Keds jumps on the green bandwagon with tomorrow’s (Wednesday, March 25) kick-off of Green Label, their first eco conscious line of footwear.

The collection features a classic low-top sneaker in black, white, or green; and a nautical-inspired slip-on in taupe, white or sky blue.  Available at Nordstrom, or online @ keds.com ($55).

They look comfy.  Here’s the eco breakdown of Green Label’s Silhouettes: (more…)

The Japanese really know how to utilize space.  The Paco Cube, designed by Schemata Architecture Office Ltd., is a three meter square prefab home that lets you be in the location you desire with the tiniest of footprints.

Paco Cube’s ready-made kit features a compact layout that includes: a kitchen, shower, toilet, sink, sleeping hammock, desk and lighting.  Add some solar panels, a rainwater collection system and a composting toilet and you could probably go pretty much off grid.  (more pix after the jump) (more…)

Finding a hotel that meets your particular preferences just got easier.  If you’ve ever spent countless hours combing through the clutter and phony reviews on sites like TripAdvisor.com searching for that perfect hotel, you know there has to be a better way.

Kayak.com just launched, TravelPost.com, touted as, the most comprehensive hotel information site on the Web.  TravelPost.com presents hotel reviews and content; and rates more than 140,000 hotels from over 200 travel sites in one, easy-to-use display. (more…)

• No S#@t Sherlock…EPA Finds Greenhouse Gases Endanger Health – reuters
• This is a great story…Zoo Hunts for ‘Elephant Angel’ – ananova
• Has that check from Exxon cleared?  Oil Plagues Sound 20 Years After Valdez – msnbc
• Am I the only Twitter holdout? Twitter as Customer Service Shortcut? – cs monitor
• And I thought my chocolate allergy was a problem…Horse Has Grass Allergy – aol news

Spring has sprung – setting off the annual migration of charcoal grills from their winter lairs to decks and patios across the land.  Owners of conventional charcoal grills now have a new more eco-friendly fuel choice. The uGO FlameDisk employs solid renewable ethanol (biofuel) as its fuel source, lights instantaneously with the touch of a match and is ready to cook on in less than one minute.  The FlameDisk’s ethanol fuel burns cleanly and produces 99% less carbon monoxide than charcoal.  The FlameDisk saves roughly a half hour of wait time while giving eco-conscious cooks a green grilling alternative.  Once lit, the disk will burn for at least 40 minutes.  While the FlameDisk heat output is similar to charcoal, it creates no ash or soot.  After the solid ethanol fuel burns out, the FlameDisk cools to the touch in minutes with no ashes.  Plus the FlameDisk does not require tasty, toxic lighter fluid for ignition.  The used disc is fully recyclable and comes in recyclable packaging.

We’re skeptical that FlameDisk’s unique “Smoker Plate” gives grillers all the charcoal flavor to which they are accustomed, though the UGO’s blind taste is purported to find no flavor difference versus charcoal.

The Pocket Purifier is a must-have gadget for all you cleanliness-obsessed germaphobes.  Purely Products markets this 4 watt germicidal ultraviolet light as an easy-to-use device to deactivate the DNA of bacteria, viruses and other pathogens, destroying their ability to multiply.

Just shine the light for 10 to 15 seconds on surfaces and objects like kitchen utensils, telephone handsets, nail clippers, scissors, baby toys, pacifiers, cribs, strollers and other everyday items.  UV light is used to fight germs and bacteria by industries ranging from the food industry to water purification.  Just remember, this is a very small device and not intended to be effective in treating large areas.  I envision my sister-in-law whipping this out to zap elevator buttons, restroom door handles, escalator handrails and her entire third grade classroom.

Powered by 4 (AA) batteries for easy carrying and safe usage.  $19.95 @ amazon.com

IKEA is hoping to light up your summer nights with its new line of SOLIG solar lights.  Each light is equipped with a solar cell that transfers the sun’s energy to a rechargeable battery.  And as long as the battery is charged, the energy-saving and long-lasting LED bulb will automatically start to shine as soon as night falls.

The outdoor SOLIG lights are thoroughly tested to withstand moisture and rain.  Most of the lights retail for $19.99 or less at your local IKEA store or @ ikea.com

Related:  previously on altCon – solar energy posts

Liechtenstein based Pure Wind Energy has recently introduced a new home wind turbine, the Wind Core.  The company claims that the Wind Core’s design, which features an outer ring and central flow body, offers ‘enormous’ improvement over conventional turbines (German translation).  Pure Wind estimates that with an average wind speed of 5 m/s the Wind Core will provide a house with approximately 2,000 kWh of electricity per year.

Perhaps someone should ask Pure Wind’s marketing director about the decision to install the demo unit on a Bavarian toll booth (on right).  The turbine is just rolling out in Europe.  more info @ pure wind energy

Related:  more posts on wind energy

This spring, why not try lightening your environmental load as well as your wardrobe.

With that goal in mind, I’ve got my eye on a pretty new bag from backpack maker EastSport. The company’s new biodegradable Natural Collection includes eye-catching totes, messengers, duffle bags and backpacks made with 100-percent natural cotton, untreated brass hardware and soy dyes and without plastic linings, fillers or threads. The hang tags are made of seed paper that will sprout wildflowers when planted.

A portion of proceeds from the sale of the bags goes to The Ben Jelen Foundation, whose mission is to spread awareness of environmental issues. EastSport plans to make 50 percent of its entire production 100 percent biodegradable by 2011. That’s a goal I can get behind. available @ natural.eastsport.com (totes $45; other styles, $60)