- Emily Pilloton Discusses the Hippo Roller and other Designs for Humanity (Part One)
- Janine Benyus on Biomimicry in Design (Part Two)
- Janine Benyus on Biomimicry in Design (Part One)
- Andy Revkin - Climate in the Obama Age
- Fred Pearce - Confessions of An Eco-Sinner (Part Two)
- Fred Pearce - Confessions of An Eco-Sinner (Part One)
- Chris Goodall - Ten Techs to Save Our Butts (Part Two)
- Chris Goodall - Ten Techs to Save Our Butts (Part One)
Entries for November 12, 2006 - November 18, 2006
Total this week: 129
Another Stake Through the Heart of Vampire Power
by Jacob Gordon, Nashville, TN on 11.18.06
Here’s a clever little so and so. We all know about the deleterious effects of “wall warts” and their insatiable vampire-like appetite for sucking phantom power from our walls and power grids, and dollars from our pockets. It’s good to see more smart strips (and potentially even talking adaptors) come on to the market. The little Mini Power Minder has the smarts to shut off your computer’s peripherals and doodads when the computer itself is shut down. A USB cable connection lets the devise know when the computer is powered down and correspondingly shuts off power to the second outlet. Plugging a power strip into the second outlet would mean your printer, external hard drive, iPod, speaker system, and on-desk margarita blender can all go sleepy time when the PC is put to bed. Pricing in a $14.95, this might be irresistible. Assumedly, the upper outlet (for the computer) does stay active, which still means some power drain, making it not as smart at the Smart Strip, but comes in at about half the price. :: Mini Power Minder via Hugg (Linton)...
More Beautiful Bamboo
by Bonnie Alter, London on 11.18.06
Bamboo is a favourite topic for treehugger and for good reason: it’s environmental, grows twice as fast as wood, prevents soil erosion and can be harvested continuously without killing the plant. These bright looking home accessories combine modern forms, stylish colours and perfect finishes that are equal to anything in the shops. The platters, along with more bowls, trays, vases and containers are produced by a French company working closely with local craftsmen in Viet Nam and Brazil. They approach their work with a sincere desire to create jobs in rural areas and make use of long-standing artisanal skills in a new, more modern way. It is the essence of eco-chic: appeal to consumers by producing items that are fashionable, functional, and environmentally beneficial. :: ekobo via :: esprit Equo...
Small-Marts Really Are Better
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 11.18.06
We keep talking about Small-Marts,where Michael Shuman points out how much more money stays in the community when you shop small and local. We post about the Declaration of Independents, where Stacey Mitchell says "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." Seth Godin, in Small is the new Big said that small, clever, honest and real businesses and ideas will succeed; big is slow, boring and broken. Read a recent post from his site about getting a tire fixed in Texas. Shopping local is not just better for your community and better for the environment, it can often be a better experience. ::Seth Godin...
Children Demand a Future: Will Blair Listen?
by Treehugger Interns on 11.18.06
Tony Blair is no stranger to tough political negotiations. However, even he may have found it hard to explain to this bunch why he is unwilling to sign up to year-on-year targets for greenhouse gas reductions. Six school children, between the ages of 8 and 17, met the Prime Minister at Downing Street last week to highlight their concerns about climate change and what it means for their futures. The six who represent the Stop Climate Chaos coalition, handed in petitions from nearly 150,000 people calling for a climate change law that would commit the UK to reducing its emissions by at least three per cent year on year. The group was also involved in a lively discussion with Tony Blair on the need for the UK to reduce its carbon dioxide emissions and set an example to the rest of the world.
Jenny Avery, aged 17, from Northants had no fears about meeting the Prime Minister and telling him exactly what she thought:
“I wasn’t nervous about meeting Tony Blair as climate change is a very important issue and we wanted to let him know that young people care. We are the ones who will have to live with it when we are older.”...
What's in a Name? Babes n Burgers: Organic Treats for All Ages
by Treehugger Interns on 11.18.06
When we visited West London based Babes N Burgers (warning: this website comes with a serious Flash alert!), we weren’t quite sure what to expect. For this particular Treehugger at least, the name had a certain ambiguity. However, far from being an organic version of Hooters, this burger bar, situated on the fashionable Portobello Road, got its name from the restaurant's child friendly layout and menu. Not only does the restaurant come complete with its own playroom, featuring a piano and tiny tables and chairs, but it is also careful to offer healthy fast-food options for children, including no salt fries. The adults get a pretty good look in too....
Boulder Colorado USA Enacts Carbon Tax
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 11.18.06
Per the New York Times, "The tax, to take effect on April 1, will be based on the number of kilowatt-hours used. Officials say it will add $16 a year to an average homeowner’s electricity bill and $46 for businesses"..."City officials said the revenue from the tax — an estimated $6.7 million by 2012, when the goal is to have reduced carbon emissions by 350,000 metric tons — would be collected by the main gas and electric utility, Xcel Energy, and funneled through the city’s Office of Environmental Affairs . The tax is to pay for the “climate action plan,” efforts to “increase energy efficiency in homes and buildings, switch to renewable energy and reduce vehicle miles traveled,..." Renewable energy uses apparently get a tax rebate: an indirect incentive to shift power buying preference. Should this be emulated by other municipalities in well wind-endowed states, the power of local politics to influence national ones will be established. ...
After A Lovely Drive Among The Hemp Fields Of Manitoba, Our Environmental Questions Are Answered
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 11.18.06
On returning from a trip through the “Parkland” region of Manitoba, Canada, we had questions about the hemp harvesting observed. After a bit of Googling, we found this helpful provincial government site. Being a professional resource, of course, the site offered no explanation as to why the hemp seed pods had been harvested and the fibrous main stems left to stand, porcupine-like in the last warm days of fall. A few weeks later help arrived. An earlier email to the Parkland Industrial Hemp Growers Coop had been passed along to a local agricultural agent, who kindly responded to all of our naïve questions, including these: + 1. Do wildlife, waterfowl especially, frequent the fields and eat seeds as they do on other Manitoba crops? If so, do they then become confused and fly North in the fall (kidding about that part)? + 2. How might you compare soil conservation outcomes of hemp rotated lands to lands rotated only with traditional crops. + 3. How energy intensive is the hemp planting and harvest compared to the other common Manitoba crops? As with all questions hempish, the ‘devil is in the details.’ Have a look at some excerpts from the helpful reply we recieved....
BioDiesel Algal Conversion Technology In Bloom
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 11.18.06
GreenFuel seems to have instigated something of an algae bloom of business relationships in it’s pursuit of green fuel products. We’ve covered them before several times: here, here, and here. The bloom expands:- "GreenFuel Technologies Corporation, the leading developer of algae bioreactor systems that recycle CO2 in flue gases into clean, renewable biofuels, announced that it has signed an agreement to license its proprietary technology to Global Renewable Energy Efficiency Network, a newly formed biofuels company in the Republic of South Africa...Under the terms of the agreement, Global Renewable will have the rights to install and operate GreenFuel's Emissions- to-Biofuels(TM) algae bioreactor systems at multiple locations with commercial deployment potential of 1,000 acres or more". ...
What Can Robots Learn From Rats?
by Christine Lepisto, Berlin on 11.18.06
According to researchers at the University of Jena in Germany, robots can reach new heights if they can learn to climb like rats. With the help of a special x-ray machine developed by Siemens, the researchers have succeeded to make a unique video mimicking the technique of high-speed strobe photography with x-ray images. Among other things, a robot capable of performing inspection or maintenance activities in previously unreachable locations could extend the lifespan of buildings and structures, perhaps even enable new green construction materials to be developed. One application foreseen is the inspection of electrical cables for fire prevention. ...
This Week on TreeHugger Radio…
by Jacob Gordon, Nashville, TN on 11.17.06
This week on EcoTalk we bring you the shakedown of the midterm elections as well as the promise of things to come. Michael Dorsey of Dartmouth College’s Climate Justice Project discusses politics and prospect of green government. Kansas is beckoning three new coal-fired power plants into the state, which will send energy to Colorado and spread pollution all over the region. We speak with the geniuses behind the Skystream 3.7, a home wind-turbine dubbed one of the year’s best inventions by Time Magazine. Next week we do some sleuthing around the turkey farm, look into a new carbon-free shipping creation, chat with actressvist Daryl Hannah, and more. Toggle on over to EcoTalk for the scoop. ...
Talking to Graeme North – Eco Architect, Matakana, NZ
by Leonora Oppenheim, London, UK on 11.17.06
On my travels I have found that the best way to meet local people is to talk to local people. When you’ve met one person then they can recommend another person and so a chain of introductions is created. When I visited Joe Polaischer of Rainbow Valley Farm, it happened that I was sent by a friend of mine to see him and so in turn he sent me to see a friend of his. Graeme North, the pre-eminent practitioner of eco-architecture in New Zealand, just happened to live down the road. Graeme has been building with rammed earth, mud brick, cob and hay bales for over 30 years in New Zealand. There are examples of his work all over the country and unbeknownst to me I had actually been staying in one of them. By a strange coincidence it turns out that Graeme had been a consultant on the building of Laura and Darren’s straw bale house on Waiheke Island....
Home Energy and Heat Generators Coming to America
by EcoGeek.org on 11.17.06
Combined Heat and Power (CHP) generators in America have so far been used only for large-scale projects. They can heat and power entire neighborhoods or office complexes. And, in doing it, they are about three times more efficient that centralized fossil fuel power plants. CHPs aren't emissions free (they run internal combustion engines with natural gas) but because they are decentralized and capture the heat produced by the power generation, they produce a lot more energy per ton of CO2 released.
But the big news in CHPs is that they're becoming ultra-decentralized. That is, you can put one under your sink and heat and power your house with it. In Japan, over 30,000 household's already have micro-CHPs, and Europe boasts more than 80,000. Where's yours you ask? It's coming, just hold on a little bit. A few dozen units have been installed across America, but their spread is being held back by cheap energy prices and lack of the incentives that have driven the market in Japan and Europe. But two businesses are poised to begin marketing CHPs to environmentally conscious Americans....
Eco-friendly gift boxes from Saul Good Gift Co.
by Brittany Jacobs, Seattle on 11.17.06
With the holidays right around the corner, you might be stressed about finding the perfect gift for both your business associates as well as your loved ones. Saul Good Gift Co., a Vancouver, BC-based business, might be your one-stop-shop this season. The company’s line of gift boxes could fulfill your hopes of giving stylish gifts that also have minimal impact on the Earth. The fully-recyclable boxes are not only fun, but also complete with numerous gourmet and organic products including fair-trade coffee and teas, organic body care products, and yummy chocolates and snacks. Saul Good (get it? … "s’all good") is making sure their sustainable bases are covered with responsible resource usage, support for local BC-based businesses, and involvement in social causes, and they do all this while selling environmentally friendly, low-impact products. These eco-chic gift boxes just might ensure that your giftee’s health, taste buds, and community are s’all feeling good this holiday season. ::Saul Good...
GreenFinds.com: Daily Product Recommendations, Tips, and Discounts
by Kyeann Sayer, Nomad on 11.17.06
Starting Monday, GreenFinds.com will do the "green" product searching for you. In the Ideal Bite vein, you'll receive a nifty tip each day. Added bonus: GreenFinds subscribers will get a discount on the featured goods and services. While we don't yet know the eco-parameters of their selections, we're sure savvy readers will fill us in right away. ::GreenFinds.com Via Mitra...
Oprah Wants to Know about Your Global Warming Concerns
by Jeff McIntire-Strasburg, St. Louis, MO on 11.17.06
It's been just over a year since Oprah Winfrey had Leonardo DiCaprio and Dr. Michael Oppenheimer on her show to discuss climate change. Apparently, Oprah and co. aren't finished with this important topic, as the "Be On the Show" section of Oprah.com lists two global warming-themed questions (" Are you worried about global warming?" and " Is your family worried about global warming?" ) on the "Upcoming Shows" roster. A reader need only click on the linked questions and fill out the form, and s/he could find her or himself on the way to Chicago as a guest of the Oprah Winfrey Show. We can't think of a group of people more prepared to answer these questions than Treehugger readers, so we encourage you to tell your story at Oprah.com. Let Oprah know that not only are you and your family concerned, but that you're also taking concrete steps to lessen your own carbon footprint. More than likely, you've even got good ideas about how we can address the climate crisis at the local, national and international levels. When you send your information to Oprah's people, we'd really (really!) appreciate it if you mentioned that you learned about these potential shows at Treehugger. ::"Be On the Show" at Oprah.com...
Bust January 2007 Issue: Parker Posey, Recycled DIY, Child-free and Happy
by Kyeann Sayer, Nomad on 11.17.06
In this issue, indie film and fashion icon Parker Posey chats a bit about her vintage-loving fashion origins (as well as her love of dogs). While Parker doesn't know if she'll "graduate" from dog to kid mom, the author of "Newborn Free" certainly will not. Feeling alienated because of your non-procreative urges? Get the skinny on virtual communities and books for those without baby fever. If you want to go gift-buying sans bag accumulation, grab your stock of the plastic grocery variety and follow detailed instructions for a sturdy tote. Finally, while the Bust Holiday Gift Guide isn't brimming with re-purposed DIY, there are a few eco-gems! ::Bust ...
Most Huggable
by Jacob Gordon, Nashville, TN on 11.17.06
The One Laptop per Child Project gets a working model… Rocketboom looks at inflatable pod dwellings in New York (and gets kicked out of the park)… Prince Charles promotes bikes as a cog in his green master plan… Carbonfund launches carbon-neutral shipping options for e-commerce… The Better World Shopping Guide helps turn grocery lists into tools for change… ...
TreeHugger Picks: Buy Local Day
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 11.17.06
As we noted yesterday, tomorrow is Buy Local Day; though none of us need an excuse to support our local farms, businesses and economy, it's a nice way to galvanize support for the "buy local" movement. Here are some ideas for how to spend your buy local day.
1) Get some local food for its wide range of benefits, from environmental to health & taste to economics.
2) Local Harvest is a great resource if you aren't sure where to find local food & farms to buy it from near you.
3) Grab some organic, fair trade coffee from a local coffee shop, not the ubiquitous mega-chain.
4) Stop by a local specialty bookstore, like Toronto's Fertile Ground.
5) Finish off the day at a local restaurant like London's Canteen, Blue Hill at Stone Barns or Nora in Washington, D.C....
Ekovaruhuset NY: House of Organics
by Celine Ruben-Salama, New York, NY on 11.17.06
Sure to be known as “that Swedish Organic Shop on Ludlow,” Ekovaruhuset (tr. House of Organics) is the newest edition to the developing eco-shopping circuit on Manhattan’s Lower East Side. Everything in the store meets strict eco-guidelines and contains no less than 90% organic content. In addition most garments are ethically produced and meet fair trade guidelines. Shelves are stocked with both designer pieces and basics like underwear, lingerie, socks, jeans and sneakers for both men and women. ...
Shopper's Guide to Pesticides in Produce
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 11.17.06
When it comes to food, you know how the mantra goes: eat local organic, then local, then organic, don't forget fair trade, less packaging is better, etc., etc. It would be great if we could all do all of these things all the time, but it's tough, especially with farmer's markets and local farms heading for hibernation over the winter. For many of us, there comes a time when buying fresh food from organic sources is darn near impossible; for those times, the Environmental Working Group has published the 4th edition of the Shopper's Guide to Pesticides in Produce. It ranks 43 fruits and vegetables, from most to least pesticides found in conventional varieties, based on the results of nearly 43,000 tests for pesticides on produce collected by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration between 2000 and 2004. The guide comes in handy wallet form, making it easy to have at the ready the next time you want to know if peaches or pears generally use more pesticides (peaches do). For quick reference, the "Dirty Dozen" -- the top 12 most heavily washed in pest & weed killer -- are peaches, apples, bell peppers, celery, nectarines, strawberries, cherries, pears, imported grapes, spinach, lettuce & potatoes, so you'd be well advised to look for organic varieties of all of these. At the bottom of the list are onions, avocado, frozen sweet corn, pineapple, mango and asparagus. Learn more about the methodology, why reducing your exposure to pesticides is smart and then get the guide. ::Shopper's Guide to Pesticides in Produce via ::Lifehacker...
One Earth One Design
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 11.17.06
One Earth One Design is a Seattle-based interior design firm that specializes in sustainable residential and commercial design. Proprietor Sandy Campbell brings 18 years of interior design experience to the company, that, in addition to offering services that any good TreeHugger would expect (non-toxic, non-polluting, low environmental impact products and interiors), has recently opened up a retail store (pictured) that offers these sorts of products and ideas without undertaking a remodel or hiring their interior design services. Looks like they'll be using the space to host some "how to green your home"-type events; the next one is on December 2, for holiday decorating, tree choices gift wrapping and gift buying with a TreeHugger twist. Check out their photo gallery for examples of their work and inspiration for greening your home's interior; looks like the kind of place we'd want to swing by after a stop at Environmental Home Center. ::One Earth One Design...
Chris Gilmore's Cardboard Aston Martin: But is it Bulletproof?
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 11.17.06
Everyone loves the new James Bond, but we will stick with Sean Connery, and his Aston Martin DB8. Artist Chris Gilmore likes the DB8 so much that he built a full size one out of rubbish and calls it Pussy Galore. " By working with common, recycled items, such as cardboard and cigarette packets, Gilmour concentrates on the medium in its natural state, often preserving the original printing, tape, and labels to capture an essence of authenticity." According to Men's Style, "I wanted to take the idea of James Bond as this glamorous, invincible superhero and contrast it with an object made of total rubbish," explains Gilmour, who's asking $30,000 for his cardboard creation and takes care to note that the project wasn't intended as yet another crass product tie-in. "I started working on it long before I knew the film was even coming out, so it's a very happy coincidence." On show in New York until November 22 at ::Freight and Volume via ::Men.style...
Simon Says: Fight Terror With Renewable Energy
by Karin Kloosterman, Tel Aviv on 11.17.06
Wake up world! Was the message Israel’s Vice Prime Minister Shimon Peres sent to hundreds of foreign visitors last week at the annual Prime Minister’s Conference, a very fancy business shindig where foreign dignitaries, Israeli government officials and businesses such as General Electric strutted their stuff—and looked for ways to develop global businesses and alliances. Peres gave a keynote that would kick off a smaller conference in an adjoining hall—the Conference on Renewable and Alternative Energy. Since this TreeHugger often works incognito, she was there to report on it. ::Israel21c...
The Slate Green Challenge
by Brittany Jacobs, Seattle on 11.17.06
It goes without saying that we each get at least one article of clothing each holiday season that we could really do without. (How many scarves does one person really need?) Instead of tossing your unloved, unwanted duds in the garbage, try donating them to your local consignment store. This helps to reduce the carbon emissions that are associated with incinerating them or sending them to a landfill. And while you are out shopping for gifts, try buying vintage clothing or garments made out of hemp or bamboo. Not only will you give a thoughtful gift that helps to reduce your impact on the Earth, but also it will help you look fashionable and eco-chic with all your loved ones.
Want more simple ways in which to reduce your carbon emissions? Join The Slate Green Challenge with Treehugger. Almost 27,000 people have joined the pledge to reduce our collective emissions by 20%, so why haven’t you? It all starts with a simple carbon footprint analysis quiz and follows with ways to reduce your impact. And while we are on the topic of low-impact clothing, we should also mention that you will have a chance to win a new organic cotton shirt from our sponsors at I’m Organic if you are one of the first 500 to complete the challenge. Good luck! ::Slate Green Challenge Welcome ::Slate Green Challenge Week 4: Wardrobe...
Earthtalk :: Carwash Clarity
by Dominic Muren, Philadelphia, USA on 11.17.06
From the Editors of E/The Environmental Magazine
Dear EarthTalk: What is the most environmentally friendly way I can wash my car: doing it myself or going to the local car wash? -- Jim, Denton, TX
Few people realize that washing our cars in our driveways is one of the most environmentally un-friendly chores we can do around the house. Unlike household waste water that enters sewers or septic systems and undergoes treatment before it is discharged into the environment, what runs off from your car goes right into storm drains -- and eventually into rivers, streams, creeks and wetlands where it poisons aquatic life and wreaks other ecosystem havoc. After all, that water is loaded with a witch’s brew of gasoline, oil and residues from exhaust fumes -- as well as the harsh detergents being used for the washing itself....
TH Week :: Gifting Gently
by Dominic Muren, Philadelphia, USA on 11.17.06
Though we try our best to resist the temptation to buy gifts excessively, there's always that occasional opportunity to get something nice for someone, and we want to make sure that it's nice for the earth as well. Here are our picks for this week.
Brittany found these great gift boxes from Saul Good Gift company.
Celine turned us on to these cute undies from Peau Ethique.
Bonnie found this great (and cheap) prototype sailing dinghy that folds flat, and uses minimal materials.
Kyeann made sure that we don't accept any more chrome tanned leather in our luxury gifts.
Collin got us all lucky with this sale going on for Flor carpeting....
loll designs
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 11.17.06
It is a riff on a classic- Americans call it the Adirondack chair; Canadians the Muskoka chair. Either is deep and comfortable and iconic. Loll Designs have done a slightly squarer, edgier version made of recycled high density polyethylene and held together with stainless steel hardware. We really like their warranty claim: "built to last longer than you". Site makes the stuff look mainstream, but in fact this is a spinoff from Trueride, using material left over from building skateboard parks. Now that is recycling! ::Loll Designs via ::Productdose...
Business Card Becomes Garden
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 11.17.06
There are little holes punched on the dust cover of the new Worldchanging book; the cover of the book itself is white. According to Alex Steffen, Designer Sagmeister Inc. designed them so that as the book ages, it will change, as light and, we suppose dirt, get through the holes and colour the cover. In this age of online reading, clever designers are making formerly static print materials do interesting things. Here is another example:
Zurich Landscape architects Tur & Partner market themsleves with a postcard embedded with seeds that grow over the through holes in the plans printed on the card. BldgBlog calls it "a portable garden:impregnated with seeds, in the photosynthetic presence of sunlight and water, the paper eventually sprouts." Advertising for Peanuts says: While most direct marketing pieces get thrown in trash before they are even opened, this one slowly starts to grow on you - literally.::Bldgblog
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Bio-lux Composting Toilet: A New Throne for your Home
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 11.17.06
When it comes to composting toilets, we thought we had seen it all, but we missed the Bio-Lux. This Japanese unit uses sawdust as an "artificial soil matrix" to decompose human waste into odorless water and carbon dioxide through aerobic fermentation. You empty it twice a year and toss the compost in your flower garden. Most units are pretty industrial looking, but they are available in all their throne-like glory for residential use. These are big high capacity units: the smallest can be used 16-20 times per day, the biggest up to 200 times per day. But they are also not cheap, starting at about US$ 10,000.
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Two Maine Ski Areas Announce Wind Purchases
by Eric Kane, New York, NY on 11.17.06
Earlier this week, Sugarloaf/USA and Sunday River joined the list of ski areas that have decided to offset their electricity usage with wind power. The resorts will purchase a total of 30 million kilowatt hours of energy credits from Constellation NewEnergy. The agreement will make the ski areas the largest purchaser and consumer of wind power in New England, and effectively reduce CO2 emissions by an estimated 41 million pounds. ...
WorldCoolers: Social Networking for Climate Change Action
by Jeff McIntire-Strasburg, St. Louis, MO on 11.17.06
Social networking has brought the power of the rapid response network to the masses. Once the tool of political and business operatives looking for a leg up in the PR wars, the power of rapid response is now available to everyone from activists wanting to rally the troops with an email action alert, to teenagers looking to humiliate an ex-boy or girlfriend with a barrage of MySpace bulletins. Mass rapid response is messy... it's also incredibly democratic. Tech start-up Collactive has thrown its hat into the rough-and-tumble world of social networking applications, and one of its first offerings, the Worldcoolers desktop, is designed to give people concerned about the climate crisis the means to connect with one another, organize their efforts, and reach out to the larger community. According to the software's website,...
How Green is Your Green?
by Bonnie Alter, London on 11.17.06
One doesn’t usually think of golf courses and ecology as complementary. Rather, concepts such as strong use of chemicals and pesticides, destruction of eco-systems and natural plant habitats and huge consumption of water, spring to mind. But a new development in the Canadian Rockies, Three Sisters Mountain Village, is being designed with “a higher function". The greens are not just greens, but part of a plan for conserving the alpine environment. The land for the course is brown field; a former coal mine which has been reclaimed. Its layout will match the natural slope of the foot of the mountain. Wildlife corridors will be incorporated to facilitate safe passage of the elk, deer and grizzly bears. Computer-controlled rainwater run-off will be used for irrigation. Instead of chemicals, liquid and organic fertilisers will be used. None of this would satisfy the Japanese Global Anti-Golf Movement which sees the game as a multi-billion dollar speculative, exploitative and elitist industry. But if nothing else, it proves that having good environmental credentials is becoming part of doing business. :: Financial Times...
Something In the Air — Greening Balloon Releases
by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 11.17.06
At the U2 concert in Sydney the other evening, balloons appeared to drift up through the stadium into the night air, to the strains of Bono belting out Kite.* A friend beside me said, “Well, they’re up for a big fine.” She was referring to legislation introduced by the NSW Government back in 2000, making it a illegal to knowing release 20 or more more lighter-than-air balloons. I was reminded of the post Lloyd had referred to just the other week, when WWF Canada had used 4,000 balloons to protest the lack of action on global warming. There the balloons were not released, but gathered up after the event and sent off for composting, suggesting the balloon, being made of natural tree rubber, or latex, would biodegrade at the same rate as an oak leaf, i.e., within six months. Which coincidentally is the same information offered on the website of industry body, The Balloon Council, I kid you not!. And the same suggested by one of Australia’s leading corporate balloon suppliers, except they use a gum leaf as their measure. Balloon Event go on to say, “While we do know that animals occasionally eat these soft slivers of rubber, the evidence indicates ......
Axiom To Supply Recycling Giant, Visy, with Biodiesel
by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 11.17.06
Yonks ago we reported on the amazing and enterprising alchemy of converting plastic waste into diesel fuel. A year later we noted that Europe wanted a piece of the action too. Now, in seemingly unrelated news, it was announced, last month, that one of Australia’s largest recycling businesses, Visy, will run some of their truck fleet on biodiesel, refined from waste cooking oil by Axiom. “Axiom Energy managing director Danny Goldman said the company was proud to collaborate with a company such as Visy, which he described as a national and international icon for environmental leadership.” As he might, considering there is a strong business connection between the two. Axiom is looking to establish two plants to extract low sulphur diesel from waste plastics. As supplied by Visy. If all goes to plan Axiom will roll out another 13 such plants over the next five years. By end of 2007, they figure on producing 70 million litres (18.5 million gallons) of biodiesel and 11.7 million litres (3 million gallons) of low-sulphur diesel from the waste plastic process. Axiom, via the BRBA....
TH Blog Love – Our Favourite Greens Of The Week
by Leonora Oppenheim, London, UK on 11.16.06
Green Girls Global: Got Get ’em Girls by Al Tepper
Out of the ashes of City Hippy rises Green Girls Global. Al’s angels are here to save the day and keep the spirit of City Hippy alive, albeit in a new curvaceous female form. Vicky Stevens of Make Hay has taken over the helm and her shipmates are several other women who were previously contributing to City Hippy. Go Green Girls!
Mariri Magazine: The Voice Of The Forest by Lorna Li
‘Mariri celebrates the rich cultural and biological diversity of rainforests around the world, with a focus on Latin America and the Amazon Basin. Mariri explores rainforest ecology, conservation, Ecotourism, indigenous culture, and natural medicine through thought-provoking articles by writers who are so passionate about the rainforest - they’ve gone native. In fact, some of them are native.’...
Mary Ellen Carroll's Indestructible Language Installation
by Kyeann Sayer, Nomad on 11.16.06
Our friends at Core 77 alerted us to this installation, whose 8' high (and "carbon neutral") neon letters are visible to New Jersey Turnpike drivers and airline passengers. ::Core 77...
TreeHugger 100-Mile Thanksgiving Challenge: More Prizes!
by Sean Fisher, Cincinnati, Ohio on 11.16.06
The other day, we announced the grand prize for TreeHugger's 100-Mile Thanksgiving Challenge - a year's supply of organic milk from contest sponsor Organic Valley. Today, we are proud to announce two more prizes courtesy of one of our contest judges, chef Michael Chiarello (check out our TH interview with him) and his NapaStyle line of cookware. The contest runner-up will receive the NapaStyle Supreme Pantry Set - a superb variety of NapaStyle dressings, rubs, spreads and sauces - and, for the second runner-up, NapaStyle is giving a $100 gift certificate to their online store. So, what are you waiting for? Send in details of your 100 mile Thanksgiving feast to: contest [at] treehugger [dot] com by tomorrow (Friday 11/17) at noon EST for your chance to win great prizes from Organic Valley and NapaStyle!
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How To Green Your Car
by Jacob Gordon, Nashville, TN on 11.16.06
What’s the Big Deal?
Cars are one of the great mixed bags of our time. They are at once wonders of engineering and a threat to life on Earth. They create convenience and comfort and also snarled traffic and sprawling suburbs. In the US, about 20% of all greenhouse gas emissions come from cars and light trucks like SUVs, contributing to climate change, air pollution, and disease. If you are truly trying to lighten your environmental footprint, the first thing to do is ask if you do in fact need a car. If the answer is yes, there are many things you can do to make your driving life greener.Most Huggable
by Jacob Gordon, Nashville, TN on 11.16.06
Turning over a new leaf, not from a tree. An electronic book called the Turnover… Video goes inside MIT’s algae tubes, turning smokestack clouds into green fuel… CiSol wins an award for their creative use of integrated solar architecture… Washington DC lays down the green law, new buildings must be enviro-friendly… An Inconvenient Truth is on the short list for an Oscar… ...
Turn Paint Chips Into Snazzy Card Holders
by Kevin Kosbab, Philadelphia on 11.16.06
Considering painting the house, with natural paint or otherwise? The task will inevitably leave you with a stack of rejected paint chips. Rework them into these slick card holders. They’d suit the business cards of an eco-aware designer, or use them to store postage stamps or other odds and ends. (If your name happens to be "June Vision" or another colorific moniker, all the better.) The how-to instructions are sized for swatches from Home Depot, but they could be modified to work with whatever your last paint project spawned. ::designverb via Make...
live|work: The Design of Prosperity / The Design of an Energy Economy
by Tamara Giltsoff, United Kingdom on 11.16.06
Last week Boras, in Sweden, hosted The Design of Prosperity, “possibly the best conference in the world” according to a friend of mine who attended. I didn’t get a chance to go, but a conference that couples design, change and innovation and how this has the potential to give rise to prosperity is certainly going to be world changing.
It focused on the processes influencing change and innovation and how these give rise to new patterns of prosperity. And in particular, it challenged the “over-designed product-world where design is just addressing customers’ wishes" instead of creating new needs that support prosperity. The dream of Modernity has made us ever richer in the West, but it has not made us happier. So, what are the interventions that will challenge the system that we’ve become locked into?
Well, ‘energy’ took a prominent role as an intervention, with the most excellent Jeremy Rifkin sharing his views on the Hydrogen Economy and the intrinsic link between energy and networked communication. He’s talking about the design of an energy economy. ...
Solar Spain
by EcoGeek.org on 11.16.06
Spain, the new up-and-coming European country, has just passed a law requiring every new or newly renovated building to have solar power systems. For years, Spain has been an economic underdog in Europe, and hasn't had the economy or the regulatory will to pass stringent environmental regulations. Until last year, their building code hadn't been updated since the 1970s. "We have to make up the time we have lost," said Environment Minister Cristina Narbona.
All homes now have to have, at least, hot water solar systems and all new businesses have to generate solar electricity. Other regulations in the new building code include mandatory use of insulation, maintenance of heating and cooling systems and use of natural light. All together, these practices should decrease electricity use by up to 40%....
Hybrid Solar Powered Super Phone
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 11.16.06
We have shown solar phone chargers before, but doesn't it make more sense to build it right into the phone? Japanese celphone juggernaut Docomo is prototyping this "hybrid mobile phone with solar panels." It looks small enough for Derek Zoolander, and as British gadget mag T3 says, "Powered solely by the beating rays of our closest star, it means you’ll never run out of natter-juice, and puts an end to travel chargers and emergency batteries." ::T3 gadget mag
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Martha and Simran: Together Again
by Jeff McIntire-Strasburg, St. Louis, MO on 11.16.06
We were mighty proud of our own Simran Sethi's appearance on The Martha Stewart Show last month -- she represented us, and green living, very well! On Monday, November 20, Simran will be talking to Martha again, this time on the "Martha Stewart Living Radio" network (Channel 112) on Sirius satellite radio. Sim will be discussing the Treehugger 100-Mile Thanksgiving Challenge with the domestic diva. Sirius subscribers can tune in at 2:30 pm EST for the program. If you're not a Sirius customer, it might be a good time to take advantage of the 3-day free trial. ::Martha Stewart Living Radio...
The TH Interview: Kevin McLaughlin, AutoShare President
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 11.16.06
A mid 1990’s news story from Europe spawned the first car sharing network in Canada in October of 1998. Since then, co-founder Kevin McLaughlin has worked tirelessly on making AutoShare an affordable and viable option to car-ownership in cities across Canada. His dedication to the environment does not end there, as he has also co-founded Evergreen, a national NGO aimed at bringing communities and nature together to form a healthy and sustainable environment. Despite these responsibilities, Kevin helps to raise his young son and still finds time to volunteer at a bird and dog rescue program started by his wife. We talked with Kevin about the workings of AutoShare and how he manages to find the time to do so much.
TreeHugger: When talking to new customers, what have been the biggest reasons for signing up with AutoShare?
Kevin McLaughlin: Cost savings, convenience, building an insurance record, going to IKEA, and helping the environment....
Buy Local Day: Saturday, November 18
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 11.16.06
This Saturday, November 18, is Buy Local Day. The campaign encourages TreeHuggers everywhere to vote with our dollars in favor of locally owned, independent businesses. It's better for the planet, its people, our communities and our economy, and is something we'd all be better served by doing as much as possible; for us in the US, it's well-timed on the Saturday before a holiday that celebrates giving thanks for a bountiful year and looking forward to more to come. If you're moved to do more than just watch your buying habits, Buy Local Day has a long list of events and resources to go beyond your personal lifestyle choices; you can even get creative and host your own event. So, buy a local turkey, visit a local bookstore, or have a meal at a local restaurant, and support charming, independent and greener business. ::Buy Local Day via ::green LA girl
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More on the 9 month cure
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 11.16.06
Yesterday we wrote about Maxwell and Sara Kate Gillingham-Ryan's renovated 265 square foot apartment reno; Today the New York Times covers it. A lot more information than we provided, including the revealing statement: “The only problem with all this is kids,” Mr. Gillingham-Ryan said one day last month while Ursula napped in the bedroom. “She’s a ticking time bomb. She’s going to need room. We know we can’t stay here for long.” ::New York Times...
When in Rome, Shop as the Romans
by Bonnie Alter, London on 11.16.06
Wandering the streets of Rome, we happened upon a wonderful looking "green" shop, esprit Equo. Opened only a year ago by a young couple who quit their day jobs to do this, it is chock full of interesting house accessories, foods, organic bath oils and cosmetics. Their motto is "equitable fair faire justo" and their goal is to "show and help people but in a nice way" that they can buy environmental goods that are stylish and contemporary in their look. They have found fascinating things from local communities using ecological techniques in the Cameroons, France, Indonesia and South Africa. There are large indigo-blue dyed batik pillows from Benin, Africa. We loved the wood and cinammon bowls and boxes from Indonesia. Many have dark wood contrasting rims and come in different complementary sizes. The bamboo bowls are beautiful, modern shapes, in lime green, orange and blue. There is recycled blue glass from Palestine made into vases and jugs. For the children there are little dolls from Colombia, made out of orange peels, that just sit on a shelf. The key chains from South Africa are made by street kids who twist wire into whimsical shapes of giraffes and elephants. Multo bene. :: esprit Equo...
The Dirty Truth About Hydropower
by Eric Kane, New York, NY on 11.16.06
Although large-scale hydroelectric facilities fail to qualify under most definitions of renewable energy, hydropower is generally agreed to be a relatively low carbon intensity form of electricity generation. However, a recent report by the International Rivers Network may change the collective perception of hydroelectricity, in particular tropical hydropower. According to ‘Battling Over Bubbles: Big Hydro Hides its Role in Global Warming’, “tropical hydropower reservoirs can have a greater impact on global warming than even their dirtiest fossil fuel plant rivals”. ...
This Spud's For You
by Tim McGee, Western Massachusetts on 11.16.06
The organic food market has seen incredible growth in the United States, expecting to exceed $16 billion this year. The average U.S. adult eats about 136 lbs of potatoes every year. Put these two together and the smart money is on organic potatoes. Researchers at Oregon State University put their money where their... mouth is....
"We are interested in developing potatoes suitable for organics, and also on evaluating taste and chemical composition of the more promising lines," said Vales, OSU's foremost researcher on potato breeding and genetics. These are not GM potatoes, but instead are carefully selected and well bred individuals, adapted for the rigors of surviving in a North West farmer's field as she transitions from conventional to organic produce. The researchers are attempting to make growing the potato as organic as possible by selecting disease, pest, and stress resistant strains, limiting the amount of chemicals needed to grow the crop. They are also looking for market advantages over more common potatoes such as better taste, unusual shapes, different skin or flesh colors, and increased levels of phytochemicals. The new breeds of potato are trying to address the realistic need for massive production, recognizing that much of the large scale agriculture in the U.S. can not immediately adopt organic practices. These potatoes represent the forefront of the transition to a healthier and more sustainable way of farming our favorite foods. Organic French fries anyone? ::Medford News
Note: You may want to check out the mail order organic potatoes we covered from the other side of the coast- organic potatoes from sea to shining sea....
Manufactured Landscapes: The Movie
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 11.16.06
After hearing Edward Burtynsky speak and watching his slides at the Worldchanging booklaunch, we raced to the movie theatre to see Manufactured Landscapes: "a feature length documentary on the world and work of renowned artist Edward Burtynsky....he film follows Burtynsky to China as he travels the country photographing the evidence and effects of that country’s massive industrial revolution. Sites such as the Three Gorges Dam, which is bigger by 50% than any other dam in the world and displaced over a million people, factory floors over a kilometre long, and the breathtaking scale of Shanghai’s urban renewal are subjects for his lens and our motion picture camera."...
Bad, Bad Environmentalists
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 11.16.06
We recently posted on the three major fronts in the battle over how to mitigate carbon dioxide emissions. One we named Charge of the Risk Brigades, epitomizing the disagreements over priority. The Charge involves repeated skirmishes about which ‘horse of the environmental apocolypse’ to work on first. And, wouldn’t you know, the Competitive Enterprise Institute (CEI), a.k.a. the Big C, has joined the fray with an op.ed. piece published in the Washington Times . Here’s the portion of that commentary that reminds us of ‘The Charge’: “Beginning in the 1970s, regulators around the world followed Rachel Carson's suggestion that lawmakers ban the pesticide DDT, once used to control malaria, because they figured bed nets and other measures were enough. After millions of deaths and hundreds of millions of people falling sick every year for a couple decades, World Health Organization regulators and officials finally decided DDT should be used to curb the death toll. Tragically, millions had to die before officials realized the Greens were wrong”. Who knew that the World Health Organization was a regulatory body?...
Release of Climate Change Performance Index 2007 Results Followed by Defensive Spin and Confusion
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 11.16.06
Immediately following release of the “CCPI” report , the worst nations for C02 emissions (see graphic table) issued defensive sounding statements to the press. For example, according to Associated Press, “China defended its climate protection efforts Tuesday after being ranked near the bottom of a report on countries fighting climate change. "The Chinese government attaches great importance to this issue and we have acceded to the Climatic Change Framework Agreement and the Kyoto Protocol," Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Jiang Yu said at a regular briefing.”” We heard similar puffery from the US spokes-person. And, is it just us or do the UK and a few other rankings seem out of whack? Certainly counter-intuitive. What we want is clarity for responsibility, stretch improvement goals, and performance against clear, sensible metrics. Let us know if you can come up with a scenario that would bring these about.
==== UPDATES ====
Via IOL:- Under Secretary of State Paula Dobriansky rejected UN Secretary General Kofi Annan's charge that there was a "frightening lack of leadership" at climate talks in Nairobi, saying "We think that the United States has been leading in terms of its ground-breaking initiatives."
Via PlanetArk:- US mayors who fight global warming at city hall, on city streets and at the city dump swapped strategies this week at a snowed-in summit in Utah, and some hoped the federal government would follow their lead.
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Now Big Stupid Cars May Get Charged in London
by Jeff McIntire-Strasburg, St. Louis, MO on 11.16.06
In March, we noted that London mayor Ken Livingstone had labeled drivers of Urban 4x4s as "complete idiots." We learned yesterday that Livingstone plans to do more than just call "Chelsea tractor" drivers names; he wants to make them pay more for the privilege of driving large SUVs in London's "congestion zone." According to The Times,...
Greenprint: Software that Saves
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 11.16.06
When I saw this post on Hugg from Greenliving about new software that eliminates wasted pages I yelled YES!! so loudly that the cat ran away. It should be a standard feature on any computer: "I want to see what is going to print, I want to take out the crap I don't care about, and I don't want to waste paper". Unfortunately it is not. Greenprint software lets you see the whole document, easily click on what you want to keep and what you want to disappear, and then prints it. Not only does this save forests; it also saves money on paper, disposal and ink cartridges. If you don't need paper at all, it has a PDF generator so that you can send it straight to your computer without paying for Adobe. ...
Biz by Bike? Maybe it's a Car Wash. Tell Us Your Stories.
by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 11.16.06
We regularly pummel our readers with the idea of riding bicycles as a carbon clean commute to and from work. But what about those of you who actually pedal for your job? Tell us your tales. Are you are bike courier, a postal delivery rider, a cycle cop, or maybe you’re more esoteric, like the gardener who uses an open-top work bike to move tools and materials around. We’ll start the ball rolling here with Peter Alford, who ironically operates a car-wash business from his bicycle. Once a chef in the South African navy, Peter had to look for an new job after a serious car accident (is that more irony?) When his bakkie [aka pick-up] finally packed it in, his daughter bought him a bike so he could keep the business on the road, so to speak. And for the past two years he’s been pedalling to half of his customers, complete with his car-wash equipment. Got a bike based business? Share your experiences, or stories of others you’ve seen. Crank them into our Comments section. ...
The Waste Book: British Online Recycling Guide
by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 11.16.06
How had we missed this one for so long? The Waste Book is an online directory of recycling businesses that service the south of the UK, including London. 100 different categories of waste are listed, along with the relevant companies and organisations working in each of these areas. Contact details are provided alongside a brief description of the service available. But we also appreciated the introductory articles for each so-called ‘waste.’ For instance, Britain is said to throw away 2 million pairs of shoes per week. And 700,000 million tonnes of textiles. To make those now discarded goods required 1.5 billion gallons of oil. Or try this one: A single fluorescent tube contains enough mercury to pollute 30,000 litres (8,000 gallon) of water. But still the UK divests itself of 100 million of them per annum. A great site for seeing problems and solutions lined up beside one another. ::The Waste Book...
Lunch: UK-based Ethical Lifestyle Magazine
by Kyeann Sayer, Nomad on 11.15.06
Does this sound like you?
LUNCH is a magazine for the smart, savvy (post)consumer aged anything between 16-60 years old; LUNCH is more an attitude than an age. Value-conscious but increasingly aware of living a lifestyle paradox: responsible, trendsetting but also trend-driven. Wears Blackspot as well as Converse. Loves shopping, buys organic food and drinks Diet Coke, wears People Tree as well as H&M, weekends in the country, frets about global warming but flies EasyJet, wore a MakePovertyHistory band, loves festivals, breaks into a trot when approaching Selfridges. Has probably boycotted Nike, Nestlé et al, albeit temporarily. Loved No Logo and Supersize Me, reads Vogue and Closer.If so, the venture from Wallpaper* alums Karen Chung and Herbert Winkler provides four annual three-dimensional representations of your inner contradictions. You can receive a subscription anywhere in the whole wide world. So far, no one at TreeHugger headquarters has confessed to checking out the goods. Readers? Had some Lunch? ::Lunch Via trendcentral...
Europe May Tax Non-Kyoto Nations
by EcoGeek.org on 11.15.06
France is pushing a trade tax in the European Union that would affect only nations who have not signed the Kyoto Protocol or who have not met their Kyoto standards. Included would be America and Australia, who never signed on, and Canada, who is not set to meet its goals.
The Prime Minister of Australia called the proposed tax "Silly" and the Australian Daily Telegraph ran the headline "Back Off, Frogs" next to a picture of a French nuclear test held in the South Pacific in 1971. So far, the official American response seems to have been complete silence, but we'll see how long that lasts....
Not Just Pretty: Eco Clothes in Victoria, BC
by Kyeann Sayer, Nomad on 11.15.06
We've recently gone on and on about a variety of (sometimes controversial) Montreal-based designers. Now we're all atwitter over Victoria, where Not Just Pretty offers an impressive range of eco-brands. Get your Undesigned, Veja, Stewart+Brown and much more! Not visiting the island any time soon? You can still check out these cute commercials. ::Not Just Pretty Via Hugg...
IBM Starting Green Research Unit
by EcoGeek.org on 11.15.06
IBM recently asked all of its employees to submit ideas for how to help the company grow. It called the process the Innovation Jam, which I'm sure had employees across the nation rolling their eyes at Big Blue. But one of the ten ideas that managed to make it out on top was a green research business unit that will be somewhat autonomous from IBM.
The currently unnamed business unit will focus on ideas that will directly benefit the environment, develop them, market them and implement them. Already, projects that were proposed at IBM's research labs but have not been developed are being handed over. These include a networking system for effective management of municipal water supplies, using nanotechnology for inexpensive desalination and creating more efficient solar cells. The business unit will be started with at least $10 million in seed money, and Pete Horn, director of IBM research, believes that it will be self sustaining almost immediately. "We kind of think that given how big the opportunity is here, it's almost a slam dunk for us." ::Hugg and PlanetSave...
Most Huggable
by Jacob Gordon, Nashville, TN on 11.15.06
In Spain, new and renovated buildings are now required to include solar panels… Fortune calls Spaceframe one of the 25 best products of the year… With Sweden at the top, the US sits at the bottom of the environmental stewardship list along with China, Malaysia, and Saudi Arabia… Amazon Indians are using Google Earth and global positioning systems to map and protect their ancestral forests… Greenprint software eliminates unnecessary pages to save paper and ink… ...
Home Wind Turbines Are A Worthless, Dangerous, Wasteful Vanity
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 11.15.06
We're entering a phase where anything expert "greens" say can and will be used to argue against renewable energy. Or at least put in a lousy context by the media. Here's an anecdote that illustrates the process, brought to us via tip. The Daily Mail reports under the headline Wind turbines 'may actually do more harm than good' that:- "Home wind turbines have become the must-have home improvement among people eager to help save the planet and flaunt their green credentials. Dubbed 'the ultimate green fashion statement', [turbines] are selling in the thousands, amid claims they can cut household electricity bills by 30 per cent". The story goes on to state that "...they barely produce enough electricity to power a hairdryer in many houses. They also do nothing to tackle greenhouses gases, while there are far better ways to cut down on energy bills". Wow. Green fashionistas are ruining the view from the street with useless equipment, then, eh? Worse than that, the story goes on to point out that 'in some cases chimneys may be toppled and structures made noisy or unstable as a result of wind turbines.'...
TreeHugger Picks: Recycle Something Today
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 11.15.06
Today is America Recycles Day; in honor of the big day, here are some ideas for some things & ways you can help keep some junk out of our waste stream. Please, do yourself, your garbage collector and the planet a favor, and think twice before throwing stuff out today.
1) The Ecopod makes recycling fun and reduces the volume of your recyclables.
2) With programs from Dell, Apple (remember, iPod has its own program) and more, there's no excuse not to recycle your computer.
3) While we're on the topic of technology, why not recycle your electronic media.
4) You may not have any yet, but you will soon, so brush up on recycling your Christmas cards.
5) Review Recycle: The Essential Guide for some fun facts, figures and tips for further recycling....
Word of the Year: Carbon Neutral
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 11.15.06
If TreeHugger knows one thing, it's that "going carbon neutral" is just about the biggest thing since sliced bread; everything (and we mean everything) is being neutralized these days, from movie productions to restaurants to sporting events (like the World Cup and Olympic Games) to music tours to colleges to tea (whew!). The concept and words have made a big enough splash that "carbon neutral" has been named The New Oxford American Dictionary’s Word of the Year for 2006. Following in the footsteps of "podcast" (last year's WOTY), "carbon neutral" beat out "CSA" (community supported agriculture), "DRM" (digital rights management) and "dwarf planet" for the honor of a permanent spot in our cultural lexicon. Said Erin McKean, editor in chief of the New Oxford American Dictionary 2e, “The increasing use of the word carbon neutral reflects not just the greening of our culture, but the greening of our language. When you see first graders trying to make their classrooms carbon neutral, you know the word has become mainstream. All the Oxford lexicographers look forward to choosing the Word of the Year. We know that people love fun, flashy words like truthiness or the latest Bushism, but we are always looking for a word that is both reflective of the events and concerns of the past year and also forward-looking: a word that we think will only become more used and more useful as time goes on.” We couldn't agree more. ::Oxford University Press via ::Gristmill...
Peau Ethique Organic Undies
by Celine Ruben-Salama, New York, NY on 11.15.06
Want to feel more comfortable prancing around in your undies? The French company C.A.BIO produces super cute organic lingerie, underwear, PJs and socks for men, women and children under the brand “Peau Ethique.”
Most of the design work takes place in the French town Saint-Chamond and raw materials for the garments come from Turkey. Cotton is spun, knit and dyed according to the Öeko Tex Standard 100 which prohibits (among other things) the use of heavy metals, known carcinogens, formaldehyde and soda chlorite in the manufacturing process. In addition the company is committed to building long-term relationships with manufacturers and adheres to fair trade labor practices, guaranteeing good working conditions with decent wages, no child labor, and the promotion of handicapped people and women coming from underprivileged areas. :: Peau Ethique...
The Slate Green Challenge - Week 4
by Brittany Jacobs, Seattle on 11.15.06
Over the past few years, organic produce has been a hot topic and one which you hear about on an almost daily basis. But what about other organic crops? Cotton, one of the most widely grown crops, uses about 25% of the world’s insecticides and another 10% of the world’s pesticides. (Yikes!) What’s even scarier is that it takes almost a third of a pound of chemicals to grow enough cotton for just one article of clothing.
On the other hand, organically grown crops use less fossil fuel, 50% less energy, and release fewer greenhouse gases into the atmosphere than conventional crops. So, for all you eco-savvy shoppers, buying organic cotton clothing should be on your list of ways to go green. Not only does it reduce carbon emissions, but also keeps you looking great and feeling good about reducing your impact on the Earth.
For more ways to progress toward a greener future, check out Treehugger’s new guides for How to Go Green. We aim to provide over 100+ guides on ways to green your lifestyle and we start with tips on reducing your impact through your wardrobe, meals, transportation, and heating. While you are at it, head over to The Slate Green Challenge. Become one of the 25,000+ readers who have pledged to collectively reduce our carbon emissions by 20%. We will provide you with the tools and information you need to reduce your carbon footprint and I’m Organic will provide you with a new t-shirt if you are one of the first 500 to complete the challenge. ::Slate Green Challenge Welcome ::Slate Green Challenge Week 4 - Wardrobe
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Origami Sailing
by Bonnie Alter, London on 11.15.06
It's a flat-pack, DIY, lightweight and--a sailboat--made using the ancient japanese art of origami. This little dinghy was designed as a prototype by Matteo Signorini when he was a design student; his inspiration was the paper boats that float on water. It is a little revolutionary in its design- It is 10 feet long, carries one adult, and folds up into a flatpack, the same size as a surfboard, so it is easily transported and stored. Made out of corrugated plastic, it is easy to manufacture and fold up. The materials aren't perfect, but the benefits are manifest: boating becomes accessible to landlubbers and students. The cost, lightness and speed of entry mean more people can enjoy the wonders of sailing. :: Matteo Signorini...
Evolving Vox: A Temporary Ownership Network
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 11.15.06
We love Product Service Systems, where you get what you need without having to buy it. (Read Collin here for a reminder) Dartmouth's Evolving Vox is "a new model for how college students furnish their rooms. By enabling students to “temporarily own” nearly everything they need, we envision students being able to go through college without ever having to make a large purchase for their room." It differs from straight rental companies in that it is "run by Dartmouth students, for Dartmouth students". Its founders, seniors Jack Groetzinger and Russell D’Souza, are "interested in the model of temporary ownership and the applications in which it can make marketplaces more efficient". We hope that as they grow they will get interested in design and sustainability- that would make a real difference. Who knows how far this can go- Michael Dell started in a dorm room too. ::Evolving Vox via ::Springwise...
Birth Dearths and Organic Wine: E Magazine's November-December Issue
by Jeff McIntire-Strasburg, St. Louis, MO on 11.15.06
E/The Environmental Magazine's latest issue is out, and the pairing of the two feature stories -- one on claims of a global "birth dearth," the other on issues surrounding certification of organic wines -- is not meant to imply that the latter helps with the former. E's editor Jim Montavalli analyzes recent arguments claiming we're on the cusp of a global population decline, and considers them in the context of high birth rates in developing countries like Niger and India. It looks like we're still headed for nine billion people by 2050. Paul Gleason digs into the the complex world of organic wines, in which some added sulfites can prevent vintners from receiving organic certification. Some are happy with that standard; others claim it ignores the realities of modern wine making, and gives preferential treatment to lesser-quality vintages. Other departments in this issues consider why Dominicans are living much longer than the rest of us, whether genetically modified foods can cause allergies, and what a school in the Bronx has learned about green roofs. Pick up a copy at your favorite bookseller or newsstand, or consider a print or electronic subscription. ::E/The Environmental Magazine...
Worldchanging Book Tour Hits Toronto
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 11.15.06
We have said before that Worldchanging has produced a great book; we can also attest that they are putting on a great road show. We caught up with it at the Berkeley Church in Toronto last night; Editor Alex Steffen's hand must be tired this morning because the book was flying out the door. A couple of hundred people gathered to hear Edward Burtynsky start the ball rolling. ...
Less is the new More:The Nine Month Cure at Apartment Therapy
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 11.15.06
Apartment Therapy says that "A calm, healthy, beautiful home is a necessary foundation for happiness and success in the world. Creating this home doesn't require large amounts of money or space." Maxwell and SKGR live in 250 square feet and were expecting a child, so they renovated their apartment and blogged the whole thing on AT. Now it is done- both the apartment and the baby. 250 Square feet never looked so good, so liveable and so treehugger, down to the bamboo kitchen and rope insulation. While 250 SF is tight for a family even by New York standards, it is a model for all of us who want to see smaller, better living spaces that use fewer resources to build and to run. We wish them all the happiness and success in the world in it. Read the whole series here at ::Apartment Therapy...
Greendrinks Bonus: Free Christmas Lights
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 11.15.06
Torontonians who attend Greendrinks at the Bedford Academy tonight should bring along their old incandescent Christmas lights- for every two strings you retire, Toronto Hydro and the Toronto Association of Business Improvement Areas will give you a string of LED lights and a heap of coupons for subidized CFC's and other energy saving ideas. Our local public utility recognizes that conservation is cheaper than new power plants, and must be feeling the heat from those of us defecting to Bullfrog. See you all at ::Greendrinks, lights in hand....
TreeHugger 100-Mile Thanksgiving Challenge: Sponsored by Organic Valley
by Sean Fisher, Cincinnati, Ohio on 11.14.06
Rushing to get together your entry for our 100-Mile Thanksgiving Challenge? Fear not, we are extending the entry deadline to this Friday, November 17th at noon EST. In even more exciting news, our friends at Organic Valley have upped the ante for the contest winner. The reader-voted winner of the 100-Mile Thanksgiving Challenge will receive a year's worth of Organic Valley milk! Thankfully, these will not be shipped to your house all at once, rather they will send the winner enough coupons to score a carton a week for the entire year. In addition, continuing Organic Valley's commitment to local, organic, and sustainable food, they are also donating a year's supply to the Oakland based non-profit People's Grocery (which we previously featured on TreeHugger TV). We would like to extend a huge thanks to Organic Valley for not only helping TreeHugger spread the word about local food, but also in doing their part in supporting local food and small family farmers.
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Hollywood: An A-list Polluter
by Kyeann Sayer, Nomad on 11.14.06
Well, well, well. Haven't you often wondered about Hollywood's eco-impact during car chase scenes? We're glad that an UCLA study released today provides data for our favorite hybrid-driving, island-buying, post-Katrina-building friends:...
Entermodal: Vegetable Tanned Luxury Leather
by Kyeann Sayer, Nomad on 11.14.06
It wouldn't come as a surprise to even the casual US Weekly reader that accessories have become designers' biggest money makers. Which brand is strapped to Nichole Ritchie's feeble arm this week? The average pubescent girl can tell you. We'll leave it to social scientists to dissect this early millennial hand bag obsession, and fill you in on an alternative to toxic, leather carriers. Last month's LA Fashion Week unveiled Entermodal, a new line of thoughtfully produced luxury accessories crafted in an Italian factory that has produced for Versace, Gucci, and Rolex. Keep reading for info and more pics....
New Line of Highly Efficient Air Conditioners Know Where You Sleep
by EcoGeek.org on 11.14.06
Mitsubishi is releasing a new line of air conditioners called the ZW series. These new wall mounted AC units have a few innovations that could have them using up to 50% less power than today's average air conditioner. The first (and less interesting) innovation, is a self cleaning air filter. Every home owner should know that keeping an ACs air filter clean can keep your energy costs down. Well, the ZW series compensates for both forgetfulness and laziness by cleaning itself frequently.
But the real innovation here is addition of the "Human Sensor Move Eye" (quoting a Mitsubishi press release,) which tracks the location and habits of the living things it encounters, and conditions the air accordingly. It can point itself directly at any hot object, cooling it down, it will also automatically go into power-save mode when all living things leave the room. The unit can track and condition air for one or two people in any given room and isn't fooled by non-moving heat sources, like kitchen appliances. It will, however blow air on pets as well as people....
The Daily Reel Loves THTV
by Jeff McIntire-Strasburg, St. Louis, MO on 11.14.06
Yesterday, online video maven site The Daily Reel turned its critical eye on Treehugger TV. The verdict: they like it, they really like it! DR gave THTV a grade of A, and a 9.5 out of 10 on production value. Reviewer Steve Friess noted he'd learned a few things by tuning in:
Did you know that most dildos are environmentally unsound and off-gas dangerous chemicals? That 40 percent of microwave ovens use more power in standby mode than in cooking food? That we use 2.5 gallons of water per minute in the shower? I didn’t, but how fascinating, no? And rather than push their points with boring lectures and Powerpoint presentations -- hello, Al Gore – the folks behind Treehugger TV use lots of humor -- blown-glass sex toys have “personality,” we learn -– and clever animation to transmit really sensible, relevant tips and information about common living.Thanks to the Daily Reel for the love (and the few suggestions): we're sure Simran is dancing right now... ::The Daily Reel...
TreeHuggerTV - AltWheels Festival, Boston
by Leonora Oppenheim, London, UK on 11.14.06
GE Nuclear Merges With Hitachi for the "Global Nuclear Renaissance"
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 11.14.06
GE's new Advanced Boiling Water Reactor
There are a lot of reasons for TreeHuggers to be wary of nuclear power, now being touted as "the only existing power technology which could replace coal in base load." We prefer what Bill McDonough said: "I love nuclear energy! It's just that I prefer fusion to fission. And it just so happens that there's an enormous fusion reactor safely banked a few million miles from us. It delivers more than we could ever use in just about 8 minutes." We never understood why GE, which buries its nuclear business on a separate website far away from ecomagination, gets away with this greenwashing- one could cut them slack before and call it a legacy business; Now they admit that “GE’s commitment to its nuclear business, and the overall industry, has never been higher in our 50-year history,” said Andy White, president and CEO of GE Energy’s nuclear business. “Nuclear power remains an integral part of achieving a balanced energy portfolio and one of the many solutions to establishing a more sustainable energy future for the entire world." ...
The Element Space Heater
by Celine Ruben-Salama, New York, NY on 11.14.06
In their research study called Static!, the Swedish Interactive Institute has redesigned ordinary household objects using design and energy to communicate to the user a tacit experience of energy use. By involving the senses people are invited to reflect on their energy use and behavior. The “Element” is their version of a space heater. ...
Interface FLOR: On Sale This Week
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 11.14.06
TreeHugger has been following Interface's modular FLOR carpet tiles since we were but a little sprout; from new designs to the catalog to celebrating ten years of green to the latest round button rug design, there isn't much we haven't loved, so we're happy to report that they're currently in the midst of a pre-holiday sale. Everything in their collections is 15% off for the rest of this week (through November 17), so you'll have to hurry. We're liking the Fedora carpet tiles (above); they offer a really fun opportunity to do a little DIY pattern design from six contemporary colors; it's made from 80% post-consumer content, so you can feel good about it while deciding between cayenne-brick-walnut and charcoal-chartreuse-oatmeal for that last row. There's lots more to be had on sale; just type in FSH1506 to get 15% off. ::FLOR via ::Fabulously Green...
Most Huggable
by Jacob Gordon, Nashville, TN on 11.14.06
Evidence is showing that when celebrities espouse environmental issues, it works… A digital video recorder that uses considerably less energy to record your shows… The people ask, “how clean is natural gas?” and Pablo answers… The Design & Development Conference covers sustainability, and PrairieMod podcasts… IBN announces plans to enter green field with high-tech gusto…...
"Greene" Holiday Greetings
by Kara DiCamillo, Newport, Rhode Island on 11.14.06
The holidays are around the corner (look for the launch of TreeHugger’s 2006 Gift Guide) and for those that send out holiday cards check out Greene Street Greetings before you search anywhere else. We love the photography that Greene Street uses to capture the spirit on each card (and you can send your own in as well), but what we like even more is how environmentally responsible they are. Greene Street’s cards are printed on 100% post-consumer waste recycled paper that's processed chlorine-free. They employ digital and traditional offset printing methods and only use toxic-free soy and vegetable based inks. In addition, Greene Street is eco-fueled with a website that is hosted on a solar and wind powered server and other energy overhead is offset by Terrapass carbon credits. If you're located in Manhattan you can take advantage of their carbon-free bicycle messenger delivery. Greene Street Greetings donates 1% of its annual profits to the New York Restoration Project and other environmental organizations, plus they are a member of 1% for the Planet. ::Greene Street Greetings...
The TH Interview: Chris Bartle of Green Key Real Estate
by Eckhart Beatty, San Francisco on 11.14.06
Green Key Real Estate is the first and only sustainability-minded real estate business focused on serving the residential market in San Francisco—and one of the first in the U.S. Its president Chris Bartle founded it in 2005. An Ecobroker and associated with the Bay Area Green Business Program, he is dedicated to greening his industry. Chris started selling sustainable businesses, principally in northern California as well as nationally through The Evergreen Group, a company he still runs. (Previously, he was an agent with Zephyr Real Estate and a management consultant with Ernst & Young.) A pioneer in one of the hottest emerging segments of the industry today, Bartle is a humble but persistent business leader, confidently leading the way in the world of green real estate across the Bay Area. He holds a BS Mechanical Engineering from Clarkson University, and an MBA from USF. He is a CA Real Estate Broker and a Certified Advanced Green Building Professional with Build It Green. Bartle spearheads the Sustainable Business Happy Hour, a Green Drinks- associated networking and social event held monthly in San Francisco, and has coordinated it for years....
Backwards Hamburger: Scary Movie
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 11.14.06
From Free Range Studios, the makers of the Meatrix series, Backwards Hamburger has a very simple and clever idea: It runs in reverse, from the burger window back to the cow. Very clever, convincing and not for the faint of heart. Watch on Youtube: ::Backwards Hamburger...
Green Tower Approved for Miami
by Mairi Beautyman, Berlin, Germany on 11.14.06
Seems green towers are sprouting up everywhere—from New York to Guangdong, China. Now the Gold Coast gets its due. A new sustainable mixed-use building has been approved, appropriately, for Miami's Design District. Dubbed COR, the 400-foot-tall building is designed by Chad Oppenheim, principal of OPPENheim Architecture + Design, in collaboration with engineer Ysrael Seinuk, and energy consultants Buro Happold. The Green features: Reportedly, in order to produce its own power, COR will sport the latest developments in wind turbines, photovoltaic panels, and solar hot water generation. Plus, the building’s modern “hyper-efficient shell,” featuring dozens of circular cut-outs, is a major design and engineering breakthrough, according to the project team. It supplies thermal mass for insulation, as well as shading for natural cooking, enclosure for terraces, and armatures for turbines. For more info on future green towers check out this recent post on Bill McDonough's Tower of Tomorrow. via ::Interiordesign.net...
America Recycles Day is Tomorrow!
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 11.14.06
America Recycles Day is tomorrow, November 15, 2006! We all know recycling is a good thing to do; we all know we should probably be doing more, and we all can make a difference. For the past nine years, America Recycles Day (aka ARD -- they're an all-volunteer 501(c)3 nonprofit) has been spreading the good word about recycling, encouraging America to think twice before pitching stuff in the garbage; last year, there were ARD events in all 50 states. They aren't asking for money; just that America work a little harder to keep recyclables out of the trash and the waste stream, which makes them useful as recycled contents in the products we buy. They're offering prizes for people who "take the pledge" to recycle more, buy more recycled content and get more involved with recycling. There are two grand prizes; one for adults and one for kids. Adults get a 7-night Alaskan cruise (there'll be one awarded) and youth get recycled aluminum content Trek bicycles (there will be five awarded); though this TreeHugger would prefer the bike, we still think taking the pledge is a good idea, even if you don't live in the 50 states. As ARD says, "Your attitude, your actions, can make a world of difference. Let's each do our part. Because almost everything can be recycled except the planet." ::America Recycles Day via ::Hugg...
It's World Usability Day
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 11.14.06
If I hIT THE CAPS LOCK KEY AGain I am going to scream; nobody thought about usability when they designed these things. Other people think about usability all the time; there is even a Usability Professionals' Association. Today they have organized World Usability Day promotes the value of usability engineering, user-centered design, and every user's right to ask for things that work better. There are events happening all over the world"This Earth Day style event, focused on raising awareness and visibility of usability engineering and user centered design, is currently being organized by volunteers and local event coordinators from around the world. Whether a usability professional or just an enthusiastic (or frustrated) user, each participant is making a contribution to "making life easy". Check out what is happening where you live and support it! ::World Usability Day...
China’s Richest Man: A Solar Magnate
by Alex Pasternack, New York, NY on 11.14.06
Last month, we reported that China’s (and the world’s) richest woman built her wealth on recycling. In another sign of the country’s shift from red to green, its wealthiest man (by some estimates) is making a windfall on solar energy. While Shi Zhengrong, the founder and CEO of Wuxi-based Suntech Power, is known as the richest man on the mainland or just China’s wealthiest energy magnate, his Australian citizenship means he cannot hold the title of the richest Chinese man according to Forbes (that just went to Huang Guangyu, an electronics entrepreneur). But that's a technicality, and who’s counting anyway?
What counts more are the waves Shi’s making in China. Since 2005, when Shi’s Suntech became the first hi-tech Chinese company to make an initial public offering on the New York Stock Exchange, on the strength of his business savvy and commitment to innovation, the company’s revenue has zoomed to $226 million last year from just $14 million in 2003 (it’s made $218 million so far this year). These days, analysts count Suntech as one of the world’s top ten producers of photo-voltaic (PV) cells, with a new U.S. subsidiary and a dramatic cost advantage: its high-efficiency solar modules go for $3.78 a watt, well below the average global market price of $4.30. Shi’s story is a nice healthy reminder for China and everyone else of the link between green innovation and green backs, and proof of how fast solar energy is bounding out from the fringes and into the sunlight....
Eliot Spitzer, Governor-Elect of New York State, Wins One For The Environment On The Way To His New Job
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 11.14.06
Dow Jones Newswires (subscription only) reports, via AP, “The U.S. Department of Energy will set new standards to increase energy efficiency in 22 household appliances under an agreement announced Monday by New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer. Fifteen states and New York City in September 2005 sued the Energy Department for failing to enact stronger energy standards required by Congress. The suit led by Spitzer claimed the federal agency has failed to set tougher requirements for manufacturers that would save electricity, natural gas and oil. ...
TreeHugger Radio 7
by Team Treehugger, Worldwide on 11.14.06
This week we bring you the shakedown of the midterm elections as well as the promise of things to come. Michael Dorsey of Dartmouth College’s Climate Justice Project discusses politics and prospect of green government. Kansas is beckoning three new coal-fired power plants into the state which will send energy to Colorado and spread pollution all over the region. We speak with the geniuses behind the Skystream 3.7, a home wind-turbine dubbed one of the year’s best inventions by Time Magazine. (listen)...
New Resource Bank: Serving Customers and the Environment
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 11.14.06
Wall Street Journal (subscription only) reports that “One of the nation's first "green" banks -- focused on investing in clean technology and other green ventures -- has started here [San Francisco Bay area] with backing from a roster of Silicon Valley and other business heavyweights. Named New Resource Bank, the institution is set to hold its grand opening today with an initial equity infusion of $24.7 million from 240 founding investors, …” The bank plans loans in alternative energy, organic farms and green construction and “would try to encourage it’s borrowers to be greener, such as by introducing them to green associations and techniques related to their businesses”. Guess that means its customers will be reading TreeHugger!
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YBA's Save Our Seas
by Bonnie Alter, London on 11.14.06
YBA’s is the name for a group of young british artists whose work has become sensationally successful and sought after. Not so young anymore, Gavin Turk and Tracey Emin have created tee-shirts in support of a new charity Global Ocean. Inspired by the politics of whaling, the shirts are limited editions and will become wearable collector's items due to the cult status of both of the artists. Gavin Turk’s tee-shirt design (pictured) parodies a sea-faring figure from the past. Tracey Emin’s illustrates a turtle, since she is interested in turtle conservation. Launched at London Fashion Week, these shirts bring the plight of marine life to the world of high fashion. Their slogan: “Glamour will save our seas—or almost.” The charity aims to save the seas by working with artists to raise global awareness about the problems of unsustainable fishing and promoting fish from responsible fisheries. :: Global Ocean ...
Earthtalk :: Soft Drink Solution
by Dominic Muren, Philadelphia, USA on 11.14.06
From the Editors of E/The Environmental Magazine
Dear EarthTalk: The marketing of soda to school kids was a big item in the news this past year. What’s so bad about soda and where can I find healthier alternatives that still have the “fizz?”
-- Chase Abromovitch, via e-mail
Soft drinks can be found most anywhere in the world, but nowhere are they as ubiquitous as in the United States, where 450 different types are sold and more than 2.5 million vending machines dispense them around the clock, including in our schools. The American Beverage Association says that, in 2004, 28 percent of all beverages consumed in the U.S. were carbonated soft drinks....
Who Should Own Solar Renewable Energy Credits in California?
by Jeff McIntire-Strasburg, St. Louis, MO on 11.14.06
A week and half ago, we discussed the brouhaha that erupted over Whole Foods' and Renewable Choice Energy's new wind power cards. It turns out that battles over renewable energy credits aren't limited to the consumer market: according to Renewable Energy Access, a conflict has arisen over the ownership of credits that will be produced by solar system owners when the California Solar Initiative goes into effect in January. The Public Utilities Commission (PUC) has floated a proposed decision that would grant all of those credits to California utilities, and solar advocacy groups are crying foul:...
Canada's Military Goes Green
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 11.14.06
Camp Borden, 1941
Canada's Military is the largest contributor to the Federal Government's greenhouse gas emissions, and while we are not thrilled with the Government's ignoring of the problem (At the Nairobi Climate Conference, Canada and Australia tied for being "Fossil of the Day",) the National Defense forces are not. They are looking for consultants to help find ways to rebuild barracks and housing, much left over from the cold war, and find other ways to reduce emissions. Even as they expand the armed forces and buy new equipment to support the troops in Afganistan, they have a big target: "Meeting our commitment will be challenging in view of the additional personnel and the new requirement for a total additional reduction of one megatonne by the federal government itself." (Note to Military: Use of the word megatonne is scary) ::Toronto Star...
LED's Cropping Up In The Most Practical Places
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 11.14.06
While driving through "Pennsylvania Dutch" country yesterday evening, we noticed that many of the traditional Amish buggies are now outfit with LED cluster bulbs. They're quite a bit more visible than the conventional types, and probably make the battery last much longer as well: safer for the long journey. Now all they need is a solar panel on the buggy roof. We auto drivers may find such the perfect transportation after the tail of the Peak Oil curve. Photo credit: LED Lights....
Heredia Organic Tea, at Supermarkets in Argentina
by Paula Alvarado, Buenos Aires on 11.14.06
We’re thrilled to discover more TreeHugger products and events in Argentina every day. Our last surprise was this line of organic teas, found not in a website or a specialized grocery store, but at a local supermarket. Though supermarket isn’t such a friendly word for everyone, we noted the incorporation of this type of products as a sign of increasing public interest in the subject and a happy alternative to those that care for the origin of their food. The teas are produced by Laboratorios Heredia -dedicated to the manufacturing of herbal products- in a plant certified for organic production by Argencert. The infusions’ collection includes Black Tea, Earl Grey Tea, Mate, Lemon Verbena and Peppermint. For those in or around Buenos Aires, they can be purchased at Jumbo supermarkets for about five pesos (little over one and a half US Dollar). ::Laboratorios Heredia...
Trees for Travelers
by Tim McGee, Western Massachusetts on 11.14.06
Kaikoura, well known for their dolphin encounters and incredible seafood is also an eco-tourist hotspot on the South Island of New Zealand. In order to address the increasingly guilty feeling eco-travelers might have, Kaikoura has developed a way you can travel and still feel good about your CO2 emissions. 'Trees for Travelers' is a program that enables visitors, or anyone really, to purchase a native tree. The tree is planted locally in an effort to reforest the area. But, the best part is you can monitor your tree's growth on-line! The native tree species were selected as they are said to help stop erosion, sequester CO2 and also offset the impact of over 1 million visitors each year. Your tree choices range from $20 for a shrub, to $40 for a large heritage tree. Details of the native trees, along with photos can be found on their site. The Trees for Travelers initiative is designed to help Kaikoura achieve their zero waste policy, because an eco destination is all about leaving the place better then when you arrived. ::Trees for Travelers...
TOMS Shoes - Buy One, Give One Away
by Petz Scholtus, Barcelona, Spain on 11.14.06
When Blake Mycoskie went to visit Argentina he discovered the typical soft shoe called Alpargata (similar to the Spanish Espadrilles) but also that a lot of children don't have shoes which leads to major health issues. Blake saw an opportunity for a business idea that 'makes life more comfortable' and returned home with exactly that: TOMS Shoes was born.
It's simple: with each pair of TOMS you buy ($38), a pair of shoes is donated to a child in Argentina on your behalf. And what's also comfortable to know is that the shoes are produced in Argentina under strict 'no sweatshop' criterias, made from local materials such as canvas and leather. Women, men and 'tiny' shoes are available (online as well as in stores across the US) in all sorts of colours and patterns as well as a limited hand painted graffiti edition by Tyler Ramsen. For the full TOMS Shoe story check out Blake Mycoskie's video clip here. ::via Springwise ::TOMS Shoes...
Trains Are Fun? Sexy, Even?
by Kyeann Sayer, Nomad on 11.13.06
What's your favorite train tale? Or train-focused film? When researching an overnight journey from Paris to Rome I came across a convincing Night Train From Hell admonition. This especially got me: "There's a point in an adult's life when second class is not worth it." Well! Wanting to feel like a grown-up, I sought a first class ticket at the SCNF office, but was too late and would have to share my couchette with five strangers. Luckily, they were all charming: a young Italian woman working in Versailles, a brother and sister pair from the Paris suburbs (he in high school, reading Sartre and speaking Russian!), a young Florentine in French military school, and a bubbly older Italian woman. We shared our food stocks, and laughed and talked in four different languages. Finally, the sister offered a cup of sleep-inducing herbal tea from her thermos, we converted our seats to beds, and I put in ear plugs, read a bit, and drifted off. After a solid eight hours of sleep, and freshening up in the clean WC, we pulled into sunny Roma. Lovely. Later, on the journey from Rome to Switzerland, I met a handsome stranger. For real!...
An Educational Weekend at The Green Festival
by Leonora Oppenheim, London, UK on 11.13.06
Listening to inspirational speakers, whilst being surrounded by interesting people, innovative products, and consuming delicious organic food and drink is really not a bad way to spend one’s weekend. And what’s more it was all with the aim of promoting sustainable living. The Green Festival, organised by Global Exchange and Co-op America, took place this weekend in San Francisco for the fifth year running. It being my first time I can’t compare the event to previous years or in other cities, but I can say that I was amazed at the scale of the festival and the variety of activities during the three days. Normally being a TreeHugger correspondant at a trade show is kind of like being a vegan at a BBQ! You can sometimes pick at the raw carrots that go with the side dip, but that’s only if your lucky, and you normally leave feeling hungry. Well this weekend was an enormous feast for all the senses and I took the opportunity to gorge myself on all that there was on offer! There were more than 100 speakers, 400 green businesses, interactive workshops, a community action tent, as well as fantastically diverse organic food and uplifting live music. Certainly more than enough to keep this TreeHugger writer busy at the keyboard for weeks to come....
How To Green Your Wardrobe
by Team Treehugger, Worldwide on 11.13.06
What’s the Big Deal?
Here's the irony: fashion is ephemeral while fabric and pollution are not. After all of the inspiration, image-making, and excitement pass, the clothes remain. Pouf skirts. Acid-washed denim. M. C. Hammer pants. They're out there still, in closets, thrift stores, and land fills. Eco-savvy fashion choices mean not only reducing post-consumer refuse, but also pre-consumer waste and pollution. After its origins on the farm, forest, or oil field, that jacket spent some time morphing into its present form. What chemicals were used to grow it? Were the dyes safe? As more designers and manufacturers create with eco-concerns in mind, it's easier to find satisfying answers. Through smart wardrobe management and consumer choices, you can cut down on closet clutter, support clean industry, and look fabulous. The FAQs below will help you navigate all of the terminology and find the best ways to green your wardrobe.Most Huggable
by Jacob Gordon, Nashville, TN on 11.13.06
Hitchsters.com links up cab-riders headed in the same direction to save a buck and a gallon… A study finds that about a fourth of hybrid drivers keep an SUV in the stable as well… Are hovering electric mowers in your lawn’s future? The microcredit revolution isn’t just for the developing world, Accion is trying to prove… Video of a sleek concept scooter and a Japanese single-seater EV…...
Welcome to week 4 of the Slate Green Challenge
by Brittany Jacobs, Seattle on 11.13.06
We all know how good it feels to go out on the town in a new outfit, so why not show it off to your whole neighborhood? Line-drying your clothing not only saves money, but also decreases your yearly carbon emissions up to 350 pounds per person per year. Likewise, running your washer on cold and only when it is full could save an additional 200pounds of CO2 emissions per person per year. A little effort can make a big difference and reducing your impact on the Earth will help you feel as great as you look!
For more ways to curb your carbon appetite, join The Slate Green Challenge with TreeHugger. Beginning with a carbon emission footprint quiz, the challenge will continue with information on several lifestyle topics related to reducing your CO2 output, such as taking a peek inside your closet, which this week’s installment does. (Other segments address water, electricity, holiday shopping, and more.) Join in anytime on the collective effort to reduce our overall footprint by 20 percent. Did we mention the prize? The first 500 people who complete the Challenge will receive a T-shirt from our generous friends and sponsor at I’m Organic. Happy dieting! ::Slate Green Challenge Welcome ::Slate Green Challenge Week 4: Wardrobe ...
New House Leadership, Same Mileage Standards
by EcoGeek.org on 11.13.06
John Dingell, a Representative from Michigan, will, come January, be the Chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee. His district is home to all three of America's top car manufacturers, and, for some reason, he's not in favor of increasing mileage standards. Some members of Congress have been walking the Treehugger line, saying that efficiency of American vehicles could easily double in every class. The benefits for the environment would be incalculable, they say, and the burden on industry would be negligible. But with Detroit's Representative charing the House Energy Committee, those changes are extremely unlikely.
Dingell's perspective seems to be that new clean technologies should be strongly encouraged, but no regulations should be placed directly on the automakers. In a recent interview with CNBC, Dingell was asked about vehicle efficiency standards and replied, "I’m not sure that there’s any urgent needs for us to address those questions.”...
Panel: Eating Green
by Dominic Muren, Philadelphia, USA on 11.13.06
Eco-foodies (and just plain old folks) will be excited to hear about tomorrow evening's panel discussion at The Strand bookstore in Manhattan. Eating Green will be moderated by TH favorite Bryan Keefer, and features a panel of experts from all over the food world. Tim Fitzgerald of Environmental Defense will discuss health issues regarding the U.S. seafood market. Organic, Inc. author Samuel Fromartz and Makale Faber of Slow Foods USA will talk about slow food, and ways to improve the quality of your food. Panel is from 7:00 to 8:30 PM.
Eating Green at The Strand...
Greening a Home One Fridge (and Rebate) at a Time
by Union of Concerned Scientists on 11.13.06
The first in a series of entries for Treehugger on converting an old apartment into an eco-friendly one. In September I bought my first apartment--an aging one bedroom unit that is primed for an eco-friendly makeover. As a novice at home remodeling, the biggest thing I have going for me is that my work as a press secretary for the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) gives me easy access to environmental experts and their research.
UCS's Consumer's Guide to Effective Environmental Choices explains that the refrigerator is the worst energy hog in a home, sucking up 1,383 kilowatt hours per year in a typical household. According to the Department of Energy, refrigerators use 14% of a household's electricity. That makes sense since a refrigerator is usually the only large appliance that's constantly in use. ...
TreeHugger Picks: Product Service Systems (Part II)
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 11.13.06
We like the idea of the Products Service System (PSS) so much that there's an entire category for products available as services. We've covered the concept before on TreeHugger Picks, but there are so many good ones, we couldn't resist going for round two. Here are more ways to own less, save more and still get everything you need.
1) Cohousing hearkens back to the co-op and kibbutz, but it's really collaborative living at its most modern.
2) Peerflix takes the Netflix model and updates it to better fit TreeHugger ideals.
3) Green-Works takes unwanted furniture and helps it find a new home.
4) Kunstfabrik Art helps your office project a strong cultural presence without buying up a gallery's-worth of art.
5) Go Play Outside offers full hire service for all your outdoor sports gear, without the buyer's remorse....
TriplePundit Hosts Carnival of the Green
by Kara DiCamillo, Newport, Rhode Island on 11.13.06
As we mentioned last week, TreeHugger will now be managing the Carnival of the Green and this week’s host is TriplePundit, a blog managed by our own Nick Aster. Head on over to the Carnival to check out a round up of last week’s green news and events, submitted by other bloggers and green sites. To learn more about Carnival of the Green, where it will be and how to host, please click here to link to our previous post. ...
Portable Spin Dryer from The Laundry Alternative
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 11.13.06
The company that brought the world the Wonderwash is at it again. The Laundry Alternative recently came out with a spin dryer that revolves at 3200 rpm to help dry your clothes in just two or three minutes; it won't do the same job as a conventional tumble dryer (clothes come out a little damp) but would work great in tandem with a clothes line or drying rack (or the aforementioned Wonderwash). The company claims it removes as much water in the two-to-three minute cycle as a conventional dryer does in 30 minutes; the spin dryer is also much more gentle on clothes, which helps prolong their usable lives. It connects to any 110V outlet, and, at 22 pounds, is quite portable. We've mentioned spin dryers before, as a money-saving gadget; this spin dryer goes for $129.95 direct from The Laundry Alternative; it also has a little brother that can handle a pair of jeans or two at a time. ::The Laundry Alternative...
Zero Thick: When The Package Is Also The Product
by Karin Kloosterman, Tel Aviv on 11.13.06
Why is it, that manufacturers of jam, fruit juice and wine can sell products cheaply and still be able to package their products in glass containers? If glass can be manufactured so cheaply then why should we ever spend more than a quarter on a glass coffee mug or glass storage container? And last week when we bought a new backpack for one of our laptops, the salesperson wanted to wrap it in a plastic bag. A bag in a bag, how ridiculous is that? ...
Kimberly-Clark Continues to Flush Ancient Forests Down the Toilet
by Eric Kane, New York, NY on 11.13.06
In July, we covered a Greenpeace report that was written to expose Kimberly-Clark for using wood fiber from British Columbia’s coastal temperate rainforests and from US federal forest lands. In August, we wrote about several businesses that had decided to stop using Kimberly-Clark products for that reason. Unfortunately, neither the report nor the boycott has created the intended results. The tissue company still sources one-fifth of its global pulp from destructive logging operations in Canadian forests, including the Boreal Forest. Subsequently, Greenpeace shifted their strategy to the more theatrical methods of protest that have long since been the cornerstone of organization’s efforts. Last week, two activists suspended a banner from Kimberly-Clark’s regional headquarters in Turin, Italy that read “Stop Flushing Ancient Forests Down the Toilet”. Meanwhile, 20 others chained themselves to toilet bowls stuffed with trees outside the same office. Hopefully these latest efforts will encourage the company to revise its sourcing policies. However, in the mean time we urge our readers to discontinue using any Kimberly-Clark products. Also for more information, visit Kleercut.net. ...
Less is the New More: Julia West Home's Coffee Table Bed
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 11.13.06
Toronto's Julia West Home has been doing transformer furniture for years; This very simple coffee table has a top that lifts off, lines up perfectly with the base, with a mattress inside that unfolds, creating a guest bed. No expensive mechanisms necessary, nothing to break or wear out. US$ 900 in wood veneer, more in solid woods. . ::Julia West Home...
Citizenrē's REnU: A Solar Service System for Homeowners
by Jeff McIntire-Strasburg, St. Louis, MO on 11.13.06
A few weeks ago, we took notice of General Motors' solar panels: GM doesn't own them, but provides roof space to the company that does, and then buys cheaper solar electricity through a "solar service system" model. Now, that opportunity is available to homeowners who live in the many US states that have a net metering law. The Citizenrē Corporation, a newcomer to the renewable energy market, has introduced its REnU program, which allows homeowners to purchase solar energy for their homes without making any investment in a photovoltaic array. The company's literature describes the program this way:...
A Really Green Building: Quai Branley Office Wing
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 11.13.06
The office wing of the controversial new Quai Branly Museum, designed by Jean Nouvel in Paris has a "vertical garden" installed by Patrick Blanc. The construction of the vertical gardens include layers of felt, plastic and metal sheeting which provide a barrier against damaging roots. According to Business Week, Le Mur Végétal, or Plant Wall, is a dense sheet of vegetation that can grow against any surface, or even in midair. It works by doing away entirely with dirt, instead growing plants hydroponically in felt pockets attached to a rigid plastic backing. via ::Archidose...
Can Sustainable Agriculture Prevent Suicide?
by Jeff McIntire-Strasburg, St. Louis, MO on 11.13.06
That's what YUVA, a Nagpur, India-based NGO claims. Times are tough for farmers in India's Vidarbha region, and despite a recent aid package offered by the government, the Times of India reports that suicide rates "...[continue] to rise alarmingly." In response to plans for more aid, YUVA offers an alternative: "an Integrated Natural Sustainable Agricultural Process":...
Vinyl Fruit Bowls
by Bonnie Alter, London on 11.13.06
If you are looking for something to do with all those old records…here’s what one designer came up with. A vinyl fruit bowl made of recycled discs. Each one uses a different record; thus each is unique. They are hand-made. One record is the top and the other is fused to it, with legs pulled out to make a stand-up base. You can supply your own choice of albums, if you wish. Imagine matching bowls: John and Yoko, Frank Sinatra and Madonna, the combinations are endless. :: Paul Cocksedge ...
Buenos Aires' Very Own Sustainable Design Exhibition
by Paula Alvarado, Buenos Aires on 11.13.06
(Opening picture, from La Nacion newspaper) From November 9th and until today, Buenos Aires had its first exhibition with a focus on eco, social and sustainable design. It was inside Design Connection, an annual exposition on avant-garde design. Though the products that focused on recovered materials were mixed up with regular ones and didn't have enough clear specifications about the materials, the show served as a great introduction for general people to the theme of recycled and social design (it even had a stand from the government with flyers that explained how to separate and recover garbage). We also found out that in the frame of this exhibition was the official launch of ReMade Argentina: this country's own version of the Italian organization that promotes design from recycled materials (ReMade in Italy). In terms of products, we could count as a plus that the exhibition had some foreign eco-designers from Brazil, England and Italy -mainly the products from the ReMade in Italy catalogue-; but we point as a minus the fact that there weren't any products on sale. However, we were glad to find some of our previously featured designers showing their stuff, like Oficina Nomade, Gueto, the Cempre Award Winners, Mu, Vacavaliente and the winners of the Easy Homecenter contest; and also some interesting ideas from new players. Check them out in the extended (if you're in Buenos Aires, it's open until 9pm at the Buenos Aires Design Auditorium, between streets Pueyrredon and Libertador, Recoleta). ::Design Connection...
Seen in New York: Radiator Rethought
by Celine Ruben-Salama, New York, NY on 11.13.06
Not only is the design of this Radiator a dramatic departure from conventional design but, with more exposed surface area for heat to dispate from it is also inherently eco-friendly and an improvement on current versions. Modern. Playful. Clever. It could only be Droog. Here are some of the questions the viewer is prompted to ponder are while viewing Joris Laarman’s "Radiator": Why do you think the artist choose this form for the radiatior? Do you find it beautiful? Why does it take so much space? What is a radiator? Where does your heat come from? I wonder, did form follow function here or was it the other way around?
Part of the exhibit Simply Droog 10 + 3 Years of Creating Innovation and Discussion, "Radiator" can be seen now until January 14, at the Museum of Art and Design in New York (MAD across from MOMA)....
Manchester Turbine Gets Go Ahead
by Treehugger Interns on 11.12.06
Way back in October 2005, Warren reported here on plans by Manchester City football club to build a giant wind turbine to power their stadium. The turbine, to be designed by architectural giant Norman Foster, was being billed as the largest land-based turbine in the country, and one of the biggest in Europe. A scheme this big was set to become a major landmark, and an iconic symbol of clean energy and civic pride. There was only one problem at the time - the plans were subject to receiving planning permission from Manchester City council. However, Treehugger is delighted to announce that the council recently voted unanimously in favour of the project, and the turbine is due to be installed by the end of next year. ...
Book Review - The Sixth Extinction
by Kristin Underwood, Sacramento, CA on 11.12.06
What does the extinction of the dinosaurs, mutating diseases, global warming and globalization all have in common? I’m sure you can think of a few things, but according to Kent Lester in his new book The Sixth Extinction, its worse than you think. ...
This Goes Over Like a LED Balloon
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 11.12.06
More strange uses of LED's: The Asahi Corporation offers the "LED dancing balloon" that responds to sounds by changing color, to produce a zen-like atmosphere. We like the zen-like google autotranslation: "With the soft lamp where the daily space in the space of healing drastically changes probably will be the ball gives out" Eight to twelve inches in diameter, 2890 to 3980 yen, about $30 to $40 ::Lifestyle via ::Akihabara News via ::Engadget....
Flexlight: Innovative LED Lighting
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 11.12.06
I wrote a long post yesterday about the sven light, which I thought of as a "horseless carriage", an example of trying to make a new technology look like the thing it is replacing. After all, the function of a lampshade was to diffuse the harshness of the glaring point source of an incandescent bulb; surely designers can do better than just recreating a table lamp in LEDs. I deleted it after searching and finding that Mairi covered the lamp already, but mention it today after seeing the Flexlight, designed for FEEK by Jos Kranen. Here, the designer reinvents the light fixture, taking advantage of its low current draw and heat output to simply stick it on the wall. The wiring becomes a decorative element and the light source is exposed for what it is. This is the forerunner of things to come- designs that take advantage of the inherent characteristics of LEDs instead of replicating what we have already. ::FEEK via ::Josh Spear...
Coming soon: A "Strategic Fuel Ecoplex"
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 11.12.06
Silverado Green Fuel Inc. digs up low grade lignite coal, cooks it to drain its water, adds water back to produce an oily gook that they have the gall to call "Green Fuel". They want to build a "Strategic Fuel Ecoplex" in Alaska. The Green Fuel isn't good for much- you have to make an atomized spray out of it, so it could be used in oil-fired power stations, of which there are few. However the next stop in the ecoplex is to turn the Green Fuel into synthetic natural gas, which can be done, with one small hitch- "gasification and liquefaction process releases massive amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, and will also require a large increase in coal mining "with all the environmental problems which that entails." Silverado admits that gasification produces four times as much CO2 as just burning the coal straight, but "There is such as huge market and such a high demand that there cannot be enough coal-to-liquid plants built in this country," ie- global warming be damned, we have to drive to the mall. We will give them credit- only a genius could invent the term "Strategic Fuel Ecoplex" for a coal-to-gas refinery- that and "Green Fuel" give new meaning to the term "Greenwashing". Otherwise this is one project that should be deeply sequestered. ::Silverado via ::UPI via ::Wired...
"Global Carbon Project" Reports Accelerating Carbon Dioxide Emissions
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 11.12.06
The NewScientist.com news service reports some recent conclusions of the Global Carbon Project: “Far from slowing down, global carbon dioxide emissions are rising faster than before…Though alarming, the figures confirm expectations. "They make intuitive sense to me," says Jim Watson, deputy leader of the energy program at the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research, UK...One likely contributor is China, whose emissions slowed at end of the 1990s before rising again. China is now the world’s second largest emitter of greenhouse gases after the US... Other growing developing countries, such as India and Brazil, are also fast becoming large emitters." (Re: the graphic, developed by the GCP, stabilizing carbon dioxide concentrations at 450 ppm could limit global warming to 2°C.)...
Traffic Lights Replaced By...Courtesy?
by EcoGeek.org on 11.12.06
Drachten, a small Dutch city with around 50,000 residents has removed almost all of its traffic lights. Major intersections have been converted to roundabouts, smaller intersections just let drivers work make decisions on their own. Basically, it's anarchy. Anarchy that has completely eliminated dangerous crashes and road fatalities and created a surge in bicycle and pedestrian traffic.
Crashes still happen, but they have all been fender benders. The architect of the project, Dr Hans Monderman explained, "We want small accidents, in order to prevent serious ones in which people get hurt." Instead of relying on a set of hard rules, drivers are asked to take their safety, and the safety of others, into their own hands. The result is that people are more aware, more careful and drive slower, but are far less frustrated while driving. Bikes and walkers now rule the roads and can pretty much travel non-stop around town...
Liquid Chimney Could Reduce Global Warming
by Christine Lepisto, Berlin on 11.12.06
Turn global warming gases into coral beds? Could this be real? Tom Kiser, who made his reputation working together with William McDonough on the greening of the Ford River Rouge plant, claims to have a smokestack which will capture the gases which cause greenhouse effects and turn them into harmless material, which could even be deposited in the ocean to restore coral reefs....
