Mating two carbon-curbing methods for the first time, French automaker Peugeot recently announced it will launch its diesel-electric hybrid, the 3008 HYbrid 4, in Europe next spring.  The small-scale crossover marks the world’s first diesel (versus gasoline) hybrid, and while it won’t be available in the states quite yet, it’s a grand step forward in the greening of the automotive sphere.  Here in the US, diesel still hasn’t caught on for the majority of passenger-car driving folks, but in Europe, a far larger percentage of commuters are behind the wheel of diesel-engine cars, approximately 20 – 40% more efficient than their petroleum counterparts.

According to GreenCarReports, the hybrid will garner a hefty 68 mpg.  It also features a ZEV (zero emission vehicle) mode that kicks in to haul heavier loads, complemented by Auto, Sport, and Four-Wheel-Drive modes.  And even better, the crossover’s smooth looks don’t disappoint, based on our initial glance.  It offers the clean lines expected from a European ride, as well as the compact design that so easily takes those countryside curves.

If Peugeot were to offer up the diesel hybrid in the U.S., would you take it on a test drive?

This fall, M:Zero Shoes kicks off with some cool suede shoes — dark purple, navy, blue, beige, dark brown and matte black — all  made from recycled plastic.  I hit the streets all summer in a pair of Melissa (the M in M: Zero) jellies made from clear-colored recycled plastic, and they killed – in a good way, of course.  The guys’ moccasin slip-ons or oxfords above, are priced at $130 @ karmaloop.com.

Going off-grid, traveling light, but still need to shed a little light on the subject?  This little portable solar lantern created by designer Jesper Jonsson may be a harbinger of things to come.

Small enough to fit in your pocket when collapsed – large enough to provide a little light in your pup tent when expanded – this prototype captures energy with its solar panel during the day and stores it in its built-in battery for use at night. via: the design blog

Maybe it’s time for you to start expressing yourself artistically.  These award-winning sets for a proposed WD-40 ad campaign were more for a design school project by art director Linda Snorina of Dallas…Shows what you can create with a $20 budget spent on WalMart hardware.  Photographed in Linda’s  living room.

Want go solar without all the upfront investment?  That’s the idea behind One Block Off the Grid, a new group-buying program in Pittsburgh that offers homeowners pre-negotiated discounts so that they can easily switch to solar, sit back, and reap the rewards of renewable energy.  The new program cuts out the confusion for residents who are interested in solar energy, but not necessarily sure of how to navigate the burgeoning industry.

Best of all, the program, which is available to area homeowners through late November, offers a financing option.  If you’ve been pinching pennies in a down economy, you can still participate thanks to a financing option that requires zero money down, but offers immediate cost-savings.  One Block Off the Grid calculates that a $16,000 average total investment (that includes the discounts offered) will save a longterm homeowner $105,000 over 25 years (that’s $55,000 saved on electricity and $50,000 in money generated by the resulting solar renewable energy credits).

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• As with everything spill-related, it took them a while to get going…Deep in Gulf Water, Bacteria are Eating Spilled Oil – npr
• It’s a start…Toyota Plans 5 Million Cumulative Hybrid Sales by 2015 – reuters
• Great.  Two of my biggest problems…Sloth and Gluttony Hard to Shake Even for the Healthy – livescience
• Brass in pocket…Chrissie Hynde to Launch New Eco-Vegan Fashion Line – ecorazzi
• They’ve got to close the canals or these alien fish will destroy the Great Lakes…Michigan Hails Judge’s Move in Asian Carp Fight – cs monitor
• Caught on tape…Woman Dumps Live Cat in Garbage Bin, Becomes Internet Villain – msnbc
• Ham and egg fans take another hit…Walmart Deli Meat Recall Announced – cs monitor

How do you make a home that looks this great – green?  Combine a geothermal heating and cooling system, with loads of cross ventilation, tankless-toilets, low-flow faucets, a rainwater capture system, a living, green roof – and a 15KW wind turbine capable of powering the whole deal – and you have a designer home that’s fast on its way to LEED Silver Certification.

Designed by Peter Gluck and Partners of NYC, the home which sits high up amidst the Blue Ridge Mountains, possesses a very compelling 100 mile view.   The house is divided into 3 programmatic zones, kitchen/dining, sleeping and recreation.

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Upcycling factor aside, these handbags are awesome in size as well as fashion statements.  Each is one of a kind and made from repurposed Japanese obis (komono sashes).  The handle is custom made from birch ply, laser cut locally for Grace Designs in California.  The backing is a micro fibre solid red ultra suede and the bag is lined with unbleached cotton.

The two bags pictured here retail for $125 each @ grace design

(Sorry to say it!) But summer is slowly coming to an end and school is starting up again.  This means stores everywhere are having back-to-school sales on brand new lunch boxes, supplies, clothes, backpacks and more.  Aka your kids are going to be competing with the other kids in school to get the freshest new gear off the market.  While the greenest way to start school again is to reuse your supplies, it is pretty tough to tell your kid that his old Batman shoes are just as cool as the new Iron Man shoes Tommy across the street is sporting.  So while you bring in the new clothes, books, binders, and more, don’t be too quick to throw out the old stuff!  There are plenty of places willing to reuse or recycle what you need out of your house.

General school supplies that have been slightly-used can be donated to I Love Schools where you can choose to donate to a certain school district or even a specific teacher you had in mind.  Check out your local schools and shelters as well; they are always accepting supplies for potential low-income neighborhood children.

Donating clothes to your local Goodwill or Salvation Army for re-sale is an easy quick fix for piling old clothes too.  You can look into other donation non-profs like The Backpack Project which takes used backpacks and fills them with hygiene products, non-perishable foods, socks, first-aid kits, and journals for homeless and transitional youth or Soles 4 Souls that cleans and sends used shoes to people in need all around the world.

Clear out the landfills while clearing out your own house by doing a little research on donation centers around your area!  Happy first days of school!!