- 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 February 1, 2009 - February 7, 2009
Total this week: 201
New Study Finds Corn-based Ethanol More Harmful Than Oil-based Gasoline
by Eric Leech, New York, NY on 02. 7.09
Photo via: Silfverduk
Currently in the news, the producers of ethanol are pressing their thumbs to the government, asking them to overturn the 25-year rule limiting the mix of ethanol which can be added to gasoline from its current 10 percent to as much as 15 percent. In the meantime, the Agricultural Department is in discussions with the EPA on raising the current ethanol blend percentage in order to help protect the ethanol industry, which has been deemed a key contributor to the “new energy future”.
Okay, that sounds just great. But a recent study is warning that the corn-based ethanol produced in the US, may in fact be more harmful and costly than helpful and clean... (read on)...
First Zero Waste Zone in the Southeast Announced in Downtown Atlanta
by Brian Merchant, Brooklyn, New York on 02. 7.09
Photo via Travel Blissful
This Tuesday, environmental leaders will gather in Atlanta to announce the creation of the first Zero Waste zone in the southeast. The zone will be in the convention district of downtown Atlanta, where Phase One will be initiated by participating food service operations pledging to "recycle, reuse spent grease for the local production of biofuel and compost or donate food residuals."...
Environment America Seeks to Stop Rep. John Boehner from Cutting 180,000 Green Jobs
by Brian Merchant, Brooklyn, New York on 02. 7.09
Image via Environment America
It ain't exactly smooth sailing for this stimulus bill Mr. Obama is hoping to pass, if you hadn't heard. Republicans have problems with it. Democrats have problems with it. It's been full days of intensive, tense negotiations to no avail, with every single tenet of the bill being analyzed—and that means the portion that would supposedly create 180,000 green jobs hasn't escaped unscathed, either. Evidently, House Minority Leader Rep. John Boehner doesn't much like it, and wants to do away with the stipulated $6 billion federal energy conservation program that would create the jobs and develop alternative energy technologies. And Boehner would cut the entire program.
But not if Environment America has anything to say about it.
...
15,000 Corks Reused for Wine Store Decor
by Brian Merchant, Brooklyn, New York on 02. 7.09
Photos via Dr. Vino
15,000 Reused Corks on the Wall
Take one down, pass it around, fourteen thousand nine hundred and ninety nine corks . . . Okay, so it's not as catchy as its beer-bottle song brethren—but give it time. Such a song could come in handy one day, especially if you're on a road trip that's approximately 150 times as long as one where "99 Bottles of Beer" would normally suffice.
Anyhow, the inspiration from my soon-to-be classic road trip anthem comes from Frankly Wines in New York City, where 15,000 corks are in display across an entire wall in a very cool reuse project.
...
First Drug Made from Genetically Engineered Animals Approved by FDA
by Brian Merchant, Brooklyn, New York on 02. 7.09
Photo via Arbroath
A blood thinning drug called ATryn, which is made from the milk of genetically altered goats, was approved by the Food and Drug Administration last Friday—making it the first drug made from genetically engineered animals ever to be approved for use in the US, according to the Associated Press.
The approval of the drug clears the way for a whole new class of medications—those that are created from genetically altered animals instead of chemicals.
...
China Issues "Red Alert" Drought Emergency As Jobless Factory Workers Head Back To The Land
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 02. 7.09
Dried-up pond in Tangyin County, Henan Province, China Image credit:The Epoch Times, Severe Drought Hits China, Nearly 43 percent of China’s winter wheat affected
It feels inhumane to write about the 'positive side' of simultaneous drought and massive job loss in far-away China. But, bear with me, and we'll explore whether from these twin tragedies, long term, "good" may result for China and the world....
Turkey Finally Gets on Board With Kyoto
by Jennifer Hattam, Istanbul, Turkey on 02. 7.09
The first world global-warming action day held in Turkey, in 2005. Photo via E. Kayhan Gurbuz
The United States has a little less company in the Kyoto hold-outs club now that the Turkish parliament has ratified the international global-warming protocol. On Thursday, 243 members voted in favor of ratifying the agreement, with three against and six abstaining.
...
Bike Paths = Green Pork?
by April Streeter, Gothenburg, Sweden on 02. 7.09
Green pig photo via Audreyjm529 @ flickr.
Obviously, not everyone agrees that the bicycle - and building bicycle infrastructures in American cities to rival those of Amsterdam and Copenhagen - are good ideas. Nor that the bike is an alternative vehicle. Perhaps biking isn't as universally beneficial as the weatherization that Katie Couric called embarrassing. However, not allowing bike paths to be part of infrastructure building seems going a bit far. According to Bike Portland, Senator Jim DeMint introduced an amendment into the stimulus bill on Friday, February 6 that would prohibit funding of of bicycle routes and paths. Here's DeMint in a NewsMax story:
"When people see bike trails and hiking trails and golf courses, they know this is not designed to stimulate the economy and create jobs. It's just basically special-interest pork barrel spending."...
University of New Hampshire Launches an EcoGastronomy Program
by Sara Novak, Columbia, SC on 02. 7.09
photo: University of New Hampshire
If only this major had been available when I was in college I would have paid a lot more attention in my classes. No, no I'm not saying that I have any regrets about my journalism degree but the idea of going to class everyday to study food and sustainability all in one major seems all too perfect for my gastronomically driven mind.
...
Hotsprings In February (videos)
by greenz.jp, Tokyo, Japan on 02. 7.09
(Photo from daylife.com)
In February, it can get pretty cold in the northern parts of Japan, with snow up to 2 m (6-7 ft) in many rural villages in the mountains. That's when we like to go to the hotsprings, and enjoy the mineral waters heated naturally from the volcanic depths - with sulphur, sodium chloride, iron, and most other elements from the periodic table. The ultimate eco-travel experience. Even monkeys have caught onto the fad in Nagano prefecture, at the Jigokudani Monkey Park (videos after the fold)....
Update: Sweet Skins Opens Brick & Mortar Store on Valentines Day
by Kristin Underwood, Sacramento, CA on 02. 6.09
Image via: Sweet Skins
We've covered Sweet Skins before, but on Valentines Day Mira Fannin will take the store from the net to the streets. What began as a small eco-store run out of Fannin's kitchen, and a small booth at the Saturday Market in Eugene, has transformed into an eco-operation with a fleet of eco-seamstresses and now the next stop on this journey is opening a store devoted just to keeping Sweet Skins under one roof. ...
Alan Scott 1936-2009
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 02. 6.09
Photo: Art Rogers in the New York Times
When we wrote about Montreal's upcoming ban on wood stoves, we noted that brick ovens were exempted. This may not have been the best choice for local air quality, but it certainly was for the quality of the breads, bagels and pizzas available in the city. They all owe a debt to Alan Scott, as does anyone who loves good bread and supports creative, artisanal businesses.
According to the New York Times, Mr. Scott “took oven designs that were hundreds of years old and refined them,” said Dick Bessey, who teaches oven-building at Kendall College in Chicago and at the San Francisco Baking Institute. Mr. Scott’s drawings, he said, “allowed virtually anybody to build an oven that would perform in a way that would equal the old communal ovens.”...
Art-O-Mat Seeks Florida Artists
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 02. 6.09
Original art can be expensive, so we get a culture of artless people and starving artists. Clark Whittington is trying to change that. He recycles old cigarette machines and turns them into "Art-O-Mats, dispensing objets d'art at five bucks a pop. ''In many cases, Art-o-Mat is the first time artists have sold art and the first time a buyer has bought art,'' Whittington told the Miami Herald....
Sweden Says No to Nuclear Negativity
by April Streeter, Gothenburg, Sweden on 02. 6.09
Just a year before it reached the original deadline to phase out its nuclear power (in 2010), Sweden instead reversed its decades-old dismantling policy and instead will now keep the 10 nuclear reactors it currently has, and lift bans on both new nuclear technology research and new plants.
Perhaps to silence its critics, Sweden simultaneously promised it would raise carbon taxes, and reduce carbon emissions 40 percent (from 1990 levels) by 2020, also in industries not covered by the EU's emissions trading scheme - continuing toward the supposed goal of "oil independence" and zero emissions by 2050. In a kind of humorous side note, the country will also up its share of energy from renewables, from the EU mandated 49% to a nice round 50%, also by 2020....
Handmade, Recycled Shopping Bag Wallets
by Kristin Underwood, Sacramento, CA on 02. 6.09
Image via: Blank Entity
In the world of recycled fashion, there's the recycled candy-wrapper purses, the duct tape wallets, the seatbelt bags, and now there are shopping bag wallets made from those plastic grocery bags that everyone is banning lately. Creater and designer Blain Kennedy, owner of Blank Entity, who has personally banned plastic bags, has come up with a way to reuse those pesky bags without the additive of extra (or toxic) materials....
Biomimicry Breakthrough: Butterfly Wings Could Lead to Better Solar Panels
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 02. 6.09
A Butterfly-Powered Future?
Biomimicry is the act of applying biological principles to to human designs. Velcro is the most obvious example (see more of them in our Nature-Inspired Innovations slideshow). The latest discovery has to do with butterfly wings and solar cells. Read on for more details....
Planet Hazard: Mapping Air Pollutants in the U.S.
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 02. 6.09
Pinning Polluters to the Map
The Planet Hazard website takes data from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and makes it easy to read by putting it up on Google maps. Because is maps 86,320 polluters, browsing the data can be a bit overwhelming, but you can drill down on specific states, counties and cities, or see the top 10.
Read on for the Top Ten polluters in the U.S. according to Planet Hazard....
Resurf: First Group to Recycle Surfboards and Wetsuits
by Kristin Underwood, Sacramento, CA on 02. 6.09
Image via: ReSurf Recycling
So you hit a gnarly wave and end up on shore with your board in two pieces. Bummer dude. But your green side can't bear to just trash that board that's gotten you through some pretty wild rides. You could repair it yourself, but don't really know how. Never fear, ReSurf Recycling in Oceanside, CA will both take your old, broken boards and turn them into things like asphalt for roads. But now you need a replacement, right? Well, Green Foam Blanks will sell you a "new" blank made from 60% recycled foam, which you can take to your local shaper and make into your own custom board. ...
Innovative Solar Power Feed-In Tariff Program Approved in Gainesville, Fla.
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 02. 6.09
photo: James Cridland via flickr
A couple of months back I wrote about how Gainesville, Florida was looking into enacting a solar power feed-in tariff modeled on the type of renewable energy promotion schemes used widely in Europe, but sparingly in the United States. Good news, Gainesville Regional Utilities has announced that the Gainesville City Commission has unanimously approved the plan:...
The Value in Veganism
by Kelly Rossiter, Toronto on 02. 6.09
I don't believe in going on diets. You know the kind of thing I mean, eating only protein or eating only grapefruit for two weeks. Sure, you can lose weight and sometimes pretty quickly, but then the pounds all come back when you are finished with the diet. Ultimately I don't believe in these kinds of diets because it doesn't address the underlying lifestyle issues. North Americans eat too much fat, too much sugar, too much salt, and just plain too much.
...
Will Recycling Survive the Recession?
by Tom Szaky of TerraCycle, Trenton NJ on 02. 6.09
Photo via Stock.Xchng
The recycling industry is in a state of panic, hit by two forces beyond its control. The first problem is the economy (go figure). Demand for consumer products is down; retailers are focusing on price versus value. China (the manufacturer of the world's products) is not ordering recycled polymer. Indeed, a large number of factories in China are closing down due to lack of demand. On top of this, as recycling is a commodity industry, the price of plastic is directly related to the price of gas, and gas prices are low.
...
Why Tackling Urban Sprawl Is More About Proper Planning Than Eco-Towns & Green Buildings
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 02. 6.09
European cities have continued to expand in area, even though population growth rates have fallen. Paris suburbs photo: Aube Insanité via flickr
I purposely live in New York City because I hate suburbia, hate it. I’ll admit that part of it is that I’m rabidly hostile to the idea that I need a car to go about my daily business. Apart from environmental problems, more personally, the only way I really feel like I know someplace is if I’ve walked through it: Even a bicycle (for all its virtues) is too fast. Suburban sprawl and I don’t blend well. Which is why a new piece in Yale Environment 360 on efforts to rein in urban sprawl in Europe caught my eye: ...
Dam May Have Triggered Massive China Earthquake
by Alex Pasternack, New York, NY on 02. 6.09
When it struck, we worried that May's massive Wenchuan earthquake in Sichuan province could catastrophically imperil nearby dams. Now a growing number of scientists are suggesting that the quake was triggered by the weight of a reservoir created by a dam less than four miles from a major fault.
...
Bio-Glass Made From 100% Recycled Glass
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 02. 6.09
In some natural marble samples, you can see all kinds of fossils like ammonites and orthoceras, natural history in a slab. Bio-Glass is sort of a modern green version; it is made from 100% recycled glass squished together and sliced into slabs, and you can sometimes see the bottoms of wine bottles, the fossilized remnants of our modern waste.
...
Getting More For Less: Efficiency At Home And Work
by Marian Hopkins, Business Roundtable on 02. 6.09
The current economic downturn has us all looking for ways to cut back. In most cases, this means giving things up – that morning latte, the season’s hot new boots, a much-needed vacation.
There is a way to get more for less, though: by being more energy efficient. A few simple changes to your home and your car can make them safer, greener and, perhaps most importantly, less expensive to operate.
...Non-Native Lionfish Move to Florida Keys, Eat Everything, Won't Go Home
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 02. 6.09
Photo via Tim Sheerman-Chase
Lionfish are non-native to the Atlantic, but since 1992, they've quickly been making themselves at home to the despair of native fish, ecosystems, and divers. Now they've reached the Florida Keys, completing a circle that could lead to a major ecological disaster. ...
Miley Cyrus's Eco-lifestyle, Ashley Judd Locks Horns With Palin, Brad Pitt Caught in a Fur Feud, and More
by Terri MacLeod on 02. 6.09
Good Golly Miss Miley you sure love to spread the message of "green" to other teens. The self-appointed eco-princess just got her driver's license and wants to make sure her choice of wheels are environmentally correct. So, she ditched her mom's Porsche Cayenne SUV for a new black Prius."I'm really into the environment; I'm always telling people to get more into it and there are different ways to stay green and then I'm driving, like, this big 'ole tank and I'm like, 'That could not be any hypocritical,'" reveals the teen icon. Like her or not, at least Miley's taking the intiative to show young people "green" (learn about other eco-conscious teens)is the way to be now and in the future. Learn more: ecorazzi
...
How Many People Need to Ride the Bus?
by Jenna Watson, Barcelona on 02. 6.09
Dart Bus in Dallas
I am currently in Germany doing what is lovingly referred to as a life cycle assessment “boot camp.” Today we are “freestyle” modeling different problems to find some preliminary results and present them this afternoon to our colleagues.
Our question: how many people need to take the bus for it to be equally or more efficient than driving alone in a car? ...
Transformer Furniture: The Dileto Sofa Bed
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 02. 6.09
As this writer can attest from the experience of the last two weeks, a pullout sofa can be a horrible, lumpy, backbreaking thing. That is why I was so intrigued by the Dileto sofa bed. Katherine Muñoz demonstrates.
...
25% Higher Sea Level Rises Than Predicted if West Antarctic Ice Sheet Melts
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 02. 6.09
This is the effect of a 6 meter sea level rise on the southeastern United States, Mexico and the Caribbean. Image: Center for Remote Sensing of Ice Sheets
I don’t want to alarm anyone, as there’s still debate going on about how much of West Antarctic Ice Sheet will actually melt because of global climate change, but should all of it melt sea level rise in North America and the nations in the southern Indian Ocean is likely to be a bit more than previous estimates indicated: 25% more in fact. Here’s why:...
New Battery Technology from Apple Could Mean Smart Universal Charging
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 02. 6.09
Image via Apple Insider
Three patent requests made by Apple and published by the US Patent and Trademark office show hints of plans for intelligent charging of universal batteries, making Apple batteries last longer, waste less energy, and be recycled more efficiently. ...
Michael's Genuine Delivers Genuine Tap Water, Flat or Bubbly
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 02. 6.09
apologies for fuzzy photography
Charles Bell of Michael's Genuine restaurant in Miami's Design District says they used to sell thousands of cases of bottled water, but now they just give it away- triple filtered, flat or sparking, room temperature or cold, filtered in a Natura machine and served in lovely refillable decanters. "Other restaurants actually charge for it," says Charles, "but this is the right thing to do."
...
Make Your Own Algae for Biofuel Using Recycled Drink Bottles (Video)
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 02. 6.09
USDA Ready to Approve GMO Corn for Ethanol Production
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 02. 6.09
photo: lady_lbrty via flickr
With the public comment period just ended, the US Department of Agriculture is set to approve the use of GMO corn for use in ethanol production. This would be the first time that the USDA approved a crop genetically engineered for biofuel production:...
Small-Scale Grain Raising: For Backyards, Homesteads and Small Farmers
by Sami Grover, Carrboro, NC, USA on 02. 6.09
Image credit: Chelsea Green
Classic Guide to Backyard and Small-Scale Grain Growing
Often when TreeHugger posts on backyard permaculture or urban homesteading, we get flack from the naysayers who argue that backyards are only good for salad and vegetables - and that we'd still need an industrial food system to grow all the grains and animal feed 'required' for the modern diet. Forgetting for a moment that most of us who grow some of our own food have no interest in complete self-sufficiency, there's no doubt that grains are traditionally the missing element in backyard food cultivation. But it doesn't have to be that way, at least if a new edition of a 1970's classic is to be believed....
Dairy Cows Give More Milk When You Say Their Name
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 02. 6.09
Photo via gargoylesoftware
Turns out there's another big reason to go for milk from smaller operations - they have more opportunity to name their cows and talk kindly to them than factory farms. And that means more milk!...
Cardboard PC Concept Case Nudges in on Plastic
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 02. 6.09
Photos via Core77
Concept gadgets with a green edge are rolling out right and left, thanks to the Greener Gadgets design competition. The latest one to set the blogosphere abuzz is this concept for a cardboard PC case....
Kinder, Gentler Demolition: A Bright Idea from Japan
by Jennifer Hattam, Istanbul, Turkey on 02. 6.09
Demolition of the Boardwalk hotel in Las Vegas in 2006. Photo via Vegas.com
The implosion of a Las Vegas hotel is, like everything else in Sin City, a spectacle, with fireworks, multi-story countdown lights, crowds gathered to watch, and a big, cool crash at the end. Taking a large building down floor by floor is not as good as a spectator sport, but, a Japanese firm has shown, it's a lot better for the environment.
...
Arquitectonica Greenwraps a Parking Garage
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 02. 6.09
The standard of design in Miami and Miami Beach condos isn't very high, and most sit on chunky, ugly bases of up to ten floors of parking. Really, how many cars do these people have? At the prices people Survey: Could You Unplug the Fridge?
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 02. 6.09
We watched Vanessa do it last summer, and Kristin asked yesterday Could You Unplug Your Refrigerator, For Good? The New York Times reports today that a small, but growing, segment of the US population is choosing to ditch the fridge permanently.
...
How Much Dye in Merrell’s Concept Jackets? NADA
by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 02. 6.09
Photos: Trailspace & Merrell
Unveiled at the US Outdoor Retailer show last month, the NADA (Not Any Dye Applied) jackets by Merrell are a fresh look at technical apparel because the fabric, zips and labels employed are all free of any dyestuffs. The development team were apparently “amazed by the staggering statistics of just how much water, energy and chemicals are used to create one jacket.” Specifically a NADA shell “uses 59 percent less carbon dioxide, 86 percent less water, 63 percent fewer chemicals, and 59 percent less energy compared to a conventionally-dyed jacket.”
...
Jam Jar Drinking. Cheers, Salut, Viva la Difference!
by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 02. 6.09
Photo: Sometimes Daily
Noticing Bonnie’s recent post on the UK’s Financial Times suggesting brown bagging your lunch to work is a sound move in these uncertain economic times, reminded me of Amanda Congdon’s recession tip last month of drinking from jars. Once the anchor for quirky internet news broadcaster, RocketBoom, Amanda now fronts her own Sometimes Daily video blog. And on the episode in question she was advocating the use of glass jars as an alternative drinking vessel to Waterford Crystal, themselves a victim of the fiscal downturn. This ain’t as silly as it first sounds....
Snow Bleach: Sustainable, Traditional, And Beautiful
by greenz.jp, Tokyo, Japan on 02. 6.09
(Photo of Uchiyama paper lamps from Saluki)
How do they get that special glow? During the harsh winter, craftsmen and -women have for at least 800 years developed special techniques to improve the quality of their goods in northern Japan. There is something about the strong sunshine you get in places like Niigata prefecture in February and March. Paper made from snow-bleached twigs and branches of mulberry and mitsumata, bleached in the slow, traditional way, is still in demand, but there is concern that forestry practices are not sustainable....
Vote for a London Park Make-over
by Bonnie Alter, London on 02. 6.09
image from picasaweb.google.com
Vote for a park that you think is in need of a make-over and if it wins, the park gets money for a serious spruce-up. Under a new scheme introduced by the Mayor of London, ten parks will get big money to " make them cleaner, safer, greener, and nicer places to visit." That means goodies such as new walkways, lighting, bike paths and beds. Interestingly, the beds are going to be used for growing fruits and vegetables--an idea that seems to be spreading.
Londoners are being invited to vote for their favourite park to win the award: a short-list of 47 parks has been created and the ten winners will get £400,000. In addition, one park, chosen by the Mayor himself, will be given a £2m improvement grant. ...
Bill Gates Releases Bugs At TED Conference: A Necessary Feature When Free Markets Don't Deliver
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 02. 5.09
Bill Gates spreads malaria-fighting message by releasing mosquitoes at TED Conference Via:TED, excerpted still from video.
Old habits are hard to unlearn for IT guys. Maybe it's just a pragmatic way to solve today's problems using yesterday's proclivity but, as CNET, Cutting Edge reports:- "Bill Gates opened a jar of mosquitoes on stage at an elite tech conference Wednesday to draw attention to the plight of malaria victims." ...
Akeena Aims to Make Solar Cheaper With AC Integrated Panels
by Kristin Underwood, Sacramento, CA on 02. 5.09
Image via: Akeena Solar
Akeena Solar, maker of photovoltaic panels and racking systems, and Enphase Energy, maker of microinverters, have joined up to make integrated systems even more integrated. Taking out steps in the installation process, taking out steps in the troubleshooting process and giving you AC power faster - all in the hopes of making solar upwards of 25% cheaper....
Record-Breaking CFL Sales from UK Retailer
by Sami Grover, Carrboro, NC, USA on 02. 5.09
Image credit: Together Campaign
January CFL Sales Beat Whole of 2006
Times may be hard, but people are still willing to fork out money if it saves them energy in the long run. CFLs are being adopted at an astounding rate in the UK, at least if the latest press release from the Together Campaign is anything to go by: ...
At Philips, IT and Lighting Worlds Collide
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 02. 5.09
Images via Philips
TVs are the only technology making a big switch. As we head towards more advanced lighting - such as solid state lighting and energy harvesting for powering LED and OLED lights - the industries of lighting and IT collide, in a good way.
"Over time, as the shift from analog to digital technology continues, we will indeed see companies in the ICT (information and communications technology) world probably get involved in digital lighting," said Philips Lighting CEO Rudy Provoost.
So what does that mean, and when can we expect it to be part of our daily lives?...
Pyrenean Ibex Timeline: Extinction in 2000. Resurrected in 2009. Extinction Again in 2009.
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 02. 5.09
Cloned Pyrenean Ibex Dies Shortly After Birth
The Pyrenean Ibex (Capra pyrenaica pyrenaica) is one of the two subspecies of Spanish Ibex that became extinct. The last known surviving animal was found dead in 2000 in Northern Spain, but scientists kept some DNA samples. Recently, this DNA was inserted into the egg of a domestic goat, later giving birth to a little Pyrenean ibex clone... that sadly died 7 minutes later because of lung defects....
"Directed Mutagenesis" Heralds Next Wave of Genetic Engineering
by Jeff Nield, Vancouver, British Columbia on 02. 5.09
BASF test plot in Saskatchewan by Cory
The German chemical giant BASF has announced the development of "a new generation of genetically altered crops, by precisely manipulating the plant's own DNA without inserting foreign genes." BASF refers to the genetic manipulation as "directed mutagenesis". Technology entrepreneur Barry Schuler can be heard promoting the technology for the wine industry in a recent TED talk that focuses on genomics.
So what's all the excitement about?
...
Spirit Level Film Offers Sneak Peak of Yann Arthus-Bertrand's New DVD
by Kara DiCamillo, Newport, Rhode Island on 02. 5.09
Today's TreeHugger Deal comes to you from Spirit Level Film, who is offering a discount on "Earth from the Air", a movie from Yann Arthus-Bertrand. An exhibition featuring "Earth From the Air" will begin in May 2009 starting in New York, but you can get an exclusive sneak-peak before its official release. You may have seen Yann Arthus Bertrand's amazing aerial photographs of our planet in his "Earth from Above" book and exhibitions, which show how beautiful yet fragile the world is, and his work is available in DVD form - up to 8 hours of stunning still images, so you can turn your television into a work of art. And, not only is Spirit Level film offering a discount for TreeHugger readers, but a portion of the proceeds will benefit Architecture for Humanity as well....
Microsoft Shares Best Practices for Green Data Centers
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 02. 5.09
Rob Bernard addressing best practices for data centers at The Green Grid's forum.
The keynote speech at The Green Grid's 2nd Annual Technical Forum was made by Rob Bernard, Chief Environmental Strategist for Microsoft. His speech highlighted two important pieces of the energy efficiency pie. First, that fighting global warming is a team sport, which means companies running data centers may be in competition on a market level, but have to work together on an environmental level if anything is to be accomplished.
That requirement lead Bernard to talk about the second big slice - best practices for creating and running efficient data centers. Bernard touched on several things Microsoft is doing to reduce its carbon footprint, including using shipping containers as data center facilities....
Honda Insight Hybrid Goes on Sale in Japan Tomorrow
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 02. 5.09
What the Heck Are We Supposed to Think?
The all-new Honda Insight hybrid is going on sale in Japan tomorrow for ¥1,890,000 (~US$21,100). With the Japanese cycle, it is rated at 61 MPG U.S., but with the EPA cycle, it gets an estimated 41 MPG U.S. combined. Are we supposed to be happy or sad?
We'd like to know your opinion. Read on for more......
Yale Gives Greening Athletics the Old College Try
by Kristin Underwood, Sacramento, CA on 02. 5.09
Image via: Any Given Saturday
Amongst an audience of their peers at the National Collegiate Athletic Association, representatives from Yale University recently outlined how they plan to bring green to the university athletic department. How exactly does one go about making running, jumping, swimming and other various athletic activities more environmentally sound? Find out next....
Battery Recycling Catching On, Nearly 7 Million Pounds Collected in 2008
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 02. 5.09
Image via RBRC
Call2Recycle's latest report on battery recycling numbers shows that recycling old batteries is really catching fire with consumers. The program had a 9.6% increase in its collection of rechargeable batteries during 2008, with a whole 6.9 million pounds being collected and recycled.
So what happened that made recycling rates jump?...
Green Eyed Monster: Just Another Reusable Bag?
by Kristin Underwood, Sacramento, CA on 02. 5.09
Image via: Green Eyed Monster
Sister-duo Ashley and Kimmy Ulmer, owners and designers, think not, designing a sustainable bag with a sustainable business model. Green Eyed Monster - reusable bags with audience-generated art decorating the outsides, are larger than typical canvas bags (15" X 18" X 4") and are made from 100% recycled materials.
More images after the jump....
TED 2009: How to Grow Your Own Fresh Air
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 02. 5.09
In case you don’t know TED 2009 is going on in California: TreeHugger’s own Graham Hill is in attendance, but one thing which caught my eye from the other side of the country was a slideshow on how to grow you own fresh air, using only three indoor plants: the Areca Palm, Mother-in-Law’s Tongue (an unfortunately named plant if there every was one), and the Money Plant:...
In case you don’t know Malta Latching on to Smart Grid Movement
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 02. 5.09
Image via vaxomatic and World Atlas
Even Malta is catching the smart grid bug, partnering up with IBM for a $103 million project to install a smart grid and replace 250,000 old meters with smart meters by 2012.
The move saves the government money, but also has a special perk for citizens. ...
Sewerage Treatment Plant In Canada's Capital, Ottawa, Received Discharge Of Radioactive Material
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 02. 5.09
Outdoor biosolids composting operation photo. Image credit:ADG Engineering
According to just published reports, two loads of radioactive sewerage sludge from Ottawa's public wastewater treatment plant were detected and stopped en-route to an "upstate New York" US composting operation - no doubt by Homeland Security employees with Geiger Counters. None of that hot Canadian sludge will go on our lovely farmland or orchards, thank goodness. (This represents an unexpected, positive outcome of anti-terrorist precautions.) There is more to the story....
Greenpeace & ICF Show Stimulus Package Will Fight Global Warming
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 02. 5.09
Photo via JacobEnos
Greenpeace has commissioned a carbon footprint analysis of the projects proposed within the economic recovery package, and that analysis shows that the stimulus would cut a minimum of 61 million tons of CO2 every year. That is equal to the greenhouse gases from electricity use in 7.9 million American homes or taking over 13 million cars off the road.
But, there's a big area where even more impact could be made. Transportation.
Read on for details of the report's findings. ...
Jatropha Biodiesel Economics Could Be Transformed by New Seedcake Purification Method
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 02. 5.09
Jatropha seedcake theoretically has the potential to be used for animal feed, but only if it is purified to remove toxins. Image: Carbon Capture
For all of the promise that Jatropha seeds have in making biodiesel, the fact remains that much of the hype regarding using the seedcake leftover from oil extraction for animal feed has been just that, hype. The toxicity of the stuff doesn’t matter for fertilizer, but it sure does if you want to feed it to animals. Well, D1 Oils has announced that it has developed and is patenting a process whereby raw jatropha oil can be produced and, at the same time, the seedcake can be purified:...
Emily Pilloton Discusses the Hippo Roller and other Designs for Humanity (Part One)
by Jacob Gordon, Nashville, TN on 02. 5.09
The world doesn’t need another bamboo coffee table. Design, says Emily Pilloton, should be about solving our most pressing problems. Easier said than done, certainly, but the young architect/designer is not just talk. Pilloton founded Project H Design to bring elegant, appropriate technology to where it’s most needed. Chapters of Project H Design have collaborated with LA’s homeless, delivered Hippo Rollers to Africa (and even facilitated the Hippo's redesign), and sponsored Lifestraws in Mumbai. And things are just getting going. Listen to the podcast via iTunes, or just click here to listen, right-click to download. Check out part two of our interview here. Our music comes from Andrew Bird....
World's Largest Hydrogen-Powered Town Starts in Japan
by Alex Pasternack, New York, NY on 02. 5.09
Courtesy Fukuoka Pref.
Some 150 homes in the housing communities in Maebaru City, of southern Japan's Fukuoka Prefecture, are running on hydrogen fuel cells, as part of a pilot project testing the feasibility of such systems for households. The “Fukuoka Hydrogen Town" model project is the beginning of what organizers say will be the largest hydrogen-powered city in the world.
...
Could You Unplug Your Refrigerator, For Good?
by Kristin Underwood, Sacramento, CA on 02. 5.09
Image via: Marco Traerso - Flickr.com
The New York Times reports today that a small, but growing, segment of the US population is choosing to ditch the fridge permanently. The carbon savings, not to mention the savings on the electricity bill are not necessarily huge. Yet some feel this is just the next thing on the long list of climate-saving actions like buying a Prius, changing to compact fluorescent lightbulbs and eating local. But something like this takes a little bit of preparation as well as a modification to diet and food prep. Unplugging ones' fridge just upped the carbon footprint ante. Here's how they did it:...
Controversial Oil & Natural Gas Leases on Utah Public Land Cancelled by Department of Interior
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 02. 5.09
Lands near Dinosaur National Monument were among the area leased. Photo: Mestdagh via flickr
Remember the brouhaha about the Department of Interior opening up wilderness in Utah, which was right next to several national parks, to oil and gas exploration leasing? Well, the new Interior Secretary, Ken Salazar, has canceled the leases, protecting more than 100,000 acres of public land.
The Washington Post reports that some of the leases, valued at $6 million, might be offered up again at action, but only if a new review indicates that they would not threaten air quality or other aspects of surrounding protected areas. But it’s not just policy on these public lands which is up for review:...
Toyota Shuts Down All Assembly Lines in Japan... Except One
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 02. 5.09
Toyota Hit Hard
When things are good, businesses often need to expand production quickly; they add shifts to existing factories, build new ones, improve processes, buy more efficient machinery, etc. But when things are bad, they also need to react. They can't keep piling up products that aren't selling, and so they cut shifts, shut down factories temporarily or permanently. This is what's happening to Toyota: All of its Japanese assembly lines are shutting down today, except for one....
New Faces In US Environmental Management: Someone To See The Forest For The Trees...And The Crops
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 02. 5.09
Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. to Make Beer Waste Ethanol Using Micro-Fuelers
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 02. 5.09
photo: E-Fuel
Those of you who are aficionados of Sierra Nevada’s beers will soon be able to drink up knowing that the waste from producing that beer has been put to good use. Sierra Nevada and E-Fuel Corp have announced that they will be partnering to make ethanol from discarded beer yeast:...
Katie Couric Disses Energy-Saving Weatherization As Embarrassing
by April Streeter, Gothenburg, Sweden on 02. 5.09
Weatherization is, to most of us, a little like saving for retirement or a kid's college education...something you'd really rather not do, but you hope the investment now will garner future returns. In the case of weatherization - modifying a building to reduce energy consumption and increase energy use efficiency - you don't even have to wait long before money hits your pocket in the form of lower bills. Plus lower energy use reduces carbon and other emissions. It was weird when John Boehner bashed weatherization. And it's even stranger when newscaster Katie Couric dissed investment in weatherization on national TV.
Couric: Sen. Mitch McConnell said over the weekend that surely you're privately embarrassed by some of the product that came out of the house version and let me just mention some of the spending in this package: $6.2 billion for home weatherization......
Take Action: No More Disney-fied Protests! It’s Not Civil Disobedience If You Apply for a Permit to March
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 02. 5.09
X Prize "Crazy Green Idea" Competition Winner Announced
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 02. 5.09
Back in November we wrote about the X Prize's newest competition for deciding the next X Prize competition. The goal was to come up with a green theme that inventors and entrepreneurs would pursue for an X Prize.
The winner of that competition has been announced! Read on to find out what crazy green idea will be the focus of a $10 million prize....
Can America Match The Average Mileage Of Other Developed Nations?
by Danielle Carpenter Sprungli, WCSBD on 02. 5.09
Now that US President Obama has finally managed to up the ante on gas mileage standards in the US and address greenhouse gas emissions, why is the auto industry acting like this is a big surprise?
Obama issued two memoranda on January 26th to address mileage standards and greenhouse gas emissions. He is pushing for standards to take effect two years down the road (2011 model-year). On greenhouse gas emissions, he wants states to be able to set their own emissions standards, doing this by granting a waiver to California to set its own standards.
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China’s Closing 31 Gigawatts of Coal Power Plants!
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 02. 5.09
photo: Gustavo Madico
Catches your eye doesn’t it? It certainly did mine when I first saw it. But all is not clean and renewable in China (yet): Those 31 GW of coal power plants that are going to be closed are not being replaced with renewable energy, or even natural gas-fired plants. They’re being replaced with newer coal-fired power plants. Smaller power plants are being consolidated into larger, more efficient ones:...
Montreal Plans Ban on Wood Stoves
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 02. 5.09
Big surprise: Wood stove salesman thinks ban would be "bad for industry." Image Peter McCabe
While TreeHugger warms up to pellet and wood stoves, the City of Montreal is banning their installation in new construction or renovation.
Andrew Chung of the Star notes that using a wood stove for only nine hours, or a high-efficiency stove for 2 1/2 days, produces as much fine-particle pollution as does a car in a year, according to a study by Environment Canada....
7 Great Green Baby Foods
by Blythe Copeland, Great Neck, New York on 02. 5.09
Photo credit: Chris Fertnig/iStock
Whether you’re a first time parent or an old pro who just celebrated the birth of your fourth child, the desire to make sure your kids are getting the best of everything never goes away. You wouldn’t compromise on their education, their health, their safety, right? That’s why buying natural and organic baby food should be a no-brainer. Even though sales of organic baby food are rising, it’s still not as common as it should be. Click through the jump to find seven companies that are changing that by taking pureed peas and carrots to a whole new level....
Don't Take a Geiger Counter Into a Granite Showroom
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 02. 5.09
Testing granite from Green building options
We have written about the dangers of radon and radiation emitted from certain types of granite before; it is a controversial subject that draws the ire of the industry.
And while the industry says "It’s misleading to even hint that we would knowingly sell a product that might harm consumers!", on the showroom floor, it is getting messy. Linda Kincaid at Green Building Options not only writes about granite, but carries a monitor and has scanned over a thousand slabs of granite since last July. She gets shown the door a lot....
Good Magazine on Drugs in Your Drink: Don't Let It Drive You To the Bottle
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 02. 5.09
Good Magazine looks at the issue of drugs in your drinking water, with one of their trademark wonderful graphics. It is a well from which TreeHugger has drunk deep, but always with a worry: that people might become afraid of tap water and switch to bottled water to avoid the antibiotics. No matter that much bottled water is just tap water, or that spring water might be full of the same sort of chemicals from agricultural runoff.
...
Australia Melts (as Britain Freezes)
by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 02. 5.09
A normally shy wild koala ventures onto a house balcony for respite from the heat. Home owners put out a tub of water for him to drink from, and he promptly crawls in to escape 40°C plus temperatures. Photo: ABC
What does climate change look like, when it's not merely the focus of a documentary? Maybe Australia has been putting on a preview performance. A dry run, so the speak.
When you are Australia’s second largest city and you only have 33.1% of your possible store of potable water that’s kind of worrying. Especially when it’s at a 25 year low. Less than a quarter of January’s average rainfall fell into Melbourne’s catchments last month and a good drenching is not expected for six months.
But also in January the Victorian capital set an all time record of three consecutive days over 43° Celsius (109°F). An impressive climate milestone for a coastal city a long way from the equator. But the records didn’t stop there. Oh, no....
END Footwear Now Likes it Hard and Wet
by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 02. 5.09
END Footwear launched late last year with their Environmentally Neutral Design[ed] shoes for trail running and light hiking. Now they’ve just released new models targeted to road running and water-based sports.
While bamboo, recycled polyester and reclaimed foam and rubber feature in the materials for this line of outdoor footwear, it is their minimalist construction which is their real green story. The shoes are engineered to provide loads of comfort, without all the padding and fluff found in most footwear. This results in shoes that are lighter, whilst employing less energy and materials to manufacture. A TreeHugger field review is coming soon, but in the meantime see after the fold for more pix and info....
The Infrastructurist Launches, 7Gen Blog Goes to the Carnival, Triple Pundit on Stimulus Plan, and More
by Leonora Oppenheim, London, UK on 02. 5.09
7Gen Blog: Carnival of the Green #165! by Chris
"Alison Kerr of the Homeschooler's Guide to the Galaxy asks, "What does growing green mean to you?" She explores three different aspects of growing green and how they work together to provide the impetus for moving forward."...
Survey: What Temperature Do You Set Your Thermostat?
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 02. 5.09
The Canadian Corps was shocked to learn that Alan keeps "the heat at about 68º. After 6pm we like to snuggle at about 71º, but we only heat the living room/kitchen via the gas fireplace about that time. At night we crawl into a warm electric blanket and the thermostat turns down to about 62º at 10pm." 71º? Gas fireplace? Electric Blanket? Is he an orchid? Where do you keep the thermostat when you are home and not sleeping?
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BoB, the Eco Clothes Hanger Made from Cardboard and Reused Water Bottles
by Petz Scholtus, Barcelona, Spain on 02. 5.09
Designer Joan Nadal took on the challenge to re-design one of the most common everyday objects: the humble clothes hanger. A small object with a large environmental footprint if we consider that of the 8 billion polystyrene or polycarbonate hangers manufactured per year, only 15% are recycled. That is enough to fill the Empire State Building 4 times! The solution: make recyclable hanger from just one material, and if you can, recycle something along the way. BoB Hanger does exactly that: it’s made from recycled cardboard and needs two reused bottles to function....
Even the Rich are Taking Home Made Sandwiches for Office Lunches
by Bonnie Alter, London on 02. 5.09
image from crackunit.com
You know that the recession is hitting everyone when the Financial Times reports on the joys of bringing your lunch to work. This is the business newspaper, similar to the Wall Street Journal, that has a monthly luxury magazine called "How to Spend It" and a regular section called "Wealth." There is a financial and green incentive.
...
Ganges Rising: Salinization Threatens Holy River
by Kimberley D. Mok, Montreal, Canada on 02. 4.09
Photo: Boy diving into Ganges (DCL/Ami Vitale)The Ganges is taking a beating. Considered one of India’s holiest rivers, as of late its health has been threatened by chemical pollution, an overload of raw sewage and the possibility that its Himalayan source, the Gangotri glacier, will dry up. Now, climate experts are warning that rising sea levels are causing salt water to flow into the Ganges, harming riverine ecosystems and transforming farmlands into unproductive soil. "This phenomenon is called extension of salt wedge," said Pranabes Sanyal, representative of the National Coastal Zone Management Authority (NCZMA) for eastern India....
Save Money and the Environment with Smart Energy Meter
by Christine Lepisto, Berlin on 02. 4.09
ONZO, the designers of some of the coolest energy meters on the market, have revealed their new smart energy kit. The kit consists of the Onzo display and the sensor, both pictured here. This little set can store up to ten years worth of data on household energy use and can deliver that information in ways that are useful to help control energy costs and reduce your carbon footprint. In addition to the pleasing design, largely originating from Glasgow-based design house Lightweight Medical, this energy meter possesses some amazing features....
First Garbage Truck Powered by... Garbage
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 02. 4.09
Well, It's True But...
The town of Huddersfield, in West Yorkshire, about 200 miles North of London, now has what is probably the world's first garbage truck that is powered entirely by garbage. That makes for a good headline, though in reality, this isn't exactly Mr. Fusion on a DeLorean yet......
Mission One by Mission Motors: The World's Fastest Production Electric Motorcycle
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 02. 4.09
Mission One Electric Motorcycle
Today at the TED conference, the nascent Mission Motors is debuting its Mission One electric motorcycle. It was designed by world-renowned designers Yves Béhar and fuseproject, and Mission Motors claim that it is the "world’s fastest production all-electric motorcycle." Will it do for electric motorcycles what the Tesla Roadster did for electric cars?
Read on for more photos, technical details, etc....
It’s a Long Road to Copenhagen: Here’s What Obama Needs to Do So That The US Leads the World on Climate Change
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 02. 4.09
photo: Roland Peschetz
Earlier in the week both Secretary of State Clinton and her designated special climate change envoy Todd Stern made comments that confirmed that climate change will (finally), after years of willful obfuscation, be taken seriously at the highest levels of US government. But it’s not just the US that needs to act, some sort of global climate change agreement must be implemented as a successor to the Kyoto Protocol. In a new piece for Yale Environment 360 Michael Northrop and David Sassoon outline what they think President Obama needs to do before the Copenhagen global climate change talks in December:...
IKEA: Is It Green?
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 02. 4.09
Like many people, I have a love-hate relationship with IKEA. They made modern design affordable and popular, while at the same time making it almost impossible for local designers and short-run production to compete. They have taken many green initiatives, but still are a suburban big box vendor with much of their production outsourced. Their quality is dramatically improved in recent years, and you no longer drive all the way out there to find truth in the old joke that IKEA is swedish for "Sorry, Out of Stock." But can you call it green?
Inhabitat took a close look and the results, like a LJUSÅS YSBY fixture, are illuminating....
Wal-Mart Tests New Diesel-Hybrid Trucks, Reclaimed Cooking Grease and LNG Fuels
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 02. 4.09
A More Fuel-Efficient Truck Fleet
Logistics doesn't get bigger than Wal-Mart (except maybe the U.S. Military), and so anything they can do to reduce even by a few % is going to have a pretty big impact when measured in barrels of oil or tons of CO2. They have already surpassed one of their goal, which was to achieve a 25% efficiency improvement between 2005 and 2008, and now they are testing some new ways to improve their massive truck fleet with diesel-hybrid, reclaimed cooking grease and liquid natural gas fuels.
Read on for more details (and a cameo by architect Bill McDonough)....
Quote of the Day: New Republic on Modern Prefab
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 02. 4.09
System 3 house at Home Delivery
Just as the industry goes into the tank, there has been a veritable outpouring of words about modern prefab. Recently we read Architectural Record on Green Prefab; now we have Sarah Williams Goldhagen with a long article in the New Republic. The last paragraph nails the problems and the opportunities:
For quality affordable mass-produced housing to be built, we need to create different conditions for a mass market. A new legislative structure must clear away the obstacles presented by non-standard, municipally controlled building codes and create enforceable national standards for prefab-friendly, environmentally responsible manufacturing and construction practices....
Rainforests In Some Regions Are Re-growing Rapidly: Should We Worry Anymore About Deforestation?
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 02. 4.09
This forest in Costa Rica was mostly cleared for agriculture as recently as 40 years ago. Photo: Matthew McDermott.
I don’t know if you saw it, but the New York Times recently ran a piece in which two scientists, Dr Joe Wright and Dr Bill Laurance, from the Smithsonian debated regeneration of rainforests in Panama. The gist was that in some places rainforest is re-growing and whether because of this saving untouched rainforest is as urgent a problem as it is portrayed. There may be a lot of deforestation going on, but there is also re-growth elsewhere. Cool Green Science just posted a piece which offers a thoughtful response to both positions:...
Transport Ships Turned Into Floating Parking Garages
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 02. 4.09
source
Selling cars, fueling cars, building garages for cars are a major part of the economy. And the factories kept turning them out long after the market for them crashed. Now it appears that not only are all the parking lots on the ground full up, but they are using the ships that used to transport them as floating parking garages. The Financial Times describes the crisis:...
From the Forums: Programming Your Thermostat
by Alan Graham, Portland, Oregon on 02. 4.09
camerson wants to know:
Is there a good way to determine how I should program my thermostat for maximum efficiency? I've only had my new thermostat for about 6 months but I'm not sure I can see a real difference.My wife and I both work at home. During the day we keep the heat at about 68º. After 6pm we like to snuggle at about 71º, but we only heat the living room/kitchen via the gas fireplace about that time. At night we crawl into a warm electric blanket and the thermostat turns down to about 62º at 10pm (as low as 55º in early/late winter). The simple act of lowering the thermostat for 8 hours at night can save you 1%-3% in energy for every degree you drop. Turning your thermostat from 72º to 65º eight hours a day can save as much as 10% on your annual heating costs. What do you do?...
Realizing The Potential of High-Speed Rail: For Climate Protection; Business Productivity; and Security
by Lester Brown, Washington, D.C on 02. 4.09
Gridlock, Image credit: Env.Canada
Aside from the overriding need to stabilize atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) levels to stabilize climate, there are several other compelling reasons for countries everywhere to restructure their transport systems, including the need to prepare for falling oil production, to alleviate traffic congestion, and to reduce air pollution....
Just What We Needed Dept: Disney Branded Eggs.
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 02. 4.09
Sometimes I think that the world is becoming more sane, that people are beginning to understand where food comes from, and that marketing to children is becoming a little less respectable. Then I see Disney branded eggs and wonder what is going on here.
Are they any different? Are they from happy cage free hens that get to play outside and frolic with the other farm animals? ...
10 Wild 'N Crazy Bike Designs (Slideshow)
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 02. 4.09
TreeHugger has had a long love affair with the bicycle. It's the world's most energy efficient vehicle, and riding them cuts back on gas and carbon emissions, while promoting good health and exercise. Bicycles even appear to be recession proof. With all these things to like about bikes, various designers have been working hard to improve the two-wheeler, and have come up with some pretty wild 'n crazy ideas. Some are real, some we just wish were real. Some don't have pedals, and some don't even have two wheels.
See the best, brightest (and weirdest) bike designs in our slideshow about 10 Wild 'N Crazy Bike Designs.
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Celebrating The First Day Of Spring According To An Ancient Calendar
by greenz.jp, Tokyo, Japan on 02. 4.09
(Image from Chibichoromedia)
Living closely attuned to the seasons was the key to survival for people since ancient times. In Asia, the calendars used to be lunisolar, meaning the cycles of the moon and the sun where both taken into consideration. For farmers in Japan, this calendar was also helpful as a guide to remember what to expect next. Today, February 4, marks risshun, the first day of spring according to the ancient calendar, introduced from China and Korea around 604 - over 1400 years ago - and adapted to local needs and desires as well as holidays, occasions & events since then....
The Top 7 Greenest Ski Destinations in the U.S.
by Kara DiCamillo, Newport, Rhode Island on 02. 4.09
Shaun White catches air in Park City, Utah. Photo courtesy of Matt from Park City Mountain Resort, Utah.
Ski resorts have been proven to have a negative impact on the environment, a fact that is unfortunate news for downhill skiers, snowboarders, and cross-country skiers who regularly pursue the exhilarating rush of fresh, winter air. Fortunately, many resorts are making efforts to become more sustainable. The seven U.S.-based green ski resorts listed below deserve recognition for their tremendous green efforts. Our list is derived with help from the Ski Area Citizens’ Coalition (SACC), which grades ski resorts on their eco-friendliness, in addition to whether they participate in the National Ski Area Association’s (NSAA) Sustainable Slopes program. So get ready to hit the green slopes. ...
Vote For the Best Green Gadgets: Winners Will Be Judged Live at Greener Gadgets 2009 in NYC
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 02. 4.09
The name may have unintended word associations, but the idea behind the Blight is pretty cool. All images: Core 77
Well, the 2009 Green Gadgets Conference in New York City will be upon us in just a few weeks and in the run-up to that Core 77 has posted the top 50 entries which will be in competition. And they want you to help narrow down the choices to 10, which will be part of a live judging event on February 27. Voting is now open and runs until the 20th. Check out some of the entries below:...
Biggest Ever US Civil Disobedience on Climate at Congressional Power Plant
by Daniel Kessler, Greenpeace on 02. 4.09
As Congress continues to sputter on solutions for the climate crisis, a national coalition of more than 40 environmental, public health, labor, social justice, faith-based and other advocacy groups have announced plans to engage in civil disobedience at the Capitol Power Plant in Washington D.C. on the afternoon of March 2, 2009. ...
New Website Launches to Keep Tabs on Sarah Palin's Animal Conservation Record (Video)
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 02. 4.09
Though the election is long over, the spotlight hasn't shifted off of Sarah Palin and her position on Alaskan wildlife. Defenders of Wildlife Action Fund today launched a national campaign to spread the word on Palin's encouragement of wolf hunting and other anti-conservation actions.
Click through for more info and to see a video with Ashley Judd...
Bill Gross of Idealab Talks About his Dream of Cheap Solar Power at TED
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 02. 4.09
No More Shiny, Silky Hair in Canada: Shampoo Ingredients Declared Toxic
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 02. 4.09
Warren Beatty and Julie Christie in Shampoo
Warren Beatty would never make it in Canada today; you just won't be able to get that silky, smooth feeling now that the Canadian government is taking action against D4 and D5, chemicals that have been linked to cancer and other health problems.
Martin Mittelstaedt writes in the Globe and Mail that Environment Canada and Health Canada deemed typical human exposures are far too low to be a health risk. But it decided to designate the substances as dangerous based on fears they are a threat to wildlife when they get into the environment from the disposal of consumer products and from industrial releases....
Cool Interactive Map Shows Water Stressed Areas Over Next 60 Years
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 02. 4.09
This is just a screen grab from the BBC site where you can actually plan around with the map. Yes, all those red areas will be under extreme water stress by 2070. Image: BBC News
Ever want to know how population growth, industrialization and global warming are going to make water an ever more precious commodity in different parts of the world? Over on the BBC News site there’s a cool map which shows you just how much less water will be available per person in the coming years, throughout large swaths of the planet. This is how the map was created:...
Hot Green Collar Jobs: Bike Mechanics
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 02. 4.09
Creative Commons: Josh Parrish
Last summer we wrote that in Toronto, Bike Mechanics are the New Doctors- it was that hard to get an appointment. Now the trade association and the Learning Enrichment Foundation are doing something about it, and have launched the The Bicycle Assembly and Maintenance Program to train out-of-work youths to fix and assemble bikes....
New ‘Bioliq’ Processing Method Could Bring Down Liquid Biofuel Cost
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 02. 4.09
Researchers at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology in Germany have developed a new method of pre-processing biomass that they say can bring the costs of producing liquid biofuels down to €0.50-1.04 per liter ($2.65-5.12 per gallon)
The process is called bioliq, and using pyrolysis, converts plants to an oily ‘biosyncrude’ which is 10 times more dense that the amount of plant materials used to make it. This processing would be done at several locations and the bioynscrude transported to a central locations for final processing:...
How to Go Green: Dating
by Blythe Copeland, Great Neck, New York on 02. 4.09
Photo credit: iStock
There are plenty of books, guides, shows, and sites dedicated to helping you find a date, but for the truly green at heart just any old date won’t do: you need a mate that shares your passion for the environment. And once you’ve found one, you’ll need ways to keep your relationship as green as the rest of your life: think carbon-neutral dates, romantic (organic) dinners, and afternoons spent gazing into each other’s eyes while volunteering to pick up trash.
That’s where our How to Go Green: Dating guide over on Planet Green comes in: It’s full of tips and advice for making sentimental gestures and lovey-dovey memories that are as green as that compost pile you keep out back and the bike you use for commuting. Click through for more suggestions to impress the next eligible single you meet with your green moves, or click below to read the whole story.
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States Get Ranked for Their Prairie Dog Support
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 02. 4.09
Photo via patsemchism
Long persecuted by farmers and ranchers as pests, prairie dog species are on the rapid decline. Now, this keystone species is getting at least a little positive attention.
WildEarth Guardians has released a report grading states and federal agencies on their support of the cute critters and what they're doing to help keep the populations from shrinking further....
Survey: Which Room Is Most Important To You?
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 02. 4.09
When we posted yesterday about 7 Ways to Get Rid of the Bed, Bram commented: "A good bed is an absolute necessity and can definitely take up a bit of space. What should instead be reconsidered is the disproportional amount of space that goes to kitchens, baths and sofas." Food for thought, or at least a survey.
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The Green Grid Gets Specific With New Datacenter Energy Efficiency Guidelines
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 02. 4.09
Image of Sun Microsystems new super efficient datacenter, via Sun Microsystems
The Green Grid's 2nd Annual Technical Forum is happening today in San Jose, California, and it will be the site of some great announcements for datacenter efficiency, including new guidelines and reporting structures we've been expecting that will help datacenters find out their actual efficiency levels and report them with accuracy....
Drought: The New Serpent in the Garden of Eden
by Jennifer Hattam, Istanbul, Turkey on 02. 4.09
A marsh Arab woman doing her wash. Photo via Reuters/Mohammed Ameen
The return of water to Iraq's ancient marshlands, thought to be the home of the biblical Garden of Eden, was once seen as a bright spot amid the war-torn country's many tragedies. But drought is proving to be as merciless as any dictator.
...
3 Finalists for Intel Science Fair Are Eco-Inspired
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 02. 4.09
Aniruddha Deshmukh (the finalist from CA) being notified that he's a finalist and receiving his check; Photo via Intel
Intel's Science Talent Search is an annual event that encourages high school seniors to take an interest in math, science and engineering. Three of the finalists for the grand prize take aim at environmental issues, including clean drinking water, deforestation from wildfires, and climate change - showing that students are also taking a keen interest in environmental issues.
Read on for details about these great projects. ...
Coolafone: Recycling Cell Phones for Personal or Planetary Reward
by Sami Grover, Carrboro, NC, USA on 02. 4.09
Online Phone Recycling Service Offers Rewards and Raises Funds
Upgraded your cell phone recently? It sometimes seems like half the world is sporting a newer, shinier and more complicated phone every week. While holding on to our purchases for as long as possible is an important part of sustainability, the chances are that we are going to see significant quantities of discarded phones for some time to come. Recycling old cell phones is a topic that’s created much debate over in our forums, and now we’ve been alerted to a service that not only helps you recycle your phone, but you can even earn rewards for yourself or the planet in the process.
...
Peru to Plant 40 Million Trees in Reforestation Campaign
by Paula Alvarado, Buenos Aires on 02. 4.09
Photo: Peru.com.
With so many news about deforestation, it's nice to be able to say things like this: the Peruvian government has launched a national campaign to plant 40 million trees thorough the country.
Pines, Eucaliptus, Cipres and Molle saplings will be planted in 18 of the country's departments. The government estimates that these trees will be able to capture over 570 thousand tons of cabon dioxide yearly.
Keep reading for more....
Japan: 20% Of Minced Chicken Samples Found Tainted With Salmonella
by greenz.jp, Tokyo, Japan on 02. 4.09
(Photo from salmonellablog.com)
When Consumers Union announced that they had found campylobacter and salmonella in some 83% of broilers, USDA was quick to call it junk science. Now, a study in Japan is exposing very similar levels when it comes to harmful salmonella bacteria. In the US, campylobacter was present in 81 percent of the chickens, salmonella in 15 percent; both bacteria in 13 percent. Only 17 percent had neither pathogen. ...
New York's Nuns are Green and Holy
by Bonnie Alter, London on 02. 4.09
The Episcopal Sisters of the Community of the Holy Spirit are looking forward to living in a new convent which will be green and environmental; they see it as a natural outgrowth of their spiritual life. “It’s a question of stewardship,” said a Sister, “Of responsibility."
And this building which will have rooftop gardens, water heated by solar, rainwater collection, natural light and ventilation and environmentally sensitive building materials will be deep in the heart of West Harlem (on 150th Street and Convent, for all you New Yorkers).
...
Greener Drugs At Swedish Doctors' Fingertips
by April Streeter, Gothenburg, Sweden on 02. 4.09
Little green pills via Deco Fernandez @ flickr.
Sweden has created a new database to comply with European Union legislation and to let doctors see if the drugs they are prescribing might potentially harm the environment. Many antidepressants, painkillers, antibiotics and estrogen end up secreted from humans (or other) bodies orflushed down the toilet, and are released into streams and other waterways. Now Swedes, at least, can check the toxicity, persistence, and bioaccumulative potential of each drug they are about to prescribe.
"Without this information, doctors and patients cannot take environmental aspects into account when choosing between products,"Lisa Anfält at the Environmental Ministry told EHN....
Hold Onto Your Carbon Footprints: The U.S. Mass Transit System is Preparing to Gouge Riders Big Time!
by Eric Leech, New York, NY on 02. 4.09
Photo via: dyobmit
It is a sad state of affairs when things are hurting so bad in the economy that we can't even count on the things which could help save us. While over the past year we have seen record levels of public transit riders, we are going to be seeing a lot less, but not by choice, by force. It appears as if the economy has taken its toll and transit systems all across the US and they will soon be dropping service routes and laying off workers left and right. And if you think the billions of dollars Congress plans to spend on mass transit as part of the Stimulus Plan is going to help, well think again!...
Here's Why Free Trade Absolutism Hinders Environmental Goals - And Why Compromise WIll Help The Planet And Increase American Jobs
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 02. 3.09
Two Aptera Electric Vehicles Spied at TED Conference
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 02. 3.09
Josh from the Aptera forums was hanging around the TED conference (if you don't know about TED, you have to check out the videos on their site -- just make sure you have lots of free time before starting) where the Aptera will make its public debut tomorrow when he found two Aptera electric cars (the production 2e and the Typ-1 prototype) in a public parking garage. He actually measure the cars and posted his impressions. Read on for more details....
Biogas Could Heat Half of UK Homes, With £10 Billion Investment
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 02. 3.09
photo: National Grid
According to new research conducted by Ernst & Young, and commissioned by National Grid, if the UK’s various waste streams were harnessed to produce biogas, half of the nation’s homes could be heated from it. The biogas would be generated from sewage, animal manure, food and other waste, and be connected to the existing natural gas grid. Something which seems very attractive to National Grid.
Saying that there are no technical or safety barriers to generating this much biogas, the following government policies should be enacted (BusinessGreen.com) :...
"America's Greenest Campus": Green Contest Pays Students Big Green Rewards
by Alex Pasternack, New York, NY on 02. 3.09
Flickr: agfazzone
College campuses are brimming with chances to go green, from turning off lights to encouraging recycling (students move every year!) to building awareness around global issues. And given the bonds and formative experiences they engender, campus communities can be like petri dishes for a lifetime of good, responsible living.
But the deal just got a little sweeter. Climate Culture, an upstart social network built around a sophisticated footprint calculator, has launched its massive college greening initiative, America's Greenest Campus, using rewards that any student can appreciate: an intercollegiate contest and $20,000 in prizes. Think of it as the NCAA of sustainability....
7 Ways to Get Rid of the Bed
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 02. 3.09
Bucky Fuller said:
“Our beds are empty two-thirds of the time. Our living rooms are empty seven-eighths of the time. Our office buildings are empty one-half of the time. It’s time we gave this some thought.”While Bucky notes that beds are used for a third of the time, we are asleep for much of that. So why do we give them so much space? What else can we do with them? TreeHugger has shown dozens of transformer sofas, but what about a more permanent solution?...
10 Endangered Animals Which Aren’t in the Spotlight, But Should Be (Slideshow)
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 02. 3.09
photo: Paul Mannix via flickr
Even casually following the news you can’t help but hear about the plight of polar bears, mountain gorillas, or tigers, their habitat being encroached upon by humans or melting away a bit more every year. And if you pay just a bit more attention, undoubtedly you’ve heard about declines in shark populations, several species of fish eaten by humans, or one or the formerly much ridiculed spotted owl. Well, there are plenty of species (hundreds if not thousands in fact) whose future is one big question mark. Here are 10 species threatened or endangered which aren’t too often in the spotlight, but nevertheless are in decline or are just fractions of what they once were:
...
KTM to Mass-Produce Zero Emission Electric Motorcycle in 2010
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 02. 3.09
Electric Offroad Motorcycle
KTM has announced that it is committing to mass-production of its Zero Emission Motorcycle, a high-performance all-electric dirtbike. Enthusiasts are promised more torque and less noise. Could this be the ideal dirtbike?
Read on for more details....
McDonald's Nominated for Seafood Champion Award
by Eliza Barclay, Washington, D.C. on 02. 3.09
Photo credit: Jon Yang
It's easy to forget that McDonald's, famous for its Big Macs and french fries, is also in the fish business. But indeed, McDonald's purchases more than 18,000 metric tons, or 43.2 million pounds, of fish a year for its popular Filet-O-Fish sandwiches. Filet-O-Fish is made with pollock, a whitefish that lives in the cold waters off the coasts of Alaska and eastern Russia. The Marine Stewardship Council has certified U.S. Bering Sea/Aleutian Islands and the Gulf of Alaska pollock fisheries as models for sustainable fisheries management, but many retailers and foodservice operators still use whitefish from other fisheries that are less sustainable and traceable....
Weather Satellite Used to Track Whales and Birds
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 02. 3.09
Press Image of Artistic rendition of NOAA-N Prime Satellite via Lockheed Martin
The NOAA-N Prime, the newest US weather satellite, has some interesting uses beyond just watching clouds pass across the sky. It also can use transmitters to collect sensor data...which means it will be able to track anything that has transmitters, including animals....
New Species Discovered Via Google Earth
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 02. 3.09
With Google Earth around, it seems almost a waste of time to step outside your front door. You can discover rare fringe coral reefs, stop deforestation, travel under the ocean....and even discover new unmapped forests that harbor unknown species of animals.
And that's exactly how BirdLife used Google Earth and ended up finding three new species of butterfly, one new species of snake, and seven threatened species of birds....
Consumer Reports Starts Testing Fuel Efficient Scooters and Motorcycles Again
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 02. 3.09
Small 2-Wheelers Becoming More Popular
Consumer Reports has announced in a press release that they started testing small engine scooters and motorcycles for the first time since 1981!
"Consumer Reports tested a total of eight fuel sipping, small-displacement models: three 50cc scooters, three scooters in the 125cc to 150cc range, and two 250cc entry-level motorcycles, all priced between about $1,000 to $4,400 and delivering as much as 60 to 100 mpg fuel economy"....
Plextronics Launches D Line, Shows Off Potential of Solar Powered Lighting Technology (Video)
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 02. 3.09
Images via Steven Dietz/For the Tribune-Review (organic solar cell module) and Plextronics (manufacturing line)
Plextronics is at it again. The company known for e-ink technology and solar cell research is testing out a pretty amazing line of lighting technology. The new "D" line would someday allow homeowners to adjust the mood lighting in their living rooms by adjusting wafer-thin lighting embedded in a flexible flat surface.
This sounds neat, but it's the future potential of the technology that is the really cool part. ...
Less is More: Loft Bed Makes Room for Baby
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 02. 3.09
Steve Montpetit photography
What do you do in a 700 square foot loft when the kid comes along? Go up....
Next Stop for Radioactive Waste: Texas
by Greg Haegele of Sierra Club on 02. 3.09
6 Green Lessons We Can Learn From Communism
by Brian Merchant, Brooklyn, New York on 02. 3.09
Image via flickr
What do you think of when someone mentions communism? Stalin, a hammer and sickle, the color red, Russia, Cuba, factories, soldiers marching in unison, and cold, cold oppression? Yeah, me too. But what if I told you that in some ways, communism is green?
Before you call the Dept. of Homeland Security, consider this: The impression of communism I invoked is largely thanks to American cinema, a still paranoid post-McCarthy news media, and Stalin's monstrous reign after WWII. But between the actual doctrines of Marxism and the pre-revolution fervor in Russia and Eastern Europe, there are actually a bunch of lessons we can glean from communists and apply today—to environmentalism.
...
Video: Bike Valets at Santa Monica Farmers' Market
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 02. 3.09
Be Careful When Parking My Baby
I'm not from Los Angeles, but I hear that over there you can get valet parking for cars in lots of places. But what about those that use bicycles as their preferred transportation method? Santa Monica Farmers' Market has thought about them, and they're offering valet parking for bikes!
Check out the SlateV video about it below....
Gold Fever Leads to Metal Mining in Garbage Dumps and Sewage Sludge
by April Streeter, Gothenburg, Sweden on 02. 3.09
Photo tao_zhyn @ flickr.
The shaky economy has caused gold prices to shoot up to over $900 per ounce - even though 85 percent of gold mined these days goes to jewelry, and there's no "gold standard" backing currencies, gold is considered a valued commodity in economic downturns. Gold mining is an industry fraught with environmental peril, however - tainting of water resources, and the use of cyanide and mercury to extract gold from crushed ore are two of the worst offenses. Fair Trade groups are trying to get certification for gold from artisanal mining in place this year. In the meantime, the Japanese are industriously embracing urban mining - finding unique ways to turn waste management into gold and other precious metals. Read on....
Quote of the Day: Ryan Avent on Anti-Rail Bias in the Stimulus Bill
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 02. 3.09
Highway construction in the 30s
Ryan Avent thinks its time to get serious about energy.
It’s remarkable that in all this ado over our new commitment to ending oil dependence and addressing climate change there is no mention of land use patterns or the transportation choices that shape them. Why no mention of reduced transit funds in the stimulus bill, or the fact that the House is planning to give highways $30 billion to transit’s $10 billion? Why no pressure placed on Senate Democrats, who are busy revising transit’s share down even more, in their version of the stimulus bill? The bottom line is that if you increase efficiency and increase vehicle miles traveled, well, you’ve just spun your wheels. If the administration is going to get serious about these issues, it needs to take seriously the option of helping Americans to drive less....
Hide-A-Porsche Parking System Leaves Your Front Yard Green
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 02. 3.09
Making the rounds of a lot of design websites right now is this ingenious parking system. Many municipalities do not allow front yard parking, so this device drops your Porsche into an underground parking space and leaves only a green roof visible to the public. While most of the posts ascribe it to a London resident, TreeHugger Bonnie notes that she saw it a couple of years ago at the Chelsea Flower Show, and last year it was at the Hampton Court Flower show, set up as a bit of serious greenwashing by Porsche....
You Are Entitled to 2,000 Watts, Use Them Wisely (Updated)
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 02. 3.09
The Swiss use half as much energy as the average US resident, but that’s still three times more than could be equally distributed today... Basel, Switzerland photo: Fred Hersch via flickr
So how much of all the power used in the world would each person be entitled to if it were equally divided? 2000 watts according to the (appropriately named) 2000 Watt Society. That probably means little to you in real world terms, right? Well, Good Magazine is currently running a piece which examines that question. This is what a 2000 watt eMeter Makes Smart Grid Data Matter
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 02. 3.09
Photo via ellievanhoutte
Behind every super hero is a great sidekick. The same is true for the smart grid. The smart grid works to transmit data between homes and utilities, but what of that data? How is it gathered, processed, and used? That's where eMeter steps in, and helps make the data matter....
Speesees Baby + Kids Clothing Offers 30% Off
by Kara DiCamillo, Newport, Rhode Island on 02. 3.09
Today's TreeHugger Deal comes to you from Speesees, an adorable 100% organic clothing line for baby and kids. The mission at Speesees is to be “fun, fair + organic in the products we make, the way we conduct business + the baby steps we take towards creating a more sustainable future for the animal, plant + human speesees on our children's planet.” We love that Speesees’ clothing is not only soft and durable, but the organic cotton they use is made with long fibers, which means so prickles making it extra-comfy for kids.
Speesees ingredients include:
...
Zira Island is Zero Energy
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 02. 3.09
All images via BIG
Sort of a Masdar with mountains, Zira Island is a zero energy resort and entertainment city designed by Bjarke Ingels Group, on an island in the Caspian Sea off Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan. It is designed to mimic "the seven peaks of Azerbaijan."...
Spray-On Solar Panels Being Developed in Australia, Could Be Sold by 2011
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 02. 3.09
image: Spark Solar
A couple months ago, the idea of painted on solar power was proposed by Corus Group, a steel manufacturer. This method would require the steel sheets being passed through coating rollers at the time of manufacture. Now, researchers in Australia are investigating spray-on solar power: ...
Does Geoengineering Need a Dose of Geo-Ethics?
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 02. 3.09
photo: Vladimir Pavez via flickr
Yesterday, when I highlighted several different geoengineering methods, which may or not be feasible in practice, that promise to save humanity from global climate change, I got a comment from a blogger over at 2020 Science which asked whether geoengineering really needs a dose of geoethics. Since the very idea of geoengineering—tinkering with ecosystems on a regional or even planetary scale—has far ranging consequences, perhaps we need to develop a system of ethics to address the benefits and risks of this sort of thing. It’s worthwhile question asking:...
Survey: Is the Theory of Evolution a Subject for TreeHugger?
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 02. 3.09
In response to Eric's post Over 50 percent of Americans and British Still Don't Believe in Evolution, a lot of commenters wrote things like "let it be noted that I am disgusted that this would even be posted here. I see VERY LITTLE relevance to environmental issues.... this is a divisive topic that could alienate people, like me, from this site." We discussed it among ourselves and one pointed out that it is important- "a lot of climate change denial is based in religion; issues of stewardship and the contract between man and God."
...
Off-the-Shelf Wind and Solar Ditched by UK Stores
by Sami Grover, Carrboro, NC, USA on 02. 3.09
UK High-Street Renewables Trend Short Lived
Back in 2006, Bonnie posted with great excitement about domestic wind turbines becoming top sellers at B&Q, one of the UK’s largest chains of home improvement stores. But while B&Q have continued to push their sustainability agenda through other initiatives, including a wind-powered distribution center and stopping the sale of patio heaters, according to The Guardian at least, the store’s brief flirtation with off-the-shelf microgeneration may be coming to an end. And they are not alone....
New Website Helps Job Hunters Find Green Collar Work
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 02. 3.09
We've heard recently that green collar jobs in California are growing at a brisk clip, relatively speaking, and the job sector as a whole will continue to grow as more cleantech initiatives are put into place thanks to the Obama administration.
But no matter where you are in the country, finding a green collar job can be that much easier with the help of Green Buildings Jobs - a website that helps match job seekers up with a green employment opportunity. ...
Brazil's Lula: "Amazon People Don't Want the Region to Be a Sanctuary"
by Paula Alvarado, Buenos Aires on 02. 3.09
Photo: Lula at the World Social Forum. Credit: Fábio Rodrigues Pozzebom/ABr.
President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has a history for provocative behavior and criticism to developed countries and whoever critiques Brazil's policies. Now he's made some spicy declarations again, this time referring to the much discussed future of the Amazon rain forest, one of the greatest green spaces of earth.
In the same day that the Pnuma announced that clearing of the Amazon has reached a total historic of 17%, Lula went on to say that the people who live in the Amazon don't want that region to be a sanctuary for humanity, but that they want to work and have 'goods.' Is that so?
Read on for his words and more on the Pnuma announcement....
Car Pooling is Still a Growing Trend
by Bonnie Alter, London on 02. 3.09
image from abc.net.au
Even though gas is cheap now, more and more people are seeing car pooling as a way to save money. Interest in the concept is spreading as more countries set up car sharing opportunities. Here's a run-down of the many places where it is becoming popular.
MassRides in Massachusetts is a state-wide effort to promote car-pooling. They have found that the number of applicants doubled last year and things haven't slowed down because people are worried about the economy. ...
Can a Credit Card-Sized Chip Helps Scientists Determine What's Ailing Coral Reefs?
by Jeremy Elton Jacquot, Los Angeles on 02. 2.09
Image via Wikimedia Commons
The advent of microarrays and advanced genomic technologies is making it easier for scientists to take a (much) closer look at some of the world's most confounding problems. Marine biologists have long wondered which pathogens are to blame for the multitude of diseases that have weakened and, in some cases, killed large tracts of coral reefs around the world. PhyloChip, a new DNA microarray developed by a team of scientists from the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and UC Merced, could help shed lights on this vexing question. ...
7 Awesome Solar Boats You Must See
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 02. 2.09
Solar Boats are Awesome
What's more relaxing than a nice sunny day on the water? What's less relaxing than a lake full of noisy motor boats that pollute the air and water? Sometimes, it's just better to take it slow, and solar-powered boats are the perfect compromise.
Let's look at some solar boats we've covered over the year....
More Than 50 Percent of Americans and British Still Don't Believe in Evolution
by Eric Leech, New York, NY on 02. 2.09
Illustration Credit: Latvian
This coming February 12th, 2009, will be the 200th Anniversary of Charles Darwin's birth, and subsequently the 150th Anniversary of his theory of evolution. While many people still see the Darwin Evolutionary Theory as something that shouldn't be taught to school children, as it undermines many religious teachings and it is “theory” rather than “fact”, most scientists agree that it caries the most overwhelming scientific evidence for the origin and evolution of our species.
...
Japan's Mt Asama Erupts, Sends Ash Over Tokyo
by greenz.jp, Tokyo, Japan on 02. 2.09
(Photos from FNN, NNN, and Mainichi)
I woke up this morning with a fine, white ash on the ground outside. Mt. Asama, one of many active volcanos, erupted around 2 AM local time. The 2,568-meter mountain is known to erupt from time to time, so noone will worry too much, but it is rare that ash flies all the way to Tokyo some 145 km away. TV reports tonight are showing ashes showering down in neighboring regions and people are asked to wear masks in the vicinity. More photos below the fold:...
Help TreeHugger FINALLY Win a Bloggie Award
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 02. 2.09
UPDATE: Today is the last day to vote. Please take a sec to help us score a win!
TreeHugger has been honored with Bloggie award nominations three times in the past, and we are excited to be nominated a fourth time. We need your help to finally nab that trophy!
Read on for how you can vote and help us out....
Transition Towns in America: UK Pioneer Interviewed (Video)
by Sami Grover, Carrboro, NC, USA on 02. 2.09
Transition Towns Movement Explained
Yes, I'll admit it - I'm a huge fan of the Transition Towns Movement. I recently got very excited about the arrival of the Transition Movement in the US, but what is it and how does it work? What makes Transition Towns different from any other community-led grass routes environmentalist groups, and can they really help us avoid catastrophe? ...
Swarthmore College Students Build Hydrogen-Powered Motorcycle
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 02. 2.09
Hydrogen Fuel Cell Motorcycle
Alex Bell (right on the photo) and Andres Pacheco (left) are studying engineering at Swarthmore college. They've worked worked very hard on an ambitious project: "Our goal was to design and build a hydrogen fuel cell powered motorcycle to test the efficiencies of hydrogen fuel cell, internal combustion, and battery propulsion."
They've succeeded, with videos (below) to prove it. Read on for more details....
A Trip to the California Academy of Sciences (Slideshow)
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 02. 2.09
The California Academy of Sciences' recently re-opened facility in Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, California. We had the chance to see first hand some of the building's green features, earth-conscious exhibits, and interactive games to get visitors involved in the world around them. CAS is a pretty amazing place, and you get to walk through it with us.
Click through to take a visual tour of the California Academy of Sciences!...
Karaoke: From Cheesy Entertainment to Environmental Education Tool
by Kimberley D. Mok, Montreal, Canada on 02. 2.09
Global Wind Power Capacity Now 120.8 GW, 28.8% Growth in 2008
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 02. 2.09
Looking Back on 2008's Wind Power Boom
According to the GWEC: "Global wind energy capacity grew by 28.8% last year, even higher than the average over the past decade, to reach total global installations of more than 120.8 GW at the end of 2008. Over 27 GW of new wind power generation capacity came online in 2008, 36% more than in 2007." The U.S. has passed Germany and is now #1 in wind power installed capacity, but China is expanding very quickly......
Beef Fat Turned Into Fuel at New Calgary Biodiesel Plant
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 02. 2.09
About the only thing green about this beef fat biodiesel are the tanks... Photo: Western Biodiesel
Tyson Foods is trying it with partnerships with Syntroleum Corp and ConocoPhillips, now the city of Calgary is trying to get in on the act... Making biofuels from beef tallow:...
Film Review: Mad Cow Sacred Cow
by Jeff Nield, Vancouver, British Columbia on 02. 2.09
Karma Films
Mad Cow Sacred Cow depicts the personal journey of filmmaker Anand Ramayya, a self-professed meat eating Hindu. Ramayya and his crew travel from his in-law's small cattle operation nestled in the heart of the Canadian prairies to the bovine-dodging traffic chaos of India, where the cow is still holding its own as a sacred animal. Clocking in at 53 minutes this tightly edited documentary illustrates the impending plight of both cow and small farmer from opposite sides of the world. ...
Oil Demand in U.S. Sinks to 2003 Level According to American Petroleum Institute
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 02. 2.09
19.4 Million Barrels Per Day
According to the American Petroleum Institute, demand for oil in the U.S. in 2008 has decline by 6% to 19.4m barrels/day. That's like going back to 2003. "Gasoline deliveries dropped 3.3 percent to their lowest levels in five years. Deliveries of distillate fuel oil, which includes diesel fuel, fell 5.8 percent, while jet fuel deliveries slid 6.1 percent. Residual fuel oil deliveries dropped more than 14 percent."...
Why Patio Heaters are "Environmental Obscenities"
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 02. 2.09
That is what the former Energy Minister in Britain called them. A former energy spokeperson for the UK Liberal Party called them "an absurd invention" saying that "It is ludicrous that people are trying to heat the open air".
Yet commenter Dan, reading our earlier post Miami Beach Still Loves its Patio Heaters, suggested "I mean seriously, this is absurd - this issue is too small beans to be spending time writing about. As I always say, focus on the big issues first, and avoid nitpicking on these kind of trivial subjects that will do nothing to promote a stronger eco-movement.."
No Dan, it isn't absurd, and here is why....
Book Launch: Summer Rayne Oakes Goes on Tour with Style, Naturally
by Leonora Oppenheim, London, UK on 02. 2.09
TreeHugger regular, Planet Green contributor, business woman, activist and model - Summer Rayne Oakes is one busy lady. So it is an amazing feat of productivity that while promoting ethical fashion on all these fronts, she has also found time to author a substantial book about her specialist subject. Launched today on Amazon, Style, Naturally is a beautifully glossy production combining stunning imagery with factual information and an almost encyclopedic overview of contemporary ethical style, featuring many of our favourite brands. Click through to get a sneak preview (video) inside the book and find out the dates of Summer Rayne's book tour....
From the Forums: Meat Tax?
by Alan Graham, Portland, Oregon on 02. 2.09
Image Credit: prettywar-stl
Member Rick Wild is asking if since many are for taxes that discourage behaviors that produce carbon and pollution, does it then make sense for a tax on meat products?
This would shift some of the cost of pollution to the people who cause it, very much like the gasoline tax.A delicious debate...so dive in! Comment...
India’s First Biodiesel Refinery Planned for State of Orissa
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 02. 2.09
Those plants in the rows are jatropha seedlings... photo: Mission Newenergy Ltd
Though its international commercial viability has been far from proven, jatropha-based biofuels have been consistently growing. And it’s not just biodiesel: Two recent jet test flights, one by JAL and one by Continental Airlines, both used jatropha oil in their fuel mixes. Now comes word that Mumbai-based Mission Biofuels has announced that it will be seeking government approval to build India’s first biodiesel refinery, expected to use jatropha oil as feedstock, in the eastern state of Orissa:...
Time For the Annual Irradiated Food Drive
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 02. 2.09
Dave Weaver for The New York Times: Irradiating animal feed
There is a salmonella scare from contaminated peanuts, so it's time to roll out the articles in favor of irradiating food. The New York Times's Andrew Martin writes that irradiation "might even have killed the salmonella that reached grocery shelves in recent weeks after a factory in Georgia shipped tainted peanut butter and peanut paste, which wound up in products as diverse as cookies and dog treats."
Except later in the same article he notes that you can't irradiate peanuts....
Personal Info Not So Secure When You Recycle Your Cell Phone
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 02. 2.09
Image via Regenersis
Properly erasing information is an important step in the process of recycling your e-waste. Unfortunately, when Regenersis sampled 2,000 cell phones, 99% of them had personal data still stored in them, including sensitive information like bank account information....
Dell Announcing Social Innovation Competition - Win $50,000
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 02. 2.09
University students from around the world - here's a competition that could pay for the rest of your college career.
Dell is launching a social innovation competition where students submit ideas to start a For-profit or Non-profit business that will address a global social issue. The winner's purse contains $50,000.
Does that get your attention? Read on for details. ...
‘The Time For Denial & Delay Is Over’: US Special Envoy for Climate Change
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 02. 2.09
In case you missed it, the United States has a new climate change envoy: Todd Stern. Though it’s been only about week since he was appointed by Secretary of State Clinton, Stern is coming out running... At least rhetorically. Here’s how Stern described the challenge ahead:...
Seventh Generation Hosts Carnival of the Green
by Kara DiCamillo, Newport, Rhode Island on 02. 2.09
This week is Carnival of the Green #165 is being hosted by Seventh Generation's "7Gen Blog". It's the voice of the Seventh Generation Nation, a place where the company shares thoughts and tips about living green, keeping families healthy, and social responsibility.
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....
Green Eyes On: Three Cheap and Tasty Potato Recipes
by Sara Snow on 02. 2.09
Image via: Flickr/Sunshine Hanan
I love soup. I eat it practically all winter long, and don't stop for the three other seasons. Soup is a complete meal, so when I’m short on time, I start cooking knowing that one pot will be dinner for at least two nights and probably a few lunches. I have my favorite soups for sure: lentil, split pea, tortilla, gazpacho, to name a few. But I only recently began thinking about one of my absolute favorite soup recipes--potato leek soup--as a cheap meal for frugal times. Taking advantage of the potato is a delicious way to eat with pennies on the dollar. And so, it’s in that spirit that I bring you three cheap and easy potato recipes. Keep them tucked away and bring them out the next time your wallet starts to feel a little light....
Ugandan Woman Makes DIY Cell Phone Charger
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 02. 2.09
Photos via Women of Uganda Network
Here is a great example of two things: ingenuity and resourcefulness, and why affordable renewable energy chargers are important to develop.
After riding her bicycle 20 miles to get to a location where she could charge her mobile phone, a Ugandan woman was duped - getting her phone returned to her with an old battery that could barely hold a charge instead of her original battery.
But she put her thinking cap on and devised her own solution to her charging woes. ...
‘Integrity of Creation’ Being Sacrificed for Economic Gain in Alberta Tar Sands: Canadian Bishop
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 02. 2.09
photo: Rob Baxter
Lower oil prices may be cutting into the financial viability of Canadian oil sands projects, but as soon as oil prices rise again (and they will...) the drive to exploit one of the most environmentally destructive form of energy on the planet will suddenly come to the fore again. And Luc Bouchard, the Roman Catholic bishop of the diocese of St. Paul, Alberta (which includes oil sands development areas), is doing his part to make the moral case for stopping any further development:...
The Green Belt of World's Longest Desert Highway
by Alex Pasternack, New York, NY on 02. 2.09
Noburu Ogata
China's massive public works projects and geoengineering efforts are unparalleled. Pruned points us to an impressive emblem of both: The Tarim Desert Highway crosses the Taklamakan desert from north to south at a length of 552km, approximately 446km of which traverses, says Wikipedia, "uninhabited areas covered by shifting sand dunes, making it the longest such highway in the world.”
And it's lined with green....
Google Earth Adds Sea Floor to Maps and Imagery
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 02. 2.09
Photo via Flickr Creative Commons: Lauretta Burke,World Resources Institute
Google Earth has become a great resource for environmentalists, and now it might be even easier for those people focused on our ocean's health to monitor the deep blue sea.
And they're making the announcement of the new addition by recruiting some heavy hitters in environmentalism to speak at their launch event. ...
In China, Pollution Causes Two Birth Defects a Minute: Official
by Alex Pasternack, New York, NY on 02. 2.09
We know that China's pollution isn't good for its newborns. Recently, a government official announced that birth defects are "constantly increasing," and that every 30 seconds, a baby is born with physical defects in China.
The statistic isn't new. But the official made clear something the government has long been reluctant to say: a major cause is pollution....
Pellet Stoves vs. Wood Stoves: Which is Greener?
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 02. 2.09
Image credit: Dan Phiffer @ Flickr
Pellet stoves have become darlings of the green home heating world, in some ways; they're more efficient and have fewer particle emissions than their wood-burning stove brethren, but they aren't a perfect solution. Many pellet stoves require electricity, taking them out of service when the power goes out, and pellets and other fuel can be hard to find in all areas.
Wood stoves, on the other hand, burn fuel that is plentiful, and can create heat without electricity. Newer stoves, too, have devices that cut way back on polluting emissions, making them much more efficient than stoves once were. So, which stove is the greener way to go?...
7 Geoengineering Solutions That Promise To Save Humans from Climate Change
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 02. 2.09
Water scarcity is only one of the issues associated with rising global temperatures... photo: Mark N via flickr
In case you missed the past years of debate, here’s global climate change in a nutshell: Since human’s began burning fossil fuels some 150 or so years ago atmospheric carbon dioxide levels have increased precipitously. As it stands now, unless these levels are kept at about where they are today (at a maximum) or decreased, by the end of the 21st century global temperatures could rise to levels that would make vast areas of the planet far less habitable for life (human, other animal, and plant alike) than they are today.
Enter geoengineering. In a worst case scenario it may be required, proponents of geoengineering say, for humans to intervene. Forget simply stopping or reversing deforestation and rehabilitating other natural carbon sinks. Here are some of the more interventionist proposals currently on the table: ...
Live the Box Competition: Housing from Shipping Containers
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 02. 2.09
Felix Heidgen and Thomas Nagy of RMJM in Princeton, N.J.
There are a lot of shipping containers sitting around Newark, New Jersey; AIA Newark and Suburban and the Young Architects Forum put on a competition to figure out how to use them for multiple family housing on a big empty lot.
“So often, those with limited means feel they are being sequestered and forced into something substandard,” [organizing architect] Mr. Stone said. “Why would they want to live in shipping containers if no one else does?” And then it occurred to the architects: “We should figure out how to create housing so cool that everybody would want to live in it.”...
Miami Beach Still Loves its Patio Heaters
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 02. 2.09
In the UK, patio heaters are nowhere to be seen, and George Monbiot called for their ban three years ago. But on the sidewalks of Ocean Drive in Miami Beach, it is 65 degrees and you can't ask the customer to put a sweater over their Versace top. So out come the patio heaters by the hundreds.
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Eco-Diapers: Saturday Night Live Takes the Piss Out of Disposables (Video)
by George Spyros, New York City, USA on 02. 2.09
SNL Commercial Parody: Disposable Diapers Provide Comic Relief
To date, disposable diaper manufacturers of the mainstream have yet to display much concern about what happens to their products in the waste stream: there's not only dioxin from bleaching, but also the virgin pulp from 250,000 trees per year landfilled to the tune of 3.5 million tons along with untreated sewage. Don't they know that Waste = Food? Put it down to a lack of concern for our environmental well-being, or simply a lack of imagination, SNL spoofs the moment when conventional diaper companies finally catch on. To watch this hilarious, fake-green TV ad, you've got to go "below the belt"......
Obama Should Tell Americans That the Days of Happy Motoring Are Over: James Howard Kunstler
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 02. 2.09
photo: Kim Scarborough
Recently Lloyd pointed out how public tranist is getting shortchanged by the stimulus plan. Last week James Howard Kunstler rather more verbosely expounded on the same issue, and pretty much nailed it. We in the United States really have to have up the fact that as Kunstler would put, the days of happy motoring are over (good riddance) and we need to move on to something else. “Mr Obama needs to go on TV and tell the American public that we’re done cruisin’ for burgers.” Here’s part of what Kuntsler posits we ought to be doing instead on spending more money on highways:...
Architectural Record on Green Prefab
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 02. 2.09
The single-module PowerPod from Powerhouse Enterprises uses both passive and active solar strategies.
Every issue of Architectural Record comes with a long, dry article that you get professional development points for if you survive to the end. The January issue's points are really easy, coming from an interesting and comprehensive article by Allyson Wendt on prefabricated housing, with an emphasis on how it is (and can be made more) green.
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Does Turning Down My Water Heater Really Make a Difference?
by Pablo Paster, San Francisco on 02. 2.09
Dear Pablo: Why should I turn down my water heater? Isn't it just as efficient to dilute really hot water with cold water in the faucet than to use barely warm enough water straight out of the hot side?...
Survey: Is Population Control Next Up on the Environmental Agenda?
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 02. 2.09
It is the elephant in the room, the issue we never talk about, but this week everyone is talking about whether it is appropriate for a woman to have fourteen kids, and Eric raised the issue in his post Next on the Environment Agenda: Population Control!
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Go Ahead and Sweat in Sweatshop-Free Yoga Clothing
by April Streeter, Gothenburg, Sweden on 02. 2.09
Early morning yoga at Bondi Beach via tarotastic @ flickr.
If you've ever done a kick-ass Ashtanga Vinyasa yoga class, you already know that yoga is not necessarily a low-key, low-effort workout. And while it doesn't require specialized work-out gear, you do need comfortable tops and pants that neither get in the way of movement or pinch or tug in all the wrong places. So it's nice to know there are a couple of choices available in earth-friendlier fabrics such as organic cotton and bamboo, and that you can choose to sweat in sweatshop-free duds. Hit the jump to see our recent finds....
War-Time Advice is Still Relevant
by Bonnie Alter, London on 02. 2.09
image from MOBPA
The Museum of Brands, Packaging and Advertising is a little museum that displays packaging of brands over the last hundred years. It's interesting because packaging in the old days was very simple and straight forward, with none of the waste that we associate with it today. Its purpose was to sell, as always, but the boxes and tins on display reflect the history of consumer culture and changes in taste over the years.
The latest show, Waste Not, Want Not shows all of the leaflets, posters and specially packaged goods that were part of every day wartime life. During WW2 rationing was necessary, food was scarce and creative thriftiness was the only way to survive. The show wasn't planned as a response to the recession, but it is surprisingly relevant in its advice and message.
...
I'm Twittering Over Water In Jerusalem
by Karin Kloosterman, Tel Aviv on 02. 2.09
If you haven't caught on to the supremely contagious micro-blogging phenomenon known as Twitter, now's your chance to Twitter for an amazing cause, charity:water.
This year, on February 12, 2009 over 140 cities worldwide will be hosting Twestival 2009 to raise money for charity:water, which provides clean drinking water to villages in Africa. And despite our own drought issues, and lack of rain this year, Israelis are tweeting and retweeting all about the cause to support water in Africa:
Jerusalem's Twestival is unique in that beyond money for this charity, it will also be promoting worldwide awareness highlighting Israel's contributions in cleantech, writes Yannai, from the Jewish Climate Initiative:
"I wanted to tell you about Twestival '09- Jerusalem, a Twitter event raising money for charity:water, a water project in Africa. You can read some details below [and about Twestival 2009 in the TreeHugger archives], but as the event will be taking on a water/cleantech-in-Israel tone, we thought perhaps [you'd] like to write a piece about it . . . It looks like Jewish Climate Initiative will be involved, as well."
Twestival has already generated a lot of press in its use of the new social media micro-blogging protocol Twitter to promote a social cause.
Details about the Jerusalem event:
...
U.S. "Snail" Mail may be getting Greener, Slower, and less Disgruntled for 2009!
by Eric Leech, New York, NY on 02. 2.09
Photo Credit: Superbomba
The poor economy has touched upon just about everything this year, from lemonade stands to the U.S postal service. Yes, the Postmaster General, John E. Potter, has officially sent in a request limiting the number of days the Post Office will have to deliver and work each week. This is part of their plan to reduce the massive amount of deficits weighing upon them, some $2.8 billion dollars from 2008, with a predicted $6 billion for 2009 if the current trend continues....
Computer Model Shows How Landscape Architecture Can Fight Malaria
by Tim McGee, Western Massachusetts on 02. 1.09
photo tanakawho @ flickr
Malaria kills. It kills people, economies, and has inflicted untold pain and suffering throughout human history. Today malaria accounts for one third of all deaths worldwide for children under 5, and the vast majority in Sub-Saharan Africa. Professor Elfatih Eltahir and graduate students Arne Bomblies and Rebecca Gianotti presented research last December about a computer model that can help fight this devastating disease....
Super Bowl Ads: A Green Live Blog
by Brian Merchant, Brooklyn, New York on 02. 1.09
Photo via New York Times
We're live blogging on the lookout for green in Super Bowl 43! TreeHugger is providing up-to-the-minute green coverage of all the ads, events, and madness surrounding America's unofficial national holiday. So what's green about this year's Super Bowl?
Only one way to find out . . .
...
Julia Roberts' Dirty Secret, Julianne Moore Saves the Children, and More
by Terri MacLeod on 02. 1.09
Photo Courtesy of Star Pulse
Oh how we love ‘Hollywood’s Pretty Green Woman’ – Julia Roberts. The eco-friendly actress tries to always shops with re-usable canvas bags, preaches the evils of non-organic house cleansers and beauty products. Now, Julia’s giving up showering in an effort to live a greener lifestyle. According to the Green Daily, the actress recently admitted she avoids showering in order to save on water! Her ex-bodyguard fueled the dirt, adding, “She likes the smell of her natural oils.” Somehow we’d like to think, Julia hasn’t totally eliminated cleaning up and just maybe her words were taken a bit too literally!
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10,000 Crocs Make Their Way to Ecuador, Go For Children's Feet
by Josh Peterson, Los Angeles, California on 02. 1.09
photo by TherapyCatGuardian via Flickr
Thousands of Crocs have found the feet of poor children in Ecuador. For many Ecuadorian youngsters, these are the first Crocs they’ve ever seen. This isn't the first time that Crocs have gone for children's feet. Last year, 10,000 Asian-born Crocs made their way across the globe and went for the soles of poor Haitian kids. In 2006, 400,000 Crocs were thought to have crisscrossed the map, finding their way to the feet of the less fortunate. ...
Abu Dhabi to Debut Personal Rapid Transit “Podcars” Later This Year
by Jesse Fox, Tel Aviv, Israel on 02. 1.09
PRT car designed by Zagato, unveiled recently at the World Future Energy Summit.
The designers of Masdar City, Abu Dhabi's new post-petroleum city, are not bound by the usual set of rules and constraints. Money is not really an issue, and the political leadership is always willing to try out innovative ideas that the rest of the world regards as unproven, unorthodox or just plain fantasy.
One of them is PRT, personal rapid transit, a system of transportation featuring compact, driver-less “podcars.” In Masdar, where the streets will be entirely free of automobiles, a network of these compact electric taxis will provide clean and quiet transportation to the city’s residents, as well as commuters. The first PRT cars are set to begin running later this year. Admittedly intrigued, TreeHugger sat down with one of the system's designers recently at the World Future Energy Summit in Abu Dhabi to hear more about the project. ...
Spinning Garbage into Gold: An Alternative to Mining?
by Jennifer Hattam, Istanbul, Turkey on 02. 1.09
Construction of the Efemçukuru project, a gold-mining operation near İzmir, Turkey. Photo via Eldorado Gold Corp.
Environmentalists in Turkey have had mixed results in their efforts to fight gold-mining operations, which often use cyanide to extract the precious metal and contaminate local water supplies. The İzmir municipality halted construction of Eldorado Gold's Efemçukuru project, only to have the high court in Ankara give the company the go-ahead to continue. But recent news from Japan suggests that mining companies themselves might be better off looking for gold elsewhere--not in the ground, but in the garbage.
...
Ecotourism Saves Critically Endangered Hawaiian Plant Species (Video)
by George Spyros, New York City, USA on 02. 1.09
Alula (Brighamia insignis) critically endangered plant - Kauai, Hawaii by afearonwood on Flickr
Hawaii's Big Island is home to a delicately balanced ecosystem. To help preserve the diverse species, programs have been created to educate and involve tourists in developing a sustainable industry without harming the environment. Watch the video and start planning your eco-vaca with a trip to the land beyond the jump......
Organic Food Sales Still Growing Despite Economic Woes
by Jeff Nield, Vancouver, British Columbia on 02. 1.09
Mike Blake via Reuters
After years of phenomenal growth it seems that sales of organic food are slowing. But, here at TreeHugger we're heartened that the industry is still growing despite the current economic crisis. The numbers tell the tale. ...
Amsterdam Edging Ahead of Copenhagen as Most Bike-Loving Euro-Capital?
by April Streeter, Gothenburg, Sweden on 02. 1.09
Both Copenhagen and Amsterdam can be proud of their impressive cycling statistics and ongoing investment in infrastructure. Copenhagen claims 36 percent of its commuters bike to work every morning. Amsterdam gives a slightly different and still impressive figure - 55 % of journeys to jobs less than 7.5 kilometers are done on two-wheeled, no emission vehicles, and 60 percent of inner city trips are bike trips. Now, according to the Dutch Bike Council, Amsterdammers have a new statistic to be proud of....
Green Collar the New White Collar?
by Sara Novak, Columbia, SC on 02. 1.09
photo: SustainLane
Listening to the news alone is enough to put anyone in a depressed funk. The picture is darker now than it even was a few months ago. And in the event that you do experience a lay off, what next? SustainLane's new job site is working to match up green job seekers with some worthwhile gigs even in this dwindling economy....
Next on the Environment Agenda: Population Control!
by Eric Leech, New York, NY on 02. 1.09
Photo Credit: laurenatclemson
We've discussed the issue of population control before on Treehugger, but every now and then a turn of events makes it necessary to drag it all out again. Jonathon Porritt, former chairman of the Green party, and the heart of the Sustainable Development Commission, is back on the scene today, reminding us that the battles we are waging against global warming are not reaching the real root of the problem... population control!...
