The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) has named Singita Pamushana, one of Singita Game Reserve’s nine low-impact game lodges, the Global Winner in conservation during the 6th Annual Tourism for Tomorrow Awards.

Found within the beautiful 130,000 acres of the Malilangwe Wildlife Reserve of South-Eastern Zimbabwe, Singita Pamushana has become a little-known secret in the world of high-end tourism. Perhaps the greatest aspects of the Singita Pamushana lodge are the environmental contributions it has provided to the Malilingwe. (more…)

The seasonal change from spring to summer brings the benefits of warmer weather, longer days and cooler nights. Unfortunately, summer also brings an influx of bugs. If you’re having problems with mosquitoes, instead of using biological or chemical insecticides that are harmful to plants and animals, check out the FY Lifestyle Solar Insect Zapper. Fully solar powered, the insect zapper uses the suns energy to rid your yard of pesky bugs and mosquitoes (though some beneficial bugs may also fall victim).

This insect zapper uses a UV bulb that automatically turns on at dusk and lures in bugs for a quick, chemical-free elimination. The integrated solar panel requires minimal sunlight, charging the battery in 10 hours. This device is portable and can be hung or mounted on a post. The insect zapper also features plastic gating around the bulb, keeping small children and pets safe from any potential accidents.

No more batteries or plug-ins. Save money, cut down your energy use and enjoy the cool summer nights.

Zero Energy Design is a custom architecture company which strives to build houses that use 50% less energy than the required building codes. This is one of the leading innovative companies in green building. With alternative energy being such an important issue today, companies like these are at the forefront of green living. There’s no better way to live an eco-friendly life than to start with your home.

Zero Energy Design follows the ideology that less is more. The houses they produce are very simple designs tailored to the surrounding landscape. Not only are the dwellings built to stand the test of time, but they are also built with non-toxic sustainable materials to minimize the ecological footprint. These beautiful homes are adapted to the buyers’ unique lifestyle, and fit for the environment.

Related: previously on altCon – more sustainable building info

Today’s top sustainable style picks set you up for some fun in the sun. (more…)

• Baby Ospreys Saved From Gators as Flood Waters Rise – msnbc
• A kegger anyone? ‘Rapture Parties’ Planned to Celebrate Doomsday Saturday May 21 – yahoo! news
• Batten down the hatches…US Predicts 3 to 6 Major Atlantic Hurricanes – npr
• This could make large scale solar electricity production a reality…Flexible Solar Cells Hit Record Efficiency Rating – science daily
• Cell Phones Don’t Kill Bees – They Just Drive Them Crazy – aol news
• I find it ironic that their environmental and educational efforts may surpass the US…Malaysia Reaches Out for Sustainability – bbc
• Some birds know who you are…Angry Birds: Magpies Recognize a Face, and Attack – livescience

Sign of the (hard/green) times? Have you noticed how going green means saving green? It’s great to see more and more flea markets popping up throughout New York City. Here’s a quick roundup of places where you can shop local and snag some real deals on furniture, household items, recreational gear, vintage clothing, your real McCoy collection and lots more. Score, have fun and keep good stuff out of the waste-stream.

MANHATTAN

• Hell’s Kitchen Flea with 3 locations: 10th Ave – lots of food vendors and trucks with good eats, too.

• Antiques Garage at 112 W. 25th St every Sat & Sun

• West 25th St Market in Chelsea (Bet B’way & 6th Ave) outdoor and open 9a-5p every Sat and Sun year-round.

• GreenFlea – Columbus Ave & 77th St. (Don’t miss Ruth Pomerantz’ Designer Vintage under the basketball hoop).
• NEW: GreenMarket with fresh, local produce has moved to the Eastside of Columbus between 77-80th St – now on Sundays only. Link HERE for details and hours.

• Hester Street Fair (Lower Eastside) every Saturday 10a-6p Corner of Hester & Essex St. Amazing food, too.

BKLYN (more…)

The effort to reduce our dependence on evil fossil fuels has driven researchers, scientists and engineers to explore a plethora of new fuel sources and technologies. One renewable source of clean energy that holds vast potential – wind power – has some creative minds looking to the sky – way up in the sky. High altitude wind turbines, like the Magenn Power’s air rotor designs (above and directly below) are tethered to a ground-based power grid have the potential to create lots of power with an investment in infrastructure. Magenn’s floating, helium-filled turbines create energy by rotating in plentiful, high altitude wind currents.

Joby Energy is developing a multi-turbine design which employs turbines to propel it into the air and then utilizes a combination of: a kite-like design, high altitude air currents and a circular flight path to stay aloft while the turbines generate wind power. (pictured below)

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It’s never too early to start a young whippersnapper on the road to becoming an environmentalist, marine biologist, or eco-fashionista.

This soft and plushy organic cotton onesie just may do the trick. It features a vintage image of a whale taken from an antique book. The image is surrounded by the original handwritten description of the illustration.

What price art? Only $15 at designer Anna Attard’s amelie jo Cargoh shop.

The Bank of America Tower in Manhattan, New York is currently the most energy efficient and environmentally friendly skyscraper in the world. Dwarfed only by the Empire State Building among the skyscrapers of New York, this billion-dollar giant on Sixth Avenue measures in at 1,200 feet tall. So, since we all know that such buildings tend to be energy guzzlers, what makes this one such an ecological powerhouse? (more…)