• This sounds like a ratings bonanza…Electric Ford Focus to Get Star Treatment on New Leno Show – ecorazzi
• Judging by the fashion choices at the senior center – yes…Does Aging Cause Loss of Taste? – livescience
• Why not?  They own everything else…Google Plans New Mirror for Cheaper Solar Power – reuters
• Naturally diabolical? Nature’s 6 Most Diabolical Predators – cracked.com
• Sent pre-Twitter…Message in a Bottle Found 5 Years Later – gnn.com
• I pine for Jacques Cousteau…Man Allegedly Flings Jellyfish at Teens on Beach – myway
• Fast talking frogs, funky rats and more…New Species Photos – natgeo

The reclaimed white oak of French wine barrels has been skillfully transformed into this very handsome, Emperor’s Bench, by StilNovoDesign.  Measures approximately 12″x16″x14″

$120 @ stillnovodesign’s etsy shop

Portland, Oregon-based Looptworks kicks off its Web site today with an innovative line of hip, upcycled clothes – designed to last, for sustainably stylish guys and gals.

“This is not only a new way of making clothing and accessories, it is a totally new way of thinking. We hope people start to think about what they buy, where it came from, and what natural resources it required to produce it,” as Gary Peck, co-founder of Looptworks says.  “From concept to your closet, we can assure you that no new materials were used to create our clothing and that each item is as individual as the person who wears it.”

This is groundbreaking stuff.  Especially when you consider that to manufacture a typical new shirt, it usually takes at least 54 weeks and requires at least 400 gallons of water.  And the fabric that is not used in production is left over excess and often discarded, adding to the 60,000 pounds of pre-consumer waste produced by one vertical textile factory every week.

Their Limited edition hand-numbered collection of hoodies, tees and other gear takes textiles that are industry leftovers, “pre-consumer excess materials” and before eco fashioning them into brand new threads — tests for shrinkage and durability. Products are double-needle stitched on all seams and triple-needle stitched on critical seams. Looptworks also adheres to a strict 1.5 AQL rating for all of its quality assurance inspections.

We look forward to seeing Looptworks remain on the eco fashion scene for a very long time.

Will our future highways be paved with solar gold?  Solar Roadways, a small Idaho start-up, just got a $100,000 grant to produce a prototype for its Solar Road Panel, a system of solar panels that could one-day turn roadways and parking lots into energy generating power sources.  The panels could contain embedded lighting systems for lines and signage, sensors to warn of animals or objects in the road, heaters to melt snow and ice and enough potential energy production to make a major contribution to the power grid.  Great idea.  We’ll see…

The season of harvest and fall gardening is here as we glean from the fruit of our spring and summer labor in our gardens. And where do I find myself?  In need of a new pair of gloves due to a certain member in my family, who shall remain nameless, claiming mine for their very own.  So I began my hunt for green gloves in conjunction with finding content for my next review.  (more…)

Is the future of wind power floating off the Norwegian coast? The world’s first full-scale floating wind turbine – StatoilHydro’s Hywind pilot – was officially launched yesterday in the North Sea.  Floating wind towers may someday allow turbines to be installed far offshore out of view from land, outside shipping lanes and where ocean winds are strongest.

Hywind is a 2.3-megawatt wind turbine installed on a traditional floater of the kind previously used as production platforms and offshore loading in the oil drilling business.  The turbine was manufactured by the Siemens Wind Power in Denmark, while France’s Technip built the floater and Nexans produced and laid the power cable to land.

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The following is a first-hand, Tried and True Green Product Review.

I’ve always been curious about what happens to our currency, literally the paper itself, once it’s taken out of the use stream.  So when I heard about a new Radius toothbrush made from recycled dollar bills, I had to give it a try, and the kind folks of Radius provided us a sample.

This particular toothbrush is from one of their eco lines called, Source.  I’ve been using one of their soft bristled brushes; I’m loving it, and here’s why.

Not only do my teeth feel really clean, but also the toothbrush is smartly made.  The planet-friendly aspect of the design kinda gives my psyche a boost.  The handle is comprised of (more…)

• Could forests become part of the power grid? Electrical Circuit Runs Entirely Off the Power in Trees – sciencedaily
• Another bogus marketing scam courtesy of big food...New ‘Smart Choices’ Food Labels are Deceptive – livescience
• This feline has a 27″ waist. Fat Cat Could be Record Breaker – ananova
• Does 40% lower operating cost make this attractive? GE Hitachi Advances New Nuclear Reactor Design – reuters
• I find this hard to believe…US Firm Wins Huge Solar Power Project in China – yahoo! news
• NY Researchers Breeding Rare Native Ladybugs – myway/ap
• (video) Gardening Offer Kids Recipe for Healthy Life – msnbc

More companies continue to see the value in green marketing.  Sprint is now expanding its offerings to consumers searching for more sustainable everyday products.  The company has just announced an expanded line of accessories that includes chargers and device cases.  Their growing line of “green” phone accessories will be available in the new, dedicated green sections at all company-owned retail locations, and online @ sprint.com.

Included in the expansion is a new eco-friendly cell-phone charger: the All-In-One Vehicle and Wall Charger to complement the SOLIO solar powered charger the company currently offers. The All-In-One charger is an all-in-one car and home/office charger.  It features an inline USB port that allows two devices to be charged simultaneously and operates within Energy Star guidelines.  The All-in-One charger is available for $39.99.
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