- Vijay Vaitheeswaran (part one)
- Vijay Vaitheeswaran (part two)
- Vinay Gupta
- Alyce Santoro
- Mathis Wackernagel
- Tom Price
- Martha Marks
- Paul Hawken
- David Suzuki
- Wal-Mart's Green Gurus
- Alisa Smith and James Mackinnon, authors of Plenty
- Bob Perkowitz of ecoAmerica
- Ed Begley Jr.
- The Weather Channel's Dr. Heidi Cullen
Entries for February 11, 2007 - February 17, 2007
Total this week: 152
Duck Hunters & Tree Huggers Have A Common Interest
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 02.17.07
Via Ducks Unlimited:- "A 2006 study [pdf file at this link] led by Dr. Ned Euliss of the United States Geological Survey Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center in Jamestown, North Dakota found that wetlands in the Prairie Pothole Region of Canada and the U.S. only comprise approximately 17 percent of the landscape but may sequester twice as much carbon as the surrounding agricultural soils employing no tillage management. Euliss and his co-authors concluded that restoring wetlands on the Prairies may sequester 378 Tg of carbon over a 10-year period and estimated that Prairie wetlands have the potential to offset 2.4 percent of the CO2 emissions produced annually by the burning of fossil fuels in North America at 1990 levels". ...
Shea What?
by Kristin Underwood, San Diego, CA on 02.17.07
That’s right, shea butter. Ya know, as in that wonderful lotion that clears even the driest skin. (Perfect for all of you girls new to the west coast who are still getting acclimated to living in the desert. Ahem.) Shea Terra Organics offers products free of fillers, artificial fragrances/colors, sulfates, parabins and 99.5% natural, and if that wasn’t enough, Shea Terra was formed in part to offer local cooperatives in Africa a way to earn steady income without depleting resources or harming workers.
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Portovert Magazine Helps Couples Reduce CO2
by Kara DiCamillo, Newport, Rhode Island on 02.17.07
Portovert Magazine, the new magazine we featured for the environmentally and socially responsible bride and groom, announced this past week that they will be launching the first U.S. wedding carbon calculator in partnership with Native Energy. By visiting the Native Energy’s website, visitors can easily calculate the carbon emissions produced by the principal wedding-related carbon sources: guest travel, lodging, and venue power and heat. According to a 2005 American Wedding Survey, the average wedding has 165 guests and approximately 54 require air travel and lodging. By helping build new renewable energy projects with NativeEnergy, “engaged couples can take a proactive, responsible step towards a brighter, better future.” For as little as $12 per ton of carbon offsets, brides and grooms can make a quick, easy investment in renewable energy by choosing one of three options: helping build new wind power projects, new family farm methane energy projects, or a combination of both. Check out Portovert’s March feature (available online) for easy ways to reduce your wedding carbon footprint. ::Portovert...
Corn Liquor, Corn Liquor: What Makes You Do What You Do?
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 02.17.07
Our post title comes from the first line of a Buck Owens song verse, penned August 1971, which, we think you will agree, is perfectly fitting to this news item: Via Wisconsin Ag Connection , we learned that the US Department of Agriculture may “allow contract holders to withdraw acreage from the Conservation Reserve Program earlier than they otherwise could, in some cases years earlier…There is a need for corn, there is just no doubt about it," [Secretary of Agriculture] Mike Johanns told reporters after a Senate Agriculture Committee hearing Wednesday...USDA has estimated that 4 million to 7 million acres of CRP land, primarily in the Midwest, could be suitable for growing corn. Landowners are normally required to keep land in the program for 10 to 15 years. The acreage, which is considered environmentally sensitive, must be planted to trees or grass while it is enrolled. Landowners receive an annual payment in return”....
domino & TreeHugger's Green List: Furniture
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 02.17.07
As we mentioned yesterday, TreeHugger and the good folks at domino magazine put our heads together to create "The Green List," a celebratory list of the best in green design, people and places. Today, we'll take a closer look at the furniture (you'll find it on pages 36-37 of the paper mag) that was selected for its outstanding green credentials and fabulous design. From the more traditional, like Lee Industries' slipper chair (above, on the lower left) with soy-based cushions and Furnature's formal sofa (bottom row, right-center) that's 100% chemical-free, to the ultra-sleek and modern offerings of Q Collection's formaldehyde-free MDF (bottom right) and Rogan Objects' (bottom row, left-center) reclaimed wood & metal, these manufacturers' graceful, timeless work is all as beautiful as it is sustainable. Not be left out, Cisco Brothers' tufted ottoman (upper right corner) keeps with the company's exclusive use of FSC-certified wood, and, like many of the other offerings, ditches polyurethane and other contaminants in favor of water-based adhesives. Lastly, ABC Carpet & Home (upper left corner) is NYC's destination for low-impact furniture, fabrics and fine green design of any color. Pick up a copy of the mag to see it all, get more details at dominomag.com and stay tuned for a closer look at textiles, wallcoverings and more. ::domino's Green List: Furniture...
Amazon Saga Updated by National Geographic
by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 02.17.07
The other day I was sitting in the dentist’s reception preparing myself for the gnashing sound of his little drill when I noticed the January 2007 edition of National Geographic magazine. The front cover alluded to an article on the Amazon. Eager for distraction I read as much as I could before my dentist welcomed me into his lair. While his instruments whirred and my jaw ached, I pondered the stats I’d read. During the last four decades nearly 20% of the Amazon has been hacked down in rapacious clear felling — more than in the preceding almost half century since whities discovered the place. At the going rate we’ll lose another 20% in the next 20 years. If the Amazon is the ‘lungs of the world’ we will soon be wheezing pretty severely, with 60% less breathing capacity. All for timber, meat and soy beans (used mostly as fodder for more meat), whilst displacing many of the 170 indigenous Amazonian peoples. Like the Manoki Indians seen here, inspecting their decimated hunting grounds. Fortunately NatGeo also found some good news, which always lights our fire round here. Seems the NGO, Conservation International, have been successful in partnering with Amazonian governments to create some state protected forests. Most recently they secured six-million-acres (two million hectares) in the Amapá region, adding to a Biodiversity Corridor, just one part of which inventoried over 100 mammal species and nearly 400 bird species. ::National Geographic. [Photographs by Alex Webb]...
Slave-Free Chocolate – A Dutch Chocaholic Prosecutes Himself
by Sami Grover, Carrboro, NC, USA on 02.17.07
Chocolate, deforestation and slavery – they seem to be buzz words at Treehugger right now. Last week we posted on a new campaign to end modern slavery, and on the link between forced labor and deforestation. This week we posted on a fair-trade chocolate project aiming to give the Kitchwa of Ecuador a sustainable alternative to logging. Now we’ve come across the story of Tony van de Keuken, a Dutch journalist, and self-confessed chocaholic, who is trying to prosecute himself for knowingly receiving goods that were produced through slave labor. The Dutch law states as follows:
“Whoever receives goods...while knowing at the time he receives them or when they are made available to him...that it concerns unlawfully obtained goods is guilty of wilfully receiving...unlawfully obtained goods and shall be punished by a term in prison of maximum four years or a Category Five fine.”...
The Palm: Solar Powered Rep Cinema
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 02.17.07
Second run repertory movie theatres are on the wane, under pressure from the earlier releases of DVDs. Yet the big screen provides a much richer movie experience, the second run houses are often as cheap as the DVD rental and you don't have to own any equipment to play it- dare we call them a PPS? Furthermore they often show movies that the big chains just don't bother picking up. (Like the fabulous "The Lives of Others" seen last night in a rep house). We would have loved to see it in San Luis Obispo's Palm Theatre, a three screen house that is solar powered. Since the theatre doesn't open until 3:45 the panels collect enough energy to cover all its electicity use in summer months. The theater still remains on the grid for less sunny days when there is not enough sunlight to produce an adequate amount of power. Since installing the solar panels in July 2004, the theater's energy costs have already decreased by at least 50 percent. "We have hopes that the annual energy costs will be cut by 70 percent in next three years," Theatre Manager Jack Conroy said. ::Mustang Daily...
Sandcastle: World’s Most Remote Organic Restaurant?
by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 02.17.07
Unfortunately the non-existent TreeHugger budget does run to paying the carbon credits required to fly me the 930 km (~575 miles) to Fremantle, south of Perth, to sample the delights of this restaurant. So we’ll have to take their word for it, that it’s all yummy. They suggest that, “the Sandcastle is one of only a handful of restaurants in Australia who have decided to focus on organic ingredients.” And then go on to say, “We match organic beer, wine and spirit to cuisine of excellent quality and presentation. Our focus extends to organic producers worldwide, but we endeavour to support local and boutique products in Western Australia. We have undertaken this organic specialisation as a result of our commitment to the pursuit of increased quality in all that we consume, and that which we offer to our customers and friends.” You could, for example, begin with a starter like: smoked tofu, roasted almond and hot mustard purée, olive oil crust, beetroot relish. This might whet the palette for a main meal of baked zucchini and gorgonzola, garlic butter beans and lemon fava beans, cayenne buerre blanc. The latter happens to be vegetarian, but from the current menu they also offer organic beef, free range chicken, and ocean trout, (though no eco-credentials are noted for the fish.) Your tum might then find room for a jamaican ginger pudding in butterscotch sauce. All accompanied, of course, by a wide selection of organic and biodynamic wines and liquors. Maybe I can skateboard over just to test it out to be sure everything is up to scratch. ::The Sandcastle...
Soft Toy Awards
by Kathreen Ricketson, Canberra, Australia on 02.17.07
Image: paper bag writer on flickr
When coming across the softie awards, we were blown away by some the original handmade soft toys out there. Wow. What is going on? Could it be that people are sick of the crappy made-in-China plastic toys that break apart within five minutes, or the cute polyester everyone-has-the-same-one Disney Land stuffed toys? I really hope so. ...
Aviation and the Climate: Penguins Join the Debate
by Treehugger Interns on 02.17.07
It seems the aviation vs climate debate is hotting up once again, at least in the UK. SPURT, the spoof aviation-industry lobby group that we reported on here, is taking out a two-page advertisement in many of the national papers this Monday. On the one page is ‘Sir Monty’, the head of SPURT, arguing that ‘climate change hits the poorest hardest, but those who fly have money. It’s not our problem, it’s theirs.’ On the other page is a message from a spokesperson (spokesbird?) from Penguins Against Climate Change:
“As a popular, yet flightless bird, we penguins are used to disappointment. But watching you wingless humans destroy the planet takes the biscuit.”...
Andrew Maynard's Corb 2.0: Archigram Reborn
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 02.17.07
It is everything Archigram was forty years ago; an exciting, original revisit of how we treat where we live, how we define real estate. Imagine moving our houses around according to our activities, our whims, our friends, our crying babies. Imagine everyone being the penthouse and the next day being on the ground floor. It is most definitely not a container project (Andrew agrees with this treehugger that their porportions suck) but he says: Ever wanted to live in the penthouse every now and then? Want to get away from your annoying neighbour with the big stereo and bad music taste? Want to have a party without disturbing others? You want a different view every now and then? Corb V2.0 gives you the opportunity. A wind powered travel crane will move your unit either randomly or according to request, giving everyone in the building equal rights to a piece of the best view, the best garden access. Real estate as we know it is turned on its head. ...
Convenient Truths: Be Inspired
by Jessica Root - Brooklyn, NY on 02.16.07
The VentureOne Hybrid and EV: 100 MPH, 100 MPG, and that Crazy Tilty Action
by Jacob Gordon, Nashville, TN on 02.16.07
At TreeHugger, we like to keep things realistic, raise a skeptical eyebrow to potential vaporware, and to keep in check our giddy inner children that get sweaty palms when we see something like the VentureOne. After all, a bright idea, some capital, and computer drafting software aren’t too hard to come by. We truly would like to believe, though, that the VentureOne will in fact, as its creators promise, be released in late 2008, priced in the $20,000 range. If that is indeed remotely possible, then the VentureOne is big news. This remarkable looking car, if you want to call it that (it’s a motorcycle as far as the law is concerned), brings together a handful of innovative and proven technologies to make for a very green means of short or long distance transport. First, let’s talk about the drive train (and I’ll speak as if all this is really going to happen, fingers crossed)....
TreeHugger Radio: Architecture for Humanity’s Open Source Architecture Movement & Green Energy from Busy Feet and Microorganisms
by Team Treehugger, Worldwide on 02.16.07
This week on TreeHugger Radio: Creative and groundbreaking solutions to global problems are everywhere. We look at a flight of stairs that gathers energy from busy feet, and algae cultures that eat emissions from power plants to make green fuel. We also speak with Cameron Sinclair of Architecture for Humanity and Ingrid Van Den Hoogen of Sun Microsystems about the new collaborative Open Architecture Network. Listen for TreeHugger Radio every Friday on EcoTalk with Betsy Rosenberg. Also keep your eyes and ears out for our extended interview with Cameron Sinclair early next week. (listen) ::TreeHugger Radio ...
Most Huggable: Pop. Mechanics’ Greenest Goods, Texas Hemp , Alanis Morisette’s Climate Doc.
by Jacob Gordon, Nashville, TN on 02.16.07
Industrial hemp is promoted in a major federal bill. Taking the lead is Texas Republican Representative Ron Paul… This Old House gets its hands on a green renovation in Austin, helping a family make some more room, while reducing its footprint… March’s issue of Popular Mechanics profiles 25 products that are leading the pack in green tech and design… More of Japan’s youth are seeing whales as wonders, not as food… Alanis Morisette narrates a one-hour documentary on our accelerating climate crisis, and some of the most ambitious projects to curb it… ...
TreeHugger Picks: Transformer Furniture - More Than Meets the Eye
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 02.16.07
TreeHugger loves furniture that transforms for a couple of reasons: aside from being visually compelling, it simultaneously saves and makes more efficient use of space. This makes it easier to have less stuff and be comfortable in smaller spaces, both of which rank pretty high on the list of ways to live like a TreeHugger. Here are some of our picks for furniture that transforms to multi-task and simplify interior living.
1) Jaewon Jung's modular table has functional modes for both work and dining, employing a grid structure that allows the placement of nine dual-function panels. Flip the candlestick holders, wine cooler and vase over for a flat worktable; when it's time to play, the table transforms into a romantic dining scene, complete with candles, chilling wine and flowers.
2) Akemi Tanaka's coffee table morphs into a love seat and is made from bamboo, to boot.
3) The Mogga transformer makes the transformation from table to chair and was inspired from old bread boxes.
4) These transformer tables go from 12 inches to 32 inches, providing both a coffee table and dining surface and proving that less is indeed the new more.
5) The transformer sofa provides a comfy place to relax, and goes 87 miles per hour. Imagine: no more parking spaces required -- just park it in the living room....
Build A Solar City And More At Ben-Gurion University Workshop
by Karin Kloosterman, Jerusalem, Israel on 02.16.07
Ever want to know what goes on behind the business of solar panels? You’re an architect and wondering how you can start integrating solar power into your plans? Curious about the pros and cons of both solar-thermal and photovoltaic energy? Ben-Gurion University (BGU) is hosting next week - the 14th Sede Boqer symposium on Solar Electricity Production. It will take place on February 19-21, at the Ben-Gurion National Solar Energy Center. In addition to presentations from the Israeli solar research community, keynote speakers will include Professor Ulrich Bünger, of the Norwegian University of Science and Technology who will talk on the subject: Hydrogen: From myth to reality; Professor Susan Roaf, of the Open University, UK, and Arizona State University, USA, who will give a presentation on Solar Cities....
BBC Failing on Environmental Performance
by Sami Grover, Carrboro, NC, USA on 02.16.07
As a rule, Treehugger likes the BBC. It’s been a good source of environmental stories for us, and their reporting tends to be relatively accurate and unsensational. We were disappointed then to hear from the Guardian, another Treehugger favorite, that the BBC are failing on their own environmental performance. Apparently, according to the BBC’s own figures, carbon emissions went up last year, from 0.15 tonnes per broad cast hour, to 0.25 tonnes. Total waste per employee also rose from 250kg to just under 300kg. There are figures on the inside calling for change, however. Jeremy Paxman, one of the BBC’s star presenters, recently attacked the corporation for its ‘laughable’ environmental policies. We aren’t saying we won’t report on BBC stories in future, but it would certainly be nice to see them walking their talk. :: BBC :: The Guardian...
TH Sneak Peek - Ryan Frank's Shanty
by Leonora Oppenheim, London, UK on 02.16.07
For all you industrial chic junkies out there this one is for you. Ryan Frank, the South African born, London based product designer, has been featured several times on TreeHugger for his his wonderous use of eco-friendly materials. He of the Sunday Morning Chair, the Inkuku Chair, and the Zilka clothes hangers has now found a way to salvage some of the waste materials being produced by clearing sites in East London for the 2012 Olympics. Ryan has given TreeHugger a sneak peek at his first product born from this project, in advance of its launch at the Milan Furniture Fair in April. He says that Shanty, a standing lamp made from corrugated iron sheeting, was inspired by the industrious use of corrugated iron sheets in many of the South African townships. Ryan tells us that the sheets used for the Shanty light have been treated where particular areas are exposed, allowing the natural rusting process to take place in a variety of different shapes and patterns. He says "Rust has so much character and really tells a story; to bring it into the home allows one to watch it develop and slowly transform over time." Shanty uses an energy saving bulb and all it's components are fully recyclable. ...
H-Racer: The Perfect Gift For Kids Of Any Age
by Kenny Luna, North Babylon, NY on 02.16.07
Need a birthday gift for the kid of any age who already got everything they wanted for the holidays? Well how about the H-racer; so far the smallest fuel cell car in existence anywhere in the world, and chosen as one of Time magazines best inventions of 2006. The creation of Horizon Fuel Cell Technologies, it was born out of the reality that an actual car powered by a hydrogen fuel cell is just too expensive and impractical to get past the prototype stage. However, on the small, nay tiny end it works just fine. So a toy was created instead, and by using the same technology that big-time automakers are using to develop zero-emission vehicles it’s able to be fueled entirely by hydrogen alone....
The Armory Show: Sustainable Furniture As Art
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 02.16.07
The Armory Show, "the international fair of new art," is coming to New York City next week from Friday, February 23rd to Monday, February 26th, and our pals at Vivavi are going to be lending a hand. In addition to sponsoring the show, they've partnered with ARTFORUM magazine to design and furnish the ARTFORUM public lounge, which will showcase some of our favorite sustainable designers. Featured in the lounge will be work of Brave Space, Michael Iannone, J. Persing and Material Furniture (all pictured above), as well as PIE (Project Import Export), Rhubarb Decor and Acronym Designs; while each designer has earned recognition for their commitment to sustainability, their presence at the Armory Show is intended to extend the notion of furniture as art, which is an interesting and important idea that isn't always high on the list of sustainability enthusiasts. We hope the collaboration will continue to foster the artistic community’s interest in contemporary, eco-friendly living, which has the potential to bring the some of the ideas of sustainability and sustainable living to a new and potentially influential group. The event, which will be held on Pier 94 in Manhattan, will also serve as the introduction to a new a new sustainable furniture line by Angus Goble, and is expected to draw over 50,000 visitors. Details about the Armory Show are available here, including info on tickets and other exhibitors at the show. ::The Armory Show...
Al Gore Announces Live Earth Concert
by Kara DiCamillo, Newport, Rhode Island on 02.16.07
We reported to you last week that Al Gore is going to be organizing a concert event to even further promote the issue of global warming. Yesterday, the formal announcement came: “The 24-hour event on July 7 is part of a campaign, Save Our Selves -- The Campaign for a Climate in Crisis.” The concerts will take place on seven continents, with concerts in China, South Africa, Australia, London, Japan, Brazil and the United States. It’s said that this concert, dubbed Live Earth, could reach as many as 2 billion people. "In order to solve the climate crisis, we have to reach billions of people,” Al Gore said in a statement. “The climate crisis will only be stopped by an unprecedented and sustained global movement.” More than 100 performers are scheduled to appear, including the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Bon Jovi, Snoop Dogg, Melissa Etheridge, the Foo Fighters, Lenny Kravitz, Sheryl Crow, John Mayer, Duran Duran, Korn, Pharrell, the Black Eyed Peas, Akon, Enrique Iglesias, Faith Hill and Tim McGraw. Proceeds will create a foundation to combat climate change led by The Alliance for Climate Protection, which is chaired by Gore. Don't forget to submit your video about climate change! Visit our Convenient Truths contest to find out more. Via ::CNN ::Live Earth...
Olympus Creates A Wooden Camera: Better Than Plastic?
by Justin Thomas, Virginia on 02.16.07
Olympus has created a prototype of a unique digital camera with a casing made out of wood. To create the casing, the wood was compressed using special techniques, causing the natural resins in the wood come to the surface . The result is a material that is more durable than conventional polycarbonate resins. If the camera goes into production, each one would have its own one-of-a-kind look. The compression process is said to be "three-dimensional", because pressure is applied from all directions at once. The wood that was used was Japanese cypress, which is known for it durability and fragrance.
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domino & TreeHugger Present: The Green List
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 02.16.07
TreeHugger is proud to present the "Green List," the centerpiece for domino magazine's new green issue that's out today. We joined forces to realize the goal of decorating a house with the domino feel in a totally earth-friendly way, coming up with 125 companies and people that are leading the way for sustainable design of all kinds, from furniture and food to eco-travel and enlightened remodeling; over the next couple of weeks, we'll be shining a spotlight on each section. Some, you may have seen before on our pages; others are new to us and prove that there are lots of exciting products, materials, people and ideas that help close up the loop, produce less waste and infringe less harm. We're proud to have consulted, pleased with the results and hope that the issue will help continue to prove that green design can also be good design. Stay tuned for a closer look at the Green List, and pick up a copy of domino to see it all for yourself. ::domino's Green List
We'll post each additional entry over the next couple weeks below the fold....
Lexel: Powerful White LED Technology
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 02.16.07
According to Azure Magazine, a Vancouver company stole the show last year at the Light and Building expo in Frankfurt with Lexel, the little unit shown above- "the first fully integrated and seamless LED-based light source technology. It has been designed for easy integration and is equivalent to lamp+ballast+socket." It pumps out 1,000 lumens at only 35 watts, is programmable from cool to warm tones, and has controllers and power supplies for a 24 LED array. European lighting designers are snapping it up; it has been built into the beautiful spot fixture by Zumtobel, one of Europe's largest manufacturers of lighting fixtures. (shown below the fold) ::Lexel...
New Zealand’s Goal: First Truly Sustainable Nation
by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 02.16.07
You might have heard that New Zealand’s Prime Minister, Helen Clark, this week announced she aspired for her country “to be carbon neutral in our economy and way of life." And if that wasn’t enough she set the bar even higher with this proclamation: "I believe New Zealand can aim to be the first nation to be truly sustainable across the four pillars of the economy, society, the environment, and nationhood." These are not new notions for Helen. At the New Zealand Labour Party Annual Conference held late in October 2006 she used her keynote address to raise the same points, “We could aim to be carbon neutral. I believe that sustainability will be a core value in 21st century social democracy. I want New Zealand to be in the vanguard of making it happen – for our own sakes, and for the sake of our planet. I want sustainability to be central to New Zealand’s unique national identity.” And NZ has other related defining moments which have helped shaped it’s national identity, including declaring the country a Nuclear Free Zone, which caused the US to downgrade their status from ally to ‘friend’. The French bombing Greenpeace’s Rainbow Warrior ship in a New Zealand harbour also strengthen their resolve with Kiwi's relishing their underdog status. Indeed regarding the N-word, Helen Clark reckons global warming is akin to the threat of nuclear holocaust that hung over the world during the Cold War.
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Book Review: Little House on a Small Planet
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 02.16.07
Just as hunger isn’t caused by scarcity of food, homelessness and our “housing crisis” aren’t caused by a lack of houses.
So says Frances Moore Lappe in the foreword to Little House on a Small Planet- a wonderful book by Shay Salomon with photographs by Nigel Valdez. Shay asks the question "How much space does it take to be happy?" and then proceeds to answer the question: not very much. She then proceeds to ask why there are big houses (Keeping up with the joneses, easy financing, "because we can") and instructs us to find new Joneses or forget the Joneses.
It is not just about how you design, but how you live. Chapters with titles like "Choose what you need" and "build a glove, not a warehouse" and "make a room of your own." It is a lovely book that teaches you how to "live in less space and have more room to enjoy it. Dozens of tiny houses are beautifully photographed with what must be a very wide angle lens- one of my favourites was a 180 square foot "cob cottage where a couple lived for ten years, and apparently still talk to each other....
Very Northern Delights
by Bonnie Alter, London on 02.16.07
The Inuit are Canadian native people from Nunavik. There are about 10,000 living in 14 villages along the coast and rivers of Northern Quebec. Connection to the land, the sea and to the natural environment is the basis of their culture. There are no roads. The landscape is home to wild-life such as caribou, geese, seals, walrus, beluga whales, wolves and muskox. From time immemorial, Nunavik Inuit have used tundra plants for medicinal purposes, and much can be learned from their traditional knowledge of medicinal foods. They are now making a range of herbal teas which have medicinal properties and a savoury taste. The plants are gathered from the tundra during the summer months. The names alone are fascinating: Ukiurtatuq is used to soothe stomach aches, Cloudberry Arpiqutik leaves were boiled to produce a tea for the relief of kidney ailments. Ground Juniper Qisiqtutauyak was traditionally boiled whole to treat colds. Crowberry Paurngaqutik Labrador tea is the original and here’s what is in it: Bearberry leaves, peppermint, licorice, Labrador tea (mamaittuqutik) eucalyptus, coltsfoot and ginger root. All profits from the sales are given to the Avataq Cultural Institute, an organization that protects and promotes the language and culture of Nunavik Inuit. :: Northern Delights Teas
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Sexy farmers and the end of organic?
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 02.16.07
"I've seen chefs receive almost mythical rock 'n' roll status. It may be time for farmers to receive that fame."
Michael Ableman makes an interesting point; Organic is no longer hip. If it is at Wal-mart, how can it be? Now that we are concerned about food miles, who wants organic vegetables from California in New York or Toronto?
According to the Star, The advent of mass-market, big-business, organic agriculture is pushing those on the cutting edge of food production away from the term "organic." Now they're urging uber-green consumers to buy locally, to know where your food comes from and to create a relationship with the farmer who grows it. Another buzzword is sustainability, meaning preserving an ecological balance instead of depleting natural resources.Ableman says farmers now need to start selling themselves as artisans – as people who can help us relate to what we eat.
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What’s In That Ring Pop?
by Eric Kane, New York, NY on 02.16.07
Years of being bombarded by advertisements make even the most trusting of people somewhat skeptical when it comes to consumer products. However, hardened shoppers will often take a leap of faith when purchasing food and other consumer goods. For example, when a person sees a name like “Yoplait Go-Gurt Strawberry Splash” or “Fruity Cheerios” it is not unreasonable for him or her to assume that these products contain at least a trace amount of fruit. According to a report released by the Prevention Institute, these products are just two examples of food items that contain no fruit. ...
Electricity a Byproduct of Indian Sanitary Revolution
by Jeff McIntire-Strasburg, St. Louis, MO on 02.16.07
We've pointed to a number of innovations that use farm animal wastes as the feedstock for energy production. In India, where a "quiet sanitary revolution" is providing toilets for people who don't have access to them (nearly 2/3 of the country's population), human wastes are being used to create electricity. Sulabh International Social Service Organisation, a group involved in the distribution of both standard toilets and "pay and use" community facilities, has added an innovative feature to its cheap, water-efficient comfort stations (shown above): an energy plant --
Sulabh's systems often come with an innovative modification: the attachment of a biogas plant. Through these plants, human waste produces biogas that, when mixed with diesel fuel, can power electrical devices such as streetlights. A similar technique of wet-sanitation is being replicated elsewhere in India by groups like BORDA.While we don't know what percentage of electricity generated by other means could be replaced by "humanure," the concept itself is brilliant. A bit of digging into Sulabh's website shows not only that the organization has engaged in wide range sanitation efforts, but also that it recognizes and addresses the relationship of sanitation facilities to public health and economic development, as well as to environmental concerns. ::The Christian Science Monitor...
New York Times on Tiny Houses
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 02.16.07
"Choosing a house starts to resemble buying a car."
This was the vision of the prefab movement- to make good design accessible to a larger audience at a reasonable price. It appears to be finally happening, particularly in very small efficient designs as people realize the benefits of living in smaller spaces, particularly for second homes. The New York Times lays out the benefits: "Minimal square footage means reduced maintenance costs, less upkeep and reduced energy consumption. Prefabricated and pre-built models can require little or no site preparation, which means no anxious weekend drives to the country to make sure construction is moving along"
There are environmental benefits too: Matthew Adams had an ecological agenda and intended to serve as a steward of the former ranch property. “I was committed to finding a tiny house that would have no lasting impact on the land,” he said. “But truthfully, I wanted something with design value, too.” ::New York Times with a great slide show.
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Boconcept Transformer Table
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 02.16.07
Transformer tables take up so much less space than a regular dining table plus coffee table. We have seen many lift top designs before but this one from boconcept is very clever- two separate tops lift up, reducing the weight and the complexity of the mechanism. (Most larger units have springs and counterbalances). Lots of storage underneath the liftup sections as well. Available in a number of woods, none of them particularly sustainable. ::Boconcept...
BoardFree : A Human-powered Skateboard Record
by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 02.16.07
Dave Cornthwaite is 27, and late last month he set a world record for human-powered propulsion. He pushed a skateboard for five months and 5,823 km (3,618 miles) to travel across five states of Australia from Perth to Brisbane. He wore out 13 pairs of shoes, 10 wheels and some dozen or so tubes of suncream as he fought road trains and blisters in his BoardFree project, which had the parallel purpose of fundraising for three charities. The Lowe Syndrome Trust helps fund research into a presently incurable disease, while the Link Community Developmen provides education to thousands of iSub-Saharan Africa children. And finally Sailability Australia uses sailing to break down attitudes between the broader community and people with disabilities. Daves’ Boardfree has a website at Just Giving, which closes at the end of Feb, where you can make donations, that will be split amongst these organisations. And you be congratulating him for showing what one man, strong legs and a longboard (nicknamed Elsa, after the lion in the classic documentary Born Free) can achieve. ::BoardFree....
Building the Ethical Home: Introduction
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 02.16.07
I have been inspired, following Ted Owens' series on building his own green, straw bale house in New Mexico. I have also been an architect for twenty-five years in a different climate and if one learns from their mistakes, then I have learned a lot. For the last two years while writing for TreeHugger I have been concerned with what passes for "green" in North America; it appears that if it saves energy that is good enough. Thus monster houses get covered in solar panels with the help of government subsidies, and the Wall Street Journal calls a 1.6 million dollar 3,000 square foot country house a model of green design. (No criticism of Arken Tilt Architects intended)
I have been much impressed with Leo Hickman's series in the Guardian newspaper, published in his book A Good Life, about the concept of Ethical Living: " Ethical means above all taking personal responsibility. This in turn means considering the "sustainability" of everything you do- making sure that your actions do not have a negative influence on you or more importantly the wider world. As more and more people around the world, rightly or wrongly, aspire to and obtain western lifestyles, the pressure on natural resources will become even more intense. Therefore, a major tenet of ethical living is to attempt, wherever possible, to reduce one's own demand for resources... Simply, it is a call to consume a fairer and more proportionate slice of the pie. "...
EQuilibrium Competition: Minto Manotick
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 02.16.07
Minto is a big Canadian housing and condo developer, and is building 2000 homes in the town of Manotick, all Energy Star rated. We certainly prefer urban schemes to vast suburbs, and the house looks, well, like a subdivision house. However it has a good checklist of items that any house should have:
* Double wall construction, with high level of insulation and triple-glazed insulated windows, contribute to a design that is 55% more efficient than typical new homes
* Water consumption reduced by over 70% compared to the average home
* Architecturally designed window locations optimize the sun exposure to heat the home in the winter while roof-lines provide shade in the summer to keep the house cool
* Uses solar power to generate as much energy as is consumed each year
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TH to the Rescue: Blog in Times of Need
by Tim McGee, Helena, MT, USA on 02.15.07
Ben Schneiderman and Jennifer Preece of the University of Maryland, have called for the government to create blogs and wikis to organize a broad web-based community approach for dealing with disasters in this weeks Science (subscription). Community groups, and bottom-up media have increasingly been first responders in providing pictures and video of disaster and relief efforts.
Within hours after the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, a volunteer blog, called the South-East Asia Earthquake and Tsunami Blog, was set up and quickly became the primary way to coordinate damage assessment, relief, and the volunteers flowing in from all over the world. Blogs and wikis certainly have the distributed power to organize huge efforts over large geographical distances, but putting the government in a top-down control position of a bottom-up system doesn't make much sense. What I think is a better idea is organizing existing bloggers and wikis (like treehugger) who already have the distributed network in place to appoint a 'contact' person who is a liaison with government officials to bridge information systems and support efforts. By building a pre-existing relationship between blogs and relief organizations when a disaster strikes it will be easier to know what the next step should be. What do you think? ::Nature News...
TH Blog Love – Our Favourite Greens Of The Week
by Leonora Oppenheim, London, UK on 02.15.07
Ecorazzi: Pre-Oscar Party and You’re Invited by Rebecca Carter
‘Global Green USA is holding a, yes that’s right, GREEN pre-Oscar party on Wednesday and you’re invited! Tickets cost $100 and benefit Global Green’s global warming initiatives including the green rebuilding of New Orleans and the Gulf Coast. The event co-chairs include Penelope Cruz, Salma Hayek, Ed Norton, and of course, Leo.’
Inhabitat: Design Your Own Eco Jewelry with Green Karat by Jill Fehrenbacher
‘My sweetie recently gave me a gorgeous sapphire engagement ring from GreenKarat, and I love it - knowing that it is not only pretty, but reflects my values and beliefs as well. The sapphire was created in a lab, so I know no forests (or people) in Sri Lanka were harmed in the process, and the platinum is also 100% recycled.’...
Breaking: Possible Environmental Disaster in Antarctica
by Michael Graham Richard, Gatineau, Canada on 02.15.07
We usually try to focus on positive developments and solutions, but once in a while something that is neither catches our eye and we can't help but share it with you. The Times Online reports: "New Zealand gave warning of a possible environmental disaster in the Antarctic today after the flagship of the Japanese whaling fleet caught fire [yesterday] in the sea off the world's largest penguin breeding site [...] there is still danger that some of the 1.3 million litres of oil on board will leak into the otherwise clean southern seas." The ship is currently adrift in the Ross Sea near the pristine breeding ground of 250,000 pairs of penguins (among other wildlife in the area) and, according to the latest news, the fire is not out yet, only contained. It is estimated that the ship has 1,000 tonnes of heavy fuel oil on board as well as many other chemicals. The 148-member crew of the ship was evacuated except for 1 person who is missing and the captain with 30 others who stayed on the ship. The seas are presently calm but notorious for extreme storms....
Convenient Truths: Only 13 Days Left To Enter!
by Jessica Root - Brooklyn, NY on 02.15.07
NYC Students Imagine City Plan After Global Warming
by Jasmin Malik Chua, Jersey City, USA on 02.15.07
A group of college students have their own take on how to live with climate change, 50 years on, when rising seas might flood the Brooklyn waterfront neighborhood of Dumbo.
The small exhibit, called "Dumbo Under Water," will be on display from Feb 8. through Feb 22, 2007 at Gallery 208 in—where else—Dumbo, Brooklyn. It includes diagrams of raised streets and buildings constructed on top of the Brooklyn Queens Expressway. You also get an island made of recycled building material, connecting pedestrian sky bridges, along with suspended helical turbines that generate power from running water....
Zero-Till Brazil: Saving Climate One Furrow At A Time
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 02.15.07
Per a story in SciDev.Net, Brazilian farmers are foremost in the world with use of Zero Tillage, a cropping method that is greener, boosts productivity, and helps the climate. “Called direct drilling, no-tillage or zero tillage (ZT), the technique is in part praised for fixing carbon in the soil, thereby reducing the amount of carbon dioxide — a greenhouse gas — released into the air. It also prevents soil erosion and therefore demands less irrigation”. Because this story is complex, we highly recommend the entire article, which is posted here. In general, the practice of zero tillage agriculture reduces erosion, partitions water into groundwater instead of runoff, increases the organic content of soil, and helps fix more carbon in it. ...
Kids With Grass Underfoot, Who Snack In Smaller Groups, Less Likely to be Overweight
by Jasmin Malik Chua, Jersey City, USA on 02.15.07
Another reason you should drag your joystick-wielding tykes to experience nature in all its natural splendor: Urban kids who live around green parks and lawns may be less likely to be overweight, according to a study in the March/April issue of the American Journal of Health Promotion....
Canada Sort of Commits to Kyoto. We think.
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 02.15.07
Prime Minister Stephen Harper previously renounced Canada's commitment to Kyoto, saying that it was impossible to meet. However he is head of a minority government, and the Opposition parties, led by Stephane Dion, (second from left in the picture above, Michael Ignatieff to his right) just passed a private members bill that "would force Environment Minister John Baird to present a climate change plan within 60 days, providing a map for Canada to meet Kyoto's greenhouse gas reduction targets. The treaty calls for emission levels at 6 per cent below 1990 levels – a drastic reduction from current levels. Within three months of the bill's passage into law, the federal cabinet would have to set out regulations on the petroleum and auto sectors, and other polluters, to have them meet their Kyoto targets."
Prime Minister Harper didn't bother to show up for the vote, and appears to give every indication that he plans to completely ignore the bill, so we may have a constitutional crisis on our hands but we do not have a real commitment to Kyoto. Yet. ::The Star...
'Sustainable' Tops 2006 GLM Buzz-Word List
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 02.15.07
The Global Language Monitor (GLM) reports that, based on it's 2006 survey:- "Sustainable’ is Top Word, ‘Stay the Course’ is Top Catchphrase, ‘Darfur’ is the Top Name, and 'Yoof Speak' is Top Youth Speak atop the Global Language Monitor's Annual List" . The GLM seems to walk the line between statistical study and mocking humor, as it defines sustainable as "Originally a ‘green’ term [that] has moved into the mainstream meaning ‘self-generating’ as in ‘wind power is a sustainable power supply’. Can apply to populations, marriages, agriculture, economies, and the like. The opposite of ‘disposable’". Seemingly a confabulation of renewable, sustainable, & recyclable, this lighthearted definition might be due to a backwards-day sort of reporting style. GLM, in another example of this approach, defines Climate Change as "The warming of the Earths atmosphere due to natural cycles (politically sensitive; believed to be primarily outside the control of man.)" The off-sided definition of "Sustainable" does, helpfully, point out the not-so-obvious paradox of its buzz status. Describe something as "sustainable" and your average listener has no idea what you're getting at. He/she might conclude you're using the term the way a stock analyst would. Saying "we need to be more sustainable" indicates nuttiness or pretentiousness to anyone not immersed in the topics of global resource depletion and climate change. But...if you say "you keep blasting at those turkeys a mile away you're gonna run out of shells," the 'unsustainabilty' of the behavior is immediately apparent. Though neither the speaker nor the listener, in the hypothetical turkey shoot, would likely use sustain to talk about it. So we ask you then, just who's global buzz is it?...
The 2007 Global Warming Globie Awards: Time to Vote!
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 02.15.07
The good folks over at Environmental Defense are further validating global warming's place in the sun by launching the first awards to recognize the best (and worst) global warming performances: the Globie Awards. They've selected five global warming categories with four nominees each, and you get to help select the winners. Many of the nominees will be familiar to the greater TreeHugger readership, with the work of Arnold Schwarzenegger and Greg Nickels recognized in the "Best Performance by a State or Local Official" category, for starters. Yahoo! Autos & GE's Ecomagination initiative are among the nominees for "Best Performance in the Corporate World," as are The Weather Channel's One Degree and Al Gore's An Inconvenient Truth in the "Best Film, Documentary, or Website Focusing on Global Warming" category. On the minus side, "Worst Performance by a Corporation or Corporate Official" includes Exxon Mobil and TXU, while Senator James Inhofe, writer Michael Crichton and the Competitive Enterprise Institute are among those who will make it a close race for "Most Egregious Contribution to Public Ignorance and Denial." Winners will be announced on February 23 (that's next Friday), so engage in the democratic process and make your voice heard here. ::2007 Global Warming Globie Awards via ::Green Options
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The Sundance Channel Announces "The Green" Advisory Committee
by Michael Graham Richard, Gatineau, Canada on 02.15.07
Today, Sundance Channel has announced who will be on their advisory committee for The Green, and it includes TreeHugger and our very own Simran Sethi! "With THE GREEN [launching April 17th at 9 p.m.], Sundance Channel becomes the first television network in the United States to establish a major, regularly-scheduled programming destination dedicated entirely to the environment. Each week THE GREEN will present original series and documentary premieres about the earth’s ecology and concepts of “green” living that balance human needs with responsible care for the planet." For more information about The Green (hosted by Robert Redford), check out Simran's post about it. You can see the full list of advisory committee members after the jump....
Noming Vase from YouSayTomayto
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 02.15.07
Made from a really interesting-sounding, paper-based material that's 51% chalk, the Noming Vases by Frank Kerdil are 100% waterproof (a feature we prefer in vases) and inexpensive to boot. Unlike the more well-known vases of the Ming Dynasty, these are actually difficult to break, according to the designer, and is why they've been given the Noming moniker. We like the unique deconstructed, almost folded look, and at $15 for a set of four, they might be nice to keep around for displaying flowers or using for other decorative needs. They're available from YouSayTomayto, who, incidentally, reuses all of the packing materials from their suppliers and uses 100% recycled boxes to ship your stuff. Thanks to Mark for the tip! ::YouSayTomayto...
Ask TreeHugger: Green Alternatives to Traditional Dry Cleaning
by Helen Suh MacIntosh, Cambridge, MA, USA on 02.15.07
Question: I have a number of cashmere sweaters that I love. But I know dry cleaning isn't environmentally friendly. I was hoping you could recommend a way of cleaning them that would be a little less damaging to the environment.
Response: It is true that traditional dry cleaning methods are not “environmentally friendly”. This is because most dry cleaners use the chemical perchloroethylene (also called perc, tetrachloroethylene, C2Cl4 and Cl2C=CCl2) to clean your clothes. Research studies have shown that perchloroethylene exposures may be dangerous to your health, having been linked to increased risks of bladder, esophageal, and cervical cancer, eye, nose, throat and skin irritation, and reduced fertility, among other effects. These findings have been shown for people working at dry cleaners, who are routinely exposed to high amounts of perchloroethylene, either through inhalation or through skin contact. ...
EQuilibrium Competition: Now House
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 02.15.07
The EQuilibrium housing competition is funding twelve demonstration homes that are "Net Zero Energy Healthy Houses". Previously we covered a new Montreal condo; the Now House team take a different and valuable approach: a renovation. Canada and the States have tens of thousands of post-WW2 houses " based on a standardized, inexpensive, sometimes pre-fabricated 1 1/2 storey designs" that while small and efficient plans (and now in great parts of town) they are not exactly models of energy efficiency. The Now House team is taking a 60 year old house and putting in " insulation, new windows, the installation of solar panels and Energy Star®-certified appliances, and the implementation of a waste water heat recovery system" to achieve net zero energy. Post-worthy venture Work Worth Doing put this together with schoolmate and architect David Fujiwara and others. The Now House Project
UPDATE: More on this house by Jane Gadd in the Globe and Mail...
Carbon Machines
by Ron Dembo, Zerofootprint on 02.15.07
Though he did not drop into the press conference by parachute, airline mogul and consummate showman Richard Branson made an impression last week when he offered a $25 million prize to an inventor canny enough to devise a machine capable of stripping carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere.
It’s easy to see why we’d want such a device—CO2 is the chief greenhouse gas, and we show little sign that we’re about to stop dumping it into the skies. Worldwide, we emit 24 billion tonnes of the gas each year, and though a few countries, like Britain and Germany, have managed to slow down emissions, the planet’s foremost polluters, China and the US, to say nothing of the vast bulk of the developed nations, continue to pour more and more CO2 into the atmosphere every year.
The Kyoto process has shown how difficult it is going to be to reach a political consensus internationally, as nearly everyone uses someone else as an excuse to keep polluting.
And even if we did manage to reach an international agreement tomorrow, and if we also miraculously managed to enforce it, and cut emissions altogether, the planet would continue to heat up. "There will be CO2 left in the atmosphere, continuing to influence the climate, more than 1000 years after humans stop emitting it," says Susan Solomon, an atmospheric chemist with the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in Boulder, Colorado....
Transition Towns Are Spreading: Communities Take on Climate Change and Peak Oil
by Sami Grover, Carrboro, NC, USA on 02.15.07
The TH Interview: Jill Litwin, Owner, Peas of Mind
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 02.15.07
Jill Litwin is the owner of Peas of Mind, a company dedicated to improving kids' health through organic, wholesome foods. Peas of Mind makes "Puffets," small, hand-held casseroles that help health-conscious parents who want to feed their toddlers delicious meals with organic ingredients, but don't have the time to make them from scratch. The company was founded on the idea that as toddlers begin eating solid foods, the tastes and textures they experience will shape their eating habits for a lifetime; each homemade recipe is specifically designed for the growing needs of young ones, and the unique combination of ingredients provides a balanced nutritional meal that is easy to prepare and easy to eat with little hands. TreeHugger recently caught up with Jill to chat with her about organic foods, healthy kids and getting the "peace of mind" that comes with eating healthy and well.
TreeHugger: A previous article that featured you and Peas of Mind was titled “How Pie Will Change the World?”. Do you think puffets can change the world?
Jill Litwin: Yes, I would like to think Peas of Mind can help change the world in a positive way. It’s frustrating to see so many children are growing up overweight and being diagnosed with diabetes at such a young age. We hope to combat poor health by giving parents healthy, fun, easy alternatives to what’s currently available, so they can teach their kids how to eat and enjoy healthy food at a young age....
We Can’t Believe Everything We Read – Hybrids and Hummers
by Jenna Watson, Barcelona on 02.15.07
This week the sparks have flown over the constantly revisited debate of whether hybrids are as efficient as they claim in comparison to a regular gasoline powered vehicle. Again, this is a controversial topic, and I will start by saying that I am in no way trying to bash hybrids. Both the Economist and Grist have had their say regarding a controversial report , so now it’s one Treehugger’s turn. It started with the Economist’s article that “Diesels are the Smart Green Choice”, which says, ...
Turning the Ship: Five Weeks of Dialogue on Sustainable Business
by Jeff McIntire-Strasburg, St. Louis, MO on 02.15.07
While a number of recognizable companies have jumped into the vanguard of sustainable business thinking, many, many more still struggle with reconciling the environmental impact of their products and practices with the bottom line. On February 5th, the Harvard School of Design, the Clarke Group, 1% for the Planet, and GreenBiz.com began a five-week online discussion aimed at "exploring the market forces that are already driving change and the tools that companies are using to become more sustainable." In his opening blog post, Clarke partner and Harvard Loeb Fellow Brian Kuehl compared the current challenges facing the business world with the manufacturing transformation that occurred after the US' entrance into World War II: Today, America is facing a challenge of a different sort. One that we have been slow to face, believing perhaps that our involvement may not be necessary or that the cost will be too great. But once again, it is becoming clear that this threat cannot be avoided and must be confronted head-on. And once again, the American economy is being called upon to undertake a dramatic transformation to assure victory....