For Earth Day as an American, I have decided to celebrate, by thanking it. Thank you for all you have given me, including: The Mesozoic jungles that have given me the gas for my car and the coal to fuel the electric generating plant that propels my air conditioner. Thanks to the ancient forests of Canada, today being pulverized so I can read my morning paper. Thanks to the people of Third World countries that grow my fruit that is flown in fresh so I can eat it for breakfast. Thanks to giant …

Original post by blogs@bobvila.com (Greg)

Filed under: Cars and Transportation, News

How can regular teenagers save the environment?

The National Association for Pupil Transportation in Albany, New York thinks they should ride the school bus. Yep, the big cheese.

Officials say it’s the safest, greenest way to get to school, and that kids should ride the bus instead of driving themselves to school. They are urging teens to take the bus even once a week to cut down on traffic jams, pollution, and potential accidents.

But school buses aren’t exactly the most environmentally-friendly vehicles on the road. Ever get stuck behind one while in your car - or, worse - on your bike? You practically need a gas mask. And the school bus isn’t exactly fun. I remember the bus in high school: it was defined by screaming, spitball-spewing bullies and jaded, nasty bus drivers, and the very minute my friends could drive to school, I jumped at the chance.

It’s great that the association is touting green habits. But I highly doubt that teens are really going to abandon their cars and freedom to hop back on the nerdy school bus. Perhaps officials should suggest that teens carpool to school to save on gas, or at least provide a few “upperclassmen-only” buses to make the option a little more appealing.

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Original post by Hank Green

Filed under: Fashion

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again — going green doesn’t mean losing all sense of fashion, contrary to what some people may believe (and wear). The eco-friendly clothing line from frei (the brand doesn’t capitalize the name) comes from another designer out there who knows that saving the environment is hot!

Some brands start out as a regular fashion line and later go green. Not frei. They have been green from the get go. In fact, according to their website, sustainable practices are absolutely the backbone of their trade. Their three core goals are to produce garments that are stylish, high quality and made sustainably.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again — going green doesn’t mean losing all sense of fashion, contrary to what some people may believe (and wear). The eco-friendly clothing line from frei (the brand doesn’t capitalize the name) comes from another designer out there who knows that saving the environment is hot!

Some brands start out as a regular fashion line and later go green. Not frei. They have been green from the get go. In fact, according to their website, sustainable practices are absolutely the backbone of their trade. Their three core goals are to produce garments that are stylish, high quality and made sustainably.

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Original post by Hank Green

Here it is, in all its lonely glory: the world’s oldest living tree. Found in western Sweden, scientists believe that this spruce is 9,550 years old. Before, pine trees in North America had been called the oldest at 4,000 to 5,000 years old. According to the Guinness Book of World Records, a bristlecone pine named Methuselah in California’s White Mountains was aged 4,768. But this discovery changes that view dramatically. Just to be clear about this: the tree itself is new. But scientists found a cluster of about 20 trees that are 5,660, 9,000 and 9,550…

Original post by Hank Green

With blue skies and sunshine to greet us, this past weekend in Milan took us to the Zona Tortona, an area in Milan outside the fair. We started the Zona Tortona journey with a brilliant, blue, photosensitive sun canopy, and found lots of sustainable design surprises from hand-printed wallpaper (on paper made from responsibly harvested sources) to a new take on eco-burial. From emerging young professionals to innovative design students, our highlights will give a taste of the scene ‘Fuori Salone’ - the off site exhibitions.

CHECK OUT OUR PHOTOS OF MILAN 2008 HERE >

(more…)

Original post by Hank Green