Eating Animals, Or What Not to Eat on Thanksgiving

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 12:08:00 GMT

Eating Animals, the new book by Jonathan Safran Foer (of Everything is Illuminated and Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close fame) takes a look at what it actually means to give up meat, take it out of our vocab and eliminate it from our most ~~gluttonous~~ popular, holiday traditions. If you've read The Jungle or Fast Food Nation, or any variety of farming-industry tell-alls, this is like a 2.0 version. Safran Foer attempts to look more closely at what it means to be human and change an entire way of thinking. Like John Mayer said, "We're never gonna beat this if belief is what we're fightin' for." Then again, apparently the book was powerful enough to turn Natalie Portman vegan. No kidding.... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Solar Birdhouse: Giving Birds the Edge Over Mother Nature

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 12:12:00 GMT

Image via: Ooms Sooo, birdhouses these days are made from a variety of materials: plastic, recycled plastic, composite, wood, reclaimed wood, recycled milk jugs, you get the picture. And, oftentimes birdhouses today come with upgrades and new gadgets, like lids and mesh to keep squirrels out or special compartments for different food types, etc etc. But, to be honest, birds have gotten along for years without manmade birdhouses and mother nature has gotten along just fine for all of these years without the need for electricity and it seems she was better off without it. Thank you, climate change. So why would birds need solar power on their homes? Is it to power the saunas in their birdbaths? Are we going to have to start monitoring the carbon footprint of our winged friends as they too enter the modern, digital, electrified age? ... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Create Your Own Custom Solar Car and Win $1,000 USD from Kia

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 11:05:00 GMT

Image via: Antenna Magazine Share Don't we wish it were that easy: Just go online, pick all the green attributes you want, and then pick up you own custom solar car the next week or month at a dealership. You could add solar panels, make it a plug-in, add a charging port for your iPod and make the dimensions just roomy enough for your family without requiring a special permit to park it in a normal parking space. Oh well, we can always dream. Now Kia wants you to dream big on their website by designing your own custom (solar) car for a chance to win $1,000USD.... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Can Consumption Do Something Good for the Planet?

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 17:56:00 GMT

Image via: Be True to Blue Share It's easy to harp on the big guys for creating massive big-box stores that sell massive piles of cheap products that ultimately end up in landfills. But let's be honest, from time to time we're still going to need to buy stuff and like it or not, sometimes those items come from chain or department stores. Action sports items in particular wear out just by virtue of the activity they are used for. When I spoke with Vipe Desai, founder of project BLUE this time last year, project BLUE was just getting started and there were big hopes that encouraging people to choose better products could ultimately raise money for conservation. Turns out, it worked!... Read the full story on TreeHugger

6 Solutions for California's Water Crisis and How We Can Help

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 15:29:00 GMT

Could this hidden object be the answer to California's prayers? Image via: M.Underwood As California completes its (ongoing) third year of drought, lawmakers are wondering what do we do? As the Sacramento - San Joaquin River Delta is under increasing pressure to supply not just the farmers to the east of San Francisco but also 23 million people in that area and in the very dry south, lawmakers are unsure what to do next. Popular Mechanics reports on six of the solutions the government's task force on the issue came up with to deal with California's water crisis of 2009 (and beyond). Turns out, while there are about 5 solutions being batted around the state legislature, late last week a bill by Sacramento Senate Pro-Tem Darrell Steinberg made its way to the top and is up for a possible vote this week. Yet, many of the recommendations are things homeowners and residents can and should be doing on their own. After each solution, we'll offer a few tips for how you can get involved and make it happen without waiting for a resolution.... Read the full story on TreeHugger

St. Paul, Minn. Vows to Cut Waste From Local Events in Half Within Two Years

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 12:54:00 GMT

If you've ever attended a Minnesota Wild game, gone to the RiverCentre Convention Center for a meeting or festival, seen a concert at the Roy Wilkins Auditorium, or been to a reception at 317 on Rice Park, then you've probably contributed to the more than 2.8 million pounds of waste that is generated each year in the city of St. Paul, Minn. In fact, a sustainability firm hired to consult on waste from these venues estimated that from 2007-2008 each visitor left behind roughly one pound of waste (including containers, cups, peanut shells, paper liners, napkins, straws, and on and on and on) on each visit; multiply that by thousands of guests, and that garbage starts to add up. But the city's event organizers plan to do something about it. They've taken a look at advances in recycling and composting, and have decided that they're going to make garbage a thing of the past, reports TwinCities.com.... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Turn Back Your Clock and Fan This Halloween for Better Energy Savings

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 16:24:00 GMT

Image via: Aussiboris on Flickr.com Share Did you hear that right? What does reversing the direction of your ceiling fan have anything to do with time or temperatures? Plus, you can turn your heater down too, but who wants to turn the heater down when temperatures are already falling? According to Hunter Fans, it can provide you with energy savings and a warmer home. And no, this isn't a Halloween trick.... Read the full story on TreeHugger

'Green Cities California' Helps Small Towns Adopt Environmental Regs Just Like the Big Boys

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 15:13:00 GMT

Image via: Mike G. K. on Flickr.com Share California has long been on the forefront or cutting edge of green policies and initiatives. Not to say other cities and states aren't making a difference, but on sheer population alone California has a major impact on the rest of the nation and the globe based on what it decides to do. Smaller cities and towns trying to do what major Californian cities do often have a hard time because they don't have the staff or resources. Green Cities California aims to change all of that by providing everything a small (or large) town needs to get environmental regulations passed.... Read the full story on TreeHugger

California Will Pay For Your Old Appliances, Just As Soon As DOE Gives Approval

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 13:36:00 GMT

Image via: harthillsouth on Flickr.com Share We reported earlier this year that the US is planning on giving out stimulus funds for a "Cash for...Refrigerators" program and now California is ready to launch their own. The Sacramento Bee reports that California is hoping to get the three most notorious, clunky appliances off the streets and put cash back in consumers hands to purchase Energy Star efficient appliances. ... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Guide to Good Grub in Minneapolis - St. Paul

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 17:00:00 GMT

Image via: Mr Luke Harby on Flickr.com Share Do you have to slide on your values when you want to eat a nice meal out on the town? Are you in a smaller town and figure there's not much but fast food around you? How do you find a restaurant that is able to purchase local, fresh food when your city is 3 feet under snow? Do restaurants these days compost? And of course, how are workers treated? These are among the 14 items included in Heavy Table's Atlas of Ethical Eating Guide to Minneapolis - St Paul restaurants, now available. The Atlas is not just a guide to good eating but a celebration of all things local in Minneapolis - St Paul.... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Now You See It, Now You Don't: Safety Scarf for Cyclists

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 15:42:00 GMT

Image via: Dave Newkirk Now with the drop in temperatures for places in the northern hemisphere, cyclists are going to need more layers and also more reflective gear as the sun goes down earlier and earlier. RF-Scarf now makes a scarf that comes in a sleek, black material that when exposed to bright light "magically" becomes reflective. It's a perfect accessory for walking commuters too.... Read the full story on TreeHugger

UNC and Duke Energy to Build Offshore Wind Turbines, Despite State's Plan to Ban Them From Mountaintops (Updated)

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 15:18:00 GMT

Is a Storm Brewing in North Carolina? Image via: Inhabitat Share The University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill (UNC) isn't dismayed by reports of other states having a tough go at getting mountaintop wind turbines approved. In fact, they weren't even dismayed when their own state of North Carolina announced earlier this year that they just might ban wind turbines for the state just for being ugly, and no we're not kidding. Those Tar Heels are taking it all in stride and working with Duke Energy to get wind turbines installed just off the coast, reports UNC News. ... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Rare Black Bear Quintuplets Caught on Film!!

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 14:23:00 GMT

Image via: Tom Sears It looked like on of those sappy, hokey forwards when I opened the email about black bear quintuplets. Yeah sure, I thought, and now if I don't pass this email along to 50 of my best friends, I'll have bad luck breathing down my neck, right? Or I'll sprout wings and fly away. Well turns out the photographer Tom Sears does exist, and so do all 6 bears, a real rare find indeed.... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Nike Strategizes on Deep Green Future

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 21:30:00 GMT

Green is the new black at Nike. Image via: LogoDesignGuru At the Pop!Tech Conference this year, one thing to come out of the event are the new Labs that Pop!Tech will be holding to find solutions to many of today's resource use 'issues.' Nike was first with their hand up, asking for help on finding a way to make shoes and other items keep running for miles and miles without the need for new resources. Pop!Tech said they accepted that challenge and will get on it right away.... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Buy CFLs for Less Than $1USD in Sacramento

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 21:00:00 GMT

Image via: LiveGreenTwinCities You want to do the right thing, but as we've all heard, it's not always easy being green. In fact, just last month Matthew reported on the sharp decline in CFL sales. To encourage energy efficiency and lower utility bills, especially during those hot Sacramento summers, the local utility SMUD is now partnering with area retailers to offer compact fluorescent light bulbs for sale for just .99 USD. ... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Would You Drink Bottled Water If It Came in a Recyclable Paper Container?

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 20:31:00 GMT

Image via: One Drink at a Time Share There are many reasons that the hair on the back of your neck might stand up when someone says the words bottled water - all that wasted plastic, the people harmed in the making of said plastic, the communities 'losing' their water when it is bottled. But, sometimes you need portable water containers. (Okay, we admit that there are alternatives, but what if?) If that container was made from recycled paper instead, would you drink bottled water then?... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Move to Braddock, PA And Afford the Life You Always Wanted, Or Why Small Towns Are Best

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 19:44:00 GMT

Image via: john_fobes on Flickr.com For all of you struggling out there under hard times, this is for you. For anyone with a dream to quit their job and open up their storefront but can't do that due to finances, listen up. The Mayor of Braddock, PA wants you to know you can have all that and more, if you move to his city, reports the New York Times.... Read the full story on TreeHugger

CrowBox Wants You to Train Crows To Clean the Planet. Seriously.

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 18:21:00 GMT

How much do you actually know about crows? Other than they are loud and sit on the tops of trees and make a bunch of noise? They always seem to lurk around and stare you in the eye a little too long for comfort, right? Well, turns out they are much smarter than you might think, and they may even be one solution to our garbage problem. Inventor Josh Klein started doing experiments in 2008 showing that you could train crows to use a vending machine, and not just that, but that they were smart enough to pass the training on to each other. Knowing this, how can we use crows to our advantage instead of just seeing them as local pests or flying rats? ... Read the full story on TreeHugger

The Sexiest Solar iPhone Charger by Regen

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 16:08:00 GMT

Image via: Earthtechling The sleek design of the Regen ReNu offers customers a solar panel charger, that looks like well a solar panel, but also looks like it would blend into the background of a modern, chic, loft apartment. Styled similar to many iProduct docking stations, the Regen ReNu can recharge a variety of electronic gadgets and get several charges off of one battery. But will it be available in time for the holiday rush?... Read the full story on TreeHugger

One Man, One Mission, And 12,000km On a Bike

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 15:46:00 GMT

Image via: 12000km What started out as a four month mission on a bicycle to raise awareness about climate change, has turned into a lucrative fundraising endeavor as well as a visual documentary about the environment in South America. Ryan Stotland, self-confessed TreeHugger fan, decided to take four months this fall and travel roughly 12,000km around South America to raise money for Climate Change and Cancer Research, as well as just see if he could do it. What is it with kids these days, first a 23 year old wants to spend 3 years on a bike raising awareness about climate change and now a 22 year old spend 4 months on a bike for climate change. ... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Suzuki Unveils First Fuel Cell Scooter, Will Hit Market in Few Months

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 17:48:00 GMT

Image via: EV WORLDwire The Bergman scooter launched this week at the Tokyo Motor Show and announced that it will be available globally within the next few months. There are still quite a few unanswered questions, like how much it will retail for, just who will be allowed to get one and whether they will come in any flashy colors. But, for those living in cities with hydrogen refueling stations, these silent scooters are exciting news.... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Can't Land a Green Job? Create Your Own

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 17:24:00 GMT

Image via: Franchisingexpo Created partly in response to the flailing economy and partly in response to this new revival in all things relating to green and stimulus, the LiveandLove.TV network interviews and profiles green entrepreneurs in all shapes and sizes. Want to learn how to grow your own commercial scale mushrooms? Just tune in. How about what it takes to make your own organic lemonade stand? Yep, they've got that too. Many of these jobs seem so romantic and idyllic, but what is the reality of running your own organic farmers market? LifeandLove.tv will show you now.... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Plant Your Own Carbon Offsets With WCAFI Tree Kits

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 14:18:00 GMT

Image via: WCAFI Okay, so its not a one to one match to offset your emissions, but for every tree kit you purchase from the World Clean Air Forest Initiative, they will also plant a tree to match your tree. This two for one sale on trees has one goal, according to WCFAI, clean the air with more trees and they're not going to rest until you purchase and plant a tree, or at least let them plant one for you. Plus, they make great stocking stuffers or easy, cheap gifts.... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Hydropower Not Likely Under New Climate Future

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 13:29:00 GMT

Image via: Alaska in Pictures Countries that have built dams as part of their "clean" energy future may have to rethink that future, thanks to climate change. As glaciers are melting faster and faster, the water just isn't there. In Peru, Ecuador, Bolivia and Colombia, the UN IPCC has already identified the "the lack of water for hydropower as 'critical.'" Reuters reports that rapidly declining glaciers around the world may mean an end to hydropower and major changes for the more than one billion people who live in areas fed by glaciers. ... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Capture Sustainability on Film, Send to Rainforest Alliance, Win Trip to Costa Rica

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 16:48:00 GMT

2008 Contest Winning Image. Image via: Rainforest Alliance Seems like these eco-photo/video contests and climate change solution contests are popping up more and more these days. Maybe that improves your odds of winning...maybe. Well, if you have a good eye for photography or just fancy yourself a shutterbug, why not try your luck at the annual Rainforest Alliance "Picture Sustainability" contest. But you have to hurry, the contest ends soon.... Read the full story on TreeHugger

WaterGeeks New Stainless Steel, BPA-Free, Filtered Water Bottles Makes Great Stocking Stuffer

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 16:04:00 GMT

Image via: WaterGeeks This past summer, Jaymi tested a couple of filtered water bottle options and filtered them out based on price, functionality and even complexity of ingredients found in the filter. Now, WaterGeeks throws their hat in the ring with a stainless steel version of these self-filtering water bottles, but can you take it with you wherever you go?... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Earthship Makes Landfall in Nicaragua, Builds Home Out of Tires

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 15:17:00 GMT

Image via: Jessica Dore In the San Juan Del Sur region of Nicaragua, the famed Earthship crew, along with 13 Nicaraguans from the local community, created the start of what will be entirely off-grid, sustainable community, titled Casa Llanta ("Tire House"). This is the first Earthship in Nicaragua and tipster Jessica Dore sent in her thoughts and impressions from her trip to this futuristic community.... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Go See Tapped Tonite and Find Out How Sacramento's Municipal Water is Under Attack

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 14:43:00 GMT

We reported a few weeks ago that water bottling giant Nestle plants to build a water bottling plant in Sacramento by the end of this year. While building another water bottling plant seems like a waste of space and resources, after attending an initial community meeting we find out that the project is even more wicked than initially assumed. This week you can support efforts to wrestle Nestle out of Sacramento by heading to the Crest Theater to see Tapped.... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Michigan: Eliminating 90% of Mercury Emissions by 2015

Tue, 20 Oct 2009 17:33:00 GMT

Image via: Sentrawoods on Flickr.com After many years of hoping and waiting for this day, the Michigan government has finally finalized regulations effectively reducing mercury emissions from power plants to 90% below 1999 by 2015, reports the Associated Press. The Great Lakes (and all of their inhabitants) can now take a huge sigh of relief, as can area Michigan children.... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Largest Thin-Film Cylindrical Solar Array West of New Jersey Built at Plastics Manufacturing Plant

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 17:10:00 GMT

Recycled plastic can be turned into just about anything these days, and while it still gets a bad rep as a green product, now it's being produced with the help of solar power, making it just a little bit greener. In what is the largest construction of a thin film cylindrical solar system, Plastic Package Inc wants to make some of the greenest recycled plastic products on the market. ... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Recent Posts by TreeHugger's Kristin Underwood, Sacramento, CA