- 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 27, 2008 - February 2, 2008
Total this week: 156
First Lithium-Ion Car Battery Factory to Open in France
by Jeremy Elton Jacquot, Los Angeles on 02. 2.08
Image courtesy of donibe via flickr
John Reed in the Financial Times reports that Johnson Controls and Saft, a U.S. supplier group and French battery producer, respectively, are set to break ground on a factory dedicated to the exclusive production of advanced lithium-ion batteries for cars. The facility, which will supply a range of automakers, including GM, Chrysler and Mercedes-Benz, is based in Nersac, France; its yearly production capacity will initially be 5,000 battery packs with the option to scale up if demand warrants it.
Lithium-ion battery packs, which are about half the size and weight of nickel-metal hydride batteries, will power the next generation of hybrid, electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles. The factory plans to expand its operations over time to supply other facilities around the world, particularly in Asia. This follows recent announcements by Toyota, GM and Nissan that they plan on launching their own plug-in and electric vehicles within the next few years....
The Venice Beach Eco Cottages: The Building Process
by Jeremy Elton Jacquot, Los Angeles on 02. 2.08
Images courtesy of Eric Staudemeir
We continue our series looking at the Venice Beach Eco Cottages, a set of 3 homes built sustainably from the ground up. In this post, we will examine the cottages' building process, as told to us by the entrepreneurial duo behind the project, Karel J. Samsom and Cynthia Foster....
Spain's New High-Speed Rail Service Challenges the Airlines
by Sami Grover, Carrboro, NC, USA on 02. 2.08
It’s not just Eurostar, the rail service between London and mainland Europe, that is challenging the aviation industry in terms of both emissions and convenience. In fact, high-speed rail networks are expanding all over Europe. Now we hear from The Guardian that the new electrified rail link between Madrid and Barcelona is set to launch later this month, with the super-fast Ave S103 service set to reach speeds of 220mph, covering the journey of 410 miles in 2 hours and 35 minutes. And the offering looks set to make a serious dent in the aviation market.
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Thoreau Inspires High School in the Woods
by Kenny Luna, North Babylon, NY on 02. 2.08
When longtime teacher Matt Schlein started a foundation and began raising funds to buy the 260 acres of land necessary for his dream of a high school in the woods I imagine most people thought he was completely crazy. And if they ever saw the tent he’s using to house the student body during bad weather I suspect they might think they had him pegged from the start. But he’s pulled it off in amazing fashion, and now kids of all stripes who don’t see the wisdom of conventional learning are finding themselves a part of the Walden Project at what just may be the most unique environmental high school in America....
Adrian DiCastri, 1952-2008
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 02. 2.08
Photograph of York by Steven Evans
Ten years ago, before LEED even existed in Canada, Adrian DiCastri teamed up with Peter Busby to design the York University Computer Science Building. It has been called the first green building in Ontario, and it demonstrated for the first time that a sustainable approach could succeed in a cold climate.
Every aspect of the building minimized environmental impact: a highly efficient passive ventilation system, organized around ‘thermal chimneys’ and a bamboo-planted atrium; recyclable and low embodied energy materials; sun-shading devices on the south and west façades; and an extensive " planted roof" (the phrase "green roof" was not yet common). It was essentially heated by its computers and the sun, using half the energy of conventionally built equivalents. It was a revolutionary building for this country.
Adrian DiCastri, dead at 55.
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Dude, Where's My House?!
by Jesse Fox, Tel Aviv, Israel on 02. 2.08
No Trespassing & Do Not Demolish: A house in Nizhny Novgorod.
A Russian woman named Lyudmila Martemyanova returned home last month from a vacation out of town, only to find that her house had been completely leveled to the ground. "There was nothing left, not even a log," she later told the Russian press. ...
Don't Forget to Play: Aalto Designs Coming to Stockholm
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 02. 2.08
In addition to being a tremendous design, Alvar Aalto was one quotable guy; he once said, "I beg you, don't forget playfulness!" TreeHugger is a big fan of Aalto’s work -- we've covered one of his chairs, stools (and the stools again)and the bamboo work by Artek, the company set up in 1935 to market Aalto's furniture -- so we're always on the lookout for his classic designs. As it happens, in conjunction with the Stockholm Furniture Fair, which opens next week, Aalto's work will be on display at an exhibit at the Swedish Museum of Architecture, entitled Don’t Forget to Play!
Co-sponsored by Artek, the exhibit will celebrate the imagination of children, and Children and adults will be encouraged to play, and finger paint bold colors on Aalto designs, including the three-legged Stool 60, now celebrating its 75th year of production (how many other designs do you know that have passed the platinum anniversary?). Luckily for those of us unable to make it to Stockholm, Artek is producing a new collection of the Stool 60 with laminate seats in bold colors of red, yellow, and blue; they'll be available in the US market in May. Hit the jump for more pics. ::Artek via ::Dwell Daily...
How to Make Milk Jugs Lighter? Take the Handle Off
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 02. 2.08
File this in the "little changes make a big difference" file: British milk bottle producer Nampak is working with milk supplier Dairy Crest on a pilot project to take the handle off one- and two-pint plastic milk bottles. Why? The handle-free bottle would be about 10 percent lighter, according to the UK recycling organization backing the project, WRAP. That would mean cost savings to go along with a reduction in carbon emissions, and less waste. And if the design is taken up by the whole dairy industry in the UK, it could cut the use of high density polyethylene (HDPE) plastic by 5,000 tons a year.
Peter Skelton, from WRAP, said: "Plastic milk bottles are probably the most common plastic item found in household waste and manufacturers and brand owners have taken the current handled designs as far as they can go in terms of lightweighting. The vital next step is perfecting a handle-free design which works for the consumer." Who knew a little handle design change could make such a big difference? ::Food Production Daily via ::Core77...
Dematerializing Our Digital Needs - A Cultural Perspective
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 02. 2.08
"Mission creep" in the design of portable electronic devices has ushered in an an era of resource consumption polarity. For personal-scale electronics; less is truly becoming more in so many ways.
For television, however, the opposite seems true. Starting in the 1950's, televisions have stayed on a trend line toward bigger and heavier. Perhaps the most egregious trend in this regard is for the construction of Mega-home theaters with real theater chairs, and an internal broadcasting system to flat screens in all the major rooms, supplanting the wall spaces that portrait paintings held in the colonial and Victorian eras. Television is the fattening buffalo in the room - too big to stand on his own any longer - that must be mounted on the wall.
For the visionary designer, there is hope that these polar opposite consumption cases can converge, to where average annual per capita material consumption attributable to electronic devices decreases greatly from where it is today. See our examples and discussion below the fold....
Open Architecture Challenge Video
by Leonora Oppenheim, London, UK on 02. 2.08
Chevron Backs Solazyme to Develop Algal Biodiesel Technology
by Christine Lepisto, Berlin on 02. 2.08
The number 2 oil producer in the USA, Chevron, has signed an agreement with San Francisco based startup Solazyme to develop and test an industrial process for deriving biodiesel from algae. The Solazyme process is reported to solve one of the major obstacles to industrial production of biodiesel from algae. Algae usually rely on photosynthesis for energy to consume CO2 and produce oils. Biodiesel can be harvested from the algae, which can be composed of up to 50% oily matter. But getting sunlight to the algae in industrial-scale processes is difficult. So how does Solazyme solve the problem?
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Most Huggable: Free Range Falacy?, Super Bowl Goes Green, Biodegradable Bubbles + More
by Team Treehugger, Worldwide on 02. 1.08
A run of programms on British television has created a sudden upsurge of interest in free range chicken, but the supermarkets are still denying that there is a market for the more expensive meat.
Nominate your favorites in the inaugural Sunday Times Best Green Companies Awards – a project designed to encourage, acknowledge and publicize businesses going greener.
Super Bowl XLII is going green this Sunday, using renewable energy from wind, solar and geothermal supplied by the Arizona Salt River Project.
While we're talking football, get some tips on hosting a green Super Bowl party.
Take a gander at this new biodegradable bubble wrap, to keep your valuables safe without choking the landfill later.
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: Eating Less Meat, Going Green on the Cheap + More
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 02. 1.08
1) Forums user inkabinkaboo182 needs some help: "Eating meat is one of the worst things to do, when talking about the environment. At best, meat takes acres and acres of grass to raise and a small distance to ship. At worst, it causes Amazonian deforestation and pounds of grain to raise one pound of meat, and it is shipped across thousands of miles. Personally, though, I'm having trouble giving up meat and animal products." Any converted carnivores have any ideas or advice?
2) User crevis79 has a conondrum: "I am a college administrator and instructor. I am also someone looking to make my impact on mother earth smaller. I love the idea of finding dress clothes that have low impact on the environment. I have seen items like this on the web, but at GREAT cost. Working at a college is much more about the experience than the money, so I don't have a huge budget for clothing. Anyone have any experience with dress clothes that are earth friendly that are not going to force me to get a second job?"
3) In the same vein, Forums user wolfspirit is looking for more ways to go green on the cheap. "I believe there is a large portion of the country that does not want to hear the 'enviro-hippy bullcrap,' but would buy green if there was a tangible benefit to themselves ($$$, in this case). The goal is to come up with a list of items that fulfill both goals, being green(er), and being better on the wallet." Some of the low-hanging fruit -- CFLs, paper-maximizing printing, saving energy at home -- has been picked; what else can we do to save some bucks while going green?
"Freeconomy" Pilgrim Begins Walk From Britain to India
by Kimberley D. Mok, Nomad on 02. 1.08
In both settled and nomadic cultures there is a great tradition of walking itself as an act of freedom. As the legendary British travel writer Bruce Chatwin once quoted from an old Moorish proverb, “He who does not travel does not know the value of men” – a telling comment on the process and evolution of the journey – and not the destination itself.
In this age of planes, trains, cars, boats and carbon footprints, walking has lost its profounder connotations as a way to connect to a larger world and landscape, free of the alienating rhythm and speed of mechanized travel. But now, a former dotcom businessman from Ireland plans to revive walking's honourable status by making a journey from Britain to India on foot – except that he intends to accomplish this walk without money, relying entirely on the goodness of strangers.
Certainly, this takes some courage. Equipped with a few T-shirts, a bandage and spare sandals, the 28-year-old Mark Boyle just began his 12,000 kilometre (9,000 mile) walk on January 30th, on the sixtieth anniversary of Gandhi’s assassination. He will trek from Bristol, UK through the Balkans, Turkey, Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan. He hopes to arrive in Porbandar, India, the birthplace of Gandhi, within two-and-a-half years.
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Compacta All-in-One Kitchen Island: It's All There
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 02. 1.08
Debuting at Casadecor Barcelona 2007, Spanish company Artificio's Compacta kitchen squeezes a sink, refrigerator, freezer and pantry into this compact, compelling structure. The smart, modular design allows for maximum functionality in a minimal space, similar to the Dy-rection Line concept and the Orgasmatron-esque Clever Kitchen we've seen before. Smart; more pics of Compacta below the fold. ::Artificio via ::Materialicious...
This Way to Treasure Island, Ecocity
by Jesse Fox, Tel Aviv, Israel on 02. 1.08
A map of the Golden Gate International Exposition (sponsored by Shell), held on Treasure Island in the 1930's.
Most of our readers are probably familiar by now with the latest worldwide trend in city building - the ecocity. Lately it almost seems as if plans for new ecocities (and eco-neighborhoods) are popping up like mushrooms after the rain - which we must admit makes us happy. The latest proposal (drawn up by the Arup firm) aims to breathe new life into tiny and neglected Treasure Island, located between San Francisco and Oakland, by rebuilding it as a sustainable community for 13,500 people. Groundbreaking is scheduled for 2009....
Mongolia on the Verge of Ecological Collapse: Warming Twice as Fast as Global Average
by Jeremy Elton Jacquot, Los Angeles on 02. 1.08
Image courtesy of tiarescott via flickr
It is a testament to the disproportionate impact of global warming on certain ecosystems to see just how far Mongolia has managed to slide towards ecological collapse. John Bohannon's sobering account (sub. required) of the Lake Hovsgol project, which appears in the latest edition of the journal Science, offers little hope that Mongolia will be able to avoid a climate-induced catastrophe.
Clyde Goulden, a researcher from Philadelphia's Academy of Natural Sciences who is studying the ecology of Lake Hovsgol, notes that higher temperatures have already begun thawing the permafrost and disturbing the soil structure around the region's fragile trees. ...
Green Blogger Does Winter Bike Move. Sort Of.
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 02. 1.08
I am a fan of Vanessa of Green as a Thistle, who is making one change a day to green her life and documenting it on her blog. She has sold her car, unplugged her fridge, and made 338 changes in her lifestyle so far. When she announced that she was moving with a mover, I sent her Sami's post on bike moves and told her "bicycle moves are all the rage! put out the word and I volunteer to join." She took up the challenge and put out the call in the National Post where she is a writer, and on her site. ...
It Slices, It Dices: Form Creates Function in New Arne Jacobsen Chair
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 02. 1.08
Dutch design team Huting & De Hoop have launched a new site to showcase their new work. Their collection includes this awesome Arne Jacobsen update, which they call "Added Values and Forms," which takes the classic chair up a notch or two with an integrated lamp and little table. We love how this one piece can create a little reading nook, all by itself.
Another piece that caught our eye is "Quarter," a modular shelving system that puzzle-pieces itself together to create a utilitarian, modern shelf/room divider (it's pictured after the jump). It's made from oriented strand board (OSB), and the jury's still out about its environmental impact; unfortunately, Huting & De Hoop don't say which side of the green fence their material comes down on.
Lots more good stuff to see at ::Huting & De Hoop via ::Core77...
Wayback Machine 1947: Electric Bike
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 02. 1.08
The perpetual motion bike! Perfect for San Francisco! Love the streamlining, though. ::Modern Mechanix
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Solar Tracking Skylights
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 02. 1.08
Here is a clever way to get more light, more consistently, out of your skylight: use mirrors to track the sun. The lightweight mirrors appear to be hanging from the control box on the top, and controlled by a photocell. It needs no external power.
"Solar Tracking Skylights consist of highly reflective mirror panels within a clear plastic enclosure, which move continuously to follow the sun's position in the sky."
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The Grass is Always Greener with Mindscape's "Peddy" Furniture
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 02. 1.08
Have a green thumb? Need something to sit on outside? Japanese company Mindscape has just the solution for you: their line of "Peddy" furniture creates a truly green place to sit in the garden. In true Chia Pet-style, the couches, benches and seats fro out and grow with a little water and light; like the various chairs and loungers we've seen before, they help prove that green is the new grass.
If you like the idea of growing stuff yourself, and need some outdoor furniture, too, this idea is for you. The larger pieces might require the services of a reel mower to keep them trimmed; the smaller ones can be given a regular "chaircut" with your garden shears. Watch out for grass stains and hit the jump to see how Mindscape "grows" a table. ::Mindscape via ::Freshome...
The Importance of Environmental Justice
by Greg Haegele, Sierra Club on 02. 1.08
This week we learned that the Federal Emergency Management Agency was fully aware of the formaldehyde problems in the trailers it provided for victims of Hurricane Katrina. It knew these trailers were dangerous; it knew they could poison those who lived in them; and yet it did nothing. The majority of those unfortunate enough to live in these FEMA trailers are low-income families and people of color with no place else to go and few ways to fight back.
Everyone deserves clean air and water and a healthy place to live. But too often, low-income neighborhoods and communities of color get picked as sites for polluting factories, while wealthier, predominantly white communities are left alone. The Sierra Club's Environmental Justice (EJ) program supports community organizations as they work for fairness and equality.
Rhonda Anderson is one of the organizers in our EJ program. When she looks around the south side of Detroit, she sees environmental inequality every day – and the injustice falls on low-income families and people of color....
Moving Down Parallel Tracks From Bali
by Marian Hopkins, Business Roundtable on 02. 1.08
The significance of the 13th Conference of the Parties in Bali and its implications for moving forward on climate change cannot be stressed enough. Last Thursday, January 24 the U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations summoned a full committee hearing,"International Climate Change Negotiations: Bali and the Path Toward a Post-2012 Climate Treaty" to discuss such matters.
We all followed the anticipation and media analysis of the United Nations climate change conference in Bali this past December. We heard the boos and disappointment in response to the United States’ "leadership" echo in the halls and spread like wildfire in the media. We saw David versus Goliath – Kevin Conrad, representing Papua New Guinea, earnestly request, "I would ask the United States, we ask for your leadership… But if for some reason you’re not willing to lead, leave it to the rest of us. Please get out of the way."
...Reinventing the Wheel
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 02. 1.08
TreeHugger has shown a lot of folding bikes, and most suffer from the same problem: smallish wheels because big ones take up too much space. So mountain biker and designer Duncan Fitzsimons invented a folding wheel. He told Bike Radar:
“The problem at the moment is that in order to get the weight down to a regular bike wheel weight, with the fact it’s got hinges and so on, it needs to be a carbon fibre wheel, which means that it’s quite expensive, so it’s a project that sets more challenges."
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VOLVO SportsDesign Awards: EcoDesign 2008
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 02. 1.08
The winners for the 7th VOLVO SportsDesign Awards were announced earlier this week in Munich; this year's theme, "EcoDesign," insured that green design would permeate the seven categories of outdoor gear: ski equipment, board equipment, outdoor equipment, apparel, wheelers, accessories, and concepts.
Shining the spotlight on sustainable design meant that all entrants would focus on systematically incorporating ecological factors at the earliest stages of the product planning, development and design process. Judging by the winners, each did a pretty good job; Patagonia, pictured above, was awarded "EcoBrand of the Year" for their continued commitment to sustainability, green design and corporate responsibility. As for the products themselves, there were some pretty interesting designs that were recognized with an award. Hit the jump for more on some of our favorites, including a bamboo snowboard, a modular wooden boatbuilding concept and more. ::VOLVO SportsDesign at ISPO 08 via ::Core77...
Screen-Printed Solar Cells Come in a Variety of Colors and Patterns, Ideal for Building
by Jeremy Elton Jacquot, Los Angeles on 02. 1.08
Keen on solar cells but worried about how to integrate them with your new ensemble? Fear not: a new type of screen-printed solar cells promises to come in a wide variety of colors and patterns, allowing you to tailor them to your individual demands - perfect for that home/room you're designing. As reported in ScienceDaily, the cells can even be incorporated into windows, simultaneously providing shading and generating electricity.
The semi-transparent solar modules combine the use of a special organic dye (similar to the one developed by scientists in New Zealand) and nanoparticles that allow for the conversion of sunlight into electricity. The current prototypes are amber in color, but it is possible to produce them in other ones; in addition, images or text can be directly printed on them. While they may be easier to integrate into building designs, their main drawback - compared to conventional silicon-based cells - is their low efficiency: only about 4%....
City Sues Man for Going Zero Waste
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 02. 1.08
San Carlos, California's municipal code requires all residences to get weekly garbage pickup from a private hauler. But Eddie House recycles paper, metal and plastics, regularly hauling them in his pickup truck to a recycling center. What little backyard waste he generates is ground into powder by his wood chipper and food scraps are either pulverized by his garbage disposal or eaten by his dog. House’s larger items are either sold or given to people on Craigslist.
Since he doesn't create any garbage, he cancelled his pickup. So the city is suing him.
“I don’t understand a city ordinance that requires you to fill up a can. That’s downright foolishness,” he said. http://noimpactman.typepad.com/...
Greenwash Watch: "Green" Bottled Water
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 02. 1.08
We do go on about the evils of bottled water, and have noted that no matter what kind of package it comes in, it is still a scam, costing thousands of times what tap water costs, and still requiring fuel for delivery. But listen to the language coming from big house brand bottler Cott, about its purchase of new water bottling equipment that uses a little less plastic to make a bottle:
"It benefits our business and the environment by enabling us to produce water in lightweight bottles at lower cost...It also allows our customers to lower their carbon footprint by shifting to lower weight bottles."
It gets worse.
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Derrick Jensen Speaks in Toronto
by Jenna Watson, Barcelona on 02. 1.08
A quick heads-up for all of our Toronto-area readers that wish to brave the snowstorm this evening at 7pm, Derrick Jensen will be gracing us with a talk entitled “Private Despair to Public Action.” Sponsored by Environmental Justice Organizing Initiative, Phoenix Community Works Foundation and Sustainability Network the talk by the activist, author, small farmer, philosopher and teacher will be held at the Church of the Holy Trinity (10 Trinity Square). From the flyer:
Derrick Jensens asks the question “Do you believe this culture will undergo a voluntary transformation to a sane and sustainable way of living?” No one has ever answered ‘yes.’ What would happen if we listened to such feelings of despair? Could they tell us what we’re doing isn’t working and so we should try something else? What is that different strategy?Via: Ecosanity.org. Visit Derrick Jensen’s website here. See you tonight! Image copyright Derrick Jensen's Endgame - published 2006 by Seven Stories Press. ...
On The Stands: Dwell on Small Spaces
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 02. 1.08
Last month, when Dwell unveiled its redesign, we noted that we "look forward to gifts inside that are as exciting as the wrapper in future editions." This month they delivered.
The entire March issue is full of our favourite kind of stuff: small, modern spaces (including the incredible 205 square foot boxhome); 3D printing of furniture (from FOC, shown on TreeHugger here); Geoff Manaugh writes about David Adjaye, (TreeHugger here) and DWMA (dead white male architect) of the month is Bertrand Goldberg, most famous for Chicago's Marina City.
But learning about the Boxhome was worth the price of admission. ...
Ohio to Chevy Tahoe Hybrid Drivers: Get Out of the Carpool Lane!
by Andrew Posner, Rhode Island, USA on 02. 1.08
Over the last few years hybrid vehicles have become, for many within the environmental community as well as the greater public, a kind of panacea for problems ranging from climate change, to dependence on foreign oil, to air pollution. Of course, as we've discussed many times on this site, hybrids are not always the answer. For one thing, the most efficient vehicle in the world cannot address the rampant urban, suburban and exurban development that is built around automobiles rather than humans. Nor can it be of any use to those who cannot afford, or choose not to, drive a vehicle, and therefore rely on public transportation, walking, carpooling or cycling. Which brings us back to the fist point: car-centric planning makes alternatives to driving less attractive and less practical.
That said, the reality is that in America and, increasingly around the world, people love cars and aspire to own them. In the context of that paradigm, hybrids represent a real opportunity to improve efficiency and air-quality. ...
The Aerogenerator: 9MW Vertical Axis Turbine
by Sami Grover, Carrboro, NC, USA on 02. 1.08
We love wind turbines, and we get pretty excited when we hear about installations of the new generation of turbines already going up with generating capacities as high as 2MW. Imagine our thrill, then, when we see designs such as the Aerogenerator above, which is being developed by a Scottish firm called, imaginatively enough, Windpower (we can’t find a link to their site). We previously covered the design of this baby in its early stages, but according to a report in The Guardian, plans for its deployment have been developing rapidly since then. The Aerogenerator’s creators claim that it can not only generate as much as 9MW of power, it is also capable of harnessing wind from all directions without the need for the usual gearing mechanisms needed in regular horizontal axis turbines. They also claim the design overcomes many of the inherent problems associated with large horizontal axis turbines:
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Peak Oil + Peak Money = McMansion Meltdown
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 02. 1.08
Now there are websites that help you walk away from your mortgage, using the same stock photos that used to adorn the mortgage company websites. And where are they walking away from? Triple Pundit notes that the areas hardest hit by the subprime meltdown are:
Subdivisions built on the edges of urban areas where once arable land is bulldozed to make way for over-sized, energy-intensive houses, with landscaping consisting of grassy yards adorned with non-native species of trees and shrubs, the whole lot of it out of character with the natural surroundings and located so that most residents are forced to drive miles and miles to get to work, for too often there is no public transportation available."
-Houses that need too much energy to heat or cool, too much gas to get to, and too much money to pay for. No wonder people are walking away. ::Triple Pundit and ::Atlantic
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A Picture is Worth... Even with Global Warming, Sometimes it's Cold
by Michael Graham Richard, Gatineau, Canada on 02. 1.08
In fact, it's very possible for large regions of the globe to get cooler while the average for the whole planet goes up as heat gets distributed differently. This is what is thought to have happened during a medieval "mini ice-age" when Europe got colder because of a variation in the strength of the Atlantic Gulf Stream current.
Via ::Reddit...
New (Bizarre) Mammal Joins the Family!
by Michael Graham Richard, Gatineau, Canada on 02. 1.08
TreeHugger would like to welcome a new member in the very select club of mammals to which we belong (at least I think most of us do...)! The Rhynochocyon udzungwensis is about as big as a small cat, it looks kind of like a cross between a small ant-eater and a marmot. It uses its long snout to eat insects. Going back 100 million years, it has a common African ancestor with elephants, sea cows, aardvarks and hyraxes (that's quite the family tree - you think you have strange cousins?).
It was discovered in Tanzania's Udzungwa Mountains, a "biodiversity hotspot" that needs to be protected, according to Dr. Galen Rathbun who helped discover the Rhynochocyon udzungwensis. You can see more photos here and next week (Feb. 6) you can participate in a live chat with the expedition team that made the discovery.
::BBC News, ::Times Online, ::Conservation International. See also: ::Who Wants to Save the Aye-Aye?...
Israelis Do Bamboo Too
by Karin Kloosterman, Jerusalem, Israel on 02. 1.08
TreeHuggers everywhere are already familiar with the environmental benefits of working with bamboo, and of course, the problems with recalls on Chinese toy imports.
That's why we were pleasantly surprised when our friend Ziva from Designist Dream dropped us a line this week, letting us know that Israeli designers from Tel Aviv's Shenkar College of Engineering and Design, are working with a Chinese toy manufacturer to design kids toys made from bamboo.
This several year long relationship has culminated in a conference and exhibition "Eco-Play With Bamboo" that happened in Israel this week; and which included Chinese, French and Chinese reps. ...
Climate Stage Right: Enter The French Nuclear Empire
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 02. 1.08
France's nuclear power industry has a really big sales territory and a head start on US industries. The action starts with a dozen "next generation" nuclear stations proposed for South Africa, and accelerates toward 300 new nuclear generation plants being proposed, globally, inside 22 years. 300 new nuclear stations. Wonder who'll take the carbon credits?
French nuclear giant Areva said on Thursday it was ready to build up to 12 next-generation power plants in South Africa, where massive electricity shortages shut down the key mining industry this month.
Areva said that in addition to an earlier plan to build two nuclear power plants in South Africa, announced earlier this month, it would now offer 10 more of its third generation systems through to 2025.
That's just the start....
Watch Out for Flying Heather
by Bonnie Alter, London on 02. 1.08
Helicopters are dropping bales containing billions of heather seeds on the peat bogs in the Midlands of England. Ordinarily and historically, peat bogs are natural storages for C02 and are an important aspect of the fight against climate change because they remove carbon from the air as they grow and store it in their wet, peaty terrain. But the problem is that they are now drying up and leaking the gas, in some cases as much as a town of 50,000 people would emit. Scientists attribute this to years of industrial pollution, overgrazing by sheep and fire. They call these land-based emissions a "ticking time bomb", potentially as serious as those from cars and airplanes.
The Peak District is one of the worst affected because of its location at the southern end. To combat against dryness the National Trust is bombing a 4,200 hectare area with over four thousand bales of heather seeds which should start growing in the spring. The seeds will also be spread by volunteers. They are also trying to grow berries and moss. A pity about the helicopters, but a novel solution nonetheless. :: Guardian...
Gecko Gription
by Tim McGee, Helena, MT, USA on 01.31.08
Watch a gecko scramble up a wall and along the ceiling, and after a moment of amazement you might begin to wonder how they perform such acts of 'gription'. Similar amazement must have inspired scientists like Kellar Autumn, to investigate the gecko, and puzzle over the affable creatures incredible abilities.
While not all of the secrets of a gecko's ability are fully understood, we here at Treehugger have covered the score of attempts at creating gecko inspired glue, and gecko inspired tape. We would be remiss if we did not keep up on such developments. Engineers at the University of California, Berkeley, have developed a polypropylene microfiber that is likely the most inexpensive and accurate gecko mimic product yet created....
2008 Bloggies: Please Vote for TreeHugger!
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 01.31.08
The 2008 Bloggies -- the Weblog Awards -- are here, and TreeHugger is honored to have been nominated as Best Group Weblog and Best Topical Weblog. It's very gratifying to see our name up there with some of the legends in the blogging world, and we really appreciate the nomination.
Voting is on now, and if you like what you read here everyday, we'd love it if you'd go vote for us. You'll have to hurry, though; the deadline is 10:00 PM EST on Thursday, January 31. While you're there, show some love to our pals at Lifehacker (Best American Blog, Best Computers or Technology Blog, Blog of the Year), Apartment Therapy (Best Art or Craft Blog) and Gizmodo (Lifetime Achievement, Best-Designed Blog, Best Computers or Technology Blog -- ooh, head-to-head with LH...may the best blog win!).
2007 was a great year for TreeHugger, and we're very honored to have been nominated for the awards. Please, please, pretty please, go cast a vote for TreeHugger by tomorrow night. Thanks a bunch for your support! ::2008 Weblog Awards...
Today on Planet Green
by Jasmin Malik Chua, Jersey City, USA on 01.31.08
:: Score a gastronomic touchdown by making this vegetarian chili for Super Bowl Sunday.
:: Learn how to sew a diaper cover using recycled fabrics.
:: Encourage people to give up their fax machine and save paper by making this tip go viral.
:: Find a jogging route in your zip code, keep track of your training schedule, and plot your weight changes at this Web site for free.
:: Do you know what your cat or dog is really eating?
:: Host your Web site with a green hosting company. Find out how.
:: Discover how you can convert an old door into a dining table.
Psst...TreeHugger has been nominated for two Bloggy Awards—Best Topical Weblog and Best Group Weblog. Please vote for us now! (Hint: To find us, scroll toward the bottom of the page.)...
TreeHugger Picks: Get a Taste of Slow Food
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 01.31.08
The "slow movement" may be gaining steam around the house, but it all started with Slow Food, in Italy. Here are some of our picks for enjoying food after taking the pedal off the metal.
Psst...TreeHugger has been nominated for two Bloggy Awards -- Best Topical Weblog and Best Group Weblog. Please vote for us now! (Hint: To find us, scroll toward the bottom of the page.)...
 | 1) Sometimes it takes a slow cooker to get the most from slow food; take a peek under the lid of a ‘hay box,’ a cooking vessel lined with an insulative material that traps a lot of air. The heat contained in the food, especially water dense meals, continues to cook the food because the insulation reduces the ability of the contained heat to escape. The time it takes is offset by a very significant energy efficiency gain. Plus your stove/oven is freed up for other pots and pans, and you can't burn meals that are slow cooked! |
 | 2) The New York City arm of the Slow Food movement has unleashed its own seal of approval, or rather, snail of approval, as those gastronomic gastropods would have it. Awarded to restaurants, bars, food and beverage artisans, and retailers -- who have rated exceptionally in three categories (Quality, Authenticity, and Sustainability) -- the emblem is the non-profit's way of recognizing an eatery's contribution to the city's food supply. |
 | 3) Slow Food London's Christmas market, held on a frosty day, showcased what the movement is all about, featuring a wide and varied selection of producers and products described as "good and clean and fair." Local wild mushrooms, fried in olive oil, in a chunky roll, with grated parmesan on top provided the energy to check out the many vendors. Yum! Food, fashion and New Zealand, after the jump... |
Spring Into the Outdoors With Patagonia, Nau & REI
by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 01.31.08
The scent of spring is in the Northern Hemisphere air and outdoors company want their customers out there enjoying it. So they’ve begun rolling out new tempters. Patagonia have their spring line happening and it includes pieces like these Women’s Minimalist II Board Shorts, made from 100% recycled polyester and recyclable through their Common Threads Recycling Program.
Nau have a new recycled polyester garment too. The 2.5 layer Succinctshell waterproof/breathable jacket that weighs a scant 12.6oz (355g), as well as a rather curious women’s dress, known as the Chrysalis.
Psst! TreeHugger has been nominated for two Bloggy Awards—Best Topical Weblog and Best Group Weblog. Please vote vote for us us now! (Hint: To find us, scroll toward the bottom of the page.) Thanks!...
Indigenous Groups Document Environmental Destruction Using GPS and Google Earth
by Eliza Barclay, Nomad on 01.31.08
The Washington Post had an interesting piece out of Nuevo Jerusalem, Peru today highlighting how the Achuar Indians are using new tools against Occidental Petroleum, a California-based company that they say has polluted their local rainforest ecosystem. One activist carries a digital camera, notepad and a Global Positioning System (GPS) transceiver donated by the civic group Shinai, to document water pollution.
Last spring, U.S. lawyers representing 24 indigenous Peruvians sued Occidental in a Los Angeles court, alleging that the firm broke the law by dumping toxic wastewater directly into rivers and streams, generated acid rain with gas flares, failed to warn Indians of health dangers, and improperly stored chemical wastes in unlined pits. The company, however, has denied all allegations, but the new photos and GPS data may serve as fresh evidence of the environmental havoc....
As Cute As An EcoButton: Computer Energy Saver
by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 01.31.08
Plug the EcoButton into your computer via a USB port, load the software and henceforth any time you’re not using the machine, (gone to lunch, phoning your bookmaker, gathering around the water cooler to hear the latest gossip) you tap the button and it puts your computer into energy saver mode. Tap any keyboard key on your return, and it returns to where you left off. Plus it tells you how much CO2 and how many dollars you've thus saved.
Psst! TreeHugger has been nominated for two Bloggy Awards—Best Topical Weblog and Best Group Weblog. Pleasevote for us us now! (Hint: To find us, scroll toward the bottom of the page.) Thanks! ...
Transformer Furniture: Convertable by Lee Sinclair
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 01.31.08
One setup; five tables. That's what Lee Sinclair's Convertable offers, going from coffee table to occasional table to games table to large dining table for six to a drawing board/drafting table. Small space dwellers -- or fans of multi-tasking, clutter-reducing interior pieces -- will appreciate the UK-based designers' utilitarian sensibility; is there a better way to get more from less than with a table you can use five different ways?
Introduced in Europe in 1989, the table is still in production, available to order from Sinclair's website in a variety of woods and finishes; hit the jump to see the dining table, set for six, and the drawing table. The only question that remains: How many things can your current table do? ::Lee Sinclair via ::The Design Blog
Psst...TreeHugger has been nominated for two Bloggy Awards—Best Topical Weblog and Best Group Weblog. Please vote for us now! (Hint: To find us, scroll toward the bottom of the page.)
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Citaro Hybrid Bus Wins 2008 DEKRA Environmental Award
by Michael Graham Richard, Gatineau, Canada on 01.31.08
The Citaro bus, developed by Daimler AG's Mercedes-Benz division, is pretty high-tech as far as urban buses go. It's a series-hybrid, meaning that the diesel engine generates electricity instead of mechanically driving the wheels. This design means that in the future it would be relatively easy to replace the engine with a hydrogen fuel cell, thus making the bus completely zero emissions at the source. But even without a fuel cell, the specifications are pretty good....
The Greening Of The Capitol: Very Efficient Food Service
by Justin Thomas, Virginia on 01.31.08
Last week, the highly optimal Allison Rogers, invited me to survey the current state of the Greening of the Capitol. To get to the United States Capitol, I struggled out of bed, walked a couple miles to the bus stop, and then took a bus to the metro station, and then rode the metro to DC, and then walked a block to the Capitol. Upon entering, I was duly frisked by the Capitol guards, and proceeded into the building....
E. Coli: The Next Big Source of Hydrogen Fuel?
by Jeremy Elton Jacquot, Los Angeles on 01.31.08
Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
The lowly, ubiquitous E. coli, long given a bad rap for its association with food poisoning (see: spinach) despite its more common beneficial roles in the human stomach, could yet gain a broader measure of respectability if Thomas Wood's research pans out. Wood, a professor of chemical engineering at Texas A&M, successfully tweaked a strain of E. coli to get it to produce 140 times more hydrogen than it does naturally.
He and his colleagues selectively removed 6 genes from the strain's DNA to convert its cell machinery into a mini hydrogen-producing dynamo powered by glucose. The E. coli strain is able to convert sugar into hydrogen through a special fermentative process....
There Goes the Forest: Bush Administration Opens 3 Million Acres to Logging
by Jeremy Elton Jacquot, Los Angeles on 01.31.08
Image courtesy of markcbrennan via flickr
Any (admittedly dim) hopes that President Bush might choose to salvage his tattered - some might say non-existent - environmental credentials were dashed when his administration announced plans to open more than 3 million acres of Alaskan forests to logging, mining and road building. The Guardian's David Adam reports that the plan will open 3.4 million acres of the Tongass National Forest, a haven for a variety of vulnerable species, to logging and other development, 2.4 million acres of which are currently pristine. The area had previously been granted protection by the Clinton administration under its "Roadless Rule" provision.
Claims by supporters of the plan that it would help bolster and sustain Alaska's economy were quickly shot down by environmentalists, who pointed out that logging makes up only around 1% of the state's economy - a far cry from the much more significant share made up by other activities that will be put at risk by the move, such as commercial fishing and tourism....
Jargon Watch: Slow Design
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 01.31.08
Leigh Wells for the New York Times
A movement that started in the kitchen with Slow Food International is beginning to take over the entire house. Slow Design, much like its gastronomic predecessor, is all about pulling back on the reins and taking time to do things well, do them responsibly, and do them in a way that allows the designer, the artisan and the end user to derive pleasure from it.
Just like Slow Food, it's all about using local ingredients, harvested and put together in a socially and environmentally responsible way. Above all, it emphasizes thoughtful, methodical, slow creation and consumption of products as a way to combat the sometimes overwhelming pace of life in the bigger-faster-now 21st century.
Psst! TreeHugger has been nominated for two Bloggy Awards -- Best Topical Weblog and Best Group Weblog. Please vote for us now! (Hint: To find us, scroll toward the bottom of the page.)
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The Future Of Green Retailing: LOHAS Is So Yesterday
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 01.31.08
One of the ambivalent miseries of being a TreeHugger writer is getting email that ranges from the insight-provoking to absurd. This week's winner offers a glimpse into the intersection of the US' economic downturn and growing consumer interest in green products.
The Chain Store Age trade show wrap up publication just received included a short article, "A New Consumer Mind-Set, For most Americans, best practices are changing," which documented an increased rate of the mainstreaming of some fairly common TreeHugger ideals. And, of some mall and big-box store transforming developments just around the corner....
Got Organic?
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 01.31.08
Fast way to get an unpleasant reaction from Mom? Come to dinner with mud on your face and hands. You're full of germs...eeeww. March right into the bath young man!
The farm market bothers some at this visceral level: visible "earth" on fresh produce especially reinforces it. See what you did Ma? We're scared of organic.
The news that grade school aged children shed measurable pesticide residues in their urine is going to have parents "getting" more organic produce. A little mud on the hands, maybe not so bad in comparison....
The TH Interview: Sheryl Crow
by Jacob Gordon, Nashville, TN on 01.31.08
It’s been three years since Sheryl Crow’s last album, and the world has changed a lot in that short time. Crow’s new release, Detours, looks at war, oil, and climate change as hard as it looks at love, heartache, and hope. Sheryl spoke to us from her farm in Tennessee where she’s settled with her young son to live a greener, more peaceful life. She told us about her musical inspirations, her time touring with Laurie David and StopGlobalWarming.org, and even sets the record straight about the infamous one-square-of-toilet-paper remark that had us TreeHuggers scratching our heads. Listen to the podcast of this interview via iTunes, or just click here to listen, right-click to download....
CIA Goes Green, Or So They Tell Us
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 01.31.08
The Central Intelligence Agency's new facilities in northern Virginia are going LEED, with a 22,000 square foot green roof, 40% savings in water by using low-flush toilets and waterless urinals, 21% savings in energy use by using occupancy sensors and energy efficient equipment, while improving air quality with 60% more fresh air.
The first office building, which opened its doors in 2007, earned LEED Silver certification, while the visitor center and central plant each earned LEED Gold certification. Details on what they did below the fold.
This post will self-destruct in sixty seconds. ::CIA via ::Computer World ...
The Good and the Greasy: The Sustainable Biodiesel Summit Aims to Raise the Bar
by Sami Grover, Carrboro, NC, USA on 01.31.08
By now, most readers will be aware that biodiesel is not a magic bullet solution to climate change, and it does not come without its own problems and challenges. From unsustainable palm oil production, through fears of food vs. fuel, to vegans getting upset about putting chicken fat in their tanks, it seems the leading lights of the biodiesel industry certainly have more than enough to discuss as they convene for the Sustainable Biodiesel Summit this weekend. Held before the National Biodiesel Board’s annual conference, the summit certainly seems to have all the right intentions:
Psst! TreeHugger has been nominated for two Bloggy Awards—Best Topical Weblog and Best Group Weblog. Please vote for us now! (Hint: To find us, scroll toward the bottom of the page.) Thanks!
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TH Blog Love - Our Favourite Greens Of The Week
by Leonora Oppenheim, London, UK on 01.31.08
DHLoveLife: Valentines Gifts by Daryl Hannah
"Luscious love candle - super sexy red - honey smelling - 100% beeswax candle.
Chocolate lovers basket - chocolate oil!- pure head-2-toe organic cacao skin food.
Romantic roses bath tea - mmm…. smell sexy with a naturally beautiful bath tea.
Sweet Thoughts journal - a handmade notebook 4 writing down your sweet thoughts…100% recycled/repurposed."
TreeHugger has been nominated for two Bloggy Awards—Best Topical Weblog and Best Group Weblog. Please vote for us now! (Hint: To find us, scroll toward the bottom of the page.)...
20 Years of O2 Global Eco Design, Celebrating System Reload in Milan
by Petz Scholtus, Barcelona on 01.31.08
Happy Birthday O2 Global! The international eco design network that was established in 1988 has since given birth to O2 groups in over 82 countries and is counting more than 1200 members worldwide. What better place to celebrate and plan the revamp of O2 than the Milan furniture fair? After all this is where everything started 20 years ago, with a conversation in a coffee shop in Milan. So from April 16-21, O2 will be launching their new project, called System Reload, at the Salone Internazionale del Mobile de Milano in Italy, one of the most important design fairs in the world.
Psst! TreeHugger has been nominated for two Bloggy Awards—Best Topical Weblog and Best Group Weblog. Please vote for us now! (Hint: To find us, scroll toward the bottom of the page.)...
Low Emission Zone is Coming
by Bonnie Alter, London on 01.31.08
You've read about the congestion charge in London, well the Low Emission Zone (LEZ) is the congestion charge for trucks. As of Monday, diesel engined trucks over 12 tons will have to pay £200 ($400) a day to drive into the Greater London area, a much larger area than the one affecting cars. This is being done in an effort to improve air quality in the city, since London has the worst air pollution in the UK. Road transport is the single biggest source of particulate matter (soot) and nitrogen oxides, the main cause of respiratory illness and asthma. All trucks have to be fitted with an exhaust treatment systems up to a specific standard or they will be required to pay the daily charge. By the summer the fee will be extended to cover lighter trucks, buses, coaches and some minibuses.
Critics say that buses and taxis belch out the most fumes and should be included. Others say that it doesn't target C02 pollution. Some are furious that horseboxes(!) are included which affects rural lifestyle. Researchers say that over a 10 year period the zone would add 5,200 years to lives