Weekly Archive for January 13, 2008 : TreeHugger

Image courtesy of mr.bmonroe via flickr After years of unsuccessfully prodding, environmental groups scored a victory last Friday when they reached an agreement with Caltrans, the California Department of Transportation, that would see the government agency reduce storm water pollution by 20% below 1994 levels. The agreement would prevent millions of gallons of runoff from state highways in Los Angeles and Ventura counties - covering more than 1,000 miles - from flowing into local estuaries and beaches. Caltrans will need to have completed the new pollution controls by 2011, which leads many environmentalists to believe that the reductions will likely be achieved by 2015....

NOTE: As many have already noted, Michigan is mislabeled Wisconsin While the coal industry continues to wield an unseemly amount of clout in shaping the political process, there are encouraging signs that its death grip may finally be loosening. Once touted as a key component of the president's energy agenda, big coal's output over the past year has notably slowed, with 53 proposed plants in 20 states shuttered or otherwise delayed. As some energy planners resort to trotting out the well-worn line that the U.S. will need to ramp up its electricity production from coal to avert a potential energy crisis, others are encouraging executives to push ahead with plans to diversify away from coal into wind, solar and other renewable energy sources....

Berlin air is clean before new auto law took effect

Berliners have barely started showing the new emissions badge required for driving into the city center, and the air is getting thick. Thick with accusations. The popular gearhead weekly, AutoBild, has thrown down the gauntlet: "The Soot is Gone" screams the headline over the question: "Can the environment zones be abolished?" Could AutoBild have a point?...

This week we visited the 18th edition of Bread & Butter, the leading international trade show for selected fashion brands, alongside more than 99,500 visitors in Barcelona. It definitely deserved the label King Size as it was the biggest one held so far and resulted in a truly stunning, 3-day experience for both exhibitors and visitors. Although no special attention was given to the eco labels (and maybe that’s the way it should be, with eco fashion becoming mainstream!) we were very happy to see some of our favourite fashion brands exhibiting their future collections, and even came across a few eco brands that were new to us. If you are curious about what the fashion world has to offer you in the future, keep reading!...

After four years in the eco-friendly apparel business, Pangaya will be shutting its virtual doors as soon as its current inventory sells out. The business hasn't failed, owner Sean Bartlett tells TreeHugger via e-mail. "It's more of an effort vs. reward scenario." He does note, however, that eco-chic retailing remains an area he is passionate about, as well as one that he would like to get back to when "the opportunity is right." One of the pioneers in the online eco-fashion business, Pangaya will be sorely missed—and we wish Sean the very best in his coming endeavors. As operations wind down, the price of every item of clothing in the store will be significantly reduced—up to 80 percent. ::Pangaya and ::Laurenceleste...

New York state officials are looking into possible re-deployment of 'a huge block of low-cost, [green] hydroelectric power generated north of Niagara Falls [pictured].' They're being creative to promote a new king of economic development in Western New York: the kind that brings as many jobs per green Megawatt as possible.

Many economic development officials believe the power is one of the region's best tools for reinvigorating the regional economy. Because it's so cheap [and green] to generate, the power can be sold to companies for a fraction of the cost of other suppliers. That makes it potent bait to lure companies and help firms already in the area expand their operations. Much of the power is propping up dying industries and lavish corporations with excessive subsidies, a Buffalo News investigation found last year. A 2001 study commissioned by the state Power Authority reached a similar conclusion, determining that 85 percent of the hydropower could be put to more effective use.

For the future, Western New York State also has the option of encouraging offshore wind farms on Lake Ontario, as Canada is about to do;...but, one green job-producing step at a time, as they say. ...

The need to find creative ways to protect coral reefs has never been greater. Human activity is causing coral die-offs faster than previously thought. In the Caribbean, studies are showing that coral may be heading toward extinction. Increased ocean acidification has been further eroding fragile reefs, and warmer sea-surface temperatures are causing even more damage. Fortunately, as with so many environmental issues, there are also signs of hope. Artificial corals are being grown in the Red Sea, and "Bio-Rock" treatment is being used to restore once lush reefs in Indonesia and elsewhere. However, any real plan to protect coral reef must include the cruise industry, which is a significant source of negative impacts due to traffic, waste-disposal and other pollution. Fortunately, according to dot Earth, "the cruise ship industry, Mexican government, and Conservation International have announced a plan to try to protect coral reefs and other ecosystems in Cozumel, the world’s most-visited cruise destination." The plan has four main goals: environmental awareness and education; improved management of the infrastructure for tourism; ensuring that environmental laws are enforced; and protecting the reef itself. Still, it's not entirely clear how those goals are going to be met, as the plan is light on details, but getting all the stakeholders to the table is a good start....

When Stats.org first popped up in my reader with its "The Worst Science Stories of 2007: STATS Dubious Data Awards" I immediately wrote it off as the rantings of a wingnut who hangs out with Steven Milloy or Terrence Corcoran in the junk science brigade; in just one article, author Trevor Butterworth dumps on San Francisco's Mayor Gavin for banning water bottles, calls fire retardants harmless, declares gender-bender chemicals like phthalates a statistical anomaly and other inanities. I didn't bother finishing it. Then I learned that it was published on the Huffington Post, a usually respectable blog that leans left and that Butterworth is a regular columnist. Butterworth is also the editor of STATS.org, "a non-profit, non-partisan organization"..."[whose] goals are to correct scientific misinformation in the media resulting from bad science, politics, or a simple lack of information or knowledge." We had a look. ...

Now we’re all about tasty organic baked goods like Liz Lovely’s cookies, but sometimes nothing beats creating your own. But say you are creating your own ginger cookies, for example, where should you get your flour from? Assuming there’s not a good source of locally milled flour nearby, our American readers could do a lot worse than ordering their flours and grains from Anson Mills, purveyors of the finest heirloom varieties of grits, cornmeal, rice, flour, oatmeal, buckwheat and farro. The concept and values behind the company are certainly right up TreeHugger’s alley. Started back in 1998 by Glenn Roberts, Anson Mills was always intended to be a catalyst for recreating the ingredients and recipes of the past that were in danger of disappearing for ever: ...

Two of the big paper companies in Japan have now admitted that they lied about the amount of recycled paper in their paper. Nippon Paper confessed first to false claims, admitting that it had been falsifying information since 1996. It had used only one percent recycled paper in New Year's cards supplied to Japan's postal service--which officially requires 40 percent recycled content. The company's president has done the honourable thing and stepped down, saying that he would take responsibility for the scandal. Then Oji Paper admitted that it too had lied for the last ten years, saying that the amount of recycled paper in its copy and printing paper was 50% when in fact it was between 5 and 10%. Envelopes had been sold as 70% recycled, when they were only 30%. Some products contained no recycled material at all. Their president won't resign but he did note that he had "betrayed public trust." Fuji Xerox have said that they will no longer buy recycled paper from Nippon, others such as Canon and Konica Minolta are threatening to do the same.Stock share prices in both companies have plummeted. Three other firms are also being accused. :: Guardian...

:: Help stem the tide of plastic disposables and fight hunger in the developing world; this bag can do it all. :: Step 1: Find an abandoned/unwanted shopping cart. Step 2: Release its inner chair. :: Eat a peanut-butter-and-jelly sandwich, save the world. :: Could the cat litter you're using be clogging up your kitty's insides? (Bonus: cute kitten picture.) :: It's time to take Bring Your Own into the workplace. We list what you shouldn't leave home without. :: Forget chemical peels, surgical face-lifts, or Botox, you can get fresh, glowing skin with a few simple tips. :: Collin shows us why buying refurbished tools is good for the planet and you wallet. :: Your baby spends a significant amount of time in his or her crib. Learn what you should be looking for in a mattress. :: Have you stopped by the Internet's Landfill Alternative yet?...

Somebody asked me the other day what the life cycle impacts of a wind turbine are and how long it would take to pay back the energy used to manufacture one of those tall majestic beasts. Considerable amounts of raw materials and energy are required to make these big windy wonders. I was stumped of course as that information is not something one can just come up with. I found this report on Renewable Energy Access from 2005, which looks like an answer to that question for two models by Danish manufacturer, Vesta. The life cycle assessment of a 3.0 MW wind turbine indicates that it would have to generate electricity for only 6.8 months , of their assumed 20 year useful life, before it produces as much energy as is used during the manufacturing phase. “This, they say, means the turbine model earns its own worth more than 35 times during its energy production lifetime.” Read the article here. Image credit: Sandia National Laboratories. ...

General Motors announced a partnership with Coskata, Inc., a renewable energy company with the means to produce low-cost ethanol from virtually any carbon-containing feedstock including biomass, municipal solid waste -- even used car tires. The largest children's book publisher is announcing new green measures and are claiming to be the industry leaders in sustainability. But are they really? Speaking of books, here are 5 ways for bookworms to help save trees. What does "natural" mean when seen on a package in the grocery store? Not much, and the Food & Drug Administration aims to keep it that way. Recycled glass is a great alternative to some harsher ceramic tiles in your kitchen or bathroom; here are 6 options if you're on the prowl for new tile. Most Huggable is a regular roundup of some of the top stories from Hugg.com, TreeHugger’s user-generated green news site. Why not submit your own green news?...

What's the rumpus over at TreeHugger Forums? Here are some of the highlights...

1) Forums user Alex Szczech polls the TreeHugger Forums community about an increase in the national gasoline tax. Though the National Surface Transportation Policy and Revenue Study Commission's current recommendation is for $0.40 per gallon over five years, Alex says, "Personally, I'd support an immediate additional $2 a gallon tax on gasoline, with the revenues going towards building a viable passenger train system for this country." Click on over to vote in the poll and make your voice heard.

2) User pdxuser is trying to avoid plastics, even though "It's hard to avoid plastic. But if I can avoid plastic, what materials should I prefer? Realistically, the alternatives are going to be things like glass, metals, wood, paper, plastic-coated paper (eg, for liquids), possibly bamboo. Most of the plastic I buy is from the grocery store, so it's not as though I can buy juice in a locally-harvested bamboo bottle, or a bioplastic bottle, either. So what are the best alternatives, what are the least-good alternatives, what alternatives are worse than plastic in the first place? Any?"

3) Lastly, Forums user engineeringirl says, "I am finally so frusterated with my neighbors who do not recycle. We recently got a new recycling company, and instead of having to pick up our own bins at city hall, the new company dropped off new bins on our doorsteps. In addition, the new company accepts almost everything. I originally thought people were not recycling becuase they did not want to go pick up their own bin, but when the new ones came, I thought people would start to recycle. No such luck!" Let's talk solutions, people.

Round-ups of the best conversations in TreeHugger Forums appear several times a week here at TreeHugger; register for free and login to become part of the conversation for a greener future today....

Image courtesy of jimg944 via flickr While the U.S. continues to drag its feet in committing to firm emissions cuts, European countries have seemingly been enmeshed in a protracted race to determine which will assert the greenest bona fides. Norway - ever the ambitious one - has now said that it aims to go carbon neutral by 2030, or 20 years ahead of its earlier target. It plans on doing so by cutting emissions at home and by investing in environmental projects - primarily focused on fighting deforestation in developing countries - to obtain carbon credits. How all this will come about, however, remains unclear; indeed, several environmental groups have already hit out against the government for being too vague, prompting the Oil and Energy Minister to acknowledge: "We don't know how we will achieve the goals yet, and this is challenging."...

Photo credit: wasaby TreeHugger has seen lots of ways to recycled your old cell phones, including ways to get some cash for your old phone and an option from TerraPass. With the average lifespan of a cell phone in this country at about 18 months (which adds up to 130 million entering the waste stream every year), there is certainly no shortage of supply for the old talkies; the guys at VoIP-News have done some digging and found 50 ways to recycle them all. From earning cash back to helping others; perfect working condition to scrap parts only; drop it off or mail it in; manufacturer take-back to NGOs, there is a match in the list of 50 for whatever cell phone situation you find yourself in. While a lot of the options may be familiar to the conscientious electronics recycler, it's handy to have them all in one place. Find the right match for your drawerful at ::VoIP-News...

[Ed. note: This is the second of two guest posts (here's Part I) by Katie Carpenter, a Discovery Hot House producer. Part of the original group trained to give Al Gore's 'An Inconvenient Truth' slide show, she recently met up with the other climate crusaders to update their training; this the conclusion to her story of the weekend.] When we left off yesterday, updating the slideshow was just underway; after new data and graphs, they also give us short videos we can incorporate into our slide presentations, for those hard-to reach skeptics in the back of the room who need a little entertainment to open up their minds. The top box office hits here this weekend are the Blue Man Group’s “Earth to Humanity” video, and an independent film produced by someone named Ken Burns III called “Futureflix”, a gorgeous little tongue-in-cheek movie about the future, with a running time of four minutes and a logo in the style of Netflix that is universally accepted now as cool. We have an incredible talk on the current state of Antarctica by a NASA climate modeler named Ken Mankoff, with pictures he took last week while drilling for ice cores, hot off the presses so to speak. Then we listen, rapt, to a report on new findings called “How To Avoid Dangerous Climate Change: A Target for US Emissions Reductions” which is intended to help us navigate the minefield of disparate goals – can we live with a global temperature increase of 5 degrees Fahrenheit, or should we all be more aggressive? Do we have the political will to even accomplish that? Can we set our deadline at 2020, or do we have to look farther out? Can we bring our emissions levels down to the 2000 level by 2080, or to 50% of where we are now by 2100? There are competing bills in Congress, diverse goals kicking around the UN, and very little consensus on this issue. We toss that around in small groups for an hour, agree that it is way too complicated for the likes of us -- “above our pay grade”, as Al likes to say -- then go for coffee. Hey, it is rocket science, and it’s hard. For all of us, even the PhD.’s in the room....

TreeHugger knows that all leather is not created equal, but there are ways to do it greener than the conventional chromium-tanning process. One of those greener ways to use the remarkably durable material is to recycle it, by using industrial scraps and byproducts of other manufacturing; if it's going to be used anyway, we might as well clean up the mess and put it to good use. Such is the strategy of EcoDomo, who make durable, versatile floor tiles and wallcoverings out of a recycled leather composite. The company collects scraps discarded from producing upholstery for leather goods like BMWs and luxury handbags; the scraps are ground into shreds and mixed with water, natural rubber, and acacia bark. The manufacturing is done a closed loop system to conserve water, and the finished product is eligible for LEED credits as a recycled, low-VOC material -- check out the green features section of their site for more details and hit the jump for more pics of the tiles in action. ::EcoDomo via ::Metropolis...

lake%20ontario%20canada%20wind%20power.jpg

Authorities in the Canadian Province of Ontario are reported to be preparing to lift a longstanding moratorium on development of offshore wind projects in the Ontario portion of the Great Lakes. Wind industry sources confirmed to the Toronto Star that the moratorium's end is imminent. (Toronto visible on NW shore of Lake Ontario, pictured.)

Offshore wind energy, while typically associated with ocean projects, offers significant opportunities in the Great Lakes. According to one study by Helimax Energy Inc., the strong and consistent winds typically over the lakes could generate up to 47,000 megawatts of clean electricity – nearly double Ontario's existing power capacity.

Earlier, the wisdom of the November-2006 announced moratorium had been called into question when it was discovered that some U.S. states, such as Ohio, were actively moving forward with offshore projects in Lake Erie despite the Ontario policy. Why a moratorium? The usual impetus: property values....

We’ve had a “Seen In…” series going for a few years now, in which TreeHuggers post on a particular "eco-friendly" (ahem) product or topic that they randomly passed by on the street. This “Seen in Seattle” photo wasn’t personally snapped by us, but by our good friend Brad Hole, president of Sustainable Group. We just couldn’t resist posting so you’d get a chuckle on this fab Friday. ...

TreeHugger loves plug-in hybrids, and here is the best one yet- the Cruzin Cooler goes 13 mph for up to 15 miles on a charge, and carries a case of ethanol-enhanced biofuel in the form of ice cold beer. Not for San Francisco though- "These units are designed for the operation with only one passenger not weighting more than 200 pounds and at least 18 years of age. These coolers are designed to be used on flat level paved surfaces only, grades may make the cooler run at excessive speeds downhill." Silly video of cooler racing below the fold....

In case you're wondering, no, that isn't a typo: A team of botanists from London's Kew Gardens has discovered a new species of "self-destructing" palm in Madagascar; the tree is so large that it is clearly visible in satellite images. The long-lived, 60 foot high palm - named Tahina spectabilis (Malagasy for "blessed" or "to be protected") - had never before been seen flowering until this past year, when the botanists caught a glimpse of its spectacular flowering pattern. "At first there's only a very long shoot like asparagus from the top of the tree and then, a few weeks later, this unique shoot starts to spread. At the end of this process you can have something like a Christmas tree," said Mijoro Rakotoarinivo. She and her colleagues found that the tree expended so much energy flowering that it eventually died - or "self-destructed". ...

Photographed by Lauren Greenfield for Elle.com. Full story can be found in February issue of Elle. We’ll file this one under ‘unexpected’. According to Elle, it seems Heidi Fleiss, legendary nineties madame is in the process of launching an eco-friendly brothel for women in Nevada. The site for her stud farm is a 60 acre plot of land near Pahrump where she just opened a laundromat called Dirty Laundry. Apparently she even considers herself a TreeHugger, but she won’t be letting her environmental values compromise the decadence for her clients. Ecorazzi gives us the following summary: ...

At first glance you might not see the connection between the ethical fashion label Alabama Chanin and the civil rights photographer Charles Moore. Working in two different eras, in totally different mediums, the two seem poles apart. But, by choosing to align her collection for Fall/Winter 08 with these iconic images taken in the 1960s, the designer Natalie Chanin is placing the work of her fashion label within an important historical context of working towards a fair and ethical society. Moreover the connection between Alabama Chanin and Charles Moore is personal as well as historical as Natalie tells us......

It's cold out there, so think of those little birds and how they must feel. We couldn't resist this DIY bird feeder, made out of a sardine can and an empty Pringles container. How simple is that. And be sure to keep it filled with food such as sunflower seeds and peanuts. However the real story is water--it is vital for birds' survival in cold weather. Birds need to drink water, even on the coldest days because if small birds lose just 10 per cent of their body weight they can become dehydrated and die. They need to have a bath as well. Apparently this keeps their feathers in good shape. Birds depend on their feathers for warmth and insulation, as well as for flying, so it is important to have some fresh water for them. It's easy enough to do--hang the lid of a garbage can from a tree. They can bathe and drink in the rainwater, or melted snow. If you get a bird bath make sure that you break up the icy top so that they can reach the water underneath. :: Observer...

It's our first winter living in Jerusalem and we thought that the frosty days we've been having is because we are high in the mountains. Not so. Israel is passing through an unbelievably cold, cold-spell. Pipes are bursting in people's homes all over Jerusalem, and millions of shekels of crops have been lost in greenhouses in the desert. It was good timing coming across Yael Mer's slipper rocking chair. While there is no mention on her site whether she uses sustainable wood resources, or anything enviro-friendly for that matter in its construction, we love how the chair offers a 2-in-1 solution that can keep your toes cozy and your energy flowing, as you rock back and forth. ...

In spite of San Francisco's enlightening example, and Australia and China and other nations' plans for all-out bans on plastic bags, the world still uses a million of the suckers each minute. In Sweden 70% of surveyed consumers support a ban on plastic carrier bags, but the country's Environmental Protection Agency says no way. What's going on? Part of the issue lies in Sweden's highly developed system of incinerating plants - keeping plastic in the waste stream ups the energy content of the stream. So while youth-oriented PUB department store recently introduced biodegradable shopping bags and major grocery stores ICA and Konsum will also do trials, a very vocal group of researchers at Chalmers has come out strongly against bio-bags and in favor of green polypropylene instead. Find out why below the fold....

Eat Good Bacteria. Might be the take away message of a recent study published in the journal of Molecular Systems Biology. The scientific team, including Jeremy Nicholson a biochemist at Imperial College London, found that even a small amount of 'good' bacteria introduced to the digestive track of a mouse can create profound changes in the mouse's metabolism. In what has been a controversial issue, the solid study points to the increasing evidence that living healthy, reducing disease, and fighting obesity, at least in part, might be helped if we all ate a few more 'good' bacteria....

:: Try cooking with a vegetable you've never eaten before. How do Jerusalem artichokes sound? :: You can lose weight without changing your diet. We show you how. :: No more wire hangers, ever! :: Here's another use for orphan socks: Arm insulators for the outdoors. :: Collin shows us five ways to reuse empty wine bottles. :: Discover how an apple a day can keep asthmatic wheezing away. :: Laptop versus desktop: Which is the eco-friendlier option? :: Learn three easy ways to reduce paper waste in the kitchen. And save some money in the process. ...

Under the auspices of a new $4 million, 3-year program organized by New York's Energy Research and Development Authority and several energy companies, geologists from the State Museum will spend the upcoming summer studying old natural gas wells and other features in the Southern Tier and in western N.Y. as potential sites for carbon sequestration. The energy companies - which include AES Eastern Energy and Nornew - will contribute $2.3 million towards the effort. The geologists will study sandstone, limestone and shale formations, which provide the best storage potential for carbon dioxide, using seismic equipment; their target will be "from 2,500 feet to 10,000 feet underground," according to John Martin, a senior project manager. They hope to identify areas of fractured limestone or sandstone - ideal sites for holding carbon dioxide - in the process of constructing a 3-D underground map of the regions. According to the DOE's latest estimates, the country's underground saline formations may be able to store up to 500 billion tons of CO2; it hopes to lower the cost of storage to less than $10 per ton by 2015. Via ::The Times Union: State seeks deep sites to hold greenhouse gas (newspaper) See also: ::Carbon Sequestration Financials Look Weak, ::Southern Illinois To Sequester Wisconsin's C02 ...

New York TreeHuggers, mark your calendars: the Green Gadgets Conference is coming! Friday, February 1, our pals at Inhabitat along with Marc + Alt Partners will present the one day conference all about the greening of the consumer electronics industry (we mentioned it before). As displayed at CES this year, gadgets and electronics are going to continue to get bigger, faster, and more energy intensive (with a notable exception or two); the conference will bring together industry leaders, entrepreneurs, journalists, and designers to talk about it, and figure out ways to make it all greener. We think it'll be a really interesting day -- presentations from inventor Natalie Jeremijenko, Mary Lou Jepsen of One Laptop Per Child and digital environmental artist Chris Jordan are just the tip of the iceberg -- and we can help you get there. The conference organizers have graciously offered a 20% discount for TreeHugger's readers for one week, until next Thursday, January 24. Hit the jump to get the code and more details about the conference....

[Ed. note: This is the first of two guest posts by Katie Carpenter, a Discovery Hot House producer. Part of the original group trained to give Al Gore's 'An Inconvenient Truth' slide show, she recently met up with the other climate crusaders to update their training; this is her story of the weekend.] Nearly a hundred climate crusaders from Al Gore’s advocacy group, The Climate Project, gathered over the weekend in a suburb of Washington, DC, for two days of meetings designed to reconnect and retrain them for the climate battles ahead. They represent the first wave of the “climate cavalry”, trained in Nashville a year ago by Mr. Gore and scientists from The Climate Institute. They are now working across the North East and Mid-Atlantic region, presenting various versions of Al Gore’s slide show to schools, churches, conferences and community centers from Maryland to Maine. I am lucky enough to be one of them. “We are very proud of you,” said Roy Neel, Al Gore’s Chief of Staff who flew in to deliver the welcoming remarks to the group gathered in the Chevy Chase Village Hall on this unseasonably warm January morning. “You have given more presentations that Al and I ever thought possible – to date, more than a million people have seen that slide show, personally delivered around the world!"...

all%20the%20presidential%20candidates.jpg

The world’s scientific community has determined that global warming is a human-caused crisis of the highest order, threatening our economic prosperity, international security, environmental stability, and the survival of millions. The need to act is urgent: the chairman of the Nobel Peace Prize-winning Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change says, “If there’s no action before 2012, that’s too late. What we do in the next two or three years will determine our future.” It’s obvious to nearly everyone that energy and global warming are two of the most important issues the next president will deal with. Most of the candidates understand that these are central issues for the country, and all of them know voters care. Every Democratic candidate has a plan and addresses the issue on her or his website. Of the Republicans, website coverage ranges from none (Romney, Huckabee, Paul), to a slight nod (Giuliani), to flat-out acceptance and concern: McCain says in a video clip on his website, “I believe climate change is real. I think it’s devastating. I think we have to act.”...

Photo credit: Jungle Jim's International Market Perhaps it was bound to happen: though Time magazine trumpeted "Forget Organic. Eat Local" last year, columnist Joel Stein throws pie in the face of Michael Pollan's Omnivore's Dilemma of figuring out what to eat and how to get it locally. Stein, with tongue at least partially in cheek (we hope), posits that "the idea that this [eating locally] is the best way to eat, that most of our food should really come from within 100 miles, that farm-to-table produces a superior diet, is antiglobalization idiocy." How does he figure? "Eating in the 21st century is part travel, part cultural mash-up...I want the world to come to me, to see it shrink so small it fits on my plate. I want Maine lobster in broth flavored with Spanish saffron. I want Alaskan salmon, truffles from Europe, a bottle of Beaujolais, a damn pineapple." To "prove" that this is better than Pollan's eat-local ethic, Stein decides to cook a meal with ingredients that all came from further than 3,000 miles away from his Los Angeles home. While it's possible to do so, it proved an interesting exercise when it came time to go shopping....

Image courtesy of Mike Weston via flickr Will PHEVs provide the hoped-for benefits that many have ascribed to them? Well, yes, a new study published in ES&T has found - though the ultimate energy savings and emissions reductions will depend on the fuel economy of the cars they replace. According to the authors, the U.S.'s spare nighttime electricity capacity could power a large fleet of PHEVs; since they require about 10 hours of nightly charging, Joe Sullivan of the Argonne National Laboratory, one of the authors, nighttime electricity could allow PHEVs to replace up to 34% of today's light-duty fleet - and only consume 13% of the fuel used nationally for electricity generation in the process....

For years we have been saying that solar powered air conditioning just makes sense- if you are boiling in Phoenix the sun is probably shining really hard. We have seen big units, evaporative units that won't work in humid climates, a few vaporware units and even home-made absorption chillers Now it looks like a Spanish company, Rotartica, has put it all together, by combining evacuated tube thermal collectors with a water-heated absorption chiller, and sized it at 4.5Kw (1.28 tons) for residential use, all packaged in a neat little box....

Last week we highlighted here the New York Times' comparison of CFLs and consumers' feelings, and some treehuggers opined that adapting to change just takes time, and the right bulb! But the damning statistic in this WSJ commentary - that just 5 % of the light bulb market is buying CFLs - is a bit worrisome. This week a comparison by Sweden's SP Technical Research Institute of CFLs gives credence to the idea that CFL quality is even more fickle than consumers' preferences. SP tested eight different CFL bulbs from manufacturers such as Philips, Osram, and IKEA, and found that none of them - not one! - lived up to manufacturers claims for strength of the light (lumens). Temperatures of -10C and below caused some bulbs to flicker, others to not even light. Bulbs took from two to seven minutes to come to full strength. But the most damning part of the test was the report's demonstration that quality is completely unconnected to local price - which ran between US $5.50 and $21.86 (gotta hand it to IKEA as the low-price/quality leader). These quality lapses pose a problem for all of us in the many countries (Australia first in 2009, and then Canada, parts of Europe and the US) that are banning incandescent bulbs. But stay tuned for Part II of this post, where we look at Swedish mercury-free CFL technology, good-looking and (relatively) low-cost LEDs from China, as well as visit the sunny Parans lighting guys in gloomy Gothenburg. Via ::Teskfakta (Swedish only) ...

TreeHugger has been a fan of Arbor since they launched a few years ago, designing snowboards and skateboards out of bamboo and other sustainable materials. But when we got a sneak peek at their new Slater skateboard, we couldn’t help but take it for a test ride down Main Street. The Slater Series, Arbor’s first signature skate, is designed to honor acclaimed surfer and eight-time world champion Kelly Slater. ...

Ecorazzi: Does Jamie Oliver Have Egg On His Face Over Sainsbury’s Comments? by Parrish. "...a few masters of the British cuisine (if you can call English food, cuisine…I joke) have been doing their part to shed light on the horrible realities of factory farming. And now it looks like Mr. Jamie Oliver has caused quite the stir." Inhabitat: VIDEO: Chad Oppenheim on Sustainable Architecture by Emily Pilloton "Check out our latest video interview of Miami architect Chad Oppenheim, designer of the stunning green COR Tower for Miami. In this video he discusses Miami as a booming real estate and construction economy, and his take on sustainability as a factor in that growth."...

When we first saw Francois Perrin's addition in Brentwood, California (a nice part of LA), the simplicity and use of basic materials was attractive. Perrin says it "is a Guest House for an anthropologist to store the collection he gathered during 20 years in Asia and host visiting Buddhist scholars." It does all the right things- "It uses cross ventilation from the specific position of the opening s to cool down the building in extreme summer heat, catching the ocean’s breeze in the afternoon through the operable skylight on the roof. Regarding the energy, there are solar panels on the roof and the client plans to add some wind turbines to be fully off the grid." But what the heck is going on with the plastic walls?...

There is nary an LED or CFL among them that we can tell, but they are all re-used, repurposed or reimagining what a fixture might be made of, from corplast sheets to dried flower petals to papier-mache to, as illustrated, old silverware. Well, some of them must be LED or they would be sure to catch fire. Slide show at ::New York Times ...

We believe that less is more, but a 100 square foot art gallery? According to the New York Times, that is where Julia Trotta hangs her art. Fake Estate, as Ms. Trotta calls it, began life as a utility closet for a photographer’s studio in the Chelsea Arts Building. The photographer adopted three children from Ethiopa and eventually left the city, Ms. Trotta said, but kept his studio. The closet was advertised as a storage area, she said, for $650 (now $725). “When I took it, the janitors were poking fun at me and that’s how I found out” ::New York Times...

Italy may lead the way in producing goods that boast the EU Eco-label, but unfortunately not everything is quite as green and pleasant as that statistic would suggest. It seems Italy has an unnervingly high appetite for bottled water, making it the largest consumer in Europe. According to the BBC, Italians drink 270 brands of bottled water, producing over 200,000 tonnes (220,462 tons) of plastic waste (could this be a contributing factor in the recent tragedy of the trash?). We’ve noted this before, but bottled water standards are often no better, and sometimes worse, than regular tap water standards. As the man from the BBC points out, this trend may have more to do with fashion, branding and status than it does health or taste. ::BBC::via YouTube::...

Second in a series of posts about that third of our day spent beavering away at our chosen craft. [Verdant: green, lush, rich Vocation: calling, life's work, mission, purpose, function; profession, occupation, career, job, employment, trade, business, line, line of work, métier.] A Green Electrician might:...

Just quickly—yet another green surfboard. Details are a bit thin about this line of boards from a French designer, but its looks like they go in for expanded polystyrene (EPS) as having greater longevity and recyclability than standard poly blanks. And it seems like they might also use flax fabric instead of the usual fibreglass skin. This all appears to be bound in place with a 50% bio-based resin. They don’t say what is in their particular resin, but hint at the likes of soy, corn and sugar, and suggest they’re currently testing a 100% bio-based resin for future production. No doubt folk like Ocean Green and Biofoam will have a weather eye on such developments. ::Ecomoana, via a web search. ...

illinois%20farmer%20protests%20oil%20pipeline%20treehugger.jpg

On several occasions, we have posted about the coming Texification of the U.S. Upper Midwest, a process set into motion by piping Alberta Tar Sands crude oil southward, through Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Illinois. Plans now include piping the Alberta sour all the way down to the Texas coast, where it can be refined and products exported.

By connecting the southern Illinois oil transport hub of Patoka with an Enbridge pipeline near Pontiac, the Canadian firm, in partnership with Exxon Mobil, could beat out other companies that have also announced plans for pipelines connecting Canada to the Gulf Coast. Several farmers are standing in Enbridge's way, however, refusing to let the company build the pipeline through their land.

We empathize with the Illinois landowners who have said "no" to the proposal; and, we are amazed that a Canadian company has the gall to threaten eminent domain to take US farmers land away to lay pipeline. (Wouldn't this ignite a prairie fire if it were a Middle Eastern based corporation?)...

iron_gate_dam_klamath_river_california_treehugger_american_rivers.jpg

It took two years and hundreds of hours of negotiating, but we did it. Yesterday American Rivers and 25 other parties announced a landmark agreement to end decades of disputes over water in the Klamath Basin, and chart a better future for the river and its fishing and farming communities. Now, the next step is to get PacifiCorp, owned by Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway, to remove its four outdated dams on the Klamath. While we have a lot to celebrate with yesterday’s agreement, we are still working to finalize the dam removal agreement with PacifiCorp, which is an essential part of the package. The Klamath River, flowing in Oregon and California, once supported the third-largest salmon run on the west coast. But the construction of four dams and years of irrigation diversions have taken their toll. Today, Klamath salmon and steelhead runs are a fraction of their historic abundance, with some near extinction. This has hurt the Karuk, Yurok, Klamath and Hoopa tribes whose livelihoods and cultures depend on the river and its salmon. It has been a disaster for fishermen, who have lost hundreds of millions of dollars because of fisheries shut-downs. And it has created uncertainties and difficulties for the basin’s farmers, who need a reliable supply of water for their crops....

According to a recent survey released by UK organic children’s clothes company, Arabella Miller, 62% of parents said that they made greener choices after having children and 80% now defined themselves as a “green parent.” But I’ve got to admit that I question some of the choices....

All right, it's not really the queen eating her son's sandwiches, it's Helen Mirren... But the point is that Prince Charles, in his Duchy Originals line, has now come out with a range of sandwiches. Can't you just see him in the kitchen at Highgrove, whipping up a little snack for Camilla for tea, and thinking how nice it would be if we could all eat the same thing... Or maybe he went to Pret a Manger one day and thought that the take-away sandwiches there were so crap that he could do better. One can pick from smoked mackerel with mayo, english gooseberry dressing and watercress on poppyseed and rye bread, or organic brie cheese with tomatoes and cranberry sauce on multi-grain bread or roast beef or classic cheddar cheese with organic tomato relish. A famous chef did a taste comparison and found them to be better than Pret or Marks & Spencer: now that's royalty. Duchy Originals have gone from weakness (losing money in the beginning) to strength: annual profits rose to more than £1.5 million last year. And all the money goes into a foundation which supports a range of charities that have so far received more than £6 million. So pip pip and eat up. :: Daily Telegraph ...

It looks like greening tours is all the new rage in the music world. Jack Johnson might have been the first one to do a green tour back in 2005. Recently Radiohead set an inspiring example by reducing their environmental impact when on tour by working with Best Foot Forward. Now, Mute Records has announced that José González is greening his North America Tour in spring this year. González is a Swedish indie folk singer-songwriter of Argentine descent whose first single ‘Heartbeats’ you probably know from the amazing Sony Bravia advert with the bouncy balls. ...

:: Before you call in for Thai, try your hand at making your own pad thai. :: How do you tell if a carbon-offset company is completely bogus? :: Learn how to use simplicity as the solution to dealing with everything in your life. :: Install a Firefox plug-in that tells you how much carbon dioxide your next flight will produce. :: This creative fusion of small-space storage and design is not only free, but it's downloadable, to boot. :: Sew an "octopus chair" from old pants; shock and awe your dinner guests. :: Your garden may be sleeping, but your job as gardener is far from over. Learn what essential gardening tasks you should be tending to. :: Can you picture yourself running your own non-profit organization? This online game lets you do exactly that. :: Get rid of old towels and help homeless dogs and cats at the same time. find out how. ...

Recent marine surveys by scientists in the Great Barrier Reef have found that an explosion in the population of the crown-of-thorns starfish has decimated parts of the region’s reefs and are now threatening part of the so-called Coral Triangle – one of the world’s richest regions of coral reef biodiversity. Located between Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Papua New Guinea, Palau and the Solomon Islands, the Coral Triangle is home to some of the most genetically unique marine species. Researchers found that the predatory starfish have almost destroyed some of the beautiful reefs found near Halmahera, Indonesia, with 20% of the reefs already reduced to only 5% coral cover. ...

Between 2000 and 2007, car use doubled in the Valley of Mexico, the region that includes Mexico City and the surrounding metropolitan area. In 2007, 33 percent of residents said they used cars as a means of transport, compared with 17 percent in 2000, according to a recent study by the National Institute of Statistics, Geography and Informatics, known as INEGI. Some 19 percent of cars driven nationwide in Mexico are used vehicles imported from the United States. These vehicles sometimes lack pollution controls that have become standard even in Mexico, contributing to excess air pollution. Meanwhile the city is trying to improve public transportation options, and is building a second Bus Rapid Transit line, known as the Metrobús, as we've noted in the past. Currently only 74,000 people use the Metrobús daily. :: Via Excelsior ...

In Scandinavia it's almost a given that the shiny, gorgeous, and expensive red and yellow peppers (for some reason there are few green ones) at the grocery store are imported from Holland, the land of the never-ending greenhouse. So peppers aren't the best local, sustainable mid-winter choice, and in fact they aren't even available at the all-organic eco-store this season. But sometimes a potato, a parsnip or a beet just can't cut it. Hothouses' biggest cost is usually the energy it takes to keep them hot, so growers naturally look for ways to cut that growing bill. Grower-entrepreneur Jaan Vion in the quaintly-named Dutch town of Beetgum is switching his boiler from natural gas to a 25% more efficient wood-fired CHP, and he's the first in Holland to spring to use a system that captures the CO2 generated from the exhaust and after "scrubbing" pipes it back into the greenhouse as a stimulant to help the peppers grow. Vion's is no rinky-dink project - the boiler is 5 MW in capacity and uses 2.6 tons(!) of wood per hour - to support 8 hectares of pepper production. A tomato grower in Sweden and a Canadian greenhouse will soon get the same system. Via PrivataAffarer (Swedish)...

Image courtesy of Wrote via flickr Amidst renewed fears over the impact of biofuels on the environment, which a recent Royal Society report warned could "do more harm than good," the European Union has issued a draft law that would propose a ban on the imports of biofuels derived from crops grown on certain types of land — such as forests, wetlands and grasslands. It would also require them to deliver a — as yet undetermined — "minimum level of greenhouse gas savings." The ban would particularly target environmentally harmful crops like palm oil, which Europe imports from Southeast Asia; it could also affect a few crops grown in Latin America, including soy, wheat and sugar beets. The decision to enforce a ban comes in the wake of a rash of studies that have downplayed or thoroughly discredited some of the more bullish claims made by biofuel producers. ...

Michael Stuparyk, the Star Last summer there was a spate of articles about municipalities from Washington DC to California considering the banning of new drive-through restaurants. Some because they are ugly- "One of the things we always hear from residents is that they want a more walkable downtown" says one politician, but mainly because of pollution and greenhouse gases. Others protest, saying they like the convenience and speed. But is it faster? Two Toronto Star journalists tried it out. ...

Starbucks has announced that it is moving forward with its long-promised plans to serve only milk produced by cows free of the artificial hormone known as rBGH (recombinant bovine growth hormone). According to the company, all of its core dairy products (fluid milk, half and half, whipping cream and eggnog) are now rBGH-free. Unfortunately, Starbucks also plans to stop selling organic milk in its stores next month. The company has stocked organic milk at U.S. shops since 2001. Starbucks spokesman Brandon Borrman said the original reason for offering it was to cater to customers who wanted milk from cows that weren't given rBGH....

There is really nothing new about many of the modern prefabs that everyone is going gaga over; back in the 70's Finnish architect Matti Suuronen designed the Venturo, a bit less extreme than his wonderful Futuro House. It appears to have been used primarily as gas stations for BP....

Anybody remember the cost rule for personal computer purchasing? Old Rule (circa 1985):- The "system" you really wanted cost US$5,000. My 1984 $5K baby was one of those Compaq twin-floppy 'Portables' (pictured) weighing 28 pounds naked - much heavier with the expensive, resource-consuming, wheeled, hardshell shipping case needed to take it flying. Compaq's fan roared just to keep things cool. My printer of choice at the time, which cost as much as a low end "desktop" PC does these days, was a real lunker of a dot-matrix. New Rule:- The laptop you most want costs US$2,000, no printer or case needed, really. Not only have computer and peripheral designs gotten drastically lighter in 23 years, they have become incredibly more energy efficient and convenient to live with. The long term design changes seem lost in the debate over "how green is my MacBook Air," which focuses, symbolically, on a tiny bit of PVC coated wire - replaced with what sort of wire coating we don't even know??? Two take home messages to think beyond the grams and few years:-...

The folks at Terrapass have just unveiled their latest product aimed at making carbon offsetting accessible and easy for the masses. The Carbon Balanced Business is, in fact, an extension of work the company has already been doing with businesses and organizations to offset their footprint. Now, however, businesses of all sizes can offset their emissions by using a simple, easy to use carbon calculator that walks you through the various emissions-causing activities of your business, such as on-site electricity use, off-site server energy use, corporate travel, employee commutes, etc. The hope is that companies who previously have not considered offsetting due to the time and complication of auditing their impact will be able to quickly and efficiently calculate their carbon footprint and take steps to a)reduce it, and b) offset the rest. For more thoughts on carbon offsetting, check out our guide on How to Green Your Carbon Offsets, and if you are looking for more information on Terrapass in particular, take a look at our interview with VP of Marketing Adam Stein, or read up on Terrapass’ staff resolutions for 2008. ::Terrapass::via site visit:: ...

Separately, TreeHugger likes both Eco-Libris and BookMooch; what's not to like about two organizations that encourage reading, plant trees, and help you get new books without having to buy them? In a move that might represent the cosmic aligning of the planets, the two have partnered up (which really makes sense!), making reading, tree-planting and book-swapping easier than ever. ...

In late summer 2007, reports of ice melting were coming at a frenetic pace. Experts were ‘stunned’ when an area of Arctic sea ice almost twice the size of Britain disappeared in a single week. Nearby, the Greenland ice sheet was melting so fast that huge chunks of ice weighing several billion tons were breaking off and sliding into the sea, triggering minor earthquakes. As I note in my new book, Plan B 3.0: Mobilizing to Save Civilization, these recent developments are alarming scientists. If we cannot stop this melting of the Greenland ice sheet, sea level will eventually rise 23 feet, inundating many of the world’s coastal cities and the rice-growing river deltas of Asia. It will force several hundred million people from their homes, generating an unimaginable flood of rising-sea refugees. We need not go beyond ice melting to see that civilization is in trouble. Business-as-usual is no longer a viable option. It is time for Plan B....

2008-01-16_110754-TreeHugger-unicat%20interior.jpg

There is great appeal to the idea living in efficient small spaces and to not being tied down to real estate; that is why we like the minihome or the portabach or container housing. But just as there is as Mercedes can make a Smart Car and a Maybach, there can be a range in mobile living from the light and green to the extreme. This may well be the Hummer of mobile living, the Unicat. This baby is built on a Mercedes Unimog chassis, monster trucks designed for offroad use and for military vehicles. (it was the chassis for the living.be) ...

Darren Higgins for The New York Times Everything is political in Washington and there is a lobbyist for every interest group, so when Nancy Pelosi demanded an “environmentally responsible and healthy working environment” in the house, it meant changing the food in the cafeterias. Then the complaining started. According to Marian Burros in the New York Times, the egg industry complained about the use of cage free eggs and the Dairy industry about hormone free milk. The lobbyists say that the restaurant operators are “hooked by propaganda of animal rights groups” and are “advocates of vegetarianism.”...

When we wrote our post about the new mercury, arsenic and PVC free recyclable low power MacBook Air yesterday, there was some criticism of Apple and of TreeHugger in the comments. After the abuse we took for our survey on fixies, we will take a break from writing surveys and let our commenters do the work. Online Surveys | Free Poll | Email Marketing ...

project%20egg%20jeffrey%20scott%20holland.jpg

In a twist that would make even the Easter Bunny turn a happy shade of green, artist Jeffrey Scott Holland has finally come to his senses and canceled his massive global Easter egg hunt that had been originally planned for this coming spring. And that means he won't be hiding another 10,000 plastic Easter eggs out there in the world for someone to "find" with a piece of his original artwork inside. But the fact that the previous two egg hunts left tens of thousands of these unrecovered plastic eggs out there somewhere in America doesn't exactly make me feel all warm and fuzzy inside either......

Usually in the bike vs car wars, the guy on the bike loses; here are two cases where the result was different. A woman was driving her Buick (illegally) through Nankai University in China, and bumped into a cyclist, which scratched her car. She got out and demanded an apology and payment for damages, while students gathered. They asked what she was doing on campus without a permit and she responded "If I produce my identification document you should be scared to death." ...

Professor Ezio Manzini is certainly no slouch. When he’s not writing books on product service systems, he is attending international symposia on sustainable design in Curitiba, Brazil. And now he is at the forefront of yet another international conference. This time on the “role and potential of design research in the transition towards sustainability.” ...

The other day John was ruminating on the energy efficiencies of slow cooking using ‘crock pots.’ My memory was jogged. I once set my students at a design college the assignment of designing and making a working prototype product that would reduce cooking energy by at least a measurable 25%. “You expect us to design a totally new type of stove in three weeks?” they cried. “Impossible!” Only it wasn’t....

Allen Schaeffer is the executive director of the Diesel Technology Forum. We spoke about the benefits, and surprising attributes, of clean diesel, and the role it has to play in dealing with climate change. Treehugger: Tell us about the Diesel Technology Forum (DTF). Allen Schaeffer: Thank you for taking the time to talk to me today. We are a not-for-profit that represents fuel refiners and companies. We define clean diesel as cleaner engines and the pieces of engines that make it clean, like turbochargers and other things within the engine. We also think about cleaner fuels--ultra low sulfur diesel as well as renewable diesels fuels. And lastly, there is the emissions control technology, the stuff that reduces emissions out of the tailpipe. Our membership happens to mirror those three components (engines, fuels and emissions controls); these include Chevron, BP, GM, VW, Caterpillar, Jon Deere, Bosch, Cummins, Delphi, to name just a few. So we’ve got, not the entire diesel industry, but we have the leading players....

You've read about the brilliant success of the Vélib' in Paris--the free bike system that enables pedestrians to pick up a bike in one place, drive it, and leave it at another station, all for little or no money. Barcelona is also having a love affair with theirs as is Lyons. But somehow the Brussels experiment, CycloCity, has flopped. During three days of research, this treehugger came across only one station in the centre of town, and it was full--almost no one had taken a bike (see picture). Perhaps one could blame it on the cobblestones, or traffic, or climate but Paris, Lyons and Brussels share similar urban traits. Antwerp also has cobblestones and traffic and it was over-run with cyclists, many with carriage contraptions attached to the front of the bicycles for their children. It seems that in Brussels only the tourists use the bicycles to get from one tourist site to another, not the locals. But why is this... ...

:: Don't discard leftover bubbly—use it to make vinegar. Find out how. :: Here's another creative way to reuse an old pillowcase: Turn it into a dress for a little girl. :: Make this pore-shrinking, face-firming mask that will make you feel like you've just had a mini-face-lift. :: Learn how to quit smoking and improve your health through food. :: Get the goods on what the author of The Secret History of the War on Cancer does to reduce her risk of cancer. :: Discover an easy, cost-free way of dealing with amassing souvenirs. :: Here's another cancer-busting superfood: Flax seeds. Learn how to prepare it and what you can eat it with. :: Still clinging to your plastic wrap? Find out why you should give it the boot, for good. :: Give your tired, old lampshade a makeover with one of these quick and easy lampshade projects....

Image courtesy of photofarmer via flickr Confirming what has now become a multi-decadal trend, scientists from the University of New Hampshire have determined that December-March temperatures across the Northeast significantly increased from 1965 to 2005 - by roughly 2.5°F. Elizabeth Burakowski and Cameron Wake, who studied data obtained from weather stations across the region, also found that snowfall totals fell by an average of 8.8 in during the same period - the largest drops occurring in New England - and that the number of days with at least 1 in of snow on the ground dropped by an average of 9 days. The individual data points displayed tremendous variation: Snowfall totals ranged from a low of 13.5 in at Cape May, N.J., to a high of 137.6 in at Oswego, N.Y; some stations even showed increases. Burakowski attributed the reduction in snow-covered days to higher temperatures and the so-called "snow-albedo feedback" - when a lower snow cover allows more warmth to be absorbed by the ground, causing further decreases in cover. ...

Gotta love this advertisement for World Wildlife Fund by Swiss firm Saatchi & Saatchi Simco. ::Ads of the World via ::The Daily Dish...

2008-01-15_171135-TreeHugger-new%20Yorker.jpg

The real estate crisis in most of America has not hit New York yet, so they can still make fun of all-glass buildings and overpriced condos. But how does a New York agent sell a reno of a brownfield project? Andy Borowitz writes:

BRING YOUR ARCHITECT and tell your architect to bring his contractor, plumber, demolition team, and hazmat squad to help carve your dream home from this former Superfund site, listed in the National Register of Condemned Properties. Sequestered in the up-and-coming neighborhood of NoHaSoCa (North of Harlem South of Canada), this almost habitable charmer-in-waiting just needs a little TLC and the removal/disposal of several tons of toxic waste. Perfect for growing family or growing an additional limb. $4.825M." More in ::New Yorker via ::Archinect ILLUSTRATION: PHILIPPE PETIT-ROULET ...

2008-01-15_162340-TreeHugger-copy%20ethanol.jpg

JUON has developed CopyEthanol, a generator that makes ethanol from your leftover and used copier paper. "CopyEthanol produces zero CO2 emissions and is gentle on the environment. In addition, plant derived ethanol is not converted into CO2 emission equivalents. Using CopyEthanol is easy. You merely insert shredded paper into the machine, turn on the switch, insert some more paper into the tank, and then let it sit for three days, during which time a fermentation solution is made. Ethanol is produced by distilling this fermentation solution at the end of the three day period." Imagine, you dump all your waste paper into it during the week and then its Absolut party time Friday at 5. Or you could be practical and put it in your car. ::Diginfo...

We have mentioned before that "drafting," or getting right in behind a truck, does save fuel for the car (or bike) behind, but at great risk of death and dismemberment. Here is proof from 1936, where a bicyclist got up to 100 MPH drafting behind a specially equipped car that fortunately was on a closed track and did not jam on the brakes. Oh, oh, looks like he is on a fixie, too. ::Modern Mechanix...

Greenpeace may have a thing about Macs, and we recognize that they are not perfect (but getting a lot better) but they sure know how to design a beautiful machine and system and I wish I had one. Evidently they are now taking the environmental issues even more seriously; Bruce Nussbaum of Business Week says

what struck me most about Steve Jobs’ presentation was the effort he made in showing how green the 3 lb. Air is. It doesn’t have mercury or arsenic in its LCD and glass. The aluminum frame can be recycled. The circuitry is PVC free. And there is less packing material than other laptops." That sounds like a pretty green start. ::Nussbaum on Design Oh, and it is so energy efficient that it runs five hours on its teensy batteries. ...

We have always loved the humor and art from Castor Canadensis, whether it was the prefab sauna , the recycled tube light, their ultimate flatpack, and my favourite, their demonstration of the power of the compact flourescent. Now they have a new tongue in cheek look at northern classics, the blind stool....

Transforming from svelte sofa to sleek sleeper "by means of a simple gesture," "Book" from the Italian designers at Flou offers up its interpretation of the ideal boundary between day and night. During the day, it is an elegant, modern, linear sofa and elegant; at night, it transforms into a comfortable double-size bed with a slatted mattress support. Fitted with a folding orthopedic sprung mattress or with a Memoform mattress, it can be made in three versions: with a reclining head-board and with rectangular or roller backhead and armrests. A great option for adding sleeping space for guests, or as a do-it-all piece in a studio apartment or other small living space. Hit the jump to see several versions of "Book," and drool over what your living room could look like with one in it. ::Flou via ::Azure...

national%20wetlands%20awards%20environmental%20law%20institute%20USA.jpg

The deadline for nomination forms for the 2008 National Wetlands Awards Program has been extended by 15 days. The National Wetlands Awards Program honors individuals who have demonstrated extraordinary commitment to the conservation and restoration of our nation’s wetlands. All submissions for the 2008 Awards program must be received by January 31, 2008. The 2008 National Wetlands Awards Program will honor individual achievement in six categories: Education and Outreach, Science Research, Conservation and Restoration, Landowner Stewardship, State, Tribal and Local Program Development, and Wetland Community Leader. Organizations and federal employees are not eligible. Awardees will be recognized at a Capitol Hill ceremony in May 2008....

Angus Hutcheson is an AA grad now based in Thailand, developing product and architectural designs. He uses natural, highly renewable materials including timber, raw silk, tree bark and silk cocoons that require minimal energy to process. When a silk diffuser reaches the end of its life, the base and electrical parts can be used with a new diffuser or retrofitted to a new design. It's all made or assembled in his own factory where a safe working environment is maintained at all times. ::Angoworld found in ::Azure shown: Chrysalis Sky floor lamp, silk cocoon and steel....

Photo credit (right): joyner0101 Low-flow showerheads are one of the standard answers to the question, "How can I conserve water at home?" There's no real sacrifice involved; you can still clean yourself every day, you just use less water doing so. We've featured lots of the water-saving devices as part of our advice for saving water when you shower, but this one is worth a special mention. See if this sounds familiar: you stumble in to the bathroom in the morning and turn on the shower. While waiting for it to warm up to "wake up temperature," you check yourself out in the mirror, pick at your teeth, rub the sleep out of your eyes, pat your head and rub your belly, or do whatever until you can verify that hopping in the shower won't be like joining the Polar Bear Club. Unless you've been standing there with your hand under the tap, waiting for it to get just right, chances are that a precious few drops (or a precious few gallons, depending on your showerhead and how long you've been preening) have escaped down the drain. That phenomenon is a thing of the past with this smart head; when the water temperature reaches 95 degrees (plenty warm for getting started, at least), it automatically shuts off, letting you know that it's warmed up and ready; you can finish brushing your teeth or gazing at the scale at your leisure, since you aren't pouring water down your tub's drain anymore....

OK, yurts are no longer a bad hippie joke; they are light and efficient and a viable alternative to traditional construction. We have shown traditional Mongolian yurts, learned from David Masters that living in a yurt is quite comfortable, and seen "updated" yurts before; From near Ottawa, Canada comes the Yurta, Marcin Padlewski and Anissa Szeto's reinvention of the traditional nomadic dwelling. ...

Image courtesy of pingnews via flickr Another day, another sound science policy getting Bushwhacked: The Bush administration is quietly pushing for the elimination of a committee that provides crucial intelligence data for scientists studying everything from climate change to hurricanes and pollution. The Civil Applications Committee, which is under the jurisdiction of the USGS, reviews civilian requests for classified information and makes recommendations to intelligence officials - who exercise the final say in deciding what gets declassified. In its place, the Bush administration would establish a new office in DHS to review these requests and others from various law enforcement agencies. "They are worried. The scientists say this information is very valuable to them, and they are concerned this new office will be looking more at homeland security and law enforcement," said Rep. Norm Dicks (D-WA), chairman of the House appropriations subcommittee that oversees the USGS and a member of the Homeland Security Committee....

TreeHugger loves stackable chairs -- and we've seen some good ones, from stackable versions of classic designs, to one made from recycled car parts, to a couple inspired by a tree trunk -- since they help us get stuff up and out of the way when not in use. Stackers make for good use of space and allow us to do more with less room; all good things. Designer Jun Murakoshi has found one caveat to this sensibility, though: "Almost all stacking chairs will lose a reason for their existence if they are stacked; they will become something that we want to put away." As a response to that, Shelving Chair was born; as its name suggests, it is shelving and storage first, and a chair second. Use it to stack books or albums or whatever you want shelved; when it's dinner party-time and you need more seating, the shelves come down and you've got extra chairs. Smart. Hit the jump for another pic. ::Jun Murakoshi Design via ::pan-dan ...

As the real estate meltdown continues to deepen, some places may hold their value better than others. Perhaps those communities that were designed to be green will be among the best- they cost less to operate, and are designed more densely to make it easy to get around without a car. The Natural Homes Jan/Feb edition picks their ten best. Two are built on old airport sites (in Denver, six million tons of runway concrete were reused to make bike paths) , some are urban infills like Greenbridge, (TreeHugger here) while some look like very pretty suburbs that we might have some questions about. ...

This post is part of an ongoing series. To access all the profiles in this series, visit The Year Ahead.

Who: Summer Rayne Oakes, eco-model and activist Eco-resolution: My resolutions are to do more of the same work that I’ve already been doing—such as modeling, writing, giving talks, and generally spreading the green word. Only this year, I'll do it even better. I’ll also work with and support Energy Action, a coalition of organizations led by students and youths to strengthen the clean energy movement, as much as humanly possible. Outlook for '08: Young voters will make sure their candidates are as green as possible. Speaking of green...Blue will become the new green. Literally. Marketing analysis and studies in psychology show that the symbolic color of the environmental movement will undergo a color shift from green to blue. ...

With the Arctic warming and polar bears in peril, it’s no surprise that children’s mega-publisher Scholastic would find the story compelling enough to do a cover. And I don’t blame them a bit. But while they’ve been putting out quality materials for as long as I can remember, the truth is that few would call their operations environmentally sustainable. And that’s why there’s a movement afoot within Scholastic to change all that… ...

Image Credit Dish a Day Wayne Roberts writes in Alternatives about a major food group that most westerners (but only a 20% minority of people on the planet) are missing out on: insects.

With fusion dishes all the rage, and fooderati clamoring for adventurous ways to blend all the world’s food traditions in one appetizer, it’s only a matter of time before honeyed grasshopper with a watermelon reduction makes the culinary hit parade. French-born chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten, the toast of high-end fusionista, just tested an ant larvae salad for his global restaurant chain’s first Mexican eatery. Sometime soon, customers at old-fashioned greasy spoons will complain: “Waiter, there’s no bug in my soup.”...

The plan to build new power lines from Western Pennsylvania and West Virginia to the Washington DC area looks like a good way to increase the carbon "footprint" of East Coast city dwellers. According to testimony at a a formal public hearing, it was learned that an agency of the US Federal government encouraged construction of power transmission lines across state lines without examination of distributed power options closer to the customer base. And, of course, it is pure coincidence that the lines will be fed by coal fired power plants. First you blow up the mountain tops and then you cross forested lowlands with transmission lines. No wait. First you pass a law which gives the Federal Government supreme decision making authority over routing of the transmission lines. Then, you blow up the mountain tops......

Jonathan Player for the International Herald Tribune We tend to think that citizens of the UK are far more into ethical living, as Leo Hickman calls it, than North American citizens, but when it comes to fish, we are all in the same boat. According to Elisabeth Rosenthal of the New York Times,

Some 50 percent of the fish sold in the European Union originates in developing nations, and much of it is laundered like contraband, caught and shipped illegally beyond the limits of government quotas or treaties. The smuggling operation is well financed and sophisticated, carried out by large-scale mechanized fishing fleets able to sweep up more fish than ever, chasing threatened stocks from ocean to ocean. ...

London artist Julia Lohmann was in Sapporo, Japan for a three month residency and created The Catch. Anna Bates writes in Iconeye: The 90sq m installation is designed to raise the issue of depleting tuna supplies in Japan, where 80 per cent of what is caught in the Mediterranean is sold. “I wanted to find out whether people know about the issue here,” says Lohmann. “Most people prefer to turn a blind eye.”...

Growing wheat in Saudi Arabia is about as sustainable as growing rice in California (they actually do grow rice in water-short Southern California, subsidized by taxpayer funded projects). Even though wheat is of Middle Eastern origin, it makes no sense to grow it in the desert when the practice depletes groundwater needed for drinking. For the average Saudi, awareness of climate change issues is likely to remain low, but obviously the government elite - long opposed to the Kyoto Treaty or anything like it - has an opportunity to think about a scenario where the Kingdom's wheat suppliers lose yield to a changing climate. So, this sounds like a high risk policy shift.

Saudi Arabia is abandoning a 30-year program to grow wheat that achieved self-sufficiency but depleted the desert kingdom's scarce water supplies. The government will start reducing purchases of wheat from local farmers by 12.5 percent per year from this year, officials from the agriculture and finance ministries said on Tuesday. The kingdom aims to rely entirely on imports by 2016. "The reason is water resources," said one official, who did not want to be identified.

So, in something less than a decade, North American farmers may be able to swap the bushel for the barrel, so to speak. Via::Middle East Online, "Saudi scraps wheat growing to save water" Image credit::Middle East Online....

The Australian island state of Tasmania might have its own 5 megawatt ‘hot rock’ geothermal power station with the next five years, if the plans by new energy company KUTh Energy come to fruition. This zero carbon emission technology pumps water 3 to 5 kilometres underground where is t is heated by 'hot rocks' in the earth’s core. Rising to the surface now as steam the water drives turbines to generate electricity, before being sent below for another cycle....

Could Saab's 2009 9-4x get an electric makeover? Lest we forget, the Swedes made that forward-thinking (or foolhardy) pledge to become oil independent by 2020, which is perhaps why they are jumping on the hybrid electric-car one-upmanship prevalent these days. So far Toyota is the rabbit in the race, while GM is saying the Vue might beat the Volt. Seems like a long time ago that Chris Paine's "Who Killed The Electric Car?" documented the weirdness that drove car companies to have their own electric creations shredded. Now all those same companies are busily dusting off and updating their technology (and Chris Paine's possibly shooting a sequel!). Swedish-based Saab is working on a "city-sized electric car" prototype for its parent company GM, to be ready for viewing next year. Though Saab has been mum on details of how the car will look, it is described as a plug-in to be recharged through regular outlets as well as during driving and braking. The project is seeking over $600,000 in research funds from the Swedish Energy Agency. Meanwhile Saab and Volvo - which displayed its ReCharge hybrid concept in Detroit and spoke of a robot-driven system for vehicle charging - are together with state-owned utility Vattenfall working on an "attractive total hybrid plug-in solution" using lithium ion phosphate battery technology from ETC Battery and FuelCell Sweden. Vattenfall is responsible for "fast-charging plug-in infrastructure" plans. Via ::Autobloggreen and ::NyTeknik (Swedish) ...

It can't be easy to get a massive 19-ton glass squash court into New York's Grand Central Terminal. And out again. Nor is it simple to host what is tagged as ‘the world's largest spectator Squash event’ over a seven-day (10-16 Jan '08) tournament with squash champions from 13 countries, and all their attendant travel, accommodation, and event lighting, etc. In fact, it all adds up to an estimated 54 tons of greenhouse gases. But that's where Juice Energy Inc. have partnered with 2008 Bear Stearns Tournament of Champions....

It's unlikely that anyone's pants are feeling a little too loose after the holidays, but, whether they are desperately needed for practical reasons or not, there's no denying that these belts are a smart choice. We always congratulate designers who come across a whole heap of unused material and find clever ways to start utilizing it. These belts are a great case in point, they are made from old fire hoses and recycled pewter buckles....

Is it art or is it leftovers? This picture is made entirely of food: broccoli trees with added peas, bread mountains with a white sugar waterfall, cauliflower clouds, a vanilla pod ladder, herb foliage and a path of cumin. The artist (?) Carl Warner was inspired by healthy eating campaigns. He assembles these foodscapes from fresh fruit and vegetables and photographs them. He shoots them in separate stages to stop the food from going bad, and puts them together digitally. For those who want to try it, he visualises the scene as a regular landscape, then he works on substituting food for the components. That's the fun part. An Italian scene has pasta fields, mozzarella clouds and a lasagna cart. To give a realistic three-dimensional feel to the photographs, each still life is composed on a table measuring 8ft by 4ft. The foreground is only about 2ft across. There is no word whether he uses organic vegetables but the broccoli forest (pictured) is his favourite. A tip: salmon makes a very good sea. :: Daily Mail ...

In spite of all the bad news about first-generation biofuels, it's still a thrill to hear that Virgin Atlantic announced yesterday a 747 flown on a mixture of about 20 percent biofuel and the rest kerosene will lift off for a test flight in February, many months earlier than planned. The passengerless Virgin flight from London to Amsterdam will be a Boeing 747-400 and will fly the approximately 1.5-hour flight on the alternative fuel, which Virgin spokesman Paul Charles wouldn't identify but said is from a "sustainable" source that doesn't compete with food or freshwater supplies. Algae, perhaps? Virgin moved up the time table for its biofuel pilot flight as initial engine testing results were better than expected, according to the company. Air New Zealand also plans test flights later this year, but biofuel-powered commercial flights are still supposedly a couple of years away. Via NYTimes ...

Our previously featured Chilean designer Rodrigo Alonso continues his work with sustainable design. After coming up with his project N+EW (No More Electronic Waste) and recycling old computer and electronic parts into a bench and a lamp, he has designed a line of T-shirts made with bamboo fabric. Even though bamboo clothing and products are extremely extended in the United States, they were barely present in Latin America. We know its properties for clothing have become so popular that people have called it The New Cotton; but it has also been questioned about its fabric and flooring properties (check out our articles Is bamboo clothing truly green?, and Bamboo Flooring- Is It Really Treehugger Green?). However, it continues to be a greener alternative to cotton so we were happy to see it appearing in Chile. Find out more about the pros and cons of bamboo and more info on the T-shirts in the extended....

All too often we hear about public opposition to wind turbines, so we were thrilled back in November to hear that there was strong indications of widespread support for a plan by B&Q (the UK equivalent to Home Depot) to erect a 2mw wind turbine at its distribution headquarters in Nottinghamshire. Well, it seems like those indications were correct – planning permission for the project has been granted, and in record time. Ecotricity, the developer behind the project, argue that this is a prime example of how the system should work: ...

image by Petz Scholtus This is Part 2 of our interview series about Barcelona’s bike sharing system Bicing. You can read the first interview with Mayra Nieto from the Barcelona City Council here. To find out what Bicing users thought of their relatively new public transport system, we went into the streets and asked them. With 194 stations and over 100.000 users it wasn’t difficult to fget hold of them....

What's the rumpus over at TreeHugger Forums? Here are some of the recent highlights...

1) Forums user davidari poses an interesting question to the community: "What information -- and please be specific -- won you over to the concept of anthropogenic global warming? Was it the IPCC report(s), or had you made up your mind earlier? Was it the media reports regarding the IPCC releases, if not the releases themselves? Was it your circle of friends, or related interests? Was it a gut feeling?" We have a feeling Al Gore will be involved in a few of these answers...

2) User inkabinkaboo182 raises an issue a lot of people would like to have an answer for: "I'm trying to help my Mom work out a way to use public transportation to get to her work and back. And it's killing me. I live near Philadelphia, and right now I'm really wishing that public transportation would be more like it is in Europe. What do you think can be done to get it that way?" Is it as simple as changing the infrastructure, or does it require a total shift in the way we think about where we live, and how we get around? Is it the fault of the suburbs? Short of moving, what can we do to get out of our cars?

3) Lastly, Forums user jcoffman is thinking outside the box; who else is up for it? "What are a couple of your ideas on things that you see everyday that could be changed to be better. BUT...try to think of way to allow the continued convenience. Sure we can all say just stop driving and ride a bike, but the reality is that most people cant do that..." To start off the thread, the idea is this: "Take all of those marketing CD's (like AOL) or those CD's shipped in computer gaming magazines and use re-writable CD's instead of single use. That way folks who get them, rather than tossing them when they are done can re-use them as needed." Anyone else?

Round-ups of the best conversations in TreeHugger Forums appear several times a week here at TreeHugger; register for free and login to become part of the conversation for a greener future today....

First they acquired Burt's Bees; now, Clorox is throwing its hat into the green cleaning ring with the launch of Green Works, a line of "natural" green cleaners designed to compete with the likes of Seventh Generation and method. Unveiled today, Green Works is the first such effort from a major consumer products company, and there's a pretty interesting story behind it all....

GM is pinning its biofuel hopes on Coskata, a biofuel start-up bankrolled by the likes of VC heavyweight Vinod Khosla, which has devised a commercially viable process to bring cellulosic ethanol to market by 2011. Coskata's process relies on a 3-step syngas-to-ethanol process (pictured above) and patented microorganisms to produce ethanol from almost any carbon-based feedstock - garbage, plant waste, even old tires - for roughly half the cost of producing gasoline. It is enzyme independent and wouldn't require the addition of any extra chemicals or other pre-treatments. It consumes less than 1 gallon of water to produce the equivalent of ethanol; this compares very favorably with other processes, which typically consume upwards of 3 gallons. The proprietary process would be used to make ethanol from GM facilities' non-recyclable vehicle parts and waste...

Just as "Smith" the surname has many uses (as the most-employed in the US, UK, Australia and New Zealand) as a family name, "Smith" the storage and stool has many uses around the house. Designed to have seven different functions, the utilitarian piece offers bookshelf-like interior storage space, a surface for sitting or use as a tabletop and casters for easy moving between various home and workspace-related uses. With so many possibilities, it's ultimately up to the user to define what Smith fits best; we think it'd work pretty well for a handful of different things, and can probably be the less to your current more. Available at Nova68 via ::Better Living Through Design...

Yes, we all know that politicians pander to special interest groups in the hopes of picking up key votes. Unfortunately, bicyclists aren't usually one of the interest groups targeted by politicians (although there have been some funny photo-ops of, for instance, John Edwards riding his bike with Lance Armstrong). This bit of news isn't going to change how politicians view cyclists, but it may change how cyclists view a certain politician. According to C.I.C.L.E. (it stands for Cyclists Inciting Change Thru Live Exchange), the Portland bicycle community has unearthed a quote from Barack Obama's energy platform in which he expresses his support for cycling and mass transit. And It turns out that Obama is "the only one of the Democratic presidential candidates who explicitly encourages bicycle transportation in his platform." On the Republican side, the only mention of bicycles comes from Mike Huckabee who, apparently, "rides his bike to the grocery store." (Huckabee is a big proponent of health and wellness, having himself lost over 100 pounds). Read the quote from Obama's platform after the fold: ...

:: Calculate seed sowing and planting dates in seconds with this handy download. :: How does Michael Pollan eat? :: Set your copper pots, utensils, and fixtures all agleam, without pungent industrial solvents. :: Store-bought versions can cost upwards of $100. Learn how to make a seatbelt purse on your own. :: Reduce your home's energy costs, without spending a cent. :: Our soup of the week: Red lentils with lemon. :: Tour a sustainable home, without leaving your seat. :: If you can't avoid going behind the wheel when it snows, here's how to minimize fuel consumption and maximize your safety. ...

Happy 2008 and welcome to a new year of the Carnival of the Green! This week is Carnival of the Green # 110 and it's being hosted by Inventor Spot, a site devoted to the latest inventions, innovations and interesting ideas. So head on over to their site to check out a round up of green news and events from the past few weeks, submitted by other bloggers and green sites. To learn more about Carnival of the Green, where it will be and how to host (we are now booking into 2009!), please click here to link to our previous post. ...

The crystal ball-gazers at Trendwatching.com have come up with eight consumer trends for the eighth year of this millennium in an attempt to pinpoint the movements, ideas and products that will scratch an itch for consumers this year; as with some of the other trends they've spotted, there's something TreeHuggers can take from just about each one. 1. Status spheres Sure, there's the "Traditional Sphere" and "Transient Sphere", but, this year, there's finally an "Eco Sphere" -- that's right, with "millions of consumers now actively trying to greenify their lives, status in the eco-sphere is both more readily available, and increasing in value." Consumers can look for companies making an effort to "Make it green, make it effortless, make it visible if not bold if not iconic, and don't hesitate to point out your competitor's polluting alternatives." ...

Mirage%20Casino%20Las%20Vegas%20Nevada%20-%20Earth%20Patrol.jpg

Nevada doesn't want a nuclear repository; and, it probably won't be made to have one any time soon. US nuclear industry expansion plans are hostage to the lack of a Federally permitted waste management option. Everyone gets that. But, why worry when there's coal? The Americans for Balanced Energy Choices [astroturf group], wants Nevada to meet it's huge projected energy demand with coal.

"...Nevada is once again the fastest-growing state in the nation. Since 2000, the population of Nevada has grown 25 percent, four times the national average. Today, Nevada electricity consumption is growing 230 percent faster than the rest of the country. The U.S. Department of Energy estimates Nevada will double its electricity consumption every six to seven years. It is critical that coal remains part of Nevada's energy portfolio to meet this growing demand for electricity for a growing population -- and do it affordably.

...

"Buildings rot - it's a matter of fact rather than a matter of time." So German architectural practice karhard architektur + design developed a card game called "Mängelquartett" to teach how to read buildings and learn how to deal with common building and planning defects. A properly maintained building can last hundreds of years; learn how to look for the signs. If you speak German. ::Mängelquartett via ::anArchitecture...

Bolles%20School%20Jacksonville%20Florida%20Go%20Green%20Initiative.jpg

Congratulations to the Go Green Initiative’s School of the Week, Bartram Middle School Campus of the Bolles School in Jacksonville, Florida. They’ve been hard at work maintaining a campus-wide recycling program for the last two years, and recently introduced a campaign to stop littering on campus too. But that’s certainly not all… ...

Gas Design Group, made up of Gregory Polleta and Sung Yang, with Clino Castelli, have designed Topiade, an "overlay facade," for existing Louis Vuitton stores. It appears to be a new kind of intermixing of living walls with topiary. This is wonderful because everything Louis Vuitton does gets knocked off instantly....

If you've been jonesing to start your own eco-friendly clothing line, this innovative Web venture could have your name written all over it—along with about 20,000 others. Launched in December 2007, and based on a newish concept called "crowdfunding," nvohk (pronounced "invoke") is the first community-managed, eco-friendly, surf-inspired clothing company. The Los Angeles-based company is currently recruiting between 20,000 to 40,000 members to each contribute $50 per year to develop the nvohk brand. As a member, you'll contribute to major business decisions, such as logo design, Web design, product design, and advertising. But that's not all. ...

Find more PETA videos at PETATV.com Free Range Studios produces another movie made in VeggieRama with talking fruits vegetables and condiments. It is not as good as Store Wars and delivers the message for PETA, but entertaining, with great candidate names like Fruity Guliani, Broccoli Obama, Celery Clinton and Dijon McCain, discussing among others, the question "Does eating meat cause impotence? ::Peta...

About 220,000 people make their way through Stockholm's Central Station each day. Down the block from the station construction is about to start on a 13-story building called Kungsbrohuset that will depend on the heat of those travelers' comings and goings to keep it warm...at least partially. The idea is not new (read our earlier take on it here) but borrowed from the passive building concept. Among Kungsbrohuset's other green plans, detailed below, is a very big heat exchange system that, instead of venting extra heat generated from travelers, will recover it, exchange it to a water medium and pump it to the neighboring new building. When finished, Kungsbrohuset is set to conform to three environmental standards: the EU's GreenBuilding Programme, a voluntary system requiring buildings to strive for 25% lower energy usage than conventional standards; the local P-märkning, which includes quality specifications for indoor air and energy use; and a new standard, Byggabo, which will rate buildings as A,B, or C in energy use, environmental impact and indoor air quality and safety. ...

Cable car in Portugal. What's the best way to equip a city built on a mountain with decent public transport when the roads start getting clogged up? Try cable cars. Though normally used to provide access to high-altitude tourist attractions and ski spots, the city of Haifa has decided to link itself up vertically with Israel's first public cable car service....

We promote the idea living in small spaces but but perhaps there are limits. Designer KC Wong has developed a "mobile home" built onto a tricycle chassis as a way of beating Hong Kong's high cost of housing. It has a fold down desk and a bed, but unfortunately it is not long enough and his legs stick out when he unfolds the bed. Needs work but a good start! ::Reuters via ::Splurch...

Cromley Lofts are the first LEED-certified condos in Virginia. The three-story condos were part of a "adaptive reuse project" that received a Gold rating from the U.S. Green Building Council in 2007. The original building has a long history, beginning in 1910 when it served as a warehouse for Alexandria’s railroad business. It was renovated in 2004, and numerous green features were incorporated into the building. ...

As of October 2007, Costa Rica lead Latin America in certified sustainable tourism operations with 68 businesses certified by Certification for Sustainable Tourism, up from 51 in 2006. In all, Latin America now has 167 businesses certified by independent sustainable tourism certification programs. All are listed in the Rainforest Alliance’s SmartGuide to Sustainable Travel in the Americas. “Now that travelers, tour operators and agencies have become savvier about what it means to be green, it’s no longer enough for businesses simply to make claims about their responsible practices,” said Ronald Sanabria, director of the Rainforest Alliance’s sustainable tourism program. “Independent third-party certification ensures that businesses are meeting a set of environmental and social standards and can also help businesses identify areas where they can improve.”...

Sarah Wigglesworth is one of our favourite green architects, previously seen building in straw and sandbags.; Not quite the materials one might use in the post-industrial wasteland site in Southwest London that she was commissioned to design a canoe club for. So she made a post-industrial building clad in rusty Corten steel, designed to resemble rusty upturned boats moored on the riverbank....

This post is part of an ongoing series. To access all the profiles in this series, visit The Year Ahead.

Who: Team TerraPass, carbon offset reatilers Eco-resolution: At TerraPass, we're all about the carbon, so it should come as no surprise that our office resolutions are all carbon-related. We briefly kicked around the idea of turning the resolutions into a group competition, but you know what? Resolutions are stressful enough as it is. Here's a taste of some efforts our staffers are making as individuals to shed more carbon poundage in the new year: • One TerraPasser is swapping his ancient Daewoo for a Flexcar membership and a bicycle. • Another staffer is looking into the new California tax incentives, which will make installing a solar water heater easier on the wallet. • An apartment-dwelling TerraPasser can't do the solar water heater, but has promised to switch to a low-flow showerhead....

Nori Yoshida and his cousin Kenji Ishida "got together over winter break and instead of sitting around and being a bum, like we usually do, we thought we’d do something useful with our lives. That's how we came up w/ OneSquareFoot.org." It is very simple- visitors come and play a basic trivia game; they run ads across the bottom. Any ad revenue is used to buy rainforest land through the World Land Trust-US Ecuador, Paraguay and Brazil. They were inspired by Free Rice (TreeHugger here). ...

2008 will be very busy both for business and policy-makers and much of what happens this year will have a strong bearing on the future, especially as concerns climate change. “You are the key to a low-carbon future. If Bali will do what I hope it will do, we are facing the enormous challenge of shaping a post-2012 climate change deal in only two years time. Your input is indispensable to frame a deal that is not only effective in terms of emission reductions, but also makes economic sense,” said Yvo de Boer, executive secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) at the Bali Global Business Day. The Bali climate change meetings became a challenging, high-tension affair before a “Bali Roadmap” was finally agreed to on Dec. 15th, one day after the meetings were supposed to officially conclude. In the end, the strong views of some countries, in particular the reluctance of the US and India to have mandatory emissions reductions targets, coupled with issues surrounding funding and technology flows to developing countries delayed the outcome. ...

What surprised me about this book was not its rich photographic element, I was already familiar with the stunning landscape and wildlife imagery by Ansel Adams Award-winning photojournalist, Gary Braasch. No. What caught me more off balance was the depth of his research and reporting. Earth Under Fire: How Global Warming is Changing the World is a personal record, via his camera and keyboard, of the consequences of modern affluence on this planet we call home. Read this book and your head will be swimming, just like weary polar bears, outside of ones’ usual realm....

All the cool kids are riding them: fixed-gear bikes, or "fixies." They have no brakes or freewheel; you stop by fighting with the pedals or doing a skid stop. Going down hills, your feet are spinning as fast as 150 RPM. They started with couriers, but like courier bags, they are finding their way into the mainstream, complete with pretty new websites. Even a crazed TreeHugger contributor rides one, albeit with an added front brake. They are also dangerous and in many places, illegal. And when we as a society are trying to promote biking as a healthy, active alternative to driving, every time a bicyclist gets killed, it sets back the movement. Every time a kid gets it, moms are going to drive more and keep the kids off bikes. We need bike lanes, safer routes and better educated drivers, but surely don't we also need safer bikes with brakes? UPDATE: In the last two weeks I have learned a great deal about the subject from readers, have learned the difference between riding a fixed gear bike with or without brakes, and apologise to readers for confusing the issue. I continue to get comments calling it "an incredibly poorly written and poorly researched piece of yellow journalism" when it was a survey, not an article, and for surveys I am asking a question, not presenting a point of view. In this case it looks like I was presenting a point of view and that was not the intent. I will do the research and try one out as soon as the ice is off the road. Online Surveys | Free Poll | Email Marketing ...

Image courtesy of Mike Weston via flickr So now we have a date: In a move that will place it in direct competition with GM - whose much-touted plug-in, the Volt, is set to be released that year - Toyota has just announced that it plans on building its first plug-in hybrid by 2010. Katsuaki Watanabe, the Japanese carmaker's president, also announced that his company would be rolling out a new hybrid line and one exclusive for the Lexus division by 2009. The plug-in hybrids will first be made available to Toyota's commercial customers - mostly government agencies and businesses; he didn't reveal the company's plans for a mass market rollout. ...

Australia’s new Environment Minister, ex Midnight Oil singer, Peter Garrett has said he’d like to see the country rid of free plastic shopping bags by the end of the year. When this news broke last week the usual internet cry of ‘what am I going to do for free bin liners? went up. You’re going to have to buy them, is the short answer*. It's known as 'User Pays.' A great pillar of the much heralded modern free market. ...

Last week we received a courier package from Tel Aviv based children's clothier, B nature. We opened it up, and nuzzled their tiny organic cotton jacket, fit for a toddler, into our face. At that moment, the unexpected happened: our otherwise quiet maternal clock started ticking. It said (or screamed rather), MAKE BABIES. If it was the touch, smell, quality of the jacket - we couldn't say exactly. We think it was the design of the clothes: the sturdy stitching, and the surprising little bumblebee buzzing around on the back. ...

Uruguayan photographer Amado Becquer Casaballe spent a month on the Almirante Irizar Argentine icebreaker, traveling through the most southern seas of the planet (past the Polar Antarctic Circle) until the Belgrano 2: the country’s permanent investigation base at Antarctica. It’s a trip the icebreaker makes only once a year to change the base’s personnel. During his voyage, Becquer Casaballe lived eternal days, trespassed ice seas, was at 14º below 0 temperature and 35º below 0 thermal sensation (inside the icebreaker, of course), passed through a scary 'whale factory' that functioned between 1911 and 1934 at the Deception Island (talk about a proper name), saw white crosses cemeteries that remembered the fallen in the area, and managed to manipulate his camera with huge gloves. That way, he could photograph this ice desert capturing images that show its peacefulness and beauty, now endangered for the world’s warming. The above shot shows a church inside an ice cave at the Belgrano 2 base. See more pictures and the photographer’s words in the extended. ::Via Argentina.ar...

It is fascinating to follow the growth in green designers around the world, as more and more creative people start getting involved in environmental initiatives. Earlier this month in Kuala Lumpur ecoStyle, Asia’s first dedicated event to focus on the "importance of ecological sustainability and environmental consciousness through style and design", was held. It was created to bring attention to international green designers in the fields of fashion, architecture, and product design. The winner of the ecoStyle award was the Malaysian architect Dr. Ken Yeang, a Malaysian architect, for his invention of a bioclimactic skyscraper (pictured). While this might not be the ecological building of our dreams, the firm does seem to have a reputation in the field--he was on the list of Guardian eco-hopes for the future. Also nominated for awards were Stella McCartney, Jurlique, an Australian skin care product, Anna Cohen, sustainable clothes with an Italian flair, Terra Plana, Knoll, not clear why, and Q Collection, American furniture designers. On the catwalk, Proenza Schouler, Derek Lam, Karen Walker, Heatherette, and Diane von Furstenberg each showed a single outfit made from environmentally sustainable fabrics and textiles. This would have been interesting to see since none of these designers has been known for their interest in green clothing as of yet. :: JC Report...

Long-time readers of TreeHugger know that meat is not just an animal welfare issue – over-consumption of animal products is leading to a significant increase in greenhouse gases, although other studies suggest that a more limited meat diet can actually be greener than vegetarianism. However, one thing that it’s hard to argue with is the idea that factory farmed meat involves some pretty inexcusable cruelty. Luckily, it looks like talk over ethical meat is heating up again, in the UK at least, with programs airing on Channel 4’s Big Food Fight season from TV chefs Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall (author of the River Cottage Meat Book) and Jamie Oliver (best known for cleaning up the UK’s school dinners, and putting a wind turbine on his restaurant), both exposing the horrendous conditions endured by factory farmed chickens. ...

For the Brits in our audience who may have being wondering if they had ever been swindled by their energy companies, we have some bad news: you were right. An investigation by the Sunday Times has revealed that 6 of Britain's largest energy companies have been regularly quashing competition to raise prices and make huge profits - upwards of £4.5 billion, or roughly $8.8 billion. According to testimonials from inside sources, company executives held confidential meetings at least every two months to discuss strategies; their smaller rivals were excluded from the discussions. Not incidentally, a recent poll commissioned by the Times has found that more than 8 out of 10 customers felt they'd been "ripped off" by the energy companies. Chancellor of the Exchequer Alistair Darling plans on meeting with Sir John Mogg, the head of regulator Ofgem, to go over the latest price increases....

Drawn like bees to a flower, we soak in the tantalizingly beautiful shapes and colors of creatures both familiar and bizarre that mix and mingle to create a coral reef. A living structure of calcium carbonate that supports one of the most diverse habitats on earth, and also one of the most economically important engines for the United States worth untold billions. In light of their recognized importance, and increasing threat, NOAA has declared that 2008 is the international year of the reef....

While those of us who live in the U.S. continue to (vainly) pine for better, more reliable public transit systems - let alone high-speed train networks - our European brethren, having already enjoyed a bumper crop year of train-related developments, will soon witness the creation of a new, pan-European rail network. This past July, seven operators joined forces to form Railteam, an alliance working to build a high-speed train network spanning all of Western Europe. "The idea of a European network of high-speed rail is at last being realized. It will be a real alternative to air travel," said Guillaume Pépy, chief executive of France's SNCF and chairman of Eurostar, a train service that links Britain with the rest of Europe. Though Railteam currently lacks operators in Italy, Spain and Portugal - due to their lesser-developed rail networks - that will likely all change in the coming years, as several new lines, including one linking Madrid to Barcelona, are completed. Pépy predicts that it should be possible to travel by high-speed train from Paris to Bratislavia within the next 15 years. In a decision sure to move these developments along, the European Union last year approved legislation that will require national rail systems to open up to operators from other countries by 2010....

It started as a commentary about the passing of the film camera, a sad note on the end of cameras that last twenty-five years or pictures in biscuit tins. It turned into a series of essays by five different TreeHugger contributors. Much has changed in two years. Have the writers' opinions changed or evolved? Have yours? Read ::End of an Era...

We have not seen an EEStor ultracap car on the road yet, but AFS Trinity Power has a prototype plug-in hybrid on the road for the auto show that mixes batteries, ultracapacitors and a gas engine, creating a hybrid hybrid. Matthew Wald of the New York Times explains why with a tasteful analogy: "The problem in a hybrid is not only how much energy the batteries hold, a quality called energy density, but how fast they can deliver it, called power density. The difference between energy density and power density is like the difference between a wine jug and a peanut butter jar — the containers may have the same capacity, but the size of their openings differ greatly."...

They are making pork in those barns in Iowa, but if you really want to make pork you have to go to Washington. That is where they put EQIP, or the Environmental Quality Incentives Program, into the Farm Bill in 1996 and kept it there this time. It sounds like a good idea- an an initiative to encourage farmers to improve environmental standards. But as Andrew Martin points out in the New York Times, the megafarms are using the money to build sewage lagoons. He asks Why should taxpayers foot the bill for manure lagoons, particularly under the flag of environmental conservation? Why should taxpayers subsidize expansion of livestock farms? And if livestock farms have created environmental problems, shouldn’t the polluters have to pay for the mess that they created, rather than the taxpayers?...

Talk of geoengineering always kicks up an interesting debate on TreeHugger. For some people, the idea of artificially altering the earth’s climate to slow the progress of climate change is akin to planetary ER – we stabilize the patient while we try to get her back to optimal health. For others it’s just another example of human arrogance, and a dangerous distraction from the key task of cutting greenhouse gases. Whether or not schemes like iron seeding the oceans, launching giant space mirrors, simulating volcanic eruptions, or placing synthetic blankets over the alps are morally justified, we also have to ask another question: will they work? The latest concept being touted for returning sunlight to where it came from seems particularly suspect to us: growing shinier plants. ...

Sony introduced the ODO series of gadgets in mid-2007 to demonstrate new advances in hand-chargable devices, easy to blog-love. Now Sony has brought out the ODO Twirl N' Take prototype. Twirl N' Take is a digital camera which sits in a clever flowerpot USB cradle, making the most of the sleek stem-and-circle design. For more pics and details on the charging technique, check over the fold....

Latest TH Radio

Latest THTV

Keep Rolling. Hit the Front Page >

We add over 30 posts each day
to our archive of over 35,000. For example...

French Nuclear Energy Policy - A Cake The US May Do Well To Not To Consume Too Much Of

The Country's Cleanest Air: New Jersey?!

The Week in Pictures: Rot-Proof Apple, Surprises at GreenBuild, Bacteria Lights Up Landmines, and More

CMYK Folding Electric Bike: Award Winning Prototype Available in 2010?

Al Gore On Acting Crazy: "What Up With That?"

From the Forums: Does Oil Have a Role to Play?

Photos of Strange Deep Sea Creatures from Marine Census Beyond Sunlight

Where Have You Gone, John McCain? Our Climate Turns Its Lonely Eyes To You

Learning Organic Farming: Looking Back or Moving Forward?

'Green Patriarch' Takes Enviro Message Online, to US

Vaute Couture's Made to Order Vegan Jewelry

NYC Event: Spirit Beauty Lounge in SoHo with Mini Makeovers by Jessa Blades

Trout Fishing Causing the Demise of...Frogs

DNA Tests Uncover Sushi Fraud At Restaurants

From the Forums: Are Stadium Flyovers Worth the Fuel?

Climate Researcher Database Hacked

Latest TH Radio

Latest THTV

Entries for January 13, 2008 - January 19, 2008

Total this week: 142

by Jeremy Elton Jacquot, Los Angeles on 01.19.08

by Jeremy Elton Jacquot, Los Angeles on 01.19.08

by Christine Lepisto, Berlin on 01.19.08

by Petz Scholtus, Barcelona, Spain on 01.19.08

by Jasmin Malik Chua, Jersey City, USA on 01.19.08

by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 01.19.08

by Andrew Posner, Providence, Rhode Island on 01.19.08

by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 01.19.08

by Sami Grover, Carrboro, NC, USA on 01.19.08

by Bonnie Alter, London on 01.19.08

by Jasmin Malik Chua, Jersey City, USA on 01.18.08

by Jenna Watson, Barcelona on 01.18.08

by Team Treehugger, Worldwide on 01.18.08

by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 01.18.08

by Jeremy Elton Jacquot, Los Angeles on 01.18.08

by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 01.18.08

by Team Treehugger, Worldwide on 01.18.08

by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 01.18.08

by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 01.18.08

by Kara DiCamillo, Newport, Rhode Island on 01.18.08

by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 01.18.08

by Jeremy Elton Jacquot, Los Angeles on 01.18.08

by Sami Grover, Carrboro, NC, USA on 01.18.08

by Leonora Oppenheim, London, UK on 01.18.08

by Bonnie Alter, London on 01.18.08

by Karin Kloosterman, Tel Aviv on 01.18.08

by April Streeter, Gothenburg, Sweden on 01.18.08

by Tim McGee, Western Massachusetts on 01.17.08

by Jasmin Malik Chua, Jersey City, USA on 01.17.08

by Jeremy Elton Jacquot, Los Angeles on 01.17.08

by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 01.17.08

by Team Treehugger, Worldwide on 01.17.08

by Greg Haegele of Sierra Club on 01.17.08

by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 01.17.08

by Jeremy Elton Jacquot, Los Angeles on 01.17.08

by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 01.17.08

by April Streeter, Gothenburg, Sweden on 01.17.08

by Kara DiCamillo, Newport, Rhode Island on 01.17.08

by Leonora Oppenheim, London, UK on 01.17.08

by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 01.17.08

by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 01.17.08

by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 01.17.08

by Sami Grover, Carrboro, NC, USA on 01.17.08

by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 01.17.08

by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 01.17.08

by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 01.17.08

by Rebecca Wodder, American Rivers on 01.17.08

by Kenny Luna, North Babylon, NY on 01.17.08

by Bonnie Alter, London on 01.17.08

by Petz Scholtus, Barcelona, Spain on 01.17.08

by Jasmin Malik Chua, Jersey City, USA on 01.16.08

by Kimberley D. Mok, Montreal, Canada on 01.16.08

by Eliza Barclay, Washington, D.C. on 01.16.08

by April Streeter, Gothenburg, Sweden on 01.16.08

by Jeremy Elton Jacquot, Los Angeles on 01.16.08

by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 01.16.08

by Justin Thomas, Virginia on 01.16.08

by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 01.16.08

by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 01.16.08

by Sami Grover, Carrboro, NC, USA on 01.16.08

by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 01.16.08

by Lester Brown, Washington, D.C on 01.16.08

by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 01.16.08

by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 01.16.08

by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 01.16.08

by Kenny Luna, North Babylon, NY on 01.16.08

by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 01.16.08

by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 01.16.08

by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 01.16.08

by Andrew Posner, Providence, Rhode Island on 01.16.08

by Bonnie Alter, London on 01.16.08

by Jasmin Malik Chua, Jersey City, USA on 01.15.08

by Jeremy Elton Jacquot, Los Angeles on 01.15.08