Utter the words “green” and “hotel” in the same sentence and most folks will conjure up images of the rustic ecolodge living that so captivates city dwellers. These days, however, entrepreneurs like Wen Chang are encouraging sustainable sleep closer to San Francisco than Mount McKinley.

At California’s Gaia Napa Valley Hotel & Spa, guests exit Highway 29 and enter an urban oasis landscape dusted with desert dry appeal. From the outside, the entrance of Gaia (which means “Mother Earth” in Greek) looks less like an eco escape and more like a peculiar pod that juts forth, although not disruptively, among its surroundings. The hotel—the world’s first to be Gold LEED Certified—boasts a bevy of forward-thinking features to lure the eco minded:

• Tubular skylights dot the hotel’s interior, shedding natural light in those areas often forgotten by hoteliers, long hallways and guestroom corners
• Recycled tiles and granite create clean, cool surfaces in all restrooms
• A swan-mesmerizing koi pond that filters, cleans and then uses recycled on-site water
• Chemical-free landscaping that highlights native and climate-adaptive plants that require less watering
• Recycling bins galore, perfect for collecting all the recycled paper products used by the hotel

Naturally, the hotel capitalizes on its charm by offering Spa Gaia and fine-dining Gaia Restaurant, both of which keep wine country visitors fully satiated between vineyard tours.

To check it out for yourself, view the full Photo Gallery here, or call 888.798.3777 to book a room. At time of post, rooms were available starting @ $79/night.

• Maybe a little work on the power grid is also in order… Plug-In Autos Charged Overnight OK for Grid - reuters
• I guess that’s why they call it the ‘Dead Sea’ (video)…Sinkhole Swallows Hiker - natgeo
• African habitat is being destroyed…Huge Decline in Britain’s Woodland Birds - bbc
• The politics of fear returns…Republicans See Opportunity in Climate Bill - guardian.uk
• Back in the day there was no EPA…‘Last Man Standing’ at Wake for Toxic Town - cnn
• I think I’ve only got 2 of em’…6 New Internet-Caused Personality Disorders - cracked.com

Odor-fighting spray company, Poo-Pourri, has introduced an innovative, eco friendly bathroom spray that is designed to eliminate bathroom odors at their most stinky source - the toilet.  Nature’s Call is designed to be sprayed into the toilet prior to making one’s deposit.  The spray’s citrus blend of organic essential oils seals the surface of the toilet’s water preventing noxious fumes from escaping, rather than masking the stench like other sprays.

Poo-Pourri makes several other odor fighting sprays, including their “Before You Go” line, “Pooch-Pourri” pet odor spray and “L’il Stinker” soiled diaper spray.

We’ve yet to test the efficacy of the spray and can’t attest to its odor preventing capabilities.  Presumably, the spray’s olfactory benefits will far outweigh any potential additional toilet bowl cleaning that may result due to the oils.

The award-winning EcoSmart Fire Q is a portable, pivoting, futuristic fireplace sure to turn-up the cool quotient - and the heat - at any indoor or outdoor social event.  Ventless, weatherproof and very cool to look at.  Makes me want to break out the shag rug and get busy.

Fueled by ecofriendly, renewable, denatured ethanol.  Receive up to 30%, or $1,500 in tax credits when you purchase any EcoSmart fireplace (they’re not cheap).

in black, white or custom colors @ ecosmartfire.com

Related:  previously on altCon
(5.4.09) ecoSmart fireplaces qualify for tax credit

The Dutch company, Basil, makes a wide range of bike baskets and bags to help make your bike a more utilitarian conveyance.

The Blossum basket (L) can be front or rear mounted, has a sturdy steel frame, is made of recyclable fiber material instead of traditional wicker, and is easily removable for hitting the farmers’ market.  available in blue, green or gold for $38 @ amazon.com

via: coolhunting

Here’s a round-up of some of my favorite finds for staying cool and refreshed from head to toe this summer:

Dr. Bronner’s Baby-Mild - organic soap & shampoo, all-in-one

John Masters Organics - Sea Mist, $16.50; safe for color-treated hair, and infused with essential oil of lavender, this non-sticky spray adds extra body and combats the drying effects of sea salt

Pangea Organics - Malagasy Ylang Ylang & Linden Flower shower gel; $16.00, also at Whole Foods

CoQ10 Wrinkle Defense Serum; $24.95 from Avalon Organics

Our Recap of Best Sunscreens for face, lips and body for the whole family

www.glominerals.com - Glo Minerals with zinc oxide, a natural sunscreen ingredient; green tea extract and antioxidants

PurMinerals Fulvic Mineral Mist - ($16.50) helps skin absorb and retain vital moisture; and 4-1 Foundation Color; $25.50

Erbaviva - Organic Deodorant, Lemon & Sage; it smells great, and works! $16.00, 3.4oz size will last a long time

Organic Coconut oil - use for cooking, hair and skincare - first cold-pressed (on sale now, $12.75) from Wilderness Family Naturals of Minnesota

Palm Leaf Beach Umbrella (6.5′, and  tilt) with SPF 35 protection; ($38 now @ 4thebeach.com)

Solumbra hat - from sunprecautions.com $50; with a UPF (ultraviolet protection factor) of 50+

coolibar.com $60; long-sleeved coverups made of tightly woven fabric

www.alexandme.com, Rit Sun Guard - $23.99; increases the UPF of a white cotton t-shirt from 5 to 30

Skin Cancer Foundation’s Seal of Recommendation for Sunglasses

I’m a little late to this dance, but I found Josh D’s DIY take on the iPod to be interesting, nonetheless.  Josh’s ingredients: one Mini iPod, one Dremel, some Australian red cedar, a few screws, some double-sided tape and more than a modicum of woodworking skill.  The result:  one crunchy, custom iPod case.

He even recreated his iPod dock in wood. (below)

The pix are from his Wooden iPod Flickr page.

via: design boom

• The House Minority Leader is obviously suffering the debilitating effects of over-tanning…Boehner: Climate Bill’s a pile of s–t’ - thehill.com
• On the other hand…Analysis: Climate Bill May Spur Energy Revolution - ap/yahoo! news
• Beauty is in the eye of the beholder…The World’s Ugliest Dog - ananova

Continued »

This month, Congress may have taken the first real step toward recovery for the auto industry when it passed the automotive stimulus bill dubbed “Cash for Clunkers.” The bill, which we touted earlier this year, provides a $4,500 voucher for car owners who currently own rides with fuel efficiency less than 18 miles per gallon and purchase a car with a 10 mile per gallon improvement. (Drivers who buy a car with a four mile per gallon improvement qualify to pocket $3,500.)

On July 1, when the program kicks into gear, you may want to consider shopping the lots. Here are some things to consider, according the newly-launched Cars.gov website, as well as the latest resources for any questions you might have:

• Your vehicle must be less than 25 years old on the trade-in date
• Only new vehicle purchases or leases qualify
• Trade-in vehicles must be registered and insured continuously for the full year preceding the trade-in
• You don’t need a voucher; dealers will apply credit at purchase
• Program runs through November 1, 2009 or when funds are exhausted—whichever comes first

Check out the government site www.Cars.gov for official information on the new program; visit ConsumerAssistanceToRecyleAndSaveProgram.org for a consumer-driven look at what you need to know; or log onto Cars.com for an easy-to-read guide by Patrick Olsen.

Related:  Ford Makes It Easy to Recycle Your Ride

Serendipity can be a beautiful thing.  Following my acupuncture treatment the other day, I popped into a Food Emporium to pickup a little something for dessert.

As I surveyed the sweet section, a label with my childhood nickname & favorite color on it, jumped out — a brand of chocolate that I had never seen before, mitzi blue. Curious. I scooped up a bar. Continued »

If you’re in the pouring rain in the middle of New York City right now, you’re probably looking for a nice, eco friendly umbrella.

Here’s a little ditty manufactured by Totes, and available online exclusively at Crate and Barrel.  The Coby Eco Umbrella allows opening at the touch of a button, and folding into a mini.

This exclusive Great Green Giveaway is all about clean, green beauty.

One lucky Alternative Consumer winner will get to choose ONE of two fabulous, eco savvy gifts from Kaia House Organics — you may select either a non-toxic, mani-pedi Jet Set Nail Kit (retail value, $28.95), or a safe and effective skincare set, comprised of Anti-Oxidant Cleanser and Anti-Oxidant Moisturizer, (retail value $40). plus free shipping to USA and Canada.

To enter:

• Visit kaiahouse.com.
• Comment on this post telling us how Kaia House would help you go green.
• If you are selected as our winner, in order to receive our email prize notification, be sure to add the following to your email address book: m at AlternativeConsumer.com. (*one entry per person)

Entries must be received by 8p, EST on Friday, July 3, 2009.
One lucky winner will be selected in our Random Drawing, and notified by email by July 4th. Winner has 48 hours to claim their prize, or offer is null and void. Winner’s names will also be included in this post.

*EXTRA CREDIT
If you have your own blog, you can post about the giveaway with a link back to this giveaway post. To make sure we know, you can come back and leave a comment with a link to your blog post. If you Twitter, you can tweet about the giveaway, and leave a comment linking to the status.

You can also receive additional entries 3 more ways: sign up for our RSS feed via email/Feedburner (see right side bar), follow us on Twitter or become a friend on FaceBook. good luck!

We’ve been fans of online beauty e-tailer, Kaia House, from the outset. As “Home to the Purest Skin on Earth,” they offer only brands and products that are not only both safe and effective, but also environmentally and animal friendly.  related:  the beauty of the Web

Here’s a natural toy alternative - a real stick - for urban canines previously sentenced to spending their days chasing a plastic frisbee or a saliva-soaked tennis ball.  These dog toys are fashioned out of Vermont grown and harvested hardwood saplings - each bundle contains three sticks, each measuring a chewable 3/4″ to 1 1/2″ in diameter by 11″ long.   The perfect size for throwing or chewing.  Each set even comes with an instruction manual for those men and beasts who may have lost touch with the basic techniques.

So get out there and start “stickin’ it to the man,” go au natural, and impress your ‘citified’ friends with your own monogrammed set of sticks - one monogrammed stick costs the same as 3 plain ones.  The sticks also make a nice, pooch-personalized eco-gift.

$12.95/includes ground shipping @ fetchstixvt.com

DESIGN 21 - Social Design Network is happy to announce that Swedish furniture designer, Charlie Davidson, is the winner of its Going With the Grain Challenge for his ingenious “Uni Table” design.

The design challenge was developed by The Nature Conservancy and the U.S. Chapter of the Forest Stewardship Council to promote conscientious consumerism through responsible design.  Going With the Grain called on designers to conceptualize an object using a single sheet of FSC-certified plywood without the use of hardware or glue.  As the overall winner, Davidson will receive a one-year membership to Material Connexion and a manufactured sample of his design. A prototype will also be auctioned to support The Nature Conservancy’s sustainable forestry work.

• No, this is not an event for amorous singles…National Pollinator Week Marked - npr
• I like this bunch of words…Dolphin ‘Super Pod’ Seen in Firth - bbc
• Can you still get your deposit back after 11 thousand miles? Ship of Plastic Bottles to Send Eco-Message - msnbc
• ‘Happy Hour’ becomes ‘Happy Minutes’ - From the Glass to the Brain in Six Minutes - sciencedaily
• Week in Photos: Albino Turtle, Oldest Twins, More - natgeo
• What about the effect on our Twitter obsessed media? Second Guessing Twitter’s Effect on Post-Election Iran - cs monitor
• I don’t know about a memorial…What Will Happen to Michael Jackson’s Neverland Ranch? - ecorazzi