House OKs $6.4 billion to make schools greener
May 15, 2009
The House on Thursday passed a $6.4 billion school modernization bill that would commit funds for the construction and update of more energy-efficient school buildings.
The measure passed 275-155 in a largely party-line vote, and will now move to the Senate for further review. READ MORE
Chicago Bans Baby Bottles With BPA Plastic
May 14, 2009
The Chicago City Council on Wednesday unanimously adopted a measure making Chicago the nation’s first city to ban the sale of baby bottles and sippy cups manufactured with a chemical that some studies have linked to disease.
Passage was driven by what officials here call federal regulators’ failure to take action on a grave public health issue. READ MORE
Stadium in Taiwan Almost Completely Covered in Solar Panels
May 13, 2009
We love solar power, we really do, but sometimes wonder if these things are not used for architectural effect rather than real power generation. The new World Games stadium in Kaohsiung, Taiwan is just about completely covered in photovoltaics, to very dramatic effect. The 55,000 seat stadium is designed by Japanese great Toyo Ito, and the panels can supply "one million kilowatts of electricity per year." (I know, that makes little sense, it is a quote.) READ MORE
Chinese Exercise Balls That Kinetically Charge Your Batteries
May 12, 2009
Inspired by Chinese baoding balls, Shanghai designer Jiang Qian has created a kinetic charger concept that juices up your batteries all while fixing that pesky carpal tunnel.
The aptly named Roll Charger harnesses energy from the ball's motion. It converts that kinetic energy into electricity. That electricity is then used to charge a single battery within the ball. READ MORE
Drought, Politics Trouble Farmers In California
May 11, 2009
California is in its third year of drought, and many farmers in the state's crop-rich Central Valley are looking at dusty fields, or worse, are cutting down their orchards before the trees die.
Hardest hit is Westlands, the biggest irrigated region in the country, where much of the nation's fruit, nuts and produce come from. This year, farmers have been told they are getting only a small fraction of the water they need. READ MORE
Scientists expecting massive iceberg from glacier crack
May 10, 2009
A massive iceberg with enough freshwater in it to fill Sydney Harbour 135 times over is about to break off the Mertz glacier in Antarctica.
The iceberg will be 75 kilometres long and contains 750,000 gigalitres of ice which is apparently quite a lot.
Scientists are not sure if it is a natural event or if global warming is to blame. But a joint Australian and French team hope to find out. READ MORE
Pesticides blamed for some childhood brain cancers
May 8, 2009
Little is known conclusively about what causes brain cancer in children, but research studies are consistently finding links to prebirth pesticide exposure.
A new study finds that children who live in homes where their parents use pesticides are twice as likely to develop brain cancer versus those that live in residences in which no pesticides are used. Herbicide use appeared to cause a particularly elevated risk for a certain type of cancer. READ MORE
Styrofoam to Power Biodiesel Engines
May 7, 2009
Styrofoam used to increase biodiesel power output? That’s what a new study claims. Funded in part by the Department of Defense, the study looked for solutions for trash disposal and power generation under battlefield conditions, where recycling is not usually an option.
The study found that by dissolving polystyrene packing peanuts in biodiesel, scientists can actually increase the power output of the fuel, while finding a solution to disposing of the material at the same time. READ MORE
Some Himalayan Glaciers Growing Despite Warming
May 6, 2009
Perched on the soaring Karakoram mountains in the Western Himalayas, a group of some 230 glaciers are bucking the global warming trend. They're growing.
Throughout much of the Tibetan Plateau, high-altitude glaciers are dwindling in the face of rising temperatures. The situation is potentially dire for the hundreds of millions of people living in China, India and throughout southeast Asia who depend on the glaciers for their water supply. READ MORE
Supreme Court lets Shell off the hook in pollution cleanup
May 5, 2009
California will pay more and companies pay less to clean up a polluted San Joaquin Valley site under a closely watched Supreme Court decision Monday.
Capping an excruciatingly long legal battle, the court by an 8-1 margin limited the liability of two major railroads for chemical spills in the Kern County town of Arvin. The court also absolved Shell of liability for the Arvin site, in a ruling could help restrict corporate liability in other future pollution cases as well.
Would You Live in a House Made of Dung?
April 29, 2009
That is the provocative title in Fast Company, about EcoFaeBrick, made from cow dung. It is 20% lighter and 20% stronger than clay brick, it prevents the environmental damaged caused by digging up clay, reduces carbon emissions and increases the income of local farmers.
Galapagos Penguins Need ‘Condos’ With Global Warming
April 28, 2009
The Galapagos Islands, renowned for rare animals that inspired Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution, may have to create special shelters to save species from global warming and rising sea levels.
Scientists who met there last week decided the indigenous penguin needs “condos” built in cooler, higher areas to nest more safely, Giuseppe Di Carlo, marine climate-change manager at Conservation International, said in an interview. READ MORE
Chicago's South Side to Get Biggest Urban Solar Power Plant in the US
April 27, 2009
Where once there was an abandoned industrial site, soon there shall be the biggest urban solar power plant in the USA. It shakes down like this: $60 million + 33,000 solar panels + 39 acres in the South Side of Chicago + Obama's stimulus = one solid, 10 megawatt producin' solar power plant. And it should be up and running by the end of this year.
Jewelry and Gems Shine Eco-Brighter with Brilliant Earth
March 27, 2009
Is your soon-to-be fiancé eco-chic? As you're getting ready to pop the question and thinking forward to your green wedding, don't overlook the importance of a green engagement ring.
Unethical treatment of workers is a big problem in diamond mining, as is conflict diamonds (also called "blood diamonds" and "war diamonds"), so it's important to know where the diamonds in your jewelry come from. Mining metals and gold in particular is also extremely hard on the environment. Enter Brilliant Earth.
The Country’s Newest Hybrid To Be Raffled By Environmental Champion
March 24,2009
Los Angeles, CA, March 24, 2009 –Liberty Hill, a champion of environmental causes, announced today the launch of its Honda for A Hundred Insight raffle. Liberty Hill will raffle a just-off-the-assembly line, 2010 Honda Insight Hybrid. Ticket sales begin today and end on May 14th, 2009. Honda for A Hundred raffle tickets may be purchased for $100. All proceeds will benefit Liberty Hill’s environmental efforts.
Ending Mountaintop Removal in 2009: Americans from Across the U.S. Ask Congress to Support the Clean Water Protection Act
March 16, 2009
Citizens from across the nation are coming to Washington, D.C. to ask Congress to stop mountaintop removal coal mining by supporting The Clean Water Protection Act (H.R. 1310). Residents from Appalachia who are living with the impacts of mountaintop removal are standing up with Americans from thirty states—from the Carolinas to California, who know that their community has a direct connection to mountaintop removal.
Acid oceans no laughing matter for clownfish
February 5, 2009
Just a few days after 150 marine scientists signed a declaration to draw attention to rising ocean acidity – dubbed "global warming's evil twin" – an international team has reported the first example of the potential for acid seas to directly affect animal behaviour.
When exposed to acidity levels in water similar to those expected by the end of the century, clownfish larvae fail to correctly discriminate between the smells they use to find a reef, according to the new study led by Philip Munday of James Cook University in Townsville, Queensland, Australia. READ MORE
$10,000 Each For Five Eco-Friendly Projects
February 4, 2009
There are people among us who study environmental issues and make a personal commitment to live lightly on the planet -- then go a step further by helping their community get greener as well. They set up recycling programs, weatherize homes, clean up watersheds, plant trees. You know these folks. You've seen them. Maybe you're one of them!
Climate change might be altering waters along US west coast
February 4, 2009
The spectre of an ocean floor littered with dead shellfish, rock fish, sea stars and other marine life off the Oregon coast spurred Mark Snyder, a climate change expert, to investigate whether California's coast faced a similar calamity.
It could, the University of California Santa Cruz earth scientist said, citing climate change, which some scientists believe is responsible for stronger and more persistent winds along the coast. There's no debate that windier conditions drive more upwelling of nutrient-rich deep ocean waters. READ MORE
Take Part in a Twestival (Twitter Festival) for Charity:Water
January 29, 2009
On Thursday, February 12, over 100 cities around the world will be taking part in Twestivals - Twitter festivals - to help raise awareness and funds for a really good cause helping to bring clean, drinkable water to developing nations.
READ ON for how you can Twitter your way to a happier world!
Whole Foods Institutes #5 Recycling
January 28, 2009
Recyclers with good intentions, but no place to go with their yogurt cups and other #5 polypropylene plastics, now have an option.
Starting yesterday, these containers, which are not widely accepted at municipal recycling centers, can be dropped off at select Whole Foods Market (Nasdaq: WFMI) locations in the Midwest, Northeast and Northern California. Whole Foods Market stores in Florida will join the program in mid-February. READ MORE
WWF To Help Fund Creation Of Aquaculture Stewardship Council
January 28, 2009
WASHINGTON, DC – Global standards for responsible seafood farming, which are under development by the Aquaculture Dialogue roundtables, will be managed by a new entity to be co-founded by World Wildlife Fund (WWF).
The new Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) will be responsible for hiring independent, third party auditors to certify farms that are in compliance with the standards. WWF is fully funding the business development phase for the ASC and the business strategy for this new venture, which is expected to be in operation within two years. READ MORE