My Favourite Green Ted Talks

I love Ted Talks: they are awesome to listen to when you're on public transport! These are some of my favourite ones. I didn't choose them for the quality of their ideas, because there are so many amazing talks on ted.com, but these ones are chosen for the discourse of the speaker and the value of entertainment, while still teaching a brilliant idea.

How I fell in love with a fish - Dan Barber

"Chef Dan Barber squares off with a dilemma facing many chefs today: how to keep fish on the menu. With impeccable research and deadpan humor, he chronicles his pursuit of a sustainable fish he could love, and the foodie's honeymoon he's enjoyed since discovering an outrageously delicious fish raised using a revolutionary farming method in Spain."

The title first got my attention and I got stuck on his witty and humorous style. Enjoy his lively descriptions of his love stories with fish.

Michael Pollan gives a plant's-eye view

"What if human consciousness isn't the end-all and be-all of Darwinism? What if we are all just pawns in corn's clever strategy game to rule the Earth? Author Michael Pollan asks us to see the world from a plant's-eye view."

A new conspiracy theory about intelligent grasses setting our behaviour! This talk definitely gives you a refreshing new outlook on nature.

Michael Specter: The danger of science denial

"Vaccine-autism claims, "Frankenfood" bans, the herbal cure craze: All point to the public's growing fear (and, often, outright denial) of science and reason, says Michael Specter. He warns the trend spells disaster for human progress."

Hilarious, witty and although I don't agree with everything he says, I love the way he's so american in his way of arguing.

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For more Ted Talks, click here!

Search and be good...

The simplest thing of your time spent on the Internet: a word search. Well, nowadays, with a simple word search, you can start to save the world. This hyperbolic phrasing might make you frown, but let me introduce you to a few search engines that can help you do your little bit for the planet:

Blackle

Blackle takes the people's favourite 'Google' and changes it into black. Indeed, a blog post titled Black Google Would Save 750 Megawatt-hours a Year firstly established the hypothesis that a black Google would save a quite a lot of energy due to the popularity of the search engine. The number of saved watts is recorded on Blackle, do your bit, and switch off the lights, even on your screen!

Ecosia

Ecosia is a search engine wrapper using Bing or Yahoo. From the revenues of sponsored links 80% are donated to support the WWF's work in Amazon as they try to save the rainforest and its unique biodiversity. 

The Eco Key

The Eco Key is a Google-powered search engine and provides you with the standard Google services but also gives you the possibility of an eco-filter, which will lead you to green results of your word search. The company thus dedicates 40% of its revenues to organisations that remove litter worldwide.

EcoSearch

EcoSearch is also Google-powered, but it actually donates 100% of its gains to a variety of charities, which figure on the site's 'about'-section. If you want to suggest a charity, the site should be supporting, you can email David Krasnow, who is behind the website and does it in his free time!

Good Search

Good Search is a Yahoo-based search engine and enables you to select a charity which will be supported for your search. Thus you can install a charity you want them to give to every time you search something, or you can change the selected charity all the time. You can also look at the amounts collected for every year and month. In my opinion it is a very effective way of involving the consumer in his sustainable behaviour.

Five Green Things We Really Need More Of

by A.K. Streeter, Portland, Oregon

Photo: Pink Sherbet Photography via Flickr.

The continuous flow of product press releases through the TreeHugger mailboxes is truly astounding, and often inspiring.
After a while, however, a discernible pattern appears: These marketing pitches are all on the same short list of products. Green, sustainable messenger bags, no shortage there. Organic t-shirts, there's a definite glut.
But as we head toward that great shopping holiday of the year, it's also clear that there's a dearth, a really amazing shortage, of some things. So here's one wish list of green goods I'd like to see more of -- add your suggestions in comments and let's inspire green designers everywhere.

1. Hello, Hello Where Are All the Green Cell Phones?

Photo: Warwick.

There was a time when the green cell phone revolution seemed right around the corner -- corn-based plastic phones that you could plant when you got a new model.

Yet, something happened on the way to the sustainable cell phone. Forty percent of consumers said they'd prefer a green cell phone, if they could only find one. AT&T certainly isn't helping, and Motorola dropped their biodegradable mobile.

2. Brrr. Winter Is Here. Where are the Long-Sleeved T-Shirts?

Photo: ir0cko via Flickr.

 

It's a mystery: you can find an organic t-shirt at every turn, from highly design-y, expensive examples to the occasional organic tee at Target. So why is it so impossible to find organic in other styles besides short-sleeved and hoodies?

Babies get long-sleeved organic onesies, and those of us perpetually chilly (and those that never wore those boxy slogan tees anyway) are waiting for manufacturers to take on some other, long-sleeved, and heavier weight styles.

3. When Home Repairs Happen, Where's the Green Hardware?

Photo: theilr via Flickr.

 

Looking back at the last 12 months, the number one reason I've needed a car, and the number one place I go on the weekends is not to a romantic get-away, but to the local hardware store.

I try to avoid big box (which has made strides at having green options), simply because it is out of bike range for us, and we love to support our local retailer. Yet our weekend quests for say, a simple nightlight or a box or screws constantly meets the mainstream, not-so-green ethos. Just a cute little green hardware corner store is all I'm asking for, and ready to pay for.

4. Biking Is Sustainable, But What About Bikes?

Photo: Mike-wise via Flickr.

 

There definitely ARE choices for green bikes, some beautiful bamboo models that get closer to something we could call sustainable.

But the problem is that at your local bike shop, that isn't the vibe, and there isn't a recognizable green choice. It's great that in cities such as mine, Portland, Oregon, there are lots of choices if consumers go out looking -- but we also need a green Giant bicycles to lead the way for new bike converts who don't want to get into the tech details and just want to buy a green cruiser with green credentials.

5. Beauty is Greening, Beauty Parlors Aren't.

Photo: Lorda via flickr.

 

Organic skin care is one of those perennial favorites in the TreeHugger in box. At least one new company a week is promoting their beautifully packaged, impeccably formulated beauty wares. This goes for hair care, too, the choices are plentiful, sometimes mind-boggling.

Beauty salons are a bit of an environmental nightmare. Salons have been slow to adapt as an industry group -- many salons still use shampoos and hair dyes that contain lots of harmful chemicals, and after they are on clients' skin, they are washed down the drain and into the environment.

While there are two "green" salons in a five-mile radius of my inner-city Portland neighborhood, one is definitely not full-service, and the other one is great, has lots of stylists and a nurturing vibe, but is quite pricey. As a walk down any stylish city street proves, people are constantly experimenting with their hair, and the choices for green salons just don't meet the demand.

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Source: Treehugger

What my University advises me to do...

Top 10 tips - home

1.   Put an end to Junk mail It is possible to stop junk mail! Either register with the Mailing Preference Service at http://www.mpsonline.org.uk/ or call 0845 703 4599 to stop addressed mail, or to avoid unaddressed mail opt out at optout@royalmail.com. And don’t forget - recycle any junk mail you do receive.

2.   Buy energy saving light bulbs If every household installed just one energy saving light bulb, the electricity saved in a year could power the Blackpool Illuminations for nearly 900 years. To go one step further replace old appliances with energy efficient (A or A+ rated) ones.

3.   Switch off Turn appliances off at the mains, rather than leaving them on standby. It is estimated that if everyone in the UK turned equipment off standby we could shut down 2 power stations. Monitor the temperature in your fridge and freezer and keep them full to save even more energy.

4.   Wash at 30^o Doing your washing at 30^o rather than a higher temperature saves you money and saves energy. Also, try hanging your washing out to dry rather than using the tumble-dryer.

5.   Save water Taking a shower instead of a bath uses around a fifth of the water, and you can reduce this even further by installing a low flow shower head. You can also use a ‘hippo’ water saver in the cistern of your toilet, make sure none of your taps are dripping and harvest rainwater to use in the garden.  

6.   Turn the heating down Reducing the temperature of your heating by 1^o can cut your bill by up to 10% and closing your curtains at night helps to keep warm air in and cold air out!.

7.   Cook greener Try to cut down on take-aways and ready meals, and cook using local fresh ingredients. Only use just enough water to cover vegetables, and use the right size ring on the hob. Eating less meat is good for you, and much better for the environment, as it uses more energy and water to produce meat than to produce vegetables or cereals. Compost any vegetable waste left over from cooking.

8.   Recycle Most of us recycle glass, cans, paper, even plastics, but there are a whole host of other items that we should be recycling. Many charities accept mobile phones, ink cartridges, stamps and old coins either to sell on or recycle; items like batteries, clothes, textiles and shoes can all be recycled in recycling banks found in household recycling centres and many supermarkets. For more information check out Aston’s Recycling A-Z or try your local recycling guide.

9.   Change energy supplier Signing up to a green energy supplier or green tariff means you are reducing your carbon emissions and supporting renewable energies. Try http://www.uswitch.com/ or http://www.moneysupermarket.com/ to change from your current supplier.

10.   Insulate Insulating your walls and loft space can dramatically reduce the amount of energy you use to heat your home. Insulating your hot water tank and piping reduces heat loss.

Top 10 tips - shopping

1.   Reuse carrier bags Reuse your standard carrier bags, buy a “bag for life” or use more durable cotton/material shopping bags. Say no to bags at the till.

2.   If you’re not going to eat it, don’t buy it Plan your weekly meals so you can stick to a shopping list. Freeze leftovers and reuse them. Compost any vegetable waste.

3.   Eat more fresh and local stuff Buy local, fresh produce where possible, it’s healthier and reduces food miles from food being transported from abroad. It’s also a good way to support your local community.

4.   Choose less packaging Buy fruit and vegetables loose. Buy a larger packet to save having to buy smaller ones. Choose refillable options where possible.

5.   Buy recycled/recyclable Buy recycled toilet roll, tissues and computer/writing paper. Look out for recycled packaging on other groceries - some products have biodegradable packaging that can go into your compost bin. Choose items that can be easily recycled such as glass, tins or plastic bottles.

6.   Think ethical There are so many options available now – you can buy Fairtrade / organic / local / sustainably sourced versions of nearly all products, even items you might not be aware of like seafood, clothes, cleaning products, and cut flowers. If these aren’t available, try asking shops why they don’t stock them. 

7.   Reuse and donate Reuse items where possible – look for good quality when you’re out shopping. When you do want to replace something, why not donate the old item to a charity shop or sell on eBay to earn some cash. With clothes, why not try a swishing party among friends – a great way to acquire something new and clear out the old, all for free!

8.   Use your library Rather than buying a new book every time you want to read something new, check out your local library. You can save money, and benefit the environment at the same time.

9.   Avoid drive-through Try not to buy take-aways, fast food and ready meals. These are not only bad for the environment because of the impact from their product sourcing, transport and packaging, but you might find that cutting them out of your diet makes you feel a lot healthier too!

10.   Buy FSC certified wood products If you’re doing your own DIY, the best option is to use recycled timber. However, for ready made products, the next best choice is FSC certified timber. FSC certification guarantees your timber comes from a well-managed forest according to internationally-agreed standards. Many furniture stores now offer these products.

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For more information: Aston University: How you can help!

Welcome!

The first words of a blog are always the most vulnerable ones, and this little text is just to introduce my blog and to bore you with my own words, which should not happen too often as I intend to use this space to share with you, avid reader and follower of the new green thought, news, innovations and random things concerning sustainability and environmental protection.

Maybe you have found this blog through your sheer interest for the matter, or maybe I have just forced this link upon you: in any case I hope the content will trigger your interest.

And remember to do the green thing :)