It’s time to dig out of that snowdrift and start thinking about spring!  This kicky organic cotton Beatnik Vest will add a little shape and a lot of style to your spring wardrobe.  Handmade in L.A. by Raw Earth & Wild Sky.

marked down from $216 to $108 @ btcelements.com

It may not be sexy, but this simple little toilet accessory may save a lot of water.  The standard toilet tank flapper can form a leaky seal, or simply lower too slowly to stop water flowing into your toilet bowl.  One estimate has leaky flappers wasting an estimated 11 million gallons of water a minute in the USA.

The weighted Greenflush valve closes much faster than the traditional flapper. The Greenflush, which is said to install in 30 seconds, is estimated to reduce a typical 2 or 3 gallon flush to 1 gallon.  It also works with newer low-flow toilets.

It sells for $19.95 – but hey if it works it will pay for itself very quickly.

I could use this about now – the Blow Sofa features recycled paper shipping bags as inflatable cushions.  Created by the Polish design firm MALAFOR,  this seating unit is easily portable, inexpensive, and a breeze to set up.

The cushions can be inflated on site, and are supported by a metal frame and flexible straps.  Just keep sharp objects, smokers and crayons at a distance.     via: despoke

In the world of LEED, platinum ratings are a big deal.  And in the world of travel, they’re an even bigger deal; that’s because a mere three hotels in the entire world are certified LEED Platinum, the highest honor attainable when it comes to sustainable, eco-friendly design.  Naturally, I applaud most eco endeavors, but I’m breathless over Bardessono Hotel and Spa, which is not only a beautiful, 62-room boutique, but an innovative Napa Valley retreat from the roof on down.  Literally. Nine-hundred-forty-seven solar panels blanket the hotel’s flat roofs, providing a healthy portion of the property’s electricity.  And 72 geothermal wells are used to heat and cool the hotel rooms and water.

The building blocks of the hotel–the stones you see stacked along the exterior–were recycled from the an old wine cellar on the property, and all of the visible wood salvaged from Orchard Walnut, Redwood, Elm and Monterey Cypress trees.  The list of green activities also includes the expected “regulars:” water recycling, composting, low-flow fixtures and LED lighting.  Features abound as well.

From organic cocktails to organic sheets, it’s an all-natural getaway in the heart of the West Coast’s vineyards.  Bottom line: If you’re looking to escape the winter doldrums, this is the place to do it. And while you’re there, don’t forget to book a spa appointment.

• Bipartisanism, pragmatism, or fear? EPA to Soften CO2 Requirements on Industry – reuters
• Toyota Admits it Took ‘Too Long’ on Safety Recalls – bbc
• Someone please email this link to Tiger Woods…Peru Poison Frog Reveals Secret of Monogamy – bbc
• It is our 51st state…Sierra Club Asks Feds to Protect PR Coastline – msnbc
• Just because there’s some snow on your windshield doesn’t mean we’re out of the woods yet…Disappearing Antarctic Ice Shelves: Glacier Retreat and Sea Level Rise Possible Consequences – sciencedaily
• As the Japanese slaughter whales in the South Pacific…Thousands Give Last Rites to Dead Whale in Vietnam – myway
• Is that putz Glen Beck now a movie critic? James Cameron: Fox Wanted Treehugging ‘Crap’ Removed From Avatar – ecorazzi

• This year’s Winter Olympic medals contain recycled e-waste, courtesy of Vancouver-based Tech Resources Inc.
• One of our favorite competitors of a different kind, flamboyant U.S. figure skater Johnny Weir, decided to opt for faux fur on one of his Olympically austentatious outfits – forgoing real fox fur – when he got some nasty emails from animal rights folks…now if Johnny would just take a formal stand against the use of fur in fashion…
• Olympic organizers and the UN Environmental Program have focused on minimizing the event’s carbon impact, with clean technology choices, an expanded transport system for the city, green construction for the Olympic venues, and a commitment to offset direct carbon emissions from the Games.  Some additional eco-friendly features of the Olympic sites include low-flow toilets that use rainwater for flushing, energy-efficient grass-clad roofs and separate containers for compostable waste.
• Bode Miller goes green – as in endorsements.  Bode who has won 3 medals at these Olympics – including last night’s gold in the Super Combined – has thoroughly rehabbed his image and should be good to go with commercial sponsors if he so chooses.

True tea lovers know that in terms of flavor — loose leaf, rather than bagged, is the ultimate.  Here’s a beautiful way to sip in bliss while on the go.

The ladies of Libre offer 2 elegant styles of loose tea glass — Glass ‘n glass or Glass ‘n poly (BPA-free, food grade polypropylene).  Perfect for travel – the glass keeps your tea hot, yet is cool to touch.  With 2 ways to steep, just fill the lid with about a teaspoon of tea, add hot water and enjoy the transformation of clear water to fresh brew. (Take a quick peek at the video demo – it’s as easy as 1, 2, 3.)

Aside from optimum flavor, did you know there are more upsides to loose leaf tea?  It’s more eco friendly — bagged tea requires not only bags, but also strings/threads, boxes, paper or plastic wrappers — creating more waste than loose leaf. After steeping, loose tea is easily biodegradable.  Loose leaf tea can cost less, too.

A classy way to enjoy your favorite spot of tea wherever you may be; ($25 or $24, glass or poly).  find @ Libretea.com.

OK, you’ve got your re-usable grocery bag thing worked out – color coordination, size and style – all set.  Now you need a solution for when you go to the wine or liquor store.   Here it is – these 2-Bottle Bags are made from sturdy, recycled nylon, rice and feed bags.  The bag’s protective divider keeps your precious liquids safe.  Fairly Traded and made by Cambodian women artisans vying for economic independence.

$14 ea. @ greenergrassdesign.com

The challenges in developing plant-based biofuel as an energy source are many.

• Can plant-based fuel be manufactured cost-comparably to fossil fuels?
• Can it be grown economically on arid, or non-desirable terrain?
• Can biofuel production and farming avoid doing more harm than good (see palm oil), and avoid competing with its use as an important food crop, (ie corn)?

A variety of plant and organic sources are being explored as part of the solution.  One promising tropical plant currently being studied as a renewable energy crop is Jatropha curcas, a non-edible shrub native to Central America, which is now being cultivated in many arid parts of the world.

The plant’s seeds contain high amounts of oil that can be refined using existing technology to produce diesel fuel, jet fuel, and other chemicals.  Jatropha can be effectively grown on marginal lands that are considered undesirable for other crops, resists (more…)