Archive for August, 2009
August 27th, 2009
We’ve written about reusable snack bags before, but for the kids (or adults) that want a little extra punch in their noon-time box, graze organic is the newest addition to our bounty of baggie recommendations. Silkscreened by hand using water-based inks (because conventional plastisol inks contain PVC and phthalates) on 100% certified organic cotton, the snack bags are covered with the cutest graphics depicting the inside contents – there’s even a bag designated for the lunchtime “surprise.”
A set of 3 bags will run you $24 up front, but once you calculate the cost of all those boxes of ziplock bags (not to mention the cost to the environment as the one-time-use items go straight to the landfill!), we’re sure you’ll agree that the minor investment is well worth it… plus your kid will be sporting the coolest bags in the cafeteria.
Go the extra mile by adding a reusable napkin to your lunch as well (or keep a few stored at the office). We’re huge fans of the dandelion and ant napkins – great for packing a picnic, or dining poolside.
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August 26th, 2009
Turner Construction is substantially finished with New York City’s largest green roof. The company, one of the largest green builders in the country, installed plants, grasses, and fourteen benches made of FSC certified lumber for the United States Postal Service (USPS). The 2.5-acre green roof sits on the Morgan Mail Processing Facility on West 28th Street between 9th and 10th Avenues.
It’s expected to reduce storm water runoff and save ~$30,000 each year in heating and cooling costs.
Built in 1933, the Morgan Facility is an historic landmark. When the old roof came up for replacement in 2007, the green option fit with the USPS’s sustainability initiatives. Installing the Morgan green roof will help the USPS meet its goal to reduce energy usage by 30% by 2015. With native plants and trees, it should last about 50 years.
[+] Turner Completes Largest Green Roof in New York City by Turner.
Photo credits: Turner Construction.
August 26th, 2009
Stay at a working farm in northern England. Photo via Deepdale Backpackers.
Fancy spending some time on an organic farm, practicing yoga and taking long walks through the hills? Or would you rather stay in an art-filled old downtown warehouse, and maybe hire a bike to hit the city’s nightlife? Whether your traveling tastes run rural or urban, green hostels offer an inexpensive and character-filled — not to mention sustainable — alternative to bland hotels. After picking a dozen of the <a href="http://www.treehugger.com/files/200… Read the full story on TreeHugger
Go to Source
August 26th, 2009
Whaddya mean I can’t take my container down the river?
Image: Flickr, michaelwhays
The web is abuzz with the newest plastic ban — this one being mocked as an epic fail of the democratic organism. We got curious…and bring you the rest of the story.
The buzz started with an AP report under the headline Missouri bans wrong plastic from rivers. The article draws attention to Missouri Senate Bill Number 2, sponsored by <a href="http://www.senate.mo.gov/09info/members/mem28.htm… Read the full story on TreeHugger
Go to Source
August 26th, 2009
Here are today’s picks for what’s wow in the world of green.
Do We Need a ‘Dow Jones’ Index To Track Climate Change?
Solar Concept Tent Provides All the Comforts of Work
Watermelons: The Newest Renewable Energy Source
ROVing the Waters to Protect Our Oceans
August 26th, 2009
High school friends Deirdre O’Boyle and Stacey Rodgers never thought through all the bathroom gossip and locker room chatter that they would find themselves designers of a rockin’ eco-friendly clothing line, but lo and behold, She-Bible, proof that those four years truly can brew something special.
The easy to wear collection, made of mostly eco materials like organic cotton, bamboo, and hemp, comes in a variety of playful solid (and sometimes striped) colors, inviting the creative mind to accessorize away. With a bit of a retro vibe, the pieces all share an attention to detail – like the keyhole and bow on the Brando Boatneck, or the sweet pockets in the Agnes Dress.
While we could easily excuse a purchase of almost every piece in the line, our favorites include the sexy Marianne Jumpsuit and the funky Pop Doyle Dress (also available in top form) – a unique piece that essentially has a built-in scarf for cozying up on foggy walks. With everything sewn and printed in San Francisco, the girls keep it local in their hometown while keeping the carbon footprint of the frocks to a minimum.
August 25th, 2009
We’ve all heard the numbers before, but here’s a nice little chart with a helpful breakdown of information. Buildings account for roughly 40% of all U.S. energy use. Or stated with more particularity, residential buildings account for 22% of all U.S. energy use and commercial buildings account for 18% of all U.S. energy use. When you parse the numbers out, here’s where that energy is used:
Residential Energy Use:
- 1% – Computers
- 5% – Cooking
- 5% – Wet clean
- 7% – Electronics
- 8% – Refrigeration
- 11% – Lights
- 12% – Cooling
- 12% – Water heat
- 31% – Heating
Commercial Energy Use:
- 2% – Cooking
- 3% – Computers
- 4% – Refrigeration
- 6% – Office equipment
- 6% – Ventilation
- 7% – Water heat
- 13% – Cooling
- 14% – Heating
- 26% – Lighting
Of course, there will be regional and building specific differences. For example, in Texas, you might use a lot more energy running the air conditioning equipment and maybe a little less energy running the heating. Also, it’s interesting to see how much commercial energy is used on lighting, which is why the NY Times lighting experiment saved them some major cash on energy costs.
Also, consider this graph in the light of new technological advances relating to electrical vehicles and the smart grid. Ten years from now, is car charging going to be one of the major components of commercial and residential building energy use? And how’s that going to affect the other pieces of the energy pie? Just thinking out loud, though …
Via Steven Chu’s Facebook; noticed at Building Green.
August 25th, 2009
Photo via My Opera
In a shocking case that has zoologists baffled, an ultra rare Sumatran tiger was killed and dismembered at a zoo in Indonesia. There are only 400 of the critically endangered tigers left in the wild–but that’s not even the most appalling part of the story. … Read the full story on TreeHugger
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August 25th, 2009
The concept of this clock is pretty cool …made out of recycled Japanese yen (the 1,000, 2,000, 5,000 and 10,000 yen bills come in different colors, so it is quite colorful) However, one reviewer at Uncommon Goods
$40.00 at Uncommon Goods
August 25th, 2009
This is a new model home in Daybreak, a planned community in South Jordan (about 35 minutes from downtown
Salt Lake City). With the exception of some urban townhomes and condos, Daybreak homes haven’t been modern, but they’re all Energy Star. However, Garbett Homes had some home designs put together by KTGY Group and built two of them as model homes. This is Style A (see Style B). These modern homes will be replicated with different interior and exterior options on a street in Daybreak.
The Style A home is 1,442 square feet with an optional 670 square-foot basement. It’s priced from $206k, and the various options and upgrades hit you in the wallet. Plus, Garbett Homes can build it, from what I hear, in a quick 30 to 45 days.
Like the Style B model, Style A has deliberately placed windows, which gives it a fresh, clean, bright,
and homey feeling inside. The model also includes some of the following green
elements: rooftop photovoltaic system (standard with purchase), a cool
white roof, Hardie board exterior, dual-pane low-E windows, R-19 walls
and R-38 ceiling, high efficiency furnace, and Energy Star appliances. It’s a beautiful little home …
[+] Style A Model Home Flickr Set.
Photo credits: Daybreak Solaris Style A on Flickr.
