Selected by ecolegy

• 
  Holy Kaw!

• 25 wackiest NYC Marathon costumes

  6 Nov 2009 | 11:01 pm

  Running 26.2 miles while sucking down polluted urban air wasn’t quite difficult enough for some jogging fools competing in the New York City Marathon last week, so a handful of creative folks decided to extend Halloween an extra day and run the race while donning costumes. Photogs spotted clowns, super heroes, Uncle Sam, nuns and even an apparently alive Michael Jackson. Lucky for you, you didn’t have to travel all the way to the Big Apple to check out all the shenanigans because Buzz Feed has collected images of the 25 best costumes at the 2009 NYC marathon. Enjoy (and feel lazy…

• Tech that refuses to die

  6 Nov 2009 | 10:26 pm

  Call them the Jason Vorhees of technology -- gadgets that just won’t die, no matter how many times you kill ‘em with a chain saw. Tech moves fast, -- remember, like 10 years ago you probably had a pager in your pocket -- but why is it that some technology seems completely resistant to kicking the bucket? From cables that remain tangled under your desk to the hipsters’ audio format of choice, vinyl, CNet highlights eight tech items that refuse to meet the Grim Reaper. Even Twitter makes a surprise entry on the list. Check out the full list, including why the sans business…

• How to change

  6 Nov 2009 | 10:09 pm

  Want to change? Then, according to Peter Bregman, just change one thing. In his case he stopped consuming large amounts of sugar. For me, it would be carbohydrates. But the article isn’t really about dieting—it’s about how to become a better business person, so read it and reap. More Lifehacks. Permalink | Leave a comment  »

• Guess who is a Glamour woman of the year?

  6 Nov 2009 | 9:56 pm

  It’s going to be a long time before I post about anything in Glamour, but this is a special occasion. The magazine named Google’s Marissa Mayer as one of the women of the year for 2009. Joining her is “refuse to use Bluetooth” Maria Shriver and others. The only reason Matt Cutts didn’t win is that he’s a man—despite the concerted efforts of SEO consultants around the world to game the voting.. More, albeit less glamourous, news about Google. Permalink | Leave a comment  »

• Generation Y flocking to Twitter

  6 Nov 2009 | 9:37 pm

  In 18 short months, Facebook has aged seven years. No, Zucks and crew didn’t spend too much time crisping at the tanning salon; new data from Pew says the median age for Facebook users has gone from 26 in May 2008 to 33 today. So, where have the late 20-somethings started hanging out online? Look around and you’ll find them tweeting away. In December 2008, only 20 percent of people in the 25-34 age bracket used Twitter, but now 31 percent can be found DMing and @ replying. Twitter now claims the second youngest users with a median age of 31. Only MySpace has a younger fan base at…

• 
  TreeHugger

• Second Skin: A Pop-Up Room By Rene Siebum

  6 Nov 2009 | 10:56 am

  Alex at Shedworking is expanding into interior design, with this bookcase that opens up to "create an environment which helps us to concentrate and focus," although it won't do much for noise. Alex calls it "shedworkingesque." Designer Rene Siebum won third in the public voting at the Design Academy Eindhoven during Dutch Design Week for it. ... Read the full story on TreeHugger

• Treehouse Without a Tree By Benoît Fray

  6 Nov 2009 | 9:15 am

  TreeHugger previously showed some of the work of French designers Dans mon Arbre; Industrial designer Benoit Fray worked with them on this project we didn't see in their portfolio. Ecofriend calls it "a sustainable treehouse made from locally sourced wood."... Read the full story on TreeHugger

• People's Design Award Bestowed on the Trek Lime

  5 Nov 2009 | 12:03 pm

  When Trek unveiled the Lime back in 2007, the mission was to bring delightful, non-threatening biking to grown-ups. Some nice validation came last week when the Lime won the 2009 People's Design Award, a subcategory of the prominent National Design Awards. A simple city bike with an upright riding posture, the Lime uses Shimano's Coasting automatic three-speed transmission (a pretty complex system with a very simple user interface) and a back-pedal brake ... Read the full story on TreeHugger

• Gorgeous Lighting Idea Puts Spotlight on Deforestation

  5 Nov 2009 | 11:00 am

  Images via Yanko Design Designer Kitae Pak has come up with a great home accessory concept - a light that looks like a tree when turned on, and a root system when turned off. It's gorgeous, and a beautiful eco-centric idea. And while it looks attractive, it doesn't do much to really hit the bigger picture concept that inspired it. ... Read the full story on TreeHugger

• WorkingWonders Offers 20% Off on Products for the Holidays

  5 Nov 2009 | 10:29 am

  The cold weather is quickly approaching, which means it's time to start thinking about the holidays! Whether it's gift-giving, entertaining, or curling up to a warm biofuel fireplace, WorkingWonders has what you are looking for in the upcoming winter months. And what's better is that Workin... Read the full story on TreeHugger

• 
  The Buddhist Channel

• Why Ajahn Brahmavamso was excluded from the Wat Pa Phong Sangha

  31 Dec 1969 | 4:00 pm

  The following is a statement from Wat Pa Nanachat, explaining their reasons for the expulsion of Ajahn Brahmavamso from the Wat Pa Phong Sangha Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia -- Receiving ordination as a bhikkhu in Thailand, entails acceptance of the authority not only of the Vinaya, but also that of the Mahatherasamakom, (the Thai Sangha's governing body) and the laws of the land.

• Notification of the Wat Nong Pah Pong Sangha decision to revoke the status of a branch monastery

• Ajahn Brahm excommunicated for performing Bhikkhuni Ordination in Australia

• The Creation of the Order of Siladhara

• Dharamsala protests over Lhasa execution

• 
  Buddhism News

• Buddhism Expo held in China's Putian

  3 Nov 2009 | 10:00 pm

  Buddhism Expo held in China's Putian

• Tibetan Buddhism Public Talk

  27 Oct 2009 | 10:00 pm

  Tibetan Buddhism Public Talk

• Alex Rodriguez Reportedly to Convert to Buddhism for Kate Hudson

  23 Oct 2009 | 10:00 pm

  Alex Rodriguez Reportedly to Convert to Buddhism for Kate Hudson

• Kate Hudson ‘Gets Alex Rodriguez Flirting With Buddhism’

  23 Oct 2009 | 10:00 pm

  Kate Hudson ‘Gets Alex Rodriguez Flirting With Buddhism’

• A-Rod to convert to Buddhism for Kate Hudson?

  23 Oct 2009 | 10:00 pm

  A-Rod to convert to Buddhism for Kate Hudson?

• 
  The Buddhist Blog

• What is This?

  4 Nov 2009 | 8:00 am

  ---This is a long post but I had a moment of realization in real time that I wanted to write out---In the Korean Zen tradition, there is a method of meditation that uses the question “What is this?” to cultivate concentration and inquiry together. As you sit or walk in meditation, you ask constantly, “What is this?” Repeating this question develops concentration because it returns you to the full awareness of the moment. As soon as you become aware of being distracted by past events, anxieties about the present, or future dreams, you ask “What is this?” This way, the power of…

• The Compassion of Animals.

  29 Oct 2009 | 12:29 pm

  The November issue of National Geographic magazine features a moving photograph of chimpanzees watching as one of their own is wheeled to her burial. Since it was published, the picture and story have gone viral, turning up on websites and TV shows and in newspapers around the world. For readers who’d like to know more, here’s what I learned when I interviewed the photographer, Monica Szczupider. On September 23, 2008, Dorothy, a female chimpanzee in her late 40s, died of congestive heart failure. A maternal and beloved figure, Dorothy had spent eight years at Cameroon’s Sanaga-Yong…

• Motivations for Becoming Buddhist.

  28 Oct 2009 | 3:32 pm

  Baseball player Alex Rodriquez is reportedly going to convert to Buddhism for his girl friend, actress Kate Hudson. I'm not a Religious Studies professor but I do know that converting to a religion out of a feeling of obligation or to please a person is a horrible reason. I was apart of a belief system growing up in which I remained for longer than I should have out of a feeling of obligation and It was gut-wrenching. I finally realized that I was living a lie and deceiving my parents into thinking I was a loyal member.I can't say whether A-Rod will stay with it or not but too often we do…

• "The Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines."

  25 Oct 2009 | 3:06 pm

  Knowing this, a wise and learned bodhisattva, works not towards Arhatship, nor enlightenment, nor Nirvana. In the practice alone one trains for the sake of the practice.James: So goes the 22nd verse of, "The Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines." I hadn't heard of this treasure until now. However, hanks to the generosity, thoughtfulness and compassion of two people I've been given a great gift: My friend Jamie and the blog, "The New Heretics." Thanks Dharma buds. You should take some time and read the whole discourse because it's beautiful, insightful and an invaluable teaching. As…

• Clinging to a Moment in Time.

  19 Oct 2009 | 11:52 am

  I wanted to add some additional thoughts about the current discussion bubbling up to the surface in the Buddhoblogosphere about sanghas and teachers, which I addressed in my last post found here. As you know I support both online sanghas and interactions with teachers as well as the traditional sanghas and teacher environments. I am somewhat bewildered by those who refuse to acknowledge the usefulness of iSanghas (online sanghas). Especially when there are those, which are run and administered by ordained monks!! We have to let go of this idea which bubbles up from time to time that online…

• 
  Environment News Network

• Clean Energy Legislation Will Boost US Manufacturing Jobs

  5 Nov 2009 | 7:21 am

  U.S. clean energy legislation could help create 850,000 manufacturing jobs around the country, a report from a group representing business and environmental interests said on Wednesday.

• America’s Most Toxic Cities List Released With Surprising Results

  5 Nov 2009 | 6:58 am

  Las Vegas has far from a clean reputation, but in Forbes' list of America's Most Toxic Cities, Las Vegas is named the least toxic of 40 major metropolitan areas. Forbes ranked the cities based on the number of Superfund sites in the principal city, number of facilities that release toxic chemicals, amount of toxic chemicals released in the area and air quality ranking.

• $30.6M in Stimulus Funds Give US Hydroelectric Projects a New Spark

  5 Nov 2009 | 6:28 am

  Up to $30.6 million in economic stimulus funds will be used to finance seven hydroelectric projects nationwide, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. The additional funding means Voith Hydro, a manufacturer of hydroelectric turbines, will be able to retain 40 jobs at its manufacturing facility in York, Pennsylvania

• Washington, Stop Dithering, US Goals on Climate Urgently Needed

  5 Nov 2009 | 2:47 am

  As the last round of "intersessional" climate talks before Copenhagen opened today in Barcelona, all eyes were looking in the same direction they were when we left Bangkok three weeks earlier: at the United States. Without American numbers on mitigation (or emissions reductions) and finance (for developing nations to build their own clean energy economies, and also to adapt to the impacts of climate change), any real forward progress in the talks is just about impossible.

• Giant Jellyfish Sink 10-Ton Fishing Boat

  4 Nov 2009 | 9:37 am

  A 10-ton fishing boat has been sunk by gigantic jellyfish off eastern Japan. The crew of the fishing boat was thrown into the sea when the vessel capsized, but the three men were rescued by another trawler.

• 
  Great Green Goods - Shopping the Eco-friendly Way!

• Recycled Bags by Maria Buzina

  green

  1 Nov 2009 | 8:14 pm

  If you love color, these are the bags for you! Created and hand painted by Brazilian Artisist Gabi Goncalves, these gorgeous bags are made from recycled truck tarps. So they start off their life functional and utilitarian as truck tarps …then when their use is done, they are recycled in to these beautiful one-of-a-kind bags that will last forever. Lots of different sizes, styles and prices to choose from at EarthLover Shopping EarthLover Shopping is a new advertiser on GreatGreenGoods and we are grateful to their support!

• Don’t Just Buy Handmade – Buy Upcycled Handmade

  green

  27 Oct 2009 | 8:44 pm

  Those are the words of wisdom from Rhonda Brewer-Chaparro aka “oddartist”. This prolific (and eco-friendly) California artist has an Etsy shop, but these racy earrings (made from the ‘tasty parts’ of recycled romance novels) are from her Zibbet shop. The line is called Naughty Bits, and of course, you’ll never find the same bit of naughtiness twice! $12.00 for each pair of earrings at Zibbet (folks, this is a serious good deal!!) Found through the GreatGreenGoods Facebook fanpage

• Eco-friendly magnets

  green

  24 Oct 2009 | 2:26 pm

  Hey folks, you know the dreaded holidays are coming up and you’ll need little gifts to give the cube-mates and your hair dresser and the lady who is so helpful at the dry cleaners. Grab a bunch of these NOW! and have them on hand to give out when you need a little eco-friendly gift! Everyone needs magnets and these are made out of recycled fabric, recycled telephone books and recycled junk mail. $15.00 for a set of 4 at HumbleRaeLord’s Etsy Shop

• Recycled copper creations by Beryl

  green

  17 Oct 2009 | 3:48 pm

  Created from recycled roof copper, you need to check out the work of Minnesotan artist Beryl Wells Hamilton. Her functional pieces: baskets, bowls, fountains, bird baths and boxes are often treated with boric acid, heated to red hot and then quenched in water resulting in beautiful colors and patinas. She also has a line of decorative figures which are whimsical and cute. You can choose between frogs, turtles, pigs, roosters and more. I recommend her site if you are looking for an early xmas present or a winter wedding gifts. Beautiful and ecofriendly! Prices range from $60.00- $90.00 for…

• Bee habitat sculptures created from recycled materials

  green

  11 Oct 2009 | 5:14 pm

  Tucson artist and landscape designer Greg Corman and metal artist, Tidi Ozer have teamed up to create sculptures and garden art from recycled wood and steel that doubles as a habitat for stingless, solitary, native bees. In the US alone there are more than 4000 species of these native bees! Many of them lack habitat for nesting in urban landscapes. The bees that nest in these bee habitat pieces occur across the US, so they have ecological value everywhere. (The bees that are attracted to these habitats are NOT honeybees and do not sting.) If you want more info on native bees, this is a…

• 
  My Two Cents

• CityCenter Developers Cut Condo Prices to Close Deals

  Remember CityCenter, the $8.5 billion condo/hotel//casino/retail project on the Las Vegas Strip? I first blogged about it in January after ret...

• Top Destinations for the Young, Educated and Restless

  Yesterday, the Wall Street Journal published the results of a very interesting survey that predicted where mobile, educate...

• Thanks for Taking the Challenge

  I just want to thank everyone who entered the 2009 Custom Builder Design Challenge for their hard work, creativity and commitment. T...

• Apartment Building Surge Boosts Housing Starts

  The Wall Street Journal and other major media outlets reported today that housing starts posted a moderate increase because of a resurgence in...

• J.D. Power: Home Buyer Satisfaction is on the Rise

  There's good news for the housing industry in J.D. Power and Associates' 2009 New-Home Builder Customer Satisfaction StudySM. O...

• 
  Discovery News Top Stories

• Newborns Pick Up Language in the Womb

  6 Nov 2009 | 10:30 am

  A baby's first cry is audibly shaped by the language heard while in the womb.

• BLOG: Shooting Violence: A Reason Why?

  6 Nov 2009 | 9:00 am

  Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan, an Army psychiatrist, shot and killed 13 people at Fort Hood Army base.

• Bright Bacteria Wins Synthetic Biology Competition

  6 Nov 2009 | 6:00 am

  An undergrad team modified E. Coli to make it bright enough to see with the naked eye.

• WATCH: Swine Flu: A Look Inside

  6 Nov 2009 | 5:00 am

  Find out where H1N1 originated and what happens to the virus once it gets inside our bodies.

• Can Humans Infect Pets With H1N1?

  6 Nov 2009 | 4:45 am

  The case of an Iowa cat that contracted swine flu has experts re-thinking the disease.

• 
  The LinkedIn Blog

• Look who’s following you across Groups on LinkedIn

  Ian McCarthy

  6 Nov 2009 | 6:08 pm

  A couple days ago, we launched several new features aimed at enhancing the professional conversation in LinkedIn groups. We call one of those features “following”. Following makes it easier for you to see contributions made by your connections and other people you value within your groups. To get you started, you’re already following all of your connections and they’re following you. But it doesn’t stop with your connections: to follow someone who is not a connection, just click “Follow Their Name” under their name on a discussion page or on the Member page in your group. Now…

• A new design for LinkedIn

  Kevin Bury

  6 Nov 2009 | 12:42 am

  Some of you may have noticed a new site navigation experience on LinkedIn.  We are in the process of testing a new design.  During this testing phase, some users will see the new design, while others will not. What’s New A global navigation bar at the top of the page that provides convenient access to all LinkedIn services. Simplified local navigation within each of the LinkedIn areas (Profile, Contacts, Groups, etc.). More room available for page content. Less scrolling. A cleaner, less-cluttered look. An easier way to navigate and find information on LinkedIn We began the redesign…

• LinkedIn at ApacheCon 2009

  Paul Lindner

  4 Nov 2009 | 3:33 pm

  Code Alert! This is a part of our continuing series on Engineering at LinkedIn. If this isn’t your cup of Java, check back tomorrow for regular LinkedIn programming. In the meanwhile, check out some of our recent feature announcements, tips and tricks, or success stories. I have the honor of presenting my talk entitled “Empowering the Social Web with Apache Shindig” at the 10th annual Apache Conference this week. I’ll talk about how Apache Shindig and OpenSocial standards power our very own LinkedIn InApps Platform and hundreds of other social containers on the web. Read…

• LinkedIn for iPhone v1.5: Get Your Inbox Anywhere

  Guest Author

  23 Oct 2009 | 3:17 pm

  Editor’s note: This blog post is authored by Andrew He, a Stanford student currently completing his Master of Sciences degree in Computer Science.  Andrew is a two-time LinkedIn intern, and spent the summer of 2009 focused on the LinkedIn mobile platform. I suppose this blog post could have been entitled: “What I did on my summer vacation.” Truth be told, I’m just thrilled to see LinkedIn for iPhone v1.5 in the iTunes app store. There’s nothing more gratifying as a developer than to see your work go live. This past summer, I was able to dedicate myself to…

• The White House’s response to the health care community

  Guest Author

  15 Oct 2009 | 1:18 pm

  [Ed. Note: This is a guest post from Nancy-Ann DeParle, Director at the Office of Health Reform and Counselor to the President, in response to comments from the health care community on LinkedIn regarding the challenges faced by health care professionals in their state] Thank you for joining the discussion and sharing your thoughts on the health care challenges in your state.  The President understands those challenges and has made it clear that health insurance reform must bring stability and security to Americans who have insurance today, provide affordable coverage to those who don’t,…

• 
  The Dirt

• Brisbane’s 470-meter Solar-powered Footbridge

  asladirt

  5 Nov 2009 | 2:15 pm

  A 470-meter solar-powered footbridge recently opened in Brisbane’s Central Business District, writes Inhabitat. The footbridge, designed by Cox Architects, an Australian firm, cost $63 million. Approximately 36,000 pedestrians and bikers are expected to use the bridge per year.  According to Inhabitat, the LED lighting system is designed for maximum energy efficiency and will be used for festivals along the river. The LED ligh system is powered by 84 solar panels mounted on the bridge, which can ”generate a daily output of 100KWh and an average yearly output of…

• Reconnecting a Washington State Park to the Local Community

  asladirt

  5 Nov 2009 | 1:46 pm

  Gustafson Guthrie Nichols and Allied Works won a design competition to create a park that will span an Interstate and connect a two-block section of Washington State’s Fort Vancouver national historic site with the City of Vancouver’s downtown. The design will include a ”landscape cap” that will extend south from the existing “Evergreen Boulevard” span over the interstate. According to The Oregonian, “a central walkway would connect downtown to the historic area. Smaller wood pathways would branch out to various pockets of the park, such as the…

• New Landscape Rating System to Transform the Industry, Complete Green Building Puzzle

  asladirt

  5 Nov 2009 | 5:27 am

  The Sustainable Sites Initiative released the nation’s first rating system for the design, construction and maintenance of sustainable landscapes, with or without buildings. A partnership of the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA), the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center and the U.S. Botanic Garden, the Initiative’s rating system represents four years of work by dozens of the country’s leading sustainability experts, scientists and design professionals, as well as public input from hundreds of individuals and dozens of organizations to create this essential missing link in…

• Human Responses to Green Design

  asladirt

  4 Nov 2009 | 1:31 pm

  Frederick Marks, AIA, a partner with AC Martin, an architecture design firm, presented on the varied human responses to green design at the National Building Museum. Marks focused on recent developments in testing the value of sustainable architecture and landscapes, and asked: “Are they actually providing us with enhanced well-being?” Marks discussed his role as a founding member of the Academy of Neuroscience for Architecture, a group examining the growing body of knowledge on people’s behavior in the built environment. He then outlined the relationship between art and…

• Indiana Town Sees Canal as Sustainable Stormwater Management System and Economic Boost

  asladirt

  4 Nov 2009 | 6:08 am

  Jeffersonville, Indiana, plans to change a street near the Ohio River into 40-foot wide canal and 3/4-mile pedestrian promenade. The plan is expected to improve the town’s ability to sustainably manage stormwater and enable pedestrians to more easily walk to stores and local attractions.  The town’s mayor sees the plan addressing both environmental and economic needs at once. According to the Architect’s Newspaper, heavy rain in the area causes sewer overflow and runoff. To meet the Environmental Protection Agency’s requirements, which prohibit sewage…

• 
  Green Building : Jetson Green

• Haptik Sustainable Suite Design by WATG

  Preston Koerner

  5 Nov 2009 | 11:00 pm

  The USGBC, American Society of Interior Designers (ASID), and The Network of the Hospitality Industry (NEWH) together announced the winner of the first ever Sustainable Suite Design Competition.  The purpose of the competition was to showcase the best hospitality design strategies that boast environmental responsibility while enhancing the guest experience.  Out of 65 professional design entries, WATG and IDEO took the top prize for their suite, Haptik.  WATG led the creative design and specification process, while IDEO contributed experience on human-centered sustainability for the…

• Clay Roof Integrated Solé Power Tile

  Preston Koerner

  4 Nov 2009 | 8:44 pm

  We've seen building integrated solar by separate companies for use with both asphalt shingles and standing seam roofing.  Now SRS Energy and US Tile are preparing to unveil a new Solé Power Tile at Greenbuild.  The barrel-style technology was designed for a clay tile curved roofing system.  Using thin film solar, the Solé Power Tile integrates seamlessly with blue glaze or earthen tone tiles.  SRS Energy and US Tile will launch the system first on the West Coast and roll it out nationally through 2010. [+] SRS Energy + US Tile.  Photo credits: US Tile.

• Koda Recycled Content Exterior Material

  Preston Koerner

  4 Nov 2009 | 9:15 am

  We first saw this 3form material, Koda XT, with the wavy transit shelters in San Francisco.  Designed by Lundberg Design, the colorful transit shelters use a custom configuration of Koda XT, a material made of 40% pre-consumer recycled content.  3form says Koda XT is the only architectural polycarbonate material available to use towards LEED MR 4.1 for recycled content.  Koda XT is available in three off-the-shelf colors/specifications and can be customized with up to three layers of various color to create any one of 10,000 options.  The material can be molded to match a variety of…

• An Affordable Free Span Solar System

  Preston Koerner

  3 Nov 2009 | 9:48 pm

  P4P Energy, LLC -- short for Power for the Planet -- recently completed the installation of its first, cable-suspended free span solar system in the parking lot of the headquarters building for REM Eyewear in Sun Valley, California.  Designed and patented by P4P Energy and TenSol Power, the array spans 107 feet on low-cost cables and provides shade for cars parked below.  It's expected to generate roughly 40,877 kWh of electricity per year.  The floating photovoltaic system differs from a traditional solar installation in that it doesn't require excessive columns and foundation work. …

• Tempe Transit Center Covered in Green

  Preston Koerner

  3 Nov 2009 | 10:05 am

  We've seen solar-powered transit shelters, but this eco-friendly transit center with transit stops outfitted with green walls may be a first.  With the help of greenscreen green walls, the City of Tempe Transit Center is seeking LEED Platinum certification.  The mixed use facility, designed to be 52% more efficient than a traditional building of its kind, went with green walls to provide a buffer from the harsh Arizona sun and heat.  As you can see below, the green walls help to cool and shade the surrounding areas through evapotranspiration.  Plants used in the application include…

• 
  the New American Village

• Raold Gundersen's Organic Architecture

  5 Nov 2009 | 6:16 am

  Photo: Paul Kelly for the New York TimesRoald Gundersen is an architect I heard about a few years ago when I lived in Spring Green, WI. His home and studio - located a few miles east of the Mississippi River near La Crosse, Wisconsin - is a study in organic architecture.Gunderson utilizes natural unmilled forest trees in the structure and detailing of his designs. He skins the trees revealing a sensuous silky-smooth finish that invites the human touch. Nature has a way of offering ready-made beauty, and Gunderson's work is a wonderful case study in expressing that natural beauty.Beauty aside,…

• Recycling the Recycling Business Model

  29 Oct 2009 | 1:12 pm

  Is recycling just a feel-good exercise in America? Wild swings over the past few years in the demand for recycled waste material has presented a challenge for communities attempting to promote universal recycling and a rational for communities who are hostile to the very idea of recycling. I hear stories all the time about recycled material "piling up" outside of town because of a weak buyer's market, and I've read about instances where excess recycled stock is periodically hauled off to the landfill. At the same time, manufacturers and contractors use far less recycled material than they…

• Fat People Don't Walk

  26 Oct 2009 | 6:09 am

  This week's newspaper column: On a recent trip to Washington, DC, I noticed something on the streets of the city that’s very peculiar in modern-day America – the complete absence of morbid obesity. A little background: In 1791, President George Washington commissioned Pierre L’Enfant, a prominent French architect and city planner – to lay out the new capitol city on the banks of the Potomac River.L’Enfant envisioned the city as a series of parks connected by diagonal avenues on an overlay of a regular rectangular street grid.Each neighborhood would have its own green space and…

• Metro Rail in Power City

  24 Oct 2009 | 8:54 am

  When in DC, the Metro is the way to go. And why not? The Washington DC Metro is safe, clean, and efficient.Among rapid transit systems in the US, only the New York City subway system has more ridership. With a metropolitan area population of 5.3 million, Washingtonians log a million trips each week day on metro trains, and including bus service, almost 40 percent of commuters access public transportation daily.The rub on subways has always been 1) safety (or more to the point, perceived safety), and 2) vandalism and graffiti.Architect Harry Weese's brilliant design transcends those issues.

• Capitol Oasis

  23 Oct 2009 | 5:20 am

  One of my favorite places in Washington DC is this little rest stop on the grounds of the US Capitol. When I lived in Capitol Hill in the late 80's and early 90's, I spent a good bit of time in this little house. The thick masonry walls and surrounding mature tree canopy resulted in a microclimate that was 10-20 degrees cooler than the harsh Washington summer temperature outside. (Washington is very much a southern city. The traditional August congressional recess came about as a response to the repressive late summer weather.)This little enclosure, by design, muffles the sounds of the city…

• 
  Revit3D.com

• Urgent Request. Need you all to follow @MrCadman on Twitter and donate $5 to the Susan G Komen Cure for Cancer Fund so Shaan Hurley will shave his head at AU2009

  Gregory Arkin

  6 Nov 2009 | 11:54 pm

  Well, we can never pass up the opportunity to gather up enough people and money to get the Autodesk Platform Technology Evangelist to shave his head in the name of Revit.I just received an email from Shaan Hurley about several issues for Autodesk University.First is the request to place this lovely badge on my blog and link it to http://au.autodesk.com.  That was the easy one.The next items are a little more challenging. From Shaan's email: 1. FYI: There will be a Twitter Tweetup event on the exhibit hall floor Tuesday night at 7PM in the AUGI area.2. Make sure to spread the word to…

• Father of LEED Says: "Green Buildings Only Bright Spot in Construction Industry"

  Gregory Arkin

  6 Nov 2009 | 10:48 pm

  Matt, thanks for the great news. Since we all know that BIM and LEED are perfect partners, I'm sure everyone will be running to their resellers to finally move to Revit. Repost: http://feeds.lexblog.com/~r/BestPracticesConstructionLaw/~3/f3J2Jfumajw/from BL Best Practices Construction Law (Matt DeVries)I am certainly not the first ... and certainly won't be the last ... person to write about Robert Watson's webinar presentation this afternoon entitled, Building a Sustainable Future: Progress & Trends Toward Improving the Environmental Footprint of Commercial Buildings. Watson, Executive…

• RobiNZ CAD Blog: Blogging around the world, to meet at Autodesk University

  Gregory Arkin

  6 Nov 2009 | 8:11 pm

  As long as we're talking about Revit Russia, Robin in New Zealand made his own blog post about my blog post. We've really gone global BIM now. Thanks Robin and I look forward to seeing you at the Blogger's Social Monday night. If you look closely at Robin's map, there's a big ass orange blog of Revit activity right where I live. Coincidence? Not! I'm kicking Revit ass in my neighborhood. I'm glad Robin's map visualizes my efforts. Nothing like Florida orange.Repost: http://rcd.typepad.com/rcd/2009/11/blogging-around-the-world-to-meet-at-autodesk-university.htmlA few days ago Gregory Arkin…

• LEED Charrette Planning Guide

  Gregory Arkin

  6 Nov 2009 | 8:05 pm

  As usual, another great post from Real Life LEED blog:Repost: http://www.reallifeleed.com/2009/10/leed-charrette-planning-guide.htmlMy firm has a new LEED project that I've been asked to help plan a startup charrette, a first for me (though I've participated in a few others). After noticing google mostly just references you to firms providing LEED charrette facilitation services, I thought it would be helpful to compile a list of resources that I found useful in my planning. ...A boring post to be sure, but a necessary one all the same. If you have no idea what I'm talking about right now, I…

• New Landscape Rating System to Transform the Industry, Complete Green Building Puzzle

  Gregory Arkin

  6 Nov 2009 | 8:03 pm

  Repost: http://dirt.asla.org/2009/11/05/new-landscape-rating-system-to-transform-the-industry-complete-green-building-puzzle/The Sustainable Sites Initiative released the nation’s first rating system for the design, construction and maintenance of sustainable landscapes, with or without buildings. A partnership of the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA), the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center and the U.S. Botanic Garden, the Initiative’s rating system represents four years of work by dozens of the country’s leading sustainability experts, scientists and design…

• 
  Archinect.com Feed

• Urban Age Istanbul: City of Intersections

  6 Nov 2009 | 7:30 pm

  "Cities have always been global nodes where people, cultures and goods intersect. More than any other of the Urban Age cities, Istanbul has performed this function for several thousand years: a global �hinge� city that connects civilisations and continents. While it may not be growing at the dizzying pace of Mumbai or Shanghai, nor suffering from the widening social inequality and violence of S�o Paulo, Mexico City or Johannesburg, Istanbul faces many of the same challenges confronted by all Urban Age cities including London, Berlin and New York: economic stability, social cohesion and…

• Serrano Pecorari & Asociados

  6 Nov 2009 | 4:03 pm

  Serrano Pecorari & Asociados was founded in 1968 as an Integrated Solution Company in the fields of Architecture, Technology, Urban Planning, Engineering and Design. The R&D Department at Serrano Pecorari & Asociados, has conducted a Special Programme entitled �4D Cities�, which has made focus on the fields of Urban Planning, Urban Infrastructure and Transportation, structured from a set of Projects that will shape the future sustainable development of contemporary mega-cities, from a paradigmatic shift in urban mobility and the conception of a new urban order.

• Fall/Winter 2009 Lecture Posters

  6 Nov 2009 | 3:33 pm

  Until we put the posters on Archinect in full-size/print-friendly format, enjoy the samples we've uploaded to the Archinect Facebook Fan page. If your school's poster isn't included it make sure to send it to us - archinect@gmail.com

• SCI-Arc Staying Put?

  6 Nov 2009 | 1:22 pm

  Eric Owen Moss dispels the rumors and corrects the record: The school's lease is not up next year but in a decade, things are pretty chill with the landlord, and�most importantly�SCI-Arc would never leave downtown. The Architect's Newspaper | Previously

• Gunman opens fire in architecture office in Orlando, Florida

  6 Nov 2009 | 11:02 am

  Jason Rodriguez, reportedly a former employee of architecture and engineering firm RS&H, opened fire today in his previous workplace. Last count is 2 dead and 6 injured. Orlando police are still searching for him. Google News Update: He's been caught

• 
  A Daily Dose of Architecture

• Today's archidose #367

  John

  6 Nov 2009 | 8:15 pm

  Here are some photos of 4143 Buena Vista in Dallas, Texas by Ron Wommack Architect, 2009. Photographs are by fake_plastic_earth.To contribute your Flickr images for consideration, just::: Join and add photos to the archidose pool, and/or:: Tag your photos archidose

• NYC Guide RFB (Request for Buildings)

  John

  5 Nov 2009 | 7:30 am

  As indicated in my announcement about A Guide to Contemporary New York City Architecture, a book I'm writing, to be published by W. W. Norton, I'd like to solicit opinions as to what projects should be included in the book. If you'd like to help, read on for some selection criteria before sending me your suggestions.Projects in the book will fall into two broad categories:1. Those completed between 2000-20102. Those planned for completion after 2010I'm interested in both, but primarily the first, as they will make up the bulk of the book. Those in the second category, which I will include in…

• Architize Me

  John

  4 Nov 2009 | 9:00 pm

  Monday was the official beta launch* of Architizer, "a new way for architects to interact, show their work, and find clients...an open community created by architects for architects." Developed by Marc Kushner, Matthias Hollwich (both of HWKN), Ben Prosky (Columbia University) and Alex Diehl (KREATIVEKONZEPTION*), the site is being referred to as "Facebook for architects" by many, what with its social networking framework, but it's actually closer to LinkedIn's focus on professional relationships. Comparisons aside, at first glance Architizer is a sharp-looking page that is almost guaranteed…

• NOV Events

  John

  4 Nov 2009 | 7:30 am

  Some ongoing and upcoming events of note in NYC worth highlighting. And don't forget tomorrow is the Design Trust for Public Space's annual benefit and Saturday is the Institute for Urban Design's Arrested Development symposium at Cooper Union. 'Tis a busy month.: : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : :PERFORMA 09The third edition of the internationally acclaimed biennial of new visual art performance, will be held in New York City from November 1–22, 2009, showcasing new work by more than 150 of the world’s most exciting contemporary artists.Here are some…

• Issuu Ruummage

  John

  2 Nov 2009 | 11:45 pm

  A few weeks ago I discovered Issuu -- "the leading digital publishing platform delivering exceptional reading experiences of magazines, books, catalogs, reports, and more" -- when I was separately sent a preview of a magazine and a new book. Issuu's interface allows one to flip pages, zoom and pan, and download as a PDF file, among other features. At the time I did not explore the rest of the site, though revisiting Issuu recently I clicked on the "Related" sidebar and searched around, finding some decent architecture selections, presented below. In general, though, the architecture-related…

• 
  RAOL headlines

• mayne appointed to president's committee on arts and humanities

  3 Nov 2009 | 9:00 pm

• aia offers new contract documents

  3 Nov 2009 | 9:00 pm

• remembering robert lautman, 1923–2009

  3 Nov 2009 | 9:00 pm

• ratensky lecture to honor joan goody, faia

  3 Nov 2009 | 9:00 pm

• a new way to calculate life cycle carbon footprints

  3 Nov 2009 | 9:00 pm

• 
  the green skeptic

• "What Keeps You Up at Night?"

  6 Nov 2009 | 12:14 am

  Lou Rappaport of Blank Rome asked me a disturbing question the other day at the MAC Alliance Conference in Philadelphia. On the face of it, Lou's question was a simple one: "What keeps you up at night?" We were interrupted before I could answer, but Lou's question lingered with me. In fact, it kept me up the past couple of nights. By way of an answer now, here are seven things that keep me up at night: 1.) We will fail to embrace change and tackle the new green economy. 2.) We are so deeply entrenched in partisan politics that we will blow this opportunity to lead in a sector (alternative…

• MAC Alliance: Promise of Clean Tech in Region

  5 Nov 2009 | 3:22 am

  Day Two of the 2009 Mid-Atlantic Capital Alliance Conference this week featured the first clean tech track in the history of the conference, an indication that the sector is emerging in this region.The clean tech track opened with a "financing panel," a good mix of investors, analysts, and utility service companies, including the publicly traded demand-response play Comverge and PJM, which operates the largest regional electricity transmission grid in the country.Rob Day, a partner at the venture capital firm Black Coral Capital, came down from Boston, and Tucker Twitmyer of local heroes…

• Mark Zandi to MAC Conference: "The Great Recession is Over"

  4 Nov 2009 | 3:00 am

  Image by New America Foundation via Flickr"The Great Recession is over," Mark Zandi, founder and chief economist of Moody's Economy.com, told a crowd of investors, entrepreneurs, and others gathered at the 2009 Mid-Atlantic Capital Alliance Conference in its opening keynote Tuesday."In fact, it ended on August 23rd," Zandi quipped. "If you want to know the precise time, you have to buy my book."Zandi was referring to Financial Shock, his new book about the subprime crisis."It was no accident that the recession ended just as the stimulus kicked in," Zandi related. "The maximum impact was felt…

• The Green Skeptic on Fox Business: Is Burlington Northern a Coal Play for Buffett?

  3 Nov 2009 | 5:12 pm

  Image by Getty Images via DaylifeToday, I appeared on Fox Business reacting to the Warren Buffett and Berkshire Hathaway $44B acquisition of Burlington Northern. Brian Sullivan was working under the premise that the railway acquisition may have been a coal play on the part of the Master from Omaha. My views on coal and the need for investments in R&D related to carbon capture and storage are known to readers of this blog. Here is a link to the broadcast (will try to embed later): Fox Business Related articles by ZemantaBuffett's Unusual Train of Thought (online.wsj.com)Warren Buffett…

• 2009 MAC 2009 Conference to Include Cleantech Track, Zandi, and Godin too

  27 Oct 2009 | 1:27 pm

  Image via CrunchBaseThe Mid-Atlantic Capital (MAC) Conference is the premier venture conference in the region, bringing together the private equity and entrepreneurial communities. Over the years, it has been the catalyst for billions of dollars of venture funding and entrepreneurial activity.The day-and-a-half event offers both sponsors and attendees access to emerging companies from the Mid-Atlantic region; networking opportunities with the movers and shakers from the community; and educational panels and content sessions.The 2009 MAC Conference, Hosted by Blank Rome LLP, will be held on…

• 
  Five Percent: Conserve a Little Energy

• Boo!

  Tom Harrison

  31 Oct 2009 | 4:05 pm

  Wind Turbumpkin

• Google PowerMeter: New (Useful) Features, New Device

  Tom Harrison

  31 Oct 2009 | 1:09 pm

  I expected nothing less of Google PowerMeter — week by week, it continues to improve. Now the graph displays my usage compared to expected use, and includes a visual and numeric accounting of my baseline, “Always On” usage compared to total usage. Here’s what my graph for today looks like: Three Great Things The expected usage gives you a nice target, and the comparison to others provides a helpful benchmark. But the new “Always On” measure provides two very helpful bits of information. First, the darker bar helps isolate the spikes above. For example, the…

• How to Tame Your DVR’s Appetite for Energy: Starve It

  Tom Harrison

  20 Oct 2009 | 5:56 pm

  My cousin Alison wrote me an email this evening asking how she could stop her always-on DVR (the “not-a-TiVo®” things cable companies will rent) from gobbling electricity. Here’s her email, I am trying to do my next round of tightening up and have read all the stuff about turning off your “always on” appliances, but after much googling couldn’t find the answer to my real question: if I turn off my cable box, will my dvr stop recording? So then I remembered—aha, my cousin Tom’s website. And spent a little more time surfing around there, which was incredibly…

• Google PowerMeter Showed Me How and Why I Was Wrong

  Tom Harrison

  14 Oct 2009 | 8:11 pm

  Google PowerMeter showed me I was wrong about something. Well, sort of. Perhaps you have noticed: I am a little obsessive with my measurement of energy usage. Despite being an energy saving zealot, we still use our electric clothes dryer — perhaps as a rationalization, I had claimed that all those other people saying that we should use our dryer less had it all wrong. I said that this caused people to lose focus of the smaller items, especially the ones contributing to your “baseline” usage. As I have pointed out, but said more nicely in a great article on PlotWatt’s…

• Google PowerMeter and TED 5000: A Giant Baby Step

  Tom Harrison

  9 Oct 2009 | 3:30 pm

  I had a lot of ideas about what might happen when Google’s PowerMeter read my TED 5000 data. All that data, from so many people, so many opportunities. I installed the update last night, with some significant anticipation … what would I get? Looks like I’ll need to be impatient a little longer. The good news is that enabling PowerMeter via the TED is as simple as can be. It took about a minute once I had the firmware update (even that was quick). The bad news is that there’s not that much of an incremental improvement over what you can already get on the TED. You can…

• 
  Green Life Smart Life

• Please Turn Your Engine Off…

  castercomm

  6 Nov 2009 | 11:00 pm

  My husband and I recently went on vacation in Vermont. On our drive up, we stopped at a rest area in New Hampshire where we came across this interesting sign posted in the rest area parking lot. Even though I was on my honeymoon, I thought “this would make an awesome post!” (I’m either that dedicated or that crazy, I know). When I got back, I decided to do some digging and get some information on the New Hampshire Idling Regulations and here is what I found:   When the temperature is above 0 oC (32 oF), a gasoline engine shall not idle for more than 5 consecutive minutes; When the…

• Support Your Local Shops and Artists This Holiday Season

  castercomm

  5 Nov 2009 | 11:00 pm

  The holidays are right around the corner and with that comes lots of holiday shopping. I am notorious for procrastinating and doing all of my shopping the week (or a day or two) before Christmas and I have vowed that I will not do that this year. I have also decided that this year I am going to give handmade gifts (don’t laugh – I make really cute stuff!), buy gifts at local shops or support my fellow etsy sellers. Luckily for me to accomplish this, it isn’t too hard or painful.  I happen to live in one of the cutest towns I have ever visited – East Greenwich, RI.  I live right off…

• Electrical wiring considerations in a LEED project

  castercomm

  5 Nov 2009 | 3:00 am

  If you’re building a green home, there’s one subcontractor that is going to have a harder time adopting green building methods than the others, and that is your electrician. Why you may ask? These guys are generally old school, the young guys who work for them, they learned the old school way. That means wires everywhere, overrun everything just in case and to cover the electrical code and challenging inspectors. They’re also used to homeowners (wives in particular, not that I am ackowledging my issues) who change their mind on the locations of fixtures. But having just…

• With wind energy projects stalled, MA Governor proposes landmark bill

  castercomm

  4 Nov 2009 | 3:00 am

  With more than a third of the major wind-energy projects in Massachusetts stalled by lawsuits or permit appeals, the Patrick administration has proposed a landmark bill that would streamline the state’s appeals process and make it possible to win approval of such projects much more quickly. Massachusetts now generates less than 1 percent of the nation’s wind energy, about 9 megawatts, enough to power only about 2,700 homes. Without a change in the permitting process, administration officials say, the state will not meet Governor Deval Patrick’s goal of producing 2,000 megawatts of wind…

• TOMS Shoes- A Gift For Tomorrow

  castercomm

  2 Nov 2009 | 11:00 pm

  I have never been a ‘shoe fashionista’. My shoe selection is simple. No matter the season, I can always rely on my TOMS. I discovered TOMS through my brother who had gone on a surf trip to California two years ago and brought me back a pair of these shoes. The premise behind the company is simple: you buy, they give. TOMS shoes were founded in 2006 by Blake Mycoskie who was traveling through Argentina and saw how many children did not have access to shoes. Mycoskie decided that he would start a shoe company that would give a pair of shoes to a child without shoes for every pair…

• 
  TreeHugger

• Voices from Hopenhagen: Copenhagen With an "H," by Tham Khai Meng of Ogilvy & Mather

  7 Nov 2009 | 5:00 am

  Images courtesy of Hopenhagen/Ogilvy & Mather. This guest post was written by Tham Khai Meng, Worldwide Creative Director, Ogilvy & Mather, as part of the Voices from Hopenhagen series. In explaining the genesis of the name "The Beatles," John Lennon famously wrote, "A Man appeared on a flaming pie and said unto them 'From this day on, you are Beatles with an A.'" With its roots in such a story, the name of the band came to reinforce some essential characteristics of the thing it was naming: free imagi... Read the full story on TreeHugger

• The Uniform Project's AccesSoireé, Celebrating 191 Ways to Wear One Dress

  6 Nov 2009 | 6:30 am

  One dress, 365 days. Credit: The Uniform Project You may remember Jasmin's post on The Uniform Project: One Dress, 365 Ways to Wear It back in May. Booklynite Sheena Matheiken's has made it half-way through the year--191 days on Saturday, to be exact--in one dress and with the help of vintage she's perfected the art of accessorizing. This weekend New Yorkers can borrow Sheena's style--she'll be dressed by rising star Raffaele Ascione-- and dress in black with vin... Read the full story on TreeHugger

• Last Chance, by NWF President and CEO Larry Schweiger, Is a Call To Action

  5 Nov 2009 | 10:47 am

  Image by hawkins.matt via flickr. I spend a lot of my time as an advocate. To be able to champion a cause and educate others about the importance and necessity of action at this critical time, I must first educate myself about the reality of the challenges we all face. I need to keep it real. The wake-up call Larry Schweiger, president and CEO of the National... Read the full story on TreeHugger

• How Insects Do Graphic Design

  5 Nov 2009 | 6:23 am

  Yesterday the exhibition Bits 'n Pieces launched at Material Connexion in New York, a dialogue between the analog and the digital technologies within design in a post-digital era. What grabbed our attention in the busy space during the opening, were the insects doing graphic design! A sophisticated machine transformed the movements of a few bugs into beautiful patterns and logos and printed them out as fast as the insects performed. ... Read the full story on TreeHugger

• Join The Wave to Spread the Word Before Copenhagen

  4 Nov 2009 | 11:00 am

  The Wave at Stop Climate Chaos Coalition This is a relatively benign stunt by the standards of the Stop Climate Change Coalition, which has stirred up excitement with a nude climate change calander and in the context of Copenhagen, where one group plans to get 10000 people arrested in a climate change protest. But it is cute, and fun, and certain to succeed at the intention to "drive ... Read the full story on TreeHugger

• 
  TreeHugger

• 'Fashion Delivers' $1.2 Million to Victims of Natural Disasters

  7 Nov 2009 | 5:31 am

  Barney's Simon Doonan and Sesame Workshop's Gary Knell at Fashion Delivers/ K.I.D.S. gala in NYC. Credit: Thomas Iannaccone, Via WWD Fashion Delivers, a non-profit organization that supplies victims of natural disasters with donated product, and Kids In Distressed Situations, Inc. (K.I.D.S.) raised almost $1.2 million dollars at their annual charity gala

• Wash your clothes by pedaling your bike (with video)

  7 Nov 2009 | 5:08 am

  Credit: Dave Askins, homelessdave.com. You don't need electricity to do the laundry. It's as easy as riding a bike. My wife's 90-year-old aunt still washes her laundry by hand, and dries it with a wringer. God bless her. But if you're a little busier, you can keep your clothes clean with pedal power. GreenovationTV has a segment on the low-tech solution.... Read the full story on TreeHugger

• DFTB Reminds Us: Don't Forget the Bag!

  6 Nov 2009 | 9:02 am

  Image via Orianna Helms. You head off to the local market with your grocery list in hand...and then you get there and realize you forgot your bags reusable bags! It's happened to all of us and darn, isn't it so frustrating? Not to mention that so many stores give us money back now if we bring our reusable bags. It would be so much easier if we had a little reminder as we walked out the door, which is exactly why we ne... Read the full story on TreeHugger

• The Uniform Project's AccesSoireé, Celebrating 191 Ways to Wear One Dress

  6 Nov 2009 | 6:30 am

  One dress, 365 days. Credit: The Uniform Project You may remember Jasmin's post on The Uniform Project: One Dress, 365 Ways to Wear It back in May. Booklynite Sheena Matheiken's has made it half-way through the year--191 days on Saturday, to be exact--in one dress and with the help of vintage she's perfected the art of accessorizing. This weekend New Yorkers can borrow Sheena's style--she'll be dressed by rising star Raffaele Ascione-- and dress in black with vin... Read the full story on TreeHugger

• Spring/Summer 2010 Preview: Curatorial by Popomomo

  5 Nov 2009 | 5:30 am

  Curatorial spring/summer 2010. Credit: Well Made Phrase Following the success of LA-based Popomomo, Lizz Wasserman has transformed vintage and deadstock fabrics into contemporary designs under the label CURATORIAL. Lizz hand picks the vintage fabrics--that follow suit with season trends in patterns and color--and designs one-of-a-kind and limited edition pieces at lower price points. ... Read the full story on TreeHugger

• 
  Eco-Chick

• Greens Galore: Biggest and Tastiest Salad Ever

  Starre Vartan

  29 Oct 2009 | 3:43 pm

  If this video doesn’t inspire you to make and devour a huge healthy salad, I don’t know what will. From Mike Lieberman at SimplyRawRecipes (where directions and ingredients are also written out).

• Get Cozy in Autumn 2009’s Luxest Eco Friendly Knits

  Starre Vartan

  29 Oct 2009 | 3:19 pm

  If I spend a bit on any one piece of clothing this winter, it will be a gorgeous knit. I’ve found that over the years, the pieces I’ve kept the longest from the cold seasons have been sweater-dressing separates; a great wool dress, a chunky knit vest, fine-gauge tights from Germany, my favorite scarf. Below are top contenders for space in my closet. I love a great red sweater, and this one from Stewart & Brown has a beautiful asymmetrical button-front and a cable knit throughout. I especially like the detail at the collar and those fantastic pockets. Made from 100% Mongolian…

• Be a Green Lush: Eco-Chic Fall and Holiday Cocktails!

  Stephanie Rogers

  28 Oct 2009 | 1:19 am

  It’s a great time to be an eco-conscious drinker. There’s never been a bigger or tastier selection of organic, fair trade and otherwise earth-friendly liquor and mixers on the market, and the possibilities for seasonal cocktails are practically endless, from spiked cider to pomegranate cosmopolitans. Fair Vodka is the world’s first fair-trade certified vodka, and is made with quinoa from the South American Andes. TRU vodka and gin is actually carbon negative, made with organic ingredients that are responsibly farmed and bottled in lightweight recycled glass. Organic Nation gin is made…

• Eco Chick Starre Vartan to Speak at Ecostilletto Green Bloggers Panel in Los Angeles

  Starre Vartan

  27 Oct 2009 | 1:45 am

  Rachel Sarnoff, the driving force behind the stylish EcoStiletto.com, has organized a Green Blogger Convention to take place in Los Angeles on November 6th from 9am-12pm. More than an opportunity to network, there will also be some wonderful green products to sample — from sustainable beauty treatments from Steam Salon to mini-makeovers from Terra Firma Cosmetics. This big highlight will be a panel from 10am-11:30 discussing “the past, present and future of green blogging”. Speakers include: Kim Barnouin, (co-author of New York Times Bestseller Skinny Bitch and founder of…

• The Botany of Desire, PBS October 28 at 8pm

  Alicia Lubowski-Jahn

  26 Oct 2009 | 8:35 pm

  Journalist Michael Pollan’s book The Botany of Desire: A Plant’s-Eye View of the World has been made into a documentary. The two-hour-long film is available on DVD and will be airing on PBS on October 28 at 8pm [check local listings]. Pollan’s tale reveals the deep interconnection between people and plants. Humans have been tantalized by the qualities of sweetness, beauty, intoxication, and control and manifested these desires in the plant world. Sweetness: Apples Beauty: Tulips Intoxication: Cannabis Control: Potatoes Apples, Tulip, and Pototoes from Di_The_Huntress…

• 
  Celebrate Green

• Corey wears Lizzie Parker

  Lynn Colwell and Corey Colwell-Lipson

  2 Nov 2009 | 8:07 pm

  Well, she didn’t wear the woman, but she did sport Lizzie’s fun eco-friendly designs on our recent trip to NYC. A couple of weeks ago, Lizzie, whose sweet “atelier” happens to be several blocks from Corey’s home, invited us over so Corey could try on some clothes for our upcoming trip. Corey ended up looking so chic wearing one Lizzie Parker dress as part of her Halloween costume at a private party on Friday night and another for an important meeting. Lizzie not only is a talented designer, but she’s an hysterically funny, tell-it-like-it-is kinda gal with…

• Be a Halloween do-gooder

  Corey

  9 Oct 2009 | 5:39 pm

  Yes, Halloween is about fun, but that doesn’t mean it can’t also be about helping out others. One great way to do that is by providing your child an extra bag in which to collect cell phones, then turning those phones in to companies that use them to raise money for great causes.According to www.Gizmodo.com, approximately 425,000 cell phones are tossed every day. Now that’s scary! (If you want to use this as an opportunity to teach your kids, share with them the photos of Chris Jordan who depicts what hundreds of thousands of any one item looks like.) If you’re taking…

• Make a Halloween goodie bucket with built-in meaning

  admin

  26 Sep 2009 | 10:13 am

  Finding just the right Halloween “goodie bag” is a cinch when you make one yourself (with or without your child’s help depending on her age and inclination), from items you have around your home. This one is special because it’s designed to be used for many Halloweens. The front is decorated and the back is left plain. The idea is that every year it is used, your child can write her name and the year. By the time she grows from tot to teen, she’ll have created an heirloom. The foundation is a giant can like the ones baked beans come in. You also could recycle a…

• New giveaway on GreenHalloween.org

  Corey

  24 Sep 2009 | 1:35 pm

  You know were wild for Oeuf. The NYC based company has the most fabulous array of ethically and sustainably sourced items for family & home. We’ve featured their adorable mask & tail sets in previous posts and added them to our new marketplace - and now is your chance to win a set for your child (comes in a trick-or-treat worthy natural tote bag). Just add a comment to the blog post with the title” Green Halloween giveaway: 100% alpaca, Fair Trade mask & tail set“ on www.GreenHalloween.org/blog by Friday, October 9th at 11:59 PST.  Random.org will help us choose…

• Set your autumn table with fair trade dECOr

  Corey

  22 Sep 2009 | 8:28 am

  Americans spend billions of dollars each year on Fall decor. Unfortunately, much of it is made from unsustainable materials by people making less than a living wage. So where to find ethically sourced, green goods for tabletops and more? Of course there are many great options, but today we’d like to highlight Mountain Avenue – one of our favorite online boutiques. Mountain Avenue sources unique Fair Trade, eco-friendly items for the family and home and donates a large percentage of their profits to causes ranging from animal rescues to hospice care. Hand dyed cotton napkins Bamboo…

• 
  Elephant Journal

• Home Buyer Tax Credit Extended and Expanded to Include Many More Buyers

  I love to be the bearer of good news and this is some of the best news for home buyers and sellers in a long time. I just called a client of mine who already had her home under contract and expected to close on November 30th, when she is ...

• Walk the Talk Show New Season Debuts this Thursday. Dovekins, Kelly MacLean, David McLaughlin.

  To attend, just click here and become a fan if you aren't already, then click here and reserve your free ticket through Eventbrite. Naropa Community is free. All future shows will cost money, this show is free because, while there'll be live interviews, comedy, and great music from the Dovekins, ...

• Barry Siff’s Unsuccessful Attempt at Boulder City Council ~ via Courtney Holden.

    A champion muscle-man now presides over California. Jesse “The Body” Ventura once governed Minnesota. Barry Siff, multi-sport athlete and Eco-Challenge competitor, had hoped to join a short list of sportspersons turned politicians. But Tuesday’s Boulder City Council election results had Suzy Ageton, Matthew Appelbaum, KC Becker, Macon Cowles, and George Karakehian ...

• 45 Days Without Food & Feeling Sexy. ~ via Harold Linde

    Today is my 45th day without eating any solid food. I’ve been on the “Master Cleanse” (without the daily saline laxatives/didn’t “feel” the need for this part). All I have essentially consumed this past month and a half is the special lemon-based liquid the Master Cleanse is know ...

• Baseball & Climate Control — Like Peanut Butta & Jelly.

  Obama had a terrible time explaining his Bail Out of Wall Street and the Health Care Debate has Congress so confused they will soon need their own Socialized Health Care …and now they are jumping into another fire fight…Cap and Trade. So as Congress starts the ...

• 
  Go Green Solar

• a smarter solar panel

  Deep Patel

  17 Oct 2009 | 7:52 pm

  Traditional solar panels are extremely sensitive to even the smallest amount of shade and mismatch. Typically solar panels must be properly matched and balanced in a string although tenKsolar has developed a new breed of "smart" solar panels that's not only improving photovoltaic performance and but making them easier to install. Based on their propriety RAIS (redundant array of integrating solar) technology the smarter solar panel has no single point of failure. Most traditional solar panels have a number of single points of failures which include a spot of shade, a short, or physical damage…

• rail-free solar panel mounting

  Deep Patel

  4 Oct 2009 | 2:53 pm

  Traditionally, solar panels are a tedious process to install because the process of installing solar panels on a residential rooftop involves the rails to be cut, spliced together and the metal frame of the solar panels and rails themselves have to be grounded according to code. Currently the process is quite primitive and can be time consuming even though the two most popular solar panel mounting companies, UniRac and ProSolar are offering new products to reduce parts and installation time, the companies fail to remove the rails.ZepSolar, a startup solar panel mounting manufacturer will be…

• solar panels + grid alternatives = fun

  Deep Patel

  20 Sep 2009 | 9:04 pm

  I had a great weekend volunteering for GRID Alternatives to install solar panels for a low income family in Lynwood, CA. For those of you who don't know GRID Alternatives, they're a non-profit who's on a mission to empower communities in need by providing renewable energy and energy efficiency services, equipment and training.Since 2001, GRID Alternatives has been working to bring the power of solar electricity and energy efficiency to low-income homeowners, and to provide community members with training and hands-on experience with renewable energy technologies. GRID Alternatives believes…

• BP Solar's 230w solar panel

  Deep Patel

  18 Sep 2009 | 7:57 pm

  I'm not a big fan of BP Solar panels ever since BP's CEO bashed on solar power technology and their solar panels caught on fire due to a faulty junction box. The big oil company continues to push their solar division further offering their own version of a 230w solar panel called the Endura series. The solar panel has a smaller power tolerance range of +3/-3 and has a lower voltage therefore higher current which drives the increased efficiency.The BP Solar 3230N is a 60 cell polycrystalline solar panel with a potted junction box that includes six bypass diodes that improve heat management…

• How much is a solar panel system for a 2,700 square foot home?

  Deep Patel

  13 Sep 2009 | 10:14 pm

  Everyday I get at least one email from a customer that asks, "How much is a solar panel system to power a {insert number of square feet here} home?" It's quite impossible to quote you the size of system that will meet your goals without understanding your individual project site and needs.People who ask this question to me have not done enough research and typically indicate that they are just starting to explore solar power. More than often I lead customers who ask that question to the solar power calculator since it helps them realize all the variables required to figure out how many solar…

• 
  Green Building Law Update

• What Do You Want to Discuss?

  6 Nov 2009 | 11:33 am

  You may have noticed that I have moved to a new law firm, one of the top law firms in the world. I am working in the government contracts group, widely regarded as the preeminent government contracts practice, hands down. I get to speak to and work with incredible lawyers on a daily basis, and now have tremendous resources at my disposal.   So the question is, how can I use these resources to benefit you? Some topics that I think might be of interest are:   Government contracting under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Financing mechanisms for green building Legal issues…

• Green Building Law Update Goes South

  29 Oct 2009 | 11:31 am

  [Ed. Note: Steve McBrady is your Editor this week]   One of the primary focuses here at Green Building Law Update has been the emergence of Green building and sustainable development as an “unstoppable force” in the world of real estate development and construction – as well as the emerging federal, state, and local regulations that accompany this Greenward* move.   Lately, with the federal government’s heavy investment in Green building through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA), much of our focus has been on how this money is being…

• Surf's Up on a Wave of New Green Building Projects

  26 Oct 2009 | 11:48 am

  [Ed. Note: Chris could not help sending along one last post before he enjoys some well-deserved R&R on his honeymoon.  Congratulations to Chris and Melissa!  Stay tuned for my guest posts the remainder of the week.  - Steve] There is a wave of funding for green building and energy efficiency projects on the way.  The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act has set aside nearly $25 billion for projects that will impact the green building industry.  The General Services Administration received $5.5 billion to create high-performing, sustainable federal…

• Don't Mess With Nashville Green Builders

  23 Oct 2009 | 10:11 am

  [Ed. Note:  I am getting married tomorrow!  As a result, guest editor Steve McBrady will be taking over Green Building Law Update.  I will be back November 2.] The green building professionals in Nashville, Tennessee are a no-nonsense, dedicated group.   That's my conclusion after I recently gave a green building legal presentation to the USGBC Middle Tennessee Chapter.  After my presentation was over, I was questioned for 15 minutes on the nuances of the law and green building.  I met some dedicated professionals involved in some incredible green…

• The Beginnings of a Federal Green Building Rating System

  19 Oct 2009 | 3:15 pm

  It is very rare to read a green building regulation and not see a mention of a green rating certification. When I started reviewing Executive Order 13154, I was certain that the LEED rating system would be included. On Friday, we saw that new green federal contracting requirements did not rely on independent green rating certifications.   Surely another section of the Executive Order mentions a green building rating system. Lets look at Section 2(g)(ii) and (iii): [T]he head of the agency shall ... (g) implement high performance sustainable Federal building design, construction,…

• 
  Renewable Energy News - RenewableEnergyWorld.com

• Solon To Construct 11-MW PV System

  5 Nov 2009 | 9:00 pm

  Solon SE has been selected to build an 11-megawatt (MW) solar power plant in Spain. The contract was awarded by Renewable Energies and Photovoltaics Spain S.L. (REPS), a majority owned subsidiary of the Norwegian energy company Statkraft AS.

• How Some Solar PV Companies Define Themselves in an Age of Solar Commoditization

  5 Nov 2009 | 9:00 pm

  As the price of solar modules drops and new solar companies increase competition and inventory, solar PV seems destined to become a price-per-watt commodity. As these price pressures continue, how will solar PV companies define their brands beyond this commodity status?

• Ocean Energy Advocates Testify to Senate Subcommittee

  5 Nov 2009 | 9:00 pm

  Carolyn Elefant, legal counsel for the Ocean Renewable Energy Coalition, urged lawmakers to establish a federal agency to develop and oversee policy for renewable energy technologies offshore.

• OwnEnergy & National Farmers Union To Partner on 20-MW Wind Project

  5 Nov 2009 | 9:00 pm

  OwnEnergy has entered into a strategic partnership with The National Farmers Union Service Association (NFUSA), a wholly owned subsidiary of the National Farmers Union. The partners announced plans to develop a 20-megawatt (MW) wind energy project in Minnesota called the Rothsay Wind Energy project.

• Alstom To Supply Equipment for Namibia's Biggest Hydroelectric Plant

  5 Nov 2009 | 9:00 pm

  Alstom Hydro, in consortium with Andritz Hydro, received a contract from Nam Power to supply equipment and penstocks for a 92-MW turbine-generator at Namibia's Ruacana power plant.

• 
  Leafygreen.info: Green Product Reviews for a Green World.

• Green Kitchen Tools

  Cathy

  6 Nov 2009 | 3:00 am

  One of the places that I dream and need to green the most in my home is the kitchen.  I have lots of plastic containers(gasp) and old pots and pans with unhealthy surfaces and mismatched kitchen tools that are not in great condition or are, again, plastic!  So, when I got the box of goodies from Green Kitchen Tools I was so excited!  I tore in like it was my birthday and couldn’t believe what I found!  I am a bit nerdy about this…..I LOVE the details! Before I even get to the awesome tools themselves, my attention went straight to the tags.  They were attached to each item with twine…

• World’s Best Cat Litter

  Amanda

  4 Nov 2009 | 3:00 am

  I have a very mean kitty, Ramona. She does not like change at all. So, when I pulled the switcheroo of her regular crystal cat litter to the World’s Best Cat Litter, it did not go well. First, she did not like the texture. Second, I did not like the  texture. I am just not so sure corn kernels absorb well. I am all for an eco-friendly pet product, but due to the messy aftermath of the litter when she jumped out and the just okay clumping capabilities I would not be so bold to make the claim that this is the best litter on the market.  The odor control was sufficient, nothing amazing. The…

• Boulevards Organic Sugar & Dairy Free Hot Chocolate

  Mike

  3 Nov 2009 | 3:00 am

  Sugar free is not always what it claims to be, yet Boulevards Organic Sugar & Dairy Free Hot Chocolate is all that and a bag of chips! Warming and smooth, the vegan hot chocolate is a great treat for those to drink.  Seriously folks, I love hot chocolate and this might be the best one from a can/packet in a while.  Twenty calories per serving of sweet chocolate and it’s organic too. Boulevards LLC is a family run company. They have developed a line of dark chocolate mixes, some of which are organic, gluten-free, kosher, vegan and sugar-free. Great company, so go pick some up today.

• Hachez Chocolate

  Heather

  2 Nov 2009 | 3:00 am

  Most people have a love/hate relationship with chocolate. It’s delicious, it’s addicting, and many people eat far too much of it. Myself included. When I had the opportunity to review two different chocolate lines, Santander and Hachez, I jumped at the chance.  It was all for you, dear readers.  This just goes to show I’m willing to take one for the team. Yep, it’s a tough gig. In all seriousness, these two chocolate lines were amazing. The parent company, Niche Import Co., sent me a generous box of both lines. This amounted to roughly 17 bars of chocolate. Which bars were my…

• Nika Purified Water

  Scott

  30 Oct 2009 | 4:00 am

  Nika has become the world’s first and only carbon neutral bottled water company in the world.  Their water purification system is state of the art and their bottles are not only recycled but also recyclable. So what makes Nika so green?  Nika donates 100% of their profits to poverty alleviation projects in places like Latin America, Africa and India.  There is so much more that goes into a company designed to help the world and stay green. If you don’t like tap water or Brita style filters.  If you spend money on bottled water then at least buy water from a company that is out there…

• 
  Solar Feeds

• Asia Pacific Must Invest Up To $9.7 Trillion by 2030 to Meet Predicted Energy Demands

  6 Nov 2009 | 6:35 pm

  A new report by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) claims the Asia Pacific region must invest between $7 and $9.7 Trillion into the energy sector by 2030. Titled The Energy Outlook for Asia and the Pacific [pdf], the report has been launched at the Pacific Energy Summit and projects regional energy demand to grow 2.4% every year between 2005 and 2030, outpacing the world average of 1.5%. Predicted to be out of the economic downturn sometime in... go to solarfeeds for the rest of this story>>>>>

• Applied Materials Buys Advent Solar (AMAT)

  6 Nov 2009 | 6:13 pm

  Applied Materials has purchased most of the assets of Advent Solar in cash to boost its offering of factory equipment for making crystalline silicon cells and panels. Albuquerque, N.M.-based Advent has developed a process that makes use of thinner silicon wafers to make cells with electrical lines on the back of the cell. Many manufacturers make cells with the contact lines – which transport electricity produced – on the front of the... go to solarfeeds for the rest of this story>>>>>

• GE to Close U.S. Solar Panel Factory

  6 Nov 2009 | 2:01 pm

  General Electric plans to close its only U.S. solar panel factory because production costs have exceeded sale prices. The Fairfield, Conn.-based company told the Dow Jones Clean Technology Insight that silicon panel manufacturing at its facility in Delaware, will stop in January. GE will shutter the factory all together by June. The factory can produce 34 megawatts of solar panels per year and employs 82 people. GE plans to layoff the workers... go to solarfeeds for the rest of this story>>>>>

• Tata Group Invests in PV Module Producer Flisom

  6 Nov 2009 | 10:39 am

  Tata group recently invested in Flisom (Flexible and lightweight solar modules), a Switzerland-based company, to mark its interest in the solar photovoltaic industry and focus on developing the next generation of clean energy as a future growth area. Further, a private Swiss investor with business interest in start-up companies who provided initial support and investment to scale-up the technology has increased the investment. Flisom... go to solarfeeds for the rest of this story>>>>>

• Solar IPO STR Holdings (STRI) Begins Trading Below Expected Range

  6 Nov 2009 | 10:33 am

  The first solar IPO in about a year began trading this morning below the expected range of $11 – 13/share around $10/share.  Certainly not a hugely successful IPO, but holding in there at a time when solar stocks are generally struggling.  STR Holdings (STRI) makes components called solar power module encapsulants that protect the circuits in the solar panel.  The company is profitable and counts some big players as customers... go to solarfeeds for the rest of this story>>>>>

• 
  Best of Mother Earth

• Ten Things Your Hospital Won't Tell You

  Karen Hanrahan

  5 Nov 2009 | 3:53 am

  10 Things Your Hospital Won't Tell YouBy Reshma Kapadia of Smart Money this was shared a few years back via email, from a large Chicago hospital employee - i found it interesting1. "Oops, wrong kidney."In recent years errors in treatment have become a serious problem for hospitals, ranging from operating on the wrong body part to medication mix-ups. According to a report from the Institute of Medicine, at least 1.5 million patients are harmed every year from being given the wrong drugs -- that's an average of one person per U.S. hospital per day. One reason these mistakes persist: Only…

• Wash Your Hands. Natural Flu Prevention

  Karen Hanrahan

  4 Nov 2009 | 7:07 am

  I worked once with a group of seniors and was sharing with them how important  it was for them to drink water and stay hydrated.  One of the men said, " wanna know why we don't drink water?"  WHY?  "cuz drinking water makes us pee!"  And going to the bathroom is a problem? Jokingly he said, "well, when you've been doing it for 80 years, it gets to be a bother!" I had to laugh.  Yet the reality of his comments spoke to how issues of health and well being  for some can sometimes be a bother.Take for instance the CDC recommending us to wash our hands more…

• Flu Shot Or Not

  Karen Hanrahan

  4 Nov 2009 | 6:40 am

  Flu Vaccination versus Building Your Immunity Naturally*sourced from an older newsletter  We are approaching the dreaded "Flu Season" again, and manufacturers are gearing up to collect more record profits. Their usual dis-information campaigns are in full swing. A recent headline on the American College of Physicians Online website states that "Influenza is the sixth leading cause of death for older Americans and infects 5% to 10% of elderly Americans every year. The flu leads to 300,000 hospitalizations and kills 30,000 to 40,000 Americans every year." [1] This is an outright lie.

• Is It A Cold Or Is It The Flu?

  Karen Hanrahan

  3 Nov 2009 | 5:18 am

   The Difference Between Cold And Swine Flu Symptoms( thank you to nutritionist Barbara Lagoni for sharing this email ) I did take creative license with a bit of this info for readability purposes. The email it came in had a table and mixed fonts etc. Turns out Dr Vinay, the person who wrote this information appears to be nothing more than an urban legend. Errrrrrr.I don't care.  I liked the descriptive details that compare the flu to a cold, and none of the suggestions in my opinion can cause any harm. So there. My point is…

• Pumpkin Sunshine

  Karen Hanrahan

  31 Oct 2009 | 5:23 am

  Taken by Karen ... The sun landed on it just right....

• 
  Orion Magazine Articles

• Vanilla Sound

  by Ginger Strand

  5 Nov 2009 | 4:28 pm

  Richard Keil stands ankle-deep in the tidal flats below Seattle’s Magnolia Bluff, tugging some test strips from his backpack. The bluff rises gently behind him, and the rippled sand is slowly disappearing beneath the rising tide. Before him, Puget Sound sparkles in the July sun. “The thing we find the most of in Puget Sound is artificial vanilla,” he says, scooping water into a cube-shaped collapsible bottle. Keil is an associate professor in the Keil Lab of Aquatic Organic Geochemistry at the University of Washington’s School of Oceanography. What he’s…

• Putting Things Back Together

  by Rick Bass

  5 Nov 2009 | 4:19 am

  I WASN’T A YOUNG writer when I first came to Wallace Stegner—I wasn’t even a writer of any kind—nor was I yet an environmentalist. I was just a reader, a Texan escaped to northern Utah, where I was studying wildlife management. I was fortunate enough to have an elective class in essay writing from the great literary scholar and writing instructor Tom Lyon, who expressed not so much amazement as incredulous delight when I told him I hadn’t ever heard of Stegner. It seems unthinkable now. Knowing that I was also studying geology, Tom pointed me immediately to Angle…

• Playing for Keeps

  by Derrick Jensen

  5 Nov 2009 | 4:05 am

  PEOPLE WHO READ MY WORK often say, “Okay, so it’s clear you don’t like this culture, but what do you want to replace it?” The answer is that I don’t want any one culture to replace this culture. I want ten thousand cultures to replace this culture, each one arising organically from its own place. That’s how humans inhabited the planet (or, more precisely, their landbases, since each group inhabited a place, and not the whole world, which is precisely the point), before this culture set about reducing all cultures to one. I live on Tolowa (Indian) land.

• Mind in the Forest

  by Scott Russell Sanders

  22 Oct 2009 | 5:32 am

  THE SETTING OF THIS ESSAY by Scott Russell Sanders is the H. J. Andrews Experimental Forest, a 15,800-acre research area in the Cascade Mountains of Oregon. Research conducted at the Andrews Forest has taught us much of what we know about old-growth in the Pacific Northwest; more than one hundred experiments are currently under way there, focusing on the role of forests in protecting water quality, controlling stream flow and sedimentation, cycling and storing carbon, and providing habitat for wildlife. In 2003 the Spring Creek Project at Oregon State University, in collaboration with the…

• One Block

  Photographs and text by Dave Anderson

  22 Oct 2009 | 5:26 am

                 We hope you enjoy this audio slide show. HURRICANE KATRINA caused a seismic shift in every aspect of New Orleans and the Gulf region. I wondered whether rebuilding could ever fix what had been broken. Would the neighborhoods recover? Would the city ever get its mojo back? Would that thing, whatever it was, that was so uniquely New Orleans return, dissipate, or transform into something completely different? And what about the thousands of small communities that existed within the city—would they…

• 
  Practical Environmentalist

• The Brammo Enertia Electric Motorcycle

  Steve Watkins

  4 Nov 2009 | 1:03 pm

  “The Menace is loose again, the Hell’s Angels, the hundred-carat headline, running fast and loud on the early morning freeway, low in the saddle, nobody smiles, jamming crazy through traffic and ninety miles an hour down the center stripe, missing by inches. . . like Genghis Khan on an iron horse, no quarter asked and none given; show the squares some class, give em a whiff of those kicks they’ll never know. . . Ah, these righteous dudes, they love to screw it on. . . tense for the action, long hair in the wind, beards and ban­danas flapping, earrings, and stripped-down Harleys…

• Was Cash for Clunkers a success?

  george

  30 Oct 2009 | 4:00 am

  Photo courtesy of natashalcd at Flickr.com The jury is still out on the Cash for Clunkers program. The last paperwork was filed on Monday, August 24, 2009, but crushed cars still waiting to be recycled. The final numbers are in – so how did the program score? All told, C4C took 690,114 clunkers off of the road: 84 percent of consumers traded in trucks and 59 percent purchased passenger cars. The average fuel economy of the vehicles traded in was 15.8 miles per gallon and the average fuel economy of vehicles purchased is 24.9 mpg. – a 58 percent improvement. That sounds wonderful, but…

• 10 Cool iPhone Apps for Environmentalists

  Steve Watkins

  22 Oct 2009 | 9:27 am

  Just about everyone I know has one of these iPhone things.  I played around my nephews the other day and was amazed at all the colorful, useless apps that he had on the thing.  I think there were a dozen “flashlight” apps alone. But the iPhone really does have some legitimate apps out there for those of us that are a bit green conscious.  These represent to me the most practical of the bunch.  Ones that you wont just play with a few times and put aside, but apps that you might find yourself using day after day in your quest to live a more green life. 1) The Green Meter An…

• World Habitat Day – 10/5/2009

  george

  2 Oct 2009 | 5:55 am

  Photo courtesy of oxfam international at Flickr.com Poverty has drastic effects on the natural world. People living without access to treated water, sustainable fuel supplies, or adequate food can have a huge impact on their surroundings. Slums and destructive farming techniques can do as much damage as SUVs and chemical spills. To highlight this issue, the UN has an annual event that focuses attention on living conditions. World Habitat Day falls on the first Monday in October. The theme of this year’s celebration is Planning our Urban Future. Photo courtesy of andreasnilsson1976 at…

• 2010 diesel cars in the USA: here’s the lineup

  Steve Watkins

  17 Sep 2009 | 4:59 am

  There really hasn’t been any significant increase in the number of diesel cars available on the US market since our 2009 diesel car post from last year.  While common in Europe, stricter emissions requirements in some states and the recent temporary bout of high priced diesel fuel here has most car manufacturers hesitant to invest the money for what has only shown to be a small segment of the market so far in the United States. Here is this year’s list of which 2010 diesel cars that automobile manufacturers will be offering: ACURA: Acura does not offer a diesel model. AUDI: AUDI…

• 
  Green Business

• Ray Anderson: Pioneer of a Movement

  robertludvig

  4 Nov 2009 | 7:43 am

  It is difficult to start any type of business, so if you want to start a green business you better find out what your motives are. If you decide to begin the search, start by looking at the pioneer of green business, Mr. Ray Anderson. He will tell you his answers and motivations for starting an environmentally friendly carpet business many years ago, before running a green business was the thing to do.The reasons why the pioneer of green business started his company are truly inspiring. Two of Mr.Anderson’s philosophies?  Take nothing, do no harm and only take from the earth what can…

• Environmentally Friendly Data Centers

  robertludvig

  28 Oct 2009 | 10:51 pm

  Data centers are not the first thing that comes to mind when thinking about green business, but that is changing with the increasing presence of data centers located in Stockholm, Sweden. Stockholm offers an almost perfect data center location because it has near zero environmental impact. The use of outside air-cooling year round is a key factor in Stockholm being perfectly suited for a data center of any size. With cooling systems being a key component to maintaining data centers, no air conditioning is needed to keep the massive computers from over-heating. Stockholm represents a cost…

• Environmentally Friendly Events

  robertludvig

  27 Oct 2009 | 12:52 pm

  It never seizes to amaze me the amazing ideas people come up with in terms of creating unique green businesses. I recently came across a green business that is an original. The green business I am referring to sells eco-friendly products to throw  sustainable parties for large and small groups. How smart is that? The name of the company is Sustainable Party and they help you create environmentally friendly and socially responsible events of all sizes. Sustainable party sells compostable cups and other environmentally friendly products that anyone would need to throw a ‘green’…

• Environmental Protection Agency’s Energy Star

  robertludvig

  25 Oct 2009 | 8:54 am

  The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) created a program called Energy Star to help reduce energy use. The Energy Star website is a vast online resource that offers a wealth of information  to help everyone create a more environmentally friendly workplace. The site also offers tips and tricks to help your business become more energy efficient. Their spokesperson, Danny Seo, takes you on a video tour of an Energy Star program building. He shows you how to make small changes in your business or workplace to make it more green and leave a smaller negative impact on the…

• Green Business Certification in Santa Monica

  robertludvig

  21 Oct 2009 | 5:03 pm

  The City of Santa Monica is doing everything it can to help its citizens go green with the Santa Monica Office of Sustainability and the Environment’s website. Some of the areas the website covers are: buying green, education, energy, green building and hazardous materials. A superb idea and amazing resource from a city offering indispensable and helpful information. There are no more excuses for the average home and business owner not to make a transition to become cleaner and greener. An extension of this amazing website is the part that is dedicated to green business programs offered…

• 
  GreenerBuildings

• Greenbuild 2009 Blazes a Trail to the Southwest

  Leslie Guevarra

  6 Nov 2009 | 7:25 am

  More than 20,000 building and sustainability professionals are heading to Arizona where the U.S. Green Building Council’s annual Greenbuild convention, the world’s largest green building conference and expo, opens next week at the Phoenix Convention Center.

• The Phoenix Convention Center's Green Pedigree

  GreenerBuildings Staff

  6 Nov 2009 | 7:15 am

  The city of Phoenix's revamped LEED-Silver certified convention center will serve as an appropriate backdrop next week for Greenbuild 2009, the vast showcase for green building innovations and ideas.

• New AIA Contracts Offer Tools for Integrated Design to All Developers

  GreenerBuildings Staff

  6 Nov 2009 | 4:41 am

  The release this week of a new contract developed by the American Institute of Architects aims to help bring a collaborative effort to building construction and enable integrated design in buildings of all sizes.

• YKK Boosts Green Product Line with Window Additions to enerGfacade Line

  GreenerBuildings Staff

  6 Nov 2009 | 2:59 am

  Just in advance of the Greenbuild conference, YKK AP America this week unveiled a new aluminum window designed to boost energy efficiency by as much as 30 percent over standard windows.

• Greenbuild 2009 Job Fair: USGBC Offers Job Seekers a Lifeline

  Leslie Guevarra

  5 Nov 2009 | 5:05 pm

  Job hunters seeking to break into the green building field or looking for new opportunities will have a chance network with destination companies and organizations at the upcoming Greenbuild 2009 conference in Phoenix, where the U.S. Green Building Council will conduct the first job fair at its annual gathering.