- 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 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, Sacramento, 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, Tel Aviv 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
...
TH to the Rescue: Blog in Times of Need
by Tim McGee, Western Massachusetts 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, Ottawa, 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, Ottawa, 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....
US Leads in New Wind Energy Developments
by Eric Kane, New York, NY on 02.15.07
According to the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC), 2006 was another banner year for new wind energy developments. In a recent report, the GWEC announced that the total amount of installed wind energy capacity increased from 59,901 megawatts (MW) in 2005 to 74,223 MW in 2006. This data includes wind energy developments in more than 70 countries around the world. In general, 2006 delivered a 32% growth in the wind energy market compared to 41% in 2005. The GWEC estimates the economic value of this additional capacity to be $23 billion. ...
100 Chairs in 100 Days
by Bonnie Alter, London on 02.15.07
Martino Gamper has been constructing a chair a day and will continue to do so until he has made one hundred of them. Over a year and a half period, he collected a stockpile of discarded, dumped, and donated chairs from the streets of London. From this collection he has recycled, re-invented and reconstructed new chairs which are a mix of all the parts. Because he has set himself the challenge of completing one a day, he is working with speed and ingenuity. He says that it is like music; completely improvisational. Since he believes that “there is no perfect chair”; he is working with the idea of a chair and creating interesting combinations. The chairs combine the legs of one, the seat of another—some are quite witty, others quite ugly. He has chosen twenty nine of these chairs to be exhibited at the Design Museum. They are shown interspersed with 30 iconic chairs from the Museum’s collection, from which he is drawing inspiration. Some pay homage to a particular designer, whilst others show new directions. :: Design Museum...
Transitional Housing by Levitt Goodman
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 02.15.07
It doesn't look like much in this picture (although I am not much of a photographer) but this mix of old brick, old reclaimed douglas fir wood and new siding is another innovative and important social housing building by Levitt Goodman Architects, known to TreeHuggers for their flying prefab and their vermicondo. It is not in the prettiest part of Toronto either, and fits right in, as it is supposed to.
The former city works yard is now a homeless shelter and transitional housing; the part of the building shown here is composed ot 20 one-room 16 foot square rooms with small bathrooms, wrapping around a large courtyard. Originally conceived as a prefab, it turned out to be more economical to build on site, as is often proving to be the case. ...
Transformer Furniture: Materassi by Matteo Thun
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 02.15.07
Matteo Thun was a co-founder of the Memphis Group with Ettore Sottsass and has designed for Alessi and Tiffany. He has also come up with this brilliant idea: a bench with a grid of sockets so that arm rests and backs can be inserted wherever you want, turning it from a bed to a conventional sofa or even a chaise longue.
" A set of furniture which places flexibility first. An innovative, patented, plug-in system for arm-rests and back-rests allows for individual design requirements. The diversity of possible combinations and coverings gives Materassi a completely personal touch.":Wittman via ::Trendir...
Australia’s Green Vehicle Guide
by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 02.15.07
Thought we’d done this one aeons ago, but it seems only in passing, when mentioning green car loans. So we’ll steal a few pixels for it now. In short the Australian government rate all new cars for their fuel consumption, greenhouse gas and air pollutant emissions. This information is displayed on a sticky label adhered to windshields of vehicles in car lots. Although instituted back in 2004, it is probably only in the the past year of volatile petrol prices that new car owners have paid much interest. Vehicles are also given star ratings, but only four currently score a whole five stars. In order, these are Toyota Prius (well, strike me down with a feather), followed by Fiat Punto, with the Citroen C3 and Mercedes-Benz A150 coming in next. The guide also points out that while diesels will perform well on fuel consumption they will drop down some in the pollution rating due to their emission of particulate matter and nitrogen oxides, not so much greenhouse gases but still detrimental to human health. On the other hand liquid petroleum gas (LPG) vehicles score better on GHGs, but not as well for consumption. And interestingly, the recent Toyota Yaris, which scores better against its heftier sibling, the Corolla, on fuel and CO2 ratings, then fares badly on air pollution. The Yaris can only manage 5/10, while the Corolla attains 8.5/10....
Bigger Water Bottles Filling Bins
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 02.15.07
If one has to drink bottled water, the most efficient way is with the big 18 litre jugs that go on water coolers and are returned and refilled. Yet the bottled water companies are moving in with monster 15 litre non-reuseable PET jugs, that get landfilled or recycled at taxpayers expense. Fernbrook Springs president Bob Elliot says "To continue to collect reusable water cooler jugs would be as inefficient and old fashioned "as the old milk delivery system of the 1950s,"
The companies say that the bottles are recyclable but they are too big. "Our mechanical sorting equipment can't deal with them," Peel Region waste management director Andrew Pollock said of Peel's $20 million recycling plant, which opened last spring, the most modern such facility in the province. "So (the eight- and 15-litre jugs) actually have to be manually picked up," he said. "They end up in the garbage."
They also fill up the blue box and the garbage truck. ::The Star and ::the Gazette...
AbilityTrek: Cycling for Landmine Amputees
by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 02.15.07
Like cycling? (and what treehugger couldn’t?) Like helping folk doing it tougher than you? (ditto) Hey, have we got a match for you. Join up with endurance cyclist and amputee Daniel Sheret, as he attempts to ride around the world raising funds and awareness for landmine and bomb survivors. Clear Path is one of the organisations he will be supporting with his journey. They ship medical equipment, orthopedic devices and surgical supplies to hospitals in mine-affected countries, such as Vietnam, Cambodia and along the Thai-Burma border. They say that "approximately every thirty minutes someone, somewhere in the world is injured or killed by an encounter with this deadly debris." [landmines and unexploded ordinance that is, not the supplies they send!] Pedalling off from the US this northern summer Dan figures he’ll need a little company as he cranks through 16,000 miles (25,750 km) and four continents, and is inviting both limbed and unlimbed riders to join him along the way. The US section will have five segments of roughly a week or twos duration. In raising assistance for amputees in need throughout the world, Dan also hopes to be the first such rider to twice cross the US continent. Find out more at ::AbilityTrek....
Wind and Solar Powered Cellphone Networks
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 02.15.07
Namibia is a big place with only two million people and not much infrastructure. They are building a cellphone system (cheaper than a wired one where there isn't much infrastructure or density) but it costs $ 8,000 per kilometre to put in grid power and it takes at least a year. Motorola and cellphone company MTC Namibia are trying out a combo solar and wind installation to roll the phones out quickly.
According to the BBC, The base station needs between 1,200 and 1,500 watts and to meet that demand the site will have a six-kilowatt turbine and four solar panels. "In Namibia the turbine and solar panels will also be running the base station with traffic on it, the peripheral communications, vsat (satellite transmitter/receiver) and even the protective fencing around the site," said Motorola's Linda Brown. The cell will serve 1,500 people living in the village as well as farming communities about 30km away.
According to the Register, Wind and solar powered stations require less maintenance than a diesel driven generator which generally requires, at a minimum, a monthly visit for refueling. Thomas Quirke, director of marketing at Motorola, said that diesel power is expensive, especially in cases where it needs to be delivered to cell sites without road access, and often gets siphoned off. "Diesel fuel supplies are heavily prone to theft. Thieves will even take diesel generators, given the chance," he said.
We can think of few better examples of how technology can improve peoples lives without damaging the environment.::BBC...
A Sweeter Truth: Making Organic Fair Trade Chocolate in Ecuador
by Leonora Oppenheim, London, UK on 02.14.07
It wouldn’t be a surprise if after reading The Bitter Truth, on TreeHugger a couple of weeks ago, you were left with a nasty taste in your mouth. Tales of child labour, unsafe working conditions and an unbreakable poverty cycle sure do lessen the enjoyment of your favourite candy bars. But this Valentine’s Day, while you are popping those heart shaped choccies into your mouth, I want to tell you about a positive side to the chocolate making industry. As I mentioned in my 2007 post I am spending the first half of this year in Ecuador working for the Kallari Association which makes organic fair trade chocolate and promotes the traditional craftwork of the Kichwa People. Kallari’s aim is to help Kichwa cacao farmers and artisans earn a sustainable income so they don’t have to resort to logging the rainforests or selling their land. While admittedly Kallari chocolate represents a tiny percentage of the huge billion dollar chocolate industry the story of how they have developed their chocolate is a fine example of sustainable farming, environmental consideration and self empowerment, which shows how local people can take control of their natural resources and use the profits to the benefit of their communities....
Videos: Lovecraft Biofuels Ads
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 02.14.07
live|work: Love The Service
by Tamara Giltsoff, United Kingdom on 02.14.07
I’ve been thinking recently about the relationship between service experience and sustainability. (Hhhhhhhhm, maybe this is an obvious one… I’ll wait to get my comments). Firstly, there’s the very powerful notion of ‘a service paradigm’ (and service innovation), which seeks to challenge our product-focused economic paradigm by delivering connected and effective service solutions to our needs in place of individual ownership of stuff. This paradigm challenges our obsession with products and, if delivered effectively, can create similar emotional and expressive power that we look for in products. I’ve written about this paradigm quite a bit in my previous posts. The pay-as-you-go car service Streetcar in the UK or Zipcar in the US is an iconic example. These car services challenge our obsession with owning a car and are establishing a new community of users. Adding to these emergent models of consumption, the service experience itself also has a powerful role to play in influencing our choices. I came across a public service trying to do this – “Oxfordtube”. My hypothesis is that if you offer and deliver a great service experience, you can lead people toward more sustainable living but making a green choice more desirable....
Building Green: Energy Efficiency and Aesthetics From The Same Materials (Part 6)
by Ted Owens, New Mexico, USA on 02.14.07
Adobe blocks are stacked in alternating directions in order to obtain a thicker wall.
As mentioned in article 1 of this series, thick walls made of a heavy material such as stone or mud help to heat and cool the interior of the home. Most of the interior walls of this home are made of adobe bricks, which are nothing more than mud that has been poured into a form and then dried in the sun. Another option would have been to have used rammed earth. This is slightly damp earth mixed with a small amount of cement (or other form of stabilizer). It is tamped into wooden or metal wall forms that vary from 18" to 24" in thickness. Once compacted, the forms are removed, and the wall is self standing and structurally strong. Pressed adobe block is made by compressing the raw earth in a mold under extreme pressure. If these materials are not appropriate or not available in your area, thermal mass walls can be constructed of stone, brick, or any other dense and heavy material. Ideally, at least 1/2 to 2/3 of the interior surfaces (floor and walls) should be thermal mass....
TreeHugger Picks: Green Your Valentine's Day
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 02.14.07
Like it or not, Valentine's Day is here, and while some TreeHugger's prefer to avoid the commercialization and media hype, we know there's a few of you out there who like to have a special day to express your love to that special someone. For the romantics, here are a few ways to green your Valentine's Day.
1) If you can't have Valentine's without chocolate, check out Global Exchange's Fair Trade Valentine's Day Activist Kit.
2) If flowers are what brings a smile to your sweetie's face, be sure they're organic and carbon neutral.
3) If food is the way to your lover's heart, have a nice organic meal at an organic or local food-serving restaurant.
4) If your plans call for gettin' busy, don't forget to green your sex life and learn more about buying green lube and sex toys before slipping between the sheets.
5) If the day calls for something different, hit up TreeHugger's Valentine Gift Guide to get more hot tips on greening your romance....
Most Huggable: The DOE Goes Solar, The Inuit go to Washington, and London’s Farmers Beat the Olympics
by Jacob Gordon, Nashville, TN on 02.14.07
The US Department of Energy finally starts walking the walk at headquarters and decides to go solar… An Inuit delegation representing communities from five nations will go to Washington to confront lawmakers about the ravages of climate change… Urban farmers near London succeed in defending their gardens from Olympic plans… BoGo, which means buy one, give one, is a solar-powered LED flashlight created to illuminate a path out of poverty… Help Tree-Nation plant a heart in Niger, Africa. Go online and choose where in the heart you’d like to have your tree planted… ...
Convenient Truths: Shoot! Only Two Weeks Left to Enter!
by Jeff McIntire-Strasburg, St. Louis, MO on 02.14.07
While most people will see February 14th on the calendar, and think "It's Valentine's Day," our first thought this morning was "There are only two weeks left until February 28th!" That's right -- in fourteen days, the entry period for Treehugger and Seventh Generation's Convenient Truths contest will be over, finished, done. Don't let your first thought on March 1st be "Oh, man -- I missed the deadline." Get out your camera and start recording the things you do to lessen your personal impact on the climate. You don't have to be a video professional to have a shot at the almost $30,000 in prizes; you do, however, have to enter. Even though we're most interested in the content of your video, we're sure there are still a few folks thinking "I don't have chance: I've never made a video," or "I don't have a video camera!" Don't worry -- no experience is required, and if you only have the video camera on your mobile phone, or even on your still digital camera, that's enough. If you don't have that, you probably know someone that does. Borrow the camera, and start shooting. If you feel like you need a few pointers, they're only a mouse click away. ...
Can Leather Be a TreeHugger-Friendly Material?
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 02.14.07
Leather, as a material, hasn't made a big splash here at TreeHugger; aside from one lonely post, we haven't given it much time. Yet, it remains a very popular material for clothing, accessories, furniture, luggage and shoes, from the runways in Milan and Paris to just about every mall in the US. So, what's the deal?
It's true: from a TreeHugger's standpoint, it's best if leather is simply avoided. Why? First of all, it's dead animal skin, which means that animal has to be raised: fed, watered, pastured, and eventually slaughtered. Most leather (about 66% of it) comes from cows, and it takes 8 acres of land, 12,000 pounds of forage, 125 gallons of gasoline & other petroleum derivatives for fertilizer, 2,500 pounds of corn, 350 pounds of soybeans, 1.2 million gallons of water & 1.5 acres of farmland (to grow the crops for feed), plus various insecticides, herbicides, antibiotics & hormones to grow one cow from an 80 pound calf to its full size, when it can be slaughtered and the hide harvested. Something like bison, on the other hand, takes less land and less water, and they're primarily pasture-raised, meaning they aren't stuck in feedlots getting fat for half their natural lives. Since they're on the pasture, and their hooves are smaller and sharper, they help till and fertilize the soil (with their waste as fertilizer), and though they require more feed per pound, they aren't picky about where the food comes from; it can be prairie grass or whatever they happen across. Regardless, the point remains: it takes a ton of resources to grow cows....
The Citizen's Band: Get on Their Mailing List
by Kyeann Sayer, Nomad on 02.14.07
Photo by Celene Ruben-Salama At last week's EDUN show, we were introduced to the Citizen's Band. The performance art collective deals with social issues through cabaret, employing original numbers and innovative interpretations. A sampling of their Chewing Up the Scenery meant beautifully staged song, dance and trapeze centered around an oil-fueled economy and global warming. We laughed, we cried, we wanted more. Believe it or not, the ditty, "Gasoline, gasoline, a cry that echoes through your dreams," stays in your head. Especially poignant was a rendition of "Where Have All the Flowers Gone"; the last song I ever expected to produce a lump in my throat did, when a mournful, darkly-dressed cast transcended any sort of 60's context, filling the house with mellifluous sorrow, and longing for a different version of this world. We advise you to find out about future performances and lobby for ones near you. ::The Citizen's Band...
Why we Hate Valentine's Day, Episode 1
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 02.14.07
Photographer Jasin Boland wrapped his new house in 4,650 square feet of paper and eighty feet of ribbon. Then he flew his fiancee to see it. By helicopter.Fiancee Maria said: "When I saw the house, I thought it was a construction area. Then I saw the hearts and was completely overwhelmed. He's just so cute."
Call me heartless, but this is in a so-called "exclusive ecofriendly Lower Mill Estate, near Cirencester, which has a £5million eco-spa purified by plants, and is home to Britain's only wild beavers." Surely they might have suggested that this is inappropriate? ::Metro via ::Splurch
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Studiomold: Recycling For Design
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 02.14.07
Designers Brendan Young and Vanessa Battaglia are some of the more effective practitioners of the "recycling without looking recycled" aesthetic that TreeHugger looks for in sustainable designs. Take the "Big Crush" standing lamps (above, at left), for example; they take plastic PET bottles, recycle and mold them, and, voilà: a sculptural lamp base. Not content to stop there with lighting, they've also conceived "Peggy Sue," a cute little number made from ubiquitous clothes pegs and a reclaimed table lamp base; just be sure to drop a CFL in there before flicking the switch. The "no8" stool also offers a clever use of reclaimed materials: the seat is a reclaimed rowing seat from Cambridge, so the design is understandably a limited edition. Perhaps the most fitting use of materials, though, is with their "mini recycled sound" and "recycled sound" speakers. The mini version uses two old records to house the speaker mechanism, with small subwoofer and amplifier attached; the "flat speaker chandelier" uses the same concept to put new meaning to "surround sound system," with a multitude of records (and speakers) that can either be configured as a stand, wall-mount or hanging system. As with life, it's always good to see recycling imitate art. ::Studiomold via ::MoCo Loco
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How to Green Your Sex Life
by Jacob Gordon, Nashville, TN on 02.14.07
What’s the Big Deal?
Whether you’re single and playing the field, settled down with that special someone, or someplace in between, most of us consider good, satisfying, sexy sex an important part of this complete breakfast. It might not be the first thing we think of while working towards a sustainable and graceful life on this fragile planet, but there’s a lot we can do to make our sex lives greener. In the process of greening the ecological footprint of our love making, we might also open up some new doors to deeper pleasure, satisfaction, and romantic connection.Organic Cake Made for Two
by Kara DiCamillo, Newport, Rhode Island on 02.14.07
We love these little cakes, handmade by Sarah Magid in Brooklyn, NY. Each is made using organic ingredients, local fruits and herbs and “with lots of love for things sweet.” This little cake made for two, called Chocolate Love Blossom” is a perfect addition to your special Valentine’s Day dinner and will surely end the evening on a special note. Of course, you don’t have to use today as an excuse to celebrate. Custom cakes can be ordered and delivered at any time. Via ::Domino ::Sarah Magid...
A Multi-Fuel Stove: It Burns Corn, Wood Pellets, Cherry Pits
by Justin Thomas, Virginia on 02.14.07
Most biomass burning stoves relegate themselves to particular types of fuel — for example, a stove that burns corn, will refuse to burn wood pellets correctly. There is, however, a stove called the Countryside Multi-Fuel Stove by Magnum that will burn shelled corn, wood pellets, cherry pits, olive pits, waste paper pellets, and a host of other fuels. This flexibility means you are not tied to a particular fuel for you heating needs. If the orchard down the road has a sale on cherry pits, you are set for the winter. The Countryside stoves come with a "firepot" so that the ashes drop into the ash drawer below the stove. They are available as free-standing stoves and fireplace inserts. See also another multi-fuel stove: the Bixby. :: Magnum Heat...
Author, Tim Flannery, at War with Climate Change
by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 02.14.07
Australian of the Year, Tim Flannery, has, according to news report come out saying that if we saw climate change as do with the urgency of a war we’d be mobilising our forces with more speed. In fact in the story he suggests that if we don’t act now the rising sea levels will displace millions of people, increasing the potential for armed conflict. Addressing union conference, the author of best selling book, The Weather Makers, which we reviewed here, is quoted as saying, "The priorities are: secure our energy sector, to move as rapidly as possible to low emissions technology and that means getting on a war footing," he said. "Economists might tell you in conventional times that might take 20 years but when there's a war on you get it done in a few years so we need to move as quickly as we can." See The Weather Makers website for more of Tim’s views. You’ll also come across the companion book for young adults, known as We Are The Weather Makers. Via ::ABC Online....
charity: water. Give Clean Drinking Water Valentine's Day
by Kyeann Sayer, Nomad on 02.14.07
At Sundance, charity: water raised $23,200, "Enough for 6 wells in Ethiopia, or 15 wells in Liberia." Today they're bringing on an e-greeting donation challenge:
We're offering $20 charity: water Valentine's Day cards until 7 p.m eastern time. You've donated enough e-cards to build almost 2 wells in Ethiopia so far! We'd like to keep it going, and fund 4 by the end of the day. Four wells, four villages, 4000+ people drinking clean and safe water.Find out more about charity: water here, and send a little liquid love here. If you'd like to see red, learn about the true cost of bottled water. Then cool down with tips on how to green yours. ::charity: water...
EDUN: Intriguing. But How Green? How Fair?
by Kyeann Sayer, Nomad on 02.14.07
The Citizen's Band at The Box, February 4, 2007. Photo by Celene Ruben-Salama Over the last week you've likely seen photos of darkly clad crooners along with headlines about "Green fashion" and "Fashion getting its conscience" and "Indie film stars" modeling EDUN's fall line. While on one level this seems like eco-fashion wet dream territory, much of the coverage has lacked details. And although the performance art collective Citizen's Band show provided my most substantive and enjoyable Fashion Week experience, when it comes to the clothes they wore throughout, I'm left wondering who made them and which are organic. Not what we expect from the highest profile "fair" and eco brand, right? EDUN, we want to love you. Help us....
THTV: How to Buy Green Lube
by George Spyros, New York City, USA on 02.14.07
Finisterre: Making Tracks in the Green Wave
by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 02.14.07
Sustainability, air miles and recycling. Not the usual topics for a surfwear designer to mouthing off about. But come 2nd of March, in Pool, Cornwall, that’s just what will be discussed by Tom Podkolinski, design director at Finisterre. A company with a strong environmental ethic, Finisterre have announced that they are working to make their entire product line recycled/recyclable. It’s not a big line at this time, just six pieces per gender, but that’s the way they like it, “we only make product that you really need.” Garments not so much for actual wave riding but to make such performance clothing 'green', but Finisterre are on to this. “The reality is that we cannot exist without some environmental impact, but our aim is to minimise this impact as much as possible. As long as our actions speak louder than words, we get closer to what it is that we believe in.” Those actions include a program they tag Offset the PLC. (Not public limited company, as you might expect from a British business, but product life cycle). Basically they analysis the life of the garment from raw materials to its end of life, and find where the products leave the biggest environment footprints. Then they track down enviro groups working on those particular aspects and donate to them a portion of the products retail price to help ‘em up the good work. ...
All You Need is Love
by Bonnie Alter, London on 02.14.07
Here's an inspirational message for all Treehuggers, friends and family. Even though it's not red and heart-shaped, it could be a meaningful Valentine's Day present--just verging on the commercial side.... It's a pure wool pillow, with Life woven on one side and Love on the other. And it comes in green. To add to the perfection of this item, all the profits go to UNICEF--to their fund for children infected with HIV. Give yourself a treat, or someone who loves life, along with the obligatory box of chocolates. Those from Chocaid also help support children: with a segment (!) going to support nutritional programmes for them in Ethiopia and Bangladesh, through the Save the Children's Fund. :: Daily Candy...
Greenwash Watch: GE Ecomagining Weaker Smog Controls for Locomotives
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 02.14.07
We recently covered GE's new ads featuring Kevin Kline touting, among other things, GE's new Evolution diesel locomotive. We even suggested that they "demonstrate real progress." Alas, perhaps they only demonstrate real hype. We learn from the Wall Street Journal that GE has been fighting the Environmental Protection Agency to weaken proposed standards for soot and nitrogen oxides, that the so-called "green" Evolution engine is designed to meet less stringent 1997 regulations and its only green attribute is that it is more fuel-efficient. We were also surprised to learn that under those standards a locomotive emits as much pollution as 500 diesel trucks.
Frank O'Donnell, president of Clean Air Watch, an environmental group in Washington, says: "It is the height of hypocrisy for GE to be spending money advertising so-called green locomotives while lobbying behind closed doors against important standards needed to protect our health from train emissions."
GE says its marketing is appropriate because the Evolution meets current standards and is more fuel-efficient than older models, and that the new standard requires "significantly high-risk technology breakthroughs." The competition and the engine makers association disagree: "Nobody likes to be regulated, but members in this marketplace are very progressive companies, and they realize that there's more that they can do to reduce emissions from their products." ::Wall Street Journal
thanks, Linton at Hugg!
UPDATE: GE says Wall Street Journal " report is a complete mischaracterization and has no merit."
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Feeling Better About Birds Bats & Offshore Wind
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 02.14.07
A Danish study Lloyd posted about in 2005 has been updated, and the findings are positive. An infrared collision-detection system developed by Denmark's National Environmental Research Institute has documented that birds are not at serious risk from the blades of offshore wind turbines. Per the full article in the MIT Technology Review, the “Thermal Animal Detection System (TADS) is essentially a heat-activated infrared video camera that watches a wind turbine around the clock, recording deadly collisions much as a security camera captures crimes. The first results, released this winter as part of a comprehensive $15 million study of Denmark's large offshore wind farms, show seabirds to be remarkably adept at avoiding offshore installations”...”The Danish findings are also resonating across the Atlantic, casting doubt on worst-case scenarios presented by Cape Wind's opponents”. ...
Metropolitan Martini: Late Entry to Waste of Packaging Contest
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 02.14.07
If you are enjoying a martini this holiday, make it from scratch. In case the Hardy Shuttle winebottle with integral glass was not extravagant enough, we present the Metropolitan Martini: two disposable acrylic martini glasses filled with martinis, of course packed in another cylinder of plastic. Eleven bucks gets you two martinis in various flavours that did not test well- the apple martini reminded one reviewer of a Jolly Rancher, and "Then, there was the chocolate. That was a disaster. It tastes like cheap diluted cocoa powder washed down with bad vodka, and I ended up dumping it after the first couple sips." The two stacked glasses are too tall for the fridge, and the glass? "Most martini glasses measure maybe 1 or 2mm at most in thickness, but this one is more than twice that size. Why? Is the structural integrity of a disposable glass so important as to sacrifice the quality of drinking out of it? Before you know it, you have vodka martini dribbling out of your mouth, because of the thickness of the glass."
So five and a half bucks gets you a lousy martini in a dribble glass and creates a pound of garbage. ::Metropolitan Martini via ::Trendhunter
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Ecolimo: Green Luxury
by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 02.14.07
Wanna impress your environmentally attuned hottie on some romantic evening? Gee, tonight maybe. Well, if you live in Melbourne, Australia, you might choose to book an Ecolimo. The company is touting themselves as Australia's first environmentally friendly Limousine company, and don’t expect they have been stampeded by many others arguing the toss to this claim. So how does a limo get to be ‘eco’? In this case it’s not long and white, simply silver and expensive: a fleet of the Lexus GS450h. This hybrid is a 3.5-litre V6, with two electric motors providing 147kW. Fuel economy is listed as 7.9 litres/100km which allowed it to pick up a 4.5 start rating from the Australian Government’s Green Vehicle Guide. Launched in December last year the company reckon they will compete well with other hire car companies not so enviro-minded ($55 AUD from City CBD to the Airport). Reminds one of the classic song “Green Limousine” by Aussie band, the Badloves, which begins with the words: Listen to the sound of the revolution .... ::Ecolimo, via Environmental Jobs, of all places....
Zero-Energy Condo Wins Equilibrium Competition
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 02.14.07
Canada's CMHC has announced one of the winners of the EQuilibrium sustainable housing competition to develop a zero energy house design: Abondance Montréal, a consortium including some of the most experienced developers and architects of low energy housing. We think it a good choice:
-it is a triplex built in the traditional Montreal walk-up form. (We have never understood why a City with so much snow loves these big exterior staircases but they do);
-Energy is generated through the use of geoexchange, solar electric (photovoltaic) and solar hot water technologies. (It is cold in Montreal, but they have designed it to produce as much energy as it consumes.) The building uses the latest in energy efficient building design, while ensuring that components are all readily available from local suppliers.
-More than just energy efficient, the homes will also be water and material efficient, and be finished using only healthy, ecological materials.
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Local Fuels: Jaguar Runs on Rotting Apples
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 02.14.07
We have noted how in rural America, ethanol is rapidly becoming a "local fuel". In rural Britain, Somerset farmer Henry Hobhouse is taking half his apple crop (400 tons), putting it in two tanks with some bacteria from cow's intenstines, and making methane gas, which he uses to power his three litre Jaguar XJ-6, as well as make hot water and electricity for five houses on his property.
Hobhouse said: "I'm an anorak on green issues. We've got to be taking responsibility for our own actions on a local level."
"There are sound political and environmental reasons to give more backing for schemes like this," Hobhouse said, "After all, Russia could cut off our fuel by flicking the switch off any time it likes." ::Globe and Mail...
Seven Deadly Sins Survey: Lust
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 02.14.07
Some people think Valentines Day is like most holidays, a commercial cash grab, and that the only true holiday is Buy Nothing Day. Others get all sappy and romantic and probably cry at dog food commercials, and go all out on flowers and presents. Some may even find it to be the sexiest day of the year. What position do you take? With a little help from Be my Anti-Valentine.....
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Convenient Truths: Feeling Blue About Climate Change?
by Jessica Root - Brooklyn, NY on 02.13.07
The Footprint of Flowers: Carbon and Social
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 02.13.07
UK minister if International Development Hilary Benn is asking consumers to buy flowers flown in from Kenya, rather than European hothouse flowers.
"People want to buy ethically and do their bit for climate change, but often don't realise that they can support developing countries and reduce carbon emissions. Recent research shows that flowers flown from Africa can use less energy overall than those produced in Europe because they're not grown in heated greenhouses. So, this Valentine's day, you can be a romantic, reduce your environmental impact and help make poverty history. This is about social justice and making it easier, not harder, for African people to make a decent living."
Mr Benn said: "Climate change is hugely important to the future of developed and developing countries but if we boycott goods flown from Africa we deny the poor the chance to grow; their chance to educate their children and stay healthy."
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Sneak Peek: The TreeHugger Green Index
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 02.13.07
Today we are happy to preview the brand new TreeHugger Green Index! In partnership with the Daylife people (who we've written about here), we've created the first "green index". It works a bit like a stock market index, except that instead of tracking stocks, it tracks mentions of certain key green phrases in the media. It's a way to gauge how much mindshare certain concepts have and see if they are gaining or losing ground compared to last week. Not very scientific, but lots of fun! After the jump you can see a live version of the TreeHugger Green Index....
All Things Biodiesel: A New Site from the National Biodiesel Board
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 02.13.07
We keep a fairly close eye on biodiesel, with posts ranging from finding it while driving to using it to heat your home to making it yourself, but if you crave more, we recommend checking out All Things Biodiesel, a new site set up by the National Biodiesel Board (NBB) and unveiled recently at the National Biodiesel Conference. Intended to be the world's largest biodiesel marketplace, the site includes a variety of services including online biodiesel classifieds, where you can buy or sell cars, brewing equipment and real estate, the biodiesel store, which offers products for biodiesel retailers and consumers alike, and a biodiesel directory, which features resources from associations/organizations to utilties (and lots in between). The site is still young (just about a week old), so there are still some blanks to be filled in -- the classifieds don't have any business products or facilities just yet, for example -- but it looks like a good start. The site looks less concerned with the science and more concerned with the business and consumer end of the burgeoning fuel's market; it's suited to those who already know what transesterification is and want to take action rather than get educated. Says Doug Whitehead, NBB project manager, "AllThingsBiodiesel.com is for companies who want to get the word out on their product on a large scale, to companies who need to know where to turn for services and products helping their biodiesel business, to consumers wanting to make biodiesel-related purchases." Though it isn't there yet, with a little time, the site has the potential to become a valuable and useful resource for all things biodiesel. ::All Things Biodiesel via ::AutoblogGreen...
New Cold Cathode Bulbs Can Be Dimmed, Switched
by Justin Thomas, Virginia on 02.13.07
Until recently, cold cathodes lights were only used in recess lighting and niche applications. But now conventionally-sized bulbs are becoming available. So what is a cold cathode? In most fluorescent bulbs, a cathode is heated to produce light, but with cold cathodes the cathode operates at the ambient room temperature (see tech details here). The bulbs offer several advantages: they have a very long lamp life, they're dimmable, and they can used in situations where the bulb is turned off and on frequently (even in flashing signs). The online store 1000 Bulbs sells 8 Watt bulbs that produce 320 lumens. They are "wet rated", meaning they can be exposed to the elements, and they are able to be used on a dimming circuit. Bulbman and 1000 Bulbs also sell a range of cold cathodes....
Break-up Of Antarctic Ice May Expose Marine Life To More Sunlight, Alter Food Chain
by Jasmin Malik Chua, Jersey City, USA on 02.13.07
Breaking up is hard to do, y'all, especially when you're part of a rich ecosystem of plant and animals that thrive under the frozen surface of the Antarctic sea. Evidence shows that ice plays a major role in the marine ecology by reducing light penetration to the waters beneath. So what happens when global warming plays the fifth wheel and starts melting the ice?
Two marine ecologists from the University of New South Wales, Emma Johnston and Graeme Clark, have been working with the Australian Antarctic Division to survey marine communities along the striking coast of Wilkes Land in east Antarctica....
BugE Electric Three-Wheeler
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 02.13.07
Here at TreeHugger, we've seen our fair share of enclosed recumbent bikes (known by some as velomobiles) and electric three-wheeled scooters, but never in the same package...until now. The BugE is an all-electric, three-wheeled, single-person ride with a head-turning, rocketship-esque design. Despite the futuristic looks, it offers performance fairly common to other smallish EVs available today, with 30-40 mile range and 50 mph top speed using lead acid batteries. The range is dependent on the speed (20 miles at 40 mph, 30 miles at 30 mph, 40 miles at 20 mph) and can go 25 miles on the energy it takes to run a dishwasher for one load, which works out to about 1 penny per mile. The open sides may hinder its ability to be a four-season vehicle, but it appears to offer better protection than a conventional bike or scooter; check out a video of it in action here. The designer, Mark Murphy, is still putting it through its paces, but his goal is to sell the BugE as a kit for about $3,000 or fully assembled for about $4,000. ::BugE via ::AutoblogGreen...
Ask TreeHugger: Are Paraffin Heaters Dangerous?
by Helen Suh MacIntosh, Cambridge, MA, USA on 02.13.07
Question:This is a brilliant idea from Treehugger. Thank you. And now that I think about it, I have one question. I have a passive solar house that gets most of its winter heat from the sun. I have a backup woodburning masonry stove that provides heat to my living room, kitchen, dining room open space. But my bedrooms do not yet have backup heating from a renewable heating source. So for the meantime I use a small portable paraffin heater in my master bedroom-bathroom. In the cloudiest two months of the cold season (basically the rainy months) I have to use this heater most evenings for at least a few hours. I usually turn it off at midnight or so. Some days I have to leave it on all day (but not during the night). My house is fairly well ventilated. My wife and I wonder what kind of pollutants these heaters give off and how much we have to worry about it. Could you give me some advice? Thank you.
Response: Portable paraffin (often called kerosene) heaters have been used for a long time to heat indoor spaces. Paraffin heaters produce heat by burning fuel (in this case paraffin or kerosene). Since they do not require electricity, many people find them to be an attractive supplemental heating method. ...
U.S. Campus Construction Must Follow LEED Standards
by Kenny Luna, North Babylon, NY on 02.13.07
It would seem that change is sweeping the field of design in education. Not only are Architecture 2030 and the NY Academy of Sciences collaborating on a teach-in to further the cause of including green design into college curricula across the continent, but there’s news that in an effort to address climate change the Association for the Advancement of Sustainabliity in Higher Education (AASHE) has passed a new policy for green campus construction, stipulating that all new U.S. campus construction must be built in accordance with the U.S. Green Building Council’s (USGBC) Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Silver Standard. As president and CEO of USGBC Rick Fedrizzi puts it, “Not only are green schools and campuses good for the environment, they are also good for the students and faculty who inhabit the building,” and he goes on to say that “It is a momentous step for America’s higher education community, a $300 billion industry, to recognize its impact on the environment, and make a public commitment to addressing climate change.” ...
The Climate's Changing at Business Schools
by Jeff McIntire-Strasburg, St. Louis, MO on 02.13.07
We've looked into a number of MBA programs around the US that focus on sustainable business -- shoot, we've even hired a couple of their graduates! But a greener business education may no longer require attending one of the specialized programs, as MBA programs around the world are now incorporating courses on sustainability and corporate social responsibility into their curricula: 54% of these schools now require such courses. While some will surely argue that this only adds to the evidence of academia's liberal bent, professors and administrators of these programs make a much more pragmatic argument: environmental challenges, particularly climate change, create business challenges and opportunities, and their students must be aware of both. A newly-created course at MIT's Sloan School of Management is founded on just this perception:...
Carbonfund.org Partners with Flowerpetal.com for Valentine’s Day
by Kara DiCamillo, Newport, Rhode Island on 02.13.07
For all of you planning to buy flowers this Valentine’s Day for your sweetie we’d like you to think of an alternative before going to your local florist. According to the Society of American Florists upwards of 85% and as high as 98% of the most common fresh cut flowers, roses, carnations, chrysanthemums, etc., are imported mostly from South America. Afterwards, the flowers are delivered by truck or van from the florist to the customers’ home or office. Flowerpetal.com, a leading online flower retailer, has recognized these actions and is taking steps to offset not only its operations but also the shipping involved in delivering flowers to its customers. By working with Carbonfund.org and using their Carbonfree Shipping application, Flowerpetal.com was able to calculate the impact of shipment and delivery of flowers. Carbonfund.org then helped Flowerpetal.com offset the resulting CO2. Flowerpetal.com has taken other steps to educate on climate change, including encouraging its employees to utilize public transit, but the shipping of flowers was always their biggest challenge. The partnership with Carbonfund.org will continue through Valentine’s Day so keep them in mind for the future as well. For more Valentine’s Day gift ideas, visit our Gift Guide. ::Carbonfund.org ::Flowerpetal.com...
No Child Left Inside: Economist on National Parks
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 02.13.07
Ansel Adams: El Capitan and Half Dome, Yosemite National Park, CA
One would think that with growing environmental awareness and the rise of the green movement, TreeHuggers everywhere would be flocking to national parks. In fact, over the last ten years attendance at Yosemite has dropped 17%, Death Valley at 28%, and camping and back-country trips are down 24% overall. The Economist says " The importance of this decline can hardly be over-estimated for big environmental organisations such as the Sierra Club: they have depended on what one expert calls “a transcendent experience in nature”, usually in childhood, to gain new members and thus remain powerful lobbyists for environmental causes."
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Do Carbon Emissions from a Coal Mine Have Significant Environmental Impacts?
by Stephen Filler, Tarrytown, New York on 02.13.07
What kind of question is that? Isn't the public finally convinced that anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions are causing global warming and coal is one of the biggest culprits? Unfortunately, the legal system has still not resolved this issue -- proving Dickens' point that the "law's an ass," and a particularly stubborn one at that.
One of our most venerable environmental statutes, the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), requires that the federal government assess and publicly disclose the environmental impact of its actions. If the impact might be significant, the government must investigate, respond to public comments and compare alternatives. Many states, and other countries, have similar laws.
U.S courts have been mixed on whether, and to what extent, greenhouse gas emissions must be considered in the assessment. A court in Austrialia, however, recently ruled that the impact that large projects have on global warming -- such as the coal mine planned for Anvil Hill (viewed above) -- must be considered. ...
2010 Imperative: Changing Design Schools
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 02.13.07
Ed Mazria, at architecture2030 said "in our professional architecture and planning schools, we should require the establishment of a mandatory, full-year, innovative, studio-based program which promotes creative problem-solving relevant to climate change." Now he has pushed the schedule forward: Next Tuesday, he has organized the 2010 Imperative. He notes that "To successfully impact global warming and world resource depletion, it is imperative that ecological literacy become a central tenet of design education. Yet today, the interdependent relationship between ecology and design is virtually absent in many professional curricula."
Speakers at this three and a half hour virtual teach-in include Dr. James Hansen of NASA, Edward Mazria of Architecture2030, Chris Luebkeman of Arup, and Susan Szenasy of Metropolis. Over 500,000 students and professionals have signed up already and schools are being encouraged to cancel or move conflicting classes. We will be watching! ::2010Imperative.
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Aeroalcool: Flying on Sugar Cane
by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 02.13.07
Maybe not as exotic as the possibility of avgas made from saltwater plants, but promising nevertheless. Especially as it already works and has existing air miles to its credit. Aeroalcool of Brazil are in the throes of seeking certification for conversion of aircraft engines to run on the same bagasse (sugar cane waste) derived ethanol that drives the country’s flex-fuel cars. Their first customer seems to have been fellow Brazilian, the aircraft manufacturer Embraer, who have been selling their propeller based Ipanema cropduster with the engine (pic above). Pier and Cessna conversions are also being considered. Once converted it seems that a 20% power boost can be realised, and with minor adjustments the engine can still also use regular aviation petroleum, should ethanol not be available. As noted in our much loved thread on biodiesel airplanes, (where a savvy reader does mention these Brazilian aircraft) Biodiesel suffers from freezing problems at high altitude, but Aeroalcool reckon their engines allow ethanol to operate hassle free up to 20,000 feet (6,000 m), well, in tropical and subtropical regions anyhow. ...
EcoSexuals: The Second Coming
by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 02.13.07
Thinking of celebrating Valentines Day by curling up on a lonesome sofa and drowning your singledom sorrows in a tub of organic ice cream, while watching some old DVD? Fear not, the EcoSexual cupid flies again! Last month we referenced the San Francisco Magazine’s take on the mating rituals of TreeHuggers in the urban wilds. This month Lloyd advises us that Now Toronto has taken up the baton. Nothing much new in the article, other than suggesting you might consider hanging out at enviro orgs, bicycle clubs or attending green drinks. But they did have few more online dating sites for those of a green or vegetarian leaning that we hadn’t previously noted. Consider casting a line in at Veggie Fishing, or joining up with Veggie Connection. Feel your pulse rate increase over at Green Passions (Now Toronto have the wrong link!), or kiss pesticide-free lips with a date from Love’s Organic. And finally there is Green Friends, though we wonder how active this site is, when one subscriber writes, “I have tried this site for several months and haven't had any real communication with others. ... Has anyone actually 'met' or became 'friends' with other member?” We hope she doesn’t have to finish that tub of Cherry Nirvana all by herself tomorrow night. ::Now Toronto....
Design Your Own Kleenex Box Photo Frame
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 02.13.07
Via USA Today , Kimberly Clark Corporation has a website where you can upload your photos and purchase oval-shaped Kleenex boxes with the images printed on the sides. First analogous object that comes to mind? Those Grecian urns with the erotically posed human figures dancing around the edge. The more innovative we get, the more things stay the same. USA reports:- “… the brand is embracing personalized products. In a world where consumers can customize their Nike shoes, M&M candies and even their Heinz ketchup labels, the Kleenex box is jumping into the fray” Cost is $4.99 plus shipping. Per company policy, no hate messages, violence, nudity or unapproved company trademarks. So much for my Grecian urn idea. Before you jump to a comment, please qave a look at our questions, pros, and cons list, below the fold....
Rescue Me!
by Bonnie Alter, London on 02.13.07
Pity the poor sheep: they are sent to slaughter for being male, missing a pregnancy, being a little lame, being too small, being too old or having imperfections in their fleece. But not all of them: the founders of Izzy Lane, a new British brand of clothing, rescue these sheep by buying them and letting them live happily everafter in their Sheep Sanctuary. In 2006 they saved 400 lucky sheep. Combining their passion for animals, great clothes and Britain, these confirmed vegetarians have created a line of knitwear made of the wool from their flock of Shetland and Wensleydale rescued sheep. The clothes are very classic and traditional in style, yet still modern looking. The kind of basics that one can wear forever. This includes cashmere sweaters, with the yarn coming from flocks of goats in Scotland. Shetland skirts and suits are made from their flock of 250 Shetland sheep. Some of the knitwear is made from the wool of Wensleydale sheep, an endangered breed, with only about 1800 left in the world. They have 250, most of which were destined for the meat markets before they saved them. The clothing is made locally by neighbouring craftsmen--the last of worsted spinners and dyers in the Bradford area. The cloth is woven at an ancient mill in Selkirk using Victorian machinery that has been operating for over a hundred years. In an Izzy Lane garment, the full provenance, from the fleece through the whole manufacturing process to the garment itself, is known. :: Izzy Lane...
Swellhouse by Jennifer Siegel Built in Venice
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 02.13.07
We lovingly devote a lot of pixels to Jennifer Siegel and the Office of Mobile Design; while others talk prefab she builds showhouses and sustainable portables and Seatrain houses out of containers. Now she has completed a Swellhouse in Venice, California, covered by Inhabitat.
The three bedroom, 1882 square foot main house "combines earth-friendly technologies with cost-effective prefabrication methods. Using a panelized system of parts, the Swellhouse streamlines the building process and reduces site waste associated with tradtional construction." ...
Let's Not Blow This
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 02.13.07
Pols talk up a storm about horrors of global warming but bypass doables like paying farmers to erect windmills.
Photo credit: EverySpoon @ flickr
Wayne Roberts has been involved in the environmental movement for a long time, writing at Toronto's Now Magazine since it started in 1981; we have learned much from him. This week he writes an important overview of the current eco efforts, to take advantage of the reawakened public interest in things green. He says "There’s still time to avoid the mistakes of past eco efforts that left our habitat in worse shape than before"
He reviews past failures: The first wave of environmentalism from the 1880's to the 20's; the sixties and seventies Rachel Carson/ Barry Commoner era; the eighties and nineties of acid rain and ozone.
He then suggests four points to deal with the current wave.
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Gold in the Scottish Highlands? The Bog Myrtle Sustainable Agriculture
by Tim McGee, Western Massachusetts on 02.13.07
The trouble with plants is they don't move. A plant can't avoid predators, go indoors at night, or look for food. They are rooted to the spot. To compensate for this noticeable lack of mobility, plants have evolved an arsenal of tricks to survive and profit from their local environment. One of these tricks is producing chemicals and oils that have biological activity as poisons, intoxicants, or even pheromones. Throughout human history anyone could tell you which local plants could help with a toothache, or settle your stomach. Today, we harness the power of plants from across the world- from a morning coffee (Coffea arabica) grown in Ethiopia, to the cancer fighting drug Paclitaxel (Taxus brevifolia) harvested in Washington State. Scotland hasn't forgotten the old wisdom of looking locally for sustainable solutions- and what they found is potential gold in the bogs of Scotland- the Bog Myrtle (Myrica gale). But natural products come with a warning -plants don't always fight fair....
Top 25 Ways to Bring Home a Green Paycheck
by Mairi Beautyman, Berlin, Germany on 02.13.07
So you are rearing to get yourself a green job, what's out there? CareerBuilder , says Hugg, has a list of the top 25 green jobs and how much each pays. For the big bucks: Suit yourself up as a Toxicologist (6), Economist (12), or Landscape Architect (17), and you could make over $70,000 a year. At the low end? As a camp counselor (10), you'd make around $19,000 annually, and as a pest control technician, around $30,000. The latter, in particular, reminds us that clearly, research is necessary to determine if your new job is actually green. For more green jobs, check out the TreeHugger Job Board. CareerBuilder's complete list is below:...
Seven Deadly Sins Survey: Greed
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 02.13.07
Humphrey Bogart in Key Largo asking Johnny Rocco: what is it you want? Rocco wants..."More. Thats right, More! "
Could this be the deadliest Treehugger sin? While the questions are similar to our earlier envy post, we found a definition with three forms of greed:
1) an obsessive desire for ever more material goods and the attendant power.
2) a fearful need to store up surplus goods for a vaguely defined time of want.
3) a desire for more earthly goods for their own sake.
While point two might be reasonable in the face of a Y2K, TreeHugger always promotes living with less, unless it is solar powered or made of bamboo. We promote Product Service Systems, the antithesis of ownership. Others would say that our economy and culture runs on shopping, that if everyone had this attitude we would have no economy. How greedy are you?......
Seen in New York: Clean Air Hybrid Electric Bus
by Celine Ruben-Salama, New York, NY on 02.13.07
The New York City Bus system uses over 1,280 buses and is considered the ninth largest transit bus fleet in North America. Its impact is significant. Although the City of New York owns most of the buses, seven private bus operators provide the service. The bus system carries over 114 million people annually. In the year 2000 the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, or the MTA as it is more commonly known - started the Clean Fuel Bus Program, which is envisaged to give New York the world's cleanest bus fleet.
Designed to give cost-effective emissions reductions as quickly as possible, the Clean Fuel Bus Program is an initiative of the local government in an explicit attempt to set an example of environmental standards. It takes a mostly technological approach, aiming to replace or retrofit the existing diesel bus fleet with cleaner technologies. The initiative goes voluntarily beyond mandatory emission control standards. To achieve these goals Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses are used as well as hybrid buses, and clean diesel technologies....
[re]design Show at Bluebird
by Petz Scholtus, Barcelona, Spain on 02.13.07
After Good & Gorgeous? in September, [re]design just opened their latest exhibition at Bluebird, one of the Conran restaurants in Chelsea, London. [Re]design is a not for profit organisation that ‘supports designers who don’t want to make landfill and encourages consumers to engage in the stories behind the products they invite into their homes’. Seventeen designers are each showing one of their sustainable contemporary designs. Whether elegant, humorous or ingenious, it’s all engaging, thoughtful and innovative stuff that you are even encouraged to interact with. In this exhibition, you are invited to touch and use some of the objects displayed throughout the Bluebird complex, often where you least expect them - even in the gents. Objects to look out for are a cinema chair made from reclaimed cinema seats by Guy Arzi, lights made from crushed plastic bottles by Studiomold, cushion cubes made from organic hemp by Pieces of You and a surprisingly comfy sofa made from retired Euro bins by Wemake. Toby Hadden’s Lattice Lampshade you can bake yourself, the beautiful Cascade and Flowerfall by Michelle Brand and Giles Miller’s amazingly length-adaptable Ex-Box Bench made from recycled cardboard are only a few more of the sustainable designs you can get your hands on at Bluebird. All designs are available to buy directly from the designers. The exhibition is on until March 26th. ::Bluebird ::[re]design
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Green Electricity: Net Metering in Canada
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 02.12.07
The dream of many treehuggers is to produce their own power, but not any kind of power: Clean, renewable energy. Some prefer going off-grid and being 100% self-sufficient while others would rather keep a grid connection and avoid having to buy expensive batteries (or buy less of them and use them during emergencies only). Unfortunately, net metering - the ability for your power utility to accept your surplus energy and make your meter "turn backwards" to credit your production - is not available everywhere yet. The best way to find out is to ask your utility, but for Canadians we have found this convenient little guide that shows where it is available and where it is planned. Here are a few stores that sell the equipment needed to generate clean power: the Alternative Energy Store, the Affordable Solar Store, Energy Alternatives ltd, Real Goods: Solar Living and this solar store that we so poetically described. See also: ::How to Go Green: Electricity...
Clean Up During Return Shopping Carts to the Supermarket Month
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 02.12.07
While other sites are promoting today as Darwin Day, we feel it important to point out also that the US Census Bureau says that February is Return Shopping Carts to the Supermarket Month.. Evidently nearly 2 million shopping carts are stolen each year, and the environmental impact is huge. Cart Month was the idea of Anthony Dinolfo, a grocery store owner whose carts had turned up just about everywhere imaginable. As he watched the 1969 historic event of Neil Armstrong walking on the moon, he had amusing thought. “I said I wouldn’t be surprised if he found a shopping cart in one of the craters,” Dinolfo told the Chicago Sun-Times. So in honour of the occasion, pull a cart out of the ditch. ...
Savvy Vegetarian Hosts Carnival of the Green
by Kara DiCamillo, Newport, Rhode Island on 02.12.07
This week is Carnival of the Green #64 and it's being hosted by Savvy Vegetarian. Head on over to the Carnival to check out a round up of last weeks 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....
Video: Max Carcas of Ocean Power Delivery
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 02.12.07
We've written about Google Talks before (see Google TechTalks: Climate Change, Carbon Trading and Biofuels) and how they are a good way to hear speakers talk about a variety of topics, including environment-related ones. Today we want to highlight this Google Talk by Max Carcas of Ocean Power Delivery (the company was formed in 1998 and is based in Edinburgh, Scotland) about how we can harness the ocean's waves to create clean energy. The talk is a bit technical and long, and the presentation is not very exciting, but if you can get passed that, the content is very interesting. If Mr. Carcas or anyone at Ocean Power Delivery is reading this, we'd love for you to make a shorter and more "viewer-friendly" version of this talk. We'd definitely show it on TreeHugger, wave power deserves a bigger share of the spotlight.
For those who still doubt the potential of wave energy: "The World Energy Council has estimated the ‘useful’ global ocean wave energy resource as ... >2TW (17,500TWh/year). From this it has been estimated (Thorpe 1999) that the practical economic contribution from wave energy converters could be 2,000TWh/year (similar to current installed nuclear or hydroelectric generation capacity). Such generating capacity could result in up to 2 billion tonnes of CO2 emissions being displaced from fossil fuel generation per year - similar to current emissions from electricity generation in the US." Max Carcas also says (we're paraphrasing): If you take a square meter on the ground, with solar, you have around 100 watts of energy. A square meter in the air, with wind you may have a thousand watts. But off the coasts of Europe and North-America, you have energy densities of 20,000 to 70,000 watts per square meter of ocean. You can watch the video here....
OCAD Students Need Your Help
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 02.12.07
[This is a guest-post by Matthew Gubernat, a student at the Ontario College of Art & Design. -Ed] It's customary at the beginning of every school year for first year students to be given an introductory package. This is full of what we essentially see as garbage. Stacks of wasted paper granting grease cooked fast food and over packaged sampler packs. This is no different at OCAD (the Ontario College of Art & Design.) And although our professors constantly preach sustainability to students, the school has yet to set a good example to follow.
As current students of the college, we are re-designing this welcome package, in hopes to create something that is not only beneficiary to the students but also to the environment. If we can make this package both an introduction to the school and to an eco-friendly way of life we might be able to create environmentally and socially conscious artists and designers. We however can only change the exterior of the package ourselves and need the support of "green" companies to help fill it. If you have any ideas or contributions you can email us at ocadcarepackage at gmail dot com. We want to make OCAD a leader in sustainability and set an example for other students and schools to follow. ...
Air Pollution Brakes Wind: Study Finds Aerosols Hamper Turbines and Reduce Rain
by Jacob Gordon, Nashville, TN on 02.12.07
We know what burning fossil fuels does to warm the planet, but now research is showing that air pollution is actually slowing down wind speeds, hampering the effectiveness of wind farms themselves. A recent study from Stanford has shown how aerosol particles in the air slow the speed of surface winds (as much as 8% in California), reducing the power-generation potential of wind turbines. What’s more, these particles block sunshine and lead to reduced evaporation (meaning less precipitation) and also interfere with clouds’ ability to release rain....
Convenient Truths: Get Angry And Enter!
by Jessica Root - Brooklyn, NY on 02.12.07
Q&A: Switching to CFLs
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 02.12.07
Q: I found treehugger.com while searching for information on CFLs. Tonight I tried my first CFL bulb and am completely dismayed by the amount of light output. I bought a GE 3-way bulb for a lamp in my study. It is nowhere near the same amount of light as the incandescent. I am very disappointed as I want to switch as many lights as I can away from incandescent. Can you offer any advice to get the same amount of light output from CFLs? Are there better brands than GE? Thanks for your time, Jeremy
A: Thanks for your question, Jeremy. You don't mention the wattage or lumen output of either your new or old bulb, but we recommend that you go for the highest lumen/watt ratio that you can find. For example, if you're replacing a 75 W incandescent with a 15 W CFL, and you have the choice between 900 lumens with one manufacturer or 1100 with another, the one with 1100 will give you more light; CFLs have improved and you should now be able to find comparable light output to your old incandescent in an energy-saving CFL. Because you're looking for a 3-way bulb, your choices will be somewhat limited, but the ENERGY STAR CFL page is a great place to start; you can compare bulbs, find one that looks good to you, and find a distributor near you. This TreeHugger hasn't tried 3-way CFLs yet; readers, if you have tips for a good 3-way CFL, please leave your thoughts in the comments section below. ...
New from MIO: SoftBowls
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 02.12.07
Better known around TreeHugger HQ for lighting (twice), 3D wallpaper and seating, MIO has expanded their range of sustainable products to include SoftBowls, a line of decorative bowls designed as planter cozies, storage containers or simple decoration. Manufactured in Philadelphia by one of the last remaining millineries in the US, each container is handmade using outmoded hat blocks and 100% molded wool. Designed as an alternative to energy intensive decorative vessels, SoftBowls provide function and beauty with a reduced energy footprint; each bowl can be made for about one-tenth of the energy required to make a comparable ceramic product. Because of their wool composition, the bowls are both recyclable and compostable, and come from a source local to the designers and manufacturing. They're brand new; the first ones will ship February 25. ::MIO Culture via ::MoCo Loco...
100-Mile Diet: Liquid Dinner
by Siel, Los Angeles on 02.12.07
[Missed out on previous 100-mile adventure posts? Here are part 1, part 2, part 3, and part 4]
100-mile dieters in Californians are lucky, because if a locally-grown meal somehow goes wrong, they can always buy a nice bottle of Californian wine to get their dinner guests tipsy pre-meal -- so the limitations of the meal go unnoticed. Of course, if the cooking still gets panned, then cooks have a nice local wine with which to drown their eco-sorrows --
This Californian privilege is something I've been excited about for a long, long time -- excited enough to put together a somewhat comprehensive list of yummy, organic wines made from California-grown grapes. After all, if we can pick and choose, why go with conventional, pesticide-sprayed grapes? 100-mile dieting wine aficionados can pick from organic, sulfite-free, and biodynamic wines!
Of course, price plays a big role too, for a graduate student like me -- though perhaps that'll become less of an issue, as Californian wines are expected to become cheaper. But for now, Five Hills Blue tops my wines-to-buy list. These organic wines are an amazing bargain at just $5.99 a bottle....
Tell Congress to Support Clean Energy
by Union of Concerned Scientists on 02.12.07
On Thursday, a new bill was introduced in the House that could be the best chance to finally pass strong, national renewable energy policy—but early support is needed.
H.R. 969 creates a renewable portfolio standard (RPS) requiring utilities to generate or buy 20 percent clean, renewable energy by 2020. This bill would create a large and growing market for clean and truly renewable sources of energy. ...
Valentines Surprise: Genetically Modified Roses
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 02.12.07
If you see a blue rose, then it has been dyed. If you get a red rose for Valentines Day, it probably doesn't smell like roses used to- "there is a trade-off between the energy that plants spend on making the complex, volatile chemicals that attract women and insects alike, and that available for making and maintaining pretty-coloured petals. So, by artificially selecting big, long-lasting flowers, breeders have all but erased another desirable characteristic."
Now, through the wonders of genetic modification, Yoshi Tanaka of Suntory has engineered a blue rose that should be a hot item in 2010. Others are figuring out how to adjust the smells: "Dr Dudareva is measuring how quickly the enzymes in scent-production pathways work, in order to identify bottlenecks and thus places where her metabolic-engineering efforts would best be concentrated."
This Valentine's day, why not try one of Kara's TreeHugger-friendly ideas instead. ::Economist...
"Night Wind" Project to Test Electricity Storage in Refrigerated Warehouses
by Jeff McIntire-Strasburg, St. Louis, MO on 02.12.07
Critics of wind power are quick to jump on the issue of intermittence: essentially, wind turbines produce power when the wind blows, and that's not always when demand for electricity is at its high points -- solar power suffers from the same issue. Until we find a way to store the electricity produced when it's not needed, large-scale wind power is just a pipe dream, they argue. A group of Danish researchers will be testing out a novel solution to this problem: using refrigerated warehouses as giant "batteries" for electricity storage. According to Nature, the idea is pretty simple on its face:
Say you lowered the temperature of all large coldstores in Europe by just 1°C during the night when electricity demand is low, then let it rise 1°C by switching them off during the day when demand is at peak. The net effect would be that the warehouses would act as as batteries — potentially storing 50,000 megawatt-hours of energy — and the food wouldn't melt....
Negagallons? Australian Province Considers Rewarding Water-Savers
by Jeff McIntire-Strasburg, St. Louis, MO on 02.12.07
Be A Green Fellow At Tel Aviv University!
by Karin Kloosterman, Tel Aviv on 02.12.07
When you hear about Israel on CNN - let’s face it - it seems like a pretty rough place to be. And while it can be scary at times to ride a bus, or think about the consequences of a nuclear Iran, most of the time people over here live life like you do. Israelis enjoy going to cafes, watching European films and even some, we can report, are reading TreeHugger! While we were less optimistic about how many Israelis were concerned about the environment when we first started blogging from Israel – the deeper we have looked revealed to us that there is a lot of green going on beneath the surface. National security may always be a huge issue over here in the Holy Land - that’s why we have less posts on the savvy side of being green (i.e. bamboo chairs and eco-fashion) and more on environmental technology and global democracy projects, which are Israel’s strengths...So...If you have ever romanticized living in a far-off country and a relatively safe part of the Middle East – now is your chance. Tel Aviv University’s Porter School of Environmental Studies is taking applications for several positions in its one to two year fellowship program. Are you finished your PhD or are already an established lecturer and envision impacting the environment in the much-neglected Middle East? The Porter School, like Tel Aviv University, takes a multi-disciplinary approach in its research. Porter combines the environment with the arts, engineering, humanities, law, life sciences, social sciences and medicine. If you are an undergrad or looking to do an MA, Tel Aviv University also has a popular overseas program where you can hopefully plant some green seeds. ...
How Green Will the London Olympics Be?
by Bonnie Alter, London on 02.12.07
London’s 2012 Olympic Games are less than 2012 days away. The Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA), the public body that has to deliver the goods, has launched their plans to make the event the “greenest games in modern times”. Their newly released report sets the sustainable standard for everything from building practices to the use of renewable energy. It focuses on reducing carbon emissions, green transport and a high reuse of materials during construction. It says that “90% of demolition materials from the site will be recycled or reused and that at least 20% of materials used in permanent venues and associated works and the Olympic village will be recycled. Some 20% of electricity demand will be met by renewable sources”. The Olympic village will be one quarter more energy efficient than current building regulations require and buildings will use 40% less water than current industry standards. It also "aspires" to bring in 50% of all building materials to the site by rail and local waterways - though this would require an extensive upgrade to the existing channel. The site will have its own mini electricity grid, including a state-of-the-art wind turbine 120 metres high, providing enough electricity to supply 1,200 homes for a year.
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250-MW Solar Power Plant Planned for Southwest
by Eric Kane, New York, NY on 02.12.07
A coalition of seven utilities in the Southwest is currently exploring the possibility of constructing a 250-megawatt solar power plant in Arizona or Nevada. If built, the plant could produce enough energy to power 160,000 to 200,000 homes. The proposed facility would likely utilize solar trough technology rather than more expensive photovoltaics. The group of utilities which includes: Arizona Public Service, Salt River Project, and Tuscon Electric Power is working to develop a request for proposals and hopes to seek approval for the project by early next year. In an effort to spur investments in renewable energy projects of this scope, the Arizona Corporation Commission passed a law that requires Arizona utilities to obtain 15 percent of their electricity from renewable sources by the year 2025. ...
Make No Little Plans: Celebrating Chicago
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 02.12.07
"Make no little plans; they have no magic to stir men's blood and probably will themselves not be realized. Make big plans; aim high in hope and work, remembering that a noble, logical diagram once recorded will not die."- Daniel Burnham. That is why Chicago was and is so great- They make big plans and they stick to them. In 1909 they wanted to keep the lakefront “forever open, free and clear,” and “not for the rich people solely or principally… but the prosperity of those who must have employment in order to live.” Now Chicago is planning a Centennial "To extend and renew the spirit of Burnham and Bennett’s vision of civic involvement in planning the futures of Chicago and other great cities of the world." Coming from a City that has not managed to implement a big plan since 1909, cut off its waterfront and can't even control its own planning, while watching Chicago continue to launch green initiative after initiative, I am envious. ::Plan of Chicago...
Deep Behind Enemy Lines
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 02.12.07
That’s how it felt at times to be at the Philly Car Show. Sure, there was the hybrid Lexus. And the Prius, though it was relegated to the far edge of Toyota’s display. Plus a few yellow gas caps, and a green “exotic” made by local high school students. But overall, the show made continued promise of a back to the low-mileage future. As if to underscore that 1950s point of view, young “spokeswomen” stood on the edges of the display turntables, reciting their lines in tight pony-tails. Some of the most fuel efficient vehicles on display, ironically, were the antique or “classic” models in a basement room. A crowd favorite there seemed to be a pair from the old Volvo P series (pictured below), one of which, as a sign proclaimed, had apparently set the Guinness Book record for most miles put on a single vehicle. The old P1800 got an average 25 mpg. Those where the days when Volvos earned their chops. Before the “supersize-me” engines became standard issue....
Book Review: Fruit & Vegetable Garden - Diggers Club
by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 02.12.07
The essential premise is that the average Australian household could, for the small up-front cost of $250 AUD be harvesting 254 kg of fruit & veggies from their front yard. A years supply, they suggest (and on their website they reckon such a garden only needs 6 hours a week of upkeep). And if the authors of the book, The Diggers Club, had anything to with it, that yield would all be non-genetically modified, organic produce, grown from heirloom seeds. (Heirloom refers to those rarer varieties almost lost to gardeners by the standardisation of commercial food production. For instance, there used to be over 3,000 varieties of apple, but supermarkets now only offer 4 or 5.) This book, richly filled with photographs, history and cultivation tips for a cornucopia of plants (428 in total!), also covers pruning, soil, mulching, pollination and pesticide-free pest control. But more than that, it lays out a framework of food that can be grown no matter the Australian climate you live in, from the northern tropics to the southern temperate zones, from coastal to inland regions. It explains how to design mini-plots for urban yards, which fruit bearing trees suit the technique of ‘espalier’ or growing horizontally to produce greater yields. And it details how food gardens can be designed to look as attractive as flower beds. Witness the five coloured Silverbeet in the pic above. In comments that would make Michael Pollan’s face light up (read of his article in the New York Times), the Diggers say in their book that “We forget that food is greater than the sum of its identifiable parts”, when they note that it is food that makes us healthy, not vitamin pills. So if you wanna grow your own Macadamia nuts, gorgeous Dragon Fruit or spectacular Turk’s Turban pumpkins then starting out with this comprehensive, yet succinct, book would be a encouraging place to start. Let the 100 Mile Diet start in your own yard....
Amazon Carbon Trick Comes to Light
by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 02.12.07
We wonder if a scientist at the NSW Department of Primary Industries, in Australia, might be thinking of putting in a bid for the $25 million in Richard Branson’s Earth Challenge? ‘Coz it appears that he has unearthed an old trick, used for thousands of years by Amazonian Indians. To improve the fertility of their soil on heavily managed plots, they would burn their organic waste in low intensity fires and add the resulting char to the soil. After studying this technique, researcher Lucas Van Zweiten reckons it might safely store carbon, forever. Okay, maybe not, but for a very long time anyhow. "In pyrolisys up to 50 per cent of carbon is maintained as char which can last for several thousand years in the soil," he said. Whereas he notes, with “composting, the majority of carbon in the composting process is lost naturally to microbial degradation to carbon dioxide." (We dug around a bit to find some more info, but only the ABC seem to be running the story at the moment.) ::ABC Rural....
ScrapLab: A Social Story
by Paula Alvarado, Buenos Aires on 02.12.07
Miki Friedenbach and Laura Leavy, partners in work and in real life, developed a social conscience during the 2001 Argentinean crisis and from then on they have been focusing in helping the unemployed by providing them with design systems they can adopt to turn trash into appealing products.
It all started with their first project along with fellow designer Alejandro Sarmiento, which was called Contenido Neto and had PET bottles and cartoneros as leading stars. After a few intense years implementing that program and learning about social work, they came up with a division inside their studio called Scraplab and a project of their own: a shape that can be knitted into a fabric to produce all types of products.
In this interview, Friedenbach and Leavy speak out about their background and projects, but also -and probably, most important- about how hard but challenging it is to work with people in need. “Suddenly, design doesn’t matter that much,” says Leavy, “what matters is the mother that thanks us for giving his son self-esteem and something to be proud of.”...
And we Thought Dirt Floors were iffy: Poop floors
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 02.12.07
Dirt floors are making a comeback, but Researchers in Michigan are working on floors made out of cow manure. As we know, there is a huge management problem with factory farm waste disposal (like 1.5 to 2 trillion pounds of it per year). Large livestock operations are now building anaerobic digesters to treat it, with byproducts of methane gas, "liquid fertilizer" and "semisolid plant residue." By mixing the residue with other fibers and resin, and then applying heat and pressure, a new kind of fiberboard is born. "It appears that the fibers interlock with each other better than wood," said Charles Gould at Michigan State's College of Agriculture and Natural Resources. "We end up with, I think, a superior material." Others are not so sure. Said an economist at the trade's Composite Panel Association-"Is this something you're going to bring into the house?" ::Wired ::MSU Today
(AP Photo/Kevin W. Fowler)
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Seven Deadly Sins Survey: Gluttony
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 02.12.07
Dudley Moore and Gluttony out for a spin in Bedazzled
Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants. That's what Michael Pollan advises. We talk about local food, Organic food , palm oil free food , vegetarian, vegan , meat, fish, fast food and slow food . So many choices, what is a TreeHugger to do?
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Tactical Biorefinery: Eats Garbage, Generates Power
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 02.12.07
The US Army asked for this, but it sounds like it could work anywhere. It is a diesel generator that can suck up all kinds of garbage: paper, plastic, Styrofoam, cardboard, woodchips and food waste. "This is a very promising technology," says Michael Ladisch, a Purdue professor of agricultural and biological engineering who leads the project,"In a very short time, it should be ready for use in the military, and I think it could be used outside the military." According to Purdue, "The tactical biorefinery first separates organic food material from residual trash, such as paper, plastic, Styrofoam and cardboard. The food waste goes to a bioreactor where industrial yeast ferments it into ethanol, a "green" fuel. Residual materials go to a gasifier where they are heated under low-oxygen conditions and eventually become low-grade propane gas and methane. The gas and ethanol are then combusted in a modified diesel engine that powers a generator to produce electricity.
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Overture, Curtains, Lights: Composting Toilet on Stage
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 02.12.07
We have talked about the conflicts between those who go green and their disbelieving neighbours; thus we were intrigued to learn about a new play in London, "The War Next Door" about the conflicts between a trendy green couple and their new immigrant neighbours."Sophie and Max are a thoroughly modern British couple, cosmopolitan and open-minded. They have even constructed their own eco loo, well, it does save thirty litres of water a day." How often does a composting toilet have a starring role in a play? The toilet evidently performed better than the rest; while one reviewer said "the shoddy script and hammy acting left me so bored that I contemplated impaling myself on my biro." another reviewer admired the set's "chic, open plan minimalism." ::Tricycle Theatre via ::Envirolet Buzz
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Ethanol in America: “Our Crop. Our Fuel. Our Country.”
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 02.11.07
" It is a vision that many in rural America see as their salvation: high-performance moonshine from amber fields of grain, and a “grass station” in every town. It may be a chimera. It may drain precious water from the arid plains and produce less energy that it uses. But it has the undeniable power of an idea in ascendancy. "
According to the New York Times, all over America, where towns have been losing population since the depression, there is new excitement and energy.
"“We’re going to revitalize rural America,” said Read Smith, a farmer in eastern Washington and national co-chairman of a nonprofit group working with some of the biggest names in politics and philanthropy to have agriculture produce 25 percent of the nation’s energy needs by the year 2025. “We’re going to pull the plywood off the windows. We’re going to create a $700 billion per year industry that is not here today.”
Farmers have been burned before, but they are by nature optimists. "And it is that dream that keeps many farmers going: owning their share of the little ethanol plant on the prairie." ::New York Times
Picture: Peter Newcomb for The New York Times...
Barier: the Soccer Ball Shaped House from Japan
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 02.11.07
It floats. It is earthquake proof. It comes in sizes from doghouse to full 30- tatami mat (540 square feet) family dwelling. The Barier is " a soccer ball-shaped house developed by us [G-Wood] (international patent pending). A soccer ball with which you played in your childhood gets bigger like a dream ball and appears as a place to live in. It floats on the sea and can be a rescue ship. We believe it will be a gift to those who never give up a dream."
It has urethane walls and like a geodesic dome, the shape encloses the maximum volume possible for the amount of skin and the airflow around it is not turbulent, carrying away less heat. "As its 32-sided, rigid surface distributes force, it is in structure strong with an earthquake. It can be used as an ordinary house. It is very strong when lifted or buried under the ground."
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HP Introduces Greener Ink Packaging
by Justin Thomas, Virginia on 02.11.07
Hewlett-Packard announced recently that it has redesigned its ink cartridge packaging. The packaging is now smaller and lighter, and it contains more recycled content. Printer ink is notoriously over-packaged, so this is a good move. These changes, according to HP, will cut down on 15 million pounds of materials over the course of 2007, including 6.8 million pounds of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastic. PVC reduction — always a good move! But let's also make the ink more biodegradable and affordable. I've given up printing at home — it's just too inefficient....
What's In The Pipeline? Hydrogen.
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 02.11.07
At this link is a 9-page conceptual design paper outlining a prospective hydrogen economy: one based primarily on solar and wind power. The paper's authors are Greg Blencoe of Hydrogen Discoveries, Inc. and Dr. James G. Blencoe of the Oak Ridge National Laboratory. The technical underpinnings of the paper are: 1.) a valveless fueling system that uses magnesium hydride to safely store hydrogen inside fuel cell-powered vehicles; and, 2.) Hydrogen Discoveries' piping system, which was designed to overcome the problem of embrittlement and leakage problems that ordinary steel pipes face. The intention is to overcome the "last mile" problems of safely distributing and dispensing hydrogen fuel, and, in this case, of reclaiming and recycling the Magnesium carrier media for continuous re-use. This is a pre-commercial design concept, and TreeHugger will make sure that any design or risk management comments left here are brought to the authors' attention. ...
Prius Ditches Waiting List, Offers Incentives
by Jasmin Malik Chua, Jersey City, USA on 02.11.07
While Toyota's hybrid-electric Prius has been practically selling itself, with more buyers than Toyota has cars, sales have evened out just as the carmaker is able to boost production, according to the New York Times.
So, starting in April, Toyota will be showcasing the Prius in its first advertising campaign since the hybrid was introduced to the U.S. in 2000.
Hybrid-huggers can also look forward to incentives on the Prius—another first—including some no-interest financing and lease deals of as low as $219 per month. ...
Architecture 2030 and NY Academy of Sciences Call on Colleges To Cancel Classes!
by Kenny Luna, North Babylon, NY on 02.11.07
Are you being trained for the world you will inherit? That’s the question being posed on February 20, 2007 during a live web-cast from Noon-3:30p.m. EST by Architecture 2030, and hosted by the New York Academy of Sciences. They’re calling it the 2010 Imperative Global Emergency Teach-In, and focusing on global warming and climate change during an interactive web-cast broadcast live from New York. All told it’s expected to reach more than 500,000 students, faculty, deans and working professionals in the fields of architecture, planning and design across both North and South America. And why cancel regular classes for the day? Well, that way you’ll be able to shift focus to include the teach-in as a substitute in a venue that may make it easier for even more students and staff to take part; and with the impressive list of schools, businesses, and government offices already signed up you certainly won’t find yourself alone. In fact, some are even canceling regular activities for the entire day to focus their efforts around the event itself...
Book Review - Corporate Social Responsibility and Globalisation: An Action Plan for Business
by Kristin Underwood, Sacramento, CA on 02.11.07
Remember the days of the ruthless, tycoon business leaders out for world domination and unimaginable wealth? Okay, so we guess some of those do still exist, but today’s CEO has way more to contend with than just profits, mergers and stock reports. Workers, board members and customers are all becoming more vocal about their interest in seeing a company balance an affordable product with not depleting the world of its natural resources or forcing workers to live on $1 a day. What’s a global tycoon to do?
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Doomsday Seed Vault, Part 2
by Bonnie Alter, London on 02.11.07
About a year ago Treehugger reported on the Norwegian government's plans to build a subterranean vault to hold samples of the world’s seeds. When completed next year, it will hold 3 million seeds that are being preserved to continue the world’s agricultural diversity. Detailed plans have now been released and it is chilling... The vault will be built 120 metres into the side of a frozen mountain on the remote Norwegian island of Spitsbergen, near the North Pole. The location was chosen because it is always between - 4 and -6 degrees, but there will be cooling units to drop the temperature to -18 degrees C so if the units fail, the seeds won’t germinate. Designers have also planned for rising sea levels—the entrance is 130 metres above sea level, so even if the Greenland ice sheet collapses, there is no threat. Not even if there is a total meltdown of Antarctica (what!--this is scary stuff). The vault’s entrance gets even more James Bond-like--it is a striking triangular shape with reflective panels to catch the summer midnight sun. “In winter it will emit a quiet glow so that you can sense it in the landscape” said the project manager. In addition, the concrete-lined tunnel to the pair of vaults at the core will have a series of reinforced doors . There will be no windows and it will be under constant video surveillance. :: BBC News
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TreeHugger Scoop on OJ
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 02.11.07
Now that we have written that headline to tickle your RSS reader, We will talk about orange juice. According to Lucy Siegle of the Guardian, "Making a litre of fresh orange juice requires 958 litres of water for irrigation and 2 litres of tractor fuel. Then there are the pesticides. Orange production uses more than any other food crop.with obvious potential knock-on effects for both the biodiversity of the orange groves (bear in mind some 8 per cent of the world's agricultural land is already irrevocably damaged) and the health of low-paid and unregulated fruit-picking staff. One Oxfam report found independent orange farmers in Thailand financially crippled by loans taken out to pay for insecticides, and in poor health from spraying for 44 weeks a year."
Most of it comes from South American oranges and is concentrated there in evaporators using heat and vacuum (and fossil fuels), packed and shipped as frozen concentrate (requiring electricity to keep cool). It is then reconstituted with water and packed in PET bottles. Some is sold as "not from concentrate" like Tropicana (owned by Pepsi) which flash-pasteurizes it to extend its shelf life. They have an entire refrigerated "juice train" to move it from Florida to the Northeast. If you squeeze your own, (using a manual juicer, we hope) you are "you throw away skins and husks that have used up energy travelling thousands of miles."
What can you do? Go local. We start the day with apple cider harvested and pressed 128 kilometers (80 mi.) from home. ::Guardian...
Aquaskipper: Human Powered Flying on Water
by Christine Lepisto, Berlin on 02.11.07
If you thought the hyperbike was inventive but impractical, here is a crazy human powered vehicle which has made the leap from from the drawing boards to the marketplace. While a windsurfer still seems a more practical fuel-free transport for one on the water, this gadget does have the advantage that you can have your fun and exercise without any wind. The Aquaskipper can be purchased at inventist new ($495.95) or refurbished ($349.95) for any extreme sportists who want to give it a go, and seems to have good international distribution channels (search aquaskipper and your country). For a great video and detailed instructions on how to get started, as well as proof that the crazy thing does work if you know how, check out Instructables.
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