- 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 July 27, 2008 - August 2, 2008
Total this week: 158
Home-Sourcing Trend Could Get You A Green Job: The Upside Of Costly Oil
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 08. 2.08
Not only is the world no longer "flat," greener jobs are coming to the USA as a result - in factories with 'down-home' supply chains. People don't need to lobby or protest to make it happen. By subsidizing it's own oil demand growth, China has effectively added a 9% tariff on its exports.
It is as if there exists an as yet un-named economics version of the Gaia Hypothesis emerging around increased shipping costs. Example: To avoid having to ship all its products from abroad, the Swedish furniture manufacturer Ikea opened its first factory in the United States in May.Home-sourced products are coming for rich people too....
Stephen Colbert Interviews Brendan Koerner, Slate's Green Lantern
by Jeremy Elton Jacquot, Los Angeles on 08. 2.08
Ocean Acidification: 100 Years in the Future
by Jeremy Elton Jacquot, Los Angeles on 08. 2.08
Image from jurvetson
A study published in an upcoming issue of the journal Current Biology paints a grim picture of the future impact of ocean acidification on marine organisms, reports ENN's Angelique van Engelen. While the study doesn't contribute much that is new in terms of our current understanding of the process -- indeed, the scientists' estimation that seawater pH will drop to 7.7 from a normal 8.1 is well in line with most estimates -- it provides yet more evidence that acidification will devastate many forms of marine life in the near future. ...
New Mexico (And Some Navajo) Object To 1,500-megawatt Coal-Fired Power Plant
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 08. 2.08
Governor Richardson has stated that New Mexico will appeal USEPAs issuance, this week, of an air permit needed to begin construction of a massive coal-fired plant. New Mexico officials said Thursday they will appeal an air-quality permit the U.S. federal government granted...The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency issued a permit Thursday for a 1,500-megawatt coal-fired power plant called Desert Rock being developed on Navajo Nation land by the nation's Dine Power Authority and by energy company Sithe Global Power LLC. The developers estimate the plant will cost $3 billion.Via::Dow Jones News Wires, New Mexico Gov Richardson Objects To EPA Permit For Coal Plant. The air permit does not limit mercury or C02 emissions. There are questions about USEPA's administrative procedures, used in issuing the permit. And, there has long been division and protest (as pictured) among the Navajo over the proposed plant. For details, see the Desert Rock Blog. Via::Z Magazine, A (Desert) Rock By Any Other Name. Image credit::ZMag, Resistance Camp against proposed coal plant—photo from Elouise Brown...
Israel: Political Vacuum Leads to Slew of Green Laws
by Jesse Fox, Tel Aviv, Israel on 08. 2.08
The Knesset, Israel's parliament: Soon to be painted green? (Image: Wikimedia Commons)
The Israeli Knesset, perhaps the most hyperactive spot in this more-wired-than-most country, may have caught on a bit late, but it appears that the green wave washing over the country has finally reached the benches of Israel’s parliament.
Maybe it was the teetering of the governing coalition or the multi-year water crisis, or maybe it was just the sticky and oppressive summer heat. Whatever the cause, the summer session of the Knesset closed last week with an unprecedented burst of environmental legislation.
Here's a roundup of the new laws......
New Electrode Design Could Make "Much Cheaper" Fuel Cell Possible
by Jeremy Elton Jacquot, Los Angeles on 08. 1.08
In related hydrogen breakthrough news, a team of scientists from Melbourne's Monash University has developed a new fuel cell prototype that could pave the way for a generation of much cheaper, more efficient fuel-cell vehicles. The results of their project, which was led by Maria Forsyth, a professor of materials engineering at the Australian Center of Excellence for Electromaterials Science, are published in the current issue of Science (sub. required).
The main obstacle to the mass production of hydrogen fuel cells has always been the high cost of platinum nanoparticles -- the small quantity contained within each cell typically adds $3500 to $4000 to the car's sticker price -- which are used to build the cell's air electrode. The electrode reduces oxygen and is thus a vital component of the fuel cell, helping in energy generation and storage. Aside from its high cost, platinum nanoparticles are also extremely difficult to find and have a nasty tendency to become inactivated by contact with carbon monoxide or by clumping together....
Green College Rankings Now Available From The Princeton Review
by Kristin Underwood, Sacramento, CA on 08. 1.08
Image: Getty Images
Just in time for the next round of college applications, the Princeton Review announced its latest round of college ranking guides, but this year the guides will include a green ranking of universities, among the other rankings like best program for a particular degree category, as well as colleges with the best campus social life. 534 schools were included in this ranking, with most progressive campuses earning Honor Roll status....
Maybe There's No Eco-Fur So How About Green Suede
by April Streeter, Gothenburg, Sweden on 08. 1.08
TreeHuggers, being a discerning lot, when recently polled came down in a clear majority against the concept of "eco-fur" when we wrote first about a chinchilla/polyester jacket from designer Chie Imai, and then about an expensive line of pillows and throws made from the skins of invasive possums wreaking havoc in New Zealand.
Green suede, no shoes
So there's probably little hope trying to persuade these same gentle readers that there's such a thing as green suede. But let's just give it a try. Bernardo, a clothing line based in New York City, is launching a line of suede garments to Nordstrom stores next week. Priced at between $168 - $198, Bernardo's suede jackets, in a number of styles such as a bomber, a trench and a kind of zippered poncho, are claimed by the company to be machine washable (and dryer-safe) and eco-friendly.
Biodegradable tanning agents
Bernardo uses pig skin for its suede from just a single company, Hormel Foods (yup, originators of SPAM) which breeds only U.S. animals and supposedly treats its pigs humanely. Once Bernardo gets the skins, they use biodegradable tanning agents, dyes, and finishes (eschewing the use of chrome in tanning means some of the colors can be a little less vibrant, the company says) at the IUV tannery in Slovenia. Certified by Britain's The Soil Association, the IUV tannery process is also "verified" by the British Leather Council. The solid waste from the process is made into fertilizer, the water is put through treatment so that it leaves the factory as drinkable. Nut, coconut and bone buttons are used on the jackets as well as organic cotton for trim, and the hang tags are made from a "residual" of the tanning process and then embedded with California poppy seeds....
Aral Sea Rehabilitation Program’s First Phase Hailed as Success
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 08. 1.08
Efforts over the past seven years have expanded the surface area of the Aral Sea by 30%. Photo by Mentat Kibernes.
Not too long ago everyone had pretty much written off the Aral Sea as a lost cause. Soviet irrigation policies had diverted water from the Aral for so long that the sea was going to irreversibly dry up. You’ve probably seen photos of ships stranded in the sand, left high and dry as the waters receded, in An Inconvenient Truth. Though used as a symbol of climate change in that film, that particular connection is tenuous at best. Nonetheless the death of the Aral Sea is true environmental disaster that is entirely manmade.
Now comes word that the Aral is getting a second life. In 2001, the government of Kazakhstan worked together with the World Bank to build a dam across the middle of what remained of the Aral Sea to enable the northern portion to be filled with water from the Syr Darya River.
...
How to Go Green: Hybrid Cars, Organic Breakfast and Dirt Cheap Bikes
by Jessica Root - Brooklyn, NY on 08. 1.08
:: Get the low-down on hybrid cars: how they work, which to buy and helpful driving tips.
:: Sleep in this weekend and make a leisurely, organic breakfast.
:: Score a bike for $20 or less!...
TreeHugger Tip: Jack Johnson on Collecting Rain with Rain Barrels
by Chris Tackett, San Francisco on 08. 1.08
20 Organic Wines Under $20, Alaska's LED Lights and VW's Tax Break
by Team Treehugger, Worldwide on 08. 1.08
EcoSalon lists 20 organic wines under $20.
Achorage, Alaska installs 16,000 LED streetlights.
VW Clean Diesels are issued a $1,300 Federal Income Tax Credit.
Ecovative Design creates an earth-friendly alternative to styrofoam.
Researchers from Spain and Nicaragua invent a solar-powered milk pasteurizer.
Most Huggable is a regular roundup of some of Hugg's top green news stories. Why not submit your own green news?...
Camarada, Can You Spare a Few Dollars For the Amazon? Brazil Establishes Forest Fund
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 08. 1.08
photo: Getty Images
In an effort to raise money to prevent deforestation and preserve remaining areas of the Amazon rainforest, Brazil has announced that it has established an international fund for forest protection. Brazilian president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has signed a decree establishing The Amazon Fund, which will be able to receive up to US$21 billion over the next 13 years. Donations in the first year will be capped at $1 billion.
Norway the First Nation to Donate
On announcement, the fund is already a tenth of the way towards that first year cap. Norway has pledged to donate $100 million in September. Any money received will not be tax deductible or applicable to any carbon trading scheme.
...
Saving Money But Risking Injuries on Bicycles in LA
by Christine Lepisto, Berlin on 08. 1.08
credit: Getty Images
An Exercise in Frustration
Here is a tip on recommended coffee break reading for a Friday. Check out this piece in the Wall Street Journal online, Risking Life and Limb, Riding a Bike to Work in L.A.. Caution: not recommended for bike commuters with high blood pressure.
In the wake of a July road-rage incident that sent two bicyclists to the hospital when a driver apparently slammed on the brakes just ahead of them, the WSJ reports on a collection of anecdotes from those few brave enough to venture into LA traffic on their bicycles. ...
"Major Breakthrough" in Hydrogen Production: Video Interview with Daniel Nocera
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 08. 1.08
You may have seen yesterday’s post on a “giant leap” breakthrough in hydrogen production, and its implications for storing renewable energy. MIT has posted a video interview with the scientist behind this research, Daniel Nocera. Nothing you may not have already read, but I always find it's good to hear things first hand.
via :: MIT News Office
Hydrogen, Fuel Cells, Renewable Energy
A “Giant Leap” For Clean Energy: Hydrogen Production Breakthrough from MIT
Fuel Cell Cars Still 15 Years Away Says Government Study
Water + Sunlight = Solar Hydrogen
...
Tar Sands Less Damaging Than Coal, Shell Says: But They Sure are Profitable
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 08. 1.08
photo by Fraser Elliot
Earlier this week I wrote about a new report by WWF-UK that said that economic and environmental cost of developing unconventional sources of oil such as the Tar Sands in Canada and Oil Shale in the Rocky Mountains of the U.S. would be “unthinkable”. In the report it was claimed that the because of the tremendous effort required to produce a barrel of oil from these sources, the overall carbon emissions are dramatically higher than conventional oil sources: Tar sand extraction produce three times the emissions; Oil Shale producing eight times the emissions.
Well, oil company Shell didn’t take that report too well and has fired back. From The Guardian:...
Scientists Say Great Migrations Need Protection
by Kristin Underwood, Sacramento, CA on 08. 1.08
Image: Getty Images
Picture the scene: Millions of passenger pigeons crossing North America in packs over a mile wide, taking several days to finally pass over an area. (Not to mention the left-behind destruction of all that poop!). Or maybe, multitudes of stampeding buffalo crossing the wide open plains of Middle America. Hard to imagine these scenes today with all of our interstate highways and byways criss-crossing everywhere, but researchers on a recently published article in PLoS Biology report that these migrations are not only important but that they should be protected....
Carbon Emissions in UK 49% Higher Than Acknowledged: New Report Claims
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 08. 1.08
photo montage created from photos by (L-to-R): David Reece, Storm Crypt, and Kaustav Bhattacharya.
Two new reports, yet to be published but reported on by the BBC, show that contrary to previously published figures carbon emissions in the UK have not only not fallen since the early 1990s, they have actually increased dramatically.
One report by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) says that emissions have risen by 18% between 1992 and 2004, while a report by the Stockholm Environment Institute says that greenhouse gas emissions are in fact 49% higher than currently reported.
...
Kids Retrieve Almost 40,000 Plastic Bags in Terrific Bid to Earn Free Fun
by Kenny Luna, North Babylon, NY on 08. 1.08
In a terrific promotion we can only hope will lead to more creative thinking, Rye Playland in Westchester, NY recently held a promotion where every child that turned in 100 plastic bags for recycling received free admission to the park that day.
All told, the kids put together some 39,995 plastic bags as they worked their way through the turnstiles in search of a good time at one of the most historic amusement parks in the country.
...
Mammoth Environmental Festival
by Kristin Underwood, Sacramento, CA on 08. 1.08
The Outdoors in Mammoth Environmental Festival takes place next week, August 5 & 6, 2008, in Mammoth, California. This year's theme, Summit to the Sea, highlights the connection between the mountains and the ocean, and everything in-between. The festival will combine hands-on activities with short field trips, including watching environmental films under the stars.
Jean-Michael Cousteau will speak at several events during the festival, including the closing dinner. Representatives from the Paiute Indian community will attend to talk about issues of sustainable living, as well as lead hikes to the area's water source and hot springs to talk about geothermal energy.
All hiking and movie events are free, but the meetings with Cousteau are part of a larger package, of which proceeds will benefit the Mammoth Community Foundation. ...
New Algae Biofuel from Sapphire Energy "Chemically Identical to Gasoline"
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 08. 1.08
photo: Sapphire Energy
‘Green Crude’ Milestone
In what it calls its most significant milestone yet, Sapphire Energy , claims it has succeeded in refining a high-octane gasoline from algae that is chemically identical to crude oil. According to Sapphire Energy, “The resulting gasoline is completely compatible with current infrastructure, meaning absolutely no change to consumer’s cars.” This is of course in addition to the benefit that their Green Crude is a carbon neutral fuel.
...
Unleashing the Low Carbon Dragon? New Report Highlights China’s Renewable Energy Push
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 08. 1.08
Wind farm outside of Urumqi photo by Ken Driese
It may have recently officially overtaken the United States as the world’s leading emitter of greenhouse gasses, but China also leads the world in another environmental category: Installed Renewable Energy Capacity. A new report from The Climate Group rounds up the steps China is taking to wean itself off the polluting energy forms which are behind both its greenhouse gas emissions and its air pollution problems.
Here are some of the highlights:
...
Congress Moves to Ban In-Flight Cell Phone Use
by Andrew Posner, Providence, Rhode Island on 08. 1.08
America is facing many challenges at the moment: gas prices, two ongoing wars, health care, social security, and the credit crisis, to name a few. So it might come as a bit of a surprise (or perhaps not!) that Congress spent yesterday trading horror stories "about their worst experiences with annoying fellow passengers who talk loudly on cell phones before takeoff and after landing." No, they weren't just being chatty; there was at least a reason for the discussion. They were actually debating a new bill, cleverly called the Halting Airplane Noise to Give Us Peace (HANG UP) Act, which would "make the current Federal Aviation Administration and Federal Communication Commission ban on cell phone use during flight permanent."
EU Has Approved Cell Phone Use
This is in contrast to the European Union, which recently approved the use of cell phones during flights. Under that plan, "the European Commission will be tasked with ensuring that customers aren't charged exorbitant prices for making the calls." Congress, however, has several reasons for moving forward with a ban, including the obligatory national security concerns, as well as a desire to minimize the stresses of travel. After all, who wants to listen to someone spend an entire flight on the phone with a friend, attempting to calculate the CO2 emissions from their cross-country trip?...
Green Products Directory 2008
by greenz.jp, Tokyo, Japan on 08. 1.08
It might not quite be the Whole Earth Catalog of the glorious 1960s, but I like it anyway. Asian Productivity Organization publishes its biannual Green Products Directory with the latest from our part of the world (was WEC ever truly global?) and the listings are comprehensive.
This year, APO selected the greening of supply chains as a main theme and is working to ensure that Asian governments and enterprises promote the use of environment-friendly products and services as a fundamental strategy. APO believes that greening supply chains is a way to link manufacturing with sustainable economic development in the region. Their goal is to incorporate consideration for the environment into every stage of the supply chains, from the very beginning of the product life till the end, "making all chains green".
The fourth edition of the Eco-products Directory was released in conjunction with the opening of the Eco-products International Fair 2008 in Hanoi, Vietnam earlier in 2008.
I also like their photo competition: shown above is "Sifting Rice" by Dang Ngoc Thai, one of the APO Photo Contest winners in 2006....
The TH Interview: Chris Page—The Green Yahoo
by Jacob Gordon, Nashville, TN on 08. 1.08
Climate impact might not be the first thing on your mind when jumping on a search engine (unless you’re searching “climate impact”). But much is going on behind the scenes of these ethereal data dealers of search. Yahoo! has recruited its secret weapon in the climate battle, Christina Page, from the arsenal of the Rocky Mountain Institute, Amory Lovins’ brainy and prestigious “think-and-do tank,” (also a TH guest poster). As Yahoo!’s director of climate and energy strategy, Page has been charged with bringing the company to carbon neutrality (which it accomplished in 2007), and with developing outlets like its green autos page, 18Seconds.org (the CFL initiative of Inconvenient Truth producer Lawrence Bender), and Freecycle (a Yahoo! group). Yahoo! is also trying to harness the brains and fingers of its 500 million users to create green iconography, do-gooder advertising, and a world of green Web users. ::TreeHugger Radio Also check out our interview with Yahoo! co-founder David Filo. Listen to the podcast of this interview via iTunes, or just click here to listen, right-click to download. Special thanks goes to CraigMichaels, the organizer of the Sustainable Operations Summit, for arranging this interview. (Full text after the jump)...
Green Branding: Free Your Inner Activist - Business Will Follow
by Jerry Stifelman, The Change, Chapel Hill, NC on 08. 1.08
Green Branding Brings Freedom to Act
A "brand" is business-speak for your standing in the community. And that standing is based on the sum of who you are, not just what you say. If someone in your neighborhood leads protests against a new coal plant, rides her bike to work everyday, and coaches a community soccer team — you're going to have an impression of her as a someone who cares.
However, the larger a company is, the more branding tends to get confined to the realm of communications. The reason for this is twofold. The first -- as businesses get larger, they hire outside communication agencies that are empowered to create messages, not policy. The second reason is that most of the things that people admire about companies stand in direct contrast to the kind of cost-cutting, stockholder-pleasing actions big corporations tend to take. Laying off employees and switching to a 12-prompt voice mail system are NOT the kind of actions that inspire people. The difference between what compels large conventional companies and what motivates dynamic mission-driven companies confers advantage on the latter. ...
Strawberry Fields Forever: 5 Reasons Why Preserving Your Own Food Is Green
by Karin Kloosterman, Tel Aviv on 08. 1.08
(Hamutal Dotan, from Toronto, goes berry-pickin')
It seems like such an old-fashioned “Leave It To Beaver” sort of tradition –– going out strawberry and cucumber picking and making your own jam and pickles. But more TreeHuggers, we are finding, are going out into the fields and back to the wisdom of our grandparents by making their own preserves. It makes green sense.
Our friend from Green Prophet, Hamutal Dotan, recently did it. She spent a day out berry picking, and wrote out a step-by-step recipe for the even the lamest cooks in the crowd.
So did this TreeHugger. While up in Northern Canada earlier in July, I decided to venture out with my family and spend a day berry-picking and making jam. In total, the whole process took about 5 hours from start to finish (including the berry picking) and created memories and yummy jam that will last a long time.
As we rack up food miles for everything we eat, preserving our own food seems to be the way of the future. ...
Kenya To Ramp Up Geothermal Energy
by Eliza Barclay, Washington, D.C. on 08. 1.08
Like many developing countries with a surging economy and population, Kenya is finding its energy supply increasingly tight. Currently, electric supply capacity is close to its limit at 1,080 MW when peak hour demand reaches nearly 1,000 MW, according to AFP. Though coal is the cheapest option for boosting supply, Kenya is also looking to further tap into its substantial geothermal resources to meet demand. Near the town of Naivasha, northwest of Nairobi, underground hot water sources and steam at 300 degrees Celsius can be piped up the surface from up two kilometers (6,500 feet) below and turned into electricity.
President Mwai Kibaki recently announced a plan to produce an extra 2,000 megawatts within 10 years, with 85 percent (1,700 MW) to come from geothermal plants. At the country's main Ol Karia plant, near Naivasha, engineers and experts are discussing prospection and drilling plans.
"Because geothermal energy is our only indigenous source of energy, we're going for it. We can supply Kenya's entire needs with geothermal alone," Silas Simiyu, who works at Ol Karia, says.
...
Survey: Is Conspicuous Consumption Un-TreeHugger?
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 08. 1.08
Well, we certainly got schooled in the comments for our post on Gil Arena's million dollar pool, being told to mind our own business and if a guy has the money to use as much water as the nation of Chad then it is his right. But when we do these posts we are trying to make a point- that perhaps in a time of crisis conspicuous consumption of limited resources is not appropriate. In World War II, many people with a lot of money were careful not to show it, in solidarity with other who were not spending money because of the war effort. Are we wrong?
...
UK Scheme's 100th School Solar Installation Complete
by Sami Grover, Carrboro, NC, USA on 08. 1.08
Not long ago UK-based Solarcentury completed the 50th installation in the innovative Solar4Schools initiative, which has received huge report from the Co-operative supermarket chain. Now they’ve announced that they’ve just finished their 100th installation – and judging by the photo above, the kids are pretty excited. But while 100 solar installations in schools is impressive, it’s a figure dwarfed by the scale of problems caused by the rest of our energy infrastructure - problems that kids in particular will spend much of their lives sorting out. So it’s particularly encouraging to see that The Co-operative and Solarcentury are not resting on their laurels, instead calling on the government to install solar on every school in the country – and the Co-op is backing that challenge up with a pledge of a further £1m (US$2m) to support renewable energy in schools. This from Derry Newmann, CEO of Solarcentury:...
Battleground Earth Sneak Peek: A BPA-Free Tommy Lee!
by Jessica Root - Brooklyn, NY on 08. 1.08
Jack Johnson isn’t the only musician greening up his act with reusable water bottles. Tommy Lee, Ludacris and the Battleground Earth cast and crew ditched their disposables for one that’s more eco-sound—Water Geek’s reusable water bottle.
Unlike some Nalgenes, the sports bottle is made with BPA-free (phew!), low density polyethylene plastic (#4 recycle symbol) and comes with a built-in filter to remove chlorine, bad taste, odor and heavy metals like lead, mercury and copper. ...
Brazilian Melissa Teams Up with Zaha Hadid
by Bonnie Alter, London on 08. 1.08
It's good for your sole: Melissa, the hot Brazilian plastic shoemaker, has done it again. Melissa makes eco-friendly shoes that are 100% recyclable. The production process is fair and sustainable and the "plastic" shoes are made via injection molds, of a special material, melflex, a mono-material which can be dissassembled and recycled. The factory has almost (99%) zero-waste, recycling its factory water and waste, and the employees are well-paid. The company supports many social and environmental programmes in Brazil.
She also teams up with very hip designers such as Vivienne Westwood and the Campana Brothers. And now she has got Zaha Hadid, famous international architect to design a pair of rubber shoes. Hadid is controversial both from a design point of view (love her or hate her) and construction-wise--her swimming pool proposal for the 2012 London Olympics is already 3 times over budget and it hasn't been built yet. As for the shoes--they look great. She says "The fluidity of our design combined perfectly with the technology of Melissa's plastic, injecting pieces without closures or seals." :: Melissa Via :: PFSK
More On Melissa and Zaha
:: Zaha Designs a Hybrid
:: SustainStyle
...
Ethanol Produced from Perennial Grass Could Offset 20% of Gas Use with 9.3% of Cropland
by Jeremy Elton Jacquot, Los Angeles on 07.31.08
For all the talk of switchgrass being the next miracle biofuel feedstock, there's still precious little to show for it. Yes, we did recently report on a study which showed that switchgrass could potentially yield 5 times more energy than was used to grow it and, yes, there are several companies that are working hard to bring cellulosic ethanol to market. Yet, for all its purported merits, we aren't likely to see it become commercially available for another few years.
That opening is giving other potential second-generation feedstocks, such as kudzu and cattails, an opportunity to prove their ethanol mettle. Enter Miscanthus giganteus....
Green Publishing, Farmers' Market Finds and Non-Toxic Tans
by Jessica Root - Brooklyn, NY on 07.31.08
:: Get published the green way.
:: Splurge on chanterelle mushrooms at your farmers market.
:: Create a perfect summer glow without the toxins.
:: Simplify your life--and the landfill--and unsubscribe from junk mail.
:: Handle your candle soot problem with ease.
...
Is $339,000 For This Green Solar-Roof Home In Chicago Affordable?
by April Streeter, Gothenburg, Sweden on 07.31.08
Solar Verde is a planned 20-home community near Chicago's South Chicago Heights subdivision which is intended to have all zero energy homes as defined by the U.S. Department of Energy's Building America program. The first two zero energy houses at Solar Verde, now completed, are supposed to be reminiscent of mail-order, Sears catalog-style homes of the early 20th century, except their solar roof panels, on-demand water heating, heat pump and high-efficiency building materials mean the homes should pay you back with significant energy bill savings.
Net zero electric bills?
The $339,000 price tag for the home is higher than Chicago's recent median of $262,000, and at 1,595 square feet it's also less roomy (U.S. median = 2,400 sq. ft.) than some would like, though with three bedrooms, 2.5 baths and a full basement. The sales pitch for the homes is that the photovoltaic systems can reduce electric bills to zero and avoid release of nearly 11,500 pounds of carbon dioxide annually, as well as around 40 pounds of SO2 and 30 pounds of NOx that would be emitted if coal-generated energy was used in a newly-built home.
Integrated 4 kilowatt solar roof panels
The homes' solar roof panels are a standard feature designed to provide most or all the energy and power a typical family would require, with a net metering system to feed excess to the grid when the sun shines as well as allow for owners to get all the electricity they need in winter and other low-sun periods. According to Solar Verde's builders, the solar rooftop tiles alone would run around $10,000 per kilowatt, or $40,000 for the 4 kW system. But the homes have a host of other features to make them energy efficient....
TreeHugger Tip: Tim Ferriss on Commuting in San Francisco
by Chris Tackett, San Francisco on 07.31.08
Bangladesh’s Landmass is Growing Yearly, But Gains from Sediment Deposits Will be Overtaken by Sea Level Rise
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 07.31.08
Rickshaws driving through flooded Dhaka, Bangladesh streets. Photo by Shahid Sarker.
Put this one in your “life’s cruel ironies” file.
20 Square Kilometers Per Year Gained...
The BBC is reporting that researchers in Bangladesh say that their nation is actually getting larger by about 20 square kilometers a year. Sediments washed down the Ganges, Brahmaputra and numerous other rivers of Bangladesh each year are deposited in the delta which forms most of Bangladesh’s landmass. Only about one-third of all sediment actually makes it into the Bay of Bengal. By 2060 Bangladesh could be up to 1000 sq. kilometers larger at this rate of deposition.
...
Breathing in Beijing: An Emergency Anti-Smog Plan, Rainmaking, and New Words for Pollution
by Alex Pasternack, New York, NY on 07.31.08
An Environmental Protection Bureau van checks air quality near the Water Cube
After over a week of mixed pollution, Beijing today outlined emergency measures for fighting smog during the Olympics, potentially expanding what is already the world's grandest pollution experiment. Under "extremely unfavorable weather conditions," like hot, humid air without the winds needed to disperse pollution, the government may enact further restrictions on factories and cars in Beijing and the nearby city of Tianjin as well as surrounding Hebei Province -- in total a region of more than 91 million people.
Instead of removing 90 percent of cars, as proposed earlier this week -- or erecting an enormous fan, as has not yet been publically proposed -- the rules would maintain the existing alternate-day car restrictions (on even-numbered days, only license plates ending in an even number are allowed to drive) with a further 10 percent reduction: if your license plate number ends in the current date, you'll need to grab a bike, a bus, a Segway, or ride the city's newly expanded network.
While the odd-even restriction may be too harsh for most people to swallow on a regular basis, the current date rule sounds like a more practical long-term idea. But are cars really to blame? ...
A “Giant Leap” For Clean Energy: Hydrogen Production Breakthrough from MIT
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 07.31.08
graphic of hydrogen bonds (in green) between oxygen (red) and hydrogen (white): Focus
One problem with wind and solar power is that for either to be able to provide a round-the-clock source of reliable power, you need some sort of back up power source. Or you need to have some way of storing the excess energy produced during the day for use at night or when the wind isn’t blowing. Well, though it’s a long way from being commercially deployed, a new development by MIT chemist Daniel Nocera may bring the holy grail of renewable energy storage a bit closer to hand.
...
Three TreeHugger Picks Win Design Awards
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 07.31.08
Three projects previously profiled on TreeHugger have won design awards from the Ontario Association of Architects, perhaps indicating that green ideas in architecture are becoming more mainstream, or that my taste in architecture is not as bad as so many commenters suggest. Only one of the three was overtly green and going for LEED certification; the other two had green aspects that I admired. I love the Credit Valley Hospital addition by the Farrow Partnership because of it's remarkable use of wood. See more at Study Proves Good Design Means Healthier Patients...
UK Technology Writer Takes His Electronics Off-Grid
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 07.31.08
Image Credit Danny Bird @ PC Pro/Dennis Publishing
British technology writer and TreeHugger emeritus Matthew Sparkes faced a challenge- could he run all of his technology on solar and wind power, even in gloomy London? It turned into an interesting demonstration of how far technology has come but how far it has yet to go.
Matt started with an advantage- he is a crazed cyclist, usually doing 15 or 20 miles a day on his fixie. That was enough time for a HYmini wind turbine fastened to his handlebars to half-fill his phone. (Although I must say that I think it is possibly one of the dumbest uses of wind-power; someone should take the old-fashioned generators that rubbed on the wheel of the bike and hook that up to a detachable battery pack or charger; I suspect that you would get a lot more power out of it.) The HYmini uses both wind and solar, so Matt was able to put it on his windowsill and get even more out of it.
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180,000 Square Miles of the Bering Sea Made Off Limits to Destructive Bottom Trawling
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 07.31.08
The Bering Sea isn’t exactly the easiest spot on the planet to fish, regardless of the technology used. This photo, by Nick Myers, shows just what sort of waves can occur in the Bering.
There’s no denying the fact that the world’s fisheries are endangered because of overfishing. In the eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean bluefin tuna are severely threatened, and the story is the same for many other commercial fish stocks. The pressure of too many boats, with too much technology, chasing too few animals could well be fatal to the world’s oceans.
A Total Area of Ocean Five Times That of California Now Protected
ENN brings us the good news is that from August 25th of this year, 180,000 square miles of the Bering Sea will be off-limits to one of the most indiscriminate, destructive forms of commercial fishing: Bottom trawling.
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Battleground Earth Sneak Peek: Electronic Recyclers International
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 07.31.08
E-Waste is a Growing Problem
It's not that often that you can see a TV show that includes the recycling of electronics in the plot, but Battleground Earth (Thursdays at 8pm Eastern on TLC) isn't just any regular ol' show. In episode #9, Tommy Lee and Ludacris will tackle an e-waste problem in Downtown LA with the help of Electronic Recyclers International (ERI), the largest e-waste recycler in the US with over 170 million pound per year (we wrote about them a couple of years ago)....
Anchorage, Alaska, to Install 16,000 LED Streetlights. Will Save $360,000 per Year.
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 07.31.08
LED Streetlights in Anchorage, Alaska
We told you that LED streetlights were coming. The latest town to get them is Anchorage, Alaska. The municipality, along with Cree, Inc, a maker of LED lights, are planning to change 16,000 municipal roadway lights with high-efficiency LED fixtures (about 1/4 of total streetlights).
Bigger Benefits Up North
Because Anchorage has 85 days a year with less than 8 hours of daylight, any benefit over the tradition lighting architecture are compounded. Read on for technical benefits of LED streetlights....
Pine Ridge Reservation Radio Station KILI-FM Brings Its Renewable Energy Vision to Life
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 07.31.08
KILI-FM radio station’s new wind turbine. Photo by Keri Pickett
While most of the projects we post about are in the biggest and best category, sometimes small first steps are just as meaningful. This is one such step.
Wind Turbine to Entirely Power Lakota Radio Station
Later today 90.1 KILI-FM, located on the Pine Ridge Reservation in Porcupine, South Dakota, will dedicate the installation of a single wind turbine which will entirely power the station through renewable energy. The turbine dedication also marks the station’s 25th anniversary as the largest Indian radio station, and the “Voice of the Lakota People.” Expected to produce more than 92 MWh of electricity annually, the turbine will save the radio station $12,000 in energy costs.
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Miley Cyrus' Green Teen Scene, Matt Damon's Eco-Mission, Gossip Girl Goes Green, and More
by Terri MacLeod on 07.31.08
...Like it or not, Miley is suddenly the poster girl for the next generation's green scene. The tween superstar (who is all of 15) told me recently she's dedicated to being a positive eco-role model through her music and lifestyle. ...This week, Miley set-up her first eBay charity auction. She donated stuff from her closet, jewelry box, autographed photos, and a meet and greet with her -- which sold for close to $17 thousand. ....In total, Miley raised over $58 thousand to benefit her children's charity.
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Three US West Coast Governors 'United In Opposition To Offshore Drilling'
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 07.31.08
The oil lobby easily sways the US Federal government. Congress is wet lacustrine clay in their lobbyist-stained hand. West Coast governors: not so malleable; and, more practical. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, a Republican, joined with Democratic Govs. Ted Kulongoski of Oregon and Chris Gregoire of Washington to reaffirm their opposition to opening undersea oil fields to new drilling, as part of an elaborate action plan for preserving coastal waters.Healthy fishing and tourism industries have a high net present value that accrues directly to residents of the three states (covering the entire US West Coast). Oil leases contribute less, and pose a risk to existing industries. We might call the three West Coast Governors the "anti-cartel." Their stand is more like delta-Nigerian than Washington DC-ian: looking out for the direct interests of their constituents. US Gulf Coast State Governors are, in comparison, seemingly much more compliant. Via::LAT, 3 West Coast governors oppose new offshore oil drilling...
2000 Megawatt Wyoming Wind Farm to Produce Power for Southern California, Las Vegas, Arizona
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 07.31.08
photo by Cory Grunkemeyer
Though it is earlier in the development process than yesterday’s announced 909 MW Oregon wind farm—which, yes, is smaller than T. Boone Pickens’ 4000 MW behemoth, but since it’s farther along the road to actually being built can claim the world record at the moment—a new massive wind project proposal may be bringing more clean energy to Southern California, Las Vegas and Phoenix, Arizona.
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US Bootprints On The Ground...Out Of The Heart Of Climate Darkness
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 07.31.08
Camel soldiering, a very old British military tactic in the Middle East, is not a a real option for modern armies.. Apologies in advance, though, to Joseph Conrad and T. E. Lawrence for the metaphor. The [Army's] goal is to bring Army emissions of climate-warming carbon dioxide down by 30 percent by 2015, said Tad Davis, deputy assistant secretary for environment, safety and occupational health.As reported by Reuters, a majority of Middle Eastern, forward-base energy consumption is from air conditioning of tents. Air conditioned tents. And they are looking into spraying insulating foam on the tents, prompting the questions: would the Iraq war still be on without Air Conditioned Tents; and how long will the foam last?...
Shambala Festival: Costumes, Coaches and Compost Toilets
by Sami Grover, Carrboro, NC, USA on 07.31.08
From Coachella putting on its own train to Summercase’s reusable cups, it seems like every music festival is doing something to be a little cleaner and a little greener this summer. One festival that’s been doing its bit for a while now, but not necessarily shouting about it, is Shambala in the UK (Full disclosure: I was previously involved in organising a permaculture education area at Shambala 05 & 06). Besides a rigorous recycling policy, which seems to have become the norm among UK festivals, Shambala also uses funds from car parking to subsidise coach travel from around the country; offers secure bike parking and an organized mass bike ride; stipulates biodegradable serving utensils for vendors, and encourages vegetarian, vegan, organic, and “happy animal” caterers - there's even a bike-powered smoothy maker. Delving into Shambala’s sustainability policies a little further , it turns out that the festival also has the largest fleet of composting toilets in the country:
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The Pickens Plan and T. Boone Pickens Water Rights Grab, Video Recap
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 07.31.08
Testing the Torqeedo Electric Outboard Motor
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 07.31.08
Survey: Do You Support Fluoridation?
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 07.31.08
It is really about trust; The government and the scientists have been saying for years that fluoride is great and reduces cavities, while there have always been those opposed to putting chemicals in our water and particularly object to fluoride. But nobody objects to iodizing salt or adding vitamin D to milk; where is the dividing line between positive intervention and poison?
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Spain to Cut Speed Limit, Give Out 49m CFLs and Build 1m Electric Cars
by Sami Grover, Carrboro, NC, USA on 07.31.08
Spain Announces Major Energy Saving Plans
This is one of those stories that sounds almost too radical to be true. We’ve already noted that bringing back the 55 mph speed limit could do a lot to reduce gas consumption and cut CO2 emissions, but usually when the idea is discussed we hear from numerous commenters that it would be political suicide. Spain’s government might not agree, as it has apparently just announced a raft of incredibly ambitious measures to help tackle global warming, including cutting the speed limit to 50mph, but that's just the beginning. According to The Guardian, other actions to be undertaken between now and 2014 include handing out 49 million low energy light bulbs, limiting AC use in public buildings to 26C (79F) and introducing a pilot program for the manufacture of 1m electric or hybrid cars! (Of course Spain is already a powerhouse for solar energy projects.) It seems the Spaniards are going to be busy.
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Allie Hosts the Carnival, JUNKraft Hits Top Speed, Natalie Portman on Project Runway, Petz on The Canary Project, Danny Seo on Whole Living
by Leonora Oppenheim, London, UK on 07.31.08
Allie's Answers: Carnival of the Green #138 by Allie
"I am so excited to be hosting Carnival of the Green #138. I moved my column from CelebCause.com over to start Allie’s Answers on July 31, 2007, and immediately signed up to host Carnival of the Green. My hosting date seemed so far off, and I worried I’d run out of eco-friendly things to talk about before I made it to my first blogiversary. But here I am, a year later, full of ideas, excited to move forward into year two."
JUNK: JUNKraft flying along, launch revisited by Anna Cummins
"As of 9:30 tonight, JUNK was forging ahead at top speeds (relative, of course), possibly making today another record mileage day. Last night, she hit record speeds - 3.2 knots - a 58 mile day. I asked Marcus how JUNK performs at high speed. Other than some new and strange bottle crunching noises, she apparently does just fine!"...
Battleground Earth Gets Wild (Not Wet) at the Car Wash
by Jessica Root - Brooklyn, NY on 07.31.08
You might not see girls in thongs getting all hot and sudsy as they wash down corvettes (a la 90’s-style music videos), but you will see another sort of car wash going down in an episode of Planet Green’s Battleground Earth—a waterless car wash that is.
Is it true? Have Tommy Lee and Luda traded in their bad boy ways and cute music video girls for a responsible, greener way of life where water conservation becomes sexier than lathered up babes? Find out after the jump!...
Green Patriotism Bus Ads Prompts Americans to Address Climate Change
by Petz Scholtus, Barcelona, Spain on 07.31.08
Canaries were once used to warn miners of deadly methane levels. The Canary Project is about exactly that: warning us of severe changes to come. Using visual media and art works, the Canary Project spreads public understanding of climate change and supports those who commit to find solutions.
One of their latest projects is the Green Patriot Bus Ads, designed by world-famous, Cleveland-born artist Michael Bierut. This month, more than 60 buses were released into the streets of Cleveland to encourage what they call “Green Patriotism”. The latter can be describes as a new form of environmentalism, where “one sees action to address climate change as an imperative to protect both the American and world economies. This is an environmentalism of strength and unity.”...
Etsy Debuts Handmade Kids Series, Treehugger Reviews
by Bonnie Alter, London on 07.31.08
Etsy invited TreeHugger to write about their favorite green baby items in the Handmade Kids series; clothes and accessories made for children by independent designers. Etsy is that wonderful website that features all things handmade to buy and sell by artists and artisans. We were delighted to find so many interesting, well-designed and hip, if you can use that word for a baby, items that are environmental, and ecological as well. While it is true that charity shops are a major resource for finding good recycled clothing and toys, there are so many adorable things made out of recycled and reused products on the market.
There is something about soft floppy toys that makes the maternal instincts go all sentimental. This recycled and irresistible animal, Sam by name (pictured), sports a blue striped wool pullover, made from an old sweater. He is made out of soft angora which is gentle to baby's cheek. Another one is made of recycled old sweaters with mis-matched patterns stitched together like a patchwork quilt. It comes complete with an inner tube for swimming (how seasonal).
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South Korea To Combat Energy Waste
by greenz.jp, Tokyo, Japan on 07.31.08
(Image from Arirang of ice-cold peach punch served in Seoul to help people beat the summer heat)
South Korea is coming up with innovative ways to deal with the current energy crisis. According to Arirang News, the country is fed up with electric appliances that waste energy while they are shut off.
According to Korea Energy Management Corporation electricity spent as standby power occupies 11 percent of the total consumed in Korean households every year. That comes to W500 billion (US$1=W1,009) and 850,000 kilowatts per year -- enough to power the city of Incheon for a year. To stop electricity waste from next month, the Ministry of Knowledge Economy plans to enforce the use of a yellow label on products that spend more than 1 watt in standby mode. On the other hand products that satisfy the government's standard can get a "saves energy" tag, letting customers know they will save energy and money if they buy it. Currently the system is applied only to devices that consume a lot of standby power but it will be extended to all electric products in two years.The Korean government promotes energy conservation in the face of the surge in oil prices. Earlier in July, over 800 public organizations are required to use an alternating driving day system. The government has enforced a two-day driving system in the past to reduce traffic. Elevators, decorative lighting and temperature control systems will also be limited. Prime Minister Han said that energy-saving is now a matter of survival rather than choice and that public officials should set an example of conservation with a goal of cutting down energy use by 10 percent. ...
Wizard's Gil Arena's Pool Is A Monument To Excess
by Kristin Underwood, Sacramento, CA on 07.30.08
Image courtesy of DC Sports Bog
We aren’t even going to pretend that there is anything green about this picture – isn’t it amazing what human ingenuity can come up with these days! Gilbert Arenas, point guard for the Washington Wizards, just built a pool/mountain combo in his backyard that will cost upwards of…wait for it… One. Millllion. Dollars.
Granted, things are more expensive in the Capital, but we’ve got to ask ourselves, does anyone need this? It’ll probably host one kick-ass party, but when is something over the top? Particularly something that you can only use a few months out of the year – remember this is just northwest of Washington, DC. ...
Biking Across America: Day 4, Wind
by Carson Poe and Eric Plosky, Boston, MA on 07.30.08
Community Environmental Health Toolkit Now Available Online
by Kristin Underwood, Sacramento, CA on 07.30.08
A Community Guide To Environmental Health (Guide), published by Hesperian and now available online, is one of the most comprehensive guides empowering communities to deal with environmental health issues in the 21st century. The Guide has taken over a decade to develop as researchers scoured the globe for the best practices. The examples come from the help and input of over 300 communities in over 33 countries. ...
Researchers Develop Chlorine-Tolerant Membrane for Easy Desalination
by Jeremy Elton Jacquot, Los Angeles on 07.30.08
Record droughts, falling water tables and the rapid depletion of aquifers have helped make desalination, a process once considered impractical and too expensive, a viable technology -- at least in some places. As such, there has been a rash of stories -- both here and elsewhere in the blogosphere/traditional media (The Economist featured an excellent special report a few weeks ago) -- in recent months dealing with the construction of new desalination facilities and the unveiling of innovative membrane technologies.
A team of researchers from the University of Texas at Austin and Virginia Tech University has developed a chlorine-tolerant membrane that could simplify desalination and bring it within the reach of many drought-stricken regions. ...
The Empire Strikes Black: McCain Leads Team of Saturn Oil Prospectors
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 07.30.08
Bigfoot lake of oil on Titan
John McCain wants to drill, drill, drill; oil execs tell him that it will bring the price down quickly. In fact, he credits President Bush just talking about drilling with reducing the price ten bucks a barrel. Here is the best opportunity ever- according to Wired, scientists have just discovered a lake of petroleum on Titan, a moon of Saturn. They call it Ontario Lacus because it is the size of Lake Ontario, but are looking for a less foreign alternative. And you don't even need a drill; just a big bucket.
The McCain team is planning a photo op with John McCain Reveals He’s a Nuclear Power NIMBY
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 07.30.08
5 Ways the NYT Science Columnist Distorts the Facts
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 07.30.08
Victor Koen in New York Times
Welcome Diggers! If you like this article, subscribe to our RSS feeds or newsletter so you can get our stories in your inbox. We have RSS feeds for each of our categories to suit your needs and interests.
We have heard of climate deniers and chemical industry defenders, but now John Tierney of The New York Times joins the ranks of the Everything Deniers. In his recent piece entitled "10 things to scratch from your worry list", Tierney tries to debunk some current issues that have consumers concerned. While his piece may have been written with tongue firmly planted in cheek, it is already making the rounds of the web with introductions like "The New York Times give you the lowdown on ten things that you shouldn’t bother worrying about on your vacation."
Well be worried, very worried. This may all be a joke to Tierney, but the truth is some of these issues are areas of real concern and because of this piece, his misinformation will be quoted back to us in comments every time we write about any of these subjects for the next two years, as the word from The authoritative New York Times. To help push back against some of his inaccurate comments, we tackle a few:...
Important U.S. Renewable Energy Incentive Package Still Stalled in Senate
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 07.30.08
photo: Getty Images
A month ago we wrote how an important piece of renewable energy legislation was stalled in Congress. As of this afternoon, it is still stalled.
Only Nine More Votes Needed to Move Bill Forward
The bill, which needed 60 votes to move forward, only garnered 51 votes of support, with 43 opposed. What has been, at least temporarily, set aside by lawmakers is an eight-year extension of renewable energy production tax credits, tax credits for development of carbon capture and storage technologies, as well as a one-year extension of production tax credits for certain biofuels....
One Small Step for Concentrator Photovoltaics, One Bigger Step for SolFocus
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 07.30.08
image (not of the actual Spanish project): SolFocus
While it may be big news for its developer, in the overall scheme of things, this definitely goes down in the small step category: California-based SoLFocus has announced the completion of the initial phase of the world’s “first full scale concentrator photovoltaic solar power plant”. How big is this world’s first? The first phase is 200 kilowatts, with subsequent phases increasing its size to 500 kilowatts.
The facility is owned by the Spanish Institute of Concentration Photovoltaic Systems (ISFOC, from its Spanish name) and, according to SolFocus is intended to demonstrate the high efficiency and cost-reduction potential of the technology. Which makes me wonder if this really is a full scale concentrator photovoltaic solar power plant. Hmmm.
Touting the project SofFocus CEO Gary Conley said, “Completing this first stage of the ISFOC project marks a major milestone for SolFocus, and for concentrator photovoltaics in general, on our way towards achieving grid parity for renewable energy."...
Battleground Earth Sneak Peek: Evolution Biodiesel
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 07.30.08
One of the benefits of biodiesel is that if you have access to a good source of feedstock, you can make your own. So if you have access to waste vegetable oil (from restaurants, say) and have a diesel vehicle, you can have your very own fuel refinery in your garage.
That's pretty much what Tommy Lee and Ludacris did in Battleground Earth, when they stopped in Dallas to learn how to turn used frying oil into biodiesel. With help from Evolution Biodiesel, they went head-to-head in the "Fast Fuel" Challenge, where they turned waste vegetable oil from fast food restaurants into biodiesel. Who won the biofuel smackdown? Tune in to find out......
Orangutans' Fingers Mutilated by Oil Palm Plantation Workers: More on the Ape-Palm Oil Connection
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 07.30.08
photo: Getty Images
We’ve written about the connections between deforestation, the possible extinction of the orangutan, and the expansion of plantation-based palm oil production a number of times. So often in fact that I apologize if some readers think it’s too much. However, if humans allow the orangutan to go extinct, all because we can’t get our collective act together and find a better way to cultivate oil palms and halt deforestation in Indonesia, it will be undeniably a low day for our species.
Currently, Plenty Magazine has a piece with a good description of what’s going on in Indonesia and how the Orangutan is being increasingly put at risk. Some choice quotes: ...
Can Coke Save Lives?
by Christine Lepisto, Berlin on 07.30.08
image credit: Tielmann, on Flickr
Did you ever ponder the irony that a Coke can be bought just about anywhere on earth, but we cannot succeed to save the dying children of our own species with inexpensive medications for diarrhea and other illnesses? Simon Berry did. He is campaigning to convince the Coca-Cola Company to put its mighty and extensive distribution network to use in delivering life-saving medications and information in developing countries, maybe by "dedicating one compartment in every 10 crates as 'the life saving' compartment." Coca-cola is listening....
Retro Green: Video of Jack Nicholson's 1978 Hydrogen Car
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 07.30.08
Congress Will Do USEPAs Job: Reduce Childhood Exposure To Phthalates In Toys
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 07.30.08
The USEPA has, for decades, had the laws, regulations, and administrative systems needed to effectively manage hazardous chemicals. In recent years, however, EPA has been paralyzed by lobbying and political interventions: acceding it's once proud leadership role to the European Union. The EU REACH program is about to widen that chasm, and the US Congress is reacting now...belatedly, and piecemeal. Congressional negotiators agreed yesterday to a ban on a family of toxins found in children's products, handing a major victory to parents and health experts who have been clamoring for the government to remove harmful chemicals from [vinyl] toys.If history is any guide, a Presidential veto will be threatened. A US phthalate maker, ExxonMobil Chemical Company, has been one of the principal opponents of Congressional intervention in the issue....
Canadian Picture Frame TV Channel Burns Up Screens
by Kristin Underwood, Sacramento, CA on 07.30.08
We all miss those vacations where we did nothing but leave the windows open to the beach and gazed longingly into the lapping surf, or slept under the stars while camping and listening to the crickets, or sang Christmas carols in front of a crackling fire. Ahhh, vacation. But, having an entire channel of background ambiance just to try to recreate that 'on vacation' feeling sort of misses the mark.
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Adding Fungi to the Ethanol Production Process Could Reduce Energy Costs by One-Third, Iowa State Researchers Claim
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 07.30.08
photo by Jess Johnson
Though I’m not an evangelist for biofuels by any means—using food crops to make fuels to feed our addiction to the automobile will likely go down as one of the biggest missteps in the green revolution—but some new research done at Iowa State University may at least reduce the energy required to produce ethanol.
According to professor Hans van Leeuwen, “The process could change ethanol production in dry-grind plants so much that energy costs can be reduced by as much as one-third.” Engineer Live has more details on this research:
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First "Transition Local Authority" Established: Local Government vs. Peak Oil
by Sami Grover, Carrboro, NC, USA on 07.30.08
Author's Note: Readers from Somerset will have to forgive the perpetuation of stereotypes represented by this image. As a North Somerset boy and a cider-drinker, I couldn't help myself...
From virtual orchards to city-wide peak oil planning, we keep returning to the concept of Transition Towns, and with good reason – the way that the movement is sweeping the UK, and now the world, is a tremendous example of how communities can begin to tackle the twin threats of climate change and peak oil. Now we hear from Rob Hopkins that a small, but tremendously significant, step has just been taken in this unfolding story – Somerset County Council, in the South-West of England, has officially become the first “Transition Local Authority”, thereby pledging to support its citizens in their transition efforts while also making moves to cut its own fossil fuel use. The full text of the council’s motion can be read below:
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The Diaspora of Food
by Stephen Brooks, Punta Mona, Costa Rica on 07.30.08
Stephen Brooks is the co-founder of Kopali Organics and a correspondent for Planet Green’s G Word .
Isn’t it crazy to think that everything we eat or use that comes from plants at one time grew completely wild? That’s right, rice, corn, beans, cotton, oranges, tomatoes… everything came from somewhere on the earth and grew there wild. It’s somewhat hard to believe. ...
World’s Largest Onshore Wind Farm (909 Megawatts) to be Built in Oregon
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 07.30.08
Recently, when I was lamenting all the ‘world’s biggest, best, baddest, shiniest’ PR in the renewable energy world, this next project is exactly the type of facility I was not talking about.
Shepherd's Flat Wind Farm Approved
The Portland Business Journal brings us the news that Oregon has given permitting approval to what will become the world’s largest onshore wind farm: the Shepherd’s Flat Wind Farm. Developed by the Sacramento, California firm Caithness Shepherds Flat LLC, the planned facility will consist of 303 wind turbines with a combined installed capacity of 909 megawatts. It will be located on private land five miles southeast of Arlington. No word on when construction is scheduled to begin or when the wind farm may come online.
While individually still a drop in the vast bucket of overall U.S. electrical demand, this development is of such a scale—the Shepherd’s Flat Wind Farm would slightly more than double Oregon’s wind capacity—that the phrase ‘world’s largest’ doesn’t seem ridiculous.
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Lotus Wind-Powered Car Factory Approved
by Sami Grover, Carrboro, NC, USA on 07.30.08
Turbine Planning Decision Overturned
The Lotus car company announced that it was planning to install wind turbines at its plant in Norfolk, UK, way back in the early part of 2007. Since then it’s been a rocky road, with anti-wind groups resorting to misinformation to fight the project, but now our friends at Ecotricity, Lotus’ partners in this project, inform us that planning permission has finally been approved, despite the local council previously turning the project down. Dale Vince, CEO of Ecotricity, had this to say:
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Solar Cell Expo Opens In Tokyo
by greenz.jp, Tokyo, Japan on 07.30.08
On July 30-August 1 there will be an international exhibition showcasing state-of-the-art solar cell technology at Makuhari near Tokyo. Over 200 companies from 10 countries are taking part in the event promoting solar power generation. NHK notes that demand for solar cells has been on the rise worldwide since they do not produce any greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide when generating energy.
At the PV Japan Expo, visitors will see products on display including solar batteries made with crystalline silicon and thin film that can be used in windowpanes. Also on exhibit are solar cells made with materials such as copper and pigments that effectively absorb sunshine. Keynote speakers include Isao Yukawa, Charles Gay, Tadao Kazuno, and Stanley Myers.
This year, Germany's leading solar cell maker Q-Cells AG is displaying its latest products. Q-Cells AG became the world's leading producer of solar cells in 2007, surpassing Japan's Sharp Corporation. Q-Cell recently announced that they are stepping up its activities in Asia, with a new PV sales branch in Japan....
Canadian Report Urges Cuts in Children's Fluoride Exposure
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 07.30.08
Anti-fluoridation T-shirt
Whenever we write about bottled water or toothpaste, we get deluged with comments from anti-fluoridation Survey: Will You Watch The Olympics?
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 07.30.08
It is everywhere in the news and on TreeHugger. Is it green enough? Is the air clean enough? Have they whitewashed Beijing enough? But the question of the moment is:
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RE:Fashion - Ethical Fashion Awards Call For Entries
by Leonora Oppenheim, London, UK on 07.30.08
We mentioned RE:Fashion in last week's TH Blog Love round up, but we think these upcoming ethical fashion awards also deserve a TreeHugger page of their own. The event, originally conceived as RE:Fashion by Cyndi Rhoades of Anti-Apathy, has now evolved from a showcase of ethical fashion to a full blown glittering awards ceremony in collaboration with Ethical Fashion Forum and Futerra, celebrating all aspects of this rapidly growing industry. The ceremony will be held in London on November 13th 2008 and has been described as "the world's first dedicated awards for ethical fashion".
The aim of RE:Fashion is to help take ethical fashion into the mainstream industry. Important fashion figures such as Hilary Alexander - Fashion Editor of The Telegraph, Jane Shepherdson, Ozwald Boateng and Zhandra Rhodes, have been invited to partner the event. Anti-Apathy say that the ambition of these ethical fashion awards is to "transform social and environmental standards in the fashion industry within a decade." The call has been put out for entries in several categories and with the deadline of August 20th drawing near it's time to get nominating......
Battleground Earth Sneak Peek: Tommy Lee and Ludacris Go Solar
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 07.30.08
Q: What do you get when you take Tommy Lee and Ludacris and add solar power? A: The setting for the first episode of Battleground Earth -- airing Thursdays at 8pm Eastern on TLC -- where the two musicians battle it out to see who's greener.
In the first episode, Tommy Lee and Ludacris duke it out in the "Raise the Roof" Challenge, which pits the green rivals (and their 'ecorages') in a race to see who can successfully raise the roof on a Solar LifePort -- complete with solar photovoltaic panels from Suntech Solar Technology -- in the least amount of time. Oh, and sabotage is allowed.
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Community Fruit Harvesting: not far from the tree
by Bonnie Alter, London on 07.30.08
How many times have you walked by a tree weeping with unpicked fruit that has been left to rot on the tree and the ground and thought--what a waste? not far from the tree is a new local Toronto organisation that ensures that fruit in one small section of the city doesn’t go uneaten. The idea behind it is so ingenious and generous that it brings joy to every community-minded person. When fruit tree owners can’t harvest their bounty, not far from the tree sends out a team of volunteers to do it for them. Then one third of the collection goes to the fruit tree owners, another third goes to the volunteers for their labour, and the final third is distributed (by bicycle or cart) to community organizations in the neighbourhood who can make good use of the fresh fruit. So far they have harvested 494 pounds of fruit from residential gardens. How fabulous is that.
To add to the love, they have linked up with a local museum that has a demonstration vegetable garden and orchard on its grounds. Since it is a Victoriana museum, much of the produce is heirloom varieties. The extra is taken, by bicycle of course, to a local saturday market where it is sold, with the proceeds going back to the Museum's orchards. This is such a wonderful model: locally grown food, recycling, slow food miles, avoiding waste, saving food, community involvement and charitable acts. What more is there to say but bravo! :: not far from the tree
More on Eating Local Food
:: Eat the Season
:: Eating Local Food
:: Preserving the Local Harvest...
Moving Companies In Los Angeles Offer Low-Carbon Options
by Kristin Underwood, Sacramento, CA on 07.29.08
In a city with close to 10 million residents, Los Angeles just got a few new entrants into the moving arena that will not only cater to your every need but also do it with the smallest carbon footprint possible. Northstar Moving and Go Green Moving both offer diesel trucks and a variety of other packages to move you from one office or residence to another all while keeping it real green....
UGA Develops Fast, Eco-Friendly Biomass Treatment to Greatly Increase Biofuel Yield
by Jeremy Elton Jacquot, Los Angeles on 07.29.08
Not another day goes by that we don't hear about the latest new-fangled or revolutionary biofuel breakthrough. It used to be that those discoveries didn't mean much, practically speaking, as there weren't yet many firm plans laid out to build second-generation biofuel production facilities.
Now, with cellulosic ethanol and biodiesel plants sprouting up around the country, many of these innovations may finally come in handy. A team of researchers from the University of Georgia has just developed a new technology that will surely be welcomed by the new breed of biofuel entrepreneurs: a biomass pretreatment process that could boost ethanol production yields by at least ten-fold. ...
Dragon88 Launches Recycled, Reusable Bag Line
by Kristin Underwood, Sacramento, CA on 07.29.08
Images courtesy of Dragon88.
Step one. Get rid of the paper/plastic bags. Step 2. Get a canvas/reusable bag. Step 3. Get a recycled, reusable bag. Dragon88, known for their home and hospitality furniture design, which is not currently eco, is launching into the wide world of green by designing a product to take care of some of our trash. Their new recycled, reusable bags come in a variety of fun colors and four different styles/sizes to fit the urban lifestyle....
Quiet Hero Spring '09 Line Sneak Preview
by Kristin Underwood, Sacramento, CA on 07.29.08
Images courtesy of Quiet Hero.
Quiet Hero, a San Diego based clothing company sprang onto the scene in 2007 and has not stopped running. Their tshirts are quickly gaining interest in boutiques across the US. With themes like "Art you can ride a tiger in" these shirts definitely add something different to your wardrobe and a little punch to your closet....
Panda Baby-Boom! 4 Cubs Born Within 14 Hours
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 07.29.08
Everybody knows that Giant Pandas are endangered and that they are -- to say the least -- not very prolific when it comes to reproduction. So it is a very good news indeed to learn that four cubs were born in the Chengdu Panda Breeding Research Centre, southwest Sichuan province, in China.
There are three mothers: Nine-year-old Qiyuan gave birth to a pair of twin female cubs late Saturday, then about an hour later 8 years old Chenggong ("success") gave birth to another cub. And finally, Zhuzhu, also 8 years of age, gave birth on Sunday, all within 14 hours. See here for previous photos of a baby panda growing up (can't get enough of those), and Meet the Pandas at Animal Planet. Via Baby boom at China panda centre...
EEStor Announces Something Important. I Think.
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 07.29.08
I am always at a loss for what to illustrate a post on EEStor with, the magic ultracapacitor that is so near and yet so far. I even resorted to a grilled cheese analogy once.
Today they announced something important. I think. They issued a press release that says "EEStor, Inc. has achieved success on one of its most critical technical milestones and that is the certification of the completeness of the powder crystallization of the constituents utilized in producing its CMBT powders. The percent of the constituents crystallized in the CMBT powders ranged from 99.57% to 100.00% with the average being 99.92%. This level of crystallization provides the path for the possibility of EEStor, Inc. providing the published energy storage for present products and major advancements in energy storage for future products."...
Transportation Secretary Wants To Rob Peter to Pay Paul
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 07.29.08
Gasoline tax revenues are dropping quickly as gas sales continue to plummet because of prices and the recession. Secretary of Transportation Mary Peters says that the federal government may not be able to meet its commitments to states for road projects already under way.
Her solution? From the New York Times:
"The secretary, Mary E. Peters, said the short-term solution would be for the Highway Trust Fund's highway account to borrow money from the fund's mass transit account, a step that would balance the accounts as highway travel declines and use of mass transit increases. Both trends are being driven by the high price of gasoline and diesel fuel."
So if you don't have the money to fix the roads, you will take it from mass transit, which is the real solution to the problem. Only in America. ::New York Times via ::Grist image: Salon
More Mary Peters in TreeHugger:
US Secretary of Transportation says Bikes "are not transportation ...
New Infrastructure Woes: Gas Tax Bringing In Less Money :
New Lanes for Reckless Drivers Coming Soon...
Homemade Hair Care, Stuffed Zucchini Blossoms and Solar Mobile
by Jessica Root - Brooklyn, NY on 07.29.08
:: Lather up with a delicious smelling homemade shampoo and conditioner.
:: Sink your teeth into crunchy, chewy cheese Stuffed Zucchini Blossoms.
:: Before going entirely off-the-grid, start small with mobile devices.
:: Bring the kids to see WALL-E, Pixar's new eco-inspired animation.
:: Green-ify your home office....
Ah, Kipunji, We Hardly Knew You: Newly Discovered Monkey Already Threatened With Extinction
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 07.29.08
Kipunji drawing: National Science Foundation
Unknown to science until three years ago, the Kipunji—a three-foot tall, grayish brown monkey with a long tail and a black face which lives in the Southern Highlands and Udzungwa Mountains of Tanzania—has a population of slightly more than 1,000 individuals. According to the World Conservation Union the primate should be now classified as “critically endangered”. This means that the animals is likely to go extinct in the wild if immediate conservation action is not taken.
...
Battleground Earth, Starring Ludacris and Tommy Lee, Premieres Thursday on TLC
by Kara DiCamillo, Newport, Rhode Island on 07.29.08
Photo credit: Jordan Strauss/WireImage for Discovery
We’ve been waiting awhile for rock and rap to go head to head. And the time is finally here. This weekend the much anticipated Battleground Earth will premier starring Tommy Lee and Ludacris. Planet Green has challenged the two icons to join the newest trend in music: going green. They will go head to head in a battle against the toxic forces destroying Mother Earth as they travel across the United States on a 10-episode tour. With the help of their “ecorages” (aka: posses), various stars will assist them along the way as they work to get the word out about the environment.
So why is this going to be showdown?...
Cutting Cattails for Fuel? North Carolina Researchers Investigate Potential Ethanol Feedstock
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 07.29.08
photo by Sharon Mollerus
It really does seem like people will try to turn just about anything into ethanol these days. Recently we wrote about research into using kudzu as a feedstock for ethanol, as well as one businessman who is trying to commercialize 'kudzunol'. Another potential feedstock, abundant in some areas though nothing like the creeping kudzu carpet, which is being investigated is cattails.
...
Blowing Hot and Cold on Ground Source Heat Pumps
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 07.29.08
The people at Green Building Elements do their usual thorough explanation of GSHPs, or ground source heat pumps (which I still refuse to call geothermal) saying that :
-Geothermal (or ground source) heat pumps can be incredibly efficient, delivering 3-6x as much energy for heating and cooling as you use to power the equipment;
-They are in some ways a renewable energy system, since they use the heat contained in the earth to provide heating / cooling;
-They do require extensive installation work, including excavation or drilling to install subsurface pipes; and
-They are more expensive than traditional heating/cooling equipment, but the payback period is less than five years almost everywhere in the country due to their greater efficiency.
They have done a great job of explaining how they work but I have some issues with their summary....
Poo Power Expands: Vancouver-area Sewage Treatment Plant to Produce Biogas
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 07.29.08
In that wastewater is a plentiful potential energy source. At least that’s what some companies are hoping for. Photo by JL Johnson.
Waste-to-energy projects seem to be popping up more and more: A number of cities are experimenting with either waste-to-ethanol, waste gasification, or waste-to-electricity facilities. A recent report regaled us with the details of how cow manure could provide up to 3% of US electricity generation.
Some areas have investigated the power hidden in human excrement: A new project outside of Vancouver, British Columbia is one such facility hoping that poo power can displace at least a portion of fossil fuels. There's not too much solid on this one yet, in terms of actual performance, but here are the details:...
Lithium Iron Phosphate Breakthrough: Better Batteries for Hybrids and Electric Cars
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 07.29.08
Cheaper and more Powerful Batteries for Hybrids and Electric Cars
Scientific progress often moves in a seesaw pattern. You have a technology, you then discover a new one that is better in some aspects, and worse in others. Then you find out how to mitigate the downsides of that second technology, finally supplanting the first one, and so on.
Iron vs. Cobalt
It seems to be what is happening with lithium iron phosphate batteries. They have many benefits over the lithium cobalt oxide used in current li-ion batteries; iron costs much less than cobalt, they can deliver large bursts of power (useful in hybrids and electric cars), and they are safer (they are used in the One Laptop Per Child project, for example).
But, it's not all rainbows and puppies. The manufacturing process of iron phosphate batteries is complex and expensive, requiring hours and temperatures as high as 700 °C. That's where the breakthrough comes in......
Economic, Environmental Costs of Developing Tar Sands & Oil Shale "Unthinkable": WWF-UK
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 07.29.08
Photo from a tar sands protest action in Calgary, January 2008 by Steve Loo via flickr.
We’ve written so many times about the unmitigated environmental disaster that is tapping unconventional sources of oil, such as Canadian tar sands and US oil shales, that the subject may be old hat to many TreeHugger readers. That said, a new report from WWF-UK has summed up just how bad the environmental impact of these projects actually is, that it’s worth passing on.
"Unconventional Oil: Scraping the bottom of the barrel?" breaks down the environmental impacts into four areas: Climate Change, Boreal Forest, Water Intensity and Toxic Waste, and Communities. Here are the relevant statistics:
...
Ross Lovegrove's Solar Trees: The Sequel
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 07.29.08
When I first saw Ross Lovegrove's proposal for solar trees, I thought the same as Sami : "often such concepts remain just that – concepts", particularly in light of some of Lovegrove's nuttier ideas that we have shown. However as Sami noted, they have hit the streets and passed the test.
Now Lovegrove is working on the sequel, the second generation solar tree, in which "The branches will follow the sun, responding and adapting to the architectural environment, escaping the shadows and following the sun to optimize energy income."...
Big Surprise: The Cheaper the Power, the More We Use
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 07.29.08
Over at Worldchanging, Eric de Place of the Sightline Institute plots some interesting data, showing demonstrating that just like with cars and gas prices, the higher the price of electricity, the less people will use. But only to a point; residents of San Diego pay a lot more for electricity than those in Los Angeles, but their use is almost identical.
And sure, the power is a lot cheaper in Seattle and Eugene, Oregon, but what are they doing with it? One would think that the more temperate climate up there would mean lower consumption due to less need for air conditioning.
Can readers from Oregon or Washington explain this?...
Energy Saving Tip: Shade Your Air Conditioner For Up To A 10% Efficiency Improvement
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 07.29.08
Another Reason To Love Trees: Energy Efficiency
Planting a shade tree with just the right height and "habit" to keep the mid-day sun away from your air conditioner's out door compressor unit is an energy saver. If you have an air conditioner, shading the unit can increase its efficiency by as much as 10%.Via::USDOE, Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy Lab, Consumers Guide, Landscape Shading....
Number of the Day: 1,188.5 Billion
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 07.29.08
254.7 billion -- That's the number of miles traveled on all roads and streets in the US. That's a very high number, but it's the biggest drop for the month of May in the past 66 years since the statistics are compiled.
9.6 billion -- US citizens drove 9.6 billion fewer miles in May 2008 than in May 2007, or 3.7% less. Yet May usually means an increase in traffic because of Memorial Day vacations and the beginning of summer.
1,188.5 billion -- This is the cumulative number of 'vehicle miles traveled' so far in 2008. Compared to the same months last year, that's a drop of 2.4%. That might seem like a small drop, but if you look at the graph on the left, you'll see that the number of miles traveled usually goes up. This year it didn't just stop growing, it actually went down. This shows that fuel costs do have a big impact and that fossil fuel consumption isn't as 'inelastic' as some thought. Source: GCC...
Tata Promises An Electric Car (Not As Cheap As The Nano) In 12 Months...But Will It Beat Germany's BG?
by April Streeter, Gothenburg, Sweden on 07.29.08
photo of the gas-driven Indica by vm2827 @ flickr
At Tata Motors' annual general meeting this week chairman Ratan Tata told shareholders about an electric car partnership project with Norway, with the car to launch in Norway within the next 12 months, according to Swedish weekly Ny Teknik, and India afterward. Calcutta Telegraph said Tata will use its Indica platform for the development of its electric car, not the no-frills, $2,500 Nano, which is scheduled to start rolling off production lines in September. Tata is currently working on five prototypes of electric vehicles, the Telegraph said, with lithium-ion batteries and an approximate range of 200 kilometers. Indica is a full-size highway-ready car, but Tata hasn't said whether the Indica-based EV will also be full-sized or an NEV (neighborhood electric vehicle), or given price signals.
...
Nine Stories Makes Furniture From Car Panels
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 07.29.08
In this era where clunkers may be collected and SUVs may go straight off lease to the scrap yards, Furniture designers and manufacturers Nine Stories may be on to something: they make furniture out of car panels. "we are exploring the vast landscape of the american salvage yard to collect textures and colors that ony years of sun and rain can create."
Terrific slide show of how they work below the fold....
Coastal Drilling is Backward Thinking; Innovation is Our Future
by Greg Haegele, Deputy Executive Director, Sierra Cl on 07.29.08
Several events from the past couple of weeks once again make this fact appallingly clear: The Texas oil man in the White House is way behind the public when it comes to planning an energy future that's good for us and the planet -- and not just good for his pals in the fossil fuels biz. Of note:
-- On July 14, Bush lifted a presidential ban on drilling off U.S. coasts. His father put the moratorium in place by executive order in 1990, and it was extended to 2012 by President Clinton.
-- On July 23, Teamsters union General President Jim Hoffa announced at a press conference that the brotherhood is pulling out of the coalition that supports drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
...
International Olympic Committee Should Have Done More to Green Beijing, Says Greenpeace
by Alex Pasternack, New York, NY on 07.29.08
Jacques Rogge, IOC president
Yesterday was a good day for Greenpeace to give Beijing its report card on greening up for the Olympics. Due to low winds, emissions from Beijing's burgeoning, if temporarily restricted, car population along with smog from some distant factories was trapped over the city, making it hard to see down the street. Officials said they might need to implement an emergency contingency plan on top of the existing anti-smog measures if pollution lingers closer to the Games. Thanks to overnight thunderstorms, today was dramatically better, like a nice blue sky day in New York.
The sharp difference a sign of Beijing's tenuous environmental situation, at a time when it's desperate to look good for an audience of billions. The two of those issues together have clearly led to some long-term policies that are part of the kind of sustainable future Beijing and Olympic officials hoped the Games could promote.
On the air pollution score, that's meant excellent new subway and bus lines, high emissions standards (Beijing has lately moved to stringent Euro IV) and cleaner energy in and around Beijing. Greenpeace lauds that in its report, "China After the Olympics: Lessons from Beijing." But Beijing's desperation has also led to many temporary patch-work measures, like car bans, factory closures and rainmaking, which mostly serve to just put lipstick on the pig.
If Beijing doesn't continue down it's hyper environmental path, as Jeremy pondered here, the city may not be the only one that deserves blame....
Eco Othello Game Spotted in Japan
by greenz.jp, Tokyo, Japan on 07.29.08
Creative Commons. Some Rights Reserved. Photo by Noah Bulgaria
Many of you have probably heard of Japan’s tradition for crazy inventions. Recently, even this trend is showing signs of eco shift, this time in the realm of board games. The folks at the Japanese toy company Megahouse Corporation have come up with a way to make Othello (also known as Reversi) play pieces and boards out of the epidermis, or silver skin, of coffee beans, with some polypropylene mixed in to keep players from going for that caffeine fix mid-game. The retail price is 3,675 yen, local tax included....
Survey: Would You Ugly Your Bike?
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 07.29.08
It is the oldest trick in the anti-bike-theft arsenal; take a spray bomb of flat paint and a roll of electrical tape, and turn your fancy ride into something that looks like a piece of crap. (more detailed instructions here) On the other hand, a nice bike is a thing of beauty.
...
Virgin Galactic Unveils the World’s Largest All Carbon Composite Aircraft, WhiteKnightTwo
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 07.29.08
I’ll come right out and admit it, I love Richard Branson. Not in any ‘I want to cuddle up to him and whisper sweet nothings way’ I assure you, but in an admire his ambition sort of way. The first time I flew on a Virgin Atlantic flight from London to Delhi, I very nearly asked for an employment application because I thought to myself, ‘now here is a company that’s doing thing’s right’. This doesn’t even take into consideration his commitment to green initiatives—though my inner snark does come out when I think of his exclusive green resort for the uber-rich.
Not content to remain planted on terra firma, Branson, and his partner in this venture Burt Rutan, have unveiled another step in their plans for the future of space tourism and Branson’s Virgin Galactic brand: the WhiteKnightTwo.
...
Segways Illegal in the UK: The Guardian Asks Why
by Sami Grover, Carrboro, NC, USA on 07.29.08
Are Segways Dangerous?
The Chinese Olympic anti-terror forces may be equipped with Segways, but in the UK the mere act of riding one can land you in trouble with the law. You see, according to Adharanand Finn of The Guardian the British government’s response to the unveiling of the Segway was to publish its "Regulations for Self-balancing Scooters" which effectively banned the machine from all paths and roads due to the apparent dangers:
...
Spending One Billion Dollars Could Slow Tropical Deforestation by One-Tenth, Reduce Carbon Emissions by Half a Billion Tonnes Annually
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 07.29.08
photo by Lou Gold
New research done at Ohio State University and published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences indicates that if wealthy nations spent collectively $1 billion annually to pay landowners in tropical countries not to cut down forests half a billion tonnes of carbon emissions could be avoided annually and deforestation reduced by one-tenth. Science Daily has the complete story, but this is the gist of it:
...
San Francisco Considers Banning Cars on Major Boulevard
by Andrew Posner, Providence, Rhode Island on 07.29.08
San Francisco Considers Banning Cars on Market St.
In what seems to be a growing trend in major cities, San Francisco is considering banning cars on part of Market St., one of its central boulevards. The proposal "would permanently close to all traffic except for city mass transit vehicles. . .between Octavia Boulevard and the Embarcadero." Many have argued for a similar proposal over the years, including former Mayor Willie Brown, though perhaps even a city like San Francisco--always at the forefront of progressive initiatives--needs high gas prices in order to be able to finally push the plan through. After all, when Mayor Brown floated first the idea he "faced strong opposition from the business community." Perhaps now that more people are finding alternatives to driving there will be less opposition....
Recycled Rubber from Tires, Ready-to-Assemble Bags by Modulab
by Paula Alvarado, Buenos Aires on 07.29.08
Chilean studio Modulab (featured before) has launched its latest project: a line of bags made from recycled rubber from the automobile industry that comes in a 'sheet' shape and is assembled on destination, achieving a considerable reduction of space in shipping and in energy related to manufacturing.
The line is called RTA (ready to assemble) and includes three types of bags: an envelope, a handbag and a messenger bag. Each sheet of recycled rubber comes with the specific slots and pins for the consumer to put the bag together at home, without any glue or sewing involved. Energy used in the making of the entire bag is 100% human, except in the production of the material itself.
More about the material, the firm, and more pictures in the extended. Via: Tip from Modulab....
Tree Drawings are Natural
by Bonnie Alter, London on 07.29.08
We've had artists listening to the sound that trees make, and we have had lots of artists drawing trees but now we have the trees doing the drawing--sort of. Tim Knowles creates pictures by attaching pens to the ends of branches and letting the wind do the work. With paper placed under the pens, the chance movement of the wind dictates the composition of the final drawing. The weird thing is that each tree delivers a different drawing. For example, a willow tree with 50 pens attached to its long, thin branches produces a picture that is light and wispy. Compare this to the larch drawings (pictured) which use 4 pens and are more pointillist with lots of dark dots. The oak tree drawing does look like an oak--does that make oaks the best artists? Each work is presented with a photo of the artist, oops tree, that it was made from.
But is it art? The artist clearly has an ecological bent to his work. He has also photographed the flight of insects which look supernatural. He has a series of black and white photos of full moon reflections on the water. The balloon drawings are produced by a suspended nib from a helium balloon. The pen traces out the wind's movements as the balloon moves within the confines of a cage. Knowles says that "The work attempts to make visible the invisible, be it the movement of the wind traced out onto paper by a pen suspended from a buoyant helium balloon, the path drawn by the moons reflection on undulating water." “The pen moves across the earth: it no longer knows what will happen, and the hand that holds it has disappeared.” ( Paul Auster) :: Tim Knowles Via :: Inhabitat
More on Natural Art
:: Listening to Trees
:: But Is it Art?
:: But Is it Art?
:: But Is it Art? ...
EPA Tells Staff to Keep Quiet, Play Dumb with Regulators, Press
by Jeremy Elton Jacquot, Los Angeles on 07.28.08
Accountability? What's that?
The Environmental Protection Agency has told its staff not to answer questions from the agency's internal watchdog, news reporters or the nonpartisan investigative arm of Congress, according an internal memo that an environmental group released Monday.question any of the EPA's past decisions. As Lloyd recently pointed out, the EPA's (which stands for "Evidence of Pollution is Annoying") prime objective under the Bush administration has been to obfuscate on all matters pollution and climate change. ...
Zero Rally Africa Race Covers Three Countries With No Gasoline
by Kristin Underwood, Sacramento, CA on 07.28.08
For what can only be described as, "the most exciting eco-rally ever" taking place in Zambia, Namibia and South Africa, Zero Rally Africa aims to promote alternative vehicles in more ways than one. The race is only open to electric, solar, hybrid, biofuel, and hydrogen vehicles and will take off January 28, 2009 until February 8, 2009. Ladies and Gentlemen, start your engines! ...
Cop Attacks Cyclist, Charges Him with "Resisting Arrest"
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 07.28.08
Abundant Hydro-Electric Potential Lures Corporations to the Mekong River
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 07.28.08
Photo of the Mekong River in Laos by E. Zarwan.
Using rivers to do work is one of the oldest forms of power—whether directly powering grain mills or in creating electricity on either a small or gigantic scale—so I suppose it doesn’t really qualify as alternative energy. But, as fossil fuel prices increase, more companies are taking a page out of the history book, paying attention to where rivers run, and siting their manufacturing facilities accordingly. A recent piece in Forbes highlights some of these developments.
...
How to Volunteer, White Bean Aioli and A Dry Cleaning Alternative
by Jessica Root - Brooklyn, NY on 07.28.08
:: Give back with help from our How to Go Green: Volunteerism guide.
:: Pack in protein with this vegan-friendly White Bean Aioli.
:: Cut out the nasty smells and chemicals associated with dry cleaning.
:: Aspire to produce less garbage by downgrading your trash pick-up service.
:: Kick up your diet with Quinoa....
Honda Delivers First FCX Clarity Hydrogen Novelty Over-Sized Car Keys
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 07.28.08
Over-Sized Keys and Photo-Op for Honda Hydrogen Car
Last month, we wrote about the Honda FCX Clarity hydrogen fuel cell car, and we were a bit ambivalent about it. Sure it's a technological marvel, but we're a lot less sure that a hydrogen infrastructure will be viable anytime soon, and since time is of the essence, fuel cells are a bit of a red herring. Still, it's still worth noting that the first FCX Clarity models have been delivered to their new owners (or rather, leasers): film producer Ron Yerxa and Annette Ballester. Next on the list are Jamie Lee Curtis and her husband Christopher Guest, actress Laura Harris, and businessmen Jon Spallino and Jim Salomon....
Discovery, Siemens, NSTA Launch "We Can Change the World Challenge" for Students
by Kenny Luna, North Babylon, NY on 07.28.08
In an announcement this morning that makes me smile, the Siemens Foundation, Discovery, and the National Science Teachers Association are teaming up to inspire student achievement when it comes to environmental education with the Siemens We Can Change the World Challenge.
It kicks off this fall with a competition at the middle school level asking teams of students to come up with a solution to an environmental issue in their neck of the woods with broader implications for schools and communities across America who just might be able to replicate the process.
...
What’s A Swamp Worth? If It's A Mexican Mangrove, US$37,500 per Hectare per Year
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 07.28.08
photo: Matthew McDermott
We’ve written a number of times about the importance of wetlands in sequestering carbon, preserving biodiversity, and preventing natural disaster. Now researchers from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography have put a dollar value on the ecosystem services provided by one type of wetland, Mexican mangrove forest. The figure? US$37,500 per hectare per year.
...
GM Volt Gains a Cylinder, Loses a Turbo-charger
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 07.28.08
GM Volt to Use 1.4-Liter Gasoline Engine
The GM Volt series plug-in hybrid should be able to drive about 40 miles in all-electric mode before a gasoline engine kicks in to recharge the batteries and produce electricity to move the car. Originally, that generator was supposed to be a 1-liter turbocharged 3-cylinder, but the man in charge of the development of the Volt drivetrain, Larry Nitz, has confirmed the switch to a 1.4-liter non-turbo 4-cylinder that will be E85 capable.
Why Make the Change?
Mr Nitz has explained that the four cylinder is less expensive and lighter because it lacks the turbocharging of the three cylinder. It also has better "better brake-specific fuel consumption than the 1.0L turbo when used in steady state mode, as it will be in the Volt application."...
Toyota to Boost Prius Hybrid Production by 70% Next Year
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 07.28.08
Toyota Increasing Prius Hybrid Production
After the launch of the 3rd generation Prius hybrid next year (actually, the 4th generation if you count the NHW10 model which was sold only in Japan between 1997 and 2000), Toyota plans to boost its production to 480,000 units per year, or 70% more than now. So while it took Toyota over 10 years to sell 1 million Prius hybrids, it will almost certainly sell its second million in only a couple of years....
Saving Energy: One State at a Time
by Marian Hopkins, Business Roundtable on 07.28.08
Improving energy efficiency is a critical component of Business Roundtable’s overall strategy for enhancing energy security. With every unit of energy we conserve through greater efficiency, we lower energy consumption and therefore use less oil, gas or coal to meet increasing energy demand.
Energy efficient improvements span from consumers making simple lifestyle changes to businesses retrofitting their aging infrastructure.
However dramatic or small, energy efficient improvements can lead to real, substantial results in reducing our energy demand and our energy costs.
...Biking Across America: Day 3 (bonus), Playing on the Radio
by Carson Poe and Eric Plosky, Boston, MA on 07.28.08
Cellulosic Ethanol’s Not Just for Fuels Anymore: Dow Chemical Researches Ways to Cut Chemical Feedstock Costs, Improve Biofuel Yield
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 07.28.08
Landscaping waste is one potential feedstock for cellulosic ethanol production. Photo by Robert Carr.
I don’t know how many of you out there associate Dow Chemical with anything even approaching ‘green’? I know I don’t. However new research being carried out by Dow, in conjunction with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory may yield green benefits, even if the end goal for Dow is reducing their costs in making chemicals and plastics. Technology Review/ gives us the details:
The NREL is investigating whether a catalyst developed by Dow Chemical can increase cellulosic ethanol yields. By using a molybdenum sulphate catalyst developed by Dow, it is hoped that greater ethanol yields can be produced from biomass gasification. In theory the catalytic process can produce up to 130 gallons of alcohol per ton of biomass, compared to current yields of 60-80 gallons/ton.
...
Brits Break Silence On Population-Climate Change Links
by April Streeter, Gothenburg, Sweden on 07.28.08
Green technology may well still save the world. But two British family planning and reproductive health experts, Dr. Pip Hayes and Professor John Guillebaud, say the best green move any British couple can make is to have just two kids, or at least one less than they were perhaps planning on.
A British baby makes 160 times more GHG emissions than an Ethiopian baby
That's a calculation not from the British experts but from the Optimum Population Trust. But the experts do point out that with 79 million people being added to Planet Earth each year - the equivalent to erecting a mid-sized 1.5 million person city each week - every nation would do well to have a defined population policy (Britain does not, ditto the U.S.). ...
Portable Glass Water Bottle By Love Bottle
by Kristin Underwood, Sacramento, CA on 07.28.08
Image courtesy of Love Bottle.
Created by a nutrition consultant in San Francisco who wanted a healthier (and cuter) way to carry her water. Its her hope that these Love Bottle recycled bottles will not only spread clean water to everyone, but also spread a little love in the process. By putting the word love on the bottle, its hoped that it will change the energy of the water and thus bring love to you when you drink it. Think this is all hocus-pocus? No worries, those glass bottles are good if for no other reason that they keep plastic water bottles with their chemical-leaching properties out of our hands and out of landfills....
Food for Thought: How Healthy Eating Makes You Smarter
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 07.28.08
Omega-3 oils from fish have been touted for years as good for the brain; the Economist writes that it is just the tip of the nutritional iceberg.
...
Senators Want to Switch Drugs Rather Than Kick the Habit: Flex Fuel Vehicle Legislation Introduced Into Congress
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 07.28.08
photo by pete via flickr
It may be some editorial hyperbole to equate a mandate that would require more vehicles be capable of running on biofuels to switching your drug of choice from, say, heroin to vodka, but ultimately neither situation acknowledges the seriousness of the problem. The underlying addiction needs to be addressed, and that's just what a new piece of legislation does not do, at least not entirely.
The Open Fuel Standard Act of 2008 would require that 50% of new vehicles by 2012, and 80% of them by 2015, would be E85, M85 (85% methanol) or be warranted to run on biodiesel. The bill was co-sponsored by Senators Joe Lieberman (I-CT), Ken Salazar (D-CO), and Sam Brownback (R-KS). ...
Wall Street Journal Reviews Electric Bicycle
by Andrew Posner, Providence, Rhode Island on 07.28.08
Quote of the Day: Germaine Greer on Eco-Homes
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 07.28.08
the perfect model for the perfect eco-house?
Germaine Greer doesn't like the cutesy eco-houses being proposed for Britain's eco-villages, and thinks that the houses should be as different as the technologies and materials in them:
"If you are thinking eco-house, the Villa Savoye is a better model than a Devon fisherman's cottage. The new eco-houses should be proud to be different. So far, the difference is in hidden extra cost; if less energy was spent on faking sameness, the costs could be kept down. If you are building a house out of hemp and sheep's wool, it is a pointless extravagance to trick it out in stone."...
SUVs Not Just Bad For Planet, But Also Killing Lenders
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 07.28.08
Car as planter, Kensington Market, Toronto Image tionista
Leasing has been a popular way to buy a car; The lessor estimates its value three or four years down the road and you pay the difference, plus interest. So what happens when they guess wrong? What happens when there is virtually no resale value to the SUV when it comes off lease? We are beginning to see, as Chrysler closes down its leasing division, saying We've reached a point, in this environment, where the economic advantages of leasing have really disappeared." Ford has also taken a $2.1 Billion write-down on its leasing unit. An entire industry could disappear: "Leasing is based on the premise that you can somewhat accurately predict where values of cars are going to be," said Tom Webb, chief economist at used car auctioneer Manheim. "Right now, nobody has been able to do that."
Perhaps they will have to turn them all into planters. ::John Taplin
What to do with an SUV?
Dude, Don't Tow Our Art!
One Fewer SUV : You Decide What Happens to It (Blow it Up? Donate ...
Selling the SUV : Do the Hardest Things First...
10 DIY Tips for Making Your Bike the Ugliest on the Block (Camouflage Against Bike Thieves)
by Karin Kloosterman, Tel Aviv on 07.28.08
It's a jungle out there. Whether you like it or not, high gas prices are forcing Americans to become TreeHuggers. That means more people are riding their bikes to school and work. Obviously where to park the bike when you get there is one question (inside or out?) and also what to where when biking and what to change into once you arrive all sweaty at your destination.
While the new bike riders amongst us have their heads spinning with questions, one huge concern you might have are tips to prevent your bike from being stolen. Over on The Huffington Post a few weeks ago, we wrote a post that gave some tips for making your bike thief proof.
Of course when a thief really wants your bike, and it’s vulnerable (i.e. parked outside the home, office or school), there are a few things you can do to make it less irresistible to thieves. But making your bike absolutely ugly is a great deterrent. Follow this recap of tips on how to DIY.
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Direct From Outer Space to a Rooftop Near You: Record-Breaking Solar Cells Win Prestigious Award
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 07.28.08
image: EMCORE
You may never have heard of the R&D 100 Awards, but they have been called by The Chicago Tribune the “Oscars of Invention”. And while unless you’re a scientist you may never directly come in contact with many the products given awards, one product to which you might want to pay attention is an innovative solar cell developed by EMCORE.
EMCORE Solar Cell Sets Efficiency Record
Developed in conjunction with the National Energy Research Laboratory and the US Air Force Research Laboratory, EMCORE’s Inverted Metamorphic Multi-Junction Solar Cell Technology (IMM) has set a world record for in-orbit conversion efficiency of 33%. When adapted to use in the company’s terrestrial-based concentrator photovoltaic systems (CPV), efficiencies between 42-45% are expected to be achieved.
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Solar Job Training On the Rise
by Kristin Underwood, Sacramento, CA on 07.28.08
Image from Renewable Energy World.com
No surprise that with the growth in interest in renewable energy applications, there is a growing demand for a trained workforce and thus a need for someone to offer training courses. This year, Solar Energy International (SEI), a leader in solar energy education courses, is experiencing a huge explosion in the number of people interested in taking classes. We have reported in the past how there is no longer a choice between the environment and economics and this is direct evidence of how using new, environmental technologies also means an expansion of new, environmental jobs....
4-Day School Weeks, Canada's Seal Imports Ban and Slow Wine
by Team Treehugger, Worldwide on 07.28.08
100 rural school in the U.S. adopt a 4-day school week.
The European Union proposes a ban on inhumanely-harvested seal product imports from Canada.
For the first time in a long time, a commercial cargo of French wine is transported via sailboat and is due to arrive in Dublin this week.
A new Brazilian based condom company uses sustainably extracted latex to promote protection--and a protected Amazon.
EcoLibris partners up with author of green children's book, Planet Earth Gets Well.
Most Huggable is a regular roundup of some of Hugg's top green news stories. Why not submit your own green news?...
Food as Fuel: If You Bike To For Work, Is Your Lunch Tax Deductible?
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 07.28.08
Burning Biomass: Austin, Texas Plans 100 Megawatt Waste-to-Energy Plant
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 07.28.08
photo: Nacogdoches Power
Biomass energy seems to be coming up on the TreeHugger radar more frequently in the past couple of weeks. Whether it comes from agriculture, animals, households or lumber, the drive to generate energy from waste products seems to be gaining momentum. The latest example of this is the news, via the Austin Business Journal, that Austin, Texas may be adding some waste-to-energy power to its renewables portfolio.
Biomass Energy Plant Scheduled to Come Online in 2012
It’s just in the planning stages, but if the City Council approves the scheme, Austin Energy will be allowed to enter into a 20-year, $2.3 billion power supply agreement with Nacogdoches Power and it’s planned 100 megawatt biomass plant in Sacul. Planned to come online in 2012, the plant will be fueled by waste wood from lumber and mill operations. Nacogdoches Power says that the plant will require 1 million tons of wood feedstock per year to operate....
The TH Interview: Tristan Prettyman, singer/songwriter
by Kristin Underwood, Sacramento, CA on 07.28.08
Images courtesy of Capitol Music Group.
With the advent of her sophomore album, Hello....x, singer/songwriter Tristan Prettyman is showing she is more than just a pretty face. Listening to Prettyman, its easy to kick back and feel more at peace with the world, but this low-key style is also exactly how Prettyman approaches saving the planet - quietly moving forward and doing the right thing. This year she is encouraging others to get in on the act by partnering with Surfrider Foundation and Barefoot Wine to host several beach cleanups across the US, as well as offset the carbon emissions from her album production.
Prettyman took a few minutes to chat up the latest on her latest album, why she 'goes green' and what her toughest eco-act is. ...
Incubator Desk Takes Up Less Space
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 07.28.08
You better watch it if you work late in one of designer Honfay Lui's Incubators; they run on tracks and park up against one another like those high-density storage systems. If you are not careful you might get filed....
Its Air Experiment Failing, Beijing Considers "Emergency" Plan
by Alex Pasternack, New York, NY on 07.28.08
Image over the Forbidden City, July 28, 2008. Source: Reuters
Beijing's big air cleanse began a week ago, and the results are clear (or not, as it were): closing some factories and taking half its cars off the roads has not kept away the smog. Last week officials downplayed concerns but after a depressing weekend of soupy air and low visibility, the government is now considering what China Daily calls an "emergency green plan" for the Olympics: 90 per cent of Beijing's 3.3 million vehicles could be kept off the roads and more factories could face temporary closure.
The announcement came on the same day that Greenpeace issued a report on Beijing's greening operations, and said the smog would be dangerous for athletes. To qualify as a "blue sky day," which Beijing says is safe for athletes, the Air Pollution Index, which typically measures small particulate matter, or PM10, must be below 101. For the past few days, as you can see in the chart below, it's been higher than that; today it was 113. (Strangely, at the moment the Ministry of Environmental Protection's site's latest data is from last week, but more recent data can be found at this site and at the Wall Street Journal's widget). But even if Beijing can reach 100 and below for the big event -- and it will do whatever it can to get there -- even that won't be enough. ...
Allie's Green Answers Hosts Carnival of the Green
by Kara DiCamillo, Newport, Rhode Island on 07.28.08
This week is Carnival of the Green # 138 and it's being hosted by Allie's Green Answers, an eco-friendly site dedicated to helping consumers simplifiy and and save money. So head on over to this week's Carnival and 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! ...
Extreme Bicycle Commuting in New York City
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 07.28.08
Commuter on George Washington Bridge; Douglas Healey for NY Times
J. David Goodman writes in The New York Times about extreme bike commuting: "Once limited to dense urban environments, bike commuting has found a small but devoted following in the New York City suburbs. While there have been no formal studies of the trend, transportation experts and cycling advocates say the number of suburban bike commuters is growing. "
It's not just young people, either; "Henry Minnerop, a partner in a Manhattan law firm and “70-plus” years old, said he drives each day — year round — to Englewood Cliffs, and then bikes about 12 miles into Midtown. “I park my bike in the garage I used to use when I drove in,” he said before riding off. “There’s a gym in my office. I shower and come out looking like a lawyer.”...
More Detail on Gordon Graff's Skyfarm
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 07.28.08
We first showed Gordon Graff's vertical farm proposal for Toronto a year ago, noting that it could provide "tomatoes to throw at the latest dud at the Princess of Wales Theatre to the east, and olives for the Club District to the north." We never did get much information about it or the the designer. Now Murray Whyte of the Star interviews Graff, a student in the Master of Architecture program at the University of Waterloo.
"We're not inventing anything new here," says Graff, garrulous and passionate, with a thorough commitment to the burgeoning field of green architecture. "It might seem space-age, but all of the technology required to do this exists right now, today."...
7 Celebrity Environmentalists in Need of Green 101
by Mairi Beautyman, Berlin, Germany on 07.28.08
Photo: Via Huffington Post
Oh how we love our green celebrities, but for the most part, they are as fresh and new to this fight against climate change as Brangolina's twin babies Knox Leon and Vivienne Marcheline are to the world. They can give global warming a big 'ol kick in the organically-grown cotton pants simply by gracing the covers of supermarket rags. They can get the word out by looking posh in gleaming hybrids, shopping with chic reusable bags, or sending thousands of extra stilettos to New Orleans. But just like free-range baby chicks taking their first tottering steps into the farmyard, sometimes they fall in a big pile of cow dung meant for the methane digester. We're not going to call them eco hypocrites, that term that is all the rage now. These folks are on the right track, just under informed or misadvised. Here are our top seven green celebrities who need to enroll in Eco 101 ASAP....
CleanFish: Supplying Sustainable Seafood for All
by Sami Grover, Carrboro, NC, USA on 07.28.08
Cleaner Fish to Halt Ocean Crisis
Given TreeHugger’s concerns about overfishing and climate change threatening global fish stocks, and given our enthusiasm for sustainable fisheries, it’s a little surprising that we have yet to run a post on San Francisco based CleanFish - a company we learned about through Food & Wine Magazine’s recent green issue. CleanFish is dedicated to finding the cleanest, most sustainably produced fish and supplying it to restaurants and retailers. This from the company’s website:
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Survey: Would You Drive With Big Brother?
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 07.28.08
John tells us that a Scangauge will tell your insurance company if you "drive less, apply a light foot on the pedal, and avoid sudden stops" and that you will get lower rates if you are a good boy or girl. Don't we already have too many backseat drivers?
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Ikoma “Eco-City” to Cut Back on Vending Machines
by greenz.jp, Tokyo, Japan on 07.28.08
Vending machines have come under fire lately for being bad for the environment, as inefficient 24-hour operation leads to significant amounts of electricity being wasted. Especially in Japan, there are over 5.4million vending machines (as of Dec 2007). Half of them are for beverages and it is said that if we eliminated ALL of them we could reduce at least ONE nuclear reactor (out of the total 55). Now, Ikoma City in Nara Prefecture is standing up and doing something about it.
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BBC On-Line Fashion Magazine, Thread, Debuts
by Bonnie Alter, London on 07.28.08
Green fashion must really be making an impact--the BBC, Britain's venerable public broadcaster, has started an on-line fashion magazine. Called Thread. Fashion Without Victim, it is dedicated to bringing the "latest of eco-fabulous style". Through a "unique mix of affordable fashion, exclusive videos, photo galleries and thought-provoking features" the site is committed to promoting all aspects of ethical fashion. It is done with a lot of style, great photos and the latest fashion tips. Regular features include: the A-Z of fashion, Style File, and information about the hottest ethical brands on the High Street and in the shops. The slick design makes the site fun to use, and it will definitely appeal to young, fashion-minded people. It's also a opportunity for some of the up and coming designers out there.
For Treehugger readers much of the information will be familiar. But there is always something new: the video of the t.v. show "Blood Sweat and T-shirts" is on-show. It is a series about sending 6 young fashion hounds to India to work in the sweat shops and learn about the dark side of the fast fashion industry --fascinating and eye-opening stuff. Check the Label decodes how to read the provenance of your purchases and a complete list of the ethical organisations involved in the fashion arena is a useful guide for future reference. And the latest style tips: stripes, denim and red skinny jeans--but of course you knew that already. :: BBC Thread
More on Ethical Fashion
:: How to Green your Wardrobe
:: Everything You Wanted to Know...
:: Cottoning On...
Hybrid electric bus with Argentine technology to hit Buenos Aires this December
by Paula Alvarado, Buenos Aires on 07.28.08
Hybrid vehicles are not widely available in Argentina yet, but the country's capital will have its first hybrid electric bus with national technology and auto-parts this December.
The project is an initiative of the Buenos Aires Environmental Agency along with the La Plata University and a transport company called TAT. According to Minutouno newspaper, the first unit will have a cost of 800 thousand pesos (266 thousand US dollars) and will function with one of the lines that operate now in the city in a route that will allow developers to test its functioning. Read more in the extended.
Via Minutouno....
Cities of the Future, the Coming End of the Car Age and Suburbia's Demise: James Kunstler Talks
by Jeremy Elton Jacquot, Los Angeles on 07.27.08
I don't know about you, but I can never get enough of TreeHugger's favorite eco-crank: the one and only James Howard Kunstler. Whether it's listening to his provocative podcast, appropriately titled "KunstlerCast," or reading his latest op-ed/essay/book, there are, thankfully, more than enough ways to get your daily fill of suburbia's loudest critic.
As luck would have it, The Sunday Gazette featured a great interview with him today. Suburban sprawl (duh), renewable energy, walkable cities and the mortgage crisis were among the topics Kunstler discussed with Miles Reed....
Slower, More Careful Drivers To Get Reduced Insurance Rates
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 07.27.08
Adam Stern over at TerraPass blog explains how the intersection of car-embedded PCs and changing driving habits can create an opportunity to get a reduced insurance rates. It's a money saver for "drivers who drive less, apply a light foot on the pedal, and avoid sudden stops." If your state insurance commission allows novel pricing schemes, have a $150 device installed in your car (no GPS involved at all), with a potential to recoup more than that the first year - just from the insurance savings. Here's Adam's money quote: Two big insurers offering the pay-as-you-drive discounts in selected states are Progressive (via the MyRate program) and GMAC Insurance (via the Low-Mileage Discount program in association with OnStar). Researchers at The Hamilton Project of the Brookings Institution report that broad adoption of such programs could reduce driving by 8% nationwide, with comparable CO2 reductions. Average savings for participants could be $270 per car per year.Via::terrapass blog, Cut your carbon and save on auto insurance. Pay-as-you-drive programs reward those who drive gently. Image credit::Terrapass via picasaweb, ScanGauge II Car Computer...
Can Peer-To-Peer Tool Rental Cut Your Carbon Footprint?
by April Streeter, Gothenburg, Sweden on 07.27.08
Thinking of the multiple home projects our family has undertaken under the last month of intensive homeowner repairs - repainting, refinishing of a damaged countertop, clean-out and setting up of a clothesline station in the laundry room - they nearly always engendered a trip to the hardware store to purchase a missing tool or tools. About half of those trips required car-borrowing for heavy schlepping or because the items were outside our bike circuit.
The E-bay of renting?
That same type of simple home repair project - in this case fixing a large wall mirror onto a wall - was what lead Frenchman Jeff Boudier to launch the Zilok peer-to-peer rental site in France in December 2007. Zilok launched in the U.S. earlier this spring and has now gathered around 15,000 members, mostly in large towns such as Los Angeles and San Francisco. Similar groups are up and running in Belgium, the UK and the Netherlands. The idea of neighbors lending tools to other neighbors isn't new (putting your zip code into the Zilok search engine makes it search in a 1.2 mile radius of your home - definitely bikeable). Irent2you is another site with a similar concept though a low tool inventory. In our close-knit neighborhood a tool library was one of the major ideas after we did a Northwest Earth Institute sustainability book group, but no-one wanted to be "tool central" or keep the list of who had what.
Peer-to-peer renting cuts car trips
Zilok's advantage is that renting tools for a small fee (for example, $2 to $5 per day for a cordless drill - the rentee sets fee and deposit) keep cash very local and gives rentees some security that the tool will come back unharmed. To me it's the next step in making neighborhoods and regions more self-sufficient and less dependent on those short car trips. Plus I don't need to own a power washer, a belt sander or a table saw - yeah! Seattle, Washington is unfortunately right now the nearest "neighborhood" to my Portland area with active Zilok members and tools and other goods for rent, but as soon as I make it back to PDX I'm putting some of my recent purchases out for rent to see how I fare and asking my neighbors to do the same. Via ::Journal Gazette
Read also:
Rentalism...
In Huffpo: What's in a Name, Designing to Last
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 07.27.08
What Was the Name of that Green Organization Again?: There are so many great environmental organizations out there. But how many can you remember in a pinch? This is my plea for more memorable names. ::Graham Hill
The Split Personalities of Ford (USA vs. Europe) When you find yourself in a hole, stop digging, and Ford seems to be doing that by slashing SUV production and re-tooling some factories for small car production. But will it be fast enough? ::Michael Graham Richard
An Underrated Green Consideration: Longevity It's a point worth pondering: if you can have something, which may not be made with recycled/recyclable materials or some other common green credential, but it lasts 60% longer, or twice as long, as a comparable, conventional gadget, or car, that's green, baby. ::Collin Dunn
Five Reasons Why Preserving Summer Fruits Like Grandma Is Green Food has become so cheap and time, well... it's being spent on other things. But it is so healthy? I say we need a revolution -- one where people spend less time at shopping malls, and more in the kitchen. ::Karin Kloosterman...
