The Mercury Prize winning U.K. band, Klaxons, is recording their next album at the U.K.’s only solar-powered studio, The Premises, in London.

The band is also backing the U.K.’s “We Support Solar” campaign to lower carbon emissions by creating more solar energy.

for a taste of the band check out Klaxon’s Golden Skans video off their last lp, “Myths of the Near Future”

via: nme.com

The WindCube is an interesting wind turbine design from a company called Green Energy Technologies.  The turbine’s designed for large commercial installations, including: condos, college campuses, big box retailers, industrial buildings or open, island locations.  The large, box-like, turbine can be roof or tower mounted.

A single unit produces 60kW, with a double unit producing 120kW of power.  The design produces the same amount of energy as a traditional turbine with a 50 foot diameter in a 22x22x12-foot framework by utilizing the wind tunnel effect known as the Bernoulli Principle to capture and amplify the wind to theoretically produce more kilowatt-hours (kWh).  The WindCube is designed to capture and concentrate wind energy as low as 5 mph and has a yaw system that turns the turbine into prevailing winds.

The WindCube isn’t intended for residential use. The company recently installed a system for Crown Battery at its new facility in Port Clinton, Ohio.

more wind power posts on altCon

I was attracted to pachacuti’s beautiful wares and wanted to let you know all about them.  As they boast “fair trade,” I was interested.

Upon closer inspection, I noticed that they qualify their prominently placed, fair trade claim with: “Each time you purchase jewelry handcrafted in either India or Nepal from Pachacuti, a portion of our supplier’s profits is donated to the Tibetan Children’s Education Foundation. This nonprofit corporation is dedicated to supporting Tibetan schools and school children-in-exile from their homeland. The Bon Foundation and the Tibetan Women’s Crossing, Inc. are two other organizations, which also support Tibetan refugees and assist in preserving their culture.”

…which is all well and good, until i noticed that most of the artisans appear to reside in Mexico.  So, I just wanted to pass along that little detail…they feature many fine artisans from south of the border, who weave textiles, craft pottery and fashion jewelry for our use and enjoyment, but “To date, the term ‘fair trade’ applies to imported items only.” hmmm…imported only?  Further, “as a member of the Fair Trade Federation and the Sustainable Business Network of the Lehigh Valley,” They’re Pennsylvania based, so aren’t all of the items considered, “imported”?

I’m sure they’re ethical, and the Mexican-based artisans all benefit from the collaboaration, it’s just that I find this Website confusing…methinks, the site can represent itself better. find @ pachacuti.com

• Put a couple of hundred diplomats in a room and what do you get…compromise.  New U.N. Deal: Not Much Bolder Than Kyoto? – reuters
• Americans Show Solid Support for Energy and Environment Provisions in Stimulus Package – business wire
• Sea Salt Holds Clues to Climate Change – enn/sciencedaily
• In the land of Borat…Important Wild Fruit Trees Face Extinction – bbc
• One small question: Why?  World’s Smallest Light Bulb Created - livescience
• May 7-10, affordable art fair in nyc @ aafnyc.com
• Maybe a book deal, too…Cow May Get New Home After Slaughterhouse Escape – myway

Want to get your kid started on TV early?  Or maybe you harbor a deep insecurity from your infancy that requires a little oral nurturing while you sit confused in front of the tube perplexed by this week’s episode of Lost?

this handmade piece of geekery from recycled material is featured at obviousfront’s etsty shop

whether you’re working from home, stuck in a cubicle, or blogging in a loft somewhere, your work space can often impact your productivity and state of mind.
here are a few simple ways to keep that desk area clean and green, get you out the door, and give you a heady sense of accomplishment. (more…)

I just got a press release on a new energy initiative called, Project Brief, from an organization called Energy in Depth, a group financed by a coalition of oil and natural gas producers.  The first study put forth by the group bears the catchy title, “Proposed Energy Regulations Could Cost Thousands of Jobs and Billions in Public Revenues.”  The study, which preys on our deepest economic fears, is just a tad reactionary, not quite scientific and built on the sturdy, deeply set foundation of self-interest.

From the press release:  (more…)

• Let’s face it. Oprah is just one, big ol’ money-sucking marketing machine…Oprah Buys Everyone Free KFC, Chickens Everywhere Cry Fowl – ecorazzi
• That’s right…Retailers Mustn’t Cut Back on Being Green: Study – reuters
• A phone bill that goes down. Preposterous! Prepaid Wireless Service Could Spur Price War – cnet news
• Spiders are our friends…Spiders Getting Bigger – Global Warming to Blame? – natgeo
• How to Build Nanotech Motors – scientific american

Jaxel Studios has fashioned its dashing L-Modern side table from recycled Brazilian Walnut parquet flooring and window curtain brackets.  An inventive use of materials otherwise landfill-bound.

see it and more @ Jaxel’s Etsy store