Whether it’s the familiarity we suburban Americans have with our cars or the urbanite’s true love for the subway system, personal mobility devices just haven’t caught on in the US. So it’s rather surprising that at every turn, another battery-propelled, solo transporter is seeing its launch.

Most recently, Honda has taken the wraps off of its new driving system—the first, claims Honda, to allow for 360 degree movement. Called the U3-X, Honda’s latest mobile boasts an eerie resemblance to a futuristic unicycle, allowing someone who takes a seat on top to lean forward, sideways or even diagonally to go in that direction.

Powered by a lithium-ion battery, the U3-X will run for one hour with a fully charged battery, and if you’re nowhere near a charger, it’s light enough to carry with one arm. Look for more details when the device hits the floor at the Tokyo Motor Show later in October.

Cork may be one of today’s most under-utilized renewable resources for creating home goods and fashion.

Under the umbrella of parent, Novacortica S.A., (a company which produces natural cork disks for Champagne), Portuguese-based, Pelcor, has been busy for the past six years finding new ways of using Cork Oak to create an extensive line of goods for the home, fashion accessories, and now — clothing.  Why is this so exciting?  The way Pelcor manufactures is so planet-friendly, and the collections look and feel so great.

Eco upsides:

• The cork is manually harvested by skilled debarkers in order to not harm the trees.
• Portugal’s Cork Oaks will supply good quality cork every nine years throughout the tree’s lifespan of approximately 150 years.
• Cork Oak forests need no chemical herbicides, fertilizers or irrigation.
• In addition to the Cork Oak’s capacity to produce oxygen, the tree also has a unique cell structure that enables it to retain carbon dioxide, a principle cause of global warming.
• Planting of cork trees has prevented desertification of dry regions in southern Portugal, reducing soil erosion and providing a livelihood for local populations.

Many of Pelcor’s soft, lightweight eco accessories are available via corkdelux.com. I had the chance to touch the gown and bag, (above R), both made from the cork tree; the material feels very soft, yet durable – similar to a fine organic cotton.

We’re not doing a serious scientific analysis here, just having some fun.

• The 4 seasons in your area consist of:  very warm, hot, very hot and ‘I’ve gotta get the hell out of here!’
• That SPF 50 isn’t working anymore – if you connect all the sunspots on your face they’d resemble a detailed street map of Hartford, CT.
• Your pet husky, Snow Buns, sheds year-round.  Your living room rug now looks like the hairy debris of a New Zealand sheep shearing festival.
• You parked your 2008 red Corvette in your sunny driveway for six months, and it’s now a funky shade of pink.
• The ski resort down the road has evolved into a year-round mountain bike park and rock climbing destination.
• There’s a 30′ sailboat moored in 15′ of water on the spot that was once the living room of your beach front condo.

This offbeat pendant is cast from a bobcat’s toe bone in reclaimed sterling silver.  Somewhere, there’s a bobcat walking around with a serious limp.

$90 @ Species by the Thousands’ supermarket shop

Keeping it local and seasonal, farmers’ markets are a great place to shop year round.  I hit various markets around the city on a steady basis, but I guess because of the sheer variety of offerings as well as the Hawthorne Valley Farm stand, I really enjoy the Greenmarket in Union Square.  I plan to head over there today to pickup some pears, one of the most divine fruits on earth.  Paired with beets and tossed with some greens, now there’s a killer salad.

By supporting the farmers directly, we get fresher, tastier and more nutritious food that doesn’t have to travel across the country in order to reach our plates. According to Michael Hurtwitz, Director of the Greenmarket Program, “The need to transport food long distances often results in the harvesting of food that is not yet nutritionally mature and requires the use of sprays and waxes for preservation.  However, purchasing fresh, local food from greenmarkets eliminates these problems.”

If you don’t feel like cooking, Edible magazine and Greenmarket highlight restaurants that are featuring fresh local fare and donating a portion of proceeds to Greenmarket all week (9/27-10/4) -  Edible Eat Drink Local.  A great way to be lazy, support a sustainable cause and enjoy fall’s sumptuous harvest.

related:  council on the environment of nyc @ cenyc.org.
previously on altCon – Cultivating Thoughts on Food, part 4
- comprehensive directory of farmers’ markets @ farmersmarket.com
- rawnovations, part 3

Major appliance manufacturers are starting to perceive energy efficiency as a key component of consumer buying decisions.

Whirlpool has announced that it will produce one million Smart Energy clothes dryers by the end of 2011 as part of the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Smart Grid Investment Grant program.  The U.S. manufactured dryers will be capable interacting with information communicated by the smart grid to modify their energy consumption to save consumers money on their home electric bills.  In markets where utilities offer variable or time-of-use pricing, these dryers could save a typical consumer $20 to $40 per year, while also benefiting the environment.

Now we just need a smart grid.

source: prnewswire/reuters

Canada’s Nu.lethics has taken activewear to a pretty green place.  They’ve perfected a process by which bamboo shoots are pulverized and heated into nano-sized bits and then integrated into polyester yarn.  Each garment contains a minimum of 46% polyester created from recycled soda bottles.  The result, sportswear with the wicking and anti-bacterial properties of bamboo and the performance qualities of polyester.  Their manufacturing process features renewable wind and solar energy, recycled materials, rain and gray water use, and the elimination of toxic bleaching as well as many other chemicals in the dying process.

You can buy their moderately priced duds for active men and women @ nulethics.com/shop

A green stimulus package for your eyes, ears and mind…

• Don’t miss Part 1 of The National Parks, America’s Best Idea by Ken Burns, a doc about our national parks, premiering tomorrow, Sunday the 27th of September.  It’s a 6-part, (2-hours/per), series airing 6 consecutive nights, 8pm ET.
• In honor of the series (and to spread the word about the importance of protecting our national parks for future generations), The Sierra Club is giving away a trip to Yosemite and San Francisco as part of their 100,000 Champions for National Parks campaign. Their goal is to get to 100,000 names by October 4th – All you have to do is sign their statement of support for parks at www.sierraclub.org/parks. Tell them your favorite national park and your name will be added to the scrolling list of “Champions for Parks” on their homepage.
• Green Building Show Thursday & Friday, October 8 and 9; held At NJExpo Center.  Tix $10 in advance or $20 at the door. Produced by Go Green Expo, created for both builders and homeowners.
• Learn How to Save Green When You Shop Green by blog-pal, Karen Schiff, co-founder of Ecobunga. (more…)

• Ya think? Droughts, Melts Signal Climate Change Quickening: U.N. – reuters
• Study: Green Roofs Could Help Put Lid on Global Warming – sciencedaily
• What is it with the Japanese and whalemeat? Iceland Plans Huge Whalemeat Export to Japan – bbc
• He also likes his Oxycontin and running over cut-out figures of Al Gore….Rush Limbaugh on Jay Leno: “I like the electric car!” – cs monitor
• Fanged Frog and Other Bizarre Species Discovered – livescience
• You’ll be surprised by which group opposes fossil fuel limits…Utilities and U.S. Chamber of Commerce in Climate Rift – msnbc
• I used to be able to see Russia from that bluff but now it’s gone…(time-lapse photos) Alaska Coast Eroding Fast – natgeo