- Vijay Vaitheeswaran (part one)
- Vijay Vaitheeswaran (part two)
- Vinay Gupta
- Alyce Santoro
- Mathis Wackernagel
- Tom Price
- Martha Marks
- Paul Hawken
- David Suzuki
- Wal-Mart's Green Gurus
- Alisa Smith and James Mackinnon, authors of Plenty
- Bob Perkowitz of ecoAmerica
- Ed Begley Jr.
- The Weather Channel's Dr. Heidi Cullen
Entries for June 18, 2006 - June 24, 2006
Total this week: 114
Make Your Own Air Conditioner
by Justin Thomas, Virginia on 06.24.06
From Lifehacker, comes this link with plans for making your own air conditioner. The design is actually an improvement on a previous $30 homemade air conditioner. This contraption uses a bucket of ice water and gravity to make cold water flow through a coil of pipe attached to the back of a fan, which made it blow cold air. The closed-circuit version doesn't waste water — it uses an aquarium pump to push the water through a tube loop submerged in an ice-filled cooler. :: Lifehacker...
Citysol: Celebrating Sustainability in the World’s Greatest City [Updated]
by Michael Graham Richard, Gatineau, Canada on 06.24.06
Update: Due to the weather, CitySol has been rescheduled for next Sunday, July 2nd--same time, same place.
[This is a guest post by Chris Neidl] To point out that the environmental imagination has gained a decidedly more urban muse in recent years is hardly a novel observation these days. America’s cities – and not just the usual Pacific suspects like Portland and San Francisco – have increasingly begun to embrace the mantle of sustainability as a guiding developmental priority, and in the process, have rapidly changed the identity of environmentalism itself. ...
The Green Quotient: A Q&A with Thomas L. Friedman
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 06.24.06
The Urban Land Institute has a terrific June 2006 magazine out with a roster of sustainability focused articles. One of Urban Land’s regular writers, Charles Lockwood, is someone whose recent article in Harvard Business Review, we posted about. Charles was pleased with that and obtained permission for us to post here his latest interview article from the June issue: The Green Quotient: A Q&A with Thomas L. Friedman. Note: Urban Land is ordinarily “for members only,” and we think its worth your time to read it as well as consider joining if that’s your cup of green tea. ...
Chemical Factory in a Suitcase?
by Christine Lepisto, Berlin on 06.24.06
You have probably heard a lot about nanotechnology, but have you heard about microreactors? This revolution in chemical technology offers tremendous advantages in efficiencies: the high surface area to reactant ratio makes processes with high heating and cooling demands significantly more energy efficient. The instantaneous mixing which is possible at micro-volumes has the potential to speed up production, which also reduces costs. Also, the predictable qualities possible under microreactor conditions can contribute to reduction in the waste generated relative to traditional manufacturing. Where could this technology make a difference? ...
Ugly Fruit Movement Could Help Organic Farmers
by Christine Lepisto, Berlin on 06.24.06
Did you ever stop to think how amazing it is that all the fruit in your grocery store is perfect? The hidden story behind that perfect fruit is the large volume of second grade fruits and vegetables diverted directly to juice makers, with little profit to the farmers, and the plant products industry which farmers must rely on to grow acceptable produce. Now there is a force for change: Sir Stuart Hampson, current president of the Royal Agricultural Society of England is also the chairman of the John Lewis partnership, owner of the upmarket UK grocery chain Waitrose. ...
Ecospace Prefab Garden Studios
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 06.24.06
We have shown a lot of small prefabs for home and country recently (like the BlueSkyMod, Modern Playshed and Deckhouse) but this building form was really developed in England, where people have been building gorgeous and elaborate garden sheds for years. Ecospace builds lovely modern ones, in collaboration with architects Idris-Perrineau Town. ...
McCartney Vegetarian Foods On the Hoof
by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 06.24.06
Been a busy time recently for Paul McCartney. A separation, then finally turning 64, some forty or so years after he wrote the song, and just this week seeing his ex-wife Linda’s vegetarian food business sold. The ‘Linda McCartney’ brand of frozen veg tucker has now gone to the US, where it was picked up by the natural food group, Hain Celestial, known for their Soy Dream milk, Terra Chips, and not forgetting the 30 year old perennial Celestial Seasonings teas. There had been some earlier concern amongst vegetarians that Nestle might end up the buyer. But now it seems that Hain Celestial have plans to expand the line throughout Britain, Europe and the North America. Ironically the brand which is credited with helping to make veg food popular in the UK has lost some of earlier sheen as consumers reduce their frozen food purchases. It was rumoured that Paul and his designer daughter Stella, both vegos, would be tucking in to some Linda McCartneyvegetarian sausages when he celebarted that famous birthday on the 18th. via :The Business....
The EcoSurfStore Opens for Business
by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 06.24.06
Sometime ago Erin pointed you to the EcoSurf Project, who were promoting earth friendly surf waxes. Well, now they have gone the whole hog and opened their own online store. At the moment the variety of eco stock on the warehouse shelves is a bit sparse, but they are hoping to get more goodies happening soon. At this time they have board waxes, wax removers, sun creams, hemp soaps, lip balms, wallets, belts, caps, and Ts from ZooZoo2. In the near future the plan is to add OceanGreen EcoFoil balsa/hemp surfboards, the ones we had here just the other day. Sales through the store raise funds to support the work of the EcoSurf Project, whose aims you can see after the fold. ::The EcoSurfStore....
Who Killed the Electric Car?
by Michael Graham Richard, Gatineau, Canada on 06.23.06
[This is a guest post by Neil Chambers. TreeHuggerTV will premiere a piece on "Who Killed The Electric Car?" on Monday June 26. -Ed.] I had a chance to talk to the Chris Paine, director of Who Killed the Electric Car? and Chelsea Sexton, Executive Director of Plug-In America, about the upcoming release of the movie on June 28, 2006.
The movie documents the history of the electric car in the country as well as the rise and fall of the GM EV-1. The story lays out how BIG OIL and BIG CAR COMPANIES killed the programs for electric cars. The story of the electric car is pushed by many interviews with EV drivers and celebrities expressing their love for the automobile. ...
Non-Toxic Computers Coming Soon: The RoHS Deadline
by Justin Thomas, Virginia on 06.23.06
We should be seeing some non-toxic computers coming soon, in reponse to the RoHS deadline which goes in effect on July 1. RoHS is a "Restriction of Hazardous Substances Directive" from the Eueropean Union. The EU directive requires lead free electronics in personal computers, as well as banning mercury, cadmium, hexavalent chromium, polybrominated biphenyls (PBB) or polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE). So which computer manufacturers are the producing least toxic PCs so far? ...
Most Huggable
by Jacob Gordon, Nashville, TN on 06.23.06
Glaciers in blankets, not-so-level sea levels, deserts and runways turning green, rainforests staying green…just the latest reader-generated green news from Hugg.com. We know that sea levels are rising, but what about going down…too? Recent research shows Arctic waters actually dropping by about 2 mm per year... President Lula of Brazil has put three areas of the Amazon basin, a total 4.5 million acres of rainforest, under protection from development… In a dusty corner of desert near the Dead Sea, permaculture wizard Geoff Lawton shows that there is plenty of room for green (complete with very worth-it narrated slide show)… Greenpeace gets Spanish designers on the case for a non-toxic fashion show… A Swiss ski resort has resorted to wrapping its beloved glacier in reflective plastic to keep it from melting into the sea......
Discover the Alternatives: The Future of Alternative Fuels
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 06.23.06
The Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers released a report [PDF] this week showing how the automakers have "active roles in helping the United States achieve energy security through greater production of alternative fuel autos, new partnerships with fuel providers to expand the fueling infrastructure, and working with governments to get more such vehicles on the road." The report outlines a variety of biofuel options, highlighting initiatives like the "25 by 25" where 25 percent of the total transportation used in the US will be provided by America's farms, forests and ranches by 2025. There are also a bevy of numbers thrown around, including stats like the 8 million alternative-fuel vehicles on the road today (by the way, that's 3.6 million "clean diesel" vehicles and 3.8 million ethanol-capable ones, leaving 280,000 hybrids) and that just seven in ten people realize you can get diesel at just about any gas station in the country. The Alliance is made up of the BMW Group, DaimlerChrysler, Ford Motor Company, General Motors, Mazda, Mitsubishi Motors, Porsche, Toyota and Volkswagen; Honda, conspicuously absent, must figure they can promote alternative fuel cars without them. ::The Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, ::Discover the Alternatives, ::Discover the Alternatives Report [PDF] via ::AutoblogGreen
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Optimata: Models That Take Drugs
by Karin Kloosterman, Jerusalem, Israel on 06.23.06
Ecologically-speaking, the clinical trials business is costly and unfriendly. Large numbers of animals are bred for pre-clinical trials, vast quantities of plastic test-tubes are consumed as well as huge financial expenditures that go into making a new drug. Yet even with all of this investment, few drugs makes it through the drug development process. But thanks to Israeli bio-simulation company, Optimata, drug-developers can now bypass some of the development stages. Using a virtual computerized patient that mimics a human being's biological processes (created by complex mathematical parameters), Optimata can help predict drug toxicity and efficacy well-before drugs are used on animal models (a polite word for saying experimentations on lab rats and monkeys). Drug developers take heed: Optimata was able to successfully predict the outcomes of breast cancer patients in Nottingham, UK hospital. ...
Green Building Competition for New York City - Winners Announced
by Eric Kane, New York, NY on 06.23.06
When the principles of green building are incorporated into industry standards, the architectural competitions that are created to promote energy efficient design and construction will become obsolete. However, until then events such as ‘The Green Building Competition for New York City’ will continue to capture our collective attention. Subsequently, it is our duty to report that the winners of the aforementioned competition were announced Wednesday at the Center for Architecture. During the awards ceremony, EPA Regional Administrator, Alan Steinberg said: “for New York, with its never ending appeal, yet limited space and resources, sustainable development is nonnegotiable”. The Grand Winner, New Sunrise Yard, will be the home of operations for the facilities and maintenance arm of the NYC Department of Transportation. The facility, which sits on 46,300 square feet in Queens, requires 65% less energy than comparable facilities. These savings are achieved through the use of green building techniques including: high performance glass, efficient lighting, radiant floor heating, and demand based ventilation. In addition, demolition waste will be reused and water runoff will be captured for landscaping. To learn more about the competition and other project entries please see the EPA’s press release. See also ::Greener Offices in New York, ::Green Building: A Complete How to Guide...
Sustainable Wool Rugs from Emma Gardner
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 06.23.06
We've seen carpets and rugs made with all kinds of different materials; from recycled bicycle inner tubes to soy to bamboo to selvedge, it doesn't seem like there's much that rugs can't be made from these days. Sometimes, though, you can't beat good old-fashioned wool, like these new designs from Emma Gardner. As member of The RUGMARK Foundation, Emma Gardner rugs are certified to have been made under strict labor guidelines, including no illegal child labor; a portion of the carpet price is also contributed to the rehabilitation and education of former child weavers. Gardner's previous designs have appeared in Elle, Vogue and In Style magazine; these new designs are hand-tufted from 100% sustainable New Zealand wool, and are available from 2modern.com. ::Emma Gardner Design via ::2modern Design Talk...
Nest: Modern Kid-Friendly Furniture
by Sean Fisher, Cincinnati, Ohio on 06.23.06
After becoming frustrated at the lack of options for safe and stylish children's furnishings, Will and Laura Wear decided to take matters into their own hands. The result of their enterprise is Nest, a line of children's products made with sustainability in mind. By focusing on design that incorporates "organic cotton, curved plywood, water-borne finishes, and recycled materials," Nest is able to create fun, modern, and eco-friendly furnishings. Because the Wears are parents themselves, safety was also of great importance to the Nest line. Deconstructing the concept of current mainstream design for kids has allowed Nest to make simple, yet clever design changes in order to improve the safety of their products. These changes include replacing the bulkiness of wood with organic cotton and doing away with the traditional concept of hinges, which can often pinch kid's fingers in favor of what they call the "X-frame" (which not only makes the furniture safer, but better looking too). What we really love about Nest, though, is the emphasis on fun, modern design in everything they make, something seldom seen in children's furnishings. ...
Film Independent’s 2006 Los Angeles Film Festival: "Green Day" this Saturday
by Kyeann Sayer, Nomad on 06.23.06
Saturday, June 24 has been named "Green Day," of Film Independent’s 2006 Los Angeles Film Festival, with screenings of buzz-blessed “Who Killed the Electric Car?” and also “An Inconvenient Truth.” When not receiving eco-celluloid illumination, you can check out info from hybrid car companies, environmental organizations, The Environmental Media Association, Plug-In-America, Whole Foods, 4 Hemp Clothing Company, city-wide recycling programs and many more. The Festival is also collecting and recycling old cell phones to raise funds for its educational programs and to reduce hazardous landfill waste. With the donation of an old cell phone, festival-goers will receive $1 off admission to any film or event! Collection boxes will be conveniently located at the Intel Tech Pavilion & Box Office from June 22 – July 2. Check it out! :: Film Independent's 2006 Los Angeles Film Festival via Wendy Martino...
DIY Solar Thermal Panel
by Justin Thomas, Virginia on 06.23.06
Can you build your own solar thermal panel for under $5? The guys at the The Sietch group say you can. They gives you step-by-step on how to build one yourself. You'll need the back grill of a fridge, a floor mat, some window glass, tape, tubing, and foil. Put it all together and you’ve got a pretty efficient water heater — over 110 degrees on sunny days. They also show you how to make a thermo siphon. Great for heating a pool. :: Via Groovy Green...
Pressuring Starbucks On Bovine Growth Hormone
by Justin Thomas, Virginia on 06.23.06
This month, the Organic Consumers Association is organizing a series of protests and leafleting events at Starbucks coffee shops, calling on the corporation to ban genetically engineered Bovine Growth Hormone (rBGH) milk from its cafes and to brew organic and Fair Trade coffee on a regular basis. Facing mounting consumer opposition major dairies such as Dean Foods and retailers such as Wal-Mart are reportedly telling suppliers to stop using rBGH. Read more about rBGH in this previous post. :: Organic Consumers Association via Hugg...
Napping For Nature: Sleep More And Save The Environment
by Leonora Oppenheim, London, UK on 06.23.06
We loved last weekend’s special green edition of the Observer Magazine in conjunction with The Observer’s Ethical Awards. Being the lazy environmentalists that we are we particularly enjoyed John Hind’s article on how sleeping more saves energy. That’s just fine by us…before I go take a nap here are some of his wise words: ‘The 5 per cent of Britons who regularly grab less than five hours sleep utilise 16 per cent more electricity, 9 per cent more gas and consume and burn over 1.5g more fat in each 24 hours than the 6 per cent of Britons getting over nine hours in the land of nod.’ Zzzzzzzzzz ::The Observer Magazine...
California Puts Oil Production Tax on the Ballot
by Jeff McIntire-Strasburg, St. Louis, MO on 06.23.06
After a brutal primary season in which the main candidates for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination all but challenged each other to a dual, Californians are likely ready to forget about electioneering for a while. One item that's sure to get a lot of attention as the election season heats back up in the late summer, though, is a ballot measure calling for a tax on oil production to fund alternative energy efforts in the state. Candidates for the governor's mansion may be staying quiet right now, but two aptly-named groups, Californians for Clean Alternative Energy and Californians Against Higher Taxes, are already staking out their positions and firing warning shots on this proposal:...
Lunch at Green Enterprise Toronto
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 06.23.06
We were guests for part of the Green Enterprise Toronto seminar, but more about that later, first we did lunch and it is true that the way to a TreeHugger’s heart is through his stomach, particularly if it is a meal like this. Catered by Vert, it was a remarkable demonstration that green businesses can compete and even thrive if they exceed expectations and deliver a value proposition that anyone can grasp instantly and understand its worth. (hey, this was a business seminar, we have to lay on the clichés.) What follows is our first locally sourced, organic and sustainable catered meal. ...
Design e2: Gray to Green
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 06.23.06
When I was a kid I loved construction toys. From the UK we got Meccano sets, but my passion was a Kenner Girder and Panel building set from the USA. The remarkable thing about all of those toys (unlike the despicable LEGO sets of today where you buy them with plans and put them on a shelf, imagination is removed from the equation) is that you kept re-using the parts and designing new buildings and new cities and new worlds. Gray to Green, Tonight's episode of design:e2 reminded me of my childhood, as I watched the building of Paul Pedini's modern house from components of the "big dig"- the burying of a Boston expressway. All buildings should be like Paul's house or my Girder and Panel set- we should be able to take them apart and re-use the components. This episode is a revelation that should change the way we think about building- We should design and build as if the components will be used forever. ::Design:e2...
Clean Up Your Kitchen
by Bonnie Alter, London on 06.23.06
The kitchen can be a minefield when you are trying to be eco-friendly. Start with paper towels and paper napkins—a definite no-no. But how can we give up aluminium foil—it saves hours of pot scrubbing. The answer: 100% recycled aluminium foil, which uses a fraction of the energy needed to smelt aluminium. And the clingy plastic film that is so essential for wrapping up leftovers and covering smelly food? Instead use food covers made of 100% food-grade silicone which are reusable, pliable to fit all types of dishes and containers and good for the freezer. And then there are those plastic bags—so bad and so handy for just about everything… The answer: biodegradable corn starch bags which come in every size. They are now officially certified as fully compostable and made from 100% GM-free cornstarch. For the garbage can: large bin bags made from potato starch or 100% recycled polythene, also bio-degradable. And a special treat—a professional, high-specification digital scale made out of hemp plastic. The base is made from a blend of natural hemp fibres fused into a plastic compound to create a strong and lightweight new material. Keeping a greener kitchen suddenly seems like a real possibility. Incidentally, these products are all from Natural Collection which just won the Observer Ethical Award 2006 for Best Retailer....
McDonalds Teams Up with China Petroleum to Introduce the Drive-Through to China
by Alex Pasternack, Beijing, China on 06.23.06
Not a week after China’s Ministry of Construction announced it would be reinstating bike lanes lost to the expansion of roads and the construction of buildings, the market gives us an unmistakable sign that the hunger for cars—and hamburgers—won’t be stopped in the old Bicycle Kingdom: McDonald's and the China Petroleum and Chemical Corporation, or Sinopec, have just announced plans to turn an unspecified number of the 30,000 gasoline service stations that Sinopec operates nationwide into drive-through McDonald’s outlets. ...
OceanGreen's EcoFoil: A Balsa Hemp Surfboard
by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 06.23.06
In the distant past we’ discussed bamboo surfboards, and more recently observed the prototype sustainable surfboard via the Eden project. Having sprung from that same genesis is the EcoFoil by OceanGreen. Their ultimate goal “is to produce custom surfboards that are 100% bio-derived, that is, made entirely from natural materials.” With the EcoFoil they’re sure getting close. Instead of polyurethane or polystyrene blanks (core), they use hollow balsa wood from FSC certified Nicaraguan forests. These handcrafted blanks are purchased under fair trade arrangements for the final shaping in Cornwall. Fibreglass is avoided with the application of an organically grown hemp cloth ‘skin’. This has about 10% of the embodied CO2 emissions of the fibreglass. Research is still underway to find an appropriate sustainable resin to bind the package. Aside from their standard hemp covered models (right pic) OG offer three EcoFoil balsa boards, beginning with a thruster for £600, and moving up through a mini-mal (left pic) and longboard. Compared to a petrochemically derived board, the EcoFoil is said to be strong and lighter, with more float and less drag. ::OceanGreen, via the EcoSurf Project....
Biomimicry: Namib Beetle teaches Engineers New Tricks
by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 06.23.06
If you lived where the rainfall was less than half an inch (12mm) for the whole year you’d either die, or get pretty smart about how to get a drink. The Namib Desert beetle is one such clever critter. Its shell has evolved microscopic hydrophillic (water-loving) bumps that attract fine water droplets in the fog that blows across the desert, but would not otherwise condense. The minute water drops collect more fog, growing like weeny snowballs until they are heavy enough to roll down the mounds into waxy, hydrophobic (water-repelling) channels. Whoosh! Into the beetle's thirsty mouth. Inspired by an article about this phenomena in Nature journal, engineers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have had a stab at some biomimicry to see if they could recreate the effect. ...
Design Graduates 2006: Domesticating Dirt by Sam Hulbert
by Petz Scholtus, Barcelona, Spain on 06.23.06
After YouMake creative eco learning kits, here’s another peculiar project from the Goldsmiths College Design degree show this year. Sam Hulbert is Domesticating Dirt! He’s 'exploring ways in which inhabitants and dirt can live together in greater harmony in the domestic environment’ in order to make cleaning more pleasurable and satisfying. If you’re curious now, try Blooming Dirt and you won’t have to throw way the dirt collected in vacuum cleaners anymore. Instead you use it to grow plants! If that’s too radical, how about some Dust Bunny & Friends? They comment on how ornaments just sit and accumulate dust in our homes. These ones are made from recycled household dirt that ones landed on surfaces around the house. To get your dirt blooming, contact ::Sam Hulbert ::Goldsmiths Design...
The Quasiturbine: Promising To Revolutionize Engines
by Justin Thomas, Virginia on 06.22.06
The Quasiturbine, is a new concept (patented 10 years ago), that promises to revolutionize the internal combustion engine. It is said to make engines more efficient, quieter and much lighter for the same torque and horsepower abilities. It also promises to make for better compressors and pneumatic motors (refrigeration, heat pumps, stirling engines, steam turbines). ...
Top Three Energy-Sipping, Battery-Powered Gadgets Of Summer
by Justin Thomas, Virginia on 06.22.06
Here are three efficient gadgets that can stretch your batteries further this summer. The first is a cooler that can run on a 12V battery and sips just 24 watts on average: it's a Coolmatic by Waeco. These durable coolers have a control panel where you can set the exact cooling temperature you desire. They will keep your food and drinks icy cold for two days straight on a single 80aH battery. ...
GreenLeaf Market: An Online Farmer's Market
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 06.22.06
GreenLeaf Market is a new internet-based business that believes everyone should have the opportunity to eat fresh, local, healthy food no matter where they are; to this end, they're creating a virtual network of farmers and food producers with local grocers, restaurants and consumers. Not officially launched just yet, GreenLeaf Market is designed to make buying and selling local produce as easy, convenient and cost effective as possible. Created as a foil to the question, "Why is it easier to buy from someone 2,000 miles away than it is from someone 20 miles away?", GreenLeaf is touting itself as an eBay for local food, and we love the idea. Local farmers will be able to post what they have to sell, and buyers will be able to browse through the offerings and make online purchases from the farmers. No matter how you slice it, local food is better; it's fresher, easier on the planet and supportive of local economies (Need more convincing? Read 10 reasons to eat local, as well as experiences from trying the 100-mile diet). We'll look forward to blackberry season and wait for the official launch. ::GreenLeaf Market via ::WorldChanging...
Interview with "Who Killed the Electric Car?" Contributor
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 06.22.06
We've had a sneek peek at "Who Killed the Electric Car?" on TreeHugger TV, and have interviewed electric car enthusiast Paul Scott; now, the folks over at AutoblogGreen have taken it a step further. They recently had a chance to chat with Chelsea Sexton, who used to work for GM before someone killed the electric car and she was laid off. She's featured in the upcoming film "Who Killed the Electric Car?" about the odd and controversial demise of the EV1, and she knows the answer to the question asked by the film's title. She mentions the strange coincidence (or is it?) that GM donated the only intact EV1 to the Smithsonian (which we covered here), along with $10 million, just to pull it from the museum on the eve of the movie's release, but remains coyly tight-lipped about the real killer(s). Ms. Sexton, as a former insider on the project, has some good insight into the car and its demise, and the interview is worth reading; as for finding out who really killed the electric car, we'll all just have to go see the film. ::"Who Killed the Electric Car?" via ::AutoblogGreen...
Perdue Eyes Biodiesel As Growth Market
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 06.22.06
Check out this "Maryland Coast Dispatch" [USA] article for a local take on how chicken feed production links to national biodiesel trends. Major drivers: Perdue is the 800 Pound Chicken producer; Perdue already processes soybeans at various locations, producing soymeal for chicken feed; Maryland is a major chicken producing State, as are many others in the US mid-Atlantic region; biodiesel fuel markets bring good prices and direct distribution brings better margins; local units of government are clamboring for more biodiesel; hence, Perdue is logically looking to get into biodiesel markets. A good thing in many ways. But let's not fool ourselves with license plates like "Veggie Cruiser". There's tertiary impact we're more concerned with. Soy oil feedstock-driven green businesses rely on cheap byproduct oil to keep profit margins intact. Stock up on oil when the commodity price is low, then make soy oil products until the next good buy opportunity. If biodiesel pulls soy oil prices up and keeps them there, small businesses could be threatened. Oh, what tangled webs we TreeHuggers weave....
Instant Survey: Hybrid Hype?
by Erin Courtenay - Madison, WI on 06.22.06
Wal-Mart Careers - A New Department?
by Kara DiCamillo, Newport, Rhode Island on 06.22.06
We were reading through our PRWeek today and when we approached the “jobs” section we couldn’t help but raise our eyebrows. A huge ad for Wal-Mart containing several PR, communications and marketing jobs was staring back at us with the words “sustainability/long term” and “we need PR pros who think outside the big box.” After reading about Jeffrey Hollender’s recent visit to the Wal-Mart headquarters we’re wondering if they are taking into account his suggestions. Are they possibly creating a whole new department for environmental communications. Job descriptions are as follows…...
Zerofootprint: More Reasons to Hug a Tree
by Ron Dembo, Zerofootprint on 06.22.06
Thank god for Al Gore’s new movie, An Inconvenient Truth. It has lots of people inspired to do something and will have a big impact on raising awareness of global warming. Even people who have been giving the same talk for some time come out inspired. I am even ready to junk my Powerpoint slides (obtained from the same scientific source as Al) and use his very polished ones.
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Fortified Houses as Hurricane Bait
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 06.22.06
Yesterday Worldchanging covered a New York Times article about how climate change and rising seas could destroy at least a quarter of beachfront property; today's Times covers how some are dealing with this while aiding and abetting it at the same time- using massive amounts of concrete (source of up to 10% of CO2 production) and building materials to build bunkers by the sea, which someday will look like those forlorn WWII Maunsell Sea Forts. Imagine building a charming seaside community out of these! ::New York Times; see great graphic ::here...
GUSSE: Urban Sustainability Meets Social Networking
by Jeff McIntire-Strasburg, St. Louis, MO on 06.22.06
While the World Urban Forum 3 in Vancouver will end on Friday, organizers hope that the conversations started this week will continue long beyond the live meeting. To facilitate these discussions, a team of techies and visionaries from the University of British Columbia have created GUSSE, an open-source platform for exchanging sustainability solutions. Using a "social networking" model, GUSSE's developers hope to create a valuable resource that's as easy to navigate as MySpace:...
The Sloth Club: Slow is Beautiful
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 06.22.06
We have been meaning to get around to writing about the Sloth club for awhile, since we learned about them through Candle Night, but you know how it is. It seems that a few years ago Australian activist Anja Light was in Equador and rescued a sloth from a cage in a kitchen and was moved to tears. He set up an organization to emulate the sloth- an animal that moves slowly, consumes few resources and is vegetarian. It is "an eco-movement towards new lifestyle". Sloth Club members are into the Slow Food movement and have opened Cafe Slow in Japan, which reportedly has prompt service. You can learn more from the ::Japanese website (last updated Nov, 2004) and in ::Metropolis ...
TH Blog Love – Our Favourite Greens Of The Week
by Leonora Oppenheim, London, UK on 06.22.06
Eco-Worrier: Suffering for the planet by Anna Shepard
'Last week, when Tory leader David Cameron presented the Ashden Awards, dubbed the Oscars of renewable energy (think vintage frocks and conflict-free diamonds), he assured the audience that looking after the environment does not mean “doom, gloom and sacrifice”. Well, I don’t like to rain on anyone’s green parade, but I am duty-bound to point out that being green is not always pain free.'
Groovy Green: Trade In Your Cell Phone by Michael d'Estries
‘Cell phones are cool and all–but most people simply shove them in a drawer–or worse–chuck ‘em when they’re finished. Well, TerraPass has some up with a unique way of solving this problem by partnering up with RIPMobile.’ We’re loving Groovy Green’s new look - check it out!...
The Value of A High Efficiency Home Furnace
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 06.22.06
“Is a high efficiency furnace worth it”? That’s the question posed by Kim, one of our readers. From a technology standpoint, we scanned this overview by “HomeTips.com" and decided there are too many options to offer a yes or no answer. A few efficiency points added to millions of home furnaces would result in a large cumulative cutback in greenhouse gas emissions; and, hopefully, much money saved. But, is it worth that outcome to discard millions of perfectly good furnaces, taking a chance on newer technology, of unknown reliability? Could there be unintended consequences? Lets start with an assumption that your existing furnace burns natural gas or propane, is quite old, and operates near or below the low end of the “name plate” efficiency range of modern furnaces. Unfortunately, if you burn oil, and have no access to natural gas, there is not much can be done in the way of high efficiency furnace technology. If thats' the case, skip to the next post!...
Faux Chateaux a Glut on the Market
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 06.22.06
(This house was discounted 18% and they threw in a flat screen TV) Earlier this week the Wall Street journal covered Micro-houses; now it covers the decline of the McMansion as a result of a number of factors: Demographics, as the baby boomers look to fund their retirements; Energy Costs- Electricity is up 12% and Gas up 43% in the last five years; speculative mania: "Folks bought megasized houses well beyond their needs to increase their investment in real estate," Gas prices and increases in mortgage rates. We shouldn't say "we told you so" but we told you so. ::Wall Street Journal...
Bloomberg To Create NYC 'Office of Sustainability'
by Eric Kane, New York, NY on 06.22.06
As of June 15, NYC’s mayor, Michael Bloomberg, was one of 248 mayors from 41 states to have signed the ‘U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement'. Under the agreement, mayors “strive to meet or beat the Kyoto Protocol targets in their own communities”. According to WNYC, Bloomberg is taking another important step toward this commitment: The public radio station reported yesterday that the billionaire mayor will create a New York City ‘Office of Sustainability’. As one would imagine, this office will be charged with identifying strategies to reduce the City’s greenhouse gas emissions. Coincidentally, this report was issued the same day that the Department of Energy predicted that worldwide carbon dioxide emissions from burning fossil fuels would increase 75 percent above current levels by 2030. See also ::Buildings Account for Half of All CO2 Emissions, ::Electric Taxis Coming to NYC?...
Good Gardening Can Slow Climate Change
by Bonnie Alter, London on 06.22.06
As the world’s temperatures change, many species of birds, bees, butterflies, and mice will lose their feeding and breeding grounds. Treehugger has already reported on the effects on plant life, as warmer temperatures cause them to migrate to cooler areas. This change affects the wildlife that relies on these plants. British birds are already showing signs of being affected: 2004 was the worst breeding season for many seabirds, with a decline in woodland and farmland birds also attributed to changing weather patterns. Wildlife gardening-- making your garden more welcoming to wild creatures—is being encouraged as another aspect of the solution. Many gardeners already know the importance of growing plants which are native to their local area instead of exotic flowers which require intensive care (and watering). ...
Pedals for Progress Seeks 100,000th Bike this Weekend
by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 06.22.06
15 years ago 200 bicycles were shipped from the US to Nicaragua. Unwanted ‘junk’ from an affluent society, transformed into affordable transport for the poor. A decade and a half on, and Pedals for Progress is still cranking. If you happened to be near Clinton Township, New Jersey this weekend you might witness this not-for-profit reach the milestone of 100,000 bicycles collected for the developing world. Since those earlier days the organisation has also donated 500 used sewing machines and $8 million USD in new spare parts to their partner charities in some 28 countries. But P4P is not just giving away the world’s most efficient means of transport. To paraphase that famous line, they are giving fishing rods, instead of fish. Or as they put it: giving a hand up, not a hand out. The bikes, donated to the charities, are repaired and tuned by locals trained in bike maintenance. Their jobs are, in turn, funded by selling the bicycles at affordable prices to the working poor, who use them to advance their economic well being. (The definition of a 'weed' is simply a plant in the wrong place. One could similarly argue that there is no such thing as ‘household waste’, just valuable resources in the wrong garage or shed.) Ride on ::Pedals for Progress !
Of course there are many other equally dedicated organisations alike to Pedals for Progress. We list some of them after the fold....
Diesel Motorcycle Update (from Europe)
by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 06.22.06
We have covered the diesel motorcycle scene once or twice before, but TH Tipster Zach B. thought our readership deserved a bit of an update, and sent us a couple of links that may prove of interest. The Track Diesel motorcycle (pictured above), is being conjured up in the Netherlands, and is due for release sometime after October 2006. Able to use either Pure Plant oil, Bio-Diesel or Diesel fuels, the Track is said to manage a fuel consumption of 2.5 - 2.1 litres per 100 km travelled when operated at speeds of 90 kph. That’s equivalent to about 112 mpg. It can go from 0 to 100 kph in 8.5 second and obtain a top speed of 185 kph (115 mph). Designed and engineered by E.V.A. Motorcycle Systems of Holland, the Track is reported to have a patented front-wheel hydraulic adjustable drive system. More (limited) information can be found at ::Track Diesel. Another diesel motorbike that is now commercially available is the EcoRider from Scotland....
Re-use Pioneer: Annie Langlois of On and On Ecolo Chic
by Kyeann Sayer, Nomad on 06.21.06
Back in 2001, when the idea of re-purposed fashion was suggested to them, Montreal designer Annie Langlois and her On and On Ecolo Chic partner Rébecca Khoury could not have predicted that they would become sustainable fashion leaders. Because of their pioneering efforts, re-used ready-to-wear could become viable on a large scale. I recently spoke with Annie about the challenges and rewards of repeat chic.
Continue Reading Re-use Pioneer: Annie Langlois of On and On Ecolo Chic...
Most Huggable
by Jacob Gordon, Nashville, TN on 06.21.06
Bicycles, green architecture, eco-adornment, mainstream organics, and enviro-indie-rock! What more could an modern eco-optimist ask for? Find it on Hugg.com. No more greasy fingers or chewed up pant legs on the ride, here’s a chainless bicycle… From Shigeru Ban Architects comes the eco-innovative and minimal Curtain Wall House… Recycled stainless steel jewelry and useful shiny things from Tarma… Dartmouth students rock Bonnaroo in the Big Green Bus… Amazon.com breaks into the grocery business and the organic spread is pretty impressive…...
TreeHugger Picks: Solar Fun in the Sun
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 06.21.06
Summer has officially arrived (as Lloyd has noted here and here) so there's never been a better time to take advantage of the extra sunshine and power up with solar. Here are our picks for some summertime solar fun.
1) The solar-powered wireless camera is useful for making sure your neighbor's dog isn't digging through your garbage cans anymore.
2) Solar-powered electric bicycle. 'Nuff said.
3) The complete solar roof integrates solar electric and solar thermal technologies in a tile that is installed like a conventional roofing tile and generates both electricity and heat.
4) Voltaic's solar backpack is handy for charging your solar gadgets on the go.
5) These solar chargers from Solar Style helps you get free energy for your portable electronics....
Umbrella Inside Out Competitions: Accepting Entries!
by Kyeann Sayer, Nomad on 06.21.06
The first ever TreeHugger design competition is here! In Collaboration with I.D. Magazine, we are asking for creative approaches to the umbrella problem. Of the 33 million sold annually in the U.S. alone, hundreds of thousands break down, facing abandonment and landfills. Designers (and aspiring designers!), give us either an innovative umbrella with a Cradle to Cradle(R) sensibility, or a women's couture garment fashioned from old umbrellas! Entry info is available here. Finalists and winners will be featured on TreeHugger and in I.D.! The winning couture garment will walk the runway at Paris' Ethical Fashion Show. The Umbrella Inside Out site will constantly feature fresh stories on re-use, Cradle to Cradle(R), and umbrella fun. Design away!...
Spied: Fuel Cell Hybrid Toyota Highlander in Death Valley
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 06.21.06
Summer in Death Valley, Calif. is not a fun place to be. With temperatures pushing the mercury to 125°F and above, auto engineers bring their cars here to see if they make the grade. Steep hills around the valley provide the perfect place for pulling heavily loaded trailers up the hills, heating engines and radiators to the boiling point; "ideal" conditions for testing many of the world's new cars. Recently, there was an unusual sight in Death Valley, and photographs prove it wasn't just a mirage: a Toyota fuel cell vehicle. Usually reserved for the flash bulbs and live blogging of international car shows, the FCHV (Fuel Cell Hybrid Vehicle) "prototype" was seen being put through it's paces, just like any other almost-ready-for-production vehicle. Could it mean that the FCHV is ready to roll into showrooms? Almost certainly not (since the only thing we've actually been able to buy is this kit car), but we're glad to see that Toyota is serious enough about developing fuel cell vehicles that they'd take one out to the desert, flog it and then leave it idling in the sun. ::World Car Fans via ::Jalopnik...
World Health Organization: Preventing Disease Through Healthy Environments
by Michael Graham Richard, Gatineau, Canada on 06.21.06
Now for some bad news: "As much as 24% of global disease is caused by environmental exposures which can be averted [...] more than 33% of disease in children under the age of 5 is caused by environmental exposures. Preventing environmental risk could save as many as four million lives a year in children alone, mostly in developing countries. [...] The report estimates that more than 13 million deaths annually are due to preventable environmental causes. Nearly one third of death and disease in the least developed regions is due to environmental causes. Over 40% of deaths from malaria and an estimated 94% of deaths from diarrhoeal diseases, two of the world's biggest childhood killers, could be prevented through better environmental management." These figures come from a World Health Organization report titled Preventing disease through healthy environments - towards an estimate of the environmental burden of disease and remind us of the very real costs of not living in harmony with nature and not dealing with poverty. Each of us, lets be part of the solution. ::Preventing disease through healthy environments: Towards an estimate of the environmental burden of disease, ::Almost a quarter of all disease caused by environmental exposure, ::Video message by Dr Maria Neira, Director, Public Health and Environment, World Health Organization...
Green Singles: Get a Date, Save the Planet
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 06.21.06
Finding a fellow TreeHugger to share life, love and organic champange with you can be a bit tricky. For anyone who's ever struck out with the line, "Hey baby, let's do it carbon-neutral," there is hope. Green Singles has been helping greenies and enviros unite since 1985. Originally started as a (recycled?) paper newsletter, they went online in 1996, and have since helped many a love-lorn 'Hugger find a kindred spirit or green soul mate. They donate five percent of their profits to a diverse collection of non-profits, and can help anyone looking for love, but looking to avoid someone who pilots a Hummer. If one green dating site isn't enough, give Green Passions a go for twice the fun. ::Green Singles via ::HippyShopper...
Solar-Powered Lighted Patio Umbrella
by Kara DiCamillo, Newport, Rhode Island on 06.21.06
Hammacher Schlemmer is a great resource for enjoying your patio and the outdoors. With products like bamboo serving ware and even a solar shower, lazy summer days by the pool are that much more enjoyable. And why let those days come to an end just because the sun has set? No need to pull out all those extension cords because now from Hammacher Schlemmer comes a solar-powered lighted patio umbrella. The 16 LEDs recharge automatically under the solar canopy and they keep the party going for up to eight hours. Like all umbrellas, it has a tilt option to provide extra sunlight and a crank option for opening and closing. Via ::Idealbite ::Hammacher Schlemmer...
New Organic Hair Care From Dr. Hauschka
by Mairi Beautyman, Berlin, Germany on 06.21.06
Natural and organic skincare company Dr. Hauschka has just introduced four tasty new hair care products: Macadamia and Orange Shampoo for normal hair, Nasturtium and Lemon Shampoo for normal to oily hair, Apricot and Sea Buckthorn Shampoo for dry and damaged hair, and Jojoba and Marshmallow Conditioner for intensive daily conditioning treatment. The Germany-based firm only uses herbal extracts from plants grown organically or collected in the wild to create each product—without making sacrifices for scent, lather, or consistency. Plus, the quality seal of the German BDIH is stamped on every bottle. What does that mean? Full ingredient disclosure and no synthetic chemical colors, aromas, preservatives, silicones, paraffins, petroleum products, or animal testing. Prices start at 9€...a bit luxurious, but totally worth it. So far, these products have just hit Europe—no word on when they will launch in the U.S. More info on where to find them is here and here. ::Dr. Hauschka (German site, also in English) ::Dr. Hauschka (English site) via ECO-world.de...
A Farm Grows In Brooklyn
by Eric Kane, New York, NY on 06.21.06
In recent years, summer in New York City has begun to represent more than sweltering subway platforms and corporate softball leagues. Mister Softee’s favorite season also brings city dwellers the opportunity to purchase local produce and other goods at numerous weekly neighborhood farmers’ markets. Thanks to the work of Added Value, a Red Hook based nonprofit organization, two markets stand out above the rest for their commitment to sustainable agriculture and community development. ...
AqWise: Habitat For Humanity's Waste
by Karin Kloosterman, Jerusalem, Israel on 06.21.06
Israeli-based AqWise is increasing the amount of reclaimed water at wastewater plants. Based on a simple plastic bead about the size of a peanut (which you wouldn't want to eat) with enough space for plenty of fecal-munching bacterial and an aeration system, their system is already used in sewage treatment plants in the US, Canada and Latin America. Hundreds of thousands of plastic beads are sent swimming in a vat in combination with turbines that spin and aerate the water and waste just so. The latticework structure inside the bead increases surface area and provides low-rent condominiums for the bacteria ready and willing to help turn human waste into something resembling clean water. Go bacteria!!...
Smile Lounge
by Justin Thomas, Virginia on 06.21.06
A synthesis of a lounge and a hammock, this Smile Lounge, designed by David Trubridge. The piece is made to rock just slightly and to adjust depending upon the positioning of your weight. Like all of Trubridge’s work, Smile is made in New Zealand using natural materials with an eye on sustainable development. :: Via productdose...
Invasive Weeds: Voilà, Sleek Daybed
by Mairi Beautyman, Berlin, Germany on 06.21.06
This hand-crafted daybed sports curves—which make for a complete package, when you take in its eco-friendly design. Created by PIE (Project Import Export), the Tonecoon daybed is fabricated from woven water hyacinth. This plant is not just a rapidly-renewable species, it is classified as an “invasive weed” by the United States Department of Agriculture, and usually tackled with herbicides, mowing machines, and biocontrol insects. PIE has a whole line of TreeHugger-pleasing products—also composed of liana, rattan, and bamboo (check out the bamboo H chair). ::Project Import Export via ::Interior Design...
Simply Green Parties - A New Book From Danny Seo
by Erin Courtenay - Madison, WI on 06.21.06
Perhaps more than any other environmental lifestyle advocate, Danny Seo has helped to bring about the transformation of green living from crunchy to classy. Although he is frequently referred to as the "green Martha Stewart" (a useful catchphrase for PR, but one I wish he could do without), Danny has much more to offer than his eponymous counterpart. And while his latest book, Simply Green Parties follows the M. Stewart tract, it is in the pages where Danny's voice is most clear that the book really shines.
The look and layout are tres' Stewart (the book's photographer has done work for M.S. Living and Better Homes and Gardens), with the same breezy aesthetic that makes you want to tidy up the kitchen and place bud vases in the bathroom. Flipping through the pages is like taking an afternoon nap, a tiny indulgence that brings about a sense of calm and pleasant living but also the slightest twinge of guilt. Martha fans, you know that twinge, the one that makes you think: "Why can't I get off my ass and make a seasonal centerpiece out of fresh fruit and bottled pepper berries?"...
Dry Your Hair With This Before You Put On Your Tinfoil Hat
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 06.21.06
Here is one of the silliest things we have seen in a while- you can be honestly concerned about EMF like Fred Gilbert is, or you can think it is a non-issue. However if you are worried about putting big magnetic fields close to your brain (as hairdryers do) may we suggest a far smarter solution, found on TreeHugger here and here and here. ::Red Ferret...