- Vijay Vaitheeswaran (part one)
- Vijay Vaitheeswaran (part two)
- Vinay Gupta
- Alyce Santoro
- Mathis Wackernagel
- Tom Price
- Martha Marks
- Paul Hawken
- David Suzuki
- Wal-Mart's Green Gurus
- Alisa Smith and James Mackinnon, authors of Plenty
- Bob Perkowitz of ecoAmerica
- Ed Begley Jr.
- The Weather Channel's Dr. Heidi Cullen
Entries for March 11, 2007 - March 17, 2007
Total this week: 152
Recycled Craft Competition at WhipUp
by Kathreen Ricketson, Canberra, Australia on 03.17.07
WhipUp is a multi-author craft blog. They post exhibition and book reviews, artist and maker features, tutorials, controversy and current issues in the crafting world. They recently held a recycled craft competition, where entrants had two weeks to make something that was 90% recycled materials. (To find out more about recycling check out the TreeHugger guide to 'How to Green Your Recycling')...
Video: The Rebuilding Center
by Michael Graham Richard, Gatineau, Canada on 03.17.07
Freeaire Refrigeration System will Work for A Few Years Yet
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 03.17.07
It's reefer madness day at TreeHugger! *. Another great idea to save on refrigeration costs, as long as it is still cold outside, is the Freeaire system, which asks the question: why pay money to refrigerate when cold is free in winter? In a typical convenience store, half the energy consumed is used for refrigeration. The Freeaire can save 90% of the electricity for 150 days of the year; furthermore the fridge equipment lasts much longer as it is barely used throughout the winter. A microprocessor controls a fan and and damper to monitor the temperature of the cooler and the air, and bring in as much outside air as required to keep the temperature stable. The inventor acknowledges that there " may be still out on whether there will be less cold and snow in the future, but even if there might be less cold outside air around in fifty years, that's no reason to act in a way to make it happen! " ::Freeaire via ::The Ugliest Blog on the Intarweb
*(reefer is short for refrigerated van, its not what you think)
See also Justin's post on chest refrigerators. ...
E-Cube Reduces Display-Case Refrigerator Electricity Use
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 03.17.07
Via The Guardian, which reports that E-cube:- "...is made of wax, is barely three inches across and comes in any colour you like, as long as it's black. And it could save more greenhouse gas emissions than taxes on gas guzzling cars, low energy light bulbs and wind turbines on houses combined. It is the e-cube, and it is coming soon to a fridge near you". The Guardian article, obviously written by non-engineer, conjures up the image of a blob of wax one molds around the refrigerator temp dial. As pictured, E-Cube is actually a plastic box filled with wax that has a heat transfer characteristic similar to food. Inside the cube (pictured), suspended in the wax presumably, is a thermistor that supplants the internal air temperature sensing device that refrigerators use to control on/off cycling. From the E-Cube site is this explanation. "Refrigeration units usually monitor circulating air temperature in order to decide when to switch on and off. However, circulating air temperature tends to rise quickly, far more quickly than food temperature and, as a result, refrigeration works harder than necessary to maintain stored products at the right temperature. This in turn leads to excessive electricity consumption and undue wear and tear on the equipment". Headed for retail store prime time, as Starbucks is reportedly testing the device, we're just surprised that Wal-Mart didn't give it a go yet. Not strongly recommended for home refrigerators, as the benefits are lost with infrequent opening.
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EU's Bold Energy Plan Shames Kyoto Holdouts
by Christine Lepisto, Berlin on 03.17.07
How Europe Can Save the World boasted the headline in The Guardian as it welcomed the "deal which is arguably the most important since (the European Union's) foundation 50 years ago." TreeHugger scooped the major media to bring you the EU's ambitious energy plan with the critical question: "Is there value in leadership if no one is following?" Now, we have the chance to find out.
The Kyoto Protocol suffers from two major deficiencies. First, several nations with major potential contributions to global warming are either exempt or, ahem, boycotting it until the exempt nations step up to the challenge. Second, it is already obsolete--having been intended as a target to get the ball rolling, not as a final solution. And while unsatisfactory compromises often characterize the EU's bureaucratic process, Merkel has succeeded in leveraging her 6-month Presidency of the EU to create a monumental Energy plan. The EU's move clearly shames developed nations which are shying commitments that scientists now agree are necessary for the long-term health of the planet in the interest of short term economic policy....
Transformation House by Michael Jantzen
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 03.17.07
Michael Jantzen is at it again, turning his Wind Shaped Pavilion on its side to create an "interactive, responsive, self-contained structure that can change its shape to accommodate different functions. The five center section can be rotated manually or automatically around the living space in order to catch the sun to warm the house, catch the wind to cool the house, catch the rain to supply it with water, catch different views, an or to alter the shape of the entire house just for the fun of it....made of lightweight steel and partially clad in photovoltaic cells. ...
Dog Power: Ideal Bite on Urban Mushing
by Sami Grover, Carrboro, NC, USA on 03.17.07
We have previously covered urban ‘mushing’ here. No, this is not the art of pureeing organic vegetables to make food for your city-dwelling baby, but rather it’s a neat way to get about town cheaply, and cleanly, while exercising your dog. Now Ideal Bite have a very informative post on this subject, including safety tips and a round-up of equipment suppliers. ::Via Ideal Bite::
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Dome was Built in a Day
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 03.17.07
So many ideas from Japan. Here is a segmented prefabricated dome system where each slice is made from cement covered polystyrene weighing 80 Kg, about 170 lb. Given that it looks about 8" thick, we can see this house reduces heating bills by 90%. "The houses are 7 meters in diameter, fire proof, earthquake and typhoon resistant, and using the modular building system can be constructed in less than a day." US$ 41,000 which sounds like a deal. Watch video at ::Diginfo...
Applied Materials To Install 1.9 MW Solar Capacity
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 03.17.07
Per the press release, Applied Materials, equipment supplier to the chip fab and SPV cell industries, has announced that it will install solar panels capable of generating 1.9 megawatts of power on the roofs of the buildings of it's Sunnyvale, California-based campus. When operational in 2008, Applied's new roof-top solar power generating system will provide about the same amount of electricity that would be consumed by 1,400 homes. That's bigger than Google's solar project. So, now who's greener? Image credit: Photo of used AM-made equipment by Fab Surplus...
American Electric Power Does The Right Thing
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 03.17.07
Via Washington Post : “American Electric Power, a major electric utility, is planning the largest demonstration yet of capturing carbon dioxide from a coal-fired power plant and pumping it deep underground”. The technology involves “…a new process — so far tested only at laboratory scale — that uses chilled ammonia to absorb the gas for collection. The process was developed by Alstom , a major manufacturer of generating equipment, and aims to reduce the amount of energy required to capture the carbon dioxide”. By putting the long pipe dream of sequestration (pun intended) to test, AEP is going a long way to satisfy the critiques offered in a recent MIT study. We note from the Alstrom site that:- “The technology has the great advantage versus other technologies of being fully applicable not only for new power plants, but also for the retrofit of existing coal-fired power plants…The captured CO2 will be designated for geological storage in deep saline aquifers at the site.”...
Keep Them Fluttering By
by Kenny Luna, North Babylon, NY on 03.17.07
Looking for a campaign your students can engage in with Earth Day 2007 just around the corner? Well, in keeping with this years theme of cooling the planet, how about working to raise funds to support Trees for Monarchs? It's a campaign to help save the forests in Mexico on which the Monarchs depend each winter by planting over 40,000 trees in south-central Mexico as part of a multiyear program to improve winter nesting sites for the endangered butterfly. As the monarch is threatened by deforestation of its winter habitat in the fir forests, this just may be a great way to teach kids about endangered species as well as global warming while helping to physically save the planet at the same time. Wondering how much impact just one class of 25 can have on the world? Well, every dollar you donate plants a tree, and reforesting these sites will not just improve the butterfly’s nesting habitat, but also restore soil and watersheds in the deforested areas. And that's not all, because the program also works to create alternative sites for wood extraction, it will alleviate future pressure on monarch habitats as well. This might be a great way to teach your kids about the interconnected web of life, and enable them to make a positive difference for Earth Day 2007....
Should You Stop Showing Up For Work?
by Mark Ontkush, Boston, Massachusetts, USA on 03.16.07
You don't hear a lot about telecommuting these days - I can't decide if it went mainstream it's a forgotten fad. There's no doubt it saves oodles of resources. As a fellow who has tried it for long periods of time, I can respond to two of the biggest questions surrounding the practice (a) I do wonder where all the people went, and (b) I do get more done.
Mind you, that's a survey of one, and from a business perspective those prominent issues might not be enough to sell a corporate TC program. Other issues, such as the fact that it is perceived as a career killer comes into play. And some countries, such as Ireland, have not yet built out their IT infrastructure to support it. Israel did, but then discovered that doing so encouraged workers to telecommute to higher paying countries such as the US.
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ZAP Shakes it Up at NADA: Dealers Place 2,300 EV Orders
by Jacob Gordon, Nashville, TN on 03.16.07
We reported at the end of January that ZAP would be showing up at this year’s North American Dealer’s Association (NADA) convention in Las Vegas to try and drum up mainstream interest for electric vehicles. At the center of ZAP’s attack was an entirely new EV based around Lotus Engineering’s APX crossover, the ZAP-X. It certainly seems that the satisfying aesthetics and impressive performance stats (350 miles per charge and 155 mph) of the ZAP-X made a big impression on the world of auto dealing. The EV maker reports that 19 dealers made non-cancelable purchase orders for a total of 2,300 electric cars. ZAP says this almost doubles the current number of ZAP dealers. Orders included the ZAP-X, the Obvio! 828 two-seater, and the Xebra pickup. ::ZAP ...
The Coming Decline of Oil
by Lester Brown, Washington, D.C on 03.16.07
Oil has shaped our twenty-first century civilization, affecting every facet of the economy from the mechanization of agriculture to jet air travel. When production turns downward, it will be a seismic economic event, creating a world unlike any we have known during our lifetimes. Indeed, when historians write about this period in history, they may well distinguish between before peak oil (BPO) and after peak oil (APO). (See also see Chapter 2, “Beyond the Oil Peak,” Plan B 2.0: Rescuing a Planet Under Stress and a Civilization in Trouble, available for free online.)
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TreeHugger Radio: An Interview with David Suzuki
by Team Treehugger, Worldwide on 03.16.07
One of the greatest TreeHuggers of the modern day, David Suzuki has been speaking on behalf of the environment for more than four decades. His career spans zoology and genetics, broadcast television, and grassroots environmental activism. Dr. Suzuki is the author of 43 books (half of them for children), is an inspiring lecturer, and the spark behind green campaigns such as The Nature Challenge and If You Were Prime Minister. In this extended interview, Simran Sethi and Dr. Suzuki delve into the essence of the world economy, the importance of seasonal food, and what happens when you eat too many cherries. Listen to TreeHugger Radio each week here on TreeHugger.com and podcasting on iTunes (click here to listen or right-click to download) ::TreeHugger Radio...
Convenient Truths: And The EPIC International Prize Winner Is...
by Jessica Root - Brooklyn, NY on 03.16.07
This being the weekend of EPIC Vancouver’s Sustainable Living Expo, it seems only apropos to announce the EPIC International winner of our Convenient Truths contest.
Drum roll please… “One Person” by Robin Hays. Congratulations, Robin!
Robin will receive $5,000 CAD for a sustainable shopping spree, a Jorg & Olif Citybike, and a pair of biodegradable Earthangels Shoes from John Fluevog. Not only that, but Robin has been invited to attend EPIC's Sustainable Living Expo this weekend, where she will personally be awarded her prizes on their main stage and where her video will be screened!...
Zipcar Launches Fancy New Web Reservation System
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 03.16.07
Regular TreeHugger readers already know that we're enamored with car-sharing services; they reduce the number of cars on the road and make driving a much more efficient experience as a whole. One of the services that's made a splash here in the States is Zipcar (though they've recently branched out to London and Toronto, along with Chicago here in the US), and to make it a little easier on everyone, they've launched a fancy new reservation system on their website. After surveying 30,000 members and running some tests, they've combined one-click reservations, embedded Google maps and AJAX technology, which allows for real-time interaction with ever-changing vehicle availability and a solid Web 2.0 experience. It looks like a pretty slick system, and if it helps more people share cars, we're all for it. Read all the details in the press release and learn more about Zipcar at their site. ::Zipcar via ::AutoblogGreen...
Evangelical and Muslim Youth Find Common Ground On Earth Day
by Kenny Luna, North Babylon, NY on 03.16.07
Muslim and Christian youth living in the US have found common interest in protecting the environment. According to Eboo Patel, founder of the Interfaith Youth Core, a non-profit dedicated to building a pluralistic society through cooperation between people of all religious backgrounds, as he recently traveled the country visiting college campuses on behalf of his organization after meeting and speaking with the Rev. Richard Cizik, vice-president of the National Association of Evangelicals and a well-known proponent of creation-care, he found that often there were groups of students already organizing Earth Day events with both Muslims and Evangelical youth working side by side to lead the way. And in light of clerics in the Middle East working to encourage water conservation along with the powerful stance that the board of the NAE recently took backing Cizik’s position on global warming in light of some very public and misguided criticism, it just may be that their elders are coming to see that they too share common interest in the environment. Patel points out that he really likes the partnership precisely because it is unlikely. And with members of both groups often stereotyped, in reality it’s far more productive to envision a future in which we can all work side by side to protect the planet than to dwell on the temporary divisions that may keep us apart. Now you certainly may think that I'm a dreamer, but if we can all ‘Imagine There’s No Heaven’ it's clear to me that life on earth becomes a whole lot easier as we try…....
Tesla Motors To Open Five Dealer Outlets
by Justin Thomas, Virginia on 03.16.07
Tesla Motors will open up five customer service centers in conjunction with the public launch later this year of the Tesla Roadster, an all-electric sports car. The service centers will be located in Chicago, Northern California, Southern California, New York and Florida, according to a Daryl Siry, vice president of marketing. Each of the centers will have a couple of the cars in different colors, displays on the technology used in the vehicles. More will follow, Siry added, largely because the company will start producing a line of sedans in 2009. "To do 10,000 units for Whitestar (the codename for the sedan) we need to be in a lot more places," he said. :: Via ZDNET
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Turning The Environment Into A Jewish Tradition
by Karin Kloosterman, Jerusalem, Israel on 03.16.07
The Jewish culture is governed by tradition. A newer tradition is for young American Jews to come to Israel to get in touch with their ancient Hebrew roots. Normally they come for about 10 days and visit the obvious sights such as the Dead Sea, the Wailing Wall and Masada. They go back to America with a better understanding of Israel but are not given any information on the country’s environmental challenges and successes. Recently, trip organizers have started offering a flight to Israel with a different spin: an eco-tourism tour. We reported on such a trip last year here and a couple of months ago a new group came to Israel where they learned about issues such as Israel’s polluted Kishon River, the disappearing Dead Sea and were lectured on the many ecological threats that Israel faces. ...
Efficient Wind Tunnels: Could Be Big?
by Justin Thomas, Virginia on 03.16.07
A company called Green Energy Technologies, has developed a efficient wind tunnel product. According to Jetson Green, "The WindCube is the urban-friendly rooftop application and the WindMAX is the tower application for high power users. The turbine is designed on Bernoulli's Principle. The cube captures wind and pulls it into the center of the cube where the turbine is, and in the process, the velocity of the wind increases and propels the blades to generate electricity. The increase in velocity is helpful because it allows building owners to generate wind power where wind may not be as powerful. The technology is ideal for urban buildings, big-box retailers, malls, etc., because it powers the building and allows you to net meter."...
64MW Solar Installation About To Be Switched On!
by Justin Thomas, Virginia on 03.16.07
One of the world's largest solar installation is about to be switched on. The project is called Nevada Solar One, and it is projected to generate 64 megawatts, when it is operational. It covers 300 acres and contain 760 mirror arrays, each measuring about 100 meters. The total number of mirrors is approximately 184,000. The solar power plant will go live next month in Boulder City, Nevada. The mirrors direct sunlight on an oil-filled tube. The oil is then used to create steam, which turns a turbine. See also: A Glass Walkway Over Grand Canyon Opens
:: Via: Energy Blog...
Jenesys Flatpack Prefabs
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 03.16.07
We have often joked that the more energy-efficient buildings get, the more closely they will resemble walk-in coolers. British Columbia's Jenesys Building Systems has introduced a line of prefabs that do exactly that: thick, structural insulated panels (SIP) that are strong, efficient insulators without thermal breaks, tight efficient designs that minimize exterior surface areas, and minimal window area where not facing the sun. It is the combination of these things that make a building perform really well.
Walk-in coolers are pretty utilitarian looking, but architect Carsten Jensen has managed to pull it off with some style.
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Steady As She Goes: Climate Week In Review
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 03.16.07
TreeHugger writers are solid on the importance of optimism, and a resolute practicality in the face of climate change. Facts and thoughtful analysis will best carry the flag we thought. We were wrong. At times a polite silence, perhaps a half-smile, can be the most effective action. Via Financial Times of March 15, 2006, the chief execs of US car makers testified jointly, this week, before Congressional Committee. Reportedly, the executives were unanimous in support of a Cap-And-Trade regime. John Dingell, (D) MI, and Chairman of the Committee, was quoted as saying:- " "Ladies and gentlemen, Hannibal is at the gates...We need to talk about what can be done and what will work." A particularly interesting remark, given that Al Gore was scheduled to testify later in the week. Now here's the money quote from FT:- "In spite of a past record of skepticism on climate change, all four executives politely declined to agree with a suggestion by Joe Barton, a senior Republican member, that man-made carbon emissions were trivial." Perhaps the execs were practiced in their politeness, having already learned from their own PR people that, according to NOAA (a US Federal Agency) " Winter in the Northern Hemisphere this year has been the warmest since records began more than 125 years ago,...temperatures were continuing to rise by a fifth of a degree every decade. The 10 warmest years on record have occurred since 1995. Weather experts predict that 2007 could be the hottest year on record." (Via BBC) Image credit: NOAA....
Summer in the City: Urban Sustainable Design Studio 2007
by Leonora Oppenheim, London, UK on 03.16.07
Last year we let you know about the Urban Sustainable Design Studio, an eight week summer course dedicated to investigating the role of sustainability within design. The USDS course, now in it's fifth year, is run by Peter Nicholson of the Foresight Design Initiative in Chicago. Nicholson says, "The goal of USDS is for participants to leave the experience more knowledgeable and better equipped for having engaged issues, collaborated with others, and wrestled with barriers." A previous participant A. Small has described the program as being "both a perfect introduction to sustainability as well as a continuation of understood concepts and methods in sustainable design. Tangible, actionable results are hard to come by academically; the best way to learn is through actions and examples, and this studio offers students real-world experiences in sustainable design." This year's projects include interesting briefs such as "(R)evolutionizing the Race: Politics and Design" and "Closed Loop Coffee: Creating the Sustainable Enterprise." The deadline for the application and admission process is April 16th. The course runs from June 18- August 10. :: Foresight Design Initiative...
365 Small Steps Cover a Lot of Ground
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 03.16.07
We talk often about starting with the easy things (why we like CFL's so much) and sometimes the hard things. Vanessa Farquharson is doing the worst of both worlds, a sort of death of 365 cuts, by doing one new little thing for the environment every day for a year and blogging about it. Perhaps it is penance for her day job as a journalist at the National Post, the House organ for Canada's Climate Change Denial Squad.
She started on March 1 by giving up on paper towels from the Boreal Forest (but not giving up paper altogether, just going to 100% recycled, we did say small steps!) through giving up styrofoam (a much bigger step) to giving up bottled water (great step!) and turning down the thermostat. Forever. On day 9 Vanessa is going for local food (but sometimes bananas are OK.) On day 12 Vanessa both cheats and I think gets it wrong (hey, saying you are NOT going to buy a microwave does not count as doing something, and if you are reheating something small, a microwave uses a lot less energy than warming up the entire oven. And read Helen here. ) but that is a minor quibble. Just be sure to go for 366 to make up.
Small Step Woman, No Impact Man, so many people out there, we could start a dating service or a superhero club. Send in comments with your ideas for small steps that add up and we will see if we can help her out at ::Green as a Thistle...
Alter Mundi: Parisian Eco Chic
by Bonnie Alter, London on 03.16.07
Alter Mundi is a Parisian eco-boutique. What makes it different from ones in Montreal, London or Rome? It’s the individual sense of style of each country that is reflected in the stores that make it so interesting to compare them. The Montreal and English shops carry the work of mainly local clothing designers. The French are great globetrotters; they love South America and have strong ties to the French speaking countries in Asia. Plus there are many African immigrants in Paris. The mix that is in the shops reflects this eclecticism. Alter Mundi has a furniture and a fashion shop. Much of the fashion comes from Brazil—there are colourful cotton running shoes, by Veja, made from organic cotton, that would make any outfit look hip. As well as tee-shirts by “Tu Do Bom” (how are you). The men's say tu do bom? on the front; the women's are classically designed in bright colours. The handbags are from Cambodia, made of recycled rice bags and India--made of recycled plastic. We loved the bags by Zaza Factory made by Burmese women in Mynamar as well as the funky earrings and necklaces that they have created. They would go well with the cheery sundresses from Cambodia made of organic cotton. When in Paris this is just the place to get that international chic look of green french fashion. Merci à Kyeann Sayer. :: Alter Mundi...
In Hot Water Over Climate, Bush Cuts Funding for Geothermal Power
by Eric Kane, New York, NY on 03.16.07
As concern over climate change continues to mount, the Bush administration has announced plans to eliminate federal support for geothermal power. Citing the belief that geothermal is a mature technology, the Department of Energy has decided not to request funds for additional research in 2008. Instead, the administration has decided to increase spending on nuclear power and biofuels. The decision has angered climate activists and scientists who argue that there is enough hot water underground to meet all U.S. electricity needs. ...
Still Troubled about Teak
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 03.16.07
Gordon M. Grant for The New York Times
We have written before about the evils of virgin teak here, and expressed reservations about reclaimed teak before as well, but damned if I can find it. I think that the reservations were confirmed in the New York Times article on the recycling of old teak buildings into new furniture and floors. Companies like TerraMai are buying up buildings-"As Southeast Asia continues to modernize, many teak-wood homes are being torn down and replaced with Western-style brick or concrete ones." Yet some preservationists worry. From the Times:
Tanet Charoenmuang, the vice president of the Urban Development Institute Foundation in Chiang Mai, Thailand, which advocates for historical preservation in the rapidly modernizing city, is worried that his country is slowly losing its identity, as old teak villas, docks, hotels, tobacco barns and granaries vanish."Houses are sold one after another after another, and, finally, all gone," Dr. Tanet said. "Finally, the culture will be gone, too." Unfortunately, the traditional house that is adapted to the climate and raised to keep cool without air conditioning, is being replaced. "At first, someone may have never thought of selling" a home, he said, but the financial incentive, combined with the growing popularity of Western-style brick and concrete houses with modern conveniences like air-conditioning, has spurred the selling off of teak. The result, Dr. Tanet said, is that "the wooden culture gives way to the concrete."
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Electric Eco-Bike: Green(er) Transport in the UK
by Sami Grover, Carrboro, NC, USA on 03.16.07
We’ve covered electric bikes before, most notably provoking a strong debate about their green credentials here. While this Treehugger agrees that electric bikes are not quite as green as your standard pedal powered variety [authors edit: please see comments for a discussion of this assertion/personal bias], he does have a friend with health problems who benefited greatly from this low-impact version of motorized transport. He’s also seen a not-too-athletic looking senior citizen regularly whizzing around his home town with a big smile on her face [authors second edit: and please see comments for the many other fabulous uses of the electric bike]. It is in this spirit, then, that we bring you news of Electric Eco-Bike, a UK based electric bike developer and vendor. Their website boasts an impressive array of different models, including an intriguing looking electric trike for carrying heavy loads. Unfortunately, most of these conform to the rather ugly stereotype of electric bikes, rather than the more elegant Schwinn, but they are certainly reasonably priced. According to EVUK, the British web-based campaign for real electric vehicles, Eco-Bike’s are being used by London’s Royal Parks Police as a stealthy, and greener, mode of transport.
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American Government Comes Out Against Coal Mining
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 03.16.07
We are so thrilled to learn that the American government has finally developed concern about the environmental impact of digging for coal. In Canada. It seems that there are concerns that a new mine just north of Montana stands to jeopardize water quality in the transboundary Flathead area. From the Vanouver Sun: The Flathead basin is "an area of unique and internationally recognized environmental importance," Edward Alex Lee, Canadian affairs director in the State Department, said in the Feb. 23 letter. He said the mine could cause "significant adverse environmental effects" in the United States. U.S. Senator Max Baucus, a Montana Democrat, said "Montanans are rightfully worried that mining in British Columbia could have devastating consequences to fish, wildlife and our growing recreation industry in the Flathead."
We are certain that Montana is going to put its gasification plants on the back burner and even though Tom Freidman says "Montana has one-third of all the coal deposits in America — 8 percent of all the coal in the world. Montana’s coal is roughly equivalent to 240 billion barrels of oil. “That’s enough to replace all our imported oil for 60 years.” they will leave it in the ground out of equal concern for their own backyards.
We don't support digging up British Columbia for its coal either, but this smells of hypocrisy. ::Vancouver Sun via ::the conscious earth
image by Edward Burtynsky, "Westar Open Pit Coal Mine #19, Sparwood, British Columbia", 1985
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Report Re-characterizes “Clean Coal” Program: Black As Ever
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 03.16.07
Just when the “clean coal” mantra, having been echoed through the public relations hole a gazillion times, had even US presidential candidates from both parties arguing that more “clean coal” type technology was ready for prime time taxpayer subsidy, comes a contrarian's view from 13 MIT experts. In a nutshell: its not ready. Worse than 'not ready,' the current approach of the US Department of Energy FutureGen program increases the likelihood of financial waste and adds to the risk that energy supplies will be disrupted in the future. Don’t take our word for it, read the overview in Technology Review. Meanwhile, we’ve been making a similar point in our recent posts. So here’s another contrariwise idea from us. Next time the DOE cooks up a scheme that makes or breaks the prospects for life on earth, they might want to get a third party peer review from people with no economic interest in the outcome. Look below the fold for a few excerpts....
Survey: Coins or Bills?
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 03.16.07
Jenna's post about the new American one dollar coin generated some controversy, but I noted one commenter about "the public's willingness to use these coins." In Canada and the UK, there was no issue of choice; the mint just did it and we got used to it. The vending companies bit the bullet and suddenly we weren't feeding endless quarters into machines like Americans do for a chocolate bar or a parking meter, just one coin did the trick, and their sales went up because of the convenience. (there has been inflation, you know) The street people loved it- when the Canadian toonie came out one said "hey, the Prime Minister just gave me a raise!" So here is a two part quiz, questions for Americans and two questions for readers from countries where people have faced change and dealt with it.
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The Onion Tote
by Tim McGee, Helena, MT, USA on 03.16.07
One hilarious way from The Onion to stand out while you shop at the local store. But seriously, despite the fact everyone knows a reusable tote is a good idea, I can still feel the eyes of people looking at me- I pretend it's envy. In the words of Mark Twain:
Power, money, persuasion, supplication, persecution -- these can lift at a colossal humbug -- push it a little -- weaken it a little over the course of a century; but only laughter can blow it to rags and atoms at a blast. Against the assault of laughter nothing can stand.We often post on paper or plastic, but when it gets down to it, just bring your own tote- make a statement without saying a word. It also comes in black. ::The Onion...
Flip Flop Key Chains
by Kara DiCamillo, Newport, Rhode Island on 03.15.07
This month’s issue (March) of Coastal Living features a number of eco-friendly finds in their monthly “Currents” section. In fact, much of the magazine is devoted to it like many other magazines on the stands this March. As the editor notes in her opening note “green has gone mainstream.” Remember the flip flop mat we featured when TreeHugger first hit the internet a few years ago? These key chains are similar and are made for the avid boater in mind. Made from flip flop scraps, they hold up to three keys and will float in the water in case they go overboard. They can be purchased at Bitters & Co. for $5.00 each, along with other cool recycled flip flop items – including the mat! Via ::Coastal Living ::Bitters & Co. ...
Crate and Barrel's Green Sofa
by Justin Thomas, Virginia on 03.15.07
Crate and Barrel has released a green sofa called the Lockaport, and a matching chair. "For upholstery, this is our first venture into" sustainability, says Heather Turner, product manager assistant with Crate and Barrel in Northbrook, noting that the retailer "hopes to develop more." The frames for the sofa and chair are made from hardwood that's certified by the Sustainable Forestry Initiative and the Forest Stewardship Council. The seat cushions are filled with a soy-based poly-foam, which uses less petrochemicals than standard foam.
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Ask TreeHugger: What Is Vapor Intrusion?
by Helen Suh MacIntosh, Cambridge, MA, USA on 03.15.07
Question: Could you discuss the issues and health risks related to "vapor intrusion" of volatile organic chemicals into buildings from contaminated sites? What can a homeowner or purchaser do to find out if there is a vapor intrusion risk at home, schools, or day care centers?
Response: “Vapor intrusion” (sometimes called “soil gas vapor intrusion”) is what happens when chemicals move from the ground or water into your home or other buildings. Chemicals that enter your home through the ground often belong to a class of chemicals called “volatile organic compounds” (VOCs), which as their name implies are volatile, and thus like to exist as a gas. This property is important, allowing VOCs to move easily through openings that exist between the soil grains and thus to move from areas of high pressure to areas of low pressure. Since basements tend to be at lower pressure than the ground below, this pressure-related movement can cause VOCs to enter your home from the ground through openings or cracks in your foundation. Once inside, the VOCs can spread through out your home with the help of natural air flow, room or house fans, or other home ventilation devices. When this occurs, vapor intrusion can be an important source of indoor pollution in your home....
Purdue's Can-Do Biofuels Promise to Meet All U.S. Transport Needs
by Jasmin Malik Chua, Jersey City, USA on 03.15.07
Churning up plant matter—such as agricultural and forest waste—into liquid fuel isn't a new concept, but chemical engineers from Purdue University are proposing an new environmentally friendly process that could provide all the fuel for "the entire U.S. transportation sector." (These are the same hallowed halls of academia that brought us the garbage-to-diesel generator. Man, are these guys FOCUSED.)
The difference in this new approach: The addition of hydrogen from a "carbon-free" energy source, such as solar or nuclear power, during a step called gasification....
US Auto Industry Supports National Global Warming Legislation
by Celine Ruben-Salama, New York, NY on 03.15.07
The US has the lowest fuel-economy standards for vehicles in the developed world. While the Japanese, the Europeans and even the Chinese have been working hard to improve fuel-economy standards, the US auto industry went down a different road - a strategy that has so far proved quite unsuccessful. In 2006 Ford Motor reported its biggest annual loss ever, $12.7 billion. General Motors’ (GM) year was not quite as bad, total losses only reached $8.6 billion.
Earlier this week, chief executives of America’s four largest car companies Ford, DaimlerChrysler, Toyota North America and General Motors (GM) acknowledged they intend to change their ways. Collectively the group told lawmakers that they would accept a US economy-wide strategy to reduce carbon emissions as long as it did not disproportionately target car producers. In addition they agreed on the merits of devising a US-wide carbon emission “cap and trade” regime. Their pledge, which took place in a rare joint appearance before Congress, marked a significant step forward for the new Democratic majority on Capitol Hill, which aims to draft America’s first national global warming legislation in the next few months. ...
Kyoto as Cliche
by Ron Dembo, Zerofootprint on 03.15.07
Tim Flannery nailed it when he reflected that one of the obstacles to decisive action on climate change is that the whole idea of global warming has become a cliché even before it has been understood.
There are many ways to interpret this, as global warming means different things to different people. To some it’s a looming catastrophe, to others it’s a business opportunity, to many of us it’s something to worry about once we’ve taken care of other things. (To still others it’s a communist hoax, but let’s focus on people who are trying to do something helpful.) What this means is that even though we all agree that we have to do something, it is far from clear what something is....
Things a Little Birdie Told Me About IT
by Mark Ontkush, Boston, Massachusetts, USA on 03.15.07
Percentage of senior IT professionals that are concerned about the negative impacts that their company is having on the environment, according to a recent study: 98Price per ton of scrap whole computers, full truckload, in the global spot market, in US dollars: 80 Price of Lithium button batteries: 2060
Percent of Energy that goes into manufacturing a computer, relative to its lifespan: 81
Breakeven point between servicing a laptop and buying a new one, in months: 18
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Greener Green – The U.S. One Dollar Coin
by Jenna Watson, Barcelona on 03.15.07
The Sacagawea dollar coin was introduced in 2000 to replace the Susan B. Anthony dollar, which (being Canadian, I didn’t know) was often confused with the quarter because of its color and feel. The newer coin is a golden color with no ribbing along the sides to prevent confusion, just like the Presidential coins introduced this year by the US Mint . When the coins were introduced, Michael Claus, W. Reid Shepherd and Brandon Wayne at Michigan State University asked “is one form of the dollar better for the environment? If the coin dollar is better, should we replace the paper dollar with its coin equivalent? If the paper dollar is better, and Americans trust the paper dollar more than the coin, wouldn't it be prudent to stop introducing new coins into the American economy?” Their answer: the coin is better. ...
The Future is Here: Aptera's Prototype Unveiled
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 03.15.07
When we first encountered the Aptera diesel-electric hybrid last year, it was another pie-in-the-sky concept with amazing performance specs (330 mpg, 0.055-0.06 drag coefficient) but a concept nonetheless. Happily, last week at the TED Conference, the curtain was lifted over the real thing, and a working prototype of the spacey ride was unveiled. Delivering slightly less than originally calculated, the three-wheeled hybrid still sips fuel to the tune of 230 miles per gallon while humming along at 55 miles per hour. The production of the prototype is a hopeful first step for Aptera, whose company, Accelerated Composites (aka Aptera Motors), is making tentative plans to sell it for about $20,000 apiece.
Pictures of the Aptera after the jump. And stay tuned for details about when you can get one for yourself. ::Aptera Motors via ::Wired and ::Engadget...
Eco-Tip: Keeping Your Hands Fresh Through Winter
by Kara DiCamillo, Newport, Rhode Island on 03.15.07
Last year as spring was beginning we featured a tip on how to soothe those post-winter hands naturally with a recipe that included lemon. This tip features papaya and comes from San Francisco’s Lavande Nail Spa. Papaya is rich in alpha hydroxy acid, which is a natural exfoliant, and will keep our hands smooth and soft through the rest of the winter months.
You’ll need:
1 ripe papaya
1 cup plain yogurt
1 tablespoon honey
1 tablespoon grapeseed oil
Plastic bags or gloves
Directions:
Combine the papaya, yogurt, honey and grapeseed oil and apply the mixture to both hands. Slip them into the plastic bags or gloves. After 15 minutes, rinse with water.
Via ::Health
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Sarah Harmer Dethrones the Gravel Kings
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 03.15.07
Proof of the power of song: Sarah Harmer (shown here with David Suzuki) has won a huge victory in her struggle (reported on earlier here) against the gravel kings. The Province of Ontario has declared 15 pockets of the Niagara Escarpment around her family's home to be "provincially significant wetlands." She told the Star:
"This is a success for the people of Ontario, and for the Niagara escarpment as a whole," the Juno award winner said yesterday. "This is the first time we've ever seen the government stand up for the natural environment. The gravel kings have been successful in getting what they wanted in the past."
Everyone is surprised. "Since the Niagara Escarpment plan has come into effect, there's never been a pit or quarry application that's been denied. It came as a shock to me," said Ken Whitbread, manager of the Niagara Escarpment Commission. However the fight may not be over yet. A rep from the aggregate company says "The pit or quarry is the engine of economic growth" and environmentalists remind us that "The quarry companies are very powerful." ::The Star...
South Korea Turns On the Piggy Poo
by Alex Pasternack, Beijing, China on 03.15.07
Amidst the stink over the nuclear program up north, South Korea has begun to tap a considerably less controversial energy source: pig poop. A power plant to the southeast of capital Seoul, capable of generating 30 kW from a daily feed of 20 tons of pig manure, is part of the government’s continuing greening efforts amidst a booming high-tech economy, which is the world’s 11th largest. As a developing country, South Korea’s not yet beholden to the Kyoto Protocol, but with plans to join and with the world’s 10th largest greenhouse gas footprint in the world, it’s becoming increasingly conscious of stepping lighter. Yesterday, the government also announced that domestic companies will be eligible for cheap loans when they build facilities aimed at cutting greenhouse gas emissions. This comes a month after the ministry said it would seek to cut at least 1 million tons of emissions per year by handing out cash rewards to firms reducing greenhouse gas emissions. But back to the poop......
Clothing Made of Wine (& Beer). Marketers Dream
by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 03.15.07
We’ve had thermoformed biopolymer bikinis before, but now for something completely different. Apparel that grows it self. Well, actually bacteria in fermenting wine do all the heavy lifting. They convert the wine into a vinegar-like scum layer. The layers of this admittedly slimy cellulose are then laid over one another, on an inflatable mannequin. Once the garment has the desired shape the dummy is deflated, while the clothing remains. However when the ensemble dries the very short fibres become like tissue paper, tearing easily. So the garments currently need to be keep wet. The Bioalloy team at University of Western Australia are hoping to partner up with an organic chemist to find a way to polymerise their Micro’Be cellulose fibres and produce longer, more stable, fibres. They hope one day to ferment a seamless dress. Oh, we almost forgot to mention – they've also made a clear panel in one prototype by fermenting beer. Apparently any alcohol can be coerced to “slip into something more comfortable.” ::Micro’Be, via News in Science....
Biofoam Surfboard Blanks Are Made With Plants
by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 03.15.07
Yet another break has been ridden in the surfari that is the search for the ultimate sustainable surfboard. Biofoam surf blanks by HomeBlown have close to 50% of their foam sourced from plant-based agriculture product. Which plants exactly, they don’t appear to be saying. But they do suggest that Biofoam production results in 36% less global warming emissions and a 61% reduction in non-renewable energy use. Compared to, we suppose, a standard polyurethane board, made with polyol resins that the plant ingredients are replacing. Homegrown have manufacturing facilities in the UK, US and South Africa citing that shipping raw materials for local production is 18 times more efficient than shipping pre-made blanks. This is part of the Eden Project’s ongoing Eco Board development, which has so far become a biofoam blank, wrapped in hemp, and bound with bio-based resins. (not to be confused with OceanGreen’s hemp covered balsa board). ::HomeBlown, via Sustainable Industries Journal and Wetsand....
No Impact Man: Living Lightly in NYC
by Jeff McIntire-Strasburg, St. Louis, MO on 03.15.07
It's a bird, it's a plane, it's... OK, Colin Beavan probably wouldn't describe himself as a superhero, but like many other individuals and families that we've featured, he's taken on a project that's, at the very least, ambitious... and very green. Colin, his wife Michelle, and daughter Isabella have committed a year of their life to serious experimentation with lightening their environmental footprint. Their goal: zero net environmental impact at the end of that year. For better or worse, the Beavans aren't trying to do this in an idyllic country setting with a straw bale house and big organic garden; rather, they'll shoot for zero net impact in the middle of New York City. The family started their project last November, and have already come across some naysayers:...
Meme of the month: Zero Waste.
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 03.15.07
Everyone is talking about zero waste these days. Jared Blumenfeld of San Francisco's environment department says "From our perspective, waste doesn't need to exist,It's a design flaw." David Redfield of Wal-Mart says "When you look at a dumpster, you see trash. When I look at it, I see materials and money." William McDonough says "We're not talking here about eliminating waste, We're talking about eliminating the entire concept of waste."
According to Fortune: "Zero waste is just what it sounds like - producing, consuming, and recycling products without throwing anything away. Getting to a wasteless world will require nothing less than a total makeover of the global economy, which thinkers such as entrepreneur Paul Hawken, consultant Amory Lovins, and architect William McDonough have called the Next Industrial Revolution." ::Fortune and be sure to watch the bizarre video of a garbage processing plant set to music.
The Whole Life Times: "a new movement is taking a more holistic approach. Rather than focusing solely on what to do with existing waste, the “Zero Waste” movement looks at a product’s entire life cycle — and redirects the conversation toward usable options for every step along the way. The ultimate goal is to eliminate waste as a concept entirely — a lofty aspiration indeed. But Zero Wasters say loftiness is part of the point — after all, creating a trash-free world is going to take nothing short of revolution."
The Boston Globe: "IMAGINE AN INDUSTRIAL system in which nothing ever really dies or gets discarded....In this perfect system, each unit of energy consumed would be somehow offset. Every industrial byproduct would reassemble into something useful and benign. Every beam of sunlight, scrap of garbage, and flush of the toilet would be pressed into service. No exceptions. Humankind would make obsolete the very concept of "waste."
Final word to David Redfield of Wal-Mart: "Trash is Cash."
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Memento Mori
by Bonnie Alter, London on 03.15.07
The Gallery @Adventure Ecology HQ is holding its second show: Waste & The Lost World: Memento Mori. This gallery is the public face of an environmental group for children called Adventure Ecology. Like the first show, the artists involved are looking at serious issues, using nature as a focal point and a metaphor. The gallery has been painted a striking dark green colour and serves as a dramatic backdrop for the art work and sculpture. Alistair Mackie is a sculptor; his work (pictured) appears to be a piece of tree branch. In fact it is made from matchsticks, which were originally made from a tree. It is a reminder that we all return to the earth. He has also made a pair of dice, set with mosquitoes, an allusion to fate being a roll of the dice. Oliver Cleff’s large canvases depict items that have been discarded and have a melancholy and floating feel to them: an upside down toy, a horn. Most disturbing are Polly Morgan’s works. She studied taxidermy and uses found, road-killed birds in her pieces. One has a tiny bird resting in a matchbox, and another has a small grey and white dead bird sitting in a teaspoon. As she says: “We study the details of the animals now they are in peaceful repose, their colours, fur or feathers, the life that's past. While we consider their beauty, we could again consider our own mortality”. :: Adventure Ecology...
Movie Trailer. No, Trailer Movies. Never Mind.
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 03.15.07
We love transportable architecture and mobile design- why build a permanent structure for a temporary use? That is one reason container projects like the Freitag store are so interesting. It is not a new idea; Bookmobiles have been around forever, and evidently there used to be moviemobiles like the 1938 Trailer Theater from Modern Mecanix. No, it is not a theater where you watch trailers (though they give away so much of a movie these days, and we all have such short attention spans that such an idea might work) but a trailer where you watch movies....
New Deal II: The Next Dam Thing?
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 03.15.07
Via Earthwatch Radio, the book "Big Dams of the New Deal Era: A Confluence of Engineering and Politics," by David P. Billington and Donald C. Jackson, University of Oklahoma Press (2006), reminded us about a couple of earlier posts on TreeHugger: like this one on a glut of green power in the US Pacific Northwest and especially this one, looking at the value of upgrading existing hydro facilities. Historian D.C. Jackson is quoted in the Earthwatch report as saying:- "...one of the legacies for New Deal projects in the '40s, '50s and '60s is the federal government becomes seen as the source of revenue for developing projects". ...
Feedback Loop: Climate Change = Smaller Gas Reserves
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 03.15.07
Here is an interesting feedback loop: Global warming shortens the exploration season. Does this lead to smaller gas reserves and more coal burning, leading to greater warming?
Warmer weather in Western Canada means the winter thaw of ice and snow- the "break-up season" has started early. In northern Alberta the heavy equipment moves on ice roads, and when the ice melts the entire place dissolves into mud. According to the Globe and Mail: "This slows down all activity. Companies that were hoping to squeeze in more drilling before the spring are being cut off." said Stephen Calderwood, a Calgary-based oil and gas analyst.
While the big thaw, usually expected toward the end of March, doesn't completely prevent firms from drilling, it does create huge amounts of mud that prevents them from moving large equipment, such as drilling rigs, on rugged and remote roads in Western Canada's relatively inaccessible natural gas basins. Local municipalities in southeastern Alberta, such as the town of Oyen, have already issued ordinances prohibiting the transport of heavy machinery in an attempt to keep roads clear, essentially meaning that gas rigs in the region can't be sent to drill new wells. As a result, firms are starting to take their drilling rigs out of service. ::Globe and Mail...
Clivus Multrum at the Bronx Zoo
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 03.15.07
We look forward to the upcoming launch of Dave Praeger's Poop Culture: How America is Shaped by its Grossest National Product. The author has a blog where we learned about a new installation of Clivus Multrum composting toilets at the Bronx Zoo, avoiding construction of a huge septic system or expensive sewer construction, and saving over a million gallons of water a year.
Clivus Multrums are big, and usually used in commercial installations. Where we have tried them we have found them to be odour free. However, people used to a normal flush toilet don't like the idea of sitting on an open pile of compost, even though in a Clivus it can be a long way down. They have developed a system where it looks and functions like a conventional toilet using a mixture of bio-compatible soap and water to carry toilet waste to the composting system below via a conventional 4” drain line. From Justin's earlier post, it looks like a valve toilet design.
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Bamboo Entertainment Center
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 03.15.07
Dealing with electronics can be a real pain if you have a lot of components and their attendant wires. Room and Board built this unit out of bamboo, but provided removeable back panels to let the air flow through. We like the ribbing on the face- since bamboo turned from a reed into a board one never sees any pattern any more. Available in dark and light bamboo at ::Room and Board...