- 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 August 13, 2006 - August 19, 2006
Total this week: 82
Scuderi Air-Hybrid Engine
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 08.19.06
Although the Prius configuration is viewed as the hybrid design, at least two other hybrid design types exist, either in prototype, or on the drawing board. The Prius, of course, recaptures braking energy, converting it into electricity that recharges a battery bank. That recaptured energy can later be used for forward propulsion, via electric motors. The USEPA design variation on this concept, now undergoing prototype testing in a UPS truck, converts braking energy into hydraulic fluid pressure, which in turn can be used to propel the vehicle via flywheel. A third hybrid type, a sort of para-hybrid engine type really, has recently entered the hybrid scene. Get ready for the air guitar…er, sorry, Air-Hybrid . The air hybrid captures braking energy, and also the energy of engine exhaust, in the form of compressed air. This air pressure is used directly to make the compression cycle of an engine's piston more efficient. Recap: instead of storing recaptured energy as pressurized hydraulic fluid or as electricity in a battery, the air-hybrid stores pressurized gases that are used directly in engine operation,(reminding us of the Air Car). It is expected that the Scuderi Group’s Air-Hybrid prototype gasoline and diesel engines, when completed by late 2007, will improve fuel efficiency by almost one third, and emit 80 percent less toxic emissions. The air-hybrid will for the most part use components already found in today’s engines.
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Tour Green Toronto: We Had No Idea
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 08.19.06
When we got the email from Leanne at Toronto's Green Tourism Association inviting us for a bike tour of downtown green attractions in Toronto, we thought right, that won't take long, how do you spell oxymoron? We could not have been more wrong. We started at the temporary bicycle arch at Harbourfront (and confirm that the bikes were not damaged in the installation and that it is spectacular) where TreeHugger Bonnie (visiting from London) and I joined TourGreen's Leanne and Marnie. ...
Wind Turbine Developments for the Individual Homeowner
by Christine Lepisto, Berlin on 08.19.06
If you have been looking for a good, concise education on wind turbines for everyman, you should check out the August 15 edition of the Wall Street Journal. In an article titled "A Novel Way to Reduce Home Energy Bills: Smaller, Quieter Wind Turbines Reduce Reliance on Power Grid, But Cost and Aesthetics Are Issues", Sara Schaeffer Munoz covers the territory. Reporting that the American Wind Energy Association estimates sales of "small wind*" devices are up 62% since 2004 (in the USA) in the wake of increasing subsidies from State and local levels, the article also mentions some of the obstacles awaiting the eager harvester of the wind. Most usefully, the article points out several leaders in the market, covering the price/performance range....
TwoFlush: A Dual-Flush Retrofit for Your Favorite Bowl
by Jacob Gordon, Nashville, TN on 08.18.06
Look through history and it’s clear: inspiration comes in the loo. The low-flow showerhead, the waterless urinal, integrated sink/toilet, and group bathing are no doubt the product of inspired water closet thinking. A man named Joe Molho had such a moment of clarity while using his brother’s dual-flush in Israel. Dual-flush toilets are a brilliant concept, and Europe and Asia have had them in effect for some time. They haven’t made a whole lot of headway in the States, however. For those of us not ready to spring for a whole new system, a Canadian company called Aquanotion is offering the TwoFlush, a retrofit kit for your existing toilet. This $50 system replaces the inner mechanism of the tank but not the tank itself, and the installation (they claim) is a simple DIY job. Aquanotion also offers a replacement tank system for $115. The eco-cleverness of the dual-flush design, of course, is that the user is given the option of a partial flush for liquid waste or the standard full flush for solid. We Westerners want choice, right? :: TwoFlush via Hugg...
Helmets for Cyclists vs. Full Body Armor for Drivers
by Kyeann Sayer, Nomad on 08.18.06
A couple of recent posts on biking and Hollywood have generated a few streams of comment: people don't look cool on bikes because helmets are goofy, helmets aren't necessary, and helmets are mandatory. We've previously weighed in on the relative cerebral risks of cycling vs. driving. Last month's LA Times story on the "helmetization of the U.S." takes a recreational slant, examining the efficacy of head gear sprouting up throughout the sporting world. While consumers are more willing to become helmet heads, head gear in general needs more research before it becomes mandatory in most sports. Apparently, cycling boo boos topped the list of leisure time head injuries at 69,476 in 2004, with motorized recreational vehicles knocking out a distant second at 27,213. ...
Stewart+Brown Fall Collection at pangaya
by Kyeann Sayer, Nomad on 08.18.06
Fall fashion is everywhere of course, but it's still hard to believe that soon we'll want to spend every possible moment in Stewart+Brown's organic cotton, hand crafted cashmere and wool. Once you take a gander, you'll start wishing for fallen leaves and a steaming cup of tea. Recognize the Baarum Hoody from a recent In Style feature? With so many women now poised to wear the brand that has set the style/substance standard, we may see an epidemic of strangers asking to touch other strangers' soft shoulders on the street. Not a bad thing, really. ::Stewart+Brown at pangaya...
TH Week: Empower Yourself
by Dominic Muren, Philadelphia, USA on 08.18.06
This week has been an eco-call to action from us at TreeHugger to you. We'ver got the options, how-to-dos, and solutions to make you into just the eco-chic genious that you always wanted to be.
:: John came up with some resources to turn you into the ultimate self-sleuth on the chemicals in your world.
:: Christine urged you all to go explore the impacts of climate change on our world, and find your own reason for becomming more eco-friendly.
:: Collin suggested that once you find your story, you take a page out of Al Gore's book, and give your own Inconvenient Truth presentation.
:: Collin also whipped up a great way to clean the ring around your tub, without harsh chemicals.
:: Lloyd urged us all to celebrate the bicycle with our own cycling trip....
Book Review: Seventh Generation's "Naturally Clean"
by Kara DiCamillo, Newport, Rhode Island on 08.18.06
We decided to mix it up a bit with this latest book review. Because we love Seventh Generation so much (as we are pretty sure you do too) we thought that maybe we'd give you some thoughts from two TreeHuggers this time around instead of just our usual one. It seems we both had the same positive opinions about "Naturally Clean: The Seventh Generation Guide to Safe & Healthy Non-Toxic Cleaning." The book is written by Seventh Generation's President Jeffrey Hollender with his daughter Meika Hollender and Geoff Davis, Editor of Seventh Generation's Non-Toxic Times newsletter. We think you'll enjoy reading not only the book, but also our reviews:...
Instant Survey: Does Your Local News See Green?
by Erin Courtenay - Madison, WI on 08.18.06
Algatech and GreenFuel: Partnering For The Sake Of Algae And Fuel
by Karin Kloosterman, Tel Aviv on 08.18.06
Producing biodiesel from algae has been touted as the most efficient way to make biodiesel fuel. An Israeli company Algatech cultivating algae for the cosmetics and neutraceutical market is partnering with US-based GreenFuel to give biodiesel made from algae, a run for its money. According to Israel21c, the two companies will be working towards a common goal: developing cost effective, energy efficient fuel made from micro-algae feeding off of carbon dioxide emissions. ::Israel21c...
Wildcard Creative's Cardboard Bench.
by Leonora Oppenheim, London, UK on 08.18.06
As an accessory to their eco-friendly display systems Wildcard Creative have introduced this cool cardboard bench to their product range. Like their display units the bench is made from 99% recycled card, and is 100% recyclable. Dexter Hartley of Wildcard Creative tells us more about it: “The furniture has been developed to complement our cardboard display system and is aimed at the exhibition and events market. It has been designed as an individual stool, which can be arranged in various curved layouts to suit any environment. 16 benches will form a full circle 2.3metres in diameter. It is available in a range of 4 colours, (black, White, warm grey and warm red). We can also do bespoke colours if customers order more than 50 seats. We have had some very interesting reactions from people when they see the bench. They love the shape, but we always get asked "Can you really sit on it?" When we invite them to try, they always sit down very gingerly, but are very pleasantly surprised as it is actually very comfortable - everyone who has sat on it gets up with a smile on their face.” :: Wildcard Creative...
RISD Students’ Guatemalan Products Are Well Received At The New York Gift Fair
by Leonora Oppenheim, London, UK on 08.18.06
We told you last week about the intrepid group of RISD design students who have taken the fruits of their project Bridging Cultures Through Design to the New York Gift Fair. We are excited to say that after following their journey, from Providence to Lake Atitlan and back again, we are now able to see the products that the students have produced after working the artisans in Guatemala. And my aren’t they gorgeous! It is wonderful to see how the students have interpreted the artisans’ techniques in different ways, giving the products a contemporary twist without abandoning the traditional craft....
The Ronald McHummer Sign-o-Matic
by Jeff McIntire-Strasburg, St. Louis, MO on 08.18.06
If you're as disappointed as we are about McDonald's giving away thousands of toy Hummers in its Happy Meals, the Environmental Working Group and HybridCars.com have created a site where you can exercise your creativity and tell the fast food giant what you think of their latest promotion for kids: the Ronald McHummer Sign-o-Matic. Users are encouraged to make their own McDonald's sign with an appropriate message, and to send a pre-written letter to the company noting the environmental and public health effects of gas guzzlers like the Hummer. Make a sign, make sure to share it with us, and also let the Golden Arches marketing folks know you don't like super-sized vehicles any more than super-sized meals. ::Ronald McHummer via Green LA Girl...
Sinful Second Homes
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 08.18.06
I admit it. I have a second home- I bought a geodesic dome many years ago, 20 foot diameter, sitting by the lake pictured above two and a half hours north of Toronto. Then it was quite acceptable for Bucky Fuller-loving architects to pile into VW beetles and drive off to domes surrounded by huggable trees. Now, TreeHuggers complain every time we show a cottage or cabin, saying that such a thing cannot be justified in terms of the resources and the carbon footprint. John Tierney of the New York Times (copy here) did a disgraceful Al Gore/ Laurie David bash last week that criticized their ownership of second (and in Al's case, third) homes that we ignored at the time as being as part of a current stupid campaign to discredit him, but getting past the bashing, it is clear that the idea that second homes are sinful has resonated. I tried to do the math to see if we save enough electricity not having any air conditioners or appliances for a month to cover the fuel burned getting up there and it doesn't. Since I now have to justify it, I will try and make a case that second homes are not necessarily evil....
Repreve —100% Recycled Yarn
by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 08.18.06
Repreve by Unifi is a 100% recycled polyester yarn made from both post-consumer and post-industrial waste. It can be dyed at the spun fibre stage. It’s uses range from home furnishings through to automotive upholstery. Two companies who have elected to run with it are Malden, who we noted earlier are doing a big launch on recycled fleece and bodywear fabrics and Consoltex. The later makes a line of cloth also for the outdoor industry that goes by the name of Earthwhile (cute), that seems like it also gets blended with organic cotton. Expect to see garments made of such materials popping up on retail hangers next year. Unifi also offer Satura, a dyeing process that reportedly saves 18 gallons of water per pound of yarn produced. They reclaim water & energy (which are recycled repeatedly) from condensation and dyebaths, which helps heat the plant and conserve water. ::Unifi, via Tech Exchange....
Guillemot Kayaks - Make Your Own Wood Kayak
by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 08.18.06
When first stumbling onto these, we thought “Wow, they're works of art.” And it would appear someone else thinks so too, because one is said to be in the permanent collection at the Museum of Modern Art. Designed by Nick Schade, ex-US Navy engineer, Guillemot Kayaks are boats you built yourself. Nick creates the prototypes and from them develops plans and specifications that others can buy. When you slave long hours to make something with your own hands, it takes on a value that has no relationship to money. You’ve invested of yourself and that makes the product so much more personal than a store bought item, manufactured in a distant factory. More likely to used, appreciated and cared for, rather than discarded with little thought. Such a shame then that these beauties are conceived to be covered in an outer layer of fibreglass and resin. Maybe Nick can team up with OceanGreen surfboards to further develop the hemp fibre and eco-resin idea. We are pleased to note though, that he is seeking out alternatives to the old growth cedar, which seemed to have graced earlier models. But with those caveats in mind, we reckon a handmade timber kayak sounds very sharp. Takes this writer back many aeons, to being a kid building sea kayaks from plywood and canvas. Ah, the good old days. ::Guillemot Kayaks, via See Kayak. ...
Most Huggable
by Jacob Gordon, Nashville, TN on 08.17.06
Have the flood gates opened for electric cars? One company is promising 80 mph, 200 miles per charge, and a price of $28,500 by next year… Wal-Mart-owned retailers in Europe are taking thousands of miles out of their produce by buying locally and shipping shorter distances… New York WiFi pioneers are selling pixels to fund a wind and solar-powered wireless network for the city’s parks and public spaces… Los Angeles tries to decide if putting sewage on crops is genius or heinous… London’s largest aquarium puts an underwater office on display to illustrate how much water is wasted by careless businesses…...
Miōn — ‘06 Ecodesign Award Winning Footwear
by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 08.17.06
Miōn is a relatively new company. A subsidiary of Timberland. It’s chief designer is Martin Keen, who lent his name to another footwear company of the same name. Anyhow, Miōn is a very Twenty First Century looking sandal. What you might expect the Jetsons to wear on the weekends. Or some might see it as a high performance pair of Crocs. But the Industrial Designers Society of America (ISDA) saw it as a leading light in EcoDesign. Awarding it a Bronze Award in their ‘06 Industrial Design Excellence Awards (IDEA). Though, strangely, the awards site is shy on details about how they came to this conclusion. They talk vaguely about “radical reductions in energy use and waste generation.” And mention a “repertoire of ecologically sensitive materials”, but only note one: a corn-based film. Plus they cite a “first ever” Eco Metrics label modelled on the FDA nutrition label. (Great idea, but think others, like Worn Again, have been doing this before.) Don’t get me wrong, .......
Hollywood Bike Patrol: Naomi Watts, Keifer Sutherland, The Governator, and More!
by Kyeann Sayer, Nomad on 08.17.06
We asked and you delivered. Observant readers have inundated us with celebrity pedal pushers. This week: Daryl Hannah, Naomi Watts, Hilary Duff, Elle Macpherson, Chloe Sevigny, Lindsay Lohan, George Clooney, Keifer Sutherland, Estella Warren, Scout Niblett, The Governator....
Time Magazine on Shrinking Down the House
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 08.17.06
Living with Less is going mainstream- Time magazine gets small and covers it this week, with TreeHugger faves like the Micro Compact Home, the Katrina Cottage, Tumbleweed Homes and Geoff Warner of the Wee House. Says Geoff: "When you build smaller, you can put in a lot more quality than you can in a larger space.", something we have been saying for a long time. ::Time Magazine...
Project Runway: "Waste Not, Want Not" Challenge
by Erin Courtenay - Madison, WI on 08.17.06
Oh, pity those poor designers on Project Runway. With so little experience creating clever couture from repurposed materials, they really seemed to struggle through the latest challenge. In episode 6 the designers were taken on a field trip to Waste Management Recycle America, in Port Newark, NJ where they were given 30 minutes to source materials for their designs. Clearly these befuddled newbies could have used a little assistance from denim diva Tierra Del Forte or re-use pioneer Annie Langlois (both are featured amongst many other "waste not, want not" experts on the pages of the rockin' Umbrella Inside Out contest site)....
Wind Blows: $10,000 Video Contest to Promote Renewable Power
by Jacob Gordon, Nashville, TN on 08.17.06
Spread the wind virus for a good cause and you could win ten grand. Western Wind Energy and their marketing partner, Invoke, have presented a challenge: create a one-minute video that promotes the idea of wind power in the style of your choosing. Visitors to the site will vote on the $10,000 prize-winning video. As an example to get you warmed up they’ve offered their own piece of viral creativity: a short sequence that includes bikini babe A smearing crude oil (probably chocolate sauce) on her body, while babe B insinuates the clean and smear-free power of the wind as it blows through her hair. “Wink!” The viral component is that Western Wind hopes this will become one of those oft-passed around pieces of internet novelty. Who knows, it might even end up on TreeHugger TV. The deadline is Sept. 28th and you can submit as many videos as you want. :: Wind Blows Viral Video Contest via Hugg...
Microfiber Towels from Method
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 08.17.06
We first discovered and wrote about method a while back; we loved their product's design and low impact on the planet, with a commitment to non-toxicity and no animal testing. We're glad to see they've been diligently working to add new products since; they're latest innovation encourages us to "throw in the towel." They've introduced new four new microfiber towels designed to stem the flood of paper towels into the waste stream; each microfiber is finer than a human hair and is sliced 16 times, resulting in millions of microscopic hooks in each cloth to capture dirt, dust and even six times their weight in water. Reusing the towels only makes them stronger, too -- using the cloths splits fibers, creating more surface area. The towels come in four varities, specifically designed for a particular medium: glass, granite, stainless steel and wood. There are a multitude of other new products since we've last seen method, and they're now available in the UK as well as the US and Canada. Buy online or at Target, Office Depot, Linens-N-Things and more. ::method...
TH Blog Love – Our Favourite Greens Of The Week
by Leonora Oppenheim, London, UK on 08.17.06
Camden Kiwi: Carnival of the Green #40 by Cathryn Symons
‘Welcome to the Carnival of the Green on Camden Kiwi. This week, we have a pot-pourri of green ideas, issues and news from using solar energy in Alaska, to greywater in London and wind farms in the Western Isles as well as commentary on the environmental consequences of the war in Lebanon and attempts by climate change deniers to get their message across.’
City Hippy: Interview with Donnachadh McCarthy by Al Tepper
This is an excellent interview with the owner of the UK’s first wind powered home, which Bonnie wrote about here and who Al Tepper has canonised as City Hippy's first patron saint: Patron Saint of Urban Off-Gridders! Al chats to Donnachadh, an impressively dedicated environmentalist, about all things green. ...
Beyond Petroleum? More Like Big Problem
by Alex Pasternack, New York, NY on 08.17.06
Dare you to name one truly "Treehugging" corporation? Hard, isn't it? That's not good news, not just for the environment but for all the companies who are spending a lot of green on trying to look green. Thanks to BP's recent troubles in the Arctic and elsewhere (and more to come), the old phenomenon of companies trying to look green, or "greenwashing" as it's known, returns to the limelight. Sure, the name switch from British Petroleum to BP (or "beyond petroleum") was cool, but c'mon, how "beyond" it can you be when you've still got all that black stuff on your hands? As Athan Manuel, the director of lands protection at the Sierra Club, puts it to the Washington Post, "Compared to their colleagues in the oil and gas industry, they're the best...[But] Being the best of the oil industry is like being the smartest of the Three Stooges. At the end of the day you're Moe, you're still a stooge."...
Eco-Dent Toothpowder: Airplane-Safe Way to Brush Your Teeth
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 08.17.06
As everyone is undoubtedly aware by now, the US Transportation Safety Administration has banned liquids and gels from carry-on baggage on airplanes, making it tough on anyone without checked baggage to do everyday things like brushing their teeth. Eco-DenT has a solution for TreeHuggers everywhere: their toothpowder is an airplane-safe way to keep up dental hygiene without having to buy a new tube every time you step off a plane. Eco-DenT Toothpowder's travel pack contains 15 1-day packs of toothpowder; each pack is sufficient for two brushings. The convenient pouches fit easily into a pocket, purse, wallet, backpack, fanny pack, attaché case or other travel bag. Because it's "toothpaste" in powder form, it isn't restricted by the airlines, leaving you free to brush your teeth as you please without having to stash it in checked luggage and hope it makes it to the other side. Best of all, the toothpowders are 100% natural (baking soda is the main ingredient) and 100% cruelty-free. Eco-DenT says their products are available at most major natural product stores and online retailers; they also have an online store for your shopping convenience. ::Eco-DenT via ::PR Web...
Flat TV=More Nuclear Plants
by Mairi Beautyman, Berlin, Germany on 08.17.06
Flat screens are a big green no-no (as we’ve mentioned before). According to a recent article in The Observer, if half of British homes buy a plasma-screen TV, the country would need two more nuclear power stations to meet the extra energy demand. Flatter they are, but when it comes to energy these “hi-tech” toys use up to four times as much electricity as that clunky thing you just tossed on the street (to be recycled via Garbagescout of course). Plus, that stand-by feature? Just turn it off. “Simply leaving devices such as TVs and DVD players on standby at home puts up to 1m tonnes of carbon a year into the atmosphere and costs each household around £25,” the article reports. Considering many families may keep a TV for up to ten years, this evidence is daunting. Ahh, but the future is bright. Chances are the models out there will become increasingly more efficient. If only they had waited until then to launch these guys. Hm. Thanks tipster Linton, via ::Hugg Image courtesy of Philips....
Connecticut Egg Farm Will Convert Chicken Poop to Power
by Jeff McIntire-Strasburg, St. Louis, MO on 08.17.06
Kofkoff Egg Farm, a frequent target of activists for factory farming issues, is taking a step to clean up at least one element of its operations: the massive amounts of poop created by 5 million chickens. The farm, along with Clearview Power, has announced plans to build a plant that will generate electricity from biomass made up of poultry poop and wood wastes. It turns out that the decision is primarily economic: chicken droppings don't have the market value they once did (seriously):...
Propelair Toilet
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 08.17.06
Propelair's patented new potty, according to the sales literature, "...reduces water consumption to 1.5 Litres per flush, using 84% less water than an average WC, and 75% less than other ‘low-flush’ systems – reducing number of litres wasted, and decreasing costs in metered areas". How does it work? By our reading, it literally 'blows the crap and water down the drain' -- with air as the plunger. "The lid is closed before flushing, which forms an air seal with the bowl. A small quantity of water enters the bowl to wash it, followed by displaced air. As the air can’t exit the bowl, it acts to efficiently and effectively expel the contents of the bowl without water, pumps or maceration. After flushing, sufficient water replenishes the water trap seal, and propelair is ready for the next user. The entire flushing cycle takes around three seconds to complete". Better have a safety interlock on it. Otherwise, expect a hoot and holler from Great Aunt Dorothy after she presses the lever while still on the pot. And the kids...let's not even think about it....
Smoothwater Eco-Lodge
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 08.17.06
150 years ago much of Ontario was covered with giant white pines ten stories tall; half of the men in the country would leave the farm every winter to chop them down and send them to England to become the backbone of the British navy. The few that are left are in the stunning Temagami area 300 miles north of Toronto. Deep in the trees is the Smoothwater Eco-Lodge, offering canoeing, camping and hiking in summer, snowshoeing and Xcountry skiing in winter. Food is all organic-"a celebration of canoeing Temagami's lakes and rivers, hiking Temagami's old growth pine forests, Temagami's wildlife and Temagami's people. In short, it is about a very special sense of place. Our culinary style starts with fresh, seasonal ingredients from the region." served around a big open kitchen. How could we pass up on this- For the next few weeks they have a Treehugger special (no relation, they have never heard of us)- accommodation, a guided paddle, evening presentations and organic meals. ::Smoothwater Eco-Lodge...
Costco Eliminating Bubble Packs, Ups Recycling Potential With MeadWestvaco’s “Natralock”
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 08.17.06
Costco is replacing some of its plastic packaging clamshells with Natralock , a new paperboard-based product made by MeadWestvaco. Natralock combines paperboard with a much smaller plastic bubble segment. According to the promotional literature, a standard scissors will safely open a the paper segment of the package, helping to eliminate “Wrap Rage.” ...
Most Huggable
by Jacob Gordon, Nashville, TN on 08.16.06
It’s hard to deny that an air-powered car is pretty exciting. Video of this French model makes the concept look like a breeze… As glaciers melt and ocean levels rise, mountain ranges are getting higher, too… Santa Claus and dead pigeons aren’t the only things coming down the chimney. The Chimney Baloon keeps cold air out and warm air in… Take public transit to an Ikea and get your meatballs (and furniture) delivered for free… An eco-packaging entrepreneur explains his reinvention of the cardboard moving box on G Living Live…...
Something About Mäya - Larabar Goes Organic Choc
by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 08.16.06
When we last looked in on Larabar we were impressed with all those natural ingredients squished into a nourishing sports bar, that hadn’t been cooked. At the time, we wondered if there might also be scope to increase the greenness of the bar. Lo and behold, along comes their Mäya bar. Try this on for size: All organic ingredients, Fair Traded cocoa, no added sugar, 90% raw, no GMOs, gluten/dairy/soy free, no colouring or preservatives, but is vegan and kosher. And, we assume, the same great taste for which Larabar is famous. “The 10% of Mäya that is not raw includes roasted cocoa and organic flavors such as peppermint, orange and vanilla.” Four favours, all of which are suffused with that fair traded organic chocolate — choc, choc mint, choc coffee and choc orange (seen here.) The Chocolate Orange ingredients? All organic dates, almonds, cocoa, cacao nibs and orange flavour. That’s it. Nuffing more. Seems pretty green. Bravo. ...
The TH Interview: Joel Makower on the Green Economy, Electric Sports Cars, and the World’s Biggest Eco-Myth
by Jacob Gordon, Nashville, TN on 08.16.06
Certain people seem to have an uncanny ability to absorb into their field and permeate it. Joel Makower and the world of green business appear to have all but merged into one another. Joel is a consultant, writer, and entrepreneur who has become an integral voice in the movement for a green economy. He is the executive editor of GreenBiz.com and its sister sites, ClimateBiz.com and GreenerBuildings.com, and the co-founder of Clean Edge Inc., a research and publishing firm focusing on building markets for clean energy technologies. Joel has consulted for General Electric, Gap, General Motors, Hewlett Packard, Levi Strauss, Nike, and Procter & Gamble on corporate sustainability. His articles appear in Grist and WorldChanging, and his blog, Two Steps Forward, is a regular stop on our TH Blog Love roundup. Joel and I last crossed paths at the Aspen Ideas Fest where he was introducing biomimicry godmother Janine Benyus. He was kind enough to shed light on some big questions....
LivingHomes Awarded LEED for Homes Platinum
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 08.16.06
We knew there was a reason we liked LivingHomes, ever since we first heard about it and subsequently saw the green prefab designs taking shape, and we're glad to see we aren't the only ones. They have received the highest rating possible from the U.S. Green Building Council’s (USGBC) new pilot, LEED® for Homes rating system, making it the first residential project in the country to attain a Platinum rating. The LivingHomes model home is a Zero Energy, Zero Water, Zero Waste, Zero Carbon, Zero Emissions residence. LivingHomes is the first company to make LEED certified, prefab homes available to consumers nationwide. The first line of homes, designed by Ray Kappe, is available for purchase right now. The second line of homes, designed by David Hertz, is currently under development....
World's First Carbon-Neutral Biodiesel Plant Coming to Idaho
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 08.16.06
Green Star Products, Inc. (GSPI) will build the first biodiesel plant to emit almost zero net greenhouse gases from direct plant production of biodiesel. We've been following the rise of biodiesel as an alternative to fossil fuels and gasoline (from the geography of the fuel to the celebs who use it to its addition to the dictionary), so we know that most production plants require heating input, usually from natural gas, require electricity from local utilities, which emit CO(2), and that the chemical processes uses 10% methanol (wood alcohol) made from natural gas, all of which contribute to our warming planet. GSPI has considered all of these factors in the design of their new plant; Joseph P. LaStella, P.E., President of GSPI, explains:...
Bruce Willis Gets Electric
by Erin Courtenay - Madison, WI on 08.16.06
Inspired by his role as a rascally racoon in the eco-toon Over The Hedge, Bruce Willis has decided to purchase an electric car to replace his gas-guzzling vehicle. Explaining his change of heart, Willis said; "I live in Los Angeles and spend about five hours a day in a car. I do know a lot of people who used to own those big cars but are changing over. I'm getting one of those electric cars because it makes sense to use an alternative to digging up oil." ::Via Cinemas Online...
U.K. Locals Rebel Against Wind Power
by Mairi Beautyman, Berlin, Germany on 08.16.06
Great Britain could soon have a new wind farm—its biggest yet—but the clean fuel initiative has sparked a controversial and confusing debate. Lewis Wind Power wants to build the farm on the windy north moors of Lewis, the largest island in the Outer Hebrides. But according to a recent article in the Independent, “Is this the price of clean fuel?”, the sacrifice is too big. The locals are in an uproar—some 10,000 objections, from an electoral roll for the whole of the Western Isles of 21,694 (out of a population of 26,370) have poured in. Focusing mainly on the environmental impact, the article applies statistics gathered by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB). According to the RSPB, the Lewis farm will need close to 160km of new road, 30m wide; five quarries in order to provide four million tonnes of rock; and will disrupt up to 1,900 hectares of peatland. ...
Tasty Veneers By Architectural Systems
by Mairi Beautyman, Berlin, Germany on 08.16.06
Architectural accents you actually want to eat. We have a weakness for these (something to do with that primal stage of teething). Architectural Systems, which bills itself as an architectural materials provider, uses rapidly-renewable organic materials to create the handcrafted Tropical Veneer collection, which can be used for wall applications, doors, ceilings, screens, and furniture. MDF and resins are used as a base for exotic ingredients including Tagua seed, coconut, and pearlstone (shown left to right, above), Totumo Shell, and Plaintain Bark. The veneers also contribute to the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED MR Credit 6: Rapidly Renewable Materials. Want to see them in action? Check out the Compass Café in San Francisco or the Landmark Restaurant in Chicago. ::Architectural Systems via ::Interior Design...
Unto This Last: Micro-Manufacturing Hits the High Street
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 08.16.06
In 1860 John Ruskin wrote "Unto This Last" and railed against the industrial revolution, advocating a return to the local craftsman's workshop. Nearly 150 years later, we go to IKEA to buy flatpacked furniture that is made who knows where and shippped around the world to the store near us. Visionaries like Kieran Timberlake talked years ago about how new technology will change mass production into mass customization, but now it is actually happening and hitting the High Streets. Unto This Last is a furniture company in London where they throw their Sabots into the mill of traditional mass production. Using the latest 3d modelling software and a big CNC machine at the back of the shop, they make flat-pack furniture to order....
Sploid: Subversive and Spunky Source Silenced
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 08.16.06
We were desolated, shocked and dismayed to learn today about the death of Sploid, a tacky, raucous and fun blog from Gawker that was the source of many important and deep TreeHugger posts:
the first coverage of the Wave farm in Portugal;
FBI most wanted: Treehugger wackos!
Galactic Pizza: not only Green, but Crimefighting too
US Cities Make You Fat
Live in a box for $ 160K: Shipping Container Housing
Christmas Trees add to Global Warming
and our favourite:
Patent Issued for Global Warming Solution
A proud and distinguished voice has been silenced. We are poorer for it. ::Sploid...
Chicago: Future Eco-Fashion Mecca?
by Kyeann Sayer, Nomad on 08.16.06
Chicago is trying to make itself a fashion hub, and has even hired a "fashion czarina," Melissa Turner, to make it happen. Though the city churns out design graduates, they quickly flee to the action on the coasts. One of Turner's projects: creating an online database for local materials producers, designers, retailers, and shoppers. We think the city could both set itself apart and remain on the cutting edge by becoming the go-to place for eco-fibers, strategies, and shopping. The windy city already boasts fashion re-purposer Dolan Geiman, not to mention green roofs and "the most ambitious bike plan in the United States." Why not become the go-to metropolis for organic wovens, and up-cycled ready-to-wear? What do you think, Chicagoans and fashion types? How can we make it happen? :: Via the Chicago Tribune...
Hospitals Opting for Organic, Local Foods
by Jeff McIntire-Strasburg, St. Louis, MO on 08.16.06
We've taken note of a number of efforts to change the first kind of meal many people would associate with overly-processed, institutionalized food: the school lunch. Hospital food likely comes in a close second for that distinction, and several organizations are working with the health care industry to shift its menu from "low-grade, tasteless and nutritionally deficient" food to healthier and more sustainable options. SustainableBusiness.com's Insider takes a look today at efforts hospitals are taking to provide patients with more appetizing food that's also better for them and the planet. Among the changes occurring in hospital food service:...
Luxury Potato Chips by Tyrrells
by Bonnie Alter, London on 08.16.06
Tyrrells potato chips are so fresh that a "chip can spend its morning in the field and its afternoon in the fryer". They are part of the new-ish trend that has hit the market in the last few years for luxury-line potato chips. In 1992, when the supermarkets were paying nothing for potatoes, by chance William Chase decided to turn to luxury potato chips. The secret of his success lies in the potatoes-- at the family farm in Herefordshire they grow mainly the old varieties – selected for their superior taste. Then they fry them in small batches using their own traditional recipe. There are no pesticides or additives. Unlike many English "crisps", they cut them into thick slices of potato. They are dropped straight into sunflower oil without washing off the starch. By doing this, the chips absorb less fat ( fat content is reduced by 20-25%) yet retain their flavour. The bags for the chips are beautifully designed, some are clear so that you can see what you are getting, others have pictures of the employees and stories of the farm on them. A second farm has been purchased with acres of organic apples which Chase intends to turn into cider. And he has a plan for the potatoes that don’t get turned into chips: “What we really want to do is make vodka”. :: Guardian ...
Hollywood Bike Patrol Wants YOU
by Kyeann Sayer, Nomad on 08.15.06
A couple of weeks ago, many of you shared your insights about the possibility of Hollywood giving us cyclists who don't look like lame-asses. After witnessing yet another display of dorky pedaling during Ricky Bobby's nadir in Talledega Nights this weekend, we're convinced that more must be done. Put on the coolest helmet you can find and help the TreeHugger Hollywood Bike Patrol spot celebs on bikes in real life, in movies, and on TV. The Patrol will work similarly to Defamer's PrivacyWatch, only you're welcome to submit media sightings. Read about Colin Farrell pedaling in the Valley? See a gem like Brad Pitt's family of cyclists moment? Witness yet another use of the bike as the screen writer's go-to indication of prolonged adolescence or defeat? Help us out! Send tips labeled "Bike Patrol" to kyeann(at)treehugger(dot)com. :: ...
Ontera EarthPlus Carpet - Once More, With Feeling
by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 08.15.06
We go on and on about buying local food. As if the story ended there. Tried to buy a local iPod, or a local Prius? Or a local green carpet? In a globalised market, it all depends on where you live. To Ontera’s knowledge they are the only Australian carpet manufacturer who offer a local product that supports ‘product renewal and reuse.’ Basically their EarthPlus programme collects, reinvigorates used carpets and puts them back in to marketplace with a seven year warranty. (Similar processes do exist in North America.) Rescued carpets are cleaned, their tuft restored and a new pattern dyed in. EarthPlus carpet cost two thirds that of new carpet, and they suggest there is a 76% reduction in resource consumption, compared to a virginal carpet. For every 1,000m2 of carpet refurbished through this process five tonnes of ‘waste’ is saved from landfill. Over 20,000 m2 of used carpet has so far been salvaged. Although strictly speaking EarthPlus is reuse, it seems they are entitled to classify the range as 100% post-consumer recycled content. It’s been specified for high profile commercial fit-outs. Local ones that is.::Ontera....
Get Real with Blue Q's Newest Products
by Kara DiCamillo, Newport, Rhode Island on 08.15.06
We’ve tried a ton of natural soap products, many that we haven’t liked, so we admit we’re a little skeptical when it comes to new ones. When we opened up the box of Blue Q’s “Get Real Mint” soap that boldly stated “no fake crap” we were immediately intrigued. As we know, good (recycled) packaging can sell a product. Blue Q is the maker of Dirty Girl, Boss Lady and Miso Pretty, the much-loved lines of beauty products that, as we understand it, enjoy something of a cult following. The company was founded by brothers Seth and Mitch Nash 20 years ago in Boston and is now based in a renovated player piano factory in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, in the Berkshire Mountains. Get Real is Blue Q’s newest line of soaps and lip balms that debuted this past March and include nothing but natural ingredients. The nubby soap bars (lemon, mint or lavendar) are perfect for exfoliating skin and scrubbing your hands clean from the garden. The non-petroleum based lip balm (mint, peaches or lemon) glides on smooth and feels great after a day in the sun. We recommend you Get Real. ::Blue Q...
Seven Days to Green Your Life
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 08.15.06
TreeHugger believes that everyone can do something every day to make our world a greener place; there are hundreds of ways to do this, so where should you start? Donnachadh McCarthy, one of Britain's leading expert in green living, believes seven days is all it takes to cast aside the bad habits of a lifetime, and he's written down a week's worth of ways to go a little greener every day. Considering what he calls "the seven deadly eco sins" -- transportation, energy, water, waste, work, pollution and food -- he lays out a week's worth of actions for each "sin," showcasing all the ways that we can all start (or keep up) changing for the better, starting tomorrow. These include simple things that we've trumpeted many times before; taken separately, they seem small and inconsequential, but added together, especially into the course of just one week, seem to make a much bigger difference. From going vegetarian for a week to bringing your own shopping bag (and counting how many you save) to cutting disposable products out of your life, they are all small changes that are easy to start and replicate over a lifetime. All are worth a read at ::The Independent via ::Hugg...
Make Your Own Organic Wool Sweater
by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 08.15.06
Remember the O-wool sweater in organic wool from Sahalie? Maybe the style wasn’t exactly your thing, or the colour clashed with your complexion. Fear not, a solution is to hand. The same folk who supply the manufacturers, also offer certified organic wool for hand knitters. Yep, the Vermont Organic Fibre Company allows you make make snappy green apparel, just like the big boys. Apparently this is a first in the US - organic wool for hand knitting. Available in 13 shades, it’s made from Australian merino wool, then spun in the US. Vermont Organic are hoping a goodly chunk of America’s estimated 53 million knitters will fall in love in love with the yarn. And they have good reason to expect they might. Because demand for organic fibre in the US, has grown 44%, as of 2005, according to the Organic Trade Association. ::Vermont Organic Fibre Company, via GreenKnitters....
gWiki: The Green Wiki
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 08.15.06
gWiki (think quickie, with a "g" instead) is the newly-introduced Green Wiki, a site meant to be both a source for environmental information and an outlet for those who are well-versed in the subject to spread the news of the green. The site is off to a good start, but they need our help. They're looking for articles about green companies, products, materials, issues -- basically anything that has to do with green. Like all wikis, gWiki relies on its community for content and editing. So, we're sounding the alarm to members of the community: take a moment and write an article or two about your favorite green subject or your area of expertise. With time, gWiki will become a rich and complex web of information that will aid the established members of the environmental community in their pursuits as well as people interested in adopting a greener lifestyle. So cruise on over there, take a peek at what's new, and leave your green footprint behind. ::gWiki...
Most Huggable
by Jacob Gordon, Nashville, TN on 08.15.06
Australia starts bringing solar technology once reserved for satellites down to earth… An oil refinery near Rotterdam feeds its greenhouse gasses to eager customers: greenhouses… When solar isn’t the right power source for remote village Internet, bikes can be… The British green-living expert Donnachadh McCarthy offers redemption for the “seven deadly eco sins” in just sever days (see full post)… Pump up your hybrid’s AC and you’ll be pumping a lot more gas. NPR reports on a DOE finding that shows an almost 30% slump in efficiency…...
Palm Treo 650 SmartPhone and Other Brand Name Products Withdrawn From EU Market Due to RoHS Exceedances
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 08.15.06
According to C/NET : - “The Treo 650 smart phone has fallen victim to the Restriction of Hazardous Substances directive in Europe…Palm has been forced to stop shipping its Treo 650 smart phone in Europe, because it violates new environmental laws [which imposed a July 2006 deadline]…The company is expected to launch a replacement for the Treo 650 for Europe in the coming months”. Unofficial sources also claim that Apple will be withdrawing peripheral equipment from the EU market, pending redesign work. Pentax also has been mentioned as withdrawing some products. We expect many more announcements on this subject as the end of year approaches ....
Nelly Furtado Quilts For The Earth
by Erin Courtenay - Madison, WI on 08.15.06
Now that Nelly Furtado is back in the public eye for her critically praised release "Loose," she's got extra star power to lend to her favorite cause - The Land Conservancy (TLC) of British Columbia. Ms. Furtado has teamed with craft mavens Make It You to sponsor a quilting project. Fans are invited to help create a quilt that will be auctioned off to raise funds for TLC. Selected quilt squares will surround a center panel to be crafted by Ms. Furtado herself. Repurpose an old pair of jeans or your TreeHugger t-shirt that's been worn one too many times and enter a quilt block for the cause....
Wild Earth - Fair Trade Beauty Products From Nepal
by Leonora Oppenheim, London, UK on 08.15.06
We recently got in a lather about Hedgerow Herbals and their range of bath and body oils entitled Aaag! Grrrr!, Mmm!, Oooo!, Oww!, Zzzz! The company who owns Hedgerow Herbals is called Simply Soaps and as well as producing their own range of natural beauty and cleaning products they also sell the Wild Earth range from Nepal. Jim of Simply Soaps explained how he came to be selling Nepalese soaps from his UK based company. “I recently met a yoga teacher who knew the owner of Wild Earth and as our intentions are the same (ethical, environmental etc.) I looked at what they did and thought it would be a great add on to our existing products. They are beautifully packaged plus they resonate with me as I have been to Nepal. I am also interested in Buddhism, Ayurveda, and Yoga so the ranges suited growth in all these.” Wild Earth is based in Kathmandu and contributes to ‘women's and rural economic development in Nepal through the wholesale export of herbal products.’ ...
SolFocus Receives $25 Million in Funding
by Justin Thomas, Virginia on 08.15.06
SolFocus, which recently teamed up with Xerox PARC (details), has now received 25 million dollars in venture capital funding to manufacture it's innovative solar panels. SolFocus' panels are much more compact, and use much less silicon than regular panels because they use lenses and mirrors to concentrate sunlight. The concentrators magnify sunlight 500 times, which according to the company, is the "sweet spot" between higher energy production and excessive heat. A second-generation design squeezes the process into a single glass block (seen here). The blocks have two sets of mirrors: mirrors on bottom face reflect sunlight back to mirrors on the top face, and these in turn reflect the light on to one-millimeter-square photovoltaic cells popped into the center of the bottom mirrors.
...
Coke and Pepsi Banned in Parts of India Amidst Pesticide Claims
by Alex Pasternack, New York, NY on 08.15.06
The Cola wars continue, but this time Pepsi and Coke are on the same side. In the opposite corner are a New Delhi-based environmental group, left-leaning politicians in Southern India, and nonstop press coverage, all raising alarm over high traces of pesticides found in both companies’ sodas in India (happy Indpendence Day, btw!). The controversy bubbled over last Wednesday, when the southern state of Kerala banned the sale and production of Coke, Pepsi, Sprite, Fanta, and other soft drinks made by the local subsidiaries of Coca-Cola and PepsiCo, days after four other Indian states had begun partial bans on the sale of the soft drinks at schools, colleges and government offices. The nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party has called for a nationwide ban, activists have held bottle-smashing events, and the Supreme Court may be calling for Coke to reveal its century-old recipe so that the cola's contents can be better evaluated. The ban comes just as PepsiCo names as its new CEO Indra Nooyi—the highest ranking Indian-born woman in corporate America. As both companies, which together account for nearly 80 percent of India’s $2 billion-a-year soft drink market, have struck back with claims their critics are full of hot air, trade officials in India and even the U.S. have expressed worry about the damage the bans will do to foreign investment. Of course, those concerns should take a backseat to the potential health risks; the findings by the Center for Science and Environment (CSE) in New Delhi showed that pesticide residues in Coke and Pepsi, despite three-year-old complaints, have been 24 times above allowed limits, including Lindane, a known carcinogen, and the neurotoxin Chlorpyrifos. Let's hope the cola companies can end the outrage for everyone's sake by beginning a productive and public safety review. : : Associated Press via The Guardian....
Who is Killing Nature's Precious Bees?
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 08.15.06
How important are bees? One-third of the food we eat comes from crops that need animal pollinators. "Without the services of managed honeybees, provided by migratory beekeepers, billions of dollars' worth of crops across the United States would fail." Unfortunately, as we pointed out before, there was a there was a 57% decline in bee colonies in the US between 1985 and 1997. One of the things responsible for that decline is the use of pesticides by farmers in their fields and by consumers around their homes and gardens....
Boatload of Biodiesel Shipping Today
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 08.15.06
Today is an important milestone in the history of biofuels; the first 60,000 tonne load of palm oil based biofuel leaves Malaysia for Germany. The government is proud, and is working on cloning and replanting strategies to increase yield to one tonne of fresh fruit bunches per hectare and 26% extraction rate. Demand (and prices) are climbing . Meanwhile, 87% of deforestation in Malaysia was due to the creation of new palm oil plantations. Brazil is being turned into a soybean plantation Canada is going sea-to-sea canola. Biodiversity is trampled and food costs soar to keep our cars running as if nothing has changed. As of today it has- cute local Bio-willie or grow-your-own biofuel has gone big business. ::Malaysia Star...
Peter Senge and Jeffrey Hollender: In Conversation
by Jeff McIntire-Strasburg, St. Louis, MO on 08.15.06
On June 15th, the second leg of the three-part "Conversations on the Art and Practice Sustainable Enterprise" audioconference series brought together noted author and organizational learning expert Peter Senge, president and founder of Seventh Generation Jeffrey Hollender, and teleconference participants in a discussion about Hollender's company, its eighteen-year journey to live up to its high ideals of social and environmental responsibility, and the opportunities that exist for companies around the world to do business more sustainably and consciously. That conversation is now available on CD, and the 90+ minute discussion provides great insight into the success of Seventh Generation, and the challenges and learning opportunities created by doing business as a "mission-driven" corporation....
Time to Spruce Up the Apartment
by Bonnie Alter, London on 08.15.06
With so many designers turning out good-looking--and environmentally-friendly--furniture and ceramics, it's time to stop procrastinating and start thinking decor. There are so many interesting pieces of furniture, built from certified woods and recycled materials, whose purchase benefits others. “Annie the Trolley Chair” was saved from the ditch. It is made from reclaimed shopping carts and upholstered to co-ordinate with your colour scheme in vintage or regular fabric of choice. Rugs made by a weaver’s co-op in India are 100% cotton, hand woven, using natural dyes in vibrant and colourful designs. They are so reasonably priced that you can use one for the living room and another for the bedroom. For the decorator’s touch: stoneware and ceramic pots. The black and white pot comes from Peru; it is polished and coloured with smoked mango leaves. It has been made in the deserts of Peru since the 1970’s by local artisans. For the contemporary look, this white and orange stoneware vase is hand-finished and painted with non-toxic paints. Buy some flowers and put them in vases created from recycled bottles, re-formed by Guatemalan local artisans who create beautiful works of art. Now invite your friends over for a look. Via :: newconsumer...
Fossil Fuel Free In Antarctica: An Australian Demonstration Project With Hydrogen
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 08.15.06
“The Australian Government's hydrogen demonstration project , led by the Australian Antarctic Division (AAD), will operate out of Mawson station and a nearby penguin-monitoring field camp at Béchervaise Island, this summer. The project – the first of its kind in Antarctica – aims to investigate safety and operational aspects of using hydrogen, with a long-term view to running Australia's Antarctic field camps and stations without fossil fuels….Hydrogen generated by the wind turbines will also be stored in high pressure vessels at Mawson. If the demonstration project is a success, this hydrogen could be used to provide electricity and heating for the station when the wind drops, through a large scale fuel cell system or in an internal combustion engine generator”. Design credits for system components are described on this page. System configuration and overall project relationships are described on this page . ...
Chicago Hosts Eco-Transportation Show
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 08.15.06
It is remarkable how three and a half buck gas concentrates the mind and increases interest in alternative fuels and transportation systems. In Chicago today, you can see a Twike, , learn about biodiesel, view an extracycle and a range of other interesting alternative fueled vehicles. "Foresight's Eco-Transportation show is intended to display to the public the many choices available, ranging from "old fashioned" (i.e. bikes) to forward-looking (i.e. electric vehicles) to innovative (i.e. Segways). Our goals are to learn from those who use and own them, raise awareness, have fun, and encourage attendees to make informed decisions." If you want to drown your sorrows about buying that Hummer, you can follow up with a beer at Greendrinks. ::Chicago Eco-Transportation Show...
Patagonia Gaucha Organic Vegetables' Conserves
by Paula Alvarado, Buenos Aires on 08.15.06
If you’re thinking about visiting Argentinean Patagonia, check out this firm’s organic vegetables preserves for gifts. Among their vast variety of products, they offer sweet & sour conserves from sliced cucumber, green tomatoes, sliced beetroot, whole cucumber, onions, and garlic cloves; oil seasoned garlic cloves, sliced aubergine in savory sauce and aubergine snacks in savory sauce; and they also count with some organic fruit preserves from plum, peach, quince, rosehip, elderberry, blackberry & apple, elderberry & apple, and blackberry jam. Preserves from morello, strawberry, raspberry, gooseberry, cherry, and cassis & apple are in the menu too. Though it’s not so green to export these, if you’re interested in reselling, check the English version of their website. Also check our featured Cuyen Organic Jams. ::Patagonia Gaucha ...
Lazy Gardening Ideas: Garden-in-a-Bag & Topsy Turvy
by Petz Scholtus, Barcelona, Spain on 08.15.06
If the Leopoldo City Vegetable Garden seems too much work for you but you still like to grow your own herbs, check out the Gardens-in-a-Bag! All you have to do is mix the enclosed seeds into the waterproof bag, add water, place it on the window sill or under a lamp and it grows any time of the year. The perfect much greener gift alternative to cut flowers. Plants available are Basil, Oregano, Italian Parsley, Chives, Viola, Good Luck, Lavender, Alpine Strawberry and Mini-Tomato; all organic! From $8 via :: Wishing Fish.comAnother easy and fun way to grow plants without really getting your fingers dirty is upside down! In a Topsy-Turvy Planter you can hang anywhere from your balcony without needing much space. You won’t have to dig, weed, bend down or fight ground pests but instead the tomatoes become funky deco. All you have to do is add soil and plants (tomatoes, peppers, squash, flowers,…). From $18,99 ::Topsy Turvy ...
ReadyMade August/September Issue
by Kyeann Sayer, Nomad on 08.14.06
Someday you'll become DIY-proficient, right? If your weekends have not yet been filled with projects like Tiffany Tomato's umbrella skirt, or (for those of you pining for the cold) that fully biodegradable pine cone ornament, take vicarious initiative through the ReadyMade pages. In this issue, learn how to make a purse using bubble wrap, convert to vegetable oil and create your own veggie oil fuel station, refurbish an Airstream, make a book rack from vintage suit cases, and more! If your fingers are still itching, get the manual on How to Make (Almost) Everything. ::ReadyMade...
Looking Nation-wide for Eco-Designer with Invention or Design in Process
by Treehugger Interns on 08.14.06
A message from TreeHugger HQ: First we were looking for an eco-inventor/designer near NYC, but now TreeHugger is trying to track down designers across North-America who are working on innovative eco inventions or designs. We are looking for submissions in the following categories:...
Deliver Your Own Version of An Inconvenient Truth
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 08.14.06
A couple months back, we heard Al Gore mention that he'd be training over 1,000 slideshow enthusiasts on how to give his Inconvenient Truth presentation, so they could spread the good word about the bad shape our atmosphere is in and get more people on board in the fight against global warming. They now have a website to support the project, so any TreeHugger readers who want to get up in the limelight and perfect your own version of Gore's slideshow should apply; if you're selected, there will be seven two-day training sessions between September 2006 and January 2007 in Nashville, Tennessee, where trainees will brush up on climate change science, learn some dynamic new presentation skills, and develop a new online learning community for ongoing activities. Sound good? Check out the website for more info, and fill out an application to be one of Al Gore's new disciples and climate change's next big hope. ::The Climate Project Training Program via ::Gristmill...
Gramicci's Spring/Summer Sale & Contest
by Kara DiCamillo, Newport, Rhode Island on 08.14.06
We mentioned Gramicci briefly before and we thought we’d revisit them since their Fall 2006 recently debuted (a sneak peek is available on their website). Oh, and of course because they’re having a great Spring/Summer sale now, too. The outdoor apparel company produces high quality garments that are soft, comfortable and eco-friendly. Inspired by the active outdoor lifestyles of rock climbers and surfers the colors of Gramicci’s designs mirror the hues found in nature. They use fabrics that are hemp blended with recycled polyester, sustainable organic cotton, and organic merino wool. Want to win $2,000 towards a Gramicci wardrobe? From now until October 31st Gramicci is challenging you to send them your craziest, most unbelievable adventure photo. If yours is selected, it will appear in Gramicci’s next Rock and Ice magazine ad in January 2007. Via ::E Magazine ::Gramicci...
Most Huggable
by Jacob Gordon, Nashville, TN on 08.14.06
Are you ready to share your green news with the world? Hugg.com is the reader-generated news site for all things enviro. Post a news story, a video clip, a super fantastic website you just discovered…and let the Huggs roll in. You can also sign up for the newsletter or grab a hold of the snappy RSS feed. For all you greenie bloggers out there, share your hard work by posting your stories. The best stuff appears daily on TreeHugger in our Most Huggable roundup. Escaped genetically modified grass has the EPA worried… TwoFlush offers existing toilets a way to join their more evolved duel-flush brethren… Move over, grandpa. Urban gardening is becoming the territory of the young and female… Grist takes a look at Cuba and what the West's only communist nation has done right… The EV1 is long dead, but GM has played around with some other innovative techs like this in-wheel hybrid-electric retrofit…...
Ferocious Medicine: Alligators and Snakes Could Save Our Lives
by Karin Kloosterman, Tel Aviv on 08.14.06
You hug trees, right? How about snakes and alligators? Gulp. Definitely two kinds of creatures you wouldn’t want thrashing about in your medicine cabinet. Whether you like them or not, these ancient animals are proving their value in gold to medical researchers studying pain and deadly diseases. In the everglades of Florida and the bayous of Louisiana, scientists have learned that reptiles like alligators are extraordinarily sensitive to pesticides, fertilizers and other pollutants, says a news report by Sun Sentinal. Alligators may be a useful early-warning system of possible hazards to people. Like the giraffe's neck and the hawk's eye, the alligator's immune system, they say, is an adaptation to its environment and behavior. Scientists are hoping that a whole range of anti-viral and anti-bacterial drugs can be created by understanding the inner-workings of the alligator’s immune system. See story. ...
How To: Make Your Own Non-Toxic Bathtub Cleaner
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 08.14.06
There's a good-looking recipe for non-toxic bathtub cleaner in this month's Natural Home Magazine. They call it "Silky Scrub," and it's a simple mixture of baking soda, liquid castile soap (like the kind we recommended for backcountry cleaning), and a little antibacterial essential oil, if you'd like. Here's the recipe:
1 cup baking soda, in a medium sized mixing bowl
1/2 cup liquid castile soap
5-10 drops of antibacterial essential oil, such as lavender, tea tree or rosemary (optional)
Procedure:
1. Pour baking soda into a medium size bowl.
2. Add soap a little at a time, stirring continuously, until your mixture has begun to resemble frosting.
3. Mix in drops of essential oil.
4. Store in an airtight jar for up to a year.
::Natural Home Magazine via ::Apartment Therapy: Los Angeles...
Ethical Weddings – Give Everyone Something To Celebrate
by Leonora Oppenheim, London, UK on 08.14.06
We’ve mentioned Katie Fewings’ new company Ethical Weddings a few times here and there on TreeHugger over the last few months in relation to other posts, and just yesterday in TH Blog Love. But we really think that Ethical Weddings deserves it’s own spotlight on TreeHugger. So here we go: As we've seen here on TH there are lots of different people providing eco-weddings services, whether it’s the dress, ring, confetti or even the cake, but things would be so much easier if all this information was based in one place. Katie, who also writes for City Hippy, says it was while planning her own wedding last year that she realised how much time, money and effort goes into planning weddings, how many choices and decisions there were to make. How helpful it would be, she thought, if there was a website which could save you time by pointing you in the right and ethical direction. ...
6 Cents Per kWh: World's Largest Solar Project Unveiled
by Justin Thomas, Virginia on 08.14.06
Stirling Energy and Southern California Edison have announced they plan to construct a 4,500-acre solar generating station in Southern California. When completed, the proposed power station would be the world's largest solar facility, capable of producing more electricity than all other U.S. solar projects combined. They promise a cost of electricity of 0.06$/kWh.
The dish collectors are unique because they make no use of photovoltaics, instead they use mirrors to focus the sun's rays on a Stirling engine. This heats hydrogen gas inside the engine which expands. ...
First Eco Football Stadium
by Bonnie Alter, London on 08.14.06
The UK’s first sustainable football stadium is almost finished, built for Dartford Football Club in Kent. With ongoing drought conditions and a desperate need for high quality grass on the field, the architect, Urban Edge Studio, has created two lakes nearby to store rainwater for watering the grass. The average football field needs a staggering 20,000 litres of water a day to keep it looking good. The rainwater will be collected from the large flat open areas such as the plaza, artificial turf community pitch, the stadium and clubhouse roofs, and piped directly to the ponds. In an average year the ground staff should not need to take any water from the main supply to water the pitch. In a complete drought the ponds will be able to supply water for almost two months without being topped up. The lakes will make the stadium self-sufficient, look pretty, and attract local wildlife....
Bringing Permaculture to the 'Hood
by Jeff McIntire-Strasburg, St. Louis, MO on 08.14.06
Celebration of the Bicycle
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 08.14.06
It would be nice to think that Toronto is finally getting serious about bikes- after all they spent C$900,000 to turn half of the main waterfront roadway into a flower-lined bike route with this fabulous arch of old stolen bikes from the police garage. "What may be the largest art installation ever in Toronto, the transformation calls for the closure of the south side of Queens Quay to traffic between Spadina and York Street. Car traffic will be replaced with bicycle lanes and a kilometer-long stretch of 12,000 geraniums and picnic grass. Two four-storey sculptures built with bicycles will highlight the temporary new section of the popular Martin Goodman trail." Unfortunately after 10 days it is back to business as usual- years of studies, politics and nothing ever happening. ::Quay to the City via ::ReadingToronto...
Cuba's Organic Revolution
by Jeff McIntire-Strasburg, St. Louis, MO on 08.14.06
After forty-seven years of rule, Cuban president Fidel Castro's failing health may well spell the end of his political revolution. Another, quieter revolution has taken place in the island country since the Soviet Union fell, leaving Cuba without guaranteed food subsidies and markets for its sugar cane: the rise of organic agriculture. In response to the loss of its economic lifeline, and the subsequent hunger that many Cuban experienced (average daily caloric intake fell from 2600 to 1000 to 1500), the Castro government set out on a bold experiment to create a self-sustaining food system in the country based on thousands of "organoponicos," or very small urban land allotments for growing food. According to experts who have watched this development, the Cuban organic transition has been remarkably successful:...
Evaluate Product Health Hazards Like A Pro
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 08.14.06
CommonDreams recently reported that “A guide by the Washington Department of Ecology to educate consumers on the safe and proper disposal of hazardous household products was withdrawn from publication a decade ago under industry pressure and never re-issued, according to agency documents released today by Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER)”. Check out this link for more on the history of the apparent lobbying effort. There’s a good news ending, at least. An agency from the neighboring US State of Oregon has updated the guide and that revised version is downloadable here. Get it while you can: lobbyists don’t give up easily. Like many good public domain publications, the guide has a proprietary competitors. One in particular has wider utility. Want to formulate your own products with low hazard ingredients? Look below for details on free access....
Dolan Geiman: Chicago's Reused Threads
by Kyeann Sayer, Nomad on 08.14.06
Synchrinicity is fun. The Umbrella Inside Out competitions mean constant recycling of the idea of fashion re-use in my noggin. Accordingly, last week I asked Lindsey Boland, proprietress of Wicker Park's Habit for leads on Chicago-area re-fabulists. She led me to "clothes whisperer" Dolan Geiman. Lo and behold, he showed up on my Google Alert soon after, since his reinventions appeared on the local ABC affiliate news. The local news? Does this mean fashion forward re-use has officially become mainstream and we can stop prattling on about it? Remains to be seen. Just like Dolan's work: keep reading.
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Orro & Christensen Certified Wood Furniture
by Paula Alvarado, Buenos Aires on 08.14.06
“The noble use of noble wood” is the ultimate goal for Brazilian Orro & Christensen design firm. For this, they plan their designs to be useful and functional, and they produce them with certified Brazilian wood. That is, excluding wood harvested from forest areas where traditional or civil rights are violated; from non FSC-certified forest areas; from genetically modified (GM) trees; illegally harvested wood; and natural forests that have been converted to plantations or non-forest use. “A lot has yet to be done to extend these the conditions of exploration of wood throughout the country, but Brazil has already moved forward a great deal”, they claim in their website. The pictures we chose are only a few from the vast collection of furniture and accessories, with some really cool designs. ::Orro & Christensen...
TH Blog Love – Our Favourite Greens Of The Week
by Leonora Oppenheim, London, UK on 08.13.06
3r Living: T-Shirts by Mark Caserta
We like the cool designs for the new 3r Living t-shirts designed by Monkeys With Crayons. The ‘Make Brooklyn Greener’ line is printed on white American Apparel tees, comes in all sizes and is available to buy from the 3r Living Café Press online store.
City Hippy: Carnival of the Green #39 by Heston Wundercrantz
Heston Wundercrantz is hosting this week’s carnival in place of Al Tepper. Mr Wundercrantz has created rather a stir on City Hippy of late with his irreverent streams of consciousness; no one is quite sure whether he is real or someone’s alter ego. Well whoever he is he is definitely quite amusing....
Disaster Tourism: See Global Warming in Progress
by Christine Lepisto, Berlin on 08.13.06
Hansruedi Burgener, the owner of a cabin with prime seats to view the collapse of a piece of the north wall of the Eiger peak is happy for the uptick in tourism. But he says: "We would also have made a living without the rock coming down," and the extra dollars are little compensation for seeing the beloved mountain valley suffer from the changing weather. "It’s going rapidly, with the glacier disappearing, the moraines are getting bigger, the streams coming down are enormous. And it hasn’t rained; it’s all meltwater." Every day now, visitors see chunks of rock crumbling from a piece of mountain twice the volume of the Empire State Building which is expected to separate from the cliff wall any day now....
