GoSustaino

ActiveE

2012-01-29T07:58:00.001-05:00

The electric dream began back in the 60's when BMW tested their 1-602 model series during the Munich Olympics. Since that time, the race has continued for propulsion, zero emission tailpipes, and plug-in hybrids allowing the flexibility for gas and renewable sources. The turning point was in 2004 with the advanced release of the lithium-ion battery for vehicles which had proven their worth in laptops, cellphones, and other consumer devices. But nothing is better than the smooth and quiet ride of an electric vehicle, feeling the regenerative braking, and knowing that electronauts are helping to move our green economy forward. If you are interested in being one of the test fleet ActiveE drivers (700 released), sign up here for a two year lease to help our economy be on the edge of innovation.

Source: BMW 2012

Makani Power

2012-01-16T20:43:00.000-05:00

In Hawaiian, makani means wind. It also is the new identity for, The Makani Airborne Wind Turbines, who was recently awarded $3 million from the Department of Energy’s ARPA-E program, and has also received $20 million in funding from Google. They essentially resemble a fleet of mini airplanes that are launched when wind speeds reach 3.5 meters per second. Rotors on each blade help propel it into orbit, and double as turbines once airborne. The blades are tethered to the ground with a cord that delivers power to throw them into the sky and receives energy generated by the turbines to be sent to the grid-connected ground station. The wings take on a circular flight path once in the air (perpendicular to the wind’s direction – sometimes called the wind window for you kiteboarders out there!). Wind speeds can generally be twice as fast at altitude than near ground level as well, making airborne blades potentially more powerful than ground-based turbines. Their light weight material also makes them cheaper to produce than traditional turbines, and maintenance work can be performed on the ground. While these turbines have potential, they are still being tested. Makani plans to construct larger wings that can reach heights of 1,600 feet and power 600 homes. The company’s current timeline for the largest prototype is 2013, with hopes of starting commercial production two years later.

PlanetSolar at WFES

2012-01-15T19:11:00.000-05:00

PlanetSolar is the largest catamaran (130ft) that is solar-powered. It was unveiled by PlanetSolar, the Swiss manufacturer and launch in Barcelona, Spain in November 2011. Preparations are in full swing for its arrival at the WFES (World Future Energy Summit) in Abu Dhabi at the National Exhibit Center on January 16th - 19th. Many speakers from the Exxon Mobil to the Green Building Council will be present and all eye will be on 500sq meters of pure solar paneling.

StreetScooter

2012-01-02T11:42:00.001-05:00

The StreetScooter designed by 50+ companies offers a range of 80-miles and only costs $6,000. The interesting thing is that it is not actually a real "scooter". The companies took a modular approach to co-design, engineer and fabricate this German-made EV. "The problem with the traditional approach is that there are huge additional amounts of innovatie ideas in the supply chain that could not be followed, " says Achim Kampker, professor of Production Engineering at RWTH Aachen University, and Managing Director of the StreetScooter Consortium. "Collaboration with established OEMs was intentionally avoided to minimize the impact of existing theories and legacy processes."

To read more about this EV, due out in the German market in 2013, see here for more details.
Source: FastCompany 2012

Very Light Car

2011-10-29T17:15:00.000-04:00

Edison2 was the research and manufacturing team that made the "Very Light Car". While its name is simply and elementary, the best part is that it won $5million (in the mainstream class) from the Progressive Insurance Automotive X Prize. If you have been under a rock and don't know about the X Prize or what it stands for, then I highly recommend you engage in some quality Inter-web time to review. The four-passenger vehicle was accredited by the EPA for obtaining 245-mpg equivalent for the stringent test (delivering a combined 350-mpg in the standard test), almost three times that of the best market models. The car fully charges from ordinary household outlets within six hours, enabling a range of 114 miles. If this car had a theme it would be, "design by competition, formed through competition and favored by physics." More simply, it is the most efficient automobile platform ever built.

Source: Design Boom

National Plug-in Day

2011-10-16T21:17:00.002-04:00

National Plug-in Day was on 10/16 - an unprecedented nationwide observance drawing global attention to the environmental, economic and other benefits of plug-in electric vehicles through simultaneous events staged in at least twenty major cities nationwide. Plug In America, the Sierra Club, and the Electric Auto Association teamed up to plan for this effort, which notified cities across our nation to commence plug-in parades, tailpipe-free tailgate parties, test-drives and other grassroots activities. Our flagship event will be a huge parade of plug-in vehicles in the L.A. area. Chris Paine, director of the films “Who Killed the Electric Car?” and “Revenge of the Electric Car,” has agreed to be among the speakers at this celebration. We expect to at least double the number of vehicles from history’s greenest procession, the 78-vehicle parade staged by Plug In America in 2009 (and 180 in Santa Monica's 2011) was in sync with President Obama’s inauguration. Electric vehicles already enable thousands of miles of cleaner, petro-free driving. Help tell the world about the benefits of driving on electric avenue!

Farmigo

2011-09-24T11:04:00.004-04:00

A fresh way to feed your family. Now that is a brilliant idea! Why would anyone pass up that opportunity? We don't have to exclusively rely on the industrial machines or corporate engines for food that is packed with pesticides and other chemicals. Farmers and producers now have a chance to make a profit, offer consumers lower prices and our bodies will have more nourishment. The program, called Farmigo, works by connecting consumers to locate farmers and producers and conveniently coordinating pick-up schedules, similar to a co-op and pre-paid shares. See the video below on how to arrange for local produce from farm to table.

Cities help to save the future

2011-09-11T21:04:00.003-04:00

How can cities help save the future? Alex Steffen shows some cool neighborhood-based green projects that expand our access to things we want and need while reducing. Gone are the days of the classic dream home, and now is the time for dream neighborhoods. He shows us how eight billion people with enormous energy demand will live in shifted environments with unique solutions from infill, to urban retrofitting to density shifts.

Breaking Ground: Bullitt Center takes on Living Building Challenge

2011-09-03T13:06:00.003-04:00

This will be one of the most ambitious green buildings in North America. Aiming to set a new standard in urban sustainability, the Bullitt Center is envisioned as a living building designed to satisfy all of its energy, water and waste consumption. One of the most iconic aspects of the building will be an extensive photo voltaic array that will generate 100 percent of the building's energy. Timbers for the six-story building's frame will come only from forests certified as sustainable by the world's toughest review body. To reduce the project's carbon footprint, the steel, concrete, wood and other heavy materials all will come from within 300 miles.

The Seattle-based Cascadia Green Building Council, for instance, developed the rigorous performance standards — known as the "Living Building Challenge" — that the Bullitt Center aims to meet. The mixed-use building will serve as the future headquarters of the Bullitt Foundation as well as provide office and commercial space for leaders in the green building industry. Located at the intersection of Seattle's Central Area and Capitol Hill neighborhoods, the building will become a focal point for education and growing awareness about sustainable development. Construction is under way.

Source: Seattle Times

Charge Me Up

2011-07-17T09:09:00.008-04:00

Thanks to a $99.8 million U.S. DoE grant, the largest electric vehicle experiment in our country’s history is underway. The company, ECOtality, will oversee the installation of the charging stations, which is a $250 million, six-state roll-out program of roughly 15,000 charging stations. Their pilot program called, "The EV Project", is a data-gathering exercise intended to document the performance of electric vehicle charging stations and monitoring of driver habits. More importantly, Portland, Oregon is leading the way as a test market for the massive batch of electric vehicles that hit the roads.

At the most basic level, ECOtality’s EV Project, funded with nearly $1 million in federal stimulus funds, will bring work to a network of regional contractors who will be accountable for installing the charging systems, 1,000 of which will be peppered around businesses, 150 at public buildings, 90 at the homes of Nissan Leaf owners, and another 45 quick-charge units. At a more practical level, public awareness is increasing at a national level. Personal "range anxiety", which is EV slang related to the fear of running out of gas, is making an EV purchase a more practical and realistic option for consumers. And even more exciting is how start-up companies are thinking of creative ways to help consumers get from Point A to Point B in their fast, buzzing, fully charged EVs.

Picture Credit to Oregon EV Association: Blink station at Columbia Center in Vancouver Wa. They are peppered along Fisher's Landing near Regal Cinema, Best Buy, Olive Garden and other retail locations.

E.Chromi Project

2011-07-15T09:29:00.002-04:00

In 2009, seven Cambridge University undergraduates spent the summer genetically engineering bacteria to release a variety of colors visible to the naked eye. They designed standardized sequences of DNA, known as BioBricks, and inserted them into E. coli bacteria. Each BioBrick part contains genes selected from existing organisms, enabling the bacteria to produce a color such as red, yellow, green, blue, brown or violet. By combining these with other BioBricks, bacteria could be programmed to do useful things, such as indicate whether drinking water is safe by turning red if they sense a toxin. The E. chromi project won the Grand Prize at the 2009 International Genetically Engineered Machine Competition (iGEM). To read more about this project, click here.

E. chromi from Alexandra Daisy Ginsberg on Vimeo.

Tsuno SolarWay

2011-07-15T09:07:00.003-04:00

Japan had a series of bad luck from numerous Toyota recalls, high unemployment and the horrible tsunami of March 2011. Yet, their hard work prevails with the positive news from the Miyazaki Solar Way Company. A large scale solar project finally comes to completion in Southern Japan. This is the second stage of the Tsuno Solarway which consists of 12,520 solar modules arrayed after the first stage of Tsuno SolarWay stretching out a roughly 3.6-kilometer-long near the Hyuganada Sea. The capacity of the second stage is 1,000 kilowatts (1MW) - enough to supply approximately 300 households. It is specially designed against typhoons, rust and corrosion and its lifespan is estimated about 20 years. Although there is no personnel on the site, they are remotely monitored all the time and also maintained regularly.

Source: Japan for Sustainability, July 2011

BYOB at In.gredients

2011-06-25T13:07:00.005-04:00

Austin, Texas is now home to first ever zero packaging grocery store that encourages you to bring your own bag. In.gredients, launched in the backyard of Whole Foods, encourages shoppers to bring their own containers to pack up items like grains, oils, and dairy. If a shopper doesn't have his own containers, the store will provide compostable ones. Their philosophy is that no matter the case, real, natural food will always be healthier than food that’s been chemically modified. They are working towards a collaborative effort between business, community, and consumers with the goal of eliminating food-related waste while supporting local businesses and farmers.

Yummy, More Pesticides!

2011-06-10T19:45:00.001-04:00

The Food Quality Protection Act of 1996 (FQPA) mandates that pesticides be screened both as carcinogens and as endocrine disrupters. Endocrine disrupters are chemicals that imitate the body’s hormonal system and consequently disrupt chemical text messaging amongst cells and other glands. As big “endo” words have been used recently (BPA, PCBs, PBDEs), scientists continue to publish and scream their findings of the alarming rise of hormonally driven cancers (breast and prostate) in younger adults. More recently are the intense battles between the EPA, FDA, farmers and pesticide manufacturers. Sure, republicans and democrats are involved. Why? Because the thresholds from the FDA and EPA are argued because the “minimal amounts” haven’t been met. Why do you I need any DDT in my food let alone my body? Why would I want neurotoxic organophosphate insecticide in my child’s apple sauce? Who needs three legs? Let’s not argue about the particulars. In fact, our government agencies have hired independent, third party “partners” to conduct research. Now, whether to prove them good ole farmers right or to prove the pesticide manufacturers wrong…let’s just read the facts:

An analysis made by the Environmental Working Group of more than 110,000 government-tested food samples on children’s food consumption discovered and confirmed numerous pesticides known or suspected to cause brain and nervous system damage, cancer, or hormone interference.

• More than a quarter of a million U.S. children aged 1–5 ingest a combination of 20 different pesticides every day. More than 1 million preschoolers eat at least 15 pesticides on a given day. Overall, 20 million children aged 5 and under eat an average of 8 pesticides every day.

• Preschoolers’ eating habits are even more dramatically different from those of adults than previous data indicated. When weight is taken into account, kids aged 1–5 consume 30 times more apple juice, 21 times more grape juice, and 7 times more orange juice than the average person in the population.

• Ten years after the Alar scare, apples are still loaded with pesticides. The average apple has residues of four pesticides after it is washed and cored. Some have residues of as many as ten. More than half of the children exposed to an unsafe dose of organophosphate insecticides get it from apples, apple sauce, or apple juice.

PCBs in our environment are not a new phenomenon, but rather and old injury the environment must deal with. It is pressure on private industry and governmental organizations to deal with the problem effectively that seems to work best. Companies that produced these toxins years ago are reluctant to pay for their cleanup now.

Source: Northeast Organic Farming Association
Image: Treehugger News

Holy French Solar

2011-05-30T09:07:00.002-04:00

Occupying 89 acres and generating power for 9,000 families, the two solar farms in Le Mees of north central France are getting mass attention this week, thanks for energy firm Efinity. We've heard enough about the solar industry....the ROI,payback takes too long....the wind turbine industry is more mature...blah, blah, blah. I've said on multiple occasions that solar is sexy (and lucrative). What is remarkable about solar farms is that not all of the installation involves concrete foundation and solar arrays. The concrete blocks typically block water absorbsion into the land creating more runoff with the need of strategically placed bioswales. Either way, this farm is both functional and gorgeous.
Source: Good, 2011

EV Road Tax

2011-05-01T15:32:00.004-04:00

Senate Bill 5251 - haven't heard of it? Of course not since Washington is quietly trying to push this bill through that would add $100 to the annual ownership cost of an electric vehicle. They are proposing EV owners would pay this so called road tax when one renews the vehicle registration. Those in Washington that favor this bill claim that there is a loss of revenue when gas consumption decreases when more EVs hit the road. OMG! We need to reduce our dependency of foreign oil and secondly gasoline prices will continue to sky rocket only putting more profits in the pockets of corrupt leaders. At this stage of the game, it has taken about a 100 years to transition from gas to electric. Kudos to companies like Nissan, GM, Honda and Toyota for responding to the demand, whether high or low, to produce EVs in cities with supported infrastructure.

What happens next? Folks will continue to complain that the cost of an EV is still too high. However, the Federal Government already provides tax credits up to $7,500 with the purchase of an EV. Additionally, many states provide their own incentives such as state tax credits, purchase rebates, and free parking and charging for EVs. If SB 5251 is passed and signed into law, Washington would be the first state in the nation to impose a tax on EVs while others are providing incentives.

Time to stand up and get loud about this is now. If you would like to show your opposition to SB 5251, please contact your representative in the Washington legislature.

To find the names and contact information of your Washington State legislative districts, please visit: http://apps.leg.wa.gov/districtfinder/default.aspx

Click here to download a template for a sample letter to send to your legislative representatives.

Click here to download GM’s letter of opposition,

We are Sprout People

2011-04-19T12:16:00.001-04:00

Have you noticed how expensive food is lately at the grocery store? As a vegetarian, a large portion of my grocery bill goes to fruits, veggies and fish; yet in particular I was paying a fortune for leafy greens. Mescaline mix was high, red leaf lettuce and arugula, too, and I don't dare eat swamp lettuce (head lettuce with no nutrients). Thus we (more like the hubby) stumbled upon Sprout People - a site dedicated to selling a variety of sprouts (alfalfa and more) and providing instructions on growth and harvest. Here is our journey to growing sprouts and saying goodbye to all lettuce.
Step 1: Get a sprouter (we chose the cylinder version to save space). It is the best all around sprouter offering great drainage of water and air circulation ($13.85)
Step 2: Measure out 2 tablespoons of seeds. We went with the Russian mix (hardy and crunchy). Be sure rinse and remove any debris.Step 3: Soak the seeds for 8-12 hours. Cold water and lots of it. Water is the key ingredient to growing sprouts.Step 4: Sprouting - empty the seeds into the sprouter. Be sure to drain off all the water.

Step 5: Grow - place your container on the counter top away from direct sunlight. A plant can only perform photosynthesis when it has leaves. Until a plant has leaves, light has no effect.

Step 6: More rinsing and draining - add more water up to the top and drain it ALL out. Don't shake the container (we like to use a smooth swinging motion - waving the container side to side to drain out all the water). Do this every day for at least 3 days.

Step 7: Greening - You should see the sprouts budding by now and this is the best time to place near the sunlight. Not in direct sunlight just nearby light (e.g. window sill, coffee table, etc.)

Step 8: Dehull - by now you should see your green sprouts by the 6th day. The hull is the dryer outer covering of the nut/shell. Transfer your massive sprout ball to a bowl or big container. Loosen the sprout mass by pulling it a part with your fingers. I like to place under the facet to loosen the mass and continuously pull out onto a towel.

Step 9: Spin and Dry - you can also place in a salad spinner to throughout dry out all the sprouts. Sometimes we just place on paper towels to soak up the access water.
Step 10: Refrigerate and Eat - store in a sealed container of your choice and enjoy any time.

25 Most EV Ready Cities

2011-04-16T09:43:00.005-04:00

Hot off the press (thanks to FastCompany) is a listing of cities that are best suited for electric car ownership. What is sad is that I live in Pittburgh, PA (a non-EV ready city) and my family lives in Los Angeles, Boston, Orlando and Denver - all of which are EV fantastic. So what would really need to happen? Answer - EV advisory councils. We are talking red vs. blue divide but in the form of gas vs. power divide. Cities together are presently forming EV advisory councils that consist of city and utility officials as well as manufacturers such as Ford that are changing the landscape of city infrastructure.
This massive initiative, while still somewhat under the radar, is putting cities like Detroit, Phoenix and Charlotte back on the map to brew jobs, infrastructure, and innovation. These so called hot-spots simply allow for more permits to be released for home charging stations, the ability for a city to work more openly with utility companies to set up cheaper rates during the night (when people will charge), and use an urban planning approach for public charging stations - meaning that they look at traffic flows and where people spend their parked time to determine charging locations.

Now all of this work will mean that the government needs to interfere in our lives a little more to make electric cars a feasible reality. However, from my perspective, I'm pleased if that occurs since we all know that gasoline is not getting any cheaper. And if you haven't driven a Mini E, Chevy Volt, Nissan Leaf, or a Brammo Bike, then I suggest you step into the year 2011 and experience the rush of being behind an electric vehicle. I have...and you will enjoy it!

Source: Fast Company

The Power of Pesto

2011-04-16T07:00:00.003-04:00

My first year being a vegetarian was pretty damn good. Flushing my body of toxins, animal hormones, and other yummy chemicals from my spraying days in the Florida orange groves to the afternoon beach swims in toxic Lake Erie. Fast forward to now, the second year of going about 80% vegan has done wonders for my hair, skin, and mood. I say, 80% vegan, due to completely eliminating eggs and some diary from my diet. This difficult food decision was brought on through a series of family deaths, books, research, conferences and simply educating myself about the dangers of factory farming (To read my personal view, click here).

So here I am, it's 2011, I don't have a roof top garden, or an eco-friendly home (...yet). And my soul and every fiber of my being is craving to be the most healthy individual in order to be a role model and decent contributor to society. What better place to start then food, which is how we meet and greet with strangers and feed our brains with nourishment. Food is how each of us share no matter what nation one lives in today. It is amazing how powerful pesto can be at dinner parties and even afternoon snacks. It is the new brain food that I recommend every household should carry in their refrigerator. From barn to bowl, or pasture to plate, we have a choice to eat healthy, reduce our obesity epidemic, get off the sugar-fat hamster wheel and eat wholesome meals.

Micro Gardens at Work

2011-04-07T07:00:00.000-04:00

Anyone can be a gardener. You don't need to have a green thumb and you don't even need a garden. Gardens are old school and the new trend is micro gardens. With raising concerns of pesticide and fungicide usage, consumers are craving wholesome food that is local and organic. As with most organic fruits and vegetables, the price tag of those delicious organic tomatoes or blueberries makes your mouth water and your wallet cry. Yet, our busy lifestyles are preventing some of us from simply playing in the dirt. (e.g. working mothers, single parents, grandparents who can't afford to retire early) Families are spending less time weeding, planting, and mowing the grass and more time working, commuting, and eating (I'll touch on raising obesity cases later). But this doesn't mean we can't plant and grown our own food.

According to Plant Green, they have a list of 66 things you can grow at home in a container, and not in a garden. I'll share their top 10 below and see if you are up the challenge for growing your own food that is extremely rewarding and gratifying. Even hops, the main "spice" ingredient in beer is on the list!

1. Apples can be grown in a container; you can also grow them on the balcony or other small space using a technique called espaliering.
2. Kumquats
3. Avocados (plenty of extra tips online if you search)
4. Blackberries
5. Blueberries (sometimes helpful videos are available online)
6. Pomegranate
7. Cherries
8. Figs
9. Pears
10. Dwarf oranges

Image Source: Jupiterimages/Thinkstock

What Color is your Diet

2011-03-29T21:01:00.003-04:00

Most of you might think the basic food groups are cheese, wine and coffee. However, there is something to be said about colorful food that simply tastes so delicious and fresh.

Thanks to Tattfoo Tan, a Malaysian-born artist who lives in Staten Island, New York, we can now better understand how to nourish our bodies. He takes regular trips to the Union Square Greenmarket and started the Nature Matching System.

The concept is simple and designed to extract 88 colors that would best represent 88 different fruits and vegetables. The magic 88 were developed as a reminder to consume your daily recommended doses of color. One might think of these intense colors as nature’s nutrition labels. Ruby reds, deep purples, vibrant yellows....all the vitamins and compounds that play a vital role in filtering out all the junk and free radicals. To learn more about the Nature Matching System, click here.

Sunglasses for The Earth

2011-03-29T19:00:00.000-04:00

National Geographic had a “big idea moment” in their August 2010 edition. I felt it was relevant to reiterate this topic as it touches on geoengineering and called for giving the Earth big sunglasses. This scientific, wacky idea sounds simple in theory with a goal of combating global warming by essentially making our world cooler. If we can’t reduce our reliance on fossil fuels fast enough, then this is one of many Plan B’s in our pocket.

The radical technique calls for shooting up (more like beaming up) tons of tiny particles, mostly sulfate, in the stratosphere. The mechanism for blasting up these sulfates soldiers could be planes, battleship guns, rockets and even balloons. This cloud of sulfate disks, thin as a Kleenex, would help to dim or reflect sunlight around the Earth by 2 percent, substantial enough to cool our planet.

You are probably thinking…yeah right? How is this possible?

When you crunch the numbers, this could be a mega shade about 60,000 miles long and about 1 million miles away from the Earth and 92 million miles from the Sun. With that much time and money, couldn’t we reduce our fossil fuel consumption, take our foot off the gas, and actually change our behaviors? Unfortunately, some believe that the recession is still to blame, which is why we haven’t made true progress toward this goal.

My philosophy: There are no mistakes; only lessons. I hear Arizona has sunny days and could use some cooling.

Nano Man and Big Food

2011-03-19T10:11:00.004-04:00

Space travel, visiting other planets, engineering healthy food...can we really put all of that in one sentence? The answer might be yes given the intelligence and new thinking from three experimenting minds.

One is Manfred Clynes, who coined the word cyborg more than 50 years ago, and the second individual is Craig Ventner, famous for sequencing the human genome. Combine these great accomplishments together and you have Arne Hendricks who wonders whether it might be possible to just re-design humans. The approach of altering mankind to be 19-inches tall and 4 pounds sounds crazy, right? Yet he has spent the past several years seriously researching the possibilities and implications of shrinking the human species. As he explains on his project website:

The Incredible Shrinking Man is a speculative design research about the consequences of downsizing the human species to 50 centimeters [19.7 inches]. It has been a long established trend for people to grow taller. As a direct result we need more energy, more food and more space. But what if we decided to turn this trend around? What if we use our knowledge to shrink mankind?

I know you are getting excited plus questioning the whole concept; however, imagine baby pineapple fruit, mini-cows, and more. From a scientific approach, this could translate into less energy requirements, less food, smaller footprints, and potentially less garbage. From an emotional and natural perspective, it sounds completely wacky. In today's age of complete out of control consumption, you have to give these guys credit for re-thinking our approach to food, genetics, and space technology.

If anything the Incredible Shrinking Man research project could yield evidence for improving farming and agricultural to medicine and technology. We know this small methodology has nano-lifesavers and the field of nanotechnology is expanding far and wide with nanobots, nanofabrics, nanochemistry and other nanomaterials. We are a small world after all, but we still have big problems to solve. Consume Less. Conserve More.

Source: Good, 2011

Reverse Graffiti

2011-03-19T10:07:00.002-04:00

The urban land artist, Anna Garforth from the UK integrates her interest
in urban ecology and sustainability through her creative practice. Some of us know this art as "graffiti art" and it crosses many different mediums such as reusing materials, plants, moss, reverse graffiti, chalk, or the use of other natural resources. Various activities have driven her to discover and understand more about her natural surrounding and express this passion through the following projects.

Rethink is an installation set up in front of regents canal in London, England which is an electrical power site with two main resources: gas and water. This simple word communicates a need to rethink what our society consumes and how we collectively use our resources.

Head Gardener is a guerrilla gardening project. The approach involves turning milk bottles into characters with plant hair styles. Some of these guys took to the streets, while others couldn't handle getting their hair wet.

Have you seen any local graffiti art? Share with us on Twitter @GoSustaino and Facebook.

BMW i

2011-02-21T21:27:00.004-05:00

BMW just confirmed a new sub-brand! The BMW i could launch in 2013 and become an umbrella brand for a range of advanced stand-alone hybrid, range-extended and plug-in electric models. The innovative architecture reminded me of a blend of Tron-meets-iPhone. The style is one facet; however the mobility services and intuitive smart options will enhance our choice-based options for general services (e.g. restaurants, banking, parking availability, transportation and more).

The theme of Born Electric aligns well to the components of electric motors, power electronics and lithium-ion batteries. Fold in some solar arrays and unique terra-mapping, this video will surely make you appreciate superb design.

Green Power for the Empire State Building

2011-01-16T11:38:00.005-05:00

I believe for 2011 we are going to hear more about renewable energy credits. R.E.C.s are tradable, non-tangible energy commodities in the U.S. that represent proof that 1 megawatt-hour (MWh) of electricity was generated from an renewable energy resource such as wind, solar or geothermal. These attractive credits are part of larger initiatives that impact climate change, reduce emissions, increase savings and more importantly help us reach operational efficiency.

Green Power has been evolving on the compliance and voluntary markets with different prices to suite a business need. However, the Environmental Protection Agency, which “supports the organizational procurement of green power” through its Green Power Partnership Program, is a prime mover along these lines. The program’s Green Power Leadership Awards for 2010 recognize a number of businesses and organizations — including the Indianapolis Zoo, which now covers 100 percent of its electricity needs (14 million kilowatt-hours annually) through R.E.C. purchases. The Intel Corporation, which buys 1.4 billion kilowatt-hours worth of R.E.C.s about half of its annual consumption in the U.S. has been the national leader since 2008.

Now the Empire State Building on January 6th, announced it will be become the largest commercial purchaser of renewable power in the state. A two-year deal was brokered with Green Mountain Energy, (recently acquired by NRG Energy of New Jersey) allowing the Empire State Building to purchase 55 million kilowatt-hours worth of renewable energy certificates annually, which are primarily sourced by wind power facilities. This assists in preventing about 100 million ponds of CO2 each year. The CO2 reduction is the equivalent of nearly every house in New York state turning off their lights for a week or planting nearly 150,000 trees, more than six times the number in Central Park.

Source: The New York Times, 2011

Global Village Construction Set

2011-01-02T16:39:00.004-05:00

Using modern technological knowledge and methods, and very little cash, the Tiny Farm Blog are designing and building a set of machines and methods that are open source (plans are free for all), low cost, easy to replicate, highly efficient, simple to maintain, and sustainable to operate. They call is the Global Village Construction Set which has just about everything you would need to build a community, from the house you live in to the food you eat, from scratch. I like how they describe it as a "Lego set".

Or as their blog puts it: “We are farmer scientists – working to develop a world class research center for decentralization technologies using open source permaculture and technology to work together for providing basic needs and self replicating the entire operation at the cost of scrap metal.” Check it out:

Global Village Construction Set in 2 Minutes from Marcin Jakubowski on Vimeo.

Sands of 2011

2011-01-02T14:37:00.003-05:00

Reflecting back to 2010, most journalists and activists would agree that the biggest environmental disaster occurred on April 20th, 2010. That will be a memorable day for when BP's, Deepwater Horizon, oil rig exploded in the Gulf of Mexico, killing 11 workers and commencing months of oil leaking unrestrained into the ocean. After numerous efforts and continues tries to plug the leaking well, dispersants were released to control roughly 205 million gallons of oil.

Even though the white sands have transformed to brown, even though the marine population has been hindered and not to mention the unemployment rate climbing in most parts from Louisiana to Florida, I find it remarkable that the spirits remain alive, unbreakable and passionate about 2011. Recycling efforts appear to be increasing along beach fronts, community groups are initiating networking sessions and the economic development offices continue to push for state and local support.

When we look back at 2010, we can easily focus on the bad, but more importantly there is plenty of good that also can't be overlooked. Art, culture, and technology will continue to collide and transform our world for 2011 and years to come. The creativity and engineering that emerges will remind us we can make smart choices, support local businesses, and encourage design and innovation. There is no doubt that risk will present itself in how we are to reshape our beaches, our cities, our communities and nations. With that risk comes reward; one that most are willing to take for 2011 and beyond.

Consume Less. Conserve More.

Holy Massive EV Experiment

2010-12-16T21:00:00.003-05:00

Thanks to a $99.8 million U.S. DoE grant, the largest electric vehicle experiment in our country’s history is underway. The company, ECOtality, will oversee the placement and installation of the charging stations, which is a $250 million, six-state roll-out program of roughly 15,000 charging stations. Their pilot program called, "The EV Project", is a data-gathering exercise intended to document the performance of electric vehicle charging stations and monitoring of driver habits. More importantly, Portland, Oregon is leading the way when it comes to building sustainable communities with the help of several major automakers Ford, Mitsubishi, and Navistar. They have selected Portland as a test market for their massive batch of electric vehicles that hit the roads, which has economic development officials salivating over Oregon’s positive reputation for currently being the leader in the still-every-developing-and-testing world of EVs.

At the most basic level, ECOTality’s EV Project, funded with nearly $1 million in federal stimulus funds, will bring work to a network of regional contractors who will be accountable for installing the charging systems, 1,000 of which will be peppered around businesses, 150 at public buildings, 90 at the homes of Nissan Leaf owners, and another 45 quick-charge units. At a more practical level, public awareness is increasing at a national level. Personal "range anxiety", which is EV slang related to the fear of running out of gas, is making an EV purchase a more practical and realistic option for consumers. And even more exciting in how start-up companies are thinking of creative ways to help consumers get from Point A to Point B in their fast, buzzing, fully charged EVs.

Source: Sustainable Business Oregon, 2010

Plastic to Steam

2010-12-16T20:12:00.005-05:00

It is reported that we can reduce usage of natural resources by 1/10, and that the environmental efficiency will increase ten times. We should think about this more as we are consuming nation of "stuff." With the hope of reducing production and stuff by merely 10 percent, a design company, One Tenth Design, has rethought the product life cycle for classic, simple plastic water bottle. Their project known as HOLLOW is a unique approach to everyday humidifiers.

The HOLLOW design uses ordinary plastic bottles in a specially designed base to create a small humidifier. Its production is resource-efficient, involving only three sets of parts for the base, which draws water from the upside-down plastic bottle and releases it as moisture-laden steam.

Source: Design Boom

Vision for Sustainable Restaurants

2010-12-04T21:20:00.002-05:00

If you've been in a restaurant kitchen, you've seen how much food, water and energy can be wasted there. Chef Arthur Potts-Dawson shares his very personal vision for drastically reducing restaurant, and supermarket, waste. He is creating, recycling, composting, and transforming to run sustainable engines for good (and good food). Arthur Potts Dawson wants us to take responsibility not just for the food we eat, but how we shop for and even dispose of it. And he's showing the way.

Tuna Manifesto

2010-11-30T19:47:00.005-05:00

It took 10-days for the officials at ICCAT (International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas) to reach an agreement on how to combat illegal fishing. The key takeaway was to reduce the quotas - plain and simple. At the heart of this matter is the bluefin tuna. That is the red, delicious meat that most of you so greatly enjoy during your sushi dinners. This amazing fish goes for about $100,000 on the Japanese seafood market and is rapidly in danger as it continues to be over fished. Now, surely, after having a round table of intelligent environmentalists, fisherman, and representatives, that a more aggressive and potentially strategic approach would be devised. In the end, a simple quota to reduce from 13,500 tons to 12,900 tons in 2011 was the game plan.

Many including PEW Environment Group feel the quota is not enough. There is also some belief that ICCAT is simply selling out to the short-term interests of fisherman. “After years of observing ICCAT and countless opportunities to do the right thing, it is clear to us that the commission’s interests lie not in the sustainable harvesting of bluefin tuna but in pandering to short-term business interests," says Dr. Tudela - head of the WWF Mediterrean’s Fisheries Programme . "There have been no effective measures implemented here to deal with widespread illegal and unreported fishing for bluefin tuna in the Mediterranean.”

Many retailers, such as Carrefour, Ikea, Sodexo, famous sushi restaurant chains Itsu and Moshi Moshi have decided to take action themselves. These business are signing the Tuna Manifesto. This agreement states that a business will decide not to sell Atlantic bluefin tuna in any of its outlets around the world until the fisheries are being managed in a way that will allow the tuna to recover. While that waiting period unfolds, the ICCAT’s scientists will next assess bluefin tuna stocks in the East Atlantic in 2012, when they vow to address the uncertainties in data to ensure recommendations are clearer.

To see the full listing of companies that signed the manifesto, click here.

Sources: NPR News, WWF

In Lieu of Turkey

2010-11-27T04:00:00.000-05:00

I thought it would be appropriate to re-iterate how corporate transparency doesn't start or stop just with food prices. It is more about the "system" and how our food is properly grown, processed, labeled, shipped and marketed. Actually, it is more about how the system is broken, and consumers (like you and I) that care, will find out the truth and not wait for Thanksgiving, holiday demands.

Let's start with chickens and corn. For a juicy, inside look into the hazardous, toxic environments, I recommend watching Food, Inc. It is a documentary that showcases the unflattering events that have led to America's corporate controlled food industry. We want breasts, right? Big, white, meaty breasts from chickens and turkeys. The last time, I checked a chicken should not be so fat it can't walk, should not be sleeping or walking in its own feces and definitely should not be treated like a "bug in a jar". But if you'd like to eat an animal that mistakes its own poop for food, then by all means you can surely eat that "type" of protein if you'd like.

And actually, I enjoy meat! Beef burgers, chicken tortillas, fish tacos, etc. However, the critical factor is that my life should not be a gamble when I eat food that is processed by unregulated laws. Why can't I determine if my chicken is from Ohio or from China or Brazil? Why can't I read on a simple label like my cereal that my turkey or beef was fed and raised naturally knowing that I won't get E.Coli or die from virulent strain of O157:H7. In our nation, this contamination has led to the recall of beef in 3,000 grocers in 41 states due to numerous deaths of our simple staple. Of course, in lieu of turkey or meat, there are many tasty vegetarian options. However, may I remind you we had this with spinach, tomatoes, jalapenos, and what is next? What can I eat safely?

Do your part to be educated, informed, buy local, choose local and push for reform that puts the power of eating safe food back in the hands of consumers, and not at the table of greedy corporate board members and executives. From barn to bowl, or pasture to plate, we have a choice to eat healthy, reduce our obesity epidemic, get off the sugar-fat cycle and eat wholesome meat and potatoes just like before with a smile on our face.

Source: NY Times, E.Coli news
Image: Trendwatching, 2009

Toxic Colors

2010-11-12T22:10:00.008-05:00

I have written numerous posts about toxins that are in our bubble and around us in everyday household products. Yes, the classic BPA bottles, formaldehyde in our Orbit gum, and even how Teflon is associated with PCBs (Polychlorinated Biphenyls). But ever stop and wonder what you put on your skin?

Think about your masculine Gillette shaving cream for sensitive skin or your jazzy Revlon Colorstay lipstick? You actually think these personal care products are safe? I did, until I reviewed their toxicity levels now available at Skin Deep, a free, online database provided by the Environmental Working Group, which document toxins in our hair, skin, makeup, and personal care products. Yes, they have men and women products available for review (by brand, by type, etc.) These toxins, while deadly and crazy scary are fairly easy to determine through a red, yellow and green color coding system. The brand reports commonly explain how the basic ingredients used in your product of choice impact Neurotoxicity, Endocrine disruption, Persistence and bioaccumulation. Scary shit!

Skin Deep also helps fuel the nationwide Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, a coalition of public health, educational, labor, women, environmental and consumer groups working to protect the health of consumers and workers by requiring the health and beauty industry to phase out the use of dangerous chemicals and replace them with safer alternatives. Let's just say that L’Oreal, Revlon, Avon and few others weren't every happy about this campaign. Through the Campaign, as of May 2007 over 500 companies have joined the effort by signing the Compact for Safe Cosmetics. Environmental Working Group is a founding partner of the Campaign.

Leaf Letters

2010-11-08T21:28:00.003-05:00

When is the last time you sent a card? I'm not referring to a card where you simply sign your name and seal the envelope. A real card with a real message that isn't printed with some cheezy gold lettering in old English style writing. For those close friends and relatives that truly know me, I prefer the "no card means no trash" approach and typically like to send e-cards or emails. Some of you lucky friends have seen my real handwriting.

If only we could adopt an ancient Japanese approach to communication, right? In Japan, people used leaves as a tool in which to exchange their messages. This form is known as hagaki - the Japanese postcard. A design concept known as leaf letter takes this idea of writing on leaves and brings it into modern times. With the spread of personal computers and mobile devices, we are beginning to seem further away from nature. Their design focuses on a question of wondering can sending a message on a leaf, reduce our distance between nature and one another,
by reviving the hand-written letter? To see additional printing concepts, click here.

Vampire Suck

2010-10-27T23:24:00.003-04:00

Vampires love blood - always have and always will. It is like a jolt of electricity that gets them going. Even today, vampires still exist.

Certain electronics such as laptops, televisions, and especially cell phone chargers continue to draw power even when you are not using them. It is called the "vampire suck" and you can kill them at the source by using handy devices that have on/off switches. Devices like the WattStopper and the Smart Strip Power Strip can be ordered online or used in tandem with special surge protectors. They perform the same task that basically save power by plugging your desktop, printer, and fax machine through a "smart" power strip. Smart strips can sense when electronics are idle and simple cut off the power flow to vampires. Give it a try and see the electric bills reduce over time.

The N Word

2010-10-02T22:08:00.005-04:00

So here we are in the year 2010, and I've been thinking of some things that have been missing. Shouldn't we already have flying cars? Better infrastructure? More telecommuting? We live in a digital age and we still can't get things right such as dog food free of fertilizers or E.coli in your burgers.

To make this conversation a bit more intellectual, I'd like to discuss nuclear power. Yes, the "n" word of 2010. Many countries are scared by the potential dangers of nuclear power. I'm not talking in the form of weapons, but more so the use of energy. Honestly, they should be given the hazards of towns melting down and radioactive waste that has to be stored.

Yet one particular country is in a unique bind - France. Since the oil shocks in the mid 1970's, the nation built a network of reactors (59 to be exact as of 2008) that now produce roughly four-fifths of the country's electricity. That is pretty amazing, but why? France has no oil, no coal and thus no choice! Secondly, a majority of their political leaders are trained scientists and brilliant in various disciplines. And last but not least, they choose nuclear because quite frankly the decision-making process has been centralized. So while they might be energy independent, is it perhaps at too high of a cost or risk? Are we overlooking that the byproduct is simply radioactive and where do we store it?

Source Stats: National Geographic, 2009

The Wave Hub Project

2010-10-02T10:16:00.001-04:00

If you haven’t heard of the Low Carbon Economic Area, then tune in because the U.K. government just invested £20 million in a project known as The Wave Hub Project. It got the thumbs up from the South West RDA (Regional Development Agency) to be a groundbreaking renewable energy project to create the UK's first offshore facility to operate wave energy arrays. In simple terms, kick ass buoys that harness energy from waves/ocean currents.

Imagine this as an underwater grid. Sure, there are cables, sea beds, sand dunes and aquatic life – all of which live in harmony. The area, 1km x 2km, will have a leasing option for developers to begin installation from 2010 and going forward. Some leases will run for five years, perhaps longer; however, the kicker is each developer can generate a maximum of 4-5MW of power.

Source: BBC News, 2009

Seoul Cycle

2010-09-18T11:26:00.002-04:00

Ivy (by Sono Mocci from Italy) is one of many creative, cool design entries from more than 3000 participants in the recent DesignBoom competition, Seoul Cycle Design Competition 2010. While it might be irrelevant that the design is made of plastic (i.e. metal rusts quite easily), potentially too thin, etc, it is more about ideation. Features can easily be augmented and adjusted accordingly. Rather, it is simply the concept and notion of how competition helps us brew creative ideas. Inspired by nature, the design of this cable wire lock is mimicry of ivy. It is unified in our daily scene and promotes protection of the environment. This is a classic example of true biomimicry and as the competition unfolds, more brilliant ideas are being shared. While the awareness is spreading, many have their eye on the prizes and awards in three main categories of cycle design, cycle fashion and accessories and cycle infrastructure (storage and equipment).

Rachel Carson Legacy Conference

2010-09-12T22:16:00.001-04:00

The conference opens with views of a sustainable future, and a message from Senator Casey urging support for his legislation rescinding the Marcellus Shale exemption from the Safe Drinking Water Act.This conference examines the health, environmental and community effects we will experience from Marcellus Shale drilling and offers solutions from other places.

As we urge precautions to be taken to protect our air, water and fertile land from the effects of development, we also continue to focus on building the infrastructure, economic and social structure to move to a renewable and sustainable energy base soon. Dr. Karl-Henrik Robert of Sweden, founder of The Natural Step framework and principles will give the keynote address, followed by Mayor Ken Melamed of Whistler British Columbia whose community has implemented a sustainable policy. There will be several presenters discussing energy systems based on wind, solar, anaerobic digestion of municipal sewage or dairy manure to produce methane in a sustainable way while solving other water and land use issues. This is a provocative discussion with an eye toward moving forward now to a sustainable future.

Register at www.rachelcarsonhomestead.org

Plastic to Cash - The Giving Cycle

2010-09-05T18:08:00.002-04:00

Funny how the economy continues to thin out jobs for hard, working individuals that pay taxes and actually spend money towards sustainable items. Which brings me to the idea of giving to others? Why is it that some people give and often give more while others continue to consume without any regard? How do we change this disgusting habit? Surprisingly this isn't a new concept. We have been trying to change our ways for sometime, yet often fail and resort back to our Neanderthal ways.

Well, kudos to one Cleveland-based company named Earthworks System. They just aren't any old company buying and selling resins, exporting scrap and developing recycling programs. They are special because they too are part of the continuous "giving cycle." With the holidays approaching, millions of the plastic cards are heading for the hands of joyous consumers. The sad part is those ignorant fools are sending those cards to the landfills once they get their kicks of buying more consumer based goods. This thought actually inspired a Cleveland-Solon man to develop a new recycling method used today at Earthworks System.

The principle is simple.

They collect polyvinyl chloride scrap left over from the card manufacturing process, discontinued stock, canceled jobs, and spent cards. Card manufacturers and distributors donate most of the PVC, with retailers and individuals supply the rest. Earthworks then ships the plastic to a manufacturer where it's shredded and pressed into plastic sheets, ready to be made into new cards. With only being founded in 2005, the company has recycled nearly 4 million pounds of plastic. And funny how simple things can go viral, too.. An employee at an Ace Hardware in Sacramento, CA, learned about Earthworks online and mailed an envelope stuffed with a couple hundred spent gift cards.

What's next on your list to recycle?

Source: Plain Dealer News

Atlantic Garbage Path

2010-08-28T19:36:00.000-04:00

It only seems logical that the Pacific Gyre (Largest Garbage Patch) would have a twin in the Atlantic Ocean, right? The swirl and splashing of ropes, diapers and plastic bins is likely to make any fish hungry for more plastic pellets. The new patch located closer to Portugal's Azore Islands is really a sore sight as well as other larger concentrations between 22 to 38 degrees North Latitude equivalent to the area between Cuba and Washington, D.C.

With no true realistic, technological means of cleaning up our one-an-only ocean, the goal by oceanographers and scientists is to raise awareness to challenge our dirty culture to switch to biodegradable products which are often more expensive for common, everyday products. As the plastic counter continues to click, landfills and oceans also continue to overflow and overstock on with some of the most disgusting, leaky junk imaginable.

To learn more about the 6,000+ plastic samples pulled for research, be sure to check out the Algalita Marine Research Foundation based in Long Beach, CA, or the National Oceanic and Atmosphere Administration.

GINA - BMW's Concept Car

2010-08-21T11:42:00.000-04:00

Our human skin is designed to be light, flexible and functional. It is our largest organ of the body designed with a purpose. What if that purpose was integrated into design for everyday products? Essentially, biomimicry is shifting from applying nature’s design to solve problems to now applying human elements to design, form and function. As for BMW, see how this company is integrating design on a whole new radical scale when it comes to industrial design, sustainability and more with a concept car called GINA. GINA, which stands for Geometry In “N” (infinite number) of Adaptations.

80 Days Around the World on Renewable Energy

2010-08-18T20:55:00.006-04:00

Is it possible to make a tour around the world in 80 days with emission-free vehicles? Five teams from four continents are taking up the challenge. The Zero Emissions Race event aims to generate popular enthusiasm for the use of renewable energy sources for vehicles and set the highest environmental standards for the future. An enthusiastic event focused on sustainability, mobility and transport. More interestingly, the requirement for each team is to produce their own electricity using renewable sources such as solar, wind, wave and or geothermal. This electricity must be then fed into the grid system in the home country of each team, so that during the race, the equivalent can be harnessed to power the vehicles along the worldwide journey.

As of August 16th, they hit the road! It's the Swiss team in the Zerotracer come in tight behind South Korea's Power Plaza EV. Followed by the Australians as they pass up the German's Vectrix motorcycle. Day after day...the blog entries are recorded and shared with laughter and excitement as the teams' journey starts in Geneva (Switerland), takes them across 16 countries with stops in approximately 150 major cities, and the event is planned to be completed in 80 days (excluding ocean crossings). To learn more about the race, click here.

The Wind Blows at Night

2010-08-18T07:00:00.000-04:00

It is no surprise that the mid-section of the U.S. is really the ideal hot spot for wind activity. Most of us Sustainos know that the best time to harvest the wind is at night (or perhaps during storms). Yet, there is good news on the horizon that our government entities might have underestimated our nation's wind potential. After reworking the numbers, The National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL) highlights that onshore wind could generate 37 million gigawatts per year.
A hard number to grasp, right? Put it like this, 10 megawatts (MW) can power 64,000 homes. Thus 1 gigawatt (GW) can power several large cities or one large space station. So, 37 million GW is a huge potential for the U.S.

The only thing that I would like to see is the measurement of off shore wind (e.g. Great Lakes). And we know it is possible as is the case of The Horns Rev 2 Project, Denmark's largest off shore wind project (photo above). It has 91 beautiful beasts that supports 200,000 homes. Of course on the Great Lakes our measurement could be based on wind censors placed on test turbines, buildings near the lake, buoys and other locations. Advancements have already been made by Cleveland State University (turbines on the water tower) and Case Western Reserve University, but I feel we are still far away until ordinances and regulations catch up to our modern day progressive thinking! When is the last time you saw a working on shore or off shore wind turbine?

Image Source: Recharge and Fast Company 2010

Quick Charge

2010-08-08T10:01:00.006-04:00

There is nothing more beautiful to us Sustainos than seeing more renewable, sustainable technologies integrated into our infrastructure. The race continues with more investments and competition unfolding in the EV market. It seems like only yesterday (actually it was May 15), when Nissan LEAF, a zero-emission, all-electric vehicle opened reservations to the general public. Now, our nation is seeing more cities open quick charging stations for electric vehicles like this week in in Portland, Oregon. Operated by Portland General Electric (GE), the station is capable of recharging an electric vehicle in 20 to 30 minutes. It was the lucky Governor Ted Kulongoski, who was the first man to charge a Nissan Leaf from the new station. Portland has been tagged as one of the top markets for the first wave of EVs, and I'm sure we will be seeing more communities revisiting their green initiatives to bring in federal funds, keep citizens happy and promote viable healthy living.

But what about the competition when it comes to healthy living and working? With the launch of the WattStation, GE continues to push hard with strong innovation and design of electrical distribution systems. GE’s WattStation enables fast level 2 charging at home and on the road. This is important because...

Level 1 is your standard household current (120Volt) and charges at a rate of 4-6 miles per hour of charging. Level 2 is like a dryer plug and charges at 240V 30 amps up to 90A. That's a range of from 18 miles to as much as 80 miles per hour of charge. Level 1 & 2 have been standardized in the U.S. under something called SAE J1772. Level 3 has not been standardized. (as per EV expert, and Plug in America board member, Paul Scott)

So, what is cool to me is this modular design crafted by famous industrial designer Yves Behar, who I was fortunate enough to meet at the Opportunity Green conference at UCLA. He (and GE) make each station future proof, allowing customers to easily upgrade as more communication options become available. This allows citizens to stay current with the latest technology in a rapidly changing space, while providing the ability for commercial property owners to qualify for LEED points. A great compliment to both!

Giant Ivanpah

2010-08-07T20:00:00.005-04:00

California's Mojave Desert just turned up the heat. US DoE had approved a $1.37B loan guarantee to BrightSource Energy for the construction of the 392-megawatt Ivanpah Solar Electric Generating System. The plan is to build next to a flat, dry, ancient lakebed about 4.5 miles from the gambling resort of Primm, Nev.

This massive solar thermal facility has been recommended for approval by the California Energy Commission. Reportedly, it will generate enough electricity to power 140,000 homes. This massive collection of mirrors, each measured at 7 feet by 10.5 feet, form a circular pattern totaling over 300,000. At its core are power towers, where the mirrors on the arrays reflect the sun's energy to a dedicated tower. This iconic tower boils water to steam that travels through long pipes to provide power to a turbine. See the video showcasing BrightSource Energy's research work in Israel's Negev Desert.

Gasland - Free Film

2010-08-03T21:08:00.003-04:00

Join in for a free community screening of GASLAND, an eye-opening film about the controversial form of gas drilling called "fracking."

Time: 6pm
Date: August 5th
Location: 518 Foreland Street, Pittsburgh, PA

Hydraulic fracturing or "fracking," is a process to extract oil and natural gas deep within the earth. Drillers blast water, sand and chemicals 8,000 feet into the ground. The natural gas industry says fracking will create jobs and provide cheap energy for decades. But the truth is that fracking poses a serious threat to clean air and water, biodiversity, and the health of our communities. Companies are now drilling, or seeking to drill, all throughout the Marcellus Shale: a region in the Appalachian Basin that includes large chunks of Pennsylvania which contain largely untapped natural gas reserves. And Halliburton is building a huge outpost in Williamsport, PA to service decades of drilling in the Marcellus Shale.

The PA Department of Environmental Protection has granted five permits for fracking sites in Allegheny County. They list two of those sites as "active."

About GASLAND - When filmmaker Josh Fox is asked to lease his land for drilling, he embarks on a cross-country odyssey uncovering a trail of secrets, lies and contamination. A recently drilled nearby Pennsylvania town reports that residents are able to light their drinking water on fire. This is just one of the many absurd and astonishing revelations of a new country called GASLAND. Part verite travelogue, part expose, part mystery, part bluegrass banjo meltdown, part showdown."

Gasland website - http://gaslandthemovie.com/

Marcellus Shale Info - http://www.marcellus-shale.us/

Window Farms

2010-08-01T19:33:00.001-04:00

You can grow up to 25 fresh live vegetable plants - lettuce, herbs, snap peas, cherry tomatoes, peppers, kale, small squash, edible flowers, and many more in a normal 4'x 6' window in your home. That could be a salad a week. What if you had a kit to help you during those days you forget to water? Or what if you want a plant that you can’t kill because you don’t have a green thumb?

That was the exact idea that entrepreneurs, Britta Riley and Rebecca Bray, had in mind when the Window Farm Project was born. The goal is to empower urban dwellers to grow some of their own food inside year-round. Many neighborhoods (particularly low income ones) in cities around the world are considered food deserts, meaning little fresh food is easily accessible. Residents tend to consume processed, packaged, and canned food having depleted nutrients. It is estimated that with current US industrial food production, it takes 7-10 calories of fossil fuels to produce 1 calorie of food. Furthermore, many of the vegetables we get at the store have lost a good deal of their nutritional value in transit.

Since the public launch last year, the community of window farmers have contributed innovations from the perspective of end uses that helped evolve the Window Farms designs through more than 12 sub-versions. Today, that community has grown to more than 13,000 members around the world. The project has been featured on NPR's Weekend Edition, at the Whitney Museum of American Art, and in dozens of publications. Get your starter kit and being growing!

Source: windowfarms.org and Design Boom

Urban Art

2010-07-31T18:34:00.004-04:00

The urban land artist, Anna Garforth from the UK integrates her interest in urban ecology and sustainability through her creative practice. Some of us know this art as "graffiti art" and it crosses many different mediums such as reusing materials, plants, moss, reverse graffiti, chalk, or the use of other natural resources. Various activities have driven her to discover and understand more about her natural surrounding and express this passion through the following projects.

Rethink is an installation set up in front of regents canal in London, England which is an electrical power site with two main resources: gas and water. This simple word communicates a need to rethink what our society consumes and how we collectively use our resources.

Head Gardener is a guerrilla gardening project. The approach involves turning milk bottles into characters with plant hair styles. Some of these guys took to the streets, while others couldn't handle getting their hair wet.

Have you seen any local graffiti art? Share with us on Twitter @GoSustaino and Facebook.

Fuseproject

2010-07-30T22:23:00.006-04:00

Yves Behar resurfaces again this week with recognition for Fuseproject. I had the opportunity of meeting him in person at UCLA during the November Opportunity Green conference. A passionate industrial designer, innovative, one who found his own path, with a focus on environmentally friendly products. For those who don't know who is Yves Behar, you might be familiar some of this projects.

(Birkenstock Gardening clogs, One Laptop Per Child, Mission Motors, and Puma packaging)

Yves focuses on humanistic design and the "giving" element of his profession, creating projects that are in tune with sustainable practices and mindful of human emotions and the enablement of self-expression. He is the recipient of numerous awards including the prestigious National Design Award for Industrial Design, which celebrates design as a 'vital humanistic tool shaping the world' - awarded by Cooper-Hewitt, Smithsonian National Design Museum. He has also received the INDEX: Design to Improve Life, "Community" award for his role in creating the "XO" laptop. Go Yves! Go Sustaino!

Portable Gardens

2010-07-28T04:00:00.000-04:00

Italian designer Gionata Gatto has more than a green thumb. Inspired by small scape gardening, culture and beauty, his sustaino idea has taken gardening to a whole new level – portable with style.Users can grow vegetables and fruits on each side of the structure; approximately 36-plants can be grown vertically. We urbanites call them "urbanbuds" to reference the portable, vertical nature of green modern day gardening. Shaped like a suitcase and designed for easy watering, weeding, mobility and moisture and soil control through proper potting. This could offer new inspiration for inner city gardening, portable farmer's market in tight NYC-style streets and backyard educational workshops. Go Gatto! Go Sustaino!

Source: DesignBoom

Mandating Bike Spaces

2010-07-24T21:02:00.004-04:00

Move over car parking lots and make way for bicycles. It's part of the Mejor en Bici program in Buenos Aires - a city known its tango music, high crime, and of course, bike theft. The program is designed to force private parking lots availability or space for bicycles. The most important part of the program is the obligation for all private parking lots to offer 8 bike spots for every 50 vehicle spots they have, at a rate that can never be higher than 10% of the car fare.

This new government law aims to place 350 new bike racks all over the city and is announcing another 550 will be put to tender. The idea is to place these next to subway stations. They're also building parking facilities next to train stations, which will offer whole day parking for the very cheap price of one peso (about 25 US dollar cents), the first one next to major transport hub Constitucion.

It's good to see local governments try to reduce traffic congestion, pollution, and road rage. Next on the horizon would be a bike sharing program similar to London and Montreal.

Summer Flings with Frisbees

2010-07-24T17:36:00.001-04:00

There is nothing better than integrating sports and sustainability. The values of working hard and playing hard go hand in hand especially for the summer. You know how it goes - summer flip flops, plastic beach balls, sun tan lotion - the works. Even better in my opinion are summer frisbee games (or ultimate frisbee for the hard core fans).

Interestingly, I recently came across frisbees that are made by Ethix Ventures. This is not your typical sweatshop-made, petro-based gift. These are the real thing, a true gift, that is printed with union labor in the Bronx, NY. I'm pretty certain this non-toxic toy will be long lasting for any dog, family or game because the company considers the life cycle of their sports products along with labor standards, recycled content and biodegradable materials.

Another cool thing is that readers of the blog and friends of green sports have the chance to get your own frisbee by clicking here. Solidiarity eXchange is the program organized at Ethix, trying to steer more purchasing dollars to buy things that promote labor and environmental justice. Click, tell a friend and play!

Reduce and Get Paid

2010-07-24T04:00:00.000-04:00

We all become forgetful. Even with our technology gadgets, sexy electronics, and automatic reminders, we still forget to set it, click it, share it and understand it. However, what if we had reminders with an incentive - a cash, money incentive - that had your interest at heart as well our lovely planet. Why not?

Earth Aid does exactly that! It is online program that educates, rewards, monitors and reminds consumers of new trends in energy efficiency. Members will be asked to connect to the local power company, water and gas company. Once a member, Earth Aid will monitor each member’s energy consumption. The goal is that with energy efficiency tips, members will conserve resources as well as save money. As a reward, local businesses offer the discounts for their services to the degree of energy saved by the member.

Image Source: Ode Magazine, 2009

Sexy Solar

2010-07-21T07:50:00.000-04:00

I love the solar industry. It's mature, predictable, has a reliable energy source (compared to wind) and is even sexy. Yes, I said it - sexy!

Forget the bulk, heavy panels when one can opt for slim, sexy, photovoltaic that can be applied to rooftops, posts, shingles and more. One company that can do this is SRS Energy of Philadelphia that designs the curved solar roofing application. Basically, the silicon cells are bonded to special tiles, often made of the same materials as car bumpers.

A solar tile-based system that meets half the power needs for a typical CA home would cost roughly $20,000 to install after rebates. In the example above in the Bermuda Dumes, CA home, a four-hour job. See more details here.

Source: NY Times, 2009

Milking Algae for Oil

2010-07-19T10:21:00.000-04:00

I traveled on a plane Saturday morning and headed to the Sunshine State (FL) for a family reunion. Though I've made this trip hundreds of times already since I was eight years old (back then a child could safely travel solo), I saw cotton ball clouds, white sandy beaches, and green water. The Atlantic had me comparing it to the algae-filled Lake Erie. I lived next to the one of the largest fresh water assets of the Great Lakes. I've seen needles wash up on shore, zebra mussels claim their territory and recently heard about an infamous dumper of cooking oil in the open water. Yet one of our greatest assets might be that wonderful, green algae.

Research is continuously underway to figure out exactly how to milk algae. That's right, NPR (Science Friday) covered a great story of how to milk algae like a factory for energy/oil. Of course, this is not any ordinary algae, diatoms, almost 200,000 species, can give us the potential for oil and gasoline. Perhaps through genetic manipulation, these single cell algae beasts can be kept "alive" or "reused" for continuous production.

But where does one find our special little, green friends? The rich diatoms are in the scum of aquariums or even your pool. The secret ingredient is basic moisture and sunlight. Let's get cookin' and make some oil!

Good Eats

2010-07-07T22:39:00.002-04:00

Food, glorious food. Oliver sang it well.

The color of our food is equally important as the type of food we put into our bodies everyday. If food wasn't appealing to look at...it certainly would not be appetizing. As foodies from another the world are smelling, eating and sharing their joys,
photographer and food stylist Linda Lundgren is capturing our "good eats" one shot at a time.

In her work, she organized her food by color to create a series of photos that showcase some of the most common food hues from yellow to red, blue, and green. The photos not only contain foods that are a specific color but also
food packaging. It's a completely unique perspective that blends color along with packaging and art.

Source: Design Boom

Hot in the City

2010-07-05T20:57:00.002-04:00

Celebrating our nation's independence goes beyond fireworks and city parades. It is a time when kids make stale old popcorn and try to sell for a $1.00 after the parade. Then their cute smiles make you feel guilty and you purchase a sugary cup of lemonade for another $1.00. What ever happened to paying a quarter?

Well, we do live in America. Land of the free. Free markets. Free parking. Even free runs through water sprinklers that look like the Earth!

I couldn't help capturing the irony that I saw in this as the kid flagged us down, literally, with this red, white and blue marketing prop that lead us to his popcorn stand. While the ice caps are melting and the oil is spilling, it made me smile to see the Earth peeing fresh water from various continents. It surely was a hot one that day, and luckily I received a free sprinkler run around the globe.

American Solar Challenge 2010

2010-06-30T21:55:00.005-04:00

Today we recognize multiple Sustainos from the 2010 American Solar Challenge. This is a competition to design, build, and drive solar-powered cars in a cross-country rally event. Teams compete in a 1,100 mile drive from Broken Arrow, OK to Naperville, IL. The route was chosen to combine pieces of old routes used in previous events, giving a bit of an historical tribute for the 20 years of organized events in North America.

The winner was University of Michigan's Infinium car. It was U of M's third straight national championship and sixth overall. The car crossed the line after six days on the road with an average speed of 40 mph. The second place winner was University Minnesota with their 400-pound beast of fiberglass composite. The next Challenge is set for October 2011. The competition, billed as the world's premier solar racing event, runs every two years.

Source: Treehugger and American Solar Challenge

Food Solutions

2010-06-30T21:39:00.003-04:00

Can the food you choose play a role in chronic pain and symptom management?

Join Dr. James N. Dillard, formally and uniquely trained in three health professions—acupuncture, chiropractic and conventional medicine—for a day of discovery and innovative hands-on cooking in a supportive environment. Dr. Dillard will discuss evidence-based causes of chronic pain, explore pro-inflammatory dietary habits and explain how he helps patients navigate from illness to wellness with conventional and unconventional modalities. The day will close with a panel discussion of medical, nutrition and culinary experts.

Early Registration : $60 (by July 16th). Registration : $80 per ticket
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
9AM – 2:30PM
Urban Zen Center at the Stephan Weiss Studio
711 Greenwich Street at Charles Street
New York, NY 10014

For more information, please email rsvp@urbanzen.org or call 1.212.414.8520.

Sunshine Bamboo Inn

2010-06-27T16:23:00.004-04:00

A team of Chinese students from Tongji university has designed and built the Sunshine Inn (aka uber cool bamboo house) as an official entry into the first European Solar Decathlon in Madrid, Spain. Of course it is made of bamboo; however, the reduced carbon dioxide levels throughout the whole production phase. The raw material is also locally cultivated and has a very short and efficient renewable cycle of 5 years.

The house also features two curved roofs and a solar-facing wall which are covered top to bottom with PV panels that can generate enough energy to sustain the house, and potentially sell back to the grid. Another highlight is the innovative interior wall covering, which utilizes phase change materials (such as those used in heat packs) to heat and cool the house.

Source: Design Boom

Zerotracer

2010-06-20T07:00:00.001-04:00

I recently came across the Zerotracer, a two-man electric motorcycle with an uber, exterior, kevlar shell. The motorcycle is the creation of four, young Swiss designers at DesignWerk who created the vehicle to compete in the ‘around the world in 80 days’ electric vehicle race.

The design has some serious stats including a 350km range with a top speed of 250 km/h. Can you say X-Prize? It certainly seats two in tandem inside, and with lithium ion batteries that can be fully charged in 2 hours. When you watch the video, be sure to note design feature of unique training wheels that move out when traveling at low speeds.

Power of DC

2010-06-19T21:34:00.002-04:00

The Power of DC is an annual racing event. This year it took place in Hagerstown, Maryland (June 5-6) and what attracts car enthusiasts to this event is pure electric! Production electric vehicles, some modified, batteries, and racing all in one. It's one of the best events for electric and hybrid autocross along with the NEDRA drag race. Check out Don Auker's electric Tesla vs Shawn Lawless' (OBS-Orange Blossom Special) electric junior dragster driven by Chip Gribben in 2009. While the goal is to win and beat the clock, the spectators appreciate the more quite sound of the zooming engines.

Nokero LED

2010-06-19T07:00:00.000-04:00

Can you image paying $15 for a light bulb?

What if I told you that it is rainproof, made from impact resistant plastic, has four solar panels, a replaceable and rechargeable battery, plus five light-emitting diodes (LEDs).

The Nokero LED is the world's first solar light bulb, and the company is on a mission to replace kerosene lanterns and work with NGOs. To see some of the everyday applications from natural disasters, to recreation and domestic living, check out their site here.

Chevron Spills in Salt Lake City

2010-06-13T07:56:00.005-04:00

Our corporate entities have been in a new rhythm as Chevron joins the pedestal with their Salt Lake City oil spill. A underground pipeline has leaked at least 400 to 500 barrels of oil into the Red Buttle Creek leaving the Canadian geese and ducks with a new brown glow. Spewing about 50 barrels per minute, this unique pipe flows to Salt Lake City from Colorado and feeds the city's oil and gas refineries. The birds where taken to Hogle Zoo, dead fish were already found in Liberty park, and oil has been spotted four miles down the Jordan River.

One would question that with the recent Deep Water Horizon disaster, that corporations would be investigating and monitoring their operating lines/wells. However, that would call for more money to pay wages to weekly employees or outside contractors. Week after week our nation seems to have a crisis - explosion at WW Massey coal mine, Deep Water Horizon, methane explosion in Texas, Marcellus Shale drilling, etc. If you believe that all of this is simply out of your control, then I would strongly urge you to get off your seat and change your attitude. Thousands are disgusted; yet many are organizing a coordinated march to Washington, D.C. The goal is to demand transformation on energy reform and request immediate change in the handling of the Deep Water Horizon event. Join us and Reclaim Our America!

Image Source: Huffington Post

Why Food Matters

2010-06-11T07:40:00.006-04:00

It is remarkable how much progress the sustainable food movement has made in the last 18 months. Only a few years ago, in 2006, Michael Pollan’s best-selling book, The Omnivore’s Dilemma was published, highlighting 40 years of a movement and building off the wisdom of J.I. Rodale, Wendell Berry, Wes Jackson and countless other visionaries who believed that growing food in ways that improved human health, the environment, soil and communities was the best approach to an agriculture that could renew the American spirit rather than degrade it.

After years of wandering in the wilderness, the sustainable food movement has gone mainstream. Just last month Time magazine celebrated four sustainable food thinkers and doers among The 2010 Time 100 List. For those who still haven’t seen a copy of the magazine, joining Michael Pollan in the 2010 Time 100 List are Will Allen, Milwaukee urban farmer and MacArthur Genius award winner, Temple Grandin, the renowned animal scientist and Kathleen Merrigan, current Deputy Secretary at the U.S Department of Agriculture. Together, we continue to make history, proving that a united community can make positive change.

Source: Food Democracy Now and Babble Photo

Dirty Dozen - Part Two

2010-06-07T07:00:00.000-04:00

You know the saying, “an apple a day keeps the doctor away.” Well, how about peeling that apple before you eat it to avoid the nine potential pesticides that it contains in a single serving. Don’t take it from me - take it from the U.S. government that has conducted over 87,000 tests confirming this residue.

The Environmental Working Group has reviewed this information in detail before contacting ABC News and CNN, who showcased the “Dirty Dozen” fruits and vegetables that contain a super high amount of pesticides. And while 2/3 of our produce has no pesticide residue, the remaining 1/3 is known to cause endocrine-disruption, hormone imbalances, cancer, depression, miscarriages and skin allergies.

What fruits and veges are on the Dirty Dozen? Celery, Peaches, Strawberries, Apples, Blueberries, Nectarines, Bell Peppers, Spinach/Kale/Collard Greens, Cherries, Potatoes, Imported Grapes and Lettuce

Theme: usually those with soft skin that should be peeled, yet most still absorb common pesticides and insecticides which are harmful carcinogens

Source: Environmental Working Group, ABC News and CNN

Farmers, Feds and Your Food

2010-06-05T19:27:00.002-04:00

Ten days after the Department of Justice (DOJ) and USDA’s joint hearing on antitrust abuses in the poultry industry, folks are still appalled at the stories of threats and intimidation that farmers face from poultry companies in the U.S.

In the past 40 years, the poultry industry has become one of the most consolidated and abusive industries in agriculture, using their power and market influence to force unfair contracts on family farmers, deny them a fair, living wage and force them into a life, described by one producer as “indentured servitude.” More specifically, agribusiness corporations have been allowed to consolidate whereby its market power influences unfair prices that farmers are paid for their goods, the prices they pay for inputs and the price that consumers pay at the grocery store. Unfair market concentration has also created an overly centralized food system which is no more evident than in the poultry industry.

There has been limited, aggressive action to enforce existing laws such as the Packers and Stockyards Act as a means to prohibit unfair and deceptive trade practices by poultry companies, prohibit poultry companies from requiring growers to install expensive upgrades in poultry house at their own expense, and end the current system of payment for poultry growers. Overall, the current system is unfair and deceptive, giving companies free rein to manipulate payment to growers based on factors completely out of growers’ control.

On the day of the DOJ/USDA hearing, an alert was distributed asking citizens to stand up for America’s chicken farmers and more than 16,000 people responded, telling the DOJ that, “It is time for these abuses to end!” Once again, farmers are asking you to help and stand up to the powerful companies that determine their fate every day. If you haven't signed the letter to U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack telling them to investigate these monopolistic abuses and then enforce existing laws on the books, please take a moment to do so now, then please ask your friends to do the same. Please sign and add your comments, click here .

Source: Food Democracy Now

Three Rivers Arts Festival

2010-06-05T14:24:00.003-04:00

The Three Rivers Arts Festival begins, June 4, 2010. Check out the EcoArcade by the Pennsylvania Resources Council, the solar powered windmills, traveling freshwater aquarium, and classic games with an eco-twist over the next few weeks.

Be sure to check out how the waste is being collected at the festival. Do you sort your waste? If so, how much of it do you recycle, re-use or compost? I spent an hour watching the waste sorting going on at the main trash area by the food stands several years ago. It is fascinating to think about the total process from where seeds come from, food production to where our waste food goes. And watching folks discard their food at the festival, with all those bins is especially fun, at least from my perspective!

Earth From Above

2010-06-03T21:28:00.003-04:00

Picture Earth is a non-profit that I stumbled upon recently that has a breathtaking collection of large-scale aerial photography, Earth From Above-USA, by French environmentalist Yann Arthus-Bertrand. A visual record for future generations, this outdoor public art exhibition presents inspiring portraits of our planet, and a new perspective on the need for sustainable living. It is free to the public, day and night, experiential, and green by design. The 8-week exhibition features 150 images from around the globe captioned by sustainable development experts.

Free Electric Car Rides

2010-05-29T20:19:00.005-04:00

I clipped in my seat belt and pushed the button. Immediately, I was addicted to the smooth sound, regenerative brakes, and fresh leather of my first electric vehicle ride in a MINI E (#91). Too bad I couldn't get a hold of #007 (Pierce was busy). Since that time, I've been hungry for knowledge on all things EV specifically regulations, state incentives, and improved battery life. So, as I buy my time here in Pittsburgh where the infrastructure is majorly lacking basic Level 2 charging, which is standardized in the U.S., I will at least salivate as the Michigan Electric Auto Association will host their 2nd annual rally. It starts on June 12th with free admission and free rides. You can meet with EV owners, discuss EV technology and learn how to convert your gas guzzler into an electric drive and free yourself from foreign oil. Doors open at 10am to 6pm at Schoolcraft College, Livonia, MI.

Why Water Matters

2010-05-27T21:38:00.002-04:00

Western Pennsylvanians enjoy their rivers, streams and lakes, but do we take our water for granted? Many parts of the world are plagued with polluted water, or have limited access to any water at all. That may sound like someone else's problem, but people in the Pittsburgh region are taking innovative steps to prevent future water problems and to correct existing ones.

To coincide with World Environment Day events and the Water Matters! Global Water Conference, WQED Multimedia's OnQ program is proud to present a four-day televised (and internet accessible) series. From local water challenges to successes, from water innovators to watchdogs, the entire OnQ staff worked to bring viewers in-depth reports and interviews that remind everyone why "Water Matters" in Pittsburgh.

Monday, May 31, 2010 at 7:30pm:
OnQ begins the "What's In The Water?" series with an overview on the importance of preserving our region's waterways. Michael Bartley hosts a discussion forum with topics that include water sustainability, water solutions, accountability when it comes to keeping our water clean, and the economic impact on communities with or without good water systems.

Guests:
Court Gould, Executive Director of Sustainable Pittsburgh
John Stanik, Chairman, President & CEO of Calgon Carbon
Jeanne VanBriesen, Professor at Carnegie Mellon University
Jerry Paytas, Director of Research for GSP Consulting's Economic Architecture practice.

Additional programming is scheduled at 7:30 pm on the following dates:
Tuesday, June 1: “Water Run-off: Solving the Problems”, “The Fish Study”,“Three Rivers Waterkeeper”
Wednesday, June 2: “Marcellus Shale Drilling“, “Marcellus Shale Drilling Discussion”
Thursday, June 3: “Wingfield Pines”, “Nine Mile Run Rain Gardens”

Content will be available for on-demand viewing after it is televised. For a complete program listing and descriptions, visit WQED’s “What’s in the Water."

Cape Wind

2010-05-21T22:02:00.004-04:00

Energy advocates and Sustainos are celebrating as the first U.S. offshore wind farm has been approved. The 130-turbine development on Horseshoe Shoal in Nantucket Sound is nicknamed Cape Wind, and it could provide up to 75% of all electricity for Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard, and Nantucket. So, why did it take so long?

Some detractors of the project are firm in stating that it will stand tall on sacred Indian ancestral grounds, hinder the local landscape (potentially blocking the Kennedy compound's view of Nantucket sound!), hurt prospects for local fishermen who are dependent upon areas that will disappear when the wind farm is built, and perhaps interfere with airplane radar. The project may raise electricity prices for local residents, which is speculative, to cover the upgrade costs for the electrical grid and transmission lines.

Supporters of the project have illustrated that numerous case studies of wind farms across Europe (both on and offshore) have mitigated air traffic/radar interferences, and helped to provided jobs. This project is merely the gateway to opening up the U.S. to more offshore developments. With Cape Wind, it will cut CO2 emissions by almost 1 million tons per year, or approximately 1% of total greenhouse gas emissions in Massachusetts.

Given that our economy is in the tank, we have roughly 10% unemployment, and our dependency on foreign oil and coal continues to rise, I would say now is the time we build upon the success pure, clean, affordable energy for our nation. Go Cape Wind! Go Sustaino!

Source: Fast Company, 2010

Wind Farm vs. Oil Spill

2010-05-20T21:48:00.000-04:00

No one shows the stats better than Infographic, where simple facts are transformed into eye candy. We're not even half through 2010 and already we have had the chance to witness two environmental events for the books--the ever-growing oil spill in the Gulf and the approval of the first U.S. offshore wind farm. Both the oil spill and Cape Wind will leave lasting impacts on the Gulf of Mexico and Cape Cod, respectively. But make no mistake. The negative impact of the toxic oil spill outweighs that of our biggest, latest, best effort at a sustainable energy project. Full image, click here.

Source: Infographic

Scorzonera

2010-05-19T07:00:00.000-04:00

Our parents always told us to eat our vegetables. Otherwise, you know they would just puree them all up and serve it as soup, stuff the veges in the meatloaf, or even get creative by baking zucchini bread. Yet a new vegetable is getting the attention of farmers, chefs and even moms.

Carol Ann Sayle, co-founder and co-owner of Boggy Creek Farm, a five-acre urban, organic farm in Austin, Texas, grew beets, potatoes, squash, broccoli and green beans, to name a few. But only recently did she discover the root vegetable scorzonera.

The name comes from the Italian "scorza" meaning bark and "nera" meaning black. It's a dark-skinned root vegetable that's similar to salsify -- called the oyster plant as it allegedly tastes like oysters. Scorzonera is, in nature, a perennial, but acts like a biennial. It should be blanched or boiled and then the skin will easily peel off. Their crunchy texture makes them unique for salads, stir fry, omelets, or other fun creations. Go for it and try something new!

Sources: Slashfood

Kites Powered By Oceans

2010-05-18T07:00:00.001-04:00

It's a kite...

No, a turbine...

It's a new deep ocean solution called Deep Green.

Some are calling it a modern high efficiency, low impact solution brought to our world by a Swedish company, Minesto (a spin-off of the Saab Group). The concept involves generating electricity from tidal currents. While not necessarily a new concept, the approach is being perfected with underwater kites.

Speed and energy are the key to tidal energy, and one of the new techniques to harness this "free" energy is with kites plus mini turbines made of low cost materials. The kites travel in short figure-eights which are attached to the seabed by a tether. The speed of the kite is what determines the flow velocity to the turbine. The faster it swims, the more electricity will be generated. All of the juice is then transmitted onshore through a power cable inside the tether. See the demo below and share your thoughts.

Youngest Person Sails Around the World

2010-05-17T12:45:00.005-04:00

The solo sailor, Jessica Watson, has finally returned home from her long journey. She sailed around the world, solo, unassisted, in her pink yacht named Ella's Pink Lady. It was a seven month voyage and she is youngest chic ever to complete such as diffucult challenge.

Equipped with her solar panel, GPS device, filtered water and many other gadgets, it was pure wind power and intelligence that helped her reach her destination. More importantly, many of the sponsors that share the values of adventure and responsible risk taking with a green focus have been credited.

"Having achieved something extraordinary, they can become excellent communicators, with passion and confidence, inspiring others to push beyond the boundaries in their chosen field. Often these adventurers develop into entreprenuers, community and business leaders, and become "Austrialian" characters that help define our culture, says Don McIntyre. - McIntyre Adventure.

So, what have you done today to inspire others or help your community?

Indoor Vertical Gardening Pops Up

2010-05-09T15:48:00.005-04:00

Everyone in the media has been talking about vertical farms and vegetable rooftops. These applications produce beautiful results and at times can be costly if you are not re-purposing materials. With Spring in season, why not opt for indoor gardening?

I'm not talking small pot, container gardening. I'm talking 2010, modern day, trendy art meets green thumbs. Just insert some 400 plants, such as hardy philodendrons, ivies and ferns, into holes cut in felt. Attach the felt matrix to your wall with a sponge or cheese cloth backing to allow the roots to grow. (Though, most philos will simply grow in a jar of water - if you want to get started.)
A trough along the floor in this example collects the water runoff, and a small utility pump with a filtration sponge sends the water back up the wall. The wall is basically turned into garden art. You can even plant and grow herbs, tomatoes and small flowers. As for maintenance, sure there are less bugs, but you will still have a need for pruning, watering and feeding.

Credit: Trevor Tondro for The New York Times

BP - You Don't Get My Dollar

2010-05-04T20:01:00.003-04:00

BP needs to be boycotted and we, as the consumers, can do something about it. We need to hurt them with the only thing they care most about - profits! By now, the Deep Horizon rig could have been addressed yet "new technologies" are being applied to save the precious oil, the big asset, for later use.

So why boycott? Simply, to make an example. The government has done this before with various people and events to make an memorable impressions. Take Michael Vick, for example, who was federally prosecuted for unlawful interstate dog fighting. Through boycotting and making BP the new example, you will still have plenty of other choices. Exxon. Sunoco. Shell. Gulf. Texaco. Citgo.

Secondly, Alabama Attorney General Troy King said Sunday night that he told BP representatives to stop circulating agreements offering coastal Alabamians $5,000 if they give up the right to sue the company. A BP official said the offer was part of a "standard waiver" to fishermen that was "inappropriate" and was "swiftly discontinued." Can BP really sink that low? Obviously, BP has continued to put their profits before safety.

Halliburton Sealing the Oil Deal

2010-05-02T20:52:00.008-04:00

As a Homestead, Florida native, beach kid and water enthusiast, I think it is time that I chime in the uncontrollable oil gusher. The infamous Gulf Coast oil spill from the Deepwater Horizon rig is becoming an environmental and economic disaster. It is putting BP's corporate green and yellow brand logo so much closer on the greenwashing scoreboard that management is now simply trying to do as much damage control as possible. While the massive oil slick continues to grow, experts continue with their brilliant techniques of skimming it, burning it, and best of all brewing up a chemical cocktail.

But the Coast Guard, appointed by President Obama, to "get in there and get the job done", has brought up a damn good question. Since no one can truly pinpoint how much oil is leaking from the ruptured well, probably 5,000 barrels -- no wait 250,000 barrels per day, etc., because it is a mile deep under the water, why don't we go to the source?

The latest answer has been to send in the robots to scope out the damage or should we say clog? Surely there is something clogging those pipes and some folks are pointing fingers at Halliburton. The Houston based Halliburton was responsible for cementing the drill into place below the water. Of course, they are denying it and saying, "its premature" to make these assumptions. But let's think about two important factors: 1) cement and 2) Australia.

First, an exploration well is drilled and cement slurry is pumped through a steel pipe or casing and out through a check valve at the bottom of the casing. It then travels up the outside of the pipe, sheathing the part of the pipe surrounded by the oil and gas zone. When the cement hardens, it is supposed to prevent oil or gas from leaking into adjacent zones along the pipe. (Source: LA Times). It's fairly simple the cement is used to fill the gaps between the well and the hole and secondly it acts like a temporary plug before full production begins. More interesting, cement is known to cause blow outs more than equipment malfunction 18 out of 39 times (according to a 2007 study by the U.S. Minerals Management Service).

Secondly, Halliburton can't get off that easily. History is repeating itself and many Americans weren't aware of what happened in Australia. Halliburton has been accused of a horrible cement job in the case of a major blowout in the Timor Sea off Australia last August. That is less than one year, and what have we learned? Well, the government and the media are coming down hard on BP, who now have dozens of class action lawsuits piling up. BP has stated that will "take full responsibility" for the spill and will pay legitimate claims by the parties that were affected. But should Halliburton take any ownership or accountability?

According to experts cited in the Wall St. Journal, "the timing of last week's cement job in relation to the explosion - only 20 hours beforehand, says the initial likely cause of gas coming to the surface had something to do with the cement." says Robert MacKenzie, managing director of energy and natural resources at FBR Capital Markets and a former cementing engineer.

So...what will Halliburton pay?

Image Source: U.S. Coast Guard

Arse Happiness

2010-05-02T20:27:00.003-04:00

The last time I checked, the year was 2010. I expected flying cars, super soldiers, and genetically modified food. Well, I'm happy to report that we have all but the former, and in its place we will substitute the ever lasting, ever shifting, recycled aluminum chair.

Designer, Tokujin Yoshioka crafted this futuristic arrangement from special metallic looking fabric. It is a new age shape shifter and changes every time someone sits their arse on this piece of furniture making a unique impression. So, look out old time bean bags because "Memory" will be taking up space at the Milan Design Fair.

Source: Inhabitant

You Are What You Eat

2010-04-28T20:31:00.000-04:00

The Environmental Working Group (EWG) always recommend eating more fruits and veggies and buying them organic if you can, but we know that sometimes they're too expensive or flat-out unavailable. That's why they have created the Shopper's Guide to Pesticides (download here). You’ll be able to know which fruits and vegetables have the lowest pesticide residues and which you should try to always buy organic. This guide was created in partnership with renowned medical expert on natural health and wellness, Dr. Andrew Weil. He shares below in his video that making healthy food choices is simple and leads to money saved and improved quality of life.

Disappearing Lawns

2010-04-27T20:46:00.003-04:00

What’s up with Suburbanites and their lawns? For decades, families have been obsessed with growing and grooming perfect green lawns. Fungicides, fertilizers, and mulching all for the sake of having your kids play in open landscape or providing a piss area for your dog. Why? To what end? It’s an endless, cyclical cycle of one-upping the neighbors and spending money on a puzzling question, “How sustainable is your yard?”

Last year I spoke with homeowners in various cities from Pensacola, Boston, Miami, Atlanta and Los Angeles. All complained about the higher prices of water, which is essential for basic seed growth. All also experimented with organic fertilizers to prevent run-off of toxic chemicals into the water table and not to mention the need for gas for hourly mowing, trimming and edging.Fast forward, the trend I've been seeing is that lawns are disappearing. In their place are an interesting mixture of ground covers, succulents, ivy, shrubs, and evergreens. Although more yards are including compost bins, rain barrels and other sustainable features, the benefit of having less lawn and an anchor of native plants is coming more attractive. Our busy lives and shrinking wallets from the recession gives us less time and money to maintain grass blades and weeds. Why not opt for a sustainable yard that offers less maintenance, disease resistant and doesn’t have to be artificially feed?

Earth Day Founder

2010-04-22T07:00:00.002-04:00

Earth Day was founded by Gaylord Nelson, Governor and Congressman from Wisconsin. He gave thousands of speeches to encourage political and social action on the environment. His speeches are still quoted today, shared on NPR and made to be an inspiration for all generations.

So, in the most simple form, what was the goal of Earth Day?

A: "Our goal is an environment of decency, quality and mutual respect for all human beings and all other creatures—an environment without ugliness, without poverty, without discrimination, without hunger and without war. Our goal is a decent environment in its deepest and broadest sense." - Gaylord Nelson.

As we honor Earth Day, we honor the man from Clear Lake, WI and his accomplishment to get a nationwide demonstration of concern for the environment.

LOHAS Living in Pittsburgh

2010-04-21T20:28:00.002-04:00

Pittsburgh certainly is not Seattle or Los Angeles when it comes to environmental trends, but it can now proudly announce the region’s first net-zero energy home. Located in the South Side neighborhood, Riverside Mews, is a 48-unit green townhome community. To achieve net-zero energy, the 1,850-square-foot townhome generates as much power as it uses on an annual basis through a variety of green building technologies, including an 8,000 watt photovoltaic array mounted on its roof, a geothermal heat pump, LED lighting, Energy Star labeled products and super insulation methods. Combining a LOHAS lifestyle with eco-features is not only trendy but a modern day approach o healthy living. The public is invited to tour this net-zero energy home on Saturday, April 24 and Sunday, April 25 from noon - 4 p.m. It is located at 1820 Merriman Way, 15203.

Lighting the Way

2010-04-19T07:00:00.000-04:00

Dutch designer, Piet Hein Eek brings new life to old lighting units by recycling them and transforming them into new creations. This chandelier of individual lamps is comprised of lamps set inside a round metal rod and strung together in unique vertical and circular formats. A tough task for such delicate materials. To see more of his wood and ceramic creations, click here.

Source: Design Boom 2010

Roof Visitor

2010-04-13T07:00:00.001-04:00

My home improvement, DIYer, green thumb husband has ventured off to Augusta, GA. While not a golfer, or a fisherman, his duties of replacing geothermal pumps and cleaning gutters will be most appreciated by our grandparents. Even more interesting, our Grandad has given a whole new meaning to the term GREEN ROOF. Our recommendation to home owners, you should probably clean the gutters before pine trees begin growing in them :)

Bow Bins

2010-04-12T07:00:00.000-04:00

They say one man's junk is another man's treasure. Thanks to Cordula Kehrer, you have the best of both worlds with "Bow Bins". She combines remnants of mass produced and synthetic parts in a completely different way to reveal artistic bowls, bins and tubs. She works with anything that starts to leak or shows damage, and then begins her transformation. To see more of her unique work, click here.

Double ByPass

2010-04-10T17:50:00.006-04:00

We want breasts, right?

Big, white, meaty breasts from chickens and turkeys. Well, you can get it at KFC! The franchise recently created the Double Down sandwich – all meat sandwich with cheese and 2 pieces of bacon. Unique, Relevant and Different! It is a modern day marketing winner.

Additionally, "winner-winner-chicken dinner" might call for some observation. Chickens are fat. Literally, they are becoming extremely obese in factory farms that they can’t walk or sit up straight. They are sleeping in their own feces, but if you'd like to eat an animal that mistakes its own poop for food, then by all means you can surely eat that "type" of protein if you'd like. For clarity, I still hear the arguments that a vegetarian diet is not necessarily the most efficient in terms of land use, and I also read about additional evidence that a vegetarian diet, or one at least that radically reduces meat consumption, can have massive climate change mitigation benefits.

But what is the benefit of eating this massive sandwich? If I were to eat a KFC Double Down sandwich, then I could certainly foresee Double Trouble or Double ByPass. I could imagine hearing my arteries clog up, feel my ass growing bigger, and maybe see some hair growing on my chest given those extra hormones and antibiotics in the meat. What kind of message does this send towards our obesity epidemic? Oh right…it’s cheap, fast and curiously cool to teenagers.

See the funny commercial here.

Story of Stuff

2010-04-10T16:36:00.003-04:00

Crashing parties and talking trash this week, Annie Leonard is on a garbage, no consumption roll. Recognized as Time Magazine's 2008 Heroes of the Environment, she continues her hard work and obsession of understanding WHAT we throw away into landfills and WHY we have so much of it.

The Berkeley resident is on the road promoting her new book, "The Story of Stuff." Since the release of her short online video in December 2007 she has been featured on USA Today, Time and The Colbert Reports. See her point of view here and visit a landfill near you.

Ready to Drink

2010-04-10T15:01:00.003-04:00

If you missed World Water Day (3.22.10), then April will be your month to celebrate for Earth Day (4.22.10). Yet, given all these global holidays, what are we really cheering for? Are we hoping to recycle one more plastic Nalgene, reduce paper towel usage, or reuse an old pillow case as another cleaning doily. In short the answer is yes. It all counts, but why not go for the Gold and doing something bigger, better and more impactful.

National Geographic covered several gold--go-getters in the water arena with articles on desalination, infrastructure, and new age cisterns. Most surprising, in my opinion, was an article on families living in Nairobi, Kenya who used a simple, old, traditional style for water disinfection. You simply retrieve a plastic water bottle (there are many even in Africa), remove the label, fill it up with water that is not overly murky and place the bottle on a piece of metal in the sunlight. In six hours, the UV radiation will disrupt the genetic processes of bacterial reproduction and destroy the cell walls.

Now being used all over the world is SODIS, a Swiss acronym for a program used to reduce diarrhea and other water borne diseases while providing safer drinking water. Basic research results are showing absenteeism has dropped significantly. Before SODIS, only about 10 to 15 percent of students would go to school and pass the sixth grade. Now, with healthier lives, about 90 to 95 percent of students are passing classes. Efforts are stilling be tweaked to prevent recontamination, especially with chemically contaminated water and other non-plastic options (e.g. glass or other clear containers) in order to increase awareness and education.

Image Source: Matter Network, 2008

I Spy Something Moving

2010-04-09T19:30:00.004-04:00

I just returned from a 3-day trip from San Diego (with 2 days spent between airports). With only 1 day to soak up some rays, I was happy to see something I haven't seen in such a long time. It had two wheels, lights, a horn, mirrors and a good looking ass that passed by so quickly.

A beautiful red Felt road bike was pleasing to see again. I realized there is hope still alive on this planet where folks can bike to work, bike to the store, bike to the beach or bike home.

Bicycling Magazine has put together a list of the top 50 bike friendly cities in the U.S. I was surprised to learn that congratulations are in order for Minneapolis, MN. What I also didn't know, for example, is that over 5 percent of Gainesville, FL, residents commute by bike, or that Fargo, North Dakota, has over 200 miles of bike paths! To find your city listing, click here and ride on!

Source: Fast Company, 2010

How Much is the LEAF?

2010-03-31T21:44:00.003-04:00

On March 30, Nissan finally announced the price tag for the 2011 LEAF electric vehicle. In select markets, you could be a new owner for $32,780, or wait until 2011 for the nationwide release. With aggressive pricing, other perks are available such as a $7,500 federal tax credit, and a bundle of state and local incentives are popping up - $5,000 statewide tax rebate in California, $5,000 tax credit in Georgia, and $1,500 tax credit in Oregon.

I must say that it is perfect timing given the recently media push of the Chevy Volt. When the Volt hits limited markets in CA, D.C. and Michigan, there will only be about 10,000 units with a similar price tag in the low $30,000 range. To see how how that test drive went, click here.

While all the manufacturers are advertising, investing and redeveloping battery technology, my big question is what is up with the MINI E? Where has my fine EV friend ventured off to this year? I was hoping the pilot fleet of 600 units in OR, CA and NJ would be successful enough to march ahead of Nissan. Please find the MINI E.

Image Source: Wired News

Freshwater Factory

2010-03-30T07:00:00.000-04:00

Design Crew for Architecture (DCA) has provided a proposal both technical and creative in nature for the 2010 Skyscraper Competition. Their entry, "Freshwater Factory" is redefines traditional buildings by incorporating circular tanks that house brackish water. The brackish water is delivered up the tower by tidal powered pumps for the greenhouses where the mangroves live. The mangroves are unique in that they are grow particularly well in brackish water and the leaves perspire freshwater. One hectare (or 2.5 acres) produces 30,000 liters of water a day. So if you can fill the greenhouses easily, you just need to add sunlight and you will have the formula for a farming solution and a skyscraper award.

Source: Design Boom 2010

Ford Saves One Million Dollars

2010-03-29T07:00:00.000-04:00

This weekend was Earth Hour where cities around the globe shut down the lights for one hour. But why can't we do this every night? Don't tell me it's a security feature because corporations are making big moves to improve security, save a buck and reduce carbon footprints by lots of metric tons.

Ford recently did and publicized its $1.2 million dollar savings.

Verizon did as well as Dell and AT&T.

What is their secret software? 1E's software solution. The internal shut-down program at Ford is called PC Power Management that centrally controls laptops and desktops to shut down in the evenings and on weekends. At the same time, the program ensures that computers connected to the Ford Intranet are able to receive software deliveries during off hours, decreasing downtime during working hours due to excess software loads.

Moving forward in 2010 just seems so easy. Consume Less. Conserve More.

YikeBike

2010-03-28T12:04:00.002-04:00

Inventor Grant Ryan from New Zealand explains his revolutionary concept to steer a bike with your hands behind your body. Designed and constructed in Christchurch New Zealand, the YikeBike is the world’s smallest, lightest electric folding bicycle at less than 10kg. Yike Bike is planned to be shipped in 2010 for $4,500-5,500 USD. See video of various test drives here.

Where is my maker?

2010-03-25T21:02:00.003-04:00

Struggling with its immortality, a discarded plastic bag becomes the main character (voiced by Werner Herzog). This hysterical Indie film shares the life of a good, ole plastic bag as he ventures through the environmentally barren remains of America as it searches for its maker, Mrs. Consumer. Bizarre, brilliant and interesting.

Water Hygiene

2010-03-23T21:36:00.005-04:00

Remember the scene in Ghostbusters when Egon and his brilliant team activated the "magic black box" to capture Slimer and then soon after his other ghost buddies? Well, we need a super big box to capture four new dangerous chemicals in our water system. You can say they are bit like ghosts in that we can't see, feel, or taste them. Yet, when we whip out our tech-savvy devices, we can easily detect true crap that is lurking in our water supply giving us cancer, thyroid disease, hormone disruption and more.

This is a big deal, especially when the EPA announces more strict regulations to remove these nasties from our water. Some of them you might recall.

Killer #1: TCE (trichloroethylene) - our government boys used this to clean nuclear missiles and was frequently dumped at nuclear sites. You can say it gives the washer that extra added Simpson green glow. It seeps into the drinking water from contaminated groundwater and surface water.

Killer #2: Tetrachloroethylene - is the other evil step-sister of TCE. A liquid-based agent often used for dry cleaning of fabrics. This powerful liquid is a central nervous system depressant known to dissolve fats from the skin.

Killer #3: Acrylamide is a water-based thickener. It is used during the water treatment process, papermaking, ore processing or when manufacturing dyes.

Killer #4: Epichlorohydrin is the last impurity that is introduced to our drinking water through the water treatment process. It is colorless, smells like garlic and used to make plastics and epoxy glues. Yummy!

Of course, I don't want these four compounds in my water supply, and I'm sure there are more unknowns swimming around in my water that I commonly use during my daily shower or evening cooking and cleaning. However, I also don't have a team of Ghostbusters checking to see what can be captured in the "magic black box". If that is not the responsibility of the EPA, who am I gonna call?

Source: Huffington Post

One Million Trees

2010-03-21T15:08:00.003-04:00

I often hear that our planet is doomed. Our hearts are lacking the hope as the plastic bag counter continued to tick. We don't have the money, yet have all the technology, to clean up our landfills, and I say it is time to bring back that hope, challenge your community and make an impact for the next generation.

That is the mindset of Gashaw Tahir.

The Ethiopian man who fought deforestation by planting one million trees.

Change in Ethiopia is synonymous with man-made erosion. He started by going to city council and asking for 2 acres of land. They handed it over to him with no constraints and here is his story as he transformed his birth country. Don't tell me there is no hope in Haiti, Chile, and Iceland (as of late) because there is certainly hope on this planet.