MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

Okay, so Christmas isn't for another 153 days, but who doesn't love a little holiday spirit during the summer months. So as we look ahead to the cold, winter months, the question of which is better suited for the environment...real Christmas trees or artificial ones.

The National Christmas Tree Association pinned real trees versus artificial ones on which Christmas tree is more environmentally friendly. But before you go placing bets, here's some basic information about the Christmas tree tradition.

Share

Getting rid of junk mail would save a lot of trees. That's a fact, but marketing departments everywhere cringe at the thought of removing the mailing tradition. The belief that the return on investing in direct mail is to great to remove this marketing scheme from our everyday lives.

A resolution between group of direct-marketing companies, along with some of their
corporate clients, are banding together to make an unsustainable practice at least a little greener. 

Share

David Hamilton paid nothing for his bed. The king-size wooden bed frame was found by Hamilton while scavenging. He found the mattress at Freecycle.com, a free online exchange site. In total, he paid £3, equivalent to $6 dollars, all on screws to hold the frame together.  Hamilton considers himself a freegan.

The art of freeganism is quite simple. Scrounge whatever you need by performing in the age old act of dumpster diving. The anti-consumerism movement is sweeping the United Kingdom by storm.

Share

The Bengal Tiger population at the Suklaphanta Reserve in Nepal has been on the decline. In 2005 there was 20 to 50 Bengals living at the Eastern Himalayan site according to a WWF survey. Now, there is only about 6 to 14 Bengals. The reason for this decrease....poachers.

The estimates are based on the results of a long-term WWF camera trap
study which ironically captured images of armed men on poaching
expeditions rather than expected Bengals (Pictured to the right).

Share

Marine life calling the Antarctic Peninsula home are being threatened by a common friend, the iceberg. New data suggests this environment along the Antarctic Peninsula is
going to get hit more frequently by the icebergs. This is due to an increase in the
number of icebergs rubbing the seabed as a result of shrinking winter
sea ice.

Nearly 80% of Antarctica's marine life is found on the sea floor and the icebergs are crushing these animals and plant life.

Share

Kamfers Dam in Kimberley, South Africa is the nesting spot for the Lesser Flamingos in South Africa and is 1 of only 6 breeding ground for the birds in the world! South Africa recently nominated the wetlands at Kamfers Dam a Natural Heritage Site because of the support it provides to the major population of Lesser Flamingos as well as other water birds.

50,000 plus Lesser Flamingos call this S shaped island home. This population produced nearly 9,000 chicks this year alone.

Share

With about 7 weeks left in summer (but who's counting) the urge to start planning  for the major move from home to dorm is upon us...well at least me. Entering my junior year I decided to take a look at ways college students could help the environment by making their dorm rooms just a tad bit greener. I found a great list of ideas online that helped jump start research into living greener at school.

You live, eat, sleep, study, and breath in your room at college.

Share

The International Institute for Species Exploration (easily
referred to as the IISE, based out of Arizona State Univeristy) released its
list of 2008’s newest species. This list covers land, sea, and well, things
that have been in the Earth’s ground for well over 75 million years. Here’s the
IISE’s top 10 list of new species that grace this planet.

1. Electrolux Sleeper Ray

Share

At the end of 2006, worldwide capacity of all wind turbines was close to 75 gigawatts, which represents around 1% of all electricity use in the world. Three quarters of that wind powered use comes from Europe. And the leaders with nearly 20% of their electricity coming from wind turbines are The Danes. Germany and Spain are placed 2nd and 3rd respectfully with about 10% of their energy being powered by the wind.

Share

There are numerous claims that rechargeable batteries are the way to go, but are they that much better than our everyday alkaline batteries? And are they truly worth all that extra money?

It's a guarantee that batteries will die. After providing power to everything from cameras, to remote controls and your kids toys, there comes a point when batteries must move on to battery heaven. This year alone, one person will throw away an average of 8 batteries and Americans together will purchase close to 3 billion dry-cell batteries.

Share

MIT prides itself on recruiting the cream of the crop, so it's no wonder that out of the top 5 senior projects, 3 of them were devoted to making a difference in the world. Here is a general overview of these brilliant seniors' start up projects that could very well improve the lives of many.

#1 - The Open-Source Green Car (VDS Vision)

Share

We all know that Americans consumer large sums of oil every day. To date, the national average for a gallon of regular gasoline is $4.04. So what's the oil industry's big plan? I can tell you this, it probably won't make the environmentalists of the world happy.

Oil shales

The newest idea straight from the industry is something known as oil shale. Oil shale, which contain hydrocarbons that through distillation, yield petroleum.
Oil shale actually is a precursor to oil and the pre-historic organic sediment.

Share

Are you having trouble starting your new green life? Need tips on how you can reduce, reuse, and recycle? Here is a helpful list of the many things you can do each day to help our environment grow, for us to live healthier, and just be green.

1. When using an oven, minimize door opening while it is in use; it reduces oven temperature by 25 to 30 every time you open the door.
2. Wash clothes with warm or cold water instead of hot.
3.

Share

Japan recently announced its plans to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions by 60-80 percent by 2050. They also plan to match or better European reduction levels over the next 12 years.

Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda announced Monday that he is trying to establish Japan as a world leader in the field, also stating that his
country will contribute $1.2 billion to an international greenhouse gas
reductions fund and will take a more supportive role in establishing an
emissions trading market worldwide.

Share

These babes are helping their species, just by being born. Take a look at these adorable faces of some the world's endangered species.

and this one...

This little guy is helping his species of Polar Bears...

Share