News
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
UNEPs World Environment Day – June 5
The United Nations Environment Programme is holding the World Environment Day on June 5th with the theme: Forests: Nature at Your Service. What began in 1972 has spread worldwide into an international day of action for the environment.
It has also been declared the International Year of Forests to highlight the importance of this natural resource. In decline worldwide, we depend on forests to combat climate change and provide water, shelter, habitat and support life on our planet.
Craving the Green Life – CRAVEGreen Seattle
Last night I had a major craving for all the eco-friendly indulgences of Seattle, and I knew just the way to satisfy my craving.
In the heart of SODO tucked under the first avenue bridge in the awesome location of URBAN enoteca, CRAVESeattle hosted their 2011 green event. Which much to my delight was this eco-friendly girls dream come true.
CRAVE Green in Seattle
| What: | CRAVEGreen day of Eco-Indulgence |
| Where: | URBAN enoteca 4130 1st Ave South, Seattle |
| When: | May 11, 2011 from 6-9 p.m. |
| Cost: | $35 and $50 Tickets |
Taking place on May 11, 2011 from 6-9 p.m. at URBAN enoteca (4130 1st Ave South, Seattle), CRAVEgreen is an eco-event of luxury and eco-indulgence. Featuring Natural and Organic spa services from Elaia Spa, an eco-friendly fashion show with the latest in sustainable style with designers such as Eileen Fisher, and fresh local and organic foods and wines catered by URBAN enoteca.
California Cap-and-Trade Delayed
The carbon emissions cap and trade approach to controlling air pollution has become widely accepted as the preferred approach to reducing pollution in a cost-effective manner. Even though it has been proven effective in reducing carbon emissions, California has recently paused their cap and trade law until their level of unemployment decreases. California is suffering with a struggling economy as well as high carbon emission levels.
In 2006 the Democratic legislature and California governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger enacted the cap and trade law which aimed to decrease the states carbon emissions by 2020, to the levels they were in 1990. This is the Global Warming Solutions Act. Though cap and trade laws are the most effective form of carbons sequestration, the politicians also told California voters that this law will create jobs. The lack of jobs is the problem Californians are dealing with today. In 2006 when the cap and trade law was enacted, the unemployment rate was only 5%. However, the states current unemployment rate is 12.3% with 2.25 million California individuals left unemployed. Because of the cap and trade law, businesses who cannot afford to trade pollution certificates, or who simply cannot decrease their pollution levels according to the law, are moving to other states that do not have a carbon emission law in place. This is taking jobs away from California, and putting them into an economy of another state. › Continue reading
