A mere mile from Grand Teton National Park and an hour south of Yellowstone resides a lodge that’s earning quite the eco reputation among the sustainable, yet savvy crowd: Hotel Terra Jackson Hole.
This month, the burgeoning boutique expands its accommodations to include 60 additional guestrooms and suites, complete with an infinity plunge pool set atop a rooftop terrace.

LEED-certified, the hotel boasts a bevy of eco-friendly efforts, such as the organic beauty products peddled at Chill Spa and natural fare at Terra Café. As if that weren’t draw enough, through September 30th, you can book the “Eco Adventure Package,” which couples accommodations with a hearty daily breakfast, complimentary Flip Ultra video cam and biologist-led eco wildlife tour. (Double occupancy package pricing ranges from $350 to $860 per night.)

Tempted? Visit www.HotelTerraJacksonHole.com or call 1-800-631-6281 to reserve a room or click here to get a taste of the area’s summer activities.

• This just makes too much sense…Sahara to Europe Solar Power Plan Welcomed – yahoo! news
• Big ‘Transsexual’ Fish in Peril (video) – natgeo
• Hedging their bet with house (our) money…Exxon to Invest $600 Million in Making Fuel From Algae – reuters
• Talk about a small sample size. They also need to be 91 years old…Study 1918 Flu Survivors Seem Immune to Swine Flu – myway
• Why is this an issue? Everyone knows women are wiser than men. Exhibit A:  Justice Scalia…Sotomayer Repeatedly Referenced ‘Wise Woman’ in Speeches – drudge/cq politics
• You know you’re a sucker for a good ‘purr’…Cats ‘Exploit’ Humans by Purring – bbc

We thought we’d take a break from our current obsession with wind turbines and take a pictorial look at the some old-style windmills. These beauties were originally designed to harness the wind’s power to pump water (Holland wouldn’t otherwise exist), grind grain and cut lumber. As you’ll see, the design has migrated around the globe.

• top left: One of the original Dutch windmills relied upon to keep folks dry. This one’s located at Kinderdijk, Netherlands.  via: tabblo.com
• middle: Located in the undulating fields of Norfolk England, Bircham Windmill looks much as it did over 100 years ago when it ground corn grown on local farms.  via: west-norfolk.gov.uk
• right: Belgium’s hilltop Bruge Windmill.  via: travelblog.org (photo by Michael & Kelley Turner)

• above left: Pitstone Windmill – believed to be Great Britain’s oldest.  via: wikipedia.org
• center: San Francisco ode to Dutch windmills, appropriately named the ‘Dutch Windmill,” was completed in 1902 and remains a popular tourist attraction near the Golden Gate Bridge.
• right: A windmill located in the Australian outback.

Looking for a green cemetery?  Eco friendly casket?  Green burial?

Don’t want to spend 25K on a gold plated body bucket like Michael Jackson’s (above)?

Like it or not, one day, we’ll all be dead and gone.  Not to sound morbid, but we do plan other aspects of our life, maybe we should all take a little time to plan our final eco friendly act — our burial.

We mere mortals may not have a say in how we were born into this world, but we can have a say in our final farewell.

From green caskets made of sustainable sawgrass or renewable bamboo and biodegradable ecoPods — to eco friendly urns and cemeteries — you can dig in here, (it won’t kill you to look):

Ecopod
Green Endings
In the Light Urns
Glendale Nature Preserve
Natural Burial Company
The Centre for Natural Burial
Eco Casket by Environmental Caskets (free next day delivery)
NaturalDeath.org (an info center)

May you live a long, good life, eventually find your happy hunting ground & rest in green peace.

This is a marriage born of the ‘Bail Out.’  Kelley Blue Book, a leading provider of new-car and used-car information, has announced the launch of its Cash for Clunkers Calculator on its website, kbb.com.  Using the calculator, consumers can get help determining if their current vehicle is eligible for up to $4,500 toward the purchase of a more fuel-efficient new car under the Car Allowance Rebate System (CARS).  They can also research new-car options, and reach a dealer — all on the Blue Book website.  (more…)

A small, California-based lighting design company, Lumiette, is developing a lighting product they call the Flat Panel Lamp (FPL) which is designed to combine the best attributes of fluorescent and LED lightsources. They share LEDs’ low profile, energy efficiency, long life, and dimmability, and like other premier fluorescent sources, have the highest color quality properties for general illumination.  Unlike most fluorescents, FPLs’ larger surface area reduces glare and permits placement closer to the luminaires’ luminous surface.  The thin, low heat properties of the FPL may lead to new applications and alternative shapes in lighting fixture design.

FPLs comprise two pieces of glass, one flat and one ribbed (mold-formed), which are hermetically sealed to form the fluorescent lamp.  FPLs can radiate light from both top and bottom surfaces of the lamp, and an internal reflection layer can be utilized to project up to 97% of generated light in one direction or the other.

via: matternetwork.com

Here’s an eco fashion company we can get behind. Autonomie Project was launched in 2007 by a few good friends, (pictured at right).  This Boston-based group works exclusively with Fair Trade facilities and independent coops in developing parts of the world, encouraging self-reliance and teaching the not-so-fortunate how to prosper and thrive.

They also use a portion of their company’s funds for initiatives intended to uplift entire communities (ie: by building a health clinic or bringing a steady supply of water to a small, remote village) — making a positive social impact on our Earth and raising awareness about today’s most pressing global issues.

Tees, shoes, hats and bags are all vegan — and made from organic cotton, all natural FSC rubber, and eco-friendly and locally-sourced materials whenever possible.  more @ autonomieproject.com

Socially conscious consumers should support manufacturers who embrace the triple-bottom line (people, planet and profits) values, rather than companies who abuse the more disadvantaged and the planet, in their quest to merely increase profits.

• Electric Cars Could Dominate U.S. Roads in 2030 – reuters
• Here comes the pork sandwich.  Climate Bill Faces Steep Senate Climb – enn
• Gosh darn it! Swearing Helps Reduce Pain – bbc
• Calamari anyone? Jumbo Squid Wash Ashore After Earthquake – livescience
• If we don’t learn to live together man will be the only one left.  Controlling Wily Coyotes? Still No Easy Answers – msnbc

Around since 1997, Wicked Footwear took a giant leap in the animal- and planet-friendly direction 2 years ago by launching a new line of hiking shoes called, Wicked Hemp.  (below, top row – men’s styles; bottom row – women’s)

Intent on making a low impact on Mother Earth, this innovative collection which is made entirely from hemp, wood pulp and recycled materials, has gained traction in the marketplace, and now comes in 20 different styles. The vegan line includes men’s and women’s loafers, sandals and wedges.  Your feet will love you — maximum comfort is attained via removeable insoles that have recycled sponge pads on the heels and metatarsals. many more styles (ranging from about $60-$72) @ wickedhemp.com