The folks that market the Grace e-bike created a new product category for their zero emissions, electric cycle – they call it the first e-motorbike.  Definition: a high-performance electric bicycle that has the performance characteristics of a small motorcycle or e-scooter.  The Grace, which is purported to be the first street-legal e-motorbike,  is handcrafted in Berlin and comes with a very hefty price tag (somewhere around $8 grand U.S.) – though it does look great.

Some details:

• in Europe the Grace can legally hit a top speed of 45km/h (they make a 70km/h sport model)
• the handcrafted, aircraft grade aluminum frame contains all batteries and electronics
• street model has a range of 15 – 30 km on a charge
• 1.3kw brushless hub motor
• 13AH capacity lithium ion battery
• 32 kg total weight
• fully charges in about 1 hour

I don’t know why it took me so long to find out about Brad Pitt’s amazing non-profit org.  Its call Make It Right NOLA and it is dedicated to making a difference in the New Orleans’ Lower 9th Ward that was destroyed during Hurricane Katrina.  It’s amazing that Katrina seems to have been so long ago with how quickly time always flies, but it was only 5 years ago that it damaged more than 4000 houses leaving thousands of people homeless and the city of New Orleans in desperate need for help and a hopeful future.

And this is where Brad Pitt comes in, making me swoon and melt when I come across Make It Right.  His non-prof is like the cherry on top of the sprinkles, whipped cream, peanuts, hot fudge, five different flavors of ice cream all in a waffle bowl with ONE spoon (mine!).  Aka, he just keeps getting better.

Make it Right is committed to building affordable, storm resistant homes for those in need.  Not only are they storm resistant and adept to the ever changing climate in New Orleans, but the houses are green!  The architects that work at Make It Right are experts at green technology, landscape architecture and design.  Using products like recycled wood, energy efficient designs and appliances, solar panels, storm fabrics and a special drainage building wrap that is water and air resistant prevents mold from growing and wood from rotting in the humid and moist environment of New Orleans.

Not only do they build the houses with storm resistance and green design in mind, but the architects have even built houses that float during flood seasons!  When floods occur, the house can easily create a raft underneath and drift upwards and away from power lines, guide posts and electric units.  The architect, Thom Mayne, says the house can even power itself for up to 3 days with its charged batteries during floods.

The houses look so good, I’m ALMOST jealous of the Lower 9th Ward neighborhood.  Who am I kidding though?  I am so spoiled with my San Diego weather I don’t think I could ever give it up!  Unlesssss, Brad comes with! ;)

Protect those precious eyes in sustainable fashion with iwood shades. From their Harmony Collection, these frames are made from certified reclaimed exotic wood Forest Steward Council, sustainably harvested; lenses by Carl Zeiss, 100% UVA & UVB protection — polarized lenses are available upon request.

What better way to say you’re creative?  Check out the multi-font belt crafted in Seattle, Washington; and made from recycled bike tube and letters pressed in pewter.  Perfect for writers, designers … and vegans.

Ready to tie the knot? Let your fingers do the talking with ethically made jewelry from Ingle & Rhodes — diamonds, gold and platinum fashioned into Eternity, Engagement and Wedding rings, all Fairtrade and custom made.

If you’re having trouble finding a pair earth-friendly, casual summer sandals that still have some style we may have uncovered a solution -  these snappy two-strap, totally vegan, Birki Freeport clogs, feature a comfy cork shoe bed and replaceable soles.

@ shoepeddlers.com

Made in NY from Brooklyn-based, Feral Childe, get ready for fall – snatch up a fitted corduroy blazer, on sale @ beklina.com

Get over to Gaiam if you want to save big on all manner of green goods, from yoga duds to outdoor furniture, bedding, towels and all kinds of stuff to make your life a little greener.  Sale ends 6am tomorrow.

Remember to enter the sale code – BMSM24HR – at checkout for additional savings.

Holistic, sustainable design is good stuff.  The design team at California based, Symbios, builds and designs homes and structures that connect and integrate nature and natural systems into their creative approach (see their Salmon Creek School project pictured above).  The company specializes in: green roof design and implementation, green kitchens, handcrafted windows featuring reclaimed glass, and green building design and construction.  Here’s a look at some of their projects:

Wings of Earth House – Sonoma County, CA

The many benefits of a green roof include:

• the creation of a living, roof-born eco-system – a home for bees, insects and other small creatures, erosion protection
• a buffer for storm runoff
• an insulating layer to increase the heating and cooling performance of a structure and the
• creation of a green space that improves a building’s landscape integration and increases our connection with nature.

When in bloom, the green roof of this 3300 square foot home resembles a colorful fall mountainside.  The roof’s planting scheme was designed to resemble the patterns seen on the wings of butterflies.  The roof features eleven species of plants (9 sp. of Sedums, plus Dianthus and Phlox) arranged according to shape, texture, size and color to achieve maximum visual impact.

The residence, designed by Symbios, features exterior straw bale walls, lime plaster, passive solar design, P.V. solar electrical power, solar hot water, radiant in-floor heating, light shelves for day lighting, energy efficient lighting and appliances and several thermal-mass interior walls made from the earth (sub-soils) obtained from the excavation of the building site.

The Keating Residence

This hillside residence (pictured above) features reclaimed lumber, passive solar energy and cotton insulation and lots of windows.

Dive in – favorite NYC boutique and online etailer, Kaight has a summer sale going on.

Loving Kelly B‘s cutout swim suit and Perfectly Imperfect‘s Ballerina Dress (L to R, above).  Check it all out @ kaightshop.com

An eco girl can still dream…
(links below photo)

• adrere amellal – over the top eco luxurious resort

• alabamachanin.com – yummy sustainable threads
  

• tesla – not your mother’s Prius

• Tsi-La mini quartet collection – let’s not make a stink

• iWood sunglasses – a vision in green
  

• Now doesn’t this make you want to have another burger? Cattle ‘Cloned From Dead Animals’ - bbc
• Why’s everyone’s afraid to utter the words – ‘climate change’. Long Hot Summer of Fire and Floods Fits Predictions – yahoo! news
• Where’d the oil go? Gulf Spill: Work on Relief Well Stops as Storm Approaches – cnn
• In Oiled La. Marshes Signs of Regrowth Emerge - msnbc
• I do eat a lot of peas…Pea Shoot Found Growing in Mass. Man’s Lung – aol news
• Ancient Phoenician City ‘Relocated’ – livescience

For the past two nights, the hub and I have enjoyed putting to the test a bottle of organic Merlot, compliments of California-based, HALL Winery.

As we sipped and supped, I reflected on my informal tour of Napa a few years back.  It was in the spring and I couldn’t have imagined a finer time of year to traipse around this sweet valley.  Alongside three of my best gal pals, two of whom were very wine savvy, we managed to hit a few of Napa’s finest vineyards and also receive some heavenly spa treatments in and around Calistoga.

At that time, HALL was not on our short hit list, but now that I’ve tried their smooth and tasty Napa Valley Merlot (2006), I look forward to trying more, especially their Cabernet Sauvignon.  I’d also like to visit their state of the art facility in St. Helena — it’s the first winery in California to receive Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certification by the U.S. Building Council’s LEED Green Building Rating System.

They specialize in Bordeaux — Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Sauvignon Blanc — and they’re not what I’d call your typical table wines.  These wines are meticulously hand-sorted and finely crafted – designed to accompany you in life’s celebrations.  (The Cab ranges in price, beginning at $40/bottle, the Merlot, $28 and Sauvignon Blanc, $22.)

In fact, HALL will be presented the International Award of Excellence in Sustainable Winegrowing by the Botanical Research Institute of Texas on October 8, 2010.

As the company says, “HALL Wines are organically farmed with careful attention to the biodiversity of Napa Valley terroir. … (we’re a) 21st Century winery that employs organic small-vine viticulture, precision winemaking, wild yeast fermentation and micro-blocking-blending to fully extract the purity and quintessence of Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon.”

HALL now has six Napa Valley Estate Vineyards comprising over 500 planted acres in both Napa and Sonoma counties — organic certified by the California Certified Organic Farmers.

From now through the end of August, HALL St. Helena is offering complimentary LEED tours daily at 11am; by reservation @ 707.967.2626.  Or simply stop by for a visit or tasting — St. Helena is open every day 10a – 5:30p.

If you’re planning a trip to Napa, you might want to check out their 25-guest room property @ laresidence.com. more info @ hallwines.com.