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AndiInOKC said: "Shipping is quite steep, too. ($349 x 1unit + $445 shipping fee)..." [read]

Dreama said: "Someone at Lexus ought to look bad for putting out a hybrid with such pathetic fuel economy to start with. What's the point?..." [read]

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Mike D said: ""freakin sweet" would definitely be appropriate here..." [read]

cindy said: "I wish my commute was faster. There are no jobs in my area, and no bus route to the big city. I have tried to carpool, but my schedule varies alot...." [read]

Brandi Claunch said: " It saddens me to see that so many people do not believe that global warming is a real threat, because it is indeed real and it is our children w..." [read]

BuyGreen: Desks and Workstations

by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 03.14.08
TH Exclusives

Buy Green Desks and Workstations

The right desk is an essential part to any green workplace; it has a small footprint, so it doesn't take up too much space; its just the right size to allow you to spread out, without getting cluttered; and it has a place for everything you need, so you can stay organized. And, while the greenest desk is the one you already have, there may come a time where we all need to find a new place to put your laptop or desktop computer.

The desks you'll find here are all designed with the environment in mind, whether they employ responsibly-harvested wood, use non-toxic finishes that won't dirty your workspace's air, exercise really great design ideas that just use less stuff, or all of the above. Each is designed for longevity -- whether through super-sturdy materials or easily replaceable parts -- so it's likely that any on the list will be the last one you'll have to buy for a very, very long time. Hit the jump to get started...

Read more: BuyGreen: Desks and Workstations

BuyGreen: Dining Chairs

by Sean Fisher, Cincinnati, Ohio on 02.28.08
TH Exclusives

Guide to Buying Green Dining Chairs

So, it's time for new dining room furniture. Your old dining chairs are barely hanging in there, and you don't want Uncle Tony to come crashing down when he sits down for dinner the next time he visits. You need to find something sturdy that will not only stand the test of time, but look going doing it.

In this guide, we will give you the low down on some of the most eco-friendly dining chairs out there. From FSC-certified wood to organic cotton to recycled materials, these chairs feature the best elements from some of our favorite sustainable designers. And, they are sure to please your hungry guests as much as your cooking (OK, for some of you, more than your cooking). Whether your style is elegant and formal or sleek and modern, you'll find something here to suit your taste.

Read more: BuyGreen: Dining Chairs

BuyGreen: Large Wheel Folding Bikes

by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 02.22.08
TH Exclusives

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While TreeHugger knows that using what you've got 'til it's gone is the greenest way to go, we all have to replace our old faithful with new favorites eventually. When that time comes, we want you to know some of the good green ways to go. On this list: large wheel folding bikes.

Small wheels, as rule, make for a smaller folding bike, but rules are made to be broken. It’s trickier, but standard-wheeled bicycles -- those with 26” rims -- can also be conjured into tiny travel or storage packages, with some imaginative design and engineering. Larger wheels provide a little extra dampening from road shock and they ‘track’ in a straighter line through sand, gravel, mud and other off-road conditions. And, since bigger wheels are the industry standard, a wider range of componentry and accessories are available to make your ride more fun and functional. For those riders who prefer their bikes to have big wheels (as opposed to the small-wheel folding bikes we covered before), but come in small(er) packages, saddle up and take these folders for a test ride.

Read more: BuyGreen: Large Wheel Folding Bikes

BuyGreen: Laptop Computers

by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 11.20.07
TH Exclusives

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The greenest notebook computer is the one you have and keep using, but that can be tough; people say that notebook computers are the greenest because they sip electricity; it's true that they use less power than a desktop but you still have to choose carefully; there are a lot of other factors to consider as well. Notebooks are harder to fix and really hard to upgrade; where a desktop can be taken apart for recycling easily, a notebook often just gets thrown away. Being portable, they get dropped, spilled on and banged about, so you not only have to think about what it is made of, but how solid is it and how good is its service.

As in desktops, processor speed fades into irrelevance with most current machines; almost any unit out there will run most tasks that people do on notebooks. The upgrade cycle on hardware now is also much longer than it used to be, because the new machines do not perform significantly better on most of the common tasks that people use their computers for. So which are the greenest notebooks out there? The best way to tell is by it's EPEAT score -- "a clear and consistent set of performance criteria for the design of products, and provides an opportunity for manufacturers to secure market recognition for efforts to reduce the environmental impact of its products." But that is new, and manufacturers are being quiet about it.

Read more: BuyGreen: Laptop Computers

TreeHugger's 2007 Gift Guide

by Kara DiCamillo, Newport, Rhode Island on 11.16.07
TH Exclusives
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Ring the bells! Pop the (organic) champagne! TreeHugger’s 2007 Gift Guide is here!

We've made this guide the most comprehensive yet, with 180+ gift ideas in three shades of green, making it a perfect reference while shopping for everyone on your gift list. In addition, we'll be adding organizations to support and useful tips for making your holidays more efficient.

Go to Part II here and Part III here.

For more great ideas, don’t forget to visit our past guides from 2006 and 2005.

Read more: TreeHugger's 2007 Gift Guide

BuyGreen: Office & Desk Chairs

by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 11. 8.07
TH Exclusives

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Anyone that sits at a desk or in a chair for part or all of their work knows that what you sit in really matters. Not only does it affect how comfortable and productive you are, but poor seating can have some pretty negative long-term health effects, limiting your ability to earn the green.

The chairs you'll find here are designed to help you feel better at work, not only providing relief to your arching back, but relieving some of the pressure your office puts on the environment. Choose from lots of colors and fabrics to fit your budget and style; since they've all been designed with sustainability in mind -- spanning the spectrum from infinitely adjustable to so smart that it adjusts to you -- each one can make a case for being the last task chair you'll ever have to buy. Hit the jump to start sitting pretty.

Read more: BuyGreen: Office & Desk Chairs

BuyGreen: Small Wheel Folding Bikes

by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 11. 6.07
TH Exclusives

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While TreeHugger knows that using what you've got 'til it's gone is the greenest way to go, but we all have to replace our old faithful with new favorites eventually. When that time comes, we want you to know some of the good green ways to go. On this list: small wheel folding bikes.

Many think that any small wheeled bike is a folder, but it ain’t necessarily so. But it is true that small wheels do help a bicycle collapse into a neater package. That’s not to say these are toy bikes. Some ride theirs everyday to work (for years), others tour whole continents, while yet others have set world records for upright bicycles. Folding bikes allow their owners to fit them into buses, trains, yachts and even cars (hah!) Their compact size means no wind drag and better fuel economy than perching bikes on car roof racks. But it also allows for easier storage in space restricted apartments, offices and workplaces. Smaller wheels, though stronger, can be a bit more prone to finding matching potholes, though this is balanced with the joy of nimbly nipping through congested traffic. See a few faves below.

Read more: BuyGreen: Small Wheel Folding Bikes

BuyGreen: Desktop Computers

by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 11. 2.07
TH Exclusives

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Used to be, chip speed and computer power drove the market, and one upgraded their computer every couple of years as Intel giveth new chips and Microsoft taketh away with bloated operating systems. Then the internet became our computer, google is fast becoming our operating system and unless you are a hardcore gamer, architect or 3D modeller, almost every computer out there is up to speed and you can start thinking about green. And every week there are more and more options, as companies comply with obligatory European RoHS standards, or the new EPEAT rating system.

Green computing is not only better for the environment, it is better for your office; who needs all those fans blowing all the time? Intel is chasing AMD to make the coolest chips, and onboard video eliminates yet more fan noise. Solid state memory is coming down the pipe, so even the hard drives will stop spinning. Buy a complete package or roll your own for the best mix of options, but think low power, upgradability for long life, and recyclability.

There are those who say that the greenest computer is a notebook, but we have found that notebooks don't last as long, are hard to upgrade, cost more and are not as productive when you cannot have the keyboard, laser mouse or big monitor that you might need for your work. There is definitely still a place for a green desktop computer.

Read more: BuyGreen: Desktop Computers
We'll be working on better category archives soon. In the meantime, take a look at the weekly archive if you really want to dig around, or use the search box at the top of the page.

TreeHugger breaks it down for you in a series of in depth how-to articles that will help you green your life. No time like the present!

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