California’s Coolearth is a solar power generation company with a different take on things. The company’s funky-looking, suspended solar concentrator and rigging technology, is a striking departure from traditional photovoltaic cell installations.

Coolearth’s solar energy plants consist of inflated (think foil balloon) mirror concentrators which gather sunlight and focus it onto photovoltaic cells. These concentrators increase the energy impacting the solar cells many times over. Their strong structure is designed to withstand 100 mph winds and protect the mirrored surface and receiver from rain, insects, dirt, and the elements.

The system is mounted on a truss system from which the concentrators are suspended in series on support and control cables stretched between poles. . The ground beneath the concentrators remains free for other uses, such as farming or ranching.

Coolearth is currently negotiating with utility companies for the sale of energy from their solar power plants. “The company’s goal is to provide clean, renewable, solar power electricity at a competitive cost with current fossil based sources of grid power.” Coolearth’s technology is designed to generate electricity at a cost competitive with traditionally fueled power plants.

more info @ coolearthsolar.com

The price of doggie accessories (and dogs as accessories for that matter) is getting out of hand. If word ever got out around the kennel that I was sporting a designer collar bought at Barneys for an insane 350 bucks I’d get my hind quarters kicked by every mutt from Santa Monica to Bangor, Maine. Nothing eco about this.

Do your canine companion a solid and spend your disposable cash on green dog stuff...or pay for a couple of extra trips around the block for your precious fido by his real buddy, the professional dog walker.

seam – out

• (video) Octopus Sex Lives Revealed – natgeo
• A tasty bladder can lead to ones extinction. Hong Kong Anglers Let Cash Bonanza Get Away – reuters
• National Park Service Prepares for the Future – msnbc
• Could a deadlocked convention get Al the nomination? Al Gore Turns Down Obama’s Cabinet Offer – ecorazzi
• Greenhouse Plan Could Damage Ozone – usa today
• A Hard Plastic Is Raising Hard Questions – ny times
• I love the phrase, “the rogue squirrel”…Grey Squirrel May Have Hitched a Ride – bbc
• Inquiring minds want to know. What’s Better for Heating a Mug of Water: The Stove or the Microwave? – cognitive daily
• We continue to answer the ‘big’ questions. Why Does Food Get Stale? – scientific american

Here’s an option for laundry doers who want to save some energy and are willing to add an extra step to the process. This clothes dryer uses centrifugal force to remove water from your laundry. The manufacturer claims that the Spin Dryer could potentially reduce total household energy (more) (more…)

If you’ve got enough green in your wallet you might want to make room in your closet for ROMP.

For glam mavens who cherish rakish, vintage appeal — ROMP’s style is saucy. There’s something for chic, rock chicks as well as eco stylish glamour girls. Eco guys have shoes and accessories to choose from right now, with more studly wear from ROMP on the horizon.

Both in-store and online, ROMP’s collections feature organic and sustainable leather and suede jackets, bags, shoes, and luggage as well as organic cotton jeans, fashion T’s, suede jumpsuits and home accessories. (more after the jump) (more…)

Thinking of putting in a deck, patio or fencing in or around your humble estate? Consider using Trex composite deck material instead of toxic, treated lumber. Trex is a composite alternative wood material created from a combination of recycled wood and plastic. The plastic prevents moisture, rot and insect damage and spintering while the wood prevents UV damage to the plastic and gives the material a more ‘natural’ look.

The company keeps roughly 300,000 tons of plastic and wood scrap out of landfills every year and no trees are cut down for the purpose of making Trex. Their wood comes from reclaimed wood from woodworking operations, used pallets and sawdust (300 million pounds a year).

Trex recycles all forms of polyethylene and is one of the largest plastic bag recyclers in the United States with the company estimating that 7 out of every 10 recycled grocery bags in the U.S. end up at Trex (about 1.5 billion per year)

Company manufacturing processes are also pretty green. Trex’s trailers are hydraulically powered with vegetable-based oil, a proprietary processing method eliminates smokestacks and factory run-off and refuse are recycled back into manufacturing.

(The major downside to wood/plastic composites appears to be at the end of their life cycle when the plastic component cannot be separated and recycled again.)

find a Trex contractor in your area or a locate a retailer

• Surprise, surprise…U.S. Environment Scientists Report Political Meddling – reuters
• Columbia River Sea Lions Escape Execution – For Now - msnbc
• We are heading in the wrong direction. Why National Parks and Coal Fired Power Plants May Become Neighbors – csmonitor.com
• ABC News’ Bob Woodruff to Anchor Planet Green Newscast – ecorazzi
• Nuclear power is going to get a big sales push. Be careful. Questioning Nuclear Power’s Ability to Forestall Global Warming – science daily
• Mysterious Phoenix Lights a UFO Hoax – livescience
• An environmental crisis. Guitar Hero to Get Drums, Vocals, and Downloadable Songs – switched.com

Tasteful eco-tees with a grey-on-cream graphic. These unisex tees are constructed of 100% organic cotton and printed with vegetable inks.  Update that summer wardrobe.

$28 by bohmo @ bohmo.com

A perfect storm of the green and the greenish came together at Barneys last night. The mighty Sundance Channel, eco-friendly clothing company Loomstate and fashion supermarket to the stars — Barneys, co-sponsored an event that attracted an eclectic assemblage of the fashion elite, eco-fashion wannabes, the certifiably green and an assortment of self-promoters (you know who you are), and stylishly green posers.

The event was all for a good cause. Bring in an old T to Barneys New York or any of their Barneys Co-op locations nationwide from April 23-27 and have it ‘re-fashioned’ into a Limited Edition collection of T’s for holiday 2008 by designers Rogan Gregory and Scott Hahn. Proceeds from the program will benefit 1% For the Planet.

Entertainment was first class with DJ Paul Sevigny spinning a nice combo of Gang of Four era 80′s stuff and Williamsburg-ish contemporary tunes, followed by indie-songstress, Kate Nash and her band, who pumped out a rousing set.

more pix after the jump (more…)