Sometimes a picture is worth a thousand words. Don’t miss our video tours of gorgeous green homes, hosted by Sierra Club Green Home’s Chief Sustainability Officer Jennifer Schwab. And if you’re thinking about tackling a green home improvement project, check out the green home how-to videos from the Sierra Club, Green Dream Group, and others.
Got a green home video you think we should show? E-mail us at editors@scgh.com and provide us a link to review the video.
Electronics go out of style faster than clothes these days. Americans throw out more than 350,000 cell phones and 130,000 computers every day, according to Time Magazine. E-waste piles up and often gets shipped to poor countries where it causes serious environmental and health problems. Fortunately, there are companies like 2nd Solutions which use smelting to extract recyclable elements from electronics. In this video, Michael Pittman from 2nd Solutions shows Sierra Club Green Home how it works. (Photo by JohnMuk, Flickr)
Carbon Fund is a nonprofit that offers carbon offset options for individuals, businesses, and organizations who want to reduce their carbon footprint. When you buy carbon offsets from Carbon Fund, you sponsor one of their projects to counteract global warming. These projects range from a providing hydroelectric power to a in India to reforestation in Louisiana, as well as awareness campaigns. (Image courtesy of Carbonfund.org Foundation)
Maybe an electric vehicle, biodiesel engine, or hybrid car is out of reach right now, but you can still drive your current car in the most fuel-efficient manner possible (for your wallet’s sake as much as the environment’s). Sierra Club Green Home learned some fuel efficiency tips from Ford at this month’s auto show in Detroit, and we’re only too happy to pass these along. (Photo courtesy of Ford)
Hybrid cars and 100% electric vehicles are set to be the stars of Ford’s next generation of cars. Sierra Club Green Home drivers, meet the Focus Electric, the Fusion Plug-In, and the C-MAX Hybrid! These cars vary in range and energy source, but all promise to make alternative energy cars more practical and fun in 2013. (Photo courtesy of Ford)
Have you ever wondered how an electric vehicle works, or how car companies can use more environmentally friendly materials? Ford sustainability expert John Viera has spent his entire career working on everything from fuel efficiency improvements in vehicles to sustainability initiatives for manufacturing facilities, and is excited to talk shop with Sierra Club Green Home readers. (Photo courtesy of Ford)
From cameras and cell phones to watches and eggbeaters, we use batteries every day in all sorts of household products. It’s hard to imagine life without them, but can the environment live with them? (Photo by EvelynGiggles, Flickr)
CODA is more than a car company. These self-described “hippies of the car industry” are on a mission to get an electric car in every garage in the United States. They do their part by creating a more affordable, practical electric vehicle (EV), and by raising awareness of the EV option. Next month, CODA will release their four-door sedan with two battery options: 125 miles per charge, or 150 miles per charge. (Photo courtesy of CODA)
SAN FRANCISCO — Waste management company Recology has hit a milestone: 1 million tons of composted materials in San Francisco. What’s more, Thanksgiving is the biggest food week of the year, and Recology is calling for all scraps to be composted. Read more about the company’s many programs, including art, education, and falcons. UPDATED: Take a video tour of its facilities.
Panasonic Eco Technology Center (PETEC) is an unusual recycling facility in many ways. Since it started operations in 2001, PETEC has recycled more than 8 million units of appliances. Take a look at how it does so and why Japan’s unique recycling law has helped PETEC earn its sucess.
Japan is known for being high tech, and thanks to companies such as Panasonic, its high tech is going green. Take a look at Panasonic’s eco innovations for the smart home of the future and the smart city the company plans to complete by 2013. (Illustration courtesy of Panasonic)
Watch the founder of Spinlister speak at Opportunity Green. Spinlister makes it easy to find a bike, no matter where you are! It’s a peer-to-peer bike rental service where you can either list your bike for rent or find one to use. What better way to get around a new city or try out a new [...]
Planned obsolescence, meet your match! Dozuki is taking us back to a time when things were built to last, and people were more likely to fix what they had than buy a whole new product. Their applications and webpages make it easy for people to learn how to fix their electronics and other goods. Learn about [...]
Practically Green creates digital applications that make going green into a game! Players choose from a set of actions and get rewarded points for adopting a greener lifestyle. It’s fun and competitive, making it the perfect way to reach a light green audience. Learn more from their presentation at Opportunity Green. For more innovative [...]
Did you know that 2/3 of the energy we produce is wasted as heat given off during the process? Alphabet Energy is tackling this problem by turning some of those heat emissions into electricity with thermal-electric technology. See their presentation at Opportunity Green as part of the startup competition. For more innovative and inspiring projects [...]
Water is the most essential ingredient to life, and the key to ensuring survival after a disaster. Hydropack’s innovative way of filtering water can ensure that, even in places where plumbing is damaged or nonexistent, no one will lack hydration. HydroPacks are more compact and transportable than bottled water and can filter any water source. The pouch is simply immersed in any kind of water, and HydroPack will filter and disinfect the water using osmosis.
One of the most exciting acquisitions Panasonic made when merging with SANYO is Kasai Green Energy Park, a massive testing site for large-scale, renewable power storage systems. It is what Panasonic sees as the answer to energy resources issues. Take a tour of the high-security facility.
OSAKA, JAPAN — Sierra Club Green Home sits down with Peter Fannon, Panasonic’s US vice president of technology policy, to talk about Panasonic’s goal to be the leading eco innovation company in the global electronics industry. Fannon also tells SCGH what all the exciting technology being developed in Panasonic’s Japanese facilities means for US consumers and homeowners.
Vermont Governor Peter Shumlin speaks about the urgency of transitioning to renewable energy in place of fossil fuels, and why his state has managed to make headway on this issue. For innovative and inspiring projects and organizations, check out all our videos from Opportunity Green 2011: video library.
Cardborigami is dedicated to eradicating homelessness through cardboard shelters that can be folded and carried when not in use. Surprisingly hardy, the shelters are waterproof, flame retardant, and resistant to the elements.
The Mutual is a new online network that connects consumers, nonprofits, and businesses. Consumers choose nonprofits to support, and business offer them perks in return. (Image courtesy of The Mutual.com)
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