Where do cars get the worst gas mileage and do the most harm to the atmosphere?  Cities.  Urban automobile travel sucks up fuel and spews out CO2 – and the sin is compounded when a lonely individual person is tooling around town in their Escalade.

One solution for short distance solo travel – grab a bike, e-bike, or electric scooter.  The only emissions generated by an e-bike are from the power plant that creates the electricity used to charge its battery (coal-fired power plants present a dilemma).

To serve this market, Suzuki and Sanyo have hooked-up to create the e-Let’s – an electric scooter prototype which will begin road testing in Japan shortly.  The e-Let’s will fully charge from a standard wall outlet in about 4 hours, and has a top speed of just under 20mph.  You can scoot-around for about an hour on a charge. Perfect for short commutes and quick errands.

We particularly like the nifty looking basket on the front of the bike for storing cocoa, iPads, fresh produce and crayons & such.

source: globalsuzuki.com

Liquidation Sale, 50% off Storewide — all ladies apparel is organic and Fair Trade made; 5% of profits go to worthy charities; free shipping – better hurry!

(above, clockwise L to R) organic bamboo and organic cotton knit scarf on sale now reduced from $26 to $13.  Indigenous Designs’ Tango Jacket petites, certified organic cotton, either neutral or black; now $42. Sleep Tank in organic cotton & spandex, now $18.  Eco undies in solids or Brackley Print, now $7.50/each. … Lots more smart stuff @ fashionandearth.com

The folks at New Mexico-based Pfeifer Studio are doing their part to create fine home furnishings while simultaneously aiding efforts to sustain their local environment.  Two new tables from the Studio provide a couple of fine examples of sustainable design and manufacturing practices.

Locally harvested, eco-friendly and full of visual pizazz, the Rio Grande Side Table (above), sculpted from Cottonwood, is created from wood taken from from standing, dead or dying trees cleared from burn areas along the Rio Grande River.  Part of an effort to rehabilitate the area, the trees were harvested and turned into cleverly shaped side tables and finished with a non-toxic topcoat finish.  Each table will feature its own unique cracks and crevices that will naturally occur as the wood shrinks and ages.  The cracks don’t affect the structural integrity of the piece, but do enhance its natural character.

The Russian Olive Stump Table (above) is made from the wood of the Russian Olive tree, an invasive, non-native species introduced as an ornamental to New Mexico in the early 20th Century.  The trees are being removed from the Bosque (the flood plain along the river) in an effort to help restore the eco-system where the Russian Olive has been crowding out native trees along with other non-native species like Salt Cedars and Siberian Elms.  Pfeifer Studio has been snatching them up to make cool, organic side tables.

As an added environmental plus, Pfeifer Studio will donate a portion of the proceeds from the sale of these two new exclusive table designs to Tree New Mexico — New Mexico non-profit dedicated to ensuring sustainable forests in urban and rural communities.

Yes, we do love product testing various organic libations.  The folks at Sweden-based Kanon Organic Vodka were gracious enough to send us a bottle of their fine organic vodka…and we must admit, it is particularly tasty.

This isn’t some “Gordon Gekko-Come-Lately” vodka distilled by a gaggle of Wall Street guys looking to do something “sexy” with their extra cash.  Kanon vodka is distilled at Gripsholm Distillery (pictured above), which has been producing organic vodka, since 1580 (that’s over 400 years for the math challenged) and was regally appointed by King Gustav III in 1775.

Not some stodgy, behind-the-times outfit, Kanon employs a unique, straight run distilling technique that features the finest locally grown organic wheat, pristine spring water from the company’s own source and nothing else, ever.  Their eco-friendly, green distillery is run on wind and water power and all of their byproducts are renewable.

But all that “green” credibility isn’t worth much if the booze tastes like gasoline and luckily for all involved, our extensive testing confirms that this is a great tasting certified organic vodka, neat or mixed and it’s reasonably priced…very sweet indeed!

A collection of refined design for home or person, “sustainable beauty” – all created from post-consumer recycled materials – can be found at Regenesi.

(above, L to R) A kimono for your vino, the Vinomo:  keeps wine at desired temp, unfolds when not in use for easy storage, made of regenerated leather, 100% recycled & recyclable.  A lightweight lampshade also made of regenerated leather, part of the o-Re-gami collection of home accessories made without the use of glue.

(above) A set of earrings & bracelet in circles and ellipses in mother of pearl coloured Alicrite made from recycled plastic & recycled antiqued copper plated brass — the Kaisli Kiuru from the Re-Circle Range of jewelry.

Visit regenesi.com, link to their Shop and View Entire Catalogue for more details.

• Intriguing…Pictures:  New Armored, Wood-Eating Catfish Found in Amazon – natgeo
• The Prince of ‘Truthiness’ is one of about five U.S. citizens to take up United Farm Worker challenge…Colbert to Testify Before Congress – cnn
• “I did not have sexual relations with that zucchini”…Ex-President Bill Clinton Confirms He’s ‘Experimenting’ with Vegan Diet – ecorazzi
• 56 Stranded Whales Die on New Zealand Beach – msnbc
• He’s become a liability…UN Climate Chief Resignation Call – bbc
• This will not play well with the Tea Party and other ‘free-market’ oil company lackeys…Greenpeace Plans Month-Long Protest on North Sea Drill Ship – yahoo! news
• One transplanted lynx found his way back to Canada…Colo. Claims Victory in Effort to Bring Back Lynx – myway

photo credit: national geographic

Here’s a little video I shot…an Alternative Consumer exclusive…Brooklyn-based eco-fashion designer Samantha Pleet unveiled her Spring/Summer 2011 collection at the GreenShows during Fashion Week in NYC.  A Pratt grad, Samantha’s been ecofashioning chic, wearable lines since 2006.

Her presentation was a fun way to close the 3-day green fashion runway event…a  mix of fresh sustainable designs, Fair Organic Vodka, deejay, video projections and cute, disinterested models filled the Metropolitan Suite as we looked forward to next spring.  more @ samanthapleet.com/

While stalking the GreenShows’ catwalks in NYC last week, one of the perks I received was a sample pack of Kitten Coffee.  Moments later, when I stepped outside to grab some sunshine the Kitten mobile (above) was parked right in front of me, so…this kitty was curious.

When I arrived home I ground the fresh beans, drank in the aroma and enjoyed the flavor…it was smooth-tasting, with no bitter after taste.  Blended and roasted locally, the 100% Arabicas beans are Rainforest Alliance certified.  This Brooklyn based espresso and coffee bean roaster offsets their carbon emissions via Landcare Carbon Smart.  They’re one of only two coffee roasters in the US who currently endeavor to be carbon neutral — we hope others follow…at a cost of only two cents per pound of coffee, why not?

Turns out, Kitten Coffee opened New York’s first Barista School in 2007, and they provide espresso and coffee beans to many restaurants and cafes in the City.

They roast weekly and ship beans ordered within a day to ensure freshness.  find @ kittencoffee.com/

Designer Celia Gray of Buncombe Buckles picked the bones of deceased refrigerators decomposing in the scrapyard to acquire the raw materials of this industrial fashion accessory.  Round, recycled refrigerator parts were spot welded together to create the unique “repeated circles” buckle.