New Eco-Friendly Packaging Triggers Boom In Guilt-Free Littering | The Onion - America’s Finest News Source

The growing “green” trend in product packaging, which emphasizes the use of recycled, biodegradable post-consumer paper-based materials and relies less on petroleum-derived polymers like styrofoam, has unleashed a spontaneous trashing of sidewalks, roadsides, and pristine wilderness by gratified consumers. Though some environmentalists and scientists were caught off guard by the movement, experts say it is here to stay.

This is a 3-part article on building a solar lantern. It’s a well-documented project, and there are a lot of pictures of the build process.

Alaskan Capital Cuts Power Consumption By 40% : Environmental News Blog | Environmental Graffiti

Alaska’s capital city lost its main power transmission lines in a series of avalanches earlier this month, cutting it off from a relatively cheap source of power at a hydroelectric dam, and leaving it to draw from backup generators that cost nearly five times as much. Faced with the tough decision that such a large increase in utility bills can present, the city did what many have speculated the western world is incapable of: they cut back.

Beating the Energy Efficiency Paradox (Part I) : TreeHugger

Skeptics such as the Energy Tribune’s Robert Bryce point out that total energy use in the United States continues to rise, despite efficiency gains. Per capita, we’re using more energy even as sales of hybrid cars increase and more green buildings get erected.

Gogglemarks - Backyard Composter

Since it’s essentially just a drum on a fixed axle with some holes poked in it, it was fairly easy to build one myself on the cheap. I settled on a design that maximizes air and drainage, keeping the compost moist but not wet, and aerated but not dry. I did it for about forty bucks, and it didn’t really take any special tools.

BRENT HATCH

I’m just a regular guy that knows very little about motors, efficiency, etc. Man, some engineer should be able to have a field day coming up with all kinds of solar powered alternatives to our mobile lives. I should be able to see some wacky professor on TV showing off all this stuff. Everybody is getting more conscious about making small contributions to a “greener” community. So I think people would be willing to consider some lifestyle adjustments, if presented with some alternatives like this bike.

Greensburg, Kansas: Extraordinary Transformation : TreeHugger

Imagine a community for 1500 people designed as a state of the art working model for green building and energy, hybrid design efficiency and genuine intelligent design. A community that generates revenue by producing excess energy, has superior air and water quality, and a world class infrastructure that enables and enhances the very essence of community. A community that quite simply is a better place to grow, work, live and raise families, and that shows that when humans do our very best work that we are simply amazing and in fact, a force of and for nature in our own right. That’s what Greensburg, Kansas is set to become. (For more on Greensburg’s events see their blog).

On the other hand, it only takes a few seconds to fill the tanks with compressed air.

The Air-Powered Motorcycle by Jem Stansfield : TreeHugger

He took carbon-fiber air tanks that are usually used by firefighters as part of their breathing equipment and connected them to two rotary air engines that drive the rear wheel. One of the benefits of using compressed air over batteries is that you can recharge in a few seconds.

Earth Day Don’ts : The Alternative Consumer