Posted on 29 September 2009
Polar fleece — aka microfleece, aka micrafleece aka fleece — is an inherently eco-friendly fiber. Made from same material as Tupperware and bottle caps, fleece becomes fleece when the material, PET (polyethylene terephthalate), is heated up and manipulated. Polyester is also made from PET. But unlike polyester, fleece is plush, breathable, and uber warm. Here are five fleeces culled from REI, the best retailer for fleece option at all prices and styles.
The Muir Woods jacket ($45) has a nice nubby texture and is available in vibrant fall colors. Pair this 62% recycled fleece with a flannel or button down shirt and corduroys and voila.
North Face makes the most widely known fleece jackets on the market. In fact, it has become such as staple item in the winter for warmth and style, it is not uncommon to see anyone from fraternity brothers to urban kids wearing the Denali fleece ($165), which is made from 87% recycled PET.
A vest ($49.50) is a great layer item. Wear it under a rain jacket, blazer, or trench coat to add a bit of warmth on days when the wind is whipping. If you don’t “get it” with vests, just try owning one for a season or two.
If you remember the first years that fleece came into style as a fashionable/practical alternative to a wool sweater, you probably remember that they looked like this. And personally, I’ve never gotten sick of this old school style –snaps at the neck and all– because while it’s not a zip-up, it is a classic ($95).
This uber thin fleece top ($68) is honest to goodness the softest thing you’ll ever touch. But if that’s not enough for you, check out the cool thumb loops that will keep your hands warm when it’s chilly out.
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Posted on 29 September 2009
Eco Factor: Highly efficient solar cell developed by Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems.
German scientists at the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems (ISE) have announced that they’ve successfully developed a single-crystal silicon solar cell that is made by forming a thin p-type semiconductor layer on an n-type semiconductor substrate.
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Posted on 29 September 2009
Eco Factor: Rainwater harvesting system prevents the growth of algae.
One of the major downsides of harvesting rainwater in large tanks and using it to supplement water demand in your house is the growth of algae in the tank that stores rainwater for a long period of time.
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Posted on 29 September 2009
Eco Factor: Zero-emission car with a carbon fiber body.
Compact bodywork and the use of lightweight materials can do a world of good for a car that is designed to run efficiently on clean fuel such as electricity. The E-Wolf E1 is one such electric car that makes use of lightweight materials such as carbon fiber.
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Posted on 29 September 2009
Eco Factor: All-electric car with swappable batteries.
Tesla Motor’s forthcoming all-electric Model S sedan will have the ability to recharge in less than five minutes, courtesy swappable batteries that can be exchanged with new ones in less than five minutes, which is same amount of time it takes to fill up a regular car with gas at a gas station.
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Posted on 29 September 2009
Eco Factor: Interactive tree harnesses solar energy for power.
Folks over at Loop.pH have designed a unique interactive solar-powered tree, which was unveiled at the London Design Festival. The structure comes with strands of light-emitting fabric woven into a lucent web of branches.
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Posted on 27 September 2009
I want to congratulate my friend Jill Fehrenbacher and her new team for the launch of Ecouterre, a website dedicated to covering the fast evolving world of eco-fashion. Jill founded the green design blog Inhabitat, right about the time I launched LazyEnvironmentalist.com, so we’ve been tracking each other’s progress for a while. When I had my radio show on Sirius a couple of years ago, Jill was a frequent guest which gave us a chance to delve into topics such as 1) is there such a thing as a green design aesthetic? 2) will a green architectural aesthetic evolve over time as form and function unite in new ways to create buildings that truly function in balance with nature? 3) who really is on the cutting-edge of green design? (Jill always provides great examples).
Much of my job involves communicating the latest trends across the full spectrum of green living. In my books, I’ve covered everything from top eco-fashion brands to the best green building materials to great green baby products, eco-gadgets, natural funerals, eco-friendly personal care, green cleaning products, and much more. Along the way, I’ve relied on lots of resources including, of course, the blogosphere. As such, it’s been abundantly clear to me that a terrific blog dedicated to exclusively to covering eco-fashion is missing from the green scene. Thus, Ecouterre comes along at the right time with the right team (Jasmin Malik Chua, formerly of Treehugger, is the managing editor) to really shine and fill the void.
I’ll be checking the site daily especially as we pull together my environmental wardrobe to shoot season 2 of the Lazy E tv show!
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Posted on 27 September 2009
When you think of eco-friendly products, Yamaha Keyboards really don’t come to mind. Think again. Yamaha is revolutionizing the keyboard industry in all new ways.
Over the past 50 years our energy consumption has tripled at home. Stop for a moment and look around your house; I’m sure you’ll find a number products that do require electricity -everything from refrigerators, TVs, computers, and now an increasing number of digital pianos and synthesizers.
Purchases of digital pianos has risen to a point where it’s actually surpassing that of acoustic pianos. The reason for that: digital pianos offer features that are not readily available on acoustic pianos, never require tuning, and clearly offer the sounds of many instruments that can be played from one keyboard. Yet, eco-friendly piano keyboards were an afterthought or not thought of at all until now.
Yamaha keyboards is at the forefront of the eco-friendly evolution in musical instruments. It offers consumers the option to purchase an eco-friendly AC power adapter that consumes far less electricity than its standard adapter. The Yamaha PA 150 power adapter is designed specifically for that purpose. So any Yamaha keyboard with the PA 150 power adapter attached to it will significantly reduce its power consumption while the instrument is not in use and turned off. If you are looking to buy the power adapter you can find it here .
Many people do not realize that when a digital piano or synthesizer that remains plugged into the socket continues to drain energy when it is powered down. But over the course of time they can still consume a significant amount that can make a difference. If you own a Yamaha keyboard, you can rest assured that the PA 150 adapter will pay for itself in the long run.
Although this seems like a very small step towards eco-friendly musical instruments this is certainly a step in the right direction. Yamaha Corporation and its famous Yamaha keyboards are leading the field in eco-friendly piano keyboard consciousness. Setting the gauntlet: It would be great to see other keyboard manufacturers like Korg Keyboards and Roland Keyboards take an active interest toward eco-friendly digital keyboards.
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Posted on 27 September 2009
As far as brilliant inventions go, hair conditioner is absolutely at the top of my list. Some of you may take this grooming aid for granted, slicking a palm full through your locks each morning without a second thought. Not me. I consider my conditioner. I have no choice. Without a dose of the goo my thick, unruly coif would tangle itself into one big dreadlock. And I like my conditioner extra viscous—and of course, as organic as possible. Healthy hair has no tolerance for synthetic colors or fragrance or artificial preservatives.
These are some of my favorite ways to condition:
Oh, John Masters, I love you. I do. I’m an unabashed devotee of all that is Mr. Masters. I get my hair cut and colored at his gorgeous, eco-friendly (no stinky toxic chemical here) salon, I use his conditioner—Lavender and Avocado Intensive ($22) is particularly luscious—as well as his hair gel. The Intensive conditioner is exploding with soothing organic ingredients like avocado and lavender oils and soy protein. Your hair has never had it so good. Given the price and the effectiveness, this can be used as a once-a-week treatment.
I turn to Aubrey Organics’ Honeysuckle Rose Conditioner ($8.49) when I’m looking for a simple, reliable way to manage my do. Aubrey’s products are always free from parabens and petrochemicals and full of gentle, organic ingredients like aloe vera and jojoba oil. If you have corkscrew curls, this could be your only option.
Sometimes hair needs the extra, all-day boost of a leave-in conditioner. Enter Beauty Without Cruelty’s Revitalize Leave-In Conditioner ($10.79). In addition to being 100 percent vegetarian, the conditioner is practically an herb garden, bursting with rosemary, chamomile, sage, horsetail, nettle and lavender.
If essential oils are your thing, EO is your brand. The company’s Rose and Chamomile conditioner ($8.49) is particularly divine with an outrageous list of the coveted oils. Chamomile and rose are just the beginning. The conditioning experience is also enhanced by essential oils of bergamot, geranium, grapefruit and rosewood . . . among others. Bottom line: you will smell good after introducing your mane to EO’s treatment.
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Posted on 27 September 2009
Eco Factor: Bicycle light gets powered by electromagnetic induction.
Designed by industrial designer Kai Malte Roever, the PUYL is a bicycle pump that doubles as a permanent illuminating bicycle light that doesn’t need a battery to operate. The patent-pending device consists of a normal bicycle pump, which in this case charges a built-in battery using electromagnetic induction.
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Posted on 27 September 2009
Eco Factor: Carbon neutral lodge gets powered by renewable energy.
The Eco Lodge by Satellite Architects is a zero-carbon, sustainable and off-grid lodge that meets Code for Sustainable Homes Level 5 standards. The off-grid lodge is designed to take advantage of the sun for natural heat and light and relies on surrounding air for ventilation.
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Posted on 27 September 2009
Eco Factor: Energy saving system heats or cools interiors according to climate.
In a normal house, heat is either lost or gained through the most thermally weak points, the windows. An Italian company, VentroVentilato, is trying to make windows regulate interior temperature depending on the climate outside by a system of simple double- or triple-glazed windows that are equipped with a sensor-controlled fan.
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Posted on 27 September 2009
Eco Factor: Solar-powered system to refine magnesium and use it as a source of fuel.
Oceans contain about 1800 trillion tons of magnesium, which if refined can be used to meet the world’s energy needs for the next 300,000 years. But refining this metallic element requires temperatures in excess of 4000C, which means a lot of money and energy. Future thinking scientist Takashi Yabe at the Tokyo Institute of Technology, believes that he has a system that can run on solar-power to refine magnesium.
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Posted on 27 September 2009
Eco Factor: Zero-emission electric aircraft to run on hydrogen fuel cells.
Designers at the University of Stuttgart’s Institute of Aircraft Design have announced that they’ll be building an electric aircraft that will be powered by hydrogen fuel cells. Dubbed Hydrogenius, the aircraft will be equipped with a lithium battery and electric motor, which will use the power from the aircraft’s onboard hydrogen fuel cell system.
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Posted on 27 September 2009
Eco Factor: Concept car designed to run on electric engine fueled by solar power.
Pforzheim University graduate Anne Forschner is one auto designer who believes that cars of the future need to harness renewable energy and convert it into usable fuel for a zero-emission ride. Anne has come up with a concept car, designed in collaboration with BMW, that mimics natural forms to harness solar energy.
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Posted on 27 September 2009
Eco Factor: Hydrogen-fuel cell powered electric vehicle.
Designed by a student team from Ohio State University, the Buckeye Bullet 2 broke the 300mph barrier at the Bonneville Salt Flats by averaging 300.992mph in the flying kilometer with a top recorded speed of 304mph.
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Posted on 27 September 2009
Eco Factor: Cellphone made from surplus wood.
NTT DOCOMO has announced that the company has developed a mobile phone prototype from surplus wood of trees culled during thinning operations to maintain healthy forests. The phone was developed in collaboration with Sharp Corporation, Olympus Corporation and “More Trees,” a reforestation project.
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Posted on 27 September 2009
Eco Factor: Residential complex made from 1000 recycled shipping containers.
Designing homes from shipping containers isn’t a new concept, and we have already seen some stunning examples of what shipping container homes can look like. San Francisco-based Group 41 Inc is taking shipping container architecture to a whole new level by designing a residential complex from over 1000 recycled shipping containers.
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Posted on 27 September 2009
Eco Factor: Overhanging structure generates solar energy.
The Solar Cloud is an inflatable, overhanging structure that has been designed to provide shade to a large cit space. The structure is designed to be made from lightweight materials that can easily be inflated and erected.
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Posted on 24 September 2009
Sure, it was exciting (in an Alien-eqsue sort of way) to be growing another human being inside of me, but I found the most fascinating part of being pregnant to be my ever-morphing figure. As a woman who was always light on curves, I never quite tired of greeting that increasingly bodacious woman in the mirror each morning. Finally, I had boobs! I had a butt! And a basketball-sized stomach. But just because I appreciated my new shape, didn’t mean that I wanted to walk around looking like a house covered in an extremely large sheet. I had fashion standards that would not be compromised by impending mammahood.
I found most maternity clothes to be stodgy and unflattering—designed for conservative types who thought it was actually possible to hide the growing bowling ball under your shirt. (It’s not). But I also discovered that there are a handful of maternity designers out there who encourage a pregnant woman to tastefully show off her bump. And when they couldn’t be found, I choose non-maternity brands cut to accommodate an ever-expanding middle.
These are some of the preggy looks I’m digging right now:
Belabumbum understands a woman’s form whether she’s with child or not. For years I’ve tucked myself into the company’s luxurious underthings and am thrilled to find that they’ve got a solid maternity line as well. The Blossom Chemise ($71.50) is a flattering, hip way to get dressed without showing too much (or too little). Bamboo fabric—enhanced with a splash of spandex—helps to control moisture (i.e. sweat) and a crisscrossed bodice and back provides essential support.
The queen of maternity strikes again with an organic cotton take on the shift dress ($24.99). Liz Lange’s version of this classic cut provides enough room to stay comfortable all day while remaining pulled together for that second trimester lunch meeting or dinner date. And this one can be dressed up or down with a flashy accessory or a casual pair of shoes.
Outfit yourself with a couple of wrap dresses and you’ll make it through pregnancy without ever visiting the maternity section. Mission Playground’s Willow Dress ($64) will take you from your first glance at the pregnancy test (OMG!) to the day you give birth. Made entirely from organic cotton, this dress will expand with you.
Another non-maternity maternity item that will accompany you throughout pregnancy and across the finish line is a trusty tank tunic. Trinity’s tunic ($14.95) is made from 100 percent organic cotton and sits in a brilliant cut that looks as good on a woman in her 38th week of pregnancy as it does on someone slim and straight.
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Posted on 24 September 2009
The line separating pet and human names is by now thinner than a whisker. Fido and Fifi are relics of an earlier age. Today’s most popular names for furry family members (e.g. Max, Sam, Chloe, Maggie) are regularly bestowed on human babies, as well. And, just so, accessories for dogs and cats have grown incrementally more civilized.
The Dog Gone Canvas Donut Smart Bed ($64.57) is available in a classy pile of colors and sizes (including extra large, which can be hard to find). It retains its inner fluffiness under the heft of all breeds, and the surface fabric is stain-repellent thanks to nontoxic NanoSphere, a plant-based, techie-green finish that evolved from molecular biology.
Sam isn’t just a dog. He’s a member of your family, right? Put your bedding where your mouth is with the Annies Sweatshop My Pillow Pet Bed ($50), a charming innovation that involves inserting a human pillow—one that preferably reeks of its owner—into a simple sham-and-blanket contraption. Handmade in Canada of recycled plastic (PET) fleece, the pillow bed is a great bet for smaller pets and chic spaces: the colors are best in show.
West Paw’s Nature Nap Soft Berber Dog Mat ($19.89 – $63.89), available in happy neutrals and a dog-bone print, is reasonably priced and comes in an impressive range of five sizes: no teacup Chihuahua or Grand Pyrenees left behind. This smart, sturdy boutique item is made of American-spun Berber fabric and sewn in Bozeman, Montana.
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Posted on 24 September 2009
Eco Factor: Portable solar-powered concept cooker.
Solar-powered cookers are definitely a green solution for all those camping enthusiasts who don’t want to contribute to global warming by burning wood for cooking food. However, present day solar cookers are only good as a secondary choice since they directly use the energy of the sun to cook food, where an overcast day means that you’ll starve.
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Posted on 24 September 2009
Eco Factor: Home made from recycled shipping container generates solar electricity and saves energy.
Shipping container homes are unique, they’re strong, easy to manufacture and easy to transport. If constructed intelligently they also can offer the inhabitants a luxuriously sustainable place to live in. Designers over at Verde es Bueno have designed a prefab home prototype that comes with the bones of a shipping container and promises to generate and save energy.
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Posted on 24 September 2009
Eco Factor: New technology to transform algae into a true competitor of petroleum.
Origin Oil has unveiled its breakthrough technology to convert algae into a true competitor of petroleum. The first-ever comprehensive algae production model was presented to industry leaders at the National Algae Association’s (NAA) quarterly conference entitled “Algae: The New Oil”.
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Posted on 24 September 2009
Eco Factor: Old car converted to run on a zero-emission engine.
Jim Danielson and Sean Kleinschmidt, students at Purdue University have converted an old Porsche with a blown engine into an electric-powered vehicle. The students bought an old 1987 Porsche 924S for $500 and then sold parts that they didn’t require for about the same amount.
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