- 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 8, 2009 - February 14, 2009
Total this week: 221
Fruit for Thought? Tu B'Shevat with TreeHugger and 92YTribeca
by Bonnie Hulkower, New York, New York on 02.14.09
TreeHugger's own Matt Mcdermott teaching the green gospel of carbon footprint calculation
Photo by Bonnie H.
I've always been a big fan of holidays that celebrate food and of meeting up with my TreeHugger colleagues in person. So when the invitation came to attend a 92YTribeca- hosted Tu B’Shevat Shabbat with TreeHugger's Ken Rother and Matt McDermott as guest speakers, I couldn't resist attending.
Tu B’Shevat is a lesser well known Jewish holiday. It is usually celebrated at the end of January/early February. This year, Tu B'Shevat, the 15th day of the Jewish month of Shevat, coincided with the solar calendar date of February 9 and began at sundown on February 8. The holiday is also known as the New Year for Trees. Today it is essentially the Jewish Arbor Day and many Jewish environmental organizations have adopted it as an environmental awareness and tree planting day. So it is a good time even in the middle of winter in the Northeast U.S. to celebrate the birthday of the tree and the fruits that it provides. It is a great reminder of what spring will bring. It is also a great reminder that nature exists beyond New York City, the concrete jungle that I call home.
...
30 Days For Federal Simulus Dollars To Hit State & Local Government Coffers
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 02.14.09
Send Me Dead Flowers in the Morning
by Trevor Reichman on 02.14.09
tulips with bulbs intact. photo by trevor reichman
The day after Valentine's day, decapitated flowers will go on sale at heavily discounted prices everywhere. But there are more romantic alternatives to giving over priced dead flowers to your partner on, or even after Valentine's day. Read further for a few other plant based ways to say "I Love You". ...
DIY Process: How Do Etsy Artisans Make Their Stuff? (Video Series)
by Kimberley D. Mok, Montreal, Canada on 02.14.09
Last-Second Valentine Green Gift Ideas (for the eco-&-time-challenged)
by George Spyros, New York City, USA on 02.14.09
Green Gift Giving for the time-&-eco-challenged
Got to get yourself out of some hot solar-heated water from not selecting something from our last-minute V-day guide? Needed to overnight a Valentine's Day nod yesterday but didn't? Shipping is for the carbon-addicted Arizona Dreams Of Becoming Solar Thermal "Power Colony" Of Western North America
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 02.14.09
Excerpt from WGA-produced Qualified Resource Area (renewable power) map, of western North America.
Years ago, when I worked in water resources management, a clever wag told me that planning was 'the art of drawing targets around spent arrows.' The Western Governors Association, has figured out there is plenty of sun in Arizona (as pictured), and that, in surrounding areas, there will be a growing demand for generation and sharing of low-carbon footprint electricity. Pivoting at some load-sharing bulls-eye, artful archers are aiming to make Arizona a solar-energy "colony" for 11 other states, two Canadian provinces and Baja California.
...
Meet The Food You Eat: Measuring Carbon Footprints With a Kitchen Scale
by Jenna Watson, Barcelona on 02.14.09
Three students at the Copenhagen Institute of Interaction Design have experimented in physical representations of the environmental impacts of food. Their project, Meet the Food You Eat measures the CO2 emissions resulting from food transport and the amount of offsets required to replace that in one year through what looks like a kitchen scale. ...
Stimulus Update: Coburn Amendment Modified, Everybody Out of the Pool
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 02.14.09
McCarren Pool, Greenpoint, Brooklyn
During GD1 eleven pools were built in New York City alone by the Works Progress Administration. But America will stay dry thanks to the final wording of the Coburn Amendment. The original wording, which prohibited spending on parks and the arts, has been revised to read:
...
ITC Holdings Corp. Proposes New Wind Power Transmission Lines Serving US Midwest
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 02.14.09
Green Is the Word In Turkish Newspapers
by Jennifer Hattam, Istanbul, Turkey on 02.14.09
Turkish newspapers are publishing more stories about environmental issues.
They probably won't push the latest futbol scores off of the front page anytime soon, but articles about environmental issues are becoming more common in Turkish newspapers, with 2008 a banner year for coverage of renewable energy.
...
Investing Green in the Midst of Economic Turmoil
by Sara Novak, Columbia, SC on 02.14.09
photo: How Stuff Works
With close to $100 billion in green investments, the new administration's bailout could promote a shift to wind and solar power, mass transit, and a modernized green infrastructure. While companies remain stagnant waiting for this money to start spilling over into the economy and beginning to the churn the wheels of green investment one more time, US News and World Report announced their 5 Green Stocks for a Bad Economy.
...
Ecosteal.com Turns Shopping Into a Game
by Kristin Underwood, Sacramento, CA on 02.13.09
Image via: Getty Images
For some people, shopping is so much more than exchanging money for goods. Oh no, it's about the thrill of the chase, and the high that you get from getting a really great deal. Like finding a pair of brand new Edun jeans at a resale store for just $14.99. The guys at EcoSteal.com bring you an organic shopping experience packed with steals and deals, all online....
Rapid Repair: A Better Way to Recycle E-Waste
by Kristin Underwood, Sacramento, CA on 02.13.09
Image via: Planet Connect
We've had several posts recently about recycling, both in terms of materials recycled and shipping materials globally just to be recycled. Rapid Repair attempts to find a happy medium on both fronts and still be green. Could this be another green business that gets new life as we become more concerned about our carbon footprints and purchasing habits?...
Will Packaging Taxes Solve Waste Issues, or Escalate the Problem?
by Tom Szaky of TerraCycle, Trenton NJ on 02.13.09
Photo via ShuttersStock.Com
Many environmentalists would say that packaging taxes (like
bottle bills) are the solution to low recycling rates and the packaging
waste problem. The way these programs work is that they charge packaging
companies a “tax” per unit produced as a “deposit” and then give that
deposit back to the consumer when they return the package to a center
(could be a supermarket or a recycling center). Currently there are
bottle bills in over 10 states and a number of Canadian provinces.
...
Amendment to Stimulus Bill Bans Funding for Parks, Museums, Theaters and Arts
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 02.13.09
High Line Park, New York
We love parks. They're green. They have trees. Senator Tom Coburn of Oklahoma thinks they are a waste of money. So he stuck an amendment into the stimulus bill to prohibit funding of museums, arts centers, parks and theaters. Just to make everybody equally angry, no money can be spent on sports stadia, casinos or golf courses. ...
Leonardo DiCaprio's Green Oscar, Salma Hayek's Got Milk, and More
by Terri MacLeod on 02.13.09
Photo Credit: I Watch Stuff
My favorite eco-star might of gotten snubbed by Oscar, but Leo's enivormental work gets a green prize. The actor/activist was honored with the International Green Film Award by Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev at the Cinema For Peace ceremony in Berlin, Germany. Leo's mission is to raise awareness against global warming and he received this award as recognition for his efforts in promoting peace and tolerance in the global film business. Besides a nice trophy, Leo also gets $250 thousand donation for an environmental foundation or film project. Thanks: Just Jared...
Recycled Gloves Prevent Rough Hands
by Kristin Underwood, Sacramento, CA on 02.13.09
Image via: West County Gardener
For those of you treehuggers and dirt lovers out there, (or those of you female solar installers that can't find work gloves small enough to fit your hands and have to use gardening gloves, ahem), West County Gardener has the eco-solution with recycled PET gardening and work gloves. With spring right around the corner, its time to get back out there and back in touch with the earth. Using gloves will keep the thorns off your hands and the dirt from getting under your nails....
Male Whales Prefer Ginormous Females
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 02.13.09
Hey Pretty! Where Are You Swimming To?
A new study about humpback whales found that male whales have a marked preference for the biggest females they can find. "Big in terms of humpback whales means gigantic, since females are usually larger than males to begin with, measuring up to around 50 feet long and weighing approximately 79,000 pounds."...
More Canadians Using Programmable Thermostats, CFLs, Low-Flow Showerheads, Etc
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 02.13.09
So How's Canada Doing, Eh?
Cars and trucks get a lot of ink, but buildings are the real 800-megaton gorilla when it comes to energy usage (and thus greenhouse gas emissions). Statistics Canada has released numbers about the habits of Canadians when it comes to conserving energy and water in their homes. The trend is moving in the right direction, but much more needs to be done....
Video: A Greener Madison Square in New York City
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 02.13.09
Buildings from the Last New Deal Not Surviving This One
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 02.13.09
Eleanor Roosevelt opened Greenhills, Ohio in 1938- "a healthier, more verdant environment, with shopping, recreation and nearly 200 small modernist apartment buildings and houses surrounded by a forest." They were in the National Register of Historic Places. It is the usual silly reason: "they made the village look down at the heels."
...
Aquaculture Industry Looks to Sustainable Feeds
by Eliza Barclay, Washington, D.C. on 02.13.09
Photo credit: Hongking International Co. Ltd
Experts agree that as wild fish stocks decline and the world's population grows we will increasingly rely on aquaculture to feed the hungry planet. But many conservationists are concerned about the sustainability of an aquaculture industry that uses 58% of the world's fishmeal supply for feed -- mostly from anchovy and sardine fisheries in South America. They are also concerned about the fish in to fish out ratio, which is alarming for species like farmed salmon that require three to four pounds of protein (typically from fishmeal) to produce one pound of flesh....
Vizio Ditching Plasmas From Its TV Line
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 02.13.09
As of the third quarter of last year, Vizio was North America's third largest plasma TV maker. Yet, they've decided to dump plasmas from their list of products, turning their focus instead to LCDs. That leaves just LG, Panasonic and Samsung as the only large-scale plasma TV manufacturers marketing their wares in the US. So why the sudden turn by Vizio?...
MOTO Demos First Android-Powered e-Ink Display (Video)
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 02.13.09
Image via MOTO
The folks at MOTO Development Group have gotten the Android software to run on an e-ink display. This means there's an ultra low-power display option for running Android on devices other than a cell phone. Click through to watch a video of the demo in action....
Miami Beach Roundup: They Haven't Discovered TreeHugger Yet
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 02.13.09
What do you say about a city where the parking garages are so high that the new buildings don't start until the old buildings end? That perhaps they have their priorities a bit screwed up? ...
10 Green Furniture Highlights From IMM Cologne (Slideshow)
by Mairi Beautyman, Berlin, Germany on 02.13.09
Photo courtesy of Draenert
In the design industry, there are a few big furniture fairs that make waves around the world, places where the most cutting-edge green furniture debuts. The biggest fair in Europe is the Salone Internazionale del Mobile, held each spring in Milan. But the earliest peak at home furnishing trends to come is at IMM Cologne, annually held in in Cologne, Germany in January. This year, from January 19-25, over 1,000 companies from 49 countries exhibited fresh new product design. Check out the innovations in our:
10 Green Furniture Highlights From IMM Cologne Slideshow
...
The US Needs a ‘True’ Biofuels Policy: Environmental Working Group
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 02.13.09
photo: Brooke Raymond via flickr
The good people at Environmental Working Group have issued a statement saying that, as US biofuels policy is not achieving the goals of decreasing greenhouse gas emissions, decreasing the nation’s reliance on foreign oil, decreasing the price of gasoline, or bolstering US agriculture (other than certain parts of it, and at the direct expense of others), America needs a “true renewable energy policy.”
Though I’ve never been much a fan of wading into the ‘this isn’t a “true” this or that’ debate—you can say that the current policy isn’t working, but it’s not an ‘untrue’ or ‘false’ policy—this what EWG proposes as the truth:...
Organic, Sexy T-Shirt Designs
by greenz.jp, Tokyo, Japan on 02.13.09
Images from Quolomo
Tired of the good-old greenish designs here on Treehugger? Well, it is Valentine's Day. Quolomo has the "contemporary t-shirt design from Tokyo". The main characters of 'CROWS', Hiroshi Takahashi's gritty, best-selling manga, have found their way off the pages of comic books and into the worlds of film and collectable figures. Here is the one of the four heavenly kings of CROWS, 'BITOH TATSUYA'. 100% Organic cotton version. Limited. But there is more, much more:...
Who is Calling Who a Hypocrite? New Ad Campaign Denies Climate Change
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 02.13.09
Samsung's New Blue Earth Phone is Solar Powered and Made From Water Bottles
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 02.13.09
Photos Via Pocket Lint
Not a whole lot of detail about Samsung's new Blue Earth Phone except that it has some eco-features that finally get us excited about the future of greener cell phones. ...
34% Drop in US Electric Demand Possible Through Energy Efficiency Improvements: Rocky Mountain Institute
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 02.13.09
photo: Eric Jusino
We often say that making energy efficiency improvements is the easiest way to reduce energy demand, but a new report coming out of the Rocky Mountain Institute shows just how much of a reduction in electric demand could occur, if only the most energy inefficient US states performed as their most efficient neighbors. You can tell by the title how much of a reduction could be made, but this is how it could happen:...
The Ultimate Green House: Lost In Paris House by R&Sie Architects
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 02.13.09
There is a house in there, really, the "Lost in Paris" house by R&Sie Architects, who have produced some of the most provocative work we have shown on TreeHugger. ...
Online Shopping vs. Driving to the Mall: The Greener Way to Buy
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 02.13.09
Photo credit: Matti Mattila
When it comes to the way we procure the goods we use in our lives, there are some mixed messages out there. Buying local is advertised as a green way to go -- and it can be -- but so is acquiring stuff with minimal shipping and transportation. Shopping online is fast, convenient, and your stuff comes right to your door -- no car trips required; shopping in local brick 'n mortar stores supports your community, and may not require much (or any) driving either. So, which is the greener way to shop?...
Veggie Post Coitus: PETA Reasons to Go Veg Video Omits Climate Change, Includes Impotence
by George Spyros, New York City, USA on 02.13.09
MIT Students Invent Energy-Harvesting Shock Absorber, Plan to Take Over the World
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 02.13.09
Zack Anderson , senior in elecrical engineering and computer sciences, holds a GenShock prototype up to a Humvee coil spring where it is installed. Photo via MIT, credit Donna Coveney
For once we just might be excited about going on a bumpy ride.
A group of MIT undergrads have created a shock absorber that harvests energy from a vehicle's movement and can improve fuel efficiency by as much as 10%. ...
Battle of the Rechargeable Batteries
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 02.13.09
The folks at Gizmodo have done a test of two sets of rechargeable batteries to find out which has the longer life and better recharge factors. Read on to see who wins, Duracell or Energizer....
Susan Sarandon Video Supports Capitol Climate Action in Washington, DC.
by Daniel Kessler, Greenpeace on 02.13.09
To Wait or to Walk, That Is the Question
by Jennifer Hattam, Istanbul, Turkey on 02.13.09
Photograph by D'Arcy Norman via Flickr.
Sure, it's important for researchers to invent algae-based jet fuel and make solar concentrators more effective, but why isn't anyone addressing the real pressing issues of a treehugger's day-to-day life? Like whether it's worth waiting for the bus, or if you're better off hoofing it? Finally, someone has.
...
Evolo Skyscraper Competition: Vertical Farms Popping Up Everywhere
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 02.13.09
eVolo Magazine has an annual competition of skyscraper design. They call for "innovative designs that take into consideration the historical and social context, the existing urban fabric, the human scale and the environment."
So of course they are huge towers that do almost none of the above but are fascinating exercises nonetheless.
Second Prize winners Nicola and Adelaide Marchi present a 400 meter high bridge over the Seine River in Paris. More...
A Flatpack Valentines Day: Ribcage With Heart
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 02.13.09
Being suckers for anything flatpack, we love Portland designer Nathan Chrislip's Ribcage and Heart card. ...
Earth From the Air: Photos by Yann Arthus-Bertrand, Plus a Sweetheart Deal (Slideshow)
by Meaghan O'Neill, Newport, R.I. on 02.13.09
Photo by Yann Arthus-Bertrand
It's Valentine's Day (well, actually it's Friday the thirteenth, but let's leapfrog that), and since there's nothing we love more than the Earth, we're delivering her this valentine: a collection of stunning photos by world-renowned photographer Yann Arthus-Bertrand. His beautiful landscape portraits taken from sky-high vantages convey sometimes eerie, sometimes wondrous insight into the delicate beauty and balance of natural systems and the power of manmade ones. Looking for a gift for your Valentine, too? TreeHugger readers can get Bertrand's new Earth From the Air DVD at 50 percent off, with 10 percent of proceeds benefitting Architecture for Humanity. Need further romantic inspiration? Our Valentines' Day Gift Guide should do the trick. You'll also find more green ideas, DIY gifts, and superb recipes after the fold.
View the Earth From the Air slideshow
...Terracycle's Waste to Profit Story Creates Media Buzz
by Sami Grover, Carrboro, NC, USA on 02.13.09
Survey: Something for you Sweetie?
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 02.13.09
Soppy V-day sentiment from Be My Anti-Valentine. Like so much of this so-called holiday, we are completely unimaginative and recycle last year's survey:
...
Hindu Leader Urges Temples to Go Green
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 02.13.09
I find it quite heartening to see that religious leaders are increasingly seeing that being green and their path of worship can go hand in hand. The latest example of this came through the TreeHugger editorial inbox in the form of an email from Rajan Zed, president of the Universal Society of Hinduism, urging Hindus throughout the world to make their temples more environmentally friendly and to “openly bless environmental causes, as faith coming out in support of the environment would be a remarkable signal.”
Zed went on to say that Hindus should,...
Transformer Furniture: Chair Turns into Mona Lisa
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 02.13.09
The Shakers used to hang their chairs on the wall to get them out of the way when they needed to shake. We have also previously shown Dror Benshetrit's neat cantilevered chair that flattened out and hung on the wall.
Now Korean designer Kwang Hoo Lee does them one better by turning the chair into a work of art....
Graph of the Day: Good Climate Change Policy Spurs Cleantech Innovations
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 02.13.09
Annex 1 countries which ratified the Kyoto Protocol had a greater share of climate-related inventions, post-Kyoto than the USA & Australia.
Environmental Economics have posted some graphs taken from a new study examining technology transfer and climate change. The gist of it is, that countries that ratified the Kyoto Protocol had greater clean tech innovation in the years after signing than those who did not:...
Tropical Nations’ Artistic Legacy Endangered by Climate Change, UN Urges Protection
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 02.13.09
Lack of funds for preservation + climate change = many cultural objects could be lost. Musical instruments in Thailand, photo: Sandor Weisz via flickr
While it may have the same sort of immediate, human interest magnitude as say entire islands becoming uninhabitable, global climate change destroying the priceless cultural legacy of tropical nations is a genuine concern. According to UN experts, quoted by Reuters, a lack of archival storage methods, combined with increased fungal and insect threats could have devastating consequences for art:...
Artists' Tee-Shirts for a Good Cause
by Bonnie Alter, London on 02.13.09
image from Holiday Matinee
If you need a lift from the February blues and think that a new tee-shirt might do the trick, here's a green and cool choice. Created as an artists' series, these three shirts have been designed by three different artists. One is from Los Angeles, one from Montreal and another from Scotland (pictured).
The tee-shirts are all organic and the sponsor of the venture, Holiday Matinee, will donate 100% of the proceeds to Plant-It 2020. It's a non-profit that helps plant and maintain indigenous trees worldwide. Buying one tee-shirt will plant 20 trees....
Sex Sells, So Does it Sell Sustainable Chairs?
by April Streeter, Gothenburg, Sweden on 02.13.09
Photos via Variér.
One thing you've got to like about Norway's Variér, which is now distributing its upscale, design-them-yourself chairs in the U.S. and around the world: they don't claim to be deep green and question any companies with industrial, mass-produced items that do hoist high the "we're so green" mantle.
And the sinuous, organic shapes of Variér's different chairs really are seductive, so using naked, beautiful women to advertise the chairs doesn't seem so far-fetched as say, using sex to sell cars. Apart from its Nordic modesty, however, what does Variér do that can be considered environmentally sound and leading to sustainability?...
Crop Biodiversity A Cure for Ocean Dead Zones?
by Tim McGee, Western Massachusetts on 02.12.09
Photo Nicholas_T @ flickr
Biodiversity is the variation of life within any system. High biodiversity is a trademark of ecosystems that are healthy, resilient to stress, and those that provide valuable ecosystem services like clean air, water, or food. Yet, when we farm, increasingly, we seem to plow under the diverse ecosystem and plant a monoculture (single species) in its place. The results lead to increased soil runoff, higher fertilizer requirements, and ocean dead zones. But there is a rather simple solution…...
Hitachi Super-Express Trains Coming To Britain
by greenz.jp, Tokyo, Japan on 02.12.09
Photos: 395 Javelin from RailNews.co.uk and Fareastgizmos.com
A consortium led by Hitachi has won the bid to provide super-express trains to Britain. This is great news if you like fast, safe trains and plan to drive (or fly) less in the future. Manufactured in Kasado, Japan by Hitachi the 395 Javelin model is on schedule to be used by the Southeastern train company on the soon-to-be-completed final section of the Channel Tunnel Rail link from Kent into central London. By 2013 they will connect London to Edinburgh and replace the 30-year-old InterCity 125s promoted in the British Rail “This is the age of the train” adverts that featured Sir Jimmy Savile, according to The Times....
Dell Funds Solar and Schools in Brazil, India and Mexico
by Kristin Underwood, Sacramento, CA on 02.12.09
Image via: Getty Images
School children in Brazil, India and Mexico have something to cheer about today as the Dell YouthConnect Grants, were announced totaling $2.7 million USD split among 11 organizations. Solar panels to power new computer labs; classes and curriculum on climate change; math, science and technology program development; and bringing computers into the classrooms of hundreds of children are all part of the goals of the YouthConnect program....
Senate Conferees Drop 50-Billion Dollar 'Clean Coal' & Nuclear Subsidies
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 02.12.09
Real Cost Of Power In US. Image credit:Forbes, via DayDreaming
Environmental News Service is reporting that the Senate Conference Committee has done good work:- 'Nuclear Pork' Cut Out of Final Recovery and Reinvestment Package. "While other interests are concerned with issues such as the balance between tax cuts and spending, many environmental groups are relieved that a provision in the Senate's version that could have been used to fund new nuclear reactors has been cut from the final text. The conference committee axed a proposal to include $50 billion in federal loan guarantees..."...
Summer Rayne Oakes' "Style, Naturally" Book Launch Party (Video)
by Emma Grady, New York, NY on 02.12.09
A Picture is Worth: Lawrence Yang on Pepsi's new Logo
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 02.12.09
We do go on about high-fructose corn syrup, the sweetener in your Pepsi. I suspect that I will never look at the new Pepsi logo the same way again after seeing San Francisco designer Lawrence Yang's minor modification of it. More at his website, Blow at Life
via PSFK
Why again do we dislike HFCS?
...
Canada Ships Recyclables to China and then Ships Them Back Again
by Kristin Underwood, Sacramento, CA on 02.12.09
Image via: EnviroZine
We've reported in the past how the US and others ship waste (especially e-waste) to China for demolition and recycling. Add Canada to that list, who shipped over 20,000 tonnes of mixed paper each year for the last two years, reports the Toronto Star, not to mention another 10,000 tonnes of milk jug plastic to South Korea. Canada made $600,000 and $800,000 respectively for the last two years and hopes to start sending disposable coffee cups to South Korea too, but is this type of recycling sustainable?...
Amish Miracle Heater is Anything But
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 02.12.09
The New York Times notes that the Roll-n-Glow "miracle heaters" are going out the door by the cartload after the Amish carpenters, well known for their use of high tech electrical appliances, have finished building them. So what is the miracle? ...
Janette Sadik-Khan: Creating a More Walkable, Bike-Friendly New York City
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 02.12.09
EU Mayors Sign Covenant of Mayors Climate Initiative
by Kristin Underwood, Sacramento, CA on 02.12.09
Image via: TopNews
Just like the US Mayors signed their Climate Protection Agreement back in 2005, 400 EU mayors signed their own Climate Pact this week, called the Covenant of Mayors Initiative, agreeing to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 20% by 2020. The signing comes as part of the larger EU Mayors Sustainable Energy Week 2009, which brings together high ranking officials and other famous faces to talk about sustainability options, as well as make commitments to do more than just talk about the options....
Laser Printers are a Big Source of Indoor Air Pollution
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 02.12.09
Is Your Laser Printer Harming You?
Not too long ago, Lloyd wrote about a study that pointed the finger at laser printers as big sources of indoor air pollution. That study, published in May 2008, has been followed up by a new one in January 2009 that takes a closer look at the problem. The results aren't very reassuring....
Green Eyed Monster Offers 40% Off Reusable Bags
by Kara DiCamillo, Newport, Rhode Island on 02.12.09
Today's TreeHugger Deal comes to you from Green Eyed Monster, a company that offers a unique and socially responsible alternative to disposable paper and plastic bags. Images for the bags are created through online design competitions (see after the fold to participate), and each tote that is printed is a limited edition. So this is your chance to grab a wearable, reusable piece of art! The bags are made out of 100% post-consumer material made from recycled cotton fabric and recycled plastic bottles, are manufactured in the U.S.A., and are larger than your average disposable or reusable tote. ...
Emily Pilloton Discusses the Hippo Roller and other Designs for Humanity (Part Two)
by Jacob Gordon, Nashville, TN on 02.12.09
In our last conversation with The founder of Project H Design, Emily Pilloton voiced her frustrations with a design world that has lost sight of its duty. In this segment, we’re taken through her latest project: a math playground in Uganda for the students at a school for AIDS orphans. This new “learning landscape” combines systems thinking and appropriate technology to create something versatile and fun. Listen to the podcast via iTunes, or just click here to listen, right-click to download. For part one of this interview, click here. Our music comes from Andrew Bird. ...
A New Credit Crunch Victim: Chickens
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 02.12.09
Chicken Housing Crisis
The housing bubble, and following credit crunch, has hit humans pretty hard. But now there's a new victim: Chickens. The Wall Street Journal reports that many farmers are having trouble paying the mortgage on the chicken houses: "A chicken housing crisis has cropped up in the U.S., and it's producing some of the same bleak results as the human one -- foreclosures, lawsuits and devastated homeowners."
Read on for more details....
UK Post Office Issues Darwin Day Stamps
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 02.12.09
The Royal Mail in the UK just released a set of stamps "to pay tribute to Charles Darwin, the man who transformed the way many of us think about the natural world."
Fascinating how a nation that has a head of state who is also head of the state religion will issue Darwin stamps, but a nation that has a constitutionally defined separation of Church and State wouldn't dare.
More on Darwin Day festivities in the Guardian
...
Upscale Zeer for Urban Kitchens is a Cool Idea
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 02.12.09
There is all kinds of free cold air outside the house, but we have a fridge running, expensively moving heat from inside the box to the kitchen. Meanwhile we have an electric humidifier under the piano, trying to get a little moisture into the air. It is so silly, we are all paying for electricity to have appliances fight against each other.
That is why Oliver Poyntz's Zeer, an upscale urban version of Mohammed Bah Abba's pot-in-pot cooler (reinvented by the talented Emily Cummins) is such a cool idea....
Jargon Watch: Shifting Baselines
by Jeff Nield, Vancouver, British Columbia on 02.12.09
Salmon Culling in British Columbia in the 1890s. Credit: Getty Images
Collective memory is a fickle thing. We all know about the decimation of the American Bison, and the lost flocks of Passenger Pigeons a mile wide and 300 miles long. But, other less visible and more gradual examples of loss can be easily missed. For an explanation of what this can mean, meet the concept of shifting baselines. ...
Japanese Resort's Tunnel of Light Boasts 3.2 Million LEDs
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 02.12.09
Photo via Toki no Sumika
Toki no Sumika resort in Japan has hosted an extraordinary light display the last few years, and this year's is just as spectacular as ever with 3.2 million LED lights. And while a lighting display of this magnitude might deserve some tsking, there's an eco-friendly edge to it. ...
Street Kitchens From Around the World
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 02.12.09
Thai street food; images via Core77
Kitchen manufacturer Dornbracht and Mike Meiré (above) of Meiré und Meiré put together an interesting exhibition of street kitchens from around the world for the Cologne furniture fair. Fast Company says that "The idea was to showcase Dornbracht's research into the different ways kitchens can be configured."...
Jon Stewart: "Corn Ethanol F*#k That" - 2 Billion Cars Author
by George Spyros, New York City, USA on 02.12.09
OLED Touchscreen Light Switch Monitors Power Use
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 02.12.09
Photos via Yanko Design
OLED technology, as we know, is gaining ground as a great low-power display option. Designers are already latching on to it and creating products that use as little power as possible. The innovation is just getting started, a fact highlighted by this interesting concept design - an interactive touchscreen light switch that rates you on your energy consumption. ...
Martin Drake Power Plant In Colorado Tests New Coal-Plant Emissions Scrubber
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 02.12.09
Railroad tracks, looking towards Martin Drake power plant, downtown Colorado Springs CO. Image credit:Flickr,JoeB's stream - excerpted.
End-of-pipe pollution control add-ons are what most coal-fired plant owners in the USA are planning for these days. For example, Martin Drake Power Plant in Colorado (pictured) is trying out a new stack gas scrubber design, with water as a pollutant capturing medium. Later, they could add lime, or ammonia, or suspended charcoal bits...whatever. Let's focus on the water and what's not mentioned: mercury....
Who’s Who on Obama’s Green Team: Tom Vilsack, Secretary of Agriculture
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 02.12.09
The third profile of people on Obama’s Green Team is of Tom Vilsack, Secretary of Agriculture. While some in the green community may have preferred a more radical choice to head the USDA--TreeHugger presented what Food Democracy Now considered to be twelve more sustainable choices for the position--some green groups (such as the EDF) as well as farm groups were pleased with the choice. This is Tom Vilsack’s background, his stance on some of the issues, and why he’s likely to keep getting under the skin of the environmental community:...
Quote of the Day: Richard Florida on the Shaping of America
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 02.12.09
Amazing interactive graphic in the Atlantic
Richard Florida writes in the Atlantic: How the Crash Will Reshape America
“No place in the United States is likely to escape a long and deep recession. Nonetheless, as the crisis continues to spread outward from New York, through industrial centers like Detroit, and into the Sun Belt, it will undoubtedly settle much more heavily on some places than on others. Some cities and regions will eventually spring back stronger than before. Others may never come back at all. As the crisis deepens, it will permanently and profoundly alter the country’s economic landscape. I believe it marks the end of a chapter in American economic history, and indeed, the end of a whole way of life.”
...
Ontario Premier Says No to NIMBY
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 02.12.09
Bravo to Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty for taking a stand against NIMBY Scarberians who are objecting to the idea of a wind farm two to four kilometers off the Scarborough Bluffs, a deteriorating sandy hill overlooking Lake Ontario. Energy Minister Smitherman scoffs, saying "If they've elevated their opposition to the point of outrage, then I think they're getting themselves worked up into an artificial lather."
It is hard to call it NIMBY when it is 2 to 4 km out into the lake, it is nowhere near their backyards. ...
Ireland Trying Out Water Powered Streetlights
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 02.12.09
Ha'penny Bridge in Ireland via sarahpetherbridge
And we thought solar powered street lights were all the rage. Water is getting some attention in Ireland, with Donegal County testing out "hydro lights."...
Danes Get Ready to Tax Cow Farts
by April Streeter, Gothenburg, Sweden on 02.12.09
Denmark's Tax Commission is considering putting a tax on farmers' greenhouse gas emissions, which they reckon to be approximately 4 tons per cow per year (that's more than an average passenger car, which they say emits approximately 2.7 tons). What's a poor farmer to do?...
Five Eco-Luxe Lipsticks for Puckering Up on Valentine's Day
by Jessica Root - Brooklyn, NY on 02.12.09
Photo via Digital Sophia/Flickr
Lipstick or gloss is a cosmetic dream for minimalist green girls. Who needs a heavily makeup-caked face, when all it takes is swab of gloss to feel sexy and put together? Unfortunately, our most simple sidekick—the trusty lipstick—can be laden with chemical nasties and in some cases, lead.
Before you lube up your lips to pucker up this Valentine’s Day, safeguard yourself—and your kissable companion—by glossing on an eco-chic lipstick. These five lip-smacking sticks might not be perfectly green (mineral-based makeup has been show to be questionable and I haven’t pulled a Pablo, crunching carbon footprint numbers), but most come pretty close to being a bit more petroleum, paraben and toxin-free than the conventional beauty aisle brands. ...
Tesla Model S: First Official Teaser Photo, $350 Million DoE Loan
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 02.12.09
Photo: Tesla Motors
Model S Electric Car to be Unveiled on March 26th
Here is the first official teaser photo of Tesla's second electric car, the Model S sedan. It's not much, but better than nothing. The Model S will be the first car by Tesla to have a look entirely designed by them (the electric Roadster was part Lotus). The target price is about half of what the Roadster costs, and production should start in late 2011 (if all goes well)....
How Many Hamsters Does It Take to Power a Device?
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 02.12.09
When Your Blind Date Picks You Up in a Hummer...
by Greg Haegele of Sierra Club on 02.12.09
You're interested in the longevity of the planet and do all you can to reduce the size of your carbon footprint. But when it comes to anthropological courtship rituals - the mating dance you do to snag a lifelong companion, or just a date - is there room for compromise? Should you shrug off your otherwise undying devotion to Mother Earth just for a chance to score with that oh-so-fetching barista behind the counter at Starbucks? ...
Happy 200th, Charles Darwin!
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 02.12.09
Charles Darwin in 1840, drawing by George Richmond
"Ignorance more frequently begets confidence than does knowledge: it is those who know little, not those who know much, who so positively assert that this or that problem will never be solved by science."
"In the struggle for survival, the fittest win out at the expense of their rivals because they succeed in adapting themselves best to their environment."
"Man with all his noble qualities, with sympathy which feels for the most debased, with benevolence which extends not only to other men but to the humblest living creature, with his god-like intellect which has penetrated into the movements and constitution of the solar system- with all these exalted powers- Man still bears in his bodily frame the indelible stamp of his lowly origin."
...
Today is Twestival for Charity:Water (Video)
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 02.12.09
REMINDER! Today is the Twestival for Charity: Water. Take part in an amazing grassroots event that will benefit people who need access to clean drinking water in developing nations.
Take a moment to watch a really great video on what Charity: is all about, what this event will accomplish for thousands of people in developing nations, and how to get involved in a really fun event after the jump. ...
JDS Architects' Rimini Seascape :Green Roofs are Changing Architecture
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 02.12.09
It is interesting to see how the development of green roofs is actually changing architecture and design. TreeHugger previously showed Daniel Andersson's proposal in Green Roofs Meet the Ground in New Heden; now Julien de Smedt Architects do a proposal for Rimini, Italy that brings green roofs down to the ground and makes the roofscape part of the terrain....
UK Oysters Could Be Tapped to Generate Electricity
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 02.12.09
Of all the ways of generating power from renewable sources, using the ocean has got to have more variations than any other power source. One new method being investigated by Queen’s University Belfast and Aquamarine Power Limited has been dubbed the Oyster. The research collaboration is scheduled to last for the next five years, with the first prototype of the Oyster being deployed off the coast of Orkney in the summer of 2009. This is how it works:...
Millions of Australian Wildlife Devastated by Weather Extremes
by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 02.12.09
A possum with booties to protect its burnt feet being cared for by the famous Healesville Sanctuary, which itself has been closed to the public due to the fires. Photo: Herald Sun
Whilst the human tragedy of the bushfires in Victoria, Australia immediately captures the hearts and minds of people, there has also been much grief occurring in the animal kingdom.
Mike brought TH readers the heart-warming story of ‘Sam, the koala, offered water by a volunteer bush firefighter, (they recently got back together for a post rescue reunion.) But for hundreds of thousands, some say millions, of native wildlife the picture is not so rosy....
Should Personal Flight Rationing Be Showing Up on the Green Radar? (UPDATED)
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 02.12.09
photo: Mike Powell
Recently in the UK, Lord Turner, chairman of the Committee on Climate Change, said that in the future people would be given personal flight limits in order to cut emissions from aviation. Speaking in the context of short-haul flights, he said “We will have to constrain demand in an absolute sense, with people not allowed to make as many journeys as they could in an unconstrained manner”. (The Telegraph)
Here’s more of Lord Turner’s reasoning, and some powerful (if not direct) rebuttal from climatologist James Hansen:...
Crazy Norwegians Review THINK! Electric Car (Video)
by Sami Grover, Carrboro, NC, USA on 02.12.09
Pushing the THINK! EV to its Limits
Speed, sex, and crazy Norwegians on an icy drag racing track - what more could you want from a review of an electric car? Maybe a challenge to the reign of the auto-journalistic giants at Top Gear? No worries - the folks at Electricaid.org have got our back on that front too as they take the THINK! City for an extended test drive.
...
1,300 Megawatts of Solar Thermal Power to be Developed in Mojave Desert by BrightSource Energy
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 02.12.09
In this sort of solar thermal power plant light is reflected off of mirrors and onto a boiler atop a central tower. This in turn drives a turbine to produce electricity. Image: BrightSource Energy
Though many large scale solar projects are bobbing in the financial doldrums at the moment, here’s one that isn’t. And it’s huge: Southern California Edison and BrightSource Energy have announced that they have signed a series of contracts to develop 1,300 MW of solar thermal power over seven separate projects. They will require approval of the California Public Utilities Commission, but assuming that is received, this is at least what the first of the projects is all about:...
This Valentines Day, Find Romance In Nature: Love Will Follow
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 02.12.09
Renewable Fuels Association Stands Up For Corn Ethanol After It’s Been Kicked Down
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 02.12.09
photo: Elaine via flickr
You may have seen a recent report coming out of the University of Minnesota which suggests that corn-based ethanol may be more harmful to the environment than gasoline. The health and climate change impacts are such that any green claims corn ethanol makes, are just that, claims. That’s just a nutshell interpretation; check out the full report (Climate change and health costs of air emissions from biofuels and gasoline) for more detail. In any case, and rather predictably, the Renewable Fuels Association has released a rebuttal of that U.Minn. report. Here's why the RFA says ethanol is getting knocked down unfairly: ...
School Lunch: What Do The Kids Eat?
by greenz.jp, Tokyo, Japan on 02.12.09
Photo from Flickr
In many countries, schools serve a lunch meal to the children. This is an important source of nutritients and calories for many kids but due to budgetary restraints or lack of information (and/or imagination) the food is often bland or plain unhealthy. Some schools serve local, organic vegetables. I like how kids here in Japan (and Korea) have to learn how to take responsibility by serving their classmates. They take turns bringing the pots and dishing up the rice and other foods. Each classroom is a unit. There are no cafeterias or lunch halls. Hygiene is taught and a solemn Itadakimasu - a kind of greeting to the food, is said before eating. Below the fold, some photos of school lunches from other countries....
Expired Food is Much Desired
by Bonnie Alter, London on 02.12.09
image by xaraxone.com
Food wastage is a big topic. TreeHugger has covered some of the issues: the apples of less than perfect shape that supermarkets refuse to sell. The regulations by the European Union forbidding the sale of certain kinds of fruits and vegetables due to size. Over packaging. Here's another one: sell-by dates. Most canned and fresh food has a date stamped on it, after which is deemed to be past its prime and taken off the shelves. Supermarkets in the UK are fanatical on this: their view is that anything past the stamped on sell-by date is poison and will kill you instantly. But not everyone agrees.
In these times when everyone is looking to save a penny, a company that specialises in selling food past its sell-by date has found a whole new clientele. Approved Food, an on-line grocer has been selling Nutella and Marmite and biscuits and canned soup for half the price of that in the shops. And people are snapping it up....
Sustainability Does Not Yet Exist in Spanish
by Petz Scholtus, Barcelona, Spain on 02.12.09
Last weekend we attended the creative event Pecha Kucha Night Barcelona, where creative people could informally show their work and ideas. One such creative was Ignasi Pérez, the Spanish sustainable architect who just launched the book ECO Productos (not yet available in English). Read on to see what Pérez has to say about The Three Little Pigs and the word 'sustainability' which doesn't exist in Spanish......
Colbert Report: Dr. Robert Ballard on Why Ocean Exploration is a Good Investment
by George Spyros, New York City, USA on 02.11.09
Space for Earth's Oceans: The Final Frontier
"We have better maps of Mars than our own planet," said Dr. Robert Ballard who counts 72 percent of the planet, its oceans, his back office. With nary a mention of the recently released Google Earth Super-Charged Ocean Edition, archaeological-oceanographer Ballard spoke with Stephen Colbert touching on his discoveries of the Titanic and new life forms, as well as the staggering disparity in funding and focus between our exploration of space versus the world's oceans. The show's chit-chat covering Ballard's famous discovery of the tube worms thriving near thermal vents tied in with some waxing philosophical about mankind and the reason why lobsters are red merely scratches the ocean's surface of what these two sharp minds have to offer, but as always it's a hoot! For the video, prepare to dive below the fold......
Adidas Launches New Eco-Label: adidas SLVR
by Kara DiCamillo, Newport, Rhode Island on 02.11.09
The new "adidas SLVR" label, includes clothing, shoes, and accessories. Images via New York Magazine.
Just in time for New York Fashion Week, Adidas is launching a new line called “adidas SLVR” for this upcoming spring and summer. Made from eco-friendly materials, such as organic cotton, soybean fiber, and bamboo, the new line is made of basic yet chic styles. Black and white are definitely the dominate colors however Adidas does splash colors such as maroon and blue throughout the collection as well. ...
New York Fashion Week: Designers Get Thrifty
by Jessica Root - Brooklyn, NY on 02.11.09
Red Bull Wedge Shoe by Marc Jabobs. Photo credit: coda/Flickr
As we prepare our eco-fashion coverage for New York Fashion Week and peek at some of the trend forecasts, one thing is clear: the recession is making its mark on fashion week’s big-name designers.
According to New York Magazine's the Cut, designer’s guest lists are being dwindled to half. Alexander Wang, Calvin Klein, and Marc Jacobs canceled their after parties. And the infamously extravagant Vera Wang and Betsey Johnson are skipping out on Bryant Park altogether and opting for quiet, more low key affairs.
Is it just me, or is the sucky economy exactly the kick in the pants that fashion week needed? ...
Those Slow-Teching Amish
by Mark Ontkush, Boston, Massachusetts, USA on 02.11.09
Image by The Technium
If you're prepared sharpen your shoehorn on what exactly appropriate technology is, one need look no further than this delightful little number on the Amish from Kevin Kelly over at the Technium. For The Some drenched in The Twitter, this nifty set of ideas might be considered to be horse-and-buggy thinking. Yowza yowza - it is; our future awaits. From "Amish Electricity" to the reasons for using disposable diapers and genetically modified corn, it's all there sir, plain as day, in black and white - it's the conversation without missing the message. Warning: Amish Ahead. The Technium
Our New Amish Overlords
Amish Farmer Challenges Raw Milk Laws
Horse and Buggy + Wind Turbine
Amish Love that Crazy Solar Thing
...
Quote of the Day: The President on Transit and Sprawl
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 02.11.09
image via Boston Globe: President Obama reading note in Fort Meyers
I know, we are doing a lot of Obama quotes as he sells his stimulus plan. Send us a Republican saying something sensible about the subject and we will quote it too, I promise. But first catch what the President said in Fort Myers:
So transportation, when it is not just fixing our old transportation systems, but it’s also imagining new transportation systems. That’s why I’d like to see high speed rail where it can be constructed. I would like for us to invest in mass transit. Because potentially that’s energy efficient and I think a lot more people are open now to thinking regionally in terms of how we plan our transportation infrastructure. The days where we’re just building sprawl forever? Those days are over. I think that Republicans, Democrats… everybody recognizes that that’s not a smart way to design communities. So we should be using this money to help spur this kind of innovative thinking when it comes to transportation. That’ll make a big difference.”More at the Infrastructurist ...
Forget the 100 Mile Diet, Try the 100 Yard Diet: Grow Your Own Bread
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 02.11.09
image: The Tyee
The Hundred Mile Diet is so....2005. And so big! In their book, Alisa Smith and J.B. MacKinnon described how hard it was to find bread that met the criterion, and about their search for flour that was grown within a hundred miles of their Vancouver home. Now James Glave writes in the Tyee (where the hundred mile diet started) about growing your own wheat. Smith and MacKinnon need never go hunting for flour again....
Scientists to Drag Radar All the Way to North-Pole to Measure Ice Thickness
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 02.11.09
Be Glad It's Them and Not You
From Discovery News: "Braving temperatures as low as minus 50 degrees Celsius (minus 67 degrees Fahrenheit), [Pen Hadow and his] team will make the 1,100-kilometer (683-mile) journey to the North Pole dragging SPRITE, a radar which measures the thickness of ice every 10 centimeters throughout the trip." The goal is to then be able to predict when the polar ice cap will completely disappear during summer.
This might seem far off, but it's not......
Massive Theft, Vandalism Plaguing Parisian Bike Sharing Program
by Kimberley D. Mok, Montreal, Canada on 02.11.09
Broken Vélibs in Paris (Sybil Star on Flickr)Eighteen months into a wildly successful launch, the Parisian bike-sharing program Vélib - a portmanteau of vélo (bicycle) and liberté (freedom) – has run into serious problems with theft and vandalism of the bikes. Launched in 2007 as part of an effort to “green” Paris, now over half of the original 15,000 customized bikes have been stolen, in a mania some have dubbed the “Vélib extreme”....
A Picture is Worth: Calatrava-Designed Hole in the Ground
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 02.11.09
Image via Tropolism
It was going to be a looker, Santiago Calatrava's 150 storey Chicago condo. No matter that a building that high makes no sense, that it is an incredible waste of material build that high, that the elevators have to be more like rockets to get you up to your apartment, and just pray that the fire department never has to take the stairs to rescue you. But that was in the boom, when no price was too high to be the tallest.
Instead, Chicago has the world's first Santiago Calatrava designed seven storey deep hole in the ground. ...
DIY: Make An iPhone Case From A Milk Jug
by Kristin Underwood, Sacramento, CA on 02.11.09
Image via: DIY iPhone Case
Thanks to Tipster Victor for sharing his self-designed schematic for the "McGuyver's iPhone Holster" - an iPhone case made from a regular, plastic milk jug. We've covered the importance of using cases to extend the life of your gadgets, and even cases made from recycled materials, but this website shows you how you can make your own case yourself out of materials you have around your home - a milk jug and a few brass brads....
Videos of Sea Shepherd Intentionally (?) Ramming Japanese Whaler
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 02.11.09
We Want to Know What You Think: Please Fill Survey Below
Whales are mammals and, according to many scientists, they can probably feel pain and distress just like us. Their numbers in the world's oceans have been dramatically reduced by humans over the past centuries to only a small fraction of what it once was. Most countries have stopped hunting whales, but a few (like Japan) still do.
The question we'd like to ask is: to what lengths should people go to protect whales? Below are two videos of the same incident shot from two points of view. In it you can see the Sea Shepherd ramming a whaling ship, and it looks pretty intentional. Are such tactics counter-productive, causing a backlash against all (even moderate) environmentalism?...
7 Romantic Green Hotels to Wow Your Sweetheart
by Blythe Copeland, Great Neck, New York on 02.11.09
Photo via Sundance Resort
We're all trying to cut back a little these days--both environmentally and financially--but every now and then you just need to get away. Sometimes it's easy: find an eco-friendly hotel a few hours from home--or in one of our green city guides--pack a bag, and go. Sometimes it takes a little more effort, though (on, say, Valentine's Day) and that's where our list of romantic green destinations comes in. Whether you prefer warm weather or cold, the Northeast or the Midwest, Hawaii or the Keys, there's a green hotel just calling your name. ...
Who’s Who on Obama’s Green Team: Lisa Jackson, Administrator of the EPA
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 02.11.09
Continuing with profiles of President Obama’s Green Team, we turn to head of the Environmental Protection Agency Lisa Jackson. Compared to some of the other agency heads, Jackson has a divided opinion surrounding her. While being praised by some big-name green groups such as the NRDC and the Sierra Club, some of Jackson’s work while New Jersey Commissioner of Environmental Protection, particular on clean up of toxic sites, has drawn criticism. So who is she and what has gotten some people all worked up?
Grew Up in Lower Ninth Ward of New Orleans
Lisa Jackson was born in 1962 in Philadelphia, after which her adoptive parents moved her to New Orleans. Jackson grew up in the Lower Ninth Ward (which in case your mind can’t place it, was one of the places most devastated during Hurricane Katrina). She went to Tulane University and then went on to Princeton University, where she earned her master’s degree in chemical engineering. ...
Not only Burning Buildings Pump Heat into the Atmosphere
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 02.11.09
Image via greenline
This shot of the burned-out Koolhaas-designed hotel in Beijing caught an interesting subject in the foreground: a hundred cooling towers on the roof of a neighbouring building. What do they do? They take the heat generated within the building by lighting, equipment and solar gain and pump it out into the atmosphere. Think of it as coal-fired exterior heating, just what you need in Beijing. ...
Pneumatic Hybrids: Inexpensive Gasoline + Compressed Air System Could Reduce Fuel Consumption by 32%
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 02.11.09
Pneumatic Hybrid Cars
Engineers have been looking for ways to use compressed air to save fuel for a long time. Turbochargers and superchargers can do that when you use them to downsize a vehicle's engine, but an even better system that offers bigger improvements and fewer downsides is under development at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich.
Read on for an overview of how it works!...
IBM Letting Up to 20% of Workforce Telecommute
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 02.11.09
Photo via David Boyle
Telecommuting has been considered a green option for employers for awhile now. It saves on energy costs and can result in happier employees. IBM has begun letting its employees telecommute, and the latest word is that within the next six months, as much as 20% of the workforce will be taking care of business from their home offices....
Loving Trees in Kenya
by Kristin Underwood, Sacramento, CA on 02.11.09
Image via: Getty Images
The UN Environment Program (UNEP) is giving new meaning to loving trees and hugging trees in their Trees4Love campaign in Kenya. Over 5,000 trees are planned to take root in the Karura Forest in Kenya to fight climate change, promote carbon sequestration and help clean up the Karura River. The official loving ceremony will take place, fittingly, on February 14, 2009. This is part of the larger Plant for the Planet: Billion Trees Campaign....
Hundreds of Dolphins Stranded in Manila Bay (Video)
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 02.11.09
Dozens of fishing boats have come together for form a rescue fleet to keep hundreds of dolphins from stranding themselves inside Manila Bay, Philippines. Experts are working to figure out how it happened in the first place.
Read on for details and a video of the situation....
Sam the Koala, Survivor of the Terrible Australian Fires
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 02.11.09
Photos: Mark Pardew & Rebecca Michael, Herald Sun.
On Happy Story Among Thousands of Sad Ones
Amidst terrible death and destruction, we often look for positive stories to soften the blow. Australian TreeHugger correspondent Warren McLaren wrote about how Australia is melting, and each new report about the fires has a higher death toll than the previous one. In the middle of all that, fire survivor Sam the Koala has become a global celebrity. Read on for more details....
The TreeHugger Project in Brooklyn
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 02.11.09
After we got all worked up like AP on Shepard Fairey it was pointed out that we don't actually OWN the word TreeHugger, that artists Agnieszka Gradzik and Wiktor Szostalo have been building these sculptures of branches, leaves and vines for years, and frankly, they are just cuter than we are. ...
Last Minute Sex-y Ideas for V Day
by April Streeter, Gothenburg, Sweden on 02.11.09
Photo via Sister72 @ flickr.
If you live in Chicago, you can get your sex aids delivered by bicycle in just one hour (for a $5 dollar fee). If you are lucky enough to be in San Francisco, Good Vibrations has some green alternatives.
Even if you are nowhere near Chicago or SF, you can still explore the greener side of sex or dating, or find a gift in preparation for Valentine's Day. Read on for two great web sites, a greener toys kit, and organic, homemade massage oil/lube....
Nokia Cutting Cell Phone Production, Used Cell Phones Say "Huzzah!"
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 02.11.09
Photo via Tjeerd
Bad news for Nokia employees, but good news for e-waste avengers. The cell phone giant is planning to cut production at one of its major plants, Salo in Finland, as well as its research and development operations in the Finnish town of Jyvaskyla. While the news lands as a bleak reminder of the bad economy, it can also be seen as great news. ...
Valentine's Day Gifts: Green Love for Everyone
by Blythe Copeland, Great Neck, New York on 02.11.09
Photo via Digital Sextant @ flickr
Valentine’s Day might just be the most polarizing holiday out there: either you think it’s a can’t-miss opportunity to show your love for your spouse, friends, and family, or you think it’s a lame excuse to sell more greeting cards. Of course, if you and your partner don’t agree, that’s when the problems pop up. You might be perfectly happy with nothing more than an extra kiss in the morning—but if she (or he) wants an extravagant dinner, memorable jewelry, and a sentimental card, then you’d better get shopping. Luckily, stores and websites are full of eco-friendly alternatives to traditional chocolates, flowers, gems, and wines, so you can satisfy your partner’s Valentine’s Day requirements without investing in a bunch of environmentally harsh consumer products. Read on for our favorite ways to say “I love you”—to your significant other and the environment....
Under A Spreading Chestnut-Tree...
by greenz.jp, Tokyo, Japan on 02.11.09
Photo: apsnet.org
Under a spreading chestnut-tree
The village smithy stands;
The smith, a mighty man is he,
With large and sinewy hands;
And the muscles of his brawny arms
Are strong as iron bands.
His hair is crisp, and black, and long,
His face is like the tan;
His brow is wet with honest sweat,
He earns whate'er he can,
And looks the whole world in the face,
For he owes not any man.
- Henry Wadsworth Longfellow - The Village Blacksmith...
120 MW of Solar Power to be Installed by New Jersey’s Largest Utility
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 02.11.09
New Jersey’s largest utility PSE&G has announced that, pending regulatory approval, it will be installing 120 MW of solar power in communities throughout its service area. The program is called Solar 4 All and will consist of four different parts amounting to a total investment of $773 million. PSE&G will own and operate all of the systems, which will be built (primarily) by independent solar installers. Here’s how the program breaks down:...
Dell Announces Big Expansion of Recycing Program (Video)
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 02.11.09
Photo via Dell
Dell has just announced that their Reconnect program - a partnership with Goodwill stores across the country for electronics collection - is getting a big expansion. The program is now in 18 states, with over 1,000 collection points gathering up resellable and recyclable gadgets. Find out how you can get a Dell gift card when you recycle....
Wind Turbines Could Be Making Some People Sick in Japan
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 02.11.09
photo: Chrishna via flickr
Though the exact causes are being investigated, residents living near wind turbines in Japan are increasingly complaining of headaches, dizziness, insomnia and other ailments, Asahi.com reports. According to the original article is sounds like at least wind farm has been built too close to people’s homes:...
Mountaintop Removal and You - ILoveMountains.org
by Sami Grover, Carrboro, NC, USA on 02.11.09
Find Out Your Personal Connection to Mountaintop Removal
From toxic coal ash slurry to annoying clean coal greenwash ads, it’s fair to say that the coal industry has never been a favorite of TreeHuggers. But if anything sums up the sheer brutish ugliness of our fossil fuel addiction for me, it just has to be the horrors of mountaintop removal - the idiotic practice of basically removing the top of a mountain, and scooping out what’s inside. Sadly, by simply writing this post my computer and I are complicit in the destruction of some prestine natural areas. Now you can find out if you are too – and what you can do to assuage your guilt.
...
Boxers or Briefs? Organic Options to Answer the Age-Old Question (Slideshow)
by Emma Grady, New York, NY on 02.11.09
Promoting a New Way of 'Life' in Turkey
by Jennifer Hattam, Istanbul, Turkey on 02.11.09
Saf restaurants serve raw foods and organic cocktails. Photos via The LifeCo.
As I sip on an apple/lemon/ginger "immunity-boosting" smoothie, nibble at flaxseed tacos filled with almond paste, olives, and avocado, and discuss the milk- and sugar-free tahini and mint ice creams we'll order next, I experience a moment of extreme dislocation. The conversations going on around me are all in Turkish, but the food seems decidedly Californian. In some ways, that's been a hard combination for Istanbul to swallow....
National Renewable Energy Standard Has the Votes in Congress to Pass
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 02.11.09
photo: Zulfikar Dharmawan via flickr
While the economic stimulus bill still has to be reconciled before being sent onto President Obama, Reuters is reporting on another piece of green legislation, a national renewable electricity standard. The good news is that it looks as though there is enough support for it to pass. The less good news is that this RES is set lower than it should be. This is how much of the US electrical supply will have to be generated from renewable sources: ...
Survey: Are There Limits To what You Will Recycle?
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 02.11.09
When reading the post about shoes made from recycled subway seats I thought yuk, who would put that stuff on my feet? Who knows what was on it? Then there are shoes from Worn Again, made from old prison blankets.
...
Dept of Interior to Re-Review Offshore Oil Drilling Plans
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 02.11.09
photo: Dept of Interior
Last week Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar announced that controversial oil and natural gas exploration leases in Utah would be canceled. Now he’s stated that “the time for reform has arrived” when it comes to reviewing offshore oil drilling proposals pushed through by the Bush administration. And then he patted the oil and gas industry on the back... Here are some of Salazar’s remarks:...
Natural Wool Felt Bags and Home Accessories, by Planar
by Paula Alvarado, Buenos Aires on 02.11.09
Photos: Planar.
Argentine designers Pablo di Muzio, Lucila Flombaum and Natalia di Muzio have created Planar, a line of bags and home accessories that take advantage of local materials and are built with patterns that create minimum waste.
Click through to see how the bags are cut in the extended....
West Antarctic Glacier Disintegrating Rapidly: First Hand Account
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 02.11.09
photo: Wikipedia
The effects of climate change on Antarctica seem to be coming more clearly into focus recently. At least based on things posted here on TreeHugger. For a very interesting first hand perspective on what's happening down there, Yale Environment 360 is running an interview with NASA's Robert Bindschadler, who is part of a team monitoring the Pine Island Glacier in West Antarctica. It's a detailed interview, but here are the answers to the questions most people will probably want to know: How fast is the glacier melting and what does this mean for global sea level rise? Keep reading to find out:...
Amazon Will Be Drier Because of Global Warming, But Won’t Turn to Savannah
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 02.11.09
photo: Mark Goble via flickr
Under some global warming scenarios, Amazonia becomes so significantly drier that parts of the tropical forest begin turning into savannah. The good news is that that probably won’t be the case, at least according to new research published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Previous rainfall projections underestimated the amount of rainfall the region will still have:...
Subway Seats on your Feet
by Bonnie Alter, London on 02.11.09
image from Above+Below
Now you can put the seats on your feet---the distinctive fabric from the seats of the London Underground ( aka the Tube) have been made into shoes. The fabric was originally designed as part of the original over-all concept, including the iconic map of the tube system. Each line had its own pattern associated with it. Fabrics from each line have been hand selected and restored to their former, sometimes faded, glory.
Above+Below have teamed up with the London Underground and the First Bus system to create shoes out of this salvaged material. They are perfect for those with a taste for industrial chic or are nostalgic about London memorabilia. There is lots of leftover upholstery because the cars are constantly being refurbished and old seats have been reclaimed from the '50's onwards.
...
Hydrogen to the Rescue: German Auto Aid Club Drives Fuel Cell Cars
by Christine Lepisto, Berlin on 02.11.09
Image: Focus
In Germany, when your car breaks down, who you gonna call? ADAC, the German automobile club, roams the roads, waiting to lend a helping hand. And, starting immediately, the friendly ADAC man or woman may show up driving a HydroGen4 fuel-cell powered SUV from Opel, the German arm of General Motors. And what is better: even if your own car is in tip-top form, you will still benefit from ADAC's everyday use of this new technology....
Grist TV Gets a Heart On This Valentines Day
by Kristin Underwood, Sacramento, CA on 02.10.09
15 Healthful, Green Reasons Why You Should be Having Sex... Right Now!
by Eric Leech, New York, NY on 02.10.09
Aftermath by Elven***Nicole
From my experiences as a sex columnist, it just never seems to amaze me of all the healthful reasons for having a plentiful sex life. The most recent Durex Global Sex Survey shows that there are unfortunately a number of countries that could use a little more effort in this arena. One of the most notable is the United States, which is quite frankly having a lot less sex than just about everyone in the world, and when they do finally get around to it, less than half are satisfied with their experiences.
Okay folks, this is serious. Sex is a very important, fundamental part of life. It is both healthy and green in many ways. How is it green? Who can deny the fact that a healthy individual treads a lighter carbon footprint by requiring a minimal amount of prescription drugs, less medical procedures, and has an all-around better attitude towards the environment and its inhabitants. So to help me get my point across, I am going to explain 15 glorious reasons why we should be doing a little less stressing, eating, and watching TV, and a whole lot more frolicking under the sheets!...
Event: Green Living Project Reports From Southern Africa Trip
by Kristin Underwood, Sacramento, CA on 02.10.09
Image via: Green Living Project
We first mentioned the Green Living Project team and founder Rob Holmes last fall as they were reporting back on their trip to eastern Africa. Well, tomorrow night (Weds, Feb 11), they will be bringing their green love to the REI in Huntington Beach at 7pm to talk about their recent trip to document sustainability projects throughout southern Africa. Highlights from the trip to include a multi-media presentation of "anti-poaching efforts in Zambia; traditional handicrafts in Mozambique; bicycle projects and cheetah conservation in Namibia; and elusive leopards and an amazing new hut-to-hut trail network in South Africa. Plus, there are cool doorprizes for all attendees from gear companies like National Geographic Adventure, Timberland, Gregory, Keen, Chaco, Lonely Planet and ExOfficio.
More images after the jump...
Gadget & Cell Phone Solar-Powered Recharge, LG Skycharger at CES 2009
by George Spyros, New York City, USA on 02.10.09
FDA Can't Make Peanut Butter Better: But The FBI Might Figure Out How
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 02.10.09
Peanut processing plant in Georgia. Image credit: excerpt from photo by Nicole Bengiveno/The New York Times
In their initial coverage of the latest peanut butter fiasco Fallout Widens as Buyers Shun Peanut Butter the New York Times documented a large sales drop in reaction to the news of salmonella in Georgia-made peanut butter products (using Mexican peanuts and minimum-wage workers as basic ingredients). In a followup story, Peanut Case Shows Holes in Safety Net, the Times dug into what went wrong with the food inspection program overseen by FDA. ...
Is It Still a Carolina Wren If It No Longer Calls Carolina Home?
by Kristin Underwood, Sacramento, CA on 02.10.09
Image via: Audubon Society
Following closely on the heels of a recent report by the University of York, the Audubon Society today announced that the Carolina Wren is just one of over 305 bird species that are now spending their winters over 35 miles further north than they did over 40 years ago, reports The State newspaper. In fact, the "canary in the coal mine", when it comes to global warming is not a canary, but a purple finch because it has moved further north than any of the other birds in the study - over 400 miles. Is global warming to blame? ...
Make This Valentine's Day Sustainable, Not Scary
by Jessica Root - Brooklyn, NY on 02.10.09
An image more frightening than the new blockbuster, My Bloody Valentine 3D. Photo courtesy of Clean Wal-Mart via Flickr.
If you love Valentine's Day, but not all of the plastic and paper junk that comes with it, you're in luck. TreeHugger's 2009 Valentine's Gift Guide is hot off the press, offering up eco-alternatives to standard swoon-inducing gifts like chocolate, greeting cards and flowers. Not only are the gifts green but refreshingly un-conventional. Snuggle up in front of a wildlife documentary after you've fed each other a romantic dish of Lemon Pepper Pasta. Or give your lover a rub down with a petroleum-free massage candle.
Want more? Indulge in TreeHugger's holiday page. We've rounded up some of our sexiest Valentine's Day ideas and tips from the archive. ...
4 New Designers to Watch at London Fashion Week
by Kristin Underwood, Sacramento, CA on 02.10.09
Image via: London Fashion Week
One more example of how eco-fashion is so not crunchy and so mainstream is the Renegade Fashion Show taking place in front of the Museum of Natural History during London's Fashion Week this year. Organized by the Conscious Design Collective, all artists featured are up and coming young designers, who use organic, recycled, and fair trade fabrics, as well as cutting edge designs and clean lines.
More images after the jump....
StreetFilms: Congressman Earl Blumenauer on Greener Transportation
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 02.10.09
Senate Passes Stimulus Bill: Here Are Some of the Clean Energy Provisions
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 02.10.09
photo: Pittaya Sroilong via flickr
Now that the Senate has passed its version of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (all 778 pages of it...) it’s worthwhile to take a look at some of the green provisions in it. I’ve only had a chance to skim through it, and draw on the work of others who have done likewise, so TreeHugger readers, I urge you to do the same and weigh in on what’s been included and what’s been left out: The full text is now available as a PDF. Here are some things that have jumped out at me, particular in regards to energy:...
Eight Exotically Green Sushi Options (Slideshow)
by Jessica Root - Brooklyn, NY on 02.10.09
Image courtesy of Bloggyboulga via Flickr
With overfishing and increased mercury levels, it seems like no fish is safe fish these days. For these reasons, I barely indulge myself in my favorite of all ocean-borne culinary delights: the sushi bar. I usually feel OK about this since the greenest option of all is to skip the fish and its hefty carbon footprint.
But—for those rare occasions when I do find myself caving into a sushi craving (I admit, I’m guilty) or under the sway of a friend who wants to meet over sake, there are some lesser-known eco-options in addition to my go-to veggie rolls. They’re all listed under The Seafood WATCH’s sushi guide's “Best Choices” column--meaning that the fish are a bit more abundant than their threatened counterparts and caught or farmed in eco-friendlier ways. Check them out here!
...
Unequivocal Evidence Discovered that Sea Levels Were Once 70 Feet Higher
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 02.10.09
Clues Found in Bermuda
Almost 10 years ago, a team of geologists and zoologists published a study based on preliminary evidence that showed that sea levels were almost 70 feet higher about 400,000 years ago. This was met with a good dose of skepticism. But now this same team has published a new study based on new "unequivocal evidence" that confirms the timing and extent of the sea's rise & fall.
Read on for more details....
Clean Tech Open Goes National, Offers Bigger Prize
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 02.10.09
Clean Tech Open participants at 2008 kick off event; Photo via jurvetson
This morning, the Clean Tech Open kicked off it's fourth season. The non-profit is known for getting clean tech entrepreneurs off the ground by giving those with the greatest ideas venture funding. Normally the competition if for California residents, and the purse for each of the top 6 winners was $50,000. This year, the plan is to be even bigger. ...
Salamander Population Declining in Central America
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 02.10.09
Hard Times for Amphibians
It isn't only frog populations that are in decline (though in some places like Australia it's the inverse problem). Salamander populations have plummeted too according to a new study from the University of California, Berkeley....
5 Great Green Ways US Cities Are Leading by Example
by Bonnie Hulkower, New York, New York on 02.10.09
Portland, Oregon streetcar photo: Russell Bernice
At TreeHugger we are always big fans of individual actions and DIYers, but sometimes if you do things on a bigger scale you just get so much more bang for your buck. The last couple of years, community groups, companies, and government agencies have all been putting forward initiatives to “go green”. Some of these initiatives go back almost 30 years, proving you don’t need to reinvent the wheel. Some use carrots and incent residents to go green by giving some green incentives. Other measures might seem more restrictive, banning guilty pleasures, but hey, they do it for our collective good:...
Book About Air-Filtering Plants: How to Grow Fresh Air
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 02.10.09
50 House Plants that Purify Your Home or Office
Yesterday, I wrote about the best air-filtering house plants and TreeHugger reader Tim pointed out in the comments that B. C. Wolverton, the first author of the NASA study on air-filtering plants, had written a book about it....
How to Go Green: Wedding Engagement
by Blythe Copeland, Great Neck, New York on 02.10.09
Photo credit: Michael Blann/Getty
So, you’re engaged (or thinking about becoming so): Congrats! We wish you all the best for a long and happy (and green!) life together. But between the cake tastings, the dress fittings, and the choosing between peonies and posies, you’re going be making a lot of decisions about your wedding—and about your future.
Now is the perfect time to sit down with your partner and talk about what kind of green life you see yourself living—and then keep all those things in mind next time you pull out your wedding notebook. Stuck for ideas? Planet Green’s How to Go Green: Wedding Engagement guide can help with tips for cutting the waste from everything from the big question to the big day to the maybe-not-so-big ring.
...
Animal Visuals Gives Bird's Eye View of Factory Farm Cage
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 02.10.09
This is one part cool, one part gut wrenching. They say you can only understand someone when you walk a mile in their shoes. Well, can you understand a factory-farmed chicken better if you're shoved in a cage with six others? Animal Visuals turns you into a chicken and puts you inside a coop at a factory farm so you can look around for yourself. ...
IDS09: CISTA Green Rainwater Harvesting
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 02.10.09
photo Harry Wakefield of Mocoloco
Carolyn Moss is known to TreeHuggers as a harsh taskmaster when it comes to installing green roofs. At the Interior Design Show her firm, Moss Sund, collaborates with Fig Forty to produce a rainwater harvesting storage system that can hold 100 gallons and acts as a green wall, or perhaps more accurately, a green pillar.
"CISTA is a rain water harvesting system designed for urban environments. It provides storage for rain water within a vertical planted frame, allowing us to conserve water and increase green space." More at MocoLoco
Moss Sund in TreeHugger:
Green Roofs: A primer
Raising the (Green) Roof!!...
Microworks Vine Cable Concept Turns Outlets Into Jungle Safari
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 02.10.09
Photos via Microworks
Microworks takes the literal approach to greening up your chargers and wires. Instead of trying to ditch wires altogether, or come up with a way to hide them, Microworks decided to embrace the cord and make it pretty! So they made it look a little more like a piece taken from grandma's floral arrangement craft stash ....
Zumbox Makes Paperless Postal Service Possible
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 02.10.09
Businesses wanting to go paperless can wipe their brows and say, "Phew!" Zumbox, a paperless postal service, has just launched - and that means your home's mailbox is on the web. But no, it's not email. It's actual post mail. Read on for how this revolutionary system works. ...
Solar-Powered Watches by Tocs: Never Wind Again
by Kara DiCamillo, Newport, Rhode Island on 02.10.09
We found these cool solar-powered watches in a recent issue of Real Simple, listed under “Real Steals,” and really like the funky style and durability. The Ani-Digi Solar Alarm Chrono watch from Tocs features a mini solar panel, just as the Citizen Eco-Drive, however it’s much more affordable at just $45. It can be powered by the sun or by indoor lighting, but also features a lifetime back-up battery system just in case. Spend time in the water? Don’t let the solar panel deter you – this watch is water resistant up to 98 feet. We dig the many other features that this Tocs watch has, which again makes it well worth the money. ...
Google Gets Going on Smart Grid Scene (Video)
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 02.10.09
Graph via Google
Google hates to be left out in the rain on anything, especially something as big as the smart grid industry. The IT giant has popped its head in the door with the Google PowerMeter, a new web-based dashboard for monitoring home energy use, even down to each specific appliance.
Catch a video of the program after the jump....
2007 Census Of Agriculture Results - US Farms Greener, Diversifying, And Getting Wired
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 02.10.09
The USDA 2007 Census of Farms documented a net increase of 75,810 US farms in 2007. USDA characterizes the changes seen this way. "Compared to all farms nationwide, these new farms tend to have more diversified production, fewer acres, lower sales and younger operators who also work off-farm." ...
The Country With the Cheapest Clean Energy Will Win the Economic Competition of the Future: Obama
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 02.10.09
photo: White House
President Obama was in Elkhart, Indiana yesterday talking with residents of that area—a place where unemployment has gone from 4.7% at the end of 2007 to 15% currently, with many people laid off from the area’s RV plants. After giving a speech which hit many familiar points on the economy and what can be done to get it back on track, Obama took questions from the audience.
One of them was from Bill Keith of Sunrise Solar (a company whose products have featured on TreeHugger on at least once occasion):...
China Overtakes the U.S., Japan As World's Number One In Vehicle Sales
by greenz.jp, Tokyo, Japan on 02.10.09
(Images from Sydsvenskan/AP and backroomevents.com)
China passed Japan to become the world's second-biggest auto market in 2006. And in January, 2009, China overtook the U.S. of A. in monthly vehicle sales in January for the first time ever:
The China Association of Automobile Manufacturers said Tuesday that 735,000 vehicles were sold in China in January. That surpasses the 656,976 vehicles sold in the U.S. the same month.Communist, capitalist madness. Watch the Beijing Bicycle trailer after the jump:...
UFO Octopus vs Wind Turbine: The Truth is Out There
by Sami Grover, Carrboro, NC, USA on 02.10.09
ENERCON’s investigative team discuss component failure. Image credit: WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Ecotricity CEO reveals Preliminary Findings
Back in the early half of January I reported on mysterious sightings of an octopus shaped UFO seen flying towards a UK wind farm, hours before a turbine blade mysteriously snapped off. The story seemed to capture the public imagination. Journalists and bloggers alike pointed fingers at everything, from military spy planes to flying cows to fireworks, augmenting the most credible “aliens hate green energy” explanation. As investigations into the turbine failure continue, Dale Vince, CEO of turbine owner Ecotricity, tells us that things are beginning to get a little clearer:
...
Why Are Australian and New Zealand Houses So Cool?
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 02.10.09
It is a question I have pondered since I first saw Andre Hodgskin's Bachkit way back at the turn of the century. Coming from another big country with a small population, I wondered why their stuff was so cool, and why ours was generally so banal. Dwell Magazine looks at the issue this month, and asked Michael Sylvester to explain. We look at some of Michael's responses, and do our own roundup of Treehugger coverage of interesting Australian and New Zealand projects. ...
Treehouse by Tham & Videgard Hansson is Almost Invisible
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 02.10.09
It is an old architectural trick used since the invention of mirrored glass: covering buildings with the reflective material and declaring that they blend in with the surroundings. Most architects use it to convince wary citizens that it is OK if their building is tall because it will reflect the sky and nature. The rendering always makes the building disappear, and the reality is always a big clunky mirrored box.
But a mirrored box can be elegant, too, such as this treehouse by Swedish firm Tham & Videgard Hansson Arkitekter. TreeHugger loves treehouses (see our roundup of them here) when they are designed to minimize impact on the surrounding landscape. And in this case, it looks like the architects have pulled it off successfully.
...
New Wave Power Device Will Attach to Offshore Wind Turbine
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 02.10.09
Animation of how the Wave Treader is viewable at: Green Ocean Energy Ltd
We’ve profiled different methods of generating power from the waves on a number of occasions, and usually there’s one commenter who suggests that someone develop a solution that attaches to offshore wind turbine towers. Well, your pleas have been answered (or maybe those comments were plants...). Green Ocean Energy Ltd has announced that it has developed the Wave Treader:...
No Credit for Green Energy, but There Is Always Money for Twinkies
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 02.10.09
We have noted earlier that alternative energy projects are stalled because of the credit crunch; It is hard to find money for any project these days. But it appears that the private sector still has money to invest; they just put close to $600 million into the maker of Twinkies, Hostess cupcakes and Ding Dongs.
...
Chicago Company Offers Bike Delivery of Sex Toys...Women Best Customers
by April Streeter, Gothenburg, Sweden on 02.10.09
Economic Development of the Amazon is Essential for Conservation, thinks Bertha Becker
by Paula Alvarado, Buenos Aires on 02.10.09
Photo: Getty Images.
To keep the Amazon as a pristine environment without human touch seems like a beautiful idea, but hardly a real possibility. First of all, deforestation is happening and moving forward fast, and second, the Brazilian government has stated that it is not the country's desire to keep it "as a sanctuary for humanity."
So if the region is in fact going to develop, is it possible that it goes through that process in a responsible way? Prestigious Professor and Investigator Bertha Becker thinks that is not only possible, but essential for the preservation of the Amazon. How do these two concepts go together? Read on....
Draft Treaty to Ban Illegal Fishing Vessels From Ports Crafted in Rome
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 02.10.09
Overfishing, both legal and illegal, has pushed some fish to the brink of extinction. Atlantic Bluefin Tuna, photo: José Antonio Gil Martínez via flickr
We’ve reported on the devastating effects that overfishing, both legal and illegal, has had on global fish stocks, as well on steps consumers can take to ensure that the fish they buy isn’t from a threatened fish species. Now we have some potentially good news to pass on. More than 80 nations have come together in Rome to work on a draft treaty which will allow them to block their ports to vessels that are fishing illegally:...
Patagonia Say: Resole Worn Shoes, Before Buying New
by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 02.10.09
Photo: Mountain Soles
In our Outdoor Enthusiast Gift Guide we suggested not buying new boots, but arranging for well loved boots to resoled for years of extended use. Patagonia Footwear announced last week that they were partnering with Mountain Soles to formalise just such a process. ...
Spray-On Solar Factory to be Largest Photovoltaic Plant in Southern Hemisphere
by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 02.10.09
Image: Spark Solar
Just last week we reported on Spark Solar developing a spray-on solar photovoltaicenergy system. Now comes news that the same company has been awarded "major project facilitation” status by the Australian Federal Government for its planned $60 million high-tech solar cell factory.
The government’s minister for Infrastructure, Anthony Albanese, says the solar manufacturing facility “... has the potential to be the largest supplier of solar cells in the Southern Hemisphere.” ...
Wooden Boats: Our Most Sustainable (and Efficient) Transport?
by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 02.10.09
Photo: Leatherwood
Okay, so we’re rather fond of saying that the bicycle is the Most Energy-Efficient Form of Travel Ever Devised. But maybe we should add the qualifier, “ ... on Terra Firma.” For a good wind-powered sailcraft has to be exceedingly efficient over water, given appropriate weather conditions. And a wooden sailcraft has the added bonus of being handmade from a renewable resource, and ultimately compostable, following a long, useful life. ...
World’s Most Efficient Solar Hot Water Panel Unveiled (Sort Of...)
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 02.10.09
Not the actual thing... photo: Abri le Roux via flickr
Hawaii’s mandated them on new homes and plenty of people not compelled by building codes have embraced them as well, now an Irish firm, Surface Power, has unveiled what they are claiming to be the world’s most efficient solar hot water panel:...
Hanging Flower Baskets Banned to Save the Planet
by Bonnie Alter, London on 02.10.09
image from picasaweb.google.com
A local city council is considering banning hanging flower baskets to "preserve the planet." They say that watering the hundreds of hanging baskets around town is wasteful and the energy and water could be put to better use. It's a radical view for a country that loves its hanging flowers, but one that other municipalities should follow.
The town is also considering replacing its seasonal flower beds with shrubs that are lower maintenance. They want to get rid of traditional trees and put in foreign species which can better cope with the new hotter weather in England. Not only that, they are going to let sections of their parks revert to wild areas which will be less manicured and have little or no grass. This is already done in many of London's public parks....
10 New Biodiesel Refineries to be Built in India by Bharat Renewable Energy
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 02.10.09
Nandan Biomatrix and Shapoorji & Co Ltd have partner with Bharat Petroleum to expand biodiesel refining in Uttar Pradesh. Photo: Nandan Biomatrix
Just last week Mission NewEnergy Ltd announced that it would be building India’s first biodiesel refinery in Orissa. Now, it has been announced that Bharat Renewable Energy (a joint venture between Bharat Petroleum Corp, Nandan Biomatrix, and Shapoorji & Co Ltd) will be investing Rs 2,131 crore ($428 million) in biodiesel projects in Uttar Pradesh:...
Survey: Do You Work From Home?
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 02.10.09
As we noted in Your Office is Where You Are, technology is making it a lot easier to work anywhere, not just in the office. And while we asked Do You Telecommute? a year and a half ago, it is probably instructive to ask again:
...
Struggling Fisheries Could Make a Comeback using... Beer!
by Eric Leech, New York, NY on 02.10.09
Photo via: Aturkus
Not too far from Denver, Colorado comes an alliance between two businesses nobody would have ever thought could work so wonderfully together. We are talking about a beer brewery and a fishery.
Currently around the world, fisheries have hit a brick wall when it comes to commercial aquaculture. These commercial industries often rely on other fish to feed their current stock. So what's a fishery to do when there are not enough low quality fish in the ocean to go around?
They crack open a “cold one” and then offer one to the fish!...
Quote of the Day: Obama on Why Fixing Buildings is Important
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 02. 9.09
President Obama in his press conference Monday night:
This is another concern that I've had in some of the arguments that I'm hearing. [against the stimulus plan] When people suggest that, "What a waste of money to make federal buildings more energy-efficient." Why would that be a waste of money? We're creating jobs immediately by retrofitting these buildings or weatherizing 2 million Americans' homes, as was called for in the package, so that right there creates economic stimulus. And we are saving taxpayers when it comes to federal buildings potentially $2 billion. In the case of homeowners, they will see more money in their pockets. And we're reducing our dependence on foreign oil in the Middle East. Why wouldn't we want to make that kind of investment?...
American U's Film School Creates Code of Best Practices for Sustainable Filmmaking
by Kristin Underwood, Sacramento, CA on 02. 9.09
Image via: Merriam-Webster Online
Films, especially American blockbusters, are known for generating lots of dough and lots of waste. From the free food, to the creation of entire faux villages - all of the people, all of the costumes, all of the travel - it all adds up. The American University School of Communication Center for Social Media and Center For Environmental Filmmaking, already focused on greening the film industry has developed a Code of Best Practices for Sustainable Filmmaking to aid not only its budding filmmakers but also to provide a framework for anyone in the film industry to quantify their carbon footprint....
Free Eco Makeover for 7 million UK Homes
by Kristin Underwood, Sacramento, CA on 02. 9.09
Image via: Waterworks Valley
The British Government just announced that it will be offering eco home makeovers for over 25% of its residents (roughly 7 million homes and flats) as one way to reduce carbon emissions and help with fuel costs. Insulation will be updated and homeowners may be encouraged to look into solar panels and/or wood burning stoves, reports the Guardian. Roughly 1/3 of the country's emissions could be cut after all improvements are completed estimated to occur by 2020. But there's a catch....
"Save The Primates" Video: Why Primate Testing Needs to End
by Kimberley D. Mok, Montreal, Canada on 02. 9.09
Gigabytes for Good Initiative Sends Computers to Malawi
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 02. 9.09
Images via Goods for Good
Gigabytes for Good is a new initiative launched by neighBORROW and Goods for Good. The two organizations have combined efforts to send used computers to community organizations that care for orphans in Malawi, East Africa. Read on for how you can help out and donate your old computer to this great cause. ...
IDS09: BSQ. Design Studios' Office in a Shipping Container
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 02. 9.09
credit: Harry Wakefield of Mocoloco
Being unable to attend the Interior Design Show in Toronto this past weekend, we rely on the kindness of Harry at MocoLoco to bring us BSq. Landscape Design's modified shipping container, which will be their "mobile, off-grid professional design office."...
Best Air-Filtering House Plants According to NASA!
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 02. 9.09
Plants to Filter the Air in Your House
Having good indoor air quality is very important, especially since many of us spend so much time inside. NASA did a study to find out which plants were best to filter the air of the space station, and their findings are available to all.
Read on to see which house plants are best to filter the air (no only producing Oxygen from CO2, but also absorbing benzene, formaldehyde and/or trichloroethylene....
French Stimulus Program Preserves Historic Buildings
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 02. 9.09
Charles Laughton as the Hunchback of Notre Dame
We have appropriated Steve Mouzon's line "The Greenest Brick is the One That's Already in the Wall" and have noted that the skills needed to restore our heritage buildings are the type of green jobs that will be needed for almost every building in the country. The French get this, and are spending 15% of their stimulus program funds on fixing their heritage. ...
Lighter Footstep Hosts Carnival of the Green
by Kara DiCamillo, Newport, Rhode Island on 02. 9.09
This week is Carnival of the Green #166 is being hosted by our friend Chris Baskind and his blog, Lighter Footstep. Lighter Footstep believes that big changes happen a step at a time and provides tips on making the most of your weekly budget.
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. And don't forget to follow Lighter Footstep on Twitter: @LighterFootstep....
Animal Armageddon: See the Most Horrific Disasters in the History of Our Planet
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 02. 9.09
Series Premieres Thursday, February 12, at 9 PM (ET/PT)
It is estimated that 99.9% of all animal life that has ever lived is now extinct. If that doesn't both make you feel lucky to be alive and send a chill down your spine, you need to read that first sentence again. Some groups are working on trying to understand and mitigate the future risks, such as the Lifeboat Foundation (full disclosure, I'm on their advisory board). See also Global Catastrophic Risks, edited by the brilliant Nick Bostrom. But to understand the future we need to look at the past, and this is what Animal Planet does with the upcoming series Animal Armageddon. Read on for more details....
Will Allen's Innovative Aquaculture System Insprires Commercial Application
by Jeff Nield, Vancouver, British Columbia on 02. 9.09
Sweet Water Organics' warehouse, pre-fish by Emmanuel Pratt viaMilwaukee Renaissance
Will Allen has received a lot of recognition lately. The Milwaukee resident was named a MacArthur genius, and he came in fourth in the voting to become the White House farmer - although the position doesn't yet exist. In recognition of his pioneering urban aquaculture program Allen was cited by Wisconsin Governor Doyle in his State of the State speech as someone who "was able to do incredible things with almost no resources."
Now, the social entrepreneur and CEO of the organization Growing Power has inspired a commercial application of his aquaculture system that will transform unused industrial buildings in Milwaukee. ...
Fireworks Likely Set Off Massive Beijing Hotel Fire
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 02. 9.09
David Gray/Reuters via New York Times
We have noted before that fireworks are not particularly good for the environment; we have also noted that they can be dangerous. A rather graphic demonstration of this is going on right now in Beijing, as the unfinished Koolhaas-designed Mandarin Hotel burns down, apparently set alight by fireworks celebrating the last day of the Lunar new year....
Steven Colbert Rips Into Boy Scouts for Logging Hypocrisy
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 02. 9.09
Chevy Volt Electric Car Photo Slideshow
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 02. 9.09
Click on the image above to go to the Chevy Volt photo slideshow.
GM's Chevy Volt Electric Car: A Closer Look
Like it or not, the Chevy Volt is now GM's de facto halo car. Just like the Prius was used by Toyota to try to improve the image of the whole company by association, the Volt is now officially The Savior(tm). Let's have a closer look at it, inside and out.
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Dubious Dubai Redefines Long-Term Parking
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 02. 9.09
timesonline: Abandoned SUV
They have a parking problem in Dubai: people are abandoning cars by the thousands at the airport as they leave. Evidently careers based on real estate and investing are in tatters and the expats are abandoning mortgages and car leases in droves. They are often leaving the keys in the ignition, the ownership on the dash and letters of apology as they skip town- under sharia law you don't get a lecture or a bad credit rating for bad debts, you go to jail.
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Forget About Cars for a Minute: 11 Heavy Duty Green Trucks
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 02. 9.09
Our Society's Worker Ants: Heavy Vehicles
We often talk about greener light vehicles, but we must not forget that heavy vehicles (garbage trucks, buses, semi-trailer trucks, etc) play a very important role, both in keeping our society running and in polluting our planet. Today we look at some greener heavy truck alternatives.
Read on for more details and photos....
Deep Sea Webcam Will Help Monitor Climate Change Effects
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 02. 9.09
Photo via AP Photo/MBARI via Discovery
An enormous 502 lb web camera was launched into the sea, where it will dive 3,000 feet under the Pacific waves to monitor climate change on marine life. ...
Phillippe Nigro's Table for People in a Hurry
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 02. 9.09
Design Libre
Table tops are easy; any old door or slab will do. Legs are tougher; you can go to IKEA or Mockett and buy any number of different designs of legs that can be screwed on, but nothing so simple to install as Phillipe Nigro's idea for a "universal base" that just clamps on to the top.
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Beautiful Artwork from Reclaimed Cardboard
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 02. 9.09
Photos via Mark Langan
Mark Langan is an artist whose medium is the cardboard boxes tossed by his neighbors. The corrugated edges create a surprisingly intriguing texture and flow the pieces, and make sidewalk-bound boxes worth saving. ...
Rural Electrification in 1935; Broadband and Green Electricity Today
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 02. 9.09
Seen at the Wolfsonian in Miami Beach: great posters promoting the virtues of rural electrification, explaining what a difference it can make in people's lives....
Who’s Who on Obama’s Green Team: Stephen Chu, Secretary of Energy
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 02. 9.09
Now that all of President Obama’s nominations for the top spots in his administration have been confirmed, at least the one’s most capable of influencing green issues, it seems appropriate to create a sort of cheat sheet for TreeHugger readers of brief biographies and some telling quotes from Obama’s green team. The first up, Secretary of Energy Stephen Chu.
Born in St Louis, Missouri in 1948 into a family of scholars, Chu went on to earn a BA in mathematics and a BS in physics from the University of Rochester, and a PhD in physics from the University of California, Berkeley. In 1987, he became professor of physics at Stanford University, and chaired the department from 1990-1993, and again from 1999-2001. In 1997 he received the Nobel Prize in Physics for "development of methods to cool and trap atoms with laser light". Just prior to his becoming the Secretary of Energy, Chu was professor of physics and molecular and cellular biology at UC Berkeley, and the the director of the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.
Chu is the second Chinese American to be a member of a president’s Cabinet, and the first to be appointed after having being awarded the Nobel Prize:...
State-of-the-Art REVA Electric Car Factory Planned in India
by Sami Grover, Carrboro, NC, USA on 02. 9.09
Image credit: REVA
New Factory Boasts Electric Buses, Solar Power, and Rainwater Harvesting
It may have made Michael's list of the ugliest eco-cars, and it's hardly one of the super sexy new breed of electric sports cars. But the REVA (or G-Wiz as it is known in the UK) is a rare thing - an electric vehicle that is affordable, and is being used on the roads in increasing numbers. And while Toyota is postponing factory construction and Tesla is rethinking its manufacturing model, REVA have just announced the construction of a new manufacturing facility in Bangalore. And it's not just the cars that are going to be greener - click below the fold for some of the impressive eco-features at the new site. ...
The Unnaturalism of Human Habitat
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 02. 9.09
Artist Don Simon has dreamed up what our urban settings would look like should we continue to enforce our unnatural habitat onto that of the natural world.
What would happen if we replaced all of nature with our urban constructions, and then disappeared? How might that look? Simon shows us what our destructive construction means to the natural world in a beautifully artistic way.
Click through to see a slideshow of Simon's artwork and his vision of our Unnatural world.
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Your Office is Where You Are
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 02. 9.09
Michael Brands for The New York Times
Back in 2003, the State of Colorado made a significant infrastructure investment in some serious fibre optic bandwidth to bring high-speed internet to small communities like Crested Butte, and guess what happens when you invest in infrastructure? People follow it. People like Ben Dunn, a risk management consultant of the ilk normally found in Manhattan or Greenwich but not in the back forty. The New York Times tells us that he now lives full time in Crested Butte, cycling to his office (until recently complete with a "$100,000 worth of computer equipment, including high-speed T1 broadband Internet lines, a Bloomberg terminal flat-screen monitor, Web-conferencing equipment and a dedicated intranet connection to the headquarters of his employer, a hedge fund in Connecticut.")
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eCommerce Companies Talk Green But Lack Leadership
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 02. 9.09
Photo via Matt's Life
BPM Forum and Rackable Systems conducted a survey of the eCommerce industry and found that while participating companies know that greening data canters is important both for business and the environment, few are actually doing something about it. ...
New Engine ‘Breakthrough’ Improves Ethanol Efficiency in Flex-Fuel Vehicles
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 02. 9.09
Ricardo claims its new engine eliminates losses in fuel efficiency in flex fuel vehicles running on ethanol. Photo: Jeff Egnaczyk via flickr
Leave aside land-use concerns, the effect on the food supply, or any other concerns you may have about ethanol for the next few paragraphs, because this post has nothing to do with those. It has to do with another of the problems ethanol faces: Reduced engine efficiency in flex-fuel vehicles. Engineering firm Ricardo has announced that it has tackled that problem, achieving a “breakthrough efficiency for ethanol-fueled engines”: ...
Survey: Tax Cuts or "Green Pork"?
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 02. 9.09
Right now both parties are intent on spending close to a trillion bucks on keeping the economy from collapse; a major difference is where the money goes. John Boehmer wants to cut the $6 Billion energy conservation and job creation programs; To try and accommodate Senate Republicans, the following multi-billion dollar programs were removed from the stimulus package and their costs moved to fund tax cuts:
$16 billion School Construction; $3.5 billion Higher Ed Construction; $2.25 Neighborhood Stabilization; $2 billion broadband; $1.2 billion in Retrofiting Project 8 Housing; $1 billion Energy Loan Guarantees.
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US Companies’ Green Power Buys Increase in 2008, Continue Trend
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 02. 9.09
photo: Beatrice Murch via flickr
The recession may be playing havoc with new wind farm and large solar power plant financing at the moment, but let’s not allow that to obscure the progress made in the first three quarters of 2008 and the steps some companies have made to green their electrity use. Towards that end, Climate Biz is reporting that purchases of green power by US companies are on the rise:...
Should I Switch to Dimmable CFL Bulbs?
by Pablo Paster, San Francisco on 02. 9.09
Dear Pablo: We have 12 recessed light bulbs in our kitchen on a dimmer switch. How much money and energy we would save if we switched to dimmable CFL bulbs? They would have to be cost effective because cash is tight these days....
It’s Official: Amazon Deforestation Up 4% Last Year
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 02. 9.09
photo: Leo Freitas
Last week, fellow TreeHugger Brian Merchant highlighted how over the past 10 years a full 80% of the land cleared in the Amazon has been for raising of beef cattle, and that that area now is the size of the nation of Iceland. Yikes! Well, some more (sort of) downer news about deforestation in the region comes via our colleagues over at Discovery News and involves new figures released by Brazil’s National Space Research Institute:...
Tales of Vanishing Tritium Exit Signs Prompt Health Concerns
by Jeremy Elton Jacquot, Los Angeles on 02. 9.09
When thousands of exit signs in Wal-Mart stores nationwide mysteriously began to disappear, few initially took notice. That is, until the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), the government agency tasked with the oversight of nuclear safety, stepped in. According to the Center for Public Integrity's Marina Walker Guevara, the NRC began sending notices in mid-January to 61 companies and organizations that own 500 or more tritium exit signs against their records and report any missing or lost ones....
Hairy Deals: Sweden Sprouts Numerous Eco Salons
by April Streeter, Gothenburg, Sweden on 02. 9.09
Photo via Va.se
O.K. it's officially a trend. Sweden is already a country a little obsessed with hair and haircuts - in spite of generally steep-seeming prices at salons - and it's already been noted that even though there's a recession on, Swedes aren't cutting into their trend toward buying organic goods.
That is translating into a growth spurt for ecological salons - now numbering 30 - and stylists calling themselves "organic." What does that mean, exactly?...
George Clooney's Coffee Choice Could be Better
by Bonnie Alter, London on 02. 9.09
image from orserie.fr
We are calling this a food post, but maybe it should be culture and celebrity.... After all, why buy a Nespresso coffee maker if you don't love George Clooney? And furthermore, if George is pushing it then it must be good. And politically correct. And sustainable. Hmmm....
It's just a coffee maker, except that you have to buy Nestle coffee packets to use with it. These capsules, each individually covered in (non-recyclable) aluminium foil, cost ¢ 68 a pop. And you need two of them to make a good strong expresso. Why are we complaining? . This is far more expensive than good Fairtrade coffee, and you can't interchange the capsules for any other kind of coffee; they are only available from Nestle. Both George and Nestle can do better....
Fuel Made by Sun, Water, Carbon Dioxide, and Nanotechnology
by Tim McGee, Western Massachusetts on 02. 9.09
photo felix @ flickr
Trees use sunlight to forge carbon dioxide and water into a useful fuel. It is an elegantly simple strategy, using renewable energy and common non-toxic elements that has worked for millions of years. Why don’t we do the same thing, and create fuel from the sun? Scientists are rapidly advancing our ability to work on the same scale as nature, but are we moving in the right direction? New research highlights the opportunities and some potential missteps of this exciting field....
Research Indicates Global Warming May Take A Bigger Bite Out Of Dry Land Than Previously Thought!
by Eric Leech, New York, NY on 02. 8.09
Australian Heatwave: “Climate Change Link is Very Likely”
by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 02. 8.09
Photo Credit: Andrew Brownbill, AAP via ABC
Australia is in shock. It’s currently in the grip of the worst bushfires since white settlement, 220 years ago. 128 dead and over 750 houses destroyed in the state of Victoria. And counting. Victorian police expect numbers to double. A mind numbing tragedy.
The previous worst bushfire disaster, the Ash Wednesday fires of February 1983 claimed 75 lives—across two states, was been seared into the country’s memory. It was the gauge by which severe natural disasters were measured. Unfortunately Australia now has a devastating new benchmark.
Reports of the savage firestorm, that was Saturday 7 February 2009, mention flames soaring over four storeys high and fire fronts that leapt 25 km (16 miles) in less than 15 minutes. In one town over 500 houses were razed to the ground in just a few hours. No-one had seen anything like it before. ...
World's First Hybrid Solar-Gas Turbine Power Station is Under Construction in Israel
by Brian Merchant, Brooklyn, New York on 02. 8.09
Image via AORA
Last month in southern Israel, construction began on what will be the world's first hybrid solarized gas turbine power station. The unique design of the power station allows it to generate solar power by day and run on biofuel by night, so it provides renewable energy around the clock. But the truly intriguing part is how this hybrid solar-gas turbine works....
Runner Trains for Marathon by Running Errands
by Trevor Reichman on 02. 8.09
Dao Nguyen, who lives in Houston, is training for a marathon. But instead of running around in circles in Memorial Park, Houstons’s most popular running circuit, he has decided to run all of his errands instead...by foot...by running. This way, he is maximizing his time and caloric expenditure at the same time... to the tune of only 100 calories per mile, compared to the roughly 3000 calories a car needs to 'run' errands. Cars typically use about 30 times more energy to transport a person compared to that person traveling that same mile with their own feet, highly inefficient in comparison.
Read further for an interview with Dao Nguyen......
A Behind the Scenes Look at MIT's Algae Photobioreactor (VIDEO)
by Brian Merchant, Brooklyn, New York on 02. 8.09
Photo via Heliophage
In this video clip, Alan Alda visits an algae photobioreactor prototype installed on the roof of MIT's power station. It's a fascinating introduction to the technology that uses algae to feed on a smokestack's flue gases while absorbing most of the pollutants in the process. Watch the video after the jump....
Biotech Scientists and Curators Join Forces to Prevent Decay of the World's Art
by Brian Merchant, Brooklyn, New York on 02. 8.09
Image via S Gallery
With climate change still on the rise and a worldwide financial crisis still in full swing, a perfect storm is brewing that could claim a victim few could've expected: the world's art and cultural heritage sites. More extreme weather conditions and less funding for the arts means much of the world's most important art and most cherished monuments go unprotected. Luckily, expert biotechnology scientists and renowned curators have teamed up to stem the increasing decay of the world's art....
Are Gift Cards the New Bottled Water?
by Josh Peterson, Los Angeles, California on 02. 8.09
photo by Arvindgrover via flickr
You can buy disposable, plastic gift cards at the corner store. Most supermarkets devote an entire end cap to the solicitation of gift cards. The logos and products of various chain stores grace the front of these cards: Starbucks, McDonalds, Target, iTunes, Chili’s, Pizza Hut, etc. You can buy gift cards in dozens of denominations to almost any corporate store.
Now there is a new gift card on the market. It’s made by the credit card companies. A citizen may buy a sixty dollar Visa/MasterCard/Discover/ETC Gift Card and give it to their cousin as a birthday gift. The cousin now has sixty dollars that he can spend like cash. But it’s not cash. It’s a disposable gift card that works like cash but is somehow different than cash. What? This is too stupid to catch on. Oh,really? They’ve already bottled up the water and sold it to us at a premium, proving nothing is too stupid to catch on. They’ll probably start bagging up the air and selling that. And we might buy it. ...
Quote of the Day: The Times on Australia Ablaze
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 02. 8.09
REUTERS/Mick Tsikas
The climate change deniers are so fond of pointing out how much snow there is in North America and asking "where's the global warming?" Two can play at that game of purposefully conflating climate and weather, of cherry-picking events to suit the message. We present Sophie Tedmanson's description of the wildfires in Southern Australia from TimesOnline:
The fires began on the hottest day ever recorded in Melbourne and were fanned by gale-force winds. Many of the dead were said to have waited too long in their homes before fleeing and were burnt alive in their cars as multiple fires tore through the countryside of Victoria state. Witnesses said the sky had turned to ash, began to rain embers and the fires which obliterated entire houses in seconds had turned parts of the picturesque Victorian countryside into something resembling a nuclear holocaust....
Fly Ash: Valuable Source Of Nutrients; Or Hazardous Waste Masquarading As A Soil Amendment?
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 02. 8.09
Fly ash grains at magnified view, Image credit:Coal Ash Resource Center
Fly ash produced by coal-fired boilers is commonly used as an agricultural soil amendment/fertilizer in parts of the USA. Although the fly ash may be characterized to ensure toxic constituent levels remain under State agriculture department-established threshold concentrations, that constraint, where it exists, is aimed primarily at minimizing risks posed to crop health and to produce or grain consumers. ...
What Slums Can Teach Us About Sustainability
by Jennifer Hattam, Istanbul, Turkey on 02. 8.09
A low-income area being razed in Istanbul.
In the name of redevelopment, many low-income neighborhoods in Istanbul are being torn down, and the residents relocated to high-rise sites (apartment blocks) on the outskirts of the city. But rather than standing in the way of progress, as those wanting to "clean them up" often claim, these so-called slums could be a model for the future--at least according to controversial comments made by Prince Charles last week.
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Northern Leopard Frog Threatened By Agrochemicals
by Jeff Nield, Vancouver, British Columbia on 02. 8.09
Pieter Johnson, Center for Limnology
It seems like frogs just can't catch a break. Scientists have been warning us about the global decline in amphibian populations for years. Habitat destruction, disease and chemicals are commonly cited as causes of destruction. Then we found out that triclosan, an antibacterial ingredient in soap and toothpaste, is killing them. And if that's not enough, just a few weeks ago we found out that humans are eating our little green friends to the edge of oblivion.
The journal Nature recently reported on a study that digs a little deeper into the demise of the northern leopard frog.
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Prisoners Pioneer Sustainable Moss Harvesting Program
by Brian Merchant, Brooklyn, New York on 02. 8.09
Photo via tutor2u
What comes to mind when you think of prison work programs? Making license plates, carpentry and woodworking, hard manual labor, right? Well, conventions and/or prison movie stereotypes be damned—prisoners at the Cedar Creek Corrections Facility in Washington grow and harvest moss sustainably....
Putting the Green Back in Community Development
by Sara Novak, Columbia, SC on 02. 8.09
photo: Michelle Kaufmann
There is certainly a stigma attached to community developments. I mean where do I start? Building a mcmansion an hour away from work only to spend your life sitting in traffic. Building more house than you need, wasting supplies and sucking up energy. But it doesn't have to be that way. In fact, community living can be greener than you think.
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UK Media Agency Grabs Attention with Low Impact Advertising
by Christine Lepisto, Berlin on 02. 8.09
Images: CURB
When you think of "green advertising", do you think of getting the message out on green issues, recycling the ad banners, or just plain greenwashing? The UK agency, CURB, claims to be "the first and only agency in the world to offer bespoke media solutions using solely natural earth elements." Even if you are not into the advertising industry, you will be interested to see what CURB is doing, and how. Giving greenwashing a new name is just the beginning......
