A new urban commuter concept vehicle – part EV, part bike, part car.  This single person, three-wheeled, electrically assisted, pedal cycle is designed to transport a driver and up to 75 lbs of stuff to their workplace and back.

Designer Michael Scholey’s Emcycle is the size of a big bike – 24” wide x 73” tall x 80” long.  How does it work?  Pedals power the rear wheel like a traditional bicycle through a driver operated infinitely variable constant velocity transmission.  The Emcycle is designed to possess the stability of a tricycle – two front wheels tilt to allow banking around corners and provide increased braking, and stability.

The vehicle has electric front wheel drive with variable assist up to 1000 watts.  It has an estimated top speed of 40mph and 40 mile assisted range.  The Emcycle will feature overnight plug-in home charging and regenerative braking, with separate batteries to power the drive system and ancillary equipment.  The vehicle also features ‘no air – no puncture’ foam filled tires.

The Emcycle will also feature a bunch of car-like amenities including: a fully enclosed body, 2 lockable doors, front and rear lockable luggage compartments, roll over protection, an airbag, 3 point seat belt, adjustable full seat, windshield wiper and washer, front and rear LED lights with a separate LED headlight, directionals and LED brake lights, full instrumentation and battery charge gauge, a flow through filtered ventilation system and heater, disc brakes, reverse gear and side and rear view mirrors.  And hey, it’s been crash tested up to 30mph.

The Emcycle will cost about as much as an expensive electric bike.   Estimated cost: $2000 – $4000 US (prices will can vary depending on options)

If you’d like to spiff-up your desk, check out this Gerboa Desk Caddy made from antique wood, (olde growth pine that was upcycled from floor joists from Philadelphia in the 1800s).  The image of the Gerboa is from an 1885 Victorian animal book; it’s decoupaged onto the wood’s surface.  The caddy measures 6 x 3 x 3 1/4 inches.

From the same artists’ (PegandAwl Etsy shop), I also admire these handsome candle holders which, too are handcrafted from upcycled, reclaimed olde growth pine.  This Smoke Stack is sanded and finished with 100 percent natural tung oil.  The wood block is 8 inch x 2in x 2 inch and features hand poured pure beeswax candle.

Compelled to buy something for your honey for Valentine’s Day?  How about making your expression of affection both a little greener, and a little more elegant by gifting this Fancy Bow Ring made from recycled sterling silver; ($80).

This Brooklyn based designer combines painting, drawing and design to create a variety of jewelry and printed wares from sustainable materials such as vintage, reclaimed metals, organic and recycled fibers.

For a more contemporary take, checkout the Thin B and Two Finger Branch/Twig Ring; ($120).

find @ species by the thousands online shop

In the second installment of Sustainability Spectrum, we hear from Paul David Terry, a musician and teacher living in San Diego.

Paul David Terry is a musician based out of San Diego.  He performs with the San Diego opera, and is the director of the UC San Diego Pepband.  At his home in Hillcrest he grows tomatoes, eggplants, basil, habanero peppers, chocolate mint, beans and “lots of flowers.”

Paul’s shopping list tends to look like this:
1.    Fancy cheeses
2.    All natural cleaners
3.    Non-organic milk
4.    Purple cabbage
5.    Chicken

“I like to reduce the artificial chemicals in my life,” he says about why he tries to buy green cleaning products, but organic is not high on his list of priorities.  “I don’t look for products just because they’re organic.  That’s the last thing I look for, just because the term is so broad based,” he says.  He buys organic not for the principle, but for his own personal health – it’s better on his allergies and the food from his CSA box just tastes better.  (more…)

You can use the snug it! as a shelving or storage unit, room divider or plant stand, or a home for all your funky collectibles.  This geometric shelving unit assembles with 100% aluminum connectors that are readily recyclable.

It can be purchased and built from a variety of eco-friendly woods including:  Douglas Fir from reclaimed bleachers, bamboo, World Mix – reclaimed shipping pallets, or post-consumer reclaimed teak.   Created and designed by Brooklyn’s EcoSystems.

• Hey Detroit…can you spell opportunity? Toyota to Announce Action Soon for Prius Hybrids – yahoo! news
• You gotta believe it’s rising faster in the USA…BBC Poll Shows Climate Skepticism ‘on the rise’ – bbc
• Wild Tigers Numbers in China Declining – enn/reuters
• Hey Saints fans…more good news…Beer May be Good for Your Bones – livescience
• High Above, Insects Travel on Sky Superhighways – npr
• Cool…Video: Vampire Squid Turns ‘Inside Out’ – natgeo
• EU Bioethanol Outlook Brightens, Biodiesel Dims - reuters
• Is this right or wrong? Ohio Strip Club Hosts ‘Lap Dances for Haiti’ - myway

From the highway, drivers will easily be able to spot the Green Leaf Inn, prominently marked by the sweeping, 151.5-foot arc of a 50kW wind turbine.  The turbine, which will help to harness Wisconsin’s Class 3 winds, will feed the grid as well as the Inn that is slated to be the first net-zero bed and breakfast in the Midwest. (The purchase of the massive, private turbine was funded in part by a Wisconsin Focus on Energy grant.)

Co-owned by married couple Fritz Kreiss and Catherine McQueen, the Green Leaf Inn is a testbed of eco efforts, including solar, geothermal and biomass power sources.  Perhaps the coolest feature, however, is that as the Inn is built, Kreiss and McQueen are keeping future visitors informed through “The Greening of the Inn” at www.thegreenleafinn.com .  At the website, you can check out the actual Inn site plans, see photos as the project progresses, and also view the timeline…which concludes with the grand opening of the 19-suite Inn this summer.

Located in Delavan, Wisconsin, the luxe B&B will offer Jacuzzi suites, five garden areas, a learning center for green technology and a pottery studio.  To check out a full list of the Inn’s environmental initiatives, click here.

I’ve got some issues…

• So the nation’s capital is now immobilized by a record snowstorm – can’t wait for the climate change naybobs to get all over this one.  How can there be cold temps, record snow storms and icy north winds if the world’s burning up like a Pop Tart in a microwave?  It’s called the weather dillweed.
• Speaking of climate change…should Obama be throwing the “Party of No” a bone by advocating a big federal investment in nuclear power, clean coal (fiction) and more offshore oil drilling?  Personally I think he should take it to the opposition the same way they go after him and his policies – the possibility of achieving positive results from a bipartisan approach is about as likely as hearing a clear and rational thought being uttered by one of the entertainment icons recently birthed by MTV’s Jersey Shore.  Don’t take the ‘grenade’on this one Barack…
• Valentine’s Day is coming up fast and the monster marketing effort to sell sappy lovey cards, flowers that will be dead in two days and all manner of baubles, doo-dads and gifts is in full swing.  Can’t we all say “I love you” in a way that is enduring and heartfelt?  Buying a crappy box of chocolates and a saccharin Hallmark card don’t take much effort (I’ve done it) (more…)

Aligned with the notion, “we are what we eat” and as a lover of food, I was naturally curious about Discovery Channel’s Planet Green new documentary, What’s on YOUR Plate? When invited to lunch at vegan restaurant Candle to meet the director and on-camera talent, I figured this was a promotional event worth attending.

So, just how did this project land on Planet Green?  President and General Manager, Laura Michalchyshyn explained that she was attracted to the project after catching the fine cut of director Catherine Gund’s doc. (Catherine, above – R)

Through the eyes of two adorable tweens (L to R, above) Sadie and her bff, Sofiya Riddle, we learn about the curvy journey of how food winds up on our plate. (Sadie also happens to be Catherine’s daughter.)

Between sips and sups I met a slew of lovely folks, including Amy Sudaris, the founder of Frugal-Mama.com.  Take a peek at Amy’s review of the film.  I’ll be tuning in tonight for the debut of What’s on YOUR Plate? on Planet Green; (10p-12mid, ET).  It also airs Feb 7, 11 & 12 – check your local listings for time.  Take a look, and let us know what you think.

Three repurposed bike rims have been sectioned to create the base of this coffee table.  The hand cut, reclaimed window glass top is supported by reconfigured bike spokes and strong cord.

The table is suitable for interior or exterior use and should make any cycling enthusiast feel right at home.

@ spokestitch’s etsy shop