It's back to school time...There's no more appropriate place to show up in green than your local educational institution. Yeah, this year green fashion and stationaries are going to spread like like wildwire throughout grade schools, high schools and colleges across the nation.
The following article sub-titled, From Green Schools to Healthy Lunches, School Supplies and More will help you and your loved ones get a head start this fall.
Guest post by Brian Clark Howard, The Daily Green
Although we now have (debatably) decent boxed wine, screw tops and machine-printed customized bottle labeling, the ancient art of winemaking hasn't really changed a whole lot through the centuries. However, among the most exciting developments in recent years are the rapidly growing areas of organic and biodynamic wines.
As it turns out that grapes are actually among the most pesticide-laden produce. In California, for example, where 90 percent of domestic wines are produced, grapes receive more pesticides than any other crop: 59 million pounds in 1995 alone, according to Californians for Pesticide Reform. It is no wonder more and more concerned folks are filling their glasses more often with organic wine.
What does that mean? It means more sustainable farming, without synthetic pesticides and fertilizers. Luckily, while not perfect, USDA organic seals do indicate a set of rigorous standards — even if they aren't always obvious to understand. "100% organic" wine carries the USDA seal, and must be made from 100% organically grown ingredients, monitored throughout the entire production process. This wine can contain only naturally occurring sulfites (or sulfur dioxide, an antimicrobial substance) in less than 100 parts per million (ppm).
So-called "organic" wine must contain 95% organically grown ingredients (the other 5% must not be available organically). As with the previous category the certifying agency must be listed and the wine has the same sulfite requirements. A wine can also be labeled "Made with Organic Grapes" or "Made with Organic Ingredients," in which case the beverage must contain at least 70% organic ingredients. It can have artificial sulfites added, but it may not contain more than 100 ppm. (It does not have the USDA organic seal.)
In addition, the emerging sector of biodynamic wine has been turning the heads of critics and winning over fans for some time. Biodynamic agriculture is based on the precise observation and an attempt at balance of nature, a concept originated by the early 20th-century Austrian philosopher Rudolf Steiner.
This means biodynamic wine is not only 100% organic, but its producers have gone further to try to bring the farming process more closely in tune with nature. For instance, biodynamic wine growers may make their own compost and/or watch the stars and planets to time what they do.
The good news is that organic and biodynamic wines are becoming much more widely available, as well as reasonably priced. You can find them at better restaurants, large wine shops and liquor stores and at a growing number of vineyards. (There's even an organic wine of the month club!) Also check out these 6 organic and biodynamic wines great for summer.
If the past few years are anything to go on, it seems likely that eco-friendly wines will continue to mature and diversify. They are slowly beginning to win over even the most traditional chefs, sommeliers and critics. A number of vineyards are also stepping up recycling, installing wind turbines and solar panels, reusing waste and other green initiatives, so it's an exciting time.
You've probably heard that wine, in moderation, can have many benefits, from reducing stress and risk of heart disease to possibly providing some defense against cancer. By reaching for organic and biodynamic, you'll be toasting to the health of farm workers (who don't have to work with toxic pesticides), as well as wildlife and the environment. Cheers!
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From EcoGeek
"Dell is showing off what may be one of the most mainstream, eco-friendly computers to date. It also looks really damm cool. It's called the Dell Studio Hybrid and it starts with a cost of around $500. You may have seen an early design concept of that featured before.
The Dell Studio Hybrid, available now, is about the size of a collegiate dictionary, according to Dell. It is also said to be the computer manufacturer's greenest PC to date. Highlights in this particular area include the aforementioned small form factor, making it around 80 percent smaller than standard desktops, packaging made from mostly recyclable materials and, most importantly, using reportedly 70 percent less power than a typical desktop. It is also said to meet Energy Star 4 requirements with a very efficient power supply.
The PC, which can be set in vertical or horizontal orientations, comes with a choice of interchangeable external finishes. This includes a bamboo look, which would go nicely with your new, eco-friendly SimpleTech Drive.
Technical aspects of the Studio Hybrid can include, depending upon the configuration, an Intel Core 2 Duo processor, digital/analog TV tuner, HDMI port, Wi-Fi and a Blu-ray Disc drive. You also have access, as an option, to a Dell online backup service."
From EcoGeek
With everyone and their mother jumping onto the green bandwagon, we’re bound to have a whole bunch of non-sustainable junk items pawned off as “green” by the loosest of standards, and a whole bunch of greenwashing. It’s something we have to be wary of and keep a diligent eye out for posers. An art project, “Subverting the Green Aesthetic,” helps us remember this and gives us a few IDing skills.
Creator Nick Bampton is a design student in Middlesex who encourages people to take a closer look at green labels through his project of pairing green and un-green products with graphics that show there is more than meets the eye when it comes to the details of so-called green products. For instance, he shows two MP3 players, one that looks like it has sustainability on the brain, but in actually can’t be recycled, can’t be upgraded, and toxic substances are used in its manufacturing. The other MP3 player looks sleek in a non-sustainable way, but is more durable, can be upgraded, and recycled.
We seriously dig this here at EcoGeek, since one of the greenest things to do is make what you have last as long as possible, and if you have to get rid of it, recycle. Gadgets that are made to be unfixable or disposable – especially when they’re supposedly “green” or from a “green” company – are just completely uncool and are the essence of greenwashing.
Bampton pulls the same comparison trick with a pair of chairs and several other objects. This kind of project is a good reminder that there are a whole slew of factors that go into evaluating the sustainability of products that claim a green lineage.
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From Ecorazzi
Admit it. You know Heidi Klum’s Project Runway Season 5 is set to air on Wednesday. You pretended you didn’t watch the last four seasons. But you don’t have to hide anymore.
The 5th Season includes among its budding designers Leanne Marshall, of Portland, Oregon. Her line, Leanimal, integrates eco-friendly materials like hemp, bamboo and organic cottons. Marshall claims she uses eco-friendly materials on about a 50-50 basis, but tells VenusZine, “I would like it to be greater than that eventually.”
So would we. But until then, you’ve given us our first person to root for tomorrow night. Not that we watch.
via The Oregonian
Alli is an event planner, social media enthusiast and editor at www.nextgenerationevent.com, which focuses on enviro-conscious and tech-forward events.
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It’s no mystery, people are going green -- and that means that more and more people are transitioning from traditional products to earth-friendly alternatives. But, is it possible to make the switch to sustainable goods without sacrificing comfort and affordability? EcoGeekLiving says yes!
Founded by two female ecopreneurs, EcoGeekLiving is an online retailer for a collection of extremely useful green goods, gadgets and gifts. Offering a variety of eco friendly products from categories like “Crank Flashlights,” “Flexible Solar Panels,” and “Eco-Friendly Fitness” to “Creative Learning Toys” promising to teach children sustainability while making it fun. They even sell solar Christmas lights which I had yet to see, making so much sense and it’s a no-brainer as to how much money they’ll save on the electricity bill.
I was impressed by their clean interface as well as the capability for customers to post product reviews below each product description. I also really enjoyed being able to search Gifts by recipient (i.e. Gifts for Yoga Lovers, Gifts for Teens, etc.)
Their top seller, the Shake LED Flashlight, neither requires batteries nor wires, simply 60 seconds of shaking for 30 minutes of light. You’ve got to love that and it's a good thing my birthday is just around the corner! On sale for $19.95, I think this flashlight would make the perfect gift for just about every eco geek out there. compared to some of their competitor's flashlights, the Shake LED Flashlight boasts the longest run-time (with 60 seconds shaking) and probably due to the fact that it contains 3 LED bulbs versus one.
All together I believe that EcoGeekLiving has a unique product line consisting of a variety of highly useful and sustainable gadgets that not only succeed in replacing our traditional products, but encourage us to live a more fulfilling eco-conscious lifestyle.
From Treehugger
Victorian Bedcurtains are back, as Sun Frost introduces the Sleep Genie, a tiny air conditioner just big enough to keep you comfy while you sleep in your insulated bedchamber. They note that it runs at 72 Watts, and can be powered by a 280 watt solar array. It is so logical, to reduce the load to reasonable amounts for solar simply by reducing the area cooled to the minimum. ::Sunfrost
But as Allison Arrieff says in the New York Times: "Great. You may be cooler, but now you’re claustrophobic." She continues: "its execution speaks to a larger issue: a general lack of innovation. Instead of re-imagining what an air conditioner could be (something portable, something that took a different form, something that ran on an alternative energy source), they simply took the existing form and shrank it."
She concludes with a challenge: "Home designs that neglect to address things like natural light and ventilation are not contributing to quality of life, let alone reducing heating and cooling costs.... for housing, the challenges are formidable, yet a quick look back to vernacular precedents like shotgun houses that encourage ventilation, and window orientation that encourages passive heating and cooling, would help point things in the right direction.
What is everyone waiting for?
TreeHugger has been looking for the holy grail of AC, the solar powered air conditioner, for a number of years. It is getting very close to commercial viability; we will be showing a few new units shortly. Here are some past AC innovations that caught our eye:
Some concepts just make sense- like when the developer of a solar powered pontoon boat pointed out-"Since most recreational boating is done when the weather is nice, solar power is particularly well adapted to the task." We were thinking that way while looking for a solar powered air conditioner- when do you need it? When it is hot and sunny.::Solar Powered Air Conditioning Just Makes Sense
Anybody in North America can understand the need for solar powered air conditioning today- there is so much sun, so much heat and everyone is hiding inside while all of our electric utiilities go into overload. Solar Powered Air Conditioning Getting Real
Now it looks like a Spanish company, Rotartica, has put it all together, by combining evacuated tube thermal collectors with a water-heated absorption chiller, and sized it at 4.5Kw (1.28 tons) for residential use, all packaged in a neat little box. Small-Scale Solar Powered Air Conditioning Is Here
Until central air became common, Florida and Arizona were barely habitable- you went in winter and cleared out. Now 20% of our energy goes to power air conditioning, and it defines the peak loads. 5.5% of our gasoline goes to power our car air conditioning, and four southern states-California, Arizona, Texas and Florida, account for 35% of it. Clearly if we are going to use less energy we have to address this problem. Challenge: Build the Solar Powered Air Conditioner
The approach of warm weather has reminded us of Coolerado Coolers, a low energy air conditioning unit that delivers up to 5 tons of cooling while drawing only 1200 watts, a power load that can easily be handled by a solar installation. It is an evaporative cooler like the desert coolers we have shown before, but unlike most desert coolers, the cool moist air is put through an air-to-air heat exchanger so that the air supplied to the space is cool and dry, which is far more effective at keeping you cool. Coolerado Coolers: Getting Close to Solar Powered Air Conditioning
Every old power plant that can crank out a kilowatt is working overtime, burning coal and gas like mad, shuffling power all over a grid that is on the verge of collapse. Time to look again at a post John did in cooler times a year ago, for an idea whose time has really come. The Ice Bear connects up to a conventional air conditioning system, but uses it to make ice at night when the power is cheap and melts all day to keep you cool. Each unit can take 5 to 10 tons of cooling off the peak load. Ice Bear: Thermal Storage for Cheaper AC
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From Garden Mandy
Creating a garden can be an elaborate, expensive venture. When it comes to gardening, if you can imagine it, you can create it. However, not everyone has a large expense account for their garden. Luckily, you don’t need a lot of money to grow your own vegetables. Here are few tips for gardeners on a budget:
Making compost is easy and you have all the supplies you need with your kitchen waste.
While it may be tempting to purchase a tomato plant that has already begun to produce, it will cost you 3-5 times as much as a packet of organic seeds will cost.
These little guys do all the nutrient work for you. Best of all, you can usually find them all over your yard for free.
Squash, carrots, peas, and tomatoes are all fast easy crops to grow and they produce a lot. Here are some more easy vegetables to grow organically.
Don’t let any of your crop go to waste. You can easily can or freeze everything to continue to feed your family throughout the winter. I can’t tell you how great a little strawberry jam or tomato sauce from your garden tastes in the middle of December.
While gardening can be expensive, it doesn’t have to be. You just need to stick to a few rules to ensure that you produce as many vegetables as you can on a budget.
