Advent has just introduced its new green desktop PC (it runs Windows Vista) for the burgeoning, green Bill Gates crowd (see Microsoft’s “I’m a PC ad campaign”).

Constructed of 75 recycled material and said to use 78% less energy than comparable desktops (it has no fan).  Paper waste has been reduced by installing all manuals and documentation on the computer.

some specs:

Intel® Core 2 Duo T5250 processor, Windows Vista, 2GB DDR2 667MHz memory, 160GB SATA hard drive and built-in wi-fi and dvd burner

currently on in the U.K. for £599.99 @ pcworld.co.uk

please note: I’m not a PC.

previously on altcon:

dell studio hybrid – a greener pc

I’m intrigued by the idea of bamboo homes.  Perhaps because of the unprecedented, current economic debacle, the idea of flying the coop and living on a Caribbean island for a spell seems very appealing.

If I were to put any effort in this direction, I’d check into living in a pre-fabricated home like this, built to meet the Dade County/FL/USVI wind load code requirements of 145 pmh winds, the strictest requirements in the U.S. — made by the “first and only internationally certified manufacturer of bamboo structural systems.”  Bamboo Living’s exclusive distributor in the U.S. Virgin Islands, British Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico — Bamboo Island Home now has 8 pre-fab structures, and the first ICC-ES certified — scheduled to arrive in St Croix in November ‘08.  Ah yes, the fantasy continues as I imagine the trade winds stir a soothing breeze. more @ bambooislandhome.com

via:  prweb

Related:  previously on the Alternative Consumer
bamboo homes – grow your own (3.24.08)

This teensy-weensy, small device wind charger will be available soon at I Want One of Those.  A must-have for those days when clouds render your solar charger irrelevant and you desperately need to get some juice into the iPod for your daily KajaGooGoo fix.  It might also look good on the deck of your catamaran or the hood of your golf cart, if that’s how you roll.

£29.99 eventually

via: techlime

• Pollution Killing World’s Coral Reefs – reuters
• We don’t have a monopoly on political shenanigans…Amazon Destruction Up: Elections Blamed – yahoo! news
• Monopolies are good for Americans…right? FCC Wants to Bless Wireless Mergers by Year End – ars technica
• More politics…Experts: ‘Losing Battle’ to Save the Everglades – msnbc
• Phoenix Mars Lander ‘Sees Falling Snow’ – natgeo
• The Six Most Adorable Animals (To Ever Go on a Bloody Rampage) – cracked.com

The next time you travel to San Francisco, you might want to try the Triton Hotel.  Part of the Kimpton family, this green hotel makes it a priority not to compromise the environment for luxury. The way they see it, you can have both!

Their commitment to sustainable practices is widely acclaimed.  In addition to following water conservation practices to reduce usage by 25 percent, the hotel has also installed motion sensors and Halogena Advantage light bulbs to reduce energy consumption.  And, they offer 25 percent off valet services for hybrid vehicles.  Check out a complete list of their eco-friendly amenities (trust me, there are a lot!)

Of Triton Hotel’s 140 rooms, 7 eco suites have been designed by celebrities and feature all things green.  Woody’s Oasis, the suite created and inspired by Woody Harrelson, features organic cotton sheets and biodegradable, corn-based pillows.  And the furniture is made only from wood that has been sustainably harvested. Every time a person stays in Woody’s suite, the hotel donates 10 percent of the room price to Oasis Preserve International, a nonprofit organization that protects endangered ecosystems.  It doesn’t stop there…

Triton Hotel has the best perch in San Francisco, located just two blocks from Union Square and across the street from Chinatown.  Conveniently accessible to the finest of San Francisco, some of the premier spots are only a short ride or stroll away — the Moscone Convention Center, Little Italy, the Financial District, and Nob Hill.

The hotel’s prime location, combined with its luxurious atmosphere and dedication to the environment make it an obvious stay the next time you’re in San Francisco.  And hey, it’s a place that you can feel good about staying at!

Small wind leader, Southwest Windpower, has introduced its new, small wind turbine, Air Breeze, as its successor to its successful Air-X product. The system is primarily marketed for off-grid applications such as vacation homes, cabins, boats and RV’s, or as an adjunct to an existing battery charging renewable energy system (solar). The Air Breeze is marketed as being quieter, more efficient, and precision engineered to deliver more energy at lower wind speeds than any other wind generator in its class.

Provides power at wind speeds as low as 6mph and 200 watts of power at 28mph.  For land or marine use, the 46 inch diameter rotor can be pole or roof mounted on land, or mounted on a boat for marine use.

12 and 24 volt models range in price from $599 to $699 on the net @ sundancesolar.com (doesn’t include installation, mounting and storage system).

more product info

find a dealer/installer near you

Jurlique, an Australian-based skincare line made with organic plants, herbs and flowers grown on the company’s own farms, recently launched five new biodynamic products: a Beauty Serum, Balancing Face Oil, Eye Cream, Refining Treatment, and Night Lotion.

The products are loaded with naturally active ingredients such as calendula, soapbark tree extract, hibiscus, beech tree buds, witch hazel, pansy, sweet violet, daisy, rose, licorice root, chickweed (whatever that is!) and on and on. This collection does not contain parabens, mineral oils, Propylene Glycol, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, synthetic emulsifiers, artificial colors or fragrances.

Because they’re grown biodynamically, the products are a bit more expensive than some of Jurlique’s other offerings, but then again, you pay for what you get. (Note: You can find a good definition of biodynamic farming here: http://www.biodynamics.com/biodynamics.html.)  find more @ jurlique.com

After the birth of her second child, mom Molly Chen decided it was time to stop tying one on — tying a bib on her infant, that is.  Concerned about the safety of those traditional tie or velcro bibs that might accidentally strangle or even suffocate a child, Molly gave birth to a new business — Bibs and Match, creating bibs and onesie sets, that work in a snap.

Made with non-toxic, 100% water-based inks, and now available in super soft organic cotton, these clever, comfy, cool, bibs and matching onesies are designed to snap on simply to each other, with six strategically placed snaps.  As tried on my friend’s bambina, Sofia, it’s true — the set works beautifully, there’s simply no way that this bib could rotate around a baby’s neck, or cause any irritation to their chin or neck.

Voila — safe, comfy, happy baby = happy parent. The 3-piece organic cotton set comes in 2 sizes — 0-6months and 6-12months, ($32). Find where to buy in-store or online.  Check it out, Donny Deutch’s Big Idea recently recognized this as a million dollar idea!

• All workmen on the project will be required to wear kilts…Scotland to Build ‘Wind Farms Under the Sea’ – scotsman.com
• Scientists Eager to See European Spacecraft’s Death Dive – livescience
• Give that produce a good rinse. Is the Salad Bar Safe? science daily
• (video) Gore: Climate Crisis Like Financial Crisis – breitbart.tv
• There was urination involved…Man Fined for Putting Wife’s Cat Outside – ananova

This first post focusing on Plastic Recycling is Part 1 of a 2-Part Series on Plastic.  Part 2 will focus on the Health and Safety issues related to plastic, and will be posted here on Alternative Consumer in a few days.

It requires only the power of observation to recognize that the world we’re living in is increasingly plastic. Initially drawn to plastic’s versatile, lightweight and sturdy promises, the euphoric state that accompanies inventions allowed us to glimpse over the fact that due to the very qualities we produced them to have, plastics don’t want to go away. So until biodegradable plastics dominate our industries, Earth will be yearning for us to become better recyclers of the pervasive plastics at hand.

We must first recognize that plastics’ rotating triangular codes, although wearing our beloved recycling symbol’s clothes, mean nothing of the sort. They disclose only their chemical identity, enabling them to be numerically sorted. All plastics are not created equal and with several being virtually impossible to recycle, focusing our eyes on their numbers is vital.

The recycling champions are numbers 1 and 2, easily recycled virtually everywhere. With #3, a rare recycling center is the key. Although recyclable outside many grocery stores, #4 is a chore as curbside pickup is not yet available. 5 and 6 are rarely recycled so be sure to steer clear whenever feasible. Sinful number 7 is practically impossible to recycle. To obtain more facts, recycling tips and info on each plastic type check out @ earth911.org/plastics/

Meanwhile, twist off bottle lids, rinse containers free of yesterday’s cravings, crush them with all your might, and educate yourself on your local recycling programs before your plastics hit the bin. Above all, rethink how you can reduce your plastic habits and reuse whenever possible.

From the “every little bit helps” department comes this little green gadget. Humbly marketed as “the World’s Easiest Green Product”, the RefrigeratorSaver is a thermometer that is designed to save you energy by accurately telling you the temperature of the food and produce in your fridge or freezer.   By accurately setting your fridge’s thermostat the company estimates you can save anywhere from 8-24% on the annual cost to run your refrigerator; a savings of up to $50 year.

The key component of the RefrigeratorSaver is the silicone gel inside; it accurately mimics the temperature of food, not the temperature of the air like other appliance thermometers. Most consumers have their refrigerators set to run too cold, for every one degree you’re able to change on your refrigerator thermostat you’ll save 8% on energy costs.

$29.99 @ refrigeratorsaver.com – starts shipping Oct. 1st

The Australian architect, Sally Dominguez, has created the Rainwater HOG, a unique solution to the problem of rainwater run-off and greywater storage in areas where space is limited. The Rainwater HOG’s relatively small size enables it to fit into many spaces previously not available to water tanks. And its modular design enables it to be extended and capacity increased bit by bit, and in multiple locations around your house and property.

The Rainwater HOG’s narrow profile makes it a great water storage solution along side walls, down narrow passages and underneath decks and house structures. Being able to sit flat, on its side or stand upright on its end, the Rainwater HOG is sized to fit between the timber joists of her deck. The tank can support its full weight on any of its surfaces without bulging.  Each Rainwater HOG stores about 47 gallons of water.

The tank is roto-moulded food grade plastic, which complies with FDA and HPB regulatory standards for food contact, but should never be used for drinking water. This is because the water from your roof is contaminated with animal and vegetable matter which needs to be filtered from the stored water before it is fit for consumption. The tank material itself is recyclable and carries a 1 year guarantee. In another bit of green design, the unit ships unpackaged.  A good green building concept though not cheap.

distributed in the USA, Australia and Canada: dealer locator

$450 ea. @ design within reach

via: cool hunting

•  Financial Turmoil No Bar to Climate Deal: U.N. – reuters
• Offshore wind project gets curveball…GE May Change Cape Wind Direction – capecodtimes.com
• As CES Approaches, Vendors Give Glimpse of 2009 Gadgets – betanews
• This news must be from some parallel universe…Bush Eyes More Pacific Marine Protections – msnbc
• I’m sure she wasn’t influenced by the $13 million she got to stay put in Vegas…Bette Midler Stops Touring for the Sake of the Planet – ecorazzi
• An update on an earlier story…Charges Dropped in Gas-Passing Case – aol news