A (cold) room with a view
If you’ve never had the chance to experience the Aurora Borealis, if you’re willing to include a trip to the frozen wilderness, the Hotel Kalslauttanen will be a light in the dark (literally).
The Hotel & Igloo Village Kakslauttanen in Finland’s famed Lapland has 21 first-class igloo-like cabins. Its igloos could be mistaken for snow but are instead transparent glass fashioned to look like clear transparent ice but designed to keep heat in for a cozy stay.
The domed igloos present an amazing panorama of the night sky minus any city lights to detract from the majestic views. The Igloo Village offers a glass tepee for parties under the northern lights, a snow chapel for services, and a stylish ice lounge,
With [...]
Sanyo’s new 2-sided solar panels deliver 50% more energy
Sanyo has introduced their newest solar panel - the HIT Double Bifacial, a new type of photovoltaic that raises the bar for the solar panel industry.
This revolutionary system lets solar panels generate power from both sides simultaneously, using Sanyo’s HIT (Heterojunction with Intrinsic Thin-layer) proprietary bifacial technology Its two glass layers increase the amount of energy produced by up to 30% compared to a single-sided HIT solar panel - delivering 50 percent more power per square inch than the average solar panel.
DuROCK Alfacing International Inc., a Canadian company specializing in innovative interior and exterior coatings, has combined these new solar panels with its Tio-Coating reflective white roof membrane, which reflects up to 89% of the solar radiation. This lets the double-sided solar panels [...]
Environmentalists outraged at prospect of mining in Bristol Bay, Alaska
The proposed Pebble Open Pit Mine - which would be the largest North American copper and gold mine – has outraged environmentalists who see Bristol Bay, Alaska as a “vital ecosystem” for salmon and other species.
The threat puts the headwaters of the two most famous salmon producing river drainages in Alaska –the Mulchatna/ Nushagak River drainage and the Newhalen / Kvichak River drainage, both of which feed into the renowned Bristol Bay - at risk. Anticipated to be the first of many, the mine would also include the largest dam in the world - larger than Three Gorges Dam in China - and would be made of earth, not concrete, to hold back the toxic waste created in the mining process.
Bristol Bay [...]
The Non-GMO Project
I recently received an email from Eden Foods – a top quality company that operates with integrity and sustainable practices – and thought I’d bring this important information to you.
Recently, members of the natural product industry from across the U.S. and Canada (including Eden Foods) created the Non-GMO Project (The Project). The Project’s goal is to provide consumers and makers a 3rd party non-GMO verification program through all levels of the supply chain, thus providing verified non-GMO alternatives to consumers.
The Non-GMO Project is North America’s first independent non-GMO verification utilizing on-site facility audits, document and systems reviews, and DNA PCR (polymerase chain reaction) testing of all at-risk inputs for GMO contamination.
The Project aims to continuously improve [...]
Airlines must let people go!
The U.S. government has done something that consumers have been pushing them to do for years. The Transportation Department has ordered airlines to let passengers stuck in stranded airplanes to deplane after three hours.
Until now, airlines have had complete say-so as to when or if stranded passengers can deplane, no matter how many hours their plane sits in line on the tarmac. Today, Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced the three-hour limit and other new passenger protections long fought for by consumer advocates. This year, from January to June, 613 planes were delayed on tarmacs for more than three hours, with passengers kept on board.
Under the new rule, airlines must provide food and water for passengers [...]
Three U.S. airlines sue UK over carbon emissions plan
In typical fashion, three U.S.-based airlines - American, Continental and United Airlines have filed suit, along with the Air Transport Association, to stop initial implementation of EU emission trading regulations for the aviation industry.
The EU’s cap and trade system caps CO2 emissions, requiring polluters - including all airlines -to purchase offsets in order to continue operating within EU airspace. Earlier this year the UK started allowing its Environment Agency to fine UK airlines that don’t those emissions standards,
In their complaint, the three American air carriers and the ATA stated that the rules were in violation of a 2007 bilateral air transport agreement between the U.S. and EU. They argue that a flight from London to the U.S. would almost exclusively occur outside EU [...]
Kohl’s – more green than ever!
Kohl’s has long been recognized for providing quality and good prices. But did you know they’re green too?
Since 2008, Kohl’s has been making major strides in their green practices. They’ve:
recycled more than 95,000 tons of paper and cardboard – enough to make more than three billion Christmas cards.
recycled more than 100,000 tons of cardboard, plastic and hangers. During the holiday season alone, they recycle 30,000 tons of it!
made transporting merchandise efficiently a priority, eliminating more than 825,000 empty miles driven – the equivalent of driving from Kohl’s headquarters in Wisconsin to the North Pole more than 260 times.
Kohl’s circulars are printed on paper made from 100 percent certified forest sources.
A number of their stores are powered [...]
Copenhagen Summit severly limits NGO participation
With the eyes of the world on Copenhagen and the U.N. Climate Change Conference, it seems that organizers will be limiting who can get inside during the last most critical decision-making sessions.
While 45,000 people are registered, today and tomorrow only 7,000 civilian observers will be allowed entrance, with those numbers reduced to 1,000 on Thursday and a mere 90 allowed in the conference center by Friday, the day of final negotiations.
A coalition of 50 NGOs ( non-government organizations) has drafted a formal letter protesting this move, saying the restrictions are a breach of Denmark’s obligation to provide public access to information, public participation in decision-making and access to justice in environmental matters.
In response to this [...]
A bit of creative whimsy
Here’s a little something different to enjoy. It features some of the most creative, whimsical and sometimes absurd items I’ve seen.
Take a look and imagine what having any of these in your life would be like. Fascinating!
Solar’s too complicated and expensive? I think not, Mr. O’Reilly
The following is a guest post by Mr. Tom Rooney of SPG Solar. It’s also a follow-up to a story I did recently on a soon-to-be implemented solar program in Irvine, California.
Last night (Wed.) on the O’Reilly Factor, Bill said solar power was too expensive and too complicated for him.
His unusual comments came just hours after a school district in Orange County voted to build a solar power system at no cost to the district — and which will save the district $17 million over the life of the project.
My company, SPG Solar, is building that system — and there is nothing complicated or expensive about it.
You want complicated? Go to one [...]