Ravenous black bears scurrying through trash cans for dinner, mosquitoes swarming in the early grass, amorous deer behaving like, well, rabbits. Creatures great and small are being thrown for a loop this winter as the unusually warm climate stirs all forms of wildlife from their natural hibernation and reproduction cycles.
Call it the Jumanji effect.
It will cause bat populations to crater and deer herds to double. It had famous groundhog Punxsutawney [...]
Brown seaweed, also called kelp, hold sugars that can be made into biofuels. A new system allows microbes to convert a previously inaccessible form of sugar in leaves like these.
A promising new system can convert fronds of brown seaweed into biofuel, opening up a new possible source of energy that could help replace fossil fuels, like gasoline, scientists reported Thursday, Jan. 19.
The secret: bacteria genetically engineered to break down a [...]
Brighten clouds with sea water? Spray aerosols high in the stratosphere? Paint roofs white and plant light-colored crops? How about positioning “sun shades” over the Earth?
At a time of deep concern over global warming, a group of scientists, philosophers and legal scholars examined whether human intervention could artificially cool the Earth — and what would happen if it did.
A report released late Thursday in London and discussed Friday at the U.N. climate conference in
What is your favorite eco-tip for treating yourself?
Jeanne – My eco-tip is to treat yourself to living a healthy lifestyle everyday. Buy & eat organic when possible (especially EWG’s Dirty Dozen), buy local – it’s great to get to know and support your local farmers and retailers who support local farmers. Buy local or at least natural skin care. Skin Deep is a great place to research products and ingredients and stay educated. And last but not least [...]
Microsoft is one of the biggest companies in the world, and probably has a lot to answer for when it comes to global power consumption and socialresponsibility. Whilefounder Bill Gates has done his part for the less fortunate by reportedly donating $28 billion to charity, hisco-founder Paul Allen hasnt made any kind gestures quite as large. In fact, it was recently reported thatAllen put $13 [...]
Searchlight, Nevada Nevada is largely desert, yet a unique new building floats on water there — and it’s raising eyebrows.
It’s built of rice hulls, Styrofoam, and recycled tires, and it’s still as solid as any other structure — well, any structure that’s literally floating in the middle of a lake. The new operations office for luxury houseboat rental firm Forever Resorts is the world’s first “floating building” to register for a gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council.
BELLINZONA, Switzerland Three accused eco-terrorists went on trial under heavy security in Switzerland’s highest criminal court Tuesday for an alleged plot to blow up an IBM nanotech research center near Zurich.
The trial in the Federal Criminal Court for an Italian couple and Swiss man living in Italy opened after a one-hour delay because of the extraordinary security taken by Swiss police, who cordoned off the area with metal barriers.
The three defendants — 35-year-old Costantino Alfonso [...]
Strange sighting: an iceberg archway, floating in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean.
VELIZY-VILLACOUBLAY, France A French entrepreneur backed by a software company claims to have proved that he can tow giant icebergs across the world to end drought conditions.
ABOARD THE MV DELAWARE Some sailors who served on the Navy destroyer USS Arthur W. Radford gathered Wednesday to watch it be pushed to the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean to become part of a manmade reef.
“It’s sad to see it being sunk,” said Lee String, 46, of New Jersey, who served on the ship in 1985 as a welder, pipefitter and plumber. “It was once a proud-looking ship, but it’s better to see it go to that purpose rather than [...]
A laser beam (red) and the cloud of generated particles (illuminated by an auxiliary green laser, which makes each particle shine) in a cloud chamber.
Lasers could help cause rain, scientists now suggest. The finding may give bone-dry regions of the world much-needed moisture, scientists say.
Rainclouds form when airborne pockets of tiny particles condense water vapor around them. With enough of these cloud seeds, you get clouds and then [...]
A screenshot of the website for Al Gore’s Climate Reality Project, a 24-hour broadcast about the environment that the site claims million watched. Or did they?
Talk about an inconvenient truth!
Climate Reality Project, the online home of Al Gore’s recent “24 Hours of Reality” broadcast, recently claimed that the event was a whopping success, with 8.6 million viewers.
A back-of-the-envelope analysis of the webcast’s real traffic numbers by Watts Up With That — a website skeptical of [...]
By harnessing the power of social gaming, a new coalition hopes to become the Farmville of home energy conservation.
The average American spends just six minutes a year thinking about their energy consumption, a statistic that Facebook, the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), and energy management firm Opower hope to change through a new social energy app.
Social networking represents the next frontier in delivering consumer energy savings, Dan Yates, co-founder and chief executive officer of Opower, said in a [...]
Rainstorm or wind farm? The circled area contains a wind farm, making it unclear whether it is also raining there.
This one’s really off the radar.
Wind farms, along with solar power and other alternative energy sources, are supposed to produce the energy of tomorrow. Evidence indicates that their countless whirring fan blades produce something else: “blank spots” that distort radar readings.
Now government agencies that depend on radar — such as the Department of [...]
The new WindMade logo will help consumers select products produced by renewable energy sources.
Motorola wants a little wind beneath its wings.
The American telecommunications giant, along with over a dozen other companies including Bloomberg, the World Wildlife Fund and LEGO, has teamed up with Belgian non-profit WindMade and pledged to procure at least 25 percent of its power from wind energy.
“It is Motorola Mobility’s intent through our participation in the WindMade initiative [...]
Designed by Antoin Lebrun, the Aion is a multi-functional appliance that utilizes plants for their filtering and cleaning properties to provide a renewable supply of clean water and vegetable soap. When cooking, the plants act as a filtering hood. When it’s time to clean up, place the dirty dishes into the sink, shut the hood and the natural cleaning cycle will begin.
From BigGreenMonster.TV July 8, 2008 [via] got2begreen.com
The cool Swiss company FREITAG is producing and marketing bags and accessories made from used materials found on the road outside your front door like old truck tarpaulins tanned by exhaust fumes, cycle inner tubes and used belts, as well as the newest resource of used airbags. They have a great reputation for functionality, design, durability, quality and uniqueness….but hey what can you expect….they’re Swiss!
FREITAG is now giving their shoppers a chance to take their [...]
Korean artist Kwangho Lee gets most of his inspiration from childhood memories. In his own words: “I had great time growing up in the countryside with my grandparents. I have such great memories and most of the ideas and inspirations I get for my works are based on them.”
In his work, he talks about two things. One is about the search for possible changes and new meanings in the most ordinary objects of our daily lives. By making little (or it may be big) [...]
An array of improved LED lighting solutions are entering the market. Fluorescent and neon move over. LED’s provide similar light levels with drastically lower electrical usage. Combined with solar energy options outdoor signage has reached the age of perpetual sustainability. The rest of us could take a lesson.
More outdoor signage illumination will be LED (light-emitting diode). LED is an electronic electroluminescence. The composition and condition of the semiconducting material used determines the color of the emitted light which [...]
Glitnir Bank (NASDAQ: BBNK) is an example of an organization operating globally with sustainability as part of its core character and mission. Glitnir’s Global Sustainable Energy Team is based in Reykjavik, Iceland and coordinates all energy activities of Glitnir, focusing on geothermal energy. The team combines years of experience in the geothermal and sustainable energy sector, both financial and technical. They evaluate and finance geothermal projects world wide.
From BigGreenMonster.TV June 10, 2008 [via] www.glitnirusa.com
The big blue hunk of space age metal above is a biomass-to-electric generator. There are plenty of relatively clean combustible materials that are also very sustainable. Feed this puppy the appropriate amount of dried corn husks, sawdust, paper recyclables, or other combustible biomass and this unit will produce up to 300kW of power.
This small mobile generator uses a high-temperature sand bed to vaporize material in seconds. According to its maker AgriPower, with 75% efficiency the unit is virtually pollution free.
“We are all distinctively unique, and the beauty of it is that there is still something universal that links us all together. The more it is personal, the more it becomes universal!
To act upon what truly speaks to our heart is a personal choice but it is also a way to share part of ourselves to others”
This is Urban Pigeon’s vision and their unique and beautiful T-shirts reflect this vision with ease.
Macy’s has committed to installing over 8 megawatts of solar power systems on its California stores. At most of the stores, including the San Jose location, Macy’s will purchase the generated electricity from a third-party financier under the SunPower Access(TM) power purchase agreement (PPA) program.
In anticipation of Earth Day (2008), Macy’s and SunPower are dedicating a 307-kilowatt solar power system at the Macy’s store at Oakridge Mall in San Jose. SunPower has partnered with Macy’s to design and [...]
“Danish experience from the past 15 years shows that offshore wind farms, if placed right, can be engineered and operated without significant damage to the marine environment and vulnerable species.
The comprehensive environmental monitoring programmers of Horns Rev Offshore Wind Farm and Nysted Offshore Wind Farm confirm that, under the right conditions, even big wind farms pose low risks to birds, mammals and fish, even though there will be changes in the living conditions of some species by an [...]
For all of you out there who prefer a combustion engine to electric, you may be pleased to hear that at least one company is working on giving that tried and true engine a major boost. Artemis, an Edinburgh, Scotland-based Company, has developed a hydraulic hybrid transmission that could potentially double the mileage of most vehicles — by accident. The firm’s original goal had been to simply reduce CO2 emissions on the highway by 30%, a goal they have [...]
The extended-range electric vehicle is no longer just a rumor. Chevy as put together great design and engineering resources to make this vehicle a reality.
The Concept Chevy Volt, with its revolutionary E-Flex Propulsion System will be different than any previous electric vehicle because it will use a lithium-ion battery with a variety of range-extending onboard power sources, including gas and, in some vehicles, ethanol to recharge the battery while driving.
When it comes to plugging in, the Volt will be designed [...]
Yes, the original pee pee battery, Aqua Power System, Japan, the only company in the world to commercialize water batteries using the principle of Volta Battery. Super graphic ad to boot.
Introducing the portable solar charger that powers everything from phones to gambling machines and digital cameras. Now in it’s 2nd year (2008), Freeloader’s internal 1000mAh Li-ion battery can be charged in as little as five hours using its solar panels, or three hours using a USB socket (lead supplied).
Solar Charger by FreeLoader
Power can then be transferred to your chosen device simply and quickly using the 11 different adaptors supplied! (When charging Free [...]
Consider Rawganique.com’s certified organic hemp shoes, sandals, and socks that are sustainably made in sweatshop-free environments. They will appeal to those with chemical sensitivities and those concerned about cruelty to animals or that the rearing of animals uses far more resources than the cultivation of plants. Plant fibers “breathe” much better than leather and synthetics and are biodegradable. The big bonus for some will be that shoes made out of hemp are much less prone to odor problems [...]
“Madonna is still a material girl after all,” People Magazine writes, when they covered her Very “Un-G” custom fake eyelashes made from mink fur and diamonds. This is supposedly a new trend coming to us from the trendy makeup company Tokyo Lash Bar and the makeup artist Shu Uemura’s.
People Magazine goes on to say the not-so-material girls can opt for the synthetic fiber and crystals version. I think this is pretty good advice even for [...]
