- 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 January 25, 2009 - January 31, 2009
Total this week: 197
Prius Converted to Plug-in Gets 67 MPG Around Town
by Brian Merchant, Brooklyn, New York on 01.31.09
Photo via Carblog
When Consumer Reports put their Prius Touring through an expensive modification in order to convert it into a plug-in electric car, the results were pretty astonishing: the converted plug-in Prius picked up an extra 25 miles per gallon, landing the already efficient car at a whopping 67 mpg. And that's just the around town mileage. ...
DIY: Make Your Own Fabric Eco-Labels
by Kimberley D. Mok, Montreal, Canada on 01.31.09
Image via Crafting a Green World
It’s true that a little fabric label can add an extra dimension of professionalism and brand recognition to your handmade stuff, especially if you run your own small business or just love the do-it-yourself ethic. We came across these five tips on how to make your own environmentally-friendly labels over at the DIY blog Crafting A Green World that will definitely come in handy for crafters. For those who need huge quantities of labels, writer Jackie Hernandez suggests looking at these suppliers. For those who only need smaller quantities of labels, it seems easy enough: among other things, you can use fabric scraps, EcoGlue, self-inking stamps or a typewriter. There’s even printable fabric that can be put through an ink-jet printer - it's amazing how creative you can get with a little square of fabric. Via Crafting a Green World (full list here) More on Green DIY Top 10 Sites for Do It Yourself Projects DIY Recycled Tote Bag DIY: T-shirt Surgery DIY: old sweaters + scissors = new outfit Bleed With Pride: Make-It-Yourself Menstrual Pads...
TreeHugger Takes on Super Bowl 43 - Live Blog Tomorrow
by Brian Merchant, Brooklyn, New York on 01.31.09
Image via flickr
Ah, the Super Bowl. One of the great American celebrations of sport, music, and creative consumerism. It's all but a national holiday, and every year, half the country tunes in to catch the most expensive advertising in the world, the uber-elaborate half time show, and to occasionally check the score of some sort of athletic competition.
And tomorrow, TreeHugger will be presenting full, non-stop coverage of everything that's green (and probably more often, everything that isn't) about Super Bowl XLIII. Why should we bother? Let me count the ways. ...
Greenest Eco Resort in the World Coming to California?
by Brian Merchant, Brooklyn, New York on 01.31.09
Image via Monterey Bay Shores
The "greenest ecoresort in the world" is set to be built in Monterey, California this February. The resort, called Monterey Bay Shores, will be built on 29 acres of a sand dune that was previously destroyed by 60 years of mining. It will actively provide habitats for endangered species, boast 5 acres of living roofs, and get 30 % of its power from onsite solar and wind systems. The developers claim that "every single detail of Monterey Bay Shores Ecoresort encompasses principles of sustainability and conservation," and that they've left no eco-stone unturned in pursuit of developing the most environmentally friendly resort ever created.
Here's what that means.
...
Cattle Pastures in Deforested Amazon Now the Size of Iceland
by Brian Merchant, Brooklyn, New York on 01.31.09
Photo via the New York Times
The largest rainforest in the world is being chopped down almost entirely for a single purpose: beef. That's right, one of the biggest, most beautifully diverse ecosystems on the planet is being traded in—for hamburgers. According to a report from Mongabay, a full 80 percent of the land cleared by Amazon deforestation from 1996-2006 has been used to create cattle pastures.
The rainforest has been cleared at an astonishing rate over the last 12 years—and the cattle craze in the Amazon is only going to get worse.
...
January Eco-Tidbits from Turkey
by Jennifer Hattam, Istanbul, Turkey on 01.31.09
There's both green and grime in the environmental news from Turkey this month.
In a country in environmental transition, there isn't always a lot of sexy or earth-shattering news--not a lot of sleek new technological innovations from the business sector or ambitious green plans by government.
But that doesn't mean that Turkey isn't taking steps forward--and, sometimes, back. Here's a look at some of the developments from January, in a new monthly wrap-up of news prompting reactions of both "süper" (yep, just like in English, but with an umlaut) and "maalesef" (unfortunately):
...
Four Thousand European Union Industries Lack Current Environmental Permits
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 01.31.09
Polar Bear in London's Thames River
by Sara Novak, Columbia, SC on 01.31.09
photo: Eden
I knew that would get your attention and that's precisely the purpose according to Eden, the group that’s behind the exhibit to draw attention to global warming. And if there were ever an effective image to show the painful victims of climate change, it's a cuddly polar bear floating atop a drifting ice cap....
Dubai's Jumeirah Beach Closed Following Invasion Of "Wild Brown Trout"
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 01.31.09
The Totoro Forest Project Art Exhibition In San Francisco
by greenz.jp, Tokyo, Japan on 01.31.09
Image: The Resting Place by Luc Desmarchelier (detail)
Yesterday, when I wrote about Satoyama, I was delighted to discover the Totoro Forest Project Art Exhibition in San Francisco. What a wonderful idea - animators, anime artists and designers who have been inspired by the film My Neighbor Totoro joined together to help preserve precious forest just 40 km (24 miles) north west of Tokyo: a fund raising exhibition/auction to support the national trust Totoro Forest Foundation that Oscar winning film maker Hayao Miyazaki has been helping over the years, featuring original art created by internationally acclaimed artists in the fields of animation, comic books, and illustration. A selection of the auction's artwork is featured as a special exhibition at the Cartoon Art Museum in San Francisco, until February 8, 2009. More images below the fold:...
Industry & Enviros to EPA: Regulate Formaldehyde (And Save Billions For US Taxpayers)
by Greg Haegele of Sierra Club on 01.30.09
San Francisco to Get Bike-Sharing Pilot Program in 2009
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 01.30.09
Good News for San Francisco Commuters
While visiting Paris, a city with a quite successful bike-sharing program, San Francisco mayor Gavin Newsom announced that his city would get a bike-sharing pilot program in 2009....
Bury Our Climate Troubles At Sea In Bales of Agricultural Waste, Univ. of Washington Scientist Says
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 01.30.09
photo: Sam Ismail
Here’s a geoengineering approach you may not have heard of: Stuart Strand of the University of Washington proposes making bales of crop residue (stalks and other agricultural waste) and sinking them into the deep ocean to sequester carbon. Strand says they could reduce the build up of atmospheric carbon dioxide by up to 15% per year. Here’s how:...
Ireland Sets Goal of 250,000 Electric Vehicles on the Road by 2020
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 01.30.09
"10% of all vehicles in the transport fleet to be powered by electricity"
These days, there's certainly no shortage of ambitious goals, especially in Europe. The hard thing is achieving them. Sadly, the problem is that from politicians' point of view, the hard part is far away in the future while the accolades and political gains are immediate.
Will Ireland's EV targets for 2020 be different?...
We Need to Make Climate Freeloaders Pay Up! Per Capita Carbon Emissions of Some ‘Developing’ Nations Exceed Those of the US, Europe
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 01.30.09
Bahrain is among the nations singled out as being a climate freeloader. Despite having per capita carbon emissions exceeding those of the Europe and the United States, they have no emissions reduction targets. Photo: Harold Tejada via flickr
As Fred Pearce puts it in a new piece for Yale Environment 360, it’s time to face up to the fact that there are a growing number of countries in the world which, even though they have high per capita carbon emissions (some higher than many European countries), would like you to think that they are still ‘developing’ and shouldn’t have to set carbon emission reductions targets. Fred calls them ‘climate freeloaders’: ...
Kill-A-Watt Meters Available at Ottawa's Public Library
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 01.30.09
Why Own When You Can Borrow?
The Ottawa Public Library has books, DVD, internet-connected computers, and all that, of course. Taking advantage of those is greener than buying your own (especially if it's a book or DVD you're only going to read/watch once). But thanks to a grant from the City of Ottawa Community Environmental Grants Program, the library also has made 75 Kill-A-Watt meters available freely. I think all public libraries should do the same!...
H&M Clothing to Boost Organic Cotton Use by 50 Percent in 2009
by Naturally Savvy on 01.30.09
A selection of H&M's spring 2009 line made with organic cotton and recycled materials. Image via: H&M
If you're a fan of H&M's organic cotton clothing, get ready for more!
H&M is increasing their use of organic cotton in 2009 by 50 percent over last year, when they used an estimated 3,000 tons. Which means, if we do the math, we can expect they'll be using about 4,500 tons of the good stuff this year!
Why is organic cotton so important?...
From the Past: Cities of the Future Slideshow
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 01.30.09
I have always loved those great Cities of the Future from the thirties even to the present; they always present some bucolic vision that is never quite achieved. Canon set up a vision at the CES show to showcase their high def cameras; Unpluggd said "Think Playmobil meets TV studio diorama."
it has a lot of features we talk about on TreeHugger: Green roofs, urban turbines, trees everywhere and sky walkways. It reminded me of some of the other visions of the future shown on TreeHugger; see a slideshow of them here.
...
Tesla's 'Model S' San Jose Factory Might be Dead
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 01.30.09
Recession Squeezing Tesla
Last fall Tesla Motors announced a planned investment of $250 million to build a 500-worker new production plant in San Jose, California, to make its upcoming 'Model S' electric sedan. But since then, economic conditions have deteriorated quite a bit and there's a good chance that Tesla will be forced to look at other options.
Read on for more details....
Could 42nd Street Get a Light Rail and Go Car-Free?
by Alex Pasternack, New York, NY on 01.30.09
Image: Mathieu Delorme for the Institute for Rational Urban Mobility
When a plan to extend New York's 42nd street-crossing no. 7 subway line to 10th avenue was recently scrapped due to a budget crisis, New Yorkers were reminded once again of how much of a schlep it can be to get crosstown. The collective sigh could not be heard over the din of traffic on 42nd street.
But other options exist, and the Institute for Rational Urban Mobility has recently dusted off one of them: closing 42nd Street to traffic from river to river and creating a $500 million, 2.5-mile street-level light-rail line that could whisk passengers across the entire width of Midtown in a mere 21 minutes. The plan would turn 42nd street from a chaotic parking lot into a lively pedestrian promenade....
Un-Treehugger: HydraCoach Intelligent Water Bottle
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 01.30.09
Images via HydraCoach
We are all for people making a habit of drinking from reusable water containers. And there are a lot of great options out there to choose from. But there is a point at which a simple water container can be as lame as plastic water bottles. Take, for example, the HydraCoach "Intelligent" water bottle. Now this is something that only the most obsessive water drinker could appreciate. ...
15-20 Times Less Carbon Sequestered by Ocean Iron Fertilization Than Some Estimates Claim: New Report
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 01.30.09
Germany recently dropped objections to a new ocean iron fertilization experiment. Photo Alfred Wegener Institut
New info on the effectiveness of geoengineering projects seems to be coming from all sides these days. The latest comes from Nature and reports on the 2004-2005 so-called CROZEX experiment, which observed the impact of natural iron fertilization on algal growth and carbon export in the Crozet Islands, 2000 km southeast of South Africa. The original article has the details on the experiment, but here’s the part which prompted Nature to title their piece “Ocean fertilization: dead in the water?”:...
Panasonic's Auto-Dimming Light for Energy Efficiency
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 01.30.09
Photo via Tech-On
Launching on March 1, 2009 is Panasonic's Auto-eco Light-control Twin Pa, AKA a self-dimming light that will save on energy.
It is a light for homes that senses ambient light and dims its own light level as needed....
The Societal Schism Between Poverty and Vegetarianism
by Kelly Rossiter, Toronto on 01.30.09
The cost of food is a huge issue for most families, but with tough times ahead, feeding your family will only get harder. On the surface of it, vegetarians seem to have an easier time of it. But is this true if you are a vegetarian who lives on, or below the poverty line? The more I read and thought about this topic, the more I realize that, as with many issues surrounding poverty in North America, it is also about race, class and education....
Toshiba Launching Fuel Cell Battery Charger by End of March
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 01.30.09
Direct Methanol Fuel Cell Diagram via Toshiba
Back in October we wrote about Toshiba planning on introducing their first fuel cell device by the end of March 2009. Looks like they're going to make good on that promise. Maybe. ...
Obama To Republicans: Drop Dead.
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 01.30.09
Vera Andrus 1936
Remember this, just a week ago, when Representative Jim Oberstar expained why water infrastructure, sewers and Amtrak were gutted out of the stimulus package to make room for the tax cuts in the interest of "bipartisan support"?
...
Datacenters Can Reduce Energy Use by 10% with Some Software and Smart Power Strips
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 01.30.09
Photo via Sentilla
By utilizing microprocessors built in to smart power strips and a powerful software program, Sentilla has created a way for datacenters to measure and manage power consumption of datacenters. The software is called, creatively, Energy Manager, and it can potentially reduce a datacenter's energy consumption by an impressive 10%....
Japan Airlines Finds Biofuel More Efficient Than Petro-Fuel in Test Flight
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 01.30.09
Not the JAL plane, but still a 747-300.... Photo: planegeezer via flickr
Earlier in the month Continental Airlines completed a test flight using biofuels, and now a few weeks later Japan Airlines has joined a (slowly) expanding number of airlines trying to green their fuel usage. The fuel used was a mixture of jatropha oil, algae oil, and camelina oil (the first time that feedstock has been employed in a jet fuel). Which is all fine and good, but perhaps the most interesting (and promising) thing to come out of the test flight is this:...
Quote of the Day: The Arugula Stimulus Plan
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 01.30.09
Conservative media pundits are not amused by the discussion of healthier, organic food in the White House, covered in TreeHugger in Jeff's post Will Obama Change the Way America Eats? One columnist at the Weekly Standard predicts what is coming, instead of tax cuts and paving trains:
...
How Green Is The Economic Stimulus Plan? Search Online With This Tool
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 01.30.09
As Andy Revkin over at the New York Times says, you need not share the world view of the Heritage Foundation to put their new Read The Stimulus online tool to good work:...
New Solar Powered iPhone Charger from Sollight
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 01.30.09
Images via Sollight
For iPhone or iTouch users looking for another way to access the sun to charge up your gear, SolLight has put out a product with some potential - the SOLiCharger. Like most solar chargers out these days it has some nice pros, and bummer cons. Read on for details and a slideshow....
US Coal-to-Liquid Fuel Facility Plan Dropped by Air Force
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 01.30.09
The B1 bomber is among the Air Force planes already certified to fly on non-petroleum-based fuels. Photo: Ed Uthman via flickr
Say what you like about actions of the US military,but sometimes they make a genuinely green decision. Like this one: The US Air Force has dropped plans to build a coal-to-liquid fuel plant in Montana. Except that in this instance the reasons for doing so have nothing to do with the environment: ...
Uzbek Capital Cracks Down on Clotheslines
by Jennifer Hattam, Istanbul, Turkey on 01.30.09
Laundry drying outside--legally--in Istanbul.
You thought your subdivision was tough, with its restrictions on "unsightly" activities like hanging laundry out to dry. In Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan, city officials have taken clothesline bans to a whole new level, threatening anyone who dares to dry outside with eviction.
...
"Holy Grail" of LEDs Will Cost Three Bucks, Last 60 Years
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 01.30.09
LEDs make happy stories; previous ones have headlines including OLED Breakthrough, Breakthrough could change the world, and Major Milestone. And now we add The Holy Grail.
Colin Humphries' team at Cambridge University has figured out how to grow gallium nitride on silicon instead of sapphires, making a much cheaper light emitting diode. LEDs can reduce lighting bills by 75% compared to incandescent, but they still cost a lot of money. Humphries claims within five years, the new bulbs will be available, cheap, mercury free, dimmable and designed to last over 50 years....
Silly or Safe? Bike Condoms A New Niche Product for Bike Sharing
by April Streeter, Gothenburg, Sweden on 01.30.09
In bike-sharing mecca Barcelona, there's a new way to make waste - put a pair of bike condoms onto the handles of the shared bike you are just about to take for a spin. Perhaps these are necessary gear for the germ-phobic who haven't yet read right here on TreeHugger that a little bit of bacteria may be a good thing. Originally created for gym enthusiasts (the video after the jump, while in Spanish, is suggestive enough for anyone to understand), these handle covers are now creeping onto the streets. Yet will these same germophobes be careful to peel off the product - and properly dispose of it?...
Green Generation: Kids Teach Parents Responsible Earth Practices (Video)
by George Spyros, New York City, USA on 01.30.09
Los Angeles Ecovillage: Building a Sustainable Urban Community (Video)
by Sami Grover, Carrboro, NC, USA on 01.30.09
Survey: Do You Buy Magazines?
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 01.30.09
The internet is wonderful, but there is something about a good design magazine, where an art department carefully lays out content to look as good as possible, and where the ads can be as valuable as the editorial content. Of course as Seth Godin points out, the costs are such that 2 cents of content is wrapped in 98 cents worth of of printing and distribution. As we note the passing of yet another print mag, we wonder:
...
Satoyama: Japan's Amazing Rice Fields and Farms
by greenz.jp, Tokyo, Japan on 01.30.09
(Photo from Ataru's blog Tokai no Inaka)
Satoyama is a word that describes the farming landscape near the hills and mountains in Japan, where water is abundant and farmers for a long time have maintained the soil for rice and vegetables. The NHK documentary, Satoyama: Japan's Secret Water Garden was aired on BBC and PBS, and you can now see it on Youtube (links below the fold), narrated by David Attenborough. Welcome to the paddy fields and local communities near Lake Biwa, Japan.
Japan's Ministry of Environment wants to restore satoyama, the part of the territory located on the outskirts of villages that formerly provided rural Japan with food firewood, coal, water and diverse cultures, somewhat equivalent to the french bocage. Hiromi Kobori and Richard B. Primack describe one particularly successful program where conservation efforts and fund-raising are linked to Totoro, an imaginary forest animal featured in the popular animated film!...
Little Girl's Recycled Dresses Up for Auction
by Bonnie Alter, London on 01.30.09
What to do with a grandmother who keeps making beautiful dresses out of recycled and surplus fabrics for her newly-born granddaughter. Artist Kumiko Ishida made one, and then she made another and then she kept on sewing....
Soon she had made one hundred exquisite miniature dresses for her young granddaughter and the little girl was growing out of them as fast as her grand mother made them. She barely had time to wear most of them.
...
Knowledge Gap of How We ‘Fit In’ is Greatest Threat to Environment
by Tim McGee, Western Massachusetts on 01.29.09
photo nicholas_t @ flickr
We know that trees can increase the thickness of clouds with terpenes, and lizards can drink water from wet sand with their feet, but we have very little understanding of how we fit into the environment and how the environment fits with us. The 2005 Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (MEA) found that 60% of the ecosystem services (you know those things that provide clean air, water, and food) are being degraded or used unsustainably. But an even bigger problem is that we don’t understand how these systems work, or why they are failing....
How I Learned To Stop Worrying and Embrace Change: The Story Of A Trader-Turned-"Treehugger"
by Earthwatch Institute on 01.29.09
Portrait of Richard Gilmore, guest author.
Until the early years of the 21st century, I was a climate change skeptic. Despite mounting scientific evidence, to accept the truth of climate change would have meant that one of the fundamental bases on which my comfortable life and lifestyle were founded - the burning of low cost and abundant fossil fuels - was unsound. Like many others of the time and many still today, faced with a choice between a convenient ignorance and a difficult reality, I chose ignorance.
By the time I was born in the mid-1970s the possibility of a human-induced climate change had already begun to concern scientists. Fourier had described the natural greenhouse effect some 150 years before, and in 1975 the concentration of atmospheric CO2 was around 330 parts per million - much lower than today but already an increase of almost five per cent since the beginning of the 1960s.
...
Take Part in a Twestival (Twitter Festival) for Charity:Water
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 01.29.09
On Thursday, February 12, over 100 cities around the world will be taking part in Twestivals - Twitter festivals - to help raise awareness and funds for a really good cause helping to bring clean, drinkable water to developing nations.
Read on for how you can Twitter your way to a happier world!...
Was Veggie Sex PETA Ad really banned by NBC Universal?
by George Spyros, New York City, USA on 01.29.09
Associated Content questions if NBC actually banned PETA's would-be Superbowl ad Veggie Sex and whether instead PETA made up the rejection as part of a publicity hoax. Pictured above is the actual signature line from the NBC email to PETA which the animal rights organization posts on its blog as proof. Again, we'll give you more when you peek beneath our fold....
Domino Magazine Closes; Green Style Enthusiasts Everywhere Lose a Friend
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 01.29.09
We're sad to report that Domino magazine is closing up shop; its March issue with be their last. Condé Nast Publications is pulling the plug on the style and decorating mag, as flagging ad revenue in the recessing economy claims another victim.
TreeHugger had the real pleasure to work with Domino to create The Green List, a big feature in their green issue in March 2007. It was a fun, meaningful project -- a great way to spread green to a new audience -- and we're sad we won't have the opportunity to continue to collaborate with their talented team. Best wishes to all at Domino!
Take a walk down memory lane with a peek at portions of the Green List, after the jump....
Wave-Powered Data Center Floats Forward with Plans
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 01.29.09
Photo via John Haslam
Looks like a datacenter powered by the tides isn't too far off from being a reality. No, it doesn't include floating an offshore datacenter - but it's still a cool idea.
Tidal turbine company Atlantis Resources Corporation has signed a development partnership with data center developer Internet Villages International (IVI). The duo plans to build an energy-efficient "Blue Data Center." It will be hooked up to Atlantis' planned tidal power arrays in the Pentland Firth of Scotland....
Will Obama Change the Way America Eats?
by Jeff Nield, Vancouver, British Columbia on 01.29.09
Obama Tucks In via Getty Images
Sustainable food and agriculture watchers have been on a roller coaster ride ever since Barack Obama was given the nod by the American people. Soon after the election there were hopeful, if misguided, calls for Michael Pollan to be named head of the USDA and people were giddy at the idea that Obama had read Pollan's open letter to the next president. The excitement was muted with the appointment of Tom Vilsack as the USDA head. Vilsack is seen by many as part of the old boy's network that props up industrial agriculture interests at the expense of a truly healthy and sustainable food system. As the dust settles and the ride stops, there is reason to hope that a nation of healthy eaters will emerge in more subtle ways.
Read on for a taste of change. ...
Ford Fusion Hybrid Qualifies for Maximum Tax Credit of $3,400
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 01.29.09
2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid Get More Affordable
The bad news have been piling up for Ford lately (it lost $14.6 billion in 2008), but the company is very proud of its Fusion hybrid, the most fuel efficient mid-size sedan (41 MPG city/36 MPG highway) in the US, and thinks it is part of the light at the end of the tunnel. That light just got a bit brighter when the 2010 Fusion hybrid was approved by the feds for the maximum $3,400 tax credit allowed for hybrid vehicles....
Think Bottled Water is Bad, Could Bottled Orange Juice Be Even Worse?
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 01.29.09
You’d have to have been living under a rock for the past year, or perhaps exhibiting some willful ignorance, to have missed all the discussion about the environmental problems with the global bottled water industry. Here on TreeHugger, just last week, Pablo came to the conclusion that, yes, bottled water really is that bad. Which got us thinking: What about bottled juices? If it takes all those resources to bring you bottled water from some spring in Italy, or (gasp) an island way out in the Pacific Ocean, surely making and shipping orange juice around is even worse? Let’s take a look: ...
Comprehensive Sustainable Sushi Book Released
by Eliza Barclay, Washington, D.C. on 01.29.09
Photo credit: SustainableSushi.net
This fall, we reported that the big trio of fish-hugging organizations -- Monterey Bay Aquarium, Blue Ocean Institute, and Environmental Defense Fund -- released a card to help consumers navigate their favorite neighborhood sushi restaurants. This month, there is yet another addition to the sustainable sushi literature, this time in the form of a book by writer and fisheries expert Casson Trenor.
...
Architects Go After Infrastructure Investment
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 01.29.09
The Architect is In- 5 Cents per Consultation
It's time for the once-per-decade joke:
What do you say to an architect with a job?
"Big Mac and Fries, Please"
Except this time it's really serious. And architects can play such an important role in helping create green jobs and green industries. Their pitch to the Government:
...
Concrete = 7% Global CO2 Emissions, Cure = E-Crete from Zeobond? (Video)
by George Spyros, New York City, USA on 01.29.09
Bike is Obnoxiously Bright at Night
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 01.29.09
Commenter Rayn responded to our post on bike lights, noting his aggravation toward black-clad cyclists who blow through intersections: " Reflectors and lights
didn't' do crap because I wasn't facing the front or back of him and he was
wearing all black. "
It is a good point; lights usually aim front and back, but a lot of drivers don't see cyclists going through intersections legally while they blow through stop signs either. That's why the Bright Bike is such a good idea. Above, the bike is pictured in the day time; but look what happens at night when hit by the headlights:...
GE to Spends Big Bucks for Smart Grid Ad on Superbowl
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 01.29.09
If Only Our Grid Had a Brain
Superbowl ads are a decent way to see trends. During the dot-com bubble, you could see ads for various websites. This year, GE will debut an ad campaign for smart grids. The 30 seconds commercial will feature "a dancing Scarecrow and will discuss a smarter, more efficient, and sustainable electrical energy grid." It's impressive when you think about it: Since when is the electrical grid sexy enough to deserve such an expensive spot?...
Uncle Same (pun) Wants You To Buy a Car?
by Mark Ontkush, Boston, Massachusetts, USA on 01.29.09
Image by New York Times
I can see Jim Kunstler's face right now - pursed lips and purple. All this because CNN has leaked out that a few congresspeople think giving cash incentives to buy cars is the way to get things moving again (pun) in the good ole U.S. of A. There are 2 plans; one is even billed as 'environmentally sound'. Jim, don't turn the page; others, only if you dare....
German Government Adopts Flawed CO2-Based Car Tax
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 01.29.09
Incentives. It's All About Incentives.
The beauty of aligning incentives with the protection of nature is that even those who don't care about it will take the right decisions. One way to do that with cars is to measure externalities, and price them in the cost of a vehicle. If a car produces more air pollution or greenhouse gases, it should be more expensive (this can be done in a revenue neutral way, with the money thus raised use to lower taxes elsewhere). That's kind of what the German ruling coalition just did, though with some important flaws......
Toyota iQ Hypermiling Challenge: 18 Cities on a Tank of Fuel, 59.42 MPG
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 01.29.09
The Toyota iQ, which recently went on sale in Europe, is a very innovative small car. Toyota engineers found ways to make everything smaller so that a 3+1 seating arrangement would fit inside something not much bigger than a Smart Fortwo. It even has a rear curtain airbag. But how fuel efficient is it really? Toyota UK decided to do a 'real-world' test and blog about it.
More details and photos below....
Rammed Earth Goes to the Chickens
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 01.29.09
Treehugger loves rammed earth; it is energy-efficient, local and gorgeous. We have shown it used in museums, houses and art galleries, so as it goes mainstream it is only logical that we would find it in -chicken coops?...
Quote of the Day: William Faulkner on Cars
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 01.29.09
William Faulkner, bane of every English student forced to read DWMs until they cry MEGO, had this to say about automobiles in his minor novel Pylon, "a dark and pessimistic novel, one that looks at the uncertainty of American society created by the dehumanizing effects of the machine age.":
...
Intel Demos RF Energy Harvesting Technology
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 01.29.09
Photo via Gizmag
One of Intel's focuses for eco-technology is increasing our ability to harvest free energy sources from the sun to kinetic energy. This also includes RF energy harvesting from sources like WiFi, cell phone towers and TV signals.
Intel has just let loose details on a technique for harvesting ambient RF energy. The researchers powered a wall-mounted household weather station with an LCD screen using a TV antenna pointed at a local TV station....
It's Not a Passivhaus, It's a Plusenergihus
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 01.29.09
The passive house idea is so sensible, where instead of covering your house in green gizmos that generate heat and power, you design the systems so you don't need them. So Passiv Haus designs have very thick walls, lots of south facing windows and are boxy to reduce jogs that cause heat loss. But it does put some limitations on design, and makes some people nervous- will there be enough heat?
That appears to be the reasoning behind the Plusenergihus. It is like a Passivhaus with an extra kick from solar collectors and a stove....
The Ray - World's Most Eco-Friendly Watch?
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 01.29.09
Images via Watchismo
The Ray is a new limited edition watch on the style scene, and it claims to be the "first ever green timepiece" available.
Made from sustainably harvested ebony wood for its high density and durable characteristics, and using automatic movement instead of batteries, the watch has a 5 year warranty, which means it will probably last a really, really long time if you take care of it. Read on for other green features and decide if this is truly a most eco-friendly watch. ...
$10,000 Each For Five Eco-Friendly Projects
by Greg Haegele of Sierra Club on 01.29.09
There are people among us who study environmental issues and make a personal commitment to live lightly on the planet -- then go a step further by helping their community get greener as well. They set up recycling programs, weatherize homes, clean up watersheds, plant trees. You know these folks. You've seen them. Maybe you're one of them!
They are the very people who should know about the Green Heroes Grant Program sponsored by the makers of Green Works(tm) Natural Cleaners. The brand is giving away $10,000 grants to five "heroes," people who have organized eco-friendly projects whether they're at the neighborhood level or community-wide. You can nominate yourself, or you can nominate someone you know whose work has impressed you -- just visit the website, fill in a short form, upload a photo, and explain why the person and project are worthy of the grant. (please note, only individual members are eligible for non-Sierra Club projects and programs. Sierra Club chapters and programs are not eligible)...
Could the Next Textbook Upgrade be a Kindle?
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 01.29.09
Bike Lights Reviewed in the New York Times
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 01.29.09
Photo: Donna Alberico for The New York Times: CATEYE UNO and TL-LD610
The Times consults with a bike courier about the design and effectiveness of various bike lights. They note that there has been a 35% increase in the number of commuter cyclists in New York in the last two years, and a concomitant increase in the number of accidents. The scary part is that 45% of fatal accidents happen during low light hours....
World’s Top Carbon Emitters Don’t Join International Renewable Energy Agency
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 01.29.09
photo: IRENA
Announced back in November, the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) has had its first conference in Bonn, Germany. Though 75 nations have officially become members of the organization, perhaps most notable are those who haven’t joined -- Some of the world’s highest emitters of carbon emissions:...
Nudo Adopt an Olive Tree Offers a Valentine Special
by Kara DiCamillo, Newport, Rhode Island on 01.29.09
A “Grovey” Kind of Love
Today's TreeHugger Deal comes to you from Nudo – adopt an olive tree. Aphrodite, who knew a thing or two about lovin’, used olive oil as an aphrodisiac. And Cupid carved his bow from olive wood. And now, to oil the wheels of Italian olive love still further, Nudo is making a very special Valentine’s offer for TreeHugger readers: adopt an Italian olive tree for a loved one and get a second tree for half the price. Your two olive trees will be nestled next to each other in Nudo’s romantic groves in Le Marche, Italy. Heck, they can even get fruity with each other all summer long. That is until Nudo hand-picks the olives, crushes them and sends the olive oil straight to your door.
...
Tokyo Electric Power Company Announces Brutally Small Solar Power Plant
by greenz.jp, Tokyo, Japan on 01.29.09
(Brutally honest photo from Tepco pdf)
Tepco, the power utility for some 20-30 million people here in the capital region of Japan, has announced that they will start a 10 megawatt solar power plant in Yamanashi prefecture. I thought their information was brutally honest, with a photo that is so very different from most of the PR we get these days about renewable energy. Yup, that's where they intend to put the panels. Smack in the middle of that field, near Komekurayama, a really tiny town. Sick of fancy, photoshopped images with sparkling sun rays beaming this way and that? Welcome to the nitty-gritty real-world. So, just how much is 10 megawatt anyway?...
960 MW Offshore Wind Farm Planned for Germany (Yes, That's Big!)
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 01.29.09
Juist island, north of which the wind farm will be built. Photo: Wikipedia
REW Innogy has announced that, with its purchase of ENOVA Energieanlagen GmbH it now also owns the rights to develop the North Sea Windpower 3 offshore wind farm in Germany. Except that the 960 MW project will now be known as Innogy Nordsee 1. The timetable, location, costs are as follows:...
Compostmodern Setting the Sustainable Tone for Design Industry
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 01.29.09
Compostmodern is quickly becoming one of the largest conferences in the design industry, which might not be interesting to greenies right away, except that it is specifically focused on sustainability.
This particular conference is doing important work to shift the mindset of the people who design all those products we admire and consume. Founder of the event Phil Hamlett took some time to speak with us about the event, including the responses and changes it has generated. ...
BisPhenol-A...Again: It Stays Longer In Your Body Than Experts Once Thought
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 01.29.09
Figure 2: Adjusted urine BPA level vs. fasting time.
Image credit:eponline.org, from work by Richard W. Stahlhut, Wade V. Welshons, and Shanna H. Swan
A research paper recently published in the peer-reviewed journal Environmental Health Perspectives points out that, traditionally, it was believed by experts, that human bisphenol-A exposure was almost exclusively from food. That belief had interesting implications for those choosing which type of water bottle to purchase, for example. The food-as-main-exposure notion is now being challenged. The authors of Bisphenol A Data in NHANES Suggest Longer Than Expected Half-Life, Substantial Non-Food Exposure, or Both report that:...
Microwaves in the Green Kitchen: Efficient Cooking or Weird Science?
by Sami Grover, Carrboro, NC, USA on 01.29.09
Image credit: KidsDish.com
Microwaves vs Regular Ovens: the Green Cooking Debate
I’ve never lived in a house with a microwave. Not out of any ethical or environmental stance – I’ve just never got used to using one, so haven’t felt the need to get one. I’ve also rarely tasted anything good that came out of a microwave, beyond heated up left overs. But while some folks worry about safety, there’s no doubt that microwaves can be an incredibly efficient means of heating. The Union of Concerned Scientists posted on TreeHugger about ovens versus microwaves before, and now Leo Hickman is taking up the argument over at The Guardian – making the case that microwaves are one of the most efficient ways of cooking, but points out that their utility is limited to certain tasks:
...
BOP Source Shows Kiva Video, Grist Gets Meaty, People Tree Talk Fair Trade, and More
by Leonora Oppenheim, London, UK on 01.29.09
BOP Source: A Fistfull of Dollars - A story about a Kiva.org Loan (video) by Jenara Nerenberg
"Inspiring video from a Kiva Fellow in Cambodia." Kieran Ball left his job in London to follow the progress of a Kiva loan from donor to recipient in Cambodia. This is the story of his and the loan's journey....
Mirror Mirror On The Wall, Who Counts Green Jobs Best Of All?
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 01.29.09
Survey: Does PETA's Campaign Exploit Women?
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 01.29.09
NBC is not running a sexy ad from PETA, saying "it "depicts a level of sexuality exceeding our standards." They have been running sexy beer commercials for decades, but that is another story, maybe they have a thing about asparagus. In any case, it was a controversial question among commenters.
...
Join the Paper Airplane Protest
by Bonnie Alter, London on 01.29.09
Emma Thompson's image from Green Thing
There's anti-airplane protest in the air and on the ground here in London. The vote by the government for a third runway at Heathrow Airport, the world's biggest airport, has now been passed and the great and the good have lined up against the idea. There have been tea-party sit-ins at the terminal and celebrities have bought pieces of land to prevent further development beside the proposed site.
And now there is a launch of Protest Paper Planes featuring limited edition designs drawn by famous artists: Dinos Chapman, Peter Saville, famous musicians: James Blunt and famous actors: Emma Thompson (that's hers pictured above), Derek Jacobi, and people famous for doing nothing: Jade Parfitt. .
...
Bergmönch, the Bicycle that Folds into a Rucksack
by Petz Scholtus, Barcelona, Spain on 01.29.09
For all of you who love riding a bike downhill but prefer to walk uphill, here is a revolutionary new bicycle design that fits in a rucksack! It is actually meant for going mountain hiking uphill, and then wheeling downhill. The name of this new invention is Bergmönch, which means “mountain monk” in German. Check out the video below, about the monk riding a Bergmönch, and the image of the folded out bicycle....
Frugal, Organic, Sugarfree - What More Could A Dessert Want to Be?
by April Streeter, Gothenburg, Sweden on 01.29.09
Via Ed Yourdon @ flickr.
Deep from the innards of the TreeHugger test kitchen (ok, there's no TH test kitchen, just the hordes of us hungry bloggers trying to keep both budget and taste buds happy) emerges a new, quick, and decidedly healthy everyday dessert: sauteed cinnamon apples. The beauty of this dessert is that it takes few ingredients and the main one, apples, are generally available throughout the year, and sometimes even from local sources (at those heroic year-round farmers' markets). Apples have never-ending health benefits, and this dish is ready in a jiffy for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. So buy some organic winter apples at the market (nearly any variety except for the very mushy will work) and get ready to chop....
Gore Senate Hearing Video Excerpt & Full Transcript
by George Spyros, New York City, USA on 01.28.09
Heathrow Airport Expansion Approved
by Sami Grover, Carrboro, NC, USA on 01.28.09
Actually it looks like it's a yes... Image Credit: Inel
Controversial Runway Expansion Gets Green Light Despite Massive Opposition
From celebrities buying up land slated for the future runway through to flash mob picnics in Heathrow's terminal building and protesters storming runways and occupying the roof of the Houses of Parliament, there's no doubt that aviation expansion is a political hot potato in the UK right now. But while the UK Conservative Party has taken a stand against a third runway, adocating for more investment in rail instead, the Labour government is not listening. And today they voted in favour of expanding the UK's largest airport , despite a last minute rebellion by Members of Parliament. More from the UK's Telegraph newspaper:...
Economic Stimulus! Sometimes What We’re Looking For is Right Under Our Nose.
by Rocky Mountain Institute on 01.28.09
The Equitable Building, Denver, CO is currently undergoing significant energy retrofit including window rehab, lighting, controls, HVAC, and infiltration reduction. Image credit: St. Charles Town Co.
By Elaine Gallagher Adams, RMI
Economic stimulus? Have I got a deal for you! With over 300 billion square feet of existing built space in the United States alone, we have an astounding opportunity for transformational sustainability while leading the world in building technology, creating millions of jobs and profitable financial investments, and revitalizing communities. Retrofitting existing buildings provides the most profound, yet most under-appreciated, strategy for reducing resource consumption and increasing wealth
...
High-End, Completely Sustainable Jewelry. Made from Roadkill.
by Brian Merchant, Brooklyn, New York on 01.28.09
Photo by Mike Furgang
Let the ethical debates begin. Most of us agree that killing sometimes-endangered animals strictly to use their parts for fashion accessories or high end garments is deplorable. But what if the animal is already dead?
Amy Nugent, a jeweler and artist in Vancouver, uses roadkill as the main ingredient in creating her stylish-but-bizarre wares. From key chains made with turtle hands and rabbit feet, to bear and moose bone tie slides, to bracelets made from porcupine quills, anything is fair game—as long as it can be picked up off a carcass from the side of a highway.
...
Mike Turner's Awesome 95 MPG AeroCivic
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 01.28.09
Last year, I wrote about the awesome DIY "AeroCivic" by Mike Turner, a modified 1992 Honda Civic CX that gets 95 miles per gallon (at 65 MPH). I was glad to learn via Darin of EcoModder that Mike now has created a website dedicate to his baby. Other hypermilers and car modders can certainly learn from this master....
Why the Filthy Rich Aren't Green: 7 Habits of Highly Inefficient People
by Terri MacLeod on 01.28.09
Photo Courtesy of Millionaire-Maker Package
Oh how we love to hate the filthy rich--even more so in these tough economic times. While the rest of us mere mortals are struggling to make ends meet, the hyper-rich live by the motto "if you’ve got it, flaunt." And they DO! Jet-setting with their globe-trotting lifestyles, multiple homes, fleets of gas-guzzling cars, private planes, and excessive toys designed only for the elite. As for climate control and environmental concerns--ignorance is bliss! Some super-rich are too busy indulging to stop and measure (or even worry) about their carbon footprint. Here are seven eco-sinners we’d like to see green up their act ASAP. ...
Teen Climate Champ Warms Schools to Solar Power
by Josh Peterson, Los Angeles, California on 01.28.09
photo courtesy of the British Council
Seventeen-year-old Climate Champion Adam Raudonis is the head of Students for Solar Schools, a grassroots organization that aims to outfit high schools with solar panels. The pupil-led group is currently focusing on its first four schools—three in California, one in New York—but has plans to unite with like-minded students around the country. Adam and other young scholars involved in his organization are hard at work, raising funds, collaborating with school leaders, creating petitions and talking to contractors in an effort to create solar-powered, sustainable schools. Treehugger had the privilege of speaking with Adam. ...
Woman Bites NYC Bus Driver Because Bus Wasn't a Hybrid (?!)
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 01.28.09
"Going green was a cause she could really sink her teeth into."
The New York Daily News, in its Crime section, reports the story of a woman, Shelia Bolar, 49, who apparently bit the driver of the bus she was riding on because she was upset. Why was she so mad? Because the bus wasn't a hybrid (?!).
Read on for more details....
Incredibly Beautiful PS3 Game Connects Players to Plants (video)
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 01.28.09
Via Towleroad
A new game for the Playstation 3 has players fly through meadows as a gust of wind in a flower's dream. The goal is to carry petals to other flowers in order to progress to the next level. But the higher goal is to appreciate the gorgeousness of the plant world.
Read on to watch a trailer of the video game....
Al Gore Tells Senate Committee That We Have Arrived at a Moment of Decision Regarding Climate Change
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 01.28.09
Eating Dog Poop Could Be Good For You
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 01.28.09
Anyone who has ever seen Divine in Pink Flamingos will know that eating dog poop is not pretty, but in fact, according to Jane Brody in the New York Times, it may be an instinctive behavior that has helped us survive as as a species.
And while we at TreeHugger have railed against the use of antibiotic hand cleaners with Triclosan, researchers of the "hygiene hypothesis" go further than that- they suggest that dirt is good for you, both on your hands and in your gut.
...
Sexy Superbowl Ad Banned: Lingerie-Clad Vegetarians Have Better Sex
by George Spyros, New York City, USA on 01.28.09
NBC is declining to air a PETA pro-vegetarian commercial during the Super Bowl because it "depicts a level of sexuality exceeding our standards." The ad's tagline claim that "Studies Show Vegetarians Have Better Sex" is backed-up by the empirical evidence of lingerie-clad supermodels coming close with vegetables. Peek beneath our fold to see the video....
Kindle 2 Coming February 9th
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 01.28.09
Kindle Siblings - Kindle next to the alleged Kindle 2 in a leaked photo
Photo via Boy Genius Report
There is some happy news for those of you excited about the idea of using e-readers instead of printed books and newspapers. The Kindle is coming out with its new iteration on February 9th, and the announcement clears up concerns from potential Kindle purchasers. ...
Good Paying Green Collar Jobs Growing in California
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 01.28.09
Photo via GreenForAll.org
Green collar jobs that pay well are getting easier to find in California, a hub for clean technology innovation and implementation.
Next 10, a not-for-profit research group in Palo Alto found that the green collar job sector rose by 10% between 2005 and 2007, while total job growth in the state of California was only at 1%, proving that green jobs are a significant factor in keeping Americans employed....
Pollution in China is Worse Than Ever, Citizens Say
by Alex Pasternack, New York, NY on 01.28.09
Flickr: stan
China's environmental problem is "very serious" or "relatively serious," according to a report published last week. Just as troubling -- or perhaps promising -- is that these conclusions aren't the determination of researchers: they're the opinion of more than three-fourths of 10,000 citizens surveyed across China.
According to the survey, an annual report that began in 2005, some 76 percent of the respondents said that pollution was the most serious problem after "rising prices" and "food security." While a fifth of the population in Hong Kong are considering fleeing pollution there, mainlanders will have to find better solutions....
Small House Design "Paco" From Japan
by greenz.jp, Tokyo, Japan on 01.28.09
Let's say you needed a really small house, perhaps a Dome Home, to put on a secluded place on a beach, somewhere far off and away. Schemata Architecture Office Ltd. is a group of designers showing a concept small second house that you could build yourself, or perhaps help to develop. I like the freedom of this. You could put it anywhere. If noone complains, you are ok to go. Are there laws against second house freedom?...
Whatever Happened To Jimmy Carter's Solar Panels?
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 01.28.09
TreeHugger readers know the story- how Jimmy Carter put on a sweater, turned down the thermostat and put solar water heater panels on the roof of the White House. Ronald Reagan famously removed them, and Unity College in Maine put them on the roof of their cafeteria (and donated one to the Jimmy Carter Museum.)
Now two Swiss artists are making a film about it, and everything is not as we remember it.
...
8 Tree Houses Fit for TreeHuggers (Slideshow)
by Emma Grady, New York, NY on 01.28.09
Credit: Nelson Kon
The tree house of my youth wasn't much more than a platform and fencing, built with recycled wood from our new porch, a far cry from this tree house designed by Marcio Kogan. Years later, a little house in the trees is looking like the greatest escape from the city, even if my apartment is high enough to be in a Redwood.
Looking for some inspiration to ditch your digs and follow the dream of youth? Get lost in these trees with sustainable spheres and reclaimed creations in our:
Tree Houses Fit for a TreeHugger slideshow
...Just Because It’s Snowing Out Doesn’t Mean Global Warming is Fake, Say It With Me People
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 01.28.09
photo: Kim Baker via flickr
As I write this it is snowing fairly heavily in New York City, something which from my admitedly fallible memory seemed to happen more frequently in my childhood than in past years. And while it might be tempting to chalk up this year's comparatively colder temperatures as a refutation of global warming (we probably should’ve never called it that; climate change is much better...) that would be a faulty conclusion.
As Media Matters is pointing out, Matt Drudge (as well as plenty of other media outlets) seems to have not gotten that memo:...
Remanufactured Wind Turbines Halve the Price of New: Community Wind Power Projects Take Note
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 01.28.09
photo: Nexion DG
So you’re looking to develop a community wind farm. Nothing too large, just enough to power some local businesses, maybe a school. But you can’t afford to buy new turbines. What can you do? The New York Times is running an article which lays out your options for buying remanufactured wind turbines, and some of the risks.
NYT talked with Matt Stein of Nexion DG, a Portland, Oregon-based company which takes decommissioned wind turbines (generally in the 25-750 kW range), remanufactures them and then redeploys them. Here’s how the costs break down for a remanufactured turbine:...
What Women Know About Water
by Jennifer Hattam, Istanbul, Turkey on 01.28.09
Women carrying water in Ethiopia. Photo by magnusfranklin via Flickr.
Last week, delegates from around the world met in Rome to help set the agenda for the 5th World Water Forum, which will be held in Istanbul this March. They talked about the effects of population pressure, increased energy demand, climate change, and agriculture on water supplies and quality, and the need to "rethink our ideas about the relationship between food, water, and the environment." Pretty standard fare, right? But Turkish environmental engineer Arzu Özyol has a more surprising relationship to add to the discussion list: that between water and gender.
...
Tyvek Sustainable? One Designer in a Quest to Create the Perfect Wallet Thinks So
by April Streeter, Gothenburg, Sweden on 01.28.09
Survey: Do You Eat Threatened Species?
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 01.28.09
The other day we found out that a quarter of our readers eat veal; people all over the world have different eating habits and favorites. Nonetheless I was surprised to find out from Mike's post that even with all the news about frogs disappearing around the world, 200 million to 1 billion frogs are eaten each year. Fish, game, amphibians, there are all kinds of animals under threat, yet they still find their way on to our tables. Would you eat them?
...
Obama Aims for Tougher Auto Emission Standards - Video Roundup
by George Spyros, New York City, USA on 01.28.09
$31 Billion In Alternative Energy Tax Credits Approved by Senate Finance Committee
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 01.28.09
photo: Phil Romans
Yesterday, the Senate Finance Committee approved $31 billion in tax credits and other financial incentives to support development of renewable energy, help struggling wind and solar power companies, and give financial breaks to purchasers of plug-in electric vehicles. Though the details can (and probably will) change before a final package gets delivered to President Obama—the goal’s to have this done by February 16—here’s what’s been proposed:...
New Great Looking Design Store in Buenos Aires Features Green: Fabro
by Paula Alvarado, Buenos Aires on 01.28.09
Above photo: Fabro. Photos in the extended: Paula Alvarado.
Even though initiatives that embrace green design concepts continue to grow in Buenos Aires (remember we had our very own Sustainable Festival last year), the economic limitations and the fact that these subjects are not as extended in society make it hard for creators to produce and sell their items in regular stores. But fortunately, new spaces are coming up to change this.
The latest and coolest in walking this way is Fabro, a design store conceived with a focus in professional design with an Argentine identity that features many of the green products from Argentina we've seen at TreeHugger over the years.
Keep peeking in with us through the many photos in the extended....
Geoengineering to Stop Climate Change: The Effective, the Risky and the Useless Outlined in New Research Paper
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 01.28.09
Reforestation and other carbon sink enhancements such as bio-char, were found to be more effective than ocean fertilization in the short term. Photo: Matthew McDermott
Geoengineering projects to combat global climate change seem to bring out vocal opinions, both pro and con, and while their are compelling arguments from both sides, one thing that I think can be agreed upon is that more research is needed into the benefits of such schemes, as well as possible side effects and unintended consequences. Well, here it is.
A new research paper published in Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics Discussions claims that it is the first comprehensive assessment of the climate cooling potential of different geoengineering schemes. Carried out by researchers at the University of East Anglia, key findings of the paper include:...
Algae-Based Jet Fuel Research Gets $25 Million Boost From DARPA
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 01.28.09
B-52 refueling in flight. Photo: Paul Kuxika Blas via flickr
Science Applications International Corp. has announced that it has been awarded a $25 million contract by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, probably better known to readers as DARPA, to help develop an algae-based jet fuel for use by the US military. The target price for this alternative to petroleum-based jet fuel: $3/gallon. This is how SAIC will carry out the research:...
Can the Asian Countries Go Green Soon Enough?
by Bonnie Alter, London on 01.28.09
The Intelligence Squared Green Festival on Climate Change has provided an excellent opportunity to hear experts debate issues of crucial importance to us and our planet. Topics have included "Countdown to Armageddon--how long have we got?" and "Biofuels--essential or a waste of time?" and "Green Capitalists--a contradiction in terms?"
"Can Asia go green? (and if it doesn't has the world had it?)" was a fascinating discussion amongst four women (finally!) from Asian countries. Malini Mehra, from India, Christine Loh, from Hong Kong (a Time magazine Hero of the Environment), Svati Bhogle, Indian and winner of an Ashden Award for Sustainability and Isabel Hilton, editor of China Dialogue each examined their respective country's status and future.
...
Record-Setting 8.5 GW of New US Wind Power Capacity Added in 2008
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 01.28.09
photo: Will De Freitas via flickr
If nothing else, the American Wind Energy Association is a great promoter of every US wind power growth stat a researcher could want. And true to that, according to their latest press release US wind power installations set a new growth record in 2008. Which is a certainly a good thing, but the year ended on a downturn (as if you couldn’t guess that):...
German Government Green Lights Ocean Iron Fertilization Test After Review
by Christine Lepisto, Berlin on 01.28.09
Image: AWI
Ocean Fertilization a Political Hot Potato
Dumping iron in the ocean to reverse global warming evokes strong reactions and epitomizes the political hot potato. The German government lead resistance to attempts to use the fertilization of plankton growth in oceans for commercially offsetting greenhouse gas emissions, ultimately promoting an international convention restricting iron fertilization. The irony was not lost on many when Germany's own Alfred Wegener Institute announced plans for a large scientific study of iron fertilization. And this potato got so hot, the German science ministry suspended approval for the experiment pending further analysis -- even as the research ship Polarstern cruised toward the planned destination for the iron dump....
Dishonest Car Ads Cleverly Disguised As News
by greenz.jp, Tokyo, Japan on 01.28.09
(Image from MSN Japan)
There is something rotten in the car industry - the way they promote new models. Case in point: Treehugger wrote about the Mitsubishi Miev, a cool little car that has zero CO2 emissions (beacuse it is an electric car). That was back in September, 2007, and it was also displayed it in New York in early 2008. So I was surprised that news about this car is the leading story on Japan's MSN, the news website linked to hotmail.com. What's new? Apparently, nothing. The occasion? They are announcing that they are going to show this car at the 79th Geneva Car Show in March, 2009....
Plastic Bag Fees: Tax the Poor to Feed the Ego of the Rich!
by Eric Leech, New York, NY on 01.28.09
Illustration Credit: Art by Heather
The title of this piece represents the thought of some folks, when they hear the idea of the widely proposed plastic bag fees. Such thoughts come from single moms and senior citizens, who balk at the current price of a canvass bag.
“What about the families who are LITERALLY struggling to make ends meet. The families where Mom CAN'T AFFORD to buy her kids that pack of gum they ask for at the store (that was MY family, growing up)? $10 for a lunch box, $1 for every canvas grocery bag - that CAN be a hardship!” (Denver News Site)...
Original Good Offers 25% Off Beautiful, Artisan Products
by Kara DiCamillo, Newport, Rhode Island on 01.27.09
Today's TreeHugger Deal comes to you from Original Good, which is World of Good’s signature and beautiful fair trade line of stylish, handmade gifts, fashion accessories, and housewares. Original Good enables artisans and their families in 34 countries around the world to earn a sustainable living. Through the organization’s work with more than 150 artisan groups worldwide, they not only ensure that each of the artisans is paid a fair wage in a local context, but since all the products are handmade and from recycled or sustainable materials whenever possible, World of Good also minimizes their impact on the environment as well....
Rent Stuff: Zilok (Video)
by George Spyros, New York City, USA on 01.27.09
Car Rentals On-Demand: Mint (Video)
by George Spyros, New York City, USA on 01.27.09
Mint Cars on Demand in New York City is a new alternative to car ownership, 24 HR Rental Cars, Taxi's and Public Transportation. Members get on demand access to vehicles 24/7 for as little as an hour or as much as several days. Mint claims a diverse fleet of fuel efficient vehicles such as Smart Cars, as well as some old-school non-ecomobiles which the company calls "fun cars for that special occasion." We'll stick the green machines, thank you very much. Drive your Smart Car over the jump to watch the video and to find out about the amazing pricing information....
95% of Emperor Penguins Could Be Dead by 2100 Because of Climate Change: New Report
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 01.27.09
photo: lin padgham via flickr
Back in October of last year, WWF estimated that because of climate change penguin populations were going to face some serious declines: 50% of Emperor Penguins and 75% of Adelie Penguins could die if global temperatures rise 2°C.
The bad news is, a new report predicts an even worse future for Emperor Penguins:...
Solar Power Explosion in Spain: 3.1 Gigawatts Installed in 2008
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 01.27.09
Solar array in Barcelona, Spain. Flickr, CC.
Don't Worry, Not Literally an Explosion
Analysts expected Spain's installed solar power base to grow by about 1 gigawatt in 2008. That missed the mark by quite a bit as "Spain's National Energy Commission (CNE) this week estimated that about 3.1 gigawatts of solar power were connected to the grid from January through November 2008".
Read on for more details....
Five Tidal Power Projects Short-Listed For Severn Estuary
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 01.27.09
Cardiff Weston Barrage. Image: DECC
TreeHugger has covered the long, drawn out, and controversial progress of building some sort of tidal power project in the Severn estuary on a number of occasions. Well, the UK Department of Energy and Climate Change has released five projects that have a made a shortlist of possible tidal power projects to be developed:...
Humans are Eating Too Many... Frogs
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 01.27.09
"Order the tofu instead," says the Frog. Public domain image.
Put the Frog Down, Sir. Step Back!
Frogs aren't very lucky. They are facing habitat destruction and poisoning via various toxins in the food chain. But they're also getting eaten by humans: "international trade in frog meat represents 200 million to 1 billion frogs eaten each year, or about 11,000 tons of frog meat." Read on for more details....
Nature Air To Use Waste Vegetable Oil Biodiesel on All Its Ground Vehicles
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 01.27.09
photo: © Matthew McDermott
While there are some good reasons to question the ecological sustainability of air travel, you can’t say that at least some airlines are trying pretty hard to green their act. Costa Rica’s Nature Air, which bills itself as the world’s first zero emissions airline (it buys offsets for all the miles in flies...I can hear some of you groaning already), has announced that it will be now be furthering its green cred. The airline will be powering its entire fleet of ground equipment using biodiesel made from waste vegetable oil. Here are the details:...
TreeHugger is on Twitter: Here are Tips To Get You Started Too!
by Chris Tackett, San Francisco on 01.27.09
Hundreds of Birds Killed in Oil Spill on Russia’s Sakhalin Island
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 01.27.09
map: Wikipedia
It may not be the Exxon Valdez spill, still less the TVA coal ash spill, but two miles of coastline on Sakhalin Island in the far east of Russia has been covered with fuel oil, killing hundreds of birds. The spill occurred in Aniva Bay, six kilometers from an LNG plant which is currently under construction. The head of a local diving center was quoted by AFP as saying,...
The Race is On to Make Better & Cheaper Electric Car Batteries
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 01.27.09
Making the 'Holy Grail' Battery
Donald Sadoway and his students are working hard at MIT to improve battery technology for electric cars. In the past few years, most of the battery R&D has been coming from the portable electronics sector, but now automakers and governments have started to put a lot more resources into batteries designed specifically for vehicles.
Read on for more....
Vegan Purses That Actually Look Cool
by Kristin Underwood, Sacramento, CA on 01.27.09
Image source: Matt&Nat
Who knew green could look so good? Vegan purse designer Matt&Nat gave us a sneak preview of their 2009 vegan purse collection and from the looks of it the bags this season are geared towards the jet setter and the city chic with tasty colors like mustard yellow, chili pepper red, and icy white. While the linings are all made from recycled plastic bottles, several of the bags are made from recycled Japanese paper this year. Also new this season: a men's collection of wallets, laptop cases, briefcases, weekenders and carryalls, inspired by architecture and industrial design, giving them a utilitarian feel. Even better: Most of their bags, old and new, are on sale right now.
More images after the jump....
Recycling Bins 34% More Effective When They Have...Holes!
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 01.27.09
Photo via sillygwailo
Recycling bins in public places are starting to be more common, and they come in a variety of designs. Some are little bins hovering over trash cans that sometimes look more like cigarette bins, some look pretty much the same as a regular trash can...and some have small holes just the right size for recyclable items.
Turns out, that last design will increase the rate of recycling by 34% - just through its shape....
How to Go Green: Alternative Energy
by Blythe Copeland, Great Neck, New York on 01.27.09
Photo credit: Manfred Steinbach/iStock
So you’ve already traded driving for biking on short trips, started eating less meat and more local vegetables, and are consistently buying carbon offsets to counteract your plane trips. Ready for a bigger green challenge? Try switching to alternative energy at home. Instead of depending solely on the electric grid, you can harness solar energy, wind power, hydropower, or even geothermal energy to keep your home warm in the winter, cool in the summer, and buzzing with electricity.
Read on for a sampling of tips, or click on over to our guide for How to Go Green: Alternative Energy on Planet Green for the full story.
...
How to Print Your Own Money, Build Community & Not Get Arrested by the Feds
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 01.27.09
photo: Jason Houston/Berkshares
I want anyone who’s got a joke on the tip of their tongue about ‘monopoly money’ to put it out of their mind. Printing your own local community currency is a perfectly legitimate thing to do—you can’t make your own local coins but bills are legal, at least in the US—and can be a great way to encourage shopping at local businesses. It doesn’t replace federal printed currency, but augments it by getting people to make the practical and symbolic gesture of supporting local businesses before national chains.
Think it’s tough to get started, to convince businesses to accept the currency and for people to attach value to it, you may be right. But here are a few examples of places which have taken their local monetary system into their own hands:...
The Chevy Volt's European Cousin: The Opel Ampera
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 01.27.09
Opel Ampera to be Unveiled in March
GM had already announced that the Chevy Volt's plug-in hybrid drivetrain (now called 'Voltec') would be used in other model, and we've already seen the Cadillac Converj concept in Detroit earlier this month. The latest GM announcement is for a European cousin to the Volt named 'Ampera' and sold under the Opel brand....
Bringing the Forest to the Bathroom with the Moss Mat
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 01.27.09
Photo via Coroflot
Those shampoo and soap commercials that always show people being transported to exotic outdoor bathing locations when they start using the product just might become a kinda sorta reality with this intriguing bath mat idea that brings a bit of the swampy outdoors inside. ...
World's First Solar Powered Autonomous Snow Plow
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 01.27.09
Photo via i-Shovel
Robots are cool, especially when they're solar powered and let you stay inside where it's warm and toasty while they do the hard labor of shoveling snow. Check out the i-Shovel, a solar powered, fully automatic robotic show shovel.
Watch a video after the jump. ...
Double US Renewable Energy Generation Within Three Years: President Obama
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 01.27.09
photo: Chuck Coker via flickr
You may have heard the news yesterday that President Obama directed the EPA to allow California, and other states who wish to do so, set higher emissions and fuel efficiency standards. Well, yesterday Obama also (again) iterated the need to transition the United States away from dependence on oil. From his speech on the subject, here’s how we can do that:...
Free NY Event: Buddhism and the Environment
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 01.27.09
Photo via btsiders
If you're in the New York area and want to hear an interesting talk tonight, we have just the event for you. Our very own Jessica Root is giving a talk about Buddhism and the Low-Impact Living. Read on for event details. ...
Sundance Festival: The Cove
by greenz.jp, Tokyo, Japan on 01.27.09
(Image: opsociety.org)
Standing ovations greeted the judges' verdict Sunday that the documentary "The Cove" had won a prestigious award at the 25th annual Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah. Directed by former National Geographic photographer Louis Psihoyos, "The Cove" was made secretly throughout 2007 using underwater microphones and high-definition cameras disguised as rocks, and with a camouflaged camera crew hidden on headlands, according to The Japan Times....
Can Potty Poetry Reduce Wasted TP?
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 01.27.09
Photo via RelentlesslyOptimistic
We've all been in bathroom stalls where poetry (at least by a loose definition) has littered the walls. But who'd have thought that poetry in the potty could make you use less toilet paper? A study by the research center Japan Toilet Labo showed that it can make a big difference - cutting down paper use by 20%....
Extry, Extry! Dead Tree Blog Hits the Streets!
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 01.27.09
The Printed Blog hits the stands today; the newsies are agog. It is
"The world's first daily newspaper composed entirely of blogs and other user generated content....it reads and functions like a web feed-yet can still be enjoyed on the train or spread across the breakfast table, for an uninterrupted, pleasurably tactile experience."But is it green?...
Transition City LA: Why Los Angeles Must Kick the Oil Habit
by Sami Grover, Carrboro, NC, USA on 01.27.09
Image credit: B-Side Blog
LA After Oil: If Not Transition Then What?
Ever since I wrote about Transition City LA, I’ve been intrigued to hear how residents of one of the world’s most notoriously car-dependent cities will apply this community-led approach to freeing ourselves from fossil fuels. True, LA may boast bike co-ops and a huge new city-wide solar initiative, but it is also a sprawling web of roads and highways. Luckily the good folks of Transition City LA are not easily daunted, and I’ve just come across an excellent piece over at Legacy LA about how the Transition ‘model’ may be applied to LA, and why the work must begin now:...
Fast Company's Best Green Jobs for the Next Decade
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 01.27.09
illustration by Erika Schneider for Fast Company
Fast Company provides an interesting list of what they think the best green jobs are, where to study for them and what related careers might make sense as well:
Farmer: America has only two million farmers, and their average age is 55. Since sustainable agriculture requires small-scale, local, organic methods rather than petroleum-based machines and fertilizers, there is a huge need for more farmers -- up to tens of millions of them, according to food guru Michael Pollan.
Solar Power Installer: : Making and installing solar power systems already accounts for some 770,000 jobs globally....
Van Jones Spotted at Obama Inauguration (Loves TreeHugger!)
by Jacob Gordon, Nashville, TN on 01.27.09
Provocative Global Warming Rug Creates a Stir in the Blogosphere
by Leonora Oppenheim, London, UK on 01.27.09
Images: NEL.com.mx
This little boy looks like he might be blogging over spilled milk, in fact he's concerned about the future of his environment. The Global Warming Rug by Mexican design cooperative NEL, featuring Emiliano Godoy, has created quite a stir in the blogosphere over the last few months after it was shown at the Valencia furniture fair in August last year. The evocative imagery of a young boy with a laptop in front a rug depicting a lone polar bear on a ever shrinking ice floe has prompted various reactions......
A Bike Helmet That Makes You Look Like Russell Crowe
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 01.27.09
I really like this bike helmet from Canedo Studio a lot. It integrates eye protection into the helmet, the ventilation is terrific, and cars will keep far away from me. Joaquin Phoenix and his sword will keep far away from me. ...
Adhocism: The Case for Improvisation (Slideshow)
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 01.27.09
In 1973 Architects and theorists Charles Jencks and Nathan Silver wrote Adhocism: The Case for Improvisation. Jencks coined the term in 1968.
"It can be applied to many human endeavours, denoting a principle of action having speed or economy and purpose or utility. Basically it involves using an available system or dealing with an existing situation in a new way to solve a problem quickly and effectively. It is a method of creation relying particularly on resources which are already at hand."Forty years later, we have a lot of materials at hand; as we have noted before, recycling is over- it is time for reusing, repurposing, upcycling and making something new out of the detritus of the boom. We make the case in our:
Adhocism: The Case for Improvisation slideshow
...Bikers in Sao Paulo Homage Fallen Cyclist, Claim More Respect in the Streets
by Paula Alvarado, Buenos Aires on 01.27.09
Photo: Paulo Fehlauer.
As much as we love bikes and biking, these are the pictures of them we never want to see. The sad photos in this post show a ghost bike homage and demonstration in the city of Sao Paulo, Brazil, over the running-down of 40 year-old prominent bike-activist Marcia Prado. The accident heated the long claim of the city's bikers for more space and respect in the streets.
Did you know that every four days, a biker is killed in Sao Paulo? Find out more about the situation and see more pics and after the jump....
"Clean Coal" Industry Needs More Financial Stimulus - The Battle Of Brown VS Green States Begins
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 01.27.09
Pigs At The Trough. Image credit:Flickr, Gangie, excerpted.
According to the Charleston Gazette: "Lawmakers in the House set aside $2.4 billion in their current version of the legislation for research into capturing greenhouse gas emissions from coal-fired power plants." But this is not enough. More must be slopped into the public trough....
Survey: Do You Advertise Your Green-ness?
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 01.27.09
Mike's post on the 5 ugliest eco-cars reminds us of an interesting point. The Prius is a lot more popular than the hybrid Camry because, to quote the old sixties phrase, if you've got it, flaunt it!- people want people to know that they are driving a hybrid or the latest weird eco-car. How about you?
...
Green Conference Debates Impact of Climate Change
by Bonnie Alter, London on 01.27.09
image from IQ2
The Intelligence Squared Green Festival on Climate Change was a full day's worth of important information and debate on many issues confronting mankind about the future of our planet. With a cast of heavy hitters, from scientists to professors to CEO's, it was an opportunity to hear serious people talk about serious matters.
The first big debate was "Countdown to Armageddon--how long have we got?" It featured two people taking the position that "it's too late, the damage has already been done", two arguing "we must act now" and another two insisting that "the threat is over-exaggerated." ...
The Ballad of the Bicycle Bandit
by Josh Peterson, Los Angeles, California on 01.26.09
photo by Dave Haygarth
They say that the natural death of a bicycle is for it to be stolen. That means a great percentage of bicycles end up in the hands of criminals. The thieves usually peddle the bikes to used bike shops or sell the metal for scrap. One Toronto bike thief simply hoarded his booty of over two thousand bikes. With so many bikes going through the hands of so many criminals, it’s only natural that some of those bikes be employed for dubious purposes. Bank robbery, for example. ...
Japanese Satellite First to Monitor Greenhouse Gases
by Kristin Underwood, Sacramento, CA on 01.26.09
Image source: UNESCAP
The "IBUKI" satellite, run by the Japanese Aerospace Agency and the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, is the first in the world to observe GHG and monitor the effects they cause, reports the UN. Launched on January 23, data will be collected every three days and available to scientists free of charge. The satellite will reportedly be able to monitor the entire surface area of the Earth, including regions that have had limited or no data collected. Ultimately the data will provide a better understanding of "emission, transportation and absorption of gases." ...
Emission Free, and Free to Ride: EcoCabs Roll Again
by Brian Merchant, Brooklyn, New York on 01.26.09
Photo via GO Mobile Media
Eco Cabs are one of the greatest, greenest ideas to roll through downtown city streets anywhere. They're emission free, provide quick comfortable transportation, publicly promote green transit, and are 100 percent free to ride. What's not to love?
...
Farmers Call For Restructuring of Global Food System
by Jeff Nield, Vancouver, British Columbia on 01.26.09
Photo by Nic Paget-Clarke via La Via Campesina
A coalition of peasant farmer groups are protesting their meaningful exclusion at the High Level Conference on Food Security taking place in Spain on January 26-27. In response to their exclusion 49 groups, including La Via Campesina, GRAIN, and ETC Group have signed a declaration, “Accelerating into disaster – when Banks manage the Food Crises”.
More on the declaration after the jump. ...
"Masdar is the Catalyst": An Interview with Jay Witherspoon, Masdar City Technology Director
by Jesse Fox, Tel Aviv, Israel on 01.26.09
Technology in the service of sustainable living: A rendering of life in Masdar City (courtesy of CH2M Hill).
Jay Witherspoon works for CH2M Hill, a global project management, consulting and engineering firm that was chosen to manage the development of Masdar City. The project, they hope, will serve as an incubator for the next generation of sustainable technology breakthroughs, transform the supply chain and change the way we look at cities on a global level.
A chemical engineer by trade, Witherspoon’s work focuses on sustainable practices and technologies. We caught up with him at a panel on integrating sustainable technologies in cities at the World Future Energy Summit in Abu Dhabi and asked him a few questions about the futuristic post-petroleum city, now under construction in the emirate. ...
The US Will Have a New Special Envoy for Climate Change: Todd Stern
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 01.26.09
US State Department building. Photo: Josh via flickr
The Obama administration is starting to do more than just talk the talk on taking climate change seriously: Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is expected to announce today that she will be appointing a special envoy for climate change. Todd Stern, a White House assistant in President Clinton’s administration (and much more, details after the jump) will be selected:...
Manitobans are Canada's Worst Recyclers
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 01.26.09
Green in Canada: Theory vs. Practice
There is often a disconnect between Canadians' self-image and the reality. We would like to believe we're leaders on the effort to combat global warming, yet the two main political parties, when in power, haven't done much in the past 10 years to actually reduce greenhouse gas emissions. We're also near the top of the list for energy use and trash generate per capita, and speaking of trash, it seems like the province of Manitoba is not even moving in the right direction....
$215 Billion Could Be Raised By Rich Nations to Help Poor Combat Climate Change: EU Report
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 01.26.09
photo: Felix O via flickr
Reuters is reporting that they have seen a draft of a paper written by the European Union, to be published next week, that says wealthy nations of the world could raise $200 billion between 2013-2020 to help poorer nations deal with the effects of climate change. The funds would come through taxes on carbon in wealthy nations. Here’s more on what the report calls for:...
CARB Delays Decision, Plug-In Hybrid Conversion Startups Dodge a Bullet
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 01.26.09
Plug-in Hybrid Conversion Might Survive in California
Last week we wrote about CARB's imminent decision about new regulation that could kill plug-in hybrid conversion companies in California. At the very last minute, CARB decided to delay its ruling and take another look at the implications that its decision would have on plug-in conversion startups.
Read on for more details....
Get Out and Play: Arts Shanty in Minnesota
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 01.26.09
Images shown via Shedworking
They have such fun in Minnesota; they elect comedians like Michele Bachmann and Al Franken; they build Ice monuments honoring socialist dictators and best of all, they know how to enjoy winter. ...
Take Action: Demand Congress Enact Strong Renewable Energy, Climate Change Legislation at Power Shift 09
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 01.26.09
Power Shift 2007 photo: © PowerShift 09
Simple changes you can make to your lifestyle are only going to take the environmental movement so far. To start making the structural changes in our society that can transition us to a more ecological sustainable future, the type of changes that no amount of individual action alone will accomplish, we’re going to have to get more political. You can kick off your new political activism at Power Shift 09, February 27-March 2 in Washington DC: ...
InferKnow's Green Web Surfing Add-On
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 01.26.09
If you're a FireFox user and want to know you're doing a little good by surfing webpages, you might want to check out the InferKnow add-on. When you surf with this extension, you're helping to fight global warming. Read on for how it works. ...
PACO Packs A Lot Into a Little
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 01.26.09
PACO is a tiny little cube, only 3 meters square (just slightly bigger than the Micro Compact Home) but complete with everything you need. It can hook up to the established service infrastructure or stand on its own with solar, wind, water recycling and bio-toilet....
The 6 Ugliest Eco-Cars: Because Green Isn't Always Pretty
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 01.26.09
Beauty's Only Skin Deep
Beauty is very subjective, and what someone will find beautiful someone else will find ugly, or just "meh". There's nothing scientific about it, or even very serious, but here are some eco-cars that we might like in some way or another, but that look like they fell off the ugly tree. Why does this matter? To some it doesn't, but to a mainstream audience, it does more often than not, and if we want greener alternatives to replace dirty ones, they need to be at least as attractive (if not more!).
Read on for our picks of ugly eco-cars....
Save Millions of Birds: Window Alert 'Invisible' Ultraviolet Decals Warn Birds About Deadly Windows
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 01.26.09
This Could Save Millions of Birds at Almost No Cost
You don't have to be a passionate bird watcher to care about the safety of our little winged friends. Among the top immediate dangers for them are moving vehicles, house cats, and buildings (flying into windows). Window Alert decals are an inexpensive product that allows you to do something about that last one.
Read on for more details....
Faucet Giant Kohler Launches Water Saving Contest
by Kristin Underwood, Sacramento, CA on 01.26.09
Image source: Flickr
While they design the faucets and fixtures that bring the water to you in style, they don't think that wasting water should be part of the design. So, Kohler, maker of ???, has launched their Save Water America campaign to educate homeowners on water saving tips. Part of this includes an easy, virtual water saving contest - the prize: water faucets for Habitat for Humanity homes....
TreeHugger Talks With James Gustave Speth: Green Consumerism, Taking Action & What Comes After Capitalism
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 01.26.09
Though it’s prestigious enough that James Gustave Speth is currently the dean of Yale University’s School of Forestry & Environmental Studies, when you look at his past environmental activities—co-founder of the Natural Resources Defense Council, chairman of President Carter’s Council on Environmental Quality, Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme—you start to understand why, as a fellow TreeHugger writer described it, at this point he’s like the Yoda of the environmental movement.
Which means, when I got the chance to interview Dean Speth, ask him about his latest book The Bridge at the Edge of the World (soon to come out in paperback) and pick his brain about what comes next in the environmental movement, I was thrilled:...
Houses Getting Smaller- Green Revolution or Tight Money?
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 01.26.09
the New American Home
Preston tells us that Consumers Now Want Smaller, More Efficient, Less Expensive Homes.
This is according to surveys by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and Better Homes and Gardens Magazine. But I am not as optimistic about the results as Preston....
e-Paper Could Save Lives in an Emergency
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 01.26.09
Photo via Tech-On
e-Paper has certainly been gaining ground as e-reader popularity rises, but it is also getting exposure for usage in signs. It might even end up saving lives. Japan is testing out e-paper as a way to provide disaster prevention information to citizens. ...
How OLEDs Work and Why They're Green (Video)
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 01.26.09
Kodak's OLED digital photo frame at CES 2009
OLED display technology is becoming a reality. While they're mainly used in super expensive digital photo frames and cell phones, they'll soon be used in large televisions, lights, and more.
If you want a run-down of OLED technology - what it is, how it works, how it's made, and where it's at in the market place, then you'll want to check out this great, informative video. ...
GetWithGreen Hosts Carnival of the Green
by Kara DiCamillo, Newport, Rhode Island on 01.26.09
This week is Carnival of the Green #164 is being hosted by GetWith Green, a site that's dedicated to providing home-owners, designers and those in the home construction and remodeling industry with the most in-depth news and information surrounding eco-friendly and sustainable products for home remodel projects.
So head on over to this week's Carnival to find a round up of green news and events from the past week, submitted by other bloggers and green sites....
Another Dire Global Warming Effect: 10 Times As Many Ocean Dead Zones
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 01.26.09
image: US DEP
We’ve written about the subject of ocean dead zones on a number of occasions—basically that they’re expanding because of human activity, fertilizer run-off, other factors—but new research indicates that we may be writing about them even more. Chalk it up to global warming:
...
Commuter Bike Competition Winner Raises Interesting Questions
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 01.26.09
We have been following the competition to "design a commuter bike for the masses" over at the Bicycle Design Blog. The question asked was: What kind of bicycle, or pedal powered machine, would it take to get those people out of their cars for trips to the store or to work?
The judges have finally decided, and picked Torkel Dohmers' recumbent design. ...
Costa Rica to Further Tap Its Geothermal Power Potential
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 01.26.09
photo: Arden via flickr
When most people think of Costa Rica they probably think of natural beauty and coffee. Renewable energy isn’t high up on the list, which is I suppose is a question of publicity as much as anything else because renewable energy in the form of hydropower and geothermal both generate more electricity than fossil fuels (primarily oil) in the Central American nation. In any case, Costa Rica will soon be further tapping its geothermal power resources. Here are the details:...
Quote of the Day: The State of Residential Design
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 01.26.09
Susan Kraemer of Green Building Elements nails what's wrong with home design today. I think she unfairly blames architects; they don't design too many builders' houses anymore. And I think that the economic changes we are going through will cause significant changes in the way we build, when again we build. But otherwise it a useful manual for building a cold, mouldy house:...
Kill-A-Watt Tweaked to Tweet Power Consumption on Twitter
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 01.26.09
Photo via MAKE
It may seem odd to want to let everyone following you on Twitter know your power consumption, and yet, it's still kind of a neat experiment. If you're wanting to cut back on power use, having the information be public might help inspire you to keep up the good work. And a specially tweaked "Tweet-A-Watt" just might help you accomplish that without your needing to update your Twitter feed yourself. ...
Jargon Watch: Agnotology
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 01.26.09
Source: Climate Progress
Many people are wondering these days about the surprising success of climate change deniers; toss a few feet of snow on the ground and even democrats, who seemed more susceptible to the climate change message, start backing off. What is happening?
Odograph points us to the term Agnotology, "a neologism for the study of culturally-induced ignorance or doubt, particularly the publication of inaccurate or misleading scientific data."...
Sun Microsystems Finishes Super Efficient Datacenter
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 01.26.09
Photo Via Sun Microsystems
Sun Microsystems' Broomfield, Colorado datacenter is completed, and it shows of some fantastic features the allow it to save energy, water, and CO2 in big ways....
Dale Vince Defends his Electric Sports Car - Video Update
by Sami Grover, Carrboro, NC, USA on 01.26.09
Toxic Drywall Rotting Houses, Sickening Occupants in Florida
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 01.26.09
Corroded mirror in relatively new Lennar home in Sarasota
In some new Florida subdivisions, the houses are corroding before their owners's eyes. According to Aaron Kessler in the Sarasota Herald Tribune:
...
Cape Wind Controversy Continues as Second Turbine Deployed (Video)
by George Spyros, New York City, USA on 01.26.09
Survey: Have You Said Nein to Schnitzel?
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 01.26.09
Bonnie suggests that we should say nein to the schnitzel because of its carbon footprint; she doesn't mention that classic wiener schnitzel is made from veal, which Peter Singer called "the ultimate in high-profit, confinement animal agriculture." A lot of people have given up veal before they gave up completely on meat.
...
Ask Pablo: Is Bottled Water Really So Bad?
by Pablo Paster, San Francisco on 01.26.09
Over the past few years journalists and commentators have denounced bottled water as an environmental evil. I can count myself as one of those after my article about the greenhouse gas emissions from producing and transporting one bottle of Fiji water all the way from the South Pacific to the US (do a Google search for "Fiji water" and my article is still one of the top links to appear). A short time later Fast Company magazine published "Message in a Bottle," further exposing the bottled water industry and Fiji specifically. Perhaps in response to the bad publicity, Fiji Water unveiled a marketing campaign to publicly show their green side. The website FijiGreen.com explains their efforts to quantify their greenhouse emissions, reduce those emissions through energy efficiency and renewable energy, and to offset the remaining emissions through the reforestation of rain forest on the island of Fiji. Despite these noble efforts the Fiji Water company has continued to receive criticism and even accusations of "Greenwashing."...
TreeHugging Gets Harder As Tree Deaths Double in Western U.S. Old-Growth Forests
by April Streeter, Gothenburg, Sweden on 01.26.09
Photo jcookfisher @ flickr.
Global warming may be the culprit in the waves of tree deaths scientists have observed in the western U.S. in unmanaged, old-growth forests, reported in the latest issue of Science. Tree death rates have doubled in these old-growth forests since the 1950s, and the U.S. Geological Survey, leading the study, speculates that rising temperature and its results is the most likely culprit (fire suppression and a few other factors were mostly ruled out). These decimated forests could eventually become net carbon dioxide producers, rather than currently helping us suck CO2 from the atmosphere....
Germans Say Nein to the Schnitzel
by Bonnie Alter, London on 01.26.09
image from ukgermanconnection.org
Germans are being urged to say "nein, danke" ( no thanks) to wiener schnitzel*. The government is urging people to return to their old pre-war habits of eating meat only for special occasions. Now it is considered normal to eat meat every day, indeed "for too many, eating meat is too closely connected with manliness." The government is suggesting that a Sunday roast and more interest in the Mediterranean style of diet would be better for the population and the planet.
The Germans are among the biggest meat eaters in Europe--getting 39% of their total calorie intake from it, as compared with the Italians who get 25%. ...
Director of Consumers Union says, Peanut Butter Epidemic Should have been Avoided
by Eric Leech, New York, NY on 01.26.09
No more peanut butter and bacon sandwiches!
Photo Credit: Inuyaki.com
Consumers Union, the publisher of Consumer Reports, has released a report stating that tainted peanut butter products may have been avoided if the FDA had a quicker reaction rate towards food tainted outbreaks in general. Jean Halloran, Director of Food Policy Initiatives at Consumers Union, questioned the delayed reaction of the FDA with the recent peanut butter epidemic:
“When a plane crashed, we have a massive investigation as to how it happened, so that the problem can be corrected. Why didn't FDA intensify its supervision of peanut butter manufacturers after the problem in the ConAgra plant two years ago?"...
Treehuggers: Tack 5 More Months Onto Your Lifespan
by Eric Leech, New York, NY on 01.26.09
Photo credit: Pfala
First, The Bad News
Pollution through our air, water, and soil is currently one of the leading causes of death in both men and women throughout the world. It is the blame for some 40 percent of all deaths. Scientists have warned that at our current rate of population growth, these numbers could rise significantly due to the formation of both new and old forms of disease, including West Nile, Lyme Disease, tuberculosis, and influenza....
Obama Administration Will Let States Set Auto Emissions Standards
by Jeremy Elton Jacquot, Los Angeles on 01.26.09
Image from BarackObama.com
In a marked break from his predecessor, President Barack Obama will today direct the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to approve requests made by California and 13 other states to establish strict new auto emission and fuel efficiency (i.e. CAFE) standards, reports the NYT's John M. Broder and Peter Baker. The president will also instruct the agency to begin enforcing a 2007 national fuel efficiency standard law that the Bush administration refused to act on. ...
.tel Domain Could Mean Global Online Phone Book
by Brian Merchant, Brooklyn, New York on 01.25.09
Photo via the Bakersfield Californian
No More Business Cards, Phone Books?
The new top-level internet domain, .tel, could go a long way in creating a comprehensive online phonebook—and putting an end to tree-hogging hindrances like the Yellow Pages and embossed business cards once and for all. Even better, if it catches on, .tel will be easier to use than either: no constantly ordering more cards every time you get a new address or title, no making room in your shelving for yet another obtrusive phone book.
Here's how it'll work.
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Greening the Arts: the Brains Behind London's Arcola and New York's PS 122 Meet to Green Theater
by Brian Merchant, Brooklyn, New York on 01.25.09
Photo via Democracy in America
A couple weeks back the British Council hosted the Greening the Arts program in New York City. Leaders in the theater, music, and art worlds were all in attendance. And while there were big events and high-profile talks, I was invited to attend one of the less publicized events: a meeting between Ben Todd, the executive director of the world's first carbon neutral theater, the Arcola in London, and Steve Warnick and Vallejo Gantner, the executive director and artistic director respectively, of New York City's renowned Performance Space 122.
PS 122 is slated to undergo a $21 million renovation project, and the meeting was arranged to help the landmark theater take a cue or two from the Arcola—and go green as possible in its new form. In doing so, it could set an example for greening theaters worldwide.
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Most Adorable Renewable Energy Video Project Ever (VIDEO)
by Brian Merchant, Brooklyn, New York on 01.25.09
Carrick McCullough, photo via Our Renewable Nation
Our Renewable Nation is possibly the most adorable project ever conceived to advocate renewable energy. It's an eco-video project helmed by the McCullough family, who are traveling across the country in a vegetable oil powered VW Beetle. They're visiting wind farms, solar installations, talking to companies developing sustainable technologies, and documenting all their interviews and travels on video.
Each of the videos stars 9-year old Carrick McCollough, the cutest kid to campaign in the name of renewable energy. And it's effective. Don't believe me? Just watch the video after the jump, where Carrick implores grownups to not blow it for him and his generation. How can we say no to this?
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First Time Ever: Renewable Energy Accounts for Largest Share of Annual Increase in US Electrical Capacity
by Brian Merchant, Brooklyn, New York on 01.25.09
Photo via hippyshopper
Some good news 'mongst all these ongoing recession woes: progress continues to be made on the alternative energy front. For the first time, renewable energy sources accounted for the biggest share in the increase of US's electrical capacity. This means that, thanks mostly to the burgeoning wind power industry, more renewable energy sources sprung up in 2007 than environmental ne'er do wells like coal-burning plants. So why is this significant?...
Moving Up: Climate Change Forces Species to Higher Elevations
by Tim McGee, Western Massachusetts on 01.25.09
photo xamad @ flickr
Mount Kinabalu on the island of Borneo is a major center of biodiversity. The large range of elevation creates unique habitat conditions from lower to higher elevations, leading to a rich diversity of life. In 1965 three undergraduates set off to trap moths on the mountain, and unknowingly established the foundation for future studies of the impact of climate change. Forty-two years later Henry Barlow and Jeremy Holloway, two of the original three undergraduates assisted in a 2007 expedition back to the mountain, that for the first time has demonstrated climate change is affecting the distribution of tropical insects, the most numerous group of animals on Earth....
A Tragic Car Crash Epidemic Kills Over 3000 People in Just One Day
by Trevor Reichman on 01.25.09
Car Crash Art by John Chamberlain in Marfa, TX - Photo by Trevor Reichman
In one year, it is estimated that 1.2 million people are killed in auto-related accidents around the globe. That equates to slightly more than 3200 traffic deaths EVERY DAY. These mostly preventable deaths, in casualties alone, exponentially surpasses the number of casualties from higher profile, more newsworthy, less common tragedies. Yet, the horrific daily toll receives little attention by political leaders and the media ....
Freak Caterpillar Invasion Eating Its Way Through Liberia
by Karin Kloosterman, Tel Aviv on 01.25.09
It happens once in a while: That tiny thread holding the fine balance of nature together somehow snaps. This is what's happening in Liberia, right now, the AP reports. Millions of crop devouring caterpillars known as "army worms" are taking over the country.
Authorities in Liberia are desperate to find a solution to the inch long creatures clogging water wells with their excrement, and devouring major crops of bananas, plantains, coffee, rice and cocoa beans. The creatures started multiplying a couple of weeks ago, and have swarmed one clinic, preventing people from accessing it, the Ministry of Agriculture said....
Jargon Watch: Mari-fuel
by Jeff Nield, Vancouver, British Columbia on 01.25.09
Possible Mari-fuel feedstock? Getty Images
Lloyd reported on the Japanese innovation of using seaweed to produce electricity way back in '06. And John wrote about the potential of mariculture, the practice of cultivating seaweed, for fuel feedstock instead of harvesting wild seaweed.
Now, our favorite word watcher, Michael Quinon, has spotted a new phrase that has "burst upon the world" to define seaweed based fuel. Read on for his take on Mari-fuel. ...
Masdar City Announces First Corporate Tenant: GE Ecomagination
by Jesse Fox, Tel Aviv, Israel on 01.25.09
The Masdar stand last week at the World Future Energy Summit in Abu Dhabi.
GE will be the first corporate tenant to set up shop in Masdar City, Abu Dhabi's nascent eco-city. The Masdar Initiative, which is managing the new city's construction, made the announcement at last week's World Future Energy Summit. According to Masdar, GE will become an "anchor partner" in the city, setting up an Ecomagination Centre and forming a broader relationship with Masdar based on research and development of energy-efficient products and technologies. ...
You've Got to Be Kidding: Organically-Certified 5,000-Year-Old Bottled Water
by April Streeter, Gothenburg, Sweden on 01.25.09
In the battle of the bottle versus the tap, tap water clearly wins out as a more environmentally-friendly (and cheaper) choice. Thus it's a little hard to know what to do with this new organically-certified bottled water by Swedish company Malmberg. On the one hand, the company's got their priorities in the right place - they are using organic fruit essences to flavor their lemon and orange waters. When you look into the vast amount of chemically-created flavorings we've all been accustomed to, this is definitely a plus. And Malmberg's flavored waters come in glass bottles, which are not only highly recyclable but frequently recycled in Sweden where the return system is ingrained. On the other hand, we thought it was dumb when Safeway offered organic water, and it's pretty dumb here....
The Ancient Art of Plastering Evokes a Green Hue
by Sara Novak, Columbia, SC on 01.25.09
photo: Artisans Consortium International
Ahh they don't build things like they used. The glory days of European architecture make the cheaply built mega-mansions of late a difficult pill to swallow. For a glimpse of what once was you need only jaunt over to Italy to see the stunning ancient architecture built in the glory days of Venetian society. The Artisans Consortium International (ACI), a group of classically trained plaster artisians is bringing this ancient green art of plastering to some modern buildings....
STINGplus Nettle Fabric Wins Sustainability Award
by Christine Lepisto, Berlin on 01.25.09
Would you buy an office chair upholstered with stinging nettles? What if you knew nettle fibers are stronger than cotton and finer than hemp, and that nettles grow like weeds without the benefits of the tons of pesticides and mass quantities of water required for cotton? What if the natural fire retardant properties of the nettle fabric means your seat covering is free from dangerous brominated fire retardants? What if nettles make the most sustainable fabric ever?...
Putting Something Away for a Rainy Day: New Seed and Gene Banks in Turkey
by Jennifer Hattam, Istanbul, Turkey on 01.25.09
The Anatolian Grey (or Boz Irk) cattle breed, found in Turkey's Thrace, South Marmara, and North Aegean regions, is one of the species that will be preserved in the country's new gene bank. These animals are valued for their ability to survive sudden changes in food and climate. Photo: TÜRKHAYGEN-I
Some people believe that Noah's Ark came to rest on eastern Turkey's Mt. Ararat. Today, the threat of a global catastrophe to rival the Biblical flood is prompting Turkish government officials to play Noah themselves, gathering up representatives of important species to be used to repopulate the country should worse come to worse.
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5,000 Farmers Markets In Japan As Food Safety And Worries About Food Self-Sufficiency Grows
by greenz.jp, Tokyo, Japan on 01.25.09
(Photos from Nagano, Japan)
I try to buy locally grown vegetables and eggs as much as possible, but I don't have a local farmers market nearby. Instead, my supermarket has a large section with foods that farmers here in central Saitama are producing. I like how the food reflects the changing seasons, with more greens now in winter, and citrus fruit and preserves (and yummy noodles). According to JA General Research Institute, there are about 5,000 direct-sales farmers market stores nationwide. Of them, about 2,000 are run by farmers' cooperatives and 3,000 by third-sector companies and other farmer groups, according to The Japan Times. The stores rake in up to ¥100 million (about US$ 800,000-1 million) a year on average....
Groundbreaking Study Proves Street Lights Help People See Better
by Eric Leech, New York, NY on 01.25.09
What are the chances of this man's survival once the lights go out?
Photo Credit: Ross2085
It would appear that another study should have been on the forefront of this particular one... the study of a disintegrating gene pool among some scientists and researchers. You see, over this past year a handful researchers have been racking their brains trying to figure out if street lights are a necessary part of human safety when it's dark outside... and after many months of very intense brain things going on inside of their head, they have come to the conclusion that yes, they are!
Who pays for these studies anyway?...
