- 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 November 9, 2008 - November 15, 2008
Total this week: 208
KQED Visits Yosemite's Shrinking Dana Glacier to See the Effects of Climate Change First-Hand
by Jeremy Elton Jacquot, Los Angeles on 11.15.08
Endangered Sea Turtles Face Death by a Thousand Hooks
by Brian Merchant, Brooklyn, New York on 11.15.08
Photo courtesy of Terry Mass
The critically endangered leatherback sea turtles are leaving California's relatively safe coast for their annual Pacific migration to nesting beaches—and they could find a veritable death trap of 5 million new longline hooks waiting for them when they return. This is the plight detailed in a new report, ominously titled "Death by a Thousand Hooks," which was released last week. The surplus in new hooks would come from a "Deadly Trio"—three new proposed swordfish fisheries slated for approval in the Pacific ocean. This could spell disaster for the migrating sea turtle population that migrates between Hawaii and California every year. ...
NBA's Amare Stoudemire Works to Bring Clean Water to Sierra Leone
by Brian Merchant, Brooklyn, New York on 11.15.08
The 2003 NBA Rookie of the Year Amare Stoudemire has recently turned his focus away from the court and onto Africa—he's donated a considerable sum of money to fund well construction (a cause he has in common with TreeHugger founder Graham Hill) in Sierra Leone, and he's personally taken a trip there to unveil the various project sites where the work is to be done. ...
EPA's 1st "Excellence in Site Reuse" Award Goes to Tallahassee's Ex-Gas Plant Park
by Brian Merchant, Brooklyn, New York on 11.15.08
Cascades Park, photo courtesy of webshots
The EPA debuted a new award this year—the "Excellence in Site Reuse" honor, which is awarded for, you guessed it, the most innovative and comprehensive efforts to renovate and reuse dilapidated or formerly contaminated sites. And the first ever award goes to Tallahassee for its efforts in completely revitalizing Cascades Park—transforming an abandoned gas plant site into a world class public park....
Art Au Naturel
by Jennifer Hattam, Istanbul, Turkey on 11.15.08
Beachcombing becomes Filiz Ateş and Christiane Alaettinoğlu--and anyone who puts on one of their driftwood brooches, necklaces, or rings.
The two artists and friends gather materials on the beaches near their home in Alanya, on Turkey's Mediterranean coast, and sell the finished products under the name Yalos Alanya, from the Greek word that locals have adopted to refer to driftwood. Their whimsical designs also include sculptures and wall decorations of fish, birds, and other animals, as well as human figures, all crafted with the same philosophy:...
Legislative Strategy, Constitutional Duty, Keys To Overturning Bush Administration "Midnight Regs"
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 11.15.08
I declare it's marked like a large chess-board!" Alice said at last. "There ought to be some men moving about somewhere — and so there are!A few days ago we noted that President-elect Obama's "suggestion box" might be full - and that his transition team was busy with big-picture strategy. See: Fall In TreeHuggers: Obama's Environmental Suggestion Box Is Full Politico now reports that US Democratic Congressional leaders may have a relatively clean and fast way to dump last minute de-regulatory initiatives: Dems eye midnight regulations reversal. ...
European Town Heats Up With Closed Coal Mine
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 11.15.08
Duke Energy Plans 5,000 Megawatts Of Wind Power For Wyoming
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 11.15.08
Duke Energy has plants to generate 5,000 megawatts of electricity from wind projects located primarily in the West, Southwest and Midwest. As an early entry, Duke is putting 14 turbines on a ridge along Happy Jack Road west of Cheyenne, Wyoming, to provide 30 megawatts of wind-generated electricity to the Cheyenne area. Via:Wyoming Business Report, Duke Energy rides winds of change in Wyoming Image credit:PhotoBucket,Happy Jack, Happy Jack Road/Wyoming Highway 210...
Artist/Adventurer Undertakes 2-Year Solo Kayaking Trek in Search of the Wild Image
by Brian Merchant, Brooklyn, New York on 11.15.08
Photo courtesy of Daniel Belanger
There aren't too many good ol' artist/adventurer types around these days—ever notice that? Plenty of artist/graphic designer and artist/web consultants, but our generation could use a good solid artsy adventurer. You know, like Byron or Hemmingway or John Muir (okay, so he was more of an essayist/adventurer, but cut me some slack here). Perhaps with a little luck, we could find one in the intrepid photographer Daniel Belanger....
Chrysler To Ax Two Hybrid Models
by Andrew Posner, Providence, Rhode Island on 11.15.08
Detroit appears to be on the road to receiving a bailout of its own, and this story is just another example of why the Big Three are in so much trouble in the first place. According to the New York Times, "HYBRID versions of the Chrysler Aspen and Dodge Durango seem likely to secure a spot in automotive history: the two vehicles fell under the executioner’s ax in the same month they went on sale." Here's the real head-scratching part: "The hybrid S.U.V.’s became available at dealerships in early October. But on Oct. 23, Chrysler announced that at the end of the year it would close the Delaware plant where they are built." It gets worse....
Revenge Is Channels Eco-Activism into a New Use for Plastic Bottles
by Sara Novak, Columbia, SC on 11.15.08
photo: Revenge Is
The best revenge is living well. At least that's what a new green company, Revenge Is proclaims. While the argument that the best revenge for society’s eco-problems is simply living well seems optimistic, the company has come up with a grand marketing scheme and an interesting use for discarded plastic bottles....
California Coughing Up $28 Billion a Year in Pollution Costs
by Jeremy Elton Jacquot, Los Angeles on 11.14.08
Image from steven.buss
We all knew the costs of pollution -- both health-related and economic -- were high but $28 billion a year? That is the sum Cal State Fullerton's Jane Hall believes pollution is costing the Golden State on an annual basis, according to the LAT's Louis Sahagun: the result of over 3,800 premature deaths and illnesses associated with high levels of particulates and ozone. (Three thousand of these deaths, which are linked to smog, account for roughly $25 billion alone.) And, if that wasn't bad enough, more than 90 percent of Southern Californians breathe air that is harmful to their health. ...
Bella Gaia: A Personal Connection With Our Planet
by greenz.jp, Tokyo, Japan on 11.14.08
Coal's Darkest Hour Comes Just Before EPAs New Dawn
by Greg Haegele of Sierra Club on 11.14.08
Holiday Gift Guide: For the Pop Culture Fan
by Marissa Moss, Manhattan (Lower East Side) on 11.14.08
Photo via Waponi @ flickr
This holiday season, give the gift of pop culture—and environmental responsibility. We prove that you don't have to sacrifice eco-values—or blow your budget—for the music, celebrity or TV fan in your life. These gifts, some of which even benefit charities and green causes, reach out to every music lover, magazine junkie, celebrity addict, and TV fan in your life while targeting the eco-warrior in each of them; oh, and did we mention, they're also totally affordable and fun? Sure beats a Paris Hilton bobble head. ...
Green City Guide: Paris, Organic Hard Cider and DIY Spa Treatments
by Jessica Root - Brooklyn, NY on 11.14.08
:: Enjoy the romance and passion of Paris--the low-impact way.
:: Warm your belly with a home brewed mug of organic hard cider.
:: Pinch pennies and make your own spa treatments. Skin-softening milk bath, anyone?...
While GM and Friends Seek $50 Billion in Public Funds, There is no Mention of Help for Public Transit
by Trevor Reichman on 11.14.08
image source: raisethehammer.org
We didn’t hear it in the debates. We didn’t hear it on the campaign trail. And we didn’t hear anything about mass transit outlined anywhere in the economic bailout. It is difficult to recall anytime during the recent and ongoing economic struggle any mention of any economic stimulus for public transportation that would greatly lessen Americans' 2nd largest expense after housing....
Holiday Gift Guide: For the WeeHugger
by Blythe Copeland, Great Neck, New York on 11.14.08
Photo via ImagiPlay
For grownups, the holiday season is about emotions—the joy, the love, the stress—but for kids, it is all about the loot. This year, giving the little ones in your life the games and toys that will keep them busy through the long cold days of January (or at least through the week until the New Year) doesn’t have to mean stocking your tree with flimsy toys, breakable parts, toxic plastic, and soon-forgotten characters; you can put your hard-earned green to better use than that. We’ve rounded up ten products—from traditional gifts like trains, puzzles, and art supplies to science-inspired greenhouse kits and penguin adoptions—that will remain favorites long after the holidays are over, so you can stretch your holiday budget without wasting a dime....
American Media & the Green Movement: Questions for Readers to Ponder
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 11.14.08
In case you weren’t among the fifty or so people who attended 92Y Tribeca's panel discussion on American Media & the Green Movement last night, I just wanted to pass along some of the questions that popped into my mind as I listened to Annabelle Gurwitch pick the brains of green luminaries such as NPR’s Ira Flatow, the New York Times’ Andy Revkin, author Elizabeth Royte, Lynne Kirby of the Sundance Channel and TreeHugger’s very own Graham Hill.
I present this all in the form of questions that I’d like readers to consider and weigh in upon:
1. How Do We Engage Our Children in Green?
The sort of paradigm shift which is required to build a sustainable culture for a planet overloaded with homo sapiens it seems one of the most critical questions is how do we engage our children in this change? How do we communicate the seriousness of the situation in a way that holds their attention and creates the sort of values that can build a new future?...
HGTV “Design on a Dime” host Creates Eco-friendly Coffee Table – Proceeds for Charity (50-Buck Home Makeover Not Included)
by Marissa Moss, Manhattan (Lower East Side) on 11.14.08
Credit: Orange 22
Host of HGTV’s “Design on a Dime” and interior designer to the stars Kahi Lee has unveiled a new line of furniture with Botanist/Orange22 to raise funds and awareness for charitable organizations worldwide. One of the network’s most popular hosts, Lee blends chic design with an eye towards sustainable living. Keep reading for more on the pieces available, and other cool designers involved....
TechSoup Gives Non-Profits Green Resources
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 11.14.08
Shredded paper photo via Venturist
Going green tends to save green. That’s a notion quicky learned by big businesses in this economic crunch. Non-profits have always been on the prowl for ways to reduce expenses. Now, TechSoup, a tech info and education resource for non-profits, is helping out by giving green resources through their newly launched GreenTech Initiative. ...
Not So Quietly Taking to Ship
by Earthwatch Institute on 11.14.08
First Nuclear Fusion by 2011? Still No Silver Bullet for Environmental Problems
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 11.14.08
photo: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
What spawned that title is not just Friday speculation, but an article at SustainableBusiness.com which says exactly the opposite. I’m taking liberties a bit, as the article confines the silver bullet talk to clean energy:
Clean energy advocates generally shun talk of a "silver-bullet" technology that can replace fossil fuels and provide carbon-free power. However, the promise of fusion-based energy defies the common sense belief that an array of renewable fuel sources is needed to shift away from dirty carbon-based fuels.The article then goes on to describe work being done at the National Ignition Facility at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California:...
Holiday Gift Guide: For the Fashion Buff
by Rachel Lincoln Sarnoff, Los Angeles, California on 11.14.08
Photo via Charmone Shoes
Looking for that perfect something for the fashion buff in your life? Some are easy to buy for: They'll take any random piece of clothing--from a vintage fringed dress to a Stella McCartney coat--and make it look fashionable and fabulous in any situation. But finding that perfect something for the fashion buff on your list isn't always that easy: Size 6 or 8? Pink or brown? Organic cotton or hemp-silk? Lucky for you, our eco-chic guide takes out some of the guess work, with options that are organic and sustainable, and offer enduring style. Our best fashion-forward eco-shopping tip? Look for quality fabrics and timeless design; even if you have to spend a bit more upfront, garments that will stand the test of time save money and resources over the long haul. Because disposable fashion is just so last century, darling. ...
Febot, the Wind Powered Battery Charger
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 11.14.08
Image via Yanko Design
We wish that alkaline batteries were on the way out the door. But reality is that disposable batteries be around for quite awhile longer. Thankfully, though, we have rechargeable options, and clever thinkers are figuring out how to use renewable energy to recharge them. So they’re at least a little bit less burdensome on the environment. ...
Thoreau's Legacy, Water Consciousness and Juicy Eco-Jewelry
by Team Treehugger, Worldwide on 11.14.08
The Union of Concerned Scientists and Penguin Classics encourage writers and photographers to contribute to their new online book, Thoreau's Legacy: American Stories about Global Warming. Hurry, the deadline is tomorrow--November 15!
AlterNet, the news and advocacy website, publishes the book, Water Consciousness: How We All Have To Change To Protect Our Most Critical Resource.
A jewelry designer transforms trashed soda and juice containers into earrings.
For Thanksgiving, EcoWorldy reports on eco-issues "related to bringing food from the farm to your dinner plate."
A study finds that Southern California's air pollution kills more than motor vehicle fatalities do.
Most Huggable is a regular roundup of some of Hugg's top green news stories. Why not submit your own green news?
Note: On November 17th, 2008, Hugg will no longer accept new submissions or registrations. The Hugg.com domain will be directed towards a new feature on the TreeHugger forums where participants will be able to post and comment on interesting green links (coming soon). Learn more at Hugg.com....
Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas Gets Its Green On
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 11.14.08
Photo via CES
Consumer electronics present big problems, from producing them with unsustaibable materials, to emissions for manufacturing and using them, to the e-waste and toxic problems they present at the end of their lives.
The Consumer Electronics Association, however, recognizes these issues and is actively working on greening up the industry. They have released the first sustainability report in the industry, and are improving the impact of the Consumer Electronics Show with eco-friendly options.
Parker Brugge, our VP of Environmental Affairs spoke with us about CEA’s green moves. ...
25% Efficiency: SolFocus Introduces New Concentrating Solar PV Product
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 11.14.08
photo: SolFocus
While its previous concentrating solar PV products convert about 18% of the light hitting them into electricity, the new SolFocus 1100S can achieve a panel efficiency of 25%. Intended for use in medium to utility-scale installations, the panels will be used by Spain's EMPE Solar in the recently announced 10 MW ‘world’s largest’ CPV project, expected to be completed in 2010.
Here’s how SolFocus touts the 1100S:...
Holiday Gift Guide: For the Green Geek
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 11.14.08
Photo via Randy Son of Robert
Typically, when we think of our geeky loved ones, we think of all the electronics and computer equipment they have. We also think of their appreciation for clever gadgets. But what about the big environmental impact electronics and gadgets have? Many electronics are made of toxic materials, suck energy like no one’s business, and turn out to be pointless in the long run.
But we've got you covered. With a growing selection of very cool gifts for eco-conscious geeks—computers, reading materials, lights, energy sources—even the most gadget-obsessed techie on your list can unwrap a new toy that has all the bells and whistles without the environmental impact. And while a trip through the world of electronics will likely cost you more than the low-tech fuzzy slippers your grandma is hoping for, we've tracked down items that fit any budget—and that save you even more dough long-term by trimming your electricity usage, so you can put some aside for next year....
From the Forums: Have You Turned on The Heat Yet?
by Alan Graham, Portland, Oregon on 11.14.08
belandil:
Treehuggers, have you turned on your heat yet?
I realize that the answer to this question is heavily dependent on where you live, but I still think it's interesting.
I live in NJ and haven't had to turn on the heat yet this year. My goal was to get to November 1st, but the weather has been cooperating nicely, and I may not have to turn it on for a few more weeks. In previous years, November has been when my electric bill spikes (as we have electric heat), so every day of delaying the inevitable will save plenty of energy and money.
Discuss: No Account Required...
Renewable "Energy Islands" at Sea To Power Cities, Produce Fresh Water and More
by Alex Pasternack, New York, NY on 11.14.08
Courtesy Energy Island
Some artificial islands seem necessary. Some just are and some are excessive. And some may sustain human life in the future. Yesterday LiveScience reminded us of a promising idea that we covered earlier: creating rig-like islands that drill the oceans not for oil but for renewable energy.
At the core of each man-made island -- the brainchild of inventor Dominic Michaelis and his son and architect Alex -- are power plants that rely on ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC). That is, they use the differences in temperatures at the depths and surface of the ocean to evaporate and condense another fluid substance, like seawater, which in turn pushes a turbine. The resulting power, they say, would be 250 megawatts (MW) -- enough to drive a small city....
If You Eat Meat, You Should Pay Higher Insurance Premiums: PETA
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 11.14.08
Eat this, pay more on insurance... Photo: thebittenword.com
Even if you disagree with the point they’re trying to make, you’ve got to admire the chutzpah of PETA. The well known animal rights group is calling on Blue Cross Blue Shield of Vermont to raise insurance premiums for people who eat meat and lower them for those people who don’t. This is based on the oft-claimed benefits of vegetarian diet such as lower chances of getting cancer, diabetes, heart disease; plus issues related to recent meat contamination in the state.
Despite the suggestion by PETA Executive Director Tracy Reiman that ultimately such a move would save the insurance company money, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Vermont effectively passed the buck and dodged the health question:...
Greenpeace Goes to Africa
by Eliza Barclay, Washington, D.C. on 11.14.08
Photo credit: Greenpeace
The international environmental lobby group Greenpeace yesterday opened its first African office in Johannesburg, South Africa. In a statement, Greenpeace said working on the ground in Africa was part of its commitment "to tackling the most urgent environmental problems facing the continent - climate change, deforestation and overfishing."...
Air New Zealand Prepares for Biofuel Test Flight
by Sami Grover, Carrboro, NC, USA on 11.14.08
Image from Airplane-Pictures.net
Date Set for Jatropha-Powered Test Flight
The announcement that Air New Zealand had set an ambitious sustainable biofuels goal for 2013 created a lot of buzz back in September. But all too often such announcements amount to nothing. This time, however, the early signs are looking positive that this initiative may actually yield results. We’ve just heard via Green Car Congress that Air New Zealand, in conjunction with Boeing and UOP, have just set a date for their first test-flight running on 50% biofuel produced from non-food sources. There’s more:
...
Young People, Energy Independence is Your Problem, Not My Problem: T. Boone Pickens
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 11.14.08
EcoShield Your iProducts
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 11.14.08
Photo via Agent 18
Protecting your gadgets is a big part of making them last as long as possible and helping to prevent e-waste. Considering the reputation Apple products have for unfixability, keeping them safe is a priority. One of the greener options for your iPhone or iPod Touch is the EcoShield. ...
Book Review: The Sustainability Mirage
by Kristin Underwood, Sacramento, CA on 11.14.08
Image source: Virtual Finland
The Sustainability Mirage: Illusion and Reality in the Coming War on Climate Change by John Foster is very timely, particularly given other similar books like Hot, Flat and Crowded by Thomas Friedman and The Green Collar Economy by Van Jones. Earlier this week Warren wrote an article questioning why people aren't in the streets and if there really is anything we can do to save ourselves from the quickly drawing deadline that is climate change. Foster asserts that simply choosing to save the planet for future generations isn't enough to get us to the deadline because it is a slippery slope that we can never achieve. In The Sustainability Mirage, Foster asserts that we only have one shot to get this right, so we need to redefine what we mean by sustainable development, and quit thinking of it as a long-term goal in order to break away from this mirage....
Holiday Gift Guide: For the Foodie
by Jeff Nield, Vancouver, British Columbia on 11.14.08
Photo via Sactivist
Welcome to TreeHugger's 2008 Holiday Gift Guide, "Give Green to Save Green," your blueprint for the season's best earth-friendly gifts. Don't expect any electric roadsters or solar-powered robots, though; this year, we're all about real stuff for real people--affordable, eco-conscious presents that will delight your giftees while helping them go green and save money, too. With more than 100 gift ideas across 12 categories, we've got everyone on your list covered, from the Green Geek to the Fashion Buff. We're leading off here with gifts for the Foodie, but you can check in at the Give Green to Save Green main page to browse all sections as they roll out over the next several days.
Foodies are the easiest people to please on any holiday gift list. Who else would be happy with a block of cheese, a bag of local walnuts, or an envelope with a few seeds in it? Here's the key to giving the perfect present: green foodies like to feel connected to their food. If they know the farmer that grew it, if they can cook it for friends and family in their own kitchen, or if it came from their own backyard, they'll be content. And while imported foods from abroad were once de rigueur, today's emphasis on locally-grown food means the goodies that get the biggest smiles are the ones that also save you a bundle on shipping. (You're welcome.)...
100 MW of Wave Power Projects to be Developed... Somewhere in Africa
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 11.14.08
map: Wikipedia
Cleantech is reporting that the Tel Aviv, Israel-based wave power and desalination company SDE has signed a 25-year agreement with an African country to develop 100 megawatts worth of wave power projects. The cost of the projects is expected to be about $100 million, with potential revenue from the electricity in the $1 billion range.
Sounds great right? But here’s where the ambiguity comes in:...
Is TextID a Greener Business Card?
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 11.14.08
Photo via pixelposition
Ever left a business meeting or conference with a fat wad of business cards that you know you're going to have to spend hours inputting into your electronic contacts list before tossing them into the recycling bin? Or have you ever left a trade show with more brochures and pamphlets than will fit into your grab bag, knowing that you're going to read through them maybe once or twice more, glean the info and then toss them into the recycle bin along with the business cards?
A popular alternative has become media kits on give-away USB flash drives. Using eco-friendly versions of these helps significantly cut down on wasted paper and ink, and they can be reused by the recipient for a good long time.
But there might be a green alternative even better than that through a service called TextID. ...
iCarpool, You Carpool, We All Carpool with iCarpool
by Kristin Underwood, Sacramento, CA on 11.14.08
Image source: Flickr (with their never late carpool award)
One more free carpooling tool for helping you get around town without always having to worry about gas or driving, is iCarpool. If you are organizing an event with your favorite greendrinks or meetup.com group, why not link to icarpool.com and encourage all of your attendees to try out the service. Businesses and organizations can also develop their own page on icarpool page setup specifically so that only employees can see others on the list and find groups near their commuting route....
Ohio Town Sees Green Opportunity in Devastating Economic News
by Alex Smith, San Francisco, California on 11.14.08
With Job Cut, Ohio Town Looks to Green Economics
Wilmington, Ohio got word this week that DHL would cut 9,500 jobs. The small town in farm country lays at the center point between Cincinnati, Dayton and Columbus and is a central distribution hub for the shipping company. DHL's announcement means 7,000 job cuts in Wilmington, more than half of the city's total population. Locals believe, though, that this devastating news may bring the opportunity for a greener Ohio, starting with the creation of thousands of green jobs in the small town of Wilmington. More below the fold....
Eco Dishwashing Liquid Works As Well as Cascade
by Kristin Underwood, Sacramento, CA on 11.14.08
Earth Friendly Product's 'New Wave High-Performance Auto Dishwasher Gel' held its own against Cascade in an independent study showing that these phosphate-free cleaners can perform just as well as conventional cleaners. Most cleaners give the impression that they add enough toxic chemicals to make them ultra strong and therefore able to obliterate any germ they come in contact with. Now its becoming more apparent that not only do we not need toxic chemicals near our family and in our homes, but they also don't necessarily provide any additional benefit....
On Moving Toward Vegetarianism: Thanksgiving
by Kelly Rossiter, Toronto on 11.14.08
Photo credit: Chow, 2007
I went to see the film Rachel Getting Married this week and it made me think a lot about the topic of today's post. We are, of course, products of our families, but tensions can occur when we move away from the professed family ideal. The intensely emotional events that draw the larger family together such as marriages and funerals happen only occasionally, but Thanksgiving with your nearest and dearest comes around every year.
...
Paper Piling Up In Warehouses as Market Collapses
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 11.14.08
Photo: AFP from Guardian
John recently noted that the recycling business is in the toilet in the US; Jaymi wrote that the same thing is happening in Britain; now they are drowning in paper that used to be shipped to China but that nobody wants now. The Confederation of Paper industries says in the Guardian:
"With no obvious signs of Far East buyers returning to the market soon there is a serious possibility that storage of recyclables may end up being a high-risk strategy with huge costs to those requiring storage, including the taxpayers through local authorities. The worst-case scenario is that some material collected for recycling could go to incineration or landfill."...
Stair of the Week: Clayton St House by Mork-Ulnes Design
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 11.14.08
A former hippie haven in Haight-Ashbury is renovated by Casper Mork-Ulnes, designer of the prefab Modern Cabana line.
The New York Times writes:
"Salvaged lumber was glued together to form the butcher-block treads of the parlor staircase; chips and nail holes were left exposed. The railing is made of shower-door glass and industrial hardware."...
Will You Reduce Your CO2 Emissions By 50%?
by greenz.jp, Tokyo, Japan on 11.14.08
Dr 50% CO2, Keio University professor Hironori Hamanaka wants countries to agree on reducing CO2 emissions by 50% until 2050. Setting a target would at least put pressure on everyone to take serious action - now. At a meeting recently in Hayama, Japan, he further outlined the urgent task, as he helped organise a policy forum on Asia's Post-2012 Climate Regime. Meanwhile, China is now the world's largest CO2 emitting country, the average American citizen (Joe plummer, anyone?) continues to be top of the list in terms of per capita emissions, and Japan just announced it is increasing, not decreasing CO2 emissions. So, in the photo above, I imagine that Dr Hamanaka is pointing at this amazing graph:...
Less is More: Small Space Office by Jonas & Jonas
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 11.14.08
Just don't wax your floors too well before buying into Jonas & Jonas furniture that leans against the wall and has just two legs. They say that "the scratch and shock-resistant body of this furniture is made of high pressure laminate and allows for any kind of strain" but I would be nervous about someone accidentally kicking a leg and having it collapse.
But I do like the minimalist look and it certainly doesn't take up much space. ...
Survey: Is Your Diet Deteriorating?
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 11.14.08
Sales at McDonalds are up; sales at Starbucks and Whole Foods are down. Yet Alan says "the one place people should be investing in more is the food they eat. Relying on the cheapest foods full of starches, fats, and sugars could end up costing you more by hitting you where you can afford it least...your health."
...
Recycled Tee-shirts With a Story
by Bonnie Alter, London on 11.14.08
If you are looking for something cool to wear this autumn and feeling guilty about spending money and buying new; then Re-Shirt is for you. They are vintage, (second-hand as we used to call them) and they come with provenance. Available only on-line, the shirts, in good condition, have been donated to Re-Shirt. The story of each item of clothing, be it boring or interesting, must be included with the donation. Each shirt is then given a registered orange Re-Shirt label and number which is kept on file. So when you buy yours, you know the background of the piece of clothing and you can type in your shirt code and continue the journey by writing your chapter of the life of the shirt.
Clothing is no longer just an anonymous object, instead its story and the experiences associated with it are passed on. The longer the shirt is in circulation, the better its history becomes. And as a donor you get to watch how a personal piece of clothing takes on another life instead of just sitting around in a cupboard, taking up space.
...
Extreme Insulation: Who Needs It Most?
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 11.13.08
I thought I could delve into this topic like an engineer or architect, showing: heating degree-day isotherms, cooling degree-day isotherms, and mean annual temperature maps. But, alas, the graphics just don't work at blog-format. What else, then?
Turns out that, for the USA at least, plant hardiness zone maps get the overall idea across much better. They've already been adapted to a changing climate, courtesy of the Arbor Day Foundation (as pictured). Answer to the question of who needs extreme insulation is....drum roll.........
PacifiCorp To Remove Four Dams On Klamath River In California & Oregon.
by Rebecca Wodder, American Rivers on 11.13.08
Al Gore Not Looking to be ‘Climate Czar’ and Won’t Accept if Offered
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 11.13.08
photo: Brian Kong
It’s still up in the air whether president-elect Barack Obama will decide to create a new position of White House ‘Climate Czar’, but one thing’s for certain: Al Gore won’t be taking the job.
Though Barack Obama has said that, "Al Gore will be at the table and play a central part in us figuring out how we solve this problem [of climate change]," according to a Gore spokesperson, it’ll have to be in an unofficial capacity:...
New Carbon Offset Protocol Launched by US College & University Presidents Group
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 11.13.08
photo: ACUPCC
More and more centers of higher education are embracing renewable energy and environmental commitments in one form or another. One of the latest pan-institutional efforts is the American College & University Presidents Climate Commitment. The ACUPCC, with 593 signatories to date, provides a framework for institutions who become signatories of the commitment to both reduce their greenhouse gas emissions and raise awareness of their sustainability efforts.
In order to provide “clear, rigorous standards” for institutions wanting to offset their carbon emissions, the ACUPCC has release a new Carbon Offset Protocol. Here are the details:...
Fisker Opens Engineering Center Near Detroit
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 11.13.08
Tesla Out, Fisker In
Tesla Motors recently announced some layoffs and the closing of their Rochester Hills office near Detroit, and almost mirroring this exactly, Fisker Automotive has announce that it plans to open a 34,000 square feet engineering and development center in Pontiac, near Detroit, where up to 200 people will work on the companies plug-in hybrid cars....
MileMeter: Auto Insurance by the Mile is Greener
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 11.13.08
It's All About Incentives, Baby
It's no big mystery: If you have a flat rate for water, people will waste more of it than if they pay in function of how much they use. The same thing also certainly applies to cars. If people paid less insurance if they drove less, that would be an incentive to put fewer miles on their vehicles, thus using less fuel and polluting less. This would also reduce road congestion and accidents.
One company that has understood this is MileMeter from Texas. Read on for more details....
Space Stations Were Always So Green
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 11.13.08
Avi at Dark Roasted Blend does a great collection of images of distant worlds, but I was most interested in the visions of space stations from NASA Ames in the early 1970s; notice how everything is so green....
Organic Farmer Killed Mere Hours After Protesting Against Illegal Toxic Waste Dumping
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 11.13.08
It's Dangerous Being Green in India
It can be dangerous to fight polluters. This story reminds me of many others that I've read in a book called "The War Against the Greens".
It all started when Challa Krishnamurthy, a 60-year-old organic farmer from Gowribidanur, India, noticed that a local distillery and sugarcane factory was dumping toxic waste on his property. "He had alerted the Pollution Control Board and a dozen agencies including the government and police, but all came to naught." That's when he decided that the only way to fight back was to alert the media. That probably cost him his life. Read on for more details....
Are You Ready To Take the 100-Mile Thanksgiving Challenge?
by Jessica Root - Brooklyn, NY on 11.13.08
Year after year of the same turkey, stuffing and cranberry sauce can be tiresome. This Thanksgiving why not try out something new using only local ingredients found within a 100-mile radius of your home. Bahar Zakar, winner of the 2006 100-Mile Challenge created this stunning three-courser:...
UPS Going Labeless with Super Cool Paper-Free Printer
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 11.13.08
Photo via HP
UPS has long been interested in improving efficiency. For a year and a half, HP and UPS have been working together to develop a scanner/printer that prints sorting labels directly on packages. The time and effort looks to be worth it because this awesome little device means huge paper, money and time savings.
The device underscores that it pays to be green – according to UPS's estimates, it will save about 92,456 hours year through increased productivity, save about 1,338 tons of paper, and reduce carbon emissions by 3,807 tons each year.
Read on for details of how it works, plus a video. ...
Tim Hortons Cross-checks City Into Submission
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 11.13.08
The late Tim Horton never let anyone push him around, and neither does his eponymous coffee chain. They just body-checked and high-sticked the City of Toronto into submission on its plans to reduce waste, so much of which comes from that one hugely successful chain.
The City calls it a "compromise".
"This allows industry and leaders like Tim Hortons to sit down with the city on how we are actually going to reduce the volume of garbage going into our garbage dumps," said committee chairman Glenn De Baeremaeker "How do we get 365 million coffee cups out of the garbage stream and into the recycling stream?"Simple. You dump them on his doorstep. But Timmy stomped his skates and refused to change his cups or lids, or to contribute to the three million dollar cost of recycling machinery to separate them. And for some reason, he got his way. ...
OpenEco.org Expands Tools for Detailed Carbon Tracking
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 11.13.08
OpenEco.org is adding tools to its website in an effort to be a resource that can help businesses and organizations get a move on with tracking and reducing their greenhouse gas emissions.
The website, run by Sun Microsystems, is a place for organizations to calculate their emissions and access resources for how to reduce them. But the bigger purpose of the site goes far beyond these simple tasks.
Lori Duvall, Eco Responsibility Program Manager for Sun Microsystems, was kind enough to talk with us about what the site improvements mean for GHG reduction. ...
Killer Smog Cloud Smothers Sunlight Across Asia
by Alex Pasternack, New York, NY on 11.13.08
Tiananmen Square, December 27, 2007. Oded Balilty / AP
Asia's Airborne Toxic Event
Don't adjust your monitors: Natural light has become 10 to 25 percent dimmer in cities such as Beijing, Karachi, Shanghai and New Delhi as 3-km thick "brown clouds" of pollution spread across Asia and elsewhere, according to a new UN report.
As the picture above (and this alarming satellite photo we previously shared) indicate, countries like China are plagued by a vast Atmospheric Brown Cloud (ABC) made of "more than three-km thick layer of soot and other man-made particles that stretches from the Arabian Peninsula to China and the western Pacific Ocean," the result of burning fossil fuels and biomass. This may not be news to many, but the UN report makes vividly clear just how murky things have become.
"We used to think of this brown cloud as a regional problem, but now we realize its impact is much greater," Veerabhadran Ramanathan, who led the UN scientific panel, said. "When we see the smog one day and not the next, it just means it's blown somewhere else."...
Iconic Boston Building Gets an LED Make-Over
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 11.13.08
Photo via Philips
We talk a lot about the breakthroughs in LED lighting. Well, take note that the new technology is getting put to good use.
Boston’s first official skyscraper, the Marriott Custom House Tower, was in need of a makeover, and it received one in the form of replacing its incandescent fixtures with LED fixtures, beautifying the building while using one third the energy. ...
No Impact Man on Consumption
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 11.13.08
Warren wrote earlier today "wasn’t it rampant consumption that got us into this mess?"
Colin Beavan, aka No Impact Man, is asking the same question.
None of the politicians seem to want to discuss the fact that consumption is at the root of our environmental problems. I'd love to hear your thoughts on the reasons for that. Doesn't reducing consumption make perfect sense? Why is it the elephant in the living room? Are people too selfish to consume less? How do we move towards a less consumptive society? How much would it help with the climate crisis?Interesting discussion at No Impact Man...
Paper-Free Hand Drying, Organic Beer Tastings and Direct Actionism
by Jessica Root - Brooklyn, NY on 11.13.08
:: Re-think your post-hand washing habit. Skip the paper towel and shake and dry instead!
:: Sick of the same old wine routine? Spice things up and host an organic beer tasting party.
:: Are you a direct actionist? Find out!...
David Suzuki and Bruce Mau Behind New Eco-Boutique in Toronto
by Naturally Savvy on 11.13.08
Pistachio’s flagship Yonge & Eglinton location in Toronto. Photo courtesy of Pistachio.
Looking for beeswax crayons for the kids? Or perhaps you’re in need of unique note cards printed on recycled paper with soy ink? If your dream store carries nothing but chic, eco-friendly products, you’ll be nuts for Pistachio, a new retail store that opened in Toronto last month.
The shop with a conscience envisioned by Heather Reisman – the woman behind the Indigo Books empire (which, incidentally, has a rather impressive environmental policy for a bookstore) – goes the extra mile in greening lifestyle retail. But it all started, as the company’s mission statement reveals, with a simple idea, “being generous, environmentally sensitive and engaged with life is good for us and good for the planet.”...
From the Forums: Bad Economy = Bad Diet
by Alan Graham, Portland, Oregon on 11.13.08
Image Courtesy of McDonalds™
eatright says:
From the AP
McDonald's Corp. said Monday its global same-store sales jumped 8.2 percent during the month. That beat the company's own prediction for a rise similar to the one it recorded in its last quarter, when same-store sales, or sales at locations open at least a year, jumped 7.1 percent worldwide. "McDonald's strong October sales show that we are delivering what customers count on from McDonald's — choice, variety and high-quality food and beverages at affordable prices," Chief Executive Jim Skinner said in a statement.As the economy takes a turn for the worst, people are starting to cut costs. However, the one place people should be investing in more is the food they eat. Relying on the cheapest foods full of starches, fats, and sugars could end up costing you more by hitting you where you can afford it least...your health. Studies show that a bad diet can lead to increases in depression, anxiety, and lethargy (to name a few). I think in these difficult times, everyone should be cutting back, but not on the quality of food. You could spend $30 on fast food for your or your family or you could spend the same amount from your local organic co-op or CSA and get: Read More...
7 Ways to Fund a Green New Deal: Worldwatch Institute Researchers Offer Suggestions
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 11.13.08
photo: Eric
A lot of people have been throwing around variations on the phrase “Green New Deal” in the past month in their plans/recommendations on how the US and/or world economy can morph into a greener form. A new opinion piece from two researchers at the Worldwatch Institute is no different (though they prefer the term "Global Green Deal") and contains many of the same elements that have been highlighted before: Increase renewable energy deployment, increase energy efficiency, create a greener infrastructure, using resources more wisely.
The interesting thing about the Worldwatch recommendations are that it suggests a number of ways that a Global Green Deal could be funded, as well as including a component addressing growing wage inequality:
...
LED Lamp Runs on Mud
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 11.13.08
Dutch designer Marieke Staps has built a lamp with the LEDs powered by soil. She writes:
"Free and environmentally friendly energy forever and ever. The lamp runs on mud. The metabolism of biological life produces enough electricity to keep an LED lamp burning. The mud is enclosed in various cells. These cells contain copper and zinc that conduct the electricity. The more cells there are , the more electricity they generate. This technique offers a wealth of possibilities. The only thing the lamp needs is a splash of water every now and then."...
Green Room With A View: Denali's Cutting-edge, Off-Grid Visitors Center
by Rocky Mountain Institute on 11.13.08
Sixty miles down a dirt road in the Alaskan Wilderness, sits a cutting-edge green building nestled in the mountains.
An educational landmark for visitors and a starting point and shelter for backcountry hikers, the LEED platinum Eielson Center in Alaska's Denali National Park sports some of the greenest features yet produced by federal funds.
...
Can Obama's Monster Limo Be a Hybrid? Yes It Can!
by Alex Pasternack, New York, NY on 11.13.08
From Hybrid to Heavy
During the campaign he sang the praises of hybrids and rallied against SUVs, and switched his ride to a mix of the two.
But now it looks like the next President will be rolling in a much dirtier limousine. The Founding Fathers could have never imagined it: as the New York Times reported last week, rumored Obama-mobile is a brand new souped-up limo that looks like the typical (and soon-to-be retired) Cadillac DTS but is actually based on GM's line of heavy-duty 2500 trucks.
For obvious security reasons, we may never know much about this car, including how much mileage it gets, or if it has any awesome feedback monitors. But a non-souped up 2500 series truck gets an MPG in the single digits, and emits a whopping 16 tons of CO2 per year, earning it the worst possible climate change rating from the EPA. And this truck-limo hybrid will be so much heavier -- with 5-in.-thick glass, cell-phone-jamming equipment, and blast-proof ceramics -- that, as TruckTrend notes, "it probably guzzles more gas in a week than most people use in a month."
It may not rescue GM. And maybe it won't speed up the transition from oil. It may sound silly in the context of the collective. But can the Obamamobile be a hybrid? I say yes, it can....
Pickup Pal Banned In Ontario
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 11.13.08
Pickup Pal operates in 104 countries, "facilitating ridesharing for hundreds of thousands of people." Its objectives "are to reduce carbon emissions, combat road traffic congestion, fight high gas prices and enable people to connect and improve the environment."
But not in Ontario, Canada; Trentway Wagar, a big bus company, took them to court for running an unlicensed transport business that crossed municipal boundaries. Then not only won, but PickupPal got hit for $11,336.07 in fines.
...
Financial Times, Forum for the Future Team Up for Climate Change Competition
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 11.13.08
Have a great idea to beat the effects of climate change? Want $75,000 to fund your idea? Try the contest hosted by Financial Times and Forum for the Future. It starts today and aims to seek out the best of the best for fighting climate change.
Read on for what they're looking for and how to take part. ...
Don’t Call it a Wind Farm, It’s an EcoPower Centre: Canada’s Largest Wind Project (200 MW) Opens
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 11.13.08
photo: Canadian Hydro
Though in the scheme of the world it’s solidly in the middle ranks of wind power project capacity, but given that the newly finished Melancthon EcoPower Centre, developed by Canadian Hydro, is Canada’s largest wind farm it’s still worth noting. Here are the details: ...
James Scott Brew on Recession: With Existing Buildings "We Are Sitting On a Virtual Oilfield"
by Alex Pasternack, New York, NY on 11.13.08
The LEED-certified Oregon Health & Science University's Center for Health & Healing
James Scott Brew, a principal architect with the Rocky Mountain Institute, the seminal green "think and do tank," knows a thing or two about sustainable design. He's been at it for the better part of three decades, designing high-performance buildings and consulting on projects around the globe. He's now working on projects in Asia, Europe and the US, and promoting a whole-systems thinking about green architecture. When I ran into him at the JUCCE conference in Beijing this week, I posed a few big questions that anyone passionate -- or not -- about green buildings might be asking now too.
...
Don't Underestimate Whole Foods
by Jeff Siegel, Green Chip Stocks on 11.13.08
Mobile Woodworking Shop, 1938
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 11.13.08
We recently showed Paul Villinski's Emergency Response Studio that was a wood shop on wheels; Here is an interesting version from 1938 of a woodworking shop that would tour California schools. From Modern Mechanix...
Top 7 Green Lists of 7 Green Things
by Mark Ontkush, Boston, Massachusetts, USA on 11.13.08
Image by Freefoto
Seven, seven, seven, seven, seven, seven, seven! It's a magic number; people are addicted to the number seven. Doesn't it feel good, just looking at all those sevens? You get a thrill right, something deep down inside, a little frisson of yee-hah that is much bigger than looking at, say, twelves 12's or (Allah forbid) sixty-two 62s, the latter of which is statistically proven to be the most boring thing ever to be looked upon.
Couple this love with the love of lists; there's even a book of lists, which is perfect for the top of the toilet tank. Most likely this is due to the boundaries of a human's short term memory - we can only put about 7 things in it - coupled with the fact that we, as a species, are lazy; just cut to the verb, tell me what to do. So, without further ado, here are 7 lists of 7 green things you can do. Seven!!!!!
...
Survey: Are We Hurting Yet?
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 11.13.08
A year ago when George Monbiot said "Bring on the recession," others, including TreeHugger, said "be careful what you wish for." Now Warren asks, "Are we hurting yet?", andCould this recession/depression we are teetering on the edge of, be the best thing that could’ve happened to reduce unchecked growth and limit greenhouse gas emissions?...
Doing More with Less: DIY iPod Speakers
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 11.13.08
Photo via Yanko Design
When it comes to electronics, doing more with less is key to sustainability. Also helpful is ditching plastic gadgets for paper, and DIYing it whenever you can.
A design from Dmitry Zagga, featured over at Yanko Design combines all these essential elements in a great speaker set-up for iPods.
Read on for details and how to do this yourself. ...
Are We Hurting Yet?
by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 11.13.08
Image source
We have been repeatly told that fixing the environment wasn’t possible because it would upset the economy too much. It seems that greed did a better job of making the economy go weak at the knees, than tackling global warming might ever have done.
I’ve just finished watching the Special Broadcasting Services (SBS) TV program, Insight, which this week focused on looming growth in unemployment, as a result of the global financial crisis. [It’s now available online.] What struck me most was the discussion on the so called stimulus packages initiated by Australian ($7 billion USD), Chinese ($586 billion USD) and other governments. Their intent is basically to inject the economy with copious money, so folk can rush out and buy more goods and services. But wasn’t it rampant consumption that got us into this mess in the first place? People spending beyond their means. ...
Preparing for Peak Oil: Local Authorities and the Energy Crisis
by Sami Grover, Carrboro, NC, USA on 11.13.08
New Guide to Oil Depletion for Local Authorities
Whether it’s Boulder, Colorado enacting a carbon tax; Sydney becoming Australia’s first carbon-neutral government body; or Somerset County Council becoming the first “Transition Local Authority” in the UK, local government can be fertile ground for grassroots environmental change. Even so, few town councils and regional governments are grasping the dire need for energy reform in the near future. We’ve just heard, via Rob Hopkins at Transition Culture, that a new guide from the Oil Depletion Analysis Centre and the Post Carbon Institute hopes to set this straight – helping local authorities in the UK plan for the threat of peak oil.
...
American Federation of Teachers Passes Landmark Green Schools and Colleges Resolution
by Kenny Luna, North Babylon, NY on 11.13.08
It may have slipped by your news reader during the dog days of summer, but don’t think for a second that the AFT’s recent adoption of a green schools and colleges resolution is anything less than a landmark event; because with 1,400,000 members the AFT has the membership muscle to back up their call for greener schools in America....
World Economic Downturn "Decycles" Reclaimed Materials
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 11.13.08
In just months we went from common thieves stealing power cables and iron fences to a market that couldn't care less for reclaimed materials. The price for scrap anything is in the toilet, and likely to stay there for a few years. No more green washing about recyclable water bottles - please.
On the good side: you no longer have to worry about your catalytic converter disappearing. A sudden collapse in worldwide demand for re- cyclables, particularly from China, has scrap dealers from Sacramento to San Diego stockpiling curbside collections as never before and charging walk-in customers for their throwaways...Stacks of baled paper, plastic and metal are mounting at the Sacramento Recycling & Transfer Station plant on Fruitridge Road because market prices are too low to turn a profit or, worse, no buyers can be found, its operators said.Via:Sacramento Bee, As world demand falls, prices for recyclables go in dumper...
A Victory for Lake Baikal's Future
by Bonnie Alter, London on 11.13.08
Lake Baikal, the "pearl of Siberia", is the world's deepest lake. Because of its age and isolated location in Siberia, it contains unusual collections of freshwater flora and fauna and 1,700 plant and animal species. It has also been the subject of great controversy as activists fought to reroute a petroleum pipeline from its shore and then fought to relocate a nuclear enrichment centre. Indeed, Marina Rikhvanova, head of the Baikal Environmental Wave, the leading environmental group, won the distinguished Goldman Environmental Prize this year for her efforts.
Another victory has been won in the battle to clean up the lake. After years of campaigning, a pulp and paper factory which pumped toxic waste into the lake has now been shut down. Built in 1966, the plant's run off has dumped thousands of tons of dioxin and other harmful effluents into the lake. In September the mill changed to a "closed-water" system that cut discharge. The company claims that has caused the closure and lay-off of 1,400 employees.
...
Elegant Recycled Restaurant Made from Scrap by Nancy Robbins Design Studio
by Petz Scholtus, Barcelona, Spain on 11.13.08
In our previous article about Casa Decor, the international interior design show taking place this month in Barcelona, we weren’t sure they stuck to their self-implied title Pathway to a Sustainable Environment (or “Rumbo Sostenible” in Spanish). However, amongst the non-convincing projects and confusing messages, the design of the restaurant makes a refreshing difference. Designed by Barcelona-based Nancy Robbins Design Studio, we’d like to invite you to take a closer look at a precious piece of recycled interior design. Read on to see more images....
Nano Silver in Your Underwear? 600 Products With Nanoparticles Are Barely Regulated
by April Streeter, Gothenburg, Sweden on 11.13.08
These "Silver Fragrant Seamless Skintight Panties" and "Anti Odor Healthy Socks" have nanosilver ions, from Tsung-Hau Technology.
Nano-scale materials are now being widely used in industry without major research available about the both the environmental and safety risks some of the materials may pose, says Britain's Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution.
The Commission was careful to say that there's no current evidence of major harm to consumers or the environment thus far from nanomaterials, which are used over a wide range of industries - in clothing fabric, cosmetics and personal care products, electronics, and many a new product touted by TreeHugger, such as thermal insulating nano paint. The Journal of Industrial Ecology recently speculated in its June 2008 issue that too little is known at present, but that nanomanufacturing may leave a large environmental footprint. And the UK Commission did issue one specific consumer recommendation, hinted at in the graphic above and explained after the jump....
Southern Ocean Could Hit Ocean Acidification Tipping Point 30 Years Early
by Jeremy Elton Jacquot, Los Angeles on 11.12.08
Image from huangjiahui
Things just went from worse to worser in the Southern Ocean: According to a new study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science, seasonal changes in pH and the concentration of carbonate could be compounding the impact of anthropogenic emissions, speeding up the process of ocean acidification by almost 30 years, reports ABC Science's Bianca Nogrady. Pushing the ocean much further could weaken the Southern Ocean's ability to absorb large amounts of carbon dioxide and dramatically alter its ecosystem structure, the lead author, Ben McNeil of the University of South Wales, warns. ...
New Energy Economy Emerging in the United States
by Lester Brown, Washington, D.C on 11.12.08
Japanese Wind God, by Ogata Korin
Lester R. Brown
A new energy economy is emerging in the United States. As I note in a recent , the old energy economy, fueled by oil, coal, and natural gas, is being replaced by one powered by wind, solar, and geothermal energy. The transition is moving at a pace and on a scale that we could not have imagined even a year ago. ...
The Green Dragon Wakes: Are China’s Eco-Efforts A Sign of Things to Come?
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 11.12.08
Tibet railway photo: Henry Chen
China’s environmental woes are well documented, but in a recent article in Yale Environment 360 Fred Pearce tries to find the greener side of China’s rise. He even asserts that, because of its growing green efforts, China’s per-capita carbon emissions are unlikely to ever reach those of the United States.
At his own request, you can call him an “incorrigible optimist” (and frankly, I do, at least in part). But here are Pearce’s examples of the new Green China:...
Battery Life Breakthrough Could Increase Capacity by 800%
by Christine Lepisto, Berlin on 11.12.08
Photo of Professor Cho Jaephil via Hanyang University
Could this man be responsible for extending laptop battery life to 16 or 32 hours? A team of researchers at South Korea's Hanyung University led by professor Cho Jaephil (pictured), has claimed a breakthrough that could extend lithium ion battery charge life up to 8 times current values. Such a breakthrough is big news, not just for shiny gadgets but for electric vehicles and micro-generation as well. What is the key to the breakthrough?
...
Vauxhall Sky Garden by Amin Taha Architects
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 11.12.08
Amin Taha Architects are building gardens in the sky in their new Vauxhall tower, with 25,000 square feet of communal gardens, each three stories in height.
the idea behind the gardens is to create a space for social interaction foster micro communities. while the building is as dense as planning authorities allow, it maintains a high level of social sustainability....
The US Should Be Denmark: Tom Friedman on Greening the Economy
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 11.12.08
photo: World Resources Institute
By this point we’ve all heard it dozens of times: Green jobs will revitalize the economy. And though by most accounts the stats bear out that near-maxim, nonetheless transforming our current brown economy to one a nice healthy shade of green is easier said than done. In a brief interview with The Huffington Post, Tom Friedman outlined the sort of effort required to make this sort of transformation.
The most interesting example he gave, as a model to prove that it can be done, is from Denmark:...
Transformer Furniture: Quickie by Jared Dickey
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 11.12.08
Transformer furniture lets people get more out of small spaces, and you are going to be a neat minimalist if you have to clean off your desk before you go to bed every night.
...
Near Future for Green Movement: Speed Bump or Precipice?
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 11.12.08
We're All Living in Internet Time Now
Things sure move fast these days. If we look at the environment, it wasn't so long ago that in the U.S. green wasn't on the mainstream's radar and opinions on global warming were extremely polarized. Then in the past couple years, everybody and their dogs were now into green. European governments were pledging to make huge cuts in greenhouse gas emissions, etc.
But things are changing. Are we on the eve of a new 180 degrees? Read on for more....
e-Stewards Announces Big News for e-Waste Recyclers
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 11.12.08
Photo via ▌ÇP▐
The Basel Action Network, the Electronics TakeBack Coalition, and 32 electronics recyclers in the US and Canada have a big announcement that will help boost the responsible recycling of e-waste.
e-Stewards, a program that gives gold stars to responsible recyclers, will soon be fully accredited and certified, becoming the very first independently audited and accredited program in North America. The program will help out in quite a few ways to reduce the occurrence of illegal and harmful e-waste practices. ...
Japan Loses Home-Town Kyoto Advantage With Increased C02 Emissions
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 11.12.08
The increase of 2.3 percent last year, largely due to the closure of Japan's biggest nuclear power plant after an earthquake, will ratchet up the pressure for it to give up its efforts to control emissions through voluntary measures and adopt tougher limits on industry like the European Union and Australia.Via:Reuters, Japan CO2 hits record See a few predictions below....
First Mating in 36 Years For Island's Last Giant Tortoise
by Kimberley D. Mok, Montreal, Canada on 11.12.08
Image: "Lonesome George" - it's lonely to be the last (putneymark on Flickr)Ninety years old and considered one of the world’s rarest organisms, the giant tortoise from the Galapagos Islands known as "Lonesome George" stunned conservationists when he mated with two females earlier this summer. To the dismay of scientists studying the eggs however, 80 percent of the eggs appear to be duds. Originating from Pinta Island, once home to thousands of saddleback tortoises, George (Geochelone nigra abingdoni) is the last of his kind to be found and was taken into captivity in 1971. The females were from a different subspecies of giant tortoise on a neighbouring island. But Ecuadorean scientists in charge of the tortoise re-population plan on Pinta are not about to give up....
Fall In TreeHuggers: Obama's Environmental Suggestion Box Is Full
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 11.12.08
"Suggestions" Box Outside Oval Office, by Clay Bennett, Bennett Archive.
What self respecting green blog doesn't have up a post or five listing all the tactical things that 'Obama Should Do' or 'Obama Should Undo?' "Which ones?" indeed.
The many self-referencing blog lists and op pieces on 'what Obama should do' are so similar, it's as if a mind virus has taken over the self-appointed spokespersons of all things environmental.
The cure is mass inoculation by strategy serum: strongly indicated for the young and, you know, those kind of environmentalists who were powerfully argued to be "dead" a few years ago but didn't get the message. (See "Dissecting Environmentalism: An Interview with Adam Werbach" for perspective.)...
The World's 5 Most Inspiring Green Leaders
by Eliza Barclay, Washington, D.C. on 11.12.08
photo: Ben Leto
With a new president elected in the United States, the world may soon turn a corner and create a new unified front on the environment, and climate change in particular. But there are several leaders who have already demonstrated exceptional commitment to the environment in their home countries and in the international arena. In 2009, all of the developed nations will be under increasing pressure to transition to low-carbon and resource-efficient economy. We will be scrutinizing these heads of state above all others to see what good examples they can set for the rest of the world.
And the list is.......
8 Green Music Festivals That Rock
by Elizabeth Seward, New York, New York on 11.12.08
Image Credit: Getty Images
Festivals are not a modern day invention. The roots of the celebratory gathering go as far back as the Egyptians, who used to toast the annual overflow of the Nile, which irrigated crops. Whether it be religion (the most common theme in the past), the solar or lunar calendar, or music, food, and art, festivals continue to be fantastic socializing tools. Unfortunately, with so many pre-packaged products and high-voltage effects, festivals have become known for being relatively anti-environment these days. Luckily, there are at least eight music festivals out there really striving to make a difference.
8. Rothbury
Image Credit: livedownloads.com
You might not expect the same sorts of green efforts from Rothbury, Michigan as you would in, say, San Francisco. However, Rothbury is certainly making headway in the field of green. Some of the green things they're doing: From providing a place for composting and recycling to using clean energy, this festival has its act together. They've got an 'around the clock' green team ready and willing to help out and they provide free environmental education to festival-goers....
From the Forums: Green Products for Cars
by Alan Graham, Portland, Oregon on 11.12.08
A lot of companies are pumping out "green" products these days, but from what I can glean there is a spectrum of environmental safety to be aware of. I have in particular been attempting to use more environmentally safe household products (soaps, detergents, etc), although it seems like with cleaning it's hard to avoid using toxic materials.
Cars are a good example. I received a tip from a website a while back that claimed you should always get your car washed by a professional rather than doing it yourself, due to the lack of "green" products for cars on the market (which is true, I've never actually seen any, although I'm sure they're out there). But, that also means you'd need to find a "green" car wash of some kind, right?
Discuss: No Account Necessary...
Whales 0, Navy 1: Court Rules In Favor of Lifting Restrictions on Harmful Sonar Use
by Alex Smith, San Francisco, California on 11.12.08
Supreme Court Sides with the Navy
Today the Supreme Court lifted restrictions on Navy sonar use, a practice that has been found to disorient and beach whales. The defeat was felt among environmentalists across the States. More below the fold....
What to Do With Styrofoam: Make Robots!
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 11.12.08
Photo via Dinosaurs and Robots
Ever open up the box for your new monitor or DVD player, look at the Styrofoam packaging and wonder what on earth you're going to do with it? Well, Kevin Kelly sure did, and he came up with a great idea for a way to repurpose all that frightening foam. The cool sculpture is shown off over at Dinosaurs and Robots.
Read on for more cool Styrofoam robot sculptures....
Business Enraged at Toronto Proposals for Reducing Waste
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 11.12.08
Brand Name Litter by Kevin Steele
The City of Toronto is tired of landfilling and separating and recycling producer waste, so it is considering mandating discounts for customers who bring their own containers, and rules on materials to ensure that they are compatible with the City's recycling programs so that they don't go to landfill.
Not surprisingly, the Plastics Industry Council and the "Canadian Taxpayers Federation" say it will drive up the cost of food for residents, put community businesses at a disadvantage, and kill local jobs.
...
NYC Green Event: American Media & The Green Movement (5 Readers Will Get in Free!)
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 11.12.08
image from a photo by: Stefan Powell
New Yorkers, want some green inspiration this Thursday night? Head down to 92Y Tribeca for American Media & the Green Movement.
Planet Green’s Annabelle Gurwitch will moderate a panel discussion featuring: author Elizabeth Royte (of Bottlemania fame), TreeHugger’s very own Graham Hill, Lyyne Kirby from the Sundance Channel, Andrew Revkin from The New York Times, Ira Flatow from NPR's Science Fridays and CNN’s Charlie Moore.
The event starts at 7pm and costs $20 to get in, but keep reading to find out you can get in for free:...
Rio: An Environmentally Conscious Album by Aterciopelados
by Paula Alvarado, Buenos Aires on 11.12.08
Photos: Nacional Records.
Even if you don't speak a word of Spanish, there's a pretty big chance that you know Aterciopelados, a Colombian band that jumped to the international scene in the '90s. Its heartbreak-song Bolero Falaz travelled around the world putting Colombia in the international rock-map.
Much has gone through since then and the now duo formed by Andrea Echeverry and Hector Buitrago, grown up and heading families of their own, have become more and more involved in environmental issues. So much, that their latest album is called Rio (River), and the song that names the record -for example- is a homage to the Bogota River, now polluted and in danger.
TreeHugger exchanged e-mails with one of the Aterciopelados, Hector Buitrago, who tells us about the inspiration behind Rio and the group's environmental involvement....
Algae Biofuel Facility to be Built in Durango, Colorado by Solix Biofuels
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 11.12.08
image: Solix Biofuels
Here’s another algae biofuel company to watch: Solix Biofuels, based in Fort Collins, Colorado has announced that it has raised $10.5 million in a first round of funding, and has reached an agreement with investors for a further $5 million to build an algae biodiesel facility near Durango, Colorado. Ponying up this money are Valero Energy, Infield Capital, and (perhaps most interestingly) the Southern Ute Indian Tribe:...
Nuclear Power Plant to Be Converted to Green Data Center
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 11.12.08
Photo via 1&1
A green data center is going to get a new, unlikely home in Hanau, Germany. 1&1 has chosen a never-used nuclear fuel facility as its newest location for an enormous data center, which will be one of Europe’s largest.
The center will be run on renewable energy, and will feature quite a few tricks for keeping the electricity bill down....
Modern Prefab + Credit Crunch = Teardown
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 11.12.08
The architects of the prefabs at the MoMA show Home Delivery were allowed to sell their houses at the end of the show. Most were more works of art rather than livable houses, so it shouldn't really be a surprise that there were not many takers. Only the micro-compact home found a buyer, and it was the only really complete production model of the bunch. (the System 3 house, which I thought was the gem of the show, was shipped back to Europe)
...
Sanyo's Pedometer Charges With Each Step
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 11.12.08
Photo via TBG
With all the talk of kinetic energy generators, it's nice to see the idea getting some practical application. Leaving behind the lofty goal of trying to charge every gadget you own through movement, Sanyo is looking to make a device that simply charges itself while you use it.
The company is creating a prototype of a pedometer that captures the kinetic energy of your footfall while you walk or jog. ...
Politics Matter: 4 Governors Oppose New Dam in Central Japan
by greenz.jp, Tokyo, Japan on 11.12.08
Sometimes it seems media (or whoever is pulling the strings) is trying to make it seem as if politics doesn't matter. Well, it does. Who you vote for can make a huge difference. Case in point: 4 governors of Osaka, Kyoto, Shiga and Mie are demanding that Japan's central government cancel its controversial plan to build a dam on the Daido River in Shiga prefecture, just northest of Kyoto.
This is an old battle: since 1968, Tokyo has wanted a dam in the green hills of the Kinki district, where occasional flooding causes huge problems to farmers and residents. In a very earnest (and unusually extravagant) attempt to convince English speaking community, the government even made a broshure (available here as a pdf file) to argue for the dam. Greenwash? you be the judge....
The Chair That Has Seated Millions
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 11.12.08
We often talk about the importance of good design in building a sustainable society, and have fewer better examples than the Thonet Chair. It is just six pieces of wood-two circles, two sticks and a couple of arches - held together by 10 screws and two nuts. It has been kicking around for a while- since 1859. Alice Rawsthorn writes in the International Herald Tribune:
When the No.14 was launched in 1859, it was the first piece of furniture to be both attractive and inexpensive enough to appeal to everyone from aristocrats to schoolteachers. By 1930, some 50 million No.14s had been sold, and millions more have been snapped up since then. Brahms sat on one to play his piano, as did Lenin while writing his political tracts, and millions of us have perched comfortably on them in cafés. Another admirer was the modernist pioneer Le Corbusier. "Never was a better and more elegant design and a more precisely crafted and practical item created," he enthused....
Survey: How Big Is Your Home Per Person?
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 11.12.08
When we did our post on monster green houses, a few commenters noted that it really depends on how many people live in the place, not the absolute size. Which made me curious: How big are our homes per person? Divide the area of your home by the number of people in it.
...
Pollution to Rise Along With Energy Prices?
by Jennifer Hattam, Istanbul, Turkey on 11.12.08
Environmentalists often cheer rising energy prices, hoping they will encourage conservation, boost support for higher efficiency standards, and make renewable sources more cost-effective. But hikes in the cost of natural gas may have Istanbul, and other Turkish cities, in for a smoggy winter....
TH Interview - Kevin Hagen on Corporate Responsibility at REI
by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 11.12.08
REI (Recreational Equipment, Inc) have been the subject of many posts here at TreeHugger. This membership-based co-op has been selling affordable product for adventure sports since 1938. Yet in those seventy years it’s really only been in the past few that REI have consciously focused of the sustainability aspects of their operations. You’ll find a list of past posts, including reference to their 2007 Stewardship Report at the end of the interview. But for now we’d like to take the opportunity to introduce you to Kevin Hagen, REI’s Corporate Social Responsibility Program Manager. Some months ago now Kevin shared with us just how this ‘greening’ is playing out, for an co-operative enterprise of more than 3 million ‘members’, over 80 stores and 8,000+ employees, with sales in excess of $1.3 billion USD. (Apologies to Kevin that this took so long to post, and please advise errors in transcription.)...
Arizona Elementary Kids Find Online School Newspaper an Eco-Smash
by Kenny Luna, North Babylon, NY on 11.12.08
When students and staff at the Frontier Elementary School in Peoria, Arizona realized just 100 kids didn’t have regular access to email in one form or another they took a shot at taking their journalistic masterpiece online, and they’re beaming because of it....
Solar Power, Sea-Water Heating and a New 'Bridge' for Copenhagen
by Sami Grover, Carrboro, NC, USA on 11.12.08
Steven Holl Architects have made our pages before – from a huge ‘eco-complex’ in China, to the shiny Whitney Water Purification facility. Now we hear via Inhabitat and The Guardian that the ground-breaking architect has won a competition to design a new gateway for Copenhagen. The result? Towering sky scrapers with some pretty impressive eco-features. Click below the fold for more details from Inhabitat and another stunning photo:
...
Runners World Chases Down the Green
by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 11.12.08
On the surface it might seem like running has little or no negative impact, hey it doesn’t even need a car. But Runner's World magazine found it wasn’t necessarily so, “because running shoes aren't so green, not today at least. Production is energy- and toxin-intensive...” They took a tour of some production facilities in China and visited many of the key American brands to get the inside scoop. Then they devoted their November 2008 issue to the topic. Some of what they found caused journalist Florence Williams to remark:
“I feel like I never want to buy anything ever again”.We pick out a few highlights of her investigation below....
Bristol is the UK's Greenest City
by Bonnie Alter, London on 11.12.08
Every week there is another "greenest city"--we've read about Portland, Modbury, and San Francisco and thought we should move to each of them. And today's winner is Bristol, a smallish town with a population of 410,000. According to a new report by Forum of the Future, Bristol is best for cycling, environmental performance, quality of life and readiness for challenges ahead. It has moved up on the list since last year due to its impressive increase in recycling and composting and top scores on water quality, waste collection and green spaces.
The report is the second annual Sustainable Cities Index and it rates Britain's top twenty cities on the basis of a number of indicators such as environmental impact, quality of life and future-proofing. Bristol has knocked out Brighton as the coolest (green) place to live although many would probably disagree. Plymouth, Newcastle, Cardiff and Edinburgh are next. Last are Birmingham, Liverpool and Hull.
...
Piaggio Scooters Gone Green: 141 MPG Hybrid
by Eric Leech, New York, NY on 11.11.08
Photo credited to Thingermeijig
The well crafted Piaggio three-wheel scooter has gone where few scooters have gone before... totally green!
Whether you deem yours male or female, it won't fall down every time a sexy woman or man walks by (hence the photo), thanks to it three wheel stability http://planetgreen.discovery.com/tech-transport/mgm-102b-hybrid-wheels.html. The MP3 scooter from Piaggio has had mixed reviews on its (three-wheel) form, however pretty solid reviews on its function (unmatched traction, stability and braking).
Thanks to its stringent engineering, the three wheeled Piaggio is capable of leaning to one side at a full 40 degree angle during cornering at practically any speed, which translates into making riding this scooter not only more fun, but also more safe. The Piaggio MP3 is easy to handle, quick, fun to drive, and now it has gone ultra green with its newly introduced plug-in hybrid model....
Vattenfall to Build 300 MW, £780M Offshore Wind Farm in Kent, UK
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 11.11.08
Most of the time these photos are merely representative of type of project written about, but this really is the Kentish Flats wind farm, which Vattenfall operates. Photo: Phil Hollmann.
Swedish firm Vattenfall, which already operates the 90 MW Kentish Flats offshore wind farm, has announced that it has paid £35 million ($53.8 million) for the rights to develop the Thanet Offshore Wind Project, off Margate, Kent. Total costs for the project, which is expected to be completed in 2010, are expected to be about £780 million ($1.2 billion).
Of investing in Britain, Anders Dahl, head of Vattenfall’s wind power division reiterated the essence of what previous studies have already said, ...
7 Executive Orders President Obama Should Sign to Protect the Environment: Center for Progressive Reform
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 11.11.08
photo: Nils Geylan
At the time of this writing, Barack Obama has been president-elect for less than a week and no one is wasting any time in making suggestions for actions he should take once he’s President Obama. The Center for Progressive Reform passed on their suggestions for 7 Executive Orders for the President’s First 100 Days and so I pass them on to you to debate, discuss and otherwise armchair analyze.
They cover a range of perennial issues familiar to TreeHugger readers—Climate change, chemicals in products intended for children, pollution, preserving ecosystems on public lands. Here they are: ...
How to Find Lost User Manuals, Green Office Birthdays and the Upcycled Party Contest
by Jessica Root - Brooklyn, NY on 11.11.08
:: Rather do the green thing and fix--not ditch--your (insert electronic device or appliance here)? Unless you are super organized, it's likely you've lost the user's manual. Luckily, a large medley of manuals can be found online.
:: Skip the stale supermarket cake and throw a green office party. Balloons and streamers not welcome.
:: Hurry up and submit your best handmade holiday decorations to CRAFT magazine's Upcycled Party Contest!...
Recycling is Bullshit; Make Nov. 15 Zero Waste Day, not America Recycles Day
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 11.11.08
Lets call recycling what it is- a fraud, a sham, a scam perpetrated by big business on the citizens and municipalities of America. Look who sponsors the National Recycling Coalition: behind America Recycles Day: Coca-Cola, Pepsico, Anheuser-Busch, Coors, Owens-Illinois, International Bottled Water Association, the same people who brought you that other fraud, Keep America Beautiful.
Recycling is simply the transfer of producer responsibility for what they produce to the taxpayer who has to pick it up and take it away.
...
5 Organic Childrens Products for the Fall
by Kristin Underwood, Sacramento, CA on 11.11.08
Image Source: Egg Baby
Just in time for the Holiday Season, several childrens clothing outfits offer cute new choices. One label is offering prizes to the winner of their design contest. Another has cute peace sayings on kids tops, while a third offers more upscale childrens clothing designs. A UK-based kids clothier even allows you to purchase carbon offsets and a cleaning company adds toy cleaning products to their line. The companies are US and UK based and now available online and in a few retail stores. While its easy to deny buying products for grownups, its hard to make a kid go through life without toys or any creativity, so for the tiny tots in your life, here goes. Let's get started....
TreeHugger Readers Receive a Deal on To-Go Ware for Life On-the-Go
by Kara DiCamillo, Newport, Rhode Island on 11.11.08
Welcome to our new "TreeHugger Deals" column, which will run every Tuesday and is exclusively for TreeHugger readers. TreeHugger never receives monetary compensation or proceeds from these promotions.
This week’s TreeHugger Deals comes to you from To-Go Ware, a company whose mission is to provide consumers the tools to reduce the amount of single-use plastics and other disposable foodware products that are so prevalent and toxic in today’s society. To-Go Ware’s offerings include stainless food containers, bamboo utensils and many other hand-crafted accessories for all of us that have such busy lives.
From now through December 31, 2008, TreeHugger readers can save 35% off all of To-Go Ware’s goods – so start your holiday shopping early! Coupon code: HUGG35. To-Go Ware...
Frugal Green Living: Posters for the Movement
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 11.11.08
"Frugal is the New Black" say the trendsetters. This isn't news to TreeHugger readers, nor is it particularly original; during the World Wars, that is how one lived. Sometimes people needed a little encouragement, so the the creatives got to work designing posters, telling people to save instead of spend, fix instead of buy new, grow instead of shop at the grocery, all messages that resonate today.
Have a look at a few of them in our inaugural slideshow of Frugal Green Living: Posters for the Movement
...
How to Go Green: Thanksgiving Day
by Rachel Lincoln Sarnoff, Los Angeles, California on 11.11.08
Image: Getty Images/Pamela Moore
With all the planning, cooking, and cleaning, the last thing you want to think about is greening your Thanksgiving, right? But this is the perfect time to reflect and reassess your holiday preparations with a nod to sustainability.
It's not as hard as you might think. We've broken it down to make Thanksgiving an easy, eco-friendly, and fun holiday for all involved. Follow our countdown and you can make an easy transition to a more sustainable holiday tradition. With extensive tips on menu planning, decorating, shopping, cleaning and more, we've got you covered from now 'til leftovers with our guide for How to Go Green: Thanksgiving Day over on Planet Green.
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The Carbon Footprint of Moving Bottled Water
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 11.11.08
John-Paul Flintoff of the Times drove to Oxford and back, a total of a hundred miles, and noticed that he had a bottle of water on the seat. He wondered how much energy it took to move it.
I converted the weight of the bottle (1 kilo) into pounds, and divided the distance (100 miles) into feet, using one of many online conversion sites. Then I converted the total number of foot-pounds into kilowatt hours. The result: 0.437 477 242 4. In other words, if I had left the bottle at home I could more usefully have used the same amount of energy to light my house all evening....
Greenpeace Activists Detain Palm Oil Tanker: Where Do Readers Stand on Direct Action?
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 11.11.08
Greenpeace Finland protesters targeting the other end of the palm oil chain, photo: Greenpeace Finland
I’m not entirely sure that this is the type of civil disobedience Al Gore was talking about at the Clinton Global Initiative meeting back in September, but maybe I’m wrong...
Yesterday, Greenpeace announced that, in order to highlight the ongoing deforestation occurring in Indonesia due to expanding oil palm cultivation, it had stopped a palm oil shipments from leaving port in Dumai, Indonesia. The activists locked themselves to the ship’s anchor chain to prevent its departure. The ship was bound for the Netherlands.
Bustar Maitar of Greenpeace Southeast Asia describes what happened next,...
How To Cook a Sustainable Thanksgiving Dinner
by Jessica Root - Brooklyn, NY on 11.11.08
Here in Park Slope, Halloween ended and the next day Christmas decorations and sale signs dotted the avenue blocks. Whether those sorts of stunts get you in the holiday spirit, or get you more excited for Buy Nothing Day, I’ll take the middle road and warm you up to the idea of Thanksgiving. After all, it is only a little more than two weeks away! There are free-range turkeys to find, Tofurkys to stock up on (any veggie knows the hardships of finding them last minute in the freezer-case), sustainable side-dishes to sample and farm-fresh pies to bake or buy. Wondering how you’ll manage?...
Economic Downturn Contributes to Major Deficit at M.T.A.
by Andrew Posner, Providence, Rhode Island on 11.11.08
An Ironic Situation
Public transit, which in the face of record gas prices has been looking increasingly attractive (although fuel costs have recently declined), is now being challenged by the economic downturn as certain revenue streams dry up. For example, the Metropolitan Transit Authority "faces a $1.2 billion budget deficit in 2009 — $300 million more than it had projected in July — that will very likely require new fare and toll increases or service reductions." This deficit comes in spite of the fact that ridership is up across the country. In the case of the M.T.A., which servces New York City and surrounding areas, "the deficit was caused. . .by the collapse of revenues from real estate and corporate taxes." The irony here is that while high gas prices encouraged more people to consider public transit, and the economic downturn only strengthened the need to save money, many transit authorities will be forced to raise fares and decrease services....
9 "Green" Monsters: Can a 15,000 SF Mcmansion be Green?
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 11.11.08
This lovely 9,800 square foot gem has been called "One of the Greenest Luxury Homes Ever Built" and " shows
that high-end real estate can have a small environmental footprint."
A year ago, Preston at JetsonGreen asked "Are we confusing the words "green," "sustainable," "energy efficient," and "small footprint"? You tell me, is this green? Since then, the answer has become even more obvious.
...
From the Forums: Natural Contraceptives?
by Alan Graham, Portland, Oregon on 11.11.08
Ian Gordon asks:
I recently came across some material which obliquely referenced various native American herbs and plants which could be used as contraceptives. Apparently male anthropologists asked the men about population control and got nothing but shrugs in return. Female anthropologist asked the women and got the low down. I was wondering whether anyone has any more information on this topic. It's not the first time I've stumbled across stuff like this. I recently read an article which claimed that an extract from the Neem Tree could render men temporarily sterile without diminishing libido. -Ragleaf Bahia. The Navajos, who called the Ragleaf bahia herb twisted medicine, drank a tea of the roots boiled in water for thirty minutes for contraception purposes.Read More...
6 Cents Per Plastic Bag: New York City’s Mayor Wants Everyone to Pay Up
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 11.11.08
photo: d.billy
The latest in a series of environmental initiatives undertaken by New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg takes on plastic bags. Already the city requires that pretty much any store which gives customers plastic shopping bags also accept them back to be recycled. The Mayor’s most recent plan would go one step further and require stores to charge 6 cents per plastic bag used (the city would get 5 cents of that, with a penny going to the store). Here are some more details, such as there are, on the Mayor’s plan:
...
Arrr, Thar Be Oil Under Them Icebergs!
by Kristin Underwood, Sacramento, CA on 11.11.08
Image source: Getty Images
With the melting of the polar ice caps, countries around the world are finding that new shipping lanes are now opening up, and with that, areas that were previously off limits to exploration and drilling are now accessible. Scientific American reports that countries are now waging war on the high seas and drawing lines of "ownership" to get to these reserves. ...
7 Electric Motorcycles You Must See (including 1 that does 0-60 MPH in 0.97 seconds)
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 11.11.08
Electric Motorcycles: Cool and Green
There's nothing wrong with "cool", and we have to admit that few vehicles are cooler than motorcycles (at least in theory - not all of us would ride one). You're basically sitting on an engine with wheels. Can't get much simpler than that. They're not always practical, but the people who love their bikes really love them.
But cool is not enough. The vast majority of motorcycles are still running on fossil fuels, and that's a problem. As battery technology improves, we're starting to see more electric motorcycles: Some are commercially available, many are DIY custom jobs. Today we look at some of the coolest ones....
7 Overrated Technologies and Their Underrated Low-Tech Alternatives
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 11.11.08
Photo via Christiano Betta
Technology rocks, and improving upon what we have is a boon for fighting climate change in a lot of ways. But sometimes green gadgets get more attention than the totally effective non-tech solutions to problems in our lives, because, well, non-tech solutions are boring. The latest and greatest is always fun to talk about.
So we wanted to think about some of the cool technology we like discussing, that also have non-tech solutions that do just as much good. Thinking about all the ways in which we can do without tech helps us re-center, and remember the world does not revolve around power outlets. ...
Diagonal Crosswalks in L.A. to Make City More Pedestrian-Friendly
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 11.11.08
Making Pedestrian Life Easier
Our friends at StreetFilms have a short & sweet video about diagonal crosswalks (aka pedestrian scrambles, or Barnes dances) in Los Angeles. These make life easier for pedestrians by allowing them to get across an intersection diagonally without having to cross twice, and they improve safety because you don't have cars trying to turn while people are crossing.
Read on for the video and more details....
MSolar Portable Solar Power System By Solzar: 20, 50, Or 100 Watts In A Box
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 11.11.08
US’s First Plasma Gasification Waste-to-Energy Plant Online by 2011
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 11.11.08
photo: D'Arcy Norman
The technology involved in plasma gasification, or perhaps more properly plasma arc waste disposal, has been around for about fifty years, but few facilities exist that utilize it to both dispose of waste and create energy, and none are in the United States. That’s about to change.
Geoplasma, part of real estate developer Jacoby Group (same website), has announced that its planned plasma refuse plant in St. Lucie County, Florida is expected to come online by 2011.
Here are the details:...
Certified and Recovered Wood Design Furniture by Arqom
by Paula Alvarado, Buenos Aires on 11.11.08
Photos: Courtesy of Arqom.
This table and the beautiful set of large design benches in the extended are the work of Argentinean architecture and design studio Arqom, based outside the almighty Buenos Aires in Chaco province (north-east of this country) and directed by Adrian Prieto Piragine.
The studio premise is to work only with sustainable certified wood and with discarded pieces of this material coming from forests and sawmills. We had spotted one of their designs before, at the first green design exhibition in Buenos Aires about two years ago, but now we bring you their very worthy whole line.
Jump to the extended for beautiful, clever furniture (many, big pictures)....
CarbonFlow Gets Leg Up from VCs, Will Give Let Up to Carbon Market
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 11.11.08
Though the economy flags, there are more eyes than ever on clean tech and climate change. That is why CarbonFlow,
a software company working to bring transparency to the emerging carbon market, just gained a nice fat check from venture capitalists. CarbonFlow is turning that investment right around and putting it into the carbon market. ...
Ultracapacitors Get Real: Lightning Flashlights
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 11.11.08
We often debate whether technology will save us or whether we should rely on simpler tried and true methods. However, sometimes when something comes out of the labs that is so different, such an improvement, one thinks that perhaps the geeks in the white coats might actually pull it off. An example might be Lightning Flashlight, an ultracapacitor flashlight that recharges in 90 seconds, is good for fifty thousand power cycles, contains no heavy metals and is RoHS compliant. Essentially, it is a light for life.
TreeHugger has been waiting for EEstor's ultracap for years, complaining about their lack of transparency, while IVUS Energy Innovations has been developing its FlashPoint ultracap and happily writing about it, and is bringing it to market. At $169 it isn't cheap, but it is designed for police and fire use and is competitive in that market.
...
Council's Parking Fees Reward Electric Vehicles and Renewable Energy
by Sami Grover, Carrboro, NC, USA on 11.11.08
Tiered Parking Fees Incentivize Low-CO2 Vehicles
We’ve noted before how charging points and other incentives for electric vehicle drivers have been spreading like a virus across London. And while some boroughs of London may now be withdrawing free electric vehicle parking, others are continuing to push forward. The latest scheme from Camden Borough Council not only offers drivers reduced rate residential parking, as well as free parking in all metered spots across the borough – the council will wave the fee all-together if the vehicle owner can prove they are purchasing electricity from a renewable energy supplier. More details from the council’s website:...
5 Android Apps that are Eco-Fun
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 11.11.08
We know iPhone apps are pretty dang popular. We also know there are quite a few that help us to go green. Also getting popular are apps for Google's G1 and Android phones. So what are our green options so far?
We found five cool apps that will help Android software users green up their new phone. ...
Odds & Ends from Jo Meesters
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 11.11.08
Charles Jencks called it Adhocism: "the art of living and doing things ad hoc- using materials at hand, rather than waiting for the perfect moment or "proper" approach. As a principle of design, it begins with everyday improvisations, such as bottles for candle holders and tractor seats on wheels for dining chairs."
Designers are still doing it, but now it's called recycling.
Studio Jo Meesters created TESTLAB, "an experimental ongoing project about rejuvenating and reusing discarded materials." The furniture shown above is entirely made out of 34 discarded wooden beams and 16 leftover blankets....
Rechargeable Foot Warmers - Green Idea, or Green Lame?
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 11.11.08
Photos via Pro-Idee
Okay. I’m on the fence about this, so I’m opening it up to you all. Are these rechargeable foot warmers a clever way to keep yourself toasty without turning up the thermostat, and therefore keeping your carbon footprint small (har. har.)? Or, are they just another piece of junk in the long list of “Things We Don’t Need”?
Truly, I can’t decide. Read on for pros and cons. ...
Montreal Bike Share Program "Bixi" Gets a Name and an Award
by April Streeter, Gothenburg, Sweden on 11.11.08
Survey: High Tech or Low?
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 11.11.08
We are conflicted. TreeHugger loves wacky new things like 3d printers, downloadable designs and electric motorcycles, yet we also claim that our future lies in the past with vegetable gardens and bicycles. We have enough writers and server capacity to accommodate both world views, but what about you? Jaymi looked at both sides now with her post on 7 Overrated Technologies and Their Underrated Low-Tech Alternatives but which side are you on?
...
USGBC and Sen. Clinton Offer Energy Saving Solutions for Schools Via Upcoming Webinar Series
by Kenny Luna, North Babylon, NY on 11.11.08
20% Renewable Energy for South Australia, 10 Years Ahead of Schedule
by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 11.11.08
South Australia's ninth wind farm just opened on the Barunga Ranges near Snowtown. Its 47 turbines, installed by Trust Power of New Zealand, (who already operate that countries largest wind farm at Tararua), are said to have the capacity to deliver over 98MW of electricity. The company reckon this output should provide sufficient power for around 70,000 Australian households.
Not only was this project completed ahead of schedule, but it allows the state of South Australia to claim that they now produce almost 60% of Australia’s wind power. Additionally it means that South Australia is poised to meet Prime Minister Kevin Rudd’s target for all states to produce 20% of their energy from renewable sources by 2020.
[After the fold we look at related issues of clean energy, such as efficiency and pricing.]...
Togolese Bottle Opener is Decidedly Non-Tech
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 11.11.08
Photo via WhiteAfrican
For how much I love technology, I equally love decidedly un-techy stuff. In fact, the more basic it is while maintaining functionality, the cooler it is. And that is just how I feel about the Togolese bottle opener. ...
Renew Magazine: Solar Lawn Mowers and Community Wind Farms
by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 11.11.08
Renew magazine has, for well over 25 years, been the digest that Australians have turned to when they wanted detailed how-to information for living a more sustainable life. A large part of its appeal has been its down-to-earth persona. This is no glossy high brow publication, its written as if the writers were hanging over the fence, passing on gentle advice to a friendly neighbour. And they could well be your next-door neighbour, as often the articles are by lay people who 'did it' themselves. Like Shaun Williams, who made his own retrofitted solar-powered lawn mower, that mows 250m2 of thick grass, for $450 AUD. Or David Rowe, who energy audited his 80 year old house and made some changes, such that his electricity and gas bills dropped by about half.
But the current Oct-Dec issue is packed with much more. Such as the community co-op that is looking to buy its own pair of 2MW wind turbines and plant them on nearby hill above cows and potatoes. ...
Maldives Looking for New Home
by Bonnie Alter, London on 11.11.08
The Maldives, that little stretch of paradise off the coast of India, is looking for a new homeland. Literally. Fearing that the effects of climate change will mean that the chain of 1,200 islands and coral atolls will disappear under the sea because of rising water levels, they are beginning to save money to buy land elsewhere. The UN has forecasted that the ocean will rise by up to 2 feet by 2100. Since some parts of the Maldives are just 1.5 meters (5 feet) above water, even a small rise could cause disaster to the small country.
The new president, the first-ever to be democratically elected, Mohamed Nasheed said "We can do nothing to stop climate change on our own and so we have to buy land elsewhere. It's an insurance policy for the worst possible outcome. We do not want to leave the Maldives, but we also do not want to be climate refugees living in tents for decades." ...
The Best Chocolate in the World Now on the Shelves at Whole Foods
by Leonora Oppenheim, London, UK on 11.11.08
If you have been following the journey of the Kallari organic chocolate cooperative since I first wrote about them in January 2006 you will be as delighted as we are to hear that Kallari chocolate bars are now available to buy from Whole Foods in the US. Their arrival into the mainstream market was marked appropriately last week by an article in the revered dining and wine section of the New York Times. Yes Kallari have hit the big time! The progress that this cooperative of Amazonian cacao farmers has made over the past three years, since we first found out about them, is quite astonishing....
Japan's CO2 Emissions Up 8 Percent Since 1990
by greenz.jp, Tokyo, Japan on 11.10.08
Japan's carbon dioxide emissions reached record levels in 2007. New data shows that 1.37 billion tons of greenhouse gases were emitted here in 2007. The amount is 8 percent more than levels in 1990. According to NHK World, the amount exceeds the national reduction target set in the Kyoto Protocol by about 15 percent.
Japan is obliged under the Kyoto Protocol to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 6 percent from 1990 level during the 5 years from 2008 to 2012 but that looks increasingly difficult. The government attributes the increase to suspended operations at the Kashiwazaki Kariwa nuclear power plant in Niigata Prefecture, after it was damaged in a major earthquake.
Mie Asaoka from Kiko Network notes the obvious: Japan needs to take stronger action to encourage regulation of greenhouse gas emissions. ...
Drug Take Back Programs On the Rise
by Kristin Underwood, Sacramento, CA on 11.10.08
Image source: Getty Images
Pharmaca Integrative Pharmacy Company just announced that it has joined the list of facilities that can and will take your unused and outdated medicines and properly dispose of them "by an FDA-approved company." Neither dumping them down the drain or in the trash is a good ideas, as either way the drugs will eventually get back to you in your water supply.
Why is drug take back so difficult? Well, it has to do with Federal regulations....
Jendarling Organic Garment Bags
by Kristin Underwood, Sacramento, CA on 11.10.08
Jendarling has found another untapped niche to claim for green - luggage, and more specifically garment bags. While you can just reuse the plastic that you get at the dry cleaners (if you go to them), those bags often don't last very long and don't cover your entire outfit. Plus, you're just holding the chemicals onto your clothes longer, not to mention increasing the amount of plastic floating around in the environment. Instead, why not try a garment bag that is designed to travel with you around town or around the world that is also made from organic and reused materials....
GrowKids Creates Key Chain for the Eco-Savvy Shopper
by Kenny Luna, North Babylon, NY on 11.10.08
If you’ve been looking for a great reusable bag that folds in tightly on itself for easy carrying in no time at all then look no further than the keychain that turns itself into a reusable tote put out by GrowKids.
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Growing Oyster Mushrooms in Coffee Grounds
by Sami Grover, Carrboro, NC, USA on 11.10.08
Mushroom Kit for Gardenless Gardening
I’ve posted before on Paul Stamets’ TED talk about mushrooms saving the world, and have covered resources like MushroomExpert.com and 100 Edible Mushrooms. In short, I’m mildly obsessed with the fungal kingdom – reading anything I can get my hands on right now. My latest shroomy-escapade, however, has been purely in the realms of the practical, and would make a great gardening project, even for those with no access to land. I’ve been using old coffee grounds to cultivate delicious oyster mushrooms. Here’s how…
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Natural Collection Hosts Carnival of the Green
by Kara DiCamillo, Newport, Rhode Island on 11.10.08
This week marks the THIRD anniversary of Carnival of the Green ! So it's no surprise that it's being hosted by founder Al Tepper over at Natural Collection and their brand new eco space called ooffoo. Check it out - at oofoo it's FREE to swap, sell, give away, recycle and share ideas with like-minded people.
Head on over to Carnival of the Green #153 to find a round up of green news and events from the past week, submitted by other bloggers and green sites...and ooffoo something while you're at it!
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!
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BioFuel Powered Flying Car Expedition 2009
by Christine Lepisto, Berlin on 11.10.08
Everyone dreams of a Jetson car. If a practical flying car became reality, overcoming friction and traffic jams could be part of the equation for a fuel-efficient future. Is it possible that a Skycar could be proven technology before the end of 2009?
It will be if Giles Cardozo's dreams come true. Cardozo is the brainchild behind the Parajet Skycar. With a range of 180 km (110 miles) on bioethanol, this vehicle promises alternative transportation at least to scientists accessing remote areas for study if not for the Janes and Georges of future-suburbia. And it is about to be put to the test... (more photos of the current generation Skycar over the fold)....
Oxford Dictionary Word of the Year for 2008: Hypermiling
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 11.10.08
Considering how much we wrote about hypermiling in the past year (see here, here, here, here and here), it's no big surprise that it has been picked as "word of the year" for 2008 by the New Oxford American Dictionary. This seems to be a trend among dictionaries: "Carbon Neutral" was word of the year at Oxford in 2006, "biodiesel" was added to the Merriam-Webster last year, and many other green words like "eco-village" and "food miles" were added to the Chambers dictionary recently. Read on for more....
Green Eyes On: President Obama, How About Organic Farming?
by Sara Snow on 11.10.08
Photo: IowaPolitics.com via Flickr
With the election behind us it’s time to focus again on solutions, wouldn’t you say? It’s time to move forward and to accomplish great things. Now that we know who will lead us, the question is “where will we go?” I’d like to see us slow global climate change and increase our supplies of fresh, local, and organic foods. I’d like to see families everywhere eating healthier fare and living in chemical-free home environments. I’d like to feel comfortable running through cornfields and I'd like it to be safe for the families raising kids next to factory farms. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Mr. President Elect, sir, you have a big job before you. If I may, I’d like to offer up one solution: organic farming methods. ...
What's Next? The Environmental Movement Post-Election
by Greg Haegele of Sierra Club on 11.10.08
The New Bamboo: More Than Material, It's Art
by Kimberley D. Mok, Montreal, Canada on 11.10.08
Image: Japan SocietyA new exhibition shows that bamboo is anything but “poor man’s timber” and can certainly be elevated to the elegance of sculptural art. The eloquent and complex forms of meshed and intertwined bamboo at the New Bamboo: Contemporary Japanese Masters show at New York’s Japan Society are pushing the definition of this humble but versatile material. Now found in everything from furniture, architecture to clothing, bamboo has garnered interest as a rapidly renewable resource with over 1,000 recorded species – some of which grow up to 4 feet a day. As the world’s first show to focus exclusively on bamboo as a sculptural medium in more than 90 works by 23 established and emerging bamboo sculptors, New Bamboo will provoke a new perspective on what bamboo is capable of. Japan Society via Inhabitat Related Bamboo Links Bamboo Houses Stand Up To Earthquakes Folding Bamboo Houses by Ming Tang What's So Great About Bamboo? Is There Nothing this Grass can’t do? Bamboo Charcoal...
Green Glossary: Necrovore, 8 Green Books and French Toast Casserole
by Jessica Root - Brooklyn, NY on 11.10.08
:: Learn what necrovore means. It might leave you re-thinking tonight's dinner.
:: Think and talk like an environmentalist with these eight green, eco-educational books.
:: Fancy up your weekday breakfast with melt-in-your-mouth, make-ahead French Toast Casserole....
TreeHugger Forums: An Amazing Resource
by Alan Graham, Portland, Oregon on 11.10.08
WebEcoist said of the TreeHugger forums:"No question: Treehugger is the baddest daddy online when it comes to green. With its own social news network (Hugg) and vibrant, well-populated forums, there’s no stopping this green juggernaut. You’ll find a passionate yet accessible community in these forums, so don’t miss out." With over 6,000 topics, a recently launched HowTo section, an Educators forum, and thousands of passionate members from all political ideologies, you are welcome to browse and even post to any topic without an account. Members however get extra benefits like image support, instant posting without moderation, topic reply notification, and much more. Members also are eligible to earn rewards for posting, like Discovery gift cards. Not to mention members can also win gift cards, books, and schwag! Please Drop in and Look Around!...
A Home Energy Use Tracker, The Prius' Solar Makeover and Brazil's Carbon Market
by Team Treehugger, Worldwide on 11.10.08
home energy use in real time.
Toyota considers sprucing up the Prius with rooftop solar panels.
Can the carbon market help save Amazonia?
Greenbang rounds up their list of top ten weird green technologies.
Australia rates their most fuel efficient cars.
Most Huggable is a regular roundup of some of Hugg's top green news stories. Why not submit your own green news?
Note: On November 17th, 2008, Hugg will no longer accept new submissions or registrations. The Hugg.com domain will be directed towards a new feature on the TreeHugger forums where participants will be able to post and comment on interesting green links (coming soon). Learn more at Hugg.com....
Interview with Elon Musk about Tesla Motors and SolarCity
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 11.10.08
Bush Admin's Parting Gift to the Factory Farms
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 11.10.08
Photo credit: StoptheMegaDairy.org via earthfirst
Just because we have a new President-Elect doesn't mean that the existing President can't leave a few parting gifts to his friends and supporters, part of what Jeff Odefey at the waterkeeper Alliance calls an "environmental yard sale." Back in March we noted that the EPA (Evidence of Pollution is Annoying) removed reporting requirements for ammonia and hydrogen sulfides; now the President has signed a new rule making factory farms exempt from permits that limit water pollution.
According to the Natural Resources Defense Council:
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Transformers: Eco House by Studio Dror For Indecisive Modernists
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 11.10.08
Architects and designers love flat roofs; they not only look cool but if you design them properly they can permit high-level ventilation and keep the house cool. This one, designed by Studio Dror, "creates a wind tunnel circulating breezes in the summer heat."
Indeed, but who wants all that ventilation in winter and what about snow loads?
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Urban Design After the Age of Oil: Notes from Day 1
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 11.10.08
While TreeHugger readers are generally optimistic types, there is no question that with climate chaos, peak oil, economic meltdown and whatever else might be the fourth horseman of the apocalypse, things could get pretty dire, and pretty quickly.
So when I was asked to liveblog the Re-Imagining Cities: Urban Design after the age of Oil conference I expected some urgency about the subject of urban design after the age of oil. Yet everyone was surprisingly relaxed....
A Fly on the Wall at the DC Green Fest
by Kristin Underwood, Sacramento, CA on 11.10.08
Image source: Flickr
This weekend Washington, DC hosted their 5th Annual Green Fest - that mega traveling festival that hosts all things green. I attended the event on Saturday and was surprised at the changes in the green movement. If you've never been to a Green Fest, it is an explosion of sights, sounds, tastes and smells - and lots of learning about all things green. Curious about how well these products work? This is the perfect place to come and try on those organic clothes or talk with someone about maintenance of a rain-barrel, all under one roof.
More images after the jump....
Bolivia's Lithium Reserves Could Power Electric Car Boom
by Eliza Barclay, Washington, D.C. on 11.10.08
The auto industry is beginning to look to lithium batteries to power new models of hybrid cars. The new demand for lithium could be a boon for Bolivia, the poorest country in South America, which holds half of the world's lithium reserves, according to BBC News.
Lithium is a soft alkali metal found in rocks and sea water, and much of Bolivia's commercially exploitable reserves are located in the brine under salt flats of the dazzling white Salar de Uyuni in central Potosi state. Last week, Planet Ark reported that the government will invest $6 million in a pilot plant to help it figure out the best way to mine lithium....
Want The Light On? Not Without an A in Math
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 11.10.08
Photo via Yanko Design
A clever way to get someone to think twice about turning on the light is to require them to think before they’re even able to turn it on.
A concept design by Mingyu Jeung does exactly this. ...
Frugal Green Living: The Return of the Root Cellar
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 11.10.08
Lovely photography by Leah Nash for The New York Times
The New York Times digs up the dirt on the return of root cellars.
Root cellars have long been the province of Midwestern grandmothers, back-to-the-landers and committed survivalists. But given the nation’s budding romance with locally produced food, they also appeal to the backyard gardener, who may have a fruit tree that drops a bigger bounty every year while the refrigerator remains the same size....
China's Grassroots Green NGOs Double in Three Years
by Alex Pasternack, New York, NY on 11.10.08
Photo courtesy Pacific Environment
The government-sponsored All-China Environment Federation released its annual report last week on domestic non-governmental organization (NGO) activity, which included some promising figures:- 508: grassroot-level environment NGOs as of October this year, increasing by nearly 300 from 2005. In total, there are 3,539 environment NGOs in the country, including government-sponsored ones, grassroot ones, branches of international organizations as well as school environment societies. The figure jumped by 771 from three years ago.
- 55.2: percent of the NGOs that now have their own offices, up 15.2 percent from 2005; 26 percent have fixed source of investment, up 2.1 percent.
Use Only What You Need
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 11.10.08
We have shown the very clever billboards promoting water conservation in Denver before; They were part of a campaign that included benches, cars and just about anything Sukle Advertising and Design could come up with.
Paul over at frugal living site WiseBread thinks that it is a good allegory for life, not just water....
Brazilian Town Overrun by Motorbikes
by Andrew Posner, Providence, Rhode Island on 11.10.08
Image credit: Lalo de Almeida for The New York Times
Brazilian Town Overrun by Motorbikes
Tabatinga, Brazil, is a town of 47,000 people that, in most respects, is like any other Amazonian outpost, except Tabatinga "is practically a city run entirely by motorbikes." In fact, the town's 47,000 residents own more than 15,000 motorbikes, creating "a sea of scooters and motorcycles" during rush hour. What's more, the incredible growth in motorbike ownership has "helped fuel the growth of the city, which has doubled in population in the past 20 years."
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TreeHugger Review: Medis 24/7 Power Pack Fuel Cell Charger
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 11.10.08
This little power pack is a fuel cell charging device that offers instant power for your mobile devices while off-grid.
Encapsulating the dream of convenient wireless charging capabilities, the Power Pack wants to be the easy alternative green power source for gadgets.
But does it live up to TreeHugger expectations?...
Three Cool RFID Projects to Deter Bicycle Thefts
by April Streeter, Gothenburg, Sweden on 11.10.08
Bike theft is a huge bummer and a always-growing problem in cities where bicycles are used more and more for daily transport. Amsterdam has always had a big theft problem, and 20,000 bike were stolen last year in the city of Copenhagen. Bike sharing programs nearly all share the feature of using RFID (Radio frequency ID) in order to identify bikes and help reclaim them if they are lost or stolen. Now RFID programs outside of bike sharing are on the upswing to try to reclaim stolen bicycles as well as deter thefts, and even reduce right-turn bicycle accidents.
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World's First Climate Change Refugees to Be Rescued in 2009
by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 11.10.08
Photo by Pip Starr from Flickr
Early in 2009 40 families, who’ve been called the ‘world's first climate change refugees,’ will relocated from their flooded Pacific Island to the nearby Papau New Guinean island of Bougainville. About a third of the 2,000 Carterets Islanders have apparently refused to be relocated, in an ongoing program that will take six years and millions of dollars. But they may have no choice in the matter, because its is expected that their island home will submerged by 2015. The photo above shows one of their island has already been severed in half....
SurvA: RFK JR 4 EPA CEO? U Dcide.
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 11.10.08
Kristin tells us that Robert Kennedy Jr. is on the short list to be head of the Environmental Protection Agency, which goodness knows, needs new and inspiring leadership.
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Cell Phone Sales Slump Is Good Green News
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 11.10.08
Photo via compujeramey
Cell phone users have gotten into the habit of replacing their old cell phones every 14-18 months. And currently, there are more than 700 million used cell phones in the US. So when Reuters reports that cell phone sales will be down for the first time since 2001, it’s pretty tough to feel worried. In fact, it’s tough to feel anything but relief.
TreeHugger is all over this topic, since we love figuring out how to make what we have last as long as possible. So if you happen to look at that news item and see concern about the future of your phone, fret no more. We have some tips. ...
Botanical Olympics for London 2012
by Bonnie Alter, London on 11.10.08
Since no one can match the spectacular architecture of the China Olympics 2008, particularly in these tough economic times, Britain is looking elsewhere to make its mark for 2012. Their choice: great gardens and a Botanical Olympics. Britain has a horticultural tradition that set the pace for the western world, hence the announcement that there will be a half-mile long botanical garden as the focal point. Inspired by Britain’s five centuries of collecting plants from around the world, the park will be a lasting legacy for the community after the games are finished.
The park will be located between the main stadium and the aquatic centre designed by the architect Zaha Hadid (one effort to make a big architectural splash). It will include flowering meadows, thousands of native woodland trees and several hills on which spectators will be able to watch events on giant screens. The newly-announced botanical section will be at the main entrance. It will be divided into four geographic zones, representing Europe and the Mediterranean, the Americas, Asia and the southern hemisphere. ...
Bulge Report: The Banana Diet
by Eric Leech, New York, NY on 11.10.08
Photo by Orangeacid
The Internet is full of unnatural ways to lose weight using pills, medical procedures, electrical gadgets, hypnotherapy, and just about anything else under the sun you can think of. On the organic and natural front, there are also plenty of ideas to lose weight, of which most are fairly harmless for the most part, that is until they start telling people to completely reduce fat intake (you need fat for your body to function), eat only carbohydrates, protein, etc...
Today, we have a new fad on the front which has been classified as Japan's Morning Banana Diet. Once again on the surface we see yet another diet plan whose simplicity vs. its claims of losing up to 43 pounds in just 10 weeks seem rather impossible when you consider the rules of science and how the human body works.
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This Month in Mother Jones: Rescuing the Economy and Saving the Planet
by Jeremy Elton Jacquot, Los Angeles on 11.10.08
The March/April issue of Mother Jones set a high water-mark for coverage of clean energy. The latest issue, which includes contributions from Al Gore, Nobel Prize-winning economist Joseph E. Stiglitz, Bill McKibben and Grist's David Roberts, does the same for climate change and the green economy; as they usually do, the editors of the magazine will slowly release its full contents online over the coming weeks, but that's no reason not to get the print version right now.
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Landfill Island? Eco Park? How About Both, Says Singapore
by Brian Merchant, Brooklyn, New York on 11. 9.08
Photo courtesy of World Cities Summit
When we last checked in on Singapore’s island landfill Semaku in 2005, plans were in motion to retool it as a destination for eco-tourism. We’ll believe it when we see it, we said. Well, looks like we’re about to see it—with less of the tourism and more of the eco. Singapore recently announced Semaku is on track to become an eco-park; a testing bed for renewable and clean energy technologies. ...
Bush Administration to Open Public Lands Near Utah's National Parks for Natural Gas and Oil Drilling
by Jeremy Elton Jacquot, Los Angeles on 11. 9.08
Image from jderuna
There is no doubt that the Bushies will go down in history as the administration with the least environmentally-friendly record (among other dubious distinctions). Having already gutted the Endangered Species Act, denied the existence of climate change and vehemently resisted efforts to regulate greenhouse gas emissions, it is not as if the president has been trying especially hard to rehabilitate his dismal reputation. Last Friday, we learned of the Bush administration's latest environmental hit job, courtesy of The New York Times' Felicity Barringer: a plan by the Bureau of Land Management to open tens of thousands of acres on or near the borders of three national parks in eastern Utah, including Arches National Park and Canyonlands National Park, to drilling. ...
3 Quick Fixes Obama Might Make to Right Bush’s Environmental Wrongs
by Brian Merchant, Brooklyn, New York on 11. 9.08
Image courtesy of Barackobama.com
After Obama takes office next January, it may be a good long while before he’s able to implement some of his broader environmental plans—there is a tanking economy, a couple wars, and an increasingly testy Russia to deal with, after all. But there are a few quick moves he may make—actions that he’s already publicly advocated—that could swiftly begin to reverse the damaging environmental policies of the Bush administration. So yes, that plan to invest $150 billion in renewable energy technologies may have to wait. Here’s what won’t. ...
Sustainabile Sundays and Verde Ventures
by Josh Peterson, Los Angeles, California on 11. 9.08
The LA Natural History Museum kicked off its first Sunday of a new series dubbed "Sustainable Sundays: Different Shades of Green." The goal of this series is to help the public manage the substantial heap of green information that bombards them. Personally, I don't think the public is bombarded with enough green information, but I am probably biased. One of the highlights of this event was the forum hosted by Jen Morris from Verde Ventures. ...
World’s First 100 % USDA Certified Organic Bar Celebrates Opening Night
by Brian Merchant, Brooklyn, New York on 11. 9.08
Gustorganic before the bar, courtesy of Keetsa
GustOrganic, an all-organic restaurant in New York is now also home to the world’s first all-organic bar. Using entirely organic spirits—beers, cocktails, wine, and liquor, GustOrganic is the first bar to be certified organic by the USDA. I was on hand for the celebratory opening night to find out what 100 percent organic martinis, mojitos, and margaritas taste like—and eventually, to investigate the first 100 percent organic hangover....
Tyson Injects Unborn Chickens with Antibiotics, Sues USDA to Keep Antibiotic-Free Label
by Brian Merchant, Brooklyn, New York on 11. 9.08
Photo courtesy of the Road to Angkor
In a baffling case of doublespeak, the world’s largest meat processing company Tyson Foods has publicly admitted to injecting chickens with antibiotics—but it’s suing the US Department of Agriculture in order to keep the Antibiotic-Free label anyway. And how does Tyson plan on getting around the fact that the label is a bold-faced lie? By manipulating legal jargon of course! Tyson is claiming that since its chickens are merely injected with antibiotics before they hatch, they’re not really ‘raised’ with antibiotics. ...
Active Transportation For America Report
by Eric Leech, New York, NY on 11. 9.08
Photo by Pixietart
Rails to Trails (RTC) has published a comprehensive report on the benefits of an infrastructure based on walkways and bikeways across America. Currently the U.S. Government funds such projects with approximately $453 million every year to help expand and repair these convenient paths....
How to Drive from Paris to New York
by Christine Lepisto, Berlin on 11. 9.08
Jeeps Race Climate Change to Set Bering Strait Record
Adventurer Matthias Jeschke intends to drive from Paris to New York. Of course, since the Atlantic presents a serious obstacle to wheeled transportation, Jeschke has plotted a route inspired by early human migration -- across the Bering Strait. If he and his team succeed, they will be the first expedition to drive the trans-continental route.
Modern Obstacle: Global Warming
In a sense, Jeschke follows great expeditions of generations past. But this journey faces a modern irony: in a warming world, the frozen bridge bewteen continents may well be melted. So Jeschke's expedition has adopted an ulterior motive. These three jeeps are eco-ambassadors, intending to round the world "without a trace", highlighting a message of alternative fuels and carbon neutrality.
Three jeeps on an eco-tour? How will they accomplish that? And will rescue floats and "swimming tires" (picture over the fold) prevent disaster on thin ice and help the team make it through where no man has driven before?...
Yellow + Blue Wines Expands Its Use of Sustainable Tetra Pak Cartons
by Sara Novak, Columbia, SC on 11. 9.08
photo: Yellow + Blue
Yellow + Blue is expanding its use of sustainable Tetra Pak(R) cartons to include its Torrontes varietal. After the success of its Malbec in the Tetra Pak packaging, the brand of organically grown Argentinian wines has decided to wrap up another varietal. Read on to find out about why Tetra Pak is so sustainable....
Al Gore Interviewed by Digg Founder Kevin Rose (Video)
by George Spyros, New York City, USA on 11. 9.08
Obama v. Bush: Climate Change Reversals and a National Energy Council (Video Roundup)
by George Spyros, New York City, USA on 11. 9.08
Dec. UN Climate Meeting To Be Held in Poland, Home of Extreme Coal
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 11. 9.08
The United Nations Climate Change Conference will be held in Poznań, Poland, 1-12 December 2008. The goal of the meeting is to move from "discussion to negotiation mode in 2009- prior to the later scheduled Copenhagen Denmark meeting", "at which the negotiations are set to conclude". (Look below for summary excerpts of announcement.)
TreeHugger recently published a post about Poland's 96% dependency upon coal to meet it's energy needs, a condition that only partly shadows a similar dependency of the US State of Utah. It is places such as these which will make agreement difficult, where vested interests will object most strongly. Hence, it makes good political sense to have scientific and administrative meetings hosted up close and personal.
When, we wonder, will the USA finally host a parallel meeting for the world's climate change experts? Charleston, Salt Lake, Harrisburg...are you ready?
For those of you wondering about alternatives, there is a Wind Energy Association in Poland. Business Wire recently announced a report which highlights that "It is expected that the wind power generation in Poland will go beyond 26 TWH by the end of 2020." ...
Obama: It's Not About the "F***ing" Light Bulbs!
by Alex Pasternack, New York, NY on 11. 9.08
Photo: Getty
Now that the election is over, some illuminating campaign trail gems are sneaking out. Apparently, Sarah Palin's clothing spending spree was much worse than first thought, John McCain's senior advisors privately knew he was finished by the third debate, and both campaigns were attacked by hackers.
Oh, and Obama is sick and tired of having to save the planet by switching to energy-efficient bulbs. During the primaries, Newsweek overheard a very unscripted Obama talking about the debates:...
Organic Aspirations: A Tale of Two Turkish Villages
by Jennifer Hattam, Istanbul, Turkey on 11. 9.08
A produce stand in Urla. Photo via PeggySuadaOz at flickr.
To residents of Nohutalan, mining is the way of the past--and organic agriculture is the future. The village, which is near the town of Urla on Turkey's Aegean coast, is already home to 6,000 organically certified olive trees and an organic fig-growing operation, and the entire village is seeking an organic agriculture certificate. But a proposed rock quarry, which would be located a mere 75 meters from the village's farms, as well as its water supply, could put the future they envision in jeopardy. Villagers have mounted a legal challenge--a fight that the story of Göbekören, a village in Turkey's east, shows is worth having....
Noted Israeli Environmentalist Dr. Dov Khenin Running for Mayor of Tel Aviv
by Jesse Fox, Tel Aviv, Israel on 11. 9.08
High Speed Rail from San Francisco to LA Will Make an Even Greener California
by Alex Smith, San Francisco, California on 11. 9.08
220 MPH Train Will Be Built in California
California voters approved a key measure Tuesday that will link cities across the coast on a high speed rail system that will travel at 220 MPH. Right now the drive from San Francisco to LA takes at minimum 6 hours along long roads that are often traffic packed. If a Californian opts for the train, the Amtrak Coast Starlight’s journey takes a minimum of 12 hours and is known for running behind thanks to other freights on the tracks. The new high speed rail, proposed by the California High Speed Rail Authority back in May, will link these two major cities by a 2 hour and 40 minute trip at around $55 for a one way fare. More below the fold.
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5 Great Reasons to Use Clay as Soap: Take the 1-Week Challenge, Part II
by April Streeter, Gothenburg, Sweden on 11. 9.08
photo ˜psychoactiveme˜@ flickr.
Look over your own bathroom shelves - you are sure to find more than a few bottles that never got used up, or have never even been used! Reducing that clutter was the goal during a one-week "clay only" challenge taken by this TreeHugger at the behest of Natural Spa Supplies, a UK-based distributor of Rhassoul (montmorillonite) clay. A gimmick on their part, yes, but also a good way to see whether one natural product can meet many needs.
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