- 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 June 8, 2008 - June 14, 2008
Total this week: 176
Artificial Reef to Rise Off of San Clemente to Help Re-Grow Kelp Forests
by Jeremy Elton Jacquot, Los Angeles on 06.14.08
Image from debaird via flickr
One of the world's largest and most ambitious artificial reef projects, a 150-acre reef to be built from 125,000 tons of volcanic rock, is finally beginning to take shape off of San Clemente, California, after years of delay, reports LAT's Susannah Rosenblatt. The $40 million project, which is being funded by Southern California Edison, is meant to help counteract the environmental damage caused by the nearby San Onofre nuclear plant....
E-Waste Gets a New Pick-Me-Up in Mumbai
by Kimberley D. Mok, Montreal, Canada on 06.14.08
Although the largely informal e-waste disposal industry and corresponding environmental threat is nothing new in India, it may now be changing as one of India’s largest metropolises is now boasting its very own professional e-waste pick-up service.
Based in Mumbai, the privately owned and operated Eco Reco is the first of its kind in the state of Maharashtra and fourth in the country. Firms such as Eco Reco are taking advantage of a booming but hazardous industry, where e-waste is usually dismantled by workers with little protection in recycling plants that have even fewer safety and environmental contamination guidelines.
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China Gets Dubious Honor Of World's #1 CO2 Emitter
by April Streeter, Gothenburg, Sweden on 06.14.08
China's coal dependence and hot economy = CO2 emissions. Photo ninnet @ flickr
In a report released Friday by the Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency, China has stepped into first place as the world's largest emitter of greenhouse gases, edging ahead of the United States. China's supernova economy contributed to an eight percent rise in its domestic emissions, which in turn makes up two-thirds of the global growth of emissions last year. That trend is likely to continue due to China's massive use of coal-fired energy and its huge cement industry.
The U.S. still maintains the highest per person CO2 emissions (19.4 tons), followed by Russian (11.8 tons), and Western Europe (8.6 tons) compared to China's 5.2 tons per inhabitant. But China now releases 24% global GHG emissions compared to the US' 21%. What's unfortunate is that with one year to go until UN-sponsored talks in Copenhagen try to cobble together a Kyoto Protocol replacement treaty, the world's leaders aren't coming up with the kind of innovative ideas needed to creatively reduce everybody's emissions. As Yvo de Boer, executive secretary for the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change puts it:
"With a little more than a year to go to Copenhagen, the challenge to come to that agreement remains daunting."Related link: China Open To Post-Kyoto Framework Via :: International Herald Tribune ...
Israeli New Urbanists: Density Will Make Our Cities Better Places to Live
by Jesse Fox, Tel Aviv, Israel on 06.14.08
A model of a revitalized city as envisioned by architecture students from an Israeli university.
No matter how you measure it, Israel is already one of the most densely populated countries in the world, and is expected to become much more crowded in the future. So it took a fair bit of chutzpah to host a conference whose title, translated literally, was “In Praise of Density” and whose message was: high urban density is good for our cities. But that is exactly what the Movement for Israeli Urbanism did last month, in an attempt to initiate a discourse about better urban planning in Israel’s cities.
The questions raised by the speakers at the conference were universal in an age of intensifying urbanization around the globe: If our cities are already so crowded, why the heck should we make them even more so? Doesn’t density so often create feelings of claustrophobia, crowding, chaos, noise and other unwanted stimuli for city residents? And, bottom line, if people want a detached house with a garage and a yard, why shouldn’t we planners just provide them with one?...
Farmers Market Comes to Brooklyn Waterfront in DUMBO
by George Spyros, New York City, USA on 06.14.08
Local Farm Food Under the Brooklyn Bridge
Tomorrow Sunday, June 15th, the Dumbo Improvement District brings the Farm to DUMBO, Brooklyn! Buy farm-fresh foods at this brand new Farmers' Market at the entrance to Brooklyn Bridge Park. The DUMBO Farmers’ Market will operate on Sundays from 11:00AM – 5:00PM, rain or shine, through mid-November. For the inaugural DUMBO Farmers’ Market, the Improvement District recruited Community Markets from Ossining, New York to secure a diverse assortment of farms....
Working Out While Watching A Concert? Audience Pedaling and Powering The Concert in Yokohama on Free Bikes.
by greenz.jp, Tokyo, Japan on 06.14.08
A “free” pedal powered concert was held in Yokohama, Japan last Saturday, June 7, by the music oriented NPO “ARCHSHIP” which focuses on bringing together music, people and community. The concert was titled “Yokohama Human Powered Concert: Power Saving Saves the Earth” and yes, the concert was in fact, “free”…..I would say “free of charge”, but that would be misleading. Actually charge was required from the concert attendees. It just wasn’t a financial charge. Rather, electric charge, generated using four specially refurbished old bicycles, was required from the audience. Bit confusing? OK, let me explain....
Power Of One: Gretchen C. Daily Accepts Sophie Prize
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 06.14.08
"American biologist and writer Gretchen C. Daily accepted Norway's $100,000 Sophie Prize on Thursday for her efforts to show the economic benefits of protecting the environment...A jury selected Daily for the prize in March, describing the Stanford University professor as "visionary and focused on finding practical solutions."
The Sophie Prize website offers this. "Can efforts to save the environment also be economically profitable? Definitely, according to Daily. It is possible to use market forces in the fight against the loss of biological diversity and destruction of our ecosystems. The American biologist is visionary and focused on finding practical solutions; she is radical in her thinking and pragmatic in her approach. Her recommendations include action that can be taken on a local and international level." Looks like she knows how to party, too. Don't you wish you'd been there? Ahh life. Via::Los Angeles Times, Stanford biologist receives Sophie Prize Image credit::Sophie Prize Website,Excerpted from original photo by Elin Høyland...
Shrinking Container Sizes, Rising (Eco-) Costs
by Christine Lepisto, Berlin on 06.14.08
Are Producers Helping You to Stay on Budget?
USA Today recently headlined a shocking review of the big name food companies that are trying to beat rising costs by reducing package sizes. Granted, most of us could probably do with cutting our consumption of Edy's ice cream by 14% (1.75 quart containers have suddenly become 1.5 quarts), a little less Hellmann's mayo on the bread, or spreading Shedd's Country Crock a bit more thinly (32 ounce jar drops to 30, and 48 ounces shrinks to 45 ounces, respectively). But should manufacturers make this decision for us?
The food companies justify their actions with the claim that a package of their product must remain affordable. Of course, consumers are outraged at these tricks. We ask: is keeping the weekly tab down really helping the consumer?...
The French Rabbit Strike Again- TH Interviews Jean Charles Boisset about the wine industry
by Bonnie Hulkower, New York, New York on 06.13.08
TH did a story about the French Rabbit a few years ago, and now Jean Charles is back preaching his innovative wine packaging to oenophiles and the masses. He is fully aware that some people in the wine industry may think he is an extraterrestrial. Even some previous TH readers said "I'll pass and stick with glass". But, certainly not Tom who is opening a wine bar in New York City....
Fishing Ban Enacted for Bluefin Tuna in Eastern Atlantic & Mediterranean
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 06.13.08
photo by Mithril
A few months ago we wrote about how scientists were urging a ban on tuna fishing in the eastern Atlantic. For once politicians have whole heartedly listened to the scientists and acted.
Reuters is reporting that EU fisheries regulators have enacted a ban on trawling for bluefin tuna, to begin next week, in the eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean to prevent collapse of the species in these waters....
Wind Power Mogul Tulsi Tanti's Big Plans for India
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 06.13.08
It may not look like much in this photo, but Suzlon has ambitious plans for this site in western India
If you’re not Indian you may not know the names of wealthy industrialists Lakshmi Mittal or Ratan Tata. Well here’s another name to add to list of prominent Indians you don’t know but should be aware of: Tulsi Tanti.
Just why should you pay attention to this man? Because when his company, Suzlon Energy completes its windpark in Dhule, Maharashtra it will not only be the largest in Asia, but one of the largest in the world at 1,100 megawatts....
Business Week on Monsanto, Pickens
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 06.13.08
Monsanto on the Menu: How it has transformed itself from a money-losing pariah to a $ 5 Billion pariah, and how it is betting that the food crisis will create new markets for genetically modified products. "They are trying to exploit the food crisis as a means to win acceptance for their [patented, transgenic] products " ::Business Week
There Will Be Water T. Boone Pickens thinks water is the new oil—and he's betting $100 million that he's right. "As far as Pickens is concerned, he could be selling wind, water, natural gas, or uranium; it's all a matter of supply and demand. "There are people who will buy the water when they need it. And the people who have the water want to sell it. That's the blood, guts, and feathers of the thing," he says. ::Business Week
More goodness from Monsanto on TreeHugger:
Wal-Mart To Monsanto 'No Thanks For The Bovine Growth Hormone ...
Monsanto ’s Monopoly Challenged in Munich
They are Playing With Our Food Again
and on T. Boone Pickens:
T. Boone Pickens Rides the Wind
Why Wind? T. Boone Pickens Speaks
T. Boone Pickens Gets Into The Texas Wind: 4000 Mega-Watts Worth ...
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Netherlands to Get $1-Billion Biodiesel Plant
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 06.13.08
image courtesy of Neste Oil
The EU and the US may be mobilizing the troops, uh, lawyers for a good old fashioned trade war over biodiesel subsidies but Neste Oil musn't be fazed. The Finland-based company announced plans today to build a $1-billion, 800,000 tonne biodiesel refinery in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. Construction is to start immediately and is expected to be completed by 2011.
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Today on Planet Green
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 06.13.08
Get Rid of That Vinyl Shower Curtain A new study shows that as many as 100 chemicals are released from vinyl shower curtains.
Cut Your Power Bill While Teaching a Life Lesson Two birds with one stone, without harming actual birds.
See The Difference Ever wonder how much it actually matters whether you recycle that can or swap out that light bulb? Counting it up in inches, hours, and gallons, or even in hippos, breakfasts, or Tolstoy, can help you see the difference you're making. Here are some fun, real ways to visualize the impact of your green choices.
Grow Your Own Veggies: The Sequel Now is the time to protect tender plants from those night invading bugs without using any pesticide....
Fractal Table Can Only Be Made By Rapid Prototyping
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 06.13.08
I do go on about my fascination with downloadable designs, where ideas go from the designers computer to the production process without being shipped; where anyone, anywhere can order up a design and get it printed out at their local 3Dkinko or main street store like they do at London's Unto This Last.
You can also do things with these technologies that are impossible with conventional methods. Platform Wertel Oberfell and Matthias Bär designed this table "which derives from studies into fractal growth patterns. Treelike stems grow into smaller branches until they get very dense towards the top." They claim it could only have been built with rapid prototyping technology....
Reverse Grafitti in San Francisco: Dirty Art
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 06.13.08
Building a Greener Future
by Marian Hopkins, Business Roundtable on 06.13.08
Americans have come to expect environmentally conscious materials and processes in virtually every aspect of their lives. We now work “green” and vacation “green,” and who would have believed that driving a car could be done in an environmentally friendly way?
Business Roundtable members take their responsibility to “green” the world for their employees, customers and shareholders very seriously. And there are countless initiatives our members are implementing to support better business in a better world, such as developing and utilizing new technologies that use energy more efficiently, and improving the overall efficiency in the commercial and residential sector....
Gasoline is $8.62/Gallon in UK, Demand Fell 20% in Past 12 Months
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 06.13.08
High Gas Prices in UK
It seems like demand for gasoline (or petrol, as they say in the UK) isn't quite as inelastic as the pessimists feared. One liter of gasoline costs about 117p in the UK, which is about $8.62 per US gallon if you convert it. That's over twice as much as in the US, and at that level, the International Energy Agency (IEA) reports that demand for gasoline in Britain is down about 20% over the past 12 months.
Alternatives to Driving, Ways to Save on Gas
The IEA reports that motorists are increasingly taking public transit to save on fuel, but of course the context isn't quite the same in most of England as it is in the US, for example. A lot of cities were designed pre-automobile in the 'older' countries while much of the US was designed specifically so that you would need a car to do anything. That's not environmentally sustainable, or even cost effective....
Could Fixing the Ozone Layer's Hole Make Global Warming Worse?
by Jeremy Elton Jacquot, Los Angeles on 06.13.08
Image from NASA
Talk about a lose-lose situation: On one hand, not taking any action to repair the hole would allow harmful UV radiation to percolate through; on the other hand, helping to accelerate its recovery could strengthen global warming by trapping more heat in the atmosphere and by disrupting wind patterns in the Southern Hemisphere -- causing warming in Antarctica.
So says a new study published in Science, in which a team of climatologists, led by Columbia University's Seok-Woo Son, found that as ozone depletion reverses in the Southern Hemisphere, the stratosphere will begin to rapidly warm up. ...
Biodiesel Dumping Accusations Could Spark US-EU Trade Row
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 06.13.08
photo by Jason Trommetter
Not too much concrete on this one yet, so file it in the something to watch category: European biodiesel producers are urging the European commission to levy punitive duties on imports of US biodiesel. The claim is that US subsidies are distorting the ability of European producers to compete. The US exported to the EU 7,000 tonnes of biodiesel in 2005, a figure which has risen to 1 million tonnes in 2007.
“We have a lower and lower use of capacity simply because we cannot compete with people who are flooding our market because of unfair subsidies,” European Biodiesel Board secretary general Raffaello Garofalo was quoted in The Guardian as saying.
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Toyota Yaris Wins Environmental Transport Association's Green Car of the year Award
by Andrew Posner, Providence, Rhode Island on 06.13.08
The Toyota Yaris is one of the most efficient, inexpensive vehicles on the road, getting 34 mpg in the city and 40 mpg on the highway, and it achieves this without a hybrid drivetrain. The Yaris has, understandably, become a popular compact car, not only thanks to its efficiency, but especially given it's affordability. Now, the Environmental Transport Association (ETA), which is currently running the 2008 Green Transport Week in the UK, has named the Yaris the 2008 Green Car of the Year. In order to name the winner, the ETA looked at the "power, emissions, fuel efficiency and even the amount of noise" from over 1,300 vehicles. The Yaris came out on top, and the Dodge SRT-10 sports car came in dead last.
What makes the Yaris really stand out is its cost. While the Prius is quieter, more efficient and cleaner burning, it sells for around $10,000 more than the Yaris. However, let's not forget that global sales of the Prius recently topped 1 million, so it isn't like the cost of the Prius has been too much of a problem, especially with $4/gallon gas. The ETA also picked winners in several categories, such as Small Family and Sports car. See who won those after the fold....
More Processing of Food Means Less Price Inflation
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 06.13.08
Great graphic from Brian Hughes of the Star: See the whole thing
Why have food prices risen less in North America than in other countries? Because junky processed food has more of its value in the processing and the packaging than in the raw materials. A new study shows that the actual grain in a box of cereal is only two percent of the value of the product.
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Oil Substitute Made From Pig Poop Smells Like You'd Expect It To
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 06.13.08
Bio-diesel powered vehicle drivers are not surprised when their exhaust smells of french fries. I bet the pig farmer who supplied the "raw material" to these government engineers is not one bit surprised that oil made from pig excrement smells like crap. And, I also bet employees in neighboring offices were not pleased with goings on in the experimental pig-poo-to-oil reactors. After a close examination of crude oil made from pig manure, chemists at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) are certain about a number of things. Most obviously, "This stuff smells worse than manure," says NIST chemist Tom Bruno.File this one with 30 years of press clippings that begin with 'Scientists Discover New Super Bugs To Destroy Toxic Waste.' Know anyone who became wealthy or famous for their success with PCB chompers? We are too cynical you are thinking. Then explain why it is that famous-for-making-PBCs Monsanto never went down that path? Via::Energy Daily, Chemists Get Scoop on Crude Oil From Pig Manure Image credite::Motorcycle Web, Pig-O-Cycle...
Solar Thermal Test Center Opened by BrightSource Energy in Israel
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 06.13.08
computer rendering of solar thermal test project, as viewed from central tower, by Luz II
Luz II, a wholly owned subsidiary of Oakland, California based BrightSource Energy has opened a new solar thermal test center in Israel’s Negev Desert—the results of which are destined for use by Pacific Gas & Electric. PG&E contracted with BrightSource in April to purchase up to 900 MW of solar thermal power (enough for 630,000 homes) over the next few years. According to BrightSource this new center will be the first of its kind in Israel....
FishNet Project Exhibition Ongoing in Toronto Harbourfront Centre
by Jenna Watson, Barcelona on 06.13.08
The FishNet Project exhibit at the York Quay Gallery, Harbourfront Centre, Toronto, Ontario opened on May 2nd, 2008 and continues until June 22. FishNet is an ecological collaborative art project involving over 1,200 elementary Toronto District School Board students, artists and other participants learning about the fish of the Great Lakes and crafting full-scale textile versions of them.
Not only does this project look like just plain fun, kids are learning about different species in the Great Lakes Region and their environment. The project involved 13 schools, 30 classes, 727 students and many parents and volunteers. The students each created a full-scale replica of the fish they studied and they are all hanging out now at the York Quay Gallery. It looks like a cool exhibit. Given my current location, I will unfortunately not be able to attend. If you go, please let us know and post a comment here! ...
Terry Thomas Building By Weber Thompson
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 06.13.08
Courtyard
A year ago I wrote about this Seattle building under the title "Smart Architect Builds Dumb Building." I meant it as a compliment; we need more dumb buildings that work like buildings used to, with natural light and ventilation, and without what Donovan Rypkema calls "green thingies"- expensive new technologies when older, simpler methods are more appropriate.
Now it is done, and it looks terrific. Not only that, they seem to be happy with it, and have even blogged about it. Results so far: it is still a work in progress, but they say "From the first week that we occupied the building, we noticed how the Terry Thomas affected the culture of our firm. While we are still collecting objective information, the general mood is clearly elevated. We attribute this to having proper levels of natural daylight, the ability to open windows and the louvers that automatically open and close as CO2 levels and the temperature rise and fall."
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World's Largest Biomass Pellet Plant Opens in Florida
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 06.13.08
image courtesy of Green Circle Bio Energy
Jackson County, Florida can now claim a world record: that of having the world’s largest biomass pellet plant. Recently opened by Green Circle Bio Energy, the 225 acre plant will manufacture wood pellets from Southern Yellow Pine and ship them via train to Panama City, from where they will be shipped to the EU. The plant has a capacity of 560,000 tons per year and, according to the Green Circle’s website, uses “minimal fossil fuels” in production.
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Poraver Takes Garbage Glass and Turns It Into Useful Stuff
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 06.13.08
No, that's not a total eclipse; it's a tiny little ball of expanded glass cooking at 900 Degrees C. People in Ontario go to a lot of trouble to separate out their bottles for recycling, but most coloured glass can't be made into new products, and ends up in landfills or road beds. Poraver built a plant in Innisfil, Ontario that takes that glass and grinds it up to a powder, mixes it with water and expanding agents, and sticks it in a furnace. The result: tiny white lightweight balls that can be used in a wide range of construction products, from insulating boards, to mortar, plasters, and concrete blocks.
It has been around for a while in Europe, and has been used in precast panels, insulating blocks and some really cheesy monster houses....
Free Bikes for Governor's Island
by Sami Grover, Carrboro, NC, USA on 06.13.08
Message Trumps Medium: Five Sort Of Green Billboards
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 06.13.08
Use Electricity Wisely
David Ogilvy, the founder of Ogilvy and Mather, wrote: "I have a passion for landscape, and I have never seen one improved by a billboard. Where every prospect pleases, man is at his vilest when he erects a billboard." To an earlier post on billboards, commenter Todaystoptrend wrote: "There are no acceptable billboards! Please rethink your position!" There is a survey in this for another day, but one must admit that some of them are clever. As McLuhan might have said: Hate the medium, love the message....
Predict the Suit of the Future For a Chance to Win
by Karin Kloosterman, Tel Aviv on 06.13.08
Bagir recently announced the world’s first recycled suit made from PET bottles, to be sold this Father’s Day at Sears. We spoke with Moshe Godot from Bagir yesterday and he assures Americans that the special suit, as promised, will be ready for Father’s Day (but in the US only). It's called the EcoGir suit and will be sold under the Covington Label at Sears.
This is also your last chance to enter the contest for a Bagir wash and wear suit. We have two to give away and based on your location, there is a good chance you might be able to score one of the recycled suits, if you win. There are two days left.
How do you win one? For the past few weeks responses have been piling up. The contest question for a free suit is, “What would you do to green the men’s tailored clothing business?”
TreeHuggers who want to win a suit have been giving their opinions. Take note clothing manufacturers and entrepreneurs –– the comments section is filled with some bold and bright ideas. Some of our favorites appear after the fold.
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Survey: Do You Trust Green Labels?
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 06.13.08
Green labelling can be confusing. Stephen Doig of the Rocky Mountain Institute said "I don't know what 'green' means." And, he added, there is the problem of weighing one environmental parameter against another. "Which is more important? That it be made within 500 miles of my house? That it have the lowest carbon content? First you have to decide, what is your goal?"
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Radiohead Pushes Festivals Like Daydream to Go Green
by Petz Scholtus, Barcelona, Spain on 06.13.08
Images by Sergio Carratala
After Primavera Sound Festival got people dancing under the largest urban solar panel, the Barcelonians were lucky enough to attend the even greener festival Daydream (organised by Sinnamon), a tribute to no other than the band Radiohead. Barcelona was one of the cities Radiohead chose to visit with their ‘Carbon Neutral World Tour’. A fantastic concert visualised brilliantly with an amazing light show. And there is much more to the pretty lights than just dancing colours....
Swedes Conclude Beef Bigger Eco-Burden Than Ethanol
by April Streeter, Gothenburg, Sweden on 06.13.08
photo chefranden @ flickr
Sales of ethanol cars rise every month in Sweden. And the debate on ethanol's effect on food prices and shortages is ever present. In a series of articles in daily Svenska Dagbladet (Svd), the paper argues that beef production is a bigger threat to world food prices than ethanol production.
Ethanol eats one percent of land
According to SvD and research from Gothenburg's Chalmers University, just one percent of the world's arable acreage is planted in crops for ethanol, compared to a third of global arable acreage (500 million hectares) used for milk and meat production - though milk and meat make up just 15 percent of our total food basket. The claims about ethanol's effect (percentage-wise) on food prices range extremely widely from three to 65%. The International Food Policy Institute says 30%. Hard to say who is more accurate, but it doesn't look as if Swedes are going to give up their ethanol (or beef for that matter) any time soon. But they will be first to sell so-called "sustainable" ethanol....
Gardens On Barges For the Nautically Minded
by Bonnie Alter, London on 06.13.08
Make sure that you have your sea legs for this visit. As part of the London Open Squares Weekend, these private and secluded "gardens" are open to the public once a year. Garden Barge Square is a community of barge dwellers, moored right by historic Tower Bridge. They have created a floating garden square on the decks of many of the barges with walkways lined with flowers joining them up. It's a kind of hippy community because barge living is not the most salubrious. It is cold and damp and grey in winter, the cabins are cramped and you bump your head a lot.
It is in the summer that it all comes alive and alive is the operative word. With a million dollar view of the spectacular buildings along the Thames, including the Tower of London, this is a world onto itself. The gardens are planted in a series of steel trenches. The watering and drainage is from the river. In hot weather the plants need a daily dose of water. There is an assortment of blossoms, berries and evergreens and herbs grown. Some spots are left wild so that insects and butterflies can nest there. ...
Amazing Really Old Trees
by greenz.jp, Tokyo, Japan on 06.13.08
Really old trees are really amazing! If I get a chance this weekend, I will go hiking somewhere nice with old-growth forest northwest of Tokyo. Could be tricky to find though, as much of what we see today is planted or restored forest areas, and you'll rarely see magnificent trees with huge trunks and foliage reaching for the clouds.
Near many shrines in Japan however, there are special, sacred trees decorated with hemp ropes and white paper ornaments. This garland is actually easy to make, and can be a fun thing for the kids to try. How to do it? Read on after the fold:...
Near many shrines in Japan however, there are special, sacred trees decorated with hemp ropes and white paper ornaments. This garland is actually easy to make, and can be a fun thing for the kids to try. How to do it? Read on after the fold:...
$100 Laptop Version Two: One New and Improved Laptop Per Child
by Christine Lepisto, Berlin on 06.12.08
This news makes me feel like a child again. As in: Waaaah, I want one, I want one. NOW. You might have seen the alien-looking, green-eared not-quite-$100-laptop in your community, under the hands of someone who had the foresight to jump on the buy two, get one deal intended to popularize the concept in the developed world while putting laptops in the hands of needy children. One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) has abandoned the cute and childish look in their next model, the XO-2. In fact, the XO-2 may represent the future of computers, making the Macbook Air and the Kindle so yesterday. ...
Kids Fight Global Warming, Deforestation with Disappearing Paper Margins
by Kenny Luna, North Babylon, NY on 06.12.08
If you’re looking for kids making a positive difference to put a dent in our paper usage look no further than the 4th Graders from Attrium Grade School in Watertown, Massachusetts who took on a green paper project and made it their own. Asking local governments to join them in the fight against global warming by changing their margins to reduce paper consumption and help stop deforestation as well....
Gifts for the Outdoors Lover with Summer Rayne Oakes VIDEO 2 minutes WATCH >>
by George Spyros, New York City, USA on 06.12.08
Father's Day is around the corner (hint check out the Father's Day Gift Guide) and if you're shopping for those dads who love the outdoors, this video should provide some inspiration. Eco-fashion model Summer Rayne Oakes tells us about her trip to Great Bear Rainforest decked-out in a fab water-proof NAU jacket (the same one I'm wearing here). We also hear tell of her attempt to snatch from the water a slippery, spawning salmon using only her bare hands -- bets any one, think she pull it off or not? Last but not least is her brush with five or six grizzly bears while kayaking (spoiler warning on this one) we're pretty sure she lived to tell the tale. We're also keeping a close watch on Great Bear Rainforest because the clock is ticking to implement ecosystem-based management programs which were agreed upon two years ago, but are as yet even to be funded by the provincial government of British Columbia....
Today On Planet Green
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 06.12.08
Urban Heat Islands An urban heat island is an area of a city or an entire city that is much warmer than it should be. The sun beats down upon the hapless metropolis. The surface areas of the looming skyscrapers and the gaping asphalt roofs absorb the sun's heat like greedy sponges, and the temperature significantly rises.
Change the Way You Work Every morning across seven continents, 402 million people rise ahead of the Sun to drag themselves into that smog-filled, oil-fuelled nightmare called the morning commute. Why?
Acquainting Yourself with Your Local Farmers Next time you visit your local farmers' market, ask questions, lots of them. You'll be amazed to learn about what goes into growing the crops that end up on your dinner table.
Drive-Through Alternatives Drive-through lines are the product of cheap gasoline, sprawl, and just plain laziness. ...
A Picture is Worth... UNEP's Atlas of Our Changing Environment
by Jeremy Elton Jacquot, Los Angeles on 06.12.08
Brought to you by the magic of Google Earth/Maps and the UN: the United Nations Environmental Program's (UNEP) stunning world atlas of the changing environment. The interactive atlas allows you to toggle through a dizzying array of satellite images and ground photos showing the impacts of anthropogenic activities and climate change on the global environment over the last 3 decades.
The Google Maps interface is very intuitive and lets you zero in on specific cities, countries, natural monuments and geological formations (among others). The two above pictures, for example, show how Gabon's forest cover changed from March 1988 to March 2000....
Africans’ Modest Eco-footprint Still Has Negative Impacts in Some Countries
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 06.12.08
photo by the World Resources Institute
We reported recently about Africa’s changing environment due to climate change. Well, here’s another way in which Africa is changing: Natural Resource Consumption.
According to a report presented at the African Ministerial Conference on the Environment this week, even though the average African has an Ecological Footprint of about 1.1 hectares. For comparison the global average is 2.2 hectares and the US average is about 9.7 hectares. ...
Toyota Prius vs Jeep Patriot Comparison is Deeply Flawed
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 06.12.08
The Old Hybrid vs. Diesel Debate
It's very hard to be completely scientific when doing real-world car tests. There are lots of variables to keep track of, and gathering enough data can take a while (just one drive leaves a big margin of error). But still, if taken with a grain of salt, these tests are generally useful.
But once in a while, you find such a test that has gotten something very wrong, enough to put the whole conclusion in doubt. It's the case with "Toyota Prius vs Jeep Patriot: the great MPG test by Claire Edwards and Jay Nagley" by Clean Green Cars. What were their conclusions and why do we think they're wrong? Read on....
Billboard Made of Lettuce Grows On You
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 06.12.08
Dare we say that we actually like something from McDonalds? It's a billboard that was set up in Chicago last fall to promote their "health conscious" menu, and just won a Gold Award for Leo Burnett at the Innovative Advertising Awards.
Fast Food News (a prime TreeHugger source of breaking news) says "the creative team worked closely with a horticulturalist to create a billboard that could start with 1½-inch spouts and grow into lush leaves. The garden appears to be safe from being plucked apart by birds because there is no place for them to perch and peck."
Video of it growing (in fast motion) below the fold....
Green Product Labeling: Is It Valid and Does It Matter?
by Rocky Mountain Institute on 06.12.08
You might think The Footprint Chronicles trace someone's journey through foreign lands or a hike in the forest. But these Chronicles refer to the ecological footprints of ten items made by outdoor clothing manufacturer Patagonia.
As TreeHugger has reported, Patagonia is not alone in trying to convey to customers the environmental impact of its products. Timberland, PepsiCo and others are getting in the game. Regardless of their motives, the question is whether these calculations -- assuming they are scientifically valid -- actually influence consumer behavior and help to reduce the environmental impact of manufacturing consumer goods....
Online Film Festival: Progressive Mash-Ups
by Greg Haegele of Sierra Club on 06.12.08
I want to make sure you know about a great online documentary film festival
that's inspired me, made me laugh -- and got me thinking.
It's a collaboration of revolutionary filmmaker Robert Greenwald's Brave New Foundation and The Nation magazine, the result of which is This Brave Nation, and it includes five dynamic dialogues involving remarkable champions of the progressive movement. I'm proud to say that the first episode features Sierra Club Executive Director Carl Pope in conversation with green jobs advocate Van Jones....
Severn Tidal Barrage Should Not Be Built, New Report Claims
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 06.12.08
photo by Tim Britton
A new report released today by Frontier Economics has found that the Severn Barrage is “expensive compared to other renewables and that the government could use cheaper green technologies in its attempt to meet its renewables targets.”
Tidal Power More Expensive Than Other Renewables
The study, commissioned by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, the National Trust and WWF-UK, found that the £15 billion (US$29 billion) project would be far better spent on more proven technologies such as wind, hydro or solar. “Even using the most conservative estimates of costs, the barrage is one of the most expensive options for clean energy there is,” report author Matthew Bell told Reuters....
Another Reason to Drive 55: You Take Better Pictures
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 06.12.08
Man rolling along (and whistling audibly) on U.S. Route 101 at approximately 55 mph on a summer day in 1989
Photographer Andrew Bush attached a camera to the passenger door of his car and drove around Los Angeles at 60MPH, taking pictures while driving alongside his subjects. He probably had to then cut them off to get them to sign releases and caused a number of heart attacks. They are tagged with speed and location; too bad they didn't have google maps between 1989 and 1997 when the pictures were taken.
See all 66 pix at ::Vector Portraits; You won't see the likes of a lot of these cars again. Also published recently in a book: ::Drive via ::Swiss Miss...
Los Angeles Approves Plan to Seed Clouds for Rain with Silver Iodide
by Jeremy Elton Jacquot, Los Angeles on 06.12.08
Image from Unobtanium via flickr
How bad has the drought gotten in Los Angeles? Bad enough that the L.A. County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a $800,000 cloud seeding proposal last week to elicit more rainfall for the drought-stricken Southland, reports the Pasadena Star-News' Jennifer McLain. This unorthodox practice has already been used several times over the last 5 decades to varying degrees of success (emphasis on "varying" here).
Particularly revealing were the comments made by the manager of a local municipal water district: "There are no assurances or guarantees that it will produce anything. But it doesn't hurt to try." This comes in the wake of Governor Schwarzenegger's declaration of a statewide drought. ...
Transport By Barge on the Erie Canal Uses a Tenth of The Fuel of a Truck
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 06.12.08
Two years ago we wrote in TreeHugger: "One hundred years ago, things were busy in upstate New York. Although the railway was the main means of transport, the Erie canal was still a cheap, energy efficient way of moving goods, as this picture taken in Medina NY in 1906 shows. Fisher Price made toys here; Heinz processed vegetables, all using the transportation network to move goods to the Northeast market. Things have changed- the industry is gone, the farms are fallow."
But the infrastructure didn't go away, and now traffic appears to be coming back. According to the Syracuse Post-standard:
Rising fuel prices are pushing shippers to take a new look at an old way to deliver their goods - the Erie Canal. "Our inquiries are definitely up," said Capt. Rob Goldman, of New York State Marine Highway Transportation Co., the largest shipper on the state's 524-mile canal system.
...
Wind Farms in Texas Expand, Will Transmission Capacity Be There?
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 06.12.08
photo by Jason Kaechler
We’ve been frequently reporting on how much wind power capacity has been growing in Texas, with T. Boone Pickens doing his part to single-handedly uphold the bigger-is-better state motto. All this increase in installed capacity will do little good if there isn’t adequate transmission capacity to bring it to power consumers. Debate on exactly how many more power lines to build is now underway.
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Corn Ethanol Worsens Gulf of Mexico 'Dead Zone'
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 06.12.08
photo by tlindenbaum
It’s almost considered conventional wisdom at this point that corn ethanol probably isn’t the best biofuel out there. It may not be the primary cause of global food shortages, but corn-based ethanol has nevertheless has gotten a bad rap lately. Here’s something that won’t change that tarnished reputation:
Ethanol Expansion Contributes to Increase Runoff
According to Louisiana State University professor R. Eugene Turner growth in the Midwest corn-based biofuel industry may be the cause of a record-breaking “dead zone” in the Gulf of Mexico this summer.
...
A Million Koreans Protest American Hamburgers
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 06.12.08
Colin Beavan, aka the No Impact Man, writes " This is a photo of 100,000 [since updated to a million by some papers] South Koreans demonstrating in the streets of Seoul on Tuesday. What is so important to them that they turn out in such vast numbers? Impending war? No. Massive unemployment? No. Rising energy prices? Not even.
They demonstrated over the safety of their hamburgers.
After a scare over mad cow disease in American beef imports, they are concerned that insufficient measures have been taken to ensure that future imports will be safe. I know this may be painful for the American beef industry, but my point here is that the protesters' numbers are so large and their will so strong that Korean President Lee's entire cabinet has offered to resign."
He then raises the question about what it will take to get us off our collective butts to do something about the problems that face all of us. That perhaps we should be like people in the rest of the world and stand up to make ourselves heard.
" We need to figure out how to ensure that the cost of climate change measures will not fall on those who can least afford it, how to get more press attention for the issue, and how to show our Government that we care about the future of our habitat at least as much, say, as the South Koreans care about their hamburgers." ::No Impact Man...
Combo Tennis Court and "Disaster Management Park Beans Dome"
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 06.12.08
Yes, that is really what it is called, just makes you want to come and play a game of tennis, doesn't it? But that is what it is used for most of the time. Tennis domes can be pretty ugly; Japanese architect Shuhei Endo solves the problem by covering much of it with green walls. The 16,168 square meter structure is in Miki City on the Hyogo Prefecture, about 30 kilometers west of Kobe. and was completed in 2007. It is actually a combination tennis court and disaster center, built in response to the big Kobe earthquake in 1995. ...
I Scream, You Scream, We All Scream for the Whippy Light
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 06.12.08
And everyone says compact fluorescents are ugly; designers Nahoko Koyama and Alex Garnett have whipped up the Whippy light fixture from glazed earthenware and electrical fittings. They should give these out at the Dairy Queen.
At ::Mixko in the Art and Creative section of their flashy site....
TH Radio Special: Inside Tesla Motors (With Pics)
by Jacob Gordon, Nashville, TN on 06.12.08
Like Angelina Jolie, the Tesla Roadster looks smaller in person. Notwithstanding all the hype and speed-geek obsession around the electric car, it is a stunning thing to behold; truly elegant. Tesla’s San Carlos engineering facility is where the masterpiece is crafted, and TreeHugger Radio got a nice deep look inside. VP of Marketing Darryl Siry gave us the latest on the delivery of the Roadster, the star-studded waiting list, and even let us snag some exclusive shots (below the jump). ::TreeHugger Radio
Listen to this podcast via iTunes, or just click here to listen, right-click to download.
Special thanks to Calabash Music for the soundtrack....
From the Forums: New Furnace, AC, and a Roof!
by Alan Graham, Portland, Oregon on 06.12.08
souvenir:
I am new here, after learning our roof needs replacing due to failed shingles. Also, our 16-year-old air cond/furnace need replacing. I am trying to find information on getting the most energy-efficient/green unit. If anyone has advice I would be grateful. Our monthly kwh is over 2000 (i know. Holy Mother of Pearl!) for our family of five. Our house is about 2300 sq. feet. We have an energy auditor coming today. We live in a 1940 farm house. And I am SO over being a "consumer." I would like to go back to being a "citizen."Have any advice?...
Hybrid Solar Thermal-Biomass Power for California
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 06.12.08
photo by Alejandro Flores via flickr
One oft-heard, if rather feeble, critique of solar power goes something like, “what happens when the sun isn’t shining? You’ve got to have some other power source available to come online to take up the slack.” Fair enough. Even in the sunniest places there still is night, there still can be rain or dust storms which cause the panels to become so dirty that capacity is reduced. Pacific Gas & Electric is addressing this concern with two new solar thermal-biomass hybrid power plants.
...
Algenol Enters The Algae Biofuel Race With Process Economics Advantage
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 06.12.08
The USA-based firm Algenol has struck a deal with Mexico-based BioFields to grow and process algae in a manner that cost effectively produces ethanol - directly from the culture. This is quite different from the usual algal biofuel processes that use algae to produce biological oil which, after extraction from the algal cells, is used as feedstock for liquid fuel production: often biodiesel. If, as claimed by Algenol, ethanol can be extracted directly from the algal culture media, we suppose that the process may be drastically less capital and energy intensive than competitive algal biofuel processes. No need to pull out biomass, squeeze it dry on a belt press, and extract the oils in still a third processing step. Algenol plans to make 100 million gallons of ethanol, about the average annual capacity of one traditional US distillery, in Mexico's Sonoran Desert by the end of the 2009. By the end of 2012, it plans to increase that to 1 billion gallons -- more than 10 percent of current ethanol capacity in the United States, the world's top ethanol producer....
Eurostar Is Cheaper If You Shop Around
by Sami Grover, Carrboro, NC, USA on 06.12.08
Eurostar Competing with Airlines
In these times of record oil prices and global warming fears, train-operator Eurostar seems to be becoming an increasingly popular choice for folks wanting to travel between mainland Europe and the UK. With studies claiming as much as 90% lower carbon footprint per journey than an equivalent flight, efforts to cut that footprint even further and offset the rest, and now Eurostar’s positive and accomodating response to bicycle protests, the company seems to be well aware of the green market for their service. However, when we reported on the favourable journey times and pricing compared to airlines, commenter Steve pointed out that this doesn't necessarily hold true if you're not starting from, or traveling to, London. It would have cost him UK£432 (approx. US$864) for two tickets from Newport in Wales to Paris. Instead he opted to fly from nearby Bristol airport for about half the price. This author thought he was in a similar predicament when he recently tried to book a journey from Bristol to Amsterdam, but it turns out that if you shop around, things ain’t so bad.
...
Is There Climate-Friendly Ice Cream? Inquiring Swedes Want To Know
by April Streeter, Gothenburg, Sweden on 06.12.08
Only Sia Glass makes most ice cream bars in Sweden (poster ca. 1988).
Swedes (14 liters each) don't eat as much ice cream as Americans (22 liters each). But they are the biggest ice cream eaters in Europe, by far (if you guessed Italians, they pack away only 7 liters annually). On the first sunny days in Scandinavia you'll see lots of Swedes enjoying cones and cups, as well as lots of funky flavors of ice cream bars (licorice is making a big comeback this year). In fact, it's front page news when ice cream vendors release the new ice cream bar and popsicle flavors each spring.
Ice cream bars not climate friendly
This year it's also news that nearly none of the so-called Swedish frozen-confection favorites are locally produced anymore - instead they are trucked around Europe (from as far away as Portugal) in huge refrigerated vehicles. But due to heightened consumer awareness of climate-friendly (and organic) foods, ice cream distributors in Sweden are now starting to talk about finding a way to transport more ice cream by train. The first climate-marked Swedish foods due this year, won't include any frozen treats, however. Surprisingly, the most climate-friendly choice in Sweden is...Ben & Jerry's (owned by giant Unilever). Ben & Jerry's is produced in the Netherlands, and last year all European flavors became climate-neutral, which they say means they have improved logistics, reduced methane from their cows, gone to green energy at the factory and purchased any other needed offsets, from "cow to cone". Now why don't they do that in the U.S.? Via ::Metro (Swedish)...
What's On Planet Green: Stuff Happens
by Kara DiCamillo, Newport, Rhode Island on 06.12.08
Last week, our parent company, Discovery Communications, launched Planet Green, the first ever 24-7 TV channel dedicated to green living. With more than 200 hours of original green lifestyle programming, Planet Green is a fresh conversation about what it means to be environmental. We've been bringing you clips from the new shows and encourage you to use our channel finder so you can watch Planet Green in your home.
We've featured Wa$ted, Mean Green Machines, Hollywood Green, Renovation Nation, Supper Club, and G Word. Today we're bringing you the scoop on Stuff Happens. For those of you that watched the Planet Green premier last week, you probably saw one of our TreeHugger faves Bill Nye dish out unlock the secret lives of everyday things before and after we consume them....
Biodiesel Do It Yourself Video Series
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 06.12.08
A Visit to Prince Charles' Highgrove Garden
by Bonnie Alter, London on 06.12.08
No photos allowed at Highgrove House--Prince Charles' country house and organic garden. Its 37 acres are a showcase for HRH's interest in traditional and organic growing methods. Special organised tours are allowed in order to see it under a strict no photo policy, and what a place it is. HRH bought it in 1980 and has been planting and planning it since then. He has engaged the creative minds of the greatest gardeners in England and has come up with a changing, organic garden that reflects his many interests.
The Prince uses all organic materials in his gardens, he recycles water, has dug bore holes and has a reed bed system for grey water. Sheep are brought in from a neighbouring farm to graze and cut the meadow. Overhanging trees are trimmed by cows brought in to eat the bottom branches. No cement is used in the paving, instead there are bits of earth or wild thyme in between the paving stones so that insects can eat there. All workmen and craftsmen used are local to the area.
...
Car-Sharing Instead of "My-Car"as Car Sales Plummet in Japan
by greenz.jp, Tokyo, Japan on 06.12.08
Car sales are down in Japan, especially among the younger generation: Toyota saw its domestic sales fall by 6% last year, and Mitsubishi lost 11% of sales in Japan. The high cost of gasoline and difficulties in finding parking space have contributed to this trend. There is also the fact that cars are no longer as attractive as they once were.
If you really need access to a car, the Windcar solution may be perfect. As in other countries, car-sharing is increasingly seen as a clever way to use a car together with others, rather than owning your own. In some places, like Sapporo, the success of Windcar has been phenomenal....
Most Huggable: Global Warming Evidence, A New Green Book, Green Vacations + More
by Team Treehugger, Worldwide on 06.11.08
Global warming is happening right now, according to these photos of Africa.
Now that the average price for a gallon of gas has hit the $4 mark, let's look back at how things have changed over the past year.
Disappearing Destinations: 37 Places in Peril and What Can Be Done to Help Save Them is the latest book in Ecolibris' green books series.
Check out The Bloom Device, a fun, funky subversive and inspirational tool for our concrete jungles. The video is not to be missed.
Think a green vacation means trekking through the wilderness or surviving on nothing but granola and berries? Think again!
Most Huggable is a regular roundup of some of Hugg's top green news stories. Why not submit your own green news?...
Margaret Wente on Understanding Risk
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 06.11.08
The Globe and Mail, which thinks it is Canada's New York Times, finally removed the fence around its editorial content, so that people under 30 or outside of the country can finally learn that it exists. Their Maureen Dowd is Margaret Wente, who occasionally gets it right but sometimes is spectacularly wrong, as in her recent article "Yellow duckies and other killers.". It isn't just the errors, which are legion, but it is the entire idea of the article, that demonstrates a complete lack of understanding of the concept of risk.
...
Road to Greensburg
by John Picard on 06.11.08
This Sunday July 15th, The Discovery Channel’s new network - Planet Green, premieres the television docu-series ‘Greensburg’.
As Sustainability Consultant for the rebuilding of Greensburg, Kansas, the folks at the Discovery Channel have asked me to blog on the town’s efforts. I’ll be posting on progress of the reconstruction, offering information on green building, green energy, and thoughts on how we can design and build in a way that’s better for the economy and environment. ...
Brazilian Biofuel Threatened By Insect Pest
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 06.11.08
photo by So Ka So Ka via flickr
File this one in the you can’t beat Mother Nature category. Just as critics beat up Brazil's biofuels industry a new threat appears. Telchin licus, known to us non-entomologists as the Giant Cane Borer is common in the northeast of Brazil and appeared around Sao Paolo last July. ...
Urban Modular Architectural Wind Power Microturbines!
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 06.11.08
Decentralized Clean Energy Production
While centralized production has a big lead in the clean energy sector (though it doesn't dominate as completely as in the dirty energy world), many recognize the benefits of small-scale decentralized production and many efforts are made to help bring renewable energy closer to the people that use it. Solar panels are popping up on rooftops, and now we have "architectural" wind microturbines to make wind power more palatable to city dwellers.
Modular Architectural Wind Microturbines
Aerovironment is designing these wind microturbines specifically for the urban environment: No need for a tower, the blades rotate more slowly and silently, and they are set at an angle that allows them to benefit from the wind that is bouncing up the walls and escalating them vertically....
Melting Arctic Ice Model Video Clip
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 06.11.08
Today on Planet Green
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 06.11.08
Don't Pay the Idiot Tax: The idiot tax is being paid by everyone who traded a little more green space for a longer commute, a few more cupholders and a little more convenience for much poorer gas mileage...
Is The Big Apple Going Green? New Yorkers may produce an inordinate amount of waste, but we do have incredibly low per-capita gasoline consumption. Before we pat ourselves on the back, though, we should remember that convenience is probably the main factor in our choice to use public transportation...
Turning Spoil Into Soil With Worms What to do with the leftovers that even your dog won't eat? Well, here is a way to outsource your digestion... WORMS ! Yes, these living intestines are ready and waiting for your scraps....
What Really Goes On In A Recycling Plant? Have you ever wondered what a day in the life of your recyclables is like? If so, you’ll enjoy some insight into the recycling process by taking the journey... ...
Windpower Expansion Helps U.S. Manufacturing
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 06.11.08
photo by Brent Danley via flickr
In case you needed a short example of what stability in renewable energy policy can do, not just in the alt. energy industry but for the wider economy, all you need do is look to what’s happening in manufacturing of wind turbine components.
According to the American Wind Energy Association, since 2005 US wind capacity has grown 150%. In 2007 alone the U.S. added a tad over 5,200 MW of wind capacity. This has been helped in large part by a stable policy environment. This growth has allowed local manufacturing of wind components to grow as well and by the end of this year it is expected that 50% of overall demand, and 90% of blade demand, can be met domestically. At the start of the period over 70% of wind components had to purchased overseas.
...
Fuel Prices Fuel Protests Around the World
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 06.11.08
It's crazy out there; Matthew writes that the US stalls on renewable energy incentives, while around the world, people are taking to the streets to protest the rising cost of fuel. American politicians think they have all the time in the world to look for alternatives, while people are dying in fuel riots in Spain.
Spaniards are hoarding food and fuel because the truck drivers are on strike and blockading the border; In France, the highways are backed up all the way to Bordeaux, 200 km (125 miles) away. People are lining up at gas stations, 40% of which have run out of fuel.
According to the National Post, the stoppage by Spanish truck drivers, which Portuguese drivers have also joined, was backed by protests across the border in France over the impact of high oil prices.
...
Renewable Energy Incentives Stalled in Senate
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 06.11.08
photo by Scott Jones via flickr
As San Francisco passes a new incentive program for solar, the Senate stalls. Yesterday, by a vote of 50-44 the Senate blocked H.R. 6049, the Renewable Energy and Job Creation Act of 2008, from advancing to the floor for consideration. In doing so $18 billion in tax incentives for investment in renewable energy, carbon capture and sequestration projects, energy efficiency improvements and conservation efforts have been put at risk. The House passed its version of the legislation on May 21.
So, what exactly is inside this act and what’s at stake?
...
MTV’s Real World Gets Real on Green
by Summer Rayne Oakes on 06.11.08
MTV.com
I talk to Think MTV’s Pete Griffin on greening the Real World, what the MTV-Generation cares about, and how to sell green to an audience that isn’t easily bought out.
Tune in June 11, 2008 during the 9-10p Real World, 11p-12a Real World, and same time again on June 18, 2008 to catch the Real World Green House tour during the commercial interstitials.
...
Quick Draw McGraw at the Dwell Wacom Ecodesign Challenge
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 06.11.08
We have covered many design competitions, but have never seen one like the Dwell Wacom Live Ecodesign Challenge that was held on June 6th. Contestants were challenged to design "a modular home with eco-friendly green energies, plenty of natural light, and color, with a good flow internally, and which could be built for under $300K and could be no larger than 3,000 sq ft."
No problem there, except the contestants had to do it live. At a party. With everybody watching. They called it “video-game-tournament-meets Iron-Chef”
The contestants were pre-screened, culled form the best schools in the Los Angeles area, and these guys draw like the wind. Geoff Manaugh of Dwell said "Creating an original design, live, in front of spectators, with a variety of tough design constraints, will certainly earn the winning designer the title."
...
Out-of-box Workstation by Planet 3:
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 06.11.08
Collin and I first saw a picture of this in a booth at ICFF, but could not find any information on it at the time. Now we learn that it is a workstation design from Planet 3 Studios in Mumbai, a "a young, internationally award winning practice represents the vanguard of future-forward design in India." It packs a complete workstation, including files and required technology, into one towable package. No more being chained to a cube, you can now take your cube with you!
...
Queen of England Buys World's Biggest Wind Turbine (7.5 Megawatts!)
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 06.11.08
World's Biggest Wind Turbine
The Crown Estate of England knows which way the wind blows and has decided to acquire the prototype of the world's biggest wind turbine, Clipper’s 7.5 megawatt MBE turbine, also known as the Britannia (pictured above is Clipper's Liberty model, which produces 2.5 megawatt).
The previous record was held by the Enercon E-126 wind turbine which is rated at 6 megawatt (pictured below), but can produce around 7 in real world conditions. While the Enercon is land-based, the Britannia will be located in deep waters near the UK. This makes sense because the marine interests of The Crown Estate include almost the entire UK territorial seabed out to 12 nautical miles , about 55% of the UK’s coastal foreshore, and rights to lease seabed for the generation of renewable energy on the continental shelf within the Renewable Energy Zone which extends out to approximately 200 nautical miles.....
Solar Energy Incentives Approved In San Francisco
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 06.11.08
photo by Brad Herman via flickr
We reported recently that the state of California is examining its solar subsidy regime (California May Tinker With Solar Subsidies). Well, while $9 million is tied up in state bureaucracy, San Francisco is just one mayoral signature away from jump starting solar development in the city....
Geothermal Energy Research Expanded As NZ Drought Continues
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 06.11.08
photo by: nivedita kashyap via flickr
Chalk it up to coincidence? New Zealand is on the verge of a power crisis (though prime minister Helen Clark won’t call it an actual emergency) and NZ$2.6 million (US$1.97 million) is awarded to GNS Science to carry out research on the potential of geothermal energy in the Pacific island nation....
From the Forums: Death of the Suburbs
by Alan Graham, Portland, Oregon on 06.11.08
Forum member stevejust is wondering, with the price of gas what it is, are we looking at the end of suburbia? Is it unsustainable?
What are your thoughts?...
SustainStyle: Gifts for Dad, Cookbooks, Gladiator Sandal + More
by 1plus1 on 06.11.08
Lula Organics save the day with the "everyman" gift basket just in time for Father's Day.
KangraRoom Storage's bamboo 3 pod is the ultimate man gift with abilities to charge their ipod, phone ,and camera all at once!
Melissa's shoes does an eco take the summer's biggest trend, the Gladiator sandal.
Skinny Bitch gets us full on vegan recipes that are oh so delicious.
Treads for Thought believes in Blondes not Bombs.
Eco-Chick runs down 5 easy ways to green your beauty routine.
xo....
Ushering In The Post-Hummer Era: Chinese Fuel Price Subsidies To Blame For High US Gasoline Prices
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 06.11.08
US politicians are probably going to pull China into the US election debate over gas prices. But, that will miss the real fulcrum of guilt as well as overlook the consequences of a hoped-for return to cheaper transportation fuels.
Chinese government subsidies of liquid transportation fuel pricing figures centrally in a global oil "demand shock" that is the very opposite of the "supply shock" responsible for the oil crisis of the late 1970s. A report from the International Energy Agency points out that these subsidies are a central factor behind the steep run up in oil (and gasoline) prices.
The US political "scapegoats" list for expensive gasoline currently starts with profits of US branded oil companies and ends with 'environmentalists' refusing to let them "drill our way out" of the shortages. As it turns out, however, the root-cause traces back directly to economic policies of the nation that makes cheap goods for the world: China. Follow the chain of causation still further and it leads to Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) nations empowering China's economic growth for the last two decades. Thus, we have encountered the real scapegoat, and "it is us." ...
Planet Green Tonight: G Word
by Kara DiCamillo, Newport, Rhode Island on 06.11.08
Last week, our parent company, Discovery Communications, launched Planet Green, the first ever 24-7 TV channel dedicated to green living. With more than 200 hours of original green lifestyle programming, Planet Green is a fresh conversation about what it means to be environmental. We've been bringing you clips from the new shows and encourage you to use our channel finder so you can watch Planet Green in your home.
We've featured Wa$ted, Mean Green Machines, Hollywood Green, Renovation Nation, and Supper Club. Today we're bringing you the scoop on G Word. For those of you that have been following Planet Green you might be familiar with what it's all about since it premiered last week. We're sure you'll agree that being green is no longer just for granola-loving hippies. Or, shall we say (ahem) TreeHuggers?...
Enviro-thriller "Burn Up" is Hot, Hot, Hot!
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 06.11.08
Some conspiracy theorists suggest that "Burn Up" is only available in Canada or Britain because the content is too controversial and anti-big oil, and too hot for the American networks to touch; Others point out that it is a British-Canadian co-production and therefore it is logical that Canadians get to see it first. Conspiracy or not, this might have been pitched as Al Gore meets John Grisham, with Rupert Penry-Jones and Neve Campbell smack in the middle of a pileup of Bradley Whitford (of West Wing fame) as a lobbyist, oil executives, environmental activists and politicians stabbing each other in the back or blowing each other up. Rupert Penry-Jones is terrific as the head of Arrow Oil, who quickly finds out that things are not quite what they seem. Kate Taylor at the Globe and Mail writes "This new thriller is hot, hot, hot!" ::Globe and Mail More tomorrow after Part II....
New Offset Industry Body Has Emissions Reduction Focus
by Sami Grover, Carrboro, NC, USA on 06.11.08
Offsets Must Be Matched With Reductions
As we’ve said many times, from our guide on How to Green Your to Carbon Offsets to our coverage of Eurostar’s eco-efforts, offsets are only a small part of the answer when it comes to fighting climate change. To be truly useful, offsets need to be matched by reduction at source, so companies (and individuals) seek to do everything they can to minimize their footprint, but while they are doing it they also offset whatever emissions can’t be eliminated immediately. It seems like much of the offset industry is already on our side in this regard, as this week saw the launch of the International Carbon Reduction and Offset Association (ICROA), a body that will seek to support rigorous standards for the offset industry; help individuals and businesses achieve significant direct carbon reductions; and “encourage the use of real, verified, permanent, additional and unique carbon offsets”.
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Survey: How Do You Mow Your Lawn?
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 06.11.08
Mike notes that while grass may not be the best idea for a front lawn (tomatoes and lettuce might be better) if you have a lawn, a reel mower is the best choice. Others make the case for the coal-fired (i.e. electric) version.
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London Festival of Architecture Covers the Town
by Bonnie Alter, London on 06.11.08
It's everywhere, it's everywhere--the London Festival of Architecture is a month-long celebration and exploration of the city's buildings, streets and spaces, with over 600 exhibitions, lectures, installations, guided walks, bicycle rides, boat tours, parties, design workshops and debates. Where to start, what to do. The theme is Fresh! urging everyone to take a fresh look at London and the fresh air. To that end there are a number of architectural bike tours all over different areas. There is an exhibition about the Thames River with audio visual installations on six piers along the river. An assortment of street furniture will decorate different roads. Twenty-eight foreign embassies, often housed in stunning historic buildings, will open their doors and present the best of architecture from their countries. London – a Water City ponders how future planning might help the city to better use its often ignored and literally buried system of waterways;
The strangest event has to be the jelly mould competition, with architects being asked to design jelly moulds, to be filled with you-know-what and then auctioned off for charity. Vacant lots will be filled with bags of earth, to grow food. And of course there will be lectures by all the known greats (Cesar Pelli) and not so well known ( Peter Ackroyd). If you are thinking of a trip to London, this is a great time to visit. :: London Festival of Architecture...
Highlights from the World Science Summit- "We've turned maize into a corn sex machine!"
by Bonnie Hulkower, New York, New York on 06.10.08
Mayor Bloomberg opening the World Science Festival Summit
SATC . . . Science in the City? The contributors to the World Science Festival (WSF)--a 5 day whirlwind affair with dance performances, lectures, and street fairs—aimed to put the sexiness back into science.
The WSF started with the World Science Summit--an event closed to the public, where world class scientists and policy players met to discuss some pressing issues. Mayor Bloomberg gave the opening remarks, stressing that there are still important gaps between what we know and what we don’t know in areas such as global warming. He said that scientists are often at the forefront of drawing attention to public problems, but that it can then take years for politicians and the public to truly take notice. For example, in the 1950’s scientists had already linked smoking to cancer--and in the 1970’s scientists predicted greenhouses gases would lead to global warming. (Amazingly, there was even a NYT article on the subject in 1890!) Yet it took decades for political action to follow.
“Radical Science for a Warming Planet,” was an exploration by Dr. Steven Chu, Director of Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, along with Professor Dickson Despommier of Columbia University, and Peter Head of Arup into new ways of bolstering energy sustainability through the creation of: synthetic plants designed to transform light into energy, vertical farms on skyscrapers, and aquatic carbon-neutral cities. Alexander “Andy” Karsner, Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) rounded off the panel.
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Travelling in Style: Laura Bush in Flying Airstreams
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 06.10.08
Don't get me wrong, I think it is terrific that Laura Bush is visiting the troops in Afganistan; at least someone in the US remembers that there is a war going on there. And we love Airstreams, and have written about them many times; it is great that they are shipping one over to keep her comfortable, it is almost as hot and miserable as Crawford over there. But really, she is the First Lady; why give her such a big old retro model? Look at that TV/VCR in the picture below the fold. And the furniture. Surely she deserves the latest Chris Deam model that you can dial up from Design within Reach. And there are 11 of these retro wonders, known as "'Senior Leader In Transit Conference Capsules"- surely our leaders deserve better than this. ...
The Go Green Initiative’s School of the Week: Pleasanton Middle School in Pleasanton, CA!
by Kenny Luna, North Babylon, NY on 06.10.08
Well folks, it seems the student Panthers at Pleasanton Middle School in California are going "wild" for food scraps. They began in January putting together a lunchtime food scrapping effort that is truly amazing, with ten different stations set up around the lunch area so that students can separate their food and paper waste into large green cans, recycle their cans and bottles into special receptacles, and throw the small amount of remaining trash out the old-fashioned way.
And so far the results from our Go Green Initiative school of the week have been incredible!
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Japan Post announces plans to convert entire mail delivery fleet to EVs.
by greenz.jp, Tokyo, Japan on 06.10.08
Creative Commons. Some Rights Reserved. Photo by naitokz
Japan Post announced on June 2nd that they intend to replace their entire fleet of 21,000 mail collection and delivery trucks with Electric Vehicles (EVs) over the next eight years. Despite the high price of EVs, this will apparently translate into savings of several billion yen when compared to the projected cost of continuing to use increasingly expensive gasoline. It doesn’t stop there....
Melting Arctic Ice Increases Permafrost Thaw Farther Inland Than Previously Thought
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 06.10.08
image: Andrew Davies via flickr
In one more example of the interwoven and far reaching consequences of climate change, a new study by the National Center for Atmospheric Research indicates that as Arctic sea ice starts melting more quickly, permafrost hundreds of miles inland could also see accelerated melting. This means climatic changes in Russia, Alaska and Canada could occur more quickly and dramatically than previously expected....
UN Publishes Satellite Atlas of Africa's Changing Environment
by Kimberley D. Mok, Montreal, Canada on 06.10.08
Image: Eye of Mauritania, UNEPFrom the first pictures of Earth seen from space, to the interactive Google Earth, it would be a bit of an understatement to say that satellite imagery has changed the way we view our planetary home and on how we’ve impacted it. With satellite images as a powerful witness, the United Nations Environment Programme has now published the first major atlas to comprehensively tell the visual story of environmental change in Africa. The UNEP’s Africa: Atlas of Our Changing Environment highlights the environmental transformations, challenges and successes of Africa, with brief spotlights on each country. (If you ever wanted to learn more about African climate change, from Algeria to Zimbabwe, here’s your chance now.) ...
Soccer Nuts Wasting Fuel with Flags
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 06.10.08
It is the Euro 2008 soccer championships and this city is going nuts. Every second car on the street is festooned with little flags; perhaps they shouldn't be. Engineers are quoted in the Guardian as saying that that the flags, which are usually attached to window frames, cause wind resistance, which alters a car's aerodynamics and causes it to burn more fuel.
The Austrian car club says "attaching two flags to a car leads to an increased petrol consumption of "up to half a litre a kilometre on motorways and rural stretches".
The Germans accuse the Austrians of being spoilsports. "As Austria has no chance of victory, it would appear they're trying to make this into a problem for Germany. The eco party poopers have managed to declare even football a climate-killer ... there are no sacred cows any more when it comes to the climate debate."
In this case, the Germans might have a point. Half a litre per kilometer is about a 5% hit on fuel efficiency; can a couple of dinky flags do that? Duke Energy Announces 20 Megawatt Solar Power Project in North-Carolina
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 06.10.08
Distributed Photovoltaic Solar Power
We've written a lot about thermal solar power lately (a few examples: Ausra, Brightsource, Torresol, Acciona Energia, etc), but photovoltaic solar power is also in very good health. The latest announcement comes from Duke Energy Carolinas: a $100 million, 20 megawatts plan to install solar panels not just in one or two big solar power plants but at over 850 sites all over North-Carolina....
Environmentally Friendly Shoe Sports TreeHugger Logo
by Chris Tackett, San Francisco on 06.10.08
Want to see an environmentally friendly shoe with a small carbon footprint? Check out the new TreeHugger Sneaker!
Social Media blogger, AJ Vaynerchuk, has an on-going series of posts that combine two of his favorite things: social media websites and colorful sneakers! He’s been busy making fantasy shoes for some of the biggest social media sites online and he just posted the one he made based on TreeHugger....
Hydrogen Powered Cars Get Boost From New Research
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 06.10.08
image: Jacqueline McBride/LLNL
One of the oft-heard complaints about hydrogen powered cars is that the fuel tanks cannot store their fuel for extended periods—having to vent their contents in two to four days’ time. New research coming out of the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory attempts to remedy this problem.
Current tank prototypes can hold their fuel for up to six days and demonstrated that they were able to go up to 650 miles on a single tank of hydrogen. Researchers are hopeful that storage times can be expanded to 15 days in the future.
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Today on Planet Green
by Jessica Root - Brooklyn, NY on 06.10.08
:: Plan a dinner party without distraught using these organized and tasty tips from Kelly.
:: Wash toys with this uber-safe and super-dad approved cleaning solvent from BabyGanics.
:: Do your part in helping save the world’s last indigenous tribes.
:: SuChin Pak ponders poop and what late-stage potty training means for the environment.
:: Make a commitment to green on your wedding day....
Los Angeles Drops 400,000 Balls in Reservoir to Fight Suspected Carcinogen
by Jeremy Elton Jacquot, Los Angeles on 06.10.08
Image from Irfan Khan/LAT
Yes, only in Los Angeles, you might say. If you'll recall, I wrote a story a few months back about the discovery of a suspected carcinogen, bromate, in two large water reservoirs. The Department of Water & Power's (DWP) strategy at the time was: drain now, sweat the hard stuff later.
The new strategy, unveiled yesterday by DWP officials, is to dump hundreds of thousands of plastic balls onto the Ivanhoe Reservoir's surface (a reservoir adjacent to the Silver Lake Reservoir) to shade its water from sunlight. The reason for this rather unorthodox approach is simple: by blocking the sun, you prevent the reaction between bromide and chlorine, which forms bromate, from occurring. ...
U.S. Shows Some Love for Solar
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 06.10.08
photo: Kevin Houle via flickr.
Hey, this green thing’s catching on! Not that anyone reading this likely needed convincing that solar power’s a good thing, but a new survey shows that a lot of other people now think similarly. According to the SCHOTT Solar Barometer report a whopping 98% of Independents, 97% of Democrats and 91% of Republicans think that developing solar power is in the vital interests of the United States. On the flip side of this, only 3% of people surveyed thought that favoring coal was a good direction for the country to head. Additionally, a near-equal amount of Democrats (72%), Republicans (72%) and Independents (74%) thought that extending federal tax credits were a good way to encourage further development of solar. Granted this is a survey conducted by two groups with an overt economic stake in the results, but the figures are certainly compelling.
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Analog Australian Traffic Signal's Time Has Come
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 06.10.08
What a brilliant idea; just as the new countdown timers Toronto pedestrians just got to tell them how long they have to get across the street, this analog rotating traffic signal, designed by Charles Marshall in 1936 and used in Australia until the seventies, gave drivers a graphic, intuitive understanding of how much time they have left and how long they have to wait until the next change. Imagine a modern version done in LEDs like the restaurant sign shown below the fold. Smoother traffic, less road rage, and lower power consumption! ::Gizmodo and ::Information Aesthetics
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Market Conditions Do What Whining Can't: Houses Getting Smaller
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 06.10.08
The American Institute of Architects have released their quarterly report on the profession; it is always interesting reading because it is the earliest data, before building or construction reports. Square footage of houses on the drawing boards are shinking, and volumes, like hard-to-heat double height spaces, are shrinking as well.
The AIA claims it is due "in part because of a dramatic slowdown in the housing industry, in part because emerging weakness in the national economy, in part because of demographic changes in our population, and in part because of the growing awareness of sustainable design principles." I suspect it has more to do to the cost of heating and cooling, that the McMansion is following the Hummer to the dustbin of history. Just like the Hummer, it wasn't environmentalists complaining that led to their demise.
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Freakonomists on the Merits of Local Food
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 06.10.08
Stephen Dubner of Freakonomics fame looks at the issue: "I very much understand the locavore instinct. To eat locally grown food or, even better, food that you’ve grown yourself, seems as if it should be 1) more delicious; 2) more nutritious; 3) cheaper; and 4) better for the environment. But is it?"
He concludes otherwise, quoting a study on Food-Miles and the Relative Climate Impacts of Food Choices
"Transportation as a whole represents only 11% of life-cycle GHG emissions, and final delivery from producer to retail contributes only 4%. Different food groups exhibit a large range in GHG-intensity; on average, red meat is around 150% more GHG-intensive than chicken or fish. Thus, we suggest that dietary shift can be a more effective means of lowering an average household’s food-related climate footprint than 'buying local.' Shifting less than one day per week’s worth of calories from red meat and dairy products to chicken, fish, eggs, or a vegetable-based diet achieves more GHG reduction than buying all locally sourced food."
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Chile Signs Agreement with California for Alternative Energy Cooperation
by Paula Alvarado, Buenos Aires on 06.10.08
(Picture: Chilean president and ministers arrive in North America for official visit. Source: Chile government.) Chilean president Michelle Bachelet and California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger are getting together this Thursday in Sacramento to sign a pact to "promote active collaboration in alternative energy, higher education and innovation," informed a press release from Berkeley's Center for Latin American Studies. The agreement is part of the initiative "Chile-California: A Partnership for the 21st Century," which was launched by Condoleeza Rice and the foreign affairs minister of Chile Alejandro Foxley last March. Bachelet's official visit to Canada and the United States seeks to deepen the technological and energetic cooperation between her country and North America. After having met Canada's prime minister Stephen Harper, she's arriving in California to meet Schwarzenegger and to offer a conference at the Berkeley UC. Alternative energy is a key issue for Chile, a country that imports three quarters of its power and that's facing energy shortage in its Northern area. According to the release, Chile is considering the installation of solar power plants in the Atacama desert, hence the interest in California....
Why Wind? T. Boone Pickens Speaks
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 06.10.08
image: fieldsbh
Here at Treehugger we’ve been following pretty closely the progress of T. Boone Pickens’ development of what will be the world's largest wind farm, so there’s no need to go over the details other than to say it’s big: 4000 MW, 12 billion dollars big. What motivates a long-time oil man to turn his focus towards renewables?
Radio program Living On Earth recently recorded an interview with Pickens and here are some choice out takes—as much for the information as for gleaning a bit of the man’s character:...
Summer Sights: George Maciunas Prefab at Maya Stendhal Gallery
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 06.10.08
Artist George Maciunas worked on the design of modern prefab from the late 50s through the mid sixties. " Designed for quick and easy assembly with a minimum number of components necessary, the structure requires no heavy machinery, and can be erected using local, untrained labor."
Now his work has been reconstructed and modelled in 2D and 3D, and is on display this summer at the Maya Stendhal Gallery in New York. ...
E-Meters Green Gadgets for Bikes Help Cut CO2 Emissions
by greenz.jp, Tokyo, Japan on 06.10.08
Creative Commons. Some Rights Reserved. Photo by Natural Light Seeker
Wednesday June 11 is Bike to Work day here in Japan, a campaign started by Bicycle Ecology Japan, a fun NGO with a great sense of humour. Seems like a good day to talk about a new green gadget from Bridgestone Cycle Co., Ltd.
e*meters, is a gadget you can use to record the number of kilometres cycled in one day - and the total CO2 savings made versus car travel for the same distance.
The 'e' in e*meters stands for "eco" and "enjoy." When you use your e*meters you can keep track of distances travelled and you can upload your records to the accompanying online Social Networks, e*meters web, and become part of a nation-wide community of cyclists doing their part for the environment.
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Don't Just Change Your Light Bulb, Change Your Politicians
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 06.10.08
Green Branding: Why Originality Matters
by Jerry Stifelman, The Change, Chapel Hill, NC on 06.10.08
Sustainability Must Go Mainstream
Punk rock wouldn't be very punk if everyone listened to it. This isn't the case with the sustainability movement — which, as we argued in our first guest post on why green branding and marketing is important, isn't going to "sustain" anything unless everyone gets on board. Good-for-the-world businesses need to express sustainability as the vibrant, exciting, game-changing proposition it is if we are going to engage a critical mass of people and take sustainability firmly into the mainstream. We should put our heart and souls into what we do. And that means we need to differentiate ourselves. And you can't do that by using the same typeface as everyone else. You can't do it by basing your logo on a leaf or by putting a hand cupping a seedling on the cover of your annual report. You can't do it by being yet another green business to use a tag line that says "Saving the planet one [your product here] at a time." But there are plenty of ways to stand out from the crowd...
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Total Furnishing Unit by Joe Columbo
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 06.10.08
We show a lot of transformer furniture; we love ideas that combine different functions into units that take up less space and let us live more efficiently with less. It is not a new idea; we have previously shown Joe Columbo's Minikitchen, recently re-released by Boffi.
Now we present Columbo's Total Furnishing Unit, developed for an exhibition in 1969 and shown at the Museum of Modern Art in 1972. It has everything, including the kitchen sink.
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EU Study Examines Wind Farm Noise Impact
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 06.10.08
photo by Keith Park via flickr.
A new study done on the visual and aural impact of wind farms has been released and contains some findings that are sure to generate debate among proponents and detractors of wind energy.
The EU-financed WINDFARMperception study is a collaborative effort by researchers at the University of Gronigen, the University Medical Centre Gronigen and the University of Gothenburg. Begun in 2006, the purpose of the study was to examine the perceptions of Dutch residents living within 2.5km of a wind turbine. The main focus of the research was to determine levels of annoyance due to aural and visual exposure to the turbines. In selecting which areas to study, only wind turbines of 500kW or more and with a spacing of 500m or less were included. Excluded were sites where the turbines had be installed or replaced within the last year.
The full WINDFARMperception report is available from the Univ. of Gronigen website, but the main points are summarized below:
Is Noise from Wind Farms Louder Than Expected?
As might be expected respondents increasingly noticed the sound from the turbines as decibel levels increased: 25% at 30dB or less; 80% at 35dB or more. There was no difference in noise perception based on whether the project economically benefitted the respondent....
Bumper Cars on the Highway
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 06.10.08
The provocateurs at Low-Tech, a website which "refuses to assume that every problem has a high-tech solution," make an interesting suggestion for electric cars: Get rid of the batteries. "Batteries are the flaw of electric cars, and not only when considering the environment. Electric cars are not yet a reality because of the limited mileage of their ‘fuel tanks.’ At best, an electric car can drive 100 or 200 miles. After that, the car has to be plugged in for hours." Their suggested alternative: bumper car technology, where electricity is fed to the vehicle directly from the grid.
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Designer G-Wiz Electric Vehicle From Ella Doran
by Sami Grover, Carrboro, NC, USA on 06.10.08
We already know that electric vehicle charging points have been spreading across London at an impressive rate. There’s no doubt that the plucky, affordable G-Wiz electric vehicle has played a big part in making EVs popular in the UK capital, despite safety concerns from some. And while their looks are not universally adored, we suspect that part of their appeal is in their quirky, unusual appearance – something that their UK distributor GoinGreen have sought to play on with loud color options and unique wraps. Last year the company collaborated with London designer Eley Kishimoto on a limited-edition version of the vehicle, and this year they are repeating the idea by releasing another designer edition, this time with Ella Doran. Ella had this to say about her reasons for taking on the project:
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Pop Quiz: Drowning in Water (Bottles)
by Dominic Muren, Philadelphia, USA on 06.10.08
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What's On Planet Green: Supper Club
by Kara DiCamillo, Newport, Rhode Island on 06.10.08
Last week, our parent company, Discovery Communications, launched Planet Green, the first ever 24-7 TV channel dedicated to green living. With more than 200 hours of original green lifestyle programming, Planet Green is a fresh conversation about what it means to be environmental. We've been bringing you clips from the new shows and encourage you to use our channel finder so you can watch Planet Green in your home.
We've featured Wa$ted, Mean Green Machines, Hollywood Green, and Renovation Nation. Today we're bringing you the scoop on Supper Club. For those of you that watched the Planet Green premier last week, you're probably familiar with what it's all about, but as the guests change each week so does the conversation. Haven't you wanted to be a fly on the wall at a Hollywood dinner party?
Catch a sneak peak below the fold....
Stair of the Week: DNA Stair from Studio P-H-A
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 06.10.08
As we noted in our review of the New York Times Building communication stair, a standard principle of design today should be comfortable, bright stairs that serve as more than fire escapes, that encourage people to take the stairs instead of the elevator. This stair is in the Institute of Molecular Genetics for the Czech Academy of Science, and fittingly, is modeled after the form of the DNA double helix.
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Survey: Should Hybrid Cars Have Bells?
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 06.10.08
Everett Meyer and Brian Bai, grad students at Stanford, solved a purported problem: the silence of hybrid cars, which, "unseen and unheard, could be the vehicular version of Jaws, only without the suspenseful background music. That's a hazard for pedestrians, especially blind people." So they added speakers and noise. (Video below the fold)
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Doggy-Style Science: Assumptions Wagging the Masters When It Comes to Water, Dog, and Chemical Exposure
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 06.10.08
If you're a new dog owner, your veterinarian will likely tell you to give your dog plenty of fresh water. If you have a big dog - not a lap dog, but a big one bred to hunt 'em up - you know what I'm talking about when I give this example of where that notion likely comes from.
Dump out the leftover warm water in his bowl and fill it up from the tap, and he's going drink up a quart, on the spot. What we don't know is whether he does that because it tastes better, all nice and cool and chlorinated, or whether he's going to do it to reward you for paying attention to him. He's training his master, so to speak.
Take that big dog out for a walk in the country and he's likely as not to lap from the first brown and bubbly puddle he comes across. And the next one as well, as if he is sampling the fare. We don't know if it's the excitement or just what is going on in that little dog brain, but it's obviously not that the water is "nice and fresh and cool and my master gave it to me."
Now that dog-to-water motivations are completely clear, check out this bit of scientific cat-chasing, as reported by WaterSecretsBlog....
Broadstar AeroCam Wind Turbine
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 06.10.08
This Broadstar's AeroCam turbine design (pictured) is a head-turner. We can't describe it any better than our source:[the] new design is based on principles first established by the French aeronautical engineer Georges Jean Marie Darrieus (1888-1979), who invented a wind turbine capable of operating from any direction and under adverse weather conditions. Darrieus machines typically have a vertical axis, whereas the AeroCam design has a horizontal axis with multiple blades, giving it the appearance of a water wheel. The major innovation in the design, however, is the ability to automatically and interactively adjust the pitch or angle of attack of the aerodynamic blades as the turbine rotates, thereby optimizing its performance for much the same reasons a bird changes the shape of its wing in flight....
Ready, Set, Green: My Eight-Week Journey To A Greener, Guilt-Free Me
by April Streeter, Gothenburg, Sweden on 06.10.08
footprint photo by ezioman @ flickr
Chapters 1-3: Bigfoot Meets Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
I am reading Graham Hill and Meaghan O'Neill's new book Ready, Set, Green and am following along chapter by chapter, seeing if there are is some easy greening I can do in my 4-person household in order to banish my green guilt. Part of Chapter 2, "Prep Work" entailed calculating my ecological footprint at www.ecofoot.org. According to my test, to support my so-called lifestyle 4.6 Earths would be needed. Although I might have been .4 of a planet under the U.S. average, my results were exasperating, and I hope untrue. I felt like the calculator itself was crude and not in-depth enough to really give the most accurate measure of my family's footprint.
No Such Thing As Jet-Based Eco-Travel
On the other hand, deep down I'm thinking that it is accurate enough to spot my two Achilles heels - jet travel and a meat-heavy diet. My rabid recycling and composting, lack of a car, big-time bike riding and backyard gardening do nothing to help wipe away the effects of my periodic need to travel by aircraft. When are they going to bring back the Zeppelins? Not soon enough for my eco-footprint, and I can't see a way to economically cross the ocean twice a year by jet, so read on to see what I am trying this week....
Open Garden Squares Weekend is Bliss for Voyeurs
by Bonnie Alter, London on 06.10.08
Open Garden Squares is the one weekend in the year when people can visit London gardens not usually open to the public and discover all sorts of hidden, unknown squares and patches of green that are privately owned. Due to a peculiarity of English architecture, many houses back on to large communal gardens which are completely surrounded by the buildings and only accessible to the owners. Other squares (we would call them small parks) are gated and open just for the adjacent residents' usage. Many, as in 173 of these, are open for a single wonderful weekend in June--and this was it. The choices are mind-boggling: Lambeth Palace Garden is one of the oldest and largest private gardens in London on a site which has been occupied by the Archbishops of Canterbury since the end of the 12th century. It includes a fig tree originally planted by the Archbishop in 1555.
A roof garden on top of an art deco department store, created in the '30's is a treat (pictured). Given that it is 70 years old, it must be one of the originals of this genre. Rarely open, and owned by Sir Richard Branson of Virgin everything fame, it is a private club now. There are three themed gardens: Spanish,Tudor Courtyard and English Woodland Garden, with over 70 full-size trees and a flowing stream, with fish, ducks and two resident flamingos. The flamingos are over 20 years old and live there all year round. Planted 100 feet above street level and one and half acres in size, the soil is the original and is 18 inches deep. Originally there were 500 species of plants, themed according to the area. ...
Volcanic Vents Shed Light on a Future of Ocean Acidification
by Jeremy Elton Jacquot, Los Angeles on 06. 9.08
Image from BBC
On this World Ocean Day, I'm taking another look at a phenomenon of global import that still has yet to gain much traction in environmental -- let alone mainstream -- news publications: ocean acidification. I've already covered this subject at length here at TreeHugger over the last few months (see links at the bottom of this post and TH's voluminous archive), but I just ran across a Nature article that provides a vivid description of what ocean acidification could well look like within the next few centuries, if not decades.
A team of British scientists, led by Jason Hall-Spencer from the University of Plymouth, surveyed a group of CO2-bubbling volcanic vents in the Mediterranean Sea to investigate the effects of acidified water on marine organisms. The pH of the seawater around the vents was around 7.8 - 7.9 -- the normal pH of seawater is 8.1 -- and dropped down to 7.4 in some places. ...
Pedal-Powered Blimp Attempts to Cross English Channel
by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 06. 9.08
A 16-metre long airship will hopefully be pedalled across the 55 kilometre wide English Channel later today, UK time. French sports enthusiast and pilot Stephane Rousson hopes to complete the journey in about five hours. He’ll be slung under the blimp in a semi-recumbent style bicycle frame, 30 metres above the water, and navigate by adjusting two large propellers on each side of his rather airy ‘cockpit.’ Apparently he has been preparing for this trip for the past four years.
Probably the most famous pedal-powered airborne crossing of the channel took place back in 1979. That’s when Brian Allen took just less than three hours to fly the late Paul McCready designed 25kg Gossamer Albatross from England to France, scooping the Kremer Prize from the Human Powered Aircraft Group of the Royal Aeronautical Society.
::Stephane Rousson, via ABC.
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Standing Up, Err... Walking For Your Principles
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 06. 9.08
Marching from point A to point B to make a political point is not new. Great Salt March? Selma to Montgomery marches? Anyone?
What is new is walking to raise awareness about the need to fund alternative energy education in secondary schools. And that’s what’s happening right now somewhere between Armagh, Pennsylvania and Washington DC as members of the newly formed non-profit Principals For Change are braving the roads, trails and heat of the mid-Atlantic states all in an effort increase awareness of alternative energy.
The ultimate goal of this venture is to stimulate interest in and raise money for local Pennsylvania educators to implement green projects within their classrooms and in their communities. This aspect of the program is just beginning to grow through business and academic partnerships and expects to begin distributing grants in October 2008. In the meantime, the group will continue working on in-class work, such as producing biofuel in their high school lab and developing PFC GreenSpaces so educators across the nation can collaborate on Green projects.
You can follow Principals For Change’s progress towards DC on the PFC blog. If you’re in D.C. this Friday, June 13th at 12:30pm you can also show your support by joining our intrepid marchers at an ACORE-hosted rally at the Reflecting Pool....
Today on Planet Green
by Jessica Root - Brooklyn, NY on 06. 9.08
:: Soothe your skin with green sunscreen.
:: Get fancy and host a 4-course dinner party using only local and seasonal ingredients.
:: Watch your water intake—you may be drinking more than you need.
:: See what this dad has to say about clean and green soap for kids.
:: Salvage furniture from the dump to save cash and create a conversation piece....
Biodiesel Prices Rise Alongside Petroleum
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 06. 9.08
High prices are causing a rethink of biodiesel policy in Seattle. As reported in the Seattle Times, Imperium Renewables has had its contact with King County Metro Transit put on “indefinite pause”. In doing so, the city cited multiple concerns—the effect of biofuels on world food prices, potentially greater net CO2 output than conventional fuels—but one of the most clearly visible ones is the rising cost of the fuel itself.
Currently mineral diesel costs an average of $4.80 per gallon, while biodiesel is selling for nearly $6 locally. This is almost double the price biodiesel commanded a year ago. Input costs are at the heart of the matter: Currently it costs $4.66 to simply buy enough soybeans for a gallon of biodiesel. Add in manufacturing and distribution costs and, even with a $1/gallon tax credit, biodiesel becomes a comparatively expensive proposition and one which consumers—individuals and the municipality alike—are unwilling to pay for. This is born out by Washington State Department of Licensing statistics which show that monthly biodiesel sales fell by 66% in the past year.
To counter rising costs Imperium is looking to other feedstocks, such as the tropical shrub Jatropha curcas, which are less expensive and currently less prone to criticism on the grounds of displacing food crops. Whether this proves to be a good strategy remains to be seen. Commercial production of Jatropha oil is in its infancy, and while Jatropha can grow in marginal conditions to truly thrive it requires adequate moisture and soil conditions. If rising costs of soybeans push biodiesel producers towards Jatropha there is little to prevent farmers from switching over from food production to Jatropha production.
via :: Earth2Tech and :: The Seattle Times.
photo courtesy Imperium Renewables....
Spy Shots of the 2009 Toyota iQ Microcar
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 06. 9.08
Toyota iQ Microcar
A few months ago we wrote about the Toyota iQ, a small upcoming urban car that seemed quite fuel efficient. We received a lot of positive feedback, so we kept our ear to the ground for new developments.
Winding Road has some spy shots of a Toyota iQ mule car that was out for testing. As with most of these spy shots, the car is disguised and doesn't look very good, but you can still get an idea of the shape and proportions....
U.S. Farmers Turning To Mule Power To Fight Rising Oil Prices
by Kimberley D. Mok, Montreal, Canada on 06. 9.08
Image: Flickr Mountain MikeRural areas in the U.S. are now feeling the profound effects of mounting gas prices, more so than in other parts of the country, due to the combination of lower incomes and heavier dependence on farming equipment, tractors, pickup trucks and vans. In addition to other trends (gasoline theft, buying less meat, switching jobs for a shorter commute), the dilemma has led some farmers to turn to less energy-intensive forms of tilling land – or in a word, mules. According to a recent survey by the Oil Price Information Service, Americans typically spend 4 percent of their after-tax income on gasoline. In rural areas however, such as the counties in the Mississippi Delta, families may spend up to 13 percent on fuel. It is a disparity that may not be so apparent in the Northeastern states, where families generally earn more, drive shorter distances or have better access to public transportation....
Toyota Fuel Cell Hybrid Vehicle Version 2.0, Twice the Range
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 06. 9.08
Right now the spotlight is on plug-in hybrids and electric cars, but that doesn't mean that everybody has stopped thinking about fuel cell vehicles. Of course, it doesn't seem like they'll be the next big thing (maybe the one after that, or maybe they'll never make sense), but it's a good idea not to put all of our technological eggs in the same basket.
Toyota Fuel Cell Vehicle, Better in Every Way
The Toyota fuel cell hybrid vehicle (FCHV) is based on the Highlander SUV, probably because that gives more space to engineers to cram in drivetrain prototypes. The new and improve version is 25% more fuel efficient thanks to a new high-performance fuel cell stack, better regenerative brakes, and more frugal auxiliary systems. ...
Most Huggable: The Story of Stuff, Green Bank Brush-Offs, Sustainable Snacks + More
by Team Treehugger, Worldwide on 06. 9.08
The short film, The Story of Stuff , exposes the truth about consumer culture.
A recent report finds most people turning a blind eye to green banking.
EatDrinkBetter lists seven eco and waistline-friendly snacks for when you’re craving junk food.
OriginOil finds a way to make the algae-to-fuel process easy and cost effective.
Ecotourism projects start to replace the average vacation.
Most Huggable is a regular roundup of some of Hugg's top green news stories. Why not submit your own green news?...
They'll Drag My Rota-dent From My Cold, Dead Hands
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 06. 9.08
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) just released "Kick the CO2 Habit: the U.N. Guide to Climate Neutrality" suggesting that small changes do work. "Multiplied across the world and acted upon by 6.7 billion people, the public have the power to change the future, have the power to personally and collectively influence economies to 'Kick the CO2 Habit'," says Achim Steiner, (previously interviewed on TreeHugger here) Notwithstanding the fact that half of those 6.7 billion have very little to give up or opportunity to change, here are some of their suggestions, with carbon savings, with the two I find hardest to deal with first:
-- Use a wind-up alarm clock rather than an electric one: 48 grams CO2 a day.
-- Use a non-electric toothbrush: 48 grams a day.
Then I realized that it only applies if you get your electricity from fossil fuels, which I don't, so I can keep my Roto-dent.
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60% Isn't Enough: Canvass Your MP on the UK Climate Change Bill
by Leonora Oppenheim, London, UK on 06. 9.08
The launch of CanvassYourMP.com today is a testament to the power of green blogging and networking. This time last week 10 green bloggers gathered together in the Houses of Parliament in London to discuss how we can motivate Members of Parliament to vote on increasing the target of the UK Climate Change Bill. Exactly a week later, thanks to the help of many volunteers, the result of the brainstorming session is live on the web. Talk about taking action!
Appropriately, just as the Canvass Your MP campaign went live online, MPs gathered today in Westminster to debate the proposal for the world's first national cross party bill on Climate Change. While the idea is innovative in itself, and would make a clear statement about the UK Government's commitment to tackling climate change, many believe a 60% reduction is not enough. The Canvass Your MP campaign aims to encourage members of the public to engage with their local MPs on this issue by going to meet them in person....
Bob Lutz Takes Chevy Volt Plug-in Hybrid Test Car for a Drive
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 06. 9.08
Chevy Volt Plug-in Hybrid Test-Drive
The plug-in series hybrid Chevy Volt was introduced 14 months ago at the 2007 Detroit Auto Show. That might seem a long time to some, but it's fairly short in car development world, especially when a company is trying to incorporate new technologies.
So we're happy to learn that a new milestone has been reached for the Volt. A "mule" car - a 2007 Malibu - rolled out with a full E-Flex drivetrain, meaning that it was powered by electric motors and a li-ion battery pack, with a small 1.0-liter gasoline generator that kicks in only when the battery is running low. It's basically the prototype of the insides that the Volt will have....
Greener Racing at the Jetta TDI Cup
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 06. 9.08
Motorsports aren't green by themselves, but they have the largest spectator base in the world ($43 billion industry) and so to the pragmatic green, they are a good opportunity for both improvement and reaching many people.
Motor Racing Becomes Greener
Many of the organizations that create the rules for racing are looking into allowing regenerative braking and hybrid drivetrains in the coming years, and hopefully we'll have 100% electric racing soon enough (it could be possible with swappable battery packs).
2008 Jetta TDI Cup
But in the meantime, an interesting development is the Jetta TDI Cup, a carbon neutral (certified by Carbonfund.org) event sponsored by Volkswagen. The vehicles are getting about 25 miles per gallon in racing conditions, which is about 500% better than many race cars, and better than many regular vehicles that are never used in demanding conditions....
Fast Food Company Introduces Feed Bags to Help Americans Eat More, Move Less
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 06. 9.08
California May Tinker With Solar Subsidies
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 06. 9.08
What if you finance it and they don’t come? Or come late? Forgive the shaky baseball reference, but that’s just what is going on with the California Solar Initiative.
The San Francisco Business Times is reporting that 12.8 percent of people who qualified for incentives under the $3.3 billion dollar solar financing program have failed to begin construction within the first twelve months and forfeited their incentive funds in the process. The result is that $9 million which would have gone toward promoting solar energy adoption is stranded in the system.
According to the program regulations as currently constructed the unclaimed wattage is made available to other applicants while the incentive money is not. Because rebate money decreases as the program ages and more wattage has been allocated, those people who wish to reapply after the window to begin construction has closed will not be able to receive as much funding in the second go around.
The article quotes Molly Tirpak Sterkel, California Public Utilities Commission program supervisor, as saying “We are actually looking at the problem to see if it’s a problem.” Looking at the problem? To see if it’s a problem? The fact that $9 million in renewable energy incentives is tied up in bureaucracy is obviously a problem. A loophole that only will expand as time goes on has to be taken seriously.
If the goal of the program is to help more California houses go solar, then structural problems which are essentially paperwork need to be corrected. As time goes on and incentive levels fall, people who got burned because they failed to start construction will become increasingly less likely to want to apply for the program again.
via :: San Francisco Business Times
photo by jfraser via flickr....
On Giving Up Salmon for Sardines
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 06. 9.08
British Columbia salmon farming
Taras Grescoe, author of “Bottomfeeder: How to Eat Ethically in a World of Vanishing Seafood.” writes in the New York Times about why he has given up on salmon.
"Wild Atlantic salmon are commercially extinct, and runs of Pacific salmon south of the Alaska panhandle are experiencing catastrophic collapses. This year, for the sake of the remaining wild salmon on the West Coast, as well as my own health, I’m changing my diet. Whether it’s wild or farmed, I’m swearing off salmon."
Farmed salmon is not much of an option:
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Rising Oil Prices Make Wind Cost-Competitive
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 06. 9.08
Economic theory works! The unprecedented rises in oil prices over the past few months have had at least one positive environmental consequence: Wind energy is now cost-competitive with fossil fuels. At least in Spain. Sort of.
Reuters is reporting that in Spain the cost of producing a megawatt-hour of energy from wind turbines now is 80-85 euros, versus 80 euros/MWh for gas-fired plants and 85 euros/MWh for oil-fired plants.
That said, according to Xabier Viteri of Iberdrola (Spain’s largest utility), feed-in tariffs would have to remain in place in the medium term if Spain is to meet its EU obligation of supplying 20% of its energy needs from renewable sources by 2020. The reason for this is that up to 25% of Spain's electricity may be traded in a deregulated marketplace, where the price of electricity is currently at 55 euros for immediate delivery and 65 euros for delivery next year. Without the price guarantees currently in place, the ambitious expansions planned will be that much more difficult...Even when oil is trading around $135 per barrel and is expected to go much higher.
Currently, Spain has 16,000 MW of installed wind capacity, or 10% of its total annualized electric demand, and plans to expand renewable generation to 40,000 MW over the next twelve years. Ten percent may not seem like much, but based on daily calculations Spain has set records with its wind farms, with up to 40.8% of demand being satisfied.
via :: Reuters.
photo: Elena Romera via flickr....
Green Buildings Make Cents
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 06. 9.08
It may be the most boring image ever posted on TreeHugger, but it shows important information: Green buildings get higher rent. A new study, Doing Well by Doing Good? Green Office Buildings by John Quigley, Piet Eichholtz, and Nils Kok, clearly shows:
-Green buildings have higher occupancy rates,
-Green buildings have lower variability in occupancy,
-Green buildings are higher quality – 79% are class A compared to 35% in comparison buildings.
They calculate that the effective rent in green buildings is 6% higher than in conventional buildings, no small increase. Read the PDF here; via ::Jetson Green...
Sixty Thousand Bushels Beneath The Sea: The Biofuels Potential Of Mariculture
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 06. 9.08
Can seaweed become the "Corn of the Sea" crop for biofuel production? Perhaps. 'Get biofuel crops off the land and into the sea,' is the rallying cry of Ricardo Radulovich, director of the Sea Gardens Project at the University of Costa Rica. He is talking not about harvesting natural "seaweed," but of cultivation. Until now, seaweed has been valued mainly as food, but also as fertilizer, animal feed, and recently for a growing phycocolloid industry producing algin, agar and carrageenan. But it could also be a major fuel....
Gen-E Kids Driving Before They Can Walk
by greenz.jp, Tokyo, Japan on 06. 9.08
The Tokyo Ecolife fair 2008 certainly had something for everyone, and the kids were really getting into it.
A great sign for the times when Gen-E is already attending environmental fairs at such a tender age, although we're not sure if teaching 3 year olds to drive is really the most environmentally friendly social education they could be getting.
Although it was an "eco-drive" booth, and we hope that by the time these little tykes are ready to get behind the wheel of something a little bigger, the cars will all be electric and/or hydrogen-powered by then. Perhaps something like this nifty-looking little Girasole elettrica which was on display courtesy of Auto EV Japan Co., Ltd.
As we mentioned in our initial post on the Ecolife Fair, there were plenty of gadgets for kids of all sizes to play with....
A great sign for the times when Gen-E is already attending environmental fairs at such a tender age, although we're not sure if teaching 3 year olds to drive is really the most environmentally friendly social education they could be getting.
Although it was an "eco-drive" booth, and we hope that by the time these little tykes are ready to get behind the wheel of something a little bigger, the cars will all be electric and/or hydrogen-powered by then. Perhaps something like this nifty-looking little Girasole elettrica which was on display courtesy of Auto EV Japan Co., Ltd.
As we mentioned in our initial post on the Ecolife Fair, there were plenty of gadgets for kids of all sizes to play with....
Attention Wal-Mart Shoppers: Adam Werbach is Your Neighbor
by Adam Werbach, Saatchi & Saatchi S, Bentonville, Ar on 06. 9.08
Suburban sprawl in the form of a cookie-cutter neighborhood in Arkansas.
Adam Werbach is the Global CEO of sustainability agency Saatchi & Saatchi S. This is the first in a series of guest columns he'll be writing for TreeHugger.
There’s a saying that’s deeply ingrained in Toyotaculture, “Genchi Genbutsu” which translates to “Go and see for yourself.” With that spirit in mind, I’ve moved my family to Northwest Arkansas this summer to spend time deepening my understanding of the emerging sustainability consumer movement outside of coastal cities and college towns.
Northwest Arkansas is well-known of course as the birthplace and home office of Wal-Mart, which has over the last few years established itself as a sustainability leader, despite expectations--my own included--that their efforts were a shallow public relations move.
I’m not a neutral party to this. ...
From the Forums: Greening Your Significant Other
by Alan Graham, Portland, Oregon on 06. 9.08
jjpell27 has a sad story of a relationship gone wrong...
So I have been part of the env movement for a number of years and know a lot about everything that goes into our day-to-day lives, connections, consequences, and so on. About 6 months back I got involved in a relationship (my first for reference) with a girl who was partially understanding of some environmental issues (lived on a dairy farm, thus slightly in tune with her environment) but was really quite ignorant of a lot of issues. My attempts to educate her, unfortunately succeeded in driving her to be somebody she did not feel comfortable being, and thus ended our relationship....
Brothers Dressler on Repurposed Materials
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 06. 9.08
I could never interview the Brothers Dressler; the twin designers are twice my height, scary tall and intimidating. Fortunately Greg Ball at MocoLoco did it already; they had some interesting things to say about the repurposing and upcycling of materials:
Jason: We see repurposing as an effective and necessary way to minimize waste and keep objects in use and out of the trash. The objects we choose to incorporate in our designs are often items that have come into our hands by chance, or that we have sought out because of their craftsmanship, history, or original purpose. Some materials we're currently building into new work include found shoe lasts (destined to be firewood in a fishing camp in Northern Ontario), Iron window sash weights salvaged from local renovations and elm and leather conveyor apron from a defunct felt factory in Toronto.
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New Airline Selling England By The Pound
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 06. 9.08
London and Chicago, too. Airlines are getting so aggressive now, charging for extra luggage, cutting back on everything that adds weight to the plane. So let's get serious about it: why not charge passengers by the pound? They do it already with freight, and it really does make a difference in fuel consumption. (full disclosure: for me, a flight from Philly to LA would only cost three hundred bucks). Derrie-Air is also carbon neutral:
"The magic comes from our one of a kind "Sliding Scale"—the more you weigh, the more you'll pay. After all, it takes more fuel—more energy—to get more weight from point A to point B. So we will charge passengers based on how much mass they add to the plane. The heavier you and your luggage are, the more trees we'll plant to make up for the trouble of flying you from place to place." More information at ::Derrie-Air
From the ::Philadelphia Enquirer via ::Geekologie...
Could Microgeneration Be as Powerful as Nuclear Energy?
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 06. 9.08
You may have missed this one: According to The Guardian a new report shows that expanding microgeneration could generate as much energy as five new nuclear plants.
Commissioned by the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (DBERR), the report on growth potential for microgeneration details how by increasing the number of buildings with microgeneration units in place though incentive programs from the current estimate of 100,000 to some 10-million over the next twelve years—admittedly no small undertaking—30-million tonnes of CO2 emissions could be saved and energy equivalent to five nuclear power plants could be generated.
Heading the recommended methods for spurring this expansion is the development of a feed-in tariff system—people who install a microgeneration unit on their building would be paid a fixed rate for the energy they generate and feed into the electric grid, with the costs of tariff being distributed over all electric consumers. Similar systems are at the heart of many renewable energy incentive programs across the EU, but have yet to be employed in the UK.
Though UK-specific in focus, the principle behind the report has much wider implications. If we concentrate efforts at expanding renewable energy technologies into centralized production and distribution we may be missing a significant opportunity for displacing fossil fuel generated energy. What would you rather have, every third building with a small wind or solar unit, or five new nuclear plants?
More on Microgeneration from Treehugger:
Brits Bringing Micropower to the People!
Home Wind Turbines Are A Worthless, Dangerous, Wasteful Vanity
Image courtesy of Windsave....
High Gas Prices Changing Society
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 06. 9.08
Rural U.S. Takes Worst Hit as Gas Tops $4 Average: In the Mississippi Delta, some farm workers are borrowing money from their bosses so they can fill their tanks and get to work. Some are switching jobs for shorter commutes. People are giving up meat so they can buy fuel. Gasoline theft is rising. And drivers are running out of gas more often, leaving their cars by the side of the road until they can scrape together gas money. ::New York Times
Union heats up protests over GM closure [comment on blockade by auto workers at GM Canadian headquarters after plant closure:] GM spokesman Stew Low said the closure decision was prompted by a shift in consumer demands. He said there's been a "fundamental shift away from large trucks and SUVs to cars, which we believe is not cyclical and can't be reversed. "There just isn't the market anymore and we see no reason to keep building vehicles that consumers don't want." ::Windsor Star
More TreeHugger on gas prices:
Gas Buddy's Map Shows How Expensive Your Gas Is : TreeHugger
Stop Whining About Gas Prices
Oh How the Mighty Have Fallen: Hummer's Gas-Induced Collapse ...
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Blogfish Hosts Carnival of the Green
by Kara DiCamillo, Newport, Rhode Island on 06. 9.08
This week is Carnival of the Green # 131 and it's being hosted by Blogfish, a site dedicated to oceans, fish and conservation. 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, please click here to link to our previous post.
PLEASE NOTE: Because the Carnival of the Green books so far in advance (thanks to all of you!), we are currently not accepting hosting requests. Please stay tuned - we'll open 2010 soon! ...
Katie Holmes' Gas Guzzler
by Terri MacLeod on 06. 9.08
....Shame on Katie Holmes! The jet-settting actress had not one - but two SUV's idling in front of the NYC's Caryle hotel, reports the New York Post. The gas-guzzlers were parked outside so Mrs "on-the-go" Cruise could make a fast exit from the hotel at a moments notice. Please!!! Don't ever think this busy lady is like us, regular folks-- she's got no time to waste on pedestrian stuff like waiting for her car to start.
For more eco-stars tidbits on Sandra Bullock, Matthew McConaughey, or Gossip Girl Kelly Rutherford jump here.
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Imagine A World Without Fish - No More Shrimp On The Barbie: With Ocean Acidification
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 06. 9.08
55 MPH Movement Is Gaining Speed
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 06. 9.08
Gas went up a quarter per gallon this weekend and will keep going. Many readers have not been impressed with our proposals for a return to 55 MPG speed limits, and said so in our surveys and in comments to our posts. However as gas prices keep rising, more people are realizing that smaller, lighter, more fuel-efficient cars are needed, and it is easier to build cars that way if there are lower speed limits.
We are not alone, either; there is even a Drive55.org, that sells bumper stickers that tell the whole story: Driving 55 is better for the environment, saves you money, is safer and is the patriotic thing to do. ...
Wall House Available Off the Rack
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 06. 9.08
We loved the Wall House back in 2007, as did much of the design press around the world; now Chilean architects FAR frohn&rojas are selling the plans and specifications to anyone who wants them.
"Our clients – being very enthusiastic about their new environment – felt the urge to share their experience and encouraged us to offer the Wall House architecture to others appreciative of its special atmosphere. Surprised and intrigued, we found ourselves asking “why not?” and decided to put the ideas of the Wall House “out there”, giving interested future homeowners the possibility to build their own version....This type of transaction is unprecedented in the architectural community; however, we are excited about the fresh and innovative potential of opening the Wall House to new places and people via the internet."
Well, if not quite unprecedented, certainly uncommon. ...
Air New Zealand Sets Sustainable Biofuels Goal for 2013
by Sami Grover, Carrboro, NC, USA on 06. 9.08
It seems like there’s a lot of buzz around non-food biofuels in aviation these days. Only yesterday we reported on a company promoting algae biofuels technology to KLM airlines and major cruiseships, although it has to be said that some of our commenters were a little sceptical. Now we hear that Air New Zealand, whose previous efforts on biofuels for aviation have already caught our attention, has set a goal of using one million barrels of “environmentally sustainable” fuel annually by 2013. The airline’s next step is to run a test flight using fuel from jatropha oil in the latter half of this year (see also our previous post on jatropha for biofuels). According to the company’s press release, the fuel to be used is being vetted under strict sustainability criteria:
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Johan Eliasch Fights Back Millionaire Fine for Amazon Deforestation
by Paula Alvarado, Buenos Aires on 06. 9.08
(Photo: Head.com and Getty Images.) Gethal, a company now owned by Swedish businessman Johan Eliasch (who has been called "a millionaire with a conscience" and acts as environmental consultant for the British Prime Minister), is facing a 230 million dollar bill from the Brazilian government for illegally-cutting down thousands of trees from the Amazon and lacking certification for lands it supposedly owns.
According to the National Institute for Environment and Natural Resources, the bill was issued after investigations that began in 2005, although Folha de Sao Paulo newspaper also says the process was accelerated by a special request from new environmental minister Carlos Minc. Eliasch interests in the country were being investigated more intensely after he claimed that foreigners could buy the entire Amazon for 50 billion dollars, informed The Telegraph.
The reaction from the company was to deny the accusation, saying it's a political move and claiming the charges belong to Gethal's previous owners. According to a source quoted by AFP, a source close to Eliasch has said Gethal "is prepared to take the matter to court."...
Survey: Will You Change Your Vote?
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 06. 9.08
Everybody said it was a big deal; even crazy Jim Inhofe called it “probably the largest bill ever considered by the Senate in its impact on the economy and our way of life.” Nonetheless, the Republicans delayed the Climate Change Bill until next year through a procedural vote.
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Mexico City Smog Shown to Damage Residents' Sense of Smell
by Eliza Barclay, Washington, D.C. on 06. 9.08
To add insult to injury, it now appears that smog -- in addition to causing lung infections, asthma, heart attacks and cancers -- can diminish your sense of smell. A recent study showed people in Mexico City had trouble smelling everyday odors like coffee and orange juice compared to residents of a nearby town, according to Reuters/Planet Ark.
According to a researcher who ran the study, the subjects' noses were so badly damaged from a life inhaling toxic particles that they also struggled to notice the scent of rotten food.
"We added a substance (to powdered milk) that is a common contaminant of food, something that smells disgusting basically -- like a sour, rotting cabbage," said Robyn Hudson, a senior research scientist at Mexico's National Autonomous University (UNAM)....
Green Eyes On: More Car Rental Agencies and Limo Services are Offering Hybrids
by Sara Snow on 06. 9.08
The Lexus Hybrid.Traveling -- without compromising your green lifestyle -- can be difficult and frustrating. Be it vacation or pleasure, it’s challenging to eat with the same focus on organic and local foods, to meditate daily, to conserve resources, and to get from point A to point B in the same fuel-efficient hybrid vehicle that you drive at home. Companies are Choosing Hybrid Car Service On a recent trip to meet with the famed eco-conscious jewelry designer John Hardy, a car was sent to pick me up and deliver me to his apartment in New York City. Usually this would be the standard black Lincoln sedan: Instead, a Toyota Prius rolled up. I was thrilled, and impressed! Rarely does this happen. On another trip to L.A. for an appearance, a car was rented for me to drive myself around in. They booked a Prius. Again, I was thrilled and impressed. Unfortunately, there is only one rental car agency, Fox, that I have found that rents hybrid vehicles from Los Angeles International Airport. In L.A.! So I rent from them every time. They have a couple of hybrids and compact, fuel-efficient vehicles to choose from....
The Weather Channel and National Environmental Education Foundation Offer Big Grants for Teachers
by Kenny Luna, North Babylon, NY on 06. 9.08
When I discovered that The Weather Channel (TWC) had teamed up with the National Environmental Education Foundation (NEEF) to create the National High School Challenge and offer grants of up to $10,000 for teachers to enhance environmental education in their schools I must confess I was a bit stumped. After all, that’s a boatload of cash to use in just one class or even group of classes, so I dug deeper to determine what they’re looking for in your entry and discovered that it's all part of an innovative program to improve environmental education in ways you might not yet have imagined....
Washer Uses Plastic Pellets And Just One Cup Water To Clean Clothes
by April Streeter, Gothenburg, Sweden on 06. 9.08
photo fabbio @ flickr
Plastic...there will be little sorrow among TreeHuggers if the price of oil forces packagers and the populace to cut down on plastic use. But here's a usage of plastic (and we grudgingly admit there are many) that has got to be hailed as extremely savvy - researcher Stephen Burkinshaw at Leeds University in the UK has developed a technology that employs just a cup of water and detergent plus 45 pounds of plastic pellets to do the wash - saving 98 percent of the water a regular machine water would use and potentially, billions of gallons annually.
Water and energy savings
The water and detergent essentially dissolve the dirt from clothes, while the plastic pellets - each about half a centimeter (0.2") in diameter - serve as a solid solvent to absorb the dirt. The pellets are then dropped *into a special tray* at the bottom of the front-loading washer, and can reportedly be used for up to 100 washes. And (big plus) clothes emerge from the cycle nearly dry! A spin-off (ha!) company called Xeros is in the process of commercializing the pellet washer, and says machines could be available in Britain in just a couple of years. *correction Via ::Daily Mail and Xeros
See also: LG's Steam Washing Machine Uses 35% Less Waterand Airwash Waterless Washing Machine: Another Notch in the Bedpost
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Observer Ethical Awards Winners
by Bonnie Alter, London on 06. 9.08
The winners of the Observer Ethical Awards have been announced, and as always they are a worthy lot and a fascinating reflection of the ethical/green scene in the UK. The winner of the fashion award is Finisterre--ethical surf wear from Cornwall--the hot spot for surfers in England. Winning politician was former mayor of London Ken Livingstone, and winning grass roots campaigner was Anna Heywood, a student activist. Best Online Retailer was Natural Collection--this is their third win in a row. Most ethical business: Divine Chocolate. Best local retailer: Warren Evans beds in London (they deliver them wrapped in blankets so that there is less packaging) and best DIY Project winner is Russell Smith
The award for Conservation Project went to Coast (Community of Arran Seabed Trust). This is a small community of fishermen and residents in Lamlash bay who began to worry about the sea's diversity and on-going productivity almost fourteen years ago. They found that there was no legal protection for ocean biodiversity. As a result of their painstaking work with all stakeholders in the community, this became the UK's first No Take Zone (NTZ) around the bay - an exclusion zone of 267 hectares, providing protection from any fishing by anybody. This marine conservation area will give all marine life in the area a chance to regenerate....
Has The Donald Been Trumped on the Links?
by Bonnie Alter, London on 06. 9.08
It's been an ongoing saga of Donald Trump versus the environmental Scot's, with a heavy dose of high level politicking thrown in. Here's the story: Donald Trump, New York billionaire property developer, wants to build a golf resort off the coast of Aberdeen, Scotland. His plan was opposed by the local council, residents and conservation authorities because the first two holes will be built over an environmentally sensitive stretch of sand dunes. Should be a pretty straightforward case, but this is Trump-land and the First Minister of Scotland is supporting him and the word "sleaze" is being bandied about.
Today is the first day of a public inquiry into the issue. Trump has hired two independent ecological experts. Both of them say that his proposed development will have a "severe" and "significant" effect on the dunes by harming rare plants and wildlife and halting their mobile,natural movement. One said: "I suggested this coastal stretch is probably the most dynamic set of dunes in Britain and that golf development was a very significant threat to site geomorphological and ecological integrity." The Donald's reaction: he has already rejected an alternative proposal put forward by conservationists and has stated that anyone who opposes him is the enemy or an imbecile. Just to make things more interesting the so-called "tartan crusader" is claiming Scottish ancestry ("Pulling the tartan down over our eyes") although he has only been there once before, and offering to donate serious money towards a redevelopment of the local castle.... This will be one load of blarney to watch. :: The Guardian...
Obama Wraps Up Nomination, Celebrates By Riding His Bike
by Andrew Posner, Providence, Rhode Island on 06. 8.08
Presidential hopeful Senator Barack Obama has won our admiration before, thanks to his support of cycling and his support of public transportation, as well as his eagerness to address climate change, as exemplified by the fact that he would want Al Gore to help him on climate issues (however, we have also been less-than-impressed with Obama's stance on "clean coal" technology). Now, after a protracted, difficult campaign, Obama has finally won the Democratic nomination for President of the United States. So how did he celebrate? According to the Associated Press, the Senator took the weekend off and "joined family and neighbors for a bicycle ride along the shores of Lake Michigan on Sunday."
This bit of news should erase any doubt left that Obama would be sympathetic to cause of cyclists. Then again, President Bush is known to be an avid cyclist, yet to our knowledge he hasn't gone out of his way to promote cycling for recreation or transportation. And while Obama still has to defeat John McCain in November, it's hard to resist imagining what it would be like to not only have a president that is a cyclist, but one that is also a bicycle advocate. When oil costs $130 a barrel, and given the desire for change in politics, that may no longer be an outlandish idea.
See photos of the ride after the fold.
Via: ::AP
More on Barack Obama
::Stephen Colbert Reports Obama and Hillary Share Secret Solution to Climate Change
::Obama Calls for Cap-and-Trade
::Contemplations on Obama's DeSmogBlog "Award," Blogging, and Presidential Politics
::McCain Wants a Gas Tax Holiday; What About the Dems?...
Portugal's Bold Renewable Push: World's Biggest Solar and Wind Farms
by Jeremy Elton Jacquot, Los Angeles on 06. 8.08
Image from LukeGordon1 via flickr
After previously setting a record for having the world's largest PV project (though it was soon to be upstaged by countless other entries), Portugal is set to once again reclaim that title when it breaks ground on a 45 MW, £250 million farm near Moura. The PV farm, which will contain 2,520 solar panels, will supply enough energy to power 30,000 homes. As impressive as it may sound, this farm is just one of the many renewable projects the country is pursuing as part of its ambitious environmental agenda, reports The Guardian's John Vidal.
Portugal hopes to generate 31 percent of its energy from clean technologies by 2020 -- which would require it to increase its renewable energy share from 20 percent in 2005 to 60 percent in 2020. ...
Algal Biofuels Company Working with KLM and Cruise Ships
by Christine Lepisto, Berlin on 06. 8.08
Algaelink, a biofuels company based in the Netherlands, was overlooked in 15 Algae Biofuels Startups to watch. So make it 16. Algaelink has signed an exclusive agreement with the airline KLM to develop biofuels for aircraft and are developing a system which would allow cruise ships to grow and process biofuels on board for feeding directly to the ships' own engines. For our part, we admire Algaelink's thinking: they understand sustainability. ...
What is Good Design?
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 06. 8.08
I was going to show a picture of a MacBook Air, but chose the Post-it notes because design is a touchy but important issue; TreeHugger spends so much time looking at design because it is the tool for making our lives more efficient and comfortable, and will play a big role in solving our current problems. Alice Rawsthorne of the International Herald Tribune, one of the best design writers around, tackles the issue, defining it as 1. What it does, 2. How it looks, 3. What's new, 4. How it works, and 5. Guilt.-
"What's the point of designing something gorgeous and useful if it makes us feel guilty, because we know that it's ethically or environmentally irresponsible? Once such concerns were dismissed as the hang-ups of a cranky minority. Not now. Just think of how quickly the plastic bag has become taboo in many countries." ::IHT and ::Core77
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Ludacris and Tommy Lee Rock Out on Battleground Earth
by Kristin Underwood, Sacramento, CA on 06. 8.08
Coming to Planet Green this fall...
Ludacris? Tommy Lee? Are these celebs changing lightbulbs and using manure for fuel? You bet they are. And they are challenging you to join them in saving the planet on their new tv show.
The contest is a 30 day challenge to see which “team” can do more to save the planet. The winner headlines the concert, the loser…opens. And lets just say that the taping last week of this epic concert, well, rocked!...
Big Ben In Old Coke Cans Reminds Us To Recycle?
by April Streeter, Gothenburg, Sweden on 06. 8.08
Sculptor Robert Bradford is known for his colorful recycled art animal and people sculptures put together with millions of discarded plastic toy parts. Now in honor of Recycling Week in the UK, Bradford has erected a twenty-foot-high replica of the famous London clock tower Big Ben, all from Coke cans. The jury is out on whether art from recyclable materials gets us to recycle more.
But according to WRAP, the recycling council that sponsors UK's Recycling Week there's no question that our recycling habits could still be vastly improved, especially in the bathroom and bedroom! People in Britain recycle around 33% of their home waste, double the amount from five years ago - that's a great improvement. But according to WRAP many Brits - and by extension, probably the rest of us - forget to recycle empty containers from bed and bath. If every UK household started putting just one to two more items - say a glossy magazine and a Coke can - into the recycling bin, the country could bump its national rate by approximately 3 percent. Via ::WRAP
See also: SustainStyle: Earth Day Cookies, Amazing Bangles, Hand Made Recycled Art Work + More...
Marriott Hawaii Offers First Allergy-Free Guest Rooms
by Kristin Underwood, Sacramento, CA on 06. 8.08
Image Courtesy of Marriott Hawaii Hotels.
We’ve all been to hotels with the “save water” cards that ask you to reuse your towels by hanging up and we feel good about doing something for the planet. Well the Marriott in Hawaii begged the question, is there something more we could be doing? And they found the answer is yes.
No, being located in paradise alone was not good enough for the Marriott Hawaii, they had to take it one step further, ‘in the hopes of providing our guests with a more beneficial, and green, authentic island experience.’
The JW Marriott Ihilani Resot & Spa is the first in Hawaii and one of the first in the United States to use the PURE system, by Pure System North America, whereby guests on the 17th floor and the Presidential Suite receive “an ultimate allergy-friendly room environment.” The PURE system treats the room to specially remove contaminants from ‘bedding, carpeting, walls, furniture, air conditioning systems, and practically everything in the room.’ All five resort hotels in Hawaii are taking on green initiatives throughout the hotels. ...
Explore the Hebrew Holiday of Shavuot and the Environment With Heschel Centers’ Webinar
by Karin Kloosterman, Tel Aviv on 06. 8.08
(A variety of Israeli-made cheese)
Hebrew holidays all seem to have a strong connection to the land and nature somehow. No better example for this than tonight’s holiday Shavuot, the holiday of cheese. Well, it’s not really the holiday celebrating cheese, but with a strong food element to every Jewish holiday (except Yom Kippur), this holiday’s menu is milk-based.
Shavuot celebrates the end of the counting of Omer period, and the occasion when the Israelites were given the Torah (Bible) on Mount Sinai. One of the Shelosh Regalim –– the three pilgrimage festivals to Jerusalem – Shavuot (which means “Festival of the Weeks”) is also known as the Festival of Reaping and the Day of the First Fruits. Christians call it Pentecost. ...
Good News: The Cost Of Petro-Plastic Is Sky Rocketing
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 06. 8.08
The 1967 film "The Graduate" kicked off a 40-year, polymer's-in-everything boom with the career advice given to Dustin Hoffman - to 'base his career on the plastics industry'. Today's burgeoning prices for natural gas & oil mark new trends: accelerating reliance on natural ingredients for product formulations; and, industrial processes that are significantly more reliant on bio-based feedstock. Surging oil prices are beginning to cut into the profits of a wide range of American businesses, pushing many to raise prices and maneuver aggressively to offset the rising cost of merchandise made from petroleum...The Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company is trying to adapt. Its raw material of choice now is natural rubber rather than synthetic rubber, made from oil...Natural oils have been substituted for ingredients made from petroleum; for example, palm oil now goes into a variety of laundry soaps. But like rubber, the cost of palm oil and other natural commodities is rising.Expect big reductions in packaging mass, too, as packaging costs overcome the marketing benefits of eye-level bill-boarding. Good by Mr Splashy Package; hello Mr. Concentrate....
Google News For A Better World
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 06. 8.08
So much good green news in this vision of a perfect Google News"- "
Faster Way Seen to Reduce Atmospheric Carbon: Science Magazine reports a method to reduce existing levels of atmospheric carbon, jointly developed by researchers in the United States and Sweden. Climate researchers are heralding the method as a "phenomenal quick fix" for global warming and related climate ills. "It seems hard to believe, but we can expect ...
Big Three Unveil Emissions-Free Lineup; In a joint announcement, Ford, GM and Chrysler revealed that all new 2008 models will feature emissions-free engines, with a minimum EPA rating of 75 MPG. "We are pleased to put an end to Detroit's decades-long effort to stifle innovation and instead reclaim our role as a leader in automotive technology ..
and my favourite, Long-awaited spray-on solar coating now available: "Going off grid just got a whole lot easier. For an average of $285 per home, you can now go solar using SolarKote spray, on shelves this week nationwide. For every 10 kilowatt-hours you need (the typical US home uses 35.3 daily), cover a 4'x8' sheet of plywood with the spray and attach it to ..."
Apropos of nothing green but just because I loved the movie: Serenity sequel tops box office six weeks running because we are truly building a better world. ::Good News via ::BoingBoing
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New York Times on The Next City
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 06. 8.08
The Times devotes its magazine section to urban design, including coverage of Dutch architects MVRDV, "A firm based in Rotterdam solves the problem of too many people on too small a planet by tunneling down, packing tight and making pigs fly," Container heroes LOT-EK, "How a New York-based architecture team turned the detritus of urban life into a design virtue." and Guerilla Gardening- "Reclaiming green space one anarchic, get-your-hands-dirty, grab-a-flat-of-perennials-and-a-trowel act at a time."
TreeHugger on the subjects:
The Liuzhou Housing Project: Green? : TreeHugger
Stair of the Week: MDRDV, Didden Village : TreeHugger
LOT-EK Container Housing Coming to New York : TreeHugger
Lot-ek Builds Student Pavilion From Recycled Airplane : TreeHugger
Building A Library From Recycled Airplanes : TreeHugger
Shipping Container Prefab : TreeHugger
Guerrilla Gardening : TreeHugger
Guerilla Gardening: A Manualfesto : TreeHugger
Guerilla Gardeners: Resistance is Fertile : TreeHugger
Guerilla Gardeners Hit London In The Middle Of The Night : TreeHugger...
Finisterre Clothing Keep On Winning Eco Awards
by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 06. 8.08
The lads at Finisterre must be stoked. They’ve just picked up the coveted Observer Ethical Awards, in the Fashion category. Mind you, as The Observer duly noted: “This is clearly no normal fashion label.” Indeed not. This surf-inspired company, from Cornwall, UK, currently has only has four staff and a mere six styles.
It is a very lean operation that is clearly punching above it’s weight class, in terms of getting recognition for ecodesign in the sports arena. The Observer goes onto say, “In fact, it's all about 'testing convention', from the way they (very efficiently) run their mail order through the tiny local post office, shun cheap fabrics in favour of renewable or recyclable fibres, and have pulled out of China ('That would be considered commercial suicide for most sportswear brands,' says marketing man Ernie Capbert) in favour of working with nuns in Colombia and a women's outreach project.”...
Painting the Town Green at Tokyo Ecolife Fair 2008
by greenz.jp, Tokyo, Japan on 06. 8.08
Environment Month and Environment Day 2008 have seen a variety of festivals around the globe, and Japan was not to be outdone. This weekend saw the Ecolife Fair burst into life with a veritable smorgasboard of all things environmental, not to mention a liberal helping of local celebrities, artists and musicians.
The second annual festival of its kind in Tokyo, Ecolife Fair 2008 was held at Yoyogi Park and NHK TV Studios in Tokyo, Japan. With sponsors such as NHK, Japan's largest television network, and Team Minus 6%, an organization founded by the Japanese government and environmental NPOs to promote the 6% CO2 emissions reduction goal established under the Kyoto Protocol, the event was guaranteed success. ...
The second annual festival of its kind in Tokyo, Ecolife Fair 2008 was held at Yoyogi Park and NHK TV Studios in Tokyo, Japan. With sponsors such as NHK, Japan's largest television network, and Team Minus 6%, an organization founded by the Japanese government and environmental NPOs to promote the 6% CO2 emissions reduction goal established under the Kyoto Protocol, the event was guaranteed success. ...
