Ethical and hip style abounds at New York City-based, cri de coeur (crimes of the heart). An entire range of chic vegan footwear,  jewelry and bags scream be mine. (Above L to R) Three-tiered bangle made of brass and re-purposed suede, hand-crafted in NY $100. Booties available in chocolate or black $160.

(Above L to R) Fair Trade month kicks off tomorrow, show your support for one of our sponsors EarthLover Shopping, a company that offers organic, recycled, handmade and Fair Trade items everyday of the year.

We’re loving these beautiful Fair Trade made accessories: mini change purse featuring recycled Sari material one one side and black cotton canvas in the reverse and interior. $14. Created with indigenous ingenuity from Senegal, wrap yourself in total comfort with this handmade Cotton Voile Branches Scarf $59.

(above) Power-up your fall transformation with Energy Muse. From Torrance, California and with lines for both men and women — choose from bracelets, necklaces, earrings, rings and chakra belts … Hey, when you make your purchase, pass along a few good vibes our way when you click on the Rune of Romance Energy Muse ad on our site. We’re loving the Gratitude bracelet, co-created by Jason Mraz.

That wraps it up … as you transition to fall – stay balanced – what goes around, comes around...

Related: more eco-fashion on The Alternative Consumer.

• First Solar is still a world leader. Will politics kill our burgeoning solar industry? Solar Titan Faces Funding Worries After Solyndra – npr
• Very Rare White Humpback Whale Spotted – bbc
• Economics dictates that turbines get bigger, more efficient and float…Pushing the Design Envelope – the Emerging Reality of Larger Offshore Wind Turbines – yahoo! news
• Good. My nose is running as I type…Unprecedented Insight Into Fighting Viral Infections – sciencedaily
• There could be some new players in the Afghani conflict…Bounty of Rare Earth Elements Discovered in Afghanistan – livescience

Ah, those nostalgic memories of stanky jock straps, muddy tube socks and the frightening prospect of tussling with the parallel bars…I digress. Designer Wes Bennett has an eye for upcycling. He built the ‘Repurposed 36″ Rolling Vintage Storage’ unit from a re-finished athletic locker.

Bennett has created a bunch of furniture from reclaimed and salvaged lockers. Each hand-crafted piece is cleaned, stripped of old paint, and modified for its new purpose. In the case of the storage bureau pictured above, heavy duty casters and stylish hardware were added to the piece. Wes can customize the units into different configurations for featuring electronics, TV’s and vertical storage.

A great way to add a little industrial flair to your loft, or sports-addicted offspring’s bedroom.

@ wesbenn on Etsy

related: more eco home decor

(above) Framed, literally: both eyes and Warby Parker models look spectacular in a stint at the New York Public Library during Fashion Week. Perhaps the perfect setting since Warby Parker pays homage to two of Jack Kerouac’s earliest characters: Zagg Parker and Warby Pepper – borrowing the best of each name and morphing them into an eyewear brand.

Fact or fiction? Four literary hipsters meet at Wharton and decide to launch Warby Parker, an eyewear company with a penchant for affordable style and altruism. Along the lines of Tom’s Shoes, for each pair purchased, WB will donate a pair to someone in need. Also similar in business model, a pair won’t cost you an arm and a leg. Just $95. (more…)

When contemplating solar energy one’s mind usually wanders to the sunny climes of California, Nevada or the deserts of Northern Africa and Dubai. Not foggy old London. But yes, the UK has its own booming residential and commercial solar industry. One company taking advantage of friendly government tariffs and consumer demand for solar energy is London solar panel suppliers, Ploughcroft Solar.

Ploughcroft maintains the only NVQ accredited training center in the UK, handles both large corporate and residential installations, and even has an Eco Roof division.

To support the transition to renewable energy sources the UK now has a target of producing 15% of its total energy use to renewables by 2020 and has instituted the Generation and Feed In Tariffs program, providing those installing an alternative energy systems an estimated return of 8-10%, which compared with the interest paid by a savings account, is an attractive investment opportunity whilst lowering the home owner’s or business’s carbon footprint (global warming is an accepted fact in Europe and most of the civilized world). The Tariffs are available to home owners, businesses, schools and other commercial enterprises.

Those taking advantage in 2011 will have their Tariffs set at a higher level — which, in the UK is a good thing — than those who wait until 2012 and subsequent years. Tariffs are index linked and tax free.

• Smart investment. U.S. Gives $136 Million for Advanced Biofuels Research – reuters
• Fracking controversy…Spin Overtaking Facts in Marcellus Shale Debate – ap/myway
• Can your smartphone help you lose weight? Researchers Uncover Best (and Worst) Weight-Loss Apps – livescience
• From some dope’s aquarium to a pond or river near you…(video) Piranhas in Texas? Girl, 5 Lands One – msnbc
• Natural Therapies: Cardiologists Examine Alternatives to Halt High Blood Pressure – sciencedaily
• How Climate Change Could Hurt Yellowstone National Park – nytimes.com

When it comes to buying new furniture (not pre-loved or antiques), and you aim to be sustainable about it – keep your eye on how and where a piece is created. With all the mileage and energy required, shipping a piece from overseas is not very green. Neither is chopping down old growth trees. However when we keep the production local it’s not only better for the environment, but also helps sustain our U.S. economy and create jobs.

New to the home furnishings scene is an earth-friendly collection designed and fabricated by green-certified designer, Kristin Drohan. The style of the line is inspired by a classic, timeless frame and designed for comfort and durability. All pieces are bench-made in Hickory, North Carolina. Included in the upscale grouping are: a recliner, sofa, convertible sectional, ottomans, two upholstered beds and a canopy bed. (more…)

Days are getting shorter, temperatures are dropping and the autumn leaves have begun to turn. However, it’s still not too late to squeeze in that summer trip that you haven’t had time for. Whether you’re planning a camping trip in Colorado or heading to Miami to soak up some rays at the beach, there are numerous ways to reduce your carbon footprint while traveling. Here are a few tips: (more…)

Halloween is going to be here before you know it. This solar pumpkin lamp will add a smidgen of class to any ghoulish fall event – from your annual “Night of the Living Dead” costume party, to the obligatory evening barbecue, or spontaneous ritual dismembering.

The light consists of a repurposed glass pumpkin with a handmade, upcycled mason jar solar light inside. It charges via the sun during the day and creates a lovely Halloween atmosphere after dark.

$28.50 @ the treasureagain Etsy shop