This is--well--fascinating. Apparently, a company has come out with speakers made from recycled material that operate without external power sources. Too good to be true? Well, you can read about it here.
The article says: "Whoever thought old newspapers, phone books and pizza boxes could be turned into speakers? If you’re looking for eco-friendly gifts this Christmas, look no further: OrigAudio Fold n' Play Recycled Speakers, named one of the 50 Best Inventions of 2009 by Time Magazine, is now available in Canada."
Apparently, these speakers have a most unusual design. To wit: "Watch art take shape as OrigAudio speakers fuse modern art, graphic design, music, and Asia’s ancient origami art form to create these innovative portable 3" cubes."
Not only can these speakers be used with any audio device, but they're slim enough to fit into any laptop carrier (I assume that's what a "laptop sleeve" is).
In addition, not only are the speakers made from recycled materials, but they "require zero external power, rendering the Fold N’ Play speakers Mother Nature approved.
"Recently featured by Time Magazine as one of the 50 Best Inventions of 2009, the magazine was inspired by OrigAudio’s ingenious solution to entertainment on the road, touting its 'self-powered, 1-watt speakers made of heavy-duty recycled paper,' and praising the speaker's portability and functionality."
I don't normally endorse products and I can't attest to how well these speakers work, but I think they sound pretty awesome.
Friday, November 27, 2009
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Are Power Lines Eco-Friendly?
The question is raised in connection with this article from The Boston Globe, which states that power line corridors create great habitat areas for certain animal species.
The article mentions a particular type of bee (the "silver-haired black Epeoloides pilosula"--quite a name), that for decades was thought to be extinct. However, the bee was found buzzing about southern New England in 2006.
Scientists believe that the habitat areas created by power lines helped the bee (along with "faltering species of birds, bees, butterflies, plants, and a host of other[s]") avoid extinction.
The article mentions examples of human-engineered habitats, which have supported such species as turkey vultures (due to road kill on highways) and peregrine falcons (that build nests on city skyscraper ledges). So does this mean power lines are eco-friendly? Well . . . maybe.
Although there's lots of controversy on the point and no definite proof, there are still concerns (mistaken or not) about whether high-voltage power lines cause cancer (especially, in children).
The article also mentions (and deftly dispenses with in one paragraph) the use of herbicides to keep the rights of way clear of unwanted plants. Those herbicides can get into the water table, causing concern among those affected.
Are these just emotional responses or real concerns? I don't know. But the mere fact that the evidence doesn't clearly prove the cancer connection and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's approving herbicides for these uses are something of a cold comfort to (cynical) me.
The article mentions a particular type of bee (the "silver-haired black Epeoloides pilosula"--quite a name), that for decades was thought to be extinct. However, the bee was found buzzing about southern New England in 2006.
Scientists believe that the habitat areas created by power lines helped the bee (along with "faltering species of birds, bees, butterflies, plants, and a host of other[s]") avoid extinction.
The article mentions examples of human-engineered habitats, which have supported such species as turkey vultures (due to road kill on highways) and peregrine falcons (that build nests on city skyscraper ledges). So does this mean power lines are eco-friendly? Well . . . maybe.
Although there's lots of controversy on the point and no definite proof, there are still concerns (mistaken or not) about whether high-voltage power lines cause cancer (especially, in children).
The article also mentions (and deftly dispenses with in one paragraph) the use of herbicides to keep the rights of way clear of unwanted plants. Those herbicides can get into the water table, causing concern among those affected.
Are these just emotional responses or real concerns? I don't know. But the mere fact that the evidence doesn't clearly prove the cancer connection and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's approving herbicides for these uses are something of a cold comfort to (cynical) me.
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
How to Buy a 'Greener' Car
The blog Just Live Greener recently had an interesting post on how to buy a "greener" car. Figuring out how "green" a car is depends on several factors--some of which may surprise you.
For instance, take the car's fuel economy. A car that gets more miles to the gallon will have lower carbon dioxide emissions. However, this doesn't mean that a smaller, more fuel-efficient car is necessarily a "greener" one, according to the post. Fuel economy alone will not take nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions into account, and (to quote the post) "motor vehicles account for about one-third of nationwide NOx emissions." Plus NOx has been "one of the most difficult pollutants to get out of our air."
The post favors hybrids overall, in terms of all three considerations. It also mentions partial zero emission and zero emission vehicles, but cautions that they're not available nationwide and can have other restrictions.
Nonetheless, we may see the first zero-emission vehicle produced for the U.S. mass market very soon, if Nissan has anything to say about it. Its new all-electric model is called the Leaf and Nissan expects to start selling it in the U.S. in late 2010.
For instance, take the car's fuel economy. A car that gets more miles to the gallon will have lower carbon dioxide emissions. However, this doesn't mean that a smaller, more fuel-efficient car is necessarily a "greener" one, according to the post. Fuel economy alone will not take nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions into account, and (to quote the post) "motor vehicles account for about one-third of nationwide NOx emissions." Plus NOx has been "one of the most difficult pollutants to get out of our air."
The post favors hybrids overall, in terms of all three considerations. It also mentions partial zero emission and zero emission vehicles, but cautions that they're not available nationwide and can have other restrictions.
Nonetheless, we may see the first zero-emission vehicle produced for the U.S. mass market very soon, if Nissan has anything to say about it. Its new all-electric model is called the Leaf and Nissan expects to start selling it in the U.S. in late 2010.
Sunday, November 15, 2009
The Planet Mechanics: On a Mission to Fix the World
Call it serendipity, call it weird coincidence, call it what you like--but I just happened to find out about this show Planet Mechanics (or, really, my husband did and he DVRed it for me), because they decided to take on the problem of pollution created by all the motorized boats in Venice, Italy.
These two guys, engineers Dick Strawbridge and Jem Stansfield, decided to see if they could meet the challenge of designing a pollution-free boat for use around Venice. And, they not only did this for a water taxi-style boat, but they did it for a speed boat, too. The show was very honest in its depiction of the duo's failures, as well as their successes.
The serendity part is that my husband and I recently took a trip to Venice. The memory of our trip is what got my husband's attention. But the show impressed me for much more than its beautiful scenes of that city.
It simply amazes what a couple of ingenious people can do to save the planet, when they put their minds to it.
Now, all they have to do is get this technology out to the rest of the world's boaters. No problem, right? :)
Well, anyway, Planet Green and this show has a new fan now.
These two guys, engineers Dick Strawbridge and Jem Stansfield, decided to see if they could meet the challenge of designing a pollution-free boat for use around Venice. And, they not only did this for a water taxi-style boat, but they did it for a speed boat, too. The show was very honest in its depiction of the duo's failures, as well as their successes.
The serendity part is that my husband and I recently took a trip to Venice. The memory of our trip is what got my husband's attention. But the show impressed me for much more than its beautiful scenes of that city.
It simply amazes what a couple of ingenious people can do to save the planet, when they put their minds to it.
Now, all they have to do is get this technology out to the rest of the world's boaters. No problem, right? :)
Well, anyway, Planet Green and this show has a new fan now.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Blogging for More Sustainable Reading
All right, I'm a day late and a dollar short on this. But I thought I'd at least post the link to the information about the campaign to promote "green" books, by having 100 bloggers review more than 100 books printed on recycled or FSC-certified paper. (Check here for the complete list of participating blogs and books reviewed.)
One of those blogs (for instance) was Frogs Are Green, which had a review of the book CHASING MOLECULES: Poisonous Products, Human Health, and the Promise of Green Chemistry. While many of the books were on environmental topics, there were some in other genres. They ranged from fiction to journalistic accounts to cookbooks.
The blogging campaign took place on Tuesday, Nov. 10, at 1:00 p.m. Eastern time.
Damn. If I'd only known, I'd have offered to participate on my own book review blog.
One of those blogs (for instance) was Frogs Are Green, which had a review of the book CHASING MOLECULES: Poisonous Products, Human Health, and the Promise of Green Chemistry. While many of the books were on environmental topics, there were some in other genres. They ranged from fiction to journalistic accounts to cookbooks.
The blogging campaign took place on Tuesday, Nov. 10, at 1:00 p.m. Eastern time.
Damn. If I'd only known, I'd have offered to participate on my own book review blog.
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Travelers Need to Get Their 'Green' On
How ironic is it that many consumers who are aware of environmental issues and engage in eco-conscious behavior at home, become less aware and environmentally protective when on vacation?
At least those are the findings of two hospitality and tourism management graduate students (who knew such a graduate program existed? I sure didn't) at Virginia Tech's Pamplin College of Business, who conducted a study of consumer attitudes about "green" practices in general, while at home and away.
They found a significant gap between consumers' attitudes towards "green" initiatives in the hospitality industry and their actual behavior.
According to the article:
"Nearly 60 percent said they were likely or extremely likely to stay at a hotel that changed sheets only when requested during their stay; the number was 55 percent regarding towel changes. However, 45 percent stated that they would be unlikely or extremely unlikely to stay at a hotel that provided amenity dispensers instead of individual bottles.
"As for their home versus hotel behavior, close to 60 percent of respondents recycle paper products at home, but only 30 percent recycle them while at a hotel. Sixty percent of respondents conserve water at home, but less than 40 percent do so at a hotel. Eighty percent of respondents conserve energy at home, but only 40 percent save energy while at a hotel."
So what's the deal here? Eco-tourism has become such a big trend. But does going on vacation give those who usually care about the environment license to waste energy, water and other resources and throw things away that should be recycled?
According to the students who did the study, "To better understand the reasons for the gaps between attitudes and behavior and between home and hotel behavior, future research could examine barriers to participation and ease of compliance, service expectations, and convenience."
Yeah, I can see how barriers (like lack of recycling bins) could cause a problem. But that still doesn't address water and energy waste, to name a couple of things.
The students also said, "The hotel industry . . . can help educate consumers to develop a greater level of understanding and concern about their environmental impact as hotel guests."
Education, yes. Well, you can lead a so-called environmentalist to water, but . . .
At least those are the findings of two hospitality and tourism management graduate students (who knew such a graduate program existed? I sure didn't) at Virginia Tech's Pamplin College of Business, who conducted a study of consumer attitudes about "green" practices in general, while at home and away.
They found a significant gap between consumers' attitudes towards "green" initiatives in the hospitality industry and their actual behavior.
According to the article:
"Nearly 60 percent said they were likely or extremely likely to stay at a hotel that changed sheets only when requested during their stay; the number was 55 percent regarding towel changes. However, 45 percent stated that they would be unlikely or extremely unlikely to stay at a hotel that provided amenity dispensers instead of individual bottles.
"As for their home versus hotel behavior, close to 60 percent of respondents recycle paper products at home, but only 30 percent recycle them while at a hotel. Sixty percent of respondents conserve water at home, but less than 40 percent do so at a hotel. Eighty percent of respondents conserve energy at home, but only 40 percent save energy while at a hotel."
So what's the deal here? Eco-tourism has become such a big trend. But does going on vacation give those who usually care about the environment license to waste energy, water and other resources and throw things away that should be recycled?
According to the students who did the study, "To better understand the reasons for the gaps between attitudes and behavior and between home and hotel behavior, future research could examine barriers to participation and ease of compliance, service expectations, and convenience."
Yeah, I can see how barriers (like lack of recycling bins) could cause a problem. But that still doesn't address water and energy waste, to name a couple of things.
The students also said, "The hotel industry . . . can help educate consumers to develop a greater level of understanding and concern about their environmental impact as hotel guests."
Education, yes. Well, you can lead a so-called environmentalist to water, but . . .
Monday, November 9, 2009
First, 'Green' Traffic, Now 'Green' Parking?
A while ago, I blogged about whether there was such a thing as "green" traffic. Now, I've found an item about "green" parking. Just a few pointers to keep in mind while parking your car.
Pretty basic stuff, really. But good to keep in mind. Along with that, I'd recommend you reduce your idling time (turn off the engine if you think you'll be idling for more than a minute and try to reduce your overall idling time per day by at least five minutes; it won't hurt your engine to do this). Something to keep in mind while standing in traffic, waiting your turn at the drive-up or waiting for anyone or anything. (BTW, why not just park and use the walk-up instead of the drive-up, for that matter? More exercise, less pollution. Think about it.)
Pretty basic stuff, really. But good to keep in mind. Along with that, I'd recommend you reduce your idling time (turn off the engine if you think you'll be idling for more than a minute and try to reduce your overall idling time per day by at least five minutes; it won't hurt your engine to do this). Something to keep in mind while standing in traffic, waiting your turn at the drive-up or waiting for anyone or anything. (BTW, why not just park and use the walk-up instead of the drive-up, for that matter? More exercise, less pollution. Think about it.)
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