- Emily Pilloton Discusses the Hippo Roller and other Designs for Humanity (Part One)
- Janine Benyus on Biomimicry in Design (Part Two)
- Janine Benyus on Biomimicry in Design (Part One)
- Andy Revkin - Climate in the Obama Age
- Fred Pearce - Confessions of An Eco-Sinner (Part Two)
- Fred Pearce - Confessions of An Eco-Sinner (Part One)
- Chris Goodall - Ten Techs to Save Our Butts (Part Two)
- Chris Goodall - Ten Techs to Save Our Butts (Part One)
Entries for April 27, 2008 - May 3, 2008
Total this week: 167
The Amazon Jungle and a New York City Girl: The Natives
by Jessica Root - Brooklyn, NY on 05. 3.08
On a four-hour hike, Janu (pictured left), a native friend of Eugenio’s, uses his machete to chip off a few pieces of what look like ordinary tree bark. He hands me a sliver. Janu is way too cute to be the poisoning type and since I’m on a once-in-a-lifetime press trip in the Brazilian Amazon—I’m in an adventurous mood. I pop a piece into my mouth. It’s bitter and it tastes like tree. But when he says mosquito and “medicino” in the same sentence, I realize I’m chewing on something extraordinary, the source of malaria antibiotics. Just when I think Janu’s grand tour can’t get any wilder, we run into a snake—a huge, yellow snake.
I would later thank my lucky stars for Janu—who prevented us from ending up in Boa’s belly—and Projeto Saude e Alegria, who helps native folk and forest experts like Janu continue to thrive in their home, the Amazon. Until arriving in the jungle, I had always focused on helping save the forest’s threatened critters, never its human inhabitants. I realized that by not taking the natives into account, I hadn’t been viewing the protection of the Amazon as one huge holistic process. I started to wonder where else this incomplete outlook had crept up in my other efforts to live sustainably......
Unilever To Use Certified Sustainable Palm Oil
by Kimberley D. Mok, Montreal, Canada on 05. 3.08
Image: Orangutan marooned on deforested oil palm concession in Central Kalimantan (Greenpeace)In another move that shows public pressure can have a positive effect on big companies and their suppliers, the world’s largest consumer goods company and buyer of palm oil has announced that it will start using palm oil from certified sustainable sources this year. In addition to an effort to have all its palm oil certified by 2015, Unilever’s CEO Patrick Cescau also called for a halt on rainforest destruction due to oil palm cultivation. "Now we need to take the next step. Suppliers need to move to meet the criteria, by getting certified both the palm oil from their own plantations and the palm oil they buy from elsewhere," Cescau said in a statement. "We also intend to support the call for an immediate moratorium on any further deforestation in Indonesia for palm oil." ...
James Howard Kunstler Takes on Stephen Colbert
by Jeremy Elton Jacquot, Los Angeles on 05. 3.08
Waste Management To Fuel Altamont California Area Trucks With Landfill-Harvested Liquid Natural Gas
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 05. 3.08
California government agencies are supporting a large-scale project to better manage garbage and recyclables in a California joint venture between Linde North America , a Linde Group subsidiary, and Waste Management . The project - the first of several across the State - will create the world’s largest facility to convert landfill gas into clean vehicle fuel. Waste Management, North America’s largest waste management company, and Linde North America have announced a joint venture to build a liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility, located at the Altamont Landfill near Livermore, California to convert landfill gas into a clean vehicle fuel. The project offers a unique opportunity to “close the loop” by fueling hundreds of collection trucks with clean fuel produced from garbage....
Berlin Mai Fest, the Good, the Green and the Ugly
by Christine Lepisto, Berlin on 05. 3.08
Here is a good test for whether green has really gone mainstream: just how green is Germany's famous May Day party? If you know anything about the international worker's holiday in Germany, the first color that pops into your head won't be green, but red. Green will sooner bring to mind the color of the police cars fleeing from the onslaught of rioting citizens than environmental causes. But sights like the band 12V arriving to perform in their three-man-bike-band rig, which operates on the eponymous voltage, leave hope that green is creeping in everywhere, even to a party better known for dancing in the streets until the riots start. Some reflections of green during the red holiday in Berlin, and more on 12V, can be seen overleaf....
Doors Closing Nau: Iconic Eco-Business Winds Up
by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 05. 3.08
Today is a very sad day. For Nau announced they are winding up. The Portland, Oregon based outdoor lifestyle apparel company has been unable to secure the necessary venture capital to continue operations as a start-up business.
Having got off the phone today with Ian Yolles, one of the original founders, I doubt very much there has been a dry eye in the Nau house. Obviously as the capital investment market lost its courage in the face of current uncertain financial times in the US, things became, as Ian put it “tenser and tenser.” But he had nothing but praise for the staff of Nau who have shown, “an amazing commitment and spirit right up to the end. There has been this strong sense of hopefulness....” He pauses, then continues, the emotion palpable even down the phone, “... that something good would happen.”...
IPCC Chairman Rajendra Pachauri Discusses How Climate Change Could Affect 21st Century Society
by Jeremy Elton Jacquot, Los Angeles on 05. 3.08
Few speakers are as well-suited to tackling the challenges and potential risks posed by global climate change than IPCC Chairman Rajendra K. Pachauri. The recent talk he gave at MIT is well worth your time if you've never heard him speak before -- or are just curious about his perspective on the impact of climate change on 21st century society. Here's a short snippet about the key themes he addressed:
Here’s Rajendra K. Pachauri’s panic-inducing assertion: We have a window of seven years to stabilize CO2 at today’s levels if we are to limit our global mean temperature increase to around 2.40C. A world this hot would be a very unpleasant place to be. Pachauri lays out unequivocal” evidence of climate change, and describes how extreme precipitation events, heat waves and other natural catastrophes will become more frequent, endangering vast swaths of humanity. We stand to lose 20-30% of species if warming exceeds 1.5 to 2.5 0C. Pachauri also notes this “scary prospect”: the rapid loss of ice sheets on polar land, leading to sea level rises of several meters, and the flight of large populations in response....
AmTrak Carolinian: Slower But So Much Nicer
by Sami Grover, Carrboro, NC, USA on 05. 3.08
Some of us have already posted personal accounts of our AmTrak experiences, but even with AmTrak ridership at an all time high, in the US many folks we talk to still seem skeptical about taking to the rails. So when we took The Carolinian from Durham, NC up to New York for Thursday’s launch of the Natural Products Association’s Natural Standard, we thought it only right that we post on our experience.
The first thing to be said, when comparing AmTrak to rail travel in other parts of the world, is that it is slow. There is no denying that a rail journey of some 500 miles should not take eleven hours [from previous experience, the journey can also be considerably longer in the hot summer months due to slower speeds for safety reasons]. But other than that, we must say the experience was a dream. And considering that only half of the journey was electrified – from Durham to DC we were on slower diesel power – with some investment in upgrading the infrastructure, the journey could be both much quicker and considerably greener.
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Austria Not Pulling its Weight in Meeting Kyoto Objectives
by Jeremy Elton Jacquot, Los Angeles on 05. 3.08
Image courtesy of yourbartender via flickr
Austrian states, or Länder, need to ramp up their efforts to slash their emissions production if they are to meet their obligations under the Kyoto Protocol, says Joseph Pröll, the country's environment minister. Austria has pledged to cut its emissions by 13% below 1990 levels during the 2008-2012 period. The country has already gotten off to a bad start: In 2006 alone, it emitted 91 millions tons of carbon dioxide -- 32% more than its emissions target. ...
What Do Members of Congress Drive?
by Andrew Posner, Providence, Rhode Island on 05. 3.08
Image Credit: Michelle V. Agins/The New York Times
What you drive can say a lot about you, your lifestyle, your income, and even your values. The question, brought up in a recent NY Times article, is what would you choose to drive if the lease were entirely subsidized by taxpayers? The answer, it turns out, is revealing.
First of all, why do taxpayers subsidize the use of vehicles by members of the House of Representatives (the Senate does not provide this perk)? There's no real good reason why, but since the 1980s the benefit has been part of the money provided for their office operations. And the benefit, which 125 members of the House make use of, is quite handsome: "Not only does the federal government pick up the cost of the lease and the gas, but also general maintenance, insurance, registration fees and excess mileage charges." Of course, in this time of high gas prices and heightened sensitivity to environmental issues, it would be hard to justify the purchase of large, inefficient and expensive vehicles, right?
Some examples of what members of the House drive after the fold....
Doubletree Hotels and Arbor Day Foundation Kick Off "Tree Tag"
by Jenna Watson, Barcelona on 05. 3.08
David Yakes, general manager at Doubletree Hotels and Executive Meeting Center, helps second-grade students at Grace Abbott Elementary School play a game of "Tree Tag" in celebration of Arbor Day.
Doubletree Hotels with the Arbor Day Foundation kicked off a game of “Tree Tag” on April 24th to celebrate the world’s oldest environmental holiday. The month-long project, kicked off in Nebraska, will raise awareness about the importance of trees across both the United States and Canada. Students and teachers will work with team members from Doubletree Hotels to “tag” the prominent trees on school grounds and in their neighborhood. The over-sized, eco-friendly tags will have unique facts about each tree. Via: Environment News Service. Image courtesy: Cohn & Wolfe. Project website here.
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European Space Agency to Launch Soil Moisture and Ocean Salinity (SMOS) Satellite
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 05. 2.08
Knowledge is power. The European Space Agency is set to launch a new satellite that will give us more information about soil moisture all over our planet. Takeoff is planned for next fall.
Soil moisture directly affects the Earth's weather and climate, and better understanding it will lead to a better understanding of global warming. "Currently, weather forecasting models do not include real-time measurements of soil moisture content as part of their programs. Once scientists can better measure soil moisture, especially over large land masses such as North America, this missing piece can be included in weather prediction models, making for more complete and more accurate predictions, says Hornbuckle. And satellites can provide global coverage at the lowest cost." ...
US Department of Transportation Gives $153 Million to Chicago to Reduce Traffic Congestion
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 05. 2.08
Your tax dollars at work. On one side, subsidize more roads, sprawl, and related infrastructure, on the other, subsidize various approaches to try to convince people to keep off the roads. The US Department of Transportation (DoT) is transferring $153 million to Chicago to help it reduce traffic via congestion pricing for street parking spaces and the implementation of a Bus Rapid Transit system.
"The federal funds will be used to support Chicago’s creation of four pilot routes of a new Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) network. The new BRT routes will have their own dedicated lanes and the buses will be equipped with technology to help speed them through traffic with priority right of way at busy signalized intersections. In addition, the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) will be able to purchase new and cleaner hybrid engine vehicles." Congestion pricing for street parkings means raising the rates during rush hours, mornings and evenings.
How about doing like Portland and aiming for a Platinum Level in "Bicycle Friendliness"? ::DOT to Provide More Than $153M to Chicago to Reduce Traffic Congestion...
First Tesla Electric Car Store Opens in Santa-Monica
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 05. 2.08
Another milestone for Tesla Motors, the maker of the Tesla Roadster Electric Car: Their Santa-Monica store has opened its doors yesterday. It should soon be followed by one in Silicon Valley.
Tesla has also been doing a PR tour in Europe lately, showing off the Euro-spec version of the electric Roadster (300+hp with a 13,000rpm red-line, instead of the 248 hp listed for the US version). Now all they need is for more cars to be coming out of the assembly line. As we previously reported, the first production unit was delivered to Tesla chairman Elon Musk. Number 2 should go to Tesla Motors co-founder Martin Eberhard. The more successful the expensive Roadster is, the brighter the future of the next two less expensive and more practical models of electric cars on the company's roadmap will be. ::First Tesla store opens in Santa Monica, now we just need some cars. See also: ::Location of First Tesla Store Revealed, ::Here's What Happens to a Tesla Electric Car Battery at the End of its Life
Interested in electric cars? Check out: 17 Electric Cars You Must Know About
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Volkswagen Sharan BlueMotion 7-Seater Has Better Fuel Economy than Most Cars in the U.S.
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 05. 2.08
Germans are now able to buy a minivan that gets better mileage than most cars in the U.S. Probably better than most compact cars, even. The VW Sharan BlueMotion is a diesel 7-seater that burns 6 liters of fuel per 100 kilometers (38 mpg US) and emits 159g/km of CO2 (compared to 177g/km for the non-BlueMotion version, and 104g/km for a Toyota Prius hybrid).
Specifications for the VW Sharan BlueMotion
The engine is a 140hp 2.0L turbo-diesel (TDI) with a particulate filter at the exhaust. With its 70-liter fuel tank, range between fill ups could be almost 700 miles. Prices start at €32,200. Lets hope that Volkswagen will consider bringing it to North-America (with its new cleaner diesel technology). It would be a very practical vehicle for those who need to carry many people, and running on biodiesel (from waste cooking grease or algae, preferably), it would be fairly green (not a bicycle for sure, but better than a lot of what's on the road). ...
Goodbye for Nau: Groundbreaking Apparel Brand Closing Up Shop
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 05. 2.08
Nau is closing down
TreeHugger is very sad to report that Nau is closing its doors and winding down its business, effective immediately. One of our favorite brands, Nau combined high performance apparel with sleek design and thoughtful, green materials; their collections included everything from rain gear to shorts and organic cotton denim to polo shirts.
You can get your last piece of Nau, both at their five brick 'n mortar stores and online, at 50% off; it looks like the stores will only be open through tomorrow -- Saturday, May 3 -- and Nau is in the process of determining how long the website will remain open. Shop now and you'll be buying a piece of history....
Today on Planet Green
by Jessica Root - Brooklyn, NY on 05. 2.08
:: Extend the shelf life of your books by building a library in your office.
:: Cruise at a constant speed to save money and the planet.
:: Freshen up your complexion with a quick teabag facial.
:: Sink your teeth into a homemade batch of sweet potato rolls.
:: Analyze your hometown's air quality. ...
Most Huggable: Barbie Models Green, Seasonal Eating in May, America’s Sexiest Cities + More
by Team Treehugger, Worldwide on 05. 2.08
Is Mattel’s Barbie BCause line bogus?
One blogger recounts his challenge of eating seasonally during winter’s switch to spring.
The ten sexiest (and by sexiest, we mean greenest!) cities in America are announced.
Key players in the tech industry deepen their clean commitment.
GM continues to crank out ethanol.
Most Huggable is a regular roundup of some of Hugg's top green news stories. Why not submit your own green news?...
The Kansas Coal Battle
by Greg Haegele of Sierra Club on 05. 2.08
All eyes have been on the Kansas legislature this week as they look to override Gov. Kathleen Sebelius' veto of a bill proposing two coal-fired power plants in the state. The Kansas State Senate did override the veto, but the State House did not achieve an override. Think that's a success? Hold up – there's word that the State House will try again today to override a veto that has the state making a stand for clean energy.
It's been a long road thus far in this skirmish over two proposed coal-fired power plants in the state – all stemming from Kansas Department of Health and Environment Secretary Rod Bremby in Oct. 2007 denying Sunflower Electric's air-quality permit request for two 700-megawatt generators near Holcomb, Kan., "citing concerns that carbon dioxide from the plants would exacerbate climate change and threaten human health."...
A Seat at the Roundtable: Green Insights From Members of Business Roundtable - Featuring Ursula M. Burns, President, Xerox Corporation
by Marian Hopkins, Business Roundtable on 05. 2.08
Guest Post By: Ursula Burns, president, Xerox Corporation
Introduction by: Marian Hopkins, Business Roundtable
We are thrilled to introduce a new series for our Business Roundtable guest posts, A Seat at the Roundtable: Green Insights from members of the Business Roundtable. These posts feature the perspectives of member company leaders – directly from the leaders themselves – on environmental initiatives personally important to them and to their business practices. We are excited to unveil our introductory guest post below featuring Ursula M. Burns, president, Xerox Corporation.
Xerox is a leading Roundtable member that and has made sustainability a serious business priority for more than 40 years. An active member of the Roundtable’s leading initiatives, S.E.E. Change and Climate RESOLVE, Xerox is a model case for how strong leadership and a commitment to sustainability can lead to success and a positive impact on the environment....
"TreeCycle" Cyclist To Travel India End-to End For Pledge of 10 Million Trees
by Kimberley D. Mok, Montreal, Canada on 05. 2.08
The TH Interview: Stephanie Meeks of The Nature Conservancy (Part One)
by Jacob Gordon, Nashville, TN on 05. 2.08
Immersed in the nifty slickness of “environmentalism 2.0” it’s sometimes easy to forget about the patient progress of the groups like The Nature Conservancy. At 56-years old, The Nature Conservancy is a granddaddy eco-org, and was doing its leafy green thing before it was cool. As the acting president and CEO, Stephanie Meeks sits at the front of this ship, navigating through policy, politics, big business, and controversy. ::TreeHugger Radio
Listen to the podcast of this interview via iTunes, or just click here to listen, right-click to download....
From the Forums: Help Save a Tree
by Alan Graham, Portland, Oregon on 05. 2.08
New member babs is wondering if you can help her:
Can anyone please advise on how I can fight my local township authority from taking down a beautiful oak tree that is over 60 feet high. The tree is within the 15 foot easement and they say it has to come down as they are replacing lines. I just can't imagine taking this gorgeous, healthy tree down! I am meeting with the foreman on Monday morning to hopefully come up with an alternative. Any advice would be grealy appreciated.jcoffman empathizes:...
Greensburg, Kansas Resident Offers Insider's View
by Daniel Wallach on 05. 2.08
View from a grain elevator in Greensburg. Nearly all of the town's buildings were destroyed or heavily damaged by the May 4, 2007 tornado.
The middle of nowhere and the center of everything. That is how it feels in Greeensburg, Kansas right now. May 4 (Sunday) is the anniversary of the storm that destroyed the town. It is a bit surreal all that has occurred in the past year. And this week just seems reflective of that year. A multitude of media outlets from around the world is in town and the President is coming to speak and acknowledge the success of the recovery. There are over 30 buildings being rebuilt to exemplary levels of energy efficiency and green building standards (it will be the largest concentration of LEED certified buildings in the country). The power supply for the town is planned to be 100% renewables and there is a green industrial park being developed to create many green collar jobs. Many houses are also exceptionally green and many more are planned. Without a doubt (from me anyway) Greensburg will be “America’s greenest city”....
Free Green Turns House Design Business On Its Head
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 05. 2.08
There is an entire industry of stock plan books and plan sites. Some are created by architects and designers with talent; others are full of the usual faux manors. Very few are modern designs and fewer still are what one might call green. All of them are ripped off constantly by every builder and client who isn't willing to hire an architect and isn't even willing to pay a couple of hundred bucks for a set of plans.
David Wax and his team at Free Green turn the home design business model on its head. They are charging exactly what most people are willing to pay for design: Nothing.
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Pop Quiz: How Fresh Is Your Water?
by Dominic Muren, Philadelphia, USA on 05. 2.08
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Airlines Save Gas By Slowing Down, Just Like Drivers
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 05. 2.08
credit a73700 Creative Commons
The airlines aren't in the best of shape these days with sky-high fuel prices, and are trying everything, except barrel-rolls to shake change out of our pockets, to save money. Now they are learning tricks from the hypermilers and slowing down to save fuel. Southwest Airlines will save $42 million in fuel this year by adding one to three minutes to each flight. Northwest Airlines cut their speed 10 MPH on a flight from Minneapolis to Paris and saved $535 in fuel, but added 8 minutes. Just what we needed: more time in the sardine can.
Soon they might be down to turboprop speed and we might have to re-think this whole short-haul flying thing. ::New York Times...
EWG Reveals Who Benefits Most from Direct Subsidy-Laden Farm Bill
by Jeremy Elton Jacquot, Los Angeles on 05. 2.08
Image courtesy of Hellsgeriatric via flickr
It's not often we find ourselves agreeing with President Bush's viewpoint but, in the case of the subsidy-larded farm bill, we'll make an exception. As Ken Cook, president of the Environmental Working Group, notes in his always informative blog, Bush is -- for once -- right on the money with this issue. Here's what he had to say about it at a recent Rose Garden appearance:
"The bill Congress is now considering would fail to eliminate subsidy payments to multimillionaire farmers. America's farm economy is thriving. The value of farmland is skyrocketing. And this is the right time to reform our nation's farm policies by reducing unnecessary subsidies."...
Survey: Do You Eat At Your Desk?
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 05. 2.08
In some countries, cars don't have cup-holders; a car is not a kitchen. Neither is an office, yet one often sees people eating at their desks. We have noted before that fire retardants are fat soluble, so you shouldn't type with greasy fingers; We also just learned that keyboards can be full of bacteria from food particles rotting away. Some people, like Michael Pollan, say that a key to healthy eating is to sit down at a dining table and have a real meal; others will eat anything anywhere.
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Natural Products Association Launches The Natural Standard
by Sami Grover, Carrboro, NC, USA on 05. 2.08
Last year we got a good response from readers and colleagues when Mike Indursky of Burt's Bees talked in a TreeHugger interview about developing The Natural Standard - an attempt to specify exactly what is, and is not, meant when a company describes its products as "all natural". At TreeHugger we get inundated every day with press releases for products that use terms like all natural or sustainable, yet in reality there can be a huge disparity between what is meant by such definitions (you only have to look at the recent Dr Bronner's law suit to see how controversial this stuff can get!). On the one hand, many companies are working hard to produce the most natural, sustainable and transparent personal care products they possibly can, yet other companies are continuing to make the same-old-same-old - formulations that are made up of 95% petrochemicals, with a good measure of parabens and other goodies thrown in, and then adding a few randomn herbs for the purposes of claiming them as an all natural product. And unfortunately there's been little in the way of regulation to discourage such behavior.
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Global Warming's Grapes of Laugh: Swedish Wine And A Fish Called Goby
by April Streeter, Gothenburg, Sweden on 05. 2.08
Photo courtesty G. Almqvist at Havet.nu
Lots of Swedes grew grapes through the last 300 years - inside their "orangerie" or glassed-in greenhouses. But now grape-growing has come out of the glass closet on the Swedish Baltic islands of Öland and Gotland as well as a dozen other Swedish locations, helped by warmer summers and longer growing seasons.
The fruit of the changing Scandinavian climate is being made into local organic wine at Öland's Wannborga farm, which now constitutes part of the Northernmost wine region of the world. Wannborga is making reds, whites, brandies and also distilling an award-winning white-lightning grappa called DruvDigestiv. And though the different wines can be sampled at the farm, Sweden's strict liquor monopoly makes it impossible to buy any bottles to take home. Yet while a Baltic wine region may sound great, warming temperatures also constitute a dire threat to the former thriving Baltic cod and salmon fisheries. Warmer water and lack of dissolved oxygen are problems but now there's another possible problem: an ugly Black Sea fish called Goby....
Yoav Kotik's Recycling Between the Garbage and the Flowers
by Karin Kloosterman, Tel Aviv on 05. 2.08
Exhibiting last Fall with Design Boom in Tokyo, Israel's Yoav Kotik is not afraid to try new things. From an industrial designer to working in the insurance industry, and now back to the world of Art, Kotik at 50, is now exhibiting his recycled flowers "Spring" at Tel Aviv's Periscope Gallery.
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Which Community Has The Greenest Power?
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 05. 2.08
USEPA has a list of Top Green Power Communities - 16 of them. A "Partner" community for green-power purchasing gets on the EPA list by any combination of (1) Renewable Energy Certificates, (2) On-site generation, and (3) Utility green power products.
(Purchase figures are based on annualized Partner contract amounts (kilowatt-hours), not calendar year totals.)
For absolute amount of green power, the hands-down green power winner was Bellingham, Washington, with 81,000,000 "green" KwH purchased annually. For portion of total demand met with green power (14%) , it's Swarthmore PA, home of Swarthmore College.
In the run-up to the 2004 US elections, DC pundits divided the US into "Red States" and "Blue States." Now we have Green communities; and eventually we'll have Green States. The color thing gets pretty muddled when you consider that three of the sixteen communities on the list, Alta, Moab, and Park City, are in the State of Utah, which, overall, gets 93% of its power from coal!
Image credit::Mobile Data Force blog, Bellingham WA USA...
YKK Recycled and Biodegradable Zippers
by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 05. 2.08
YKK of Japan are huge, last year having net sales of $6,300 million USD (if my currency conversions are correct). They make the zippers which appear on most quality brands the world over. Well, they do have over 250 plants in nearly 70 countries. And they have a well earned reputation for quality. It is pleasing to note that most other major multinationals YKK are making some effort to green their operations.
On the product side they offer the Natulon zipper (left) made from recycled PET polyester. Then there is the ReEarth zipper which is comprised of corn and other plant materials. Placed in an appropriate composting environment the zipper will begin to biodegrade. This image on the far right is the result of about 140 days snuggling up to soil micro-organisms....
Architect's Pavilion For Sale
by Bonnie Alter, London on 05. 2.08
If you missed out on buying a bullet-ridden prefab house from the Congo by famous architect Jean Prouvé at $5M, then here is your next chance. A wood-composite prefab by famous architect Shigeru Ban, for only $1.2M--a snip by any standards. Called "the Space of Silence", it will be offered at auction in the summer and the proceeds will be donated to charity. It is made of a wood plastic composite of recycled materials--mainly self-adhesive labels of paper and plastic. The labels are surplus and the composite, called ProFi, is tough and humidity resistant. It can be recycled back into the production process.
Looking like a giant shed, it is comprised of a module (roof, wall and structural elements) which is repeated 21 times. The entire pavilion is 40 meters long and 5 meters wide and can be taken down and re-assembled easily. It was pre-built and assembled in Finland, in association with the Finnish furniture company Artek and UPM, a forest products company. The building is a bit of a nomad, having been displayed in Milan, Miami and Helsinki already. Next stop: your back yard. :: ArchNewsNow.com...
The TH Interview: Paul Wimbush, Cofounder of Lammas Ecovillage, UK
by Jesse Fox, Tel Aviv, Israel on 05. 2.08
Paul Wimbush with model of Lammas.
About a month ago, we announced, with some fanfare, the approval of Lammas, the UK's first planned ecovillage. The Welsh village was to be a 74 acre model settlement, planned according to permaculture principles and completely sustainable from an economic, environmental and social standpoint. As it turns out, Lammas had not yet cleared all of the planning hurdles that it had to pass, and was still waiting for the final word from UK planning authorities. However, despite the mixup, the founders of Lammas told us, "It was great to see the good news there for a moment - a glimpse of things to come!"
In order to set the record straight, and to hear more about the Lammas project, TreeHugger sat down this week with Paul Wimbush - cofounder, project coordinator and future resident (plot 6) of Lammas.
The word "Lammas," by the way, translates literally from Old English as "first loaf," and refers to the old Celtic harvest festival that takes place on the 1st of August (the date on which the ecovillage endeavor happened to be founded)....
Native Seeds Fight Food Shortage and Global Warming
by Tim McGee, Western Massachusetts on 05. 1.08
A perfect storm of research and technology has emerged that when taken together may provide part of a solution to food production and global warming. The key ideas are:
1. Biodiversity increases the ability of an ecosystem to capture carbon, says Brown University.
2. There are 100's of economically important native seeds according to Lee and Maggie Arbuckle.
3. Native perennial grasses can be used as food, according to The Land Institute.
4. Harvesting perennial grasses is getting easier, with the Arbuckle Native Seedster.
Together these innovations change the framework for how we can turn sunlight and water into food. Incorporating these ideas could sequester carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, provide economic growth, improve soil health, reduce fossil fuel use, and provide sustainable and resilient food production....
93.5% of Cars in Europe Have Under-Inflated Tires, Wasting 2.14 Billion Gallons of Fuel Each Year
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 05. 1.08
We just wrote about hypermiling and mentioned that one of the tips to improve gas mileage was making sure your tires are properly inflated. Well, we weren't kidding. A study done by Bridgestone Europe found that 93.5% of cars in the European Union have under-inflated tires. "Softer tires increase rolling resistance, forcing the engine to work harder - and burn more fuel. The U.S. Department of Transportation says being down just 5 to 7 pounds per square inch can decrease fuel economy by two to three miles per gallon."
It all adds up to quite a big waste. Pretty disgusting, in fact, considering that inflating tires is the closest thing you can get to a free lunch. Bridgestone calculated the extra fuel burned to amount to 2.14 billion gallons per year, and 18.4 million tons of extra CO2. Just for Europe. Wired did some back of the envelope math and found that the numbers for the whole planet are "42.32 million tons of carbon dioxide generated by under-inflated tires, or slightly less than Connecticut emitted in 2005." So check your tire pressure, and tell your friends about it! It's also important for your safety (better handling). ::Bridgestone Europe, ::We Can Cut Global CO2 By 42M Tons For Free...
GM Puts Up LIVE GREEN Grants for Teachers
by Kenny Luna, North Babylon, NY on 05. 1.08
If you're a great, green middle school teacher with an idea to help inspire students to live a greener life there just may be a grant with your name on it coming from GM and Discovery Education.
In fact, they'll be handing out 40 of the $1K grants along with a healthy dose of online professional development and a free digital camera to to the teachers who come up with the best ideas so they can implement and document their projects and share the magic with the rest of us.
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25 Years Into Restoring a Tropical Rain Forest Ecosystem in Costa-Rica
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 05. 1.08
A project of the Ithaca-based Tropical Forestry Initiative aims to restore a tropical rain forest ecosystem that had been clear-cut over 50 years ago in Costa-Rica. In 1993, they started working on worn-out pasture land. "For 50 years the soil had been compacted under countless hooves, and its nutrients washed away. When it rained, Leopold said, the red soil appeared to bleed from the hillsides."
The group planted local species of trees, collecting seeds directly from nearby native flora. Finding those seeds wasn't always easy, and they had to work with the locals: "When a farmer reported a tree producing seeds, Leopold and his wife would ride out on horses to collect the seeds before hungry monkeys beat them to it." But their efforts are bearing fruits and and recent studies show that 100s of species are now present, and some fast-growing species of trees are even averaging 2 meters a year. It might take many more decades for a full restoration, but this is showing that it can be done, and that's something. ::Restoration Of A Tropical Rain Forest Ecosystem Successful On Small-scale. See also ::Costa Rica Leads Latin America in Certified Sustainable Tourism Industry, ::Costa Rica Plants 5 Million Trees to Combat Climate Change...
The TH Interview: Randy Fulton, Principal of Greensburg High School
by Kenny Luna, North Babylon, NY on 05. 1.08
When I called Principal Randy Fulton and asked for an interview he was as busy as any Principal might be on any given school day; particularly if they were in the process of planning the new high school to be built to LEED platinum standards and the President was scheduled to visit in just a few short days to give the commencement address at graduation not so long after the entire town had been swept away by a huge tornado.
But he closed the door and sat down for a few moments to give me his insights into the process of rebuilding Greensburg High School, the effect it’s had on his students, and the simple truth about how he copes with the enormous task of rebuilding not only his own life but that of the school as well.
TreeHugger: Where did the desire to rebuild Greensburg High School in a green fashion come from?
Randy Fulton: Well, once the disaster happened one of the things the governor of Kansas has really stressed is building back in an environmentally sustainable manner, and I think that’s where that came from. And the leaders and commissioners and administrators, all of us got together and said “Let’s do this right. Let’s build back a town that is green and takes care of the environment.”
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TNT Express Becomes First Australian Company with Diesel-Hybrid Truck Fleet
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 05. 1.08
In the grand scheme of things, it's a small step: 10 diesel-hybrid trucks to replace conventional ones, saving about 1,600 KG of CO2 emissions per year, per truck. But as the first company to operate such a hybrid truck fleet in Australia, it's worth mentioning to encourage them to keep going, and encourage others in the country to follow suit.
The trucks are Dutro Hybrids made by Hino. The engine is a 4.0-liter, 110 kW (134 hp) turbodiesel that develops 392 Nm (289 lb-ft) of torque at 1,600 rpm with a 23 kW, 143 Nm electric motor and a six-speed transmission. The battery pack is a 273V, 6.5 Ah NiMH system. Where this diesel-hybrid system shines is in the smog-forming emissions: "The hybrid vehicle reduces NOx emissions by almost half and PM by 98.9%." We encourage TNT Express to look into biodiesel if they can get the truly green kinds (from waste cooking oil or from algae). ::TNT Launches Australia’s First Hybrid Truck Fleet. See also: ::Diesel-Hybrid Pickup Coming to U.S....
Hypermiling Becoming More Popular as Gas Prices Rise
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 05. 1.08
Hypermiling to Save on Gas and Reduce Pollution
It's really no surprise that the combination of various gas-saving techniques known collectively as 'hypermiling' are getting more attention these days with oil hitting record highs (though part of it is because of the weakness of the US dollar).
Some hypermilers do it for sport, like that team that achieved 110 mpg, driving 47 hours and 1,397 miles on 12.87 gallons of gasoline, in a regular Toyota Prius. Or the DIY 'AeroCivic' that gets 95 mpg. Others do it to save money, or help the environment, and some are motivated by the 'national security' angle, like Wayne Gerdes who started hypermiling after Sept. 11, 2001. He says he gets 40-70 mpg out of his Ford Ranger pickup truck, about double the EPA rating....
Dr. Bronner's Sues "Organic" Cosmetics Companies
by Jasmin Malik Chua, Jersey City, USA on 05. 1.08
Dr. Bronner's Magic Soaps filed a lawsuit on Monday accusing several popular cosmetic manufacturers of deceptive marketing. Filed in San Francisco Superior Court, the lawsuit targets brands such as Estee Lauder, Kiss My Face, Hain Celestial, and Stella McCartney America, several of which are members of OASIS, a new but controversial organic beauty label.
In the lawsuit, the good doctor charges the firms of false advertising by labeling their lotions and soaps "organic," even though they contain relatively little organic material, comprise synthetic chemicals, and use petrochemicals in processing.
"This is the corrosive marketing of the cosmetics industry that hollowed out the meaning of 'natural' and now is doing the same with 'organic'," David Bronner, president of the 60-year-old company, tells the San Francisco Chronicle. ::San Francisco Chronicle...
Today on Planet Green
by Jessica Root - Brooklyn, NY on 05. 1.08
:: Zap zits the all natural way with tips from Summer Rayne Oakes.
:: Wine and dine without the added weight.
:: Wise up on wasted water in Lloyd's Peak Everything series.
:: Get nifty with old newspapers using these ten clever ideas.
:: Skip the greasy Chinese take-out for Kelly's at-home 'n healthy pork buns....
At Cairo Recycling School, Students Learn the Business of Plastic Reuse
by Eliza Barclay, Washington, D.C. on 05. 1.08
We recently heard a piece on National Public Radio's Weekend Edition about a school in Cairo's Manshiyet Nasser slum community where the city's young garbage collectors are learning the business and economics of recycling and using solar energy to do it.
The school is called the Mokattam Non-Formal Education Project, and has received funding form UNESCO and Procter & Gamble, a company whose products like shampoo are sold in the plastic bottles that end up on Cairo's streets....
Cooler Climate Could Prevail in Europe and North America Next Decade: Is Global Warming Over? (UPDATED)
by Jeremy Elton Jacquot, Los Angeles on 05. 1.08
Image courtesy of Richard Simmon/NASA
To put it succinctly: not a chance. Just because I know there are those who will gleefully point to this study as proof that global warming is all a big hoax (*cough* Senator James Inhofe *cough*), let me start off this post by quoting one of the study's authors, Noel Keenlyside: "We want to make very clear that we don't want to say that [anthropogenic] global warming is not here."
He followed up by noting that the cooling trend, if it does occur, will likely only be a baseline natural fluctuation -- one that will have no impact on the prevailing global warming trends. Now, to get back to the actual meat of this study, Keenlyside predicts that Europe and North America could soon experience a cooler climate due to natural variations in the North Atlantic's and tropical Pacific's ocean currents....
Complaints Against Greenwashing Quadruple in the UK
by Sami Grover, Carrboro, NC, USA on 05. 1.08
The UK-based Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) is a body that regulates truthfulness in advertising. We’ve already seen the authority step in to a number of disputes regarding sustainability claims – including banning a deceptive Lexus ad; a greenwashing campaign for conventional cotton, and claims from Ryanair that aviation accounted for only 2% of global greenhouse emissions. But it’s not just corporations that the ASA has on their toes – it also waded in to criticize erroneous claims made by a pamphlet for an anti-wind farm group recently. What could be behind this sudden flurry of concern around irresponsible advertising on environmental issues – well it seems that public complaints on this matter are up. Way up:
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Electric Uno Bike: A Clean Commute?
by Justin Thomas, Virginia on 05. 1.08
A young Canadian inventor named Ben Gulak has created an innovative new electric motorbike that takes some of the lessons learned from the Segway device, but implements them in cooler package. The bike, called the Uno, looks from its profile like a strange powered unicycle but actually employs two wheels side-by-side. Riders lean forward to accelerate -- a feature used by the Segway, and can hit a top speed of 25 mph in its current configuration. The Uno also makes use of a set of gyros to enhance ease of balance, and the wheels are independently operated making turning much more precise.
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Tommy Lee and Ludacris Take The Stage at Green Apple Fest
by Summer Rayne Oakes on 05. 1.08
“Go easy on me,” Tommy Lee said in a whisper. “You know I’m a green virgin.”
“Sorry Tommy,” I said with a smile. “I like to go deep.”
Earth Day celebration in San Francisco is probably the perfect place to give Tommy Lee and Ludacris the Green 101. The artists, (both who are participants in Planet Green’s Battleground Earth), paid a visit to the Bay Area during the Green Apple Festival. They may have well been on another planet though, because you know how freaky cool San Francisco can get around Earth Day *wink, wink*.
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Your Keyboard Could Be Dirtier Than a Toilet Seat
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 05. 1.08
RichardMasoner Creative Commons
And people think blogging is a safe job. A microbiologist working for Which? Magazine has found keyboards with 150 times the recommended limit of bacteria. It was also five times as filthy as a toilet seat swabbed at the same time.
"[It] was increasing the risk of its user becoming ill," said the microbiologist, James Francis. "I haven't seen a reading like that in a very long time - it was off the scale."
The main cause appears to be eating lunch at your desk and filling it with crumbs, which encourage the growth of bacteria. The design of keyboards creates nice warm spaces safe from disturbance and easy cleaning, except the occasional pounding down; it would be interesting to find out if the bacteria count is higher under the tilde key than under the e or a. Another source may be from not washing your hands after going to the toilet.
Sarah Kidner of Which? says "Most people don't give much thought to the grime that builds up on their PC, but if you don't clean your computer, you might as well eat your lunch off the toilet." ...
Mother's Day Gift Guide
by Jessica Root - Brooklyn, NY on 05. 1.08
Despite its bad rep as a Hallmark Holiday, Mother’s Day has historic significance that pre-dates the sappy greeting cards, flowers, and candy: During the American Civil War, social activist Julia Ward Howe organized it as a way to unify women against war and promote nonviolence. To honor the day’s original mission and say "Thanks Mom!" we've compiled a list of treats that will leave every type of mama—including Mama Earth—feeling peaceful and proud....
From the Forums: Buy a New Car or Keep Old One?
by Alan Graham, Portland, Oregon on 05. 1.08
BAF is caught in a difficult position:
I have a 1996 nissan minivan, 21 mpg, paid off, runs great. I drive about 10,000 miles a year, so that's roughly 475 gallons of gas per year, and about $1750 a year spent on gas (at $3.60 a gallon).I know that economically it is better to hold on to my old car...if I doubled my gas milage I save about 800$, which is a lot less than a new car payment. But what about the environmental impact of an older car? If I want to REDUCE, I won't dump a working car just for something shiny and new. I can also REDUCE by walking/biking etc when possible. But in terms of driving,is my carbon impact bigger if I buy a new car (impact of manufacturing, etc) or bigger if I drive my older car (less mpg)....
Andrea Zittel Show in Switzerland
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 05. 1.08
Gore Investment Vehicle Closes $683m Fund Demonstrating That Green Is Fundamental Finance
by George Spyros, New York City, USA on 05. 1.08
Green Investing Part of the Ginormous Step From High-Carbon to Low-Carbon Economy
In addition to putting his money where his mouth is, Al Gore and the investment vehicle he heads has closed a new $683m fund to invest in early-stage environmental companies. For the new Climate Solutions Fund to raise such money in the face of an economic slow-down demonstrates that confidence in green investing remains strong. The fund will focus on equity investments in small companies in four sectors: renewable energy; energy efficiency technologies; energy from biofuels and biomass; and the carbon trading markets. Wait << Rewind << Biofuels? "Crime-against-humanity" biofuels? ...
Pop Quiz: Federal Bike Investigation
by Dominic Muren, Philadelphia, USA on 05. 1.08
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Beijing Tries a Smoking Ban
by Alex Pasternack, New York, NY on 05. 1.08
Superconducting Cables Beat Back NIMBY
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 05. 1.08
One can dream about nuclear power or a hydrogen economy, but the best way to deal with a shortage of energy is to eliminate waste. Seven to ten percent of electricity is wasted through transmission losses, and the North American transmission infrastructure is a creaky, leaky mess. But it is almost impossible to get approval for new transmission lines; between aesthetics and EMF, nobody wants them in their backyard.
Superconducting cables to the rescue: they lose almost no electricity, radiate almost no EMF and can be discreetly buried. "This will be a way to move massive amount of power without disturbing the surrounding environment,” said Greg Yurek, chief executive officer of American Superconductor, in an interview. “It’s like putting an energy superhighway in the middle of a city.”
The Long Island Power Authority just opened a half-mile long test project....
Achitectural Hordes Invade Inner Mongolia
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 05. 1.08
So much for yurts. Cai Jiang has made zillions digging coal and other resources out of the Inner Mongolian ground, and ordered up 100 architectural firms to design monster homes with servant's quarters and indoor pools in a billion-dollar "cultural district" in the new city of Ordos. Money is not an issue; the workers are paid $115 a month to leave their farms and live in dormitories, so construction costs are only $30 per foot.
The New York Times notes that "Many of the architects seemed almost giddy to be freed from the constraints they face in their home cities, where historic preservation laws combined with the scarcity of building sites means that they seldom get to design buildings from the ground up."
Others felt they were there almost as performers for a man "who clearly relished the chance to conduct an orchestra of 100 architects-of-the-moment." He pointed out that Mongolians are settled now, but “These days, it’s the architects, dressed in black, who are the tribe of nomads.” ::New York Times...
Jaime Lerner: Innovation is Just Starting Something New
by Jesse Fox, Tel Aviv, Israel on 05. 1.08
Quote of the Day: New York Times on Gas Tax Pandering
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 05. 1.08
From the lead editorial in today's New York Times:
Senators John McCain and Hillary Rodham Clinton have hit on a new way to pander to American voters: a temporary suspension of the federal gasoline tax between Memorial Day and Labor Day. The proposal may draw applause and votes from Americans feeling the pain of nearly $4-a-gallon gasoline. But it is an expensive and environmentally unsound policy that would do nothing to help American drivers.::New York Times...
Survey: Are You Sacrificing Food Quality for Savings?
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 05. 1.08
As food prices go up, many people are trading down. "In Ohio, Holly Levitsky is replacing the Lucky Charms cereal in her kitchen with Millville Marshmallows and Stars, a less expensive store brand." Others are changing what they eat and perhaps having a healthier diet.
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Bringing Business and Government to the Table?
by Danielle Carpenter Sprungli, WCSBD on 05. 1.08
In another effort to jump-start investments in clean technologies and save the world, representatives from business, government and academia came together in Brussels on 29 April for a “CleanTech” forum.
These “corporate executives responsible for sustainability initiatives, entrepreneurs, early stage and established cleantech companies, utility and industry executives involved with emerging technology ventures and strategic alliances, professional service providers focused in the areas of legal, financial accounting and management, and governments/economic development councils, policy makers, scientists and researchers,” says the CleanTech website, aimed to exchange information about cleantech business and investment opportunities.
WBCSD President Bjorn Stigson addressed the Forum, looking ahead to 2050 and global changes for a low-carbon economy. His comments reflected the reality of today’s business world: the increasingly resource- and carbon-constrained arena in which companies are operating....
The National Post on Dead Whales, Oiled Birds: "No Big Deal."
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 05. 1.08
tailing pond, Alberta tar sands
The National Post started a new "eco-page" this morning, which is pretty funny when the lead story on the front page is an admiring portrait of "eco-Judas" Patrick Moore. I have had a love/hate relationship with the Post since it started; founded by Conrad Black as a conservative voice, it hired the best writers and designers and revitalized the newspaper industry in Canada.
Eco-page notwithstanding, I am cancelling it today. We complain often about the abomination that is the Alberta tar sands; now hundreds of birds have died, simply by landing on what look like lakes but are actually tailing ponds. It is getting coverage around the world, but what is the response from the National Post's Kevin Libin?
"the energy industry has always taken its moderate toll on wildlife, from the days of whale oil to California’s raptor-shredding wind turbines, it would certainly be something if a few hundred more ducks, martyred in the name of in the name of industrial progress, made all that much of a difference." "moderate toll"? what gall. Notwithstanding the fact that they didn't have the nerve to put this in the print edition, my subscription is cancelled now. :National Post ...
The Recyclery: A Tale of Two Cities and Two Wheels
by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 05. 1.08
Great minds think alike ... Here we have two organisations, almost on different sides of a country, doing much the same thing, with the same name.
The Recyclery, in Evanston, Illinois, a non-profit collective, seeks to build community through the restoration of donated and discarded bicycles. “With these bikes we offer a sustainable form of transportation at little to no cost. We wish to further open ourselves and our resources to the community at large with programs that teach bicycle maintenance, safety, and ecological sustainability."...
Necky Recycled Kayaks
by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 05. 1.08
Way back when TreeHugger was a babe in the woods we posted on Walden, who at the time made roto-moulded kayaks from recycled plastic. They alas closed their doors, and we found Hydra, who made a portion of their craft with recycled content. But the overall Walden idea was kept alive by Earth Friendly Kayaks. Recently the whole concept was reinvigorated by Necky Kayaks of Washington state, USA.
They make several lengths of their Manitou kayaks from 100% recycled post industrial HDPE. Interestingly they’re claiming the recycled plastic is stronger than standard materials. As well as embracing the recycle ethic, Necky also donate 1% of gross sales to the Waterkeeper Alliance, who champion clean watershed program.
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Beating the Energy Efficiency Paradox (Part I)
by Rocky Mountain Institute on 05. 1.08
Photograph:- The Daybreak Residential/Commercial Community in South Jordan, Utah features Energy Star homes.
Energy efficiency has been a consistent part of America's energy security policies and increasingly become an essential framework for abating carbon emissions. In fact, the federal government now offers several tax credits for everything from green home improvements to fuel cells.
But the effectiveness of energy efficiency does not go undisputed.
Skeptics such as the Energy Tribune's Robert Bryce point out that total energy use in the United States continues to rise, despite efficiency gains. Per capita, we're using more energy even as sales of hybrid cars increase and more green buildings get erected.
The argument hinges on an economic theory called Jevons' Paradox....
GMZ Energy Announces Efficient Thermo-Electric Means To Convert Waste Heat To Electrcity
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 05. 1.08
GMZ Energy has announced the availability of a new thermoelectric material, a nanostructured bismuth antimony telluride bulk alloy, that will support design of more energy-efficient products.
In the near-term, the GMZ material will be used in cooling applications and to create products that consume less energy or capture energy that would otherwise be wasted. Longer term, it can provide more advanced solutions, such as cars partially powered by the exhaust system and solar thermal panels with heightened performance. The GMZ material, currently in advanced testing stage at select U.S. and Asia-Pacific manufacturers and being sampled by early customers, integrates easily into existing and new product designs for a rapid time-to-market.See the full abstract from Science here. See full coverage in MIT News, here. Via::NanoWerk Image credit: Boston College, MIT, and GMZ Inc., "A cross-section of nano-crystalline bismuth antimony telluride grains, as viewed through transmission electron microscope. Colors highlight the features of each grain of the semiconductor alloy in bulk form." ...
International Sunflower Guerrilla Day
by Bonnie Alter, London on 05. 1.08
Historically May Day has commemorated the coming of spring and a recognition of workers' rights. Here's another cause for its celebration: International Sunflower Guerrilla Day. It's easy, it's fun, it's slightly subversive and it brings joy to all who look upon its fruits. What could be bad?
Here's how to do it: Find a crummy, neglected and sunny public space somewhere near your place. Get some sunflower seeds, the bigger the flower, the better. Take a bottle of water and a little spade, stick or soup spoon with you to the spot. Dig a hole about 3/4 of an inch deep. Drop in a seed and water it. Return every once in a while to water it and clean off the litter. Watch the little seedling grow into full bloom by August. If you want to show your success to the world; take a picture and post it on the community website. Fellow gardeners in Brussels, London and France will be doing it too. Happy May Day, however you choose to celebrate it. :: International Sunflower Guerrilla Day...
B.Y.O.C. - Chopstick Reuse Ramping Up In Japan
by April Streeter, Gothenburg, Sweden on 05. 1.08
Photo courtesy tanakawho via flickr
Ironic that the Japanese originally started making those flimsy, break-apart disposable wooden chopsticks as a good way to deal with wood scraps. Now the nation goes through 24 billion pairs per year - 63 million pairs discarded per day. If you're really thrifty you can glue them together into a chopstick canoe.
Otherwise there's a growing trend in Tokyo and other cities to B.Y.O.C - bring your own pair of personal "hashi" or chopsticks. Now the Marche restaurant group is offering a reward system for people who bring their own - one point for each restaurant visit where you BYOC - 10 points equals a 500 yen ($5) discount on a meal. There's even a "chopstick keep" system where regular customers can store their chopsticks (they'll wash them) at the restaurant. A popular lunch buffet called Yokohama Cruise Cruise is giving a 300 yen discount on their 2100 yen ($20) buffet price for BYOC customers. Of course, you've got to have a pair to carry - here's a pair of rice-based biomass and polypropelene plastic chopsticks. Via CScout Japan
See also: Carry On Eating: Bring Your Own Chopsticksand Bring Your Own Chopstick Movement Gains Traction In Asia...
Sore Bum from Cycling? Wear Greenknickers!
by Petz Scholtus, Barcelona, Spain on 05. 1.08
All Sarah and Rose from Greenknickers are waiting for these days is sunny weather as there is no more sore bottom excuses not to get on your bike! The girls have designed special padded boxers and knickers that look as sexy as the rest of their collection (see here, here and here) to encourage their customers to cycle more. (more about these and lucky wedding lingerie after the jump)
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Small Wind Power is Growing Fast, Even Bush Sr. Will Get a Wind Turbine
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 04.30.08
Residential wind power is the too often forgotten little brother of the wind power industry that builds turbines on the scale of jumbo jets. But it's starting to grow up and come out of the shadow of its bigger sibling. "improved generator technology [lighter magnets in the generators, blades that adjust to wind conditions, and units that wirelessly report how much power they're making], more financial incentives, rising electric rates, and energy-security concerns have opened the way for small-wind power to bloom in unlikely places."
That's right, they aren't just for the farm anymore. You should see more and more small wind turbines in suburbs and urban settings as time goes on. Of course, we're still talking small potatoes compared to big wind power, on the order of only 3 megawatts in 2007 according to the American Wind En ergy Association (AWEA), but that's triple the generating capacity of 2006. A few more years of tripling and doubling, and the power of exponential growth will be felt....
What Do Off Grid Homes Look Like? Here are 5 Examples
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 04.30.08
So we know what it takes to live off grid and how you generate off grid power, but what does living off grid look like? It might be a surprise to some, but some off-grid homes are totally indistinguishable from other houses in the neighborhood (except for the lack of power lines and electricity meters).
Above is the Van Geet Off-Grid Home [pdf], sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy's Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) Agency. Near Denver, Colorado, the home takes advantage of 300 days of sun to produce lots of its power from a couple of solar arrays, and the home's careful siting makes the most of passive solar and daylighting to minimize the energy needed to run the home. Does it look "off grid" to you?...
EO Wilson and Elizabeth Kolbert in conversation
by Bonnie Hulkower, New York, New York on 04.30.08
Thursday night at Town Hall, the Natural Resources Defense Council presented E.O. Wilson interviewed by the author and New Yorker staff writer Elizabeth Kolbert. Father of biodiversity, "Darwin's Natural Heir", Pulitzer Prize winner, author of 25 books, ecologist, and humanist, E.O. Wilson is also the subject of the film Lord of the Ants, which will be presented on Nova May 20th. Wilson joked that the only time he tried to publish in the New Yorker, they rejected him, so that, by dialoguing with Kolbert, he was working his way up. While he shares the dismay many of us in the environmental movement feel about the direction in which the planet is going, Wilson is an optimist on human nature, and, by extension, on people's ability to fix environmental problems once they are aware of the issues at stake....
Today on Planet Green
by Jessica Root - Brooklyn, NY on 04.30.08
:: Stop mindlessly munching and check your portion sizes.
:: Learn the art of "drafting" to save automobile gas.
:: Safeguard yourself from pesky pesticides.
:: Be selective with your seafood.
:: Glam up your cell phone or MP3 player with some old jeans. ...
Most Huggable: Not-So-Green Olympic Games, Utah's Cheap Fuel, Solar Thermal Thoughts + More
by Team Treehugger, Worldwide on 04.30.08
The 2008 Olympic torch blazes a trail of glory—and carbon dioxide.
Utah goes car crazy over Compressed Natural Gas.
Big electronics retailers step up with e-waste recycling programs.
Triplepundit offers four solar thermal installation considerations.
Which country boasts the world's largest clean energy project?
Most Huggable is a regular roundup of some of Hugg's top green news stories. Why not submit your own green news?...
The Thorr Electric Car by Evisol
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 04.30.08
Evisol makes "integrated solutions" for electric and hybrid vehicles (including boats). Drivetrains, batteries, that kind of stuff. How better to demonstrate their skills than by making an electric car of their own? Meet the Thorr electric roadster, a proud relative of the classic Lotus Super 7 concept.
Simplicity is the name of the game here. Low complexity, low weight. A car stripped of all the bells and whistles, except for the state of the art electric drivetrain. No ABS, power assisted braking, gearbox, power assisted steering, any form of sound absorption, not even a roof and a windshield (okay, that might be a bit overkill, but they'll probably tweak it some more). See below for specifications, a video and more photos....
U.S. Consumers "Get the Cheap Stuff."
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 04.30.08
Lambert, Getty Images
We had a faint hope that the rise in food prices might lead people to buy more carefully, perhaps cook more from scratch instead of buying prepared food, or even cut back on meat and eat more vegetables. No such luck; according to the IHT, Americans are just buying more crap, because the cheap calories come from the most processed, corn-based foods. My favourite quote:
"In Ohio, Holly Levitsky is replacing the Lucky Charms cereal in her kitchen with Millville Marshmallows and Stars, a less expensive store brand." Pizza sales at Domino's are down, while Wal-Mart says that sales of peanut butter and spaghetti are up. On the other hand, so are the sales of packaged food.
Donna Dunaway, a homemaker, used to splurge on the ingredients for homemade lasagna, her husband's favorite, before food prices began to surge this year."Now he's lucky to get a 99-cent lasagna TV dinner, or maybe some Manwich out of a can," she said. "I just can't afford to be buying all that good meat and cheese like I used to."
Sigh. ::International Herald Tribune
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Jim Kunstler Interview in Business Week
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 04.30.08
Jason Grow
Business Week has a good interview with Jim Kunstler for those who are not familiar with his work. A typical question:
Why is suburbia now threatened?
Cheap oil is what made suburbia possible. But we'll run into problems with spot shortages. As we get into trouble with these supplies, our economy will suffer. Major instabilities in the system will present themselves much sooner than we are led to believe. And by that I mean the way we produce food, the way we conduct commerce, and the way we move around.
When will all that happen?
The rise and fall of oil production is asymmetrical. In other words, it'll be a steeper, rockier tumble down than the steady increase going up. My own sense of things is that we will be in very serious trouble inside of five years. More in ::Business Week
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Is Congestion Pricing Right for Car-Happy Los Angeles?
by Jeremy Elton Jacquot, Los Angeles on 04.30.08
Image courtesy of DRB62 via flickr
Following its unceremonious defeat at the hands of New York State Assembly, congestion pricing is looking to make a comeback in -- of all places -- car-mad Los Angeles. The large chunk of federal cash NYC's nixing of the deal has freed up, roughly $354 million, would be used to put toll lanes on three freeways, initially. The catch is that existing carpool lanes on these freeways would be converted to toll lanes....
Clothesline Photography Competition: We Have a Winner!
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 04.30.08
Laura in Venice, Italy 2004
In his post Fight For Your Right... to Dry, Sean challenged readers to "take artistic photos of outdoor clotheslines that show both beauty and vitality." On National Hanging Out Day we upped the ante by adding a coveted copy of Jim Kunstler's World Made By Hand as a prize.
Our esteemed judges, Graham Hill and Meaghan O'Neill, have chosen Photo Unrest's shot of a clothesline in Venice, Italy as the winner. Send us an email and we will send you the book!
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Further Thoughts on Turning Road Traffic into Electricity
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 04.30.08
Welcome Digg users! Please check out other articles in Cars and Transportation or Science and Technology.
Our post about harnessing truck traffic to generate electricity has itself generated quite a bit of electrical signals in our readers' brains, as well as many thoughtful comments.
Here are some further thoughts on Terry Kenney's project and your comments: It is indeed a good point that the estimates on how many houses this could power is overly generous, to say the least. One thing we don't know, though, is if the 'Dragon Power Station' is only a prototype/proof of concept or if it is close to the best that can be done. This makes a difference. Prototypes are often sub-optimal compromises because you usually need to show that your idea is working before you can get financing and credibility to allow you to do what you really want to do....
Albert Hofman 1906-2008
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 04.30.08
When we honoured LSD inventor Albert Hofman on his hundredth birthday, many TreeHuggers were offended, asking " Could someone tell me how this could possibly be green-related? This only serves to cast an unfavorable light on the majority of us who are not former wasted trippin' hippies." or "I, too, am surprised and slightly offended by this post on Treehugger. This isn't the sort of thing I expect from you." Others were more subtle and simply said "you are an idiot loyd."
Turil and others defended the post, "I'm wondering how someone would be offended by hearing about a historically significant person having a one hundredth birthday...Oh, and apparently, the Hoffman's first acid trip was on a bike. And biking is most definitely Treehugger!"
So this time I will say nothing other than Rest in Peace. ::Albert Hofman dead at 102...
Ponoko Brings On-Demand Design to the U.S.
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 04.30.08
TreeHugger has been a fan of Ponoko ever since they launched last year (full disclosure: head TreeHugger Graham Hill is now on their Board of Advisors); their ability to mix ideas like mass customization, downloadable design and flat pack means efficient resource use, design that can be customized to your exacting specifications, and manufacturing that isn't sourced in China (and the good news is: it really works!). For us in the U.S., though, it did often mean shipping from New Zealand, where the company started, but not any more.
Ponoko announced yesterday that they are establishing a new global head office and manufacturing facility in San Francisco, making it possible (for those of us on the west coast, at least) to get truly custom, locally-manufactured design with just a few clicks of the mouse. Designers get what amounts to their own factory and online showroom, and consumers can have them made to order and delivered right to their doors....
Cast Your Vote in The Great Copy Machine Epidemic of 2008!
by Kenny Luna, North Babylon, NY on 04.30.08
If you haven’t had the chance to vote yet for the school that you think solved The Great Copy Machine Epidemic of 2008 there’s simply no time left to wait. With just a few days left to cast your ballot and help determine which disease it is that’s been causing school photocopy machines everywhere to chew up trees and contributing to global warming in the process.
For while we all know that the paper industry uses tremendous amounts of energy and causes deforestation as well, few realized until recently that there just may be a strange, contagious disease to blame for the tremendous amount of paper used by school copy machines.
You know those giant, devilish, tree-eating machines that lurk in the bowels of virtually every main office or back room in schools across America?
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iPhone: Greener Gadget Yes or No?
by George Spyros, New York City, USA on 04.30.08
With its unique touchscreen and potentially hazardous materials lurking behind it, is the iPhone a small green leap forward?
This post goes out to Alan, the intrepid community moderator over at Planet Green and here at TreeHugger, who's expertise and deft touch I admire.
Recently I wrote a post entitled NYC Bicycle Shelter Parking iPhone Photos: How Street It Is wherein I put up some snaps I grabbed on the fly using said technology. The comments, excerpted below, found my mention of the iPhone by turns "ridiculous," "pretentious," and "lame." So why on (protect the) earth would I even include the word iPhone? Could it be because it is a greener gadget?...
Shipping Container House By Ross Stevens
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 04.30.08
all photographs used with permission of Petra Alsbach-Stevens
It is a wall of containers, built against a hill in Wellington, New Zealand, designed and built by Ross Stevens. It uses the spaces between the containers and the hill to expand its living space beyond that limiting interior dimensions of a standard ISO box.
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Light Blubs by Pieke Bergmans
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 04.30.08
Put down that red pencil, editor Meg, that is not a typo. Dutch designer Pieke Bergmans puts LEDs into hand blown crystal light blubs, shown in Milan this month. She says:
"You may wonder: What is a light blub?? The answer is simple: it is a light bulb that has gone way out of line. Infected by the dreaded Design Virus, these Blubs have taken on all kinds of forms and sizes you wouldn’t expect from such well behaving and reliable little products."
Dezeen Reports that "The Light Blubs are a series of crystal lamps, designed by Pieke Bergmans, in cooperation with Royal Crystal Leerdam. The lamps are all unique handcrafted crystal pieces, equipped with leds by Solid Lighting Design.
The focus of Pieke Bergmans latest projects lies on creating products which are all slightly different, though they were made in a set process. The term ‘Perfect Imperfection’ illustrates the qualities that such a product can attain."
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San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom: Environmental Justice is the Great Challenge of Our Time
by Jesse Fox, Tel Aviv, Israel on 04.30.08
The Green Living Manifesto - Green Building Beyond Buildings
by Sami Grover, Carrboro, NC, USA on 04.30.08
When we interviewed Greg Searle of One Planet Communities North America, it was yet another affirmation of what TreeHugger has believed all along – namely that green buildings or sustainable technologies are not enough in themselves - social solutions are just as vital if we are ever going to dig ourselves out of the mess we have created. Greg continues to push this message, and has just emailed us about the launch of a new “Green Living Manifesto” which aims to inspire green building professionals to think beyond energy efficiency, LEED, photovoltaics or rainwater harvesting:
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1957 Frigidaire Dream Kitchen of Tomorrow- in Czech
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 04.30.08
Click here to go to video
We love our kitchens of the future; here is another from a 1957 "Paris Exhibition of the future" in Czech with hilarious english subtitles. It has an IBM punch card recipe file, automatic dispensing and online TV ordering. Once it got to the glass domed oven scene, it was recognizable as Frigidaire's Dream Kitchen of Tomorrow, from 1957, shown below the fold; we have some better shots and film of it. ::io9 via ::boingboing...
Caravan and Camping Industry’s Gumnut Awards
by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 04.30.08
“The caravan and camping Industry in New South Wales realises that Australia has some big challenges ahead in order to reduce our eco-footprint. For this reason, environmental programs such as the Gumnut Awards have been developed to get the touring industry to proactively drive environmental sustainability.”
The program, self described above, was developed back in 2002, modelled closely on the success of the David Bellamy Conservation Awards in the UK. Since that time the Caravan and Camping Industry Association of NSW (CCIA) have apparently managed to get by-in from 47% of their member holiday and residential parks....
Survey: Do We Need a Gas Tax Holiday?
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 04.30.08
Tom Friedman doesn't think so, saying in the NY Times: "This is not an energy policy. This is money laundering: we borrow money from China and ship it to Saudi Arabia and take a little cut for ourselves as it goes through our gas tanks. What a way to build our country." McCain and Clinton want to cut the tax; Obama doesn't.
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High Lead Levels Found in Australian Rainwater Tanks
by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 04.30.08
Australia has been in the grip of a one-in-a-thousand-year drought. A while back we looked at how this was affecting the ability of cities to provide basic drinking water services and what it meant for agriculture. Then we perked up with stories on how individual Australians and their municipalities have again embraced rainwater harvesting. With gusto. (Governments have even being giving rebates for tanks.)
Unfortunately new report somewhat rains on that parade. According to a study released last week a third of the Melbourne suburban rainwater tanks studied had heavy lead levels, above the Australian drinking water guidelines. Researchers from Melbourne Monash University and the CSIRO also found traces of heavy metals such as cadmium. Damn....
From the Forums: Eco Fads & Corporate Greenwashing
by Alan Graham, Portland, Oregon on 04.30.08
greenteadrinker poses the question about companies who are "pushing" green ideas, but might simply be jumping on what they perceive to be a fad and not as green as they say.
This concerns bubbleberry who says:
Green is becoming a fad, and if we are not careful it will fade like every other.stins:
Of course as green becomes mainstream, we do run the risk of fakers or greenwashers getting in the mix. And as consumers, we really do have to know what to look out for and demand some accountability.countrytinman brings up Wal-Mart:...
Train Travel Hits New Highs
by Bonnie Alter, London on 04.30.08
Brit's are taking trains in greater numbers than any other time since World War 2. New figures revealed that the number of miles travelled on the rail network reached a record-breaking high of 30.1 billion during 2007. Passenger numbers have been increasing every year for the past thirteen. The only time it was higher was during the war when troops were being transported around the country. Last year the network handled 1.21 billion rail journeys, that's the equivalent of 20 trips for every citizen and a 7 per cent rise on the year before. Train authorities say it has to do with the growing demand for environmentally friendly travel and because it is easier than driving on congested roads and avoids the misery at airports. Eurostar has also announced that traffic to Paris has grown by 25% since the new train line from the new St. Pancras station was opened just 5 months ago. They attribute this increase to customers' concerns about the environment and the promotion of Eurostar's green credentials.
However passenger groups in the UK expressed concern about the rising cost of train tickets. The trains are privatized in the UK and in January some operators raised fares by 15% on the most popular routes. There is a fear that people will switch back to airplanes if the price of tickets keeps rising. Others are warning about the need to expand the system because already passengers are being left behind on the platforms due to overcrowding. :: Independent...
Terry Kenney Wants to Turn Big Truck Traffic into Electricity
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 04.29.08
While the Japanese are trying to produce electricity from train station gates (!?), entrepreneur Terry Kenney is going after a bigger target: Trucks.
It took him eight years to get a working prototype, but now there's one working at the Port of Oakland which Kenney calls the "Dragon Power Station". Special plates are set on the road, and as big trucks drive over them (about 2,500 of them per day at the port), they compress a tank of hydraulic fluid under the road, which in turn creates a series of pumping actions that turns a generator to produce electricity....
Portland Becomes First Major U.S. City to Win Top Prize for Bicycle Friendliness
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 04.29.08
Congrats Portland! The city just became the first major U.S. city to be designated as a Platinum-level Bicycle Friendly Community by the League of American Bicyclists. The only other city to reach that level in the U.S. is Davis, California, but it only has a population of 63,000, so the challenge wasn't quite the same (not to take anything away from their accomplishment - kudos to them!).
"Portland earned the Gold designation back in 2003 and has been working to achieve Platinum for well over two years. Back in February of 2006, Commissioner Sam Adams launched a nine-part strategy and called together advocates and community leaders to work toward achieving the goal."
Even the Gold level was pretty exclusive: Only six other cities have reached it. 15 have attained Silver, and 49 got Bronze. Five main factors have been evaluated (they call them the 5Es, though there's a 'P' at the end): engineering, education, encouragement, enforcement, and evaluation and planning. Once again, congrats Portland! ::Portland earns Platinum; becomes first major U.S. city to win the award, ::Portland earns a Platinum rating from the League of American Bicyclists...
How to Become an Eco Bounty Hunter
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 04.29.08
Tim Ferriss, author of The Four Hour Workweek, has a really cool idea and TreeHugger is helping to spread the word; it's a contest to help enable more effective electronics recycling, with the help of the big-time companies who design and manufacture the phones, provide cell service, or help both ship these phones around the world. Stay tuned for more; for now, take it away, Tim!
Boba Fett was always my favorite Star Wars character. Here’s your chance to emulate him and become a bounty hunter. Prizes go to the bold.
According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), more than 125 million cell phones are thrown away each year, which amounts to about 65,000 tons of waste. That’s just in the U.S....
The 2008 Ecocity World Summit: “Ecocity is Beautiful, Ecocity is Possible!”
by Jesse Fox, Tel Aviv, Israel on 04.29.08
San Francisco’s Nob Hill became a hive of green activity last week, as city planners, activists, academics, public officials, businessmen, students, indigenous leaders and others gathered to discuss issues ranging from veganism as a strategy to end world hunger to persuading unions to support high-speed rail at the 2008 Ecocity World Summit. The week-long happening, which focused on the world’s cities and their interactions with the biosphere, brought together some of the key thinkers and doers in the field of city-making.
Originally organized by author and theorist Richard Register in 1990, this year’s Summit, the 7th of its kind, took place in an atmosphere of particular urgency and relevance. Running through the talks, discussions and presentations were several common themes, generally framed by a “triple bottom line” approach, emphasizing ecology and social equity, as well as economy.
The entire event revolved around the concept of the “ecocity.” Although there were varying opinions as to what exactly constitutes an ecocity, it was generally agreed that very few currently existing places deserve the title. The idea is catching on fast, though, and soon enough the ecocity concept just may become the standard by which all cities are judged....
The Dutch Were Smart About Bikes in 1928
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 04.29.08
Eighty years ago the Dutch were building a proper infrastructure for bikes, separating the lanes and making it a safe place to ride. We just built highways and pulled up rail lines. No wonder things turned out the way they did. ::Modern Mechanix
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Today on Planet Green
by Jessica Root - Brooklyn, NY on 04.29.08
:: Green your digs with help from an eco-savvy contractor.
:: Puree Jerusalem Artichokes for this sophisticated yet easy soup recipe.
:: Help conserve water by harvesting it from your roof.
:: Crack open the corn industry.
:: Get ready to watch the coolest in green home building on Renovation Nation....
Survey Shows 75% of UK Drivers Want Cars with Stop-Start Systems
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 04.29.08
Stop-start technology makes a lot of sense, and we're quite disappointed that it is taking so long to become widespread. It conserves fuel and reduces emissions in city driving by shutting down the engine when the car is stopped (red light, dense traffic, etc), and restarting it instantaneously when the drive takes his or her foot off the brake pedal. You get part of the benefits of a hybrid car at a much lower price tag.
So it is not surprising that a new survey shows that 3/4 of UK drivers would buy a car with a stop-start system. Problem is, there are only three carmakers that offer stop-start systems on non-hybrid models, Citroën (we wrote about the C2 Stop/Start here), BMW and Mini....
Climate Change Protection Complex
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 04.29.08
That's what they call this new prefab from the Survival Center in McKenna, Washington, the perfect home for the new survivalists. They take five of these steel 27 foot long tanks and link them together, and includes everything you will need to survive for up to ten years. Each of the modules serves a particular function:
Climate Change Protection Complex
1. The Main Shelter is the living area with sleeping, cooking, shower and toilet facilities.
2. Food. The Food Shelter is where most of the long term storage food is located. Some food preparation can be done here. This includes 10 years food supply (our choice) for 5 people. Grain mill for grinding grain, stainless steel cook ware, alcohol cook stove & fuel, utensils, flatware and kitchen basics....
Cindy Crawford is Our New “Eco-Everywoman”
by Kara DiCamillo, Newport, Rhode Island on 04.29.08
Photos courtesy of: Ecorazzi
Recently on Vanity Fair’s blog “VF Daily”, we learned that they’ve added a new member to their Green Beat team - Cindy Crawford. Although she’s known as a super-model icon, she’ll actually be writing about a lifestyle change she’s made or, an “eco-awakening” as she calls it. While she admits to being no Al Gore, Crawford credits her children for her environmental interests and initiatives, which she’ll be sharing with her readers. In her first post, she writes about the small changes she’s made, like unplugging appliances, switching to recycled paper towels and napkins, and drinking tap water. And speaking of water, Crawford also announced that she’s working with PUR (as in, the water filtration company) in designing her own reusable aluminum bottle to encourage others to cut back on plastic waste....
From the Forums: Do You Support Biofuels?
by Alan Graham, Portland, Oregon on 04.29.08
With fuel and food prices set to climb higher and higher this year, two commodities whose prices hit the poorest of us, goldwave84 asks, do you support biofuel production?
He goes on to say:
A recent CNN report (March 07) showed that if biodiesel was in full swing in USA, it would only reduce 7% of the consumption of petrol. Why not focus MORE on electric technologies, hydrogen, and even pure oxygen? That would be a better choice.SoCalSolar says:...
China's New Hybrid Cars: Almost Affordable in China
by Alex Pasternack, New York, NY on 04.29.08
In a country where 5.2 million cars were bought last year, where nearly 10 million cars are produced each year, and where "environmental protection" is a major buzz word, you might think that the Chinese have been ramping up their cheap, domestic-made hybrid cars. Nope. The only hybrids currently available are Japanese, the Toyota Prius and the Honda Civic. And while they're assembled in China, importing the parts from Japan means heavy taxes, which means that these cars costs double in China than what they do in the US. That's why only 417 Priuses were sold in China last year.
Then, at the Beijing auto show last week, GM got lots of press for announcing it would sell its new hybrid in China. But the cost won't be much better than the Prius, around $40,000. For a country where the average car costs less than a quarter of that, where demand is growing for big cars, and where fuel prices are kept artificially low by the government, the future of green cars seems dim.
But enter the Chinese automakers. Yes, big cars are in but so are small and green models, and they have a few that, while still largely concepts, are affordable -- and could be invading overseas markets in the next few years....
Bionx Electric Bike System
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 04.29.08
Batteries are heavy, and consequently so are many electric bikes. Alex Coulombe demonstrates the BionX, a conversion system that you can add to any bike, that tops out at fifteen pounds....
New 'Zero-Watt' Computer Monitor Uses No Power in Standby Mode
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 04.29.08
As far back as 2004, we were writing about 'phantom power', all that energy used by your electronics to make sure that they catch the 'power on' signal from the remote and come back to life fast enough, and how to combat it.
A new computer monitor by Fujitsu Siemens Computers breaks with its brethren and uses no power at all in idle mode. It works with a clever switch that shuts down the monitor when there's no signal from the computer, and turns it back on when there is one. ...
The TH Interview: Taylor Schmidt, Student at Greensburg High School
by Kenny Luna, North Babylon, NY on 04.29.08
He’s a high school student from the town of Greensburg Kansas, and his enthusiasm for the green movement and the amazing things it’s doing for his town after the devastation caused by the tornado that leveled it are an inspiring look at the future of green in America.
After spending close to an hour speaking with him by phone I realized precisely why the rebuilding of Greensburg can become an uplifting model for us all. I trust you’ll enjoy his insight and enthusiasm as much as I did.
TreeHugger: What do you believe made the people of Greensburg decide to rebuild the town in a green fashion?
Taylor Schmidt: Well after at least 96% of the town was destroyed there has obviously been a massive need for rebuilding, and the town has come together as a big family, really, and it’s been one joint effort to rebuild the town better than it was and more sustainable and green than it was. So we’ve really been learning a lot about what we need to do to keep our town from dying again. And we’ve been learning about building and going green and implementing a lot of green into our rebuilding efforts.
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The Story of Rice
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 04.29.08
"Farmers can't keep up with rising demand. The world is in a food crisis that's already boiled over in some places." Thomson Reuters has put together slideshows with stunning photography covering the rice situation in each of the countries shown. The graph on corn is also worth a look. Turn off your popup-blocker and read about ::Agflation
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Last Post Ever on Compact Fluorescents, It's Settled
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 04.29.08
18.6 Million Empty Houses in America
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 04.29.08
Empty Houses, Buffalo, New York Times
That is what the census says. Andrew Leonard in Salon notes that it is a bit misleading, that "4.7 million are for "seasonal use" only, the Census tells us -- unoccupied vacation homes, in other words. 4.1 million are for rent, 2.3 million are for sale, and the remaining 7.5 million "were vacant for a variety of other reasons."
The census also lists the total number of homeless in America as 759,101, so there are 24 empty houses for every homeless person in America. What a shocking misallocation of resources, materials and energy. ::How the World Works...
New York Unveils Plan to Be More Bicycle-Friendly
by Andrew Posner, Providence, Rhode Island on 04.29.08
Perhaps because Mayor Bloomberg's plan for congestion pricing in New York City has failed, the Big Apple is now trying to make up for it by becoming more bicycle-friendly. As it is, 112,000 New Yorkers bicycle on an average day, an increase of 10% over the last decade. The proposal, which is part of a new Department of Transportation strategic plan, hopes to double that number by 2015, as well as
--Add 200 miles worth of new bicycle lane between 2007 and 2009
--Install 37 bicycle shelters and 5,000 bike parking racks by 2011
--Install 15 additional miles of protected on-street bike lanes by 2010 and 30 miles from 2011 to 2015
Finally, "To raise bike-consciousness in the city, the Transportation Department and the nonprofit group Transportation Alternatives are holding a competition to find the most bicycling-friendly employers in the city."
Via: ::City Room (NY Times Blog)
See Also: ::Bicycle Traffic School Debuts in Santa Cruz, ::London to Spend US$975 Million on Walking and Cycling Programs Over Next Decade, ::BicyTaxi Comes to New York City, ::Nissan Altima Hybrid as Taxis in New York City, ::Green Building Competition for New York City--Winners Announced, and ::Some Cities Try to Be Bike Friendly...
Amazon: Brazil Considers Extending Permits to Enter the Jungle
by Paula Alvarado, Buenos Aires on 04.29.08
(Picture: Getty Images) The Brazilian congress is considering a law project that establishes the need for permissions to enter the Amazon jungle. The permissions would be extended by the Defense Ministry to NGOs, foreigners and workers, and would be intended to prevent the illegal use of resources in the area.
The law project is supposed to be pondered in the Congress until July. If it's approved, those who break it and enter the jungle without legal authorization could face bills that could go from five to 100 thousand USD.
::Via BBC Mundo (in Spanish)
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Are Hybrids an EMF Health Risk?
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 04.29.08
We have had some sport with the dangers of Electromagnetic Forces (EMF) before (see a University without Wifi) and even done April Fools jokes about it; after a little more reading we concluded that we should not be so dismissive.
However we find it hard to take Jim Motavalli's article in the New York Times "Fear, but Few Facts, on Hybrid Risk" seriously. He writes:
There is a legitimate scientific reason for raising the issue. The flow of electrical current to the motor that moves a hybrid vehicle at low speeds (and assists the gasoline engine on the highway) produces magnetic fields, which some studies have associated with serious health matters, including a possible risk of leukemia among children.There are electric motors in gasoline powered cars too, and Toyota tested its Prius and found that the levels were no higher than regular cars, and that the levels were 1/300th of the European standards. As for the woman who kept falling asleep in her hybrid Honda, could it be that it is just a lot quieter than a normal car? Does she use a cell phone? ...
Survey: Is It Real or Photoshopped?
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 04.29.08
Yesterday we ran this picture with the headline Orangutan Caught Red-Handed Using Technology, Fishing with a Spear. and wrote "For those who thought that humans were the only ones using tools..." Commenters were not impressed, suggesting that it was a photoshop job.(Link here for larger version)
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New Wave Environmentalism Focuses on Issues Beyond Eco-Tips
by George Spyros, New York City, USA on 04.29.08
The New Environmentalism Is About Issues in Addition to Eco-Tips
We're heartened to see a shift in environmental focus taking root around the past Earth Day. This Enviro New Wave is committed to supplementing eco-tips and individual action by tackling the issues facing life on Earth through a whole-systems approach. This includes nurturing local action as well as doggedly advocating for large-scale political shifts in policy....
StreetFilms Grades New Yorkers' Bike Locking Abilities
by Sami Grover, Carrboro, NC, USA on 04.29.08
Today Cars No More Efficient than 1963 Models
by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 04.29.08
The average car on Australian roads today is only as fuel efficient as its predecessor was back in 1963. That’s the finding of prominent transport researcher Paul Mees, of Melbourne University, who is crunching numbers for the Garnaut climate change review. Paul says that “the current rate of progress in making cars more fuel efficient is no progress at all.” In 1963 the average Australian car went 100km on 11.4 litres of petrol. (That’s 20.6 mpg) They can only manage the same efficiency more than 40 years later.
Gathering data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, he has revealed that while engine efficiency has improved, this has been countered by the addition of 'enhancements' such as air-conditioning, power steering and windows, safety and entertainment systems. The static nature of overall fuel efficiency has also been hampered by the roll out of more freeways. "If you drive at 110kmh you use more fuel than if you drive at 70kmh." From ::Sydney Morning Herald, via Ecomedia
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Functional Elegance: The Small Haul by Frances Cycles
by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 04.29.08
The Long John in April’s recent post on Five Cool Cargo Bikes reminded me of the wonderful looking Small Haul. This is an exquisitely detailed, hand-made bike frame that includes a vast cargo-hold right under the handlebars.
Joshua Muir, who crafts them in his workshop in Santa Cruz, Calfornia, describes them as “quick and surprisingly light.” The front basket is rated to carry up to 80lbs (36 kg) as indicated by the above pic of the Labrador. The Frances Cable Steering System is employed to ensure turning is nimble. Should you need to hump 200lbs (90kg) about the place, Joshua can rustle you up the heftier Cycletruck. ...
Cost Increase Ants Spoiling The Nuclear Picnic
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 04.29.08
The notion of nuclear energy saving the earth's climate is so romantic. We simply must open our parasols. With light cascading down from openings in the forest canopy, illuminating the possibilities, it is just so exciting to think on a neglected technology saving the planet.
Not so fast! Like ants at the climate-action picnic, costs increases are eating away at that bucolic vision. Stainless steel ants: very expensive to keep in control. Concrete ants: gone wild. Copper motor coil ants: hugely expensive. Even the engineering ants are charging more, in spite of design outsourcing. Getting so bad, it is, even the nuclear pandering-most politicians may end up going for renewables.
How do we know it's getting serious? The preliminary engineering cost estimates are Top Secret. The estimated cost of new nuclear power plants has tripled in the past few years, with projections now hitting $6 billion to $9 billion per reactor. Cost estimates are expected to continue escalating. Soaring costs make the prospect of new nuclear power even harder to sell to a public that will ultimately pay for new plants through rate increases....
Renzo Piano's Green Museum in San Francisco
by Bonnie Alter, London on 04.29.08
Renzo Piano's new green museum, the California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco is almost finished and what a natural phenomenon it is. Located in famous Golden Gate Park, and housing an aquarium, planetarium, and natural-history museum under two "hills" which are really a two-and-a-half-acre “living roof”, the building looks like a part of the park from some views.
As Piano says: “The building had to be green and sustainable to go with its purpose—study of the earth and science. It is also in a very unusual place, the middle of one of the most beautiful parks in the world. You almost never get a chance to build something in the middle of a great park, so it needed to be transparent. You needed to see where you are. Normally, a museum of natural science is created like a theater, so that you can have the exhibits inside. All museums normally are opaque; they are closed, like a kingdom of darkness, and you are trapped inside. But here you need to know about the connection with nature, so almost anywhere you are in this building you can see through to the outside.”
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Global Warming Is Man-Made; Antarctic Ice Bubbles Tell the Tale
by April Streeter, Gothenburg, Sweden on 04.29.08
Photo courtesy elisfanclub on flickr
O.K. perhaps it's not news to you, and instead just a bit more evidence of man's effect on climate. Eons of air bubbles trapped in Antarctic ice reveal how carbon dioxide ups and downs are in sync with rising and falling Earth temperatures, according to research presented in the journal Nature Geoscience - and hypothesizes how the recent surge of CO2 emissions has thrown that system, known as a feedback mechanism, out of whack.
Researcher Richard Zeebe measured CO2 in the air pockets in layers of Antarctic ice and found that amounts waxed and waned with known periods of cooling and warming on Earth. In the past CO2 upswings and downturns were smaller - an average change of around 22 parts per million (i.e. 22 CO2 molecules more or less) - and occurred when volcanoes erupted. Over time that extra was absorbed in deep sea beds. In the last 200 years, the amount of CO2 has risen by 100 parts (or 100 molecules) per million, and that jolt of extra CO2 will take hundreds or thousands of years to be absorbed. Which raises the question: are emissions reductions worthwhile when resetting the feedback mechanism will take so long and won't fix the climate we'll experience in our lifetimes? See Zeebe's response after the jump....
Book review: Sustainable Fashion & Textiles - Design Journeys
by Leonora Oppenheim, London, UK on 04.29.08
Over the last year there has been a relative rush of books on eco and ethical fashion published in the UK. We think this is an excellent indicator of the public’s awareness of how, what, where and whom produced the clothes in our closets. First was Tamsin Blanchard’s Green is the New Black and Mathilda Lee’s Eco-Chic. Then most recently Kate Fletcher’s Sustainable Fashion and Textiles: Design Journeys and Sandy Black’s Eco-Chic: The Fashion Paradox (review coming soon).
For all students of new subjects it’s often sensible to start with the general overview and then, as knowledge and interest increase, start digging into the more complex layers. Fortunately the order in which these books have arrived on the shelves has enabled us to do just that. The clear and simple journalistic approach of Blanchard and Lee’s books got us off to a good start and now Kate Fletcher takes the reader into deeper waters with her wealth of experience and knowledge built up over the last 15 years working within the textiles and fashion industries....
The Good Fight Hosted by Simran Sethi Launches on Sundance Channel
by George Spyros, New York City, USA on 04.28.08
Our dear colleague Simran Sethi has a new joint over at Sundance Channel: THE GOOD FIGHT, a web series that looks at the places where environmentalism is a necessity, not a luxury. THE GOOD FIGHT will take you from Greensburg, KS–a community that lost nearly everything in a tornado and is now “going green” as a way to revitalize the economy, save money, and create a legacy for their children—to The Dream Reborn conference in Memphis, TN, celebrating the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and restorative environmental solutions that promote equity, health, and employment. You’ll meet environmental visionaries like Cameron Sinclair, the founder of Architecture for Humanity, a non-profit that brings professional architects and designers to communities that have suffered humanitarian crises – and Brahm Ahmadi, the executive director of People’s Grocery, an organization based in West Oakland, California with a mission to bring healthy, affordable food to a community that has over 50 liquor stores but not one grocery....
Today on Planet Green
by Jessica Root - Brooklyn, NY on 04.28.08
:: Sweeten your purchases with a repurposed cereal box wallet.
:: Win the chance to crack science myths on Discovery Channel's Mythbusters.
:: Use garlic generously in Kelly's pesto recipe.
:: Plop down on comfy, green furniture cushions.
:: Start your day with uplifting Greensburg coverage from CBS' The Early Show....
Most Huggable: Offices Dig Digital, Sustainable Structures, A Carbon Captured Future + More
by Jessica Root - Brooklyn, NY on 04.28.08
Ecopreneurist offers practical tips for a paper-free office.
The American Institute of Architecture announces their top ten environmental buildings.
Will Atmospheric Carbon Capture Systems one day line our highways?
A study finds that employers walking the green talk are more likely to have a positive effect on their staff.
Caterers begin to specialize in eco-friendly cakes and dishes.
Most Huggable is a regular roundup of some of Hugg's top green news stories. Why not submit your own green news?...
HSBC Tower Gets Mexico's First LEED Gold Rating
by Eliza Barclay, Washington, D.C. on 04.28.08
We admit we should have jumped on this news earlier, like in late 2007, but better late than never to report that the HSBC Tower in downtown Mexico City is the first building in Latin America to receive LEED Gold certification from the Mexico Green Building Council, an institution that promotes and certifies sustainable and environmentally friendly design and construction. Fortunately a columnist for the Mexican paper Cronica recently visited the building and called it to our attention, praising its beauty and HSBC for its initiative.
According to the Mexico Green Building Council, the HSBC ‘Torre' building has notably implemented energy efficiency, potable water reduction, waste water technologies, waste management and environmentally friendly recycled furniture. The building also has Latin America's largest green roof and a water treatment plant.
According to Ken Hydes, chair of the World Green Building Council, "The LEED Gold certification of the HSBC Tower in Mexico City represents a major milestone in the development of sustainable office buildings in Mexico and throughout the Latin America region." ...
Stair of the Week: h2o Architectes, Paris
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 04.28.08
Justin at Materialicious nails it: "The parents of some lucky kid in the suburbs of Paris hired H²O architectes to create a private space for him in a disused garden shed in the backyard. The results are fantastic. The entire interior is built using birch plywood, on four levels, with dedicated areas for sleeping, living/study, and a bathroom. Resembles a boat interior, don’t you think? The architects call it ‘inhabitable furniture’."...
Eye Pod by Cermak Rhoades Architects
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 04.28.08
It's not just a pretty building, it's a camera obscura!...
Trailer Pops Out Into Three Room House
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 04.28.08
"Light and compact enough to be drawn behind a motor car like a trailer, a movable type of house can be expanded to form three rooms at its destination. On the road it is supported on two wheels with drop axle and is sixteen feet long and six and one-half feet wide. When expanded, it forms a living room twenty feet by fourteen feet, supplemented by a fully equipped kitchen. When the house is fully extended, it can be divided into twin bedrooms and a living room. The kitchen is equipped with many modern conveniences, including a refrigerator, and a gasoline tank supplies fuel for both refrigeration and cooking. The mobile home was developed by William B. Stout, automotive and aeronautical engineer."
Interestingly, William Stout also designed Packards, the Ford Trimotor airplane and the Aerocar. ::Modern Mechanix
...
Orangutan Caught Red-Handed Using Technology, Fishing with a Spear
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 04.28.08
For those who thought that humans were the only ones using tools...
"The extraordinary image, a world exclusive, was taken in Borneo on the island of Kaja, where apes are rehabilitated into the wild after being rescued from zoos, private homes or even butchers' shops."
"Orang hutan" means "forest man" in one of Indonesia's many languages. ::Orangutan attempts to hunt fish with spear, via ::RichardDawkins.net. See also: ::Major Campaign against Palm Oil, Destroyer of Orangutans...
FDA Based BPA decisions on Industry Studies, Ignored Others
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 04.28.08
Congress Examines Role Of Industry in Regulation Despite more than 100 published studies by government scientists and university laboratories that have raised health concerns about a chemical compound that is central to the multibillion-dollar plastics industry, the Food and Drug Administration has deemed it safe largely because of two studies, both funded by an industry trade group. ::Washington Post
Plastic-Bottle Scare Is a Boon for Some It may prove to be a bonanza for companies like Eastman Chemical, which makes a comparable plastic without the offending ingredient, as well as for makers of glass and food-grade stainless steel. ::New York Times
More on Bisphenol A:
...
Mother Jones Starts Dialogue on Nuclear Power with Experts
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 04.28.08
Our friends at MoJo are giving you a chance to ask a question to about nuclear power. So whether you are pro, anti, or in between, we encourage you to join the dialogue by leaving a comment over there for one of the experts on their panel (Stewart Brand, Judith Lewis, Jonas Siegel, and Harvey Wasserman). The starting point for the dialogue is: "What is nuclear energy's place in the future mix of energy sources?"
You can also leave comments over here on TreeHugger or on the TH forums to discuss the issue with fellow treehuggers....
Pop Quiz: Per Person Power
by Dominic Muren, Philadelphia, USA on 04.28.08
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Chair Racing in Germany Shows You Don't Have to Burn Fossil Fuels to Have Fun!
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 04.28.08
The Conservation Report Hosts Carnival of the Green
by Kara DiCamillo, Newport, Rhode Island on 04.28.08
This week is Carnival of the Green # 125 and it's being hosted by The Conservation Report, a blog that encompasses latest environmental news and comment from a moderate perspective. So head on over to the site to check out a round up of green news and events from the past week, submitted by other bloggers and green sites.
To learn more about Carnival of the Green, where it will be and how to host (we are now accepting hosts for the second half of 2009!), please click here to link to our previous post....
North Pole: Could be Ice-Free this Year, But Some Hope Left
by Jeremy Elton Jacquot, Los Angeles on 04.28.08
The Go Green Initiative's School of the Week: Putnam Valley Middle School in NY!
by Kenny Luna, North Babylon, NY on 04.28.08
When the students and staff in the Go Green Club at Putnam Valley Middle School held a community meeting back at the beginning of the school year to help educate other students and staff about the importance of composting and recycling there’s a very good chance they didn’t know how far their efforts to green the school would take them…...
Solar Thermal Power in North-Africa: How Much Land to Power the World?
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 04.28.08
Update: Surface Area Required to Power the Whole World With Solar and Wind Power
Spiegel Online published a series of pictures titled "Desertec: Strom aus der Wüste" (translation: Desertech: Electricity from the desert). It includes this image of how much land would be needed to power the world, Europe or Germany with solar-thermal power. The idea is similar to a post we did a year ago: How Much Land to Power The Whole World with Solar?
The red square on the left is for the whole world, in the middle for Europe-25, and on the right for Germany. Below you can see pictures of the kind of technology they're talking about. It's a bit similar to Ausra's solar-thermal power system, but with curved mirrors. We're mentioning Ausra here, because they claim they're able to produce electricity from solar even at night (by storing some of the heat)....
Bidets: Eliminate Toilet Paper, Increase Your Hygiene
by Justin Thomas, Virginia on 04.28.08
Two years ago, I posted an article about bidets, and it generated a lot of healthy discussion. Since that time I've gathered more information on this topic, and I've been testing out a bidet for about three months. I now consider bidets to be a key green technology, because they eliminate the use of toilet paper. They also provide important health benefits. These include increased cleanliness, and the therapeutic effect of water on damaged skin (think rashes or hemorrhoids). But let's look at some figures on toilet paper usage:...
Green Living Show Roundup
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 04.28.08
We tour the booths at the Green Living Show. Image credits: Emma Alter
The Hästens $ 60,000 sleep
It is, of course, all natural horsehair and cotton and flax and pine and down. "Horsehair comes with its own, extremely effective, built-in ventilation system. Moisture passes through the hollow strands so quickly that if you wet horsehair with water and give it a shake, it dries straight away." This particular mattress also costs $ 60,000. Did it feel it? VP Sandy McDermid had to pry me off it. Unfortunately my credit card limit kicked in and I had to take a pass. ::Hastens...
Make Your Own Eco-Friendly Cosmetics
by Jasmin Malik Chua, Jersey City, USA on 04.28.08
From The Forums: Tips to Reduce Food Waste
by Alan Graham, Portland, Oregon on 04.28.08
ml2620 brings up a good topic:
My husband and I are a bit shocked at the amount of food we waste. We tend to eat out alot because of our work schedules, so when it's time for the weekly search and seizure in our fridge - we easily throw out a few pounds of food that's gone bad - veggies, fruit, leftovers, etc. How do you manage to reduce your food waste - use what you have, make the most of scraps? I also have no concept of meal planning, so tips on that would be appreciated. We are still meat eaters but have comittied to 4 vegetarian or vegan meals per week. Any tips or suggestions could be appreciated!sensiblesustainable says:...
Mural Dishwasher by Lacasse and Savard
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 04.28.08
I previously admired this horizontal eco dishwasher concept by Marie-Christine Lacasse & Marie Claude Savard, seen at the University of Quebec in Montreal Design Grad Show, but only had the video.
I am particularly fascinated by it because I used to try and get clients to install two dishwashers, which would act as storage as the dishes just went from one to another. This would save cupboard space, the work emptying the dishwasher and energy, as you don't run it until all of the dishes are moved from one to the other and it is full. This wall-unit design is a much more elegant solution.
Mocoloco's Eric Demay provides us with more information. ...
Environment Reading for People of the Book
by Karin Kloosterman, Tel Aviv on 04.28.08
(Helen Jupiter)
They say that Jews are the People of the Book. If so, then every Jewish TreeHugger should consider aligning their religious values with the environment. Or is Judaism naturally environmentally friendly by default?
So asks Helen Jupiter, a writer and editor at the online magazine Jewcy. Last week, to honor Earth Day, she collected a fine sampling of Jewish-themed environmental literature, perfect for stocking your bookshelves.
She writes: “There are a lot of paths leading from Judaism to environmentalism and vice versa, and the following ten books offer gateways and guidance.
“Hopefully they’re printed on recycled paper, too.”
A couple of her pics: ...
TH Interview: Kevin Surace of Serious Materials
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 04.28.08
Silicon Valley Business Journal
Back in the days, when you wanted a wall you put up wood or metal lath, hired very skilled labour and took a long time to plaster a wall. Then plasterboard lath came along and eliminated the base coat, and soon drywall replaced that, giving us the crappy half-inch thick soundboard that is made of gypsum and embodied energy and passes for a wall today.
Kevin Surace is the CEO of Serious Materials, the maker of serious soundproofing technologies and the soon-to-be-launched EcoRock low-carbon drywall. We spoke to him about his modest ambitions.
Kevin Surace: Our mission is to reduce CO2 output by a billion tons per year, three percent of all the CO2 produced by mankind. We can do it because the built environment is the play. 52% of all CO2 comes from building: 40% for heating and cooling buildings, and 12% for construction. Nobody wants to do anything about it; I was at the Fortune Brainstorm Green Conference and all anyone wanted to talk about is cars and fuel, when the biggies are cement, metal, glass and drywall....
Art Exhibit and Festival See off Earth Week in Buenos Aires
by Paula Alvarado, Buenos Aires on 04.28.08
(Picture: one of the art pieces at the exhibit. National pride, by Angles Alvarez Colombo.) In the first year Earth Day (April 22) has gained some notice in Argentina, late celebrations continued during the weekend in the country’s capital. On Friday, an exhibition focusing on artists who work with environmental and social issues opened at La Europea, a design house in Palermo neighborhood. On Saturday, the Buenos Aires Earth Day Festival had its first edition, gathering musicians and NGOs at the United Nations park, in fancy Recoleta neighborhood.
Even though the events weren’t massive, they are indicators of a growing interest by people in environmental issues. Argentina has been way behind in the ‘green wave’ trend that has reached massive status in the US, but seems to be catching up, with the word ‘verde’ (Spanish for ‘green’) starting to become popular, celebrities jumping in, and new websites and organizations focusing on a modern focus on ecology....
Big Steps In Building: Survival, Not Suburbs
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 04.28.08
subdivisions growing on prime farmland just north of Toronto
Toronto architect Phil Carter bought a farm many years ago on the edge of Port Hope, Ontario. Today it is surrounded by shopping centers and subdivisions and the farmer who plants corn on it says "this land's just good for growing houses, now."
Except now, across the United States, we have thousands of houses empty or in foreclosure, worth a fraction of what they once were, while food is costing twice what it once did. More importantly, that farmland being paved over is close to cities and towns, making it far more valuable for local food. What kind of trade was this? Prime farmland for empty houses in unsustainable suburbs?...
USEPA Orders Recall Of "Miracle-Gro, Weed Preventer" And Fertilizer Products Containing Unregistered Pesticide
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 04.28.08
The US Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), and current enabling rules have been in place since the 1970's. From the customer viewpoint, there's no excuse for a nationally prominent firm formulating gardening products without proper safety testing and registration. EPA is ordering Scotts Miracle-Gro Co., located in Marysville, Ohio, to stop selling and distributing two pesticide products that have not been registered with the EPA. The pesticides are "Garden Weed Preventer + Plant Food" and "SLS Fertilizer With .28 Halts" and are commonly used on lawns by homeowners. These products have not been registered with the EPA and are labeled with invalid EPA registration numbers. EPA has not reviewed any information about the safety of these products. Pesticide products must be registered with the EPA to protect public health and the environment.The Scott's Miracle Grow website offers this response....
Green Eyes On: When the Earth Trembles
by Sara Snow on 04.28.08
View of a cobblestone street that split in half after the San Francisco earthquake of 1906. Photo courtesy of Getty images. At the crack of dawn on Friday, April 18, an earthquake rocked the Midwest. You read correctly -- the Midwest. Now let's back up. When we think of tornadoes we think of the Midwest. When we think of hurricanes we think of the Florida coast, and sadly, due to Katrina, New Orleans. When we think of earthquakes we think of California. But we don't think of the Midwest. That said, on April 18th (exactly 102 years to the day after the San Francisco earthquake of 1906) a tremble started in West Salem, Illinois, 125 miles southwest of Indianapolis, and reached as far as Cincinnati, some 250 miles to the east. It registered a 5.2 on the Richter scale. So maybe when I say "rocked" I'm exaggerating. Maybe it was more like a tickle, but it was a 5.2 magnitude earthquake and it quaked, not on the California coast, but in Middle America. ...
Radiohead Telecommute To Play Conan, Saving CO2
by Alex Pasternack, New York, NY on 04.28.08
Amazon Watch Animation: Chevron’s inHumane Energy
by Leonora Oppenheim, London, UK on 04.28.08
Some Carbon With Your Kiwi?
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 04.28.08
Massimo Sciacca for The New York Times
The New York Times digs up some examples of extravagant and silly food miles. "Cod caught off Norway is shipped to China to be turned into filets, then shipped back to Norway for sale. Argentine lemons fill supermarket shelves on the Citrus Coast of Spain, as local lemons rot on the ground. Half of Europe’s peas are grown and packaged in Kenya."
And not just fruit and vegetables; Britain imports -and exports- 15,000 tons of waffles every year. “We’re shifting goods around the world in a way that looks really bizarre" says economist Paul Watkiss.“We are not paying the environmental cost of all that travel.”
One reason is that fuel used for international transport is tax-free, thanks to a treaty signed in 1944 to help the airline industry and still on the books. ...
Triodos Bank Annual Meeting Tackles Food Security
by Sami Grover, Carrboro, NC, USA on 04.28.08
Image courtesy of Flourish.
Whenever we’ve discussed Triodos Bank, the European sustainability-oriented savings bank with branches in the UK, Spain, The Netherlands and Belgium, we’ve always been impressed at the number of customers who attend their annual meetings. In many ways it’s no surprise though, as these events are far from the usual dry run-through of the organization’s finances – last year’s event included an organic lunch and a chance to hear speakers explore the thorny but fascinating topic of ‘ethical consumption.’ We’re bringing news of this year’s event a little late for anyone to actually attend (it was held on Saturday), but it is still worth noting for the sheer relevance of the topics that were due to be discussed:
...
Survey: Are You Into Gardening?
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 04.28.08
Food miles are so last year, we are into food feet at TreeHugger, suggesting that it is time you got out into the yard (front, back, balcony or allotment plot) and started growing your own food. It's good for your health, it's good exercise and it's good for the environment. So what's stopping you?
...
Keen To Make Green Soxy (and Stand Out)
by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 04.28.08
Earlier this month, Keen announced the winners of their STAND sustainability awareness contest. Prizes totaling $150,000 USD were awarded to three winners and fifteen runners up.
The three respective winners in their categories of Stand Up, Stand Out and Stand For were: a) Spencer Brown’s Rent a Green Box makes rentable reusable moving crates out of recycled plastic waste; b)Leslie Freeman’s Wild Science Explorers takes under privileged high school students on river trips complete with science education and Leave No Trace training; and Brian Bell, and the team at the University of Minnesota chapter of Engineers Without Borders, who are working in Haiti to develop ways to recycle HDPE water transport sachets into durable footwear for kids. ...
Crikey! World’s Largest Wildlife Hospital is Made of Strawbale
by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 04.28.08
When the Crocodile Hunter, Steve Irwin, died a couple of years back, after being stung by a stingray, our obituary post sparked off a torrent of views for and against Steve’s style of wildlife conservation. Let’s see how we fare this time?
Wildlife Warriors Worldwide, the organisation set up by Steve Irwin and his family, is currently building what is described as the “world's largest wildlife hospital” next door to Australia Zoo in Queensland. Which is kinda cool on its own. But we also like that it will be housed in “one of the biggest strawbale constructions in the world.”
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McCain Wants a Gas Tax Holiday; What About the Dems?
by Andrew Posner, Providence, Rhode Island on 04.28.08
We already know that John McCain is advocating for a suspension of the federal gas tax for the summer in order to ease the recession. But what about the two democratic candidates? Well, as Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton take their battle for the nomination to Indiana, their increasing desperation for garnering votes has spilled over into the question of whether or not McCain's plan would be a sound one. Clinton, who is behind in the delegate count, supports the idea of halting the gasoline tax over the summer, while Obama has spoken out against it, saying "The only way we're going to lower gas prices over the long term is if we start using less oil." Obama has also said that he would want Al Gore to play a central role in forming climate policy.
Clinton claims that the gas tax can be suspended without drying up an important source of revenue for the federal government. How would she pull that off?
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A Handbook for Guerrilla Gardening
by Bonnie Alter, London on 04.28.08
Guerrilla gardening—making vacant, neglected public lands green and flower-filled—is becoming almost mainstream. So much so that the number one English practitioner has a how-to book coming out. Richard Reynolds, with his co-conspirators, has been making bleak corners of London flower since 2004. Now he is telling-all including topics such as: use of colour, what’s a seed bomb, what to plant, and how to deal with vandals.
The use of bright colours in the planting is key: “shock and awe” is the way to get a big bang. Daffodils and tulips return year after year. Canna lilies are very striking with their pink, yellow and orange brightly coloured flowers. Primroses (this is England after all) make nice spots of colour, in blinding colours and have a long flowering period. Incongruity: plant something large and outrageous which will really stand-out. Sunflowers grow to 15 feet in dry soil. Christmas trees are hardy and look green all year. Fragrance: lavender and sage have lovely purple flowers and are sweet smelling. Mock orange is a tall, fragrant shrub that survives in poor soil. And then there are seed bombs….
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Take Your Natural-Gas Vehicle to Utah!
by Andrew Posner, Providence, Rhode Island on 04.27.08
We recently covered the low gas prices in New Jersey, the high cost of diesel nationwide, and the possibility that gas will reach $7 per gallon in four years. These factors have forced some behavioral changes in drivers, especially given the overall economic downturn. Some are opting for the usual alternatives: cycling, mass-transit, ride-sharing, etc. But in Utah, some are taking advantage of a rather unique situation: there, the cost of natural gas is only 63.8 cents per gallon equivalent, the lowest cost for compressed natural gas in the country. What this means is that those fortunate enough to own a natural gas powered vehicle can fill up their tank for a mere 5 dollars. By contrast, in California natural gas costs $2.50 per gallon equivalent.
Utah drivers have taken notice of the bargain, as "personal ownership of natural gas-fueled vehicles in Utah soared from practically nothing a few years ago to an estimated 5,000 vehicles today." And with good reason. "Buyers of new and some used and converted vehicles can claim their own federal and state tax credits totaling up to $7,000 — nearly the extra cost of a CNG-fueled vehicle." However, while natural gas can be derived from anaerobic digesters or landfills, in Utah they are using the fossil fuel kind which, though finite, is at least cleaner burning and less carbon-intensive than regular gasoline. But there's another problem: Honda is the only automaker to sell a natural gas vehicle in the U.S. As a result, buyers in Utah have depended on the used-car market, essentially "sucking all the used [natural gas] vehicles from around the country."
Via: ::Yahoo! News
See Also: :: Peak Natural Gas, ::UPS Deploys 167 Compressed Natural Gas Trucks, ::Natural Gas Platform Runs on Clean Energy...
Five Cool Cargo Bikes And The Return Of The Long John
by April Streeter, Gothenburg, Sweden on 04.27.08
Pictured is the Danish Kangaroo cargo bike
After a car-free 1.5 years in the Swedish city of Gothenburg, it had become time to reassess the bike set-up, because a wire basket, back rack and single pannier just didn't seem to be cutting for this rider anymore. When you have to carry every liter of milk, stick of butter and pot of paint either by foot or on your own pedal power, cargo bikes had started to look more and more enticing. That recent weekend in Copenhagen also again made it clear that the Danes are a light-year ahead of everyone (except, perhaps, the Dutch) when it comes to all things urban biking.
So it was timely to see a weekend review in Sydsvenskan newspaper of five cargo bikes - four Danish and one Dutch. The test favorite was the Winther Kangaroo, with a perfect five out of five score, for its easy and secure low-riding handling, a plus for beginners. But the Kangaroo also looks like a kid-hauling bike, whereas the second-favorite Nihola, a classic style seen in a dozen variations in Copenhagen's streets, has a square front box that is slightly narrowed but seems to work well for human or other cargo. And then there's (hit the jump for more review plus a pic of the Long John) ...
British Scientists Develop Another Waste CO2 Conversion Technology
by Jeremy Elton Jacquot, Los Angeles on 04.27.08
Scientists and businesses are increasingly turning to an innovative strategy to fight rising emissions: turning waste carbon dioxide into a commodity. Now researchers at Newcastle University have unveiled a new technology to capitalize on this trend; the team, led by organic chemistry professor Michael North, has developed a method of converting carbon dioxide into cyclic carbonates -- compounds with wide applications in the chemical industry. ...
Mountain Pine Beetle Invasion in Canada Poses Global Warming Threat
by Jeremy Elton Jacquot, Los Angeles on 04.27.08
Image courtesy of D&J Huber via flickr
A festering problem Lloyd reported on last year -- the invasion of British Columbia's forests by voracious mountain pine beetles -- has taken a drastic turn for the worse, according to a new study published in the journal Nature. Werner Kurz of Natural Resources Canada found that the beetles are turning large tracts of forests into carbon sources -- rather than sinks -- aggravating the onset of global warming....
Product Service Systems: Japan's Cat Cafés
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 04.27.08
We love product service systems, where you borrow or rent instead of own. On April Fools Day we showed Puppy The World, a PPS where one can rent a dog; Now we present Neko JaLaLa, or the Cat Café. You don't get to rent the cat, but you get to join them for tea while catz loll around. After all, cats are like tribbles; rubbing them makes you feel good. It is only in the morning that you pay with your skin. One customer says "When it comes to having cats, it's a burden. I work and I don't have the time to take care of them in a responsible manner," but thinks cat-gazing is "a way to relax and let go of my stress." Others note that it is a big help for people without time or space to have their own.
"I always used to play with cats back home, but now I can't, since I live on my own," says Yuka Sato in the CSM. "I wish I could live together with cats like this."
And, for Cute Overload and Lolcatz fans, we provide links to two Japanese websites for people who cannot get to the cafe and just want to look at cute cats. http://hatchan-nikki.com/ and http://scomu.jp/makocat/)
All via ::Christian Science Monitor via ::Planetizen...
