- 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 31, 2009 - June 6, 2009
Total this week: 195
Cat-Food Irradiation Banned in Australia: Too Much of a Good Thing is Not Such a Good Thing
by Eric Leech, New York, NY on 06. 6.09
Photo via: Cliff1066
Food irradiation is basically the process of passing radiation through food in order to sterilize it and make it safe for consumption. It has the ability to rid most foods of disease harboring microbes, such as E Coli. It has been touted as a miracle in many areas of the world where disease harboring microbes take hundreds of lives each year.
But what happens when such a miracle becomes fatal......
Green Carpet at Stella McCartney’s: Eco-stars watch documentary “Home”
by Roberta Cruger, Los Angeles on 06. 6.09
"Stella walks the talk," says Cameron Diaz strutting along Kuktavi's eco-turf. Photos by RCruger
It was Friday night in Hollywood and the starlets were in full eco-friendly regalia for the paparazzi and press. Cameron Diaz donned sequins, Emily Deshanel sported an animal print, Liv Taylor carried off an organic peek-a-boo sheath, Rosario Dawson arrived in Stella’s little black dress – and the line-up of ladies all sang the praises of McCartney’s pleather shoes and bags. It was a Stella-Fest in honor of World Environment Day, June 5, and the parade of actresses attending a screening of Yann Arthus-Bertrand's “Home” in the garden of the host’s LA boutique shared some surprising eco-tips. ...
What Would Happen If BisPhenol A (BPA) Were Phased Out Tomorrow?
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 06. 6.09
Triumph motorcycle, polycarbonate tank badge. Image credit:HellForLeatherMagazine
What to do about the possibility of a proposed government mandated phase out of BPA in certain applications is a question several industries now face. According to the Washington Post's Strategy Being Devised To Protect Use of BPA, a food packaging and chemical industry "brainstorming" meeting was held to consider how to respond to a prospective phaseout of BPA applications where human exposure can reasonably be expected. What do you think would happen if a BPA phase out or ban were required? Read on for details....
Rainwater Harvesting Poised To Grow In US West
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 06. 6.09
With the news that the US State of Colorado has decided to make it legal for small farmers to collect rainwater - holding out the possibility that city dwellers, too, may one day be offered legal means to harvest rain - a tipping point approaches.
Driven by the intersection of sprawl & extended drought, and amplified by a citizenry's enduring fondness for 'individual responsibility,' rainwater harvesting techniques are poised to spread, once freed from inflexible and counterproductive water management traditions stemming from the late 1800's. (These rain barrel restrictions are as counterproductive and indefensible as the General Mining Act of 1872 that governs public lands).
Antique water laws, ,common in Western states, currently make it illegal for individuals and businesses to collect rainwater. Given the demographic trends and continuing drought, those laws are like a tin can on the track of an oncoming train: it's a predetermined outcome that legislators will eventually grant people the means to face the drought the way Australians have.
There's more good news...collection systems don't have to be make-shift ugly. For more about the example pictured above, visit the go-to site The Rainwater Observer, Rainwater News And Blogs From Around The World. More pics from the Observer, below....
Turkey Report: Little to Cheer on World Enviro Day
by Jennifer Hattam, Istanbul, Turkey on 06. 6.09
Turkey's natural beauty is threatened. Photo of Mt. Kaçkar by Jean & Nathalie via Flickr.
Talk about your high/low cultural mingling: This week, Nobel Prize-winning Turkish author Orhan Pamuk, known for his densely layered and melancholy-tinged novels, joined Turkish pop superstar Tarkan, known for his trend-setting hairdos and hip-shaking songs, in support of the campaign to save Hasankeyf....
Wean Machine: DIY Baby Food, Any Time, Anywhere (Video)
by Sami Grover, Carrboro, NC, USA on 06. 6.09
Image credit: Wean Machine
Homemade Baby Food Without a Blender
It's not hard to find organic baby food these days - in fact Blythe put together a list of 7 great green baby foods not so long ago. But even the best store-bought stuff involves packaging and transportation - so what about making your own? The Wean Machine baby food maker offers a perfect portable solution, allowing you to make solid food from soft fruits or cooked vegetables, all without the need for setting up a blender. You can even make baby food right there in a restaurant. Click below the fold for video of the Wean Machine in action.
...
Scary Aquatic Pollution Bill Almost Passes in Tennessee and This May Only Be Round 1
by Sara Novak, Columbia, SC on 06. 6.09
photo: J. Novak
A close call in the Tennessee legislature last week would have meant the release of more selenium into Tennessee streams. This scary bit of legislation was stridently attacked by Rep. Mike McDonald who said the measure was intended to help Knoxville-based National Coal Co. out of a pending lawsuit that centered around repeated selenium releases that were in violation of current law. Sound fishy? It should....
Is the Media Waking Up to the Trouble With Offsets?
by Daniel Kessler, San Francisco, California on 06. 6.09
Photo via World Land Trust
While they are often cited as a way to keep costs down, carbon offsets--particularly forest offsets--present a number of problems for a world that wants to mitigate the effects of climate change. In the past few weeks, a number of those problems have received significant media attention....
BPA-Spiked Urine: New Study Points to Polycarbonate Bottles
by Naturally Savvy on 06. 5.09
Drinking from a polycarbonate bottle for just one week can increase the amount of BPA in your body by nearly 70 percent, a new study out of Harvard School of Public Health suggests. Photo by Ben Garney via Flickr.com.
UPDATE: This post was updated from its original version on 6/15/09.
It's hard to miss the focus on bisphenol A (BPA)—we know it leeches from bottles and cans into beverages and foods. But a new study out of the Harvard School of Public Health is the first to make a direct link between urinary BPA levels and drinking from polycarbonate bottles, a material widely used for baby bottles and drinking containers.
The results of the study are unsettling: ...
WTF, FDA? Online Beauty Retailer Battles Government Officials, Ingredient Ignorance
by Jasmin Malik Chua, Jersey City, USA on 06. 5.09
Photo credit: Best in Beauty
Remember Roy G. Biv? What about Please Excuse My Dear Aunt Sally? Tara Lee, founder of Best in Beauty, wants you to try Pretty Products For Healthy People Minus Many Lousy Chemical Substances—which translates into phthalates, propylene glycol, formaldehyde, hydroquinone, petroleum, mercury, mineral oil, lead, colorants, and sodium lauryl sulfate—on for size....
"Ni Hao, I've Got This Huge F--ing Factory Splling Chemicals Into My River, Could You Send Someone Over?"
by Alex Pasternack, New York, NY on 06. 5.09
Flickr: poorfish
China Launches Complaint Hotline for Pollution
In China, the mobile phone has become one of the most powerful tools citizens have to fight pollution. Today, the Chinese Ministry of Environmental Protection is hoping to redirect citizen frustration to its own phones, launching a hotline to take complaints about pollution.
The hotline, 010-12369, will take calls about "emergency environment issues, cross-provincial pollution and other environmental issues that should be directly dealt with by the ministry," reported Xinhua.
Given the well-known difficulties the ministry has at enforcing laws and enabling activists in the countryside, will complaints delivered by phone be answered more effectively? And this is for emergency environment issues, eh? Could other countries call too?...
Tesla Motors to Open 7 New Stores in Major Cities
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 06. 5.09
Photo: ABG
Tesla Opening more Electric Car Stores in Anticipation of Model S?
Those who want to buy a Tesla electric car, or just see one in person and maybe have a test-drive, will be happy to learn that Tesla Motors has announced 7 new stores spread over North-America and Europe. The first stores to open in June are located in New York, Seattle and Chicago. This will be followed by a store in Miami. Tesla also says that it is scouting for locations in Washington D.C. and Toronto, Canada. As for Europe: "Tesla's first European store will open in London later this month, followed by Munich and Monaco." Read on for more details....
Just What We Needed Dept: The Rotato
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 06. 5.09
Sometimes we just slap ourselves upside the head and say "how did I ever live without that?" That is why we have such big kitchens- to house our garlic express, our soda can disenfector, butter cutter and the automatic martini maker. But now we have to add on to provide room for the Rotato.
This amazing device uses electricity to remove the vitamin-packed skin of the potato, leaving you with just the inner carbo goodness....
Lion-Killing Pesticide Might be Banned in Kenya
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 06. 5.09
Photo: Carol P., CC
Furadan is Deadly to Wildlife, Already Banned in the US and Europe
A couple months ago I wrote about lions being poisoned (intentionally) with pesticides. There is some movement on that front in Kenya: "Kenyan MP John Matutho is introducing legislation to prohibit the use of Furadan, a cheap but lethal chemical [used by] local herdsmen [to] poison lions and other carnivores." Of course, lions aren't the only victims (elephants are dying too), but their high profile and small population numbers help attract attention. But would a ban on Furadan work?...
Goodbye Fossil Fuel Dependence, Hello Rare Earth Dependence!
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 06. 5.09
It may not look like much, but this dysprosium and who controls it may be the source of at least political conflict in coming years. Photo: Wikipedia.
Fellow TreeHugger John Laumer recently brought to our attention the fact that control of rare earth metals is Achilles heel of the hybrid and electric vehicles, and wind turbines we all are counting on to make the future a decidedly greener place. OnEarth, the magazine of the NRDC, reminds us that what this means is that what we're doing is replacing our dependence on oil suppliers, with dependence on countries supplying these metals—China being right at the fore:...
Forest Tower Has a Green Roof
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 06. 5.09
photos by Jeroen Musch via Architectural Review
I am getting vertigo just posting this. I have trouble getting to the top of the Dorset Tower, and couldn't possibly climb this Forest Tower in the Netherlands. It has every kind of lookout, but at the top? Trees.
...
One Million Cisterns Project Wins UN's SEED Award
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 06. 5.09
Photo via One Million Cisterns Project: A local beneficiary of the One Million Cistern program, Maria Patricia, collects fresh water in Paripiranga, state of Bahia, Brazil.
More than 10 million Brazilians live without access to clean, safe drinking water. The Brazilian-based project, One Million Cisterns, works to bring a reliable source of water to those families who most need it. Working since 2001 to build 226,000 cisterns that have helped over a million families, the project has received significant attention. The latest pat on the back for the grassroots effort comes from the United Nations with their SEED award for Entrepreneurship in Sustainable Development. ...
Rainforest Preservation Can Be More Profitable Than Palm Oil Plantations: New Study Shows
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 06. 5.09
photo: chem7 via flickr
Though Indonesia and Malaysia seem hell bent on chopping down their rainforests and replacing them with palm oil plantations, a new study in the journal Conservation Letters shows that selling carbon credits from the intact forests could be just as profitable as converting them to agriculture, and go a long way towards preserving biodiversity (not to mention stopping the orangutan from going extinct):...
Colo Integrates Dishwasher, Sink and Storage
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 06. 5.09
This is the way we should think about design. In most kitchens, there is a cupboard, a sink and a dishwasher. You empty the dishwasher by moving everything to the cupboard. Peter Schwartz and Helene Steiner of Wachshaus integrate them all together in this sink/dishwasher and storage concept....
Green Milestone: More Cash Going to Green Power Than Fossil Fuels, Says U.N.
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 06. 5.09
Photos: langalex & tomsaint11, CC
Solar Energy & Wind Energy Kicked Ass in 2008
Despite the talks about how the recession is having a negative impact on green businesses, last year was a very good year for green power (this year might not be as good, we'll have to wait and see). For the first time, investments in green energy overtook investments in fossil fuels for power generation ($140 billion vs. $110 billion). But please note, this is for electricity, so we're talking mostly about coal and gas. Not gasoline and diesel fuel for cars. But still, it's good news. What's the breakdown? Which countries invest more? Read on....
Water Like You've Never Seen It
by Blythe Copeland, Great Neck, New York on 06. 5.09
Photo via Snap® at flickr
There are plenty of practical reasons to conserve water, but taking shorter showers and using a rain barrel makes a difference beyond ensuring enough clean drinking water: it helps preserve the beauty of the world's water. From individual drops to racing streams, these photos show off the amazing power of H20.
...
Das Schwimmhausboot es gleitet! (The Float Houseboat Floats!)
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 06. 5.09
Last fall I was entranced by the Schwimmhausboot, houseboat, designed by Flo Florian and Sascha Akkermann of Confused Direction. It was to be "ecofriendly, with zero-emissions, a green roof, and materials such as 250 year old larch wood salvaged from an old farmer's shed." The model was so good that I thought it was real at first; now they have finished the real thing, and called it the Silverfish....
Ashden Awards for Sustainable Energy 2009 International Finalists Announced
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 06. 5.09
photo: Ashden Awards
If you're involved in the deploying locally-available renewable energy in the developing world with the aim of combatting climate change and reducing poverty, then being a finalist for the Ashden Awards for Sustainable Energy is a big deal. All told £350,000 ($567,000) is awarded to expand and promote these projects. The winners will be announced on June 11th in London, and the international finalists have just been released. Here's a quick summary of those projects:...
Fish Processing From Boat to You
by Bonnie Alter, London on 06. 5.09
Icelandic fish is among the purest and most responsibly fished in the world because they control the process from start to finish. We have seen how the fishing boat works; hauling in those floppy little critters in the middle of the night, now let's see how they get cleaned and sent to the supermarket.
Sounds like grade school...but more fun because this TreeHugger actually visited a fish processing plant in Iceland, courtesy of Waitrose supermarkets. Stop now if you don't like the smell of fish, otherwise, after the fold: blood, guts and lots of fish....
New Vintage: Yves Saint Laurent Recycles Old Looks into New
by Jasmin Malik Chua, Jersey City, USA on 06. 5.09
Photo credit: Barneys New York
Hot on the heels of its limited-edition organic cotton collection for Yann Arthus-Bertrand's Home, one of luxury fashion's old guard is dipping its toes even further—if ever so gingerly—into the sustainable style pool. ...
Jeffrey Sachs Tells TreeHugger: Forget Carbon Caps: We Need Clean Coal and Nuclear (Video)
by Alex Pasternack, New York, NY on 06. 5.09
R&D, not Cap and Trade
Superstar economist Jeffrey Sachs thinks clean coal and nuclear power -- not an emphasis on greenhouse gas caps -- are the most powerful ways to address the dangers of climate change.
Sachs's controversial position isn't new (see our interview with him last year). But in a talk at the Asia Society on Monday evening, Sachs expressed deep pessimism about the way that China and the U.S. -- the world's two largest emitters -- are tackling emissions now, and reiterated that it would be foolish to imagine that either country would stop using coal soon. "Either we figure out to live with coal, or we figure out how to live with climate change," he said. "And the latter will not be pretty."
After his talk, I asked him to elaborate. See the video after the jump....
iFixit Shows You How To Tear Gadgets Apart
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 06. 5.09
Photo via iFixit
We talked about iFixit last week after seeing them at Maker Faire 2009. The organization has a very cool new website they've just launched that lets users show each other how to tear apart stuff and see inside for how gadgets work because, as the Maker motto goes, if you can't open it, it isn't yours....
Stopping Deforestation, Greening Agriculture Better Than Carbon Capture & Storage, UNEP Report Says
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 06. 5.09
photo: Alpha via flickr
A new report from the UN Environment Programme says what many small-t treehuggers have been saying for quite some time: Stopping deforestation, restoring marshes and peatlands, and practicing more sustainable agricultural techniques are probably a better bet for combatting climate change, not to mention less expensive, than investing tens of billions of dollars in carbon capture and storage at power plants. In specific this is what The Natural Fix? The Role of Ecosystems in Climate Mitigation recommends:...
New GreenHeart Phones Ditch Manual! ...That's It??
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 06. 5.09
Photos via Boing Boing
Sony Ericsson has announced a new version of two GreenHeart mobile phones. But the green upgrades are some of the most mundane "improvements" we could have dreamed up. ...
Bridging the Design Gap in Toronto
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 06. 5.09
Cable-Stayed Fists. Entry by Andrew Alfred-Duggan.
Bridges can be wonderful, iconic things that define a city; or, they can be banal, utilitarian and boring. Guess which Toronto is getting for its new pedestrian bridge over the railway tracks. The developer promised something sublime; the railways imposed conditions that make it ridiculous. As the always articulate Adam Vaughan noted: "GO Transit (the government owned commuter rail service) are being absolute f---ing a--holes." (read Peter Kuitenbrouwer in the National Post here for a play-by-play)
But that didn't stop Urban Toronto from running their own competition to "to design the most beautiful bridge possible within the given budget, to take full advantage of the highly visible location." And they came up with some real beauties. You can vote for your favorite....
Sshh, Secret Summer Sale. Your Mission Starts Nau
by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 06. 5.09
Pssst! Sssh! It’s supposed to be a secret, so let’s just keep this strictly between you and us okay. Don’t tell anyone, not even your best friends and family. And certainly don’t pass on the news to that crew hanging round your FaceBook page. But Nau have started their SummerFun sale, with 50% off everything on their site.
It’s going to be hard not telling anyone that all this cool, technical, stylish, outdoor inspired, eco-apparel fashioned from recycled polyester, organic cotton, corn PLA, mohair, down, and merino wool, is now available at half price. But we’re sure you’re up to the challenge....
THTV: Yann Arthus-Bertrand Interview - Enviro Aerial Photography Beginnings (Part I)
by George Spyros, New York City, USA on 06. 5.09
Jargon Watch: Committed Warming
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 06. 5.09
Photo via Gregory Moine
Committed warming - it's not necessarily a brand new idea, but rather one that makes logical sense yet we too often gloss over it. And it's important we take it into account since it impacts the way we approach combating the effects of global warming. With World Ocean Day on Monday, we're especially wondering how this affects coral reefs, a keystone of the oceans. ...
New Flexible Solar Panels on Stainless Steel Manufactured Up To a Mile Long
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 06. 5.09
One of Xunlight's portable thin film solar panels. Photo: Xunlight
You've probably seen solar panels that roll-up for easy storage; a number are available to charge batteries and personal electronic devices. But a new manufacturing process from Xunlight takes the idea to a whole new level... Manufacturing roll-up thin film solar panels on stainless steel plates 3 feet wide and up to a mile long. This is how Xunlight describes the process:...
Waterpod Demonstrates Self-Sufficient, Sustainable Living
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 06. 5.09
Mary Mattingly is launching the Waterpod any day now. It is " a floating eco-habitat that recalls the work of Buckminster Fuller, Andrea Zittel, and Constant Nieuwenhuis." It is designed to be a completely self-sustaining community; According to Steven Kurutz in the New York Times,
Food will be grown onboard, some of it in hydroponic gardens; drinking water derived from purified rainwater; electricity generated through a mix of solar, wind and bicycle power; and waste recycled into compost....
Ask Gavin Newsom Anything! Current TV Taking Your Questions
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 06. 5.09
Solar Cooking, Electric and Heat: SolSource 3-in-1
by Sami Grover, Carrboro, NC, USA on 06. 5.09
Eliminating harmful stove emissions is just one benefit of the SolSource 3-in-1. Image credit: One Earth Designs
Revolutionary Light-weight 3-in-1 Solar Energy Device
It's no secret that solar power has tremendous applications in remote, cash poor regions of the world. Whether it's solar water purification, solar charging for cell phones and other small devices, or solar cookers, a small investment can yield massive returns. A new device from One Earth Designs combines all the most vital solar functions in one convenient, portable and affordable device. Read on for all the details. ...
Can a Tobacco Product Be Green?
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 06. 5.09
They are at it again, making wild claims for Camels. April writes: "No smoke. No spit. And no waste (except for the non-biodegradable plastic packaging). That's got to be better for the environment than regular cigarettes."
...
Hot Topic in Turkey: Forest-Fire Prevention
by Jennifer Hattam, Istanbul, Turkey on 06. 5.09
The smoke from a 2008 forest fire in Turkey reached all the way to Cyprus, 75 kilometers off the country's southern coast. Photo via NASA's Earth Observatory.
Summer is when Istanbul flings open its doors, when restaurants sweep off their rooftop terraces, cafe tables spill into the streets, and the sound of music festivals fills the night air. But the season of sun and fun is also, as it is in many other places, the season of forest fires--and their effects won't fade when the crisp fall weather returns.
...
Tobacco Candy - Gross, But Greener Than Second-Hand Smoke
by April Streeter, Gothenburg, Sweden on 06. 5.09
Yes, tobacco candy, which we first read about at the great food blog La Vida Locavore, has something a touch sinister and gross about it. In ingredients it is similar to the smokeless tobacco 'snus' that is so popular in Northern Europe. While you certainly wouldn't want to find a plastic tin of Camel Orbs in your kids' jeans pockets, they are probably better than second-hand smoke, an environmental hazard that the EPA estimates kills as many as 50,000 Americans each year (up to 3,000 non-smokers die from lung cancer). For one thing, there's less waste from tobacco candy than cigarette butts or other smokeless tobacco pouches....
Youtube Japan Goes Green On World Environment Day
by greenz.jp, Tokyo, Japan on 06. 5.09
Image from Youtube
I was surprised when I logged in to check Youtube today here in Japan. Their front page had a distinct environmental theme, and many videos that would feel right at home on greenz.jp or treehugger.
Backed by a lot of good people, with NHK and the Youtube channels of United Nations University as well as Asahi.com and National Geographics, this is a media initiative that could reach the hearts and minds of lots of people....
300-Mile Brita Climate Ride Aims to Inspire, Educate
by Daniel Kessler, San Francisco, California on 06. 4.09
Here's a very cool and creative idea. A rolling climate briefing that takes its participants 300 miles to D.C. to meet with their Congressional representatives. Brita is sponsoring the bike tour, which goes from September 26–30th. ...
Maggie's Functional Organics Baby Rib Tee Dress
by Jasmin Malik Chua, Jersey City, USA on 06. 4.09
Photo credit: Maggie's Functional Organics
Proving that it never hurts to ask, Maggie's Functional Organics' new Baby Rib Tee Dress was coaxed into existence after a customer asked the company if it could create a basic, affordable dress for a day at the beach or a night on the town.
...
Babies and Toddlers Can Do Bamboo With Kicky Pants Kidswear
by Jasmin Malik Chua, Jersey City, USA on 06. 4.09
Photo credit: Kicky Pants
Give it up for Kicky Pants, a mom-and-pop-designed collection of certified-organic bamboo children's apparel that manages to capture the spirit of childhood in its fun, cheery designs. And OK, I admit it, I'm a sucker for anything with ruffles, a detail Kicky Pants lavishes upon its darling rompers, layered dresses, and poofy skirts just made for swishing from side to side in.
...
Whale Wars (Two) Tries to Prevent Deadliest Catch, Again
by Roberta Cruger, Los Angeles on 06. 4.09
Capt. Paul Watson and the Sea Shepherd on land at Arianna Huffington's. Photo via Animal Planet by Amanda Edwards.
To celebrate the second season of Animal Planet’s “Whale Wars,” Captain Paul Watson and his stalwart Sea Shepherd crew, and the production team took a break to mingle with supporters at Arianna Huffington’s soiree in her Brentwood home. Animal Planet and Discovery Network execs were on hand with vegan mini-burgers in-hand to toast the channel’s hit show. Crew regaled rapt partygoers about the controversial high-seas confrontation, which returns on air Friday, June 5 at 9 p.m....
Jake Kheel of Puntacana Resort on Being a Luxury Ecotourism Trailblazer
by Alex Pasternack, New York, NY on 06. 4.09
Punta Cana, the super-sized 30,000-room resort town that plays host to most visitors to the Dominican Republic, doesn't sound like much of a model for sustainable tourism. But the area's first resort, Puntacana Resort and Club, is beating a greener path, with an ecological foundation and environmental research center that have undertaken a range of promising initiatives, from local schooling to coral conservation. In an awards ceremony in Brazil last week, Puntacana became the first Caribbean organization to receive the Tourism for Tomorrow Award from the World Travel and Tourism Council.
Jake Kheel, the head of the Ecological Foundation, spoke to me about the resort's commitment to sustainability, how a single company can spread ecotourism ideas among other hotels and governments, and Oscar de la Renta's fondness for bees....
Naturally Knotty Offers Free 100% Bamboo Pashmina
by Kara DiCamillo, Newport, Rhode Island on 06. 4.09
You know when you find something and love it so much that you have to order one in every color? That’s exactly how we feel about Natural Knotty’s 100% bamboo pashminas. They are a new addition to Natural Knotty’s collections, and they are super affordable which makes them a great gift too. Packaged in a great, reusable bamboo cylinder box made from segments of bamboo - they arrive ready to gift.
Naturally Knotty's mission is to connect people with elegant and fashionable products made from factory scrap, overstock, remnants, recycled, and eco-friendly materials.
...
Shipping-Container "Box Office" Breaks Ground in Providence
by Matt Grigsby of Ecolect.net on 06. 4.09
Courtesy of owner, Peter Gill Case
Sure, shipping container buildings are nothing new conceptually, but when was the last time you actually saw one being built in the US? That's what we thought. Earlier this week in Providence, Rhode Island, a new project broke ground. An office space made from reused shipping containers, the "Box Office" is being built on a land parcel in a post-industrial neighborhood of the city and is quickly becoming an attraction for local start-ups.
...
Jumeau Bags Are Green, Grungy But Not Flashback-Free
by Jasmin Malik Chua, Jersey City, USA on 06. 4.09
Photo credit: Jumeau
A few fashion trends that need to be put on some kind of universal "Do Not Resuscitate" list: shoulder pads, Hammer pants, and Crocs. Then there's acid-wash jeans, which deserve a full-blown exorcism of their own before being staked, stuffed with garlic, and deep-sixed underground where the sun don't shine....
10 Droolworthy Eco Structures (Slideshow)
by Jerry James Stone, San Francisco, CA on 06. 4.09
Photo by David Baker + Partners
Surely these eco-structures will get you drooling. There's everything from prefabulous bamboo huts to towering vertical gardens. And yes, I called you Shirley.
...
Hurray! Judge Orders Hyper-Polluting Indiana Coal Plant to Shut Down 40% of Units
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 06. 4.09
"There could be less pollution drifting into New York and other northeastern states"
Right on the heels of the study saying that soot in the air might be more dangerous than previously thought comes some good news: "Judge Larry McKinney today issued a ruling in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana calling for Duke Energy to shut down three units at the company's West Terre Haute Wabash River Station no later than Sept. 30, 2009." The dirty emissions from the Indiana coal plant, in violation of the Clean Air Act, have been affecting air quality in New York and the North-East. More details below....
Pay No Attention to the Whining Indonesian Palm Oil Industry: The Deforestation, Climate Change & Biodiversity Concerns Are Genuine
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 06. 4.09
Protesters in Finland, the banner says it all... Greenpeace Finland
Sometimes you read an industry statement that is so ludicrous that you you can't help but laugh. Such are the remarks in Reuters by the head of the Indonesia Palm Oil Growers Association that environmental NGOs pointing out the unmitigated climate change and biodiversity nightmare of plantation palm oil production might be pawns of Western business interests wanting to gain an advantage in the international biofuels market:...
Move Over Insight, Prius is Best Selling Car in Japan in May
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 06. 4.09
Photo: Toyota
Battle of the Hybrids
In April Honda was quite happy to report that its new Insight hybrid was both the best selling car in Japan for that month (outselling the Toyota Prius) and the first hybrid car to have that honor. But Toyota now has released its all-new 2010 Prius hybrid in Japan (on May 18th), and it looks like there was lots of pent-up demand even in these difficult economic times, because despite the incomplete month, the Prius shot to #1 in sales, above the Honda Fit in second place and Honda Insight in third place (notice a trend there?). More details below....
PG&E Buys Dairy's Biogas to Offset Its Own Pollution: A Green Deal for Customers?
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 06. 4.09
photo: Chad K via flickr.
I'm a big proponent of green power programs with utilities as an easy way for people to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions, provided that the the program actually buys electricity that is fed into the grid. That's not what's going on with a new biogas purchase by PG&E as part of its ClimateSmart program, which Cleantech is highlighting:...
Why Making Maps Guides Us to Be Greener
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 06. 4.09
A picture is worth a thousand words, and that's the case for maps too. Turns out, using some visual mapping helps groups show people their purpose and get the support they need to accomplish their goals. The map above is from Friends of the High Line, and was used - successfully - to show how preserving the structure of the elevated rail line in Manhattan and turning it into a park would benefit local wildlife. That's just the beginning of the potential visual mapping holds....
Have You Plugged In a Ford Lately? EVs, Plug-ins, and Hybrids Live on in Detroit (Part One)
by Jacob Gordon, Nashville, TN on 06. 4.09
In the smoking ashes of Detroit, Ford Motor Company looks a lot like the last man standing, which could have great big implications for the green car race. Nancy Gioia heads up Ford’s Sustainable Mobility programs—she shares with TreeHugger how her company is charging into the world of EVs, plug-ins, hybrids, clean diesels, and even some nice company-sponsored hypermiling. Listen to the podcast of this interview via iTunes, or just click here to listen, right-click to download. Full text after the jump. ...
Andean Collection Fuses Eco-Chic Jewelry With Social Conscience
by Jasmin Malik Chua, Jersey City, USA on 06. 4.09
Photo credit: Andean Collection
From superfood to super-chic, acai doesn't belong just in your power smoothie. The Andean Collection will ply your ears, necks, and wrists with the multitasking berry, along with other sustainably harvested nuts and seeds gathered from the rainforests of South America....
Lorax Motor’s 900 mpg Hauler, It's A Solar Tricycle
by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 06. 4.09
Our pals over at the excellent Wend Magazine thought our readers might be intrigued by a new company they found. I reckon they’re right. For they’ve unearthed the delightfully named Lorax Motor Works, a start-up who are providing purpose built electric vehicles, and customized conversions of existing internal combustion vehicles. One of their early incarnations is The Hauler: an all-terrain, mountain-bike style recumbent tricycle, which sports its own solar panel powering an onboard motor that provides electric assist riding....
Tell Global Shoe Makers to Not Use Brazilian Deforestation Leather (Video)
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 06. 4.09
Are Streetcars Really Better Than Buses?
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 06. 4.09
stuck in traffic on Queen Street, Toronto
The Infrastructurist certainly thinks so, and provides 36 Reasons Streetcars Are Better Than Buses. I agree, but let's not gild the lily here; streetcars are not without a few flaws.
1. they can't get out of the way; one can be stuck behind cars turning left (or broken down) for a long time.
2. they are heavy. They can shake the neighbourhood around them.
3. They are really noisy screeching around curves.
...
$500 Million in Waxman-Markey Goes to Clean Coal Administrative Expenses?!?
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 06. 4.09
All thanks to this man... Joe Hall via flickr
If you've followed the progress of the American Clean Energy & Security Act (aka Waxman-Markey) you're probably aware that after all the political wrangling, the bill that recently got passed by the House Energy and Commerce Committee isn't quite as robust as many environmentalists would like. As a prime example of the sort of influence the coal industry has had on the bill, Solve Climate highlights the $500 million in "administrative expenses" allotted to a new clean coal research center:...
What's the First Netbook to Get PCMag's GreenTech Approval?
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 06. 4.09
Image via PCMag
Good Clean Tech, PC Magazine's blog, has announced the first netbook to make the grade for green according to the magazine. PC Magazine is a very reliable source for quality reviews of nearly every computer hitting the market. Netbooks have been flying onto the market, but it is only just now that one finally earns the magazine's GreenTech seal of approval. Check out the new Fujitsu netbook and see why it made the ranks....
Deployable/Transformable Structures by Daniel Piker are Mindblowing
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 06. 4.09
Pedaling Revolution: Could There Be Such Thing As a Best-Selling Bicycle Book?
by April Streeter, Gothenburg, Sweden on 06. 4.09
Bike books are generally shunted to the back of the books stores, relegated to the sports shelves or dying a slow death in the 'transportation' section. But political reporter Jeff Mapes of The Oregonian is enjoying unexpected popularity with his first title: Pedaling Revolution: How Cyclists Are Changing American Cities. If in real estate location is king, in non-fiction titles timing seems to be everything. While the pedal revolution is not quite upon us, could brisk sales of Mapes' urban biking book - its publisher Oregon State University Press says sales are brisk - be an indicator that the city cycling movement is moving towards critical mass?...
Burning Down The House: 39% Increase In Global CO2 Emissions Projected By 2030
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 06. 4.09
Burning house in New Orleans - Hurricane Katrina aftermath. Image credit:VisualFuturist
This extremely bleak global projection by the Energy Information Administration (EIA) lays out the extreme risk of proceeding several more years under a "business as usual" scenario:- "In the absence of specific policies to limit greenhouse gas emissions, the world's energy use is expected to increase by 44% between 2006 and 2030, causing a 39% increase in global carbon dioxide emissions, according to DOE's Energy Information Administration (EIA). The EIA's "International Energy Outlook 2009," released last week, finds that much of the increase in carbon dioxide emissions will occur in developing nations, especially in Asia." Asian nations must participate actively in climate action. It is only a choice of how far, how fast. Without them, investment in renewable energy amounts to dousing a world on fire with a very leaky hose....
Biofuels Produced at the Expense of Tropical Forests Are No Victory: Bill Clinton Tells Brazil
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 06. 4.09
The last remains of what used to be forest are burned off. Photo: Leo Freitas via flickr.
I guess when you're a former US president with a well-respected eponymous humanitarian foundation you can really lay into a touchy subject without much mincing of words. The example: Bill Clinton talking to Brazil on how being a world leader in ethanol production is no victory if it is coupled with escalating carbon emissions from deforestation:...
Bottle Battle: We Put Self-Filtering Water Bottles to the Test
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 06. 4.09
Two new self-filtering water bottles have caught our eye as handy ways to get clean water on the go. We decided to try them out, discover their pros and cons, and see how they compare to each other. Check out our impressions of Tap Guard and Clear2Go....
Is This The Future of Food?
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 06. 4.09
Daily Mail
That is the headline in the Daily Mail, as it covers "plant factories" in Japan, growing vegetables
"In a perfectly controlled and totally sterile environment - uncontaminated by dirt, insects or fresh air....Every part of the plant's environment is controlled - from the lighting and temperature, to the humidity and water. Even the levels of carbon dioxide can be minutely altered. Rather than the conventional scruffy clothes and dirty fingernails of vegetable growers, the producers wear gloves, surgical masks and sort of dust proof protective suits normally seen in chemical plants."But what is really going on?...
When American Cities Desire A Domestic Streetcar: United Streetcar, LLC Is Ready
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 06. 4.09
United Streetcar model, targeting the “Buy America” market. Image credit:Oregon Iron Works.
For most of a century, 'Government Motors' (a.k.a. "GM") focused on street cars of the free-roaming, gasoline powered sort, to the exclusion of the mass-transit variety: the real "streetcar." It was a strategic marketing choice. Turnabout time: streetcars are a growth market opportunity. But, which manufacturers will supply them? United Streetcar, LLC, a subsidiary of Oregon Iron Works, Inc. makes a real streetcar, the sort that can help make urban culture sustainable. Many US cities are reported to be considering adding streetcars - and they are interested in Made in the USA, due in part to requirements of the Federal stimulus package. Definitely a green job category to watch. More below....
The War over Eco-Certified Wood
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 06. 4.09
We have shown this smug, self-satisfied face before, in our own posts on greenwashed lumber. Now the Tyee offers a special report on The War over Eco-Certified Wood.
At stake is a multi-billion dollar international market for eco-certified wood products, which rewards environmentally-responsible forestry companies with improved access to retail and business-to-business customers....
Do You Camp?
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 06. 4.09
Warren is so poetic: "Sleeping in a tent allows us to hear the wind blow, the rain pitter patter, and the nocturnal critters go bump in the night. It removes the façade, putting us back on more equal footing with our fellow planetary inhabitants." Yet fewer people are doing it. Are you?
...
Get Outdoors, It’s National Camping Month. Says The North Face
by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 06. 4.09
Toast marshmallows, listen to owls, watch the moon rise, identify celestial constellations.
(Did you know the word ‘planet’ is said to be derived from Greek for ‘wanderer’? Or that while stars twinkle, planets merely glow? Or that by lying back watching the heavens on a clear night you should see a ‘falling star’ about every 20 minutes? And that these are really just small meteors burning up as they bump into our atmosphere? At least this is what my astronomer instructor reckoned when I studied outdoor education many, many moons ago.)
Although US National Camping Month appears to be a construct of the marketing department for The North Face, pioneer of the geodesic dome tent, the underlying theme is very sound. TNF cite the Outdoor Industry Association’s 2008 Outdoor Recreation Participation Report in reporting that from 2006 to 2007, there was almost a 12% decrease of participation in outdoor activities among American children ages 6 to 17 years of age.
...
Old Jeans Get the Boot: Levi’s Make Re-used Jeans Shoes
by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 06. 4.09
Lurking amongst Levi’s new Red Tab footwear collection is their Reused Jean Shoe. Basically a Converse style sneaker styled around “pre-loved authentic Levi's jeans.” Apparently it takes a couple of pairs to make a pair, with many of the components of the famous pants being incorporated into the shoes, from coin-pocket, yellow stitching, belt loops to the fly stud button. Each pair is said to be unique.
We aren’t sure where they come by the used jeans, but maybe we do know one possible place where they may just have sourced them. ...
Online Media That Matters Film Fest Features Climate Change Refugees
by Kristin Underwood, Sacramento, CA on 06. 4.09
Image via: Getty Images
The ninth annual Media That Matters film fest opens online this week and we were lucky enough to get a sneak preview at one of the entries - The Next Wave. Each of the films are meant to inspire and bring to light very pressing issues that face groups around the world. First up, climate change refugees - they're not just a theory anymore....
Cameron Diaz Saves The World and 5 more Green Celebrities of the week
by Leonora Oppenheim, London, UK on 06. 4.09
This week Jasmin brought us Cameron Diaz's enviro-road movie with a stupidly over the top title, but with some genuinely good content under the hype, featuring green heavy weights Van Jones and Majora Carter - go Cameron! TH Blog Love is taken in by the star appeal and goes in search of more green celebrity stories on the blogoshpere. Look who we found doing their good deeds: Daryl Hannah, Miranda Kerr, Gisele Bunchen, Isabella Rossellini and errr...Phillipe Starck!...
Singer Kimya Dawson at Primavera Sound Festival: "Our choices are powerfull"
by Petz Scholtus, Barcelona, Spain on 06. 4.09
Photo Credit: Sergio Carratalá
Although we missed the actions Barcelona’s Summercase Festival took last year to green their music events (reusable cups, recycling schemes, LED lighting, etc.), two singers really got their message across at this year’s Primavera Sound Festival. On the Saturday, Neil Young performed Fork in the Road in front of 30.000 fans, telling the story of his journey in the converted energy-efficient 1959 Lincoln Continental. Read more about the Canadian musician’s ‘Make a Neil Young video’ project. On Sunday, Kimya Dawson, known as the one half of The Moldy Peaches, surprised Barcelona with a wonderful gig in the park, good-humouredly singing her socially-conscious songs for kids of all ages....
Life On Board an Icelandic Fishing Boat
by Bonnie Alter, London on 06. 4.09
Iceland is a model for responsible fishing methods. Since the country is so dependent upon fish as its main industry, catching fish responsibly and sustainably is managed carefully by the fishermen and the government.
This TreeHugger had the chance to go out into the rolling seas on the mighty Duddi Gisla fishing boat, courtesy of Waitrose supermarkets. After the fold--a story of cod, bait, seasickness and blood....
Five Reasons Ambitious New Search Engine Wolfram Alpha Will Succeed and Two Why it Might Fail
by Christine Lepisto, Berlin on 06. 3.09
By now you have probably heard the buzz as the new search engine Wolfram|Alpha aims to make "all systematic knowledge immediately accessible to everyone." But can Wolfram|Alpha, a sort of Google meets the Wikipedia of Data, change the way the world searches for (and views) information?
Wolfram|Alpha is Still Beta
Although Stephen Wolfram has decided the time is ripe to let Wolfram|Alpha "loose in the world," the system clearly fails to fulfill Wolfram's vision. It can be said, at best, that Wolfram|Alpha is a sort of Beta version, showing the type of functionality available over a limited set of data. Our searches for simple topics of environmental interest such as "greenhouse gas per capita" or "global warming" are met with the somewhat disappointing replies like "Wolfram|Alpha isn't sure what to do with your input," or "Functionality for this topic is under development...".
But in spite of dubious initial reviews, here are the reasons why we think Wolfram|Alpha raises hope, and the reasons to fear it might be hype....
Green Jobs a Joke? If You Ask Some in Congress, Yes
by Daniel Kessler, San Francisco, California on 06. 3.09
Buy This Tote, Save an Elephant
by Jasmin Malik Chua, Jersey City, USA on 06. 3.09
Photo credit: GG2G
If you tore through an entire box of Kleenex when Dumbo was cruelly ripped from his mother's side, you'll want to break out the tissue, hankies, paper towels, and TP for this one.
Animal captivity rarely has a Disney-constructed fairytale ending (or talking crows, for that matter, but we digress). Take Lota, for instance, an Indian elephant plucked from her native habitat at the age of one in 1951 and shipped off to Milwaukee. ...
Toyota to Lease 500 Lithium-Ion Plug-in Prius Hybrids, But Don't Hold Your Breath...
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 06. 3.09
Photo: Michael Graham Richard
First Toyota to Officially Use Lithium-Ion Batteries
The good news first. Toyota has announced (pdf) that it will be leasing 500 plug-in hybrids globally (200 in Japan, 150 in the US, 150 in Europe). They will be based on the 2010 Toyota Prius, but they'll use a lithium-ion battery instead of the NiMH chemistry that the Prius normally uses. But here come the bad news......
Goldman Winner, Sanitation Crusader, Single Mother Yuyun Yunia Ismawati Talks to TH: "We Need Better Design Upstream"
by Alex Pasternack, New York, NY on 06. 3.09
Indonesia's Yuyun Yunia Ismawati, 45, one of six winners of this year's Goldman Environmental Prize (the "green Nobel"), was driven to action by the waste-management problems that have long plagued the popular tourist island of Bali. She helped start community-run projects that more properly dispose of waste, and empowered low-income people to turn a health nuisance into a money-maker.
After receiving her award in Washington, DC, in April, she spoke to TreeHugger about the importance of better packaging, how she managed to stay dedicated even while raising two children as a single mother, and why being targeted by the government may have helped her....
Eco-Soap: Middleless or Mindless?
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 06. 3.09
The usually reliable Piers Fawkes writes at PSFK:
When we stayed at the James Hotel in Chicago recently we enjoyed their strong approach to sustainability including providing soap without the middle bit - because no one uses the middle bit at hotels.I am not so sure; I think it would waste a lot more by breaking up into pieces. ...
Soot Particles in the Air More Dangerous Than Previously Thought
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 06. 3.09
Photo: Paul L. Nettles, CC
*Cough* *Wheeze* *Argh*
An extended epidemiological analysis, building on data from 350,000 people over 18 years, and an additional 150,000 people in more recent years, was conducted for the Health Effects Institute by scientists at the University of Ottawa (which is about 10 blocks from where I'm writing this) about the impact of soot particles in the air. Sadly, no good news: "The review found that the risk of having a condition that is a precursor to deadly heart attacks for people living in soot-laden areas goes up by 24 percent rather than 12 percent, [as previously thought]." Read on for more details....
Bad Week for the Colonel: Attacks from The Onion and the PCRM
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 06. 3.09
Some days you just want to retire to your rocking chair with a big mint julep, I mean, really. First, we learn from the Onion that the FCC has ordered KFC to "discontinue all broadcasts containing "false and misleading suggestions" that its heated chicken products are intended for consumption."
"KFC's claim that its fried offerings have 'that taste you'll just love to eat' is in direct violation of federal regulations," acting FCC chairman Michael Copps said. "The word 'eat' is legally permissible only in reference to substances appropriate for human consumption. Any implication that a consumer could or should 'enjoy' a KFC Crispy Strip fails to meet these standards, and presents an unlawful deception to consumers."Then, to compound the Colonel's misery, the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM) found that the new "better-for-you chicken for health-conscious customers" Kentucky Grilled Chicken is full of cancer-causing heterocyclic amines....
Wild Dogs Take the Train to Commute in Russia
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 06. 3.09
Photo: The Sun
Mass Transit: Not Just for People Anymore
Now, something a bit lighter than thermonuclear weapons... I just stumbled on a story in The Sun (so take it with a grain of salt) about wild dogs that take the train to commute from the city to the suburb in Russia. They apparently scavenge and beg in the city during the day, and go back to the suburbs to sleep at night. "Experts studying the dogs say they even work together to make sure they get off at the right stop - after learning to judge the length of time they need to spend on the train." Goes to show that mass transit doesn't just benefit humans! Read on for more on this story....
The Idea of a Tree
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 06. 3.09
Designboom presents cool things from the DMY Design Festival in Berlin. Nominees for the DMY Award include the Idea of a Tree from Katharina Mischer and Thomas Traxler.
it is a machine that "starts producing when the sun rises and stops when the sun settles down. After sunset, the finished object can be ‘harvested’."...
Happy Burt Day, Burt's Bees!
by Jasmin Malik Chua, Jersey City, USA on 06. 3.09
Photo credit: Burt's Bees
Love 'em or hate 'em, Burt's Bees is turning a quarter of a century old, and it's inviting you to join in the celebration. The hive-loving purveyor of natural skincare products, which had its start as a beeswax-candle-making business based out of a one-room schoolhouse in Maine, is giving away 25,000 Burt’s Bees lip balms in 25 days....
Nobel Winners: Global Climate Change Poses Threat of "Similar Proportions" to Thermonuclear Weapons
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 06. 3.09
Photo: Public domain
The Fierce Urgency of Now...
Matt already mentioned the St James's Palace Nobel Laureates Symposium, but I want to highlight it once more, because when the world's leading scientists speak, we ignore them at our peril. So what was it about? "The Symposium provided a unique opportunity for Nobel Laureates from across the disciplines to gather with world experts in climate change and a small number of policy makers and global business leaders. The focus of the Symposium was the climate crisis and its implications." Read on to find out what the nobel-winners concluded on this topic....
Buying a Water Filtration System: Determining Which System Is Best for You
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 06. 3.09
Brita filter photo via gocarts; whole house filter system photo via tanais
Head to your kitchen sink, turn on the tap and fill a glass with water. Now drink it. Did you have any reservations before taking that first sip? If you worry about water, you might find yourself wondering if you need a whole-house filtration system, or will a Brita filter suffice? Or will you end up going through so many Brita filters that a whole-house system is justified? Which is the greener choice? If you're concerned about the quality of your tap water, but are also concerned about the eco-impact of filtration systems, we have some answers for you. ...
Fashion Students Rise to Challenge of Making Cycling Stylish
by Jasmin Malik Chua, Jersey City, USA on 06. 3.09
Photo credit: LVMH
Skintight cycling bib shorts, moisture-wicking performance jerseys, and helmet hair don't exactly inspire immortalization in the annals of high fashion, but that didn't stop one luxury-goods maker from trying.
LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton threw down the gauntlet to students from the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) to create stylish, practical, and affordable bike clothing and accessories in support of New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg's pro-cycling initiatives.
...
Project Frog Breaks Ground at Watkinson School
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 06. 3.09
all images via Project Frog
Jim Kunstler, in his speech at the Ontario Heritage Conference, complained that we build schools like prisons; tiny windows, controlled access, high fences. "You are telling children that education is punishment when you build these schools." And most school portables are reminiscent of the sheds in Stalag 17 or the Great Escape. That is why I loved the prototype of Project Frog's reinvention of the portable at Greenbuild.
Now they have broken ground on a complex of them for The Center for Science and Global Citizenship at Watkinson School in Hartford, Connecticut. ...
Good News For One Of Our Nation’s Chronically Endangered Rivers.
by Rebecca Wodder, American Rivers on 06. 3.09
Snake River salmon. Image credit:American Rivers
The lower Snake River has landed on our America’s Most Endangered Rivers list seven times because of the threat posed by four outdated dams.
Now, things are looking up for the river, its communities, and its endangered salmon. A federal judge recently told NOAA Fisheries that its plan for operating dams on the Columbia and Snake rivers – balancing the protection of endangered salmon and electricity production – needs work.
Most notably, the judge said that federal agencies should examine and prepare for removing the lower Snake River dams in case other salmon recovery actions are insufficient.
...
Flatpack Chair by Eric Ku is Self-Explanatory
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 06. 3.09
Eric Ku
We do love flatpack, (clever designs that use little material and are cheap to ship) and we decry excess packaging, so what could be better than a flatpack that tells you what it is. That is what Eric Ku, a recent grad from the School of Visual Arts in New York has designed....
UnTreeHugger: China Buys Hummer Brand and Wants to Expand It and Make 'More Efficient' Hummers
by April Streeter, Gothenburg, Sweden on 06. 3.09
Solaqua Uses Solar Power to Purify Water
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 06. 3.09
Image via SOLAQUA
A cool new design by Jason Lam, a student designer at University of New South Wales, shows a water purifier that uses the power of the sun to make water drinkable. It's intended for places with limited resources where water-borne diseases are prevalent, helping to save lives with the power of the sun....
Guerrilla Gardeners Attack Empty Flyer Boxes With Minty Goodness
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 06. 3.09
It makes me crazy to learn about great things in the city where I live from Inhabitat,, but here is is: Posterchild, a Toronto guerrilla gardener and street artist, who occupies empty flyer boxes. The weapon of choice is mint: "Mint is maybe the Guerrilla plant. It is hardy, aggressive, and grows quickly. It spreads like crazy."
...
Adorable Wool Felt Slippers and Accessories, by Oveja Verde
by Paula Alvarado, Buenos Aires on 06. 3.09
Photos: Courtesy of Oveja.Verde.
With organic cotton being almost inexistent as a crop in Argentina and bamboo barely present, wool felt is one of the few local and sustainable materials that designers have in this country for fashion and accessories. This is why lately we've been seen a good development of it, and some interesting applications like Planar's mamushka bags.
Following the trend we know bring you Oveja.Verde, a new firm that's experimenting with felt from natural, unprocessed and unbleached wool, which they are even making themselves. Their products are all hand made and hand embroidered and dyed with natural pigments.
More pics in the extended!!...
Cameron Diaz Saves the World!
by Jasmin Malik Chua, Jersey City, USA on 06. 3.09
How Corn Plastics Are Made, And Why We Still Aren't Thrilled
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 06. 3.09
40% is the Magic Number for HP's Eco-Efforts
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 06. 3.09
Photo via Rutger Blom
Hewlett Packard has announced a new goal for lowering carbon emissions. Since 2005, HP has improved its desktop PC energy efficiency by 40%. They want to see another 40% efficiency improvement in about half that time, by 2011. That goal represents 1 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity savings, or enough to power a town of 90,000 people for a year, according to HP's Steve Hoffman. And the company has a few important steps lined up to help them accomplish the goal. ...
Get "Social Power" With The Biker Bar
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 06. 3.09
Lots of events try to go green with biodiesel generators or solar panels, but Rock the Bike has developed the Biker Bar, (patent pending) available for rent in New York and San Francisco. It generates power and fun at the same time, acting as a social activity as well as a 300 watt generator. (1000 watts at peak moments, but the cyclists will probably wear out quickly)...
NYC Block Party Season Celebrates Livable Streets
by Sami Grover, Carrboro, NC, USA on 06. 3.09
Transition Towns: How Do They Stay Relevant?
by Sami Grover, Carrboro, NC, USA on 06. 3.09
Are Transition Towns Just Rebranding the Seventies Back-to-the-Land Movement?
The viral spread of the Transition Towns movement has been an encouraging sign that communities are ready to tackle their fossil fuel dependence head on. From planting fruit and nut trees in Kilkenny to reviving local currencies in Southampton - these groups are set on building local resilience in the face of urgent challenges. But while the Transition Movement has made admirable strides in mobilizing large swathes of the population into environmental action, as was hinted at in the New York Times article on Transition Towns, they are still skewed toward a left-leaning, greeny, liberal and counter-cultural demographic. Leo Hickman is asking pertinent questions over at The Guardian - what next for Transition Towns as they struggle to say relevant and capitalize on early success?...
7 Ocean-Friendly Eco Cruises Hitting the High Seas
by Kristin Underwood, Sacramento, CA on 06. 3.09
Image via: Flickr.com
Green cruises? Sounds like an oxymoron, right? When it comes to carbon emissions, these floating monstrosities can pack a punch greater than an airplane. Yikes. Surfrider reports that a typical cruise ship with 3,000 passengers generates 1 million gallons of gray water; 210,000 gallons of sewage; 25,000 gallons of oily bilge water; 100 gallons of hazardous or toxic waste; 50 tons of garbage and solid waste; and diesel exhaust emissions equal to thousands of cars on the road. But whether it's a spring break getaway or a trip with the family, even your favorite love boats are going green these days. New government regulations set the benchmark for cleaner burning fuels, and many lines are spending thousands to millions of dollars upgrading fleets, saving money on fuel and energy costs over the long term. Here are seven green cruises that are doing their part to to keep our oceans clean....
Motor-Oil Collection Helps Clean Up the Commute
by Jennifer Hattam, Istanbul, Turkey on 06. 3.09
Many large Turkish companies hire shuttle buses and vans to bring employees to and from work. Photo via Okur Tur.
A joint industry-government initiative in Turkey has collected 50,000 tons of waste oil over the past five years--much of it from a mainstay of many Turkish workers' daily lives, servis (service) buses....
Do You Pick Up Hitchhikers?
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 06. 3.09
Mark notes in his post A Nation of Hitchhikers that hitchhiking "relies on the kindness of strangers and a certain implicit level of decency in the shared social contract between rider and driver." It used to be very common in North America but has fallen out of favour. That's a shame, because what could be greener than putting more people in an almost empty car and helping other people get somewhere.
...
Kodak Making OLED Lighting Better, With Help From DOE
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 06. 3.09
Rethinking Trash into Inspired Art (Slideshow)
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 06. 3.09
The SMART Art Competition 2009 brought out the best artists in the world who use trash as their artistic medium. The purpose of the competition was "to show how discarded items can be redesigned into works of art as well as functional everyday items." Last week winners were announced and many of the 700 pieces submitted were shown off at Lincart Gallery in San Francisco. Check out some of the most spectacular pieces that made it to the gallery.
...
Iceland is the Success Story of Sustainable Fishing
by Bonnie Alter, London on 06. 3.09
The soon-to-be-released documentary, The End of the Line, is about the terrible damage to the world's fishing stocks due to overfishing. But we do have one successful model of sustainable fishing: feisty little Iceland.
Famous for its fish and infamous for its collapsing banks, Iceland has become the poster country for developing a quota system for its fishermen which ensures responsible and sustainable fishing and responsible fishing practices. This TreeHugger went to Iceland, as a guest of Waitrose supermarkets and met some of the players in this success story. More on cod, quotas, and the future after the fold....
COTO Eco-Luxe Accessories for Men
by Jasmin Malik Chua, Jersey City, USA on 06. 2.09
Photo credit: COTO
Here's something for the menfolk, by way of tastemaker extraordinaire (and consummate male) Josh Spear: COTO, a line of eco-luxe ties, cuff links, and shirts, designed and made in the concrete wilds of New York City (or occasionally, Boise, Idaho.)
Made from woven English silk and wool, the handsewn ties (bow, round tip, point tip) have an understated élan; traditional solids and stripes intermingle with honeycombs and latticework, while stalwart gray and inoffensive navy face (or would that be neck?) off with flamboyant lime green and searing hot pink....
New Study Says, Robbing the Cradle Makes Men Live Longer, Women Die Sooner!
by Eric Leech, New York, NY on 06. 2.09
Photo via: Freeparking
The fountain of youth is one of the ultimate legends made famous by Juan Ponce de Leon, who was only 53 at the time of setting out to find the mystical fountain. Since then, men and women have engaged themselves in all kinds of non-green activities to make themselves look and feel younger, such as buying a new Corvette, Porsche, getting a hair transplant, beauty product, smearing monkey dung and rare extracts from endangered tropical plants on their face and bodies, or wooing a younger man or woman into their clutches with their mature charm.
So far, only one of the above mentioned items could be considered somewhat promising (not to mention, somewhat green) for accomplishing the task of making one younger... but the women sure aren't going to like this one!...
Green For All CEO Phaedra Ellis-Lamkins, Joe Scarborough Agree on Climate and Energy
by Daniel Kessler, San Francisco, California on 06. 2.09
The Ocean Acidification, Non-Coolaid Test: Will Climate Treaty Delegates Pass?
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 06. 2.09
The thirtieth sessions of the UNFCCC Convention subsidiary bodies - Monday 1 June till Friday 12 June 2009 in Maritim, Bonn, Germany.
Image credit:UN,
Although both problems are caused by a high excess of atmospheric C02, ocean acidification could be a more imminent and serious hazard than global warming.
"It (ocean acidification)...must not be left off the agenda at the United Nations Copenhagen climate negotiations in December, 70 of the world's science academies warned today. The oceans are now more acidic now than they have been for 800,000 years, the academies said in a joint statement, and they predicted dire consequences for food production and the livelihoods of millions of people if this challenge is not addressed."...
Texas Likes Wind Power. Solar, Not So Much.
by Kristin Underwood, Sacramento, CA on 06. 2.09
Image via: Flickr.com
The New York Times reported today that the Texas State Legislature voted down a measure over the weekend that would have brought solar incentives to this sunny, southern state. For a state with a lot to gain from solar, why would they do such a thing?...
Hold the Lox: The Falkirk Wheel Goes Higher, Faster
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 06. 2.09
Images via Wikipedia
When I showed the amazing Peterborough lift lock, a commenter and Kottke both pointed out that the Falkirk Wheel in Scotland goes higher, faster. It was built as part of an attempt to regenerate canals in central Scotland, and replaces 11 locks that had fallen into disuse. It also is another example of the clever and original results that come from design competitions- it is now a serious attraction....
Wood Bridge In Netherlands As Strong as Steel and a Lot Prettier
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 06. 2.09
Images via Contemporist
Have I mentioned that I love wood as a building material? If sustainably harvested it provides a strong, beautiful material that can last for centuries and sequester CO2 the whole time. People have built bridges from it forever, but in such exposed circumstances they don't last forever.
But now there are better wood preservation techniques, and Kris De Decker of No Tech Magazine points us to a lovely new bridge in the Netherlands, purported to be the first wooden bridge in the world that can support the heaviest load class of 60 tons.
...
Looking for a Bike Rack in New York City? Check This Out
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 06. 2.09
A Google^ Maps With 97% of NYC's Outdoor Bike Racks
The New York City Department of Transportation (NYC DOT) has created a page that will be very useful if you are a cyclist in NYC (or if you're thinking about becoming one..). It shows the location of "97% of outdoor bike parking racks" (why not 100%?), and the data is downloadable and free, so that others are encouraged to use it in their applications. The site also allows you to report a missing or damaged rack, and even to request that a new rack be installed somewhere. Read on for more....
Green Building Elements Hosts Carnival of the Green
by Kara DiCamillo, Newport, Rhode Island on 06. 2.09
This week is Carnival of the Green #182 and it's being hosted by Green Building Elements, a blog where home owners and LEED accredited professional alike can learn about advances in green and renewable building materials, current projects in sustainable architecture and progressive urban planning, and local guidelines for creating green structures in different regions of the U.S.
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. And if you're an eco-conscious traveler, go ahead and stay awhile.
We are now accepting host requests for 2010! Read on to find out how to host....
Dell Running 9 Facilities on 100% Renewable Energy
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 06. 2.09
Photo via Pink Sherbet Photography
Dell has announced that 26% of its global electricity needs is met by renewable energy, and nine of its facilities run on 100% renewable energy. This puts Dell on a great path towards sustainability, though it still has 74% to go. ...
Ain't Technology Amazing? Scientists Can Track Penguin Poop From Space!
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 06. 2.09
Worst. Photoshop. Ever. Image: Public domain
What Else Can They See?
If you want to protect an animal population, you need information. How many? Where? What are they doing? Antarctica is 1.5x the size of the USA, and it's very hard to keep track of penguin population... At least it was until scientists discovered that they could see penguin poop from space! Read on for more details....
Association of Postconsumer Plastic Recyclers Issues Cautionary Statement On PET Plastic Biodegradability Claims
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 06. 2.09
PETE (formerly known as "PET") Resin Code #1. Via:Wikipedia
The Association of Postconsumer Plastic Recyclers (APR) recently issued a cautionary memo regarding potential risks to established recycling programs of certain additives used to "enhance" biodegradability of PET packaging. This supposed enhancement of biodegradability is apparently accomplished by the addition of whatever magic foo-foo dust a supplier chooses to mix into the PET resins they use to make packaging. As APR points out, the functionality claims are unusual sounding:- "Some additives are termed biodegradable. Some are termed oxo-degradable and some photodegradable." Because this is a very important subject for folks dedicated to recycling, the bulk of APR's statement is included below.
...
Google Looking to Be the Next e-Book Outlet
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 06. 2.09
We're often talking about the energy efficiency of e-readers. And e-books are becoming ever more the medium of choice for fast and easy access to materials. Google sees this, and wants in on the market. However, their set-up may take the energy efficiency right out of the e-book experience....
Breakthrough: Regular Light Bulb Made Super-Efficient with Laser (!)
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 06. 2.09
Professor of optics Chunlei Guo. Photo: University of Rochester
Everything is Better with Lasers
What if you could take a regular incandescent lightbulb, zap it with a powerful laser for a small fraction of a second, and make it about twice as efficient as a regular lightbulb? That seems to be what researchers at the University of Rochester did. What does the laser do? It creates an "array of nano- and micro-scale structures on the surface of [the] regular tungsten filament—the tiny wire inside a light bulb—and these structures make the tungsten become far more effective at radiating light." Read on for more details....
Come Out Thursday Night and Party With Bicycle For a Day, Matthew Modine & Rahzel
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 06. 2.09
Hey New York-area TreeHugger readers! What are you doing Thursday night, June 4th? What you should be doing is coming on over to Solar One (23rd Street & the East River) to a fundraising party with Bicycle For a Day and Matthew Modine to honor cycling supporters Bicycle Film Festival, Climate Ride, the League of American Bicyclists, Transportation Alternatives, and the New York Cycle Club. BFAD is also announcing a new project done in association with award-winning architect Adam Kalkin. Oh, and did I mention Rahzel is performing? And that's not even everything...But first the logistical details:...
Beauty Products Get Cradle-to-Cradle Paperboard Packaging
by Jasmin Malik Chua, Jersey City, USA on 06. 2.09
Photo credit: Chicago Paper Tube & Can Company
Beauty buffs can get green and gorgeous with less plastic in the mix with a new 100 percent paperboard packaging. Made by the Chicago Paper Tube & Can Company—and not to be confused with Varden's Ecopak—the EcoPak can directly house Shea butter, balms, solid perfumes, and oil-based products, without resorting to plastic or glass.
...
World Premiere of Yann Arthus Bertrand's Home, this Environment Day (June 5)
by Paula Alvarado, Buenos Aires on 06. 2.09
Image: Home-2009.com.
Next World Environment Day, this Friday, is also the date set for the world premiere of Yann Arthus Bertrand's Home Documentary. The movie is a collection of unique aerial footage from over 50 countries, which will try to show the state of the planet in natural and urban areas with the goal of inciting people to act.
Says the producer, Denis Carot, "Home is a film with a message that sets out to shift people's perceptions, make us aware of the tectonic movements at work and incite us to act. Although there is a general trend in our societies towards an awareness of ecological issues, concrete action is still too little, too slow—which constitutes in some ways the creed of the movie: It's too late to be a pessimist".
Find out more details on the movie and about the events around the world for the premiere in the extended....
What Does GM's Bankruptcy Mean for the Chevy Volt?
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 06. 2.09
Photo: GM
GM's Electric Car: Is There a Future?
A couple of months ago, GM said that it would keep the Chevy Volt even if it lost money. Now, post Chapter 11, they're saying that the bankruptcy won't affect the Volt. The problem is, the US government might have the final say on the matter, and Obama's auto task force seemed to think that the Volt might not make commercial sense (like the Wall Street Journal). What will happen to the Volt?...
Zaha Hadid Does a Green Roof in Seoul
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 06. 2.09
I have sometimes thought that starchitects like Zaha Hadid give not quite as much attention to social or environmental concerns. But Hadid has started construction on a 850,000 square foot design museum, library and educational facility in Seoul that appears quite green and social. ...
How Many Cars Does A Person Need?
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 06. 2.09
Nationmaster
Ryan Avent shows us an interesting table, showing that the USA has way more cars per person than anyone else in the world. It makes some sense, it is a big country without good public transport or rail system. But Canada is even bigger, and the rail and transit isn't much better. What could account for such a spread?
Felix Salmon at Reuters suspects that the American rate will fall significantly, which does not bode well for the auto industry but might overall be a good thing....
7 Things I Wish Every City Would Do to Make Urban Living Even Greener
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 06. 2.09
photo: Catherine via flickr
Though it sometimes might not seem so, living in cities is a pretty green thing to do. Two prime reasons being that average home sizes are smaller and transportation distances are generally shorter, both leading to lower levels of resource consumption and energy usage. But that doesn't mean that every city is a green oasis. Lots could use some sprucing up, even if all the basic amenities are taken care of. Here are some of the top programs I wish every city would do to make urban living even greener:...
My War Against Air Canada's Bike Rules Turns Into War of Attrition
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 06. 2.09
Back in January, when Jetblue passenger Carl Larson got hit with a $50 charge for his folding bike, he fought back, got the story on Consumerist, and Jetblue folded as fast as my Strida, noting:
Our bicycle policy has now been updated to reflect that Customers traveling with a folding bikes in a bag that fits within the standard checked bag weights and dimensions (62 inches in overall dimensions and 50 pounds in weight — see our baggage requirements here) will not be charged the Bike fee and will be treated like any checked bag.Not so in my war against Air Canada over the same charges. This thing never ends....
Water Wars in Wild West Over Rainwater Catchment
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 06. 2.09
Photo via fireballsedai
Colorado is seeing dust stirred up over water rights and water catchment systems. While homeowners want the ability to catch the moisture from the snow and rain that lands on their roof, others, including Native Americans, want to protect their water rights and access to water by making rainwater catchment a no-go. ...
A Nation of Hitchhikers
by Mark Ontkush, Boston, Massachusetts, USA on 06. 2.09
Image by Wikimedia
As the American Automotive Fabric takes a little "T-Out" from its regularly scheduled programming, we may want to prepare our last bidey-byes to the notion that jumping into a personally-owned powered metal box - gas, electric, biodiesel, whatever - every time we need a quart of milk is going to reliably continue. With our sweet dreams and driving machines in pieces on the ground, a backup system is clearly required. One is hitchhiking, which relies on the kindness of strangers and a certain implicit level of decency in the shared social contract between rider and driver. Hitchhiking is commonplace in many countries throughout the world and is on the increase; a recent Digihitch poll showed that 2/3rds of respondents are going to try hitchhiking for the first time this year. Is the U.S. citizenry ready to support hitching, or must we look to the next technological thingy to solve our transportation problem? Here's what you need to know about holding up your end of the bargain.
...
The Wind-Powered Sports Car - Tweaking Continues
by Sami Grover, Carrboro, NC, USA on 06. 2.09
San Francisco Installing Solar Powered, Wi-Fi Ready Bus Stops
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 06. 2.09
Photo via SF Streets Blog
While some bus stop ideas are pretty futuristic, solar powered bus stops have been around for awhile. Back in April, we heard San Francisco was planning to install solar powered bus stops, and last week Mayor Gavin Newsom cut the ribbon on the city's first. It's a prototype of what will be 1,100 new bus stops installed city-wide, capable of not only sending excess power back to the grid after the LED lighting has used its fill, but also providing free wi-fi access for those waiting. ...
Times Square Made More Pedestrian (and Lounge Chair) Friendly (Slideshow)
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 06. 2.09
photo: Matthew McDermott
A couple months ago we brought you word that New York City was going to make Times Square and Herald Square more pedestrian-friendly, by rearranging traffic patterns and blocking off certain streets to form large outdoor plazas. The initial part of that was opened up last weekend, and while it's particularly pretty at this point—just some orange traffic pylons blocking the streets—but plenty of people seemed to be enjoying their newfound freedom to walk and sit where they please. Check out what the Times Square part looks like:
...
GreenWood: Forestry Management Meets Skilled Craft to Create Sustainable Livelihoods
by Leonora Oppenheim, London, UK on 06. 2.09
Photos via GreenWood.org
During my time in Ecuador in 2007, apart from reporting on Kallari chocolate, and interviewing Daryl Hannah and David de Rothschild, I also reported on EcoMadera, a company working hard to promote responsible forestry management and sustainable use of the forest's resources. Thanks to TreeHugger's Sami Grover we've learned that an organisation called GreenWood is working along similar lines in Honduras and Peru. Read on to find out more about the amazing work they are doing with local artisans to promote sustainable livelihoods......
Are Wind Turbines a Beauty or a Blight?
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 06. 2.09
Sami notes that "All too often new wind energy developments are opposed because they will "spoil the view" in remote, rural areas". Four years ago we quoted David Suzuki, who welcomed them into his British Columbia cabin's view: "We see beauty through filters shaped by our values and beliefs. Some people think wind turbines are ugly. I think smokestacks, smog, acid rain, coal-fired power plants and climate change are ugly. I think windmills are beautiful.....And if one day I look out from my cabin's porch and see a row of windmills spinning in the distance, I won't curse them. I will praise them. It will mean we are finally getting somewhere."
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Japan Update: Will Prime Minister Taro Aso Go For Deep CO2 Emission Cuts?
by greenz.jp, Tokyo, Japan on 06. 2.09
Image from Nikkei
Today, readers of Japan's major economic daily newspaper were treated with a funny comic: Taro Aso, the Prime Minister (who is known for loving manga) on top of a robot, desperately making CO2 emission cuts. Will he be a hero or not? This week, he is supposed to announce Japan's policy, and the calls range from an increase of plus four percent to deep cuts supported by the public, according to a poll by Avaaz.org.
You read that right. Japan's industry actually thinks this country should increase its CO2 emissions. Hilarious. Tetsuo Saito, Japan's outspoken Minister of the Environment, promptly responded by saying Japan would become the laughingstock of the world if that would be the CO2 target that Prime Minister Aso would announce....
Is This the End of the Line for Fish?
by Bonnie Alter, London on 06. 2.09
Sell Your Screenplay and Save the World's Trees
by April Streeter, Gothenburg, Sweden on 06. 2.09
At least, that's what GreenWriter.org is hoping that you'll be able to do. Every year, according to this new organization, screenwriters print out 180 million sheets of paper in their efforts to sell their stories. Within six months of its web site launch, Green Writer hopes to save half that amount, or 90 million pages, by providing a place for screenwriters to freely upload their work in various formats. Now how do they get the readers to forgo the paper habit?...
Bebecito Organic: Clothing For Punk Rock Kids
by Kristin Underwood, Sacramento, CA on 06. 1.09
Image via: Bebecito Organic
Your bebecito doesn't have to speak spanish, english or even know baby sign language to understand that the new onesies and tshirts from Bebecito Organics are really cute and versatile. Plus, the designs are all part of an artist series, so not only is your baby trendy in her organic clothing, but now he/she will fit in with all of the hipsters with her arts designs....
Seventh Generation Changes CEOs
by Daniel Kessler, San Francisco, California on 06. 1.09
Seventh Generation Inc. co-founder and CEO Jeffrey Hollender, who started the green tissue giant in 1988, is transferring power to Chuck Maniscalco, a former PepsiCo executive. The new guy better not mess with my favorite TP....
Celebrity Spokesperson Needed for Trash Campaign
by Roberta Cruger, Los Angeles on 06. 1.09
Giant butt lands in Trafalgar Square via the Keep Britain Tidy campaign
In an effort to clean up England, an anti-litter nonprofit in the UK is seeking a celebrity ambassador. The alert states “Your Country Needs You!” So, what star might best promote Britain’s facelift and be its rubbish bin cheerleader? The “Keep Britain Tidy” campaign says the prospective spokesperson will follow in the footsteps of the Queen Mother, Abba, and T-Rex’s Marc “Bang a Gong” Bolan. Enticing? It’s recently been successful in reducing dog dirt, posted flyers and cigarette butts, and the figures are compelling.
...
Lavanila Healthy Deodorant Offers Sweet-Smelling Armor for Your Underarms
by Jasmin Malik Chua, Jersey City, USA on 06. 1.09
Photo credit: Lavanila Laboratories
As temperatures and humidity levels get positively subtropical, breaking out the underarm odor-eaters rapidly shifts from personal care to civic duty, as anyone who's had to stand next to a shvitzing straphanger can bear witness to.
To dodge those awkward eau de gym socks moments, Lavanila Laboratories has a paraben-, phthalate-, and petrochemical-free roll-on deodorant designed to halt B.O in its tracks. Other ingredients Lavanila has rendered null and void: aluminum, propylene glycol, mineral oils, silicone, synthetic dyes, and sulfates.
...
Big Tree Climate Fund Joins the Carbon Offset Market
by Kristin Underwood, Sacramento, CA on 06. 1.09
Image via: Getty Images.
From the creators of Dagoba Chocolate, comes Big Tree Climate Fund, a carbon offset company that also gives a percentage of profits to local communities to promote environmental education, reinforcing their business. ...
Dubai Vaporware: Buildings "Under Construction" Don't Exist
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 06. 1.09
images via the Independent
Finally, a green project in Dubai; as these construction photos attest, it is working its way up to the sky. But it consumes no resources, no concrete or fossil fuels or electricity. That's because it doesn't exist. ...
Machine From Japan Turns Office Waste Into Toilet Paper
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 06. 1.09
Photo: Nakabayashi
The Other Way Around Would be More Impressive...
I'm not too sure what to think about this 1,300 lbs piece of machinery by Tokyo-based Nakabayashi. It takes paper waste from an office and turns it into toilet paper: "The toilet paper machine is able to produce two rolls per hour from around 1,800 sheets (or 7.2kg) of used A4-sized paper". Seems overkill. What's the footprint of this machine, and what quantity of recycled toilet paper does it need to produce before that compensates for its existence? More details below....
Does Recycling Need an Image Makeover?
by Jasmin Malik Chua, Jersey City, USA on 06. 1.09
Photo credit: Mimi Vert
Considering that almost a quarter of Americans don't recycle—or more, depending on whom you believe—perhaps what the tertiary member of the three Rs needs is a good stylist?
It might be guileless to think that flashing images of well-coiffed, impeccably accessorized women with translucent blue garbage bags casually tossed over one shoulder like the current It purse, or clutching flattened boxes tied with string like a fashion statement, would sway even the most recalcitrant of non-recyclers, but that's precisely what Mimi Vert set out to do with its latest advertising venture. ...
Solar Power Vocab: Single & Dual Axis Solar Trackers
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 06. 1.09
photo: Concentrix Solar
With the increase in commercial scale solar power plants in the past year, it seems appropriate to explain a bit of terminology that those people only familiar with home and portable applications don't have to contend with, but can really boost power output. I'm talking about solar trackers, in their single and dual axis varieties. Renewable Energy World has a thorough description of them, including the market dynamics currently at work, but this is the back of the napkin version:...
Barges are Back in London
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 06. 1.09
There is a long history of people living on canal barges in London, but they were usually narrow, low and often pretty uncomfortable in winter. Not any more; British Waterways ran a design competition to renovate some big old spits barges into a mixed use community in the Isle of Dogs. The winners were Architects PCKO and Baca; Narrow and dark they are not. ...
Isn't GM already Green?
by Neil Chambers, New York City on 06. 1.09
Photo from PHOTO/ REUTERS
With the auto giant General Motors filing for bankruptcy today, they are now promising to change into a lean, green automobile-making machine. But if you look at the facts, they already are green. Is GM the poster child for what is to come if established companies don’t innovate, or is it the scapegoat for America's manufacturing debacle?...
Toxic Textbooks Responsible for Global Economic Crisis
by Kristin Underwood, Sacramento, CA on 06. 1.09
Image via: Getty Images
Toxic Textbooks is one of the latest social causes being promoted through Facebook to rid the world of misperceptions, particularly when it comes to economics versus the environment. Students around the world are joining the fight to end the publication and use of economic textbooks that perpetuate myths we all know to be false....
Global Shoe Brands May Be Unwittingly Causing Deforestation in the Amazon: New Greenpeace Report Says
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 06. 1.09
photo: Leonardo F Freitas via flickr.
We've covered the cattle-deforestation connection in the Amazon on a number of occasions, and a new report from Greenpeace drives home the point: Raising cattle for beef and leather is a major factor in deforestation in the Amazon, and several international shoe brands may be buying leather from deforested areas and may not even know they are doing it:...
Cuckoo Added to List of Threatened Birds in UK
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 06. 1.09
Photo: MBoy68, CC
The Cuckoo in the Coal Mine
According to the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), about 1 in 5 species of birds in the UK is threatened (compared to 16% in 2002). One familiar bird that has just joined the sad club of the 'red list' is the cuckoo. Known for its song and for brood parasitism, the cuckoo joins the wood warbler and tree pipit in the category of "widespread but threatened" birds. What are the causes of this population decline?...
Let's Take This Charity Drive Viral! Summer of Social Good Kicks Off, Here's How to Get Involved
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 06. 1.09
Want to get involved with pushing social media charitable fundraising to a new level? Well, Mashable has just kicked off the Summer of Social Good to do just that, utilizing the vast reach of Facebook Twitter, Myspace and online media more broadly to raise funding for The Humane Society, Oxfam, Livestrong, and WWF.
From June 1st through August 28th, 2009, the Summer of Social Good is the first large scale online charitable campaign to solely use the power of social media to raise funds. Taking part is a two step process: Donating and Participating. Here's how to do that:...
The All-New Toyota Cowrolla!
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 06. 1.09
The Methane Emissions Aren't So Green
Now for something completely different... Check out the Toyota Cowrolla! This is the kind of vehicle that James Howard Kunstler daydreams about. According to Afrigadget, this pic was taken by Alen Wekesa, possibly somewhere around Dar es Salaam in Tanzania (though others say it has been around for longer, so maybe the attribution is wrong). Via Afrigadget. See also: Who Said Taking the Train was Boring? Swinging on San Francisco's BART...
Water Conservation Techniques That Make Every Drop Count
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 06. 1.09
Photo via bravediggs
During the month of June, TreeHugger is taking an extra avid interest in water issues. We're following everything about fresh water, from the ecology to the economy, from pollution to politics. The issues are countless, but the bottom line is we need to conserve. So we want to kick off the month by showing you the myriad ways you can conserve water on a daily basis. Check out all the ways from reasonable to radical that you can make every drop count....
Water Powered Lift Lock is an Engineering Marvel
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 06. 1.09
Wikipedia
It took 84 years to finish the Trent-Severn waterway that connects Lake Ontario to Lake Huron; it may have made sense in 1833 when it was started but by its completion the railways were dominant, the locks were too small and the trip took too long. The monster infrastructure project never served its commercial purpose and its 44 locks, 39 swing bridges and 160 dams now support little more than pleasure boats. But it is a marvel of Victorian engineering, and perhaps the most remarkable engineering of the whole thing is the Peterborough Lift Lock. It is the highest hydraulic boat lift in the world at 65 feet. (a boat lift in Belgium is higher and bigger but works on a different principle)
But the amazing thing is that it was designed to operate entirely without electricity, just on water power....
India's Draft Solar Power Plan Sees 200,000 MW Installed by 2050
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 06. 1.09
photo: hiroo via flickr.
A year ago India announced that solar power would be a major part of its climate action plan but between then and now, other than some project announcements, we haven't heard all that much. But now Worldwatch Institute reports that Indian newspaper The Hindu has seen a draft copy of a national solar power plan which seriously ups the ante:...
Stunning Urban Wind Turbines Circumvent NIMBYs
by Sami Grover, Carrboro, NC, USA on 06. 1.09
Image credit: Ecotricity
Wind Turbines Can Look Stunning in Industrial Settings
All too often new wind energy developments are opposed because they will "spoil the view" in remote, rural areas. But UK wind developer Ecotricity has been taking a different approach to harnessing renewables - placing its turbines in the heart of cities, ports and industrialized settings around the country.
The result is not just less complaints - but also some stunning and highly visible examples of a new, cleaner economy emerging out of the ashes of our polluted industrial past. Here are some of our favorite examples of urban wind projects that are leading the way.
...
Adam Vaughan Steals Show at Ontario Heritage Conference
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 06. 1.09
In a crowd of authors and journalists like Jim Kunstler, Gord Hume, Clive Doucet and Alfred Holden of the Star, the surprise of the Ontario Heritage Conference was how Adam Vaughan, a rookie city councillor from Toronto, stole the show with his intelligence and wit. I tried an experiment in live twittering the conference, and as a result my notes are a series of short zingers. For those not following Twitter, I reproduce some of the best here, most from Adam Vaughan but a few from others at various panel discussions:
Vaughan: We are not at war with the car, it is a war against a stupid idea from fifty years ago.
Kunstler: The future is not about our preferences, it has its own agenda.
...
Bumblebees Extinct in the UK to be Reintroduced From Surviving Stock in New Zealand
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 06. 1.09
photo: Bumblebee Conservation Trust
After being last seen in the south of England in 1998, and declared extinct in 2000, the short-haired bumblebee (Bombus subterraneus) is going to be reintroduced, from stocks reimported from New Zealand. The project hopes to see the first bees released into the wild in 2010 or 2011, conservation group Natural England says:...
Does Human Nature Doom Bike Sharing Programs?
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 06. 1.09
TreeHugger loves Product Service Systems like bike sharing, which recognize that we really need to get from A to B rather than own the mode of transport. But as we learn from April and Kimberley's posts, even wildly successful programs like Paris's Vélib are suffering from very high, and very expensive rates of vandalism and theft. Are such systems doomed? Why is this happening? Our commenters had some thoughts:
...
Swine Flu Genes To Be Inserted In Corn, Making Vaccine Foods For Hogs & Humans
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 06. 1.09
Pig tail curl. Image credit:MatronOfHusbandry blog, "You got a good scald on that."
Iowa State University researchers are reported to be planning experimental insertion of 'swine flu vaccines' into the genetic makeup of corn. The idea is to allow pigs and humans to get a flu vaccination "simply by eating corn or corn products." So many questions come to mind about potential unintended consequences. It would be interesting to see whatever ethics or social responsibility evaluations of the proposed work may have been sent to the school's Plant Sciences Institute.
Lets suppose this research eventually demonstrates that the modified corn, when processed into a food, effectively creates human immunity to swine flu, and that the disease will not rapidly mutate (a questionable assumption). Given the track record at FDA, would Americans trust the Agency to evaluate the medical and environmental risks of selling such medically potent foods? Read on for quotes, and for more questions....
Jim Kunstler is an Optimist, Really.
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 06. 1.09
There is a movement in Ontario, Canada to preserve what is left of its older buildings, towns and cultural landscapes. Each year two organizations devoted to the cause, Community Heritage Ontario and the Architectural Conservancy of Ontario, get together to run a conference on a theme, this year being "Heritage in Creative Communities" in Peterborough, Ontario. The theme was set a year ago, and current economic events kind of overwhelmed it. Certainly if you invite James Howard Kunstler as the opening act, you know what the subject is going to be, and it ain't creativity....
"Bikers are a Pimple on the Butt" - AUTO Lobbyist (Video)
by Sami Grover, Carrboro, NC, USA on 06. 1.09
Maker Faire 09: The Bigger Picture of Remaking a Sustainable America
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 06. 1.09
The bigger theme behind this year's Maker Faire is an excellent one, and one that every TreeHugger can appreciate. The call is to remake America into a sustainable place to live, and thrive. And, wandering through the various booths and displays featuring the genius of so many people, it doesn't seem like an impossible goal at all. ...
Maker Faire 09: ISKME Teaches Kids to Design Sustainability Solutions
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 06. 1.09
The very first thing that caught my eye at Maker Faire was a wall of plants, hooked up to solar panels and a wind turbine, that pumped water into a fish pond. I had to stop and ask, and turns out, it's a project that hopes to spark the imaginations of middle and high school kids for creating a world of sustainable food production. Click through to check out the Sun Curve....
Maker Faire 09: The iFixit Global Repair Community
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 06. 1.09
What is Maker Faire without people encouraging others to fix their own gadgets, appliances, automobiles and, well, anything else they own? The iFixit Global Repair Community provided just such a resource, helping people learn how to fix just about anything. ...
Maker Faire 09: Greywater Systems Make A Great Hack
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 06. 1.09
In the Homegrown Village at Maker Faire 09, water thankfully received a decent amount of attention, especially when it comes to hacking your pipes to be more efficient at using greywater. This diagram shows how easy it can be to get water from your sinks and showers out to become irrigation water for your yard....
Maker Faire 09: No Shortage of DIY Garden Help
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 06. 1.09
Family Garden Patch provides materials for super fast, easy raised veggie beds. And they were just one of many in the Homegrown Village at Maker Faire 09 who want to help people DIY their way to sustainable living....
Put a (Wine) Cork in it!
by Pablo Paster, San Francisco on 06. 1.09
Image Source: CorkTruck.com
Dear Pablo: It seems that alternatives to traditional bottle corks are gaining in popularity but are they a more eco-friendly option?...Maker Faire 09: Resurrecting Fabric Giftwrap with Furoshiki
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 06. 1.09
Planet Finds had a Maker Faire booth showing off Wrap-Ti, a product that expands on the art of furoshiki, or gift wrapping with a piece of fabric. ...
Save Money at the Bank of Happiness
by Bonnie Alter, London on 06. 1.09
Image from banknotes.com
If you live in Estonia, you can soon save your money at the Bank of Happiness. What a wonderful name for a place that doesn't exist. It is an idea, not a building.
It's a virtual bank that will trade good deeds. A form of swapping of skills, a Craig's list for free. "Clients" register online, listing the things that they can do. The "bank" links them up via the net. But it's really a social philosophy; a new model for society and a way to encourage trust and ethics amongst countrymen. ...
New Laser Burns Hot as the Sun with Potential to Blast a Nation off the Map... or Power it Indefinitely!
by Eric Leech, New York, NY on 05.31.09
Photo via: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
A new laser currently being tested at the Department of Energy's Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory has caught the imagination of many scientists and critics. For one, it is one of the largest lasers ever to be developed. It takes up the space of a standard-sized stadium, housing 192 individual beams, each combining into one ultimate beam that is said to have the equivalent intensity and heat energy as the sun itself....
Downsizing Your Home: How Much Space Do You Really Need?
by Eric Leech, New York, NY on 05.31.09
The Smallest House in Great Britain, photo by ChicagoGeek
When was the last time you really thought about how much space you really need to be comfortable? 250... 500... 1,000... 2,000... 3,000 square feet. While many people are concerned about their lifestyle, what they eat, what they drive, some never even consider the wasteful space accompanied by their home....
Riding in Place to Fight Breast Cancer
by Neil Chambers, New York City on 05.31.09
Photo from City Coach
How would you react if you lost your mother to breast cancer? If you are Jonathan Cane, you'd organize a virtual-cross-country bicycle race in the storefront on one of Manhattan's busiest streets. ...
Clinton Foundation & USGBC Unveil "Climate Positive" Cities Initiative
by Jesse Fox, Tel Aviv, Israel on 05.31.09
Maker Faire 09: Books Are Not Dead
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 05.31.09
San Francisco's Center for the Book brought some of the old school printing know how to Maker Faire 09 to remind us all that while e-readers might be the buzz word, books are not dead. And with art like this behind them, they never will be....
Mechanical Animals to Terminate Poaching
by Josh Peterson, Los Angeles, California on 05.31.09
Photo: Tostie14 Via Flickr
If you would have told me three months ago that a robot turkey was a worthwhile invention, I would have argued with you. “No,” I would have said. “I’m not quite sure what turkeys do with their time, but I’m pretty sure that we don’t need to replicate it mechanically.” But I would have been wrong, wrong about the turkeys.
Game and Fish Departments across the United States have been using mechanical animals to snare poachers. Thousands of arrests are made each year with the help of robotic decoys.
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Maker Faire 09: SCRAP Puts Junk Back Into Craftster Consumer Stream
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 05.31.09
Wandering through the textiles section of Maker Faire 09, I saw a booth with bins of junk and a sign that said "Scrap." Turns out they weren't talking about the junk in the bins, but rather an operation that takes the trash from manufacturers and puts it back into the consumer stream via craftsters. ...
Maker Faire 09: Green Stuff I Wanted to Buy at Maker Shed
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 05.31.09
The Maker Shed at Maker Faire 09 had loads of very cool books, kits and gadgets, including quite a few green-themed items. Despite the fact that it would have been really fun to load up one of the cardboard shopping baskets and bring home solar gadget kits and geeky books, I reminded myself that I don't actually need any of these things and managed to resist. Instead, I took photos so that I could share them with you, because, well, maybe you need them! Check out my wish list of cool green stuff from Maker Shed. ...
Maker Faire 09: Dying Yarn with Solar Power
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 05.31.09
I couldn't resist stopping by a booth that had piles of squishy, gorgeously dyed yarn, especially when their sign boasted that the yarn is dyed with solar power. I had to find out just what that meant...and squish some yarn....
Maker Faire 09: Turning Book Scraps into Swag
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 05.31.09
Recently we TreeHuggers were talking about the big problem of swag at conferences and tradeshows. We brainstormed ways swag could be cut down or made sustainable while still getting businesses' messages across. It looks like one publisher is already on the ball. Some of the best swag found at Maker Faire was at the Quarry Books booth. They turned the scraps of their published books into new journals to give away....
Maker Faire 09: Cool Solar and Electric Bikes
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 05.31.09
Maker Faire is never a let-down when it comes to crazy modes of transportation. The faire featured a large section devoted to some pretty amazing bikes, not only built in interesting and cool ways, but also run off solar power or featuring electric hybrid capabilities. Here are a handful we thought were extra awesome. ...
Maker Faire 09: GoBe Solar Charger
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 05.31.09
Wandering through the Maker Fair expo, I came across this solar charger I hadn't heard of before. It's called GoBe, and looks like a great portable way to charge up some hefty devices, possibly even your laptop. ...
What Does ACES Mean for Forests?
by Daniel Kessler, San Francisco, California on 05.31.09
The Congo Basin via Wend Magazine
Much has been said and written about how ACES, the climate bill moving through Congress, will affect consumers, energy companies, and local utilities. But another crucial question is how the bill will affect the world's forests, the destruction of which accounts for 20 percent of global warming causing emissions. ...
Aquaponics Made Easy DVD (Video)
by Sami Grover, Carrboro, NC, USA on 05.31.09
Peepoople: Portable, Affordable Sanitation for Everybody
by Sami Grover, Carrboro, NC, USA on 05.31.09
Image credit: Peepoople
Hygenic, Biodegradable Single-use Toilets for the Developing World
It's no great secret that sanitation and clean drinking water are major challenges in much of the world. But, like the Life Straw or Freeplay's self-powered lights and radios, solutions don't always have to be high tech or expensive. In fact, they are often more effective when they are not. That's where Peepoople come in. The Swedish company has developed an affordable, biodegradable single use toilet bag that they claim could revolutionize sanitation for the developing world. Read on to find out more. ...
Chipotle Institutes Local Produce Program
by Sara Novak, Columbia, SC on 05.31.09
photo: Chipotle
If you’re visiting a destination where you can’t seem to find a sustainable bite, you might be in luck if there’s a Chipotle around the corner. Chipotle, which has in the past taken steps towards being a more ecologically responsible mega chain, has recently increased its local produce program. As you crunch into your massive vegetarian burrito, take solace in the fact that Chipotle has increased an already sizable local produce program by 10 percent....
Brian Dettmer's Solution for Recycling Cassette Tapes and Encyclopedia
by Christine Lepisto, Berlin on 05.31.09
Image: Andrew Huff, Flickr
Skull #11 ('80s Metal), 2006, by Brian Dettmer
Obsolescence. A leit-motif of our modern age is captured with grace and humor in the artwork of Brian Dettmer. Starting with once common but now superfluous items such as cassette tapes or Encyclopedia sets, Brian Dettmer creates new beauty. The mere concept of reformulating a dead media as a skeleton suffices, but Dettmer hones the message; as the viewer's eyes scan the warped words on each cassette, the titles drive the point home:...
May Eco-Tidbits from Turkey
by Jennifer Hattam, Istanbul, Turkey on 05.31.09
Turkey is creating incentives for solar development and exceeding fishing quotas. Photos by Jeremy Levine Design via Flickr (left) and Greenpeace.
Spring finally sprung this month in Istanbul, after what seemed like a long, wet winter. On the green front, the forecast was mostly sunny with some patches of gloom, as you'll see when we once again wrap up some of the month's environmental news from Turkey, developments that prompted reactions of both "süper" (yep, just like in English, but with an umlaut) and "maalesef" (unfortunately):...
Green Roofs Growing in US
by Roberta Cruger, Los Angeles on 05.31.09
Green Roof on Canada's MEC building. Photo via Flickr: by Pardraic
Green roofs have expanded by 35 percent over the last couple years, with more than 3.1 million square feet installed last year. Chicago leads the way in the U.S. with 534,507 square feet worth. That doesn’t seem like a lot considering green roofs are about to be law in Toronto, but it all starts adding up. Washington, D.C. comes in a close second with just over half-million square feet and New York follows with 359,000-square-feet of green roofing. So where’s your pea patch?
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TreeHugger breaks it down for you in a series of in depth how-to articles that will help you green your life. No time like the present!
Here are a few recommended websites.
