Owner: Eco | Centric URL:http://eco-centric.blogspot.com Join Date: Mon, 05 Mar 2007 23:39:53 -0600 Rating:0 Site Description: A place where environmentally conscious people can come to read, post and discuss the latest in all things green Site statistics:Click here
Green is beautiful 2007-03-08 17:48:00 Thanks to Hyundai, there may be a tight set of wheels made from what you throw in the recycling bin on the road by 2008. The new QarmaQ, a concept car, uses recycled polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic bottles to create a large portion of the vehicle's skin. It also uses "less paint and other chemicals that create massive amounts of greenhouse gases."Read more about this lean green machine » Read more:Green
Domo arigato for recycling 2007-03-08 06:26:00 Kilroy would be proud of present day Japan and their efforts to curb waste. Although, as I'm finding out, it's not an unqualified success by any means.When I went to Japan in May 2006, there were two things that jumped out at me when it came time to chuck my trash - one was the distinction made between "combustible" and "non-combustible" garbage (where does my dental floss go, dude?) and the other was that when I actually had something to chuck, there were no trash cans to be found. Recycling bins, yes. Trash cans, no. How many bags of trash did I carry around for those two weeks? Too many.As one would expect from a culture known for being meticulous and orderly, this is all part of the grand design to raise awareness and, ostensibly, reduce waste. In a country of limited area and high population density, effective waste reduction is especially important.Unfortunately, waste reduction initiatives are making little headway, due partly to prolific consumerism, partly to a culture that
Eco-buildings go green from top to bottom...and sides 2007-03-06 18:40:00 Don't worry if you don't have a front or back yard, now they're growing green stuff on the roof and walls. Vegetated roofs, a practice that has been common in central Europe for some time, may be coming to the colonies in the not too distant future.More about green building surfaces from Green Options »
Growing sunflowers from cell phones 2007-03-06 06:03:00 "Scientists and manufacturers are currently looking at ways of designing phones that are better for the environment, and some of their ideas on display here include circuit boards made from chicken feathers and phones featuring new smart metals that take themselves apart for recycling. However, the aforementioned sunflower phone is one of the stars of the show. Its prototype cover with implanted sunflower seed allows the sunflower to grow, getting its additional nutrients from the biodegrading phone cover."Read the rest of the article at 24 Hour Museum » Read more:Growing
No recount for Al 2007-03-04 23:24:00 I spent Saturday night watching the doomsday feature An Inconvenient Truth (AIT). It's an understatement to say that there is considerable social and political inertia to overcome in tackling any of the problems it presents. It seems like we've been at the moment of "something has to happen now" for a long time.I was surprised and impressed with AIT's sophisticated presentation, considering how often I've heard to it referred to as a glorified Powerpoint presentation. Armed with two flat panel TVs and a large rear projection screen, Al Gore elaborates on the gathering intensity of many environmental phenomena, such as coral bleaching, hurricanes, glacial melting, the spread of disease vectors and the disruption of niche ecosystems. The ties to global warming, for me, are compelling.It's all heavy stuff and, to a European friend I watched it with, mostly scaremongering. There are a couple personal vignettes relating to family and how it's impacted Gore's view of the environment w
Crossing the threshhold 2007-03-04 19:52:00 First, a greeting from post #1. I hope, with your help, I can begin to make this blog a robust discussion on green issues, product development, community news, etc. As my description to the right implies, I am NOT an expert. I am someone who cares and am learning, right along with everyone else, what our impact on this planet is and will be. I look forward to spreading the word and learning things from you...whoever and wherever you are.It's great to see that so many people are becoming aware of green issues and that there is an enthusiasm about making changes in the way we live and our relationship with everything around us. It's clear, and maybe too obvious, to say that the recent success of the movie An Inconvenient Truth has provided a large spotlight on the issue of Global Warming and, by association, issues of sustainability. But that is the tip of a melting iceberg.We need to keep talking about the issues and not let them get lost in the next news cycle. It's time to think ab Read more:Crossing
U.S. to import beef from Saudi Arabia 2007-03-10 02:12:00 Not really, but can you imagine the scenario we're facing now - "Strong demand for corn from ethanol plants is driving up the cost of livestock and will raise prices for beef, pork and chicken, the Agriculture Department said Friday." I can't help but suspect that the spike in demand for corn at this moment is due to political pressure, instead of well-considered industry growth. So, we'll pay less for ethanol and more for kung pao chicken, albeit with some extra energy independence thrown in for good measure (theoretically).I'm all for alternative energy but, please, let's do the right thing by doing it the right way and not throwing other industries into disarray. Especially in light of the fact that there are only thirty one 2007 model cars equipped to use it and considerably more infrastructure that needs to be put in place.Ok, let's say you have one of these thirty one models, or perhaps an older model car that is compliant; here's a resource to locate your nearest E85 stat Read more:Saudi
, Arabia
Drunk on Ethanol 2007-03-10 17:54:00 Here's a good rundown from PlanetSave on the spectrum of issues surrounding Ethanol and it's benefits (or lack thereof) relative to fossil fuel.
GM food, GE food, frankenfood, whatever 2007-03-12 04:08:00 If you ever wondered what the big deal is about genetically modified food, this movie is here to tell you. The big villain here, although undoubtedly not the only one, is Monsanto, the world's leading producer of the herbicide glyphosate, marketed as its flagship product, Roundup. Monsanto is also the leading producer of genetically engineered (GE) seed and the largest conventional seed company in the world.This movie gives a very thorough accounting of the legal, medical and political nexus by which we are all getting the shaft; foods not being properly tested by the EPA, the ability of one company to gain a virtual monopoly over the basis of our entire food chain, the patenting of life and the infiltration of government at the highest levels by unscrupulous representatives of an industry (if there is, in fact, any other kind).Monsanto is the same fine company that produces rBGH, otherwise known as bovine growth hormone, and has introduced a host of other "innovations" into the worl Read more:whatever
When it comes to Global Warming, consider the source 2007-03-12 16:55:00 An article sent by a friend reinforces the memorable mantra from the movie All The President's Men: Follow the money. The money always leads you to the rats. The article in question involves a scientist, Timothy Ball, who claims to be receiving death threats for rejecting human responsibility in Global
Warming. People kill for a lot of things, most notably for passion or money. In this case, I had to ask myself who might stand to gain from silencing him, and why, because it really didn't make sense.If we follow the money, in the case of Global Warming
, the players who stand to gain the most from the status quo are those currently making the most money from it. We know who those are right? Prominently, big oil, but basically anyone with ties to the fossil fuel industrial complex. Timothy Ball happens to be one of those people, as evidenced by his association with the Natural Resources Stewardship Project and Friends of Science, among other organizations known for having ties to energy Read more:comes
CFLs don't go in the circular file 2007-03-15 07:03:00 By now, most of us are familiar with the benefits of compact flourescent bulbs; CFLs use at least two-thirds less energy than standard incandescent bulbs and last up to 10 times longer. However, in the stampede to convert to a more efficient light sources, one feature of CFLs was overlooked - small amounts of mercury in each bulb. You may have heard that mercury ain't too good for you. In fact, Mercury is a potent neurotoxin, and it's especially dangerous for children and fetuses. Combine this with the fact that the bulbs are likely to break en route to a landfill and it becomes clear that there is a significant environmental risk with conventional disposal.CFLs can be recycled but, unfortunately, not a lot of instructure is in place to do so. Even cities that have curbside recycling won't take the bulbs. For the time being, the only major retailer that's recycling them is IKEA, while there are talks going on with Wal-Mart and, potentially, legislation in the works to reduce the am
When it comes to the hybrid tax credit, 2+2 = 5 2007-03-17 22:55:00 Note: This post was submitted by Jesse Rubin, host of the San Diego chapter of Drinking LiberallyWhen is a tax credit
not a tax credit? When you make too much but not enough, even though the tax credit criteria is clearly stated and has nothing to do with income. Scratching your head on that one? Me too.Back in 2006 I was in the market for a new car. I wanted a hybrid but didn't like the cars I'd seen. I wanted a regular looking car with great gas mileage. In early 2006, Toyota released their new Camry. There were the typical models of the car but they also released a hybrid version. I found a dealer here in San Diego that would only charge me the sticker price. While researching the car I found that the government, the same people who pulled out of the Kyoto Protocol, (up until recently) deny the impact humans have on Global Warming and openly subsidize big oil were actually promoting incentives for those who buying energy efficient green cars in the form of tax credits. I repeat, a Read more:comes
Last call for oil 2007-03-19 05:03:00 Isn't it always confusing how gas prices bounce around and either there's a surplus of oil or a shortfall and no one really seems to know what the hell is going on? Is anyone being straight with the general public? The movie The End of Suburbia clears away all the political tentacles to discuss the overall outlook for our oil-based society.The bottom line is we're screwed.No, not necessarily, but what the movie does succintly demonstrate is that this society we've built, on an "empire" of cheap oil, will soon face the social, economic and political ramifications of a dwindling essential resource. If not managed correctly, there is clearly the potential for widespread unrest, otherwise known as "all hell breaking loose."And this is not political posturing and no one is overtly representing a political point of view in the movie. It's based on simple geological fact - oil production over time can be represented as a bell curve, with extraction starting slowly and ramping up to a pea
MPG is not an accurate measure of environmental correctness 2007-03-21 22:45:00 Note: This post was contributed by an anonymous friend in the blogosphereNew Rule: If you want to talk about your commitment to the environment, and your contribution to the reduction in foreign oil dependence, then tell me how many GALLONS PER WEEK (GPW) you use, not how many MILES PER GALLON your car gets.GPW is easy to calculate, and anyone who uses more than 8 gallons per week* (GPW), regardless of what car they drive, can stop considering themselves to be green.I'm tired of hearing people tell me they bought a hybrid and have halved their gas consumption. Well how does that shape up to my V8 jeep? It does an average of 2 Gallons/Week!"Ah ha", you say, "if you had a more efficient vehicle that could be 1 gallon/week," to which I reply, "Get a bike."See, here's something weird. Educated people all over the world have woken up to the fact that eating McDonalds is bad for you - so they eat something healthy instead. These same educated people, realizing that using gas is bad for the Read more:environmental
, correctness
You can lead a horse to water... 2007-03-21 06:35:00 Now how do you get him to invest in water
conservation technology? In my online wanderings, I've uncovered a plethora of enviro-sites selling, informing and discussing all things green. For those who'd like to make eco-conscious changes in their lives, no matter how incremental, options abound. So what are the obstacles to investment in a greener lifestyle? I'm talking specifically about how people are using their purchasing power.After said wanderings and several brain cramps, here's what I've got so far:The absence of an overarching Green rating systemThere are some standards out there, the most successful of which are the Energy Star for light bulbs and the LEED certification for interior design. There are some others out there for general products, such as Green Seal, but it currently lacks the authority and legitimacy to become the standard for the industry. Without a standard, people are often unsure of a product's authenticity and are unlikely to make a commitment with the
Going electric 2007-03-26 17:52:00 I watched Who Killed the Electric Car a couple weeks ago but I wasn't sure I had any great insights. I was totally unaware that the EV1, the fully electric car manufactured by GM, was on the road between 1997 and 2003/2004. Where was I?In a free market society like ours, there's always the debate about government intervention vs. market forces driving innovation and, one would hope to some degree, public good. The EV1 story is a potent case study supporting the argument for government to enact and stand by socially responsible legislation. If you watch the movie, you realize that the drivers of the EV1 are not tree-hugging kooks but people who genuinely enjoy driving the car. They're also evangelists for the car/brand, so for GM to say that there was not enough demand is to understate the potential for word of mouth that existed. One has to wonder, although not that hard, what other "free market" forces were at work in the fate of the EV1.Watching the movie also made me curious abou Read more:Going
The Green Rush 2007-03-27 22:24:00 Companies big and small are scrambling to make money from the 'Green
Rush' sparked by climate change. Corporate giants are waking up to the fact that it can be profitable to change their old polluting ways while a new generation of eco-entrepreneurs are also staking their place in the market.
Bubble, bubble, toil and trouble...a clean cure for dirty pipes 2007-03-30 07:09:00 This handy dandy tip reposted from ApartmentTherapy.comBaking soda and vinegar are always in the kitchen and produce a remarkable chemical reaction that will clear out whatever's in the way when used with hot water and a plunger.This really works, the only caveat being that you have to do it more often than with commercial drain cleaners. But you'll save yourself from using the highly toxic Drain-O stuff that really doesn't do a perfect job AND contaminates your home. Of course, the best thing to unclog a drain is a plumbing snake, but that's for another day.The basic directions are...1. Get as much water out of the area as possible2. Pour 1/2 cup of baking soda down the drain3. Follow with 1 cup of HOT white vinegar4. Wait 10 minutes or until it stops bubbling and wash with boiling water5. Use a plunger if necessaryGeneral consensus seems to be that the vinegar and baking soda can be left in for any length of time, and that the hot water really makes a difference. Read more:dirty
, pipes
Raking carbon over the coals 2007-04-03 06:49:00 Poor carbon...who knew one element could cause so much trouble! I think carbon should become one of those Successory posters that are so easily mocked. It might be something like:CARBONGood things come in small packagesthat can't be burnedOr something like that.The following clip discusses more constructive alternatives being explored to deal with our naughty little carbon "problem," including CO2 sequestration, coal gasification and carbon cap and trading. You'll be hearing a lot more about these in the future, so check out the video and get your energy chic on.
The cost of being Green 2007-04-06 23:41:00 With consumer awareness of green issues increasing every day, there is greater pressure on manufacturers to become innovative in order to provide more cost-effective green options to the average consumer. However, cost effective does not necessarily mean equivalent pricing to what's already on the market. Creating a truly green marketplace will require a shift in thinking that stands in opposition to the current paradigm, which focuses squarely and singularly on the immediate impact to the wallet.If we concede that the "cost" of a product on the shelf involves much more than a dollar amount at the point of sale, we have to start thinking about the impact of a product over its entire life span, from "cradle to grave." This sort of analysis, in use since the 60's, is known as life-cycle cost analysis.Life-cycle cost analysis typically incorporates the following phases of a product's existence:Planning,R&D,Production,Operation,Maintenance,Cost of replacement,Disposal or salvageWhile ma Read more:Green
The ecology of golf 2007-04-13 16:30:00 When one thinks of a golf course, it often conjures the image of a benign oasis. However, over the years, there's been a greater consciousness of golf's impact to the environment. Specifically, it's impact on water resources, species biodiversity, and the use of pesticides. After doing a little research, I was encouraged to see that there has been a shift to the use of reclaimed water and, depending on the habitat the course is replacing, occasionally an increase in biodiversity. However, all courses are not made the same and their impact is highly dependant on how they're managed.The following video on R&A's website, called The Open Road to Sustainability, recounts efforts to maintain the sustainability of the Royal Liverpool Golf Course. However, R&A is golf's world rules and development body and organizer of The Open Championship, so take it for what it's worth.
Taking the green lead 2007-04-22 18:29:00 It's convenient to have a scorecard in the game of politics. The April 16 edition of Newsweek, titled "Leadership and the Environment," sizes up the Presidential candidates and provides just that. Naturally, this only represents Democrats and Republicans, ironically excluding "alternative choices" in the realm of politics. However, it's instructive to see how the frontrunners are leading by example and what their agenda would be if elected.Today, I'm covering the Democrats.Hillary ClintonWhat she's done: A member of the environment committeee, she voted for a 2003 bill (and cosponsored McCain's bill this session) that would've capped greenhouse gas emissions.What she'll do: Has proposed eliminating tax breaks for oil companies (and using that money to invest in alternative energy) and quadrupling the existing tax break for hybrid car owners.How Green is she? The Clintons are redoing their entire home for maximum energy efficiency, hiring consultants to come up with greener light Read more:Taking
Black gold goes green 2007-04-27 08:09:00 I want to thank those who have made some comments here so far and made me feel just a little less alone...sniff sniff. Seriously though, it feels great when someone says they're following my posts and even better when they take the time to share their thoughts and experiences.Some highlights from the comments I've had thus far:According to Jimmy in Redmond, Martha Stewart knows a little something about worm poop and its benefit to plants.Akemi in Tokyo laments that fact that Japanese politicians don't exactly walk the walk of eco-consciousness.An anonymous reader also got hosed by the "quirky" hybrid tax credit guidelines.What's going on in your part of the world? Read more:Black
Who is Joel Makower? 2007-04-26 05:48:00 I don't know who Joel is but, man, he's got some astute readers. The comments on this article provide more insights than most articles I've read. The article itself delves into the gap between the principles and buying habits of the green consumer, which I also addressed previously. From there, the comments take the discussion into strange and wonderous lands of eco thinking and anecdote.(Actually, I lied. I now know that Joel is the executive editor of Greenbiz.com)
Interview with an Eco Entrepreneur 2007-04-25 14:17:00 As some of you know, I'm enrolled in a small business class at a local community college. One of our assignments is to interview someone in an industry of interest. I was lucky to find Maureen O'Connor, queen bee at AlternativeConsumer.com, who generously fielded some questions via email about her business and the state of green commerce in general.The AlternativeConsumer.com home page features all kinds of interesting green services and products, like a furry, huggable, lamp, mixed with the day's grab bag of environmental headlines. The best part is that each story has a big attractive picture so you can see exactly what they're talking about. I'm not much of a sales guy but this site is really easy to pimp because they have such cool stuff.Without further ado...Why did you decide to start a business of this kind?I've always had an interest in environmental issues, and healthy lifestyle choices. I’m a devout recycler, as well as organic food and yoga junkie. After seeing "An I Read more:Entrepreneur
My eco report card 2007-04-24 04:19:00 Everywhere I go, I hear about green things. I don't know if it's because my focus has shifted more green over the last couple months, or if there is something really happening (or both). All kinds of people are bringing news articles to my attention and becoming aware of alternatives to what has been the norm for so long now. However, I believe it's a tranformative process and the goal is to not become a saint, especially not overnight. One day you have a thought to do something different and then a week later you do it; then you do it more often and eventually it becomes a habit.In that light, and in the spirit of full disclosure, I'm laying out my personal progress report
and hope that some of you brave souls reading this will do the same in the comments area. This by no means represents my expectations of others. It's all about sharing ideas of ways to make a difference.What I'm doingRecycling plastic, glass and paper Carpooling whenever possible Riding my bike/walking wheneve
Taking the green lead, pt. II 2007-04-23 15:39:00 While this is not intended to be a political blog, it's hard not to have "good guys" and "bad guys" when one party has such a poor commitment to and record on the environment. That's right, we're talking about the Grand Old Party here - Republicans for those outside American borders. What would be nice would be if they followed the lead of some of their religious consituency, who now understand that they have a responsibility to protect God's creations.Now for something wholly uninspiring...Rudy GiulianiWhat he's done: Pushed energy efficiency for public buildings in N.Y.C.; approved plan to convert city buses to run on natural gas; acquired and renovated more than 2,000 acres of parkland.What he'll do: Plans to restore "conservation [as] a conservative value," but hasn't proposed any policy. Sees global warming as a threat, but warns against antibusiness policies.How green is he? His campaign declined to answer. (This just in...Giuliani has verified his personal commitment to g Read more:Taking
John Mayer, my hero 2007-04-28 05:07:00 I'm just going to say it upfront - John Mayer
is being a dumb ass.Generally, I don't take exception to entertainment figures pontificating on subjects outside of their core competencies, especially since most of them are liberal. However, John Mayer
has offended my delicate sensibilities with his inane "approach" to going green. He calls it going "light green:""When it comes to this issue [global warming], we've been given only two sides to pick from: side one says the future of global warming does not present a doomsday scenario, almost chuckling the matter aside. Side two says it is a dire issue (which it is), and then goes on to inundate side one with so many separate nakedly-scientific points that they make naivete' seem cozy by comparison.So here I am, introducing a third side. A laid-back, panic free approach to environmentalism. One that believes the message of 'An Inconvenient Truth' is sound, but that it's an incredibly un-fun name for a movie. A side free from the cry
Four out of five pandas agree... 2007-05-02 08:42:00 ...you should be snacking on bamboo.I just got back from a Ralph's run and they're now stocking Bambu brand ("Bamboo products from Bambu") dinner wear, including plates (excuse me, Verneerware), utensils and some cutting boards. I didn't even think to compare prices against paper and plastic, but I'll update this post with that information later. I thought they looked pretty nice and whole lot classier than their less sustainable counterparts. My only issue is that the Bambu website says the plates are intended for single use, despite the fact that they appear sturdy enough to endure repeated use. Even in the magic green fairy land, consumption is king.I thought it would be fun to play "spot the eco-brand." Have you been noticing a green creep into your local chain retailer? I think that if people know that these things can be found where they're already shopping, they're a lot more likely to give them a try. At the very least, it raises awareness that those products are availabl
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