- 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 September 24, 2006 - September 30, 2006
Total this week: 102
Fortune Investigates Kimberly-Clark Forestry Practices
by Jeff McIntire-Strasburg, St. Louis, MO on 09.30.06
On Wednesday, Fortune magazine weighed in on the continuing conflict between paper products giant Kimberly-Clark and environmental groups Greenpeace and the National Resources Defense Council. While K-C maintains that it's an "environmental leader" in its industry, the green groups allege that the maker of Kleenex, Huggies, and Depend violates its own sustainability policies by sourcing fiber from a number of Canadian old-growth forests. According to Fortune senior writer Marc Gunther, the issues here are pretty complex, but Kimberly-Clark has definitely not lived up to its own claims:...
Man Discovers Pi Repeats Itself At The Hyper-Thousandth Level While Eating A Heirloom Tomato Sandwich
by Justin Thomas, Virginia on 09.30.06
An amateur mathematician, Hagar Dronbecker, has discovered that Pi repeats itself at the hyper-thousandth level. The idea came upon him while he was eating a heirloom green and red tomato sandwich drizzled with balsamic vinegar and olive oil. (Note: the photo above is not the actual sandwich but an approximation.) ...
FMO Tapiola: Prefab Wood Office Building in Finland
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 09.30.06
They have a lot of wood in Finland, and a lot of very talented modernist architects to use it. The FMO (Finnforest Modular Office) Tapiola Building, winner of Finland's top wood design award, is built from sustainably harvested wood, prefabricated in modular elements. - the facade is made from 1200 factory produced parts combined with 17,000 individually machined wooden parts. Says structural engineer Jukka Ala-Ojala:“The wooden structures are complicated and as wooden technology has not been used to this extent before, it has been a steep learning curve for the whole team One particular achievement was convincing the authorities that the building would meet the stringent European safety codes.With no previous experience of such a complicated wooden structure in office construction, they were particularly concerned about the fire risk.” Pekka Helin, the primary architect, is confident about the popularity of wood in modern projects: “A modern wooden office building shows how wood can meet today’s architectural demands for more ‘human’ and environmentally-friendly structures. I see a bright international future for such buildings as the wood renaissance continues. ” ::Finnforest...
Solar Aid: the UK's First Solar Charity for the Developing World is Launched
by Treehugger Interns on 09.30.06
Just a couple of weeks ago we interviewed Jeremy Leggett , CEO of London based SolarCentury. It seems that he and his team have been busy since then. Last week, his company announced that they were the UK’s fastest growing renewable energy company for the second year running, and the day after that they made a high-profile pledge that the company would be donating 5% of its net profit to SolarAid, the UK’s first solar energy charity for the developing world. The charity was launched at the Climate Clinic Night at the Labour Party Conference in Manchester this week, ensuring high visibility amongst politicians and decision makers. The charity aims to relieve poverty through the use of solar energy. It will also run education projects in matters relating to solar energy, climate change and the protection of the environment. SolarAid will also carry out research into renewable energy generation, distribution, supply and use in the developing world....
G-Wiz Caught on Camera
by Treehugger Interns on 09.30.06
After Spinach: Organic versus Synthetics in Farming
by Christine Lepisto, Berlin on 09.30.06
The recent cases of E. Coli in organic spinach have reinvigorated the debate about food safety: how much do we know? What do we need to know? How much forest land must be plowed under to provide the resources for organic farming? Why is copper sulfate an approved organic fungicide if it is known to have negative environmental impacts? Are synthetic fertilizers really worse for the environment than "natural" fertilizers? Will 2.3 million people die if we convert all farming to organic methods?...
Most Huggable
by Jacob Gordon, Nashville, TN on 09.29.06
Starting next month, new Toyotas will show drivers how green they’re driving with an Eco Drive Indicator light on the dash… A video shows how LEDs are not just long-lasting and efficient, but how they might save your life on the road… London’s mayor has committed his city to building carbon neutral, and is gathering interested firms to design a zero carbon development… Personal Kyoto now lets New Yorkers track their energy consumption and bring a bit of Kyoto into their own home... Timberland has started printing not just the shoe size, but the overall footprint on its shoeboxes…...
Friday's Lesson: Pollution...Tion, Tion, Tion, Tion
by Jacob Gordon, Nashville, TN on 09.29.06
KiteShip: Harnessing the Power of the Wind
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 09.29.06
We've seen the advantages of using huge sails to make freighters more efficient before; a company called KiteShip has taken it a step further with what they call Very Large Free Flying Sails (VLFFS) and control systems, technology and techniques for launching, controlling and recovering these sails aboard not only commercial vessels, but pleasure and racing yachts and even aerospace applications. Self-described as a "group of forward-thinking sailors, designers and visionaries," KiteShip has been harnessing the power of the wind for three decades. Their portfolio includes sails designed for freighter retrofits (like the kind we saw from Sky Sails); they also offer bi-directional kite boards and rule-legal spinnaker replacement kites for racing yachts (wind power can be fun, too) and have even been working on programs to explore the surface of Mars, the atmospheres of the gas giants and Earth's own stratosphere. We won't go into all the details of these far-out ideas; to learn more, read up on them here. At least on the water, we think these sails might be the "wave" of the future. ::KiteShip via ::Gristmill...
Video: GM's Hy-wire Hydrogen Fuel Cell Concept Car
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 09.29.06
Recy, The Recyclable Roadster
by Jacob Gordon, Nashville, TN on 09.29.06
As the LA Auto Show starts to appear on the horizon, the first entry into the show’s Design Challenge comes from Mercedes-Benz Advanced Design of North America. The Challenge coaxes auto designers to create a car conscious of its environmental footprint. Mercedes’ “Recy” is a California roadster made from wood, allows, glass, and metal, and is 100% recyclable. Other Design Challenge entrants, yet to be unveiled, will come from Audi, Acura, Honda, Mini and yes, Hummer, so lots of eco eye candy yet to behold. Last year’s Auto Show brought us such concept vehicles as the GMC Pad. We’ll see what they dish out this year. The winner will be announced November 30th. :: PR Newswire via Hugg (Linton)...
Ode to Arthur H. Rosenfeld, Doctor Efficiency
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 09.29.06
Arthur H. Rosenfeld was born in 1927. He earned a PhD in Physics from the University of Chicago in 1954 and then spent almost 20 years with the Nobel Prize-winning particle physics group of Luis Alvarez at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. In 1974, In great part because of the oil crisis, he changed to a different field: The efficient use of energy! He formed the Center for Building Science at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) and led it until 1994, and for that we owe him a great many "thanks" as treehuggers. The Center developed "electronic ballasts for fluorescent lamps (which led to compact fluorescent lamps), low-emissivity windows, and the DOE-2 computer program for the energy analysis and design of buildings, for which Dr. Rosenfeld was personally responsible", and many more green innovations including more efficient electric motors and refrigerators....
New Goodies from 2KH
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 09.29.06
It's been awhile since we've checked in on 2KH, and they've added some really good-looking stuff. One of our favorite sustainable retailers, who we featured some time ago, sell their goods through their online store and their brick-n-mortar location in NYC's West Chelsea neighborhood; the store itself is notable for incorporating refurbished concrete floors, custom-designed modular fixtures fashioned from reclaimed wood, innovative wood composites, eco-friendly resins energy-efficient lighting and low-VOC paints and adhesives. It's great to see a business walking the walk with such a TreeHugger-friendly style as well; we like the looks of these tabletop trays. The Circles of Bamboo Tray (left) is handcrafted from small circles of our favorite grass; the exotic, sustainable and beautiful Palm Wood Oval Tray works well for serving fruit and bread, or on its own as a decorative piece (remember, palm wood can be a good alternative to exotic rainforest hardwoods, as the trees are harvested after they stop bearing coconuts). Both are available online; if you happen through the neighborhood, swing by and check 'em out in person at the corner of Tenth Avenue and 17th Street. ::2KH...
After the Floods, the Forest: Locals Fighting Climate Change in West Yorkshire
by Treehugger Interns on 09.29.06
The hills above the West Yorkshire village of Hebden Bridge in the UK will see an important gathering next wekend. A group of volunteers of all ages will be taking part in what they describe as “climate change of a different kind.” They will be hard at work cutting back turf and planting young trees, and when they are not doing this they’ll be attending workshops on climate change, community action and green living. Of course, if previous events are anything to go by, there’ll also be dancing, singing, eating and drinking until well into the night....
George Monbiot Turns Up the Heat
by Treehugger Interns on 09.29.06
“I am not writing this book to confirm what you believe is true… As always, I seem destined to offend everyone.”
These are the words of British journalist and environmental campaigner George Monbiot, recently described by the Observer newspaper as “the most astute political and environmental cartographer of his time.” The opening quote was taken from the introduction to his new book Heat – How to Stop the Planet Burning, which is now available in the shops. It looks set to become an important work in the growing literature on climate change. The author challenges the facts and figures promoted by both the oil industry and the environmental lobbies, waging war on deliberate deceit and well-meaning woolly thinking alike. Monbiot claims that even the most ambitious targets for emissions cuts, such as the UK government’s promise of a 60% reduction by 2050, are way below what is needed. He argues that cuts in the magnitude of 90% are vital by 2030 in order to avoid climate change slipping out of our control.
...
Study Shows Fuel Economy Essential for Big 3
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 09.29.06
Did they need a study to know that? With them, you never know. In Can Proactive Fuel Economy Strategies Help Automakers Mitigate Fuel-Price Risks? (pdf), Michigan’s Transportation Research Institute (UMTRI) says that "the strategy with the best financial outcome for domestic automakers is to focus on improving fuel-economy across their lineups" and that the industry's assumption that fuel economy is only important to people when gas prices are high is erroneous (they investigated future scenarios with gasoline at $3.10, $2.30 and $2 per gallon)....
Safeway to Reduce Emissions
by Eric Kane, New York, NY on 09.29.06
Whether positive or negative, Whole Foods Market tends to attract a majority of the attention surrounding sustainability and food retailers. However, recent developments indicate that Safeway is looking to challenge Whole Foods’ position as industry leader. Earlier this week, the Fortune 50 company, announced its approval of California’s new state law that will require a 25% reduction in emissions by 2020. More importantly, Safeway introduced a series of progressive initiatives that will serve to reduce the company’s environmental footprint. The food and drug retailer will join the Chicago Climate Exchange, thereby committing to a 390,000-ton reduction in CO2 emissions from the base year 2000. The company will also purchase an additional 174,000 MWh of wind energy, making it California’s largest corporate buyer of wind energy. Finally, Safeway will introduce new technologies to reduce energy consumption at its stores, and implement a comprehensive recycling program capable of reducing waste by 500,000 tons annually. See also ::Safeway Introduces O Organics and ::Safeway To Use Renewable Energy...
North Carolina’s First Zero Energy Home
by Eric Kane, New York, NY on 09.29.06
On October 6th, Frances Thompson will move into North Carolina’s first Zero Energy Home. Since its completion in Fall 2005, the house has served as a research center and as an office for the organization responsible for its construction, Habitat for Humanity. The home combines state-of-the-art energy-efficient construction and an array of renewable energy systems. In addition to a photovoltaic array, 446 S. Center St in Hickory, NC utilizes a solar water heating system, a fresh air ventilation system, and a geothermal heat pump. Furthermore, energy efficient practices such as advance framing and spray foam insulation were employed during construction. The house is also equipped with recycled tile, high performance windows, and energy efficient appliances. This impressive list of features makes the home capable of producing more energy than it uses. For those interested in seeing this fine example of green building in person, there will be a housewarming at noon on Oct 6th followed by a workshop on Zero Energy Homes. ...
Merkavim: Riding the Business Bus
by Karin Kloosterman, Jerusalem, Israel on 09.29.06
Thinking about getting rid of the chauffeur for the Benz and the limo? Millionaires and debonairs might consider a new way of greener travel once they get wind of the new business bus developed by Israeli company Merkavim (Hebrew for chariots). A few weeks after Egged Israel released the news that “greener buses” will be hitting Israeli streets, Merkavim unveiled its plan to invest USD $230,000 for developing a fleet of business class buses for executives. Anyone out there ride the bus in Turkey, where a steward-like attendant sprays your hands with scented cologne and offers you biscuits and coffee? It’s pretty swell. Maybe it’s the hospitality of the East or maybe traveling by bus has just jumped a step up. ::YNet...
More New Furniture to Covet
by Bonnie Alter, London on 09.29.06
There is a lot of very beautiful furniture being shown around town as part of the London Design Festival, and this one is from Design UK at Liberty. Liberty is an old and respected department store that has sold beautiful design and homewares since 1875. This elegant bench by Nick Smith is right up there with the best. He uses steam bending to produce it and other pieces of furniture. This is an old technique which some new designers are reviving and making use of in daring and contemporary ways (see treehugger). It is made of locally sourced oak as part of his environmentally friendly furniture collection. The look is modern, yet classic and is comfortable enough for use indoors, or strong enough to be left outdoors. :: Design UK at Liberty
...
Is Camouflage the New Green?
by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 09.29.06
The UK’s Times newspaper ran a weekend story on the British Department of Defence (DoD) and their contractors trying to do their bit in going green, beyond painting tanks a particular hue. They covered much of the same ground that we’ve touched on before. For instance, amongst many, we’ve noted military eco-oddities such as hybrid vehicles and folding bicycles; diesel motorbikes; solar arrays and wind turbines and that clincher lead-free bullets (aka eco-ammo). But the Times article brings us news also of quieter warheads to reduce noise pollution and reduced-smoke grenades, compostable explosives, biodegradable plastic missiles, reduced emission marine-friendly rockets and low VOC weaponry! Understandably the group, Campaign Against Arms Trade, is a tad skeptical “... they make weapons to kill people and it’s utterly ridiculous to suggest they are environmentally friendly.” But a spokeswoman for BAE, one of DOD’s suppliers suggests, “Weapons are going to be used and when they are, we try to make them as safe for the user as possible, to limit the collateral damage and to impact as little as possible on the environment.” ::The Times....
Suissa Computers: Powerful, Beautiful and (sort of) Green
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 09.29.06
For some, computers are utilitarian beige boxes. Others love the elegant but hermetically sealed apple approach. Still others treat their computers like people used to treat cars- something to play with, to mod, to build to your own tastes and specifications. Howard Suissa thinks that computers belong in your living room, and that they should look like they belong there. “While technology and design have advanced in leaps and bounds, the artistic cultural reflection found in computer case design has stagnated,” says the Thornhill, Ontario based designer. “Most design discussion on computers is either on the disappearance of technology, or is a visual grappling with a technology one no longer understands.....With the integration of computers into our living environment, people are craving something more human,” says Suissa. “They relate to natural materials more readily than to the cold sterility of plastic or metal.” Out of offcuts from his other work, he built "Fire@Will"-. “Our production process is clean, and we recycle all our wood and metal waste,” says Suissa. “Wood waste is used as mulch in the garden or is used in other projects.” and what a computer it is......
Dot-it: LED's To Go
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 09.29.06
Soon we won't need wiring at all- LED lights take so little juice that they can run on next to nothing. This new stick-on light from Sylvania goes anywhere, and lasts up to 100 hours on three AAA batteries. Just press on it and it goes. Now if they integrated a timer or motion detector to turn it off.......
Connecticut College Exploring an On-Campus Wind Turbine
by Jeff McIntire-Strasburg, St. Louis, MO on 09.29.06
Last Spring, Connecticut College joined other US campuses that have committed to purchasing green power. After seven months of buying green power for 50% of its total usage, the campus is now considering the next logical step: joining those schools that produce green energy. The college has partnered with Global Energy Concepts to begin a two-phase process that could will bring wind power to this small liberal arts school:...
Most Huggable
by Jacob Gordon, Nashville, TN on 09.28.06
In Seattle, goats are a chemical-free, naturally fertilizing solution to clearing brambley brush targeted by the city as a fire hazard… As wind power spreads throughout the world, Asia’s rural populations get used to the sight… First smoking, now killer fats. New York City is considered a ban on trans fats in restaurant food… NPR reports on a controversial study that has found gulf hurricanes like Katrina and Rita can make way for new wetlands… A new regenerative braking electric scooter, The Vectrix, is coming out next year. Check out the video…...
Honda Shows Off FCX Fuel Cell Concept Car
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 09.28.06
Honda FCX Fuel Cell Car
We've written a lot about the Honda FCX hydrogen-powered car (see links at the end of this post). So far we only could show you computer renderings of the car, but now Honda has shown a working version of the next-generation FCX (to see the 2005 version, see this) doing about 100 mph (160 kph) on a test track. "The company says it plans limited marketing in Japan and the US for the vehicle starting in 2008." That's faster than the "3-4 years" announced in early 2006, so presumably things are going better than planned on the technical side of things....
Solar Glass at Hong Kong Science Park
by Justin Thomas, Virginia on 09.28.06
Can you see the solar glass incorporated into this building at the Hong Kong Science Park? It's the darker blue glass. The electricity is generates is fed back into the grid. Solar glass is a kind of solar installation called BIPV or Building Integrated PhotoVoltaics. It basically a kind of solar cell that can be incorporated into a house or building in a virtually seamless way. Solar glass generates electricity, while still being aesthetically pleasing, and it occupies building surfaces that would otherwise require reflective glass and window shades to avoid the sun's heat. ...
Al, Arnold, and Sir Richard… The End of the Beginning?
by Nicholas Moore Eisenberger, New York City on 09.28.06
Richard Branson’s announcement at the Clinton Global Initiative last week signals, I think, the end of the beginning of what promises to be a long battle against climate change. (Disclosure: my firm, GreenOrder, conducted the carbon inventory for the Clinton Global initiative.) Coming soon after Gore’s movie and Arnold’s signing of ambitious climate change legislation in California, Branson’s announcement that he will invest $3 billion in low-carbon, renewable energy technologies over the next 10 years shows that some of the most ambitious, powerful, and self-promoting people on the planet now see it in their interest to jump on the climate bandwagon. Climate change has truly arrived as an issue on the global stage. Now comes the hard part…...
2006 Green Buildings Open House on October 7
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 09.28.06
The Northeast Sustainable Energy Association (NESEA) is inviting everyone to the 2006 Green Buildings Open House on October 7. The Open House, held in all six New England States, plus New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware, will welcome the public to visit green homes and businesses, and see a variety of renewable energy systems at work. It's an opportunity to tour, ask questions, and discover the variety of ways people are saving energy, money, and the environment all at once. The list of showcased technologies include how solar hot water is collected and stored, how photovoltaics can be placed on or integrated into the shell of a building to produce electricity, and how wind can be used to generate power. Open House visitors may also see water-saving fixtures and appliances, the use of passive solar techniques, the use of allergy, asthma and chemical-sensitive building materials, and the variety of green materials including paints, insulation, carpeting, and renewably-harvested wood products. Visitors can also learn about how they can support renewable energy by purchasing clean renewable energy through their utility company or a green electricity provider. More than 10,000 people visited the Open House last year; a complete list of sites is available through NESEA's website. ::NESEA via ::CSRwire...
Hybrid Cars: Seven Worries, Seven Answers
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 09.28.06
When looking for a hybrid car, there are a lot of things to consider; some worries are well-founded, and some are just silly. With hybrid cars sales seemingly continually on the rise, and hybrids infiltrating multiple facets of the car market, Kelley Blue Book did a survey to determine what potential hybrid car buyers are really thinking about; CNN took the top seven questions and answered them. Among the topics covered are battery life (don't worry about it), the car's ability to pay for itself (eh...maybe) and estimated versus actual mileage (won't get it, but, then again, no cars do). If you're in the market and aren't sure about hybrids' ability to hold resale value, it's worth a read. ::CNN via ::Digg...
All-Purpose Water Filters For Humanitarian Projects
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 09.28.06
A humanitarian project sponsor recently asked us for some “emailed tips” to help his group as they assist a Nicaraguan community purify its drinking water. The basic question was whether “we knew of a cheap way to filter out heavy metals, such as arsenic, as well as kill and get rid of dirt and bacteria.” Suspecting that many others may have similar questions, we decided to make our reply a post. Caveats: continued high exposure to arsenic in drinking and cooking water can be a matter of life and death; or at least of health versus misery. The same goes for tropical parasites and enteric bacteria. Off the shelf, one-size-fits-all, low-tech solutions are going to be hard to come by. But here we go....
Real Estate Service To Index Property Listings By Green Features
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 09.28.06
Residents of the US States of Oregon and Washington will, by Spring of 2007, be able to shop online for homes based on a select list of “green” criteria. “Oregon’s Regional Multiple Listing Service (RMLS™) Board of Directors recently agreed to expand its database by spring 2007 to include information on energy efficient and green home features, making this region one of the few in the nation where this is possible”. There’s a good news bad news element to this story. RMLS™ access is proprietary, which means you’ll need an agent to access the listing fields. The good news is that green design has become so important to consumers that the real estate industry is organizing to meet demand. Translation: green design is showing one more sign of mainstreaming, starting (no surprise) in the Pacific Northwest. Hopefully, multiple listing services in cities like Austin, Berkeley, Boulder, Chicago, Denver, Eugene, Honolulu, Huntsville, Madison, Oakland, and St Paul will soon add these features. If the result is to concentrate demand and elevate the market value of green properties, nationally, the tipping point comes ever-closer....
Corrugated Cardboard Goes Wild
by Bonnie Alter, London on 09.28.06
This has to be one of the most beautiful tables at the London Design Festival. Giles Miller brings elegance to humble cardboard. Miller had the idea to do what he calls "fluting"--alternating the angles in the corrugation of the cardboard so that it produces different shading and decorative patterns. The surfaces have texture and depth, and almost look like flocked wallpaper. There are also three-panelled screens, created using the same process, that are about 8 feet high and suitable as a room divider. This work is being shown as part of Design UK at Liberty. However he also has a “Pool” chair at re(design) 06, the sustainable design exhibition. This is a rocking chair which explores the structural properties of corrugated board. He also makes laptop cases from old carpets and fluted board. All of the work is focussed on using recycled and natural materials. These get my treehugger nomination as a highlight of the London Design Festival. :: Farmdesigns ...
Carbon Free Computing from VIA
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 09.28.06
After an earlier post on low-power computing, MH commented: "I read a report a while back that 80% of the lifetime energy of a PC is in the manufacturing. If that is the case, it is more important that the chip is manufactured efficiently than running efficiently." A good point, which we were reminded of when we learned of Via's new carbon-free program. Intel and AMD get all the press, but VIA has been plugging away building efficient chips and fan-free ITX circuit boards for quite a few years. They are not the fastest chips on the block, but their new 2 GhZ chip will do what anyone other than gamers or animators might need, sucks only 20 watts, and that is only the start- They have a list of eco-initiatives that should make them dear to any treehugger's heart....
Alpaca: The Green Sheep?
by Tim McGee, Western Massachusetts on 09.28.06
TreeHugger has featured alpaca mittens, and alpaca pillows, but what is an alpaca? Why should you care? Is the alpaca the sheep for the green millennium? I take a quick peak behind the scenes and find a surprising mix of possibilities, dangerous investment schemes and international intrigue....
Major River in Greece Could be Diverted
by Mairi Beautyman, Berlin, Germany on 09.28.06
Cotton could change the course of the Achelos, a major river in Greece. According to Deutsche Welle Radio, a new law has passed that could allow the Greek government to proceed with a diversion project which has been firmly opposed by environmental groups--including WWF Greece, (World Wide Fund For Nature), Hellenic Society for the Protection of the Environment and Cultural Heritage (ELLINIKI E TAIRIA), the Hellenic Ornithological Society (HOS), and the Hellenic Society for the Protection of Nature (HSPN)--for years. Mismanagement of irrigation for cotton crops, lavish use of water in urban areas, and the progressive lowering of the area's underground water level have led to the water shortage, according to the environmentalist groups. The river, Deutsche Welle reports, makes its way through sensitive wet lands richly populated with birds. A dam more than 100 meters high makes the diversion possible. Since 1994, four previous attempts to pass laws in favor of the diversion have been denied. The environmental groups also note that the European Union, which is not funding the project, is trying to phase out the cotton farmers in this region. :: Deutsche Welle ::International Nature Network...
Calling Green Architects: Scion Floorplan Competition
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 09.28.06
OK, it is a very cool car from Toyota and it is small and quite fuel-efficient, but it doesn't stand out and say "green". We think its showrooms should, and think that green designers everywhere should enter the competition to design a showroom for them. Look what happened in Toronto: Roland Rom Colthoff of Quadrangle Architects designed a "showroom in the sky" for BMW out of an old soap factory by the highway into a "sleek transparent "toy box" of cars. BMW has taken the automobile dealership and tipped it up vertically to create a distinctly urban form." on a flood-challenged toxic site, winning all kinds of awards. Imagine what you might do with Scion- plant a tree on the roof for every car sold? Go for it. ::Scion Floor Plan Competition...
TH Blog Love – Our Favourite Greens Of The Week
by Leonora Oppenheim, London, UK on 09.28.06
3R Blogging: OPEC to the Rescue? By Mark Caserta
‘If you drive a Hummer H2, you have to be upset about yesterday's announcement that OPEC is considering a drop in oil production (which will lead to higher oil and gasoline prices).’
Babs To Brisbane (and Back) by Barbara Haddrill
“My aim is to travel from the UK to Brisbane for one of my best friends' wedding. Plane travel is so environmentally damaging so I am looking for another way. I also think that by travelling over land and sea I will be able to understand our world better as I will connect with the people and landscapes and not just look at the departure board in the airport. Any tips gratefully received!!”...
Painted Earth Sell Oikos Solvent-Free Paint
by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 09.28.06
Painted Earth is a small business located in the idyllic realm of Byron Bay, on Australia’s east coast. They sell “a large range of non-toxic, environmentally responsible house paints and wood finishes.” In a refreshing change their marketing seems very open and honest. We tender exhibit A: “Natural paints and finishes are on the whole more environmentally friendly than conventional synthetic ones; whilst conventional synthetic ones are generally more durable and a little cheaper.” And while their site is still ‘under construction’, with many dead links, the Interior Paint section gives a good idea of the transparent information they are providing customers. One of the brands on offer is Oikos, an Italian made solvent-free range of decorative acrylic paint, which Painted Earth reckon has an extremely high coverage rate of up to 30 sq.m/L, apparently twice that of regular paints, “because the 20 - 40% water content is added after you receive the paint.” (I am glad we aren’t shipping excess water in paint tins all the way from Italy.) Oikos also have high standards of environment protection at their manufacturing plant, and well as supporting community programs for the disadvantaged and for heritage conservation. ::Painted Earth....
S4: Substance, Sexiness, Style, Sustainability
by Jeff McIntire-Strasburg, St. Louis, MO on 09.27.06
Model, entrepreneur and eco-Renaissance woman Summer Rayne Oakes adds another line to her already impressive resume' with the publication of S4, a magazine-style industry newsletter that gives readers a comprehensive look at sustainability and social justice issues in the fashion and apparel sectors. Subtitled "The Moso Issue," the newsletter's premier takes an in-depth look at many designers' embrace of bamboo as a "green fiber," and asks the tough questions about the environmental and economic impact of this move. Science, marketing and design all figure into the equation, and Summer takes her readers on a journey from bamboo's native habitats in China and India to the workshops of fashion labels such as Linda Loudermilk, Undesigned by Carol Young, and Gypsy and Loic that are finding innovative uses for the grass species. S4 is available to download for free (registration required); a separate, more thorough edition is available only to clients of SRO, Summer's consulting and multimedia company. ::SRO News...
Seven WWF Staff Dead in Helicopter Crash in Nepal
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 09.27.06
The whole TreeHugger team would like to extend condolences to the families of the victims of the accident and to the World Wildlife Fund. We are deeply saddened by their loss and we encourage all our readers to share their thoughts and condolences in this guest book....
The Ecology of Cities
by Lester Brown, Washington, D.C on 09.27.06
Urbanization is one of the dominant demographic trends of our time. In 1900, 150 million people lived in cities. By 2000, it was 2.9 billion people, a 19-fold increase. By 2007 more than half of us will live in cities—making us, for the first time, an urban species. (See Chapter 11 in Plan B 2.0).
In 1900 there were only a handful of cities with a million people. Today 408 cities have at least that many inhabitants. And there are 20 megacities with 10 million or more residents. Tokyo’s population of 35 million exceeds that of Canada. Mexico City’s population of 19 million is nearly equal to that of Australia. New York, São Paulo, Mumbai (formerly Bombay), Delhi, Calcutta, Buenos Aires, and Shanghai follow close behind....
Most Huggable
by Jacob Gordon, Nashville, TN on 09.27.06
Mercedes’ recyclable roadster concept debuts at the LA Auto Show Design Challenge… Canada’s second largest airline, WestJet, has started offering its travelers free CO2 offsets for their miles flown… ABC now has an online global warming news desk with articles, multimedia, breaking stories, and background info on our building climate crisis… Virgin Airlines is considering plans to tow its planes to the runway, reducing fuel burned and the impact on local air quality… London is now home to a new and massive textile recycling complex that does everything from re-routing cast-off clothes for resale, to shredding them for mattress fill…...
Put Some TED on your Pod: Cameron Sinclair, Al Gore, Majora Carter, and More
by Jacob Gordon, Nashville, TN on 09.27.06
Sitting at this year’s Aspen Ideas Fest with Tom Riley of TED, watching Sun Microsystems founder Bill Joy diss on blogs, we were whispering back and forth about whether the remarkable and high priced panels and talks of the Fest would be podcast to the public. Well, to my knowledge Aspen Ideas hasn’t done it, but TED has. The TED Conference (Technology Entertainment Design) is a yearly geniusfest held in Monterey, California. This year’s gathering hosted some of our favorite TreeHuggers: Al Gore, Cameron Sinclair, and Majora Carter (pictured above). With this year’s conference they’ve taken the event one step closer to open source knowledge sharing by making their TEDTalks publicly available. Watch some of these talks on their site or get them on your iPod and geek out on the bus. Some Huggerish highlights will include the aforementioned stars, plus: epidemiologist and head of Google.org Larry Brillaint; Wikipedeia founder Jimmy Wales, founder of the One Laptop Per Child organization Nicholas Negroponte, and biologist Richard Dawkins. The TED site suggests watching at least three from the get go. I concur. :: TEDTalks...
Greenpeace Calls For A Greener Apple
by Justin Thomas, Virginia on 09.27.06
Some people get upset when Apple is criticized for their environmental practices. Perhaps it's because Apple is well-liked and their products are well-designed. But this is more reason for Apple be a leader in terms of recycling and incorporating non-toxic components into their machines. They've introduced some good environmental programs but they are not cutting-edge by any means. And that's the problem — Apple should be a leader in these important areas. Then they would be immune to parody sites like this one from Greenpeace. Surely it is not beyond the company to introduce a first-class recycling program, and be responsible for the lifecycle of their products. Can somebody at Apple pick up a copy of Cradle to Cradle?
...
3-Dimensional LED Bulbs
by Justin Thomas, Virginia on 09.27.06
Ledtronics has released some three-dimensional LED bulbs for outdoor use. The G30 series bulbs have spherical coverings that allow the LEDs to shine in multiple directions while still being protected from the environment. The bulbs consume only 13 watts of power....
PSFK Short Interview With Graham Hill
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 09.27.06
PSFK has just published a (very) short interview with Graham Hill, of TreeHugger. It even includes the famous surfer photo! The interview can be found here: ::Interview with Graham Hill of Treehugger...
Fading Tiger, Climate Dragon
by Neil Chambers, New York City on 09.27.06
The Economist offered an in-depth survey about Climate Change (Sept 9th – 15th, 2006 issue). The 24-page report covers topics such as greenhouse gases, sea level change and ice melts with fantastic scientific quotes and new bits of information in that witty way only The Economist does. For example, did you know that if West Antarctica, East Antarctica, and the glaciers on Greenland were to disappear, sea levels will rise by over 80 meters, that’s 7 meters, 6 meters and 70 meters respectively.
With people like Rupert Murdoch teaming up with Bill Clinton to fight global warming (see Fortune’s September cover story), Thom Yorke weighing in on the United Kingdom’s carbon footprint and Martha Stewart’s Green Week (Simran Sethi of TreeHuggerTV will be a guest on the show), interest in the subject of greener living is pouring into our culture. There is no mistaking the potential horrors of continued high-level carbon emissions. ...
TreeHugger Picks: Recycled Plastic Bags
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 09.27.06
There are so many damn plastic bags that companies and entire cities have started banning them, but that doesn't solve the problem of what to do with all of the bags left behind. While recycling plastic bags into other bags may seem silly, it's a great way to get rid of lots of the ubiquitous, ugly bags and get more functional, aesthetically-pleasing bags good for more than just one use. Here are some of our favorites.
1) New Delhi-based Conserve's profits go to fund a local nonprofit.
2) Hip & Zen's version is designed for toting laptops.
3) Tote Le Monde's recycled plastic bags aim to be the perfect environmentally-friendly, durable, functional yet fashionable carryall.
4) The Anarkali bags almost look like they're made of stained glass, though they're really made of a sandwich of heat-laminated reclaimed bags.
5) Sound interesting? Rebagit by Piotr Stolarski re-forms old shopping bags into a new versitile sheet which can then be used to make sturdy shopping and messenger bags....
Interface's Newest Design: Button Rugs
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 09.27.06
TreeHugger loves Interface Flor. A lot. We started posting about them back when TreeHugger was just a sprout, and they just keep coming up with new designs and innovative ideas that we think are pretty noteworthy. Their newest idea takes them out of the boxy confines of the square; Button is Flor's first foray into the wonderful world of curves. Each circle is four separate tile pieces (think pizza), and the circles are available in green, brown and blue colorways. Curiously, the diameter of each circle is approximately 39 inches, which, at 19.5 inches per side, leaves each quarter just a little short of the traditional squares, whose sides measure 19.7 inches. It might just be a shortcoming in their marketing, meaning they do actually match, but there aren't any square-circle combos in the catalog. A bit of a head-scratcher, though the circles are pretty slick by themselves. ::FLOR Button Rugs via ::Apartment Therapy...
Simple Coffee: "Better Trade" and Honest Organic Values
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 09.27.06
Founded by three 23 year-old entrepreneurs, Simple Coffee is based on the principles of “better trade and honestly organic values.” They believe that some of the best coffee in the world is grown by small growers in third world countries who need the help of organizations like Fair Trade, but Fair Trade isn’t for everyone. For those farmers who can't meet the volume demands set by some merchants who offer Fair Trade deals, Simple Coffee has developed what they refer to as "Better Trade," a system that pays small farmers more than the Fair Trade price per pound on coffee, simply because it's the right thing to do. They feature eleven blends of coffee from around the globe, from Sumatra to Costa Rica and Papua New Guinea to the mountains of Nicaragua, including one decaf and one that is shipped "green" -- unroasted -- for the consumer to roast themselves. Some of it is shade-grown and it's all "honestly organic," meaning they have "honest handshake agreements" with their farmers; Simple Coffee can't officially certify it, but it comes from farms small enough that the farmers use the same land to grow their own food, and they don't feed pesticides to their families. A 12 oz. bag goes for US $10, either whole bean or ground. ::Simple Coffee via ::Product Dose...
Fair Indigo: Click to Support Fair Trade
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 09.27.06
Bill Bass used to run the online division of Land's End, and set up one of the best early shopping sites on the internet. Now he is applying those skills to build an online retailer of fair-trade clothing at reasonable prices. According to the New York Times: This new venture, Mr. Bass said, will go beyond simply promising to adhere to minimum-wage and other labor laws in a given country. “Most apparel companies say they meet legal wage minimums in foreign countries, but the problem is you can’t raise a family on the minimum wage in another country any more than you could do it here,” he said. The website has some neat features like its patent-pending zoom window on the technical side, and its descriptions of where it gets its clothes on the social side. ...
Great Plates
by Bonnie Alter, London on 09.27.06
New heirlooms out of old… The ceramicist, Cj O’Neill, finds bone china plates in charity shops and flea markets in England and Denmark. She is particularly taken with the old blue and white ones, last seen and ignored, in your great grandmother’s cupboard. She punches them through with water-jet cuts and leaves pierced messages and laser-etched decorations. One has ‘London Drugs’ cut into a very traditional and formal plate, another says ‘the heart is above all things deceitful' on a pastoral scene of a horse and buggy. These are very direct and in-your-face pieces. Other designs evoke feelings of nostalgia and memories of secret treasures. They are printed with hand- cut and printed transfer patterns, joining new parts with old. People will Always Need Plates (see treehugger) have a new series of plates, celebrating modernist buildings and architects: Goldfinger, Golden Lane and Golden Section. They are done in bone china, printed with gold lines and black drawings. They also have some new children’s dinnerware, with sweet illustrations of children’s vintage pull-toys in reds and greens. :: Cj O'Neill via :: Design UK at Liberty ...
1964 VW Bus Gets Serious Upgrade
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 09.27.06
Those of us of a certain age still with brain cells might remember the slow, loud and smelly but ever so cute VW bus of the 60's. This one has had a modest upgrade: "The drivetrain is all electric, powered by lithium polymer batteries -- those surfboards on the roof are lined with flexible solar panels for extra juice. The interior is a museum of tech: an interactive digital instrument cluster with embedded touch pads, digital audio and video, a wide-angle back-up camera display and speech-activated controls." ::Gizmodo...
greendimes: More Trees, Less Junk Mail
by Jeff McIntire-Strasburg, St. Louis, MO on 09.27.06
Junk mail isn't just annoying; it's also an environmental scourge. While the numbers vary from source to source, millions of trees are cut down each year to produce the ads and non-profit solicitations that likely end up in the recycle bin, or, more often, the trash can. That junk also consumes a lot of water: 25-28 million gallons. If you've ever tried to get yourself off of mailing lists, you know it's a Herculean chore -- you must send out letters to numerous mailing list companies requesting removal of your name and address. And then, if you even buy a product from a catalog or online, donate to a charity, or even change your address, the cycle starts over again. On Monday, Joel Makower pointed us to a new company that not only wants to eliminate the junk in your mailbox permanently, but also to repair some of the ecological damage. For $3 a month, greendimes promises to regularly request that your name be removed from mailing lists, and to plant a tree in your name each month. Joel, who sits on greendimes' advisory board, notes that the company's founder, Pankaj Shah, believes he's found the perfect middle ground between business as usual and charitable work. According to Shah,...
Bosch Launches Plant Oil Stove
by Mairi Beautyman, Berlin, Germany on 09.27.06
A couple of months ago we mentioned Protos, a stove fueled by sustainable and renewable plant oil (which can also run on used fryer oil and kerosene) under evaluation in the Philippines. After testing in 100 households and small restaurants since the end of 2004, the stove is a success, according to the two collaborators, Leyte State University and home appliance manufacturer Bosch. Similar to a camping stove, Protos consists of a tank, a pump, a frame, a valve, a fuel line, and a burner. But all the materials are designed to meet the high temperatures the burner maintains—up to 1,400 °C—to ensure continuous vaporization and combustion with minimal emissions and soot formation. With Protos, the company hopes to replace traditional three-stone fireplaces, reduce carcinogenic emissions, prevent deforestation, and provide a cheaper means of preparing food in developing countries. “Taking responsibility for society includes—for Bosch—emphasizing ethical values, developing ecologically and socially sustainable as well as innovative products, and being a good neighbor worldwide,” says Dr. Kurt-Ludwig Gutberlet, president and CEO of BSH, Bosch und Siemens Hausgerate. ::Bosch...
Tell the World Your Design Favorites
by Mairi Beautyman, Berlin, Germany on 09.27.06
We all have our design favorites, here's your chance to make your case to the world. Though October 16, 6pm Eastern Standard Time, you can cast your ballot online, as part of the Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum’s first People’s Design Award. In conjunction with the New York museum’s National Design Week, the program is geared towards the general public, allowing the average joe to browse designs or upload images to nominate his or her own. Several of the picks so far are TreeHugger favorites—such as the Katrina Cottage, the Xtracycle, and the Marmol Radziner prefab house (shown here, left to right). But the assorted entries also range from the zipper, to Wonder Woman, to the peace sign. ::Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum ...
Google Pushes for PC Electrical Efficiency; Side Effect: No More Wall-Warts
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 09.27.06
Why are power supplies built into computers where they get hot and noisy, instead of being separate wall-warts like most other electronic appliances? Because computers have been designed to work with different voltages and you would need a big bundle of wires to carry the different supplies to your computer. Engineers at Google, tired of running tens of thousands of computers with inefficient power supplies, has proposed a new standard for "high efficiency power supplies for home computers and servers" based on everything running on 12 volts only. They say that it would save 40 billion kwh over three years, worth $5 Billion. Founder Larry Page complained about this in January: “I’m going to just plead with all of you, let’s get the power supply problems fixed, or let’s get all these devices talking together,” he said during a keynote address. It would have significant implications in the way we wire houses if this caught on. ...
TreeHuggerTV - How To Find Green Fish
by Leonora Oppenheim, London, UK on 09.27.06
Burley Trailers Hang in There
by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 09.27.06
Last week the Eugene-based bike trailer brand Burley, who we noted back here, was financially rescued by a local businessman. While Michael Coughlin has brought the business back from the brink of complete closure, it has meant 39 of the 104 staff will not return to work. The company will now refocus it’s energies on its signature line of bike trailers that help cyclists lug around kids and cargo. Apparently they make about 27,000 of these a year, with 3,000-4,000 currently on back order. The news item we read suggested that cheaper imports had made the bike trailer market exceedingly competitive. Another salient reminder of the benefits of buying local, and not just your groceries. Cheaper and cheaper prices do come at a cost. And that is often born by local communities as jobs go offshore to the lowest bidder of the day. Via ::News Review....
UIO Runners Up: Product Service Systems
by Dominic Muren, Philadelphia, USA on 09.26.06
Judging a contest is always hard, especially when there are so many strong designs that you want to trumpet around. That's why, over the next week, we'll be showing off some of the amazing runners up in our Umbrella Inside Out Contest. Today we wanted to focus on a couple of the great concepts for Product Service Systems. As you've heard from us before, PSS design seeks to eliminate waste and energy expenditure by reducing the number of products that have to be sold. Rather than selling the physical product, these systems rent the utility of the product. Car rental agencies, community bikes, and cyber cafes are great examples. Two notable PSS entries jumped out at me from the UIO field....
Most Huggable
by Jacob Gordon, Nashville, TN on 09.26.06
Texas has its eye on more than a dozen new coal-fired power plants, but the plan is not without its detractors… USA Today takes a nice long look at Wal-Mart and its new green direction… Some hospitals are giving health food a new meaning, and have started cooking healthy, organic, and local… The Second Bangkok International airport is finally finished and keeping travelers cool with veins of water running underfoot… Tapping Maple Ridge, a new documentary, paints the “unexpected parallels” between wind energy and maple syrup production…...
MIT Designs "Invisible" Floating Wind Turbines
by Justin Thomas, Virginia on 09.26.06
An MIT researcher has a vision: Four hundred huge offshore wind turbines are providing onshore customers with enough electricity to power several hundred thousand homes, and nobody standing onshore can see them. The trick? The wind turbines are floating on platforms a hundred miles out to sea, where the winds are strong and steady. Since the wind turbines are not permanently attached to the ocean floor, they are a movable asset. If a company with 400 wind turbines serving the Boston area needs more power for New York City, it can unhook some of the floating turbines and tow them south.
...
Green Home Features Passive Cooling & Automation
by Justin Thomas, Virginia on 09.26.06
Jetson Green writes about this green home designed by the architectural firm LPA (for the president of the company), and it was recently featured in Architectural Record. Three sides of the house wrap around a courtyard/pool-area. The pocket glass and screen doors open up to the solar-heated pool area (Suntrek). The entire house was designed for efficient natural lighting, including a mostly windowless eastern orientation, an extended roof overhang on the southwestern side, an insulated, translucent skylight in the main room (Kalwall Skylight), and mechanical sunshades in every room (Lutron).
...
Video: Ted Turner & David Letterman Talking Green
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 09.26.06
"Your Phone is Charged. Please Unplug Your Charger Now"
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 09.26.06
Thanks to the decision of a mobile industry task force led by Nokia, you might be hearing these words from your cell phone next year. The members of the task force, a project of the European Commission (EC), agreed to include audio alerts on the cell phones they make that will remind people to unplug their charger once a phone is fully charged (remember, this was your TreeHugger homework late last year). According to the final report, If 10 percent of the world's cell phone owners did this, it would reduce energy consumption by an amount equivalent to that used by 60,000 European homes per year. The initiative is part of a pilot project by the environmental agency of the EC intended to encourage industries to "reduce the environmental impact of their products throughout their lifecycle." Groups from various industries looked at everything from raw materials to manufacturing processes to the effects of product decomposition....
Video: Al Gore's Global Warming Speech at NYU
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 09.26.06
Last week we wrote about Al Gore's "bold strategy for fighting climate change": Some policy proposals including 1) an immediate freeze on our current level of carbon emissions, 2) the creation of a "Carbon Neutral Mortgage Association" and 3) a revenue-neutral carbon tax created by the elimination of payroll taxes (for more details, head over to our post). But we only linked to the transcript of the speech, which is very long. Thanks to reader Many Sharma who sent us the link, you can now see the video of the whole speech: ::Video: Al Gore speech about Global Warming at NYU (Real Video format, there's a free codec for it here)...
Some CFLs Are Not What They Seem To Be, Argentinean Study Shows
by Paula Alvarado, Buenos Aires on 09.26.06
Compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) are probably one of the first steps to take when looking to save energy at home: though they’re a little more expensive than regular bulbs, they use less energy and last longer. We’ve written lots of posts about them. But a recent investigation lead by engineers and techniques from the Argentinean National Institute for Industrial Technology (INTI) shows that not all CFLs are the same. After analyzing the behaviour of 544 bulbs from the 17 most popular brands on the local market, they discovered that some of the bulbs light less than the watt value they mention in their package, others last less than they promise, some (specifically three different brands) might even cause short circuits in the installation, and a few brands save more energy than others. Below (in the extended) are the comparative charts from the study: some brands are probably only local, but you might take a look to see if your brand is there. Last but not least, the INTI sent some advice to take into account when buying CFLs: first, try not to have more than three switches a day with CFLs: they decrease the bulb’s life; and second, notice CFLs are mainly for interiors, as low temperatures have a negative impact in their functioning (unless they’re specifically prepared for outdoors). More information on the study can be asked by phone (+5411 4713 5027).
Via La Nacion newspaper....
Three Vases by Azcast: Orbit, Helix & Wing
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 09.26.06
We've admired Azcast's designs before, and really like the looks of their collection of vases. Like all Azcast products made from metal, they're hand-molded, hand-poured, and hand-finished from 100% recycled aluminum, making them ultimately recyclable themselves. The modern, polished Orbit (left), Helix (center) and Wing Vases (right) are all sand-cast in a 2,000 year-old process, from metal that might have been used to support the landing gear on a Boeing 727. The process, which begins with a pattern packed with wet sand and ends with a rough-surfaced product, yields a product that, in factory jargon, is called "as cast," which is what the company's name is derived from. Each piece is refined and polished by hand from there, and sure doesn't look like old airplane parts. The great thing about the molding process is that rejects are simply melted down and cast again. Due to the nature of the hand crafted manufacturing process, there are inherent irregularities which add to the character of the product, and make no two ever exactly alike. Azcast's work is available from their dealers across the US & Canada; lots more good stuff at their website. ::AZCAST...
A Chair is for Life; Not Just for Christmas
by Bonnie Alter, London on 09.26.06
&made--pronounced “and made”—are two designers who have a wry and ecological way of looking at the world. These stools are part of their “Lost & Found” series—furniture created from pieces that have been abandoned in the street. Their motto was: “a chair is for life, not just for Christmas”, a comment on our throwaway culture. They have another one, called "Spair" chair, which hangs on the wall when not in use. In the “Climatised Objects” series, the work reflects their concerns with the effects of climate change and environmental crises. Practical domestic products double as life-saving devices. “Either ore” seems to be a solid timber, sturdy dining room table. But on closer viewing, one notices the subtle nautical detailing that suggests something more. In fact, the table is buoyant and has removable legs that convert into oars. The table becomes a raft in the event of a flash flood. Just to make sure the design worked, they rowed it down the Thames to the opening of the Design Mart exhibit at the Design Museum. A modest, contemporary looking vase switches to an emergency flashlight when knocked from the shelf. “Ultimately we want to create objects that people enjoy, but which also have a serious ethical dialogue behind them.” :: Design Mart at the Design Museum...
Recycling Cardboard through Adaptive Design
by Jeff McIntire-Strasburg, St. Louis, MO on 09.26.06
Adaptive design involves rethinking and redesigning everyday objects -- furniture, bookshelves, toys -- for use by people with special needs. Often, these products cost a fortune, but the people behind New York's Adaptive Design Association have discovered a material that's sturdy, adaptable, affordable, and even eco-friendly -- used cardboard. The Association holds regular classes on "Basic Cardboard Carpentry" at its Upper West Side community-based workshop in which it trains people to turn used boxes into functional items customized for their users. According to Ray at popgadget,
There's enough time in one class to build something you can take home and use. People in the workshop I attended made: a book/ laptop stand for working in bed, a work-out balance board and a physical therapy step stand. I ended up making a small staircase for my friend's diabetic cat with a cranky back, so he can get into bed.The Basic I course will be held this Wednesday (the 27th), and again on October 25; part II will meet on October 11, and on November 8. ::Adaptive Design Association, Inc. via popgadget...
New York's 101 Warren Street "Skyscapes" A Pine Forest
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 09.26.06
New York City's 101 Warren St. residential complex includes a green roof with a much bigger than usual “Z” dimension: they’re calling it a “mature pine forest.” Does this mean that Landscape Architecture has a new offspring called “Skyscaping?” (More on that question below the fold) The designers included a 20,000 square foot ‘pine forest,’ located five stories above the street level, and which separates the condominium from the rental section of the complex. This forest seems to be contiguous with the children’s’ play area that itself includes a 700 square foot “maze.” The choice of species is probably wise, as will attest anyone who has tried to scale a pine. Not much literal tree hugging or climbing is likely to go on. Plenty of wedding backdrop and modeling photo sessions will, though. Pines being generally of shallow root habit, they may fit well into the “X” and “Y” of their urban habitat. The Skyscapers also must be confident that there will be enough heat loss from the floor below to prevent root freezing: a condition that many pines avoid in nature by benefiting from an insulating snow cover. Ah...signs of an emerging new ecology of climate change. We are left to wonder who will be charged with cleaning up the sap drippings and sweeping up the floor-stuck needles at the end of each summer? ...
Eestor Update
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 09.26.06
When you type eestor into google, our previous treehugger entry comes up at the top; you don't get the company, which has even taken their website down. They were secretive last March when they stomped all over Toronto Star's Tyler Hamilton, and they are saying less now. Fortunately Ian Clifford of Feel Good cars is not so tightlipped, and told Business 2.0 that "it will charge up in five minutes and provide enough energy to drive 500 miles on about $9 worth of electricity. At today's gas prices, covering that distance can cost $60 or more; the EEStor device would power a car for the equivalent of about 45 cents a gallon. And we mean power a car. "A four-passenger sedan will drive like a Ferrari," says Clifford." (we suspect before they duct-taped his mouth shut)...
Not All Hybrids Are Created Equal
by Tim McGee, Western Massachusetts on 09.26.06
Plug-in hybrid-electric vehicles may get you 100 miles per gallon, but where did those extra miles come from? What about the larger batteries needed? How does the return on investment change? A new study released last week by ACEEE (American Council for Energy Efficient Economy) compares your typical hybrid to one you can recharge at home. The study indicates that 'plug-in' hybrids may not offer the benefits a buyer expects. We highlight what you should consider before jumping to the plug-in option. ...
Solar Powered Wireless Speaker System
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 09.26.06
It is too quiet in our backyard, and our neighbours are having too nice a time. We need some big honking speakers to blast some rap round the block, but don't want to be tripping over wires. Here is the answer: a waterproof, solar powered 900 Mhz speaker system that will work 150 feet away from the stereo. Only 7 rechargeable AA batteries pump out 5 glorious watts, for just US $150. We don't know how late into the evening we can serenade our neighbours but it will be fun to find out. ::Red Ferret...
Salvaged: Recycled Art, at San Fran’s Studio Gallery
by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 09.26.06
If you are quick you might still get in to see an exhibition of artwork based on recycled materials that is showing at San Francisco’s Studio Gallery on Polk St. The pieces cover a vast array of art mediums ranging across mixed media & sculpture, clocks, omiyage bags, mosaics, paintings, photography, comics, encaustics, jewelry, mirrors & furniture to lamps. Known as Salvaged, the exhibition runs until 1st October 2006. There are some pics online, from which we’ve culled a little selection, that give a second life to tupperware, barrels (it's a 'barrel of laughs'), street signs, and baking trays. ::Studio Gallery, via eMediawire....
Open Your Tank And Say Ma’a
by Karin Kloosterman, Jerusalem, Israel on 09.26.06
Joining the ranks of scientists clamouring to develop safe and effective ways of turning hydrogen into fuel is Dr. Tareq Abu-Hamed, an Israeli Arab from Jerusalem. He and Michael Epstein, from the Solar Facility at the Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel, have developed a new method to produce hydrogen fuel that addresses onboard storage and transportation problems. Reported in Israel21c, Abu-Hamed and Epstein are using boron, a lightweight semi-metallic element to react with water to produce hydrogen that can be burnt in an internal combustion engine or fed to a fuel cell to generate electricity. ::Israel21c...
Dethroner Asks: Are There Any Bike Shorts That Aren’t Creepy?
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 09.26.06
Dethroner, Joel Johnson's new "men's lifestyle guide with an attitude" blog received a question that I'm sure you (our fantastic reader) could easily answer: "Are there bike shorts out there that don’t make me look like a dork? I can’t exactly wear cargo shorts on my bike, as the flaps get caught on the chain and in general the extra fabric snags on the seat, but I don’t think I can walk around in public in Lycra; a man has gotta take a stand somewhere. Something with pockets would be nice too." So, what have we got? People should not be kept from biking because of fashion issues!...
Sublime Magazine Taster Issue Out Now!
by Petz Scholtus, Barcelona, Spain on 09.26.06
Sublime Magazine launched their Taster ‘Issue 0’ this month, a 28 page forerunner of the full 120 page version due January 2007. We talked about this first international ethical lifestyle magazine here and are now even more thrilled to hold this beautiful and glossy magazine in our hands. Yes, you read correctly: glossy! The magazine is printed on Emerald FSC made from up to 75% recycled post consumer waste and 25% FSC certified fibre. But it doesn’t just feel good, it also looks good with edgy graphics and delighting pictures. And it reads good news: aesthetic eco-friendly architecture, pedalling in style through various cities, autumn & winter fashion, folk music & Tim van Eyken, fashion missionary Lee Lapthorne and last but not least designs made in prison which features our very own TreeHugger StuffBump.
...
Optimal Green
by Justin Thomas, Virginia on 09.25.06
I've come to notice that green techniques are quite useful in the pursuit of life. They inspire health and energy. Not only in yourself, but also in your friends and family, and they are accessible to everyone. ...
Most Huggable
by Jacob Gordon, Nashville, TN on 09.25.06
Bottles or cans? What is an up-and-coming sustainable beer baron to choose? Substance, sexiness, style, and sustainability. Summer Rayne Oakes launches the eco-fashion industry newsletter S4… Trees tell the story of hurricanes, going back 200 years… Now certain organic milk brands are added to the E Coli list… When violence reaches the intolerable point, women in a Colombian town fight back with an ancient weapon, the sex strike…...
Historical Perspective on Deforestation... and Chopsticks
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 09.25.06
While old-style broadcast journalism is mostly a one-way street, the new media is more of a conversation, and that's one of the things that make it great. That's why we're happy to see that our friends at Mental Floss have decided to bounce off our old post about chopsticks (it's a classic) and use it as a launching pad for this great post about the history of deforestation, from 6000 BC to the 2004 Nobel Prize. Check it out, you might learn a few things. ::D’forest for d’trees...
Green Car Guide: The UK's Guide to Driving Green
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 09.25.06
Just launched last week, the UK-based Green Car Guide is "designed to celebrate manufacturers developing more environmentally-friendly cars and to inform car buyers about the best green choices." Using resources like a "Top 10 Green Cars" list and features that sort out the pros and cons of gasoline, diesel and LPG (liquified petroleum gas). They've also got a Green Car Guide e-book (in PDF) available for sale for £4.95, which "tells you which are the most economical cars in ten different categories, with best recommendations for petrol, diesel, and other technologies. It covers the top 60 cars in total. So, no matter what type of car you want, you can find the best in your chosen category. Use this information to save you money, time, and help the environment." If you sign up to their mailing list, they'll also give you a "How to Drive Greener: Money-Saving Tips" PDF for free. Get all the green goods at their website. ::Green Car Guide via ::AutoblogGreen...
Noir – Sexy Eco and Ethical Fashion From Denmark
by Leonora Oppenheim, London, UK on 09.25.06
Yet another great find at London Fashion Week was the Danish label Noir which really stood out for their stark monochromatic and sharply tailored collection. The Noir aesthetic is unusually minimal for an eco-fashion label. 50% of their Spring/Summer 07 collection is made from organically certified African cotton and in 2008 they will launch their cotton fabric brand Illuminati II which will supply sub-Saharan cotton to luxury brands. They’ve treated the cotton in many ways to create what they call ‘cotton couture’. The coated cotton gives the impression of rubber with a sexy fetishistic appeal, the starched honeycomb cotton creates interesting shapes, while the cotton silks have a luxurious feel. Apart from creating beautiful clothes Noir has created an ethical collection where a percentage of profits from the clothes go back to Africa to support the cotton workers. The Noir Foundation provides essential medicine and micro loans in a so-called Humane Business Model. "We want to be known as the first brand to turn corporate social responsibility sexy” says Peter Ingwersen the founder of NOIR.IlluminatiII. The label is a member of the U.N. Global Compact adhering to human rights, labour safety, environment and anticorruption politics. It is also affiliated with The International Labour Organization. :: NOIR. Illuminati II. ...
The Link Between E. Coli in Spinach and Industrial Cattle
by Union of Concerned Scientists on 09.25.06
This month’s massive recalls of potentially infected spinach show how quickly and easily our nation’s produce supplies can become infected with E. coli. Right now, government investigators are focusing their search for the origin of the recent spinach outbreak on just nine farms in California’s Salinas Valley. But already, 23 states have reported E. coli cases related to spinach. How does infected spinach from a relatively small area find its way to salad bowls and dinner plates across half the country?...
Post-War Environmental Sustainability In Israel
by Karin Kloosterman, Jerusalem, Israel on 09.25.06
The Heschel Center based in Tel Aviv has a hand on just about every NGO in Israel; the group's founder has been featured in online environmental magazine Grist here. And when it comes to talking about post-war clean-up in the Middle East, the people at Heschel Center for Environmental Learning and Leadership are sticking to their old message of sustainability. Two Fridays ago, the center hosted a conference in the North (it was supposed to happen earlier but was postponed due to the war) called Galilee Maof. Here’s what Heschel’s David Paran says about the meet: “In the aftermath of the 2nd Lebanon War,” Paran writes, “as the Israeli government makes noise and takes stock of the vaguely defined ‘problems’ in the North of the country, 20 social and environmental change NGOs met to carve out a common agenda and to form a coalition for a sustainable Galilee.”...
The Nail Kicker. Is This Thing Interesting? You tell me.
by Jacob Gordon, Nashville, TN on 09.25.06
Sometimes I feel like I’ve lost all ability to gauge what people will find interesting (but how can you blame me, I work from home). Anyway, this little baby struck me as slick and worth sharing, even though I’ll probably never own one. The Nail Kicker is a like a pneumatic nail gun, but in reverse. Applied to the pointy end, the Nail Kicker shoots the nail out of a piece of wood from the backside without damaging the lumber. According to the company, the Nail Kicker vastly simplifies the process of salvaging wood, as nail removal is one of the most tedious and time-consuming parts of the job. It can also save new wood from the scrap heap. Environmental Building News writes that, according to Reconnx, “11% of new wood is discarded each year, often due to misnailing or the temporary use of wood for braces or forms that leaves it full of nails.” This is obviously a boon to the building industry, but might also mean that reclaimed wood furniture becomes more affordable. $250 from Reconnx :: Nail Kicker via Environmental Building News...
Hearst Tower Leed Certified in “Gold”
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 09.25.06
We're guessing that Randolph himself would have been proud of a "gold certification". From the press release: Hearst Corporation President & CEO Victor F. Ganzi and U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) President, CEO and Founding Chair Rick Fedrizzi have announced that "Hearst Tower in Midtown Manhattan has achieved official "green" status--the first office building in New York City to be recognized by the USGBC for high environmental performance both on its exterior (core and shell) and interior fit-out and systems". Key features include Low-E glass in the building envelope, light sensors to control the amount of artificial light on each floor based on the amount of natural light available, activity level sensors that control both lights and computers, high efficiency HVAC systems, and use of outside makeup air for cooling and ventilation for 75 percent of the year, plus, use of Energy Star appliances. See excerpt below the fold for Hearst-provided details on an intriguing rainwater collection and re-use scheme and decor choices....
mkSolaire: New Green PreFab from Michelle Kaufmann
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 09.25.06
We've noted the fabulous work of Michelle Kaufmann Designs before; her Breezehouse and Glidehouse designs are just about as good as it gets when it comes to energy-efficient, resource-efficient, TreeHugger-friendly prefab housing, and it just keeps getting better. Kaufmann's newest design, the recently launched mkSolaire is an open, spacious, loft-like home is designed to offer healthy living in the city. Through the use of strategically designed roofs and windows, this home addresses the challenge of the standard row house by sculpting light and air into the center of the home. The home itself can be built in as little as 14 months from consultation to finish, and is constructed with a bevy of sustainable materials, systems and options. ...
Pavers To Collect and Purify Rainwater
by Justin Thomas, Virginia on 09.25.06
Parking lots, patios and other paved areas could one day collect rainwater, purify it then channel it to underground tanks for reuse, say researchers. Professor Simon Beecham, a civil engineer from the University of South Australia, says special porous pavers made of concrete containing specific additives would purify the polluted run-off. He says the water could then be captured in large underground tanks and be used for irrigation, cleaning and flushing the toilet....
TreeHugger Picks: Fall Favorites
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 09.25.06
Our calendars clicked over to fall late last week, and even though the dog days of summer are now behind us, there's a lot to look forward to during fall. Here are some of our favorite things about fall.
1) Levi's organic jeans will be in stores in November.
2) There's nothing like fall colors with Christopher Griffith’s hyper-macroscopic photographs of color-changing leaves in his book, simply titled Fall.
3) Stewart+Brown's fall collection of organic cotton, cashmere and wool has even caught the eye of In Style magazine.
4) The Eco-Products International Fair, a three-day exhibition of some of the world’s most cutting-edge eco products, is coming at the end of October.
5) Do some vintage shopping in LA this fall with the help of LA City Beat....
Bakfiets: Move it, Move it
by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 09.25.06
We’ve been meaning to mention the Bakfiets for ages. Ever since reader ‘Moo’ brought them to our attention in posts we’ve run on cargo trailers and family bikes. But, other than highlighting the similar TrioBike, we’ve were slack. We’ll that is, until our Birthday Boy saw some recently in Amsterdam. Bakfiets translates as cargo bike, or barge bicycle. (in Afrikaans, a bakkie is a pick-up.) Anyhow it means a bike designed to haul big loads. And these sure do, as the pics indicate. Two six year old kids can be secured with a 3 point harness in the front box, which appears to made from durable marine ply. There is even a long model for transporting up to four munchins. The low centre of gravity and the bikes geometry make it stable and light to steer. Covers are available to use the box in wet weather, either as a cargo bay, or with viewing windows for children. Mostly available in the Netherlands, but it seems there is a distributor in the US, who, oddly enough, goes by the name, the Dutch Bicycle Company. And yes, we know no-one is wearing helmets in the pics. This has been discussed umpteen times, most recently here. More at ::Bakfiets....
Worm Women Promote Vermicomposting in Hawaii
by Jeff McIntire-Strasburg, St. Louis, MO on 09.25.06
Composting with worms is becoming de rigueur in Hawaii thanks to the work of former state representative Mindy Jaffe. Jaffe founded her company Waikiki Worm Co. a year ago, and has trained over 2,000 people on how to dispose of their organic wastes more... well, organically through the magic of redworms. One of her students is Wendie McClain, the wife of University of Hawaii president David McClain. McClain put a worm composting system (which looks an awful lot like the Can-O-Worms) in her kitchen a year ago; the collection of red wigglers is now a showpiece for visiting guests:...
Bodyflik: a Squeegee for your Body
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 09.25.06
Wendy Brodie was tired of doing laundry. “I have three teenagers, and they think the Magic Towel Fairy washes and dries everything.” To save water, energy and a lot of housework she invented the Bodyflik, it's shape inspired by french curves used by draftspeople. It removes up to 75% of the water on your body, reducing towel usage and saving hundreds of gallons of water, not to mention the power and fuel required to run washers and dryers. To top it off, it's made from recycled plastic. Sometimes the simplest of ideas can make a huge difference. Available online for less than ten bucks at ::Bodyflik via ::New York Times...
High-Temp Ceramic Hydrogen Reformer From University of Illinois At Urbana-Champaign
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 09.25.06
This breakthrough deserves a celebratory bottle of bubbly: researchers at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) have designed very efficient ceramic micro-reactors that produce hydrogen from hydrocarbons or even ammonia. Because these ceramic "reformers" operate at a very high temperature, they can process relatively crude feedstock and not plug up with carbon. It's anticipated that their hydrogen output will be useful for running small fuel cells capable of powering small appliances, laptop computers, and rechargers for battery packs. The research paper describing the discovery is published in the Journal of Catalysis, and is available as a PDF file download here. Briefly: The researchers incorporated a structured catalyst inside a small ceramic housing, which enables the steam reforming of propane at operating temperatures up to 1,000 degrees Celsius. "Using the new ceramic housing, the researchers also demonstrated the successful decomposition of ammonia at temperatures up to 1,000 degrees Celsius." We know you biodiesel fans would love to have a way to generate electricity directly from your favorite liquid fuel, Out of the fry pan and into the generator is a possibility. Via Primidi
...
The Ethics of Bottled Water
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 09.25.06
We all know how wasteful bottled water is, but now it's getting theological. We quote Martin Mittelstaedt of the Globe and Mail: Some churches are starting to urge congregants to boycott bottled water, citing ethical, theological and social justice reasons. Bottled water, they argue, is morally tainted and should be avoided. "Water is seen increasingly as a saleable commodity, [being used] to make a profit," said David Hallman, a United Church official, "as opposed to our perspective of it being an element of life and good for all creation." Mr. Hallman expressed concern that the bottled- water phenomenon is part of a broader trend toward the privatization of water distribution systems, and it was antipathy toward privatization, more than any other factor, that led church members in August to approve a boycott call. "Bottling and selling of water undermines in our perspective the use of a public good and public responsibility to provide water," he said. ::Globe and Mail and ::United Church of Canada...
Guardian's Green Living Guide
by Bonnie Alter, London on 09.25.06
It's everything you ever wanted to know about how to save the environment or, green living for dummies or, a guide to living or, all of the above. The Guardian has put together a handy little book that answers the question "what can I do about global warming?" The answer: do something and start now. With credit given to treehugger.com, the booklet delves into eight areas: transport, self, home, food, work, garden, kids & pets, and holidays. The discussion on each subject includes an opening essay, examination of the green options, examples, a directory of services and further reading. Sadly, not all of the information is on the Guardian website, but many of the articles on food, travel, work, garden and self are there. ...
Twenty Free Ways to Save Energy
by Jeff McIntire-Strasburg, St. Louis, MO on 09.25.06
Last month, we noted that Consumer Reports presented readers with "50 Ways to Save Water." This month, the magazine's web site gives readers a sneak peak of its forthcoming book The Complete Guide to Reducing Energy Costs by presenting "20 Free Ways to Save Energy." Among the list are old favorites, such as wash clothes in cold water, turn down the heat/ac in the winter/summer, and set the hot water heater at 120° F. Other tips that may not be as widely known, even to Treehuggers: use the right pan, dust off the Crock-Pot, and clean the coils on your refrigerator with a tapered appliance brush. Finally, if you don't mind spending a few bucks, install a programmable thermostat, try do-it-yourself low-E windows, and (one of our favorites) switch to those funny-looking fluorescents.
The book The Complete Guide to Reducing Energy Costs will be available on October 17th. ::ConsumerReports.org via digg...
The Revolution Might Be Televised: Regional News Goes Green
by Treehugger Interns on 09.25.06
Some time back we asked readers about sustainability/ green stories in their local media here. I didn’t mention at the time, but BBC viewers in the West of England are actually pretty well served in this regard. BBC Points West, our local news show, includes a regular feature known as the Politics Bus – a purple VW Camper Van that hits the road to investigate the latest political issues in the region. The bus is also a regular feature on the Saturday Morning “Politics Show”. Recently, the famous purple camper has taken on a decidedly green hue – taking chefs on the road to experiment with local produce and spread the word about food miles. The project has been known as “Eat the West” and, amongst other endeavors, has seen the team cooking up a banquet for hundreds of sailors on a Royal Navy warship. Last week the bus visited a local catering oil supplier that was running it’s trucks on homebrewed biodiesel. During the course of the program it emerged that the bus itself had been converted to run on biodiesel earlier this year. The full story can be found here. Unfortunately there is little debate about the possible drawbacks/ limitations of biofuels, but the fact they are looking at local supply of food and fuel is certainly a step in the right direction. I had no idea that the BBC were such a bunch of hippies. [Written by: Sami Grover]
...
London Fashion Week - Amazon Life Bags
by Leonora Oppenheim, London, UK on 09.24.06
London Fashion Week has now come to an end, but we saw so many amazing products there that we will probably still be reporting on the event in weeks to come! After showing you the beautiful Comfort Station Bags made from eco-leather we now want to present another amazing leather substitute used by the Brazilian label Amazon Life. These funky bags are made from a natural latex produced from tapping rubber trees in the deepest depths of the Amazon rainforest. TH has previously reported on these natural latex bags under the label of Treetap®. Now Amazon Life has worldwide exclusivity to develop and commercialize Treetap® accessories, which they were doing to great effect in London this week. ...
Winsome Two-Person Pedal Boat By Swallow Boats
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 09.24.06
Looking like a 4 to 7 mph, cruising cocktail table (where's the blender plug in?), the Winsom pedal boat is approximately 160lbs (75kg); 5.3m (17ft 4in); and priced at £4,995. From the Swallow website "The boat is moulded in double-skinned glass fibre for optimum strength, stiffness and weight. The crew sit facing each other and pedal the boat via a central gearbox where patent nylon gears drive a 12" propeller at about 300 rpm. The boat is steered using a fingertip tiller connected to a balanced rudder". "She has substantial buoyancy chambers fore and aft, as well as a forward water ballast tank to trim to boat for one-person operation or uneven crew weight". With a hand free steering, she could also be quite nice for fishermen. Don't forget to put sunblock between the toes though....
