- 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 April 26, 2009 - May 2, 2009
Total this week: 233
A Car Style We Wish They'd Bring Back: The Delivery Wagon
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 05. 2.09
Rambler American "Deliveryman Utility Wagon." Image credit:How Stuff Works
How many step vans and service trucks do you see every day driving around with far less than a full load? How many tradesmen could do their business comfortably with something less than a Mega-Truck? Delivering food to the farmers market, say?
What the service business market needs is a high efficiency, mid-capacity, easy-to-park, inexpensive, and easily secured, delivery vehicle. Long-defunct American Motors, of Kenosha WI, offered one back in the late 1950's (as pictured). With a nice roof rack and a low-emission diesel, this old Rambler would make a good starting point for a new design. (A hot looking retro-version of this baby would probably find a domestic market.) The downside could be......
LA Book Fest Turns Page on Climate Crisis
by Roberta Cruger, Los Angeles on 05. 2.09
Authors discuss their environmental books in Los Angeles. Photo by RCruger
“Good to see so many people in LA love books,” said a surprised indie publisher from Brooklyn at last week’s 14th annual Festival of Books on UCLA’s campus, teaming with 140,000 readers. Some waited in line for Cloris Leachman, Michael J. Fox and Tori Spelling to sign their memoirs, to hear Ray Bradbury or Arianna Huffington speak. Of the few dozen panels covering everything from politics to fiction, one filled-to-capacity auditorium focused on the "Climate in Crisis." Jon Weiner of Nation magazine moderated, introducing four authors with new environmental books on cars, smog, environmental philanthropists, and the ecological reasons for world conflicts. A distinct theme emerged from this range of issues....
Soap, Sanitizer, and Spray Disinfectant Economies Boom, Thanks to Swine Flu
by Eric Leech, New York, NY on 05. 2.09
Photo via: Ben Chau
With every traumatic event in life, there is always a team of clever marketers waiting to capitalize on peoples fear. It is the very basis of smart marketing. It is one thing to tell people to use their moisturizer or they will get old, but it is an entire different scenario when they say, use our hand sanitizer or you will die!...
Green Princess Cookbook: Sweets and Treats to Save the Planet (Tiara Optional)
by Jasmin Malik Chua, Jersey City, USA on 05. 2.09
Photo credit: Gibbs Smith
Blame it on Disney but every pint-size ingenue I know dreams of becoming a beautiful princess (all the better to sashay across the ballroom in a big, poofy dress, of course). I've never been much of a girly-girl myself—before the onslaught of rose-colored hand-me-downs, I resisted dressing my daughter in pink—but even I was not immune to the sparkly charms of Green Princess Cookbook: Sweets and Treats to Save the Planet by Barbara Beery.
A primer for teaching kids (mostly of the feminine persuasion) how to whip up good green fare, Green Princess Cookbook is jam-packed with planet-friendly nosh that stresses the importance of organic and local ingredients. ...
Tyvek Recycling Program Expanded In USA
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 05. 2.09
Will Chrysler's Electric Cars Get a Chance?
by Daniel Kessler, San Francisco, California on 05. 2.09
Google Gathers Goats for Greener Gardening
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 05. 2.09
Photo via The Official Google Blog
Google has decided to forgo lawn mowers in favor of more eco-friendly goats to trim its Mountain View headquarters. ...
Stacy Longo Travels Through the Looking Glass, Wins Project Earth Day's Student Competition
by Jasmin Malik Chua, Jersey City, USA on 05. 2.09
Photo credit: Abigail Doan
Our heartiest congratulations to Stacy Longo of the Fashion Institute of Technology, who crushed her competition underneath her pointy stilettos and emerged the winner of Project Earth Day's student competition this past week.
Shown above, Longo's two-piece outfit was inspired by the boxy, geometric silhouettes of the 1920s. (Think Coco Chanel's iconic black, white, and cream tweed jacket, which Longo drew on when choosing her color scheme.) Comprising 100 percent recycled materials—the cream skirt was originally a Bill Blass sweater salvaged from the Salvation Army, while the basket-weave top was machine-knit by Longo herself from strips of yarn she found around the classroom—the garment embodies the interplay of structure and form she finds so fascinating.
...
Sierra Nevada Installs Electric Car Chargers at its Brewery in Chico, California
by Sara Novak, Columbia, SC on 05. 2.09
photo: Sierra Nevada
America’s oldest micro brewery is also one of the greenest and it doesn’t hurt that they produce some killer beer. In February Matthew wrote about Sierra Nevada and E-Fuel Corp partnering to make ethanol from discarded beer yeast. And a few years before that the brewery went almost entirely off the grid as a result of its fuel cell technology and solar panels. Now the company is taking it to the next level by becoming the first corporate customer of ChargePoint networked charging stations. ...
Texas Wind Farm Uses NASA Radar to Prevent Bird Deaths
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 05. 2.09
photo: Chrishna via flickr
What do you do if you build a wind farm smack dab in the middle of a major bird migration route, and want to avert the anger of conservationists? Put up a radar system that's designed to shut down the entire thing when it detects a mass of birds on the way. That's what's been done at the 202 MW Peñascal Wind Farm in Texas: ...
Photovoltaics Drink Less Water Than Concentrated Solar Power Plants
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 05. 2.09
Nevada desert landscape. Image credit:Andrew Faridian’s Geography Blog
Fresno Bee points out that "Water is the cooling agent for what traditionally has been the most cost-efficient type of large-scale solar plants." There are more expensive, air-cooled versions of the big-tower, concentrated solar power (CSP) plants; but it's the less expensive, water-sucking versions that currently are being built on public lands - in the desert - where water shortages are real....
A Young Muslim Diver's Passion for the Sea (Video)
by Jennifer Hattam, Istanbul, Turkey on 05. 2.09
Fidoodle: Jigsaw Puzzle Puppets, Blocks, and Dolls With Stories to Tell
by Jasmin Malik Chua, Jersey City, USA on 05. 1.09
Photo credit: Fidoodle
Fidoodle is in the business of making stories. Featuring the hip painted scrawls of Toronto-based illustrator Jen Bulthuis, Fidoodle's jigsaw-puppet puzzles put a new spin on old yarns like the Grecian myth of Icarus, Cinderella, and the Tortoise and the Hare.
The characters, which are handprinted with nontoxic inks on sustainably harvested Baltic birch, can be attached to the included wooden sticks to become puppets, or tacked to the refrigerator as interactive magnets. The twist in the tale? Your child can go off-script, mixing and matching the detachable heads and bodies to create a whole new cast of characters to star in a story entirely of his or her making. ...
Antiviral Tamiflu Stockpiling Fast, Despite Unclear Health and Environmental Effects
by Kimberley D. Mok, Montreal, Canada on 05. 1.09
Tamiflu capsules (Photo: Moriori via Wikimedia Commons)Amid media hype, speculation and alerts tweetin’ faster than a virus, sales of antiviral drugs marketed as “effective” against the hybrid form of H1N1 “swine flu” virus have shot up dramatically. Governments and individuals around the world are now stockpiling antiviral drugs, leading investors to snap up shares of Roche, the Swiss maker of the antiviral Tamiflu, and GlaxoSmithKline, maker of Relenza. But this antiviral-stockpiling frenzy begs the question: are drugs like Tamiflu effective against swine flu? How is Tamiflu made and are there any side effects? What are the long-term implications of manufacturing and releasing pharmaceuticals on the environment? ...
Clean Water Appears Out of Thin Air with EcoloBlue
by Naturally Savvy on 05. 1.09
The EcoloBlue Atmospheric Water Generator. Image supplied by EcoloBlue.
Imagine a machine that makes clean water out of the air. It might sound crazy, but it exists, and you can get one for your home. It's name? The EcoloBlue Atmospheric Water Generator (AWG). To be honest, I was a little skeptical when I got an email about this product, but the more I learned about it, the more interested I grew—and I'm not the only one.
Organizers of the Green Inaugural Ball nixed bottled water for an EcoloBlue machine, and the Global Green Pre-Oscar Party—supported and attended by Leonardo DiCaprio, Rosario Dawson and Neil Patrick Harris to name just a few—also had EcoloBlue's AWG on hand. ...
Greensburg is Back! Tune Into the Second Season
by Jessica Root - Brooklyn, NY on 05. 1.09
If the Midwestern, small city charm and uplifting sustainable story behind Greensburg Kansas' green, post-tornado makeover moved you to happy tears—or action—there’s reason to rejoice. Planet Green has picked up the Greensburg series for another season-long run, continuing the story of a community’s plight to rebuild their city green after the devastating 2007 twister (that was an estimated 1.7 miles wide!) wiped it out.
So what’s in store this new season? ...
Battle for Terra: Environmental Movie Not Just for Kids
by Roberta Cruger, Los Angeles on 05. 1.09
The tranquil air on Terra, filled with space whales and Terreans traveling in wind mobiles.
Photo from Lionsgate/Roadside Attractions.
Earthlings invade alien territory. In a switch from the standard "War of the Worlds" fear-mongering of Martian attacks and UFO abductions, Battle for Terra shows human aggressors striking a peaceful planet. After destroying our own globe, human survivors are left adrift to plunder the galaxy in a desperate search for oxygen. For all its imaginative wonder, this animated 3D feature, in theaters today, seems more like a eco-parable than a mythic tale. With an all-star cast of voices, action-packed combat scenes, and a dramatic environmental message, this independent film is an ideal alternative to Monsters vs. Aliens. ...
Palin Says "Thanks, But No Thanks" to Energy Efficiency
by Brian Merchant, Brooklyn, New York on 05. 1.09
Photo via LeHigh Valley Live
Governor Sarah Palin is notorious for not accepting, and then accepting federal funding--who could forget the good ol' bridge to nowhere debacle? Well something similar is happening again: Palin has decided to accept all the stimulus funds eligible to Alaska--except the $29 million that would go to her state energy office. Why say "thanks, but no thanks" to $29 million dollars? Because she's afraid it would require her to make Alaskan buildings more energy efficient. ...
Spoof Mocks ExxonMobil's Clean Energy Ads (Video)
by Alex Pasternack, New York, NY on 05. 1.09
ExxonMobilizing humor against weak claims
This week global activist group Avaaz began airing a spoof ad that takes direct aim at ExxonMobil's cheery ad campaign featuring scientists talking about how they're making the clean energy of the future. A company spokesman responded to the ad: "They seem to be critical of our desire to communicate our positions on climate change, which we don't understand."
Funny -- we don't understand your position on climate change either, ExxonMobil! (zing). You say you want to make the world cleaner through chemistry, but then you lobby hard to make sure that won't happen. See the videos -- and help get Avaaz's ad on CNN -- below....
Robert Redford Hates on Green Development in Napa
by Kristin Underwood, Sacramento, CA on 05. 1.09
Image via: Getty Images
Seems rather strange for environmental advocate Robert Redford to vote against green building, right? Well, it seems he is anti-new development on a proposed 65-acre green community planned just down the street from him in Angwin, CA, reports the New York Times....
Swine Flu Forces White House to Join Twitter
by Brian Merchant, Brooklyn, New York on 05. 1.09
Well, it's official: Twitter is everywhere. Yup, looks like the swine flu pandemic has forced yet another strange event to unfold: it's gotten the White House to officially join the Twitter frenzy. At time of writing, it's got only 900 or so followers. But what's truly interesting is who the White House is following: it's only 3 Twitter feeds, and they're all from the Center for Disease Control....
Excessive Fertilizer Use Decreasing Grassland Biodiversity: Scientists Discover Why
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 05. 1.09
photo: Jeremy Carbaugh via flickr
Most TreeHugger readers probably a good handle on the concept that large monocropped fields have lesser biodiversity than more mixed cultivation, and that industrial agriculture uses excessive amounts of fertilizer to push crop yields to their maximum, even at the expense of decreasing soil fertility. But now scientists in Switzerland have identified why all that fertilizer use is decreasing biodiversity more broadly:...
Swine Flu: Past, Prevention and Future
by Jeff Nield, Vancouver, British Columbia on 05. 1.09
What not to do. Photographer unknown
As we wait for answers on the source of the current H1N1 influenza outbreak, TED looks below the surface with a short interview with global health and emerging disease expert Laurie Garrett. Garrett is the author of The Coming Plague, and a fellow on the Council for Foreign Relations. Click through for her take on the role of humans, hogs and hand washing plus a look at future pandemic possibilities. ...
Best of Green: Best in Show -- And the Winner Is...
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 05. 1.09
After nearly a month, 177 winners in 8 categories, and thousands of thousands of votes cast by you, we're happy to announce the 'Best in Show' winner of our first annual Best of Green awards. Congratulations to Dave Burdick, the winner as Best Tweeter to Have on Your Side, who came out of the Best of Green: Culture & Celebrity category to garner the highest overall rating and win! Way to go, Dave!...
Biomimicry's First Consumer Product - Insect Repellant From Catnip
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 05. 1.09
Nepeta cataria or "catmint" blossom. Image credit:Dupont.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently registered a new insect repellent ingredient derived from the catmint plant, or "catnip" (flower, as pictured). The ingredient, Refined Oil of Nepeta cataria, is the first new insect repellent bio-pesticide to be registered in eight years. DuPont is the registrant.
DuPont's research demonstrates that the refined oil "repels a broad range of biting insects with effectiveness similar to synthetic ingredients such as DEET."
A key benefit is that consumers could apply it to skin as often as desired. Because it smells nice, it could be mixed into an existing product or formulated as straight repellent.
Although I never noticed whether being around wild catnip resulted in fewer mosquito bites, it sounded as if "biomimcry" was one of the principles driving Dupont's discovery. So, I contacted Henry Bryndza, Director of Chemical Sciences & Engineering, DuPont Central Research & Development. Find out what I learned, below.
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Oysters are Restored to Waters in Need
by Neil Chambers, New York City on 05. 1.09
Photo by Janet Wood
During the last weekend in April, a group of volunteers laid the final necessary pieces into Withers Estuary to reintroduce oysters to their native ecosystem. The project is part of the Withers Estuary Community Collaborative (WECC), a partnership of leaders in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. The organization focuses on find ways to synergistically protect human and ecological networks by creating community-based solutions for preservation/restoration of local ecosystems. The oyster restoration project is the first of many steps to accomplish this goal. ...
Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion: Lockheed Martin Hopes to Bring It Closer to Financial Viability
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 05. 1.09
image: Wikipedia
We've written about generating power through ocean thermal energy conversion on a couple of occasions, and though it's currently just a small niche in the marine power world, the New York Times is highlighting work being done by Lockheed Martin to more widely, and economically, develop the procedure:...
10 Top Twitterers in Green Design
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 05. 1.09
Next up on the list of cool Twitterers to follow are those in green design. Click through to find out the top folks to follow to keep up on the latest in eco-friendly style. ...
Low Carbon Fuel Standard Fixes 35-Year Old Problem in US Energy Policy
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 05. 1.09
It tackles oil dependence by not stipulating one fuel over another, but not car dependence... photo: Daniel Blume via flickr.
Though California's new Low Carbon Fuel Standard is certainly proving controversial, due its inclusion of land-use changes when calculating the carbon footprint of biofuels, and hints of a national backlash have been heard, in the broad stroke it's intent is solidly in the right place. Huffington Post has given Mary Nichols, Chairman of the California Air Resources Board the space to tout why the LCFS is good thing, and it's worth taking a read. Here's the essence of what the Fuel Standard is designed to do:...
It's National Preservation Month; Why You Should Care
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 05. 1.09
Having co-opted Steve Mouzon's phrase The greenest brick is the one already in the Wall, we note that this is the first day of National Preservation Month, in the US,
designed to raise awareness about the power historic preservation has to protect and enhance our homes, neighborhoods and communities - the places that really matter to us.But also, Heritage is Green. Here is a roundup of some quotes from our posts explaining why: ...
Green Gift Guide for Mother's Day
by Jessica Root - Brooklyn, NY on 05. 1.09
Not sure what to get mom this year? Or grandma or your expecting wife? If you're looking for a little something you can wrap up and hand her alongside that “I love you,” a laid-back day spent together, and a delicious local and organic breakfast in bed, here are eight mom-approved options. Each was selected to help celebrate mom healthy planet-style, with gifts that tread lightly on the mother ship—planet earth....
Climate Change a Bunch of Hooey . . . and Other Google Search Results
by Brian Merchant, Brooklyn, New York on 05. 1.09
You can learn a lot from Google searches. When you search with Firefox, Google displays the most searched queries starting with the terms you've entered so far. For instance: there are at least 5,970 results for people wondering whether climate change is "a bunch of hooey." I guess there are old prospectors from the '49 gold rush who can work a computer after all. Of course, we're all too familiar with those other results too--climate change is a hoax, a scam, a lie, and so on. It would've been nice to see at least one straight up positive result (I guess "Wisconsin activity guide" has gotta count for something). Anyhow, this peculiar search inspired me to find out what I could dig up doing various searches for green topics--and what I discovered ranges from hilarious to depressing....
China Wants 20 More Dams on the Headwaters of the Yangtze River
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 05. 1.09
While these dams won't be as large as the Three Gorges Dam downstream, picture here, the environmental impact could well be negative. Photo: Wikipedia
Not content with the Three Gorges Dam, at the 3rd Yangtze Forum in Shanghai it's come out that China plans 20 more dams on the headwater tributaries of the Yangtze River, Tibetan Plateau reports. Citing reports from the AP and China Daily, the tributaries to be dammed are the Yalong (Nyachu in Tibetan), Dadu (Gyarong Ngulchu), and Wujiang rivers:
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Tea Time: Deforestation, Drought and Death
by Kelly Rossiter, Toronto on 05. 1.09
Photo credit:Antony Njuguna from The Daily Nation
I know I have been painting a pretty rosy picture in my posts of my trip to Kenya, because for me, that is what it was. I spent a lot of time looking for green washing from Lipton, but the truth is, Lipton has been practicing good stewardship for so long in Kericho that the Rainforest Alliance certification for their plantation there wasn't that big of a stretch, and the changes they were required to implement were minimal. The difference however, between the microcosm of the plantation and the macrocosm of the country was astonishing to me.
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Quote of the Day: Performer Dita Von Teese on Vintage Clothing and Becoming an Accidental Ecoista
by Jasmin Malik Chua, Jersey City, USA on 05. 1.09
Photo credit: Hollywood Celebrity Pictures
I started buying vintage originally because I couldn’t afford the kinds of designer clothes that appealed to me, and I saw that many of the designers I liked best were referencing the 1930s, 40s and 50s. So for instance I would see a Vivienne Westwood suit in a magazine, and then I would buy a 1940’s suit and have it tailored to my corseted waist and padded hips. I always felt like a very ordinary looking girl, and I found that dressing in a unique way made me feel less ordinary and more glamorous....
Scientists Write Letter Telling Coal-Fired Power Plants to Close
by Kristin Underwood, Sacramento, CA on 05. 1.09
Image via: Getty Images
Seven australian scientists, three of whom have worked on the Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change (IPCC), recently wrote a letter to coal-fired power plant operators asking them not just to clean up their act, but to essentially cease and desist. ...
Coral Reef Alliance Talks About What's Stressing Out Coral Reefs
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 05. 1.09
Brian Huse, Executive Director of Coral Reef Alliance, discusses important coral reefs that need attention. Photo via Jaymi Heimbuch
Last night eco-advocates Christopher and Amber Marie Bently held a function for the Coral Reef Alliance. Executive Director Brian Huse and Director of Conservation Programs Rick MacPherson had an opportunity to talk about the state of coral reefs and why it's so important to focus on saving them. Click through for a quick video on why coral reefs matter, and the biggest stress factor for them....
Happy May Day, Or If In America, Happy Loyalty Day
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 05. 1.09
Morris Dancing in Oxford, via wikipedia
May Day doesn't get a lot of play in North America, having become too closely identified with Commies (Congress renamed it Loyalty Day in 1958 to celebrate " the reaffirmation of loyalty to the United States" ) but it in fact has green roots, celebrating the completion of seeding of the fields, springtime fertility and giving the farmworkers a day off after all their hard work.
So happy May Day to our international readers, and Happy Loyalty Day to those in America! Celebrate it with Freedom Fries!...
18 Beautiful Edible Landscaping Plants
by Sami Grover, Carrboro, NC, USA on 05. 1.09
18 Gorgeous Plants that Combine Beauty and Taste
It's that time of year when garden centers are full, and you just can't seem to squeeze enough hours out of the day to get your yard done. With budgets tightening, many folks are considering growing food instead of just pretty flowers. But fear not - just because a plant is edible, it doesn't have to be ugly. In fact, with a little thought you can create a beautiful, edible landscape that feeds all your sense. Take a look at some of our favorite edibles.
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South Dakota Senator Wants to Prevent EPA from Using Land-Use Changes to Calculate Biofuels' Eco-Footprint
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 05. 1.09
photo: Lars Plougmann via flickr
With California's Low Carbon Fuel Standard hot of the presses, complete with its provision to factor indirect land use changes into the carbon footprint of biofuels, the national backlash has begun. Senator John Thune of South Dakota has introduced a new bill which would require that only direct life-cycle emissions could be considered in any national Renewable Fuel Standard:...
Fujitsu's Wind-Powered Laptop Is So Not Green
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 05. 1.09
Image via The Guardian
In what ended up being quite the bout of investigative journalism, Fred Pearce of The Guardian uncovered some serious greenwash coming out of Fujitsu and their "wind-powered" laptop. The situation underscores how companies try to play fast and loose with the idea of offsetting carbon footprints in order to get people to purchase products. Read on for the dirty details. ...
Is it so Hard to be (Green) and Good? New ABC Sitcom "The Goode Family" Says Yes
by April Streeter, Gothenburg, Sweden on 05. 1.09
Passive Design and Passive House Mean Two Different Things
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 05. 1.09
Ben Rahn/A Frame via GreenSource
Cliff Kuang does a terrific job covering design at Fast Company, but may be leading his readers a bit astray with his post What Exactly Is a "Passive House" and Why Should I Care? He covers a stunning house by Paul Raff in Toronto, and then picks up on the New York Times article on Passive Houses, saying
"Passive" housing isn't a designation you can slap on like LEED certification. It's a design philosophy.But it IS a designation, like LEED, as well as a philosophy, and the house by Paul Raff has many passive design features, but is not a passive house. ...
Is High Speed Rail the Answer?
by Sami Grover, Carrboro, NC, USA on 05. 1.09
Image credit: CleanTechnica
Is Enthusiasm for High Speed Rail Just Another Speed Addiction?
The world is a confusing place - no sooner do the governments of the world finally start taking high speed rail seriously as an alternative to aviation, and the environmentalists start complaining. First we had Obama's massive investment in high speed rail, which Jim Kunstler (who else?) described as "perfectly f***ing stupid." And now UK politicians are limbering up to support a significant upgrade of the country's rail system - but John Whitelegg over at The Guardian says High Speed Rail is an expensive and counterproductive red herring:...
Arizona Getting $82 Million for Water Projects
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 05. 1.09
Photo of Lake Powell, Arizona via Wolfgang Staudt
The EPA has decided to hand over $82 million in Recovery Act funds to Arizona for water projects that will hopefully create jobs, give a sugar shot to local economies, and update old water and wastewater infrastructure. It's one small chunk of $6 billion dollars in funds that will go to water and wastewater infrastructure projects across the country through low-interest loans, principal forgiveness and grants. It's a big push for more sustainable and energy efficient drinking water and wastewater systems, and in a state like Arizona that is dependent upon water routed from threatened rivers, sustainable and effective water systems are a must. ...
What Do Lays Chip Bags And Classical Music Have In Common?
by Tom Szaky of TerraCycle, Trenton NJ on 05. 1.09
Even though it seems everyone has an iPod or MP3 player and is downloading music, traditional CD's are still a huge business. The jewel cases are made from a variety of plastics that break easily and are not easy recyclable; sooner or later most of them will end up in landfills. I’m excited to tell you about the world’s most eco-friendly CD case TerraCycle just created made from recycled, shredded chip bags! ...
Stop Swine Flu and Waste Electricity at the Same Time!
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 05. 1.09
Lots of people are wearing face masks these days, but it can get so hot and uncomfortable behind them. Japanese ingenuity to the rescue with this USB powered facemask that has built in exhaust fans to change the air behind the mask. Also available is a USB-AC adapter so instead of just having to carry your computer everywhere, you can travel as far as an extension cord will reach....
Country's First National Park an Oasis in War-Torn Afghanistan
by Jennifer Hattam, Istanbul, Turkey on 05. 1.09
The blue lakes and mineral-deposit formations of Band-e-Amir have been protected as Afghanistan's first national park. Photo by Carl Montgomery via Flickr.
Ever since getting a fleeting glimpse of northern Afghanistan on a 2004 trip to Central Asia, I've envied those 1960s and '70s travelers on the "hippie trail" who trekked through the country's starkly beautiful landscapes without a care in the world, back when the Bamyan Buddhas were still standing and ancient city walls weren't yet littered with land mines. Those tourism glory days aren't likely to return anytime soon, but Afghan officials hope a new national park--the country's first--might draw some adventurous tourists back to their beleaguered country....
Google Gets Its Patent for Floating Data Center
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 05. 1.09
Image via Geek.com
Back in September we marveled at the patent Google decided to pursue plans for a data center that would float out on the ocean, powered and cooled by the waves. Well, the company was just awarded the patent. ...
Are We Too Serious or Too Frivolous?
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 05. 1.09
While discussing Treehugger content 'round the water cooler, one of our more enthusiastic young writers exclaimed "TH has very little coverage of carbon trading. Opportunities abound: list the players, explain the regs, partisan barking on the sidelines, successes and failures, significance, etc!" Another responded "it is a snore." It is a struggle, trying to balance How Obama & EPA Could Use Clean Air Act to Enact Cap-and-Trade Without Congress with Barneys New York and Elle Go Blue for the Green.
...
16 Revolutionary Green Ideas From the Milan Furniture Fair (Slideshow)
by Mairi Beautyman, Berlin, Germany on 05. 1.09
Photo: via Nendo.
The best thing about the world's biggest contemporary furniture fair, Salone Internazionale del Mobile, which wrapped up last week in Milan, is arguably not the fair itself, but SaloneSatellite, highlighting young talent, and all of the events and exhibitions held simultaneously throughout the city packed to the rafters with design-enthusiasts. Often, Milan is where it begins, where the best-of-the-best showcase their talent, and where the manufacturers discover the new green ideas and send them to your living room. Stroll down a small via, gelato in hand, and you can easily find yourself discovering wild and innovative green design prototypes and production pieces ranging from a lamp made out of cow dung, a motion-sensitive LED chandelier fabricated from recycled PET bottles, a chair guaranteed to last 300 years, or glowing inflatable furniture made of recycled materials. At least, I did.
Check out these and more in our:
16 Potentially World-changing Green Ideas From the 2009 Milan Furniture Fair Slideshow
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Urban Agriculture Grows in the City
by Bonnie Alter, London on 05. 1.09
Rooftop gardens have become a big topic in architecture because they provide large open spaces with great opportunities for growing food. Examining the different ways that food production can be incorporated into the urban environment is the topic of this interesting exhibition, London Yields, at the Building Centre in London.
It starts with a nice example in the adjacent cafe: a hydroponic curtain with 8 planting trays hung on a cable and connected to a water supply. The vegetables grown in the window will be used in the cafe....
Cool New Recycled Shoes by Camper and Bernhard Willhelm
by Kristin Underwood, Sacramento, CA on 04.30.09
Image via: Camper
Needless to say eco shoes have improved by leaps and bounds over the years. This spring, shoe company Camper & designer Bernhard Willhelm are launching their ready to wear Eco shoe line, made with recycled fibers & tire tread soles, as well as, "refurbished" leather and wood. Sounds sort of crunchy? Well, they're not.
More images after the jump....
Mills College Earth CORPS Creates Campus Freecycle Store
by Kristin Underwood, Sacramento, CA on 04.30.09
Image via: Mills College
You know how every end-of-semester when students just toss everything big and small that they purchased over the year but can't take with them, as they backpack across Europe? Know a few seniors who just ditch their toys (stereos, skis, futons, you know what I'm talking about) as they leave for the real world with real jobs and real, adult apartments? Well Mills College, among the other green things they are accomplishing, found a way to close that loop....
Graphic Of The Day: US Primary Energy Use
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 04.30.09
Image credit:US Dept of Energy; Energy In Brief
What is the most overlooked energy consuming sector in the USA? Industry. The industrial sector, consuming an estimated 21.4 quads of energy in 2007, uses energy to heat, cool, and light process equipment, warm buildings, run fork lifts, and so on. Strikingly, by these estimates, twice as much energy is consumed by industry in 2007 as all residential and commercial entities combined in that same period. Until now, industry has been the relatively silent player at the Washington DC climate game. Soon to change, I predict....
7 Green Things Obama Should Do Over the Next 100 Days
by Brian Merchant, Brooklyn, New York on 04.30.09
Photo via NY Mag
Yesterday marked Obama's 100th day in office, but if you were within 50 feet of any sort of media yesterday, you already knew that. We marked the occasion with an Obama Timeline of his first 100 days in green. But those 100 days, while certainly filled with a slew of good first steps, are far from definitive in terms of judging Obama's green agenda. What really matters, of course, is what comes next. And so, in celebration of the first day of Obama's Next 100 Days, here are a few ideas of what he could and should do now....
Anvil Knitwear Introduces First Carbon-Neutral Recycled-Cotton Tee
by Jasmin Malik Chua, Jersey City, USA on 04.30.09
Photo credit: Anvil Knitwear
Anvil Knitwear has just launched a T-shirt that's a complete zero. Zip, zilch, nada. Not only is the underachieving tee made from 69 percent pre-consumer recycled cotton, but it also has a net zero carbon footprint.
Earning Carbonfund.org's CarbonFree certification wasn't a slam dunk—the sixth-largest purchaser of organic cotton worldwide had to put its recycled tee through the paces of carbon-footprint assessment, from raw-materials sourcing, manufacturing, and transportation to screen printing, consumer use, and end-of-life disposal. Anvil made the T-shirt carbon-neutral by reducing emissions during its production and then offsetting the rest. ...
10 Techy Green Twitterers to Follow
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 04.30.09
Thanks to some inspiration from Mother Nature Network and the roundup of 10 green Twitterers to follow that Shea Gunther pulled together, TreeHugger is starting to round up its favorite Twitterers for each of the various green categories. We're starting with green tech (only because I have a soft spot for it...). Check out who you will want to follow to stay up on all the latest green tech news. ...
Desert Rock New Mexico, Coal-Fired Power Plant Permit Withdrawn By USEPA
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 04.30.09
Resistance Camp against proposed Desert Rock coal-fired plant. Image credit::ZMag, Elouise Brown
Another pro-coal Bush environmental decision was reversed this week. Reuters reports that the Environmental Protection Agency withdrew the air permit, previously issued by the Bush Administration, for the proposed 1,500 megawatt Desert Rock power plant. The proposed 1,500 megawatt Desert Rock power plant would have powered cities in Arizona and Nevada. TreeHugger covered the controversy over permit issuance last August: New Mexico (And Some Navajo) Object To 1,500-megawatt Coal-Fired Power Plant...
13 Republicans to Play Pretend on Climate, Hold Mock Hearings
by Brian Merchant, Brooklyn, New York on 04.30.09
Photo via cisdallas.org
Last week in Congress was dubbed the "mother of all climate weeks", and with a parade of hearings from heavyweights like Al Gore and Newt Gingrich, it certainly seemed to fit the bill. Of course, nothing was resolved about the massive climate bill the congressmen were debating, and things got a little ugly. So ugly, in fact, that some Republicans decided they didn't want to deal with it at all, and that instead of continuing to engage the bill and sit in on actual hearings, they're holding a mock hearing....
Ultra Motor introduces the A2B Electric Bike
by Neil Chambers, New York City on 04.30.09
Photo by Yours Truly
If you’re looking for a vehicle that has the heart of a bicycle and the soul of a scooter – do I have the thing for you! The A2B by Ultra Motor is a Light Electric Vehicle (LEV) that addresses the need for zero-emission transportation while offering high torque pickup, extended range and reliability. ...
Plastic & Steel Funnel Increases Wind Turbine Output 30%
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 04.30.09
image: Leviathan Energy
It's very much true that most new developments in wind turbines have to do with tweaking the mechanics of turbine itself. Not so with the Wind Energizer from Leviathan Energy:...
GREEN FAIL
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 04.30.09
What's Wrong With This Picture?
I think we just found someone who outdid the 2REEHGR Hummer from last year. We couldn't be sure if that license plate was ironic or not (probably, but you never know...), but we're pretty sure that this one is played straight. Now, I'm sure we could find reasons why this makes sense, but still, you have to admit that your "Eco-Smart GoGreen" business has an image problem if that's your company car... Via Failblog ...
Barneys New York and Elle Go Blue for the Green
by Jasmin Malik Chua, Jersey City, USA on 04.30.09
Photo credit: Barneys New York
Green may be chromatic shorthand for pro-planet displays of affection, but can we just say it's so last season? Bucking the trend, Elle went blue for its May 2009 Earth Day-themed issue, collaborating with Barneys New York to present a sustainable spread of eight of the fashion world's searingly hot designers.
Armed with repurposed denim collected from Barneys customers last summer, Alexander Wang, Ann Demeulemeester, Bottega Veneta, Derek Lam, Rodarte, Rogan, Stella McCartney, and Versace set out to stitch together one-of-a-kind togs from the recycled fabric, the results of which grace the pages of this month's Elle....
David Letterman and Elon Musk Play Electric Car Good Cop/Bad Cop
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 04.30.09
You Can Also Get the "Elon Musk" Fragrance...
Below is the video of Elon Musk on youtube, and it's pretty effective as a commercial for electric cars (except the part where Letterman doesn't seem to understand that the Volt's total range is more than 40 miles) with Elon Musk of Tesla Motors playing the good cop, and David Letterman playing the angry EV fan. If you're in NYC, the Tesla Model S is still on display at the Plaza Hotel today and tomorrow....
How Obama & EPA Could Use Clean Air Act to Enact Cap-and-Trade Without Congress
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 04.30.09
photo: Josh via flickr.
According to new analysis from the Institute for Policy Integrity at New York University School of Law, when the EPA issues its final declaration on global warming being an endangerment to human health, the Obama administration could press forward with a cap-and-trade program without having to go through Congress:...
Mercedes Wants to Sell Cars with a Drag Coefficient of 0.20 Cd Within 5 Years
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 04.30.09
Photo: Mercedes
Could Make a Big Difference at Highway Speeds
Mercedes certainly isn't short on green goals. It wasn't so long ago that it announced that it wanted a car lineup free of fossil fuels by 2015 (though it's not 100% clear what that means when it comes to biofuels...), and it is now saying that it wants to sell cars with a drag coefficient (Cd) of 0.20 and less within 5 years. For comparison, the 2010 Toyota Prius, which is considered to be very slippery, has a Cd of 0.25. Read on for more details....
Much Ado and Spreading Fast: Swine Flu Is the Twitter of Viruses
by Alex Pasternack, New York, NY on 04.30.09
Vice President Joe Biden -- who earned the nickname Amtrak Joe for his love of riding the train -- said on NBC this morning that he would tell his family to avoid the subway if they wanted to avoid H1N1, or swine flu.
He's right in a way: if they really wanted to avoid swine flu (it's now an epidemic) they would avoid the subway. They would also avoid going outside of course.
But his advice veers from that of his boss, the President, as well as the head of the World Health Organization and the chief of the US Dept. of Homeland Security, who say it's absurd to be focusing on containment rather than mitigation. But Biden was simply echoing an hysteria that's sweeping the world, leading to calls for border closures and massive pig slaughters....
Green Mockumentary: The Search for the Zozo
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 04.30.09
Obama's Budget Passed, So Will America Get Greener? A Guide to the Final Draft
by Brian Merchant, Brooklyn, New York on 04.30.09
Photo via Public Radio
Obama's budget laid out an ambitious vision for the US--and it advanced some pretty revolutionary green ideas. For one thing, it was the first US budget ever to include a carbon cap and trade system--one that would generate $645 billion dollars over the next few years by charging companies for their carbon emissions pollution. Well, the budget has passed--both the House and the Senate voted in favor yesterday--but some of the green was sacrificed in the political process. So what did make the final budget cut--and is America still on track for a greener future?...
How Much eWaste Is Getting Recycled from Major Retailers?
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 04.30.09
Photo via Jaymi Heimbuch
CNET's Candace Lombardi did some great leg work in trying to round up some numbers for big retailers and manufacturers on electronic recycling rates. Check out the numbers, and the bigger question the search begs. ...
Vote Today! TreeHugger Nominated for a 2009 Webby!
by Chris Tackett, San Francisco on 04.30.09
Today is the last day to vote for the 2009 Webby awards! TreeHugger has been honored with a Webby nomination for best blog in the Culture/Personal category and need your help to win! Please head on over to the Webby's People's Choice ballot and vote for TreeHugger!
Click through for details on voting, and why we really, really want your help. ...
Global Treehugger
by greenz.jp, Tokyo, Japan on 04.30.09
Image: Earth First
One reason I like Treehugger is that it give us a global perspective on environmental topcis. Where else would you get that? You may wonder, what is going on in, say, Brazil?
You don't get this kind of coverage - Turkey, Israel, London, Copenhagen, California, Beijing, Tokyo - you name it. Do use the search function on this site. However... ...
Alaskan Eskimo Village Votes to Move Upstream to Avoid Climate Change Flooding
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 04.30.09
photo: City-Data.com
To prevent flooding which is already occurring (and increasing with climate change being blamed) the Yup'ik Eskimo village of Newtok has voted to move all of its 340 residents 9 miles upstream, CNN reports:...
Adam Lowry, The Man Behind the Method (Cleaning Products)
by Jacob Gordon, Nashville, TN on 04.30.09
Method cleaning products are the fitting accoutrement for the style and hygiene-minded ecophile. But Method is more than boutique toilet bowl cleaners; it is booming into one of the great success stories of the new economy. Adam Lowry, with his business partner Eric Ryan, has reinvented his field (and made huge returns). Method is a certified B Corporation, its products bear the Cradle to Cradle seal, and renewable energy and upcycling are daily fare. Adam Lowry explains to TreeHugger what’s new in the lab, and divulges Method’s problem-solving motto: “What would MacGyver do?” Listen to the podcast of this interview via iTunes, or just click here to listen, right-click to download. Also check out our interview with Jay Coen Gilbert, co-founder of B Lab. Full text after the jump. ...
DisneyNature Makes Good on Tree Planting Idea by Partnering With Nature Conservancy
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 04.30.09
Atlantic Forest, via Wikipedia
Yeah, I know - another DisneyNature thing in the same day? But this news item is worth noting since we discussed the issue back in March. DisneyNature had a plan to plant a tree for each person who bought a ticket to their Earth movie. We pointed out that it's a great idea, but we need proof positive that the tree planting is really happening, and where they said it was happening, before we could be comfortable with the marketing ploy. Well, they've partnered up with heavy hitter Nature Conservancy to make good on their promise. ...
The Bike Porter Integrates a Basket Into Handlebars
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 04.30.09
Images via Goodmorning Technology
A major function of a bike is to carry stuff, but where seats are built in, baskets and carriers are usually aftermarket add-ons. But just like every car has a trunk, every bike should have some way of carrying your groceries home. That is why the Bike Porter, designed by Danish designers Goodmorning Technology is so cool. Anything that makes a bike more useful is a good green step forward....
Construmat 2009: Casa Barcelona Housing Project Fits Everyone
by Petz Scholtus, Barcelona, Spain on 04.30.09
Last week, Construmat, the leading construction fair held in Barcelona, Spain, every two years, attracted some 153,000 visitors. Amongst the most interesting works exhibited was the Casa Barcelona,an innovative, social and sustainable housing proposal....
Calculating How Telecommuters Make a Difference
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 04.30.09
Image via SonicWALL
We at TreeHugger often make the point that telecommuting makes green sense in many situations. The trouble is convincing business managers of this. A new calculator by SonicWALL could help turn more managers on to allowing employees to telecommute once they see the financial and environmental benefits. ...
75 Companies Which Backed Global Climate Coalition Lies About Global Warming
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 04.30.09
photo: Tavis Ford
Late last week the fact came to light that now-defunct climate change denier group Global Climate Coalition's own scientists told them that the link between rising CO2 levels and global warming was real, but the group obviously paid no mind to that advice. In case you want to hold a grudge (I won't blame anyone...), No Impact Man has published a list of organizations which gave money to GCC:...
Portland Wants to Lap San Francisco in Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Race
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 04.30.09
Brian Keane of SmartPower, Renewable Energy Marketer: "We've Never Been Asked to Value Our Energy" (Part 2)
by Alex Pasternack, New York, NY on 04.30.09
Brian Keane is leading America's biggest clean energy marketing campaign, SmartPower. Amidst the din of promises over clean coal and fears about job losses, he and his team in Washington, DC, are working to make renewable energy and energy efficiency appealing to everyday Americans. "Amidst all the talk Obama is doing about clean jobs and improving our infrastructure, what's missing is public awareness. This needs to be out in mainstream America. People need to be able to walk into Home Depot and buy solar panels."
Here's part two of our interview (part one is here)....
Three-Quarters of All Fossil Fuel Reserves Must Be Left Unused to Avoid Dangerous Climate Change, Scientists Say
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 04.30.09
photo: L Gnome
According to two reports in Nature, if we want to keep global temperature rise due to climate change below 2°C then we will have to leave about three-quarters of all proven reserves of fossil fuels unused in the ground:...
Olestra the "Anal Leakage" Fat Gets Alternative Life As Green Replacement for VOCs
by April Streeter, Gothenburg, Sweden on 04.30.09
Pringles photo via williac @ flickr.
Remember when Procter & Gamble tried to downplay the fact that an overdose of the non-fat fat Olestra could give you diarrhea? Digestive problems, abdominal cramping, loose stools and best of all - anal leakage were all terms used to describe the effects of too much Olestra. Now Olestra's oily smoothness may be good for something besides salty snacks. In a stroke of green chemistry good luck, Procter & Gamble is marketing the Olestra "sucrose ester" as an environmentally-friendlier replacement for toxic volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in paint and other products. ...
DisneyNature Follows Up Earth Movie with Oceans Movie (Video)
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 04.30.09
Images via DisneyNature
Earth Day 2009 saw a big push from DisneyNature for its Earth movie. Next year, the oceans will get a little loving on Earth Day. DisneyNature has released a trailer for Oceans, which is slated to open on Earth Day 2010. Click through to watch the trailer....
Passive Houses Get Good Graphic Explanation
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 04.30.09
New York Times
The New York Times has a great graphic explanation of the principles of the Passive House, "airtight buildings that use heat from appliances and even the occupants' bodies for warmth." The Times notes that while they are popular in Germany and Scandinavia, they have not caught on in the US, where it seems that the "green gizmo" approach of adding photovoltaics and heat pumps rules over simplicity and efficiency. (and, admittedly, air conditioning is a bit more common)
...
In Defence of Stuff
by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 04.30.09
We recently pondered, of all we accumulate in a modern life, what 'stuff' is really important? We suggested that a life lived with less clutter might be more fulfilling and less strain on natural resources. But there is an interesting flip side to this notion. That it could also be argued that one can be equally ‘green’ by actually amassing heaps of stuff. Let me elaborate....
Change for the Environment: Empty Your Jars for Trees
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 04.30.09
Here is a Worthwhile Canadian Initiative: Just about everyone has small change kicking around the house, and it's such a pain to separate it all, roll it and take it to the bank. But they are trying something new in two Ontario cities for the next three days: Change for the Environment, where you bring in your change to any of dozens of stores accepting donations, and they will spend it all on the environment....
Last Incandescent Bulb Slips out of Grand Central Terminal
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 04.30.09
New York Times
The last of four thousand incandescent bulbs were changed to compact fluorescents at Grand Central Terminal in New York yesterday, which will save an estimated US$ 200,000 per year in electricity charges and reduce the amount of CO2 and mercury released into the atmosphere from coal burning electrical plants.
Passengers immediately started complaining of headaches, pallid skin tones and declared Grand Central a superfund site because of the 8,000 milligrams of mercury in all of the bulbs....
Carbon Labeling Toilet Paper: Who Does it Help?
by Sami Grover, Carrboro, NC, USA on 04.30.09
Image credit: The Guardian (Glad to see they helped US readers out by explaining what's in the picture!)
Do Carbon Labels Facilitate Better Choices?
I've already written about Greenpeace claims that soft toilet paper is worse than Hummers, but now UK retailer Tesco, which has long been promising a carbon-labeling scheme, is trying to help consumers decide for themselves. Their own-brand toilet paper will join their laundry detergent, orange juice, potatoes and light bulbs in displaying its carbon footprint prominently on the packaging. But will it make a difference?
...
Australia Commits $25.7 Million to Skills for the Carbon Challenge
by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 04.30.09
The Australian Government last week announced that it commit $25.7 million over four years to advance green jobs training under a project it is calling Skills for the Carbon Challenge in their media release:
Skills for the Carbon Challenge will drive the development and trial of qualifications and training resources that incorporate sustainability principles, green skills and responsive educational approaches in a number of key industries.
...
Cardboard Chair Competition Finalists Unveiled
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 04.30.09
House cats of the world rejoice, as the annual Cardboard Chair Design Student Competition results are announced today. Six finalists are being judged at the AIA convention in San Francisco for their designs. ...
Could Board Games Challenge Television in A Carbon Conscious World?
by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 04.30.09
Mark did a post the other day on a couple that have reduced the electronic clutter of their life and turned their back on TV, the internet and digital music. Some readers wondered what they did with their time instead. The post and comments led me to ponder my childhood, which was also bereft of such electrical contrivances. But we did have big sheets of brightly printed cardboard!
If we are truly committed to reducing our carbon emissions should we be turning off electricity guzzling televisions, in favour of rediscovering the person-to-person social, and brain exercising, benefits of good old board games? And if so, what classic (or new) games will you be dusting off?...
Missouri Said "No" To 8 Billion Dollar Nuclear Power Plant Expansion
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 04.30.09
Callaway Nuclear Power Plant, Missouri, USA. Image credit:Wikipedia
In the US State of Missouri a utility company, wishing to expand on an existing nuclear power generation facility site, sought legislation which would enable raising the electrical rates for existing customers to pay the future costs of that planned project. Taxpayers "reacted" badly, and both the legislation and expansion plans have been shelved. A local station, KOMU, has the full story, titled Powering Down Callaway II, here. Discussion of national context follows.
...
Are Factory Farms to Blame for Swine Flu?
by Pablo Paster, San Francisco on 04.30.09
Image Source: DailyMail.co.uk
Dear Pablo: I have been following the media field day on the outbreak of swine flu but I can't help but wonder if factory farms are to blame for swine flu?...
What Kind of 'Vore are you?
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 04.30.09
Over on Planet Green, Kelly notes that "there are lots of compelling reasons to become vegetarian, both personal and political, but not everyone is willing to give up meat consumption entirely. There is a growing trend towards being weekday vegetarians, or flexitarians. In a way, it's the old model of moderation in everything." It is also a lot cheaper, not an unimportant consideration in these times.
...
Patagonia Continue to Walk Their Eco Talk
by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 04.30.09
Photo: Patagonia
Patagonia, the outdoor clothier (and cobbler) with an inspiring eco-conscience, have had so much Greenness going on recently, it’s been tricky keeping on top of it all.
We noticed, for example, that Patagonia were selected for a featured April episode of US television program, Curiosity Quest, as the educational exploration series ‘Goes Green’ for a bunch of eps. And that Patagonia Footwear have launched their own Facebook page, as well as winning the Best Outdoor Vegan Shoe Retailer from PETA, of all people.
As their own Earth Day special, Patagonia updated their Footprint Chronicles, a web-based window into their environmental soul. As we’ve discussed before Patagonia make their fabric sourcing, product manufacturing and shipping processes transparent via this rather public online examination of their own business. ...
Free Books for Commuters
by Bonnie Alter, London on 04.30.09
All images from Choose What You Read
Every day commuters in London are hit with free newspapers; one in the morning and two at night. By the end of the day the subway looks like a cyclone has hit and everyone's mind is filled with rubbish about celebrities and murders.
Two friends got fed up and started a group called "Choose What you Read." With a little help from their mates they decided to hand out free books once a month at various subway stations, yelling "free books" to catch people's attention....
Kiehl's Superbly Restorative Argan Body Lotion Gets Limited-Edition Makeover, Supports Waterkeeper Alliance
by Jasmin Malik Chua, Jersey City, USA on 04.29.09
Photo credit: Kiehl's
Kiehl's Superbly Restorative Argan Body Lotion is like a long, cool drink, but for water-parched skin. Rich and creamy—and smelling scrumptiously of oranges and eucalyptus—the epidermal thirst-quencher gets its hydration power punch from fairly traded, organic argan oil, the beauty industry's miracle du jour, along with squalane, an olive-derived ingredient trumpeted for its enhanced absorption of antioxidants. Dewy? Supple? Yes and yes. The skin on my winter-chapped hands positively glowed.
To celebrate Earth month, Kiehl's is getting wet and wild over another moisture advocate—Waterkeeper Alliance, a grassroots organization that champions clean water—with a limited edition of its body lotion dressed up in labels designed in collaboration with Adrian Grenier, Kelly Slater, Erykah Badu, and Parsons The New School for Design. ...
The Truth Behind Swine Flu: Have Cheap Drugs & Greed Created a Pandemic?
by Kimberley D. Mok, Montreal, Canada on 04.29.09
Pigs confined in gestation cages (Photo: Farm Sanctuary on Flickr)Even if global coverage on the potential swine flu pandemic may be an over-reaction, it’s clear that the outbreak is still a serious issue (which you can now follow via Google Maps). All things considered, the outbreak seems to be the tip of the proverbial iceberg. In addition to the other questionable agribusiness practices of “confined animal feeding operations” – a new study by the Soil Association suggests that the overuse of antibiotics could also be a major factor in creating antibiotic resistant super-pathogens (aside from the mutant strain of viral swine flu wreaking havoc now). These bacterial "superbugs" include:...
Nuclear Espionage: French Spies Vs. Greenpeace
by Brian Merchant, Brooklyn, New York on 04.29.09
Photo via Atomic Age
It was a fierce game of cat and mouse that played out across international boundaries, between multimillion dollar organizations. Top secret information on nuclear reactors was snagged by spies—or was it? Things get complicated when it comes to Nuclear Espionage. No, that's not the voice over for the trailer from some spy thriller B-movie. It's a real life case involving one of the biggest nuclear power companies in Europe, conniving French spies, and the notorious environmental organization Greenpeace. And it could get nasty.
...
Honda & Toyota Making About $3,100 in Profits Per Hybrid
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 04.29.09
Hybrid Cars: Not Exactly a Loss Leaders
According to Japan's Nikkei, Toyota and Honda are making about ¥300,000 (US$3,100) on each hybrid they sell, a number similar to what they are making on gasoline-only cars. Of course, this doesn't take into account the investment in R&D that had to be made, but since that can be spread over many vehicles, over a long period of time, and since it can help automakers future-proof (a lot of hybrid tech will probably be useful in plug-in hybrids and electric cars), it would probably cost more not to make those investments. Read on for more details....
Thieves Target Xof1 Solar Car Team in New Orleans
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 04.29.09
Well, That Sucks...
It wasn't so long ago that we wrote about the Power of One (Xof1) Solar Car breaking a world distance record, and that's the kind of story we like to write about. But via our friends at Autobloggreen, we learn that someone broke into the solar car's support vehicle and stole an estimated $10,000 of stuff (including passports). What's even sadder is that in the video below, you can hear Marcelo da Luz explain how he gave up his job, mortgaged his house, maxed his credit card, etc, to get this project off the ground....
NuStats Finds GPS Navigation Systems Make Drivers 12% More Fuel Efficient
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 04.29.09
Photo: Flickr, CC
"drivers using navigation devices drove shorter distances and spent less time driving"
Before getting started, I must point out that this study was funded by Navteq (owned by Nokia), a digital mapping firm. The methodology and conclusions might still be spotless, but full disclosure is always best. Now back to the study: It "evaluated drivers without a navigation system, drivers with a navigation system, and drivers with a navigation system that included traffic", and all participants were people who had not used a GPS navigation device before. Read on to find out what they discovered......
Climate Bill Battle Heats Up – This Could Get Ugly
by Brian Merchant, Brooklyn, New York on 04.29.09
Photo via LA Times
That "mother of all climate weeks" that took place in Congress last week didn't seem to ease anyone's concerns about the Democrat's massive climate and energy bill. No, the furor has continued: Democrats, Republicans, the coal industry, environmentalists, electric companies, and automakers are all locked in a chaotic, ongoing debate that could change the face of America's industry, energy sector—and carbon footprint—forever....
Portland Rocks: Check Out Their Bike Rush Hour
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 04.29.09
Metal Roof Saves Money for Grandma
by Kristin Underwood, Sacramento, CA on 04.29.09
Image via: Victory Painting & Roofing
My grandmother has lived in the same house for as long as I have known her. We use to rollerskate on her backpatio in the hot, Texas summer heat and watch the purple martens in her birdhouse each spring. This year something was different. As we drove up to her house my mom slyly says “look what’s on grandmas roof. I’m not going to tell you; see for yourself.” It was late and dark, and at first I didn’t notice anything different. ...
We Just Might Have 37" OLED TVs Within the Next 18 Months
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 04.29.09
LG's 15-inch OLED TV via Engadget
Toshiba and Panasonic are both looking to put OLED TVs on the market ASAP, and in sizes that people will buy. Rumor has it, Panasonic wants to introduce an larger size OLED TV within the next 18 months to 2 years, and Toshiba is helping them advance the technology that will help accomplish that goal. ...
3% of US GDP for Science Research & Development, Obama Tells National Academy of Sciences
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 04.29.09
photo: National Academy of Sciences
In amongst all the swine flu news of the past few days, remarks made by President Obama at the National Academy of Sciences regarding an historic investment in science research may have passed you by. Obama touted that in his budget there is the largest investment in science in the history of the nation: More than 3% of US GDP being allocated to research and development. Here's the relevant text:
...
Green Roof in LA Provides Vegetables for Restaurant Below
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 04.29.09
Green roofs weigh a lot; this makes it hard to retrofit them to existing buildings. Plant Architects had some fun putting one on the Royal Ontario Museum, and now in LA, architect Alexis Rochas puts one on an old Holiday Inn that was converted to a condo. He faced a similar problem of having to build a very thin, light structure. Sam Lubell describes it:
...
$93 Million of Stimulus Money for Wind Power Released by Dept of Energy
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 04.29.09
photo: Yuki Yaginuma via flickr.
The latest in the ongoing allocation of money coming out of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act: The Department of Energy has announced that $93 million has been made available to support wind power. Here's how that money breaks down:...
Katharine Harvey Builds Monster Plastic Bottle Chandelier
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 04.29.09
Waterfall (Nuit Blanche), 2008, 6000 lbs of recycled water bottles, hockey arena netting, aircraft cable, 30 x 74 x 20 feet
Artist Katharine Harvey has created work out of waste and plastic before, like her installation for ScotiaBank Nuit Blanche last fall, but in honour of Earth Week she recently topped that with a 21 foot tall, 15 foot wide chandelier that was installed in Santiago Calatrava's Galleria in Toronto.
...
Check Out a New Search Engine for Renewable Energy News... And Much More
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 04.29.09
Though it's been billed as a new search engine for renewable energy, reegle is really much much more than that. It aggregates energy news, has a pretty great map detailing renewable energy projects around the world (as well as country profiles), and provides links for energy industry players in government, business, media and academia across the globe:...
GooGooSwap Your Baby Stuff for Cheap
by Kristin Underwood, Sacramento, CA on 04.29.09
Image via: GooGooSwap.com
Just in time for Mother's Day, is GooGooSwap, (think: Freecycle for the baby world) - perfect for all moms and moms-to-be. And no, they're not swapping babies (sounds like the next reality show, eh?). Tired of the overpriced cost of baby items that have a shelf-life of just a few months? (what could be more un-environmental?) Tired of the plethora of baby "stuff" that you get from all of the showers but don't know what to do with? Read on. ...
A Day in the Life of a Solar Installer (Updated)
by Kristin Underwood, Sacramento, CA on 04.29.09
Image via: Author's collection
So I originally wrote about my job as a solar installer almost two years ago. Since that time, I have worked on many jobs in many cities, including international sites, and I have received many emails from readers wondering how they can get a green job in the solar field. I've also read over that old article and realized that I was a baby when I wrote it and that my impressions of the field have changed. Here is an update to the article with tips on how to get a job, what to look out for and how things have changed over the years. Plus I answer commonly asked questions from the emails that I received....
Is Public Transit "Liberal" and Cars "Conservative"?
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 04.29.09
Miss Concrete and Miss Blacktopp open a highway through Wisconsin
Andrew Sullivan points to David Schaengold's article in The Public Discourse about why it is, and why it shouldn't be:
Sadly, American conservatives have come to be associated with support for transportation decisions that promote dependence on automobiles, while American liberals are more likely to be associated with public transportation, city life, and pro-pedestrian policies. This association can be traced to the ’70s, when cities became associated with social dysfunction and suburbs remained bastions of ‘normalcy.’ This dynamic was fueled by headlines mocking ill-conceived transit projects that conservatives loved to point out as examples of wasteful government spending. Of course, just because there is a historic explanation for why Democrats are “pro-transit” and Republicans are “pro-car” does not mean that these associations make any sense....
SF Mayor Gavin Newsom Ups the Ante in Electric Vehicle Race with Portland
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 04.29.09
photo: Gavin Newsom via flickr.
San Francisco and Portland, Oregon are trying to one-up each other in the race to develop the first citywide, full-scale electric vehicle infrastructure. In a guest post for Gas 2.0 Mayor Gavin Newsom has turned up the collegial war of words, outlining what San Francisco has done since announcing it wanted to be the electric vehicle capital of the US, back in November:...
New EcoView Monitor Slips to Sleep When It Can't See You
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 04.29.09
Image via Eizo
Ezio Nanao has added a new feature into its FlexScan monitor line, called "EcoView Sense." Basically, it's a feature that slips it into sleep mode quickly. But it's not just when there's no activity on the screen... Nope. This monitor knows when you're there, or when you've up and walked off. ...
Paper to Pearls Offers 15% Off Unique Jewelry Collection
by Kara DiCamillo, Newport, Rhode Island on 04.29.09
What do you get when you combine a unique non-profit with eco-friendly jewelry? Paper to Pearls (and we just love that name)! The amazing project is a micro-enterprise initiative working with 125 women in eight different refugee camps in Northern Uganda. The women create jewelry by hand-rolling beads from recycled paper. The income they earn from the sale of the jewelry enables them to buy food, medicines and schooling for their children. In addition, Paper to Pearls provides on-going training to empower the women to build and manage their own businesses....
Obama Timeline: First 100 Days of Green
by Brian Merchant, Brooklyn, New York on 04.29.09
Audubon and Toyota Team Up to Promote Volunteering, Give Away Prizes
by Daniel Kessler, San Francisco, California on 04.29.09
Photo courtesy of Audubon
The Audubon Society and Toyota are teaming up to promote volunteering for the environment by offering prizes, including tents and bikes, to those who log the most volunteer hours....
More Biofuel Woes: One Third of US Biodiesel Plants Sitting Idle
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 04.29.09
Watering soybeans in Nebraska, photo: John Holm
If you follow biofuel news on TreeHugger you've probably read about ethanol manufacturers not having an easy time of it in the past six months. Well, apparently Nebraska biodiesel producers aren't doing so well either:...
Would You Live in a House Made of Sh*t?
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 04.29.09
That is the provocative title in Fast Company, about EcoFaeBrick, made from cow dung. It is 20% lighter and 20% stronger than clay brick, it prevents the environmental damaged caused by digging up clay, reduces carbon emissions and increases the income of local farmers.
But did they have to give it such a, well, crappy name? ...
Bag the Habit Has Reusable Bags and Produce Bags Bagged
by Jasmin Malik Chua, Jersey City, USA on 04.29.09
Photo credit: Bag the Habit
Bag the Habit takes the now-ubiquitous reusable shopper—thank God for small favors—uptown with a sleek, chic, and partly recycled tote that folds up into a dainty pouch for slipping into your purse or pocket with ease.
Founded by Liz Long, a fellow Jersey City resident and—full disclosure—a former co-worker of my sister's, Bag the Habit has gone a makeover of its own, even as it attempts to make over our consumer addiction to disposable plastic bags. Gone are the boxy brown, green, and tan carryalls, which have been replaced by a trio of va-va-voom stylish A-line sacks in indigo, plum, and chocolate, complete with padded handles. ...
Really Cool Wooden Gadgets from Russia
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 04.29.09
Photo via English Russia
Remember our Wooden Computers Slideshow? Well the cool and beautiful wooden gadgetry doesn't end with PC cases. English Russia has some neat examples of more cool gadgets made from wood, like this cell phone carefully carved from apple wood. ...
The Illustrated Atlas of Wildlife
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 04.29.09
When Jasmin wrote her post No Kidding, One in Three Children Fear Earth Apocalypse, over two hundred commenters accused environmentalists of "scaring kids with doom and gloom stories in the classroom, on the TV, and afterschool programs."
But in fact, kids are naturally sensitive to the plight of wildlife and nature and can't get enough of the subject, whether apocalyptic or not. Any trip to a museum or review of a good book on nature will teach them that many species have or are going extinct, whatever the cause. It has nothing to do with brainwashing and indoctrination, it is reality that goes back a lot further than the dinosaurs.
No matter what your politics, anyone who looks at the new Illustrated Atlas of Wildlife will come away as a bit of an environmentalist....
Do Bicycle Helmet Laws Do More Harm Than Good?
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 04.29.09
Dramatic ad from the AIP Foundation
Whenever I write about bicycle helmets, (which I always wear) we get comments that invariably say:
Studies have determined that the helmet is even counter-productive, where it became mandatory, the use of bicycles decreased dramatically, and the less there are bikes in the streets, the less drivers get accustomed to their presence. Dutch do not wear helmets, and they know about bicycles.So which studies? What do they really say? It is a good time to ask, because a new one just came out that claims that "bicycle helmet laws could do more harm than good." But one has to separate the issue of wearing helmets from the issue of helmet laws. ...
Geoengineering to the Rescue! Climate Change Deniers' Latest Foot-Dragging Tactic
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 04.29.09
Open coal mine, photo: Bert via flickr.
The vast, vast majority of geoengineering researchers acknowledge that their proposals are a last ditch effort to stop runaway climate change, to be deployed only if rapid and deep cuts in greenhouse gas emissions aren't made. But what about those climate change deniers-cum-geoengineering advocates who are more interested in dragging their feet to preserve their polluting industries? WorldChanging has a run down of who is supporting geoengineering for ecologically nefarious, if financially advantageous ends:...
Yerba Mate Factory Restored into Cool Efficient Office Venue in Buenos Aires
by Paula Alvarado, Buenos Aires on 04.29.09
As you might know, one of the greenest ways of building is not building at all: that is, taking advantage of existing structures and modernizing them for new uses (not going the demolition way). Apart from saving tons of resources, this can have a special meaning when the building you're saving is iconic to a neighborhood.
This is what happened with the Cruz de Malta yerba mate factory in Buenos Aires, a endeared building that was falling apart and was completely brought back to life by BerdichevskyCherny architects into an offices venue. Apart from recovering the place, the architects incorporated features like natural lightning and ventilation and open spaces that can be adapted for almost any use. See many pics and explanation in the extended....
E.O. Wilson Tells TH Environmentalism is "Fundamental" for Humans [Video]
by Alex Pasternack, New York, NY on 04.29.09
Credit: Bob Sascha
E.O. Wilson, the towering naturalist and Pulitzer-prize winning writer, hatched the idea for the Encyclopedia of Life in 2003 as a way of chronicling all of the world's species, Wikipedia-style. "How can you save things you don't even know are there?" he asked TreeHugger after delivering the keynote address at the Goldman Environmental Prize ceremony at the Smithsonian in Washington, DC last week. Interestingly, he pointed out, saving things is a fundamental part of human existence, no better exemplified than by the impressive Goldman Prize winners that night. But, he added, "it's not easy being green, as Kermit the Frog says!" See the video below....
Fortune Data Centers Starts Up Greener Operations in Silicon Valley
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 04.29.09
Photo via Fortune Data Centers
Fortune Data Centers is commencing operations in a new greener facility in San Jose, California. The facility emphasizes a better way to cool down hot servers, giving the center a Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) rating of 1.37 - pretty close to rivaling that of Microsoft and Google who are duking it out for best efficiency ratings. ...
Philadelphia Announces Ambitious Sustainability Plan
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 04.29.09
Reading Terminal Market in Philadelphia PA. Image credit:Urban Pranksters Network
The City of Philadelphia has announced, via PRWeb, that "...Greenworks Philadelphia, an ambitious, comprehensive framework to make Philadelphia the greenest city in the United States of America by 2015. It sets goals in five areas -- energy, environment, equity, economy and engagement -- and encompasses more than 150 initiatives." The City has established 15 metrics or "targets," including the planting of 300,000 trees; diverting 70% of waste from landfills; and, ......
7 Hollywood Hotties and Their Hot Green Cars, Round 2 (Slideshow)
by Emma Grady, New York, NY on 04.29.09
Crash star Thandie Newton at the wheel of her Toyota Prius, photo via Greenpeace UK.
From crush-worthy Crash star Thandie Newton's celebrity-favorite Toyota Prius (pictured) to Paris Hilton's GMC Yukon Hybrid, these seven celebrity hotties are cooling their carbon emissions and scaling down their rides with their hot-green wheels.
When celebrities can afford a custom-made pink Bentley Continental GT (click the 'slideshow' button below) it's refreshing to see investments that curb gas consumption whether it's an eco-oriented decision or an aesthetic preference. Just because a celebrity drives green doesn't warrant them eco-celebrity status. You tuned in for last month's Hollywood Hunks and Their Hot Green Cars, and this month we have their female counterparts with 7 Hollywood Hotties and Their Hot Green Cars slideshow, mixing the eco-celebs in with the plain-old celebs.
...
Qnuru's Solar Landscape Lighting Might Make You Think Again About LEDs
by April Streeter, Gothenburg, Sweden on 04.29.09
The outdoor Cumuli cable-suspended lamp has solar panels above and LEDs below. Via Qnuru.
OK, I can admit it - I was one of those people that a few years ago ran out and bought those generic-looking solar garden path lamps and strung them all along the walkways up to my front door. Subsequently I was hugely disappointed that the lamps' weak pale glow wasn't enough to keep people from tripping over them and falling into the flower beds. Since then, solar LED lighting, especially for commercial applications, has taken huge leaps in beauty and functionality, and newcomer Qnuru's designs - by sculptor Tom Joyce - reflect the advances....
Solar-Powered Speakers Make For Less Guilt, More Boogie
by Jerry James Stone, San Francisco, CA on 04.29.09
Photo credit: designboom
Pekka Salokannel's Gramo Speaker concept is an eco -- and aural -- treat.
They've been specifically designed for a digital music lifestyle. They can cozy up to your laptop, transform into a tabletop speaker, or be taken on a picnic along with your iPod. Oh yeah, and they're powered completely by three layers of photovoltaic panels!
And for any nocturnal booty-shaking you might have planned, the solar panels charge an internal battery pack . But it's their portability that's the real win. The speakers can completely unfold so they are flat enough to carry around in your pocket.
...
Which Has Lower Emissions Per Mile: An Electric-Assist Bicycle or Electric Scooter?
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 04.29.09
While I'm an advocate of getting out and using your own two feet for transportation as much as possible, sometimes you just want a little more oomph around town. Which is where the old reliable, pedal-powered bicycle comes into play and has served admirably well, and super efficiently, for some time—in many cases the bike is the personal mobility vehicle par excellence. But what if you live in a hilly place or just want a little electric help on your daily two-wheeled commute? What ends up using more energy and what are the resultant carbon emissions, an electric-assist bicycle or electric scooter? ...
Sneak Peek at Environmental Film "Home" Released (Video)
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 04.29.09
Google's Blog announced that a 90-minute, full-length documentary called Home will be available on YouTube on June 5, right on time for World Environment Day. The film is a collection of aerial footage of our planet, and shows why we have go go into high-speed mode when it comes to preservation efforts. It sounds amazing, and luckily, you don't have to wait until June 5 to get a taste. Click through for a sneak preview. ...
NPR's Interactive Power Grid Map Shows Who's Got the Power
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 04.29.09
Image via NPR
NPR has put out an interesting interactive map detailing the US's power grid and sources of power. By clicking through the map, you can see where different types of power plants are located, the concentration of those types of power, and the different capacities for renewable energy generation like solar and wind for different areas. ...
April Eco-Tidbits from Turkey
by Jennifer Hattam, Istanbul, Turkey on 04.29.09
Turkey is building new wind turbines and throwing away more cell phones. Photos by jesse.millan (left) and Gaetan Lee via Flickr.
Though it was hard to get beyond the Obamania this month, the U.S. president's visit to Turkey helped spotlight climate-change issues and demonstrate the capabilities of Istanbul's public-transit system. After a little time to recover from the collective swoon, we now once again wrap up some of the month's environmental news from Turkey, developments that prompted reactions of both "süper" (yep, just like in English, but with an umlaut) and "maalesef" (unfortunately):...
What the Heck is a Zozo?!
by Sami Grover, Carrboro, NC, USA on 04.29.09
Stop Kissing To Stop The Swine Flu
by Karin Kloosterman, Tel Aviv on 04.29.09
Over here on TreeHugger, we've been following the spread of the swine flu virus and have even given readers a complete guide - What You Need To Know About Swine Flu.
Tips like washing your hands, recognizing symptoms and anti-social behavior are among our top tips, but now with a new case reported in Israel yesterday, Middle East health officials are getting quite creative with their advice.
The Health Minister of Lebanon suggests that people stop kissing. ...
Sustainable Group Hosts Carnival of the Green
by Kara DiCamillo, Newport, Rhode Island on 04.29.09
This week is Carnival of the Green #177 and it's being hosted by our friend Brad Hole over at Sustainable Group's brand new blog. The company recently launched a hot new redesign of their site, so make sure to tour around a bit while you're there.
So, with that said, head on over to check out Sustainable Group and to read this week's Carnival, which includes a round up of green news and events from the past week, submitted by other bloggers and green sites.
We are now accepting host requests for 2010! Read on to find out how to host....
South Africa’s New Joule and a Waste Free Year in New Zealand, Via Renew Magazine
by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 04.29.09
Photos: ATA and Optimal Energy
I never know where to start with Renew Magazine, it’s so packed with useful knowledge every issue. And it’s no different with the April-June 2009 edition of the magazine, whose tagline is ‘technology for a sustainable future.’
There is, for example, a special feature article from the GreenPainters, which covers the whole gamut of eco-paints. Apparently plant-based paints account for almost 10% of all paint sales in Europe and reflective paints can improve a building’s insulative properties by up to 40%. Renew complements the informative article with a massive table of over 50 different individual paint from the ten leading eco-paint suppliers in Australia.
Renew goes on to review 10 new electric cars, including a few that even our every vigilant transport editor, Mike, hasn’t reported on. Like the spunky little Joule from Optimal Energy (pictured above), which is expected to have a range of 400 km (~250 miles) when it hits South African roads in late 2010. ...
Could You Live Without A Computer at Home?
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 04.29.09
Someday I will get a better quality image from the Credits of SCTV, but in the meantime, Mark has written about an Unplugged Couple Green and Happy, who "make a conscious decision not to get too deep into the techno-soup. For starters this means no time, money, or planetary resources wasted on blogging, tweeting, IM, or emails."
Now we are sort of playing to the choir here, but
...
Masai Warriors and their Search for Water: One Year Later
by Bonnie Alter, London on 04.29.09
Image from The Times
The heart warming story at last year's London Marathon was the group of six Masai warriors who came to London to raise awareness and money to bring clean water to their village in Tanzania. The press and the public were fascinated to hear about these men who wore tires for shoes, carried swords and had never been on an airplane, or sipped tea.
They raised more than £100,000 ($147,000) and then the real challenges began. The villagers welcomed them back as heroes and expected that they would find water overnight.
...
Follow the Swine Flu (H1N1) with Google Maps
by Christine Lepisto, Berlin on 04.29.09
Image: Google Maps
As of now, 93% of readers told the TreeHugger Swine Flu Survey that they think the pandemic headlines are an over-reaction, or that they are washing their hands more but not avoiding public events. Only a few admit to real concerns.
OK, so most of us are keeping our heads about us, as seems proper in the early stages of an outbreak. But the World Health Organization early this morning increased the alert level to Phase 4, indicating the likelihood of a pandemic has increased. The specialists are doing their jobs, trying to stop the thing in its tracks. In spite of the advantages a disease has in the era of globalization and air travel, this swine flu will have to fight its way past some of the best prepared epidemiologists and disease control plans ever faced by an ambitious virus. But if you do want to keep your own finger on the pulse of the spread of swine flu (so you can at least tell your grandkids about that "flu of ought-9"), you can follow the spread of H1N1 Swine Flu on Google Maps....
Why Choose Compostable If It's Still Going in a Landfill?
by Kristin Underwood, Sacramento, CA on 04.28.09
Image via: Flickr.com
These days everything says eco-friendly, natural, biodegradable, and compostable (not to mention a myriad of other mysterious environmental words. Sounds good, right? But is it worth spending the extra couple of bucks if the item won't actually make it to its eco-grave? I've often wondered that as I wander the supermarket - big deal if this corn-container is compostable, its still going in the garbage can. Then when it makes it to the landfill, it won't break down any better than the plastic clam-shell sitting right next to it. So, is it still worth purchasing the compostable item in hopes that somehow, someway it will breathe its last breath in a compost bin instead of a landfill? ...
20 Gut-Wrenching Statistics About the Destruction of the Planet and those Living Upon It
by Eric Leech, New York, NY on 04.28.09
Photo via: gfpeck
Every so often it is good to remind ourselves why we are working so hard to protect the environment and all its creatures. While many of these statistics are depressing, the good news is that we are currently working towards a solution for each one of these and making some pretty sizable progress.
...
In Denmark, the Police Give out Bike Helmets and Hugs
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 04.28.09
Sentenced for Crimes against the Environment
by Roberta Cruger, Los Angeles on 04.28.09
Striped bass protected against overfishing. Photo via Flickr: by J Bary
Seems the U.S. Justice Department is pulling out the handcuffs for pirates in our own waters and charging culprits with conspiracy. Over the last month, the Department of Justice has sentenced Maryland commercial fishermen to prison for overfishing, nabbed a Michigan wastewater treatment plant for illegal discharges, slammed a South Korean cargo ship with over $2 million in fines for falsifying marine pollution records, and sentenced a sewer pipe maker with "routine" violations of the Clean Water and Clean Air acts. The message to offenders: the eco-police are watching and waiting to prosecute. ...
Ed and Rachelle Begley on Oprah Tomorrow
by Alan Graham, Portland, Oregon on 04.28.09
Tomorrow, Wed April 29th, Ed Begley Jr. and his wife Rachelle will be appearing on the Oprah Winfrey show. Oprah will be interviewing Rachelle in studio while Ed gives a tour of their home via Skype. I've been lucky enough to tour the house myself, so DO NOT MISS IT!
Be sure to check your local listings for show times and don't forget to set the DVR. ...
Lead From e-Waste Ending Up In Alaskan Waters
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 04.28.09
Photo via Alaskan Dude
A little reminder on why dumping e-waste is really bad. Toxic junk from TVs and gadgets in Alaska's Anchorage Regional Landfill is pumped out of the dump, and ends up in the ocean. ...
CSI Wildlife, Episode 4: Studying Elephants with GPS and Hair Analysis
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 04.28.09
Photo: Flickr, CC
CSI Wildlife Returns for a 4th episode!
In the old days, it was extremely hard to keep track of wild animals, and even if you could do it, the amount of information it gave you about their health could be limited. But now thanks to technology, researchers are keeping track of elephants in the Samburu region of northern Kenya, and by analyzing of their tail hairs, they can find out more about the giants' diet. Read on for more details....
Aveda Gets Cradle-to-Cradle Certification for 7 Products, a Beauty Industry First
by Jasmin Malik Chua, Jersey City, USA on 04.28.09
Photo credit: Getty Images
Score another one for making pretty sustainable: Aveda has become the first beauty company in the world—and only the second American company in any industry—to receive the Cradle-to-Cradle (C2C) seal of approval, achieving Gold Level certification for seven of its products, as well as Silver Level certification for its packaging.
Pioneered by sustainability consultancy McDonough Braungart Design Chemistry, the concept of C2C design describes sustainable products that use safe and environmentally healthy materials, implement material reutilizatlon (such as recycling or composting) with an eye toward zero waste, use renewable energy or establish energy efficiency, make efficient use of water, and institute strategies for social responsibility. ...
China, India to Rich Nations: $200 Billion to Fight Climate Change, Please
by Brian Merchant, Brooklyn, New York on 04.28.09
Photo via Windows to the Universe
China, India, and South Africa have an interesting proposal to the industrialized world: give them $200 billion a year, and they'll use it to fight climate change. As Bloomberg points out, that's around 0.5% of all of the rich nations' entire economic output. But that's not all that the three countries are asking for . . ....
Swine Flu Reveals: What's Bad for the Environment is Bad for Human Health
by Brian Merchant, Brooklyn, New York on 04.28.09
Photo via Current
If you've managed to avoid the incessant coverage thus far, here's what you need to know about swine flu. If you haven't, then you know that 150 people are dead from the disease in Mexico, Europe has encouraged travelers to cancel travel plans to the North America, and the disease has hit as many as 4 different continents. The disease itself frightening, yes—though perhaps no reason for all-out panic. But the way there's something else worth noting about swine flu—it developed and spread thanks to some of the most environmentally damaging human practices that our modern world relies upon. ...
Video: Chevy Volt Preview
by Daniel Kessler, San Francisco, California on 04.28.09
Good Causes at the Green Living Show
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 04.28.09
There was lots of green consumerism at the Green Living Show, but also people representing green non-profits of all kinds. Like the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment: Thousands of Doctors who work together to "educate physicians on environmental issues, providing them with both accurate information and a framework for thinking about environmental problems." They are concerned about Ecosystem Health, Human Health and Sustainable Development. ...
Graph of the Day: Driving VS Residential Density
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 04.28.09
We have always known intuitively that people who live downtown drive less, but this graph shows how dramatic the effect actually is: If you live in a single family detached house you are likely to drive 15,000 miles per year; if you live in townhouses a third less; if you live in highrises less than a third.
But the most interesting factor is that we don't all have to live in "Soviet-style concrete-block high-rises and be forced to take state-run streetcars to their little jobs at the mill", as one Bloomberg correspondent described it. Just moving to townhouses or midrises makes a huge difference....
Cool Interactive US Wind, Solar & Biomass Power Potential Map Released by NRDC
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 04.28.09
A couple weeks ago NRDC and the Audubon Society released a Google Earth layer that mapped out what areas in the western United States are and should be off-limits to protect certain ecosystems and wildlife habitat. Now the NRDC has released a companion map (not for Google Earth) that shows wind farms, advanced biofuel facilities and biodigester projects either existing or planned, across the whole country, as well as color coding the energy potential for each technology:...
World's Biggest Wind Turbine Maker Vestas Announces 1,900 Layoffs
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 04.28.09
3-megawatt wind turbines. Photo: Vestas
That's the Way the Wind is Blowing Now...
A little over a week ago I wrote about the custom wind turbines that Vestas would be making for China. Well, this week the news aren't quite as good. We've known for a while that the recession was hitting the company hard, but now we have confirmation. Vestas will make a 9% cut in its work force, which is about 1,900 jobs, mostly in the UK and Denmark. Read on for more details....
Ford Fusion Hybrid Gets 81.5 MPG in Hypermiling Challenge
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 04.28.09
Photo: Ford
Update: Ford has released news about its upcoming electric Focus:
Ford Shows Electric Focus Prototype at Frankfurt Auto Show
Drew Barrymore to Drive Jay Leno's Electric Ford Focus Tonight
1,445.7 Miles on One Tank of Gas
As a way to demonstrate the fuel efficiency of its 2010 Fusion hybrid, Ford created the 1,000 Mile Challenge. The goal was simple: To drive 1,000 miles or more on a single tank of fuel (17.5 gallons) in an unmodified Fusion hybrid. The route used sounds like it was pretty varied, with one part of it in Washington DC that had about 30 light signals (so it wasn't just highway driving). The results were pretty impressive, though not quite the 124 MPG that the Honda Insight got in a different hypermiling challenge, but the Fusion hybrid is much bigger and heavier, and I'm not sure if the Insight did city driving. Read on for more details....
Unplugged Couple Green and Happy
by Mark Ontkush, Boston, Massachusetts, USA on 04.28.09
Image by The Boston Globe
No TV. No microwave. No mp3s. No Facebook. No Internet. Few words on the cell phone. No iPod. No car! So say Cara (27) and Alan (31) Kalf, who have deliberately chosen to forsake a whole slew of commonplace gadgetry and habitry to simplify their lives. Objective - happiness. Turns out it seems to be good for them and the globe as well; is Unplugged the new green trend?...
Dept. of Interior Declares Existing Mountaintop Coal Removal Policy a "Major Misstep"
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 04.28.09
photo: Tami A. Heilemann/Department of the Interior
In another encouraging move by the Department of the Interior, Secretary Ken Salazar has said that the Bush administration ruling allowing mountaintop removal coal mining operations to dispose of waste in nearby streams was a "major misstep" and "bad public policy":...
Green and Responsible CFL Vendors sell the Light, not the Bulb
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 04.28.09
A common complaint we hear about compact fluorescents is that milligram of mercury is going to kill us if it gets into the air or into the landfills. Like most things that go into landfills or recycling bins, like pop bottles and electronics, there wouldn't be a problem if there was producer responsibility for what they sell. It becomes less like a product and more like a service, where we are purchasing a delivery and recovery system as well as the actual product, in this case a CFL. Sort of selling the light, not the bulb.
That is why the new Earthmate CFLs from Waste Management are so intriguing; they "close the sustainability loop" by selling them in a box that includes postage so you can send them back. ...
Using Face Masks Properly To Help Avoid Most Kinds Of Yucky Airborne Things
by greenz.jp, Tokyo, Japan on 04.28.09
Photo by Garry Trinh
Here in Japan, face masks are a common sight. Visitors often wonder why ordinary people wear what appears to be white surgical masks as they take the subway or walk around town. Face masks have evolved as a kind of courtesy: if you have caught a cold, you wear a mask to avoid spreading the germs to others. Also, masks may help people who suffer from allergies.
But how effective are face masks really? Do they help against swine flu?
Now, photos from Mexico show people wearing a simple, blue surgical mask. They could indeed be helpful, to some extent, to avoid the spreading of certain diseases. Go ahead and use them, but I hesitate to say that they will do much to save you if you are too near a person with a full-blown virus infection. Do change the mask often, and take other precations (like carefully washing hands with hot water and soap)....
Tesla Model S to Appear on David Letterman, On Display in NYC
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 04.28.09
April 30th and May 1st at the Plaza Hotel
Tesla World's Largest Solar Tower Now Powers 10,000 Homes
by Brian Merchant, Brooklyn, New York on 04.28.09
Photo via Abengoa
The world's largest solar power tower just began operating outside Seville, Spain—and it marks a historic moment in the saga of renewable energy. The solar tower PS20, seen above right next to its smaller sister PS10, produced even more power than expected over the course of its trial testing. It's been confirmed that the groundbreaking solar tower generates 20 megawatts of electricity: and it's now powering 10,000 homes with renewable energy. ...
84% Reduction in Jet Fuel Carbon Emissions Possible Using Camelina, New Analysis Shows
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 04.28.09
photo: Wikipedia
Test flights earlier in 2009 by Japan Airlines and Continental Airlines showed that biofuels were more efficient than petro-fuels when used as aviation fuel, and now a new life-cycle analysis shows that jet fuel made from camelina does indeed go a long way towards reducing carbon emissions from flying:...
UK Bans New Coal Power Plants Without Carbon Capture and Storage
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 04.28.09
photo: The Writing Zone via flickr.
The UK government has announced new regulations that prohibit building any new coal power plants, if those plants don't have carbon capture and storage incorporated into them. It sounds like at least a step in the right direction—though Cleantech points out that it's not expected to really deter new power plants—but when you look at it isn't nearly as large a step as it might seem:...
Big Coal Scare Tactic: South Carolina Utility Claims 50% Increase In Power Bills From Cap & Trade
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 04.28.09
Coal-storage, Santee-Cooper Plant. Image credit:The State, Tim Dominick
This excerpt from an article in The State exemplifies the main 'talking point' being used to oppose Cap & Trade in the most coal-dependent US states: "But in a state like South Carolina, which relies on coal -- a source of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide -- to generate 61 percent of its electricity, the [Cap & Trade] proposal could lead to as much as a 50 percent hike in electric bills, utility officials say." The political advocacy basis of this "as much as" claim is underscored by the fact that the State of South Carolina actually owns a large coal-fired power plant and distributes coal-fired power to millions of State residents. Free market advocates were right - beware creeping coal-ism!
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12 Vegetables with the Most Pesticides (Slideshow)
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 04.28.09
Photo credit: Getty Images / Robin MacDougall
TreeHuggers know that eating organic is better for people and the planet, but do you know which veggies are most important to buy organic? As a follow-up to our previous run-down of the 12 Fruits with the Most Pesticides, we present the 12 veggies most likely to be laden with pesticides.
Thanks to the Environmental Working Group's Shopper's Guide to Pesticides for crunching the numbers on pesticide laden-veggies.
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EcoTipping Point - What's In It For You
by Earthwatch Institute on 04.28.09
Ecotipping points often involve obvious actions. Image credit:J. Pfeiffer.
After Earth Day, what's next? Earth Week certainly isn't going to get us where we need to be. Ditto for Earth Month. How about Earth Life?
In other words, how about using your life as leverage to tip things in an ecological direction?
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Is "Green Disposable Cutlery" a Contradiction in Terms?
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 04.28.09
Aleem Virani complains that "for five months I have been sending tips to TreeHugger and you never show my product. " No wonder- he sells disposable cutlery, not exactly the most TreeHugger correct product when we encourage restaurants and customers to stop using disposables. But when you meet him in person, Aleem tells a convincing story.
Whether we like it or not, 100 billion individual disposable pieces of plastic cutlery are used and thrown out each year. Greenware's wooden disposables are made from FSC certified wood and are completely compostable. ...
Bamboo Chairs, Retractable Tables by Union Elemental
by Paula Alvarado, Buenos Aires on 04.28.09
Photos: Courtesy of Union Elemental.
Bogota-based firm Union Elemental makes these neat pieces of furniture using only bamboo and sustainable wood combined with stainless steel.
Besides the green credits for using bamboo (What's so great about bamboo?), some of the pieces by the Colombian firm get some extra points for practicality in small spaces. Especially cool are the retractable tables that fold into the wall.
Check more pictures in the extended....
The Green house of the Future in the Wall Street Journal
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 04.28.09
William McDonough + Partners
The Wall Street Journal asked four architects to:
design an energy-efficient, environmentally sustainable house without regard to cost, technology, aesthetics or the way we are used to living. The idea was not to dream up anything impossible or unlikely -- in other words, no antigravity living rooms. Instead, we asked the architects to think of what technology might make possible in the next few decades. They in turn asked us to rethink the way we live.The results are fascinating. Where some might say that the green gizmo-covered single family house in Greenwich is over, this is the Wall Street Journal, and hey, they all have their old salaries back, the boys are back in town, so whatever, there's no need to really rethink the way we live. ...
Christopher Raeburn - Hot New Fashion Kid on the Block Featured in Guardian
by Leonora Oppenheim, London, UK on 04.28.09
After spotting Christopher Raeburn's designs at Estethica in February we marked him down as one of TreeHugger's top fashion tips for 2009. Raeburn's jackets made from redeployed military fabrics are perfect urban chic with a unique style and fantastic design detailing. In one understated fell swoop he has raised the game of ethical fashion design. Today we are delighted to see that the Guardian has featured Christopher's work. Click through to find out what Christopher has to say about his designs......
Norwegians Debate Government Support for Electric Car Industry
by Sami Grover, Carrboro, NC, USA on 04.28.09
Image credit: ElectricAid.org
Norwegian Politicians Exploring Guarantees for EV Manufacturers
There have been some promising signs that Norwegian electric car manufacturer TH!NK is coming to the US, but times remain tough. Having narrowly escaped bankruptcy, the company is currently operating at limited capacity due to lack of funds. But the Norwegian EV Association (NORSTART) and ElectricAid.org tell us pressure is mounting on the Norwegian government to provide credit guarantees for electric vehicle production. Early signs are good that the politicians are responding.
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Green Apple Festival Numbers Counted, Volunteers Turned Out in Droves
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 04.28.09
TreeHugger founder Graham Hill, Bryan Hughes of Planet Green, and many other volunteers at Koshland Community Garden.
The Green Apple Festival hoped to get a good sized turn out of volunteers for Earth Day activities, rewarding participants with free concerts of major headlining bands. Turns out, the volunteers needed little enticing. Hundreds of thousands of people participated in Earth Day 2009 through the Earth Day Network and Green Apple Festival. ...
Pork Chops Won't Give You Swine Flu, But Here Are Other Reasons to Abstain
by April Streeter, Gothenburg, Sweden on 04.28.09
Watching this graphic live is mesmerizing and dismaying. Via Animal Visuals.
At TreeHugger we try to walk a narrow and perilous line that simultaneously supports people's efforts to eat more organically, locally, sustainably and ethically and yet avoids hewing to a strict vegetarian/vegan orthodoxy. With swine flu now getting closer but not yet classified a pandemic, it seems important not to jump to conclusions while we read the sometimes scary headlines. One thing is currently clear: The swine flu virus, according to news reports, dies when heated to 70 degrees Celsius, which means properly cooked pork will not cause virus transmission. However, in the spirit of meatless Mondays, there are some other reasons you might want to consider a pork vacation....
Toronto May Get Bike Sharing- Again
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 04.28.09
Toronto had a bike sharing program long before the Paris Velib or Montreal's Bixi. But it closed down in 2007, for want of a $ 75,000 subsidy, chicken feed in the City's transportation budget. We noted at the time that "Toronto is becoming a green embarrassment."
But since then Paris has it, London has it, New York is getting it, so Toronto's gotta have it, and is getting back in the bike sharing business. ...
Green Economy Under Construction: State Department Action (Photos)
by George Spyros, New York City, USA on 04.28.09
Apparently one of the dirty little secrets of fighting for a clean energy future (beginning right now, please : ) is that the pursuit can be downright fun. Although we couldn't make it to the State Department yesterday, the goings on in the photos sure do make us wish we could have stopped by, perhaps even with cool-o wind turbine effigy in hand. in addition to the good time had by the approx 150 people involved in the action, the organizers handed out quotes by people from around the world about their local green economy to Jonathan Pershing's (Deputy Special Envoy for Climate Change) assistant. Check out the pictures of generation green fighting the good fight for an environmentally just world....
Are You Frightened of the Flu?
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 04.28.09
Scientists have been saying that another pandemic is overdue, and a lot of people are getting panicky. Australians are being advised to avoid Mexico, the USA and Canada where cases of the Swine Flu have been found. We had some suggestions about what to do in Swine Flu: What You Need to Know, but what are you doing?
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S-COOP is a New Form of Money
by Bonnie Alter, London on 04.28.09
The old forms of money aren't working anymore--no one has any--so bartering and swapping are becoming more popular as a way to exchange goods for services without laying out any cash. In Lewes East Sussex, they have printed their own money--the Lewes pound--and will be using it as currency.
Now an artist is trying the same thing in Petticoat Lane, with her S-COOP coins. Petticoat Lane is an old market street with merchants selling cut-rate fabric and clothes from their stalls. When you get change from a purchase you can get a S-COOP coin and buy a white ice-cream at Monochrome Ice Cream Parlour....
Clean Energy Jobs Vote in Conrgress Threatened - MoveOn.org Commercial (Video)
by George Spyros, New York City, USA on 04.27.09
Plastic Bags to Contain 40 Percent Recycled Content by 2015?
by Kimberley D. Mok, Montreal, Canada on 04.27.09
Plastic bags in Japan (Photo: Sekihan on Flickr)The American Chemistry Council – the same industry trade association that funded two studies “misrepresent[ing] the hazards of bisphenol A” – is setting its sights on making plastic bags with 40 percent recycled content by 2015. It’s both good news and a shrewd public relations campaign, but according to the ACC, there are two major factors that must be first addressed: ...
Peacock Republic Chai Tea Latte Soap is a Good Brew
by Jasmin Malik Chua, Jersey City, USA on 04.27.09
Photo credit: Peacock Republic
With all the serums, lotions, and potions we regularly slop, slather, and inundate our skin with, sometimes we—or at least I do anyway—hunger for a return to simplicity. And in the beauty arsenal, there's nothing more basic than an old-fashioned bar of soap.
Peacock Republic was one of the little gems I encountered at the New York Go Green Expo, an event that was chockfull of all that was wired (probiotic salsa!), tired (how many more candy-wrapper bags do we need?) and um...just plain weird (don't make eye contact, just keep walking) in the green world....
Indigo Handloom Promotes Good Karma With Ethereal Threads
by Jasmin Malik Chua, Jersey City, USA on 04.27.09
Photo credit: Indigo Handloom
Indigo Handloom is what Aladdin's cave would look like if it were a walk-in closet. Fit for a modern Scheherazade, the dreamy collection of gowns, scarves, tops, and skirts delights with luxurious textiles, floaty hemlines, and exquisite woven embellishments.
Slip into a fuschia-and-gold shirred babydoll dress, adorned with traditional Jamdani embroidery. Or flaunt those curves with a turquoise-and-copper Marilyn Monroe-by-way of-Calcutta frock. Then top your ensemble off with one of Indigo's sheerer than sheer organza scarves, which charm, romance, and smolder all at once with details like woolen flowers, feathers, silver threads, and sequins....
Who Purchases the Most Green Power in the US? Top 50 Buyers Revealed
by Brian Merchant, Brooklyn, New York on 04.27.09
Photo via Meta Efficient
The EPA released its list of the top 50 purchasers of green power today, and it's loaded with surprises. From Fortune 500 companies to local city governments, the list shows off an encouraging trend towards the purchase of clean energy. Some use 100% green power, and others buy more than a billion kilowatt hours worth of it every year—and all deserve a nod for making the effort. So now, without further ado, the biggest purchasers of green power in the US: ...
3 Reusable Dry-Cleaning Garment Bags
by Jasmin Malik Chua, Jersey City, USA on 04.27.09
Photo credit: Getty Images
Dry cleaning may be a necessary evil, but the plastic waste that comes draped over your togs doesn't have to be. The recent Go Green Expo held at New York City's fancy Hilton digs presented us with no less than three reusable options, so you can protect your precious cleaned-and-pressed cargo to and from the dry cleaner's sans plastic wrap.
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Hey New Yorkers, 350 Conference on Climate Change Comes to Columbia Univ. this Saturday
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 04.27.09
With the warmer weather upon us here in New York, you may be torn between spending Saturday, May 2 outside or in the august surroundings of Columbia University attending the 350 Conference on climate change, but the latter promises to be quite the informative day out:
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Using Sea Shells to Remove Heavy Metals from Water
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 04.27.09
Photo: Flickr, CC
Researchers in Vietnam have recently completed tests on a new way to remove heavy metals from water. The secret? No, it's not some high tech materials... It's the good ol' sea shell. "In factories on the outskirts of Ho Chi Minh City, Stephan Kohler of the Graz University of Technology in Austria and a team of researchers have cleansed water tainted with toxic metals like cadmium, zinc, lead and iron." This could save countless lives in developing countries. Read on for more details. ...
Chicago's South Side to Get Biggest Urban Solar Power Plant in the US
by Brian Merchant, Brooklyn, New York on 04.27.09
Photo via Chicago Tribune
Where once there was an abandoned industrial site, soon there shall be the biggest urban solar power plant in the USA. It shakes down like this: $60 million + 33,000 solar panels + 39 acres in the South Side of Chicago + Obama's stimulus = one solid, 10 megawatt producin' solar power plant. And it should be up and running by the end of this year. ...
Track T-800CDI 100 MPG Diesel Motorcycle from Holland
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 04.27.09
Photo: EVA
Batman's Next Ride?
I'm not quite sure what to think about the Track T-800CDI diesel motorcycle made by E.V.A. Products BV Holland. It has some impressive specs: 0 to 100 kph (0 to 62 mph) in just 3.75 seconds, a CVT transmission (with 6 programmed "gears"), and an average of about 100 MPG (US) at 90 kph (56 mph). And since the engine is a 800 cc inline 3-cylinder diesel, there's the possibility of using biodiesel to further reduce well-to-wheels CO2 emissions (especially if its sourced from waste cooking oil or algae). ...
e-Paper Getting More Paper-like with New Breakthrough
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 04.27.09
Image via Technology Review; "Tiny reservoirs containing ink sit inside each polymer pixel in a new type of electronic-paper display developed at the University of Cincinnati. A voltage applied across the material quickly draws the ink out and spreads it over the entire pixel area."
Advocates for going digital with books have latched on to e-readers such as the Kindle. These devices use e-Paper, a display that intends to mimic the look of paper so that your eyes aren't strained, and the power consumption is drastically reduced. However, e-paper is still a bit dimmer than actual paper and ink, and there is less contrast. That might all change with new progress being made in low-power display technology. ...
Milan Furniture Fair Day 4: Gorgeous Lamps Made of...Cow Dung?!
by Mairi Beautyman, Berlin, Germany on 04.27.09
Photo via Konstfack University College of Arts Crafts and Design.
Organic design goes to a whole new level with this conversation starter: A lamp made of cow dung. Yep, you heard right: This lamp is actually made of what comes out of the back end of a cow (biodegradable, naturally), discovered during my final day at Salone Internazionale del Mobile in Milan. ...
TrickleStar's PC TrickleSwitch Adds Options to Fight Vampire Power
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 04.27.09
Image via TrickleStar
Back in January's Consumer Electronic's Show, we talked with the creators of TrickleStar about their device that combats vampire power for computer and entertainment systems. They're now launching a new device to add to the system that gives users more control over power consumption. ...
Swine Flu: What You Need to Know
by Brian Merchant, Brooklyn, New York on 04.27.09
Photo via Boston Globe
Swine flu is taking over headlines everywhere--because it's already been confirmed on at least three continents, and there are few things as terrifying as the prospect of a global pandemic. There are so many unanswered questions that it's difficult to even approach the issue: Where did it come from (hint: likely from unseemly mass animal feeding operations)? How worried should we be? Is it going to be a major, enduring global health issue? These are the questions on the top of everyone's mind (including mine). So here's a quick rundown on what you need to know about swine flu, and what you can do to protect yourself from it....
Green Eyes On: Pregnancy Awareness Month
by Sara Snow on 04.27.09
Image courtesy of Pregnancy Awareness Month
Though I am not yet a mom myself I understand how life changing it can be to hold your first precious baby in your arms, and to go from zero little ones underfoot to one, then two and maybe more. I have also seen first hand how this is often the moment when people first become acutely aware of their surroundings and the health implications of each – the furniture in the home, the cleaning products, food, toys, paint, clothing, and so on.
About a year ago I hosted and released a DVD called “Growing Green Babies” to help parents through creating a green nursery, planning nutritious and organic family meals, finding healthier cleaning products and cosmetics, and so on. So I was honored when I was asked to be a part of the 2nd Annual Pregnancy Awareness Month (PAM) celebration this coming weekend in Santa Monica. ...
Off-Shore Drilling Hearings See Big Turnout
by Greg Haegele of Sierra Club on 04.27.09
Offshore drilling protest-animals, for San Francisco CA hearing. Image credit:Wild Coast, via Sierra Club
This month, the Department of the Interior held four hearings on off-shore drilling. I think this is a great sign - an administration that wants to hear from the public about energy solutions. So of course the Sierra Club helped turn out the clean energy crowds at the hearings in Atlantic City, New Jersey; New Orleans, Louisiana; and San Francisco, California. I'd like to share some feedback I've gotten from our folks who spoke out against drilling....
Ben Stein: "Global Warming is By No Means Proved"
by Daniel Kessler, San Francisco, California on 04.27.09
Water-Saving Concept Device to Measure Water, Detect Leaks
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 04.27.09
Images via Yanko Design
The Every Drop Counts Water Meter concept device is a clever idea on how to not only measure water consumption, like so many shower timers and meters, but also detect any drips or leaks so that a user consumes wastes as little water as possible. ...
TreeHugger Goes to Copenhagen (At Least on Paper)
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 04.27.09
Mayor Bondam of Copenhagen Puts Best of Green Plaque on his Office's Wall
For Earth Day this year, TreeHugger held the first annual Best of Green awards, with 177 winners in 8 categories. One of them, in the Cars & Transportation category, was the city of Copenhagen, Denmark, in the "Best City to be a Cyclist In" sub-category. Klaus Bondam, the Mayor of Technics and the Environment, has worked hard to make Copenhagen "Eco-Metropole of the world", and our hats are off to him, which is why we were honored to learn that TreeHugger would have a spot on his office wall at city hall....
BP, Sunoco & Shell Ranked Greenest Oil Companies in Sustainability Survey
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 04.27.09
photo: BP
Most dyed in the hemp TreeHuggers probably don't think that the words 'green' and 'oil company' can rightly be placed next to one another. And they're pretty much right, but there are definite variations among oil companies in regards to their levels of investment in renewable energy, their production operations, and their stance on climate change. Using a rough life-cycle analysis, Greenopia has compiled just how green (or not) various oil companies are:...
One Third of World's Oceans Need a 20-Year Fishing Ban
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 04.27.09
Photo via Mortsan
Experts are saying that if depleted fish stocks in the world's oceans are to recover, there needs to be a 20-year fishing ban covering 20-40% of the oceans. Not only would that require cooperation of the fishing industry, but it would also mean lots of additional marine protected areas (MPAs). ...
Reduce, Re-Use, Recycle, Relate: A Post-Earth Day Manifesto
by George Spyros, New York City, USA on 04.27.09
Environmental Journalist Simran Sethi, fresh from her appearance on Oprah and in the wake of Earth Week, reflects of the fourth "R": the critical component that relationships of all varieties play in greening the world with justice for all.Environmentalism is about our relationship with and to our world. And as we all know, the best relationships are the ones we work on....
Green Hard Hats Descend on State Department Today
by George Spyros, New York City, USA on 04.27.09
If you happen to be passing by the State Department today around 12:45pm-1:30pm, or after reading this decide to intentionally stop by to lend your voice, you'll be greeted by a sea of green-hardhat-wearing campaigners calling for a environmentally focused economy and a binding global climate treaty. Climate advocacy groups will host a Green Economy Construction Zone outside the State Department on today Monday, April 27 during a meeting of the world’s 17 largest economies working in collaboration to mitigate climate change. ...
Transformer Furniture: Nothing New Under the Sun (Slideshow)
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 04.27.09
In the last fifty years the interiors of our houses and offices have revolved around technology, be it the land line phone, the television or the computer. As these all shrink, morph, combine and go wireless, it becomes much easier to develop multifunction transformer furniture that lets us live with less stuff in less space.
Nine years ago, before LCD monitors or decent notebook computers were affordable, I worked on the designs of transformer furniture that never got into production; it really needed smaller, lighter electronics to work. It was also in the days before Sketchup, when it was still faster to knock out a model in foamcore than it was to do it in CAD. Looking back, they look pretty funny, but perhaps the ideas might work better now. We look back at early Transformers, and some very silly models.
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Study Tells Businesses It's Cheaper to Ditch Old Notebooks
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 04.27.09
Photo via Tark Siala
Bad news from a study by J. Gold Associates, which states that extending a notebook's lifespan to 5 years, instead of the average 3, may be more expensive in the long run. The findings are basically encouraging IT managers to ditch notebooks at the usual 3-year mark. ...
No New Gasoline-Only Car Sales in Norway by 2015: Finance Minister Proposes
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 04.27.09
At minimum, all new vehicles would have to be flex-fuel or electric hybrids, photo:Mike via flickr.
Norway's Finance Minister Kristin Halvorsen has proposed that from 2015 sales of new gasoline powered cars would be banned in the country, Reuters reports. But contrary to the way that initially sounds there would still be plenty of fossil fuel powered cars around for some time:...
Jamie Kennedy on Cooking Local Food in April
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 04.27.09
Jamie Kennedy is a TreeHugger icon, sort of Canada's Alice Waters, promoting healthy, local food while running some of Toronto's best restaurants. But unlike Alice, Jamie has a short growing season and a far more limited palette of ingredients to work with, particularly at this time of year. I tried to talk to him at the Brewers Plate last week, but he was too busy; he couldn't avoid me at the Green Living Show....
aerieLOFT: A Prefab Sanctuary in the Woods
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 04.27.09
There are few inventions more elegant than a wood strip canoe; they are light, fast and flexible. Martin Liefhebber of Breathe Architects, who has been doing green design since before the term was invented, was inspired by the lean elegance of the canoe in his design for the new aerieLOFT, premiering at the Green Living Show....
Biomimicry Revolutionizes the Movement of Air and Water
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 04.27.09
TreeHugger is big on Biomimicry, " the practice of developing healthier, more sustainable technologies inspired by ideas from Nature." Janine Benrus's Biomimicry Institute has acolytes all over the world, including TreeHugger's Tim McGee and Carl Hastrich of Toronto, who I met at the Green Living Show. He is holding a model of an impeller that is changing the way engineers think about fluid dynamics....
Dale Vince's Wind-Powered Car: The Final Stages
by Sami Grover, Carrboro, NC, USA on 04.27.09
10 Really Great Green Google Earth Layers (Slideshow)
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 04.27.09
I personally think Google Earth is one of the best tools for the dissemination of environmental data and discoveries to a wide audience, and for raising awareness of green issues. The reason for this is the type of layers you can create that have the potential to very clearly and graphically show the magnitude of a particular situation, be it deforestation, endangered species, carbon emissions variations around the globe or the United States. If you're not aware of all the green green Google Earth layers available out there, check out this slideshow, start downloading, and get informed.
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11-Point Initiative For A Nuke-Free World
by greenz.jp, Tokyo, Japan on 04.27.09
Image of Titan II Nuclear Missile from liamr
Japan has today announced a plan to host an international conference to promote global nuclear disarmament. Foreign Minister Hirofumi Nakasone praised US president Obama, saying his plan will give momentum to the growing "mood" for nuclear disarmament. According to NHK World and other sources, Nakasone said he strongly supports Obama's stance, in which the president clearly stated that he would pursue a peaceful and safe world without nuclear weapons:
"Nakasone said Japan is the only country that can objectively present evidence on the destructive aspects of nuclear weapons. Japan experienced the US atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945 at the end of World War Two."After the fold, Japan's new 11-point initiative for a nuclear weapon-free world:...
Enermotion Turns Your Prius Into a Solar Powered Plug-in Hybrid
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 04.27.09
Jack MacDonnell takes your Prius and covers the roof with photovoltaics and adds a back-up battery supply "which provides additional electric charge to the vehicle’s electric motor when the factory battery pack's State of Charge (SOC) drops below a pre-determined charge rate. This supplemental battery pack thereby extends the driving range of the vehicle while the factory battery pack recharges itself on-board."
It extends it a lot- to the equivalent of a hundred miles per gallon, and reducing ‘well to wheel’ CO2 emissions up to 50%.
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South Korea To Build World's Longest Superconductor Electric Distribution System
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 04.27.09
image: American Superconductor
It will only be a half mile long, but Korea Electric Power Corp has taken the first step in building what will be the world's current longest . To do so they have placed the world's largest order for high temperature superconducting wire from Massachusetts-based American Semiconductor:...
Humber Foton: A Solar Powered Electric Fishing/ Runabout
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 04.27.09
The Torqeedo electric outboard motor has been on TreeHugger before, but John Rowley of Humber Boats goes a step further: He has taken a classic 70's boat design and modified it to run on a Torqeedo, two batteries and an array of solar panels. If you are a weekend boater you might need never to plug it in....
Why Do Rechargeable Batteries Suck?
by Pablo Paster, San Francisco on 04.27.09
Chart showing rechargeable battery life versus alkaline battery life in a high-drain application. Source: GreenBatteries.com
Dear Pablo: I'm a New Yorker who tries to be environmentally conscious. For years now, I've been confounded by rechargeable batteries. They just don't seem to work for me as I imagine they should....and now I'm at the end of my rope. Before I give up completely on this technology, I decided to write to see if maybe I just don't understand how they work....
Survey: Do You Use Facebook and Twitter?
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 04.27.09
We are just too kül for skule here at TreeHugger and are on top of all the new trends. But what about you?
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Free Bags on Petticoat Lane
by Bonnie Alter, London on 04.27.09
It's art and it's environmental and it's on Petticoat Lane. Since the 17th century this market has been famous for its stalls selling cut-rate clothes and fabrics. Now a group of artists has set up a stall too and are flogging their wares.
The group, public works, is making and giving away free bags to the merchants in the market, using bits and pieces of fabric that they have collected. Two artists have been working at it all week, sewing on their machines out on the street and chatting to the passing trade. ...
We Believe Global Warming is Happening, Just Not Necessarily to Us
by April Streeter, Gothenburg, Sweden on 04.27.09
The inverted pyramid shows we believe climate change is affecting everyone more than us. Via FiveThirtyEight
A survey of 2,164 adults by George Mason University and the Yale Project on Climate Change discovered some of the distressing ways in which we humans just can't see to think very long term: just 32 percent of the Americans surveyed believe global warming will personally harm them "a great deal" or a "moderate amount." Contrast that with the same group's opinion on the rest of the animal kingdom: nearly twice the number of respondents, or 62%, believed that plant and animal species would be harmed by climate change. In fact, as the graphic shows, people somewhat ironically believed that everyone around them - their families, communities, and countries - will be more in harm's way than they themselves. How's that for optimistic, (perhaps even magical?) thinking?...
Twist Turns Cleaning Natural
by Roberta Cruger, Los Angeles on 04.26.09
Okay, I hate cleaning. But I like things clean. Also, I like stuff to last, so I don’t have to buy more, since I hate shopping, too. Yesterday, I wrote about eco-efficient household tips from Haley’s Hints Green Edition. Those old-fashioned ways of sprucing up your home have some great green tools. So toss the steel wool and neon-colored plastic sponges, and check out the latest products from Twist's line of dye-free, 100 percent biodegradable sponges with names like Ravioli Scrubby and Dish Dumplings. Perfect for the kitchen. ...
Plastic Bags??? Let's Do Away with Plastic Packaged Food Too!
by Eric Leech, New York, NY on 04.26.09
Photo via: The BrassPotato
Plastic bags are fast becoming a scapegoat for the packaged food industry. In fact, if I didn't know better I would think the suppliers of these packaged goods were fueling the fire to the negative attention towards plastic shopping bags... to keep it off of them!...
Exclusive Interview: World Record Tandem Pair Mandy and Benny
by Christine Lepisto, Berlin on 04.26.09
Image: Live from the SPEZI Special Bikes Convention 2009
Writing for TreeHugger is its own reward. But some days are just more rewarding than others. Yesterday was such a day. I met Mandy and Benny in person at the SPEZI specialized bikes convention in Germersheim, Germany. It seems that an awful lot of TreeHuggers clicked on Mandy and Benny's weblog, after I shared their fantastic voyage on these pages. So I say "thank you" to everyone who clicked and made it possible for me to meet my heroes, only to be met in return with Mandy's animated, face-lighting-up response: "Christine, from TreeHugger??! We couldn't figure out why we got so much traffic, until we found your article!" Of course, there is a reason so many of you clicked, so first an apology was due:...
After 12 Year Campaign, Tel Aviv Gets a New Park
by Jesse Fox, Tel Aviv, Israel on 04.26.09
Sometimes getting things done takes longer than one would expect. In the case of an abandoned plot of land in the center of Tel Aviv called “Kiryat Sefer,” it took much longer than expected. After a stubborn lobbying campaign that lasted over a decade, and with the help of a few local celebrities and hundreds of neighborhood activists, the last empty piece of publicly-owned land in central Tel Aviv is finally set to become a public park....
Green Machine by Flevobike is the Ultimate Commuter Bicycle
by Christine Lepisto, Berlin on 04.26.09
Image: Flevobike
Maintenance Free Bike with Fully Enclosed Drive Train
Are you a dedicated bike commuter? Rain or shine? Summer and winter? Then you need a Flevobike Green Machine. And even if you are just the type that gets fed up with chain maintenance or oily pant legs, you should give the Green Machine serious consideration. The Green Machine benefits from a completely enclosed drive train, which keeps out all moisture, sand, dirt and salt, for a trouble-free ride in all conditions. A 14-speed Rohloff hub ensures smooth shifting, even under load. To see what the guts of this bike look like, check out the ghost pic below.
The Green Machine has been making inroads with Europeans since its innovative design won the Eurobike Award 2007. But here is the best news: the Green Machine is now available in America, too. ...
Cardboard Design's Recycled Cat Scratcher is Boon to Kitties and Furniture Everywhere
by Jasmin Malik Chua, Jersey City, USA on 04.26.09
Photo credit: Cardboard Design
Cats are attracted to cardboard, like bees are to, well, you know. Made with recycled cardboard and vegetable-based glues in the United States, Cardboard Design's remedy for cat-scratch fever is one part recyclable objet d'art, one part canine voodoo doll, and wholly irresistible to the surly sourpuss in your life. Skeptical about its claw draw? Sweeten the temptation by sprinkling the included bag of catnip in the cardboard cells. Le rowr rowr.
Click below the jump for more designs, plus a bonus shot of the above model—available at Uncommon Goods—avec kitty....
Yangtze Alligator Population May Be on the Upswing
by Josh Peterson, Los Angeles, California on 04.26.09
photo: Unforth via Flickr
Only 120 Yangtze alligators live in the wild. The Yangtze River, the alligators' natural habitat, is so polluted that the ecological damage has been called "largely irreversible." Poaching is another obstacle to the reptiles' recovery. The alligators are considered a delicacy, and the meat is thought to cure colds and cancer. In 2006, with only 150 specimens in the wild, farm-raised Yangtze alligators were still being served in restaurants. Things looked bleak for the world's most endangered crocodilian species.
But despite these insurmountable odds, the alligators have been marshaling a comeback. ...
Newt Was for Climate Action Before He Was Against It
by Daniel Kessler, San Francisco, California on 04.26.09
Photo via Think Progress
This past week, both Newt Gingrich and Al Gore testified before Congress about climate change and the Waxman-Markey draft bill designed to tackle it. Newt's appearance was remarkable both for its flippancy and for Newt's distancing of himself from comments he's made in favor of strong action on climate change--including his support for a cap and trade system. ...
New Study Finds College Cafeteria Trays Can Increase Both Dish Use and Food Waste
by Sara Novak, Columbia, SC on 04.26.09
photo: Morrisville
It’s no secret that food waste is a big issue in this country. Lloyd wrote about a study at Alfred University, where food and beverage waste dropped between 30 and 50 percent, totaling 1,000 pounds of solid waste and 1123 gallons of liquid waste every week. But according to a new study done in the Environmental Studies Department at American University, not only is food waste reduced but the amount of dishes used is as well.
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If Being Thin is Green, Should the Government Have a Say Over Our Weight?
by Eric Leech, New York, NY on 04.26.09
Photo via: didbygraham
Some people will say this is preposterous, but let's think about it for a minute. If it is reasonable for the government to control the vehicles we drive, control the percentage of taxes we pay, whose to say they shouldn't also control the quality of food going into our mouths....
TreeHugger breaks it down for you in a series of in depth how-to articles that will help you green your life. No time like the present!
Here are a few recommended websites.
