greenUPGRADER's story links

If Obama puts his policies where his pledges are, what are the environmental consequences? There are so many challenges we face; here, we take a look at the green ones...

 Is beaming energy from space bound solar satellites the answer to our energy crisis?  Harvard Professor and President Emeritas of the National Space Society, Ben Bova seems to think so…

Buyer Beware. At the end of September, the USDA quietly halted a program called the Agricultural Chemical Usage Program. The program’s purpose was to measure pesticide use in fruit and vegetable crops. The reason cited for the move was cost...

T. R. Hamzah & Yeang International architectural firm’s Editt Tower design is a truly amazing design that is packed with sustainable amenities and mindful of it’s environmental impact on every level right down to site selection...

Skateboarding has inspired an entire generation and now it is inspiring designers and artists. Here are 20 cool things that are made from skateboards and skateboard parts. Most of them are made from recycled and salvaged boards, but unfortunately not all of them are. I will say for the inspired and crafty among just about all of these would make great DIYs…

The average American eats 67 pounds of beef a year (or about 1/10th of a cow).  Problem is, that takes 167,500 gallons of water, 1072 pounds of grain, and 3.35 acres of land to produce...

... As we awaken to the realities of pollution and other serious environmental issues, we need to find ways to solve our “man made” problems. Upcycling is a way of converting our garbage into other things which can be used and enjoyed again...

This ground breaking technology from Cunning Labs could be the most promising alternative energy innovation yet. The system taps into the vast energy potential of the “High Five” to generate electrical energy. Although this design only harnesses the power of the “Up High”, future models may extend to include the “Down Low,” that is assuming they can over come the substantial energy loss of the “Too Slow” factor...

Forest fires cause terrible devastation every year — not to mention the release of huge amounts of greenhouse gases. Stopping forest fires is hard enough, but what about detecting them before they get to be a problem? Scientists at MIT have a possible solution. They propose creating a network of wireless sensors that would detect nascent fires and help prevent them before they get out of control. Here’s the kicker: the sensors would be powered by the trees themselves...

The Q Drum eases the task of fetching water for peoples in developing nations. Climate change has required a countless number of people all around the world to travel greater distances to retrieve water for everyday use. The Q Drum allows a child to pull the full capacity of 50 liters of water over flat terrain with comparative ease.

This is the first commercially viable hybrid bus that should see the market place by 2010. It reduces particle and nitrous oxide emissions by 40-50%, carries more passengers, and runs quieter than its fully diesel counterpart.

If you happen to be any where near New York City in the next few weeks, be sure to check out Home Delivery: Fabricating the Modern Dwelling at the MOMA before it closes on October 20th. Prefabricated building is a great option for those interested in a more sustainable home. Prefab integrates green concepts, architectural invention, and new materials, as well as reducing both construction and living costs.

This MIT innovation uses an unconventional method for generating electricity from wind...

Bento is the term for the Japanese lunch box, and is essentially the art of packing a really great lunch in small portable and reusable containers that is both practical for the environment, the wallet, the waist and aesthetically pleasing to boot...

Developed by Dr. Klaus Lackner these synthetic trees could be used as CO2 scrubbers cleaning our air. Using a chemical reaction to pull carbon dioxide from the air this technology could buy the world time to development and implement alternative energy sources...

Intended for disaster relief situations, refugee camps, and developing nations the bright minds at San Jose State University have created an ice making machine that uses the heat from sunlight to power a chemical reaction...

Check out this sweet video of what the Tesla can do...

Using food waste from produce handlers, food processors, supermarkets, farmers’ markets, restaurants, hospitals, and airlines, Converted Organics creates natural organic, odorless fertilizers for the residential and commercial worlds for lawn, turf growth, and gardens...

10 funny signs that remind us to be safe around and respect nature…

...the company claims that their 100cm prototype (V100) could produce up to 15% of the energy consumed in an average Swedish home and it can be directly plugged in to supply the power. Their V200 model (198cm) could produce up to 50% or a household’s needs and the silent rotation means that it won’t be a disturbing presence in a residential setting.

...using the method that Garforth is using, disaffected youth can take turn their tagging terra-friendly by making moss murals. The Moss Green Graffiti is completely natural and organic as opposed to traditional enamel based spray that are ridden with CFCs, VOCs and a host of other scary acronyms that make mother nature cringe. The best part is it’s relatively easy to make…

A human on a bike is extremely efficient and green as can be. The new PBS riding program is a scalable operation that will make this simple form of transportation available to that hard to reach portion of our society (the lazy!)...

Check out these maps that depict country size in relation to their environmental impact...

A city’s essence is captured by its skyline and an illuminated evening cityscape can be a beautiful sight. However, as part of a two month pilot program, Boston will lose its familiar nighttime silhouette. Starting on September 3rd the city will darken its tallest and most characteristic buildings by 11pm each night in an effort to raise awareness about energy conservation (and save some dough in the process!)...

The advent of bottled water sent our already wasteful consumer culture into pollution overdrive and it’s a tremendous task to put the brakes on the momentum of this waste. Here is a list of plastic bottle fun facts that put the magnitude of this pollution into scope...

The Panhandle Bandshell built in San Francisco’s Panhandle Park is built from nearly all reclaimed/repurposed materials. With the goal of educating about recycling, creating a free performance space, and installing a working piece of art the Bandshell truly wears many hats.

Remember our post about paying to sleep in an old drain pipe? Well now next time you go to London, you can sleep in an old shipping container. Travelodge is getting their recycle on with this hotel made completely of old shipping containers...

These days, there's tons of stuff to avoid...seafood with mercury...produce covered in pesticides...chemicals in cosmetics. But how do you keep it all straight? Have no fear. Green pocket guides (or wallet guides or cell phone accessible guides) can be your back up when you forget what's good for you and what's not.

Built in 1896, and named for the Brazilian seaport at the mouth of the Amazon, the Belem originally shipped chocolate in its hold from Brazil to France. At 170ft its first shipment of wine from Languedoc France to Dublin this February carried 60,000 bottles of fine wine saving an estimated 140 grams of carbon emissions per bottle.

The Solartaxi will be the first completely solar-powered car to drive around the world. It’s the creation of Louis Palmer, a Swiss educator and adventurer whose goal is not to make it in 80 days, but to raise awareness that global warming can be stopped and that solutions exist to lower greenhouse gas emissions...