Green

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    GardeningNude

  • Treehugger Alert: Top 5 Green and Sexy Valentine's Day Gifts

    Shawna
    7 Feb 2010 | 3:16 pm
    Photo credit www.wearpact.com. Valentine's Day; the annual holiday that brings the lover out in everyone. When it comes time for a gift that says "I love you!" this year, why not consider giving green as well as sexy? Being eco-friendly demonstrates a heightened level of thoughtfulness with your gift giving and is sure to impress your sexy significant other. Easily finding a nice, affordable present online is as simple as looking at the favorite top five green and sexy gifts listed below - review the photo series to find links to all the products.My #1 favorite green gift idea? Being the…

  • Going Green With Energy Savings Ideas For Work - How Small Things Make A Huge Difference

    Shawna
    4 Feb 2010 | 11:30 am
    Photo credit Stress Limit Design.Learning how small things can make a big difference in relationship to saving energy at work is important. Discussing with your children, family, and neighbors little things that you do every day to save energy helps them save energy and think "green." All those little things add up. For example, imagine if all corporations that have large fleets of cars started doing some simple green maintenance to their cars? Stress Limit Design did just that when it created the movie for the Environmental Defense Fund's new campaign to make a difference for the…

  • Healthy Brain Food; How Burpee Seed is building positive mental health with a New Year's Resolution

    Shawna
    1 Feb 2010 | 5:44 am
    "Making a healthy difference in a community is possible with a garden," says George  Ball, Jr., CEO of the W. Atlee Burpee & Company seed business (Burpee). On this last day of January, a time when many of us give up on our New Year's Resolutions, it seems particularly important to interview George Ball, Jr. and discuss keeping those resolutions. Ball came up with the fantastic idea of packaging his company's seed offerings in the form of a New Year's Resolution Garden to encourage better health - not just an ordinary garden - this is a special idea inspiring green and positive…

  • Educate Children To Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle - Put Your Thinking Cap On!

    Shawna
    26 Jan 2010 | 7:22 am
    Shawna Coronado wearing a "thinking cap" made by her 9 year old daughter.Stymied by a particularly difficult problem, I sat alone thinking about how to solve the issue. In trots my nine year old with the above delightfully handmade hat. She says, "It's a 'Thinking Cap' to help you with your work! I made it by reusing some old jeans and some stuff from the recycling bin."Having children learn the "Three R's" - reduce, reuse, and recycle - will encourage a lifetime of money and earth saving experiences!  Reusing and recycling everyday products is much less expensive than buying new. It…

  • ChicagoNow Radio on WGN - Gardening Nude's Fun Interview with Bill Leff

    Shawna
    24 Jan 2010 | 8:44 am
    Bill Leff interviewing Shawna Coronado at Chicago's WGN 720 AM ChicagoNow Radio. What an awesome Chicago street view from the radio booth. This week I was invited to be on an awesome talk radio show hosted by Bill Leff. WGN 720 AM is the spot on the dial to find ChicagoNow Radio, a talk show that meets and greets bloggers from the ChicagoNow website; featuring all locals to Chicago with awesome personal stories. WGN radio is in the Tribune building and the radio show literally has windows to the street. Guesting was a ton of fun. Bill did an awesome job of focusing on…
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    TreeHugger

  • Toyota Recalls 437,000 Hybrids Worldwide, Mostly 2010 Prius Models

    9 Feb 2010 | 8:45 am
    Photo: Toyota Ouch We all knew it was coming, but now it's official. Toyota has formally filed a voluntary recall for 437,000 hybrid vehicles worldwide. Most of those are third generation Prius hybrids, but they're also recalling the few Prius PHEV out there (the plug-in hybrid version, more details here), the Lexus HS 250h, and the SAI in Japan. This breaks down to about 223,000 hybrids recalled in Japan, 150,000 in North-America, and about 63,000...Read the full story on TreeHugger

  • Are The Joneses Green Shoppers? Interactive Website Let's You Spy on Your Neighbor's Spending Habits

    9 Feb 2010 | 8:30 am
    Image via Bundle Ahhh, keeping up with the Joneses - spending more so you can match up with your neighbors. But does it always have to be that way? When it comes to smart metering, experts have shown that knowing how much electricity your neighbors are using can spark up the competitive spirit, and you're likely to reduce your energy consumption just to "bea...Read the full story on TreeHugger

  • Mercedes-Benz New York Fashion Week Goes Carbon Neutral

    9 Feb 2010 | 8:17 am
    Mercedes-Benz New York Fashion Week may be bidding a final farewell to Bryant Park and for the last hurrah, IMG Fashion, Tetra Pak, and natural beverage supplier O.N.E. ™ Natural Experience, have announced that the entire production will be -- for the first time ever -- a carbon neutral event. Continue reading the full announcement, made at a press conference this morning, after the jump: ...Read the full story on TreeHugger

  • 8 Ways to Create City Utopias for Peds and Cyclists (Or At Least Stop Killing Them...Us)

    9 Feb 2010 | 8:00 am
    Photo credit Tim Green aka atoach @ flickr. Without even knowing it, you are daily performing, probably at least a little bit, the death-defying act of pedestrianism. (And the most fatal area for peds? D.C.) Traffic fatalities

  • India Suspends First GM Food Crop Introduction - Environment Minister Wants More Tests

    9 Feb 2010 | 8:00 am
    photo: Kirsten via flickr. Genetically-modified cotton has been grown in India since 2002, but until today it appeared that the nation's first GM food crop would be introduced in 2010. BBC News and other outlets are reporting that the start of GM brinjal (eggplant or aubergine, call it what you like...) has been suspended, with environment minister
 
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    WorldChanging

  • De-Industrializing the City

    Alex Steffen
    8 Feb 2010 | 12:27 pm
    Alex Steffen: One of my favorite quotes by Bjarke Ingels: "Engineering without engines. We should use contemporary technology and computation capacity to make our buildings independent...

  • Vote Today and Help Us Win $5K!

    WorldChanging Team
    8 Feb 2010 | 11:43 am
    WorldChanging Team: Just by clicking a button, you can help us win a $5,000 grant from Brighter Planet. Worldchanging's project proposal, Advocate for Climate Neutral Cities,...

  • Visions Desirable, Present and Future

    Mark Tovey
    8 Feb 2010 | 11:03 am
    Mark Tovey: Here at WorldChanging, we often have conversations about how best to envision desirable futures. Not just on how to collaborate on designing them, or accelerate...

  • Headlines from Worldchanging Canada (December 2009 - January 2010)

    Mark Tovey
    8 Feb 2010 | 10:32 am
    Mark Tovey: Top stories from our Canadian blog: Tokyo's Transforming Tower | Madeline Ashby "I wish there were a way to combine these shutters and some...

  • Where Did We Go Wrong on "Green Jobs"?

    Alex Steffen
    5 Feb 2010 | 6:12 pm
    Alex Steffen: I was in a meeting today with some smart folks that got me thinking again about "green jobs," specifically Van Jones' message about the intersection...
 
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    Switchboard, from NRDC

  • A Victory Over Invasive Species! But We Still Have Bigger Fish To Fry

    Thom Cmar
    8 Feb 2010 | 10:01 am
    I got a call last Thursday from a state appeals court in Albany with some great news:  the New York court had issued a decision upholding New York’s tough new ballast water standards against a legal challenge from the ports and shipping industries!  I had been in Albany just before Thanksgiving to argue the appeal, alongside some fantastic colleagues in the New York Attorney General’s office. Fundamentally, the court’s decision recognizes what we have been arguing all along:  that there is “ample scientific evidence and expert opinion” that…

  • Why IDEM could learn a thing or two from US Steel

    Ann Alexander
    8 Feb 2010 | 8:40 am
    Nearly a decade after US Steel filed an application for renewal of its Clean Water Act discharge permit, the Indiana Department of Environmental Management signed off on the final permit in January.    The road leading there was a pretty bumpy one for IDEM.  After  years of taking heat for their delays in issuing a host of such permits, IDEM issued the US Steel draft permit in 2007.  The draft was immediately hit with a barrage of negative comments from NRDC and other organizations, followed shortly by an order from USEPA blocking issuance of the permit until its…

  • Indianapolis can still be a winner in smart growth (part 3 of the Indy revitalization series)

    Kaid Benfield
    8 Feb 2010 | 5:37 am
    Football digression to, um, kick off today's post:  Congratulations to the very impressive New Orleans Saints for a big win over the Colts in last night's Super Bowl.  I was rooting for Indy, but it's hard not to feel good for the Saints' fans, especially the residents of the Crescent City, who have long deserved something new to celebrate.  As for the Colts, at least we can make a connection to urbanism:  I love the stadium on the edge of downtown Indianapolis where the team plays home games, in part because it looks like an…

  • Does it smell like this where you live?

    Jessica Lass
    6 Feb 2010 | 4:13 pm
    “No, it doesn’t,” was my answer to a Commerce High School student as we stood with a group of 25 other strangers at an intersection surrounded by three rendering plants in Huntington Park, a neighborhood of South Central Los Angeles. It only took walking off the bus for everyone to be hit with the smells that accompany animal slaughter, and if you weren’t already a vegetarian, you might consider being one for the day. The rendering plants were one of the stops along the “toxic tour” the Communities for a Better Environment hosts about once a month to shed…

  • NRDC to NYS Senate: Pass S.1145-A on Monday to Protect New Yorkers' Health!

    Rich Kassel
    5 Feb 2010 | 2:20 pm
    As early as Monday, the New York State Senate may vote on S. 1145-A (Perkins), a bill that would clean up heating oil in the state, and lead to improved public health and reduced air pollution, regional haze and acid rain. There has been no media attention on this issue in a long time, so I'll fill you in now. Here’s the bill in a nutshell:  Starting in July 2011, S. 1145-A will require all of the #2 grade heating oil (the most commonly used heating oil) sold for use in New York State to meet the same refining standards that the U.S. EPA already requires for diesel fuel used in…
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    Grist - the Latest from Grist

  • To flourish, school gardens need more than photo ops

    8 Feb 2010 | 7:00 am
    by Sarah Bernardi This post originally appeared on Ed Bruske’s Slow Cook blog.——————Kids from Bancroft School in the White House garden with Michelle Obama. As one of the teachers involved with Michelle Obama and the White House vegetable garden, I’ve been impressed with the sudden surge of public interest in the simple act of children planting seeds. At Bancroft Elementary School, where I work first and foremost as an art teacher, we know only too well the benefits children get from growing their own food. But I don’t think the…

  • A new American environmentalism and the new economy

    8 Feb 2010 | 5:00 am
    by Gus Speth Editor’s note: The following is the 10th Annual John H. Chafee Memorial Lecture, delivered at the National Council for Science and the Environment in Washington, DC, on January 21, 2010.———I’m both pleased and honored to have been asked by NCSE to give this 10th Annual John H. Chafee Memorial Lecture. I knew John personally and had the opportunity to work with him during his long and distinguished service on the Senate Environment Committee. He was a wonderful person and a great Senator. I wish we had a dozen John Chafees in the Senate today. And I…

  • The unheralded significance of the Audi “green police” ad

    8 Feb 2010 | 1:17 am
    by David Roberts Is it me or were the   Super Bowl commercials this year unusually ugly, misogynistic, and, worst of all, unfunny?  Some of America’s biggest corporations seemed to be trying to play to Teabag America, and the results were as bitter as the teabaggers themselves. Amidst the dreck was a commercial from Audi featuring the “green police.” Here it is:At first blush this seems like more teabagging—appealing to angry white men with the same old stereotype of environmentalists as meddling do-gooders obsessed with picayune behavioral sins. If you check…

  • Ask Umbra on engagement rings, straws, and napkins

    8 Feb 2010 | 12:00 am
    by Umbra Fisk Send your question to Umbra!Q. Dear Umbra,My boyfriendand I are talking seriously about marriage, and he knows I don’t want a diamondring (at least not a new one) because of the social and environmentalimpacts. You addressed this topic in 2003, saying the only good options were no ringor a used ring. I’m wondering if, in the past seven years of “green”innovation, there might be other options to consider.Thanks,SarahWashington,D.C.A. Dearest Sarah,You know, I just can’t get that song out of my head. If you liked it then you shoulda put a ringon it/If…

  • Palin bashes ‘cap and tax’ and commends Obama on nuclear

    7 Feb 2010 | 1:44 pm
    by Lisa Hymas Sarah Palin’s much-anticipated speech Saturday night at the first National Tea Party Convention in Nashville included a one-minute-and-20-second disquisition on energy policy.  She hit on her familiar talking points—drill here, drill now, “cap-and-tax” sucks. But she also commended Obama for highlighting nuclear power during his State of the Union address, a brief departure from her otherwise sneering tone toward the president. (“How’s that hopey-changey thingworkin’ out for you?” was more typical.)Considering that Palin was…
 
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    the green skeptic™

  • China Tops US in New Wind Installation

    greenskeptic
    4 Feb 2010 | 9:38 am
    In the latest indicator that China will be eating our lunch on cleantech and renewable energy, the country has now taken the lead in new wind energy installed in 2009, according to the Global Wind Energy Council. China's 13,000 megawatts added last year led the pack. The US was second with 9,922 MW, followed by Spain at 2,459 MW, Germany at 1,917 MW and India at 1,271 MW. (See chart here) The US held on to the top spot in cumulative wind energy capacity with 35,159 MW, or 22 percent of the world’s wind energy capacity. (See chart here.) Germany is No. 2 in total installed capacity at 25,177…

  • The Green Skeptic Speaking at Temple/Fox School of Business

    greenskeptic
    2 Feb 2010 | 8:31 am
    From the shameless self-promotion department: I'll be speaking today at Temple University's Fox School of Business and Management today. I was invited by Fox Net Impact and the Office of Leadership Development and will be speaking on social enterprise and the new economy. My talk, which I hope to post a link to once it is available, is about how entrepreneurs are changing the face of business and how the recent crises can, if we learn from them, drive us to build a better economic mousetrap. As World Economic Forum founder Klaus Schwab said in his closing remarks at Davos last week, we now…

  • IPCC's Pachauri Must Resign

    greenskeptic
    30 Jan 2010 | 8:08 am
    Image by Getty Images via DaylifeThe Times of London reports this morning that the head of the UN's International Panel on Climate Change, Rajendra Pachauri, was told that the IPCC assertion that Himalayan glaciers would disappear by 2035 was wrong, but he waited two months to take actions to correct it. Dr. Pachauri, who played a lead role at the recent Copenhagen climate summit where he called for drastic cuts in carbon emissions, corrected the error last week after coming under media scrutiny. Apparently, Dr. Pachauri told The Times as recently as January 22 that he had only known about…

  • Pass or Fail? Obama's State of the Union and Clean Energy Future

    greenskeptic
    28 Jan 2010 | 7:54 am
    Did President Obama pass or fail on energy in last night's State of the Union address?  I wasn't watching, but I've read the transcript.  Here are some of the choice bits: "We can put Americans to work today building the infrastructure of tomorrow. From the first railroads to the Interstate Highway System, our nation has always been built to compete. There's no reason Europe or China should have the fastest trains, or the new factories that manufacture clean energy products." Totally agree. We are already losing the clean energy race and need to do a lot to catch up. "We should put…

  • TerraCycle Upcycling Your Sharpie

    greenskeptic
    26 Jan 2010 | 3:00 pm
    Sharpie, Paper Mate and EXPO have formed a partnership with TerraCycle to repurpose used pens, markers and other writing instruments. Terracycle is a New Jersey-based "upcycling" company that finds new ways to repurpose otherwise throwaway items like juice pouches, chip bags and the like.  According to the company, the partnership "will create the world's first program to collect and reuse pens, markers and other writing instruments while also helping raise funds for schools, charities, and non-profits nationwide." Collection centers called "Writing Instrument Brigades" will be set…
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    msnbc.com: Environment

  • US to commit $78.5M to try to halt Asian carp

    8 Feb 2010 | 3:58 pm
    Navigational locks and gates in Chicago-area waterways crucial for shipping may be opened less frequently than usual under a $78.5 million campaign to prevent Asian carp from overrunning the Great Lakes, federal officials said Monday. Great Lakes - Asian carps - Fish - Fishing industry - Presidency of Barack Obama

  • Whaler, activist ship collide off Antarctica

    6 Feb 2010 | 4:36 am
    The anti-whaling ship the Bob Barker and a Japanese harpoon boat collided in the icy waters off Antarctica — the second major clash this year. Antarctica - Polar Regions - Whaler - Antarctic - Bob Barker

  • Video: Majora Carter: 'We have to dream bigger'

    5 Feb 2010 | 11:16 am
    Long before going green was chic, Majora Carter recognized an urgent need in communities that were hard-pressed to find even a park. Carter talks to NBC's Anne Thompson about her ongoing efforts to bring environmental justice to inner cities. (Nightly News) Majora Carter - NBC - NBC Nightly News - Environment - United States

  • Video: Greening an urban jungle in N.Y.

    5 Feb 2010 | 11:08 am
    Transforming her South Bronx neighborhood from urban wasteland into an urban oasis, environmental activist Majora Carter has become an unstoppable force in the green movement. NBC's Anne Thompson reports. (Nightly News) NBC - NBC Nightly News - Majora Carter - Environmentalism - Arts

  • Declined: Pika won't be protected species

    4 Feb 2010 | 3:09 pm
    Federal officials decide not to provide endangered species protections to the American pika, a tiny, mountain-dwelling animal thought to be struggling because of climate change. Climate change - Endangered species - United States - Environment - Animal
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    msnbc.com: Climate Change

  • Declined: Pika won't be protected species

    4 Feb 2010 | 3:09 pm
    Federal officials decide not to provide endangered species protections to the American pika, a tiny, mountain-dwelling animal thought to be struggling because of climate change.

  • EU: Hackers broke into cap-and-trade system

    4 Feb 2010 | 9:17 am
    The European Commission said Thursday that hackers used a spoof European Union Web site to try and steal information that would allow them to profit from the EU's cap-and-trade program.

  • Penn St. proceeding with scientist e-mail scrutiny

    3 Feb 2010 | 4:21 pm
    A Penn State University internal inquiry dismissed three allegations of research improprieties against a leading climate scientist but recommended further investigation into one allegation regarding leaked e-mails about global warming.

  • G-7 ministers are pawns in warming Arctic

    3 Feb 2010 | 1:08 pm
    Canada is hosting this week's Group of 7 economic meeting in a small town in the Arctic, in part to emphasize its claims to areas being warmed up and opened up.

  • Obama unveils coal, biofuel plans

    3 Feb 2010 | 12:41 pm
    Hoping to earn support from coal and farm states for an energy and climate bill, President Obama creates a task force to push for cleaner coal and unveils a plan to help finance biofuels.
 
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    ecorazzi

  • Want Score Dinner With Gerard Butler For $20?

    Michael d'Estries
    9 Feb 2010 | 8:22 am
    Attention ladies! Want to win a night on the town with Gerard Butler? The 300 star has launched an online raffle giving fans the chance to win a date by helping his favorite charity, Kids Kicking Cancer. The nonprofit is unique in that it helps empower young cancer patients through martial arts. From Look to the Stars, The star’s “officially unofficial” fan site, GerardButler.net, is asking fans to donate $20 to the charity to go in to the draw to win a trip to New York or LA from anywhere in the US to enjoy a private dinner with the star. Other prizes include the chance to visit the…

  • Richard Branson Warns Of Peak Oil In Five Years

    Michael d'Estries
    9 Feb 2010 | 8:03 am
    While theories differ on when the world will experience the hard hitting times of peak oil, Virgin boss Richard Branson is boldly predicting that will happen in the next five years. In the foreward to a new report being released shortly, Branson urges UK leaders to be proactive rather than reactive to peak oil. “The next five years will see us face another crunch – the oil crunch. This time, we do have the chance to prepare. The challenge is to use that time well,” Branson will say. “Our message to government and businesses is clear: act,” he says in a foreword to a…

  • Glee Star Lea Michele Credits Vegan Diet For Peppy Spirit

    Michael d'Estries
    9 Feb 2010 | 6:07 am
    The latest issue of OK! Magazine went straight to the source to find out how Glee star Lea Michele brings so much energy to her character Rachel. “I’m a vegan,” Lea told OK!. “It makes me feel really good and bright. You need a lot of energy to play spunky Rachel Berry, so I’ve tried a lot of different things — and so far, this is working.” Sound familiar? Back in August, Alicia Silverstone told Health Magazine that her vegan diet made her feel more “juicy” and “light”. “Right after I first made the switch to a plant-based diet,” she said,…

  • Hollywood Retreat Proves That Organic Simplicity Wins Out Over Glitz

    Elizah Leigh
    9 Feb 2010 | 5:54 am
    Best known for his successful, award-winning direction on the blockbusters Pleasantville (starring Reese Witherspoon and Tobey Maguire) and Seabiscuit (also starring Maguire, Jeff Bridges and Chris Cooper), Gary Ross has established himself as an Oscar-nominated screenwriter, actor, producer and Hollywood powerhouse. Those who are fortunate enough to enjoy such prominence and success in the entertainment industry might be inclined to bask in the glow of personal excess by living large, but Ross is content escaping to his family’s 3,500 square foot weekend home and appreciating the simple…

  • Tribal People Request The Help Of Avatar’s James Cameron

    Daelyn Fortney
    8 Feb 2010 | 2:14 pm
    Human rights organization, Survival International, has taken out an ad in Variety magazine pleading with James Cameron to help the Dongria Kondh tribe of Orissa, India. The organization points to similarities between the Na’vi in Avatar and the Dongria Kondh. “Just as the Na’vi describe the forest of Pandora as ‘their everything,’ for the Dongria Kondh, life and land have always been deeply connected,” says Survival International’s director Stephen Corry. “The fundamental story of Avatar – if you take away the multi-coloured lemurs, the long-trunked horses and warring…
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    Earth911.com

  • $400M Healthy Food Financing Initiative Proposed in Presidential Budget

    Lori Brown
    8 Feb 2010 | 11:02 pm
    A $400 million investment in fresh food programs for low-income communities has been suggested in the recently released 2011 Presidential budget proposal. The public-private grant and loan program would invest in new and expanded supermarkets,...

  • Scientists Use Fungi to Break Down BPA

    Trey Granger
    8 Feb 2010 | 11:01 pm
    Indian scientists Mukesh Doble and Trishul Artham have determined that plastics containing Bisphenol A (BPA) are able to decompose faster that untreated plastics, which may provide a solution for how to dispose of these products, according to...

  • We’ve Found the Most Recycled Material of 2009

    Jennifer Berry
    7 Feb 2010 | 11:03 pm
    Earth911.com released the results of its 2009 Annual Recycling Report, with electronics such as computers, batteries and televisions topping the list of most recycled materials. “Electronics have always been popular searches on Earth911.com, but...

  • Waste Management Head Goes Undercover; You Won’t Believe What He Saw

    Amanda Wills
    7 Feb 2010 | 11:02 pm
    For those of you who turned off the TV after the Saints’ big win, we’ll tell you about our second favorite highlight of the night. CBS premiered its new series “Undercover Boss,” a reality show in which heads of major...

  • What “Bio” Really Means

    Jennifer Berry
    7 Feb 2010 | 11:01 pm
    In the ever-changing world of consumer products, “bio” is gearing up to be the new buzzword (or prefix – take your pick) of the decade. More and more products are hitting the shelves that are made of bio-based materials and/or are...
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    The Green Girls

  • Grow Your Own Groceries Using a Virtual Garden Tool

    8 Feb 2010 | 12:59 pm
    Would you like to grow your own organic groceries but just don’t know where to begin?  You may think vegetable gardening requires a large yard, is extremely time consuming, confusing, and grueling hard work...lies I tell you!  Vegetable gardening can be very simple and fun, my advice is to start out small and stay organized.  The perfect way to stay organized is to take advantage of an online garden planner!  You can quickly plan, design and lay out your “virtual garden".  Additional features include guidelines on when and how to plant your veggies,…

  • Video: Livin' Live Walnut Red Pepper Pate!

    7 Feb 2010 | 8:08 pm
    Raw food is NUTRITIOUS & DELICIOUS! This is one of my favorite pates. The great thing about raw food is that is simple to make and tasty to eat. Don't forget to use all organic ingredients! The real deal behind eating raw food is that it is the highest vibrational food available on the planet - it is organic, fresh (live) and thus the most nutrient-dense. For optimum health, clarity of mind and energy - eat REAL FOOD!     Watch More Videos! Ingredients: 4 c. soaked organic walnuts (soak & rinse with filtered water) 2 red peppers cut in…

  • Ask Diva: Bath Oil For Babies?

    7 Feb 2010 | 7:00 am
    Dear Diva, Do you have any suggestions for Bath oil for babies for dry winter skin? One we were using contains parabens :( Any suggestions? Help, Diva! photo via boopsie.daisy Dear DuckDuckGreen, Great question and one that a few friends have been asking about. One friend who lives in Cold, Dry Eastern Canada has had good success with Petroleum Jelly, but really didn't like the "petroleum" part of that solution. I was thrilled to tell her that Alba makes a product called Un-Petroleum Jelly, scores a 1 in the Cosmetics Database…

  • American Cities Powered by Sustainability

    6 Feb 2010 | 2:06 pm
    We are watching a renaissance of the American city powered by sustainability. New city buildings are cleaner, more efficient and healthier. Cities are scaling up building retrofit programs, yielding significant energy and water reductions.     Improvements in transportation are better supporting walkability and green neighborhoods. Local food markets are sprouting up all across the country. And by responding to these myriad sustainability challenges, our cities are not only creating better places to live, but driving a clean energy economy, helping to save residents money and…

  • Video: DIY Makeover for Valentine's Day

    6 Feb 2010 | 1:35 pm
    Go green this Valentine's Day and give yourself a homemade facial and hair treatment. What You'll Need: 4 tbsp olive oil 2 tsp salt 2 tbsp organic yogurt 1-2 tbsp honey  Hot Oil Hair Treatment This treatment will give your hair lots of shine and hydration, and help reduce any split ends. To begin, wet your hair and microwave 2 tbsp of olive oil for 20 seconds. Massage the oil into your hair from scalp to the ends and then tie it back. While this treatment is working let's start the facial. Hydrating Facial (Scrub & Mask) The facial consist of a scrub and a mask that will…
 
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    The Alternative Consumer

  • upcycled olde growth pine for home decor

    Maureen
    9 Feb 2010 | 8:37 am
    If you’d like to spiff-up your desk, check out this Gerboa Desk Caddy made from antique wood, (olde growth pine that was upcycled from floor joists from Philadelphia in the 1800s).  The image of the Gerboa is from an 1885 Victorian animal book; it’s decoupaged onto the wood’s surface.  The caddy measures 6 x 3 [...]

  • recycled sterling silver rings

    Maureen
    9 Feb 2010 | 7:01 am
    Compelled to buy something for your honey for Valentine’s Day?  How about making your expression of affection both a little greener, and a little more elegant by gifting this Fancy Bow Ring made from recycled sterling silver; ($80). This Brooklyn based designer combines painting, drawing and design to create a variety of jewelry and printed wares [...]

  • sustainability spectrum part 2

    Rose
    9 Feb 2010 | 6:13 am
    In the second installment of Sustainability Spectrum, we hear from Paul David Terry, a musician and teacher living in San Diego. Paul David Terry is a musician based out of San Diego.  He performs with the San Diego opera, and is the director of the UC San Diego Pepband.  At his home in Hillcrest he [...]

  • eco furniture find: snug it! shelf

    rd
    8 Feb 2010 | 9:40 am
    You can use the snug it! as a shelving or storage unit, room divider or plant stand, or a home for all your funky collectibles.  This geometric shelving unit assembles with 100% aluminum connectors that are readily recyclable. It can be purchased and built from a variety of eco-friendly woods including:  Douglas Fir from reclaimed bleachers, [...]

  • a big batch of green news

    rd
    8 Feb 2010 | 7:03 am
    Hey Detroit…can you spell opportunity? Toyota to Announce Action Soon for Prius Hybrids – yahoo! news You gotta believe it’s rising faster in the USA…BBC Poll Shows Climate Skepticism ‘on the rise’ – bbc Wild Tigers Numbers in China Declining – enn/reuters Hey Saints fans…more good news…Beer May be Good for Your Bones – livescience High Above, Insects [...]
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    Environment News Network

  • Beans climb to new heights in Rwanda

    8 Feb 2010 | 3:55 am
    Climbing beans suited to rainy high-altitude areas are being distributed in Rwanda after a decade of research. The fifteen varieties, developed by the Rwandan Agricultural Research Institute (ISAR) in collaboration with the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), could benefit smallholder farmers in similar areas across Central and East Africa. Unlike the more commonly-planted 'bush beans', the beans are resistant to legume diseases such as anthracnose, root rot and ascochyta, which are found in damp, higher altitude areas.

  • Wild tigers in China declining - habitat destruction, poaching to blame

    8 Feb 2010 | 3:17 am
    China has an estimated 50 or fewer tigers left living in the wild, but efforts to stabilize one population in the bleak northeast are starting to pay off, a conservationist said on Monday. Tigers once roamed huge swathes of China, right up to the now booming east coast. Their population has collapsed due to habitat destruction on the back of rapid economic development and poaching for tiger products to use in traditional medicine. About 10 still live in the southwestern province of Yunnan, some 15 in Tibet, and 20 or so in northwestern Jilin and Heilongjiang provinces, said Xie Yan, China…

  • Sea Level Rises and Falls

    7 Feb 2010 | 4:50 am
    The sea level in Israel has been rising and falling over the past 2,500 years, with a one-meter difference between the highest and lowest levels, most of the time below the present-day level. This has been shown in a new study supervised by Dr. Dorit Sivan, Head of the Department of Maritime Civilizations at the University of Haifa. "Rises and falls in sea level over relatively short periods do not testify to a long-term trend. It is early yet to conclude from the short-term increases in sea level that this is a set course that will not take a change in direction," explains Dr. Sivan.

  • Arctic climate changing fast

    7 Feb 2010 | 4:15 am
    Climate change is transforming the Arctic environment faster than expected and accelerating the disappearance of sea ice, scientists said on Friday in giving their early findings from the biggest-ever study of Canada's changing north. The research project involved more than 370 scientists from 27 countries who collectively spent 15 months, starting in June 2007, aboard a research vessel above the Arctic Circle. It marked the first time a ship has stayed mobile in Canada's high Arctic for an entire winter.

  • Alternative Energy Grows in Europe

    6 Feb 2010 | 5:42 am
    Wind and solar technology made up over half of Europe’s new electricity generating capacity in 2009, as the number of new coal and nuclear facilities fell More wind capacity was installed in Europe during 2009 than any other electricity-generating technology, according to statistics released today by the European Wind Energy Association (EWEA). Wind accounted for 39 per cent of increased European energy capacity, ahead of gas (26 per cent) and solar (16 per cent). In contrast, the nuclear and coal power sectors decommissioned more megawatts of capacity than they installed in 2009, with a…
 
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    Current_Green

  • How Audi’s green police SuperBowl Sunday made want to quit being green

    Leah Lamb
    8 Feb 2010 | 3:33 pm
    And so now the green movement is being marketed to men. Or so Audi  pretends in their Superbowl ad for their TDI Diesel (which can be converted to a biodiesel if you have a station in your home town). Ya know, I like that Audi makes TDI’s. I do. I hate this ad. While on the surface it almost looks like a PSA that educates about the basic environmental practices in re: to plastics, battery recycling, composting, Styrofoam and water usage; after viewing it I walked away with the odd association of feeling constricted and constrained by doing all of those small daily practices for the…

  • Attacking the king of the ocean: The sharks that can’t fight back (video)

    Leah Lamb
    8 Feb 2010 | 10:10 am
    On my first open water dive in Hawaii I swam near a shark. Even though it demonstrated nothing but shy and skiddish behavior I couldn’t get that d#!# Jaws theme music out of my head. And for good reason, when most people hear the word shark, they think about the Great White shark, the king of the oceans, the top predator on the planet. While attending the Ocean Film Festival this weekend I watched Requiem (while the film was too long and required patience to endure inexperienced filmmaking), it was worth it to see the awesome underwater footage as the filmmaker followed an underwater…

  • Coping with Copenhagen: We are not waiting for a document, we are the document.

    Leah Lamb
    5 Feb 2010 | 10:07 am
    In the closing hours of 2009, people from around the world gathered to witness and attempt to influence the activities of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the 5th Meeting of the Parties (COP/MOP 5) to the Kyoto Protocol. Current Green called into Copenhagen each day to get the perspective of activists, policy experts, and environmental enthusiasts. We circled ’round and asked the people we interviewed to check back in with us and give us their 20/20 perspective on their experience. Our first entry comes from Kevin Buckland, the art ambassador for 350.org,…

  • The missing ingredients in Obama’s new clean energy agenda

    Leah Lamb
    5 Feb 2010 | 9:17 am
    The following guest post was written by Sarah Laskow, Media Consortium Blogger (you can also follow them on Twitter). Nuclear power, biofuels, clean coal: These are the Obama administration’s answers to climate change. The 2011 budget, released this week, promised new loans for the construction of nuclear power plants, and on Wednesday the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), White House, and other departments detailed steps to encourage ethanol and clean coal production. These initiatives may garner support from conservatives, but their ascendancy comes at a price. Support for…

  • Paradise Lost: 2 films about the oceans that are flying under the radar

    Leah Lamb
    4 Feb 2010 | 11:40 am
    The opening night of the San Francisco Ocean Film Festival left me with two favorite finds: The first was KQED’s profile (produced by Amy Miller and Joan Johnson) of Sylvia Earle. Sylvia’s enthusiasm and adoration for ocean exploration is contagious. The stories about Earle’s experience of being the first female explorer as well as one of the first deep water explorers were inspiring, informative and entertaining. (Earle and 5 other female scientists lived at the bottom of the ocean for two weeks; when they set out, the main questions asked by reporters were about how they…
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    The Oil Drum - Discussions about Energy and Our Future

  • How to Write Letters to the Editor

    Gail the Actuary
    9 Feb 2010 | 6:30 am
    This is a guest post by Oil Drum reader Carl Henn. I spend a lot of time reading The Oil Drum. It helps me to understand the nature of the energy and economic problems we face. These problems are complex and important, so it is easy to spend an inordinate amount of time trying to understand them. But it has become clear to me that we will have to address our problems without fully understanding the mess we are in. The average Oil Drum reader understands our problems far better than the average citizen. The average Joe may yet not have heard of Peak Oil, let alone the Export Land Model. We…

  • Drumbeat: February 9, 2010

    Gail the Actuary
    8 Feb 2010 | 8:15 pm
    Ghana Blocks Exxon Oil-Field Deal The government of Ghana blocked the estimated $4 billion sale of a stake in a huge oil field, foiling months of talks between potential buyer Exxon Mobil Corp. and the stake's owner, Kosmos Energy LLC. The government accused Dallas-based Kosmos of cutting Ghana's state-run oil company out of discussions about the field's development and then sharing information about the field with potential buyers without government permission. The government in recent months itself has scouted for partners to work with Ghana's oil company, including state-run China National…

  • Delusions of Finance: Where We are Headed

    Gail the Actuary
    8 Feb 2010 | 6:51 am
    Back in October, I participated in the 2nd International Biophysical Economics Conference at SUNY-ESF in Syracuse, New York. Charlie Hall had written to me, inviting me to come and give a talk. Specifically, he wanted me to go back to my post from January 2008 called Peak Oil and the Financial Markets: A Forecast for 2008 and explain why my forecasts had turned out pretty close to correct, while many others widely missed the mark. The title he suggested for the talk was Delusions of Finance. My financial forecast really has implications for beyond 2008, so I added some more forecasting…

  • Drumbeat: February 8, 2010

    Gail the Actuary
    8 Feb 2010 | 6:33 am
    Obama renews call for oil taxes in 2011 budget "For our members—the small businessmen and women of our nation's oil and gas industry—this is a knockout blow," Somerlyn Cothran, executive director of the National Stripper Well Association in Tulsa, said on Feb. 2. "Implementation of this budget proposal would mean a significant loss of jobs and a dramatic loss of tax revenues for each of the 35 states where our members are productive, contributing businesses. Plus, the resulting decrease in oil production will serve only to make America even more dependent upon foreign oil." Cothran noted…

  • The THAI process for bitumen and heavy oil

    Heading Out
    7 Feb 2010 | 5:14 am
    For a while, when I was a student, I had an attic bedroom that was heated by a small coal fire, with a relatively short chimney up to the roof. I learned, fairly early on, that in starting the fire you needed a fairly high velocity air flow across the coals, and underlying firewood strips. And to get this I would rest a shovel over the front of the fireplace, and try and seal off the sides. I kept a small bellows beside the fire to help when this wasn’t particularly successful. When you are starting a fire underground the provision of air is critical, but when you are trying to burn the…
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    EcoSalon

  • How Green Is My Volley! Tennis, Golf Score Points for Eco Elements

    Green is now in play in the games of tennis and golf, part of the ritzy turf beyond the perennial rye grass planted in Wimbledon in 2001 and the countless courses of manicured sod watered daily worldwide. Can eco gear improve the sports? At least it makes the athletes feel they're ...

  • The Chicks Aren’t All Right

    The tens of thousands of albatross chicks who have been sickened or killed by lead-based paint can’t exactly walk into a courtroom and stand up for themselves – so an environmental group is doing it for them. The Center for Biological Diversity filed a notice of intent to sue the U.S. ...

  • Calling All Carnivores: 7 Painless Ways to Be an Almost-Vegetarian

    Call it flexitarianism, conscious meat consumption, or low meat eating, lots of people are saving the flesh for special occasions and adopting a veg-centric diet. If you’ve been thinking about going vegetarian or vegan for the planet, but you really like meat and think you’ll miss it, or you’re worried ...

  • Clary Sage Organics Yoga Cami + Ribbon Pants Giveaway

    Clary Sage Organics Black Ribbon Pants with a Black Essential Cami I love that yoga clothing has gotten a lot more fashion-forward, don’t you? Gone are the days of moms in old leotards and tights doing Jazzercise with their breasts bouncing to the beat of Laura Branigan's “Gloria!" Movin your Boogie Body? Clary Sage ...

  • Coca-Cola Puts on Green Guise for the Winter Olympics

    The 2010 Winter Olympic Games are going for the green, and even sponsor Coca-Cola is getting in on the sustainable action. The company is aiming to have a net-zero carbon footprint and net-zero waste at the Games, including plant-based packaging, energy conservation and a broad recycling effort. Coke will be delivering ...
 
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    digg.com: Stories / Environment / Popular

  • Amazon River Water Being Stolen and Bottled Abroad

    9 Feb 2010 | 12:20 am
    A recently published report is exposing some shocking exploitation of the Amazon's natural resources--and this times it's water being stolen. Where is this water headed? According to the report, "tankers are quietly removing water" to be bottled and sold in Europe and the Middle East.

  • Insects Use Wind to Travel Efficiently at 60 MPH or Faster

    8 Feb 2010 | 10:50 pm
    Migrating insects have evolved to take advantage very efficiently of high speed winds (up to 60 MPH, possibly more) to travel hundreds of kilometers in relatively short periods of time, all that while correcting for crosswinds taking them off-course, and expanding as little energy as possible.

  • 12,500 Recycled Plastic Bottles Set Sail on Shakedown Cruise

    8 Feb 2010 | 10:10 pm
    A strange looking vessel took a leisurely sail on San Francisco Bay - a shakedown voyage for a plastic, fantastic adventure that should finally start next month. The boat is the 60-foot-long catamaran Plastiki, which David de Rothschild, the 31-year-old scion of the British banking family, plans to sail across the Pacific to Australia in March.

  • 'Fewer than 50 wild tigers' left in China

    8 Feb 2010 | 10:00 pm
    Fewer than 50 wild tigers remain in China, a conservation group said Monday, voicing hope that the Year of the Tiger would not be the last for the endangered cats.

  • Even if You're Careful, Drugs Can End Up in Water- NYTimes

    8 Feb 2010 | 9:42 pm
    PORTLAND, Maine (AP) -- A study in Maine shows that unused or expired medications that are thrown into the trash are showing up in landfill water, potentially putting aquatic life at risk.
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    Yale Environment 360

  • Blue Whales Songs Deepen As Populations Rebound, Researcher Says

    Yale Environment 360
    8 Feb 2010 | 9:06 am
    Male blue whales have been singing at a lower pitch in recent decades, and one oceanographer suggests it is linked to growing populations following the elimination of whale hunting. Songs used by blue whales worldwide to warn off predators and attract mates have become increasingly deeper in tone and are now about 30 percent lower than during the 1960s, says John Hildebrand, a marine biologist at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography. The reason, he believes, is that whale populations have grown significantly since hunting was banned in 1966, and male blue whales now feel less urgency to…

  • Black Soot is Main Cause Of Himalayan Glacier Melt, Study Says

    Yale Environment 360
    8 Feb 2010 | 8:24 am
    Aerosols and black carbon from air pollution may be responsible for as much as 90 percent of the melting taking place in Himalayan glaciers, according to a new study. The study, conducted by scientists at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, said that soot and pollution not only soak up heat and warm the atmosphere, but the deposition of black carbon on snow and ice absorbs sunlight, further hastening glacial melt. The study, published online in the journal Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics, said that warming from greenhouse gas emissions may only be responsible for about 10 percent of…

  • America’s Unfounded Fears of A Green-Tech Race with China

    Yale Environment 360
    8 Feb 2010 | 5:34 am
    There has been growing talk about a clean-tech race between China and the U.S., often cast in ominous tones. But the quest to develop and implement renewable energy can be one where both nations win. BY CHRISTINA LARSON

  • Ancient Feathers Provide First Evidence of Color of Dinosaurs

    Yale Environment 360
    5 Feb 2010 | 9:40 am
    Researchers studying the fossils of ancient birds have been able to reconstruct the colorful plumage of ancient birds, using the first evidence of the actual colors of dinosaurs. By examining microscopic pigment sacs called melanosomes found in fossil feathers, Yale University researchers were able to construct a color portrait of the Anchiornis huxleyi, a bird that has been extinct for 150 million years. The scientists say the four-winged chicken-sized bird, which lived in China during the Jurassic era, had a gray body, a reddish-brown, Mohawk-like crest, speckles on its face, and white…

  • Mideast Project Develops Biofuel with Water from the Sea

    Yale Environment 360
    4 Feb 2010 | 11:27 pm
    Researchers in the Middle East are developing a technology they say will convert saltwater-tolerant crops into jet fuel, creating a biofuel that doesn’t consume huge amounts of fresh water or take land away from food crops. The Masdar Institute in the United Arab Emirates is creating a demonstration farm that will use a system called integrated seawater agriculture, in which seawater would be transported via canal to a desert-based farm that combines fish and shrimp farming with cultivation of mangrove trees and salicornia, whose seeds can be converted into fuel. The effluent from the fish…
 
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    Reuters: Environment

  • Baltic Sea states seek clean-up; Russia expands oil

    9 Feb 2010 | 7:14 am
    HELSINKI (Reuters) - Political and business leaders meet in Helsinki on Wednesday to spur efforts to clean up the Baltic sea, which has suffered from decades of pollution and is a focus of Russia's oil and gas expansion plans.

  • India delays GM vegetable start for further tests

    9 Feb 2010 | 6:14 am
    NEW DELHI (Reuters) - India has postponed the launch of its first genetically modified (GM) vegetable, saying it would adopt a cautious approach and wait for more scientific studies on the impact of the new variety of eggplant.

  • Price ultimate driver of greener energy use: GE

    9 Feb 2010 | 5:19 am
    LONDON (Reuters) - Pricing systems that encourage households to use energy more efficiently are the best way to help consumers to protect the environment, a senior General Electric Co executive said on Tuesday.

  • Czechs tap Norwegian firm for coal plant study

    9 Feb 2010 | 3:25 am
    PRAGUE (Reuters) - The Czech environment ministry has picked Norwegian firm DNV to assess expansion plans at a coal-fired power plant which has raised objections from the tiny Pacific nation of Micronesia.

  • China says water pollution double official figure

    8 Feb 2010 | 10:36 pm
    BEIJING (Reuters) - A new Chinese government survey of the country's environmental problems has shown water pollution levels in 2007 were more than twice the government's official estimate, largely because agricultural waste was ignored.
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    Great Green Goods - Shopping the Eco-friendly Way!

  • Eco-friendly Bags

    green
    29 Jan 2010 | 5:30 pm
    We’re introducing a new advertiser on GreatGreenGoods today …and we are so happy to have them! If you looking for a good looking bag that is also eco-friendly, you can’t go wrong with a bag from instinctive. They are made with recycled materials (the main body fabric, the polyester webbing and the plastic buckles are all recycled) and they are manufactured in a Fair Labor Association and Social Accountability International approved factory. What separates instinctive from the pack is that they have a lifetime “Takeback” policy….which means that if you want…

  • Recycled blue jeans

    green
    24 Jan 2010 | 3:51 pm
    Working with recycled blue jeans is pretty easy ….just hit a couple of yard sales and buy up whatever you can find! When you style and size are not an issue, the material seems to be in abundance everywhere!! ....Here are a few artists that are making magic out of this ubiquitous fabric …. These have so much personality and life! ...check out her blog for more denim loveliness – http://ilovedenim.blogspot.com. Top – $60.00 at Barbara Bearo’s Etsy Shop. Bottom – $80.00 at Barbara Bearo’s Etsy Shop. This rug is created entirely from old jeans…and…

  • Crafting with Recycled Materials

    green
    18 Jan 2010 | 9:31 pm
    Nothing is better than playing crafting with things you were going to throw away. Trash to treasure baby! Some folks refer to the Big Green Book of Recycled Crafts ( Leisure Arts #4802) as the bible of recycled craft books. Leisure Arts was one of the first to publish books in this genre and many of us loved the old favorite Trash to Treasure. This book will not disappoint. It contains many crafts made from everyday materials like glass, paper, plastic bags and what-have-you. How about the bird bungalows made from plastic laundry soap bottles? Or a recycled bag keeper made from the sleeve of…

  • Bags To Riches – Recycled Vases

    green
    5 Jan 2010 | 7:47 pm
    Vases created by the creative and hard-working Etsy artist Diane K Designs. Each vase is made from recycled department store bags and grocery bags, which have been cut, folded, chained, sewn, and sealed. These are a part of a limited series and one of a kind. $55.00 for the top vase and $89.00 for the bottom vase at Diane K Designs’ Etsy Shop

  • Recycled Tin Bi-Plane from South Africa

    green
    31 Dec 2009 | 12:15 pm
    Made from recycled aluminum soda cans, this biplane would bring any room to life. It is made with such detail that the propeller and wheels turn, and it has a hook for hanging. The plane is approximately 9.5 inches in length and 4.5 inches in height. $34.99 at Gifts with Humanity
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    msnbc.com: Environment

  • US to commit $78.5M to try to halt Asian carp

    8 Feb 2010 | 3:58 pm
    Navigational locks and gates in Chicago-area waterways crucial for shipping may be opened less frequently than usual under a $78.5 million campaign to prevent Asian carp from overrunning the Great Lakes, federal officials said Monday. Great Lakes - Asian carps - Fish - Fishing industry - Presidency of Barack Obama

  • Whaler, activist ship collide off Antarctica

    6 Feb 2010 | 4:36 am
    The anti-whaling ship the Bob Barker and a Japanese harpoon boat collided in the icy waters off Antarctica — the second major clash this year. Antarctica - Polar Regions - Whaler - Antarctic - Bob Barker

  • Video: Majora Carter: 'We have to dream bigger'

    5 Feb 2010 | 11:16 am
    Long before going green was chic, Majora Carter recognized an urgent need in communities that were hard-pressed to find even a park. Carter talks to NBC's Anne Thompson about her ongoing efforts to bring environmental justice to inner cities. (Nightly News) Majora Carter - NBC - NBC Nightly News - Environment - United States

  • Video: Greening an urban jungle in N.Y.

    5 Feb 2010 | 11:08 am
    Transforming her South Bronx neighborhood from urban wasteland into an urban oasis, environmental activist Majora Carter has become an unstoppable force in the green movement. NBC's Anne Thompson reports. (Nightly News) NBC - NBC Nightly News - Majora Carter - Environmentalism - Arts

  • Declined: Pika won't be protected species

    4 Feb 2010 | 3:09 pm
    Federal officials decide not to provide endangered species protections to the American pika, a tiny, mountain-dwelling animal thought to be struggling because of climate change. Climate change - Endangered species - United States - Environment - Animal
 
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    bizjournals Green - View Environmental Green Business News

  • Commercial Collections Company is GREEN

    2 Feb 2010 | 6:26 am
    Schwartz, Beinhem & Weismann is a Commercial Collection Agency that cares about people, the environment and doing something about it. Our entire operation is electronic. All paperwork, documents, contacts, phone calls are handled and recorded electronically. In fact we are so green that we almost do not even need an office to work from. We use state of the art specialized software and good old fashioned relationship building skills to get the job done. We only have expert negotiators with many years of experience handling our cases. Schwartz, Beinhem & Weismann we believe in educating…

  • Green Trends in Data centers: Great progress on many fronts, work to be done on others.

    28 Nov 2009 | 7:43 pm
    The AFCOM association recently revealed the results of a survey of 436 data center sites that showed the following trends:  cyber terrorism is an increasing concern, mainframe deployment to be on the decline, storage deployment to be on the rise, and "green" technologies to be definitely happening. It was found that there is a shift in data centers away from mainframe computers and toward other types of servers. That makes total sense as virtualization is the mantra of the day for those companies that are interested in optimizing their power by having several operating systems function…

  • Talking plugs can be a smart investment

    26 Nov 2009 | 5:19 pm
    There is a huge initiative among companies like Google, IBM, Cisco and so many other smaller smart grid players to make the grid more modernized using cutting edge digital technology and  tackle environmental issues, cost reduction  and energy conservation.The common smart grid devices that have invaded the market are smart meters, data concentrators, system monitoring software, etc. They help utilities oversee the precise location of electricity consumption and predict potential blackout areas. Home owners can also monitor more clearly where and how the electricity is being…

  • Wake Tech Cuts Ribbon on "Greenest" New Building

    20 Oct 2009 | 12:02 pm
    CONTACT Laurie Clowers               919-866-5929 (office) 919-337-2240 (cell) lcclowers@waketech.edu   FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   Wake Tech Cuts Ribbon on “Greenest” New Building   Facility on Northern Wake Campus to Meet LEED Silver Certification       RALEIGH, N.C.  (October 20, 2009) — Educators, business leaders, elected officials and Wake Tech Trustees joined Dr. Stephen Scott, President of Wake Technical Community College, in cutting the ribbon for the newest building at the…

  • Horizon Builders Honored as one of America's Top Firms at the 2009 Builder's Choice Design & Planning Awards

    20 Oct 2009 | 9:38 am
     Firm strengthens awards portfolio with Wm. S. Marvin Hall of Fame induction   Crofton, Md. -- October 13, 2009 -- Horizon Builders, a firm specializing in the construction of architect-designed, custom homes in the mid-Atlantic region, and Custom Home magazine’s 2009 Builder of the Year, announced today that it was inducted into BUILDER magazine’s Wm. S. Marvin Hall of Fame for Design Excellence. BUILDER is the magazine of the National Association of Home Builders and as such, this honor further strengthens the firm’s already significant awards portfolio. Horizon Builders was…
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    greenUPGRADER

  • Give Your Household Cleaners a Green and Nontoxic Upgrade

    Tim Hurst
    8 Feb 2010 | 6:19 pm
    Is your home hiding a toxic hot spot? If you’re using conventional products, the answer is probably yes. Related posts:Etsy Finds to Keep Your Home Clean and Green Conventional household cleaners can be full of nasty stuff....Cleaning Green: An Ode to Vinegar Plain old vinegar has so many uses beyond being...Green Clean or Marketing Greenwash? Let’s be honest here: everyone is “green” these days....Borax: The Unsung Green Cleaning Hero Baking soda and vinegar are the superstars of natural,...

  • How Green Is that Corn Cup?

    Becky Striepe
    8 Feb 2010 | 4:44 am
    Where can folks take that compostable dishware? It doesn't decompose in a regular compost pile, but instead requires very high temperatures to break down, which you're really only going to get in a commercial facility. Most cities don't have easy access to municipal composting, so what does that mean for all of that "green" compostable plastic? How green is it really? Related posts:DMB Promoting Green with SO MUCH TO SAVE As part of the Bama Project, the Dave Matthews...Sprint, Samsung Test Green Waters with Reclaim Phone The new green-themed Reclaim made by Samsung is more...Does the Package…

  • ‘Green Police’ Super Bowl Ad Touts Clean Diesel Audi A3 TDI

    Tim Hurst
    7 Feb 2010 | 8:01 pm
    After teasing the with two "Green Police" commercials in the days leading up to the Super Bowl, Audi ran a spot during the game featuring a montage of environmental infractions being busted by the "Green Police." Related posts:Raymond James Stadium Green Super Bowl Initiative While preparing for the Super Bowl , the NFL...2x the Horsepower, 4x the MPG - Green Hummers Upgrade: $28K-40K A Hummer with good gas mileage?  A bio-diesel...10 Tips for Better Gas Mileage With the volatility of the global oil market and...22 Years Until Clean Energy? How long will it take us to get to...

  • A White Roof Is a Cool Roof: How to Reduce Home Energy Use by 20%

    Beth Buczynski
    5 Feb 2010 | 1:18 pm
    Want to put something on your roof that saves energy and puts some money back in your pocket? Light-colored or white roofs, also known as "cool roofs", can reflect the sun’s heat and emit absorbed radiation back into the atmosphere. Related posts:Roof Tiles that Power Your Home? Just say, Solé! These days it seems there are plenty of reasons...GreenSwitch - Reduce Home Energy Consumption Upgrade: $1125+ The most complete solution to the Standby Power...Save Energy, Stay Cool, Tinted UV Blocking Window Film   The heat is on here in the northeast and...Sun Lizard Climate Control Roofing…

  • Hot or Not? Machine Turns Office Paper into Toilet Paper

    Becky Striepe
    4 Feb 2010 | 10:47 am
    A new machine from Japanese company Oriental might make choosing recycled easier than ever, or it could be an expensive unitasker. You decide! Related posts:Choose Recycled Content Toilet Paper: Save Ancient Forests What’s your choice for taking care of business? Is...Closing the Poop Loop: DIY Humanure Toilet When you’re going green you can’t be afraid to talk...Wash Your Hands with Toilet Water: Toilet Lid Sink Upgrade: $89 A low-flow toilet kit, or a dual flush...TerraCycle & OfficeMax: Eco-Friendly Office Products Upgrade: $2+ TerraCycle has partnered up with…
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    Huffington Post: Latest Green News

  • DC Snow Time Lapse VIDEO: Amazing!

    Nico Pitney
    9 Feb 2010 | 8:28 am
    YouTube user 'amandareckonwith' posted this time lapse video showing the massive snowfall in Washington DC on February 5 and 6. The user writes that the video was made with a "Nikon D200 set to make an exposure every 5 minutes. 328 frames at 12 fps."

  • SIGNUP: The Week of Eating In

    Adam Clark Estes
    9 Feb 2010 | 8:13 am
    HuffPost Green readers have shown that they are totally engaged on topics like the local food movement, sustainable agriculture, factory farming, seafood politics, farmers markets and even hot farmers. But now we'd like to invite you to go beyond just consuming news to present you with a way to make it all personal. So that's why we'd like to invite you to participate in The Week Of Eating In Challenge. To keep in touch, please sign up below. Loading...

  • The Week Of Eating In: Everything You Need To Know

    Katherine Goldstein
    9 Feb 2010 | 6:32 am
    We'd like to invite you to participate in a special project brought to you by HuffPost Green and HuffPost Eyes&Ears. What: A week-long experiment in cooking your own food inspired by Cathy Erway, author of The Art of Eating In. We'll be providing awesome commentary and how-to's on everything from how to not waste food to great winter recipes. And we'll invite you to share your experiences with the HuffPost Community. When: February 22-28th, 2010. Who: Anyone from eco-warriors to average Joes, from to accomplished gourmands to first-time novices are invited to participate. Why: Not only do we…

  • India's First GM Food Crop Put On Hold Due To Safety Concerns

    Gazelle Emami
    9 Feb 2010 | 6:12 am
    India has deferred the commercial cultivation of what would have been its first genetically modified (GM)vegetable crop due to safety concerns.

  • Eco-Food Buzz Words: What Do They Mean? (PHOTOS)

    Gazelle Emami
    9 Feb 2010 | 6:10 am
    Local. Organic. Cage Free. Free Range. What does it all mean? It's easy to get overwhelmed by the sheer number of labels out there for your food, and more importantly, to know which ones to trust. As part of our Week of Eating In challenge, we've compiled a list of the biggest eco-food buzz words that will help guide your choices at the grocery store. Which food product/philosophy do you think is the best way to eat?
 
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    Huffington Post: The Green Blog

  • Phineas Baxandall: In The Public Interest: What's Next for High-Speed Rail?

    Phineas Baxandall
    9 Feb 2010 | 8:10 am
    Last the nation learned that 31 states will receive one-time high-speed rail stimulus grants totaling $8 billion. But what happens next? The last time our country sought to achieve a national infrastructure vision was in the 1950s. Roadways between cities at the time were haphazard and largely mud or gravel. President Dwight D. Eisenhower had seen the future in the German autobahn and set out to construct a national network of limited-access highways connecting major American cities. It took over three decades of sustained investment to complete that vision. The result was "the greatest…

  • Jonathan A. Schein: White Goat or White Elephant?

    Jonathan A. Schein
    9 Feb 2010 | 7:40 am
    If you haven't heard about it yet, the Oriental Co., of Japan, has created a paper shredder that converts used office paper into rolls of toilet tissue. Named "White Goat," the machine is said to weigh approximately 63,000 pounds and costs about $100,000. All it takes is electricity, water, and 40 sheets of paper, and in 30 minutes a roll pops out. Please excuse the pun. How exactly does this make a difference in our climate, our carbon footprint, or our ability to recycle efficiently? First, moving 63,000 pounds of anything takes an awful lot of energy. Then there is the question of how much…

  • Katherine Goldstein: The Week Of Eating In: A HuffPost Green And Eyes&Ears Challenge

    Katherine Goldstein
    9 Feb 2010 | 6:26 am
    We'd like to invite you to eat with us. As HuffPost Green has expanded and grown over the past year and a half, we've come to learn that our readers are extremely passionate about all things food. How we eat impacts everything from climate change to the farmers in our communities to our country's growing waistlines. HuffPost Green readers have shown that they are totally engaged on topics like the local food movement, sustainable agriculture, factory farming, seafood politics, farmers markets and even hot farmers. But now we'd like to invite you to go beyond just consuming news to present you…

  • Naomi Klein: We Must Stand with Tim DeChristopher

    Naomi Klein
    8 Feb 2010 | 4:45 pm
    The climate movement is at a turning point. Copenhagen failed to produce a meaningful binding agreement. The Senate's proposed climate legislation doesn't come close to solving the crisis and even that weak measure appears stalled. Climate change denialists, meanwhile, are in a celebratory mood, with far too many ill-informed citizens falling for their aggressive misinformation campaign. It's time for the movement that had so much momentum in the lead up to Copenhagen to go on the offensive once again. We see the trial of Tim DeChristopher as just such an opportunity. What follows is a joint…

  • Julie Packard: Solving Seafood -- Sustainably

    Julie Packard
    8 Feb 2010 | 3:17 pm
    I just returned from the Seafood Choices Alliance Seafood Summit in Paris, a gathering of over 600 business and NGO leaders concerned about the future of seafood. The group was diverse -- marine biologists, ecologists, conservation advocates, and business leaders -- who make their living catching, producing, buying, and selling seafood. I came away deeply impressed with the progress this far-ranging group is making, and the momentum that's building for a future with healthy oceans and abundant seafood. At every turn, I witnessed people working to forge solutions to some very complex…
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    The Economy

  • The Help of an International Shipping Company

    Economy
    6 Feb 2010 | 10:06 pm
    Big businesses working for little businesses? That’s right. Freidman calls this phenomenon insourcing and it has taken the traditional outsourcing model to a whole new level. Outsourcing is hiring someone else to do the business functions that you don’t want to do or for which you don’t have expertise. So you may outsource human resource activities such as payroll and hiring to a firm that specializes in these tasks. With insourcing, on the other hand, your outsourced partner becomes an integral part of your business. Suppose your company produces unusual pieces of furniture that…

  • China Joined The World Trade Organization

    Economy
    6 Feb 2010 | 6:31 am
    By taking advantage of technology and the Internet, China has moved from being a third-world country to growing faster than any other modern  economy. In 2001, China joined the World Trade Organization (WTO) — a significant event because it signaled that China was willing to acknowledge and follow global rules of trade. So, how did China begin growing so fast? It opened the floodgates for offshoring moving manufacturing plants from their home sites (for example, Europe or the United States) and plopping them down, lock, stock, and barrel, in China. Why? Because in China, you can (for now…

  • Restaurant Booths at SeatingExpert.com

    Economy
    5 Feb 2010 | 10:13 pm
    If you plan to open a restaurant, you should consider the environment of the restaurant. You should ensure that the place is comfortable enough for the customers. Most people prefer going to a particular restaurant because of the comfort instead of the taste of the foods. Therefore, besides offering a great taste of foods, you should also create a comfortable atmosphere in your business place. Using unique furniture in the restaurant may create the comfortable environment in your restaurant. If you are looking for the furniture for your restaurant, you can go to SeatingExpert.com. Seating…

  • Find Affordable Insurance Conveniently

    Economy
    5 Feb 2010 | 10:05 pm
    Nowadays, finding cheap insurance has never been easier. As you probably have known, the existence of insurance providers on internet has enabled us to find the best deal on insurance conveniently. What we need to do is to find a website that provides free insurance quotes from multiple insurance providers. We can then compare those quotes side by side in order to find the best deal. Fortunately, there are many websites that are able to provide insurance quotes for free. One of those websites is Insurancerate.com. At this website, we can find insurance easily and conveniently because this…

  • Get the Attention with Car Modification

    Economy
    2 Feb 2010 | 11:48 pm
    Wow, it is amazing when we are driving car in the street and people looking at our car. Our confidence is rising up. But, how to make our car attractive, so people can give their attention? By installing big rims, beautiful compact body kit, shiny paint, strong engine, and complete electronic devices are the factors to get the attention. It is not too hard to get those accessories in the market; the important thing is we have to see the quality of it. If we want to get an attention and exclusivity in our car, one way we can take is by modify it with new accessories. If you want an easy way to…
 
 
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    Ecolect Blog

  • Designers Using Recycled Materials: Furniture From Available Objects

    Athena Lo
    5 Feb 2010 | 7:09 am
    Malafor has come up with a simple and easily stored furniture design entitled the Blow Sofa. It is made of 100% recycled and recyclable (inflatable) paper dunnage bags, which are traditionally used for cushioning and stabilizing cargo amidst rocky transportation. For a comfortable rest, one just has to blow up the bags, which are completely [...]

  • Greener, Cleaner Dishes… Without Detergent

    Athena Lo
    3 Feb 2010 | 6:22 am
    Dr. Youngblood at work. Via Treehugger. A water-favoring, anti-oily treated surface. Via Discovery News. Imagine the possibility of grease and grime being lifted from your dishes with just water. Jeffrey P. Youngblood, an associate professor at Purdue University, and his colleagues are currently in the process of formulating a coating for dinnerware that will eliminate the need [...]

  • Sea-Level Rising: A New Look For New York

    Elizabeth Soucy
    2 Feb 2010 | 10:58 am
    With the 2007 IPCC (International Panel on Climate Change) prediction that sea level will rise between 0.6 and 2 feet by the year 2100, we need to seriously consider how to adapt to such drastic global changes. MoMA and P.S. 1 Contemporary Art Center realize the importance of planning for the impending rise and how [...]

  • Nanosys is Working to Improve LED Light Quality

    Athena Lo
    2 Feb 2010 | 7:35 am
    Image via Treehugger. Nanosys is currently working on LED technology that will greatly improve the quality of light produced. They describe it as “spectrum engineering for LCD device displays using Nanosys’ QuantumRail™, where high-brightness applications call for improved color gamut, saturation and power efficiency from LED sources.” Using nanotechnology, fluids are created out of semiconductor materials, [...]

  • Starck Wind Power For Your Home

    Elizabeth Soucy
    1 Feb 2010 | 6:52 am
    Philippe Starck, known for his chic hotels, high-tech lamps and modern-style furniture, has now applied his renowned design aesthetic to domestic wind turbines. The designer unveiled two high-tech turbines for your home in Milan on Wednesday after two years of research and work. The turbines will be produced by Italy’s Pramac, which makes power generation equipment [...]
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    Good Guide

  • GoodGuide Lists and Widgets

    Dara
    29 Jan 2010 | 3:02 pm
    GoodGuide has a cool new feature where you can create your own lists of favorite products - or products to avoid. And then publish these lists in a simple “widget” format on any blog or website. Here is the list I created in 3 minutes. <style> .goodguide-widget-link { position: absolute; top: 40%; left: 0; z-index: 1; } .goodguide-widget { position: relative; width: 250px; height: 350px; background: white; text-align: center; } .goodguide-widget iframe { width: 100%; height: 100%; border: none; z-index: 2; position: relative; } </style> <iframe…

  • FDA changes its stance on Bisphenol-A

    Alastair
    19 Jan 2010 | 11:01 pm
    For a long time, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has been very slow in acting on emerging chemical concerns. As many GoodGuide users have heard, Bisphenol-A is increasingly associated with a range of human health impacts, particularly on child development. Just last week, a new US study concluded that BPA exposure at even very low levels could exacerbate adult heart disease. In response to consumer demands, many plastic bottle manufacturers are voluntarily eliminating BPA from their products. Yet, under President Bush, the agency insisted in an assessment in 2008 that BPA was safe.

  • Tips to Picking the Best Deodorant (and Antiperspirant)

    Dara
    12 Jan 2010 | 9:41 am
    Sweat itself is almost odorless—it is the bacteria feeding on the sweat that emits an odor. Antiperspirants reduce sweat, deodorants prevent bacterial growth or in some cases bind to foul smelling molecules to eliminate odor. Sometimes scents are also used to mask unpleasant odors. Here are tips you might want to consider when choosing your deodorant or antiperspirant. Stay away from Triclosan. Many deodorants use an added chemical called Triclosan to kill odor-causing bacteria. The wide use of Triclosan may also be promoting a Triclosan drug resistance in that same bacteria. Drug…

  • Wearing Hundreds of Chemicals Without Knowing It

    Alastair
    14 Dec 2009 | 4:20 pm
    Recently, a British poll shed light on the potentially large exposure to chemicals that many women may face because of their heavy use of personal care products. The deodorant company, Bionsen, funded a survey of 2000 women that discovered the “average” British woman wears 515 chemicals on her body daily. These chemicals come from the multiple ingredients contained in personal care products such as lipstick, perfume, deodorants, and moisturizer. The study found that most of the chemicals were present on the face or head of the women. This means that women can breathe or ingest the…

  • New Protocols to Enhance Product Testing

    Dara
    8 Dec 2009 | 12:36 pm
    We want to apologize again for comparing our test results with federal standards that are based on a different testing method. We realize this was a mistake and I’m writing to tell you about the steps we have taken to correct this. We are announcing new protocols today for strengthening our testing procedures. December 8, 2009 — San Francisco — GoodGuide, which provides health, environment and social responsibility ratings for consumer products, announced today that it has implemented new protocols to enhance testing of consumer products. “GoodGuide remains steadfast in its commitment…
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    EcoTech Daily

  • Nissan Leaf takes the Green Car Vision award at 2010 DC Auto Show

    AdamShake
    27 Jan 2010 | 7:04 am
    The Nissan Leaf, the much talked about Zero Emission Electric Car, has won the Green Car Vision Award at the 2010 DC Auto Show. The Washington Auto Show states that: To be considered for the Green Car Vision Award, vehicles must be in their early stages of commercialization but not yet on sale, in small volume production with more than one functional prototype in existence, or operating as part of a demonstration fleet. A nominee may be an all-new model or an advanced adaptation of an existing model, such as a conversion to another type of power like electric drive. “Nissan’s move to…

  • For all the Green Soccer Moms – The New Luxgen EV+ Minivan

    AdamShake
    26 Jan 2010 | 9:12 am
    We’ve seen the Volt and the Leaf, but there’s a new player in town and its an Electric Minivan. Taiwan’s Luxgen claims that the Luxgen EV+ has performance even beyond the ACP technology being adopted by BMW (MINI E) and the Mercedes-Benz joint venture TESLA. Luxgen goes on to say that 180kW motor can demonstrate 240hp horsepower and 265 Nm of torque at a top speed of 90 mph. Hippie Soccer Moms Rejoice! Photos courtesy of Luxgen

  • The Daily Five: Friday, 18 December, 2009

    David Quilty
    18 Dec 2009 | 1:00 am
    Toyota’s first hybrid; Smart Grid Market Projected to Double; Surge in Electric Cars; No Health Impact From Wind Turbines; Solar Air Purifier Toyota’s first hybrid from 1977 This cute little sportscar had a gas turbine connected to a generator that fed an electric motor with two speeds. The concept was a one-off model built for the 1977 Tokyo Motor Show, and the standard 2 cylinder air-cooled 790 cc engine and glorious aerodynamics managed to get the little bullet to 31 km/liter (73 mpg U.S.). Smart Grid Market Projected to Double by 2014 By 2014, the U.S. smart grid market is…

  • The Daily Five: Thursday, 17 December, 2009

    David Quilty
    17 Dec 2009 | 1:00 am
    Networked EV Charging Stations; Solar Window Thermometer; 800hp concept hybrid; Mitsubishi i; Boston-Power Teams Up With Saab, Swedes for Electric Cars First Networked EV Charging Station Installed in Canada Coulumb Technologies was due to open Canadian charging stations in the first quarter of 2009. It looks like they fell a little behind schedule, but the first networked charging stations in Canada are now open for business. And more are planned soon. The Solar Digital Window Thermometer This thermometer sticks to the window and can easily be removed when you want to clean the window.

  • The Daily Five: Wednesday, 16 December, 2009

    David Quilty
    16 Dec 2009 | 1:00 am
    Penny Saved Is Penny Earned: Unplug Reminder; Lowe’s Markets Home Energy; Mayor Bloomberg Looks to Danish Offshore Windfarms; Mercedes-Benz begins testing electric SLS supercar; Copenhagen Lights Christmas Tree With Bikes Penny Saved Is Penny Earned: Unplug Reminder The Ace Plug is like an eco-voice that makes sure you do a job out of it; otherwise it will annoy the hell out of you with its pesky noises, till you yank out the plug. Lowe’s Markets Home Energy at In-store Destination Points Lowe’s new Energy Central destination points in 21 California stores are positioned to sell…
 
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    ecopop RSS feed

  • OPPOSITE DAY!

    It was a small gallery and book store dedicated to the art of children's books. The art was good and inspiring and in Abilene of all places. Why? Because the mayor at the time was curious to know why a children's book had so many mentions of Abilene.

  • Art From Fire.

    ART from the ashes has announced its first exhibition, artist reception and silent auction at Cisco Home in Pasadena, California. The exhibition will run from November 1-15 and the silent auction will take place on November 1st. Proceeds from the auction will go to benefit Meta (Making Education the Answer).

  • Molotov Cocktails and Ice Cream Smiles.

    The Anarchist Ice Cream Truck, a NY ice cream company that serves treats for the streets with a side of anarchy. Meet Aaron Gach, a 34-year old entrepreneur who is taking his hi-tech Ice Cream Tactical Unit to the streets.

  • Helping The Homeless Help Themselves.

    In a recent article from the Oregon State Wire, we learned that, in Corvallis, the homeless were being hired to count the homeless. It seems like a no-brainer but it got us thinking.

  • Billboards Provide Disaster Relief.

    We've often wondered about these space-holder ads and if they couldn't work a little harder or be put to better use. One idea we had a few years back was to have local artists create billboard art using a series of sentences like "This Space For Rent" and "Your Ad Here." Our driver liked that idea and said he'd "Get 'r done".
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    The Good Human

  • Use Less: My Monthly Utility Report For December 2009.

    david
    9 Feb 2010 | 6:20 am
    To help me keep track and to hold me accountable, this year I am going to track all my utility expenses for the year. I am hoping that by doing so, I can encourage everyone to look at their bills and see just how much energy and water you use on a daily basis – and then try to reduce it any way that you can. The average household uses 936 kilowatthours (kWh) of electricity and 400 gallons of water per day, while the average individual uses 250 kWh of electricity and 70-100 gallons of water – just so you have a baseline to judge against. Each month, as long as I can remember to do…

  • Environmental Implications Of The Food We Throw Away.

    david
    7 Feb 2010 | 6:30 am
    Dear EarthTalk: What are the environmental implications of all the food we throw away here in the United States? Food waste is a huge issue in America, especially in light of the growing divide between the profligate rich and the hungry poor. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Loss Project, we throw away more than 25 percent—some 25.9 million tons—of all the food we produce for domestic sale and consumption. A 2004 University of Arizona study pegs the figure at closer to 50 percent, finding that Americans squander some $43 billion annually on wasted food. Lead…

  • Save The Derek Fundraiser Total: $1,817.61!!

    david
    5 Feb 2010 | 11:47 am
    Thanks to all of our amazing friends and colleagues, we have raised a total of $1,817.61 for Derek Markham, the writer of Natural Papa. Our “Save The Derek” fundraiser was put together to help Derek with some unpaid medical bills from an accident that he had which left him with a trimalleolar fracture in the ends of his right tibia and fibula. And thanks to your generosity and networking, we have exceeded our initial goal and are able to send a big check to Derek and his family to take care of some of those major bills he has. A total of 101 people donated money to the cause, and…

  • Quick Green Reads For The Weekend Volume 152.

    david
    5 Feb 2010 | 6:30 am
    If you haven’t given a buck or 2 to the “Save The Derek” fundraiser we have going, please consider it. The power of community is strong and we can definitely help him out by combining forces. Thanks! First the soda fountains at fast food restaurants, and now this–Consumer Reports has just published an investigation revealing that 39% of the packaged salads tested contained “bacteria that are common indicators of poor sanitation and fecal contamination.” And this despite the fact that such bagged salads often display claims of ‘prewashed’ or…
 
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    EcoMetro Portland

  • Chinook Book Events Through Feb 11

    EcoMetro Portland Team
    3 Feb 2010 | 10:45 am
    Make Your Own Love Potions Learn to make your own massage oils, body sprays and lip balms for yourself or someone you love this February. Using all-natural vegetarian products for this workshop. Class cost: $40. Sat, Feb 6, 11am-1pm 100th Monkey Studio, 110 SE 16th Ave Bowling for Johnson Creek Watershed Council Fundraiser A fun afternoon of bowling and helping support Johnson Creek Watershed Council's fundraising efforts.   Cost: $12 to participate and half of proceeds go to JCWC. Please RSVP to lori@jcwc.org. Sun, Feb 7, 1-3pm Milwaukie Bowl, 3056 SE Harrison (off Hwy 224) Brain…

  • Be Mine, Green Valentine

    EcoMetro Portland Team
    2 Feb 2010 | 1:16 pm
    By Kyla Burnet, Chinook Book Sustainable Business Accounts Manager So you’ve got a Valentine’s Day dilemma. You’d like to do something romantic, but you know the traditional chocolate and bouquet of roses won’t cut it this year. Or, perhaps you’d like to rent a tandem bike on February 14th but just haven’t met that special someone to fill the second saddle. Here are some dilemma-diffusing resources to help you make your sweetheart swoon while sticking to your New Year’s resolution to reduce your environmental impact.  Alternative Gift Ideas Put an eco-spin on a traditional…

  • Green Love: From Dating to Valentines and Beyond

    EcoMetro Editors
    2 Feb 2010 | 9:43 am
    Love is a canvas furnished by Nature and embroidered by imagination. – Voltaire Around Valentine’s Day, love is on everyone’s mind. Whether you’re looking for love or just want to celebrate the love you have, we’ve got some tips on how to keep your romance green. Green Singles: Where to Meet Them Finding that special someone in a sea of singles can be daunting, especially when you’re looking for a partner who shares your green ideals. Fear not, there are a bevy of eco-loving cuties out there and lots of alternatives to keep your dates with them sustainable. A great place to start…

  • Chinook Book Events Through Feb 6

    EcoMetro Portland Team
    28 Jan 2010 | 11:55 am
    Chocolate Fest 2010 Join us for the 5th annual Chocolate Fest and make all your chocolate dreams come true. We'll have over 45 vendors along with demonstrations and presentations so you can taste, smell, feel and see some of the finest chocolate in the Pacific Northwest. Cost: $8 adults, $7 seniors (62+), $5 children. Sat-Sun, Jan 30-31, 10am-5pm World Forestry Center, 4033 SW Canyon Rd Portland Opera presents Cosi fan tutte A deliciously ironic look at the foibles of love. Mozart's genius turns a farce into a scintillating blend of thought provoking humor. Feb 5-13, 7:30pm Feb 7, 2pm…

  • Portland Tool Library

    EcoMetro Portland Team
    26 Jan 2010 | 1:15 pm
    Have you ever needed to borrow a specific tool to begin or complete a project? Sometimes neighbors and friends come to the rescue by lending us exactly what we need. Other times, we’re not so lucky. Tools are expensive to buy, and we often don’t end up using them for more than one project. Renting tools can be very costly too. Fortunately, Portland residents have a resource they can turn to for their tool borrowing needs.   The Portland Tool Library, a non-profit founded in 2004, allows local residents to check out up to seven tools per week- for free! Operated completely by…
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    green.tv

  • Kadavu - a Pacific marine reserve

    3 Feb 2010 | 4:00 pm
    Kadavu, an island in the south of the Fijian islands, may become the site of the first true marine reserve in the Pacific.

  • Earth Hour 2010

    2 Feb 2010 | 4:00 pm
    Earth Hour 2010 aims to reach over one billion people in 1000 cities around the world to switch off their lights for one hour to show they care about climate change. Switch off and support people and wildlife threatened by climate change!

  • Certified Wildlife Habitats - Certifying Your Yard

    1 Feb 2010 | 4:00 pm
    Once you have provided the 4 components of habitat and adopted sustainable gardening practices you can certify your yard school or community as a NWF Certified Wildlife Habitat. But don not forget a place for people too.

  • Certified Wildlife Habitats - Sustainable Practices

    31 Jan 2010 | 4:00 pm
    Providing the 4 components of habitat is not enough. Naturalist David Mizejewski tells you how to go green in your garden and help wildlife too.

  • Certified Wildlife Habitats - Places to Raise Young

    28 Jan 2010 | 4:00 pm
    Naturalist David Mizejewski shows you the many ways you can provide wildlife with a place to raise their young.
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    INHABITAT

  • Zaha Hadid’s Petroleum Research Center (Ironically) Aims For LEED Platinum

    Bridgette Meinhold
    9 Feb 2010 | 8:16 am
    It may seem ironic, but even petroleum research centers can be LEED certified if they meet the critieria. Case in point: the King Abudullah Petroleum Studies and Research Center (KAPSARC for short), designed by Zaha Hadid, is aiming for LEED Platinum. To be built in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, the state of the art campus will house research and development facilities on energy and environmental exploration and analysis. We take that to read studies on better ways of finding more petroleum (which is hardly a practice we consider to be green) but at least the building itself is striving to be…

  • ReRev Makes Energy Generating Gyms a Reality

    Bridgette Meinhold
    9 Feb 2010 | 6:17 am
    Many of us have been to the gym and wondered why the exercise equipment isn’t hooked up to generate electricity and feed it back into the grid. At long last a company in Florida called ReRev has answered our calls, converting existing elliptical machines into sources of power. Now when you hit the gym, you can burn off those calories while creating some renewable energy for a carbon negative workout. Read the rest of ReRev Makes Energy Generating Gyms a Reality Permalink | Add to del.icio.us | digg Post tags: elliptical machines, exercise, human generated power, human power, renewable…

  • Children’s Hospital is a Sheltering Haven that Proves Design Heals

    Evelyn Lee
    8 Feb 2010 | 9:42 pm
    Storytelling design is the first step towards a healthier future for patients at the Evangelisches Konigin Elizabeth Krankenhaus children’s psychiatric hospital in Berlin. Designed as a collaborative effort between the Queen Elizabeth Hospital and the Dan Pearlman Creative Agency, the center creates a fantastic narrative that guides patients on a journey to “Elise Island”, a safe place to play and rest hosted by Princess Elise. Read the rest of Children’s Hospital is a Sheltering Haven that Proves Design Heals Permalink | Add to del.icio.us | digg Post tags: childrens…

  • The Gyre: A Floating Upside Down Eco Skyscraper

    Bridgette Meinhold
    8 Feb 2010 | 2:00 pm
    Can you imagine living in a high-rise apartment building where the 360 degree views are of fishes and saltwater? Although just a concept now, this upside-down, underwater eco-skyscraper could be the future of building, especially if sea levels rise as predicted and we end up living in a water world. Designed by Victoria BC-based firm Zigloo, the Gyre is a floating eco-development meant to be both a research station as well as an off-shore resort with shops, restaurants, gardens and recreation. Powered completely by the sun, wind and ocean, the Gyre would offer a zero emissions stay for both…

  • NewActon Apartments Aim to Be the Greenest in Australia

    Jorge Chapa
    8 Feb 2010 | 12:48 pm
    NewActon Nishi is a new apartment complex in the middle of Canberra that is aiming to be Australia’s greenest residential development. But don’t go thinking that this will be a boring ‘green building’. NewActon Nishi will feature a sexy minimalist aesthetic in addition to some exciting eco-conscious features. Read the rest of NewActon Apartments Aim to Be the Greenest in Australia Permalink | Add to del.icio.us | digg Post tags: "sustainable development", australia, canberra, Green Building, green development, green developments, hello@newactonnishi.com.au, nathers,…
 
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    DeSmogBlog - Clearing the PR Pollution that Clouds Climate Science

  • Wegman's Report Highly Politicized - and Fatally Flawed

    Richard Littlemore
    8 Feb 2010 | 11:16 am
    Hockey_stick_chart_ipcc_large.jpg "Independent" Hockey Stick analysis revealed as Republican set-up The purportedly independent report that Dr. Edward Wegman prepared in 2006 for the Congressional Committee on Energy and Commerce was actually a partisan set-up, according to information revealed today. Wegman, who had presented himself as an impartial "referee" between two "teams" debating the quality of the so-called Hockey Stick graph was, in fact, coached throughout his review by Republican staffer Peter Spencer. Wegman and his colleagues also worked closely with one of the teams (and…

  • Plagiarism? Conspiracies? Felonies? Breaking out the Wegman File

    Richard Littlemore
    7 Feb 2010 | 4:37 pm
    wegman image.jpg Did Edward Wegman's team commit plagiarism in preparing its 2006 Congressional report on the so-called MBH Hockey Stick? Objectively, yes. Is there a conspiracy to confuse and distort climate science? Absolutely. If you doubt it, read the John Mashey paper attached (or our book, Climate Cover-up). Have any crimes been committed? That'll be for a judge to decide. But given that misleading Congress is a felony offense, there might be some justifable nervousness among the people who coached Wegman through his attack on the scientistists behind the Hockey Stick. The inspiration…

  • Atlas Shrugs as Exxon Launches New Blitz of False Prophets

    Ross Gelbspan
    7 Feb 2010 | 8:37 am
    An orchestrated campaign is being waged against climate change science to undermine public acceptance of man-made global warming, environment experts. Free-market, anti-climate change think-tanks such as the Atlas Economic Research Foundation in the US and the International Policy Network in the UK have received grants totalling hundreds of thousands of pounds from the multinational energy company ExxonMobil. Both organisations have funded international seminars pulling together climate change deniers from across the globe. <!--break-->

  • McIntyre and McKitrick Unmasked

    Richard Littlemore
    6 Feb 2010 | 12:06 pm
    Hockey stick MBH.jpg Hockey stick bashers revealed as industry goons In a painstakingly documented review of the disinformation campaign led by the retired mining promoter Stephen McIntyre and the Fraser Institute economist-for-hire Ross McKitrick, Deep Climate has shown how badly manipulated - and how badly overblown - the so-called "hockey stick controversy" has been in the last seven or eight years. DC also shows the complicity of think tanks such as the Competitive Enterprise Institute, the Fraser Institute and, perhaps especially, the Canadian journalistic centre of climate change…

  • Did Those Winter Storms Snow the Whole Population of Britain?

    Ross Gelbspan
    5 Feb 2010 | 2:57 pm
    There has been an increase in the number of British people who are sceptical about climate change, a poll commissioned by BBC News has suggested. It showed that 25% of those questioned did not think global warming was happening, an increase of 10% since a similar poll was conducted in November.  The percentage of respondents who said climate change was a reality had fallen from 83% in November to 75%. The findings show that only 26% of people think "climate change is happening and is now established as largely man-made", only 1% more than those who think there is no global warming.
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    EcoTech Daily

  • Nissan Leaf takes the Green Car Vision award at 2010 DC Auto Show

    AdamShake
    27 Jan 2010 | 7:04 am
    The Nissan Leaf, the much talked about Zero Emission Electric Car, has won the Green Car Vision Award at the 2010 DC Auto Show. The Washington Auto Show states that: To be considered for the Green Car Vision Award, vehicles must be in their early stages of commercialization but not yet on sale, in small volume production with more than one functional prototype in existence, or operating as part of a demonstration fleet. A nominee may be an all-new model or an advanced adaptation of an existing model, such as a conversion to another type of power like electric drive. “Nissan’s move to…

  • For all the Green Soccer Moms – The New Luxgen EV+ Minivan

    AdamShake
    26 Jan 2010 | 9:12 am
    We’ve seen the Volt and the Leaf, but there’s a new player in town and its an Electric Minivan. Taiwan’s Luxgen claims that the Luxgen EV+ has performance even beyond the ACP technology being adopted by BMW (MINI E) and the Mercedes-Benz joint venture TESLA. Luxgen goes on to say that 180kW motor can demonstrate 240hp horsepower and 265 Nm of torque at a top speed of 90 mph. Hippie Soccer Moms Rejoice! Photos courtesy of Luxgen

  • The Daily Five: Friday, 18 December, 2009

    David Quilty
    18 Dec 2009 | 1:00 am
    Toyota’s first hybrid; Smart Grid Market Projected to Double; Surge in Electric Cars; No Health Impact From Wind Turbines; Solar Air Purifier Toyota’s first hybrid from 1977 This cute little sportscar had a gas turbine connected to a generator that fed an electric motor with two speeds. The concept was a one-off model built for the 1977 Tokyo Motor Show, and the standard 2 cylinder air-cooled 790 cc engine and glorious aerodynamics managed to get the little bullet to 31 km/liter (73 mpg U.S.). Smart Grid Market Projected to Double by 2014 By 2014, the U.S. smart grid market is…

  • The Daily Five: Thursday, 17 December, 2009

    David Quilty
    17 Dec 2009 | 1:00 am
    Networked EV Charging Stations; Solar Window Thermometer; 800hp concept hybrid; Mitsubishi i; Boston-Power Teams Up With Saab, Swedes for Electric Cars First Networked EV Charging Station Installed in Canada Coulumb Technologies was due to open Canadian charging stations in the first quarter of 2009. It looks like they fell a little behind schedule, but the first networked charging stations in Canada are now open for business. And more are planned soon. The Solar Digital Window Thermometer This thermometer sticks to the window and can easily be removed when you want to clean the window.

  • The Daily Five: Wednesday, 16 December, 2009

    David Quilty
    16 Dec 2009 | 1:00 am
    Penny Saved Is Penny Earned: Unplug Reminder; Lowe’s Markets Home Energy; Mayor Bloomberg Looks to Danish Offshore Windfarms; Mercedes-Benz begins testing electric SLS supercar; Copenhagen Lights Christmas Tree With Bikes Penny Saved Is Penny Earned: Unplug Reminder The Ace Plug is like an eco-voice that makes sure you do a job out of it; otherwise it will annoy the hell out of you with its pesky noises, till you yank out the plug. Lowe’s Markets Home Energy at In-store Destination Points Lowe’s new Energy Central destination points in 21 California stores are positioned to sell…
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    How can I recycle this?

  • How can I make a gift bag reusing and recycling stuff?

    louisa
    9 Feb 2010 | 2:00 am
    We all know wrapping paper is bad, m’okay? and that reusable gift bags are a far better alternative if you go in for that type of presentation and reusable gifts bags made out of recycled stuff from around the home are better yet – but how do you make them? I wanted to make a gift bag in a hurry the other day out of some old brown paper. A quick search pointed me towards a number of tutorials which used existing boxes as templates – either intact boxes or as nets – but I wondered if anyone else had any other designs? Another idea I had was to make a quick pouch out of…

  • How can I reuse or recycle louvre doors?

    louisa
    8 Feb 2010 | 2:00 am
    We’ve had an email from Stuart: Dismantled some fitted cupboards, six tall louvre doors leftover. Ideas? I really like the idea of louvre/louver doors as indoor window shutters, an alternative to blinds. I’m not 100% sure what they’re called but you can get hinges to fix them together so they fold at the joins, rather than needing a pocket recess/recess space. Similarly, you can use them to make a concertina room divider and there is a lovely Instructable which explains all. The same principle could be used to make a sun-screen/privacy shade for the garden. They can also…

  • How can I reuse or recycle sticky hard sweets/candy?

    louisa
    5 Feb 2010 | 2:30 am
    We’ve had a short but sweet (ha!) email to Compost This from Matea: Can I put sweets gone sticky in my compost bin? As with many “can I compost this?” questions, there is no fixed answer that applies 100% of the time in 100% of the situations. In a basic open heap, I’d say no – the sweetness may attracted unwanted insects and if it’s only breaking down slowly, you might end up with a sticky lump in the middle of your heap. Even when it does breakdown, they won’t add that many nutrients to your compost heap – in the same way they’re not…

  • Upcycling advice: how to punch out discs?

    louisa
    4 Feb 2010 | 3:00 am
    We’ve had an email from Kenny that I’m sure some of you will be able to help with: I teach art in Glasgow and I’m trying to find some way of punching disc of various diameters (eg.10mm 15mm 22mm 30mm) out of recycled plastic, fabric, paper etc. to make jewellery. Any suggestions? The ring-binder size metal ones, like one in the picture, work fine for small circles, but only small discs about 5mm in diameter. I tried using fancier shaped/bigger hole punches with thin plastic but because the ones I had were designed for thick paper/card, the plastic kept gumming them up.

  • How can I reuse or recycle old plaster board/drywall?

    louisa
    3 Feb 2010 | 2:00 am
    We’re finally having some damp-proofing work done on our lower ground floor – in what will become our awesome office. I say “finally” because it was supposed to be task #1 when we bought the house, finished before we moved in, but we’ve been living here for four months now… The room is damp because it’s partially underground on one wall but, more importantly, it was used as a bedroom for years and was made completely draft-proof. The chimney was blocked up, then covered with a wall, the floor was completely sealed with asphalt, all the windows/doors…
 
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    UrbanWorkbench

  • Seismic Slope Stability Requirements in BC

    Mike Thomas
    8 Feb 2010 | 5:00 am
    As of February 1, 2010, the BC Building Code has been amended to require the consideration of potential for slope instability and it’s consequences at a building site becomes an explicit requirement in the design of structures and their foundations, additionally, the seismic design criteria has been increased to a probablility level of 2%-in-50 year. This will impact many developments across the provide, with geotechnical investigations to be required at almost all levels of development. Below is the Information Bulletin from the Province on the matter. APEGBC has issued a set of…

  • Castlegar Gaming Centre Update

    Mike Thomas
    4 Feb 2010 | 5:00 am
    It seems that the expected progress on the Castlegar Gaming Centre has not come to fruition. City Council received a letter from the BC Lottery Corporation (BCLC) on the 7th of December 2009 stating that the they understand the City’s concerns with the fact that Terrim Properties has not been able to meet any of the timelines or commitments under the licencing agreement. The BCLC has reaffirmed its commitment to a gaming centre in Castlegar and states that it will pursue the matter. On a side note, the process is maddeningly slow. It has taken nearly two months since the letter…

  • Is High Speed Rail The Answer?

    Mike Thomas
    3 Feb 2010 | 5:00 am
    I’ve suggested before that returning to rail would be a good thing for many areas, and that air travel is likely to decline, as well as support for roads and longer distance highway travel. So if rail is good, the high speed rail must be better right? Not that anyone is seriously talking about high speed rail projects here in Canada, but I’d have to question the viability of any new infrastructure project without the population base to support it. I can hear the arguments already… But Florida is getting one, why can’t Canada? Florida has a population of over 18…

  • Tender to Replace the Rossland Arena Roof

    Mike Thomas
    1 Feb 2010 | 5:00 am
    The Rossland Arena may be set to receive a new roof. Details of the tender can be found at BCBid. There is a Pre-bid meeting at the arena on the 2nd of February 2010, and bids to be received by 2pm February 9th, 2010. The decision to fund the project is happening under the Alternate Aproval Process, where people opposed to the method of borrowing can petition council. Details of the project and the AAP process can be found here This post was written by Mike Thomas for UrbanWorkbench.com © 2009.Originally posted as Tender to Replace the Rossland Arena Roof

  • Peak Oil Vignette 4 – Summer Harvest

    Mike Thomas
    29 Jan 2010 | 1:00 pm
    I straightened up from the soothing task of weeding the rows of baby carrots, rubbing my back as I watched my daughter perched high in the peach tree across the yard. She was meticulous in easing the plump ripe fruit off the branches, gently shooing away the yellowjackets when necessary, obviously drawn to the sweet juicy scent of summer stone fruit on the tree. Her graceful movements belied the urgent nature of the task at hand, between the yellowjackets, the impending thunder storm and the local wildlife, the time was ripe to get this fruit off the tree, and there were four more trees to…
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    First Global Xpress

  • Fuel Surcharge

    Justin
    31 Jan 2010 | 8:08 am
    Currently: FGX 6.50% Valid through 2/28/2010

  • The Best International Shipping Company for Architectural Firms

    Chevon Drew
    6 Nov 2009 | 6:40 am
    When Pei Partnership Architects reached out to FGX, they asked if we could offer them a better, faster, more personalized way to ship their delicate models.  Our answer?  “Yes we can.” FGX makes it easy for me to ship internationally; their customer service has been really helpful every time I’ve called.  I found it easy to use the online shipping feature, especially since customer service helps me take care of any documentation to be attached to the package. I called for a quote for shipping some time sensitive brochures to a special client.  The customer service team…

  • How to ship

    Justin
    12 Aug 2009 | 6:40 am
    Type www.ship.fgx.com Enter your User ID and Password Click logon … To book a shipment click the Courier Bookings tab (located in the upper right hand of your screen) For an outbound shipment, click Create Consignment (located in the upper right hand of your screen) Enter pertinent address details. Try to fill in every field if possible. If you have shipped to this location before, saved address details can be found in the “get from my address book” link If you received a quote number prior to shipping, you may enter that near the bottom left. You may also choose to send a pre-alert…

  • The Search for Sustainable Shipping Supplies

    Chevon Drew
    11 Jun 2009 | 2:47 pm
    FGX is on its way to being the greenest international air courier. We’ve cut carbon emissions per shipment and now we’d like to partner with suppliers who offer greener packing materials. I’ve started referring to this sourcing project as “The Hunt for Green October” because that’s about when I expect we’ll find a manufacturer willing to offer a selection of greener shipping supplies. That may be hyperbolic but the hyperbole is warranted. Greener packing materials do not seem to be at the top of the list of many manufacturers that we reached out to.

  • The Fashion-Friendly FGX

    Chevon Drew
    11 May 2009 | 2:32 pm
    High fashion and high stress can go hand-in-hand.  Learn how FGX keeps it calm, collected- and “delivers in a pinch” for V Magazine. Late one Friday evening Teddy fielded an urgent phone call from Visionaire Publishing.  Catherine Newell-Hanson, market editor for V Magazine and VMAN, was desperately trying to get a shipment out that night- and have it delivered in time for a 9:00AM photo shoot in Los Angeles. There were no commercial flights to be had at such a late hour and the earliest flight the next morning would not land in time to get the package to the photo shoot. …
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    Green Daily

  • 5 Endangered Species and How You Can Help

    Susan Braun
    9 Feb 2010 | 7:00 am
    Filed under: Activism, Plants and Wildlife Tough as they are, tigers need our help. Photo: Tambako the Jaguar, Flickr We all have our favorite animals, but some species need our help more than others. Are you ready to lend a paw? Tiger It's hard to imagine a more iconic and recognizable species than the tiger. They are top predators, keeping the food chain balanced. Tigers are famous for their strength and power, reportedly covering up to 10 meters in a single horizontal leap. Yet only 3,200 tigers may be left in the wild, and their original roaming areas have decreased by 40 percent in the…

  • Eco-Beat, 2/8

    Josh Loposer
    8 Feb 2010 | 12:00 pm
    Filed under: NewsWanna send the city of New Orleans an eco-friendly Super Bowl present? What's the environmental impact of playing bumper boats on the high seas? What did you think of those Green Police Super Bowl ads? Today's Eco-Beat has the scoop on all the latest green news and tips. Make it Right Launches Super Bowl Texting Drive In honor of the Saints' first ever Super Bowl victory, Brad Pitt's Make it Right has begun a text messaging campaign to boost the foundation's sustainable rebuilding efforts. Well-wishers can donate $10 (added to your phone bill) by simply texting "saints" to…

  • Should I Be Afraid to Drive My Prius?

    Josh Loposer
    8 Feb 2010 | 9:00 am
    Is there a demon in your Prius? Credit: Getty Images Unless you've been hiding under a rock for the last week, you probably know that Toyota is having a really freakin' bad 2010, and it's not even Valentine's Day yet. Last week, Toyota announced a recall involving sticky accelerator pedal that will affect somewhere in the neighborhood of 7 million vehicles (some of them Priuii Priuses). Now, according to AutoblogGreen, the NHTSA is investigating whether Toyota should recall another 311,000 units of their highly popular 2010 Prius. So, for all of the Prius-drivers out there, I'm going to…

  • How to Compost in Winter

    Peter Nolan
    8 Feb 2010 | 7:30 am
    Filed under: Home Could you compost in this? Photo: Normanac, Flickr Even if you live in the snow belt you can still compost all through the winter -- I did for 15 years in a homemade three-bin composter west of Boston. A good overview will show you the basics, such as proper materials, layering, air and moisture and, of course, what can and can't be composted. Still, composting in bitter climates requires a few techniques. Composting will continue, albeit slowly, as long as your piles are above freezing. If your piles are big enough, they will generate their own heat, but usually not enough.

  • Eco-Beat, 2/5

    Josh Loposer
    5 Feb 2010 | 12:00 pm
    Filed under: NewsWanna see design renderings for Madonna's sustainable all girls academy? Which eco-documentaries got nods from the Academy Awards? What's the NFL doing to lighten the impact of this year's "big game?" Today's Eco-Beat has the scoop on all the latest green news and tips. Madonna Building a Sustainable School in Malawi In an effort to give back to the nation that gave her two children (David and Mercy James), Madonna and her foundation Raising Malawi are set to break ground on a state-of-the-art girls' school in Malawi, featuring solar panels and gray water recycling. "Food…
 
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    Environmental Health News

  • Climate change will make world more 'fragrant.'

    jpmyers@ehsic.org
    9 Feb 2010 | 6:00 am
    In response to the disruptions of climate change, plants will emit greater levels of fragrant chemicals called biogenic volatile organic compounds, a major scientific review finds. The problem is too complex to yet gauge many of the consequences.

  • EU bioethanol outlook brightens, biodiesel dims.

    jpmyers@ehsic.org
    9 Feb 2010 | 6:00 am
    The European Union has been expanding the use of ethanol and biodiesel as it seeks to cut emissions of greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change. Demand is expected to grow in 2010, and two massive bioethanol refineries are due to come on line in the first half of the year.

  • US couple take lead on carbon trade by selling their first credit.

    jpmyers@ehsic.org
    9 Feb 2010 | 6:00 am
    Individuals keen to tackle carbon emissions should consider the example of Tami and Randy Wilson. The Pennsylvania couple have sold the world's first carbon credit awarded for a reduction in personal carbon emissions. About 1,800 others have signed up to follow suit.

  • Spring begins almost two weeks earlier due to global warming, say scientists.

    jpmyers@ehsic.org
    9 Feb 2010 | 6:00 am
    Animals and plants in the UK are breeding on average almost 12 days earlier than they were three decades ago, scientists have discovered.

  • Palin likens global warming studies to 'snake oil.'

    jpmyers@ehsic.org
    9 Feb 2010 | 6:00 am
    Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin called studies supporting global climate change a "bunch of snake oil science" Monday during a rare appearance in California, a state that has been at the forefront of environmental regulations.
 
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    Green Car Congress

  • Navistar Partners With Clean Air Power on Natural Gas Dual-Fuel Option for MaxxForce 13 Engines

    Mike Millikin
    9 Feb 2010 | 7:22 am
    Navistar, Inc. has signed a concept development agreement with UK-based Clean Air Power Ltd. to develop Navistar’s MaxxForce 13 big bore engine to run on natural gas and diesel fuel for the North American market. The program will utilize Clean Air Power’s Dual-Fuel combustion technology (earlier post) to deliver a MaxxForce 13 Advanced EGR engine that is fully compliant with the US Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) 2010 on-highway diesel emissions, without the use of liquid-urea SCR (selective catalytic reduction). Upon successful concept development, the two companies will move…

  • Toyota USA Announces Voluntary Recall on 2010 Model-Year Prius and 2010 Lexus HS 250h Vehicles to Update ABS Software

    Mike Millikin
    9 Feb 2010 | 6:58 am
    As part of what has become a global recall of the third-generation Prius, Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), USA Inc, will conduct a voluntary safety recall on approximately 133,000 2010 Model Year Prius vehicles and 14,500 Lexus Division 2010 HS 250h vehicles to update software in the vehicle’s anti-lock brake system (ABS). No other Toyota, Lexus, or Scion vehicles are involved in this recall. Earlier today in Japan, Toyota Motor Corporation announced a recall related to the ABS software program in current-model Prius, the Prius Plug-in Hybrid, Sai and HS250h sold in Japan. (Earlier post.) That…

  • FEV, Inc. Develops 40kW Range Extender Unit

    Mike Millikin
    9 Feb 2010 | 6:10 am
    FEV, Inc., a developer of advanced powertrain and vehicle technologies, has coupled an FEV-developed Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) with a 3-cylinder engine for use as a range extender in Hybrid Electric Vehicles. The APU is designed as a flexible, compact unit using proven technology, combined to bring 40kW of power to EV architecture. APUs implemented into the propulsion system provide the capability to extend the range from 20-40 miles (AER) to a total of 200-350 miles when needed. FEV has developed a range of APUs for a variety of vehicle applications depending on the customer’s power…

  • Harz E-Mobility Project to Deploy Charging Infrastructure Throughout Region

    Mike Millikin
    9 Feb 2010 | 4:07 am
    Seventeen partners from research, academia and industry are participating in the project Harz.ErneuerbareEnergien-mobility (Harz.EE-mobility), which will deploy a network of charging stations for plug-ins covering the entire Harz region in Germany. Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Factory Operation and Automation IFF in Magdeburg are determining the optimal locations for charging stations. The success of electric cars will stand or fall with the power supply, the partners note. The ability to charge vehicles with green power anytime and anywhere will boost acceptance of this…

  • US Commerce Department Proposes Establishment of NOAA Climate Service; New NOAA Climate Portal

    Mike Millikin
    9 Feb 2010 | 4:00 am
    US Commerce Secretary Gary Locke announced the intent to create a NOAA Climate Service line office dedicated to bringing together the agency’s climate science and service delivery capabilities. Working closely with federal, regional, academic and other state and local government and private sector partners, the new NOAA Climate Service will build on our success transforming science into useable climate services. NOAA is committed to scientific integrity and transparency; we seek to advance science and strengthen product development and delivery through user engagement.—Dr. Jane Lubchenco,…
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    The Green Leap Forward 绿跃进

  • The National Energy Commission: Myth-busting the “New Energy Super Ministry”

    Julian
    3 Feb 2010 | 9:33 pm
    Updated Feb 9 The “new energy super ministry” announced last week is neither new, nor a super ministry.  Let’s discuss. First, the raw facts. On January 22, the State Council announced the formation of the National Energy Commission, whose purpose would be to: To study and formulate national energy development strategy, to consider the major issues of energy security and energy development, to coordinate domestic energy development and important matters of international cooperation.

  • Solar Hops: US-China Cooperation; Provinces Get Going; Suntech Shining Strong

    Julian
    21 Jan 2010 | 3:19 pm
    Its been a while since we’ve had an extensive discussion of China’s solar market.   Here, we catch up with some of the major the developments in this space over the past half year or so.  A new US-China dynamic highlighted by two-large scale projects, policy action by provincial-level governments, and lots of activity by Chinese solar poster child Suntech, and more! Let’s kick off with this pretty cool video created by ClimateWorks: Now, onto recent developments: Going Big with the Stars and Stripes Google-backed eSolar, a three-year old Californian solar start-up, has…

  • Assessing China’s 11th Five-Year Plan Energy Conservation Programs

    Julian
    18 Jan 2010 | 5:06 pm
    A look at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory’s analysis on the energy conservation programs in China’s current five-year plan.  For those of you in Beijing on Jan 20, you may listen to Dr. Mark Levine present these very findings at the Beijing Energy & Environment Roundtable (open free to public!). Details here. Last month, I had the unique opportunity to gather with some of the top U.S-based thinkers on Chinese energy and climate policy.  Participants hailed from World Resources Institute’s ChinaFAQs group of experts.  Since it was a closed door session, I…

  • Charting China’s Water Future: Closing China’s water availbility gap results in $21 billion in net savings

    Julian
    6 Jan 2010 | 7:43 pm
    A look at a new report by McKinsey that analyzes the economics of water solutions in developing countries.  It finds that in China, 55 different solutions exist to close its imminent water availability gap that actually results in a net savings, rather than expenditure, of $21 billion by 2020. There has been a wave of water price hikes across various cities and regions across China over the past year.  Most recently, Beijing raised residential water rates by 8 percent, as we blogged about yesterday.  But there have also been proposed or implemented water price increases earlier this year…

  • Green Hops: Cold Snap, Renewables Boost, Water Woes

    Julian
    5 Jan 2010 | 8:53 pm
    A news round up of energy and environment news in China over the past 4 weeks or so, sans analysis. Avalanche Northern China was swept with a harsh cold snap that over northern China over the weekend.  Beijing, for its part, experienced its largest snowfall in six decades, a lowest temperatures in four decades (at minus 16 degrees Centigrade!!!).  The cold surge has created an unwelcome spike in energy demand at a time where energy demand is already taking on an upward trend as the national economy shows signs of recovering lost ground.  The heavy snow has also disrupted food…
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    TerraPass Footprint

  • Nickel bag tax slashes waste in D.C.

    2 Feb 2010 | 8:24 am
    But the success carries unclear lessons for carbon by Adam Stein Disposable plastic bags make up 47% of the trash in the Anacostia river basin, so Washington D.C. instituted a five-cent bag tax, effective January 1. How much difference could a nickel make? Less than a month into the program, which D.C. officials describe as an effort to reduce litter and generate funds to clean up the Anacostia River, the nickel bag fee is having a big impact. Managers at stores that sell food or beverages say the switchover has cut the use of plastic bags by half or more. One Safeway in Northwest reports a…

  • China set to dominate clean energy

    2 Feb 2010 | 6:40 am
    And so much the better for us and for the environment by Adam Stein China is the world’s manufacturer, and increasingly that applies to energy infrastructure as well: China vaulted past competitors in Denmark, Germany, Spain and the United States last year to become the world’s largest maker of wind turbines, and is poised to expand even further this year. China has also leapfrogged the West in the last two years to emerge as the world’s largest manufacturer of solar panels. And the country is pushing equally hard to build nuclear reactors and the most efficient types of coal power…

  • Is ozone the enemy of the climate?

    2 Feb 2010 | 5:24 am
    Bad reporting tarnishes an environmental success story by Tim Varga The logic of the New York Times: the ozone hole is mending (good), but in doing so it is speeding warming in Antarctica (bad). This is lazy journalism. In the author’s defense, the biggest problem is in the headline: “Ozone Hole Is Mending. Now For The ‘But’” followed by “Scientists say averting one threat may add to another: warming.” The basic story is factually correct. That ozone has a slight warming effect is not news. But the way the editors of the New York Times phrased their…

  • Repeat after me

    26 Jan 2010 | 5:04 pm
    When it comes to climate change, enviros are horribly off-message by Pete Davies In a former life I was a journalist for a national radio news program. Stories about the environment were always difficult to put on air. Whether the topic was rainforests, pollution, ozone, endangered species or one of so many other things that falls to the Environment Desk, we always struggled to make it sound interesting and relevant. The truth is, it’s very difficult to get most people to care. The same is true in the political realm. And so the messaging is critical. The recent paper by pollster Frank…

  • Climate progress under attack

    26 Jan 2010 | 4:44 pm
    Usual suspects, behaving in the usual ways by Adam Stein The people who feel that the climate change legislation working its way through congress isn’t sufficiently awesome to merit their support sometimes contend that no progress would be preferable to incremental progress. If we just hold out, a much better bill is surely just around the bend. What folks rarely seem to consider is that there’s another possibility: rapid backsliding. All across the land, the meager gains made to date are under ferocious attack. In the senate, Republican Lisa Murkowski has been trying valiantly to…
 
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    American Public Media Marketplace

  • Areva buys Ausra for solar power-up

    9 Feb 2010 | 7:26 am
    French nuclear power giant Areva is buying Ausra, a Silicon Valley solar start-up, with hopes of dominating solar thermal power market. Sarah Gardner explains who gets what out of the deal and why Areva might be looked at as a French GE.

  • PA shale drilling clouds local tap water

    4 Feb 2010 | 4:46 am
    Underground shale drilling in northern Pennsylvania is causing a stir amongst environmentalists, who say thousands of new gas wells could pose serious threats to drinking water. Joel Rose reports.

  • Senate considers chemical reform

    4 Feb 2010 | 3:52 am
    Advocates for reforming chemical regulation are demanding the Senate enforce tougher rules on toxins. Jennifer Collins reports why scientists and other chemical reform supporters are pushing for higher safety standards.

  • Obama hits oil slick in energy debate

    3 Feb 2010 | 10:03 am
    President Obama met with 11 governors to try to get support for his energy policies, which would shift the nation away from fossil fuels. He's still got come convincing to do. Sarah Gardner reports.

  • Green investors await better U.S. policy

    29 Jan 2010 | 4:35 am
    The U.S. is expected to make a voluntary pledge to cut greenhouse gas emissions in time to meet a United Nations deadline, but investors may want more. Sarah Gardner reports.
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    Ecofriend

  • Bentley Aero Ace Speed VI concept betters efficiency with improved aerodynamics

    Jolly
    9 Feb 2010 | 1:41 am
    Eco Factor: Zero-emission concept car designed to be powered by electricity. The Bentley Aero Ace Speed VI is the brainchild of auto designer Gabriel Tam and has been inspired by the original Speed 6 driven to victory by the Bentley Boys of the ’20s at Le Mans. The next-generation Speed VI is an overtly sporting vehicle with the raw aggression of a pure blood racer, while retaining the refined elegance of past Bentleys. During the design process, close attention was paid to refining the aerodynamic properties of the vehicle so as to improve its efficiency and increase its speed.

  • Geotectura’s Green Gasoline Station offers solar-powered EV charging

    Jolly
    9 Feb 2010 | 12:59 am
    Eco Factor: Concept gasoline station harvests solar energy to recharge EVs. With the rise in the number of electric and plug-in hybrid cars on the streets, it will be important for gasoline stations to adopt the new trend and equip their stations with EV charging stations. However, since most of the electricity generated in different parts of the world still comes from coal-fired power plants, greening the world will take much more than green cars. In an effort to design a gasoline station that is both green and trendy in Europe, design firm Geotectura has unveiled a station dubbed Green…

  • ACU’s new center will be an exercise in sustainable architecture

    Jolly
    9 Feb 2010 | 12:42 am
    Eco Factor: University building designed to harvest renewable energy. Woods Bagot has unveiled plans for the Australian Catholic University’s new Center for Health and Wellbeing, which is being touted to be an exercise in healthy architecture. The sustainable building will adopt active mass cooling concrete slabs, solar hot water heating panels, wind turbines and a rooftop garden terrace. The building will set new standards in energy efficient design without compromising on an attractive social and working environment for faculty. Faculty offices will be accommodated within the northern…

  • Zambezi Queen – A five-star floating boutique hotel with green credentials

    Jolly
    8 Feb 2010 | 10:51 pm
    Eco Factor: Fuel-efficient river boat uses solar energy for hot water. The Zambezi Queen is a new 15-foot-long river boat that has been designed to provide all modern amenities to the passengers with minimum impact on the environment. The boat offers a luxurious new way to explore the Chobe River in Botswana, which runs through the Chobe National Park. The luxurious boat is both luxurious and green as it is equipped with solar water heater and uses jet propulsion instead of conventional propellers for better fuel economy. Moreover, the boat doesn’t have any air-conditioners to save on…

  • Michigan researchers develop world’s smallest solar-powered sensor system

    Jolly
    8 Feb 2010 | 10:40 pm
    Eco Factor: Millimeter-scale sensor harvests solar energy for nearly perpetual operation. Researchers at the University of Michigan have developed the world’s smallest self-powered sensor that can operate nearly perpetually running solely on solar energy. The system’s solar cells, processor and battery are all located in a tiny frame measuring just 9-cubic-millimeter. The system can be used in new biomedical implants and various home-, building- and bridge-monitoring devices and could improve the efficiency and cost of current sensors designed to detect movement of track air and water…
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    Consumer Reports: Home & Garden

  • Behr hopes to sell more paint to contractors with its new direct-to-pro program

    Consumer Reports Home & Garden Blog
    8 Feb 2010 | 2:22 pm
    Behr Premium Plus Ultra paints, sold at Home Depot, were the top-scoring finishes in our March 2010 report on interior paints. (Ratings of low-luster, flat, and semigloss finishes are available to subscribers.)Lots of you agree with and many of you disagree with our findings and fiercely debate which is the best paint in our active forums. What's more, many professional contractors choose other brands over Behr, a point the company's representatives acknowledged at last month's International Builders' Show. And some pro painters take real issue with Consumer Reports'…

  • 2010 snowpocalypse was outdone by the Great Blizzard of 1978

    Consumer Reports Home & Garden Blog
    8 Feb 2010 | 12:16 pm
    Storm over the eastern U.S., 2/5/10.Photo: NOAA Environmental Visualization Lab Since misery apparently loves company—and if you happen to have some free time because your stuck at home in the wake of this past weekend's snowpocalypse/snowmageddon and if your power is still on—you might want to read about another huge winter storm that ended 32 years ago today: the Great Blizzard of 1978.  According to This Day in History on History.com, the Nor'easter that in three days dumped up to 55 inches of snow on some parts of Rhode Island and Massachusetts finally subsided.

  • In this big chill, Ice House Detroit nears completion

    Consumer Reports Home & Garden Blog
    7 Feb 2010 | 9:01 pm
    As we reported last fall, the Ice House Detroit project was conceived by architectural photographer Gregory Holm and architect Matthew Radune as a way to draw attention to what's happening in the Motor City as a result of the devastating blow suffered by the housing market there.As detailed on the Ice House Detroit blog, the duo has been wielding water hoses and battling the winter sun as they worked to encase one of the city's thousands of abandoned houses completely in ice, what they label "an architectural installation and social change project." Holm and Radune say…

  • Some low-VOC green finishes make the grade in the latest Consumer Reports review of interior paints

    Consumer Reports Home & Garden Blog
    5 Feb 2010 | 2:52 pm
    Some green paints scored well in our latest report. In recent years, very few low-VOC paints were standouts in our tests. But in our  March 2010 report on interior paints, nearly all of the top-scoring finishes are among the tested products with the lowest level of volatile organic compounds. VOCs contribute to smog formation and are linked to respiratory illness and memory impairment.Behr Premium Plus Ultra paints earned the top spot in the low-luster, flat, and semigloss categories we test and also have less than 50 grams of VOCs per liter, the threshold for being considered a low-VOC…

  • Live on the East Coast? Get prepared for this weekend's winter blast

    Consumer Reports Home & Garden Blog
    5 Feb 2010 | 12:55 pm
    If you live on the Eastern Seaboard and are scrambling to prepare for this weekend’s snowstorm, read our advice to gird yourself for the snowpocalypse.• Plan to use a space heater? See our safety tips, free buyer's guide to space heaters, and coverage of EdenPure space heaters and the Heat Surge Roll-n-Glow Electric Fireplace, commonly called the Amish heater.• If you own a snow blower, ensure that yours is in good working order and be safe when you use it. While it's probably too late to get yourself a new snow blower, next time you're in the market for a new snow thrower,…
 
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    metaefficient

  • The Rainwater Pillow – Rain Barrel Meets Cistern

    benjamin
    8 Feb 2010 | 5:30 pm
    The Rainwater Pillow (photo: Rainwater Collection Systems, Inc.) Utilizing rainwater runoff is a double bonus for homeowners, both in environmental and financial terms.  It reduces the amount of water consumed from the municipal system, and it lessens the strain on wastewater treatment facilities that must process water after it flows down the drain.  A rain barrel is great for small-scale applications like a flower garden, and now there is an option for large-scale rainwater collection without the need for a traditional cistern:  the Rainwater Pillow. (more…) Related posts:A Clever…

  • TED 5000 Household Power Meter – Improve Home Energy Efficiency

    benjamin
    5 Feb 2010 | 4:23 pm
    TED 5000 Household Power Meter (photo: The Energy Detective) It’s no secret that cutting your household energy consumption is a great way to reduce your environmental footprint. It’s also a great way to save money on your utility bills. But to pinpoint the best places to reduce power use, you need to know exactly where your power is going – no small task considering the number of devices, appliances, and fixtures in an average home. Enter the TED 5000 energy meter, a nifty tool to precisely track your home energy use. (more…) Related posts:An Energy Producing Home In Disguise…

  • Nutrients Are Efficient

    Justin
    30 Jan 2010 | 12:45 am
    Raw Pistachios Enzymes are metaefficient. My top picks are raw pistachios and raw cacao. Both have optimal enzyme levels when unadulterated. (more…) Related posts:Criollo Chocolate: Efficient Food of the Gods Pure Chocolate: Raw Cacao Nibs Naturemill Pro Promises Easy & Efficient Indoor Composting © Justin Thomas for MetaEfficient Reviews, 2010. | Permalink | No comment

  • Southface Energy Institute – A Resource For Sustainable Design

    benjamin
    30 Nov 2009 | 12:48 pm
    Southface Energy Institute Headquarters In Atlanta, GA Energy efficient building designs and technologies are everywhere these days. In fact, the sheer number of options can seem a little overwhelming for those interested in sustainable construction techniques. But Southface Energy Institute, headquartered in Atlanta, can be a valuable resource for homeowners, commercial or residential builders, or individuals who simply want to learn more about environmentally friendly design. (more…) Related posts:Dockside Green Awarded World’s Highest LEED Score GreenFiber Cocoon Insulation:…

  • The Best Headphones Under $100

    Justin
    25 Nov 2009 | 5:42 pm
    The Best Headphones Under $100 I’ve tested a lot of headphones in the Reactual Labs. I’ve discovered that there are, in fact, great quality headphones priced under $100. The three stand-out brands are: Sennheiser, Grado Labs and AKG. Other popular brands found in electronics stores tend to have inferior sound at this price level. Here are the some of my favorite headphones for under $100: (more…) Related posts:The Best Studio Headphones: The Sennheiser HD-580 The Best Noise Cancelling Stereo Headphones The Top Rated Headphones: Grado SR-60
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    Forecast Earth: Current Articles

  • Environmentalists hail Earth Hour as a big success

    31 Dec 1969 | 4:00 pm
    BONN, Germany (AP) -- For environmental activists, the message was clear: Earth Hour was a huge success. Now they say it's time for nations to tackle climate change. "The world said yes to climate action, now governments must follow," the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) said a day after hundreds of millions of people worldwide followed its call to turn off lights for a full hour. From an Antarctic research base and the Great...

  • Obama team debuts at UN climate talks

    31 Dec 1969 | 4:00 pm
    BONN, Germany (AP) -- President Barak Obama's climate change team made their international debut Sunday at a major U.N. conference -- and delegates were eager to find out whether Obama could translate his aggressive domestic agenda into a worldwide deal to fight global warming. The two-week meeting by 175 countries is the latest attempt to craft a global agreement to govern the emissions of carbon dioxide and other gases that...

  • It's time to green this old (White) House -- again

    31 Dec 1969 | 4:00 pm
    WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Barack Obama will find out two things as he studies how to make the White House more environmentally friendly:  No. 1: It's already been done.  No. 2: It needs to be done again. It was Earth Day 1993 when President Bill Clinton launched his ambitious "greening the White House" project. That effort saved more than $1.4 million in its first six years, largely from improvements in lighting,...

  • Smart organic choices for limited budgets

    31 Dec 1969 | 4:00 pm
    (From DivineCaroline.com) - There are many reasons why consumers choose organic over conventionally-grown food, but there's usually one reason why they don't--cost. Organics can run 10 to 100 percent higher than conventionally grown, throwing all health, taste, and environmental concerns out of the grocery basket. Although savvy farmers' markets and comparison shopping can yield organics that are close in price to non-...

  • AP source: EPA closer to global warming warning

    31 Dec 1969 | 4:00 pm
    WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Environmental Protection Agency has taken the first step on the long road to regulating greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act. Politicians and the public, business and industry will have to weigh in along the way, but for now a proposed finding by the EPA that global warming is a threat to public health and welfare is under White House review. The threat declaration would be the first step to...
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    Matter Network - Clean Technology, Green News and Sustainable Business News

  • CEOs Release Sustainability Vision for 2050

    9 Feb 2010 | 7:25 am
    The World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) last week launched the Vision 2050 report, a study that lays out a pathway leading to a global population of some 9 billion people living well, within the resource limits of the planet by 2050. The report, released at the World CEO Forum in New Delhi, India, was compiled by 29 leading global companies representing 14 industries. The report states that the world already has the resources to achieve Vision 2050, but there is a catch: "The radical changes highlighted in Vision 2050 demand a different perspective from business…

  • A Guide To Becoming A LEED Green Associate

    9 Feb 2010 | 7:11 am
    <img src="http://greeneconomypost.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/leed-green-associate.jpg" alt="" title="" align="right" valign="top" hspace="5" vspace="5" border="0" />Looking for a way to transition your career into the new green economy? Need to boost your resume in a tough job market? Achieving the LEED Green Associate (LEED GA) credential allows you to market your knowledge of green building to potential employers. This first level of LEED professional credentialing is designed for professionals who…

  • Coda Takes on Major Players for Affordable Pure Electric Car

    9 Feb 2010 | 5:53 am
    California buyers will have the chance to purchase a Chinese-built highway-capable all-electric car by the end of this year. That was the promise made by Coda Automotive CEO Kevin Czinger to a group of about 60 automotive journalists last week. Speaking to a meeting of the Western Automotive Journalists, Czinger revised earlier pronouncements on price, declaring that after the $7,500 federal tax credit, a new Coda sedan will retail for about $30,000, a price comparable to a high-end Toyota Priuswith similar equipment. That price point should be very competitive with the Chevy Volt, although…

  • Survey Shows Strong Support for Climate, Energy Policies

    9 Feb 2010 | 5:43 am
    Despite a sharp drop in public concern over global warming, Americans--regardless of political affiliation--support the passage of federal climate and energy policies, according to the results of a national survey released last week by researchers at Yale and George Mason universities. The survey found support for: * Funding more research on renewable energy, such as solar and wind power (85%) * Tax rebates for people buying fuel-efficient vehicles or solar panels (82%) * Establishing programs to teach Americans how to save energy (72%) * Regulating carbon dioxide as a pollutant (71%) *…

  • Marketing Products as Green? The FTC is Watching

    8 Feb 2010 | 1:54 pm
    by William Sarni It is time to get serious about your green performance claims. This means being sure your claims are well grounded in quantitative performance. The recent guidance by the SEC recommending that companies report risk from climate change coupled with increased scrutiny by the FTC on green claims means that companies must (no longer optional) quantify and carefully communicate sustainability performance both at the company wide and product level. For the past several months the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has been working on updating their "Guides for the Use of Environmental…
 
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    Environmental Defense Fund: Climate 411

  • Climate Video Action Week: Start Your Camera!

    Rebecca Rasch
    3 Feb 2010 | 11:56 am
    Cameras are standard on most cell phones, which has led to a surge in goofy videos of things like co-workers dozing off.  But for one week in March, your camera phone can serve a higher purpose — stopping climate change. Be a part of Environmental Defense Action Fund's Climate Video Action Week, a video campaign to connect you directly to your Senators. To participate, create a 30-second video explaining why you want a strong climate bill with a real cap on carbon  — now. During the first week of March, we'll send the videos to your Senators, and we'll also…

  • The Frank Luntz Poll About Global Warming: Still Hot News

    Sharyn Stein
    1 Feb 2010 | 11:18 am
    Remember the Frank Luntz poll we told you about last week?  The prominent pollster found bipartisan support for a strong climate and clean energy bill, and it's been generating a lot of buzz. Here are just a few of the many stories about it: True/Slant talks about Luntz's surprising views on the climate issue, saying he's "teaming up with Fred Krupp of all people" … The Vine has an even better summary of the "strange bedfellows" effect: It was a little surprising to see [Luntz] this morning at the National Press Club, teaming up with the…

  • More Voices Add to the Chorus: Give Us a Job-Creating Climate Bill

    Sharyn Stein
    29 Jan 2010 | 9:51 am
    The State of the Union is the main topic of conversation this week, but President Obama wasn't the only one who had strong words about climate legislation. First, 17  U.S. Senators sent a letter to President Obama [PDF ]asking him to put "clean energy and climate legislation capable of creating new economic opportunities" at the top of his list of priorities for this year.  The letter says: Legislation that invests in clean energy and puts a meaningful limit on carbon pollution will be a major job creator. Obviously, from what we heard Wednesday night, they'll get no…

  • Rolling Stone Calls out "The Climate Killers"

    Sharyn Stein
    29 Jan 2010 | 8:35 am
    The latest cover of Rolling Stone magazine didn't feature an indie star or up-and-coming talent.  Instead, a simple black background pushed forward the words "YOU IDIOTS: meet the planet's worst enemies" and drew readers' attention to climate change. The 13-page article went through the latest chapter in climate legislation, without pulling any punches.  It called out every major obstacle to climate legislation from the Heritage Foundation's disinformation to the "17 polluters and deniers who are derailing efforts to curb global warming."  (Two EDF…

  • Video: The Facts of Cap and Trade, From an Economist

    Nat Keohane
    28 Jan 2010 | 2:47 pm
    EDF is known for unconventional tactics. We often experiment with new ideas to find the ways that work. However, this time I had a chance to do something truly off-the-wall. I was asked to make a video with the coalition Clean Energy Works that explains cap and trade in a way that non-economists could understand, i.e., in English.  (And with clever animation.) What were they thinking? Maybe the idea was just crazy enough to work. Here are a couple of reactions so far: The Sightline Daily calls it “thoughtful and friendly” Treehugger said it's a “brief but relatively thorough…
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    The Greener Grass

  • Solar devices bring power to the powerless

    Chris Heckman
    2 Feb 2010 | 5:59 am
    Here in the US, solar gadgets like the Solio Classic or the Generator from Voltaic Systems are play toys of the eco-chic. While they are fun to use in the city, or perhaps even useful on a camping trip, Americans can plug into the grid anytime to power up and play on. With electricity so abundant, it is hard for us to imagine living a life that stops simply because the sun goes down. Just turn on a light, right?For the nearly 3 billion people living in developing countries like India, Ghana and Kenya, the only lights available after sunset are from kerosene lamps, candles or battery powered…

  • Skiff Reader highlights content

    Chris Heckman
    4 Jan 2010 | 11:19 am
    The world of media is taking strides towards removing the trees away from the daily content people demand. Many companies have put their bets on e-readers as being today's must-have item, yet so far several seem like glorified Gameboys. They often have thick bodies and screens crowed by peripheral features. While many await Apple's entrance in this growing market, check out this Wiki matrix of the offerings out now - nearly 40 devices in all! Of the e-readers we've seen so far, we've been most impressed by one of the latest to market, the Skiff Reader (Skiff LLC and Sprint partnership). At…

  • Induction lamps lighting the way in 2010

    Chris Heckman
    4 Jan 2010 | 6:33 am
    The U.S. has not banned incandescent light bulbs, but there is a growing list of countries that are making the switch as greener options make their way to the market. Fluorescent bulbs and LED's are becoming more mainstream here, matching lower power use with longer lifespans. That combination is pushed even further with the next generation of lighting on the horizon, the induction lamp (or electrodeless lamp). By relying on a chemical reaction to the elements inside, induction lamps do not use electrodes or filaments, which expands their life to nearly 100,000 hours, or roughly 35 years at…

  • TGG celebrates Oktoberfest

    Michael
    30 Oct 2009 | 6:29 am
    Have you ever wondered why Oktoberfest starts in September? We're not complaining, but we wanted to stretch it out. To celebrate Kaleidoscope's 20th anniversary, we recently threw an Oktoberfest open haus. The party wouldn't be complete without some concepts, so here are just a few of our favorites. Let us know what you think! Boom Boom combines a simple, elegant form and a delightful detail: a small mushroom cloud blown into the base of the glass. Beer Drop Crying and drinking go hand in hand, in spite of society’s reluctance to accept it. This glass celebrates those who have the courage…

  • Plug into the Smart Grid

    Brian
    9 Mar 2009 | 12:56 pm
    Last month, Google hosted a panel discussion at their DC Office regarding the future of smart grid technology. Panelists from Google, their partner GE, utilities, and the government discussed how best to utilize the $11 billion (part of the $83 billion of the stimulus allocated to clean technologies) set aside for modernizing our electric grid. The panel also answered questions from the public submitted online. You can watch the entire discussion here.“What does a world with smart power look like? As Washington develops the road map for a bigger, smarter electricity grid, how can we ensure…
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    GreenMonk: the blog

  • The rise of the energy manager role

    tom@redmonk.com (Tom Raftery)
    9 Feb 2010 | 7:52 am
    Photo credit jurvetson One of the topics which I responded to on the recent IBM Eco Jam was “IT’s Central Role In Managing Energy & Carbon”. This topic was raised by another analyst (again IBM has asked me not to mention participants by name but if the analyst in question sees this and wants me to name him/her, I have no problem so doing) when s/he posted the following: Forrester’s research on energy & carbon management systems predicts that IT organizations will take on a central role in choosing, owning, and operating these systems. The challenge of…

  • Energy and Sustainability show for Monday Feb 8th

    tom@redmonk.com (Tom Raftery)
    9 Feb 2010 | 1:24 am
    Watch live streaming video from greenmonktv at livestream.com We had a great Energy and Sustainability show yesterday – in case you were unable to make it, I recorded the video (above) and the chatstream (below): Mon, 8 Feb, 16:22 Tom Raftery : Monday Feb 8th – show kicking off in just under 10 mins Hi everyone, can you see/hear me ok? Mon, 8 Feb, 16:31 Joe Garde : all good tom Mon, 8 Feb, 16:32 Tom Raftery : http://www.theecologist.org/News/news_round_up/409887/rbs_labelled_dirtiest_bank_in_britain.html…

  • The badge of pride now should be how long it has been since you left your computer on overnight!

    tom@redmonk.com (Tom Raftery)
    5 Feb 2010 | 5:51 am
    Photo credit Tom Raftery I’m an IT guy. I love my (Mac) computer. Most other IT people I know love their computers too, be they Mac, Windows or *nix based. Of course you would when you are typically working on them 8+ hours per day. We take pride in our computers – how fast they are, the latest software/widget we installed, etc. One boast I hear people come out with regularly, is how long it has been since their last computer re-start. This can be a measure of just how stable the operating system is – if it hasn’t crashed or needed a re-start in weeks/months then it…

  • Friday Morning Green Numbers round-up 02/05/2010

    tom@redmonk.com (Tom Raftery)
    5 Feb 2010 | 2:34 am
    Photo credit Unhindered by Talent Here is this Friday’s Green Numbers round-up: Scant Arctic ice could mean summer double whammy | Reuters Scant ice over the Arctic Sea this winter could mean a “double whammy” of powerful ice-melt next summer tags: greennumbers, arctic sea ice, arctic ice, ice melt Tibet temperatures hit record high in 2009 | Reuters Temperatures in Tibet rose last year to the highest level since records began for the remote Himalayan country, which scientists say is particularly vulnerable to global warming, state media reported on Friday. tags:…

  • IBM’s Global EcoJam analysed!

    tom@redmonk.com (Tom Raftery)
    3 Feb 2010 | 10:21 am
    Photo credit Tom Raftery I participated in last week’s IBM Global Eco Jam. As you can see from above, the event generated 2080 posts from a total of 3987 logins. I mentioned previously that the quality of the participants in the jam was really impressive, but what were attendees most interested in talking about during the jam? The screenshot above is a tag cloud of the themes discussed during the jam. And while it gives some idea of the relative importance of topics explored during the jam, I decided to see if I could dig a little deeper into the numbers. Doing a View Source of this…
 
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    The Green Mom Review™

  • Love This Lovey

    Katherine
    7 Feb 2010 | 9:41 pm
    What: Dandelion Organic Teething Blanket Features: The bear on this blanket has knotted appendages and wiggly ears for infants to touch, feel and teethe on; the soft material makes it the perfect bedtime companion (or anytime lovey!) Green Factor: Made with the good stuff (100% certified organic cotton and natural dyes), not the bad stuff (pesticides and chemicals). Packaged in recycled materials. Bonus: Baby Green Sprout only chooses products from companies that employ fair-trade and sweatshop-free standards. Find It Here: Baby Green Sprout The Green Mom Review™..

  • Alphabet Soup: Produce Codes

    The Green Mom Review
    2 Feb 2010 | 10:54 pm
    When you’re shopping for produce, what do those numbers on the stickers mean? The PLU “Price Look Up” code stickers on fruits and vegetables can help you identify organic, conventional and even genetically modified produce. •  Organic produce stickers start with a 9 and have 5 numbers • Conventional produce has 4 numbers • GM (Genetically Modified) produce have 5 numbers like organic produce but start with the number 8 so be particularly cautious of those fruits and vegetables Choose 9 for peace of mind! Author Annie Malka is a mother of four living in the Florida…

  • Up, Up and Away!

    Katherine
    2 Feb 2010 | 10:42 pm
    What: Bamboo E-Plane Features: Up, up and away! This wooden toy airplane from Hape is stylish, modern and built to last. Green Factor: The environmentally-friendly E-Plane is made out of sustainable bamboo and is decorated with non-toxic, water-based dyes Bonus: All of Hape’s products meet international safety and quality standards Find It Here: Amazon.com The Green Mom Review™..

  • Goody for Goodie Boxes!

    Katherine
    1 Feb 2010 | 7:17 am
    What: Goodie Boxes Features: The crowning touch at children’s birthday parties? The goody bags, of course. But more often than not, those bags are filled with cheap, plastic junk from the dollar store that no doubt winds up in a landfill somewhere. Check out this greener alternative: Goodie Boxes! Green Factor: Each re-usable box is made from recycled cardboard and is printed with soy ink Bonus: There are several different patterns to choose from and Green Party Goods also carries a great selection of non-toxic, fair trade and earth friendlier goodies to put in your Goodie Boxes Find It…

  • Paper Loop

    Katherine
    28 Jan 2010 | 12:09 am
    What: Paper Loop Greeting Cards Features: L.A.-based Paper Loop is an eco-friendly, wholesale stationary company that offers up a variety of fun and funky greeting cards for all occasions Green Factor: Using recycled paper and envelopes, biodegradable sleeves, wind-powered printing and domestic suppliers are ways this company keeps it green Bonus: Can be found in the US, Canada, the UK, Chile and Japan; will ship via buyer’s preference Find It Here: Paper Loop The Green Mom Review™..
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    GreenPacks.org

  • Dog Leash Generates Power, Lights up the Road

    Harsh Paul
    8 Feb 2010 | 1:06 pm
    The power generating dog leash is the work of Goddard Technologies, and as you’d guess, it is quite different from the dog leashes we are used to seeing. This one has three high intensity LEDs and a safety button that sets off an emergency tone. Other features include an ergonomically designed handle that lets you have a comfortable grip and a quick lock brake to stop the recoil of the leash. The more interesting part of course, is the power generating the leash does. Energy generated by the dog pulling at the leash and by the recoil is harvested in this leash, rather than let it go…

  • Polymer Solar Cells Make Giant Jump in Efficiency

    Harsh Paul
    8 Feb 2010 | 12:26 pm
    Currently, polymer solar cells are far behind the conventional silicon solar cells. However, as thrusts for green energy continue, the relative low cost of the polymer solar cells could play a big role, and the huge jumps these cells are making in terms of efficiency only makes things better for them. A recently developed nano-patterned array production technique showed researchers a seven-fold increase in efficiency as compared to the conventional sandwich-style construction. Solar cells basically work through a system of electron donor and acceptor layers. These layers are only a few…

  • SolBAT Charges Batteries by the Power of Sun

    Harsh Paul
    8 Feb 2010 | 12:00 pm
    The solBAT II is a device that promises to make charging your gadgets more environmentally friendly. Well, instead of hooking on to the grid, the solBAT II lets you tap on the abundant solar energy to charge your gadgets. The basic idea is quite simple, and has been used in a number of similar devices. Solar panels on the top of the solBAT harness solar power and charge an included battery. Once this battery is charged, you can use it to power your gadgets like mobile phones and music players. It is a pocket sized gadget, making it easy to carry around. When the device is charging, a red…

  • Aircruise Concept Will Provide Travel in a Luxuriously Green Way

    Harsh Paul
    3 Feb 2010 | 2:02 pm
    Aircruise concept, created by London based design studio Seymourpowell takes a new look at air travel. The concept prefers a comfortable and luxurious journey over a quick trip. While it is a behemoth in size, the Aircruise concept intends to have minimum effect on the environment. The airship would be capable of carrying 100 people, and lift 396 tons of weight. It will saunter across the sky, and a London to New York journey that currently takes 7 hours, would take 37 hours in this one. About 330,000 cubic metres of hydrogen gas would be required to keep this in the air, and the ship will…

  • Roots: Furniture Created From Plant Roots

    Harsh Paul
    3 Feb 2010 | 1:37 pm
    Designer Kai Linke has plans to create very unique furniture, and that from the use of plant roots. In fact, Kai Linke’s furniture will be made from plant roots, and hence, the name Roots. Creating furniture involves cultivating fast growing plants like grass, bulbs and bamboo. As these plants grow, their roots are channeled into furniture (chair) shaped molds. Gradually, the roots fill up the entire mold, at which point, the mold can be removed and what is left is the furniture made from roots. As of now, the project is in its initial stages, and miniature molds are used. The designer…
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    GreenSmith Consulting

  • The 3 Best Ways to Drastically Reduce your iPhone (Or Any Phone) Bill

    Paul Smith
    5 Feb 2010 | 5:00 am
    Late last year I got my first iPhone (I know I know! Three words : 2 year contract.) With the increase in monthly bill, I was inspired to seek ways to reduce it. And I found them. Many. I thought you'd like to know too. These days, it seems there's nearly as many ways to save money using your phone as there are types of phones. But they all seem to have a weak spot: Requiring you to do numerical gymnastics, or making your caller i.d. on the other end look like something to avoid. While those may have monetary benefits, they can reduce your productivity, and make you look less professional. So…

  • Verterra: A Green Company Effectively Reaching Beyond “The Choir”

    Paul Smith
    22 Jan 2010 | 4:00 am
    I have the pleasure of working for all clients that I admire and respect, and while it’s typically my role to help get them written and talked about by other people, I have to make an exception here. That exception is Verterra.Verterra is a rare find: A green company that goes far beyond the expectations for their product category,  even in ways that aren’t apparent to the end user, while keeping it very affordable, eschewing the “green tax” so many companies presume they can get away with charging the mythical idealized green consumer. It goes like this: They make plates, bowls and…

  • 6 Tools You Can Use to make 2010 a More Productive, Enjoyable Year

    Paul Smith
    6 Jan 2010 | 3:00 am
    2010 seems to have come out of nowhere, here and waiting for you to make the most of it. You're ready, right? If you're not quite there, or would like some resources to make it even better, I have several to recommend today. I wasn't specifically looking for tools to start out the year, but a cluster of them showed up on my radar, and I wanted you to know about them.For a long while I’ve been of the mind to seek out all in one solutions to organizing my life, work, plans. I’ve come to realize that’s an unfair burden to try and place on one piece of software. Nothing out there does all…

  • GreenSmart Shows How to Have a Truly Sustainable Lunch (video review)

    Paul Smith
    22 Dec 2009 | 2:22 pm
    If you're looking for something unique, sustainable, and affordable for a Christmas present, or want to make your lunch truly green, I may have found just the thing: Work or school can be tricky to do sustainably, as my video below will share. But California based GreenSmart sent me some samples of a line of lunchboxes that eschew what you'll learn are often toxic chemicals contained in many neoprene containing reusable lunch boxes. And they've made them both practical and whimsically styled, the material insulating cold and warm food to maintain temperature, and the style adding some fun to…

  • Time to Stop Talking About Going Local, and Doing It. Here's Who Is. (pt 2 of 3)

    Paul Smith
    15 Dec 2009 | 5:03 am
    We’re living in interesting times, and it’s anybody’s guess what the economy, the environment, our society will look, even in the next year. The COP15 UN climate change gathering currently happening in Copenhagen isn’t panning out as many would have wanted, and solutions to unifying the world’s goals look further off. Wayne Maceyka has a single, clear, suggestion: Go local, in all aspects, (re)building robust, agile, stable societies and economies in the process. In part 2 of his 3 part series, he focuses on the organizations currently happening to help support that. I mentioned…
 
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    Green Business

  • Clean Energy and Green Jobs in 2010

    robertludvig
    8 Feb 2010 | 11:52 am
    Green energy is taking center stage as 2010 gets underway. The Obama administration is making good on their promises that were made in 2009. There are critics who point out that the pace of these changes is too slow, and although they do make valid arguments, the pace is accelerating. When watching... .

  • Clean Energy Legislation

    robertludvig
    2 Feb 2010 | 9:10 pm
    Sometimes we forget why we do things which is why I posted the following video. I started this green business blog because I wanted to spread the message and to showcase small, medium and large companies that make a profit with the environment in mind. We can make a difference by purchasing goods... .

  • Green Technology Creates American Auto Jobs

    robertludvig
    1 Feb 2010 | 10:13 am
    The American auto industry is adding jobs as the transition to using green technologies takes shape. Daily jobs report is saying that automakers are adding jobs to support the integration of green technologies into the marketplace – specifically battery technology for electric powered cars.... .

  • Date An Environmentalist

    robertludvig
    27 Jan 2010 | 6:39 pm
    Today I came across a green business with a twist and although many of you might question my reasons for writing about this business, I just couldn’t resist. We try to showcase green business trends and promote small green businesses. GreenSingles brings together people who are conscious... .

  • Innovation Is The Key To Becoming Green

    robertludvig
    21 Jan 2010 | 7:33 pm
    John Grant is an optimist by nature and instead of being an activist he tries to build things, taking the positive appoach to climate change. His best advice to a business person who is asking the question, “where do I start” is simply one word – innovation. He asks companies,... .
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    Autoblog Green

  • Next Toyota concept previewed in patent filing?

    Jeremy Korzeniewski
    9 Feb 2010 | 7:23 am
    Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Hybrid, Lexus, Toyota It would seem that Toyota has an interesting and hitherto unknown concept vehicle up its sleeves, judging by a European patent that L'Automobile in France was somehow able to dig up. Despite our best efforts, we weren't able to locate the actual patent filing ourselves, so you'll have to head on back after clicking here to see the rest of the associated images. So, what do you think? Judging by the absolutely minuscule engine compartment and Toyota's well-earned position at the top of the hybrid vehicle food chain, it would be a reasonable…

  • Chicago Preview: Ford Transit Connect Electric and CNG-powered taxi van

    Sebastian Blanco
    9 Feb 2010 | 6:12 am
    Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Ford, Chicago Auto Show, Natural Gas Ford Transit Connect Electric - Click above for high-res gallery Ford's electric vehicle (EV) naming scheme is becoming clear: add the word "electric" to a vehicle's standard name and presto, you've got the name of your new EV. Example Number One: the Ford Focus Electric. Example Number Two: the Ford Transit Connect Electric, which will get its official North American debut at the Chicago Auto Show this week. The 2011 Transit Connect Electric will go on sale into production later this year and will offer a range of 80 miles per…

  • Officially, Official: Toyota recalls 2010 Prius and HS250h for ABS fix

    Sam Abuelsamid
    9 Feb 2010 | 4:47 am
    Filed under: Hybrid, Lexus, Toyota 2010 Toyota Prius - Click above for high-res image gallery In the least surprising announcement of the day, Toyota has officially announced that it would recall 2010 model Priuses and Lexus HS250h models in globally along with the Toyota Sai in Japan to fix an issue the performance of the brake system. The latest in a series of safety-related problems with Toyotas became public last week when Toyota acknowledged that customers of the third-generation hybrid had complained of a loss of stopping power at low speeds. Toyota also acknowledged that it had…

  • Report: Toyota Prius braking issues may predate 2010 model; other problems reported

    Jeremy Korzeniewski
    8 Feb 2010 | 4:39 pm
    Filed under: Hybrid, Toyota, Green Daily 2009 Toyota Prius - Click above for high-res gallery Could the apparent braking problems reported on the Toyota Prius - which Toyota admits was an issue on the current model prior to being resolved earlier this year - extend past the recently released 2010 model? According to TheDetroitBureau.com, the answer is a resounding... maybe. The third generation of the popular hybrid hatchback hit the market in 2009 as a 2010 model, and some 300,000 vehicles are thought to have a software glitch that could cause the car to lose braking power for up to one full…

  • Audi Super Bowl ad: what trikes did the Green Police ride? The T3 Series

    Sebastian Blanco
    8 Feb 2010 | 3:29 pm
    Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Audi Audi Green Police ad - Click above to watch video after the jump Now that the Super Bowl is over and the Audi Green Police commercial has aired without harm, one of the companies peripherally connected to the ad, T3 Motion, is proudly proclaiming their product's use by said police force. The product is the T3 Series electric trike, which has sold over 2,000 units and is used by police and security forces around the country (we've featured the trike on these pages before). The T3 Series can go up to 20 miles per hour and uses swappable batteries. Now, what's up…
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    Awake at the Wheel

  • Waste into power, POET teams up with the city of Sioux Falls

    propel
    26 Jan 2010 | 4:32 pm
    The joint project by leading ethanol producer, POET, and the city of Sioux Falls uses landfill gas to help power POET’s Chancellor, South Dakota ethanol production facility. Methane gas created by the Sioux Falls Regional Sanitary Landfill is transported down an 11-mile pipeline to POET’s biorefinery, helping to power ethanol production. Methane, a major factor in global [...]

  • VW Diesels take 1-2-3 spots at 2010 Dakar Rally

    propel
    19 Jan 2010 | 1:32 pm
    Volkswagen TDIs, including the Race Touareg prototype, celebrated a one-two-three podium lockout at the finish of the toughest challenge worldwide in motorsport. Read full article from AutoBlog.com.

  • Study affirms health benefits of biodiesel for America’s miners

    propel
    8 Jan 2010 | 10:09 am
    The Mine Safety & Health Administration (MSHA) has published a new report that updates the mining community on biodiesel’s continued positive effects underground. After testing multiple biodiesel blends MSHA concluded that biodiesel reduces emissions, especially when combined with the use of after-treatment devices on diesel engines. “The result is a cleaner and healthier working environment [...]

  • At the Pump . . .

    propel
    18 Dec 2009 | 11:23 am
    Propel community members share their stories. Elk Grove, CA – Elk Grove Clean Fuel Point - December 2009 We met Jennifer fueling her C230 Mercedes-Benz with Flex Fuel at the Elk Grove Clean Fuel Point. She has been filling with Propel ever since the service department at her vehicle dealership told her that her C230 was flex fuel capable. Mercedes does not [...]

  • Clean Diesel Wins Again for Green Car of the Year

    propel
    16 Dec 2009 | 12:03 pm
    For the second year in a row, clean diesel technology earns the top award from Green Car Journal. The Audi A3 TDI was announced as the 2010 Green Car of the Year at the Los Angeles Car Show earlier this month. The diesel hatchback station wagon was select from among an impressive group of fuel-efficient vehicles, [...]
 
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    BioDieselNow

  • Daily News—02/09/10

    Robert Gleeman
    9 Feb 2010 | 1:39 am
      Biodiesel tax credit may get a boost from jobs bill Photo from: http://www.greencar.com/articles/10-facts-biodiesel.php The fate of the lapsed tax subsidy for biodiesel may well lie  with what happens to a jobs bill that Democrats want to get through Congress soon. Beth Pellett Levine, a spokeswoman for Sen. Charles Grassley, the senior Republican for the Senate Finance Committee, says he “has insisted that the biodiesel tax credit be a part of any discussions” on a jobs bill with the panel’s chairman, Montana Democrat Max Baucus.  The $1-a-gallon tax credit for…

  • Daily News—02/08/10

    Robert Gleeman
    8 Feb 2010 | 1:16 am
      GM’s new 2011 diesel-powered pickup trucks will be certified to burn B20 biodiesel GM's new 6.6-liter "LML" Duramax V-8 turbodiesel for its 2011 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra Heavy Duty pickups will be capable of burning B20 biodiesel fuel, according to a GM press release issued early Monday. B20 is a blend of 80 percent conventional ultra-low-sulfur diesel and 20 percent biodiesel. “The 2007 federal energy bill mandates increased biodiesel production and more states and municipalities are requiring it,” said Mike Robinson, vice president, Environment, Energy…

  • Daily News—02/01/10

    Robert Gleeman
    1 Feb 2010 | 1:55 am
      E.Coli bacteria doesn’t just make you sick—it makes biodiesel E coli (AP) Most of us associate the bacteria E. coli with nasty stomach ailments. But a new study published in Nature magazinesuggests E. coli can not just turn stomachs, but could potentially turn the wheels of your car, since a genetically engineered strain of the bacteria has produced clean, road-ready biodiesel. The bacteria can work on any type of biomass, including wood chip, switchgrass, and the plant parts that are left behind after a harvest-all contain cellulose, a structural material that comprises much of a…

  • Daily News—01/11/10

    Nick H
    11 Jan 2010 | 2:46 am
    Robert Gleeman’s Daily News is guest written by Nick – we wish Bob well with an eye operation today. CES 2010: Sungen portable electronic charger This neat foldable device harvests solar energy. We usually think of solar energy collection needing large stationary solar collection facilities. Not anymore! Sungen have announced their portable charger at the CES 2010 exhibition in Las Vegas. This takes about 25 hours to fully charge its internal battery. They’re also working on versions for RV refrigerators capable of DC 70 W. Image from Ecofriend. Maybe we’re approaching…

  • Daily News—01/06/10

    Robert Gleeman
    6 Jan 2010 | 2:19 am
    Iowa biodiesel producer REG to supply Hawaiian Electric power plant Honolulu, Hawaii. A subsidiary of Renewable Energy Group (REG), an Iowa-based biodiesel refiner, won a contract to supply Hawaiian Electric Company with up to 7 million gallons of fuel a year for two years. The biodiesel, derived from used cooking oil and waste animal fat, will fuel the utility’s 110 megawatt combustion turbine generator. REG had provided biodiesel during emissions testing of the generator and beat out seven other bidders for the two-year supply contract, which calls for 3 million to 7 million gallons…
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    Ecogeek

  • Chicago Area Gets Wind-Powered EV Charging Station

    8 Feb 2010 | 8:17 pm
    The Windy City area is capitalizing on its most famous attribute with a new wind-powered electric vehicle charging station.  Located in Highland Park, 30 miles outside of the city, the charging station uses electricity generated by Illinois wind farms for law firm Emalfarb Swan & Bain. The charging station is the second in the country and the first in the continental U.S. to be powered by wind.  The other station is located in Maui, Hawaii. The charge port was installed by Carbon Day Automotive, a distributor of the EV-charging leader Coulomb Technologies.  Carbon Day has also created…

  • Federal Climate Change Agency Being Formed

    8 Feb 2010 | 3:04 pm
    A new federal agency charged with reporting on climate change is being formed.  The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) will set up the Climate Service using members of the National Weather Service and other NOAA offices. Climate operations have been spred out among NOAA offices, but with more and more requests pouring in for information concerning climate change, officials decided to combine those efforts into one main office.  The Climate Service will be headquartered in Washington, D.C. with six regional directors elsewhere in the country. The agency will still have to…

  • Vote for Your Favorite Greener Gadget

    5 Feb 2010 | 3:59 pm
    It's that time of year again!  The Greener Gadgets Design Competition has started and 18 cool, eco-friendly gadget ideas are waiting for your votes. This year is the third year for the competition and the Greener Gadgets Conference, which is being held on February 25 in New York City, and I must say, this is the best crop of designs yet.  Some of the highlights include a kinetic-energy-harvesting rocking horse that fuels flashlights or nightlights called Rocco, a USB-outfitted, wall-mounted charger that is powered by indoor light called the Illumi Charger and a system of turbine-run highway…

  • Smaller, Distributed Solar Projects are Gaining Momentum

    4 Feb 2010 | 4:47 pm
    While the BLM is facing a virtual clog of large, desert-based solar project proposals, smaller, distributed solar projects are popping up at an impressive rate.  In just the past few weeks, 1,300 MW worth of these projects have been announced or approved, which could equal about the same energy output of a big nuclear power plant. The larger, more ambitious solar power plans have many environmental and land-use hurdles to clear, while these smaller plans, set to occupy commercial and residential rooftops, areas near electrical substations and urban areas, don't have the same obstacles in…

  • A Safe Way to Dispose of BPA-Containing Plastics

    4 Feb 2010 | 3:22 pm
    The media coverage of the health dangers of BPA has really reached a fever-pitch these days and, thanks to that coverage, many companies are removing it from their products.  While that is wonderful, there are still many BPA-containing plastics out there and 2.7 million tons of it being made every year.  How do we make sure all that plastic is disposed of safely? Scientists have come up with a way that they believe decomposes polycarbonate plastic without releasing BPA.  The scientists, Mukesh Doble and Trishul Artham, pretreated polycarbonate with ultraviolet light and heat and then…
 
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    Inhabitat

  • Zaha Hadid’s Petroleum Research Center (Ironically) Aims For LEED Platinum

    Bridgette Meinhold
    9 Feb 2010 | 8:16 am
    It may seem ironic, but even petroleum research centers can be LEED certified if they meet the critieria. Case in point: the King Abudullah Petroleum Studies and Research Center (KAPSARC for short), designed by Zaha Hadid, is aiming for LEED Platinum. To be built in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, the state of the art campus will house research and development facilities on energy and environmental exploration and analysis. We take that to read studies on better ways of finding more petroleum (which is hardly a practice we consider to be green) but at least the building itself is striving to be…

  • ReRev Makes Energy Generating Gyms a Reality

    Bridgette Meinhold
    9 Feb 2010 | 6:17 am
    Many of us have been to the gym and wondered why the exercise equipment isn’t hooked up to generate electricity and feed it back into the grid. At long last a company in Florida called ReRev has answered our calls, converting existing elliptical machines into sources of power. Now when you hit the gym, you can burn off those calories while creating some renewable energy for a carbon negative workout. Read the rest of ReRev Makes Energy Generating Gyms a Reality Permalink | Add to del.icio.us | digg Post tags: elliptical machines, exercise, human generated power, human power, renewable…

  • Children’s Hospital is a Sheltering Haven that Proves Design Heals

    Evelyn Lee
    8 Feb 2010 | 9:42 pm
    Storytelling design is the first step towards a healthier future for patients at the Evangelisches Konigin Elizabeth Krankenhaus children’s psychiatric hospital in Berlin. Designed as a collaborative effort between the Queen Elizabeth Hospital and the Dan Pearlman Creative Agency, the center creates a fantastic narrative that guides patients on a journey to “Elise Island”, a safe place to play and rest hosted by Princess Elise. Read the rest of Children’s Hospital is a Sheltering Haven that Proves Design Heals Permalink | Add to del.icio.us | digg Post tags: childrens…

  • The Gyre: A Floating Upside Down Eco Skyscraper

    Bridgette Meinhold
    8 Feb 2010 | 2:00 pm
    Can you imagine living in a high-rise apartment building where the 360 degree views are of fishes and saltwater? Although just a concept now, this upside-down, underwater eco-skyscraper could be the future of building, especially if sea levels rise as predicted and we end up living in a water world. Designed by Victoria BC-based firm Zigloo, the Gyre is a floating eco-development meant to be both a research station as well as an off-shore resort with shops, restaurants, gardens and recreation. Powered completely by the sun, wind and ocean, the Gyre would offer a zero emissions stay for both…

  • NewActon Apartments Aim to Be the Greenest in Australia

    Jorge Chapa
    8 Feb 2010 | 12:48 pm
    NewActon Nishi is a new apartment complex in the middle of Canberra that is aiming to be Australia’s greenest residential development. But don’t go thinking that this will be a boring ‘green building’. NewActon Nishi will feature a sexy minimalist aesthetic in addition to some exciting eco-conscious features. Read the rest of NewActon Apartments Aim to Be the Greenest in Australia Permalink | Add to del.icio.us | digg Post tags: "sustainable development", australia, canberra, Green Building, green development, green developments, hello@newactonnishi.com.au, nathers,…
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    Clean Break

  • Is Vestas planning to lay roots in Ontario?

    Tyler
    9 Feb 2010 | 5:40 am
    I have a story in today’s Toronto Star about Vestas and why the world’s largest maker of wind turbines is seriously looking at setting up shop in Ontario. Vestas already has a large manufacturing footprint in Colorado, but its interest in southern Ontario has more to do with the potential North American market for offshore wind. So why Ontario? Because offshore wind in the Great Lakes provides a huge opportunity, and Ontario happens to have the most freshwater offshore real estate, as well as a developer, Trillium Power, that is well ahead of the pack with respect to project…

  • Areva gets deeper into renewables with Ausra purchase

    Tyler
    8 Feb 2010 | 6:55 pm
    France’s Areva SA is known mostly as a designer of light-water nuclear reactors, builder of transmission and distribution systems, and a miner of uranium, so the announcement today that it has purchased 100 per cent of concentrated solar power company Ausra Inc. came as a surprise. Ausra, based in Mountain View, Calif., was founded by Canadian inventor Dr David Mills. Mills developed the underlying technology as a student and professor in Australia, but located the company in Silicon Valley as part of a major venture capital infusion from Khosla Ventures and Kleiner Perkins Caufield…

  • Nuclear power “renaissance” not the expansion boom the industry expected

    Tyler
    5 Feb 2010 | 7:28 am
    The Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI), an Ottawa a Waterloo, Ontario-based think tank founded in 2002 by Research In Motion co-CEO Jim Balsillie, says we shouldn’t expect any major expansion of the nuclear market before 2030. After that, the future of the industry is no more certain. After three and a half years of extensive study, which included exhaustive consultation with industry experts and review of peer-reviewed literature, the policy think tank released a report yesterday that says the nuclear industry will have a hard enough time just replacing older…

  • 100% coal-to-biomass conversion reduces GHGs by 92 per cent: study

    Tyler
    1 Feb 2010 | 11:52 am
    Ontario is making solid progress with its plan to convert some of its coal-fired power plants to biomass. And not just co-firing, like what many U.S. jurisdictions are considering, but full out 100 per cent biomass burn. It will prove a key part of Ontario’s greenhouse-gas reduction strategy. A new University of Toronto study has concluded that converting coal-fired units at the Nanticoke and Atikokan plants to burning wood pellets would reduce GHGs by roughly 92 per cent, and this is based on a full lifecycle analysis. On top of that, it would create a local biomass supply chain…

  • The challenge of life-cycle analysis in a world of rapid innovation

    Tyler
    29 Jan 2010 | 9:43 am
    There was a big stink this week when a published study, led by University of Virginia civil engineering professor Andres Clarens, concluded that producing biofuels from algae isn’t as climate-friendly as many people believe, at least when compared to getting biofuels from switchgrass, canola, and – Huh? — even corn. The results, according to an abstract of the study, “indicate that these conventional crops have a lower environmental impact than algae in energy use, greenhouse gas emissions, and water regardless of cultivation location.” Why? Because of the need…
 
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    Fake Plastic Fish

  • Eating Ice Cream for Breakfast — Plastic-Free & Zero Waste

    Beth Terry
    8 Feb 2010 | 8:00 am
    Did you know that Saturday was International Eat Ice Cream for Breakfast Day? Well, it was. Unfortunately, since I’m trying to avoid ice cream packaging waste (All ice cream containers are lined with plastic), I didn’t have any in the house.  And I could tell my freezer was feeling a little sad. So, remembering Steve L.’s comment here last week, I called Ici, one of the awesome ice cream shops in my neighborhood, to find out if they would handpack a pint in my own container. “No,” they said. “We can only use our own containers. But our containers are…

  • Disagreeing on Green Values: Why Michael Thinks I’m Ned Flanders

    Beth Terry
    4 Feb 2010 | 12:38 pm
    A few weeks ago, my husband Michael forwarded me the NY Times article, “Therapists Report Increase in Green Disputes“: As awareness of environmental concerns has grown, therapists say they are seeing a rise in bickering between couples and family members over the extent to which they should change their lives to save the planet. In households across the country, green lines are being drawn between those who insist on wild salmon and those who buy farmed, those who calculate their carbon footprint and those who remain indifferent to greenhouse gases. Wondering if Michael was trying…

  • When is Wool Yarn not 100% Wool?

    Beth Terry
    3 Feb 2010 | 2:08 pm
    When it’s coated with plastic. Like the kind I have to hide from Arya because things like this happen… Two years ago, in my post about plastic-free kitting, I mentioned I was knitting slippers out of Superwash wool from Lorna’s Laces. I assumed that Superwash meant the yarn had already been washed and wouldn’t shrink anymore.  I guess I was thinking of cotton.  Anyway, an astute Fake Plastic Fish reader Rebecca left a comment on that post just a few weeks ago letting me know that Superwash wool is actually coated with a polymer to prevent the wool from shrinking.

  • 2010, Month 1: 6.4 oz Plastic Waste

    Beth Terry
    1 Feb 2010 | 3:30 am
    It’s a new year and a new plastic collection. For those just joining this blog, every month I collect and tally my plastic waste to see how far I’ve come and what still needs to be done. As I mentioned in my post “8 Reasons Why Personal Changes Matter,” it’s only after looking at our own waste and trying very hard to find alternatives that we can see clearly where the limits are and what companies we need to target or civil actions to engage in. So, here’s January’s tally: Plastic purchased before June 15 2007 and used up in the last month (3.2 oz): 6…

  • Ice Pack, Heating Pad, Rice Sock

    Beth Terry
    29 Jan 2010 | 12:12 pm
    Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC, commonly known as vinyl), Polyurethane foam (foam rubber), Polyster. All these poly’s. All non-biodegradable plastics. Not so good for our health or that of the planet, right? And yet so many health products are made from these materials. Take electric heating pads and gel ice packs, for example. My cold packs are made of gel in PVC bags. And my heating pad is made from layers of PVC, polyurethane foam, and synthetic fabric. We worry about the chemicals released when we heat plastic food containers in the microwave: hormone disrupting phthalates, for example. So…
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    Clean Energy Stocks

  • Investing in Water in 2010 - The Next Big Play in Cleantech

    www.Investorideas.com
    8 Feb 2010 | 4:32 pm
    Investing in Water in 2010 - The Next Big Play in Cleantech Marketplace update and Stock Directory update for Investors Seeking Water Companies and Water Stocks to Buy DELTA, BC –February 8 2010 www.Water-Stocks.com, an investor and industry portal for the water sector within Investorideas.com, updates the water stocks directory of publicly traded water stocks and the Investor Ideas Marketplace for accredited investors seeking opportunities for investing in emerging water companies. Water-Stocks.com has also recently launched two new water columns for investors following the sector;…

  • Energy Commentary - Why Natural Gas: Let's Just Keep Saying It Until Washington Gets the Message

    www.Investorideas.com
    6 Feb 2010 | 1:16 pm
    Energy Commentary - Why Natural Gas: Let's Just Keep Saying It Until Washington Gets the MessageBy Senior Energy Industry Executive Karl W. Millerabout stocks: CHK, DVN, EOG, APA, APC, WMB, EP, KMI, XOM, MRO, CVX, OXY, BPAs per previous release and distribution Energy Commentary by Karl Miller http://www.naturalgasstocks.com/Karl_Miller/For public interest, senior energy executive and institutional investor Karl W. Miller, today issued the following statement through his advisors regarding consolidation in the U.S. Natural Gas Industry and the "JOBS" the natural gas sector has created and…

  • Western Wind Energy (TSX.V:WND) named as part of 2010 TSX Venture 50

    www.Investorideas.com
    5 Feb 2010 | 2:56 pm
    News and Stories Published at Clean Energy Stocks Blog.Western Wind Energy (TSX.V:WND) named as part of 2010 TSX Venture 50VANCOUVER, Feb. 5 ( Investorideas.com) -- The TSX Venture Exchange today announced that WESTERN WIND ENERGY CORP. (TSX.V:WND) has been named as one of the TSX Venture 50, a ranking of strong performers listed on TSX Venture Exchange. TSX Venture 50 is comprised of 10 emerging companies in five industry sectors that have been identified as leaders in Canada's public venture market. It is an honour to be named as part of this year's TSX Venture 50," said Jeffrey Ciachurski.

  • Nevada Geothermal Power Inc. (TSX.V: NGP, OTCBB: NGLPF) named as part of 2010 TSX Venture 50

    www.Investorideas.com
    5 Feb 2010 | 2:43 pm
    News and  Stories Published at Clean Energy Stocks Blog.Nevada Geothermal Power Inc. (TSX.V: NGP, OTCBB: NGLPF) named as part of 2010 TSX Venture 50 VANCOUVER, Feb 05, 2010  TSX Venture Exchange today announced that Nevada Geothermal Power Inc. (TSX.V: NGP, OTCBB: NGLPF) has been named as one of the TSX Venture 50, a ranking of strong performers listed on TSX Venture Exchange. TSX Venture 50 is comprised of 10 emerging companies in five industry sectors that have been identified as leaders in Canada's public venture market. "It is an honour to be named as part of this year's…

  • Green Funding News -Green Plug Announces Series B Investment

    www.Investorideas.com
    3 Feb 2010 | 3:03 pm
    Green Plug Announces Series B InvestmentIn Its Environmentally-Friendly DC Power TechnologyInvestment Bolsters Emerging Consumer Electronics Standard,Will Hasten Market Adoption of Digital Power ProtocolSAN RAMON, CALIF. (February 3, 2010) – Green Plug (www.greenplug.us), the first developer of digital technology enabling collaboration between electronic devices and their power sources, today announced that it has closed a Series B investment led by Herald Investments UK, Killik & Co. and Peninsula Venture Partners. While the amount of the investment was not disclosed, the Series B…
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    Cleantech Blog

  • Why isn't there a Building Efficiency Trade Association

    Jigar Shah
    8 Feb 2010 | 12:27 pm
    Is it time for a real trade association for the Building Efficiency industry?I was thinking about this today. I have seen one that really does the job. For those of you that have been a part of the efficiency industry for a long time, you know that it is like a greyhound race.Companies running as fast as they can to realize the dream only to come up short on actually catching the rabbit.Energy Efficiency in the US alone is estimated to have $440B of potential by LBNL and over $3 Trillion when calculating the ultimate economic potential by 2030.As the costs of new electricity, water, and…

  • Gray Power

    Richard T. Stuebi
    8 Feb 2010 | 9:01 am
    by Richard T. StuebiThe distinction between "green power" -- electricity without any carbon emissions, usually from renewable energy sources such as solar and wind -- has been clearly drawn vs. "brown power" -- electricity generated from fossil fuels.In a recent article in The Nation, author Lisa Margonelli writes about "The Case for 'Gray Power'". "Gray power" is the term that Ms. Margonelli uses for a concept called "energy recycling", wherein electricity is generated from capturing waste heat from burning fossil fuels. So, gray power is not as "green" as renewables, but given that the fuel…

  • U.S. Wind Energy Breaks Record with 10 GW added in 2009

    John Addison
    2 Feb 2010 | 7:58 am
    By John Addison The U.S. wind industry broke all previous records by installing 9,922 MW installed last year. This expanded the nation’s wind fleet by 39% and bring total wind power generating capacity in the U.S to over 35,000 MW. The five-year average annual growth rate for the industry is also 39%. U.S. wind projects today generate enough to power the equivalent of 9.7 million homes, protecting consumers from fuel price volatility and strengthening our energy security.Wind power and natural gas are the leading sources of new electricity generation for the United States, generating 80% of…

  • Getting the LEDs Out

    Richard T. Stuebi
    1 Feb 2010 | 4:54 am
    by Richard T. StuebiKeith Scott, VP of Business Development at Bridgelux, recently posted on GreenTech Media an interesting take on the state of LED lighting markets. Mr. Scott claims that "we are in the middle of the LED lighting revolution", and sees big expansion ahead in for the sector.In some ways, the picture he paints parallels the recent trends in the photovoltaics sector. The prices for LED lighting system are high in large part because of booming demand for LEDs from other applications (e.g., high-def TVs). This is triggering expansion of LED manufacturing capacity, which should…

  • Impact of Energy Efficiency on the System

    Jigar Shah
    31 Jan 2010 | 9:06 am
    by Jigar Shah, Founder SunEdison and CEO of the Carbon War RoomI was looking at the new Homestar program on the Efficiency First website here: http://www.efficiencyfirst.org/home-star/To start, it would be an amazing effort on the part of the Federal government. This comes on the heels of a huge effort on the part of the government to weatherize homes across this country. As many of you who know me, this is right up my alley. The problem with this program is that Homestar doesn't really fundamentally shift our priorities as a nation. Assuming there is $23B of money available over 2 years…
 
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    Green Tech Media: Cleantech Investing

  • “Revenue-neutral”: The last hope for climate change legislation?

    info@greentechmedia.com
    8 Feb 2010 | 10:43 am
    I've picked up on a couple of mentions lately of Senators on both sides of the aisle starting to work on revenue-neutral alternatives to the Waxman-Markey type of cap and trade climate legislation that has been the focus of attention ever since Obama came into office. There's been talk of the GOP staff on the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, reporting to Sen. Murkowski of Alaska, possibly working on a revenue-neutral carbon tax proposal. And Cantwell and Collins are proposing a "cap and dividend" plan, also to be revenue-neutral. Gee, sounds familiar. Frustratingly, I could probably…

  • Trouble brewing?

    info@greentechmedia.com
    4 Feb 2010 | 7:21 pm
    Haven't had much time to go through the various recent cleantech IPO filings, and so haven't talked about them much.  Also just generally hoping they do well, for the sake of the overall industry. But in a meeting today someone put up some stats that were pretty sobering. Taking a basket of 4 high profile recent IPOs and filings, the total across the four companies was: - Trailing twelve month revenues = $319M - Trailing twelve month EBITDA = -($343M) - Total venture dollars put into all four companies to date = approximately $1.5B Like I said, I hope all of these companies do well and…

  • Massachusetts’ big energy efficiency news, and some thoughts on FITs

    info@greentechmedia.com
    29 Jan 2010 | 5:50 pm
    Big news today in the state of Massachusetts, where state officials announced a plan to pour $2.2B into energy efficiency measures, including a target of tripling the number of home energy audits, etc.  On a per capita basis, at least, it would put Massachusetts ahead of any other state in the U.S.  A terrific example, a great initiative...  Great to see!  It will make Massachusetts an even more attractive region for energy efficiency startups, tech or otherwise. On other policy topics... I haven't spoken much about feed-in tariffs here in this column.  For one thing,…

  • Yep, that’s right…

    info@greentechmedia.com
    25 Jan 2010 | 6:18 am
    ... a $350M Series B for Project Better Place.  At a pre-money of $900M.  And bear in mind, this doesn't include additional financings that have gone into the company's regional subsidiaries, such as in Israel and Australia. This should really mess up the Q1 cleantech VC tallies when they come out!  Because as longtime readers already know, the headlines are driven by dollar totals, not deals. And we've already got some head scratching results now to think about as Q4 totals continue to come out.  Last week saw the release of the MoneyTree survey (US tally from…

  • Best wishes to Ray Anderson

    info@greentechmedia.com
    21 Jan 2010 | 10:29 pm
    Am en route back to Boston from the Clean Tech Investor Summit, which took place in an incredibly soggy Palm Springs, necessitating a lot of diverted and canceled flights. Despite the problems participants had getting to and from the event thanks to freakish weather, it remained the very well-attended, hyper-networking, content-laden event I remembered from the last one I went to, four or five years ago.  A great event for catching up with fellow cleantech investors on the left coast (and not a few east coasters made the trip out as well).  I will attend again for sure. A particular…
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    Cleantech Investing in Israel

  • Better Place secures $350 million series B round led by HSBC Group; electric car start-up valued at $1.25 billion

    Jonathan Shapira
    25 Jan 2010 | 6:11 am
    Shai Agassi and the team at Better Place have done it again: almost two years to the day after announcing its first car partnership and its first country deployment in Israel, Better Place today announced that it has signed an agreement with an HSBC-led investor consortium for new equity financing of $350 million. The deal marks one of the largest clean-tech investments in history and values Better Place at $1.25 billion.This Series B equity financing round features participation from new investors including HSBC, Morgan Stanley Investment Management, and Lazard Asset Management. These…

  • Arad Technologies wins lucractive water metering deal in India

    Jonathan Shapira
    14 Jan 2010 | 6:24 am
    Arad Technologies, a Yokneam, Israel-based wireless water meter manufacturer, and Luxembourg-based meter maker Actaris Metering Systems were jointly awarded a deal to provide 150,000 water meters to the city of Mumbai, India according to Globes. Citing the Israel Export and International Cooperation Institute, Globes reports that the deal is part of a $128 million project to install 1.2 million water meters in Mumbai, though contracts for the remainder of the project have not been distributed. Arad and Actaris, however, are expected to win the follow-on tenders, because of logistical…

  • HelioFocus raises $10m from China's Sanhua and IC Green Energy

    Jonathan Shapira
    10 Jan 2010 | 8:39 am
    HelioFocus Ltd., an Israel-based solar thermal systems start-up, has raised more than $10 million from China's Zhejiang Sanhua Co. and existing investor IC Green Energy.HelioFocus announced the investment last week at the Weizmann Institute of Science in Rehovot, Israel, where HelioFocus is developing its solar thermal technology to boost electricity production of existing power plants.HelioFocus CEO Ory Zik said Sanhua, the Chinese maker of appliance components whose stock is traded on the Shenzhen stock exchange, would be not just a financial investor in the company, but will also produce…

  • Seambiotic and China Guodian utility to build $10 million commercial microalgae farm

    Jonathan Shapira
    5 Dec 2009 | 7:08 pm
    Seambiotic, a Tel Aviv, Israel-based cleantech start-up developing and producing marine microalgae for the nutraceuticals and biofuel industries using flue gas from electric power plants, has announced that it has signed a License Agreement and a Joint Venture Agreement with affiliates of China Guodian Corporation, to establish a Chinese joint venture for the commercial cultivation of microalgae. China Guodian is one of China’s largest power companies with over 100 power stations. The joint venture with Seambiotic will utilize Seambiotic’s innovative technology for the cultivation…

  • DOE awards grants to HelioFocus, Tigo Energy, TransBiodiesel and Motorola Israel for U.S.-Israel energy projects

    Jonathan Shapira
    24 Nov 2009 | 12:33 pm
    The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today announced the award of $3.3 million in grants for four U.S.-Israel cooperative clean energy projects. The projects were selected by the BIRD Foundation and will be funded by the DOE and Israel's Ministry of National Infrastructures.The four projects will leverage private sector cost-share for a total project value of $11.6 million:HelioFocus Ltd., based in Ness Ziona, Israel and Capstone Turbine Corporation, based in Chatsworth, California have been selected for an award of up to $800,000. HelioFocus and Capstone Turbine will develop and commercialize…
 
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    Gil Friend

  • CleanTech movers & shakers

    Gil Friend
    4 Feb 2010 | 10:25 am
    I'm not sure how it happened, but finance firm RoseRyan has rated me one one of the top 25 clean tech leaders in the Bay Area -- which is of course Action Central in this field. Thanks - to whoever's responsible!

  • The Evoke game launches March 3, 2010

    Gil Friend
    1 Feb 2010 | 11:06 pm
    I love this. Because designer Jane McGonigal "makes games that give a damn." EVOKE is an online game designed to teach collaboration, creativity, knowledge networking, entrepreneurship, courage, resourcefulness, sustainability, and vision. Our goal: to empower young people all over the world, and especially in Africa, to start tackling the world’s toughest problems: poverty, hunger, sustainable energy, water security, conflict, disaster relief, health care, education, human rights. EVOKE trailer (a new online game) from Alchemy on Vimeo. EVOKE is free to play, and open to anyone, anywhere…

  • In the wake of Copenhagen, some things are clear

    Gil Friend
    13 Jan 2010 | 10:09 pm
    A cartoon circulating during COP15 showed a climate denier in the audience gesturing to a PowerPoint at the front of the hall that listed "Energy Independence. Preserve rainforests. Green jobs. Livable cities. Renewables. Clean water, air. Healthy children. Etc, etc." "But what if it's a big hoax," the skeptic grumbles, "and we create a better world for nothing?" Indeed. What if! The COP15 negotiations in Copenhagen could have gone one of three ways: breakthrough, breakdown, or something in between. The odds favored something in between, and that's what we got, with players and analysts still…

  • Happy new year & decade

    Gil Friend
    1 Jan 2010 | 11:39 am
    Happy 2010 everyone! For last year's words belong to last year's language and next year's words await another voice. - TS Eliot Hopefully Alex Steffen's 2010's prediction: We're sailing the sea of weird now, and normal is a country whose shores we'll never see again. isn't the only voice! My 2010 promise: Regular blogging resumes - one longish piece per month, to start with, shorter ones as they happen (hopefully weekly) and of course lots of continued action at Twitter). Starting next week! (Subscribe the the feed - upper right on this page - so the posts can come to you. ;-)

  • Perspective: Beyond Copenhagen

    Gil Friend
    13 Dec 2009 | 4:02 pm
    COP15 -- the 15th Conference of the Parties climate negotiations in Copenhagen this month -- is the latest clarion call for business leadership in meeting the climate challenge. The recent tempest over embarrassing emails from a few climate scientists has contributed to public confusion over the overwhelming scientific understanding of anthropogenic global climate change -- confusion that has been well nurtured by the denial axis and their deep-pocket backers -- and clarified by Scientific American, among many others. (This just in: the Associated Press conducted an "exhaustive review" of the…
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    The BiOH Experience

  • And the 2009 Sage Award Winner Was….

    Jessica, BiOH Polyols Marketing Manager
    22 Jan 2010 | 8:52 am
    Copeland Furniture Congratulations to Copeland Furniture on winning this prestigious industry award. The Sage Award was created in 2008 by the BiOHpolyols team in partnership with the American Home Furnishings Alliance (AHFA) to recognize industry innovators that embrace the value of environmnetal and social responsibility with profitable growth. See my last post  or watch the video below to hear stories from all of the 2009 finalists! About the 2009 Winner Copeland Furniture was singled out among this year’s entries for its “exceptionally focused” approach to sustainable business…

  • Celebrating the 2009 Sage Award Finalists!

    Jessica, BiOH Polyols Marketing Manager
    24 Nov 2009 | 12:49 pm
    Drumroll please….. the 2009 Sage Award Finalists have been announced! The 3 finalist companies areCentury FurnitureCopeland Furniture, and La-Z-Boy.  The Sage Award was created to seek out and recognize innovators with a commitment to sustainable practices, social equity, and profitable growth in the home furnishings and bedding industries. The idea for the Sage Award was hatched by the BiOH polyols team over two years ago, and we partnered with the American Home Furnishings Alliance (AHFA) to bring this award program to the industry in 2008. We are proud to continue to sponsor the…

  • Need an Incentive to “Green” your Lifestyle?

    Jessica, BiOH Polyols Marketing Manager
    6 Nov 2009 | 2:45 pm
    Then maybe the EarthCare Challenge is for you! It’s a unique contest that will share the challenges of six contestants aspiring to live more sustainable lifestyles. And the cool part is that the contest will happen entirely online….through Facebook, Twitter, and You Tube. Contest entry is easy. Upload a photo or a video to Facebook or You Tube and share why you are in need of an eco-makeover as well as why you want to live a more sustainable lifestyle. Six regional finalists will be announced on December 1.  Finalists will get expert advice from green living gurus and will be…

  • Now It’s Your Turn to “Experience Soy Style”

    Jessica, BiOH Polyols Marketing Manager
    21 Oct 2009 | 3:09 pm
    I’m finally catching my breath from the whirlwind that surrounded the Experience Soy Style: Be in the KnOH! event on October 10… and wanted to share some highlights with those of you who could not attend! First of all, a BIG thanks to Room & Board for hosting the event in their Edina, MN store and for their flexibility in adjusting their retail space to showcase the MCAD student exhibits. The winning MCAD student exhibitors – Nick Kriegler, Stephanie Polus, and Ruth Sauvageau – did a fabulous job designing exhibits that fit with the Room & Board brand…

  • BiOH Polyols and MCAD Students on TV!

    Jessica, BiOH Polyols Marketing Manager
    9 Oct 2009 | 7:43 am
    This morning our local CBS news affiliate, WCCO, ran a story about soy foam made with BiOH polyols and the MCAD students that have been designing exhibits for the Experience Soy Style event at Room & Board this Saturday. The milk jug scupture shown in the video is just one of many exhibits that will be on display this weekend. You can check out the full news story here
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    Environmental Leader

  • University of Florida Football Complex Uses 25% Less Energy Than Similar Buildings

    Environmental Leader
    9 Feb 2010 | 8:39 am
    Architect Al Oberlander with RDG Planning & Design talks about the sustainable aspects of the University of Florida’s new Heavener Football Complex. The building was the first athletic facility in the nation to be certified LEED platinum. It uses 25 percent less energy than other buildings of its size, Oberlanders says. The building uses renewable energy [...]

  • 34% of Execs Cite Economy As Impediment to Adopting Sustainability

    Environmental Leader
    9 Feb 2010 | 8:08 am
    About 34 percent of business executives say that their firms’ immediate financial goals were the most pressing priority that prevented the incorporation of sustainability into company strategies and goals, according to the “Managing for Sustainability” report from the Economist Intelligence Unit. The survey of over 200 finance and corporate social responsibility executives showed that about 27 [...]

  • Energy Storage Project Aims to Extend Utility of Solar Power

    Environmental Leader
    9 Feb 2010 | 7:52 am
    International Battery, a U.S. manufacturer and developer of large-format lithium-ion rechargeable batteries, is partnering with system integrator HNU Energy to assess the effectiveness of storing solar energy using new, more-efficient battery technology. If successful, the solar power generation and energy storage project in Maui, Hawaii, could pave the way for small businesses and others that have [...]

  • Ford to Debut Electric Commercial Van

    Environmental Leader
    9 Feb 2010 | 7:39 am
    Companies that make frequent deliveries are expected to be among the first customers for the Ford Transit Connect electric van. Ford, which has been whetting the appetite for the vehicle for some time, is officially unveiling the vehicle Feb. 10 at the Chicago Auto Show, according to news reports. The vehicle has a top speed of 75 [...]

  • SF OKs $150M in Property Tax Financing for Energy Efficiency, Renewables

    Environmental Leader
    9 Feb 2010 | 7:13 am
    San Francisco businesses will be able to tap into $150 million in lending for energy efficiency, renewable energy and water conservation projects, reports the San Francisco Business Times. The Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) program will let property owners pay back the cost of improvements over 20 years on their property taxes. The loans will be attached [...]
 
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    Joel Makower: Two Steps Forward

  • Financing Our Cleantech Future

    joelmakower
    18 Jan 2010 | 9:09 am
    My longtime friend and colleague Bill Green changed jobs recently. That's not normally newsworthy — friends and colleagues do that all the time. But if you're concerned about the future of clean technology — in particular, how we're going to fund the massive scale-up of renewable energy, clean water, and the other infrastructure changes needed to build a clean economy — Green's career move warrants more than just passing interest. Green is a seasoned environmental entrepreneur, with more than 20 years of management and investment experience. He has led five…

  • The Green Business Decade in Review

    joelmakower
    3 Jan 2010 | 11:00 am
    Okay, I'll admit: The headline above is a bit of a come-on. I couldn't possibly do justice to the past 10 years' worth of green business activity — at least not in the following 1,500 or so words. But as we view the whatever-it's-called decade in the rearview mirror, it's tempting to assess what's transpired since the good old days of Y2K to see how far we've come — and how far we haven't. So, let's do that. First, the good news: The greening of mainstream business has continued apace since the clock struck 2000, growing continually more…

  • You Have to Pay the Piper to ‘Save the Earth™’

    joelmakower
    29 Dec 2009 | 10:45 pm
    If only Kermit truly knew how "isn’t easy" it is. Honda Motor Co. is at the receiving end of a lawsuit filed by the Save the Earth Foundation, a tiny nonprofit group that apparently holds a trademark to the phrase “save the earth.” The suit, filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, resulted from a Honda Civic commercial in which an actor wears a T-shirt that says “Save the Earth.” Who knew that those three words were owned by someone you've never heard of? The nonprofit, founded in 1989 and based around Palm Springs,…

  • Is There Hope for Business after Copenhagen?

    joelmakower
    20 Dec 2009 | 7:57 pm
    I've been trying over the past few days to find some Hopenhagen in Copenhagen — that is, to see some positive outcome to the COP15 climate summit just concluded. The two-week event ended with a whimper, not a bang, a not-altogether-surprising conclusion to an overhyped event in which all parties had anticipating the entire world coming together to solve a single, critical issue affecting — well, the entire world. When it was all over, the whole exercise — nearly 50,000 official attendees, and probably an equal number of unofficial ones, attending hundreds of events, from formal…

  • A Night at Hamlet's Castle: Much Ado About . . . What?

    joelmakower
    13 Dec 2009 | 12:32 am
    Saturday night brought one of the plum events of Copenhagen, at least for the business crowd assembled in this city: a conference held at Kronborg, also known as Hamlet's Castle, in Elsinore, about 50 kilometers from Copenhagen's city centre. The 250 or so well-coiffed business executives who made the trek here did so in large part by the efforts of Danish media magnate Erik Rasmussen, a Michael Bloomberg sort whose business publication, Monday Morning, is the hub of a influential think tank that has placed Rasmussen at the center of the Danish business world. Rasmussen created the…
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    Sustainablog

  • Americans Want to Know: “How Do I Recycle My Computer?”

    Jeff McIntire-Strasburg
    8 Feb 2010 | 11:53 am
    Aluminum cans? Plastic bottles? Newspapers? Though recycling statistics show that we’ve still got some work to do on diverting wastes away from landfills, you’ve probably got a good idea of how to recycle these common household items. But what about computers and televisions? Paint? Used motor oil? Earth 911’s search statistics for 2009, released today, [...]

  • First Earth: Watch this Earthen Building Documentary Online

    ziggy
    4 Feb 2010 | 3:18 pm
    There’s a growing ecological awareness in all aspects of daily life, but some of our newfangled environmental actions have already been in practice for hundreds (or thousands) or years. “Green building” is an architectural movement that attempts to take the environment more closely into account in designing buildings, but the movement is generally very commercial. Natural [...]

  • Solar Irrigation Increases Food Supply, Economic Opportunity in Benin

    Jeff McIntire-Strasburg
    4 Feb 2010 | 6:38 am
    If you live in the developed world, you likely take turning on the lights or the water for granted. So, it may be difficult to imagine the lifestyle (if you can call it that) of people in sub-Saharan Africa without these kinds of luxuries. Lack of infrastructure to deliver these services doesn’t just create inconvenience; [...]

  • Plan B 4.0 Book Byte: Rescuing Failing States

    Earth Policy Institute
    3 Feb 2010 | 12:15 pm
    By Lester R. Brown One of the leading challenges facing the international community is how to rescue failing states, those countries most at risk of collapse due to a combination of weak governance, internal violence, and social upheaval. Continuing with business as usual in international assistance programs is not working, as evidenced by the continuing deterioration [...]

  • Sandhill Farm: Eating Homegrown

    ziggy
    1 Feb 2010 | 3:51 pm
    Sandhill Farm is a small agricultural intentional community located in northeastern Missouri, neighbors of Dancing Rabbit Ecovillage. The community has been farming organically for 35 years and provides most of their own organic food* through a combination of gardens, field crops, raising poultry and bees, growing mushrooms, sugaring, and more. Sandhill’s six members grow food [...]
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    wattwatt.com latest pulses

  • Why Cliamte Change is Divisive and Why It Should Not Be

    Elizabeth
    Posted on February 8, 2010 by Elizabeth Crenshaw Climate change is frequently referred to as a hot-button issue. It’s a “platform” issue, with political parties taking definite stands on either side.  Both parties are guilty of misrepresenting information and not always backing up the research that feeds policies. As much as I admire Al Gore, I have wondered if his championing of the cause has hurt its progress, especially on a grassroots level. An issue that affects the whole globe should have the potential to bring people together. Political figures are…

  • In a lighter vein

    Shrikant
    Posted on February 1, 2010 by Shrikant Dhekne The name wattwatt strikes a ring of familiarity and is seen extremely apt. In Marathi language of western India, a phonetically similar word वटवट (pronounced: wutwut; possible to spell: wattwatt, watwat, or vatvat) means talking to one's heart's content. The Marathi word, though, has a slightly negative shade of of meaning which leans towards unstoppability or insufferability of the utterance). there is/are 2 comment(s) for this post

  • Measuring energy consumption

    Jerry
    Posted on January 29, 2010 by Jerry Rodgers The first step in reducing energy consumption is measuring how much you are using. Energy consumption consists of two primary components, power and demand. Power, measured in watts, indicates the rate at which energy is expended. Demand, measured in volt-amperes (VA), indicates the requirement that a customer places on the utility to deliver voltage and current without regard to the efficiency of that delivery of whether or  not it does actual work. Power is usually less than demand and the ratio between the two, kW/kVA is called the power…

  • Solar Power in Public Transportation

    Dean
    Posted on January 26, 2010 by Dean Dowd Solar-powered mass transit is key to U.S. energy sustainability. Did you know that one full city bus can keep 50 or more cars off the road? Or that a single solar array can remove one entire home from the electric grid? Both technologies, solar and mass transit, are getting extra special attention given the rising costs of fuel and home energy.Public transportation and solar power have traditionally been independent of each other. However, the race to increase and improve mass transit infrastructure while reducing energy and fuel consumption is…

  • Solar scooters in Rio de Janeiro

    Yvonne
    Posted on January 22, 2010 by Yvonne Flavin We're hearing a lot of talk about electric cars but not so much about two-wheeled vehicles. Those of us who live and work in cities know that two-wheelers are convenient for getting from A to B and avoiding rush hour traffic queues. We also know that these things tend to guzzle petrol and make a absolute racket!Last week's Digital Planet, from the BBC World Service, discussed an interesting concept: solar-powered electric scooters. In Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, a solar-powered charging station has been set up by Petrobras Distribuidora, the Brazilian…
 
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    Barbie in a Blender

  • Great Range of Sequin Dresses

    admin
    9 Feb 2010 | 5:24 am
    I’ve been shopping online for a while now so I’m not quite sure why I haven’t stumbled across chiarafashion.co.uk before. They have quite a wide range of clothes and I’m pretty sure everyone will be able to find at least one thing they like and best of all the prices are pretty low, which is great for fashion fans on a budget – like me! Oh yeah, FREE DELIVERY too, I’m so sick of websites charging £4 for standard delivery so free delivery is a nice change, next day delivery is only £3.50 too. I’ve been having a look at some of their stuff; they have a great range of sequin…

  • Shop baby products from Babylox at affordable prices

    admin
    6 Feb 2010 | 4:56 pm
    Since children is the best gift that we may get in our lives, we should always give them a great importance and much care they deserve .For that Babylox  is born to help you bring a smile on their faces by offering special toys ,clothes and more other gifts at cheap prices. Babylox is a new online store Specialized in baby clothes, toys, baby care, nursery,Japanese weekend(http://www.babylox.com/japanese-weekend/) maternity, baby care goods which has been built up a reputation for good quality customer service. We have designed this website so you are able to purchase all your babies…

  • Barbie Movies – Continues to Be Amonst Favorites For Young Girls

    admin
    6 Feb 2010 | 4:54 pm
    There are so many barbie movies out there today that little girls love to watch. She will love all the new varieties that Barbie has to offer. Many girls love Barbie. She has been in so many movies that it is unbelievable. Barbie has started in most of her movies with some of here closets friends and many of her closets animals. There are so many that started to come out year by year that some have lost track. One movie that she did was called Barbie and the nutcracker which came out in the year of 2001. If you have seen the original nutcracker plays then you will know what…

  • Pink Diamond – the Incredibly Distinguished Elite Diamond

    admin
    6 Feb 2010 | 4:52 pm
    Want to leave the world spellbound like many Hollywood stars? Remember how actress Vivica Fox’s luminous Pink Diamond dress left spectators hypnotized?  Did you see how Jennifer Lopez sporting plush pink diamond engagement ring? Think of the valuable pink diamond ring David Beckham gifted to his wife Victoria? Just go ahead and grab this natural beauty, pink diamond, and present it to your loved ones to show your passion and make them feel like the stars. Generally considered as a womanly color, pink diamond jewelry has become the hot favorite among ladies. Pink diamond has conquered…

  • Fashion Texture and Fabric Cuts With Bratz

    admin
    6 Feb 2010 | 4:50 pm
    The past centuries mark a great progression in fashion. While the traditional fashion clothing has a defined and strict silhouette for tailored clothing which most people wore, new fashion statements dictates that trends should be less restricted, expressing the passion of the wearer while at the same time having the structure to define the body. This paved way for a more creative and playful expression of fashion through texture, and fabric cuts. While it may be boring to read the guides to fashion at a certain fashion magazine or you might be sleepy watching the fashion video from the…
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    EcoEarth.Info: Earth Blog

  • Action Alert: PAPUA NEW GUINEA: Logging Violence and Corruption Flare in Ramu, Madang’s Mighty Rainforests

    6 Feb 2010 | 10:20 am
    TAKE ACTION! Local landowner initiated court case has shut down logging for two months. The PNG Forest Authority's review of the granting of the right to log to notorious Rimbunan Hijau [search] of Malaysia in Ramu River valley expected soon. Industry and corrupt government officials pulling out all stops to re-grant permit to this violent and corrupt criminal-enterprise. Massive cash payments and brutal violence – to intimidate communities resisting logging – is rife. Yet local protest to logging continues to intensify in Madang [search], as do calls to end all industrial primary…

  • ALERT! Protest Madagascar's Legalization of Rosewood Log Export from Protected National Parks

    26 Jan 2010 | 6:33 pm
    TAKE ACTION! Delmas shipping, a subsidiary of French shipping giant CMA-CGM, is being pressured by the transitional Madagascar government to ship hundreds of containers of illegally logged ancient rainforest logs from Madagascar to China anytime soon. Post-coup illegal log and wildlife trade continue to threaten Madagacar's biodiversity rich rainforest remnants, ecological sustainability and future potential for national advancement. TAKE ACTION!

  • EARTH MEANDERS: Ode to Madang

    18 Jan 2010 | 6:21 pm
    By Dr. Glen Barry, Ecological Internet Earth Meanders come from Earth's Newsdesk Yet another paradise lost? Prime Minister Michael Somare of Papua New Guinea is ruling as a Mugabe like thug bent upon becoming a tin-pot dictator. Once a great man that led his country to independence, Mr. Somare is now using his “Grand Chief” status for corrupt personal, family and tribal gains – illegally and immorally allocating huge swathes of his great nation’s forest and marine resources without landowners’ prior and informed consent. On the bidding of Somare’s increasingly despotic and erratic…

  • EARTH MEANDERS: Resisting Global Ecological Change

    4 Jan 2010 | 10:57 pm
    By Dr. Glen Barry, Ecological Internet Earth Meanders come from Earth's Newsdesk Shared survival requires powering down, going back to the land, and ecological resistance. The human family faces imminent and (Copenhagen would suggest) inevitable collapse of the biosphere – the thin layer of life upon an otherwise lifeless planet – that makes Earth habitable. Marshes and rivers and forests and fish are far more than resources – they and all natural ecosystems are a necessity for humanity’s existence upon Earth. A few centuries of historically unprecedented explosion in human numbers…

  • ALERT! Protest French Company Shipping Madagascar’s Illegally Logged Rosewood Timbers to China

    19 Dec 2009 | 6:13 pm
    TAKE ACTION! Mongabay reports that Delmas shipping company is planning to take as many as 200 containers (worth $40M) of illegally logged rosewood rainforest timbers out of Vohemar port in Madagascar on the 21st or 22nd of December [1]. They reported four shipping companies have transported rosewood from Madagascar this year. Three of these have agreed to stop shipping rosewood following criticisms from international conservation groups, but the fourth, Delmas (a subsidiary of French shipping giant CMA-CGM) continues to ship illegally logged precious woods in large quantities. MORE…
 
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    1GreenProduct

  • Where have all the Green products gone?

    Well, I thought it would never happen. After more than 200 posts in all sorts of consumer categories, I’m having trouble finding any truly innovative, amazing, special Green products out there that are affordable and widely available to U.S. consumers. I’m a bit amazed, to be honest, because I originally thought I’d have no problem finding ~250 [...]

  • Help a Friend @ GreenYourDecor

    Almost two years ago, around the time I was starting 1GreenProduct.com, I came across another new eco-blog called GreenYourDecor run by a talented designer named Jennae Petersen. Jennae has achieved great success with her blog and has created a real community of readers who eagerly follow her pronouncements on eco-friendly decor. Recently, Jennae shared some devastating news [...]

  • 2010 Honda Insight

    They say, “Variety is the spice of life.“ (Personally, I’d choose Garlic as the spice of life, but hey, Variety tastes good too.) Which is why after more than 200 written reviews of green products, I’ve decided to branch out a bit and try my first audio review of the 2010 Honda Insight. To create this audio podcast, [...]

  • HP Photosmart A646 Compact Printer

    In the old days of film cameras, you’d go on vacation, come home, dither for a while, then take your film to a developer (or mail it off) and end up with a handsome set of blurry 4×6 prints of family members with the tops of their heads cut off. The good news is that [...]

  • 2010 Toyota Prius V

    No need for waffling here. The verdict is simple. The Toyota Prius gets top honors for the most eco-friendly car I’ve driven thus far. Over 10 days of driving and nearly 2000 miles, the 3rd generation version of this iconic hybrid champ delivered fuel efficiency (mostly on highways with 70 mph speed limits) in the 45 [...]
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    Mom Goes Green

  • Paint your Valentine’s Day red, pink and GREEN!

    Doreen
    9 Feb 2010 | 6:50 am
    Ahh… the holiday of romance! Valentine’s Day is the day to share your feelings and express your love to the special ones in your life, but if you want to share some love with the environment and add a little bit of “green” to the occasion too, consider these wisest of choices: Cards – did you know that the purchase of Valentine’s Day cards ranks #2 just behind Christmas?!?  One BILLION cards per year, in fact!  So consider buying only cards printed on recycled paper or paper alternatives (hint: the backs of cards reveal their content). Chocolates – always a favorite,…

  • Simple energy saving tip… “monitor” your monitor!

    Doreen
    5 Feb 2010 | 7:28 am
    If you’re reading this you probably have a computer and chances are, you use it often… Chances are also high that you often leave your computer running even when it’s not being actively used.  Most of us know about unplugging unused appliances, putting power strips to work and the energy waste of “phantom power” use, however, you might not know this little tidbit: FACT:Computer monitors consume substantially more energy than your hard drive. Now ask yourself how often you walk away from your computer and let it sit idle while you temporarily move onto a different task… …

  • A water conserving mom fighting a water bill nightmare…

    Doreen
    3 Feb 2010 | 7:07 am
    Usually I’m here offering suggestions and solutions.  Today, I’m just looking for answers. First, the backstory:  We are, without doubt, a water conserving family.  We have water efficient appliances, have taught our kids to conserve and have put all of the best water saving tips in place.  Our usual water bill runs between $45-$65 per quarter.  The accompanying sewer usage fee costs us a fairly equal rate per quarter, so for this time of year, I was expecting a bill of just under a hundred dollars. The bill arrived. (Hold onto your hats:) $260!!!  Did I choke?  Yes… I did. …

  • Leafware Giveaway: Win tableware from Mother Nature!

    Doreen
    1 Feb 2010 | 7:30 am
    Usually the mere mention of “fallen leaves” makes me groan and roll my eyes, because it means I’ll have a rake in my hands for hours on end cleaning up my yard.  This time I was grinning from ear to ear, because the leaves arrived neatly packaged in a box… and there was absolutely no raking involved! Enter: Leafware! The coolest use (ever!) for fallen leaves… think plates and bowls, all courtesy of Mother Nature.  They have created this fabulous line of tableware that is made entirely of naturally shed leaves.  They are collected, pressure-washed, scrubbed, sun dried,…

  • Simple green tip…just “concentrate”!

    Doreen
    29 Jan 2010 | 7:15 am
    Today I’m going to keep it nice and simple… If you want to “buy” greener, just “concentrate”… buy concentrated formulas of anything and everything, that is.  It helps to eliminate a lot of packaging waste, even if it happens to be recyclable.  As much as I hate math… it’s simple math.  Less volume = less packaging. Another tip is to buy in bulk.  Sure, you’re buying a bigger package, but it’s still less packaging than what is needed for multiple smaller sized packages versus the one larger size! Final tip… avoid excess packaging.  Over-wrapping and over-packaging…
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    EcoEarth.iNFO

  • Australia: Is an emissions trading scheme going the way of the republic?

    10 Feb 2010 | 11:00 am
    Sydney Morning Herald: IS THE emissions trading scheme the republic issue revisited: a policy the public supports in theory but not in practice? The federal government's ETS, like the republic in the late 1990s, almost became a reality but fell short because of a split among the believers. Two months ago, Liberal senators Judith Troeth and Sue Boyce voted with the ALP in support of the government's scheme. If the five Greens senators, who say they support an ETS but want something more extensive, had ...

  • David Adam on internecine war in IPCC over glacier error

    9 Feb 2010 | 11:00 am
    Guardian

  • U.S. proposes new climate service

    9 Feb 2010 | 11:00 am
    Washington Post: The Obama administration proposed a new climate service on Monday that would provide Americans with predictions on how global warming will affect everything from drought to sea levels. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Climate Service, modeled loosely on the 140-year-old National Weather Service, would provide forecasts to farmers, regional water managers and businesses affected by changing climate conditions. The move is essentially a reorganization of NOAA, ...

  • Stars urge Indians to save the tiger

    9 Feb 2010 | 11:00 am
    Agence France-Presse: Conservation group WWF-India has enlisted the support of sports stars and celebrities to raise awareness of the threat, citing government estimates that there are just over 1,400 tigers left in the wild. The campaign, fronted by India's cricket captain, Mahendra Singh Dhoni and top footballer Bhaichung Bhutia, began at the end of January and has so far more than 75,000 people have pledged their support on http://www.saveourtigers.com. "Stripey", a cute tiger cub who features in ...

  • African Farmers Urged to Innovate to Offset Climate Change

    9 Feb 2010 | 11:00 am
    Bloomberg: Africa's failure to embrace modern farming methods is a greater impediment to food production than global warming, according to the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics. Adopting this approach would help the continent offset possible temperature increases of as much as 3 degrees Celsius (37 degrees Fahrenheit), it said, citing conclusions made by computer modeling. Africa emits less greenhouse gas than any other continent, though it will likely be ...
 
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    EE/RE Investing: Tom Konrad

  • Greenwashing at KB Home

    Tom
    8 Feb 2010 | 12:42 pm
    I took this picture on February 7, 2010, in Denver’s Stapleton New Urbanist development in Denver.  Most of the houses in Stapleton are EnergyStar qualified, but this picture tells a story about some that aren’t.  The blue house in the background was built in 2009 by Wonderland Homes.  The tan house in the foreground is a KB Home built in 2008.  Note how the still-falling snow is melting on the north-facing roof of the tan KB Home, but not on the similarly oriented roof of the blue Wonderland home.  Also note that clear lines of unmelted snow where the…

  • Delta Montrose Electric Association Leaves Colorado Rural Electric Association

    Tom
    29 Jan 2010 | 1:30 pm
    The Delta Montrose Rural Electric Association (DMEA) has long been the most progressive utility (Let alone electric coop) in Colorado. I wrote about their forward thinking promotion of geoexchange / ground source heat pumps in 2007, long before there was any rule requiring any Colorado utility to have a Demand Side Management (DSM) program. Now DMEA is taking another step that I find reminiscent of the defections of big businesses from the US Chamber of Commerce last year over the Chamber’s stance on Climate Change legislation. DMEA has quit the Colorado Rural Electric Association…

  • My Microwave, GE, and a Failure of EcoMagination

    Tom
    4 Jan 2010 | 12:33 pm
    I’ve long been a fan of General Electric’s (GE) Ecomagination initiative.  I believe that CEO Jeff Immelt believe that more efficient and renewable energy products will be strong growth industries for years to come.  I quoted him in early 2007, “Renewable energy, energy efficiency, environmental technology – we’re going to own it." But being green goes much deeper than selling Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency products.  It’s also about product lifecycle.  A truly green company makes sure that the lifecycle of their products…

  • The Cost of Transmission

    Tom
    29 Dec 2009 | 8:29 pm
    Tom Konrad, Ph.D. I’ve been reading a report out of the Colorado Governor’s Energy Office called The REDI Report: Connecting Colorado’s Renewable Resources to the Markets in a Carbon-Constrained Electricity Sector.  I summarized the REDI report’s main conclusions and drew some conclusions for stock market investors here. I found the report’s discussion of transmission costs particularly interesting, because I’ve had trouble finding numbers for the cost of transmission in the past.  I once resorted to Wikipedia in order to find costs for…

  • Will 2010 Mark the Shift from the Backward-Looking and Unaffordable Electric Cars to Forward-Thinking Smart Mobility?

    Tom
    25 Dec 2009 | 8:02 pm
    Cleantech Group Chairman Nicholas Parker Thinks So Tom Konrad, Ph.D. I’ve long argued that the future of mobility in the peak oil era will center on alternative modes of transport, not alternative fuels for the same old car infrastructure.  Electric cars are probably the car of the future, but the cost of batteries and escalating cost of oil will mean that the number of electric vehicles is likely to remain low, while how often we use conventional vehicles will decline as fuel prices rise. In his annual clean technology predictions for 2010, Cleantech Group Chairman Nicholas Parker…
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    EleBlog

  • VIDEO: Tesla Coil in Action

    jsalimando
    7 Feb 2010 | 1:21 pm
    Yes, this is Off The Pathen Beat, alright -- but you need to see the Colossus Tesla Coil in Action, a 3 1/2-min. video (on the site of the Canadian magazine). 

  • Motors Are Important

    jsalimando
    7 Feb 2010 | 1:16 pm
    With all of the stuff you hear about Lighting, and about Water, and about a lot of other "green" things (or things-that-need-to-be-greened) . . . including windows . . . I believe a Doggone Big Baby has been thrown out with the bathwater.It's motors. This is from the NH ute web site:Electric motors consume 64 percent of the electricity produced in this country. Although they are generally efficient, motors are often run at lowered efficiency because the motor size is not matched to the horsepower requirements of the task. Motors frequently drive variable loads such as pumps,…

  • You Got It BACKWARDS (you fool you)

    jsalimando
    7 Feb 2010 | 1:11 pm
    There's a blogger on the Engineering News-Record site, name of Don L. Short. I don't know him. But, unfortunately for both of us, I can read. Here's the headline on a short blog he posted: "Florida Rate Hike Denied, or Another Case Of Politics Costing Us Big Time."Go and read the thing. The "us" he's talking about here is THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY. In other words, whatever happens in Florida among the ratepayers, the regulators, and the utilities, they all exist to give "us" work. I actually think the Florida regulators DID make a mistake. But I also think the…

  • LEDs & Traffic Lights (2)

    jsalimando
    7 Feb 2010 | 1:08 pm
    Back in December, the EleBlog ran a ditty about LEDs and traffic lights (see it here).That was 12/28. Ten days later, LEDs Magazine ran a piece -- in response to the flood of negative stuff, NOT the EleBlog! -- with the headline LED advantages outweigh potential snow hazards in traffic signals. . . . I've looked at that piece 4 times now. Each time, I say to myself -- "yeah sure, but -- probably not to the driver who is dead."

  • Emarketmybiz.com

    jsalimando
    7 Feb 2010 | 1:06 pm
    My friend Tom Lyga has gone out on his own (he worked for Pass & Seymour/Legrand for years, where he was always helpful) -- give EMarketMyBiz.com a look-see. 
 
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    Blue Marble Feed | Mother Jones

  • Precious Medals: Recycled Materials in Vancouver's Olympics

    Ben Buchwalter
    9 Feb 2010 | 5:01 am
    Sustainability is one of the three pillars of the Olympic movement, which means that Vancouver, the host of the 2010 Winter Olympic Games, will do as much as it can to reduce, reuse and recycle. In a particularly creative move, the Vancouver Olympic Committee is recycling post-consumer electronics for the material in Olympic medals. Teck Resources, a leading Canadian mining company, began extracting gold, silver, and copper from used electronics, mostly televisions, in 2006. This year, the company plans to process 15,000 tons of e-waste from the electronics, up from only 2,100 tons four…

  • Pombo Back On Green Hit List

    Kate Sheppard
    8 Feb 2010 | 3:06 pm
    Richard Pombo announced last month that he is back in the political game, and he's already reclaimed his post at the most-hated candidate for environmental groups. The League of Conservation Voters (LCV) on Monday named Pombo as the third member of their Dirty Dozen, an annual listing of electoral candidates they hope to defeat. Pombo joins Democratic senator Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas and Republican congressman Steve Pearce of New Mexico on the list. "Few candidates deserve a spot on the Dirty Dozen more than Richard Pombo because he will side with Big Oil over a cleaner, more secure…

  • Welcome to Climate.gov

    Kate Sheppard
    8 Feb 2010 | 10:44 am
    The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) on Monday announced the launch of Climate.gov, the first US government website designed to provide information about climate change, its impacts, and appropriate community resources. The new program is modeled on the 140-year-old National Weather Service, except it deals with climate (which, contrary to misinformation from the right, is not the same as weather). From the official announcement: Individuals and decision-makers across widely diverse sectors – from agriculture to energy to transportation – increasingly are…

  • The Truth About Climate Science

    Kate Sheppard
    8 Feb 2010 | 9:53 am
    What's going at the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change? After a rash of stories about inaccurate data in the reports produced by the world's preeminent climate science research organization, Kevin Drum wonders what impact the recent scandals have had on public opinion. The controversies over the IPCC's data haven't challenged the fundamental agreement among the vast majority of scientific bodies that climate change is happening and caused in large part by human activity. But they're feeding public distrust of climate science and science in general, largely because they've provided…

  • H1N1 Outbreak Made Worse by Lack of Sick Days

    Corbin Hiar
    8 Feb 2010 | 8:34 am
    One component of comprehensive health care reform that has been notably lacking from the drawn out legislative discussions is access to paid sick leave. In the US—the only industrial nation where workers are not guaranteed paid sick leave for short-term or long-term illnesses—39 percent of workers do not recieve paid sick days. A new briefing paper released today by the Institute for Women's Policy Research (IWPR), which links the spread of the virulent H1N1 flu to a lack of paid sick days, makes a compelling case for why that should be changed. "Employees who attended work…
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    All MNN Content

  • Can I recycle my old VHS tapes?

    Chanie Kirschner
    9 Feb 2010 | 6:56 am
    Q: I started my spring cleaning early and I just came across some boxes (16 to be exact) of old VHS tapes. I never got rid of them because some of them are home movies that I’d like to transfer to some other form of media that I can actually use. You know, first birthday parties, bar mitzvahs, graduations and the like. The rest, like all my old '80s movies, I’ll probably just toss.

  • FDA to clarify serving sizes

    Katherine Butler
    9 Feb 2010 | 6:54 am
    In a move towards the fight against obesity, the Food and Drug Administration may require food manufacturers to post nutritional information on the front of packages. But the New York Times reports that this effort underscores a larger issue: serving sizes for many packaged foods are too small. For example, look at the calorie count and serving size for a bowl of cereal — odds are that you're eating two bowls and twice as many calories.

  • Toyota recalls 2010 Prius, other hybrids

    MNN User
    9 Feb 2010 | 6:29 am
    By Yuri Kageyama / Associated Press   Toyota says it is recalling about 437,000 Prius and other hybrid vehicles worldwide to fix brake problems — the latest in a string of embarrassing safety lapses at the world's largest automaker.   [[social-toolbar]]"I don't see Toyota as an infallible company

  • Shredding the streets of DC

    Shea Gunther
    9 Feb 2010 | 5:43 am
    How much snow did Washington, DC just get?

  • No Dumpster(ing)

    Matt Hickman
    8 Feb 2010 | 7:28 pm
    Over the summer, I profiled California-based nonprofit, Deconstruction & ReUse Network (DRN), a major player in the home deconstruction movement that had just finished up a fantastic whole-house recycling project in Beverly Hills.
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    Topix: Environment

  • Front Loader Odor

    9 Feb 2010 | 7:25 am
    Many homeowners have discovered an offensive odor plaguing their front loading washing machine.

  • Fuel Tech CFO Graham resigns

    9 Feb 2010 | 12:26 am
    Combustion technology and engineering services company Fuel Tech Inc. said Monday its chief financial officer is resigning to become CEO of a privately held environmental consulting company.

  • Waste Connections profit, revenue increase

    8 Feb 2010 | 4:15 pm
    Waste Connections Inc. of Folsom reported fourth-quarter adjusted net income of $29.3 million, or 37 cents a share, compared to $24.3 million, or 30 cents a share, in the year-earlier quarter.

  • Investigators: Pesticide likely responsible for 4-year-old's

    8 Feb 2010 | 6:21 am
    Authorities say a pesticide is most likely responsible for the death of a 4-year-old Layton girl.

  • Corporate honchos mingle with peons in phony 'Undercover Boss'

    7 Feb 2010 | 2:20 pm
    CBS's 'Undercover Boss' is the ultimate in false uplift reality shows. Call it 'Extreme Makeover: Corporate Edition.' Premiering tonight after the Super Bowl , this faux feel-good series sends corporate titans 'undercover' to work the lowliest jobs in their companies.
 
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    Practical Environmentalist

  • How to Recycle Old Cell Phones: The Ultimate Guide

    lars
    31 Jan 2010 | 10:45 am
    If you’re anything like me, you probably have a drawer in your bedroom with at least two or three old cell phones, just sitting there, taking up space. I’ve been wondering what the most responsible thing to do with those old cell phones lately, so I started doing a little bit of research. I decided to turn my research into a blog post, so that anyone else with a bunch of old cell phones sitting around can also recycle them properly instead of hoarding them in a drawer, or throwing them into the landfill. Why Recycle Your Old Cell Phone? The EPA estimates that only 10 percent of…

  • Speakman Showerheads: A Water Saving, Low Flow Version

    lars
    21 Jan 2010 | 10:33 am
    If you’ve ever stayed at a nice hotel, chances are you’ve used a Speakman showerhead. They’re the ones with multiple jets, and a little lever so that you can adjust the way that the showerhead sprays. They give you a nice, quality shower, and they look pretty fancy too. But what about us environmentalists who want to save a little bit of water when we shower? The standard Speakman showerhead uses 2.5 gallons per minute. That’s much lower than showerheads manufactured in the 1980s and before, but it is the maximum amount of water allowed for a showerhead these days.

  • Steel Buildings – Can They Be Green Buildings?

    lars
    20 Jan 2010 | 1:37 pm
    If you’ve ever been inside an uninsulated steel building in the middle of summer, you know how hot it can get inside. But can steel buildings still be a good choice for green building? Apparently, they can. Let’s look at some features of steel buildings that could be considered eco-friendly, or green. Steel does take a lot of energy to make. But it’s also easy to recycle, and it actually gets recycled, because it costs a lot. In fact, steel is the most recycled material on earth. Just about all steel that you buy also has high levels of recycled content. Steel has a longer…

  • Terror by electric bike in China?

    lars
    19 Jan 2010 | 10:25 am
    Today’s Wall Street Journal has a great article about e-bikes in China. Most people in China cannot afford a car yet, and there wouldn’t be room on the streets if everyone could afford them! Public transportation can be slow and crowded. Bicycles have been a popular, low cost way for Chinese to get around for decades. But as incomes rose, many Chinese opted for faster motorbikes to get around on. The problem with gas powered motorcycles is that they were primarily cheap, two stroke models that caused massive amounts of air pollution. Chinese authorities banned them in many…

  • Green news for the New Year

    george
    7 Jan 2010 | 4:46 am
    Photo courtesy of soyignatius at Flickr.com 2009 was a major turning point for news. A critical mass of people have started asking for the green angle behind every story, and asking for more from our politicians, companies, and co-workers. Even as newspapers cut staff, they hired or reassigned editors and writers for their Environmental News sections. Increased awareness is good, especially when it brings policy changes. There were some major environmental success stories this year. For instance, Brown pelicans were taken off of the endangered species list and the first extinct species was…
 
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    No Impact Man

  • How to save the planet by eating healthily

    Colin Beavan aka No Impact Man
    8 Feb 2010 | 12:00 am
    If there is a Grand Designer or a Universal Intelligence who made this world, it makes sense to me that He, She or It designed the place so that the interests of human beings and the interests of the rest of Creation work in harmony. Let's face it, a Grand Designer who made a planet that put the interests of the people at odds with the rest of the world would have to be either mean or dumb!Well, it turns out that, in food like nowhere else, the needs of humans and the needs of the planet are entirely in sync. Thanks, Grand, Munificent Designer!To wit, in the New York Times, Jane Brody…

  • Your own pesonal No Impact week with No Impact Man himself (that's me)

    Colin Beavan aka No Impact Man
    2 Feb 2010 | 12:00 am
    Perhaps you know that the No Impact Project, my non-profit effort, has been developing a series of programs to help people discover lifestyle adaptations that are both better for them and the planet. One of the programs is called No Impact Week. You may remember that we ran a virtual version online in collaboration with the Huffington Post.  As we say on the No Impact Project website: The No Impact Experiment is a one-week carbon cleanse. It is a chance for you to see what a difference no-impact living can have on your quality of life. It’s not about giving up creature comforts but an…

  • One thing I can always do

    Colin Beavan aka No Impact Man
    27 Jan 2010 | 12:00 am
    People ask me all the time what they can do to help. I have a list of things that you can find here. But there are times when it seems like nothing I can possibly do on that list or any thing else help the world. I don't mean to sound pious, as if I spend all my days trying to figure out how to help--I don't.But there are times when I become aware of so many things that seem to be going wrong and I feel powerless in the face of it all. At that moment, there seems like there is only one thing left I can do: I pray.I know this might offend some people. It will offend some people because…

  • A nice quote and a talk by, well, me

    Colin Beavan aka No Impact Man
    20 Jan 2010 | 12:00 am
    Hi folks, I'm sorry I've been so absent from the blog lately but I'm on my way back. I wanted to share a great quote with you and also to let you know about a BookTV talk I gave that you can watch online."Don't ask what the world needs.  Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it.  Because what the world needs is people who have come alive."  -- Howard ThurmanIs he right? What do you think?Meanwhile, If you have a spare hour and you want to spend it listening to my BookTV talk about my No Impact Man project, you can do so here.

  • Try living No Impact for a week

    Colin Beavan aka No Impact Man
    5 Jan 2010 | 12:00 am
    The No Impact Experiment, brought to you by the No Impact Project, is a one-week carbon cleanse. It is a chance for you to see what a difference no-impact living can have on your quality of life. It’s not about giving up creature comforts but an opportunity for you to test whether the modern “conveniences” you take for granted are actually making you happier or just eating away at your time and money. Joining is simple! Click here to sign up for our January 10th program.Visit How It Works for step-by-step instructions and download our How-To Manual for day-by-day guidelines. Watch…
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    Orion Magazine Articles

  • Geese Police

    by Rachel Graves
    4 Feb 2010 | 4:58 am
    Win trembles with anticipation when her chauffeur opens the door of her crate. The petite black-and-white border collie knows she has work to do. Win bounds out, searching for her unconventional quarry, ready to herd. She spots a flock of about a dozen geese feeding on the well-manicured grass of Clove Lake Park in Staten Island. She crouches until her belly is almost on the ground, tucks her tail between her legs, and slinks toward the geese, fixing them with an intense glare. The geese honk in alarm, first trotting across the lawn and then reluctantly spreading their wings and taking off.

  • Housing for the Long Haul

    by Stefan Milkowski
    4 Feb 2010 | 4:55 am
    ANATUVUK PASS, ALASKA—When word got around that the new prototype home built this summer in Anaktuvuk Pass would use just one hundred gallons of heating fuel a year, people there got excited. “Man, if I was to heat my house for that much, I would make a few other ends meet, like groceries,” said George Paneak, the village mayor. Project developers now figure it might be 120 gallons a year (winter temperatures in the Brooks Range village can drop to fifty degrees below zero), but that’s still a small fraction of the thousand gallons or more that existing homes typically…

  • The Tips of Your Fingers

    by Jay Griffiths
    21 Jan 2010 | 4:33 am
    IN THE WOODS near the border checkpoint from France to Britain, several people sit around a fire, pushing iron bars deeper into the flames until the metal is red hot. Taking out the iron, with searing pain they burn their own fingertips, trying to erase their identification. The fingertips are a border checkpoint of the human body, and through them the self reaches out to touch the world. Fingertips are diviners, lovers, poets of the perhaps, emissaries of empathy. They are feelingful, exquisitely sensitive to metal, dough, moss, or splinter. They are also one of the body’s places of…

  • Tending the Garden of Technology

    by Andrew Lawler
    5 Jan 2010 | 4:55 am
    For Wired magazine cofounder Kevin Kelly, technology is neither the practical nor the neutral result of scientific discoveries, but a powerful universal force for creating opportunities. He speaks in unapologetically theological terms. The internet is “a miracle and a gift” that allows humans to organize and create in radically new ways. He says that we are moving from being People of the Book to People of the Screen. Kelly’s radical pronouncements earn fire from both sides of the chasm between religion and science, even as he seeks to see beyond those dogmas. Today he wants…

  • iDubai

    Photographs by Joel Sternfeld, Text by Hal Clifford
    18 Dec 2009 | 5:54 am
    Joel Sternfeld is fascinated with the idea of Utopia. His 1987 work, American Prospects, directed a large-format camera lens at the possibilities of this country and how those possibilities have translated into realities. Much of his subsequent work maintained this theme, but in the last few years it has been mingled with a growing understanding of climate change and its implications. That awareness snapped into sharp focus at a 2005 United Nations conference in Montreal. “At this point in America we were pre-Al Gore. Even people who had tried to follow climate change had trouble…
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    The Budget Ecoist

  • Five Green Tech Products Under $50

    EcoistPaige
    8 Feb 2010 | 4:00 am
    Think that green technology products cost a fortune? Think again. Here are five great green tech products for under $50. 1. iGo Power Smart Wall – Reduce standby vampire power by up to 85% with this 4-outlet, power-saving surge protector that automatically shuts down outlets when not in use. This nifty product has 2 always-on outlets [...]

  • Recycle This: Plastic Milk Containers

    EcoistPaige
    5 Feb 2010 | 4:00 am
    Plastic milk jugs are usually coded as a number 2 plastic, which means they are highly recyclable. Most curbside recyclers take plastic milk containers and will later recycle them into laundry detergent bottles, pens, floor tiles, fencing and more. But if you’d prefer to be a bit more creativity you can recycle the container yourself. Here [...]

  • Five Simple Ways to Go Organic Without Busting Your Budget

    EcoistPaige
    3 Feb 2010 | 4:00 am
    The most common complaint we hear about going organic is the cost. We hear you. The best thing you can do about that, by the way, is to be active in trying to push your local congressmen and women to create a Farm Bill that is better for our citizens and less preferential towards the [...]
 
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    Protecting Our Environment

  • gifts organic

    ProtectingOurEnvironment.com
    9 Feb 2010 | 8:30 am
    [mage lang="en|fr|en" source="flickr"]gifts organic[/mage] [mage lang="en|fr|en" source="article" backup="answers"]gifts organic[/mage] [mage lang="en|fr|en" source="youtube"]gifts organic[/mage] [mage lang="en|fr|en" source="tags"]gifts organic[/mage] [affmage source="amazon" results="10"]gifts organic[/affmage] [affmage source="overstock" results="20"]gifts organic[/affmage] [affmage source="cj" results="10"]gifts organic[/affmage] [affmage source="clickbank" results="3"]gifts organic[/affmage]

  • Espoma Organic Traditions Bone Meal 4-12-0 – 4.5 lb Bag #BM5

    ProtectingOurEnvironment.com
    9 Feb 2010 | 7:28 am
    Espoma #BM5 5LB Bone Meal ESPOMA COMPANY Product DescriptionAll natural source of phosphorus. Espoma bone meal’s higher analysis also contains organic nitrogen. Phosphorus helps stimulate early root development and aids in fruit and flower formation. 4-12-0 analysis. Espoma Organic Traditions Bone Meal 4-12-0 – 4.5 lb Bag #BM5

  • Organic Stowell’s Sweet Corn – 100 Seeds

    ProtectingOurEnvironment.com
    9 Feb 2010 | 7:28 am
    Stowell’s Sweet Corn 8 to 10 foot tender annual Heirloom Matures in 85 to 95 days 100 seeds Product Description *FREE SHIPPING & HANDLING ON ANY ADDITIONAL PACKS OF SEEDMART SEEDS PURCHASED WITHIN 7 DAYS and PAID WITH ONE PAYMENT! Stowell’s Sweet Corn Zea mays Heirloom 8-10 ft. Tender Annual Introduced in 1848 by Nathan Stowell of NJ. A cross between Menomoni Flour and Iroquois Northern Sugar Corn. Each plant produces 2-3 plump, sweet, white-kerneled 8-9 in. ears. Holds in storage much better than most sweet corns, making it a good choice for the market garden. Excellent for…

  • Red and Yellow Brandywine Tomato Certified Organic Heirloom Seeds 50 Seeds

    ProtectingOurEnvironment.com
    8 Feb 2010 | 5:29 pm
    These large and very flavorful tomatoes have been around for over 100 years and with good reason. This indeterminate tomato weighs in at one to two pounds. Start tomato seeds indoor as the seeds are so small they will get lost if planted directly outside Lycopersicon lycopersicum Product DescriptionWhen transplanting to your garden strip the bottom third of the leaves. Gently bend the stem a bit and bury it. This will produce a stockier plant. Red and Yellow Brandywine Tomato Certified Organic Heirloom Seeds 50 Seeds

  • Pet Organics NO-GO! Housebreaking Aid 16 Oz

    ProtectingOurEnvironment.com
    8 Feb 2010 | 5:29 pm
    Specially formulated blend of herbal extracts When sprayed on a previously soiled area, will help stop pets from re-urinating in that area Safe, mild, and effective. No unpleasant odors Product DescriptionNO-GO! Housebreaking Aid effectively trains your pet not to re-urinate on carpets. Ready to use. No unpleasant odors. No harsh chemicals. Pet Organics NO-GO! Housebreaking Aid 16 Oz
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    The New Republic - The Vine Feed

  • The Coming Crackdown on Greenwashing

    Bradford Plumer
    8 Feb 2010 | 3:20 pm
    Companies have been making misleading claims about the eco-friendliness of their products for almost as long as people have cared about the environment. Back in 2007, the marketing firm TerraChoice went into an unnamed big-box retailer and evaluated the green-advertising claims of more than 1,000 products. Only one actually lived up to its promises. But now, according to Greenwire, the Federal Trade Commission may finally start cracking down hard on this sort of "greenwashing": David Vladeck, director of FTC's Bureau of Consumer Protection, told the Senate Subcommittee on Consumer…

  • Are We Really In An Energy Race With China?

    Bradford Plumer
    8 Feb 2010 | 9:11 am
    Nowadays, it seems like every third Thomas Friedman column is about how the United States is engaged in a green-tech competition with China—one that, much to his chagrin, we seem to be losing handily. His argument's not totally groundless. China really has put more effort (and money) into developing cleaner energy technologies than we have. So have plenty of countries, like Germany and Denmark. And, if you're trying to nudge the United States onto a lower-carbon path, invoking the specter of China isn't a terrible idea, rhetorically speaking. At the same time, though, this notion that…

  • A Closer Look At The EPA Option

    Bradford Plumer
    8 Feb 2010 | 8:25 am
    Over on the homepage today, I have a piece looking in more detail at the looming EPA crackdown on greenhouse gases—what it would involve, what the pros and cons are, and whether the EPA, acting on its own, can actually substitute for a proper climate bill from Congress (especially since the chances of the Senate actually passing a cap-and-trade bill this year aren't looking great at the moment).

  • Graham Calls Energy-Only Idea "Half-Assed"

    Bradford Plumer
    3 Feb 2010 | 1:08 pm
    In recent weeks, a bunch of conservative Senate Democrats have suggested that, instead of trying to go for broke this year with a big climate bill that curbs carbon emissions, Congress should just pass an "energy-only" bill instead. What would that entail? As Kate Sheppard reports, one possibility is the legislation that passed out of the Senate energy committee last June, which would lavish subsidies on a variety of energy sources, including oil and gas. That bill could probably snag 60 votes, even in this Congress, but it wouldn't put much of a dent in the country's greenhouse-gas…

  • Is There Enough Food Out There For Nine Billion People?

    Bradford Plumer
    3 Feb 2010 | 12:27 pm
    Sometime around 2050, there are going to be nine billion people roaming this planet—two billion more than there are today. It's a safe bet that all those folks will want to eat. And that's... an incredibly daunting prospect. Right now, an estimated one billion people go hungry each day. So add two billion more people, a limited supply of arable land, plus the fact that rising incomes will boost demand for meat and dairy products, plus the fact that many key natural resources (fisheries, say) are already being overexploited… and it's hard to see the situation getting better. And…
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    EarthFirst.com

  • Lexon: Green Modern Bamboo Gadgets

    Stephanie Rogers
    9 Feb 2010 | 3:00 am
    Walk into store full of gadgets and home goods, and you’re generally hard-pressed to find things like clocks, radios, calculators and lighting made with something other than plastic or unsustainably produced metal. If you do manage to score something made of wood, it’s probably a holdover from the paneling-obsessed 70s – not exactly stylish. A company called Lexon is looking to put an end to that problem with minimalist, modern gadgets and home goods made from bamboo, corn plastic and LED lights. Items like the Mini Dolmen Radio, Dolmen LED light and Safe Calculator fit seamlessly into…

  • Great Green Tech: PrePeat Rewritable Office Printer

    Stephanie Rogers
    8 Feb 2010 | 3:00 am
    Since “going paperless” has proven to be a difficult challenge for so many companies despite their good intentions, printers are still an integral part of most offices. But even with waste-preventing practices in place, there’s still all that ink and wasted paper. Enter the PrePeat, a new eco printer that uses zero ink or toner, and doesn’t even need fresh paper. With a special type of coated paper, the PrePeat can print on the same sheet again and again. The manufacturer claims that the thermal printing head can erase the document and, in the same pass, print a new one on the same…

  • Great Green Job of the Week: Commercial Director, Marine Stewardship Council

    Stephanie Rogers
    7 Feb 2010 | 3:00 am
    The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) seeks a Commercial Director for its Americas Regional Office [Seattle, WA].  MSC is the world’s leading certification and eco-labeling program for wild capture fisheries. Through its certification and labelling program, the MSC contributes to reversing decline in global fish stocks by identifying and rewarding and creating marketing incentives for sustainable fisheries. Position Overview: The Americas Commercial Director will lead MSC’s America’s commercial outreach team to deepen and strengthen the support and engagement in the MSC…

  • Green Police! Audi’s Super Bowl Sunday Ad for the A3 TDI

    Stephanie Rogers
    6 Feb 2010 | 3:00 am
    We’re living in an increasingly green world – but that doesn’t mean the green police are coming to take away all of the fun things in life. Or are they? A series of teaser videos from automaker Audi features dorky green police that bust people for environmentally unfriendly actions – including actual police officers idling in their squad car and drinking coffee out of styrofoam cups. The videos are a preview for a 60-second Audi commercial debuting during the Super Bowl on Sunday to plug the A3 TDI, voted Green Car of the Year by Green Car Journal – a car that’s both green and fun…

  • Green Mountain College: An Eco Tinge to Every Major

    Stephanie Rogers
    4 Feb 2010 | 3:00 am
    High school and college students are more ecologically aware than ever, but a desire to help the earth doesn’t have to mean giving up your passion for art, literature, education and psychology to focus on traditionally “green” careers. More and more colleges are tying the environment to every program of study, including Vermont’s Green Mountain College. The college’s director of communications, Kevin Coburn, explained it a bit to CTI Career Search: “We offer the traditional majors and minors that you will find at a liberal arts college, like art, biology, history, education,…
 
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    Green Options

  • Obsessed with the Magic of Chickens

    Rhonda Winter
    8 Feb 2010 | 9:52 pm
    I met several lovely chickens yesterday when I was in Oakland, and I am now quite smitten. They are truly engrossing creatures to observe; the animal’s social behavior is very complex, their vocalizations are both soothing and fascinating, to say nothing of the delicious fresh eggs they provide. More and more urban chickens are being raised in cities, as increasing numbers of people are growing their own food and trying to create a more locally-based, sustainable and self-sufficient food supply. Read more of this story »

  • Recycled Military Jackets from Burning Torch

    Susanna Schick
    8 Feb 2010 | 5:00 pm
    A fresh new take on the military look is having a very strong moment, as seen on the runways of Paris, Milan, and New York this season. However, Burning Torch has been doing gorgeous recycled military surplus for years now. The white jacket above is made from surplus “snow camo.” It’s from their Spring 2010 collection in stores soon. I think it would look fabulous with the Killspencer bags we featured last month. Read more of this story »

  • Gluten-free Squash Pancakes

    Rachel Shulman
    8 Feb 2010 | 1:57 pm
    I recently stumbled upon a great recipe for Spaghetti Squash Pancakes from Mollie Katzen’s book, The Vegetable Dishes I Can’t Live Without. It’s a winner. Although the original recipe calls for spaghetti squash (quite delicious) and gives the option of using all-purpose flour or rice flour, the recipe can accommodate any kind of squash and a variety of gluten-free flours. The topping possibilities are also endless, giving you the option to play with flavor combinations. Happy eating! Recipe for Gluten-free Squash Pancakes (adapted from Mollie Katzen’s The Vegetable…

  • Owning the View: Pebble Beach Company

    John Ivanko
    8 Feb 2010 | 9:02 am
    I can appreciate Walt Disney World copyrighting their park.  After all, they’re largely responsible for just about every inch of it, from the sculpted bushes to human-engineered lakes and waterways.  Obviously, it’s well established that biotech companies currently have every right to own and patent new forms of life. But when I was passing through Pebble Beach on the spectacular Monterey Peninsula of California, a friend mentioned that I could NOT photograph nature should it ever be used for some commercial purpose.  In essence, every inch of the natural area, including the…

  • Fab Fabrics: Organic Prints from FLUF

    Becky Striepe
    8 Feb 2010 | 7:00 am
    Canadian duo Nathalie Butterfield and Terra Kushner launched their fabric line when they were frustrated with the limited selection of sustainable fabrics. Nathalie talks about how their company evolved: Read more of this story »
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    Forecast Earth: Current Articles

  • Environmentalists hail Earth Hour as a big success

    31 Dec 1969 | 4:00 pm
    BONN, Germany (AP) -- For environmental activists, the message was clear: Earth Hour was a huge success. Now they say it's time for nations to tackle climate change. "The world said yes to climate action, now governments must follow," the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) said a day after hundreds of millions of people worldwide followed its call to turn off lights for a full hour. From an Antarctic research base and the Great...

  • Obama team debuts at UN climate talks

    31 Dec 1969 | 4:00 pm
    BONN, Germany (AP) -- President Barak Obama's climate change team made their international debut Sunday at a major U.N. conference -- and delegates were eager to find out whether Obama could translate his aggressive domestic agenda into a worldwide deal to fight global warming. The two-week meeting by 175 countries is the latest attempt to craft a global agreement to govern the emissions of carbon dioxide and other gases that...

  • It's time to green this old (White) House -- again

    31 Dec 1969 | 4:00 pm
    WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Barack Obama will find out two things as he studies how to make the White House more environmentally friendly:  No. 1: It's already been done.  No. 2: It needs to be done again. It was Earth Day 1993 when President Bill Clinton launched his ambitious "greening the White House" project. That effort saved more than $1.4 million in its first six years, largely from improvements in lighting,...

  • Smart organic choices for limited budgets

    31 Dec 1969 | 4:00 pm
    (From DivineCaroline.com) - There are many reasons why consumers choose organic over conventionally-grown food, but there's usually one reason why they don't--cost. Organics can run 10 to 100 percent higher than conventionally grown, throwing all health, taste, and environmental concerns out of the grocery basket. Although savvy farmers' markets and comparison shopping can yield organics that are close in price to non-...

  • AP source: EPA closer to global warming warning

    31 Dec 1969 | 4:00 pm
    WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Environmental Protection Agency has taken the first step on the long road to regulating greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act. Politicians and the public, business and industry will have to weigh in along the way, but for now a proposed finding by the EPA that global warming is a threat to public health and welfare is under White House review. The threat declaration would be the first step to...
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    Triple Pundit: People, Planet, Profit

  • Tesco Opens World’s First Zero Carbon Supermarket, Pledges $156 M to UK Green Economy

    Kathryn Siranosian
    9 Feb 2010 | 4:56 am
    Last week, Tesco, the UK’s largest retailer, opened the world’s first zero carbon supermarket. The store has no net carbon footprint and exports any extra electricity generated back to the national grid. Located in Ramsey, Cambridgeshire, this new supermarket boasts several eco-friendly features, including: A combined heat and power plant which runs on bio fuels from renewable sources [...]

  • Is Climate Change Legislation Dead in 2010?

    Cory Vanderpool
    9 Feb 2010 | 4:00 am
    The latest chatter on the Hill is that climate legislation is not likely to pass this year. High jobless numbers, financial reform and the health care debate continue to thwart efforts focused on the environment. It is possible that the Senate will settle for an energy-only bill and call it a day. The likelihood of [...]

  • Despite Recession, Home Depot Keeps on Giving

    Jim Witkin
    9 Feb 2010 | 3:00 am
    Last week’s announcement from the Home Depot Foundation suggests that even with sales slumps and layoffs, the nation’s largest retailer of home improvement products still views charitable giving as good business. The company is expecting lower revenues for 2009 when results are announced in February, and for the third consecutive January is cutting its workforce.  Still, [...]

  • Nominate A Pioneering, Successful, Green Restaurant!

    Bill Roth
    9 Feb 2010 | 2:21 am
    “Does green really sell,” is the question I am most consistently asked. Amanda’s is one of my favorite answers to this question. It is a restaurant that its founder, Amanda West, defines as “Whole Foods meets In–N-Out Burger.” It is also likely that Amanda’s represents the future of the fast food industry. America is a [...]

  • Groups Sue California Over Low Carbon Fuel Standard

    Gina-Marie Cheeseman
    9 Feb 2010 | 2:00 am
    Last week the American Trucking Association (ATA) and the National Petrochemical and Refiners Association (NPRA) filed a lawsuit against California’s low-carbon fuel mandate, which calls for the state’s petroleum dependence to be reduced by 20 percent by 2020. The California Air Resources Board (CARB) adopted the standard last April. The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. [...]
 
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    Green Parent Chicago

  • A Bitter Fruit: A child's plea to the city

    Christine Escobar
    8 Feb 2010 | 1:25 pm
    The little locavore delved into political activism last night, writing his first letter to a political official. I guess I shouldn't be surprised that the issue that piqued his ire was food-related.As many of you have already heard, Chicago's health department engaged in some boneheaded, yet ultimately unsurprising, behavior on Thursday. In the course of a health inspection, the city inspectors destroyed twelve hundred dollars worth of granola bars and seven thousand dollars of frozen local fruit owned by small business owners Sunday Dinner Chicago and Flora Lazar, respectively. This…

  • Lincoln Park Zoo to Offer Summer Nature Camp Scholarships

    Christine Escobar
    4 Feb 2010 | 10:59 pm
    If you're looking for a wildlife camp experience for your child this summer, but concerned about the cost, you may want to consider applying for one of Lincoln Park Zoo's 2010 Conservation Camp scholarships. 30 one-week scholarships will be offered this spring to attend the Zoo's summer Conservation Camps, which are open to all children from preschool (beginning at age 4) to eighth grade. Scholarship recipients may register for a second week of camp at 50 percent off the regular cost. The program will consist of two week-long sessions. "The Web of Wildlife" will explore…

  • Swap-O-Rama-Rama: 2-day DIY Workshop and Clothing Swap Extravaganza Returns

    Christine Escobar
    3 Feb 2010 | 12:50 pm
    After a one year hiatus, Swap-O-Rama-Rama, the weekend-long clothing swap and do-it-yourself workshop promoting creative reuse through clothing recycling is returning to Chicago this spring. This year's SORR event will be held at Chicago Waldorf School March 19, 20 and 21. With the mantra "Creators Not Consumers" the event is part of an international movement and was first held in New York City in 2005. Organizers plan to make the Chicago event annual each spring.The weekend will include two-days (Saturday and Sunday) of clothing swaps and handcraft workshops. In addition,…

  • Winter Fun In Chicago With Snow, Ice...and Flowers

    Christine Escobar
    28 Jan 2010 | 9:27 am
      What do you get when you mix young children and cold weather? Cabin fever. If your kids seem to be  bouncing off the walls with energy and you all need a breath of fresh air, check out these upcoming family events beginning this weekend and next for a healthy dose of activity.Second Annual Snow Days Chicago:Snow Days Chicago is a free three-day winter festival running Friday Jan 29 to Sunday Jan 31 on Michigan Avenue in Grant Park. It features a snow sculpting competition, dog sled demonstrations, a snowboard rail jam and kids activities. Hours are Friday 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. and…

  • New Workshop Helps Parents-to-Be Learn Greener Living for Baby

    Christine Escobar
    18 Jan 2010 | 1:18 pm
      An all new series of workshops will begin next month to help expectant parents, parents planning to adopt, and those trying to conceive learn how to green their lifestyle before the arrival of baby. The new 4-part workshop, "Going Green for Baby and Me", begins February 11 at Bellybum Boutique in the city's Lincoln Square neighborhood. In partnership with Northside Parents Network and Bellybum Boutique, Cecelia Ungari, an educator with The Green Mama will lead the course designed for women and their partners who want their pregnancy, birth and new baby's arrival to…
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    Max Gladwell: Social Media and Green Living

  • Max Gladwell Embraces Geo-Local Revolution

    Max Gladwell
    8 Feb 2010 | 1:33 pm
    As the social web evolves, so do we. Max Gladwell will now incorporate geolocation as a fundamental part of its brand, coverage, and M.O. The geolocation trend is simply too big to be a mere topic or category. The more we consider its implications for social media and green living—its implications on how we live—the more we realize that geolocation merits a deeper integration with the Max Gladwell brand. It is now the proverbial third leg of the Max Gladwell stool: Social Media, Geolocation, and Green Living. Location-based technologies put everything into geographic context. This…

  • Twitter Local Trends: The Dawn of Geospatial Awareness

    Max Gladwell
    23 Jan 2010 | 12:36 pm
    Twitter’s latest geolocation feature, Local Trends, starts us in the direction of geospatial awareness. How relevant or useful are Twitter’s trending topics to you? There was a time when the Twitter ecosystem was more contained and trending topics was generally useful or at least interesting. As this screenshot shows, it’s become useless. The mainstreaming of Twitter on an international scale has had an adverse effect on this data-driven feature. It stands to reason that the personal relevance for trending topics will be inversely proportional to the size and volume of the…

  • Reflections on the Decade III: Dawn of the 2.0 Era

    Max Gladwell
    7 Jan 2010 | 12:16 pm
    The first decade of the new millennium ushered in new versions of just about everything. Long ago the software industry established a simple versioning protocol to mark the progress and development of its products. These are expressed as versions 1.0, 1.1, 2.0, 2.1, etc. Over the past decade, the world borrowed this successive, numeric method to mark significant, often revolutionary advancements in other areas: government, communications, activism, business, and charity to name a few. More so than in decades past, the progress made in these last 10 years across so many parts of society has…

  • Fox News Features Zumbox in San Francisco

    Max Gladwell
    5 Jan 2010 | 8:48 pm
    Fox News recently did a feature story on Zumbox, the paperless postal system. The story was syndicated nationally and internationally through Fox television affiliates (TV and Web). The piece focuses on municipal adoption of Zumbox in San Francisco, which was spearheaded by the City’s forward-thinking Mayor, Gavin Newsom, and its Department of the Environment. The objective is to save taxpayer dollars on printing and postage costs while reducing waste and communicating more efficiently with residents. Max Gladwell founder Rob Reed is interviewed for the story, serving in his capacity as…

  • Reflections on the Decade II: Biofuel Boom and Bust

    Max Gladwell
    5 Jan 2010 | 11:00 am
    The biofuel industry went through a boom and bust not unlike the dot-com era. Can Biofuels 2.0 revitalize the broken industry in the twenty-teens? The previous decade will be remembered for giving birth to the clean tech movement and more specifically the business opportunity in green technology. When we look back, the 2000s will be credited for launching countless companies in solar, wind, geothermal, electric vehicles, smart grid, and biofuels. The latter is unique in that the biofuels industry experienced a roller coaster ride much like the dot-com era of the ’90s. We rode the wave…
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    Energybloggers.

  • propane pipe sizing

    admin
    8 Feb 2010 | 7:20 pm
    propane pipe sizing WC and The Madd Circle -- Kill A Habit 1/4 Male Pipe Propane Fitting $8.61 *Image: Product_image [749085] UPC: 089301761391 4.13L x 11.88W x 4.75H 1 LB 0.13 Cubes This Is Not A Pipe $11.96 This Is Not A Pipe This is not a pipe $20 This is not a pipe This is not a pipe $20 This is [...]
 
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    Decide What to Buy

  • Hello iPad

    Ed
    28 Jan 2010 | 5:43 am
    So, iPad it is; it seems I may be alone, but I quite like the name as I’m a fan of terrible puns. So, what’s actually inside Apple’s new baby? In hardware terms it’s pretty much a souped-up iPod Touch, with a 9.7 inch screen, faster processor &, in the 3G models, a slot for a micro-SIM card to give you mobile internet access. 6 different versions have been announced, with Wi-Fi only and Wi-Fi with 3G models available with 8, 16 & 32GB of flash storage. But much of Apple’s launch event was about what they’re actually doing with hardware. Which is?

  • Ereaders and privacy concerns

    Kat
    28 Jan 2010 | 4:08 am
    In case you weren’t having enough trouble weighing up the various merits of all the ereaders currently available on the market (the bright colours of the Cool-ER! the wireless of the Kindle! the touchscreen of the Sony PRS-600!) here’s something else to consider: privacy implications. While it might not matter to most shoppers, people who’re concerned about the private and personal data that everyday activities scatter across the internet should take a look at this “ereaders and privacy” blog post from the EFF. The post covers the potential threats to privacy on…

  • Counting down to the Apple iPad. Or the iSlate. Or the iTablet, iCanvas, iTouch… whatever it ends up being called

    Ed
    27 Jan 2010 | 3:33 am
    Since the internet is falling over itself with excitement about today’s Apple “Come see our latest creation” event, almost universally presumed to be a launch announcement for a tablet computer, I thought I’d provide a quick round-up for anyone just catching up on the barrage of news and rumours that have been flying about. 5 things I’m willing to predict we will learn about the tablet in this evening’s announcement (6PM, UK time): It will have, and will be almost entirely controlled using, a 10-inch multitouch screen*, with a more advanced version of the…

  • Fake reviews and gaming the system

    Kat
    26 Jan 2010 | 12:50 am
    Companies are charging hotels for fake positive reviews on Tripadvisor (and presumably other holiday review sites). Yelp puts a positive review at the top of the list if the business being reviewed pays them a fee. These two stories made everyone at Reevoo rant and rave last week. But why should you care about people faking customer reviews or displaying biased reviews? If the simple objection that it’s unethical behaviour doesn’t convince, how about this: it breaks the system. User reviews online are a fantastic opportunity for you to really find out what places or products are…

  • Connecting a digibox to a TV with only an aerial socket

    Kat
    22 Jan 2010 | 1:51 am
    I’ve just had an email on our feedback line from someone baffled at the prospect of connecting up a set top box to an old TV that has no Scart sockets, no fancy HDMI sockets, just the single solitary aerial socket. Let’s start with the basics: what does an aerial socket look like? what does a scart socket look like? If your TV isn’t as well equipped, connections-wise as the lovely Reevoo office TV pictured above, it’ll be a little trickier than normal to connect up a digibox.  You will need to add something called an RF Modulator to the digibox/TV mix.  There are…
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    Modern Eco Homes

  • Valentine’s Day Flowers and Chocolate Deals from Organic Bouquet

    Kristen Banker
    8 Feb 2010 | 1:59 pm
    Valentine’s Day marks the biggest shopping day of the year, when it comes to chocolate and flowers. By purchasing organic and Fair Trade chocolate and flowers your money will no longer be going towards toxic pesticides, child slavery, and farm worker exploitation. Organic Bouquet partners with artisans and growers who adhere to rigorous U.S. and international [...]

  • Recycled Glassware from West Elm for Must Have Monday

    Kristen Banker
    8 Feb 2010 | 12:59 pm
    Why not make your next dinner party greener by toasting with recycled glassware? Thanks to some fabulous recycled glass options making a statement with innovative glass pieces and reducing unnecessary waste now go hand in hand. Why recycled glass? Using recycled glass reduces energy input into glass industry furnaces and decreases processing by-products by eliminating the [...]

  • The New Sustainable Youth Anti-Agent Program

    Kristen Banker
    3 Feb 2010 | 1:43 pm
    As most of you know, I’m a self-professed organic face cream junkie. A few months ago I was asked to write a review for Sustainable Youth’s Immune Performance Elasticity Cream. I’m happy to report that I’m still a proud user of this wonderful product. You can purchase the elasticity cream at Sustainable Youth [...]

  • A Greener Super Bowl Sunday

    Katie Nielsen
    3 Feb 2010 | 12:51 pm
    It’s tradition at my house; every year, we have over the entire family on Super Bowl Sunday to watch the big game and of course, eat great food. With just three days before the Saints take on the Colts, I thought I’d share my favorite tips on throwing the biggest, baddest, and greenest Super Bowl [...]

  • Nubius Organics offering Free Shipping on V-Day Gifts

    Kristen Banker
    3 Feb 2010 | 12:13 pm
    Valentines Day is just around the corner and even though the colors are generally red or pink, I say make this Valentines a shade of green. Celebrate the ones you love with gifts that make an eco difference! Nubius Organic is offering free shipping for V-Day on orders of $50 and over. Use coupon code [...]
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    Ode Magazine

  • Thorkil Sonne: Autism entrepreneur

    4 Feb 2010 | 2:34 pm
    President of the Party of European Socialists and former prime minister of Denmark, Poul Nyrup Rasmussen nominates Thorkil Sonne for his work in helping those with autism thrive in the workplace. Thorkil Sonne. Founder, Specialisterne. Copenhagen, Denmark. Photo: Thorkil Sonne Thorkil Sonne is an extraordinary personality. He shows that private business can have a very human face. He just doesn’t accept that people who have another entrance to life cannot be treated in a normal way and be given normal chances. His idea has been—and still is—to put all his efforts and…

  • Dr. Denis Mukwege provides hope to women in Congo

    2 Feb 2010 | 11:12 am
    Playwright and female activist Eve Ensler nominates Dr. Denis Mukwege for his compassion and courage to protect and heal women in his native home in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Denis Mukwege. Founder and director, Panzi Hospital. Bukavu, Democratic Republic of Congo. Photo: Paula Allen Compassionate. Tender. Humble. Graceful. Dr. Denis Mukwege is a brave visionary, humanitarian and healer who has stood on the frontlines of a brutal regional war for control of mineral resources in the Democratic Republic of Congo—a war that has left close to 6 million dead and hundreds of…

  • Grannies with a mission

    26 Jan 2010 | 12:22 pm
    Lucky 13: The International Council of Thirteen Indigenous Grandmothers travels the world connecting hearts and minds. Photo: Marisol Villanueva “The greatest distance in the world,” Agnes Baker Pilgrim is fond of saying, “is the 14 inches from our minds to our hearts.” Grandmother Aggie, as she is known, is the oldest living female of the Takelma Band of the Rogue River Indians in Oregon. She is also a member of the International Council of Thirteen Indigenous Grandmothers, a group of grannies with a mission. Facing a world in crisis, these wise women believe…

  • Danny Kennedy: Solar energy entrepreneur

    15 Jan 2010 | 10:26 am
    Actress Cate Blanchett applauds Danny Kennedy's work in the solar power industry. He helped in turning the Sydney Theatre Company into a green building. Danny Kennedy. Co-founder and president, Sungevity. Berkeley, California. Photo: Najib Joe Hakim I first met Danny through my husband, Andrew, and have followed his work on clean energy for years. We’ve always shared a common concern about climate change and politics, which has only become stronger as we’ve both had children and further realized the importance of preserving the planet for their future. When Danny told us he was…

  • Xavier Helgesen and Kreece Fuchs: Promoting literacy through Better World Books

    14 Jan 2010 | 2:04 pm
    Book enthusiast and actor, Levar Burton, nominates the founders of Better Word Books, a company with a mission to support global literacy. Xavier Helgesen and Kreece Fuchs. Co-founders, Better World Books. Goshen, Indiana. Photo: Andy Warzon I was lucky. I grew up in a house where reading was like breathing. My mother was an English teacher, and as such, reading was not an optional activity in her household. Where my mother was concerned, you either read a book or got hit in the head with one. Not only did my mother read to my sisters and me when we were young, she was constantly reading…
 
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    Big Green Purse

  • Six Ways to Green Your Valentine's Day

    Diane MacEachern
    2 Feb 2010 | 8:30 am
    Here at Big Green Purse, we love love. So naturally, Valentine's Day is one of our favorite days of the year. As it turns out, it also presents one of the best opportunities to shift your spending to greener goods. Of the billions of dollars spent on Valentine's Day gifts every year, more than a third are spent on flowers.  As beautiful as they may be, conventionally-grown cut flowers are usually doused with toxic pesticides that are damaging to people as well as the environment. Solution? If you're planning to give a bouquet of…

  • Tax Credits Can Help You Save Money and Shift Green

    Diane MacEachern
    1 Feb 2010 | 10:32 am
    Buying energy-efficient home energy systems, appliances, and cars can save you loads of money by reducing your energy consumption.  But the upfront cost of investing in efficient technologies can make ditching your old energy guzzlers for new energy sippers seem prohibitive. Federal and state tax credits help defray your purchase costs (image source). Here's how:  Federal Energy Efficiency Tax Credits Home Renovations: You can earn up to 30% in federal tax credits on the first $1,500 you spend on improving the energy efficiency of your home.  These…

  • Is the iPad just more e-waste?

    Diane MacEachern
    29 Jan 2010 | 12:14 pm
     When Apple debuted its much-awaited iPad on Wednesday in San Francisco, one of the first attributes founder Steve Jobs touted was the gadget's eco-friendly specs.  But how "green" can an electronic device like this really be? Greenpeace recently released its analysis of electronics manufacturers: Nokia and Sony Ericsson came out way ahead of the pack; Apple didn't fare nearly as well. This excellent review from Inhabitat details the plusses and minuses of Apple's overall approach to sustainability. As for the iPad, we like that…

  • "Clean" Coal and Nukes Should Not be Part of Obama's Energy Future - or Ours.

    Diane MacEachern
    28 Jan 2010 | 12:14 pm
    President Obama tackled energy in his State of the Union address on Wednesday night, but not in the way that many (including myself) had hoped. Not only did Mr. Obama push for "building a new generation of safe, clean nuclear power plants in this country," but he endorsed "opening new offshore areas for oil and gas development" and "continued investment in...clean coal technologies." Does the President actually believe offshore oil drilling makes sense and that coal and nuclear can be safe, healthy and non-polluting? Or, as the country's…

  • Want to save energy? Cuddle up under eco-friendly bedding & blankets.

    Diane MacEachern
    25 Jan 2010 | 7:54 am
    Outside, the temperatures are dropping. Inside, what do you do? Turn up the heat -- or  stock up on cozy blankets and bedding, especially if they're made from natural fibers like organic cotton, wool, and hemp?  What makes these materials more environmentally friendly? Natural fibers breathe more easily than synthetic fabrics, wicking away moisture if you sweat, and creating a layer of insulation when you generate your own body heat. Plus, organic and natural comforters and quilts do not contain 'finishing' chemicals like formaldehyde, a toxin that can…
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    Non-Toxic Kids

  • Study Connecting Vaccines and Autism is Retracted from Publication

    Katy Farber
    7 Feb 2010 | 5:48 pm
    I said I wouldn't post about vaccines again.  Really.  I did.  But this I can't really help.  I know Non-Toxic Readers have strong opinions about vaccines.  It is a hot button issue I decided not to touch anymore.But this is just too big. The New York Times reports that the study linking autism to the MMR vaccine has been retracted.  This study was often cited by the anti-vaccine groups as proof the of damage caused to children from vaccines.  From the Times:"A major British medical journal on Tuesday retracted a flawed study linking the measles, mumps and…

  • The Cadmium in Jewelry Saga Continues

    Katy Farber
    5 Feb 2010 | 5:52 pm
    More news this week about cadmium in jewelry proving it is not just Claire's that has been selling toxic jewelry to our children and families.Turns out, even expensive jewelry is containing the toxic metal.  The Center for Environmental Health found high levels of cadmium at Aeropostale and Sax Fifth avenue stores.  Both companies have pulled the offending jewelry off store shelves. Aeropostale didn't have the typical double speak and limited, stunted response.  They called for no cadmium in their jewelry-- none, even though cadmium still hasn't been banned in jewelry.The…

  • A Wake Up Story from Healthy Child Healthy World (and it's not pretty)

    Katy Farber
    3 Feb 2010 | 4:49 pm
    A Wake-Up Story from Healthy Child Healthy World on Vimeo.This speaks for itself.

  • Crayola: Take Back the Markers!

    Katy Farber
    2 Feb 2010 | 6:00 am
     As green thinking parent, I shudder to think about the many Crayola (and Expo) markers that have been sent to the trash in my classroom, and now that my kids are older, in my house.  I am usually pretty mellow about things, but when they don't put the lids back on a marker, I get particularly antsy. Uptight.  Saying in a high pitched voice, "make sure it clicks!"  and "where did the lid go?"  with serious urgency.Because despite my critical analysis of most of the items that come in my house, art materials aren't up to the same standards.  I don't buy any of it…

  • Tell Your Senators No More BPA!

    Katy Farber
    1 Feb 2010 | 6:52 pm
    (from the lovely, hard working ladies at Momsrising)In a staggering policy reversal this past weekend, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced there's now officially cause for "concern" about toxic Bisphenol-A (BPA) in food and beverage containers, but they stopped short of banning BPA from products children and pregnant and nursing women use everyday.It's not enough to just announce "concern." We already know BPA is dangerous, and we know there are safer alternatives. It's time for Congress to take this issue to the next level to keep our kids safe.Urge your U.S. Senators today to…
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    Crunchy Chicken

  • What kind of critters would you raise?

    Crunchy Chicken
    9 Feb 2010 | 12:00 am
    Since yesterday's post about garden favorites was pretty popular, I thought I'd do a follow-up post in the same vein. I know we all have space and legal limitations about what kinds of animals we can keep that prevent us from raising them. Now, I'm not talking about the usual "pet" animals (dog, cat, fish, bird), but something more along the lines of a homesteading critter.So, today's question

  • What's your favorite food plant to grow?

    Crunchy Chicken
    8 Feb 2010 | 12:00 am
    I was reading something-or-other yesterday and the question came to me... what's my favorite plant to grow, if I had to pick just one? For some reason I was excited about the question, mostly because it's so hard to decide. And, since it's impossible to pick just one, I figured I should split it up a bit into my favorite fruit, vegetable and herb plants.My favorite fruit to grow has to be

  • Food Waste Challenge check-in: week 1

    Crunchy Chicken
    7 Feb 2010 | 10:30 am
    The first week of the Food Waste Reduction Challenge went fairly well. I think I managed to reduce the amount of waste generated from the kids, mostly by being a little more on top of metering out their food. But, still, the most food waste came from them. My kids are picky to some degree, but mostly the problem is they eat like birds.As for me, I composted a perfectly good slice of onion and a

  • Gaia's Garden winner

    Crunchy Chicken
    7 Feb 2010 | 10:00 am
    The winner of the fabulous permaculture book, Gaia's Garden: A Guide To Home-Scale Permaculture is.....Butternuts of the blog, well, Butternuts.Congratulations! Send your contact information to crunchychickenblog@gmail.com. I'll be sending out the books and things won in recent giveaways this week (for those of you waiting for yer stuff).

  • Reality TV Goes Green

    Crunchy Chicken
    5 Feb 2010 | 12:00 am
    For those of you curious about the green makeover show that I've been working on, there is a great write-up about it here.Here's a little snippet for your reading enjoyment:These days, there are reality TV shows that will make over your wardrobe, your weight, your car or your love life — is there any area of life that hasn't been tinkered with yet? There is indeed: Mission: Sustainable is poised
 
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    Green and Natural Parenting

  • 8 Ways To Cut Down on Food Waste

    Tiffany
    8 Feb 2010 | 9:28 am
      The average US household wastes a lot of food. I know I have definitely been guilty of this myself. If we have to clean out our frig once a month and throw half the contents away spoiled, unused, and moldy than we are wasting food and wasting money. How much of our monthly food bill is actually tossed in the garbage? $20? $30?This has an impact on your finances and it impacts the planet because we use more than we need. So how do we nip this problem in the bud? 1. List the leftovers. This is an incredibly simple and incredibly useful way to remind you to eat the leftovers! Put a…

  • A Spoonful of Ginger

    Tiffany
    7 Feb 2010 | 5:00 pm
    While many US families had wild Super Bowl weekends we had a laid back weekend without much special going on. Hubby and I both read books, the kids played outside with their new snow-ballers and bricker, and we generally just enjoyed being snowed in. Instead of the Super Bowl we watched The Puppy Bowl on Animal Planet and chowed down on egg salad sandwiches. I also made an evening meal from one of my new favorite cookbooks… A Spoonful of Ginger – Irresistible, health-giving, recipes from Asian kitchens. I made a variation of the sweet and sour soup and OMG, it was heaven!!! I…

  • The Soda Stream for Homemade Soda

    Tiffany
    5 Feb 2010 | 5:01 pm
    For months I have been hearing good things about the SodaStream. It is basically a system for making your homemade soda.. water, syrup, carbonation… everything. While I was intrigued about its inner workings I doubted I would ever purchase one because soda wasn't something I felt good about bringing into the house.. even if it was greener and cleaner to do it that way. It seemed like an awesome product for soda drinkers though. Except we aren't 100% soda free here either. My husband drinks soda quite a bit actually and since he drinks out of cans that can have BPA this product…

  • How to Green Your Next Dinner Party

    Tiffany
    3 Feb 2010 | 12:00 pm
    As more and more people are going green in their own homes and lifestyle choices, why not include entertainment? For your next dinner party, try a green theme. Yes, some friends might be afraid you will make them eat tofu and cardboard or play Scrabble by the light of a solar lamp but this would be a great opportunity to show them how fun and easy it is to go green. Here are some ideas for keeping it fun and eco friendly. * Invitations – This is an easy one in this day of Internet savvy and smart phones. Consider going informal and inviting your guests via electronic invitation. You can…

  • 5 Easy Steps to Reduce Plastic in Our Lives

    Tiffany
    29 Jan 2010 | 10:45 am
    1. Avoid plastic bags at the grocery store. This applies to the bags you get at checkout AND the plastic produce bags you put your loose fruits and veggies in. There are two really easy, really affordable products you can use instead of plastic so there is very little excuse to keep bringing plastic baggies home. Reusable Grocery Bags – Cloth bags can be bought at most grocery stores for $1 nowadays and you can usually find good quality bags for $10 each that will last for years and years AND can be used for other things. My favorite reusable bag is the ACME Earth Tote from my fave…
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    Crunchy Domestic Goddess

  • Follow-up to TODAY show guest post: childbirth resources

    Crunchy Domestic Goddess
    7 Feb 2010 | 12:37 am
    If you are visiting from the TODAY show blog, welcome and thank you for visiting. :) If you haven’t yet read my guest post on the TODAY show, you can read it here: Viewer: Learn more about cesarean births. I’d love it if you would like to contribute to the discussion and leave a comment over there. Because there was only so much information I could include in my guest post, I’ve put together some additional resources here for those of you who are interested in learning more about c-sections, VBAC, giving birth vaginally to larger babies, and more. I believe in informed…

  • Please vote for Crunchy Domestic Goddess

    Crunchy Domestic Goddess
    3 Feb 2010 | 8:53 pm
    I was recently notified that my blog was selected as a finalist for About.com’s favorite parenting blog award. I don’t think I’ve ever been in the running for an award like this and am truly honored! :) If you have a second, I’d love it if you’d give me your vote. All you have to do is click over to About.com, click on my blog name (Crunchy Domestic Goddess, in case you forgot) ;) and it registers a vote for me. Easy, peasy! It only takes 2 seconds. :) I’m really behind right now and would love your help to catch up a bit. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

  • Live c-section on the Today Show

    Crunchy Domestic Goddess
    2 Feb 2010 | 1:24 pm
    Thanks to ICANtweets I learned that the Today Show aired a live Cesarean section from Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston as part of the “Today Goes Inside the OR” series. A healthy 10 pound baby boy was born via scheduled c-section to Carrie and Josh Johnson. According the The Today Show’s Dr. Nancy Snyderman, they elected a c-section because babies “run big” in the parents’ families and Carrie was “past her due date.” Dr. Snyderman adds, “And those are two indications that a Cesarean section is a lot safer than having a…

  • Potty Learning with Patience and Praise

    Crunchy Domestic Goddess
    29 Jan 2010 | 9:33 am
    Like most everything related to parenting, when it comes to potty learning (or training) there is not a one size fits all approach. Just as every child is different, every family is different and what works best for one will not work for another. However, since potty learning is a hot topic in our house these days, I thought I would share what we have found to work best for us. When it comes to potty learning and my kids, I approach it similarly to the way I approach weaning from the breast. I trust that when the time is right and the child is ready, it will happen. I know this is not a…

  • Where do your kids’ toys go to die? Children, consumerism, toys and trash

    Crunchy Domestic Goddess
    19 Jan 2010 | 11:27 am
    A few weeks ago I overheard a woman say (online) that she cleaned her basement and subsequently “threw out 10 bags of broken, crap toys!” The comments that followed applauded her efforts. I’m not sure if they were happy that she cleaned the basement or that she discarded numerous toys, but I couldn’t help but feel saddened that so many “broken, crap toys” were on their way to the landfill. I can’t say I’ve never thrown out a broken toy myself, but generally speaking I try to make an effort to acquire toys that are the antithesis of…
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    The Not Quite Crunchy Parent

  • Tug- A Brand Name or An Action?

    30 Jan 2010 | 7:55 am
    This is my son's backpack.Note the brand name: "Tug"This is what happened when one of his friends took that word literally.sigh.

  • Help With Earthquake Relief in Haiti

    13 Jan 2010 | 5:13 am
    A little off topic today, but I awoke this morning to hear about a devastating 7.0 earthquake in Haiti yesterday.Here in California we’re used to earthquakes. Every once in awhile we get a particularly huge one that brings down homes and buildings and we get a glimpse of the sorrow and feelings of helplessness rather more common after earthquakes in developing countries - because it is different there.If you’ve ever been in an earthquake in the developing world, you know the extra sheer terror laid on top of the normal sheer terror of being in an earthquake. It goes something like…

  • The Scary Traditional Tree

    24 Dec 2009 | 7:49 am
    Anyone else freak out a little when they see this tree with real lit candles? this was at a friend's house where he hosted a kid's Christmas cookie party. ( He doesn't have kids- bet you could have guessed that!)It was fun and what you can't see in this picture is the fire extinguisher which he had handy tree-side.Happy holidays!

  • 5 Sites To Make Your Holiday Toy Shopping Easier

    8 Dec 2009 | 11:44 am
    I'm in the midst of selecting toys not only for my son, but for my teenage niece and nephew, various family friends and a few friends with new babies. It's rough out there. So I'm making a list of some of the sites that I have found helpful.1) ToyInfo.org - This relatively new site has lots on advice on what to buy for various situations, as well as downloadable play guides and discussion boards.2) ToyAwards.Org - The toy industry "Oscars" - this site lists the toys chosen as the top toys in a variety of categories. I don't always agree with their choices but..it is a great place to start.3)…

  • Send a Green Mom To Copenhagen

    1 Dec 2009 | 5:31 pm
    Those of you who follow my blog know that I'm part of a group of Green Moms.Well, since we represent parents everywhere who are concerned about climate change, we decided to enter one of our own in the Huffington Post contest to send a "People's Ambassador" to the climate talks in Copenhagen! Diane MacEachern, author of The Big Green Purse and awesome green mom is who we KNOW would be an awesome Ambassador!Of course, we just found out about this contest and voting ends on December 4th...but...we're rallying the forces and we think we can get enough votes out "elect" her (or is it appoint…
 
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    The Green Phone Booth

  • Smile and Happiness Will Follow

    Erin aka Conscious Shopper
    9 Feb 2010 | 12:15 am
    An exercise in positive thinking from The Conscious ShopperI've decided that there's far too much negativity floating around the greenosphere right now. Believe me, my finger is pointed directly at moi, but I'm feeling it from other sides as well.Sure we could blame it on February, that seemingly never-ending, dark and gloomy month. Or we could could blame it on Congress - could any group of people move any more slowly? Or we could crawl back under the covers and hibernate until spring (oh yes, if I could find a way to feed my family without getting out of bed, I would certainly spend the…

  • I didn't even know I was pregnant.

    greeen sheeep
    8 Feb 2010 | 12:15 am
    Bleatings from EnviRambo.Back in August I purchased a 5-tray Gusanito Worm Composter. I assembled it immediately upon receipt and then proceeded to stare at it for the next few months, wondering if I was up for the task. In October I finally got around to ordering the worms for it. On the advice of more skilled worm wranglers (i.e. you all who left comments on my original post) I started with 500 worms. Still unsure I was fit to be a worm farmer, I held out little hope that the Red Wigglers would live through Christmas. In the beginning I did little more than throw some food scraps in and…

  • Crafted with Love

    greeen sheeep
    7 Feb 2010 | 7:06 am
    Bleatings from EnviRambo.I have been in somewhat of a design/craft mood lately. Maybe it is cabin fever starting to set in and I am just looking for something to do or, maybe it is the feeling of Spring just around the corner causing my desire to freshen things up. Either way, these inspiring blogs have been filling my head with lots of "Ooh, I want that!", "I can do that.", and "Why didn't I think of that?".The first two offer simple storage solutions through repurposing household items. Like this bird cage:I have always been drawn to bird cages as a decorative element, but never thought to…

  • Chinese New Year!

    Robbie
    6 Feb 2010 | 12:31 am
    Going Green Mama thinks that going green doesn't always have to mean work or doing without...If there's one thing that makes me blow my budget or my great intentions on a workday, it's when a coworker tucks her head around the corner and whispers a word:Chinese.I'm a sucker for great Chinese food. I love the flavors, the vegetables, the soups. Just about everything.And it's ever better when you get the real thing.Now, I'm not talking about the Great China Buffet by any means. And I'm not talking about take-out. I'm talking about real, authentic Chinese food -- not the breaded, heavy on the…

  • Cookbook Roundup!

    Jenn the Greenmom
    5 Feb 2010 | 12:01 am
    Jenn the Greenmom is hungry again...I read cookbooks the way some people read novels. I love them. When I go to visit people, especially my mom, I'll spend ages poring over different books, especially themed ones about different ethnic cooking techniques or styles of food.I'm the kind of cook, by the way, who honestly seldom actually follows a recipe unless it's for baked goods of some kind where adherence to correct proportions is crucial to success of the dish. Even then I tend to futz a lot. So I usually read cookbooks more for ideas than anything else. Still, they are an invaluable…
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    Green and Clean Mom ™

  • Tuesday Shout Out: To Those I Met at Blissdom

    greenandcleanmom
    9 Feb 2010 | 5:00 am
    Wow! I went through my business cards and stopped to think about all of the people I had lunch, dinner, drinks and great conversation with and the list is HUGE! BlogHer was like this too but I vowed to actually soak up the challenge to meet people and remember these people and interactions and to [...]Post from: Green and Clean Mom (TM) all rights reserved.Tuesday Shout Out: To Those I Met at Blissdom

  • Lip Loving, Taste Bud Craving Sensual Valentine Gifts

    greenandcleanmom
    8 Feb 2010 | 7:55 am
    I’m a modest person but this morning I had something orgasmic – Equal Exchange Fair Trade Coffee and Chocolate, together. The combination was almost indescribable with my taste buds feel in love. When Mambo Sprouts asked me to review coffee and chocolate from Equal Exchange, they had to twist my arm (sarcasm) but I agreed and my mouth [...]Post from: Green and Clean Mom (TM) all rights reserved.Lip Loving, Taste Bud Craving Sensual Valentine Gifts

  • Sometimes You Do Not Like What You Hear BUT You Need to Hear It

    greenandcleanmom
    7 Feb 2010 | 5:00 am
    My good friend Monica inspires me to be a better person and mother, yet we’re in different countries and mostly communicate via email, blog posts and the occasional phone call. At one time we were flipping a website together; talking regularly from country to country (isn’t blogging and the social media world cool?). But life [...]Post from: Green and Clean Mom (TM) all rights reserved.Sometimes You Do Not Like What You Hear BUT You Need to Hear It

  • I’d Rather Talk Toilet Paper

    greenandcleanmom
    6 Feb 2010 | 9:27 pm
    The Tea Party Convention was being held at the same time as the Blissdom convention and the buzz is that Sarah Palin was their keynote speaker – fans of Sarah (including some of my family members) were super excited; while others were rolling their eyes. I’m with the second group of people and would rather let you know [...]Post from: Green and Clean Mom (TM) all rights reserved.I’d Rather Talk Toilet Paper

  • It is a Journey: Live and Learn

    greenandcleanmom
    5 Feb 2010 | 5:33 am
    Another, trip in my challenge to live more eco-friendly and non-toxic; a frustrating one too! The Soda Stream, a product my family and I have really enjoyed for the past few months – it appears that though it is good at reducing waste and does save my family money…the bottles aren’t as non-toxic as I [...]Post from: Green and Clean Mom (TM) all rights reserved.It is a Journey: Live and Learn
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    GreenStyleMom

  • Coastal Green Air

    GreenStyleMom
    9 Feb 2010 | 5:28 am
    This system was in our condo in Alabama. Thought this was a great idea, especially since I know we've been guilty of opening up doors (to hear the ocean as we sleep... ah!) and not thinking to turn off the heat or air. I'd like to have it on our whole house!

  • Running, Running

    GreenStyleMom
    8 Feb 2010 | 5:23 am
    Less than a week until my half marathon. Excited but jittery.After I finish (which I will, barring anything flukey!), I've decided that I will start referring to myself as a runner. Even though I've been running sporadically for a few years, I never thought I could/would be a "runner." I certainly never thought I could run longer distances. It wasn't until someone made an off-hand comment to

  • Beach Day Pics

    GreenStyleMom
    7 Feb 2010 | 5:55 am
    More photos... sorry there are so many... couldn't control myself!Beach BoundGrandma and the seagullsEmmy and Kate doing cartwheelsDiscovering WildlifeMom and Jack's doomed sandcastleThis one lasted longerMatt and JackMore Splashing & Running & Playing

  • Trip Pics

    GreenStyleMom
    6 Feb 2010 | 5:34 am
    Some photos from our Alabama trip. We had quite a crowd this year. Grandma, Aunt Gwen, Cousin Emmy, my parents, my brother, my sister-in-law Jenifer, and cousins Mira and Sonny. Plus my Aunt Gretchen who lives in Mobile came down for a day. PLUS we also had dinner with Matt's uncle who lives in Mobile. The first couple days were a bit chilly, but the last day we got nice weather and LOTS of

  • Speaking of Beets

    GreenStyleMom
    5 Feb 2010 | 6:33 am
    I really prefer beets just roasted with butter. Second up is pickled. But this salad is a close third. I've even been known to eat it for breakfast! I got the recipe from my mother-in-law a summer or two ago. I'm making it today to snack on all weekend.Roasted Beet Salad1/2 lb roasted beets, chopped1 med tangerine, peeled, pitted, chopped2T chopped red onion1 med celery stalk, chopped2 tsp
 
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    Green Talk™

  • AirKrete Fire Proof Foam Insulation: Peace of Mind with Lower Energy Bills

    Green Talk
    9 Feb 2010 | 6:50 am
    The other day as I was sitting around of table of women at a Super Bowl Party, one of the women commented on how cold this particular  winter has been  Quickly the conversation turned to how cold their own houses were and the cost of their utility bills.  Some were wearing bulky clothing and  keeping their homes quite chilly  to keep their bills in check. So, I wondered, have you seen your own energy bill soar in the last couple of years? As many of my loyal Green Talk readers know, I have written extensively about how to button up those air leaks in your house especially in your attic.

  • Eco-Friendly FlexibleLove Furniture: The End of the Stackable Chair

    Green Talk
    8 Feb 2010 | 6:12 am
    Are you forever asking people to bring a casserole plus a chair or two?  Or do you have the proverbial stack of metal or plastic chairs in your basement?  Guilty on both accounts. FlexibleLove furniture, a honeycomb, accordion structure-type furniture, is not only eco-friendly, it will save your aching back from lugging those chairs up from the basement every time you have a party.   The furniture is made of  readily accessible recycled  materials such as  wood waste and paper and accommodates a variety of different configurations as well as seating for a number of people. The…

  • Say No to Monsanto Genetically Modified Alfalfa!

    Green Talk
    5 Feb 2010 | 7:17 pm
    Well, you thought it was safe to go back in the water? Not with Monsanto rearing its ugly face. Did I hear “genetically modified” again?  Yep.  Your organic food might not be organic anymore. As many of you know, we have GMO corn, GMO soybeans, and now we could have  de-regulated  GMO alfalfa. Isn’t that rich? According to the USDA, “On December 18, 2009, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published a notice in the Federal Register announcing the availability of APHIS’ Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) that evaluates the potential environmental…

  • Wake Up! Join Healthy Child, Healthy World to Make our World Safe for Our Kids

    Green Talk
    3 Feb 2010 | 11:03 am
    A Wake-Up Story from Healthy Child Healthy World. Watch the above video from Healthy Child, Healthy World and heed the wake-up call to change the way we do “chemicals” in our world.  Have you noticed the rise of asthma, learning disabilities, autism, cancer, and many other diseases? Many of you know me for my green building articles but may not realize that I built my house using non or low toxic materials for my children.  I am one of those parents who has children that have learning disabilities, ADD, JV diabetes, eczema, and asthma.  I know parents who lost their children…

  • Organic Hair Color: Wash those Grays Away with a Safer Hair Color

    Green Talk
    2 Feb 2010 | 11:00 am
    Do you need to put on a mask before coloring your hair? I have been turning gray since my early twenties. It must be hereditary since my grandfather was all gray at an early age. When I had just a few gray strands, I would literally “wash that gray away” with the product of the same name. It would cover the gray for about a week. As the years progressed, I became grayer and grayer. As I approached my late twenties, one of my clients remarked that my gray hair aged me. That was it for me. The next week I made my first appointment to rid my dark brown hair of those ugly gray stands in my…
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    EnviroMom

  • Are you raising a free-range kid?

    Heather
    9 Feb 2010 | 8:31 am
      Do you let your 8-year old roam the neighborhood unaccompanied? Walk to school without an adult? Lick raw cookie dough off the egg beaters? My answers are no, no and no. Why is that? I did all of these things when I was a kid, and I bet you did, too. I just finished reading a fantastic book that delves into modern-day parental fears and this over-the-top culture of 'keeping our kids safe.' Free-Range Kids by Lenore Skenazy (the only parenting book I've ever read cover to cover) is making me think really hard about my fears as a parent and why I have them. I've long…

  • Easy home-made valentines with cardboard and file folders

    Renee
    8 Feb 2010 | 9:41 am
    Planning ahead has never been a strength in this family. Great ideas usually arrive a day late and a dollar short. But not so this year with valentines! We stumbled upon a cute and easy Reduce/Reuse idea for home-made valentines cards thanks to the Martha Steward Living magazine that mysteriously arrived in my mailbox a few weeks back (even thought I've not subscribed). Martha's February issue had many mouthwatering Valentines' Day inspirations, most of which we ignored (out waistlines will thank us later). But we did like an idea she had about making stamps with corrugated…

  • Sink strainers! Preventing clogged drains to avoid using those nasty drain-clearing chemicals

    Renee
    5 Feb 2010 | 11:20 am
    My commitment to a life free of toxic chemicals is never more tested than when presented with a plumbing problem. Yesterday's test came by way of a stopped up sink in the kid's bathroom. I've lamented in the past that whole tubes of toothpaste have gone down this drain. And hair and soap. Thus my day of reckoning arrived. Sigh.I spent about two hours trying to snake and plunger the clog free yesterday. I ended up cross and disgusted by the primordial ooze that emanated from the sink. Inexplicably I also retrieved a vast amount of pine needles. Yet the dang-blasted clog would not…

  • How you can help reform the school lunch program

    Heather
    4 Feb 2010 | 9:03 am
    Last week we talked a bit about the problematic styrofoam lunch trays that many schools are sending to the landfill every day, but frankly I'm a bit more concerned about the stuff that's served on those trays. Here's the thing: the child nutrition programs, which include the nationwide school lunch program, will be coming up for renewal by Congress this spring. This only happens once every five years. According to Slow Food International's Time for Lunch program, the government reimburses schools $2.68 for every meal served to a child who qualifies for free lunch. After…

  • Calling for a worldwide boycott of crap jewelry

    Renee
    3 Feb 2010 | 10:24 am
    Why do people keep buying crap jewelry for their kids? I don't understand it. Is there a parent or aunt or grandma in the developed world who hasn't seen a recall notice, or two or a thousand? Here's one of the latest recalls on a Tiny Tink charm with excessive levels of lead. Enough is enough on recalls due to lead or cadmium or whatever poison they can paint a product with to make it shiny and pretty but still only retail for $2.99? I'm sorry. I'm ranting. But this drives me crazy! I appreciate the CPSC recalls that come out. I appreciate the efforts of manufacturers to…
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    Mindful Momma

  • A Trip to the Co-op

    Micaela
    8 Feb 2010 | 1:03 pm
    A simple trip to my local food co-op is never very simple.  First I round up a bunch of bottles, jars and tubs to use for oats, nuts, sugar, soy sauce, honey etc... Then I grab any plastic bags I have around to use for produce or to dump in the It's In the Bag, plastic bag recycling center. Of course, I don't want to forget my little envelope of money-saving coupons!  and finally, the shopping bags (which I keep in the car).  Do you bring all this stuff to the co-op too?  What tricks do you have for organizing and remembering to bring everything?  The hardest part for me…

  • Sustainable Chocolate for Valentine's Day: Part 3 - A Few More Gems

    Micaela
    4 Feb 2010 | 1:09 pm
    Are you sick of chocolate yet?  Is that even possible?  Here are a few more of the Organic, Fair Trade chocolate-makers I've run across in my search for chocolate I can feel good about eating.  (be sure to read my first two posts about Equal Exchange and Kallari chocolates if you haven't already) Green & Black's - Many a chocolate bar from this purveyor has been consumed in our house.  They have lots of yummy flavors like ginger, mint, cherry and espresso although I have to admit, plain old dark is still my favorite.  While they have always been organic, the company has only…

  • Sustainable Chocolate for Valentine's Day: Part 2: Kallari

    Micaela
    3 Feb 2010 | 1:42 pm
    Next up in our chocolate investigation, we sampled 3 single-source chocolate bars from Kallari, a cooperative of 850 indigenous Kichwa families in the Ecuadorian Amazon. The Kallari Association pays a high premium for beans and puts 100% of the profits from sales back into the cooperative to support sustainable development, health and education programs.  Because of this, Kallari claims their chocolate is four times as fair as ‘Fair Trade'. (They choose to carry the Rainforest Alliance seal instead of being certified by the Fair Trade Association)  And if you're wondering what…

  • Sustainable Chocolate for Valentine's Day: Part 1 - Equal Exchange

    Micaela
    2 Feb 2010 | 12:44 pm
    We've really had it rough around here lately.  My family has had the tough job of taste-testing chocolate to recommend for Valentine's Day.  Organic, Fair Trade chocolate, no less.  We began with a chocolate and coffee tasting.  Equal Exchange sent me a Chocolate & Coffee Pairing Gift Bag, a nicely packaged set that includes 2 bags of Organic, Fair-Trade certified coffee (Love Buzz and Mind, Body & Soul) and 2 each of the Organic Extra-Dark and Organic Milk Chocolate (w/a hint of hazelnut) bars.  Plus instructions for how to go about doing a chocolate & coffee pairing. …

  • Mindful Momma Giveaway: Citizen Pip Reusable Lunch Kit

    Micaela
    31 Jan 2010 | 10:01 pm
    My 9 year old hates sandwiches. Won't eat 'em (except for the occasional grilled cheese).  So when it comes to packing lunch for school, I can't rely on the traditional PB&J or ham & cheese like so many other parents get to do.  What do I do instead?  I send him lots of little things to eat.  Crackers, cheese, meat, fruit, nuts, hard-boiled eggs...and sometimes leftovers.  To do this in a waste-free way, I stuff his lunch bag full of a variety of containers and snack bags each day.  That works just fine but I have to admit that it was really nice to get a sample of a…
 
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    Gray Matters

  • Menu Plan Monday - Week 2

    Gray Matters
    8 Feb 2010 | 5:12 am
    My first week of menu planning was wonderful!  I got all my shopping done on Monday at Trader Joe's.  I had a few hits and one miss with Monday night's pasta dish.  It really does make a difference to be organized and no exactly what we're having for dinner.   Looking forward to this week.  Hopefully we can get out from underneath all this snow so I can get to the grocery store! Week Of: 2/1 – 2/7 MondayMeatless MondaySpinach-Black Bean Lasagna TuesdayOnion, Ham, and Cheese FrittataRosemary Roasted Potatoes Wednesday LEFTOVERS Thursday Easy Slow Cooker Pot…

  • SNOW:: I got a new lens for Christmas

    Gray Matters
    4 Feb 2010 | 3:00 am
    Save This Page

  • Getting Our House In Order: Menu Planning

    Gray Matters
    1 Feb 2010 | 3:00 am
    It's time to give this notion of "planning" meals a try.  Flying by the seat of my pants while trying to keep my sanity aren't working anymore.  I know it's a simple concept, but I've gotten real good at pretending it's okay to decide what to have for dinner at 3 o'clock in the afternoon.   Who knows . . . I might be clipping coupons and looking at sales sections soon! MondayMeatless Monday:  Vegetable Ribbon Pasta Tuesday Meatloaf Muffins Mashed potatoes Field Peas Wednesday Pan-Fried Pork with Blueberries Cornbread Stuffing (Trader Joes) Green beans  Thursday…

  • A Colorful Valentine: Crayon Hearts

    Gray Matters
    27 Jan 2010 | 3:00 am
    I came across these directions for making cute crayon hearts.  I had everything it called for, so I gave it a shot.  I decided to use red, purple, pink and white crayons to make it a little bit festive.   I used Word to create the heart border around the white card stock card.   So cute!   Save This Page

  • Planning Is In Her DNA

    Gray Matters
    25 Jan 2010 | 3:00 am
    Meg has her 4th birthday coming up . . . in March.  She's been planning this party since she blew out the candles on her 3rd birthday cake! We've decided on an "arts and crafts" theme party at home.  The teacher in me is very excited about all the wonderful supplies. The ideas are starting . . . more to come! Save This Page
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    organicmania.com

  • Coal: Can’t We Do Better?

    Lisa was right when she said this month’s Green Moms Carnival topic would challenge us.  Coal. It’s one of those things most of us take for granted. We don’t really think about coal – where it comes from, what it does, why we depend on it.  Oh sure, we think about climate change. We blog [...] Related posts:The Green Moms Get Dirty with Coal. It’s the Next Carnival! So what’s up with the Green Moms? Recovered from doing... Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

  • It’s International Ice Cream for Breakfast Day on Saturday!

    Here in the DC region, people are counting on being snowed in tomorrow as we wake to more than two feet of snow.   But if you’ve got any ice cream in your freezer, you can call over to your closest neighbors (who are sure to be home!) and throw an Ice Cream for Breakfast Day [...] Related posts:Easy Green Weekend Project: National Recycling Day Events Saturday AND Sunday! Time to clean out the basement! This Sunday is National... Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

  • The Green Moms Get Dirty with Coal. It’s the Next Carnival!

    So what’s up with the Green Moms? Recovered from doing our very best to celebrate the holidays with Greener Traditions and ring in the New Year with Green Resolutions, we’re setting our sights on coal.   Sure, we’ve blogged about climate change before. We kicked off the carnival back in August ‘08 with this carnival about [...] Related posts:Coal: Can’t We Do Better? Lisa was right when she said this month’s Green Moms... Green Moms & Hopenhagen Today a new Green Moms Carnival on Climate Change  goes... Green Moms Carnival: The Good News and The Bad…

  • Greener New Years Resolutions: Tackling the Big One – Weight Loss

    I’m sure she didn’t mean to offend me, but when my friend saw this photo up on my Linked In page, her reaction was swift: “When did you have that picture taken? Ten years ago??” Ack. Do I look that bad? Did I really age 10 years in just three? Actually, thanks to the blessings of good [...] Related posts:It’s International Ice Cream for Breakfast Day on Saturday! Here in the DC region, people are counting on... Greener Traditions: Ye Olde Advent Calendar & The Reading of the Christmas Books If the following post looks familiar to  you, it’s because... 10 Eco-Friendly…

  • Yes, Lynn, There is a Santa Claus!

    Yes, Virginia – I mean Lynn – there is a Santa Claus.  My post about the horrible expense of Legos struck a nerve, with scores of people either commiserating or offering alterate gift  suggestions. I just  couldn’t justify the $250 expense of the Lego drop ship, even if it was number one on a short list [...] Related posts:How My Love Affair with Legos Ended as the Christmas Season Began I’ve been meaning to post about my intense admiration for... Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.
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    babyminding

  • What? The U.S. Government May Have My Child’s DNA?

    jenstate
    4 Feb 2010 | 9:36 am
    You have to read this article at cnn.com that details something I must admit I knew nothing about. The article claims that upon a baby’s birth, the U.S. government has mandated that the child be tested for a host of genetic disorders and diseases. Some states then destroy the DNA while others don’t and instead lend the data out to researchers who feel it is a gold mine of information they would otherwise not be privy to. Apparently, these tests are administered and the bill given to your insurance company without a parents knowledge or consent. You only find out about it if your…

  • SIDS Deaths Linked To Low Serotonin Levels!

    jenstate
    2 Feb 2010 | 5:34 pm
    Wow! This is huge! I think any parent, particularly first timers, have had that moment of panic…the one where your baby finally sleeps through the night, or at least for a good stretch, and you fear that he or she has succumbed to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. As irrational as it may seem, when there is some little understood phenomenon that could possibly take the life of your child, no matter what the statistic, you can’t help but worry and then worry some more. There is hope for an answer! Researchers believe they may have found a common link among a number victims. Low…

  • Pass It On! What’s More Important Than the Health of Your Child?

    Tela
    2 Feb 2010 | 10:13 am
    Please take a moment to watch this compelling video created by Healthy Child, Healthy World to raise awareness about the toxic world our children are facing. A Wake-Up Story is a must-see video for every parent and anyone that cares about the health and development of children. Watch it. Share it. Join the movement. A Wake-Up Story from Healthy Child Healthy World on Vimeo.

  • An Interesting Read for All Concerned Parents

    jenstate
    21 Jan 2010 | 5:34 pm
    Do you know a child with asthma or a woman fighting breast cancer? Do you know a young, healthy woman who has had trouble conceiving or who has had a child with a birth defect? If so, please read this report from http://saferchemicals.org/. In “The Health Case for Reforming the Toxic Substances Control Act: Executive Summary”, saferchemicals.org outlines, in a quick and easy-to-read format, the instances of chronic diseases that are on the rise as well as the potential health benefits of reforming the Toxic Substances Control Act. Please take a moment to read this important…

  • The FDA Finally Updates Stance On BPA!

    jenstate
    16 Jan 2010 | 5:45 am
    The FDA says it is (finally) taking reasonable steps to reduce human exposure to BPA. You can read the FDA guidelines and other information here. They also recommend throwing out all scratched bottles and sippy cups to reduce the chance your child will ingest the chemical. What’s my take? As Tela referenced in her post about why the FDA is wrong about the safety of BPA, the fact that the chemical companies were funding the testing of a chemical they use in their products makes me suspect of anything the FDA says about BPA. For me, the bottom line is that with or without BPA, we…
 
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    greenUPGRADER

  • Give Your Household Cleaners a Green and Nontoxic Upgrade

    Tim Hurst
    8 Feb 2010 | 6:19 pm
    Is your home hiding a toxic hot spot? If you’re using conventional products, the answer is probably yes. Related posts:Etsy Finds to Keep Your Home Clean and Green Conventional household cleaners can be full of nasty stuff....Cleaning Green: An Ode to Vinegar Plain old vinegar has so many uses beyond being...Green Clean or Marketing Greenwash? Let’s be honest here: everyone is “green” these days....Borax: The Unsung Green Cleaning Hero Baking soda and vinegar are the superstars of natural,...

  • How Green Is that Corn Cup?

    Becky Striepe
    8 Feb 2010 | 4:44 am
    Where can folks take that compostable dishware? It doesn't decompose in a regular compost pile, but instead requires very high temperatures to break down, which you're really only going to get in a commercial facility. Most cities don't have easy access to municipal composting, so what does that mean for all of that "green" compostable plastic? How green is it really? Related posts:DMB Promoting Green with SO MUCH TO SAVE As part of the Bama Project, the Dave Matthews...Sprint, Samsung Test Green Waters with Reclaim Phone The new green-themed Reclaim made by Samsung is more...Does the Package…

  • ‘Green Police’ Super Bowl Ad Touts Clean Diesel Audi A3 TDI

    Tim Hurst
    7 Feb 2010 | 8:01 pm
    After teasing the with two "Green Police" commercials in the days leading up to the Super Bowl, Audi ran a spot during the game featuring a montage of environmental infractions being busted by the "Green Police." Related posts:Raymond James Stadium Green Super Bowl Initiative While preparing for the Super Bowl , the NFL...2x the Horsepower, 4x the MPG - Green Hummers Upgrade: $28K-40K A Hummer with good gas mileage?  A bio-diesel...10 Tips for Better Gas Mileage With the volatility of the global oil market and...22 Years Until Clean Energy? How long will it take us to get to...

  • A White Roof Is a Cool Roof: How to Reduce Home Energy Use by 20%

    Beth Buczynski
    5 Feb 2010 | 1:18 pm
    Want to put something on your roof that saves energy and puts some money back in your pocket? Light-colored or white roofs, also known as "cool roofs", can reflect the sun’s heat and emit absorbed radiation back into the atmosphere. Related posts:Roof Tiles that Power Your Home? Just say, Solé! These days it seems there are plenty of reasons...GreenSwitch - Reduce Home Energy Consumption Upgrade: $1125+ The most complete solution to the Standby Power...Save Energy, Stay Cool, Tinted UV Blocking Window Film   The heat is on here in the northeast and...Sun Lizard Climate Control Roofing…

  • Hot or Not? Machine Turns Office Paper into Toilet Paper

    Becky Striepe
    4 Feb 2010 | 10:47 am
    A new machine from Japanese company Oriental might make choosing recycled easier than ever, or it could be an expensive unitasker. You decide! Related posts:Choose Recycled Content Toilet Paper: Save Ancient Forests What’s your choice for taking care of business? Is...Closing the Poop Loop: DIY Humanure Toilet When you’re going green you can’t be afraid to talk...Wash Your Hands with Toilet Water: Toilet Lid Sink Upgrade: $89 A low-flow toilet kit, or a dual flush...TerraCycle & OfficeMax: Eco-Friendly Office Products Upgrade: $2+ TerraCycle has partnered up with…
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    Best of Mother Earth

  • Woman’s Risks For Heart Disease

    Karen Hanrahan
    9 Feb 2010 | 7:12 am
    My local newspaper touted some very compelling statistics regarding heart disease and woman. The American Heart Association States: coronary heart disease is the #1 killer of woman over 25 64% of woman who died suddenly of coronary heart disease had no previous symptoms one of 2.5 female deaths are from cardiovasular disease, compared to one in 30 from breast cancer heart disease rates in postmenopausal woman are 2-3 times higher than in premenopausal woman stroke is the no. 3 cause of death for american woman and is a leading cause of serious long-term disability stroke kills more woman than…

  • About Best Of Mother Earth’s Logo

    Karen Hanrahan
    8 Feb 2010 | 6:45 am
    I was virtually introduced to Genie of  Genie Graphics through my work for a developing online newspaper.   Genie created the art work for the project and I loved her design.  I  decided that I wanted a widget for the newspaper site and asked if she’d make me one. From one phone conversation she developed  my very grounded, deeply rooted, long haired, nurturing  NEW logo.  Very Mother Earthy.  I felt that the image really captured all that I am up to.   She’s never even met me!  How cool is that?!! I also have to say I found Genie a total blast to work with. I shared…

  • Dear No Impact Man

    Karen Hanrahan
    7 Feb 2010 | 11:00 pm
    Dear Colin Beavan, I just watched your documentary — No Impact Man. My daughter joined me and wow – we LOVED it. I was actually quite taken by this film.   Seriously well done.  Very understated, grass roots, yet provocative and the message was so powerful.  I was left with such happiness for you.   don’t know how else to say it. I met you mid-year of your project via your blog.  I personally was brand new to blogging, new to those who were “way” greener than I and I admit that I was a little taken back by the ambition of your project.  I didn’t get…

  • What I Learned From MY Children

    Karen Hanrahan
    7 Feb 2010 | 9:39 pm
    Robert Hruzek at Middle Zone Musings has had the What I Learned From writing project going on for almost three years now. That’s pretty darn cool. Recently he tweeted me and said he missed my participation.  Gosh – what a sweet thing to say. The deadline is looming and I am trying to decide how to summarize my thoughts regarding this month’s topic:  What I Learned From Children. MY children have taught me my strongest life lessons. I am not the same person I was when I gave birth to my son.  By the time I had my daughter three years later, I had become yet something…

  • A Word From Our Site Sponsor

    Karen Hanrahan
    7 Feb 2010 | 10:09 am
    The creation of our entirely new Blog: Best Of Mother Earth ( do you like it??) would not have been possible without the assistance of our very first site sponsor.  Helpful Jewelry. Welcome! In the case of a medical emergency, EMT’s need to know if you are have specific health challenges or are on medications that might hinder your emergency care. The latest designs now have USB devices that hold your personal medical information. How perfect is that! Share/Bookmark
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    Dot Earth

  • Exxon and the Climate Fight

    By ANDREW C. REVKIN
    8 Feb 2010 | 2:40 pm
    A British newspaper reports that oil companies direct money to climate skeptics.

  • Reality Check on Old Ice, Climate and CO2

    By ANDREW C. REVKIN
    8 Feb 2010 | 12:36 pm
    An expert on glaciers and climate explains how ice records relate to global warming.

  • Signs of Damage to Public Trust in Climate Findings

    By ANDREW C. REVKIN
    5 Feb 2010 | 1:27 pm
    CBS News has run a report summarizing fallout from the illegal distribution of climate scientists' email messages and files and problems with the 2007 report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. The conclusion is that missteps and mistakes are creating broader credibility problems for climate science. [UPDATE, 2/8: Elisabeth Rosenthal has filed a piece reviewing [...]

  • If the Climate Accord Works, Will the Climate Notice?

    By JOHN M. BRODER
    5 Feb 2010 | 9:13 am
    A member of the American negotiating team in Copenhagen assesses whether the resulting accord can limit climate risks.

  • The No(w)osphere

    By ANDREW C. REVKIN
    5 Feb 2010 | 8:17 am
    Can instant translation software facilitate one-planet thinking and acting?
 
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    Go Green Travel Green

  • 5 Tips for Hiking with Your Dog: A Green Vacation for the Whole Family

    Kimberly
    3 Feb 2010 | 9:18 am
    This is a guest post by Dog Fence DIY’s staff veterinarian Dr. Susan Wright. Dog Fence DIY will help you choose the right system for you, help you install it, and help train your pet to use the new system. My favorite vacation involves packing up a small tent, a backpack and some food and heading out with my husband for a hike or a bike ride. Even if we only manage a few days away, I really enjoy the seclusion, and the time to think and talk. It feeds our relationship. I love the quote, “Take only photographs and leave only footprints” and I always make the effort to leave the…

  • Best of Go Green Travel Green 2008-2009

    Kimberly
    28 Jan 2010 | 2:50 pm
    As we celebrate the two year anniversary of Go Green Travel Green, we look back on how we’ve gotten where we are today. From packing light and hypermiling to travel photos and water bottles, here are some of our most popular posts from 2008 and 2009. Travel Tips & Tricks Ultimate Guide to Packing Light: 45 Tips to Lighten Your Load 10 Best Countries for Vegetarian or Vegan Travel Shades of Green Travel The Extreme Hypermiling Guide: 450+ Tips to Increase Your Miles Per Gallon and Save Gas 10 Free Ways to Learn a Language 11 Common Foods to Naturally Relieve Illness while Traveling…

  • Happy 2 Year Anniversary, Go Green Travel Green!

    Kimberly
    27 Jan 2010 | 11:20 am
    Two years ago tomorrow, we launched Go Green Travel Green with the goal of making environmentally friendly travel accessible to everyone. Since then, we’ve been featured on Newsweek, Forbes, Los Angeles Times, MSN Money, National Geographic, PC World, Kayak, and Lifehack. We were even named one of the [London] Times Online’s Top 100 Travel Sites for 2009. We couldn’t have done it without our fans. Thanks for your support! As we celebrate our two year anniversary, we look back on the past and forward to the future. With that in mind, tomorrow we’ll post the Best of Go Green…

  • Fairmont Copley Plaza: Boston, MA Hotel Review

    Kimberly
    20 Jan 2010 | 10:45 am
    On our recent trip to Boston, Elizabeth and I were able to get an excellent rate at a gorgeous historic hotel, the Fairmont Copley Plaza. I don’t stay in hotels often, but when I do, I pay close attention to what hotels are doing to go green. Overall, I loved staying at the Copley Plaza. Here’s why, from an eco-friendly point of view. Recycling bins in rooms The only other hotels where I’ve seen abundant recycling options are Kimptons, so I was glad to see that the hotel recycling bin is catching on. The Copley Plaza’s recycling bin was right next to the trash can.

  • Eating Our Way Through the Best Restaurants in Boston

    Kimberly
    13 Jan 2010 | 12:09 pm
    Boston is an excellent destination for the green traveler, as we discovered on our recent trip. There’s fantastic public transportation provided by the T, Boston’s subway system; there’s a rich history; there’s cultural diversity. But above all, there’s food: from Italian to Indian and ice cream to brunch, Boston provides an abundance of delicious local dining options. Here’s our food journey through the best restaurants in Boston, Massachusetts. Radius We started out our Boston eating extravaganza with a celebratory dinner at Radius, one of Boston’s…
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    Life Goggles

  • Enshrine Your Pet’s Ashes In A Recycled Glass Sculpture

    Adam
    8 Feb 2010 | 1:00 am
    It never ceases to amaze me the different environmentally friendly things that cross the Life Goggles desk and this is one of them – enshrining your pet’s remains in beautiful glass sculptures. If you check out the Pet Cremains in Glass website you’ll certainly see they are beautiful – like the 12-inch Eternal Bloom Flower pictured. Not all of them are environmentally friendly however, you need to click on the link (here) to see them, and it would be nice for them to expand that. But it’s a good idea to have a art piece to remind you of your beloved pet and to…

  • Smart Strips Save Something

    Joel
    5 Feb 2010 | 1:00 am
    Well the “something” is energy and therefore money but neither began with an ’s’. Energy Circle recently took a look at comparing Wii, Xbox 360 and PS3 energy use, with some surprising results, and broader context on immediate and long term cost. They look at using smart strips which are power strips with a “control” device, i.e. when that turns on or off, the other devices on the power strip turn on/off as well. Useful if you keep your DVD player or console plugged in all the time. All information is © Life Goggles 2010Smart Strips Save Something

  • Water by Steven Solomon Book Review

    Joel
    3 Feb 2010 | 1:00 am
    Water: The Epic Struggle for Wealth, Power, and Civilization by Steven Solomon is a weighty tome at 500 pages plus photographs and notes but covers a heck of a lot. Not having time to read it all I dipped in and out of it’s chapters and found it fascinating. With freshwater use growing twice as fast as population growth, water is rapidly going to replace oil as the world’s most valuable resource (if it hasn’t already) and there is going to be bigger battles between those who have access to it and those who do not. Water famine could outstrip famine and religion as the cause…

  • How To Make Haiti’s Water Safe

    Joel
    1 Feb 2010 | 1:00 am
    With the terrible events in Haiti fresh in most people’s minds it is good to know that some technology already exists that can at least help to ease one of the problems – lack of clean drinking water. Actress Ashley Judd, board member of Population Services International, shares a very interesting video about the dangers of unsafe drinking water on CNN. I would have liked to see the whole process start to finish, but as it takes 30 minutes it’s a little unrealistic. All information is © Life Goggles 2010How To Make Haiti’s Water Safe

  • The Observer Ethical Awards

    Joel
    29 Jan 2010 | 1:00 am
    Now in their fifth year, The Observer Ethical Awards reward those that have an innovative way at looking at and tackling ethical issues be that in a business sense or a community project. Sponsored by Ecover, ff you have an ethical initiative, project or product you can enter. In previous years the awards have attracted a diverse selection of winners from politicians such as Ken Livingstone and Caroline Lucas to community projects such as Lomeshaye Marsh Local Nature Reserve Stockbridge Junior Rangers, winners of the Ethical Kids award and bursary. You can also nominate entries that you think…
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    Mommy Brain Reports

  • Giveaway- Do you follow the 5 second rule?

    Monica
    5 Feb 2010 | 10:46 am
    So, Clorox gave me the awesome opportunity to attend a live screencast with Samantha Bee, star of The Daily Show, and let me tell you.. it was so much fun! I have to be honest… I usually am okay with the 5– well I consider it 3 second rule… as long as I have just [...] [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

  • Review- Kuru Footwear

    Monica
    2 Feb 2010 | 8:01 pm
    The following review is a guest post by Ryan Brady… my hubby. He has technical blog at RyanBrady.org, and will soon have a personal blog up as well. You can tweet him at @rjbrady. Recently I was given the opportunity to test out a pair of shoes from Kurufootwear.com. I browsed the website for a [...] [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

  • Review & Giveaway- Suave Wash Them Grow

    Monica
    1 Feb 2010 | 7:44 am
    Focusing to make bath time quality time not only fosters a positive relationship between child and parent, but could also help prevent accidents or injuries. More than 43,000 kids and teens are hurt in bathtubs or showers each year, and children under age four accounted for more than half of those incidents1. Suave Kids® has launched [...] [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

  • Review- Griffin Air Curve

    Monica
    1 Feb 2010 | 6:00 am
    The following review is a guest post by George G Smith Jr. He writes at No Sense Of Time, and can also be found on Twitter @GeorgeGSmithJr. Hi – my name is George G Smith Jr. and I write for NoSenseofTime.org.  I’m not much of a product reviewer.  If I like something, I scream to the [...] [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

  • Giveaway: It’s Game Time! Are you ready???

    Monica
    29 Jan 2010 | 10:08 am
    Random Integer Generator Here are your random numbers: 5 Timestamp: 2010-02-06 22:18:46 UTC Are you ready for the Big Game??? It’s coming up! Are you excited? Who are you rooting for to win??? Me? I’m not sure… I just know that this is a great excuse to PAR-TAY!!!! I have always loved the Super Bowl, and throwing a party for the [...] [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]
 
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    Green (Living) Review

  • Pak choi on the RHS trials menu

    Veshengro
    8 Feb 2010 | 12:00 pm
    For the first time in its history the RHS is trialling pak choi thanks to its rise in popularity with TV chefs prompting more and more gardeners to grow it themselves. The new trial features 27 different cultivars of Brassica rapa Chinensis Group including ‘Natsu Taiko’, ‘Lunar Queen ‘, ‘Colour and Crunch’ and ‘Summer Breeze’. According to Thompson & Morgan there has been a sustained increase in sales of pak choi, due to the introduction of new F1 hybrids. It can be eaten raw in salads; stir fried; steamed or pickled. The flowering stems of some cultivars, cut just before…

  • J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines Announces California Sustainable Winegrowing Certification

    Veshengro
    8 Feb 2010 | 11:56 am
    Pilot program benchmarks J. Lohr's success as one of the first 17 California vineyards and wineries to earn third-party certification through the California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines has earned the Certified California Sustainable Winegrowing (CCSW) distinction from the California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance (CSWA) for its estate vineyards in the appellations of Paso Robles and Arroyo Seco, Monterey County, as well as for its two wineries located in Paso Robles and San Jose. This certification is the end result of J. Lohr’s participation in a…

  • Equator Estate Coffees & Teas – 1st food company to launch storefront on Facebook iFanStore provides contextual e/commerce inside social networks

    Veshengro
    8 Feb 2010 | 11:49 am
    Equator Coffees & Teas launched an innovative storefront on Facebook, which allows fans to shop for their artisan coffees without leaving the Facebook site (www.facebook.com/EquatorCoffees). “Social media is rapidly becoming a critically important vehicle for talking with our customers. Now, with our new iFanStore, we’ve opened up an entirely new sales channel for our seasonal, specialty blends,” said Helen Russell, CEO and Co-Founder of Equator (http://www.EquatorCoffees.com). The iFanStore technology is provided by San Francisco-based startup Milyoni (pronounced “Million…

  • Sees, Inc. Launches Green Energy Talk Directory

    Veshengro
    7 Feb 2010 | 9:39 am
    SEES, Inc., a Green Marketing company, has announced the launch of its new Directory for green products and service providers worldwide. The Directory system is a Free service to consumers and businesses to find contractors, products and services for renewable energy – solar and wind, and water conservation. The Green Energy Talk Directory structure allows for easy navigation to all 50 U.S. states, and for every city listing there is a 25-mile radius of service providers, making it easy to find services within small communities. Currently, the directory maintains over 100 000 companies…

  • BRITISH-BRED PATIO EDIBLES

    Veshengro
    7 Feb 2010 | 4:28 am
    THE 'NO GARDEN' VEGETABLES Even those with very small gardens or no garden at all can enjoy the satisfaction of growing and eating their own delicious vegetables, herbs and fruit thanks to the new Patio Edibles range of seeds launched in the Fruit and Vegetable Catalogue 2010 from leading mail order and kitchen garden supply company D. T. Brown. All nine varieties are British-bred and were developed with gardeners in mind, allowing them to produce worthwhile crops in the smallest spaces such as hanging baskets, window boxes and patio pots. An added advantage is that all the varieties look…
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    TerraCurve.com - Go beyond green.

  • Who are this year’s Tourism for Tomorrow Award finalists?

    Kristen Geis
    9 Feb 2010 | 7:44 am
    The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) has officially announced its 12 finalists for the 2010 Tourism for Tomorrow Awards – one of the most prestigious awards in the sustainable travel industry. The winners will be announced on May 26, 2010. Since 2003, the Tourism for Tomorrow Awards have worked to highlight and recognize best practice in sustainable tourism in four different categories – Destination Stewardship, Conservation, Community Benefit and Global Tourism Business. For this year, over 160 entries were received from over 45 countries. Selected by an international team…

  • How can New Yorkers experience the local great outdoors?

    Joe Ascanio
    9 Feb 2010 | 7:27 am
    PlanetExplore, an online resource for outdoor recreational activities, is now available in the New York region. Created by popular adventure apparel company The North Face, the site is an online community of national and regional organizations, helping people of all ages find local outdoor recreational activities and events. Its goal: to inspire and enable people of all ages to become regularly active outside, and to develop the benefits gained through a connection to nature. The site has partnered with more than 100 non-profit organizations across the country, offering many opportunities to…

  • How green are the 2010 Winter Olympics?

    Joe Ascanio
    8 Feb 2010 | 8:47 am
    The 2010 Winter Olympic Games begin on February 12th in Vancouver; officially kicking off 17 days of nearly 5,550 athletes from over 80 countries competing before the eyes of the entire world. With such a grand, global audience – an estimated 3 billion television viewers worldwide – the games are an excellent venue to highlight eco-responsibility at every corner. Leading brands go green First up: corporate sponsorship. Obviously with such a huge audience, advertising opportunities are running rampant. This year, a new corporate sustainability program has been introduced, called…

  • Boston’s Lenox Hotel named one of the ‘Top 500 Hotels InThe World’

    Joe Ascanio
    6 Feb 2010 | 7:53 pm
    For eight years now, Travel + Leisure has been listing the top 500 “World’s Best Hotels” as according to its most discerning set of criteria. Making the list for the first time this year (and recently added to TerraCurve’s hotel profiles) is The Lenox Hotel in Boston, Massachusetts. The hotel, which  is one of only eight luxury hotels in Massachusetts to be included in the elite compilation, as well as the greenest. Travel + Leisure profiled the 110-year-old Lenox Hotel as being a “historic Back Bay hotel lauded for its numerous environmental initiatives (carbon…

  • More help for Haiti gets pushed within travel biz

    Joe Ascanio
    5 Feb 2010 | 12:02 pm
    A few weeks ago, I wrote a brief piece on the outpouring of support, both financially and logistically, that the Haitian community has received from the travel and tourism industry in the wake of the terrible earthquake that has left the region literally in pieces. Furthering that effort, water preservation and distribution charity Just a Drop led a widespread appeal to the travel industry – Just Help Haiti – to help rebuild the impoverished country’s water supply and sanitation infrastructure. Answering this call to action is World Travel Market (WTM), an exhibition group…
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    Solar Feeds

  • Thin Film Investment Souring

    9 Feb 2010 | 8:10 am
    VC investment in solar power is still going strong, despite a dismal 2009 and an only slightly more heartening first quarter of 2010. But the sub-sector of thin-film solar is a different story.  In 2007 and 2008, almost every energy and greentech investor invested in a thin-film firm.  In fact, they did so in a big way -- with $100 million plus funding rounds going to Nanosolar, HelioVolt, AVA Solar, MiaSole, Sulfurcell, SoloPower,... go to solarfeeds for the rest of this story>>>>>

  • Suntech Plans To Triple Sales In U.S This Year (STP)

    9 Feb 2010 | 8:08 am
    Suntech Power Holdings  just announced that it is trying to triple its US sales this year, from 15 percent of the US market to 20 percent. The company also expects to expand its network of dealers in the US.Although some industry analysts are concerned that subsidy cuts in Germany could cut demand for solar panels, Suntech is optimistic htat lower polysilicon prices and increased demand from the US will balance it out. In an interview... go to solarfeeds for the rest of this story>>>>>

  • Geotectura’s Gasoline Station Offering Solar Powered EV Charging

    9 Feb 2010 | 7:44 am
    With the rise in the number of electric and plug-in hybrid cars on the streets, it will be important for gasoline stations to adopt the new trend and equip their stations with EV charging stations. However, since most of the electricity generated in different parts of the world still comes from coal-fired power plants, greening the world will take much more than green cars. In an effort to design a gasoline station that is both green and trendy... go to solarfeeds for the rest of this story>>>>>

  • Michigan Researchers Develop World’s Smallest Solar Sensor System

    9 Feb 2010 | 7:41 am
    Researchers at the University of Michigan have developed the world’s smallest self-powered sensor that can operate nearly perpetually running solely on solar energy. The system’s solar cells, processor and battery are all located in a tiny frame measuring just 9-cubic-millimeter. The system can be used in new biomedical implants and various home-, building- and bridge-monitoring devices and could improve the efficiency and cost of current... go to solarfeeds for the rest of this story>>>>>

  • GroSolar and Locus Energy Take PV System Monitoring to Next Level

    9 Feb 2010 | 7:02 am
    Vermont-based groSolar and New York-based Locus Energy may have a match made in heaven. The two firms recently joined forces to bring PV system monitoring to the next level. According to an article in Distributed Energy titled “Energy Monitoring Goes Open- Source,” smart grids, smart meters and energy monitoring are powerful buzz categories these days in renewable energy. “Now, groSolar and Locus Energy, LLC are taking solar photovoltaic (PV)... go to solarfeeds for the rest of this story>>>>>
 
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    Green Your Decor

  • Get in the Mood to Create: Daisy Janie Organic Fabrics

    jennae
    5 Feb 2010 | 8:00 am
    I have realized something in my for interior decor perfection: There is no such thing. I am not exaggerating when I say I have been searching for the perfect pillows for our sofa for months. I have an idea of what I want them to look like, but I’ve been unable to find pillows that fit my vision AND are green. So I started thinking I may just have to make them myself. That line of thinking led me to revisit the drop-dead gorgeous organic fabrics from Daisy Janie, designed by Jan DiCintio. I found Daisy Janie a long, long time ago, and for some reason neglected to share them with you.

  • A New Look is Coming

    jennae
    4 Feb 2010 | 11:43 pm
    If you’re a regular reader of Green Your Decor, you know by now that I’m a graphic designer by trade. And if you’re a new reader, you know now While I’m generally too busy to do any design work for myself, sometimes I get the itch to make things look different. Thus, as much as I love the compliments I get from everyone about the design of GYD, it’s time for something new. Over the coming weekend (otherwise known as my “off” days), I’ll be updating GYD to the latest version of Thesis (the best WordPress theme ever made) and installing the new…

  • Ode to Mode, the Recycling Center I Never Knew I Needed

    jennae
    3 Feb 2010 | 11:34 am
    As much as I love to recycle, I have always hated looking at our cheap — and recently cracked — plastic recycling bin, particularly when filled with empty bottles and cans. And so, the bin remained hidden behind the dining table, an inconvenient place once we considered the fact that most of our recycling comes from the kitchen and home office. The bright green recycling bags I received from Kangaroom last year helped a little and were great for paper, but they weren’t the prettiest to look at. They stayed hidden with the other bin, an annoying distance from the kitchen. A few weeks…

  • Green Room in a Box: Mid-Mod Bedroom (sponsored by Amenity)

    jennae
    28 Jan 2010 | 5:00 am
    Mid-Mod Bedroom: It’s been a long while since I’ve done a Green Room in a Box, but there’s no time like the present to get started again, right? Today’s room is sponsored by one of my all-time favorite companies for eco-friendly home decor, Amenity. The design is a heavy mix of old and new that meets somewhere in the middle for an eclectic, but sophisticated look. ABOUT THE SPONSOR Amenity Home offers a wide array of eco-friendly products for thoughtful modern living. They are dedicated to the never-ending process of maintaining harmony with the environment. For…

  • They’ve Done It Again: New Organic West Elm Bedding & Bath Linens

    jennae
    26 Jan 2010 | 8:28 am
    It’s about time things started getting back to “normal” around here, whatever that is, so without further adieu, here’s a post a wrote weeks ago that’s just been itching for me to hit publish. I’m not a one retailer kind of gal. I promise I’m not. I like to shop around at a variety of stores — both online and in the real world — to find the best of the best, and the greenest of the green. But when West Elm keeps making beautiful, eco-friendly products, I can’t help but return again and again. Seriously, if anyone feels like getting me a…
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    Chris Gammell's Analog Life

  • I Have A Million Dollar Idea For Free Energy!

    Chris Gammell
    31 Jan 2010 | 7:46 pm
    Ha, my title sounds like the beginning of a spam email. I’m actually even willing to have at least one FeedBlitz email that gets sent out to be caught in a spam filter, just to prove my point. Either way, the title of this post looks ridiculous. And yet it is pervasive in headlines on the internet and in newsprint. Why? Because people are hungry for new ideas, new ways to try and make money and free energy (I guess those could all be classified under the money category). The reason these headlines are everywhere is because they work. They grab peoples’ attention, including my own.

  • A Short Retrospective

    Chris Gammell
    12 Jan 2010 | 7:35 pm
    Looking back through the past year I naturally gravitated towards the idea book and calendar I used to keep. While I did find some dormant post ideas I might resurrect for this site, I thought this short idea (gripe really) was much more entertaining; plus I’m not too sure when I would ever post this other than now. A list of words/phrases that don’t necessarily have anything to do with electronics but ones I can’t stand nevertheless. Here we go: Infotainment Blogosphere (I know I’m about 10 years late on that one but it still irks me) [Anything]-palooza…

  • Merry Christmas!

    Chris Gammell
    24 Dec 2009 | 9:14 pm
    To all friends, family, readers and random passers-by: Thank you for coming to my site and I hope you have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! This tree was decorated with the help of a few scrapped boards from the late 80s and early 90s. The red components are relays and there are a few electrolytic capacitors scattered throughout. The LEDs were scavenged from a display board and set to pulse with a Source Meter that was sweeping current from 0 to 10 mA. High precision resistors could also be found on the tree, although it may be tough to tell they were actually high precision. The star…

  • Back to School?

    Chris Gammell
    8 Dec 2009 | 8:08 pm
    Much like I’m not going to say that I’ve been too busy to post anything for the past 2-3 months, I’m not going to say that I’m definitely going back to school to get an advanced degree. However, I’ve considered saying both. Really, I’ve considered going back to school as soon as I started my first job and was dissatisfied. I mean, who hasn’t? Aside from the fact that I was previously on a co-op cycle of (work, school, work, school, and so on), I really felt nostalgic for school; I found myself saying things like: “It’s so much less work…

  • How to Work a Job Fair as an Engineer

    Chris Gammell
    30 Sep 2009 | 8:54 pm
    Clarification: When I write “work a job fair”, I mean how to get the most out of it as a student or job seeker. This could be confused with the fact that I sometimes recruit at job fairs, but I thought this should be brought up at the beginning after I re-read the article. In talking to a fellow engineer about to attend a career fair, I realized I had some advice for him, having gone so many times in the past. I’ve even been back a few times to recruit for my current company and being on the other side of the handshake is an interesting insight into the do’s and…
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    Resilience Science

  • Worldchanging on Green Urbanism

    Garry Peterson
    9 Feb 2010 | 3:46 am
    Worldchanging has been posting a lot of thoughts on how green urbanism can build resilience.  Four recent posts that I thought were interesting are: 1) Alex Steffen on De-Industrializing the City One of my favorite quotes by Bjarke Ingels: “Engineering without engines. We should use contemporary technology and computation capacity to make our buildings independent of machinery. Building [...] Related posts:Why green building has spread Building Transformation: CO2 emissions and change Well-Being vs. Wealth (2) – Natural Capital

  • China from the air and China from the ground

    Garry Peterson
    5 Feb 2010 | 12:34 am
    In Time magazine, China historian Jeffrey Wasserstrom discusses new writing about China in Big China Books: Enough of the Big Picture.  He praises Peter Hessler’s new book Country Driving, as an example of grounded scholarly reporting.  Hessler’s previous book,  Oracle Bones, was one of my favourite books of the past few years, so I am [...] Related posts:Absolute poverty in China: Higher, but going down faster than previously estimated Short links: Greening China, Fish Pirates, Resilient Communities Lu Guang’s China

  • Reflecting the Niger Delta: Tolu Ogunlesi on Tings Dey Happen

    Garry Peterson
    4 Feb 2010 | 12:45 am
    On 3 Quarks Daily Tolu Ogunlesi writes about American Dan Hoyle’s Tings Dey Happen.  Dan Hoyle was inspired to write a one man play about Nigeria and the oil industry after being a Fulbright scholar in at the University of Port Harcourt, in Nigeria’s oil and conflict rich Niger delta: TINGS DEY HAPPEN is in Pidgin [...] Related posts:Oil Pirates of Nigeria Dams limit wetland restoration in Mississippi Delta Global English and Linguistic Diversity

  • Journal rankings of environmental studies and science

    Garry Peterson
    3 Feb 2010 | 1:17 am
    The impact of journals over the short and the long term is often quite different.  ScienceWatch.com presents journal impact factors based on the longer term impact of journals in environmental science and environmental studies. Below are rankings in environmental science for between 1998 and 2007, which only include journals cited over 10,000 times between 1998-2007. Rank Journal Papers Citations Citations/ Paper 1 Annual [...] Related posts:Resilience networks in global environmental change science Seven Ways to Improve Environmental Education New Environmental Faculty Positions at McGill…

  • Ecopyschology

    Garry Peterson
    2 Feb 2010 | 1:13 pm
    A New York Times Magazine article Is There an Ecological Unconscious? discusses ecopyschology: In Albrecht’s view, the residents of the Upper Hunter were suffering not just from the strain of living in difficult conditions but also from something more fundamental: a hitherto unrecognized psychological condition. In a 2004 essay, he coined a term to describe it: [...] Related posts:Scientific Grey Areas Psychological Distance Stimulates Creativity Campus Sustainability Resources
 
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    Green Building : Jetson Green

  • Efficient Simple Modern Home for $150k

    Preston Koerner
    8 Feb 2010 | 9:24 pm
    Since we last mentioned his efficient home built for under $70,000, Caleb Schafer's been quite busy.  He has a new website for Simple Modern Homes with a number of new home designs.  He's also doing new work with new clients, and one home in particular looks interesting.  Referred to as CL24, the design is for a 2,000 square-foot green home in Canyon Lake, Texas.  What's most interesting, perhaps, is the fact that CL24 will come in below $150,000, including land, utilities, and septic.  It's Texas -- where land isn't necessarily scarce or expensive -- but we definitely like this…

  • If It Doesn’t Perform, It’s Not Green!

    Preston Koerner
    8 Feb 2010 | 2:06 pm
    In a forthcoming keynote address to the Green Cities conference of the Green Building Council of Australia, green building guru Jerry Yudelson intends to tackle a important concern in the sustainable building world: performance.  His keynote, entitled “If it doesn’t perform, it’s not green,” is at the center of a hot button topic that seems to be taking on new fervor these days.  Yudelson, principal of green building consultancy Yudelson Associates, said in a press release, "The major focus of the green building movement has become the performance of green-rated and green-labeled…

  • Waste Not with a Combo Sink Toilet

    Preston Koerner
    8 Feb 2010 | 9:16 am
    You’ve probably already seen this toilet and sink combination before.  It’s the W+W – short for washbasin and watercloset – from Roca.  The product, currently available overseas, reuses waste water from the sink in the discharge of the cistern, which helps it reduce water usage by up to 25% compared to a standard 6/3 liter dual-flush toilet. According to Plumbing Park, the system has two waste options. Once the basin is full of water, the user can either flush it down the main line or recycle it for use in the toilet. When the water is reused, it goes through a double filtration…

  • Fly Ash Concerns, Greener Ways, Living Incentives, + 10 Million Solar Roofs

    Preston Koerner
    6 Feb 2010 | 10:54 pm
    Perspectives on sustainability. About the new 10 million solar roofs bill. NY panel suggests 100 ways buildings can be greener. EPA and DOE form State Energy Efficiency Action Network. Economy forces a holistic view of corporate responsibility. Seattle bends the rules for up to 12 living buildings. Los Angeles might require rainwater capture. Fly ash designation could be problematic. Also, follow @jetsongreen on Twitter or fan Jetson Green on Facebook for more news, links, and commentary.

  • First LEED Platinum Home in Indiana

    Preston Koerner
    5 Feb 2010 | 9:55 am
    A little over a month ago, this home received the first LEED Platinum certification for a home in the state of Indiana.  Located in Franklin, the 2,000 square-foot contemporary residence has three bedrooms and two bathrooms for a family of three and a dog.  Castalia Homes built the home, which has a number of green features.  Perhaps most importantly, the home is very energy efficient.  It was built with a tight envelope that tested at 3% air leakage.  This has been accomplished, at least in part, with foam insulation and carefully placed double-pane argon filled windows. The homeowners,…
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    greenbuildingsnyc.com

  • Sign of the Times (Square): InterContinental New York Times Square Gunning for LEED, Greenest Hotel in NYC Honors

    David
    8 Feb 2010 | 3:17 pm
    There are presumably people out there who don't enjoy a good hotel room, but I don't know any of them. Not to get too "Up In The Air" on you here, but there's something about those fluffy pillows and big goofy comforters and imposingly glossy dark wood desks they don't even really expect you to use. Something kind of cool and different, yes, but also something that causes even the most virtuous carbon-footprint-watchers among us to forget ourselves and all of a sudden become the sort of people who think, "well, I might as well leave the air conditioning on blast, so that it'll…

  • Sweaty and Sustainable: Bushwick's Green Fitness Studio Invites You Into the Infrared Sauna

    David
    5 Feb 2010 | 1:59 pm
    Considering that Stephen does not get all of his exercise through blogging and Metrocard-swiping, maybe he should be writing this post. But he also has a job -- and a long overdue post on attending ASHRAE in Orlando; come on, dude -- and so I guess I'll drag my wheezing, emaciated form into the breach and cover the interesting case of Bushwick's Green Fitness Studio. While it's not pursuing any sort of third-part certification, and thus can't objectively be placed in some sort of continuum of greener-to-less-green gyms, the green specs on the Green Fitness Studio's website certainly…

  • Show of Force: Urban Green Council/ New York Green Codes Task Force Delivers Report

    David
    4 Feb 2010 | 3:32 pm
    It was different in Martin Luther's day. Back in the 16th century, a monk could nail 95 theses to a church door and count on every one of them being read and discussed. Well, at least on them being read and discussed by the small percentage of people who could actually read in the 16th century. In the 21st century, when a 200-member blue-ribbon task force convened by the Mayor of New York City issues a 111-point report on greening the city's building codes, it doesn't even show up on gbNYC until a few days later. Which I guess is more my fault than the fault of the hyperspeed effects of…

  • Number Six Sludge: Now Available in Manhattan's Greenest Neighborhood, Somehow?

    David
    1 Feb 2010 | 2:17 pm
    Well, this is kind of surprising. Last week's post on the continued use -- and impending legislation to curtail said use -- of mega-nasty heating sludge Number Six heating oil pinpointed upper Manhattan and the South Bronx as the neighborhoods in which ol' Number Six was most commonly used. And while that's still true, the Downtown Express reports that six buildings in Battery Park City, Manhattan's most ostentatiously green residential neighborhood, are using Number Four or Number Six oil to heat their buildings. This isn't in violation of BPC's vaunted green building code (and isn't…

  • Trenton Keeps On Making It: LEED-Hopeful Sterling Building Could Become Garden State Capital's First LEED Building

    David
    29 Jan 2010 | 2:06 pm
    Two trends with which gbNYC is fully on-board, in no particular order: green building and urban core revitalization in New Jersey, and real estate developers getting their proletarian blog on in support of those projects. The good folks behind the renovation of Trenton's Sterling Building -- that would be Urban Word LLC, Trenton Makes LLC and WSP Associates LLC -- aren't attempting anything remotely as ambitious as Jay Amato's Zero-Energy Building at Red Hook Green, and the Sterling Building's program-specific blog isn't quite as spirited as Red Hook Green's, either. But…
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    GroovyGreen.com - Start Today :: Save Tomorrow

  • Portland High-Rise To Get 250ft Vertical Garden

    Michael d'Estries
    18 Jan 2010 | 3:19 pm
    We’ve seen vertical gardens on the side of buildings before — but never one this, um, HUGE. Architects and federal officials are planning a series of 250-foot-tall trellises designed to shade the west side of the remodeled Edith Green-Wendell Wyatt Federal Building. The added greenery is just part of a $135 million project that will also feature elevators that generate electricity on the way down, solar arrays on the roof, smart lighting systems that adjust to the daylight available, among other advances. From the article, Eggleston’s firm, SERA Architects, is working on…

  • If Darth Vader Built A Treehouse, It Would Looks Something Like This

    Michael d'Estries
    18 Jan 2010 | 6:47 am
    A lot of people are comparing this beautiful treehouse in Portland, Oregon to a hobbit dwelling. Personally, add a little black paint and it looks like something Darth Vader would retreat to when things get a little to hectic on the Death Star. It also looks like it would double as a swanky TIE fighter. From the architect, Located on a flag lot, a steep sloping grade provided the opportunity to bring the main level of the house into the tree canopy to evoke the feeling of being in a tree house. A lover of music, the client wanted a house that not only became part of the natural landscape but…

  • Up is down. Black is white. Night is day. GM’s Lutz advocates for increased gas tax.

    Steve Balogh
    13 Jan 2010 | 9:30 am
    From CNNMoney.com: Lutz was asked if that means he would favor higher gasoline taxes, as in Europe where taxes drive fuel to more than $5 a gallon. He said he couldn’t speak for GM, but he said he saw a lot of value in a steady tax rise to much higher levels. “You either continue with inexpensive motor fuels and have to find other ways to incent the customer to buy hybrids and electric vehicles, such as the government credits,” he said. “Or the other alternative is a gradual increase in the federal fuel tax of 25 cents a year, which in my estimation would have the…

  • Biosphere 2, Meet the Second Law of Thermodynamics

    Steve Balogh
    12 Jan 2010 | 9:31 pm
    My graduate school advisor, Charles Hall, is a very intelligent man, though he frequently defers to his doctoral advisor’s talent and knowledge.  Howard Odum explained the first and second laws of thermodynamics concisely and in a manner easy to understand: The quantity of energy within a system is maintained (first law).  However, the quality of that energy degrades over time (second law). Entropy is defined as a function of thermodynamic variables, as temperature, pressure, or composition, that is a measure of the energy that is not available for work during a thermodynamic process.

  • Renewable Energy Company Creating The Biggest Green Party You’ve Ever Seen

    Michael d'Estries
    4 Jan 2010 | 10:57 am
    We love raucous festivals like Burning Man and music jamborees like Bonaroo, but we’ve never heard of one that combines the spirit of these events with the mission to actually accomplish something. Like building a build a micro wind turbine farm. Such is the idea behind “Villages in the Sky: DIY World Change” — a a family-friendly renewable energy and sustainability celebration located in the Ozarks and scheduled for June 2010. Unlike gatherings that strive to leave things the way they were before anyone arrived, Villages in the Sky is looking to take advantage of…
 
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    Green News and Expert Opinions

  • The Reckoning

    Wherever Blair goes, our campaign ensures that he can never be free from the fear of arrest... What else can you do? When the entire administration is engaged in a criminal act, when there is no clear separation of powers between the government and the judiciary, when those appointed to hold the government to account are as scary as a litter of kittens, where do you turn? Do you appeal to the Attorney-General’s office to prosecute itself? The forensic failure of the Chilcot Inquiry illustrates what we learnt from the banking scandals: self-regulation doesn’t work. The independence…

  • The White Goat Transforms Office Paper into Toilet Paper

    Unplggd reports on a machine that can transform waste office paper into rolls of toilet paper. It’s called the “White Goat”, manufactured by the Nakabayashi company of Japan. With the addition of a little water, the White Goat will shred up waste paper products and spit out a functional roll of toilet paper. While the end product may be a little rough around the edges, and the machine is a little unwieldy for the average user – the idea behind this machine is admirable. Watch a video demo below: This article was originally posted on the PSFK website. Read more ...

  • Iceland Scores at the Top of the 2010 Environmental Performance Index

    Environmental researchers at Yale and Columbia Universities released the 2010 Environmental Performance Index (EPI) at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos, Switzerland last month. Iceland came in first, while the U.S. trailed behind at a distant 61st, dropping from 39th in 2008.  This was the third edition of the EPI that ranks 163 nations based on a variety of environmental performance indicators.  Categories include: environmental health, air quality, water resource management, biodiversity and habitat, forestry, fisheries, agriculture, and climate change. …

  • Why Militarizing Aid in Afghanistan is a Bad Idea

    Along with several other international NGOs working in Afghanistan, Oxfam last week published a powerful paper on the damage being caused by the militarization of aid. In many ways it resembles the debate on how to ensure that Haitian reconstruction builds, rather than undermines, its battered state. In the last half hour, one Afghan woman died from pregnancy-related complications, another of tuberculosis and 14 children perished, largely from preventable causes. Eight years after the fall of the Taliban, the humanitarian and development needs in Afghanistan remain acute. Undoubtedly, Afghans…

  • Wicked Cool World of Organics - Edition 47

    This week's dose of organic headlines, updates, resources, goodies, and recipes courtesy of DSnodgrass...   The U.S. Department of Agriculture has released the 2008 Organic Production Survey. Since this is the initial undertaking of its type at the federal level, there's no solid data for comparison from prior years. Still, the survey has tremendous significance because it establishes a reliable baseline for surveys moving forward. USDA takes accounting of organic farms   The survery said there are 14,540 farms that were USDA certified organic or exempt from certification…
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    Ecobunga!

  • 2010 Mantis Awards for Community & Youth Gardens

    8 Feb 2010 | 11:28 pm
    KidsGardening.org is accepting applications for the annual Mantis Gardening Tools Awards for charitable and educational garden projects that enhance the quality of life in their host communities. Any nonprofit garden program may apply. 25 programs will each receive a Mantis Tiller/Cultivator with border/edger and kickstand, and their choice of gas-powered 2-cycle engine or electric motor. Value: $349.00.

  • Local Green Coupon Books (for 6 different cities)

    8 Feb 2010 | 11:22 pm
    EcoMetro books include coupons, maps, and resources for living green. There are EcoMetro guides for the East Bay, Silicon Valley, Denver, Portland, Seattle, and Twin Cities.

  • Local Savings for Sustainable Living (San Francisco)

    8 Feb 2010 | 9:24 am
    A coupon book, directory, and educational resource, the 2010 Green Zebra guides list green savings around San Francisco.

  • Save our Slopes Sweepstakes

    8 Feb 2010 | 5:20 am
    Each week, The Discovery Channel's Planet Green is giving away a prize as part of their "Save Our Slopes" game & sweepstakes. The six weekly prizes include 1) a reusable shopping bag filled with portable recycled paper speakers; 2) an Eco-Maniac T-Shirt; 3) a Notebook; 4) a Solio solar charger; 5) a Planet Green Sweatshirt and 6) a Solar Panel Backpack (the grand prize.) You can enter once a day.

  • Borden Organic Milk Coupon

    8 Feb 2010 | 4:58 am
    Print out a $1 off coupon good on 1 gallon or two 1/2 gallons of Borden Organic Milk. From the retailers list on the company website, it looks like the brand is sold mainly in TX and LA.
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    the New American Village

  • The Old Folks at Home

    1 Feb 2010 | 1:02 pm
    This week's newspaper column: With all our assorted human differences, there’s one thing we all have in common:Nobody is getting any younger. Barring some unfortunate fatal illness (or a much-too-casual relationship with heavy machinery), we will all at some point negotiate the world as senior citizens. A few generations ago, the elderly among us depended almost solely upon the good graces of extended family for support and care, often living in the home of a child or some not-too-distant relative.Absent those accommodations, senior citizens might have found themselves – if they were…

  • The Legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr.

    18 Jan 2010 | 9:55 am
    Photo: I Have a Dream Speech - Hulton Archive/Getty Images Today's newspaper column. Read it in the Hattiesburg American. Martin Luther King, Jr. had a dream.Not a complaint - a living dream. The powerful and compelling vision he articulated was that someday, in America, people would not be “judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.” We’ve come a long way since that late August in 1963 when Martin Luther King, Jr. uttered those very words from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial.To the country and the world, the ideals those words embodied were a beacon of…

  • I Have A Dream...

    15 Jan 2010 | 7:00 am
    Inspirational words of wisdom by Martin Luther King, Jr. - born 81 years ago today:I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.Peace is not merely a distant goal that we seek, but a means by which we arrive at that goal.At the center of non-violence stands the principle of love.Human salvation lies in the hands of the creatively maladjusted.Nothing in all the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity.An individual has not started living…

  • The Uh-Oh Decade

    4 Jan 2010 | 8:07 am
    This week's newspaper column - read it in the Hattiesburg AmericanOut with the old; in with the new!After stumbling through a decade that started with a millennial bang and ended with a whimper, the calendrical odometer benevolently flips over to give us – at least metaphorically – a new start. It may be telling that we never really knew what to call this unsettling era.Naming every decade in living memory has been obvious with references to the 50’s, the 60’s, and even the more recent 90’s rolling off the tongue with poetic ease.Give us a little more time, and the past ten years…

  • Green Holiday Card - 2009

    26 Dec 2009 | 11:22 am
    For several years now, I've been crafting three-dimensional "Peace Love Joy" cards for the holiday season. Assembled and hand-delivered, these little yearly pearls always seem to promote a warm feeling of, well - peace, love, and joy.As a personal note, I love designing, fabricating, and assembling each year's card because it's a genuine outlet of pure creative expression without the parameters of a client's wish list, limitations of the contractor, budget, or the chance of a phone call with someone screaming on the other end about a roof leak. (The latter of which has, knock on cedar shake…
 
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    The Green Parent

  • Super Bowl Snacks That Score

    Jenn Savedge
    31 Jan 2010 | 4:12 am
    Super Bowl is just around the corner, and as excitement builds for the Saints to take on the Colts, many people find themselves focusing on the other most important part of the day: the food. For some, greasy comfort foods, great friends and the biggest sporting event of the year is what makes the day great. For others, Super Bowl Sunday is the quickest route to breaking New Year’s resolutions. To keep yourself on track, try some of these healthy alternatives to the classic football fare. Here are some healthy alternatives on Super Bowl Sunday: Instead of Pepperoni Pizza from Pizza Hut,…

  • What You Need To Know About Visiting The Galapagos

    Jenn Savedge
    17 Jan 2010 | 8:52 am
    Q & A with Santiago Dunn, President of Ecoventura The Galapagos, known for its wealth of highly visible living creatures, is also one of the most fragile and endangered ecosystems in the world.  Following are questions many potential visitors ask before traveling to these islands. The answers are provided by a leader in creating sustainable tourism programs for the region, Santiago Dunn, owner of Ecoventura, a private company that maintains a fleet of small, superior-class, expedition touring yachts. Question 1: Should I stay in a lodge or hotel and take day tours or select a…

  • Green Parenting in Texas

    Jenn Savedge
    4 Jan 2010 | 8:42 am
    When Christine Stewart was pregnant with her first child, she began to look at the products she was using on herself and in her home and the food she was eating. What an eye-opening experience to discover that just because something is sold in the store doesn’t mean that it is safe for use or consumption—many of them can do serious harm to our bodies and our planet. She began to try to find safer alternatives to her favorite products. While there are lots of companies out there offering green options (certainly many more now than there were then), there were just some products that she…

  • 5 Fit and Fantastic Family Resolutions for 2010

    Jenn Savedge
    2 Jan 2010 | 1:37 pm
    Research indicates that physical activity and good nutrition are linked to better academic performance, in addition to better physical and mental health.  They can also help prevent and fight overweight and obesity, which currently affects one in three children in the U.S. Parents and caregivers can make simple changes that go a long way in helping children of all ages learn to eat right, be active every day, be ready to learn, and develop healthy habits that will last a lifetime. Here from the folks at Action for Healthy Kids are 5 Fit and Fantastic New Years Resolutions: # 1 – Be active…

  • 5 Ways to To Bring More Meaning To Your Family’s Holiday

    Jenn Savedge
    17 Dec 2009 | 3:31 am
    The holiday gift-giving season is an appropriate time to involve children in charitable giving and teach them why the old adage, “It is better to give than to receive,” is true.  Here are five great ways for parents to lead by example and teach their children the true spirit of the holidays. 1. As a family, select a charitable organization you’d like to support.  Use online tools like Charity Navigator to find an organization that you trust.  Give your children a budget and encourage them to decide how your family will donate to that organization this holiday. 2.Cherish the…
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    BeMoreEco

  • Battery Recycling

    Loz
    4 Feb 2010 | 8:25 am
    30,000 tonnes of portable batteries enter the UK market each year. New EU rules have come into force that require some stores selling batteries to provide in-store recycling bins. Anyone selling more than 32kg a year – equivalent to one pack of four AA batteries a day – must comply as part of targets on cutting landfill. The UK currently recycles only 3% of portable batteries, but the aim is to raise that figure to 45% by 2016. Battery maker Varta warned that a lack of awareness among consumers could hamper the scheme’s success. An estimated 30,000 tonnes of batteries…

  • 2 for 1 Events

    Loz
    4 Feb 2010 | 6:40 am
    One Life Live now takes place at The Vitality Show, giving you access to 2 shows for the price of 1! The Vitality Show, sponsored by Simplyhealth, is the UK’s largest event for health, beauty and wellbeing. With dozens of interactive features, expert filled theatres and hundreds of exhibitors offering expert advice, The Vitality Show is the ultimate girls’ day out. Visit the hair salon, get pampered in the day spa, join in a free fitness class or listen to seminars from top health and beauty insiders – a day at The Vitality Show with One Life Live will leave you feeling relaxed,…

  • Green Events 2010 – One Life Live

    Loz
    4 Feb 2010 | 12:36 am
    Are you looking for inspiration to make a change in your life? One Life Live at The Vitality Show is the perfect place to start! Packed with life coaching experts, career gurus and volunteering specialists, One Life Live has everything you need to start making a real difference to your future. Whether you feel unfulfilled in your job, want a new personal challenge or simply achieve a happier work/life balance, One Life Live can help! To start you in the right direction, they have an exclusive ticket offer for you. Book two tickets in advance for just £20, saving £15+, and be in with a…

  • Favourite ‘Green Books’

    Loz
    3 Feb 2010 | 5:06 am
    Leo Hickman’s full article can be found at theguardian.co.uk The University of Cambridge’s programme for sustainability leadership has compiled a list of the top 50 green books. It asked its alumni – “around 2,000 senior leaders from around the world who have participated in its sustainability programmes over the past decade or more” – to list some of their favourite “sustainability” books. The result is a pretty comprehensive rundown of the most influential and thought-provoking books of all time. There are many classics – Silent Spring, Fast Food…

  • Green and Black’s to go 100% Fairtrade

    Loz
    2 Feb 2010 | 11:05 pm
    Move will make Green & Black’s the world’s leading manufacturer of organic Fairtrade chocolate The company’s Maya Gold chocolate was the first official Fairtrade product to go on sale in Britain 15 years ago. Its extended range of chocolate bar and beverage products in the UK will start to carry the distinctive blue and green Fairtrade logo from late 2010, and it is hoped that full conversion of the entire chocolate bar and beverage range in more than 30 countries will be achieved by the end of 2011. The Fairtrade market, which now covers products from developing…
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    Leafygreen.info

  • Dogfish Head Craft Brewed Ales

    Mike
    8 Feb 2010 | 6:00 am
    Most companies don’t let you get to know them and relate to them.  Dogfish Head is not one of these companies.  Dogfish Head is a craft brewery from Delaware and their beer is amazing but that is not the only reason I love them. Many breweries practice in an eco-friendly way, but what Dogfish Head does [...]Check out the review @ Dogfish Head Craft Brewed Ales

  • Lucky Earth Waterless Car Wash

    Mike
    5 Feb 2010 | 4:00 am
    Waterless car wash kits have been around for a while now.  Some are decent, some suck and some work really well.  I felt that Lucky Earth worked really well. I tried out the Waterless Car Wash and microfiber cloth.  That’s all I needed to get the dirt off of my car.  I scrubbed and scrubbed and [...]Check out the review @ Lucky Earth Waterless Car Wash

  • Happy 4th Anniversary Giveaway Round 1

    Mike
    4 Feb 2010 | 5:00 am
    HYmini Deluxe! Make sure you do the following to win this package worth $75! Follow @Leafygreeninfo on Twitter Fan Leafygreen.info on Facebook Tweet or Facebook Share this link to the giveaway Leave a comment with your Twitter ID for proof of entry. BONUS CREDIT Subscribe to our Feedburner Emails How We Will Pick The Winner? Duplicate entries will be accepted and comment entries will [...]Check out the review @ Happy 4th Anniversary Giveaway Round 1

  • Green Bathroom Project from Kohler, Freshaire & Umbra

    Mike
    3 Feb 2010 | 4:00 am
    Finally, it’s done!  The greening of the Leafygreen.info bathroom has come to an end and it’s wonderful.  First off, thanks goes out to Kohler, Freshaire Paint & Umbra for their help with the project. The bathroom, as you can see below was ugly.  It was red with uncomplimentary multiple colored wood grains, a crappy toilet and [...]Check out the review @ Green Bathroom Project from Kohler, Freshaire & Umbra

  • The Water Filter Pitcher Showcase

    Mike
    2 Feb 2010 | 10:00 am
    As an avid water drinker, it’s important to me to have a water filter that works well, filters out the bad stuff from my tap water and fits in the fridge.  Well, PUR fails in 1 category.  It does fit in the fridge, the flavor feature is a bonus but the unnatural flavor additives aren’t [...]Check out the review @ The Water Filter Pitcher Showcase
 
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    Renewable Energy News - RenewableEnergyWorld.com

  • The Future of Energy heads to London as business thrives

    8 Feb 2010 | 9:00 pm
    Abu Dhabi, UAE, 21 January 2009: The UK Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, Ed Miliband, spoke at the World Future Energy Summit in Abu Dhabi on Monday to highlight the UK's leading role in meeting the global challenge of combating climate change with renewable energy.

  • Sen. Sanders Introduces 10 Million Solar Home Initiative

    8 Feb 2010 | 9:00 pm
    Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), chairman of the Senate's green jobs subcommittee introduced legislation with nine cosponsors to encourage the installation of 10 million solar systems on the rooftops of homes and businesses over the next decade.

  • Nexamp Secures US $6.5M in VC Funding

    8 Feb 2010 | 9:00 pm
    Fresh off news that it will be the beneficiary of US $20 million in contracts from the state of Massachusetts, Nexamp announced that it has secured $6.5 million in Series A venture financing from Good Energies, Point Judith Capital and RCG Ventures along with individual investors. As part of the financing, Nexamp also announced the addition of a new CEO, Stuart R. Patterson, to succeed Henri-Claude Bailly of RCG Ventures, who remains Chairman of the Board.

  • POET to outline cellulosic ethanol plans at London conference

    8 Feb 2010 | 9:00 pm
    POET Senior Vice President of Science and Technology Mark Stowers will outline POET's process for commercialization of cellulosic ethanol and a vision for the future of ethanol this week at the F.O. Licht's 3rd Annual Developing and Commercialising Next Generation Biofuels conference in London.

  • Petra Solar Secures $40M in Financing

    8 Feb 2010 | 9:00 pm
    Petra Solar has raised $40 million in funding for expansion. Two new investors, Craton Equity Partners and Espírito Santo Ventures, led the latest round with 100% participation from existing investors, Element Partners, Blue Run Ventures, OnPoint Technologies (U.S. Army's Venture Fund) and Kuwait's National Technology Enterprises Company (NTEC).
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    Earth911.com

  • $400M Healthy Food Financing Initiative Proposed in Presidential Budget

    Lori Brown
    8 Feb 2010 | 11:02 pm
    A $400 million investment in fresh food programs for low-income communities has been suggested in the recently released 2011 Presidential budget proposal. The public-private grant and loan program would invest in new and expanded supermarkets,...

  • Scientists Use Fungi to Break Down BPA

    Trey Granger
    8 Feb 2010 | 11:01 pm
    Indian scientists Mukesh Doble and Trishul Artham have determined that plastics containing Bisphenol A (BPA) are able to decompose faster that untreated plastics, which may provide a solution for how to dispose of these products, according to...

  • We’ve Found the Most Recycled Material of 2009

    Jennifer Berry
    7 Feb 2010 | 11:03 pm
    Earth911.com released the results of its 2009 Annual Recycling Report, with electronics such as computers, batteries and televisions topping the list of most recycled materials. “Electronics have always been popular searches on Earth911.com, but...

  • Waste Management Head Goes Undercover; You Won’t Believe What He Saw

    Amanda Wills
    7 Feb 2010 | 11:02 pm
    For those of you who turned off the TV after the Saints’ big win, we’ll tell you about our second favorite highlight of the night. CBS premiered its new series “Undercover Boss,” a reality show in which heads of major...

  • What “Bio” Really Means

    Jennifer Berry
    7 Feb 2010 | 11:01 pm
    In the ever-changing world of consumer products, “bio” is gearing up to be the new buzzword (or prefix – take your pick) of the decade. More and more products are hitting the shelves that are made of bio-based materials and/or are...
 
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    Green-Trust.Org

  • Using the bucket washer, “ringing” out the water

    Steve Spence
    8 Feb 2010 | 5:33 am
    We have been washing our clothes with our bucket washer. 5 minutes per wash cycle, and 5 minutes per rinse, with less than 2 gallons per cycle. Reuse the rinse cycle water for the next wash cycle. When we can get a decent internet connection, we will upload the video. We are also working on a bucket clothes press to remove the majority of the water (no ringer for us) before line drying. The preliminary design consists of a lidded bucket, inserted into a second bucket (with the clothes in it) that has many small holes drilled in the bottom, which is inserted into a third bucket with a drain…

  • Fun with Buckets

    Steve Spence
    31 Jan 2010 | 10:10 am
    What cool uses can you come up with for a 4 gallon to 6 gallon plastic pail? Clothes washer, water filter, tool caddy, composting toilet,solar shower and much more. We started a new group for finding ways to reuse good used buckets into something useful again. Check it out at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bucketproducts/. ©2010 Green-Trust.Org. All Rights Reserved.. Related posts:My favorite RE discussion groups New Projects Non Electric Clothes Washer

  • New Podcast Service

    Steve Spence
    30 Jan 2010 | 2:52 pm
    We are putting together a weekly podcast broadcast on renewable energy and self sufficiency. We will be discussing things you can do to reduce your energy consumption, produce your own energy and food, and be more self sufficient. email us at podcast@green-trust.org to have questions or comments aired. Listen to the episodes in the podcast list in the left column of this website. ©2010 Green-Trust.Org. All Rights Reserved.. Related posts:Energy Self Sufficiency Newsletter Science Channel Rerun of Wind Turbine build Tonight My favorite RE discussion groups

  • Pictures of the 6750 watt PV system install.

    Steve Spence
    25 Jan 2010 | 8:09 pm
    We finished the PV system install in SC. Thirty 225 watt pv panels, two FM-60 MPPT controllers, eight Rolls 6v 530ah batteries, and two VFX3648 inverters (Master/Slave) outputting 240vac. Runs a inground pool pump (2.5 hp) during the day, and a upright freezer, plus lights and tools. The batteries stay fully charged during the day, and only get cycled at night. Total cost was about $30k. Click the picture for more pictures. ©2010 Green-Trust.Org. All Rights Reserved.. Related posts:Storing Food For 30 Years and PV install Yes, Virginia, there is $1 / watt PV Protect Your Personal…

  • Agricultural Apocalypse 2010

    Steve Spence
    22 Jan 2010 | 3:06 am
    We are facing a problem that literally has never been faced in human history. Surging population and food demand, food inflation, diminishing world food stocks, drought, flooding, cold, diminished credit, infestations, soil erosion, industrial farming, factory farm pollution, aquifers/wells going dry, relocation of produce for energy production are all slamming into a global financial and economic crisis. And in some places like the United States they don’t have enough farmers. Then on top of everything else we have desertification, which is one of the world’s most pressing environmental…
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    Green Living Ideas

  • Natural Beauty: Homemade Honey Mask for Problem Skin

    Jennifer Lance
    4 Feb 2010 | 8:30 am
    If you suffer from skin problems, you have probably spent a lot of money trying different products, both natural and chemical, that promise relief.  Whether you complexion problems are mild and occasional or more severe acne, there’s a simple solution in your kitchen pantry.  Honey! Honey has amazing properties that make it perfect for the sensitive [...][Natural Beauty: Homemade Honey Mask for Problem Skin from Green Living Ideas]

  • Home Wind Power for Half the Price, Over the Counter

    Derek Markham
    3 Feb 2010 | 8:40 am
    For commercial renewable energy enthusiasts, there’s no shortage of eye candy among industrial sized wind installations, but for the homeowner, the closest they get to feeling like they’re really generating clean energy might be the ‘Powered by the Wind’ sticker they get from their local utility when purchasing the wind power option for electricity. But [...][Home Wind Power for Half the Price, Over the Counter from Green Living Ideas]

  • EPA Win: Kansas Coal Power Plant Must Install $500 Million Pollution Scrubber

    Susan Kraemer
    2 Feb 2010 | 8:16 am
    In a case begun immediately after the Obama administration took office – under New Source Review rules that have not been enforced for over a decade, a Kansas coal power company has just settled with the newly activist EPA led by Lisa Jackson. Under the settlement, Westar Energy has agreed to pay a [...][EPA Win: Kansas Coal Power Plant Must Install $500 Million Pollution Scrubber from Green Living Ideas]

  • Ethanol Industry Sues California

    Scott James
    1 Feb 2010 | 8:21 am
    The Federal government is asking the fuel industry to incrementally raise the levels of ethanol in the country’s gas. California has state legislation called the California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 calling for car fuels to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The California Air Resources Board counts indirect GHG’s created in the production of [...][Ethanol Industry Sues California from Green Living Ideas]

  • Engineered Virus Causes Tobacco Plants to Grow Solar Cells

    Jennifer Lance
    28 Jan 2010 | 8:33 am
    Tobacco, once the glory crop of the South Atlantic region of the United States, has fallen in stature as health problems associated with smoking the plant have come to light.  Now tobacco may be able to redeem itself by producing solar cells, according to researchers at the University of California at Berkeley.  By infecting tobacco [...][Engineered Virus Causes Tobacco Plants to Grow Solar Cells from Green Living Ideas]
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    Climate of Change

  • Vote for Dan! Pushing Clean Energy Development on Native American Lands

    Jewish Climate Initiative
    27 Jan 2010 | 11:16 am
    Join us in voting for our buddy and colleague, Dan Rosen, as he attempts making it to the Unreasonable Institute, a breeding grounds for social entrepreneurs from around the world. Dan’s Mosaic Ventures aims at developing clean energy on Native American lands, and facilitating tribal investments into cleantech. To read more about the Unreasonable Institue, Mosaic Ventures, and most importantly, to vote and make a pledge for Dan and Mosaic, head to http://www.unreasonablefinalists.org///index.php?action=about_pro&proId=166.

  • “The Dance of the Tree,” in honor of Tu B’Shevat

    Jewish Climate Initiative
    23 Jan 2010 | 11:02 pm
    By Dr. Michael Kagan A number of years ago Levi Ben Shmuel (formerly Larry Bleiberg) and myself filmed the movements of the Dance of the Tree – a Tai Chi-like form that is inspired by the Shaking of the Lulav according to Ariz”l.   I finally managed to get it up onto YouTube for all to see.  If this speaks to anyone and you want the instructions in written form then let me know and I’ll send them to you.  This practice is a wonderful way to start daily pray.  It has many layers to it as we all know: the physical directions, the body, the sephirot, the archetype women and men, the…

  • Avatar and Rebbe Nachman

    Jewish Climate Initiative
    18 Jan 2010 | 10:13 am
    By Dr. Michael Kagan I was astounded by the film Avatar.  I didn’t want to leave the theater.  I didn’t want to be unplugged.  Incredible. What story telling. What is equally or maybe even more incredible are the parallels with certain aspects of Avatar and passages in Kabbalistic texts.  In preparing for Tu B’shvat I am rereading the anthology “Trees, Earth and Torah” and I came across this passage from an article by Aryeh Wineman quoting the Zohar 91:172a): The House is situated at the very center of all that is…From its midst there emerges a single large and mighty…

  • Jealousy and the Climate Crisis: What do Haves owe Have Nots?

    Jewish Climate Initiative
    28 Dec 2009 | 8:50 am
    By Dr. Michael Kagan Last week my community in Jerusalem – Nava Tehila screened the musical Joseph and his amazing technicolor dreamcoat – one of my family’s favourites.  In the film a great emphasis is placed on jealousy – not only the obvious jealousy of the brothers towards Joseph but also of Potiphar’s jealousy towards Joseph, Potiphar’s servants jealousy towards Joseph, other prisoner’s jealousy towards Joseph, and even Pharaoh’s jealousy towards Joseph when he becomes the people’s saviour. When this theme of jealousy is taken back it can be seen that is seems to…

  • Breaking Down Climate Change into its Undeniable Parts

    Jewish Climate Initiative
    25 Dec 2009 | 1:05 am
    By Dr. Michael Kagan One of the points that I have been making a lot recently in order to totally diffuse the debate over “who caused the climate to change?” is forget the change in climate, forget greenhouse gas emissions, forget global warming, now look at the terrible state of the oceans, the terrible state of the top soil, the terrible state of food production, health, economics, air purity, water purity, rain forests, wetlands, death of species etc. etc. there is no doubt that these are all human made devastations upon the well-being of the planet.  Let’s clear up this…
 
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    Ecopreneurist

  • Can Promo Help Save The Reefs?

    John Simonetta
    3 Feb 2010 | 6:27 pm
    This is a guest post by John Simonetta, owner of Proforma Simonetta Freelance, an eco-friendly promotional items consultancy (see proformagreen.com). John’s blogs are designed to keep us up to date on the “greening” of his industry. I like the beach. A lot of folks like the beach. And this time of year dozens of cruise ships are taking people from cold northern climes to warm southern waters. Indeed an item as basic as brandable sunscreen is a big seller for our industry at this time of year. Believe me, cruise ships hold a lot of sunscreen. However, over the past few years the world…

  • Smelly Pen 50% Plant-based Renewable Plastic

    John Simonetta
    2 Feb 2010 | 8:28 am
    This is a guest post by John Simonetta, owner of Proforma Simonetta Freelance, an eco-friendly promotional items consultancy (see proformagreen.com). John’s blogs are designed to keep us up to date on the “greening” of his industry. All-in-One seems to have a hit on their hands with their new USA Good Scents™ Twist Pen. Adding scent to a pen gives the item a visceral connection with the user, and is a great way to get your promotional item, and hence your brand, noticed. And the EQP price of $0.99 makes them cost competitive. Here is the video making the rounds. This post…

  • All-In-One Lowers Cost On Eco Max Recycled Pen™

    John Simonetta
    30 Jan 2010 | 1:31 pm
    This is a guest post by John Simonetta, owner of Proforma Simonetta Freelance, an eco-friendly promotional items consultancy (see proformagreen.com). John’s blogs are designed to keep us up to date on the “greening” of his industry. Like other promotional items suppliers, for 2010 All-In-One is both reducing costs on their eco-friendly line while also increasing the number of eco related items in their inventory. For me this is another sign of the marketplace getting what it wants when it comes to eco-friendly promotional items, namely more choice and lower prices. A stand out here is…

  • Pre-Printed Jute Shopper From V Natural

    John Simonetta
    27 Jan 2010 | 9:45 am
    This is a guest post by John Simonetta, owner of Proforma Simonetta Freelance, an eco-friendly promotional items consultancy (see proformagreen.com). John’s blogs are designed to keep us up to date on the “greening” of his industry. There are a number of pre-printed poly non-woven and recycled material totes on the market. A pre-printed bag allows the buyer to get more bang for their back as they are purchasing a pre-designed and decorated item to which they simply add their own logo or other information. For those looking beyond poly or recycled content bags, Vitronic Promotional…

  • EcoCoolie Pocket Coolie 2.0

    John Simonetta
    25 Jan 2010 | 1:01 pm
    This is a guest post by John Simonetta, owner of Proforma Simonetta Freelance, an eco-friendly promotional items consultancy (see proformagreen.com). John’s blogs are designed to keep us up to date on the “greening” of his industry. Remember the ECOCoolie from Numo Manufacturing? The first version of the EcoCoolie had only 15% post-consumer recycled material. At the time I applauded the fact that this Dallas based manufacturer was at least making a post-consumer material coolie (it was the first on the market as far as I could tell), but was disappointed at the low 15%. Now Numo has…
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    Go Green Street

  • Wasteful Food Packaging; Stop Paying For Plastic

    Green Tara
    7 Feb 2010 | 6:00 am
    In today’s world many people opt for convenience rather than resourcefulness. Tons of shrink-wrap, Styrofoam and plastic are thrown into the trash daily due to wasteful food packaging. While convenience is nice, the additional waste produced is not worth it, not to mention, the additional packaging is paid for by the consumer. The Daily Green [...]

  • UrthBag Giveaway Winner

    Green Tara
    5 Feb 2010 | 5:06 am
    Thank you to everyone who helped spread the word about the UrthBag handbag giveaway! I would also like to thank Monica from Urthbags for working with me on this giveaway! I would also like to apologize for my delay in getting the winners info up. Congrats to comment #35 by HJ. Your the Urthbag giveaway winner! Hopefully [...]

  • Eco-Friendly Children’s Shoes Donated for Haitian Relief

    Green Tara
    4 Feb 2010 | 12:50 pm
    KidBean.com, an online retailer of organic baby clothing and toys, has teamed up with Soles4Souls® to assist in their efforts to donate 1 million pairs of shoes, along with other relief supplies, to victims of the recent earthquake in Haiti. KidBean.com is an online retailer of organic baby clothing, toys and more. Based in Asheville, [...]

  • Fresh Organics {Review & GiveAway}

    Green Tara
    31 Jan 2010 | 8:59 am
    Fresh Organics Inc., an eco-product and organic skin car company, believes “every choice we make shapes our future, the future of our families and the future of this planet”. That exact quote is what attracted me to this company and their products. Fresh Organics was born in 2008 after new parents, Jeff & Michele Wilkinson, had [...]

  • Jeep Wrangler G-Edition Stroller Winner

    Green Tara
    31 Jan 2010 | 8:58 am
    Thank you to everyone who took the time to enter into the Jeep Wrangler Stroller giveaway and to everyone who helped spread the word about the giveaway! The giveaway is now closed and our winner has been selected via random.org.A new giveaway has launched today, the Fresh Organics giveaway, so be sure to enter into [...]
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    Good To Be Green

  • The Miles Per Gallon Race is On…

    The Miles Per Gallon race is on and where it stops nobody knows. It’s hard to believe it but not too long ago the argument against Green Cars was that the technology wasn’t there. Well, all of a sudden there it is. A hybrid car that can do 230 m.p.g. and other companies already saying [...]

  • Recycling Pets?

    HSUS MySpace Page | Stop Puppy Mills Website There are many things we can do to make Pet ownership more environmentally friendly, including Recycling Pets. Start by Adopting your Pet from a Local Shelter: It’s sort of like “recycling a pet” instead of buying a one from a Pet Store. The doggy in the window trick is no [...]

  • Start a Green Revolution in Your Own Back Yard

    Starting  a Green Revolution in our own back yard is probably the simplest and best thing we can do to make an impact on our immediate environment. We all talk about going back to nature and what we can do to reduce our carbon foot print and the impact we have on mother nature. What [...]

  • Become Your Own Utility Company by Making Your Own Power

    If you’re thinking about ways to make your own power and getting off the grid even partially, you have several readily accessible options for which the Government is willing to give you a tax credit of 30% of your cost. Making your own Power does not mean that you have to generate “all” the power [...]

  • Video Voice Calling: Saves You Energy and Money

    Video Voice calling and saving energy go hand in hand these days. Modern technology helps us Live Green by giving us the ability to work from home. Visiting our friends and family who live far away from us is easier and cheaper to do with video voice calling, while at the same time being kinder [...]
 
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    greenstrides

  • Add Style to Your Living Room with Eco-friendly Furniture

    Joyce Benson
    8 Feb 2010 | 7:15 am
    Spending a lot of time indoors this winter?  You may be realizing that some of your furnishings need replacing.  For those on a tight budget, there are several ways to spruce up your living room:  cover existing upholstered furniture with organic cotton slip covers; sand and re-paint or stain existing wood pieces (with natural and [...] [[ Please visit GreenStrides.com for the full post, links, and more information. ]]

  • Eco-friendly Interior Doors, Part II

    Joyce Benson
    5 Feb 2010 | 8:28 am
    As I’ve previously mentioned in Part I of this series of posts, there are many options for the environmentally-conscious shopper, even when it comes to buying interior doors.  I had focused on beautiful, reclaimed wood doors that add instant character and richness to any home.  Here, I’ll highlight residential and commercial doors made with recycled [...] [[ Please visit GreenStrides.com for the full post, links, and more information. ]]

  • Increase Comfort and Reduce Energy Bills This Winter

    Joyce Benson
    24 Jan 2010 | 10:14 am
    Windows and exterior doors are, of course, necessary elements of any home, but if they are old and drafty, you may wonder about how to make them more energy efficient.  Whether you live in an historic home, or a home that has only single-pane windows, there are some relatively inexpensive and easy fixes you can [...] [[ Please visit GreenStrides.com for the full post, links, and more information. ]]

  • Affordable Solar Tube Skylights Brighten Up Interior Spaces

    Joyce Benson
    17 Jan 2010 | 9:38 am
    Want to shed some light on that dark area of your home or commercial building without turning on the lights and driving up your electric bill?  A great solution is to install solar tubes, aka sun tunnels, which are easily retrofitted into existing buildings.  In fact, depending on the Energy Star rated system you choose, [...] [[ Please visit GreenStrides.com for the full post, links, and more information. ]]

  • Save Trees and Stop Junk Mail

    Joyce Benson
    15 Jan 2010 | 6:12 am
    It has been said by some scientists that the simple deed of planting trees (many, many trees) would significantly reduce the greenhouse gas, carbon dioxide, that we spew into the air at an alarming rate on a daily basis.  The least we can do is try to save the trees already in existence. The good news is that [...] [[ Please visit GreenStrides.com for the full post, links, and more information. ]]
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    Retro Housewife Goes Green

  • The Green Moms Carnival On Coal

    8 Feb 2010 | 10:32 pm
    This months Green Moms Carnival is about coal. This is an issue I have written about before, it's one that is very important to me. There is coal mining about 130 miles from me in the McAlester area. Hearing the stories from the people who live around the mining is just heart breaking. And the mining here in Oklahoma is nothing like the mining in the Appalachian mountains. We so often forget the

  • A Wake-Up Story

    3 Feb 2010 | 4:00 am
    I'm not a parent but for many people becoming a parents is the start of their journey to being greener. It's become a scary world out there, it's hard to know what to buy and what not to buy so many just seem to give up. Companies also spend tons of money trying to make you believe their products are safe but how do you know if they are?? This video is a wake-up call to all of us. Many may think

  • Product Review: Lunapads

    2 Feb 2010 | 5:00 am
    First off let my warn my male readers you may want to skip this post, feel free to send it on to the women in your life. :) Periods are a pain even without thinking of all the waste but it's something you must think about if trying to be more sustainable. Did you know that the average woman will use 15,000 pads or tampons in a lifetime? That's a lot of waste. And what's in those tampons and pads

  • Go Green Without Going Broke

    1 Feb 2010 | 4:34 pm
    A common reason people give for not "going green" is the cost. But does it really cost that much? It shouldn't and Erin over at The Conscious Shopper has started a challenge to help you go green this year without going broke! She makes it easy and affordable for us all. The challenges are posted on her blog each Monday and she gives three levels so no matter where you are in your green journey

  • Book Review: Smart Mama's Green Guide

    31 Jan 2010 | 9:27 am
    Smart Mama's Green Guide: Simple Steps to Reduce Your Child's Toxic Chemical Exposure by Jennifer Taggart is a valuable resource for parents and those just wanting to reduce the toxins in your life. While the topics are often scary, like learning there maybe lead in your kids toys, Jennifer does a good job not getting you too worried and giving you options to fix the problems. Jennifer knows we
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    Cooking Up A Story Food News

  • Raj Patel: The Value of Nothing-an Overview (video)

    Cooking Up a Story
    3 Feb 2010 | 4:00 am
    CUpS: Food News Part 1: Raj Patel, food activist, scholar, and author of two important books: Stuffed and Starved: The Hidden Battle for the World Food System and his new book (now on the New York Times Best Seller list), The Value of Nothing: How to Reshape Market Society and Redefine Democracy shares his views about our market driven economy, and what he sees as a necessary direction forward for civilization to survive, and people and communities to flourish. In his previous book, Stuffed and Starved, Patel examined the global food system, and the transnational corporations that ultimately…

  • Urban Growth Boundaries: The Reserves Process (Video)

    Cooking Up a Story
    18 Jan 2010 | 4:00 am
    Cooking Up a Story: Food News January 18, 2010; Part 2: Over the next 30 years, the Portland Metro area is projected to increase in population size by 1 million people. Since the 1970’s, the state, and in particular the Portland metro area that occupies 3 counties (Multnomah; Clackamas; and Washington), have remarkably managed their urban growth efficiently (and wisely) through the use of the Urban Growth Boundary (UGB) process. Each city and county within the state as administered by the Oregon Department of Land Conservation and Development (LDLC), are required to develop an UGB within…

  • Urban Growth Boundary: Oregon Agriculture, Economy, and Managed Growth (video)

    Cooking Up a Story
    11 Jan 2010 | 4:00 am
    CUpS: Food News Part 1: In physics, the second law of thermodynamics, which deals with the natural flow of energy distribution (no, you won’t be tested on this part), stipulates that localized “systems,” (think of an ice cube melting), will disperse outward, unless a counter force is applied to contain it. In population centers of the country, urban sprawl and resource depletion are the natural consequences of increasing populations (the melting ice cube), unless countervailing forces (land use laws) are effectively applied to manage growth, and protect finite resources. In biology,…

  • A Conversation with Claire Hope Cummings-Part 2

    Cooking Up a Story
    15 Dec 2009 | 4:00 am
    editor’s note: In a recently disclosed Associated Press investigative report, Monsanto is being investigated for possible antitrust violations regarding its (seed) business licensing practices by the U.S. Department of Justice, and at least two state attorneys general. The video below was originally published in February, 2009; the written post has been updated to reflect new information. Cooking Up a Story: Food News In part 2, Claire Hope Cummings raises a number of troubling concerns that are at the heart of what she feels threatens our future food supply. Click on image to enlarge…

  • Seeds of Life: Beta Vulgaris

    Cooking Up a Story
    10 Dec 2009 | 4:00 am
    Cooking Up a Story: Food News Beta Vulgaris, the latin name for the beet species, includes the sugar beet, table beet, and swiss chard varieties. Although each variety is grown for different agricultural purposes, botanically, they are the same plant. Being open pollinated plants from the same species, and not hybrids, they are susceptible to cross-contamination from the pollen of other nearby Beta Vulgaris varieties. Beta Vulgaris, sugar beet root. The roots of a sugar beet can grow as large as a basketball, and contain large amounts of sugar A young swiss chard plant; Beta Vulgaris species…
 
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    Popular Science - The Environment

  • Rewriting Desktop Printer Can Erase and Reuse Documents

    Jeremy Hsu
    3 Feb 2010 | 9:55 am
    Figuring out how to recycle TPS reports and office printouts appears to have become a passion for Japanese engineers, as DigInfo News has discovered in recent days. If the "White Goat" machine that converts paper sheets into toilet paper failed to appeal, consider this supposedly eco-friendly printer that can erase old documents and reuse them up to 1,000 times per special page. The "PrePeat" printer uses a special thermal head and heat-sensitive plastic sheets to print whatever documents are required. Users won't have to buy ink or other consumables ever again, but there's a catch -- each…

  • Green Dream: Swappable Switches

    John B. Carnett
    13 Jan 2010 | 6:54 pm
    A wireless lighting system makes electrical switches portable Most houses require hundreds of feet of electrical wire to connect light switches to a main power source, but not my eco-friendly dream home. I've installed a wireless lighting system called Verve that uses radio waves instead of copper wiring to command all the lights and outlets in my house. The system not only saves copper (imagine the savings in a skyscraper) but also lets me put switches wherever I want-beside the kids' beds, in my pocket or even on the dash of my car-without the need to pull out wires or rip up walls. A small…

  • Green Dream: Installing a Rooftop Garden

    John B. Carnett
    11 Jan 2010 | 7:31 am
    Rooftop greenery guards against water damage and bland meals What's a green home without actual greenery? I wanted my eco-friendly house to feel more connected to nature, so I turned the flat stretches of roof into gardens. Rooftop flora is not only scenic, but it can also protect a home against temperature extremes, absorb carbon dioxide, and triple the life span of a roof. The first thing to know about building a green oasis on top of your home is that dirt is heavy, and it gets even heavier when wet. Before I did anything, I consulted an engineer to figure out the maximum load my roof…

  • EPA Proposes Tighter Restrictions On Smog-Causing Emissions

    Stuart Fox
    7 Jan 2010 | 2:55 pm
    The changes could cost industry $90 billion, and substantially improve Americans' health In a move to curb smog, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has proposed the tightest regulations ever on ground-ozone-causing emissions. The new standards would replace 2008 ozone regulations implemented by the Bush administration that allowed so much smog emission that environmental advocates took the EPA to court, arguing that the weak emissions regulation didn't actually protect people's health. The new standards would limit the amount of ozone a person could be exposed to in a given area, over…

  • Scientists and Spies Team Up On Global Warming

    Stuart Fox
    5 Jan 2010 | 8:15 am
    In a break from their usual business of overthrowing South American governments, covering up alien landings, and broadcasting coded messages through my fillings, the CIA has revived a program that teams up spies and scientists for the study of climate change. Through the program, scientists get access classified images of the polar ice caps, as well as the chance to pick the targets of off-duty spy satellites. The program, which began under former President Clinton but was canceled by former President Bush, takes advantage of the vast array of sensors and satellites operated by the CIA. Many…
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    5 Minutes For Going Green

  • Why My Kids Ride the Bus

    Amy Whitley
    26 Jan 2010 | 5:41 am
    Because I make them. It's as simple as that. Just like I make them turn off lights when the leave a room and make them turn off the tap water while brushing their teeth and make them place empty cereal boxes in the recycling bin. They don't like it much. They say the bus smells (it does!) and sometimes, kids are rowdy. Often, they tell me, the bus driver is grouchy. If I drove them to school, they argue, they could sleep in a bit later (not that they would!) and would get home a bit earlier in the afternoons. It's true. And yet, I persist in making them ride it. Why? Because we…

  • To Eat or Exfoliate?

    DianaP
    25 Jan 2010 | 2:00 am
    I'm a food writer and a gardener. I never thought I'd say that — even to myself, let alone out loud — and yet, here I am. Late January is blowing in with wind and ice and seed catalogs galore are gracing my mailbox — and I am itching to dig in the dirt. I want nothing more than to get outside, feel a warm breeze on my skin and to sink my hands into the dark, heavily composted soil that will (hopefully) nourish a large part of our sustenance in the coming year. Unfortunately, I was born, raised and continue to live in The North; a frustratingly cold place where such…

  • Recycling Plastic Markers

    Amber
    20 Jan 2010 | 2:00 am
    My daughter, Hannah, is almost 5 years old and she loves to draw. She'll use whatever's on hand but her favourite drawing tool, by far, is a marker. I can see why - they have the most vivid colours and they don't become dull with use. As long as you remember to put the tops back on they hold their own for quite some time. I have concerns with markers, though. For one thing, markers are all made of plastic. This means that when we're done with them they head to the landfill where they'll spend tens of thousands of years. Not a pretty thought. It's even less pretty…

  • The Dinner Co-Op: an Easy Way to be Green?

    Amy Whitley
    19 Jan 2010 | 2:00 am
    A number of years ago, an acquaintance of mine belonged to a dinner co-op. The concept was simple: four friends (living on the same block) shared the burden of the evening meal. Each friend was assigned one day of the week (Monday through Friday) and on her assigned day, cooked dinner for all four families. The other three days, she sat back and waited for her family’s meal to be delivered. At the time, I thought it sounded like a convenient idea–even an ingenious idea–but I didn’t consider it to be necessarily a ‘green’ idea. I realize now I was wrong: dinner co-ops are a…

  • Green Resolutions for 2010

    Amber
    18 Jan 2010 | 6:38 am
    I consider myself to be pretty environmentally responsible. I work hard to reduce my consumption, to re-use items I already have and to recycle the things that I can't re-use or re-purpose. I garden and shop at farmer's markets, and I buy local and handmade whenever I can. Of course, I am far from perfect. I don't think anyone is, try as we might, but all the same I really do try to consider the impact of my actions. How well am I doing? I don't think there's an easy answer to that question, but I decided I would look to the internet to see if I could find any clues.
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    Reuters Video: Environment

  • Anti-whalers target Japan embassy

    8 Feb 2010 | 9:42 am
    Feb 8 - Activists from the environmental campaign group Greenpeace erect a life-sized whale fin replica opposite the Japanese embassy in Berlin.

  • How to grow more renewable energy

    5 Feb 2010 | 8:34 am
    Feb 5 - Researchers are trying to breed plants that could be better sources of renewable energy. A team at Aberystwyth University in Wales is looking improving yields of fast growing plants without increasing inputs such as fertilizers.

  • China quake pandas go to nursery

    3 Feb 2010 | 6:22 am
    Feb 02 - Sixteen infant pandas born after the devastating Sichuan earthquake start their first day of nursery, to some fanfare on Chinese state television.

  • Lithuania's birds suffering on ice

    2 Feb 2010 | 10:57 am
    Feb 2 - Lithuanians take part in a campaign to save birds from starving in bitter winter conditions. Helen Long reports.

  • Rain revives Spanish wetlands.

    2 Feb 2010 | 9:52 am
    Feb 2 - Wildlife retunrs to Spain's most important wetlands after rain brings flooding.
 
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    Green Cotton

  • H&M promises not to waste clothes, debuts green “garden” collection

    Shana
    16 Jan 2010 | 9:25 am
    The Swedish clothing retailer H&M is usually raved over and blogged about for its bargain-priced, runway-inspired pieces. But recently the company came under fire for reportedly slashing unworn clothing to pieces – using a machine to cut holes in items and render them un-wearable – and tossing the clothes out with the trash. The dumping was [...]

  • Generating Unnecessary Waste in the Clothing Industry: When will the excess stop?

    Shana
    6 Jan 2010 | 1:57 pm
    Photosource: Suzanne DeChillo/The New York Times Today, the New York Times reported that the H&M on 34th Street in New York has regularly (at times daily) disposed of brand new apparel in trash bags, purposefully slashed or otherwise destroyed to make them un-wearable. To think that a major retailer such as H&M could get away with [...]

  • Let’s Ring in a Greener New Year

    Shana
    3 Jan 2010 | 3:24 pm
    Can you believe it? It’s already time to bid 2009 goodbye. As we complete this decade, it’s time to look back and see how many things have changed and how far we’ve come. There have been significant advances and innovations, especially on the ecological front. Over the past few years, green issues have stolen the [...]

  • A care tag for our planet: Levi’s and Goodwill partner to save the planet

    Shana
    16 Dec 2009 | 7:31 pm
    Levi’s is revising their care tag to advise people to wash in cold water, line dry when possible and donate used jeans to Goodwill. This new initiative aims to put billions of pounds of unwanted clothing to good use instead of into landfill. This partnership was reached through shared values held by each organization: Levi Strauss [...]

  • Enter Holiday Contest at Jute and Jackfruit & Win $100 Gift Certificate

    Shana
    12 Dec 2009 | 2:01 pm
    Photosource:  http://www.departika.com Decorating the tree, the home, lighting candles, spending time with friends and family…  the first snow. Christmas is is in the air well as Hanukkah, the New Year and Eid just passed….it is time to celebrate the season! Jute and Jackfruit wants to know what is your favorite holiday tradition this time of year on [...]
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    Greenspace

  • Colorado rancher hopes for wolves

    Nicholas Riccardi
    8 Feb 2010 | 3:55 pm
    Here's what we in the news business would call a man-bites-dog story. A western Colorado rancher is testing scat found on his land to determine whether wolves finally have returned to the state, and he's eager to get them back."It seemed logical to me, based on what happened in Yellowstone National Park, that keystone species like wolves might have a positive effect on biodiversity and restoring the health of aspens on this property," said Paul Vahldiek in a statement released by the Wildlands Network.Vahldiek has already spotted wolf tracks on his 300-square-mile High…

  • Regional panel says no thanks to ethanol fueling stations

    Catherine Saillant
    5 Feb 2010 | 12:42 pm
    Do the environmental costs of ethanol-based fuels outweigh their potential benefits? Council members of the Southern California Assn. of Governments answered that question this week with an emphatic yes. The panel on Thursday rejected nearly $11 million in federal stimulus dollars targeted to build 55 ethanol fueling stations across the six-county Southern California region. Eileen Tutt, executive director of the California Electric Transportation Coalition, on Friday called the panel's action "unfortunate." "Ethanol is a key fuel in our move away…

  • U.S. has highest cumulative wind power capacity, China has most new capacity

    Tiffany Hsu
    5 Feb 2010 | 12:12 pm
    Though the U.S. still has highest total capacity for wind power globally, China took the top spot for new installations in 2009 with 13 gigawatts, according to data released this week.Worldwide, wind power capacity grew 31%, up 37.5 gigawatts to 157.9 gigawatts in 2009, according to the Global Wind Energy Council. A third of the increase came from China, which doubled its capacity from 12.1 gigawatts to 25.1 gigawatts.“China is hard on our heels,” said Denise Bode, chief executive of the American Wind Energy Assn. in a statement. But the U.S. is still leading in total capacity, installing…

  • Orange County asks for pledges to cut waste by 10%

    Tony Barboza
    4 Feb 2010 | 6:30 pm
    Could you throw away 10% less trash if you tried? Orange County is asking residents to do just that by pledging to "Save 10% in 2010" to keep waste out of its landfills. OC Waste & Recycling and the Orange County Board of Supervisors on Thursday announced a campaign called "Waste Free OC. Save Room for Tomorrow." In addition to an online pledge to reduce your contribution to the county's landfill by 10%, the new website also offers tips on how to cut back, a quiz on your recycling, composting and consumption habits and a guide to having a zero-waste Super Bowl…

  • Study finds a link between plastics chemical BPA and childhood asthma

    Geoff Mohan
    4 Feb 2010 | 2:02 pm
    Researchers from the University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, are reporting the findings of experiments with mice that indicate exposure to bisphenol-A, or BPA, during pregnancy may increase the chances of asthma in the child. The chemical, used in plastic bottles, linings of cans and other products, has been linked to reproductive problems and increased risk of cancer, among other maladies. Researchers fed BPA to pregnant mice a week before they gave birth, in quantities that would produce a proportion equivalent to that which has been found in women. They then introduced a common…
 
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    Econation Blog

  • Do you really need a drill? Or just a hole?

    8 Feb 2010 | 3:00 am
    Do you really need a drill? Or just a hole? There is too much stuff...And let’s face it, we usually don’t want the stuff, we just want what the stuff does. For example, you want a hole in your wall so you buy a drill – but you didn’t really want a drill that might end up sitting unused in your toolbox for the next twenty years – you just wanted a hole. To get the hole without buying a drill, you could borrow or rent a drill. One of our ten basic sustainability tips is to buy and use less stuff.  Reducing the amount of stuff we own, saves the energy and…

  • Great book downloads

    8 Feb 2010 | 3:00 am
    Great book downloads Sharing information is a crucial way of being sustainable. A number of writers and organisations make books available for download for free. her are a couple of really good ones about sustainability:State of the world 2010 State of the World is an annual publication published by the Worldwatch Institute. Each issue has a different theme. State of the World 2010 looks at the consumerism, what it is, why it is perpetuated and, most importantly, how it can be turned around.You can buy it from the Worldwatch website or you can download a pdf of each chapter for free. Older…

  • The power of sharing

    8 Feb 2010 | 3:00 am
    The power of sharing Unlike many sustainable practices sharing is easy, very cheap and fun – and it just comes naturally.The following has been adapted from an article by by Janelle Orsi, and is on great website about sharing: The Sharing SolutionThe power of sharing is unique in several ways:Sharing, unlike recycling, is naturally contagious. Sharing opens up a pattern of generosity and mutual caring that breeds on itself. A lot of other things we do to change the world aren't quite so viral. One person reducing his or her waste, for example, may or may not inspire a neighbour to do…

  • Taxing times

    8 Feb 2010 | 3:00 am
    Taxing times Tax reform has been in the news recently because of the publication of the Victoria University of Wellington Tax Working Group's report. The changes that the working group recommended could be likened to rearranging the deckchairs on the Titanic. Our tax system promotes unsustainability and it will take a lot more than a few tweaks to change that.As an example the report recommends a comprehensive capital gains tax as well as a land tax but these are then offset by lowering (or eliminating) progressive income tax rates for high income earners, businesses and trusts. They also…

  • 'World ecological debt day' calendar

    28 Jan 2010 | 3:00 am
    'World ecological debt day' calendar "One way of illustrating our impact on the environment that brings a sense of perspective, comes from looking at the day in a typical calendar year when the world, in effect, starts overshooting its biocapacity and begins eating into its stock of natural resources. The planet can tolerate a little give and take without environmental collapse as long as, in total, humanity lives within its overall ecological budget. The last year that humanity’s levels of resource use fell within the means of our life-supporting natural assets was 1987. As global…
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    FedEx Citizenship Blog - Environment & Efficiency

  • Innovation Can Be Magical

    Mitch Jackson
    22 Jan 2010 | 6:56 am
    Innovation plays a key role in the success  of all company initiatives - including environmental stewardship. “I believe in being an innovator” – Walt Disney  read more

  • Fred Smith on Energy and Cap-and-Trade

    Matt Ceniceros
    21 Dec 2009 | 8:21 am
    FedEx Chairman Fred Smith appeared on CNNMoney.com after the company announced its Q2FY10 earnings report. The following video is being presented with permission from CNNMoney.com read more

  • All in a Night’s Performance - Bogart, Business and Boxes

    Mitch Jackson
    7 Dec 2009 | 3:09 pm
    “The only thing that you owe the public is a good performance” - Humphrey Bogart Maybe this is true in acting; but it’s not accurate when it comes to business in general, or delivering boxes every day and night.read more

  • Practical Environmentalism

    Mitch Jackson
    4 Nov 2009 | 6:18 pm
    "A house can have integrity, just like a person" - Ayn Rand -  Practical Environmentalism is strategic and transformational environmental stewardship that adds tangible value in the effort to be more responsible. It doesn’t matter if the organization practicing it is a household, a business, a state, regional or national government.read more

  • The 777F Environmental Advantage

    Saad
    22 Sep 2009 | 11:50 am
    The Boeing 777F aircraft delivers noteworthy environmental benefits and efficiencies:•    Uses 18 percent less fuel than an MD-11;•    State-of-the-art engine technology reduces emissions 18 percent;•    Advanced noise-reduction technology meets airport noise standards and makes landings and takeoffs quieter;•    Has lower maintenance and operating costs than other aircraft in its class.
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    Inhabitat

  • Zaha Hadid’s Petroleum Research Center (Ironically) Aims For LEED Platinum

    Bridgette Meinhold
    9 Feb 2010 | 8:16 am
    It may seem ironic, but even petroleum research centers can be LEED certified if they meet the critieria. Case in point: the King Abudullah Petroleum Studies and Research Center (KAPSARC for short), designed by Zaha Hadid, is aiming for LEED Platinum. To be built in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, the state of the art campus will house research and development facilities on energy and environmental exploration and analysis. We take that to read studies on better ways of finding more petroleum (which is hardly a practice we consider to be green) but at least the building itself is striving to be…

  • ReRev Makes Energy Generating Gyms a Reality

    Bridgette Meinhold
    9 Feb 2010 | 6:17 am
    Many of us have been to the gym and wondered why the exercise equipment isn’t hooked up to generate electricity and feed it back into the grid. At long last a company in Florida called ReRev has answered our calls, converting existing elliptical machines into sources of power. Now when you hit the gym, you can burn off those calories while creating some renewable energy for a carbon negative workout. Read the rest of ReRev Makes Energy Generating Gyms a Reality Permalink | Add to del.icio.us | digg Post tags: elliptical machines, exercise, human generated power, human power, renewable…

  • Children’s Hospital is a Sheltering Haven that Proves Design Heals

    Evelyn Lee
    8 Feb 2010 | 9:42 pm
    Storytelling design is the first step towards a healthier future for patients at the Evangelisches Konigin Elizabeth Krankenhaus children’s psychiatric hospital in Berlin. Designed as a collaborative effort between the Queen Elizabeth Hospital and the Dan Pearlman Creative Agency, the center creates a fantastic narrative that guides patients on a journey to “Elise Island”, a safe place to play and rest hosted by Princess Elise. Read the rest of Children’s Hospital is a Sheltering Haven that Proves Design Heals Permalink | Add to del.icio.us | digg Post tags: childrens…

  • The Gyre: A Floating Upside Down Eco Skyscraper

    Bridgette Meinhold
    8 Feb 2010 | 2:00 pm
    Can you imagine living in a high-rise apartment building where the 360 degree views are of fishes and saltwater? Although just a concept now, this upside-down, underwater eco-skyscraper could be the future of building, especially if sea levels rise as predicted and we end up living in a water world. Designed by Victoria BC-based firm Zigloo, the Gyre is a floating eco-development meant to be both a research station as well as an off-shore resort with shops, restaurants, gardens and recreation. Powered completely by the sun, wind and ocean, the Gyre would offer a zero emissions stay for both…

  • NewActon Apartments Aim to Be the Greenest in Australia

    Jorge Chapa
    8 Feb 2010 | 12:48 pm
    NewActon Nishi is a new apartment complex in the middle of Canberra that is aiming to be Australia’s greenest residential development. But don’t go thinking that this will be a boring ‘green building’. NewActon Nishi will feature a sexy minimalist aesthetic in addition to some exciting eco-conscious features. Read the rest of NewActon Apartments Aim to Be the Greenest in Australia Permalink | Add to del.icio.us | digg Post tags: "sustainable development", australia, canberra, Green Building, green development, green developments, hello@newactonnishi.com.au, nathers,…
 
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    Twilight Earth

  • China Blows Past the Rest of the World as Largest Wind Turbine Maker

    Adam Shake
    8 Feb 2010 | 11:48 am
    China blows past Denmark, Germany, Spain and the United States to become the world’s largest maker of Wind Turbines. From Al’s Journal: This is why we need the Senate to pass a clean energy, climate and green jobs bill now: “China vaulted past competitors in Denmark, Germany, Spain and the United States last year to become the world’s largest maker of wind turbines, and is poised to expand even further this year.” “China has also leapfrogged the West in the last two years to emerge as the world’s largest manufacturer of solar panels. And the country…

  • School Lunch Reform? I Dont Think So! (Cartoon)

    Adam Shake
    5 Feb 2010 | 4:40 am
    That might be change, but it’s not the type of CHANGE that we’re looking for! Check out this great article, “Obama’s budget proposal serves up thin gruel for school lunch reform”, by our friends at Grist.Org. Follow Joe’s cartoonery at JoeMohrToons.com and on Twitter at @GreenCartoons. Related posts:There is This Duck that I Have Lunch With Coal Mine Cleanup Reform Proposal by Obama to Save $200 Million a Year Alaskan High School Kids Document Climate Change in Their Own Village (Video)

  • Alfalfa at the Eleventh Hour

    Wendy Gabriel
    2 Feb 2010 | 7:32 pm
    Guest Article by Wendy Gabriel We’ve talked a lot about Monsanto here at Twilight Earth. My father is a retired scientist turned organic farmer so I have a lot of personal, let’s call it, disrespect for the Ag Giant. And as an advocate for organics and food labeling, I find it almost incomprehensible that a company cares so much about profit that they would wreck havoc with the natural world to make a buck. Well, it seems the plot is thickening. According to Food & Water Watch, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is getting closer to approving Monsanto’s genetically…

  • TwilighTV Video – Duraflame Firelog – Is it Eco?

    Adam Shake
    1 Feb 2010 | 5:33 am
    Adam Shake from Simple Earth Media tests the Duraflame Firelog for Eco friendliness. photo credit: Paul McGuire Related posts:Twilight Earth Debuts TwilighTV – Sustainable Living Video News Cop15 – On The Streets – Day One Video

  • Simple Earth Media Website and Social Media Information

    Adam Shake
    1 Feb 2010 | 4:49 am
    Where to find Simple Earth Media Websites and Social Media accounts on the internet. Simple Earth Media Twitter Accounts Follow all of our 7 of our Websites and some of our Authors with one Click! Simple Earth Media on YouTube TwilightTV Simple Earth Media Facebook Pages: Simple Earth Media Twilight Earth Blue Living ideas Green Living Ideas EcoTech Daily Natural Papa Eco Childs Play Simple Earth Media Websites: Simple Earth Media Twilight Earth Blue Living Ideas Green Living Ideas EcoTech Daily Natural Papa Eco Childs Play Green Talk Radio Related posts:Green Living Ideas and Twilight Earth…
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    Jute & Jackfruit Blog

  • The Hills are Alive: Feral Childe Spring 2010 Arrives with the Sound of Music

    Shana
    8 Feb 2010 | 12:26 pm
    Feral Childe’s new “Hills are Alive” Spring 2010 collection is sounding off some music at Jute and Jackfruit as we unveil the first wave of this Spring 2010 collection. The first of our favorites is the Lovely Goatherd Coat (pictured above right). Yes, you read that right “Goatherd”– look closely and you will find hand drawn [...]

  • One-of-a-Kind, Passion-Inspired Vintage Necklaces for Valentine’s Day

    Shana
    6 Feb 2010 | 1:21 pm
    Who needs gold or diamonds when you can wear something even more beautiful and unique from high quality vintage stone and glass beads at 1/10th the price? And why worry about whether your jewelry has caused ethnic and tribal warfare, child exploitation and/or environmental damage when you can opt for something entirely earth-friendly, handmade in [...]

  • Shop for the Cure in Newton, MA March 3, 2010

    Shana
    3 Feb 2010 | 12:01 pm
    Jute and Jackfruit has teamed up with a number of Massachusetts area artisans for an evening of fun and shopping to raise money for the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and its Jimmy Fund. Come join us for a great cause with some amazing eco-friendly and clothing, jewelry and handbags along with beautiful artisan work from many [...]

  • Passion, Chocolate, and Love are in the Air: Valentine’s Day is Almost Here, and It’s Time for Another Giveaway!

    Shana
    29 Jan 2010 | 6:52 pm
    If you have been paying any attention to your surrounds of late, you’re spotting a myriad of flowers, chocolate, red hearts and other luscious reminders of the approaching 14th of February, 2010. Indeed the eco-friendly, organic and fair trade community has also started reminding us of organic and fair trade chocolate; organic, locally sourced roses and [...]

  • Jute and Jackfruit to donate to Massachusetts environmental organizations through One Percent for the Planet

    Shana
    28 Jan 2010 | 10:47 am
    During this past year, Jute and Jackfruit became a member of One Percent for the Planet. For those of you who are not familiar, 1% for the Planet exists to build and support an alliance of businesses financially committed to creating a healthy planet. It officially launched in 2002 by Yvon Chouinard, founder of Patagonia, [...]
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    The Solar Drop

  • Skip CFLs and go right to LED

    Deep Patel
    31 Jan 2010 | 1:12 pm
    My friend Ed Haemmerle of NJ Renewable Energy made this cool video that compares LEDs to Incandescent light bulbs in different places in his home. What I like about the video is that it's a really good visual example of what you can do with LED light bulbs in your home. In addition the video breaks down the return on investment from switching to LED light bulbs, a common question most customers have before purchasing LED light bulbs. What do you think about Ed's comparison? Do you think people should skip CFLs and go right to LED light bulbs?

  • permit for solar panels in west covina

    Deep Patel
    1 Jan 2010 | 9:06 am
    I find it quite ironic that the City of West Covina has the Sun in their city seal because there is one thing I can guarantee you, West Covina does not support solar energy. I learned this the hard way through the miserable process of working with City Hall to obtain a permit to install solar panels in my backyard. I was born and raised in West Covina and had a great experience the 26 years I have lived in this city, although that changed in a heartbeat when I began working with the city on our project, the battle of the solar panel brands.All I wanted to do was install a few solar panels,…

  • Battle of the Solar Panel Brands

    Deep Patel
    9 Dec 2009 | 9:10 am
    Have you ever hear of Battle of the Bands? It's contest in which many bands, usually rock bands but often from a range of different styles, compete for the title of "best band". The winner is determined by judges, the response of the audience, or a combination. The winning band usually receives a prize in addition to bragging rights.These days there many solar panels flooding the marketplace that it's becoming more difficult for consumers to make informed decisions, most customers just can't tell the difference. Why not take different brands of solar panels and make them compete head to head…

  • install unisolar pvl laminate on a metal roof

    Deep Patel
    2 Dec 2009 | 9:12 am
    I've had a couple people ask me how to install Uni-Solar's flexible thin film laminate PVL product line on a metal roof. The unique part of Uni-Solar PVL product is it can be bonded directly to a metal roof between the ridges. Traditional solar panels would need racking and mounting components that are not required with a uni-solar PVL installation, therefore installing the laminate reduces balance of system costs. Also these thin film laminates are extremely durable since they are not made of glass like traditional solar panels.I think the uni-solar product line works well when you have a…

  • energy needed to cook our turkeys

    Deep Patel
    26 Nov 2009 | 2:39 pm
    As Americans across the nation flip on their ovens to cook their Thanksgiving turkeys, I'm sitting here thinking the nation's electric grid is going to take a big hit today to supply the energy required to power this historic day.So how much power is it really going to take to cook our Thanksgiving meals? Has attempted to estimate how many kilowatt-hours (kWh) will it require to cook our country's beloved turkeys? I think not! I feel like doing some math today, so let's get to the bottom of this ever so important question.According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, more than 45 million…
 
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    ProPublica: Energy & Environment

  • Pennsylvania’s Gas Wells Booming—But So Are Spills

    ProPublica
    27 Jan 2010 | 1:08 pm
    by Sabrina Shankman, ProPublica - As more gas wells are drilled in Pennsylvania's Marcellus Shale, more cases of toxic spills are being reported. Earlier this month, Pennsylvania's environmental officials fined Pennsylvania-based Atlas Resources after a series of violations at 13 wells, including spills of fracturing fluids and other contaminants onto the ground around the sites. And just last week the agency fined M.R. Dirt, a company that removes waste from drilling sites, $6,000 for spilling more than seven tons of drilling dirt along a public road. The reports come on the heels of a…

  • Stricter Rules for Oil and Gas Leasing on Federal Land

    ProPublica
    6 Jan 2010 | 2:00 pm
    by Sabrina Shankman, ProPublica - Interior Secretary Ken Salazar has changed the procedures the Bureau of Land Management must follow before leasing federal land for oil and gas drilling, sending a message that the Department of the Interior aims to reverse some energy policies of the Bush administration. "The previous Administration's 'anywhere, anyhow' policy on oil and gas development ran afoul of communities, carved up the landscape, and fueled costly conflicts that created uncertainty for investors and industry," Salazar said in a news release. The BLM, which is part of the Department of…

  • Montana Gas and Oil Regulatory Actions on the Rise

    ProPublica
    5 Jan 2010 | 10:51 am
    by Sabrina Shankman, ProPublica - Last week, ProPublica rolled out a database tracking natural gas drilling and regulation in each of the 32 drilling states in the country, focusing on the 22 that supplied the most complete data. We've updated the database to include Montana's gas and oil enforcement actions, which you can check out here. Montana shows an overall growth in enforcement actions -- with a 95 percent increase from 2003 to 2009. During the same period, Montana added just one enforcement staff member, bringing its ranks to six, while the number of new wells drilled between 2003 and…

  • Natural Gas Drilling: What We Don’t Know

    ProPublica
    31 Dec 2009 | 11:48 am
    by Abrahm Lustgarten, ProPublica - It takes brute force to wrest natural gas from the earth. Millions of gallons of chemical-laden water mixed with sand -- under enough pressure to peel paint from a car -- are pumped into the ground, pulverizing a layer of rock that holds billions of small bubbles of gas. The chemicals transform the fluid into a frictionless mass that works its way deep into the earth, prying open tiny cracks that can extend thousands of feet. The particles of sand or silicon wedge inside those cracks, holding the earth open just enough to allow the gas to slip by. Gas…

  • Interactive: Search Gas Drilling Data in Your State

    ProPublica
    30 Dec 2009 | 10:21 am
    by Jeff Larson, ProPublica - As part of our report on the strain that the nationwide boom in gas drilling has placed on state regulators, we collected and analyzed drilling records for the past six years from all 32 oil and gas producing states. (We focused on the 22 states with the most complete data.) We’ve put it all up as a pretty, interactive feature so you can look at the data and see how it changed from year to year. Look up gas drilling data for your state.
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    Energy Conscious Consultant

  • Solar Heated Swimming Pool Will Save You Money

    Robert Farbe
    4 Feb 2010 | 1:11 pm
    What’s involved with a solar heating swimming pool? The amount or size of solar collectors directly reflects from the size of your pool.  Collectors are heat solar panels, solar heaters.  Collectors collect heat from the sun to heat water.  The heat of the sun is necessary for heat exchanging.  We exchange cold water for warm. We are exchanging the heat.  The water is collected and run through these heater panels that the sun heats up and run down back into the pool. It is similar to a regular pool pump.  It takes the water from the pool and pumps it back through the filter and into…

  • House Circuits: What Can They Handle?

    Robert Farbe
    27 Jan 2010 | 7:24 am
    To become an electrician, it takes years.  You must first start at the bottom as an apprentice.  Then you can become a journeyman.  Then after approval from the electrical contractor you worked under, you can become an electrician. An experienced electrician has dealt with a lot of problems within the same realm of the electrical field.  He can find and identify a problem - like overloading house circuits.  One time a painter was refinishing the floors for a homeowner and his equipment wouldn’t work.  He told the homeowner that the problem was in a receptacle in the floor.  The…

  • Insurance Coverage For Contractors

    Robert Farbe
    22 Jan 2010 | 8:01 am
    As a homeowner, you should hire a licensed professional to perform work on your home.  He should be licensed in the state where you live. I have a license that my state sent me when I applied and registered.  I renew yearly for my state license.  I can copy it and show it to homeowners but a piece of paper may not mean much to some homeowners.  It would be better to go directly to a source to obtain that information.  Many states have websites that you can go to for information to find out if a contractor is licensed.  That professional should also have insurance in the state where you…

  • Electrical Contractor: Professional vs. Handyman

    Robert Farbe
    13 Jan 2010 | 11:04 am
    When you have a problem, do you call a professional or a handyman?  A handyman may not always be cheaper.  I had a lady call me (an electrician) to hook up a new TV.  She needed a receptacle for a TV that she wanted placed high on a wall in a bedroom and also install cable to it.  She told me last time she had a cable guy just come and drill a hole through the wall.  I told her I am a licensed professional and can’t just drill a hole through the wall and stick wires in. I am a professional.  I am licensed, insured and I am responsible for my work. It doesn’t have anything to do with…

  • Solar Powered System Installers Must Be State Licensed

    Robert Farbe
    30 Dec 2009 | 2:16 pm
    Thinking of going green?  Ready to install an alternative energy system? There are many roads toward achieving energy efficiency.  The main course would be to change your energy source.  Instead of purchasing your electricity from your local power company, you need to have your own power source.  You can have solar power, wind power, or thermal power.  Evaluate your needs to see which would be best for you and your family. When you are ready, you need to hire a professional installer.  Some states require that the electrical contractor maintain a local license.  But I recommend you…
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    Green Somethings

  • Green CEO

    Green Somethings
    29 Jan 2010 | 11:46 pm
    The Green Business magazine recently published a two page article on Green Somethings, titled Green CEO. Have a see: page 1 an page 2 Don't miss the latest Green updates from Green Somethings

  • Lifestyle Coutures

    Green Somethings
    24 Jan 2010 | 5:05 am
    Always a pleasure to get a mention. Deepa Raman, the author of Lifestyle Coutures recently wrote about Green Somethings, while also publishing pictures of some of our latest products. Thanks Deepa :)... Don't miss the latest Green updates from Green Somethings

  • Green Somethings is now at the MaxiMum Store

    Green Somethings
    14 Jan 2010 | 5:12 am
    It's part of growing and That, we are. Green Somethings has found its way through the interweaving lanes of Shahpur Jat to the friendly MaxiMum store. "A home to an array of premium merchandise that... Don't miss the latest Green updates from Green Somethings
 
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    Get Eco Now

  • Batucada: Über Cool Home Accessories from Recycled Aluminum

    9 Feb 2010 | 6:45 am
    Photos: Courtesy of Jahara Studio. Made entirely from recycled aluminum and 100% recyclable at the end of their lifetime, these home accessories are the first creation of Jahara studio in Brazil. Their name, Batucada, refers to a percussion beat used in carnaval parties in that country, in which people often play instruments made of tin (hence the beaten aesthetics of the collection). More pieces and colors inside. … Read the full story on TreeHugger See the original post:  Batucada: Über Cool Home Accessories from Recycled Aluminum

  • Take Action! Come Out to Support Monkeywrencher Tim DeChristopher at His Trial

    9 Feb 2010 | 6:35 am
    Tim DeChristopher speaking last October at the International Day of Climate Action via It’s Getting… Read the full story on TreeHugger More:  Take Action! Come Out to Support Monkeywrencher Tim DeChristopher at His Trial

  • 90% of Himalayan Glacier Melting Caused by Aerosols & Black Carbon

    9 Feb 2010 | 5:05 am
    photo: Wonker via flickr. We’ve reported a number of times on the growing body of knowledge pointing to aerosols being a greater component of climate change than previously thought, and to black carbon soot accelerating Himalayan glacier melting. Well, some new research from the Lawrence Berkeley Nat… Read the full story on TreeHugger See original here: 90% of Himalayan Glacier Melting Caused by Aerosols & Black Carbon

  • Corn Ethanol Back in the Game Under New EPA Renewable Fuel Standard Rules

    9 Feb 2010 | 5:05 am
    photo: Randy Wick via flickr. New Environmental Protection Agency requirements for its Renewable Fuel Standards program have been released which raise an issue which has sat dormant for a little while: How to calculate the greenhouse gas emissions of a renewable fuel while incorporating indirect land-use changes . The last we left it corn ethanol was on the ropes… Read the full story on TreeHugger Excerpt from:  Corn Ethanol Back in the Game Under New EPA Renewable Fuel Standard Rules

  • Ocean Film Fest 2010: Where Do Great White Sharks Go? To The White Shark Cafe! (Video)

    9 Feb 2010 | 5:00 am
    Image via Environmental Economics The White Shark Café is a remote area in the middle of the Pacific Ocean between California and Hawaii, and it’s the winter and spring habitat of great white sharks. It was coined in 2002 by researchers at the Monterey Bay Aquarium who were studying the geolocation information of tagged sharks. While researchers know where the sharks hang out, they don’t know why. White Shark Cafe follows researchers off the coast of San Franc… Read the full story on TreeHugger View original post here:  Ocean Film Fest 2010: Where Do Great White Sharks Go?
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    The City Fix

  • The Most Dangerous Roads in the World

    Craig Schattner
    9 Feb 2010 | 8:28 pm
    What is the one thing that can top a four-level interchange? How about a five-level interchange, like the Puxi Viaduct in Shanghai, ranked fourth in Waze.com’s list of the most complicated and dangerous roads in ...

  • Creating “A Better Tomorrow” in America with Sustainable Transportation

    Nancy Kete
    8 Feb 2010 | 9:26 pm
    Check out this video from America 2050, as part of its “A Better Tomorrow” project to create a “positive vision for the future of America built around investments in sustainable transportation and livable communities.” No, the futuristic ...

  • Bikes on Board: The Latest Research on Bicycle/Transit Integration

    Nate Baird
    5 Feb 2010 | 10:53 pm
    Unfortunately, I didn’t get to make it to the recent TRB conference. But a few colleagues have come back from the conference bearing wonderful souvenirs, DVD-ROM discs packed full with details of the latest transportation ...

  • Transport-Related Apps for Your Smartphone

    Megan McConville
    4 Feb 2010 | 11:23 pm
    Do you want to be able to map your bike routes as you ride and share them with fellow riders?  Impress your friends by locating the closest Zipcar on the spur of the moment?  Find ...

  • Where’s Low Carbon Transport in Post-Copenhagen Pledges?

    Megan McConville
    4 Feb 2010 | 8:26 pm
    The first major piece of follow-up to the Copenhagen Accord took place Monday: the countries responsible for the bulk of climate-altering pollution formally submitted emission reduction plans, meeting the agreement’s Jan. 31 deadline. Fifty-five ...
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    Earth2Tech

  • Toyota Troubles: Lessons in How (Not) to Handle a Green Halo

    Josie Garthwaite
    9 Feb 2010 | 12:00 am
    Toyota’s ongoing recall and the safety concerns embroiling an automaker that climbed to the top of the global car market through a reputation for reliability, may offer an opportunity for competitors to seize market share, at least in the near term. But Toyota’s troubles, which most recently have spread to the automaker’s 2010 Prius hybrid model, could also offer something more lasting to companies ranging from General Motors to startups Fisker Automotive and Tesla Motors as they race to crank out plug-in vehicles: lessons in what works — and what doesn’t…

  • 10 Questions for Greentech Investor David Gelbaum

    Katie Fehrenbacher
    8 Feb 2010 | 3:45 pm
    The famously private investor David Gelbaum, founder of The Quercus Trust, and who by his own estimates has between 40 and 50 cleantech investments, as a rule hasn’t done interviews for years. According to the last comprehensive story on him, published in the LA Times in 2004, the former math whiz, hedge fund manager and philanthropist, is so anonymous he’s sometimes mistaken for his gardener. But this afternoon, on the heels of Gelbaum accepting the role of CEO of one of his portfolio companies Entech Solar (the first time he’s taken over as CEO), Gelbaum got on the phone…

  • Fisker on DOE Loan Timeline (Next Month) and Pulling Out of Michigan

    Josie Garthwaite
    8 Feb 2010 | 3:00 pm
    The times they are a-changin’ for Fisker Automotive. The Irvine, Calif.-based startup working on a plug-in hybrid luxury sports car and mid-range plug-in sedan called Project Nina tells VentureWire it expects to close its $528.7 million loan with the Department of Energy by the middle of next month. By the time that funding — awarded to help the company set up manufacturing in the U.S. and launch the luxury Fisker Karma model — comes through, Fisker expects to have its entire design, engineering, sales, marketing and administrative team located in its Irvine headquarters.

  • Daily Sprout

    Josie Garthwaite
    8 Feb 2010 | 2:30 pm
    Cash Money, Oil Money: The founders of Cash Money Records — Birdman and Ronald “Slim” Williams — have started an oil exploration company called Bronald Oil & Gas. — Business Insider Siemens Targets Fifth of Smart Grid Biz: “Germany’s Siemens sees the world market for intelligent electricity networks roughly doubling to more than 30 billion euros ($40.98 billion) by 2014 and aims to take a fifth of that market.” — Reuters India Rear-Wheel Drive Hybrid Cars in the Works at GM: General Motors’ two-mode hybrid powertrain, currently used only in…

  • Quiet Quercus Trust Chief Gelbaum Signs On as Solar CEO

    Josie Garthwaite
    8 Feb 2010 | 11:52 am
    Former hedge-funder-turned-greentech investor and philanthropist David Gelbaum has taken on a new role, as CEO of Entech Solar. A developer of concentrating solar modules and a daylighting system that’s scheduled to launch early this year, Entech Solar got its official start in 2008. That’s when solar installer WorldWater & Solar Technology acquired a 25-year-old development-focused firm called Entech, Inc. — in a deal that Gelbaum’s secretive Quercus Trust helped finance with a $35 million investment. This move into the executive role for Gelbaum, who was…
 
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    The Chic Ecologist

  • Green Police

    Jean-Paul
    8 Feb 2010 | 10:44 am
    If you watched the superbowl this past weekend, then you are probably familiar with the ‘Green Police’ ad by Audi touting their diesel A3 TDI. While the spot was quite amusing, it can also be a bit sad as that is what many people think of the green movement. I don’t want to over dramatize it, [...] No related posts.

  • Valentines Day Organic Equal Exchange Coffee and Chocolate Love Pairing

    Jean-Paul
    2 Feb 2010 | 11:22 am
    Valentines day is nearing and what better way to wake up with your love than with a coffee and chocolate pairing. It’ll get your heart racing and your euphoric feelings jump started (we all know the love euphoria properties of chocolate). You won’t feel guilty enjoying this because it is eco-friendly and socially responsible Organic [...] Related posts:A Green Valentines Day – Celebrate Your Love with the Environment Too! Artisana Organic Raw Cacao Bliss Coconut Butter – CocoNutella Fine and Raw Chocolates

  • Recycle Your Greywater Into Your Landscaping

    Jean-Paul
    25 Jan 2010 | 9:26 am
    Harvesting rainwater is a great way to reuse the free water from the sky, however, unless you have a lot of rain barrels and a lot of rain, the dry season will cut your supply short- or will it? Grey water is another great source to recycle from since it is just being wasted by [...] Related posts:Don’t Recycle Soda and Sparkling Water Bottles Can I Recycle This, and Where? Eco Friendly Green Driveways – A Living Permeable Driveway, Porous and Alive

  • Want To Turn A Green Leaf? Start With These 5 Things

    Jean-Paul
    20 Jan 2010 | 7:30 am
    Here are 5 steps every eco-friendly person should have under their belt, are significant starting points for those getting into it, and can have the biggest impact on reducing your individual impact on the environment. 1. Reusable Water bottle All of the plastic, paper and disposable cups you will save with 1 reusable bottle you take everywhere. [...] Related posts:New Soap, Old Bottle – Reducing Trash with Reuse Green Up Your Launderd Clothing – Dry Cleaning Re-thought Eco Friendly Laundry Detergent – Vaska

  • Organic, Shaken and Stirred – Green Cocktail Book Review

    Jean-Paul
    17 Jan 2010 | 4:45 pm
    I recently received a great new organic cocktail mixer book sent to me by Paul Abercrombie, a true connoisseur who also is a regular contributor to The Washington Post, Wine Enthusiast and Gourmet magazine. His new book Organic, Shaken and Stirred: Hip Highballs, Modern Martinis, and Other Totally Green Cocktails is a fresh look at [...] Related posts:Local Organic Vodka and Gin – Organic Nation Organic Vodka and Scotch Whiskey Green Cocktails, Eco-Friendly Spirits and Organic Liquors
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    Do the Green Thing: Video

  • Strange Meeting

    Michael Wright
    21 Jan 2010 | 4:25 pm
    How do you meet people half way round the world, dance in your pyjamas and Stay Grounded? Videoconferencing is the answer, Fay Ripley stars in the very funny Strange Meeting video that shows you how. Kelly: Fay Ripley Bob: Daniel Philpott Gerry: Arril Johnson Helmut: Marc Danbury Watanabe: Kinue Kato represented by AJSW www.ajsw.org.uk Denise: Lorraine Joseph Director of photography: Steven Murphy Additional photography: Richard Laing Film Editor: Lisa Chan Music: Michael Mertens at Escape Route Locations thanks to: Rothschild and The Alphabet Bar And thanks to all at th1ng and th2ng Written…

  • Copenhagen Summit Images

    Demotix
    9 Dec 2009 | 4:51 am
    We've partnered with citizen-journalism website Demotix (http://www.Demotix.com) to bring you streamed images direct from the Copenhagen conference. Between 7th - 18th December, Demotix will stream images direct from their freelance journalists and amateurs in Copenhagen to Green Thing. Each day we'll also pick and blog a photograph to sum up the mood of the conference as the events unfold.

  • A Quick Recipe for a Successful Copenhagen

    Michael Wright & Green Thing
    3 Nov 2009 | 12:24 am
    As the Copenhagen Summit is our climate's last chance saloon, it would help if we all understood what's got to happen there. To make that simple, Green Thing has produced a Quick Recipe for a Successful Copenhagen with diplomacy illustrated through the medium of cookery. Watch it. Share it. Don't try to cook it. And remember, as Chef says: "It does not have to be pretty, it just has to work." Featuring the hands of Marc Danbury, the lighting of Richard Laing, the camera support of Stuart Bunce, the post production of Magic Films, the dulcet tones of Daniel Lapaine and the writing…

  • The Making Of Glove Love

    Holly Broughton
    6 Oct 2009 | 1:38 am
    "The idea for glove love started all the way back in January. We have put a lot of thought, time and love into creating what we think is a pretty great product and a perfect example of All-Consuming - the art of wasting nothing and using up everything. We hope this slideshow will show you just how much love we've put into glove love." -- Holly

  • Lonely Gloves

    Paul Rider
    24 Sep 2009 | 4:36 am
    Lonely GlovesView more presentations from Green Thing.Photographer Paul Rider was so struck by the waste that is lonely gloves. So struck in fact, he was moved to start pointing and shooting. "I saw the first one hanging on the railings by the crossing at the side off the road. I don't think it had fallen there; it had been found and put there. When they find a lost glove on the ground, people have an instinct to put it somewhere where it can be seen, rescued and re-paired. I took its photograph. Over the next few days, as my lonely glove awareness grew, I saw more and more gloves and…
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    The Green Thing Blog

  • Green Thing Code Swarm

    reddavis
    7 Feb 2010 | 8:42 am
    The other day Twitter wrote a blog post containing a "code swam" video of their code commits. It looked pretty cool, so I decided to create one for Green Thing. To create one yourself you can get the code here, just follow the instructions. To make a video out of the images created there are instructions for that too. The config file I used can be found here.

  • Climate scepticism 'on the rise'

    andyh
    7 Feb 2010 | 6:40 am
    Oh terrific - now less people in Britain think global warming is really happening and don't believe it's caused by human activity. Between November 2009 and February 2010, 10% more people (in a sample of 1,001 British adults) didn't think climate change was happening. And the number who thought it was real and "largely man-made" was down from 41% to 26%. 75% of people thought that climate change was happening, but of those 1/3 thought the consequences had been exaggerated (it was 1/5 in November). Part of the explanation for the sharp swing may be high profile media coverage of…

  • Green Thing is looking for a social site editor

    kimr
    6 Feb 2010 | 9:56 am
    Green Thing quite possibly the most creative, inspiring environmental group on the planet (at least we like to think so ;-), is looking for a smart, passionate, connected, enthusiastic and energetic site editor/community manager, based in London. This is a full-time position. About Green Thing We're a non-profit (and registered charity, number 1125013)that believes in using world-class creativity vs. climate change - inspiring people to lead a greener life with brilliant videos and stories from creative people and community members around the world. Green Thing's mission is to reframe greener…

  • More than one way to skin a building

    andyh
    5 Feb 2010 | 11:29 pm
    The modestly named Laboratory for Visionary Architecture (LAVA), has come up with something rather visionary - a transparent cocoon skin to wrap buildings which becomes a self-contained ‘micro climate’. It uses photo-voltaic cells to turn sunlight into solar energy, harvests rain water, creates better day lighting and uses all available convective energy for ventilation. [Spotted on Architecture and Design via SmartBrief]

  • A Wake-Up Story

    andyh
    5 Feb 2010 | 7:20 am
    I think this is fairly self-explanatory. If you have or remotely like children then this will probably strike a chord... [Spotted via DoGood]
 
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    FabianPattberg.com

  • Video: Enabling people to lead a better life – The example of ‘Dancing Bears’ in India

    Fabian
    8 Feb 2010 | 10:50 am
    Today’s post is a video from TED about enabling individuals to lead a better life and the cruel practice of ‘Dancing Bears’ in India. These two subjects seem to be very different from each other but once you will have watched the video below you will see that if you want to solve a problem such as the cruel practice of the ‘Dancing Bears’ in India you need to enable the person earning a living from this practice to lead a different life and not just penalizing them for animal cruelty. Kartick Satyanarayan describes how he and his organization changed the lifes of bear handlers…

  • Sustainability blogging at its best

    Fabian
    4 Feb 2010 | 6:21 am
    Blogging on Sustainability topics is not as easy as it might sound. I am calling myself a blogger but I can honestly say that writing high quality blog posts is an art by itself. Todays post is another recommended website category post about one person that really knows how to write excellent Sustainability related blog posts and more. His name is Paul Smith and run the blog called the “GreenSmith Consulting Blog”. Paul has been around in the Sustainability blogging field for a long time and in my opinion is one of the most interest and engaging bloggers in the Sustainability field at the…

  • Good intentions – Bad execution

    Fabian
    1 Feb 2010 | 8:01 am
    Greenbanking – sounds somehow strange doesn’t it? The French bank Credit Agricole has embarked on a media campaign to promote its self proclaimed ‘responsible and ethical” banking practices. This in itself is nothing new and particularly shocking. The big question is whether the Credit Agricole stakeholders will actually believe this in the current “Do not trust banks” business climate? This is how Credit Agricole are going about this campaign to convince its stakeholders. This website: Credit Agricole – GreenBanking It is a nice website with a good design…

  • The 3bl TV CSR Web Video Channel – A new challenge for me

    Fabian
    28 Jan 2010 | 9:40 am
    Some of you may have noticed by now that I have now started to use video messages or short clips within posts or as the main message for the post. Today this whole video challenge has even got more exciting. 3blMedia has launched 3bl TV. 3bl TV is a Web Video Channel that will feature regular video segments produced by Christine Arena, Chris Jarvis, and myself. This is an exciting new challenge for me and I am really looking forward working with 3blMedia, Christine Arena and Chris Jarvis on this together. We will bring you weekly videos about some of the latest news, discussions and other…

  • A big challenge: Being a Sustainability / CSR professional at Shell

    Fabian
    27 Jan 2010 | 8:21 am
    Imagine you are working for Shell in the Sustainability / CSR department and you really want to make a difference by showing that Shell is a responsible company. Todays post is about the challenges someone working at Shell might face. This is all from the viewpoint of a normal Shell stakeholder such as myself. I have also included a video response with some additional aspects to consider. The Sustainability / CSR professional working at Shell as far as we can tell is facing the following situation at the moment: Worsening reputation: Shells reputation with regards to Sustainability / CSR is…
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    Green Building Law Update

  • Can a Green Schools Program Be Inequitable?

    Chris Cheatham
    5 Feb 2010 | 5:51 am
    In Ohio, there is LEEDigation brewing.  But it's not the LEEDigaiton that I anticipated.   The Ohio School Facilities Commission (OSFC) requires that new OSFC-funded schools achieve LEED Silver certification.  The Washington-Nile school district is balking at the additional costs incurred as a result of the LEED certification requirement.   When a school project is pursuing LEED certification, OSFC provides three percent more funding than the estimated project costs in order to pay for the incremental costs of certification.  According to Washington-Nile…

  • LEED Funding for Green School Causes Construction Delay

    Chris Cheatham
    3 Feb 2010 | 3:21 pm
    Last Thursday, during a webinar on green building legal issues, I stated the following: "I really believe schools will be a hotbed for green defect claims, in terms of energy efficiency, and other green building components.  Schools rely on tight budgets. . . .  Be careful what you are promising on these green school projects." On Friday, I read an article titled "Construction Delayed at West School," which led with the following paragraph: "Construction is at a stand-still at Washington-Nile School, where issues surrounding state-mandated LEED (Leadership…

  • Important Revision to the D.C. Green Building Act

    Chris Cheatham
    1 Feb 2010 | 11:43 am
    In December 2009, an Amendment to the D.C. Green Building Act of 2006 was introduced by the D.C. Council.  Labeled the "Green Building Technical Corrections, Clarification, and Revision Amendment Act of 2009," this Amendment includes many revisions to the original Green Building Act.  One of those revisions involves the "performance bond" requirement: "'Sec. 6. Bond requirements.'. (2) Section 6 is amended by striking the phrase 'performance bond' wherever it appears and inserting the word "bond" in its place." That's it.  This feels…

  • Hitting Reset on the D.C. Green Building Act

    Chris Cheatham
    29 Jan 2010 | 11:09 am
    Back in April 2009, I took a vow of silence.  I promised to stop writing about the "performance bond" requirement in the D.C. Green Building Act.  I had faith the D.C. Council would address the issue.  Thankfully, it appears our long nightmare may be coming to an end. Today, I am going to reset the "performance bond" issue (I have not written about it since April 2009!).  On Monday, I will discuss the "Green Building Technical Corrections, Clarification, and Revision Amendment Act of 2009" (pdf) and the proposed revision to the…

  • Live Webinar (1:00 pm EST): "Green Building Legal Issues on the Horizon"

    Chris Cheatham
    28 Jan 2010 | 6:18 am
    You can view my webinar "Green Building Legal Issues on the Horizon" live at 1 pm EST or archived on demand.  If you are having trouble, you can also try the BrightTALK website.  PLEASE NOTE:  We experienced some technical difficulties at the beginning.  Please fast forward to the 2:10 mark for the beginning of the presentation.  Thanks!
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    Seed & Sew

  • Highlights from the Brrrrooklyn Flea

    katelivesinbrooklyn
    7 Feb 2010 | 3:52 pm
    A far cry from hibernation, the Brooklyn Flea has moved indoors for the winter, into the majestic home of the Williamsburgh Savings Bank, where the gourmet snack carts abound, the melodic sounds of Sigur Ros and Nina Simone echo through the three floors, and the vendors’ booths create a maze through heaven!  We stopped in this weekend, braving the arctic gusts, and found two designers who we really loved that we wanted to share with you: Artisan Emporia works with artisans from all over the world to import a collection of really cool accessories with Fair Trade standards.  The bags…

  • Peep this, yoga babes

    katelivesinbrooklyn
    4 Feb 2010 | 7:22 pm
    Everyone knows: not only is yoga good for you, it comes with its own complete subset of fashion, i.e. the sexy little yoga outfit.  While you’re on the he health kick, think about organic cotton (spandex?) for your skin-tight, curve accentuating, totally flexility accommodating outfit.  Bgreen Apparel is the place to go for organic and low-impact-dye outfits for the active person (yep, guys too).  This is as green as it gets: their entire production process from fiber to finished garment is certified according to Global Organic Textile Standards (GOTS), the most widely recognized…

  • 1. Make pigs happy; 2. Get cool bag

    katelivesinbrooklyn
    2 Feb 2010 | 12:44 pm
    February is for love, and we love this.  Erin Waldrep of KIND boutique has joined forces with Sana Harris of WristieLove Studio in an effort to promote sustainability and general acts of kindness with the “Be Kind” campaign.  From Februrary 1-28, 2010 The “Be Kind” Organic Cotton Market Bag (above, $36) will be available in their online shops, with 100% of the profit going to support Farm Sanctuary in their mission of animal rescue, education and advocacy.  So, if you’re in the market for that make-you-feel-good-about-the-world “everything bag”…

  • J. Alvo from Brooklyn, NY

    katelivesinbrooklyn
    26 Jan 2010 | 8:50 am
    Influenced in the very best way by one of our favorites, Jil Sander, New York designer Jackie Alvo creates beautiful minimalist garments with aplomb for her indie label J. Alvo. We love the perfect pitch achieved in the dark, rich tones and sophisticated lines – these clothes are perfect all-the-time pieces for the transition from work to play. At under $100 for everything on her Etsy shop, and everything hand-made and vegan, J. Alvo may be our best pick for sprucing up the Spring wardrobe.

  • Coclico, Spring/Summer 2010

    katelivesinbrooklyn
    13 Jan 2010 | 1:05 pm
    Bundled up this winter, poring over the new Spring collection from sustainable shoe company Coclico,  there’s a little flag of hope warming us from the inside.  We are gearing up for Spring, and saving up for a pair.  Won’t it be lovely?
 
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    Go Green Solar

  • Skip CFLs and go right to LED

    Deep Patel
    31 Jan 2010 | 1:12 pm
    My friend Ed Haemmerle of NJ Renewable Energy made this cool video that compares LEDs to Incandescent light bulbs in different places in his home. What I like about the video is that it's a really good visual example of what you can do with LED light bulbs in your home. In addition the video breaks down the return on investment from switching to LED light bulbs, a common question most customers have before purchasing LED light bulbs. What do you think about Ed's comparison? Do you think people should skip CFLs and go right to LED light bulbs?

  • permit for solar panels in west covina

    Deep Patel
    1 Jan 2010 | 9:06 am
    I find it quite ironic that the City of West Covina has the Sun in their city seal because there is one thing I can guarantee you, West Covina does not support solar energy. I learned this the hard way through the miserable process of working with City Hall to obtain a permit to install solar panels in my backyard. I was born and raised in West Covina and had a great experience the 26 years I have lived in this city, although that changed in a heartbeat when I began working with the city on our project, the battle of the solar panel brands.All I wanted to do was install a few solar panels,…

  • Battle of the Solar Panel Brands

    Deep Patel
    9 Dec 2009 | 9:10 am
    Have you ever hear of Battle of the Bands? It's contest in which many bands, usually rock bands but often from a range of different styles, compete for the title of "best band". The winner is determined by judges, the response of the audience, or a combination. The winning band usually receives a prize in addition to bragging rights.These days there many solar panels flooding the marketplace that it's becoming more difficult for consumers to make informed decisions, most customers just can't tell the difference. Why not take different brands of solar panels and make them compete head to head…

  • install unisolar pvl laminate on a metal roof

    Deep Patel
    2 Dec 2009 | 9:12 am
    I've had a couple people ask me how to install Uni-Solar's flexible thin film laminate PVL product line on a metal roof. The unique part of Uni-Solar PVL product is it can be bonded directly to a metal roof between the ridges. Traditional solar panels would need racking and mounting components that are not required with a uni-solar PVL installation, therefore installing the laminate reduces balance of system costs. Also these thin film laminates are extremely durable since they are not made of glass like traditional solar panels.I think the uni-solar product line works well when you have a…

  • energy needed to cook our turkeys

    Deep Patel
    26 Nov 2009 | 2:39 pm
    As Americans across the nation flip on their ovens to cook their Thanksgiving turkeys, I'm sitting here thinking the nation's electric grid is going to take a big hit today to supply the energy required to power this historic day.So how much power is it really going to take to cook our Thanksgiving meals? Has attempted to estimate how many kilowatt-hours (kWh) will it require to cook our country's beloved turkeys? I think not! I feel like doing some math today, so let's get to the bottom of this ever so important question.According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, more than 45 million…
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    Hydrovolts

  • HCE Day 2

    9 Feb 2010 | 1:59 am
    Day 2 of the Harvesting Clean Energy Conference kicked off at 8:00 a.m. here in Kennewick. There were quite a few more people in attendance than on Day 1, no doubt due to the full-day schedule, its being a Monday, and there being no distracting sporting events. Hal Calborn, Conference Emcee, summarized one of yesterday's key messages, that the focus on many attendees was on energy security being the key economic and policy driver and the need to create jobs in the burgeoning global clean energy economy. However, "it doesn't mean that climate change is not an issue."Next up was US…

  • HCE Day 1

    8 Feb 2010 | 1:32 am
    US Representative Jay Inslee (D-WA) gave the keynote at today's opening session of the Harvesting Clean Energy Conference. He had many interesting things to say, and the predominantly friendly audience was liking what they heard.His most important point: There will be clean energy jobs--lots of them--in the future. It is not a question of whether, but where. While he was also quick to praise Washington State's largest trade partner in general, he was pointed in his criticism of how they were competing and had harsh words for what he called their "strange attitudes about trade." They trade…

  • 10th Annual Harvesting Clean Energy Conference & Exhibition

    6 Feb 2010 | 10:19 pm
    In the prior post we provided some pictures and video of the Flipwing Turbine demonstration unit, which is on its way today to Hydrovolts' first public exhibition at the Harvesting Clean Energy Conference in Kennewick, WA. Come to the show and spin the turbine! There will be about 500 attendees, including Washington State's Governor Christine Gregoire and several members of the Congressional delegation (if they can get out of Washington DC!) There will be many great opportunities to learn and ask questions about renewable energy development in and for the Pacific Northwest. Join us!Harvesting…

  • The Hydrovolts Turbine - VI

    5 Feb 2010 | 11:59 pm
    The Hydrovolts Flipwing Turbine demonstration unit has had a couple of in-water tests and made power over the past few weeks. Testing was done in the Ballard ship canal under tow to simulate the turbine in water flows of different velocities.We put casters on the bottom so we could wheel it down the road from the shop at SteadyFlux, and right down the boat ramp into the water. After ballasting the tanks and maneuvering the boat, we were underway on the first tow test:Pulling away from the dock for the first time:Next up is the Harvesting Clean Energy Conference at the Three Rivers Convention…

  • Fiddling

    4 Feb 2010 | 11:59 pm
    President Obama never uttered the words "cap and trade" in his State of the Union address. He said only a bit more on climate change, the impetus for such legislation either, calling for passage of...a comprehensive energy and climate bill with incentives that will finally make clean energy the profitable kind of energy in America. An interesting rationale considering the amount of clean energy development already happening. Even with the wretched economy of 2009,  the US added more wind power capacity last year than ever, and the country now leads the world. Lots of money is already…
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    ecomii simple living blog

  • Acadia National Park in Maine

    Lynn Fantom
    8 Feb 2010 | 7:56 pm
    Looking for a unique holiday for your family?  Want to teach your kids about our amazing natural world and environmental responsibility first-hand?  Do you like hiking, biking, and lobsters?  Look no further than beautiful Maine. A recent list published by National Geographic Traveler featured Maine as one of the “places doing well” for its authenticity and [...]

  • Not in the Mood to Pedal? That’s OK

    Colton Dirksen
    21 Jan 2010 | 8:29 pm
    “We like our bike. It is made for three. Our Mike sits up in back, you see. We like our Mike and this is why: Mike does all the work when the hills get high.” - Dr Seuss Image: Sanyo Eneloop Most trips we take are less than 3 miles from our home. With our cities and streets becoming more bike-friendly, [...]

  • Simple Activities to Help You Stay Fit This Winter

    Justin O'Neill
    11 Jan 2010 | 2:01 pm
      While it’s freezing outside, don’t freeze your workout routine.  Staying active in the winter can be a feat of willpower when it is tempting to hibernate.  Here are a few suggestions to keep your heart pumping and muscles flexing despite the ice and snow. In addition to helping you stay healthy, the following ideas are also [...]

  • Club Soda and Salt Cocktail? Kitchen Stain Recipes for Lipstick, Grass, and More

    Colton Dirksen
    30 Dec 2009 | 6:58 am
    You don’t have to cover your furniture in plastic or ban berries from your home. Life gets messy and clothes, furniture and carpets get stained. If you have a few of the key ingredients, such as baking soda, salt and vinegar in your cupboard, you can prevent a lot of those stains from sticking. Commercial stain [...]

  • Last Minute Green Gift Wrapping Ideas

    Linda Brown-Kuhn
    21 Dec 2009 | 10:01 pm
    At this stage in the game, you’ve hopefully bought almost all of your presents and are wrapping them up. If you’re stuck without recycled gift wrap (I’m ever the optimist), here are some quickie green wrapping ideas: Use the Sunday comics. They’re colorful and fun. Try to pick some strips for the outside of the package [...]
 
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    Chelsea Green

  • “Commencement”: An Excerpt from DIY U

    jmcdougall@chelseagreen.com (Chelsea Green Publishing)
    9 Feb 2010 | 7:42 am
    The following is an excerpt from the forthcoming DIY U: Edupunks, Edupreneurs, and the Coming Transformation of Higher Education by Anya Kamenetz. It has been adapted for the Web. I have visited the university of the future. Its classroom is a van bumping over dirt roads in Baja California, Mexico. The curriculum includes technology, economic and social [...]

  • Climate Change Deniers, Step Up and Answer Some Questions

    jmcdougall@chelseagreen.com (Chelsea Green Publishing)
    8 Feb 2010 | 1:59 pm
    By Keith Farnish, author of Time’s Up! An Uncivilized Solution to a Global Crisis Here’s a situation you might be familiar with: you are doing something at work that you are particularly good at, having gained those skills through study, experience, and learning from your mistakes. Along comes a person who you know of by reputation [...]

  • Italian Critics Trash McDonald’s Nationalist Food Bid

    jmcdougall@chelseagreen.com (Chelsea Green Publishing)
    8 Feb 2010 | 8:46 am
    In an attempt to improve their image in Italy and foster better relations with that country’s government—and also, perhaps, placate the vocal Slow Food movement—fast-food restauarant chain McDonald’s is adding an item to their menu there: a burger with a nationalist twist. The imaginatively-named </sarcasm> McItaly gives natives and tourists exactly what I assume corporate executives [...]

  • Why Small Organic Farming Is Indeed Radical (and Beautiful)

    jmcdougall@chelseagreen.com (Chelsea Green Publishing)
    7 Feb 2010 | 7:00 am
    At the 2010 Eco Farm Conference, Chelsea Green’s own Makenna Goodman got to witness firsthand one of the most well-attended and inspiring talks: organic farmer Eliot Coleman on the subversive power of the small farmer. Coleman adapted his address for AlterNet. Here’s a snippet: An observer today cannot help noticing the continuation of a trend that started [...]

  • Hugely Successful Signature Gathering Means Legalized Pot Measure Almost Certainly Headed for Ballot

    jmcdougall@chelseagreen.com (Chelsea Green Publishing)
    6 Feb 2010 | 6:59 am
    A signature drive by the group Tax Cannabis 2010 was easily able to gather 700,000 signatures—far more than necessary—to ensure the “Regulate, Control and Tax Cannabis Act of 2010″ will show up on the ballot in California this November. The law would make it legal for private citizens 21 years and older to own up [...]
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    Featured Blog Posts - Change2

  • Sustainability of the Commons

    Terence Jeyaretnam
    With the black clouds of the GFC looming upon us at the start of 2009, we were cornered to ask some big questions. So what of business sustainability? Is it still important? Would businesses still seek to be green, or would the sustainability budget be one of the first to be cut? But, we were optimistic. In 2008 we noted that ‘Our feeling is that there will be some natural attrition of sustainability ‘excess’. However, for the large part, there will be retention of sustainability capacity and programs. This is due to a mix of regulatory and competitive drivers that are now in place,…

  • Cycling to Work: Sustainable Travel or Russian Roulette?

    Lee Stewart
    I have just recently moved to Naremburn on Sydney’s Lower North Shore. The move was brought on by the immediate need to find a bigger place where we have some room for a new arrival currently known as “Critter” As one of the many New Year’s resolution in trying to keep the fitness up and looking at ways to reduce my own personal environmental impact I have decided to try cycling to work and take advantage of the many cycle paths around Sydney. I thought I would share with you my experience of my first three days of cycling to work. Day One: Helmet, Bright Vest, Bike, Change of…

  • Moving beyond Copenhagen

    Nick Potter
    In the wake of the latest round of climate change negotiations, here’s my response to “life after Copenhagen”. Why I’m not disappointed about Copenhagen The Copenhagen Accord does not amount to much at all, but I'm not disappointed with the outcomes of this conference. That's because I’ve learned to live without expectations. That way I don’t get disappointed, but I do get excited when something inspiring happens. This is actually an important skill to learn unless we want to become grim and cynical. As Peter Senge says, if you “scratch the surface of most cynics you will find a…

  • Out in the cold: Protests all around as NGOs banned and negotiations delayed

    Paige Andrews
    Chaos has broken out both inside and outside of the Bella Center as access restrictions have gone into effect at the UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen and negotiations have been delayed due to protests by developing nations. The Bella Center has the capacity to hold 15,000 participants, yet the UN has officially registered forty thousand participants. The poor planning has caused considerable disorder, infuriating those who flew great distances to attend (and sometimes host events) and were refused entry. And, as of today, observer organizations (of which I, myself, am included), are…

  • Life in the Bella Center - a report from COP15

    Paige Andrews
    December 7th marked the start of two weeks of climate meetings, high level discussions and side events in Copenhagen for the Fifteenth Conference of Parties (COP15), also called the UN Climate Change Conference. This date also marked the start of fifteen-hour days of coffee, typing, running to events, typing, the occasional meal, typing, and more coffee inside an enormous conference center for yours truly. With over fifteen thousand delegates, NGOs, observer organizations, governmental officials and press in attendance at the Bella Center in Copenhagen, this conference is officially the…
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    Your Daily Thread

  • Share the Love

    Danielle Davis
    8 Feb 2010 | 11:50 pm
    As they say, when the times get tough, the tough get…sharing. That’s right. One positive side effect of this recession is more people are getting together and pooling what they have. So, for Valentine’s Day, maybe we can ditch romantic exclusivity and share the love—and other stuff—all around. Here are a few places emerging (some in their beta stages) that are all about sharing resources for the common good. There are neighborhoods and there are neighbors’ goods. If you’re in Southern California, at NeighborGoods you can find and borrow them or lend yours out.  It hooks you up…

  • On Your Mark, Get Set, Go Green!

    Your Daily Thread Team
    7 Feb 2010 | 11:50 pm
    Last week, we announced that Tracy and I will run the LA Marathon on March 21st and plan to train responsibly and report our findings. So, to kick off, we found out what the LA Marathon itself is doing to be sustainable. We connected with its Creative and Environmental Coordinator, Beth Liberty, to find out what it takes to make this year’s LA Marathon just a little greener. “The marathon is a massive race,” Beth explained. With over 25,000 athletes participating, “it is a great opportunity for us to reach out to a lot of people, but it is also a big responsibility.” Here’s…

  • Foodie Fun for the Masses at LA’s 1st Street Food Fest

    Tracy Hepler
    5 Feb 2010 | 11:47 am
    Love food trucks and street food?  Hate having to drive all around town in traffic (and creating extra pollution) just to find them? We’ll the folks from Unique LA and Sauce LA had you in mind when they decided to take over downtown and organize the first ever L.A. Street Food Fest. Over 30 + trucks will emerge at LA Center Studios from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, February 13th. Some of our sustainable meal on wheelsfavorites that will be including Cool Haus, The Gastro Pub Truck and vegan friendly Frankenstand. All trucks will create a special tasting menu for the event.  Each serving…

  • Watch Out Weekend Cause Here We Come-Green “Go To’s” In LA

    Jaclyn Mullen
    4 Feb 2010 | 9:13 am
    Kids Yoga Training-You’re Never Too Young To Om When we think of Yoga, perhaps it is fair to say that adult participants often come to mind. But how many fights could be prevented in elementary and middle school if kids could just “cool it”, stay present and approach their issues with a little downward facing dog? Karuna Yoga is seeking to enlighten “all ages” especially kids ages 4-10 with its kid’s yoga teacher training. As their site proposes, “why teach kids yoga?” Get the answers you seek and some great skills this coming Friday February…

  • ReKnit Redesigns Sustainability, One Thread at a Time

    Sarah McClure
    3 Feb 2010 | 10:25 am
    Many of us have, at some point, been challenged with what to do with an outdated or unwanted sweater. We’re talking about the one that’s brandished with a pattern only the cast from Saved By the Bell would wear. Maybe someone special gifted you with something, er, not so special?  Options are limited. Donning it is ruled out. You can’t leave it in your closet, dresser … pile of clothes on the floor collecting dust mites, and you can’t chuck it (definitely an eco-no no with our overwhelmed landfills). If you have time, you can always drop it off at your nearest Goodwill.  What are…
 
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    Energy & Society

  • A World of Uncertainties

    A.V. Elias Suni
    7 Feb 2010 | 1:27 pm
    I just ran into some comments that Daniel Yergin made in 2004 at a conference on U.S.-Saudi relations and global energy security at CSIS:the U.S. really is on the threshold of a new era in natural gas, and this has major implications. In a sense the U.S. is today in natural gas where it was 30 years ago in oil, about to go from being a minor importer to being a major importer, and a decade from now the United States could literally overtake Japan as the world's number one importer of LNG.I could have imagined myself in the audience taking notes, and accepting anything he had said about the…

  • To Be or Not to Be

    A.V. Elias Suni
    10 Jan 2010 | 3:13 am
    COP-15 ended over 3 weeks ago. The immediate outcome disappointed many optimistic observers, but the longer term outcome is still unclear (yes, I know what Keynes said). Personally, I expected nothing more. In essence, I think the outcome shows that none of the major emitters, as Shakespeare's Hamlet, consider suicide as a plausible way out. In other words, the real issue is cost-effectiveness and justice, not whether climate change is a real threat. The most important lesson from the conference is that the UNFCCC may not be the right venue for an initial agreement among major GHG…

  • Princes of Denmark

    A.V. Elias Suni
    9 Dec 2009 | 6:25 am
    I was on the plane this morning. My favorite moment is always the point when the plane shoots through the clouds. Beyond the clouds, you get the divine view of this planet; and it's a beautiful planet.It amazes me how few people still understand that all climate change models are built on vast uncertainties, but that it doesn't change any of the logic for the mitigation of climate change. If there was a 50-50 chance that a flight you put your children on crashed; would you put them on the plane anyway? Would you be willing to pay perhaps 1 % of your income to ensure that it didn't happen?

  • On Discount Rates

    A.V. Elias Suni
    4 Nov 2009 | 1:20 pm
    RFF has published an article by Cameron Hepburn who confuses pure rate of time preference with consumption discount rate. It's troubling that this confusion still keeps popping up among academics. Hepburn says:In contrast to Stern’s prescriptive approach, previous research tended to be “descriptive” in assumptions about discounting, focusing on what we actually do, rather than what we ought to do from an ethical point of view. The focus was on market interest rates, which reflect the sum of many individual choices. Historic market interest rates (ignoring past and present financial…

  • Self-fulfilling Prophecies

    A.V. Elias Suni
    2 Nov 2009 | 4:08 am
    Angela Merkel on Friday:It is realistic to say that in Copenhagen we will not be able to conclude a treatyGuardian, yesterday:"Nobody thinks we will get a full treaty," said a spokesman for the Department of Energy and Climate Change (UK)...Lars Løkke Rasmussen, prime minister of Denmark, said: "We do not think it will be possible to decide all the finer details for a legally binding regime." Hanne Bjurstroem, Norwegian cabinet minister and chief climate negotiator, told Reuters: "I don't believe we will get a full, ratifiable, legally binding agreement from Copenhagen."Our climate…
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    FocusOrganic.com

  • Whole Grains with Ashley Koff

    Stefanie
    9 Feb 2010 | 5:00 am
    Nature's Path, a company we've worked with before that creates delicious organic cereals, offered Focus Organic a personalized video segment with Los Angeles-based nutritionist Ashley Koff one month ago. Ashley Koff is a registered dietitian (R.D.) who strives to make better nutrition a way of life for all. She has been named by Citysearch as LA's "Best Nutritionist" three years running. She filmed a response to a question we sent in, thanks to a reader. The Question "I know that white bread and other processed grains can be bad for you and can promote cancer, but do whole grains really…

  • All Things Eco Blog Carnival Volume Eighty Eight

    Stefanie
    8 Feb 2010 | 10:15 am
    Welcome to the February 8th, 2010 edition of All Things Eco. Be sure to Stumble the posts you like, or submit them to other social bookmarking services. Let's promote each other, as well as this blog carnival. So I promised Andrew I would announce the new Facebook fan page he set up for Focus Organic, so here it is! As you'll notice, there is a new logo featured on the page. I am currently setting up a complete site redesign (I know, again!), and that logo will be included in it. Launch date is unknown right now, but I'm excited about it! Activism Jeff Randall presents Nebraska's Wetlands…

  • Giveaway! Dandelion Organic Cotton 'Keep it Green' Tote Bag

    Stefanie
    7 Feb 2010 | 5:00 am
    Dandelion Earth Friendly Goods' has created a new organic cotton diaper bag that can (and easily does) double as an everyday tote bag. Each bag has four outside pockets - one big snap pocket to keep valuables secure, 2 elastic holders for cups or water bottles, and 1 large catch-all pocket. The roomy open interior features 2 smaller snap pockets and quick-access key clip. The tote bags are made entirely of organic cotton and use no pesticides or chemicals in the growing cycle. The new organic cotton canvas bag is versatile, fashionable and will become that one bag that will always accommodate…

  • Eco Valentine's Day Ideas

    Stefanie
    6 Feb 2010 | 12:18 pm
    Valentine's Day is right around the corner, and we've organized a few snack/gift ideas in case you needed some help. HomeFree Cookies Looking for some non-candy snacks for Valentine's Day? Consider HomeFree cookies. They are organic, whole grain, free of peanuts, tree nuts, eggs and dairy, as well as corn sweeteners, artificial colors, artificial flavors, MSG, and genetically modified organisms. I can attest to their delicious flavor, with my favorite being the mini chocolate chip (very similar to those mini Famous Amos chocolate chip cookies, but minus all the nasties). HomeFree cookies can…

  • Swell Foop Valentine Tee Winner

    Stefanie
    5 Feb 2010 | 1:59 pm
    The winner of the organic Valentine tee from Swell Foop has been selected - comment #47 - Kristi C. Kristi C. has already been contacted and has responded with her address (sorry to anyone who was hoping she would fall through!) Congrats to Kristi and we hope you like your shirt! © Focus Organic for 2010. | Permalink | 2 comments
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    Super Eco

  • iPhone app targets mystery food additives

    Lisa Poisso
    9 Feb 2010 | 7:21 am
    For all the struggle consumers go through to get accurate, complete nutritional product labeling, sometimes detailed labels still leave us in the dark. Who can make heads or tails out of that chemical soup? "I speak English, and some Spanish, but I could not pronounce half the words on food labels and quickly realized that the ingredients on food labels tell us very little," confesses Dwayne Ratleff. So the sole owner/employee of a San Francisco housekeeping service decided to clean things up himself, researching and creating a $1.99 iPhone/iPod app that provides details on more than 1,500…

  • How to choose the right Omega-3 supplement

    Lisa Poisso
    8 Feb 2010 | 8:35 am
    We've fallen for Omega-3 oils hook, line and sinker. They boost your brain, metabolism, mood and cardiovascular health, and they reduce inflammation—we're talking bow-to-stern benefits. If you typically cast a suspicious eye at fishy health claims that aren't backed by current, empirical research data, you won't have to cast your net far far. Researchers are identifying new benefits regularly. For those of you who don't care to eat fish every day, supplements can fill the gap. The difference between best and less effective choices, however, is significant. In this case, animal sources…

  • Don't be bamboozled by "bamboo" rayon

    Lisa Poisso
    5 Feb 2010 | 6:13 am
    From The Dept. of We Told You So: So-called "bamboo" fabric is actually man-made rayon, and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is clamping down on greenwashing retailers trying to sell it as an eco-friendly alternative. The FTC has warned 78 retailers (including big guys Target, Wal-Mart, Amazon.com and Bed Bath and Beyond) to stop labeling and advertising rayon fabric as "bamboo.""The truth is, most 'bamboo' textile products, if not all, really are rayon, which typically is made using environmentally toxic chemicals in a process that emits hazardous pollutants into the air," explains an FTC…

  • Supporting libraries as they support more readers

    Lisa Poisso
    4 Feb 2010 | 6:35 am
    Gather round, good consumers of America ... Today, we'd like to urge you to reach into your wallet to pull out some plastic, for the good of our economy and the love of our environment. That's right: Super Eco is urging you to use your library card.In an ironic turn of events, American libraries find themselves under the economic gun just as more Americans are turning to them for help finding jobs and filling in the gap now that retail bookstores feel like overpriced indulgences. The Philadelphia Library narrowly dodged closing in September when the Pennsylvania legislature passed a bill…

  • Recycling 3-D movie glasses

    Lisa Poisso
    3 Feb 2010 | 7:20 am
    What's the point of going to see a blockbuster movie like Avatar in 3-D if you end up despoiling the entire environmental message by tossing your fancy plastic 3-D glasses into the trash can when the movie's over? Not to worry. USA Today checked up on the mountain of glasses (42.1 million pairs of glasses worn for 3-D Avatar, some 935,834 a day) and found that all four of the companies that manufacture them have recycling programs in place.According to the publication's research, most companies solve the trash issue by washing and reusing plastic 3-D glasses. IMAX uses a special machine to…
 
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    Greener Trends

  • Google’s Renewable Energy Initiative

    Vered
    1 Feb 2010 | 7:55 am
    Whatever your feelings about giant Google, and we do acknowledge that seeing Google EVERYWHERE and involved in everything is sometimes a bit disturbing, the company’s fierce commitment to renewable energy is quite admirable. Google’s stated goal: Making renewable energy cheaper than coal. The company is working towards accomplishing that goal through a mix of internal research and external investments in renewable energy companies. Since 2007, Google has invested more than $45 million in this project. According to Bill Weihl, who’s in charge of the project, Google is viewing these…

  • Green Tips For Snowy Days

    Vered
    29 Jan 2010 | 7:09 am
    The current winter is shaping up to be a harsh, bitter-cold winter in many areas of the United States and in most of Europe. Harsh winters with extra low temperatures often produce lots of snow. Here are a few tips for saving and conserving even when it’s cold and snowy outside. If you use a de-icer on your sidewalk or driveway, use products made from magnesium chloride instead of sodium chloride (salt) or calcium chloride. While salt stops working at 15 degrees above zero, magnesium chloride melts ice at temperatures as low as minus 17 degrees and is less damaging to concrete, to your…

  • Carbon Neutral Winter Games

    Vered
    20 Jan 2010 | 4:05 am
    The Olympic Games have always been an opportunity for athletes to showcase their talent, and for the hosting city to showcase its beauty. But this year, Vancouver, who will host the 2010 Winter Olympics from February 12-28, has added another ambitious goal: to create carbon neutral Olympic Games. Olympic Games obviously tend to leave a large carbon footprint – the current forecast for Vancouver 2010 is for 268,000 tons of carbon emissions in fact — 118,000 tons from direct emissions and 150,000 tons from indirect emissions resulting from Games-time travel by participants and spectators.

  • Bio Batteries

    Vered
    13 Jan 2010 | 3:57 am
    Many of the electronic appliances and gadgets that we use every day are powered by batteries. Batteries are made from many different materials, including lead, nickel, acid, lithium and alkaline. Even after the removal of mercury from most consumer batteries in the U.S, many of the substances inside a battery are toxic to some extent. Some are very toxic. While each battery may seem too small to cause much harm, batteries are manufactured and used in such large quantities globally that not disposing of them properly creates a serious environmental hazard. When batteries are not properly…

  • Solar Powered Eco Friendly Housing Development

    Kate
    2 Jan 2010 | 5:02 am
    Can you imagine moving into a home that is part of an eco friendly development? Can you imagine the energy and cost savings along with the environmental impact of an entire neighborhood of eco friendly homes? These green neighborhoods are beginning to happen and there is one being built ten miles outside of Los Angeles in Santa Fe Springs, California. The Villages at Heritage Springs will have 500 residences and reside on over 54 acres in Santa Fe Springs, California. Each home has particular eco friendly additions that will make this entire neighborhood greener. The roof has a SunPower…
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    Energy Priorities

  • VANOC's Consultant Gives It a Bronze for Greenness

    Energy Priorities Magazine
    4 Feb 2010 | 9:12 am
    Suzuki Foundation finds little evidence of strong engagement by the parent organization, and recommends the IOC play a stronger role to ensure that future host cities like London and Sochi follow through on their environmental commitments. (continued at http://energypriorities.com/) February 04, 2010

  • New Guidance Issued by Securities and Exchange Commission for Climate Change Disclosures by Public Companies

    Energy Priorities Magazine
    4 Feb 2010 | 8:26 am
    On February 2, 2010, the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") published an interpretive release to provide guidance to public companies on the SEC's existing disclosure requirements relating to climate change. Those requirements apply to registration statements and periodic reports filed under the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. (continued at http://energypriorities.com/) February 04, 2010

  • How Green Are the 2010 Winter Olympics? - Building Priorities Briefing

    Energy Priorities Magazine
    25 Jan 2010 | 12:00 pm
    The 2010 Games are being dubbed the "Sustainable Olympics," but is Vancouver BC setting any world records? In this month's Briefing we examine some lessons from the global spectacle. First we look at the venues that Canada constructed for the upcoming Winter Games, to see if they win any green medals. Seven years after winning the bid, we find Canadians are not entirely happy about the upcoming games. Green business guru Martin Westerman shares his thoughts about how to really make the games green. (podcast) (continued at http://energypriorities.com/) January 25, 2010

  • How To Really Make the Olympics Green

    Energy Priorities Magazine
    25 Jan 2010 | 11:52 am
    If we had no choice but to make the Olympics environmentally neutral, how would we do it? Martin Westerman has some ideas. He is the author of "The Business Environmental Handbook," a lecturer on sustainable business for the University of Washington Business School and the Bainbridge Graduate Institute. (podcast) (transcript) (continued at http://energypriorities.com/) January 25, 2010

  • Energy Monitoring - Energy:Minute

    Energy Priorities Magazine
    25 Jan 2010 | 11:14 am
    You can't manage what you can't measure. Monitoring is an essential component of managing energy use. (podcast) (transcript) (continued at http://energypriorities.com/) January 25, 2010
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    Ecofrenzy

  • Transfering Blogs! Follow amievaccaro.com

    ecofrenzy
    6 Feb 2010 | 11:20 pm
    Hi all – I’m moving from this blog to my new blog at amievaccaro.com.  All the content that is here can be found there, plus more.  Please follow me there!  amievaccaro.com Many thanks, Amie

  • It’s been a while…

    ecofrenzy
    26 Oct 2009 | 9:44 am
    So you may have noticed I haven’t been updating this blog too often.  I’ve been writing semi-regularly at TriplePundit.com (which has much bettter traffic, and many amazing writers) and while I used to repost content here, I’ve since learned that’s terrible for search engine optimization (or something).  Google likes original content.  So, while I’m not going to abandon this blog, the conent will be a bit irregular.  I will post links to other content I write here.  And I will also post an occasional insight piece that doesn’t belong on TriplePundit. …

  • Viv – quick ask and help us win $100k

    ecofrenzy
    11 Sep 2009 | 3:52 pm
    I’ve just nominated Viv to win an amazing $100,000 grant from American Express and I would love YOUR help to get enough “spotlights” to move onto the judging round. All you’ve got to do is: 1) Go here: http://shinealight.ivillage.com/sbo-profile/?ProfileID=8611 2) Click “Endorse this story now,” then “register” (which only takes 1 minute, I promise) and then “Endorse this story now” Here is Viv’s story that we submitted in hopes for this grant: Imagine a way to drive environmental change, save money and reap rewards, and engage…

  • ImagineH2O Water Efficiency Prize Competition Opens for Entries!

    ecofrenzy
    6 Sep 2009 | 9:54 am
    WANTED: INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS TO WORLD’S WATER CRISIS REWARD: $70,000 Business plan challenge opens September 1, 2009 The inauguralImagine H2OPrize competition is now open for submissions.  The competition offers prizes of $70,000 in cash and in-kind services, which will be awarded to the business plans which promise the greatest breakthroughs in the efficient use and supply of water. The Imagine H2O Prize is designed to encourage the competitive and ambitious spirits of entrepreneurs, investors, experts, inventors and academics around the world to focus on water issues.  This inaugural…

  • XS Project is creating products from waste and creating jobs in Indonesia

    ecofrenzy
    17 Aug 2009 | 6:59 pm
    Ann Wizer, XSProject More than 500,000 people in Indonesia attempt to make a living collecting and reselling garbage.  Artist Ann Wizer lived above a colony of these trashpickers and inquired about what waste they could not sell: plastic drink pouches and other non-biodegradable plastics.   Wizer began purchasing these scraps from the trashpickers and using them to create bags, book covers, and other products. Not only does she produce a useful, well-designed and beautiful product (everyone who sees the bags loves them), she supports trashpickers, creates jobs for the Indonesia’s poor,…
 
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    smartfamilytips

  • For Valentine’s Day, Go Fair Trade

    Beth
    5 Feb 2010 | 1:33 am
    Equal Exchange, one of my favorite companies, is now offering the Chocolate and Coffee Pairing Gift Bag just in time for Valentine’s Day. Mambo Sprouts, a website dedicated to offering savings and coupons on green and organic products, sent one of these great bags to me to review. I’ve always been impressed with the quality of Equal Exchange’s products and this is no exception. The coffee is wonderful and the chocolate is delicious. The gift bag includes two 12 ounce bags of Organic, Fair Trade Coffee (Love Buzz and Mind, Body & Soul), two organic Panama Extra Dark…

  • Organics on a Budget: What Matters Most

    Beth
    3 Feb 2010 | 1:49 am
    Most of us don’t have an unlimited budget to buy organic foods. While some prices on organic products have come down, for a variety of reasons, organics still command a premium price. This is one of the reasons we decided to grow our own organic vegetable garden last year, and why we’ll do it again this summer. I’ve written before about where to find coupons on organic products. Recently, I’ve learned that Mambo Sprouts is a good place to try, too. But, for day to day shopping, when you want to avoid as many pesticides and growth hormones and antibiotics as you can,…

  • Why I Created Smart Family Tips

    Beth
    2 Feb 2010 | 4:24 am
    Healthy Child, Healthy World was one of the places I first began learning about the chemicals that have invaded our homes and our bodies. They have a new video; it’s 3 minutes long. Please watch it. This is why I started this blog: If you’re reading this post in an email or RSS reader, you’ll need to click over to the site to view the video. Similar Posts: The Story of Stuff Environmental Working Group (EWG) Video Healthy Child, Healthy World Book Now in Paperback Bring Your Own Waste-Free Lunch Potty Training Power: Review Click Why I Created Smart Family Tips to visit the…

  • Reuse: More Projects at Our House

    Beth
    31 Jan 2010 | 3:52 pm
    Last week I wrote about a few of the reuse projects at our house. Today I’d like to show you a couple more, this time in the kitchen. When we bought our house the kitchen cabinets and counters were set up in a U-shape. The prior owners had installed new counter tops and when they did, they set up a large half-circle coming off of one leg of the U. They had counter-height stools set up around the half-moon and presumably used this as an eating area because there was no room for a kitchen table. This setup never really worked for us, though. Neither my husband nor I really enjoy eating…

  • Weekend Roundup: Let it Snow

    Beth
    30 Jan 2010 | 5:08 am
    We awoke to some snow this morning. The ground is covered (though not by much yet) and it’s still coming down. The predictions keep changing about how much we’ll actually get. Every school child and teacher in the area is hoping it’s just enough to cancel school on Monday. On to the links: ◊ Chris Guillebeau who writes The Art of Non-Conformity has partnered with Charity: Water to raise money for clean water in Ethiopia. Chris provides information on how his time spent in Africa a few years ago gave him a first-hand look at the dire situation there. Chris’s goal is…
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    GreenITers Blog Posts

  • A great link list on global warming is real or not. (Sent by Patricia Bader-Johnston (GreenITers member))

    Flavio Souza
    There seems to be a raging debate over whether global warming is real or not. I thought you might find these interesting reading, and I look forward to a great discussion about things that matter at our Feb Green Mondays session. See you there on the Fourth Monday of February!! A Sample of Global Sentiment from Around the World: From France’s well respected Le Monde (if you can read French, the reader comments are interesting!): http://www.lemonde.fr/opinions/reactions/2010/02/01/le-giec-est-mort-vive-le-debat-par-drieu-godefridi_1299689_3232.html#opened From one of India’s most popular…

  • Our Twitter Account Suspension Today by Twitter Team

    Flavio Souza
    Below was posted at facebook and Twitter via my personal account @FLASO "Our twitter @greeniters was suspended this morning by Twitter team. The reason still unclear/unknow, the fact is that the suspension will be until Feb 9th. If you are following us at Twitter and miss our daily updates, feel free to stop by www.Greeniters.com as we make daily updates over there. Last thought about this ...suspension case for @greeniters -> #Twitter is like a cock who thinks the sun had risen to hear him crow. Anyway, for those 14,000+ followers in our twitter account so far, our thank you for your…

  • Bogus email from a Veronica Conte via Green ITers

    William Smith
    Earlier today, I received an email outside of Green ITers and purporting to be originated via Green ITers by someone calling herself Veronica Conte. The text read as follows: Hello dear My name is Veronica Conte,i wish to ask for your true friendship.I have important reasons to request your interest. Write me here: veronicaconte1@live.com Thanks, Veronica. Identical text to the above - with a different email address - can be found at Clyde Comedy (http://clydecomedy.com/profile/VeronicaConte): Hello dear My name is Veronica Conte,i wish to ask for your true friendship.I have important reasons…

  • Protest and Rally outside of the Carbon Trading Summit (Embassy Suites Hotel)

    In_Struggle
    NONVIOLENT RESISTANCE TO CARBON TRADING;CONFRONTING THE SOURCE OF COPENHAGEN'S FAILURE: Climate SOS, (http://climatesos.org) Beyond Talk (Climate Pledge of Resistance), Institute for Social Ecology, The Change You Want to See Gallery and others are gathering allies to protest this event. To join this effort and take a stand for climate justice, for real solutions, and for the future of our planet, please contact: countercarbontrading@actforclimatejustice.org

  • A Year for Optimism

    Jami Boudinot
    ( the original post can be seen @ www.midwesternsolar.org/blog ) Welcome to a new month, a new year, and a new decade! It’s officially the second decade of the 21st century, and it seems the mood is for “cautious optimism”. It is a natural desire to move on and put the mistakes of the Past behind us. However, in today’s modern cultural climate there are certainly at least two ways that negative thinking can disrupt positive growth: people obsessing about the bad things that have happened (“how can I forget?!”) or trying to ignore the fact that bad things have happened - thereby…
 
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    Elephant Journal

  • Buddhist Hospice Chaplain Hollie Laudal Blogs for the Examiner

    My old friend Hollie Laudal, with whom I graduated from the M.Div. program at Naropa University, has just started writing a blog for the Examiner. Hollie is a hospice chaplain, and her first post reflects on the evolution of the role of the health care chaplain. Here’s a choice snippet: Chaplains play interesting roles. [...]

  • Boulder (un?)chained: Keeping it real by keeping it local!

    One of the big slogans we hear all of the time (locally) is “Keep Boulder Weird,” a great reminder as to how unique the city of Boulder is (What? No Wal-Mart?! WEIRD!), and quite frankly, it’s that uniqueness, that weirdness… that pride in keeping it real by keeping it local that is part of what [...]

  • Hunky Jesus? Oh God, yes. ~ Claire Flannery

    Offensive? Funny? Sexy? Religious? Every Easter, the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence host the Hunky Jesus Contest in San Francisco at Dolores Park. It draws huge crowds, eager to enjoy the sight of hundreds of beautiful (and not so beautiful…) gay and straight men parading around in their best/worst Jesus get-up. And, of course, only one Godly hottie can earn [...]

  • Vajradhara Thangka to be Removed.

    Latest reply from the Boulder Shambhala Center concerning the removal of the Vajradhara Thangka, Feb 8: Dear Mark, You recently wrote about your wish that the Vajradhara thangka in the main shrine room in Boulder not be removed. Other people have also expressed this wish and asked us to respect its sacred character and the historic importance [...]

  • Welcome to Twitter Hell. ~ Bill Schwartz

    Tibetan Buddhism, Don’t Ask Alyce—and How to Stop Online Bullies. ~ by Bill Schwartz @RyderJaphy on Twitter (via @elephantjournal) “Hell is just resistance to life.” ~ Pema Chodron Props to Waylon for publishing “Bite me, Boulder Buddhists.” That took a pair, my friend. Not bad for a “Dharma Brat.” Now for the latest controversy—what everyone is tweeting about [...]
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    Elephant Journal

  • Buddhist Hospice Chaplain Hollie Laudal Blogs for the Examiner

    My old friend Hollie Laudal, with whom I graduated from the M.Div. program at Naropa University, has just started writing a blog for the Examiner. Hollie is a hospice chaplain, and her first post reflects on the evolution of the role of the health care chaplain. Here’s a choice snippet: Chaplains play interesting roles. [...]

  • Boulder (un?)chained: Keeping it real by keeping it local!

    One of the big slogans we hear all of the time (locally) is “Keep Boulder Weird,” a great reminder as to how unique the city of Boulder is (What? No Wal-Mart?! WEIRD!), and quite frankly, it’s that uniqueness, that weirdness… that pride in keeping it real by keeping it local that is part of what [...]

  • Hunky Jesus? Oh God, yes. ~ Claire Flannery

    Offensive? Funny? Sexy? Religious? Every Easter, the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence host the Hunky Jesus Contest in San Francisco at Dolores Park. It draws huge crowds, eager to enjoy the sight of hundreds of beautiful (and not so beautiful…) gay and straight men parading around in their best/worst Jesus get-up. And, of course, only one Godly hottie can earn [...]

  • Vajradhara Thangka to be Removed.

    Latest reply from the Boulder Shambhala Center concerning the removal of the Vajradhara Thangka, Feb 8: Dear Mark, You recently wrote about your wish that the Vajradhara thangka in the main shrine room in Boulder not be removed. Other people have also expressed this wish and asked us to respect its sacred character and the historic importance [...]

  • Welcome to Twitter Hell. ~ Bill Schwartz

    Tibetan Buddhism, Don’t Ask Alyce—and How to Stop Online Bullies. ~ by Bill Schwartz @RyderJaphy on Twitter (via @elephantjournal) “Hell is just resistance to life.” ~ Pema Chodron Props to Waylon for publishing “Bite me, Boulder Buddhists.” That took a pair, my friend. Not bad for a “Dharma Brat.” Now for the latest controversy—what everyone is tweeting about [...]
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    Mother Nature Network: Earth Matters News

  • Shredding the streets of DC

    Shea Gunther
    9 Feb 2010 | 5:43 am
    How much snow did Washington, DC just get?

  • New federal climate change agency forming

    Super Admin
    8 Feb 2010 | 3:19 pm
    The Obama administration is proposing a new agency to study and report on the changing climate.   Also known as global warming, climate change has drawn widespread concern in recent years as temperatures around the world rise, threatening to harm crops, spread disease, increase sea levels, change storm and drought patterns and cause polar melting.   [[social-toolbar]]Commerce Secretary Gary Locke and Jane Lubchenco, head of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, planned to announce Monday that NOAA will set up

  • Links to start off your week

    Shea Gunther
    8 Feb 2010 | 2:50 pm
    Happy Monday!   Here's a few good links to help you get your week started.   • Chevron hired 12 PR firms to lay communications siege to the people of the Amazon forests of Ecuador who claim that the oil giant poisoned their lands with decades of toxic waste dumping.   • My hometown of

  • Smarter farming key to saving Amazon rainforest

    Super Admin
    8 Feb 2010 | 1:39 pm
    Walking on a dusty field of cut rice that was once rainforest, researcher Flavio Wruck explains how farming, the Amazon's biggest killer, can be turned into its best defender.   At the government-run experimental farm where he works, he points toward plots where crops, cattle and timber live together.   [[social-toolbar]]It's a simple system, long practiced in the U.S., of rotating crops and revitalizing pasture instead of simply chopping down forest and planting new grasslands.

  • Haiti protesters denounce aid corruption

    Super Admin
    8 Feb 2010 | 1:03 pm
    PORT-AU-PRINCE — Hundreds of Haitian earthquake survivors protested in a suburb of the wrecked capital on Sunday, accusing a district mayor of corruption and hoarding food aid provided by relief groups, witnesses said.   The protest in the Petionville neighborhood of Port-au-Prince was one of the largest since the Jan. 12 quake that killed more than 200,000 people and left over 1 million homeless.
 
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    Mother Nature Network: Business

  • Arctic melt to cost up to $24 trillion by 2050

    Super Admin
    8 Feb 2010 | 3:11 pm
    Arctic ice melting could cost global agriculture, real estate and insurance anywhere from $2.4 trillion to $24 trillion by 2050 in damage from rising sea levels, floods and heat waves, according to a report released on Friday.   "Everybody around the world is going to bear these costs," said Eban Goodstein, a resource economist at Bard College in New York state who co-authored the report, called "Arctic Treasure, Global Assets Melting Away."   [[social-toolbar]]He said the r

  • Redwood Creek wines accepting grant applications

    Melissa Hincha-Ownby
    8 Feb 2010 | 2:35 pm
    There is definitely a strong back-to-nature/get outdoors movement alive today. As a mom, I see media campaigns, blogs, books, etc., encouraging children to get outside and just play. Redwood Creek wines is also supportive of this movement. The winery is currently accepting grant applications for its Greater Outdoors Project. Eight nonprofit organizations will be chosen to receive a $10,000 grant, and the grand prizewinner will receive a $50,000 grant.   Nonprofit organizations have until Feb. 28, 2010, to submit a grant application.

  • Obama continues to support small businesses

    Melissa Hincha-Ownby
    8 Feb 2010 | 2:31 pm
    Last week, President Obama announced his plans for a $30 billion Small Business Lending Fund during a town hall meeting. He returned to this topic during his weekly address.

  • Unemployment rate drops to 9.7% in January 2010

    Melissa Hincha-Ownby
    5 Feb 2010 | 11:15 am
    The nation closed out 2009 with a flat 10.0 percent unemployment rate, and economists and other financial experts predicted that we’d still see double-digit unemployment as 2010 started.

  • State of Green Business 2010

    Melissa Hincha-Ownby
    5 Feb 2010 | 11:13 am
    Yesterday, Joel Makower and the editors of GreenBiz.com released their third annual green business report, the State of Green Business 2010. In the report, Makower and the editorial team look back at the top green business trends in 2009 and then attempt to look into the future to see how green business will grow in 2010.   [[social-toolbar]]Last year was, without a doubt, one of the more difficult years for business owners in recent history.
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    Mother Nature Network: Technology

  • Hackers steal $4 million in carbon credits

    Stephanie Rogers
    8 Feb 2010 | 7:07 pm
      Perhaps they were beginning to feel guilty about their inflated carbon footprints – guilty enough to steal.

  • Glowing wallpaper could be a greener way to light your home

    Bryan Nelson
    8 Feb 2010 | 6:48 pm
    Thin is in, especially regarding digital displays like television and laptop screens. Now a new graphene-based electrode technology has been developed which promises to provide affordable glowing displays which can be applied as wallpaper or on ceilings, providing a green, energy-saving alternative to light bulbs for illuminating your home.

  • There are '6 Americas' when it comes to global warming

    Karl Burkart
    8 Feb 2010 | 3:38 pm
    The Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies, one of the world's leading research institutions in the field of social behavior relating to climate change, recently released a report called "Global Warming's Six Americas" (PDF). The report was led by Dr. Anthony Lieserowitz, the head of the Yale Project on Climate Change, who explains that unlike other countries, the U.S.

  • Hubble sees Pluto changing color

    Super Admin
    8 Feb 2010 | 3:05 pm
    Spurned Pluto is changing its looks, donning more rouge in its complexion and altering its iceball surface here and there.   Color astronomers surprised.   [[social-toolbar]]Newly released Hubble Space Telescope photos show the distant one-time planet — demoted to "dwarf planet" status in 2006 — is changing color and its ice sheets are shifting.   The photos, released by NASA last week, paint a Pluto that is significantly redder than it had been for the past several decades.

  • A tale of two climate polls, part 2

    Karl Burkart
    8 Feb 2010 | 2:03 pm
    OK, what’s going on? We have a fairly progressive institution, Yale University, telling us that only 57 percent of the population thinks climate change is real.
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    Mother Nature Network: Food

  • FDA to clarify serving sizes

    Katherine Butler
    9 Feb 2010 | 6:54 am
    In a move towards the fight against obesity, the Food and Drug Administration may require food manufacturers to post nutritional information on the front of packages. But the New York Times reports that this effort underscores a larger issue: serving sizes for many packaged foods are too small. For example, look at the calorie count and serving size for a bowl of cereal — odds are that you're eating two bowls and twice as many calories.

  • The inexpensive, 6-compartment reusable wine bag

    Robin Shreeves
    8 Feb 2010 | 2:48 pm
    We talk a lot around here about sustainable wine. Organic. Biodynamic. Cork or no cork. Local. Lighter bottles. Solar powered wineries … The ways a wine or its packaging can be more sustainable are many.   There’s an easy way you can make your wine buying habit more sustainable — take a reusable bag. Traditional reusable bags aren’t effective for wine because the bottles shouldn’t be loose in a bag. Some smart someone, I don’t know who, came up with a simple solution. The inexpensive, six compartment reusable wine bag.

  • Time to start saving containers for seedlings

    Robin Shreeves
    8 Feb 2010 | 2:45 pm
    Some extremely dedicated gardeners and some who live in the warmest climates have probably already started their seedlings for their upcoming edible gardens. Then there are the rest of us, buried under snow, dreaming about vine-ripened, sun-warmed tomatoes.   If you’ll be growing your own plants from seeds this year, it’s time to start saving containers for those seedlings. There is no need to buy containers. Just go check out your recycle bin.   Take a look at the picture above.

  • Seasonal recipe: Beef bourguignon

    Robin Shreeves
    8 Feb 2010 | 2:43 pm
    We’ve got about two feet of it right now with another two feet threatening to fall tomorrow night. Over the weekend, record amounts of snow fell from Virginia up to mid-New Jersey. There were two options in the days before the snow when people were calling for 'Snowmaggedon' — panic or plan. I uncharacteristically planned. (Not that characteristically I would panic.

  • 5 Valentine's Day splurges

    Robin Shreeves
    8 Feb 2010 | 2:38 pm
    I know. The other day I wrote about consuming experiences this Valentine’s Day instead of consuming stuff. Still, some of you are going to buy your loved ones a sweet treat this year. Heck, I wouldn’t mind a small treat myself.
 
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    Mother Nature Network: Transportation

  • Toyota recalls 2010 Prius, other hybrids

    MNN User
    9 Feb 2010 | 6:29 am
    By Yuri Kageyama / Associated Press   Toyota says it is recalling about 437,000 Prius and other hybrid vehicles worldwide to fix brake problems — the latest in a string of embarrassing safety lapses at the world's largest automaker.   [[social-toolbar]]"I don't see Toyota as an infallible company

  • EDF targets fleet efficiency

    Melissa Hincha-Ownby
    6 Feb 2010 | 5:41 am
      The Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) is targeting corporate automobile fleets in its newest campa

  • Should I drive my Toyota?

    Jim Motavalli
    5 Feb 2010 | 12:59 pm
      If I tell you not to drive your Toyota, that’s one thing — I’m just a car blogger. But when Ray LaHood, who last time I looked was Transportation Secretary, says it, people pay attention.   At a congressional hearing, LaHood was asked what he’d say to the owner of one of the eight recalled Toyota models. “Stop driving it,” he said.

  • U.S. opens formal investigation of 2010 Prius brakes

    Super Admin
    5 Feb 2010 | 12:09 pm
    WASHINGTON - Safety regulators opened a formal investigation into consumer complaints about braking on 2010 Toyota Prius hybrids, the latest jolt to the automaker already reeling from massive recalls and intensified safety scrutiny.   Prius is the world's best-selling hybrid, and U.S.

  • Unruly passenger blames medical pot cookies

    Super Admin
    4 Feb 2010 | 11:54 am
    A San Francisco man claims he was high on a double dose of medical marijuana cookies when he screamed, dropped his pants and attacked crew members on a cross-country flight, forcing its diversion to Pittsburgh, the FBI said Wednesday.   Kinman Chan, 30, was charged in a criminal complaint with interfering with the duties of a flight attendant on allegations that he fought with crew members of U.S. Airways Flight 1447 from Philadelphia to Los Angeles on Sunday.
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    Mother Nature Network: Lifestyle

  • Stop complaining and share what makes you optimistic in 2010

    Siel Ju
    8 Feb 2010 | 2:59 pm
    Whenever I tell someone I’m lactose-intolerant, I remember this funny quote from Chris Rock: “We’ve got so much food in America, we’re even allergic to it …. Do you think anybody in Rwanda is lactose-intolerant?”   Obviously, lactose intolerance and food allergies do exist. But I certainly often forget to be grateful for the wealth of options I still have.

  • Christie's celeb-studded Earth Day auction

    Siel Ju
    8 Feb 2010 | 2:55 pm
    Ever wanted to help protect the environment — by spending your money on VIP tickets to a Christina Aguilera concert?

  • Wembé soaps scrub you clean, naturally

    Siel Ju
    8 Feb 2010 | 2:53 pm
    For a natural soap that naturally exfoliates your skin, try Wembé, a line of pretty soaps made with ingredients from the Amazon rain forest.   Wembé soaps are handmade in Paraguay using native plants and herbs that, according to the company, are organically grown though not certified as such. Those are mixed with essential vegetable oils and natural butters to make colorful, textured soaps without artificial coloring or fragrances.

  • Plastic in the microwave: Is BPA in your frozen dinner?

    Siel Ju
    8 Feb 2010 | 1:17 pm
    Do you eat frozen dinners heated up in the microwave? And if so, how closely do you look at the packaging for those meals?   Recent concerns about BPA, an endocrine disruptor linked to everything from breast cancer to sexual dysfunction, have convinced many people to stop using plastic water bottles that aren’t marked BPA-free.

  • Enter MNN's Oasis of the Seas contest to win a free cruise

    MNN User
    8 Feb 2010 | 12:53 pm
    Thanks for your interest. This contest has been closed.
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    Mother Nature Network: Shea Gunther

  • Shredding the streets of DC

    Shea Gunther
    9 Feb 2010 | 5:43 am
    How much snow did Washington, DC just get?

  • Links to start off your week

    Shea Gunther
    8 Feb 2010 | 2:50 pm
    Happy Monday!   Here's a few good links to help you get your week started.   • Chevron hired 12 PR firms to lay communications siege to the people of the Amazon forests of Ecuador who claim that the oil giant poisoned their lands with decades of toxic waste dumping.   • My hometown of

  • The Sunday Best covers winter biking

    Shea Gunther
    8 Feb 2010 | 10:45 am
    The Sunday Best is a great local site here in Portland, Maine, that combines beautiful photography with well-crafted audio stories of regular Mainers doing "extraordinary things", as the Sunday Best puts it.   I was contacted by Peter Smith, one of the brains behind the site (the other being photographer Natalie Conn) who had heard about my love of winter biking and asked me to come out for a shoot.

  • The Prius-driving vegan vs. the meat-eating bicyclist: Who is the better environmentalist?

    Shea Gunther
    5 Feb 2010 | 12:35 pm
    A note from Shea: I'm out-of-pocket this week, working on a project in Iowa and I've asked a few of my green blogger friends to help me by writing some guest posts. Enjoy this piece from MNN's Bryan Nelson.

  • What if we treated the problem, not just the symptoms?

    Shea Gunther
    5 Feb 2010 | 11:26 am
    A note from Shea: I'm out-of-pocket this week, working on a project in Iowa, and I've asked a few of my green blogger friends to help me by writing some guest posts. Enjoy this piece from Jeffrey Davis from The Fun Times Guide to Green Living (as well as right here on MNN). I'll be back in action next week.
 
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    Mother Nature Network: Matt Hickman

  • No Dumpster(ing)

    Matt Hickman
    8 Feb 2010 | 7:28 pm
    Over the summer, I profiled California-based nonprofit, Deconstruction & ReUse Network (DRN), a major player in the home deconstruction movement that had just finished up a fantastic whole-house recycling project in Beverly Hills.

  • A green dream home lands in America's first colony

    Matt Hickman
    8 Feb 2010 | 2:21 pm
      For those who enjoy a good green home giveaway (and really, who doesn't?), here’s some welcome news: the HGTV Green Home 2010 is really taking shape and there’s a batch of photos to prove it.   This will be the third year that HGTV has built and given away a green dream home t

  • Rhode Island fold 'em

    Matt Hickman
    8 Feb 2010 | 2:18 pm
    Back in November, I featured a Boston Globe-produced video that goes inside the Littleton, Mass., assembly plant of a then-unknown Blu Homes, the green prefab building company that acquired the assets of Michelle Kaufmann’s mkDesigns after it folded in the weak economy.    Whi

  • Indiana home scores LEED touchdown

    Matt Hickman
    8 Feb 2010 | 2:12 pm
      Despite the Super Bowl smackdown received by the Indianapolis Colts last night, residents of Indiana have a good reason to celebrate: the state recently received its first LEED certified-Platinum single-family home, the highest designation for newly built green homes in the U

  • Kicking your knickers

    Matt Hickman
    8 Feb 2010 | 2:09 pm
    I spend a fair amount of time collecting quarters and whining about/dreading laundry day. (I’m a renter living without the luxury of an in-building or in-unit washer/dryer). Sigh.
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    Mother Nature Network: Melissa Hincha Ownby

  • Redwood Creek wines accepting grant applications

    Melissa Hincha-Ownby
    8 Feb 2010 | 2:35 pm
    There is definitely a strong back-to-nature/get outdoors movement alive today. As a mom, I see media campaigns, blogs, books, etc., encouraging children to get outside and just play. Redwood Creek wines is also supportive of this movement. The winery is currently accepting grant applications for its Greater Outdoors Project. Eight nonprofit organizations will be chosen to receive a $10,000 grant, and the grand prizewinner will receive a $50,000 grant.   Nonprofit organizations have until Feb. 28, 2010, to submit a grant application.

  • Obama continues to support small businesses

    Melissa Hincha-Ownby
    8 Feb 2010 | 2:31 pm
    Last week, President Obama announced his plans for a $30 billion Small Business Lending Fund during a town hall meeting. He returned to this topic during his weekly address.

  • Unemployment rate drops to 9.7% in January 2010

    Melissa Hincha-Ownby
    5 Feb 2010 | 11:15 am
    The nation closed out 2009 with a flat 10.0 percent unemployment rate, and economists and other financial experts predicted that we’d still see double-digit unemployment as 2010 started.

  • State of Green Business 2010

    Melissa Hincha-Ownby
    5 Feb 2010 | 11:13 am
    Yesterday, Joel Makower and the editors of GreenBiz.com released their third annual green business report, the State of Green Business 2010. In the report, Makower and the editorial team look back at the top green business trends in 2009 and then attempt to look into the future to see how green business will grow in 2010.   [[social-toolbar]]Last year was, without a doubt, one of the more difficult years for business owners in recent history.

  • Happy Clean Energy Week!

    Melissa Hincha-Ownby
    3 Feb 2010 | 3:23 pm
    Did you know that this week was Clean Energy Week? I didn’t. I write about clean energy jobs, a green economy, and the importance of energy efficiency on a weekly basis and I didn’t even realize that Feb. 1–5 has been named Clean Energy Week by a group of nonprofits, NGOs, activists and other organizations.   These organizations have joined forces to help promote the importance of clean energy and gain legislative support from Congress.
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    Mother Nature Network: Jenn Savedge

  • Rock-a-bye robot?

    Jenn Savedge
    8 Feb 2010 | 1:39 pm
    What's creepier than a skinless, oversized robo-toddler bearing on oversized, angry-looking head?

  • Watch: Crafts for Chinese New Year

    Jenn Savedge
    8 Feb 2010 | 1:37 pm
    These 3 lantern craft ideas will light your way to the Chinese New Year.

  • BPA for mom could mean asthma for kids

    Jenn Savedge
    8 Feb 2010 | 1:29 pm
    Hardly a day goes by that BPA doesn't make it into the news.

  • California seeks reasons for autism spikes

    Jenn Savedge
    8 Feb 2010 | 1:26 pm
    Recent trends suggest that autism rates are rising across the U.S. That is alarming, in and of itself. But new statistics show that the disorder appears to be more prevalent in certain communities.

  • Teens for jeans

    Jenn Savedge
    8 Feb 2010 | 1:12 pm
    For the next few weeks, you can make a difference in the lives of homeless teens, both here and in Haiti, just by donating a pair of your gently used jeans. As part of their Teens For Jeans campaign, DoSomething.org has partnered with retailer Aéropostale to hand out "pre-loved" jeans to teens in homeless shelters around the world.
 
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    Mother Nature Network: News Roundup

  • Daily Briefing: Mon.

    Russell McLendon
    8 Feb 2010 | 7:39 am
    SNOWMAGEDDON: The Mid-Atlantic United States is still digging out this morning from a historic blizzard that struck over the weekend, dumping up to 40 inches of snow in some places.

  • Weekend Briefing

    Russell McLendon
    5 Feb 2010 | 1:04 pm
    "SNOWMAGEDDON": Well, that didn't take long. Four days after Punxsutawney Phil predicted six more weeks of winter, Pennsylvania and most other Eastern states are being walloped by a severe winter storm, which may dump up to 3 feet of snow in some places.

  • Daily Briefing: Thurs.

    Russell McLendon
    4 Feb 2010 | 11:28 am
    A CATCHY TUNA: France announced Wednesday that it now backs a ban on the global trade of bluefin tuna, raising hopes that the long-sought restriction may soon become a reality. Most of the European Union already supports banning the commercial fishing of bluefin — which is said to be on the brink of extinction, yet whose fatty flesh is widely prized as sushi — but France had been on the fence.

  • Daily Briefing: Wed.

    Russell McLendon
    3 Feb 2010 | 8:40 am
    COAL COMFORT: President Obama is hosting Republican governors from coal-producing states at the White House today, part of an effort to ramp up support for combating climate change and to boost his bipartisan credentials. In addition to discussing the future of "clean coal" technology with Govs.

  • Daily Briefing: Tues.

    Russell McLendon
    2 Feb 2010 | 7:56 am
    GROUNDHOG DAY: Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow this morning, foreshadowing six more weeks of winter, but some of the famous Pen