Sustainanomics

Detroit Auto Show - More Hybrids & Full Electric Cars!

2009-01-28T09:49:00.000-08:00

Finally, carmakers are listening to the customer! Thanks to the likes of Toyota and Honda, we now have a selection of hybrids and emissions-free vehicles that are actually pleasant to the eye. I was watching some of the highlights of the Detroit Auto Show on TV last night, and I had to write about some of the new hybrids and electrics!

So of course you have the Prius and the Insight, but I am really taking a liking to Lexus's new hybrid, the HS. The other car makers that are introducing hybrids are Jeep, Ford, Mercedes (SMART), and GM. I think that the real improvement would by the number of electric vehicles that were showcased like the Toyota FT-EV, the Chevrolet Volt, BYD, to name a few.

It almost seems as though the release of these vehicles are in line with Obama's environmental policy. All of these improvements are great and are promising, but to really reduce emissions - just ride your bike.

If Everyone Lived Like You - The Sustainability Game

2008-03-20T17:57:00.000-07:00

What would the world look like if everyone lived like me?

Consumer Consequences lets you compare your lifestyle with other players and gives you a chance to modify your choices and reduce your carbon footprint. This interactive game will ask you a series of questions about your lifestyle, and as you play, it will show you how many "Earths" of natural resources it would take to sustain all 6.6 billion humans… if everyone lived like you.

Find out if you are living a sustainable life!

Eco-Fashion Comes of Age

2008-03-18T09:34:00.000-07:00

In 2006, the glossies couldn’t get enough of fashion’s Green Revolution. Finally, they proclaimed, “eco” no longer equaled “geeko.” Editors at Vogue, InStyle, and The New York Times swooned over bamboo denim totes, organic cotton tees and recycled vintage sweaters... More

As prominent celebrities and politicians speak out about protecting the environment, fashion designers quickly follow suit. More and more, high fashion has incorporated eco-conscious trends-and surprisingly, we love what we're seeing.

Earth Hour 2008!

2008-03-18T09:25:00.000-07:00

It started with a question: How can we inspire people to take action on climate change?

The answer: Ask the people of Sydney to turn off their lights for one hour.

On 31 March 2007, 2.2 million people and 2100 Sydney businesses turned off their lights for one hour - Earth Hour. If the greenhouse reduction achieved in the Sydney CBD during Earth Hour was sustained for a year, it would be equivalent to taking 48,616 cars off the road for a year.

Created to take a stand against the greatest threat our planet has ever faced, Earth Hour uses the simple action of turning off the lights for one hour to deliver a powerful message about the need for action on global warming.

This simple act has captured the hearts and minds of people all over the world. As a result, at 8pm March 29, 2008 millions of people in some of the world’s major capital cities, including Copenhagen, Toronto, Chicago, Melbourne, Brisbane and Tel Aviv will unite and switch off for Earth Hour.

Click here for more!

Take the red pill

2008-03-13T09:36:00.000-07:00

A fun animated account of the techniques used by the modern industrial farm, which make low-cost meat and dairy products possible for our fast food industry to pass on to you, the customer.

Visit http://www.themeatrix.com/ to see the movies.

Sustainability: Money Talks

2008-03-12T18:03:00.000-07:00

Bob Garrison discusses how sustainability is beginning to effect the refrigerated and frozen food industry. He argues that ignoring this trend could cost companies quite a bit in the future when major chains are looking for products that are more environmentally conscious. Click here to check it out.

Drink Beer and Save the World!

2008-03-10T23:47:00.000-07:00

By buying beer from local brewers you not only cut down on transportation, but you could be supporting businesses that are leading the way in employing innovative new green practices.

Read the article "Sustainability in the Brewing Industry" for more about what some micro-brewers are doing

Green Building Check List

2008-03-10T18:32:00.000-07:00

Every day we see new strides in the building industry that move towards a greener tomorrow. But these strides are often in the public eye before they are in the code book which can make them difficult to implement. This website has a few good pre-construction steps that could really help your project move through the right steps in the right order with less costly delays. http://www.portlandonline.com/OSD/index.cfm?a=bbhdbd&c=ecccd

End of Gasoline Age in Sight?

2008-03-10T18:11:00.000-07:00

Geneva's Green Machines
European and Asian carmakers (surprise) take the lead in debuting next-generation hybrid models at the 78th Geneva Motor Show
By David Kiley

Henry Ford famously said his customers could have any color Model T they wanted as long as it was black. At today's auto shows, it feels as if there is so much attention placed on vehicles that operate more cleanly and efficiently that executives are changing Henry Ford's quip to, "as long as it's green."

Read more about this
http://www.businessweek.com/globalbiz/content/mar2008/gb2008034_491245.htm

12 sustainable design ideas from nature

2008-03-03T18:30:00.000-08:00

With 3.8 billion years of research and development on its side, nature has already solved problems that human designers and engineers still struggle with. In this inspiring talk, Janine Benyus provides fascinating examples of biomimicry -- the way humans mimic nature in the products we build and the systems we implement. And because the champion adapters in the natural world are, by definition, those that can survive without destroying the environment that sustains them, biomimicry can contribute to the long-term health of our planet. Read more...

An Awesome Composting Video

2008-02-20T17:23:00.000-08:00

Wiggly worm teaches the wonders of compost along with his friends Mista Millapede and Sista Sow bug. Accompanied by an original rap song these puppets sing with some 3D animated flowers.

Are firms telling little green lies?

2008-02-15T21:50:00.000-08:00

Sustainable Life • Web site takes on ad claims that environmental facts may not back up
By Toby Van Fleet
The Portland Tribune, Jan 29, 2008
jIM CLARK / TRIBUNE PHOTO
The Greenwashing Index encourages consumers to think about the credibility of companies’ environmental claims.

Kermit the Frog stands in a forest next to a hybrid sports utility vehicle and says, “It’s easy being green.” But the company that makes that SUV fought against upgraded federal fuel-efficiency standards.(To read more go to
http://www.portlandtribune.com/news/story.php?story_id=120155613148190600#comment_section_container )

Web site coming soon!

2008-02-14T14:31:00.000-08:00

The website we're building will be launching soon. Keep an eye on http://www.sustainanomics.unst.pdx.edu/

Case Study: Greening Your Building While Saving Money

2008-02-12T13:28:00.000-08:00

Read about how Thomas Properties Group, Inc. (TPG) developed the Joe Serna Jr. / Cal/EPA Headquarters Building project into one of the most sustainable commercial office developments in the country. Their efforts amounted to a savings of almost $1,500,000 a year for the building which has resulted in the value of the building going up about $17,000,000.

Click here for the full story.

A Sustainable Passion?

2008-02-12T13:22:00.000-08:00

Fashion by definition is designed to change, so whether designers stick with going green remains to be seen.

Tuesday, February 12, 2008
VIVIAN McINERNY The Oregonian Staff

Last summer, the fashion industry discovered sustainability. Countless stories touted, "Green is the new black." Vogue devoted an entire issue to the topic. IMG Fashion, the organization behind last week's fashion shows in New York, announced efforts to make events greener.
Check out the rest of the article.

2008-01-30T18:56:00.000-08:00

From Reuters

Whole Foods supermarkets will no longer offer plastic bags but environmentalists are skeptical about changing consumers' habits. Americans each use more than 330 plastic bags a year, most of which are thrown away.

Manoush Zomorodi reports.

The Current State Of Green in Business

2008-01-30T18:33:00.000-08:00

The State of Green Business in 2008: Are We Swimming, Treading or Sinking?
OAKLAND, Calif., Jan. 30, 2008 -- The newly released, first annual State of Green Business report takes a close look at the reality behind all the green claims to find out just how well U.S. are businesses doing in their quest to be greener and more environmentally responsible.
[Read More Here]
http://www.greenbiz.com/news/news_third.cfm?NewsID=36600