TreeHugger and DISQUS: Make Your Voice Heard!

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 08:10:52 GMT

Greetings Commenters! One of the things we like most about TreeHugger is having frank and open discussions regarding the issues that we cover. We like to publish differing opinions and have heated debates, but we've found in the past that the amount of spam we received, plus the comments that were less than civil, required a fair amount of moderation, which often stymied discussion when the iron was hot. To fix that we've recently switched from our old commenting system to a new platform called Disqus. Our new commenting platform allows all comments to go right through and skip moderation, which means that we rely on our audience more than ever to ensure they post comments which are civil and add to the discussion. If you see a comment that is rude, not topical, or perhaps might be spam, please take a moment to flag that comment. Flagged comments go into moderation, where we will then review them. However, just because a commentor may disagree with your stance on things, doesn't mean you should just flag it. *One caveat is if your comment has a URL in it, it will automatically go into moderation, so keep in mind that may slow publishing your comment.... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Cool Whip Guilt, Elephant Wars, and Michael Pollan (Sexist Pig)

Wed, 19 Aug 2009 06:00:13 GMT

Image Credit: kalleboo Editors Note: Each week we'll be bringing you some of the best from Blogher.org, the leading participatory news, entertainment and information network for women online. So It's Not Whole Food. Get Over It. Cool Whip. Miracle Whip. Rice Krispie Treats: Food bloggers confess their guilty processed-food pleasures. Michael Pollan: Sexist Pig (but Sustainable) His save-the-planet eater's manifesto is just fine, but Suzanne Reisman's got an (organic, grass-fed) beef with "Omnivore's Dilemma" author Pollan. Is he seriously blaming feminism for America's food issues? Seriously? BEES! In Paris!! Even honeybees love Paris in the summer -- suddenly they're everywhere from the Champs Elysees to the Eiffel Tower. And the people of Paris, zey adore zair bees. Who's behind the city's new hive mind? Hand Sewing Is Zen Deb Roby on how sewing by hand can bring you into a magic, calming rhythm -- AND fulfill all those latent "Little House on the Prairie" fantasies. Drinks to cool you and the planet Give up bottled water, soda, and grape drink? But how will I stay hydrated during the dog days of summer? Beth Terry figured it out so you don't have to. Elephant Wars The Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey is coming to Cliz Biz' town with colorful flyers for its latest show, "Zing Zang Zoom." Wholesome and festive, right? Not if you believe the damning video released by PETA in which trainers whip elephants and scream, "F**k you, fat ass!"... Read the full story on TreeHugger

It's Okay To Eat Moldy Food. Sorta. Kinda.

Tue, 18 Aug 2009 15:03:14 GMT

Image Credit: Logan Sakai When I was young, the Frito Lay driver in our neighborhood would give us kids all the expired goodies from his truck for free. Wish I had had this guide to moldy food safety. Newspapers are almost out of business. That's sad. The good news is at least we'll have newspaper gardens. If you like bees click here. If you don't like bees click here. The cold war is over, but the legacy lives on. Wanna peek inside a Titan 1 Missile Silo? It ain't no jetpack, but finally we have our driverless cars of the future. Review: GMT Solar Lantern...the verdict? There's nothing cooler than a butterfly, unless perhaps it is a steampunk butterfly.... Read the full story on TreeHugger

WTF? Vandals Destroy Portland Community Gardens

Thu, 13 Aug 2009 12:27:28 GMT

From OregonLive:

Early this spring, Edith Gillis jumped at the chance to tend a community garden plot with her neighbors. Their Earl Boyles Community Garden was a verdant oasis in the heart of the struggling Powellhurst-Gilbert neighborhood. Each of the 16 garden plots tucked in the shadow of Kelly Butte in Southeast Portland was snapped up almost immediately and became bountiful, thriving monuments to summer. But Gillis arrived at 6 a.m. Wednesday to find half the gardens leveled by vandals. "I felt like I had been kicked in the stomach," said Gillis, a mother of two. "I can't afford to buy this food at a grocery store."

... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Ed Begley's Forum: Hand dryer or towels?

Tue, 11 Aug 2009 12:34:35 GMT

RStepanov asks:

Hello Ed (& Readers), I heard that you installed a hand blower/dryer in your home. I was curious what kind of benefits you have noticed. I know many people that use PAPER towels to dry their hands in the kitchen and sometimes even in the bathroom of their own home! I'm stumped. I use organic, cotton hand towels that I wash with biodegradable laundry detergent and air dry on a clothesline. I realize that by using a hand dryer you can save a lot of paper, but is it really better than what I'm doing? I welcome any reader feedback and am curious what everyone else is doing.

Ed's answer (be sure to leave your own) can be found here.... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Apple's New Headphones Made From Coconuts? Also, the Apocalypse is Upon Us!

Wed, 05 Aug 2009 16:32:00 GMT

The end is nigh, so be quick and choose your own apocalypse! Giant...humongous...immense...crazy large jellyfish invade japan! Godzilla mobilized! Seriously...check this out. Coconut Headphones. You heard right. Headphones...made from coconuts! Is this a sign of things to come from Cupertino? Probably not. One can dream though. The singularly most amazing climbing video ever seen...no ropes, no protection. Is this sane?... Read the full story on TreeHugger

From the Forums: What to Do With Wasted Paper?

Mon, 20 Jul 2009 12:00:23 GMT

Image Credit: maha-online durden3eb asks:

I work for a company that is set to change their logo in August, which will generate THOUSANDS of pages of wasted paper, wasted business cards, etc. I'm wondering what can be done with all this paper other than recycling that would be good for the environment and the company. Does anyone know of any charity organizations that take old company letterhead? Or can paper be used for insulation and potentially be sold to a company? I'm looking for any good ideas so I can bring it to management before they either throw out the hundreds of pounds of paper ... hopefully everything will be recycled, but I want to make sure!

Got Ideas? Post them here.... Read the full story on TreeHugger

From the Forums: Should I Cut Down My Tree?

Fri, 17 Jul 2009 12:03:12 GMT

Image Credit: quinnanya Rr_Salamander:

A couple days ago, my neighbor told me that the tree which I thought we shared was really on my property and that it was a "trash tree" (a Mulberry tree). He suggested I cut it down. Here's my weighing of the issue: To cut: 1. My nieghbor said the roots will / do interfere with hss sewer lines and he'll have to put poison down into the ground to prevent that. That seems bad. 2. I could plant a non-'trash tree" that might increase property value. Of course, I'd use native trees. Or not to cut: 1. I don't want to cut down trees--I think they're all valuable and there's no such thing as a "trash tree." 2. Even if I do plant another in its place, it'll take forever to grow, leaving my yard shadeless.

Do you have some advice?... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Incubus and the Santa Barbara Bowl Go(at) Green

Fri, 17 Jul 2009 08:00:29 GMT

Images by Larry Mills Last week, Grammy Award Nominated band Incubus and the Santa Barbara Bowl took some very cool steps to reduce their carbon footprint with three new programs. Land Fill Reduction Bicycle Valet And Goats Yes Goats.... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Best of Boing Boing: Greener Golfing, Your Eco Budget, Kenyan Extreme Recycling

Thu, 16 Jul 2009 11:40:32 GMT

Each week we're bringing you some of our favorite posts from our friends over on the Boing Boing blog. Enjoy! Greener Golfing If you are going to participate in a sport where about the only thing green are the greens, then at least you might want to look into the cyclists golf caddy. We Love DIY Home Automation Kenyan Simon Mwaura recycles electronics to build the ultimate DIY home automation.You gotta see this! Could We Green Our Spending? Wonder where your money goes each year? Well it isn't a very green picture. The average American has 2 cars and spends 17.6% towards transportation (4.8% of that is gasoline and oil), 5.4% of your food is being eaten outside the house. We spend almost the same amount on entertainment as healthcare, and our retirement savings is about 5% more than our entertainment budget. Check out the awesome infographic. The iPod Nano That Could! Don't just throw things away...iPod Nano emerges victorious from the wash! Looking Snazzy in a Small Space Finally, you know at TreeHugger we love small spaces. Small spaces require great design, and multifunction products are the best products to have. Behold the full length mirror that doubles as an ironing board.... Read the full story on TreeHugger

From the Forums: Alternative to Balloons

Wed, 15 Jul 2009 14:09:23 GMT

Image credit: hojusaram A forum member asks:

I am looking for an alternative to balloons. The environmental implication of the latex and how the helium is made is a problem at our store. My boss however sees our competitors passing out balloons to kids and doesn't want to lose out on that draw. So I am looking for an alternative to balloons that we could pass out to kids that won't break the budget much more then balloons would. Any suggestions would be great.

Personally I think ice cream is better than a balloon! Any Suggestions?... Read the full story on TreeHugger

From the Forums: What to Do With Cat Litter?

Tue, 14 Jul 2009 14:20:10 GMT

Image Credit: Napoleon 70 Recyclegrl asks:

I use World's Best Cat Litter which is a natural cat litter made of corn. I use an automatic box, and I use Wal-mart plastic shopping bags to catch the waste. I throw the bags full of waste into the trash. I was wondering if there was a better way to dispose of this. The litter is biodegradable, but the bags aren't.

Good discussion...who else has an answer?... Read the full story on TreeHugger

From The Forums: Best Green Deodorants

Mon, 13 Jul 2009 14:00:05 GMT

Image Credit: quinn.anya redambrosia99 wants to know:

So, I would like people's recommendations/reviews of various organic deodorants. I've looked at all the companies on the Fakers List, but I wanted to know what people thought of the products if you've used any. I don't have a store I can buy any of these at around here, otherwise I'd just go there and sniff till I found one my nose liked.

Have some suggestions?... Read the full story on TreeHugger

From Ed's Forum: Dishwashing Dilemma

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 11:02:55 GMT

curryz: On one episode, Ed mentioned that using the dishwasher rather than washing the dishes in the sink was better for two reasons. First, the energy used came from his solar panel and second, the dishwasher uses less water than what a human being would use. Sounds right. On the episode where he and his lovely wife were replacing the counter top in their kitchen, his wife is shown washing the dishes in the bathroom sink and she said, if I'm not mistaken, washing the dishes in the sink uses less water. Was she mistaken? Did I just get it wrong?

Wow, people really pay attention to TV shows. Has Ed been caught? Does he have an answer for this? Is there a dishwasher/sink conspiracy? No, but you can read Ed's response here.... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Announcing Ed Begley Jr's New Forum on TreeHugger

Wed, 08 Jul 2009 12:30:46 GMT

If you are anything like me you, can't get enough of that lovable eco-icon Ed Begley Jr. I've met Ed and seen his house in person, and he's the real deal. Hey, we even went out to lunch and walked a mile or so in the 110o LA sun to get vegan Thai. Is this guy dedicated or what? Well if you've ever wanted to know more about Ed, his lifestyle, or his ideas, we're happy to announce a new forum here on TreeHugger dedicated to the man himself. And when I say dedicated, I am not referring to a community where we just talk about Ed...no, this forum is a place where you can actually talk to Ed. That's right, he's participating in the new forum personally. And we're giving some stuff away!... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Gnomedex: Code for Green and Win Green

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 11:50:52 GMT

Image Credit: wetwebwork Are you a programmer? Working on a green project? Want to win $10k? How about $100 off a Gnomedex ticket? Betsy Aoki, Program Manager, Bing:

The Bing team, in partnership with the awesome Gnomedex conference, is sponsoring a developer contest called Code for Green that we hope will make a difference to the economy (Green = Money) and the Earth's ecology (Green = Environment) long after the contest is over. To reinforce the green theme, the five winning developers will be rewarded with cash: -$10,000 and a $100 Bizspark membership for each winner in the two categories -$3,000 and a $100 Bizspark membership for three finalists

... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Discuss: When Bees Are Outlawed Only Outlaws Will Have Bees

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 11:06:46 GMT

Image Credit: Indigo Goat dballisonnyc informs us that it is illegal within the city limits of NYC to keep bees:

It sounds like dozens of people are risking huge fines for the privelige though. Neighbors are bought off with jars of honey and the city benefits. Wish that was true whenever someone broke the law.

Gotham City Honey Co-op is working to change that:

...you can see that even the White House now has a beehive to pollinate their garden...If the Department of Homeland Security, the Secret Service, and the US Park Police can all agree that honey bees pose no threat to the occupants of the best-protected residence in the country, perhaps New York City can agree.

There's a good discussion and a petition going on. Drop in and show your support.... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Instructables Earthjustice Efficiency Winners Announced

Tue, 09 Jun 2009 11:12:34 GMT

Instructables and Earthjustice are happy to announce the winners of the Earthjustice United States of Efficiency Contest! We asked you to provide Instructables in the name of energy efficiency and the outpouring of ideas was fantastic! Thank you all for submitting your entries. Some of the biggest ideas are also the smallest and the grand prize winner is all about providing power for an iPhone or iPod wherever the sun is shining. With such an appealing idea it has already sparked a lot of discussion from others who have recreated the Instructable and made their own modifications to it. We hope that the idea continues far into the future.

More Winners After the Jump... Read the full story on TreeHugger

The One Ouch Kids Will Love!

Thu, 21 May 2009 09:00:08 GMT

There are a lot of kids books out there. There are a lot of environmental kids books out there. But there aren't many quite like Steampotville, by Steve Ouch (pronounced as expected). Without being preachy or over the top, Steampotville takes readers on a fantastical journey where animals repurpose our junk into a world of fun yet absurd perspectives, that definitely challenge the way you might look at the world...or...um, their world. Then again what would you expect from a UN Arabic translator, truck driver, pumpkin picker, marketing director, English teacher, cabbie, Victoria Secret bra salesman, farmer, designer and artist?... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Ed and Rachelle Begley on Oprah Tomorrow

Tue, 28 Apr 2009 16:54:47 GMT

Tomorrow, Wed April 29th, Ed Begley Jr. and his wife Rachelle will be appearing on the Oprah Winfrey show. Oprah will be interviewing Rachelle in studio while Ed gives a tour of their home via Skype. I've been lucky enough to tour the house myself, so DO NOT MISS IT! Be sure to check your local listings for show times and don't forget to set the DVR. ... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Ed Begley Jr. On QVC This Earth Day

Tue, 21 Apr 2009 17:10:57 GMT

Ed Begley, Jr., star of the award-winning hit series "Living with Ed" and author of "Living Like Ed: A Guide to the Eco-Friendly Life," is scheduled to make his QVC debut this Earth Day at 7 PM (ET) and 10 PM (ET), to demonstrate and share ways to reduce impact on the planet. ---- I had lunch with Ed yesterday and I have to say he's the real deal. As many times as he's talked about the environment, he just never gets tired of sharing his thoughts and passion about making a better planet. So check it out and help the economy at the same time.... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Hayden Begley and Green Kids on Nick News

Sat, 18 Apr 2009 06:53:32 GMT

Ed Begley Jr. with his daughter Hayden When you think of Nickelodeon and the word "green," your first thought might be slime, however this Sunday at 9pm (EST/PST) Nick News is taking a look at kids who are living in energy efficient households. Called "A Kid Off the Grid," Linda Ellerbee will be exploring a number of households around the nation whose kids are truly part of the solution and not the problem. One of our favorites, Ed Begley Jr., will be showing up with his adorable daughter Hayden. She'll talk about what it's like being a kid living in a home where:

you get your energy from solar panels, recycle, use biodegradable soaps and detergents, and grow your own vegetables. Hayden says, "It's our responsibility to protect the environment because we are the people of the world."

Very true...maybe we need a show on Nick called, "Living With Hayden." Also featured on "A Kid Off The Grid"... Read the full story on TreeHugger

What Are Your Favorite Green Documentaries?

Tue, 14 Apr 2009 10:17:08 GMT

If I were asked what my favorite environmental movie was it would likely be a tie between "The Real Dirt on Farmer John" and "Who Killed the Electric Car." But what about you? ... Read the full story on TreeHugger

TreeHugger Becomes Ford Fiesta Agent

Thu, 09 Apr 2009 10:49:31 GMT

My new car With the global economy in shambles, fuel prices likely to increase with demand, and automakers searching for the holy grail that will pull their fat from the fire, bailout-free Ford is trying something the Big Three should have done a long time ago, looking overseas for some inspiration. Next year, Ford is bringing the extremely popular fuel-sipping (German-built) Fiesta stateside. But before that happens they decided to run an online contest to giveaway 100 Fiestas to drive for 6 Months as a social media buzz generator. I entered the contest and was selected as a "Fiesta Agent" from over 4,000 video entries via YouTube. My winning video and story after the jump...... Read the full story on TreeHugger

From the Forums: What are you doing for Earth Hour?

Thu, 26 Mar 2009 18:54:15 GMT

Earth Hour is this Saturday at 8:30 pm. Wherever you are, turn off your lights as a vote for the Earth. The question I'm asking is what will you be doing during that hour? I've got my home automation system already set up to cut the power to our house automagically.. I'm shooting for a late romantic dinner. You? Post your ideas here.... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Questions for Ed Begley, Jr.

Wed, 18 Mar 2009 14:55:35 GMT

Do you have questions for Ed that simply must be answered? Do you want to know more about composting, solar, wind, water...or do you want to know more behind the scenes stuff about his home or transportation? TreeHugger is doing an interview soon with Ed and we'd like to know what your burning questions are? Ask them here and we'll pass them along. Post Here: No Account Required... Read the full story on TreeHugger

From the Forums: Programming Your Thermostat

Wed, 04 Feb 2009 12:36:03 GMT

camerson wants to know:

Is there a good way to determine how I should program my thermostat for maximum efficiency? I've only had my new thermostat for about 6 months but I'm not sure I can see a real difference.

My wife and I both work at home. During the day we keep the heat at about 68o. After 6pm we like to snuggle at about 71o, but we only heat the living room/kitchen via the gas fireplace about that time. At night we crawl into a warm electric blanket and the thermostat turns down to about 62o at 10pm (as low as 55o in early/late winter). The simple act of lowering the thermostat for 8 hours at night can save you 1%-3% in energy for every degree you drop. Turning your thermostat from 72o to 65o eight hours a day can save as much as 10% on your annual heating costs. What do you do?... Read the full story on TreeHugger

From the Forums: Meat Tax?

Mon, 02 Feb 2009 12:45:58 GMT

Image Credit: prettywar-stl Member Rick Wild is asking if since many are for taxes that discourage behaviors that produce carbon and pollution, does it then make sense for a tax on meat products?

This would shift some of the cost of pollution to the people who cause it, very much like the gasoline tax.

A delicious debate...so dive in! Comment... Read the full story on TreeHugger

From the Forums: Home Audits Worth It?

Thu, 22 Jan 2009 12:30:06 GMT

Image Credit: kierkier EcoIL asks:

Hey all, been lurking and reading for a couple of months, decided to join this great group. Anyone do a home energy audit with the blower door test and infrared scan? In my area its $300 for both and for $50 the will come back and retest after you do improvements. My house is a ranch built in 1996. Wondering if it's worth it or should I spend the money on additional insulation in the ceiling, and diy spray foam of the sill plate cavity's in the basement (really leaky , stuffed it full of insulation last winter).

Thoughts? ... Read the full story on TreeHugger

From the Forums: Save Energy with Motion Detectors

Wed, 21 Jan 2009 12:02:56 GMT

Let's face it, one of the biggest energy wasters is lighting rooms or closets that no one is using. It is really easy to turn on a light, walk away, and forget it for hours. That's energy and money gone. One way to combat this is by using a motion detector to ensure that you only light a room when someone is in it. In the forums we've got a new Home Automation HowTo tutorial on setting up a basic system (along with some advanced ideas as well). Read More ... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Recent Posts by TreeHugger's Alan Graham, Portland, Oregon