Science & Technology

What? from dot eco on Vimeo.

Back in March we wrote very briefly about Al Gore and other big names backing the idea of a .eco domain registration for the web. Gore and cohorts are supporting Dot Eco Ltd, an organization that wants to make .eco a domain name where companies and people can put their green info. However, they aren't the only ones applying to ICANN for the .eco top level domain. Big Room hopes to get ahold of .eco, and has some big ideas about what to with it, like, oh, change the world.

Science & Technology

Image via Planet Metrics

Back in January we saw a company called Planet Metrics at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. They've created a software that allows companies like retailers, product manufacturers, and consumer packaging manufacturers to see their supply chain carbon emissions and easily identify ways to reduce the footprint of their products or services. The software has finally just launched and companies like Method are already taking advantage.

But in the bigger picture, is software like this still too simplified to help make the complicated decisions around sourcing goods? While companies get a helping hand with software like this, two big issues arise. One is that the information is still not detailed enough to be the be-all-end-all for supply chain decisions for the lightest footprint. And the second is, how will consumers know?

Science & Technology

Photo via Cleantechnica

Back in May we talked about Earth 911's iPhone app that helps make local recycling really easy. Then last week we talked about San Francisco cracking down on recycling, and even implementing fines for improper composting or recycling. For those residents who want to avoid that fine and like the sound of an iPhone app to help, you've got one!

Science & Technology

photo: N_Creatures via flickr.

One of top things you can do to make your life a bit greener is cut down on stuff. Limit your purchases to things you really need, really use and will last a while. Making it more difficult is that some of the things that are really useful only get used every so often. Why buy something you're only going to use once or twice a year, or perhaps seasonally but then have to store the rest of the time? You can now easily rent cars by the hour, and more cities are establishing bike share programs, but programs to rent smaller items aren't as prominent, nor as convenient. This may be a very personal list, I admit, but here are five things that I wish I could rent more easily:

Science & Technology

A picture is worth a thousand words, and that's the case for maps too. Turns out, using some visual mapping helps groups show people their purpose and get the support they need to accomplish their goals. The map above is from Friends of the High Line, and was used - successfully - to show how preserving the structure of the elevated rail line in Manhattan and turning it into a park would benefit local wildlife. That's just the beginning of the potential visual mapping holds.

Science & Technology

What is Maker Faire without people encouraging others to fix their own gadgets, appliances, automobiles and, well, anything else they own? The iFixit Global Repair Community provided just such a resource, helping people learn how to fix just about anything.

Science & Technology

Image via GreenMap

We've been watching the development of Open Green Map for awhile now, and the eco-minded mapping system is finally gearing up for an official world-wide launch on World Environment Day (June 5, in case you forgot). Click through for why you need to have this bookmarked when you travel.

Science & Technology

Image via GoingGreenToday

A new website hopes to help budding greenies put their good intentions into action by providing a daily action plan and reminder system. It customizes a plan based on a user's daily routine, so they don't have to go out of their way to take simple green actions.