- 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 26, 2006 - December 2, 2006
Total this week: 125
Global Forests Set to Return? Study Gives Cause for Optimism
by Treehugger Interns on 12. 2.06
Unsruprisingly, Treehuggers love trees. The usual pessimistic headlines about the state of the world’s forests can make for pretty depressing reading. Imagine our delight then, to read here on the BBC website about a new study that claims things aren’t quite as bad as they seem. In fact, the research suggests we may be reaching a tipping point where the world moves from deforestation towards restoration – possibly increasing global forest cover by as much as 10%, or an area the size of India....
Green Turtle Beats Hares In Canadian Liberal Party Race
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 12. 2.06
The Natural Governing Party of Canada, AKA the Liberals, have ruled this country for most of the last hundred years, with occasional time-outs for bad behavior when the Conservative Party fills in. We are in one of those time-outs now, and the Liberals are choosing their next leader, which in every case but one in the 140 years of the country has meant the next Prime Minister. There were smart candidates running including front-runner Harvard professor Michael Ignatieff, then there was former Ontario premier Bob Rae, and among the long shot candidates, the plodding, intellectual environmental candidate Stephane Dion. After the four-ballot shootout the new Leader of the Opposition is Dion, whose first line was "How did I get here? Canadians are as concerned as I am about building a sustainable environment for our children." and "The Issue of our times is sustainable development." This TreeHugger has never voted liberal, was drifting from the NDP to the Greens, but I am shocked to see such a committed environmentalist winning the leadership of Canada's major party against such profound odds. Al Gore: fire up your campaign, Green is on a roll. ...
by Rebecca Wodder, American Rivers on 12. 2.06
Rebecca Wodder, President, American Rivers
American Rivers is the only national organization standing up for healthy rivers so our communities can thrive. Through national advocacy, innovative solutions and our growing network of strategic partners, we protect and promote our rivers as valuable assets that are vital to our health, safety and quality of life....
Paul Kedrosky on The Economics and Emotion of Global Warming
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 12. 2.06
Popular venture-capitalist blogger Paul Kedrosky has more patience than me, slogging through the transcripts of the Supreme Court global warming case, Massachusetts vs. EPA. "I tried to stay balanced while reading this week's Supreme Court oral transcripts from Massachusetts vs. EPA, the global warming case, but it's tough. This feels like instant history, the kind of document that people will look back on in a hundred years and say there was a great example of a missed opportunity, a point where things began to really get away. So much sophistry, so little substance. You can, of course, understand the temptation to wait for more data, to argue lack of standing, or to argue about the costs and consequences of carbon dioxide curbs. But then ... while the global climate is a highly complex system, the science is also more settled than the Appeals Court and the EPA make it sound. Start reading the climate scientists' amicus brief on page 17 to get a sense of how climate research is being warped to serve a political purpose....Go ahead and read the respondent-friendly briefs too, like the AEI's, but even there you see that the arguments are mostly at the margin, about the amount of change, and about humans' ability to cope with those changes -- higher sealevels, more freakish weather, etc. -- than about actions that might be taken now to mitigate those responses.::Infectious Greed
...
G Magazine: Guide to Green Living in the 21st Century
by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 12. 2.06
The very comprehensive Green Pages directories have barely landed on the shelves of Australian newsagents, and we have a new publication joining them. G Magazine purports to be “Australia's first green lifestyle title”, but magazines like the 32 year old Earth Garden or quarter century veteran Renew, amongst others, might take umbrage at this claim. The publishers say, “G is a glossy and stylish guide to green living in the 21st century: an upscale, environmentally-friendly, consumer guide for people who want to reduce their impact on the planet but don't want to compromise on quality of life.” Their new bi-monthly costs $5 at the newsstand, and the premier issue runs to 66 pages that cover the sort of topics one might typically find on TreeHugger like green weddings (and here too), ethical investments, eco-renovations, organic ice-cream and the like. We liked the number crunching section on the back page, which included this little gem, "Cars burn half the world's oil and account for 6 per cent of all global-warming pollution." Printed on 55% recycled paper (post-consumer content not disclosed), the magazine said to also be carbon neutral. All the best to G mag, there can’t be enough voices spruiking the greener lifestyle message. ::G Magazine....
Peter Menzel's Hungry Planet
by Christine Lepisto, Berlin on 12. 2.06
A Family in China (copyright Peter Menzel Photography)
We really enjoyed Peter Menzel's Material World, which uses artistic photographic images to vividly demonstrate the consumer overdrive in some societies in contrast to the material simplicity with which it is possible to live on this planet. Now Menzel is back with another fascinating peek into the lives of our neighbors around the globe. In Hungry Planet, Menzel documents the foods families eat each week in 24 countries. ...
Bicycle Winnebago — Exhibit B
by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 12. 2.06
Maybe you spied Brian’s amazing bicycle ‘motorhome’ yesterday. That was the solo version. Stand by for the two person model. Brad Graham has based his dual occupancy, electric-assist, pedal-powered trike on the Kyoto Cruiser (plans for which can be purchased at Atomic Zombie). He is figuring on a total of 300 lbs (136 kg) total for a vehicle that will include a double bed, table, gas stove, LCD screen and even a kitchen sink. Photovoltaics on the roof will charge the battery. Each rider has their independent 36 speed transmission. The end result will be aerodynamic (unlike the CAD image shown here) with a front fairing for the pilot and passenger. Brad is anticipating a top speed of about 25 kph (16 mph). ::Kyoto Camper Human Powered RV. ...
Axis of Climate Gases
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 12. 2.06
What to call a comparison of the combined GHG emissions of Texas, California, and Pennsylvania with those of North Korea, Iran, and Iraq: The Axis of Gases? How about the Droppings of Iscarus? We don't have those numbers right at hand; but, we do have, via World Resources Institute, a map, originally featured in Science magazine (by subscription only), which shows how regions within the U.S. compare to other major international remitters. As depicted, various regional U.S. emission totals from 2001 were greater than those of Great Britain, Canada, Russia, India, Brazil & South Korea, respectively. WRI comments, "... if states were ranked individually, six states -- Texas, California, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Illinois and Florida -- would rank among the top 30 emitters internationally”....
Kimberly-Clark Filtration Offers Energy Star Products
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 12. 2.06
Via “Facilities Management” magazine online we learned that “Kimberly-Clark Filtration Products has become an ENERGY STAR Partner [with USEPA]… Kimberly-Clark Filtration Products supplies HVAC system air filter media with lower pressure drops than conventional air filtration media, which translates into reduced energy costs to operate the HVAC system…They offer online access to an energy cost calculator to analyze HVAC operating costs and estimate the energy savings available with various air filtration technologies. So far so good. ...
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by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 12. 1.06
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Earthtalk :: Outdoor Wood Boiler Woes
by Dominic Muren, Philadelphia, USA on 12. 1.06
From the Editors of E/The Environmental Magazine
Dear EarthTalk: Several of my neighbors have installed outdoor wood furnace boilers to heat their homes instead of relying on oil or natural gas. But is all the smoke these boilers create good for my health? -- Susan MiHalo, Michigan City, IN
As the price of fuel has risen in recent years, more and more homeowners across North America are turning to alternative ways of heating their homes. While some might opt for forward-thinking alternatives--like tapping solar, wind or geothermal sources of energy--others prefer to step back to perhaps the oldest source of heat, burning wood. For those with easy access to firewood and the need to heat a large house or multiple buildings, outdoor wood furnace boilers are an obvious, though potentially noxious, choice....
This Week on TreeHugger Radio…
by Jacob Gordon, Nashville, TN on 12. 1.06
This week’s segment is all about Daryl. TreeHugger’s interview with Daryl Hannah touches on the actress’s quest for a green existence in the limelight of Hollywood, her fight to help preserve Los Angeles’ legendary urban farm, and the evolving challenges of the booming biofuel industry. Tune in to Air America’s EcoTalk every week for TreeHugger Thursdays, and every weekday for Betsy Rosenberg’s unique commentary and world-class guest list. :: Ecotalk.net...
Most Huggable
by Jacob Gordon, Nashville, TN on 12. 1.06
Al Gore tempts Jay Leno with “hot glacier on glacier action”… A DIY guide to transforming jewel cases into frames for your photo jewels, complete with moving picture tutorial… The CEO of General Motors speaks at the LA Auto Show about his company’s hybrid plans before a run-in with some pushy MPG reformers… Amory Lovins talks oil endgame strategy on Charlie Rose (video)… For the urban farmer tired of un-ergonomic chicken coops, the Eglu is the iPod of hen houses…...
Self Sufficient 'ish' -- The Urban Guide to Almost Self Sufficiency
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 12. 1.06
It would be grand if we could all live on a few acres in the country, grow our own food in an organic garden out back, grow cotton and hemp and raise sheep to make our clothes and keep a goat around to mow the lawn and be very nearly self-sufficient; unfortunately, that's not the way it works for many of us, who live dense urban areas or slightly less dense suburban areas and simply don't have the space and time to plant, grow, harvest and process everything we need. Happily, there's Self Sufficient 'ish', the urban guide to almost self-sufficiency (we've mentioned their vlog before); they offer a growing database of self sufficiency articles with an emphasis on the organic grower. From making your own soya milk and tofu and soap (something TreeHugger has dabbled in before) to tips on organic container gardening and jam making, there are lots of ways to ease your load on the consumer supply chain and consume more efficiently. There's also a forum to trade self-sufficiency ideas, best practices, and even goods and materials. From studio apartment dwellers to homesteaders in the country, there's something here for everyone who wants to live a self sufficient-ish lifestyle. ::Self Sufficient 'ish' via ::Hugg (Chickpea)
...
TH Week :: Mod Mod Mod
by Dominic Muren, Philadelphia, USA on 12. 1.06
Despite rumors to the contrary, modernism springs eternal from designers all over the world.
This week our writers chose to hi-light some of these great mod designs.
:: Lloyd found Bemz, a great little company making slipcovers for IKEA to extend the life of your stuff.
:: Lloyd also sleuthed out these great looking eco-homes in London.
:: Warren caught on to Patagonia's scheme to find a less polluting method of making walking shoes.
:: Lloyd tracked down Ari Leinonon's Floating Prefab Sauna.
:: And Lloyd brought us This piece about the Northwood Blanket Company's recycled sweater blankets....
The Complaints Choirs of The World
by Karin Kloosterman, Tel Aviv on 12. 1.06
Art therapists would agree. No better way to get out your pent up “green” frustrations than by finding an artistic outlet. That’s why we love the idea of belting out one's environmental pet peeves by way of song. Global Warming got you down? Wish your city had better recycling programs or more bike lanes? These are some of the issues that the Complaints Choir of Helsinki and the Complaints Choir of Birmingham are singing about. While the Birmingham group are easier to understand, we think complaints sound way funnier in Finnish:
You can't get rich by working
And love doesn't last forever
In the public sauna they never ask
If it's ok to throw water on the stove
Old forests are cut down and made into toilet paper
And still all the toilets are always out of paper...
Maybe its time for TreeHuggers everywhere to unite and start our very own choir?...
Architecture For Humanity UK + Crisis Helping The Homeless This Christmas
by Leonora Oppenheim, London, UK on 12. 1.06
For 35 years the homeless charity Crisis has run the Open Christmas project to help alleviate loneliness at Christmas for London’s homeless. This year Architecture For Humanity UK has joined forces with Crisis to transform derelict buildings into welcoming and comfortable centres where people can come together to eat, socialise and celebrate. ‘Crisis will open 7 centres around London between 23 and 30 December, the shelters offer a range of services and learning and skills activities that will inspire guests and help them to rebuild their lives in the New Year. The centres are usually disused warehouses or open plan office sites. We then create sleeping and eating areas, bathrooms, kitchens and day activity spaces from the "empty shells" we have available. An army of volunteers including joiners, plumbers and electricians work flat out to transform the buildings over a three week period.’ It is this army of helpers that AFH and Crisis need to build now. They are looking for volunteers and skilled trades people, especially carpenters, who can donate some of their time to help with the building. They are also asking for donations from companies for the tools and materials that they need to transform the dilapidated spaces into homely places to spend Christmas. ...
Ecosa Institute: Enrolling Now for a Sustainable Future
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 12. 1.06
Over TreeHugger's relatively short but fast-paced life, it has been amazing to watch as sustainability has really begun to enter the collective conscious of the mainstream world. While we like to think we've played a part in this, it's really the work of people like Tony Brown and the Ecosa Institute (see our interview with Tony here) who give us stuff to write about. The Ecosa Institute is fostering a new, very TreeHugger design philosophy based on nature, and they want to teach it to you! They're doing fabulous work teaching the next generation of architects, designers and other professionals working with built environments that sustainability and design are not only no longer mutually exclusive, but totally complementary. The Ecosa Program is also a career exploration program, where students get an example of what it's like to work on real projects in a professional setting, as well as get exposure to the various professional options that a career in sustainability can provide. Concepts on the syllabus include passive solar design, permaculture, site assessment, alternative materials and their selection, and active solar design. For non-architects and architects alike, the work exemplifies holistic thinking in action, as well as reveals the challenges and rewards of creating feasible, practicable change for a sustainable society. We highly recommend the program to anyone interested in sustainable design; enrollment for the Spring semester is open now, and that one semester will change your whole career. For more information on the program and enrollment, visit the website; check out some examples of student work: affordable townhomes in Phoenix, an entry into the Cradle-to-Cradle home competition and some urban renewal in downtown Prescott. ::Ecosa Institute...
TreeHugger Radio 9
by Team Treehugger, Worldwide on 12. 1.06
This week’s segment is all about Daryl. TreeHugger’s interview with Daryl Hannah touches on the actress’s quest for a green existence in the limelight of Hollywood, her fight to help preserve Los Angeles’ legendary urban farm,
and the evolving challenges of the booming biofuel industry. (listen)
...
The Traditional Dorito Harvest on North Carolina Beaches
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 12. 1.06
Everyone is excited when the Dorito season approaches. Children just want to be out there as the ocean bountifully provides, running through the sand, picking up Doritos just in time for the holidays, to export round the country for everyone's pleasure. It reminds us of the Spaghetti Harvest but the back story is far more significant. Containers drop off ships every day, and their contents are not always so edible or easy to pick up as this load of Doritos. A few years ago there was a big story about a container full of rubber duckies going overboard and a scientist tracking the duckies progress to Alaska; again cute and cuddly, but not typical. For every container with duckies or doritos there are ten or a hundred with stuff we don't want dumped into our oceans.Unfortunately it happens in international waters, the insurance companies pay up and nobody monitors it. The oceans are big so who cares?
...
::Deck The Halls With The Slate Green Challenge
by Brittany Jacobs, Seattle on 12. 1.06
Looking for the perfect holiday gift that doesn’t increase your carbon footprint? Giving gifts such as concert tickets, music lessons, and restaurant gift certificates do not require gift-wrapping and use minimal resources. Treehugger’s list of holiday gift certificates might give you a few ideas as you search for ways to give consciously this holiday season.
For more ways to reduce your impact, check out The Slate Green Challenge with Treehugger. With information on topics such as water, electricity, holidays, and heating, you are sure to shave off a few extra CO2 lbs this season. It all starts with a carbon footprint quiz and the goal is to end with a 20 percent collective reduction of our carbon emissions. Be one of the first 500 to complete the challenge and get a free t-shirt from our sponsors at I’m Organic. ::Slate Green Challenge Welcome ::Slate Green Challenge Week 6: Holidays...
IKEA Forever: Bemz Covers for your Worn Out Furniture
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 12. 1.06
So who sells millions of identical chairs and sofas all over the world, that eventually are going to get a bit tattered, torn up by the evil cat or stained beyond recognition at too many parties? IKEA. So talk about a brilliant idea: make aftermarket slipcovers for the IKEA line, even pieces that are no longer in production. Add a wider range of fabrics, patterns, colours. We love it because it is so simple and logical an idea, and will stretch out the lives of millions of Ektorps, Karlandas and Kramfors worldwide. ::Bemz via ::New York Times...
TreeHugger's Green Gift Guide 2006
by Kara DiCamillo, Newport, Rhode Island on 12. 1.06
New for 2007: Be sure to check out TreeHugger's new 2007 Green Gift Guide!
What's All the Talk?
Welcome to TreeHugger's Holiday Gift Guide for 2006! This time around we've included 10 categories with 10 ideas each - all things TreeHugger from this past year. For more ideas, visit our 2005 Gift Guide and be sure to check out TreeHugger's "How to: Green Your Gifts." Happy Holidays!Nau and Again. Part Two of our Interview
by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 12. 1.06
Our interview continues, with the team at Nau, a new outdoor apparel company, chasing the goals of beauty, performance and sustainability. Today we delve more into their business practices. Visit here for the first installment, where Ian Yolles, with insight from the rest of the Nau crew, provided in-depth answers on the company’s products and materials.
TreeHugger: What motivated Eric Reynolds (who over 30 years ago, co-founded Marmot, one of the first outdoor companies to use Gore-tex) to start up another company in the already crowded outdoor industry, particularly one that needs to jump through so many self imposed hoops?
Nau: The motivation stemmed from a genuine desire to do things differently and, hopefully in the process, inspire others to think and act in similar ways. Eric and the founding team knew that if our aspiration was to simply create yet another genre of performance-oriented outdoor product, we might as well pack up our bags and go home. The world doesn’t need another traditional outdoor company, but perhaps the world does need ......
Bicycle Winnebago — Exhibit A
by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 12. 1.06
Weird how things come at you in a rush. Almost in a day of each other, we've had two stories land in our in-tray, about folk making bicycle motor-homes. Lord knows how many more are out there, but let’s kick off with these. Exhibit A comes courtesy of Jonathan at Bike Portland. Pics via one of his blog's readers, Bob. As you’ll read, when you wander over there for the extra images, this beastie has apparently been on the road for the past two years. It’s inspiration is said to be the moon rovers and landing vehicles, which might account for all the silvery stuff. Seems there had been substantial rain for the days preceding the 'photo shoot', but the interior of the gentleman's creation was nice and dry. ::Bicycle Motorhome at bikeportland.org....
Wrap It Better with Artists
by Bonnie Alter, London on 12. 1.06
Every treehugger knows that wrapping presents in newsprint is de rigeur this season. But forget about the comic section. Impress your friends with gifts wrapped in (recycled) paper designed by the artistocracy of England's artists. Every day this week, the Guardian has printed a full-sized sheet of festive wrap on newsprint, with a design by one of the hippest of the stars. Oddly enough, they are all rather grim and threatening. Monday's wrap was by Timorous Beasties, known for their macabre depictions of seemingly everyday scenes--it's a sinister picture of Santa and his reindeer (pictured bottom left). Tuesday is Rachel Whiteread, with photos of cardboard boxes taped up (top right). Wednesday is Paula Rego who specialises in drawings of tortured and pained Jane Austen figures (bottom right). Tracy Emin's (left) is a sketch of wine and fish with the words "The Friday Supper" reversed and Mark Tichner's is a wreath with three raised fists and the words " If I Can". Which one is best for wrapping the Oxfam goat? :: Guardian...
Local Cooling: Tuning Your Computer to Save Energy
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 12. 1.06
Its a whole new category: ecosoftware. Last week Greenprint and now Local Cooling, a free Windows program that "fights global warming from your desktop." Sort of. What it really does is fairly straightforward- It reads the device manager to find out what is in your computer and calculates the wattage you are consuming (but does not actually measure it) then tweaks the settings of your power options- monitor, disk and shut-down, and gives you a running tab of how many trees you have saved by shutting down rather than leaving things on. It does not seem to do anything that one could not do themselves if they went into power options on the control panel; it does not monitor fans or CPU speed or any other major power user. It actually doesn't seem to monitor anything. It is pretty and easy to configure, and we like seeing that we saved .023 trees today, but is also taking up 20,000K of memory. Cute idea, but call me back when you can actually do something that I can't do by adjusting settings in the control panel or simply shutting down my computer when I am done with it. ::Local Cooling...
Boomerang Recycled Paint
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 12. 1.06
In 1999 a job training program in Victoriaville Quebec put kids to work on a recycling project. Then the Quebec government put an environmental fee on each can of paint sold to finance its collection and the job training program became an industry. Now over six million pounds of paint are collected each year. It is sorted by type, separated by colour and poured into huge vats to obtain a homogenous blend. It is then filtered, a few additives are put in to control viscosity and it is packaged (nicely) and sold at C$12.95 a gallon, a lot less than new paint. it is available in a range of trendy colours, as latex, alkyd or stains. A million cans of Boomerang paint were sold last year. What a great business model of public and private partnership, and proof that a little money paid up front as a deposit or recycling fee can have a big impact.::Boomerang Paint...
"Eco-Homes" For Sale in London
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 12. 1.06
Well, they call it an eco-home. It is a solid wood Slovenian prefab system called RIKO that is made from glue laminated pine for the interior and timber cladding on the exterior, a layered system that is up to eight inches thick, all from sustainably harvested forests. The walls are panellized and shipped complete with windows and doors. Three full houses were shipped in five trucks and assembled in central London in five days. ...
HER Design Incorporates Cradle-to-Cradle Certified Wool In Fashion Accessories
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 12. 1.06
We covered HER Design's high-fashion handbags about this time last year. Their recent foray into use of a CTC certified material of construction, however, made a re-visit worthwhile. Pictured is the new "Techtonic", a unisex work bag suitable for 15-inch laptops. Features include pocketing for cables, files, and magazines, a hidden tuck lock closure, contrast lining, and padded dividers. In Cradle-to-Cradle certified wool flannel, from Pendleton, with Vegan Leather trim. See the women's version, the "Leaf," pictured below the fold.
...
Seen in New York: LED Holiday Lights in Midtown
by Celine Ruben-Salama, New York, NY on 12. 1.06
The holiday season is upon us and all around the city festive decorations are up. For the second year in a row, the little sparkly lights that grace the streets of my Midtown neighborhood are LEDs! Manufactured by the Diogen company, these long-lasting, low-maintenance, lights are so energy-efficient over a half-mile of lights can be connected end to end with just one single electrical plug!...
LA Auto Show: Toyota Camry Hybrid is Green Car of the Year
by EcoGeek.org on 11.30.06
The Toyota Camry has been the top-selling vehicle in America for eight of the last nine years. This year, the 2007 version was unveiled with a hybrid option. The hybrid system bumps mileage from 24/34 mpg to 40/38 mpg but the price stays reasonable at base price of $26,000.
While Honda's newest hybrid model, the Accord hybrid, uses it's hybrid drive train more to boost performance, Toyota is betting that Camry consumers will be more interested in efficiency. Hopefully, they're right. This 60% increase in city driving efficiency today brought Toyota one of the highest honors of environmental automobiles, Green Car Journal's Green Car of the Year award....
Submarine Lumberjacks Harvest Underwater Forests
by Jacob Gordon, Nashville, TN on 11.30.06
The underwater forests of the world are waiting to be harvested. When massive hydroelectric dams are created, huge areas of forest are often flooded, submerging habitats and displacing whatever human communities happened to call that place home. But the forests that become part of the underwater landscape can be well preserved for decades, and are still viable stocks of timber. Harvesting underwater lumber from rivers and man-made lakes is not a brand new idea, but Triton Logging Co., the “underwater harvesting specialist”, has a bit of an edge. The Sawfish is a 7,000 lb, unmanned logging submarine that is remotely controlled from the surface. The robotic lumberjack latches onto the trunk of a submerged tree, attaches inflatable airbags to the trunk, deploys its chainsaw, and then releases the tree to float up to the surface....
TH Blog Love – Our Favourite Greens Of The Week
by Leonora Oppenheim, London, UK on 11.30.06
Clean Air Watch: Inhofe's last hurrah: blame THE MEDIA for global warming by Frank O'Donell. 'Clean Air Watch has learned that Senator James Inhofe, the soon-to-be-deposed chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, is planning one last hurrah, and it’s going to be a doozy.'
DH Love Life: FunGuy by Daryl Hannah
This week Daryl goes to meet Paul Stamets, the amazing mushroom man who we were inspired by at The Green Festival in San Francisco a few weeks ago. They say he is the greatest mycologist ever to have walked the face of the earth!...
Helical Piles: A Mimimal Green Foundation
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 11.30.06
We spent the morning wandering about the huge Construct Canada exhibition hall, Following the green balloons marked "Green Products" and getting depressed by the proportion of obvious greenwashers but cheered by the few gems. One that had no balloon but should have is the Techno Metal Post, developed in Quebec as TechnoPieux. In northern US and Canada foundations have to go below the frost line, requiring basements or crawl spaces. If a building is on piers, a big hole is dug and a sonotube is put in and filled with concrete. Invariably there is landscape damage, piles of dirt and a big mess to be cleaned up. It is very permanent and requires concrete and redi-mix trucks. Then there is the techno-post....
LA Auto Show: Schwarzenegger Comes to the Show
by Jeff McIntire-Strasburg, St. Louis, MO on 11.30.06
Word started spreading yesterday afternoon that California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger would be making an appearance at the LA Auto Show this morning, and that he might even use the appearance to announce a new biofuels initiative. Fifteen minutes before he appeared, one of his people also said an announcement was coming. Unfortunately, all the buzz was wrong -- the Governator did appear, and praised the show itself (this is the 100-year anniversary), the automakers there, and the state's initiatives to minimize emissions spewed from millions of California cars, but announced no new plans for biofuels. He was joined by executives from BMW, GM, Tesla, Honda and Daimler-Chrysler, as well as a representative of the Union of Concerned Scientist. We all received a press release noting the governor's environmental achievements. Needless to say, we were a bit disappointed. The governor's appearance did, however, underscore the theme of environmental impact running through the show, and variety of strategies (some really impressive, some notably disappointing) the auto industry is implementing to address personal transportation's heavy environmental footprint. So far, we've seen lots of hybrids and fuel cell concept cars, so were happy to see the Tesla Roadster (an electric vehicle) get prominent placement at this morning's news conference. One point that industry reps have also been making throughout the show -- fuel cell cars are electric cars. We don't know if these means that hydrogen represents the primary means by which car makers will pursue electric vehicles; we do know that they're pretty excited about it in spite of the long timeline projected for commercial viability of fuel cell cars....
Most Huggable
by Jacob Gordon, Nashville, TN on 11.30.06
A heliotropic apartment tower powered by the sun is planned as Dubai’s most recent wonder of the world… In England, “homespun” wind power is making leaps and bounds… From here the Vue is looking pretty sweet: 70 mpg and plug-in capability… The Climate Protection Campaign presents the EcoBabes Calendar for 2007… Urban eco-pioneers, Path to Freedom, launch an online trove of green goods… ...
The Green Zebra Guide: Helping San Francisco Go Greener
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 11.30.06
Hot on the heels of yesterday's post about Let's Green This City comes another resource for TreeHuggers in San Francisco. The Green Zebra guide is a directory, coupon book and educational resource all in one for Bay-area dwellers who want to live a little greener. It includes dozens of environmentally-conscious and community-oriented businesses, and offers deals on their products and services. Inside, you'll find 250 exclusive offers from organic restaurants and markets, eco-friendly retailers, spas, Yoga and Pilates studios, independent bookstores, bike shops, museums and more, so there’s something for just about everyone. Knowing that we can't shop our way to sustainability, Green Zebra can also answer many of your questions about living green in the city. Searching for a nearby Farmers’ Market? Not sure where to dispose of batteries and light bulbs? These questions and more can be answered with the links in their resource section. The book, which is printed on 100% recycled paper (98% post-consumer recycled) processed chlorine-free, goes for $25 and offers over $12,000 in savings; buy it from the website or from any number of area retailers. ::The Green Zebra Guide via ::Green Girls Global...
French Presidential : Nicolas Hulot, A New Game
by Erwan Pianezza, Locronan, Brittany on 11.30.06
Remember April 2002 in France? Did you enjoy extreme right's Le Pen running fast against Chirac? Looking for more action as the 2007 presidential election race is getting warm in France? This year you might well enjoy a furious ecological row as Nicolas Hulot, ex TV star, is splashing the game, doing his best to move candidates to make environmental issues a top priority for the years to come in France. Nicolas Hulot's message is clear like a Gore movie : we cannot afford to wait....
Apeiron Institute Looking for Caretakers in Rhode Island
by Kara DiCamillo, Newport, Rhode Island on 11.30.06
For all of you in my area of the world, here's a post for you! The Apeiron Institute for Environmental Living is looking for 1-2 persons, couples welcome, to serve as caretaker(s) for it's environmental education center in Coventry, Rhode Island. The Center is a state of the art environmentally designed facility and program center demonstrating more than 50 ecologically friendly systems, technologies and products including:
- Energy Efficient Design that uses 70% less energy than traditional homes
- Passive and Active Solar including Solar Electric and Hot Water
- Non-Toxic Paints, Stains, Caulks, and Sealants
- Recycled Roofing, Carpet, Lumber, Insulation
- Solar Greenhouse, Radiant Floor, Masonry Heater and Bio-Diesel Heat Systems
- Natural Materials Building Methods - Straw Bale, Light Clay, Lime and Clay Plasters....
IKEA Printing Houses In UK
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 11.30.06
“In normal projects, you find the plot and then you start thinking about what kind of building will fit there — then you are looking at a five-year process,” he [Lars Wild Nordlun, product manager for Ikea home BokLok} said. “We have a product. We love it and we are proud of it. We have it and we go out and look for land for it. That’s very important — find a plot of land for the building rather than a building for the plot of land.” Yikes. We love IKEA, and we love prefab, but we also like mass customization. We like buildings designed for their environment, their context. The new IKEA houses are supposed to cost 20% less than conventionally built ones, and they do not look too bad, but this could be Levittown all over again. Too much of a good thing? ::Building Design (subscription) via ::Mocoloco
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European Commission Cranks Down Carbon Caps 7%
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 11.30.06
New Scientist is reporting that, "The European Commission set tough new caps on carbon dioxide emissions for 10 nations on Wednesday [30 November 2006]. The move means Europe has taken a significant step towards meeting its Kyoto Protocol commitments... Experts say the allowances are stricter than for the scheme's first phase, from 2005 to 2008. Overall, the European Commission (EC) set the allowances almost 7% below the levels requested by the national governments. They are also 7% below the actual recorded emissions in 2005". Crosslands Bulletin (via subscription) notes that "Consultants, brokers, and environmentalists are cheering the European Commission in Brussels". ...
A Year of Living Generously
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 11.30.06
A Year of Living Generously started as an online experiment based on a hunch: that looking after this planet and its people is what we are all here for, and, that if many of us can make small changes in our everyday choices, then over time we can make a big difference for everyone. It's a very nice-sounding idea, if maybe a little chimeric, but it worked well enough that after a trial period (one year), the 100 people living "more generously" grew to the next prescribed level of 300; with a sizable wait-list, everyone was invited to join, and the community is now over 1000 and keeps on growing. So, what is living "more generously"? Turn off the tap while cleaning your teeth, compost, switched to an ethical bank, offset your travel, try to shop locally; some are easy (take a minute to sign up online as an organ donor), some are a bit of a hassle (switching to an ethical bank) and others might be impractical and are definitely a challenge (getting rid of your car). Through it all, take note with the virtual community; not only does the collaborative process reinforce and support generous behavior, but it's full of new ideas. Actions currently at the top of the list include bringing your own shopping bags, unplug your chargers when not in use, and using planet-friendly home cleaning products; all things we can all do (even without working too hard), all things that can really add up. Membership is free, and has spread throughout the UK. ::A Year of Living Generously via ::Hippypshopper...
Pocket Guide to Good Fish Choices
by Bonnie Alter, London on 11.30.06
It is hard to keep track of which fish are endangered and overfished and should be avoided and those which can be eaten with a clear conscience. When confronted with an array at the supermarket or on a restaurant menu, one panics and goes for the familiar….cod or salmon. A bad or good choice? Here is an easy solution to the dilemma: this handy little pocket guide, about the size of a business card, that lists the details of which fish to eat and which not to. Published by the Marine Conservation Society, this leaflet and the larger, more informative website Fishonline, helps consumers to choose fish that are from healthy and responsibly managed sources and are caught using methods that cause the least damage to the environment. The site provides differing levels of detail including pictures of the fish, reasons to avoid, and advice about purchases. So about that cod: if it is from the Pacific, it's o.k., but if it is from the Atlantic, where the stocks are depleted, then it is a no no. It’s easy to make the right choice, when you have the right information. :: Fishonline ...
NYC to Require Rechargeable Battery Recycling
by Eric Kane, New York, NY on 11.30.06
In October, we wrote about the Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation’s (RBRC) Call2Recycle program. At the time, the program appeared to be an innovative, but still voluntary approach to address the growing concern over e-waste. However, as of December 1st, new legislation will require New Yorkers to recycle rechargeable batteries. The same law will also force retailers and manufacturers of rechargeable batteries to take back and recycle used batteries that are sold in New York City. Unlike traditional recyclables, the batteries will have to be dropped off at select locations. Thanks to the RBRC, drop-off spots include: Radio Shack, Circuit City, Cingular Wireless, Staples, and others. Of course we urge readers everywhere to recycle their used rechargeable batteries even if its not required by law. To find an RBRC location near you click here....
Patagonia Put Their Best Foot(wear) Forward
by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 11.30.06
Patagonia have put their toe in the water of the footwear market before, with reef walkers, and shoes for soggy sports like kayaking and fishing, amongst other offerings. But, as we alluded to 18 months ago, they’ve now opted to leap in feet first. Over 30 styles were recently exhibited at outdoor trade shows, with a few styles being quietly released at retail as we type. With the rest following in time for the northern spring ‘07. In adhering to their ‘best product causing least harm’ ethos, Patagonia have selected green materials throughout the line These include natural latex from Hevea rubber trees, Vibram’s Ecostep outsoles, which have up to 30% recycled rubber, with uppers in hemp or vegetable tanned leather. Patagonia president and CEO, Casey Sheahan, says of the collaborative venture with Merrell that they are “working together to find materials and construction methods that can greatly reduce footwear manufacturing pollution.” Whilst Craig Throne, general manager for Patagonia Footwear is quoted thus, “Environmentally, we have taken every step we can but have not compromised on the durability of our product."...
Tips for Winter Biking
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 11.30.06
me on a typical February day (not)
Warren usually does the bike posts, but he is in Australia and somehow we don't think winter biking is a challenge there. Tombola at ::Hugg points us to an article with Ten ways of making cycling bearable in November (not that November in London or even Toronto is tough) but that will work all winter. The video of a Toronto winter rider also has a good tip: get a junker bike, the road salt will corrode it in a season or two. We would add our own tip: call your City Councillor and demand that they keep the bike lanes plowed.::Times Online ...
Bio-Glass: Finally, a Real Use for Recycled Glass
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 11.30.06
Droning on about Bill McDonough, we use glass as an example of his point about recycling vs downcycling vs upcycling; we go to the trouble of taking it to the curb for pickup, then they throw it in the truck and it is basically useless, as all of the different colours of glass get mixed together. In the end most is ground up and added to asphalt for paving. Now, those clever people at Coverings Etc, (talked about here before) have created Bio-Glass, slabs of 4' x 9' by 3/4" of 100% recycled glass. It can be used for countertops, flooring and accent walls, and will soon come in tiles. Of course the white is made from post industrial waste because they can control the source and ensure it does not get contaminated, but what we really like is the coloured stuff that is made from post-consumer waste. The dark glasses will be up to 100% post consumer. In a perfect world this stuff should be cheap as Urban Air Hazard: Traffic Is Major Cause of Particulate Emissions
by Tim McGee, Western Massachusetts on 11.30.06
Traffic is a major cause of particulate pollution in the urban environment. While this may not be news to those living next to the highway, the exact cause of the pollution and possible solutions is something that we should sit up and notice. Fine particulates in the air are known to result in the premature death of over 300,000 people in the EU annually. Indeed, it is the increase in mortality that has led to firmer regulations of emissions in the U.S. and Europe. A recent report from The FINE Particles - Technology, Environment and Health – National Technology Programme in Finland reviews the latest research and technology used in monitoring traffic and the potential to create cleaner combustion engines. The report (PDF) addresses the details of how these small particles are created, and examines the technologies in development that might help us reduce this increasing hazard....
Shiloh Wind Power Plant: A Profile Of California’s Wind Power Future
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 11.30.06
The San Francisco Chronicle recently profiled California's Shiloh wind project:- “One hundred white windmills, their blades stretching 122 feet, line the hilltops west of Rio Vista…Each of its turbines can generate the same amount of electricity as 15 older windmills, some of which still dot the same grassy hills…It is spread across 6,800 acres, vastly more than a traditional power plant would require. At roughly $220 million, it also cost more to build than a plant burning natural gas or coal…But as Shiloh's developers note, its fuel is free...The turbines pump no carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxide or sulfur dioxide into the air. And the land still belongs to property owners who will continue using it to grow hay and graze sheep. For project details a pdf download is available here .
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Northwood Blanket Company: Old Sweaters Live Again
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 11.30.06
Old sweaters can go to the landfill, or sit on the racks at thrift shops for years. At Northwood Blankets, old sweaters live again as high quality multicoloured blankets. "Our sweaters are sourced from thrift merchants throughout the studio area. Once acquired, the sweaters are washed using a unique process designed to enhance the natural qualities of the fibre. They are then cut, sorted and sewn into our fabulous products" The jurors at the Leonardo Da Vinci awards for Innovation said: "This simple idea presents an opportunity to be more aware of sustainable alternatives, conserve energy and keep warm at the same time." ::Northwood Blankets found at ::One of a Kind ...
Bike to Baggage in 3 Seconds: The Mobiky Genius
by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 11.30.06
Whoops, we’ve been sprung. Ana of Portugal has dug through our vast archival library and discovered we are bereft of the Mobiky Genius. How slack is that? For about $700 you get an aluminium framed and rimmed bicycle, with 12’ wheels, that folds into hand luggage is a mere three secs. And the scissors-like folding action still allows the wheels to hang down, so you can trundle the Genius along without needing to carry it. Though there is a built-in padded handle for when you do have to lift or carry its 13 kg (~30 lbs). A three speed sealed Sturmey Archer Hub (read minimal maintenance) provides some assistance on hills, for a bike that is said to suit riders of 130 – 195 cm height, weighing up to 110 kg (4’3” – 6’ and 240 lbs, for metrically challenged). The French designed folder comes complete with folding pedals, bell, fenders (mudguards), kickstand, and carry bag. A suspension stem saddle is available as an option. And if green trim is not your thing, then try cobalt, dark blue, orange or red. The Genius is said to ride like any standard diamond frame bike, though it is ideally suited to short urban distances. Or mixed commutes - riding from home to local train station and thence from city station to the office. Ana so loves her Genius that she started spreading the word in Portugal. Six out of six Amazon reviewers rate it a full five stars, for function and cool. ::Mobiky Europe and ::Mobiky USA....
Honda Gets "C" For Sustainability; GM Gets An "A"
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 11.30.06
Last year we introduced you to the Claremont McKenna College, Roberts Environmental Center "PSI Sector Reports". We explained that "The Roberts Environmental Center at Claremont McKenna College uses student labor to normalize corporate sustainability self-reports into an easy-to-grasp index". Well, Roberts recently released the motor vehicle sector report and was it a stunner. The global list of major car and parts makers were each graded cumulatively using weighted combined factors: EI = Environmental Intent; ER = Environmental Reporting; EP = Environmental Performance; SI = Social Intent; SR = Social Reporting; and, SP = Social Performance. You should be sitting down for this. And we got to say up up front that we're not sure how much weight mileage gets in the EP category (if any). Referring to the chart above, companies getting "A+" are: General Motors (U.S.A.); Volkswagen (Germany); and, DaimlerChrysler (Germany). Toyota did OK with an A-. But Honda just got an average - "C." For a quick glance at how the visual index ranking works we excerpted a small portion and put it in the extended text below. To see the entire report with all the details look here.( a pdf file download)
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Dagoba Sold To Hershey's
by Kyeann Sayer, Nomad on 11.30.06
This isn't exactly breaking news, but seems worth bringing up as the season of treats closes in. In October word spread that, like Scharffen Berger before it, Dagoba had been sold to Hershey's. By most reports little seems to have changed at Scharffen Berger so far, but it's hard to feel like Dagoba is the same Dagoba, isn't it? We've loved it, loved it some more, potentially been poisoned by it, and gone back to loving it. Here's hoping the changes take root slowly. Read founder Frederick Schilling's thoughts and the animated discussion that follows at chocolate expert David Lebovitz's world renowned food blog. :: ...
Light Brown is The New Green is the New Black
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 11.29.06
NEW YORK: We hope that this is just a phase and that the whole world isn't going to look like the inside of a UPS warehouse........
LA Auto Show: GM, Saturn Announce Vue Plug-in Plans
by Jeff McIntire-Strasburg, St. Louis, MO on 11.29.06
Treehugger has joined journalists and bloggers from around the world for the two-day extravaganza of media events leading up to the 100th Los Angeles Auto Show. We'll be bringing you news of some of the bigger developments and announcements as they unfold -- it's already been an exciting time! The events kicked off this morning with a keynote by GM's Chair and CEO Rick Wagoner. Wagoner's speech focused on GM's plans for "greening" its fleet by focusing on flex-fuel models, electric cars (yes, the EV1 got a prominent mention) and fuel cell vehicles, and included a brief announcement of expansions to Saturn's Vue Green Line. At the press conference that followed, Jill Lajdziak, general manager of the Saturn division, detailed the company's plans to release a front-wheel-drive, 2-mode hybrid system in the Saturn Vue Green Line, and to follow that with a plug-in version of the vehicle. According to company's literature, the 2-mode hybrid system will increase the Vue's fuel efficiency by 45% (over the non-hybrid version) with the following operations:...
Tru Light
by Celine Ruben-Salama, New York, NY on 11.29.06
We don’t have to tell you that energy conservation is critical, but it’s a message that lots of New Yorkers need to hear. Under the guidance of Solar One a group of high school students from Manhattan Comprehensive High School have taken this task upon themselves. Under the moniker Tru Light, the group educates New Yorkers about the importance of energy conservation. By selling high quality Energy Star™ compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) at discounted prices they provide New Yorkers with a means to reduce their individual impact on the environment while saving energy and their own hard earned cash. ...
TreeHugger Picks: Readers' Take on Sustainable Cities
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 11.29.06
Awhile back, we initiated a series of posts encouraging our readers from across the globe to tell us about their cities: the green good, bad and ugly of the city, including things like public transportation, suburban sprawl, air quality and other considerations often given when looking at the general "greenness" of urban areas. We learned some interesting things.
1) In Portland, Oregon, we learned about the ease of biking around town, and the rain.
2) The people of Austin, Texas told us about the reliable public transportation but lamented that it's still in Texas.
3) In New York City, we heard all about the great public transit, hybrid cabs, efficient space use but were reminded of all the pollution: noise, light, and garbage.
4) The citizens in Toronto, Ontario were equally pleased and upset by the bicycle-friendliness of the town, but many agreed that public transit was getting too expensive.
5) Lester Brown pointed out that, almost without fail, big cities are unhealthy, inefficient places to live, though they don't have to be....
Most Huggable
by Jacob Gordon, Nashville, TN on 11.29.06
Students use Google online document sharing to brainstorm climate solutions… The National Science Teachers Association rejects 50,000 copies of An Inconvenient Truth, and Exxon the suspect… Are you a Winter cyclist? Here’s ten essential tips to keep your tips from freezing off… PET Castles: pioneering tropical construction from discarded soda bottles… “Eco-Freaks,” a new book by John Berlau, exposes environmentalists for the shysters they are…...
Let's Green This City: San Francisco's Online Green Community
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 11.29.06
Living green can mean so many things, from biking to work to using solar power. LetsGreenThisCity.com provides info on all points in between for San Francisco, from sustainable businesses to solar schools to making life more sustainable around your home and at work. TreeHugger's own Nick Aster is on board, providing helpful hints and resources for ways to be green in the city by the bay. The site also offers a forum for Bay Area users to sound off about all the green options available around town. Yet another great example that you can be green at home, at work, on the go, with your dollars and with your time. Click on over to see what's happening; if you're in San Francisco, sign up to contribute to the forums, learn more about your city, and lend your knowledge about getting greener to your fellow Bay Area TreeHuggers. ::Let's Green This City via ::Sustainable Style Foundation's online sourcebook...
China's Green Revolution: How Far Will it (Not) Go?
by Alex Pasternack, New York, NY on 11.29.06
Chinese environmental activists and Tibetan residents remove rubbish from Namtso Lake in Tibet, known as the lake of the heaven (Reuters).
This week, Chinese media reported an “unprecedented” spate of coal mine accidents that took place over the past five days. In and of itself, the six accidents are not surprising—nor, likely, is the scale unprecedented. But the wide publicity the tragedies received within the country, alongside today's conviction of two mining bosses, is a sign of something new. live|work: We Own The Streets
by Tamara Giltsoff, United Kingdom on 11.29.06
Just love this New York image posted on PSFK recently. Bicycles in New York don’t seem to quite yet “Own the street”, unless you count cycling the wrong way up the street head-on into the traffic, but they could. Or, they are coming. If they are seen on PSFK it means something is a coming. And another one of their trends is relevant to introduce here, that is something they call “branded utility”, which means building brands (marketing) through useful services that play a role in our lives and/or participate in social change. Sound Treehugging? Maybe. Here’s a version of branded utility that’s ready to be exported from Norway and currently being celebrated for its design excellence on lifeiscarbon. And is quite Treehugging. It is a model that combines advertising space, advertising and public access to bicycles. ...
Find Biodiesel With Your Cell Phone
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 11.29.06
Working from the idea that more people will fill up with biodiesel if they knew where they could get it, NearBio offers a free service delivering a database of more than 1,000 biodiesel sellers (as of today, they've got 1039 locations across the country) to mobile phones via WAP (wireless access protocol) or text messaging. Something of a technology-driven upgrade from The Biodiesel Hotline, NearBio takes your city and state, or zip code, or GPS coordinates and gives you distance, directions, address, phone number, blends and other facility details for the five closest stations. If your phone has internet access, the information is always available from NearBio.com; if it has email capability, you can send an email to sms(at)nearbio(dot)com; if you prefer text messaging, follow the instructions for your service provider. For driving directions, you just reply to the text of the location where you want to go. ::NearBio via ::Wired...
Ari Leinonon's Floating Prefab Sauna
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 11.29.06
Architect Ari Leinonon designed this houseboat-sauna for his parents, and since it is Europe and the prefab companies are a little more sophisticated than in North America, it got snapped up by Swedish prefabber Modern Living, which makes a whole range of interesting modern prefabs. (In North America, the Michelle Kaufmanns and Leo Marmols have to build their own factories because the existing prefab manufacturers won't touch them) The SeaSauna comes in three sizes, starting at 200 square feet for $30K to $45K. For those who insist, that is between $150 and $225 per square foot not including shipping and on-site assembly. It is made of native fir and has a wood-burning stove holding 90 pounds of granite. The architect was inspired by Eliel Saarinen' design for a sauna at Hvittrask from the early 20th Century. ::Modern Living via ::Metropolitan Home...
::The Slate Green Challenge
by Brittany Jacobs, Seattle on 11.29.06
Opening up holiday gifts can be fun and exciting, but all of that wrapping paper helps add to the 1 million extra tons of trash that is created during the holiday season. If every American household wrapped three gifts in recycled materials, we could save enough paper to cover 45,000 football fields! You can help cut down the amount of garbage you send to the landfill by reusing old wrapping paper, gift bags or boxes. Be creative this season by covering your presents in nonconventional gift wrap such as old maps, the Sunday comics or cloth. If can't live without purchasing new gift wrap, try to buy recycled paper or tree-free paper made from hemp or flax.
28,541 people have joined the Slate Green Challenge with TreeHugger in a pledge to reduce their carbon emissions by twenty percent. It’s not too late to join us! Start with an initial carbon footprint quiz and we will then provide you with information on how to reduce your impact on the Earth. Be one of the first 500 and receive a Slate/Treehugger Green Challenge t-shirt from our friends and sponsors at I'm Organic. ::Slate Green Challenge Welcome ::Slate Green Challenge Week 6: Holiday...
Sweet Potatoes beat Green Roofs at Sinking Heat Islands
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 11.29.06
In hot weather there is nothing like green roofs to help reduce the heat island effect, except perhaps this experiment by NTT Development in Japan. They planted a hydroponic garden of sweet potatoes because they evidently control the rise in heat by expanding their leaves and evaporating a large amount of water. If we read the translation correctly, the sweet potatoes were about 1.5 times as effective as a green roof at reducing the heat island effect . Of course it takes energy and equipment to run all of these hydroponics. Why not just grow sweet potatoes in a green roof and get the best of both worlds?::Japan for Sustainability and ::Garbagenews
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Copenhagen Office Cabinet
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 11.29.06
The problem in small spaces is not only getting multiple functions out of furniture, but making the furniture adapt to different conditions. For instance your desk may be covered with papers and your computer when the doorbell rings but you want the place to look neat quickly. That is what I like about this compact desk from Room and Board- the desk portion essentially is a drawer unit that pulls out to give you leg room and slides away, hiding the contents. It has a file drawer, additional storage and wiring holes at the rear. The photo after the fold shows it being used for a full size tower case, but there is insufficient ventilation for this. Great for a notebook, though! ::Room and Board via ::swissmiss...
Shop Local
by Bonnie Alter, London on 11.29.06
Some very talented artists are using their work as a way to bring green issues to public attention in striking ways. They have created carrier bags, tee-shirts and now Shop Local. It's an art project developed by British artists Bob and Roberta Smith. Troubled, and inspired, by the demise of small businesses in their artsy east end area, they created faux advertising hoardings for five local shops. The works of art were painted on old brickwork in unusual places, in an old fashioned style. They included the name, address, and description of goods offered and the tag line “Shop Local”. The stores "advertised" were Ron’s Eel and Shellfish, Hoxton Fruit and Veg and Dad’s Unisex Hairdressers. The billboards salute those faded painted advertisements from the late 19th and early 20th century that are the ghosts of businesses past. They are ostensibly advertising but they are also art. They champion the little guy and what he stands for in the face of corporate branding. Especially for this project, Bob and Roberta Smith also produced this SHOP LOCAL shopping bag, made in India using 100% recycled cotton, fair wage and fair labour. :: Peer Gallery...
The $350 DIY Solar Heater... Again! -- Mother Earth News, December-January
by Jeff McIntire-Strasburg, St. Louis, MO on 11.29.06
Gary Reysa and his $350 DIY Solar Heater are getting media attention everywhere, it seems: we covered his design here, and now the latest issue of Mother Earth News has Gary and the heater on the cover. Whether you want to build your own heater, or buy one, Mother's got you covered this time around. Other interesting items in the December-January issue include a report on cleaner diesel fuel, a list of seventeen great green holiday gifts, and a thorough overview of pharmaceutical drugs vs. herbal remedies. If you purchase a copy, or subscribe to the magazine, you'll also have access to tips for organizing your seeds for Spring planting, a first-hand account of a green homesteading couple, and a "bootstrap business" article on selling heirloom tomatoes. Pick up a copy, or subscribe to the "original guide to living wisely." ::Mother Earth News, December-January 2006/2007 ...
Diapason Non-GMO Futures Market Launched For Grains
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 11.29.06
Diapason Commodities Management has just announced its agricultural commodity-based index which incorporates only non-genetically modified organisms. The Diapason Commodities Agriculture Non-GMO Index includes five following futures contracts: Tokyo Grain Exchange Non-GMO Soybeans (42.10%); Euronext Milling Wheat (16.85%); Euronext Feed Wheat (11.61%); Euronext Corn (8.99%); and, Euronext Rapeseed (20.45%). Seemingly designed to address commodity traders in Japan and Europe, this offers traders a reason to watch closely for signs of changes in consumer acceptance, or prospective regulation of GMO grain-based products. This index won't reflect trends in locally produced food (not being a commodity), but could corrolate with organic food sales?? Actually, we're waiting to see if someone offers a commodity index for those who trade in the raw materials for poo power. Then, when the announcer with he slicked-back hair and pin-striped suit points at his chart and says "sheep clods are dropping" we'll know he means it in a good way. What, though, is a diapason? Image credit: Tokyo Grain Exchange.
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Context Shop: Neat Things with Magnets
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 11.29.06
When we first saw the little magnets and flower stands in the Context Shop booth, we were amused by the products and impressed with the clever display and packaging design. When we looked more closely we realised that the entire display was made out of corepast (cheap plastic sign material) and that virtually the entire booth folded up to carryon-luggage size, as did the product. "It is expensive to get here from Vancouver" said the exhibitor. ...
Margi Laurin's Recycled Books
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 11.29.06
"No valuable books were harmed in the making of this product." Artist Margi Laurin finds old library books on the way to the pulper, and creates journals out of them by keeping some of the more interesting pages and interspersing plain paper among them, probably about 80% journal and 20% old pictures. I just couldn't pass up "Oil-the Buried Treasure" from 1975. Many are classic out-of-date science books from our childhood; others are Bobbsy Twin type novels. A clever idea, because the choices are fun and you really do know that they are junk repurposed. A new venture so nothing up on the website yet at ::Margi Laurin found at ">:: One of a Kind...
The TH Interview: Rainer Wolter, Umbrella Inside Out Winner
by Kyeann Sayer, Nomad on 11.29.06
Just about now, I.D.'s December 2006 New and Notable Issue, featuring our Umbrella Inside Out finalists and winners, is hitting newsstands. Grab a copy! We're proud as can be of all of all of them and happy that Rainer Wolter, our fashion winner, is already making a difference in the conventional fashion world through his refusal to work with fur. Seeing Rainer's re-fashioned umbrella dress on the runway at Paris's Ethical Fashion Show last month thrilled me (Rainer rhymes with "designer," btw). Nothing about it belied rain-protective origins as it floated down the catwalk. While laying eyes on the final design was satisfying, spending time with the man behind the garment proved genuinely inspiring. Between round tables, dinners and excursions, Rainer's uniquely principled, kind and humorous characteristics became as apparent as his already obvious talent. At the time, Rainer's boss, Emmett McCarthy of Project Runway fame, had decided to incorporate fur. This meant that, due to his cruelty-free leanings, Rainer would have to quit. Upon his Paris departure, he didn't know what was next for him, but trusted that something would come up. When we caught up last week, I expected to hear job search woes, but his tale took a refreshingly hopeful twist... >>Continue reading this post>>...
Rainer Wolter's Winning Umbrella Inside Out Dress: On the Runway!
by Kyeann Sayer, Nomad on 11.29.06
You voted, and chose Rainer Wolter's Umbrella Redesign dress as the winner of the Umbrella Inside Out Fashion Competition! The I.D. New and Notable Issue featuring all of our finalists and winners is hitting newsstands now! How did the dress, made entirely from used umbrella fabric and parts, turn out? Keep reading to see exclusive photos from the Ethical Fashion Show! ::Umbrella Inside Out >>Continue reading this post>>...
LoopWing Wind Turbine From Japan
by Justin Thomas, Virginia on 11.28.06
This is the "LoopWing" wind turbine. It is soon to be unveiled in Japan's Eco-Products 2006 Exhibition. The E1500 model turbine is aimed at homeowners, and it sports a unique wing design that operates with low vibration, and at wind speeds as low as 1.6 m/sec. The efficiency specs on the turbine are vague — "43% power performance at optimum wind speeds" is all published. :: LoopWing via Japan For Sustainability...
Intel Trying to Get Greener: The Peryn Chip
by Justin Thomas, Virginia on 11.28.06
Intel has announced that it has finished designing it's new chip codenamed "Penryn". Penryn's greater efficiency may attract IT managers who are complaining about electric bills. AMD got the message months back with its somewhat overhyped though on-target "Green Grid" initiative. The chip will initially used in high-end desktop and laptop computers. Server vendors, too, are expected to use the chip when it ships in the coming months....
TreeHuggerTV - Grid Alternatives
by Leonora Oppenheim, London, UK on 11.28.06
Earthtalk :: Globally Good Gifting
by Dominic Muren, Philadelphia, USA on 11.28.06
From the Editors of E/The Environmental Magazine
Dear EarthTalk: Where can I find green-friendly gifts for friends and family this holiday season?
-- A.L. Burger, via e-mail
Reconciling one’s green values with the urge to shop has never been easy. Most environmental groups today decry Western consumer habits as wasteful and a major cause of ecological degradation in a shrinking world. And many people, environmental issues aside, believe that the rampant commercialism we've all come to expect at holiday times cheapens what should be a reflective or sacred time of year....
Understanding Environmental Policy by Steven Cohen
by Tim McGee, Western Massachusetts on 11.28.06
Steven Cohen is the director of the Master of Public Administration Program in Environmental Science and Policy at the School for International and Public Affairs and the Earth Institute at Columbia University. If you can follow that last sentence then his new book, ‘Understanding Environmental Policy’ shouldn’t be a problem. In the book Steven Cohen presents a framework for understanding the diverse aspects of environmental problems, and their possible solutions. The high level analysis of environmental problems clearly illustrates the challenges we need to overcome, and lends itself to a broad audience. Through increasingly complex examples, the book resembles an essay on how to think about the environment, and gives an insiders look into the machinations of government policy and the response to environmental issues....
Saving the Forest For the Climate…and Other Reasons
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 11.28.06
Have you noticed how carbon “offsetting” or trading is becoming mainstream, with stories making it into the mass media? States like California , and even cities like Boulder CO, USA are designing programs which may interact with carbon offsetting. In Europe, the focus is on how to ensure that continent-wide systems for carbon trading or “offsetting” perform well. The culture of forest ownership is also in a period of rapid change, independent of carbon management initiatives. Because trees are where we want much of that 'offset carbon' to go, and to stay for many decades, we need to keep our TreeHugging eyes on forest stewardship. Seeing the forest for the carbon, right? Using North America as our example, we refer you to Lloyd's recent post which documents a recent downside of forest change: accelerated clearing of the Boreal Forests to make non-recyclable butt wipe. (A bit of hyperbole, but true on it's face!) On the positive side, forests in the “lower-50” have been overall on the mend, not so much by modern intent but due to long term shifts in land ownership and markets. Mostly the recovery of US forests is a matter of land having been divided into plots so small is it increasingly less cost effective to harvest in industrial quantities, while populations concentrate in urban centers....
WorldChanging Book Review
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 11.28.06
"One of the biggest flaws in the common conception of the future is that the future is something that hapens to us, not something we create." --Michael Anissimov, Futurist, Science & Technology writer.
That quote is not in WorldChanging: A User's Guide to the 21st Century, but it should be. The idea behind the book is an idea that we, at TreeHugger, share: We will have the future we make for ourselves; We have all the tools and technologies needed to make a "bright green future" (WorldChanging's name for that future); What we don't have is the luxury of time, so lets start now....
Downsizer.net: How to Cut Back Without Losing Out
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 11.28.06
Anyone who has read TreeHugger with any regularity or has pondered ways to live without consuming quite so much stuff has also probably thought of downsizing: their home, their food, their transportation, energy use, etc. Anyone who has done (or considered doing) any of these things will find Downsizer.net a valuable resource; from articles on growing your own food, creating a more sustainable home and following a greener path, the site has information for a wide variety of lifestyle choices, as well as a user forum to bounce ideas off other downsizers, get inspired by others' efforts and offer your suggestion for ways to enhance your life by decreasing your ecological footprint and collection of stuff. Want to know some cool Christmas card alternatives? How about learning more about how to cook, brew and preserve at home? Even if you just want to try a few things out, Downsizer.net can be a resource for cutting back without losing valuable parts of your life. ::Downsizer via ::Hugg (Chickpea)...
Design New Logo for Architecture for Humanity
by Mairi Beautyman, Berlin, Germany on 11.28.06
Calling all design-savvy Treehuggers. Architecture for Humanity, one of our favorite nonprofits, has launched a logo design competition. “The truth is that we came up with the logo 20 minutes before we launched the organization,” says Cameron Sinclair, executive director and cofounder of AFH. Seven years later, and the now internationally-recognized organization, which seeks to promote architectural and design solutions to global, social and humanitarian crises, is seeking a revamp. ...
Thom Mayne to Build Big Eco-Tower in Paris
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 11.28.06
"Phare" (lighthouse) is a new 300 metre (almost as high as Eiffel) tower to be built in La Defence to help Paris compete with other thriving business centres with iconic buildings like London's Swiss Re building, knicknamed "the Gherkin" . They don't like towers much in Paris- the Eiffel tower was initially described by the author Guy de Maupassant as "an odious tower of extreme bad taste". Mayne beat out the likes of Norman Foster and Rem Koolhaas to win the competition. "There's a fluidity, a sensuousness, a softness to the form as it reaches to the sky," he said, describing the asymmetric twist of the building, which swells out over an elevated lobby in the lower portion before tapering off to a thicket of wind turbines on the roof. Mayne says it will be "a prototype for a green building" with a wind farm generating its own heating and cooling for five months of the year and a movable "double skin" to cut the heat from direct sunlight through the windows. ::the Scotsman image from ::Marvellous Architectures more below the fold....
Elephant Dining Table from Milkweed & Doublebutter
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 11.28.06
Milkweed & Doublebutter are the design & fabrication studios of David Larabee and Dexter Thornton. New on the scene, the studios' opening reception was just a couple weeks back, on November 17, and the first line of furniture mixes an assortment of materials with modern shapes and clean lines. We're fans of Elephant, the dining table (pictured above), which features a bamboo ply top, though the collection also mixes in medium-density fiberboard, native hardwoods and PaperStone, a post consumer paper product. Also featured in the collection are a bed, side chairs & stools, dressers, credenzas and shelving and tables of various sizes and shapes. The furniture is available from One Home Design, P Design Gallery and directly from the designers. We're looking forward to more good things from this duo. ::Doublebutter via ::Core77...
Top 100 Eco-Heroes
by Bonnie Alter, London on 11.28.06
Who’s at the top of your list as the greatest eco-hero of all time? A panel of experts at the English Environment Agency has named Rachel Carson, the American author of the book “Silent Spring”, as the patron saint of the green movement. She is followed by EF Schumacher, who wrote his influential book “Small is Beautiful” in 1973. Al Gore? He is number nine, after Sir David Attenborough (no. 4), Wangari Maathai (no. 6) and the Prince of Wales (no.7). Treehugger’s favourite, George Monbiot, is no. 23. Famous Canadians include David Suzuki at no. 35 and Jane Jacobs, at no. 72. This list goes way back in time: Gandhi is there (no.81), St. Francis of Assisi (no.47) and Charles Darwin (no. 87). One of many surprises is Santa Claus, at 100 for “carbon-free delivery”. Who’s on your list? :: Guardian ...
Never Too Small
by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 11.28.06
I’ve noted before one of my fave little quotes, collected while doing some work for Greenpeace: "If you think you are too small to make a difference, try sleeping in a closed room with a mosquito." Apparently it’s an African proverb, but I think it equally applies to TreeHugger. Nearly two and half years ago, Graham Hill launched a modest little website. Very much the mosquito in the vast big blog room. I was lucky enough to be one of the original writers. We were tiny, no-one knew we were there, but Graham had a vision and wasn’t going to give up on it easily. And now, with almost 9,000 posts in the bag, we receive millions of page views a month, and sometimes rate in the top 50 of all blogs on the web. Amazing. Thanks to you, our ever expanding wave of readers keen to improve the quality of your lives, and the quality of the planet that gives you life. As I pass the 1,000th post milestone, with a outdoor apparel post that takes me back to my roots in eco-design, I want to tip my hat to Graham for his passion and leadership. And also to the inspiring team he has assembled, from Buenos Aires, to Beijing, Tel Aviv to Toronto. It is an honoured privilege to be aboard, with a such dedicated bunch of people. A special 'Hi' to Meg and Kevin, for fond memories of those embryonic days, when it was just us, reading each others posts! ...
Convenient Truths: Reduce Your Home Electricity Consumption
by Jeff McIntire-Strasburg, St. Louis, MO on 11.28.06
Week two of Treehugger and Seventh Generation's "Convenient Truths" contest begins today, and we hope you've got your storyboards laid out and your video cameras and/or mobile phones warmed up. We're on pins and needles waiting for your videos, as we know many of you walk the walk towards that barely visible carbon footprint. While much of the discussion on global warming here in the US recently has focused on the impact of transportation (which we'll definitely discuss), Treehuggers everywhere know that the power plants that generate our electricity likely represent the largest source of CO2 emissions. Conserving energy at home may strike some as about as sexy as Jimmy Carter's sweater, but changes in how we use electricity daily may provide the biggest bang for our buck in contributing to the fight against global warming. They're also among the simplest changes we can make... and they're still highly filmable! Among the things you can do to win over our judges, and lower your electricity use (and electricity bill in the process):...
Amy Youngs' Digestive Table
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 11.28.06
This gives new meaning to the term "dining table"- it eats the leftovers. Lift the lid in the centre and dump them in, and the worm composter takes over- "A living ecosystem of worms, sowbugs and bacteria are invited to this table. They are a part of the digestive system that starts with a person discarding food leftovers and shredded paper into the portal at the top. The bacteria and sowbugs begin breaking down the waste and the worms soon join in to further digest it into a rich compost that sprinkles out of the bottom of the fabric bag that hangs beneath the table. This compost is used as a fertilizer for plants, such as those at the base of the table." So you don't miss any of the action, an infrared camera sends images to the LCD screen imbedded in the tabletop. Reduces waste in two ways- composting it and who wants to eat after watching the screen? ...
Nine Fair Trade Mexican Coffee Brands and Where to Buy Them
by Paula Alvarado, Buenos Aires on 11.28.06
The Mexican ‘Comercio Justo’ (Spanish for Fair Trade) organization offers in its website nine brands of coffee produced by indigenous communities that contain the Fair Trade tag (that is, they were produced by small groups that get a fair price for their work), and directions where to buy them.
The site also provides some contact information for shops or individuals that want to become sales points. The coffee brands include Fertil, Majomut, Museo Cafe, Cesmach, Toyolwitz and Isman, from Chiapas; Cepco and Uciri, from Oaxaca; and Tosepan, from Puebla.
::Comercio Justo Products
::Fair Trade Coffee Sales Points...
The 100 Km House: Franklin Azzi in Normandy
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 11.28.06
In summer one often entertains, and could use some extra room. Franklin Azzi Structures renovated an existing house and added an addition of two fabric rooms. The walls go away when they are not needed at the end of the season. None of the materials used come from more than 100 kilometres away, a concept that we will hear more of as we start considering the carbon footprint of transporting building materials. (that is our next challenge to architects- design the 100 mile house! ) it harvests rainwater, has a hybrid solar energy system, and geothermal heating. We can't figure out what "intelligent flagstone" is but think it is connected to the geothermal. Franklin Azzi Structures via ::Mocoloco
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Toyota Unveil Hybrid Pedal-Electric Concept ‘Car’
by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 11.28.06
OK, we admit up front to being a tad cynical, but let's soldier on regardless. Nine car makers took on the Design Challenge set by The Greater Los Angeles Auto Show, to imagine “a time when all vehicles have technology allowing the public to enjoy the distinctive Southern California lifestyle and unique environment without harming it.” We’ve already taken a look at the Mercedes’ Recy roadster, but wait there was more. More slick airbrushed renderings, yes. More, genuine creative responses to problems on our planet? Mmmm, not convinced. For instance, the Kia Sandstorm, a biodiesel, plug-in electrical hybrid, has panels of PET and lift out recycling bins, but can you really call a dune buggy “environmentally friendly”? At least the Toyota's RLV (Renewable Lifestyle Vehicle), seen above, thinks outside the box. A hybrid, 'split' powertrain solution of pedal power for stuck in traffic speeds and an electric mode for faster travel. Bioplastic, bamboo and aluminium create the panelling and cockpit. After the fold you’ll see pics of the new Hummer, which uses panels made from algae to produce oxygen to offset its carbon dioxide emissions! (It’s wheels, at least, seem to take inspiration from the Tweel.) Judges award the best rendering come 30 Nov 06. ::LA Auto Show, via Sydney Morning Herald.
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Boites de la Paix: Furniture made from Ammunition Cases
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 11.28.06
Interesting things come out of Sutton Quebec: First Graham Hill, and now Boites de la Paix- Furniture made from US army howitzer cartridge cases from the Viet Nam war era. Most were burned or buried, but these were salvaged and are being refurbished for "a new, peace-oriented purpose. We wanted to create a significant artistic gesture for peace in the present and future."- Ploughshares not being needed, they beat their swords into wine racks, bookshelves, CD storage and knicknack shelves. The designers continue: "when the planet's natural resources are being overexploited, as forests are being razed, we think it is time to break away from over-consumption, polluting and non-renewable products." French Only website at ::Boites de la Paix found at ::One of a Kind
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Forbes Wild Foods: Foraging for Flavour
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 11.28.06
While foraging for posts at the One of a Kind Show in Toronto, we came across Forbes Wild Foods and sampled some birch and cedar jelly; We were instantly transported north to the forest, the tastes were so strong, so evocative, so different. We learned that Forbes hires hundreds of "trained pickers who practice sustainable harvesting methods – sustainable for that particular plant species, but also sustainable for the pickers, whose livelihood is supported by a thriving source of wild foods, and sustainable for other wildlife. The pickers are usually residents of rural or remote communities who respect the lands that support them. They are Aboriginal people, women, youth, and farmers. Only those wild foods whose survival is not in danger are used." and remarkable stuff it is. ...
Materia's November Eco Materials
by Petz Scholtus, Barcelona, Spain on 11.28.06
Every month, Materia updates with new materials. Here are the November (more or lesser) eco ones we picked out for you. The pictures above correspond left to right as they appear in the text.
Metallic Leather
It sounds nasty but the European based producer of Metallic Leather, the Hulshof Royal Dutch Tanneries is one of the top 5 tanneries with it’s own high tech biological water purification plant which is regarded as a model of responsible citizenship for the tanning industry. Metallic Leather is the newest surface treatment with several metallic colours and is categorised as renewable. ...
Seen in (Cold Spring) New York: Hockey Stick Chair
by Celine Ruben-Salama, New York, NY on 11.27.06
On my way back to the train after a lovely hike on Mount Taurus close to the town of Cold Spring in the Hudson River Valley, I saw this unique chair at a shop on Main Street. Not only is it one of a kind and really quite comfortable, it’s given some old hockey sticks and rope (probably cluttering up someone’s garage) a brand new life! Instead of ending up on a landfill the sticks continue their life in someone’s living room. Creativity combined with environmentalism! Have you seen anything like this? Did you make it? We want to know. Send pics to celine [at] treehugger [dot] com ::...
Holiday Survival Kit from The Center For a New American Dream
by Kyeann Sayer, Nomad on 11.27.06
We just told you How To Green Your Gifts, and rest assured that our upcoming Gift Guide will rock your holidays. You're also likely to find a gem or two among the comprehensive, wholesome tips from our friends at The Center For a New American Dream. We've referenced the Baltimore-based nonprofit when talking about local eating, getting rid of junk mail, and tween shopping. When it comes to the holidays, they really outdo themselves, with everything from a "Simplify the Holidays" booklet, to "Gift of Time" cards, to alternative gift resources. The E-cards are a little cheesy, and the kids/family focus might not cater to everyone, but you've got to hand it to a group that so successfully redefines abundance! ::Center for a New American Dream...
Reflective Circle: For a “Well Designed Karma.”
by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 11.27.06
Hailing from Gothenberg, Sweden, Reflective Circle describe themselves as “a design company with a heart.” Established in 2001 by Josefin Lassbo, a Masters graduate in fashion design from the Danish Design school in Copenhagen, it wants to push the concept of “sustainable, ecological fashion clothes, produced ethically.” Josefin says, and we agree with her wholeheartedly, “We don’t need any more mountains of poisoned mass produced clothes on this planet - but we need a better alternative!” To this end she seems to also work as an educator and consultant in the field of eco-fashion. There are four clothing lines; including Diffusion, (10 styles and 10 colours, all from ethically certified European factories) and Inhale/Exhale a range of organic yoga-wear. Plus they do custom printed organic T-shirts too. ::Reflective Circle
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Tip the Planet: Green Wiki for Taking Action
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 11.27.06
Like the Green Wiki and gWiki before it, Tip the Planet uses the power of community to encourage discussion and the generation of tips that benefit you and the planet. From tips for individuals about staying happy and healthy to tips for multi-national companies to limit their carbon footprints, Tip the Planet takes the increasingly popular Wiki format and specializes it for the activism-oriented. In addition to the tip itself, Tip the Planet puts its stamp on the Wiki format by fostering online discussions about the tips provided, allowing users to spend their two cents on why you shouldn't leave devices on standby and weigh in on the benefits of using energy-saving lightbulbs. Perhaps the best part is that it will continue to grow, change and become more sophisticated in subject matter and depth of coverage, reflecting the growth in green as it continues to make inroads into the mainstream. Got a hot tip? Share it with the Tip the Planet community, and you'll be helping people go a little greener everywhere. Thanks to Nick for the tip! ::Tip the Planet...
Toyota's Lead American Environmental Engineer Killed in Plane Crash
by EcoGeek.org on 11.27.06
David Hermance, Toyota's lead American environmental engineer, died in an airplane accident this weekend. Not only did David bring the Prius to America, he was also a champion for efficiency and clean cars as an engineer and as an advocate. He pushed for the Prius before anyone knew what a hybrid was, and he brought the car to America while gas prices were still at a dollar a gallon. "Dave repeatedly demonstrated his commitment not just to Toyota's profits but to the planet," said Jason Mark, vehicles director at the Union of Concerned Scientists in Berkeley.
Hermance, an experienced pilot, was performing aerobatics off the California coast when the accident occurred. He is survived by his wife and two grown children.
::LA Times ::Hugg and ::GroovyGreen ...
TreeHugger 100-Mile Thanksgiving Challenge Winner: Bahar Zaker
by Sean Fisher, Cincinnati, Ohio on 11.27.06
We have a winner in our 100-Mile Thanksgiving Challenge, a local vegan feast from Bahar Zaker of Syracuse, NY, USA. Congratulations, as the winner, Bahar will receive a year's worth of organic milk from contest sponsor Organic Valley! Second place winner, Robin Michaels of Lawrence, NJ, USA, will receive a NapaStyle Supreme Pantry Set compliments of contest judge chef Michael Chiarello, and second runners-up Todd Bradley and Beth Partin of Colorado, USA, will receive a $100 gift certificate to the NapaStyle online store. The other big winner of the contest is the Oakland-based local food advocates People's Grocery, which will also receive a year's supply of Organic Valley milk. If you are interested in the 100-mile diet, take a look at the contest finalists' menus, check out the 100 Mile Diet's website, and chat up your 100-mile diet ideas in the comments. We would like to thank everyone who entered, everyone who voted, our fantastic celebrity judges, and especially contest sponsor Organic Valley for showing their commitment to local food.
Update: As the winning entry was a vegan meal, the first prize - a year's worth of Organic Valley milk - will be redeemable with Organic Valley soy milk!...
Greening a Home One Fridge (and Rebate) at a Time (Part 2)
by Union of Concerned Scientists on 11.27.06
The second in a series of entries for Treehugger on converting an old apartment into an eco-friendly one. I left off last time explaining how I decided to replace my refrigerator. This post will cover how I joined my colleagues at UCS in reaping a monetary reward for doing a little good for the planet…
After picking out the ENERGY STAR model that best suited my needs and budget, I ended up with a $649.99 Kenmore stainless steel model with a volume of 18.2 cubic feet that uses 407 kilowatt hours per year rather than the conventional fridge's average of 479. The fridge wasn’t as small as some of the ones a few Treehugger posters advocated for in response to my first post, but it is still on the small side for a “normal” looking fridge. ...
Metrolight: Watt A Good Idea For Retail Chains, Cities and Highways
by Karin Kloosterman, Tel Aviv on 11.27.06
What does Finland’s Highway #1, New York City and IKEA have in common? Metrolight- an Israeli company that manufacturers electronic ballasts for decreasing lighting costs (and reducing electricity needs) without compromising lighting needs. We saw their company presentation at Israel’s Alternative and Renewable Energy Conference earlier this month and lit up when we heard the company recently signed a contract to refit several hundred US supermarket "Publix" stores; and with the City of New York to reduce the electricity bill of streetlamps. ...
Samuel Moyer's Hello Furniture
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 11.27.06
Samuel Moyer is out to change the way we look at modern furniture. His work offers an interesting contrast between old and new, minimal modernism and organic warmth. Working with reclaimed wood, he takes the over 100 year-old relics of another time and introduces them to the 21st century. We're liking the looks of the Evening Sideboard; the black walnut and chestnut used to construct the piece were salvaged from a barn near Upper Black Eddy, in Pennsylvania. As with many reclaimed wood projects, there is a richness and subtle story behind this piece (and many others in his "Hello Collection") that gives it an air of subtle sophistication. Says Mover, “I love to use wood with a prior life. The wood leads; if you study it long enough, it will reveal what it must become." Each piece is made by hand in downtown Los Angeles. ::Samuel Moyer Furniture via ::Designspotter...
Most Huggable
by Jacob Gordon, Nashville, TN on 11.27.06
Researchers at Max Planck are taking steps toward making fuel the way plants do, with photosynthesis… California cities opt not to renew their coal power contracts and set out to find the alternatives… Canada nearly doubled its wind power capacity in 2006, representing more than $1 billion in investment… A POV Pac hack to animate your spokes… A small business-class airline, Silverjet, has plans to be the first carbon-neutral carrier…...
Spread the Word on Sustainability: Notodofotofest and Big Noise for Fair Trade
by Paula Alvarado, Buenos Aires on 11.27.06
Two contests oriented to photographers and advertising professionals are taking sustainability as the main theme: Notodofotofest and Make a Big Noise for Make Trade Fair. The first one, is the II Internet Collective Photography Festival, and intends to be “a big mosaic of images that show how we see the world and our society”. To participate, you have to send a series of three photographs related among them and -optionally- add a line that tells how or what you see in them. As we mentioned, this year the theme is “Sustainability: the balance between society progress and environment protection”; and there are more than 40 thousand euros in prizes. This year the festival has also incorporated a section for amateurs. Entries are open until January 21st (more info at their website, in Spanish, but has the English option at the bottom of the page). The second festival, Big Noise For Fair Trade, is a competition open to any creative under 30 years old, and the goal is to create a campaign “that aims to raise awareness about the iniquities in international trade and pressure governments, companies and institutions to make trade the solution not the source of poverty”. The campaign must be in non-traditional media, so can encompass live events, virals, websites, consumer-generated content, podcasts, anything that will make the most impact and shout loudest about the issues. Entries will then be judged by a panel of 60 top international judges from the fields of advertising marketing and communication; and winners will have their ideas published worldwide while working with top creatives. Entries for the competition open on December 1st and close on February 9th (more details in the website). ::Notodofotofest ::Make a big Noise...
Mercury From Chinese Coal Use Pollutes Oregon's Willamette River
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 11.27.06
Via the Oregonian , we learn that “The inky smoke belched by chimneys in Chinese cities such as Linfen and Datong contains mercury, a metal linked to fetal and child development problems. Trace amounts of the poison can take less than a week to reach Oregon, where research suggests that about one-fifth of the mercury entering the Willamette River comes from abroad -- increasingly from China.” No doubt the same thing is happening along much of the west coast of Canada, which is why China’s sanctioning of coal to liquid technology to produce transportation fuel is directly significant to North Americans, and why it is so important to help China become more reliant on efficient processes and products. Wondering how those salmon get mercury contamination? Herein lies a partial answer. Engagement on a post-Kyoto international agreement looks ever more important. Photo credit: Willamette River Keepers ...
Great Green Goods Hosts Carnival of the Green
by Kara DiCamillo, Newport, Rhode Island on 11.27.06
As TreeHugger is the new manager of the Carnival of the Green we'd like to mention this week’s host, Great Green Goods. 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....
How to Green Your Gifts
by Team Treehugger, Worldwide on 11.27.06
What’s the Big Deal?
Is anything more wonderful than finding the perfect gift for someone, or receiving the present that’s just what you needed? How about gift-giving accompanied by the knowledge that your gift is also a gift for the planet? There’s more to green giving than just switching to the stuff with the “green” label, however. Here are some pointers for finding the right gifts that make everyone happy.::The Slate Green Challenge - Week 6
by Brittany Jacobs, Seattle on 11.27.06
Now that Thanksgiving is over, it's time for some of us to start hanging those beautiful energy-wasting holiday lights. Before you rush out to string those cheap incandescent bulbs, think about replacing them with lightemitting diode (LED) strings. While these decorative lights require more up-front cost, they use up to 95 percent less electricity (less carbon emissions!), last up to 10 times longer and are less of a fire-hazard since they produce very little heat. So, ponder that before you start to create your own winter wonderland.
There's only three weeks left in The Slate Green Challenge, but it's not too late to join the 27,876 readers who have pledged to collectively reduce their CO2 emissions. It all starts with a carbon footprint quiz and follows with articles and how-to's on reducing your impact on the Earth with topics such as transportation, food and water consumption, and this week's edition on the holidays. If you are one of the first 500 speedy contestants to finish the challenge, our sponsors at I'm Organic will style you out with a new t-shirt. ::Slate Green Challenge Welcome ::Slate Green Challenge Week 6: Holidays...
Stuart Tanner Architects: Tasmanian Sustainable Design
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 11.27.06
Stuart Tanner Architects say that "The sustainable capability of our architecture is an integral component of any design that we undertake and the impact of a particular project is considered as a combination of factors, such as scale, influence over its site and greater context, in additon to its passive heating and cooling ability. We view contemporary architecture as the pivotal ingredient to a rich environmental culture and a vitally important aspect of a future sustainable society." At TreeHugger we get a lot of flak every time we show a second home in the country, but that fact is that they are the incubators of innovation, the outlet for sophisticated clients to enable innovative young architects to try new things. In Tasmania, Stuart has built a home on Pirate's Bay that barely touches the ground, "a suspended cantilever that ...is a platform from which to observe the grandeur of Pirates Bay, and pay homage to the eucalypt forest that fringes the site." ::Stuart Tanner via ::Mocoloco...
The TH Interview: Geetie Singh of The Duke of Cambridge Organic Pub
by Bonnie Alter, London on 11.27.06
The Duke of Cambridge Organic Pub is the first organic pub in England, opened in 1998 by Geetie Singh. Treehugger interviewed Geetie, the Managing Director, whilst partaking of a delicious lunch at the busy and cozy gastro-pub in the trendy Islington area of London. Having quaffed some Eco Warrier beer to get into the spirit, we asked Geetie about her philosophy at the pub. She said that her menu is led by ingredients that are hearty, basic and full-flavoured. She wants to have all of the food sourced as locally as possible; and tries for a radius within the London area. If the food is not local, then it is of British origin. There are more seasonal foods available now because organic growers have expanded their season due to climate change. Given the compact size of Europe, in terms of cartage, she noted that there is little difference between bringing something in from France or from Scotland. In the same way, wine shipped by sea from New Zealand may cause less pollution than that driven from Italy. Nothing comes by air freight. It is important to find a good chef, give him artistic freedom, and then work with him to think about organic principles. ...
Who Revived the Electric Car?
by Eric Kane, New York, NY on 11.27.06
Although Nissan was not featured in ‘Who Killed the Electric Car’, its previous entrants into the electric vehicle market suffered a similar fate to that of the car chronicled in the film, the GM EV1. Nissan developed an electric car in 1947, and again in 2000. The more recent attempt, the Hypermini (pictured), failed to make it to mass market due to its limited 62-mile range. However, despite these previous disappointments, Nissan has announced a plan to revive its efforts to gain a share of the electric car market. Within the next three years, the company will introduce a new subcompact electric car with an estimated range of 125 miles. The company hopes that the electric car will compliment Nissan’s forthcoming line of gasoline-electric hybrids, and its expanded diesel lineup. ::Green Car Congress...
Green Style for the Wild Blue Yonder: Nau Interviewed
by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 11.27.06
Early this year we alluded to the arrival in 2007 of a new line of green outdoor apparel. Details were thin on the ground, but tantalising nevertheless. Now their website is finally live and has a sneak peek of the upcoming clothing range. Plus, they’ve launched a blog, tagged the Thought Kitchen, and a repository of inspiring stories known as the Collective to interact with customers. Their site also includes a vid of Nau designers describing their raison d'être for focusing on beauty, performance, sustainability. Boy, have they set themselves an impressive challenge; “The Nau mission is to combine the generosity of the human spirit and the power of technology with business innovation to increase shareholder equity, protect the environment, enhance social justice and provide humanitarian relief worldwide.” And, as Nau’s CEO puts it, “Along the way, we’re hoping to sell some really cool outdoor clothing.” With all these lofty aspirations we wanted to dig a little deeper. Their press kit says, “We seek every opportunity to educate, inspire, influence and disrupt. Once we find the opportunity, we aim to present our case thoughtfully and genuinely. If you want someone to listen, whisper.” So we decided to ask a few quiet questions of Ian Yolles, VP of Marketing for Nau....
M5V: The First LEED Registered Sales Office
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 11.27.06
LEED registered Condos are getting pretty common, but this is the first time we have heard of someone going to the trouble and expense of registering a sales office- One would think that the building would come down before the paperwork is done. Nonetheless, TAS, the developers of Toronto's new M5V (half of a postal code) condo are going for it. In the sales centre green features include energy efficient and water-conserving appliances, roof water collection for irrigation of the green landscaping at the sales centre, a permeable paving system, which absorbs rain water instead of letting it flow to storm sewers, and an efficient heat-recovery ventilation system. The building is demountable and has dry-laid floors that can be lifted and re-used. ...
By the Numbers: The Boreal Forest
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 11.27.06
illustration by Marco Cibola
The North American boreal forest stretches from Newfoundland to Alaska. In it: 5 million square kilometres. One quarter of the earth’s original forest. 80% of the world’s unfrozen fresh water. 136 Billion tons of sequestered carbon. Three billion migrant landbirds every summer. But with the easy sources of energy disappearing and the insatiable demand for Kleenex, there are also scary numbers. Two hectares are clearcut every minute. In Ontario alone, 4400 mining claims have been staked. 1,000 square kilometres are staked for coal bed methane production. 62,000 kilometres of logging roads run through it. According to the Boreal Forest Conservation Framework, the portion that should be park and preserve: 50%. The portion that should be managed sustainably: 50%. Portion that actually is protected, notwithstanding the Government’s pledge to “institute meaningful planning”: 5%. Scary. Read the Fight for the Forest by Tim Tiner in ::On Nature magazine, unfortunately not online. ...
Methanol - The Official Chinese Liquid Transportation Fuel Of The Future
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 11.27.06
Nations seem to sanction transportation fuels based on their respective natural resource bases. Brazil, tropical center of a highly productive sugar industry, has a focus on ethanol. The US, which once was able to meet most domestic fuel demand with in-country oil production, focuses on gasoline as if it were still 1970. China, without much of either oil or sugar, has decided to go for methanol as the ‘official liquid transportation fuel’ of the future. The logic here is that methanol is a straightforward output of Coal To Liquid (CTL) processing and they have coal-a-plenty....
Make Your Own Pumpkin Face Masque
by Kyeann Sayer, Nomad on 11.26.06
Culinary misadventures? A smidge too much survival wine? Ten little cousins? Holiday weekend stresses abounded, and they were mean to your skin. Luckily, it's likely that you have the ingredients for a pick-me-up, especially a vitamin-rich Pumpkin Face Masque. Get away from the premature Christmas music. Find a quiet room. Relax. Smear some soothing orange goodness on your face. Need exfoliation? Try the Pumpkin, Sugar and Spice Body Scrub. Any reader-recommended, easy de-stressing rituals? ::Care2 ...
Elica Girandole: A New Way to Think About Light
by Christine Lepisto, Berlin on 11.26.06
When it comes to greening your life, you usually must think along two paths: technology and behavior. Elica has created a unique table lamp where the two meet. The Girandole light is turned on and off by blowing on the small propeller fitted on the light's globe. Instead of a lazy and mindless flip of a switch, a concerted and unaccustomed effort is called for: one which will certainly give pause for deliberation, for thankfulness for the pleasure of electrical lighting and a thought for the power source which takes over after your own wind-power activates the lamp....
If You Don't Turn Your Computer Off, Who Will?
by EcoGeek.org on 11.26.06
The answer, of course, is the penguins. This is part of an excellent advertising campaign by Électricité de France (EDF,) which also provides a lot of power to the UK. The ads show various animals assisting us in being more energy efficient and read something like "If you don't preserve nature by switching off your computer / installing solar panels / using efficient lightbulbs, who will."...
Reusable Plastic 'Paper' May Reduce Greenhouse Gases
by Treehugger Interns on 11.26.06
Electronics giant Toshiba has developed a new form of printer that uses plastic instead of paper, allowing the same sheet to be erased and reprinted up to 500 times. The company is claiming that this will result in a significant reduction of greenhouse gases by allowing organizations to cut their paper consumption dramatically. They also argue that the printer’s production process creates significantly less emissions than that of a standard printer....
TreeHugger Radio 8
by Team Treehugger, Worldwide on 11.26.06
Today we brings you the wisdom and advice of the Union of Concerned Scientists on the subject of the Thanksgiving bird. Also, news of a new mode of carbon-free shipping, Hollywood’s toll on the environment, and Daryl Hannah’s approach to tinsel town. This week’s music comes from Seu Jorge and Chris Murphy. Thanks go to Calabash Music for the soundtrack. (listen)...
Adili – The Best Of Ethical Fashion
by Leonora Oppenheim, London, UK on 11.26.06
As we regularly see here on TreeHugger the market for ethical fashion just keeps growing and growing. This was made very clear at London Fashion Week back in September where they devoted a whole section to showing ethical and eco fashion. The latest online fashion store on the British eco-block is Adili. They took advantage of the green publicity from London Fashion Week by launching Adili at the end of September. Since then their collection has grown steadily and now, just in time for some convenient Christmas shopping, they are stocking an impressive list of ethical brands. They concentrate on women’s fashion, sorry guys you only get to choose from a range of t-shirts, but they also include kids, babies, linen and cosmetics too. “Adili is the Swahili word for 'ethical and just'. As a company Adili believes that it is possible for fashion to be both stylish and made in an ethical and just way; in a way that gives rather than takes from people and the planet; in a way that upholds the dignity of those along the supply chain.” Adili joins a fast growing list of TreeHugger’s online shopping favourites such as The Natural Collection, Coco’s Shoppe, The Natural store, Beklina and Green Loop. ::Adili
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This Bumper Sticker is Absolutely Necessary
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 11.26.06
I often feel guilty (and a bit hypocritical) driving my car when I could have walked or biked, knowing that it is bad for my carbon footprint. I feel so much better now that I have this bumper sticker from the Guardian that TreeHugger Bonnie sent me from London. ...
David Attenborough: Once More, With Feeling
by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 11.26.06
We’ve already alerted you to Sir David Attenborough’s thoughts on global warming. In Australia, filming his new BBC TV series, Life in Cold Blood, he's taken the opportunity to air those feelings again: “All I do know is that climate change is happening, no doubt, and that's been no doubt for a long time. And I also know that humanity, human beings worldwide, are contributing to climate change. I also know that if it goes on the way it is, we are in for some very bad times. We ought now to have a worldwide change in moral attitudes that you don't waste energy, because energy is produced at a cost, and to waste it is sinful. I mean it … but mad as well.” When he’s spent 50 of his 80 years passionately broadcasting about life on earth, it would seem fair to suggest he knows a little something of what he says. Via ::The World Today....
