Choosing a water filter
June 27, 2008
Do you know how to choose the right water filter? Learn a bit about what might be in your water and how to find the right filter.
Organic Design
June 27, 2008
Ross Lovegrove talks about designing using organic shapes. He blends his love of technology with a belief that the natural world had the right idea all along: Many of his pieces are inspired by principles of evolution and microbiology.
Michael Pollan on the farm bill, Obama and the politics of food
June 22, 2008
Chris Jordan on TED - images of waste
June 22, 2008
Chris Jordan shows us some stunning ways to display data. Move over Tufte.
(From a recent TED talk)
What’s in your tap water?
June 21, 2008
Ever wonder what’s in your tap water? Take a look at the national tap water database. Can you say “Whole House Filter”? We know you can. Find out what’s in your water, then decide what you’re gonna do about it.
Support the coal plant moratorium
June 12, 2008
Without emissions controls, a new coal-fired power plant will emit hundreds of millions of tons of global warming pollution over its fifty-year lifetime. Over 100 new plants are still on the drawing board, and even if just a portion of these are built, they will negate most if not all of the emissions saved in other sectors of our economy.
Sign the petition to support a moratorium on new coal fired power plants.
Sustainable Wine
June 8, 2008
As we move towards a more sustainable lifestyle we look not only at the product itself and it’s content, we look to see if the product is manufactured in a way that is sustainable as well. If not totally organic, is it made of materials that are renewable? Does it contain pesticides or harmful chemicals (sometimes under the guise of protecting us) and are the people who work for the company that makes it fairly treated?
When it comes to wine, there are quite a few options. Some less drinkable than others however as our “research” quickly showed us. We’ll share the cream of the crop of sustainably grown wines. Not all are certified organic, but they all practice sustainable viticulture practices.
Shafer practices low impact sustainable practices including planting cover crops to control weeds and erosion, return nitrogen to the soil and provide habitat for “good” insects that feed on leafhoppers and other vineyard pests. To control the rodents that like to live in the cover crop, they installed barn owl nesting boxes. Shafer uses natural fertilizers and minimal use of sulfur to control mildew on the vines.
Winemaker notes
Shafer’s 2005 Merlot has won several awards, including Food and Wine’s “Merlot of the Year” award in 2007
Winemaker’s notes
“This Merlot comes with big scoops of red and black fruit aromas and flavors. I get fresh plums, sweet black cherries, currants, red licorice, a little pepper, and pleasing doses of fragrant earth, smoke, and minerality.” – Elias Fernandez
“… possesses crisp acidity as well as an elegant bouquet of berry fruit, menthol, sweet cherries, and spice. The tremendous aromatics are followed by abundant fruit.”
The philosophy at Willakenzie Estates is simple: “Healthy Soil, Healthy Vines, Healthy People”. They practice sustainable viticulture in every aspect of the company’s operation from planting cover crops and protecting wildlife habitat to taking care of their employees year round.
Winemaker notes
Willakenzie Estates creates a variety of wines from their single vineyard –each with it’s own distinct character– and have won acclaim across the board from the luscious Pinot Gris to the formidable Terres Basses.
“Producing Pinots with intense flavors, robust structures, round and supple tannins is our passion and raison d’être. ”
“Terres Basses–The beautiful, dark ruby color of this wine immediately suggests its depth. Rich aromas of cranberry, cassis, and plum are followed by hints of earthiness, tobacco, and subtle tangerine peel. The flavors offer both red and black fruit; black cherry, blackberry, and blueberry combining with rhubarb and pomegranate for a complex, satisfying palate impression and a long finish. This is a big wine, whose intense fruit is well balanced by bright acidity and supple tannins.”
Green marketing
June 6, 2008
If you really want your business to be green, don’t leave out the marketing and partnerships. Look for marketing companies that can help you reach new partners who think like you do. Look for progressive companies who promote a positive attitude towards the environment and the world at large.We took a survey of marketing companies that can help you make green a part of your marketing plan. Ask your current marketing agency what their thoughts are on green. You might be surprised to find that they’ve been thinking a lot about it but think their clients might not yet be ready to talk about it. Let them know that’s a bad assumption and encourage them to get green.
Here’s a couple to think about.
Dwell Creative "Dwell Creative promotes progressive brands and causes that affirm positive environmental, natural and cultural character."
Featured in the New York Times and The Washington Post, this agency has lots to say about green marketing. Keep an eye on their blog too. These guys don’t pull their punches.
J. Ottman Consulting Jacquelyn Ottman is a voice for green marketing. NPR, Treehugger.com and the New York times have reached out to her for her knowledge about green products and marketing, and she’s written a 
book on green marketing.
Her client list includes several Fortune 500 companies, and her own company has made a serious commitment to be as green as possible, from ZipCar rentals to Free Trade tea in the office.
Do you know of a green marketing company? Got a green marketing story to tell? Tell us in the comments section or email us.
Solar Powered iPhone?
June 4, 2008
Apple has filed a patent for solar technology that can fit under a touch-screen similar to those on iPhones and iPod touch. In general, the problem with solar charging portable items with solar cells is the amount of surface area, but on the iPhone there’s a large screen area that could come in pretty handy when the rumored 3G phones come out.
Understanding Global Climate Change
June 4, 2008
Even the president finally admits that global warming exists and we should take action. Better late than never I say, and I’m constantly amazed at how suddenly the press is revealing all this “new” data as though it never existed until Bush acknowledged it. The fact is, scientists have been shouting it to the roof tops for years (except the ones Bush repressed that is) and there’s a lot of data out there. rather than rant on and on as I am wont to do, I thought I’d just give you a list of excellent resources so you can get the facts.
Links to learn more:
The Leipzig Declaration on Global Climate Change
Global Climate Change Research
Fast facts from the Environmental Defense Fund
Australian wind farms winding up transportation
June 2, 2008
Yarra Trams, Melbourne’s transit agency, has introduced a “wind powered tram” in partnership with Pacific Hydro’s southwestern Victorian Yambuk Wind Farm and Sustainability Victoria.
The agency has secured enough GreenPower to supply a 5-carriage tram until the end of 2008. CEO of Yarra Trams, Dennis Cliche said: “It is our vision that in the coming years Yarra Trams will be able to power a larger proportion of our fleet with green energy with the support of the State of Victoria and our parent companies.”
Find out who’s polluting your neighborhood
June 1, 2008
You can quickly see who’s polluting locally at Scorecard.org. View various pollutants sorted by company, location, chemical or levels of damage.
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