LIME: "Walking, Talking Toxic Waste Dumps"

Mon, 29 May 2006 12:30:45 GMT

The news is in for 10 residents of Washington state, who volunteered themselves last year as guinea pigs in a toxic chemical study. They gave samples of hair, blood, and urine, which were examined by the Washington Toxics Coalition. And, according to an article in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer - one of several publications that reported on the results - "their levels of phthalates (found in such diverse products as shower curtains and fragrances), PBDEs (found in flame retardants, mattresses and furniture), mercury, pesticides, lead and other chemicals were high enough to make both scientists and subjects sit up and take notice." The paper's headline read, "We're walking, talking toxic waste dumps."... Read the full story on TreeHugger

LIME: Green Building: Apparently Sexy

Mon, 22 May 2006 13:17:07 GMT

Sure, we greenies can sit around in our solar-powered cafes talking about straw bale this and graywater that. But when a mongo trade group like the National Association of Home Builders says green is the new sexy, you know something big is afoot. Maybe it's no wonder, then, that a recent survey by the NAHB and McGraw Hill Construction, which publishes construction industry news and analysis, found a 20 percent increase in 2005 in the number of builders focusing on green materials and practices. They're predicting another 30 percent increase for 2006, growing to a $38 billion green-building industry by 2010. Hoping, of course, to jump on the Lime-like bandwagon, McGraw Hill recently launched a new sustainability-centered web site for architects, builders, designers and the like called GreenSource. (No word on whether there'll be a sexy green personals site as well.) If you don't own your own drafting table or hardhat, here's a list of green building programs by community. [by Philip Higgs, Syndicated from the Planet section of LIME ]... Read the full story on TreeHugger

LIME: The Green Room

Sun, 14 May 2006 12:31:02 GMT

Looks like Leonardo DiCaprio's mother is going to be a little bit lonely today. DiCaprio, perhaps Mother Earth's favorite son, intends to spend the day planting trees with the Los Angeles based group TreePeople. "We're helping reforest the decimated Southern California mountains. It's time to do what we can for the planet," says DiCaprio. Additionally, his global warming film, The 11th Hour, is slated to come out this fall. He's also rumored to be attached to a biopic about American conservationist President Theodore Roosevelt. Hopefully Mama DiCaprio has somebody else to go to brunch with...... Read the full story on TreeHugger

LIME: A Book for Those Who Will Live It

Wed, 10 May 2006 12:21:02 GMT

Though global warming's impacts are already beginning to be visible in many places, the real impacts will likely come decades from now. Which is one reason why New York Times science writer Andrew Revkin decided to pen a book for the audience who will be most affected: today's kids. The North Pole Was Here: Puzzles and Perils at the Top of the World follows climate scientists trying to understand the future of the North Pole and the planet itself.... Read the full story on TreeHugger

LIME: Ford Wants to Help You Buy a Hybrid

Thu, 13 Apr 2006 14:19:45 GMT

Ford recently announced that it was offering five-year, interest-free loans on its Escape Hybrid after seeing a double-digit sales jump in a month-long trial run of the deal in Washington, D.C. and California. While the 36-mpg-averaging Escape Hybrid is no Prius, Ford's willingness to forego a chunk of profit (financing is one of Ford's major revenue sources) and Americans' interest in jumping on the hybrid bandwagon are promising signs: 1,441 Escape Hybrids were sold in March alone.... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Lime: From One Mustang to Another

Fri, 07 Apr 2006 15:40:36 GMT

Ford, longtime maker of Mustang sports cars, has taken an interest in another kind of mustang: the wild ones. The company raised more than $200,000 to help save wild horses from the slaughterhouse, where many of them could end up as a result of federal policies. The money will go to animal rescue groups to buy the horses and provide for their long-term care.... Read the full story on TreeHugger

LIME: Meet Rick Cook, Beau Ideal of Green Architects

Fri, 24 Mar 2006 15:35:16 GMT

Of the many rising stars in the field of green architecture, Richard Cook is arguably the brightest. He has a theoretical rigor and passion for sustainability on par with William McDonough. He has the design ingenuity of Frank Gehry. So it's not surprising that Cook is quickly making his name known among the vanguard of 21st century architects.... Read the full story on TreeHugger

LIME: Troubled Waters

Tue, 21 Mar 2006 11:43:07 GMT

Byproducts of two antibiotics and a substance used in medical imaging have turned up in wastewater treatement plants in Buffalo, heightening concern over how the products we use and consume are affecting the health and safety of our watersheds. The presence of antibiotics in the water system could impact antibiotic resistance.... Read the full story on TreeHugger

LIME: Powering Seattle with Leftovers

Wed, 01 Mar 2006 10:23:07 GMT

Alternative energy is on the radar today in the Pacific Northwest, as well as in Nevada. A new study found that half of Washington's energy supply could be provided by converting the state's organic waste into energy. The study, reported in The Olympian, determined that 45 sources of biomass produced in the state amount to a million tons - enough to produce 1,770 megawatts of power.... Read the full story on TreeHugger

LIME: Special Delivery

Tue, 21 Feb 2006 10:30:25 GMT

Don't be surprised if your standard-issue brown UPS delivery truck takes on a greenish hue. The company announced it will add 4,100 low-emission vehicles and 50 hybrids this year. The move is a cost-cutting strategy, and one that shows the company's faith that saving the planet also saves the bottom line.... Read the full story on TreeHugger

LIME: Aspen Living Comes with a Price

Fri, 17 Feb 2006 12:45:11 GMT

Aspen has a reputation for being green. The tony ski town has its own global warming project manager, and has instituted innovative programs like using tax dollars from mansion owners to help buy solar power for the less well off. But a new report shows that the town may not be quite living up to its sustainability goals.... Read the full story on TreeHugger

LIME: Cleaner Ferries, Ahoy!

Thu, 09 Feb 2006 16:50:00 GMT

It's not like they're getting hybrid engines or anything, but New York's Staten Island Ferries are going greener: One by one, the boats are being retrofitted to reduce emissions of nitrogen oxides and particulate matter from diesel fuel. According to the EPA, one boat has already been updated, resulting in a reduction of 16.5 tons of NOx per year and a 25% decrease in particulate matter.... Read the full story on TreeHugger

LIME: Planting Clean Water

Wed, 01 Feb 2006 19:47:19 GMT

Planting gardens could help keep chemicals out of your city's water. A new study found that building "rain gardens," shallow pools in the ground, planted with deep-rooted native plants, can significantly reduce the amount of toxins entering stormwater runoff systems.... Read the full story on TreeHugger

LIME: Timberland's Green Boxes

Sun, 29 Jan 2006 21:45:30 GMT

Timberland, maker of those ubiquitous nubuck boots and other outdoorsy footwear, announced it plans to use only recycled packaging beginning this fall. Reuters reports that the company will wrap its shoes in 100 percent recycled fiber boxes, printed with soy-based ink.... Read the full story on TreeHugger

LIME: Superbowl Kicks Off Green Ads

Thu, 19 Jan 2006 19:56:52 GMT

Toyota will drop an estimated $2.5 million to air an ad promoting its swanky new hybrid Camry. What sets it apart from the Prius ad it ran on last year's superbowl is the target audience: The company wants to convince to Hispanic consumers to go green. The 30-second spot will feature a Hispanic father and son bonding whilst driving in their Camry hybrid.... Read the full story on TreeHugger

LIME: Monkey See, Monkey Do

Mon, 16 Jan 2006 19:55:46 GMT

Inspired by the plight of his film's uber-gorilla, King Kong director Peter Jackson is backing efforts by the International Gorilla Conservation Programme to save Kong's smaller, less fictional friends. The Independent reports that Jackson's efforts include charity premieres of the film and plans for the King Kong DVD to include a documentary film about wild gorillas. There are thought to be fewer than 1,000 gorillas left in the wild, and some folks predict that the species will become extinct within the next few decades. Also, according to Jackson: Gorillas are truly amazing animals-without them there wouldn't be entertainment like King Kong. What? My entertainment is endangered? Where do I sign?? [by Amanda Little, Syndicated on TH from the Planet section of LIME ]... Read the full story on TreeHugger

LIME: Where the West Goes, the East Can't Afford to Follow

Sun, 15 Jan 2006 15:46:57 GMT

Founder of the Earth Policy Institute, Lester Brown, has been saying for years that the global economy is being hobbled by man-made environmental trends: "shrinking forests, expanding deserts, falling water tables, eroding soils, collapsing fisheries, rising temperatures, melting ice, rising seas, and increasingly destructive storms." In his book, Plan B 2.0: Rescuing a Planet Under Stress and a Civilization in Trouble, Brown looks at the way the growth of the developing world will vastly accelerate these trends.... Read the full story on TreeHugger

LIME: Hybrid Drivers: Smart and Safe

Tue, 10 Jan 2006 13:55:43 GMT

Owners of hybrid cars already get to feel deep personal satisfaction every time they watch other people fill up their gas guzzling SUVs. Starting next month, hybrid drivers will have yet another reason to pat themselves on the back (besides, you know, helping to save the planet): cheaper insurance. An insurance company will begin giving ten percent discounts to hybrid owners next month, based on early indications that the type of people attracted to hybrid cars are also those who qualify for low-risk car insurance. The insurance provider, St. Paul Travelers, found that hybrid drivers tend to use their cars mainly to commute between home and work, according to a Reuters story. They also tend to be married, in their 40s or 50s, and drive within the speed limit. All these factors are associated with low-risk drivers, who are eligible for discounted insurance. Fifteen percent of cars on the road in the next 10 years could be hybrids, according to St. Paul Travelers. The company is the first to offer discounted insurance premiums for hybrids. [by Hillary Rosner , Syndicated from the Planet section of LIME ]... Read the full story on TreeHugger

LIME: Pedaling Toward a Sustainable Future

Sun, 08 Jan 2006 13:18:39 GMT

There's no more appropriate way to tour the landscape of sustainable living than astride a two-wheeled - and zero-emission - steed. That's why Portland Peace and Justice Center organized the Sustainable Energy In Motion Bike Tour, which organizes summer bike trips throughout the Pacific Northwest to visit organic farms, natural wonders, Native American communities and sustainable businesses, while camping under the stars, doing service projects and learning about green building and clean energy. The trips range from one to three weeks long and are open to both novice and advanced cyclists. You can follow Oregon's legendary Route 101 along the coastal bluffs, or cruise the Columbia River Gorge learning about permaculture and sustainable business. "Change your world, one mile at a time," goes the motto. If you want to splurge and take a deluxe bike tour throughout Europe, New Zealand or Vietnam, check out VBT.com, an international cycling outfit headquartered in Vermont. It boasts "time-tested itineraries, a variety of cycling routes, full van support, expert trip leaders, outstanding hotels, and regional cuisine." [by Amanda Little , Syndicated from the Planet section of LIME ]... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Lime: Wipe Responsibly in 2006!

Thu, 05 Jan 2006 14:49:58 GMT

Think before you blow: That's the message the Natural Resources Defense Council wants to get across, with a wallet-sized guide to buying paper products including tissues, toilet paper, and paper towel. And it could be the easiest New Year's resolution you can make (and keep). The NRDC is concerned about destruction of Canada's boreal forest - a vital ecosystem that's home to hundreds of species, including songbirds and large carnivores like wolves and bears, and is also a massive storehouse for carbon dioxide (the forest keeps the CO2 out of the atmosphere, where it would contribute to global warming).... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Global Warming Wunderkind

Fri, 30 Dec 2005 11:15:29 GMT

Those of you concerned that the rising generation of Americans is too preoccupied with video games and online dating to get around to solving the tremendous environmental problems they'll inherit will be heartened by the example of Billy Parish. He's the 23-year-old wunderkind who dropped out of Yale University to found the organization Energy Action: Youth United For A Clean Energy Future, which is mobilizing students at universities nationwide to help solve climate change. Already Parish has recruited more than 120 colleges to join the Campus Climate Challenge. He also led a three-day fast last summer in front of the White House to demand action on the estimated 150,000 deaths caused annually by global warming. And he toured the nation in a biodiesel-powered bus, stopping off at rock concerts to promote fuel efficiency. Driven, devoted, and easy on the eyes to boot, Parish is setting a great example for a new generation of eco-ectivists. "More and more young people are beginning to realize that climate change will significantly impact their future," he said in a Rolling Stone interview. "We need to do everything that we can-fight as hard as we can. Right now it doesn't feel like there's time for me to be in school." Syndicated from Lime.... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Choose Your Own Eco-Adventure

Tue, 27 Dec 2005 12:09:54 GMT

As holiday season and winter's chill-factor kick in, it's hard not to fantasize about the ultimate getaway - wouldn't it be nice to luxuriate in the warm tropical climes of the Amazonian rainforest or beaches of Belize right about now? For more active souls, how about a trek through the forests of Nepal, or safari in the fauna-rich wildlands of Africa? Well, maybe now's the time to plan it. Here's a bundle of online resources to help you plan - or at least fantasize - about your ideal ecotravel adventure.... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Lime and Treehugger

Mon, 26 Dec 2005 20:53:47 GMT

LIME is for a growing community of people who want a healthier, greener and more balanced life. LIME brings everything that's good for you, good for your family and good for the planet to you...whenever you want it, wherever you are...on TV, Sirius Satellite Radio, at lime.com and on your mobile phone.... Read the full story on TreeHugger

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