- Vijay Vaitheeswaran (part one)
- Vijay Vaitheeswaran (part two)
- Vinay Gupta
- Alyce Santoro
- Mathis Wackernagel
- Tom Price
- Martha Marks
- Paul Hawken
- David Suzuki
- Wal-Mart's Green Gurus
- Alisa Smith and James Mackinnon, authors of Plenty
- Bob Perkowitz of ecoAmerica
- Ed Begley Jr.
- The Weather Channel's Dr. Heidi Cullen
Entries for January 20, 2008 - January 26, 2008
Total this week: 144
Shell CEO Admits Peak Oil Could be Here in 7 Years
by Jeremy Elton Jacquot, Los Angeles on 01.26.08
Image courtesy of LinBow via flickr
In a rare moment of candor, Jeroen van der Veer, the chief executive of Royal Dutch Shell, acknowledged what many have long considered a forgone conclusion: the end of the oil era is almost upon us, and sooner than you might think. The Oil Drum retrieved an e-mail sent to all Shell employees in which the CEO admitted the obvious (emphasis ours):
"Regardless of which route we choose, the world's current predicament limits our maneuvering room. We are experiencing a step-change in the growth rate of energy demand due to population growth and economic development, and Shell estimates that after 2015 supplies of easy-to-access oil and gas will no longer keep up with demand."...
Delayed Fall Colors a Positive Development for Forests?
by Jeremy Elton Jacquot, Los Angeles on 01.26.08
Image courtesy of *Micky via flickr
Scientists have been at a loss to account for why the traditional autumnal spectacle of disheveled trees and changing colors has gotten gradually pushed back over the last few years. Some have attributed the delayed autumnal senescence to increasing global temperatures; others have attributed it to the length of day.
David F. Karnosky, a professor at Michigan Technological University, believes rising atmospheric levels of carbon dioxide may be to blame — and, perhaps surprisingly, to thank. Karnosky explains that delaying senescence may in fact be good news for forestry industries since it prolongs the trees' growing season. The extra carbon dioxide taken up in the autumn, in addition to that taken up during the growing season, would also boost their productivity....
Amazon Deforestation Speeds Up Once More
by Sami Grover, Carrboro, NC, USA on 01.26.08
When we recently dared to be optimistic about news that destruction of the Amazon may be slowing down, our commenters were quick to step in an suggest the need for more scepticism about official figures. Sadly, it seems they may have been right. New satellite imagery released by the Brazillian government reveals an unprecedented increase in the rate of deforestation:
"Never before have we detected such a high deforestation rate at this time of year," said Gilberto Câmara, the head of the National Institute for Space Research (Inpe), which is responsible for monitoring the Amazon region. "We had never seen this before in Amazonia."
...
16 Year Old Builds Working Wooden Bicycle
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 01.26.08
Lee Valley Tools publishes the story of Marco Facciola, who built a bicycle out of wood and glue and absolutely no metal parts.
"I wasn't sure my wooden bicycle would actually work. I quickly realized the first pieces of the puzzle I needed to figure out were the chain and the sprockets (gears), since the design of all the other components depended on these."
...
Studio Lo: Flat Pack Fun from France
by Team Treehugger, Worldwide on 01.26.08
How smart is this? Yep, that's a whole chair, from a single flat piece of wood, without any left over. It's the work of the France-based Studio Lo, who have a thing for the suave simplicity of flat-pack designs. Wood isn't their only medium either, as they've applied their slim ethic to fabric and paper as well. Hit the jump to see their take on a birdhouse and a purse. ::Studio Lo (en Français) via ::NotCot...
A Picture is Worth...No Advertising, Please
by Jasmin Malik Chua, Jersey City, USA on 01.26.08
What would the world look like without advertisments? Succulent Landscaping Plants Gain Popularity For Drought Tolerance and Fire Resistance
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 01.26.08
LA Times has one of those stories where the words paint a lovely picture and the picture is worth a thousand words - about how drought-tolerant succulents are fire-retardant enough to protect homes in the path of a Southern California wildfire. The fire may cook the water laden exterior leaves but not enough to dry and burn them. Hence, the fire, out of fuel, just stops.
Shielding the most vulnerable corner of their home is a common, unassuming succulent that is common yet has no common name: Aloe arborescens. As it held off the flames, its fleshy leaves cooked and turned the color of putty.
Aloe arborescens, native to South Africa, grows throughout Southern California; dense plantings of it rim the cliffs of coastal communities. ...
Solarized in Israel's South
by Jesse Fox, Tel Aviv, Israel on 01.26.08
The south of Israel has long been famous for the world-class research institutes and companies it has produced in the solar energy field. Now it looks like the region will put its money where its mouth is, and set up its own renewable energy infrastructure, based mainly on solar power. ...
Renewable Energy Directive Proposed for EU
by Christine Lepisto, Berlin on 01.26.08
On Wednesday this week, the EU published the proposed directive establishing the means for meeting the targets of the EU Energy Plan. Three euros per week for every citizen of the EU is projected to cover the costs to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 20% below 1990 levels by 2020. Most controversially, the setting of national goals based on a flat-rate reduction over current levels of renewable use has generated frustration in member states that started early progress in renewable energies. The best-in-class Swedish and Austrians are forced to make more progress than the laggards, who profit by starting on the low-hanging fruit only after being forced to it. Read on to learn the winners, the losers and the pleas for improvement in the wake of this ambitious new move by the EU....
Most Huggable: Carbon Reporting, McMansions, 100 MPG Engine Hack + More
by Team Treehugger, Worldwide on 01.25.08
Eleven of the world’s largest corporations have agreed to measure carbon dioxide emissions of several hundred companies in their supply chains as part of the Carbon Disclosure Project.
The Sierra Club is up in arms over California's high-speed rail plan.
Are McMansions partly to blame for the sub-prime meltdown and economic recession floating on the horizon?
Check out "The Story of Stuff": a 20-minute, fast-paced look at the dark underbelly of our consumption patterns, exposing the links between a host of environmental and social issues and showing you the real cost of that $5 radio.
Don't try this at home, but this company's fuel injection system that will let diesel engines run on regular gasoline; turning a standard 2.3-liter diesel engine that gets 50 miles per gallon to one that gets 100 miles per gallon when retrofitted.
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?...
TH Forums Highlights: Green Clothing, Green Cleaning + More
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 01.25.08
1) Forums user apilmouse starts a thread about cute organic t-shirts: "I think it is a great idea i bought 4 tshirts for myself and 2 baby ones saying save whats left.. awsome they even have a web site". A couple of users agree that people are great billboards for the green movement; a few other users disagree -- they aren't interested in advertising or being unofficial spokespeople, no matter how green the product. Interesting; where do you stand?
2) User MyGreenTalk says, "Cleaning supplies will always be harmful chemicals. Does anyone have any alternate ideas or green freindly supplies?" Several users have good ideas not only for their favorite brands, but for ways to make your own at home. A little baking soda, lemon juice or vinegar and some essential oil will go a long way toward green cleaning in your home; no harsh chemicals required, it turns out.
3) Forums user gitRgreen says, "I recently discovered that the recycling program in my area only accepts type 1 (PETE) and 2 (HDPE) plastic containers (with necks). I had been mistakenly placing yogurt tubs (type 5- PP) and similar items in the bin for quite a while. Now I feel guilty placing these items in the trash. My question to others is- are you able to recycle other plastic besides type 1 and 2 in your community? Is my recycler holding out on me?" Turns out this is a common predicament...
Today on Planet Green
by Jasmin Malik Chua, Jersey City, USA on 01.25.08
:: Teach your tiny tykes to love their veggies by knitting them a dish of greens.
:: Here's a quick tip for remembering to take your lunch to work in the morning.
:: In 2006, the ASPCA fielded more than 116,000 calls to its poison-control hotline, several of which involved seemingly innocuous household items. Learn how to maintain a poison-free home for your kitties and pooches.
:: The cheapskate's guide to celebrating Valentine's Day.
:: Discover why you should think twice before you flip the garbage-disposal switch.
:: Don't have $55 to spring for an Earth Box? Find out how to make your own self-watering container garden.
:: How should you spend the rebate money you're getting from Uncle Sam? Lloyd sheds some light on the matter.
:: Make a paper-recycling bin that you can easily tote to the curb on recycling day.
...
Clevr: Balkony, the Modular Sitting/Eating/Growing Furniture System
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 01.25.08
Stuck with a tiny balcony? Looking for a smart way to maximize space? Look no further than the design by Christian Lessing, whose modular furniture system adds clever multi-tasking to a previously useless (or less used) space. It's got modules for seating, tables and flat surfaces that are handy for plants, especially if it's out on a balcony or adjacent to a window; though it's designed for balconies, this design is a great way to maximize space anywhere.
We could see this doing good work in a breakfast nook or similarly small space; sit for a quick meal and then turn it over to your plants while you're gone all day. Clevr. ::Christian Lessing via ::Josh Spear...
Driver Sues Dead Cyclist for Damage To His Audi
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 01.25.08
Fred Conrad, New York Times
Melissa Arrington has nothing on Spanish businessman Tomas Delgado when it comes to being callous and cruel about killing cyclists. He killed 17 year old Enaitz Iriondo with his Audi A8 and had to pay 33,000 euros compensation because his insurance company acknowledged that he was driving too fast, but now he is suing the dead kid's family for causing $20,500 in damage to his audi and another 6,000 euros for the rental while his car was being repaired.
"I'm also a victim in all of this, you can't fix the lad's problems, but you can fix mine," Delgado said, ahead of a January 30 legal decision on his suit. ::Yahoo News thanks, eclary!...
Compostmodern 2008: All about Sustainable Design
by Vikash Singh on 01.25.08
The rains ceased just in time for Compostmodern in San Francisco last Saturday. No, it's not an event about the latest in composting innovations--let's get that straight. It's all about design, and the amazing stories told by leaders who have forged sustainable pathways for industry to follow.
Compostmodern is a one-day, interdisciplinary conference dedicated to sustainable design solutions. AIGA San Francisco, the professional association for design, hosted the biennial event at the California College of the Arts. This year's lineup was stellar.
Joel Makower emceed the event, and had the following to say in his opening speech:
"Sustainability is like teenage sex...everybody says they're doing it, but nobody's doing it well."...
I am Not a Paper Cup
by Jasmin Malik Chua, Jersey City, USA on 01.25.08
Riffing on Anya Hindmarch's now-iconic "I'm Not a Plastic Bag" tote, DCI's "I am Not a Paper Cup" is a 3.5x6-inch double-walled porcelain cup with a silicone top that will retail starting February for $20 a pop. It's also reminiscent of our fearless leader Graham Hill's "We Are Happy to Serve You" cup.
If you're not already trotting to the coffee shop with your own commuter mug, here's a wry and eco-friendly alternative to all those unnecessary paper cups. ::DCI ...
Hip Office: Ergonomic Workspace for Those on the Go
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 01.25.08
Those of us who are planted in front of a computer screen for most of our waking hours -- for work or play -- will appreciate this one. No matter how comfortable your chair is, we could all use more opportunities to get outside and play. If that isn't in the cards for your normal work week, the T Module "walking desk" might be the next best thing.
Walking on a treadmill at work would be great, but considering that treadmills suck (energy), providing a little human power would be a good way to go. As this walking researcher reminds us, people are designed to be mobile, and walking is better than sitting; might as well write some email at the same time. Hit the jump to see the module in action. ::HK Ergonomics via ::Product Dose...
Event: Eyebeam Open Source Sustainability Critique, Jan. 26, NYC
by Jasmin Malik Chua, Jersey City, USA on 01.25.08
Check out the winners and honorable mentions of Eyebeam's Eco-Vis Challenge, a contest that encouraged participants to create one or more informational graphics that could be used to make environmental concerns more visible. The art and technology center will be holding its Open Source Sustainability Critique tomorrow, Jan. 26, 2007, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
You'll also get to meet Sustainability Research Group members Brooke Singer, Michael Mandiberg and Ben Engebreth. Admission is free, although a donation is appreciated.
Eyebeam
540 W. 21st Street, (between 10th and 11th Avenues)
New York, NY 10011
Tel. 212.937.6580...
Shigeru Ban Builds Thirteen Storey High Green Wall
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 01.25.08
Jetson Green points us to Shigeru Ban's new Swatch headquarters in the Ginza, envisioned as "a hanging garden reminiscent of the ones found in ancient Babylon." it is really a series of separate stores stacked on top of each other; Jean Snow writes in Time Magazine:
"The building focuses on Swatch's luxury labels — Breguet, Blancpain, Glashütte Original, Jaquet Droz, Léon Hatot, Omega (plus a Swatch presence for the masses) — each with its own retail space. Each shop has a hydraulic glass elevator that lifts you directly to the shop's entrance and doubles as a showroom, offering a glimpse of what to expect when it stops and you step out."...
Winter Tips For Summer Bicycle Trips: Part 2
by Andrew Posner, Rhode Island, USA on 01.25.08
If you are looking to take the ultimate, high efficiency, carbon-neutral road trip, then bicycle touring is tailor made for you. In part 1 of this series, I discussed the reasons for doing a trip by bicycle, and made several gear recommendations. In this part, I’d like to address training and safety issues, and tell a few tales from my own cross-country trip.
First of all, bicycle touring is not bicycle racing! Unlike the Tour de France, the success of a bicycle trip is measured, not in distance covered, but rather in distance enjoyed. That said, you are still doing physical activity, and the fitter you are to begin with, the more you will be able to focus on, and therefore enjoy, the view. The key to training for a bike trip is to keep in mind the terrain and distance you will be covering, as well as the weight of your gear. Typically, a touring cyclist will average around 12 MPH, and ride from 3-6 hours a day. Essentially, if you can keep a good, steady pace for long periods of time, then you are fit enough to do a bike tour of any length. Getting to that level of fitness can be done via hiking, swimming, or any sport, for that matter....
Car on a Stick by Ross Lovegrove
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 01.25.08
I mean, it's bad enough that cars clog the roads and consume fuel; when they are not running they need parking lots for storage and don't do anything useful. What the world needs is a solar powered all electric car. On a stick. That way, when you need to park, it frees up ground space. Oh, and once it is up there it acts as a streetlight....
Have a Ball of a Time with Plastic Bags
by Jasmin Malik Chua, Jersey City, USA on 01.25.08
Photo credit: whiteafrican
Here's a photo we recently stumbled upon: According to the accompanying caption, children all across Africa make these balls out of old trash, so they can play soccer. Necessity, meet invention. ::Flickr
For more recycled fun and games, see ::Make Your Own Ball Toss-and-Catchers, or find out what else you can do with plastic bags over at Planet Green....
The (Traffic) Calming Chicane
by Jesse Fox, Tel Aviv, Israel on 01.25.08
Derived from the German word for harassment, the "chicane" does not exactly harass traffic, but it definitely provides a calmer environment for pedestrians. This short clay animation piece by Elizabeth Press of StreetFilms simply and brilliantly illustrates the effect of the chicane on vehicle traffic, and its ability to expand space for pedestrians and landscaping....
Aston Martin Design Studio by Weedon Partnership
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 01.25.08
As the obnoxious Emma Parker-Bowles said in the Sun, "When you think about tree-huggers you would guess maybe Greenpeace or Friends Of The Earth. You certainly wouldn’t put your money on Aston Martin. Yes, they might be very beautiful cars but they are thirsty, and they leave a bigger carbon footprint than a genetically modified yeti."
Nonetheless, they have built a new design studio designed by Terry Lee of Weedon Partnership Architects that is just about as green as it gets, and prefab, too. ...
Point/Counterpoint: Michael Shellenberger vs. No Impact Man
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 01.25.08
TreeHugger likes both No Impact Man and Michael Shellenberger (half of the duo that brought us The Death of Environmentalism and its follow-up, Breakthrough); through their separate (and wholly disparate) efforts, they've both helped advance the cultural conversation about living green and creating a more sustainable world. They've done this in very different ways: No Impact Man -- aka Colin Beavan -- undertook the challenge to live without negatively impacting the planet for a year to prove that individual actions make a difference; Shellenberger thinks that, while those things are nice, we need a "10-year, $500 billion public-private investment into cutting-edge clean energy technologies to achieve energy independence and restore America’s economic competitiveness" (read our interview with his co-author Ted Nordhaus for more).
The two recently got into a friendly email debate about whose method was more effective; both make excellent points and both arguments aren't infallible. ...
A Safer Sippy for Your Little Green Angels
by Jenna Watson, Barcelona on 01.25.08
A little expectant mother bird sent us this website yesterday for The Safe Sippy by Kid Basix. This is a great new and greener approach for kids that are starting to drink on their own. It keeps contact between water and plastic to a minimum and all their plastics are certified free of Bisphenol A, phthalates and DEHA. The bottle itself is stainless steel and pretty sleek looking.
The straw shaped spout is said to be better for little growing mouths and speech development while also being spill safe. The wee handle has nubs on it for little hands and can be taken off when no longer needed. This feature also extends the life cycle of the product and subsequently helps reduce its overall impacts. This sippy cup looks like it was made with lots of heart and a green conscience. ...
The Magic Box
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 01.25.08
Don't know what it costs, don't know what it's made of, don't know even if I can use my standard answer "we promote small space living" to the question "why is this on TreeHugger?," so I will just say it is very pretty. Architect Hayahiko Takese says:
"The Magic Box is a versatile 'box' that changes the stereotypes of prefabricated houses and extension rooms by having qualities such as transparency and simplistic form with high versatility." ...
Elliptical House by Mihai Popa
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 01.25.08
Artist Mihai "Nova" Popa built the Elliptical House near Bridgehampton, Long Island, out of wood from a demolished Brooklyn church. It is based on an ecological idea: It's 40-by-40 in the middle and 20-by-40 at the base, "which means we are giving back half of the house to the planet."
According to Carol Polsky in Newsday, Popa also designs models of circular modular cities to float on the ocean, and to launch into space should humans face an exodus from a dying planet in an ecological apocalypse he believes is a possibility. ...
Guerilla Plumbing: Hack Your Friends' Toilets (NOT)
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 01.25.08
EarthThreat suggests that the next time you are at a party, hack your host's toilet by lifting the tank lid and bending the rod connected to the float so that the float is a little lower, shutting off the water a little earlier. "Think about all of the water that could be saved with this trick. Toilets get flushed a hell of a lot. If one gallon of water is saved per flush, and that toilet is flushed six times a day, you will be responsible for saving over 2,000 gallons of water per year. Abuse five of your friend’s toilets and you will save close to 11,000 gallons with a six flush daily average."
Um, maybe not.
...
A Picture is Worth...Global Worrying
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 01.25.08
Is global warming on your mind? Or do you have a case of global worrying?
By the Grey ad agency in Milan, Italy. Bravo.
::Eternally Cool via ::NotCot.org...
AVO Market: Connecting People, Cultures and Local Food
by Leonora Oppenheim, London, UK on 01.25.08
The amazing colours, the strange shapes, the pungent smells and the clattering sounds; there's no cultural experience quite like visiting a street market. Wherever you might be in the world the local market will tell you more about a place than any museum and of course there's no greater celebration of fresh local produce.
For these reasons we are loving AVO Market a new online collaborative work dreamed up by RISD design graduate Brittany Kleinman. AVO is a collection of images of markets all around the world and it invites everyone to get involved....
GM's Partner, Coskata, Using "Non-GM" Organism To Make Ethanol
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 01.25.08
A few weeks back, Jeremy posted about General Motors working with cellulosic ethanol start-up Coskata. See "GM Banks on Coskata's Cellulosic Ethanol Breakthrough".
"Coskata and GM expect to have a pilot plant up and operating by the fourth quarter of 2008; the ethanol will be used to test vehicles at GM's Milford Proving Grounds. The start-up expects to have a commercial-scale plant with the capacity to manufacture 50-100 m gallons of ethanol per year going by 2011."
Since word about GM's involvement with Coskata got out, we've been wondering what sort of super-model bacteria were being cultured to result in such a low water consuming, greenhouse gas reducing, and energy efficient means of Ceetoh production? What if a genetically modified (the other kind of GM) monster got out of Coskata's fermentation process and ate up our lovely trees? ...
Food Glorious Food
by Bonnie Alter, London on 01.25.08
Much sought-after Michelin stars have been announced for UK restaurants. Instead of rewarding pretentious, over the top french fancy restaurants, the Guide has acknowledged and praised the local and seasonal nature of British cooking. The Michelin editor said that "informal dining, greater use of locally grown produce and seasonality are the trends evident in this year's guide, customers are demanding more information about food provenance and sustainability, and chefs are responding by rediscovering local ingredients." This is very encouraging for all those small restaurants that have been working hard to develop links with local farmers, growers and fishermen.
The UK's best fish and chips shop has also been named, The Townhead Café, in Biggar, Scotland, and it too has returned to its roots and adopted sustainable practices. Their motto: "Ye Cannae Beat a Guid Fish Supper!" The owner is committed to "introducing customers to some of the delicious alternative species our hard-working fisherman have to offer. It’s an example that everyone should follow.” He said “we don't use cod; haddock from the Shetlands is in plentiful supply at the moment. I always check down the supply chain that everyone is conforming to sustainable practice." For the first time in the competition's history, entrants were judged on their commitment to building a sustainable future and points were given to shops according to their use of sustainable species and the measures they have taken to encourage customers to try something new. :: Times...
Anti-Wind Farm Group Heavily Criticized for Distorting the Truth
by Sami Grover, Carrboro, NC, USA on 01.25.08
UK sports car manufacturer Lotus made a high-profile commitment last year to build wind turbines at its headquarters, a move welcomed by many environmentalists, including ourselves. Not everyone was so excited. it seems an anti-wind farm group with the implausible name of RUNGA (apparently standing for R U Naïve, Gullible, Apathetic?) has been busy disseminating leaflets to local residents warning of dire consequences if the projects were to go ahead. However, the group’s publications have been slammed by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA), after a complaint was brought by developer Ecotricity over what they felt were deliberate attempts to distort the debate and stir up opposition. ...
Environmental Groups Lobby for Sin Tax on TV’s and Video Games to Fight Childhood Obesity with Outdoor Education
by Kenny Luna, North Babylon, NY on 01.25.08
In a creative twist that’s caught my attention, groups like the Sierra Club are lobbying for a sin tax to be levied on all new televisions and video games sold in New Mexico to encourage kids to get up off their duff and head outside to play.
But how does taxing a video game legitimately discourage kids from playing it?
...
The Power of Rain: Alternative Energy
by Tim McGee, Helena, MT, USA on 01.24.08
We have seen wave power, wind power, and solar power, but rain power?
“We thought of raindrops because they are one of the still- unexploited energy sources in nature,” says Jean-Jacques Chaillout of the atomic energy commission in Grenoble, France.Chaillout and his colleagues realized that every time a drop impacts on a surface it is an opportunity missed. Each raindrop has an impact energy that is highly dependent on the size of the drop; from a small drizzle drop that has 2 microjoules on impact, to a downpour size drop that carries 1 millijoule of impact energy. ...
Clinton Global Initiative Expanding to Universities in March, 2008
by Kenny Luna, North Babylon, NY on 01.24.08
With all the madness leading up to the Democratic Primary down in South Carolina I’m not quite sure how President Clinton found the time to announce the expansion of the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) to college campuses through CGI U. But it turns out that his folks are hard at work building a presence in colleges and universities throughout the country by bringing students, academics, and social, political and cultural leaders together to discuss ways to bring about global change on issues like climate change and world poverty....
Today on Planet Green
by Jasmin Malik Chua, Jersey City, USA on 01.24.08
:: Whip up our soup of the week: Roasted celeriac.
:: Save money and fight mold at the same time. Plus, a recipe for an all-natural mold-killer that really works.
:: You don't need elaborate seed-starter kits to sprout your greens. Here are a few ways to make your own setup out of recycled materials.
:: What's your plastic I.Q?
:: Find out how to stop wasting money on disposable air filters for your car.
:: Give the gift of compassion and give the planet and its people a helping hand.
:: If you have the winter sniffles, learn how to make a potent antiviral tea to give your immune system a boost.
:: It's like Netflix...but for books....
Less is More: Case Coffee Table to Go
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 01.24.08
Looking for a little more utility from your coffee table, or a little more space where a table might fit? Check out the Case Coffee Table, named so for its handy foldability -- it folds down into the case pictured -- that allows it to downsize and all but disappear when you're not using it.
The hinges on the legs are a bit clunky, and it's not the sleekest coffee table we've ever seen, but it's a great idea; think about how much less space we could use if everything folded up and went away when we weren't using it? Hit the jump for more pics and go get one at ::Tiny Living via ::Freshome...
Shaq's Monstrous Carbon Footprint
by Sean Fisher, Cincinnati, Ohio on 01.24.08
It seems as if the only thing bigger than Shaquille O'Neal is his monthly gasoline bill. According to the Detriot Free Press, basketball star/actor (if you want to call Kazaam acting)/part-time Miami police officer Shaquille O'Neal spends $23,000 per month on gasoline for his harem of automobiles. This, in addition to $1,500 per month for cable television and $17,000 for clothing, are figures O'Neal (or more likely his attorney) came up with to calculate his monthly expenses in his recent divorce filings. So, even though these figures should be taken with a grain of salt, there is still quite a bit of consumption going on here. ...
Shining a Light on the RECs vs. Carbon Offsets Controversy
by Jeremy Elton Jacquot, Los Angeles on 01.24.08
On January 8, the Federal Trade Commission hosted a workshop to scrutinize the market for carbon offsets and RECs (Renewable Energy Certificates); the overarching aim was to discuss consumer protection issues and the validity of related advertising claims. It's no big secret that as the market for carbon offsets has surged over the past few years, so has the number of prominent greenwashing cases - many of which have received coverage here and in more mainstream publications like BusinessWeek.
The FTC, which has consistently adopted a "soft" regulatory approach to this issue, has yet to update its environmental advertising guidelines, the Green Guides, which it last did 10 years ago. The hearing, whose ostensible purpose was to solicit recommendations for updating the FTC's guidelines, exposed a longstanding rift in the environmental and business communities: the perceived discrepancy between RECs and carbon offsets. ...
TreeHugger Picks: Bottled Water
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 01.24.08
TreeHugger has covered lots of ground when it comes to bottled water, from examples of better bottles to bottles that left us scratching our heads. Here are some of our picks for the wide world of bottled water.
...
 | 1) To calculate the true costs of bottled water, Sustainability Engineer and MBA Pablo Päster did a thorough and exhaustive study of the cost of bring a liter of Fiji Water to America. He starts with the production of the bottle in China, taking the bottle blanks to Fiji, and confirming that it takes more water to make the bottle than it actually holds. He then transports the bottle to the States by ship. Not even including the distribution in the States, the numbers are absolutely staggering. |
| 2) If that weren't enough, the Union of Concerned Scientists gave us a world of reasons to ditch bottled water, including the cost -- 10,000 times more per gallon than tap water -- and the oil required to make the bottles -- approximately 1.5 million barrels -- that barely scratch the surface of reasons why we should be enjoying water from the tap instead of the bottled variety. |
 | 3) Artist Stuart Haygarth chose to let discarded water bottles make a statement with his chandelier series called "Drop." His work is always about both making recycled materials beautiful and functional, but also about exposing our overuse of those materials; with his treatment of bottled water, he's taken something that's a real problem in the waste steam (we haven't railed against plastic wine glasses or eyeglass lenses much) and put his personal spin on it. Boycotts and the industry fighting back, after the jump... |
Daryl Hannah Narrates New IMAX 3D Film Presented by Jean-Michel Cousteau
by Kara DiCamillo, Newport, Rhode Island on 01.24.08
Here’s exciting news for you IMAX lovers! Filmmakers Jean-Jacques and Francois Mantello (the Mantello Brothers) and film ambassador Jean-Michel Cousteau announced today that their new IMAX 3D Theatre film DOLPHINS AND WHALES 3D will feature our “Love Life” and Splash star fave Daryl Hannah as the narrator. The film explores the daily lives of small and giant animals of the deep, as they interact, play and communicate. This is the first time humpback whales, belugas, orcas, bottlenose dolphins and manatees have been filmed in 3D for the world’s biggest screens and, unlike other IMAX films, this was shot entirely in the water....
Ten Ideas For The US Congress: Seize The Initiative
by Greg Haegele, Sierra Club on 01.24.08
The precipitous drops in the world’s financial markets this week—with possibly more to come—have a lot of us worrying about the economy. It’s also got national leaders talking about an economic stimulus package.
Obviously, America is facing some stiff challenges: ensuring economic security and rising to the challenge of climate change loom large.
But we also have a rare and golden opportunity to move forward, so we face a fundamental choice: We could stick our heads in the sand and accept the high risks and costs that will come from business-as-usual—or we can figure out how America will seize the initiative and lead the world in transitioning to a clean and prosperous new energy economy.
To that end, the Sierra Club and other environmental groups sent a letter to Congress this week in which we outlined ten steps Congress can take to lead. Mainly, we’re asking leaders to include federal clean-energy tax incentives and weatherization assistance in any economic stimulus package they pass....
The TH Interview: Andy Kunz, New Urbanist
by Jesse Fox, Tel Aviv, Israel on 01.24.08
We are really at an incredibly important fork in the road: either we continue spending on roads and runways, and see our mobility decrease and get more expensive, or we could refocus our priorities on sustainability, mobility, prosperity and national security – and build a new national high-speed train network.Andy Kunz is an urban designer and town planner, and the director of the websites www.NewUrbanism.org and www.NewTrains.org . A veteran member of the Congress for the New Urbanism, Kunz's work focuses on the importance of green transportation and trains as a solution to climate change and peak oil....
What Some Drivers Think About Cyclists in Tucson
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 01.24.08
Melissa Arrington was going to jail for drunk driving; she hit cyclist Paul L'Ecuyer after swerving off the road and dragged him 800 yards. That would have got her four years; instead she got 10-1/2 because of a phone conversation between Arrington and an unknown male friend, a week after L'Ecuyer was killed, that the judge found to be "breathtaking in its inhumanity." According to AP,
During the conversation, the man told Arrington that an acquaintance believed she should get a medal and a parade because she had "taken out" a "tree hugger, a bicyclist, a Frenchman and a gay guy all in one shot."
Arrington laughed. When the man said he knew it was a terrible thing to say, she responded, "No, it's not."...
A Picture is Worth... Dude, Where's My Habitat?
by Michael Graham Richard, Gatineau, Canada on 01.24.08
Habitat destruction is a process of land use change in which one habitat-type is removed and replaced with another habitat-type. In the process of land-use change, plants and animals which previously used the site are displaced or destroyed, reducing biodiversity. Urban Sprawl is one cause of habitat destruction. Other important causes of habitat destruction include mining, trawling, and agriculture. Habitat destruction is currently ranked as the most important cause of species extinction worldwide. --Habitat Destruction at Wikipedia::Original at the WVb. See also: ::Palm Oil: A Rainforest in your Shopping, ::Wood Construction vs Deforestation, ::So What Can Be Done To Save Primates?, ::Ten Things Wrong With Sprawl...
The Designers Accord: Showcasing Why Design Makes a Difference
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 01.24.08
Photo credit: hingeschmierter
Business Week has a great piece detailing the recent progress of The Designers Accord. Born from the "Kyoto Treaty" of Design, a manifesto for incorporating sustainability throughout the design process, the agreement aims to foster open source-style sharing and "co-opatition" among design firms, big and small, around the world; ultimately, they hope to create a network of best practices and strategies to make sustainability part of every conversation about design.
So far, it appears to be working; there are more than 3,500 signees thus far, and they aren't just committed to replacing conventional materials with more sustainable ones. The accord encourages designers to re-think the system and usability of any given device; this Cradle-to-Cradle-like approach is a big step for some, and a smaller one for others, but the bottom-up approach (rather than the top-down that would come with government regulation) might allow for more innovative solutions and totally new ways of doing things. Ultimately, we hope it'll help showcase that good design and sustainable design go hand-in-hand, and that good design really makes a difference. ::Designer's Accord via ::Business Week and ::Core77...
Unsafe at Any Price: Building the New ‘People’s Car’
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 01.24.08
We said about the Tata Nano: "Henry Ford unleashed a revolution that changed our world and gave us mobility, but at what price. Now we get to watch the rerun." Brendan Smith, Tim Costello and Jeremy Brecher write at CommonDreams and report all the negative coverage from around the world, but were forced to admit "Of course there is deep hypocrisy in developed countries criticizing the driving habits of the developing world." They quote Michael Renner of the Worldwatch Institute:
remember who has driven the planet to the edge of the climate abyss. People in Western countries and Japan–less than 15 percent of the world’s population–own two-thirds of all passenger and commercial motor vehicles in the world. Although they are rapidly expanding their fleets, India and China, with a third of the world’s population, so far account for only about 5 percent of vehicles. In 2005, China’s ratio of motor vehicles to population was at about the level the United States had reached some 90 years earlier. India’s ratio is less than half that of China.
They come to the inevitable conclusion:
...
The Film and Entertainment Recycling Initiative: Helping Movies and TV Productions Cut Back on Trash
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 01.24.08
TreeHugger has seen a handful of greening initiatives in the film and entertainment industry, from films like Syriana, An Inconvenient Truth and Sweet Land going carbon neutral to a new film studio going green from the ground up; while all these projects are beneficial, certainly, they leave lots of room for improvement when it comes to on-set waste management and recycling. That's what a new non-profit, called the Film and Entertainment Recycling Initiative (FaERI), is hoping to help tackle.
Their mission is to create a standard of environmental stewardship on every film, TV production and commercial shoot across the United States -- no small task, for sure -- to help manage the waste stream that results from film and television production; over half of the trash produced on a film set is either recyclable, reclaimable or reusable, after all. This will be accomplished by the "on-set recycler", a new position created by FaERI, which will hopefully become a permanent fixture to the film crew. The on-set recycler is needed to manage placing bins around set every day, keeping recyclable materials out of the trash, working with departments to continue finding new materials that can be recycled or reused and following through on ensuring all these materials get to a recycling facility. And though they're just getting started, they already have the support of a few big-time names in Hollywood....
Chapel Converted to Residence by ZECC Architects
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 01.24.08
ZECC Architects, beloved of their conversion of a water tower into a residence, are at it again with this conversion of a Dutch chapel into a single family residence. In some ways it is a bit sad, when formerly public spaces get converted to private residences, but not every church can be converted into a bookstore or other public use, and this chapel is a bit less dramatic than the church that became the bookshop....
Reinier de Jong's TUIN
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 01.24.08
Rotterdam designer Reinier de Jong notes:
"Housing in big city centres seems to consist of small apartments. Highrise equals apartments. Or so it seems. However many cities economically really need well-to-do middle class dwellers. They flee to suburbia as soon as salaries go up and kids arrive."
So he takes the standard suburban typology, the two storey house with a garden, and stacks them on top of each other, "so we will diminish the suburban sprawl that is swallowing up our precious land."
...
Minnesota Got Its Green Mojo Back
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 01.24.08
It's been an uphill slog, but it looks like Minnesota is going to catch up with Wisconsin and Illinois.
"Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty recently announced initiatives to encourage solar, wind and other renewable energy projects at the local level and to reduce global warming emissions...He proposed four changes, including one to authorize local governments to issue $10 million to $20 million in revenue bonds to provide low-interest loans to individuals for "microenergy" projects. Those might include installing solar panels to produce hot water, geothermal equipment to heat and cool homes or businesses, or small wind machines to power homes, farms and schools."
Here's the money quote:- "Randy Hagen, co-owner of SolarSkies, a firm in Starbuck, Minn., that manufactures and installs solar products, said it costs about $8,000 for a solar hot-water system in a typical home. Much of his company's business has been in Wisconsin and Illinois, he said, because those states have programs that make financing easier for homeowners."
Via::Star Tribune, "Pawlenty announces clean energy plan - The new initiatives aim to fight global warming, create jobs and encourage alternative energy projects." Image credit::Bikethrow.com, Minnesota Cycling News & Gossip VIA->SkinnySki...
Wal-Mart: The Next Steps Toward Sustainability
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 01.24.08
Image Credit- Jeff McIntyre-Strasburg at Sustainablog
Two years ago inTreeHugger we wrote about Lee Scott's October Surprise, his speech laying out the dramatic plans he had to take Wal-Mart into the 21st Century. He said at the time: "What if we used our size and resources to make this country and this earth an even better place for all?
We were skeptical and said " We will wait and see"
To our surprise, Lee Scott is still at the helm of Wal-Mart, and he has been meeting many of his commitments. Yesterday he made new ones; we provide a quick summary below and will follow up with greater detail. ...
Realtime Air Quality Mashup By AIRNow
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 01.24.08
Except for the area roughly circumscribing Olympia and Tacoma in the US State of Washington - depicted as small orange blob in the US Pacific Northwest (top left of the graphic) - air quality in the USA looks pretty good this week. AIRNow, source of this graphic information, also offers free access to graphic air quality reports by region, state, or locality (see Olympia/Tacoma detailed example below).
If I was looking for a healthier place to live, especially if I had asthma or other respiratory problems, this would be my starting information point. AIRNow is far more useful for that purpose than those top "greenest cities" stories that come out in a handful of magazines each spring. Also good for lobbying for better pollution controls or learning where green designs are most needed.
Not a bad place from which to copy/paste a map to send to your Senator or Representative on Capital Hill. "Dear Senator/Representative, just wanting to let you know how much I appreciate your vote in support of/or against upgraded CAFE/diesel emission standards. Have a look how our air quality is back home today!"...
B&Q Becomes One Planet Living Business, and Stops Selling Patio Heaters in the Process
by Sami Grover, Carrboro, NC, USA on 01.24.08
B&Q, the UK hardware retailers who have been busy erecting a 2MW wind turbine at their distribution headquarters, and the Bioregional Development Group, the folks who have been busy creating localized paper recycling schemes, TreeStations for urban forestry waste and giant One Planet Living communities around the world, are now teaming up. B&Q is the first business to sign up with Bioregional to become an official One Planet Living Business.
What this means, in practice, is that B&Q will work with Bioregional to both reduce their own environmental impact, and to provide products and services that help customers reduce their impact too. Consistent with Bioregional’s approach, the entire process will be informed by ecological footprinting as a means to identify key areas of action. B&Q have already announced some pretty impressive steps in the right direction, including ceasing sales of a best selling product line due to ecological concerns. Read on for the juicy details.
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Gomi-style Gehry Chair Knockoff
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 01.24.08
The Year Ahead With Barton Seaver
by Eliza Barclay, Nomad on 01.24.08
This post is part of an ongoing series. To access all the profiles in this series, visit The Year Ahead.
Who: Barton Seaver, executive chef and partner of Hook in Washington, D.C., a restaurant serving responsibly-sourced seafood and local products. In October 2007, the Blue Ocean Institute, a national conservation group, honored Seaver along with explorer Sylvia Earle and filmmaker Alastair Fothergill for their commitment to preserving the world's seas. He is also active with Chefs Collaborative, Seafood Choices Alliance and the National Restaurant Association.
Eco-resolution: I spent 2007 trying to make sustainable seafood available in a niche market restaurant setting. Restaurants have a unique role to play in the process of learning for their patrons. I will continue to help create more demand for ecologically responsible ocean products. This is challenging at times because sustainable seafood is defined by so many processes and ideas that there is no easy way to label a product as such. Given this difficulty, it is my mission this year to work toward making sustainable ocean products not only more prevalent within the fishing community, but more accessible to all levels of society in the market setting. Sustainable seafood is not a luxury item, nor should it ever be. In order for seafood to be sustainable it inherently must be available to all of us, regardless of our social status. I am working on projects, including new restaurants, that do not seek to brand sustainable seafood as an alternative or different product but rather as the standard....
Who: Barton Seaver, executive chef and partner of Hook in Washington, D.C., a restaurant serving responsibly-sourced seafood and local products. In October 2007, the Blue Ocean Institute, a national conservation group, honored Seaver along with explorer Sylvia Earle and filmmaker Alastair Fothergill for their commitment to preserving the world's seas. He is also active with Chefs Collaborative, Seafood Choices Alliance and the National Restaurant Association.
Eco-resolution: I spent 2007 trying to make sustainable seafood available in a niche market restaurant setting. Restaurants have a unique role to play in the process of learning for their patrons. I will continue to help create more demand for ecologically responsible ocean products. This is challenging at times because sustainable seafood is defined by so many processes and ideas that there is no easy way to label a product as such. Given this difficulty, it is my mission this year to work toward making sustainable ocean products not only more prevalent within the fishing community, but more accessible to all levels of society in the market setting. Sustainable seafood is not a luxury item, nor should it ever be. In order for seafood to be sustainable it inherently must be available to all of us, regardless of our social status. I am working on projects, including new restaurants, that do not seek to brand sustainable seafood as an alternative or different product but rather as the standard....
Sunscreens Promote Coral Bleaching by Stimulating Viruses
by Jeremy Elton Jacquot, Los Angeles on 01.24.08
Image courtesy of jon hanson via flickr
You may not realize this, but that sunscreen you typically slather your back with at the beach - though beneficial to you - does tremendous harm to coral reefs. According to ES&T's Robert Weinhold, 4 ingredients commonly found in sunscreens that tend to wash off into the water - a paraben preservative, cinnamate, benzophenone and a camphor derivative (the last 3 are UV filters) - cause bleaching by killing zooxanthellae, the algae that form a symbiotic relationship with corals - even at very low levels.
The team of Italian scientists that carried out the study observed that the noxious ingredients killed the algae within a span of just 4 days; they do so by stimulating viruses typically found in coral-inhabiting algae. They measured a 15-fold increase in the number of viruses surrounding the coral samples, many of which were also in and around the zooxanthellae. ...
Apple's Unfixable Gadgets: That's Not Green
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 01.24.08
Last week were were all gaga over Apple's new "greener" MacBook Air, but this week it is back to reality as we learn from the eco-geek that the sixth generation iPods and the current iPod Nano have been designed to be 100% unfixable. Brett Mosely of ByMyTronics, who fixes and resells broken iPods, says:
The new generations of iPods and the iPhone are not designed to be opened. Because the Nano, iPhone and generation 6 "Classic" bodies are metal to metal the body gets completely trashed upon opening. In the Nanos and Shuffles, parts are actually soldered together, eliminating the possibility of simple repair. So, for me, it will be harder to fix these, increasing repair costs and diminishing their resale value after they have been repaired."
Lots more in::eco-geek and read the comments; just like in our post, it isn't a discussion, it is a culture war. ...
Got a Head For Lights? The 2CLight Solar Cap
by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 01.24.08
Remember those silly faux pith safari helmets with the weeny solar panel driving an ineffective fan? Well, the 2CLight might’ve finally found a more functional way to bring photovoltaics to headwear.
Spend the day in the great outdoors, working or recreating, protecting your noggin from the thermonuclear glare of dear old Sol, all the while charging the integrated nickel metal hydride battery, via a flexible solar panel on the caps brim. When the sun dips below the horizon you press a switch under the same brim and Sol’s captured energy is still with you, beaming out via a couple of bright light emitting diode (LED) bulbs....
Enough, Already. ‘Recyclable’ is Not Recycling
by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 01.24.08
Mostly this writer steers away from the negative aspect of a story because there are plenty of others already on that bandwagon. But some things just annoy me to the point of distraction. A case in point being companies selling products by proclaiming their materials are easily recyclable. Especially when their own product does not include any of these very same materials.
To my mind this is hypocrisy. It is “do as I say, not do as I do.” Recycling is a