- 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 May 24, 2009 - May 30, 2009
Total this week: 198
Dysprosium: Achilles Heel Of Hybrid, EV, & Wind Turbine Designs
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 05.30.09
Periodic table entry for dysprosium. Image credit:Wikimedia.
China produces 95% of the worlds supply of the rare earth metal, dysprosium, a key metal in magnets used in the drive motors for hybrid electric vehicles - up to 100 grams of dysprosium per hybrid car produced, according to a Wikipedia reference. Dysprosium's magnetic properties also make it an important metal for wind turbines and electric vehicles. Could be vital for MagLev trains, too.
Scarcity of the metal is a sustainability and a political issue, according to a recent article in the TimesOnline, Crunch looms for green technology as China tightens grip on rare-earth metals. This does not look good....
Global Warming: Technology vs. Choice
by Eric Leech, New York, NY on 05.30.09
Photo via: mysi anne
Our world has become very much reliant on technology, and why shouldn't it. Technology has progressed in leaps and bounds over the years creating new and improved methods of health care, faster and more powerful networking, cleaner and more organized industry. However, despite its many great advances, technology is not necessarily what is going to save us from the ill-effects of global warming......
Suburban Survivalists Create Boom Market In Dried Beans, Millennial Replay Of Canned Heat
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 05.30.09
Suffering From Bagnesia? Never Forget Your Reusable Bags Again
by Jasmin Malik Chua, Jersey City, USA on 05.30.09
Photo credit: Bagnesia
If you're frequently stricken by bouts of reusable-bag amnesia before you hit the checkout line at the supermarket, you're not alone. Pam Eatrides and Caprice Ericson, the founders of Bagnesia, have identified two key points on your route where these all-too-common lapses in memory are likely occur, namely from your house to your car, and from your car to the store.
Their solution: A handy reminder kit ($17.99) that will help you kiss "bagnesia" goodbye for good. ...
National Ignition Facility Prepares to Fire
by Daniel Kessler, San Francisco, California on 05.30.09
Photo via National Ignition Facility
Scientists at the Lawrence Livermore lab in California are preparing to launch an unprecedented series of experiments that may lead to the ability to harness the power of the sun and to infinite energy. But some warn the experiment may yield dangerous knowledge, like the ability to create a new generation of atomic weapons.
...
A Self-Built Solar-Powered, Solar-Heated Home with Solar Car (Video)
by Sami Grover, Carrboro, NC, USA on 05.30.09
Image credit: Ride Lust
Man Builds Passive and Active Solar Home, and Converts Car to Electric
I tend to think of myself as a fairly resourceful chap - keeping my own bees, growing mushrooms, and making ridiculous amounts of compost. But it's guys like Jon Weber of Boise, Idaho who make me feel like a lazy good-for-nothing. Not only has this man designed and built his own passive and active solar home, but he converted his junked Festiva into an electric vehicle. Click below the fold to take a tour of Weber's house and ride in his car - courtesy of the ever wonderful folks at Peak Moment TV (the same people who brought us this video on safe, legal gray water recycling)....
Quiet Car Company: Affordable, Real Electric Cars (Video)
by Sami Grover, Carrboro, NC, USA on 05.30.09
Image credit: The Quiet Car Company
Affordable, Real Electric Cars
The world is not short of electric car start-ups. As Mike's round up of 23 Electric Cars Driving the Revolution showed, even the big players in the auto world are finally getting in on the act - though few are anywhere close to actualy selling an affordable electric vehicle. but, in general, the smaller players in this market gravitate more toward flashy, sporty concepts like Dale Vince's electric sports car, and less toward vehicles that your or I would actually drive. Enter the UK's Quiet Electric Car Company, who have put together two affordable, real electric cars that won't break the bank. Click below the fold for performance and pricing details, video of the car in action, and some thoughts from the founders on how government help could kick start the electric car market.
...
A Princess for the Planet: Morocco's Main Green Gal
by Jennifer Hattam, Istanbul, Turkey on 05.30.09
Princess Lalla Hasna of Morocco doffs her tiara to help maintain some green space. Photo via Mohammed VI Foundation for the Protection of the Environment.
Prince Charles isn't the world's only royal trying to do good for the environment: Princess Lalla Hasna of Morocco, sister to the country's current king, Mohammed VI, has carved out a green niche for herself, heading up the Mohammed VI Foundation for the Protection of the Environment since its establishment in 2001....
Vélib Bike Share Makes Majority of Users Happy - So Stop Vandalising Bikes, Says the City
by April Streeter, Gothenburg, Sweden on 05.30.09
Photo via velib-pourri.
A recent TNS-Sofres survey on the Vélib official blog found a whopping 94% of Vélib users are "completely satisfied" (19%) or "mostly satisfied" with the bike share service. Just 6 percent of survey users reported that they are unhappy with the service. And incredibly, after just two years, it is estimated that the bikes are approaching 45 million uses annually - about 120,000 trips daily, and 175,000 members. To counter the scarily high (and expensive) rate of vandalism and bike theft reported, the city has launched an advertising campaign with the slogan, "Vélib is yours, protect it!"...
New House Bill Aimed to Bring Transparency to Our Food Supply System
by Sara Novak, Columbia, SC on 05.30.09
photo: JNovak
It's a sad realization. Over the past few years, we've had to watch an all too commonly muddled bureaucracy and the resulting lack of trust in government taint our nation’s food supply system. More and more cases of food borne illness such as salmonella have cluttered the news cycle and sown distrust in both the FDA and the USDA. As a result, Americans have begun to cross entire categories of ingredients off of their weekly grocery lists. But some recently introduced legislation is seeking to change all that by bringing transparency to our nation's food industry and reinstating America's faith in food safety....
Get Green & Gorgeous For Less: 3 Eco-Cosmetics Brands You Can Find in Your Drugstore Aisle
by Jasmin Malik Chua, Jersey City, USA on 05.29.09
Photo credit: Almay
Blame the economy: Your bank account has taken a bruising and you've been buckling down, battening down the hatches, and brown-bagging it. Your definition of luxury has faced a similar downsizing, you wince at the price of a latte, and you no longer throw down cash on a whim; it's all about tightly wringing every last iota of value from your dollar and making cheap chic—or, at least, finding a chic twist on budget-friendly.
For recessionistas trying to balance style and substance on a shoestring—and would rather be dead than caught bare-faced—here are three green cosmetics collections you can find at your neighborhood Walgreens that don't compromise performance for your pocketbook. ...
Growing Trees Into Chic, Living Chairs
by Brian Merchant, Brooklyn, New York on 05.29.09
Image via Yanko Design
If you're not so into hugging trees, how about taking a seat on one? Swiss designer Michel Bussien has designed a new way to help you get up close and personal with nature--by turning it into furniture. The "Growing Chair" shown is a sharply designed mold that allows you to turn greenery into a chic seat. ...
Almost Everyone Has a Solar Water Heater In Dezhou, China (Video)
by Alex Pasternack, New York, NY on 05.29.09
Hasta La Vista, Baby: Arnold May Close 220 California State Parks
by Brian Merchant, Brooklyn, New York on 05.29.09
Photo via Fog City Journal
Anyone even idly following California politics knows what mess the state is in at the moment--Arnold Schwarzenegger and the state Congress have yet to pass a budget, cuts to vital programs are looming, and the Gov's approval ratings have plummeted. In his latest attempt to slash the budget deficit, however, the stakes have been raised--Gov. Schwarzenegger has proposed cuts that would lead to the closing of 220 California state parks....
How Green is Sonia Sotomayor? A Case by Case Look at the Supreme Court Justice Nominee
by Brian Merchant, Brooklyn, New York on 05.29.09
Image via Esquire
As soon as Obama announced his nominee for Supreme Court Justice, we did a preliminary look at how green she seemed to be. Now that some of the dust has settled after the initial news frenzy, we've gotten a bit of a better idea how Sonia Sotomayer stands on green issues. This is important stuff--since an appointment to the Supreme Court is lifelong, she's got to be green for life. From her stance on greenhouse gas regulations to her understanding of the EPA, here's what you need to know about the green leanings of the judge who's shaping up to be the newest Supreme Court Justice....
Wall Street Journal Wants GM to Abandon the Volt
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 05.29.09
Photo: Michael Graham Richard
False Dilemma
Keith Johnson wrote a short piece about the potential impact of GM's impending bankruptcy on the future of the GM Volt (which GM has been feeling a bit defensive about lately) in the WSJ. He concludes with what I think is a false dilemma: "GM can focus on making mass-market cars that sell well and abandon the Volt. Or it can carry on with the Volt and hope either costs come down or consumers suddenly change their habits and run out to buy a $40,000 compact sedan." Read on for why I think this is shortsighted....
CARROTZ32: SOME WATER WLD BE GR8 KTHX
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 05.29.09
Photo: AgriHouse
Plants are Texting for Water Thanks to High-Tech Sensors
Usually, a plant that is dying of thirst can't call for help. But that might change thanks to some new sensors that will allow plants to text for water. The farmer of the future might be getting more email from his crops than from his family & friends. And the sensors are not hard to install: "It's akin to a clip on earring, very thin and smaller than a postage stamp, and is affixed to the plant leaf," said Richard Stoner, President of AgriHouse, a company marketing the technology. Read on for more details....
In My Prius video by Casual Mafia - LMAO!!
by Neil Chambers, New York City on 05.29.09
Photo from Casual Mafia
Green isn’t always serious business. The newest video out by Casual Mafia called In My Prius makes fun of the Prius which is, well, really funny! With the looming GM bankruptcy, a few laughs, were cars are involved, is welcomed! ...
500,000 People Will Die Every Year Because of Climate Change by 2030: New Report Projects Human Cost of Inaction
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 05.29.09
photo: Global Humanitarian Forum
Just how much is climate change going to hurt people, in quantified terms? That's the subject of a new report by the Climate Change: The Anatomy of a Silent Crisis. And the prognosis is certainly not good. Already 300,000 people each year are seriously affected by climate change, at a total economic costs of $125 billion, but that's just the start of it:...
Responsible Soy Producers Agree to Pretty Basic Sustainable Production Standards
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 05.29.09
photo: jster91 via flickr
Beef cattle raised for export rightly getting a lot of the blame for deforestation in Brazil, but historically soybean farming hasn't exactly been a benign thing either. However at a recent meeting of the Roundtable on Responsible Soy a pilot program of voluntary production standards was adopted to help reduce the impact of soy on the environment and workers:...
"Hope you're f%#&@% proud of yourselves."
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 05.29.09
Hunting Threatened Species
Hunting for food certainly isn't always bad - especially compared to factory farming - even if hunting has a big impact on animal populations. But if it includes hunting animals that are considered threatened or near-threatened by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, it just pisses us off (especially if you flew from the other side of the planet to do it). This safari website has a gallery of photographs of people proudly (and I mean huge grins) standing over the carcass of many animals that fall into that category (see a few photos below, if you can stomach it... but be warned, it's not pretty). We dug up some info about each species to show how vulnerable it is....
Beyond Glaciers: Yosemite's Big Trees Disappear
by Naturally Savvy on 05.29.09
A man stands in front of a centuries-old tree in Yosemite National Park. Photo by Buddhika Gammudali via Flickr.com.
There's no denying the splendor of the giant trees that grace the west coast. But even giants aren't impervious to climate change, it seems.
Just as Yosemite's glaciers are disappearing, so too are the trees. An examination of data collected from the 1930s to 1990s has revealed that the numbers of giant, old-growth trees in Yosemite National Park have dropped dramatically during the 60-year span—and that worries researchers. ...
All Unmanaged Forests Gone by 2100, Replaced by Biofuel Crops - If Forest Carbon Emissions Not Included in Climate Change Policy
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 05.29.09
photo: Ben Britten via flickr.
With all the recent wrangling over whether emissions from land-use changes ought to be included in determining which biofuels are truly low-carbon fuel sources, this next one is very much apropos: New research done at the Joint Global Change Research Institute shows that including carbon emissions from deforestation in climate change policy will lower the cost of climate change mitigation, and if we don't do it unmanaged forests could well disappear entirely by 2100 as biofuel crops displace them:...
345 Tesla Electric Roadsters Recalled by NHTSA
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 05.29.09
Photo: Tesla
Of Loose Bolts and Recalls
Nothing's easy for Tesla. They just issued a recall for 345 electric Roadsters (according to our friends at Autobloggreen, they're even going to make house calls and fix the cars at their customers' homes). The problem is with some rear bolts that were improperly assembled (not torqued enough). But before commenters go "Ha! We knew Tesla couldn't even screw bolts properly!", we have to mention that the problem seems to have been caused by Lotus who assembled that part of the chassis. ...
Recycled Bike Guards Stop Rider From Getting Trashed
by Warren McLaren, Bundanoon, Australia on 05.29.09
Two guys, who used to work for Planet Bike, whom we profiled recently, have since set up Portland Design Works (PDW). Their mission:
We want to see more people view bikes as transportation rather than toys.As the ever observant Wend Magazine recently espied, Portland Design Works are making bicycle fenders (aka mud guards) from 100% post-consumer recycled beverage bottles. ...
IBM Building Data Center That Will Use 50% Less Energy
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 05.29.09
Photo of Syracuse University by Daquella manera
IBM and Syracuse University are pairing up to build a new data center that will use 50% less energy than current data centers. At least, that's the goal. Analyzing everything from energy generation techniques to the hardware and software, they hope to build over the next six months a brand new $12.4 million, 6,000-square-foot data center that will shake up the idea of efficiency in the industry....
Eco-Myth: Humans Have Only Been Overfishing the World's Oceans in Modern Times
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 05.29.09
image: Wikipedia
At first thought most of us tend to think of the oceans really only getting massively depleted of fish with the dawn of industrial fishing in the latter half of the last century. But as Fred Pearce points out in a new article for New Scientist, that's not the case—humans have had a major impact on the world's fisheries going back at least 1000 years:...
20 Freaky Bikes As Selected by Matador Life
by Warren McLaren, Bundanoon, Australia on 05.29.09
Matador Life is about people in their hometowns, how they represent where they’re from, and what we can learn from each of the unique places we inhabit. Amongst the portraits of people’s hometowns and profiles of individuals strongly rooted in their communities, you’ll find bike-related content, such as The World’s 15 Most Bike Friendly Cities, 6 Reasons to Go By Bike, How to Be Good (Better) Drivers and Cyclists, and How to Choose a Touring Bicycle.
But right now they have up “20 of the Freakiest Custom Bikes on the Road.” The title might be a tad grandiose, but the images are quite fun. Above we've plucked No. 10 Alan Sikiric’s Mutandem. And after the fold, No. 20, a pedal powered tank (by Sailor Neale of the East Vancouver PedalPlay metal studio.) ...
Open Green Map Launching Globally to Solve Your Eco-Travel Issues
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 05.29.09
Image via GreenMap
We've been watching the development of Open Green Map for awhile now, and the eco-minded mapping system is finally gearing up for an official world-wide launch on World Environment Day (June 5, in case you forgot). Click through for why you need to have this bookmarked when you travel. ...
Old Warship to Become Peaceful New Florida Reef
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 05.29.09
Image of sinking ship via BBC video
Sunken ships can make for some pretty great habitat for sea life, providing good structure for corals or plant life to grow upon, which leads to a whole diverse ecosystem sprouting up. That's what Florida hopes to see, and hopes to capitalize on, when sinking an old battleship off the coast....
Submit Your Best Green Tweets for Carnival of the Green
by Kara DiCamillo, Newport, Rhode Island on 05.29.09
We here at TreeHugger announced a few weeks back that the Carnival of the Green will now include a Twitter section.You can still submit as normal via email, of course, but this new part of the Carnival will be called "Best Green Tweets." So, if you use Twitter and have a recent (i.e. in the last couple of days) green tweet that rocks make sure to read on to find out how you can submit to the Carnival each week and drive more viewers to your site....
Sierra Club Book Give-Away: Bike Touring
by Sierra Club on 05.29.09
A lot of us commute by bicycle and feel strongly about using two-wheeled transportation instead of the car whenever we can.
But bikes are for fun, too, and in that spirit Sierra Club Books just published the second edition of Bike Touring, by Raymond Bride. The original edition, published in 1979, introduced tens of thousands of riders to the joys of bicycle travel and quickly became the go-to reference for bike-touring enthusiasts.
My colleagues at Sierra Club Books here in San Francisco let me know that they're eager for TreeHugger readers to check it out, so we worked out a deal: The first 20 people who sign up here will receive a free copy. If you sign up and don't get a copy, or want to skip the giveaway and just buy it, you can get a 25% discount if you do it before Sunday, May 31, at midnight Pacific time. Just click here and use the code HUGBIKE. (That "hug" part lets us know you're a Treehugger reader.)...
German Town Becomes World's First With Dedicated Biogas Network
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 05.29.09
photo: pwever via flickr
It's been a while since a major new poo power project graced these digital pages, but this one's certainly worth noting: The Guardian reports that the German town of Lünen, will become the first town in the world to have its own dedicated biogas network:...
Ken Burns Films America’s Best Idea: National Parks
by Warren McLaren, Bundanoon, Australia on 05.29.09
Kansas City Missouri To Get Electric Truck Plant - More Green Supply Chain Jobs To Come
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 05.29.09
The Smith Newton Electric Truck. Image credit:Kansas-City Star
As reported in The Kansas City Star, "Smith Electric Vehicles US is on track to begin building electric trucks in July at a plant near Kansas City International Airport. The company is betting that it will find sufficient demand because the delivery market is ideal for electric trucks." The Smiths are expensive but do have far lower operating costs than a gas or diesel delivery truck: even compared to hybrids. If plans work out, a nearby battery making plant will also expand. See below for details....
New Maps Hope to Slow San Francisco Bay Wastewater Spills
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 05.29.09
Map via QUEST
San Francisco's Bay is the site of too many sewage spills, making the public and city leaders look carefully at how wastewater is managed. QUEST has done a bit of investigating and shows us not only why wastewater spills are something to take seriously, but also what is being done to fix the situation. Click through to watch....
'Waggling' Wings Could Save 20% in Fuel Consumption
by Sami Grover, Carrboro, NC, USA on 05.29.09
Image credit: Jstockard
Aircraft 'Waggle Effect' Can Reduce Fuel Consumption 20%
Everybody knows that flying is an energy intensive activity. Unfortunately, many long awaited innovations in fuel-efficient aviation are of the more far-fetched variety - I'm thinking airships, blended wings etc. Yet it's long been noted that the addition of 'winglets' to aircraft wings can reduce fuel consumption - in fact, Southwest Airline's use of winglets even earned them a nomination from one of our readers for our Unexpected Green competition. But that's not the only simple improvement that could cut fuel use - now a team from the University of Warwick in the UK claims that 'waggling' air accross aircraft wings could cut skin friction drag by 40%, offering a 20% savings in fuel consumption and emissions. Read on for more details.
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'Green Roof' Idea Tilts Skyward in Istanbul
by Jennifer Hattam, Istanbul, Turkey on 05.29.09
A concept drawing of the Dragos Towers project. Image via Superpool.
In dense urban areas, there's often nowhere to build but up, an approach that the clever team at Istanbul-based architectural firm Superpool is applying not only to its new residential housing concept, but to the vertical building faces it is allocating for a new kind of green space....
A Masters Degree in Conservation Makes Your Green Cred Legit
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 05.29.09
So, you want to test your green IQ? According to Rare, an environmental non-profit, the world's first Masters degree in Communication for Conservationists has been launched. It is in conjunction with University of Texas, El Paso, and will be set up in four schools across the world. Your requirement to graduate: change the world. No, seriously...you have to change the world in some way, and prove it in order to get your degree. ...
Merrell Partner With National Park Foundation to Get People Outside
by Warren McLaren, Bundanoon, Australia on 05.29.09
We recently made mention of outdoor footwear company, Merrell, and their continuing campaign to get folk outside, in that instance to the Rothbury festival in July 09. Well, now they are at it again. This time teaming up with the US National Park Foundation (NPF), who Merrell say are an ideal partner with a shared passion. “ ... our shared goal is to work together on a long term basis to educate and motivate people of all ages and activity levels to get outside and play in our national outdoor playgrounds.”
How will they achieve this?...
"Green Design" Or More Mad Scientists Making Transgenic Animals
by greenz.jp, Tokyo, Japan on 05.29.09
Collage of BBC and Nature photos
I'm no fan of genetic engineering and I don't particularly like what Japanese scientists have done to monkeys. Inserting genes to make them glow green in the dark just isn't right. Yet, this is the kind of research people get awards for, and the promise of "treatments for a range of diseases." Oh, really?
BBC notes that the "work raises a number of ethical questions about deliberately exposing a bloodline of animals to such diseases."
Artists like Eduardo Kac has been trying for years to raise attention to get people to think about these issues. Why are we not better equipped to say "no" to these "green design" experiments? ...
Central Piedmont Community College: Safe For Bambi and Friends
by Kristin Underwood, Sacramento, CA on 05.29.09
Image via: Central Piedmont CC
All six of the Central Piedmont Community Colleges (NC) campuses were certified this March 2009 as spaces with Certified Wildlife Habitat by the National Widlife Federation. While the National Wildlife Federation has certified thousands of locales, this is the first time any school has gotten all of its campuses in the club....
Gardeners Get Back to Traditional Tools
by Bonnie Alter, London on 05.29.09
You Can Recycle Window Blinds? Yes, You Can
by Kristin Underwood, Sacramento, CA on 05.28.09
Image via: Flickr.com
Up until now, when you wanted to update your living room, or when you moved into a new place and needed to get rid of the junk that the previous tenants left, you didn't really have any options except to haul it out to the dumpster or, if they were somewhat decent, unload them on your local Goodwill. Until now. ...
Chinese Police Fire On Dam Protesters in Sichuan
by Alex Pasternack, New York, NY on 05.28.09
Photo of police in Xiamen last year (Flickr: Stas Kulesh)
The struggle over dams in China's west has been brewing for years, fed by the kind of concerns that typically dog hydroelectric projects -- land grabs, relocations, corruption, environmental damage -- along with the less typical political and spiritual tensions surrounding Tibet. Earlier this week, the struggle got explosive, reports the Guardian.Six Tibetan women were shot by China security forces during a protest over a hydroelectric dam project in Sichuan province, the Tibetan government-in-exile claimed today. The women were demonstrating against a forcible relocation programme in Yajiang [ཉག་ཆུ༑], Ganzi Tibetan Autonomous Region, on Sunday morning, when public security officers and armed police opened fire, according to the statement from Dharamsala.As China mulls building dams in Tibet itself, this is another ugly lesson in the true costs of the country's huge energy demand -- a demand that will need to be met with energy sources other than coal....
Turn Your Swimsuit from Frumpy to Fab at Brooklyn's Craft on Draught Event
by Jasmin Malik Chua, Jersey City, USA on 05.28.09
Photo credit: Getty Images
Don't let your lackluster bathing suit and a struggling bank account turn into buzz kills for your wet-and-wild summer. Drag your Speedo to Craft on Draught's bikini-bedazzling event on June 4.
One Alexander Hamilton—that's $10—gives you entree into a night of free beer, raffle prizes, and all the beads, buttons, glitter, fabrics, and feathers you could ask for. Details below. ...
Moxie Industries Launches, Combines Eco-Conscious Fashion, Music, and Art
by Jasmin Malik Chua, Jersey City, USA on 05.28.09
Photo credit: Moxie Industries
Tonight marks the official launch of Moxie Industries, a new company founded by musician Vanessa Diaz that meets at the intersection of fashion, music, and art. The "Love Your World" event, which takes place this evening in Los Angeles, will feature a Moxie runway show, along with a live performance by Diaz, who describes her music as "earthy, heartfelt, alternative pop."
...
First Anti-Anthrax Pesticide Approved by the EPA
by Brian Merchant, Brooklyn, New York on 05.28.09
Photo via Stanford
It's finally here: the first all-purpose anti-anthrax product. This impressive antimicrobial pesticide can actually get rid of pesky anthrax spores on any clean, hard surfaces. And it's just been approved by the EPA--a substance that can decontaminate buildings, vehicles, ships, and gear infected with anthrax spores. Is the threat of anthrax as a biological weapon a thing of the past?...
City Living 70% Less Carbon Intensive Than In Suburbs
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 05.28.09
CO2 per Household From Household Auto Use.
Image credit:CNT. Philadelphia Metro Area
Chicago-based Center for Neighborhood Technology (CNT), recently looked at emissions of carbon dioxide stemming from household vehicle travel in 55 metropolitan areas across the U.S. When measured on a per household basis, it found that the transportation-related emissions of people living in cities and compact neighborhoods can be nearly 70% less than those living in suburbs. To illustrate, I used CNT's online mapping tool to make the city/suburban comparison for my own metro area (as pictured). Read on for details from the press release on this study:-...
Global Green Honors Green Innovators
by Roberta Cruger, Los Angeles on 05.28.09
Arianna Huffington presenting at Global Green Awards. Photo by Barry Levine
For the 13th year, Global Green USA is celebrating its 2009 Millennium Awards to pay tribute to environmental leaders. This Saturday night, May 30, the fundraising gala honors those who “demonstrate successful strategies for tackling current economic and environmental crises as part of the same problem.” Eco-celebrities will present the kudos, including Rosario Dawson, Adrian Grenier, Arianna Huffington, and LA Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, among others, plus a special presentation by playwright Eve Ensler. ...
Gear Up for 100 More Years of Oil, Says Exxon Mobil
by Brian Merchant, Brooklyn, New York on 05.28.09
Photo via VNF
While you might roll your eyes after hearing such a statement from the world's biggest oil company--much like you did after the similar forecast given by the oil exporters in Saudi Arabia--it's worth taking note of the company's stubborn outlook. And their announcement comes right on the heels of a report on how other oil giants are getting into the biofuels game in a big way. But no, Exxon seems determined to cling to oil even in the face of what could (and should) be a clean energy revolution....
Wheel Weights Found to be Greatest Source of Lead Still Released Into US Environment
by Brian Merchant, Brooklyn, New York on 05.28.09
Photo via Edmunds
If you had to guess what the biggest source of lead pollution in the US was, wheel weights probably wouldn't have been first off the cuff (unless you're a mechanic or a lead technician). But it's true: every year, 3.5 million pounds of lead fall from cars' wheel weights, putting children who play outdoors at risk of lead poisoning. Now, the nation's top environmental groups are banding together to petition the EPA to ban the lead wheel weights once and for all....
Run Hard, Tread Lightly With Atayne's Recycled Sportswear
by Jasmin Malik Chua, Jersey City, USA on 05.28.09
Photo credit: Atayne
It all began with a red shirt. Just two years ago, while prepping for the fall marathon season, Jeremy Litchfield purchased a red performance shirt that promised to reduce skin temperature while drying faster—a whole three minutes—than competing products. Off he ambled on a hot, humid summer's day. Before long, Litchfield started to sweat, red dye rolling down his legs. By the end of his workout, his shorts, socks, and shoes were soaked in a florid hue.
The incident got Litchfield's mental gears spinning: What chemical toxins were being absorbed into his skin even as he was trying to make himself healthier by running? A cursory investigation into the makeup of his shirt presented a tenth of a gallon of petroleum, antimony, dioxins, heavy metals, AZO dyes, and an unpronounceable chemical finish. ...
Are We Wishfully Seeing Green in Supreme Court Nominee Sotomayor?
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 05.28.09
Immediately after word came out that Sonia Sotomayor was the President's pick for the Supreme Court, the environmental community (this author included) immediately went searching for the green angle. We found it in one decision: Riverkeeper v. EPA, which was seized upon as proof of Judge Sotomayor having a modicum of green cred. However, in a new Huffington Post piece Richard Revesz (dean of the NYU School of Law) and Michael Livermore (executive director of NYU's Institute for Policy Integrity) think the green community might be reading too much into things.
In the Riverkeeper opinion, Sotomayor found that the Clean Water Act prohibited the EPA from conducting a cost benefit analysis when determining whether to impose regulations at power plants which would protect fish, but possible have high costs for utilities. But that doesn't necessarily mean she's actually pro-environment. Many times doing an accurate cost benefit analysis comes down in favor of the environmental protection. More telling about Sotomayor is this:
...
Odwalla Launches 2009 Plant a Tree Program
by Kristin Underwood, Sacramento, CA on 05.28.09
Image via: Odwalla
To Do list items for the week: walk the dog, pick up dry cleaning, wash the car, oh and plant trees in State Parks across the US. Don't worry, the last one is easy and you can do it from your desk with the click of a mouse. ...
Note to the Obama Administration: Let's Get Past the Stock Talking Points and Have Some More Passion... Like Prince Charles
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 05.28.09
Prince Charles speaking at the launch of the Rainforest SOS campaign. Photo: Princeofwales.gov.uk
For we mere mortals who haven't received a Nobel Prize, the convening of the Nobel Laureates Symposium on Climate Change at St James's Palace, London probably didn't even register as something that existed. But the occasion was used by Energy Secretary Stephen Chu to get an opinion piece in The Times of London and for Prince Charles to give a speech at the event itself.
The reason I bring this up is because the tone of the two pieces is so different: While the Prince delivers something from his heart, Secretary Chu delivers what might as well be PowerPoint notes:...
Author Edward Humes on the Rise of the Eco Barons (Part Two)
by Jacob Gordon, Nashville, TN on 05.28.09
In the second part of our interview with the author of Eco Barons we learn about the redneck hippy-chick millionaire who started Burt's Bees, and explore the inner workings of Ted Turner (the largest individual landowner in the U.S.). We also hear Edward Humes' appraisal of the strengths and weaknesses of the Obama administration. Listen to the podcast of this interview via iTunes, or just click here to listen, right-click to download. Check out part one here....
Greenwashed Packaging Cartoon Says It All
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 05.28.09
Photo via eelke dekker
Greenwashing starts with the packaging. Yes, we think it's cool when businesses figure out ways to use recycled cardboard, non-toxic inks, point out that recycling the package is the right thing to do, or create clever ways to reuse the packaging. However, the design of the green packaging has become a bit cliché. Artist Lunchbreath has summed it up perfectly in a cartoon - click through to check it out. ...
SolarMagic Boosts Performance For Shaded Solar Arrays
by Kristin Underwood, Sacramento, CA on 05.28.09
Image via: SolarMagic
On Tuesday, I wrote an article about how the PV system supply chain is going to explode over the next few years, bringing with it new jobs and new services. Hot on the heels of that article is a new device created to boot your PV system's output by 10-40%. Smart thinking, National Semiconductor....
World Oceans Day is Approaching - Who is Your Hero?
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 05.28.09
Image via Oceana
Oceana is holding a contest to see who of our ocean's activists are the most heroic of them all. Eight people are contenders, and it's up to you to decide who gets the recognition. But with projects ranging from eleven-year-old sea turtle rescuers to educators with 30 years of experience under their belt, it'll be a tough call. Check out the contestants after the jump, as well as important actions you can take in preparation for World Oceans Day on June 8th. ...
Girls (And Boys) Just Wanna Have Safe Sex: Cyndi Lauper, Katy Perry, Dita Von Teese Fight AIDS With Fashion
by Jasmin Malik Chua, Jersey City, USA on 05.28.09
Cyndi Lauper/Photo credit: H&M
Swedish fast-fashion retailer H&M has gathered together a bevy of bold-face names from the worlds of fashion, music, and style to throw their collective clout behind the fight against AIDS. Cyndi Lauper, Yoko Ono, Dita Von Teese, N.E.R.D., Moby, and Katy Perry are among the artists who have collaborated with H&M and Designers Against AIDS on a collection of graphic tees, dresses, bodysuits, and vests, all made from 100 percent organic cotton.
...
Slow Business: A Manifesto for Reclaiming Our Lives
by Jerry Stifelman, The Change, Chapel Hill, NC on 05.28.09
Image credit: A(lpha) Whale of a Good Time
Business as usual is destroying our lives (and the environment)
On May 14, 2009, the business world was thrown into a tizzy when Gmail and Google's news site were reported as "sluggish" for "about an hour." The BBC swiftly cited pundits proclaiming that the temporarily slow Google was "bad news for Google's efforts to build up Apps, and to a less extent, Gmail, as critical business tools. If the mighty Google can stumble, then who can be trusted?"
Erm-- since when did an hours outage of anything, except maybe oxygen, become a major issue? It’s time we slow the heck down, people.
...
Melting Permafrost Greenhouse Gas Emissions Held at Bay by New Plant Growth, For a Little While
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 05.28.09
photo: Andrei Taranchenko via flickr.
Melting permafrost releasing stored greenhouse gases has long been a known contributing and accelerating factor in global climate change. According to a study published in Nature and reported on by the AP, we may have a bit more time than we thought before all that trapped methane gets released:...
Four Brands of Organic Booze To Get Your Summer Party Started
by Jeff Nield, Vancouver, British Columbia on 05.28.09
Image: Jenn Pentland
Summer is approaching and it's time to dust off the yard furniture, fire up the grill (or better yet the solar cooker), and bask in the (hopefully seasonal) warmth of the season. And while there's nothing better on a lazy summer day than a cold brew, we TreeHuggers are not averse to a fruity cocktail, or a shot of tequila for that matter. And luckily for us there are a few visionary spirit makers out there that have committed themselves to offering us tipplers a greener choice. Read on for a list of four green spirits that are all certified organic, reasonably priced, and available throughout the country.
...
Smart Light Sydney: Seeing the Light Whilst Reducing the Energy
by Warren McLaren, Bundanoon, Australia on 05.28.09
Sydney, Australia was the city that pioneered Earth Hour, turning off its lights to highlight the energy issues inherent in the climate change dilemma. Now, and for the next three weeks they are turning the lights on for the same cause. Smart Light Sydney is about celebrating “sustainable innovations and the future of low-energy lighting design.”
An element of the larger Vivid Sydney festival, Smart Light Sydney is also running a eco lighting symposia looking at how “new technologies such as LEDs, nano-materials and advanced software design programs are revolutionising the design of light fittings and their usage in the city.” All the while asking the question, “How can architects design [...] the after dark usage and enjoyment of the city’s public spaces and buildings without wasting energy?” ...
Effects of Global Warming: What are They?
by Melissa Beecher, ACoolerClimate.com, Raleigh, NC on 05.28.09
Though global warming news has been in people's minds for a while now, many still don't seem to understand the causes of the problem.There's also a lack of understanding of the future effects that might occur if we wait any longer to act.
The real facts about global warming must be known so individuals and governments alike can come together to solve one of the greatest challenges acing humans to date.
Contents
- The Earth's Future
- Skyrocketing Temperatures
- Rising Sea Levels
- Stronger Hurricanes
- Disappearing Coral Reefs
- Extinctions
- Water Shortages
- Food Shortages
- Environmental Refugees
- Increased War
- How Can We Reduce The Effects
...
Toronto Makes Green Roofs the Law, Approves Controversial Bike Lanes
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 05.28.09
Robertson Building Green Roof
Roofs make up 21% of the area of Toronto, so it is logical that they should be put to good use. Now they will be green; by a stunning 36-2 vote, council approved new rules that require green roofs on residential buildings next year and on industrial buildings in two years. Like most good legislation, people at both ends don't like it; Steven Peck of Green Roofs for Healthy Cities says in the Globe and Mail that "We would have liked it [the Toronto bylaw] to be more aggressive,” while the real estate industry lobby group says Cost is an issue,The market is so price-sensitive now.”...
New Orleans Pilot Program Replants Vacant Lots with Sunflower Farms
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 05.28.09
photo: Vijay via flickr.
What do you do with areas of New Orleans that are filled with lots euphemistically described as blighted? If you're Pittsburgh-based GTECH (Growth Through Energy & Community Health) and Green Coast Enterprises, you see the opportunity to transform some of those lots into sunflower farms. Right now it's just a pilot project, Project Sprout, but it's really pretty cool:...
Acid Rain Can Be Fun! No, Really.
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 05.28.09
Photo via Creative Commons
Ok, so maybe not acid rain itself. But learning about it can be fun. Acid rain was quite the buzz word in the early '90s, along with "ozone" and "reduce, recycle, reuse, and close the loop!" And while it doesn't get quite as much press anymore, the problem of acid rain hasn't disappeared. How much do you know about it? Test your knowledge with these cool games. Click through to check them out. ...
UK Wind Energy Controversy Continues
by Sami Grover, Carrboro, NC, USA on 05.28.09
Image credit: Zerocarbonista
UK Wind Energy Suppliers Continue their Public Row
Last week I reported on the open and heated public controversy between UK wind energy suppliers Good Energy and Ecotricity. The drama is far from over. The details are complicated, but important. Both companies have followed a different approach to renewable energy supply, with Good Energy purchasing 100% renewable energy and selling it on to the customer. Ecotricity, on the other hand, have argued that it is not the percentage of renewables a company supplies that matters - but rather it's the percentage of new renewables a company builds that really helps in the fight against climate change (see my interview with Dale Vince for his views on this distinction). But that's not the question at the heart of this disagreement. Ecotricity are arguing that, even if Good Energy's model where the most effective, the company has been less than honest about its actual practices. In fact, say Ecotricity, Good Energy has lied. ...
Ecocity, Environmental Solutions for Cities and Industry
by Petz Scholtus, Barcelona, Spain on 05.28.09
This week the seventh edition of Ecocity & Industry, a fair all around the environmental future of industry and cities, is held in Barcelona, Spain. It is all about waste management and recycling, air quality monitoring, renewable energies and urban cleaning....
Eve Ensler Calls for Rape-Free Cell Phones (Video)
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 05.28.09
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is a source, albeit a small one, for conflict minerals that end up in our electronics. While some companies, such as Nokia, have shown their resolve in never using conflict minerals in their products, other companies have yet to be so transparent. Eve Ensler isn't sitting back about it. Not only are the minerals gathered through abusive means and slave labor, they're also gathered where rape is used as a weapon of war over the mines. Click through to hear Ensler speak at D7 on the issue....
$467 Million in Stimulus Money Released for Solar Power & Geothermal
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 05.28.09
photo: David Blaikie via flickr.
Solar power and geothermal power have finally gotten their portion of money allocated in the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act, to the tune of $467 million. President Obama announced this by touting the usual rhetoric of decreasing dependency on foreign oil and putting people back to work in through green energy jobs. Energy Secretary Stephen Chu too talked up green jobs, plus the role renewable energy can play in combatting climate change Frankly, absolutely nothing new or novel was said, but it is great that solar and geothermal have finally been shown some federal stimulus love. This is how all that money is being divided up:...
Finally! Norwegians Take to the Streets for Electric Cars (and Get Electric Car Sharing!)
by April Streeter, Gothenburg, Sweden on 05.28.09
Wild Girl Goes Urban Foraging in Portland
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 05.28.09
Photos via Culture Change
Urban foraging is gaining appeal among more people as a way to gather up the free bounty of wild plants that still thrive in city settings. However, it's not an easy thing to do - at least not at first. You need to be able to identify plants, know rules about public property, and enjoy cooking up food that we're used to seeing as weeds. Ecolocalizer let us know about Becky Lerner, AKA Wild Girl, a blogger who has taken on the task of eating only what she can forage from her Portland, Oregon urban forest. ...
Buying Frozen Veggies Versus Canned: Which is Greener?
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 05.28.09
Recently I got an email from a reader who had read one of my posts comparing the energy usage and general environmental impact of an electric bicycle and electric scooter. The reader wanted to know which was the greener option: Buying frozen vegetables or buying them in a can?
A quick glance at the book Food, Energy & Security is an illuminating and concise answer—a rarity when dealing with these sorts of questions: ...
Chinese Government Testing Confirms High Incidence Of Contaminated Children's Clothing & Furniture
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 05.28.09
Unrelated photo of Chinese-made children's furniture. Image credit: MadeInChina.com
Like the lead bearing toy issue, the problem of made-in-China clothing and furniture containing unacceptable levels of formaldehyde has been in and out of the news for several years. As indicated in the WSJ China Journal blog, the Chinese government looks to be taking product safety more seriously, having tested to measure the scope of the problem and in making the findings public. Recent government tests found that "Of 60 pieces of clothing tested, only 31 were safe for children to wear," and "Among the 62 pieces of furniture tested, 42 pieces, or 68%, were considered safe for children. Problems with the furniture items included the excessive levels of formaldehyde and heavy metals (such as lead, cadmium and chromium) and mechanical flaws." Now then. What will be done about it?...
Do Horizontal Farms on Buildings Make More Sense than Vertical Farms? Paul de Ruiter Thinks So
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 05.28.09
all images courtesy of Architectenbureau Paul de Ruiter
We do go gaga over vertical farms, but they might be just intellectual exercises rather than serious solutions. As Adam Stein noted, talking about New York: "Local food has its merits, but that’s what New Jersey is for.” But there is a middle ground between "fetishist temples of food production" and New Jersey- using the real estate on our roofs. As Sami noted in another post, greenhouses work very well.
That is why I like The Zuidkas, a proposal by Architectenbureau Paul de Ruiter commissioned by the Government Buildings Agency in the Netherlands. It integrates a greenhouse into the roof. And by integrating both office and residential functions into the same building, the greenhouse serves the additional function of being part of a system of air and water purification. Talk about local food- you just go upstairs....
Camelbak Get Over the Hump of BPA with Stainless Steel Bottles
by Warren McLaren, Bundanoon, Australia on 05.28.09
When all the fuss about Bisphenol-A (BPA) leaching from polycarbonate (aka Lexan) drink bottles came to light, one of the first to switch production to the apparently more benign Tritan plastic was Camelbak. When your business for almost 20 years has been making it easier for people on the go to drink fluids, you have good reason to respond to the concerns of your customers.
Many thirsty active people reacted to the BPA issue by moving to stainless steel. Now Camelbak have too. ...
Take Advantage of TreeHugger Deal$!
by Kara DiCamillo, Newport, Rhode Island on 05.28.09
Since last fall, we've been bringing you our TreeHugger Deal$ column, which have been exclusive offers for you, our dear readers. A few of the deals will be expiring by the end of this month, a.k.a. Monday, so we wanted to post a little reminder letting you know that you can still save big with some great, green companies.
Check out the TreeHugger Deal$ that expire in just a few days:...
10 Tasty Fish You Don't Want to Eat (Slideshow)
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 05.28.09
Photo via CybersamX
The Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch offers a list of fish you can enjoy and those you can't. Many on the list you may or may not enjoy depending on where and how they're caught. However, there are some you just don't want to touch. Check out 10 of these tasty fish that you want to let swim in peace.
...
'The Butterfly Effect' - An Interactive Exhibit on our Future in a Changed Climate
by Sami Grover, Carrboro, NC, USA on 05.28.09
Image credit: Elio Studios
Interactive Map Engages Public on how Climate Change Effects their Future
TreeHugger spends an awful lot of time discussing technological solutions to climate change and other environmental challenges. Whether it's industrial solar cookers, the latest electric cars or solar planes, there's no doubt that technological innovation can be a huge boon to environmental sustainability. But what about social innovation? If we're going to find a way out of the mess we've created, then finding new ways to interpret and relate to our environment is going to be at least as important as inventing the latest fancy gizmos. That's where fellow TreeHugger Leonora's work comes in - she's been collaborating with climate and social scientists at the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research in the UK on the 'Butterfly Effect' project - an interactive exhibit on the future of the Norfolk Broads. And today is the last day to check it out. ...
Would You Use Returnable Bottles With a Deposit?
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 05.28.09
Kristen says "I enjoy the loud smash every time you drop a giant, glass wine bottle into the bin." I don't- it is the sound of waste, of embodied energy lost, the sound of a stupid system where something is used once, broken, melted, and downcycled. One might even go so far as to suggest that recycling is bullsh*t. But we are creatures of convenience, and a deposit-and-return system is a pain. Or is it?
...
Michelle Kauffman Closing News Prompts Search for Positive Green Architecture Stories
by Leonora Oppenheim, London, UK on 05.28.09
In a week when we heard the sad news that "the queen of prefab design and marketing" Michelle Kaufman is closing her business's doors due to difficulties posed by the economic downturn, TH Blog Love scours the blogosphere for positive green architecture stories and thankfully we weren't disappointed! Click through for posts from BLDGBLOG, Dwell, Inhabitat, Guardian Environment and Jetson Green......
US Congress May Undo Cheney's "Fracing" Exemption
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 05.28.09
Hydraulic Fracturing Pumping Unit. Image credit:Producers Service Corporation
Congress is looking at undoing a recent and unique oil and gas industry exemption from the Clean Water Act of 1974, created at the urging of former Vice President Cheney. Long story short: drillers are exempt from even telling State or Federal environmental officials what chemical brew they are ramming down their boreholes in the hope of extracting more natural gas or oil. People living near to where hydraulic fracturing or "fracing" takes place are complaining of water well contamination. Associated livestock deaths have been reported. You have to be able to empathize with these people. Drinking really bad tasting water day after day would be like torture. ...
Street Furniture Made by Street Kids
by Bonnie Alter, London on 05.28.09
Images from Furniture on the Street
Furniture on the Street is a social enterprise project that sells contemporary-designed pieces of outdoor wooden furniture. The key is that the tables and chairs are made by unemployed youth and the factory work prepares them for the job market.
As part of the programme, students get a one-year carpentry course and are taught the design process. The good looking planters, garbage bins and benches are made out of reclaimed wood and the frames are made locally....
Calling All Americans: We Need to Recycle More Glass
by Kristin Underwood, Sacramento, CA on 05.27.09
Image via: Flickr
Do you have a favorite item to recycle? Personally I enjoy the loud smash every time you drop a giant, glass wine bottle into the bin. Glass makers are also hoping you join team glass and start to recycle a few more bottles. The savings not only mean money in your pocket but also fewer emissions and energy savings. Here's how:...
Blanchett to Corporations: Time to Change Climate Change
by Roberta Cruger, Los Angeles on 05.27.09
Was actress Cate Blanchett able to push some buttons? Photo via: CateBlanchett
Copenhagen is the place to rendezvous this year when it comes to global warming and the latest gathering geared to this effort was the World Business Summit on Climate Change where Cate Blanchett joined U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to address the 700 participants including heads of Pepsico, Ericsson and Siemens, to name a few big corps. Queen Elizabeth I (a/k/a Blanchett), dazzled the group with an impassioned plea. (Before complaining about “green” movie stars, check out her efforts.) ...
Is Obama Playing God With the American Electric Car?
by Brian Merchant, Brooklyn, New York on 05.27.09
Photo via Time
It was pretty good news for clean energy enthusiasts when Obama announced $2.4 billion in funding for electric vehicles. Sure, like the high speed rail plans, it didn't seem like enough money, but a couple billion can go a long way. So what's the problem? Decisions as to who gets the funding will be decided by Obama, his team, and state governments--meaning the gov will have a huge hand in deciding which electric cars succeed or fail. Will Obama decide the fate of the American electric car?...
Wear Your Silverware Around Your Neck with McFlashpants' Recycled Jewelry
by Jasmin Malik Chua, Jersey City, USA on 05.27.09
Photo credit: McFlashpants
Here's another way to creatively reuse unwanted cutlery: Turn them into jewelry. That's precisely what Jen McGlashan of McFlashpants does, whether it's slicing off the ends of vintage flatware and stringing them with waxed cotton cord, or hacking silver-plated forks into segments and then re-linking the pieces with jump rings. The twisted tines of discarded forks are fodder for an eclectic series of rings, while two halves of an antique spoon become light-catching earrings. ...
Big Oil to Become Big Biofuels?
by Brian Merchant, Brooklyn, New York on 05.27.09
Photo via Siemens
For a long time, Big Oil got along with ethanol producers like, well, oil and water. But recently, it seems like the two industries have not only begun to learn how to play nice, but form business alliances. Oil companies are showing more and more interest in actually investing in ethanol companies and contributing to research. BP, for example, has recently formed an alliance with ethanol company Verenium, and is pouring billions of dollars into development. With oil prices fickle, and reserves depleting, could Big Oil be on its way to becoming Big Biofuels?...
Great Outdoors Project Gives $50,000 Grant to Nature-Oriented Non-Profit: Vote Today!
by Jessica Root - Brooklyn, NY on 05.27.09
If you don’t have the dough to support your preferred non-profit, there are other ways to help. One super easy one involves one minute out of your day and one click of your mouse (or thumb). It’s the Redwook Creek Wines and Planet Green sponsored Greater Outdoors Project, forking over a $50,000 grant to the nature-oriented non-profit chosen by you!
As Jaymi mentioned, our very own Graham Hill helped whittle down the entrants to the select top few including Friends of New Orleans City Park, the National Forest Foundation, WildEarth Guardians, Arizona Trail, and Conserve Wildlife Foundation of New Jersey. But now the grand prize winner lays our text-messaging hands. ...
Expanding Waste-Based Renewable Energy
by Wes Muir, Waste Management, Inc. on 05.27.09
InEnTec called a Plasma Enhanced Melter (PEM).
Image credit: InventorSpot, Christopher Nagy
The saying “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure” is ringing true in the world of waste management. When most Americans think of alternative energy, a few words probably come to mind: “wind,” “solar” or even “hydrogen.” Few would consider their trash a viable source of power – but they would be mistaken.
In recent years, a resurgence of interest in waste-based energy has prompted the expansion of landfill-gas-to-energy and waste-to-energy facilities and projects across the nation. A new and emerging waste based technology that is attracting some interest is gasification.
There are a number of forms of gasification technology being actively marketed for processing waste including plasma arc gasification; plasma torch gasification; pyrolysis; and combined pyrolysis-gasification systems. For most people it looks like another “black box” or “silver bullet” solution to addressing our waste management challenges. While there are a lot of hurdles to its development, it does hold the potential to process a wide range of waste streams to generate clean renewable fuels and electricity. ...
A Little Help From Up Above: Israel is Replacing Pesticides with Owls and Falcons
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 05.27.09
Photo: Wikipedia, CC
Next Step: Bat Houses?
Farmers in Israel are doing some eco-judo, turning a problem into a solution. BirdLife International reported that many birds of prey in the region were dying because they were eating rodents that had been poisoned by pesticides. But now, there is a will to reduce the use of these poisons and instead us the birds of prey (owls, kestrels) as natural pest controllers. Good for the birds, good for the farmers. Probably not so good for the rodents, but you can't please everybody... Read on for more details. ...
Could Cap and Trade Cause the US to Emit More Greenhouse Gases?
by Brian Merchant, Brooklyn, New York on 05.27.09
Photo via Inhabitat
It's discouraging to consider, but it's a distinct, unfortunate possibility. Depending on how the climate bill ends up being structured, cap and trade in the US could end up rewarding companies for emitting more greenhouse gases--precisely the opposite of its intended effect--at least in the short term. Here's how it could happen. ...
Bikes Sales Outpace Cars and Trucks!
by Daniel Kessler, San Francisco, California on 05.27.09
Photo LA Times
While news of the four-wheel variety remains bleak with news that GM is on the brink of bankruptcy, news for the two wheel set is mostly good. In fact, more bicycles were bought in the first quarter of 2009 than cars and trucks. That's change I can believe in....
Preparing for the Worst: Adaptation Becoming Crucial Part of Climate Change Plans
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 05.27.09
Differences in philosophical, economic and cultural outlook changes an area's reception to the need of climate change adaptation. Prayer flags in Bhutan, photo: Wonderlane via flickr.
After years of being relegated to the sidelines or talked about only in hushed tones the idea of adaptation strategies for climate change is increasingly being talked about on equal footing with the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. In a new piece for Yale Environment 360, Bruce Stutz discusses this trend and what different adaptation strategies might look like:...
GM Gas-Electric Hybrid Car Ad From... 1969!
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 05.27.09
Photo: GM
The More Things Change...
Speaking of GM and electric cars, here's an ad from 1969 that shows a series hybrid powered by a stirling engine. The underlying concept isn't actually so different from the upcoming Chevy Volt, and while at the time the technology probably wasn't there to make this a commercial success, we can wonder what happened to this concept in the years between then and now... Full ad (with text) below....
Blair Kamin: Historic preservation and green architecture: friends or foes?
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 05.27.09
FLW's Seth Peterson Cottage with (gasp) new windows!
Blair Kamin is the Pulitzer-winning architecture critic of the Chicago Tribune, and a contributing editor of Architectural Record. He talked to the Michigan Historic Preservation Network last week.
[When asked] to give this talk about the tension between green architecture and historic preservation, I have to admit that I was taken aback. My first reaction was: What tension? I could hardly image two groups whose cultural profiles are more alike. Choosing between tree-huggers and building-huggers would seem to be akin to choosing between buying a Volvo or a Saab. (You are permitted to utter the names of those two brands here in Michigan, right?)...
Nobu Still Serves Endangered Bluefin Tuna, Places Moronic Warning Labels on Menus
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 05.27.09
Bluefin tuna being cut at a Tokyo fish market. Photo: Stewart Butterfield via flickr.
Last year it came to light that despite the fact that bluefin tuna is an endangered species, the uber-upscale sushi chain of Nobu restaurants had it on the menu—even after most of their competitors agreed to stop serving the fish. You wouldn't serve tiger or panda on a menu, but apparently because its a fish, and considered a delicacy, that doesn't matter to Nobu. Mongabay now reports that, rather than stop serving the fish, Nobu has put an entirely non-sensical notice on their menus regarding bluefin tuna:...
GM Defends the Volt, Attacks Smaller Electric Car Start-Ups (Tesla, Fisker, etc)
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 05.27.09
Frank Weber. Photo: GM
GM Paints Itself as Electric Car Champion
Frank Weber, GM's Global Electric Vehicle Development Executive, wrote a piece titled: "How GM is Making Electric Vehicles Relevant" (cross-posted on GM's Fastlane Blog -- you can read the highlights below). I'd love to hear your thoughts on this in the comments. I'll put some of my reactions to what Mr Weber is saying below....
39% Increase in CO2 by 2030: Latest Grim Business-as-Usual Emissions Projection
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 05.27.09
So, you can't see CO2 in the atmosphere, but you can see the other effects of reliance on coal... photo: orangeandmilk via flickr.
In case you still think that business-as-usual carbon emissions aren't a big deal: The EIA has released a new forecast of how much emissions will increase by 2030 without strong binding emission reduction targets. Absent such commitments we're likely to see global carbon dioxide emissions increase by more than 39%. Reuters has summed up the grim stats:...
What's The Most Dangerous Room in the House?
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 05.27.09
Bathrooms are dangerous places; just ask Janet Leigh. But it isn't just Tony Perkins that you have to worry about, there are a host of dangers in everybody's house.
Discovery partner How Stuff Works asks What's the most dangerous room in the house? They are not entirely clear about which is worse, the kitchen or the bathroom....
What To Do With Your Excess Tote Bags: Make Them Into Pillows
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 05.27.09
A few weeks ago Jaymi noted "Raise you hand if you have as many reusable bags coming out your ears as you did plastic bags a few years ago." We ran a poll on it and a lot of people agreed. Coming back from ICFF I had to do a little triage, keep the Marimekko and the Spanish design and of course the Tom Dixon; (Mocoloco made a contest out of it) I abandoned the rest. But NotCot has the best idea: They have turned them into throw pillows....
Ecuador Rainforest Conservation Plan Would Leave 20% of Oil Reserves Untapped
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 05.27.09
photo: lana.japan via flickr
Under a new plan being worked out by conservationists, a vast swath of the Ecuadorian Amazon, under which lies about 20% of the nations oil reserves, would be set aside so the nation could reap profits in the future carbon offset market. The Washington Post (via Yale e360) provides the details: ...
Secret Freegan is Dumpster Diving's Robin Hood
by April Streeter, Gothenburg, Sweden on 05.27.09
Earthkeepers Facebook Game Challenges Players to Get Eco-Savvy
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 05.27.09
Image via EarthKeepers game
Timberland and Changents have launched a game on Facebook called Earthkeepers Hero “Mission Possible,” which boosts players' green IQ and challenges them to get green offline, too....
Garbage Heavyweight Waste Management Gets Into Waste Gasification-to-Energy
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 05.27.09
photo: Julian via flickr
Waste gasification-to-energy just got a bit of a boost: Waste Management has announced a joint venture to commercialize InEnTec's plasma gasification technology. The new company is called S4 Energy Solutions and expects to first targets specialized markets with waste that can't be disposed of in ordinary landfills (medical waste, that sort of thing). Since companies generating that sort of waste are already willing to pay more to dispose of it, the technology may be currently cost effective in these markets. Technology Review explains how it works:...
Jargon Watch: Fracking
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 05.27.09
No, it isn't just an expletive from Battlestar Galactica. It is short for "hydraulic fracturing", the process of injecting millions of gallons of water and chemicals into the ground to displace natural gas, and it is evidently pretty much unregulated. According to NPR,
Environmentalists want the federal government to regulate the practice because, in some cases, fracking may be harming nearby water wells. The industry says regulation should be left up to the states....
Government Minister at Peak Oil Conference - Miracles Do Happen
by Sami Grover, Carrboro, NC, USA on 05.27.09
Image credit: Transition Culture
Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change Debates Government Role & the Wisdom of Economic Growth
It's no secret that I've been getting excited about the Transition Movement for some time. This community-lead response to peak oil and climate change has been mobilizing folks of all backgrounds and political persuasions - creating community around a common cause. But until now I've seen little evidence that this 'bottom up' approach to change was making much headway at the top. But I should have known better. In a time when the Obamas can plant a vegetable garden on the White House lawn, it's clear that politicians are beginning to understand that they had better start listening to grassroots environment and community groups as we collectively search for solutions to the challenges we face. Maybe that's why Ed Milliband, the UK Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change was seen attending last weekend's Transition Conference as a 'Keynote Listener', attending 3 Open Space sessions and giving a revealing interview. Click below the fold to hear Mr Milliband debating government's role in transition, the real role of economic growth, and that ever-so-controversial third runway at Heathrow. ...
Sperm Whales Steal Cod Off Deep Sea Fishing Lines
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 05.27.09
Image via Live Science
As easy as plucking fruit from a tree, sperm whales can steal cod off deep sea fishing lines. And they've been caught red handed, er, finned, on video!...
Good News: Most Ecosystems Can Recover in One Lifetime from Human-Induced or Natural Disturbance
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 05.27.09
photo: Partners for Fish and Wildlife via flickr.
There's a reason the phrase "let nature take its course" exists: New research done at the Yale University School of Forestry & Environmental Science reinforces the idea that ecosystems are quiet resilient and can rebound from pollution and environmental degradation. Published in the journal PLoS ONE, the study shows that most damaged ecosystems worldwide can recover within a single lifetime, if the source of pollution is removed and restoration work done:...
Should Native Peoples Be Able To Continue Traditions, No Matter What?
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 05.27.09
Yum! Rachel Maddow on Canada's Governor General cutting out the heart of a seal and eating it raw, telling her daughter that "it tastes like sushi."
The seal hunt is a controversial issue, dividing Canadians and appalling the rest of the world, but this wasn't a usual seal hunt on the east cost, this was in Rankin Inlet in Nunavut, with the Inuit, where she said in the Star: "These are ancient practices that are part of a way of life," Jean said, framing her gutsy gesture as an act of solidarity with the Inuit. "If you can't understand that, you're completely missing the reality of life here." Brian did a post on this:
...
Proposed e-Waste Bill Not Good Enough for Watchdog Groups
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 05.27.09
Photo via Endlisnis
A proposed bill circulating in Washington could restrict exports of certain types of electronics materials meant for recycling, except if it is intended for “repair or refurbishment.” However, this exception has watchdog groups like the Electronics TakeBack Coalition angered because it provides a loophole too many recyclers will take advantage of. ...
California Businesses Could Save Enough Water to Supply San Francisco, San Diego, and Los Angeles
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 05.27.09
Images via NRDC
The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) reports that by implementing a few water saving techniques, California's businesses could make a big impact on easing the pressure of the last few dry years. In fact, they could save more than enough water to meet the needs of the three major cities of San Francisco, San Diego and Los Angeles, all while making business more cost effective and cleaning up water supplies. ...
7 Celebrities in Gargantuan Gas-Guzzling Cars (Slideshow)
by Emma Grady, New York, NY on 05.27.09
Arnold Schwarzenegger matches his muscle in one of his many hummers. Credit: Where Is a Car
With Green Hollywood's go-to car the Toyota Prius, we sometimes forget that not every celebrity lends their status to curbing their carbon footprint like our eco-celebs in 10 Hollywood Hunks and their Hot Green Cars and 7 Hollywood Hotties and their Hot Green Cars, Round 2.
Get driven away in our 7 Celebrities in Gargantuan Gas-Guzzling Cars Slideshow and find out which famous pint-sized twin offsets her size rather than her carbon emissions in her Mercedes-Benz SUV and what really drives Arnold Schwarzenegger's hummer above.
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US Government Awards Millions To Create "Forest Thinning" Jobs
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 05.27.09
John Deere tracked 853 feller-buncher. Image credit:John Deere Corp.
U.S. Department of the Interior will grant $15 million to 55 projects to "thin overgrown forests" [logging] and remove potential fuels for wildfires on public lands" [so the wood can be burned elsewhere]. The "hazardous fuels reduction" projects selected will create jobs in 12 states. The DOI press release on this program reports that "wood removed during such projects is generally of a poor quality that is not wanted by lumber mills, but it can serve as an excellent source of biomass energy." Bambi, reportedly, is conflicted about this use of taxpayer dollars, because, while it reduces the chance of loosing Mom to a forest fire, it also means fewer places for Thumper to hang out....
Greenpeace Putting Pressure on IT Industry to Walk the Climate Saving Talk
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 05.27.09
Image via Greenpeace
The IT industry tends to talk a lot about what technology can do for sustainability, and Greenpeace recognizes that the IT industry holds a lot of power in its hands to shape our carbon footprints. So the group has decided to ask the IT industry to start making good on some of those claims about transparency, energy efficiency, cutting carbon emissions, and more. Greenpeace has started talking with the leaders in IT and released a report grading the industry participants on their green mettle. Check out who the companies are, and how they rank. ...
Modern Prefab On The Ropes: Michelle Kaufmann Packs It In
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 05.27.09
Michelle Kaufmann in a Glidehouse in happier times
A year ago I wrote that modern prefab had lived fast, died young and left a good looking corpse. But I thought if anyone would survive it would be Michelle Kaufmann, the queen of prefab design and marketing, who when I wrote her best of green award, said "an entire industry rides on her coat-tails."
When times were good, Michelle could not find factories to build her stuff; they were making too much money building crap. When the crap market dried up, so did they. Then the banking crisis delivered the final cut, and it is over....
Top 8 Green Food Movements of All Time
by Christine Lepisto, Berlin on 05.27.09
Image: all natural prevention
Religious laws based on moral principles and establishing the first health guidelines inspired the first food movements. The history of modern food movements could be said to date to the formation of the Vegetarian Society, in 1847. Members of the Vegetarians claim the word derives from the Latin word for lively, which is how the diet makes them feel. Since then, the pace of food movements has accelerated madly: from Raw food to slow food, fair food, and local food. We've rounded up the top 8 green food movements of all times, starting with God and ending with Notting Hill. ...
The Man Behind Mars Bars Going Sustainable
by Bonnie Alter, London on 05.27.09
Image from blogsmithsonianmag.com
First Cadburys, and then Mars have recently announced that they had switched to sustainable cocoa. Both are major coups for the sustainable and ethical movement and the workers who are toiling in the fields.
The man from Mars who made it all happen, Howard-Yana Shapiro, has been around a long time. A mere twelve years ago he sold Seeds of Change to Mars and was being called a traitor by some. It was small organic seed company started in New Mexico in '89. It was sold to Mars in 1997 and Shapiro stayed on to expand the brand....
Would You Pay $195 for an Organic Cotton Tee? Luxury Brands Go Green to Support Yann Arthus-Bertrand's "Home"
by Jasmin Malik Chua, Jersey City, USA on 05.26.09
Photo credit: Gucci
Gucci, Alexander McQueen, Sergio Rossi, Bottega Veneta, and Yves Saint Laurent are going green, according to Vanity Fair—well, sorta. Call it a case of "brand synergy;" the Gucci Group fashion houses are presenting their high-end interpretations of sustainable style, if only to promote Yann Arthus-Betrand's epic cinematic outing about the state of the planet, which happens to be sponsored by the brands' parent company, PPR. ...
Get on the Ground Floor of 5 Million New Jobs with a HAZWOPER Certification
by Eric Leech, New York, NY on 05.26.09
Photo via: Azrainman; Freaking News
The unemployment situation in the U.S. is serious. Currently there are 13.7 million unemployed people. Of these, 6 million have been added since the beginning of the recession (December of 2007 ) and nearly 4 million have remained jobless for a period of over 27 weeks. In the month of April alone, the unemployment rate rose from 8.5 to 8.9 percent.
If you are one of these unfortunate individuals, or fear the prospects of becoming one in the near future, you may want to pay particular attention to this post......
Sex, Love and Evolution - A Conversation with Dr. Helen Fisher
by Neil Chambers, New York City on 05.26.09
Photo by Rafael Fuchs
Dr. Helen Fisher is the love doctor of the 21st century. Her research is revealing why you are crushing on your co-worker to what kind of person you will attract if your index finger is longer than your ring finger. Think you know why you’re in love with your boyfriend or girlfriend? Think they are your soul mate? You should read her new earth-shaking book Why Him? Why Her? before you go to the next level. Still trying to figure out why you can’t get any action from the opposite sex (or same sex, depending on how you swing)? It might be that you don’t have enough dopamine in your system.
...
Canada's Governor General Eats Heart of Slaughtered Seal to Support Annual Hunt
by Brian Merchant, Brooklyn, New York on 05.26.09
Photo via Huffington Post
The annual Canadian seal hunt is one of the most controversial events in the world when it comes to animal rights issues--animal rights groups stage angry protests, critics loudly call it unsustainable, and the European Union has gone beyond denouncing it to imposing a ban on Canadian goods produced from seal products. Needless to say, it all amounts to quite a spectacle. But nothing could have prepared anyone for the next chapter in the seal hunt saga: a Canadian governor publicly eating a raw seal heart from a slaughtered animal to show her support of the tradition. ...
Eating Brazil Nuts Protects the Amazon Rainforest - Literally
by Kristin Underwood, Sacramento, CA on 05.26.09
Image via: Author's collection
Probably the most entertaining interview we conducted during my South American tour with Green Living Project was interviewing Brazil Nut Concession Owners, and in particular, Patricio León. This 75 year old man has been harvesting brazil nuts since he was about 14 years old and is still out doing it, though he admits that now he has staff to help with the work because he’s not as young as he once was. If you’re not familiar with brazil nuts, but have ever eaten a can of mixed nuts, then you’ve probably eaten or at least seen a brazil nut. They’re the really large moon-sliver shaped nuts that you usually find hanging out at the bottom of the canister. Listen up, because eating those directly helps to protect the rainforest. ...
Lifting the Online Poker Ban Could Cause a CO2 Emissions Boom
by Brian Merchant, Brooklyn, New York on 05.26.09
Image via Real 3D Games
Right now, online gambling is technically illegal in the United States—a ban was put in place by Congress in 2006. But you probably know somebody who does it anyways, using one of the still-popular websites operated off US shores. Sites like Poker Stars boast hundreds of thousands of American members. But what if that ban were to be lifted? Democratic Rep. Barney Frank is currently working to do exactly that. If he succeeds, millions of online poker players could flock to the digital tables--and increased intensive Internet use nationwide would cause carbon emissions to skyrocket....
EPA Vows to Clean Up Michigan Dow Site
by Daniel Kessler, San Francisco, California on 05.26.09
Photo via the Michigan Messenger
The EPA is getting serious about cleaning up an infamous toxic site in Michigan. Administrator Lisa Jackson today committed to scrubbing the Michigan Dow Dioxin site as well as a speeding up of the EPA's overall scientific review of dioxins, a class of hundreds of chemicals that come from waste and manufacturing chemicals and pesticides. A former EPA official has said she was removed from her job under the Bush Administration for blowing the whistle on the site....
BAN Uncovers e-Cycler Lying, Sending e-Waste Overseas
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 05.26.09
Photo via Basel Action Network: "Container loaded with large computer monitors from Humane Society free e-waste collection event. Container was tracked to South Africa after "recycler" claimed no export"
Diligent eyes at Basel Action Network discovered that EarthECycle recently held two e-waste recycling events at which they assured people the waste would be recycled locally, but instead packed it up to ship it overseas to e-waste dumps. ...
Eco-Panda Launches First Recycled Nylon Swimwear Line
by Jasmin Malik Chua, Jersey City, USA on 05.26.09
Photo credit: Eco-Panda
Beachy keen! A new eco-swimsuit collection is about to make some serious waves, even if it's not, as the company declares, the first recycled swimwear line, like, ever. (Aaron Chang has first dibs on that appellation.) Splashing into stores this summer, Eco-Panda's debut collection comprises recycled nylon, as well as Xtra Life Lycra, a combo it says results in garments that last three times longer than your average two-piece....
The Green Phone Booth Hosts Carnival of the Green
by Kara DiCamillo, Newport, Rhode Island on 05.26.09
This week is Carnival of the Green #181 and it's being hosted by The Green Phone Booth a cool blog written by five women that work together in the 'booth toward a cooler, cleaner, healthier planet. Individually, they face the same frustrations and challenges that we all do in trying to live more lightly on this Earth. And together, they’ve created a community that fosters all of their efforts.
So head on over to 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. Also, as we recently announced, the Carnival of the Green now includes our new #bestgreentweets feature from Twitter. Find out which ones made the cut - enjoy!
We are now accepting host requests for 2010! Read on to find out how to host....
Shape-Shifting Wind Turbine Blades Increase Clean Energy Production
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 05.26.09
Photo: Purdue
Smart Wind Turbines are the Future
Wind turbines need to be 'tuned' for a certain type of wind, and it is within that sweet spot that they are most efficient. But what happens when wind is blowing faster? Or slower? Sadly, below and above the ideal wind speed, wind turbines are not as effective at extracting clean power from the air. One solution, which is what researchers at Purdue are working on, is to have a turbine with 'smart' blades that can shape-shift depending on wind conditions. Read on for more details....
Green Jobs Booming Along PV Supply Chain
by Kristin Underwood, Sacramento, CA on 05.26.09
Image via: Flickr.com
When I first saw the headline that soon solar will support more than just installer jobs, and that it's now become a large enough offshoot to warrant its own news release, I thought, 'great, the idea of starting one's own green, service business is starting to take off.' Well it's true that those jobs are picking up, but so are jobs for the chemical industry....
Pee-to-Water Converter Is Neat And Kinda Gross
by Jerry James Stone, San Francisco, CA on 05.26.09
Photo courtesy of: The Design Blog
Pee-cycling is getting more and more popular. Especially with water scarcity causing alarm planet-wide. Heck, even NASA astronauts are in on it. Like, whatever happened to just drinking Tang?
The latest entry is by designer Leonardo Manavella. The "Aqua H20" works both with human or animal urine. The liquid waste is handled via the Activated Carbon which removes both the color and the flavor.
No word on how this thing holds up against asparagus. ...
Engineering Is Hip Again
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 05.26.09
Not too long ago everyone wanted to get an MBA and go work on Wall Street; we all know how that turned out. Now, it appears that making real things, not financial constructions, is cool again. Enrollment is up 4.5%. And they are not joining to learn how to build highways; According to the Christian Science Monitor,
Some education officials detect a shift in opinion about the profession itself, as global warming and stem-cell research make fields like chemical and bioengineering more than just wise choices for job-seekers – but fashionable ones, too. Many students are bringing to engineering a heightened sense of social responsibility and a desire "to go out and make a difference in the world," says Joseph Helble, dean of the Thayer School of Engineering at Dartmouth College....
White Roofs to Sweep the World, Fight Climate Change
by Brian Merchant, Brooklyn, New York on 05.26.09
Photo via Marmel Radziner Prefab>
It's long been known that white roofs reflect more heat back into space, reducing the amount of electricity used for A/C and thus drastically cutting down on energy consumption. Some estimates say they save billions of dollars annually. And they've just gotten their most public, most official shout out yet--Secretary of Energy Stephen Chu has recommended that the world should try to have "white roofs everywhere to help fight climate change"--remarks that were carried in hundreds of news wires around the world....
i MiEV Electric Car to Have Second Battery Factory Because of High Demand
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 05.26.09
Photo: Mitsubishi
Lithium-ion Battery Factory to be Built in Kyoto
Last month, I wrote about how Mitsubishi was increasing planned production for its i MiEV electric car (which will be sold as Citroën and Peugeot in Europe) due to stronger demand than anticipated. But you can't make electric cars without a large enough supply of battery cells, so it is good news to learn that Lithium Energy Japan, a joint venture between GS Yuasa, Mitsubishi Motors, and Mitsubishi Corp, will build a second battery factory to make more lithium-ion cells for the i MiEV. Read on for more details....
Southeast Asia Commercial Wildlife Farms Actually Hurt Wild Populations
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 05.26.09
photo: Christopher via flickr.
The idea behind Southeast Asia's commercial wildlife farms is raising "wild" animals in captivity to provide meat and wildlife products, and thereby take pressure off populations of these same animals in the wild. Too bad they have the exact opposite effect. That's the word coming from the Wildlife Conservation Society:...
Trashy Art: Textile-Printed Recycled Trucks Hit Philly Streets
by Jasmin Malik Chua, Jersey City, USA on 05.26.09
Photo credit: Nancy Packer, Collection/Mural Art Program
Now this is a makeover: Ten of Philadelphia's recycling trucks got a bold and brilliant overhaul with the help of 60 students from the city's Mural Arts Program. Printed on admittedly less-than-eco-friendly vinyl, with graphics inspired by the historic textiles collection of The Design Center at Philadelphia University, the trucks first rolled through city streets—very appropriately on Earth Day—to mark the introduction of Philadelphia's new single-stream recycling program.
Follow the jump for more art-trucking action. For a complete set of trucks, visit the Mural Arts Program's Website....
Business Leaders Make "The Copenhagen Call", List What Business Can Do to Prevent Climate Change
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 05.26.09
Preservation of forests was cited as one the key things to be included in a post-Kyoto agreement... photo: Eduardo Zárate via flickr.
At the World Business Summit on Climate Change, the latest of the climate change meetings going on in Copenhagen in the run-up to the COP15 UN Climate Change Conference, global business leaders issued what they have dubbed "The Copenhagen Call"—a six-point statement of what business believes is required to create an effective new global climate change treaty. My comments come after each section, all in all it's a pretty good (if general) statement:...
Who's Laughing Now? Tesla Motors Now Worth Half of GM's Value (On Paper)
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 05.26.09
Photos: Michael Graham Richard
"It's sort of amusing," remarked Tesla co-founder Martin Eberhard.
Last week I wrote about Daimler buying an almost 10% stake in elcetric car maker Tesla Motors. Andrew S. Ross, writing for the San Francisco Gate, made an interesting observation. Based on the ±9% stake that Daimler purchased for $50 million, Tesla's valuation is about $550 million. That's about half of GM's market valuation ($1.17 billion) with their share at $1.92 (the closing price when Ross wrote his piece). But today's price for a GM share is hovering around $1.25, so - at least on paper - Tesla would now be worth more than half of GM....
What's New in Modern Prefab
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 05.26.09
We used to show a lot of modern prefab, but is has fallen off the radar as of late, as we become more concerned about how we will get to where we build as well as the way we build. It used to be enough that something was built in the factory with greater precision and less waste; it isn't any more. We have tended to the really deep green, or to the very small designs that can fit in urban spaces.
So we provide herein some delightful eye candy, a few very interesting designs that we have missed, and a lovely rooftop intervention. Thanks to our source, Materialicious.
...
UWisconsin Oshkosh Bans KFC on Campus
by Kristin Underwood, Sacramento, CA on 05.26.09
Syracuse U Student Signs Similar Petition to Ban KFC on Campus. Image via: Flickr.com
Man, college students can be demanding. Asking for fair trade this, and free-range that. Well when college students at the University of Wisconsin, Oshkosh found out that a 6-year contract with KFC was under negotiation, it really gave them something to whine about....
High-Line Stories: How to Transform a Derelict Railway into a Seriously Cool Park (Video)
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 05.26.09
Green Eyes On: Cleaning Cushions Naturally
by Sara Snow on 05.26.09
As the last of the winter’s snow melted, it revealed our inviting back patio, where the sage and oregano was just beginning to poke through in the herb garden on the perimeter, bird feeders begging to be refilled so that the birds could flock in droves, and a table and chairs screaming for summertime dinners. The only problem was the uninviting mildew covering the chair cushions.
I knew I had two choices: I could clean them or replace them. Ever the eco’ist, I of course wanted to try my hardest to salvage what I already had instead of buying new.
...
Louisiana Wetland Activists Demonstrating for Habitat Restoration
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 05.26.09
Image via America's Wetland Foundation
The 2009 hurricane season is about to commence and activists from America's Wetland Foundation (AWF) want to draw attention to the loss of coastline habitat that is normally the first line of protection against powerful hurricanes, but that is disappearing at an alarming rate. ...
Chicago's Awesome McDonald’s Cycle Center (Video Tour)
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 05.26.09
Photo: Wikipedia, CC
Build It and They Will Come...
There are many factors that can encourage more people to bike to work, from more bike-friendly employers, to changing the mainstream perception of bike commuters, to physically separated bike lanes. But even if you have all that, there's something that can make it all better, the cherry on top... A nice bike-center, a place where you can safely park, get maintenance done, take a shower, meet other cyclists, etc. Chicago's McDonald's Bike Center is a great example of how to do this right. Check out the video tour below....
Solar Mendocino Motor Appearing at Maker Faire (Video)
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 05.26.09
Photo via Make
Here's a pretty cool project to teach high school kids about solar power, magnetism, and putting together something that is somewhat on the more difficult side. The Mendocino Motor is solar powered, and is making an appearance at this year's Bay Area Maker Faire. Check out the video on how it works. ...
First Batch of Smart Grid Standards Announced
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 05.26.09
Everyone is starting to come together. Photo via eflon
We'd hoped to start seeing some progress by summer, and it looks like the first 16 smart grid standards have been announced by the U.S. Departments of Energy and Commerce, marking the slow arrival of standardization that is necessary to get a national smart grid up and running. The new standards cover a range of smart grid technologies, from smart meters to security issues. ...
How Green is Obama Supreme Court Nominee Sonia Sotomayor?
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 05.26.09
With word coming in the President Obama has nominated Sonia Sotomayor to serve on the Supreme Court—if confirmed she'll be the first Hispanic person on the court, by the way—we thought it appropriate to highlight a bit of her environmental record.
We'll keep you updated with more as it comes out, but this bit from SCOTUS Blog highlights one of Judge Sotomayor's most notable environmental law opinions, Riverkeeper v. EPA, 475 F.3d 83 (2d Cir. 2007), a challenge to an EPA rule regulating cooling-water intake structures at power plants. Sotomayor found that,...
Biochar Fund Project Gets Big Financial Boost from Congo Basin Forest Fund
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 05.26.09
Schematic of how biochar can improve soil fertility, decrease deforestation, sequester carbon, and provide electricity
The biochar buzz continues: Biochar Fund has announced that it and its Congolese partner ADAPEL has been selected as one of the six projects to receive funding by the Congo Basin Forest Fund. Biochar Fund will receive €300,000 to implement its biochar program in ten villages in the Democratic Republic of Congo:...
Camps Forming on the End of the Information Age- Join Now!
by Mark Ontkush, Boston, Massachusetts, USA on 05.26.09
Quite a brolio going on at the Archdruid Report regarding the sustainability of the Internet. Using his characteristic logic, John Michael Greer (the druid host) suggests that the End of the Information Age must be near, regardless of the oft-cited 'green gains in efficiency' from using the 'net. Obviously, there are a few Ad Astra Per Asperas who disagree but Greer is correct - just because a lot of people want information technology around doesn't mean it will it always be here, or guarantee our survival, or not bump up against hard ecological limits... right?...
Ryan Frank Launches Spruce - A Smooth Companion for Isabella Straw Totem Stool
by Leonora Oppenheim, London, UK on 05.26.09
Images via Ryan Frank
Since we gave you a sneak peek at Ryan Frank's Isabella stool last year the totem style stacking seating design has received a wealth of compliments, not only winning ‘Most sustainable product’ 2008/09 at the Hidden Arts annual award, but also receiving an Honorable Mention at the annual Green Dot Awards, and being selected by the National Design Museum of New York for the next Design Triennial exhibition. Congrats to Ryan Frank who is capitalising on Isabella's success by launching a new version of the stool, a smooth but tough companion for the soft and tactile Isabella, called Spruce......
Aktivhaus Generates More Heat and Power Than It Needs
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 05.26.09
We love the Passivhaus, or Passive House as it is known in America, where houses are designed to be so well insulated and sited that they need no energy other than passive solar gain to keep warm. But it can be limiting; all the windows face south and they tend to be boxy and small. Architects and builders want to break out of this limitation; we have previously shown the Plusenergihus, a Passivhaus with more windows and a solar powered heating system. Now we learn from Jetson Green about the Aktivhaus, set up to not only heat and power itself but to have some left over. ...
Just 2% of Africa's Forests in Community Control: No Wonder Deforestation Rates are So High
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 05.26.09
photo: World Resources Institute via flickr.
Deforestation is beyond any doubt a problem throughout the tropics, with major implications for combatting climate change and preserving biodiversity, but it's particular bad in Africa—Four times the world average in fact. Part of the reason why, the BBC reports, is a lack of community control of forests:...
Biking Boris Battles Death (Unknowingly) and Other City Cycling Tidbits
by April Streeter, Gothenburg, Sweden on 05.26.09
Dirty for Swain - The Filthy Campaign for Clean Oceans (Video)
by Sami Grover, Carrboro, NC, USA on 05.26.09
Image credit: Dirty for Swain
Dirty Campaigners Support 1000 Mile Swim through Toxic, Shark-Infested Waters
Oiled-up women? Men bathing in sewage? This is a campaign that was just born for the internet. There's no doubt about it - Christopher Swain is a lunatic. He's swimming over 1000 miles through waters filled with toxic pollutants, heavy metals, sewage and quite possibly sharks in the name of clean water for all. Along the way he's stopping in at schools to spread the word about our oceans plight. Luckily, we can all do our bit to help him - and all we have to do is get a little dirty.
Click below the fold for some filthy video footage of just how dirty some folks will get in the name of clean water. ...
Powerbrella Makes Practical Use of Solar Power and Poolside Accessories
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 05.26.09
Image via Gizmag
The Sun Chair is a solar powered poolside furniture idea that is very much in the concept stage. But here is another outdoor furniture idea that will be available in July: the Powerbrella. ...
Air Quality Sensor Makes a Fashion Statement
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 05.26.09
Image via Sensaris
Dorky? Yes. Practical? Maybe. Sensaris is releasing a trial run of environmental sensing devices that you wear on your wrist in order to know the surrounding air quality. Air quality measurements don't get to the public in real time, so Sensaris figures we'll want to wear one of these bad boys before we take a deep breath of morning air. ...
A Revolutionary Future: Is the Office Necessary?
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 05.26.09
Oooh! Technology! All images from Mad Men
Lane Wallace writes in the Atlantic "there's just no substitute for face to face contact with people. No matter how much new technology we develop."
She gives reasons like:
"1. Email/text/phone conversations do not convey anywhere near as much information as an in-person meeting.... 2. Remote communication doesn't nurture the same level and quality of "hey, what do you think about this idea" casual, quick collaboration that physical proximity allows. 3. It's tough to get high-quality discussions with time delays and uncertainty about who is talking, when. And ... raise your hand if you've never done other tasks during a group teleconference.I disagree. And if we are going to reduce the need for monster office blocks and long commutes and get dramatically better energy efficiencies by making e-work as efficient as office work, we have to address these issues....
Should Plastic Bags Be Banned, Taxed or Left As Is?
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 05.26.09
Roberta notes that San Francisco is banning plastic bags, while other cities consider taxing them out of existence. Meanwhile, the industry fights back, claiming bans or taxes will hurt the poor, and even make people sick.
...
Prototype Biomass Gasifier To Convert California Yardwaste To Power 30,000 Homes
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 05.26.09
Commercial-scale biomass gasification demonstration plant based on the SilvaGas process began at the McNeil Power Station in Burlington, Vermont.. Image credit:UCS.
According to Electric Energy Online: "The Rialto Renewable Energy Center (Rialto Project) is designed to produce approximately 600 barrels per day of pure renewable synthetic fuels and export approximately 35 megawatts of renewable electric power that is expected to qualify under California’s Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) program,..."
I'm uncertain how this Rialto gasifier is superior to far simpler alternatives. Like continuing to put lawn clippings and wood chips in the landfill, collecting the landfill generated methane, and using it to run a turbine that generates electricity for the grid. Or, just have everyone buy mulching mowers, compress any wood chips into fire logs and send them off to the existing power plant to admix with coal....
What is the Environmental Impact of the Internet?
by Pablo Paster, San Francisco on 05.26.09
A Map of the Internet. Image Source: DiscoveryMagazine.com
Dear Pablo: I know that it's better, from an environmental perspective, to shop online than driving to a store but what about other uses of the internet? What is the environmental impact of internet use?...6 Ways to Avoid Bike Theft
by Bonnie Alter, London on 05.26.09
Image from the-osterley-times-blogspot.com
David Cameron, the leader of the Conservative Party, is a poster boy for bike-riding. Almost. Firstly, where's the helmet. And secondly, he keeps having his bikes stolen.
The second one was nicked last week, from the front of his house. So what should he, and all cyclists, be doing to avoid theft? After the fold: some helpful hints....
Afterglow Cosmetics Mineral Makeup Puts Your Best Face Forward
by Jasmin Malik Chua, Jersey City, USA on 05.25.09
Photo credit: Afterglow Cosmetics
When I first partook of liquid foundation, I swore mighty oaths that I would never go back to powder. Who needed the dry chalkiness, the sneezing fits, the dust that settled into creases and turned fine lines into gaping chasms of oh-my-God-I'm-not-20-anymore? Woe! I cried. Woe upon powder foundation and DOUBLE WOE upon loose minerals that billowed into mini-dust clouds and made me feel like I snorted an entire tin of talcum powder.
Plus, my skin is of the oilier persuasion and powders tend to smudge once my overactive sebaceous glands go into hyperdrive, so when Afterglow Cosmetics' starter kit landed on my doorstep, I was skeptical. And sure enough, the heavens didn't open, nor did choirs of angels burst into song. But they came pretty close.
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Squared Toilet Paper = Less Waste
by Kimberley D. Mok, Montreal, Canada on 05.25.09
via LintcoatWhether it's quilted, cottony-soft or recycled, toilet paper still has a long way to go before it eschews the dubious honour of being an ubiquitous symbol of a wasteful society. So it's always a good idea to: a) not use too much; b) to get treeless TP; or c) to just get a bidet (psst... it's actually cleaner). It's also worth repeating that if everyone used toilet paper like we did, there would be no forests left. But this humble roll can change. ...
Variable Frame Bike Lets You Recline on the Go
by Brian Merchant, Brooklyn, New York on 05.25.09
Images via Yanko Design
Here's a cool bike design idea: a variable frame that adjusts into different modes for seamless, sustained riding. For the city, you've got your standard upright mode--but once you're clear of the urban zone, recline into country mode and pedal on with ease. More pics and mock-up video after the jump....
Komodo Dragon News Roundup
by Daniel Kessler, San Francisco, California on 05.25.09
Photo via Flickr
The infamous Komodo Dragon is making a lot of news these days. First, news came of residents of southeastern Indonesia running for their lives after a slew of dragon attacks. Then news broke about a new study that says the dragons kill using their teeth and venom and not bacteria, which had been the conventional scientific wisdom....
Canada Could Join Forces with US for Multinational Cap and Trade
by Brian Merchant, Brooklyn, New York on 05.25.09
Photo via Iconocast
Looks like all that climate legislatin' going on in the US right now is contagious--Canada has just announced that it will likely follow suit and move towards carbon cutting measures of its own. It will probably pursue a cap and trade to cut carbon emissions with a market based system, too. And what's more, Canada has said the two trading systems could later be linked--which is big news for anyone who's hopeful about a successful market based solution for fighting climate change. ...
The 7 Biggest Obstacles to US Energy Reform
by Brian Merchant, Brooklyn, New York on 05.25.09
Photo via Lowly Interpreter
In case you hadn't heard, change is a-comin' in US energy policy. Or at least our elected officials say it is: Obama campaigned with promises to move the US towards energy independence once and for all. Speaker Nancy Pelosi says the massive climate and energy bill will pass and bring huge reform by next year. And many think we have a unique opportunity to forge ahead and to finally start weaning our dependence on foreign oil, upping the clean energy ante, and clamping down on pollution. Here are the 7 things that stand in our way....
Stalk Your Clothes From Seed to Sold With Made-By Track & Trace
by Jasmin Malik Chua, Jersey City, USA on 05.25.09
Photo credit: Made-By
A late-morning tweet by @ecofashionista reminded me that it's been three years since we last checked in on Made-By, an independent, Amsterdam-based consumer label that encourages sustainable and ethical practices in the fashion industry through production-chain transparency.
Made-By hits the big leagues
Since 2005, the number of brands associated with Made-By has mushroomed from four to almost 30, including bold-face name Edun....
Soaring e-Paper Market Means It's Time to be Careful
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 05.25.09
Photo via Christian Steen
Tech On reports that the e-paper market is set to grow at an astounding rate, from US$70 million in 2008 to US$2.1 billion in 2015 and US$7 billion by 2020. And about 50% of that market will be thanks to e-books and the push for e-readers. However, we also just noted that consumer gadgets are taking up a whole lot of energy, offsetting efficiency efforts. That means it's time to start asking some sustainability questions. ...
Oceans in the Old Days Had Way Bigger and More Fish Than We Thought
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 05.25.09
Photo via Mike Johnston
It's a no brainer that as game fish species are overfished, the species sizes would shrink. But a new census project highlights just how dramatically the ocean's fish species have diminished in both size and diversity over a relatively very short period of time. ...
Things I Missed At ICFF (Slideshow)
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 05.25.09
image credit Inhabitat
New York Design Week and ICFF are a lot for one person to take in, and I have been kicking myself around the blogoverse about some of the things that I missed while there. Fortunately we have wonderful resources in other blogs like Inhabitat, MocoLoco, Metropolis, PSFK and the Contemporist to fill the gaps.
I blatantly rob our competitors to bring you a slideshow of what I missed at ICFF.
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Violence Over Water Already Happening in India
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 05.25.09
Image via EcoWroldly
Recently we talked about a survey showing global water shortages that will be particularly felt in countries like India and China. And as the water crisis becomes a more stark reality, violence over one of our most precious resources is certain to ensue. Indeed, it already has been happening in India where over 50 incidences of violence over water have been reported in just May alone. ...
Utterly Unsexy: Gothenburg's Bike Share is the Opposite of Vélib
by April Streeter, Gothenburg, Sweden on 05.25.09
Function over form - Greenstreet bikes are abandoned bikes repurposed.
Here's what Paris did right in setting up a city bike share program: versatile, sexy bikes and enough of them (1 for every 200 residents). The Vélib bike-share program is about to hit its 2-year anniversary and it is going strong, with more than 20,000 bikes (used for an estimated 26 million trips each year) and almost 1,500 stations. The program has even been extended into the Parisian suburbs. Compare that to Gothenburg's GreenStreet bike share system, with less than 60 bikes scattered across the city, a program which no one seems to know about, much less use. But wait - as with many things, there's an upside and a downside to Vélib's success as well as Greenstreet's slow start....
Bike Lanes in Toronto Turn Into Phoney "War on Cars"
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 05.25.09
Cars don't rule here. photo Shawn Micallef
22 years ago, Peter Ustinov described Toronto as " New York run by the Swiss." I wonder what he would say now if he watched the battles over putting in trees and bike lanes on a formerly grand avenue that had been turned into a five lane highway. Or the endless battles over bikes all over town, as the drivers call every one of them a "war on cars."
For New York and Toronto have completely reversed their roles. Last week I called New York City a Cyclist's Paradise; Shawn Micallef says pretty much the same thing in Spacing Toronto, noting that it is not cyclists at war with cars, but the cars at war with themselves.
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Participate In The Merry Community, Post Your Message And Smile
by greenz.jp, Tokyo, Japan on 05.25.09
Photo from Merry Project
"What is MERRY for you? We've been asking this simple question to people all over the world and collecting their smiles and messages."
I like this approach: Merry Project is a communication-art project to spread the wave of "Merry" under the theme of "Smile is a universal language". You can help them get the message accross. They believe each person that participates in Merry Project "minds and cares for the Earth in their smiles and their messages will link to each other acoss global borders." As we mentioned earlier here on Treehugger, they do fun project teaching kids how to grow food. ...
50mph Electric Jetski (video)
by Sami Grover, Carrboro, NC, USA on 05.25.09
The Courtyard House Copes with Crowds
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 05.25.09
Juliana Sohn in Dwell
The courtyard house that is the home, office and triumph of Christine Ho Ping Kong and Peter Tan is a five minute bike ride from my home, yet I had only seen Juliana Sohn's pictures of it in Dwell Magazine until yesterday, when it was open to the public. It was part of Doors Open Toronto and acting as an art gallery. It looked serene and very elegant in Dwell, but how does it hold up in a crowd?...
Which of Global Warming's Americas (or Worlds) Do You Live In?
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 05.25.09
Matthew recently reported on a Yale poll that found that only 18% of Americans are "Alarmed" enough about climate change to actually consider making personal changes to stop it. But what about our readers? And are Americans different from the rest of the world? We run two polls:
Continue for survey if you don't live in the United States:...
The Return of the Lowly and Lovely Cowslip
by Bonnie Alter, London on 05.25.09
Image from english-country-garden.com
The cowslip is a lowly and lovely wildflower that grows in pastures in the English countryside. The primula (veris) had disappeared from the fields due to intensive farming. Farmers were clearing fields to increase the number of cattle that they could graze.
As a result, only 3% of the wildflowers' natural habitat has survived. But now farmers are grazing fewer animals and that means less intensive eating and longer grasses. So the traditional wildflowers are having a come-back. ...
The Bosch Wind Energy Green Report
by Eric Leech, New York, NY on 05.24.09
Photo via: Bosch Rexroth
Renewable energy is currently at an all-time high as far as political focus and public goal orientation are concerned. At the same time, it is also facing one of its greatest challenges, a very unfavorable economic market. I spoke with Raj Boya from Bosch Rexroth about the prospects of wind energy as we move towards a greener future....
Nuclear Power Not Cost Competitive With Coal Or Natural Gas - But Would Benefit From Cap & Trade
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 05.24.09
Back in 2003, "An interdisciplinary MIT faculty group decided to study the future of nuclear power because of a belief that this technology is an important option for the United States and the world to meet future energy needs without emitting carbon dioxide and other atmospheric pollutants." The study was recently updated (2009 version can be downloaded here as a pdf file), renewing the earlier conclusion that "Carbon emission credits, if enacted by government, can give nuclear power a cost advantage." That's the good news for nuclear power: inferring, that the US nuclear power industry could stand to benefit, long term, by supporting US Cap & Trade legislation. The bad news...after the jump....
Plastic Bags: Ban and Tax?
by Roberta Cruger, Los Angeles on 05.24.09
Photo via Flickr: by Zainub
San Francisco is the first U.S. city set to ban plastic bags and Los Angeles City Council followed suit, approving a ban, effective July 2010. Last week, they also tacked on a 25-cent fee on paper or plastic bags—including biodegradable versions—after next year’s ban. Seven cents will go to stores and 18 cents will fund California's anti-pollution and recycling programs. LA uses two billion plastic bags each year and only 5% get recycled. San Francisco uses half that amount. Other countries are banning plastic bags, so imagine if other U.S. cities instituted the same policy. But no....
Cement Makers, Worldwide, Volunteer 25% Cutback in CO2 Emissions
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 05.24.09
Infrared image of operating cement kiln. Image credit:ElectroPhysics.com
In the back and forth of setting emission cut-back 'best practices,' it's a common response for industry, sensing stingent regulations are just around the corner, to 'volunteer' something. Cynics might see in a recent announcement, an example of just such a tactic - 18 of the world's leading cement companies offering a 25% cutback in greenhouse gas emissions; via:Reuters. After all, cement makers are one of the largest carbon-emitting industries. However, far more progressive intentions seem to be in play with this example....
8 Sizzling Summer Sales (Plus, Win an Eco-Bikini to Cool Off In)
by Jasmin Malik Chua, Jersey City, USA on 05.24.09
Photo credit: Vogue
Get the low-down on this season's hottest price reductions, including some Memorial Day-only sales. Plus, your chance to win Loyale's Barstow bikini, as seen on Gisele Bundchen in this month's issue of Vogue.
Did we miss anything? Add to our list by commenting below....
"A Convenient Truth" Chronicles Curitiba's Urban Innovations
by Jesse Fox, Tel Aviv, Israel on 05.24.09
A street in Curitiba, Brazil (photo by Jesse Fox).
When over 90% of a city's residents are happy with their city, somebody must be doing something right. In Curitiba, a quaint, mid-sized town in southern Brazil, some forty years of sensitive urban design interventions have created a city that is pleasant and sustainable, and one that has managed to avoid many of the ills that have plagued Brazilian cities.
Countless innovations can be traced back to Curitiba, and over the years the place has become something of a Mecca for architects and urban planners from all over the world. But for those who can't afford the trip to Brazil in these tough economic times, a documentary film called A Convenient Truth is the next best thing.
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English Nuns Go Green at Their New Convent: Solar Power, a Green Roof, More...
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 05.24.09
image: Wikipedia
The Guardian brings the news that when the Benedictine nuns of the Conventus of Our Lady of Consolation went in search of a new nunnery, they placed green measures right at the top of the list:...
Buying Your Way Out of Climate Action More Popular in U.S.
by Daniel Kessler, San Francisco, California on 05.24.09
Photo via The Rainforest Foundation
A new survey finds that European corporate carbon credit customers favor offsets as a means to cut GHG emissions far less that traders in North America. The disparity seems to come from a more vigorous public debate in the EU over the merits of offsets, while in the U.S. the conversation is just beginning....
Drinking Water And Hydroelectric Power - Binding The Common Future Of Canada And USA
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 05.24.09
Romain River Project watershed, excerpted from original.
Image credit:Montreal Mirror.
In the US Upper Midwest, the Great Lakes, constituting the largest single store of freshwater in the world, are literally the shared resource of Canada and six US States.
Hydroelectric power produced in Canada - generally known there as simply "hydro" - is another water-created, and shared resource of increasing importance to Canada and the US Northeast. DailyTech reports that much of 8 Terawatt-hours (1550 MW) of new Canadian "hydro" could soon be on its way to New England and to New York State, specifically. (1550 MW of hydroelectric capacity is roughly the equivalent of what a thousand new top-of-the-line wind turbines would be rated at, cumulatively.
Notably, export of the new green, hydroelectric power to the USA, from Canada, will be encouraged by renewable energy targets, as included in the present energy bill being considered in the US Congress....
The Plight of the Asian Elephant—New Highway Checkpoint Threatens to Cut Off Elephant Life Line
by Sara Novak, Columbia, SC on 05.24.09
photo: Rainforest Information Centre
The largest population of Asian elephants currently found in the wild is under imminent threat according to the Rainforest Information Centre in Australia. This stunning herd of elephants populates the mountains of the Western Ghats where the three Indian states of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka meet. The herd’s survival migration, beginning in Tamil Nadu and ending in Kerala and Karnataka, occurs each summer when water and food become scarce in Tamil Nadu. But now, a relocated checkpoint threatens to cut off the herd's life sustaining thoroughfare....
The Powerdown Show: Exploring Peak Oil and Climate Change (Video)
by Sami Grover, Carrboro, NC, USA on 05.24.09
Dumpster Diving Documentary on the Joy of Free Food (Video)
by Sami Grover, Carrboro, NC, USA on 05.24.09
World's Heaviest Energy Users Try to Lighten Up
by Jennifer Hattam, Istanbul, Turkey on 05.24.09
Abu Dhabi, the capital of the UAE. Photo by aekpani via Flickr.
In the energy-profligate United Arab Emirates--the country with the world's largest per-capita ecological footprint, more than five times higher than the global average--a few lone "heroes" are promising to try and live lighter....
Bike to Work, Pocket 20 Bucks a Month
by Josh Peterson, Los Angeles, California on 05.24.09
Photo Credit: f650biker via Flickr
Remember that Renewable Energy Tax legislation that passed a few months ago? It was filled with all sorts of green goodies, like alternative energy credits and money for weatherization assistance programs. Congress, doing something uncharacteristically awesome, slipped in an Easter egg that went went mostly unnoticed. Hidden deep within the flapdoodle and flummery of congressional legalese jargon is a nifty little tax credit for commuters who bike to work. ...
A Little Toilet Humor: Powerloo, The Flushable, Outside Dog Toilet
by Eric Leech, New York, NY on 05.24.09
Photo via: Left Hand
Sometimes finding humor in life is as easy as checking into some of the news being featured around the nation. Today's humorous news bit comes from a story published yesterday in the Chicago Tribune titled, “What to do with doggy doo _ how 'bout a Powerloo?”
The article proceeded to describe the health problems and environmental eye-sore associated with outdoor animal defecation. The solution offered, outdoor, flushable doggy toilets going for just under $1,000 a pop (not including the price of a heated unit for cold weather climates)......
What One Man Does to Improve Air Quality
by Roberta Cruger, Los Angeles on 05.24.09
Photo via Flickr by N1NJ4
Though Mayor Bloomberg is signing bills to eliminate vehicle idling, New York City’s traffic code, Section 4-08, Subsection P, already prohibits vehicles from idling for more than three minutes. So, a new ruling isn’t required. As is, the current law could bring steep fines up to several hundred dollars for keeping an engine running. Not many know about it. And apparently it’s not often (if ever) enforced, except by an unassuming civilian, who cares about air quality and patrols the streets knocking on parked car, truck, van, and bus doors to let drivers know that idling is illegal. Not a welcome notification, the response is often hostile....
