Green

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  GardeningNude

• Beauty and Health With Nature Mike Caplan Captures It All

  Shawna Coronado

  6 Nov 2009 | 6:10 am

  Mike Caplan is a television weatherman for ABC-7 News in Chicago. He is also one amazingly talented photographer as you can see by the two gorgeous photos I have included on this post (both copyright protected). His passion for photography has lead him to build his curiosity for nature into the fabulous art found at Caplan Studios. Late this summer, I was able to speak with Mike at the Morton Arboretum and discuss his love for photography. As soon as we met, I was captivated with his positive mindset about the importance of nature and his strong commitment to bringing more people to nature by…

• Harry the Pug Says Save Money! Here Are Five Tips for Reducing Indoor Water Usage

  Shawna Coronado

  4 Nov 2009 | 11:41 am

  Did you know the average American uses almost 100 gallons of water per day? This includes drinking, washing clothes, washing dishes, flushing toilets, food preparation, bathing, as well as watering lawns and gardens. Surprisingly, the United States is one of the highest ranking water users in the world. Other countries such as France and Germany use roughly 55 to 60 gallons daily. Below are five tips for super-easy but significant ways to reduce your water usage: Retrofit water fixtures with water saving fixtures such as a water saving showerheads, toilets, and aerators. Audit water leaks by…

• Happy Halloween From Shawna and Harry the Franken-Pug Thanks For Reading Our Green Lifestyle Blog!

  Shawna Coronado

  31 Oct 2009 | 5:55 am

  Shawna Coronado says Get Healthy! Get Green! Get Community! www.thecasualgardener.com, The Green Blog - www.gardeningnude.com, or The Garden Blog - http://thecasualgardener.blogspot.com

• Save Money My Top Ten Tips for Reducing Energy Usage In Your Home!

  Shawna Coronado

  30 Oct 2009 | 8:50 am

  According to a 2009 report from McKinsey & Company, Americans are wasting $130 billion annually on energy. This means we are spending way too much money due to inefficiency in our homes. During a difficult economic time, watching our utility usage is so critical, it can sometimes mean the difference between losing a home and saving a home. Below are the Top 10 Tips For Reducing Energy Usage – my personal recommendations for running a household that saves money and energy: Audit your household to understand how much energy you are using and where you might best save energy. Utility…

• Pumpkin Seeds - How Halloween Can Teach Your Children About Nature

  Shawna Coronado

  29 Oct 2009 | 6:20 am

  All summer long our family grew pumpkins; first we planted tiny plants in the soil – they flowered bright orange flowers as large as my hand. Green balls soon formed in the early summer and grew into larger pumpkins mid-summer. Finally, in September, we watched the pumpkins ripen orange. Picking the pumpkins involved my daughter steadying the pumpkin while I used heavy garden scissors to snip them off the thick vine; their lifeline to water and nutrients. Leaning down, she picked up a pumpkin and shouted, “WOW! This is heavy!” Our “babies” sat smiling on the front porch for weeks,…

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  TreeHugger

• The Week in Pictures: Oil Rigs on Fire, Paris Hilton's Doghouse, Mount Kilimanjaro, and More (Slideshow)

  8 Nov 2009 | 8:59 pm

  From the 35-mile long volcanic rift in the Ethiopian desert that has been confirmed as the beginning of a new sea to the news that oil continues to gush into the Timor Sea--at an estimated rate of somewhere between 400 and 2,000 barrels per day--from an oil rig off the NW coast of Australia, a lot happened this week in green. We took a tour of Paris Hilton's $325,000 dog mansion--complete with air-conditioning and designer furniture--and saw spooky photos of Readers' Green Halloweens. Find out what else happened in the world of green this week in our photo roundup of most popular, most…

• Mavizen's 130 MPH TTX02 Electric Motorcycle Runs on Linux

  6 Nov 2009 | 4:56 pm

  Why did you stop? Well, I was recompiling my kernel and got a segfault... Mavizen has decided to offer a new electric bike based on the previous winner of the TTXGP so that other teams can have a solid foundation to build on for next year. The TTX02 is based on the KTM RC8 with a Agni powerplant. The twist is that t...Read the full story on TreeHugger

• C.K. Prahalad, Kraft Going Green(ish) and The COP15 Lead Up in Barcelona

  6 Nov 2009 | 4:07 pm

  A weekly wrap up of green and socially minded business news from the gang at TriplePundit.com. Warrior Film-making: The Story of Free Range Studios - Startup Friday features the makers of The Meatrix today and the trials and tribulations of launching a media enterprise with...Read the full story on TreeHugger

• A Garden Blooms Inside a Concrete Cloverleaf

  6 Nov 2009 | 2:08 pm

  In the loop: a botanical garden inside a highway interchange (inset). Photos via Nezahat Gökyiğit Botanical Garden (inset) and the Istanbul Governor's Office. A botanical garden inside an "urban void" -- the loop of a busy highway's cloverleaf interchange -- has been recognized by Deutsche Bank as a creative solution to the problems facing residents of Turkey's largest city, and those of other metropolitan areas around the world....Read the full story on TreeHugger

• The Modern Green Movement Explained in Diagrams (VIDEO)

  6 Nov 2009 | 1:49 pm

  There's so much going on in the modern green movement that it can be hard to grasp where the whole thing is heading, and how bloggers in Australia, activists in Africa, scientists in the US, and so on, are all stitched together. This segment from Current TV offers a nice, straightforward attempt to lay out the battle plan in simple terms. Check it out in the video after the jump....Read the full story on TreeHugger

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  the daily green

• Today's Arctic Circle Comic Strip

  7 Nov 2009 | 9:01 am

  See Comics from the Last 30 Days!

• Learn This Secret to Green Career and Investing Success

  6 Nov 2009 | 7:10 am

  Understand how to take advantage of growing opportunity in clean energy, organics, remediation and many other areas.

• Win Erbavia Organic Deodorant

  5 Nov 2009 | 5:03 am

  5 lucky winners will win two full size certified organic deodorants from Erbavia!

• Fuel-Efficient Cars for the Rest of Us

  4 Nov 2009 | 6:17 am

  Find out which affordable models post the greenest numbers. Also see the highest MPG cars of 2009.

• Hacking a Saab into a Lean, Green Electric Machine

  4 Nov 2009 | 12:56 am

  The Green Living Guy and friends share their knowledge of electric car conversions.

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  WorldChanging

• Can We Manipulate the Weather?

  WorldChanging Team

  6 Nov 2009 | 12:21 pm

  WorldChanging Team: Chinese scientists claim to be able to control the weather. But is so-called geoengineering more than wishful thinking? And, if so, should we be...

• Walk Score Adds Transit

  Clark Williams-Derry

  6 Nov 2009 | 12:20 pm

  Clark Williams-Derry: Popular walkability ranking now includes bus stops and rail stations. Walk Score, which has become the most widely-used measure of pedestrian friendly neighborhoods in North...

• Interview with Rajendra Pachauri: Amid Mounting Pessimism A Voice of Hope for Copenhagen

  Yale Environment 360

  6 Nov 2009 | 11:44 am

  Yale Environment 360: With skepticism growing about the chances of reaching a climate agreement next month in Copenhagen, Rajendra Pachauri, chairman of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate...

• New Study: Changes to Economic Policy Necessary for Switch to Low-Carbon Economy

  Joe Romm

  6 Nov 2009 | 11:32 am

  Joe Romm: by Bill Becker New Study: Changes to Economic Policy Necessary for Switch to Low-Carbon Economy In case we need more evidence that an urgent economic...

• The Future of Environmental Law Mapping

  WorldChanging Team

  6 Nov 2009 | 11:17 am

  WorldChanging Team: By Laurent Granier Geographical Information Systems (GIS) and mapping offer great opportunities for the transfer of legal data from books to maps. GIS applications have...

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  Switchboard, from NRDC

• Building for Success on International Global Warming in Copenhagen

  Jake Schmidt

  6 Nov 2009 | 11:28 am

  The last round of global warming negotiations before the Copenhagen meeting begins are just wrapping up here in Barcelona.  Much of the actual negotiations were focused on getting the negotiating text and the underlying details contained in the text into better shape.  But there were also important discussions for what can be achieved in Copenhagen and ultimately out of this international negotiations.  After all, after we leave Barcelona there are only 4 weeks before negotiations begin in Copenhagen. So there was a lot of buzz in the corridors when Africa showed that it was…

• On Leadership and the Water Package

  Barry Nelson

  6 Nov 2009 | 10:18 am

  A great deal has been written about the substance of the water reform bills that was passed by the legislature in the wee hours Wednesday.  Here’s NRDC’s statement on the three key bills.  And here’s a thoughtful editorial from the Los Angeles Times this morning.  I’ll write more about the substance of these bills later.  But the story the media has yet to cover is what it really takes to pass a package of bills like this.  The California legislature is a famously unruly institution and water is a famously thorny issue.  Passing…

• Looking Back - My Week of Environmentally Responsible Living

  Shravya Reddy

  6 Nov 2009 | 9:46 am

  No Impact Week is long over, but unfortunately I haven't had a chance to blog and record my experiences during the last few days of the effort. Things got seriously busy, but here I am, back in action now, and I thought I'd finish the No Impact Week series off with a few quick notes on energy (Day 5) and water (Day 6), and try to sum up some of the successes and failures from my experiment. In terms of energy, I did a few high-impact things: I replaced two incandescent bulbs with Compact Fluorescent Lightbulbs. The average CFL lasts about 5 years, and reduces carbon emissions by approximately…

• Companies Launch New Initiative to Show Broad Business Support for Climate Legislation

  Pete Altman

  6 Nov 2009 | 8:12 am

  Yesterday's news that clean energy and climate legislation moved out of the EPW committee was a welcome development. Even though a number of opponents of action decided to sit out the vote, there's plenty of support for moving a bill forward. And there was another sign that more and more businesses support legislative action, with the launch of American Businesses for Clean Energy (ABCE), a broad initiative by businesses that want their voices heard on clean energy and climate legislation and that want to make it easy for other businesses - large and small - to signal their support for…

• Starting a Clean Energy Revolution with Common Sense

  Frances Beinecke

  6 Nov 2009 | 7:44 am

  I have been an environmental advocate for more than 35 years. And throughout that time, I have written policy briefs, magazine articles, and blog posts, but never before had I been inspired to write a book.  That changed several months ago. I realized that we had arrived at a critical moment. Not only do more and more Americans now recognize climate change as one of our most significant environment, economic, and humanitarian crises, but in the weeks ahead, Congress, the White House, the United Nations, China, India, and all the countries of the world will turn their focus to climate…

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  Grist - the Latest from Grist

• The long and wind-powered road

  29 Oct 2009 | 4:57 pm

  by David Brancaccio The Danes have an enduring relationship with wind.  This is symbolized by the big, honking wind turbine that looms like a bird of prey over the parking lot outside the Bella Center, the venue for the U.N. Climate Change Conference Denmark is hosting in December.It was a Dane, physicist H.C. Oersted, who discovered electrical induction, the principle at work inside wind and other electric generators. Danish farmers brag they were the first in the world to generate electricity from wind.The Danes are now hard at work cracking one of the great challenges of wind power:…

• Grass people invade Congress as Senate hearings wrap up

  29 Oct 2009 | 4:22 pm

  by Jonathan Hiskes The third and final day of the hearings on the Kerry-Boxer climate bill wrapped up in the Senate Environment and Public Works committee today. We’ve been collecting the best reactions and analysis on our aggregation page. Here’s a quick rundown of where things stand.The wrap: Really, not much exciting news came out of the hearing. This was the big show enviros had been waiting for, but it’s largely just that: a show. Senators largely stuck to their scripts. For that matter, Dave’s summary of hearing day one more or less applied to the next two…

• Denmark’s strides toward renewable energy future

  29 Oct 2009 | 4:20 pm

  by Grist Related Links: The long and wind-powered road Sen. Kerry to youth on climate bill: We’re gonna need your help Oct 24, 2009 - Not just a global day of action; a historic turning point

• Energy Trust and the Big Hope

  29 Oct 2009 | 3:31 pm

  by Auden Schendler If you’re like me, and spend a lot of the day drinking coffee and getting increasingly paranoid with the creeping suspicion that solving climate may not be possible, it’s good when you find glimmers of hope in the wreckage. One of those glimmers (actually more like a tractor beam) is called Energy Trust, an organization in Oregon that, if widely copied, would move us well on the way to solving climate change.I recently spent a few hours with my friend Greg Stiles, who helps run their business sector programs, and I was blown away by their creativity and success.

• Disappearing beaches in Gambia

  29 Oct 2009 | 2:54 pm

  by Lynn Morris Hotel managers in Gambia say without the beach the tourists will not come. But the beach in front of the country’s two landmark hotels is disappearing pretty fast. It is a very serious state of affairs for a country that derives a major percentage of its income from tourism.European tourists lie baking themselves on sun loungers outside the five-star Kairaba and its neighbor Senegambia, a hotel so famous an area of town was named after it, but the patch of sand on which they lie is getting narrower each month.Five years ago, the government embarked on a $20 million (U.S.)…

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  the green skeptic™

• "What Keeps You Up at Night?"

  6 Nov 2009 | 12:14 am

  Lou Rappaport of Blank Rome asked me a disturbing question the other day at the MAC Alliance Conference in Philadelphia. On the face of it, Lou's question was a simple one: "What keeps you up at night?" We were interrupted before I could answer, but Lou's question lingered with me. In fact, it kept me up the past couple of nights. By way of an answer now, here are seven things that keep me up at night: 1.) We will fail to embrace change and tackle the new green economy. 2.) We are so deeply entrenched in partisan politics that we will blow this opportunity to lead in a sector (alternative…

• MAC Alliance: Promise of Clean Tech in Region

  5 Nov 2009 | 3:22 am

  Day Two of the 2009 Mid-Atlantic Capital Alliance Conference this week featured the first clean tech track in the history of the conference, an indication that the sector is emerging in this region.The clean tech track opened with a "financing panel," a good mix of investors, analysts, and utility service companies, including the publicly traded demand-response play Comverge and PJM, which operates the largest regional electricity transmission grid in the country.Rob Day, a partner at the venture capital firm Black Coral Capital, came down from Boston, and Tucker Twitmyer of local heroes…

• Mark Zandi to MAC Conference: "The Great Recession is Over"

  4 Nov 2009 | 3:00 am

  Image by New America Foundation via Flickr"The Great Recession is over," Mark Zandi, founder and chief economist of Moody's Economy.com, told a crowd of investors, entrepreneurs, and others gathered at the 2009 Mid-Atlantic Capital Alliance Conference in its opening keynote Tuesday."In fact, it ended on August 23rd," Zandi quipped. "If you want to know the precise time, you have to buy my book."Zandi was referring to Financial Shock, his new book about the subprime crisis."It was no accident that the recession ended just as the stimulus kicked in," Zandi related. "The maximum impact was felt…

• The Green Skeptic on Fox Business: Is Burlington Northern a Coal Play for Buffett?

  3 Nov 2009 | 5:12 pm

  Image by Getty Images via DaylifeToday, I appeared on Fox Business reacting to the Warren Buffett and Berkshire Hathaway $44B acquisition of Burlington Northern. Brian Sullivan was working under the premise that the railway acquisition may have been a coal play on the part of the Master from Omaha. My views on coal and the need for investments in R&D related to carbon capture and storage are known to readers of this blog. Here is a link to the broadcast (will try to embed later): Fox Business Related articles by ZemantaBuffett's Unusual Train of Thought (online.wsj.com)Warren Buffett…

• 2009 MAC 2009 Conference to Include Cleantech Track, Zandi, and Godin too

  27 Oct 2009 | 1:27 pm

  Image via CrunchBaseThe Mid-Atlantic Capital (MAC) Conference is the premier venture conference in the region, bringing together the private equity and entrepreneurial communities. Over the years, it has been the catalyst for billions of dollars of venture funding and entrepreneurial activity.The day-and-a-half event offers both sponsors and attendees access to emerging companies from the Mid-Atlantic region; networking opportunities with the movers and shakers from the community; and educational panels and content sessions.The 2009 MAC Conference, Hosted by Blank Rome LLP, will be held on…

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  msnbc.com: Environment

• Legally binding climate treaty less likely

  5 Nov 2009 | 9:52 am

  Negotiators and diplomats are working on a scaled-back version of a global climate change treaty that could be agreed by next month's deadline, without firm U.S. commitments.

• Democrats advance contentious climate bill

  5 Nov 2009 | 7:37 am

  Despite a Republican boycott, Senate Democrats pushed a climate bill through a key committee but the panel chairman said she's willing to amend it to attract Republicans.

• Sponsored By:

  5 Nov 2009 | 7:37 am

• Can Senate trio salvage a climate bill?

  4 Nov 2009 | 2:16 pm

  A trio of senators — each with differing politics —  on Wednesday announced a rescue effort for troubled climate legislation and quickly got some key backing.

• California OKs $11 billion for water overhaul

  4 Nov 2009 | 1:46 pm

  California lawmakers on Wednesday passed an $11.1 billion overhaul of the state's antiquated water system in a bid to supply a soaring population while preserving a fragile environment.

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  msnbc.com: Climate Change

• Legally binding climate treaty less likely

  5 Nov 2009 | 9:52 am

  Negotiators and diplomats are working on a scaled-back version of a global climate change treaty that could be agreed by next month's deadline, without firm U.S. commitments.

• Democrats advance contentious climate bill

  5 Nov 2009 | 7:37 am

  Despite a Republican boycott, Senate Democrats pushed a climate bill through a key committee but the panel chairman said she's willing to amend it to attract Republicans.

• Can Senate trio salvage a climate bill?

  4 Nov 2009 | 2:16 pm

  A trio of senators — each with differing politics —  on Wednesday announced a rescue effort for troubled climate legislation and quickly got some key backing.

• Africans get concessions at climate talks

  3 Nov 2009 | 12:14 pm

  African countries ended a boycott of meetings at U.N. climate negotiations on Tuesday, after winning promises for more in-depth talks on how much rich nations need to cut greenhouse gas emissions.

• Republican senators boycott climate bill

  3 Nov 2009 | 12:13 pm

  Senate Republicans boycotted a committee debate Tuesday on a bill to curb greenhouse gases, protesting that the bill's costs have not been fully examined.

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  ecorazzi

• The Green Picture: Roger Moore Continues His Battle With Foie Gras Industry

  Michael Parrish DuDell

  6 Nov 2009 | 11:24 am

  Actor Roger Moore recently teamed up with PETA to convince Selfridges  – a well-known chain in Britian — to stop selling Foie Gras. As many already know, Foie Gras is raised by force-feeding ducks and geese until their livers become enlarged. Moore even sent a private letter to Selfridges’ owner, offering to buy the company’s entire remaining stock if Weston agreed never to restock it again. Way to go, Roger!

• Vikings’ Cheerleaders and Miss Minnesota Get Eco-Chic At Go Green Expo

  Michael Parrish DuDell

  6 Nov 2009 | 7:41 am

  The Vikings’ cheerleaders and Miss Minnesota are getting their eco on this weekend at the Minneapolis Go Green Expo — the nation’s leading eco-focused, interactive, and educational showcase. As part of their new environmental improvements, the Vikings’ cheerleaders will be giving away merchandise to fans, including an autographed Jared Allen jersey and numerous other prizes.  Miss Minnesota will also be on site to speak about the importance of sustainability and the many ways you can go green. Earlier this year, I hosted an interview series with Mariel Hemingway at…

• Angelina Jolie Shops Stella McCartney’s New GapKids Collection

  Michael Parrish DuDell

  6 Nov 2009 | 6:44 am

  Earlier this month, we told you that Stella McCartney had teamed up with Gap to produce a new line of kids clothing. Of course Stella would never use leather or fur, so we knew the line would not only be stylish, but cruelty-free as well. This week, actress and mother of 1,000, Angelina Jolie was spotted taking her daughter Shiloh to shop the collection. According to Stylecaster.com: “After picking up two complete outfits right off the mannequins, Angelina purchased a bunch of Gap watches for the rest of the Brangelina crew.” When all was said and done, Jolie spent close to $500…

• EMA Launches California Green Challenge

  Luke Warner

  6 Nov 2009 | 12:47 am

  On November 3, mayors, movie stars and mover and shakers in the California green community gathered for the launch of the “California Green Community Challenge”, the Environmental Media Association’s collaboration with Southern California Edison, Green Seal and the Institute for Local Government. The state wide challenge is bringing together 10 California towns and their local governments to compete for Green Seal recognition as a “California Green Community” by 2012. The objective is to ignite a nationwide initiative to preserve our natural environment by…

• Iron Chef America Visits Obama Family Garden For Special Episode

  Michael Parrish DuDell

  5 Nov 2009 | 10:26 am

  Iron Chef is playing in Michelle Obama’s garden and we think it’s just swell! The popular Food Network program has taped a special episode using produce from the White House garden to help promote local and organic food. The episode will also feature Mrs. Obama discussing her crusade to reduce childhood obesity through better school lunches, community gardens, farmers’ markets and exercise. Mario Batali, perhaps not the most health-conscious man in America, told the New York Times: “What’s exciting for us is this is the first time I can remember the White House taking an…

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  Earth911.com

• Consumers Say They’d Use $10K on Home Beauty, Not Green Improvements

  Trey Granger

  5 Nov 2009 | 11:02 pm

  The Shelton Group’s fifth annual Energy Pulse survey asked participants how they would spend $10,000 for home improvements, given a limited number of options. Results show that consumers prefer beautification projects over installing products...

• Campus Cell Phone Recycling Could Expand Nationwide

  Lauren Hasler

  5 Nov 2009 | 11:01 pm

  UHopeLine, Verizon Wireless’s college campus cell phone recycling program, was recently expanded to eight City University of New York college campuses in Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn and the Bronx. Students will now be able to donate their used...

• Global Pollution Cleanup: The Good News

  Lauren Hasler

  4 Nov 2009 | 11:02 pm

  A new report examining 12 pollution cleanup efforts around the world took a different approach to the often bleak subject of pollution. But don’t start the celebration yet – there’s still a long way to go. The Blacksmith...

• FDA Recommends Some Medicines Get Flushed

  Trey Granger

  4 Nov 2009 | 11:01 pm

  In the U.S., more than 80 percent of adults take at least one medication per week, ranging from supplements and vitamins to prescription drugs. This amounts to billions in spending on drugs and millions of pounds of unused medication that need to...

• Is Plastic the New Black?

  Lori Brown

  3 Nov 2009 | 11:03 pm

  If you follow the trendsetting world of high fashion, you may have noticed a new material gracing the runways of Milan, Paris and New York: plastic! From jewelery and platform heels to dresses made of recycled plastic bottles, plastics have...

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  The Green Girls

• The Vulnerable Confident Heart

  6 Nov 2009 | 7:12 pm

  “The supreme reality of our time is the vulnerability of this planet.”  -John Fitzgerald Kennedy Photo via Quixotic Pixels    The life of the heart is one of contradictions.It is where our greatest strengths are often our most profound weaknesses. Finding balance between seemingly opposing forces or feelings is key to finding balance in love. I can’t think of any two more complementary forces for love than the capacity for vulnerability and the experience of confidence. Consider each one on its own: The confident but invulnerable heart can be brash, ego driven…

• LOFTS @ CHEROKEE STUDIOS; LA’s FIRST Green Live/Work Lofts (Part 1/5)

  6 Nov 2009 | 5:45 pm

  What do you get when you mix prime Hollywood real estate, avant-garde developers, venturesome investors, ingenious architects and designers, rock star legends, and green?  The LOFTS at Cherokee Studios. The Lofts at Cherokee Studios is the FIRST and forefront LEED® (Leadership for Energy and Environmental Design) Platinum creative live/work lofts in Los Angeles.  As a green real estate professional, of all the green buildings I’ve seen throughout California, I had the chance for a firsthand look at the newest, hippest, and greenest address in Hollywood.  The Platinum…

• Video: Sleek and Simple Off Shoulder Dress

  6 Nov 2009 | 8:24 am

  Sleek and simple in any material, the off-the-shoulder dress gets a touch of eloquence & fun from the simple detail. Watch More Videos! Music by Kchiporros For more instructional videos by Gianny, visit http://www.giannyl.com/

• Are toxic cleaning products contaminating the air in your kids’ classroom?

  4 Nov 2009 | 10:09 pm

  The Environmental Working Group just released this new report titled “Can Cleaning Supplies Contaminate Classroom Air?”. The answer, as you can imagine, is a resounding yes. Although I use natural, non-toxic cleaners at home, it didn’t really occur to me that my kids spend a big portion of their day at school, so they are being exposed to all kinds of toxic cleaning products there that are outside my control. And if you have kids with asthma or other health problems, there’s even more cause for concern. After reading this report, I contacted the principal at my…

• Thirty Steps to Setting up your Green Business, part 4

  4 Nov 2009 | 4:34 pm

  Today's post is on the "human side" of your company. You will make it or break it based on customer involvement and feedback. Here are some steps on interacting in person and in groups. Next week we'll cover online interactions. Read part 1, part 2, and part 3 of the series. Step 18) Learn how to present You'll want to practice your 7-second introduction to what you do (for networking purposes), but also consider how to communicate your message and represent your brand. The groups I recommend for interaction in a business setting include BNI, a weekly networking group…

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  The Alternative Consumer

• HoMedics Restore Clean Water Pitcher

  rd

  6 Nov 2009 | 10:41 am

  Here’s a another great alternative to buying bottled water.   This Restore Clean Water System consists of an 8-cup pitcher and an ultraviolet adapter.  Restore has a unique dual-filter process for eliminating solid particulate material as well as bacteria and viruses from your tap water.  The pitcher has both a carbon filter and an ultraviolet germ-killing [...]

• recycled polyester doggie jacket

  seamus the eco dog

  6 Nov 2009 | 9:12 am

  Our good friends at Olive are always on the prowl for innovative products that benefit the discerning eco dog.  Here’s a nifty-looking jacket for keeping your favorite hound warm and happy about being outdoors in the often chilly elements.   Cloudburst makes this jacket from recycled polyester fiber that can be recycled, again and again, after [...]

• Help your skin – A DIY Pumpkin Face Mask

  Jessica

  6 Nov 2009 | 7:39 am

  With Halloween behind us, it’s nearly time to pack away the festive fall décor to make space for the merrier holiday gear. What to do with the pumpkin that sat on your porch stoop? While the thrifty bakers among us will likely turn it into a Thanksgiving pie, the beauty hounds can do one better [...]

• a big stack of green news

  rd

  6 Nov 2009 | 7:08 am

  The Republicans took their toys and went home…Democrats Advance Contentious Climate Bill – msnbc OK kids…let’s go to Target in our excessively big hunk of metal…Electric SUV’s: A Smaller Footprint for Big Vehicles – cs monitor The Quest to Save the World’s Rarest Duck – bbc Who’s way more toxic – NYC or Atlanta? America’s Most Toxic Cities [...]

• surfboard coffee table kit

  mr. happy

  5 Nov 2009 | 6:06 pm

  Are you into multi-tasking and reducing the amount of ’stuff’ you have?  Do you live in a 100 square foot beach cabana?  Too cheap to buy furniture?  Here’s an idea – use your surfboard as a coffee table by night and a wave carving machine by day.  This kit allows you to transform any surfboard [...]

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  NYT: Environment

• Rules on Modified Corn Skirted, Study Says

  By ANDREW POLLACK

  6 Nov 2009 | 12:27 pm

  As many as 25 percent of the American farmers growing genetically engineered corn are no longer complying with federal rules intended to maintain the resistance of the crops to damage from insects.

• Democrats Push Climate Bill Through Panel Without G.O.P. Debate

  By JOHN M. BRODER

  6 Nov 2009 | 11:49 am

  The move suggested that President Obama and Democratic supporters of the bill will have serious problems assembling the votes needed to enact it when it comes to the Senate floor.

• California Water Overhaul Caps Use

  By JENNIFER STEINHAUER

  5 Nov 2009 | 4:12 am

  Lawmakers passed bills to address a protracted drought in the biggest water overhaul since the 1960s.

• National Briefing | South: Georgia: September Floods Analyzed

  By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

  5 Nov 2009 | 12:17 am

  Scientists knew the recent flooding that enveloped parts of Georgia was rare but a new analysis is showing just how unusual the heavy rains were.

• Groups Press U.S. and China on Carbon

  By EDWARD WONG

  4 Nov 2009 | 6:06 pm

  Two research organizations want the two countries to put more money into developing use of carbon capture technology.

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  Environment News Network

• Clean Energy Legislation Will Boost US Manufacturing Jobs

  5 Nov 2009 | 7:21 am

  U.S. clean energy legislation could help create 850,000 manufacturing jobs around the country, a report from a group representing business and environmental interests said on Wednesday.

• America’s Most Toxic Cities List Released With Surprising Results

  5 Nov 2009 | 6:58 am

  Las Vegas has far from a clean reputation, but in Forbes' list of America's Most Toxic Cities, Las Vegas is named the least toxic of 40 major metropolitan areas. Forbes ranked the cities based on the number of Superfund sites in the principal city, number of facilities that release toxic chemicals, amount of toxic chemicals released in the area and air quality ranking.

• $30.6M in Stimulus Funds Give US Hydroelectric Projects a New Spark

  5 Nov 2009 | 6:28 am

  Up to $30.6 million in economic stimulus funds will be used to finance seven hydroelectric projects nationwide, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. The additional funding means Voith Hydro, a manufacturer of hydroelectric turbines, will be able to retain 40 jobs at its manufacturing facility in York, Pennsylvania

• Washington, Stop Dithering, US Goals on Climate Urgently Needed

  5 Nov 2009 | 2:47 am

  As the last round of "intersessional" climate talks before Copenhagen opened today in Barcelona, all eyes were looking in the same direction they were when we left Bangkok three weeks earlier: at the United States. Without American numbers on mitigation (or emissions reductions) and finance (for developing nations to build their own clean energy economies, and also to adapt to the impacts of climate change), any real forward progress in the talks is just about impossible.

• Giant Jellyfish Sink 10-Ton Fishing Boat

  4 Nov 2009 | 9:37 am

  A 10-ton fishing boat has been sunk by gigantic jellyfish off eastern Japan. The crew of the fishing boat was thrown into the sea when the vessel capsized, but the three men were rescued by another trawler.

• 
  Current_Green

• Thinking outside the box and the pixels: The gamers are here to save the planet! A sneak peek into [Re]think Hawaii:

  Leah Lamb

  6 Nov 2009 | 10:50 am

  The Internet connection in Hawaii is very much like the general mentality of Hawaii: easy going, chill, not in any rush to get going. So with that said, I’m going to give you a sneak peek into a few of the good people I have met over the course of the last week at the [re]think Hawaii conference. Couldn’t help but notice and enjoy a refreshing perspective that gamers are bringing to the “so, how are we going to deal with these environmental problems?” conversation. Thinking outside the box and the pixels. The first is Henk Rogers, you may know him as the founder of…

• Eco geek vacation destination: Natural Energy Lab of Hawaii Authority

  Leah Lamb

  6 Nov 2009 | 10:07 am

  Guy Toyama, executive director of  Natural Energy Lab of Hawaii Authority gives an introduction to the sustainability issues and innovations on the big island. It’s a fascinating weaving of science, innovation and “techno-tourism” (aka eco geek vacation destination) Where does Hawaii stand on the sustainability? It’s all about geothermal on the Big Island: Water and desalination: The future of NEHELA shows us the solar focuser:

• Title this photo!

  evan-young

  6 Nov 2009 | 3:58 am

  This week’s photo was sent to us by Ted Rheingold, founder of Dogster. We can’t stop laughing about this one: You know the drill, think of a creative, fun and hilarious caption to accompany this dog in a coat, and we will pick the one we like the most on Friday. So, leave your ideas in the comments sections and we will choose a winner by the end of the week! Have fun! (and of course…submit a photo for next week). The prize? No prize! Just the thrill of the game (oh, and you know we’ll feature the caption we fall in love with on the Green Page) Related content: Last…

• Hawaii (The Big Island) Dolphin Adventures

  Leah Lamb

  6 Nov 2009 | 3:29 am

  A few reflections after a busy day on the Big Island. I went out on the boat with Captain Nancy of Dolphin Journeys with high hopes to swim with a dolphin but came back with reflections on relationships: This footage is not from Dolphin Journeys, but it is of dolphins swimming in Hawaii, so enjoy! Video footage of dolphins swimming with the boat: A brief intro to sustainability efforts on the Big Island at the Hawaii Gateway Energy Center:

• Caption of the week: “Don’t look to your left, but I think we might be standing in a field of beehives”

  evan-young

  5 Nov 2009 | 4:00 pm

  Earlier this week we posted our first ever segment of Green Captions. We got such a huge response! Thank you, all of you, for submitting such great captions! It was very hard to narrow it down, but we came to a consensus the one we liked the best. And the winner is: “Don’t look to your left, but I think we might be standing in a field of beehives.” - by John Lesier The Runner-up: “My god, bee sweaters? That’s sooooo 2008.” - by Mud Baron Every friday we’ll announce the next weeks “Name this Picture”! We have already picked it out and can’t…

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  The Oil Drum - Discussions about Energy and Our Future

• Dr. Albert Bartlett's "Laws of Sustainability"

  Gail the Actuary

  6 Nov 2009 | 6:15 am

  At the Denver ASPO conference, I had the good fortune to meet Dr. Albert Bartlett. Afterward, Dr. Bartlett e-mailed me some material he had written over the years. The "Laws of Sustainability" were included in this material. They are part of Al Bartlett's contribution to the anthology The Future of Sustainability by Marco Keiner, published in 2006. The document by Dr. Bartlett from which these were excerpted can be found here. LAWS OF SUSTAINABILITY The Laws that follow are offered to define the term "sustainability." In some cases these statements are accompanied by corollaries that are…

• Drumbeat: November 6, 2009

  Leanan

  6 Nov 2009 | 6:05 am

  Interview With Ian Gordon IAN: Well I do subscribe to the theory of peak oil. But again, I think the demand for oil is going to drop precipitously. Simply because no one’s gonna be working. Again if we use the idea that 45% of the U.S economy is going to be halted. That means essentially that the same kind of oil demand is the percentage dropping oil demand is also going to occur in the United States. And we are only picking on the United States because she has the largest economy in the world but we are all going be in be in the same boat. So the whole world economy is going to drop by…

• EROWI - energy return of water invested

  Ugo Bardi

  5 Nov 2009 | 6:15 am

  Energy Return of Water Invested (EROWI). From an article by Robert Service in Science Magazine. The data in the table originate from "Energy demands on water resources",report to the congress, 2006 link. The readers of "The Oil Drum" are familiar with the concept of "Energy Return of Energy Invested" (EROI or EROEI). It is the ratio of the energy produced by an energy plant during its life cycle to the amount of energy needed to build, operate and dismantle the plant. EROEI remains one of the most useful parameters that can be used for evaluating an energy technology, but it is not the only…

• What "Lower Consumption" Means

  Nate Hagens

  5 Nov 2009 | 6:06 am

  The following is a guest post by Dan Allen, a high school teacher in New Jersey. Previously on TheOilDrum, Dr. Allen wrote The Speech Obama Needs to Give. Note from the author (Dan Allen): As a high-school teacher, I wanted to give my thoroughly-industrial, suburban-NJ students a more detailed peek at their upcoming post-industrial future. I felt the need to challenge their prevailing mindsets regarding our resource-depletion predicament: the “shorter showers & change the light-bulbs” crowd, the “engineers will surely come to our rescue” folks, and the “problem? -- what…

• Drumbeat: November 5, 2009

  Leanan

  5 Nov 2009 | 5:30 am

  Kunstler: It's Time to Rebuild Our Passenger Railroad System The world economic fiasco, which I call "The Long Emergency," may be speeding us into a future of permanent nostalgia in which anything that is not of the present time looks good. I say this to avert any accusations that I am trafficking in sentimentality where the subject of railroads is concerned. For the moment, any suggestion that a railroad revival in America might be a good thing is generally greeted as laughable for reasons ranging from the incompetence of Amtrak, to the sprawling layout of our suburbs, to our immense…

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  EcoSalon

• A Redesign to Check Out Now

  Despite a general consumer slump, the eco marketplace is sizzling as stylish shoppers continue seeking earth friendly products. In fact, when it comes to green, demand is up. That's why stylish home eco retailer, VivaTerra, has announced a fresh new website design, complete with the latest social-media friendly tools and helpful ...

• When Paper and Couture Meet

  When the sustainable design movement first started, rolled paper jewelry and gum wrapper bags were plentiful. You have to start somewhere, right? Turn the clock forward to this collection of paper jewelry, created as a collaboration between KEZA and Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) students Jenny Lai and Lindsay ...

• Q&A with Torch Films: Greenlighting New, Low Impact DVDs

  DVDs vaulted into existence in 1997, a box office year dominated by the likes of Titanic, Good Will Hunting and L.A. Confidential. Since then, more than 10 billion of the movie discs and their bulky plastic packages have shipped to North American retailers alone, according to sales data compiled by ...

• Come Heaven and Hell

  Realizing that most people have a go-to spot for reading, adding Be Sweet's boucle mohair throw is a cozy addition to any book nook where extra warmth is needed. Blending fuzzy and nubby with smooth and sleek, we love that it's fittingly called the Heaven & Hell throw and that it ...

• Kaiser Permanente: Save Trees and Thrive

  Kaiser Permanente is prescribing big doses of sustainability in the sixth season of its $50 million Thrive ad campaign. Two new ads - Emerald Cities and Connected - reinforce the health care provider's commitment to the planet by dramatically reducing paper use - no small task for an industry long married ...

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  digg.com: Stories / Environment / Popular

• Badass Anti-Whaling Stealth Boat [PICS]

  7 Nov 2009 | 3:20 am

  Earthrace, the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society's new high-tech anti-whaling powerboat, rests in Auckland Harbor head of its imminent deployment for Perth, and then the Southern Ocean. The 24-meter trimaran has paint which deflects radar waves, so can approach Japanese whaling vessels almost unseen.

• Dow Chemical finally agrees to clean up dioxin pollution

  7 Nov 2009 | 12:10 am

  U.S. EPA and Dow announced a deal they contend will finally address dioxin contamination from the company's chemical complex in Midland, about 200 miles from Chicago. Records show Dow has known since at least the mid-1960s that dioxins could sicken or even kill people, but the company insists the contamination does not pose health risks.

• Portrait of a Polluted Land: Huge Smog Bank Covers China

  6 Nov 2009 | 8:50 pm

  NASA's Aqua satellite captured this image of a massive smog bank smothering huge portions of China today. This blanket of pollution has been hovering over the country for over a week now, exacerbated by cool air and smoke from fires.

• Digital TV Switch Causes 70% Rise in e-Waste

  6 Nov 2009 | 11:30 am

  This year, the council has recycled 50,000 analogue TVs thrown away by households, of which 30,000 could have been upgraded to receive digital TV signals

• Family Wind Turbines Gain Momentum (Vid)

  6 Nov 2009 | 9:00 am

  Part of a growing trend, a Danish family of seven has installed its own wind turbine to produce all the electricity the family needs while reducing its carbon footprint.

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  Yale Environment 360

• The Philippines Targets Major Investment in its Geothermal Resources

  Yale Environment 360

  6 Nov 2009 | 8:46 am

  The Philippine government plans to approve 19 new contracts to develop the nation’s massive geothermal energy resources in the next five months. A top energy official said financial incentives for the development of renewable energy projects could attract more than $2.5 billion in private dollars from domestic and international companies. “Incentives for renewable projects are giving geothermal development a much needed boost,” Alejandro Oanes, the Phllippine Energy Department's division chief for geothermal energy, said. The Philippines is already the world’s second-largest producer…

• Atlantic Fish Stocks Are Moving North as Ocean Warms, NOAA Finds

  Yale Environment 360

  5 Nov 2009 | 9:46 am

  About half of 36 fish stocks in the northwest Atlantic Ocean have shifted north over the last four decades as ocean temperatures have warmed, according to a new U.S. study. Comparing data for dozens of fish stock from 1968 to 2007 — and using ocean temperature records from the same period — researchers at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) found that many species in the waters from Cape Hatteras, N.C., to the Canadian border have shifted northward or migrated farther offshore. Some species have nearly disappeared from U.S. waters altogether. “They all seem to be…

• The Nitrogen Fix: Breaking a Costly Addiction

  Yale Environment 360

  5 Nov 2009 | 5:49 am

  Over the last century, the intensive use of chemical fertilizers has saturated the Earth’s soils, waters, and atmosphere with nitrogen. Now scientists are warning that we must move quickly to revolutionize agricultural systems and greatly reduce the amount of nitrogen we put into the planet's ecosystems. BY FRED PEARCE

• Seismic Fissure in Ethiopia Evidence of Ocean in Making, Study Says

  Yale Environment 360

  4 Nov 2009 | 9:29 am

  A 35-mile seismic crack that formed over a few days in 2005 in the Ethiopian desert is evidence of a new ocean in the making, scientists report in a new study. The abrupt formation of the rift, which is 20 feet wide in places, is similar to the shifting that occurs on the ocean’s floor, according to the study in the journal Geophysical Research Letters. Using seismic data from the September, 2005 eruption of Dabbahu, a volcano located in Ethiopia’s remote Afar Region, scientists were able to reconstruct how, over just a few days, the fissure stretched 35 miles. The evidence, they say,…

• Interview: IPCC’s Pachauri Still Sees Hope for Copenhagen Talks

  Yale Environment 360

  4 Nov 2009 | 6:42 am

  Despite growing pessimism that a global climate treaty will be signed in Copenhagen next month, Rajendra Pachauri, chairman of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, believes a flurry of last-minute negotiations may lead to an agreement, although the U.S. may not initially be a part of it. In an interview with Yale Environment 360, Pachauri expresses disappointment that the U.S. has not yet committed itself to firm greenhouse gas reduction targets. During the Bush administration there was a “complete absence of responsibility” in tackling global warming, Pachauri Rajendra Pachauri…

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  GreenBiz.com Green Business News

• Steven Chu: The Nerd in the Cabinet

  Marc Gunther

  6 Nov 2009 | 8:40 am

  The current Secretary of Energy is also a Nobel Laureate and former physics professor at UC Berkeley, and a self-described 'energy conservation nut.'

• SRI Field Continues to Shift with RiskMetrics' Acquisition of KLD

  Robert Kropp

  6 Nov 2009 | 12:46 am

  The rapidly changing landscape of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) research providers received another major update this week as RiskMetrics Group announced the acquisition of KLD Research & Analytics. The acquisition, which has been widely anticipated for a month, follows RiskMetrics' purchase of Innovest Strategic Value Advisors, like KLD a provider of ESG research, in February.

• Nike Debuts Latest Collection of 'Considered Design' Products

  GreenBiz Staff

  5 Nov 2009 | 2:04 pm

  Nike will debut a new collection of athletic footwear Saturday made with environmentally preferred materials. A portion of revenue from the N7 line will support Native American youth sports through the N7 Fund.

• Johnson Controls: The Quiet Company Raises Its Voice and Its Profile

  Leslie Guevarra

  5 Nov 2009 | 12:51 pm

  Though a giant in the buildings and automotive industries, Johnson Controls Inc. was long considered a quiet company — seldom a major presence outside its lines of business. That's changing as the firm increasingly raises its voice and its profile to spread its mantra of "Efficiency Now."  

• Diversey Ups Emissions Reductions Investments, Earns Bigger ROI

  ClimateBiz Staff

  5 Nov 2009 | 10:40 am

  One year after setting a goal to cut corporate emissions by 8 percent before 2013, Diversey CEO today announced the company had already surpassed that target, and upped the goal to a 25 percent reduction in the same time frame.

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  Reuters: Environment

• Forty leaders plan to attend climate talks: U.N.

  6 Nov 2009 | 11:56 am

  BARCELONA, Spain (Reuters) - About 40 world leaders plan to go to Copenhagen next month to boost the chances of clinching a U.N. climate deal, the United Nations said Friday as preparatory talks wound down with scant progress.

• Study suggests peat CO2 credits more valuable

  6 Nov 2009 | 11:03 am

  JAKARTA (Reuters) - An Indonesia-based study shows carbon-rich tropical peat lands trap more greenhouse gases than first thought, driving up their potential value on the carbon market and strengthening a case for their protection.

• Dry U.S. Midwest weather bodes well for harvest

  6 Nov 2009 | 8:11 am

  CHICAGO (Reuters) - U.S. Midwest weather is seen mostly dry through the next week, ideal for the corn and soybean harvest, a forecaster said on Friday.

• 40 heads of state to attend December climate summit: U.N.

  6 Nov 2009 | 8:11 am

  BARCELONA, Spain (Reuters) - Some 40 heads of state plan to attend a U.N. meeting in December in Copenhagen meant to agree a global warming deal, the U.N. climate chief said on Friday.

• EU to fight for tuna protection at global talks

  6 Nov 2009 | 7:53 am

  BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Fishing nations must cut the amount of Atlantic bluefin tuna they catch and protect porbeagle and thresher sharks, European fisheries commissioner Joe Borg said on Friday ahead of international talks.

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  Great Green Goods - Shopping the Eco-friendly Way!

• Recycled Bags by Maria Buzina

  green

  1 Nov 2009 | 8:14 pm

  If you love color, these are the bags for you! Created and hand painted by Brazilian Artisist Gabi Goncalves, these gorgeous bags are made from recycled truck tarps. So they start off their life functional and utilitarian as truck tarps …then when their use is done, they are recycled in to these beautiful one-of-a-kind bags that will last forever. Lots of different sizes, styles and prices to choose from at EarthLover Shopping EarthLover Shopping is a new advertiser on GreatGreenGoods and we are grateful to their support!

• Don’t Just Buy Handmade – Buy Upcycled Handmade

  green

  27 Oct 2009 | 8:44 pm

  Those are the words of wisdom from Rhonda Brewer-Chaparro aka “oddartist”. This prolific (and eco-friendly) California artist has an Etsy shop, but these racy earrings (made from the ‘tasty parts’ of recycled romance novels) are from her Zibbet shop. The line is called Naughty Bits, and of course, you’ll never find the same bit of naughtiness twice! $12.00 for each pair of earrings at Zibbet (folks, this is a serious good deal!!) Found through the GreatGreenGoods Facebook fanpage

• Eco-friendly magnets

  green

  24 Oct 2009 | 2:26 pm

  Hey folks, you know the dreaded holidays are coming up and you’ll need little gifts to give the cube-mates and your hair dresser and the lady who is so helpful at the dry cleaners. Grab a bunch of these NOW! and have them on hand to give out when you need a little eco-friendly gift! Everyone needs magnets and these are made out of recycled fabric, recycled telephone books and recycled junk mail. $15.00 for a set of 4 at HumbleRaeLord’s Etsy Shop

• Recycled copper creations by Beryl

  green

  17 Oct 2009 | 3:48 pm

  Created from recycled roof copper, you need to check out the work of Minnesotan artist Beryl Wells Hamilton. Her functional pieces: baskets, bowls, fountains, bird baths and boxes are often treated with boric acid, heated to red hot and then quenched in water resulting in beautiful colors and patinas. She also has a line of decorative figures which are whimsical and cute. You can choose between frogs, turtles, pigs, roosters and more. I recommend her site if you are looking for an early xmas present or a winter wedding gifts. Beautiful and ecofriendly! Prices range from $60.00- $90.00 for…

• Bee habitat sculptures created from recycled materials

  green

  11 Oct 2009 | 5:14 pm

  Tucson artist and landscape designer Greg Corman and metal artist, Tidi Ozer have teamed up to create sculptures and garden art from recycled wood and steel that doubles as a habitat for stingless, solitary, native bees. In the US alone there are more than 4000 species of these native bees! Many of them lack habitat for nesting in urban landscapes. The bees that nest in these bee habitat pieces occur across the US, so they have ecological value everywhere. (The bees that are attracted to these habitats are NOT honeybees and do not sting.) If you want more info on native bees, this is a…

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  msnbc.com: Environment

• Legally binding climate treaty less likely

  5 Nov 2009 | 9:52 am

  Negotiators and diplomats are working on a scaled-back version of a global climate change treaty that could be agreed by next month's deadline, without firm U.S. commitments.

• Democrats advance contentious climate bill

  5 Nov 2009 | 7:37 am

  Despite a Republican boycott, Senate Democrats pushed a climate bill through a key committee but the panel chairman said she's willing to amend it to attract Republicans.

• Sponsored By:

  5 Nov 2009 | 7:37 am

• Can Senate trio salvage a climate bill?

  4 Nov 2009 | 2:16 pm

  A trio of senators — each with differing politics —  on Wednesday announced a rescue effort for troubled climate legislation and quickly got some key backing.

• California OKs $11 billion for water overhaul

  4 Nov 2009 | 1:46 pm

  California lawmakers on Wednesday passed an $11.1 billion overhaul of the state's antiquated water system in a bid to supply a soaring population while preserving a fragile environment.

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  bizjournals Green - View Environmental Green Business News

• 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…

• West Village- Triangle Business Journal GREEN Award Winner

  9 Oct 2009 | 9:20 am

  The Triangle Business Journal released it's list of 2009 Green Awards winners, recognizing those in the Triangle who have successfully incorporated environmentally sustainable practices into their businesses and in their communities. West Village Urban Loft Apartments is the winner under the Green Building Management Project category. West Village was developed and is owned by Blue Devil Partners, and is professionally managed by Drucker & Falk, LLC. West Village has 453 urban loft apartments and 250,000 square feet of commercial and retail space in the heart of Downtown Durham. With…

• How To Sustain Your Sustainability Efforts: Ongoing Assessments, New Targets and Integrated Systems

  25 Sep 2009 | 6:06 am

  (by Roxane Peyser)   You've started to implement your sustainability initiatives, but you know there's still a journey ahead. In fact, sustainability is a lot like life in the sense that it's precisely about the journey, and not the destination. So where do you go from here? When companies complete their initial sustainability projects, they often hit that fork in the road that can leave them feeling confused about which direction they should head in - and this fork has more than two options. And that's the good news: your company has multiple, almost limitless options available to it as…

• To lead or not to lead

  25 Sep 2009 | 5:36 am

  maurgood's Michael Sater spoke during several sessions at the September 2009 GreenBusiness Works Expo in Atlanta, GA about the numerous opportunities incorporating green - or sustainability - into business practice provides your brand with. These benefits include the ability to increase competitive advantage, develop a great reputation and lead to an enhanced ROI.  "Brand stories always trump facts and data," said Sater, the managing principal at maurgood. "The back-story of a product is just as important; the who, what, when, where, why and how of the supply chain." The answers to these…

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  greenUPGRADER

• Phish Reduces Water Bottle Consumption at Festival 8 With Innovative Program

  Nick Chambers

  6 Nov 2009 | 4:54 pm

  If you’ve ever stuck around after an open air rock show and witnessed the carnage that remains, you’ll know what I’m talking about when I say that the amount of plastic disposable water bottles left on the ground is staggering. Really, try it some time. Not only will you be able to relax after the [...] Related posts:360 Paper Bottle By Brandimage The 360 Paper Bottle is a biodegradable, resealable, eco-friendlier...Win a Free BPA Free CamelBak Water Bottle Just in time for the holidays The Fun Times...The Fine Art PET Bottle Redesign by Recycline The ability to look at the…

• Handmade Options for Winterizing Your Home

  Becky Striepe

  6 Nov 2009 | 11:26 am

  Brr! It feels like the temperature dropped over night! According to the folks at EPA’s Energy Star, about half of our home energy use goes to heating and cooling our homes, and we use the vast majority of that energy on heat during the chilly months. Luckily, those crafty Etsy sellers have all sorts [...] Related posts:Save Some Energy this Winter with a Draft Dodger The weather is starting to cool off. I don’t...Handmade Halloween: Easy Fabric Scrap Garland Halloween is almost here, and I’ve been in spooky decoration-mode...ECO-heater: Good For Chilly Rooms and Heating…

• 4 Ways To Cut Over-Idling From Your Car’s Winter Routine

  Beth Buczynski

  4 Nov 2009 | 12:28 pm

  For most of us, winter is just around the corner, or as is the case in my Colorado town, you may have already experienced some of the ice and snow that make this season exciting and difficult all at the same time. Many people try to use alternative transportation in the Spring and Summer when [...] Related posts:Save Some Energy this Winter with a Draft Dodger The weather is starting to cool off. I don’t...Swimming au Naturale: Ways to Green Your Pool Sticky summer weather makes us long to be submerged in...Spring Gardens Start With Winter Reading It would be great if we could simply…

• Naturally Sustainable Packaging: Apple Cider in Apple Cups

  Becky Striepe

  3 Nov 2009 | 10:20 am

  We’re all about simple, green alternatives to disposables around here. Not only do these apple cider cups fit that bill, they’re seasonal, too! These look incredibly easy to make and perfect for any Fall-themed shindig. The super-savvy Red Dirt Mother just cut the tops off of apples that she and her kiddos had picked and used [...] Related posts:Naturally Sustainable Packaging: Sasa-dango Talk about sustainable packaging… These Sasa-dangos (mochi pounded rice...Scourge of the Forest: Disposable Coffee Cups Disposable coffee cups are responsible for the deaths of over...How…

• ThredUP Online Clothing Swap

  Becky Striepe

  29 Oct 2009 | 1:55 pm

  Let’s be honest here for a minute. We’ve all got some things in our closets that we haven’t worn in years. Maybe it’s that pair of jeans that we’re hoping to one day fit back into. Maybe it’s a top that’s great in theory but just doesn’t seem to go with anything. [...] Related posts:Purge and Swap! Clothing Swap The Purge and Swap event at the Hi-Dive Bar...Bags Reincarnated by Juja and Stone Juja & Stone breath new life into old clothes and...Beijing Memory Porcelain Constructed Clothing Li Xiaofeng is a Chinese artist that creates…

• 
  Huffington Post: Latest Green News

• Al Gore: "Civil Disobedience Has A Role To Play"

  The Huffington Post News Team

  6 Nov 2009 | 6:13 pm

  Perhaps the best way to understand the extraordinary transformation of Al Gore is to study the changing rhetoric of his enemies. A mere nine years ago, back when George Bush was just a cheeky rogue with an adorable line in malapropisms, presidential candidate Gore was famously derided as wooden and dull. Having failed to win the presidency - though of course that depends, as ever, on your definition of the word "win" - he next became a pitiable loser, then a laughable climate-change wonk, then the Oscar-winning, peace prize-winning, Live Earth-organising darling of liberal Hollywood. And so…

• 15 Seafood Options Good For Human And Ocean Health

  The Huffington Post News Team

  6 Nov 2009 | 2:57 pm

  Finding sustainable seafood has always been about balancing the health of a given fishery with the health effects of consuming that fish. Some that can be sourced sustainably are also high enough on the food chain that they accumulate toxins in their flesh, transferring those to us humans when we eat them. The Super Green List from the Monterey Bay Aquarium's Seafood Watch program balances the two considerations, providing a list of the healthiest seafood that comes from sustainable sources.

• Green Living: 10 DIY Green Home Projects

  The Huffington Post News Team

  6 Nov 2009 | 2:54 pm

  From Associated Content, by Amy Whittle: There are many improvements that can be made to the typical residence to increase its energy efficiency. Although LEED certification may be the ultimate goal for many environmentalists, there are many DIY green home improvement projects that can significantly lessen the energy and resources your home consumes. These 10 green home projects are environmentally conscious upgrades that are also budget conscious.1. Install a programmable thermostat. Programmable thermostats remain easy to install without an electrician, and are an easy way to regulate your…

• How To Start An Organic Garden

  The Huffington Post News Team

  6 Nov 2009 | 2:53 pm

  From Associated Content, by Ilene Springer: If grown properly, your organic garden will produce higher quality, healthier foods '" and will be good for the environment and wildlife. Many people have high hopes for starting their own organic garden and reaping a small harvest from it. The problem is that many don't really know what an organic garden is. Organic gardening is more than popping some seeds in the ground and letting them grow "naturally." If grown properly, your organic garden will produce higher quality, healthier foods—and will be good for the environment and wildlife. But…

• Save Money By Using Compact Fluorescent Lightbulbs

  The Huffington Post News Team

  6 Nov 2009 | 2:50 pm

  From Associated Content, by Hally Z. It is true that compact fluorescent lightbulbs initially cost more than incandescent lightbulbs. However, this difference in cost is usually made up in just six months of use. Compact fluorescent lightbulbs are not only good for the environment - they can also help save you money. According to Energy Star, lighting accounts for 20 percent of the electrical bill in most U.S. homes. A compact fluorescent lightbulb uses about 75 percent less energy than a traditional incandescent one, and lasts 10 times longer.For example, consider the 800 lumen incandescent…

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  Huffington Post: The Green Blog

• J. Carl Ganter: Climate wrap-up: Barcelona talks marked by urgency, frustration and pleas for patience and trust, while all mention of water is pulled from documents

  J. Carl Ganter

  6 Nov 2009 | 5:12 pm

  Barcelona was supposed to bring hints of what's to come in December at the United Nations Climate Conference in Copenhagen. A world seeking sanity.Of course the stories would be rich, the perplexities deep. Keith Schneider, our colleague and Circle of Blue senior editor, has covered climate for 30 years for the New York Times and others. He was present at the first Washington hearings with James Hansen and he follows the talks today with a keen eye.From Barcelona, he's filed two pivotal reports. Most recent first, he wraps up the Barcelona talks as the conference comes to a close and U.S.

• Brendan Smith: What the CBO Isn't Telling Congress: Climate Change Threatens Million of Jobs

  Brendan Smith

  6 Nov 2009 | 3:39 pm

  While fewer and fewer people are willing to publicly deny the validity of global warming science, those who oppose action to protect the climate have taken up a new strategy: Denying that climate change will have a major impact on the U.S. economy. This denial is rejected by most economists who have studied climate change. In a survey of 144 top climate economists released November 4, 2009 by the Institute for Policy Integrity at the New York University School of Law, 84% agreed that "the environmental effects of greenhouse gas emissions, as described by leading scientific experts, create…

• Kathy Eldon: Caught in the Act: Philippe Cousteau's Pet Peeve

  Kathy Eldon

  6 Nov 2009 | 12:40 pm

  I am lucky enough to meet and learn from creative activists every day. Being someone who is dedicated to informing, inspiring, and educating others on the ways one can change the world around them, I have set out to document others who do the same. My team and I are catching these creative activists in the act and on-the-go, and sharing what they do, how they do it, and how we can all take action. I recently caught up with Philippe Cousteau Jr. on Topanga Beach in Malibu. Philippe is following in the footsteps of his grandfather, famed French explorer Jacques Cousteau, and encouraging young…

• Brendan DeMelle: Cautious Optimism for Copenhagen Deal as Barcelona Climate Talks End

  Brendan DeMelle

  6 Nov 2009 | 11:39 am

  The mood was markedly improved on the final day of the Barcelona climate talks, as delegates, observers and non-governmental organizations all brushed off the pessimism that dominated much of this week and announced that there is still hope for a global deal at the Copenhagen COP15 sumit.News that the U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works Committee had advanced the Kerry-Boxer bill forward - coupled with revelations that some progress was made in Spain on several key issues during the closed-door meetings between nations - offered a ray of hope for a binding agreement to emerge in…

• Gene Baur: What's Eating Us?

  Gene Baur

  6 Nov 2009 | 10:31 am

  I grew up eating animals, as did the vast majority of us living in the U.S. today. But, I never really made a conscious choice to eat animals. I just picked up the habit without thinking about it. Everybody around me was engaged in the practice and we assumed it to be normal. As Jonathan Safran Foer points out in his timely and compelling book, Eating Animals, we "have a strong impulse to do what others around us are doing especially when it comes to food." Unfortunately, bad has become normal in terms of how we eat and how we produce food. Our health, our planet, and other animals suffer by…

• 
  Yahoo! News: Environment News

• Potential problems at 20 W.Va. coal ash dams (AP)

  6 Nov 2009 | 1:37 pm

  AP - The West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection may change its policy for inspecting coal ash impoundments after a survey uncovered more problems — and dams — than expected.

• G20 ministers to firm up global recovery, climate funding (AFP)

  6 Nov 2009 | 11:54 am

  AFP - Hosts Britain told the G20 it had "no reason to give up" on a new climate change deal Friday, as finance ministers met for talks on bolstering the world economy and green finance.

• G-20 officials to wrestle over economic imbalances (AP)

  6 Nov 2009 | 11:43 am

  AP - The world's top financial officials on Friday sought a blueprint for securing future global growth and worked to break a deadlock over who bears the cost of fighting climate change.

• Couple's book tackles evangelicals' questions on climate change (McClatchy Newspapers)

  6 Nov 2009 | 11:31 am

  McClatchy Newspapers - WASHINGTON — As an evangelical Christian living in Texas, climate scientist Katharine Hayhoe found that many conservatives had questions about climate change based on things they'd heard on talk radio.

• Climate talks set to hand major problems to Copenhagen (AFP)

  6 Nov 2009 | 9:10 am

  AFP - Talks on a new UN climate pact were wrapping up Friday, leaving a roster of bitterly divisive issues to be hammered out at a showdown in Copenhagen next month.

• 
  GreenerBuildings

• Greenbuild 2009 Blazes a Trail to the Southwest

  Leslie Guevarra

  6 Nov 2009 | 7:25 am

  More than 20,000 building and sustainability professionals are heading to Arizona where the U.S. Green Building Council’s annual Greenbuild convention, the world’s largest green building conference and expo, opens next week at the Phoenix Convention Center.

• The Phoenix Convention Center's Green Pedigree

  GreenerBuildings Staff

  6 Nov 2009 | 7:15 am

  The city of Phoenix's revamped LEED-Silver certified convention center will serve as an appropriate backdrop next week for Greenbuild 2009, the vast showcase for green building innovations and ideas.

• New AIA Contracts Offer Tools for Integrated Design to All Developers

  GreenerBuildings Staff

  6 Nov 2009 | 4:41 am

  The release this week of a new contract developed by the American Institute of Architects aims to help bring a collaborative effort to building construction and enable integrated design in buildings of all sizes.

• YKK Boosts Green Product Line with Window Additions to enerGfacade Line

  GreenerBuildings Staff

  6 Nov 2009 | 2:59 am

  Just in advance of the Greenbuild conference, YKK AP America this week unveiled a new aluminum window designed to boost energy efficiency by as much as 30 percent over standard windows.

• Greenbuild 2009 Job Fair: USGBC Offers Job Seekers a Lifeline

  Leslie Guevarra

  5 Nov 2009 | 5:05 pm

  Job hunters seeking to break into the green building field or looking for new opportunities will have a chance network with destination companies and organizations at the upcoming Greenbuild 2009 conference in Phoenix, where the U.S. Green Building Council will conduct the first job fair at its annual gathering.      

• 
  Science Daily: Earth & Climate News

• Air Pollution Increases Infants' Risk Of Bronchiolitis

  7 Nov 2009 | 8:00 am

  Infants who are exposed to higher levels of air pollution are at increased risk for bronchiolitis, according to a new study.

• Boosting Coastal Economics With Crustacean Molting On Demand

  7 Nov 2009 | 2:00 am

  Researchers are close to unraveling intricate cellular pathways that control molting in blue crabs. The discoveries could revolutionize the soft-shell crab industry, generating new jobs and additional profits for the US fishing industry along the coastal Southeast.

• Bacteria Expect The Unexpected

  6 Nov 2009 | 5:00 pm

  Organisms ensure the survival of their species by genetically adapting to the environment. If environmental conditions change too rapidly, the extinction of a species may be the consequence. A strategy to successfully cope with such a challenge is the generation of variable offspring that can survive in different environments. For the first time scientists have now observed the evolution of such a strategy under lab conditions in an experiment with the bacterial species Pseudomonas fluorescens.

• Male Sabertoothed Cats Were Pussycats Compared To Macho Lions

  6 Nov 2009 | 5:00 pm

  Despite their fearsome fangs, male sabertoothed cats may have been less aggressive than many of their feline cousins, says a new study of male-female size differences in extinct big cats.

• Genomes Of Biofuel Yeasts Reveal Clues That Could Boost Fuel Ethanol Production Worldwide

  6 Nov 2009 | 5:00 pm

  As global temperatures and energy costs continue to soar, renewable sources of energy will be key to a sustainable future. An attractive replacement for gasoline is biofuel, and in two new studies, scientists have analyzed the genome structures of bioethanol-producing microorganisms, uncovering genetic clues that will be critical in developing new technologies needed to implement production on a global scale.

• 
  Greener Computing

• ICT's Carbon Impacts Must Figure into Copenhagen Talks, Analysts Say

  GreenerComputing Staff

  4 Nov 2009 | 4:45 am

  At the U.N. Climate Change talks in Barcelona this week, industry experts are calling on policymakers to find ways to spur investments in information technologies that can help cut companies' and countries' greenhouse gas emissions.

• U.S. Continues to Lag on E-Waste Policies

  Matthew Wheeland

  3 Nov 2009 | 2:07 pm

  A study out in the latest issue of Science maps out the patchwork of policies that pass for regulations on the disposal of electronic waste, showing how progress on responsible recycling is coming either from states and regions or private enterprises.

• Cisco to Put TelePresence to Work in Reducing Copenhagen's Emissions

  ClimateBiz Staff

  2 Nov 2009 | 4:17 pm

  The company announced a partnership with the United Nations to tie 100 virtual-meeting rooms to the climate change summit, allowing more people to participate in the event while cutting emissions from avoided travel to the conference.

• Greenpeace Takes IT Giants to Task on Climate Action

  GreenerComputing Staff

  2 Nov 2009 | 1:45 pm

  Google, Microsoft and IBM are singled out for not doing enough to put IT's power to work on reducing greenhouse gas emissions, in the latest release of Greenpeace's Cool IT Challenge.

• Answers to Green Marketers' Questions on Ecolabels

  admin

  2 Nov 2009 | 9:35 am

  GreenBiz.com’s October 15, 2009 webinar on "The Green Marketing Landscape: Ratings, Labels, and Certifications" yielded far more questions than we had time to answer during the allotted 60 minutes. We've selected questions from among the hundreds asked and submitted them to our three speakers, who graciously provided answers.

• 
  Ecolect Blog

• Lavazza Cookie Cup by Enrique Luis Sardi

  Alberto Villarreal

  13 Oct 2009 | 10:01 pm

  Photo: Fabrizio Esposito Venezuelan designer Enrique Luis Sardi has teamed up with Italian coffee company Lavazza to create a master piece of green design: Cookie cup. First you drink the coffee, then you eat the cup! Brilliant. And perhaps many of us have thought of something like this at some point, but they did it! “The cup is [...]

• A Better World by Design Conference

  ecolect

  4 Oct 2009 | 6:52 am

  Today marks the last day of the Better World by Design Conference between Rhode Island School of Design and Brown University. This year, the conference has grown to 500 attendees from all over the globe. The event has brought together a global community of innovators to Providence, Rhode Island, to reach across disciplines and unite [...]

• Weatherizing Buildings 101

  corine

  20 Sep 2009 | 7:55 pm

  Image via www.thebarrierinsulation.com Did you know that in 2004 residential buildings in the United States used 21 percent of the nations energy consumption? The *2030 challenge demands that existing buildings reduce fossil-fuel dependence by 50 percent. Weatherization can help fight global warming by reducing the heating and cooling requirements of buildings. It involves building remodeling with [...]

• The Buckminster Fuller Challenge 2010

  Alberto Villarreal

  19 Sep 2009 | 11:27 am

  The Buckminster Fuller Institute is currently accepting entries for the 2010 Challenge. The deadline is midnight, Eastern Time on October 30, 2009. Based on Buckminster Fuller’s intention: “to make the world work for 100% of humanity, in the shortest possible time, through spontaneous cooperation without ecological offense or disadvantage of anyone”, each year the institute organizes [...]

• Sustainable Minds, process-oriented LCA software

  Alberto Villarreal

  18 Jul 2009 | 11:08 am

  Sustainable Minds has developed a process-oriented software for Life Cycle Assessment.  Compared to other similar tools, this one is very suitable for designers and product developers to assess early concepts during the design process. Related Posts: Life Cycle Assessment Calculator Private: Eco-Labels 101

• 
  Good Guide

• A Food Fight between Kids, Parents...and Regulators

  Dara

  5 Nov 2009 | 6:39 pm

  The fight over food labels, health claims, and industry marketing is heating up. Last week, the food industry voluntarily suspended the Smart Choices program after the FDA announced they would be looking into the program. And today, Kellogg’s announced that they are discontinuing labeling cereals such as Cocoa Crispies and Rice Crispies as helping to “support your child’s immunity”, after the San Francisco city attorney sent a letter to the company asking them to back up these immunity claims. As Marion Nestle explains, these types of food claims fall into a loosely regulated, grey…

• Denmark Exposes the Risks of Two-Year Olds

  Alastair

  29 Oct 2009 | 9:02 pm

  With two young nephews, I’m very concerned about their exposures to chemicals in consumer products and food, since we don’t know how all the chemicals may add up or how they may interact. Based on what science we do have, it’s possible that multiple chemical exposures may lead to much higher risks. With strong government support, scientists working in Europe continue to shed more light on these risks. Last week, Denmark’s Environmental Protection Agency released a stunning report by three researchers on the total exposure of two-year olds to selected endocrine disrupting chemicals in…

• Are Froot Loops a "Smart Choice"?

  Dara

  23 Oct 2009 | 11:58 pm

  Smart Choices, an industry-supported initiative to certify foods for nutritional benefits, is under fire in the press and the halls of government. At issue is the fact that products such as Froot Loops, Lucky Charms, Cocoa Crispies, Ritz Bitz Peanut Butter Chocolately Blast crackers, Mayonnaise, and Fudgesicles receive the Smart Choices “green check” of approval. Critics lament that while products such as Froot Loops do contain fiber, vitamins, and minerals, they also contain 12 grams of sugar per serving - which is 41% of the product by weight. The media has had no problem finding…

• Healthy and Sustainable Seafood

  Dara

  20 Oct 2009 | 9:04 am

  Finding safe, healthy, and sustainable seafood may have just gotten a lot easier. The Monterey Bay Aquarium released a new report today on the State of Seafood, along with what they call “The Super Green List” of seafood that is both healthy and sustainably harvested. This list responds to a concern of many consumers over the last few years. While it was possible to find out which species of fish were most over-fished from one set of websites and lists, it required looking to other websites and lists to find out which fish were likely to contain the most mercury, PCBs, and other…

• Endocrine Disruptors and Food

  Alastair

  14 Oct 2009 | 6:26 pm

  Endocrine disrupting chemicals, which can interfere with the hormone system, potentially harming people’s ability to have kids, and children’s healthy development, have been in the news a lot lately. These chemicals have been identified in a wide range of personal care products. What’s not as well known, is that foods may also be an important pathway of exposure to endocrine disruptors. Not surprisingly, Europe is ahead of the United States in testing foods for endocrine disruptors. Since 2004, a network of European scientists, called CASCADE, has published over one hundred papers that…

• 
  EcoTech Daily

• The Daily Five: Friday, 06 November, 2009

  David Quilty

  6 Nov 2009 | 1:00 am

  Making sustainability mainstream; Solar Power Mobile Power; Toilet, Sink, Grey Water Cistern; EcoFactor thermostats; Collapsible, portable rain barrel Video: How can we make sustainability mainstream? Campaigner and environmental activist Julia Butterfly Hill reflects on the concept of sustainability and what it will take to make it mainstream. Making Solar Power Mobile Power The units come with a block of solar panels that extend and tilt out from the trailer, as well as batteries, inverters and — just in case — a backup diesel generator. The trailers themselves are roadworthy and can be…

• The Daily Five: Thursday, 05 November, 2009

  David Quilty

  5 Nov 2009 | 1:00 am

  World’s Tallest Green Roof; Solar Powered Monorail; Waiting Lists For Think City and Aptera; Solar Power When the Sun Goes Down; Honda designers talk about EV concepts Sears Tower May Sport World’s Tallest Green Roof The Willis Tower, formerly known as the Sears Tower, is spending about $200 million to $300 million to upgrade its energy efficiency and become more “green” overall, reports the Chicago Tribune. The building might have one of the tallest green roofs in the world. (It’s always going to be the Sears Tower to me!) Solar Powered Monorail System For Bologna This looks…

• The Daily Five: Wednesday, 04 November, 2009

  David Quilty

  4 Nov 2009 | 1:00 am

  Giants’ Danny Clark drives a Smart; Japan buries greenhouse gases; Probe to track climate change; San Diego gets $154 million for solar; Methanol fuel cells for gadgets Giants’ Danny Clark Chose to Go Green With a Smart Car D, N.J. — Danny Clark of the Giants says he gets a lot of long looks from curious motorists when he drives his Smart car between Manhattan and the team’s practice complex in New Jersey. But the glances turn to stares and smiles when he parks his 1,600-pound vehicle and his 6-foot-2, 245-pound body emerges from behind the wheel. Japan aims to bury greenhouse gas…

• Build These Solar Heaters To Heat Your Home For Free During The Day.

  David Quilty

  3 Nov 2009 | 10:25 am

  I originally wrote this article for my site, The Good Human, but because it is “EcoTech” oriented I figured it should probably be here as well. My landlord just installed 2 of these solar heaters - 10 days before I move out, which stinks. But for the next 10 days, I plan on running these heaters all day long to heat up the house for absolutely no cost to me. In an effort to try to explain what my landlord did, I took a few pictures of the heaters and will do my best to explain how they work. Each heater is basically a sealed wooden box sitting on a small cement foundation and…

• The Daily Five: Tuesday, 03 November, 2009

  David Quilty

  3 Nov 2009 | 1:00 am

  Solar-Powered EV Charging Station; Habitat for Humanity and PG&E; China-U.S. Group Plans to Build Texas Wind Farm; Mitsubishi iMiEV; Zero Emissions Electric Bus Toyota Developing Solar-Powered EV Charging Station Toyota Industries Corp. announced that it is developing an electric car charging station composed of solar cells and storage batteries at Tokyo Motor Show 2009. Habitat for Humanity and PG&E Support Green Neighborhood CA Recently we took the trip to Oakland, CA to visit a Habitat for Humanity East Bay Project of particular interest for its pairing of energy-efficient homes…

• 
  Forbes: Energy News

• Transcript: Tackling Climate Change

  5 Nov 2009 | 9:00 am

  U.N. Foundation President and former Sen. Tim Wirth on the challenges of implementing greener policies in government.

• The Carbon Question

  3 Nov 2009 | 2:00 pm

  Expect this December's Copenhagen conference to disappoint backers. Maybe they're looking for answers in the wrong places?

• Interactive: The World's Dirtiest Power Plants

  3 Nov 2009 | 12:58 pm

  Sixty percent of the world's electricity comes from plants burning fossil fuels and releasing carbon. Many of the highest-emission plants are concentrated in the United States and East Asia. Here, a look at the world's 200 biggest carbon offenders among power plants. Roll over any plant for more information.

• Bury Our Carbon At Sea

  3 Nov 2009 | 9:00 am

  Here's an innovative business model that may be one way to afford the clean coal chimera.

• Eat My Carbon

  3 Nov 2009 | 9:00 am

  What to do with the world's fossil fuel pollution? Why not feed it to plants?

• 
  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".

• 
  The Good Human

• Quick Green Reads For The Weekend Volume 142.

  david

  6 Nov 2009 | 6:30 am

  It’s moving day! Hopefully everything will go smoothly this weekend as I move in and get settled, and I expect to have internet service again starting on Monday. Wish me luck! To keep you busy, here are a few great articles that caught my eye over the past week… I’d Like To Buy The World A Non-Carcinogenic, Responsibly Packaged, Healthier Alternative To Coke It was a chilly and overcast day in Washington DC, when environmental activists from Appalachia got out of their cars and vans and started pounding makeshift cemetery grave stones into the lawn of the Environmental…

• Homegrown Vegetables: Get In Touch With Your Food Source.

  david

  5 Nov 2009 | 6:30 am

  Not sure when or how, but we’ve become totally out of touch with our food source. How many of us have ever had the pleasure of enjoying some homegrown vegetables? I read the book Plenty and in it they said that our food travels from farm to plate about 1,500 – 2,000 miles. That’s insane and I wanted to do something about it. This past spring I decided it was time for me to get back in touch with my food source and grow my own vegetables. Some of you might be rolling your eyes and saying, “No shot. I can’t do that. I have no space. I don’t have any…

• Greenwash Of The Week: Nestle Pure Life Water.

  david

  4 Nov 2009 | 6:30 am

  I don’t really have much to say other than…yea, right. Nestle’s ad campaign for their Pure Life water touts the fact that their bottles use 15% less plastic because of their “Eco-Shape”. Um… There is absolutely nothing green or eco about water packaged in plastic bottles. Nothing. And as I always do when posts like this go live, if you need more reasons to avoid bottled water you can check out my post 12 Reasons To Stop Drinking Bottled Water. Nice try, Nestle, nice try. Post from: The Good HumanGreenwash Of The Week: Nestle Pure Life Water. You may also…

• Saving Money On Gas Is Not A Good Reason To Pay Extra For Hybrids

  david

  3 Nov 2009 | 6:30 am

  Why? Because it is not all about money. It seems that every day I read somewhere or see on television the complaint of “Well, I won’t buy a hybrid because it would take me years and years to make back the extra expense over a regular gas engine“. Though saving money on gasoline should be a major consideration when deciding on buying any car, it is NOT the only thing you should be thinking of. But unfortunately too many people see it this way. What else should they be thinking of when making this decision? For starters, hybrid cars pollute a lot less than conventional…

• 
  EcoMetro Portland

• Chinook Book Events Through Nov 12

  EcoMetro Portland Team

  4 Nov 2009 | 1:20 pm

  SHIFT: A Green Salon, Sharing and Inspiring Sustainable Design AIGA presents 10 five-minute presentations from designers, creatives, and innovators that are making communications more sustainable. Topics include creative print/web challenges, creating energy efficient sites, green office renovations, earth-friendly printing and more. Followed by short Q&A and networking.  Please RSVP, $5 non-members. Thu, Nov 5, 7-9pm Pop Art Community Room, 718 SW Alder St Farm to Table 10th Anniversary Celebration Celebrate Zenger Farm's ten years of educating youth, farmers and families in…

• Urban Foraging: Harvesting Food From Your Neighborhood

  Jennifer Morkunas, Celilo Group Media

  3 Nov 2009 | 2:43 pm

  Have you ever thought about what sort of food grows around your neighborhood? The bounty of edibles found right around the corner, from apples and nuts to rosemary and greens, is astounding. The urban landscape is filled with fresh, free food if you just know what to look for. Plants you might normally ignore, like dandelions or nettles, can be cooked into healthy, delicious meals. Many people first experienced wild foods in their childhood—learning to mushroom hunt with their grandfather or picking apples from a neighbor’s tree. Looking for wild fruits, veggies, and nuts is a fun family…

• Meet Super Bike Commuter, Chris Bell

  EcoMetro Portland Team

  30 Oct 2009 | 9:55 am

  -Sally Bell, Advertising Manager The Bicycle Transportation Alliance’s September Bike Commuter Challenge was an all-out success. Thousands of Oregonians made first-time commutes and some committed themselves to more consistent ridership, for the sake of healthy competition, the wonders of bike commuting and good old-fashioned fun. This year’s Brian Reynold’s distance award winner happens to also be my husband, Chris Bell.  Chris is the most modest super commuter you’ll ever meet and he logged well over 1800 miles in the month of September, making the trek from our home in SE…

• Incognito: SCRAP Fundraiser on October 29

  EcoMetro Portland Team

  23 Oct 2009 | 5:13 pm

  Incognito is a SCRAP fundraiser and dinner award party that celebrates creativity, sustainability and mystery. Evening includes drinks and dinner, auctions, awards, trashion show and musical entertainment. Costumes welcome, and masks are a must; if you arrive without one, you may purchase a mask creation from SCRAP volunteers. Order your tickets today! Oct 29, 5:30pm Cocktails and Silent Auction 7pm Awards, Dinner and Live Auction 8:30pm Transcendental Brass Band, Junk to Funk Trashion Show The Nines, 525 SW Morrison

• Portland EcoMetro Events through October 25

  EcoMetro Portland Team

  22 Oct 2009 | 2:34 pm

  Sisters of the Road Hoedown and 30th Anniversary Pull out your fancy boots and parade chaps and come hear the fabulous Old Time tunes of Uncle Earl and Casey Neil and the Norway Rats. Evening includes sit-down dinner and dessert, free wine and beer, dancing, children's activities, silent auction and more. Tickets are $85, call 503-222-5694 ext. 19 to purchase. Fri, Oct 23, 6-10pm Portland Art Museum's Kridel Grand Ballroom, 1219 SW Park Ave 350 - International Day of Climate Action October 24th is the International Day of Climate Action and that number of 350 is the parts per million…

• 
  green.tv

• green.tv Weekly News - November 2nd 2009

  5 Nov 2009 | 4:00 pm

  green.tv news covers highlights of a new sustainable transport system, alternative biofuel, and some green celebrity stories this week...

• Stuart Rose speaks to Cantos

  4 Nov 2009 | 4:00 pm

  M&S' Chairman Stuart Rose says the company is looking to set itself more stretching sustainability targets for 2020. It comes as the company reports good progress on its current plan - Plan A - which aims to deliver on a 100 point eco plan to tackle a wide range of environmental and social challenges by 2012.

• Victories for Animals

  3 Nov 2009 | 4:00 pm

  WARNING - CONTAINS GRAPHIC FOOTAGE. We made history for animals in 2008. Watch some of the major victories The Humane Society of the United States achieved over the year.

• Darwin's Lookouts

  3 Nov 2009 | 4:00 pm

  Plant Hunter Fiona introduces the Lookouts. 5-6 year-olds are the 'Lookouts' - looking out for plants in the local environment and examining them carefully. They learn about plant parts and spot similarities and differences.

• Living with Levees

  2 Nov 2009 | 4:00 pm

  Levees are intended to keep straitjackets on rivers, but engineers now find that controlled breaches can avoid more widespread damage to occupied areas in flood-plains. With a changing climate these fortifications may become ineffective and put people and communities at risk. Working with the natural cycle and not trying to control the forces of nature is a new way to look at flood control.

• 
  INHABITAT

• NeighborGoods: Your New Virtual Tool Shed

  Mike Chino

  6 Nov 2009 | 1:26 pm

  Practically every household in America has its own tool set, drill, and ladder… but why? Most people don’t use these things on a daily basis, and due to their hardworking heritage these items tend to last forever; when’s the last time you wore out a hammer? Enter NeighborGoods, a service that seeks to cut down on redundant consumption and save households the cost of buying their own toolshed by enabling networks of borrowers. Perfect for those times when you need a drill for a day, or a saw for a few hours — plus you’ll actually have a chance to meet your…

• LAST CHANCE to Vote for Your Favorite Green Halloween Costume!

  Yuka Yoneda

  6 Nov 2009 | 10:30 am

  Our Green Halloween Costume Contest ends TONIGHT at MIDNIGHT!Today is your LAST CHANCE to vote in our Green Halloween Costume contest, and the competition is fierce! Our top 15 amazingly crafted submissions are currently vying for fame, glory, and some great green prizes – and we’re leaving it up to you to pick the winners! The competition ends tonight at midnight, so without further ado, here’s your chance to check them out and weigh in on who you think deserves the coveted title of “Inhabitat Best Green Halloween Costume 2009” not to mention some incredible…

• Transport System Runs on Super-Strong Magnetic Fields

  Ariel Schwartz

  6 Nov 2009 | 9:30 am

  Instead of moving goods on resource-intensive trains, Spain-based technology company Novateq Guerrero SNL wants to build out a different kind of transportation network–one that uses super-powerful magnets to propel vehicles. Novateq has already developed a prototype of its system, which uses Neodymium magnets, or rare-earth magnets, as a driving force. The magnets are 9 times more powerful than conventional models.Read the rest of Transport System Runs on Super-Strong Magnetic Fields Permalink | Add to del.icio.us | digg Post tags: green design, magnetic fields, neodymium, novateq…

• 2009 World Architecture Festival Winners Announced

  Bridgette Meinhold

  6 Nov 2009 | 8:25 am

  The 2009 World Architecture Festival took place this week in Barcelona, drawing great minds to discuss, learn, share and award excellent architectural designs and completed projects. This year’s theme dealt with how to achieve Less With More and the relationship between cities and architecture, with climate change and sustainability playing key roles. The winners of the festival have been announced and we want to highlight four of the completed buildings that stand out for their environmentally sensitive and sustainable designs. Read on to see all of these noteworthy buildings.Read the…

• Cité du Design: Solar Powered International Design Center Unveiled

  Bridgette Meinhold

  5 Nov 2009 | 10:00 pm

  Situated in an defunct arms manufacturing facility in Saint-Etienne, the recently unveiled Cité du Design is a stunning international center for design. Designed by LIN, the project completely renovated the historic complex and integrated a new facility made out of triangular scaffolding. Powered by solar energy and supplemented by an efficient heating system, the energy efficient Cité du Design is a world class design center that lives up to its name. Read the rest of Cité du Design: Solar Powered International Design Center Unveiled Permalink | Add to del.icio.us | digg Post tags: Cite…

• 
  DeSmogBlog - Clearing the PR Pollution that Clouds Climate Science

• U.S. Climate Envoy Slams Inhofe's Attempts To Influence Copenhagen

  Brendan Demelle

  6 Nov 2009 | 11:55 am

  At the U.S. delegation press conference this afternoon on the final day of the Barcelona climate talks, I asked U.S. deputy climate change envoy Jonathan Pershing what effect, if any, Senator James Inhofe (R-Denial) might have on the process in Copenhagen, and whether GOP intransigence is hurting Obama’s ability to come up with a firm number on U.S. emissions reductions.Pershing responded that the U.S. delegation traveling to Denmark will include “a wide variety of members of Congress as well as their staff,” from both parties, as is the tradition in international…

• What Would Frank Luntz Do with the Copenhagen Climate Treaty?

  Kevin Grandia

  6 Nov 2009 | 4:43 am

  070206_luntz_vmed_1p.widec_.jpg When I'm trying to unravel public relations spin, I frequently find myself asking WWFLD (What Would Frank Luntz Do)? As you'll recall Frank Luntz is a chief Republican spin-doctor famous for his memo on climate change. We have seen a lot of spindoctoring at the Barcelona climate talks underway this week in the run-up to the Copenhagen climate treaty summit to be held in mid-December. As I've pointed out in previous posts, the most egregious spin has been the attempts by politicians to re-frame a successful outcome in Copenhagen as being a "politically binding"…

• Coal Industry Coloring Book Spins "Clean Coal" for Kids

  Kevin Grandia

  5 Nov 2009 | 9:08 am

  Someone just sent one of the most ridiculous pieces of propaganda the coal lobby has produced to date. Put out by the West Virginia Coal Association and their Friends of Coal front group, the "Let's Learn About Coal" coloring book, pretty much speaks for itself: This coloring book is just dying to be edited and mashed, so fire up your photoshop and the best three "new versions" of this get a free copy of our new book Climate Cover Up. You can download a full copy of the coloring book here: "Let's Learn About Coal." <!--break--> AttachmentSize LetsLearnAboutCoal.pdf1.07 MB

• Who is the Bernie Madoff of Climate Change?

  Kevin Grandia

  5 Nov 2009 | 12:39 am

  madoff.jpg DeSmog co-founder James Hoggan and Richard Littlemore have been taking to the airwaves regularly over the last few weeks to tackle recent news stories and promote Climate Cover-Up. On Monday, Jim was interviewed by Josepha Planta of www.thecommentary.ca – you can listen to the interview here. On Tuesday, Jim and Richard were featured on Thom Hartmann’s Midday show on WYPR– one of the most listened-to progressive talk shows in America. Also featured during the same show was notorious (and widely discredited) climate denier Fred Singer. Singer’s argument of…

• A politically binding climate change agreement is great... if you're a politician

  Kevin Grandia

  4 Nov 2009 | 9:41 am

  iStock_000008908938XSmall.jpg The biggest news coming out of the Barcelona climate talks being held this week is the re-framing of a successful climate change treaty as being one that is "politically binding" as opposed to "legally binding." With all the long hours I've been putting into to covering these climate talks, I'm sure my wife is wishing our marriage was a politically binding agreement, as opposed to a legal one. This double-speak-aganza started earlier this week with Danish Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen telling Reuters that, "it is a challenge for every single industrialised…

• 
  EcoTech Daily

• The Daily Five: Friday, 06 November, 2009

  David Quilty

  6 Nov 2009 | 1:00 am

  Making sustainability mainstream; Solar Power Mobile Power; Toilet, Sink, Grey Water Cistern; EcoFactor thermostats; Collapsible, portable rain barrel Video: How can we make sustainability mainstream? Campaigner and environmental activist Julia Butterfly Hill reflects on the concept of sustainability and what it will take to make it mainstream. Making Solar Power Mobile Power The units come with a block of solar panels that extend and tilt out from the trailer, as well as batteries, inverters and — just in case — a backup diesel generator. The trailers themselves are roadworthy and can be…

• The Daily Five: Thursday, 05 November, 2009

  David Quilty

  5 Nov 2009 | 1:00 am

  World’s Tallest Green Roof; Solar Powered Monorail; Waiting Lists For Think City and Aptera; Solar Power When the Sun Goes Down; Honda designers talk about EV concepts Sears Tower May Sport World’s Tallest Green Roof The Willis Tower, formerly known as the Sears Tower, is spending about $200 million to $300 million to upgrade its energy efficiency and become more “green” overall, reports the Chicago Tribune. The building might have one of the tallest green roofs in the world. (It’s always going to be the Sears Tower to me!) Solar Powered Monorail System For Bologna This looks…

• The Daily Five: Wednesday, 04 November, 2009

  David Quilty

  4 Nov 2009 | 1:00 am

  Giants’ Danny Clark drives a Smart; Japan buries greenhouse gases; Probe to track climate change; San Diego gets $154 million for solar; Methanol fuel cells for gadgets Giants’ Danny Clark Chose to Go Green With a Smart Car D, N.J. — Danny Clark of the Giants says he gets a lot of long looks from curious motorists when he drives his Smart car between Manhattan and the team’s practice complex in New Jersey. But the glances turn to stares and smiles when he parks his 1,600-pound vehicle and his 6-foot-2, 245-pound body emerges from behind the wheel. Japan aims to bury greenhouse gas…

• Build These Solar Heaters To Heat Your Home For Free During The Day.

  David Quilty

  3 Nov 2009 | 10:25 am

  I originally wrote this article for my site, The Good Human, but because it is “EcoTech” oriented I figured it should probably be here as well. My landlord just installed 2 of these solar heaters - 10 days before I move out, which stinks. But for the next 10 days, I plan on running these heaters all day long to heat up the house for absolutely no cost to me. In an effort to try to explain what my landlord did, I took a few pictures of the heaters and will do my best to explain how they work. Each heater is basically a sealed wooden box sitting on a small cement foundation and…

• The Daily Five: Tuesday, 03 November, 2009

  David Quilty

  3 Nov 2009 | 1:00 am

  Solar-Powered EV Charging Station; Habitat for Humanity and PG&E; China-U.S. Group Plans to Build Texas Wind Farm; Mitsubishi iMiEV; Zero Emissions Electric Bus Toyota Developing Solar-Powered EV Charging Station Toyota Industries Corp. announced that it is developing an electric car charging station composed of solar cells and storage batteries at Tokyo Motor Show 2009. Habitat for Humanity and PG&E Support Green Neighborhood CA Recently we took the trip to Oakland, CA to visit a Habitat for Humanity East Bay Project of particular interest for its pairing of energy-efficient homes…

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  How can I recycle this?

• How can I use up leftover baked/jacket potatoes?

  louisa

  6 Nov 2009 | 4:26 am

  So, the reason for this post and it being posted considerably later than usual is the same thing – we had a bonfire night party last night — great fun but it ended somewhat late for a school night. Prior to Wednesday, it had just been a couple of friends coming around to burn things then play Guitar Hero, then it suddenly became a whole bunch of people (including one six week old person) coming around for food and flames. I, unwisely, decided I’d be able to make two soups and two cakes in the hour-and-a-half I had between getting in from the office and people starting to…

• How can I repair a pair of waterproof trousers?

  louisa

  5 Nov 2009 | 2:00 am

  Because she’s a keen fixer of things, I told Alice in Blogland about our new “Repair This” feature and she replied that she had something in need of mending, but didn’t know how to go about it: It’s a pair of waterproof trousers which have taped seams. Basically I bent over in them and the seam split right down the middle, leaving the fabric intact but tearing the seam tape. Can I buy waterproofing seam tape from somewhere? What’s it called? And do I need to sew it in some sort of special way so that it ends up waterproof – if I do it wrong then I…

• How can I reuse or recycle old chipboard/particleboard?

  louisa

  4 Nov 2009 | 2:00 am

  We’ve had an email from Ben, asking what he can do with some old chipboard/particleboard furniture: The shelves have sagged in the middle so I doubt anyone else would want it. Most people probably wouldn’t want a saggy bookshelf as a feature in their living room but don’t write it off just yet — it might be fine for shelving in a store room or a garage, particularly if a baton or two can be fitted underneath the warped shelves for extra strength. Offer it on Freecycle/Freegle, describing the condition and see if there are any takers. Aside from that or if some of the…

• How can I make wrist warmers reusing or recycling old things?

  louisa

  3 Nov 2009 | 2:00 am

  A few weeks ago, I made passing reference to arm/wrist warmers but I thought I’d mention them again because it’s amazing what a difference they make. There are hundreds of different knitting and crochet patterns for fingerless gloves – from the very simple (a square folded over with a thumb hole left in the seam) to ones with cabling-a-go-go and separate half fingers to provide more coverage – and they don’t take long to knit/crochet up — but what are the options for non-knitters/crocheters? Last week, Leethal posted a how-to make them out of old socks and…

• Interesting Reducing, Reusing and Recycling links

  louisa

  3 Nov 2009 | 1:00 am

  This week’s quick link round-up: Amber of Berlin’s Whimsy has a tutorial for making washable covers for Swiffer-style floor sweepers out of old towels If our soggy garden is anything to go by, it’s possibly a little late for this now but if you’ve still got pretty dry leaves, you can make them into a bouquet of “roses” Crafting a Green World has some useful documentation on calculating the fabric yardage from old bedding Make candles from old cooking oil/fat – two methods: one using salt, the other using a wire coil to support the wick Finally…

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  UrbanWorkbench

• Flagging Doggy Doo

  Mike Thomas

  5 Nov 2009 | 5:00 am

  Public spaces should be respected and kept clean for the enjoyment of all; and around here, there is a group of people who are not all pulling their weight – Dog Owners. Now, I’ve got animals that produce extraordinary amounts of excrement, but our dwarf bunnies could hardly be pinned as the culprits for depositing steaming brown mounds, often strategically located on walking trails around town. What is even worse, is when these piles are left behind in the winter, covered up by the owner or the next snowfall – out of sight, out of mind. That is, until Spring rolls around…

• The Smart Growth Manual

  Mike Thomas

  4 Nov 2009 | 5:00 am

  Smart Growth is slowly being recognized as having benefits outside of the usual talk of walkable neighbourhoods and streetscapes. This book, The Smart Growth Manual runs through the principles from the Regional context, the Neighbourhood, the Street, down to the Building design. If you are interested in New Urbanism, this is a book worth checking out – also, you can check out some related books in the links below the main image. If you are in Canada, click here for amazon.ca Thesis Testimonials - See what our customers are saying about their Thesis experience! This post was written by…

• OverWintering Vegetables

  Mike Thomas

  2 Nov 2009 | 5:00 am

  With the first frost comes the need to harvest most vegetables. Our cold room is stacked with fruit and vegetables chilling out till it’s time to be eaten. Some vegetables can be overwintered in the garden , but there are a few steps to managing the crops that are left out in the cold. This year we are overwintering carrots, beets and rutabaga in the garden. Prepare the Beds These root vegetables are pretty hardy if you protect them from heavy frost or deep freeze, but the first step is to prepare the beds for overwintering – and honestly, this is the hardest step – weeding.

• Prepared

  Mike Thomas

  29 Oct 2009 | 1:58 pm

  Image by urbanworkbench via Flickr As the snow falls outside and most of the leaves have fallen, I’m reminded of all the things that were not accomplished on the to-do list. Despite this, we have a cold room full of apples, pumpkins and squash, preserved fruit and vegetables in canning jars, dried goods in the kitchen and a handful of other goods including seed-saving efforts in different nooks and crannies around the house. In the coming weeks we’ll receive our grain and lentil shares from the second year of harvest in the Kootenay Grain CSA, grown in Creston, about a hundred and…

• Seasons Come and Go

  Mike Thomas

  25 Oct 2009 | 6:38 pm

  This weekend I took my sister for a walk along the lovely Waldie Island Trail on the Brilliant side of the Columbia River in Castlegar. This time of year, the colours are stunning along the trail if you can get a sunny day. Although a beautiful trail, it also represents an historical site for the settlement of Castlegar. As can be seen in the photo to the right, and read about in the Trails in Time page on Waldie Island Mill, this was a hub of industry on the river for many years, and was only replaced in the late 1950s with the current pulp and saw mil operations upstream by the Hugh…

• 
  First Global Xpress

• 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…

• Fuel Surcharge

  Justin

  1 Nov 2009 | 8:08 am

  Currently: FGX 6.00% Valid through 11/30/09

• 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. …

• 
  Green Daily

• Can 2022 be the 'Year of the Tiger' if the Tigers are all Gone?

  Cat Lincoln

  6 Nov 2009 | 9:02 am

  Filed under: Activism, Plants and Wildlife Sad but true: there are lots of endangered animals out there. Climate change, deforestation and habitat destruction are all powerful forces working against wild populations of, well, most wild animals. So you know it has to be pretty bad when the World Wildlife Fund singles out a species for particular attention. This week the conservation organization called for urgent action to save the tigers. In addition to surviving the three challenges above, these regal striped beasts have been brought to their collective knees by poaching and "parts…

• Eco-Beat, 11/5

  Josh Loposer

  5 Nov 2009 | 12:00 pm

  Did the production footprint of "2012" help bring about a real life climate apocalypse? Is your mayor a low-carbon crime fighter? Are your baked beans trying to kill you? Today's Eco-Beat has the scoop on all the latest green news and tips. Eco-Thriller "2012" Goes Green on the Set Though his blockbuster movies may terrorize the planet ("Independence Day," "The Day After Tomorrow," etc.) Roland Emmerich's a big green softie underneath. Generators on "2012" were biodiesel-powered and sets were recycled or donated to Habitat for Humanity. London's Mayor Becomes "Knight on Shining Bicycle" Fanny…

• Does Humane Veal Exist?

  Cat Lincoln

  5 Nov 2009 | 9:03 am

  Filed under: Food, Plants and Wildlife Australian calves at pasture. Photo: Mark Kolbe, Getty Images Yes, what I'm asking is if it's okay to eat a baby animal if it had a good, albeit short life? Proponents of pasture-raised "rose veal" say that their veal is fundamentally different from the nightmarish image of animals kept in pens so small they are unable to move, and pumped full of antibiotics to stave off rampant infection, a.k.a. "white veal." For years chefs have been complaining about the bland taste of pen-raised white veal, which are kept in crates so small they can't turn or lie…

• Eco-Beat, 11/4

  Josh Loposer

  4 Nov 2009 | 12:00 pm

  Wanna ride to work like the pros? Need some help justifying your next big-ticket Gucci purchase? Are you a secret raw milk junkie who'll do anything for a sip of illegal, unpasteurized moo juice? Today's Eco-Beat has the scoop on all the latest green news and tips. Bike Commuting Tips from the Pros Ever wished you could ride your bike to work, but can't stomach the spandex? Do those bike shorts really help get you to work on time? You can get answers to these questions and more at the Sierra Club's Climate Crossroads Bicycle Group. Ready to Party FOR the Turkeys? If you're looking for some…

• Do You Like Frogs and Have an SOS for the Rainforest?

  Cat Lincoln

  4 Nov 2009 | 9:01 am

  Filed under: Celebrities, Activism, Climate Change Have you always dreamed of costarring in a film or video with an animated partner, like Paula Abdul and that dancing cat in "Opposites Attract"? And do you have a message for the world about saving the rainforest? If so, The Prince's Rainforest can help you achieve both of these dreams. HRH Charles, the Prince of Wales, created The Prince's Rainforest Project to simply raise awareness of the connection between deforestation and climate change. The campaign has a frog mascot who appeared in a video with Prince Charles, as well as Princes…

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  Carbon Positive News

• Climate change job vacancies #81

  6 Nov 2009 | 5:04 am

  Latest job vacancies in climate change and sustainability...

• Huge emitter lobby undercuts climate efforts

  6 Nov 2009 | 1:52 am

  Moves to regulate carbon emissions and secure a new climate treaty are being thwarted by lobbyists, a cross border study finds...

• Wood pellets lead biomass energy rise

  5 Nov 2009 | 4:53 am

  Europe is leading rapid growth in the wood biomass energy sector, according to Wood Resources Quarterly...

• Climate change is Kilimanjaro culprit afterall

  4 Nov 2009 | 5:14 am

  The snowcap on Africa’s Mt Kilimanjaro may disappear within 20 years, with global warming driving its decline, according to a new study...

• Carbon trade here to stay regardless of Copenhagen

  3 Nov 2009 | 1:55 am

  Carbon markets are here to stay regardless of what happens in Copenhagen, but their growth outlook depends on a new climate agreement...

• 
  Environmental Health News

• Who says saving the planet has to cost a fortune?

  jpmyers@ehsic.org

  6 Nov 2009 | 6:00 am

  Among the nagging issues in the run-up to the Copenhagen climate summit are demands that the US and Europe provide massive aid, so poorer countries can buy expensive emissions-free technologies. But many of the patents for low-carbon technologies are already in the public domain.

• Study suggests peat CO2 credits more valuable.

  jpmyers@ehsic.org

  6 Nov 2009 | 6:00 am

  An Indonesia-based study is showing carbon-rich tropical peat lands trap more greenhouse gases than first thought, driving up their potential value on the carbon market and strengthening the case for their protection.

• Climate insurance is in the cross hairs in negotiations for Copenhagen.

  jpmyers@ehsic.org

  6 Nov 2009 | 6:00 am

  The United States is being accused of trying to "kill" a prominent global warming provision that would create a massive insurance program for countries that face rising destruction from natural disasters. It would cost the U.S. and other developed nations billions every year.

• U.S. Ex-Im Bank to promote renewable energy exports.

  jpmyers@ehsic.org

  6 Nov 2009 | 6:00 am

  The U.S. Export-Import Bank on Thursday said it will provide up to $250 million to help finance exports of U.S.-built-and-designed technology used in generating renewable energy including solar, wind and geothermal.

• 'You will not be forgotten,' Obama tells tribal leaders.

  jpmyers@ehsic.org

  6 Nov 2009 | 6:00 am

  President Obama told hundreds of tribal leaders at an Interior Department summit today that he knows what it means to feel ignored and forgotten, pledging to work with them on issues including energy development and climate change.

• 
  Clean Edge

• IPO Watch: STR Holdings Disappoints

  TheStreet.com

  5 Nov 2009 | 9:00 pm

• Ocean Power Technologies Gets $60 Million from Australian Government for Wave Power Project

  Clean Edge News

  5 Nov 2009 | 9:00 pm

  11/06/2009 - Ocean Power Technologies Australasia (OPTA), a subsidiary of Ocean Power Technologies, Inc...

• ECOtality Raises $15 Million in Equity for Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Technology

  Clean Edge News

  4 Nov 2009 | 9:00 pm

  11/05/2009 - <a href="http://www.ecotality.com/" target="new">ECOtality, Inc...

• Green Buildings Continue Impressive Growth, New Market Study Finds

  GreenerBuildings.com

  4 Nov 2009 | 9:00 pm

• Applied Materials Opens Advanced Solar Research Facility in China

  Clean Edge News

  3 Nov 2009 | 9:00 pm

  11/04/2009 - Applied Materials, a large supplier of equipment to the solar photovoltaic industry, recently opened an advanced solar research and demonstration facility in Xi'an, China...

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  Green Car Congress

• ECO2Trans Project Converting Two Buses to Fuel Cell, Battery and Capacitor Combination

  Mike Millikin

  6 Nov 2009 | 12:37 pm

  Engineers from the University of Sunderland (UK), in collaboration with Shanghai’s Shen Li High Technology, ComeSys Europe and AVID vehicles, have launched ECO2Trans, a project to convert two buses to a fuel cell, battery and capacitor combination. Sunderland’s Dirk Kok, Mark Armstrong, Maggie Ren and Adrian Morris with one of the buses. Click to enlarge.One North East have sponsored the £314,000 (US$521,000) project to convert the two Gulliver U500EUK buses bought from Mersey Travel. Sunderland’s team is led by Dirk Kok and Adrian Morris from the Institute of Automotive and…

• ABB and Fincantieri to Collaborate on Shore Power Systems

  Mike Millikin

  6 Nov 2009 | 12:20 pm

  ABB, a leading power and automation technology group, and Fincantieri, the Italian merchant and naval shipbuilder, have signed an agreement to collaborate on the construction, marketing and supply of high-voltage shore connection (HVSC) systems to provide electricity to vessels in port. Diagram of HVSC system. Click to enlarge.Harbor facilities around the world are taking a close look at shore-to-ship connections as a way of reducing emissions from ships in port and improve air quality for surrounding communities. HVSC systems enable ships to draw electricity from onshore power grids while in…

• US DOE Signs Cooperative Agreement for New Hydrogen Power Plant

  Mike Millikin

  6 Nov 2009 | 11:50 am

  The US Department of Energy (DOE) has signed a cooperative agreement with Hydrogen Energy California LLC (HECA) to build and demonstrate a hydrogen-powered electric generating facility, complete with carbon capture and storage, in Kern County, Calif. (Earlier post.) HECA, which is owned by Hydrogen Energy International, BP Alternative Energy, and Rio Tinto, plans to construct an advanced integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC) plant that will produce power by converting fuel—a blend of 75% coal and 25% petroleum coke—into hydrogen and carbon dioxide (CO2). The hydrogen will be used…

• HUMMER H3 and H3T Updated With New Flex-Fuel V8

  Mike Millikin

  6 Nov 2009 | 11:41 am

  HUMMER has updated the 2010 HUMMER H3 and H3T midsize all-terrain vehicles with an available E85 Flex Fuel capable 5.3L V8 engine. HUMMER has committed to offer a biofuel powertrain in all body styles by 2010. The new 5.3L V8 Flex Fuel engine is standard in all 2010 Alpha series models and is a member of GM’s small-block V-8 family. (Other variants of the 5.3L V8 VVT engine are applied in a number of GM trucks.) It is rated at 300 hp (224 kW) and 320 lb-ft (434 N·m) of torque. An aluminum cylinder block is used with the H3 Alpha’s engine, which helps reduce overall mass and maintains a…

• BMW Motorrad Develops C1-E Electric Study as Contribution to eSUM

  Mike Millikin

  6 Nov 2009 | 10:50 am

  BMW Motorrad concept C1-E. Click to enlarge.BMW Motorrad has developed an electric study vehicle, the C1-E, as a contribution to the European safety project eSUM. This study unit is based on the concept of the BMW C1, and is characterized by a very high level of active and passive safety. The electric motor employed in the study has been designed for city use and is based on components by the company Vectrix. The motor obtains its power from a lithium-ion battery and thus possesses sufficient power for mastering most inner-city traffic riding. Alternatively the vehicle could also be equipped…

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  The Green Leap Forward 绿跃进

• Energy Service Companies in China

  Julian

  27 Oct 2009 | 10:11 pm

  Guest blogger Tristan Edmondson (right), partner at Mint Research, a clean tech consultancy, describes China’s growing Energy Service Company (ESCO) industry. China has one of the worst ratios of energy use to GDP in the world, two and a half times the world average. This undoubtedly creates investment opportunities for a country that is awash in capital. But despite the huge potential of China’s ESCO industry, it has yet to approach the size of the ESCO industry in the US where it is an industry worth six billion dollars a year. What is an ESCO? Under an energy performance…

• Carbon trading, taxes and putting the cart before the horse

  Julian

  12 Oct 2009 | 10:11 pm

  There have been mixed messages lately about whether China will soon adopt a carbon emissions trading scheme.  On the eve of President Hu Jintao’s speech at the UN Climate Summit in New York last month, Times Online ran a sensationally misleading story suggesting that China would adopt a carbon emissions trading scheme that would “for the first time, place limits on the amount of greenhouse gases Chinese industries are allowed to emit.”  The article went on to say: A delegation from the China Beijing Environmental Exchange (CBEEX), a government-backed platform for trading…

• A Birthday Wishlist: China’s Climate Challenge and the Next 60 Years

  Julian

  30 Sep 2009 | 8:19 pm

  Originally published by the Center for American Progress and China Dialogue. The clean-energy float at the 60th Anniversary celebrations on October 1st in Beijing.  (Photo credit: Xinhua/Li Gang) This week [October 1st] marks the 60th anniversary of the People’s Republic of China. The first 30-year phase was one of revolution, marked by one bloody internal purge after another, but the next 30-year phase was one of pragmatism, which underpinned economic and social reform leading to unrivaled rates of economic growth. China now finds itself at a crossroads. As the country struggles to come…

• China’s Carbon Intensity Plans and its Impact on Climate Progress

  Julian

  25 Sep 2009 | 4:56 pm

  Updated Sep 30:  Reactions from U.S. legislators and Chinese translation of main blog piece. President Hu Jintao (pictured right) of China announced that China will build on existing domestic climate change policies as embodied in its National Climate Change Programme and current Five Year Plan to step up its efforts on energy efficiency, development of low-carbon energy such as renewables and nuclear, and increase of forestry cover. [For a transcript of President Hu's speech, click here] Most noteworthy was president Hu’s introduction of a new goal to reduce carbon dioxide emissions per…

• TV Interview on “Foreign Exchange” with Daljit Dhaliwal

  Julian

  22 Aug 2009 | 10:38 am

  Here’s a 7 minute television interview I did with the US television foreign policy program “Foreign Affairs”, discussing China’s clean energy policies.   If you based in the U.S., it may not be too late to catch this on the TV (check schedule). (p.s. not sure what the first visual on “a new direction for Hong Kong” means!) Watch 606 - Julian Wong in News |  View More Free Videos Online at Veoh.com I suspect there may be some questions regarding my remarks about what percentage of China’s economic stimulus is being allocated to green projects.   I…

• 
  TerraPass Footprint

• New project: Crow Wing County landfill

  4 Nov 2009 | 2:13 pm

  Another project up for public comment by Adam Stein Crow Wing County landfill is in Brainerd, Minnesota, about two hours north of Minneapolis. Despite its small size, the landfill is an innovator that has achieved extraordinarily high recycling rates. One of their most recent initiatives is a landfill gas collection and flaring operation, which TerraPass has the pleasure of presenting to you now. You know the drill. Check out the project and please send any questions or comments to projects@terrapass.com by…

• Cities: still greener than small villages

  3 Nov 2009 | 7:55 am

  Access to supermarkets is more important than access to farms by Adam Stein The review of Green Metropolis kicked off a discussion that illustrates some of the confusion that crops up in discussions of density. Hoisting a representative snippet up from comments: I think people can be extremely green in either rural or urban settings, it’s a matter of intent. Hard to measure the difference in impact - an urban setting allows for a much more communal way of using and reusing resources, but on the other hand, if the concentration of people is greater than the city can naturally sustain,…

• Parking done right

  2 Nov 2009 | 5:40 am

  San Francisco skips the green garages, focuses on pricing by Adam Stein Let’s talk parking. Recently I suggested that building new parking garages isn’t an environmentally friendly thing to do, even if such garages are nicely landscaped and have energy-efficient lighting systems. The environmental impact of the structures themselves is minuscule in comparison to the impact of the transportation system they are part of, and the green flourishes do nothing to change this basic equation. For making this fairly bland observation, I was accused of, variously: being an enemy of personal…

• Hunters, fishers press for climate change bill

  1 Nov 2009 | 4:55 pm

  And the religious right gets in on the act by Adam Stein This isn’t exactly a new trend — I remember writing about it several years ago — but it seems to be picking up some steam: More than 13,000 hunters and anglers from across the country joined a “virtual town hall” teleconference on Tuesday to hear a discussion of the impact of climate change on fish and wildlife populations, and to voice their support for federal action to limit carbon emissions. Recently I whined about how environmentalists are a perennial whipping boy. Part of the issue, I think, is that most…

• Bashing environmentalists always pays

  29 Oct 2009 | 1:38 pm

  It's just simple Freakonomics! by Adam Stein I generally don’t indulge in blog rants, mostly because I’m just not very good at them. David Roberts, on the other hand, is good at them, and he puts to words some of the deep disgust I’ve been feeling over the foofaraw kicked up by the new book Superfreakonomics, the sequel to the fairly awful and inexplicably bestselling Freakonomics. I’m not going to rehash the Superfreakonomics episode in detail. For the gory details, go here or here and follow the thread. Better yet, check out the rigorous and entertainingly smug…

• 
  World Resources Institute: Earthtrends

• Sanitation: Access and Health

  EarthTrends

  5 Nov 2009 | 8:12 am

  Human waste may be a topic that people generally do not or prefer not to think about. However, its capture and disposal (often referred to in terms of sanitation) play a vital role in human health and development. The importance of sanitation as a basic human need has made it an international development priority and a key target in the United Nations Millennium Development Goals. Even though since 1990 the percent of the global population with access to improved sanitation has increased (see Figure 1.), lack of improved sanitation still threatens human health and development particularly in…

• Piracy and Governance in the Gulf of Aden

  EarthTrends

  19 Oct 2009 | 9:01 am

  The number of piracy attacks reported this year have already far exceeded those of last year. According to the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), as of September 23, 2009, 294 piratical incidents have been reported, with 97 occurring in the Gulf of Aden and 47 off of the remaining coasts of Somalia. Figure 1 shows the placements of pirate attacks within the Gulf of Aden from July to September, 2009.read more

• Blog Action Day 2009: Climate Factoids

  Samah Elsayed

  15 Oct 2009 | 4:49 pm

  Today is Blog Action Day, an annual event where bloggers worldwide combine their energies to highlight a specific issue. Over 10,000 sites from more than 150 countries, are participating in this years discussion on climate change. As part of EarthTrends contribution we will be highlighting a few key climate change trends and statistics. read more

• The 6th Extinction and Protected Areas

  Richard Kahle

  2 Oct 2009 | 9:34 am

  The 6th Extinction A mass extinction is under way. Human activity, not natural phenomenon, is the difference between this extinction and the five previous big extinctions that have occurred in Earth's history. The current extinction is driven by habitat loss, overexploitation of species, invasive species and pollution. All of these, the result of humans. The current extinction rate is between 1,000 and 10,000 times higher than the natural rate. (International Union for Conservation of Nature, IUCN) Current estimates put the extinction rate at roughly 30,000 species per year which is about…

• The Recession and Short Term Trends In Energy Demand

  Candy Schibli

  23 Sep 2009 | 6:47 am

  The global economy and energy system are interdependent strands where changes in one will often cause fluctuations in the other. This relationship was highlighted by the recent economic crisis which saw cumulative effects in other spheres including world energy demand. read more

• 
  American Public Media Marketplace

• Who wins in the rush for natural gas?

  6 Nov 2009 | 3:25 am

  The International Energy Agency will release its World Energy Outlook, and a rush of natural gas is on the agenda. Ashley Milne-Tyte reports.

• Moderates seek climate bill compromise

  5 Nov 2009 | 11:12 am

  The Senate Environment Committee has approved a climate change bill, thanks to the Democratic vote. Republicans are boycotting the bill, and three moderate senators are trying to cobble together a compromise. John Dimsdale reports.

• China, U.S. can slash C02 by storing it

  4 Nov 2009 | 3:36 am

  The Center for American Progress is releasing a study on how China and the U.S. can cooperate on slashing carbon-dioxide emissions. Ashley Milne-Tyte reports.

• How do we live with a warmer planet?

  29 Oct 2009 | 10:00 pm

  Even if we develop all the renewable energy we need, Earth will still warm more than it has in the history of mankind. Sam Eaton and Sarah Gardner look at how governments and businesses are planning to adapt to radical changes in our environment.

• Is there energy to slow climate change?

  28 Oct 2009 | 10:00 pm

  If global warming's worst effects are to be averted, new energy sources must be developed on a massive scale. But there will be winners and losers in that process. Sarah Gardner and Sam Eaton take us to two locales with stakes in America's energy future.

• 
  Ecofriend

• Eco Gadgets: CLOVERS – A renewable energy education system for eco-conscious kids

  Jolly

  7 Nov 2009 | 2:48 am

  Eco Factor: Solar-powered system teaches the simple principles to go green. Designed by Valeria Bianco, the CLOVERS is a renewable energy education system that uses flexible solar panel technology to teach teenagers about the electricity usage of their entertainment devices and also allows them to help lower their family’s energy costs. While small portable solar panel systems have been available for some time, this is the first that addresses the energy consumption of playtime devices such as TV’s and video games. By installing a simple ‘fun’ meter in teenagers’ rooms they learn…

• Eco Architecture: 3XN and Nord Architects to design sustainable complex in Denmark

  Jolly

  7 Nov 2009 | 1:59 am

  Eco Factor: Sustainable complex to feature energy-saving systems and roof gardens. Nord Architects and 3XN have won a competition to design a sustainable masterplan in Denmark that will be a cultural hub for visual arts, literature and scenography. The cultural center takes inspiration from natural elements and uses them reduce the energy demand and the related emissions. The masterplan for the Northern Goods Railway in Aarhus, Denmark, is a layout of a number of triangulating construction sites that will have open and transparent ground floors, terraced houses and roof gardens. The roof…

• Eco Cars: McLaren F1 designer plans to build the world’s most efficient electric car

  Jolly

  7 Nov 2009 | 1:21 am

  Eco Factor: Zero-emission electric car to be developed by Gordon Murray Design and Zytek Automotive. The designer of the world’s renowned supercar, McLaren F1, is up to a new challenge. Gordon Murray Design and Zytek Automotive have announced an all-electric three-seater city car, which has been made possible by a £4.5m investment from the government-backed Technology Strategy Board. With a total cost of £9m, the new research and development project will allow the team to develop four prototypes by February 2011. Dubbed T.27, the vehicle is expected to be the world’s most efficient…

• Eco Cars: Renault partners with L’Oreal for Zoe Z.E. electric concept vehicle

  Jolly

  7 Nov 2009 | 1:02 am

  Eco Factor: All-electric concept car harnesses solar energy. Renault has announced that the company will be partnering with L’Oreal to develop an all-new 100% electric “spa” concept car dubbed ZOE Z.E. The electric car is aimed at people who need a clean car for short distance commutes. The roof of the car has been designed as an intelligent protective membrane that insulates against heat and cold. The roof also carries a honeycomb array of photovoltaic cells that recharge the vehicle’s batteries on the move. The car also boasts the finest in air filtration and purification…

• Eco Cars: WCI students create solar-powered Ford Model-T replica

  Jolly

  6 Nov 2009 | 11:15 pm

  Eco Factor: Prototype electric vehicle powered by solar energy. A student team at the Waterloo Collegiate Institute has designed a Model-T replica that doesn’t drink gas but harnesses the abundant energy of the sun for power. The truck was built on a challenge by the Reduce the Juice Foundation that promotes projects that reduce emissions. Working on a sponsorship of just $4300, the student team had to hit up local companies to donate some parts that include tires, a golf cart gearbox, a computer joystick and a “suicide switch” that automatically stops the truck if the driver falls off.

• 
  Consumer Reports: Home & Garden

• What's new in Consumer Reports: Home content from the December 2009 issue

  Consumer Reports Home & Garden Blog

  6 Nov 2009 | 10:03 am

  The December 2009 issue of Consumer Reports is loaded with coverage of items that will make practical gifts or spectacular additions to any household. (Some items below are available only to subscribers.) Low-cost, high-performing coffeemakers. We found excellent coffeemakers that cost $20, $40, and $70; the top-rated model topped out at $100. And for $80, you can buy an excellent brew-station type that lets you fill cups directly from the machine. Lack of versatility dogs pet-hair vacuums Many vacuums are specifically marketed as the solution to pet-hair problems, but we found none provided…

• The evolution of Frigidaire's logo and brand identity

  Consumer Reports Home & Garden Blog

  6 Nov 2009 | 9:36 am

  Frigidaire's new look gets a cool reception from one bloggerIf you're into graphic design and/or appliances, you might enjoy "Ninety Years of Refrigerators, and Logos," an interesting post on Brand New, a site that covers corporate-brand-identity strategies. In the item, author Debbie Millman focuses on Frigidaire, tracing the appliance maker's logo from its original crown design with embedded "F" through cursive versions to the current all-caps iteration (shown right).The latest look doesn't seem a winner for Millman: "The placement of the red…

• Inside Consumer Reports Test Labs: Putting carpet shampooers through their paces

  Consumer Reports Home & Garden Blog

  5 Nov 2009 | 9:01 pm

  Last week we told you about a scary-looking tool our technicians are experimenting with to embed pet hair into carpeting as part of vacuum testing. This week, for our scheduled March 2010 report on carpet cleaners (online and on newsstands in early February), other testers have been using a big roller that grinds topsoil into panels of off-white carpeting. This device is designed to replicate the abuse the carpeting in your home might be subjected to by a gaggle of dirty-sneaker-wearing kids.The testers let the dirt set for 24 hours then vacuum the panels with a conventional upright vacuum.

• Congress proposes extension and expansion of home-buyer tax credit

  Consumer Reports Home & Garden Blog

  5 Nov 2009 | 11:43 am

  Legislation to extend and expand the federal home-buyer tax credit, which is scheduled to expire on November 30, passed by a 98-0 vote in the U.S. Senate on Wednesday. The U.S. House of Representatives could vote on the measure as early as today.Under the proposed legislation, first-time home buyers or those who haven't owned a home in the last three years would continue to receive the $8,000 tax credit that's been in place since January 2009. The tax credit has been a major boon to existing home sales, spurring five gains in the past six months, according to the National Association…

• Inside Consumer Reports Test Labs: Latest tests of string trimmers

  Consumer Reports Home & Garden Blog

  5 Nov 2009 | 7:49 am

  In the market for a new string trimmer for next spring or even now? If you live in the Sun Belt, you're still likely actively tending to your property, with those of us in northern climates taking one or two last passes at overgrown areas of the property during fall cleanup. Here's what's new from our tests of more than two dozen new string trimmers.One interesting new battery-powered model, the Black & Decker NST2036, is intended to be the first such trimmer capable of handling the tougher cutting jobs normally reserved for gasoline-powered trimmers. Powered by a very large…

• 
  metaefficient

• An Energy Producing Home In Disguise

  benjamin

  5 Nov 2009 | 3:24 pm

  The Energy Producing Home (image: Neumann Developments) Who says that a home with cutting-edge energy efficiency has to look like an ultra-modern pod? This recently completed Wisconsin home packs so much energy tech that it makes money by selling electricity back to the grid, and it still keeps a low neighborhood profile. (more…) Related posts:“Low-E” Windows Maximize Buildings’ Energy EfficiencyNew World Record Set For Solar Efficiency: 31.25%SolarDucts: Heating Air and Generating Power © Justin Thomas for MetaEfficient Reviews, 2009. | Permalink | One comment

• The Best Shower Filters Of 2009

  Justin

  26 Oct 2009 | 3:04 pm

  I just replaced my shower filters, so I thought I’d update my best shower filter review from earlier this year. Each update to the review generates a lot of useful comments. So I’m incorporating what I’ve learned from those comments into this latest review. (more…) Related posts:How To Filter Your Shower Water Very EfficientlyThe Best Shower FilterNatural Bath Dechlorination © Justin Thomas for MetaEfficient Reviews, 2009. | Permalink | One comment

• Kite Gen – The Future Of Wind Power?

  benjamin

  21 Oct 2009 | 10:22 am

  Kite Gen Wind Power Generator (photo: Kite Gen Research S.r.l.) Wind power holds great promise as a clean energy source, but current windmill generators aren’t appropriate for all locations.  Italian firm Kite Gen hopes to change that with its innovative new generator designs, which use “kites” to capture strong high-altitude winds. (more…) Related posts:WindSpire: An Attractive Wind Turbine For The HomeFalcon Wind Turbine: Versatile & Efficient Power GenerationIs This The World’s Most Efficient Windmill? © Justin Thomas for MetaEfficient Reviews, 2009. | Permalink | 6…

• The Best iPhone Battery Pack

  Justin

  28 Sep 2009 | 9:54 pm

  The Best iPhone Battery Pack The iPhone can be power-thirsty. For many people a battery extender is an essential iPhone or iTouch accessory. Here are four of the best backup iPhone battery packs. Note: iPhone battery performance times vary widely based on individual usage habits and applications. Wherever possible we have tried to give details of a backup battery’s capacity relative to an iPhone’s full charge. (more…) Related posts:The PowerGorilla: Flexible Portable PowerNiMh Battery Charger: POWER 2000 XP444AC-DCSolar Powered 12 Volt Battery Charger © Justin Thomas for…

• Liquid-Filled LED Bulbs: 360 Degree Light

  Justin

  13 Sep 2009 | 1:53 pm

  Liquid-Filled LED Light Bulbs: HydraLux I’ve been testing a new LED bulb called the HydraLux. These unique bulbs are filled with a clear liquid coolant (a non-toxic paraffin oil). Other LED bulbs use large metal fins or fans for cooling purposes. The advantage of using a liquid coolant is that the LED bulb can produce 360° light like a regular incandescent bulb. (more…) Related posts:New LED Light Bulbs Can Replace 100W IncandescentsEcoLEDs: Mercury-Free LED BulbsIcelight: LED Desk Lamp © Justin Thomas for MetaEfficient Reviews, 2009. | Permalink | 16 comments

• 
  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...

• 
  Matter Network - Clean Technology, Green News and Sustainable Business News

• Geoengineering Being Discussed in Washington

  6 Nov 2009 | 8:35 am

  By Roger Greenway Dr. Ken Caldeira, of the Carnegie Institution of Washington provided a balanced look at the potential benefits and also the costs and possible harm that geoengineering techniques could offer in our quest to find a "Magic Bullet" to counter global warming. Can global warming be mitigated by a technological fix such as injecting light-blocking particles into the atmosphere or chemically "scrubbing" excess greenhouse gases from the atmosphere? Department of Global Ecology scientist Ken Caldeira addressed this question in his testimony to the U.S. House of Representatives…

• US High Speed Rail Is A National Embarrassment. A Global Comparison

  6 Nov 2009 | 5:51 am

  By Alex Lennartz The first series of this column was written on high speed rail in America. With an introduction to all the nation's proposed corridors covered, this series will focus on the state of high speed rail around the world. An examination of already established high speed networks in industrialized countries and growing networks in developing countries will be compared and contrasted to what is being done (or just talked about then postponed) around the US. The purpose of this series is to highlight how far America is falling behind the rest of the world in giving its citizens…

• DOE Allocates $30.6 Million to Hydroelectric Projects

  5 Nov 2009 | 5:46 am

  Up to $30.6 million in economic stimulus funds will be used to finance seven hydroelectric projects nationwide, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. The additional funding means Voth Hydro, a manufacturer of hydroelectric turbines, will be able to retain 40 jobs at its manufacturing facility in York, Pa. Thanks to $13 million in stimulus funding, those employees can resume work on two replacement turbines for Alcoa Inc's Tapoco Cheoah hydro plant in Robbinsville, N.C. Under Secretary of Energy Kristina Johnson made the announcement during a visit to Voith Hydro's manufacturing plant in…

• Book Review: Sustainable Energy -- Without the Hot Air

  3 Nov 2009 | 6:05 am

  By Edouard Stenger I recently finished reading a book I strongly recommend to anyone interested in sustainable development and energy. It is packed with figures and findings that I believe will easily start discussions among CleanTechies. The author, David JC MacKay, is Professor in the Department of Physics at Cambridge University and was recently appointed Chief Scientific Advisor to the UK Department of Energy and Climate Change responsible for the Low Carbon Transition Plan. One of the main findings of this book is that electrifying our cars and installing heat pumps in our buildings…

• Turning Algae Into Bioplastic Could Slash Petroleum Use by 50%

  2 Nov 2009 | 7:26 am

  By Andrew Williams California-based company Cereplast has revealed that it is developing breakthrough technology to transform algae into bioplastics, and predicts that it could replace 50% or more of the petroleum content used in traditional plastic resins. Cereplast already makes plastic from renewable material such as corn starch, tapioca, wheat and potatoes, but is keen to trumpet the advantages of the new approach. According to Frederic Scheer, Founder, Chairman and CEO of Cereplast, "Algae-based resins represent an outstanding opportunity for companies across the plastic supply chain to…

• 
  Environmental Defense Fund: Climate 411

• Clean Energy Takes Big Step in Senate

  Sharyn Stein

  5 Nov 2009 | 1:47 pm

  After all the drama, the clean energy bill is on its way to the next stage in the Senate, having cleared committee this morning. Meanwhile, Senators Kerry, Graham and Lieberman are leading the charge to getting a clean energy bill passed on the Senate floor. EDF’s president Fred Krupp had this to say: Chairman Boxer and her colleagues deserve great credit for their commitment to move forward on solving our climate and energy challenges. Californians should be very proud of their Senator today. The Senators who supported this effort recognize the urgent need to end our addiction to…

• A Wild Ride: Big News from the Clean Energy Front

  Sharyn Stein

  5 Nov 2009 | 7:03 am

  A lot has happened quickly in the clean energy world. Here’s a wrap-up: Yesterday was day two of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee’s markup process for the Kerry-Boxer bill. Republicans once again boycotted the proceedings, although they made a couple of cameo appearances. The markup continues today — you can see it on C-Span. And, Greenwire is now reporting that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has given EPW Chairwoman Barbara Boxer “the green  light” to move ahead without the GOP. Reid reportedly told Boxer to advance global warming…

• Environmental Defense Fund Welcomes Stabenow Climate Offset Legislation

  Tony Kreindler

  4 Nov 2009 | 1:09 pm

  Michigan Senator Debbie Stabenow unveiled her new agriculture and forestry title for the Senate climate bill today. The legislation would establish a domestic “offset” program for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. We gave the measure qualified praise today, saying it gives the Senate an opportunity to craft a consensus approach that delivers low-cost emissions reductions with environmental credibility — but also cautioning that the bill needs more work to guarantee that offsets are environmentally effective. Here’s the statement from our senior policy manager, John Mimikakis:…

• Fred Krupp’s Remarks on the Finish Line for a Climate Deal

  Sharyn Stein

  2 Nov 2009 | 2:14 pm

  This morning, Fred Krupp, EDF’s president, gave the following remarks at the Point Carbon conference in New York City: Think for a moment about the speech you’d expect to hear from an environmental leader on the eve of Copenhagen. Now forget it.   This is not going to be that speech. You might expect someone in my position to call for – to demand – a final international agreement to solve the climate crisis before Copenhagen delegates go home for Christmas.   I will not. You might expect me to assert that the greatest threat to our planet will come about if New Year’s Day…

• ‘Marketplace’ Report Misses the Real Story on Coal

  Mark Brownstein

  30 Oct 2009 | 11:28 am

  Yesterday’s Marketplace report does an excellent job of highlighting the social and political fissures occurring in West Virginia and nationally as the United States starts in earnest the transition to a clean-energy, low-carbon economy. What the story fails to adequately convey is just how many old-line energy producers have crossed the divide and embraced the reality and opportunity of capping and reducing greenhouse gas pollution. Don Blankenship, who was quoted in the story,  is very much a minority voice in the coal industry. His company, Massey Energy,  is in fact not even among…

• 
  The Greener Grass

• 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…

• Rethinking the Public Drinking Fountain

  Chris Heckman

  17 Feb 2009 | 12:07 pm

  A 2007 article from Fast Company points out that North Americans spent $15 billion on bottled water. That's not only a lot of petrol to make the plastic, but also requires mountains of energy to transport the more than one billion bottles around the country every week. And on top of that, over 95% of bottles made in 2005 were single serving sized, which has one of the lowest recycling rates of other forms of plastic packaging.There's a major, and costly, irony with the perception and reality of bottled water. Most people drink it because they think it's healthier than "free" tap water, when…

• New Products Visualize Home Energy Use

  Michael

  21 Jan 2009 | 6:10 am

  About a year ago, we created our Current State concept to visualize home energy use. Since then we've seen a growing interest in the subject and there are two interesting articles about products that make this concept more of a reality.Make created Tweet-a-watt, an open source piece of hardware that posts your data to Twitter. Tweet-a-watt captures and documents energy use but takes the idea a step further, by letting your friends and followers also track your energy use. In theory, this could create competition among neighbors or family members to be the most responsible energy users.

• Edward Norton's $9 billion green housing project

  Finn McKenty

  19 Jan 2009 | 1:22 pm

  I'll admit that I'm a pretty big fan of celebrity gossip, so I was pretty surprised to come across this piece about Edward Norton on Fast Company:Edward Norton, the two-time Oscar nominee, stood at the podium at the Hilton Washington this past May and tried to be humble. The actor was in the capital to present a major civil rights award to someone he knew well -- his grandmother. It was gearing up to be a nice moment. "I work in a profession," he told the crowd of social workers, lawyers, and community organizers, "that gets a totally disproportionate amount of attention relative to its true…

• 
  GreenMonk: the blog

• Guido Bartels of GridWise and IBM discusses Smart Grids with GreenMonk

  tom@redmonk.com (Tom Raftery)

  6 Nov 2009 | 8:56 am

  Photo credit Ian Muttoo Guido Bartels is General Manager of IBM’s Global Energy and Utilities Industry. Guido leads IBM’s corporate initiative around building an ‘Intelligent Utility Network,’ IBM’s portfolio of offerings and capabilities for the Smart Grid. Guido is also a member of the Electricity Advisory Committee at Department of Energy, an organization whose mission is to provide advice to the U.S. Department of Energy in implementing the Energy Policy Act of 2005, executing the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, and modernizing the nation’s…

• Green Numbers round-up 11/06/2009

  tom@redmonk.com (Tom Raftery)

  6 Nov 2009 | 3:30 am

  Disney Buys $7M in Reforestation Offsets, a Corporate Record Walt Disney Corp., by donating about $7 million to various conservation programs, aims to offset a portion of its emissions. Some are calling the move by Disney the biggest single corporate investment in forest carbon offsets to date. The move is part of Disney’s effort to use “high quality offsets” to attain a net-zero emissions status, reports Reuters.” tags: Walt Disney Corp, disney, greennumbers, drc, reforestation, offset, deforestation Yosemite National Park to Have 20% More Wildfires by 2050 – And…

• SAP’s new Sustainability Performance Management tool could be a real game-changer!

  tom@redmonk.com (Tom Raftery)

  3 Nov 2009 | 10:28 am

  Sustainability reporting is a bit all over the place. Standards, such as they are, are many, not widely agreed on, and are loosely observed. One of the better sustainability reports to emerge this year was SAP’s. Unlike the staid PDF documents most companies put out, SAP’s is a website which allows reasonably deep linking ( here’s the section on SAP’s 2008 Carbon Footprint, for example – notice how you can change it to see footprint by region, KTon or Kg/employee, and get extra info by rolling the mouse over the charts). SAP also rolled out a discussion area…

• Never run a conference at a venue that can’t provide water dispensing machines, instead of bottled water

  tom@redmonk.com (Tom Raftery)

  3 Nov 2009 | 5:32 am

  I attend a lot of conferences. The two most recent ones I was at were both run by SAP. The first was the International SAP for Utilities conference in Munich, the second was the SAP TechEd conference in Vienna. Both events were very interesting for a variety of reasons but both conferences left a nasty (dry) taste in my mouth because the only water available to drink was bottled water! What is the big deal about using bottled water, you ask? Well, according to Food and Water Watch: Bottled water wastes fossil fuels and water in production and transport, and when the water is drunk the bottles…

• GreenMonk news roundup 11/03/2009

  tom@redmonk.com (Tom Raftery)

  3 Nov 2009 | 12:30 am

  Al Jazeera English – Business – BP hit with record safety fine “British Petroleum, one of the world’s largest energy companies, has been hit with a record fine of $87m for safety violations at a Texas refinery. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) handed down the fine on Friday, saying the company had failed to correct safety shortfalls at its Texas City refinery after a blast there in 2005 killed 15 workers and injured 170 others.” tags: bp, british petroleum, osha, texas refinery, greenmonktv India swamped by 420,000 tonnes of e-waste: lobby…

• 
  The Green Mom Review™

• It’s NOT Your Mother’s Patio Furniture

  Katherine

  4 Nov 2009 | 11:27 pm

  Reason # 386 why recycling is a good thing: outdoor furniture that’s can last a lifetime and? It’s made out of recycled water bottles and plastic containers. It’s called HDPE (High Density Polyethlene) furniture, and it’s taking the outdoor market by storm. This isn’t your mother’s patio furniture. HDPE is extremely durable–it can withstand the harshest elements without rusting, cracking, splitting or peeling. There’s a huge selection that includes single pieces, entire collections and outdoor accessories, and unlike other more traditional patio sets, this furniture is…

• Woopsies!

  Katherine

  3 Nov 2009 | 10:18 am

  What: Bucky’s Woopsies Kids Soothing Packs Features: Can be warmed up in the microwave or chilled in the freezer Green Factor: Made with machine washable bamboo terrycloth and premium whole buckwheat seed filling Bonus: These creatures, with their bright colors and funny faces, are sure to distract kids from their owies! Find It Here: Kids and Baby Design Ideas The Green Mom Review™..

• Bite on This: More Grocery Store Secrets

  Janet

  1 Nov 2009 | 8:01 pm

  We all know chlorine is a poison. It’s toxic and has been linked to infertility and disease. Sadly it’s everywhere—in our drinking water, bleaching our paper towels and toilet paper, in pools, in PVC plastics, in pesticides, so we do our best to avoid it by getting unbleached products and filtering our water (even the showers!) and just when we thought we were safe, we find out that chlorine is routinely used to keep our healthy produce “fresh” by, and I quote the MMS Newsletter: “In the grocery store, glistening carrots, lettuce, tomatoes, bell peppers, etc.

• Weekly Green Round-Up

  Janet

  1 Nov 2009 | 8:01 pm

  Walmart Knows What’s Best for Us Green Moms. Right? by OrganicMania — Lynn shares her thoughts on the Walmart Sustainability Index, which they are putting together with NO consumer input. (This makes me feel all kinds of stabby, particularly as one of our ad networks, despite past objections, has been running Walmart ads this week on our site.) Bottled Water is Best by Crunchy Chicken — Bottled water isn’t nearly as bad as you might think and Deanna will tell you exactly why… It’s awesome satire with a sly side of sarcasm. Cast Iron Cookware by Big Green Purse —…

• Organics Have Gone to the Dogs

  Katherine

  31 Oct 2009 | 9:01 pm

  Dog owners, you want your pet to have the very best, right? Consider this: because of his smaller size, your beloved Fido is more prone to the chemicals, hormones and additives found in conventional pet foods and supplies. Fortunately, the pet supply market does have safer, healthier organic and all-natural options for your canine furbabies. Check out these awesome goods from Karma: organic, all-natural dog food and shampoo. Each seven-pound bag of kibble is made with 95% organic ingredients that are USDA Certified Organic, including fresh meats and whole grains, all-natural fruits and…

• 
  GreenPacks.org

• The Delicious Road to Beating the Flu

  Joshua Willis

  5 Nov 2009 | 1:27 pm

  The initial frenzy kicked up by some media outlets over the H1N1 influenza (swine flu) has subsided to some extent, but of course there is a (slight) threat and beating it could have you walking down over a delicious road that you would lovingly embrace. You could simply get the vaccination shot and have it over with the flu thing, but having good food to increase the overall immunity is a great idea, shots or not. The author of the book 101 Foods That Could Save Your Life, Dave Grotto has revealed 10 foods that could help you on your way to a healthier immune system without putting your…

• Sparks LEDs Create Beautiful, Sculptural Lighting

  Joshua Willis

  5 Nov 2009 | 12:54 pm

  Indoor lighting accounts for nearly 15% of energy use in most of the households, and while new technologies are working to drastically reduce this energy consumption, things like Sparks LEDs could prove very useful. This design from Daniel Becker uses energy efficient LED light bulbs, which can be put together to create a striking light sculpture. It is not very difficult to create the light sculpture, the design can be put together and dismantled the same way as one would screw or unscrew a traditional light bulb. But of course, the Sparks offer a lot of creative, aesthetic and environmental…

• Germany Announces Life Extension For Nuclear Plants

  Joshua Willis

  5 Nov 2009 | 12:34 pm

  Nuclear power plants in Germany are on their way to an extended life, surmounting the huge obstacles in their path. There is a vehement opposition to nuclear power plants in Germany, and most of the population believes that the country should let go of nuclear power plants. The new policy aims at keeping the old plants running to ultimately have greener energy take over the existing system, but it may also pave the way for new nuclear plants. The government managed to get the plan through by making big promises, like utilizing a huge chunk of nuclear earnings for public use. It was also…

• Tracking tropical storm Ida

  Bill Belew

  4 Nov 2009 | 3:48 pm

  Hurricane season lasts until November 3oth. Tropical Ida is trying to get in on top of the radar, as opposed to under the radar before the season winds down. It’s near Nicaragua now. Ida is the 9th storm of the season, down a bit and sending the global warming/climate change alarmists into a frizzy. The most current info here. Come back for updates.

• EV Owners May Earn From Charging Their Vehicles

  Joshua Willis

  4 Nov 2009 | 10:20 am

  The effect of millions of electric vehicles connecting to the grid during peak hours has been feared and discussed since long. While charging vehicles during off-peak hours may be good for utilities, in an interesting turn it may even earn some money for the owners. More specifically, EV/PHEV owners in West Texas and Illinois are being paid to charge their vehicles during off-peak hours, and that’s clean wind energy we’re speaking of. With the growth of wind energy in these states, there is an oversupply of energy during off-peak hours, and this has in turn pushed prices into the…

• 
  GreenSmith Consulting

• U2, Oxfam America, New York MTA: Green Hypocrites?

  Paul Smith

  4 Nov 2009 | 4:00 am

  If you're looking for an example of someone who walks their talk, Mike Lieberman would be your man. Best known as CanarsieBK on the web, this Brooklyn man is a living, breathing demonstration of how one can live sustainably, anywhere. He proves anything is possible, growing a thriving vegetable garden on his fire escape, and demonstrating actionable steps, daily, on how to be personally sustainable. And he's definitely not afraid to speak his mind.Today Lieberman takes aim at those who don't seem to be walking the talk, balanced with options they could choose to align their actions better…

• Coming soon...

  Paul Smith

  28 Oct 2009 | 11:50 am

  I've got something bubbling up inside me, and it's all Chris Brogan's fault. The man who I'm sure has a stunt double or two for all that he does, issued a challenge in a recent video, Overnight Success Part 2 - A Call to Arms. In it, he said that it's time for us to stop just playing small, playing remedial when it comes to using social media to its full potential. Time to level up, together, as it were. It knocked something loose in me.I began to write all sorts of thoughts, not necessarily focused on social media, but instead on sustainability, and how I see people and businesses practicing…

• Do You Know Your Community? Does the Community Know You?

  Paul Smith

  21 Oct 2009 | 5:00 am

  I believe that we learn best by hearing from many different voices. And in this case, I'm learning along with you in our latest guest post. Like many of you, I use my deep, broad online resources almost exclusively for getting new business, and with the exception of one client, all are from other parts of the country, or even out of the country. Here we have Victoria Klein reminding us to pay attention to and make best use of what's going on right in our local communities, in terms of business, and gives several excellent resources to best explore it. Please share any we've missed, of which…

• Modwalls Green Tiles Video Review - Taking Junk and Creating Beauty

  Paul Smith

  1 Oct 2009 | 11:56 am

  Being on Twitter, I come across a lot of interesting finds. Like Modwalls, that makes some gorgeous, thoroughly sustainable tiles, made from things like recycled car windshields, reclaimed building glass, tumbled soda bottle pieces, and wine corks! They spin gold from these modest sounding origins, as you'll see in the video review I did, below. I was impressed with the depth of their sustainability, as even their packing materials are these innovative triangle shaped pieces of paper. I suspect they're much more likely by people to be recycled then, say, soy or corn starch based "popcorn" are…

• The Best Feature of Snow Leopard: What it's Missing

  Paul Smith

  15 Sep 2009 | 4:00 am

  In recent weeks there have been several articles on the best and least known features of Apple's new operating system, Snow Leopard. From Quicktime's ability to record and edit audio, video, and screencasts, to its Exchange support, to the small but pleasing ability to minimize documents to their respective app icons in the dock (rather then to the side of the dock in a messy jumble) there has been a lot covered. But perhaps the best and least heralded feature of Snow Leopard is what it's missing: 10% of its energy use, compared to its predecessor, Leopard.Among the factors contributing to…

• 
  Green Business

• Ray Anderson: Pioneer of a Movement

  robertludvig

  4 Nov 2009 | 7:43 am

  It is difficult to start any type of business, so if you want to start a green business you better find out what your motives are. If you decide to begin the search, start by looking at the pioneer of green business, Mr. Ray Anderson. He will tell you his answers and motivations for starting an environmentally friendly carpet business many years ago, before running a green business was the thing to do.The reasons why the pioneer of green business started his company are truly inspiring. Two of Mr.Anderson’s philosophies?  Take nothing, do no harm and only take from the earth what can…

• Environmentally Friendly Data Centers

  robertludvig

  28 Oct 2009 | 10:51 pm

  Data centers are not the first thing that comes to mind when thinking about green business, but that is changing with the increasing presence of data centers located in Stockholm, Sweden. Stockholm offers an almost perfect data center location because it has near zero environmental impact. The use of outside air-cooling year round is a key factor in Stockholm being perfectly suited for a data center of any size. With cooling systems being a key component to maintaining data centers, no air conditioning is needed to keep the massive computers from over-heating. Stockholm represents a cost…

• Environmentally Friendly Events

  robertludvig

  27 Oct 2009 | 12:52 pm

  It never seizes to amaze me the amazing ideas people come up with in terms of creating unique green businesses. I recently came across a green business that is an original. The green business I am referring to sells eco-friendly products to throw  sustainable parties for large and small groups. How smart is that? The name of the company is Sustainable Party and they help you create environmentally friendly and socially responsible events of all sizes. Sustainable party sells compostable cups and other environmentally friendly products that anyone would need to throw a ‘green’…

• Environmental Protection Agency’s Energy Star

  robertludvig

  25 Oct 2009 | 8:54 am

  The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) created a program called Energy Star to help reduce energy use. The Energy Star website is a vast online resource that offers a wealth of information  to help everyone create a more environmentally friendly workplace. The site also offers tips and tricks to help your business become more energy efficient. Their spokesperson, Danny Seo, takes you on a video tour of an Energy Star program building. He shows you how to make small changes in your business or workplace to make it more green and leave a smaller negative impact on the…

• Green Business Certification in Santa Monica

  robertludvig

  21 Oct 2009 | 5:03 pm

  The City of Santa Monica is doing everything it can to help its citizens go green with the Santa Monica Office of Sustainability and the Environment’s website. Some of the areas the website covers are: buying green, education, energy, green building and hazardous materials. A superb idea and amazing resource from a city offering indispensable and helpful information. There are no more excuses for the average home and business owner not to make a transition to become cleaner and greener. An extension of this amazing website is the part that is dedicated to green business programs offered…

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  Autoblog Green

• Greenlings: How do I plug my electric vehicle in at home?

  Domenick Yoney

  6 Nov 2009 | 4:47 pm

  Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Greenlings As electric vehicles begin to find their way to peoples driveways and garages, knowing what's involved with charging up the batteries becomes more necessary. Over the years, electric vehicles (EVs) have used different kinds of batteries and employed different types of chargers and connectors, so the car that you buy next year may not work with the charger you picked up on eBay last month. While in the future charging may be as simple as parking in your garage or driveway and having an automated system take over, the here-and-now requires you know a thing…

• GM: Volt won't become a brand name

  Jeremy Korzeniewski

  6 Nov 2009 | 3:30 pm

  Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Hybrid, Chevrolet, GM 2011 Chevy Volt - Click above for high-res image gallery The Chevrolet Volt isn't scheduled to hit the market for another whole year, but there's so much anticipation for the vehicle that some are already asking if The General will try to make a brand out of the Volt name. The answer, according to Brent Dewar, Chevy's chief of global operations, is no: Our thought is to take the Volt technology to other products... The Volt was the original vehicle that we started, but I wouldn't see that as a brand marketing direction for us. While other models…

• To Infineon and Beyond: TTXGP brings electric motorcycle racing to America

  Jeremy Korzeniewski

  6 Nov 2009 | 2:15 pm

  Filed under: EV/Plug-in, On Two Wheels, USA, Racing Mavizen TTX02 - Click above to enlarge Earlier this year at the annual time trials at the famed Isle of Man, the inaugural TTXGP electric motorcycle race proved that battery-powered bikes can be just as entertaining and exciting as their gasoline-swilling and emissions-spewing siblings. Not quite as fast, of course, but still a thrill over the 38-mile winding race course through the mountains. Now, the event organizers are looking to bring the excitement of electric motorcycle racing to the United States. The first real competition has been…

• VIDEO: GM puts the Volt through its paces to test durability

  Jeremy Korzeniewski

  6 Nov 2009 | 1:09 pm

  Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Hybrid, Chevrolet Chevy Volt durability testing - Click above to watch the video after the break These days, we hardly give any thought at all to driving our precious cars and trucks over rough, potholed pavement. Sure, it's uncomfortable and we avoid the nastiest stretches when possible, but the worst thing that we expect might happen is a blown tire or bent wheel. In the grand scheme of things, not that big a deal. Electric cars, though, are different animals entirely. Back when the automobile was in its infancy and the internal combustion engine first staked its…

• Not Done Yet: Hummer H3, H3T get biofuel capability, new colors for 2010

  Jeremy Korzeniewski

  6 Nov 2009 | 12:02 pm

  Filed under: Ethanol, Flex-Fuel, HUMMER 2010 Hummer H3 - Click above for high-res image gallery Can a Hummer be green? The brand that most obviously represents American excess in the minds of environmentalists - though Hummer's vehicles aren't actually any worse than any other large SUV - has seemingly been fighting off its negative stigma since shortly after the introduction of the larger-than-life H2. Part of the brand's hopeful transformation includes giving each model a flex-fuel variant, and the latest application of that principle is seen on the 2010 H3 and H3T. Interestingly, the…

• 
  Awake at the Wheel

• Cellulosic Plant takes a big step towards converting Corn Cobs into Fuel

  propel

  4 Nov 2009 | 11:34 am

  South Dakota based POET is pioneering commercial-scale next generation ethanol production with their Project Liberty plant in Emmetsburg, Iowa. The 25 million-gallon-per-year plant reached a significant benchmark yesterday receiving a 20 million dollar commitment from Lt Governor Patty Judge. Former four-star General Wesley Clark spoke to attendees about the important role they would play in [...]

• E85-driving Vikings fans get free parking

  propel

  23 Oct 2009 | 9:29 am

  The Minnesota Vikings team up with the American Lung Association to offer FREE parking to the first 25 flex fuel vehicles at every home game. The flex fuel drivers get prime parking in the Gold Lot, which normally goes for $40, plus discount coupons for the closest flex fuel E85 station. The new environmental initiative, “Viking [...]

• Study finds E85 increases efficiency offsetting MPG loss

  propel

  13 Oct 2009 | 11:03 am

  A study released by the University of Nebraska found that E85 delivers more efficiency over higher petroleum fuel blends, offsetting much of the loss in Miles Per Gallon (MPG) typically attributed to E85. The study illustrates that when calculating fuel MPG performance, both the energy density of the fuel (BTUs), and the energy efficiency must [...]

• VW Stays Focused on Clean Diesel

  propel

  12 Oct 2009 | 9:30 am

  While many auto manufacturers are looking to hybrids and electrics, Volkswagen stays focused on fuel efficient clean diesel passenger vehicles. Currently making up less than 3% market share in the US, J.D. Power forecasts the diesel passenger segment to grow to 8% by 2015. Not even close to the 50% market share seen in Europe, [...]

• Green jobs for conservation corps youth

  propel

  7 Oct 2009 | 2:47 pm

  Propel has teamed up with Sacramento Regional Conservation Corps to provide life and skills training for at-risk young men and women at Propel’s retail fueling locations. “Our partnership with SRCC allows us to not only help young people develop important skills that will assist them the rest of their lives, but creates a skilled workforce for the [...]

• 
  BioDieselNow

• Daily News—11/06

  Robert Gleeman

  6 Nov 2009 | 2:23 am

    Farming industry pushes for extension of biodiesel tax breaks Logo from: http://soygrowers.com/about/default.htm The biodiesel tax incentive is set to expire on December 31, 2009. The tax incentive is vital to the U.S. biodiesel industry and its extension is a top priority, reports the American Soybean Association. If the biodiesel tax incentive is allowed to expire, the production and use of biodiesel in the U.S. will come to a halt, argues ASA. The economics of biodiesel at this stage will simply not work absent the federal tax incentive. ASA lobbyists say it is still unclear when,…

• Daily News—11/05

  Robert Gleeman

  5 Nov 2009 | 3:06 am

    National Wind Solutions and DC BioDiesel to openly share information and resources Images from: http://www.nationalwindsolutions.com/ HOUSTON--(Business Wire)-- National Wind Solutions, Inc. (Pink Sheets: NWND) announced today that it has signed a letter of intent with DC BioDiesel, LLC to explore collaborative opportunities for BioDiesel production and distribution in the DC Metro area. Maurice Stone, President of NWND, was introduced to DC BioDiesel through his Chairmanship of the Energy Committee for the National Black Chamber of Commerce. While BioDiesel can be produced from a…

• Daily News—11/04

  Robert Gleeman

  4 Nov 2009 | 4:11 am

    University of Louisville’s Speed School of Engineering makes biodiesel from campus cooking oil Chemical engineering students at the University of Louisville’s Speed School of Engineering are producing biofuel from used cooking oil at the campus’s eateries. Chemical engineering professor Eric Berson says they’re using it to power the university’s shuttle bus. He says students are still perfecting the technique, and will increase the blend of biofuel as they progress. Very short story about something that should be part of campus life, and that is biodiesel production from used…

• Daily News—11/03

  Robert Gleeman

  3 Nov 2009 | 1:08 am

    B2 biodiesel mandate starts in Manitoba, Canada WAYNE.GLOWACKI@FREEPRESS.MB.CA Enlarge Image After Premier Greg Selinger (right) announced that Manitoba will become the first jurisdiction in Canada to implement a biodiesel mandate at a news conference Monday morning, he got a tour led by Royce Rostecki president of Speedway International Manitoba's only licensed biodiesel producer. WINNIPEG - A provincial mandate that requires that an average of two per cent of all diesel fuel sold in Manitoba be biodiesel is now in effect. Premier Greg Selinger said today the Nov. 1 requirement…

• Daily News—11/02

  Robert Gleeman

  2 Nov 2009 | 2:52 am

    Ghana opens sunflower seed-oil feedstock biodiesel plant A factory to process sunflower into bio-diesel was inaugurated at Tema with the call on the government and financial institutions to help expand the facility. The US$217,000 facility could process four metric tonnes of sunflower grains daily while the bio-diesel processor could process 250 liter bio-diesel. The Global Environmental Facility Small Grants Programme of the United Nations Development Programme contributed 25,000 US dollars while the Tropical Agricultural Marketing and Consultancy Services ((TRAGRIMACS) Sunflower…

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  IHT: Business of Green

• More Readers Air Their (Clean) Laundry

  By Green Inc.

  6 Nov 2009 | 10:22 am

  In our fourth installment, Green Inc. readers respond to our post on efficiency, clothes dryers, and the resurgence of backyard line-drying with pictures of their clotheslines.

• Defining 'Sustainable' Palm Oil Production

  By Pete Browne

  6 Nov 2009 | 7:49 am

  The Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil upset some conservationists when it concluded its annual meeting this week without including greenhouse gas emissions standards in its certification process.

• Syngas With Carbon Capture at Cook Inlet

  By Stefan Milkowski

  6 Nov 2009 | 6:26 am

  As the nation looks for ways to burn coal without producing so much carbon dioxide, developers, researchers, and environmentalists are looking at underground coal gasification, or U.C.G., with cautious optimism.

• Study: Managing Emissions Intensity

  By John Collins Rudolf

  6 Nov 2009 | 4:59 am

  A new World Bank study finds that some countries have managed to de-link economic growth and CO2 emissions.

• On Our Radar ...

  By R.M. Schneiderman

  5 Nov 2009 | 2:21 pm

  The aesthetics of the Prius (or lack thereof) and other energy and environment stories from around the Web.

• 
  California Energy Blog

• Go Fly A Kite!

  CalEnergyGuy

  6 Nov 2009 | 9:15 am

  And from the news of the weird file, I commend to your attention, David Baker's piece in the San Francisco Chronicle today. (I suspect Baker had some fun with this one.)Adding a new twist to wind energy, several companies have come out with prototype generators that seek to capitalize on high altitude wind, which is more reliable than wind patterns closer to the ground. These efforts are, depending on your point of view, entrepreneurial, innovative, or just plane strange, but they include a giant kite, a massive inflatable ball, a skeltal, unmanned "helicopter," and a serpent. Each would be…

• Watching TV Is Still Ok

  CalEnergyGuy

  5 Nov 2009 | 9:18 am

  There is a great scene in the neo-fraternity classic movie Old School, where the sycophantic assistant to the college Dean informs his boss that efforts to kick a rowdy fraternity off campus have been derailed because, "The thing is sir, they are very good at paperwork."The same could be said of the Consumer Electronics Association which managed to postpone the CEC's vote on new regulations governing the kind of TV's Californians can watch in their homes.The CEA availed itself of its right to use darn near every second of the 45 day public comment period for the regulations and submitted a 91…

• Toyota To Roll Out Innovative New EV Charging Stations

  CalEnergyGuy

  4 Nov 2009 | 8:42 am

  In advance of the launch of the plug-in version of the Prius, Toyota is getting into the electric vehicle charging station business.The company has announced plans to roll out individual charging 100-200 volt charging stations that will be anchored to telephone polls.Two interesting features about these stations: 1) The stations will be the first to be solar powered, and 2) the stations communicate with a central computer that will authorize user access, thus giving Toyota a way to monetize the service by making it subscription based or perhaps even "pay as you go."Nissan has also announced…

• The Other Side Weighs In On The TV Saga

  CalEnergyGuy

  3 Nov 2009 | 12:31 pm

  Last week we noted the absurdity of CARB's proposed regulation that would require metallic window glazing on cars (glazing that would impair GPS, cell phone, and other devices). Today we revisit the CEC's absurd proposed regualtion to ban some flat panel TV's in California.Gary Shapiro is the CEO of the Consumer Electronics Association, which means he is a paid flack for the people who make and sell the TV's CEC wants to ban. We mention that for transparency. It's no secret where Shapiro's allegiance lies. That said, his oped in the San Francisco Chronicle makes a lot of very good points…

• Solar Schools

  CalEnergyGuy

  2 Nov 2009 | 8:58 am

  The key to building grassroots support for any issue is public education. PG&E is taking that seriously when it comes to solar energy and is going back to school-- literally.Through the "Solar Schools" program, the company has spent more than $8 million on a 125 schools in California, outfitting them with 1.3 KW solar arrays sufficient to power school operations, handing out "Bright Idea" grants, and working with the National Energy Education Development Project on school currculum about solar energy.The Bright Ideas grants are $10,000 prizes awared to teachers and amisnistrators in fiver…

• 
  Ecogeek

• Desklamp Powered by a Phone Jack

  6 Nov 2009 | 4:25 pm

  From my perspective, they very fact that this is possible is the news here. It's a "reading" lamp that can be powered by a phone jack. That's right, your phone jack has a tiny amount of power that comes through along with the phone signal to power things like ringers and speakers and microphones. I imagine that the light output of this thing is pretty pathetic, honestly. I haven't seen any in use, but just looking at the price (less than $6) and the LEDs the thing has got makes me think this isn't going to assist all that much with reading, unless it's very dark out and you REALLY want to…

• US Government Surpasses Google for Geothermal Funding

  5 Nov 2009 | 5:09 am

  More than $300 million in funding for research and development of geothermal energy has been announced by U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Steven Chu. This now pushes Google.org into second place behind the government in domestic geothermal R & D funding. The projects funded by this program address a number of issues which are needed in order to further develop geothermal energy, including advanced mapping and drilling research, coproduced power (such as utilizing hot water produced in some oil wells), and exploration of low temperature geothermal (under 300 degrees F, and down to as…

• Solar Projects Battling for Water

  28 Oct 2009 | 5:34 pm

  Construction of renewable energy projects has revealed some serious environmental issues that will have to be dealt with as we speed toward a clean energy future.  We recently wrote about the conflict between land conservation efforts and renewable energy projects in deserts out west.  Land that is ideal for solar energy production is also pristine land in need of protection. In California, a similar conflict is arising between solar projects and water conservation.  Solar farms demand a lot of water, a resource that is stretched very thin in the arid areas where they're being developed. …

• Bright Doling Out Advice to Army, Automakers

  28 Oct 2009 | 4:44 pm

  Bright Automotive, best known for its 100-mpg IDEA plug-in utility van, announced a new $1.4 million contract with the U.S. Army to build a plug-in hybrid for non-combat use.  The PHEV will be designed to cut Army fuel consumption as well as to demonstrate how an EV could potentially feed power back to the grid.  The project is part of an Army initiative to explore how bases could eventually run off-grid. The Army contract isn't the only way that Bright is lending its expertise these days.  The company has also launched eSolutions, a consulting program where they will provide automotive…

• Dell Plants Solar Trees in the Parking Lot

  27 Oct 2009 | 3:27 pm

  Dell is doing it again, this time on-site, with a series of solar trees that will not only help power it's headquarters in Round Rock, Texas, but also serve to charge electric vehicles parked there. Of course, there aren't currently any electric vehicles parking in the Dell lot, but hopefully that will change in the next few years. The solar trees were put in place by Envision Solar, who's work we've seen at Google Headquarters previously.The Dell installation will provide 130,000 kW/h per year and shades the parking spots of the 56 employees who get to the lot first. Everyone else gets…

• 
  Inhabitat

• NeighborGoods: Your New Virtual Tool Shed

  Mike Chino

  6 Nov 2009 | 1:26 pm

  Practically every household in America has its own tool set, drill, and ladder… but why? Most people don’t use these things on a daily basis, and due to their hardworking heritage these items tend to last forever; when’s the last time you wore out a hammer? Enter NeighborGoods, a service that seeks to cut down on redundant consumption and save households the cost of buying their own toolshed by enabling networks of borrowers. Perfect for those times when you need a drill for a day, or a saw for a few hours — plus you’ll actually have a chance to meet your…

• LAST CHANCE to Vote for Your Favorite Green Halloween Costume!

  Yuka Yoneda

  6 Nov 2009 | 10:30 am

  Our Green Halloween Costume Contest ends TONIGHT at MIDNIGHT!Today is your LAST CHANCE to vote in our Green Halloween Costume contest, and the competition is fierce! Our top 15 amazingly crafted submissions are currently vying for fame, glory, and some great green prizes – and we’re leaving it up to you to pick the winners! The competition ends tonight at midnight, so without further ado, here’s your chance to check them out and weigh in on who you think deserves the coveted title of “Inhabitat Best Green Halloween Costume 2009” not to mention some incredible…

• Transport System Runs on Super-Strong Magnetic Fields

  Ariel Schwartz

  6 Nov 2009 | 9:30 am

  Instead of moving goods on resource-intensive trains, Spain-based technology company Novateq Guerrero SNL wants to build out a different kind of transportation network–one that uses super-powerful magnets to propel vehicles. Novateq has already developed a prototype of its system, which uses Neodymium magnets, or rare-earth magnets, as a driving force. The magnets are 9 times more powerful than conventional models.Read the rest of Transport System Runs on Super-Strong Magnetic Fields Permalink | Add to del.icio.us | digg Post tags: green design, magnetic fields, neodymium, novateq…

• 2009 World Architecture Festival Winners Announced

  Bridgette Meinhold

  6 Nov 2009 | 8:25 am

  The 2009 World Architecture Festival took place this week in Barcelona, drawing great minds to discuss, learn, share and award excellent architectural designs and completed projects. This year’s theme dealt with how to achieve Less With More and the relationship between cities and architecture, with climate change and sustainability playing key roles. The winners of the festival have been announced and we want to highlight four of the completed buildings that stand out for their environmentally sensitive and sustainable designs. Read on to see all of these noteworthy buildings.Read the…

• Cité du Design: Solar Powered International Design Center Unveiled

  Bridgette Meinhold

  5 Nov 2009 | 10:00 pm

  Situated in an defunct arms manufacturing facility in Saint-Etienne, the recently unveiled Cité du Design is a stunning international center for design. Designed by LIN, the project completely renovated the historic complex and integrated a new facility made out of triangular scaffolding. Powered by solar energy and supplemented by an efficient heating system, the energy efficient Cité du Design is a world class design center that lives up to its name. Read the rest of Cité du Design: Solar Powered International Design Center Unveiled Permalink | Add to del.icio.us | digg Post tags: Cite…

• 
  CNET news: green tech blog

• Wind Pole Ventures tackles faulty wind data

  Martin LaMonica

  6 Nov 2009 | 7:29 am

  Wind farms aren't just about putting steel into the ground. A start-up is carving a business out of getting better wind-speed data to predict electricity output.

• Hybrid Humvee coming up over the horizon

  Candace Lombardi

  5 Nov 2009 | 10:35 am

  U.S. Army contracts with EnerDel to develop a lithium-ion battery system strong enough for use in a hybrid version of its iconic truck. Originally posted at Planetary Gear

• Lack of global climate deal won't crush green tech

  Martin LaMonica

  5 Nov 2009 | 10:32 am

  No matter what happens in Copenhagen next month, green-tech companies say industry and national governments will drive investment in the near term, an analysis shows.

• Senate panel approves Democratic climate bill

  Reuters

  5 Nov 2009 | 9:46 am

  Bill, which would require industry to trim greenhouse gases 20 percent by 2020 from 2005 levels, joins several other initiatives in the Senate.

• PetroAlgae signs deal with Indian Oil

  Candace Lombardi

  5 Nov 2009 | 6:55 am

  Another Big Oil company looks to build large-scale production facilities for generating biofuel from algae.

• 
  Clean Break

• The wonders of ionic liquids, and how they can dramatically raise the bar on energy storage

  admin

  5 Nov 2009 | 7:14 am

  I have to be honest, up until last week I’d heard a lot about the potential of metal-air batteries — i.e. zinc-air, lithium-air, etc… — but really didn’t know much about the batteries, how they were made, why they are be potentially better, and what challenges need to be overcome for them to unseat the current king of batteries, lithium-ion technology.  Then I was put onto an Arizona-based company called Fluidic Energy, which recently received $5.13 million in funding from the U.S. Department of Energy as part of the recently announced first-phase of ARPA-E…

• New hexagonal wind tunnel could raise the bar on wind farm, turbine design

  admin

  5 Nov 2009 | 6:59 am

  The University of Western Ontario, led by engineering professor and wind-analysis expert Horia Hangan, has been given the go-ahead to build a $24 million hexagonal wind tunnel, a first-of-its-kind in the world that will allow for the substantially more accurate study of the wind and how it affects wind turbines, buildings, bridges and anything else that’s constantly ravaged by this unpredictable and often devastating force of nature. Called the WindEEE Dome, it will be a six-sided structure about 40 metres across and its walls and ceiling will house 240 high-power fans. The facility…

• Time-of-use pricing: Will it undermine solar domestic hot water programs?

  admin

  31 Oct 2009 | 8:20 am

  Smart meters and time-of-use pricing are always well-read stories because there’s true division within the general public on whether smart meters are consumer-friendly gadgets that encourage conservation or utility-friendly devices that make it easier to gouge consumers. See my story in the Toronto Star from Friday. My take is that electricity prices are going up whether we get smart meters or not, and that smart meters — and the applications they enable — offer households a way to shift and even lower their electricity use to buffer the impact of rising prices. The mistake…

• Is not being green a “social faux pas”? If so, will green imposters follow?

  admin

  27 Oct 2009 | 10:17 am

  I don’t typically give much weight to surveys, particularly ones that have been paid for by private interests, but a new national (Canadian) survey — a joint effort by Bosch Home Appliances and Leger Marketing — caught my attention. It addresses the question of whether people who waste energy and senselessly pollute are at risk of becoming social outcasts in our increasingly green-conscious society. Or, as the survey press release calls them, “environmental delinquents.” According to the survey of 1,510 adult Canadians, “a full 7 in 10 Canadians say…

• German solar industry, EU not happy with Ontario local content rules

  admin

  26 Oct 2009 | 7:12 am

  Ontario’s decision to require local labour and gear for 40 to 5o per cent of a solar project’s content has ruffled some feathers in Europe.  The province’s government created the Made-in-Ontario rules in parallel with the design of its feed-in tariff program for renewables, which for solar PV pays up to 80.2 cents per kilowatt-hour. That’s a hefty premium, so to justify it to Ontario ratepayers (who will ultimately be picking up the tab) the government created the local content rules as a way to tout the economic benefits that would come from increased investment…

• 
  Fake Plastic Fish

• Baking Soda: So Many Uses; So Little Money… and Plastic

  Beth Terry

  4 Nov 2009 | 11:30 am

  I hear people bemoaning the high cost of “going green.”  And while organic food does cost more than its chemical-laden counterpart, I’m here to tell you that it’s easier to spend more for healthy food when you save money in other ways.  We can skip many of the green cleaners, deodorizers, and personal care products, most of which are fairly expensive.  To that end, baking soda is our friend. (Ha! I rhymed.) What’s so great about baking soda? 1) It’s cheap. On Safeway.com, a 1 lb box is $1.40. But I save money and packaging by buying it from the bulk bin…

• Dianna Cohen: Getting the Message from Her Own Art

  Beth Terry

  3 Nov 2009 | 12:13 pm

  Dianna Cohen is a painter, but she doesn’t use a paint brush. Trained at UCLA, she gave up the brush for materials most people consider trash: bags, boxes, little pieces of plastic. This year, she helped to found the Plastic Pollution Coalition. After twenty years, she finally started to get the messages from her own art. During my weekend in L.A., Dianna put me up in her art studio. I got to live with her artwork for three days and pick up a few messages myself. Over lunch, Dianna explained to me about her art process and her passion for protecting the environment. While in college,…

• New Fake Plastic Fish Discussion Board Is Up!

  Beth Terry

  2 Nov 2009 | 10:11 am

  As you may have noticed, I added a new menu bar last week with links to nowhere. Those links represent my hopes and dreams for this web site and are a motivation for me to create the missing pages sooner than later! Well, the “Discuss” link went live last night. It’s a brand new discussion board for us, who are trying to reduce the amount of plastic in the world, to ask questions, post interesting articles and links, offer suggestions, drum up support for actions and campaigns, or just vent the frustration we sometimes feel when confronted with unnecessary plastic crap. The…

• 350 Day on the Beach. Where in the World is Beth?

  Beth Terry

  29 Oct 2009 | 12:45 pm

  350.org has released this fantastic video showing actions all over the world that took place on October 24. So where was I? The best laid plans sometimes go awry when unknown locations and strange parking fee machines are involved. By the time I got to the beach in Santa Monica for the 350 Day Blogger Beach Cleanup, the event had already begun. Not to miss out, filmmaker Jan Vozenilek and I ran across the sand as fast as we could toward what we thought was our group. (Click images to see larger size on 350.org web site.) We arrived huffing and panting to a beautiful sand sculpture on Santa…

• Fantastic Letter from PolarSolar to Fake Plastic Fish

  Beth Terry

  28 Oct 2009 | 12:13 pm

  While I was away this weekend, I received this email from a San Francisco company that installs solar water heaters: from Joseph Wright to Beth Terry date Sun, Oct 25, 2009 at 5:05 PM subject Thanks and Question Hi Beth, I wanted to write to let you know what a hero you are of mine and I want to thank you for the positive influence that you have on the lives of others and the environment…I also have a question…I am a fellow Bay Area native and I operate a sustainable water heating business -– after reading your recent blog post I have decided to eliminate PVC from our materials…

• 
  Clean Energy Stocks

• Cleantech Investors can subscribe to new water stocks RSS Newsfeed

  www.Investorideas.com

  6 Nov 2009 | 1:55 pm

  Visit the new water stocks news feed at Investorideas.com and www.water-stocks.comInvestors can subscribe to get water stocks newshttp://www.investorideas.com/RSS/feeds/Water-Stocks.xmlCompanies can also submit and publish water news online at http://www1.investorideas.com/NewsUploader/Default.aspxInvestors can visit the water stocks directory at Investorideas.com and Water-stocks.com with listed Water Companies on TSX, TSX Venture, OTC, NASDAQ, AMEX, NYSE, ASX, AIM and other leading Stock Exchanges.News & Stories Published at Clean Energy Stocks Blog.Green Investors:Research Renewable…

• Investorideas.com Green Funding Directory Updated; Now Lists over 540 Global Green Funding Sources

  www.Investorideas.com

  2 Nov 2009 | 11:06 am

  Investorideas.com Green Funding Directory Updated; Now Lists over 540 Global Green Funding Sources POINT ROBERTS, Wash., Delta B.C., November 2 2009 - www.InvestorIdeas.com, a leading online global investor resource, with a primary focus on green investing, has updated the recently available Global Green Fund and Venture Capital Directory for green businesses and entrepreneurs seeking potential funding sources. The directory now lists over 540 global funding sources in the cleantech sector.The global directory is currently available for purchase in a PDF format for $99 and is updated…

• Investorideas.com add New Budget Conscious Cleantech Showcase IR Services for Publicly Traded Green Stocks

  www.Investorideas.com

  28 Oct 2009 | 9:59 am

  Investorideas.com add New Budget Conscious Cleantech Showcase IR Services for Publicly Traded Green StocksPOINT ROBERTS, WA and DELTA, BC –October 28,, 2009 – Investorideas.com, a leader in cleantech investor research and investor tools offers new budget conscious IR tools and services for publicly traded cleantech companies. Services include news release publication, company profile publishing and showcase services starting at $1000 month. Showcase Services for Cleantech Companies:$1000 month program - Have your company logo, stock symbol, link to your website on Investor Ideas home page…

• DB CLIMATE CHANGE ADVISORS PUBLISHES ANALYSIS OF 270 CLIMATE AND ENERGY POLICIES

  www.Investorideas.com

  26 Oct 2009 | 11:34 am

  DB CLIMATE CHANGE ADVISORS PUBLISHES ANALYSIS OF 270 CLIMATE AND ENERGY POLICIESThe “Climate Tracker” provides a Reference for Policies to be discussed at Upcoming Climate Change Talks in Copenhagen and Calls for Increased Government ActionNEW YORK, October 26, 2009 –Deutsche Bank’s Asset Management division (DeAM) today published research which provides investors with an analysis of climate change policies and assigns a risk rating to 109 countries, states and regions based on key government mandates and supporting policy frameworks.The report, titled “Global Climate Change Policy…

• Solar Stocks News - Applied Materials (Nasdaq:AMAT) Opens Advanced Solar Research and Customer Demonstration Facility in Xi’an, China

  www.Investorideas.com

  26 Oct 2009 | 7:03 am

  Solar Stocks News - Applied Materials (Nasdaq:AMAT) Opens Advanced Solar Research and Customer Demonstration Facility in Xi’an, ChinaXI’AN, China-- October 26 2009 - Applied Materials, Inc. (Nasdaq:AMAT) the world’s largest supplier of equipment to the solar photovoltaic industry, today opened an advanced solar research and demonstration facility in Xi’an, China. Applied Materials’ Solar Technology Center, the largest non-government solar energy research facility in the world, is comprised of laboratory and office buildings covering more than 400,000 square feet and contains an…

• 
  Cleantech Blog

• Low Cost Desalination - Saltworks Breakthrough

  Paul O' Callaghan

  3 Nov 2009 | 8:15 am

  Canadian firm, Saltworks Technologies, just came out of stealth in relation to their desalination technology, which they claim reduce the electrical energy required for desalination by over 70%. They report they can produce 1m3 of water with 1kW hour of electrical energy, compared to the 3.7kWhr per m3, which is what is currently achievable using reverse osmosis with the use of energy recovery devices.So how to they do it? Well its novel. It appears to be a new approach. And novel and new are two things scarce as hens teeth in relation to desalination technologies. They use solar heat (or…

• Plugging Electric Vehicles

  Richard T. Stuebi

  2 Nov 2009 | 4:33 am

  by Richard T. StuebiMuch has been written about the planned release by General Motors (NYSE: GM) of the Chevy Volt, a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle. When GM launches the vehicle, now slated for late 2010, it plans to sell tens of thousands of them.As profiled in an article in the August 24 issue of Forbes, the bigger mover in the electric drive vehicles game looks to be Nissan (NASD: NSANY), which is investing several billion dollars to ramp up for producing 300,000-400,000 electric vehicles within a few years. Its entry model is the Leaf, a five-passenger hatchback that it aims to sell in…

• Ford Electric Car for 2011

  John Addison

  27 Oct 2009 | 7:29 am

  By John Addison (originally published in Clean Fleet Report 10/26/09). My test drive of the new Ford electric car for 2011 demonstrated that Ford (NYSE:F) is building an electric car that millions will want. The Ford Focus EV prototype provided a quiet and smooth drive for a prototype. One Ford engineer indicated that he was going beyond a 60-mile daily range in Michigan without nearing battery depletion. The Focus EV looks and drives like the popular gasoline powered Ford Focus four-door sedan. It comfortably seated four adults, but good luck if you want three people in the back – it will…

• H2O to H2 w/o C

  Richard T. Stuebi

  26 Oct 2009 | 5:08 am

  by Richard T. StuebiAlthough much of the ink these days about innovative vehicles relates to plug-in hybrids, work continues to explore the potential for hydrogen-based fuel cells to play a key role in the transportation sector -- particularly in light of the recent decision by Congress to reauthorize funding for hydrogen autos.Admittedly, as hydrogen critics and skeptics are quick to point out, the vision for personal automobiles running on hydrogen is very long-term and thus quite murky due to a number of factors, perhaps most notably the lack of a ubiquitous hydrogen refueling…

• Cleantech Blog Readers - Unite! Let's Color the Volt

  Neal Dikeman

  22 Oct 2009 | 8:08 am

  Ok, I couldn't resist.GM is running a contest to name the silver green color for the Volt. Winner gets to go to the LA auto show and drive a pre-production Volt.So if any of you have a few minutes to amuse yourself, add your color name idea in the comments to this post, or email it to me, and we'll take the best ones (we'll run a poll if time allows) and submit them as the Cleantech Blog submissions. (Or just submit straight to GM if you want to try yourself).For the record, if we win, we'll auction off the right to represent Cleantech Blog at the LA autoshow and give the proceeds to a green…

• 
  Green Tech Media: Cleantech Investing

• Friday follies

  info@greentechmedia.com

  6 Nov 2009 | 7:00 am

  Some random links and observations on a Friday: Apparently not every reader picked up on the fact that my last post was tongue-in-cheek.  Guess you had to be there.  Fortunately, Scott was in fact there... David Gold wrote recently on some of the same issues, wondering why solar and the like have gotten so much attention from VCs while technologies like geothermal have gotten much less attention.  His answer is that in large part "much of the bias has to do with the fact that not many VCs have strong networks of geologists, drilling technologists, heat pump engineers and steam…

• Conventional wisdom and cleantech venture capital

  info@greentechmedia.com

  4 Nov 2009 | 2:02 pm

  I had the pleasure of speaking as part of a panel this morning at the Mid-Atlantic Capital Alliance's conference in Philadelphia.  Here's a taste of what I told them: 1.  Cleantech only happens in Silicon Valley and MIT.  If you look at the dollars flowing into cleantech from venture capitalists, and read the sunday NYT, that's the natural conclusion you would draw.  So my apologies to everyone in Philly (or the rest of the country outside of northern California and Boston), there's clearly very little good entrepreneurial activity in cleantech in your region. 2. …

• Friday folderol

  info@greentechmedia.com

  30 Oct 2009 | 12:37 pm

  Some random items, including some administrative housekeeping:   1.  If you haven't seen it, it's worth reading DOE Secretary Chu's op-ed on weatherization and all of the governmental support being thrown toward that part of energy efficiency.  Heady times for residential and commercial energy efficiency efforts.  Side note:  The Secretary of Energy is publishing his op-eds in the Huffington Post now?  Wow, this Internet thingy might actually be catching on.   2.  How the government "picks winners and losers" is a topic of much conversation these days,…

• Great returns from cleantech

  info@greentechmedia.com

  28 Oct 2009 | 12:11 pm

  Did you see the Q2 venture returns report from Cambridge Associates and the NVCA (note: pdf)?  If so, you were probably as intrigued by the chart on page 7 as I was. On that page is a chart of "US Venture Capital Dollar-Weighted Internal Rate of Return on Vintage Year Companies" broken out by sector.  They don't break out cleantech as a category, but they do break out Energy.  And the numbers are pretty noteworthy. Energy category IRRs vs. All Companies IRRs 2002  Energy = 43.0%, All = 8.75% 2003  Energy = 46.0%, All = 12.3% 2004  Energy = 10.4%, All = 12.8%…

• “ARPA-E! ARPA-E!”

  info@greentechmedia.com

  26 Oct 2009 | 6:44 am

  Okay, so maybe I jokingly tried to start an "ARPA-E" chant at Obama's MIT speech on Friday, simply because I thought it might be the only crowd ever wonky enough to get it. But acronymical joking aside, it's a potentially valuable DOE program that could end up helping one of the major capital gaps that's emerging in cleantech venture capital:  Seed stage and early stage development of ideas that are promising but will take too long to commercialize than most VCs can handle. So it's great to see the news release today with $151M of grants to 37 efforts.  Including: Sadoway's…

• 
  Cleantech Investing in Israel

• Jerusalem event highlights U.S.-Israel energy cooperation

  Jonathan Shapira

  2 Nov 2009 | 7:50 pm

  On Sunday, November 8th, hundreds of young professionals will gather in San Francisco for the Jewish Response to the Energy Challenge conference featuring cleantech entrepreneurs, investors and policymakers.The conference will be broadcast to several cities around the world, including Jerusalem, where organizers have arranged for their own simulcast event on the U.S.-Israel Partnership for Clean and Secure Energy Solutions. Dr. Isaac Berzin, Director of the Institute for Renewable Energy Policy at IDC Herzliya (and Founder of Greenfuel Technologies) will give the keynote address. Dr. Berzin…

• Ormat teams with Sunday Energy on $195M joint venture for 36 MW of solar

  Jonathan Shapira

  19 Oct 2009 | 6:27 am

  Ormat Technologies, Inc., announced today that its Israeli subsidiary, Ormat Systems Ltd., has signed a Joint Venture Agreement (“JVA”) with Sunday Energy Ltd. (“Sunday”), an Israeli solar integration company, to construct and operate solar-photovoltaic (“PV”) energy systems in Israel with a total capacity of 36 megawatts (MW).Under the JVA, Sunday will contribute the rights to all of its property and roofs required to develop solar energy systems above 1 MW to special purpose entities (“SPEs”). Ormat will own 70% of each SPE and will also have control of it. Under the terms…

• Siemens to buy Solel Solar for $418 million

  Jonathan Shapira

  15 Oct 2009 | 11:06 am

  German industrial conglomerate Siemens AG has announced that it will buy solar thermal power company Solel Solar Systems Ltd. for $418 million.Siemens will buy the Beit Shemesh, Israel-based company from Ecofin Ltd., a London-based investment company which had purchased a stake in Solel in January 2008 at a company value of $150 million.Solel has a workforce of over 500 and is one of the world´s two leading suppliers of solar receivers, which are key components in parabolic trough solar power plants. Solel posted revenue totaling almost $90 million in the first six months of this year, and…

• GE invests in SolarEdge, joining $23m Series B funding round

  Jonathan Shapira

  14 Oct 2009 | 12:30 pm

  SolarEdge, a Herzliya, Israel-based start-up developing technology that increases solar power systems’ output by up to 25 percent, announced today that GE unit GE Energy Financial Services has joined a $23 million funding round to support growth in residential and large-scale photovoltaic sites.SolarEdge’s other investors are US venture capital funds Opus Capital and Walden International, Israeli venture capital funds Genesis Partners and Vertex Venture Capital, and the Singaporean fund JP Capital Asia. Details of each investor’s contribution to the equity financing were not…

• BrightView achieves milestones at Signet Solar thin film photovoltaic plant

  Jonathan Shapira

  14 Oct 2009 | 8:17 am

  BrightView Systems, a Petah Tikva, Israel-based cleantech start-up, announced today the successful integration and validation of its WAM (Wide Area Metrology) process metrology and mapping solution for thin-film PV manufacturers at Signet Solar's production line in Mochau, Germany. The WAM tool, developed by BrightView in Israel, has, according to the company, "successfully demonstrated its contribution to both panel efficiency and line productivity via its in-line, true-cell-metrology and measurement capabilities and associated suite of control applications for excursion detection, chamber…

• 
  ALT Energy Stocks: Cleantech News

• Desklamp Powered by a Phone Jack

  (Source: EcoGeek.org) From my perspective, they very fact that this is possible is the news here. It's a "reading" lamp that can be powered by a phone jack. That's right, your phone jack has a tiny amount of power that comes through along with the phone signal to power

• Boxer Rebellion: Senate Panel Approves Climate Bill Without GOP

  (Source: WSJ.com: Environmental Capital - References: Earth2Tech,Green Light,Watts Up With That?) Okay, so Sen. Barbara Boxer has moved the energy and climate bill out of the Environment and Public Works Committee and onto the Senate floor. That doesn?t get the bill any closer to garnering 60 votes, but as Sen. Boxer said, it can?t get 60 votes

• EPRI’s Erfan Ibrahim: 5 Myths About the Smart Grid Buildout

  (Source: Earth2Tech) Panel discussions at technology conferences are often pretty dry affairs, but smart grid expert Erfan Ibrahim of the influential group Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) proved today at a conference in San Francisco that even topics like home

• One year after his election, Obama on verge of audaciously fulfilling his promise as the green FDR

  (Source: Climate Progress - References: Celsias) Arianna Huffington posted “Obama One Year Later: The Audacity of Winning vs. The Timidity of Governing.  HuffPost asked for replies.  Mine is here and below.  I welcome your thoughts.  My bottom line:  On climate and clean energy policy, he has

• Nissan releases official sketch of NV200-based electric commercial vehicle

  (Source: AutoblogGreen - References: Plugs and Cars) Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Nissan Nissan Light Commercial Electric Vehicle sketch - Click above to enlarge Nissan has electricity on the brain. The Japanese automaker is readying its opening salvo in the alternative propulsion wars in the form of the

• 
  Gil Friend

• Get This: Overcoming the Key Barriers to Building a Sustainable Economy

  Gil Friend

  26 Oct 2009 | 6:32 pm

  Sustainable business strategies often hit a surprising roadblock -- the limiting (and false) assumption "green" will cost money, require sacrifice, and delay profits. The problem isn't that companies can't afford to operate sustainably. The problem is that too many businesses just can't count -- operating with accounting systems that miss real value and consistently leave money on the table. To address this assumption, businesses -- and the economic systems within which we operate -- need to overcome three key barriers: Business must get the prices right, break the addiction to "stuff," and…

• Upcoming sustainable business events - with me! (and discounts too)

  Gil Friend

  23 Sep 2009 | 10:04 pm

  My speaking schedule has gotten increasingly crowded as interest continues to rise in sustainability as a serious business strategy. Here's what's up in the next few weeks: Digging Deeper San Francisco, September 27 2009 Discount Code: DiggingSF09 A Sustainability Compass- Navigating the Business Frontier Workshop, reception and book-signing NBIS, Seattle, September 29 2009 West Coast Green San Francisco CA October 1-3 2009 Special discount for "friends of Gil" Designers Accord Global Summit Oct 23 2009 San Francisco Closing Plenary: SRI in The Rockies (with Hunter Lovins) Tucson AZ October…

• Quote of the day

  Gil Friend

  18 Sep 2009 | 12:19 am

  The dogmas of the quiet past are inadequate to the stormy present. The occasion is piled high with difficulty and we must rise with the occasion. As our case is new, so we must think anew and act anew. We must disenthrall ourselves, and then we shall save our country. - Abraham Lincoln (Thank you Dan Geiger of the USGBC-Northern California Chapter.

• Impossible? I'm not so sure

  Gil Friend

  8 Sep 2009 | 1:06 am

  From Tim Ferriss's blog: "€œDon'™t tell me it'€™s impossible,"€ he says, "€œtell me you can't do it."€ "€œTell me it's never been done. Because the only real laws in this world-“the only things we really know-€“are the two postulates of relativity, the three laws of Newton, the four laws of thermodynamics, and Maxwell's equation-€“no, scratch that, the only things we really know are  Maxwell'€™s equations, the three laws of Newton, the two postulates of relativity, and the periodic table. That's all we know that's true. All the rest are man'€™s laws...." -From Esquire…

• Impossible? I'm not so sure

  Gil Friend

  8 Sep 2009 | 12:55 am

  From Tim Ferriss's blog: "€œDon'™t tell me it'€™s impossible,"€ he says, "€œtell me you can't do it."€ "€œTell me it's never been done. Because the only real laws in this world-“the only things we really know-€“are the two postulates of relativity, the three laws of Newton, the four laws of thermodynamics, and Maxwell's equation-€“no, scratch that, the only things we really know are  Maxwell'€™s equations, the three laws of Newton, the two postulates of relativity, and the periodic table. That's all we know that's true. All the rest are man'€™s laws...." -From Esquire…

• 
  The BiOH Experience

• 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 experience and told…

• 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

• The Chance to Experience Soy Style is Almost Here!

  Jessica, BiOH Polyols Marketing Manager

  8 Oct 2009 | 9:23 am

  The Minneapolis College of Art and Design students are putting final touches on the exhibits, the Room & Board team is preparing their store in Edina, MN, and many of us on the BiOH team are busy finalizing last minute details to make  the Experience Soy Style: Be in the KnOH! event on Saturday from 1-3pm  run smoothly. We are all so excited! The students have designed several exhibits to take you on a “journey from soybean to sofa.” Through videos, banners, soybean plants, foam blocks, and scupltures, you can learn more about soy foam options and why they may be a better…

• A Special Q&A for Interior Designers on Soy Foam

  Jessica, BiOH Polyols Marketing Manager

  11 Sep 2009 | 3:24 pm

  If you’re an interior designer, this post is written specifically to answer your questions and hopefully, inspire you to become a catalyst for positive change in the home furnishings industry. And if you’re not an interior designer, you’re still welcome to follow along! Let’s start with some background on why interior designers may consider specifiying products made using soy foam with BiOH polyols… 1.Clients are often seeking more environmentally friendly and healthier options for their homes, and designers are expected to bring solutions. (The Green Design…

• 
  Environmental Leader

• Emissions Intensity Falling Globally

  Environmental Leader

  6 Nov 2009 | 8:21 am

  Emissions intensity, the amount of carbon generated from fossil fuel use per unit of gross domestic product (GDP), fell globally in all but two years between 1994 and 2006, according to a World Bank study, reports the New York Times’ Green Inc. blog. A key finding of the study indicates that reducing the amount of energy [...]

• JohnsonDiversey Ups GHG Reduction Target to 25%

  Environmental Leader

  6 Nov 2009 | 8:11 am

  JohnsonDiversey plans to more than triple its original greenhouse gas reduction commitment, from 8 percent to 25 percent by the end of 2013. JohnsonDiversey made the 8 percent pledge last year when it joined the World Wildlife Federation’s Climate Savers program. The company plans to spend $14 million to achieve the reduction in emissions, according to a [...]

• Sainsbury’s Offers Free London Electric Car Charging

  Environmental Leader

  6 Nov 2009 | 7:59 am

  UK supermarket chain Sainsbury’s is installing electric car charging systems at 11 of its London supermarkets. The retailer intends to give away charging services to customers. Sainsbury’s aims to help turn London into an “electric vehicle superhighway,” said Neil Sachdev, Sainsbury’s Commercial Director. Sainsbury’s claims to already be one of the UK’s largest users of electric vehicles, [...]

• Carbon Trading Could Trigger a ‘Sub-prime Style’ Economic Crash

  Environmental Leader

  6 Nov 2009 | 7:41 am

  Plans to expand carbon markets at UN climate talks this December could trigger a second ’sub-prime’ style financial collapse and fail to protect the world from a global warming catastrophe, according to a report from Friends of the Earth. The trade in carbon permits and credits, primarily based in Europe, was worth $126 billion in 2008 [...]

• Peabody, Exxon Accused of Undermining Climate Talks

  Environmental Leader

  6 Nov 2009 | 7:38 am

  Negotiations for a new climate treaty in Copenhagen this December are being blocked by a multi-national backlash led by fossil fuel industries and other heavy carbon emitters, according to a report by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ), an arm of the nonprofit Center for Public Integrity. According to the investigation, thousands of lobbyists, [...]

• 
  Joel Makower: Two Steps Forward

• Introducing … the Green Confidence Index

  joelmakower

  27 Oct 2009 | 7:55 am

  Today marks the launch of a new monthly index, the Green Confidence Index, aimed at tracking Americans' attitudes about and confidence in their leaders and institutions, nationally and locally, on the subject of environmental responsibility, as well as in their own understanding of issues and their willingness to make green purchasing choices. It is the first comprehensive monthly tracking of consumers' green attitudes and purchasing. The Index was produced by my colleagues at GreenBiz.com in partnership with a leading market research firm, Earthsense, and a leading polling firm,…

• How to Talk About [Whatever It's Called]

  joelmakower

  25 Oct 2009 | 9:14 pm

  Do people care about the climate?It's an open question these days, and opinion polls offer little help. Some show that climate ranks fairly low among public concerns, while others indicate a high level of concern among the populace. And in the run-up to the Copenhagen climate summit, now a mere six weeks away, those opinions count for something, particularly in the United States, where lawmakers are looking to be swayed one way or another. Here's a sampling of the hodgepodge of public opinion. The Pew Research Center for the People & the Press last week reported that "There…

• A Look Inside Good Housekeeping's Green Seal

  joelmakower

  18 Oct 2009 | 8:34 pm

  It's long stated as near fact by observers of the confusing and confounding green marketplace that what's needed, once and for all, is something akin to a Good Housekeeping Seal for the environment. Good Housekeeping, it seems, represents a pinnacle of credibility and consumer confidence. So, now that Good Housekeeping has introduced its own green seal, what should we make of it? First, some background. The original Good Housekeeping Seal was introduced in 1909, when there was little regulatory oversight of consumer products. It represented an audacious marketing promise from its…

• Sky Vegetables: Taking Green Roofs to New Heights

  joelmakower

  7 Oct 2009 | 9:06 am

  "Hi, I'm Keith. We take underutilized space in urban areas and grow food there, creating green jobs, providing access to fresh produce, localizing the economy, and creating a better life by building communities through growing vegetables." I have to admit, it was one of the cooler, more compelling elevator pitches I've heard, and I've heard a lot. This one came at a cocktail reception several weeks ago, at the Food Marketing Institute's Sustainability Summit, a gathering of major retailers and consumer packaged goods brands, where I was a keynote speaker. As such…

• Who's Invested in Newsweek's Least-Green Companies? (Maybe You)

  joelmakower

  21 Sep 2009 | 5:01 am

  One aspect of Newsweek's just-released rankings of 500 leading companies' environmental policies and performance is to view the list from an investor perspective. Specifically: Who are investors in the worst-ranked companies? You might be surprised to find that it's you. An analysis of the publicly available data shows that the 50 largest investors in the companies receiving the lowest scores — those ranked 490 through 500 on Newsweek's list — include three leading public employee pension funds as well as major mutual funds that hold millions of Americans'…

• 
  Sustainablog

• Plan B 4.0 Book Byte: Three Models of Social Change

  Earth Policy Institute

  5 Nov 2009 | 8:55 am

  Lester R. Brown Can we change fast enough? When thinking about the enormous need for social change as we attempt to move the world economy onto a sustainable path, I find it useful to look at various models of change. Three stand out. One is the catastrophic event model, which I call the Pearl Harbor model, where a dramatic event fundamentally changes how we think and behave. The second model is one where a society reaches a tipping point on a particular issue often after an extended period of gradual change in thinking and attitudes. This I call the Berlin Wall model. The third is the…

• Rehabilitating Bio-Fuels Part 2: Interesting Second Generation Options

  Steve Savage

  4 Nov 2009 | 10:54 pm

  My previous post retraced the precipitous decline in the reputation of biofuels that occurred between 2006 and today.  In this post I’m going to talk about just a few of the activities going on for “second generation” biofuels (beyond corn, soy and palm oil, wheat…).  One of the key features of these initiatives is that they reduce the competition with food crops - something which will only become a more significant issue in the future.  I’ll be talking about several Universities and companies who have hung in there through the ups and downs of oil prices…

• Simran’s Eco-Friendly Home Makeover Comes to Oprah.com

  Jeff McIntire-Strasburg

  4 Nov 2009 | 11:26 am

  Buying your first home is both nerve-wracking and exhilarating. Imagine the heightening of both of those emotions if you choose to 1) buy an older house full of character, and 2) jump right into green updates and renovations upon purchase. You’ll then have a good sense of what journalist, professor, and good friend of sustainablog Simran Sethi is going through right now… she recently purchased an 84-year-old home in her adopted home town of Lawrence, KS. Unlike the rest of us, though, Simran’s inviting the world in to watch the process of greening her new house: on Monday,…

• Rehabilitating The Concept of Bio-Fuels: Part One

  Steve Savage

  4 Nov 2009 | 10:49 am

  In 2006 I attended a BIO meeting in Toronto focused on the new bio-based economy.  Oil had just risen to $70/barrel and it was a time when environmental NGOs, biotech companies and even oil companies seemed to be on the “same page” in terms of their enthusiasm for moving to plant-based feedstocks as the perfect alternative to oil dependency.  With the very obvious international security costs of the oil economy, and what were then thought to be unimaginable energy costs, it was a remarkable sort of celebration event for all the alternative energy and materials folks who has…

• Climate Change Conference Calls on US for Reduction Targets

  SolveClimate

  3 Nov 2009 | 9:35 am

  This post was written by Stacy Feldman (reporting from Barcelona, Spain), and originally published at SolveClimate. The United States must deliver concrete mid-term greenhouse gas reduction targets by next month or it will destroy efforts to achieve a framework for a global climate change deal in Copenhagen, United Nations climate chief Yvo de Boer said Monday as a week of international talks on global warming began in Barcelona. “I do not think the international community will accept an agreement that lacks clarity from the U.S. on targets,” de Boer said. The Barcelona talks are…

• 
  wattwatt.com latest pulses

• A Breakthrough Technology to Recycle CO2 into Fuel

  Jose

  Posted on October 29, 2009 by Jose Vaz Pinto Will mitigate the CO2 problem using the actual fuel infrastructure. Recycling CO2 emissions into renewable liquid fuels can directly and immediately reduce the demand for liquid petroleum fuels - this is based on Carbon Science recently announced R first results. Based on a projected industrial scale CO2 to fuel conversion efficiency range of 40% to 80%, Carbon Sciences believes its breakthrough CO2-to-Fuel technology can provide a significant portion of the world's liquid fuel supply. Fuels produced with CO2-to-Fuel technology are essentially…

• Energy studies with power logger

  Jerry

  Posted on October 29, 2009 by Jerry Rodgers In order to reduce energy consumption you need to understand how much energy you are using and when. To do that, hook up a power logger such as the Fluke 1735 to the feeders or service. For a 3-phase wye systerm there will be connections: three phase voltages, neutral voltage, three phase currents and neutral current. Set the network topology to wye or delta to match the system you are monitoring. Set the recording time -- 15 minute intervals over a 30 day period is typical. After 30 days, download the data and review the measurements. Find average…

• Juan Rosales

  Juan

  Posted on October 23, 2009 by Juan Rosales Lookig for any update related to energy effiency household appliances there is/are 1 comment(s) for this post

• "One size fits all" phone chargers soon to be reality

  Yvonne

  Posted on October 23, 2009 by Yvonne Flavin Who hasn't ever had their phone battery die on them and no-one around has the same make of charger to lend? Or have you had to buy new chargers every time you get a new phone? Well, these problems are set to become things of the past, as yesterday, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the United Nations' agency for telecom, said it has given its stamp of approval "to an energy-efficient one-charger-fits-all new mobile phone solution". At last!The new Universal Charging Solution (UCS), will enable the same charger to be used for…

• First pedal-powered electricity generator on Swiss football pitch

  Philippa

  Posted on October 22, 2009 by Philippa Martin-King A group of teenagers from a local youth club in the City of Lausanne have just installed a pedal-driven lighting system on their football pitch that allows them to play into the darker hours of the winter evenings.Working with a team of engineers from the sustainable renewable energies group, Association pour le développement des énergies renouvelables (ADER) under the direction of Eric Ecoffey, Sebasol, the youth team leader, Daniel Kohlbrenner, helped them put their human energy idea…

• 
  The Ecologist - The Ecologist Blog

• The Ecologist - The Open Ground (20/06/2009)

  Conservation event organised by Conservation Today - a news & opinions website run by postgraduate students

• The Ecologist - The Open Ground (20/06/2009)

  The Open Ground is a conservation event organised by Conservation Today, a news and opinions website run by postgraduate students.

• The Ecologist - New Ecologist website launches at 12 noon on 19th June (18/06/2009)

  A fantastic and vastly improved website replaces the magazine from 19 June at 12 noon.

• The Ecologist - New Ecologist website launches at 12 noon (BST) on Friday 19 June (18/06/2009)

  We are in the process of transferring to the new website. Please note that it can take 24 - 48 hours for your local ISP to update so please try again later if you can still see the old website.

• The Ecologist - Two Degrees Festival: art, activisim and the global climate emergency (16/06/2009)

• 
  EcoEarth.Info: Earth Blog

• RELEASE: WWF Confronted for Rainforest "Greenwashing" of "Sustainable" Palm Oil

  5 Nov 2009 | 1:02 pm

  By Earth's Newsdesk, a project of Ecological Internet http://www.ecoearth.info/newsdesk/ CONTACT: Dr. Glen Barry, glenbarry@ecologicalinternet.org An Open Letter signed by more than 80 organizations from 31 countries was delivered yesterday to the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) [search] and to World Wildlife Fund (WWF) co-initiator of the initiative. In the letter, they are urged to end the “greenwashing” and certification of palm oil plantations as being “sustainable”. According to the Open Letter, palm oil companies certified by the RSPO are directly responsible for much…

• ALERT! No to Copenhagen 'Carbon Logging': GOOD REDD Fully Protects and Restores Old Forests as a Global Climatic Imperative

  4 Nov 2009 | 10:56 am

  By Ecological Internet's Climate Ark Climate Change Portal TAKE ACTION HERE NOW! Copenhagen climate talks [search] must not provide Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation (REDD) carbon market funds for old, natural forest logging, or for conversion of natural or semi-natural forests and other ecosystems to plantations. Ending deforestation and degradation of old and relatively ecologically intact primary and old growth forest ecosystems, and the ecological restoration of late-successional old growth forests, are keystone responses to maintaining the global climatic system. TAKE…

• ALERT! Madagascar's Protected Rainforest Hardwoods Continue to be Selectively Logged

  27 Oct 2009 | 11:54 am

  TAKE ACTION! Loggers and wildlife traders continue to violate Madagascar's biodiversity [search] rich rainforests including protected areas. In March of this year controversy surrounding leasing of agricultural land resulted in a military coup. In the chaos that ensued, armed gangs funded by Chinese traders entered Madagascar’s Marojejy and Masoala National Parks, two world-renowned World Heritage Sites, and logged rosewood, ebonies, and other valuable hardwoods. NGOs operating in Madagascar report continued armed, open and organized plundering of precious wood from several natural forests,…

• EI RELEASE: Papua New Guineans Protest World Bank's Ill-Conceived Expansion of Pacific Tuna Fish Harvest

  20 Oct 2009 | 1:08 am

  Peaceful protesters make clear PMIZ ecologically unsustainable, corruption is epidemic and democracy threatened in Papua New Guinea October 20, 2009 From Asples PNG and Earth's Newsdesk, projects of Ecological Internet (EI) Continue Taking Action Online at: http://bit.ly/png_tuna (MADANG, PAPUA NEW GUINEA) -- Over 500 people gathered at the Madang Provincial Government Headquarters on Thursday, October 15th, to protest Papua New Guinea governments' support for the Pacific Marine Industrial Zone (PMIZ). The PMIZ, at Vidar along the North Coast Road, is expected to be one of the biggest tuna…

• Action Alert: Stop Massive World Bank (IFC) Supported Expansion of Pacific Industrial Tuna Fish Harvest

  15 Oct 2009 | 1:51 am

  By Asples PNG (People of Papua New Guinea), a project of Ecological Internet TAKE ACTION! Over-fishing [search] comes to Madang, Papua New Guinea, as local peoples prepare to resist 10 tuna canneries. Support indigenous South Pacific coastal peoples as they are peacefully protesting right now! In the peaceful South Pacific town of Madang, Papua New Guinea (PNG), the local indigenous people are being inundated with foreign industrial "development" projects -- mines, logging and fisheries -- for which they have not been properly consulted, have not given their informed consent, and from which…

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  1GreenProduct

• Smart fortwo Passion Cabriolet

    Parking a smart fortwo should be at the top of the list of Easiest Things in the World.   Even if the parking space is lilliputian, even if you have approached it from an odd angle, even if the cars on either side of you are gargantuan trucks, you should be able to squeeze into the space [...]

• Tidbits – SNO:LA organic frozen yogurt, ZT Rooibos Tea, Sentina LED lights, Earthworm cleaning products, Intercontinental Chicago O’Hare

  Here are some recent eco-friendly product tidbits: - Travelers (or residents) in Beverly Hills, California or Santa Monica can enjoy organic frozen yogurt made from all-natural ingredients (including probiotics) at SNO:LA. There’s also an outpost in Kyoto, Japan. The shops use eco-friendly decor and consider themselves ‘no-plastic-zones’ by choosing to use biodegradable/compostable materials such as sugar [...]

• My Favorite Products – Susan Gottlieb likes Dr. Bronner’s, Begley’s Best, Seventh Generation and If You Care

  1GreenProduct.com is pleased to present the product recommendations of Susan Gottlieb, co-owner with her husband Daniel of the G2 Gallery. The G2 Gallery strives to support both art and the environment by presenting work from celebrated nature and wildlife photographers. The gallery also says that it donates all profits from art sales to a bevy of worthwhile [...]

• My Favorite Product – Neil Wertheimer likes cork flooring, Pristine Eco Spec Paint and Solar Path Lights

  1GreenProduct.com is pleased to feature the recommendation of guest expert Neil Wertheimer, Editor in Chief of the Home & Garden and Health & Wellness Group, a $200 million-plus publishing business of the Reader’s Digest Association that includes the new Fresh Home magazine. Neil recommends - Cork flooring - Pristine Eco Spec Paint by Benjamin Moore - Solar Path Lights [...]

• E+ Electric Bikes – Elite Mountain Bike

  Like a little raw speed with your electric bike? I clocked my tester E+ Elite Mountain Bike from Electric Motion Systems at around 25 miles per hour on a flat straightaway with no pedaling. The Elite version of the E+ bikes (designed for ‘off road use only’) comes with a 1000 watt in-wheel motor, but you can [...]

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  Mom Goes Green

• November 15 is America Recycles Day, America!

  Doreen

  4 Nov 2009 | 7:27 am

  This year I’m posting early!  November 15 is America Recycles Day and what a great opportunity to make some dramatic, but not difficult, changes in our daily lives.  This is a day that “encourages more people to join the movement toward creating a better natural environment by recycling and buying recycled products” and “promotes the social, environmental and economic benefits of recycling.” Last year I used this opportunity to hold a project at our daughter’s school that centered around America Recycles Day and this year will be no different.  I’m encouraging all students to…

• Making a difference begins with one.

  Doreen

  2 Nov 2009 | 7:54 am

  Having been extremely exhausted, overwhelmed, overcommitted (and at times, stressed out!) I felt like I should simply start the week with some inspiration… maybe even more for myself than anyone else. Life, in general, can be overwhelming without “adding to our already overloaded plates”,  but we all sometimes need reminders about the importance of decisions we make and the difference we can make, even if we sometimes feel like an “army of one”. I have felt this way lately for so many reasons.  Sure, there is strength in numbers but there is also strength in one committed effort…

• The FULL story of pesticides and produce.

  Doreen

  30 Oct 2009 | 6:54 am

  The other day I wrote a post about pesticides and using sea salt and water to wash fruits and vegetables before we consume them to remove those dangerous pesticides. Well, a close, personal friend, Will, was bold enough to call a foul.  He is very passionate about the topic and went so far as to call the post “lame”… (ouch!). I’ll first say that the post was written in response to a few readers’ prior comments that they didn’t feel the added expense of organics was in their budget and had limited access to affordable and available organics because of where they lived…

• Remove pesticides from produce… the cheap, easy way!

  Doreen

  28 Oct 2009 | 6:25 am

  I’ve talked a lot about the pesticides and chemicals sprayed on conventionally-grown, non-organic produce.   It always seemed crazy to me that our most healthy foods often come with a load of non-healthy “additives”.   And it’s especially alarming where our children are concerned. You can stick with the “Clean 15” list and buy non-organic, but if you’re on a budget and run across that “Dirty Dozen”, what do you do?  Well, some solutions can be especially expensive to make.  And Fit can also get quite costly. At a Health and Nutrition session I recently attended (where…

• Black, orange and GREEN your Halloween!

  Doreen

  26 Oct 2009 | 6:42 am

  This post is long overdue since the ghosts and goblins of Halloween are beginning to gather for a spook-tacular night!  This is often a season where we can simultaneously go fabulously green AND bust the radar on breaking the rules! If you still have plans in the works here are a few things to remember when you want to lean toward the greener end of the dial! Decorations – nature provides the greatest resources!  Pumpkins, gourds, cornstalks, leaves, Indian corn… all gifts of nature can be used for fabulous decorations and composted afterward.  Because we have a ravine behind our…

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  EcoEarth.iNFO

• Study says dogs have larger carbon footprint than SUV

  6 Nov 2009 | 11:00 am

  Physorg: Thanks for killing the planet, dog owners. Well, that's a rough paraphrase of a New Zealand study that claims a medium-size dog leaves a larger ecological footprint than an SUV. In "Time to Eat the Dog? The Real Guide to Sustainable Living," authors Robert and Brenda Vale argue that resources required to feed a dog -- including the amount of land needed to feed the animals that go into its food -- give it about twice the eco-footprint of, say, building and fueling a Toyota Land ...

• United Kingdom: Climate talks 'not going well': Ed Miliband

  6 Nov 2009 | 11:00 am

  Agence France-Presse: Negotiations ahead of the crucial UN climate talks in Copenhagen are "not going well", Climate Change Secretary Ed Miliband has warned. Miliband indicated that December's meeting to agree a successor to the Kyoto Protocol, could be the precursor to a legally binding treaty, rather than yielding one itself. Hopes of an accord has faded in recent days -- earlier this week, European Commission chief Jose Manuel Barroso said it was "obvious" a "full-fledged binding treaty, ...

• UK's Miliband: There's no Plan B for climate talks

  6 Nov 2009 | 11:00 am

  Associated Press: British Climate Change Secretary Ed Miliband on Thursday urged nations to aim for meaningful progress on a global climate change pact in talks next month -- despite fading hopes that a deal will be struck. Miliband told the House of Commons on Thursday that prospects are fading that a legally binding agreement to cut greenhouse gas emissions will be finalized at talks in Copenhagen, Denmark. He said countries "shouldn't be in Plan B territory," and urged negotiators to strive ...

• Climate Change, Nitrogen Loss Threaten Plant Life in Arid Desert Soils

  6 Nov 2009 | 11:00 am

  Physorg: In the Mojave Desert winds howl across this hottest place in North America, blowing sands across Death Valley and through empty ghost towns, swirling across treeless land for hundreds of miles. But even in the otherworldly Mojave, life thrives. The Joshua tree (Yucca brevifolia), an indicator species for this desert, defines the Mojave's boundaries. In spring when the rains come, brightly colored flowers bloom in profusion--nature's paintbrush on an otherwise monotone landscape. Now ...

• Painful death of the American dream

  6 Nov 2009 | 11:00 am

  Guardian: It wasn't really supposed to end up like this. When the Berlin Wall came crashing down 20 years ago, the cold war ended with triumph for the west. Instead of two superpowers, there was one. Instead of competing ideologies, there was capitalism, and a particularly brash form of capitalism at that. The elder George Bush said the world should learn how to do things the American way. "We know what works," he said. "Free markets work." The reach of the market grew longer for two ...

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  EcoWorld

• U.N. Officials Fear ‘Water Wars’ in Developing Nations Facing Global Warming Challenges

  Syndicated News

  6 Nov 2009 | 4:25 am

  BEIRUT, Lebanon, Nov. 6 (UPI) — U.N. Deputy Secretary-General Asha-Rose Migiro said the Middle East is “in a challenging situation” and would need stability to achieve development, emphasizing the need to fight climate change to help avoid the next major conflict in the embattled region: “Water War.” “Instability does affect (development). This is clear: Where you have instability, you cannot make development. But when there is no development, that’s also a fertile ground for instability,” Migiro said Tuesday during an interview with United…

• 5.9 and 5.4 Magnitude Earthquakes Hit Taiwan in Two Hour Span

  Syndicated News

  6 Nov 2009 | 4:24 am

  BEIJING, Nov. 6 (UPI) — Two earthquakes less than two hours apart Thursday jolted Nantou County in central Taiwan, the China Earthquake Networks Center said. There were no initial reports of major damage from the earthquakes, which measured 5.9 and 5.4 on the Richter scale, China’s state-run Xinhua news agency reported. In Nantou’s Mingjian Township, the quake cut off electricity and some houses cracked or were fractured. A student in Taichung county sustained minor injuries to her head after some of the classroom’s ceiling fell off during the first earthquake,…

• U.S. Slaps Duties on Chinese Oil Pipes, Chinese Upset

  Syndicated News

  6 Nov 2009 | 4:24 am

  BEIJING, Nov. 6 (UPI) — Beijing reacted strongly against the U.S. decision to slap preliminary anti-dumping duties of up to 99 percent on some Chinese oil pipe imports. Thursday’s decision by the U.S. Commerce Department, the latest in the two countries’ bilateral trade disputes, comes as President Barack Obama prepares for his first presidential visit to China this month. Earlier disputes relate to tires, automotive parts and chickens. The official Xinhua news agency called the oil pipe duties the biggest U.S. trade action against China, which resulted after the Commerce…

• Health Officials Say H1N1 Vaccine Production May Be Sped Up

  Syndicated News

  6 Nov 2009 | 4:23 am

  WASHINGTON, Nov. 6 (UPI) — U.S. health officials say they are working with vaccine producers to step up production speed and bring the H1N1 vaccine more quickly to targeted groups. Public health officials who briefed Congress Wednesday said they believe there will not enough H1N1 vaccine to meet the needs of high-priority population groups until at least December, The Washington Post reported. “Current projections show that 62 percent of Alabama’s vaccine will not be available until after December 1,” Donald E. Williamson, Alabama’s health officer, said. Vaccine…

• Drug Cartels Using Indian Reservation Land for Marijuana Farms

  Syndicated News

  6 Nov 2009 | 4:09 am

  WARM SPRINGS, Ore., Nov. 6 (UPI) — Drug cartels are increasingly using Indian lands across the United States to cultivate marijuana, authorities say. Illegal marijuana farms, mostly operated by gangs with ties to Mexico, are spreading quickly, The Wall Street Journal reported Thursday. The U.S. Forest Service found farms in 61 national forests across 16 states this year — up from 49 farms in 10 states last year, the newspaper said. Pot farms have sprung up on public land in Alabama, Virginia, Michigan and Colorado, officials said. In Washington state, tribal police confiscated…

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  EleBlog

• Construction Spending Report

  jsalimando

  3 Nov 2009 | 1:44 am

  The USG's "construction put-in-place" report (a/k/a the data on "construction spending") came out yesterday. As usual, in looking at this release, the EleBlog skips right over the headline number and the first few pages, and goes to the UNadjusted data (Table 2 in the report). Here's what's in Table 2:Total construction spending DOWN 12.1% vs. the first 9 months of 2008.Private residential down 31.2%Private non-residential down 7.6%. [worst component = commercial = -31.6%. Best component = manufacturing = + 37.6%. Unfortunately, there is - and has been! - a lot more…

• Pulse-Takings -- Construction

  jsalimando

  3 Nov 2009 | 1:25 am

  AIA's "work on the boards" report for September was awful. There was a tick up (from the miserable August report), but at a 43.1 reading, it remained (for the umpteenth time in a row) significantly below the "50" reading -- which differentiates between expansion and a pullback. The pullback has lasted, I think, 18 months. Either the AIA survey doesn't mean anything, or things aren't going to be better in construction for some time (as the "work on the boards" takes some time to get off the drawing boards and into contracts, ground-breakings, retrofits, etc.).

• Smarter Buildings

  jsalimando

  3 Nov 2009 | 1:23 am

  Here are some selected sentences from a National Real Estate Investor report (10/19): [two companies] have joined in a partnership to convert the real estate company’s South Florida office buildings into “smart buildings” with advanced, fiber-based technology.The company estimates that the new technology could reduce the overall cost of telecommunications by up to 20% for office tenants. ANDThe upgrades will provide office tenants with better access to high bandwidth, video conferencing, and remote electronic storage of critical records. Low-cost telephone service, switchless phone…

• Below The Surface - Data

  jsalimando

  3 Nov 2009 | 1:18 am

  I find the "below the surface" stuff -- not generally reported, I don't think -- to be more interesting than the opinions of "leading economists," Ben Bernanke, or any of the media or D.C.-based schmucks.After all, not a one of them saw this economic cataclysm coming, did they? Yet you can't argue with the data. Of course, you can misinterpret the data -- but that's on you (and me) . . . right?Here's a case in point, NPD Group, which is a consumer-focused market research company, reported this: Summer is historically a peak season for the foodservice industry, but this…

• Microgrids

  jsalimando

  3 Nov 2009 | 1:15 am

  There's an awful lot of "Stuff" happening in the electrical generation area. Pike Research has a research survey out claiming that Microgrids are going to go bananas in the next 5+ years. You have to pay to see it; what little it will share for free can be found here. Microgrids are being driven in part by the broader push to create a Smart Grid that will add intelligence and automation to the electricity infrastructure while facilitating the integration of renewable energy resources, electric vehicles, and greater customer control over energy consumption.  In part, however, the…

• 
  MoJo Blog Posts: blue marble

• Pundits Versus Data, the 5-Minute Smackdown

  By Julia Whitty

  6 Nov 2009 | 5:34 pm

  Ever wondered just how partisan or bipartisan Congress is now compared to then? Well, here's a series of visual representations of just that, thanks to Andrew Odewahn, who calculated Senatorial affinities over time and plugged the data into GraphViz. This is another typically fun and speedy Ignite presentation: 1 speaker, 5 minutes, 20 slides auto-advancing every 15 seconds, whether the speaker keeps up or not. Thanks to my friend Sara Winge at O'Reilly Media, the home of Ignite, for the heads up on the video.  

• Coal Propaganda for Kids

  By Kate Sheppard

  6 Nov 2009 | 11:32 am

  The coal industry seems to be taking an ever-greater interest in children—not their future, natch, but what they're coloring. A few months ago we highlighted a "clean coal" coloring book aimed at developing youthful enthusiasm for coal-generated power. Today we find yet another coloring book homage to the industry featuring anthropomorphized lumps of coal. This one comes from the West Virginia Coal Association, "a trade association representing more than 90 percent of the state's underground and surface coal mine production" (see a list of members here. It explains…

• Eco-News Roundup: Friday November 6

  By Jen Phillips

  6 Nov 2009 | 10:09 am

  GOP Gone: Repubs boycott the climate bill markup. Dems unimpressed. Boxing Day: Sen. Boxer moves climate bill, Republicans or no. Too Late: Even with climate bill moving, it won't get passed before Copenhagen. Pay as You Go: California advances pay-per-mile auto insurance, partly to relieve air pollution. [Sacramento Bee] Public v. Private: So the public option's still around, but its premiums will top private's. Letter of Support: Chamber of Commerce says it supports bipartisan climate bills. Kind of. Presidential Promise: Obama tells tribal leaders…

• How to Bust an Escalator Addiction

  By Julia Whitty

  5 Nov 2009 | 3:07 pm

  The Fun Theory is, well, fun. I know this video made my rounds a couple of weeks ago, but not here (I don't think). For the students I met at Augustana College earlier this year, wrestling with their elevator addictions, this video offers a cool solution. I believe this is another example of the piezo-electric effect, powered by human feet, appearing in nightclubs in Europe.  

• Swine Flu Strikes Endangered Amazonian Tribe

  By Julia Whitty

  5 Nov 2009 | 2:13 pm

  I can't find this story anywhere in US news outlets. Whereas the BBC—twice as far away—features it on their online front page. According to Survival International, swine flu has killed seven members of the Yanomami, an endangered Amazonian tribe. Another 1,000 Yanomami are reported to have caught the virulent strain. The regional office of the World Health Organization confirms swine flu. Meanwhile, the Venezuelan government has sealed the area and sent in medical teams, amid fears the epidemic could kill many more Indians. According to Survival International: In the 1980-90s,…

• 
  All MNN Content

• Plant some virtual carbon seeds

  Karl Burkart

  6 Nov 2009 | 7:46 pm

  There are literally hundreds of carbon calculators (read MNN's Top 15 list) and most all of them have one thing in common...

• Men offered $1,300 to test male birth control pill

  Bryan Nelson

  6 Nov 2009 | 7:35 pm

  Researchers at the University of Washington may now be only 5 years away from engineering the Holy Grail of birth control research: a male contraceptive pill. Once developed, the pill could drastically lessen the weight of social responsibility currently placed solely on women and their bodies.   Unfortunately, finding men brave enough to man-up to that responsibility is proving a bit more difficult. So difficult, in fact, that UW researchers have had to resort to paying men $1,300 each just to help out in testing the new product.

• Mom and son face off with the law for biking to school

  Karl Burkart

  6 Nov 2009 | 6:33 pm

  In stark contrast to Copenhagen (where more than half the residents travel by bike), one school district in Saratago Springs, N.Y., created a policy that prohibits biking and walking to school.   Though Janette Marino and her son, Adam, were warned prior to the first day of school, they rode in defiance anyway only to be greeted by an unhappy group of school administrators and a state trooper.   The school cited d

• The latest, greenest eco-fashions

  Siel Ju

  6 Nov 2009 | 6:08 pm

    Wondering what styles will be in eco-fashion this fall and winter? Earlier today, green-thinking fashionistas got treated to an eco-vegan fashion show at the Green Blogger Convention at Environmental Furniture in Los Angeles.

• Contamination transformation

  Jessica A. Knoblauch

  6 Nov 2009 | 5:35 pm

  Old industrial sites and landfills that have been cleaned to a certain standard – known as "brownfields" – are being used to house clean energy technologies like wind, solar and geothermal, according to a recent story in Scientific American.   Using these undeveloped sites for housing renewable energy technologies is ideal for many reasons.    [[social-toolbar]]One, since the land i

• 
  Topix: Environment

• Cyprus' golfing ambitions a washout with environmentalists

  6 Nov 2009 | 8:15 pm

  In a bid to boost its flagging tourism industry, Cyprus is laying golf courses by the acre.

• Owens Corning Launches Shingle Recycling Program

  6 Nov 2009 | 12:22 pm

  First manufacturer to simplify shingle recycling for contractors. Owens Corning will be providing a new program that makes it easier for contractors to recycle asphalt shingles for its preferred roofing contractors.

• Green silver maker reports surge in sales as silver bullion prices rise

  6 Nov 2009 | 4:10 am

  Houston - Reno-based Itronics, Inc. says it doubled silver sales during the first 9 months of the year, despite a downturn in spent photoliquid volume which the company recovers heavy metals from in the manufacture of its green silver.

• AIR 4: Raw Video From I-24 Clorax Leak

  5 Nov 2009 | 8:04 pm

  (11/5/09) - Watch raw aerial video from Interstate 24 after it was shut down from a Clorax leak on a tractor-trailer.

• Closings Friday on Clayton, Sicily Island projects

  5 Nov 2009 | 12:10 pm

  Officials with the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality will be in Clayton, Sicily Island, Urania and West Monroe on Friday for loan closings and principal forgiveness on sewer projects.

• 
  Enviromental Science & Technology

• Incorporating nitrogen cycle leads to predictions of more atmospheric CO2

  4 Nov 2009 | 8:00 am

  Change in climate modeling shrinks projected levels of carbon fixation by plants.

• Brominated and mixed halogenated dioxins in the Baltic-and beyond

  4 Nov 2009 | 8:00 am

  New research points to a natural origin for the Baltic Sea's dioxins, but pollution may play a role.

• Abandoned Soviet farmlands could help offset global warming

  28 Oct 2009 | 9:00 am

  Russia and Kazakhstan could become leaders in green energy production and perhaps even sell green energy to Europe.

• Gardea-Torresdey receives Distinguished Scientist Award from SACNAS

  28 Oct 2009 | 9:00 am

  The honor recognizes his research and his work to promote careers in science among Hispanics and Native Americans.

• Contaminants reveal tuna's origins

  21 Oct 2009 | 9:00 am

  Researchers use PCBs and pesticides to pin down the provenance of bluefin tuna in the Atlantic Ocean.

• 
  Greentech Media

• HP’s Data Center Smart Grid: Two Trends in One Name

  info@greentechmedia.com

  6 Nov 2009 | 2:57 pm

  Hewlett Packard has connected the dots between the trendy term "smart grid" and its work to make data centers more efficient. Witness the HP Data Center Smart Grid line of products and services. Essentially, HP has integrated power and temperature sensors with displays and controls to help data center operators track and manage those variables. It's all part of the race to integrate all the disparate data center efficiency systems, from more efficient cooling systems and less power-hungry servers to new sensor and control networks. The competition includes giants like HP, IBM, BMC and CA as…

• Applied Buys Advent Solar

  info@greentechmedia.com

  6 Nov 2009 | 2:38 pm

  Applied Materials has purchased most of the assets of Advent Solar in cash to boost its offering of factory equipment for making crystalline silicon cells and panels. Albuquerque, N.M.-based Advent has developed a process that makes use of thinner silicon wafers to make cells with electrical lines on the back of the cell. Many manufacturers make cells with the contact lines – which transport electricity produced – on the front of the cells. Putting the lines on the back would leave more room on the front to trap light, and that should boost electricity production. Founded in 2002,…

• Landis+Gyr Raises $100M

  info@greentechmedia.com

  6 Nov 2009 | 1:21 pm

  The big European smart meter maker has raised $100 million to fuel growth, particularly in the United States.

• EPA Wants Real-World Environmental Data From the Smart Grid

  info@greentechmedia.com

  6 Nov 2009 | 12:00 pm

  The Environmental Protection Agency is eager to see some utility data on the positive environmental impacts of smart grid deployments around the country. Just what it wants to do with the data is still up in the air. That's the gist of comments EPA representative Stacy Angel made in a Thursday conference call hosted by the Electric Power Research Institute. "What I would like is to see results from the deployments of where environmental benefits have been achieved," Angel said. Perhaps the utility industry could create a clearinghouse for such data, she suggested. Estimates of the smart…

• GE to Close U.S. Solar Panel Factory

  info@greentechmedia.com

  6 Nov 2009 | 11:42 am

  General Electric plans to close its only U.S. solar panel factory because production costs have exceeded sale prices. The Fairfield, Conn.-based company told the Dow Jones Clean Technology Insight that silicon panel manufacturing at its facility in Delaware, will stop in January. GE will shutter the factory all together by June. The factory can produce 34 megawatts of solar panels per year and employs 82 people. GE plans to layoff the workers with severance packages. The move reflects the tough times experienced by solar energy equipment makers worldwide as supply far exceeded demand over the…

• 
  Practical Environmentalist

• The Brammo Enertia Electric Motorcycle

  Steve Watkins

  4 Nov 2009 | 1:03 pm

  “The Menace is loose again, the Hell’s Angels, the hundred-carat headline, running fast and loud on the early morning freeway, low in the saddle, nobody smiles, jamming crazy through traffic and ninety miles an hour down the center stripe, missing by inches. . . like Genghis Khan on an iron horse, no quarter asked and none given; show the squares some class, give em a whiff of those kicks they’ll never know. . . Ah, these righteous dudes, they love to screw it on. . . tense for the action, long hair in the wind, beards and ban­danas flapping, earrings, and stripped-down Harleys…

• Was Cash for Clunkers a success?

  george

  30 Oct 2009 | 4:00 am

  Photo courtesy of natashalcd at Flickr.com The jury is still out on the Cash for Clunkers program. The last paperwork was filed on Monday, August 24, 2009, but crushed cars still waiting to be recycled. The final numbers are in – so how did the program score? All told, C4C took 690,114 clunkers off of the road: 84 percent of consumers traded in trucks and 59 percent purchased passenger cars. The average fuel economy of the vehicles traded in was 15.8 miles per gallon and the average fuel economy of vehicles purchased is 24.9 mpg. – a 58 percent improvement. That sounds wonderful, but…

• 10 Cool iPhone Apps for Environmentalists

  Steve Watkins

  22 Oct 2009 | 9:27 am

  Just about everyone I know has one of these iPhone things.  I played around my nephews the other day and was amazed at all the colorful, useless apps that he had on the thing.  I think there were a dozen “flashlight” apps alone. But the iPhone really does have some legitimate apps out there for those of us that are a bit green conscious.  These represent to me the most practical of the bunch.  Ones that you wont just play with a few times and put aside, but apps that you might find yourself using day after day in your quest to live a more green life. 1) The Green Meter An…

• World Habitat Day – 10/5/2009

  george

  2 Oct 2009 | 5:55 am

  Photo courtesy of oxfam international at Flickr.com Poverty has drastic effects on the natural world. People living without access to treated water, sustainable fuel supplies, or adequate food can have a huge impact on their surroundings. Slums and destructive farming techniques can do as much damage as SUVs and chemical spills. To highlight this issue, the UN has an annual event that focuses attention on living conditions. World Habitat Day falls on the first Monday in October. The theme of this year’s celebration is Planning our Urban Future. Photo courtesy of andreasnilsson1976 at…

• 2010 diesel cars in the USA: here’s the lineup

  Steve Watkins

  17 Sep 2009 | 4:59 am

  There really hasn’t been any significant increase in the number of diesel cars available on the US market since our 2009 diesel car post from last year.  While common in Europe, stricter emissions requirements in some states and the recent temporary bout of high priced diesel fuel here has most car manufacturers hesitant to invest the money for what has only shown to be a small segment of the market so far in the United States. Here is this year’s list of which 2010 diesel cars that automobile manufacturers will be offering: ACURA: Acura does not offer a diesel model. AUDI: AUDI…

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  LILL's LIST

• Flu Fighting Food: Mushrooms

  Lill

  25 Oct 2009 | 6:54 am

  Image by randomduck via Flickr Do you like mushrooms? This is a good thing from what I’ve been reading lately. Mushrooms are just full of beta-glucans. What’s that when it’s at home? Well, it’s a soluble polysaccharide, if you must know, and they’re some of the best immune-system boosters you can find. They support your immune system [...] No related posts.

• Detox Tips for Xenoestrogen Overload

  Lill

  17 Oct 2009 | 5:18 am

  Xenoestrogens are so pervasive in our world, that no one can avoid them. So, how can you detoxify your body and eliminate them as much as possible? Luckily, there are many natural xenoextstrogen detoxifiers to add to our diet or supplements. Related posts:Xeno(estrogen) Phobia

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  No Impact Man

• How Obama could permanently strengthen our well being

  Colin Beavan aka No Impact Man

  6 Nov 2009 | 12:00 am

  Thanks to @denadu8pbb for tweeting this old post of mine. When I reread it I thought it bears reposting. One thing about a single-payer health care system. People say that it will cause an unhealthy relationship between people and the government. But my question is this: Doesn't the fact that we currently depend on major international corporations for our health care mean that we already have an unhealthy relationship with the corporations, one that requires us to continue to consume if we want the providers of our health care to survive? Isn't there something backwards about this?

• Lose weight with the trash-free food diet

  Colin Beavan aka No Impact Man

  5 Nov 2009 | 12:00 am

  I was just at a trash summit put together by the Alice Ferguson Foundation. The Foundation teaches kids about the outdoors and environmental stewardship, but the problem was that they were getting all this trash washed up on their property on the banks of the Potomac River. So they started the Trash Free Potomac Watershed with the goal of making it trash free by 2013.Anyway, at their trash summit, someone was talking about the big problem of finding bags full of cups and what not from the big chain restaurants that people just turfed out of their cars after chowing down a fast food meal from…

• How to go No Impact

  Colin Beavan aka No Impact Man

  29 Oct 2009 | 7:31 pm

  You may have heard that over 4,700 people went No Impact via the NoImpactProject.org's No Impact Week, hosted last week on the Huffington Post. Missed it? No worries. The NRDC's website Simple Steps is getting ready to host our week one more time, starting November 15, as period of non-consumptive mindfulness in the run up to the holidays. You can register here. Meanwhile, if you're looking for a little motivation, read what a few folks said about the No Impact Week at Huff. Or you can watch the video by one No Impact Week participant below:

• The world acts as one

  Colin Beavan aka No Impact Man

  29 Oct 2009 | 12:00 am

  Last Saturday, citizens from 181 countries gathered in 5245 separate actions to demonstrate for a global agreement that called for no more than 350 ppm of atmospheric carbon dioxide.When have so many people from so many countries ever agreed on anything?

• Eco-conflict in an eco-marraige

  Colin Beavan aka No Impact Man

  28 Oct 2009 | 12:00 am

  From my favorite press piece on No Impact Man, an article by AP report Samantha Gross:Toward the end of the experiment, Conlin would talk about how much she wanted a dishwasher again. But when they flipped the power switch, the machine stayed dead. There was no way to fix it, and an attempt to buy a used model flopped. So Conlin did her research and found a new one that seemed the most responsible purchase.But when they got to Home Depot and saw it, she couldn’t stop thinking: All those shiny new parts. The huge box it would come in. All that packaging.“I just couldn’t pull the…

• 
  Orion Magazine Articles

• Vanilla Sound

  by Ginger Strand

  5 Nov 2009 | 4:28 pm

  Richard Keil stands ankle-deep in the tidal flats below Seattle’s Magnolia Bluff, tugging some test strips from his backpack. The bluff rises gently behind him, and the rippled sand is slowly disappearing beneath the rising tide. Before him, Puget Sound sparkles in the July sun. “The thing we find the most of in Puget Sound is artificial vanilla,” he says, scooping water into a cube-shaped collapsible bottle. Keil is an associate professor in the Keil Lab of Aquatic Organic Geochemistry at the University of Washington’s School of Oceanography. What he’s…

• Putting Things Back Together

  by Rick Bass

  5 Nov 2009 | 4:19 am

  I WASN’T A YOUNG writer when I first came to Wallace Stegner—I wasn’t even a writer of any kind—nor was I yet an environmentalist. I was just a reader, a Texan escaped to northern Utah, where I was studying wildlife management. I was fortunate enough to have an elective class in essay writing from the great literary scholar and writing instructor Tom Lyon, who expressed not so much amazement as incredulous delight when I told him I hadn’t ever heard of Stegner. It seems unthinkable now. Knowing that I was also studying geology, Tom pointed me immediately to Angle…

• Playing for Keeps

  by Derrick Jensen

  5 Nov 2009 | 4:05 am

  PEOPLE WHO READ MY WORK often say, “Okay, so it’s clear you don’t like this culture, but what do you want to replace it?” The answer is that I don’t want any one culture to replace this culture. I want ten thousand cultures to replace this culture, each one arising organically from its own place. That’s how humans inhabited the planet (or, more precisely, their landbases, since each group inhabited a place, and not the whole world, which is precisely the point), before this culture set about reducing all cultures to one. I live on Tolowa (Indian) land.

• Mind in the Forest

  by Scott Russell Sanders

  22 Oct 2009 | 5:32 am

  THE SETTING OF THIS ESSAY by Scott Russell Sanders is the H. J. Andrews Experimental Forest, a 15,800-acre research area in the Cascade Mountains of Oregon. Research conducted at the Andrews Forest has taught us much of what we know about old-growth in the Pacific Northwest; more than one hundred experiments are currently under way there, focusing on the role of forests in protecting water quality, controlling stream flow and sedimentation, cycling and storing carbon, and providing habitat for wildlife. In 2003 the Spring Creek Project at Oregon State University, in collaboration with the…

• One Block

  Photographs and text by Dave Anderson

  22 Oct 2009 | 5:26 am

                 We hope you enjoy this audio slide show. HURRICANE KATRINA caused a seismic shift in every aspect of New Orleans and the Gulf region. I wondered whether rebuilding could ever fix what had been broken. Would the neighborhoods recover? Would the city ever get its mojo back? Would that thing, whatever it was, that was so uniquely New Orleans return, dissipate, or transform into something completely different? And what about the thousands of small communities that existed within the city—would they…

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  MindBodygreen

• Green Style: A Woodsy Tablescape

  coop

  6 Nov 2009 | 10:12 am

  We really loved the post Beth wrote over on AT:LA today, and wanted to show it to you all. In honor of Entertaining month on Re-Nest, here's a little inspiration: take cuttings from plants, pine cones and other woodsy finds to make a beautiful tablescape.

• American Chopper's Paul Teutul Introduces the Electric Chopper on Conan

  masterchief

  5 Nov 2009 | 6:46 am

  You've seen an electric car before, but you have to see this thing. This motorcycle can go 60 miles on a charge and has a top speed of 110. And it looks awesome, too.

• Alicia Silverstone Cancels Remaining 'Kind Diet' Tour Stops

  reggoldman

  4 Nov 2009 | 5:25 am

  For those fans of Alicia Silverstone in St. Louis, Detroit, or Atlanta that were hoping to get a signed copy of her new book, 'The Kind Diet', prepare to be disappointed. The actress and vegan activist has reportedly canceled her remaining tour stops. No reason for the tour being cut short was given

• New Design for Miami Art Museum Unveiled

  kg6

  4 Nov 2009 | 5:24 am

  Herzog & de Meuron unveiled their design for the new Miami Art Museum (MAM). It's stunning and will be aiming for LEED Silver certification. Check out all the great photos at Inhabitat.

• 19 Frightfully Fun Homemade Halloween Costumes Made from Recycled Materials

  0footprint

  31 Oct 2009 | 6:11 am

  These creative Halloween costumes were all made from reused materials..

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  Pumps

• A New Take On Finding Petroleum

  Pump Girl

  6 Nov 2009 | 2:06 pm

  Nice article by Rachel Cernansky on ‘Planet Green’ about 10 places to find petroleum, and why it’s going to take more than driving hybrids to conserve on gas. #1. Chewing gum - uses petroleum-based polymers (we never knew this one). #2. Hair dye - you don’t want to know. #3. Asphalt #4. Crayons - uses paraffin. Also see candles. #5. Ink #6. Pantyhose Also see any other nylon product. 7, 8, 9, 10…Ok, there’s going to be more than 10 items on this list Heart Valves. Pillows. Aspirin. Ammonia. Toothpaste. Toothbrushes. Guitar strings. Shoe polish. Tape.

• You’ve Heard It Before

  Pump Girl

  5 Nov 2009 | 3:53 pm

  Gas prices hit a new 2009 high last week. An average of $2.58/gal. Most conclude the weak $$ is to blame. Last we read, inventories were robust, but now the EIA says that oil & gas supplies have dropped. Even OPEC says that $80/barrel oil is a little too high given the fragile economy. It blames the oil speculators. OPEC isn’t “telling you that oil is a good buy at these prices,” analyst Stephen Schork said. “The only people who are telling you that oil is worth $85 (a barrel) is Wall Street.”

• Chrysler Is Baaackk

  Pump Girl

  4 Nov 2009 | 3:01 pm

  Chrysler is back. With partner Fiat, it will be launching 21 vehicles between 2010 and 2014. It’s got three new vehicles coming out in 2012 - a compact, sub-compact hatchback, and a sedan. And maybe a mid-size truck in 2011. Ralph Gilles, head of the Dodge brand, said risk taking will be in evidence in its new crop of cars and trucks. “Every car that we have will have a soul,” he said. With regard to quality concerns, the company is taking customer concerns to heart and doing a complete overhaul. The company aims to double sales by 2014 Oh, and take a look at the new logo.

• Obama vs. Big Oil

  Pump Girl

  3 Nov 2009 | 3:10 pm

  Will Obama engage in the oil price battle? Adam Lass says yes! if the price gets high enough. $80 bad but not tragic. $120 may cause concern. He has a theory about stock prices and the price of oil. Look at his graph. He thinks Obama will try to intervene if things get “out of control”. Not so sure here

• Oil Up Over $81 Yikes!!

  Pump Girl

  21 Oct 2009 | 1:30 pm

  Oil rose over $81/barrel - highest for the year. US supplies declined more than forecast. Dollar dropped. analyst forecasts, in the week ended Oct. 16, according to the report. “As long as there’s pressure on the U.S. dollar, there will be upward movement in oil,” said Rachel Ziemba, an analyst at RGE Monitor, an economic research company in New York. “We could see even greater climbs higher, which will put us even further out of whack from the fundamentals.” Stocks, ExxonMobil and Chevron, are up big time. Is oil the new hedging tool?

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  Ways To Protect Our Environment

• Video Promo – Jeff Corwin’s 100 Heartbeats on MSNBC 11/22/09

  ProtectingOurEnvironment.com

  5 Nov 2009 | 5:43 pm

  Additional info from the creators of this video: The mission of “100 Heartbeats” is to investigate the plight of our planet’s most endangered wildlife species along with the conservation heroes trying to save them. The new book and two-hour special of the same title, 100 Heartbeats, is reported by famed naturalist Jeff Corwin. He tells the story of the “Sixth Extinction” — an extinction caused by people and which can only be stopped by people. 100 Heartbeats is available now wherever books are sold. Watch ‘100 Heartbeats’ on November 22 on MSNBC

• SIRJJ Organics DermaTouch by restore Treatment Cream For Eczema, Rosacea & More – 1.0 oz – Gluten Free

  ProtectingOurEnvironment.com

  5 Nov 2009 | 5:11 pm

  Concentrated Skin Nutrition For Psoriasis, Eczema, Dermatitis, and Burns Active Ingredients: Tamanu Oil, Neem Seed Oil, Karanja Oil, Pumpkin Seed Oil, Active Ingredients: Raw Unrefined Shea Butter, Raw Unrefined Kokum Butter, Raw Mango Butter, & Raw Green Tea Powder Extreme Blend of Raw Powders and Medically Potent Oil. High Percentage of Anti-Bacterial and Deep Conditioning Elements. No Fillers No Thickeners No Chemicals No Parabens No Carcinogens SIRJJ Organics DermaTouch by restore Treatment Cream For Eczema, Rosacea & More – 1.0 oz – Gluten Free

• Aubrey Organics – Men’s Stock Deodorant Herbal Pine, 4 fl oz spray

  ProtectingOurEnvironment.com

  5 Nov 2009 | 12:12 pm

  Herbal antioxidant formula, hardworking enough for the most active men Formulated with vitamin E, calendula and arnica oils, plus zinc-rich calamine Keeps you fresh and odor-free all day Product DescriptionAubreys herbal antioxidant formula, hardworking enough for the most active men. Aubrey Organics Natural Dry Herbal Pine Deodorant Spray was formulated with vitamin E, calendula and arnica oils, plus zinc-rich calamine. Aubrey Organics – Men’s Stock Deodorant Herbal Pine, 4 fl oz spray

• San Macario Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Lucca, 2008

  ProtectingOurEnvironment.com

  5 Nov 2009 | 11:07 am

  Certified Organic olive oil from Tuscany Rich and buttery from Lucca Rich, full-bodied, and Sweet Classic heart healthy Tuscan 500 ml. Product DescriptionTrenette is a narrow, flat, pasta common in the north, in Genoa and Liguria. Pesto perfect! San Macario Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Lucca, 2008

• Aubrey Organics – Men’s Stock Deodorant Herbal Pine, 4 fl oz spray

  ProtectingOurEnvironment.com

  5 Nov 2009 | 7:11 am

  Herbal antioxidant formula, hardworking enough for the most active men Formulated with vitamin E, calendula and arnica oils, plus zinc-rich calamine Keeps you fresh and odor-free all day Product DescriptionAubreys herbal antioxidant formula, hardworking enough for the most active men. Aubrey Organics Natural Dry Herbal Pine Deodorant Spray was formulated with vitamin E, calendula and arnica oils, plus zinc-rich calamine. Aubrey Organics – Men’s Stock Deodorant Herbal Pine, 4 fl oz spray

• 
  The New Republic - The Vine Feed

• Cap-And-Trade Politics: Carbon (Like Place) Matters!

  Mark Muro, Jonathan Rothwell

  6 Nov 2009 | 1:25 pm

  Yesterday, the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee voted to report out climate legislation, with ten Democrats voting yes, one Democrat (Montana’s Sen. Baucus) voting no, and all of the Republicans boycotting. If you look at the vote tally (using Project Vulcan data), you find that the states of senators voting "no" emitted 29.4 tonnes of carbon per capita, and the states of "yes" voters emitted 13.3 tonnes per capita, compared with a national average of 20.9 tonnes per capita. What do you think? Does this mean that the likely impact of…

• Baucus Bullish On The Climate Bill

  Bradford Plumer

  6 Nov 2009 | 8:28 am

  Strong words from Montana's Max Baucus on the prospects of climate legislation passing within a year: Baucus insisted that the bill would cross the finish line, which would require both Senate passage and a successful conference with the House. "There’s no doubt that this Congress is going to pass climate change legislation," he said. "I don’t know if it’s going to be this year. Probably next year." That's fairly newsworthy, especially since, in recent weeks, various centrist Democrats have been talking about laying the issue aside for now. West…

• Climate Bill Makes It Out Of Committee--Er, Sort Of

  Bradford Plumer

  5 Nov 2009 | 7:48 am

  Well, that was anti-climactic. The Environment and Public Works Committee just voted 11-1 to approve a cap-and-trade bill and report it out to the Senate floor. Since Republicans were still boycotting the mark-up, creating a stalemate, EPW Democrats just decided to get around them by skipping the usual amendment process—instead, they'll offer their changes later, on the floor. Max Baucus was the only senator who voted "no," saying that he wants the climate bill to proceed, but thinks EPW should mark the bill up in committee. (Presumably, his