Frankly Green

California to Require Climate Friendly Car Windows

While I support the idea of reducing emissions, I think there are better ways to do it than to make mandates like this. Rather, I would prefer to see incentives for the automakers to address all aspects of emissions (not just glass). How about simply tightening overall emission requirements and let the auto makers figure out how to accomplish it. Glass may be one approach but there are certainly others. Sad thing is that most automakers, especially U.S. automakers, have been reactive, not proactive. Companies like Toyota have eaten their lunch. And companies like Tesla have gained real traction. Innovate or die!

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Carmakers, cell phone firms complained about sun-reflecting glass
Link to Article

California air regulators voted unanimously Thursday for a mandate requiring auto manufacturers to include sun-reflecting glass on all vehicles sold within the state by 2014.

The move by the California Air Resources Board was intended to keep cars, pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles cooler during hot weather, reducing the use of air conditioning.

That was expected to improve fuel efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

"The end result of it is the customer gets a car that's more comfortable to ride in, air conditioners don't have to work as hard, and the atmosphere will be happier because we won't be emitting as much carbon dioxide," said board chairwoman Mary Nichols.

Toyota's Plug-in Hybrid

  -- we may start seeing them by the end of the year.
Link to Article

More than 10 years ago, Toyota took a look at the alternatives to gasoline-powered vehicles -- battery electrics, fuel cell, hybrids, diesel -- and made a decision that, for now, at least, hybrids was the way to go.

They built the Prius, now in its third generation, and we know the wild success that car has had. But it's still not enough. Even though the 2010 Prius is rated at 50 mpg on the highway, the nascent plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) industry has shown that you can get the equivalent of 100 mpg.

Now Toyota says it's making its own PHEV and it will available for lease by the end of 2009.

Father's Day Gift Ideas

Thanks to my friend Paul Banas at Great Dad (www.greatdad.com) for passing this along!

Here are some unconventional ideas for Father's Day from www.sustainstores.com. The company is a fantastic new resource and the family behind it is committed to providing customers with a wide selection of eco-friendly products, and showing them that living a more sustainable life is attainable.

To encourage your readers to try out the site, we offer a discount code "sustain" that when entered in the keycode part of the checkout form will provide a 20% discount off everything (the discount will be confirmed in an email after the order is processed.) This code expires June 21, Father's Day.

Here are a few items you will find on the site:

Solar Headlamp • $49.95
The world's first Solar Powered LED Headlamp with a powerful and lightweight lithium cell phone battery. The 5pcs bright white LEDs in this solar-rechargeable Headlamp run all night long with only 6 hours of full sun charging. The LED sequencing switch provides different operating modes – bright, photocell (for automatic dusk-to-dawn operation), dim and blinking. There is also a charge indicator for the battery and the LEDs switch off periodically as the battery runs low, so you're never left in total darkness without warning. Cutting edge solar-powered LED Headlamps are perfect for outdoor use (especially camping) off-grid living, or emergencies. Awarded Editors’ Choice 2008 by Backpacker Magazine.

Freeplay Kito Flashlight • $25.00
Simple, rugged, reliable light – anytime, anywhere.  The Freeplay Kito flashlight combines the independence of trusted wind-up Freeplay technology with the reliability of LED illumination. The Freeplay Aid and Development Group exists to help Freeplay achieve its social mission: to bridge the energy gap in the developing world.

Video: Greener Cars of the Future

Do New Bulbs Save Energy if They Don't Work?

By Leora Broydo Vestel, NYT
Link to Article

I have been using CFL bulbs for over two years and have not had one fail yet. This is certainly disconcerting as poor quality and defects may keep potential buyers away thereby leading to higher energy consumption. Thanks Tom P. for sending this.

SAN FRANCISCO — It sounds like such a simple thing to do: buy some new light bulbs, screw them in, save the planet.

But a lot of people these days are finding the new compact fluorescent bulbs anything but simple. Consumers who are trying them say they sometimes fail to work, or wear out early. At best, people discover that using the bulbs requires learning a long list of dos and don’ts.

Method Completes Cradle to Cradle Certification on 20 Products

 

Method has completed Cradle to Cradle certification on 20 products, making Method the company with the most C2C certified home care solutions.

Cradle to Cradle certification takes into account what type of materials are used, how recyclable or compostable those materials are, the use of renewable energy and water, and the company’s overall dedication to social responsibility.

Dr. Michael Braungart, co-author of Cradle to Cradle, said that “Method has built C2C principles into the core of its business model, and everything the company does is according to the C2C philosophy. We are proud to have Method be the first brand in the cleaning space with a range of C2C certified products.”

Method is committed to transparency and ingredient disclosure. Complete ingredient listings for our core cleaning products are available at www.methodhome.com, as well as an explanation of each ingredient’s function and the health and environmental summary.

Silver Spring's Smart Look at Power

Thanks to my friend Ryan for this article. Having real-time information about consumption can really change behavior and encourage conservation. Someday we will all have real-time displays in our homes that will allow us to monitor our consumption and see what we are paying for it in real-time. Very cool stuff!

by Rebecca Buckman - Forbes.com
Link to article

The stock market's blowup is crippling many Silicon Valley startups that need cash. Raising funds privately is hard, going to the public markets next to impossible.

Then there's an outlier: Silver Spring Networks, an under-the-radar firm that expects $100 million-plus in revenue this year and double that in 2010. The Redwood City, Calif. company boasts big-name backers and is making a play in the politically popular business of upgrading the nation's aging, out-of-shape electric grid. (The Obama stimulus package contains money for "smart grid" projects, among other goodies.)

Silver Spring's networking gear is being deployed on a large scale by utilities such as California's Pacific Gas & Electric and Washington, D.C.'s Pepco Holdings, which together have 7 million customers. Last year the company hired Warren Jenson, who ran the books at Amazon.com and nbc, as financial chief. He presumably knows a thing or two about managing money at a public company.

Soft is Rough on Forests

Mr. Whipple Left It Out: Soft Is Rough on Forests
By Leslie Kaufman, NYT
Link to Article

Thanks to my friends Eric N. and Marc C. for this article!

Americans like their toilet tissue soft: exotic confections that are silken, thick and hot-air-fluffed.

The national obsession with soft paper has driven the growth of brands like Cottonelle Ultra, Quilted Northern Ultra and Charmin Ultra — which in 2008 alone increased its sales by 40 percent in some markets, according to Information Resources, Inc., a marketing research firm.

But fluffiness comes at a price: millions of trees harvested in North America and in Latin American countries, including some percentage of trees from rare old-growth forests in Canada. Although toilet tissue can be made at similar cost from recycled material, it is the fiber taken from standing trees that help give it that plush feel, and most large manufacturers rely on them.

BlueAvocado Reusable Bag System

 BlueAvocado has created the gro-pak - a fashionable reusable bag system made from recycled materials. gro-pak™ is a grocery-shopping nirvana - a sustainable system that includes everything from large multi-use bags to stylish totes to ventilated produce bags. To make things even easier they've assembled 4 stylish combinations - they call them Kits - to choose from.

The system has bags for fruits and veggies (VEG),  freezer items (CHIL) and dry goods (POD, GRO) that all fold up and fit into the main PAK bag.  They are currently being sold in Whole Foods SW Region, select HEB stores in Austin and they are in talks with additional retailers!

Thanks to my friend Jeff S. for sending this!

Guest Post: Report From Greenbuild in Boston

by Patricia Gaylor
www.PatriciaGaylor.com

Despite the freezing temperatures outside, Greenbuild Boston got off to a great start with an inspiring and motivational speech by Rick Fedrizzi, president and CEO of The US Green Building Council. Staying positive, and moving past the usual 'doom and gloom' attitude of late regarding the current state of the economy, Mr. Fedrizzi noted with enthusiasm the palpable energy in the room. Over 25,000 attendees this year, including myself were anxious to see what was new and exciting in the world of sustainable building and design.

Archbishop Desmnd Tutu delivered a gracious speech on the changes we are
experiencing right now, not only in green building but also the main change that our nation experienced on November 4th. Diversity, change and hope were words frequently used by Tutu.