We're having great weather here in Maine today and it's a struggle to not pitch the laptop to the side and go play outside all day. An eco-entrepreneur's work is never done!
Here are a few of the great posts from last week on Green Options:
• First Ever Solar Crossing Of The Atlantic Ends In NYC
A catamaran equipped with solar panels has completed the first-ever solar transatlantic crossing. The Swiss team behind the feat, Transatlantic21, said the 14 meter boat produced 2,000 kilowatt hours of solar energy.
The boat traveled over 7,000 miles using the sun's energy to power an electric motor. Any surplus juice was stored in the on board batteries. The boat's skipper, Michael Thonney, declared that such an experiment proves alternatives exist and that nuclear power "is not the answer". From the article,
"This proves that in our modern society it is indeed possible to travel the world efficiently and still safeguard the environment,' said Michel Thonney. 'This has been a liberating journey and one which I believe will transform the way we approach travel on our oceans, seas and waterways."
• Lighter Footstep: A Giant List of Summer Cooling Tips
Editor's note: Summer's coming, and our friend Chris Baskind, editor at Lighter Footstep, has put together a monster list of tips for staying cool… the green way.
With summer officially around the corner and temperatures edging higher, the Lighter Footstep editors have put together a giant list of ways to keep your cool.
We'll start with a quick apology to our readers in the Southern Hemisphere: we know you're there. Bookmark this and read it again in six months — but you'll find some general energy tips here which work as well during the winter as they do all summer long.
• Tip o' the Day: Color Me Phthalate Free
Sandal wearing season is just around the corner and the toes will come out to play. If you're using a splash of color on your little piggies, make sure your nail polish is phthalate-free.
Many nail polishes contain the chemical dibutyl phthalate, a plasticizing ingredient used to increase flexibility. Phthalates (pronounced FAL-lates) are known endocrine disruptors, which means the chemical interferes with the hormone system affecting growth, development and maturation. The thing is, companies aren't required to list the presence of this chemical on products that contain it.
While it is not proven that such small quantities of phthalates found in things like nail polish can cause harm in humans, it also wouldn't hurt to stay away from them if you can.
• The Green Options Interview: Danny Seo
A TV show, successful book series, a new DVD … and that is just the beginning! "Danny Seo is living proof that you can save the world without sacrificing style.," according to Elle Magazine. Danny, 29, encourages America to live a greener lifestyle. His first lifestyle book Conscious Style Home (St. Martin's Press; 2001) chronicles his renovation of his parents' Green Hills, Pennsylvania home. Using easy-to-find eco-friendly materials, the beautifully photographed book received rave reviews in The New York Times, Elle, Food & Wine, Elle Decor, and USA Today, who raved "Say 'environment' to Danny Seo, and it's as if you've punched the word into the search engine Google: Out roars an avalanche of ideas and references that threatens to scramble your brain.'" His brand new books Simply Green Parties and Simply Green Giving showcases Danny's unique take and approach to stylish green living. Both books feature lush, colorful photography and clear, step-by-step instructions along with Danny's secret tips and how-to information on living the Simply Green way. As Editor-at-Large of Country Home magazine, Danny pens a monthly column for the magazine and produce feature stories for the magazine's 7.6 million readers. Each month, his "Fresh Thinking" column features clever and easy ideas to recycle anything into gorgeously chic home accessories with quick and easy tips that prove green living can be gorgeous living, too.
• Biofuels Will Not Solve Global Warming: IPCC's Report Sparks Protest
Last week's release of the IPCC's Summary for Policymakers on climate change mitigation sparked backlash from several environmental groups. In a joint press release, Biofuelwatch, Global Forest Coalition, Global Justice Ecology Project, and several others stated they are "deeply concerned" about the inclusion of "large-scale expansion of biofuels from monoculture", including Genetically Modified (GM) crops, as a specific recommendation for mitigating catastrophic climate change.
• Kids Need Fair Trade
Editor's note: We're also pleased to welcome Alicia Erickson to the writing team. Alicia, along with her husband Brady Swenson, will be covering Fair Trade issues for us. Alicia and Brady live in Lawrence, Kansas, where they own and operate Two Hands Worldshop.
Saturday May 12th is the third global World Fair Trade Day. This day of celebration is an opportunity to increase Fair Trade awareness and expand understanding of the benefits it provides to poor families, deteriorating cultures and the environment. It also happens to be just before Mother’s Day, which offers a great chance to give your mom a gift that is also a gift to mothers across the world.
This year World Fair Trade Day will focus on children, with the motto “Kids Need Fair Trade.” Children are deeply affected by unfair trade policies. They become trapped in the cycle of poverty with little to no access to healthcare or education. Children in poor households are forced to work simply to eat. The World Fair Trade Day website claims “Coffee, cocoa (chocolate), bananas, oranges and sugar are among the food sectors that most exploit child labour.” Most of these products have a Fair Trade alternative.
• Green Building Elements: Tankless Water Heaters
Next to bulding heating and cooling, water heaters are the largest energy consumers in most homes. But, with a conventional water heater, much of the energy is spent on keeping the heated water from cooling off while it sits, waiting to be used. Tankless water heaters don't have these standby losses, and can be a much more efficient choice in some circumstances.
Tankless water heaters have no hot water storage (hence tankless), but can quickly raise water temperature by as much as 50 degrees F (~30 degrees C). They can do this with a flow rate ranging from 4 gallons per minute (GPM) to as much as 9 GPM. Tankless heaters are also much smaller than conventional water tank heaters, which can be a consideration for smaller homes where space is at a premium.
• Joining the May 15th Gas Out? Really? Read On…
Editor's note: We're very pleased to welcome Max Lindberg to our writing team. The publisher of the Lindberg Report podcast, now a part of The Fuels Report, Max is a retired broadcast journalist. We're very happy to have his wealth of experience on the team! Stay tuned — once we get the technical kinks worked out, Max will be producing the first GO podcast series, "Greening the Golden Years."
So you're going to join the May 15th MySpace members Gas Out. Good for you! We need to show those greedy, and not necessarily nice, oil-rich countries in the Mideast that we don't like their attitudes and hit 'em where in counts: in the pocketbook.
What a great idea: 72-million MySpace members avoiding gas stations for one day. I didn't do the math ( too complicated for me!), but based on a fill-up costing between $20 and $30, the boycott would cost the Middle Eastern oil companies more than $2,000,000.000 in revenue. That's $2 Billion. Wow!
• Green Myth-Busting: Hemp is Marijuana
MYTH: The United States Government considers ALL strains of hemp as marijuana.
Facts: Partially true, although things are changing. For in its more than 8000 years of cultivation, hemp and it’s psychoactive drug Cannabis Sativa have been inextricably linked. The name marijuana is a recent moniker. It was first called K(a)N(a)B(a) (cannibas) in early Sumeria and in is referred to as hashish in the Middle East.
We’re not going to address the marijuana culture here and around the world in this article. Our focus is about hemp and it’s use as a biodegradable, highly versatile resource.
Happy Reading!
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