Archive for April, 2010
April 30th, 2010
The BP Deepwater Horizon oil rig ablaze. Image: U.S. Coast Guard.
It’s been a strange month in the world of energy. On the heels of the West Virgina Massey coal mine tragedy followed and an oil spill caused by a coal-carrying ship near Australia, disaster struck again on the eve of Earth Day when a BP oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico … Read the full story on TreeHugger
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April 30th, 2010
Image: NASA, public domain.
A ‘Gag-inducing’ Fuel Smell: “my nose is now burning”
As if water and (no doubt soon to come) land pollution wasn’t enough, the BP oil spill caused by an exploding oil rig is also causing some serious – and disgusting – air pollution. The Times-Picayune reports that the city has been overw… Read the full story on TreeHugger
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April 30th, 2010
Credit: Photo Gigi Brisson
A star-studded group of adventurers with the Mission Blue oceans conservation group went on a trip to the Galapagos earlier this month. But the true stars of the show were the incredible species endemic to the islands: many endangered or vulnerable, and all wonderfully unique.
Darwin picked the right spo… Read the full story on TreeHugger
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April 30th, 2010
Soaps can contain really nasty stuff. Many bar soaps are made using harsh chemicals, like ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (aka EDTA) – an amino acid that binds to heavy metals, like mercury. We’re not sure what it’s doing there, but we’re pretty worried about it. The EPA reports that when this stuff gets rinsed down the drain it eventually ends up contaminating our waterways and poisoning the fish we eat. Solution? The easiest way is to go the all-natural route (which solves a host of other toxic dilemmas, too).
Jolie Chitwood, the master brewer behind the Soaptopia potions, started with a vision to combat the synthetic market and transform her world into an apothecary of flowers and natural oils. The line is all-natural, synthetic free, petroleum void, animal friendly and “100% pure yumminess.” Many Soaptopians say that the junk-free body products are the cure-all for super sensitive skin issues. We were converted by the fresh, clean combinations of lemon, eucalyptus and cinnamon – smells that settled from head to toe!
In honor of Mother’s Day, Soaptopia is prizing their Mother Lode box of soaps to one lucky reader! How does it work? Post a comment on our Facebook page and tell us why you’ve washed your hands of the conventionals! Make a visit to the Soaptopia store today and use MOMS4FREE at checkout for free shipping… the Soaptopian way of helping you show love for your mother while staying true to Mother Earth!
April 30th, 2010
Whether its urban farming or backyard chickens, there’s a movement afloat to raise and grow food locally and organically. If you’re interested in running a chicken coop — and speaking from personal experience, it’s not easy — you might have a look at the Modern Coop by John Wright. His stylish, sporty coop is made with reclaimed cedar, and it’s mobile, so you can move it around every couple weeks. The standard roof is a translucent fiberglass or durable metal, but you can opt for the green roof version, too.
[+] Modern Coops Sell from $700 in Portland.
Photo credits: Modern Coop.
April 30th, 2010
Since 1970, non-human animal populations have declined by 30%. Photo: Photo8.com via flickr.
If you regularly follow what often seems like a never-ending string of reports talking about how biodiversity is declining around the planet and the bad impact this will have on humanity, whether we want to admit it or not, this may seem like an ‘I told you so’ moment… A new report in Science details how well world governments have done in meeting targets set out in the 20… Read the full story on TreeHugger
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April 30th, 2010
Quality organic clothing that won’t break the family budget? That’s the intention of Sara Seumae, mastermind behind the eco apparel line, SPUN. Filled with chic basics that adhere to Seumae’s personal three F’s – “it fits, flatters and is fashionable” – the entire collection is made in the United States using 100% certified organic cotton with environmentally safe, low-impact, fiber reactive dying processes.
The “Basics” Collection cardigan in midnight blue and the Ruffle V-Neck tee from the “Fanciful & Frilly” Collection in sangria are amongst our favorites. With most items under $100 and plenty under $50, SPUN’s goal of making eco apparel available to every woman in the world is quickly becoming a reality.
April 29th, 2010
Today, in Palmdale, California, Walmart (NYSE:WMT) flipped the switch on 17 small wind turbines in the parking lot of bulk retailer, Sam’s Club. Based upon estimates, Walmart and Sam’s Club believe the turbines will generate about 76,000 kWh of energy annually, which is enough to power more than six average homes over the same period of time.
As Adobe did in the corporate setting with 20 Windspire turbines, with this announcement, perhaps you can say Walmart is flexing its muscles as one of the first retailers in the nation to install small wind in an installation of this size.
The Palmsdale Sam’s Club obtained the turbines from DeerPath Energy, a company based out of Marblehead, Massachusetts. In a press release, Walmart indicated that this location was selected because it has good wind resources, but take note that 28 company stores in the state are powered by on-site solar and two stores have fuel cell installations.
Keep in mind that Walmart has a goal to be completely and entirely supplied by renewable energy.
Green building geeks will tell you that the cheapest way to reach this goal is an early focus on energy efficiency and a subsequent investment in energy-generating technology, such as solar PV and small wind. Which is why Walmart is also working on pilot projects and next generation stores to increase the energy-efficiency of buildings.
In May, a similar small wind project will be completed at a new Walmart store in Worchester, Massachusetts, while the company is considering other suitable locations for these micro wind projects.
Photo credits: Walmart.
April 29th, 2010
Last time we mentioned Reclaimed Space, the company had just finished selling a small home on eBay for about $75,100 (after a bidding war involving several celebrities). But business is good for the Austin-based company that builds homes out of materials reclaimed from deconstructed homes and old projects. This home was recently delivered to its owners and will be used as a custom sewing space in
Marfa, Texas.
Other than the reclaimed materials used, the home was designed and built to be green in other ways with recycled content blown insulation, passive solar design, and natural ventilation — all strategies that keep energy use low.
Reclaimed Spaces are factory-built, unique, and exude character as
you’ll rarely see in a new home. Pricing starts at ~$35,000 and can run
~$115-$160 per square foot, depending on features included in the home.
[+] Learn more about homes from Reclaimed Space.
Photo credits: Reclaimed Space.
April 29th, 2010
Image credit: Yaniria Sanchez-de Leon/University of Idaho
They said that it spit in self defense. They said it smelled like lilies when handled. They said it grew to be over three feet long. They said it was extinct. But a recent discovery of the Giant Palouse Earthworm has dispelled all of these myths—and is helping researchers and conservations gain basic knowledge about the elusive species that may be essential for its survival…. Read the full story on TreeHugger
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