New York City and Energy Code Changes

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 11:50:51 GMT

Photo by Andrew H. Walker Energy Code sounds like a dull topic, but if you're hope is to see things like energy use or carbon emissions reduced - energy codes are at the heart and soul of your desires. Considering the fact that energy codes are only about 40 years old in the United States (and only 20 years older in Europe), the fields that determine how regulations govern the way buildings actively consume energy is a young and fertile. In New York City, Mayor Bloomberg created a task force made up of local green building organizations and more than 170 professionals to address what's the best way to improve the efficiency of the megacity. Starting this week at the Center for Architecture, a series of lectures by experts involved with task force are beginning to explain exactly how these changes will affect clients, buildings, code, permitting and your pocketbooks. I had a change to do a Q&A with Chris Garvin, the first speaker of the series, to get his insider's perspective on what this all means.... Read the full story on TreeHugger

RESTORE Clothing Review - Wearing is Believing

Tue, 20 Oct 2009 13:05:46 GMT

Photos from RESTORE Clothing Anthony and Celeste Lilore, creators of RESTORE Clothing, are an eco-force to sit-up and play attention to. While other clothing brands merely skirt under the minimum requirements to be called green - the Lilore team put their brand where their mouth is. RESTORE (an acronym for Responsible, Earth Friendly, Sustainable, Technological, Organic, Recycled and Ergonomic) is urban-centric active wear that caters to the needs of both sexes without losing style, functionality or environmental-friendliness. The timeless cuts are modern making the garments easy to wear to a yoga class or out after work. Embedded in each piece of the collection is a commitment for well-crafted details and a taste for excellence. ... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Trudie Styler talks Crude about Oil in Ecuador

Tue, 20 Oct 2009 10:50:27 GMT

Photo Credit: Juan Diego Perez Trudie Styler is many things - a UNICEF ambassador, a human rights activist, a co-founder of Rainforest Foundation and, of course, the wife of the musician Sting. In September, she came to the big screen (or more likely to a smaller independent theater screen) in the film documentary Crude. The film chronicles the case of Aguinda vs Chevron-Texaco - a legal drama that is trying to find justice for a group of indigenous people in Ecuador that has had their homeland devastated in the name of drilling for oil. Infamously called the Amazon Chernobyl, the movie examines the complexity of international conglomerate corporations relationship and responsibilities for environmental peril and human suffering. Treehugger had a change to speak with Styler about her work within Ecuador and find out how she's helping make a bad situation better. ... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Belgrave Trust on Carbon Offsets for the Affluent

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 11:20:00 GMT

The dirty, stinking rich! Yeah, I said it! They are always getting called-out for their imbalanced percentage of environmental destruction. For example, the average American's carbon footprint is 2000 times bigger than the average person living in Chad. The average Brit emits more carbon in a day than the average Kenyan emit in a year. It gets worse! Did you know that the top 20% wealthiest people contribute 80% of greenhouse gases? Or that the top 7% are responsible for half of all carbon emissions? Most people see this as a reason to loathe the affluent, but wouldn't it make more sense to see them as an enormous opportunity to create fast and dramatic change for global warming? If the 20% well-to-do offset their CO2 emssions by 50%, that would mean an overall decrease of 40%. That's huge! Jeff Stewart and Nicholas Baily, the founders of Belgrave Trust are aiming to do just that- target the luxury class with a retail carbon offset service which cleans up the environment and lets them live guilt-free! I had a chance to talk to them about their idea.... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Is LEED Breaking Up with FSC-Certified Wood?

Tue, 13 Oct 2009 15:57:48 GMT

Photo from Coastal Treated Products Company After a long-lasting and loving monogamous relationship between the US Green Building Council and the Forest Stewardship Council, it seems the USGBC is considering, not a break up, but definitely thinking about seeing other sustainable woods. FSC-Certified wood has been the yardstick to which the LEED rating system has awarded points for its Certified Wood credits for nearly ten years. The USGBC/FSC relationship has been so tight, that the forest-focused organization is one of the only product-labeling criteria mentioned anywhere in the wildly popular rating system. But things change...people change...sustainable markets change...and well, you know, criterion change, so in classic USGBC fashion, they put the change out for public comment. ... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Talking Green Cars with Sascha Simon, Advanced Product Planning for Mercedes-Benz USA

Tue, 01 Sep 2009 18:10:12 GMT

Sascha Simon is responsible for strategic planning of product management for Mercedes Benz USA. Bascially, that means that he ensures that future Mercedes products give consumers what they want how they want it while Mercedes continues to produce automobiles that embodies the company's core values. He uses on market research and trend data while working with product designers in Stuttgart, Germany and Palo Alto, California to envision a better vehicle. Treehugger had a chance to talk to him about Mercedes future of green cars, the hurdles to overcome and how their cars will perform with green technologies. ... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Chatting with Fisher Stevens, Producer of Film "The Cove"

Tue, 11 Aug 2009 20:51:28 GMT

Photo from wikipedia On July 31, 2009 , the film The Cove opened in New York and Los Angeles. Fisher Stevens had a major part in whipping the picture into theater-shape. You may remember him from the 1986 hit Short Circuit. With the release of The Cove, he is showing everyone he's got an eye for making edgy eco-documentaries. The film is full of emotion, environmental conundrums and characters that make you want to become a full-fledged eco-activist! I had a chance to talk with Stevens about the pic and how it changed his life. ... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Insect Infestation as Green Architecture Tool

Tue, 11 Aug 2009 14:32:21 GMT

Photo by James Haefner So what do you get when you add an invasive bug that kills millions of trees to a heavily wooded area? If you're the Ann Arbor District Library (AADL), you use the situation as an opportunity to build a world-class green building that takes using local materials to a whole-new-level.... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Eco-Rally to Transverse America

Fri, 07 Aug 2009 14:05:10 GMT

Photo from Eco-Rally USA Eco-Rally USA, a grassroots transportation group, is launching a trip across the United States aimed at helping to accelerate clean energy vehicles to become the standard for automobiles rather than the exception. The tour start on Aug 10, 2009 in Time Square and then visits 10 other major cities covering more than 3,500 miles to demonstrate sustainable technologies and fuels.... Read the full story on TreeHugger

September Promises to be Killer Month for Wolf Hunters

Tue, 04 Aug 2009 18:32:33 GMT

Photo from ellenlostin Within weeks, grey wolves in the Northern Rockies will be on the business-end of high-powered hunting rifles. Most people remember back in May 2009 that the Obama Administration delisted the wolves from the endangered species list. Now, since their current status isn't protected by the federal government, Idaho and Montana will open hunting season on the wolves. Last year, half of the wolves in Idaho were targeted to be killed when the species was delisted by the Bush Administration. Wolf hunters are hoping this year's quotas are even higher as environmentalists file lawsuits to prohibit this new killing season. ... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Obesity is Causing Higher Health Costs, So Get Skinny by Going Green

Tue, 28 Jul 2009 11:15:41 GMT

Photo from 4pack.wordpress.com According to a new study, obesity is a leading contributor to the high costs of healthcare in America. Apparently, being fat is killing everyone's wallet when it comes to insurance. Could going green help reduce the high price of medical care in the Land of the Free by offering a more healthy way-to-live? Ahhhh, yeah! ... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Is Healthcare in America Green?

Fri, 24 Jul 2009 15:25:39 GMT

Image from floridashealth.com Is there anything right about healthcare in the United States? If you judged the industry by everything politicians are saying nowadays, my guess is that you'd say no. As I've listened to the debate over the last few months, it seems so bad that I'm wonder why we're not all dropping dead in the streets. I mean, I know that we're all dying in that existential-self-realized way...but the news from the talking heads in Congress and the White House has got me thinking the outlook is, well, bleak! Not only that, it seems like all of Washington believes only they can fix the problem. So I decided to find out if there's any good news from the world of doctors and nurses. Turns out, there's more than you might think. ... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Montrail Shoes - Vegan-Friendly and Runner-Ready

Thu, 23 Jul 2009 17:25:42 GMT

Photo from blog.sierratradingpost.com Montrail is best known for their non-urban premier trail running and hiking footwear for outdoor athletes. The website is definitely geared toward the more granola-type of greenie. But that shouldn't discourage you from using the shoe for both on- and off-roading. Their approach to sneakers is anytime but hippie-dippie. ... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Enviro-Bear 2010: Operation Hibernation for iPhone

Wed, 15 Jul 2009 14:05:13 GMT

Graphic from enviro-bear.com Just when I thought I knew every app available for Apple's iPhone, I stumble across Enviro-Bear 2010: Operation Hibernation. If you've been searching for a quasi-green video game for your multimedia smartphone...well, search no more! You can now virtually help a caniformia prepare for beddie-bye. ... Read the full story on TreeHugger

With Help from Species Survival Plan, Red Wolves May Have a Future

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 16:55:53 GMT

Photo from Gregory Koch Red wolves are one of the rarest mammals in North America. They are a mere 100 strong in their native habitat of North Carolina's Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge. But with the help of the Wolf Conservation Center (WCC) in South Salem, NY, the Canis rufus may grow in number...first in New York, and then in North Carolina.... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Is Brooks Running the Best Green Source for Runners?

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 13:36:08 GMT

Photo: PRNewsFoto/Brooks Sports, Inc You a runner? Or an exercise-oholic? And you want your workouts to reflect your green lifestyle? Well, the race is ON...or at least for me and a few friends to find the best performing green running equipment. Since February of this year (2009), I've made it my personal mission to seek out the most excellent green products in the running world as I train for my first marathon in November. Most people think running is a simple sport in which all that is needed is a good pair of shoes to be active. Nothing could be farther from the truth. ... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Stanley Greenberg, World-Renowned Pollster, Talks Enviro-Politico Shop

Fri, 19 Jun 2009 08:26:20 GMT

Photograph: Jay Westcott/Rappor Never heard of Stanley Greenberg? Probably means you've been living under a rock for the last, say, twenty years. He's a political mastermind - akin to being described as the world-champion of public opinion polls. His client list reads like a who's who of domestic and international government - Bill Clinton, Tony Blair, Nelson Mandela and Ehud Barak. When the chance to talk enviro-political shop with the Grand Pooh-bah "o" Polling appeared, it was an easy vote of YES WE CAN!... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Jillian Michaels Wants You to Master Your Metabolism, the Green Way

Wed, 17 Jun 2009 08:00:47 GMT

Calling Jillian Michaels a fitness guru is kinda like saying Oprah Winfrey is sorta influential or Kim Jong-il has a little problem expressing himself. She is a fitness god...or goddess, whichever! She is the go-to for millions of people that want a full-tilt, kick-butt, take-no-prisoners approach to exercise and wellness. She sees the secret for performance squarely on a more organic/vegetarian diet and green lifestyle. ... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Isn't GM already Green?

Mon, 01 Jun 2009 14:25:13 GMT

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?... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Riding in Place to Fight Breast Cancer

Sun, 31 May 2009 17:45:00 GMT

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. ... Read the full story on TreeHugger

In My Prius video by Casual Mafia - LMAO!!

Fri, 29 May 2009 14:10:06 GMT

Photo from Casual Mafia Green isn't always serious business. The newest video out by Casual Mafia called In My Prius makes fun of the Prius which is, well, really funny! With the looming GM bankruptcy, a few laughs, were cars are involved, is welcomed! ... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Sex, Love and Evolution - A Conversation with Dr. Helen Fisher

Tue, 26 May 2009 18:22:57 GMT

Photo by Rafael Fuchs Dr. Helen Fisher is the love doctor of the 21st century. Her research is revealing why you are crushing on your co-worker to what kind of person you will attract if your index finger is longer than your ring finger. Think you know why you're in love with your boyfriend or girlfriend? Think they are your soul mate? You should read her new earth-shaking book Why Him? Why Her? before you go to the next level. Still trying to figure out why you can't get any action from the opposite sex (or same sex, depending on how you swing)? It might be that you don't have enough dopamine in your system. ... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Award-winning Author David Quammen on Swine Flu, Evolution and Ecology

Mon, 18 May 2009 09:55:54 GMT

Photo by Steve Hunts David Quammen is the kind of author that changes your mind about what you think you know. His resume reads more like an instruction guide to being the smartest person in the room than merely work experience. He's a Rhode Scholar, Guggenheim Fellow, a three time National Magazine Award winner and Lannan Foundation Fellow as well as a winner of the New York Public Library's Helen Bernstein Award for Excellence in Journalism and the Academy Award in Literature from the American Academy of Arts and Letters. Plus he holds an honorary doctorate from Montana State University. ... Read the full story on TreeHugger

LEED goes 3.0 - and they ain't joking -round

Wed, 13 May 2009 11:20:12 GMT

Graphic from USGBC The USGBC, and their insanely popular rating system LEED, have been on the frontlines of the green building movement for quite a while. Everyone has taken a shot at them at least once. There's all the talk about how the credits are weighted incorrectly, or that a LEED rated building doesn't always mean it's a green building. For all the shortcomings of the older system, the USGBC, better or worse, has been a major contributor to putting GREEN into the lexicon of every developer, real estate owner and building professional in the United States (and other countries). Their new approach to rating the greenness of a building is overcoming some of those pesky complaints. Actually, with the release of newest version of LEED, all those naysayers may get left in the dust!... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Vegan Footwear - Cowhugger Walk with Me

Tue, 12 May 2009 21:35:54 GMT

Photo from Modesto Junior College MooShoes, Inc. is a vegan-owned business that sells an assortment of cruelty-free footwear, bags, t-shirts, wallets, books (mainly cookbooks) and other accessories. It is the first cruelty-free store of its kind in New York City.... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Bird-Friendly Building Certification

Fri, 08 May 2009 19:00:02 GMT

Photo from New York City Audubon Buildings are a leading cause for bird-fatalities in the United States every year. Few green buildings exist where bird-safety is included. Architects and designers just don't understand the connection between birds and the architecture. They don't see glass. Viviana Ruiz-Gutierrez has a big idea. She wants to create the first-ever nationally recognized Bird-Friendly Building Certification. ... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Tonic's 50 Most Beautiful People

Fri, 08 May 2009 16:10:01 GMT

Photo by KennethMoyle Tonic (a media company that makes it easy to do good) has posted 50 of the hottest people making a difference for the world. These do-gooders are blazing their trail with humor, style and grace. Lots of these hotties are of the green-persuasion...maybe even more than just green-curious! The list is filled with bartenders, designers, fashionistas and entrepreneurs giving everyone something to look at and read about. You'll be happy to see some familiar cuties along with other fresh new faces. Regardless, get ready to get your eco-crush on! ... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Oysters are Restored to Waters in Need

Fri, 01 May 2009 12:45:00 GMT

Photo by Janet Wood During the last weekend in April, a group of volunteers laid the final necessary pieces into Withers Estuary to reintroduce oysters to their native ecosystem. The project is part of the Withers Estuary Community Collaborative (WECC), a partnership of leaders in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. The organization focuses on find ways to synergistically protect human and ecological networks by creating community-based solutions for preservation/restoration of local ecosystems. The oyster restoration project is the first of many steps to accomplish this goal. ... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Ultra Motor introduces the A2B Electric Bike

Thu, 30 Apr 2009 15:29:18 GMT

Photo by Yours Truly If you're looking for a vehicle that has the heart of a bicycle and the soul of a scooter - do I have the thing for you! The A2B by Ultra Motor is a Light Electric Vehicle (LEV) that addresses the need for zero-emission transportation while offering high torque pickup, extended range and reliability. ... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Cosentino Launches New ECO-Friendly Countertop

Fri, 24 Apr 2009 11:11:24 GMT

Images from ECObyCosentino Cosentino, one of the world's largest natural stone importers, announces the launch of ECOTM, a new line of countertops. The material is composed of 75% recycled-content including mirrors salvaged from houses, building and factories; glass from windows and bottles; granulated glass from consumer recycling practices; porcelain from china, tiles, sinks, toilets and decorative elements; and industrial furnace residuals from factories in the form of crystallized ashes. ... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Recent Posts by TreeHugger's Neil Chambers, New York City