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New UK Environmental and Energy Technologies
Reducing your carbon footprint and energy bills
As we face the realities of population growth, pollution, climate change and the unstoppable rise in energy demand, we need to become more environmentally aware and start to take on the responsibility of reducing our carbon dioxide emissions, whilst reducing our energy bills. We need to use and produce energy that comes from clean renewable sources if we are to survive. We only have one planet’s worth of fossil fuel resources and it is vital that we transform the way the manmade environment is planned, designed, constructed and operated. › Continue reading
The Two Wheeled Drive – Project Bike Trip – May 2012
| What: | Project Bike Trip’s Two Wheeled Drive |
| Where: | Everywhere! Sign up here |
| When: | Starting May 1st through the 31st, 2012 |
| Why: | To raise money and awareness (+$12,000 in prizes!) |
The Two Wheeled Drive is a drive to get more people commuting by bicycle more often by challenging folks to choose two wheels over four while raising awareness and funds for youth bicycle education.
It’s essentially kind of like a walk-a-thon, but way better because it’s a commute-a-thon that lasts the whole month of May to recognize and support Bike Month and to raise money to get more kids happy and healthy by riding bikes. › Continue reading
African Rainforest Conservancy Benefit – 2012 Artists for Africa
I am very excited to be covering the African Rainforest Conservancy’s 21st annual Artists for Africa Benefit in a few weeks for The Chic Ecologist. Honoring Kris and Doug Tompkins and in support of the conservation of Tanzania’s Eastern Arc Mountains and Coastal Forests, this year’s benefit will also feature the naming of a newly discovered frog.
This frog, discovered in the Nguru South and Nguu North Mountains of the Eastern Arc rainforest of Tanzania, changes color from a milky white during the daytime to yellow with brown spots during the nighttime.
| What: | African Rainforest Conservancy Benefit – Artists for Africa |
| Where: | Prince George Ballroom – 15 East 27th St, New York |
| When: | Wednesday, April 11th – Cocktails begin @ 6 p.m. |
| Cost: | Cocktails $125, Dinner $500 – event tickets available here |
Additional event highlights will include silent and live art auctions showcasing the works of over forty celebrated artists—including William Abranowicz, Chris Dei, Gerald Forster, Chris Jordan, Carlo Mari, Arthur Meyerson, Jonnie Miles, Joseph Peter, Mirella Ricciardi, and Spencer Tunick—many of whom have graciously supported ARC over the years and will also be in attendance. Providing the ambiance for the evening is a choral performance by the New York City Master Chorale.
Raising over $1 million over the past two decades, this annual event supports ARC’s mission of promoting the conservation of Tanzania’s Eastern Arc Mountains and Coastal Forests by empowering local communities to become the guardians of their forests. Event proceeds will provide core support for ARC’s grassroot conservation and community development programs in 146 villages throughout the mountain ranges and coastal forests of East Africa—among the oldest and most biodiverse in the world. › Continue reading
Impact Drugs are Having on the Environment – Marijuana
When thinking about drugs, one doesn’t usually associate an environmental impact with the production or manufacturing process, however, the toll on natural habitat is real. From Marijuana grow operations in our National Forests to prescription drugs in our waterways, modern chemistry and drug production is having a profound impact on our world.
Gone are the small patches or the small scale grassroots ‘hippie’ farms, instead they have been replaced with large scale slash and burn grow operations with toxic chemicals and fertilizers for maximum production. Left behind are toxic dump sites, full of trash, chemicals and a polluted wasteland. Reminiscent of the moonshiners of old (who are still in operation today) who used the forest to hide their operations, these modern day drug growers have increased in scale and destruction. › Continue reading
Green Gift Monday – Responsible Gifting
Green Gift Monday is an alternative (or improvement) to Cyber Monday, November 28th, the biggest online shopping day of the year.
Promoted on by The Nature Conservancy, this awareness date represents conservation as opposed to consumption. Instead of buying more stuff, dontate to your favorite community organization, volunteer, or commit to conservation by cutting energy costs in your own life. DIY projects are a great way to cut energy waste, replacing inefficient appliances or learning creative solutions from others can really make a difference. › Continue reading
Great White Shark on Display at the Monterey Bay Aquarium
As of August 31st, 2011, the sixth live great white shark to ever go on display made it’s debut in the Open Sea tank at the Monterey Bay Aquarium in California.
This is one of the things that makes the Monterey Bay Aquarium great in my opinion, sharing this beautiful creature with the world, alive and magnificent. I visited the second great white they ever displayed, and it was unlike anything I had ever experienced. I had seen sharks in aquariums, reef sharks while SCUBA diving, in documentary films, and of course Shark Week, but this was unlike any shark I had ever seen.
The beauty and grace of a great white shark (even one this small) can be seen on TV, but encountering it in person is a completely different experience (even if it is only in a tank). Being that close and in person gave me a sense of awe an appreciation like nothing else, only if I had been swimming alongside it would I have felt deeper. Exactly the response conservationists at the aquarium are hoping for in placing this shark on display. › Continue reading
Northwest EcoBuilding Guild Building Slam! 2011
Ten projects.
Ten slides.
Ten minutes.
Emceed by Patti Southard, of the King County Green Tools Program, this year’s Annual Green Building Slam! put on by the Northwest EcoBuilding Guild is sure to be interesting.
| What: | Annual Green Building Slam! |
| Where: | Bastyr University Auditorium |
| When: | Saturday, September 10, 2011 from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. |
| Cost: | $20 Advance (before 9/8)/ $30 (after 9/8) |
Hosted by Northwest EcoBuilding Guild’s Seattle Chapter, this event features architects and builders showcasing their green construction projects in a 10 minute, 10 slide presentation.
In celebration of the 100-year anniversary of the International Women’s Day, a number of remarkable projects by top women green building professionals will be highlighted. › Continue reading
NorthWest SolarFest 2011
Part of Shoreline Solar Project, NW Solar Fest 2011 is a Renewable Energy and Sustainable Living Fair happening at Shoreline Community College. There will be displays, demonstrations, music, food and a beer garden open until 8 pm.
| What: | NW SolarFest |
| Where: | Shoreline Community College |
| When: | July 16th, 2011 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. |
| Cost: | FREE! |
It may sound strange, solar power in the Pacific Northwest, but this renewable energy is becoming more efficient and able to convert energy at lower light levels.
Come learn about various new solar technologies including solar cooking and explore other renewable resources at › Continue reading
