Weekly Archive for November 5, 2006 : TreeHugger

When actress, author, and activist Annabelle Gurwitch (Dinner and a Movie) isn't shrinking the ecological footprints of American families as the host of Wa$ted!, she's offering her unique brand of humor and perspective on politics, pop culture and the environment in her column for The Nation Magazine, on NPR, and on CNN Headline News. Annabelle speaks on sustainability and environmental activism at colleges and venues around the country and is the national spokesperson for the N.G.O. Forest Ethics' campaign to stop junk mail by calling for a national Do Not Mail Registry. (www.donotmail.org). She speaks on sustainability and environmental activism at colleges and venues around the country. Annabelle's recent book and documentary film have brought humor and attention to employment in the U.S. Fired! Tales of the Canned, Canceled, Downsized and Dismissed (now in paperback), was deemed a "merry compendium of failure" by The Washington Post, and was #1 on The New York Post Hot List. The Fired! documentary, called "hilarious" by The Nation Magazine, and "entertaining and slyly subversive" by Oprah Magazine, is now available on DVD. Besides her six-year stint on the cult favorite Dinner and a Movie for TBS, she's hosted shows on ABC, HBO, Sci- Fi, The Style Channel, The Game Show Network, and hearted everything under the sun on VH1's "I Love the..." series. Recent TV appearances include: Medium, State of Mind, The Minor Accomplishments of Jackie Woodman, Boston Legal, and her films include: Shaggy Dog and Melvin Goes to Dinner. Annabelle attended NYU and lives in Los Angeles with her husband, Emmy-Award winning writer Jeff Kahn, and their ten year old son in a house lit (dimly) by CFLs. Her essays appear in two new anthologies, Note to Self (Simon Spotlight 1/2009) and Rejected (Villard,11/2008). Annabelle and her husband are currently at work on a comic memoir entitled, "You Say Tomato, I Say Shut Up" (Crown, Spring 2010).On Wa$ted!, Annabelle is comically confrontational with "eco-terrorist" families, utilizing her sassy sense of style, and unabashed humor to teach viewers how to play their part in saving the planet one (ecologically smaller) footstep at a time. ...

What’s the Big Deal?

Consider that roughly two-thirds of a home’s annual energy use goes toward space and water heating, that in most American homes, winter heating is responsible for sending nearly four tons of greenhouse gases into the air each month, and that as much as half of all the energy used in the home is wasted. Efficient heating is starting to sound pretty good about now, no? Heck, we haven’t even mentioned the political implications of heating oil. Below, TreeHugger has compiled some tips to cheaper, greener heating, all of which are driven by the two fundamentals of a treehugging life—being more efficient, using less, and doing it in style.

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It sounds like Walt Disney (I loved Tomorrowland) but Bill has done it again- reinvented the office tower. Sez Bill in Fortune Magazine: "The building of the future will not just sit on a lot. It will be productive. From solar panels that produce power to tree-filled terraces that recycle water, the building will work, quite literally, from the inside out. How distant is this prospect? Hard to say. All the technologies mentioned are "state of the shelf": That is, they already exist, although not all are economically practical. But architecture and design are crafts for the long term. This tower shows the way urban centers can get closer to nature - and in the process keep neighborhoods and cities vibrant and healthy." It is a four page foldout so we cannot deliver the full experience but read the copy at ::Fortune Magazine...

A less persistent person might have been put off by Joe’s brusque tone on the phone when I rang to ask him for an interview. “I am always being asked for interviews” and “I am very busy” and then came his comment that ‘sustainability’ is just the new “buzz word”. Ouch! This wariness of journalists turning up on his doorstep all of a sudden is understandable when you realise Joe has been working devotedly on Rainbow Valley Farm for nearly 20 years and on many other sustainability projects around the world for years before that. Joe is a pioneer and it is clear to many of us that society in general has been slow to heed the advice and warnings that people like him have been giving for years. The most amazing thing to me is that in the face of constant adversity there are people like Joe who carry on regardless because they a truly passionate about what they believe in. ...

Everyone wonders who will come out with the first plug-in hybrid. I imagine most of us assume it will be Toyota, but I would love to be wrong. General Motors is now saying that it will unveil a plug-in hybrid prototype at the International Auto Show in Detroit in early 2007. Not many details to report at this point (don’t’ worry, the above image is of the Hy Wire), but the word from the blogosphere (and the LA Times) is that the GM plug-in drive train will differ from the way plug-ins are typically configured. According to reports, a charge from a conventional outlet will power the car’s lithium-ion batteries which will give the car 20-30 miles of pure electric range (great for local commuting). When the batteries are depleted, a gasoline or diesel motor will kick in to charge the battery. Prototype and hacked plug-ins have thus far have used to backup internal combustion engine to actually turn the wheels, rather than recharge the battery. Presumably, GM’s approach is a more efficient use of the fuel and would most likely negate the need for a transmission and otherwise simplify the drive train....

Being in Thailand’s remote island of Koh Tao for a couple of weeks reminds us the importance of conserving every last drop of freshwater. And as savvy and hip as most of us TreeHuggers are, some of us are looking for the tried and true, back to basics alternatives. We were reminded about that when we read some comments from the post on Spin, a prototype for a single motor, multi-appliance kitchen tool. Some of our readers commented that they would be just as happy running kitchen appliances based on the old treadmill method. In honour of keeping it simple, we present to you Israeli designer Sahar Batsry’s “garden faucet”. Sweet and simple, you can attach it to an outdoor faucet for collecting water -- or TreeHuggers in the city – you can add one to your bathroom sink for collecting small amounts of grey water for washing your underthings and watering the plants. ::Sahar Batsry...

We love reading Outside Magazine, but usually for its articles on fitness, adventure travel and occasional interest in green issues. We would never have sought them out for green investment advice, but I guess those bamboo snowboards cost real money. Even they say: "Financial advice in the pages of Outside? It's a departure, sure, but it doesn't take a genius to see which way the money's blowing. .... Because in a world of high gas prices and climate change, cashing in on clean technology and eco-friendly businesses is good for the planet—and even better for your portfolio." Turn your broker on to ::Outside Magazine via ::Corporate Knights Forum...

It’s obvious that the US Congress will take a new tact on energy policy, beginning January of 2007. The Washington Post gives us a glimpse of what’s coming . “…Energy issues will have to go through Rep. John D. Dingell of Michigan (pictured), the ranking Democrat and presumptive chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee”. “…Dingell said he would back measures to promote new energy technologies, diesel fuel and cars, electric vehicles, and conservation in buildings…” And, in an interesting sidebar: “Alan Reuther, legislative director for the United Auto Workers, which has opposed mandated fuel-economy increases, said lawmakers could rally behind legislation promoting advanced vehicle technologies and expanding the markets for ethanol and diesel fuels”....

Californians just approved a whole lot of construction on election day; $222 billion will be spent on repairing crumbling highways, bridges, schools and flood control devices over the next ten years. Much of that is built of concrete and much of concrete is sand and gravel. Much of California is made of rock and sand, but quarries are the ultimate NIMBY industry for very good reason, and local supplies are diminishing quickly. They could grind up those hills we saw around Palm Springs earlier this year, but instead, Canada, via Polaris Minerals, will obligingly step forward and grind up Vancouver Island, put six million tonnes of it per year in former Prime Minister Paul Martin's very big ships and send it south, saving Californians from looking at it being dug up in their own backyard. ...

If you’re not an engineer or a physical scientist you may want to skip this post. If you’re a ‘fuel cell skeptic,’ you should probably go for the full story here, regardless. Bottom line for you skeptics: companies like FuelCell Energy and their customers and partners are investing big bucks in commercial fuel cells that have little to do with cars and everything to do with improving societal energy efficiency. As a result of this technology, natural gas furnaces and boilers will have a better life cycle efficiency. Technology highlights: "The new product, the Direct FuelCell-Energy Recovery Generation™ (DFC-ERG™) system, combines a 1.2 megawatt (MW) Direct FuelCell® (DFC®) power plant with a 1 MW unfired gas expansion turbine. Operating at natural gas pipeline letdown stations, the system generates 2.2 megawatts (MW) of ultra-clean electricity...Availability of the hybrid power plant is expected to be in the third calendar quarter of 2007. Enbridge's research has identified 40-60 MW of opportunities for the DFC-ERG system in just one of its operating areas. The North American market represents another 200-300 MW, consisting of the half dozen U.S. states currently seeking to add fuel cells' environmental attributes to their Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS)"....

The Brandenburg Police report they have caught three men and a woman suspected of stealing copper from windmills in the Havelland near Berlin in Germany. 10 to 14 tons of copper wire were stripped out of 21 windmills by the thieves. The windmill operator is estimated to have suffered around 225 000€ ($270,000) of damages from the copper which brought the thieves somewhere between 28 - 49 000€. A waste metal dealer who stood to profit by reselling the copper on the open market at about 100 000€ value will also face charges in the case. What were these guys thinking targeting a sector so beneficial to society? Where are their scruples?...

Kenny is an 8th grade science teacher from North Babylon, NY who has started a campaign called “Mr. Luna’s Bright Idea!” to help stop global warming by giving every child in America just one compact fluorescent light bulb, and asking Oprah to help make it happen... So far, Kenny and his students have teamed up with The Home Depot to give every child in North Babylon one bulb, and are working to put together a nationwide campaign. He became passionate about the environment after reading the book Collapse by Jared Diamond, and then watching the devastating effects of hurricane Katrina. He’s hoping to help educate kids across the country about global warming and the environment because he believes that it’s crucial to our success in making the world a better and more sustainable place. If you’d like to join his campaign, if you have an idea that parents or teachers can use with their kids, or if you’ve heard about kids, schools, parents, and teachers that are already doing amazing things to help protect the environment and educate others about it, then feel free to reach him with the news at Kenny--@--treehugger--.--com (remove dashes) so that we can highlight some of those efforts here on Treehugger!...

Having been given a brief crash course in Permaculture by Darren on Waiheke Island I decided to find out a bit more about this sustainable farming system by paying a visit to New Zealand’s resident Permaculture guru Joe Polaischer. Joe and his wife Trish Allen have lived in the Matakana area, north of Auckland, for 19 years. They arrived in their house truck, when Matakana was still a small sleepy village, and bought a large piece of land in a valley that all the local farmers believed to be useless, hence it was going cheap. Today those 20 acres are now some of the most fertile in the surrounding area and Rainbow Valley Farm has become a worldwide example of what can be achieved by farming with Permaculture principles. Joe is asked to travel all over the world to give lectures and workshops on the subject, but what he loves most is to stay at home and work on his garden. This is where I found him a few weeks ago. Luckily I arrived at lunchtime so Joe was able to spare some minutes of his time to talk to me while we ate lunch, which had been picked straight out of the garden....

This week on EcoTalk, TreeHugger Radio brings you world renowned British economist Sir Nicholas Stern’s report on the science and economics of climate change, and the “greatest market failure the world has seen.” Hunter Lovins comments on the brighter side: a contrasting study commissioned by Royal Dutch Shell, which finds some trillion dollars to be made in the next five years in clean, green business worldwide. We also caught up with James MacKinnon, creator of the 100-Mile Diet, for a bit more on what it all means. Stay tuned next and every Thursday to EcoTalk for TreeHugger Radio....

"Sure, it´s fun surfing the net alone. But a little meatspace interaction goes a long way." Sometimes you just gotta get out of the house and off the computer. Here´s how to connect with your fellow greenies out in the real world. a) Hit a Greendrinks. They´re all over the world and are a great way to get linked into local green. Tell'em TreeHugger sent ya. And if you find out anything cool going on, let us know! b) Find or start a local TreeHugger meetup. Meetup exists to use the internet to help people who share similar interests to get together locally. We´d love to see some TreeHugger meetups happening! c) Join a local enviro organisation! Here are a few national ones that may have a local chapter

d) Get a green job! No better way to meet greenies than to work in the field. Hit TreeHugger´s job board here. e) How about getting 4-12 people together once a week for a tasty green potluck dinner and focus a couple of hours on one or more of TreeHugger's guides for How to Go Green? Talk about how to go green locally, split up tasks and research and help spur each other to green their lives. Might be a good meet-up too......

Tidal energy prospectors are staking their claim on the waves. Point Break, anyone? House of doors: disaster relief housing made from the readily available… Severely damaged tires can make some seriously insulated homes… The National Building Museum in DC puts green home building on display… Pepsi dawns curvaceous Fuelosophy disguise and enters Whole Foods…...

The Carnival of the Green is a weekly blog phenomenon concieved of over pints of beer in London between Al Tepper and Nick Aster of TriplePundit almost five years ago. It travels from blog to blog every Monday. TreeHugger became Carnival central in 2006 and each week we will point you to the Carnival every time it rolls into town. If you're a blogger who likes to talk about green, then please sign up as a host! Read on to find out where the carnival will be and to learn how to host:...

Litegreen is a new online consumer information and shopping directory aimed at making conscious consumerism quick and pain-free. Based on their own ratings criteria, Litegreen reviews the "world's leading brands to assess their impact on the planet and their attitudes to workers rights"; if you see something you like, you can buy it after a quick re-direct to a partnering retailer. The site is based on the idea that everyone can "become Litegreen" through education on the purchasing decisions we make, from fashion to food to toys to special treats, and that whatever you want to buy, there will almost always be a Litegreen option. In addition to advocating for conscious consumerism, Litegreen also wants to help cool our warming globe, so they've pledged to plant a tree every time someone spends £50 through Litegreen, as well as each time someone registers (it's free) with the site. Part of the "Litegreen" ethos is that nobody is perfect, and, to be sure, there are lots of less-than-perfect companies and products on the site; this seems to be by design. Appealing to those who aren't full-fledged TreeHuggers just yet, "Litegreen means that the object of your desires costs little or nothing more, is a lot better for the planet and the people on the planet, and also meets your expectations in terms of quality, design and style." We've seen variations on this theme before, with Green for Good (currently undergoing a facelift), Fivelimes and Alonovo; though we know that we can't collectively shop our way to sustainability, it's important to know the story behind what you buy. If Litegreen can bring more folks to the green side, we certainly won't complain. ::Litegreen via ::Hippyshopper ...

Lake Anne is a neighborhood in Reston, Virginia, that is built around a picturesque man-made lake. Lake Anne Village Center is completely separated from roads. There are several adjacent parking areas — but these are not visible from the plaza. The are also several walking trails that connect Lake Anne to the other parts of Reston. The trails incorporate tunnels and bridges, so that the residents can actually walk or bike to town and not have to cross busy roads. Not surprisingly, there is a relaxed, social atmosphere at Lake Anne. People can interact in the public spaces, and visit the post office, bank, bookstore and convenience stores. ...

This month, highlights from Nylon's Green Page coverage include Lacoste's new organic cotton polo dyed with natural indigo (yes, you still get the alligator), and Susan Cianciolo's fashion from 100-year-old denim scraps. Check out these and other nuggets by downloading a digital copy of Nylon's November issue featuring Amber Tamblyn, "torch bearer for free-thinking iconoclasts." Like you, right? ::Nylon...

You know how much we love Clif Bar. And when we read a blurb in the New York Times yesterday about their new Shot Bloks, we were definitely excited. Made, of course, from organic ingredients these new energy chews are perfect for excessive exercise. The nonsticky blocks are just 33 calories each and can sustain glucose levels for a two-hour run, hike or ride. The shots are easy to chew and simple to handle – just pop them in your mouth and off you go. We’ll definitely keep these in mind for next year’s backpacking adventure on Mt. Washington. Via ::New York Times ::Clif Bar...

When it comes to choosing TreeHugger-friendly paint for whatever home improvement project that needs doing, we have a few ideas: YOLO Colorhouse, Sico's zero-VOC option, Anna Sova are just a few that have graced these pages, but we're also familiar with brands like SafeCoat and BioShield. We know what we like; the question is, dear readers, what do you like? What has your experience been with finding, buying, using and disposing of low or zero-VOC paints? What works? What doesn't? Has milk paint ever entered the equation? Please leave your thoughts in the comments section below......

It's Friday, and we can see the light at the end of this week's tunnel; with the weekend nigh, it's nearly time to take a break from work and focus on other things. For many of us, that may be a few fixer-upper projects around the home. Here are some of our picks for green home improvement this weekend. 1) The Healthiest Home is a great resource & retail outlet for green home projects north of the border. 2) The Green Home Guide is a community-based resource for advice, inspiration, and information to make it easy to keep your project green. 3) Green Home Environmental Store has ideas, products and resources to help make your home greener from the attic to the basement. 4) Home Depot has begun to tap the green market, making it easier to get green goods right down the street. 5) "No Waste Like Home" from the BBC illustrates how to complete a green home makeover and is a good excuse to take a break....

After all the recent voting here in The States, you might feel like you've done your part. Au Contraire! With the holiday season approaching, and the winter (global warming enhanced) storm season approaching, your choices and projects are more crucial than ever. here are a few choice opportunities from this last week to get you thinking green: Collin showed us Litegreen, another ethical shopping guide to get you through the holidays. Brittany reminded us of Slate's Green Challenge to reduce the carbon emissions of your diet. John warned us to be aware of drastic changes in whale migration and population as indicators of problems in the ocean and abroad. Lloyd found a great cheat sheet on the NY Times for having a 100 mile diet Thanksgiving. Collin also pointed the way to Energy Star's interactive home winterization site, with tips on everything from windows to water heaters....

Although driving a hybrid car conserves over one ton of carbon dioxide per year, we realize that not everyone is ready to go out and buy a brand new car. However, if you were really serious about reducing your impact, adopting a vegan or vegetarian diet would knock off an extra ton and a half of CO2 emissions. It’s true! One calorie of animal protein releases more than ten times as much carbon dioxide than does one calorie of plant protein. If you want to make a positive difference and can’t live without your t-bone, try curbing your carbon emissions (and your waistline) by eating one less steak or burger per week. Come join the 24,000 readers who have pledged to collectively reduce Treehugger’s carbon emissions by 20%. The Slate Green Challenge starts with an initial carbon footprint quiz and follows with tangible suggestions and information on how to curb your emissions and reduce your impact on the Earth. Our friends at I’m Organic are providing prize t-shirts to the first 500 who fulfill their pledge. Happy dieting! ::Slate Green Challenge Welcome ::Slate Green Challenge Week 3: Food ...

Nobel Peace Prize winner Wangari Maathai launched a campaign at the United Nations' Climate Change conference in Nairobi to plant a billion trees next year. That’s 32 every second—to highlight the need to fight global warming. Professor Maathai won the Nobel prize in 2004 for her involvement with the Greenbelt Movement, which she founded to promote human rights and reforestation in Kenya. The campaign is backed by Prince Albert II of Monaco, a recent convert to the green movement and the World Agroforestry Centre. As Mrs. Maathai said: "This is something that anybody can do. Anybody can dig a hole. Anybody can put a tree in the hole and water it, and everybody must make sure that the tree they plant survives. There are six billion of us and counting, so even if only one-sixth of us each planted a tree, we would definitely reach the target." Unfortunately the campaign is somewhat symbolic, since replacing trees lost by deforestation over the past decade will require planting 14-billion trees every year for the next ten years, the UN says. "A society grows great when old men plant trees whose shade they know they shall never sit in." :: UN Billion Tree Campaign via :: Hugg...

From the Editors of E/The Environmental Magazine Dear EarthTalk: What exactly does “not tested on animals” mean on a product, like a shampoo? Where can I find products that are completely not tested on animals and are also eco-friendly? -- James Masarech, via e-mail Many consumer products go through precise testing to make sure they are safe and healthy for people and the environment before they are made available in the marketplace. The downside is that many of these tests make use of live animals. According to the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), safety testing of chemicals and consumer products accounts for roughly 10 to 20 percent of the use of animals in laboratories (or approximately two to four million animals) in the U.S....

The Brits and the Yanks have teamed up to tackle what seems like an untackleable problem. How do we turn aviation, the loudest form of transportation, into the quietest? The Silent Aircraft Initiative has combined old ideas with some brand new innovations to design an airplane that would be 3000 times quieter than today's passenger jets. And, on top of that, their concept, the SAX-40, is 35% more efficient than anything in the sky today. The Silent Aircraft Initiative is a joint project between MIT and Cambridge and it represents a collection of old and new innovations in aircraft design. The first, and most obvious design change here is the body. Today's tube shaped aircraft generate lift only with their wings, while every inch of a blended wing craft generates lift. The placement of the engines on top of the plane ensures that the body of the craft blocks the noise from heading towards the ground. Other more minor innovations, such as a smoothed undercarriage and aerodynamic landing gear further contribute to the aircraft's stealthiness....

Ozone, is a substance that like CO2, seems not only to require international treaties, but it likes cleaning stuff. Apparently NASA discovered it works a treat as a disinfectant, killing bacteria and making stains soluble at low temperatures. The result of which said to reduce water and energy use. The first company to the use the technology commercially in Australia is Sunshine Coast Laundry Service, who figure on saving 10 million litres of water (down by 40%), 85,000 litres of LP Gas and 20% of chemical and electricity usage (down by 30%) in one year. We’re told that the ozone dissipates during washing becoming oxygen, leaving no harmful emissions. The recent 11th annual Sunshine Coast Environment Awards gave the company a gong from Greenhouse Gas reductions. Seemingly the process has been successful in commercial use in the US from some time now, with domestic versions also turning up. Via the CSIRO....

Citizens of the world, keep a lookout: an entire population of 17,000 Pacific Grey Whales is reported to have 'gone missing'. Earthwatch informs us that: ""We've just come off a second summer in Canada in which we've had next to no whales show up," said Megill, principal investigator of Earthwatch-supported research on grey whales in both British Columbia and Baja California. "Not only in our little area, but apparently throughout the traditional feeding areas from Washington on up north. We have no idea where the whales all went this year." They also tell us that "Grey whales were the first great whales to be removed from the endangered species list, but their future is by no means certain..." As for causation, Earthwatch gives us a hint: "We know that the Bering Sea has taken a beating over the last ten years, and that [plankton] productivity has plummeted there, forcing the whales into new habitat. A new blow to the productivity in these marginal habitats could hurt badly." More below the fold....

When we first got our Jimi Wallet a year ago, we hated it. We could only get five cards into it, and we had to learn how to fold our money in thirds to fit in neatly. We persevered, and came to understand that it forced us to be careful and minimalist in our choices- do we really need three different Visa cards? How much money do we really need to carry? We could push cards out of it like a dealer in Las Vegas, it comfortably fit in any pocket, and we have learned to deeply love it. Now there is a new model, the JimX, for people who just need to carry more cash. We don't think that it will sit as nicely in our pocket and will stick with our JIMI, but in the States where they still have one dollar bills, it might make sense. A Jimi is an acquired taste, but once you get it, you wonder how you lived without it. Locally made, 100% recycled and cheap at 16 bucks. ::JIMI via ::Josh Spear...

Tony Cenicola/The New York Times Readers in the New York area working toward the 100 Mile Thanksgiving Challenge just got a boost from the New York Times with this delicious article about what is available in close range. Apples, brussels sprouts, butter and chestnuts never sounded so delicious. "Greenmarkets, farm stands, specialty produce and fancy-food markets and Web sites are the new preferred sources for many ingredients that can elevate the side dishes, often seasonal or traditional, to star status." read more at ::New York Times...

Our post on the Sun Jar was popular and picked up everywhere; Now, thanks to Inhabitat, we get to see the working drawings. As we suspected: a solar cell charges battery which powers the light. There are a thousand dumb and ugly things that do this; what a difference the designer's touch makes. ::Inhabitat...

Did you know that November 6-10 had been designated as Shout Out for the Climate Week? Probably not unless you're a British teacher using Friends of the Earth UK's curriculum "for key stage 3 pupils who want to become active on environmental issues," or a student in one of those courses. In retrospect, the label is incredibly appropriate, and not just for middle schoolers in the UK: "climate change" is a fitting label for all sorts of things that occurred this week:...

If we need power to turn the ocean into tap water, why not let the ocean provide the energy? Stephen Salter at Edinburgh University is working toward that possibility his Edinburgh Duck, a wave powered desalination plant. The device would work by using the force of the ocean to lower the pressure within the device, creating water vapor even at low temperatures. No electricity is generated or needed, no membranes need to be cleaned or replaced, the device simply sucks water vapor from the seawater, condenses it, and then uses the power of the waves to pump it back to shore via it's tube-like tethers. Right now the device pumps only air, and not even very much air at that, but Salter says the concept could be expanded to create Ducks up to ten meters in diameter that would pump out 2000 cubic meters of water every day, enough fresh clean water for roughly 20,000 people (not including agriculture.)...

Hidden within Los Angeles is a natural circulatory system of waterways and habitats. Some people are trying to rediscover them… Nobel Peace Prize winner Wangari Maathai plans to see 1 billion trees planted around the world… New, greener busses step up to the challenge of new greener standards… Cargotecture homes, made from reclaimed shipping containers, turn ship shape into style… Reality check: video of Amsterdam, a city where there are more bikes than cars… ...

AAA of Northern California offers a wide array of automotive, travel, insurance and financial services to more than four million members. AAA has been a leader and advocate for the safety and security of all travelers since it was founded more than 100 years ago. To help build awareness of all the new alternative fuels and vehicles available, AAA of Northern California launched the Greenlight Initiative. The new program will help motorists make sense of all the new options available and encourage the development of transportation choices. We recently had a chance to chat with Jenny Mack, AAA's spokesperson for the California State Automobile Association (CSAA) and the Greenlight Initiative™....

At the beginning of the year, John gave us tips on how not to clog your drain. Unfortunately, we admit, a clogged drain sometimes just happens and it's usually in the shower or sink. Next time you reach for the Dran-O, use this easy tip: Pour a cup of baking soda, followed by a cup of white vinegar, down the drain. Plug the opening with an old rag or a stopper and let it bubble away. After a few minutes, rinse with hot water and repeat if necessary. A great alternative to those harsh chemicals! Via ::body+soul...

Good for emergencies, off-grid applications or for when you just want a little exercise, the Human Power Generator from Windstream Power can be pedaled or cranked by hand to charge 12 volt batteries and run small appliances. The product page says the average continuous power that can be generated by pedaling is about 80 watts; 50 watts if you're cranking by hand; a comment from Hugg by a user says 200 watts is attainable (300 if you're Lance Armstrong). The generator is available with a "Portable Power Pack" which includes a storage battery, 300 watt inverter (with 800 watt peak power), LED battery voltage readout, connection cables, and a 120 volt outlet to turn your calories into useful power. For anyone really interested in avoiding grid power, the company's wind turbines and solar applications can also be connected alongside the human power generator to cram even more energy into the power pack. If the Human Power Generators work well enough to power a Medeski, Martin & Wood soundcheck at Orlando's House of Blues (pictured), we're willing to bet it'd be handy around the house. See also the Freecharge pedal generator and a DIY pedal-power project. ::Windstream Power via energyenthusiast at ::Hugg...

Wow! We are so happy and honoured that TreeHuggerTV was shown some love this week in the form of a Vloggie Award. It’s always wonderful to be appreciated. To celebrate this week’s Blog Love is dedicated to our fellow nominees in the category of Best Green Vlog. All these people are doing a fantastic job! Earth Sanctuary: Earth Sanctuary in the Fall Earth Sanctuary‘s founder Chuck Pettis encourages us all to get outside and appreciate the wonders of nature at this time of year. Earth Sanctuary is a nature reserve, meditation parkland and sculpture garden located on South Whidbey Island near Seattle. Freshtopia: Raw Carrot Cake Recipe We were delighted to meet the funky Freshtopia duo at the Vloggies and even more pleased that they won the award for Best Food Blog and two more viewer’s choice awards for Best Editing and Best Green Vlog. What better way to celebrate than by rustling up one of their extra special raw carrot cakes. Yummy!...

In an effort to combat climate change, Illinois’ governor, Rod Blagojevich, is examining the potential of building a pipeline system that would transport carbon dioxide for sequestration. The proposed system would connect 10 planned coal gasification plants to the state’s aging oilfields. Carbon dioxide would subsequently be pumped underground for permanent storage. According to the governor, this plan would have the added bonus of increasing the states oil production. Companies have long since been pumping carbon dioxide into depleted oil and natural gas fields to increase output. Blagojevich suggested that this process could double Illinois’ current oil production and allow for the extraction of a seven-year supply of natural gas for the state. Although many champion carbon sequestration as a viable climate change strategy, projects of this magnitude make you wonder if resources would be better spent on energy efficiency initiatives and renewable energy development. ...

SunEdison panels on Whole Foods People don't think big up here any more. It is so hard to do anything- the only thing that the Federal and Provincial governments agree on is that they both hate the Cities. The days of effective visionaries like Adam Beck are long gone. Or are they? Tyler Hamilton notes that "SunEdison LLC of Baltimore and SkyPower Corp. of Toronto are teaming up for a joint venture that plans to develop, build, own and operate up to 50 megawatts of solar PV farms across Ontario, obviously to take advantage of the province's standard offer program that pays 42 cents per kilowatt-hour for solar. I knew it was only a matter of time before some clever finance people crunched the numbers and figured they could make a business out of solar in Ontario" As the largest plant currently up and running here is 100 kilowatts, that's a big jump in capacity. ::Clean Break Others are also thinking big......

Tudor houses, built at the time of Henry VIII, are more energy efficient than homes of today. According to a new study by British Gas, tudor properties with their solid construction and stout oak beams, leaked 10 cubic metres of warm air an hour vs. 15.1 for suburban mock-Tudors built in 1960. The houses were constructed for the rich and were the work of skilled artisans. They used wattle and daub, an early form of plastering, which was inserted wet, but forms an almost airtight barrier when dry. Even the more humble tudor cottages had thick walls, small windows to keep in the heat, and hay and old wool insulation. The Victorians' brick houses, built for the middle-classes during the industrial revolution, were next in energy efficiency. This verifies what some traditionalists, including the Prince of Wales, have been saying: “Wind turbines, solar panels and other hi-tech green devices might get the media attention, but the smartest way to save energy may be to live in a Tudor house and insulate the attic and repair the windows”. Hmmm, just when we thought we were making some progress... :: Financial Times...

Jerry McNerney of California has just won a seat in the US Congress. The person he replaces, starting next January, and why Jerry won is less important than what he'll do once he arrives. One thing we know for certain, Jerry won't need a 'Think Tank' position paper, a government lab tour, nor a research staff of his own to figure out what wind energy is all about. He'll generate some credibility on his own. From his campaign site: - "In 1985, Jerry accepted a senior engineering position with US Windpower, Kenetech, and in 1994 Jerry began working as an energy consultant for PG&E, FloWind, the Electric Power Research Institute, and other utility companies. He is now the CEO of a start-up company that will manufacture wind turbines". Now if we can just arrange an intro to a certain organic grain farmer from Montana. We hear they both like hunting so that should be an easy acquaintance....

Earlier this year, when air conditioners dominated interior climate control, we introduced the Energy Star @ home interactive tool to help increase the energy efficiency and reduce the energy costs in your home. Now that radiators, heaters and fireplaces have replaced air conditioners as the devices that keep our homes comfortable, the site has been updated to include tips to keep the temperature up and the heating bills down. Among the tips are four steps to keep the H.E.A.T. inside this winter: home sealing, by sealing air leaks and adding insulation, paying special attention to your attic and basement, where the biggest gaps and cracks are often found; equipment maintenance, by cleaning or replacing your system's air filter and getting a checkup to insure maximum efficiency; asking for Energy Star (hey, it's their site) when replacing light fixtures, heating equipment, windows and more; and, thermostat use. By installing & using a programmable thermostat, you'll save energy all day, whether you're there or not....

Heaps of cyclists take pride in wearing T-shirts proclaiming ‘One Less Car’ as they ride around their respective cities. Performance Bicycle, based in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, decided to take the concept one step further. They moved to take the equivalent of 618 cars off the road each year, by being the first national sports retailer in the U.S. to use renewable energy, via Renewable Choice, to exclusively power its [60] stores, corporate headquarters, distribution centers and call centre. To equal 100% of their electricity use they will, each year, purchase over 5,087,260 kWh of renewable energy credits. The US EPA who manage the Green Power Partnership, which Performance Bicycle has signed up to, have told them their decision will reduce over 7 million pounds (3.175 tonnes) of carbon dioxide emission annually. If their customers also opt for wind power renewable energy credits for their own homes, then Performance Bicycle will issue them with free Gift Cards. ::Performance Bicycle, via tip from Sarah E....

Turning salt water into fresh water is not the end solution to all water shortages or contamination. But as with all technologies, we can strive to make them more efficient for when they are needed. Eric Hoek and his team from UCLA have shown yet again that the control of materials at the nanoscale can lead to very big advances in technology. The nanocomposite material has unique advantages over current reverse osmosis (RO) technology.

“The nanoparticles are designed to attract water and are highly porous, soaking up water like a sponge, while repelling dissolved salts and other impurities,” Hoek said. “The water-loving nanoparticles embedded in our membrane also repel organics and bacteria, which tend to clog up conventional membranes over time.”

...

With the recent trend of wholesome snack foods reaching "truly ridiculous proportions," Frito-Lay announced Monday that it would, against its better judgment, roll out a new line of healthy fruit-and-vegetable-based chips next February. "Here," said Frito-Lay CEO Al Carey as he disgustedly tossed a bag of the company's new Flat Earth-brand snack crisps onto the lectern during a meeting with shareholders and members of the press. "Here's some s**t that's made from beets. I hope you're all happy now that you have your precious beet chips with the recommended daily serving of fruit, or vegetables, or whatever the hell a 'beet' is." Read more in the Onion- warning: strong language. ::The Onion...

Consumers around the globe are demanding greener computers, and a number of companies are rushing to supply them. While the the EU has established regulations for less toxic, more efficient, and ultimately recyclable machines, and the US has a voluntary standard, computer maker Thomas Schramm (a frequent commenter here) claims that these frameworks, and the home computers that meet them, don't go nearly far enough in reducing hazardous chemicals. Schramm's company, GreenMachineShop.com of Ann Arbor, Michigan, issued a press release claiming that "green computers" are largely a myth, and that "The components are usually not manufactured with the environment in mind”:...

Sir Nicholas Stern has just published a guest editorial piece in the Financial Times, in which he addresses comments made about his recent report on the economic benefits of mitigating C02 emissions. What a Gentleman he is, saying "I am keen to respond to some of the questions that have already arisen and to explain some further thinking about what I believe to be an innovative new approach to looking at this problem". And elegant too: "The bottom line is that the less weight you attach to the future simply because it is the future, the less you will value investments in a stable climate. If you consider that the needs of future generations should be represented in decision-making, the case for strong mitigation is overwhelming". His Financial Times narrative serves as a good faith communique to delegates to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, now meeting in Nairobi. If he really wants to reach beyond those in government, to the money managers and captains of industry, we think he'll have to take them on at their level, Mr. Rogers-like. Perhaps Sir Stern could therefore invite them to view this lovely video-byte called Beautiful Day, produced by Chris Sargent for the World Wildlife Fund (WWF). ...

Riverhouse is a new condominium in Battery Park City at the tip of Manhattan. Designed by Polshek Partnership Architects,(or is it David Rockwell? Times says Polshek, Site says Rockwell). It is "a new paradigm in green architecture"- it has" a triple-glaze window wall that contains an eight-inch chamber for air flow to provide natural cooling and heating via convection. (didn't Le Corbusier design that 75 years ago for the Cite de Refuge?) There is also a shade inside the cavity to regulate solar energy. Rooftop panels convert solar energy into electricity. The panels augment the electrical loads in the common areas, like the corridors and the lobby.The $1 million wastewater treatment plant in the basement recycles waste water for the cooling tower in the building’s heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system." According to the Times, "its interiors and price tag lean toward the trust-fund Birkenstock set", a phrase we will remember. ...

Treehuggers have probably heard about fair trade coffee, but many aren't familiar with it – and even more don't quite know what fair trade means, or why it's necessary. Despite the fact that a coffee crisis has been financially devastating coffee growers around the world, even as western corporations make a lot of money from coffee sales, the problem still doesn't get much coverage in the mainstream media. Luckily, Black Gold's hit the theaters. This documentary puts the paradoxes of coffee trade under a glaring, illuminating light. The film juxtaposes how the coffee drinkers of the western world gladly pay $3-$5 for our high-priced espresso drinks, fattening the bottom lines of our corporations — while the crushingly poor farmers producing those yummy espresso beans barely make ends meet....

jorg&olif city bikes inspired by Dutch designs almost a century old are said to differ from most bikes ridden by North Americans today. jorg&olif reckon there are three main differences: 1. they come equipped with a heap of accessories, such as fenders (mud guards), lights, cargo rack and strap, safety locks, kickstands, bells, and chain/wheel splash guards; 2. the cyclist sits tall, rather crouched forward in a racing position; and 3. they are simple, single speed models, or multi-speed enclosed, low maintenance, rear hubs. jorg&olif city bikes are designed for cruising the city, carrying groceries, kids or brief cases. Daryl Hannah and Chloe Sevginy are supposedly some of the first Americans to have taken advantage of jorg&olif's move to sell into the US, after two years trading from Vancouver, Canada. Prices range from $795 to $1,295 USD, depending on the gearing you want. An array of optional accessories, like cargo baskets, child seats and waterproof city bags, also on offer. If your cycling leans towards stylish, practical, everyday elegance, more than frenetic weekend recreation, then a jorg&olif might just be the wheels you’re looking for. ::Jorg & Olif....

Still haven't sent us your 100-Mile Thanksgiving Challenge entry? Don't worry, there is still time to enter - just send us your local Thanksgiving feast by Tuesday, November 14th. If your recipe is chosen as one of the best, it will be featured on the site in the week before (U.S.) Thanksgiving and voted on by TreeHugger readers. We will be judging your entries on the creativity of your meal and it's ecological impact. So, get those recipes in to us at: contest [at] treehugger [dot] com right away!...

Maybe you recall the post about the Australian rural city, Bendigo, that will possibly run out of drinking water within a year? It happens to be home to one of the more progressive banks in the country. (Certainly in comparison the the Big Four banks, who still haven’t even heard of climate change.) Bendigo Bank provides innovative financial services to rural communities. But in a more directly green move, the bank instituted a series of eco-oriented loans back in 2002. Green Personal Loans are available for a dozen environmentally friendly products, including double glazed windows, greywater systems, solar hot water systems, 5 star environmentally rated cars, energy saver whitegoods and even wind turbines. In a similar move, they can provide a 0.5% reduction in variable rates, with no monthly fee for a Green Home Loan, where your home meets the energy efficient standards of various state governments. They reckon a 'green' mortgage can save more than $48,000 AUD. But it’s not a case of ‘do as we say’, more ‘do as we do’, because the bank has begun constructing a new headquarters, which was recently awarded a 5 Star Green Star – Office Design v2 Certified Rating by the Green Building Council of Australia. Only the 18th such building in Australia to do so, and significantly the first in regional Australia. Due to be finished in May 2007, it will sport blackwater and greywater recycling, roof top solar water heating amongst a host of other initiatives. ::Bendigo Bank....

Some time ago we referred to Slingfings, a range of clothing and bags handmade at Byron Bay, on the north coast of NSW, Australia. The fabrics are reused, the sewing machines are solar powered, and carbon emissions are offset. Now Rachel Bending, the designer behind that brand, has added another to her quiver. 'Bird' is a fashion clothing line made of ‘natural’ fabrics, which are printed with nature inspired designs using water based dyes. The seasonally changing prints are sewn into apparently classical styled garments by home based outworkers, who are said to share the company’s philosophy and use solar power. Working with the firm Climate Friendly, Bird is also reducing their impact on the climate — “freight of raw materials, manufacture, operations and delivery of finished goods has been calculated so that we can green our carbon emissions by funding projects that slow global warming.” ::Bird [Flash Alert!], via Cool Hunting. ...

We recently learned about GoodTree the search engine that allows you to raise money for charity while browsing the internet as you normally would. GoodSearch is another alternative that works similarly. Founded on the premise that people really want to support and feel connected to their favorite charities but don't always have the time or money to do so, GoodSearch makes it easy. GoodSearch works just as well as any other search engine, its results are powered by Yahoo!. The only difference is that 50% of the entire advertising revenue generated by the company goes to charity. While GoodTree focuses on "Blue Chip" charities, over 20,000 nonprofits are now actively generating revenue via GoodSearch. In a quick search for my fav eco charities I successfully found: Scenic Hudson Inc., the NRDC, the WWF, Environmental Advocates of New York and many more....

Visit Jon Tester's organic farm! This New West profile from August 2005 takes us to Big Sandy, MT, and introduces one of the men at the heart of this knuckle biting election. A reader-recommended Congressional environmental leader, we're eager to see how Tester's organic representation translates inside the Beltway! ::New West...

Time’s Best Inventions of 2006 are green all over… London’s Acorn House is the first eco-friendly culinary training school of its kind… In Nevada, a new biodiesel plant will draw its power from geothermal sources, and may use algae to make fuel… Little wave-powered “ducks” could be the future of micro desalinization… Tibetan prayer beads? No way, those are my ear buds… ...

We finally find out about the science behind the secretive EEStor Capacitors from the Austin American Statesman: Think of it as a grilled-cheese sandwich: The bread holds opposite charges. The cheese helps maintain the opposing charges, even as it separates the bread and keeps those charges from canceling each other out. Then you stack one layer atop another. "It's real simple," Hebner said. "It's just two pieces of metal with some material in between them. You put a voltage across them and they store a certain amount of charge."...

The Terraset Elementary School is a rare example of an underground school. It's part of the Reston neighborhood — a planned green community in Northern Virginia. I visited the school recently — the roof now resembles a meadow, complete with trees and skylight structures that appear like pyramids rising out of the grass. The school is actually set on a knoll in 14 wooded acres. The top of the knoll was shaved, the structure built, and soil was placed over it. ...

photos by Derek Lepper LEED is everywhere now, but LEED Platinum is a real challenge- Larry McFarland Architects' Operations Centre for the Gulf Islands National Park Reserve, located on the waterfront in Sidney, British Columbia, is Canada's First. It has a shopping list of almost every cool technology available, wrapped in a very attractive wooden package. Ocean based Geothermal heating tops the list, but the rest is impressive as well. ...

Chief British economist Sir Nicholas Stern announces that the ravages of climate change are “the greatest market failure the world has seen.” A report commissioned by Royal Dutch Shell estimates the value of the “green” economy, and Hunter Lovins offers her two cents on the matter. Inc. Magazine names its Green 50, and the founder of the 100 Mile Diet explains what he’s putting on the table. (listen)...

Loft, bunk or alcove beds save a lot of space, but it is a huge pain to make the bed. CIA International (no relation to the American institution with the same initials) developed this ingenious mechanism to lift and tilt the bed out so that making it is a snap. That is the key- you can design bunks and alcoves, but they have to be easy to use. ...

Hopefully by now you’ve made a commitment to read labels, purchase organic, and support local farms. (If so, we applaud your efforts to live a greener lifestyle!) However, have you noticed in what type of materials your favorite products are packaged? Purchasing food and other consumer goods with reusable, recyclable, or reduced packaging could reduce your emissions by 230 pounds a year. Knock off another 17 lbs by using your own reusable grocery bag to transport your healthy fare. Carving off pounds while purchasing food – who would’ve thought? For more information on how to lose hundreds of pounds in emissions per year, join The Slate Green Challenge with Treehugger. Sign up with the thousands of readers who are making an effort to collectively reduce our CO2 emissions by 20%. Think you have what it takes? It all starts with a simple emissions footprint quiz. If you are one of the first 500 to cross the finish line, our sponsors at I’m Organic will hook you up with a new t-shirt. Good luck! ::Slate Green Challenge Welcome ::Slate Green Challenge Week 3: Food ...

Skymaul is a parody of those inflight shopping magazines selling useless overpriced junk to captive audiences; We liked this item. From comedy troupe Kasper Hauser. :: Skymaul via :: Seth Godin...

While the first meeting of the Super Cool Eco-Entrepreneurs Club was a relatively low-key affair, the tight-knit group of green bloggers and business people that gathered is making big plans (disclaimer: I'm part of that tight-knit group). The topic of a green blogger gathering (dubbed Green BloggerCon) was batted around, and a few people have gotten behind the idea and want to make it happen. In order to gauge broader interest in the Green Blogosphere, Rebecca Carter of greenerMIAMI and Ecorazzi fame created a survey. If you're a green blogger, and would like to get together with others, take a couple of minutes to complete the survey (it's short). Make sure to do it before this Friday (11/10), as it comes down then. If you're not a green blogger, please don't take the survey, as it starts to cost after a certain number of responses. One idea on the where and when is Chicago during the Green Fest weekend (April 21-22, 2007). The Super Cool Eco-Entrepreneurs Club will meet again next Tuesday, Nov. 14, at 8 pm EST. If you're interested in joining, email Shea Gunther, club founder, for an invitation to the chat. You don't need to be in business to join in -- just have an interest in the subject, and a good pirate joke to share... Arrrrrrr! ::Green Blogger Survey...

No matter what keeps you awake at night—whether it’s the melting ice caps, peak oil, the threat of terrorism, the power of corporations, or the demise of civic engagement—the solution to all of these problems lies in rebuilding our local economies. Stacy Mitchell takes a stand much like Michael Shuman in the Small-Mart Revolution: "A much larger share of the dollars we spend at a locally owned store remains in the local area." Like Jim Kunstler in his latest post, where he says: "Driving a Prius might induce raptures of eco-moral superiority, but changing the zoning laws would produce a better outcome -- and that's just too hard." and George Monbiot says "ban and close out-of-town superstores." Stacy says: "Our hyper-mobility—as manifest in our sprawling, car-based settlement pattern and the distances that most of the goods we buy are transported—probably constitutes the greatest environmental threat we face. It certainly accounts for the bulk of the greenhouse gases we emit. .... Making incremental improvements to a inherently unsustainable economic system will not get us very far." All agree that the big box store exists because of the subsidy of cheap gas, and that we would all be better off with strong, vibrant and local shopping. Read the free PDF at ::Changethis...

Check out the winner of an international competition to come up with new solutions to the bike parking problem. It is called Habitat for Urban Bicycles, HUB, designed by Boston based architects. Bikes are suspended by their front wheel, on a covered carousel. Key-code access would park it and see it returned to you. “Reinventing the Bike Shed” is a design competition seeking radical new ideas for bike parking. The premise is that citizens ride and park bicycles and that alters the streetscape. Entrants should acknowledge that parking structures for bicycles can be a pleasure to look at and use, not an eyesore. The "Camel Crossing" created a central island in the road with room for reserved bike parking. Another entrant proposed a large closet to provide a storage area. The Bike Tower is a vertical solution, with bikes hanging from a tall tower. Although some seem fanciful, a local council is supporting the project by pledging that a prototype will be installed in the area for testing. :: Reinventing the Bike Shed ...

Hold onto your hats guys and gals, this week on TreeHuggerTV we have a classic crime caper for you from the amazing Free Range Studios. Our tough private detective Sam Suds had solved some serious toxic crimes in the past in the Johnson household, but the word around the bathroom was that Sam Suds was all washed up. Now he had to face of one of his most dangerous cases yet. He had rolled the dice on the case of the PVC and it had come up snake eyes. He was just about to throw in the towel and crawl inside of a shampoo bottle, when she came floating along. When the gorgeous Duck Face showed Sam Suds the evidence he knew she wasn't just blowing bubbles....

This cute little conveyance is nothing new. It once set a FAI world record for it’s class of airship, flying 58 miles (93km). But that was 14 years ago. Now the White Dwarf is in the sky once more, thanks to the determination of two enthusiasts, Reed Gleason and Bill Arras. They are on a mission to develop small helium filled blimps, which use a combination of pedal power and gas engines for propulsion. They’ve had the White Dwarf cruising up 15 mph (24kph), but are hopeful of arriving at a design that will manage 25 mph (40kph) for at least two hours. Read about their adventures in getting the White Dwarf airborne again, and where they want to go from here. ::White Dwarf, via tip from Graham. (See also our previous post on the high flying hopes of bringing airships back for commercial use.)...

We’ve talked before about the proposed Solar Tower of Power project slated for installation in South Eastern Australia. The massive tube was to stand as high as three Eiffel Towers and be surrounded by a wide skirt of glasshouse type structures. Heat from the sun would be trapped on the underside of this skirt and its only way of escape would be up the tower — past turbines which generated the power. Initially the plan was for a 1000m high tower to create up to 200MW of electricity. But in the middle of this year the project was scaled back to 50MW from 400 metres of tower. And just the other day came another set-back for the scheme. The company behind the project, Enviromission, were hoping to secure funding through the Australian Government’s Low Emissions Technology Demonstration Fund (LETDF). However $125M AUD from LETDF was awarded to another project, which is claiming the title of “the biggest and most efficient solar photovoltaic power station in the world.” ...

While searching the web for a perfect baby shower gift we came across PUR BÉBÉ, an online store with a wide selection of the cutest earth and people friendly products. Their clothes are made from 100% organic cotton and recycled fabrics and fibers while their bath products are all natural. Everything that PUR BÉBÉ sells is made by companies who utilize fair trade and sweatshop-free standards, ensuring workers receive fair compensation and a safe environment. Looking for a special item is truly unique? Take a look at some of PUR BÉBÉ’s clothing and gifts made by artisans and cooperatives supporting communities and people, rather than mass producers. And, when you make your purchase, it matters. One dollar of every PUR BÉBÉ purchase goes to one of their selected charities. ::PUR BÉBÉ...

I get the idea that up in Montreal, nearly everyone's grandmother passed on a fur coat or two. Rachel of Rachel F. hunts down those status markers of yesteryear and creates edgy, new muffs, hats, gloves, pins and more. She also transforms scrap and vintage leather into purses, wallets, belts and jewelery. Though you might catch her at the odd US craft fair, Rachel's stuff is still mainly available in Canada. Tell your local boutique to stock her! Keep reading for more pics. ::Rachel F. Seen at the Ethical Fashion Show...

On a trip to Cologne, Germany, this man was seen incinerating leaves with a hand-held burner in front of a posh hotel. The device is most likely composed of a propane fuel tank, a fuel hose, a metal wand with a burner head, and a control valve for controlling the gas. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, leaf burning leads to air pollution, health problems, and fire hazards. Tiny carcinogenic cancer-causing particles in the smoke can slip into the lungs and set up camp for several years. So this device could be a green alternative in areas where composting is not possible, if clean burning. The cons: It is uncomfortably loud, expensive, and requires fuel. From farmers to the Queen of England, people are already starting to use these hand-held burners as weed killers, effectively replacing pesticides. But for leaves? The jury is still out. ::Environmental Protection Agency ...

Food for thought graces the stairway leading to the G train platform in Brooklyn, NY. While switching trains from the L to the G at the Lorimer/Metropolitan Avenue/Grand Street commuters are reminded to “Use Less”. ...

Innocent until proven guilty is a great policy when it comes to the law but when it comes to my personal health I'd much rather that unsafe chemicals don't make it into my lipstick even if they are not currently deemed dangerous. Yet, precisely that is happening. Charged with protecting American citizens, the Food and Drug Administration is responsible for overseeing the safety of cosmetics, soaps, deodorants, shampoos, fragrances and other personal-care products. However, unlike the medicines regulated by the FDA, these items are not reviewed by the agency before going to market. Self-regulation puts the onus on the manufacturer and consumer to ensure product safety. Consumers are being asked to carefully read ingredient lists and evaluate if they want Sodium Lauroamohoacetate and Dibutyl Phthalate in their shampoo or nail polish prior to purchasing. ...

Could China be the world's biggest testing track for alternative energy cars? In the latest move by a multinational to launch vehicles that ain't ridin' dirty in the world's fastest growing auto market, the General has announced plans to begin selling hybrid cars in China starting in 2008, just in time for the Beijing Olympics. GM will build hybrid cars in collaboration with its local partner, Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation, the US carmaker's chief executive Rick Wagoner revealed on Monday. With a gusto to be expected for the head of the straightest shooter in the "wild, wild west" of the automobile industry (sales were up 36% this year), Wagoner rolled up in GM's newly "drivable" hydrogen Sequel (above, with the mayor of Shanghai), its sleek fuel-cell mini-van-sedan that he calls "the most sophisticated product, technologically advanced product, I think we’ve ever made in the history of GM.” While GM has reduced the cost of making the Sequel by 12 times over the last five years, it says it still needs to reduce that by a further seven times in order to make the car viable. It should start appearing on the street ... maybe by 2020? Incidentally, that's the earliest that Chinese automakers now anticipate exporting their cheap cars to much of the world, a delay largely due to domestic carmakers' relatively lagging technology--and the poor emissions and safety standards that follow. While the central government will begin enforcing higher emissions standards next year, the country's rapidly growing car population will still be operating on an environmental level (Euro 4) beneath that of cars in the west......

What do you do about junk mail? We're probably a week too late on this one, but you may still have time. After a month away, I returned to a mountain of mail, including a slippery stack of catalogs, and remembered that this little accumulation was small potatoes compared with the holiday glut. With a steaming cup of tea, and my 1-800 dialing finger poised, I lanunched into an hour of polite mailing list removal requests from accommodating customer service agents (how did the Finger Hut get my name?). Since catalogs are pre-printed the effect may take eight weeks, so though I may get all of the Christmas stuff, at least the post-holiday sales and Valentine's madness won't clutter my mail box. If you want to remove yourself from other types of lists, or take some political action on junk mail, check out the Center for a New American Dream's Declare Your Independence from Junk Mail campaign. You can also pay for the service greendimes, which will make regular removal requests for you, and plant trees to counteract some of the silliness, for just a dime a day (an excellent holiday gift idea, btw!). ::...

As we begin to realize the extent to which personal responsibility and action can make a difference in the world around us, Anna Lappé is an inspiring example of just how much one determined individual can accomplish. Among the many projects that Anna is involved with, The Small Planet Fund is of particular note. Founded in 2002, The Small Planet Fund is a volunteer-led effort to support courageous movements bringing to life on-the-ground, citizen-led solutions to hunger, poverty, and environmental devastation around the world. As a testament to the Fund's success in the last four years, two of the eight grantees have been honored with Nobel Peace Prizes and the Fund has raised more than a quarter of a million dollars. For those interested in supporting the Fund's efforts, most of the Fund's money is raised at an annual gala. More information about the Fifth Annual Party and Fundraiser is available at http://www.smallplanetfund.org/events.html TreeHugger: Many people encounter a sense of powerlessness or paralysis when confronted by a huge problem. How do you manage to tackle as many projects as you do, and do you have any tips for getting out there and making a difference? Anna Lappé: I think many of us have this sense of powerlessness because we feel our problems are so huge -- melting ice caps! irreversible species loss! recurring genocides! -- that we feel anything we do would just be a drop in the bucket. But I like to remind people that the more apt metaphor for our feelings of futility would be that we feel we’re drops in the desert: the water dissipates before even touching ground....

As part of Wal-Mart’s continuing efforts to address its environmental footprint, the company established a goal to reduce packaging used by suppliers by 5% by 2013. In an effort to achieve this target, the retail behemoth has announced an innovative scorecard system. The scorecard will allow manufacturers to rank their current use of packaging. Scores will be given on several relevant categories including: greenhouse gas emissions produced per ton of packaging, raw material use, packaging size, recycled content, material recovery value, renewable energy use, transportation impacts, and innovation. Beginning in 2008, Wal-Mart will make purchasing decisions based on the scorecard results. Say what you will about Wal-Mart, but this policy will force manufacturers in a variety of sectors to reexamine their packaging processes. To see a demo of the scorecard system visit www.scorecardlibrary.com....

Frank Harmon's Prairie Ridge Ecostation is a simple, screened classroom overlooking a nature reserve, but it also teaches lessons about sustainability, siting, orentation, forms, materials and construction methods. "One of my missions" says Harmon, "is to get people out of their air-conditioned cocoons". Dimensions were chosen to reduced waste- the roof required no cutting at all. Local renewable southern pine is used, deep, overhangs are designed to control the sun, and care was taken to disturb as little of the ground as possible. ...

American Clay joined our long list of wallcovering possibilities last year, but have updated their website and made some other notable changes. The "earth plaster," made from pure clays and aggregates with coloring agents that come from natural, non-toxic oxides and ochre mineral pigments, now holds handy hands-on workshops to learn how to apply it; their blog also serves to update on the latest from the nontoxic interior finish company, which recently included a website visitor Q&A with the head honchos. The practical, environmentally-friendly alternative to cement, gypsum, acrylic, and lime plasters will cover most wall surfaces; learn more about their plasters in the recent episode of The Lazy Environmentalist about stylish green home makeovers. ::American Clay via ::The Lazy Environmentalist...

designboom, the international industrial design site, is always running neat competitions; we have covered a few of them. The latest was to design an object that would be useful at a party. As always, there are thousands of entries and many are wonderful, (see them all here) but a couple caught our eye, including Table Undercover by zaida okta + Indera Kencana + Angga Rosiawan from indonesia. In small spaces it is often a problem- where do you put things down? As the designers say: A standing party. A room full of people. A plate of pasta on your left hand and a glass of wine on the right hand. No more table to put your glass down so you can start to eat your pasta. Introducing TABLE UNDERCOVER. A kindness from your party host. Just open the picture and, voila, you have your private table. Bon Appetit!...

Wind turbines have become the top-selling item at B&Q (the British equivalent to Home Depot) weeks after they first went on sale. In the wake of the Stern report, and concerns about "green" taxes being imposed, home owners are rushing to buy them at £1,498 ($2,840 U.S.) a pop. They have also started selling seven different kinds of solar panels for tile and slate roofs. Some are used to heat water whilst others generate electricity. The store will also help with applying for planning permission, grant applications and advise on suitability. The turbines will generate up to 1KW of electricity. The reasons are manifold: subisidies are being offered by the government, high energy bills and the cachet of having one. Next year the store intends to offer products to recycle "grey water" from washing up for use in the garden. :: Financial Times...

Yesterday, we presented one of the winners of the national Argentinean Innovar inventions-competition, the BCKSolar. Today we bring you the other prototype that caught our eye: the Nexo Project, a system to build vehicles for different uses from a common platform based on a number of similar pieces which makes it easy to produce and adapt, according to the user's needs. The engine works with compressed natural gas (CNG), with the option of evolving into electricity in the future. The car is also very small (2.10 metres long, 1.45 metres wide and 1.78 metres tall/6'8" long, 4'7" wide and 5'8" tall), which can probably help some of the problems related to urban transit in the future. It is estimated that each unit would cost around 4,500 dollars. Read about how it works and check more pictures in the extended. ...

There is so much information that we need to know about what we eat, and it often either can't fit on the label or the manufacturers don't bother giving it. And, while a box of twinkies might list the ingredients inside, you don't get much information on an organic head of lettuce. In Japan's Ibaraki Prefecture, the farmers are tagging their produce with bar codes that you scan with your cel phone camera, much like last year's Finnish Camera Phone. "The code links to a mobile website detailing origin, soil composition, organic fertilizer content percentage (as opposed to chemical), use of pesticides and herbicides and even the name of the farm it was grown on." Add a link to google maps and it could probably figure out the carbon footprint of its delivery. ::Corporate Knights...

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We’ve all seen the personal care items that proclaim the equivalent of ‘Kills Bacteria On Contact,’ or, ‘Kills the Germs That Cause Bad Breath.’ There’s a whole conversation we could start about whether sterile lifestyles…the sort that get enforced with bactericides in personal care and cleaning products… could have an adverse impact on childhood immune system development and allergic response. But, we’ll leave that topic for later. This post is focused on the environmental risk versus the human health benefit of adding the bacteriocide Triclosan to soaps and lotions. (A list of consumer products containing triclosan is presented below.) We're focused on this more narrow question because of a recently studied consequence of triclosan in freshwater environments. Triclosan, widely used in soaps and toothpastes for its ability to kill bacteria, has been found to hasten the transformation of tadpoles into adult frogs. The new research, "published online September 29 in Aquatic Toxicology , is the first to show that triclosan can act as an endocrine disrupter at concentrations found in North American streams... More than 55% of streams examined in 2002 had a median concentration of 0.14 parts per billion (ppb) (Environ. Sci. Technol. 2002, 36, 2322–2329)". The concern is not just with aquatic life, due to triclosan’s structural similarity to thyroid hormones, which orchestrate growth and development in wildlife and humans....

A technological breakthrough from the University of Minnesota lab of Lanny Schmidt takes sugar water, soy oil, or biodiesel and converts it directly to Syngas (a mixture of hydrogen and carbon monoxide). Dubbed "reactive flash volatilization process", this technology is fast, small, and has the potential of being carbon neutral....

With the holidays just around the corner, eating well is on everyone's minds (including ours). So Sierra, the magazine of the Sierra Club, has devoted a sizable portion of its latest issue to Green Cuisine. Readers will discover how the state of Alabama is promoting farmer's markets to combat obesity, and how farmers markets everywhere, along with community gardens, are challenging the supremacy, and the bland sameness, of convenience foods. Eric Schlosser of Fast Food Nation fame takes a look at the costs created by America's very cheap food, and Gary Paul Nabhan celebrates the resurrection of meals native to regions of the country. In addition to this sumptuous spread of green foods, the November-December issue takes a look at a thirteen-year-old Rhode Island student who started an e-waste recycling program in his town, the warming of the stock market to climate change, and a green Marine. Finally, on this US election day, Carl Pope's consideration of the environmental do-nothing Congress is required reading before going to the polls. A subscription to Sierra comes with membership in the Sierra Club. ::Sierra November/December 2006...

From the Editors of E/The Environmental Magazine Dear EarthTalk: Is it true that driving with soft tires wastes energy and results in more pollution? -- Nanci Graham, via e-mail When tires are not inflated to the pounds per square inch (PSI) rating recommended by manufacturers, they are less “round” and require more energy to begin moving and to maintain speed. As such, under-inflated tires do indeed contribute to pollution and increase fuel costs. An informal study by students at Carnegie Mellon University found that the majority of cars on U.S. roads are operating on tires inflated to only 80 percent of capacity. According to the website, fueleconomy.gov, inflating tires to their proper pressure can improve mileage by about 3.3 percent, whereas leaving them under-inflated can lower mileage by 0.4 percent for every one PSI drop in pressure of all four tires....

Last year we wrote about Sarah Lucy Smith’s GreenKnickers project and are excited to announce that a limited hand-made edition is now on sale. After graduating, eco fashion designer Sarah got together with fashion merchandiser Rose Cleary-Southwood and brought GreenKnickers to life. Together, they are passionate about underwear, ethics, design and business. They believe ‘that all these values can occupy the same product’. An example of one such a product are the ‘Global Warming’ Knickers that react to heat to show the effects of global warming. Another are knickers with beautifully embroidered slogans such as ‘eat organic’. Both of these styles are made in the UK from 100% organic cotton and are on sale now for £25 each. How to care for these knickers? –Wash them cold, they say, and save energy! If you don’t agree, check out their videos! GreenKnickers are not just cheeky underwear but the two founders also live up to what they preach. For example they are reducing the ‘knicker mile’ drastically by having three styles actually made in the UK. The rest are made in India and certified fair-trade. Plus they use organic fabrics and sustainable crops where possible. Depending on the style, they are made from organic cotton, hemp and/or silk. ::GreenKnickers...

With Election Day fast approaching, clean energy is a hot topic in the state of Washington. The Clean Energy Ballot Initiative (I-937) would require the state’s largest utilities to get 15% of their electricity from renewable resources by 2020, and to invest in cost-effective energy conservation measures. A new study by the Union of Concerned Scientists projects that if I-937 is passed, homeowners will likely save about $4 a month on their electric bill by 2025, a three percent drop compared to relying on fossil fuels. Overall, consumer electricity savings would amount to more than one billion dollars by 2025. ...

A new green hotel has opened in Napa Valley. It's called the "Gaia Napa Valley", and it received the highest LEED certification in the hospitality Industry in the United States. It is unclear yet if the facility will earn a coveted gold rating or a nearly as impressive silver designation, said developer Wen Chang of Butterfly Effect Hotel. The closest any American hotel has come is a bronze rating, he said. Responsibly harvested "new growth" wood was used in the hotel's construction. The project also makes extensive use of solar power and techniques for conserving water, energy and other materials in its ongoing operations....

With another election nearing, I am thinking beyond the negative ads into what we need to do to avoid economic decline and civilizational collapse. … It depends on you and me, on what you and I do to reverse these trends. And that means becoming politically active—more than just exercising our right to vote—because, as we say at the Earth Policy Institute, saving our civilization is not a spectator sport. Traditionally, concern for our children has translated into ensuring their health care and getting them the best education possible. But if we do not act quickly to reverse the deterioration of the earth’s environmental systems, eradicate poverty, and stabilize population, their world will be declining economically and disintegrating politically. Today, securing our children’s future means not only investing in their education and health care, but also investing in a program to reverse the trends that are undermining their future, as I discuss in Chapter 7 of Plan B 2.0 (free to download)....

Good news this week from two of our favourite eco-fashion designers in the UK. Both Enamore and Martha Evatt are launching their custom made handbags online. Enamore who made quite a stir with their sexy hemp silk lingerie are now selling very pretty handbags designed by Nathalie Jayne for Enamore. You can also now buy Enamore designs directly from their online store. We featured Martha Evatt bags some months ago in relation to an article from Pecha Kucha. Martha Evatt is now pleased to announce that their new website is up and running. It is well designed with lots of lovely photos of their beautiful bags made from vintage kimono fabrics. All Martha Evatt bags are hand made in India under a strict fair trade policy and can be bought online via: The Natural Store. ::Enamore :: Martha Evatt...

Saturday night turned out to be a whole lot more fun than expected, with hundreds in attendance at San Francisco's Swedish American Hall - see the photos here. Leonora and I were in attendence representing TreeHugger and were as thrilled and suprised as anyone to see TreeHuggerTV in lights as the winner in the "Green Vlog" category! Have a look at Robert Scoble's blog for the full breakdown of winners, and Tom Foremski's funky videos, especially Lucaso's mixed up Diggrz set. We wouldn't have gotten anywhere, however, without the priceless mastery of Simran Sethi and the rest of the THTV crew - Damien Somerset, George Spyros, Lindsey Lake, Ari Kuschnir, Chris Baldwin and the whole TreeHugger team! Congrats guys!!!...

The Mix Lamp from Luceplan is another stylish integration of LED lighting for the work space. This elegant lamp would be right at home next to your titanium Mac, and delivers “an intense warm and pleasing light.” The Mix has a 50,000 hour life, and its LED Chip on Board technology only drinks up 5 watts of power. The color of light can also be changed with an integrated filter. When turned off, the profile of the lamp head is accented with a blue glow. TreeHugger has also fawned over Leceplan’s daylight-piping Zeno fixture and their Solar Buds. The Mix comes in at $472, so doesn’t quite hit the sustainable price point on the head, but certainly is an eye-pleasing piece of work. For more pocketbook compatible desk LEDs, investigate the Z-Bar ($149), and what Sylvania has to offer. Luceplan via Unica Home...

This year’s European GreenFleet award puts Citroen at the top of the list… 25,000 gathered in London demanding sanity on the environment… Google Earth is helping unveil the ecological devastation of mountaintop removal… The New York Times endorses no Republican candidates, largely over global warming stances… Solar-powered products, recycled glass, and sustainable style. Holiday shopping might be all taken care of…...

Is there a system like this where you live? Last week, when visiting a friend in Brunnen, Switzerland, I met this used clothing drop-off bin, smartly located near the recycling receptacles next to the train station. The bins give commuters a convenient means of getting rid of metals, glass and clothes on the morning commute or drive out of town. Then, through the cooperative effort of organizations like Caritas and the International Red Cross, the duds go to people who can use them. Definitely easier than driving to Goodwill or scheduling a pick-up a month in advance with UCP. Compassionate, convenient, smart! ::...

The forces of climate change denial and economic self-interest have renewed their grip over the news cycle. AP is reporting that: - "The U.S. has done better lately than some countries in restraining the growth of global warming gas emission, and isn't likely to change its stand against mandatory controls, a U.S. negotiator said Monday as 5,000 delegates opened the annual U.N. climate conference". We don't expect the US media to do much detailed reporting on the conference. Get the details directly from this site. More monkey business comes from Europe, via Dow Jones Newswire (subscription only): - "In a statement released Sunday, the European Association of Automobile Manufacturers said it "firmly opposes" European Union legislation to cut CO2 emissions. E.U. safety legislation had forced carmakers to add weight to their vehicles, bringing down their fuel efficiency and raising their emissions, the manufacturers said". ...

So you’ve been nagging your co-workers to get rid of the disposable coffee cups at work but some people are complaining about hygiene issues and not wanting to do other people’s dishes. The simple sustainable solution: Lockup. It’s a ceramic cup conceived by Israeli designer Efrat Gommeh that comes custom-fitted with its own key making it possible only for the key-holder to fill it up with a Cup of Joe. We think Lock Up could be fun for some after-work drinking game parties too. But don't take our word for it. ::Gommeh via ::Design Boom...

Still waiting for the verdict on organic foods? The truth is out! It’s a fact that organic, locally produced foods taste better and contain more nutritional benefits than conventional, mass-produced grub. Not to mention that organics have less of an impact on soil, wildlife, water and the climate. When you purchase local organics, you help support community farms that are smaller-scale, more biodiverse, and use half the amount of energy as traditional industrial farms. Plus, it’s an easy way to trim 20% off your annual carbon emissions! Find ways to curb your carbon appetite by joining The Slate Green Challenge. We will provide you with news and information on issues from holiday shopping to energy use to this week's topic, food. It all starts with an initial footprint quiz. Be one of the first 500 that helps us collectively cut our CO2 emissions by 20% and win a Green Challenge t-shirt from our sponsors at I’m Organic. ::Slate Green Challenge Welcome ::Slate Green Challenge Week 3: Food...

Transformer furniture lets you have multiple functions in a single space- it does not make a lot of sense to have a bedroom empty for 16 out of 24 hours. It may not even make sense to have a bedroom if you have furniture like Mobelform. with a few quick moves, this sleek Italian desk transforms... ...

Today’s Guardian newspaper has a supplement on environmental responsibility in business with some very interesting, heart warming and depressing articles on the state of the world's response to the environment. Starting with the interesting: only four of the world's ten largest companies have targets for reducing carbon dioxide. The oil companies are the largest emitters, with ExxonMobil the biggest; responsible for 138M tons a year, whilst BP has the lowest of the oil companies on the list, with 78 tons. Among car manufacturers, General Motors has the highest emissions at 12M tons per year, and Toyota has the lowest at 6M tons. The heart warming: ethical consumers are growing in strength. Of those surveyed, 77% sent items for recycling, 47% had become more energy efficient, a quarter had heard of the Project RED initiative and 38% had made five or more ethical purchases. And the depressing: reports on the impact of China’s economic development on water pollution, air quality, loss of fields and arable land. :: Guardian...

Development in Las Vegas has often been modeled on the Strip hotel-casino, or the all-you-can-eat buffet: more and bigger are always better. Despite an orgy of growth in the nineties, though, even Sin City is starting to look at its resource use and carrying capacity, and adapting greener principles for further development. UNLV's landscape, for instance, is now xeriscaped (disclaimer: I'm a UNLV grad), and green buildings are popping up in the metropolitan area. One of the coolest developments in the works, though, is the Las Vegas Springs Preserve, a $250 million non-gaming cultural attraction that's incorporating some of the best principles of sustainable design. Springs Preserve is the largest commercial straw-bale development in the United States, and is shooting for the green building industry's highest standards:...

Got a green business in the US? What's the most important thing you can do for your green business plan? Avoiding 'green marketing myopia' is what. To do that you want to "...make sure it offers benefits to the consumer beyond just environmental ones". See a detailed discussion of green marketing myopia here. Find out how to avoid it at New York Designs' "Business of Green Products" course, coming up next Saturday, 11 November 2006. From the course promo: - "Invest a morning this fall to learn how to use “eco-design” strategies to trigger enhanced and new products that are at once profitable, innovative, sustainable and able to compete in a global marketplace fast becoming “green”. Learn strategies for reducing environmental impacts throughout a product’s life cycle, and how to use effective tools like Life Cycle Assessment". ...

Many who make high performance sporting gear worry less than they should about making it green. At Mountain Equipment Coop, it is part of their mandate. One new product is their PVC-free PFD- they say:" As the first PFD manufacturer to use our new soft, cross-linked PE foam, we invested considerable time and money to get it approved for use. It was worth it. The foam meets all UL and ULC testing standards, and exceeds many of them. It's lighter, more buoyant, better aging, and, best of all, more friendly to the environment than traditional PVC foams. (We think that last benefit is such a good thing that we're making the PE foam available to any other manufacturer who wants it.)" The next time we eddy into the Karnali, we are wearing this. ::MEC via ::Cottage Life...

While the scientific evidence continues to mount on climate change, and former allies defect, the climate change skeptic crowd is as assertive as ever. On Saturday, a person or group calling itself Internet Skeptic uploaded fourteen videos to YouTube of a college professor (who is unnamed) lecturing students on the skeptics' case against global warming. It's very interesting (and a little disturbing) to watch Professor X lecture students on the standard criticisms of global warming science, and to also openly push a libertarian line of thought (note: as a former college professor, I found this last element of the lectures very disturbing). Fortunately, there's very little in these lectures that can't be answered by perusing Grist's new "How to Talk to a Global Warming Skeptic" feature, or the index at RealClimate. ::Global Warming Myths videos via linton at Hugg UPDATE: After a little more digging, I did come across what appears to be the event announcement for the gathering shown in these videos. If I've got the right information, these lectures were given at an event for the Libertarian Studies Organization at Ohio State University. If this is correct, then my characterization of the setting in these videos was wrong....

We were pleased to see some green designs when the national Argentinean Innovar inventions-competition’s winners were announced. BCKSolar is one of them: a compact solar cooker and food carrier that can be folded into a tube. It can heat water up to a temperature of 90 degrees Celsius, which makes it possible to cook rice, pasta, soup, eggs, etc. Once hot, the cooker also allows keeping the food warm as thermos container would. According to Javier Bertani, who designed the piece with Vera Kade and Ezequiel Castro, the recipient in the middle of the conical surface acts as a black figure that absorbs solar energy; it is then isolated by an acrylic tube air chamber. Since it is transparent, it allows the heat to go in, but keep the recipient from losing the accumulated heat. The BCKSolar Cooker is a prototype, but the designers are whiling to take it into production, so everyone interested can get in touch with them through their website or through info at bcksolar dot com dot ar. ::BCKSolar [Link removed because site seems to have been hacked -Ed.]...

Last time we mentioned the Product RED iPod, the comments box filled up with chatter about how green an MP3 player might or might not be. If that’s your interest check out this recent post, which more directly relates to that issue. This time around, maybe we could focus instead on the reason for the RED branding in the first place. Part of the program’s manifesto reads, “All things being equal. And they are not. As first world consumers, we have tremendous power. What we collectively choose to buy. or not to buy, can change the course of life and history on this planet.” So far about $ 6.25 million USD of RED money has gone to Rwanda to buy anti-retroviral treatment for HIV/AIDS infected children and adults. $4 million USD has gone to Swaziland for similar purposes, with a chunk also being used for feeding and schooling of orphans. According to Apple, “Customer response to the iPod nano (PRODUCT) RED Special Edition has been off the chart.” So a month after launching the 4GB music player under the program, they've now added a 8GB one as well. $10 from each sale goes to RED and thus to its operative on the ground in Africa - Global Fund. ::Apple RED iPod Nano, via MacNewsDaily. ...

The other night I happened to catch Zac Goldsmith interviewed by Maxine McKew, one of Australia’s most respected journalists. Zac is the owner/editor of the UK-based Ecologist magazine. Which is quite remarkable because he is most assuredly to the right of British politics, to the point that the Tory party have signed him as a possible candidate for the next election. He thus had some intriguing things to say. A few I excerpted here. “The market is without doubt the most powerful force we have for social change. There's nothing in history that's remotely comparable. But it does have a blind spot and that's the environment.”. Though he did go on to observe, “We're already seeing [...] the emergence of a half a trillion-dollar sector in environmental goods and services.” And I was particularly enamoured with this gem: “If every light bulb in Britain was replaced with an energy saving light bulb you would save the equivalent of two nuclear power plants and nobody would realise.” Which competed with this one: “I saw yesterday if everybody in the United States had recycled the aluminium cans they threw away last year they would have saved enough aluminium to rebuild the world's air fleet. It is one tiny example but shows we need to find a way of designing waste out of the system. If you do that it's wonderful news for the planet and not bad news for the consumer.” The full transcript can be found at the site of the ABC’s ::Lateline. ...

Sometimes called the Venice of the North, Stockholm, Sweden is composed of large islands stitched together to create a city. Parks and tree-lined streets are common and nature is close. In fact, Djurgarden (tr. “The Animal Park”) a section of the city, is almost exclusively composed of parkland. From most anywhere in the city water is near. Two bodies of water straddle Stockholm; the Baltic Sea on one side and lake Mälaren on the other. The city went through a dramatic clean-up in the 1970s and is now one of the cleanest big cities in the world. Currently the City of Stockholm is running a campaign to get citizens involved in keeping their city clear. ...

During my time on Waiheke Island I met an amazing community of people who like my friends Laura and Darren and Sean and Gina of Spangled Ferret are working to create an interactive, inclusive, educational, sustainable and vibrant cultural arts scene not only on the Island, but in New Zealand as a whole. You have read about Laura and Darren’s efforts to live sustainably on their land, you heard about their green wedding, which utilized as much local talent as possible, and you’ve seen the seedlings and saplings of their permaculture garden. To bring all these elements together and to bring their knowledge to a wider audience Darren and Laura are planning to hold a festival on their land in January 2007. Their mission is to bring together neighbours and friends to produce a world class, environmentally aware festival, seeking emerging talent and culture from New Zealand and internationally for a broad cross section of performing arts, music, sculpture and civil action groups....

We Treehuggers love recycling, but all too often it involves expending energy to break down perfectly good materials, only to reform them into very similar materials or products later. This is something that McDonough & Braungart refer to as downcycling, after the inevitable loss of quality each time a material is broken down and then reformed. It's much better, then, to either reuse a product for as long as possible, or to find another use for it that doesn't involve breaking it down any more than necessary. Of course, once these options are exhausted, the product should still be suitable for more traditional recycling, which certainly beats throwing it in a big hole in the ground. Ultimately, all products should be designed for reuse and/or intelligent upcycling (another McDonough and Braungart term), but in the meantime we sometimes have to get creative with products that already exist....

Solarcentury's Jeremy Leggett is no stranger to stirring up the government, as can be seen from the interview we conducted here. Now he has joined the debate surrounding the Stern report. Not only has his company released its own provocative vision for the Houses of Parliament clad in solar cells, but they are also calling on government to significantly increase its support for solar and other renewables:...

The The Wall Street Journal reports: "A radical idea is sweeping the world of American bicycle manufacturing: building bikes that people will use for actual transportation. After decades of pushing models designed for recreation, from full-suspension mountain bikes to ever-faster road bikes, industry heavyweights are now moving into commuters — rugged specimens made for riding to work." Pictured here is the Currie iZIP Urban Cruiser Electric Bicycle, priced at $549. The article also mentions Specialized’s new Globe commuter line, Breezer's Uptown 8 series, and Electra’s new $550 Amsterdam commuter bikes. This page: Commuter Bicycles Available in the U.S. has photos of most of the 2005 models of these bikes. ...

Ed. Note: Extended entry deadlines have been announced for this competition. Please see Design 21 Competitions Get Extended. The Design 21 Logo Competition produced a winner and three new competitions have been announced which seek to solve real problems with good design. As previously reported, the intention of the Design 21 Social Design Network is to "bring designers and non-profits together to create, share and discuss socially responsible design." The competitions offer $10,000 prize money for first, second, third place designs and an audience-pleaser award. Public voting opens successively: 11 December 2006, 1 January and 29 January 2007, always one day after the deadline for entries....

The New York Times discusses how bamboo was transformed from a 50's tiki lounge accessory to its use in clothing and interior design today: "Bamboo has long been popular with the ecoconscious set (because, unlike a clear-cut forest, a well-managed bamboo crop replaces itself in a few years). Recently it has also acquired a chic factor that something like, say, hemp, never quite attained. As Susanne Lucas, chairwoman of the board of the World Bamboo Organization (a nonprofit group that promotes bamboo as a material and as an economic development tool), puts it, the grass has become “fashionable.”..However the article does point out: "much of the bamboo that makes its way to the American consumer comes from China, which means that it’s being shipped around the world — generally a greenie no-no. Finally, overseas bamboo harvesting is often opaque, with little information available about working conditions or whether crops are really being managed in sustainable ways. TreeHugger, an environmental-lifestyle Web site, has even argued that sometimes a maple floor made from locally harvested wood under a forest-management certification program can be a more environmentally sound choice." ::New York Times...

This TreeHugger's mantra has been "The key to sustainability is simply to use less, and the key to happily using less is to design things better." Mies van der Rohe is famous for the phrase "less is more", Harry Wakefield of Mocoloco updated it for our title, but the point is this: there are so many things being designed and produced that let us live in less space, consume less energy or fewer resources, that are not obviously or necessarily "green" and do not grace the pages of TreeHugger. Yet through original invention or good design, they have an impact on the way we live and on the size of our footprint. The notebook computer did not develop as a green replacement for a desktop, yet there is no question that it has a smaller physical and ecological footprint- It is greener by design, and now customers are demanding greener manufacture. ...

Good magazine is just that: damn good. Full of delicious cultural tidbits and facts, the premiere Sep/Oct issue offers a plethora of green tips and resources to satiate any TreeHugger's appetite. My favorite article is by Ben Jervey, a fellow New York City resident who conducted an "experiment in extreme urban environmentalism" by dedicating a month to reducing his ecological footprint. He makes a point to live his indulgent city life, but to do so with minimal impact. He relies on local food, his bike, CFLs, and local beer from the Brooklyn Brewery, which, while not organic, shuttles around its bottles and kegs in a fleet of biodiesel trucks. A more mindful approach to recycling also helps him reduce 4-weeks worth of garbage to the size of a toolbox (the average American fills an oil drum in the same amount of time). It's often discouraging living in a city of extremes where mysterious black soot collects on your windowsill and gas-guzzling cabs are ubiquitous. But knowing that it's possible to take green just as extreme without deprivation restores hope that the good can almost always balance out, if not outweigh, the bad. ::Good Magazine...

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Entries for November 5, 2006 - November 11, 2006

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by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 11.10.06

by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 11.10.06

by Jeff McIntire-Strasburg, St. Louis, MO on 11.10.06

by EcoGeek.org on 11. 9.06

by Jacob Gordon, Nashville, TN on 11. 9.06

by Eckhart Beatty, San Francisco on 11. 9.06

by Kara DiCamillo, Newport, Rhode Island on 11. 9.06

by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 11. 9.06

by Leonora Oppenheim, London, UK on 11. 9.06

by Eric Kane, New York, NY on 11. 9.06

by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 11. 9.06

by Bonnie Alter, London on 11. 9.06

by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 11. 9.06

by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 11. 9.06

by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 11. 9.06

by Tim McGee, Western Massachusetts on 11. 9.06

by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 11. 9.06

by Jeff McIntire-Strasburg, St. Louis, MO on 11. 9.06

by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 11. 9.06

by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 11. 9.06

by Siel, Los Angeles on 11. 9.06

by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 11. 9.06

by Sean Fisher, Cincinnati, Ohio on 11. 8.06

by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 11. 8.06

by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 11. 8.06

by Celine Ruben-Salama, New York, NY on 11. 8.06

by Kyeann Sayer, Nomad on 11. 8.06

by Jacob Gordon, Nashville, TN on 11. 8.06

by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 11. 8.06

by Justin Thomas, Virginia on 11. 8.06

by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 11. 8.06

by Team Treehugger, Worldwide on 11. 8.06

by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 11. 8.06

by Brittany Jacobs, Seattle on 11. 8.06

by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 11. 8.06

by Jeff McIntire-Strasburg, St. Louis, MO on 11. 8.06

by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 11. 8.06

by Bonnie Alter, London on 11. 8.06

by Leonora Oppenheim, London, UK on 11. 7.06

by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 11. 7.06

by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 11. 7.06