Car Driver's Entitlement of the Road is Challenged

Sun, 18 Oct 2009 16:00:00 GMT

This short video has been making its way around the internet. If you haven't seen it, check it out and see what grandma does when the driver aggressively revs his engine while she is crossing in front if him. While the grandma's bulls eye is a rare (and hilarious) shot, the behavior of the driver, unfortunately, is not so rare when it comes to sharing corridors of transport with people who commute without motors. Has this happened to YOU? How did you react? TH wants to know.... Read the full story on TreeHugger

This Exercise Machine is not as Ridiculous as the Others. It is Self Powered.

Sun, 11 Oct 2009 18:00:00 GMT

Precor EFX 546 In an ideal human condition, where cities and neighborhoods are planned out with the pedestrian in mind, the calories we use with our bodies wouldn't be wasted on vain or useless activities, such as exercise. Instead, we would use precious calories to power our bodies or bicycles to get to work, or school, or the grocery store, or other locations that are mostly accessed today by automobiles. Exercise would be a side effect, not something we have to do in order to offset inactivity.... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Kibbutz Lotan - An Oasis in a Desert Where it Never Rains

Sun, 04 Oct 2009 16:30:00 GMT

Kibbutz Lotan Mud Buildings OK, it rains sometimes. For example, last year it rained just under two millimeters. Kibbutz Lotan was founded in 1983 in the Arava Desert in Israel, with the discovery of a significant source of groundwater. Lotan sits at a low point in a valley, hundreds of feet above an aquifer. Over the years, Lotan has become known for its example in sustainability, proving that an inspired group of people can create community and habitat in even the harshest of environments, by being resourceful. Read further for a photo tour, including adobe domes, lush gardens, and a giant swimming pool. ... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Off Grid Couple Answers Questions about their Mortgage Free Life

Sun, 20 Sep 2009 16:17:00 GMT

image via vela creations Last week, we introduced you to Abe and Josie, a young couple in the Chihuahuan Desert who built their own home with virtually no experience, designed a popular and inexpensive wind turbine, and raised their newborn without diapers. Last week's article was a very basic introduction to the wonderfully successful off grid life of Abe and Josie and we urge you to explore the specifics from their site and blog, Vela Creations. Last week's article was boing boinged, and many interesting comments and questions have been triggered, mostly how's and why's about their unique lifestyle and choices. Please read further for an in depth and fascinating interview with Abe Connally of Vela Creations as he answers questions on behalf of himself and his wife Josie.... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Young Couple Says NO to a Mortgaged Life

Sun, 13 Sep 2009 14:55:00 GMT

image via vela creations Amidst the Chihuahuan Desert, Abe and Josie built a home out of dirt, designed a wind turbine from scrap parts, and raised their newborn without diapers and other conveniences. When their first hand sculpted house went up for sale a couple of years ago in Far West Texas, I was one of many people interested in the real estate deal of a lifetime. But like others who have met this young couple and heard their story, I was inspired to start from scratch, rather than to take out a mortgage, even for their one of a kind, self powered, adobe oasis in the desert. Their website, Vela Creations, is an online, off-grid, informational handbook based on their experience and continued success in the alterlife. Read further for more of their story and look for an in depth interview with Abe and Josie in the coming weeks. Added on 09/24/09: In depth interview with Abe Connally of Vela Ceations now on TreeHugger... Read the full story on TreeHugger

We Have Enough Cars RIght Now Thank You Very Much

Sun, 23 Aug 2009 17:00:00 GMT

image source Even with big incentives to buy brand new autos, the automotive industry is far from recovering from their largest drop in sales in history. Automobiles, which have seen a steady increase in sales since their invention, are being trialed and tested and it leads to the following question... What happens when there is a surplus of automobiles and lessening demand? A couple more questions for our readers: Do you know anyone who can't get to their job, b/c there is a shortage of cars? Or do you know more people who have a car ready to go, but don't have a job to go to? ... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Is My Electric Bicycle Lame?

Sun, 16 Aug 2009 19:05:10 GMT

I'll always remember the time that I was riding my electric bicycle home from work, when at a red light, a cyclist on a traditional road bike pulled up next to me and asked me how fast I could go on "that thing". I told him that it maxes out at about 18 miles an hour. He scoffed, "Geez, I could ride faster than that without a motor!", as he then took off through the red light riding as fast as he could...definitely more than 20 miles an hour to his credit.... Read the full story on TreeHugger

My Powerbook Pismo Turns 10 Years Old

Sun, 09 Aug 2009 16:00:00 GMT

image source Today is my birthday. I am now 36 years old and in most ways, still functional. Luckily, I haven't needed any upgrades or factory resets. More impressive is that my laptop turns 10 this year. That is about 150 in human years. This particular laptop was built in the 20th century, when green was just a color rather than a movement. This time tested machine has some key attributes that arguably make it the greenest and most durable mass produced laptop of all time, with upgradeability, durability, and adaptability that its grandchildren can't quite simulate. Read further to find out how this laptop survived a whole decade without becoming obsolete or outdated. ... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Remnants of a Dinner For Two

Sun, 02 Aug 2009 17:30:00 GMT

It was only a couple bowls of soup and two orders of sweet potato fries from a decent, non fast food restaurant. Left behind for hundreds of years are four plastic containers and lids (not structurally sound enough for a 2nd use), two non-compostable paper bags (one for each plastic soup container), many bags of ketchup, plastic cutlery, and one large plastic bag to carry all of the other bags and containers.... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Trusty Old Robots vs. Energy Star Appliances

Sun, 26 Jul 2009 16:35:01 GMT

image via adirondackhistory.org Of course, when purchasing a new appliance, it makes sense to go with the most efficient energy star rated appliance. BUT, buying a brand new efficient energy star rated appliance is not always greener or less expensive than continuing to use an older, less efficient appliance.... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Wasteless at 30,000 Feet - First Class Dining with no Disposables

Sun, 12 Jul 2009 15:14:37 GMT

Due to a fluke opportunity, I am flying in first class for my first (and probably last) time ever. I decided before the flight that I will accept the royal treatment and that I will not let the guilt creep in just because those people behind me are sitting in cramped seats without hot towel service or a complimentary open bar. Thankfully there is a curtain between us. Then the dinner arrives. No need for guilt here. Besides the fact that the meal is not your average plane fare, neither is the waste. In fact, there is not one disposable item, other than the little package that the salad dressing came in.... Read the full story on TreeHugger

While Print Media Declines, Internet Based Reporting Thrives, and Independent Voices are Empowered

Sun, 05 Jul 2009 15:40:19 GMT

image via: blog.communiquepr.com We've been hearing a lot about the decline of print media. Some call the lessening demand a crisis, as it results in a reduction of jobs within the major media organizations who have become large employers, as well as the loss of an iconic and nostalgic door delivery service. Others agree that one of the most avoidable waste streams is now undergoing a positive and long overdue transformation into the digital age, and with it, a shift towards fresh, independent voices. ... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Ozarka's New Little Eco-Label Requires 60,000 Trees Every Year

Sun, 28 Jun 2009 19:15:34 GMT

The math is simple. According to Ozarka's own claim, their tiny new label uses a third less paper than the old one, or a whopping 30,000 less trees. The new advertising campaign, intended to lessen the guilt of their customers, entice new customers, and win back customers who have moved on to less wasteful methods of hydration, inadvertently reveals the devastating scope of destruction that even the most benign piece of their product generates. ... Read the full story on TreeHugger

A Whopping 1.5% OF Mcdonalds' Locations Will Dim Their Golden Arches For An Earth Hour

Sat, 28 Mar 2009 17:28:08 GMT

image via dahlstroms.com McDonald's is one of a few major corporations that have received extra green credit for its announcement of their one hour sacrifice to help the Earth. In the case of Mcdonald's, about 1.5% of its locations will dim their lights for 00.0114 % of the year. ... Read the full story on TreeHugger

How to Flag the Bag Before Irreversible Damage is Done

Sat, 21 Feb 2009 12:45:25 GMT

It is easy for cashiers to go on autopilot sometimes at the grocery store, placing one or two items in a plastic bag before you can even say "Hello". When you explain that you already have your own bag or that you don't need a bag for your one already well packaged item, they remove the item from the plastic bag and then THROW THE PLASTIC BAG IN THE TRASH. Many franchises have rules which don't allow a cashier to reuse a bag that has already been -contaminated' with another customer's item. And so, it has been an ongoing experiment to find the best and most polite way to avoid the cashier putting those one or two items in a plastic bag before you can stop them. Read on for ways to flag the bag before it is too late. Feel free to add to this list:... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Send Me Dead Flowers in the Morning

Sat, 14 Feb 2009 16:37:15 GMT

tulips with bulbs intact. photo by trevor reichman The day after Valentine's day, decapitated flowers will go on sale at heavily discounted prices everywhere. But there are more romantic alternatives to giving over priced dead flowers to your partner on, or even after Valentine's day. Read further for a few other plant based ways to say "I Love You". ... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Runner Trains for Marathon by Running Errands

Sun, 08 Feb 2009 21:16:13 GMT

Dao Nguyen, who lives in Houston, is training for a marathon. But instead of running around in circles in Memorial Park, Houstons's most popular running circuit, he has decided to run all of his errands instead...by foot...by running. This way, he is maximizing his time and caloric expenditure at the same time... to the tune of only 100 calories per mile, compared to the roughly 3000 calories a car needs to 'run' errands. Cars typically use about 30 times more energy to transport a person compared to that person traveling that same mile with their own feet, highly inefficient in comparison. Read further for an interview with Dao Nguyen...... Read the full story on TreeHugger

A Tragic Car Crash Epidemic Kills Over 3000 People in Just One Day

Sun, 25 Jan 2009 14:55:00 GMT

Car Crash Art by John Chamberlain in Marfa, TX - Photo by Trevor Reichman In one year, it is estimated that 1.2 million people are killed in auto-related accidents around the globe. That equates to slightly more than 3200 traffic deaths EVERY DAY. These mostly preventable deaths, in casualties alone, exponentially surpasses the number of casualties from higher profile, more newsworthy, less common tragedies. Yet, the horrific daily toll receives little attention by political leaders and the media .... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Warning! Riding a Bicycle Can Have the Following Side Effects:

Sun, 18 Jan 2009 15:01:48 GMT

If you are thinking about replacing a car trip with a bicycle trip instead, it is important to know the repercussions of that choice. Read further for 8 side effects that your doctor or bicycle salesman may not have told you about. ... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Cubans Use Much Less Energy to Produce a Much Higher Organic Food Yield

Sun, 11 Jan 2009 23:59:00 GMT

Image Via: The Power Of Community While there are many factors when it comes to determining what contributes to human health and longevity, there is no debating that access to good quality food is a key ingredient. What is fascinating is that there is no clear evidence that human health and longevity is improved, or even that more people have access to food, when an abundance of fossil fuel energy is available. ... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Quitting Coffee is One of the Easiest Ways to Help The Planet and Yourself

Sun, 04 Jan 2009 18:04:01 GMT

Image Via Georgetown University Coffee is the 2nd most traded commodity after oil. Some claim that coffee has health benefits while others claim that it is an addictive substance that taxes the body's adrenal glands, depositing adrenaline daily into our bodies, and taking tolls on our bodies in other ways. Whatever you believe, coffee is not essential to our lives and thus it is one commodity worth considering giving up entirely in order to benefit the planet and our pocketbooks in a time of economic and ecologic peril.... Read the full story on TreeHugger

The Bad News of 2008 Is Also the Good News

Sun, 28 Dec 2008 10:00:00 GMT

Photo Credit: Dan Bush, McFall It has been a rocky year for many in 2008. With an ailing economy, viral job loss, busted mortgages, roller coaster oil prices and stock markets, and a grim forecast , it is easy to neglect the good news. But the good news is the same as the bad news, depending on how you look at it or phrase it: Read further for 7 bad AND good news events of 2008... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Meet KTAO, The Nation's Largest Solar Powered Radio Station

Sat, 20 Dec 2008 17:00:00 GMT

You don't have to live in Taos, NM to listen to KTAO (aka K-TAOS) , the largest solar powered radio station in the USA. You can stream it online, guilt-free from anywhere in the world, because K-TAOS magically turns sunbeams into audio streams. How? Read further...... Read the full story on TreeHugger

TreeHugger Interviews Eliza Gilkyson, Folk Music's Environmental Troubadour

Sat, 06 Dec 2008 09:00:00 GMT

Folk Music Troubadour, Eliza Gilkyson, is currently touring in support of her new release, "Beautiful World", an album which tackles environmental issues, and not timidly. Eliza Glkyson, who has toured with folk greats such as Patty Griffin and Richard Thompson and most recently had 2 songs covered by Joan Baez, offsets all of her touring with carbon credits and also uses a portable solar powered system to power her local shows in Austin, TX. But Eliza doesn't think that is doing enough. Read further for an exclusive interview with Eliza Gilkyson and her perspective on the the possibilities of green touring and a "great correction":... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Cheap Gas: Good or Bad?

Sun, 30 Nov 2008 09:00:00 GMT

Once again, in America, gasoline is cheaper than bottled water. Is this good or bad? Let's start with the bad (5 reasons): 1) Thousands of more Americans will perish in car crashes. There is a direct, undisputed correlation between the price of gas and the number of deaths in car accidents each year. This last year, when record breaking gas prices greatly reduced nonessential driving while increasing more conservative driving habits, thousands of lives were saved. In fact, it was the first significant reduction in driving fatalities in decades. ... Read the full story on TreeHugger

New iPhone 2.2 Update Rewards Car-Free Commuters

Sat, 22 Nov 2008 09:00:00 GMT

image by apple While the future of General Motors hangs in the balance, the future of public transit is getting more and more appealing. And much much easier. If you ride mass transit, have an iphone, and live in any of these cities , you are about 245 megabytes away from being rewarded for your carfree lifestyle. So now you can choose between the following two ways to plan your commute via public transit: 1) By awkwardly unfolding confusing transit maps, creating a "you are here" dot with your thumb, while you then cross reference your location with a printed schedule almost as thick as a telephone book that Columbus would have a hard time navigating. OR...... Read the full story on TreeHugger

While GM and Friends Seek $50 Billion in Public Funds, There is no Mention of Help for Public Transit

Fri, 14 Nov 2008 16:10:19 GMT

image source: raisethehammer.org We didn't hear it in the debates. We didn't hear it on the campaign trail. And we didn't hear anything about mass transit outlined anywhere in the economic bailout. It is difficult to recall anytime during the recent and ongoing economic struggle any mention of any economic stimulus for public transportation that would greatly lessen Americans' 2nd largest expense after housing.... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Built on Stilts: Images from the New Ninth Ward in New Orleans

Sat, 08 Nov 2008 14:00:00 GMT

photos by trevor reichman Sustainability incorporates lessons leaned from history in order to improve on design to avoid fatal flaws and in this case to prolong the life span of a structure as it relates to its surroundings. Even though the new homes in the 9th Ward include solar panels, energy efficient everything, and other elements that we think of when we think of sustainability, perhaps the single most important feature on these homes are their stilts. If the ocean should ever intrude again, these new homes could be high enough off the ground to clear the floodwaters, a simple solution to end the debate about whether or not to rebuild the 9th Ward at all. Read further for more images from the Make it Right Foundation, Founded by Brad Pitt in Lower 9th Ward, New Orleans.... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Sign Savers - Deciding Which Political Yard Signs and Bumper Stickers to keep for Future Elections or Memorabilia

Wed, 05 Nov 2008 08:00:00 GMT

While some important political, racial, and environmental red tape may have been broken in this election, this latest battle between red and blue was anything but green when it comes to the waste created by campaign entourages swinging through up to 7 states in one day. Those of us who place importance on the environment and our role as facilitators within the natural world are left with a fresh start and a more promising future. But in the immediate future, we are also left with the residue of campaign yard signs and bumper stickers, of which some may have an afterlife. Before you recycle your signs, think about being a sign saver. Here are some tips about choosing which signs to hold onto and which ones to recycle:... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Downtown Houston Rediscovers Green with New Eco-Centric Park

Sun, 26 Oct 2008 14:13:52 GMT

image by trevor reichman What was a large downtown parking lot in Houston just a year ago, is now Discovery Green, downtown Houston's new urban park. Underneath the park, an underground parking garage now accommodates the same number of cars as before...no more, no less. An above ground portal, designed by Austin artist, Margo Sawyer, takes drivers from their cars below the Earth up to almost a dozen acres of new centrally located parkspace. ... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Recent Posts by TreeHugger's Trevor Reichman