Love the name, love the concept.

Quicksilver’s “The Ray” is a truly eco-conscious timepiece – all materials, manufacturing, packaging and transport were planned to minimize environmental impact.  This Limited Edition watch is (more…)

Make your daily commute fun, green and emissions-free with X-treme Scooters new XM-5000Li.

The new scooter, which is capable of traveling 60 miles per hour, can reach top speed in around 6 seconds and operate for up to 90 miles on a single charge.  The 5000Li’s 21 lithium batteries have a life cycle of 7-10 years, can be recharged up to 2,000 times and don’t require daily charging.  (more…)

The green building and design movement is beginning to think bigger.  A 13-story green residential condo will soon rise in downtown Asheville, NC.

The 73 North Market Street project intends to achieve LEED certification, and set new standards for green living and the eco-friendly lifestyle.

The upscale green building will feature 10, 2300 square foot, full-floor residences, a below-ground green parking facility, Asheville’s first green roof, solar panels, water collection, low E glass, water-conserving fixtures, natural lighting, automated lighting and shading systems, and high-efficiency appliances.

Building materials are being sourced locally and the building will feature the work of local Asheville artisans. The current design includes plans for the world’s first underground parking facility designed exclusively for Smart vehicles.  Each resident will be provided with a smart fortwo vehicle for getting around Asheville’s burgeoning urban environment.  Future plans include charging electric vehicles via the condo’s rooftop solar array.

The building is being designed by architect Michael Silverman of Asheville-based Siegman Associates, Inc.

find out more @ 73 North Market Street project

Argentina-born and Miami-based designer, Facundo Poj, creates furniture and fine objects from both eco-friendly materials and found objects.  His use of sustainable plyboo, or layered bamboo, non-toxic glues, and oak dowels (no nails or screws) makes his furniture strong, functional, earth-friendly works of art.  The designer’s background in architecture and Environmental studies inhabits the lines and spirit of his work.  The Ofidio dining table (below) is constructed from 44 layers of engineered plyboo and has a water-based finish.

Facundo also works with found objects which he upcycles into to new forms and design while still expressing some of the essence of the original object.  His 727 jet lounge (pictured below) is made from the exit doors of a Boeing 727.

see more @ facundopoj.com

• Geoengineering…New Science Could Help Solve Climate Crisis – reuters
• Now where did I put that Egg McMuffin? Cutting Calories May Improve Memory – nature news
• Armyworm’s Ravage Liberia – bbc
• I’d like a head count when Al speaks to the Senate.  Gore: Economy Must Spur Warming Action – msnbc
• Giving a Cow a Name Boosts Her Milk Production – sciencedaily
• 30 weird photos. Far-out Photos – aol news

photo credit: colorado national monument/ap

Over the past few months or so, buying local has become the big new thing among the eco-set. But there’s another way to consume that is just as buzz-worthy: buying handmade. Buying items that are handmade helps us reconnect to the human source of our purchases, and also cuts down on the greenhouses gases that are formed when goods are mass-produced.

On that note, for some truly exceptional handmade dinnerware and home accessories, check out Little Flower Designs, an independent ceramic studio run by designer and artist Linda Johnson. Linda’s wares combine simple, lovely designs with bold forms to create gotta-have serving pieces and platters, vases and mugs, and bowls and tea pots. (My personal favorite is the cookie jar, above R.) Linda says that homemade items, when made with great care, provide the user with a lifetime of satisfaction and joy, all while treading lighter on the environment. We couldn’t agree more.

www.littleflowerdesigns.com

All of these personal faves are tried and true, and I use everyday, except for one.  (Take a wild guess.)

• Erbaviva organic deodorant – worth every penny, lasts a looong time:)
• Soladey Ionic toothbrush – Although skeptical at first, we’re now bff.
• E-cloth – thanks to these, I’ve cut back on the use of paper towels tree-mendously!  I just add water and wipe clean that mess.
• Crop Organic Vodka – love their Cucumber-flavored vodka, tasty and refreshing.
• Z-Pitcher from ZeroWater – makes sipping water a pleasure again.  No need to shlep bottles home from the market, and no need to recycle plastic bottles or add caps to the landfills. A great way to save money, too.

And hey, feel free to jump-in with your favorite eco and/or body-friendly finds.

This is part five of a 10-part series on how changing ones eating habits may be the most accessible and impactful way to improve the world.

With both increasingly frequent Prius sightings and fewer appearances by big “manly” trucks, it appears that many people believe that changing to a more efficient mode of transportation is the most significant way they can help to reduce global warming. According to an in-depth study* (see below for summary) conducted by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), however, individuals are actually better off changing the destination of their forks, rather than the destination of their car keys.

The FAO study revealed the animal agriculture sector to be responsible for nearly one-fifth of human-induced greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions – an amount larger than that contributed by all forms of transportation taking place across the globe.

This large contribution swells from the massive amount (more…)

No, this is not a catastrophic global warming emergency.  A life-like 16-foot-high sculpture of an iceberg featuring a stranded polar bear and its cub appeared on the River Thames today to mark the launch of the new Natural History TV channel Eden.  Programming starts running at 9am London time.   find out more

With winter’s winds, chilly temps, and dry heat inside, putting my best face forward is no easy feat. Although organic yogurt, cucumber, lemon and honey are steadies for my usual DIY face-saving concoctions, work sometimes demands my trying fresh skincare options that are available ready-made.  (I know, life is tough.)

For the past few days I’ve been using Alchemilla “ultra-pure skincare” — created with biodynamic, organic and wild-harvested plant ingredients either grown on their own herb garden in Oregon, or (more…)