- 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 May 28, 2006 - June 3, 2006
Total this week: 82
World Cup 2006 Green Goal Scores
by Christine Lepisto, Berlin on 06. 3.06
If you are a regular here at TreeHugger, you have already seen that the World Cup 2006 Football (Soccer) Championships will set a new standard in green. With the first matches less than a week away, the Football Frenzy is really taking off: and green is still in the game. On Friday, 26 May, German Football great Franz Beckenbauer joined in at the Olympic Stadium in Berlin to help further promote awareness of the environmental initiative behind the scenes of the 2006 World Cup. Among the many aspects of the Green Goal program, FIFA world cup tickets double as fare tickets for the public transit system--which goes hand-in-hand with the "Berlin Steigt Um" campaign here in Berlin (roughly translated "Berlin changes mode of transport"). And for the locals, postcards like the one above promote using a bicycle to reach one of several secure, free bike parking places to be set up near major event centers. The theme in this graphic--bikes will get you through the traffic--will ring true to many a Berliner. (The card reads "All roads closed/Free for bicycles"). ...
Japan Likes Green Lifestyles – China Next?
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 06. 3.06
From an Associated Press report we see evidence that Japanese consumers are adapting lifestyles like those TreeHugger embraces. “A U.S. lifestyle concept that combines consumerism with a bit of ecological conscience is proving a hit in shopping-crazy Japan, where workaholic "salarymen" are looking for quick fixes for stress and thinking green is becoming fashionable.” "...A Tokyo department store has a section for LOHAS goods . Magazines are singing the praises of the LOHAS lifestyle, including yoga, organic wine, aroma therapy and the option of bringing your own grocery bag”. Reportedly, “the idea is going mainstream in a much bigger way in Japan than in the U.S..”
Via: the Daily Camera .
...
Biopolymer Supply Chains To Reduce Toxic Exposures
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 06. 3.06
In response to Lloyd’s recent post on toxins in plastics, a commenter remarked “I too look forward to some solutions”. Challenge accepted; we’re all on the trail. Lloyd followed up right away with some good rules of thumb . Now here's what we're talking about. From the distance, closer by the day, comes the sound of the Biopolymer Calvalry, charging down the supply chain to offer biodegradable water bottles made of polylactic acid, a.k.a. “PLA” or “corn plastic”. Once the supply chain is set up with the right raw materials (PLA), the necessary tools (like Norland's blow molding equipment offerings to the bottling industry, shown below the fold), and consumer recognition, solutions will proliferate for many applications....
Perhaps We Are On the Wrong Bike
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 06. 3.06
Perhaps we don't really get it. We bike every day with our fancy Lake shoes on our clipless pedals on our Norco roadbike when we learn from ReadingToronto that we should realy be riding a fabulous Dutch bike from Jorg and Olif. We go on about how bikes are ignored and mistreated here, but we do not stately glide down the road, we are agressive and demand our space. Perhaps if we were on one of these land yachts of a bike we might think differently, and so might the drivers around us. We wish we could try one out this weekend at Lileo. ...
How To: Avoid Toxic Chemicals in Your House
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 06. 3.06
In the final article in the Globe and Mail's series on toxins in our midst, Martin Mittelstaedt looks at how we can live with less toxins in our homes. Barbara Harris tries to; she is part of a grass-roots effort to minimize exposure to chemicals and runs a website about it at www.lesstoxicguide.ca. This site is an extraordinary compilation of alternative products, with a home-made alternative in almost every category.
her main suggestions in the Globe article:
-get a PBDE free mattress- Barbara's is an expensive organic cotton model.
-use mild soaps, baking soda and vinegar.
-never microwave your food in a plastic container, always glass or porcelain.
-lose the teflon pans. (sorry John) and use cast iron or stainless steel.
-never buy stain resistant clothing. "Stains above Brains" says Barbara....
TH Week: For the Eco-Foodie
by Dominic Muren, Philadelphia, USA on 06. 2.06
This week in the Tree-huggosphere, our writers pulled together quite a few great posts on foods, food shopping, and novel uses for common foods. All Eco, and all rounded up for your Friday viewing pleasure.
:: Collin brought us Five Limes, a great site which brings together ratings of the full spectrum of sustainability in products.
:: Leonora found this British fish and chips house that is using it's used oil for power.
:: Warren found this even stranger bit of research which made fuel cells from bacteria and chocolate.
:: Lloyd helped all of us pick safer, more sustainable fish.
:: Kara advocated the use of lemons rather than sprays, as weed killer....
Sandcastles in the Sand, in Israel
by Karin Kloosterman, Tel Aviv on 06. 2.06
Unlike Americans and Canadians, Israelis are none too quick to start building with strawbale and adobe. I did meet a couple pioneers over the last 5 years who have built adobe homes: Lila, a German immigrant who lived near Arad in the Negev and Shai Gonorov, an eccentric Israeli living off the grid in Shaharut, down south. After the first winters' rain (it only rains in Israel in the winter), Lila's carefully-crafted kitchen melted into the desert sand and Shai, last I read, was giving workshops on mud. In fact, I helped him once conduct a workshop at a design school for girls in Beersheva. As for strawbale, one well-publicised building was raised in the Negev, to serve as a Bedouin medical clinic. And due to that, strawbale building, for a stint, seemed to get lots of press. Now...I don't hear much about it but there are most definately projects going on. I know of some Israelis (myself included) who have ventured to the States to meet Athena and Bill Stein (and their charming children) at the famous strawbale ranch in Canelo, Arizona (hi Benito, Oso and Kalin!)....
FiveLimes.com: A New Place to Shop Responsibly
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 06. 2.06
Though not quite live just yet, FiveLimes.com has designs to present a fresh twist on shopping. The idea is simple: "Help make this world a better place. Shop across thousands of merchants all selling the latest and greatest eco-friendly products & services." To entertain anyone who comes to their site before the launch, they do have a pretty slick little calculator that multiplies number of drivers by hybrid car carbon-dioxide and gas savings for some impressive numbers. For example, if 53,125 people were to go out and pick up a hybrid, 128,617 tons of CO2 would be saved each year, along with $38,037,836 in gas. They also have a blog to keep us updated on their pre-launch progress, and a way to sign up for their newsletter so you'll be among the first to know when they go live. Looks like a good idea, along the same lines as TH buddy Alonovo. We're waiting with baited breath...::FiveLimes via ::Hugg...
Most Huggable
by Jacob Gordon, Nashville, TN on 06. 2.06
Here's just a few of the most recent, most Huggable stories from our reader-generated sister site:
Modern eco-sensitive tent houses from architect Gabriel Poole…
More bioplastic (PLA) electronics from Sony (even the wrapping is corny)…
A plan in the U.K. that would let cars and trams share rubber roads…
Israel gets its own green building standard…
Hot organic jeans for the ladies from Del Forte…
Stay tuned to Hugg for the most recent reader-generated green news. Now fully searchable! We're steadily working out the kinks and getting more functions operational for your posting and Hugging pleasure....
Toshiba's Laptop Fuel Cell: Patience is a Virtue
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 06. 2.06
We've been waiting for a fuel cell-powered laptop for a long time, and there are lots of prototypes out there. There's the UltraCell, that works with most any laptop, plus model-specific designs from a couple of big electronics names; both Panasonic and IBM and Sanyo have one. While it seems that things are progressing and that the wait will soon be over, the latest news from Toshiba makes us thing we'll be paying taxes again before we can buy one of these puppies. To date, it's taken about four years to get the pieces of the fuel cell puzzle together; according to Tomoaki Arimura of Toshiba's Methanol Fuel Cell Group, Toshiba is working towards commercialization next year. There are still some bugs to work out: refilling the cells with methanol has proven tricky for some, and they can always be smaller and lighter. Here's to hoping we'll get our hands on one before TreeHugger is old and gray. ::BBC via ::Engadget...
TreeHugger Picks: Whole Foods In the News
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 06. 2.06
Whole Foods Market has met a mixed response here at TreeHugger, and while they aren't perfect, they sure have done some good things to foster the green marketplace and bring words and concepts like "organic" and "sustainable" to a segment of the world that is getting bigger every day. Here are some of the reasons we've featured Whole Foods to date.
1) In the past year or so, Whole Foods announced that they are reducing waste to zero and switched the trucks at its Midwest distribution center to run on B20 biodiesel.
2) Lately, they've been working to get the word out about their prices, in an attempt to change the perception that everything at Whole Foods is more expensive (it's not).
3) In a big effort to boost alternative energy as viable source of power, Whole Foods is 100% wind-powered in 2006 after purchasing credits equal to 100% of its projected energy use for 2006.
4) Perhaps partially as a result of this big splash, Whole Foods was near the top (#13, to be exact) of the Reader's Digest America's 100 Best, the list of the best things in America.
5) Not content to stick with groceries, last year Whole Foods opened a green lifestyle store in West Hollywood, and one of our readers went to check it out (verdict: a good start)....
Technical Question: How is the Website Working for You?
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 06. 2.06
We'd like to know what your experience with TreeHugger as a website is like. How fast does it load in your web browser? Does it sometimes not load properly and you have to reload (1% of the time? 10%?)? Is the loading speed fairly constant, or sometimes does it load fast (at certain hours of the day?) and sometimes slow? Any problems with certain web browsers (Internet Explorer, Firefox, Opera, Konqueror, etc) that don't happen with others? We've been working hard behind the scenes to keep the browsing experience enjoyable and transparent for you, but because of our massive growth in traffic in the past year, it has sometimes been hard to keep up. Right now, we're aware that the column on the right loads kind of slowly and we're working on it. Please let us know what your experience browsing TreeHugger has been like in the comments. Thank you....
The TH Field Trip: Seventh Generation, Burlington, Vermont
by Meaghan O'Neill, Newport, R.I. on 06. 2.06
The Seventh Generation gang, plus a couple of TreeHuggers, at the Bread and Puppet Museum in Glover, Vermont.
A few weeks ago, TreeHuggers Graham Hill, Nick Aster, and I stepped out of the airport into the damp Vermont air and into a maroon Toyota Prius that would chariot us to Seventh Generation HQ in Burlington, Vermont.
“I thought the Internet was dead until I saw you guys,” said Gregor Barnum, an ethicist, philosopher, and generally cool dude in charge of corporate responsibility at Seventh Gen. We knew we liked him right away. And that was before he and his cohort, Duke Stump, (a.ka. chief marketing officer—a title he dislikes—may we suggest “chief of shaking things up”?) whisked us off to Seventh Gen’s soon-to-be LEED Gold-certified offices, fed us a fantastic 100-mile dinner, and led us on a field trip to the amazing Bread and Puppet museum (check out the video).
During the next 24 hours, we were amply introduced into the world of Seventh Generation, the Vermont-based inventor, maker, and distributor of non-toxic and environmentally safe household products. (For more about household hazards, click here.) And I must say, it’s a world I would certainly like to live in. We toured their corporate facilities (a contemporary, open-plan, eco-sensitive space overlooking Lake Champlain), met several staffers (from mad scientists to marketing gurus to sales reps) and played in the green hills of Vermont.
Here’s what we learned: Seventh Generation is walking the walk. ...
SustainLane Releases 2006 Sustainable City Rankings
by Jeff McIntire-Strasburg, St. Louis, MO on 06. 2.06
SustainaLane released its 2006 sustainability rankings of the US' fifty largest cities, and the results show that a handful of American cities are positioning themselves as models of sustainable urban development. Portland, Oregon took top honors again, followed by San Francisco and Seattle -- no surprises there. Completing the top ten list were: 4. Philadelphia 5. Chicago 6. Oakland, Calif. 7. New York 8. Boston 9. Denver 10. Minneapolis.
Once we got past the top three, we began to do a little head-scratching. Top 10 cities Philadelphia and New York made another top 10 list this year: the top 10 most polluted cities as ranked by the American Lung Association. In the next tier, we found that Albuquerque, Tuscon, Phoenix and Los Angeles all made the top 25, and Las Vegas was close behind at #27. Given all of these cities' reputations for massive amounts of sprawl and water consumption, their placement seemed... well... interesting. Looking at SustainLane's very thorough overview of its methodology gave us a better sense of how and why some cities fared as well as they did....
Toxic Shock: Avoiding Dangerous Chemicals Around Us
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 06. 2.06
Environmental reporter Martin Mittelstaedt of the Globe and Mail completed a series that exposed to a larger audience many chemical concerns discussed and argued in TreeHugger. A Canadian federal government study looked at 4,000 common chemicals used for decades to determine if they needed additonal review. Most have been tested to see if they are acutely poisonous, but many haven't "been subjected to the kind of in-depth analyses that would determine whether they cause cancer, disrupt hormone functions, interfere with fetal development or accumulate in wildlife."The biggest concerns: ...
From Fryer to Tyre - British Chippie To Power Itself With Its Own Waste Oil
by Leonora Oppenheim, London, UK on 06. 2.06
Biofuel is a hot topic on TreeHugger and TreeHuggerTV, and the good news is that it’s not only happening stateside. We’ve had reports from, amongst others, Brazil, Australia, France, and today we have news from the UK about a great project being started by a chain of upmarket Fish and Chip bars. Sea Cow is owned by brothers Dan and Paul Rigby, they have opened three restaurants in London so far, but this summer they want to get out of town and on the road. In a similar vein to the McDonalds owner who powers his car with his own chip fat, the brothers Rigby have decided to make good use of all their waste oil from frying fishing and chips, by taking a van around this summer’s music festivals. 'They have invested in a Bioking Biodiesel processor which will produce enough 100% renewable, near-zero-emission fuel to run their existing company vehicles, and their new Sea Cow Van.' Apparently the three Sea Cow bars ‘produce so much surplus oil that Dan and Paul are planning to set up a separate company to sell on excess fuel to other likeminded local businesses hoping to do their bit to reduce their environmental impact.’ Freshly fried fish will be served this summer from the biofuel powered Sea Cow van at The Bestival on the Isle of Wight, Fruit Stock in Regents Park and The Summer Weekender at Demontfort Hall. via:Pinkfish ...
More Clippings: National Post's Green Issue
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 06. 2.06
the National Post is Canada's right-wing fishwrap founded by Conrad Black that politically makes the Wall Street Journal look like the Village Voice. (Don't even think about reading what it says about Kyoto!) It is also beautifully designed, mostly wonderfully written and edited, and often full of surprises. A recent surprise was the Home section, normally filled with monster homes and zillion dollar estates, but this week, green from top to bottom- "It is often said that we haven't inherited the Earth from our fathers, we're borrowing it from our children. Today, with a heightened awareness of environmental concerns, homebuilders are making a commitment to create cleaner, more energy-efficient homes. With today's issue, Post Homes is making a similar commitment to weekly coverage of the greening of the home-building industry." Knowing the industry well, we suspect the commitments are superficial but nonetheless there is some good reading here. ...
Wind Turbine for Buckingham Palace
by Bonnie Alter, London on 06. 2.06
Wind turbines across the land should be a much-embraced idea but instead the concept has run into great opposition from local residents who find them ugly and intrusive. Heritage groups complain that they destroy timeless countryside landscapes and vistas. In big cities they deface historic buildings. But a new redesign of the turbine has overcome this problem. The new “Quiet Revolution” turbine, noted earlier this year in Treehugger, is the first with three blades. It is 5 metres in length, and without a pole. Its helix shape and vertical axis will make it perform better in urban areas where wind direction can vary by the minute. This new design will make it almost silent, which will increase its appeal for urban locations. So much so that yesterday XC02, the company developing it, applied to Westminster city council for permission to fix a 6kW turbine on the facade of Buckingham Palace. In the daytime it would be a spinning "flagpole", but at night it could become a glowing union flag hovering over the palace. Watch for it on your next visit to London. :: Guardian...
Ralph Lauren Insulates Habitat for Humanity Homes
by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 06. 2.06
We’ve commented on UltraTouch Bonded Logic insulation before. But today they release a new product. A team of volunteers from the Polo Ralph Lauren Foundation are due to assist Habitat for Humanity install the insulation into a five storey South Bronx apartment (of eight affordable residential units) in New York City. What’s different about this exercise is that the insulation is recycled denim made from nearly 20,000 pairs of jeans. ...
Treehugger Welcomes: Alex Pasternack
by Alex Pasternack, New York, NY on 06. 1.06
TreeHugger-Friendly Furniture on CBS Early Show
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 06. 1.06
TreeHugger is all about bringing green to the mainstream, so we're glad to see when things like TreeHugger furniture gets some play in mainstream media. In the latest case, the CBS Early Show devoted a segment to chatting with Susanna Salk, House & Garden magazine's special projects editor, about how "the organic trend is making a mark on the world of furniture." After a quick primer in the definition of "organic" as it relates to furniture, and the benefits of going organic, a good-sized list of products are featured, including TH pal Vivavi. The segment works it's way around the house, from bedroom to living room to accessories and decorative items. Worth watching and reading. ::CBS News via ::Hugg...
TH Blog Love – Our Favourite Greens Of The Week
by Leonora Oppenheim, London, UK on 06. 1.06
Animal Broadcast Network: Carnival of the Green #29
‘Nancy Swift of The Aberdare Institute, Kenya East Africa, hosts this week's carnival. The Institute is located in the Frank Buck Zoological Preserve and dedicated to the welfare of endangered species through its programs of research and education.’
Grist: Eat the Press - An interview with foodie author Michael Pollan by David Roberts. ‘Michael Pollan has built a reputation as a sleuthing agro-journalist. In his writing for The New York Times Magazine and a quartet of books, he's trailed a steer from birth to dinner plate, traced America's obesity epidemic to corn subsidies, and narrowly, fumblingly outwitted a small-town cop who came uncomfortably close to his marijuana patch.’...
Spinning Across Israel for the Environment
by Karin Kloosterman, Tel Aviv on 06. 1.06
"Hey, what's the view like from your camel?," cyclists probably asked when they sped across the country on a mission for the environment. With some effort, and with a bike instead of a camel, one can cycle from Jerusalem in the center of the country to its most southern tip in Eilat. That's just what 125 cyclists did this month in the name of the environment at the Arava Institute Hazon Israel Ride. Their goal is to have the funds to train the next generation of environment ministers in the middle east and beyond, and of course, to make the world a greener place. ...
Reform Furniture at Vivavi
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 06. 1.06
Vivavi has a sleek new collection of furniture from Reform, and it's fabulous. The Frog Table (left) is made from a single sheet of 1/4" aluminum and created without any hardware or adhesives. The minimalist modern form is shared with the accompanying A1 Chair (center), and both are material efficient, 100% recyclable and suitable for both indoor and outdoor use. The Teocha Table (right) is made of bamboo, which helps soften the minimal metal aesthetic of the previous pieces. Finished with non-toxic, water-based adhesives, the table is based on the idea that two planes is better than one, and we'll have to agree. These three products are just a sampling of what Reform has up their sleeves, though it's all based on the same ethos. They require that all product materials be biodegradable and/or fit within a continuous cycle of use. The post-consumer path of its products is designed to stay out of landfills and incinerators. that business can be a platform for positive change is accompanied by a strong commitment to local economies and building a network of likeminded individuals and businesses. Reform also advocates pricing that makes transparent the true cost of a product, without any hidden fees billed to society and the environment. Take a look at the entire collection. ::Vivavi...
TreeHugger Welcomes the 2006 Interns
by Treehugger Interns on 06. 1.06
GE Executive Jeff Immelt: On The Details Of Ecomagination Progress
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 06. 1.06
GE’s CEO Jeff Immelt has published an interesting piece in this week’s Barron’s . We strongly recommend it because it so well illustrates the precarious fulcrum that the future of society, of our environment, and our manufacturing economy balance upon. More about that idea after a few highlights from the Barron’s article. “Ecomagination was designed to develop new technologies to meet customers' needs in an increasingly energy- and carbon-constrained world. It came from our belief that we can support our customers and make money doing it. We said green can be green, and we are proving it”. More after the fold:...
San Francisco's Green Real Estate Firm
by Jeff McIntire-Strasburg, St. Louis, MO on 06. 1.06
Many of us who are passionate about sustainability and environmental restoration would love to live our values by purchasing a green home. Fortunately, the availability of green housing in the US is on the rise, but we may have trouble finding a real estate agent who "gets it" as well as we Treehuggers do. In San Francisco, though, where many things cool and green seem to germinate, home buyers now have the option of working with a Realtor that focuses on "incorporating environmentally responsible and socially just principles and practices into all aspects of our business": Green Key Real Estate. Chris Bartle, founder of green business brokerage The Evergreen Group, started Green Key to empower green-minded home buyers, and connect them with service providers and products that share these consumers' values. “San Franciscans have always been concerned about how their lives align with core values of sustainability,” said Bartle. “From food to transportation to investing, they’re choosing products and services that both meet their needs and fit with their green agendas. Selecting a real estate firm that conducts its operations in an environmentally and socially responsible manner is a logical extension of these values."...
In the Media this Week: Global Warming
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 06. 1.06
This week National Geographic informed us about experimental field trials done at Duke University. The research indicates that Poison Ivy becomes nastier with increased atmospheric carbon dioxide. Better not go in the woods today or you’re in for a big surprise; and, don’t set the Lacrosse stick down in the weeds. That's the bad news. The good news is that Big Al was nominated as best crossover artist, making him the first politician recognized for his potential to become a movie star. Academy insiders say it was "the incredible Reverse-Reagan” move that got their attention. We think it was more about the passion thing. ...
Herman Miller's Leaf LED Light by Yves Behar
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 06. 1.06
When we toured the Leaf Light booth at ICFF we were less than dazzled, we thought the lamp looked cheap and inelegant. We did like the way one controlled the light and could vary its intensity and colour temperature, and would have posted about it again (Collin covered it here) had we not been put off again by its useless flash-abusive website. However after seeing the design blogosphere go gaga over it, and loving LED's as we do, we thought we would point you to said ::Herman Miller Leaf website , ::MocoLoco, and coverage in ::Metropolis. You decide. ...
First Eco-Hostels in the UK
by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 06. 1.06
The first eco-hostels in the UK opened last year, after a retrofit that saw one gain the usual core eco-attributes of photovoltaic roof panels, rainwater harvesting for toilet flushing, plus a wool insulation. But it also picked up a green roof, compost toilet and organic paint. Such changes to the hostel have enabled it to reduce water use by 30% and CO2 emissions by 40%. Now the hostel, in Lockton, Yorkshire, has just been awarded the European EcoLabel for meeting strict environment criteria such as energy efficiency and staff training. A sister winner is the Langdon Beck hostel that has done even better with a 75% cut in carbon dioxide emissions and 50% of all waste is being recycled. This is achieved via solar hot water heaters and a 2.5 kilowatt wind turbine. The British Youth Hostel Association (YHA), who spent £250,000 renovating the abodes, supported with European LEADER+ funding, are developing a network of eco-tourism habitats they are calling ‘Green Beacon’. Via The::Yorkshire Today....
How to: Choose your Fish Wisely
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 06. 1.06
We covered this here and Tim covered it here well over a year ago, but the New York Times just covered the waterfront again, discussing what fish you can eat without worrying, except about those who will comment that we should not eat any fish at all. For those who do, the worry is about whether the fish is caught sustainably, and health- whether is is contaminated with toxins like mercury and PCB's. Chilean Sea Bass comes off as an eco-worst; Mackerel, which a couple of decades ago nobody touched, is now an acceptable delicacy. The Times refers to the great sites at the Monterey Aquarium and Oceans Alive, but prepares their own list, available below the fold. ::New York Times...
Sweet! The Chocolate-Powered Hydrogen Fuel Cell
by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 06. 1.06
It’s getting harder to stay on top of all this. Just as news of the reality of climate crisis appears to be arriving daily, so too are stories of alternative energy breakthroughs. This one should put a smile on any face. Researchers at the UK’s University of Birmingham fed Escherichia coli bacteria a feast of waste caramel and nougat from chocolate giant Cadbury Schweppes. The bacteria subsequently burped out hydrogen gas, which was harnessed via a fuel cell to power an electric fan. Of course it was slightly more complicated than that, but you get the picture. Professor Lynne Macaskie, who led the research team said, “Although only at its initial stages, we’ve demonstrated a hydrogen-producing, waste-reducing technology that, for example, might be scaled-up in 5-10 years’ time for industrial electricity generation and waste treatment processes.” Can imagine we’ll soon hear of bacteria organising unions to negotiate working conditions, as the reports also indicate they were put to additional work recovering the metal palladium from spent catalytic converters from old cars. (A riveting, thrill-a-minute movie of the fuel cell in action can be seen here.) ::University of Birmingham, via ::ABC Online....
A New US Holiday: Dependence Day
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 05.31.06
Environmental Action is launching the "Dependence Day" campaign. "On a proportional basis, the U.S. has effectively run out of domestic oil for the year and will be forced to rely completely on foreign imports for the rest of the year. For seven months straight—every time we fill up our cars and trucks, we'll be sending our money directly overseas. In 2006, we'll spend some $230 billion on foreign oil—nearly $450,000 every minute." Check out their flashy (literally, flash is required) new website ::Dependence Day, read the ::Declaration of Energy Independence and ::sign it to show support. Via ::Grist...
Cafe au LED: A Rechargeable and Cordless Lamp From Japan
by Justin Thomas, Virginia on 05.31.06
Called the "Cafe au LED", this curious LED lamp from Japan comes in the shape of a coffee cup. Designed by Ryuichi Abe, it can be set to flicker like a candle — just like the Candela LED lamps we featured previously. This lamp is made with glass and steel, and runs for 11 hours on a single charge. You can read more about the lamp on this page (translated from Japanese).
Via: Hugg...
Google's First Mashup Is Green
by Justin Thomas, Virginia on 05.31.06
Google has launched its first mashup — a map-based Web site with information about earth-friendly locations in five of the U.S.'s top travel destinations.
The site, at maps.google.com/green, features information on and video tours of spots in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, New York and Orlando, Florida., as well as tips for "traveling green" during the summer using Google Maps.
...
TreeHugger Picks: Wave and Tidal Power
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 05.31.06
TreeHugger covers a lot of bases when it comes to alternative energy; solar, wind, biogas, hydrogen and the list goes on. One of our favorite up and coming forms of alternative energy is wave and tidal power. Check out our picks for diving in to the world of wave power.
1) Get started with a primer on the different version of the technology.
2) Germany has plans for a pilot plant targeted to power about 120 households.
3) Wave and tidal power could supply 20% of the UK's needs; Scotland wants to provide 10% of it's energy needs by 2010 with wave energy.
4) The power of the tide is coming to New York as well, with six tide-powered turbines planned for the East River this summer.
5) GE sees enough potential in wave power to invest some big bucks in it. No matter how you slice it, waves aren't just for surfing any more....
TreeHuggerTV - TH News Gets Hot With Brad Pitt, Al Gore and Prince
by Leonora Oppenheim, London, UK on 05.31.06
Honda's Green Gifts Include CO2 Offsets
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 05.31.06
World Environment Day is coming (mark your calendars for June 5) and to support it this year, Honda will be giving away a green gift with each of their cars sold in June. The gift pack will include a carbon emission offset certificate for the month, with an option to extend it beyond June, and will also contain a box of organic Green and Black's chocolates, a 'Greener Driver' car bumper sticker and a booklet on tips to help reduce environmental impact. That's right; the driving logged by each new Honda in June will be made climate neutral, and while we aren't huge fans of buying whole new cars, if you're going to do it, might as well take it easy on the planet. ::New Car Net via ::Hugg (site in Beta)...
Shalom, Salaam and eco-Peace from the Middle East
by Karin Kloosterman, Tel Aviv on 05.31.06
It's a bit sad that environmental awareness in the middle east is years behind that of Europe and the US. But then again, have you ever tried hugging an olive tree or cactus? Although it may be an adventure, being ecologically aware in Israel is not always so simple. National security and defense most often takes precedence over cleaning up a river; a good chunk of the society is focusing on survival (not yoga classes and organic farming!); and the social barriers between Israeli Arabs and Jews make it hard for communities to band together and demand certain basic rights from industry and the government. Environmentalism in Israel is lagging about 15 years behind that of Europe and North America, many say, but things are changing. Thanks to an influx of eco-ambassadors, like environmental planner Stephanie Firestone from the United States, Israelis are learning how to clean up their act. One such success story is LINK to the Environment, an NGO, based in the Galilee which is grappling the task of teaching both Israeli Arabs and Jews why an individual should be responsible for what happens to the environment. ...
You Control Climate Change
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 05.31.06
Telling consumers to "Turn down. Switch off. Recycle. Walk.”, the European Union recently launched a campaign to get citizens to make small changes in their daily routines to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and pull in the reigns on global warming. Headed by European Commission President José Manuel Barroso and Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas in Brussels, the campaign aims to empower the European citizenry and "complements and reinforces our political and legislative efforts. It makes clear to which extent we all are responsible for climate change and what individuals can and need to do to limit this threat," according to President Barroso. Among other things, it explains climate change and its effects and gives some 50 tips how to reduce emissions, ranging from turning down the heating by 1ºC (up to 10% of the energy used for heating saved) to avoiding the stand-by mode of TV sets, stereos and computers (10% of the energy they use saved) and printing double-sided (up to 50% of paper saved). A carbon calculator calculates the amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) saved by each action, and visitors can also download a power-saving screen saver for their computers. While the website will be available permanently, the campaign will be carried out in three concentrated waves:in June, September and November 2006. ::You Control Climate Change via ::Green Car Congress...
Polar Solar From Belgium For Antarctica
by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 05.31.06
In late 2007, The International Polar Foundation will begin building the first polar station to be powered by renewable energy. It will utilise solar, and wind, with the latter being in ample supply in Antarctica. When completed the station will house 20 staff and signal Belgium’s return to the southern polar region. Costing 6.4 million euros, it will support scientists studying climate change. The green targets they are chasing are greater than 98% renewable energy, 100% grey/black water treatment with a minimum of 50% (and up to 90%) of that being recycled for reuse. Get all the details, right down to funky windloading imagery in a hefty 53 page PDF from the IPF site. ::International Polar Foundation, via ABC Online....
Paris Shopping Report: Bilum Bags
by Kyeann Sayer, Nomad on 05.31.06
Like many of you, I thought I was over repurposed billboard sacks. Petz's pointing out possible drawbacks nudged me further in that direction. Then, at the Ethical Fashion Market, I met Helene and her Bilum bags. They win, with the freshest shapes, prints, and true eco/social cred. Each creation genuinely emerges from otherwise landfill-bound material, including former seat belt straps, and is constructed by disabled folks in a transitional employment program. ...
Apple Now Recycle Any Brand of Computer
by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 05.31.06
The details are sketchy, hot off a press release, even their own website currently says 'check back soon', but it looks like Apple have just enhanced their computer take-back program. They will, as of June, accept any brand of computer for free recycling. That’s so long as the customer (in the 48 contiguous United States) is purchasing a new Mac. Sounds like a trade-in type deal. The recycling itself is said to happen within the US, and no hazardous material will be exported. Free shipping is included. The press release goes on to say, “Apple’s recycling programs have processed more than 21 million pounds of electronics worldwide since 1994. Apple continues to offer a free iPod® recycling program through its US retail stores, providing environmentally friendly disposal of any unwanted iPod and a 10 percent discount on the purchase of a new iPod.” ::Apple, via Mac Daily News....
Using Lemons As a Weed Killer
by Kara DiCamillo, Newport, Rhode Island on 05.31.06
We’ve given you a few eco-tips lately involving lemons: one was that they whiten your laundry naturally and the other was a homemade solution to help your dry hands and feet. Now we’re going to tell you that you can use lemons to kill those pesky weeds that are currently growing between your bricks and are just a pain in the you-know-what. We actually tried it just to be sure it did the trick before we reported this eco-tip to you. Simply douse the weeds with lemon juice and they will likely shrivel within a day or two. We found that they rarely need a second treatment. Other alternatives also include vinegar or boiling water. Try all three for those resilient ones that just don’t want to stop growing. Via ::body+soul ...
Instant Survey: Rent or Own?
by Erin Courtenay - Madison, WI on 05.31.06
live|work: ‘Mobility’ – The Verb for Car
by Tamara Giltsoff, United Kingdom on 05.31.06
We are seeing convergence happen across industries and individuals collecting/aggregating their personal choices together in one networked place and comparing to each other. Here's a provocation: brand 'Mobility' does this for transport. What if a car manufacturer were to own, and brand, mobility services for me?
The New York Times announced on Saturday 27 May that according to the AAA nearly 38 million people will travel this Memorial Day weekend and most of them will drive on America’s roads and highways. That is a lot of cars, a lot of emissions, a lot of money on gas and a crazy amount of time in traffic. And despite rising gas prices and energy security fear, it is not yet changing consumer habits. Hundreds of thousands of us will be sitting tail-to-tail in our half empty vehicles, while empty seats on planes or trains or buses pass us by. The old model has yet to be challenged much then. And the white space for innovation remains untouched.
What if you replace ‘car’ with ‘mobility’?...
Ecostructure Launches 'EBay for Ecological Investing'
by Jeff McIntire-Strasburg, St. Louis, MO on 05.31.06
We've seen quite a bit of encouraging news lately about major venture capital firms looking to invest in clean and green technologies, and hope this signals a trend towards sustained investment in the eco-business sector. Still, many good concepts aren't yet ready for a pitch to Kleiner Perkins or an IPO, so Ecostructure Financial has created a funding solution for the small-scale eco-preneur with a winning idea: their new Ecological Community Loan Pool. Ecostructure, started by seasoned green businessperson Mark Winstein, has launched its own VC fund, but also wanted to create more opportunities for investors and entrepreneurs operating on smaller budgets. Their solution is a marriage of the community development financial institution model with peer-to-peer lending portal Prosper.com....
Maplex- a New Green Building Material
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 05.31.06
Perhaps the most interesting new product we saw at ICFF was also the most nondescript and unprepossessing- that is the way important things sometimes start. Maplex is a plain brown board that comes in different thicknesses and two forms, C for maximum bending and forming; P for strength and stability. It doesn't look like much at first, but it is made from 100% natural fibres from sustainably managed forests. It is manufactured using nothing but water, pressure and heat- "the inherent bonding properties of cellulose eliminate the need for any binders." It is completely nontoxic and biodegradable. It can be moulded, bent, painted, stained or waxed. Maplex P has twice the bending strength and tensile strength of birch plywood. Did we mention that we liked this a lot? ::Maplex...
Bank Sticks to its Green Principles
by Bonnie Alter, London on 05.31.06
The Co-operative Bank turned away almost £10 million of business last year on ethical grounds. The Bank, which grew out of the co-operative movement in the U.K., has a strict ethical policy that outlines areas in which they will not invest their customers’ money. Dozens of companies did not stand up to its screening tests. More than half of those turned away were refused on grounds of environmental concerns, mainly the levels of pollution generated by the businesses. This accounted for more than half of the £10M rejected. About a fifth of companies were refused because of their neglect of animal welfare--this cost them £1.9M. A further 20 per cent were turned away over human rights abuses--they reject clients with poor labour practices or which fail to uphold basic human rights--this also cost them £1.9M. Craig Shannon, director of business management, said: "This analysis demonstrates that we are prepared to turn away business for ethical reasons in line with our customers' concerns. Despite this scrutiny…a growing proportion of business customers are coming to the bank because of our ethical positioning." The good news for the bank is that more than a third of its profits could be attributed to its ethical policies. :: Telegraph...
Design Like You Give A Damn: A Review
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 05.31.06
War in Kosovo. Aids in Africa. Earthquakes in Bam. Then, in quick succession, tsunamis in Asia, earthquakes in Pakistan and hurricanes in America. Now this past weekend, yet another tragedy in Indonesia. It is a wonder that Cameron Sinclair can stand up, let alone keep fighting with bureaucracies, prima donna architects, death and homelessness. Yet he remains positive-”by supporting innovative design, consulting with NGO's, and connecting professionals with projects in the field, we're creating opportunities for designers to get involved and to bring their services to those in need. For every celebrity architect there are hundreds of designers around the world, working under the ideal that it is not how we build but what we build that truly matters". Design like you give a Damn is truly an important work- its lesson is that architecture and design are not about being on the cover of last week's New York Times Magazine but about making a difference in people's lives. Margaret Visser once defined a professional as someone who you trusted with something that you did not understand- the doctor with your health, the lawyer with your freedom, the clergyman with your soul. Cameron Sinclair has given architecture a purpose and a reason to be called a profession- we are to be trusted to give shelter....
Most Huggable
by Jacob Gordon, Nashville, TN on 05.30.06
Recently on Hugg we’ve seen…
A New Zealander who runs his car on a cocktail of water with a splash of gasoline (and him “drinking” his car’s exhaust from a glass ala Daryl Hannah and her biodiesel)…
A philosophical perspective on the aesthetics of the windfarm, technology, and natural systems…
How to put worms to work “shredding” your sensitive documents…
General Electric investing millions in green-tech in up-and-coming sectors in China…
A high-tech (solar-powered desalinization) and low-tech (fog harvesting) approach to getting a clean glass of water…
Stay tuned to Hugg for the most recent reader-generated green news. Now fully searchable! We're steadily working out the kinks and getting more functions operational for your posting and Hugging pleasure. ...
An Inconvenient Truth - Off to a Good Start [UPDATED]
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 05.30.06
We don't expect a film based on a slide presentation to outdo Hollywood summer blockbusters at the box office, but we're happy to see that An Inconvenient Truth is doing very well so far: "On Wednesday an inconvenient truth was the #11 movie in the country despite being in only 4 theaters, earning $78,994 ($19,749/theater). The #10 movie was showing at 1,265 theaters, earning 117,000, or $92/theater." Update: An Inconvenient Truth made an average of $70,500 per theater over the weekend (according to BoxOfficeMojo), which is the highest number in the USA and quite impressive for a scientific documentary. Comparatively, the #1 movie, X-Men: The Last Stand, made $27,947 per theater and all other movies made under $10,000 per theater....
An Inconvenient Truth Partners with MySpace
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 05.30.06
We have just learned that An Inconvenient Truth has partnered up with the hugely popular social website MySpace to promote the film. If we look at the coverage that the announcement received in the media and on the blogs, we could conclude that it is low-key. But it seems effective: In a week, over 48,000 MySpace members have added the MySpace profile page of An Inconvenient Truth to their "friends" lists (including the official TreeHugger MySpace and TreeHuggerTV MySpace pages - there's not a lot there yet, but feel free to add us to your "friends" list)....
Kimpton Hotels Offer Discounts to Hybrid Drivers
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 05.30.06
Hybrid drivers on the East Coast of the US can now get a deal on hotel stays with some Kimpton Hotels locations. The deal, called the "Green Road Warrior Package," rewards the owners (and renters) of hybrid cars with a more affordable stay at hotels in Boston, New York and Washington, D.C. Kimpton has a list of 15 hybrid models that qualify for the discount, which runs through September. TreeHugger has noted Kimpton's eco-work before, and the award-winning chain spreads it's eco-love among the featured hotels. The Onyx Hotel, in Boston, won the National Good EarthKeeping Award from the American Hotel & Lodging Association this year. ::Kimpton Hotels via ::AutoblogGreen...
Off the Grid: Modern Homes + Alternative Energy
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 05.30.06
TreeHugger is a big fan of the energy-efficient, off-the-grid lifestyle; one difficulty of selling it to a mainstream audience is that so many grid-free homes are prohibitively expensive or aesthetically-challenged and ugly. Off The Grid: Modern Homes + Alternative Energy is a foil for both arguments, proving that we can, at once, have good design and extensive use of alternative energy without reliance on the traditional power grid (and here are five other off-grid examples). The book profiles “ten beautiful homes in regions as diverse as New York City, urban Germany, suburban Southern California, rural Canada, and the remote ‘bush’ of Australia,…(and) shows you how to take responsibility for your future choices and conveniences by living in a beautifully designed home that uses much less energy. Off-the-grid living is a concept that can be easily understood and adopted by everyone, regardless of where you live or how much money you make.” 'Nuff said. Available at ::Powell's Books and ::Amazon via ::MoCo Loco...
Daryl Hannah Hosting Sierra Club Chronicles
by Erin Courtenay - Madison, WI on 05.30.06
Like her co-ecoceleb Brad Pitt, Daryl Hannah of biodiesel and vlog fame is hosting an eco-themed monthly television series. Ms. Hannah is giving a hand to producers of the Sierra Club Chronicles - a program that "captures David vs. Goliath stories: the dramatic efforts of committed individuals across the country working to protect the health of their environment and communities." Tune into Link TV to watch the seven episodes that look at local fights against pollution, saving community gardens and efforts to protect pristine natural areas. Via San Luis Obispo Tribune....
Instant Survey: Hairy Legged Hippy Chicks
by Erin Courtenay - Madison, WI on 05.30.06
"Tree Hugger" Candidate for US Treasury Secretary
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 05.30.06
This news just in for Tuesday via LONDON (Reuters) - "...President George Bush is set to announce that Treasury Secretary John Snow is resigning and that he will nominate Goldman Sachs Chief Executive Officer Henry Paulson to succeed him, a senior administration official said". This sort of news would seldom fit TreeHugger; except that we recently covered Mr Paulson, admiringly. In fact, we even did a poll partly due to his inpiration. And a bit more analysis here. Bravo and good luck Mr. Paulson.
Image credit The Nature Conservancy.
UPDATE: ====> According to ThinkProgress "...Paulson’s nomination is strongly opposed by a coalition right-wing groups seeking to cast doubt on climate science, such as the National Center for Public Policy Research, describing Paulson as “diametrically opposed to the positions of [the Bush] Administration.”...
Harley-Davidson Struggles To Capture The Indian Market
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 05.30.06
Motorcycle consumers of India are the subjects of this story (not US consumers of the “Indian” motorcycle brand). According to the “The Times of India”, and in a story that has received wide coverage in several other media outlets , “The makers of America's cult machine Harley Davidson have urged India to relax its stringent emission norm regulations for motorcycles to ensure a smooth passage for the hulking 500cc+ bikes through the direct import route. In a presentation made through a video-conference between senior Indian and US government officials Harley Davidson argued that large bikes (with an engine size of over 500cc) could not comply with the stringent emission norms that India has for two-wheelers”.
...
TreeHugger is Looking for a New York Correspondent
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 05.30.06
TreeHugger is looking for a writer in New York City. We have our headquarters there, but no regular correspondent and that has to change. We need someone who's passionate about sustainability, someone who reads Treehugger, Grist, WorldChanging, etc, during the day and dreams about green issues at night... That person needs to have solid writing skills, a keen eye for design (see Mocoloco, Inhabitat) and the time to post once a day during the week. He or she must be genuinely interested in covering events in NYC: conferences, seminars, openings, galleries, talks, etc (not everything all the time, of course, but the major green stuff). If interested, email "mike" at the name of this website dot com. Thanks!...
Lester Brown Goes to China
by Jeff McIntire-Strasburg, St. Louis, MO on 05.30.06
This comes just a tad late for "Lester Brown Week", but the godfather of sustainable development took his message of cleaner, greener growth to China this weekend:...
Award Winning Cobtun House is For Sale
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 05.30.06
How many architects are given this 10 word design brief: "Humour, mystery, fantasy, ecological, sustainable, independent, contextual, agricultural, invisible." Those were the words from British Lawyer Nicholas Worsley to Associated Architects in Birmingham. Said the owner of the Cobtun House (now downsizing) "Sustainable houses are usually very worthy - but very dull," he said. "This was an attempt to introduce aesthetics to the equation." It is built from cob, a mix of mud and straw. According to the Telegraph: "Every element of the house is designed to reduce its impact on the environment: shelves are built from recycled plastic, the shower is heated with solar panels and the washing machine and lavatories use rainwater collected from the roof".... and this RIBA award winner, overlooking the River Avon, can all be yours for £745,000 (US$ 1,385,000). :;The Independent and see a ::tour ...
Drink Water to Help Others
by Bonnie Alter, London on 05.30.06
Drinking bottled water is a controversial topic (see Treehugger) but here is an English company that has developed a biodegradable bottle for its water AND donates its profits to projects with WaterAid in India and Africa. First the bottle: this is the first biodegradable bottle on sale in Britain. It is made of corn and breaks down by commercial composting methods in 12 weeks, and by home composting in about a year. The corn is grown in 100 days and can return to the soil in 100 days. The water is from deep wells in Shropshire and is sold in some major supermarket chains. Belu is a small company founded with a goal to finance clean-water projects around the world. They are part of a growing group of ethical entrepreneurs who are turning their businesses and profits towards having an impact on the world’s problems. Their intention is to generate one million £ profit and spend it on water projects. The first is in India where they are building wells and hand pumps and sanitation facilities. The second is in Mali Africa where they are providing clean water and sanitation to a community of 10,000 people. :: Belu via :: Independent...
I Don't Wanna Live in Biosphere Estates
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 05.30.06
It was a glorious idea- build a giant terrarium and see if a self-sustaining microcosm of earth could keep people alive without importing food, water or even air. Constructed in the middle of nowhere in the 80's, the $ 200 million project did not quite worked as planned- the plants did not produce enough oxygen and air was quietly pumped in; crops failed; ants over-ran the joint. Yet such experiments are as valuable in their failure as in success, for they demonstrate the complexity of the problem and 25 years later demonstrate the folly of our playing with Biosphere 1, our planet. ...
Wave Energy Parks Could Be Coming To Oregon
by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 05.30.06
Columbia, Oregon State University are in the thick of it again. Previously we noted they had help develop a soy based timber adhesive that was free of formaldehyde and were working with farmers to bring microtechnology to the production of biodiesel. Now they are dreaming up farms of a different sort. Wave farms. The idea is to plant direct drive, wave energy buoys off the coast of Oregon. ...
Biomimicry Lectures: Janine Benyus Down Under
by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 05.30.06
The other evening I was fortunate enough to attend a lecture by Biomimicry author, Janine Benyus. (Read her book's first chapter here.) What struck me, apart from Janine’s obvious enthusiasm for her research, was how currently divergent spheres of scientific study might be aligned. A combination of biology and engineering, for example. Even the University of New South Wales, who hosted the lecture, expressed keen interest in using the platform for creative cross-pollination between different Uni Faculties. [Biomimicry: Applying lessons learned from the study of natural methods and systems to the design of technology.] It was was also gratifying to hear Janine refer to many of the examples of biomimicry that TreeHugger has already mentioned. Such as the lotus-like self-cleaning paints, dye-based solar cells, boxfish shaped cars, gecko style adhesives, non-combatant antibacterial agents inspired by seaweed, the spiral shell formed exhaust fan, antibacterial wallaby milk, and spinal disc repair from flea’s knees. And equally heart-warming that many of these had Australian research origins. Previously we’ve alluded to a biomimicry database, so when Janine talked about such a thing, I assumed it to be one and the same. But no, there is another. Learn much more from the ::Biomimicry Institute....
New SLIM Bike Parking Solution by Modular
by Petz Scholtus, Barcelona, Spain on 05.30.06
TreeHugger loves bikes but maybe only as long as we can cycle. When it comes to storing your bike easily and safely, some of you might be lucky to have a sleek Cyclepod or a breathtaking Bike Tree Locker near you but parking a bike is not always without hassle and unpleasant surprises. Indoor bike parking solutions are particularly challenging due to lack of space but are more and more in demand the more people opt for cycling to work.
This is why we welcome Modular’s refreshing parking solution called Slim. Last weekend the first Slim parking got inaugurated at Terra Foundation’s headquarters in Barcelona.
Slim is a slanting steel rail which holds the parked bike in place without having to use your hands. It’s fixed to the wall and floor and comes with an optional security cable to lock the wheels and saddle to the structure. All you need is your own lock to secure your bike to Slim. Its design allows you to attach the wheels as well as the bike with only one lock as this pushes the wheels into the rail and makes it almost impossible to detach them. We tried it out and it might take a little practice to hold your bike up but the slope makes it fairly easy to fit any kind of bike without applying too much force. Great for small spaces like entrance halls and easy to put up. ...
Blog Trades Carbon Offsets for Links
by Jeff McIntire-Strasburg, St. Louis, MO on 05.29.06
Nearly every post we publish about carbon offsetting services generates healthy discussion on the merits and disadvantages of buying offsets to neutralize the carbon emissions of a range of activities. While we don't know if this story will produce similar discussion, it's certainly one of the most unique promotional efforts we've seen involving offsets: DeepMarket.com, "a blog that researches new techniques for stock market analysis," is teaming up with CarbonFund.org to offset 1 ton of carbon emissions for every blog that links to it....
Energy Star @ Home
by Jeff McIntire-Strasburg, St. Louis, MO on 05.29.06
If you liked Home Depot's 10 easy ways to green your home, you'll love the Energy Star program's new Energy Star @ home Interactive Tool, sponsored by the US Environmental Protection Agency. Not only does this page provide a very thorough list of tips to save energy around the house, they've also created an interactive home map that allows you to take specific actions for every area of your home based on most common types of energy use for that area. They've even provided the top five ways to keep your home cool and your energy consumption low as we move into the summer months in North America:...
Bikes and Strikes in Toronto
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 05.29.06
For the first day of Bike Week in Toronto, we woke up to a wildcat transit strike, with buses, streetcars and subway shut down with no warning. 770,000 commuters take transit every day, so thousands of extra cars filled up every road and traffic ground to a standstill. Everyone in the City with a bike got on it and rode to work, with no worry about door prizes or right hooks because the cars were not moving. The bicycle proved itself to be the most efficient means of transport and, next to walking, the only thing that moved. We hope many of these new riders find that they like it and keep it up! See also ::People of Toronto: Tell Us About Your City, ::Have You Reduced Your Dependence on Cars?...
LIME: "Walking, Talking Toxic Waste Dumps"
by Lime Planet, New York, New York on 05.29.06
The news is in for 10 residents of Washington state, who volunteered themselves last year as guinea pigs in a toxic chemical study. They gave samples of hair, blood, and urine, which were examined by the Washington Toxics Coalition. And, according to an article in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer - one of several publications that reported on the results - "their levels of phthalates (found in such diverse products as shower curtains and fragrances), PBDEs (found in flame retardants, mattresses and furniture), mercury, pesticides, lead and other chemicals were high enough to make both scientists and subjects sit up and take notice." The paper's headline read, "We're walking, talking toxic waste dumps."...
Julian Lwin Biodegradable Biotube Bench
by Leonora Oppenheim, London, UK on 05.29.06
The green fingered designer Julian Lwin is back with another fertile creation. Those of you who are familiar with his Galapagos Table and Urban Oasis will know that Lwin’s designs grow on you quite literally! This time he has created a bench from recycled cardboard cylinders which are embedded with seeds using a cellulose liquid. This seems a lovely idea, reminiscent of the cardboard grass chair which can be assembled and then planted with grass seeds so you can watch it grow. However, the grass chair appears rather more durable than the Biotube bench. Inhabitat tells us that this bench is designed specifically to biodegrade into ‘a rich mulch layer’ and turn into an ‘instant garden.’ As writer Sarah Rich says, ‘What is this thing going to look like in 6 months, while it is in the process of bio-degrading?’ ...
Oil On Ice - Arctic Wildlife Refuge Documentary
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 05.29.06
We've just watched Oil On Ice, an excellent documentary about the Arctic Wildlife Refuge (a topic we've covered in the past), why it's important to protect it and why it doesn't make much sense to go drill for oil there. The film covers 4 main issues: Communities that live in the area, the wild lands of the Refuge, the wildlife (and what a wildlife!) and energy. We quite enjoyed the discussions about solutions and the explanations about how some common sense investments in current technologies could improve our energy efficiency significantly (after all, it's easier to use less energy than to find new one) and save a lot more oil than could ever come out of Alaska. It also shows some of the effects of global warming on the arctic ("global weirding", as Lovins call it) and debunks some claims by Exxon about the Exxon Valdez oil spill. The DVD features bonus interviews with Carl Pope of the Sierra Club and Amory Lovins of the Rocky Mountain Institute. Check it out ::Oil On Ice Update: You can watch a 4-minute short film based on Oil on Ice....
Pillow Talk
by Bonnie Alter, London on 05.29.06
It’s good looking, cosy and nice to snuggle up to. It’s also (eco)friendly, soft and rich-looking. What is it about pillows that is so irresistible...These cushions are made of old sweaters. They are all one-offs, recycled, of course, and have vintage buttons and crotcheted flowers on them. Perfect for the boudoir…Or what about cushions made from recycled vintage shirts and ties. Each one is individually created from locally found materials in second hand stores. Every man will recognise at least one of his old ties in this pillow. Another is made from woven end-of-line seatbelts. They are cleverly stitched so that there are no zippers or seams and are filled with duck feathers. The felt cushions, in bright primary colours are made from 100% pure wool from the Netherlands. The cushions come filled with a revolutionary new eco fibre called Ingeo. Made from cornstarch this is a biodegradable material that will disintegrate harmlessly into the ground at the end of its life. The alpaca cushions come from Peru. The luxurious wool is hand spun, woven and dyed in a rural women’s cooperative. Each cushion is hand finished by UK designers in their London workshop....
A Manifesto for Bicyclists
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 05.29.06
We complain about how Toronto pays lip service to bikes but does not really follow through, and in the last year it has added exactly one kilometre of bike lanes and done little to address the carnage on the roads. On the other hand, we should be charitable because it is bike week, and people are taking action and control of the roads. At the Market Gallery a show devoted to the history of cycling in Toronto has opened; In the Toronto Star a Cycling Manifesto was published that should be a model of cyclists everywhere, signed by three members of Parliament, two Barenaked Ladies, One baker extraordinaire, a novelist and a few other high-powered and influential people. (view pdf here) Topping off the week is next Sunday's Becel Ride for the Heart, where the two main highways leading into Toronto are closed to cars and open to bicycles. One, the Gardiner, should never have been built because it is an elevated highway that cuts us off from the waterfront; the other, the Don Valley Parkway, should never have been allowed to cut through the most beautiful and green valley that was one of Toronto's greatest green assets. Both are quick ephemeral hits when in a car, but on a bike are engineering masterpieces with views, aspects and drama that is a once-a-year treasure. ...
Brazilian Feito Fibra Bamboo and Threads Accesories
by Paula Alvarado, Buenos Aires on 05.29.06
Check out these neat lamps made from our beloved bamboo -one of the most renewable, strong, durable, and great looking materials- and natural threads from Brazilian Feito Fibra. This firm lead by Paulo Bustamante has been experimenting with bamboo since 1998, and offers a wide line of accessories for the house and bathroom from this material. The company has two other divisions: Oficina de Tramas (something like the patterns office), a segment led by designer Virgínia Rodrigues Pinto Coelho which experiments with recycled and natural fibres working with local communities from Sul de Minas; and also a branch called Oficina dos fios (the threads office), which offers a variety of looms. Feito Fibra also works with architects, landscapers and decorators to build special structures with bamboo and threads; and gives workshops in communities where bamboo is abundant to help people get benefit of it. For more, check their website, where you can also place orders online. ::Feito Fibra...
MissionFish
by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 05.29.06
Remember RED and Ecomiles? How you could spend money and do good at the same time. Missionfish offers a twist on those programs. Here you make money and still do good. As the exclusive charity solution provider for eBay’s Giving Works program, Missionfish has a set up a process whereby you can donate a percentage of the sale you make through eBay to a worthy non-profit. We assume your favourite will be there, because they have over 8,000 listed, awaiting your support. And according to the stats on their website, more than $26 million USD has been raised, via 500,000 listed items. We did observe that the punsters over at Grist are registered, so if you're short of a fav non-profit, they would be a good place to start. Missionfish also allows non-profits to sell goods to benefit their operations. It’s a project of the Points of Light Foundation, a US volunteer network. ::Missionfish....
Chipotle: Food With Integrity
by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 05.29.06
If you heard of a business that was so successful that it was once owned by McDonalds, went from 20 to 300 outlets in five years and was profiled in Fast Company magazine, you might reasonably expect that enterprise was not necessarily brimming in scruples. But is seems the reverse might be the case. Chipotle restaurants serve freshly made burritos and other Mexican styled food and one of the reasons for their success is attributed to their ‘Food With Integrity’ manifesto(PDF). It’s “as simple as better-tasting burritos, and no less ambitious than revolutionizing the way America grows, gathers, serves and eats its food. Doing all these things better, from start to finish, is our mission.” ...
Indonesian Earthquake: Time for Some People-Hugging
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 05.28.06
A year and a half after the Asian tsunami, Indonesia is hit by disaster again. "In the early hours of the day yesterday, a powerful earthquake measuring 6.2 on the Richter scale struck just south of Indonesia’s art and culture capital of Yogyakarta, Central Java. The quake left more than 4,600 people dead, mainly in the rural district of Bantul, situated between Yogyakarta city and the southern coast of Java. As many as 30,000 other people were injured, and some 100,000 will likely be displaced as a result of the severe damage to homes across the affected region. At least a third of the victims are young children." Time for some people-hugging: RedCross.org, Unicef...
Solar Coffee, Fuel Cell Bike and More at Eco-mile in Berlin
by Christine Lepisto, Berlin on 05.28.06
What would you most like to do today at the Eco-mile in Berlin? Learn T-Com's plans to set fuel cell powered bikes in service? See the Berlin Senate's design to promote commuting to World Cup Football (Soccer) games by bicycle? Or simply pause for a cup of solar-powered coffee? With only scattered showers quickly blown off by a stiff wind, visitors to the Eco-mile festival in Berlin could enjoy that and much more at their leisure. Your intrepid reporter tells all (with full size photos); just click to read on....
How a Green + Black's Chocolate Bar Saved a Mayan Community From Destruction
by Leonora Oppenheim, London, UK on 05.28.06
Green + Black’s Chocolate is possibly the best chocolate in the world, those of you lucky enough to have tried some must agree with me. I eat so much of the stuff I should stand up and proudly say my name is Leonora and I am addicted to Green + Black’s chocolate. Fortunately for me, and some cacao farmers in Belize, my addiction has some very good side affects, and you can’t say that about many addictions can you! Andrew Purvis writes in today’s Observer ‘Green & Black's Maya Gold, the first British Fairtrade product, is more than an organic chocolate bar - it's the livelihood for a whole district of Belize.’ He went to Belize recently to visit the community whose lives were transformed by the demand for Green +Black’s organic chocolate. In 1993 Craig Sams, the founder of Green & Black's, contacted the Toledo Cacao Growers' Association (TCGA) hoping that the Mayan cacao farmers could supply the beans for his chocolate....
Earth Friendly Kayaks
by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 05.28.06
Could this be the ‘first’ business established because of TreeHugger? Seems possible. “Earth Friendly Kayaks was established in response to the many inquires I had from people who wanted to buy Walden Kayaks after the company went through liquidation and a change of ownership in 2005. Many people called me as a result of an article on treehugger.com, because I had purchased some of the finished kayaks and work in progress.” The particular posts that Martin Bloomberg is referring to can be found here, and here. The good news is that the Walden Kayaks are again being manufactured, in the USA, “by a long-established boat building family” and sold via Earth Friendly Kayaks. The reason we were originally interested is because they were made from recycled High Density Polyethylene (HDPE or plastic code no.2). This is the same stuff that milk jugs are made from. The bad news is we are aren’t entirely sure what the actual percentage of post-consumer or post industrial recycled HDPE is. But some is sure better than nowt. And ain’t it grand that TH stimulated demand for a human-powered craft of recycled material? Five models on offer, with the Vista Expedition shown here is the mid-price range at $750 USD. ::Earth Friendly Kayaks....
TreeHugger breaks it down for you in a series of in depth how-to articles that will help you green your life. No time like the present!
Here are a few recommended websites.
- Ecotality Blog
- Ecostore
- Accidental Environmentalist Jolly Green Girl Confidential
- GreenShopper.com - Environmentally Friendly and Green Shopping Community
- Eco Investment Club
- Runaway Now
- Our Greener Life
- Sustainable is Good
- Variety Presents Green Hollywood
- Switchboard
- Architype Review
- Green Fertility
- The Blue Marble Blog
