- 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 October 8, 2006 - October 14, 2006
Total this week: 100
Introduction to Permaculture at BedZED
by Treehugger Interns on 10.14.06
Regular readers will be familiar with BedZED, the innovative London housing project pioneered by the Bioregional Development Group which we have covered here and here. Many will also be familiar with the concept of permaculture, which we posted on here. Now there is an opportunity to learn more about both, as BedZED will be playing host to an Introduction to Permaculture weekend course this autumn. Led by permaculture teacher and activist Sarah Pugh, the course will run on the 11th and 12th of November and will feature talks, walks, workshops, slide shows and practical activities. There will be a particular focus on how permaculture has been used in the UK to create productive, sustainable urban communities. ...
Hand Dryer by Dyson Uses 83% Less Energy: The Airblade
by Justin Thomas, Virginia on 10.14.06
A new hand dryer, the Airblade by Dyson, is said to use 83% less energy than similar dryers. It's rated at 4.4Whr. The dryer forces air at over 400 mph through a 0.3 mm gap, which Dyson claims, works just like a blade that wipes the water of your hands. ...
Motor Powered by Bacteria
by Christine Lepisto, Berlin on 10.14.06
Scientists in Japan have invented the first motor to be powered by bacteria. The micro-motor relies on bacteria gliding along a silicon track to spin a silicon dioxide rotor. Moving at speeds of up to 5 micrometers per second, the bacteria can power the 20 micrometer diameter rotors at rates of up to 2.6 rpm. The work, led by Yuichi Hiratsuka, used bacteria of the species Mycoplasma mobile. However, they point out that many species of bacteria are mobile, moving towards light or to certain chemical attractants, creating a wide range of potential power sources for micro-pumps or micro-robots, or might be used in the construction of electrical generating systems which could convert abundant energy sources like glucose into electrical energy. ...
Chinese Wind Power Turns On Western Designers & Suppliers
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 10.14.06
Apparently, wind power is one of the few technology growth areas where China has yet to gain significant market share. And, it looks as if there still plenty of time for Western businesses to crank out more Chinese sales. For example, Windtec , operating under the theme “Energy for Generations,” is a privately-owned and independent engineering company based in Austria which develops and licenses proprietary wind turbine systems. They also design and extensively supply wind turbine electrical systems to China. Recently they reported a joint venture to fill more Chinese orders with American Superconductor Corporation. AMSC, by the way, is the world's principal vendor of high temperature superconductor (HTS) wire and large rotating superconductor machinery, and it is a world-leading supplier of dynamic reactive power grid stabilization products. As a result of the new orders for China, "American Superconductor will be serving a total of more than 2,500 megawatts (2.5 billion watts) of wind-generated electricity with its D-VAR(R) and PowerModule solutions, …" Look below the fold for China-scale perspective on this: it's really impressive....
TreeHugger Radio 3
by Team Treehugger, Worldwide on 10.14.06
Union of Concerned Scientists tells us how the climates of the Northeast states are shifting around like puzzle pieces, Innovest president Hewson Baltzell decodes the findings of the Carbon Disclosure Project, and TreeHugger founder Graham Hill reflects on this year’s Next Fest and “just doing” green design. Our soundtrack this week comes from Rhythms Del Mundo, the forthcoming collaborative album of gringo pop and classic Cuban sounds aimed at fighting climate change. Stay tuned for next week’s show when we’ll bring you sustainable tooth brushing, sustainable dance clubbing, and lots more. (listen)...
"Climate Change: The Costs Of Inaction"
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 10.14.06
Tufts University-based authors Frank Ackerman and Elizabeth Stanton, pictured above, will have to forgive us for repeating their report title exactly; there just is no better way to express the essence of their newly released study, sponsored by Friends of the Earth (FOE). Coverage of the report can already be found in places like The Guardian where the lead off statements: "Damage forecast to cost 8% of global GDP by 2100" and "UK 'faces droughts and floods costing billions" have already invited reverse spin from the man-made climate change denialists, to the effect 'don't waste millions now for uncertain benefits later.' Maybe to some having a habitable planet for our grandchildren is an "uncertain benefit," but we think that the time has come that simple re-framings will not be able to distract rational minds from the task at hand. A serious public debate has been launched around the economics of climate change mitigation. Now that discussion is underway, global society will be forced to confront what's deep under the grass mat of national politics and trans-national investments. Like the global impact of patent and technology licensing...there are strong parallels here to the long simmering debate over AIDs drug manufacturing in developing nations..., the prospect of debasing of green designs and services by profiteering wannabees, the integration of green lifestyle components into religion and popular culture, the emergence of a new morality of consumerism, and the defining of socially acceptable business models around life cycle constructs. Gonna be ugly at times. But no more important order of business exists....
TreeHugger 2.0 Sneak Peek and Request for Comments
by Nick Aster of TriplePundit on 10.13.06
Here's a little fun for your weekend! A sneak preview of the soon-to-be new-and-improved TreeHugger. We've been toiling day and night on all corners of the globe to get the site better organized, better looking, and faster. The following mock up is what we've got to show for ourselves so far. It shouldn't be too long until we get things running faster in generall too.
I decided that the most useful input we could get from you all would be from a totally blind preview - no explanations, no hints, just have a look and tell us what you think as a regular TreeHugger reader, or as if you were landing here for the first time.
Bear in mind, this is just a graphical mock up and none of the links work, all the text is dummy text, and Robert Redford has no idea we stole his mugshot. The one thing I enabled is the "post jumper" click navigation. Have fun, be merciless in your critiques, and generous in your praise.
SNEAK PEEK HERE....
Classic Cuban/British Pop Mashup Album Fights Climate Change
by Jacob Gordon, Nashville, TN on 10.13.06
Rhythms Del Mundo is a pretty creative concept simply taken from a musical point of view—having top artists like Arctic Monkeys, U2, Franz Ferdinand, and Radiohead rework their songs pumped full of Cuban beats, horns, and claves, courtesy of the Buena Vista Social Club crew. But behind the disc is Artists’ Project Earth, a British non-profit that raises money to fight climate change and provide disaster relief. Some of the record is bound to fall into the realm of the kitsch, but from the sounds of it the effort is well rewarded (I’m particularly partial to Artic Monkeys’ Dancing Shoes). Maybe most precious however is that Rhythms Del Mundo is the proud bearer of Ibrahim Ferrer’s last recording, a luscious Spanish version of As Time Goes By. The late Ferrer’s beautiful voice first reached the ear of the masses in Buena Vista Social Club. Rhythms Del Mundo is APE’s first musical project and is due out November 13th. :: Rhythms Del Mundo & Artists’ Project Earth via Hugg (Linton)...
We'll Meet Again, Don't Know Where, Don't Know When...C’mon, Everybody Sing!
by Jacob Gordon, Nashville, TN on 10.13.06
It being Friday the 13th and all, seems fitting to take a little haunted hay ride away from our typically eco-optimistic, solution-oriented tact to a darker place, a Twelve Monkeys, 28 Days Later kind of place. Not even totally sure what the context of this chart is, but the URL says it’s from the Times of London online (more info, anyone?). Morbid as this kind of food for thought may be, it’s still a little cool and fascinating to think of the world post human civilization (admit it, you’ve fantasized). Truth is, we have to go out sometime. Of course we’d prefer leave a considerably more biodegradable legacy than we would if plague knocked us out today. A couple million more years and we’ll be a little closer to ready. (click on the image to enlarge)...
RE-sit by Dionysios Skalos
by Sean Fisher, Cincinnati, Ohio on 10.13.06
Straight outta Athens! Continuing the grand TreeHugger tradition of creative reuse for automobile seats comes RE-sit from Dionysios Skalos' HARCORE collection. Dionysios takes scrapyard-bound auto seats, as well as some of the car's small electric motors (such as those used for the windshield wipers and windows), and affixes them to a custom aluminum frame. The motors are then hooked up to 12V rechargable batteries and configured to give the chair mobility and automation, including a spiffy footrest that retracts back into the chair. You can check out the entire HARDCORE collection at www.hardcoredesign.gr....
Most Huggable
by Jacob Gordon, Nashville, TN on 10.13.06
Could weed-eating robots, powered by the sun, put an end to pesticides? Plantwall from Green Fortune drives lush and swanky greenery up the wall… In Philadelphia, high-tech bins and trucks rack up dollars for recycling citizens… Radiohead, Arctic Monkeys, Maroon 5 and lots of others mash up with Cuban music legends on a record to fight climate change… Natural Capitalism Climate Protection Manuals are an open source sustainability guide for cities…...
100 Days of Carbon Clean-Up Winners Annouced
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 10.13.06
The winners of the 100 Days of Carbon Clean-up challenge have been announced. The campaign, whose goal was for participating companies to cut ther carbon emissions by 10% in 100 days, attracted over 550 companies and businesses. The award for the largest percentage reduction of carbon went to the Copthorne Hotel, Cardiff. Its staff managed to cut its emissions by 10.2% in the 100 days of the challenge. The Peacock Group picked up the prize for "best multi-site carbon saving campaign". The retailers set up an "Energy Saving Group" and held themed weeks during the campaign to encourage the workforce to reduce their energy use. "If measures implemented in just 100 days can save businesses up to 10% of their carbon emissions, a longer-term energy efficiency drive should be a no-brainer - the financial and environmental benefits are obvious," said Karen Germain, networks manager at Carbon Trust, who supported the campaign. One of the small companies involved, Fulcrum Consulting, kept a diary of its progress, which can be read here. We mentioned the campaign before and updated its progress as well. ::100 Days of Carbon Clean-Up via ::BBC...
Bono, Oprah Launch (PRODUCT) RED iPod nano
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 10.13.06
Bono and Oprah are teaming up to unveil a red iPod nano (last year's green product of the year, minus the red) to benefit the Global Fund to help fight HIV/AIDS in Africa. Bono will join Oprah today on her show for the official unveiling, though the product is already availabe through the Apple website. The RED nano goes for $199, just like the non-colored variety, and $10 from each sale goes directly to the Global Fund. In honor of the event, the logo at the Apple store in New York City was changed to red. Watch Oprah today for more details and what looks to be a huge party; according to the teaser on her site, the launch will also include Kanye West and Alicia Keys. The nano joins AmEx's RED card, Motorola's RED RAZR, Gap's RED t-shirt and more as products benefitting the Global Fund. ::iPod nano (PRODUCT) RED via ::Gizmodo and ::Oprah...
Grameen Bank Founder Awarded the Nobel Peace Prize
by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 10.13.06
Just after we were writing about some aspects of what makes a service ‘green’ or responsible, comes the wonderful news that Bangladeshi Muhammad Yunus and his innovative Grameen Bank have been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for 2006. In announcing the $1.4 million prize to a surprise winner, from a field of over 190 candidates, Nobel Committee director Ole Danbolt Mjoes said "Lasting peace cannot be achieved unless large population groups find ways in which to break out of poverty," he went on, "Microcredit is one such means. Development from below also serves to advance democracy and human rights." The Grameen Bank lends money, often just a few dollars, mainly to illiterate women, who use it to set up small enterprises. The loans are provided without any collateral or security, and the borrowers, not the bank, decide the business it will be used for. Founded by Yunus 30 years ago when he when he made a loan of $27 to a bamboo-stool maker, and loans to 41 other villagers, Grameen now has 6.61 million borrowers, 97 percent of them women, serving over 71,000 villages in Bangladesh. More than a third of Bangladeshis live on less than $1 a day, according to the World Bank. Inspired by Grameen, similar programs have spread around the globe. ::Grameen Bank, via Adnki, ndtv, and Salt Lake Tribune....
Tierra Del Forte on the Organic Exchange Conference
by Kara DiCamillo, Newport, Rhode Island on 10.13.06
The following is a guest post, written by designer Tierra Del Forte of Del Forte Denim who attended the event. - KD
This is an exciting time to be involved in the eco-fashion industry. Premium sustainable garments are revolutionizing the image of socially responsible clothing and entering the mainstream as stylish labels in their own right. Many of the designers, both well-established and just emerging, who are committed to environmentally friendly fabric attended the first fashion and design event of the Organic Exchange Annual Conference in the Netherlands in September, Creating New Threads. I was fortunate to be invited to participate at this unique fashion show, attended by farmers, farming projects, manufacturers, NGOs, and retailers from around the world who joined the conference to learn about expanding and evolving the organic fiber market. Between stuffing gift bags and getting in the way of the stylist, I gained a deeper understanding of the challenges involved in making organic cotton a long term, economically viable crop. This experience made me even prouder of everyone involved in this emerging market (including myself). ...
Print Green? Greendot and Rolling Press
by Treehugger Interns on 10.13.06
As many of us know, one of the most wasteful aspects of doing business today revolves around our never ending use of paper, and the often toxic methods of printing the marketing, promotional, and mass-mailing materials with which we are bombarded daily. One solution to this problem is environmentally-friendly printing, which has been gradually expanding its influence within the printing industry, thanks in part to some of the better-known green companies and non-profits that apply this process in their businesses (think AIGA, Environmental Defense, the Open Space Institute, the United Nations Development Project, as well as Treehugger itself)....
Ear to the Earth: A Festival of Sound, Music and Ecology
by Celine Ruben-Salama, New York, NY on 10.13.06
If you are in the New York City area and don’t have plans for the weekend yet you can catch the tail end of Ear to the Earth, a festival of sound, music and ecology. Experience the sounds of extinct, threatened and endangered species, including birds and animals that you may never hear again in the sound installation Suspended Sounds. It premiers tonight at 7pm with encore performances at 8, 9, 10 as well as Saturday at the same times. Head to the 3LD Art & Technology Center in the Financial district to catch the shows. ...
TreeHugger Picks: Friday the 13th
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 10.13.06
We TreeHuggers aren't usually a doomsday-predicting, naysaying crowd, but we've been frightened into a posting about the end of the world (maybe) more than once. In honor of Friday the 13th, here are our scary picks.
1) The scariest thing about CO2: We Call It Life is that some people might actually believe them.
2) The North Pacific Gyre has been dredging up tons of junk and is depositing it on beaches, and could be the theme for the next great horror movie.
3) Climate Mash is a true horror flick, complete with the zombies, vampires and super-polluters of global warming.
4) Nagano Prefecture proved that The Day After Tomorrow is more real than we originally thought.
5) The Onion turned us on to the Global Rotation Crisis. Did you know the earth is spinning uncontrollably through space? Run for your lives!! ...
Inheritable Futures Laboratory
by Leonora Oppenheim, London, UK on 10.13.06
Definitions of sustainability are continuously debated by those working in all areas of industry to create a greener future. With the IF: Laboratory, a research collective based at the University of Brighton in the UK, Jonathan Chapman and Nick Grant have embraced the debate and stoked the fire by asking what is 100% Sustainable? They introduced this question at 100% Design a few weeks ago in London. Their project aims to ‘deepen and enhance understanding of sustainable design’, which they believe has often been ‘unhelpfully fragmented and disparate’. The enormity of an event like 100% Design means that as an exhibitor it is easy to get lost in the crowd. We were impressed by how the IF: Lab created a stand out stand with a strong interactive element in the name of action research. They invited people to sit in one of two shelters to answer a questionnaire. One of the questions was which shelter to you think is more sustainable – the plastic geodesic dome or the cardboard hut? ...
When the Nest Gets Fouled, Executives Fly First
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 10.13.06
Wall Street Journal (accessible by subscription only) reports that people routinely wear surgical masks in Hong Kong’s “most polluted districts”, and that some executive talent gets a 5% “hazardous duty pay” add-on to relocate there. Expats with children, especially, are wanting to move away from the bad air. For perspective: “Levels of particulate matter are roughly 40% higher in Hong Kong than in Los Angeles, the most polluted city in the U.S”. Most shocking of all: “A recent survey of American business leaders in the region, conducted by the American Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong, found that 79% of executives felt environmental issues are making Hong Kong less attractive to foreign companies”. Why shocking? The Chamber of Commerce can always be counted on to trot out its mantra about excessive government regulation putting undue limits on business. So, when the CC’s own constituency says pollution is a limit to growth you know that change will come. What will the response be? Some negotiated emission limits for mainland industry will eventually be attempted. Much sooner, expect a boost to investment in greener technologies. Out of sight was not out of lungs and eyes: reality dawns even upon the financial elite. Even better would be an exploration of less resource intensive lifestyles. After all, there are no more fervent believers than the recently converted!
Photo Credit: Fosberg travel blog....
EcoTip: What Makes a Product (or Service) ‘Green’ ?
by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 10.13.06
Last night we at the Sydney launch of Australia’s Green Pages. These impressive directories catalogue some 5,000 Australian green products and services. During an open forum the question was raised regarding the selection criteria for the listings. The response was given that after much research a 50 page document had been developed to help filter the entries. But the point was still made that even though it was easy to include certified organic goods, selecting a green car or sustainable architect posed more difficulties. In post forum discussions a similar question was posited: By what process are products selected for inclusion on TreeHugger. And we were recently asked by a magazine, "Is there a definition/list of criteria you use for 'what is green'?" With interest growing in leaps and bounds in this very issue, it’s a question we’ve receive heaps. Strangely we don’t have any hard and fast rules, but thought we’d at least share with you some of the responses we have provided in the past. (See after the fold.) By no means definitive, but Your constructive observations are, as always, welcome....
Knit a River
by Bonnie Alter, London on 10.13.06
Knitting has grown from being a hobby for grandmothers to becoming a hip way to get together with other women (and men). Knitting clubs are springing up around town, meeting at pubs, and creating outrageous and wonderful pieces. I Knit London was started as a place to meet knitters. It has taken on the Knit a River project as its own. They are creating a unique petition for WaterAid. This charity uses practical solutions to provide safe water, effective sanitation and hygiene education to the world’s poorest people. In response, knitters from all over England are contributing knitted blue squares. These will be stitched together to form a vast river which will be used for campaigning for the charity. Last month they took over a train on the tube and knitted their way, as they travelled from one end of the line to the other. In a few weeks they will be taking all of the squares to the Thames River and having a mass sew-in to put together their blue river. It’s enough to make you want to pick up those needles... :: I Knit via :: Time Out...
Solel Solar System: Harnessing Some Sun In Israel
by Karin Kloosterman, Tel Aviv on 10.13.06
This is Ground Control to Major Tom. Just in: we heard Israelis are planning to build a solar power station on 2,250 acres in Israel’s Negev desert. According to Arutz 7, the preparation for the station is expected to take a year and the actual construction another two years, at which point it will become operational. The station will begin supplying 100 megawatts of electricity – enough to supply power for 200,000 people - and eventually is expected to have have an annual output of 500 megawatts – enough to meet the needs of 1,000,000 Israelis. Let’s hope the Bedouins get some of that sunshine power too! :: Arutz 7...
Sony Reader: Is the Dead Tree Edition Dead Meat?
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 10.13.06
We use a lot of alternative delivery systems for books- we bought the Walmart Effect, The Way We Eat and other books from Audible and have bought quite a few from E-Reader to view on our Treo. All are fraught with compromises- it is hard to go back and forth with audiobooks and reading on a treo is a poor substitute for the real thing. The Sony Reader is interesting- it uses no power to hold its image so only changing pages consumes any juice; it is apparently very clear and easy to read, and you can adjust the font size to suit your aging eyes. David Pogue of the New York Times says :"The Sony Reader is an impressive achievement, and an important step toward a convenient alternative to bound books. It will make certain niche groups very happy: gadget freaks, lawyers with massive document stashes, doctors and pilots who check hefty reference texts, high school students with 35-pound backpacks and anyone who likes to read by the pool for 20 weeks at a time." But he also says others "may continue to prefer the more established portable-document format. Those older reading machines never run out of power, cost about 2 percent as much and don’t break when dropped". We used to love the concept of the printed book, when there were proofreaders instead of spell-check, when typesetting was a respected craft, when they were printed with care and you could feel the imprint of the type on the page. That is all gone; a book today is little more than a bound screen-dump. Perhaps it is time for the Sony Reader. ::New York Times and ::Sony
We are reminded by local vendor Book City, of an alternate technology, described below the fold. ...
Institutional Investors Introduce Climate Risk Disclosure Framework
by Jeff McIntire-Strasburg, St. Louis, MO on 10.13.06
Do you know how the companies in your investment portfolio are prepared to handle climate change? Probably not, as the idea of reporting such information to investors and the public is a relatively new concept. Yesterday in both Boston and London, a group of 14 institutional investors introduced their proposed framework for encouraging companies to publicize their climate impact, the Global Framework for Climate Risk Disclosure (in PDF). The voluntary standard builds upon reporting instruments that many corporations already use, and focuses on the business case for addressing global warming both in terms of risks and opportunities. According to the twelve-page statement published by the investor coalition, which includes the California Public Employees' Retirement System (CalPERS), the California State Teachers' Retirement System, and Ceres and the Investor Network on Climate Risk (INCR), investors need and will expect timely and accurate information on four specific issues:...
Open House at the Desert House by Marmol Radziner
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 10.13.06
We have covered the Desert House before, here and here. Marmol Radziner calls it a "stylish, sustainable, and affordable prefab". We are not sure about sustainable (the usual issues about second homes, size, etc) or affordable (very fairly priced for the quality and materials, it is worth every penny but this isn't low cost housing) but is sure is stylish and we are not going to be churlish- Having been in it, I continue to think that it is perhaps the most beautiful modern prefab yet. It is the private home of the architect Leo Marmol but he is holding an open house on Sunday, October 28 from 1 to 6. Anyone who can get there should, it is truly stunning; between the house and the view (of the mountains, don't look to the right) it is up there with our most memorable architectural experiences. Directions ::here more information at ::Marmol Radziner...
Pacific Gas and Electric Endorses Federal Legislation on Climate Change
by Eric Kane, New York, NY on 10.13.06
At a recent lecture by Al Gore, an audience member, who happened to represent a major North American power company, asked the former Vice President the following question. ‘How can electric companies be expected to address climate change when they have a responsibility to shareholders to produce energy as inexpensively as possible in an effort to maximize profits?’ Gore responded quite calmly by suggesting that power companies should begin by discontinuing their efforts to stymie federal greenhouse gas regulations. He argued that future federal regulations would put all companies on an equal playing and would therefore not jeopardize the industry’s profitability. Although this was a clever response, it seemed unlikely that we would see electric utilities pushing for mandatory legislation on climate change. That was until, Peter Darbee, the head of Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) announced his company’s support of California’s recent legislation to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Furthermore, PG&E officials have been outspoken in promoting the adoption of a federal cap-and-trade policy. This position was echoed by PG&E’s Vice President for Corporate and Environmental Affairs who said “stand-alone programs are imperfect solutions to climate change… a federal program is where we want to be”. If only this were the start of a national trend. ...
Lumi Rainwater Tanks Make Water Storage Glow
by Jacob Gordon, Nashville, TN on 10.12.06
Architect Katrina Logan doesn’t want to have to hide rainwater collection tanks because they’re ugly. Rather, she’s taken a piece of urban ecology infrastructure and made it an artful design component. Her Lumi rainwater storage tanks are satin acrylic shapes that glow in the sun and are illuminated at night from within. Light passing through shows the water level, and Logan envisions them on the balconies of high rise developments. The Lumi can come in a variety of colors or patterns (including commercial “wraps”) and sizes ranging from 250 to 1100 liters. Another integrated water storage system, the Waterwall, also serves multi-functions but Lumi is pleasing in that it satisfies both function and visual aesthetic, and is more akin to the ambitious Hydro Wall. Logan’s Lumi design was the 2006 winner of the The City of Melbourne Sustainability Design Award, part of the Premier’s Design Award. :: Jetson Green via Hugg...
Most Huggable
by Jacob Gordon, Nashville, TN on 10.12.06
British luxury car designers set their sights on a high-speed electric motorboat priced for the public… Built into a hillside, this woodland home is a symbol of DIY craftiness and functional hobbit art… The AirTap, a retrofit for hot water heaters, promises hot showers and cool air at a fraction of the energy cost… A top down solution for tomatoes that lets them grow upside down… An award winning design, the LUMI is an urban rainwater collection strategy in the form of a luminous cube......
Addex AM/FM Solar Radio
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 10.12.06
We've seen other solar-powered AM/FM radios before (plus a hand-crank radio or two), but we sure like the design of this one. Oddly reminiscent of another hand-held music player, the Addex AM/FM Solar Radio is powered by the solar panel imbedded in the front, and comes with headphones and the AAA battery that'll power it when the sun doesn't shine. Probably won't take the Green Product of the Year honors, but it's a great concept and a nice design. Available from Singulier.com for €29 in black or white. Addex AM/FM Solar Radio via ::Gizmodo...
Elegant Embellishments: Improving Urban Air & Visual Appeal
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 10.12.06
TreeHugger spends a good bit of time talking about products, projects and designs that are "less harmful" and "more green" than conventional alternatives, but it isn't everyday that we find something that actively helps clean up our collective mess in addition to both of those things. Such is the case with the three-dimensional architectural tile from a London-based outfit called Elegant Embellishments (EE). Developed in response to the priorities set by the EU Clean Air Strategy 2005, the tiles provide councils, developers, and designers with the ability to rapidly improve urban environments both in terms of air quality and visual appeal. Their site says it well: "EE’s tiles also respond directly to a need to find appropriate architectural expression of a whole class of new high-performance 'smart' materials. They incorporate sophisticated processes that occur on a molecular, invisible, level and that are radical enough to transform our conceptions of buildings." ...
Corrugated Cardboard Laptop Case
by Justin Thomas, Virginia on 10.12.06
Inhabitat encountered Giles Miller’s unique Corrugated Cardboard Laptop Case at London’s [re]Design exhibit this fall. ...
Lazy Environmentalist Interviews Top Fashion Designers
by Kara DiCamillo, Newport, Rhode Island on 10.12.06
We mentioned yesterday that this week marks the third annual Ethical Fashion Show in Paris and this week on the Lazy Environmentalist, Josh Dorfman takes a look at eco-fashion. He says “Forward-thinking designers around the world are merging fashion with eco-awareness and creating real possibilities to adorn ourselves in sexy, chic styles that support a cleaner planet.” If you didn’t catch his radio show that aired yesterday on the Lime channel at Sirius and Lime.com, no worries because encore presentations are all this week. Josh talks about refashioning fashion with Annie Langlois, designer and partner of On and On, Deborah Lindquist, designer of her own label, and TreeHugger’s on Kyeann Sayer, creative director of our popular Inside Out Umbrella design competition. Encores - Thursday 3AM, 2PM, 8PM; Friday 2AM; Sunday 1PM. ::Lazy Environmentalist...
TH Blog Love – Our Favourite Greens Of The Week
by Leonora Oppenheim, London, UK on 10.12.06
Ecorazzi: Bon Jovi + Bill Clinton + Nun by Rebecca Carter
The strangest eco-activist combo of the week comes from celeb watching Ecorazzi who report on Bill Clinton teaming up with Jon Bon Jovi and a Nun, Sister Mary Scullion, to promote the work of Project H.O.M.E.’ s eco-friendly housing.
Eco-Worrier: Green Tips via Email by Anna Shepard
Anna lets us know about Friends Of The Earths’ daily email tips which have helped her get greener each day over the last year. You can also check out her post on Conservative Leader David Cameron’s Ecover product placement in his new webcam series. Appealing to the committed green party voters we think!...
This House Isn't Green
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 10.12.06
According to Martin John Brown in E-Magazine, a 3,000 square foot house uses 40% more energy than a 2,000 square foot house. So why is this 4,600 square foot McMansion house considered green? Because it has an Energy Star rating that states it uses 15% less energy than a comparable conventional house. "It's a perfect demonstration of the battle between two major trends in American housing. In the past few decades, houses have gotten greener, but they've gotten bigger too, leaving lingering questions: Is super-sized housing defeating conservation efforts? Can McMansions truly be green?" Since 1950, the average house has gone from 983 SF to 2434 SF; at 4,600 SF it is like driving a hybrid hummer- what is the point? How wide is the lot that your neighbor has to drive by? How close is the nearest milk store if every house is on such a frontage? It doesn't matter what energy saving program or solar array you put in; a bigger house uses more resources to build, more energy to run, and more fuel to get to. When it comes to being green, less is truly more. ::E Magazine via ::Alternet...
Origin The London Craft Fair: Week 2
by Bonnie Alter, London on 10.12.06
Origin, the London Craft Fair has entered its second week, with another 150 artisans showing their wares. This week the focus is on textiles, using felting, knitting, and weaving to create scarves, clothing and blankets. Adrienne Rogers hand knits blankets and throws from silk, chenille, linen and alpaca (pictured). Using a natural, muted palette drawn from nature; these unique pieces in soft creams and greys and rich nut brown colours are bold and elegant enough to drape over the sofa in the living room. Or delicate and cozy enough to cuddle under for t.v. Noriko Matsumoto’s scarves are 100% natural. They are woven from silk, wool and linen. They are hand dyed, using elder leaves, nettle and chestnut burrs as natural colour sources. The resulting colours are muted but rich shades of orange and yellow.
...
New Amazon Protected Area Larger Than NJ
by Mairi Beautyman, Berlin, Germany on 10.12.06
In the Brazilian State of Amapá, heated behind-the-scenes battles have paid off. The state recently proclaimed the formation of the Amapá State Forest, an Amazon protected area larger than the state of New Jersey. Known for its diverse landscape, the 5.7-millon-acre area has more than 1,700 species of animals and plants, reports Conservation International (CI) and the Amapá State Institute for Research. Among these are 430 species of birds, 104 species of amphibians, 124 reptile species and 127 mammal species. (The forest is swarming with bats; of the mammals, 62 are bat species.) A recent expedition brought to light 23 potential new species, including the fish and frog above. One of Brazil’s poorest regions, the State of Amapá is largely dependent on timber and minerals—mainly manganese—for income. Manganese is essential to iron and steel production and, when added to gas, prevents engine knocking, among other uses. Included in the deal is a zone that allows regulated harvesting of both timber and non-timber products, such as vines and essential oils. The Amapá State Forest initiative received technical and financial help from CI. Thanks tipster Mike. ::Conservation International Image left, copyright Enrico Bernard/CI. Image right, copyright Cecile de Souza Gama....
LifeStraw: Thirsty? Suck it up.
by Celine Ruben-Salama, New York, NY on 10.12.06
Think your tap water is icky? Think again. If you’ve got drinkable running water at home you’re better off than billions of other people – and we do mean that literally. In many parts of the world the daily routine of the “lucky” involves walking several miles to fetch clean drinking water, for others, there is none no matter how far you go. It’s estimated that half of the world's poor suffer from waterborne diseases. A shocking 6,000 people die daily from consuming unsafe water. ...
Last Ice Cube Floating
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 10.12.06
You’d set your ice-cold lemonade on the picnic table and now, on returning, you see only a few floating bits of ice left. Not to worry, the lemonade is still cool, and more ice cubes are on hand. That’s been the attitude of climate change “denialists” up until now, claiming some glaciers are growing while others are visibly melting away. The Guardian of October 11, 2006 has reviewed a recently published glacial mass balance study performed by actual glaciologists (instead of Think Tank ‘experts’); and, it now looks as if the ‘denialists’ have lost another tool for public delusion. From the Guardian: - “The world's glaciers and ice caps are now in terminal decline because of global warming, scientists have discovered. A survey has revealed that the rate of melting across the world has sharply accelerated in recent years, (‘99.99% of all glaciers are shrinking’) placing even previously stable glaciers in jeopardy. The loss of glaciers in South America and Asia will threaten the water supplies of millions of people within a few decades, the experts warn”. Note: non-members of AGU may purchase the full research publication for $9.00....
Biofuels to Power Cell Phone Base Stations in Africa
by Jeff McIntire-Strasburg, St. Louis, MO on 10.12.06
Experiments with renewable energy seem to be popping up all over the African continent, and cellular phone service companies Ericsson (Swedish) and MTN (South Africa) plan to join this movement by using biofuels to power mobile base stations not connected to the electrical grid. The companies will receive support from GSM Association's development fund, and hope this project both places Africa "...at the forefront of a new wave of innovation," and pushes the cell phone industry towards integrating renewables into "...the core of its operations":...
Th Solves Global Energy Shortage?
by Tim McGee, Western Massachusetts on 10.12.06
Thorium that is. The element known as Th. According to a news release this past week Professor Egil Lillestol has been trying to convince Norway that a nuclear reactor based on thorium would be a viable solution to the worlds growing energy demands without the environmental impact of coal, or the hazards of traditional nuclear energy. Is he onto something? Read on to see the gory details....
Chasing Andrea Zittel
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 10.12.06
Last year we declared Andrea Zittel our role model; "Zittel lives deliberately by paring down her life to the essential elements. She designs clothes to be worn everyday for six months, devises diets of dehydrated food, and constructs multi-purpose furniture to meet her needs in an extremely limited space, all as a means of addressing the larger concerns of the human condition." We have followed her exhibition "Critical Space" from Houston to New York and now, to Buffalo, close enough that we will do a review in two weeks. Open until January 7 at the ::Albright Knox. thanks, tipster Carolyn!...
Zerofootprint: The Ins and Outs of Carbon Trading
by Ron Dembo, Zerofootprint on 10.12.06
The UK is looking at a personal carbon trading scheme that will give everyone a free equal allowance of carbon units, which can be exchanged for carbon use, say for petrol or electricity, or traded in a market that aims to drive carbon use down.
With carbon trading by governments and corporations proving successful, there could one day be schemes for individuals too. The idea is that citizens are allocated a number of carbon units for the purchase of energy and fuel, but which can also be traded on an open market. All citizens receive an equal allocation at the outset, and those that use less can sell their excess to those that want more. All this takes place in a framework where the total number of units is capped, with the aim of driving overall consumption downwards.
The idea of tradable personal carbon allowances, or domestic tradable quotas as they are also called, is not new. The concept was first proposed in the mid 1990s, when it was largely ignored as Utopian and unworkable. But it is now being taken seriously by the British Government among others. In a recent speech, the UK's environment secretary David Miliband said such a scheme would tackle the “vast majority of individual [carbon] emissions ... which in turn make up 44% of the [UK] economy's total emissions”....
Ethical Living: How it Works for Some People
by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 10.12.06
"Ethics unsettle the existing certainties that you have," he says. "Be careful when you take the stopper out of this bottle because you can't do that and expect nothing to change. Once the genie's out change is inevitable." So observes Dr Simon Longstaff, head of Sydney's St James Ethics Centre. He was commenting in a newspaper article on people living ethically. He says those he feels most sorry for are people whose work lives conflict with their personal ethics. "One of the saddest things is seeing a person whose life is at odds with what they think or believe is right or good." The article profiles a small collection of people who have consciously chosen a path in life that feels more ethical than that of mainstream society. The breadth spans a former senior BP executive, through to a researcher than made her decision, at age 15, to never own a car. Quoting Socrates, Longstaff says the unexamined life is not worth living. 25 suggestions for ethical living are provided at the end of the article. And although differing in their viewpoints, all the interviewees had a primary ethical concern with regard to the environment in offsetting their carbon emissions. ::Sydney Morning Herald. See also the Moral Shopping Basket and review of the book: 'To Be Of Use'. ...
EnviroDevelopment: Rating Greener Housing Estates
by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 10.12.06
Here is what the blurb says: “EnviroDevelopment is a scientifically-based branding system designed to make it easier for purchasers to recognise and, thereby, select more environmentally sustainable homes and lifestyles. Certified developments will have been carefully designed to protect the environment and use resources responsibly.” Following in the wake of programs like the Building Sustainability Index (BASIX), this is an initiative of the Queensland Branch of the Urban Development Institute of Australia. EnviroDevelopment was officially launched yesterday with the first five housing developments being showcased. The website can be a bit obtuse about what it all means, but dig into the 43 page Standards document and the fog clears somewhat. Housing developments can apply to be certified and labelled an EnviroDevelopment so long as they meet these standards. They include detail like: retaining 40% of native trees over 3 metres. A minimum of 40% of demolition, land clearing or civil works to be recycled on site. A reduction of greenhouse gas emissions of 40% compared to historical data. And just to show they aren’t fixated on the number 40, how about a minimum of 20% construction to be a combination of reused, high recycled content or renewable materials? And on it goes, covering the six issues of ecosystems, water, waste, materials, community and energy. Apparently they have gone to all this work setting up this apparently world first branding scheme, because environmental sustainability in residential development is “fast becoming a key marketing edge.” ::EnviroDevelopment, via ABC Online....
Much Cleaner Diesel Fuel to Finally Hit Pumps this Weekend
by Jacob Gordon, Nashville, TN on 10.11.06
The arrival of a new kind of diesel fuel might not be terribly breathtaking to most people, but it’s being called the biggest development in auto fuel since they took lead out of gasoline. The new diesel has been a long time coming (we mentioned it back in June), in fact the legislation took form under Clinton. But changing the entire diesel refinery industry is a slow thing, especially considering retaliatory lawsuits and a temporary stall by President Bush....
66 LED Lamp from Koncept
by Justin Thomas, Virginia on 10.11.06
This new lamp, the Z-Bar from Koncept, has 66 super-bright LEDs that shine with a bright white light. The lamp, like all LED-based lights, operates with low heat and low energy consumption (9.6 watts). LEDs are well-suited to making desk lamps, because of their cool operating temperature. ...
Most Huggable
by Jacob Gordon, Nashville, TN on 10.11.06
Clean diesel, the much-awaited low sulfur fuel, is ready to flow at the pump… Mitsubishi may have an all electric two-door destined for the U.S… The Frank Lloyd Wright School of Architecture is redesigning the American city in the wake of destruction in the Gulf Coast… The CityCruiser is a German bike hybrid that combines human power with fuel cells for clean urban travel… Smog-eating house paint may soon be scrubbing the air in Europe......
ModuTiles at Mioculture
by Kara DiCamillo, Newport, Rhode Island on 10.11.06
In the past, we’ve found a couple of things at Mioculture that have sparked our interest, such as the Bale Chair, 3D Wallpaper and lighting. Now we’ve come across something new that we really like – their ModuTiles. Like other cork flooring alternatives we've featured, ModuTiles can be used as an entire floor but they can also be assembled together for small spaces, such as a mat at your kitchen sink. Each set of six tan, and six chocolate cork shaped tiles covers 12 square feet and modules can be installed and replaced easily. ModuTiles are a great way to customize your space by playing with the different patterns and are comfy for your feet too. Via ::New York Times ::Mioculture...
D.C. Museum Offers Tons of Green Events and Tips
by Mairi Beautyman, Berlin, Germany on 10.11.06
Through November, the National Building Museum in Washington, D.C., is offering an extensive lineup of green programming. In conjunction with the exhibit “The Green House: New Directions in Sustainable Architecture and Design, which will run through June 3, 2007, the roundup includes special interest and technical lectures, family activities and festivals, and Greenovation, a one-day home renovation expo. But what caught our eye is the museum’s new online presence for the exhibit. We liked “Go Green,” in particular, a sort of all-encompassing how to go green crash course. Here you’ll find listings of green terms and ideas, green tips (an expanded version of the ones we mentioned before), green resources, and green ratings systems and certifications. Sections for green shopping (a limited selection), green materials, and innovative green projects are also included. ::The National Building Museum...
CHEJ Launches Campaign Against "The Poison Plastic"
by Jeff McIntire-Strasburg, St. Louis, MO on 10.11.06
The Center for Health, Environment and Justice launched a new campaign today targeting PVC -- or, as they call it, "The Poison Plastic." The campaign website, PVCFree.org, features the Flash video "Sam Suds, and the Case of PVC, the Poison Plastic," created by Free Range Studios of Berkeley and Washington, D.C. (the same folks that created "The Meatrix" videos, and "Store Wars"). CHEJ also invites users to take action by emailing Target to request that the discount store chain follow the lead of Wal-Mart, Nike, and Ikea by phasing out products made from PVC. Live events will be held at Target stores around the US today in conjunction with the website's premier. ::"PVC: The Poison Plastic" from the Center for Health, Environment and Justice...
World's Richest Self-Made Woman: A Paper Recycling Entrepreneur
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 10.11.06
Observant of the trend for Europeans to show keen interest in all things green, Financial Times has just introduced us to a world-scale female Tree Hugging entrepreneur, Ms. Zhang Yin, who is described in the article as "worth an estimated $3.4bn." Remarkably, Ms Zhang, after starting up Nine Dragons Paper just a few years ago, has become "the world's richest self-made woman, surpassing US talk show host Oprah Winfrey and J.K. Rowling, the Harry Potter author". Now here's the "kicker" as we say in the US. "Ms Zhang's listed company, of which she owns 72 per cent, buys scrap paper from the US and processes it in China for sale". Incredible in so many ways. North-American pulp producers clear cut Boreal and Piedmont forests to produce virgin fiber for paper making, hitting, at best, a recycled content in the 10 to 20 percent range in final products. A good part of your paper recycle bin contents, then, goes to China, where the Boreal gets "hugged" into products we might buy back. The other possible market scenario (we don't know which market view is correct) is that China, having devastated native forests and failed to create a sustainable forestry program, has forced its paper industry to scavange what they can, pulliing North America into a scrap cellulose depletion mode to serve non-American markets. Hold your temper now. The "real" scenario, whichever that might be, is driven by other less visible forces that you, our readers, are partly responsible for. ...
Popular Mechanics Breakthrough Awards 2006
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 10.11.06
Lots of green technologies in this year's Popular Mechanics Breakthrough Awards. Among the winners are Richard Bourgeois and the General Electric Electrolyzer Team for creating a prototype electrolyzer that could cut down the price of making hydrogen from water from $6 to $8 per kilo (roughly the energy equivalent of a gallon of gasoline) to $3 per kilo.
Martin Eberhard and the Tesla Motors team for making an electric car with the range and performance to appeal to most people (now they just need to make less expensive models). ...
Green Elements At BC Cancer Foundation's Research Building
by Justin Thomas, Virginia on 10.11.06
These are the unique circular windows at the BC Cancer Foundation's Research Building, which opened last year in Canada. The windows are 15-feet in diameter, and they have built-in ventilation shutters. They were inspired by petri dishes....
The Moral Shopping Basket
by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 10.11.06
Maybe inspired by the BBC’s Ethical Man experiment, The Sydney Morning Herald last week “set out to discover how easy - or hard - it is to be an ethical shopper by applying a simple set of principles.” They would only buy stuff if the product/service did not harm the environment, didn't exploit workers or was produced in an sustainable manner. (We tend to think the latter principle is largely covered by the first two.) In short they found it a challenge, and mostly because retail shop staff had no idea about the basic issues. Sports shoes stores didn’t know there was anything to be concerned about PVC. Supermarket staff and managers were unfamiliar with the concept of Fair Trade. Deli fish counters were selling seafood species that Australian Marine Conservation Society reckon shouldn’t be there because they do not reproduce regularly and in any quantity, and cannot be fished sustainably, like the deep sea Orange Roughy. Even when they found the prestige cosmetic line, Jurlique, that uses natural plant extracts and organically and bio-dynamically grown herbs, they encountered ethical dilemmas. The company is now part owned by a gambling operator and a fast-food company. This intriguing article concludes with what they feel finally was a win. Disposable nappies (diapers) made from biodegradable corn starch. And for once the corn is not Genetically Modified. Though biodegradable and landfill are not two concepts that fit well together. ::Sydney Morning Herald, via tip from Huw K....
U.S. Population Reaches 300 million, Heading for 400 Million
by Lester Brown, Washington, D.C on 10.11.06
Sometime this month, the U.S. population is projected to reach 300 million. In times past, reaching such a demographic milestone might have been a cause for celebration. In 2006, it is not.
Population growth is the ever expanding denominator that gives each person a shrinking share of the resource pie. It contributes to water shortages, cropland conversion to non-farm uses, traffic congestion, more garbage, overfishing, crowding in national parks, a growing dependence on imported oil, and other conditions that diminish the quality of our daily lives....
TreeHugger Picks: Colleges Taking Eco-Action
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 10.11.06
Congratulations to the College of the Atlantic on their recent decision to go climate-neutral; we hope it be the first of many institutions of higher learning taking the pledge, though there are lots of good green things going on around other college campuses already. Here are some of our picks of college eco-action.
1) New York University just made the largest purchase of wind power by any U.S. college or university last week.
2) The University of Calgary's U-bike program allows students to ride around campus on shared bikes for free.
3) Both the University of Florida and Washington State University offer degrees in organic agriculture.
4) Farming not your thing? Have a look at our suggestions for where to study eco-design at the university level.
5) The University of British Columbia will be home to the Centre for Interactive Research for Sustainability; the "greenest building in North America" will be ready for occupancy in early 2008....
College of the Atlantic: First Carbon-Neutral US College
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 10.11.06
In a move we hope will inspire other institutions to follow suit, College of the Atlantic (COA) has pledged to become the first college in the U.S. to go carbon neutral. Coming at the request of incoming President David F. Hales (pictured), the college vows to avoid, reduce or offset all contributions to global warming that are associated with any of the college's activities, including travel by students to and from campus. Located in Bar Harbor, Maine, COA has about 300 students drawn from 47 states and 51 countries who all study in the one program offered by the school: Human Ecology. Since its inception in 1969 to offer a new educational philosophy to prepare students to address the world's social and environmental challenges, the institution has been walking the walk: in 1972, students were instrumental in getting Maine to pass its groundbreaking bottle recycling bill; in 2004, it become the first institution of higher learning to sign a multiple-year contract to offset 100% of the emissions generated from its electricity use in 2004 and in 2005, the college had the first zero-waste graduation; commencement and a reception for 800 people netted no more than five pounds of waste. ::College of the Atlantic via ::Grist...
Ethical Fashion Show: 2006
by Kyeann Sayer, Nomad on 10.11.06
On the heels of Paris Fashion Week, the third annual Ethical Fashion Show (EFS) will feature over 60 designers from around the globe at primo locale Tapis Rouge starting Friday, October 13! What does "ethical" mean here? Well-treated workers, minimal eco-impact, and involved designers and producers. Next week, we'll fill you in on brands to look out for, and air the voices of up and coming conscience-laden designers on TreeHugger Radio! Also: we'll show you Umbrella Inside Out fashion competition winner Rainer Wolter's completed dress, which will grace the couture show's runway on Friday evening. After that, it's three days of feel-good round tables, exhibitions and showrooms. If you're in the industry, passes are available at the door starting Saturday morning. On Sunday, the general public is welcome. Don't forget to tune in to The Lazy Environmentalist this week for more on the show, with participating designers Annie Langlois and Deborah Lindquist as well as yours truly. More soon! ::Ethical Fashion Show ...
Water Harvesting Now Works in Deserts
by Mairi Beautyman, Berlin, Germany on 10.11.06
Aqua Sciences is redefining water harvesting technology, according to a recent article in Wired Magazine. The firm, now under government contract to hydrate U.S. soldiers in Iraq, has developed a product which creates water out of thin air "virtually everywhere." The atmosphere is a river full of water, even in the desert,” says Abe Sher, chief executive officer of Aqua Sciences. So how does this work? Well it's all a bit mysterious…the company (which doesn’t seem to have a Web site) just hints at the concept of rice in saltshakers. ...
Drink Acai Berries
by Bonnie Alter, London on 10.11.06
You have probably heard about acai berries, the new Brazilian superfood, that will improve your sex life and fight cancer. Endorsed by Oprah, it outshines last month's super-fruit of choice, goji berries, with its superior qualities as an antioxidant and a source of fibre and iron. Leaping into the breach to serve the thirsting throngs, three new drinks have been created which contain this magic elixir . Happy Monkey mixes the berries with grape juice to make it more palatable. Since the berry is the most important non-wood forest product, in terms of money, from the river delta of the Amazon, they work with the local people to ensure a sustainable harvest. Innocent mixes their deep purple berries into a detox smoothie, and adds pomegranates and blueberries to make it extra-nutritious. Green & Kerley mix theirs with apple juice and mango. They work with Amazonian local communities to prevent deforestation in the harvest. Drink up. :: Evening Standard...
Moyers Asks "Is God Green?"
by Jeff McIntire-Strasburg, St. Louis, MO on 10.11.06
Last week, we took note of Bill Moyers and Bill McKibben's live presentation of their ideas on evangelicalism and environmentalism at the New York Public Library. Those of us who couldn't make it to that event will have another chance to hear Moyers discuss the topic with both evangelicals and treehuggers, and well as some who fall into both groups, on his Moyers on America special "Is God Green?" The program airs tonight on PBS (check your local listings), but you can get a four-minute sneak preview at the show's website. Among the guests featured in that snippet are pastor Tri Robinson of Boise, Idaho's Vineyard Christian Fellowship, and Idaho Statesman reporter Rocky Barker. The website also features a "Citizens Class" where you can learn more about the intersection between religion and the environment, and interact with other "classmates." In conjunction with the airing of the program, our friends at Grist are running a series entitled "God & the Environment." The series features interviews with Moyers, the Rev. Richard Cizik, Rabbi Michael Lerner, and others, and an essay by McKibben. ::Moyers on America -- "Is God Green?"...
CREE LED's: As Efficient as Flourescent
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 10.11.06
LED's are TreeHugger darlings, but have lagged behind flourescents and HID's (High Intensity Discharge) in efficiency. Now CREE has developed LED's that pump out up to 160 lumens at up to 85 lumens per watt, making them as efficient as the best flourescent lights around. "Cree LEDs are achieving efficacy levels formerly delivered only by the most efficient traditional lighting sources, including fluorescent bulbs. We have established a new class of LED performance," notes Mike Dunn, Cree general manager. They still cost a lot more than the Halide or fluorescent fixtures they replace, but since they last six times as long, the replacement costs are significantly reduced in applications such as streetlights where it costs a lot to get a cherry picker up there to change the bulb. Costs will drop and our CFL's will join incandescents as distant memories. ::Business 2.0...
Planet Organic
by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 10.11.06
Planet Organic have a catchy name with which to marketing their range of 25 organic teas, that boast classics like Earl Grey, through to the slightly more esoteric, like Green Chai. (Click their ‘About Tea’ button for a brief explanation of the differences between black, green and white teas.) Sales of the teas throughout Australia and New Zealand have only just encouraged them to expand their line. The first addition I noticed was a collection of thirty or so organic herbs and spices. But in the last couple of years they’ve added all manner of organic goodies. Muesli and porridge, coffee, cocoa, salted soy nut snacks, and tahini sesame spread being just some of the wares available. Slender bottles of cooking and salad oils include, cold pressed Australian olive and macadamia, sunflower, soy and toasted sesame. Vinegars runs to balsamic, apple cider and red wine. Plus there is also a vegetarian mince made from certified organic soya beans. But it’s not only organic agriculture they support, but many of their products carry the Fair Trade seal of approval too. We assume their burgeoning line is evidence of robust growth continuing in the organic industry. ::Planet Organic [not to be confused with a plural version Planet Organics, which is a Northern California organics home delivery service.]...
Interactive Map of Hemp Clothing Stores
by Justin Thomas, Virginia on 10.10.06
An interactive map of hemp stores across North America has been created using MapMuse. Hemp clothing stores are often difficult to track down, so this map should come in handy for those seeking out this optimal clothing material. However, not all of the stores listed are your run-of-the-mill retail outlets, for example, the closest store to me is the "Sunshine Daydream Factory"....
TreeHugger Radio Launches on Air America’s EcoTalk
by Jacob Gordon, Nashville, TN on 10.10.06
TreeHugger has hit the airwaves. We’re thoroughly pleased, thrilled, and otherwise delighted to announce the launch of TreeHugger Radio, a bite-sized weekly audio program covering environmental news and insights from the forefront of the modern green movement. TreeHugger Radio can be heard nationwide on the airwaves every Thursday thanks to our partners at EcoTalk. TH Radio will be aired each week on EcoTalk with Betsy Rosenberg on Air America and can be heard on partner stations across the country (see below) as well as streaming at ecotalk.net, podcast via iTunes, and on XM Satellite. Tune in to this week’s installment of TreeHugger Radio for new gluey developments in cellulosic ethanol, New York’s proposed ousting of trans fats, San Francisco’s new water line, and highlights from our exclusive interview with 7th Generation’s director of Corporate Consciousness. For the full radio schedule and where to find EcoTalk and TreeHugger Radio on your dial see below the fold....
Wave Power: Spotlight on Ocean Power Delivery Ltd
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 10.10.06
We're very excited about the potential of wave power to provide lots of clean energy (if you have missed Timothy's reference post on the subject, check it out) and think it should get a lot more attention and funding. Today we're going to take a closer look at Ocean Power Delivery Ltd's P1A buoy system (no, that's not a bullet train on the picture above): To better understand how they operate, check out this animated model (flash required). Just pick "top" or "side" view and then hit "play"....
Aimulet LA: Award Winning Ecological Design
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 10.10.06
Speaking of good design, this device called the Aimulet LA recently won the 2006 Good Design Award for Ecology Design, and, by the looks of it, certainly deserved it. It's a batteryless, light-activated handheld audio communication device with an outer shell made from molded bamboo, designed by the Information Technology Research Institute at Japan’s National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST). The device itself is designed to be held to your ear, like a cell phone. When you stand over special LED emitters in the ground, Aimulet LA receives the light signals via an array of spherical micro solar cells set into the bottom of the handset. It translates the signals into audio messages that are transmitted through a tiny speaker in the device....
Simran's Stylish Outfit for Martha
by Kara DiCamillo, Newport, Rhode Island on 10.10.06
By now, we’re sure most of you have watched the video of our own Simran Sethi on Martha Stewart’s show last week. It was such a great opportunity for TreeHugger and we can’t stop talking about it! In addition to the innovative products that Simran featured, we also wanted everyone to take notice of her cool eco-outfit, from bottom to top:
Mohop Sandals – Annie Mohaupt created these sandals to go from casual to formal, with just one change of a ribbon (Simran's are shown above).
Del Forte Denim Jeans – Tierra Del Forte has been referred to as the “jeans engineer” and everyone looks fantastic in her creations.
Loyale Shirt – Designer Jenny Hwa’s Loyale clothing line consists of dresses, skirts and shirts as well as her popular activewear.
...
Optimal Green: Modern Earth Sheltering
by Justin Thomas, Virginia on 10.10.06
Earth sheltering is an effective way to regulate temperature in a home. It works well in almost any climate. Just below the frost line, the earth stays a fairly constant temperature: 50 degrees F, plus or minus a few degrees, depending on where you live. The surrounding soil provides natural insulation, making these houses inexpensive to heat and cool. The best location for an earth sheltered house is on a well-drained hillside. Windows facing the south or an overhead skylight will fill the interior with sunshine. ...
Cooper-Hewitt's People's Design Award
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 10.10.06
Every year, Cooper-Hewitt gives out design awards (Patagonia won one last year) chosen by a jury, based on what they think constitutes "good design." This year, they've added some democracy to the process with the first-ever People's Design Award. Users submit they're favorite designs, from the ubiquitous paper clips, zippers and band-aids to more advanced ideas, like Google Earth, to the classic, like the Eames Lounge Chair, and there are lots of TreeHugging designs in the running. Currently, the top nominee is the Katrina Cottage, with the Play Pump Water System and $100 Laptop not far behind. Also in the mix are the Honda Insight, Liberty task chair (we covered its companion side chair before) and Clear Blue Kayak. Nominations are unlimited, but each user can only vote once, so choose carefully. Voting is open through the afternoon of October 16; the winner will be announced on October 18th. Will green design be recognized as good design? Click on over and make your voice heard. ::Cooper-Hewitt People's Design Award...
6-Step Program for the Caffeine Addicted
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 10.10.06
[This is a guest post by Siel from Green LA Girl. -Ed] Calm your caffeinated panic attack — We're not talking about quitting coffee. This is a 6-step program for drinking better coffee — for the environment, society, and you and your java addiction.
If all the coffee chatter about triple certification labels or the Make Trade Fair campaign gives you nervous heart palpitations and jitters, just follow these half-dozen steps to get on a sustainable, alert-but-not-wigged-out caffeine high.
1. Say bye-bye to yucky coffee. This means a big adieu to Kraft, Nestle, Sara Lee, and Procter & Gamble — AKA the "big four." These coffee biggies helped engineer a huge overproduction of coffee that made coffee farmers dirt poor — a situation dubbed the coffee crisis. The four also got the American public used to drinking swill. If you're drinking canned Folgers coffee, you're probably downing twigs, dust and floor sweepings....
Water, Water Everywhere, But Not a Drop To Drink
by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 10.10.06
I don’t normally do stories like this. Usually I’m looking for an upbeat, positive angle on things. But on this occasion I’m changing tack, as a result of the extraordinary number of articles that have been flooding the Australian national broadcaster on this topic in just the past few days. I guess one benefit, may be that people’s self interest might extend beyond their plasma TV as they finally begin to glimpse the bigger picture. [Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs suggests that after breathing and regulating our body temp our most basic human need is to drink water.] Let's start with the international expert saying Sydney is competing with Mexico City and Beijing to be the first city to run out of drinking water. The same state’s water patrols have reportedly inspected 350,000 properties in an effort to save 200 billion litres of water from being wasted. The rural city of Bendigo, in the state of Victoria, believe they won’t have sufficient drinking water for their 95,000 residents within the next 15 months. And one of that state’s wettest farming regions, Gippsland, is also running dry. A major dam is only at 24% capacity and falling, with summer still two months away. (In a side story, one company, who we’ve mentioned before is looking to export potable water to the mainland from the island state of Tasmania, in converted oil tankers.)...
TreeHugger Radio 2
by Team Treehugger, Worldwide on 10.10.06
The case for ethanol gets stickier as researches suggest making glue from the biofuel’s leftovers, New York ponders running trans fats out of town, San Francisco paints a new water line through the city, and Seventh Generation’s director of corporate consciousness speaks on biomimicry in the product world. Our music this week comes from the International Fund for Animal Welfare’s whale remix contest. (listen)...
TreeHuggerTV: How To Throw An Eco Party - Part 2
by Leonora Oppenheim, London, UK on 10.10.06
Titanium Fiber Paper; Tough Stuff
by Tim McGee, Western Massachusetts on 10.10.06
Really tough. Paper is usually made out of pulped plant tissues. Almost any fiber like structure can be pulped into paper, and the latest example is using titanium dioxide nano-fibers to create a paper-like product that can withstand 700 degrees Celsius, making the paper fire resistant. In addition, due to the fun properties of titanium dioxide it is also self-cleaning in UV light, and could act as a re-usable sterile filter....
When Cali Got “Skunked”
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 10.10.06
Here she is: recovering from a full-face skunk hit. At the time of this photo the worst was over for Cali the Black Laborador –- in spite of the somewhat mournful look you see in her portrait --- and she would soon be able to sleep in the cabin. The skunk attack had come in a hedgerow, while we were on a mid-day Sharptail hunt. Cali, while coursing for a scent of birds, had disappeared into a windfall, from which her startled yelp, mournful cries, and refusal to come out when called, told us something was wrong. Sensing the worst, our Guide moved upwind and walked in to coax her out. A moment later, his vocal warning and the take-your-breath-away cloud simultaneously reached us at the field’s edge. Pepe Le Pu had struck. Heading back home in the open back of a pickup, it was obvious Cali could not see much and was a very unhappy Labrador. We fretted over the possibility of the skunk being rabid (a mid-day encounter can be a tip off)....
New Semiconductor Material Produces More Efficient Solar Cells
by Jeff McIntire-Strasburg, St. Louis, MO on 10.10.06
Researchers at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory have developed a new semiconductor material that may allow solar cells to reach efficiencies as high as 45%. If they overcome some of the hurdles still presented by the laws of physics, at least one colleague at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory believes material scientists Wladek Walukiewicz and Kin Man Yu's research represents a "breakthrough" in solar energy generation technology. According to Technology Review,...
The Ugliest Vegetable in Britain
by Bonnie Alter, London on 10.10.06
It's official: after a nationwide competition conducted by the National Trust, this parsnip from Bedfordshire has won the prize as the ugliest vegetable in Britain. And the runners-up include weird onions, ugly tomatoes and purple carrots. The competition was devised to celebrate ugly fruits and vegetables, which taste great but are usually rejected for their looks and size. It highlights the nonsense of selling only aesthetically pleasing fruits and vegetables in supermarkets. For years the argument has been that consumers will not buy any anything which looks less than perfect; hence the rejection of many good, edible vegetables. But views are changing, as customers become more knowlegeable and some supermarkets are recognising this. In praise of the humble parsnip: its appearance should not detract from its delightful taste--it can be eaten mashed, sautéed, buttered or - above all - roasted. It has recently been re-invented as a type of fashionable chip. Beauty is in the mouth, just as much as in the eye, of the beholder. :: National Trust...
Natural Wool Fishermen-Knots Knittings, by Tribalia
by Paula Alvarado, Buenos Aires on 10.10.06
These delicate carpets and knittings are from 100% natural sheep and llama wool from Río Negro province (Argentinean Patagonia), spun under Inca techniques by fishermen in Rosario (Santa Fe province, Argentina) and dyed with natural substances such as yerba mate and flowers. All, under the supervision of an agronomy engineer. The project was started by entrepreneur Martín Maestri and is sold through a design study in Milan, Italy. The cool designs with different kind of knots come from the influence of a group of fishermen he works with, who were taught indigenous traditions. This project now employs seven people directly and 70 indirectly (as it counts with a network of providers in several provinces in the North and South of Argentina), and it allowed fishermen from Parana River to have a new work possibility. ::Tribalia...
Cultivate Centre’s Events Towards a Low Carbon Future
by Petz Scholtus, Barcelona, Spain on 10.10.06
Cultivate, the Sustainable Learning & Living Centre in Dublin are putting the spotlights on energy and sustainable design this month.
Tomorrow, their first annual Design Fortnight opens its doors with the title ‘Towards a Low Carbon Future’. They invited international and Irish designers to take us through a low energy day by exhibiting products and materials that help us get away from our energy addiction. The show is open October 11th –27th at the Cultivate Centre, Temple Bar, Dublin.
Then on Thursday, the Cultivate Centre is hosting Greening IT – Beyond recycling… . This conference on reducing waste and maximising energy efficiency in IT equipment is produced by HeatSun, a public, private & community partnership looking to solve Waste IT. The conference is scheduled for october 12th, 9.00-15.30.
With the Rethinking Design conference, Cultivate is examining the rapidly growing international market for sustainable design (second only to the pharmaceutical industry at this point), and how Ireland can close the gap between where we stand now and where we could be. Speakers include Alastair Fuad-Luke, author of The Eco-design Handbook and Chris Sherwin from Forum for the Future. This event takes place on October 13th, 9.00-17.30.
::Cultivate Centre...
the Sun Cook Solar Oven: Cooking without Carbon
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 10. 9.06
It was the warmest Canadian Thanksgiving that we could remember; up north where we would normally be wearing woollies, we had dinner outside on a dock, red leaves floating on the water around us. The bird was local, free range, organic and wonderful. We discussed environmental issues all night and determined that the five hours cooking the bird created close to 15 pounds of Carbon Dioxide emissions. Perhaps next year we should try cooking in a solar oven like the Sun Cook- they call it " the sustainable replacement for the backyard barbecue". This Portuguese design has polished reflectors which concentrate sunlight in the insulated oven chamber; a metal plate on the bottom absorbs solar energy, and the tempered glass top holds it in. Get this- you time your cooking with a built in sundial. Available from ::Sun Baked President Stephen Kerr lists some very good reasons for cooking solar, repeated below the fold.
UPDATE: See also Paula's earlier post on solar cookers here...
The TH Interview: Laurie David
by Jacob Gordon, Nashville, TN on 10. 9.06
TreeHugger correspondent Simran Sethi recently caught up with Laurie David to talk about climate change, comedy, and everyday climate activism for TH and the upcoming issue of Heeb magazine. Ms. David is an outspoken voice on issues of the environment and founder of the Virtual March at stopglobalwarming.org. Excerpts can be heard on the new TreeHugger Radio on EcoTalk, which will be airing today nationwide on Air America, also available at EcoTalk.net.
TreeHugger: In 2003 Robert Kennedy Jr. heralded you as an environmental hero. And I’m curious to know what that description means to you in light of your role as a mother.
Laurie David: Well when Bobby Kennedy said that about me all it did was make me feel bad because it made me feel like I’m not doing enough. Honestly, it makes me feel like I’m not doing enough. Understanding what’s happening to the planet right now is a giant burden. And it’s a burden that I feel and it compels me to use everything I have to try to get the word out. My goal is that everyone becomes a global warming activist. That everyone fit that into their lives in some way. It’s not about everyone doing everything, but it is about everyone doing something. There is a lot of responsibility with that. Bobby inspired me and I hope to inspire other people....
Israel’s WATEC: Call Out For Water Technology
by Karin Kloosterman, Tel Aviv on 10. 9.06
Following the water conference held in Tel Aviv this past Spring which brought out visitors from across the globe, hot on its tracks is WATEC, the first International Water Technologies and Environmental Control Exhibition and Conference. Aimed at cleantech companies, Chairman Booky Oren says that WATEC Israel 2007 will reinforce the position of Israel as the "Silicon Valley" of the global water and environmental technologies market.” ...
Green Roof on MEC Building
by Justin Thomas, Virginia on 10. 9.06
Photo Credit Susanne Jespersen
Mountain Equipment Co-op or MEC, is a popular outdoor gear company in Canada. They are true pioneers in green rooftop installation. Seen here is the roof of a MEC store in Toronto. All the plants are native to Canada and are suited for prairie conditions. They have created prairie environments on many of their outlets, including the award-winning Winnipeg and Montreal locations. These green roofs are carefully planned ecosystems which, once established, sustain themselves as they would in the countryside. The one in Toronto covers an area of almost 10,000 sq.f., which means that over half of the entire surface is covered in shrubs, perennial grasses, flowers, herbs, and groundcovers.
...
Most Huggable
by Jacob Gordon, Nashville, TN on 10. 9.06
John Bon Jovi and Bill Clinton together at last! And to usher in affordable eco-friendly housing in Philadelphia no less… A Japanese invention uses the power of bamboo cubed to purify air… A new credit card from Smart Car rewards the planet with trees when customers make purchases… LaundryPure cleans clothes the NASA way, without water or detergent… Last week Nickelodeon went dark for three hours to get kids outside and active…...
Interview: Eli Pariser on the Environment in the 2006 US Elections
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 10. 9.06
Plenty Magazine has an interview with Eli Pariser, MoveOn.org's executive director, on how important an issue he thinks the environment will be in the 2006 US elections. We certainly hope that he's right... ::MoveOn Maven Photo: Matthew Peyton/Getty Images...
Green Roofs on Apartment Buildings
by Justin Thomas, Virginia on 10. 9.06
Battery Park City is a neighborhood in New York City, that houses no less than three remarkable green apartment buildings. First came the Solaire, then the Tribeca Green, and the latest is the Verdesian. The roof of the Tribeca (above) is irrigated with harvested rain water, and recycled water from the apartment's toilets.
...
The Weather Channels Launches One Degree
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 10. 9.06
One small step in the mainstreaming of global warming science in the US, one giant step for mankind: The Weather Channel (who has one of the most popular websites on the internet) has just launched its first "broadband channel", One Degree. Their stated goal is to "create a national dialogue around and humanizing the impact of climate change". They call it One Degree in reference to the "one degree of warming that has occurred in the last century and the fact that what seems small – just one degree – can make a big difference in the climate and in people’s lives." In fact, the sub-title on the website is "One degree can change the world"....
Bloomberg Talks Sustainability
by Eric Kane, New York, NY on 10. 9.06
Every Sunday, New York City’s Mayor, Mike Bloomberg, takes to the airwaves to discuss current policy issues ranging from poverty to education. Last week, he dedicated his weekly radio address to the issue of sustainability. The first portion of the broadcast was dedicated to praising New York for being one of the most energy-efficient and environmentally conscious cities, and to defining sustainability (“recognizing that our economic growth and development today also has to allow our children and grandchildren to meet their needs in the future”). After this brief preamble, Bloomberg suggested that with a potential future population of nine million, the City has a lot more to accomplish before it can truly be considered sustainable. He subsequently dedicated the remainder of his address to outlining relevant policies that his administration has undertaken....
Video of ENV Fuel Cell Motorcycle in Action
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 10. 9.06
Chikuno Cube: Bamboo Charcoal Air Purifier
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 10. 9.06
Made from compressed bamboo charcoal, the Chikuno Cube air purifier is meant to replace the ugly yellow box of baking soda in the fridge or smelly wall plug-in. It has kind of a mysterious air about it, which is only enhanced with this quasi-cryptic translation from the Chikuno website: Remainder the efficiency where the bamboo charcoal which is not known yet is splendid. You pull out that to the maximum, as much as possible you would like to make the charcoal which the place or time do not choose. Including such thinking, it has big power, the cube of the small charcoal was made. The shape where the charcoal is new completely. That is CHIKUNO CUBE.We think something may have been lost in translation, but it's still playful and has kind of a fun design. The honeycomb pattern increases surface area and increase its purifying power, which will last up to a year. While it may seem a trifle unneccessary, we're still glad to see it -- it isn't design for design's sake, further proves that bamboo indeed makes the world go 'round and ultimately serves a useful function while looking pretty. Isn't that what great design is all about? ::Chikuno Cube (mostly Japanese) via Linton at ::Hugg ...
Climate Change in the U.S. Northeast: Migrating Climates
by Union of Concerned Scientists on 10. 9.06
Imagine if each state in the U.S. were a giant puzzle piece. By the end of the century, global warming could have the effect of picking up some of those pieces and dropping them several hundred miles to the South. New York, for instance, could wind up with a climate like Georgia’s, while Massachusetts would feel like South Carolina. Climate shifts like that could have major consequences for the environment and the economy in the Northeast. But the good news is that these scenarios won’t happen if we do something about global warming now....
Salewa's Helium - More Sport with Less Helmet
by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 10. 9.06
An effective eco-design will be multi-functional, without having compromised its essential integrity. For example, a Swiss Army knife’s screwdriver is not perfect, but it can competently get the job done. Some months ago the strap on my bike helmet broke. At the same time I was getting back into some rockclimbing. So thoughts naturally coalesced around whether one helmet might do many things. Hopefully I'd spend less money and the planet would surrender up less resources, than if I owned many helmets. After some digging around found the Helium from German outdoor manufacturer, Salewa. Fashioned by Italian bike helmet maker, MET, whom we mentioned when quizzed on helmets earlier this year, the Helium weighs less than 270g (9.5 oz). This skid-lid has been tested and certified in the EU as safe for canoeing, climbing and cycling. And although not as well ventilated as a pure cycling helmet, it is more than fine for commuting and city riding, though when temps get above 35°C this coming southern summer I might change my tune. (Salewa do offer the Krypton, which is even lighter, has greater ventilation and is additionally certified for horse-riding, but it’s about a third more expensive.) In the UK you can pick up a Helium for £49.50. It fits head sizes 54.5cm to 62cm, meaning they only need make one size to suit people. ::Salewa Helium. ...
Cradle To Cradle In Practice– A Workshop With Dr. Michael Braungart
by Leonora Oppenheim, London, UK on 10. 9.06
After Petz got naked and wet with William McDonough and Michael Braungart last week in her bath we are excited to announce an opportunity to meet Michael Braungart in person, although we must add though he will probably be dry and clothed on this occasion! In collaboration with the Enlighten Next project Michael Braungart will lead a workshop in London next month on the Cradle to Cradle philosophy pioneered by himself and Bill McDonough in their book of the same name. We are told this is ‘your opportunity to learn how to incorporate Cradle to Cradle into your business process and product design as well as finding a network for support and potential collaboration’. ...
The TH Interview: Summer Rayne Oakes
by Jeff McIntire-Strasburg, St. Louis, MO on 10. 9.06
In the numerous posts we've published about Summer Rayne Oakes, we've almost always prefaced her name with the phrase "eco-model." Oakes has graced the covers of magazines ranging from E/The Environmental Magazine to Ethical Consumer, but in between jobs in front of the camera, this 22-year-old Cornell graduate keeps busy with writing projects, corporate consulting gigs, multimedia productions and speaking engagements. While very capable on the runway, she's proven herself an expert in the environmental impact of the fashion industry, and an innovator in promoting alternatives to business as usual in the apparel world. We got a chance to chat with her after the launch of her company SRO's latest project, the industry newsletter S4.
Treehugger: You’ve been busy lately. What are some highlights from this summer?
Summer Rayne Oakes: I’ve almost exclusively been working on producing/hosting environmentally-focused multimedia programs with a number of production companies. I also went on a speaker’s circuit over the summer. In the course of a few months, I hit the Sustainable Business Network, Yale’s Sustainable Design Conference, Eco-Petals Eco-fashion event, F.I.T., Pace, Cooper Hewitt Design Museum, and Cornell.
TH: Most people fear public speaking more than death…
SRO: I find it exhilarating. Speaking is very personal for me. It’s very different from the stuff I’m filming for TV, though the underlying message may be the same. When you speak, you are present in the moment with your audience. You can feel the energy in the room change when you hit an emotive chord and can sense an awakening in the room. ...
BA-Interior Reused Tires Accessories, from Peru
by Paula Alvarado, Buenos Aires on 10. 9.06
Turning pages in a local deco-magazine we found some interesting stuff from recovered materials -specially tires’ rubber- coming from Peru. They’re from BA-Interior architecture studio in Lima, which also has some regular stuff, but mostly works with recovered materials. The first and second pictures on the illustration above are La Repasada bag and the Anidan trays, both made from recovered tires rubber covered with fabric on one side. The bag is made from only one cut, sewed by hand. The third image is for a small garden inside of a tire, good because it resists in the outdoor and doesn’t deteriorate with humidity and is “unbreakable”, they assure. And the fourth is a paper can, also from recycled tires. In the extended, there are also a tray also from recovered tires and wood, a lamp from a recovered glass’ fibber tube, and a table from concrete and recycled glass with wood basement. If you’re in or around Lima sometime, write down the address for this studio: Av. Grau 810, Barranco, Lima 31, Perú (Tel: 511 247 2440). ::BA-Interior...
Naturally Stylish Dads and Babes
by Bonnie Alter, London on 10. 9.06
For mommies and daddies with style, here are matching organic tee-shirts that you and your little one can wear. The company was founded by two Brits who moved to Singapore because they wanted to develop the fledgling organic movement there. They are passionate about organic cotton; searching for the softest, purest and most long-lasting cotton available. It is grown on organic farms with good working conditions in Urganda, using no pesticides. The clothing is made in small, ethical factories in Thailand, in short runs. The graphics are inspired by nature; there are images of cuddly rabbits and sweet little catalan donkeys, giraffes and cows. For the men there are bears and turtles, and women get a dramatic peacock. It’s a family menagerie walking down the street. And there’s that great feeling of knowing that you’re supporting organic farmers and looking good at the same time. :: Belle & Dean...
Mercury Poisoning: It's Not Just Fish...
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 10. 8.06
"It is clear to me that the mercury story is much more complex than scientists initially thought," says Jörg Feldmann, an environmental chemist at Aberdeen University, UK. The more places scientists look for mercury, the more they find. Most people think that fish is responsible for bringing mercury into the food chain (to fish-eating birds and so on), but the National Wildlife Federation (NWF) published a study based on 65 other studies that shows that mercury is affecting more species than we might think, and the impacts are very negative, especially when added to habitat destruction, climate change, etc....
Park(ing) Day: an Activism Success Again
by Christine Lepisto, Berlin on 10. 8.06
Change is hard. Activists threatening the status quo may be jeered, arrested or worse. Perhaps that is what broadens our smile as we think about the Rebar installation art/urban planning demonstration event. How can it not bring a grin to see a tiny green park occupying the small plot of land in front of a parking meter? To take a small pause in the hectic day to simply enjoy our spot on earth? In its second year, the (Park)ing Day activities spread, with installations by additional groups in San Francisco, where Rebar initiated the idea, as well as occupations in Manhattan, Cleveland, Milwaukee, Eau Claire (WI), London, Lewes (UK), and Rio de Janeiro. Note the transporter bike parade, rounding out the eco aspects of the event. Don't miss the comments of passersby on the Parking Day Video. Thanks, Rebar, it does a girl (guy) good....
