Community Planning for Peak Oil: This Doesn't Look So Dark (video)

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 09:57:49 GMT

Image credit: Transition Whidbey I posted on Friday about Worldchanging's critic of the Dark Side of Transition Towns, in which Alex Steffen argued that the Transition Town movement is effectively burying its head in the sand—promoting ineffectual, perhaps folksy [I paraphrase], individual action instead of systemic or political change, and maybe even gleefully anticipating a social collapse. No sooner do I finish writing about the ensuing debate, that I come across a video that, I think, shows the true heart of Transition. ... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Green Living: Leading by Example or Passive Aggressive Preaching?

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 09:14:24 GMT

Image credit: South Park/Comedy Central As I noted in my post on The Art of the Eco-argument, we're often better off leading our own lives than telling others how to lead theirs. In fact, if eco-snobbery is left unchecked, it could lead to a major backlash against the environmental movement. But, having recently noted some negative reactions to folks who are very much just 'doing their own thing', another question bothers me. Can leading by example become a subtle but passive aggressive form of preaching? Can we, and should we, mitigate the way we communicate our own lifestyle changes, or should folks who get annoyed by our prius driving, bike riding, plastic bag eschewing ways just get a life? ... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Massive On-Site Composting: The Eden Project Raises the Bar

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 11:34:06 GMT

Image credit: The Eden Project The UK's Eden Project has long had our attention as a Treehugger's wonderland. From the 124 acre biome conservatories, to the rock concerts from Moby, Brian Wilson and PJ Harvey, to the recycled glass flutes they sell, created from bottles at their own restaurant, to hosting the premier of the Age of Stupid—this is much more than your average tourist attraction/conservation exhibit. And the team at Eden has just passed an important milestone—composting over 100 tonnes of its own food waste. As usual with these guys, it's not just what they do, but how they do it.... Read the full story on TreeHugger

The Dark Side of Transition Towns? Worldchanging Slams Transition Movement

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 09:57:40 GMT

Image credit: Narocroc We TreeHuggers have long been inspired by the Transition Movement's positive response to peak oil. From planting nut trees for food security to launching local currencies, Transition Initiatives are promoting real, boots-on-the-ground action. But they have not been without their critics, arguing that Transition feels like a rebranding of the back-to-the-land movement, or hinting that it is deeply skewed to the left-leaning, hippy end of the cultural spectrum. Now Alex Steffen of Worldchanging has weighed into the debate, claiming that Transitioners exhibit a "casual eagerness for the death of others."... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Revolutionary Cable Suspended Solar: Cost-Effective Solar Structures (Video)

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 09:33:21 GMT

Image credit: REM eyewear Only the other week I posted about an innovative project to integrate solar power with food production, and while the photo-shopped graphics for that post may have left something to be desired, a new installation may give a better idea of what's possible. In what's billed as the "first, cable-suspended free span solar energy system" REM eyewear and P4P Energy have created a patented system that could help expand the potential for integrating solar with other types of land use. ... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Selling Gas to Build Wind Turbines: A Green Step Forward?

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 09:38:54 GMT

Image credit: Ecotricity UK wind energy developer Ecotricity's stance on green energy supply has long been controversial. Instead of guaranteeing that it purchases all of its energy from green sources, as most of its rivals do, it has instead guaranteed it will invest its profits into building new generating capacity - arguing that this is the most effective way of cutting carbon emissions. Now it looks set to take a further step into the fossil fuel arena - supplying customers with natural gas, and channeling those profits into greener supply too. The question is—will it fly with customers? Is this a logical step toward greener energy, or a muddying of the waters?... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Hunting, Fishing and Hypocrisy: Store-bought Meat was Killed Too (Video)

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 09:34:49 GMT

Image credit: Jenni Grover (with thanks to Kris, and the fish, for the fish.) The gun rights advocates who got upset at my post about 5 Things I Hate about the USA may be surprised at this, and the vegans who despised my post on urban farming and backyard slaughter will be no happier, but I am an increasingly big fan of hunters and fishers. In fact, (responsible) hunting and fishing may make it on my next list of 5 things I love about America. Here's why. ... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Living Without Cash for a Year: Hypocrisy or Heroism?

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 11:11:04 GMT

Image credit: Enterprise UK When I wrote about 5 things I hate about America (in my defense, I also wrote 5 things I love about America!), I lamented a lack of entrepreneurialism or initiative in the UK. But generalizations are almost always dangerous. Mark Boyle, founder of the Freeconomy Community, is a case in point, although he's not your average idea of an entrepreneur. He's hitting the headlines once again, blogging over at The Guardian about his quest to live without money for a year. The ensuing debate is fascinating. ... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Gorgeous DIY Living Walls: Woolly Pocket Garden Company (Video)

Sun, 01 Nov 2009 09:03:45 GMT

Image credit: LXTV Remember Woolly Pocket Garden Company's recycled planters for DIY living walls? Using 100% recycled plastic bottles, the company provides a cheap and durable way to plant plants in almost any vertical or horizontal space. Used right, the result is an affordable, do-it-yourself version of the living walls so popular in modern architecture. (See also ELT's living wall kits.) Now LXTV has created a short piece showing how Woolly Pockets work. The inventor also explains,, much to his own surprise, why plants grow better in these containers.... Read the full story on TreeHugger

The Youth Voice on Climate Change: We'll Listen, But Will We Act?

Sun, 01 Nov 2009 08:47:13 GMT

Image credit: Consider Us The UNEP's Consider Us campaign is one of those initiatives that has me totally inspired and utterly depressed at the same time. Inspired because the idea of giving youth a voice in advance of the Copenhagen climate summit is about as important task as I can think of. Depressed because we've given youth a voice many times before. Collectively, we're actually quite good at listening to the youth voice. It's just acting on it that seems a little more difficult. ... Read the full story on TreeHugger

First-of-its-Kind Refrigerated Rail Expedition Cuts Carbon

Sat, 31 Oct 2009 09:48:23 GMT

Image credit: Stobart Group Hybrid trucks may cut carbon, and even slowing down road freight may save gas, but truckers still have a long way to go before they can beat the efficiencies offered by rail. But road freight does have its place—perhaps most notably in allowing perishable goods to be transported from farm to warehouse to store with minimal risk of delay. Traditionally, fruit and vegetables grown in Southern Europe and sold in the UK have been shipped by road for this very reason. Until now. But an iconic UK freight company is launching a first-of-its-kind refrigerated rail service that will dramatically cut the carbon footprint of imported veggies. ... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Ungreen in the USA: 5 Things I Hate About America

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 09:53:58 GMT

Image credit: Chelsea Bay - with thanks! I'll admit to being a little nervous about writing this post. As a foreigner, it's rarely wise to start bashing your host country, especially when you genuinely love it as I do. But having written my expatriate treatise on 5 Green Things I Love About America, I thought I should keep it balanced. Because, believe it or not, America still has some way to go before it can call itself sustainable. (And you thought Obama had fixed it all already...)... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Give Your Stuff Away Day: A Celebration of Generosity

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 09:13:45 GMT

Image credit: Give Your Stuff Away Day No sooner had I published my post on Tuesday about rethinking our relationship with stuff, that I get a press release for Give Your Stuff Away Day. Billed as a fun, community event, the idea is to create a celebration in which we share our unwanted possessions—diverting valuable materials from landfill, and maybe even meeting our neighbors in the process. ... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Farm in a Box: Aquaponics Systems for Everyone (Video)

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 09:21:12 GMT

Image credit: Farm in a Box From Aquaponics USA's ready to use mini-fish farms to Access to Aquaponics' $499.99 starter kits, there are more and more companies aiming to take aquaponics (a symbiotic combination of hydroponics and fish farming) into the mainstream. Jaymi over at Planet Green has just covered Farm in a Box's broad range of aquaponics systems, and with prices starting at $35 for a DIY instruction kit, ranging up to $3000 for a full system, there's something for every pocket. ... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Love Your Stuff: Material Possessions Are Not Evil

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 09:22:13 GMT

Image credit: Sami Grover I've been thinking a lot about the things we own and what they mean. From Buy Nothing Day to Freecycle to The Story of Stuff, rethinking our relationship to money and material possessions is a central theme within the sustainability debate. Many greens believe we've become too wrapped up in our love of stuff. But I wonder if we've got it the wrong way around. Maybe we don't love our stuff enough. ... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Composting Your Corpse (Again): Lee Hays' Hillarious Living Will

Sun, 25 Oct 2009 10:11:49 GMT

Image credit: Follow the Drinking Gourd "When corn and radishes you munch You may be having me for lunch" When I wrote about Ethical Man's plans to compost his own corpse comments ranged from those who thought it was a good idea, to those who thought 'sky burial', or even making pencils from human remains, would be a better option. Others have looked at flash-freezing, smashing then composting corpses, or even feeding them to coral reefs. But composting dead bodies is not a new concept—a friend just sent me a poem written by folk legend Lee Hays to Pete Seeger's wife in 1981. If might be the best (and funniest!) argument for compost burial that I've ever read. ... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Green in the USA: Five Things I Love about America

Sun, 25 Oct 2009 09:42:58 GMT

Image credit: Planet Green (with thanks to Chelsea for the hack) America, love it or leave it, right? Well it ain't that simple. As any expatriate will tell you, moving countries always brings an astounding mix of conflicting emotions. There's so much new, refreshing and different to celebrate about your new homeland, and yet so much that you took for granted back home. As a UK national who is married to a green American, who just became the father of a green American, and who just received permanent resident status, I thought I'd tally up the things that drive me nuts about The States. But before I annoy all the patriots, I thought it safer and more productive to list the positives too. Because, contrary to what (some) green-minded Euros might think, there's plenty to love about this country.... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Tesla Roadster Explored: Carpool Interviews Diarmuid O'Connell (Video)

Sat, 24 Oct 2009 09:44:50 GMT

Image credit: Llewtube When I wrote about Robert Llewellyn's unique review of the Mitsubishi MiEV electric car, one commenter mentioned that they "couldn't wait to see him in a Tesla." Well we're in luck. Some time back Carpool visited the States to interview Diarmuid O'Connell, Vice President of Business Development for Tesla Motors. And just like Llewellyn's interview with Dale Vince of Ecotricity, the resulting conversation is utterly fascinating. As an added bonus, we even get a glimpse at the (more) affordable Tesla Model S.... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Win A Solar Array and an Eco-Refurbishment: 10:10 Campaign Offers Big Prizes

Sat, 24 Oct 2009 09:07:40 GMT

Image credit: Solarcentury Imagine a free solar array for your home, combined with a full eco-makeover to eliminate draughts, improve comfort, efficiency and air quality. That's the prize on offer to green minded UK householders right now. It's just one part of the 10:10 Campaign's call to cut UK carbon emissions by 10% by 2010. (See also their search for the Voice of Green Britain.) So what do you have to do to qualify? ... Read the full story on TreeHugger

The Brower Youth Awards 2009: The Cure for Cynicism (Video)

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 08:55:36 GMT

Image credit: Brower Youth Awards I was looking at an (anonymous) TreeHugger's skype profile the other day, which read "I'd be more optimistic if more people worried." It's easy to feel like that. With climate change, war, famine and resource depletion, it's sometimes scary how oblivious many folks are to the challenges we face. And this isn't just about the "enlightened" activist versus the rest of the world—it can be amazingly easy for even the biggest TreeHugger to put the bigger picture out of our mind as we focus on day-to-day worries. That's why the Brower Youth Awards are so vital - reminding us all that there are folks fighting every day for a better, fairer world. Click below the fold for some videos of inspiring young people that might just renew the optimism in all of us. ... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Solar and Agriculture: Double Cropping Energy and Food

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 09:02:09 GMT

Image credit: Piedmont Biofuels From a 25-megawatt photovoltaic plant in Florida to a 4,500 acre solar thermal installation in California, solar just keeps getting bigger. Within that context, a 100kw array may seem hardly worth mentioning, but folks in my community are excited, and not without reason. (Disclaimer alert: Friends of mine are involved with this project.)You see traditionally, unlike wind, large-scale solar has often meant displacing otherwise productive land, to the point where some areas like Ontario are looking at banning solar from class "a" and class "b" farmland. What sets this project apart is that it aims to not just co-exist with productive farm land, but actually enhance the agricultural process. ... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Access to Aquaponics: Starter Kits for $499.99

Tue, 20 Oct 2009 08:43:50 GMT

Image credit: Access to Aquaponics Whether the discussion is about the efficiency of aquaponics, or whether aquaponics is cruel or not, this innovative method of growing vegetables and raising fish certainly seems to be good for stirring up debate. But what do you do if you actually want to put aquaponics into practice? Apart from the ready-to-use systems of Aquaponics USA, until now most practitioners seem to either be agricultural-scale operations like Will Allen's Growing Power, or backyard hobbyists adept at DIY, like Snowcamp Aquaponics. But a new design company based out of Atlanta, GA is looking to change that - launching a range of kits and instructional materials for aquaponics enthusiasts in eleven states. But what's with the weird broccoli-fish monster? ... Read the full story on TreeHugger

The Cincinnati Streetcar: Making the Case with Numbers (Video)

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 08:33:17 GMT

Image credit: Get Sick Productions All too often I find advocacy for green or environmental projects lags somewhat behind protest against less green initiatives. After all, it's relatively easy to win eyeballs by climbing on corporate roofs to expose toxins in computers , and somewhat harder to make the case for integrated mass transportation or other positive steps forward. (Having said that, our friends at StreetFilms have a long history of positive advocacy for greener cities.) That's why it's so nice to watch Get Sick Productions forceful and strongly argued case for the Cincinnati streetcar. No appeals to conscience or altruism here—decent public transportation is presented as the only sensible way forward for a modern, growing city. Add a pinch of rivalry with Portland, Charlotte and Tampa, and you have the perfect recipe for successful civil advocacy. ... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Mitsubishi MiEV Test Drive Review (Video)

Sat, 17 Oct 2009 08:55:14 GMT

Image credit: Llewtube Yesterday I was musing about the green pros and cons of Robert Llewellyn's Carpool internet TV show, in which he drives around in a hybrid or EV with notable business people, celebrities and tech heads. True, it does involve some perhaps unnecessary driving around—especially when the conversation isn't about cars—but he is also promoting some of the most advanced motoring technology around. And green questions aside, I'm increasingly enamored with the relaxed, revealing conversations that result. Yesterday he interviewed Dale Vince of Ecotricity, revealing a little more about how he went from living in a truck to being one of the richest men in the UK by harnessing the power of the wind. This next episode is a little more car centric, as Robert takes the Mitsubishi MIEV electric car for a spin, and boy is he impressed!... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Striking Rich on Wind: How Dale Vince Built Ecotricity (Video)

Fri, 16 Oct 2009 08:56:56 GMT

Image credit: Llewtube From his wind powered electric super car to his intellectual property battles with a French nuclear giant over a green British flag, Dale Vince is always good for stirring up grand green visions, and a little controversy along the way. As a man who struck it rich developing wind energy, who went from living in a truck to building some beautiful urban wind turbines, he's usually worth listening to. Which is why it's worth checking out this interview with Robert Llewellyn (of cult BBC sitcom Red Dwarf fame), in which Dale busts some myths about wind turbine load factor, the UK's wind generating capacity, and explains how Ecotricity got started. Only one question. Isn't it more than a little ironic to do the interview in a car? ... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Urban Farming in West Oakland: Goats, Veggies and Backyard Slaughter (Graphic Video)

Thu, 15 Oct 2009 09:16:52 GMT

Image credit: Chow I find myself increasingly taken with the term "urban farming". From the awesome permaculture allotment of Mike Feingold to the Carrboro Urban Farm Tour to the urban aquaponics of Growing Power, these pioneers can't be described as gardeners. They are growing serious amounts of food for themselves and their fellow human beings. They are farmers. I've just come across a video that provides an inspiring illustration of the importance of urban farmers, not just in growing food, but in revitalizing traumatized neighborhoods and reinventing the urban landscape. (Warning, there is some graphic footage of animal slaughter!) ... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Ode to Women and Nature: Lessons for a New Green Dad

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 09:13:35 GMT

Image credit: Jenni Grover Call me a cynic, but I've never really understood the idea—promoted or at least implied, in my experience, by many a new parent— that having kids somehow magically wakes you up to the urgency of protecting our environment. Or that if you're already a green minded soul, that parenthood will somehow take you to the next level of green goodness. As was demonstrated by the storm of comments unleashed after my piece on why eco-activists still have kids, or by the continued concern over ever rising global population figures, there are plenty of childless greens who are likely, somewhat justifiably, to call hypocrisy at any breathless diatribes from new parents about protecting the earth for our precious new generation as we evangelize about the wonders of organic onesies and reusable diapers. Yet as I return from paternity leave, and as I adjust to being the father of Lilia Maven Butler Grover (who is of course beautiful. unique, borderline genius etc etc etc), I do find myself looking at the world with fresh eyes. Here's what I've learned...... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Food to Energy Plants: A Load of Pig Swill?

Sat, 03 Oct 2009 09:39:08 GMT

Image credit: Prospect Magazine We all know that waste food is a problem, but luckily there are plenty of solutions. Grocery stores are turning food waste into electricity, and Stockholm is even embracing garbage disposals to collect biogas. But is there a better way? Could it be that there's a greener alternative for using up unwanted food? ... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Are You the Voice of Green Britain? Shout Loud if You Are.

Fri, 02 Oct 2009 08:57:49 GMT

Image credit: 10:10 Campaign It's only weeks since the launch of the high profile 10:10 Campaign, an ambitious initiative to encourage Britain to cut its carbon emissions by 10% in just one year, but things seem to be hotting up. We've already seen Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change Ed Miliband signing up, and celebrities, major companies, local authorities and individuals are joining up in droves. Now the campaign, in conjunction with The Energy Saving Trust, is looking for the Voice of Green Britain. Read on to see if you qualify. ... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Recent Posts by TreeHugger's Sami Grover, Carrboro, NC, USA