Ecofriend |
16 hours ago
Eco Factor: Raser Technologies’ geothermal project to provide 10MW of green power. We all want our houses to be powered by solar panels and wind turbines, but apart from their dependence of local climatic conditions, high installation price of both these technologies have kept it away from global adoption. Until future technology delivers cheap and efficient solar panels and wind turbines, geothermal energy seems to be the most promising source of energy. If you live in Utah, then you might [...]
WorldChanging |
16 hours ago
This morning in Amsterdam the media is reporting a financial "meltdown," with stocks back to the level they were before the Dot.com Boom and international credit markets "seizing." Question: what are the implications of this meltdown for sustainability and social innovation? What are the implications in terms of pursuing sustainability and social innovation? What new approaches are now possible? What new approaches are now necessary? What kinds of unexpected innovations and solutions may we see emerge? Also, what are the [...]
Ecofriend |
17 hours ago
Eco Factor: Eco-friendly nightclub hosts a multitude of sustainable features. New York City has finally got its first eco-friendly night club – The Greenhouse. According to its name, the night club hosts many green features to lure eco-activists to come and have a ball. The 6,000-square-foot club is the first club in NYC to apply for LEED certification, which might be sanctioned considering the eco responsible features it carries. The club is entirely lit by LED lights and the all [...]
Ecofriend |
17 hours ago
Eco Factor: Vibration-powered sensors to detect road problems. Omron has developed a compact generator that can harness vibration and convert it into electricity. The generator is based on an “electret power generation system”, which generates power whenever the generator’s electrodes are subjected to motion and vibration. For now the prototype is just able to produce 10μW of electric power from 20Hz frequency and 1 G acceleration. This might not sound like something we might see in our cellphones, but it [...]
TreeHugger |
17 hours ago
Ancient Israelites collected morning dew from stones. There are prayers for dew in the Bible, and the recipe for the traditional Jewish bread –– challah –– includes how much dew to use in the batzhek (the dough). So it’s not a far-fetched idea that clean technology developers in Israel look to this ancient method of water extraction to solve water scarcity problems around the globe. An Israeli company EWA believes they have found a way to get around the enormous [...]
Yesterday
Ecofriend |
Nov 20, 2008 11:10PM
Eco Factor: Cool looking laptop stand made from corrugated cardboard. Using a laptop continuously for hours is not just exhaustive, but it also has some side effects on your body, especially your arms and wrists. A laptop stand can provide comfort but only at after paying a fortune. Eric Skiff has designed a laptop stand that can provide some relief both to your pocket and your body. The DIY stand has been made from stand has been made from three [...]
Ecofriend |
Nov 20, 2008 11:10PM
Eco Factor: Lighting system made from recycled plastic. Designers Wan-Jin Joo and Hyun-Joung Yoo have developed an ecofriendly lighting system, called the Arbre that brings a LED-lit tree to your house, making you feel close to nature. The energy efficient lights are made from recycled plastic to add more green to your home interiors. The Arbre uses a module method of lighting, so the user has to attach the branch shaped pieces into one another completing the tree. The more [...]
Ecofriend |
Nov 20, 2008 10:38PM
Eco Factor: Phone charged by kinetic energy comes with a variety of health monitoring sensors. Recently we witnessed a basic phone powered by solar energy and now we have one that powers itself by harnessing the kinetic energy of the body. The phone has specifically been designed for athletes and other people involved in sports. Designed by Oana Oniga, the phone does much more than keeping the user connected to the world. The SportPhone is to be worn like a [...]
3r Blogging |
Nov 20, 2008 10:21PM
New York Magazine's annual holiday gift guide came out this week and, once again, some products from 3r Living were featured: * Recycled Eco-Board Business Card Case $4.00 * EVA Vinyl Shower Curtain $32 If these items don't tickle your fancy, check out the new Green Gift Ideas and Holiday sections on 3rliving.com. For lots of gift ideas, also check out New York Magazine's Gift Guide (100
Gristmill |
Nov 20, 2008 05:22PM
By Kate Sheppard House Democrats unceremoniously dethroned John Dingell (D-Mich.) as chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, installing Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) in his stead -- a move that will have resounding implications for climate and energy policy going forward and demonstrates growing strength among the party's more liberal wing, especially when it comes to climate policy. Dingell, just three months shy of becoming the longest-serving chairman in House history, has long been seen as an ally of industry, especially [...]
Gristmill |
Nov 20, 2008 05:11PM
By David Roberts Ed Markey. In the wake of news that Henry Waxman will take over the House Energy and Commerce Committee, there's been some speculation that Speaker Nancy Pelosi would scrap the House Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming, which she created this past session to throw a spotlight on climate change. (The committee is scheduled to expire at the end of this year.) However, it looks like Pelosi may keep the committee around. At least that's what [...]
Gristmill |
Nov 20, 2008 05:10PM
By Sean CastenHere's the call I got this morning, loosely paraphrased, initially from a live person and then with a recording from Newt. Newt (paraphrased): "I'm calling business leaders like yourself who understand the way that taxes cripple our economy, to ask for your support in the development a flat tax structure to lower the cost on businesses, create jobs and grow the economy." Live person: "So can I count on your support?" Me: "That strikes me as a very simplistic [...]
Gristmill |
Nov 20, 2008 05:10PM
By Joseph RommNOAA's National Climatic Data Center reports: Based on preliminary data, the globally averaged combined land and sea surface temperature was the second warmest on record for October and ninth warmest on record for the January-October year-to-date period. Given that this report is just out, I'm assuming they have sorted out the data entry issues that briefly caused problems for NASA (see here and here). Also worth noting from the NCDC report: According to the National Snow and Ice Data [...]
EcoGeek.org |
Nov 20, 2008 05:10PM
Fish farms have their proponents and their critics. But whether you're of the view that they provide an important source of protein or you think that fish farms breed diseases, there is one fact that's not under dispute: they have to be moved around every so often. That is because conventional fish farms are set up in sheltered waters but have to be moved once disease accumulates. When that happens, the cages are relocated using massive and carbon spewing towboats [...]
EcoGeek.org |
Nov 20, 2008 05:10PM
It's wonderful that the government offers incentives, subsidies and tax credits for using renewable energy, but up until now, there hasn't been a centralized place to find out which of these you might qualify for. North Carolina Solar Center and the Interstate Renewable Energy Council have joined forces to create two new databases for just that purpose. The Federal Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency (FIRE) database lists federal incentives as well as their rules, regulations, policies and incentive summaries for corporations. [...]
EcoGeek.org |
Nov 20, 2008 05:10PM
In September, the X Prize Foundation announced a contest to come up with the next, green-themed X Prize. The challenge was to make a 2 minute YouTube video which focuses on a specific green goal which, if met, would be rewarded with a $10 million X Prize. The maker of the winning video would receive $25,000 of his/her own, granted by Prize Capital – a company dedicated to supporting green startups and causes. The contest has been narrowed down to [...]
Eco-Chick |
Nov 20, 2008 05:10PM
Thought all you Eco Chick readers might all like to hear me (babble) green on Green Living Ideas radio. You can subscribe to their free podcast on iTunes, or listen on the interview on the Green Living Ideas radio site. It was a fun interview, and we talked about a host of green topics, including fashion and beauty and the future of green. Enjoy! Eco-friendly books run the gamut of green - USATODAY.com via kwout Also got a really nice [...]
WorldChanging |
Nov 20, 2008 05:10PM
Earlier this week California, Illinois and Wisconsin joined forces with six states in Brazil and Indonesia to fight climate change in an unprecedented way: the states will develop programs that will protect and restore tropical rainforests to ensure the safety of these essential carbon sinks. According to a recent release from Marshall Maher of Conservation International, by signing the memorandum of understanding (MOU), the governors are stating that they are willing to pay for the service the tropical forests are [...]
WorldChanging |
Nov 20, 2008 05:09PM
On Tuesday, we had lunch with Joshua Wolfe, president and founding member of GHG Photos, a new collaborative organization of leading climate change photographers. He told us a lot about his job as a climate change photographer, which from what we could tell, is one of the more fascinating jobs around. Whether he's climbing mountains with 90 lbs of sensitive equipment and a stash of protein bars; gazing down dizzily through the lens from the window of a prop jet; [...]
WorldChanging |
Nov 20, 2008 05:09PM
Every week, we're amazed by the number of smart contests, campaigns and other initiatives that organizations around the world bring to our attention. These roundup posts are a way for us to shout out the best of what's crossed our desks. -- The WC Editorial Team FT Climate Change Challenge The Financial Times and Forum for the Future have teamed up to search the globe for the most innovative new solution to the effects of climate change. That standout innovation [...]
TreeHugger |
Nov 20, 2008 05:09PM
Today, the Green Car Journal gave its 2009 Green Car of the Year award to the Volkswagen Jetta TDI at the Los Angeles Auto Show. The 2009 Jetta TDI is a quiet-running, diesel-powered car. It beat out hybrids and mini-cars to take the title. The Jetta uses a technology called "clean diesel" which actually lives up its name pretty well. It has a very clean tailpipe, and an EPA estimated 41 mpg highway fuel economy. ...
Gristmill |
Nov 20, 2008 12:54PM
By Sara Barz 2009 Green Car of the Year: Volkswagen Jetta TDI At the L.A. Auto Show Thursday morning, the Green Car Journal jury voted the Volkswagen Jetta TDI the 2009 Green Car of the Year. The TDI "clean diesel" runs on ultra-low sulfur diesel fuel and uses a "common rail direct injection system" that decreases 95 percent of sooty diesel emissions. The turbocharged diesel sedan bested a field that included two hybrids and the trendy Smart ForTwo. Though it garnered [...]
Eco-Chick |
Nov 20, 2008 11:43AM
When you’re shopping for cosmetics, lotion, cleansers, shampoo and other beauty necessities, it can be hard to keep track of all the nasty ingredients you’re supposed to avoid. After all, companies are getting tricky lately with disguising ingredients like formaldehyde with relatively innocuous-sounding alternative names. That’s why it’s important to have places like Spirit Beauty Lounge, who do all the hard work of sorting the good stuff from the bad for us. Spirit Beauty Lounge is the only carbon-neutral boutique [...]
WorldChanging |
Nov 20, 2008 11:42AM
No proper building. Not even an architecture project that would give a hint of what its future headquarters would be like. That didn't prevent El Bòlit, a brand new Contemporary Art Center, from opening its borrowed doors a few weeks ago in Girona. For many Europeans used to flying on the cheap, Girona equals Barcelona or the Costa Brava. Ever since one of the most famous 'no frills' airlines chose the airport as one of their hubs, hordes of travelers [...]
Gristmill |
Nov 20, 2008 11:30AM
By Glenn HurowitzCNN is reporting that Janet Napolitano is Obama's choice for secretary of homeland security. That's great news for the imperiled wildlife and landscape of America's desert southwest. Napolitano's record shows that she's the ideal candidate to fulfill Obama's pledge to tear down (most of) the Bush administration's border wall now dividing Arizona from Mexico. She's long opposed the border wall as a counterproductive way to deliver border security. Here are her remarks on the topic from a 2007 address [...]
