashion Vault...
Solar Powered Coffee Roaster
by Justin Thomas, Virginia on 11.29.05
Well we've covered news of a biodiesel-powered coffee roaster previously. But now there's word that two brothers — Mike and David Hartkop — have created a solar powered coffee roaster. Their solar roaster is a parabolic mirror array that focuses on a roasting drum and heats it to 600° F. The drum's motors are also solar powered. The roaster can crank out 7 pounds of coffee per hour when the sun is a shinin'. Solar Roast :: Solar Roast via Unplugged Living
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PLANK Bamboo Towel Set
by Justin Thomas, Virginia on 11.29.05
These bamboo fiber towel sets from Design Public are printed with inspirational phrase like "Bling Bling", "Me Me" and "Chocolate". It doesn't get much better than this. They are purportedly for use during a yoga session. They are made out of 75% organic bamboo fiber and 25% organic cotton fiber. Each set is $145. Also available is a matching bathrobe. :: Design Public...
"Weird Eco Habits" Contest Finalist: Urban Naturalization
by Sean Fisher, Cincinnati, Ohio on 11.29.05
Most TreeHuggers might not think what Terry Dube does is weird. The city inspectors where he lives, however, definitely did. You see, Terry's "weird" eco habit is his refusal to mow his lawn. For this, he had to stand up against local bylaws that deemed his lawn an "unkempt" property. Terry went to great lengths to make sure his lawn was more than just overgrown grass. By randomly planting "a few indigenous shrubs, small trees, grasses, flowers and other plants to give the tall grasses 'balance'," Terry has turned his lawn into a true habitat for native plants and animals. Terry's stand against unnecessarily manicured lawns also has the obvious benefits of saving energy - be it gasoline or manpower. After lobbying city hall, Terry's lawn is now no longer an "unmowed lawn", but rather a "natural space".
All this week, TreeHugger is highlighting finalists for our "Weird Eco Habits" contest sponsored by Greenloop. Make sure to vote for your favorite "weird" habit starting this Friday. ...
TreeHugger Holiday Gift Guide: Gift Baskets
by Kara DiCamillo, Newport, Rhode Island on 11.29.05
We think that giving a gift basket for the holidays is one of the best ideas. There’s a little bit of everything and it’s so much fun digging through to find what little item might be on the bottom. Here we’ve come up with four sites that package your gift so nicely that it’s going to be hard to open them.
A - Clear Remedies – Featuring gift baskets for just about everyone and you can also purchase a membership for an eco-friendly gift-of-the-month club.
B - Therapy in a Box – Their “Fair Trade Collection” includes recycled telephone wire baskets which are handmade by the Zulu people of South Africa.
C - The Groovy Mind – Your one stop shop for delicious fair-trade coffee and chocolate brings you the Literary Lunch basket - the $42.00 gift set includes a beautiful handmade tree-free journal.
D - Goods That Give – Not only are these gift baskets collected from high quality products (from gourmet food to kids) but the packaging peanuts are FDA approved organic cornstarch and water soluble. ...
Itronics Wins Enviro Award for Recycled Fertilizer
by Erin Courtenay - Madison, WI on 11.29.05
If you use synthetic fertilizers made from recycled chemical waste, are you still a TreeHugger? According to the judges for The Green Apple Environment Awards based in Northampton, UK the answer is a definite "yes." Itronics Inc., a firm that recycles used photochemicals into fertilizer products, is this year's recipient of The Green Apple's USA Gold Award. In recognizing Itronics the judges said, “More than 100 million gallons of potentially toxic photographic waste are generated by America’s laboratories, printers, copiers and X-ray machines each year. Dr. John Whitney set up Itronics not only to solve the problem but also to turn an environmental negative into a plus." Perhaps the days for non-digital image processing are numbered, but the creativity and ingenuity of projects like this will be forever valued. (The Green Apple Environment Awards is an annual, international campaign to recognize, reward and promote environmental best practice around the world.) Lime Network via ENS....
The TH Interview: Dr. John Todd
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 11.29.05
Dr. Todd is one of the pioneers in the emerging field of ecological design and engineering. He has degrees in agriculture, parasitology and tropical medicine and a doctorate in fisheries and ethology. He has received two honorary doctorates in science and engineering, respectively. He is currently a Research Professor in the School of Natural Resources and a Distinguished Lecturer at the University of Vermont. He is the Founder and President of Ocean Arks International, a non-profit research and education organization, and a Principal in John Todd Ecological Design Inc., an ecological design and engineering consulting firm.
CD: What is one thing that you want everyone to know about ecological design?
JT: Ecological design goes way beyond any other field of design. It taps deep into Nature’s operating instructions, some three-plus billion years of evolution of life itself, and out of the incredible legacy inherent in the living world, past and present, it provides a road map and a set of blueprints for the redesign of the infrastructures that sustain the human enterprise. I am talking about energy, fuels, food production, waste conversion, environmental repair and the design of buildings, towns, cities and even transportation systems. Ecological design is a radical new way of organizing knowledge and ecosystems to serve human needs without despoiling the planet....
Gallons Saved: Toyota Hybrid Marketing Billboard
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 11.29.05
Smart marketing from Toyota. This billboard, using some unknown math (but the exact number of gallons isn't as important as reminding people of the general idea of conservation and fuel efficiency), is showing the amount of gasoline saved by people who drive vehicles powered by the Toyota Hybrid Synergy Drive (HSD - the name of Toyota's hybrid system). Notice that no particular model is mentioned; it is the hybrid technology that is front and center....
First-ever analysis of green roofs’ ability to keep buildings warm in winter
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 11.29.05
A Univerity of Toronto Professor will be presenting his findings on the abilty of green or "living" roofs to offer energy benefits during the cold season. Appropriately, his poster session will debute at the Toronto Design Exchange, featured in the "Design for Cold" exhibition. Professor Brad Bass' work is a vital element of spreading Green Building concepts. Because Green Building designs were pioneered in warm temperate zones, work like this is essential not only to validate performance merits in different settings but also to avoid getting arrows in our backs. The specializing-in-climate-change-denial Think Tanks are doubtless ready to draw their bows at whichever high profile green building project can be first claimed as a "failure", blaming TreeHuggers for idealogical over-reach. ...
The Pause Bed with Built-In iPod Dock
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 11.29.05
New Zealand-based Design Mobel has designed a multi-tasking bed with a slick iPod dock and Bose sound-system built right in. The Pause Bed was conceived while pondering the notion of "rest," both when awake and asleep, considering how we choose to create our own personal space to rest and relax in. The result aims to challenge conventional notions of the bedroom and incorporates functionality that allows mood to guide both quiet time and play time.
Design Mobel's repertoire includes mattresses and other bedroom furniture, as well as latex pillows, which we recently featured here.
They also have a longstanding policy of planting a tree for every bed and furniture suite sold, which has resulted in the planting of more than 40,000 trees. Design Mobel is also recognized by the international environmental certification ISO 14001 for their sustainable business practices and the use of sustainable materials. Currently, their furniture is only available in Australia and New Zealand. ::Design Mobel via ::DigitalReviews.net
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41 to 66: Regional Responses to Sustainable Architecture in Canada
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 11.29.05
This exhibition at the Cambridge Galleries in Cambridge, Ontario does something that few books or shows on sustainable architecture do- it demonstrates regional diversity, that different climates and cultures deserve different responses. 41 degrees to 66 degrees is a lotta latitude, and the responses by great Canadian architects like KPMB, Erickson, the Patkaus and Busby are all worth seeing. On until January 15th. at ::Cambridge Galleries. Nice catalogue is available from ::Ballenford Books ...
DVD's to put under the Treehugger Tree
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 11.29.05
Many years ago we went to the University Theatre (now a Williams Sonoma and Pottery Barn) to see the ultimate environmental double bill- Road Warrior and Blade Runner, both demonstrating the dire consequences of environmental depredation. Movies (and theatres) have not been the same since, and we still cross the street for Australians (and replicants). Here is our shot at list of the Building with Straw
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 11.29.05
Frank Lloyd Wright once said that Doctors were lucky; they can bury their mistakes, whereas architects can only plant vines. Perhaps that is a virtue of straw bale; you can take a crappy building and feed it to the cows. It is a very green building material that has promise, but much of what we see is cutesy, vernacular, (dare we say)hippie back-to-the-earth and could use a good architect (or a hungry cow). That's why we like this new book by Gernot Minke and Friedemann Mahlke- in typical Birkhauser fashion it is thorough and professional. Part 1 covers the history and techology; Part II is a selection of straw bale houses from around the world- some ordinary looking but but most are interesting architecture worth space on the coffee or drafting table. There is even a straw bale dome! ::Amazon...
From the U.S. to Japan – Corn Socks
by Kara DiCamillo, Newport, Rhode Island on 11.29.05
We’ve seen many things here on TreeHugger that are made from corn such as place settings, tires and even an HP desktop printer, all because they are biodegradable. Now, U.S. hosiery manufacturers have come up with biodegradable socks. Similar to Salewa’s Jummy Shirt we featured last year, the new socks will be made from Ingeo, a corn-derived fiber. They are expected to cost about 20% more than socks made from cotton or wool and we think it’s worth it. But don’t get too excited because the corn socks will only be available in Japan because of “Japan’s environmental consciousness” according to the president of W.Y. Shugart & Sons, one of the U.S. hosiery makers involved in the manufacturing. Hmpf. Via ::Grist Magazine...
Ecoist Recycled Wrapper Handbags
by Kyeann Sayer, Nomad on 11.28.05
Instant Survey: The Best Environmental Pop Song
by Justin Thomas, Virginia on 11.28.05
Cyber Monday: Shop TreeHugger’s Holiday Gift Guide
by Kara DiCamillo, Newport, Rhode Island on 11.28.05
Today is the day they call “Cyber Monday.” Who “they” are exactly, we’re not really sure (the people that coined the term “Black Friday?”), but the New York Times reported last week that today is one of the largest shopping days of the year for online retailers. Millions of Americans were expected to return to work today and connect with their favorite stores online to start their holiday shopping. Last year, 77% of online retailers reported an increase in sales the Monday after Thanksgiving. For ideas, check out our Holiday Gift Guide and make sure you shop from some of our favorite “green” retailers. Via ::New York Times...
Bamboo Fiber Sheets
by Justin Thomas, Virginia on 11.28.05
Bamboo fiber has officially entered the mainstream. Bed, Bath and Beyond now offers these sheets made of 100% bamboo fiber with a thread count of 230. Bamboo is one of the softest fabrics in the world — softer than cotton but with a drape like silk. It comes from a rapidly renewable resource that doesn't require pesticides to grow. The sheet sets cost between $39-$99. :: Bed, Bath and Beyond...
Fuel Cell Bikes by Masterflex
by Justin Thomas, Virginia on 11.28.05
Masterflex, based in Germany, has received the first order for its fuel-cell powered electric bicycle. Masterflex will supply the first fleet of bicycles with fuel cell propulsion systems to the city of Herten in North Rhine Westphalia. The prototype for the fuel cell bicycle, which was first unveiled to the public in 2004, has been developed to production standard in less than a year. The bicycles, based on the Swizzbee 50c electric bike, use a Masterflex 250-watt PEM fuel cell fueled by 45 grams of hydrogen stored in a Hera metal hydride system to power a 250-watt electric motor. The bicycle has an electric range of up to 120 kilometers (75 miles), according to Masterflex. :: Masterflex via Green Car Congress...
BlockRocker.com: World-Wide Classifieds, Right in Your Backyard
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 11.28.05
BlockRocker is a brand-new site that allows users to search by location for items normally found in the classifieds section; it's like Craigslist with a world atlas. There's the usual suspects, like electronics and automobilies and sports gear, all searchable by location through an interface with Google Maps. It's a fast, easy way to see if anyone has what you're looking for, and when you search locally, there's no shipping to pay for and no waiting for your new toy. One highlight of the service is the Carpool/Ride Sharing category, though, which allows users to search through their normal stomping grounds to find someone else with similar places to go. We featured a similar service called NuRide not long ago, and BlockRocker presents a somewhat more user-friendly version because there is no signing up or logging in required; just search, and if you find what you're looking for, you're good to go. BlockRocker just went online last week, so we expect the network of available rides and other stuff to grow; keep checking back with them, or, better yet, be the first to offer something up to someone just down the street. ::BlockRocker
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The Green Renter: Understanding Recycling in NYC
by Justin Thomas, Virginia on 11.28.05
Solar One will be presenting a free presentation, entitled "The Green Renter: Understanding Recycling", on Tuesday, November 29th at 7pm in NYC. The presentation aims to dispel the confusion and misinformation that still lingers around the subject of recycling after all these years. If you are eager to know, once and for all, which bin to toss that irregularly shaped juice bottle into, or what the future might hold for recycling in NYC and elsewhere, or exactly how environmentally and economically beneficial the program really is at the end of the day, then join the Director of NYC Bureau of Waste Prevention Robert Lange for the skinny on this most familiar, though highly misunderstood, city program....
Relaxer Chair by Unique Arts
by Justin Thomas, Virginia on 11.28.05
This handcrafted Relaxer Chair by Unique Arts is made with FSC-certified timber such as Yellow Balau or Eucalyptus. Not only are these timbers harvested sustainably, they have good durability and are suitable for outdoor weather conditions. The price is $79 each. :: Overstock
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UJeans: Customized Jeans
by Justin Thomas, Virginia on 11.28.05
UJeans is a company that allows customers to design their own pair of jeans. You choose the individual elements that make up each pair: from pocket styles, rise, fit, legs and fly. UJeans uses 11 body measurements to make each pair. The company also uses eco-conscious manufacturing, dyeing and recycling techniques in creating their jeans. The cost per pair is $125 CAD (about $107 USD). :: UJeans...
Montreal: UN Climate Change Conference Opens Today
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 11.28.05
Today in Montréal the United Nations Climate Change Conference begins, and it will end on December 9th. This event will bring together more than 10,000 people including delegates, official observers from government, industry, business, the scientific community, and other non-governmental organisations (NGOs) interested in figuring out what to do for the post-Kyoto era (sometimes called "Kyoto 2" - it would be really weird to use the name "Montréal" the way we're using "Kyoto" now...). Up to 1,000 journalists from around the world will be there and many parallel events have been organized by all kinds of groups (any of them reading this, drop us a note in the comments or by email and we'll feature you if what you're doing is interesting). This thing will be big! Stay tuned this week for more, including the expected statement by the US that they aren't changing their position and that doing something about greenhouse gas emissions and efficiency is "bad for the economy". ::Official Montreal 2005 Conference Website...
Goodyear and Novamont Present BioTRED Tires
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 11.28.05
Tire giant Goodyear and Italian eco-bio-chemical firm Novamont have collaborated to produce bio-tires. Using their non-GMO corn starch called Mater Bi (which we've featured before, in this spork), Novamont produced an additive, or biofiller, which replaces part of the lampblack and silica normally contained in the tire mixture. Tires made with Novamont's additive reduces rolling resistance, noise and emissions while increasing fuel efficiency and reducing the energy needed in the production process. BioTRED was first introduced in Europe in 2001, and have been approved by both Ford and BMW to be used on their new cars, though information on availability and cost is very spotty. ::Novamont via ::Sustainable Practices...
GE's Profile, SmartDispense Dishwasher: A 4th Generation Reinvention.
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 11.28.05
Dishwashers made their big debut in US kitchens during the 1970's, just as 'environmentalism' became a major force. And they were well on their way to becoming an everyday appliance just as the first big oil price shock, a.k.a the "Arab Oil Embargo of 1973", hit. Those few of you who actually were around for that experience may recall a very noisy, relatively unreliable, cramped and ugly dishwasher wedged next to the sink. And we'll bet it consumed prodigious amounts of water, electricity, and cleaning products per load. Thirty five years later (a span of roughly three dishwasher design lives), we face a vastly more important world wide oil shock, while environmentalism, feminism, and the whole raft of related movements that began in the US during the 1970's, are relegated to the shadows of US public policy making, but getting attention in Europe and Asia. Dishwashers, not surprisingly, are the focus of significant new innovation that should apeal to TreeHuggers. With severe drought in it's 4th year in several Western US states, and lingering across the US Southeast and with the added burden of soaring electrical bills nationally, resource efficiency is back on the design stage. "Ladies and Gentlemen", as Ed Sullivan would have said back in the 1970's, 'Live on our Blog, [pause] TreeHugger presents a really big shoe. Please welcome GE's new SmartDispense technology, part of that "eco-imagination" thing'....
Sky Spy Spots Energy-Wasting Homes
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 11.28.05
British company BlueSky is helping improve energy efficiency in UK homes. They're using aerial thermal imaging to pinpoint areas and homes that are leaking too much energy. Local energy authorities can then use this information to help advise homeowners to improve their energy efficiency in accord with the mandated 30 percent increase in domestic efficiency by 2006. BlueSky combines aerial thermal imaging with digital mapping and geographical information systems to produce a thermographic map that indicates the properties emitting the most heat. BlueSky uses a modified military-use scanner mounted on the underside of a twin-engine aircraft to record the infrared images. ::BlueSky via ::We Make Money Not Art...
Cycle and Recycle Calendar
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 11.28.05
The International Bicycle Fund "is an independent, non-profit organization. Its primary purpose is to promote bicycle transportation." Each year they issue a calendar as a fund-raiser- "The 2006 edition conveys a bicycle culture without borders — from the streets of Buffalo, Philadelphia, Toronto, York & Beijing to remote, near mystical landscapes of Czech, Greece, the Netherlands, Uganda & Vietnam." We like their optimism- they date it 2006, 2017 and 2023- After almost getting the Door Prize yesterday we suspect we may not live that long. ::IBF Cycle and Recycle Calendar found at ::Grass Roots...
a little house of my own
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 11.28.05
If you liked Thoreau's cabin at Walden Pond, you will love Lester Walker's book, which includes photographs, furniture layouts, elevations, plans and the story behind "47 grand designs for 47 tiny houses". They run the gamut from Thomas Jefferson's honeymoon cottage, San Francisco earthquake refugee shacks (some of which are still inhabited)and George Bernard Shaw's writing hut to newer prefabs and recycled cabins. You just want to hug every one of them.::Amazon...
TreeHugger looking for Indian, African and Chinese Correspondents!
by TreeHugger on 11.28.05
We are looking for part-time writers in India, China and Africa (among others). Key skills are writing talent, keen eye for design, eco-knowledge and professionalism. If interested, please send 5 small images of things that you think would be good on TreeHugger, a one-liner as to why and a short backgrounder about yourself to graham at treehugger dot com. Thanks! ($100 to any of our esteemed readers if you make the hook-up!)...
Dutch scrap wood furniture – Piet Hein Eek
by Petz Scholtus, Barcelona, Spain on 11.28.05
We are loving this gorgeously tactile range of furniture from Dutch designer Piet Hein Eek. Made from reclaimed scrap wood they are made in short series in his small factory in the Netherlands. The furniture has a beautiful worn in aesthetic, like driftwood found on the beach, but this is matched with excellent craftsmanship so that the carpentry lifts the quality up several notches to make each piece a wonderful one off. He fully embraces the textures of recycled materials, but turns them into something decorative rather than scrappy. His approach is shown particularly well in a large scrap wood table where all the different bits of wood combine together create a patchwork quilt effect. Eek says of his work "Everyone is trying to make perfect furniture so I did the opposite, I made furniture that is imperfect. I like using materials that are worthless and acting as though they are precious." We must say however that while well crafted scrap wood furniture definitely becomes precious in the hands of Piet Hein Eek, it does not come cheaply and these pieces make particularly hefty investments. There are though some more affordable smaller pieces on offer such as bowls and mirrors. ::Piet Hein Eek
[Leonora & Petz]...
Ski Areas Citizens' Coalition Environmental Report Card
by Kyeann Sayer, Nomad on 11.27.05
MIO Culture Grid Wall Pocket
by Kyeann Sayer, Nomad on 11.27.05
Armour Sans Anguish
by Kyeann Sayer, Nomad on 11.27.05
RealClimate Looks at Latest Greenhouse Gas Data
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 11.27.05
Not long ago, we wrote about the new scientific research that shows that greenhouse gases are at their highest point in 650,000 years (with a strong progression in the past 50 years). Now, the scientists and climate experts at RealClimate have a post shining some light on the implications of the Antarctica findings, followed by a very interesting, and sometimes technical, discussion on the subject in the "comments" section. It will no doubt take a while to crunch all the new data and run new climate models, but this preliminary information is quite interesting and seems to confirm (once again) many theories....
Grass Roots Environmental Products
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 11.27.05
We just stumbled into Toronto's Grass Roots store and entered Treehugger Heaven- clothes, paper, hemp products, cleaning products, gifts, toys and more. Our product pick of the day: Picture frames from Treehugger postee Urban Tree Harvest. Two brick stores in Toronto and a very good click store at ::Grass Roots...
Lumberjacked: More to Trees than just Huggin'
by Christine Lepisto, Berlin on 11.27.05
Artist Dan Young offers a thought-provoking opportunity to test your wits against Mother Nature. He has developed video games, "Lumberjacked" and "Lumberjacked II", which allow a tree to be outfitted with digital sensors feeding to software which interprets the tree's natural movements into defensive moves against Jack the Lumberjack or Jackman (ala Pacman). To make the game a little more fair, it is best if you use a wild plant or open a window near your potted plant, otherwise the timescale of your opponent's natural movements put it at a real disadvantage. Now you can live out scenes from "Lord of the Rings" in human time. Dan Young is challenging man's relationship with nature at exhibitions, with videos and at his website Lumberjacked!
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Sustainable Design Contest for Students
by Justin Thomas, Virginia on 11.27.05
There's a student design contest running in Belgium called "Designing a Sustainable Future". The organizers say that entries should foster the sustainable mindset of design. They welcome all creative entries that combine high-quality design with a distinct contribution to the goal of sustainability. The works will be judged by the environmental, economical and social benefits throughout the life cycle of the proposed design. Submissions must arrive before the March 1st, 2006 deadline. :: Story via Core77
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Alpaca Wool Pillows
by Justin Thomas, Virginia on 11.27.05
At around $100 each, these pillows are an indulgence, but they do come from a sustainable source. The pillows are filled with 100% U.S. grown Alpaca Llama wool batting. The animals are hand shorn so they are not harmed. There's no chemicals or glues are used in the production of the batting. Reportedly, the pillows will last up to 10 years. Wool tends to wick moisture away from your body keeping you comfortable. :: Allergy Buyers Club...
Space: Japanese Design Solutions for Compact Living
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 11.27.05
Treehugger is obsessed with small spaces- when well designed, they reduce our footprint while letting us live comfortably in Treehugger style. We have previously covered Compact Houses- Architecture for the Environment and Compact Houses; Here is another very compact book.
Tiny apartments and houses are everywhere in Japan; many are awful. Photographer Michael Freeman finds the good ones, photographs them beautifully and ties them historically to precedents in tea houses and gardens. "Western ideals tend to be conservatively focused on accretion, which is to say, acquiring more....Yet smallness can be a quality to be enjoyed." Great for really small coffee tables. Buy it at ::Amazon...
- UK Charging Ahead with £30 Million Investment in EV Charging Stations
- Sadly, Compressed Air Cars are Inefficient Compared to Battery Electric Cars
- On a Wind and a Care. The Sail Transport Company Freight Food By Yacht
- So How Much Agricultural Land Will We Need to Keep Global Aviation Aloft with Biofuels?
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!
