- 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 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, Ottawa, 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, Ottawa, 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, New York, NY 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, Ottawa, 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...
Small Wind is Beautiful
by Jeff McIntire-Strasburg, St. Louis, MO on 06.21.06
Like most Treehuggers, we occasionally succumb to daydreaming about living off the grid in an oh-so-tasteful strawbale cottage with an organic garden in the back... then the phone rings. While a rugged, romantic life of self-reliance isn't in the cards for most of us, generating your own power from a variety of renewable sources is a real possibility. If wind looks like your power source of choice, Canadian businessman and blogger Glen Estill has written a primer on small-scale wind generation that provides the details on grid-tied and off-grid systems. Glen notes that the easiest way to power your home or business renewably is to buy directly from providers of green electricity, but he also notes the great sense of satisfaction and independence that comes from installing wind turbines and using the power they generate....
Things to do on the Solstice Part 2: Candle Night
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 06.21.06
What a lovely idea- turn out the electric lights, relax, take it slow and light a candle- read a book with your child, have a quiet dinner with a loved one. Why the Japanese founders of this Summer Solstice holiday would schedule it on the longest day of the year instead of the shortest is beyond us (They are suggesting candles from eight PM to 10PM- in Toronto or Hokkaido, it will not be dark until close to 10) . It is organized by Daichi O Mamoru Kai (an organic agriculture and food network), Japan for Sustainability (JFS) and our favourite organization, the Sloth Club (an NGO that promotes environmentally friendly culture and lifestyle). ...
Hudson Valley Warehouse Finds New Homes for Waste and Debris
by Rose Fox, New York City on 06.21.06
Tucked modestly away in Orange County NY, the Hudson Valley Materials Exchange is a non-profit organization that takes in donations of landfill-destined waste and debris from local businesses. Anything useable is sent to artists and schools or sold to members of the public at a steep discount from market value. Their materials list reads like a teacher's dream, and purchasers come down from Connecticut and Massachusetts as well as the surrounding counties of New York and New Jersey to take advantage of low prices for warehouse members....
Vert: Environmentally Responsible Catering
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 06.21.06
Providing the food for the Green Enterprise Toronto forum is Vert Catering- a "gourmet green caterer, specializing in local and organic food"...." Our food is local, fresh, seasonal and passionately cultivated." Catering can be a wasteful business- lots of transport, lots of garbage. Vert tries to do it differently by encouraging organic and naturally grown food choices; Supporting community by donating one catering to charity monthly; Composting and recycling all excess food onsite; Driving environmentally friendly Autoshare; Using biodegradable tableware non-pulp products. The food looks good too....Vert Catering...
Campaign to Get Rid of Excess Wrapping
by Bonnie Alter, London on 06.21.06
Yesterday the Women's Institute (think Helen Mirren in Calendar Girls) held a national day of action against excess packaging of food in supermarkets. Across the country, members dumped piles of old food wrappings at supermarkets' doors to make their point about unnecessary waste. Given that it generates 4.6M tons of garbage a year, this is an important campaign (see Treehugger). In fact many supermarkets have started already to reduce packaging because it saves them money. Marks and Spencer led the way and has won the National Recycling Award for its efforts. They removed all the little trays in take-out sandwiches and put recycling bins at the front of four central London stores. Asda sells its ready-made meals without a cardboard sleeve now. Sainsbury’s is using compostable wrapping on its organic apples and potatoes in 140 stores and within the next six months intends to use it for all of its organic produce. The Co-Op sells fully bio-degradable carrier bags and Tesco plans to follow suit by September. “You’ve got to listen to your customers” said a manager at Asda. Quite so. :: Financial Times...
Wallace & Gromit Head to the Arctic
by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 06.21.06
We like human-powered journeys, so this quirky and whimsical one sure appealed. Blind Brit, Stephen Beresford and his guide dog, Forest, will be doing a Wallace and Gromit impersonation as they ride 1,200 miles (1900 km) through Norway to the Arctic Circle and back. Forest, having assisted Stephen for the past 10 years, is due to put his paws up in retirement after the adventure. Thus Stephen, who only has 10% vision in one eye, hopes the trip can act as a fundraiser for the ‘Guide Dogs for the Blind’ charity, as a way of giving back. The custom built side car would make Wallace the made DIY inventor proud. A sighted friend will accompany the pair to keep them on the straight and narrow. All the best to the team. Via ::This Is Bradford....
Solar Powered LED Traffic Lights for India
by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 06.21.06
Previously we’ve noted how the move to LED (Light Emitting Diodes) traffic lights can offer significant savings on both energy consumption and costs for cities. We've also advised on how Berlin derived 100% of their electricity for traffic control from renewable sources. It would appear that India is now combining both these attributes into a single traffic single design. The Indian suburb of Nodia is poised to introduce 27 such lights. The main benefit being that traffic flows will be free of disruption when inevitable power failures occur. (An odd counterpoint to this story is that these new lights look like they will be purchased directly by the state. But some solar-powered traffic signals have been previously provided by private interests. Costs were defrayed by allowing limited advertising on the lights. Certainly one way of getting motorists attention, but not likely to improve road safety.) We aren’t sure who will be providing Nodia’s solar lights, but did find Delhi based Envoy, who make similar products, which can operate for three days without fresh exposure to sunshine. Via ::Delhi Newsline. ...
MIT Transport Design Summit Strives for 500 MPG
by Jacob Gordon, Nashville, TN on 06.20.06
Born out of the experience of the World Solar Challenge, MIT will host 60 engineers representing 15 countries, convening to address the growing need of the world’s 6.5 billion potential drivers for efficient personal transport. The goal of the Vehicle Design Summit being held this summer is to make “serious effort to revolutionize the design process for alternative transportation technology.” The focus will be broken into the integration of: hydrogen fuel cells, photovoltaics, biofuels, and human power. Also to be explored are retrofits for existing production vehicles and an opened-ended category they are calling simply Th!nk. Organizers of the VDS hope to see practical 500 mpg transport solutions for commuter vehicles. The results of the conference will also help shape future MIT curricula. :: Vehicle Design Summit via Green Car Congress...
XM Developing A Crank-Powered Satellite Radio
by Justin Thomas, Virginia on 06.20.06
As part of XM Satellite Radio's expanded EAS initiative, XM is working to develop a crank-powered satellite radio receiver that would allow listeners to receive signal during power outages. So during emergency situations where terrestrial radio networks are down and cell phone networks are rendered useless, you'll be able to receive emergency notices without any power source. XM's Emergency Alert Channel (XM 247) is received free-of-charge to any XM receiver. So even non-subscribers have the capability of getting timely updates in disaster situations. :: Via Hugg and Orbitcast...
Biobutonal: A Superior, Renewable Substitute for Gasoline
by Justin Thomas, Virginia on 06.20.06
Drivers may soon have a third option for fuel produced from plants: biobutanol. Butanol from petroleum has been used for decades as an industrial solvent, but two companies say they are close to commercializing a process for creating the fuel from corn, sugar beets, or even grasses. BP and Dupont today announced that they will begin selling Biobutanol in the United Kingdom next year. ...
Investing in Solutions to Climate Change: Making Green by Being Green
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 06.20.06
Over at Two Steps Forward, Joel Makower has an excellent piece on the potential for forward-thinking investors (and the large corporations who are being invested in) to profit from changes in climate policy. According to a newly published report by Citigroup Investment Research, in partnership with the World Resources Institute's Capital Markets Research Team, "While there are companies that will suffer from climate policy changes, there are companies that will benefit as well. Someone must sell the products and services that will help companies meet, say, emissions targets should they become law...." GE's Ecomagination campaign is one such program that's highlighted; to be sure, it is one that is cashing in on the development and sale of new, green products and technologies (see this post for more details). The list is certainly not a "who's who in sustainable companies," concentrating instead on those who stand to profit from the transition to a more renewable, less oil-centric economy....
Brooklyn Eco-Eatery to Host Enormous FreeMeet
by Rose Fox, New York City on 06.20.06
Treehugger loves Freecycle™, and the FreeMeets are Freecycle™ at its best. The Freecycle™ New York City Solar-Powered FreeMeet is coming up, and it looks to be a delightful day of swap meet fun in the sun. Taking over an entire Brooklyn block, it's being described as "a free flea market meets street fair" by the organizers. Bring anything you want to give away and take home things you can use (provided it's appropriate for all ages and can fit in a grocery cart, so don't expect to bring or find furniture or X-rated movies). The Habana Outpost Eco-Eatery at 757 Fulton Street will host the event; Build It Green! NYC, New York's only nonprofit building supply store, is providing garment racks. Participants are encouraged to bring wire hangers, which will be recycled after the event. BIG! will truck away leftover items and donate them to charity.
Early drop-offs are welcome at Habana Outpost from 6-10 p.m. on Friday June 23rd. The event proper runs from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday June 24th and is absolutely free. ::RecycleThisNYC via ::Freecyle™ New York City...
Harmony Art Adds New Textiles
by Kara DiCamillo, Newport, Rhode Island on 06.20.06
Harmony Art, a company that we first told you about a few months ago, announced recently the release of their first 100% made in the USA organic fabric. The Let It Grow pattern is the first to be printed and Pink Moon might be soon to follow. Designer Harmony Susalla has focused on organic, fair-trade sateen fabric in the past but this is a brand new venture for her. The fabrics are available in both bulk and retail and all of her prints are plant-inspired. In addition, six new companies are using Harmony’s textiles in their products, which are featured on this page. ::Harmony Art...
XR3 Hybrid: 125 MPG Diesel Electric Prototype
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 06.20.06
Custom vehicle designer Robert Q. Riley has dreamed up everything from bikes to kit cars to hovercraft and submarines. For his latest project, he's drawing up plans for a super-lightweight, high-performance diesel-electric hybrid. The XR3 Hybrid is a three-wheeled Personal Mobility Vehicle (PMV) that will supposedly get 125 mpg and top out at 85 mph. In a nod to Natural Capitalism's Hypercar, the clam-shell canopy will be made from carbon-fiber, and when plans are completed (the website says later this year), they'll be published so that adventurous DIYers can try it for themselves. While far from production status, Riley has enough vehicle design experience and credibility to insure we'll be watching in December. ::XR3 Hybrid via ::Jalopnik...
Whole Foods Encourages Shoppers to "Think Green"
by Rose Fox, New York City on 06.20.06
Whole Foods Market has been at the center of some controversies, particularly over accusations of union-busting. For many shoppers used to conventional supermarkets, however, the wind-powered grocery giant has proven to be an excellent "gateway drug" into the world of eco-living. Their latest sly trick is to include a customer-suggested greener living tip in every edition of fl@vors, their free e-mail newsletter. (The June 15th recommendation is cleaning with vinegar.) Anyone who submits a tip chosen for publication will receive a $25 Whole Foods gift card. It's a nice little way to encourage customers to think green around the house. ::Green Mission Tips...
Tactile Transducers As Fans: Energy Efficient?
by Justin Thomas, Virginia on 06.20.06
In the summer, an acquaintance of mine uses Tactile Transducers as fans. The transducers are modified so that they vibrate a ricepaper partition-style structure. These structures are then arranged in a semi-circle — and they create quite a breeze. The question is: are they energy efficient? But remember they are also serving a dual purpose as speakers. The transducers are the gold models from Clark Synthesis.
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Instant Survey: Green Energy Purchases
by Erin Courtenay - Madison, WI on 06.20.06
Things to do on the Solstice June 21 : Part 1
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 06.20.06
In London, you can paint yourself blue and go to Primrose Hill and impress all the other druids with this stonehenge watch. Tell time, calculate solstices and play with your gnomon. Just position the watch using the accompanying high viscosity compass to tell local apparent time just as the builders of Stonehenge did thousands of years ago. For night-time use, there is an analogue watch built into the back. ::Think Geek via ::BoingBoing...
China: Keep Them Pigeons Rolling!
by Alex Pasternack, New York, NY on 06.20.06
For all the huffing and puffing we do about China’s environmental woes, it's worth remembering that old-fashioned conservation, efficiency and reuse have been staples of Chinese living before green was anything but a lovely color. Perhaps there is no more elegant and high tech emblem of that lifestyle than the bicycle. In the late 80s, China’s bike population pushed 500 million, and today you can hardly get around a Chinese city without an old Flying Pigeon or a sleek new Dahon folding bike.
And yet, one need only take a look at the air, or at Beijing’s incredible traffic jams, or the record-breaking automobile accidents across China, to see that the country is slowly losing its title as the Bicycle Kingdom. Indeed, the Chinese government estimates that the number of cars on China's roads in 2004 was 20 times that of 1978; presently, Beijing adds 1000 new cars to its streets every day. As incomes have risen in recent years, driving the demand for cars, governments in cities like Shanghai even began banning electric scooters from roads and closing bike lanes to make room for big new buildings and highways.
That’s why it was so refreshing to hear last week that the government has ordered that all sacrificed bike lanes be restored....
Harvard Business Review: "Building the Green Way"
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 06.20.06
Author Charles Lockwood , speaking about his newly published article in Harvard Business Review, reminds us that, “In the U.S., buildings account for 39% of the nation’s total annual energy consumption, whereas transportation (including cars) comprises only 27% of our total energy use,…” His June 2006 HBR article begins with a reminder of just how quickly the green building movement has become practical and business-worthy. Deserving of a read in its entirety, the full article, online version without photos, is available for a limited time at this link . Charlie offers ten cardinal rules that will be helpful for those who’ve not yet looked into the details of green building (in truth, this probably means most big business executives and developers). From HBR: “Building green is no longer a pricey experiment; just about any company can do it on a standard budget by implementing the following ten rules”. ...
Light Sleeper – It Design’s Cardboard Bed
by Leonora Oppenheim, London, UK on 06.20.06
Since you all loved the idea of Mothercare’s cardboard cot so much (arrrgghhh who’d let their child sleep in something made out of cardboard!) I wonder what you’ll think of this? A bed base made from cardboard eh? Well we certainly like It Design’s concept, it uses a sustainable, lightweight and cheap material, which for the urban nomad is easily transportable. From the photos it looks great; simple and easy to assemble, but I wonder how sturdy it really is? They have photos of kids are playing on it, and even people doing yoga on it! But still you might not want to put it under too much strain. The Itbed is made from 7mm thick cardboard and is stabilized from head to foot with by two lengths of webbing. It comes in several widths from 90 to 160cm and in two versions one for a futon, ideal as a guest bed, and one for a regular mattress. It is a label from Switzerland that has 'designed and produced compact and flexible furniture for young and mobile urbanites since 1997. The label has been created by the two architects Valérie Jomini and Stanislas Zimmermann.' Check out other their other minimal lightweight designs and mobile inflatable showroom! Thanks to tippster Zerlina ::It Design....
Birding Babylon: A Soldier's Journal from Iraq
by Meaghan O'Neill, Newport, R.I. on 06.20.06
Birding Babylon: A Soldier’s Journal from Iraq (Sierra Club Books), is the tale of a Connecticut Army National Guardman's obsession with nature, even in the grim face of a desert ravaged by war and death. The book is an outcropping of Sergeant First Class Jonathan Trouern-Trend’s war-time blog, Birdng Babylon, a look beyond the barbed wire in search of the life that was all around him during his yearlong tour of duty in Iraq. ...
Renewable Portfolio Standards... So Far
by Jeff McIntire-Strasburg, St. Louis, MO on 06.20.06
In the US, state governments are leading the way in developing renewable energy generation. That's not really news to most Treehuggers, whether they live in the United States or elsewhere. We might not all know, though, how well the variety of state-level renewable energy programs are doing in terms of significant production of power from renewable sources. The Pew Center on Global Climate Change has devoted itself to keeping an eye on states implementing renewable policies, and last week released a report on one of the most popular mechanisms embraced by US states: the Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS). According to the report, Race to the Top: The Expanding Role of U.S. State Renewable Portfolio Standards, the RPS concept has spread quickly in the past few years: 22 states and the District of Columbia have an RPS on the books, and over half of the US' population now lives in a state with an RPS. ...
Green Enterprise Toronto Forum
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 06.20.06
Want to be a green entrepreneur? Come to Thursday's forum "How to Grow the New Economy: The Voice of Toronto’s Green Entrepreneurs." Michael Shulman, a founder of Balle and author of "The Small-Mart Revolution: How Local Businesses Are Beating the Global Competition" is speaking. Other Participants: Margie Zeidler, who built "a City within the City"- a big green incubator at 401 Richmond in Toronto. Jennifer Wright of Green Shift, a "Facilitator of Environmental Stewardship". Tim Draimin of Tides. and others- you can learn a lot from these guys. Lunch and Dinner (100% local-sustainable zero waste, of course) included. ::Green Enterprise Toronto...
Toyota does Prefab
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 06.20.06
When you buy a house from Toyota, it is built much like their cars. You have a smart key to open your doors; anti-vibration mounts between floors; scratch-resistant paint on the walls. It is built out of metal framed modules delivered 85% complete and assembled like toy blocks on the site in just six hours. According to Keiran Timberlake, they " built sophisticated IT driven assembly plants capable of producing thousands of housing units per year. The factory built housing industries in these countries have moved well beyond simply shop building house components using site-building technologies, and have incorporated CAD/CAM manufacturing capabilities, Enterprise Resource Management strategies and software, and advanced building simulation capabilities into their manufacturing processes. Consequently, they are able to produce high quality, high performance housing at relatively low cost." ...
London Architecture Biennale: A Knitted House
by Bonnie Alter, London on 06.20.06
It’s Architecture Week AND London Architecture Biennale—don’t ask why they had to be at the same time… The Biennale kicked off with a Sheep Drive, 60 sheep being driven from Borough Market over the Millennium Bridge to Smithfield Market (the historic slaughterhouses—now meat market), herded by Lord Norman Foster, the king of architecture, to show links in food distribution. Adjacent was a fair with trendy, wonderful food and stalls. More architectural and high design than ecological; the highlight was the Knitting Site. Using a 2-storey high scaffold as a starting point, a group of women knitted the outside walls out of garbage bags, old plastic bags, and rope. They had met weekly to prepare, and continued on the day of the event, as the house unfolded before the crowd’s eyes. As they said: “Some people think that the act of building should be hidden behind screens, we like building site stuff - nets and ropes and scaffolding. We knit with them. And while some people think knitting is to remain behind walls, we build walls that are knitted. The knitting site is about bringing the backstage to the fore. We like the look of the mundane. Knitting triggers memory, some say. The knitting site is a device for remembering. Remembering the cloth fair, remembering ancient practices of making, remembering old ways of living”. ...
Design Graduates 2006: YouMake by Matthew Graves
by Petz Scholtus, Barcelona, Spain on 06.20.06
Would you like to make or teach a youngster how to make your very own hot air balloon or learn how to generate electricity from a fruit? Then check out Matthew Graves’ project YouMake as today’s chosen piece from the London Design Graduates 2006.
YouMake promotes Learning Through Doing linking in with ecology. It introduces ecoliteracy to kids through creative making and play. Matthew designed creative kits (available through his web site) around themes such as fire & carbon cycles, hydro power, wind power & weather patterns or alternative energy, based on the following principles: Holistic Worldview, Experimental Education, Cross-Curricular Learning, Individual Learning, Community resource, Fun and Co-responsibility/Motivation. If you’re not yet convinced that this has true TreeHugger style, check out the different kits and Matthew’s photos from his workshops and you’ll never lack hands-on creative learning at school or at home anymore. Go ::Ecomatt! ::YouMake ::Goldsmiths College Design ...
InterContinental Hong Kong Wins a Green Gong
by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 06.20.06
Strange where one finds a greening going on. No usually anticipated in a 258 room five star hotel, with harbour views, and a rooftop heated outdoor swimming pool. But seemingly the InterContinental Grand Stanford Hong Kong has been doing its bit for a few years now. Just this month they were awarded the 2006 ‘Eco-Hotel Champion’ award by the Hong Kong Sustainable Communications Association (HKSCA) a group that promotes the eco-fying of businesses. This is not the first time the hotel has scored a prize. In 2004 they picked up the Gold Award for Green Innovative Practice from the Hong Kong Eco-Business Awards and they were certified under ISO14001 in 2000 for Environmental Management Systems.* While details are scarce as to exactly what changes have been made, the hotel has a ‘green policy’ that commenced back in 1999, and now includes a Green Committee, which works with all the hotel staff to promote the virtues of recycle, repair, reuse, refill, replace and reduce. In winning the award, the General Manager observed that, “We firmly believe that a good green policy makes good business sense.” Hear, hear. ::InterContinental Grand Stanford, via Daily Travel News....
Green Levy for Scottish Tourists?
by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 06.20.06
Here’s a curious idea. A possible £5 ($9.30 or €7.30) charge per visitor to Scotland as an offset for “carbon emissions generated in travelling here and [to] support green projects, such as growing trees.” The notion is being explored by VisitScotland and World Wildlife Fund Scotland and a feasibility study is apparently underway as how such a scheme might be implemented. Early suggestions are that the levy might possibly be captured via internet travel bookings. Allan Rankin, chief executive of the Scottish Tourism Forum, said the industry needed to consider ways to appeal to environmentally-conscious tourists. But later cautioned that a mandatory fee could damage the industry. The British Hospitality Association Scotland were even less enthused, "It is intrusive to the tourism trade and the one thing the tourism trade cannot take any more of is regulations or any more tax.” (Should we point out that the planet cannot take any more taxing either?) Funny how business so often embraces the ‘user pays’ concept, right up until it edges close to their own bottom line. Via ::The Scotsman....
New "EcoSystem" PC Uses Only 75 Watts
by Justin Thomas, Virginia on 06.19.06
From custom computer maker Jinglehorse comes this new PC called the EcoSystem. Designed around the Core Duo processor and energy efficient components, the EcoSystem PCs are built to match the performance of their Pentium 4 counterparts while using 75% less energy. The basic Jinglehorse EcoSystem configuration uses no more than 44 watts while idle and an average of 75 watts while under full load. The makers claim that it's the most energy efficient PC available today. The EcoSystem PCs are also very quiet — lower power consumption means a cooler running temperature, so minimal fans are needed and are required to run less frequently. Prices start at $895. Thanks to Nick for the tip!...
Most Huggable
by Jacob Gordon, Nashville, TN on 06.19.06
Here are some more of the freshest fillets from Hugg, serving up reader-generated green news daily. A veggie-powered motorcycle possibly to be … “Free-range” fish farms in Hawaii that boast eco-benefits (let’s hope they don’t escape)… An aftermarket hybrid retrofit for your hoopty or favorite classic car… Forbes magazine says the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service got 140,000 comments on the issue of putting polar bears on the endangered list… Natural, renewable, compostable cotton grass fiber cleaning up those pesky oil spills… Read it, post it, hugg it. Hugg.com is a wide open for readers, bloggers, and orgs to share their green news and views....
Fossil Kinetic Watches: Never Change a Battery Again
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 06.19.06
Fossil has recently unveiled a couple of timepieces for anyone who'd rather not change a watch battery every again and prefers to power their watch themselves. The FS4171 (left) and FS4132 (right) are both juiced up by the magical power of movement and the FS4171 earns extra gadget points by having a dashing red rotor that you can "watch" as it powers your watch with each flail of your arm. At $95, they're much more affordable than this other kinetic watch we featured that came in at $2,200. Both offerings from Fossil come with an 11-year warranty, and sure beat having to hack your watch apart to replace the battery when it stops ticking. ::Fossil via ::The Green Guy...
Smithsonian Kills the Electric Car
by Jacob Gordon, Nashville, TN on 06.19.06
After having the chance to see major environmental issues on the big screen in An Inconvenient Truth, moviegoers will have another chance to see relevant subject matter in action with Who Killed the Electric Car?, which will open at the end of this month (see THTV sneak peek of Who Killed and our interview with Paul Scott). The documentary tells the story of the now legendary EV1, a work of engineering genius and the only mass produced electric vehicle to (yet) grace our roads. It just got harder, however, to actually see the famous car in person, even behind a velvet rope. After revoking and destroying their EV1s, General Motors gave a handful of them to museums as historical pieces. Now, the only fully intact EV1 on display has been removed from view at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History in Washington, D.C., to make room for a robotic VW Touareg designed by Stanford University, what the Washington Post called a “high-tech SUV.”...
How To: Improve Your Gas Mileage
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 06.19.06
TreeHugger prefers not to drive, but we know there are times and circumstances where you have to climb behind the wheel. For all of those times, there are a couple new projects out there to help us all keep the gas consumption low and efficiency high. LowCVP, the Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership, just finished up their "Low Carbon Road Transport Challenge," which called on policy and academic communities to contribute new or innovative proposals to enable the UK to accelerate the shift to low carbon vehicles and fuels and help meet climate change targets. One of the winning entries came from Associate Professor Steven Cousins at the School of Industrial and Manufacturing Science at Cranfield University, whose idea is to develop new instrumentation for cars that keeps track of carbon emissions and gas mileage, to better help drivers practice more efficient driving. The conclusion of the tests done by the Professor were this: ...
Frank Luntz Accepts Global Warming Science
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 06.19.06
Many high-profile global warming skeptics have recently changed their position. We've mentioned Sir David Attenborough and Michael Shermer with his "data trumps politics" epiphany, but there are many more that we haven't written about like Gregg Easterbrook and John Tierney. The most remarkable cognitive flip to date must certainly come from Frank Luntz: He is the man who wrote the infamous memo (see page 7 of the pdf file for the part about global warming) coaching the current US administration on the best ways to confuse the issue and delay action (remember, Luntz, like Philip Cooney, is not a scientific - he is actually a political pollster). Well, Luntz has told the BBC that he now accepts the scientific consensus on global warming and has changed his position, but that he doesn't feel responsible for what the US government is doing with his advice (Australia, and recently Canada, have also been inspired by these tactics)....
How To Wake the Dead Sea
by Karin Kloosterman, Jerusalem, Israel on 06.19.06
The Dead Sea is a mystical and magical place and one that has real-life benefits- like its greasy, black mineral mud that visitors like to smother all over their bodies. Researchers say the first hominids crossed by way of the Dead Sea corridor from Africa as they migrated around the world; some say it was Cleopatra's best beauty secret. Even though the Dead Sea sustains no or little life (there are some bacteria who are thriving there apparently) the ecosystem around it is anything but dead. The skies are teeming with migratory birds on their way to Africa from Europe and vice versa; special animals such as bats, wild cats and hyrax find refuge in its surrounding mountains. Over the last 40 years, exploitation of the Dead Sea has happened at an unprecedented rate, due to (ahem) human exploitation. See Reuters story. ...
WSJ Takes A Look At Eco-Fiber Fashion Design
by Erin Courtenay - Madison, WI on 06.19.06
Solar panels, minihouses, eco-friendly cleaning services and now - fashionable eco-fibers? Hmm... It appears as though the Wall Street Journal which we once referred to as a "rabid anti-treehugger fishwrap" has come along quite nicely in their coverage of eco-progressive issues. Our favorite fashion maven Jill Danyelle at FiftyRX3 brings news of this weekend's WSJ coverage of the trials and tribulations facing designers working with a new class of sustainable fabrics. It seems that: corn fibers are sensitive to heat; repurposed plastic can't hold a stitch, bamboo stretches and banana is itchy. But the good news is that from Armani to Rogan Gregory, designers are busting through the learning curve to discover better ways to make eco-fibers both beautiful and user-friendly. Via FiftyRx3. (To get the full-on TH scoop on eco-fibers check out Leonora's post on green fabrics)....
Coffee Table Made of Compressed Coffee Beans and Sugar: a Nick Rawcliff Design at the Scottish Museum
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 06.19.06
According to Single Serve this made-from-dregs table is “being exhibited in the Scottish Museum in Edinburgh at the Green Design: Creativity with a Conscience exhibition on until 25th June”. This looks wonderful as a functioning item, as recycling innovation, and as an artful expression. But, does it represent “re-cycling;” “down-cycling;” or, something entirely new? When it’s worn to the dregs can it be composted? Will my dog want to chew on it? Is a spill a problem? So tasty looking we’ve got to find out more. The full Scottish Museum press release on the exhibit features many re-workings. Cheers to the single malt of TreeHugger museum for being forward-looking and green.
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TH Interview: Sheryl O’Loughlin, CEO of Clif Bar
by Kara DiCamillo, Newport, Rhode Island on 06.19.06
Because our post on Wal-Mart going organic was so popular, while being somewhat controversial, TreeHugger is interested to hear what the smaller food companies have to say. It seems some problems with these larger companies making their own organic foods have already begun. Last month, Clif Bar noted that they had issues in fulfilling its supply of organic nuts (and they are a $90 million company). This week, TreeHugger is going to be speaking with Clif Bar CEO Sheryl O’Loughlin on this subject. We've raved about Clif Bar in the past and have posted about how they've been big on educating the public whether it be skiers or cyclists. Sheryl is currently working with Organic Exchange to develop collaboration within the organic food industry so that the industry can work with farmers to expand the supply of organic ingredients. Organic Exchange, a non-profit, pioneered this collaborative approach in the organic clothing industry. Sheryl is hoping to extend the collaborative model to organic foods. It’s simply not sustainable if every company tries to lock up long-term contracts with a limited array of suppliers, while smaller manufacturers get squeezed out on price and quantity. TreeHugger found this article from BusinessWeek Online about profits and pitfalls of going organic, and they highlight Clif Bar and Sheryl's setbacks. As we started to prepare our list of questions for Sheryl, we thought we’d ask you, our dear readers, what you want to learn from this interview. Please, share your ideas with us!...
People of New York: Tell Us About Your City
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 06.19.06
The latest addition to our City Series is a big one: New York City. By now you know how it works: We want to know what are the good, and what are the bad things going on there. What is the general level of eco-consciousness in population? How is it for cyclists? How's public transportation? Suburban sprawl? Air quality? Recycling/composting? As time passes, are things getting better or worse? How are the policymakers? Anything you think we might find interesting, please share it with us in the comments of this post....
TreeHuggerTV - TreePeople
by Leonora Oppenheim, London, UK on 06.19.06
US Cities Make You Fat
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 06.19.06
As Brad Pitt pointed out in Design:e2, dense, urban, walkable cities consume less energy per person than any other kind of environment. It turns out that all that walking keeps you skinny too. Researchers are finding that suburban dwellers are significantly fatter than their urban counterparts, primarily because they drive everywhere, even to the fitness club. "In a livable city, it should be possible and pleasant to reach restaurants, shops and entertainment on foot. Those who insist on riding bicycles should be able to do so safely and find bike racks on every street. An efficient subway or light-rail system not only makes it cheap and easy to get around town while legally drunk, it also provides more walking opportunities from home to station and station to destination." ::Sploid and here is a list of walkable American cities....
More on Shipping Container Housing
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 06.19.06
Container architecture is all the rage these days-They are cheap, strong and courtesy of the American trade deficit, piling up like mad. They are also narrow inside, usually uninsulated and the floors are often treated with toxic insecticides. TreeHugger has covered the subject here , and Adam Kalkin's Push-button house here. There was a good overview published in SF Gate this week: "shipping containers will never -- or at least should never-- be the ultimate building form. Steel is not a renewable resource, and moving it around is far from environmentally advisable. Ideally, our society won't overproduce these steel boxes forever. And even if it does, that overproduction won't be enough to satisfy our housing needs. But shipping-container architecture does signal a new creativity among architects and builders that may be more powerful than any magic-bullet building technique. After a hundred years of environmentally disastrous construction methods and escalating real estate prices, the shipping container is more than a harebrained scheme of an eco-shelter movement -- it's a whisper of the weird world of housing to come." ::SFGate via ::sploid. For more information visit ::FabPrefab's Container Bay....
A Green Roof for the South Central Farmers?
by Jeff McIntire-Strasburg, St. Louis, MO on 06.19.06
While last Tuesday's eviction looked like the death knell for Los Angeles' South Central Farm, many of us in the Treehugging community have now shifted our focus, and began to wonder if there was a "win-win" that could be salvaged from this otherwise bleak situation. In response to a post at sustainablog (note: I am the author and publisher of sustainablog), a reader offered an idea that has the potential to make everyone happy: a green roof on the planned warehouse where the farmers could continue to plant and harvest their crops. Brian Green, the reader who suggested the solution, described it like this:...
London Sustainability Weeks: A Green House
by Bonnie Alter, London on 06.19.06
It’s London Sustainability Weeks and the city has been engulfed by an awe-inspiring number of events celebrating the creation of “a better quality of life for everyone, whilst protecting our environment and being aware of the limits on resource use.” It kicked off with the Camden Green Fair; in a park, complete with booths representing just about every environmental group that exists, plus the requisite food, children’s activities and a bicycle-driven forge. On Open Garden Squares Days, private squares and private parks across the city were open for public envy. Donnachadh McCarthy, creator and owner of London’s first green house, opened his doors to the public. The genial Irishman started working on it in 1999, recognising that he wanted to change his lifestyle and make a difference. He has installed the first wind turbine for electricity on a private house in London (the same one that David Cameron wants to put on his house). On his roof he also has solar electric PV panels and a single solar electric panel for a hot water system. He made a profit of 20£ from energy sold back to London Energy but emphasised that in fact the paybacks are very little, no matter what anyone says. “You get into this to save the environment, not money”. His house has made him reconnect with the weather—if it's raining he knows that his rain barrel is filling up, if it is windy, the turbine is working away and if it's sunny, the solar panels are being used.
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Recycled Paper Side Table by Gagnon Studio
by Justin Thomas, Virginia on 06.18.06
From Matt Gagnon Studio, comes this Recycled Paper Table. Readers may remember Gagnon's green loft renovation project last year. Similar to the full sized table that came before it, this table is a smaller, more affordable version, measuring 20”(h) x 15”(l) x 13”(w). It is handmade from 100% post-consumer recycled paper board. The slots on the side of the table can also be used for storage, and the table is equally functional standing upright (pictured) or on its side. :: Via productdose...
NanoNanoNano
by Treehugger Interns on 06.18.06
Just in case you missed Tim McGee's article on carbon nanoribbons, gecko glue, or hydrogen storage for fuel cells, I'm here to reiterate that carbon nanotechnology is one of the hottest new technologies today. Many of which can potentially make the world a greener place....
Hawaiian Archipelago - A Step in the Right Direction for Mr. Bush
by Treehugger Interns on 06.18.06
On Thursday, President Bush set aside 140,000 square miles of the Hawaiian Archipelago and created a new protected area that is hailed as the "world's largest marine sanctuary." Conrad Lautenbacher of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) describes the move as "the single-largest act of ocean conservation in history." In a surprise decision, Bush chose to designate the space a Marine National Monument under the 1906 National Antiquities Act. The area's national monument status grants the the government more immediate and greater power to protect this region of islands, atolls, coral reefs and seamounts than a National Marine Sanctuary designation. It will be managed by NOAA and the Fish and Wildlife Service. This is Bush's second creation of a national monument....
(Green) Celebrity Quiz
by Bonnie Alter, London on 06.18.06
Here’s a quiz for a hot summer’s day: list all the celebrities who have joined the cause and become environmentally friendly. First off is Daryl Hannah, the super-star and poster girl of the week, for her brave protest in support of South Central Farm in Los Angeles. Then there is Bono and his long career of activism. A gossipy little item in the Observer notes that now “celebrities have swapped sipping champagne for getting proactive”. They include Pink who has “now written to HRH The Queen about the (Canadian!) bearskin hats worn by her guards”. We can’t forget the Dixie Chicks for their courageous stand. Or that green Vanity Fair cover girl Julia Roberts. The World’s Sexiest Vegetarian Award was hotly contested by Natalie Portman and Joaquin Phoenix but Prince won the crown. Let’s keep going and see how many more we can think of….A box of melting chocolates to the winner. :: Observer...
Annie Lennox Attends The Observer Ethical Awards
by Leonora Oppenheim, London, UK on 06.18.06
This week the winners of the Observer Ethical Awards were announced at a special ceremony in London. It appears that the first year of these awards has been a great success, bringing important sustainability projects to a much wider audience. Some of our favourite planet savers were among the winners, as well as a wealth of incredible projects in all the categories – all of which deserve recognition for their efforts. Some of the winners were: Architecture For Humanity for Innovation of the year – the best consumer product or service displaying ethically minded ingenuity and the potential to decrease our ethical footprint. The Natural Collection for Retailer of the year - readers were asked to vote online for the retailers they felt were the most committed to the best ethical values. Annie Lennox accepted the award for Campaigner of the year on the behalf of Make Poverty History . This was another reader-voted category, for the ethical campaigns and campaigners that had made the biggest difference in 2005. Today’s Observer magazine is dedicated to green and ethical living, featuring all winners of all the awards and the inspirational work they are doing. If you want to find out more about the awards the ceremony is being broadcast on the Community Channel tonight at 8pm (GMT). ::Observer Ethical Awards...
Landmark Houses- Not Your Standard Cotswold Cottage
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 06.18.06
by Eva Jiricna- "designed to environmentally high standards - to suit and exploit the benefits of its natural surroundings, it will make best use of natural daylight and natural ventilation, balanced with a low maintenance energy-efficient building services system."
Now don't get all George Monbiot on us, we know second homes are not TreeHugger correct. However, if one is going to have one, putting it in a 550 acre "residential nature reserve" in Gloucestershire would be nice. Having it designed by some of the world's best architects would be nicer. The concept is based on the Case Study Houses built from 1945 to 1966, where some of the most important houses of the century were commissioned. Here, 22 architects are designing up to 48 equally remarkable houses....
Ground Control to Un-eco Beetle
by Christine Lepisto, Berlin on 06.18.06
Now here's a loophole... (Those of you who thought "Torch My Ride" inappropriate content for TreeHugger may choose to look away here.) Could this jet-powered VW Beetle really qualify for use of the commuter lane as a "hydrid?". The engineer behind the idea, Ron Patrick, used his PhD in Mechanical Engineering from Stanford to build a jet engine into the back of a VW Beetle. Preservation of the factory motor up front allows the car to retain "street legal" status (at least until its next inspection is due, when it will presumably have to join the stream of end-of-life vehicles rather prematurely.) Ron muses: "Hmmm, the car has two engines making the car a hybrid so maybe we can drive in the commuter lanes along with the Toyota Priuses." (Before we chastise Doctor Patrick too severely, let's give him credit for developing a slightly more eco friendly jet-powered Vespa, photo below. This TreeHugger, for one, enjoys the absurdity and hopes it will give a kick in the pants to the powers that be to introduce a unified concept for renewable and ecologically friendly powersources.)
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Flagship Eco-development Needs You!
by Treehugger Interns on 06.18.06
Regular visitors to this site will be familiar with London’s Bioregional Development Group, developers of BioRegional Charcoal, Local Paper for London, and the One Planet Living concept. Whilst the organization has experienced some teething problems with their ultra-low emissions housing project BedZed, as reported here, there is no doubt in my mind that they are still at the cutting edge of the sustainability agenda, developing innovative ‘bright green’ solutions to our environmental crisis. Now, in collaboration with the World Wildlife Fund, they are preparing to take eco-development to the next level, and they need your help. ...
