Green News
- The Final Word On Haiti (Bicycles, Batteries and Generators...Oh My)9 March 2010, 9:01 am
Ok, I lied, it's not the final word on Haiti, not that I could have that word anyway. After last week's post, I had a few other thoughts (and a few things to add) and thought I'd shoot them out here. I only titled this post The Final Word, because after this I'll head back to my original mission, straight up posts about environmental solutions, ......
- Go See The Cove!8 March 2010, 2:45 pm
Editor's Note: The Cove won the Oscar for Best Feature Documentary! Congratulations! Thanks to the passionate filmmakers who spread awareness through this documentary and to viewers who took action, including those who signed the Care2 petition. Some articles just write themselves and some I just can't get started. Well today, I'm stuck ...... - Start to Stop the Clutter8 March 2010, 1:30 pm
Uncluttering is the act of restoring balance to your life by eliminating unimportant things—and doing it will free up time, energy and space for the things that really matter. You can get rid of clutter. No matter how much you have, how small your home, or how little spare time you have, you can transform chaos into order, and here's how to start. There's no right way to unclutter and no one way that works for everyone. What's important to remember is that getting started is far m... - 11 Ways to Save Money in the Kitchen7 March 2010, 9:13 am
By Kelly Rossiter, Planet Green The weekly grocery bill takes up a lot of the average family's income so here are some ideas about how to trim down the bill. 1. Ditch prepared meals right now: Consumers have been led to believe that they don't have the time to cook and it simply isn't true. You can have a healthy meal on the table within half ...... - Choices, Choices, Choices: How Sustainable Are Yours?7 March 2010, 7:08 am
"The 800 lb. gorilla behind virtually all of the 'sustainability challenges' is you and me, the consumer. The problem is not that we are bad, but that we have been blind to the impacts of our everyday choices which are about to change." ~ Peter Senge, MIT Sloan School of Management As we watch the trend of eco-friendly home products and décor cycle ...... - Sewing On A Budget: DIY Scarf To Skirt Surprise4 March 2010, 9:05 am
Sewing is a hobby with a budget-friendly heart. Making your own clothes or home décor often can be cost effective. But, those who frequent sewing stores know that sewing supplies and fabric can still be quite expensive. That is why it is a good idea to consider repurposing fabric and altering clothing items that you already have. I have a ...... - Feng Shui for Prosperity - Win the Book!3 March 2010, 4:03 pm
While feng shui may not result in that winning lottery ticket you dream of (then again, it just might!), it brings many other benefits by creating a more harmonious and balanced flow of chi through your home. Just as fresh air, clean water and natural foods support the physical health of our bodies, so does fresh, clean chi--the life force present in ......
- Diagnosis, Denial, Due Diligence8 March 2010, 1:06 pm
So you've been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. Now what? Denial. My own lasted only a few brief moments. The odyssey to diagnosis was a difficult one, and I quickly embraced the sweet relief of finally having an answer. But then it hit me -- I have MS. I have MS. I have MS. Me. MS! There was a surreal quality about the whole thing. Discombobulation ...... - 3 Sleep Tricks to Try in Bed7 March 2010, 5:12 pm
By Shannon Sexton, Yoga+ The following exercises will help you fall asleep — and stay asleep — by facilitating physical, mental, and emotional cleansing and activating the body's relaxation response. Try them and see for yourself. 2:1 Breathing Have you ever noticed that when your nervous system is jacked up, your inhalations are longer than ...... - Tax the Beautiful?7 March 2010, 3:05 pm
Ugly people should be compensated for their obvious disadvantage in society, argues Gonzalo Otalóra. Gonzalo Otólora, once a pimply teenager, has written Feosexual, an ironic book about his decision to ignore people's opinions about his looks. In his native Argentina - the country with the most beautiful women in the world, he says - his book is ...... - Positivity Quest Day 62: Not a Happiness Project7 March 2010, 1:01 pm
The Happiness Project has topped The New York Times best seller list. Apparently I was not alone in thinking that maybe there was some road map for me in there about my own positivity quest. From the beginning though, there was something a little too organized and rational about her project for me. Turns out, author Gretchen Rubin was born into ...... - Reducing Exposure to Antibiotics6 March 2010, 3:10 pm
By Blair Lewis, Yoga+ Hailed as "miracle drugs" when they came into widespread use in 1941, antibiotics quickly became a panacea. Because both doctors and patients wanted quick cures, we have been throwing antibiotics at a host of ailments for the past half-century, whether they were required or not. That was a mistake. That mistake was compounded ...... - Is Agave Worse Than High Fructose Corn Syrup?6 March 2010, 1:14 pm
There have been some articles surfacing that claim agave nectar is no better than high-fructose corn syrup--a statement that, as a vegan baker and agave-lover, flabbergasted me, to say the least. How could my beloved, natural, organic, alternative agave be no better than processed, Monsanto-sprayed, genetically modified high fructose corn syrup? Is ...... - Ten Surprisingly Sugary Foods5 March 2010, 5:01 pm
By Tina McCarthy, DivineCaroline My New Year's resolution? When the clock struck midnight, I vowed to cut my sugar intake by eliminating sweet treats like cookies, chocolate, and soda from my diet. On the first day of 2010, I ate strawberry yogurt for breakfast, snacked on a granola bar before lunch, sipped on vitamin water, and enjoyed a ......
- Can you suggest eco-friendly materials for a sand fence on our beachfront property?8 March 2010, 10:34 pm
We own some beachfront property where dune erosion is an issue and we need to install a sand fence (also known as a snow fence). Do you have suggestions of materials to use for this? It will be exposed to salt, sand, and wind, but should not receive the direct tidal upwash. It is traditionally wooden, but I have read that there are recycled plastic alternatives that may be "greener." Any advice?... - Do you know anything about a product called IceStone -- recycled glass and concrete for countertops?8 March 2010, 10:10 pm
I'm interested in this product for a kitchen countertop.... - I'm building a brick home in a humid climate. I'm confused as to which foam insulation to use for walls/attic: closed or open cell?8 March 2010, 9:39 pm
I've heard advantages and disadvantages of each but I'm still confused. I want to be as energy efficient as possible.... - Is cork flooring really a green product? It seems fairly accepted that it's a renewable raw material, but is the final product really green?8 March 2010, 5:17 pm
My church is considering cork flooring because it is touted as "green." It seems fairly accepted that it is a renewable raw material, but is the final product really green? Is the manufacturing process green? Are the transportation methods green? Are several layers of polyurethane and/or vinyl coating green? It seems to me we are jumping on a bandwagon without digging deep enough. Can you help?... - Can you recommend cost-effective auxiliary HVAC solutions for a passive solar home?7 March 2010, 9:23 pm
We are designing a passive solar home in the Omaha, NE area. We simply don't get enough sunlight to provide for all of our heating needs this way. We also need a cooling option for the hot summers here. Can anyone recommend cost-effective backup heating and cooling options? We've looked at mini-split ductless units, high-velocity mini-duct forced air systems, and hydronic radiant floor heating. ... - We are looking to replace our current water softener and drinking-water filtration system. Do you have any suggestions?7 March 2010, 9:11 pm
We have very hard water -- 23 gpg. ... - What are the pros and cons of electric cove radiant heating for our home in terms of efficiency, safety, and reliability?7 March 2010, 9:07 pm
We are purchasing a "fixer" home and want to make good environmental and economic choices for our remodel. The home is from 1942 and was last remodeled in the 50s. It's a one-level ranch-style home, approximately 3,000 sq. ft. We are looking at the wall-mount cove radiant heaters and want an outside opinion....
- About CCSE15 December 2009, 12:00 am
The California Center for Sustainable Energy promotes change for a clean energy future. ... - Clean Vehicle Rebates on Tap14 December 2009, 12:00 am
CCSE to administer statewide clean vehicle program in 2010... - 2010 Solar Water Heating Program29 July 2009, 1:00 am
New statewide solar water heating program is expected to begin May 1st, 2010.... - San Diego No. 1 California Solar City21 July 2009, 1:00 am
Interactive solar mapping website for San Diego developed as a cooperative of the City of San Diego, CH2M Hill and CCSE... - Energy Advisory Service is Here to Help1 March 2009, 12:00 am
CCSE is proud to announce the launch of our new and exciting Energy Advisory Service (EAS). ... - Tax-Exempt Customer Incentive Program4 February 2009, 12:00 am
TEC continue to provide technical assistance plus financial incentives to help tax-exempt organizations implement energy efficiency measures in 2009. ... - Rebates for Photovoltaic5 December 2008, 9:15 am
Incentives from the California Solar Initiative cover approximately 13% of the installed cost...
- Today on Planet 100: Fallujah Birth Defects (Video)9 March 2010, 11:45 am
... - Seal Is On The Menu in Canada's Parliamentary Restaurant9 March 2010, 11:45 am
During last year's seal hunt Brian posted about Canada's Governor General gutting a seal and eating its heart. Canada's Minister of Defence helped himself to a seal banquet as well. When it comes to seal, Solidarity Forever. But now they don't have to go to the Arctic for a traditional Inuit feast; they can just pop over to the Parliamentary Restaurant, where seal is the chic thing, the hot ticket item for those who want to show support for the seal hunt. ...Read the full story on TreeHugge... - Crunching the Numbers ($$$) on Bike Commuting9 March 2010, 11:45 am
Photo: CarFree.us "I knew I was benefiting myself and the environment by commuting without a car, but to see the real impact is very amazing." If you want to get around faster than your feet can take you while doing as little harm as possible, the bicycle is your best option. An unnamed author has recently started documenting his experience with becoming a bicycle commuter, and the results are interesting (and hopefully encouraging enough that others will do the same!). In a recent post, he do... - Captivating Animal Portraits by Andrew Zuckerman Portray Nature In a Whole New Way (Slideshow)9 March 2010, 11:10 am
Image credit: Andrew Zuckerman When Andrew Zuckerman, a renowned commercial photographer, turned his lens on animals, the result was a series of striking images that resonate with emotion. Collected in his book ... - LED Street-Lights are Greenest Choice, Life-Cycle Study Shows9 March 2010, 11:05 am
Image: Knossos Induction Lights Are Close, But No Cigar Most people who have been following lighting tech seem to be convinced that light-emitting diode (LED) lights are the future, but it's always good to see new research being done on them. The more sure we are that they're the way to go, the better. It always sucks to invest a lot of time and money into something only to later realize that it's not nearly as good as we were first led to believe (*cough* corn ethanol *cough*). Researchers at... - eBay Launches a New Portal for Conservation Minded Shoppers9 March 2010, 11:05 am
Image credit: eBay "Going green" may be turning into a tired refrain for those that have been working hard to decrease their environmental footprint for years. To corporate America, however, the phrase has just as much vibrancy as ever. At the end of February, Walmart announced a plan to cut the greenhouse gas emissions from the lifecycle of its products by 20 million metric tons by 2015. Now, eBay ...Read the full story on TreeHugger ... - FreeGreen Who's Next Competition A Goldmine of Great Ideas9 March 2010, 10:26 am
The guys who run FreeGreen, the free homeplan website, are so smart; they could have just hired architects to do plans, and would have had to go to the trouble of deciding which architect to hire; instead they write a brief and run a competition. Now they have the work of hundreds of architects to chose from; established firms with the works in the drawer, young designers hoping to be discovered. But they are not the only ones who benefit; everyone can look, vote and learn from over 400 submis...