TreeHugger

Plans Underway for Florida's First Green Animal Shelter

Sat, 22 Nov 2008 08:00:00 -0500

photo: Sumter County Geographic Information System With the already clear need for an animal shelter in Florida's Sumter County, the Humane Society/SPCA of Sumter County has outlined plans for Florida's first environmentally responsible animal shelter. After 26 years of serving the community without an animal shelter, the Humane Society/SPCA of Sumter County has begun its major capital campaign to raise the $1 million needed for construction of the 7,300 square foot structure. Read on to find out what makes this animal shelter so ...

Geoengineering Redux: Fertilizing Trees with Nitrogen to Fight Climate Change

Fri, 21 Nov 2008 23:51:44 -0500

Image from Joshua Rappeneker It's not quite ocean iron fertilization, but I have a feeling this new geoengineering proposed will still raise quite a few hackles. The idea, which originated with Federico Magnani of Italy's University of Bologna, is, as the name implies, fairly straightforward: You would fertilize, or "dope," as the New Scientist's Catherine Brahic put it, trees...

New Yorkers and Food Politics

Fri, 21 Nov 2008 20:45:12 -0500

Manhattan Borough President Stringer telling it like it is photo via the Observer I was surprised the other morning when Brian Lehrer, on his eponymous WNYC radio show, stated that he had received 600 comments suggesting Michael Pollan as President-elect Obama’s Secretary of Agriculture. Who knew New Yorkers cared so much about agricultu...

Change Maker Josh Onysko, Cranberry Salsa and Sexy DIY Scarves

Fri, 21 Nov 2008 16:58:00 -0500

:: Get the do goodin' dirt from the man on a squeaky-clean and green mission, Josh Onysko of Pangea Organics. :: Cranberry salsa? Now that's a modern and tasty twist on traditonal Thanksgiving fare. Try it along with these other deliciously sustainable side dishes. :: Breathe new life into an old, unworn dress. Use its fabric to make a sexy new scarf!...

On Climate Change, Africa Votes As One Country And One Continent

Fri, 21 Nov 2008 16:14:00 -0500

Image source: Gainesville In anticipation of the upcoming meetings to update Kyoto next month in Poznan, Poland, the 53 African nations met recently to develop the Algiers Declaration, stating that they will vote as one bloc during climate change negotiations, reports the Monterey Herald. Forests, renewable energy and deserts are the three major issues that African nations are most concerned about and its felt that voting as one bloc will give them more power during negotiations. Europe is hoping to get in on the action....

Capturing a Nation on Film Before it Vanishes

Fri, 21 Nov 2008 15:33:00 -0500

Image source: Shuuichi Endou/Tuvalu Overview Tuvalu, made up of four small coral-reef islands and five atolls off the coast of Australia, will be one of the first to go as sea levels continue to rise. Shuuichi Endou decided his response was to take 10,000 photographs, almost one for every person on the island to capture the spirit and essence of the people, reports the Japan Times Online. When the island is gone, and the population has dispersed and assimilated into area nations, will the photographs be the only thing keeping this nation together? ...

Amory Lovins Named One of America’s Best Leaders by US News & World Report

Fri, 21 Nov 2008 14:55:00 -0500

Video clip: Amory Lovins on climate change, geoengineering and unintended environmental consequences. In case you’re not a regular US News & World Report reader, we’d like to point out that Amory Lovins, co-founder of the Rocky Mountain Institute (which is a guest contributor to TreeHugger) has been just listed as one of

It Slices, It Dices: Wireless Router Vase

Fri, 21 Nov 2008 14:54:07 -0500

Electronics are often so ugly and inanimate; why not make them do multiple functions like this combination wireless router and vase? Finally, electronics you can really call green! No doubt the flowers will last so much longer in that energizing bath of EMF. The designers say that “The STC Router successfully bridges the gap between lifestyle and technology with it’s flower vase functionality.”...

Eco-Tools Makeup Brushes for Your Eco-Friendly Makeup

Fri, 21 Nov 2008 14:03:00 -0500

Image source: Eco-Tools Now that you've slowly updated your makeup stock to include eco-friendly and lead-free makeup, why not also update your brushes with ones made from sustainable and recycled materials by Eco-Tools. We've railed against the untested and toxic chemicals found in common makeup, but the brushes used to apply the gunk are rarely discussed. The brushes by Eco-Tools are available in drugstores across the US and are priced to not break the bank. A great gift idea for...

US Farmer’s Incomes Now Tied More to Ethanol Than Food, Economist Says

Fri, 21 Nov 2008 13:17:00 -0500

photo: Mike Slichenmyer Not to belabor the point, but of all sources of renewable energy taking a beating in the current economic storm, biofuels seem to be getting hit full force. Recently the world’s largest ethanol producer, Verasun, filed for bankruptcy and predictions have it that as many as 40 more plants could be shuttered within the next few months. What this means for farmer’s i...

Girl Scouts Perform Energy Audits, Prove Their Future Value

Fri, 21 Nov 2008 12:13:00 -0500

Photo via Dave Hogg Being a Girl Scout has come a long way from making jewelry out of tree bark and safety pins and selling cookies. And it’s a good thing, too. Tomorrow, 25 Girl Scout Juniors and Cadettes will participate in a day-long camp focused on improving energy efficiency in buildings. They’ll learn the bulk of the lessons by performing an energy audit of the Math and Science Center and the Program Center at Camp Dellwood in Indianapolis, IN. How...

Rooftop Solar Power Installations to Receive Generous French Feed-In-Tariff

Fri, 21 Nov 2008 12:13:00 -0500

If it were in France, this solar power installation would be receiving more money for the electricity it generates. Photo: Chris Muezer Compared to its neighbors to the east, southeast and southwest, France has lagged behind in promoting solar power—though it has a backlog of some 400 MW of solar installations, it only has about 18 MW currently online. That’s all about to change with the introduction of a substantial feed-in-tariff for commercial solar installations. The hope is to make good on Minister for Energy and the Environment Jean-Louis Borloo’s promise to increase France’s supp...

China Stepping Up to Halt Internet WIldlife Trade

Fri, 21 Nov 2008 11:45:00 -0500

Getty Images While the Internet does a lot for improving the environment – from providing ways to reduce energy, reduce consumption of physical goods, telecommuting capabilities and so on – it also creates the ability to do incredible harm to ecosystems. With the ability to offer ways to quickly, conveniently and anonymously trade exotic animals and plants, the Internet is actually a source of harm. Thankfully, though, China recognizes the harm of wildlife trading, and the International Fund for Animal Welfare and

SF Bay Area Will be Electric Vehicle Capital of US: Better Place, Coulomb Technologies Expanding EV Infrastructure

Fri, 21 Nov 2008 11:29:00 -0500

photo: Better Place Electric cars may not be commercially available yet in the US, and aren’t expected to be widely available much before 2012, but when they are the San Francisco Bay Area will be ready. Palo Alto-based Better Place has announced that it plans to begin setting up a network of electric car power stations in the Bay Area, to be ready by 2012. Coulomb Technologies has also announced that it will be building a network of 40 charging stations along California highways, beginning in 2009. But that’s not all:...

On Moving Toward Vegetarianism: Teenagers

Fri, 21 Nov 2008 11:22:42 -0500

Photo credits: Kelly Rossiter Children can be pretty entrenched when it comes to eating habits. We've all known kids who don't like foods touching each other on the plate, who won't eat certain textures, or who like to eat the same foods over and over again. As children get older and start moving into the world more, they can occasionally surprise us by being willing to try things they had previously rejected. Being given snacks at school, dinner at a friend's house, going away to ...

xChange Offers Energy Efficiency Automation for Manufacturers

Fri, 21 Nov 2008 10:57:00 -0500

Screenshot via Earth2Tech xChange Point is an energy efficiency tool offered by Eps Corp, an energy management company, which supposedly will offer an immediate return on investment to manufacturing companies, thanks to energy savings and zero upfront capital costs. The tool is a software interface and hardware that attaches to manufacturing systems and machinery. It will provide real-time monitoring of energy use – pretty much exactly how

Tourism Giveth and Taketh Away

Fri, 21 Nov 2008 10:56:00 -0500

A "blue cruise" near the Marmaris coast. Photo by Sarp Koknar via flickr. There's trouble in paradise, at least the part of it around the popular vacation town of Marmaris, on Turkey's western Mediterranean coast. Long struggling to keep development in check, residents have had up to here with new plans to expand the area's port and mining operations. A local environmental organization recently issued an SOS: "That’s enough. Do not let Marmaris fade away." ...

The Life of a Swedish 'Climate Smart' Chicken: Nasty, Brutish, Short?

Fri, 21 Nov 2008 10:38:33 -0500

photo chaps1 at flickr The 'kycklingdebat' or chicken debate is hot in Swedes' minds since Svenska Dagbladet (SvD), on of the country's two main dailies, published a long report on the short lives of the 74 million chickens annually born and bred here. Swedes are eating more and more chicken meat and have been encouraged by both pundits and industry to do so, as chickens are supposedly more climate friendly than either pigs or beef cattle, notorious consumers of food and water. But SvD's report may chill some hearts, as the findings point to ...

EPEAT and Computer Resellers Boost Greener Computer Sales

Fri, 21 Nov 2008 10:05:00 -0500

Computer resellers are going to have an easier time marketing their green gear thanks to the Green Electronics Council. The council, which created EPEAT, has formed a partnership with resellers in order to get energy efficient and eco-friendly computer equipment out to more consumers. Read on to find out where you can get greener gear....

360 Wind Powered Wal-Mart Stores by April 2009

Fri, 21 Nov 2008 09:55:00 -0500

While the solar panel in this photo is pretty much a token renewable energy gesture, Wal-Mart’s wind power commitment is significantly more substantial. Photo: Wal-Mart Stores Say what you like about Wal-Mart (and I certainly have said some less than flattering things), but sometimes the world’s largest retailer does something undeniably positive: Like make its first major purchase of wind power in the United States. Announced yesterday, Wal-Mart Stores will be supplying 15% of the electricity in approximately 360 Texas stores and other facilities though wind power, purchased from Duke Energy. Wal-Mart says that the pu...

UbiGreen: Not Just Another Carbon Footprint Phone App (Honest!)

Fri, 21 Nov 2008 09:42:00 -0500

You gotta love it when your phone does work for you. Especially when that work it keeping your carbon footprint in check. Intel and the University of Washington are developing UbiGreen, which promises to be one of the easiest phone apps to use when it comes to greening how you get around town. All you have to do to know i...

Transition Town Training - Coming to a Continent Near You

Fri, 21 Nov 2008 07:37:19 -0500

Image credit: Transition Towns Wiki – creator unknown. Peak Oil Educators Embark on World Tour On Tuesday I wrote about an article in the Times newspaper documenting the incredible spread of the Transition Towns movement, and anyone who has been reading TreeHugger for a while will know I'm a big fan. However, the significance of one fact in the Times article escaped my attention – Transition Towns are going on tour. More specifica...

RE:Fashion Award Winners

Fri, 21 Nov 2008 05:18:09 -0500

The Re:Fashion Awards celebrate the designers, brands, media and businesses that promote ethical fashion and support environmental projects. It's the first dedicated awards ceremony for ethical fashion and the party brought together a celeb-sprinkled crowd and the Who’s Who of the ethical fashion industry to drink and gossip in its honour. You read it here first: almost all of the nominees and the winners have already been written up in TreeHugger at some point. But it's nice to give some love and su...

EWA Squeezes Water From Thin Air, Like In Old Biblical Times

Fri, 21 Nov 2008 03:19:16 -0500

Ancient Israelites collected morning dew from stones. There are prayers for dew in the Bible, and the recipe for the traditional Jewish bread –– challah –– includes how much dew to use in the batzhek (the dough). So it’s not a far-fetched idea that clean technology developers in Israel look to this ancient method of water extraction to solve water scarcity problems around the globe. An Israeli company EWA believes they have found a way to get around the enormous amount of energy...

2009 Green Car Of The Year: The Volkswagen Jetta TDI

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 16:26:41 -0500

Today, the Green Car Journal gave its 2009 Green Car of the Year award to the Volkswagen Jetta TDI at the Los Angeles Auto Show. The 2009 Jetta TDI is a quiet-running, diesel-powered car. It beat out hybrids and mini-cars to take the title. The Jetta uses a technology called "clean diesel" which actually lives up its name pretty well. It has a very clean tailpipe, and an EPA estimated 41 mpg highway fuel economy. ...

World's First Plug-In Electric Car Goes On Sale Next Month -- in China

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 13:15:25 -0500

And It's Coming This Way As the ghost of GM's assassinated electric car haunts a fearful Detroit, another boogeyman is waiting in the wings: the world's first mass-produced plug-in hybrid electric car, being readied for its December release -- in China. BYD, a company that first made its reputation as the world's largest maker of cell phone batteries, has announced it will release the F3DM hybrid sedan on December 15. And BYD says it plans to release a version of the car in the US and Europe in 2010 or 2011, just whe...

Oh Great...Less Rainforest, More Corn

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 13:10:00 -0500

Photo via belgianchocolate Are they going to have to make a Madagascar 3 movie where a lion, zebra, giraffe and hippo work to rescue some crazy lepilemurs (and pygmy tarsiers) not from foosas, but from human destruction? South Korea’s Daewoo Logistics has signed a 99-year lease entitling them to half of all Madagascar’s arable land. And, they will pay nothing to farm corn and palm oil there. The goal is to boost Seo...

California Paints Launches Elements VOC-free Paint

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 13:09:00 -0500

Image source: California Paints Now that the temperatures are chilling down, its time to do indoor, rather than outdoor, home repair. Why not give those walls a touch up of paint? Or, for new homeowners, done with apartment living and its bare, white walls, its time to finally get to PAINT YOUR OWN WALLS! Yay! Why not try Elements No-VOC paint now available by California Paints. ...

I Don’t Think Alternative Energy Means What You Think It Means: Fred Pearce to BP

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 13:05:00 -0500

photo: Julian Last month British newspaper The Guardian started a greenwashing column to turn the spotlight on the dubious claims of environmental benefits that some companies put forth. In the latest of these columns, Fred Pearce takes on BP, showing how that company hasn’t really gotten ‘beyond petroleum’ at all. Check it out, as similar claims can be made about pretty much every fossil fuel company: Despite any efforts they’ve made in ...

Techy Jewlery from Repurposed Computer Gear

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 12:00:00 -0500

Jewelry by MoxRogers Etsy.com is a hotbed for creative reuse of junk. Even the quickest of peeks in the shop reveals artists making waste into treasure. Fortunately, artists are also repurposing computer parts that would otherwise be e-waste. One such artist is Audrey Rogers (aka Mox) who is designing jewelry for a much bigger purpose that simply salvaging junk. ...

$5 Billion in Corn Ethanol Subsidies Should Be Eliminated, Food Before Fuel Urges

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 11:44:00 -0500

Cargill ethanol facility in Iowa, photo: Steven Roermerman Regular TreeHugger readers will know that most of the posts about corn ethanol on this site are not exactly favorable, neutral at best. Compared to other feedstocks for ethanol, biodiesel, or some of the ‘green crude’ being developed, corn simply isn’t the best choice—not that other feedstocks also don’t have their problems, not by a long shot (palm oil plantations being the oft-us...

Holiday Gift Guide: For the Outdoors Enthusiast

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 11:30:28 -0500

Photo via TroyMason @ flickr Trips into the outdoors often remind us just how rich life can be when we are reduced to necessities, instead of the superfluous. An Xbox game can't compete with a stunning sunset; the tang of saltwater spray, when you're under sail, is sweeter than any bottled sugar water. If you're a devoted outdoors-lover, the best gift you can give is your enthusiasm and passion; of course, it's hard to put a bow on that. If, on the other hand, you're buying for that special weekend warrior, we've done the hard part for you: collecting a lineup of presents in a variety of price ranges to save you some of ...

Green IT Report Round-Up: IBM, Toshiba, SAP, Xerox

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 11:05:00 -0500

Photo via Getty Images Four big companies have recently churned out reports on how they’re doing with their greener sides. Not only is it fun to check out what they have to say, but it is also invigorating to see so many major companies trying to increase transparency, lighten their carbon loads, and help us do the same by producing better products. Read on for more on what these big four have to say. ...

Four Major Companies Join Smart Grid Demand Organization

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 10:38:00 -0500

Photo via Blude The Demand Response and Advanced Metering Coalition (DRAM), a group that works to educate and influence policymakers and the mainstream about smart grid technology, is changing its name to the Demand Response and Smart Grid Coalition (DRSG). But that’s not the interesting news. The interesting part is that it has accepted a few big names into the fold. Google, CPower, CSG and CSE have all joined the coalition, helping to add their industry influence to t...

The North Face Installs 1 MW Solar Power System at West Coast Distribution Center

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 10:30:00 -0500

image: Recurrent Energy The number of companies finding room on their property/roof for solar power systems continues to rise. Outdoors gear manufacturer The North Face has announced that it has completed installation of a 1 MW solar power system at its West Coast distribution center in Visalia, California. All of the electricity from the system, which is owned and operated by Re...