- 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 22, 2006 - October 28, 2006
Total this week: 115
UK: Bill Proposes to Show Car Emissions in Ads
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 10.28.06
Colin Challen, a british MP who chairs on the House of Commons climate change group, thinks that a quarter of the space in car ads should be given over to environmental impact data. "The manufacturers need to enlarge the small print. More and more consumers want to do their bit to combat climate change [...] A prominent display of this advice from the chief scientific advisor to the government would help us all make more informed and responsible choices." The bill will be presented to to parliament on Monday, October 30. We think it's a good idea. Information certainly is the minimum required for action, so the easier it is to find out about the environmental impact of the things that surround us, the better. If successful in the UK, this piece of legislation could migrate to other countries. ::BBC, ::Colin Challen Official Website...
TreeHugger Welcomes Tom Szaky of TerraCycle!
by Tom Szaky of TerraCycle, Trenton NJ on 10.28.06
Trains vs. Planes: Eurostar Joins the Debate
by Treehugger Interns on 10.28.06
Everytime we discuss aviation it generates some pretty passionate discussion. Now Eurostar, the company operating trains between London and Paris, and London and Brussels, has waded into the debate. The company has put out a press release claiming that an independent report commissioned by them shows that their trains emit 10 times less carbon dioxide than an equivalent journey by plane. They also claim that these findings may be conservative, as they don’t take into account the extra harm done by polluting at altitude, or planes being held in holding patterns. ...
Using Food For Fuel Could Save Money. For Some.
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 10.28.06
This headline really caught our eye- "using food for fuel". We love corn, especially with a bit of butter and salt, but now people are just throwing it into furnaces to heat their houses because it is cheaper to burn it than just about any other fuel. We have touted corn-powered stoves before as being TreeHugger correct, but are they? 47 billion dollars has been spent to subsidize corn production since 1995, and corn prices are spiking everywhere because of its increasing use in making ethanol, affecting the cost of everything we eat. Michael Pollan points out that we are all made of corn, that the American diet is almost entirely corn based. Should we be heating with food? ::WPXI
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Wind Power Update
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 10.28.06
We've been doing these abridged wind power updates for some time now because they are a source of optimism for those of us who feel trapped in a re-run of "Everyone Loves Raymond". Here are some excerpts from the latest American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) press release: "The U.S. wind energy industry is on track to install a record 2,750 megawatts (MW) of generating capacity in 2006, which will produce about as much electricity as is used by the entire state of Rhode Island." "AWEA had previously estimated that about 3,000 MW would be installed this year, but it is now clear that a few projects originally slated for completion in 2006 will not be finalized until 2007 because of various delays". "Wind power is expected in 2006 to provide 18% to 20% of the new capacity installed in the country -- making it the second-largest source of new power generation after new natural gas plants..." We especially love where we first found this story - via: All American Patriots. Does this mean that wind power is soon not to be regarded as "alternative?"...
Center For Green Roof Research: Penn State's EcoRoof Technology Course
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 10.28.06
One aspect that makes this photo eye-catching is the lovely layout and plant diversity -- much more appealing than the usual green roof monoculture found in North America. Who's behind the mystery roof? It seems it is either on the Penn State University campus Center For Green Roof Research or at an associated facility in Europe. Did architects and engineers suddenly get into plants. Nope, this is in the Horticulture Department. About time. Here's an excerpt from the course sylabus for Penn State's course EcoRoof Technology (Hort 497A): "The course objective will be to examine the fundamentals of greenroofs their origins, installation, maintenance, and relationship with other green building technologies. Their use in stormwater mitigation as well as their ancillary benefits will be discussed. Practicum periods will be hands-on, with field trips to local green roofs as well as the installation of a green roof on a small building". Get a look at some student "hands on" below the fold. Photo credit: Gert Fortgens, via the CGRR website mainpage.
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Dhamma! My Phone is Ringing
by Christine Lepisto, Berlin on 10.28.06
Yesterday on the public transport, a strange noise emanated from the hemp hand-bag of the centered, charismatic young commuter next to you. Your ears perked with curiousity as a cell phone was produced—because this was not the top charts hit nor a jammingly humorous or rude emission. This phone chanted. With a practiced inhalation, the owner of the phone interrupted the mantra before you could enter a meditative state sufficient to calm the whirlwind of thoughts running through your head: how can I get that on my phone? Dare I ask this beautiful person to join me at the next GreenDrinks? Is nothing safe from rampant consumerism? Dating advice and economic theory are outside of the scope of this article. But if you absolutely must have your own “dhamma ringtone”, read on....
Wal-Mart To Sell Energy Efficient Notebook For Under $500
by Justin Thomas, Virginia on 10.27.06
Wal-Mart will soon be selling an energy efficient notebook computer for under $500. The computer is made by Everex Systems and Taiwanese chipmaker Via Technologies. Everex is calling the computer the "world's most energy efficient notebook". The Via microprocessor inside Everex’s StepNote NC1500 provides 1.5GHz performance at very low power consumption of just 12 watts. ...
Lighting Up The $1 Trillion Power Market
by Justin Thomas, Virginia on 10.27.06
Business 2.0 recently published a report on the state of the California solar tech boom, and its potential to revolutionize the power market. Pictured here is a solar module from Energy Innovations (EI Solutions). The start-up company was recently given the contract to build Google's solar project. Excerpts from the article appear after the link:
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Poplar Science: Engineering Trees for Fuel
by Jacob Gordon, Nashville, TN on 10.27.06
While debates rage over both ethanol and genetic engineering, the truth is that the two technologies are likely to play a growing role in our future. The two contentious fields will almost definitely intersect as well. A recent grant given jointly by the USDA and DOE is pushing that intersection closer. The two government agencies recently awarded $700,000 to a team at North Carolina State University to help them modify the genes of poplar trees, making them better candidates for cellulosic ethanol feedstock. Dr. Vincent Chiang and his group believe that poplar trees (the only tree to have its genome mapped) may be an excellent source of cellulose and hemicelluloses, which can be fermented into ethanol. Currently, however, their extraction is a challenge because of being bound up in the tree’s lignin. Dr. Chiang’s group has already achieved poplars with less lignin, and now hope to create ones with more cellulose. :: Green Car Congress...
Most Huggable
by Jacob Gordon, Nashville, TN on 10.27.06
CNET looks at biomimicry at work in the world of industrial design… Inc.com lists its top 50 green companies… Villagers storm and occupy three Nigerian oil platforms… More ass means more gas: a report finds America’s expanding waistline is gobbling up fuel… From the MIT labs comes a half-sized ethanol engine that runs like a full-sized…...
TreeHugger Asks: Who Are Some Great Industrial Designers?
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 10.27.06
TreeHugger has a few favorites when it comes to industrial designers and design firms; we can't really think about the words without including people like Bill McDonough, Ross Lovegrove and the Salm brothers at MIOculture. They represent some of the best things about sustainable industrial design: aesthetic innovation, form following function and minimal tread left on the planet, and we could go on and on about each of them. But we know there are more out there. Who else should we know about? What designers and firms are at the top of their games when it comes to industrial design and sustainability? Please leave your ideas in the comments below.
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Hybrid Living: Selling Green Lifestyle to the Lexus Crowd
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 10.27.06
If you want to see how to make "ecodesignlifestyle" sexy and aspirational, have a look at Lexus's gorgeous website "hybrid living". Like TreeHugger on a Platinum card, it "explores new ideas of how we can experience our lives in such a way that minimizes our impact on the earth without sacrificing comfort and luxury" with the emphasis on luxury. Evidently if you drive a Lexus hybrid, you will want to live in Steve Glenn's Living Home, (watch a great interview of Steve and architect Ray Kappe, explaining all of the green features of the house) and you will want to tour San Francisco, LA and New York, dining in fine vegetarian restaurants and going to organic spas. The green lifestyle never looked so good. Or expensive. ::Hybrid Living via ::Mocoloco...
EPA Tightens Up Power Specs For PCs
by Justin Thomas, Virginia on 10.27.06
Keeping up with an increasingly global "green" directive for the tech industry, for the first time in seven years the United States government's Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has rolled out new Energy Star specifications for computers and related equipment. After the specs take effect, new Energy Star qualifying computer equipment will be 65 percent more efficient than conventional models, according to the EPA. The new requirements include improved efficiency across all modes of a computer's operation, and require use of highly efficient internal and external power supplies in order to earn the EPA's Energy Star label. The new specifications go into effect on July 20, 2007.
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Izzy's Solar-Powered Ice Cream
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 10.27.06
With 200 solar panels on the roof, Izzy's Ice Cream is the first ice cream shop in the US to be powered by the rays from the sun. This project is set to cut Izzy's peak power demand by 30%, as the 200 panels will generate 8.6 kilowatts of power during peak production. As a business largely based on seasonal appeal, located in St. Paul, Minnesota, the bonus comes on the cold and sunny days in January when Izzy's will be selling some of these kilowatts back to the grid while all the Izzy's Ice Cream makers are at home resting. To help defray the costs of the project, each solar panel is available for sponsorship; according to the site, there are approximately 150 panels available for sponsorship on the roof at Izzy's. Each panel's sponsorship is $100, and as an incentive Izzy's gives a gift certificate for $25 in ice cream. Speaking of the ice cream, this TreeHugger hasn't had the pleasure, but Izzy's was recently featured on Food Network's "Throwdown with Bobby Flay," where the celebrity chef challenges a master food craftsman at his own game. Izzy's looked almost good enough to lick the screen; for those of you who haven't seen it, we won't spoil the ending, but we'll just say that he did solar-powered ice cream enthusiasts proud. Has anyone ever tried it? ::Izzy's Ice Cream via ::Throwdown with Bobby Flay...
The End of an Affair? Americans and Gas
by Celine Ruben-Salama, New York, NY on 10.27.06
Yesterday we posted on measures taken in the UK to minimize traffic and today we’re happy to report that even the US has firmed up laws promoting frivolous gasoline use. Until recently a controversial loophole existed in the tax law allowing buyers of high-end luxury SUVs, to write-off the entire expense of the vehicle in the year of purchase. Essentially, the loophole was used by citizens in high income brackets to finance the purchase SUVs through tax breaks. Without this incentive we hope to see less of these gas guzzlers on our roads although additional tightening of the law may be needed before we see real results.
Could this be the beginning of a new trend in the US? ...
Forgot Something: It's Back To Home Depot
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 10.27.06
How many times have we done that...oops, forgot the nails, glue, extension cord, or whatever...and had to jump back in the car for another trip to Home Depot? Looks like this time it's Home Depot that forgot something: its US customers. As Lloyd pointed out in his earlier post, Home Depot Canada has embarked on a nation-wide publishing project targeting customers interested in the tools and techniques of green design and lifestyles; whilst, in the US, this week's focus is guilt redemption at corporate headquarters. Sorry, we meant "carbon offsets" for tree planting around HQ. We're TreeHuggers so of course we agree that "planting of thousands of trees on nearly 130 acres across metro Atlanta" is a great thing for the their community, and a fine example for other corporations. And, it offers employees some psychological compensation while they're stuck in traffic for an hour and a half going 5 miles to work on Atlanta's overtaxed road network: -- "look...there's one of our trees." But, from a climate change point of view, these tree planting benefits are orders of magnitude less immediate and significant, on every dimension imaginable, compared to what can be done by empowering its US market. Hypothetical customer buy-decision tradeoff: "do I buy the US$20.00 rake or do I buy the the US$170.00 gasoline-powered leaf blowing and chopping machine"? "Or, would I be better off buying three rakes and asking the family to rake together." "Maybe I could grab a spool of chicken wire and some stakes to make a leaf-mulching crib?" Roughly the same amount of dough gets the green result and gets the family together....
SDE: Breaking the Waves
by Karin Kloosterman, Tel Aviv on 10.27.06
The crash of the waves on the breaker or coast can be put to good use, says Israeli company S.D.E. Wave Energy, set to build the first wave energy harvesting power plant of its kind in Sri Lanka. Not to be confused with tidal power, wave power is the energy of ocean surface waves and harvesting that energy to generate electricity. Wave power generation is not widely employed, with only a few experimental sites in existence. ::See earlier TH roundup post on wave energy here.
TreeHugger spoke this week with Israel’s Chief Scientist for environmental affairs who recommended wave energy as one of the prospects the Israeli government is looking to invest in. We also spoke with S.D.E which has had an overwhelming response from countries in Africa, Asia, and South America—countries which have few viable options for generating sustainable energy. The US, they say, has showed very little interest in the company’s wave harvesting technology. ...
Start the Green Challange With Slate and TreeHugger!
by Meaghan O'Neill, Newport, R.I. on 10.27.06
Did you know that pollution from cars costs Americans over $78 billion a year in wasted fuel? Go ahead and add that onto your medical bills, because traffic also causes lung cancer, asthma, cardiopulmonary disease, and a slew of other ailments. In fact, residents of dirty-air cities (mostly caused by auto emissions) have a two-year shorter life span than inhabitants of clean air areas. So, grab your bike and start pedaling!
Join the Slate Green Challenge with TreeHugger and help reduce our collective CO2 emissions by 20 percent. We are not asking you to go out and build a green home (although you'd get bonus points if you did!), but we are hoping our readers make a positive difference in their own lives and go on to influence others. Start anytime with a carbon footprint quiz, then move on to this week's segment on transportation. If you're one of the first 500 to complete the challenge, our friends over at I'm Organic will style you out with a new t-shirt. Good luck!
[This post was written by Brittany Jacobs, TreeHugger intern on the Slate Green Challenge.]
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ELT Indoor Living Wall Kits
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 10.27.06
Living walls clean the air, humidify and provide oxygen. ELT, noted before for their exterior living walls and roofs, has introduced pre-packaged sets of systems so that you can grow your own-. For those with "a hammer, a saw and a couple of nails", you can buy the Easy Green Living wall panels with mounting brackets for just C$40 (US$35). The indoor/outdoor living wall display supporting two living wall panels on a solid cedar stand with irrigation system, ready to plant, is C$200 (US$ 180). For those who want the works, ELT will plant it and supply it pre-grown, although watch out for the shipping costs. ::ELT Living Walls...
EcoOptions Magazine from Home Depot Canada
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 10.27.06
Getting people interested in buying green products is more than just doing a cost-benefit analysis, they have to understand the issue and want the product. We recently posted on Home Depot's EcoOption campaign in Canada, where they are introducing thousands of green products. To spread the message they have just introduced EcoOptions magazine (on FSC paper, of course). Graphically, it is up there with mainstream shelter porn, making the products look good, showing how they work, and explaining complex issues like FSC Certification. A good example is the ode to a rake, shown above- making this object a lot sexier than a leaf blower. It's put together by Green Living Enterprises, who also publish GreenLiving, subject of an upcoming post. Congratulations to Home Depot Canada's President (and editor-in-chief) Annette Verschuren. We hope you sent a copy to Bob Nardelli; people keep asking why they can't get EcoOptions in the States. The entire magazine is available online at ::EcoOptions...
Feed the Birds Day
by Bonnie Alter, London on 10.27.06
Tomorrow is Feed the Birds Day--held when the clocks go back and winter nights begin. It's the time when birds and other wildlife need a little extra protection as the first frost looms. Giving some food, water and shelter helps them through the winter and provides a haven for wildife. The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) suggests that the best foods are black sunflower seeds and peanuts, which can be put out all year round. Bird houses should be hung from branches, far away from where people are walking. Make sure that you can see them from your window, because that's half the fun. For the traditionalist , you will easily find good solid ones, made of approved wood, to attract small robins and wrens. These should only be cleaned at the end of the season, once the birds have left. For the post-modernist--may we suggest the ones pictured; by Swiss artist Stephane Barbier Bouver--who knows what you will attract. :: RSPB and :: Cool Hunting
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Xerox and the Nature Conservancy Partner for Forest Conservation
by Jeff McIntire-Strasburg, St. Louis, MO on 10.27.06
Forest stewardship seems to have captured the attention of corporate executives, with numerous companies examining the sources of forest products they buy and sell. Yesterday, Xerox Corporation and the Nature Conservancy announced a partnership designed to "...strengthen and advance practices used to conserve the world's forests." Xerox is investing $1 million in the effort to "...develop science-based tools, practices and systems that the paper industry can draw upon to better understand and manage ecologically important forest land." The partnership will focus its efforts on forests in Canada, Brazil, Indonesia, and the Southeastern United States, and will work not only to increase the store of information on ecologically and culturally sensitive areas in these lands, but also to improve certification standards for sustainable forest management. When complete, the company and non-profit plan to provide these information tools and standards to paper suppliers. We have to wonder if the Rainforest Action Network's action against Xerox, a major purchaser of paper from Weyerhaeuser, played into this decision; we don't know if Xerox still purchases paper from the forest products giant. It will be interesting to see if and how RAN responds to this news. ::Xerox and The Nature Conservancy...
Making Plastic With Vitamin C or Water
by Justin Thomas, Virginia on 10.26.06
Two laboratory breakthroughs are poised to dramatically improve how plastics are made by assembling molecular chains more quickly and with less waste. Using such environmentally friendly substances as Vitamin C or pure water, the two approaches present attractive alternatives to the common plastic manufacturing technique called free radical polymerization (FRP).
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TH Blog Love – Our Favourite Greens Of The Week
by Leonora Oppenheim, London, UK on 10.26.06
CHEC Blog: 90 tips in 90 days
‘The Children's Health Environmental Coalition (CHEC) is a national non-profit organization dedicated to educating the public, specifically parents and caregivers, about environmental toxins that affect children's health.’
EcoTravelLogue: The Best Of EcoTravelLogue by Mary Grady
‘For those of you new to our Eco-TravelLogue, here’s a sample of a few of my favorite posts from these last few weeks… the Logue first launched back on September 12, so there is quite a lot here already. It’s tough to pick out just a few favorites, because I get to write about anything I like here, so I like them all!’...
Energy-Efficient Lamp by Lucesco
by Mairi Beautyman, Berlin, Germany on 10.26.06
This lamp is retro—yet still energy efficient. Designed by Sven Adolph for Lucesco Lighting, the spun aluminum Sven illuminates with 40 energy-efficient warm white LEDs, and employs only 22 watts of power. That’s about one-third of the power used by the average lamp. Ah but what about the heat, you say. The LEDs are arranged in a circle, a design trick that prevents it from becoming a furnace. Another perk? A nifty little red light stays on even when the light is off—ending all that stumbling in the dark. Other mod colors include white and black. In 2007, the Palo Alto, CA-based firm plans to launch four additional styles: Floor-standing, ceiling, and two lanterns. ::Lucesco
Photo courtesy of Metropolis Magazine/Evelyn Dilworth....
"No Sheep For You"
by Jacob Gordon, Nashville, TN on 10.26.06
I can’t draw you a diagram of how it happened, but knitting has become a choice medium for stylish, radical, TreeHuggers. The DIY movement is alive and well and it’s got needles. Knitting has lent itself to displays of guerrilla art, symbolic activism, and graffiti. A new book, “No Sheep for You: Knit Happy with Cotton, Silk, Linen, Hemp, Bamboo, and Other Delights” is right in this vein, it would seem. It is the work of Amy R. Singer, a magnate of hip knitting and editor of Knitty. Clearly, the arsenal of eco-friendly yarns is growing and this book fits right in. Check out some threads we’ve followed here at TreeHugger, including recycled yarns like Repreve or Jimtex, and bamboo or corn varieties. “No Sheep” comes out in April 2007, is $22.95, and can be preordered. :: No Sheep For You via Hugg (Linton)...
TreeHugger 100-Mile Thanksgiving Challenge: Show Us Your Inner Chef
by Sean Fisher, Cincinnati, Ohio on 10.26.06
Frequent TreeHugger readers know that we give a shout out to local eating whenever we get a chance, and for good reason to. Cutting down the distance that food travels from production to your plate is an easy and very effective way to eat greener (and often healthier). With North America either just getting done with (Canada) or just getting ready to (US) celebrate the fall harvest holiday, we are challenging you to make a local feast for Thanksgiving. Here's the deal: we want you to create a grand feast using all ingredients found within 100 miles of your home. Send us your 100-Mile menu (including the recipe) along with the names of the farms/farmers you got your food from, where they are located and where you are located. Entries should be sent to: contest [at] treehugger [dot] com by November 14th. The most eco-friendly, creative and delicious meals will be featured on the site in the weeks before Thanksgiving, with readers choosing the best 100-mile meal, so get cooking! ::TreeHugger 100-Mile Thanksgiving Challenge...
Most Huggable
by Jacob Gordon, Nashville, TN on 10.26.06
More eye candy from the LA Auto Show Design Challenge, including an algae-filled Hummer… EarthBox promises more vegetables in less space, less water, and less soil… According to a new report, more than a trillion dollars are waiting for green entrepreneurs over the next five years… In a green travel special, the Guardian looks at painless, plane-less world travel… The trees are painting! Give a tree a brush and see what happens… ...
Live-Work-Design: Home Depot & Duke University Collaborate On 'Smart Home' Project
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 10.26.06
Via the Atlanta Business Chronicle: - "The Home Depot Inc. and Duke University have teamed up to create a residential lab where 10 students will research and develop security and monitoring, communications, energy efficiency, entertainment, environment and health products for the home". What a team! What will they do? The "more than 100 student members of the Duke Smart House Club and entire engineering classes -- can test new home technology ideas developed by Duke students. The occupants will live with and in the design ideas of the larger group to provide feedback on issues such as technology usability and adoption, energy efficiency and automated control". Can you imagine having this exerience on your resume on graduating from Duke? Go "les Diables Bleus". ...
Automated Green: The Genzyme Center!
by Justin Thomas, Virginia on 10.26.06
If it's automated green you like, the Genzyme Center has plenty of it. Completed a few years ago, the complex is the headquarters for a biotechnology company in Boston. It has a Platinum LEED Rating which is the highest awarded. Carbon dioxide sensors register "stuffy" indoor air conditions. Fans coils units are automatically shut off when windows or doors are opened for natural ventilation. Photo sensors and occupancy sensors detect conditions and dim overhead lights as needed. The daylight dimming system reduces lighting energy use by about 45%.
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Chamba Ware for the Kitchen
by Kara DiCamillo, Newport, Rhode Island on 10.26.06
We’ve expressed our feelings on Teflon. We also brought you the news earlier this year about eight U.S. companies eliminating the harmful chemical from their products. In addition to the good ole’ cast iron pieces we found some new cookware recently at VivaTerra. Handmade from clay, this Chamba ware dates back to the age of the Incas. It's unglazed, lead free, heats evenly and a great multi-tasker - going from stovetop to oven to table with style. It cleans easily and can be used for years and years to come. Available at ::VivaTerra...
UC Davis Cafeteria Scraps Used To Generate Electricity
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 10.26.06
We've often driven by landfills where methane is being "harvested" by an elaborate system of gas wells, PVC collector pipes, transfer mains, particle filters, compressors, steel delivery pipes, storage tanks, and eventually generators. The rear-view mirror thinking that follows is 'why not put all that organic waste in a proper bio-gas digester in the first place instead of a hole in the ground that's bound to leak?' Anaerobic digesters, after all, are a common technology: found in most cities with secondary wastewater treatment, on increasing numbers of poo-powered farms, here, and other poo powered sites there, and elsewhere. In fact the human digestive system is a sort of anaerobic digester. Hence the thought, we suppose, that dawned on University of California at Davis to take those food scraps from the campus cafeterias and put them in an anaerobic digester instead to sending them to a landfill. Reportedly it works just fine as long as the dangerous green gellatin desert with mystery topping is carefully segretated from the collection stream, thus enabling the "bugs" to produce enough gas to power the equivalent of 80 average California homes for a day. Possible safety requirement: a process hazard analysis may be needed to avoid making excess bean burrito specials, leading to a major biogas incident. Via C/Net News....
MTV and Wal-Mart: "a marketing ploy waving a tiny green flag"
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 10.26.06
Two days ago Justin covered the MTV-WalMart "Everyday Green" cafe; Today Guy Brighton of PSFK trashes it as "a marketing ploy waving a tiny green flag." He goes on..."The space is scarce of anything with depth...The space is green-by-numbers. It's light on impact, light on eco-consciousness, light on message. They even have the standard girl-at-door-handing-out-fair-trade-coffee. The take-away literature is a poorly disguised attempt to sell All laundry detergent.....This exhibition is nothing more that a way for MTV to make money.....You could say that any green message is a good message. But this isn't a message. It's a marketing ploy gone bland. It's a dark way for MTV to advertise a laundry detergent to the wrong target market.::Eco-PSFK
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aMAIZEing: Bio-Based Paint Solvent & Stripper
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 10.26.06
If there's one thing TreeHugger knows, it's that there's a greener, more eco-friendly version of almost everything out there. From biodegradable bioplastic cutlery to organic wine, there isn't much that can't be done with a green twist. Today's example: paint solvent & thinner. While stripping paint isn't something many of us do every day, many conventional formulas are full of VOCs and ozone-depleting chemicals, and that isn't good for anyone, whether you do it once a week or once a year. This particular product, aMAIZEing, is made from 100% corn and soybean esters (grown in the US) and claims to do everything its chemical cousins can: lift from the surface, strip and remove adhesives, paint and more from concrete, masonry, wood, metal and a host of other surfaces. If it works as well as it claims, why would you ever want to use the chemical version again? ::aMAIZEing Paint Solvent via ::Apartment Therapy...
Green TV Needs You. (Geographic Constraints Apply)
by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 10.26.06
While on Australian commercial TV stations, stars are ice skating, idols are crooning, and survivors are cavorting about islands in skimpy bandanas, the national broadcaster is marching to the beat of a different drummer. We’ve talked before about some of their programs. Like the journalistic piece on the likes of peak oil, the science program that showcased light pipe technology, or the inventors show with the passive ventilation window that let in fresh air, but amazingly kept noise out. For 2007 there will be a blending of the two. Informative television mixed with reality teevee. Dubbed ‘Green TV’, (at this stage), the program will follow energy guzzling households, as they transition to enlightened energy conservers. The producers are currently searching for households with voracious energy appetites, be they owners or renters, in the state of Victoria, to participate in the program. So if you want to reduce your carbon footprint, lower your bills and get fifteen minutes of fame then push that mouse over to ::Green TV....
Raising Energy Productivity
by Lester Brown, Washington, D.C on 10.26.06
Having closely followed and written about energy for a number of years, we at the Earth Policy Institute know that there is an enormous potential for raising energy productivity. This becomes clear in comparisons of energy use among countries. Some nations in Europe have essentially the same living standard as the United States yet use scarcely half as much energy per person. But even the countries that use energy most efficiently are not close to realizing the full potential for doing so. See Chapter 10 “Stabilizing Climate” in Plan B 2.0: Rescuing a Planet Under Stress and a Civilization in Trouble, available for free downloading...
2006 Brower Youth Award Winners Celebrated
by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 10.26.06
“People had alleged that I have inspired many young people over the years, but I say it was just the opposite.” so said David Brower. David is one of the most revered figures in the US environment movement and no wonder, given that his passion for the planet never waned in nearly 90 years of full life. In his final year, he was to witness the inaugural Brower Youth Awards, as established by the Earth Island Institute, which he founded 24 years ago. The 2006 round will be celebrated at a special free event in San Francisco tomorrow night. If the achievements of the six winners,, (Jessica Assaf, 16; May Boeve, 21; Karoline Evin McMullen, 16; Alberta Nells, 16; Elissa Smith, 21 and Ruben Vogt, 22) is anything go by, then the legacy of David’s unwavering enthusiasm lives on. Between them these leaders of tomorrow have already been campaigning for safe cosmetics, zero emissions technology, trout habitat restoration, protection of scared Native American lands, youth participation in environmental decision making and for community mentoring programs. We wish them well in tackling the many challenges ahead of us all, and for taking up the torch to light the way forward. ::Brower Youth Awards....
Money Talks: Driving Taxes in Great Britain
by Celine Ruben-Salama, New York, NY on 10.26.06
We learned this week that the Brits are a wasteful bunch indeed, and traffic is no exception. London suffers the worst traffic congestion in the UK and amongst the worst in Europe. Apparently, London drivers spend 50 percent of their time stuck in traffic. In an attempt to combat the issue London drivers who use their cars in the central city during the day are being charged for the pleasure. Congestion Charging was devised to minimize inner city traffic. Essentially it’s a tax for driving. By law, the money raised goes towards London‘s public transportation facilities benefiting the general public.
Merely six months after the introduction of the astonishingly successful scheme, auto traffic decreased by 30 percent while bus and taxi ridership rose by 20 percent. Net city traffic was reduced by 18 percent. Anyone interested in doing a “back-of-the-envelope” calculation on reduced CO2 emissions, gasoline “saved” or other, please post your findings in the comments section for everyone's benefit....
Heated Issue: A Global Warming Design Competition
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 10.26.06
With the aim of discovering why design matters, a social design network called Design21 has launched a series of competitions. Titled "Heated Issue," one such competition calls for entrants to design an awareness campaign to educate the public on the issue of global warming. This competition asks participants to create an educational campaign to raise public awareness of the problem of global warming and the contribution of our daily lifestyle and activities to this phenomenon. The aim of the campaign is to provoke people to think about the issue and how their individual consumer choices and energy consumption play into the equation. Four cash prizes, totaling $10,000, will be awarded to the winners, and the deadline to enter is Sunday, December 10. Design21 is a worldwide design network that seeks to promote design practice that is creative, thoughtful and responsible, so that good design becomes an integral part of everything we make, from objects and structures to environments and communities. Their goal is to form a global community that explores ways that design can make positive contributions to society and our environment. Learn more about them here and about the design competitions here. ::Design21 via ::Designspotter...
On Knowing the Price of Everything and the Value of Nothing
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 10.26.06
This treehugger is often disheartened when I write about a new product and the entire discussion in the comments is about how overpriced it is. In a recent post about the Binvention (which was about an article discussing why it cost so much!) , comments included: "All I have to say is: plywood, screws, saw, screwdriver...$20. It's a rip off aimed at people with no imagination ", "$110? No thanks....These things are nice and all, but yeah, they do inspire someone to create a similar system that will cost much less." , "I'll sell you one for $90 all day long.. There is a sucker born every minute." When we posted the MiniHome, people complained "Cheap at $125k? That's $400 a sq ft, or about five times what the most luxurious house costs for the space. It will be "cheap" at a fifth of the price." I do not mean to be critical of our commenters, but I think we have to discuss- why do green products cost more?...
Clutter-free Recycling Bin
by Bonnie Alter, London on 10.26.06
Maybe part of the reason that people don't recycle is because of the mess and clutter that gathers whilst waiting for the trip to the recycling centre or the day that it all goes outside. Here's a sleek, good looking way to store all those carefully collected aluminium cans, glass jars, papers and plastic bottles that are rolling around in the kitchen cupboard. The ecopod e1 is essentially a crusher: drop a can or plastic bottle into the hole on the top, step on the pedal and the container is compacted for easier storage. It will store fifty to sixty crushed containers. Ecopod’s mission is to “partner with great people and great companies to raise worldwide eco-awareness”. To that end, they worked with DesignworksUSA, the same people who created the BMWX5 , to ensure that, as well as being a good looking addition to the kitchen, it works. If that’s too big and bulky, here is a very simple and practical, child-proof can and bottle crusher. Squash it in the gadget and store the results in a box until ready. :: Ecopod via :: The Financial Times...
Gluh lampe: The Last Gasp for the Incandescent Bulb
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 10.26.06
This might just save the incandescent bulb from oblivion: The gluh lampe picks up the heat energy produced by the light bulb and warms the clay brick, which radiates for up to an hour after switching off the light. The brick tone makes the quality of the light even warmer, and "the brick can easily be disconnected from the bulb and can be used as a bed-warmer, just like in granny's times." You are not wasting all that energy, you are taking it to bed. 79 Euros (US$ 100) ::Formfjord via ::Design Spotter ...
What’s Happening In Your Neck of the Woods?
by Eric Kane, New York, NY on 10.26.06
Here at TreeHugger, we try to cover a range of environmental happenings on the local, state, national, and global levels. However, we can’t get to everything. Subsequently, I wanted to ask our readers to share some of the exciting developments in your area. It could be a new organic restaurant, an environmental book club, the opening of biodiesel gas station, or anything else that might inspire other readers. Leave a comment, and let the TreeHugger community know what’s going on....
All the Green News That's Fit to Print in the New York Times
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 10.26.06
We don't know what got into the New York Times yesterday, but it was like reading a print TreeHugger. There was an article about driving smart cars and Yaris's in New York; ::Big Guy Tries Tiny Chassis, Taking Jabs Lightly A fun article about what happens when you take Dan Becker, Director of the Sierra Club's global warming program, for a drive in a Hummer; ::A Field Trip Guzzling Gas, Among the Environmentalists another on ::Searching for the Sex Appeal in a Hybrid one on ::Still Miles to Go for the Plug-In Vehicle and thats just the stuff on cars. More in ::The New York Times...
Food Forest: A Garden WithTrees
by Tim McGee, Western Massachusetts on 10.26.06
Two dimensional gardens are so last season. It's time to use space wisely, and think 3D. Trees are often left out of the garden picture, if they are there are at all it is usually because they were there in the first place. But, as Toby Hemenway points out in a great article on the subject:
"Trees have an unmatched ability to produce soil-enriching leaf litter, fill the earth with humus-making roots, quell temperature swings, hold moisture, arrest erosion, and offer tiers of wildlife habitat. And you can't beat trees for productivity. An acre of apple trees can yield 7 tons of fruit, and an acre of chestnut trees may offer up 10 tons of protein-rich nuts--without annual replanting."
Whether you call it a food forest or an edible forest garden, the benefits of gardening with trees should be considered, and the Edible Forest Garden Website suggests the primary goals a forest garden can help you achieve are:
* High yields of diverse products such as food, fuel, fiber, fodder,
fertilizer, 'farmaceuticals' and fun;
* A largely self-maintaining garden and;
* A healthy ecosystem
As winter rolls in it’s time to start strategizing the new plantings for the spring. While I'm considering which trees to plant in my little plot of land, I look forward to Toby's article next month which promises a little DIY instruction for creating your own Food Forest.::The Columbian :: Edible Forest Gardens...
Bello Mundo Introduces the "Carbon Comparator"
by Jeff McIntire-Strasburg, St. Louis, MO on 10.26.06
We've discussed multiple services available that will allow you to offset the carbon emissions produced by flying -- just enter the number of miles you're traveling, and pay for the offsets. The "sus travel" experts at Bello Mundo magazine have now introduced their own carbon calculator for air travel, but with a slight twist. Rather than providing users with a price to pay for offsets, Bello Mundo's "comparator" shows how travelers can offset those carbon emissions by adjusting activities in their daily lives. According to magazine co-founder Joe Hayhow,...
A Green Wedding Waiheke Island Style
by Leonora Oppenheim, London, UK on 10.25.06
Earlier this week I started telling you about my friends Laura and Darren, who I’ve been staying with on Waiheke Island in New Zealand. They bought and are now developing about 20 acres of land on what’s known as a Lifestyle block. Having explained the reasons that motivated for Laura and Darren to live here I should say why I decided to come all the way out here to visit them. The big reason was their wedding, which took place two weeks ago. I must say it certainly isn’t easy on the bank account or on your carbon credit to have your best friend living on the other side of the world from you. New Zealand really is quite a long way to go to perform Bridesmaid’s duties and I can’t claim to have travelled overland like the intrepid Barbara Haddrill. I have however offset my flights with the Carbon Neutral Company and rather than flying straight to NZ and back in two weeks I decided to make the most of flying around the world by incorporating other work projects into a longer trip (more of which later). ...
The Suntracker One-Ups the Skylight
by Jacob Gordon, Nashville, TN on 10.25.06
There’s nothing like the real deal when it comes to light. Natural sunlight makes us feel better, work better, and yes, we buy more too. Skylights are nice and simple, and light pipes can do the trick (see here, here, and here). The Suntracker One is an intriguing upgrade on the conventional skylight. Consisting of a 4’X4’ acrylic dome, the Suntracker uses three heliostatic mirrors that track the sun and reflect its light down into the building. A prismatic diffusion lens then spreads out the light through interior spaces. The reflective surfaces within the dome are run by a small solar-powered motor. Every ten minutes, the mirrors move to keep up with the sun as it moves across the sky, maximizing natural light in Winter months when days are shorter and the sun’s path is closer to the horizon....
Early April Fools Post: Lee Raymond Appointed to Solve America's Energy Crisis
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 10.25.06
Or perhaps it is a Halloween prank with someone in a Jabba the Hutt costume; In any case, the Bush Administration's Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman has hand-picked former ExxonMobil CEO Lee Raymond to" lead an influential study to develop policy solutions to America’s energy crisis". We suppose that even with a 400 million dollar severance you can get bored in retirement, but surely putting the fox of big oil in charge of a henhouse like this is a dumb move. Don't remember Lee? read David Robert's great farewell in ::Grist and join the campaign to overturn this appointment at ::Exxpose Exxon via ::Groovy Green...
Most Huggable
by Jacob Gordon, Nashville, TN on 10.25.06
Environmental Defense makes it easy to find an energy-efficient alternative to any bulb in the house… Weird idea of the week: could Canada’s oil sands be a carbon neutral energy source? In Mississippi, chicken poo mixed with solar energy makes for some powerful stuff…. Mitsubishi changes direction for their new electric vehicles… David Suzuki, the legendary advocate for a sustainable world, steps out of the spotlight…...
Infinia Plans Small-Scale Solar Stirling Dishes
by Justin Thomas, Virginia on 10.25.06
Infinia, a company based in Kennewick, Washington, plans to release a Stirling solar dish about the size of a large satellite TV receiver. Instead of using photovoltaic cells, it will use the sun's heat to generate electricity. Standard solar photovoltaic panels are generally 12 percent to 15 percent efficient at converting light to electricity, though some can go up to 22 percent. Infinia's planned 3-kilowatt Stirling engine will operate at 24 percent efficiency. ...
LED Headlights Introduced
by Justin Thomas, Virginia on 10.25.06
LED-based headlights have appeared on the new car scene: the Audi R8 and Lexus LS will be the first vehicles to be using LED headlights. The benefits of LED headlights are lower power consumption, durability and significantly more flexible packaging. However, it does appear that heat build up within LEDs are a big issue, as are the fact that the LEDs need to deal with the heat from the engine compartment. See this post from Wheel Talk for a detailed examination of the new headlights....
Real Green Power: Photovoltaics + Ultra-Efficient Appliances + Passive Heating and Cooling Architectural Design + Solar Thermal + Optimally Designed Living Spaces
by Justin Thomas, Virginia on 10.25.06
Retrofitting existing homes with solar power is often expensive, especially if you are in a state where there are no incentives available. It does tend to pay for itself in 10-15 years. But the real strength of solar power is when it is combined with complementary technologies and green architectural design. Combining solar power generation with ultra-efficient appliances is probably the easiest connection to make. Efficient appliances not only reduce size of the solar installation needed, but also tend to keep the house cooler in the summer, reducing cooling requirements. Lighting needs can be reduced by making use of daylight.
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Google Co-Op Search for Hybrid Cars
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 10.25.06
Mike, the guy behind a blog called Hybrid Review, is working on creating one of Google's new co-op searches for hybrid cars. The idea behind the searches, explained in this article in the San Francisco Chronicle, is that users can create themed searches which "emphasize" certain sites before indexing the rest of the web; sites that are emphasized are hand-picked by the moderator to show up at the top of the list. So far, Mike has his own site, greenhybrid.com, hybridcarblog.com, greencarcongress.com, autobloggreen.com, www.autoblog.com, hybridblog.typepad.com and hybridcenter.org. We can think of a few that might be good additions to the list; can you? Click over to Mike's site and leave him your ideas, or drop 'em here and we'll be sure he gets them. ::Hybrid Review via ::AutoblogGreen...
New Look, More Friendly Furniture at 2modern
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 10.25.06
The folks over at 2modern have given the site a little facelift and added some good-looking new products while they were at it. We like Brave Space's "Hollow" line of furniture -- bench, side table and coffee table (pictured) -- for its clean design, contrasting tones and not one but two shades of bamboo. Included is the handy hollow cubby access from the sides and a slim opening through the center for the latest issue of Dwell or Metropolis or other favorite periodical. The surface is finished with BioShield Organic Herbal Oil, and custom sizes are available. Brave Space's designs have impressed us before so it's good to see them continuing to produce well-designed, high-quality, TreeHugger-friendly furniture. ::2modern via Design*Sponge...
Nissan Debuts 2007 Altima Hybrid
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 10.25.06
Reluctant hybrid-maker Nissan has debuted its first gasoline-electric hybrid, the Altima hybrid 2007. The powertrain is partly based on licensed Toyota technology (more on the electric than gasoline side, apparently): The Nissan-made QR25 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine is coupled with a 30 kW (40 hp) electric motor and an electronic Continuously Variable Transmission (eCVT). The Altima Hybrid’s hybrid system is rated at a net power of 198 horsepower (148 kW) with fuel economy estimated at 41 mpg city/36 mpg highway (39 mpg combined) and emissions rated Advanced Technology-Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle (AT-PZEV). "Combined with Altima’s standard 20-gallon fuel tank, the Altima Hybrid has a projected driving range of up to 700 miles between fill-ups." As we reported before, the Altima hybrid will be made in Nissan's Smyrna plant in Tennessee and the company wants to sell 50,000 units a year at first....
Search for Good: GoodTree and GoodSearch
by Celine Ruben-Salama, New York, NY on 10.25.06
James Currier had a vision to create an online service that would harness the Internet to benefit charity. GoodTree, which originally launched summer of 2005, went offline in November 2005, and re-launched in July 2006 was the result. The search engine which combines results from Google, Yahoo, MSN, and AskJeeves is free, has no banners or pop-ups, will never ask you for money, and will never send you spam yet raises “a lot of money for charity.” ...
TreeHugger Picks: Pellet Stoves
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 10.25.06
Pellet stoves are extremely efficient, produce little waste and use inexpensive fuel, so they've become increasingly popular in the face of rising natural gas and heating oil prices. As the temperatures dip and you put on a sweater, take a look at some pellet posts from our past.
1) Wood pellet stoves use compressed, recycled sawdust to heat your home.
2) Rika's pellet stoves are designed with function and aesthetics in mind.
3) Bixby Energy Systems devised a pellet made from various types of custom biomass (grape waste, olive pits, almond shells, cotton-gin trash, etc.) and a stove that can burn them all.
4) Corn-burning stoves are similar to the pellet stoves, but burn corn kernels instead.
5) Sound good? Learn where to get pellets during peak demand this winter.
See also: Thinking of Buying a Pellet Stove? We Can Help!
Update: Check out our guide to Buy Green: Pellet Stoves over on our sister site, Planet Green. You know they're a great green way to heat -- learn where to get one and take action today!...
Posch: Happy Purses and Tees
by Kyeann Sayer, Nomad on 10.25.06
Aren't too-worn bed sheets a conundrum? And old T-shirts? For various reasons, they usually prove un-donate-able. Thank goodness Montreal's Luce Beaulieu turns sheets into indispensable market bags and sweet purses. She also gives useless tees the new job of charming with their fresh stitching and clever silk screens. At the Ethical Fashion Show, I snagged a smart "I Heart Kyoto" shirt, one I wear both proudly and apologetically while traveling through Western Europe. Keep reading to see more! ::Posch, Ethical Fashion Show ...
Take the Slate Green Challenge with TreeHugger!
by Meaghan O'Neill, Newport, R.I. on 10.25.06
Feeling guilty about your personal contribution to the rising CO2 levels in the atmosphere? Perhaps you are wondering about the first step in reducing your emissions. That's easy: Drive less!
Gas-guzzling SUVs not only have a significant impact on the Earth, but also on your health. Did you know that the government (ahem, that's you, We the People) pays $0.02 in health care costs for every mile driven by a solo driver? That could add up to an extra latte a week, depending on your commute. Why not get to know your neighbors better and start a rideshare? Your planet, health, and caffeine addiction will thank you!
For more ways to curb your carbon appetite, join the Slate Green Challenge with TreeHugger. Beginning with a carbon emission footprint quiz, the challenge will continue with information on transportation (this week's topic), as well as fun facts on food, clothing, electricity, and holiday shopping. Join in anytime on the collective effort to reduce our overall footprint by 20 percent. Did we mention the prize? The first 500 people who complete the Challenge will receive a T-shirt from our generous friends and sponsor at I'm Organic. Happy dieting!
[Note: This post was written by Brittany Jacobs, TH intern extraordinaire on the Slate-TH project.]...
GE Delivers Coal-Fueled, Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) Prototype
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 10.25.06
Technology Review captures it nicely: "GE's advance allows for a solid-oxide fuel cell to use coal-based fuels at costs approaching that of conventional power plants". This is a 6 kW prototype fuel cell, delivered for their partner, the US Department of Energy, to test. Positives include a nice breakthrough in fuel efficiency (49%, vs 35% for a conventional coal-fired electricity generating plant); a dramatic lowering of manufacturing costs compared to previous SOFCs (down to about $800/kW); and, the ability to utilize a hydrogen by-gas stream from a "clean coal" syngas plant. Drawbacks: the feedstock processing step is capital intensive, and has a large environmental footprint (as does all coal); any sulfur in the coal-based fuel would eventually "poison" the SOFC's electrolyte, requiring near-perfect desulferization efficiencies at the syngas plant. Bright side analysis: assuming that the syngas plant effectively sequesters sulfur as a co-product or safe, solid waste stream, the GE SOFC design offers a strong incentive for operators to keep per kW sulfur emissions associated with the SOFC to zero. Dark-side analysis: if the Federal Government offers slack air and water discharge permit conditions to coal syngas plants, the precedent will likely never be overcome, and sulfer acid gas emissions per kW will be not much better than existing coal-fired generators. Note: chemical markets need only so much elemental sulfur or sulfuric acid and any excess if these will eventually have to be disposed of. Typically, sulfuric acid would be neutralized with limestone to create gypsum, or calcium sulfate. If a syngas plant's aqueous acid stream contained heavy metals from coal washing and off-gas scrubbing, the gypsum so-created may not be suitable for soil amendment purposes and, instead, may have to be managed as hazardous waste. Unless, of course, yet another permit exemption were offered. In other words, we can't call the prototype SOFC a "green" technology until we see what the syngas plant footprint is. Photo credit: GE, via Technology Review....
These Rock and Rollers Are Carbon Neutral
by Bonnie Alter, London on 10.25.06
“We are stardust, We are golden, We are billion year old carbon”. Finger on the buzzer if you can identify that oldie but goldie....It seems that Crosby Stills Nash & Young are still around, still doing concerts and still fighting the good fight. These ageing rockers have been politically committed since the 1960’s and they wear their politics on their sleeve and in their music. This summer they toured North America performing their new album and used 100% bio-diesel fuel for their entire convoy of buses and trucks. They racked up 220,000 miles over the year using their alternative fuel choice, which made them 78% cleaner than before. And they offset 100% of the tour’s greenhouse gas emissions and are now officially carbon neutral for 2006. They did it by teaming up with RoadShow (event planners) and TourNeutral. TourNeutral, in association with DriveNeutral, is the only legally binding way for touring acts to offset their emissions. This is done by purchasing and permanently retiring credits from the Chicago Climate Exchange (CCX)--a kind of stock exchange for pollution. Counter-culture to the end, CSN&Y are the first rock group to use this new way to achieve a zero footprint. As for the lyrics--that’s right: it’s Woodstock: “And we got to get ourselves back to the garden”. :: DriveNeutral...
Wind Powered Honda Dealership
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 10.25.06
We may not be happy that Honda has killed the Insight, and we think the Ridgeline pickup is big and ugly, but at least one Honda dealer is trying step forward for the environment. Maple Honda just opened-"the first and only automotive dealership to be powered by clean, efficient wind energy." Says President Joseph Zanchin: "The Production of wind energy creates no air pollution and, if the turbines are sited properly, has minimal environmental impact." The wind turbine will provide supplemental wind power to Maple Honda, and will produce approximately 110 MWH/Yr-which is the equivalent of powering 17 homes. It removes 82.5 tons of CO2 emissions/Yr. Now if it only didn't have so much glass. ::Maple Honda
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Eco-Tips: Jimmy Carter's Sweater
by Jeff McIntire-Strasburg, St. Louis, MO on 10.25.06
As temperatures turn downward here in North America, the Treehugger staff was reminded of an image from our younger days (well, for some of us, anyway): President Jimmy Carter in a cardigan sweater. On February 2, 1977, the newly-inaugurated president appeared on television clad in that sweater, and asked us all to take a simple step to save energy: turn down the thermostat, and put on a sweater. Almost thirty years later, we're still concerned about the costs and sources of energy, so we think former President Carter's advice makes a lot of sense. According to the Alliance to Save Energy, a one-degree reduction on the thermostat will save you about 3 percent on your heating bill. While we focus heavily here on cleaner, greener sources of energy, one of the easiest ways to live greener is available to all of us right now: use a little (or a lot) less energy. Combined with sufficient insulation, well-sealed windows and doors, and a programmable thermostat, a sweater can help us all save a little money and energy. Taking such actions together can save us a lot of both. And the sweater you choose doesn't have to be politically safe or television-friendly... ::PBS' American Experience: Jimmy Carter and AmericanPresident.org...
"Re-Goodie" Those Cheap Toys
by Alex Pasternack, New York, NY on 10.25.06
Every parent can relate: too many cheap toys lying around the house, collecting dust, clogging your floorspace and stubbing your toes. But just because they're junk doesn't mean you should junk 'em. Parent Hacks tosses out some useful recycling advice, from "re-goodie-ing" party favors to a teacher's classroom (or a doctor's office), to holding a garage sale where the kids take the profits, to giving them away to a local charity. (See donation tips at eHow, and search for local children's charities in the U.S. at Local Indpendent Charities of America.) One thing not to do: heat these toys in the dishwasher or otherwise. With cheap toys that are not made from safe and recycled/able material (like cradle-to-cradle plastics), heat can release carcinogenic chemicals and plasticizers known to cause developmental problems in animals. Another idea: help resist your child's urge to get these toys to begin with, and opt for more durable and fulfilling toys that foster your kid's imagination, and aren't saddled with so many hidden environmental and social costs.
Now, what about all that junk food that Halloween is about to unleash upon our kids? The comments are open...
: : Parent Hacks via : : Lifehacker....
Cut Solar Subsidies? Update with Vinod Khosla
by Tim McGee, Western Massachusetts on 10.24.06
In a previous post I asked if we need subsidies to advance our solar market, or if like New Zealand we might find subsidies become a hindrance more then a help. Along the way, I quoted Vinod Khosla's stance that solar power has the ability to compete against fossil fuels without subsidies. This idea, and the quote, raised a few eyebrows in the room, and so in search of the truth I turned to the man himself....
Village Voice: gominyc is New York's Best Eco Fashion Spot!
by Kyeann Sayer, Nomad on 10.24.06
We've been telling you that gominyc is something special. Now, the Village Voice has named the East Village boutique "Best Eco-Friendly Fashions" as part of its 2006 list of primo places/happenings/etc. Stop in for an easy hunt through the gatherings of Anne's discenring eye: Del Forte Denim, Loomstate, Stewart+Brown, Majestic, Ecoganik, Earth Dolphin, Passenger Pigeon, Preloved, and more! ::gominyc...
Home Depot Selling Solar to Mainstream America
by Justin Thomas, Virginia on 10.24.06
The Home Depot has teamed up with BP Solar to provide solar installation service to customers. It is offering its customers the ability to sign-up online for free, in-home consultations. California is also getting ready to make solar roofs mainstream. Renewable Energy Access reports: "When the clock strikes midnight on January 1, 2007, SB 1, California's new state law that provides $3.2 billion in funding to build a million solar roofs over the next ten years, will officially take effect. But in order for SB 1 to succeed -- and the solar industry as a whole to continue to expand -- it's time to start marketing solar power as an accessible, aesthetically pleasing, and cost-effective product to the average consumer, according to California Senator Kevin Murray."...
Most Huggable
by Jacob Gordon, Nashville, TN on 10.24.06
Rolling down the street driving an Endo. Toyota decides to take a compact concept to real life… Prefab that can take the shake: foam structures than can do the job without wood… The Chronicle of Higher Education examines the new sustainable university… A humidifier for those dry winters that doesn’t suck any power… The ocean energy technologies keep rolling in. A design from AWS captures pressure changes below the surface…...
Moral Fervor – Raising Awareness Through Clothing
by Kara DiCamillo, Newport, Rhode Island on 10.24.06
Moral Fervor is a young brand that develops t-shirts from hand-drawn designs. Each of their collections are made to raise awareness to environmental and social issues facing our world today. All of the materials that Moral Fervor uses are on the cutting edge of sustainability. When Ingeo, a fabric made from corn, was first introduced to the market Moral Fervor was among the first fashion companies to embrace it. Ingeo is the world's first man-made fiber collection from 100% annually renewable resources and More and more young designers are using it (we've mentioned that we've seen it before and it also appeared in our "Unexpected Green" competition). The company also uses biodegradable packaging and all-natural inks. Check out Moral Fervor’s current collection called Genetic Modification. ::Moral Fervor...
Everyday Green Exhibit in Time Square
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 10.24.06
MTV and WalMart have create "Everyday Green", an eco-friendly exhibit at MTV's New York store (corner of Broadway and 44th Street). The exhibit will run from October 23 through November 10 and is free. "We have always worked with our audience to bring attention and action to issues that are important to them and this year the MTV audience has emphatically stated that environmental issues are their top concern," said Christina Norman, President of MTV. "The 'Everyday Green' initiative with Wal- Mart is an amazing forum to help spread the word on how people can make smart, everyday choices that can make a measurable difference toward improving the world." Any of our NYC readers had a look? What was it like?...
Everyday Objects Reimagined (as other everyday objects)
by Jacob Gordon, Nashville, TN on 10.24.06
According to the superlative Boing Boing, Umdenken is the result of a Swiss design firm’s challenge to designers to “repurpose everyday objects in imaginative ways.” The resulting book is a series of laughably creative reappropriations of everyday objects. Some are outlandish, like flower pot ear amplifiers or the cactus pacifier. Others, like funnel coat hooks or binder-clip dishcloth fasteners, have some downright practical potential. :: Umdenken via Boing Boing...
The TH Interview: Barny Haughton of Bordeaux Quay
by Treehugger Interns on 10.24.06
"Barny Haughton is a great pioneer and one of the unsung heroes of the organic movement. He has been serving up food which is not only delicious, but local, organic and sustainable since 1988, long before these issues became fashionable."
- Patrick Holden, Soil Association 2006
Barny Haughton is chef and proprietor of Bordeaux Quay, an exciting and innovative restaurant, bar, bakery and cookery school which we reported on here and here and which he set up with business partner and property developer John Pontin OBE. Prior to setting up Bordeaux Quay, Barny founded Quartier Vert where he has been cooking, teaching, baking and eating for almost two decades. He has also been deeply involved in campaigning for a more sustainable approach to food and is an active member of the Slow Food movement. In this interview with Treehugger he discusses the vision behind his latest project, the future of organic and local foods, and sheds a little more light on the ecological building which is home to Bordeaux Quay.
Treehugger: Bordeaux Quay incorporates not just a restaurant, but also a bar, deli, bakery and cookery school. What is the vision behind such an ambitious project?
Barny Haughton: Bordeaux Quay was born from a desire to create a beautiful space to eat; a place where diners and staff alike feel they are making environmentally responsible choices whilst enjoying good food. This model is based on Quartier Vert, my first restaurant in Bristol. Quartier Vert originally housed the bakery and cookery school which have now moved to the bigger space of Bordeaux Quay....
Vectrix Electric Scooter Launching in November
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 10.24.06
After 10 years of designing, developing and testing its electric scooter, Vectrix is finally ready to unleash it on the world. The company has announced they'll launch the Electric Maxi-Scooter at the 64th International Motorcycle Exhibition in Milan in November. As we mentioned awhile back, the scooter accelerates from 0-60 mph in 5.8 seconds, tops out at 62 mph (100 km/h) and has a range of about 68 miles (110 km) at 25 mph (40 kph). The Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH) battery pack recharges in about two hours and is designed for 1,700 cycles. 50 units have already been built in the New Bedford, MA facility that has a production capacity of 12,000 units per year; Vectrix plans to shift full-scale production to Wroclaw, Poland by the end of the year, where capacity is 38,000 units per year. We continue to wait for Vectrix to unveil the fuel cell version of the same scooter, whose range will be closer to 155 miles (250 km). ::Vectrix USA via ::Green Car Congress...
TreeHugger Radio 4
by Team Treehugger, Worldwide on 10.24.06
This week, Nicole Chetero of TransFair speaks about the human and ecological perks of fair trade commerce. Rainer Wolter, winner of TreeHugger’s Umbrella Inside Out design competition, shares his views from Paris about the city’s Ethical Fashion Show. And from Rotterdam, Holland comes the world’s first green dance club. Enviu director and creator of the club paints some of the details. Finally, the director of the Blacksmith Institute discusses the findings of the group's search for the world's ten most polluted places.(listen)...
Give the Gift of Solar-Powered Music
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 10.24.06
We just learned yesterday that downloading is the way to go for acquiring TreeHugger-friendly music; now the good folks at Earthtech Products want to give you free music downloads through iTunes and help you charge your music player, cell phone, PDA or other portable electronic device with the help of the sun at the same time. With the holidays sneaking up on us, they're encouraging you to give the gift of free music with the Soldius1, one of the more impressive-looking solar chargers we've seen. It'll charge your device with just two or three hours in the sun, and is compatible with a wide array of devices, including iPods and cell phones of many kinds. 10 free downloads are yours with a purchase now through Earthtech. ::Soldius1 at Earthtech via cosmo1 at ::Hugg...
Bioneers: Rendevous On The Wild Green Frontier
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 10.24.06
When the New York Times devotes top reporting talent to the leading edge green thinkers and practioners you know a tipping point approaches. From the Times story on the just-held Annual Bioneers Conference At This Gathering, the Only Alternative Is to Be Alternative, we offer a single excerpt: "Students, organic farmers, architects, advocates for Pacific dolphins and a growing number of entrepreneurs looking to invest in green technology come to hear the latest thinking on global warming (code word: Katrina) and how to keep the food supply safe (buzzword: spinach). Alternative energy, Bioremediation and environmental justice, once-fringy issues, have over the course of the conference’s 17-year history become part of the national dialogue". Wishing we had been there, which could have been done by satellite, per the photo. And we wonder, too, whether Bioneers read TreeHugger? ...
Wearable Collections NYC Clothing Recycling Project
by Celine Ruben-Salama, New York, NY on 10.24.06
Hauling clothing to a collection site is can be a drag when you’re on a time budget, but that’s no excuse to dump unwanted duds in the garbage! New Yorkers, if you missed Swap-O-Rama-Rama this year, yet still have good quality clothing that you need to get rid of the social enterprise, Wearable Collections will come and pick it up for you this Saturday, October 28th. ...
Tramando's Fabric Scraps Designs
by Paula Alvarado, Buenos Aires on 10.24.06
Martin Churba is a well known and very popular Argentinean designer, so we were very pleased to find that in his latest project, Tramando (a hard to translate word that means both knitting and “planning-something”) he has a whole line of home products made from knitted fabrics scraps. “Tramando recreates the world of objects, intertwining and weaving recycled remnants of the textile industry -Churba says in his website-. The warmth of woven fabrics turns your home into an embracing emotional landscape. Tramando beckons touching, and establishes close-knit bonds with users”. The “Objects” line includes the blanket, cushions, puff and flower pot in the picture above this article; and also book covers, carpets, lamps and some pieces of clothing accessories like bags and slippers. The products are a little expensive, but worth at least a peak for a nice present. Tramando sells in Buenos Aires (Rodríguez Peña 1973, Recoleta), New York (32-36 Little West 12th street), and Tokyo (1F 2-22-6 Higashi Ueno, Taito-Ku). More at their website. ::Tramando ...
Brits are Best at Wasting Energy
by Bonnie Alter, London on 10.24.06
It's true--the country that is best at organic food and fairtrade fashion is the worst in Europe when it comes to saving energy. According to a new study by the Energy Saving Trust; the British are twice as wasteful as the most efficient savers in Europe--the Germans. Eighty five % of Scots surveyed admit to overfilling the kettle when making a cuppa. Are the British guilty about this bad score? Yes! 82% feel guilty, with the Northern Irish feeling worst about it, and those in Yorkshire not caring at all. And are their parents to blame for this bad behaviour? No! Only 6% blamed it on their mother. ...
The Flusher King: Testing Toilets
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 10.24.06
When low-water flush toilets became the law, they were not very popular; people were even smuggling high-volume toilets across the border from Canada, because the things just didn't work, often requiring two or three flushes to get everything down. Engineer Bill Gauley of Veritec Consulting developed a test that has become the standard- The Maximum Performance (MaP) test. Starting with mashed potatoes and bananas to simulate you-know-what, Gauley's team searched for a "test specimen", and finally settled on soybean paste (miso) imported from Japan. This is expensive, since they keep flushing until the toilet doesn't work any more, so they started encasing the miso in a "thin latex membrane"- a condom. The testing is now almost universal, lessons have been learned, and six-litre toilets work better than the 13 litre ones they replace. The winner: the TOTO Drake, capable of handling 900 grams. (average male's maximum dump: 250 Grams). Now you have no excuse not to upgrade! ::The Star read ::test results here (big PDF) ...
On The Ballot: Emminent Domain and "Takings" Initiatives
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 10.24.06
Several US states have ballot initiatives scheduled for this coming election that mix eminent domain with much broader zoning, planning, and natural resource protection issues. We'll we'll let others do the talking.. From the California Sierra Club: - "Proposition 90: The Most Evil Ballot Measure for the Environment California Has Seen." From the California Daily Progress Report: - "Why Californians Who Know About Prop 90 are United in Opposing It" As indicated by the Americans for Limited Government website, similar measures are, or may be, on ballots this November for Arizona (Proposition 207), Idaho (Proposition 2), Michigan (Initiative 154), Montana, Nevada (Proposed Constitutional Amendment), North Dakota (Proposed Amendment to Section 16 of Article I of the North Dakota Constitution), and Washington (Initiative 933) States. In the interest of balance, we suggest a look at the ALG site as well as the two linked pieces by those opposed to the California initiative. Photo credit: The Box Office....
Bullfrog Power: First Anniversary of a Great Idea
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 10.24.06
I don't know if your electric utility throws great parties to thank you for your custom, but Bullfrog power does- they invited all of their corporate and residential customers to the Gladstone Hotel for its first year anniversary celebration. It is growing by leaps and bounds- next year they will need the Convention Centre. Speeches were short (President Tom Heintzman pictured above) and the crowd was happy to celebrate the success of a business model based on people paying a premium to buy clean power- the prevailing wisdom was that nobody would. The fact is, people will pay more for clean power, better food and efficient transportation- they cease to be commodities and become choices we make that make us feel better and perhaps make a better world. Every good and service that we purchase needs a Bullfrog- through great marketing they turn buying the most mundane product imaginable into social action. Congratulations to ::Bullfrog Power
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Queensland Says Nuts to Renewable Energy
by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 10.24.06
Yesterday we reported on an alternative energy plant that will run on bananas. It reminded me of a story I’d seen years ago, regarding a co-generation power plant that was fed with the shells of macadamia nuts. Hunting through my files eventually unearthed the piece, from a print magazine now known as Waste Streams. According to Queensland’s Ergon Energy the facility was set up to convert nearly 1,700 kg of waste shells into 1.5MW of electricity every hour. 20% of this was to be channelled to the factory of the world’s third largest macadamia producer, with the remainder going into the national grid. It was anticipated that the plant would eventually 150 farms supplying 10,000 tonnes of macadamias annually. An Ergon Energy spokeperson suggested that the greenhouse gas reduction would be equivalent to taking 2,000 cars off the road each year. She further added “This project is very exciting because it could be replicated across a range of other industries, including sugar, peanut, timber, wheat and grain processing, where waste streams could generate heat, electricity and revenue." ::Ergon Energy. ...
Todae. A New Eco Retail Store for Sydney
by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 10.24.06
We have our fingers crossed that Todae, a new eco products store that has just opened in the inner city suburb of Glebe, will be here tomorrow. Years ago there was the Re-Store that opened - albeit, only very momentarily - in a thriving, trendy shopping precinct. And numerous others have fallen by the wayside as well. Maybe these previous brave eco-retailers were just ahead of their time. Here’s hoping a corner has been turned. Todae have been trading online for about three years, mostly under the guise of 'Healthy Habitat', specialising in synthetic chemical free clothing and homewares. With the advent of the new retail store the product range has broadened to include energy and water effective goods, hardware and a raft of other green goodies. They also offer the service of Commercial Environmental Assesments, whereby they audit businesses wanting to “save money on energy and water usage, reduce their environmental impact, and create a strong environmental brand ethos amongst customers and staff.” Although now having a shopfront, the Todae online store is still running and can be found at — ::Todae....
Soft Wooden Chair by Front Design
by Petz Scholtus, Barcelona, Spain on 10.24.06
A beautifully made wooden bench that leaves your bum imprinted in the seat when you sit on it… The piece is called Soft Wooden Bench and is part of the collection Animals (where the designers asked animals to help them) by Front Design. These four Stockholm based designers have many more surprising pieces in stock like the fly lamp; the materialisation of a fly’s circling of a light bulb, or the Insect Table, whose pattern was created by insects. Fantastic concepts and gorgeous objects girls but keep it green please! ::Front Design via ::diseñart magazine...
Soft Wooden Chair by Front Design
by Petz Scholtus, Barcelona, Spain on 10.24.06
A beautifully made wooden bench that leaves your bum imprinted in the seat when you sit on it… The piece is called Soft Wooden Bench and is part of the collection Animals (where the designers asked animals to help them) by Front Design. These four Stockholm based designers have many more surprising pieces in stock like the fly lamp; the materialisation of a fly’s circling of a light bulb, or the Insect Table, whose pattern was created by insects. Fantastic concepts and gorgeous objects girls but keep it green please! ::Front Design via ::diseñart magazine...
The Good Life In New Zealand
by Leonora Oppenheim, London, UK on 10.23.06
After three weeks of staying with my good friends Laura and Darren at their home on Waiheke Island I thought it was about time that I told you a bit about their life here. 18 months ago they bought what’s known as a lifestyler’s block on the island 30 mins ferry ride from Auckland. Lifestylers, as the name would suggest, are those people who choose to put the way they live their lives ahead of any other priorities that may motivate them. They generally have a strong will to escape city life, to cultivate and to live off the fruits of the land with as little impact on the environment as possible. For me being a city kid, used to the hustle and bustle of Barcelona life, Laura and Darren’s place on the highest and least populated part of Waiheke can seem like the end of the world, albeit the end of the world with spectacular views and air so fresh it burns the lungs – just how the end of the world should be I hear you say! In a series of upcoming posts I want to tell you a bit about how they are trying to live the ‘Good Life’. An eco-wedding, solar panels, organic veggie patch, woofers and a cultural community festival are all part of the package....
Most Huggable
by Jacob Gordon, Nashville, TN on 10.23.06
No Sheep for You! A new book teaches knitting with silk, linen, hemp, bamboo, and other fleeceless delights... Sheep poo for you! The famous sheep poo holiday cards are coming to the US! What better Valentine’s wish... Talk about rims. The Tweel, Michelin’s airless tire design, could outlast the pneumatics we know and hate… There’s nothing like the sun, even indoors. Suntracker brings sunlight inside… The Army Corps on Engineers looks at the story of Katrina and the levees and makes a case for preserving wetlands…...
Real Toyota Hybrid Drivers Needed for National Campaign
by Jacob Gordon, Nashville, TN on 10.23.06
If you own a Toyota hybrid and LOVE it, you could wind up as part of a new Toyota national campaign. Our sources tell us there may very well be good money involved, too. The ad agencies Saatchi LA & TVS Productions are looking for Camry, Highlander, and Prius drivers to participate in a series of commercials featuring passionate Hybrid Synergy Drive(r)s and their vehicles....
MentalFloss: A Short History of Air Pollution
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 10.23.06
Our friends at MentalFloss have a post inspired by a story we did on how bees were used to test air pollution in airports. They look at air pollution from 900 B.C. in Iraq to the effects of coal a few centuries ago (you could lose your head!). Interesting stuff....
Ecolnoa: Call-Out for Israel's Second Environmental Film Fete
by Karin Kloosterman, Tel Aviv on 10.23.06
Israel is getting an annual environmental film festival of its own. Now officially in its second year, Ecolnoa (a play on words of eco and theatre in Hebrew) is planned for 21-23 May 2007. Called the Tel-Aviv International Environmental film festival, organizers are inviting filmmakers and celebrity environment promoters from abroad to join in the festivities and screenings.
“The Israeli film industry is at a peak moment,” says Ecolnoa’s website. “We have the ability to make inspiring and creative environmental films. But due to low environmental awareness and the constant issues on the agenda such as the conflict, environmental film is only beginning to evolve. Some great environmental films have been made but usually they find it hard to reach large audiences. Ecolnoa is a new platform which can help these films reach larger parts of the society and give Israeli film makers more opportunities and financial resources to create films dealing with environmental issues. ::See related ::Ecolnoa brochure (PDF)...
WorldChanging, The Book: You Have the Power To Change the World
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 10.23.06
The pregnancy is almost over and our friends at WorldChanging are about to bring into the world their first book: WorldChanging: A User's Guide for the 21st Century. Alex Steffen described the book to me as: "the best ideas we could find for protecting the planet and creating a new kind of civilization". Hey, you had me at "Hello"!
We haven't got our hands on a copy yet (soon, my precioussss), but you can be sure that when we do, we'll bring you a full review. Here's what some of the people who did read it had to say:...
The Slate Green Challenge with TreeHugger: A guide for reducing your personal impact
by Meaghan O'Neill, Newport, R.I. on 10.23.06
You probably already know that the average temperature of the Earth's surface has risen about 1 degree Fahrenheit over the past hundred years, and that it’s mostly due human activity. In a nutshell, that’s global warming. So what can you do about? We’re glad you asked, because today marks the official launch of the Slate Green Challenge with TreeHugger, and you are cordially invited to participate.
On average, every American is responsible for about 22 tons of carbon-dioxide emissions per year. That’s equivalent to the emissions of about 4 cars. How can you change that? By joining our eight-week carbon diet. It begins with a quiz that will assess your overall carbon emissions footprint. Then, each week--starting today with transportation--we’ll give you info and tips on how you can reduce your personal impact. Come back every week between now and Dec. 11 for the other units we've developed topics such as food, clothing, electricity, and holiday shopping. (And don’t worry if you miss the launch date—you can begin anytime during the eight-week period.) Collectively, we’re hoping for an overall reduction of 20 percent. Think you can do it? For your efforts, we’ve got a prize: The first 500 people who complete the Challenge will receive a T-shirt from our generous friends and sponsor at I’m Organic. Now go on, get over there. Don’t you think you could stand to lose 5,000 pounds?
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SELF – Powering a Brighter 21st Century
by Celine Ruben-Salama, New York, NY on 10.23.06
It’s hard to imagine a day without the internet, let alone without electricity. While we happily check up on favorite blogs, email our friends and work through our virtual companies about two billion people don’t even have access to electricity. In many developing countries solar energy is an abundant natural resource. Harnessing this resource can vastly improve the quality of rural life. Since its inception in 1990, the non-profit Solar Electric Light Fund (SELF), has launched solar household lighting projects in eleven countries, demonstrating that decentralized photovoltaic systems can be used to affordably electrify remote villages and even help bridge the digital divide. ...
Seagrass Meditation Chairs by Harmony In Design
by Kara DiCamillo, Newport, Rhode Island on 10.23.06
We received this tip from a friend the other day who highly recommended these meditation chairs from Harmony In Design. The company, founded in 1985, focuses on products for yoga, meditation and ergonomic living and introduced its furniture line in 2004. We really like the Seagrass Meditation Chairs and Loveseat, which is designed to be stylish and is a great eco-friendly addition to your favorite room. They begin with a mango wood frame (after 20 years the tree stops bearing fruit and can then be harvested for timber) and then renewable seagrass is woven over it. In addition to a sturdy back support, the chairs sit low to the ground, which allows the feet to rest naturally on the floor, or they can be crossed comfortably on the seat in the traditional meditation style. Thanks for the tip, Heidi B.! ::Harmony In Style...
TreeHugger Picks: Airplane Flight Isn't All Bad...
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 10.23.06
Airplane flight has become a very contentious issue as global warming has made more and more headlines; flying creates tremendous amounts of carbon emissions, but it isn't always easy to get from Point A to B without it. Here are our picks for some positive developments in airline flight.
1) TerraPass and Expedia are offering carbon offsets for your flight.
2) Boeing's fuel cell-powered, zero-emission plane is set to take flight within a year.
3) The world's first AA battery-powered plane recently took off for the first time.
4) Sir Richard Branson is working on an alternative super-fuel that he hopes will be viable for planes within five years.
5) Terminal A at Boston's Logan Airport is the first airport to be LEED certified....
Brent Comber's Alder Collection
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 10.23.06
It's been some time since we've taken a peek at what Vancouver, BC-based furniture designer/artist Brent Comber is up to; we're happy to report that he's got some really good-looking, TreeHugger-friendly furniture for us to drool over. Inspired by the spaces between trees in a forest and the play of light against dark, the Alder collection offers a playful, dynamic take on a simple rectangular bench. Also available in cubes, the round ends in the design are reminiscent of the natural world (the artist is reminded of bubbles surfacing on still water) while maintaining a modern urban aesthetic. The alder wood used in the collection, like almost all of the wood Comber uses, was sourced sustainably; the design of this piece also uses a wide variety of wood sizes, insuring little or no wood is wasted. Somewhat reminiscent of some of the designs by Urban Hardwoods and John Wiggers, we like the rustic-wood-meets-chic-design look and feel of Comber's work; lots more good stuff at his website. ::Brent Comber...
One Man's Case for Residential Solar
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 10.23.06
After crunching some numbers, running some tests and making some (fairly safe) assumptions, user SanDiegoDave100 over at Motley Fool is able to make a pretty good case for using a solar power system to provide electricity for his home and an all-electric car like the forthcoming Tesla Roadster or the company's more affordable second and third models. How does he figure? Dave figured his total energy bill for the month (600 kilowatt-hours [kWh] of electricity for his house + 60 gallons of gasoline for his car) to be $280 or so; Tesla estimates it'd take 375 kWh to make their car go 1,500 miles (Dave's monthly driving estimate), so he needs about 975 kWh per month. Based on his zipcode (in San Diego, CA), an 8 kilowatt system would provide about 950 kWh per month over the span of each year; after rebates, such a system would cost $37,800. He figures a home equity loan for $37,000 at 6.5% would cost $239/month, about $40 less than his current energy usage, without any carbon emissions or oil consumption. Sure, it isn't perfect and certainly wouldn't work for everyone, but it's encouraging to see that solar is becoming more and more viable for small-scale, residential projects. ::Motley Fool via ::AutoblogGreen...
Los Angeles Goes Native – On Tree Planting
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 10.23.06
Like the actors smoking in a vintage Hollywood production, Los Angeles’ Canary Island Palm trees remain iconic while they fade from view, in part from age, and in part from man-induced vulnerability. Just as the once-iconic image of characters smoking put actor health at risk, a fungal disease is now felling many of Hollywood’s Canary Island date palms (Phoenix canariensis) in an outbreak that is the typical result of monoculture. Plant large numbers of trees of a single variety, a plant disease inevitably adapts to the new niche: an ecological imperative perfectly illustrated by the American Elm. Because this disease is not treatable, the City of Los Angeles’ response , quite logically, is to replant “oaks, sycamores and other native species [from a list of nearly 60 varieties] that are more suited to the environment.” Just what you’d expect of Hollywood ‘tree huggers’. We’re wondering though, what happens to all the dead Palms? Palms are not really trees, but perhaps there’s enough cellulose in the stems that the debris could be put to use making electricity. Photo credit: Damian Dovarganes / AP via MSNBC....
Heating Your Water to Cool the Planet
by Union of Concerned Scientists on 10.23.06
Heating up water for showers, dishwashing, and other activities accounts for approximately 15 percent of average household’s energy consumption. If the water heater in your house is more than 10 years old, it’s probably running at less than 50 percent efficiency. Upgrading to a new, more efficient model is one of the many ways you can save money while also reducing the amount of heat-trapping emissions that cause global warming. ...
The Guardian on Greenest Music: CD or Download?
by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 10.23.06
Lloyd once got all enthused about how the iPod Nano might be a contender for green product of the year. Personally I was a tad more skeptical, seeing as it required a computer to transfer the music to the player and we all know that computers are crammed with plenty of nasties. Was sure that some industrious soul must’ve done a life cycle assessment (LCA) on just how verdant iPod use might be. Almost a year later I’ve stumbled upon just such research, quoted by the British Guardian’s enviro blog. They found a 2003 study, by Digital Europe, which looked at the ecological rucksack for getting your ears onto an average album. Purchasing a CD at a shop came in at 1.6 kg, while ordering the same physical disk over the internet reduced this to 1.3 kg. Downloading the music dropped this even further, almost in half to 0.7 kg. Mind you, buying your new beats via the likes of iTunes is one thing, but if you then burn your own CD from that download, your ecological rucksack shoots way up to 5.5 kg. And buying a fresh iPod every time a shiny new model arrives on the scene doesn’t garner any brownie points either. Makes for an intriguing little read. ::The Guardian....
BP to Expand Solar Production in China
by Eric Kane, New York, NY on 10.23.06
In response to growing demand for renewable energy in China, BP has announced plans to quadruple the current production capacity of its Xi’an based BP Sunoasis. The company, which has a current capacity of 25 MW, is a joint venture between BP and China’s leading solar system integrator, Sunoasis. BP will reportedly invest millions to expand capacity to 100 MW by the year 2010. As a minority (49%) owner, BP is making an effort to capitalize on the Chinese government's efforts to boost renewable energy use. China plans to increase domestic solar energy generation to 400 MW by 2010 and to 10,000 MW by 2020 from a base of 20 MW in 2005....
Lunching at Live Organic Food Bar
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 10.23.06
High tech tomatoes, mysterious milk, supersquash. Are we supposed to eat this stuff or is it going to eat us? - painted on bathroom wall at Live.
Pizza with a pressed buckwheat crust and red pepper hemp "cheese". "Sushi" made from soy. Pumpkin Gnocci. "Raw"violi. We had lunch at Toronto's Live Organic Food Bar, where most of the menu items are raw and all are vegan. The menu runs for pages; There are dozens of drinks and smoothies; the wine is organic. To top it off, the design of the place is clever, cheerful and bright. We had a tasting assortment of completely raw foods, including the pizza and sushi; it was wonderful. It is rated as one of the best restaurants of any kind in town, and we can see why- you don't have to be vegan to have a good time and a great meal here. read ::Now Magazine's review
"shipping is a terrible thing to do to vegetables, they probably get jet-lagged, just like people"- on the other bathroom wall at Live.
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Seventh Annual "Change a Light, Change the World" Kicks Off
by Jeff McIntire-Strasburg, St. Louis, MO on 10.23.06
From South Africa to Long Island to Ontario, individuals, organizations, and governments are getting behind the bulb -- the compact fluorescent light bulb (CFL). On October 4, the US Department of Energy's ENERGY STAR program kicked off the seventh year of its "Change a Light, Change the World" campaign, which asks families, businesses and anyone else who uses light to pledge to change at least one conventional incandescent bulb to an ENERGY STAR-rated CFL. The campaign hopes to convince 500,000 individuals to take the pledge....
Wal-Mart Goes to Hollywood
by Jeff McIntire-Strasburg, St. Louis, MO on 10.23.06
Wal-Mart and Hollywood. Dogs and cats. Oil and water. Enough said, right? Apparently not. Variety.com posted news yesterday that Harvey and Bob Weinstein, the founders of Miramax films (which produced, among others, Fahrenheit 911) are throwing a party for the megaretailer's CEO Lee Scott. While Variety suggests that Scott's a good person for the Weinsteins to have on their side because they sell DVDs, the official reason for the "star-studded gala to honor... Scott" is his "commitment to environmental sustainability.":...
C))motion: Useful and Fun Ideas That Run On Sunlight
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 10.23.06
There are all kinds of mechanically operated blinds and vents that need power to operate are are complex to build. Inventor Greg Blonder has a better idea: take the principle of the bimetal strip (found in thermostats) where bonding two materials of two different coefficients of expansion bend or change according to temperature; make it out of plastic: "a plastic analog of the bimetallic strip is possible- which I've named "c))motion". Plastics have ten times the expansion coefficient of metal, and thus exhibit ten times the range of motion for the same range of temperatures. Plastics can be colored, stamped, rolled out into sheets the size of football fields, never rust and are very inexpensive." Patent it and think of all kinds of useful and fun things to do with it. Think of a window with a blind that rolls down when the sun comes out ; a roof venting system that opens automatically when it gets warm; Schmoo and Scoop, two toys that don't do anything but move strangely in the sunlight. Watch the movies of them all at ::c))motion Designs...
Vacavaliente's Bonded Leather Gadgets
by Paula Alvarado, Buenos Aires on 10.23.06
The minute we saw these we thought in those times when you have to make a present and you have no idea what to get. Well, here’s a really cool and green choice: Argentinean firm Vacavaliente (which means “brave cow”) produces these cute animals and really cool workspace/home accessories entirely with bonded leather -a material composed of 90% to 100% leather fibers, often scrap from leather tanneries or leather workshops-. There are eleven different animals, including the kangaroo, monkey and caterpillar above; and a pig, chickens and a tortoise, among others. Each one has a different function and possibilities. This design studio is based in Buenos Aires, but they have a sales office in the United States (based in Weston, Florida). Orders are made through their website (wholesale prices go from 7 to 19 dollars). ::Vacavaliente...
English Apple Days
by Bonnie Alter, London on 10.23.06
October heralds a string of Apple Days which celebrate the heritage of English apples. There are over 2,000 kinds of apples growing in small orchards across the country and in 1990 this special day was created to draw attention to the increasing devastation of the orchards and loss of local varieties of apples. The message was to look after orchards, encourage the growth of indigenous apples and ask for them by name instead of settling for the tasteless offerings of supermarkets. The sentiments took root in the English soul and now Apple Days are widespread. Typically they include tasting a multitude of different kinds, identifying mystery apples from local trees, drinking apple cider, playing silly games like apple-bobbing and longest apple peel competitions and generally enjoying the brisk air. ...
Sweet. Bananas To Fuel Methane Plant
by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 10.23.06
Over a year ago we mentioned that in the Australian farmers were thinking about using banana waste as a fuel source. The brainstorming is over. With a grant of almost $200,000 AUD just awarded by the Sustainable Industries Division of the Queensland Environmental Protection Agency, it's 'all systems go' to build a pilot plant in the town of Tully. This test unit will service a 400 acre banana plantation. It's estimated that between 10% to 30% of crop becomes waste. The project will see if it is commercially viability to convert this residue in a natural gas to power farm tractors, machinery and vehicles. It seems that the bendy yellow things produce a cleaner and less stinky gas, than other methane sources, such as human sewage, piggery or feedlot waste. It is expected the plant will be in operation within 5 months, and then run for a trial year, to see if the concept can be rolled out to other farms. Via Blues Country and ABC Online....
TreeHuggerTV: How To Throw An Eco-Party - Part 3
by Leonora Oppenheim, London, UK on 10.22.06
More on Binvention
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 10.22.06
The Binvention, discovered by Petz at the London Design Festival, gets major coverage in the New York Times, which says it "turns four used plastic bags into a filing cabinet for rubbish and recyclables". It is a simple but effective design, yet costs £59 (US$110). The story is another demonstration of how hard it is to bring new products to market at reasonable prices, even after a series of redesigns and compromises.::New York Times...
Lincoln, Churchill, JFK and Reagan on Canada's Clean Air Act
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 10.22.06
Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper with Environment Minister Rona Ambrose
Canada's new Clean Air Act is an embarrassment of Orwellian Newspeak, committing to a series of targeted pollution and greenhouse gases that start in 2010 and don't really kick in until, get this, 2050. Kyoto is but a distant memory. After all, one of our biggest source of greenhouse gases is the Alberta oil sands- it takes a lot of natural gas to squeeze a barrel of oil out of this muck, but at sixty bucks, with America buying, who is going to complain? David Suzuki's foundation is appalled, and says: "What targets it does set will "allow greenhouse gas emissions to increase for years to come," said foundation policy analyst Dale Marshall. Added [director Morag] Carter: "What this means is that we have the illusion of something concrete, when in actual fact they could just move ahead right now and do all that they have talked about doing."What this adds up to is delay, when there could be action." A blogger we follow says:" the fact that nothing has to be done for ages is the most impressive; the law sets targets for 2050, but very little before then. More laws should be put into place in that manner. Think of the great moments of political history, if only preceding leaders had thought of this great idea!...
UK Establishes Multi-agency Wildlife Crime Unit
by Christine Lepisto, Berlin on 10.22.06
Putting aside the obvious question: "How much fun is a rare egg collection anyhow?" the RSPB (Royal Society for the Protection of Birds) reports that in 2004 there were 62 incidents of illegal egg stealing in the UK, including confirmed cases of egg removal from the nests of protected species. And this is just one of the variety of acts which threaten species diversity (see the first comment at New Bird Species if you have doubts). For this reason, the National Wildlife Crime Unit has been inaugurated in Edinburgh and will ensure that police have the support of customs officers and wildlife experts in tracking down illegal traders in endangered species. The UK biodiversity minister, Barry Gardiner, is quoted in BBC news saying wildlife crime is "organised criminal gangs, it's wholesale criminal organisations in the same way that we talk about people trafficking, the same way that we talk about drug trafficking." ...
TreeHugger breaks it down for you in a series of in depth how-to articles that will help you green your life. No time like the present!
Here are a few recommended websites.
- BTC Elements Blog
- Celsias
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