Non Toxic Vision

Academy of Science, CA

Did you know that strawberries grow on the roof of the Academy of Science in San Francisco? There are an astonishing 1.7 million plants on the academy's living roof, which not only helps to insulate the building, but also provides for the cafe and restaurant. Architect Renzo Piano turned the museum into one of the largest public buildings that received the LEED certifications.

This is is an event you should not miss: Doors open September 27, 2008

Acaemy of Science, 875 Howard Street, San Francisco, CA 94103, Tel: (415) 321-8116

What is GreenPix?

GreenPix is a solar power-harnessing, light-emitting facade system designed by Simone Giostra and Arup. Integrated with the curtain wall of the Xicui entertainment complex in Beijing near the site of the 2008 Olympics, Greenpix features the largest color LED display on earth.
Greenpix behaves like an organic system, absorbing solar energy during the day and generating light from the same power that evening. Polycrystalline photovoltaic cells are laminated within the glass of the curtain wall and placed with changing density on the entire building’s skin. The density pattern increases the building’s performance, allowing natural light when required by interior program, while reducing heat gain and transforming excessive solar radiation into energy for the media wall.

Whole Foods - Wild Oats Merger???

I just read this great article in the Los Angeles Times:
Almost a year after Whole Foods purchased the 110-store Wild Oats chain for $565 million, a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals in Washington overturned a lower-court ruling that allowed the merger to go through. The ruling was a surprise to antitrust experts.

When the two companies announced plans to merge in early 2007, the Federal Trade Commission moved to block the deal, arguing that it would give Whole Foods too much of the organic and natural foods market. A federal district court ruled against the FTC, saying it had not made a case for delaying the merger. Specifically the panel says the lower court erred when it ruled that the FTC's definition of what constitutes the market for natural and organic foods was too narrow.

Whole Foods says it is evaluating its legal options, and it notes that "the decision acknowledges that neither the court nor the FTC has found the merger to be unlawful." It has already rebranded most of the Wild Oats stores, sold 35 more and closed 12. There are still 15 that use the Wild Oats name but they will be converted soon. Read the entire story

more plastic bag facts

A few weeks ago I was writing about the Life of a Plastic bag.... In case you are still not convinced here is more data for you:

- Number of plastic bags used by a family of 4 each year: 1,000
- Number of plastic bags thrown away by Americans each year: 100 billion
- Number of plastic bags recycled by Americans each year: 0.6 %
- Number of years it takes a plastic bag to decompose: 1,000

Environmental Impact

- Hundreds of thousands of sea turtles, whales and other marine mammals die every year from eating discarded plastic bags mistaken for food

- Plastic bags don't biodegrade, they photodegrade - breaking down into smaller and smaller toxic bits contaminating soil and waterways and entering the food chain, when animals accidentally eat it.

                            BRING YOUR OWN SHOPPING BAG

Monsanto - the really bad guys

I have just received a very disturbing email from MUG-Manhattan Users Guide:

"...the Monsanto company produces a synthetic growth hormone called Posilac, used by some dairy farmers, which juices cows to produce more milk. Lots of people don't want this in their milk, for compelling reasons. Dairy farmers that do not use the recombinant bovine growth hormone (rBGH) almost invariably state that on their milk carton labels. You, the consumer, get useful info. But since the FDA would not allow Monsanto to ban rBGH labelling nationally, the dirtbags have been going state-by-state to pass legislation that would ban the labelling. They're now trying to do it in New York; they need to be stopped."... Please take some action and sign now before Monsanto takes over.

Great "Thank you" to Charlie Suisman and his team from MUG.

Recycline

Founded in 1996 in Massachusetts Recyline produces Preserve products (one of those is my favorite toothbrush design), everyday household products that offer style and performance at reasonable prices - and are green at the core. Big resellers, such as Target, TraderJoe's, WholeFoods, Wal-Mart are carrying the Preserve Toothbrush. However throughout the country about 7,000 retailers are carrying their products. Just go online to find the one closest to you. So what makes them so great? Well, the products are made from 100 % recycled plastic, they are completely recyclable, dishwasher safe, Made in the USA (which lessens the carbon footprint), and not tested on animals. www.recyline.com

Garden stuff

Sometimes living in NYC has it's downfall, e.g. very few people have a garden. Even tough I live in a neighborhood where there are plenty of it - still I don't have one. So I really don't know why I was sent the ARBICO organics 2008 catalog, but it made me think about my childhood in Austria. Flipping through the catalog just shows you the amazing things you can do with nature. Order ladybugs to get rid of aphids on your plants, or how abut praying mantas to get rid of pest insects etc. Honestly the catalog itself is so incredibly educational. So what I'll do I'll bring the catalog up to my mother-in-law: www.arbico-organics.com

GAP Adventures

a responsible travel company that offers an authentic experience, with a plan to become impact neutral by minimizing negative environmental and cultural impacts. I found this company at the GoGreenExpo in NYC a few weeks ago and was quite surprised at their reasonable prices. They also offer volonteer vacations among others. If you are planning a trip - check out www.gapadventures.com

airport boom

This is just absolutely crazy .....

Dubai: will build another airport in Jebel Ali, a port town 20 miles away from the current airport, that will be able to handle 120 million passengers once it is opened in 2017.

China: is planning to add 87 airports by 2020 to the already existing 142 to handle more 390 million visitors.

At the same time fossil fuel prices are going up up up... Who will be able to afford the ridiculously high prices of airfare? Will travel become a luxury again?

 

A personal note

Last weekend we decided to paint our apartment (after 5 years it was really necessary). Since we live in NYC our apartment is really not so big - but it still took about 3 days to paint. We went to Home Depot to try out their eco-friendly paint: Freshair is Home Depots answer and I have to admit it was pretty amazing. The color selection is quite impressive (well - no hot pink or lime green, but very nice soothing colors). But what surprised me most was the fact that the paint is absolutely odorless and mind you: last weekends' summer heat was quite oppressive with about 95 degrees Fahrenheit and up. We had no headaches at the end of the day!!! HURRAY...