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Sneak Peek: Leanne Marshall for Bluefly.com

2 Jul 2009 | 6:21 pm

Photo credit: Bluefly Leanne Marshall, Project Runway's Season 5 winner, presented a sneak peek of her long-anticipated sustainable collection for Bluefly.com on Tuesday. Available exclusively at the online retailer starting July 8, the nine-piece collection comprises a tank and a tunic in two colorways, a skirt, jacket, and three different takes on the dress, including a smoldering off-the-shoulder fuchsia number and an ultramarine duchess-silk-and-organza confection. ...
Ten Ways to Avoid Carbon from Barbecues This 4th of July

2 Jul 2009 | 5:43 pm

Hmmm, the smoky flavor of carcinogens give PAHs for thought. Photo via Flickr by brandi666 Stand out of the line of fire of smoky fumes. Sure, that's the first defense. But what about the dangers of grilled dogs, ribs, and salmon? I've long heard tales of how a charcoal grilled burger is the equivalent of a carton of cigarettes. So when flipping through Cure magazine at my acupuncturist’s office, I discovered an article from Lena Huang about “Good Grilling” with easy steps t...
Pathway To Corporate Sustainability: A Profile Of SAP, Global Business Software Provider

2 Jul 2009 | 5:25 pm

Outer-hallway meeting room, with privacy glass, allowing natural light penetration. SAP, USA, newly constructed LEED "Platinum" headquarters building. I recently had a chance to speak with representatives of the global business software company SAP, as well get a tour of the firm's nearly completed LEED Platinum US Headquarters building in Newtown Square Pennsylvania. The result, written as a composite interview, is a profile of SAP's global sustainability strategy, punctuated with a photographic tour of the new building. There was a discussion of sustainability strategy wit...
Holy Crap! Toilet-Paper Wedding Dress Displays Unparalleled Dedication

2 Jul 2009 | 3:55 pm

Photo credit: Cheap Chic Weddings Major, major kudos to Ann Kagawa Lee of Honolulu, Hawaii, winner of Cheap Chic Wedding's annual toilet-paper wedding dress contest, who made this mind-boggling matrimonial ensemble out of bathroom tissue—a textile fit for a recession!—tape, glue, and a breathtaking amount of commitment. Lee's stunningly detailed creation, which has drawn comparisons to an Oscar de la Renta couture gown, according to the Web site, was inspired by a potent combo of Gone W...
Washington D.C. Event: Fashion Fights Poverty Hosts Fashion Swap on July 18

2 Jul 2009 | 2:36 pm

Photo credit: Fashion Fights Poverty Mark your calendars: One of the largest fashion fundraisers in our nation's capital, Fashion Fights Poverty, will be hosting Washington, D.C.'s first fashion swap on July 18. Bring in your gently used togs to be consigned, traded for "new to you" pieces, or donated to D.C.'s Covenant House, an organization that offers shelter, protection, food, clothing, counseling, and job training to disadvantaged youth. Details below....

the daily green
Today's Arctic Circle Comic Strip

2 Jul 2009 | 10:01 am

See comics from the last 30 days!
Study Documents the Many Environmental and Health Effects of Plastics

2 Jul 2009 | 8:11 am

Plastics are everywhere -- literally -- from the most remote oceans to the tissues inside our bodies. A new landmark study documents the pervasive impact of the most common consumer material.
Arctic Sea Ice at Lowest Point in 800 Years

2 Jul 2009 | 6:59 am

With the summer melt trending toward another record-low, a new study shows how global warming has produced unprecedented conditions in the Arctic.
Win a Reusable Healthy Lunch Kit!

2 Jul 2009 | 4:58 am

Get 6 chances to win the latest gear from New Wave.
4 Simple Tips for Decluttering Your Home

2 Jul 2009 | 1:43 am

These simple steps will not only clear space around the house, but cut waste and reduce your environmental impact.

WorldChanging
Self-Portrait Machine

Regine Debatty

2 Jul 2009 | 5:27 pm

Regine Debatty: More nuggets from the RCA show. This time from Design Products' edgy and inspiring Platform 13, headed by the very talented Onkar Kular and Sebastien...
British Gas To Create 2,600 Green Jobs

WorldChanging Team

2 Jul 2009 | 4:51 pm

WorldChanging Team: By Terry Macalister Recruits will be needed to help introduce 'smart meters' to help people see exactly how much energy they are using in...
250,000 Jobs And £70bn Revenue - The Forecast For A Thriving UK Renewables Sector

WorldChanging Team

2 Jul 2009 | 4:34 pm

WorldChanging Team: By Alok Jha Study from the Carbon Trust warns that potential of renewables sector will only be realised if government invests in research and...
Hydrogen City Car Hits 300mpg and 30g/km CO2

Green Futures

2 Jul 2009 | 3:10 pm

Green Futures: by April Streeter Open source’, locally manufactured fuel cell car designed for sharing. With politicians and carmakers waxing lyrical about electric vehicles, the squat hydrogen fuel...
Obama Drives Up Fuel Efficiency on Cars

Green Futures

2 Jul 2009 | 3:01 pm

Green Futures: by Polly Ghazi Robust new mileage standards for US auto industry Flanked by two unlikely allies – California’s Republican Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and General Motors...

GardeningNude
Get Yo Green On Tuesday Use a Rain Barrel to Save Money and Water Plus Help Our Stormwater Systems!

Shawna Coronado

30 Jun 2009 | 12:38 pm

One of the most fantastic ways to practice conservation, save money, AND water is to use a rain barrel! Clean Air Gardening sells some of the best and easiest to install. Above you see an instructional video showing the basics for one of the rain barrels I have from Clean Air Gardening (and how it works with a rain diverter). During the summer months, residential water use increases approximately 40% – most of it centered around outdoor water use. A rain barrel collects and stores rainwater from rooftops, preventing less strain on our stormwater systems. This water is non-potable, which…
Taste of Chicago - Why Are People Pigs? Stop Being Inconsiderate and Make a Difference For Your Community!

Shawna Coronado

29 Jun 2009 | 3:11 am

Above you see a photo of my oldest daughter at the Taste of Chicago ‘09. An event which draws millions of attendees and presents Chicago with an opportunity for a lot of positive financial revenue – a desperately needed commodity right now in our difficult economy. Note the look on my girls’ face. It is not happy. Behind her is row after row of trash and recyclables lined up in some twisted scene – an art display gone desperately wrong. After researching the Taste of Chicago’s newest and most exciting announcements, I have learned that more than 450 tons of garbage is expected to be…
Why Butter Bell Bowls Are A Cool Idea Try It - Plus a green BOOK GIVEAWAY!

Shawna Coronado

26 Jun 2009 | 6:03 am

Allergies are torture for me. I am allergic to everything from dogs to dust to trees to soy beans. No kidding. If allowed, my allergies will keep me in a perpetual state of stuffiness, sinus infections, and bronchitis. Learning to control my mold and soy allergies have been particularly difficult. No bread, no wine, no cheese, no beer, no mushrooms, no chinese food. Sometimes I have no choice but to eat an allergen food as there is nothing else available. Mostly, I sacrifice. Because of the lack of spreadability issue, I have rarely used real butter – I always use margarine. Recently I…
Make At Home Iced Latte Coffee Treat Cheap and Green

Shawna Coronado

25 Jun 2009 | 7:22 pm

Ninety degrees in the shade, with a heat index of 105 and your family is melting hot! Everyone hops in the car, turns the air-conditioning on high, then you drive three miles over to the local coffee shop where you spend over $20 of your hard earned money on iced latte’s for a family of four. Say what? Hold on people, let’s not get hasty – it seems to me you could save those carbon emissions and gallons of gas for something more important, right? While a homemade iced latte still takes energy to make, it is a whole lot greener and a whole lot cheaper than driving several miles to your…
Get Yo Healthy On Exercising in a Nature Bootcamp I Survived Weeks 4, 5, 6

Shawna Coronado

23 Jun 2009 | 6:12 am

Jeremy Glasgow of Underground Core Fitness [seen above in the yellow shirt] is leading a group of dedicated exercisers (including me) into health via his all-outdoor-in-nature boot camp. Neither rain, nor sleet, nor gloom of night will keep we boot campers from our appointed rounds – above you see our group exercising on an outdoor basketball court in Warrenville, Illinois. In the photo it is so foggy out my shot reflects tiny water droplets hanging in the air. Three times a week at 5:30 AM - rain, sleet, snow, or fog - we meet at an outdoor park to exercise together. We do this for four…

Switchboard, from NRDC
Appalachia's Own 'Resource Curse'?

Rob Perks

1 Jul 2009 | 12:00 pm

Pollution and poverty caused by the development of oil reserves have deprived tens of million of Nigerians their basic human rights, according to Amnesty International, which calls oil a "resource curse" for the region. "People living in the Niger Delta have to drink, cook with, and wash in polluted water; they eat fish contaminated with oil and other toxins -- if they are lucky enough to still be able to find fish," Amnesty says in its new report. Replace "oil development in Nigeria" with "mountaintop removal in Appalachia" and it's easy to see the…
Streets for seniors: a video look at issues and remedies

Kaid Benfield

1 Jul 2009 | 10:04 am

Streetfilms has released a great short video about how our streets and traffic patterns pose particular challenges to senior citizens on foot. With the assistance of New York City's Transportation Alternatives, that city's impressive DOT has begun an earnest look at ways to address the problems. You don't have to be a street design geek like me to appreciate these issues, explained by ordinary citizens as well as by the conscientious public servants who are trying to respond: On a related note, Streetfilms also has interesting short videos that show how London and…
The American Clean Energy Security Act (ACES) Creates More American Jobs and Saves Americans Money

Pete Altman

1 Jul 2009 | 8:18 am

By passing the American Clean Energy and Security Act (ACES), or H.R. 2454, the U.S. House of Representatives set the U.S. on a course to create millions of new clean energy jobs and save consumers money on their electric and transportation bills. I blogged previously on our findings regarding jobs, electricity bills and transportation bills. As the white paper that pulls it all together explains: Combined with the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act (ARRA), ACES will help spur $150 billion in clean energy investments, which will create 1.7 million good-paying jobs throughout the United…
Environmentalism and Religion

Andrew Wetzler

30 Jun 2009 | 12:00 pm

Jonathan Zasloff, an environmental law professor at UCLA, has an interesting post up at Legal Planet about the role of environmentalism and religion, a topic I’ve touched on here at Switchboard before. Zasloff is taking a course on Jewish theology and environmental consciousness. He writes: But I’m taking the class because at this stage, I am somewhat skeptical of the general notion that religion can add much to environmental policy debates. First, it seems to me that many of the crucial issues of modern environmentalism are not amenable to broad-based moral…
The Climate Vote: What a Difference a Year Makes

Frances Beinecke

30 Jun 2009 | 10:46 am

As I savor last Friday's historic House vote to pass clean energy and climate legislation, I can't help but think about last June, when leaders in the Senate tried to pass a groundbreaking climate bill. What has changed since then? Almost everything. The single most influential difference is the arrival of President Obama. Last June, the Bush White House had no interest in confronting global warming. Obama came into office with energy and climate in his top tier of priorities. He explicitly backed the bill, and deployed his cabinet and White House staff to the Hill on its behalf. And…

the green skeptic
Obama's Energy Bill passed in the House Friday, but still has a long way to go

29 Jun 2009 | 8:33 pm

In Earth2Tech this morning, Josie Garthwaite has a good piece on Reactions to the Energy Bill: Obama, Cleantech Biz, Environmentalists:The energy bill passed the House on Friday, but the proposed cap and trade system and new incentives for renewable energy are still a long way from going into law as the Senate needs to pass its own version. As we transition to the next round of negotiations and lobbying, stakeholders from the White House to industry trade groups, environmental organizations and cleantech companies have been weighing in on the version that won approval in the House — and on…
Review: Design for a Living World at the Cooper-Hewitt

26 Jun 2009 | 4:00 am

Imagine sending 10 top designers out into the world to make something. Now imagine you give them just three criteria: it has to be wonderful, desirable, and...sustainable.That's exactly what the Nature Conservancy did to create what is now an exhibit at the Cooper-Hewitt museum in New York.The designers, ranging from Yves Behar and Isaac Mizrahi to Maya Lin and Paulina Reyes from Kate Spade in New York were sent out to Nature Conservancy project sites from Maine to Alaska and from China to Bolivia. Each designer used materials found in the place and even employed local people to help fashion…
e3bank: A new bank built for the green economy

23 Jun 2009 | 4:00 am

You might think now is a terrible time to start a bank. The banking industry has gone from tailspin to government-owned in the past 8 months. The collapse of one major financial institution after another -- either through mergers or failures -- has made the very profession seem like, well, something to avoid like swine flu. But for the founders and principals at a new start-up bank that received its charter this past March, now is the perfect time to start a bank. If, that is, you're starting a bank based on a different value system. Enter Sandy Wiggins and Frank Baldassarre. Of the two,…
Review: Early Spring: An Ecologist and Her Children Wake to a Warming World by Amy Seidl

18 Jun 2009 | 12:45 pm

It was late spring by the time I started reading Amy Seidl's book, Early Spring: An Ecologist and Her Children Wake to a Warming World, but it was hard to tell. April showers had given way to, well, May showers; and some of the warmest days of the year had produce intense clouds of pollen that were producing equally intense allergy symptoms in every one I met.Dramatic and even extreme changes in weather patterns are one of the expected changes of a warming world. Seidl offers several others, including some terrifying possibilities involving insects, disease vectors, and pathogens. Oh my.Seidl…
The Climate is a Changin': According to New Fed Study

16 Jun 2009 | 8:08 pm

[This post was built from a press release by NOAA. My apologies, I'm traveling and wanted to make you aware of this new report.-GS] Climate change is already having visible impacts in the United States, according to a new and authoritative federal study assessing the current and anticipated domestic impacts of climate change, and the choices we make now will determine the severity of its impacts in the future. The report, "Global Climate Change Impacts in the United States," compiles years of scientific research and takes into account new data not available during the preparation of previous…

msnbc.com: Environment
'Dire' report on Earth's biodiversity

1 Jul 2009 | 5:15 pm

Governments are failing to stem a rapid decline threatening almost half the world's coral reef species, a third of amphibians and a quarter of mammals, a conservation watchdog warns.
Should spitting worms be protected?

1 Jul 2009 | 8:32 am

Fans of the giant Palouse earthworm are once again seeking federal protection for the rare, sweet-smelling species that spits at predators.
Bush-era logging rule overturned

1 Jul 2009 | 8:12 am

A federal judge has struck down the Bush administration's change to a rule designed to protect the northern spotted owl from logging in national forests.
'Tuna summit' aims to save species

1 Jul 2009 | 9:07 am

The debate about how to save tuna species is playing out at a meeting in Spain this week.
Newsweek: 'Cash for clunkers' has limits

30 Jun 2009 | 1:47 pm

True, the new program offers to pay $3,500 or $4,500 for old, gas-guzzling cars and trucks, but while the government's plan may benefit some buyers, it's not for everyone. Embedded in the fine print are rules that will disqualify a large segment of drivers.

msnbc.com: Climate Change
Study: Tropical rain band shifting north

2 Jul 2009 | 9:39 am

Earth's most prominent rain band, near the equator, has been moving north at an average rate of almost a mile a year for three centuries, likely because of a warming world, scientists say.
Study: Dust alters timing of snowmelt

29 Jun 2009 | 2:28 pm

The timing of mountain snowmelt is being thrown off by desert dust stirred as global warming dries larger areas and human activity increases in those regions, a study found.
Obama plugs new lighting standards

29 Jun 2009 | 11:57 am

Aiming to keep the focus on climate change legislation, President Barack Obama put a plug in for administration efforts to make lamps and lighting equipment use less energy.
Energy legislation could bring deep change

27 Jun 2009 | 6:34 pm

Congress has taken its first step toward an energy revolution, with the prospect of profound change for every household, business, industry and farm in the decades ahead.
Climate friendly car windows? Calif. to require

26 Jun 2009 | 7:04 am

California air regulators voted unanimously Thursday for a mandate requiring auto manufacturers to include sun-reflecting glass on all vehicles sold within the state by 2014.

ecorazzi
Watch: Jessica Alba Talks Eco Chic With Vogue

Michael Andre d'Estries

2 Jul 2009 | 1:49 pm

Jessica Alba is back in the media — but thankfully, it has nothing to do with plastering shark posters around downtown Oklahoma City. The actress sat down with Vogue magazine and told them how she’s gone eco-chic in her life. From grass that never needs watering made from recycled tires to the composter in her backyard, Alba dishes on her new green ways — and how having a baby has changed her home for the better. Check it out below:
PETA Wants Rights To Jackson’s Song To Help Save Rodents

Michael Andre d'Estries

2 Jul 2009 | 12:08 pm

I had absolutely no idea that Michael Jackson’s 1972 hit song “Ben” was about a boy and his pet rat. PETA, however, is always on top of these things — and in light of current events — is seeking rights to the song to use in raising attention on the plight of rodents used in laboratory experiments. “Michael Jackson’s hit has always been a moving testament to the power of empathy for animals,” Tracy Reiman, executive vice president of PETA, said in a statement released on Tuesday. “If more people could be inspired by his song to stop…
Daryl Hannah: “There Is No Such Thing As Clean Coal!”

Michael Andre d'Estries

2 Jul 2009 | 9:43 am

A little more than a week after being arrested for civil disobedience during a mountaintop removal protest in West Virginia, Daryl Hannah is telling her side of the story in a new article for the Huffington Post. She writes: “Why would I fly across the country on my own dime knowing I would most likely end up in jail in one of the poorest parts of America? Well, have you ever heard of MTR? Don’t feel bad, my friends are intelligent, well-read and informed people, but most of them had never heard of MTR (Mountain Top Removal) either.” Hannah goes on to explain her position on…
Brad Pitt’s Make It Right Intros News Green Duplex Designs

Michael Andre d'Estries

2 Jul 2009 | 7:42 am

Make It Right, the green building foundation started by actor Brad Pitt, has released 14 new designs that will be among the 150 houses reconstructed in the Lower Ninth Ward of New Orleans in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Up to now, the homes on site have been single-family residences only — but Make It Right Director Tom Darden knew that residents were interested in duplex designs as well. “Before the storm, there were a number of duplexes and doubles in the neighborhood,” he said. “Families who want to come back to the Lower 9th have been asking us to build them…
Sarah McLachlan Speaks Out Against Seal Slaughter

Michael Andre d'Estries

2 Jul 2009 | 6:49 am

Sarah McLachlan appeared on Canadian television yesterday sporting a PETA anti-seal hunt shirt and expressing her anger over the practice. The 41-year-old singer was in Ottawa performing a concert in celebration of Canada Day when CTV News caught up with her for a quick interview. “The commercial sealing industry in Canada is perverse and sick,” she told the reporter.” They club these seals as early as 12 days old, and half the time they hook them and they drag them across the ice. … It’s archaic, and it’s horrible, and I want it to stop.” Check out the…

Earth911.com
Boston Kicks Off First Single-Stream Recycling Program

Amanda Wills

2 Jul 2009 | 9:58 am

Boston began its first single-stream recycling program on July 1. With the new system, residents will no longer have to separate paper, plastic and other recyclables. According to city officials, this is expected to save the city an estimated $1...
Sustainability a Focus of World’s Largest Plastic Event

Lori Brown

2 Jul 2009 | 12:03 am

At last week’s NPE2009 International Plastics Showcase in Chicago, Ill., plastic industry leaders from around the globe gathered to showcase products, ideas and innovations at the largest plastics showcase in the world. NPE2009, organized by...
‘Carnival of the Green’ Takes Over the Blogging World

Trey Granger

2 Jul 2009 | 12:01 am

This week’s online Carnival of the Green host is Conserve Plastic Bags, a blog designed to educate consumers about the consumption of plastic bags. As host, Conserve Plastic Bags gets to select the content of this week’s forum, chosen...
Grocer Eliminates Cardboard Cereal Boxes

Amanda Wills

1 Jul 2009 | 12:03 am

U.K.-based grocer Sainsbury recently announced that it will remove cardboard cereal boxes from its shelves, replacing them with plastic packets. The company has also started selling milk in polythene bags instead of rigid plastic milk...
Ford Capitalizes on ‘Cash for Clunkers’ Bill

Trey Granger

1 Jul 2009 | 12:02 am

Ford Motor Company is capitalizing on the recently passed “Cash For Clunkers” Automotive Stimulus Bill with a new Web site informing consumers about their current vehicle’s worth in government vouchers used toward the purchase of...

The Green Girls
Rain Tees: Eco-friendly, Affordable Luxury

2 Jul 2009 | 1:14 pm

We would like to thank Rain Tees for generously supporting our anniversary event! What is Rain Tees? “Rain Tees is the first and only eco friendly affordable luxury brand to save endangered rain forests through the voices of the children living in them.” -Beth Doane, Founder, Rain Tees Concept: Each Rain Tee began by donating school supplies to children living in endangered rain forests across Central and South America. The tees feature the children’s art and for every tee sold, youth living in these threatened ecosystems receive a tree to plant to replace one that has…
No Hay Dio En Plastico

2 Jul 2009 | 8:45 am

So as I was on my way back to Costa Rica after a vacation needed following the tour I just ended with The Crystal Method … this phrase came to me again “No hay Dios en plastico” meaning “there is no God in plastic”. There is nothing spiritual or godlike about the abusive and negligent way we use the world today. Considering that Costa Rica is home to the spiritual waters and catch phrase “Pura Vida” (the Pure Life) and probably home to many religious followers …I just want to remind everyone that there is no god in plastic (or poisons i.e.
Video: Reed's Inc At The Green Girls Anniversary Bash

1 Jul 2009 | 10:23 pm

What an amazing crowd & an exciting night! The Green Girls 1st Year Anniversary Party was a blast & we couldn't have asked for better company! Greenies of all fields showed up to join the party, sip POMtinis & down some Filip Vodka & Reed's brew. We had a chance to chat with Reed's Inc, one of the local sponsors for the event, and we are so grateful for their support! Andrew of Reed's Beverage tells us why Reed's is the leading natural beverage in the market right now. Stay tuned for more interviews at the bash! Embed / Share Video Jennifer &…
Be green while you celebrate the red, white and blue

1 Jul 2009 | 2:02 pm

Fourth of July is one of my favorite holidays. I love the warm weather, barbeques, block parties and fireworks. Here are some ideas for making this year’s celebration a bit more sustainable. Photo via justinrussel Recycle - If your neighborhood has a block party, volunteer to collect and recycle all the bottles and cans. Every year, my neighborhood has a huge Fourth of July celebration. A few years back, I was enjoying the party but then noticed that there were no recycling bins and all the cans and bottles were being thrown in the trash. As I tried not to hyperventilate at this…
Making Green Thinking a Part of Your Life

1 Jul 2009 | 12:17 pm

How do we make green thinking a real part of our daily lives? Is your household filled with green, organic, earth-friendly products? Do you consume healthy, natural, sustainably created food and drinks? Are you thinking green enough? How much green is too much green? Is being green too hard-core? or is it more mainstream than we think? We say we're green, but are we really and truly green? Is your business, company, industry, or product/service as green as it can be? Do you offer a "greener" alternative to a mainstream or commercially produced product?

The Alternative Consumer
artefact design & salvage - vineform tables

rd

2 Jul 2009 | 5:18 pm

Artefact Design & Salvage creates some nice furnishings from recycled, found and salvaged materials. The Vineform table and coffee table, (pictured above and below), are made from strangler vine bases with lightweight concrete tops. Designed by Dave Allen, these tables come in several variations. Pictures are from Allen’s, Flickr page. Located in Somona, CA.
Win a 1 year lease on a luxury Lexus Hybrid

rd

2 Jul 2009 | 8:38 am

Lexus is running a contest to promote the intro of its 2010 HS 250h luxury hybrid. There are 2 ways that you can win a one-year lease of this new hybrid. You can either register as a voter on the contest site and you’ll be entered in a random drawing to win a 1-year lease [...]
recycled graffiti spray can lamps

mr. happy

2 Jul 2009 | 7:48 am

It’s not often (like never) that you find this combo of art, home decor, street memorabilia and evidence of a crime. Empty spray paint cans originally used to create street art (graffiti) on, and around, the streets and walls of Los Angeles are now being transformed into useful and unique lamps by graffiti artist [...]
FeelGoodz Eco Flip Flops Giveaway Results

Maureen

2 Jul 2009 | 7:20 am

We just announced the 3 lucky winners of our feelGoodz Giveaway, and we’re psyched to tell you that FeelGoodz’ Creator and CEO, Kyle Berner, is so appreciative of everyone’s enthusiasm, he’s offering a whopping 25% off to anyone who entered the contest but didn’t win. Regularly priced at $19.99/pair, you’d pay only $15, (plus tax, [...]
a mixed bag of green news

rd

2 Jul 2009 | 6:35 am

Watch, some shut-in with binoculars will complain they can see it from the Breezy Point Jetty…NY Inches Closer to Offshore Wind Farm - reuters What did George have against the environment? Bush-Era Logging Rule Overturned - msnbc It’s about time…EPA Proposes New Emissions Standards for Large Ships - enn 20th Century tiger population has dropped from 100k to [...]

NYT: Environment
El Niño Variant Is Linked to Hurricanes in Atlantic

By CORNELIA DEAN

2 Jul 2009 | 4:36 pm

The discovery that a periodic warming pattern in the central Pacific Ocean is linked to more frequent hurricanes in the Atlantic may help improve forecasts.
Green Power Takes Root in the Chinese Desert

By KEITH BRADSHER

2 Jul 2009 | 1:56 pm

Using carrots and sticks, Beijing is steering an immense push toward wind and solar power, while the U.S. is just starting.
A House in the Woods, After the Woods Are Gone

By JIM ROBBINS

1 Jul 2009 | 11:18 pm

When my wife and I bought land in Montana, the stands of timber were so dense you couldn’t walk through parts of the property. Then the beetles came, killing the stately old trees.
City Proposes New Plan for Gowanus Canal Cleanup

By MIREYA NAVARRO

1 Jul 2009 | 9:53 pm

City officials have proposed an alternate plan for the cleanup of the Gowanus Canal, in hopes of avoiding a Superfund listing that might lead to litigation and other delays.
With Something for Everyone, Climate Bill Passed

By JOHN M. BRODER

1 Jul 2009 | 7:12 am

The energy bill that passed in the House was loaded with hundreds of special-interest favors, as environmentalists lamented that its aims had been diminished.

Environment News Network
Energy Efficiency: Can You Save Money Without Spending Money?

2 Jul 2009 | 8:40 am

In today’s economy, energy efficiency is a top priority for both public and private institutions. It promises to reduce energy expenditures, lower GHG emissions, and – of course! – to save a pile of money. So, does this mean that we can finally save money from energy efficiency – without having to spend more cash first?
US at Bottom of G8 Emissions Reduction/Climate Change Action Rankings

2 Jul 2009 | 8:27 am

The US ranks next to last among G8 member countries when it comes to cutting greenhouse gas emissions and paving the way toward a clean energy economy, according to a World Wildlife Fund SE-Allianz study released July 1.
Biological 'Fountain Of Youth' Found In New World Bat Caves

2 Jul 2009 | 8:19 am

Scientists from Texas are batty over a new discovery which could lead to the single most important medical breakthrough in human history—significantly longer lifespans.
Intertropical Convergence Zone of Heavy Preciptiation Moving North

2 Jul 2009 | 4:53 am

The rain band near the equator that determines the supply of freshwater to nearly a billion people throughout the tropics and subtropics has been creeping north for more than 300 years, probably because of a warmer world, according to research published in the July issue of Nature Geoscience. If the band continues to migrate at just less than a mile (1.4 kilometers) a year, which is the average for all the years it has been moving north, then some Pacific islands near the equator -- even those that currently enjoy abundant rainfall -- may be drier within decades and starved of freshwater by…
The Climate Change Debate: The History and The Forefathers

1 Jul 2009 | 11:50 am

To many of us it seems as though the climate change debate is only a recent phenomena, and indeed, we have been positively bombarded by the media coverage of global warming in the past decade. Surprisingly, though, climate change speculation and study have been taking place for quite some time. In his recently published article in Weatherwise, a non-profit weather magazine, professor of geological sciences and contributing editor Randy Cerveny points out that some unexpected characters were just as concerned with weather change as we are now. Any self- respecting history buff might guess that…

Current_Green
Talking Back: Doug Kendall answers your questions about the Supreme Court ruling against The Clean Water Act

Leah Lamb

30 Jun 2009 | 4:18 pm

It went down like this: last week Pjacobs51 posted an article that was written on Treehugger about the Supreme Court decision that will allow Coeur Alaska Inc to dump coal mining waste, essentially ruling that the Clean Water Act shouldn’t prevent mining companies from dumping their toxic waste into lakes, even with the knowledge that doing so will exterminate all life within. You responded with awe, questions, shock, dismay, and a LOT of what WTF????? Well, given the shocking ruling, we decided to get a bit more info on the matter, and took your questions to Doug Kendall, President…
New Video Series on Current Green: Freedom From Oil Tour

Leah Lamb

25 Jun 2009 | 3:44 pm

You may remember Joshua Kahn Russell from when he took us from Oakland, CA to Washington DC in ACT UP! A video journey chronicling his experience as an activist organizing the capitol climate action (the largest claimte change protest organized to date). Joshua is an organizer for the Rain Forest Action Network (RAN) and is working on the Freedom From Oil campaign. RAN states that, “The Freedom From Oil Campaign is breaking America’s oil addiction by working to halt the development of the Canadian Tar Sands, the dirtiest and most deadly attempt yet to profit from and prolong…
Why you should be mortified about the Waxman-Markey climate and energy bill

Leah Lamb

24 Jun 2009 | 1:46 pm

In the video above I outlined key elements of the bill is an extremely over simplified way, and discuss some of the complexities about the political climate. There are people out there that live and breathe these issues, so if you are on twitter, I highly recommend following @katesheppard and @david_h_roberts. Other people who are consistantly chatty about the topic include @michaeloko who does PR for the NRDC and @JesseJenkins an energy and climate policy analyst. If you want to hear NPR break down cap and trade, you can smirk as they tried to be funny in this fabulously simplified and…
Name that Green Show!! And co-create with Current Green

Leah Lamb

18 Jun 2009 | 4:39 pm

Ok folks. No reason to get up off your couch, just start sharing your ideas. now. Normally, (in the olden days) I’d keep all of these ideas a secret and never share them with you. But those aren’t the days we’re living in, and I’m excited by the idea of sharing what we’re thinking with you. So here’s the dealio: a little run down of potential segments that could land in a weekly show: -Whats worth talking about in environmental news (top voted stories in the news) -Green on a shoestring: cheap tricks (submitted by you) -Luminaries: rising stars in the eco…
UA MAU KEEA OKA AINA: The life of the land is perpetuated in righteousness. (Eco travel: Hawaii)

Leah Lamb

17 Jun 2009 | 5:51 pm

I have always wanted to go to Hawaii. When I was a child growing up in rural Vermont, my father visited and brought back my first pair of earings. They were a soft orange and pink stone, unlike anything I had ever seen. So my associations of Hawaii were of soft, gentle, exotic, Elvis, and…well surfers of course. But that was it. I came with the desire to explore Hawaii’s place in the sustainability movement, find out why everyone started every email with Aloha and ended it with Mahalo, and make a study of what it meant to explore and travel with an eco conscious. To be introduced to…

The Oil Drum - Discussions about Energy and Our Future
Risk Assessments: Playing the "What If?" Game

Robert Rapier

2 Jul 2009 | 7:15 am

I spend a lot of time playing "What if?" It is an important aspect of my line of work, but we all do this to some extent. I do it when I am driving - "What if that car at the next intersection pulls out in front of me?" - when I am working "What if that high pressure line ruptures?" - and at home - "What if I wake up and find the house is on fire?" I also spend a lot of time pondering the question "What if there are energy shortages in the near future?" When we do this, we are generally trying to understand the potential consequences of various responses to a given situation. This sort of…
DrumBeat: July 2, 2009

Leanan

2 Jul 2009 | 6:39 am

Hurricanes May Increase in Gulf as El Nino Shifts in Pacific (Bloomberg) -- A shift of warming patterns in the Pacific Ocean may mean more seasons of increased hurricane activity in the Atlantic and more storms entering the oil-rich Gulf of Mexico, according to a study in the journal Science. The warming of Pacific waters -- a phenomenon called El Nino -- has been moving toward the central Pacific, meaning more storms will form in the Gulf and Caribbean, researchers at Georgia Institute of Technology said in the study. Traditionally, when the eastern Pacific warms up, hurricane activity in…
Dopamine Returned on Energy Invested (DREI)?

Jason Bradford

1 Jul 2009 | 7:15 am

On a steamy Friday night my 10 year old son and I headed over to the rodeo grounds. It is only about a mile from our home and within the city limits, though on the eastern edge where the town merges into the valley landscape of pastures and tree-lined creeks and ditches. As we approached, it was obvious that a large crowd had gathered. A long line extended from the ticket booth and the stands looked nearly full. Friends had tipped me off about what was going on only 10 minutes earlier, while thousands of others had obviously been looking forward to this event. It was a truck and tractor pull.
Alcatraz: the TOD-ASPO gathering

Ugo Bardi

1 Jul 2009 | 7:03 am

Nate Hagens gives his presentation at the "Peak Summit" in Alcatraz. 114 slides in 45 minutes for what may be a true world record in information concentration. The joint TOD-ASPO summit in Alcatraz, Italy, is over. It was held on the 27-28 June 2009, with the participation of more than fifty people that came mainly from Europe, but also from the US and even from Australia. The participants exchanged views on such subjects as resource depletion, oil and gas, energy security, climate change, complexity, the collapse of the Roman Empire, economic trends, and how to catch monkeys (the last item…
DrumBeat: July 1, 2009

Leanan

1 Jul 2009 | 6:57 am

WTO admits some trade limits may be necessary to stop climate change GENEVA (AP) — The World Trade Organization acknowledged Friday that some limits on free trade may be necessary to stop runaway climate change — provided the restrictions aren't a cover for protectionism. "WTO case law has confirmed that WTO rules do not trump environmental requirements," the global commerce body said. Import taxes on goods coming from countries that fail to meet environmental standards might be among the measures exceptionally permitted under global free trade laws, WTO said. Oil market oversupplied,…

EcoSalon
School Uniforms: Sustainable Garb for the Under-17 Crowd

Perhaps the most compelling argument you can make to your teenage daughter about wearing a school uniform is that the pleated skirt looks totally amazing with Uggs. "Your legs look sooo long, honey!" Tell your son girls have always had a weakness for the classics. Google Gregory ...
Pot Your Plants in PAD’s Recycled Aluminum Pod

Say that six times fast, and then find your favorite pair of gardening gloves and let’s play with dirt. These pots are worthy of plenty of playtime. Whether you want to grow your green indoors or out, the metal spun recycled aluminum Pod by PAD is the perfect planter. It’s sturdy, ...
Do You Know These 9 Natural Tooth Care Tips?

A few years ago, a dentist told me I'd need dentures by the time I was 50 - that's how bad my teeth and gums were. Granted, they didn't look bad - my teeth are strong, straight and pearly white - but my gums were already declining. I was brushing ...
Going Green Means Living Blue

According to Blue Living Ideas, four out of every 10 people in the world are affected by water scarcity. As our world's population explodes, the problem will only get worse if action is not taken to stop wasting and start conserving the water we have. Sure, there are many large scale ...
Riding the Scenic West Highlands Railway

It is often said that "it's not the destination, but the journey that counts." I have never fully subscribed to this theory, at least when it comes to travel. In my experience, there are some destinations that involve a long and unrewarding journey but make up for it in the ...

digg.com: Stories / Environment / Popular
Commercial shipping is EPA's next target

2 Jul 2009 | 1:40 pm

A day after granting California the authority to regulate vehicle tailpipe emissions as part of its efforts to address climate change, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced plans to create tougher rules to reduce air pollution from U.S.-flagged large ships.
Idaho F&G plan to kill pelicans hits obstacles

2 Jul 2009 | 12:50 pm

The Idaho Fish and Game Commission in May approved a five-year plan to kill and haze American white pelicans in southeastern Idaho to protect sport fish and Yellowstone cutthroat trout populations. The plan calls for shooting some pelicans and applying oil to eggs to suffocate the embryos.
Japan fears massive jellyfish invasion

1 Jul 2009 | 8:30 pm

Japanese researchers monitoring the activity of giant jellyfish in Chinese waters are warning of a potentially historic and catastrophic invasion this year.Marine surveys conducted in late June have revealed alarming numbers of Nomura’s jellyfish — massive creatures that grow up to 6 ft 7 inches in diameter and weigh as much as 450 lbs.
Recycled Steel House Uses Solar & Wind Power

1 Jul 2009 | 6:50 pm

The house makes use of prefabricated, commercially available steel which makes it both low in cost and extremely modular. In fact, it makes the size and shape of the structure completely customizable - not to mention really tough!
BBC - Earth News - Ant mega-colony takes over world

1 Jul 2009 | 5:20 pm

Argentine ants living on three continents belong to the same colony, the largest of its kind ever known.

Yale Environment 360
Turkey Resumes Dam Project

Yale Environment 360

2 Jul 2009 | 10:38 am

The Turkish government will revive a $1.6 billion dam project on the Tigris River despite concerns that it will displace tens of thousands of people, damage wildlife habitat, and destroy historic archaeological sites. Preparations for the Ilisu hydroelectric dam were suspended for six months after financial institutions in Germany, Switzerland, and Austria announced that they were withholding financial support because of environmental concerns. But Veysel Eroglu, Turkey’s environmental minister, said the financing would be made available for what the government considers an important part…
Environmental Toll of Plastics

Yale Environment 360

2 Jul 2009 | 7:18 am

The amount of plastic that will be produced this decade will nearly equal the total produced in the 20th century, and the substance is increasingly taking a toll on human health and the environment, a new study says. Reporting in the journal Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B, more than 60 scientists found the following: Chemicals added to plastics are increasingly absorbed by humans, altering hormones and affecting fetal development and other physiological processes; millions of tons of plastic debris are ingested by hundreds of animal and fish species, clogging their…
Oil Companies and Nigeria Accused of Mass Pollution in Niger Delta

Yale Environment 360

1 Jul 2009 | 10:35 am

Amnesty International says Royal Dutch Shell, other oil companies, and the Nigerian government have violated the human rights of residents of the Niger Delta by polluting their land and harming their health with oil spills, natural gas flaring, and waste dumping. In a 141-page report, the human rights group said that at least 9 million barrels of oil may have been spilled in the past 50 years in the delta, home to an estimated 500,000 Ogoni people. “People living in the Niger Delta have to drink, cook with and wash in polluted water,” said the report. “They eat fish contaminated with…
India Will Reject Curbs On Its Carbon Emissions

Yale Environment 360

1 Jul 2009 | 9:21 am

India will not accept limits on its greenhouse gas emissions at climate talks later this year and instead will focus on economic growth and lifting its people out of poverty, according to Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh. He said that a legally binding emissions target would endanger India’s food security and transport, adding, “India cannot and will not take emission reduction targets because poverty eradication and social and economic development are first and overriding priorities.” India has low per capita greenhouse gas emissions, but its population of 1 billion and the…
From the Sewage Plant, The Promise of Biofuel

Yale Environment 360

1 Jul 2009 | 6:38 am

Researchers throughout the world are working to produce biofuel from algae. But a few are trying a decidedly novel approach: Using an abundant and freely available source — human waste — to make the fuel of the future while also treating sewage. BY GREG BREINING

GreenBiz.com Green Business News
How Green Companies Can Clean Up Their Hiring Processes

Carolyn Mansfield

2 Jul 2009 | 4:34 pm

As companies emerge from recession-induced hibernation, shake off hiring freezes, and start to cautiously advertise job openings again, they're finding an entirely different landscape than when they did their last round of recruiting. With all the hope tacked on to green companies and jobs, the stakes are high for companies that blunder. Here are tips to avoid missteps.
The Next Generation of Fireworks May All Be Green

GreenBiz Staff

2 Jul 2009 | 3:36 pm

Despite being a centerpiece of celebrations the world over, fireworks displays often release toxic chemicals into the environment; researchers are developing a new generation of fireworks that shine as bright but leave less of an impact.
New Research Uses Organic Computing to Make Traffic Greener

Matthew Wheeland

2 Jul 2009 | 1:13 pm

Putting advanced computing together with highly advanced -- and more widespread -- traffic sensors, researchers at Leibniz University in Hanover, Germany, have proposed an "organic" method of traffic control that responds to actual conditions. But is there an easier way?
Coca Cola to Put Fuel Cells to Work at N.Y. Bottling Plant

GreenBiz Staff

2 Jul 2009 | 12:06 pm

Coca Cola signed a 10-year contract with UTC Power that will bring two fuel cells to a southern New York bottling plant, where they will produce enough heat and energy to satisfy nearly a third of the facility's needs. The state of New York also provided $2 million for the project.
World's Largest Cement Firms Slow CO2 Emissions Despite Production Growth

GreenBiz Staff

2 Jul 2009 | 12:00 pm

Efforts by the world's leading cement companies knocked down carbon dioxide emissions from the industry’s manufacturing process by 35 percent even while production climbed by 53 percent, according to a new report by the World Business Council for Sustainable Development’s Cement Sustainability Initiative.

Reuters: Environment
Los Angeles will end use of coal-fired power

2 Jul 2009 | 1:33 pm

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Los Angeles will eliminate the use of electricity made from coal by 2020, replacing it with power from cleaner renewable energy sources, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa said.
Loss of world's seagrass beds seen accelerating

2 Jul 2009 | 1:24 pm

MIAMI (Reuters) - The world's seagrass meadows, a critical habitat for marine life and profit-maker for the fishing industry, are in decline due to coastal development and the losses are accelerating, according to a new study.
EPA extends comment period on biofuel standard

2 Jul 2009 | 12:25 pm

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Environmental Protection Agency on Thursday said it was extending the comment period on a draft rule that aims to cut greenhouse gases emitted by biofuels.
Climate change shrinks Scotland's wild sheep

2 Jul 2009 | 11:25 am

LONDON (Reuters) - Wild sheep on a remote Scottish island are shrinking, and scientists blame global warming.
German study sees job boom from Sahara solar project

2 Jul 2009 | 10:43 am

BERLIN (Reuters) - A project linking solar power from the Sahara to energy users in Europe and North Africa could create 240,000 German jobs and generate 2 trillion euros ($2,822 billion) worth of power by 2050, a study published on Thursday found.

Great Green Goods - Shopping the Eco-friendly Way!
Recycled, Unique, One-of-a-Kind!

green

24 Jun 2009 | 10:50 pm

Made by Eugene, Oregon artist, Cliff Martin, these earrings and pins are fun and funky!! ..made from all kinds of discarded flotsam and jetsam….lots of discarded plastic. A great sense of humor and very reasonable prices!! Earrings about $9.00 and buttons about $12.00 with discounts for quantity at Arto’cycle
Recycled Car Tire Furniture

green

21 Jun 2009 | 2:03 pm

This furniture, made from recycled car tyres claims to be sturdy…must be reinforced somehow? Nicely designed and a great way to keep nasty tires out of the landfill where they will sit for billions of years! £35.00 for the stool and £45.00 for the table. Sets with stools and tables are available, too at Kitch-U-Like
Recycled silver-plated fork pendant Necklaces

green

16 Jun 2009 | 9:48 pm

I love these pendants made from recycled silver plated forks. Full of personality and artfully crafted. There are more twisted creations from Dr Gus over at his portfolio site: http://doctor-gus.deviantart.com/gallery/ Prices range from $11.99 to $16.99 per pendant at Dr. Gus’s Etsy Shop
Recycled Necktie & Suit Wallet

green

7 Jun 2009 | 8:04 pm

Created from worn out and unwanted suits and neckties, these wallets made by Pennsylvania artist, Laura Skelton are perfect for Dad on Father’s Day. Features a pocket for bills and two side pockets for cards. $28.00 at Uncommon Goods
Light Shades from Repurposed Cardboard

green

3 Jun 2009 | 8:23 pm

Handmade entirely from recycled cardboard boxes. Various sizes and shapes on the website. Nice organic forms with each varying slightly in shape and size. $229.00 – $279.00 at Graypants.com Created by a couple of Kent State grads who majored in architecture and ended up in Seattle making cool furniture and and light fixtures out of scrap and recycled materials. Made from recycled architectural sketches..this unique lighting gives you the opportunity to make a home for recycled materials and have your own art and design process for instant inspiration. $135.00 at Graypants.com

msnbc.com: Environment
'Dire' report on Earth's biodiversity

1 Jul 2009 | 5:15 pm

Governments are failing to stem a rapid decline threatening almost half the world's coral reef species, a third of amphibians and a quarter of mammals, a conservation watchdog warns.
Should spitting worms be protected?

1 Jul 2009 | 8:32 am

Fans of the giant Palouse earthworm are once again seeking federal protection for the rare, sweet-smelling species that spits at predators.
Bush-era logging rule overturned

1 Jul 2009 | 8:12 am

A federal judge has struck down the Bush administration's change to a rule designed to protect the northern spotted owl from logging in national forests.
'Tuna summit' aims to save species

1 Jul 2009 | 9:07 am

The debate about how to save tuna species is playing out at a meeting in Spain this week.
Newsweek: 'Cash for clunkers' has limits

30 Jun 2009 | 1:47 pm

True, the new program offers to pay $3,500 or $4,500 for old, gas-guzzling cars and trucks, but while the government's plan may benefit some buyers, it's not for everyone. Embedded in the fine print are rules that will disqualify a large segment of drivers.

greenUPGRADER
GreenSmart Neogreene: Neoprene Re-invented

Matt Embrey

2 Jul 2009 | 10:41 am

Neoprene is everywhere these days from wetsuits to laptop sleeves. The stretchy, squishy rubber based material is useful and versatile, unfortunately it’s not very earth-friendly. Neoprene (or polychloroprene) is a petroleum based rubber that is treated and bound together with a nasty mix of chemicals & VOCs including Formaldehyde, lead, chlorine and toluene. Tom [...] Related posts:Stug Bags From Recycled Rubber Printing Blankets “PromotDIY Laptop Stand Built Using an Upcycled Coat Hanger This is a(Monday) Funnies: Send an e-card Fed up wi
Daniel Beltra’s New Photos Show Amazon’s Glory and Destruction

Doug Gunzelmann

1 Jul 2009 | 6:16 pm

Daniel Beltra, a Spanish photographer, is traveling the world to capture the world’s three major rainforest regions. We have some of his amazing shots from the first leg of the trip… the Amazon! From cattle men in the deforested Mato Grasso region of Brazil to smiling native Indian children pointing down the barrel of his [...] Related posts:Earth Hour Photos from Around the World This is a Let’s Get It On (& Protect the Amazon While We’re at It) While conRazoo’s March Goodness Gives Well Deserved Bonuses March Madn
Crafting Cradle to Cradle: Upcycled Vocabulary

Becky Striepe

29 Jun 2009 | 1:47 pm

I know, I’m about seven years late to the party here, but I’m just now reading Cradle to Cradle. As I made my way through the book, a terrible realization slowly dawned on me, and this one line from The Princess Bride has been running through my head since then: I am the Vizzini in [...] Related posts:Upcycled Cardboard Sculptures These amaEco-friendly crafts made easy Crafting sSublime Stitching’s Upcycling Contest Here's a g
Earthkeepers 2.0: Timberland Creates Recyclable Shoes

Beth Buczynski

27 Jun 2009 | 2:14 pm

In a refreshing turn of events, Timberland, world famous maker of rugged footwear, from sandals to steel toed boots, has announced its Earthkeepers 2.0 line of shoes: a line that’s striving to close the green loop by creating shoes with high levels of recycled content as well as an easily dismantled design thats meant to [...] Related posts:Durat Recycled and Recyclable Plastics Durat makMake Reusing Sexy with Stripnotize These shoeDon’t Put Your Feet On the Seat, Put a Seat On Your Feet Above+Bel
Donate Just $1 and Make Big Difference

Matt Embrey

26 Jun 2009 | 2:25 pm

One of the most important lessons I have leared since I started blogging about the environment is that community is at the core of progress and sustainability. Action starts with the individual, and a bunch of small actions by one person can make a big impact. Now when you combine the actions of many passionate [...] Related posts:Razoo’s March Goodness Gives Well Deserved Bonuses March MadnI Am a Community Organizer I am a comEarth Hour 2009 Vote: Earth Vs Global Warming Earth

teensygreen
Summer Party Week - No Time for Flash Cards

admin

30 Jun 2009 | 3:36 am

Hot enough for ya? Here in Florida, it’s hibernation time…we reminisce about being at the playground in the afternoon, taking long walks with our puppy, and not rushing in and out of air conditioned places because we’re afraid of melting or burning too fast. I’ve never gotten over this part of living in South Florida, and for kids with summer birthdays, it means an indoor party for sure. Craft parties for kids are all the rage right now. Instead of paying a company to come and set everything up, hosting a craft-based birthday party is a welcome change from arcades or…
Summer Party Week - Green Planet Parties Giveaway

admin

29 Jun 2009 | 8:03 am

With the 4th of July fast approaching, we’re in full summer party swing! There are so many ways to help green your BBQ, family reunion, or summer birthday outdoor extravaganza - and it’s easy and more affordable than you think! This week, I’m focusing on parties with kids. After my daughters received a plastic pail filled with plastic toys that have already been broken and thrown away, I was really discouraged. There are so many alternatives out there to make cleaner, greener party planning decisions. Here’s a great place to begin. Think of Green Planet Parties as your…
Happy Birthday to Me!

admin

26 Jun 2009 | 10:23 am

It’s cake and ice cream day for me, hooray! If your kids are like mine, you must get invited to a lot of homemade birthday parties (whether it’s really anyone’s birthday or not)! I’ve always kept a set of birthday goodies around to play with over and over. We have a wooden cake set from Melissa and Doug, but as I’m a self-professed Etsy addict, I wanted a handmade, soft version as well. Lo and behold, what a hit I’ve found with The Fakery Bakery! Isn’t the name the best? Paula McCrosky hand sews adorable cakes, cookies, cupcakes, donuts and even Pop…
Mommy Go Green Blog Tour With EcostoreUSA

admin

22 Jun 2009 | 11:06 am

Fifteen years ago, Melanie and Malcolm Rands made a commitment to their farm-based, eco-village in New Zealand. They developed ecostore, a line of plant-based and essential oil products, totally natural and biodegradable products that wouldn’t pollute their environment or the people who live there. Thankfully, they’ve expanded to the US with ecostore USA! From baby to bath to pet and your home, ecostore’s use and philosophy of “No Nasty Chemical” rings true with many parents these days. This month, ecostore USA wants to thank their loyal customers by holding a…
Cereal Box Redux

admin

19 Jun 2009 | 7:04 am

I’ve always had a major love for cereal, and can remember how all the boxes were lined up on top of my refrigerator. I would “eenie meenie minee moe” my way through the boxes, but never seemed to finish them. These days, I limit the amount of cereal we have in our pantry at one time (usually two or three - two “healthy” cereals and one “fun” one). This saves money by not allowing the cereal to go stale, cutting down on food and packaging waste. It also allows my kids to rotate what they eat, so they can try new cereals and enjoy them for a couple of…

Huffington Post: Latest Green News
Baaad News: Global Warming Shrinks Sheep

The Huffington Post News Team

2 Jul 2009 | 1:25 pm

WASHINGTON — Like the wool sweater that emerges from the dryer a size too small, global warming seems to be shrinking sheep. On average, wild Soay sheep on Scotland's island Hirta are 5 percent smaller today than they were in 1985, according to a team of researchers led by Tim Coulson of Imperial College London. "The decrease in body size was due to a reduction in growth rates caused, in part, by the changing climate," Coulson said in an interview via e-mail. Evolution favors the development of large sheep, which can more easily survive harsh winters, Coulson explained. So the…
Eco-Friendly Fireworks For July 4

The Huffington Post News Team

2 Jul 2009 | 11:37 am

Now, scientists are working on a new generation of kinder, gentler pyrotechnics. While still explosive and dramatic, these fireworks produce less smoke and use fewer toxic metals that end up in soil and groundwater.
Will The Senate Pass The Climate Bill, Then Reject A Global Treaty?

The Huffington Post News Team

2 Jul 2009 | 10:46 am

Senator John Kerry says that unfortunately, that's a distinct possibility.
India To Reject Curbing CO2 Emissions

The Huffington Post News Team

2 Jul 2009 | 8:40 am

India will not accept limits on its greenhouse gas emissions at climate talks later this year and instead will focus on economic growth and lifting its people out of poverty, according to Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh.
Baby Squirrel Pops Out Of Woman's Breasts During Police Interview (VIDEO)

The Huffington Post News Team

2 Jul 2009 | 7:49 am

The only thing weirder than a woman having a squirrel pop out of her shirt during a police interview are the local news reporters explaining the incident. Sukanya Krishnan began by explaining, "things pop out of my shirts sometimes," and John Muller followed up by exclaiming, "that's a happy squirrel" which I guess is a reference to him liking boobs? They then proceed to talk about how their traffic reporter Jill Nicolini also keeps squirrels down her shirt. Local news strikes again! WATCH: Get HuffPost Comedy On Facebook and Twitter!

Huffington Post: The Green Blog
Brad Friedman and Desi Doyen: Green News Report - July 2, 2009 (Audio)

Brad Friedman and Desi Doyen

2 Jul 2009 | 3:30 pm

IN TODAY'S AUDIO REPORT: California wins one for a change; Where's the beef? Recalled!; Did EPA suppress study from global warming skeptic?... PLUS: Wingnuts lose it over cap-and-trade...All that and more in today's 'End of the World' Green News Report! Got comments, tips, love letters, hate mail, E. coli burgers? Drop us a line at GreenNews@BradBlog.com or right here at the comments link below. All GNRs are always archived at GreenNews.BradBlog.com. Download MP3 (6 mins), or listen online here... Link: Embed: IN 'GREEN NEWS EXTRA': Exxon Mobil will pay $400 million in interest on damages…
Carl Pope: Wild America Creeps Back

Carl Pope

2 Jul 2009 | 3:19 pm

For eight years under George Bush, America's wilderness faced a systematic assault from the federal government. By the end of the first Bush term, more than 100 million acres that previously enjoyed federal protection had lost it.Since last November's election, the Bush legacy has been unraveling, and the progress on this front has been encouragingly swift. Last month the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) issued a biological function that will require fundamental changes in how the government operates California's water system. The biologists concluded that salmon, steelhead, green…
Leslie Hatfield: Red, White and Greener: This Fourth, Declare Your Food Independence

Leslie Hatfield

2 Jul 2009 | 2:38 pm

Michelle Obama caught some flack during the run-up to last year's elections when she said she was proud of America "for the first time in [her] adult life." But many of us understood -- at the time, we'd spent years building an international reputation for political apathy, but the Obama groundswell was hinting at what would be a record voting turnout. And in spite of a deeply divided country and what was then a flagging economy, people were showing signs of hope we hadn't seen in decades. The First Lady caught some heat again a few months ago when she planted an organic garden on the White…
Rob Smart: Sustainable Food Ripe for Entrepreneurs to Drive Forward

Rob Smart

2 Jul 2009 | 2:37 pm

What if I told you that America's food system is broken? What would you say? Would you defend it by pointing out the abundance of choices offered in today's average supermarket, estimated to be over 45,000 items? Would you cite that per capita spending on food has dropped significantly over the last 50 years, freeing up incomes to improve quality of life? Would you talk about how American innovation is not only feeding our citizens, but is also feeding the world? Or would you quietly ask what a food system is? While perhaps it's not "broken," America's industrial food system, which dominates…
Katherine Goldstein: 6 Reasons to Eat Local Food This 4th of July

Katherine Goldstein

2 Jul 2009 | 2:36 pm

It's time for 4th of July weekend and that means swimming, sunshine, vacations, fireworks and...... farmers markets. In case you haven't noticed, farmers markets around the country are bursting with all kinds of delicious fruits and vegetables just waiting for you to enjoy them. Here are six reasons to show your red, white, and blue by buying local foods this holiday weekend. 1. Small Farmers Are As American As Apple Pie: The concept of the small family farmer is deeply ingrained in the American consciousness. It's a symbol of good old fashioned hard work, respect for the land, and it is an…

Climatebiz
A Clarion Call to Insurers

Sandy Hauserman

2 Jul 2009 | 1:04 pm

The insurance industry should view two recent climate change stories of significance as a clarion call to action. Ignoring the risks could one day open up a flood of legal troubles for the industry.
Coca Cola to Put Fuel Cells to Work at N.Y. Bottling Plant

GreenBiz Staff

2 Jul 2009 | 12:06 pm

Coca Cola signed a 10-year contract with UTC Power that will bring two fuel cells to a southern New York bottling plant, where they will produce enough heat and energy to satisfy nearly a third of the facility's needs. The state of New York also provided $2 million for the project.
World's Largest Cement Firms Slow CO2 Emissions Despite Production Growth

GreenBiz Staff

2 Jul 2009 | 12:00 pm

Efforts by the world's leading cement companies knocked down carbon dioxide emissions from the industry’s manufacturing process by 35 percent even while production climbed by 53 percent, according to a new report by the World Business Council for Sustainable Development’s Cement Sustainability Initiative.
Can Mud Make the Perfect Biofuel?

Marc Gunther

2 Jul 2009 | 10:42 am

In the search for a clean, planet-friendly fuel, the startup Qteros has discovered and refined a microbe it calls the Q Microbe that turns biomass -- switchgrass, wood chips, grass, corn stover or even municipal liquid waste -- into ethanol.
The Integrative Design Guide to Green Building

2 Jul 2009 | 12:35 am

Green building experts from the 7group consultancy and integrative design pioneer Bill G. Reed provide a clear, practical manual on the whole-building approach to sustainability.

Yahoo! News: Environment News
2010 species pledge set to fail: conservationists (AFP)

1 Jul 2009 | 7:07 pm

AFP - The world's paramount authority on species loss has warned that pledges to roll back the threat to biodiversity by 2010 were running into the sand.
Group: World failing to halt biodiversity decline (AP)

1 Jul 2009 | 5:02 pm

AP - Governments are failing to stem a rapid decline in biodiversity that is now threatening extinction for almost half the world's coral reef species, a third of amphibians and a quarter of mammals, a leading environmental group warned Thursday.
Brazil flora risk greater than thought: study (AFP)

1 Jul 2009 | 1:51 pm

AFP - Nearly 2,300 plant species are at risk of disappearing from flora-rich Brazil, many more than once thought, according to an academic study released on Wednesday.
Kenya unveils renewable energy drive (AFP)

1 Jul 2009 | 11:34 am

AFP - Kenya on Wednesday unveiled extensive plans to invest in renewable energy, including free distribution of one million energy-saving light bulbs in exchange for ordinary bulbs.
Sweden kicks off EU presidency in institutional fog (AFP)

1 Jul 2009 | 11:13 am

AFP - Sweden kicked off its six-month European Union presidency Wednesday amid fears the bloc's unresolved institutional woes may overshadow its priorities of tackling climate change and the economic crisis.

GreenerBuildings
The Integrative Design Guide to Green Building

2 Jul 2009 | 12:35 am

Green building experts from the 7group consultancy and integrative design pioneer Bill G. Reed provide a clear, practical manual on the whole-building approach to sustainability.
Dumpster Diving: A Green Strategy That Pays Off for Retailers

GreenerBuildings Staff

1 Jul 2009 | 1:35 pm

Retailers that put green practices to work at their facilities can save tens of millions of dollars a year by managing resources and waste more aggressively, according to SSA & Company.
Cement Industry Energy and CO2 Performance: Getting the Numbers Right

GreenBiz Staff

30 Jun 2009 | 3:32 pm

This report from the World Business Council for Sustainable Development's Cement Sustainability Initiative summarizes the work thus far in the nearly 3-year-old effort by the council and the industry's largest companies to make global cement production cleaner and greener.
Obama, Chu Unveil New Lighting Rules and Release $346M for Energy Efficient Buildings

GreenerBuildings Staff

30 Jun 2009 | 2:06 pm

With Energy Secretary Steven Chu by his side, U.S. President Barack Obama detailed stricter new lighting standards and promised the swift release of $346 million in Recovery Act funds to boost energy efficiency in new and existing commercial buildings and homes.
Symantec's Oregon Site Lands LEED Gold Rating

GreenerComputing Staff

30 Jun 2009 | 2:00 pm

Symantec’s Oregon facility has been certified as a green building with a gold rating under Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design standards. It's the second time that the firm has earned the ranking for one of its sites.

Eco Friendly
Recycled Juice Box Bag – Hip Handbags Made from Recycled Materials

admin

26 Jun 2009 | 6:30 pm

Recycled Juice Box Bag For the next few posts we’ll be focusing on giving some great alternatives to the traditional handbags and clutches. This time, we’re going for recycled and green ones, including clutches and other types of handbags. This particular handbag is made out of recycled juice boxes. It’s definitely a handbag that gets a ton of comments and questions – most likely the ones that ask where you got a bandbag like this. It’s a large teardrop-style handbag with a metal clasp closure. It measures 14″ x 3.5″ x 12″ and weighs 0.8…
Budget Travel to Croatia

admin

30 Sep 2008 | 11:19 am

Image by cajunwaffle via Flickr Croatia is one of the most under traveled, and thus most stunning, European destinations. The Dalmatian Coast, on the Adriatic Sea, provides beautiful, clear blue water and places rich in culture and history, without the Americanization found in more touristy European locales. Croatia and the Dalmatian Coast is best experienced by spending time enjoying the scenery and the people, immersing yourself in the way of life that is so different than Western Europe. One specific way to experience Croatia is through a sea kayaking tour of Dubrovnik and the Elafati…
Organic Cotton Net Produce Sacks

admin

5 Sep 2008 | 4:17 pm

Organic Cotton Net Produce Sacks Organic Cotton Net Produce Sack, Medium – Package of 3 These net produce bags are the next logical step in waste reduction. This is a versatile cotton drawstring net sack manufactured with SKAL certified organic cotton. These reusable natural, lightweight cotton bags are larger than the standard plastic produce bags found in most grocery stores. Bring fruits and veggies home and store them too. This bag is also useful for many other things. It can easily doubles as a carry-all (and kit packaging) for bath, beauty and gift items. Size: 10″w x…
2-Tone Wooden Salad Bowls

admin

26 Aug 2008 | 4:14 pm

2-Tone Wood Salad Bowl 2-Tone Wood Salad Bowl With Serving Utensils – 12″ dia. This two-tone wood serving bowl with utensils is a great addition to my kitchen and adds a rich texture and look to our dinner table. It’s great on it’s own or with the set of 4 matching salad bowls (below). at Amazon.com 2-Tone Wood Bowls 2-Tone Wood Bowls – 7″ dia. (Set of 4) I love these contrasting two-tone wood salad bowls. They’re such a great compliment to my dinning room and big enough to hold a generous portions of my famous salads. The coordinating serving…
Bamboo Salad Bowl : Fair Trade

admin

18 Aug 2008 | 4:51 pm

Bamboo Salad Bowl Bamboo Salad Bowl-with Handles -Fair Trade Gifts Everything you make looks more delicious in this bowl. Made by Craft Link, a Vietnamese non-profit organization dedicated to helping artisans by providing them access to markets, design assistance, and business training – what could be better? Artisans in the Cat Dang Village use the long tradition of hand coiled bamboo work and then collaborate with various workshops around town. Dress your table in style knowing you also help dress theirs. at Amazon.com

Science Daily: Earth & Climate News
QuikScat Finds Tempests Brewing In 'Ordinary' Storms

2 Jul 2009 | 8:00 pm

"June is busting out all over," as the song says, and with it, U.S. residents along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts begin to gaze warily toward the ocean, aware that the hurricane season is revving up. In the decade since NASA's QuikScat satellite and its SeaWinds scatterometer launched in June 1999, the satellite has measured the wind speed and wind direction of these powerful storms, providing data that are increasingly used by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) National Hurricane Center and other world forecasting agencies. The data help scientists detect these…
Magmatic Plumbing Of A Large Permian Caldera Exposed To A Depth Of 25 Kilometers

2 Jul 2009 | 8:00 pm

Large volcanic calderas, aka supervolcanoes, are enormous craters tens of kilometers in diameter produced by giant, explosive eruptions that rank among the most violent geologic events. Geophysical studies of recently active calderas and investigations of their eruption products suggest that their magmatic systems are driven by intrusion of mantle-derived basalt in the deep crust, a process commonly referred to as magmatic underplating.
Sea Ice At Lowest Level In 800 Years Near Greenland

2 Jul 2009 | 2:00 pm

New research, which reconstructs the extent of ice in the sea between Greenland and Svalbard from the 13th century to the present indicates that there has never been so little sea ice as there is now.
Environmental Cues Control Reproductive Timing And Longevity

2 Jul 2009 | 11:00 am

When humans and animals delay reproduction because food or other resources are scarce, they may live longer to increase the impact of reproduction, according to a new study.
Microalgae As A Source Of Alternative Energy

2 Jul 2009 | 11:00 am

Scientists are researching the potential of mass production of microalgae as a crop.

Greener Computing
New Research Uses Organic Computing to Make Traffic Greener

Matthew Wheeland

2 Jul 2009 | 1:13 pm

Putting advanced computing together with highly advanced -- and more widespread -- traffic sensors, researchers at Leibniz University in Hanover, Germany, have proposed an "organic" method of traffic control that responds to actual conditions. But is there an easier way?
The Integrative Design Guide to Green Building

2 Jul 2009 | 12:35 am

Green building experts from the 7group consultancy and integrative design pioneer Bill G. Reed provide a clear, practical manual on the whole-building approach to sustainability.
Greenpeace's Guide to Greener Electronics: July 2009

GreenerComputing Staff

1 Jul 2009 | 12:54 pm

The 12th edition of the quarterly scorecard focuses heavily on toxics-reduction goals and achievements, punishing three companies for failing to remove BFRs and PVC from their products.
Nokia, Samsung Lead Latest Greenpeace Green Electronics Survey

GreenerComputing Staff

1 Jul 2009 | 12:42 pm

The 12th edition of the quarterly scorecard finds Dell, HP and Lenovo taking a further hit in the ranking for failing to remove toxics from their products.
E-Waste: When Landfills Are Not an Option

Sarah Fister Gale

1 Jul 2009 | 3:53 am

Environmentally focused companies, such as Marriott and GlaxoSmithKline, are taking a hard-line approach to e-waste management, investing time and money to ensure that every piece of obsolete technology is recycled or refurbished in an environmentally appropriate manner, not dumped in a landfill is China.

Ecolect Blog
Solar Impulse, Around the World in a Solar Airplane

Alberto Villarreal

19 Jun 2009 | 8:37 am

Based in Switzerland, a team of over 50 specialists from six countries is working on the Solar Impulse project: a solar-powered airplane capable of taking off autonomously and maintaining itself in flight for several days, entirely propelled by the energy stored in the photovoltaic panels contained in its wings. The HB-SIA prototype is currently under construction [...]
Recyclable Kitchen by Valcucine

Alberto Villarreal

18 Jun 2009 | 9:17 pm

Italian high end kitchen manufacturer Valcucine has started a series of green initiatives, including the Recyclable Kitchen project (which was presented this year at the Milan Furniture Fair). The kitchen, made mostly out of aluminum and glass modules has of course the high quality standards of the renowned brand along with an exquisite simple design. The [...]
A More Subtle Shade of Green - NeoCon 2009

Wendy Uhlman

18 Jun 2009 | 1:26 pm

Although this year’s Neocon did heavily encourage and promote Green awareness, the information was pretty low-key and more about practical integration rather than simply a necessary marketing strategy. This was also seen in the roll-out of new designs, exhibitions and strategies for businesses-from small to big. As companies like Steelcase and Herman Miller (seen below) [...]
Top Ten East Coast Eco Materials

corine

16 Jun 2009 | 1:39 pm

Americans spend an average of 90 percent of their time indoors, and indoor air can be up to 10x more polluted than outdoor air. Volatile organic compounds are a significant source of indoor pollutants. These gases and vapors often emit from materials and can cause a variety of short- and long-term adverse health effects. Formaldehyde, [...]
HOME: documentary by Yann Arthus-Bertrand

Alberto Villarreal

13 Jun 2009 | 11:48 pm

HOME is a documentary film directed by French photographer Yann Arthus-Bertrand that was released simultaneously on June 5th, 2009 in over 50 countries, in line with the celebration of the World Environment Day (the film is available on YouTube in High Definition until June 14th) It is an amazing piece that combines an excellent script by [...]

EcoTech Daily
12th “Guide To Greener Gadgets” Calls Out PC Makers On Eco Promises.

David Quilty

2 Jul 2009 | 7:29 am

Greenpeace has released their 12th “Guide to Greener Gadgets” and some of the results are not pretty. They have called out HP, Lenovo and Dell for backtracking on their commitment to eliminate PVC plastic and brominated flame retardants (BFRs) from their products by the end of 2009…even though it’s not the end of 2009 yet. However, since it is already July, I am guessing that their product lines are already designed and built for the rest of the year - and they still include PVC plastic and BFR’s. According to Greenpeace: Staff at HP’s Dutch headquarters…
The Daily Five: Thursday, 02 July, 2009

David Quilty

2 Jul 2009 | 2:00 am

Bridge Between Private and Public Transport; Tires made of orange oil; Solar aircraft to circumnavigate the globe; Lemon-juice & water powered clock; Fake trees helping to clean up CO2 A Bridge Between Private and Public Transport. It’s a small non-polluting vehicle that not only works on a giant organized system that reduces traffic and travel time to a minimum, it’s made to encourage car-pooling as well. The vehicle runs on Li-On batteries, recharged by solar panels on the roof of the vehicle. The batteries can also be charged at any number of special zones in the city through…
Free Heat From An Old Window And Some Soda Cans.

David Quilty

1 Jul 2009 | 10:35 am

This article was originally posted at my site The Good Human, but because it is “EcoTech” oriented, I figured it should probably be here as well. Enjoy! Some of you may remember a post I wrote back on my birthday that offered a sneak peek of a top-secret project I have been working on in my garage, and asked you to guess what the picture might be. Here is the picture that I posted on that day: Well, the time has come to unveil more pictures of project timeline and all its finished glory, followed by some information as to how I made it, what its for, and what I will be doing with…
The Daily Five: Wednesday, 01 July, 2009

David Quilty

1 Jul 2009 | 2:00 am

Big Dig House; Tougher LEED standards; Scion iQ coming soon; Magic Cube; More solar arrays on public lands Big Dig House reuses materials from the Big Dig in Boston. The structural system for this 3,400sf house is comprised of steel and concrete discarded from Boston’s Big Dig, utilizing over 600,000 lbs of salvaged materials from elevated portions of the now dismantled I-93 highway. As a former resident of Boston, I can tell you that this project created quite a mess and I am glad someone got some use out it! Newer LEED Standards will require better energy use reporting. All construction…
The Daily Five: Tuesday, 30 June, 2009

David Quilty

30 Jun 2009 | 2:00 am

Turning Carbon Dioxide Into Fuel; Anheuser-Busch Taps Landfill Gas for Houston Brewery; LED clock munches bugs and converts carcasses into energy; Storing Hydrogen Using Chicken Feathers; Toyota Prius vs. VW Clean Diesel Turning Carbon Dioxide Into Fuel. Scientists have been trying for years to find a non-food source for ethanol. A company in Bonita Springs, Florida, Algenol Biofuels, thinks it has found one, with the added benefit of getting twice as much work out of each molecule of carbon dioxide added to the atmosphere. Anheuser-Busch Taps Landfill Gas for Houston Brewery. Their brewery…

Forbes: Energy News
Mixed Jobs Report Rattles Stocks

2 Jul 2009 | 7:00 am

Labor Dept. reports drop in nonfarm payrolls, but 9.5% unemployment rate is slightly better than expected.
Investment In Cleantech Picks Up

1 Jul 2009 | 6:31 pm

Venture capitalists pump $1.2 billion into alternative energy in second quarter, with stimulus driving interest.
Oilfield Activity May Be Rebounding

30 Jun 2009 | 5:14 pm

Rig count rises slightly on upturn in oil prices, but natural gas drilling continues to fall.
Pipe Dreams

30 Jun 2009 | 3:49 pm

Why Houston billionaire Dan Duncan is creating the country's biggest oil and gas pipeline company.
What's North Dakota's Secret?

30 Jun 2009 | 12:38 pm

Under Gov. John Hoeven, the state has strong growth, the lowest jobless rate in the nation--even a budget surplus.

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
Does Recycling Give Us An Excuse To Over-Consume?

david

2 Jul 2009 | 6:30 am

Have you checked out the $1 charity fundraiser that I'm participating in with a group of other fine eco-bloggers yet? We're trying to raise money for an environmental group and those who donate get to vote on who gets the money. Please consider voting and donating a dollar. Just because it is recyclable, doesn’t mean it’s a good thing to buy…especially if you don’t need it. Does the concept of recyclability give some an excuse to over-consume? Even if something is recyclable, it still has to be designed, made, shipped, consumed, shipped to a facility, recycled, and…
Simple Shoes Clearance Sale - Now 50-85% Off.

david

1 Jul 2009 | 9:04 pm

Have you checked out the $1 charity fundraiser that I'm participating in with a group of other fine eco-bloggers yet? We're trying to raise money for an environmental group and those who donate get to vote on who gets the money. Please consider voting and donating a dollar. My absolute favorite shoe company is running a summer clearance sale that has made a bunch of their shoes up to 85% off. Simple Shoes are the only shoes I buy anymore (well, except for my Timberland eco-boots), as they are sustainably made with stuff like hemp, organic cotton, PET laces, and even soles made from old tires.
Do One Thing: Take Off Your Shoes.

david

1 Jul 2009 | 9:30 am

Have you checked out the $1 charity fundraiser that I'm participating in with a group of other fine eco-bloggers yet? We're trying to raise money for an environmental group and those who donate get to vote on who gets the money. Please consider voting and donating a dollar. This week’s Do One Thing is about your feet - and what you can bring into your house by not leaving your shoes at the door. Turns out that 90 to 99% of bacteria found on the exterior of the shoes is transmitted to the floor in your house when you wear your shoes indoors, and 27% of the bacteria is the E. Coli virus.
Greenwash Of The Week: Ortho EcoSense Bug Killer.

david

1 Jul 2009 | 6:30 am

Have you checked out the $1 charity fundraiser that I'm participating in with a group of other fine eco-bloggers yet? We're trying to raise money for an environmental group and those who donate get to vote on who gets the money. Please consider voting and donating a dollar. “*Not intended to imply environmental safety either alone or compared to other products” - you know you are in for a good Greenwash of the Week when that disclaimer is on a product labeled as “EcoSense”. They are telling you right off the bat that their product might not really be eco-anything!

EcoMetro Portland
WeGo Cargo at the Cirque du Cycling Bike Parade

Travis A. Wittwer

30 Jun 2009 | 1:43 pm

Cirque du Cycling, the Portland bike parade, came and went like…well…a parade. People lined up and down Mississippi Avenue to witness the spectacle of collected bike groups. Our family rode with a group of cargo/utility bike users. Aside from all being larger bikes, this group shares the belief that bikes are superb vehicles for moving large objects from place to place. James--seen in the photo below with his dog Louie who sits in a custom made box atop his Xtracycle--made our banner, which pretty much summed up our group’s thinking: WeGO Cargo! Kael and Soren, our two eldest…
Art Monday: Underwater Sculptures by Jason deCaires Taylor

Carissa Wodehouse

29 Jun 2009 | 10:41 am

On Art Mondays we bring you innovative, inspiring examples of artists working with and for the environment. Sculptor Jason deCaires Taylor creates cement figures from models--including students and a BBC presenter-- and then places them underwater as artificial reefs, where sea sponges and worms can collect on the hard surface and attract fish and other underwater residents searching for a stable home. Check out the images of the works changing over time, it's both eerie and beautiful how the sea overtakes the forms. One more image after the jump. All images courtesy Jason deCaires…
Free City Green Building Ride This Friday for Pedalpalooza

Carissa Wodehouse

18 Jun 2009 | 3:30 pm

If you haven't participated in Pedalpalooza, a month of exploring Portland by bicycle, start by bringing your bike tomorrow for the City Green Building Ride hosted by the Bureau of Planning and Sustainability. I'm still reading through the draft Climate Action Plan from the City of Portland, and looking forward to this ride to shed some light on the details. See you there! From Shift2Bikes: CITY GREEN BUILDING RIDE Ecotrust, 721 NW 9th Avenue (3rd floor deck) 3:00pm - 5:00pm Waterfront tour of green buildings starting at Ecotrust and ending at South Waterfront. Visit a mix of…
Exploring Mt Hood, Salmon River, and Welches Oregon

EcoMetro Portland Team

11 Jun 2009 | 4:16 pm

By Carrie Treadwell, Community Outreach Manager For an easy weekend escape, spend a day in the splendor of old growth trees in the Mt Hood National Forest. Some of the largest and most magnificent trees in Oregon are located along the Salmon River in Welches. Take Hwy 26 east to Welches and turn right on Salmon River Rd. Follow Salmon River Rd into the Mt Hood National Forest. There are several areas to park, and many easy walking trails to explore along the river. Perfect for families and folks of all ages. Great for biking too! Don’t forget your camera- the surrounding scenery is…
Everyday Cycling: A Better Phrase for a Common Vision

Travis A. Wittwer

9 Jun 2009 | 1:57 pm

I want to add the phrase “everyday cycling” to our language. I first heard this when I was a guest on the KBOO Bike Show (May 2009) with hosts Ayleen Crotty (organizer of Filmed By Bike) and Tori Bortman (owner of Gracie’s Wrench). Before the show, I head Tori use everyday cycling, and being the word geek that I am, I asked about the nuances of her phrase. A discussion ensued, and I am now convinced that everyday cycling needs to be part of our language. There is a sizable group of people who fall under the term everyday cycling, myself included, but my riding habits are usually…

green.tv
Encouraging combined road and rail transport in the EU

1 Jul 2009 | 5:00 pm

Europe's roads are saturated. It's estimated that the quantity of goods carried by road will increase by 20 Billion tonne-kilometres a year between now and 2013. The EU's Marco Polo II programme wants to buck this trend, and is already ensuring that over 42 billion tonne-kilometers will be shifted from the road to alternative forms of transport.
Plug Out Boy feat. Green Monday

1 Jul 2009 | 5:00 pm

Stand by for Plug Out Boy. Created by the brilliant and brilliantly-named animator Ricky Martin, Plug Out Boy is a boy on a non-power trip to Plug Out everything that shouldn't be on. That he is a line drawing on post-it notes sticking to walls shouldn't obscure the fact that he is a hero we should all try and be like.
Don't Expect a Miracle

30 Jun 2009 | 5:00 pm

A witty play on an infamous biblical story, showing the importance of preparing against flooding and the devastating affects of climate change. This film was written by Martin Langhorn at the University of Central Lancashire for the Tomorrow's World Short Film Competition which was conceived by the Environment Agency.
Human After All

30 Jun 2009 | 5:00 pm

An lovable and slightly dim polar bear and an angry penguin demonstrate the importance of water efficiency and the issue of climate change. This film was written by students at Liverpool John Moores University for the Tomorrow's World Short Film Competition which was conceived by the Environment Agency.
Tony Grayling

29 Jun 2009 | 5:00 pm

Tony Grayling, Head of Climate Change and Sustainable Communities at the Environment Agency, gives an insight into what the government's recent climate change projections mean for people living in the UK.

INHABITAT
Largest Eco-Village in the UK Will Boast Zero Carbon Homes

Evelyn Lee

2 Jul 2009 | 3:00 pm

The United Kingdom’s Hanham Hall Development is the largest eco-village aspiration to date. Designed by HTA and funded by Barratt Developments and the Homes & Communities Agency, there are a rumored 188-195 zero carbon homes in the overall housing scheme. The development will include an onsite biomass CHP plant, strategically placed reed beds, shops for farmers to sell their goods, bicycle storage throughout, and a carefully crafted drainage system. Hanham Hall is the first major eco city underway that is part of the government’s Carbon Challenge Programme. The government has set a…
Woolley Pockets: Build Your Own Garden of Eden

Evelyn Lee

2 Jul 2009 | 1:30 pm

Woolly Pockets is bringing the Garden of Eden indoors with their incredible planters for your walls and floors. These breathable little pockets of green are composed of 60% recycled plastic bottles and are made entirely in the USA. With containers costing anywhere from $29 for the Wee Woolly all the way to $247 for an entire Woolly Meadow, these little pockets ensure everyone can have their own little piece of green within reach in a container that keeps plants healthier than your average pot. Read the rest of Woolley Pockets: Build Your Own Garden of Eden Permalink | Add to del.icio.us Post…
INABA’s Pool Noodle Rooftop Opens to the Public for the Summer!

Yuka Yoneda

2 Jul 2009 | 12:00 pm

Bububluooopppp! That’s the sound a pool noodle makes when it sinks in the water, and it’s also what these zany seating arrangements constructed out of oodles of the buoyant toys on a Chelsea rooftop spell out when viewed from above. We guess LA-based firm INABA really, really likes words with “oo” in them (pool, noodle, rooftop) because they are the ones that designed this insanely colorful space which will be used to host film-screenings and outdoor events throughout the summer. The rooftop will also be open to the public at select times, so don’t miss your…
5 Cheap and Easy Last Minute Ways to Green Your Fourth of July

Yuka Yoneda

2 Jul 2009 | 10:30 am

Maybe you simply didn’t have enough time this year to think about it. Or maybe you’ve already gotten so many biodegradable plates, composting bins and other eco-hookups for your Fourth of July shindig that you feel you can’t possibly get any greener. Wait! Here are a few super simple and practically free ways to make your BBQ, beach bash or rooftop gathering more about celebrating and less about waste. Uncle Sam would be proud! Read the rest of 5 Cheap and Easy Last Minute Ways to Green Your Fourth of July Permalink | Add to del.icio.us Post tags: eco-friendly july 4th,…
Miniature Modernist Bauhaus Architectural Models

Beth Shea

2 Jul 2009 | 9:30 am

Good things really do come in small packages — as is the case with these mini modernist Bauhaus Models crafted by Auckland based painter and sculptor Gidon Bing and styled by Katie Lockhart. The diminutive Bauhaus dwellings were created as a promotional showcase for New Zealand paint company, Renese, to demonstrate their Karen Walker Paint charts. The inspiration for the dollhouse models was derived from “the Bauhaus school of the 1920s whose concept was to create and combine colors from an emotional point of view rather than a technical one.” This artful nod to Bauhaus…

DeSmogBlog - Clearing the PR Pollution that Clouds Climate Science
The XX in Exxon = "Fingers Crossed"

Ross Gelbspan

2 Jul 2009 | 12:03 pm

The world's largest oil company is continuing to fund lobby groups that question the reality of global warming, despite a public pledge to cut support for such climate change denial.Company records show that ExxonMobil handed over hundreds of thousands of pounds to such lobby groups in 2008. These include the National Center for Policy Analysis (NCPA) in Dallas, Texas, which received $75,000, and the Heritage Foundation in Washington DC, which received $50,000.
Republicans Cribbing from Big Coal?

Mitchell Anderson

18 Jun 2009 | 8:37 pm

peabodyenergy.jpg It’s a small world after all. Turns out that a PowerPoint being trotted out by House Republicans to undermine the Waxman-Markey climate and energy bill was apparently created by none other than dirty fuel giant Peabody Energy. Grist broke this hilarious story by burrowing into the PowerPoint file properties, revealing the “author” was Peabody CEO Greg Boyce and their communications services manager Chris Taylor was listed as the file “manager.” Oops. As if Republican clean energy opponents needed another hit to their already battered…
The Climate Change Hangover

Jeremy Jacquot

18 Jun 2009 | 5:34 pm

CO2 and temperature.jpg Let’s assume that the Obama administration and Congress get their act together this year and make good on their pledge of enacting meaningful climate legislation by establishing the nation’s first cap-and-trade system. Let’s further assume, for the sake of argument, that the administration, working with its international partners, succeeds in drafting a robust successor to the Kyoto Protocol at the climate talks in Copenhagen later this year. If we accept that the U.S. climate bill, known as the American Clean Energy and Security Act (ACES), will…
Art appraiser puts principle ahead of profit

Richard Littlemore

18 Jun 2009 | 3:46 pm

RichardLindzen.jpg Bostonian rebuffs denier darling Richard Lindzen A Boston art dealer sacrificed an easy buck recently in a principled protest against the writings of the climate change denier-darling Dr. Richard Lindzen, according to an outraged story by the junk scientist and cigarette salesman, Steve Milloy. Prof. Lindzen (inset) is a senior scientist at MIT, a man who has had an impressive scientific career, but who for the past decade has made himself famous and much-loved in the climate change denial community by quibbling about narrow aspects of climate change science.…
Three Full-Page Whoppers from the Heartland Institute (Part Two)

Mitchell Anderson

17 Jun 2009 | 1:49 am

UnscientificMethodH.jpg The Heartland Institute has reared its hoary head again, this time fronting three full-page color ads in the Washington Post targeting lawmakers now debating the American Clean Energy and Security Act (ACES) on Capitol Hill. As I mentioned in my last post, it is not often the denial machine resorts to something as clumsy as buying media exposure. This indicates just how desperate their oily funders are to avoid meaningful regulation of filthy fuels. That they have managed to dodge this bullet for so long, illustrates just how brilliant Big Oil has been at precluding…

EcoTech Daily
12th “Guide To Greener Gadgets” Calls Out PC Makers On Eco Promises.

David Quilty

2 Jul 2009 | 7:29 am

Greenpeace has released their 12th “Guide to Greener Gadgets” and some of the results are not pretty. They have called out HP, Lenovo and Dell for backtracking on their commitment to eliminate PVC plastic and brominated flame retardants (BFRs) from their products by the end of 2009…even though it’s not the end of 2009 yet. However, since it is already July, I am guessing that their product lines are already designed and built for the rest of the year - and they still include PVC plastic and BFR’s. According to Greenpeace: Staff at HP’s Dutch headquarters…
The Daily Five: Thursday, 02 July, 2009

David Quilty

2 Jul 2009 | 2:00 am

Bridge Between Private and Public Transport; Tires made of orange oil; Solar aircraft to circumnavigate the globe; Lemon-juice & water powered clock; Fake trees helping to clean up CO2 A Bridge Between Private and Public Transport. It’s a small non-polluting vehicle that not only works on a giant organized system that reduces traffic and travel time to a minimum, it’s made to encourage car-pooling as well. The vehicle runs on Li-On batteries, recharged by solar panels on the roof of the vehicle. The batteries can also be charged at any number of special zones in the city through…
Free Heat From An Old Window And Some Soda Cans.

David Quilty

1 Jul 2009 | 10:35 am

This article was originally posted at my site The Good Human, but because it is “EcoTech” oriented, I figured it should probably be here as well. Enjoy! Some of you may remember a post I wrote back on my birthday that offered a sneak peek of a top-secret project I have been working on in my garage, and asked you to guess what the picture might be. Here is the picture that I posted on that day: Well, the time has come to unveil more pictures of project timeline and all its finished glory, followed by some information as to how I made it, what its for, and what I will be doing with…
The Daily Five: Wednesday, 01 July, 2009

David Quilty

1 Jul 2009 | 2:00 am

Big Dig House; Tougher LEED standards; Scion iQ coming soon; Magic Cube; More solar arrays on public lands Big Dig House reuses materials from the Big Dig in Boston. The structural system for this 3,400sf house is comprised of steel and concrete discarded from Boston’s Big Dig, utilizing over 600,000 lbs of salvaged materials from elevated portions of the now dismantled I-93 highway. As a former resident of Boston, I can tell you that this project created quite a mess and I am glad someone got some use out it! Newer LEED Standards will require better energy use reporting. All construction…
The Daily Five: Tuesday, 30 June, 2009

David Quilty

30 Jun 2009 | 2:00 am

Turning Carbon Dioxide Into Fuel; Anheuser-Busch Taps Landfill Gas for Houston Brewery; LED clock munches bugs and converts carcasses into energy; Storing Hydrogen Using Chicken Feathers; Toyota Prius vs. VW Clean Diesel Turning Carbon Dioxide Into Fuel. Scientists have been trying for years to find a non-food source for ethanol. A company in Bonita Springs, Florida, Algenol Biofuels, thinks it has found one, with the added benefit of getting twice as much work out of each molecule of carbon dioxide added to the atmosphere. Anheuser-Busch Taps Landfill Gas for Houston Brewery. Their brewery…

How can I recycle this?
How can I reuse or recycle banana skins?

louisa

1 Jul 2009 | 2:38 am

We’ve covered very, very brown bananas before but I was reading a Mrs Beeton-style book on home management from the 1930s the other day (as you do), and I saw a reference to using banana skins to clean brown leather shoes. According to the hefty tome (which also includes chapters on engaging servants, etiquette for women and fortune-telling - all essential to the 1930s homemaker), rubbing the inside of a banana skin on brown leather shoes helps feed the leather. A bit of Googling seems to corroborate this and adds that the same idea can also be applied to silverware. Any other cunning…
How can I reuse or recycle upholstery vinyl scraps?

louisa

29 Jun 2009 | 2:27 am

We’ve had an email from Matt asking: I have bags of unused scraps of upholstery vinyl, I’m trying to find out if these can be recycled and if so how? At the moment they are just being thrown away but if they can be turned into something else then that’s great! I suspect Matt is producing these scraps on a commercial scale so needing something more than craft suggestions. However, what might be a scrap to him (because, for example, it can’t be used for an entire seat cover perhaps) might not be a scrap to another person who wants to make smaller things out of them - there…
How can I reuse or recycle corn cobs?

louisa

26 Jun 2009 | 2:29 am

We’ve had an email from Jayne: What can I do with corn cobs? Seems such a waste to throw them in the bin after we’ve eaten the kernels. Compost? Yes, they can be composted but since the core is usually pretty tough when the ears reach maturity (sweet corn cob as opposed to baby corn stage), they’ll probably take quite a while to rot down - chop them up to speed up the process but they’re still not going to be the fastest. (Some people get around this sort of problem by keeping two types of compost heap - one for things that will rot quickly, and one for things that…
How can I reuse or recycle swimming caps?

louisa

24 Jun 2009 | 2:31 am

We’ve had an email from Jennie: Can you recycle swim caps? It’ll depend on what the caps are made from but the answer to actual recycling is probably no. According to Wikipedia, they can be made from latex, silicone or lycra: silicone is recyclable, but not collected widely for recycling while latex and lycra (spandex) aren’t recyclable on a large scale yet. If they’re still in good, usable condition, the best thing to do would be able pass them on to someone else who can use them for their original purpose - through a charity/thrift shop maybe, or through your local…
How can I reuse or recycle old gift bags?

louisa

22 Jun 2009 | 2:41 am

Gift bags are great alternative to wrapping paper because it’s a lot easier to reuse them, and amongst everyone I’ve ever spoken to about it, it’s generally accepted that people will reuse them to give similar sized gifts in the future. But what about when they get a bit tatty to be recirculated again? I’ve got one - made out of a light card instead of heavy paper - to keep my small, current crochet project out of the preying paws of cats, and I’ve seen big paper ones remade into smaller paper ones - cutting off the tatty edges and refolding it again. Any other…

UrbanWorkbench
Resilience

Mike Thomas

2 Jul 2009 | 7:03 am

I write often about community resilience here at UrbanWorkbench. Resilience is the ability of a system to absorb change and still function. In the sense of community, this is the survive and thrive through change mentality. Most people would agree that resilience is a great thing for a community, but I’m finding that people have different expectations with regard to what areas or themes are involved in measuring resilience. How open a community is to examining the risks and threats that it faces with a critical lens is at the heart of how resilient that community will be in the future…
Rossland Water Supply

Mike Thomas

29 Jun 2009 | 6:50 am

I’ve been working on some graphical presentation of the water storage for Rossland, and one of the best tools is Google Apps. It can create a timeline graph with annotations for comments. I started collecting data last year for this project and now that Ophir Reservoir is almost full, I think it is time to go public with this data. Entering data for this graph is as simple as measuring the drop in water level from full for the two reservoirs, something that is done at least weekly, and a spreadsheet calculates the approximate percentage of full storage that is available in each…
Monsanto’s Roundup is Confirmed to Kill Human Cells

Mike Thomas

25 Jun 2009 | 6:00 am

Image via Wikipedia Does the City of Castlegar use Roundup? Almost a year ago, a motion was brought forward to council to stop using pesticides – the motion was not seconded by any of the other councillors, so the issue wasn’t even discussed to hear why the council was happy with the current use of pesticides (see page 8 of this pdf for a record of these minutes – not much to see). I don’t know what varieties of pesticides are used in Castlegar by pubilc works and recreation staff, but Roundup is a likely contender. If so, this recent study is extremely troubling and…
Western Canada Drought Conditions

Mike Thomas

25 Jun 2009 | 6:00 am

Climate Change is expected to have an impact on temperatures and rainfall in much of Canada, but beyond climate change, there are also seasonal droughts, that people are quick to point the finger at the global problem, but often are just part of the cycle of things. It has been said that the inherent variability of temperature and rainfall is greater than the immediate effects of Climate Change, certainly this might not be the case in the future, but for now, we should be aware of the problem, but stop trying to label everything as an example of climate change! One site that I’ve followed…
Biodiesels for Municipalities

Mike Thomas

24 Jun 2009 | 6:00 am

Image via Wikipedia The environmental bandwagon is not always as green as it seems… The city of Seattle has temporarily stopped buying biodiesel fuel for its fleet of vehicles because of concerns that the soy-based mix it was using was more harmful to the environment than regular diesel. But Brenda Bauer, director of Seattle’s Fleets and Facilities Department, said the city could start using a different type of biodiesel made from waste grease — byproducts of food production. “Not all biodiesels are the same,” Bauer said. Source: City of Seattle halts biodiesel…

First Global Xpress
The Search for Sustainable Shipping Supplies

Chevon

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

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. …
Enter the ShipGreener Earth Week Contest!

Chevon

21 Apr 2009 | 4:01 pm

FGX is buzzing about Earth Week, which kicked off this Monday, April 20th, 2009. Tell us the latest way you’ve chosen to reduce, reuse or recycle; and you could WIN a sweet giveaway! Read on for the details. The best part of Earth Week is the high level of environmental awareness brought on by a week’s worth of events. Have you been quietly making changes to the way you use resources like water, paper, or electricity? It’s time to shout it out! It all counts and it can help you win our drawing. How to Enter The ShipGreener Earth Week Contest *Scroll down to the…
Fuel Surcharge

Justin

6 Apr 2009 | 9:08 am

Currently: FGX 1.00% Valid through 6/30/09
Going Green: “After It’s Printed—Green Distribution”

Chevon

3 Apr 2009 | 3:20 pm

More and more printers talk about “value added services” and offering fulfillment and distribution services. We continue to look at ways to make prepress, press, and postpress processes more environmentally friendly, but we haven’t talked much about the side of the business that gets the product into the customers’ hands. So where is the “green” in distribution? The January issue of Parcel Magazine highlights two distribution centers and their efforts in What Can Green Do For You? by Vera Angelico. She describes two distribution centers that have reduced their carbon footprints…

Green Daily
Eco-Beat, 7/2

Josh Loposer

2 Jul 2009 | 1:00 pm

What's Jessica Alba doing to reduce her ecological footprint? Wanna exploit your talent for gripping, inspiring photography to win cool stuff? Have you ever successfully grown any plant without watering it? Today's Eco-Beat has the scoop on all the latest green news and tips. Jessica Alba's Green Lifestyle MakeoverAfter last month's shark poster incident, we know that Jessica Alba is a serious eco-activist (an outlaw even). In an interview with Vogue, she shared some of the ways she's gone green at home. My favorite: Her lawn is made of recycled tires -- no watering or mowing. Exploit Your…
Green Your 4th of July Celebration

Cat Lincoln

2 Jul 2009 | 10:02 am

Filed under: Food, Home (Photo by Solo) My favorite traditions for the 4th of July involve eating outdoors. Picnics, BBQs, coolers at the beach, nothing says summer holiday like the smell of sunscreen mixed with the salty goodness of a crispy hot dog. And while I must admit a weakness for Cool Ranch Doritos, as a rule I like to keep my al fresco dining practices in line with my "regular" organic, sustainable and local habits.One place where that's most important -- and easy -- is in the "meat/not-meat" main dish department:MeatsResist the simplicity of a package of Oscar Meyer franks, and…
Eco-Beat, 7/1

Josh Loposer

1 Jul 2009 | 1:00 pm

Wanna know all about the real Dr. Temperance Brennan? Need some green moving tips? Which energy bars taste are a cornucopia of deliciousness and which taste like bear scat? Today's Eco-Beat has the scoop on all the latest green news and tips. Emily Deschanel is Green to the BoneWe may know her as Dr. Temperance Brennan on Fox's "Bones," but those who know her best, know her as an environmentalist, animal activist, and green fashionista. Like most of us, she wants solar panels on her roof and a Tesla in the garage. Check out the interview. Moving Tips: What's the Greenest Way to Pack?Packing…
Help Your Pet Enjoy the 4th Despite Loud, Scary Fireworks

Cat Lincoln

1 Jul 2009 | 10:02 am

Filed under: Home, Plants and Wildlife (Photo by Nature\'s Inventory) It makes sense that so many dogs, cats, birds, and ferrets find fireworks utterly terrifying and unbearable -- they are loud, unpredictable, and jarring -- and a delightfully patriotic celebration of our country's deeply martial history, don't get me started wrong.Obviously you can't stop your local municipality from setting off a 20 minute light and explosion show set to bombastic classical music. But you can help your pet be safe, and hopefully shorten the length of time Felix, Fido and Lance the Lizard hide in the…
Eco-Beat, 6/30

Josh Loposer

30 Jun 2009 | 1:00 pm

Why did Fiat let a panda get behind the wheel? Is your neighborhood increasing your risk of developing cancer? Are the uneducated, miscreants you call friends still drinking wine out of the bottle? Today's Eco-Beat has the scoop on all the latest green news and tips. Use Endangered Animals As Crash Test Dummies?The latest ads for Fiat's gas-sipping hatchback features pandas, walruses, and penguins testing the vehicle's crash worthiness. The message: the 500 is safe and has a low environmental "impact." Don't freak animal lovers, I'm pretty sure it was Photoshopped. My Morning Jacket Donates…

Carbon Positive News
Climate change job vacancies #72

2 Jul 2009 | 5:05 am

The latest job vacancies in climate change and sustainability...
Obama warns against carbon tariff

1 Jul 2009 | 3:44 am

While lauding the passing of the Waxman-Markey climate bill in the House, President Obama has voiced opposition to trade sanctions added last minute...
NZ to consult on 2020 target

30 Jun 2009 | 2:52 am

The New Zealand government will consult nationwide over a mid-term target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions...
Cap & trade delay may end in Australian election

26 Jun 2009 | 3:27 am

A political stand-off over proposed carbon emission laws could see the country go to the polls by year end...
New jet biofuel hope in butanol

25 Jun 2009 | 3:22 am

An old pulp and paper mill in the US north-east is being turned to the production of second-generation biofuel...

Environmental Health News
Climate's smoky spectre.

jpmyers@ehsic.org

2 Jul 2009 | 7:00 am

Recent research suggests that lowly soot particles--black carbon-- could be responsible for a large fraction of Arctic warming. In SE Asia, studies suggest that it is choking the moisture supply for the Indian monsoons and contributing to the retreat of mountain glaciers that provide fresh water for more than a billion people.
Sinking finances throw Iceland's 'hydrogen-based economy' into the freezer.

jpmyers@ehsic.org

2 Jul 2009 | 7:00 am

The financial crisis that brought Iceland to the brink of bankruptcy has postponed this volcanic island's ambitious dream of ditching fossil fuels and transforming itself into the world's first hydrogen-based economy.
Sea level rise: It's worse than we thought.

jpmyers@ehsic.org

2 Jul 2009 | 7:00 am

Scientists are more than a little astonished at the rate at which our planet's frozen frontiers seem to be responding to global warming, as more ice is sliding into the ocean, causing sea levels to rise faster and faster.
'Lone voice' finds place in debate.

jpmyers@ehsic.org

2 Jul 2009 | 7:00 am

For a man who's quick with a smile and a handshake, Tyson Slocum has earned a reputation around Washington as a fiery prophet.
An insurance plan for climate change victims.

jpmyers@ehsic.org

2 Jul 2009 | 7:00 am

As Western governments dither at the negotiating table over how to help the world's poorest people cope with climate change, some unlikely saviours have stepped up to the plate: the giants of the global insurance industry.

Clean Edge
BP Shuts Alternative Energy HQ

The Gaurdian

1 Jul 2009 | 9:00 pm
DOE Launches New Energy Efficiency Efforts, Announces Lighting Standards

Clean Edge News

30 Jun 2009 | 9:00 pm

07/01/2009 - President Barack Obama and U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu recently announced actions to promote energy efficiency and save American consumers billions of dollars per year...
Reversing Bush, Obama Allows California's Greenhouse Gas Rules to Take Effect

San Jose Mercury News

30 Jun 2009 | 9:00 pm
Blue-ng Signs $182 Million Deal for Two Biomass Plants

New Energy Finance

30 Jun 2009 | 9:00 pm

07/01/2009 - Blue-ng has signed a GBP 110 million ($181.4 million) deal to develop two renewable energy power plants...
GridPoint Acquires Lixar, Canadian Energy Management Firm

Clean Edge News

29 Jun 2009 | 9:00 pm

06/30/2009 - <a href="http://www.gridpoint.com/" target="new">GridPoint, Inc...

Green Car Congress
Zeolite Catalyst ZSM-22 Can Convert Methanol to Hydrocarbons; Potential for Gasoline

Mike Millikin

2 Jul 2009 | 12:10 pm

Researchers at the University of Oslo, Norway have found that the zeolite catalyst ZSM-22, previously believed to be inactive in the conversion of methanol to hydrocarbons, yields a unique hydrocarbon product spectrum. Click to enlarge. The discovery, which has potential implications for the production of cleaner transportation fuels from natural gas or biomass (via a methanol pathway), is reported in the inaugural issue of the journal ChemCatChem, published by Wiley. One commercial pathway for the production of petrochemical products from carbonaceous feedstocks involves the…
VW Diesels Represented 26% of Its Total US Sales in June

Mike Millikin

2 Jul 2009 | 11:39 am

In June, Volkswagen’s diesels posted their best US sales month since their re-launch with 5,072 units, representing 26% of total Volkswagen new vehicle sales. Overall, VW sales were down 18% by volume in June 2009 to 19,027 units. The Jetta SportWagen posted its best sales month yet with sales of 1,982 units. Clean diesel TDIs accounted for 81% of SportWagen sales, 40% of Jetta sedan sales, and 29% of Touareg sales. Volkswagen of America is encouraged by the momentum of our clean diesel TDI sales. It appears that US consumers are starting to realize the many benefits of today’s clean…
County of Sonoma Installs Coulomb Charging Station Infrastructure

Mike Millikin

2 Jul 2009 | 11:32 am

The County of Sonoma, CA has become the fourth Bay Area location to deploy Coulomb ChargePoint Networked Charging Stations for electric vehicles. The seven charging stations are now installed throughout the County and will be used for fleet and consumer use. Along with several regional partners, Sonoma County has applied for grant funding to install up to 200 additional stations in the next two years. The County of Sonoma covers more than 1600 square miles and has approximately 475,000 residents. Coulomb’s charging stations are available to the public during the day, and will be used to…
EPA Extends Comment Period for Renewable Fuel Standard Program

Mike Millikin

2 Jul 2009 | 10:55 am

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is extending the comment period on its proposed rule revising the national Renewable Fuel Standard program, commonly referred to as RFS2, by 60 days. (Earlier post.) The comment period, originally due to end on 27 July, will now end on 25 September 2009. The proposed rule would significantly increase the volume requirements for renewable fuels, establish four categories of renewable fuels, and require some renewable fuels to achieve greenhouse gas emission reductions compared to the gasoline and diesel fuels they displace, including the application…
Sweden, Volvo Group and Partners to Invest $26M in Powercell Sweden AB to Advance Volvo Fuel Cell APU Work

Mike Millikin

2 Jul 2009 | 10:48 am

Powercell Sweden power generation unit. Click to enlarge.The Swedish Energy Agency and the Volvo Group, in partnership with international corporations Midroc and OCAS, are investing SEK 200 million (US$26 million) to accelerate Volvo’s introduction of fuel cell APUs (auxiliary power units) into the market. The Volvo Group, through its company Volvo Technology Transfer, will receive investment from the companies Midroc New Technology and OCAS, as well as from the Swedish Energy Agency. The parties will make a joint investment of SEK 200 million in Powercell Sweden AB in Gothenburg. Powercell…

The Green Leap Forward 绿跃进
The Energy and Climate Registry: A New Initiative Toward Carbon Disclosure in Southern China.

Julian

28 Jun 2009 | 4:23 pm

A guest post by Lucia Green-Weiskel (pictured right) who describes a groundbreaking initiative in Guangdong to set up a greenhouse gas registry. For the last 20 years there has been a global effort to quantify and more accurately understand greenhouse gas emissions. China and the United States - which together are responsible for 40 percent of the world’s emissions - have been latecomers to the mostly European-initiated efforts to quantify, standardize, manage and reduce greenhouse gas emissions and energy consumption. But that is beginning to change as the Chinese government is making…
Dr. Wang Tao Responds to Questions on Tyndall Centre Report

Julian

23 Jun 2009 | 8:20 am

Last month, I reviewed the Tyndall Center report on China’s Energy Transition: Pathways for Low Carbon Development and expressed three specific concerns. Since then, I’ve had an opportunity to exchange emails with Dr. Wang Tao (pictured right), one of the co-authors of the report. He has taken time to address my questions and has graciously agreed to have his explanations posted here. Here are the concerns I raised on my last post, rephrased for clarity, and Dr. Wang’s responses. 1. In choosing a global carbon budget for the report’s scenario analysis, a target…
Geothermal Energy in Beijing

Julian

15 Jun 2009 | 6:23 pm

Today, we welcome for a guest post (and video…eco-rapping included!) Sustainable John of China’s Green Beat, which is back after a seven month hiatus with this excellent expose on geothermal energy in the Middle Kingdom’s capital. You may not know it looking around Beijing, but not all of the buildings you see are heated with natural gas and coal. Some are heated (and some cooled as well) using geothermal energy. Two main technologies are currently being employed in Beijing to this end: Deep well geothermal Ground source heat pumps China’s Green Beat - Geothermal…
Senate Foreign Relations Hearing: China will not accept caps, but must be pushed to MRV

Julian

12 Jun 2009 | 11:51 am

Last Thursday (June 4), the U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations conducted a hearing with the self-explanatory title of “Challenges and Opportunities for U.S.-China Cooperation in Climate Change.” An all-star trio of China hands provided testimony: Kenneth Lieberthal of University of Michigan and visiting fellow at Brookings Institution, Elizabeth Economy of Council on Foreign Relations and Bill Chandler of the Carnegie Endowment of International Peace. Although actual testimony (except perhaps Lieberthal’s) did not track the prepared testimonies that are…
Stern On China: Transparency Is ‘Highly Important’

Julian

8 Jun 2009 | 4:43 pm

Originally posted in The Wonk Room. In an exclusive interview with Todd Stern, the U.S. special envoy for climate change, I discussed the challenge of ensuring a successful climate partnership with China, now the world’s greatest annual emitter of global warming pollution. Ahead of his visit to Beijing next week to meet with his Chinese counterpart, Stern was asked if he will discuss the problem of accurately accounting for carbon emissions — known among climate negotiators as “measuring, reporting, and verifying” (MRV). Stern replied that the way China’s actions “might be…

TerraPass Footprint
Waxman-Markey passes the House

30 Jun 2009 | 6:12 pm

Take a moment to bask. Then, back to the barricades. by Adam Stein So, the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009 passed the House on Friday. First, to get the necessary throat-clearing out of the way: this is an historic moment that was both an extremely long time in coming and also a lot speedier than many dared hope. When Henry Waxman announced his intention of bring the bill to a floor vote by July 4, most in the environmental community thought the goal was admirably ambitious but probably unachievable. The passage of the bill, if nothing else, testifies to the parliamentary skill…
Some cities shrink to survive

30 Jun 2009 | 5:14 pm

As populations shift, bulldozers help towns manage their own decline by Adam Stein I’ve written before about our urban future. The flip side of the increasing concentration of people in growing cities is that other areas have to shrink. And that’s exactly what’s happening. This story about false fire alarms going off in the abandoned sprawl outside Phoenix, AZ has the eerie quality of that Ray Bradbury story about the slow death of an automated house after the end of civilization. It turns out firefighters aren’t allowed to enter homes if there’s no fire and the…
Recipes: potatoes with dandelion greens, mustardy mustard greens

30 Jun 2009 | 3:56 pm

Weeds invade your neighborhood grocery by Adam Stein The Wall Street Journal recently ran an article in the surging culinary interest in, well, weeds. Plants like chickweed, dandelion, purslane, and lamb’s quarters have gotten a lot of positive press lately for their nutritional properties and their flavor. They also happen to be abundant on suburban lawns. It’s a shame that these plants are now considered yuppie fare. I have friends whose immigrant parents used to mortify them by harvesting these weeds from urban lots, and really it’s hard to imagine a less pretentious…
Flying the more expensive skies

30 Jun 2009 | 1:36 pm

Including aviation in a carbon cap will cause ticket prices to rise -- as they should by Adam Stein The American Clean Energy and Security (née Waxman Markey) covers an impressive swath of the U.S. economy — nearly 85% of total carbon emissions, as compared to Europe’s 52%. One area it doesn’t cover, however, is aviation, at least not via the cap-and-trade mechanism that puts a hard limit on total emissions. Instead, the bill makes brief mention of creating efficiency standards for new aircraft engines based on the best technology available at the time. Of course,…
Did Chicago get burned on parking reform?

23 Jun 2009 | 10:12 am

Looking for quick fix, city leaves cash on the table by Adam Stein Last year, I wrote about Chicago’s decision to lease its parking spaces to a private company. Although no vendor had yet been selected, the deal seemed like a good idea in principle. Parking reform — which generally means raising the price of curbside spots to something approaching market rates, and perhaps even dynamically adjusting them based on time, location, and other conditions — offers a lot of benefits. Underpriced parking leads to increased tailpipe emissions, because drivers tend to circle looking…

TheSmartMama.com
Correction: Cargo's PlantLove Botanical Lipstick Is Paraben Free

24 Jun 2009 | 2:30 pm

Okay, I've got an update. I finally heard from Cargo - via its PR company - and learned that Sephora's...
Please donate just $1 to environmental charities you help choose

23 Jun 2009 | 12:36 pm

As environmental writers and bloggers, we know that part of good stewardship is sharing information, but we also know we...
Non toxic flea control for dogs

22 Jun 2009 | 2:27 pm

Pesticides have been linked to a host of adverse health effects. And using pesticides on your pets can result in...
Danielle Elizabeth - Organic Diaper Bags

21 Jun 2009 | 4:40 am

So, I've been posting about the fabulous Ultimate Healthy Parenting Party (http://www.pumpstation.com/pumpstation/dept.asp?s_id=0 dept_id=3618) at The Pump Station and Nurtury to...
Correction: Aluminum, Not Stainless Steel Straws at 7-11

20 Jun 2009 | 1:49 pm

Corrected: June 23, 2009 Quick post to let you know about an awesome deal at 7-11 stores. For slurpees, 7-11 has...

World Resources Institute: Earthtrends
Earth Systems Science Series Part 1: NASA's Earth Science Initiative

Fletcher Kasmer

30 Jun 2009 | 2:20 pm

The NASA Earth systems science initiative just entered its 20th year, and to mark the occasion, NASA held a symposium at the National Academy of Science to review some of the scientific accomplishments made possible through the endeavor. Over the course of the three day symposium, scientists presented their research and discussed the impact of the NASA earth systems science initiative on the current understanding for a wide range of social, scientific and economic issues. read more
Mainstreaming Environmental Sustainability: Local Action with International Passion

Candy Schibli

19 Jun 2009 | 2:43 pm

One of the major hurdles to implementing international environmental sustainability objectives is securing local connectivity to, and action for, a global cause. Local communities can struggle in job training, information services support, appropriate policy and legal framework creation, and resource allocation necessary for achieving these goals. Unsurprisingly, this is more likely to occur in developing countries where initiatives are often stumped by spending capabilities and financial allocations. What may be the largest barrier to connecting communities to international environmental…
Biodiversity and Tourism in Mauritius and Reunion

Candy Schibli

8 Jun 2009 | 9:10 am

The islands of Mauritius and Réunion contain endemic species found nowhere else in the world that are plagued by massive population decline. Before the 1500s, these islands were uninhabited by humans. Soon after the arrival of the first explorers, Dutch settlement and the introduction of non-native plant and animal species, biodiversity loss mushroomed (WRI 1989). Since the over 400 years following the first alterations in the islands' ecosystems, populations of native birds, reptiles, and trees have been driven to extinction.read more
Is it Time to Recognize Environmental Refugees?

Samah Elsayed

29 May 2009 | 12:24 pm

The first evacuation of an entire people on environmental grounds has now begun in the South Pacific. Persistent flooding is causing the submergence of the Carteret Islands, a low lying atoll in Papua New Guinea, where the saltwater intrusion is also contaminating the islands freshwater supply and preventing the growth of crops. Despite attempts at battling the floods, including building a seawall and planting mangroves, the islands were declared uninhabitable by the government in 2005 and expected to be completely submerged by 2015. Now, the first few families have been relocated to…
The Future of Biofuels in Light of the Recent Global Economic Recession

Candy Schibli

27 May 2009 | 9:25 am

In March 2007, Earth Trends published a monthly update focusing on the uncertainty of the global biofuel industry. Since this publication, world fuel ethanol production has increased from 12 billion gallons in 2005 to an estimated 17 billion gallons in 2008. One of the key factors behind this rapid increase in production is the growth of the transportation sector. Global motor gas consumption increased by 21 percent throughout the world between 1990 and 2003. The four most prominent boosts occurred in the U.S., China, Japan, and Iran as shown in Figure 1.read more

American Public Media Marketplace
Economy may be spurring city growth

1 Jul 2009 | 2:45 am

National Census data shows that the trend of cities losing residents to outlying suburbs is reversing, and it may be due in part to the economy. Sam Eaton reports.
Swedes push for climate change

1 Jul 2009 | 2:44 am

Sweden wants big greenhouse gas polluters to cut their emissions as it takes over the rotating European Union presidency. But will a new climate deal be a tough sell? Stephen Beard reports.
Climate change bill empowers farmers

26 Jun 2009 | 3:56 am

A new climate change bill up would pay farmers for practices that keep carbon dioxide in the soil. But some green groups fear putting the Agricultural Department in charge of the program could weaken oversight. Sarah Gardner reports.
Businesses adapting to climate change

25 Jun 2009 | 9:47 am

Scientists warn it might be too late to find solutions to global warming, so some businesses are focusing on adapting to climate change. Sam Eaton reports.
Pay query looms in transportation bill

24 Jun 2009 | 5:54 am

Environmentalists are praising the efforts of the new $500 billion transportation bill circulating today in the House, but there's still some question as to how to pay for it. Sam Eaton reports.

Ecofriend
Eco Tech: Electric lawnmower provides three hours of mowing on a 12-hour charge

Jolly

2 Jul 2009 | 3:37 am

Eco Factor: Zero-emission lawnmower is powered by electricity. Gone are the days when mowing your lawn in the morning could have triggered a neighborhood brawl. Electric engines come with dual benefits, one of which is a silent engine, which most of you would love your lawnmowers to possess. The ReCharge Mower is one such machine that lets you keep your lawn in shape without emitting a single gram of CO2 in silence. The machine is powered by three electric motors and the company claims that it’s 50% quieter than conventional mowers. The ReCharge Mower gets 900W of green power on its two…
Eco Arts: Recycling cans and bottles in Kathy DellaValle’s style

Jolly

2 Jul 2009 | 2:07 am

Eco Factor: Eco artist turns plastic trash into functional jewelry. What relevance do trashed plastic bottles and aluminum cans hold for normal party animals? I guess nothing, other than junk needing a place to be thrown or if someone cares a bit about the environment then recycle. However, recycling cannot always be as ecofriendly, since melting plastic to give it some other form requires a vast amount of energy, which in most cases comes from conventional polluting sources of fuel. If you’re looking to help the environment in a more fashionable way by using products created from used…
Eco Tech: Quantasol custom tunes solar cells for specific locations

Jolly

2 Jul 2009 | 12:18 am

Eco Factor: Highly efficient solar cells are tailored to suit their location. UK-based Quantasol has achieved a world record for the most efficient gallium arsenide (GaAs) solar cells that until now were only used in space-based applications. The solar cells developed by the company can be tuned to suit the location they are to be installed in, which increases their efficiency, as they’re made suitable to harness various sunlight conditions found in different areas of the globe. The specifically designed solar cells have broken a 21-year-old efficiency record for one type of solar cells.
Eco Cars: All-electric CT3 trike from T3 Motion aims for Progressive Automotive X-Prize

Jolly

1 Jul 2009 | 11:28 pm

Eco Factor: Trike powered by an all-electric engine. T3 Motion has been developing all-electric vehicles for those who think Segways are as cool as their cars and for those who believe that electricity is the fuel to trust for a greener tomorrow. The company is again in the news, not with another ride for the cops but for a bigger market of commuter vehicles. The CT3 is the company’s latest EV that like many others comes with an electric engine and three wheels. The CT3 is based on the company’s CT Micro Car NEV, and is powered by a lithium-polymer battery pack, which reportedly provides…
Eco Gadgets: Solar-powered GreenAir planter makes indoor air fit for breathing

Jolly

1 Jul 2009 | 11:07 pm

Eco Factor: Natural air purification system powered by solar energy. Statistics show that indoor air can be more if not less polluted than outdoor air, due to the fact that indoors are normally sealed to keep the interiors clean and well insulated. There are many high-tech air purifiers available on the market today, but most of them consume a lot of energy and above all don’t add anything natural to your homes. The GreenAir concept tries to bring nature to your home not for boasting your ecofriendly interiors but for keeping the indoor air fresh. We all know that some plants have the…

Consumer Reports: Home & Garden
Fourth of July Grilling: Find a great deal, then become a master griller

Consumer Reports Home & Garden Blog

2 Jul 2009 | 10:50 am

If the down economy is forcing you into a Fourth of July staycation or paycation, use your at-home time to master the art of grilling.Before you shop for a new grill, check our latest report on gas grills, which includes ratings of dozens of models (report and ratings available to subscribers), and our free buyer's guide.With Independence Day upon us, many retailers nationwide are lowering prices on grills that in our tests outperformed models costing hundreds of dollars more. Sears is giving a 5 percent discount on the Kenmore 16641, $349, a CR Best Buy. And Home Depot has dropped the…
Tip of the Day: Wear sunscreen whenever you do outdoor work

Consumer Reports Home & Garden Blog

2 Jul 2009 | 7:28 am

Sixty-nine percent of Americans said they use sunscreen at least occasionally, according to a nationally representative survey of 1,000 adults conducted in April by the Consumer Reports National Research Center. Women who participated in the survey were more likely than men to use it frequently and said they used sunscreen more consistently during a range of outdoor activities.That last part is key: If you're like me, you probably think to put on sunscreen when you go to the beach or to the pool or head out for a hike. But do you apply sunscreen when you're working around the house? I…
With Perfect Flame SLG2006 and SLG2007 grills, be wary of fire and burn hazards

Consumer Reports Home & Garden Blog

2 Jul 2009 | 7:06 am

If you own a Perfect Flame SLG2006 or SLG2007 gas grill (shown), be especially cautious whenever you use the grill. What appeared to be limited fire and burn hazards with some models might be much wider than anyone realized, according to this recent item from the Consumer Reports Safety blog.Last August, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announced the recall of the Perfect Flame GAC3615 due to fire and burn hazards. The cooking chamber of those grills can "melt or ignite” according to the recall notice. But our readers are telling us that’s not the only volatile model. In…
By the Numbers: Unused TV sets piling up in American homes

Consumer Reports Home & Garden Blog

1 Jul 2009 | 12:39 pm

99.1 millionNumber of unused television sets Americans have stashed away in their homes, according to the "Electronics Waste Management In the United States" report (PDF) by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.With all those old TVs piling up, states and municipalities have required manufacturers to take on the recycling of electronics, according to this recent article in The New York Times.Nearly 27 million televisions were disposed of in this country in 2007, with only 18 percent of those televisions by weight recycled, according to Take Back My TV, a campaign of the…
August 2009 Report on Dishwasher Detergents: Do greener cleaners get the job done?

Consumer Reports Home & Garden Blog

1 Jul 2009 | 9:45 am

Phosphates help dishwasher detergents clean better, but they also boost algae growth in freshwater, threatening fish and plant life. Bans on dishwasher detergents with all but trace amounts of phosphates, like the one in effect in Spokane, Washington, are designed to help the environment.But many of the eco-friendly dishwasher detergents we recently tested are not great cleaners. Read our latest report on dishwasher detergents (available to subscribers) to find out which of the liquid, packet, powder, and tablet products scored the best in our tough tests, and watch our video on how we test…

metaefficient
A Solar Flower Tower Rises In The Desert

Justin

23 Jun 2009 | 9:14 am

This unusual solar tower was designed by Israeli architect Haim Dotan for AORA Solar. It is set to launch on June 24 in South Israel. The tower has 30 tracking mirrors (heliostats) that reflect sunlight towards the top of a 30-meter high solar tower. The top of the tower has a special solar receiver and a 100kw gas turbine. The patented receiver uses the sun’s energy to heat air to a temperature of 1,000 degrees Celsius and directs this energy into the turbine. The turbine in turn converts the thermal energy into electric power that is fed directly into the national power grid. © Justin…
Hyper-Efficient House Completed In Virginia

Justin

21 Jun 2009 | 10:27 pm

Hyper-Efficient LEED Platinum In Virginia This new home in Virginia was designed for optimal efficiency. It’s the first to receive LEED platinum in Virginia. Optimal elements that set it apart: an integrated rain water collection system (the site design features zero site runoff for a one-inch rain event), integrated geothermal wells, and exceptional indoor air quality. The home was built by Metro Green and designed by Kaplan Thompson Architects. Found via Preston Koerner. Thanks Preston! Related posts:Highly Efficient House Uses 80% Less Power and WaterDockside Green Awarded…
The Best Wireless Earbuds For iPods

Justin

14 Jun 2009 | 6:57 pm

The Best Wireless Earbuds For iPods Wireless earbuds allow you to listen to an iPod or MP3 player without a tangle of cords. They are particularly useful for listening during sporting activities, listening on-the-go. There are two types of wireless earbuds: those that transmit wirelessly via an iPod adapter, and those that attach directly to an iPod shuffle. Most of the transmitting wireless earbuds use the Bluetooth protocol, but some of high-end earbuds use a different wireless protocol for higher fidelity audio. There are only a few wireless earbuds available because its actually quite…
Efficient Home Improvement: Re-Using Materials Gets Easier

benjamin

9 Jun 2009 | 8:33 am

Efficient Home Improvement: Re-Using Materials Gets Easier (photo: Habitat For Humanity) For “D.I.Y.”ers, using recycled construction products is a great way to reduce raw material consumption and lessen stress on landfills. But for retailers, the “Re I. Y.” trend (Re-use It Yourself) is taking the idea a step further, giving unused building products a new lease on life. © Justin Thomas for MetaEfficient Review, 2009. | Permalink | 3 comments
The Best Cargo Carrying Bikes Of 2009: A Review

Justin

5 Jun 2009 | 8:37 pm

If you are interested in carrying cargo on your bike you should consider a dedicated “cargo bike” or “utility bike”. These bikes are great for transporting luggage while commuting, touring or running errands. Cargo bikes feature a long wheel base for more space on the rear luggage rack. They usually have a strong frame and wheels to carry more weight on and around the rear wheel. © Justin Thomas for MetaEfficient Review, 2009. | Permalink | 11 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
MacArthur Funds New Master's Programs in Sustainable Development

2 Jul 2009 | 6:53 am

The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation announced grants totaling $7.6 million to nine universities in seven countries to establish new Master's in Development Practice (MDP) programs. The Foundation has committed $15 million to seed the creation of such programs at up to 15 universities worldwide over the next three years. With MacArthur support, Columbia University is creating the first MDP Program, which will launch this fall. MDP programs are designed to provide graduate students with training beyond the typical focus on classroom study of economics and management found in most…
Riverstone Buys Babcock & Brown's Wind Portfolio

2 Jul 2009 | 6:46 am

Private equity group Riverstone Holdings LLC has purchased the wind development portfolio from Babcock & Brown LP to form Pattern Energy Group LP.This is Riverstone's first foray into wind power. The project pipeline exceeds 4,000 megawatts (MW) of wind power spanning 11 states and 4 countries in addition to several power transmission projects. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed, but Riverstone, which has approximately $17 billion under management across six investment funds, said it is committing $400 million to expand and support Pattern Energy's renewable energy business.
Hybrid Electric Scooter Runs On Anything That Burns

1 Jul 2009 | 4:03 pm

By Jerry James Stone Segway inventor Dean Kamen is developing a hybrid electric scooter that can run on almost anything that burns. According to the patent, the bike has a small two-piston Stirling engine right under the seat. Though with an engine of that size, it really isn't going to provide much juice - not much more than 5bhp. A Stirling engine is based on tech which predates internal combustion engines by almost 100 years. It's kinda like a steam engine in the sense that it uses external combustion. They use pistons for the crankshaft, but unlike the alternatives they have no valves for…
EPA Proposes Stringent Standards for Large Ships

1 Jul 2009 | 10:25 am

The US Environmental Protection Agency today announced the next steps in a coordinated strategy to reduce emissions from ocean-going vessels. The EPA is proposing a rule under the Clean Air Act that sets engine and fuel standards for U.S. flagged ships that would harmonize with international standards and are expected to lead to significant air quality improvements throughout the country, especially near ports. "These emissions are contributing to health, environmental and economic challenges for port communities and others that are miles inland. Building on our work to form an international…
Internet Sharing Device Offers Energy Savings

1 Jul 2009 | 10:12 am

Wi-Fi lets you work around the house or check kitchen recipes, but it does have its issues. Wi-Fi was recently outed as being slowed primarily by interference between devices, rather than congestion in an area, according to a recent report Estimating the Utilization of Key License-Exempt Spectrum Bands. The new ePlug series from Hercules will connect users to the Internet without the potential for network interference by utilizing existing home electrical wiring, and it will save some power in the process. Hercules' device features smart chipsets that power down to standby mode, lowering…

Environmental Defense Fund: Climate 411
Rush Limbaugh Attacks - Help Us Fight Back

Sam Parry

29 Jun 2009 | 2:26 pm

By Sam ParryRush Limbaugh and the Dittoheads are urging their supporters to flood Capitol Hill with calls attacking those who voted yes on the landmark American Clean Energy and Security Act. We need your help to fight back. First, find out if your Rep voted yes on the bill: http://www.grist.org/article/2009-06-26-waxman-markey-bill-vote-count/ Then, call the Capitol Hill switchboard — (202) 224-3121. Ask to be patched through to your Rep. Finally, tell the office staff that you strongly support the landmark climate bill and applaud the Rep. for voting to pass it. This was a tough vote…
House Passes Most Important Environmental And Energy Legislation in U.S. History

Fred Krupp

26 Jun 2009 | 4:17 pm

By Fred KruppThe American Clean Energy and Security Act is the most important environmental and energy legislation in our nation's history. Today's vote is a huge achievement for the country and the climate, and we applaud Speaker Pelosi, Chairmen Waxman and Markey, and all members of the House who helped craft this landmark legislation and get it passed. The bill that emerged from the House has the fundamental structure we need to significantly reduce carbon pollution while growing the economy. It puts a strong cap on emissions and reorients our energy market to make low-carbon power…
Truth Squad: Calling Out Bogus Claims One By One

Sharyn Stein

26 Jun 2009 | 12:50 pm

By Sharyn SteinAs the House debate proceeds, members of Congress are making some startling and downright incorrect claims on the floor. Our Truth Squad blog is lobbing back the truth. Visit for gems of responses, including: Did Rep. Lucas even read the bill? Climate action's opponents just can't do math Well, at least they have their talking points down...
Fact Checking: They Still Have It Wrong

Sharyn Stein

26 Jun 2009 | 10:03 am

By Sharyn SteinWith the House set to vote today on the American Clean Energy and Security Act, the misinformation from the bill's opponents is flying fast. Our staff economists have been working furiously to circulate the facts: Grade: F. Dr. Nat Keohane pulled out his professor pen again to mark up a Heritage Foundation fact sheet. It only takes a dime a day. Opponents of action have been trying to scare voters with inflated and misleading accounts of how this bill will affect consumers' daily expenses. However, the two most independent and credible analyses project much lower costs.
Why This Is the Pivotal Climate Vote of Our Lives

Sam Parry

25 Jun 2009 | 1:02 pm

By Sam ParryWe are 24 hours away from the most important climate vote of our lives. Everything hangs in the balance. Either the House passes the American Clean Energy and Security Act and we carry momentum to the Senate. Or, we lose the vote and in all probability any chance of confronting the devastating threats of run-away global warming for the foreseeable future. In recent weeks, we've asked our Action Network to keep the pressure on for passing this landmark bill. In response, our inbox has been flooded with comments and questions about this bill and the urgency for action. We've…

GreenMonk: the blog
GreenMonk news roundup 07/02/2009

tom@redmonk.com (Tom Raftery)

2 Jul 2009 | 1:30 am

Inhabitat » Virtually Waterless Washing Machine Cuts Water Use by 90% new washing system (prototype stage) uses nylon beads to tumble wash clothes with 90% less water than conventional washers. The machine also uses significantly less detergent and eliminates the need for tumble drying. tags: washing machine, detergent, water, greenmonktv Brazil’s development bank to require beef-tracking system to avoid illegal Amazon deforestation Responding to allegations that major Brazilian cattle producers are responsible for illegal forest clearing in the Amazon, Brazil’s development bank…
Rich Lechner on Smart Transport June 09

tom@redmonk.com (Tom Raftery)

1 Jul 2009 | 5:10 am

I talked to Rich Lechner, IBM’s VP of Energy and Environment, the other day about the global problem of getting transportation right. According to Rich, in the US alone, congested roadways cost about $78bn per year so this is very much an economic as well as a sustainability-related issue! We had a wide-ranging conversation about all kinds of solutions, including using demand response to manage traffic flows!
June 29th GreenMonk Energy and Sustainability show

tom@redmonk.com (Tom Raftery)

30 Jun 2009 | 5:48 am

Here is the chatstream from yesterday’s Energy & Sustainability show (above) – there were a couple of technical hitches which I have now sorted out and which shouldn’t present problems next week: 03:31 Tom Raftery: Do we have audio & video 03:32 cgarvey: yup, both working 03:34 SukiFuller: I’m gonna be listening but not able to type 03:35 Tom Raftery: http://www.upi.com/Energy_Resources/2009/06/15/Global-warming-causing-mass-migration/UPI-51151245080561 03:37 Tom Raftery: http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=the-peril-below-the-ice 03:39 Tom…
Hara Software’s Amit Chatterjee

tom@redmonk.com (Tom Raftery)

30 Jun 2009 | 4:17 am

Hara Software, a software company with the tagline Know your impact. Change the World, launched their Environmental and Energy Management (EEM) solution at the start of this month. The Hara EEM is a software as a service solution which enables organizations to monitor and manage their natural resource consumption and environmental impact. According to the release Hara counts amongst its customers the Coca Cola company and the City of Palo Alto – not a bad start! For a more in-depth look at Hara, see Martin La Monica’s review. Having heard a lot about I was anxious to have a…
GreenMonk news roundup 06/30/2009

tom@redmonk.com (Tom Raftery)

30 Jun 2009 | 1:28 am

Algasol Renewables: Proprietary low-cost algae photobioreactor for biofuels Algasol Renewables SL is a focused technology development company located in a science park, ParcBIT, in the Balearic Islands (Spain) with a unique technology for low-cost cultivation of micro algae in a closed environment – a technology that can be deployed both on land, in the desert and at sea. tags: algasol, algasol renewables, biofuel, greenmonktv National Grid report says it can handle variable wind power | Policy The variability of renewable energy sources such as wind, often cited as the sector’s…

The Green Mom Review™
Kid Guides

Janet

2 Jul 2009 | 10:30 am

If your kids are anything like mine, they like TV. Me? Not so much. I have a couple things I watch each season and that’s about it (my sick semi-addiction to CNN notwithstanding). Since I tend to be critical of most television programming, particularly for kids, I generally only let mine watch certain things; things with some kind of educational value mostly. So yes, I’m a bit of a control freak when it comes to my kids’ media consumption. Whatever. Well, in case you didn’t know, that doesn’t leave much, but I’m always keeping my eyes open for new and…
Get the Hormones Out of School Milk!

Janet

27 Jun 2009 | 6:00 pm

Recombinant Bovine Growth Hormone (rBGH) is used to force cows to make more milk. It is, in essence, a genetically-engineered synthetic hormone. Most of the industrialized countries in the world have banned rBGH but here in the United States, we’re giving it to our most vulnerable citizens—our children! It is estimated that at least 84 million gallons of milk from artificial hormone-treated cows were distributed through the school nutrition programs in fiscal year 2005-2006. That’s about 20% of the milk offered in school cafeterias nationwide. I don’t give my kids rBGH-derived…
Local, Organic and Conventional

Janet

27 Jun 2009 | 2:15 pm

My husband just sent me this link to a short article on Current about how there is no “local vs. organic.” I was glad to read it because when I hear people say that buying local is better than organic and vice versa, it made no sense to me. They’re two completely separate things. Buy organic AND local, if you can, or choose the one that’s most important to you but don’t feel like you’re choosing between two equal options. One is specifically better for The Green Mom Review™..
Hook, Line and Sinker

Janet

25 Jun 2009 | 11:09 pm

While I don’t really fish anymore, I used to go fishing ALL the time as a kid. I’d frequently fish in the lake by my house with my friends and my family fished down in the Florida Keys at least once a month for years and years. So now that I’ve proven that I know a thing or two about fishing, let me show you how ignorant I am by admitting that since I no longer fish, I’ve never once thought about the possibility of earth-friendly fishing gear. Well, as it happens, green fishing gear DOES exist and it’s a good thing because a lot of fishing tackle still contains…
Tempting Tiny Taste Buds

Janet

23 Jun 2009 | 6:55 pm

We’ve featured amazing blenders that help you puree homemade baby food. We’ve featured little BPA-free containers in which to freeze your homemade baby food. And now? We’re featuring an e-book series to help you really kick ass at making that homemade baby food. You may not need help with the basics because cooking and pureeing squash? Not so hard—but how about advice on when and how to start your baby on solids? How about nutrition information? How about advice for dealing with feeding problems? Tips for spotting and avoiding allergies and/or digestive problems? Feeding…

GreenPacks.org
Slovenian Hydro Pumped Storage Power Plant is a Biker’s Dream

Martin

2 Jul 2009 | 3:44 pm

Most bicyclists have a dream place in mind when it comes to enjoying their rides. What about an open (dug) plain-where you can try all possible antics that come to mind whilst riding a bicycle For the ones who’ve always wanted an opportunity such as this, the Slovenian Hydro Pumped Storage Power Plant is an ideal place. But only when it is empty, of course! The bikers will think of it as heaven but paradise is not the real purpose behind the empty hydro pumped storage power plant. In reality it acts like a giant capacitor to which the water can be pumped when there is a surplus of…
Vodafone trailer home from Waskman Design Studio

Martin

2 Jul 2009 | 3:30 pm

Mobile Solar homes can go a long way in changing the world and a start can be made by substituting those gas guzzling RVs with solar powered options. An inspiration is the mobile home trailer designed by Waskman Design Studio for Vodafone. Vodafone wanted this design to show case its fixed phone and wireless internet service. The trailer is still good enough for a family tour as blogger Marcos Morales is using it for a family vacation through Spain. Waskman Design Studio constructed it with white polyethylene panels and transparent polycarbonate. The structure has two floors and measures 6m…
US House of Representatives passes ‘historic’ climate change Bill

Jose Philip

28 Jun 2009 | 8:22 pm

The United States House of Representatives has passed legislation to cut industrial pollution that is mainly blamed for global warming. The House, controlled by the Democrats, passed the climate change Bill by a vote of 219-212. New Energy Bill The vote was mostly partisan, with just 8 Republicans joining the Democrats in favor of the Bill and 44 Democrats voting against it. The climate change Bill will now go to the Senate. President Barak Obama, for whom the climate change Bill was a top priority, praised the House of Representatives for taking “historic action” and requested the…
Actress-animal rights activist Tippi Hedren to look after Michael Jackson’s tigers

Jose Philip

28 Jun 2009 | 6:18 pm

Tippi Hedren, actress and animal rights activist, says she will take care of the two tigers that lived on Michael Jackson’s Neverland Ranch in Santa Barbara, California. “We have so suddenly lost,” Tippi Hedren was quoted as saying, “one of the most beautiful and enchanting entertainers on our planet.” According to Tippi, Michael Jackson was not only loved by the people of the world for his incomparable talent but was also loved by the wild animals. At the Neverland Ranch, she added, Jackson provided the most beautiful home for those magnificent wild creatures. Tippi Hedren is set…
Sears Tower, tallest building in the US, to go green

Jose Philip

28 Jun 2009 | 4:16 pm

The Sears Tower in Chicago is to undergo a “green” change that will cost a cool $350 million. The plan is to make the 110-story office tower,the tallest building in the United States as well as in the Western Hemisphere at a height of 1,450 feet, “a beacon for environmentally sound space.” Green Sears Tower American Landmark Properties, which owns Sears Tower, expects to cut the building’s electricity consumption by 80% and water consumption by 40%. Sears Tower, built in 1973, will be renamed Willis Tower later in the summer of 2009. The 9-point “green” plan for Sears Tower…

AutoblogGreen
Greenlings: How can I pimp green my ride?

Domenick Yoney

2 Jul 2009 | 5:46 pm

Driving a car that's had more than a few birthdays and wish you could make it greener? Whether your concern is centered on air quality, climate change or just saving a few bucks as fuel prices rise, there are many ways you can accomplish this goal using your common sense or perhaps a little modern technology. We've compiled some of these for your perusal below the fold but since we have some pretty astute readers, we hope you'll leave your own suggestions in the comments section as well.Photo by Joe Thorn. Licensed under Creative Commons license 2.0.Continue reading Greenlings: How can I pimp…
REPORT: Toyota hopes to boost profits by licensing hybrid technology

Jeremy Korzeniewski

2 Jul 2009 | 4:53 pm

2010 Toyota Prius - Click above for high-res image gallery Over the last ten years or so, Toyota has amassed a wide-ranging assortment of more than 2,000 patents related to its proprietary Hybrid Synergy Drive. That's an impressive figure to be sure, and it's also a possible source of income as more and more automakers follow Toyota's lead by introducing hybrid vehicles of their own.Because Toyota has the hybrid patent market on straight lockdown, it's likely that rival automakers will be forced to license certain parts of the Japanese automaker's design, which could potentially help boost…
Grid Manager: Plug-in autos are OK if charged overnight or else

Xavier Navarro

2 Jul 2009 | 4:02 pm

Plug-in hybrids are a hot topic right now. But there are many who question if our electric grid will be able to support a massive influx of EVs and plug-in hybrids? Those who know often say "yes," "yes" and "yes" again. We can now add Stephen Whitley, president of the New York Independent System Operator, to the list of those who say plug ins are a good idea. Whitley has published a report saying that the grids are ready for cars with cords as long as they're recharged overnight. The report focuses on the benefits of using usually wasted off-peak hour electricity to recharge those cars.
Yamaha files patents for hybrid motorcycle based on Gen-Ryu, LUXAIR concepts

Jeremy Korzeniewski

2 Jul 2009 | 3:14 pm

2005 Yamaha Gen-Ryu patent filing - Click above for high-res image gallery Yamaha is reportedly developing a hybrid motorcycle based on the Gen-Ryu concept that first debuted at the Tokyo Motor Show way back in 2005 and the LUXAIR followup two years later. That first concept machine mated up the 600cc inline-four engine from Yamaha's R6 sportbike to an electric motor and generator that sent power to the rear wheel. Although its unlikely that exact powertrain would ever hit the showroom floor, Gizmag reports that we should expect to see a production version of the concept in Tokyo later this…
American Le Mans Series partners with Nature Conservancy to protect acres in California

Sebastian Blanco

2 Jul 2009 | 2:27 pm

The American Le Mans Series has made greening their image and events a part of the plan since at least 2007, when the organization got serious about biofuels. Last year, the group held the first Green Challenge, which became the Michelin Green X Challenge earlier this year. Today, ALMS is announcing its support for the Nature Conservancy's 'Adopt an Acre' program.Starting in the middle of July, ALMS will start contributing to Adopt An Acre with the goal of protecting 500 acres in the Las Californias region through the "acquisition, restoration and reforestation along the Californian…

Awake at the Wheel
Fuel Efficiency and Performance Drive Diesel Comeback

propel

2 Jul 2009 | 9:21 am

With revived concern over the cost of gasoline and the desire for increased fuel economy, clean diesels are proving to be a tempting choice for the American consumer. Volkswagen can testify to the selling power of clean diesel vehicles–June brought in the highest sales of TDIs since the release of the current lineup. According to a [...]
At the Pump . . . Sacramento State

propel

1 Jul 2009 | 3:42 pm

Propel community members share their stories. Sacramento, CA – Folsom Blvd Clean Fuel Point – June 2009 We met Cacee filling up his rig at Propel’s Folsom Blvd location. The Flex Fuel Chevy Silverado is part of Sacramento State’s Parking Enforcement fleet. Cacee has fueled the Sac State vehicle with Flex Fuel E85 since Propel started pumping in [...]
Audi TDI Clean Diesel premier strikes a chord

propel

23 Jun 2009 | 3:44 pm

If you look in the Propel parking lot you’ll see a common thread, clean diesel vehicles. As a fuel company working to reduce our dependence on foreign oil, we recognize the importance of providing access to both American-made fuels, as well as efficient clean diesel and Flex Fuel vehicles. Audi recently premiered its “Diesel. No [...]
US Energy Secretary pushes for widespread E85 capability

propel

23 Jun 2009 | 10:31 am

U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu recommends that all cars built in the United States should have the ability to run E85 Flex Fuel. Chu maintains that Flex Fuel compatibility is smart investment that will cost the industry little due to the small incremental costs needed for each new car produced. “I’ve been told it costs about $100 [...]
United States Postal Service runs alternative fuel

propel

19 Jun 2009 | 11:00 am

USPS fills up with Flex Fuel E85 at Propel’s Rocklin, CA location.

BioDieselNow
Daily News—07/02

Robert Gleeman

2 Jul 2009 | 1:31 am

Biodiesel researchers nominated for 2009 World Technology Award Two Arizona State University researchers working on biodiesel projects have been nominated for the 2009 World Technology Award, which recognizes individuals and corporations from 20 technology-related sectors. They’ll be headed to New York for the World Technology Awards gala ceremony on July 16, 2009 at the conclusion of the two-day World Technology Summit: Scientists Qiang Hu and Milton Sommerfeld in the College of Technology and Innovation at ASU’s Polytechnic campus, have been selected as nominees for the…
Daily News—07/01

Robert Gleeman

1 Jul 2009 | 2:44 am

Delray Beach, FL biodiesel plant planned at $20 million cost Photo of jatropha field: http://www.mydreamfuel.com/ DELRAY BEACH - Ag-Oil, a Delray Beach-based biofuel start-up, plans to build a $20 million pilot-scale biodiesel production facility in the Agricultural Reserve west of Delray Beach with the potential to produce 15 million gallons a year. Teri Gevinson, CEO of Ag-Oil, said the company has planted 20 acres of jatropha, a fast-growing plant with seeds that contain oil, to make biodiesel. The biorefinery will use a patented technology to convert jatropha seeds, algae and…
Daily News—06/30

Robert Gleeman

30 Jun 2009 | 2:46 am

Test Plant: Using algae to get rid if CO2 and produce ethanol Algenol A Florida company is partnering with Dow Chemical to install commercial photobioreactors at a Dow site in Texas. The planned design for the installation is shown above. Algenol grows algae in troughs filled with saltwater that becomes saturated with carbon dioxide. Above photo from: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/29/business/energy-environment/29biofuel.html The algae would be exposed to sunlight, in water mixed with carbon dioxide, and would give off ethanol and oxygen. Dow wants the ethanol as a feedstock for…
Daily News—06/29

Robert Gleeman

29 Jun 2009 | 1:58 am

Colorado: Biodiesel described as "silver buckshot" instead of a silver bullet Logo from: http://www.cubiodiesel.org/ BOULDER, Colo. — About a dozen people in a basement chemistry lab at the University of Colorado donned goggles and gloves on Sunday before turning used cooking oil into fuel. The idea behind the free "Biodiesel 101 Workshop" was to show that anyone can make the alternative fuel -- though a chemistry background is a definite advantage. "It seems complicated the first time you try it, but it's really not hard," said workshop teacher Josh…
Daily News—06/26

Robert Gleeman

26 Jun 2009 | 12:24 am

New biodiesel and E85 station opens in Solano County, CA The station was made possible with a $3.5 million California Air Resources Board grant, administered by the Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District. Air Resources Board chairwoman Mary Nichols described E85 as a transitional fuel that will help get Californians used to the idea of trying alternative fuels as the state moves forward in its efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Here again, we see a CARB grant make biodiesel and E85 available to consumers who are willing to buy it, but in many areas, are not…

IHT: Business of Green
Shell Disputes Amnesty Report on Nigeria

By Jad Mouawad

2 Jul 2009 | 11:02 am

A new report from Amnesty International blaming oil companies for wide-spread environmental abuse in the Niger Delta draws sharp criticism from Royal Dutch Shell.
Sharing Electric Cars in Baltimore

By Peter Wayner

2 Jul 2009 | 7:43 am

The Maryland Science Center is taking its educational mission to the streets with a pack of electric cars. In August, the museum will start renting the cars by the hour.
Is a Coal Production Boom Imminent?

By James Kanter

2 Jul 2009 | 7:01 am

Activity among coal producers and coal exporters in Australia, India and the United States is picking up, according to several reports this week.
Navy vs. Environmentalists Off Florida Coast

By Clifford Krauss

2 Jul 2009 | 6:12 am

The Navy is squaring off with environmentalists over a proposed $100 million naval warfare training range off the northern Atlantic coast of Florida.
Carbonomics: The Price vs. Quantity Debate

By Kate Galbraith

2 Jul 2009 | 6:04 am

If the nation's goal is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote the development of clean energy, is it easier to do this by managing the price of emissions and renewables, or establishing quotas for their reduction (emissions) and production (renewables)?

California Energy Blog
East Coast Bias Continues-- Dissing California!

CalEnergyGuy

2 Jul 2009 | 8:10 am

On Monday, President Obama held up California as the model for the nation's energy future.Yesterday, a newspaper in the President's back yard-- the Washington Examiner-- penned a blistering editorial that called out California as an unmitigated disaster of energy policy.The Examiner states:"Obama might want to rethink his choice of a model state because it is easy to understand how California has curbed its energy use. Between 2000 and 2007, before the current recession, the state shed nearly 21 percent of its manufacturing jobs, driving down its industrial electrical consumption by 21…
Republicans Stepping Out of Character to Support Cap & Trade

CalEnergyGuy

1 Jul 2009 | 8:02 am

First Scott McLellan, now Mike Gerson??In a "man bites dog" story, Michael Gerson, who was George W. Bush's most trusted speechwriter, hails the courage of the eight Republicans who voted for cap and trade last week.Gerson points out that "the eight Republicans who supported it were bound to feel some rapid political warming. Conservative Internet and radio accused them of single-handedly passing President Obama's "cap-and-tax" legislation..."But, he calls this a "myth," noting that Speaker Pelosi would have marshalled the necessary votes come hell or high water and this was a fait accompli…
Government Commits Public Lands for Solar

CalEnergyGuy

30 Jun 2009 | 9:03 am

Interior Secretary Ken Salazar signed an order yesterday 1,000 square miles of Western land for solar energy development. More than half of the acreage is in California.The Los Angeles Times reports:"The proposed California solar-generating areas are projected to have the annual capacity to produce 39,000 to 70,000 megawatts of electricity at full development -- enough to serve millions of homes. There are three large solar projects undergoing environmental review in the state."Salazar wants to thirteen solar projects underway by 2010.So far, the reaction from conservationists has been…
Strange Bedfellows

CalEnergyGuy

29 Jun 2009 | 2:57 pm

Newsflash: Valero is embracing wind energy. Sort of.Valero has installed a wind farm adjacent to one of its Texas facilities. At peak production, the farm will generate 50 MW, enough to power the adjacent facility nearly half of the time.According to a report:"The company hopes to lock in fluctuating electricity prices by developing its own source of power, rather than relying on the grid, and to cut the $1.4-million-a-month electricity bill at the seven-decade-old refinery. The $115 million wind farm, which will be ready to operate at full capacity in August, will pay for itself in about 10…
To Tax or Not to Tax?

CalEnergyGuy

29 Jun 2009 | 8:46 am

Last night Assembly Democrats passed a budget package that includes an almost 10% tax on oil production. The move is not unprecedented as Arkansas did something similary last year and Pennsylvania has a similar tax proposal this year. But legislators in Louisana are moving in the opposite direction, cutting taxes on oil and gas production in an attempt to attract more drilling.The Wall Street Journal quotes WSPA's Joe Sparano who is (obviously) openly critical of the California proposal: "California is a very difficult state to do business in to start with," said "Anything that adds to that…

Ecogeek
Greenpeace Releases Annual Green Electronics Rankings

2 Jul 2009 | 7:04 pm

Greenpeace International has released its annual "Guide to Greener Electronics" where it ranks leading electronics companies on their policies towards toxic chemicals, recycling and climate change. This year, PC makers made up the bottom of the list, Apple floated somewhere in the middle and cell phone makers got the highest marks. Below is the list with each company's score from 1 - 10 (10 being the best) with the brief explanation of the score provided by Greenpeace. 7.45 Nokia - Scores top marks for leading competitors on toxic phase out. 7.1 Samsung - Holds second position for…
Panasonic Speeds Up Recycling with Lasers

2 Jul 2009 | 6:56 pm

At the Panasonic Eco Technology Center in Kato, Japan, they've come up with a way to recycle old CRT TVs three times faster. Typically, workers could only disassemble 24 sets per hour because of the time-consuming task of separating the thick glass contained in the front and backs of the tubes. Now, with a new method that users a powerful laser, workers can disassemble 72 per hour. The laser system has also allowed the center to handle more TV sizes than the old hot wire method they had been using, increasing the amount of sets being recycled by the center by an even larger amount. This…
Yahoo Data Center Will Be Powered By Niagara Falls

2 Jul 2009 | 11:35 am

Companies like Google and IBM are trying to lead the world in cutting-edge, efficient data centers. Not to be outdone, on Tuesday Yahoo announced they're hoping to change to future of data centers as well. The company unveiled plans to build one of the world's most efficient data centers in Lockport, NY and the details do sound pretty exciting. The data center will be powered mainly by hydroelectric power from Niagara Falls, with 90 percent of that energy going towards powering the servers. The center itself will be built to resemble a chicken coop, using 100 percent outside air to cool…
Can a Solar Airplane Circle the Globe?

1 Jul 2009 | 5:00 pm

In earlier days of aviation, flying around the world was the ultimate test of pilots and new aircraft and now in the days of alternative-fueled aviation, it seems that test remains the ultimate challenge. Bertran Piccard, the pilot of the first nonstop, round-the-world balloon flight, hopes to achieve that goal in a solar-powered airplane called the Solar Impulse. The Solar Impulse design was first unveiled in late 2007, but now a working prototype has been developed. The plane will get a chance to take its first test flight at the end of the year. The test flight will consist of flight…
New LEED Certification Will Require Energy Reporting

1 Jul 2009 | 2:28 pm

Green architecture and design is so important in the world's quest for greater energy efficiency, but a green design is only as good as the person using it. A low-flow shower head is a great tool for cutting back on water use, but if the owner takes 45-minute showers, the shower head becomes negligible. Luckily, the U.S. Green Building Council wants to make sure its LEED program stands for more than just Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, but also leadership in energy and environmental performance. The USGBC announced last week that all projects seeking LEED certification will…

Inhabitat
Largest Eco-Village in the UK Will Boast Zero Carbon Homes

Evelyn Lee

2 Jul 2009 | 3:00 pm

The United Kingdom’s Hanham Hall Development is the largest eco-village aspiration to date. Designed by HTA and funded by Barratt Developments and the Homes & Communities Agency, there are a rumored 188-195 zero carbon homes in the overall housing scheme. The development will include an onsite biomass CHP plant, strategically placed reed beds, shops for farmers to sell their goods, bicycle storage throughout, and a carefully crafted drainage system. Hanham Hall is the first major eco city underway that is part of the government’s Carbon Challenge Programme. The government has set a…
Woolley Pockets: Build Your Own Garden of Eden

Evelyn Lee

2 Jul 2009 | 1:30 pm

Woolly Pockets is bringing the Garden of Eden indoors with their incredible planters for your walls and floors. These breathable little pockets of green are composed of 60% recycled plastic bottles and are made entirely in the USA. With containers costing anywhere from $29 for the Wee Woolly all the way to $247 for an entire Woolly Meadow, these little pockets ensure everyone can have their own little piece of green within reach in a container that keeps plants healthier than your average pot. Read the rest of Woolley Pockets: Build Your Own Garden of Eden Permalink | Add to del.icio.us Post…
INABA’s Pool Noodle Rooftop Opens to the Public for the Summer!

Yuka Yoneda

2 Jul 2009 | 12:00 pm

Bububluooopppp! That’s the sound a pool noodle makes when it sinks in the water, and it’s also what these zany seating arrangements constructed out of oodles of the buoyant toys on a Chelsea rooftop spell out when viewed from above. We guess LA-based firm INABA really, really likes words with “oo” in them (pool, noodle, rooftop) because they are the ones that designed this insanely colorful space which will be used to host film-screenings and outdoor events throughout the summer. The rooftop will also be open to the public at select times, so don’t miss your…
5 Cheap and Easy Last Minute Ways to Green Your Fourth of July

Yuka Yoneda

2 Jul 2009 | 10:30 am

Maybe you simply didn’t have enough time this year to think about it. Or maybe you’ve already gotten so many biodegradable plates, composting bins and other eco-hookups for your Fourth of July shindig that you feel you can’t possibly get any greener. Wait! Here are a few super simple and practically free ways to make your BBQ, beach bash or rooftop gathering more about celebrating and less about waste. Uncle Sam would be proud! Read the rest of 5 Cheap and Easy Last Minute Ways to Green Your Fourth of July Permalink | Add to del.icio.us Post tags: eco-friendly july 4th,…
Miniature Modernist Bauhaus Architectural Models

Beth Shea

2 Jul 2009 | 9:30 am

Good things really do come in small packages — as is the case with these mini modernist Bauhaus Models crafted by Auckland based painter and sculptor Gidon Bing and styled by Katie Lockhart. The diminutive Bauhaus dwellings were created as a promotional showcase for New Zealand paint company, Renese, to demonstrate their Karen Walker Paint charts. The inspiration for the dollhouse models was derived from “the Bauhaus school of the 1920s whose concept was to create and combine colors from an emotional point of view rather than a technical one.” This artful nod to Bauhaus…

CNET news: green tech blog
Fisker's good Karma

Wayne Cunningham

2 Jul 2009 | 2:03 pm

The Karma is a plug-in hybrid with four doors and a GT-style body.(Credit: CNET) Among the different alternative-fuel strategies playing out, Henrik Fisker is betting big on plug-in hybrids. At a recent dinner speech, he said plug-in hybrids, or PHEVs, will be the dominant type of car for the ... Originally posted at The Car Tech blog
Cleantech Group: Green investing sees uptick

Candace Lombardi

2 Jul 2009 | 5:59 am

Clean-technology investing could be seeing a rebound. Cleantech Group, a research firm backed by Deloitte, released a preliminary report on Thursday showing a slight uptick in clean-tech funding during the second quarter of 2009 in North America, Europe, China, and India. After two quarterly declines, the increase is good news, ...
Greenpeace guide frowns on HP, still loves Nokia

Candace Lombardi

1 Jul 2009 | 8:45 am

Greenpeace released its latest Guide to Greener Electronics on Wednesday, revealing that promises aren't always kept. The Greenpeace guide, which started in 2006, ranks the top 17 PC, cell phone, TV, and gaming console manufacturers based on their policies regarding e-waste, climate change, and use of toxic chemicals. Hewlett-Packard, ...
U.S. government maps solar energy future

Candace Lombardi

1 Jul 2009 | 7:34 am

The U.S. Bureau of Land Management, in conjunction with the Department of Energy, this week released six maps that could help determine the location of the next big push in solar energy. The BLM maps cover areas within the six U.S. states most suitable for solar energy generation ...
Yahoo redesigns data center, ditches carbon offsets

Tom Krazit

30 Jun 2009 | 12:28 pm

Yahoo thinks its plan for a new data center could eventually help the company achieve carbon-neutral status without having to resort to the purchase of carbon offsets.Yahoo's David Dibble discusses the company's plans for a Buffalo-area data center with New York Senator Charles Schumer (right, ...

Clean Break
Making sense of green incentive overload…

admin

2 Jul 2009 | 1:24 pm

PriceWaterhouseCoopers has come out with a handy chart for Canadian companies that are looking to “go green” but are also unaware of the incentives that are offered by the federal government and the provinces. It has created charts for federal incentives, and also charts for incentives offered by different provinces. Click here to access the charts.
U.S. officially joins IRENA; Canada still absent

admin

2 Jul 2009 | 11:32 am

Just an update: U.S. joins IRENA to “speed up adoption of renewable energy.”
Ottawa’s Lixar SRS gets snatched up by GridPoint

admin

29 Jun 2009 | 8:09 pm

I’ll have more to say on this acquisition in a few days, but wanted to draw attention to GridPoint’s purchase of Lixar SRS, a scrappy but secretive energy management startup in Ottawa/Toronto that within the utility sector has attracted a lot of well-deserved attention. GridPoint, which has raised more than $200 million in venture capital, has been using that money to bolster its smart-grid software offerings. With Lixar is gets a flexible, user-friendly, cleverly designed energy management and demand-response system that works over multiple protocols and through any Web…
Chu uses “very cool” Wayne Gretzky metaphor, says Obama

admin

28 Jun 2009 | 6:47 pm

I just had to point this out ’cause it made me laugh. President Obama had a Q&A session Sunday with reporters about Friday’s House vote on the U.S. clean energy bill. Energy Secretary Steven Chu and Carol Browner, the White House coordinator on energy and climate policy, also sat in. First, I urge you to read the Q&A, which was published online by the New York Times. It never ceases to amaze me how knowledgeable and well-spoken Obama is on the energy file. He truly *gets it*. At one point in the interview, Chu made the following comment: Well, I just want to reiterate what…
U.S. House narrowly passes Waxman-Markey. Up next: Senate

admin

26 Jun 2009 | 7:08 pm

It’s not enough. It’s too much. It will kill jobs. It will create jobs. If there’s one thing about climate politics, it’s tough to make anyone, let alone everyone, happy. Sure, Waxman-Markey isn’t the kind of tough-ass climate legislation many environmentalists were hoping for, but what’s the reality of scrapping it, starting from scratch and getting something better? Nil. Fact is, it’s better than what was there before. And considering the U.S. position on climate issues only a year ago, it’s a pretty spectacular feat to pass this kind of…

Fake Plastic Fish
Time is Running Out for 2 Causes I Care About!

2 Jul 2009 | 10:03 am

This month I've asked you guys to participate in two quick and painless campaigns to help out some worthwhile projects and organizations. This is the final stretch. The Netflix Find Your Voice Contest ends Sunday at 3AM ET and our $1 for Charity drive ends this coming Wednesday. Please take a minute to help out if you haven't already.Help Jenny Deller's environmental feature film Future Weather win the Netflix competition and receive the help she needs to get the film made. Jenny is not only making an environmental film, but she's trying to run her production as greenly as possible. Read my…
No Technology is Truly Green: A guest post from Alyssa J. Pasquale

1 Jul 2009 | 8:00 am

Before you invest in that new "green" computer or purchase those fun solar deck lights, read this insider's perspective from Fake Plastic Fish reader Alyssa J. Pasquale and consider whether buying new technology is ever truly green. If you have an idea for a guest post, please email me at beth[at]fakeplasticfish[dot]com and let me know. I'd love to feature more of your ideas here!I would first like to thank Beth for allowing me to write this guest post. My name is Alyssa and I am a PhD candidate at a very large university in Boston. I work in electrical engineering and have a focus on…
Fixing my Blue Plastic Umbrella

30 Jun 2009 | 8:00 am

Plastic is good for some things, right? Like keeping us dry in the rain. A few months ago, Treehugger posted an article about eco-friendly umbrellas ranging from those made from recycled plastic to one touted as the first biodegradable umbrella. So when my little blue umbrella broke, I considered replacing it with one of those -- until I remembered that the most eco-friendly choice would be to repair the one I have!The problem: One of the umbrella's ribs was broken. (I now know it's called a rib after finding an online diagram called Parts of an Umbrella.)Upon close inspection, I could see…
Kathleen Egan: Surfing the Plastic Wave

29 Jun 2009 | 11:00 am

Kathleen Egan -- surfer, artist, and environmental activist -- heads up SF Surfrider's Plastics Subcommittee, which is working to end the plague of plastic pollution in our oceans. I first met her last month displaying her Plastic Wave sculpture (made from the collected plastic of 12 friends over two weeks) at Adventure Ecology's SMART Art competition.We met again this past Friday and ended up hanging out at San Francisco's Pier 29-1/2 (where David de Rothschild is building his Plastiki boat from recycled plastic) after an unfortunate collision between a U-Haul trailer and a metal warehouse…
Kids Less Plastic: A Guest Post from Deborah Hladecek

26 Jun 2009 | 6:00 am

Deborah Hladecek is newly committed to reducing plastic in her family's life. And living in Northern California, she's practically my neighbor. So I was thrilled when she offered to write a guest post about what she's been doing about the plastic in her child's world. Deborah writes the truly awesome Pure Mothers blog. She also participated in the Show Your (Plastic) Trash Challenge this month. It was an eye-opening experience for her. Check out her stash.When Beth at FakePlasticFish asked for more bloggers to write about plastic, I thought, what could I possibly have to say that she…

Clean Energy Stocks
Renewable Energy Stocks Sector Close-Up on Solar Stocks -Evergreen Solar (NASDAQ:ESLR) upgraded by JP Morgan

Investorideas.com

2 Jul 2009 | 11:21 am

Renewable Energy Stocks Sector Close-Up on Solar Stocks -Evergreen Solar (NASDAQ:ESLR) upgraded by JP MorganPOINT ROBERTS, WA —July 2, 2009, -- www.RenewableEnergyStocks.com,a leading investor news and research portal for the renewable energy sector within Investorideas.com, presents a sector close-up on solar stocks trading as of July 2, 2009.Solar Stocks in the News*Akeena Solar, Inc. (Nasdaq:AKNS), SANTA CRUZ, Calif., July 1, 2009- a leading national installer and distributor of solar power systems, today announced the installation of its award winning Andalay solar panel system at…
American Wind and Wildlife Institute Names Judd Howell Director of Research Howell charged with spearheading AWWI’s research initiatives

Investorideas.com

2 Jul 2009 | 7:12 am

American Wind and Wildlife Institute Names Judd Howell Director of Research Howell charged with spearheading AWWI’s research initiativesWashington, DC – The American Wind and Wildlife Institute (AWWI), a national organization committed to facilitating timely and responsible development of wind energy and the protection of wildlife and wildlife habitat, has announced the selection of Judd Howell as its Director of Research and Evaluation."Judd brings the broad, disciplined approach to wildlife research that is essential to establishing the scientific gold standard AWWI intends to…
Clean Technology Venture Investment Rebounds in 2Q09 After Two Consecutive Quarterly Declines

Investorideas.com

2 Jul 2009 | 7:01 am

Clean Technology Venture Investment Rebounds in 2Q09 After Two Consecutive Quarterly Declines--$1.2 billion in venture capital invested in clean technology companies, led by electric vehicles and biofuels, while solar investment hits new low SAN FRANCISCO, July 1, 2009-- The Cleantech Group, founders of the cleantech sector and providers of leading global market research, events and advisory services for the cleantech ecosystem, along with Deloitte, which provides audit, tax, consulting and financial advisory services to cleantech companies, today released preliminary 2Q09 results for clean…
Green Stocks - Environment Stocks Directory

Investorideas.com

1 Jul 2009 | 9:32 pm

Green Stocks - Environment Stocks Directory Air Control Technology & CO2 RecyclingCO2 Solution Inc. (TSX:CST.V) CO2 Solution Inc. has developed a proprietary bio-technological platform for the efficient capture of carbon dioxide (CO2), the most important greenhouse gas (GHG), from power plants and other large stationary sources of emissions. The Company's technology platform exploits the natural power of a bio-catalyst (enzyme), carbonic anhydrase, which functions within humans and other mammals to manage CO2 during respiration. CO2 Solution has successfully adapted the enzyme to function…
Green Investing News - Senior Wall Street Team Launches First Investment Bank Dedicated Exclusively to Alternative Energy and Cleantech

Investorideas.com

1 Jul 2009 | 7:08 pm

Green Investing News - Senior Wall Street Team Launches First Investment Bank Dedicated Exclusively to Alternative Energy and CleantechFormer Top UBS Banker Jeffrey McDermott Assembles Expert Team from Goldman Sachs, Citi, Morgan Stanley, Barclays to Form Greentech Capital AdvisorsNEW YORK, June 30 , 2009 -- Greentech Capital Advisors, LLC, the only dedicated alternative energy and cleantech focused investment bank, today formally launched the firm, announcing a unique and significant set of capabilities and senior professionals.The firm's singular focus on the alternative energy space, a…

Cleantech Blog
The Colorado Cleantech Opportunity

Joel Serface

2 Jul 2009 | 3:48 pm

By Joel Serface – July 2, 2009In June, I took a great camping trip to a truly unique feature that many outside the state of Colorado know little about. It was the Great Sand Dunes National Park – the tallest sand dunes in North America with the backdrop of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. I arrived at the perfect time of the year when the temperature was warm enough to simulate a beach environment (small waves included), but before the snowmelt ceased over the course of the summer. It was a fantastic experience, but few other than Coloradans knew about this well-kept secret nestled in the…
Clean Energy and Climate Protection Bill Accelerates Electric Vehicles and Renewable Energy

John Addison

30 Jun 2009 | 7:56 am

For the first time, the U.S. House of Representatives passed legislation regulating greenhouse gases. Due to intense lobbying by industries that would incur added cost, such as coal powered utilities, HR 2454 barely was approved by a vote of 219 to 212. New battles are ahead in the Senate for the Waxman-Markey Bill. HR 2454 encourages more electric vehicles, plug-in hybrids, and advanced batteries to be developed and commercialized in the United States. Should HR 2454 become law, cities will more rapidly roll-out convenient electric charging stations. If you want to buy a car with better…
Talking Trash

Richard T. Stuebi

29 Jun 2009 | 3:48 am

by Richard T. StuebiEver wonder whether recycling really works? Or, how it's done? Last week, I found out -- by touring a material recovery facility (MRF) operated by Waste Management (NYSE: WMI).The process in an MRF is pretty straightforward. The recyclable materials accumulated from various end-user disposal points -- for households, this would be curbside bins -- are trucked into the facility and then dumped. The materials travel along a maze of conveyor belts, along the way being sorted by various means -- mechanical shaking, blowers, magnets, and even some manual labor -- into an…
Biomethane for Energy and Fuel

John Addison

25 Jun 2009 | 9:32 am

OK. I admit it. I am writing this article from a Summit about cow poop. No, this isn’t a joke to get 8-year olds rolling on the floor with laughter. This is serious. I am reporting from the inaugural National Biomethane Summit, in Sacramento, California, where over 300 attendees including elected officials, government agencies, farmers, ranchers, landfill owners, facility owners and operators, technology leaders, researchers, regional planners, and carbon trading experts. Biomethane is renewable natural gas because it is from biological sources. In some areas, biomethane is called renewable…
Announcing Our Cleantech Blog Space Biodiesel Project

Neal Dikeman

23 Jun 2009 | 2:59 pm

After the recent announcements about space solar projects, Cleantech Blog is announcing our Space Biodiesel project. "We are excited about space solar, it's like a moon shot - huge and available. Suprisingly enough, the near earth orbit biodiesel development rights have not yet been locked up." - SBP cofounder Alexandra Tesla, great granddaughter of the famed inventor of the same name.So we are launching Space Biodiesel Project, Inc. The program will use solar thermal collectors in orbit and the massive heat sink of space to drive our heat engine providing electricity and processing…

Green Tech Media: Cleantech Investing
Gigaton Throwdown

info@greentechmedia.com

26 Jun 2009 | 6:04 am

Cleantech investor Sunil Paul doesn't just invest his time and effort into startups, he and a lot of volunteers have also now launched the "Gigaton Throwdown", an effort to answer a huge question: What would it take to reduce CO2e emissions by a gigaton by 2020? It's well worth downloading and reading the report at the GT website. The report looks at nine different technology areas (ones where cleantech VCs have been putting in a lot of dollars, in most cases) to see what it would take to scale up each one to a gigaton of annual emissions reductions by 2020, including an estimate of how…
Defenestrate your assumptions

info@greentechmedia.com

19 Jun 2009 | 8:36 am

If one is to go by what cleantech VCs are saying these days, it seems like we're at a time where some of the core assumptions and current patterns in cleantech venture capital might be about to see some changes. This is all within the context of VCs generally agreeing that cleantech is going to see continued interest and investments going forward (note: pdf), of course. But the colleagues I speak with will often refer to some key challenges facing the sector's status quo: 1. The venture model is (kinda) broken, across all sectors. Lots of people say this phrase, but they all…
What happens if coal ISN’T cheap and plentiful?

info@greentechmedia.com

8 Jun 2009 | 8:00 am

Almost a year ago, I wrote about reading a National Geographic special issue on energy from 1981. So I was interested to pick up a copy of a new National Geographic special issue on energy. What's most interesting about the 2009 version is how much gloomier it is than the 1981 version. The 28 year old report reads almost like an issue of Popular Science, focusing on new technologies and potential solutions to energy supply challenges. The 2009 version talks about how we are stuck between a "played-out rock and a hard place," focusing as much on environmental challenges…
A new pet peeve

info@greentechmedia.com

1 Jun 2009 | 12:49 pm

So it seems that the big push among cleantech startups right now isn't just asking for money from the government... It's also putting out press releases announcing that they're asking for money. I won't name names, but I now get a few of these PRs in my in-box each day. I can't imagine it does much good towards affecting any official grant decision-making process. And if that startup doesn't get the requested grant, then how does it look for them? Worse, these announcements are often covered as breaking news by the industry media. Sign of the times, I…
Recent deals

info@greentechmedia.com

28 May 2009 | 7:34 am

Here are reported cleantech venture deals from the past few weeks, showing that things are still a bit slow but the money is starting to flow into a more diversified mix of sectors: GreenRoad, a vendor of fleet driver safety and fuel efficiency monitors, has raised $15mm in "growth funding", led by DAG Ventures and including return investors Benchmark Capital, Virgin Green Fund, Amadeus Capital Partners and Balderton Capital. OutSmart Power Systems, a developer of commercial building energy efficiency systems, has announced a $2mm seed round from Bainco, Clean Energy Venture Group, and…

Cleantech Investing in Israel
Phoebus Energy raises $1m to develop innovative heating system

Jonathan Shapira

9 Jun 2009 | 11:15 am

Phoebus Energy, which is developing a hybrid heating unit to more efficiently produce energy for institutions such as hotels, hospitals, and factories, has raised $1 million from the Galilaea Fund, a private investment fund, according a report in Globes.Phoebus Energy was founded in 2007 and received a first round of $2.1 million in venture funding from Terra Venture Partners. The company and its CEO, Yoav Ben-Yaacov, were featured in Israel21c last year.Galilaea is a strategic consultancy firm with representatives in Europe and Israel, and is managed by Lior Shilat, who served in the Prime…
Metrolight raises $3m, names Zvi Segal as new CEO

Jonathan Shapira

4 Jun 2009 | 2:53 pm

Metrolight Ltd., a leading provider of electronic ballast solutions for energy efficient lighting, announced today that it has raised $3 million and appointed Zvi Segal as a Chief Executive Officer. Zvi Segal, a veteran of Orbotech Group, Applied Materials and Teledata Communication, will lead Metrolight's growth phase driven by what Metrolight says is strong demand for its energy saving products and services from commercial, industrial and municipal customers across Europe and the US. Metrolight's High Intensity Discharge (HID) eBallast reduces up to 60% of energy consumed and doubles the…
HCL CleanTech raises $5.5m from Khosla Ventures and Burrill & Company

Jonathan Shapira

1 Jun 2009 | 8:18 am

HCL CleanTech Ltd., a biofuels start-up based in Tel Aviv, announced today a $5.5 million Series A financing led by Khosla Ventures, Burrill & Company, and angel investor Zohar Gilon.HCL CleanTech has developed a proprietary technology to make an old, industrially proven German process converting lignocellulosic biomass to fermentable sugars economically attractive. According to the company, it is these fermentable sugars which are considered the gateway to advanced biofuels (biobutanols, biodiesel, jet fuel etc) and biochemicals (bioplastics etc). "Accessing cheap sugar locked in biomass…
GreenRoad raises $15m from DAG Ventures and existing investors

Jonathan Shapira

28 May 2009 | 10:22 am

GreenRoad, which is developing technologies to encourage safe and fuel-efficient driving behavior, announced today that it has raised $15 million in growth funding.DAG Ventures, a venture capital investment partnership, led the round with participation from existing investors Benchmark Capital, Virgin Green Fund, Amadeus Capital and Balderton Capital.GreenRoad also announced that Nick Pianim, managing director at DAG Ventures, was appointed to the company’s board of directors.“We are very proud to have earned the confidence of DAG Ventures, as well as our existing institutional…
Solaredge partners with BP Solar to test solar efficiency products

Jonathan Shapira

27 May 2009 | 9:40 am

SolarEdge is joining forces with BP Solar to test new products designed to help solar modules operate more efficiently in harvesting the sun's rays, the companies said today in a press release. BP Solar, a unit of oil giant BP Plc, will integrate into its solar modules SolarEdge's electronics that are designed to reduce the losses in solar arrays. Those losses can cut their power output by as much as 20 percent.In support of this activity, BP Solar and SolarEdge have been awarded a research grant by the Israeli and US governments as part of the BIRD Foundation (Bi-national Industrial Research…

ALT Energy Stocks: Cleantech News
New Measures to Aid Solar on Public Lands

(Source: Business of Green - References: Earth2Tech,WorldChanging,Climate Progress) The Secretary of the Interior announced initiatives to hasten the development of solar energy on western public lands, including close study of 24 sites in six Western states.
China, Electric Vehicles and Detroit Electric

(Source: Business of Green - References: Earth2Tech,Climate Progress) A Q&A with Detroit Electric's chief executive, Albert Lam, about the company's expanding partnerships in Asia and his plans for marketing the brand internationally.
Are the Chinese Working To Curb Their Emissions?

(Source: RenewableEnergyAccess.com) Beijing's formulation of the {Alternative Energy Revitalization Plan} is yet another concrete illustration of the determination of the Chinese government to develop a low-carbon economy. It is also a reminder to critics of China's efforts to tackle
E.P.A. Allows California Emissions Rules

(Source: Business of Green - References: Earth2Tech,My Green Element,Climate Progress) The Environmental Protection Agency has granted California's long-sought request to tighten tailpipe emission regulations, a key step in the Obama administration's plan to make cars across the nation more fuel efficient.
Transportation Takes the Day in Cleantech Funding

(Source: Energy Industry - References: PickensPlan) Maybe funding for cleantech companies is stabilizing — or maybe there’s just excitement over a particular segment. The latest report detailing cleantech fundings is out, and of its $1.2 billion in deals, up 12 percent over last quarter,

Gil Friend
Breaking the Barriers and Seizing the Moment

Gil Friend

26 Jun 2009 | 8:27 am

I like the way a masterful interviewer and editor can make you look good! Check out Breaking the Barriers and Seizing the Moment, the interview I just did with Joel Makower of Greenbiz.com. The occasion is the release of my new book, The Truth About Green Business (which is now moving up the carts, as they say -- and waiting for your review!). But the interview is wide ranging, starting with my perspectives from nearly 40 years in the sustainability field, on "where we are and how far we've come." I feel both excited and deeply concerned. It's like that old Charles Dickens line, the best of…
Green Business Lie #18: We can market this "green" thing any way we want to, pard'ner! It's the Wild West!

Gil Friend

11 Jun 2009 | 9:24 am

Here's the lie: Green Business Lie #18: We can market this "green" thing any way we want to, pard'ner! It's like the Wild West! Here's the truth -- excerpted from The Truth About Green Business: TRUTH 18: Green Marketing Claims A good, clear, green claim should be specific, truthful, verifiable, and meaningful. Some companies have overstated their green claims and have suffered in the market. Consumer watchdog groups and environmental NGOs (nongovernmental organizations) are on the lookout for misleading or even weak green claims. NGOs often have market muscle - sales of bottled water dropped…
Green Business Lie #23: We don't make anything--we're just a service provider. There's nothing we can do to "green up"!

Gil Friend

10 Jun 2009 | 9:26 am

Here's the lie: Green Business Lie #23: We don't make anything--we're just a service provider. There's nothing we can do to "green up"! Here's the truth -- excerpted from The Truth About Green Business: TRUTH 23: What Makes a Service Green? As you think about how to make your services greener: -Ask yourself and your customers, “What does the customer need, really?” What’s the function that needs to be fulfilled? “If I want to hang a picture,” Amory Lovins (Chairman and Chief Scientist at Rocky Mountain Institute) pithily observes, “I don’t need a drill; I need a hole.” Are you…
Green Business Lie #38: Our data centers aren't that big a part of our total energy spend. I don't see any savings there.

Gil Friend

8 Jun 2009 | 8:16 am

Here's the lie: Green Business Lie #38: Our data centers aren't that big a part of our total energy spend. I don't see any savings there. Here's the truth -- excerpted from The Truth About Green Business: TRUTH 38: Creating More Efficient Data Centers To reduce that footprint--and the energy spend associated with it--companies are putting a great deal of effort into designing and operating more efficient data centers. These data centers use more efficient chips and fans, better computers, and better arrangements of computers within their buildings. However, there are still many opportunities…
Green Business Lie #28: It'll take a whole new management team to make any sustainability happen here.

Gil Friend

3 Jun 2009 | 10:39 am

Here's the lie: Green Business Lie #28: It'll take a whole new management team to make any sustainability happen here. Here's the truth -- excerpted from The Truth About Green Business: TRUTH 28: Innovation is at the Heart of Greening Don’t let fear of failure keep you from experimenting--and don’t let success breed complacency. The business world is littered with once-successful companies that stopped innovating because what they were doing worked well. Compare Toyota and GM. It’s clear which one has built innovation into its core practices. It’s a familiar story: a respected…

The BiOH Experience
Soy Style: Did You KnOH?

Jessica, BiOH Polyols Marketing Manager

2 Jul 2009 | 6:35 am

BIG NEWS! I am quite excited to announce the launch of our Soy Style: Did You KnOH? campaign that will start on Monday July 13 for two weeks… with the opportunity for someone to win $100 each day! Here’s how it works… A new post will be added each day featuring a furniture or bedding company that uses foam with soy-based BiOH polyols in their products. We had the opportunity to capture great videos in the showrooms of some fabulous companies in April at the High Point furniture market. You’ll hear about the latest styles, how products are made, what actions…
Shopping for Furniture or a Mattress?

Jessica, BiOH Polyols Marketing Manager

25 Jun 2009 | 3:07 pm

Good news! You’re search for products with soy-based BiOH Polyols just got easier! We are excited to launch our retail locator… making it simpler for you to find products made with BiOH polyols in your area. Products made using soy foams with BiOH polyols help reduce our dependency on petroleum, leave a smaller environmental footprint, and support farmers. You can search for all products made with BiOH polyols or for a specific product such as furniture or a mattress. (Plus, we’ll be adding more products where BiOH polyols are used soon!) Enter your zip code or city and…
A Picture is Worth… New Garden Gloves!

Jessica, BiOH Polyols Marketing Manager

22 Jun 2009 | 2:29 pm

With summer time in the northern hemisphere in full swing, we thought it was time to kick off a new helping out challenge… and figured there is no better time than summer to think about water consumption and protecting groundwater. I kept hearing references to “rain gardens” but didn’t know much about them. So I decided to do a little research on the topic - quite interesting! Rain gardens are made with plants in a small depression and often on a natural slope. They are designed to soak in rain water runoff from roofs, driveways, patios or lawns. Rain gardens…
Under the Covers and Inside a Natura Mattress

Jessica, BiOH Polyols Marketing Manager

29 May 2009 | 7:57 am

May is Better Sleep month… so there’s no better time to consider what’s under your covers and how a quality mattress can enhance your sleep! One mattress company that is committed to “green, natural, and organic” sleep products as well as education around their products is Natura World. Their blog is filled with interesting posts - from a product guide outlining differences of their 5 unique product lines to a sneak peek at celebrities who sleep on Natura mattresses. (If Halle Berry and Matthew McConaughey love Natura, then I’m in!) Not only is Natura about…
Thank You for Helping Plant 1000 Trees!

Jessica, BiOH Polyols Marketing Manager

22 May 2009 | 11:49 am

I just want to thank everyone who took action from our last post to join and recruit others for our Facebook Cause. We reached our goal of 1,000 members on Tuesday, May 19… a week and a half early! A donation has been made to The Nature Conservancy for their Plant A Billion campaign to plant 1000 trees in the Atlantic Forest of Brazil. As of today, the campaign has planted 5,177,376 trees… so they have a ways to go to reach their goal of one billion! If you would like to help continue to spread the message about their campaign, you can start your own campaign, send an e-card, or…

Environmental Leader
Green Seal Adds First U.S. Standard for Personal Care Products

Environmental Leader

2 Jul 2009 | 11:33 am

To help consumers sort out sometimes false and misleading environmental claims, Green Seal has launched its Green Seal certification for personal care products after 18 months in development. Touted as the first U.S. standard to address the health, environmental, and labeling concerns of infants, children and adults, consumers can use the standard as a guide to [...]
Electronics Firms Face Off Against Mandated Recycling Programs

Environmental Leader

2 Jul 2009 | 9:14 am

From smaller electronics companies to national electronics organizations, a war is being waged against the various state regulations that mandate manufacturers provide recycling of consumer electronics. With the recent conversion to digital television programming, more and more older television sets are being put on the curb. To reduce environmental damage from electronics waste, governing bodies from Washington [...]
REI, Founding Farmers, North Face Win A.R.E. Sustainability Awards

Environmental Leader

2 Jul 2009 | 8:40 am

REI, Founding Farmers and The North Face are the inaugural winners of the Association for Retail Environments’ (A.R.E) Sustainability Awards launched at GlobalShop 2009 to encourage excellence in sustainable retail design. Judges awarded the highest honors to projects that balance comprehensive sustainability programs with good design. REI’s Round Rock, Texas, store won the Project of the [...]
Sony Ericsson Joins Nokia, Samsung as ‘Greener’ Electronics Makers

Environmental Leader

2 Jul 2009 | 7:03 am

The latest update of Greenpeace International’s “Guide to Greener Electronics” indicates that the world’s biggest PC makers — Hewlett Packard, Dell and Lenovo — have again failed to meet their commitments to eliminate PVC plastic and brominated flame retardants (BFRs) from their products by the end of 2009. As a result, Greenpeace gave HP, Lenovo and [...]
Australia Joins Carbon Reduction Label Scheme

Environmental Leader

2 Jul 2009 | 6:55 am

Australia is joining the UK in using the Carbon Trust’s Carbon Reduction Label, touted as the world’s first carbon label for consumer products. The Carbon Trust, an organization backed by the UK government, has signed an agreement with Planet Ark, a leading Australian environmental organization, to establish its Carbon Reduction Label in Australia. The first products [...]

Joel Makower: Two Steps Forward
Why Best Buy Is Rooting for the Smart Grid

joelmakower

29 Jun 2009 | 9:32 am

The retail giant that helped bring car stereos, camcorders, and CD players to the masses wants to be homeowners' best friend in the emerging world of smarter, greener technology. Best Buy hasn't been front and center as a green business leader. The corporate responsibility section of its website focuses primarily on Energy Star appliances and e-waste recycling, which the company rolled out to all of its 1,000 or so U.S. stores earlier this year. Beyond that, the company seems to be engaged in the usual efforts to reduce its environmental footprint. Behind the scenes, however, Best Buy has…
The 'Gigaton Throwdown' and the Big Hairy Audacious Question

joelmakower

24 Jun 2009 | 7:05 am

Some of my favorite questions begin with the same four words: "What would it take..." What follows those four words can be just about anything, as in: What would it take to ... make solar energy as cheap and efficient as fossil fuel-based electricity?... routinely build zero-waste factories?... recycle 90 percent of the waste in my city within five years?... make organic foods cost-competitive with conventional ones? ... make airplanes operate on electric power? ... create zero-energy low-income housing? And so on. Such big, hairy audacious questions get past the ideal to the real, looking at…
Will Radical Transparency Save the Earth?

joelmakower

16 Jun 2009 | 8:25 pm

There's a growing school of thought that unfettered information about the environmental impacts of our world will smoke out the bad guys and help the good guys win. I wish it were that simple. I've just finished reading Ecological Intelligence, the new book by Daniel Goleman, whose 1997 bestseller, Emotional Intelligence, helped broaden our thinking about what it means to be "smart." (It's not the IQ test, stupid.) Now, he's turned his sights on the environment — specifically, the quantity and quality of information available about the environmental impacts of the things we buy. His highly…
Intuit Helps Small Business Capture a 'Green Snapshot'

joelmakower

7 Jun 2009 | 6:13 pm

Can the company that tamed financial accounting do the same for carbon accounting? That's the aim of Green Snapshot, a just-launched free service of Intuit, the company that makes popular financial management software like Quickbooks and TurboTax. Snapshot is aimed at the same market as those products: millions of small and midsized companies, few of which have the time, temperament, or temerity to calculate their company's carbon footprint, let alone take action to reduce it. The program is fairly straightforward: It automatically mines your Quickbooks data, culls the various…
The Green Future of the "New GM"

joelmakower

2 Jun 2009 | 10:31 pm

What to make of this week's bankruptcy filing by General Motors? The beginning of the end? The end of the beginning? A death? Rebirth? Something in between? Given the months-long anticipation of this development, much already has been written and said, and many fingers pointed. GM, as Paul Ingrassia recently opined in the Wall Street Journal, made "decades of dumb decisions." And while there's truth to that, GM, Chrysler, and the other automotive companies didn't create this mess by themselves. It took a village — unions, consumers, regulators, and assorted others — to bring the car…

Sustainablog
Looking for Green Business Ideas? Check Out Gil Friend’s “The Truth about Green Business”

Jeff McIntire-Strasburg

2 Jul 2009 | 10:18 am

Another book on green business? You may be tempted to wonder if we need another one. After all, there are already numerous classics on the subject (The Ecology of Commerce, Natural Capitalism, Mid-Course Correction), as well as more recent books that bring the subject of sustainable business into the 21st century (Green to Gold, Strategies for the Green Economy). What can Gil Friend, founder and CEO of consulting firm Natural Logic, add to the subject with his new book The Truth About Green Business? (Note: that paragraph’s brimming to the gills with affiliate links…) The short…
Green Talk Radio: Green Blogger Series David Anderson Co-Founder of Green Options Media

Sean Daily

2 Jul 2009 | 6:00 am

GreenTalk Radio show host Sean Daily speaks with David Anderson, co-founder of Green Options Media about the story behind Green Options and their post-Virgance acquisition future. [Courtesy of our friends at GreenLivingIdeas.com] Click Play Below,or This post contains additional media. Click here to view the full post.
July 4: How are you celebrating Independence Day?

John Ivanko

1 Jul 2009 | 7:27 pm

Like millions of Americans, we’re celebrating July 4th, Independence Day. However, we’re celebrating this national holiday by focusing on the many aspects of our life that, in various ways, have led us to quite a different vision for a sustainable tomorrow – complete with local, renewable energy and lots of delicious meals harvested within ten miles of where we live – if not from our own kitchen garden. Sometimes we even celebrate July 4th with a rainbow. Here’s how our Independence Day is different — and yours can be too: • Be energy independent by generating all our…
More Revelations about the Conflict Materials in your Cell Phone

Jeff McIntire-Strasburg

30 Jun 2009 | 1:07 pm

Two weeks ago, we took a look at news from the Congo involving “conflict minerals”: armed groups have exploited the mining of materials such as tin, tungsten, gold, and tantalum, and the people who live near these resources, to fund their fighting. Since then, I’ve had a chance to communicate with David Sullivan, a research associate with the Enough Project, about the issues surrounding the situation in the Congo. David addresses the multiple atrocities — human and environmental — surrounding the trade of these materials, and the actions you can take to ensure…
Environmental Defense Fund: Climate Report - Life in a Very Different United States

Leslie Valentine

30 Jun 2009 | 12:21 pm

Today’s post is by Lisa Moore, a climate scientist at EDF. NOAA recently released a terrific scientific report that explains, in plain English, the current and projected effects of climate change on the U.S. The nonpartisan report, prepared by the 13-agency U.S. Global Change Research Program, tells a grim but important story, clearly and with lots of powerful maps and charts. I encourage you to check it out to see how climate change will affect your area of the country. Here are some of the “business-as-usual” projections that my colleagues and I find most striking and…

wattwatt.com latest pulses
Plea for UK government help for Deepstream Technologies

Pippa

Posted on June 24, 2009 by Pippa Rojo Couldn't help but notice this article written by the editor of a serious publication, Electronics Weekly.When there's so much talk about how hi-tech countries in the developed world are losing their lead and look like losing a lot more before the situation right itself I can't help but quote:"It was with great sadness and some anger that I read Deepstream Technologies had finally called in the administrators at the behest of some of its creditors.The company is now up for sale and 80 staff are out of work. If ever there…
STMicroelectronics Unveils Ultra-Low-Power Technology Platform for 8-bit and 32-bit Microcontrollers

Manas

Posted on June 22, 2009 by Manas India STMicroelectronics has announced details of an ultra low power technology platform for building a range of 8 and 32bit microcontrollers.ST claims that this platform would enable future generations of electronic products to consume less power, meet energy efficiency standards and operate for longer from batteries.ST will introduce the first new microcontrollers, the STM8L and STM32L, later in 2009 as part of its ultra low power product paths for the 8bit STM8S and 32bit STM32F families. The microcontrollers have been designed to achieve power consumption…
Can HP's alliance with Alcatel-Lucent pose real threat to Cisco ?

Manas

Posted on June 20, 2009 by Manas India Came across this article at blog Tech Balls http://techballs.blogspot.comHP has entered into a 10-year alliance with Alcatel-Lucent. HP has been trying to delve into the networking business for quite sometime through its networking division, ProCurve. Undoubtebly, Cisco's advancements into the datacenter have strained its partnership with HP. The Alcatel-Lucent alliance will add to what HP can do in networking.Neither HP nor Alcatel-Lucent have released too much details of the deal but they will jointly market their products in a move to help…
Texas Legislature Folds on Solar Bet

Dean

Posted on June 15, 2009 by Dean Dowd Texas: the home of longhorns, domestic oil, and Texas Hold'em poker. While most energy analysts would consider solar power a fairly safe bet at the modern poker table that is today's energy and political arena, apparently Texas legislators are folding out of the competition. In a move that will likely set back Texas' solar industry at least two years, several proposals put before those lawmakers failed as the most recent congressional session came to an end.Texas is famous for its wind power, for which it is our national leader in production. But our…
Energy Star Rating for Servers

Tech

Posted on June 9, 2009 by Tech Analyzer US Environmental Protection Agency launched much awaited Energy Star program for enterprise servers. Energy star rating would act as a yardstick with the customer to optimize energy efficiency of their server enviornment. The EPA introduced the Energy Star program in 1992 as a voluntary program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through energy efficiency. It's now found on monitors, computers, TVs, DVD players, on up to whole buildings.The energy start certification would provide impetus to the green data center movement.More than two years in…

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)

Decelerating Delta S
The Gas Economy, Round 2

22 Jun 2009 | 12:59 pm

In the 1990s, natural gas was considered to be the fuel of the future, especially for electrical generation. Then, prices spiked at the beginning of the century. Now that gas prices have fallen once again AND some legislation regarding greenhouse gases may finally be coming through, the use of natural gas for electricity generation is looking up once again. An article, titled Cap and trade: unexpected friend to gas industry on Energy Bulletin today mentioned the very logical point that the hotly-debated Waxman-Markey Cap and Trade bill for greenhouse gases will actually be a boost to the gas…
Hybrid Power Plants

19 Jun 2009 | 5:12 pm

Solar thermal electricity generation is often touted as one of the most promising renewable energy solutions due to its lower cost and higher efficiency on a large scale compared with photovoltaics. While promising, building such a plant is still expensive. I have recently gained interest in a hybrid power plant concept - using solar heat to aid in the generation of steam at existing fossil-fuel power plants. It combines the political popularity of the word hybrid with the generators and turbines already in place at existing coal-fired power plants to make a solar system which has the…
The Ideology Conundrum

17 Jun 2009 | 11:23 am

A few days ago, an article was written in the Telegraph speaking of how the city of Flint, MI is considering the elimination of many abandoned properties due to the shrunken population and revenue drain resulting from the city caring for property and land which is no longer inhabited. Upon reading (some of) the comments section, I became slightly ill to my stomach and contemplated throwing the computer out the window. 845 comments were posted to this article as of 2:50 PM June 17...an absolutely immense number. First of all, the majority of people posting comments to this article read the…
MS Exchange Server Horrors

22 May 2009 | 8:22 pm

If anyone out there uses Microsoft Exchange...I happen to administer one and had a horrifying 10 hours with it today/yesterday. NEVER, EVER uninstall the SMTP portion of IIS on a Windows Server running Exchange (I believe that I did it by accident). NEVER EVER! Your mail server will crash and burn even after you reinstall SMTP. I eventually had to roll back the entire machine to the backups from the day before (a 3-hour process in itself, extracting 100 GiB from a USB hard drive file-by-file). I used to believe that backing up the entire disk every night (software and all) was a waste. Not…
Defining Freedom

17 May 2009 | 3:25 pm

Industrial lobbying groups, chambers of commerce, and many politicians seem to always attempt to prevent the passing of any policy which may result in a change of mentality towards less materialistic consumption even if it offers us a healthier, more peaceful, and happier lifestyle. These groups often win support by stating that environmental policy will result in a reduction of "freedom" - e.g. "they are going to take away your right to get rich, own two SUVs, live in a 3000-square foot house, and fly to Florida three times per year." It sounds ridiculous, but this is…

EcoEarth.Info: Earth Blog
EARTH MEANDERS: Old Forests, REDD Rage and Earth Revolution

29 Jun 2009 | 5:05 pm

By Dr. Glen Barry, Ecological Internet Earth Meanders come from Earth's Newsdesk Earth and her humanity need old forests to exist. And all enabling their destruction, including potential carbon markets paying for 'sustainable forest management' in primary forests, are legitimate targets for an Earth Revolution. For too long those feeding upon the trough of "sustainable" forestry have been perpetuating the myth that primary and old growth forests can and should be harvested using "Sustainable Forest Management" (SFM) techniques. Old Forests are key to ecosystem, biodiversity, human and the…
ALERT! Mighty Mekong River Must Forever Flow Freely

28 Jun 2009 | 10:09 am

TAKE ACTION! The mighty Mekong River [search] in Southeast Asia faces a devastating threat from eleven new proposed dams. If even one of the dams are built in Cambodia, Laos or Thailand; they would block major fish migrations and otherwise ecologically disrupt this vitally important river, placing at risk millions of people who depend upon the Mekong for their food security and income. Help "Save the Mekong" and this affinity campaign in seeking to pressure regional governments to shelve the plans.
ALERT! Madagascar: Daewoo's Rainforest Land Grab in Nature's Paradise

19 Jun 2009 | 6:13 am

TAKE ACTION! The island of Madagascar is a veritable Noah's Ark of biodiversity [search], and this natural wealth is the country's primary treasure and opportunity for future ecologically sustainable development. The Korean company Daewoo Logistics intends to lease half the agricultural land in Madagascar for 99 years, industrially producing maize and palm oil on 1.3 million hectares that are now biodiversity rich rainforests and gardens. There already exists a severe food crisis nationally and local peoples, who are soon to be dispossessed from their land, are protesting, causing a major…
VICTORY/RELEASE: Global Consensus Emerging Regarding Need to End Industrial Primary Forest Logging as Keystone Climate Change Response

8 Jun 2009 | 11:00 pm

After being a lone voice in the wilderness for decades, Dr. Glen Barry and Ecological Internet's biocentric forest protection position has been adopted by most major forest protection organizations. It remains to be determined how those committing to keeping such logging out of UN carbon finance can reconcile with their support for Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification of first time old forest logging. Regardless, time to unite the forest and climate movements going into Copenhagen with strong message of protecting and restoring standing old forests for local development and…
RELEASE: Police Violently Attack Peaceful Indigenous Blockade in Peruvian Amazon, Killing Many

5 Jun 2009 | 8:31 pm

Peruvian police reportedly shot indigenous protesters from helicopters -- as peaceful protesters were protecting their ancestral land. Online affinity campaign demanding Peru respect indigenous rights continues. TAKE ACTION! Peru's police have clashed with Amazon tribes opposed to foreign companies opening oil wells and mines in their rainforests without their consent. Police reportedly shot at protesters from helicopters, killing as many as twelve blockading a road to protect their land. Amazon Watch and Western media report indigenous protesters outside of Bagua, in a remote area of…

1GreenProduct
Vizio VO320E 32-inch LCD HDTV with Eco HD Performance

[caption id="attachment_566" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Vizio's energy-efficient VO320E 32-inch LCD TV"][/caption] I'd like to elaborate on a theme I raised a couple of weeks ago regarding the amazing advances in technology. Free enterprise and capitalist competition sometimes (deservedly) get a bad rap for encouraging greed and gluttony, but the flip side is that ...
Pangea Organics Body Care

The Product: Pangea Organics body care products (prices vary from $8 for bar soap to $40 for facial mask) The Promise: No petrochemicals, sulfates, detergents, synthetic preservatives, artificial colors/fragrances or GMOs. Organic, fair trade (whenever possible), cruelty-freeMolded fiber packaging made from 100% post-consumer newsprint without glues or dyes. Packaging has been ...
Review of New Cleaning Products at Eco Child’s Play

Happy Summer Solstice! Looking for the dirty secrets on the latest eco-friendly cleaning products to hit the market? Scurry over to Eco Child's Play to get the goods. (Despite the name, the site apparently has no relation to the 1988 horror movie Child's Play about a killer doll named Chucky. Although maybe a ...
Best Buy and electric bicycles

[caption id="attachment_571" align="alignright" width="299" caption="Will Izip's folding Via Mezza Enlighted e-bike be among those sold at Best Buy? (photo via Izip website)"][/caption] Want further proof that e-bikes are going mainstream? Last month, Bicycle Retailer reported that Best Buy will start stocking e-bikes and electric scooters in some of its West Coast stores. I'm ...
My Favorite Product — Lisa Petty likes rmsbeauty organic makeup

1GreenProduct.com is pleased to feature the recommendation of guest expert Lisa Petty BA, RNCP, a holistic nutritionist, wellness coach, international speaker and author of Living Beauty: Feel Great, Look Fabulous & Live Well.To find out more about Lisa and her "whole beauty" philosophy, visit her website.Lisa recommends:rmsbeauty, a 100% organic ...

Mom Goes Green
Tiny tees for your little Revolutionary.

Doreen

1 Jul 2009 | 6:35 am

Much to the occasional dismay of our kids, I am a mom who refuses to buy clothing that is a walking billboard for TV and movie characters. Call me a downer, but if my kids are going to carry a message, I don’t want them to be a free advertisement (that I paid for!). They do however have some clothing that carries a message that I’m proud to have them sport. My daughter has a tee that says “Love Trees, Please” and another shouting “Go Green!” We are quite a pair when I’m donning my own “Go Green” tee. Now I’ve discovered a great little clothing company and our son is…
Air conditioning vs. fresh air: 10 ways to “keep our cool”.

Doreen

29 Jun 2009 | 8:04 am

At the start of every summer, as the temperature rises, my husband and I seem to have the same discussion… when to turn on the air conditioning! This is never an easy discussion (okay! read: argument!) as this is the man who wears shorts and t-shirts around the house when it is 19 degrees outside in the dead of winter. I prefer the open windows and doors, and want to breathe the fresh air. To this my husband responds “Babe, it ceases to be fresh as soon as it’s 86 degrees with 70% humidity!” Well, it’s still fresh but I guess it does cease to be RE-freshing! Just like heating…
Eco-toilet paper: Messing with my husband’s throne!

Doreen

26 Jun 2009 | 6:36 am

Well, NOW I’ve done it! I made a change that made my husband call a foul! I switched our cushy Cottonelle Ultra toilet paper to an eco-friendly recycled brand and he is not happy. So much that it prompted him to blog about it and tell the world that he’s putting his foot down for the first time! I think in the back of my brain I thought I could make the switcheroo and he might not notice, but in reality, I knew this might be his limit. And alas, it is. I picked up some Seventh Generation toilet paper, and sure, it’s definitely nowhere near as thick and soft as the popular brands,…
Grab your gear and get back to nature.

Doreen

24 Jun 2009 | 6:30 am

I’ve always been a city girl at heart, but that doesn’t mean I don’t appreciate nature. In fact, I may even appreciate it more as I see the direct effect of suburban development near my home (and the herds of deer that have taken up residence in the ravine behind my house and spent one night devouring all of my landscaping!) And while I’m not one to ‘rough it’ either, I realize that getting back to nature doesn’t mean you have to spend a small fortune at the outdoor store and drive for hours to set-up camp in some remote region of the country. Your own backyard can…
Summer and the most organic produce has arrived…

Doreen

22 Jun 2009 | 6:30 am

Summer has arrived! Yippee! Not only does summer gift us with the best weather of the year, endless opportunities to get outdoors and enjoy every activity imaginable but also the gift of the freshest organic produce to grace our tables (”hold” the harmful and dangerous pesticides!). In fact, this weekend while visiting my in-laws house, I was assembling a wonderful BLT (I normally steer clear of bacon, but it smelled so temptingly good, I couldn’t stop myself!), but the lettuce was fresh from my mother-in-law’s garden so it felt a little more justifiable. It was so organic…

EcoEarth.iNFO
Time for action on climate change

2 Jul 2009 | 12:00 pm

Guardian: Two hundred children, a horde of farm animals and a bishop being followed by camera crews and journalists in an ark down the Thames might sound like a media circus. That, of course, is the point. In a loose recreation of the Noah story our ark will be a buzz with enthusiastic, young climate change activists fresh from delivering their own, homemade, ark to the prime minister. Accompanied by the music of a brass quintet, the temporary residents of the ark will join together in song as we sail ...
Loss of world's seagrass beds seen accelerating

2 Jul 2009 | 12:00 pm

Reuters: The world's seagrass meadows, a critical habitat for marine life and profit-maker for the fishing industry, are in decline due to coastal development and the losses are accelerating, according to a new study. Billed as the first comprehensive global assessment of seagrass losses, the study found 58 percent of seagrass meadows are declining and the rate of annual loss has accelerated from about 1 percent per year before 1940 to 7 percent per year since 1990. Published this week ...
Turkey plans to restart work on controversial dam project

2 Jul 2009 | 12:00 pm

Guardian: Turkey today announced plans to resume a controversial £1bn dam project in the face of environmental protests that it would displace thousands of people, destroy habitats and drown priceless archaeological treasures. The environment minister, Veysel Eroglu, said work on the Ilisu hydroelectric dam on the Tigris river in south-east Turkey would restart after a six-month funding suspension ends next week. The announcement disappointed campaigners who believed that the project had ...
EU: China, India must make emissions cuts

2 Jul 2009 | 12:00 pm

Associated Press: The chances of concluding a new global climate change pact remain dim unless China, India and Brazil make significant cuts in carbon dioxide emissions as well a senior Swedish climate change official said Thursday. Lars-Erik Liljelund, special climate change adviser to the Swedish government, said cuts from richer countries in the 27-nation bloc or planned cuts in the United States will not be enough to meet aims to cut at least 25 percent of emission from 1990 levels. "The ...
Scientists Study the Riches of the Mexican Pacific

2 Jul 2009 | 12:00 pm

Inter Press Service: Mexico's Pacific coast, one of the world's richest seaboards in terms of biodiversity, has been the focus of very few scientific studies. A new observatory aims to fill that void. The coastline includes nature preserves and protected areas that are home to an unknown number of plant and animal species, many of them unique to Mexico. The Jacques Cousteau Observatory will explore the physical, chemical, biological, climate and socioeconomic characteristics of the area, which will ...

EE/RE Investing: Tom Konrad
Market Predictions

Tom

30 Jun 2009 | 11:20 pm

Predicting market moves is notoriouslly difficult, but I’m feeling pretty good about my recent efforts. On October 11, 2008, I stoped being a permabear and said, “the market as a whole now seems to me to be fairly valued.” The S&P 500 closed the previous Friday just below 900; today it closed at 919.32. In the fear that abounded last October, it was a hard call to be even that bullish, bit it seems to have worked out. On June 2, I said we were near a market peak/ The S&P 500 closed that day at 944.74, and is currently down 3% almost a month later, having only bearly…
Ethanol, Cellulosic Ethanol, and Advanced Biofuels

Tom

23 Jun 2009 | 11:45 am

Last week, I attended the 2009 Fuel Ethanol Workshop and the Advanced Biofuels Workshop, writing two articles. The first is a commentary on what the corn ethanol industry needs to do to rehabilitate its image, and the second looks into how the stock investor can benefit from emerging advanced biofuel, cellulosic ethanol, and algae technologies.
Renewable Energy and Grid Integration Strategies Compared

Tom

10 Jun 2009 | 11:12 am

Here is a comparison of the costs of various renewable electricity generation technologies, based on a California transmission study. Similarly, I also recently wrote two articles comparing the costs of various grid integration strategies: Electricity Storage such as Batteries, Thermal Storage, Compressed Air, and Pumped Hydropower, as well as Demand Response, Smart Grid, and Transmission. Both have some charts allowing visual comparison of the technologies.
Solar Stocks

Tom

7 Jun 2009 | 9:49 pm

In May, I went to Solar 2009. One panel I attended led to a series of articles on Solar stocks: The outlook for solar stocks Why First Solar (FSLR) is a risky bet. Why Solar Millenium may have what it takes. I also particpated, with presentations on the best incentives for solar investments, and with an analysis of large scale electricity storage, as well as alternative renewable electricity integration strategies. Charles also attended, and took a look at the implications of the removal of the $2000 cap on the residential Investment Tax Credit.
Portfolio Performance Updates 2009

Tom

2 May 2009 | 2:20 pm

My Ten Clean Energy Stocks for 2009 has been beating the market and the clean energy sector handily, although the riskier Ten Clean Energy Gambles for 2009 has only been performing in-line with the sector. John Peterson’s cautious approach to the energy storage sector ("Cheap before Cool") has also been performing well. In tough economic times, it goes to show that playing it conservative pays off, even when the clean energy sector is getting a political boost.

Bright Green Talent Musings (www.brightgreentalent.com)
Barbara Boxer Falls in Line

nellis

30 Jun 2009 | 3:32 pm

Penned by Nick This morning Solar Richmond hosted Senator Barbara Boxer. Amongst a well-orchestrated public relations production, about 100 attendees from all walks of society milled about and got to know each other. At a time when folks are wondering “where are the green jobs?”, this place seemed to have all the answers. People were together, training, and envisioning–indeed, realizing!–a cleaner, greener tomorrow. But after the applause had died down and the press disappeared, I got a chance to sit down with Solar Richmond and hear about how hard it is to really…
I’m with Japanese Youth: Connecting the Dots

nellis

29 Jun 2009 | 11:02 pm

Penned by Nick One of the things we reinforce with every candidate is the importance of “connecting the dots” when they interview for a job. “Reiterate and tie together why they should hire you at the end of every answer,” we recommend. At times, I’m reminded of how true this advice is in present times. The NY Times ran a piece that connects the dots between social unrest and unemployment. Too often we forget to account for the social impact of unemployment in terms of both dollars needlessly spent and lives needlessly stalled or ruined. Investing in training…
Giving Voice to Jobseekers: 3 Ways Companies Can Clean Up their Hiring Processes

nellis

26 Jun 2009 | 11:04 am

Penned by Carolyn As companies have emerged from recession-induced hibernation, shaken off hiring freezes, and started to cautiously advertise job openings again, they’ve found an entirely different landscape than when they did their last round of recruiting. Jobseekers who’ve been haunting job boards for months have started to dive on any vacancy that they come across. Companies are seeing floods of barely-if-at-all qualified resumes come through and have found themselves trying to tackle the hiring process when they’re still hesitant about hiring, understaffed in their HR…
Trying to Learn from Constructive Criticism

nellis

23 Jun 2009 | 9:05 pm

Penned by Nick Over the past few weeks, we’ve received thoughtful, pointed, and critical feedback on how Bright Green Talent operates. It’s been welcomed, despite the toughness of its tone, because we believe that ultimately we must be held accountable for our actions. We must also learn from them. Today, we circulated a note to clients that was part information-sharing, part promotion. The note summarized a few key statistics from a recent (informal) poll we conducted last week of 450 green job seekers. After receiving the note, one recipient responded: “You do not know how…
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