• Why not take the billions in oil company subsidies and invest in clean energy? Federal Green Energy Loan Program Lives On – reuters
• So much for ‘clean’, abundant natural gas – methane escapes during fracking process…Shale Gas ‘Worse Than Coal’ for Climate – bbc
• Global warming isn’t helping either. Penguin Numbers Plummeting – Whales Partly to Blame? – natgeo
• In Tsunami Aftermath, Efforts Focus on New Defenses – cnn
• Pass me the honey…honey…Honey Can Reverse Antibiotic Resistance, Study Finds – sciencedaily
• Budget Deal Blocks Obama Wilderness Policy – msnbc
• Hunting these slow moving guys just doesn’t seem very sporting…Porcupines Poised to be a Public Enemy in Pa. – myway
• The dumbing-down of America…Attacks Mount on Teaching Evolution – livescience

Here’s a nifty lighting concept that should hold appeal for video bloggers, podcasters, YouTube addicts and online broadcasters who utilize their laptop webcam to capture their antics and presentations. Designer Joseph Louis Tan designed the RingLite -  a USB-powered, compact, portable lighting device to allow webcam users to create more flattering images by shedding a little light on the subject.

The device snaps-onto a laptop, encircling the computer’s webcam, enabling the light’s 6 high efficiency LEDs to provide well-exposed, uniform illumination of the user’s face.

Whether working at home or hitting the road, lately I’ve been using a neat reusable thermal mug, compliments of imorganic.com.

BPA-free, this Eco Travel Mug is made of bio-plastic, derived from 100% U.S. corn, so it feels nice to the touch. It’ll biodegrade in 90 days when placed in your compost for its afterlife.

The bottom is weighted and designed to fit comfortably in a car’s cup-holder. The sip-top fits snugly, and keeps drinks just the right temp. But you have to be extra careful not to spill it, the opening in the lid for the sip area isn’t designed to close. It’s not dishwasher-safe, so I just give it a good hot rinse by hand.

If you’re looking for a good green to-go cup, check it out … holds 16 ounces, $14.99. We give it our green thumbs-up.

Earth Day is Friday, April 22 – we’re featuring a green tip of the day from April 1-22.

Tip #12: REDUCE the amount of stuff you consume, and the amount of stuff you throw away. We’re talking about clothes and everyday items that can quickly add up to a pile of junk. If the item’s in good order, but you’ve outgrown its use, be sure to pass along, donate or sell it so it doesn’t wind up in a landfill.

• When the item’s kaput and no longer of use to anyone, dispose of it responsibly by recycling in the best way possible.
• Rentalic is all about renting stuff – to and from – your neighbors. (more…)

The Clean Energy Water Clock is a sleek digital clock that uses only water as a power source. The clock creates electrical energy through an electrochemical reaction between the water and electrodes in the device, similar to a science fair potato clock.

The coolest part of this clock is that it is so efficient that it can create energy from moist soil, thus allowing you to grow small plants in the allotted chambers. The Clean Energy Water Clock is an attractive timepiece that doubles as a carbon sink, both reducing your impact and increasing your punctuality.

UPDATE: It’s official – Tina R and Jessica C are our 2 lucky winners. Thanks to everyone for participating and stay tuned for our next giveaway, scheduled to begin next week.

Payless ShoeSource is sponsoring this exclusive giveaway. We’re giving 2 lucky readers each a pair of naturally chic blue Wedges from Zoe&Zac’s new spring/summer line. Zoe & Zac is endorsed by eco model & activist, Summer Rayne Oakes.

The Gardenia Floral Espadrille Wedge retails for $29.99. In addition to free delivery, 2 lucky readers will each receive this pretty blue Wedge in their preferred size, of course. (more…)

If your bureau or vanity is a landfill of tangled jewelry and accessories, the Pack Rack, Barnyard Edition may provide the perfect place to hang your stuff.

You gotta love the kitsch quotient of this funky wall-mounted jewelry rack. Necklaces, pendents and whatnot can be hung from this little piggy or that.

A creation of Brooklyn-based, Steph Mantis, and available at her Supermarket online shop for $58.

Earth Day is Friday, April 22 – we’re offering a green tip of the day from April 1-22.

Tip # 11:  Zero waste is the new mantra. Whether it’s plastic, glass or paper – use a reusable version instead of a single use, disposable item. Some examples:

• ditch the plastic or paper bag, use your reusable bag
• rather than grab a small bottle of water, use your reusable filtered tap water bottle
• rather than a Styrofoam cup, use a thermal to-go mug (ie: Eco-Flask or ceramic mugs)
• use cloth napkins instead of paper
• use real cutlery instead of plastic
• use real china instead of paper or plastic plates
• Entertaining? opt for biodegradable disposable options, ie: compostable ware from Branch; or VerTerra Dinnerware.
• bake your own chicken instead of getting one that’s already prepared and wrapped in a big old ugly plastic container.

You get the idea…don’t keep adding to our ever-mounting landfills. Try to avoid those “single use” disposable items as much as possible. You’ll undoubtedly save money in the long run, too.

Related: previously on altCon – more good green tips

Over a lifetime, each of us will toss out 28,700 pounds of plastic packaging – food wrap, grocery bags, trash bags, etc. It’s estimated that each day 178 million cans of soda are popped across the country – more than 2000 cans per second. (source: NatGeo)

We’d like to welcome Nick McManus, our newest intern, to the altCon team. Nick is getting his degree in Environmental Studies at the University of Colorado, and as you’ll see he’s an avid outdoor enthusiast, as well.

I hope everyone out there is still enjoying their ski season as much as I am! Before you get your last few days in on the mountain, be sure to wax up your skis with some eco-friendly ski wax. Green Ski Wax is an all-natural wax that offers optimal performance without adding pollution to our environment.

Green Ski Wax offers a wide variety of temperature ranges that keeps you cruising at tops speeds on powder days or bluebird days.

Traditional waxes contain small toxic particles that embed themselves into the snow-pack. These small particles add up with the amount of riders and deteriorate the very mountain you love. Switch over to the all-natural, biodegradable Green Ski Wax to protect the future of the mountains that you love, while still cruising at maximum speeds.

find @ buygreen.com.