Boxed Wine is Greener…Right? via/Treehugger.com
By Ann Alexander Leggett
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We’ve wondered about this as we’ve poured ourselves a glass from our box in the fridge, much to the dismay of our wine snob friends. Is boxed wine truly the greener alternative? This post on Treehugger.com will help explain what’s what. The post was written by Pablo Paster who knows his greenhouse gas emission facts. As the Vice President of Greenhouse Gas Management at ClimateCHECK, he helps major corporations measure and manage their greenhouse gas emissions. It’s good information for the wine drinker.
Next up: we will do some research–well, someone has to do it–on the new wine packages that resemble the juice containers I used to give my kids. Bandit, in the bright crazy colors, is one such brand on the shelves. When my daughter saw the container in my fridge her comment was: “You aren’t drinking that through a straw, ARE YOU?” (Well, she doesn’t have to know.) I may not be an expert in greenhouse gas emissions, but I do know my boxed wine. And if you happen to have any comments on the new trend in wine packaging, let us know your thoughts.
Wine in a Box: The Greenest Way to Drink?
Pablo Paster/Treehugger.com
June 30, 2009
Dear Pablo: I visited a winery called La Delizia located in Casarsa de la Delizia, north of Venice in Italy. They have started selling 3 litre boxed wines at US retail outlets. I’d like to know how the carbon footprint of La Delizia’s 3 liter boxes compare to boxed wine from California, for instance, Turning Leaf Vineyards’ 3 liter merlot, produced in Modesto, CA, or any other 3 liter California boxed wine. It would also be great to know how 3 liter boxed wines from other leading wine regions such as Austraila, South Africa and Chile would compare to those two.
This was a question I received from a writer for E Magazine over two months ago. Of course I jumped at the opportunity to help her out but, since the story wasn’t published until this week (See: Thinking Inside the Box: Winemakers Tackle Their Carbon Footprint), I was unable to write about the topic myself until now. My experience in the area of greenhouse gas emissions from wine production and distribution comes from a paper that I wrote together with Tyler Colman, author of the book A Year of Wine: Perfect Pairings, Great Buys, and What to Sip for Each Season and wine blogger at DrVino.com, that was recently published in the Journal of Wine Research.
Posted on July 3, 2009 |
eCouture Friday: Solar Clothing? via/Treehugger.com
By Ann Alexander Leggett
Filed Under Green Living, News & Reviews | Leave a Comment
Well, we’re stretching the “couture” theme with this post, but it is clothing after all. Well, kind of. We laughed out loud reading this post on Treehugger.com about the new “solar vests.” Hey, the manufacturers claim the vest can power up your laptop or digital camera. But, let’s get down to what really matters: can it steam the milk for my chai? Unfortunately, as Treehugger points out, they are downright unattractive. Check it out.
Please Stop Designing Ugly Solar Clothing
Jaymi Heimbuch/Treehugger.com
July 1, 2009
Ok. Let’s get down to a problem issue in green tech: Designing and manufacturing ugly junk that no one will buy, unless as a novelty and then never use. And what’s worse, is making it seem like it’ll even function. Say for instance this highly unattractive and downright lame solar vest.
Posted on July 3, 2009 |
An Interview with Al Franken /via Grist
By Ann Alexander Leggett
Filed Under News & Reviews, The Big Picture | Leave a Comment
Al Franken will finally represent Minnesota in the Senate, after a seven-month litigation over the election results. Grist interviewed Franken last summer as he was on the campaign trail. His views on a variety of environmental topics are covered in the interview including his answer to the burning question: can environmentalists be funny?
Franken Win Means Another Likely Senate Vote for Climate Action
Kate Sheppard/Grist.org
June 30, 2009
Looks like Al Franken may, at last, be sworn in as the newest senator from Minnesota, after more thanseven months of litigation. The Minnesota State Supreme Court ruled unanimously that Democrat Franken narrowly won the race over incumbent Republican Norm Coleman back in November; and news breaking on the wires now says Coleman will abide by the ruling.
Grist talked with Franken during the campaign last summer. Here are a few excerpts, and you can read the whole interview.
On capping emissions:
The 111th Congress will need to accelerate the progress on clean energy policies, by adopting legislation to cap and mandate reductions in greenhouse-gas emissions. An average reduction of 2 percent each year would achieve the goal of an 80 percent total reduction by 2050. To reach an 80 percent reduction by 2050, permits to emit carbon should be auctioned, not given away. Auctioning off permits is the most effective way to cut emissions, drive investors to clean energy options, and push the market to demand least-cost alternatives such as efficiency.
Posted on July 2, 2009 |
A Subtle Reminder
By Ann Alexander Leggett
Filed Under Green Living, The Big Picture | Leave a Comment
Litter: where does it go? Here’s another way to think about it.
Posted on July 2, 2009 |
Racing with Sun Power
By Ann Alexander Leggett
Filed Under News & Reviews | Leave a Comment
OK, this about the coolest thing we’ve ever seen. Totally solar powered, the Nuna5 was designed by students at Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands as an entry into the World Solar Race in Australia. This will be the team’s fifth entry into the race, which begins on October 25. The race crosses Australia, from Darwin to Adelaide, and covers over 3,000 kilometers.
The Nuna5 weighs 160 kilos and its roof is covered in solar panels. New rules in this year’s race require the cars to have tires with treads instead of slicks, which posed an extra challenge for the design team as treaded tires slow the car.
“Nuna5 has really become our baby,” says Rein van den Eijnde, the team leader. “After all the work we have put in, we are now very happy and proud to be able to present it to the outside world. We really can’t wait to start driving Nuna. After all, the car may look great, but what it’s all about is racing and winning. We feel like a real Formula 1 team and just the thought of the start sets the pulse racing. The engine may be silent, but you could almost swear you can hear it throbbing on the starting grid!“
Photo: Hans Peter van Velthoven
Posted on June 30, 2009 |
eConserve Tuesday: Thai Navy Protects Baby Sea Turtles
By Ann Alexander Leggett
Filed Under The Big Picture | Leave a Comment
The Thai Navy has launched a sea turtle conservation program designed to protect thousands of baby sea turtles from being killed by humans before they can swim out to sea. The program is focused on Khram Island, the largest site of sea turtles in the Gulf of Thailand.
Posted on June 30, 2009 |
eCommunity Monday: Five of the Greenest Cities to Visit /via Treehugger.com
By Ann Alexander Leggett
Filed Under Green Living, News & Reviews | Leave a Comment
Check out Treehugger.com’s list of five cities you might want to put on your travel itinerary. Their choices made the list for a variety of reasons: from surveys of renewable energy use, to options in transportation, to recycling efforts, to overall green living, and everything in between. Let’s go!
5 of the Greenest Cities to Visit
Christine Lepisto/Treehugger.com
June 17, 2009
What is it that gives a city title to the claim of “greenest?” How would you like to visit a city with no fossil-fueled cars allowed? How about the best city for bicyclists? Or the perfect city to explore sustainable city planning theories which have really been implemented? Our list of the 5 greenest cities in the world sorts through the pack of potentials to find the emeralds.
Photo: Flickr, Shane Pope
Posted on June 29, 2009 |
“Earth Song”: Michael Jackson’s Tribute
By Ann Alexander Leggett
Filed Under News & Reviews, The Big Picture | Leave a Comment
In 1996, Michael Jackson released “Earth Song” which was distributed in the UK but not in this country. As a matter of fact, it remained Jackson’s best-selling single there for many years. It certainly was ahead of its time. It remains a moving tribute to Mother Earth and today we share it with you, in memory of him…
Posted on June 29, 2009 |
Sears Tower Goes Green /via Treehugger.com
By Ann Alexander Leggett
Filed Under Conscious Commerce, News & Reviews, The Big Picture | Leave a Comment
This is called going green on a mammoth scale. The 4.5 million square foot Sears Tower is planned to undergo a major renovation, with wind turbines and a plan to reduce energy usage by 80% over the course of 5 years through extensive upgrades. Check out this post on Treehugger.com for details.
The Sears Tower Goes Green, Gets Wind Turbines in $350 Million Renovation
Brian Merchant/Treehugger.com
June 25, 2009
The tallest building in the Western Hemisphere is getting a new high profile addition: a $350 million retrofit that will include wind turbines and extensive energy efficiency improvements. The Sears tower is on track to become the biggest, greenest building in the US.
It’s going to be one of the most ambitious green renovations ever–though it might not be the flat out biggest, as that honor belongs to another Chicago landmark, the Merchandise Mart. But it’s nonetheless a pretty exciting project for one of the nation’s most iconic buildings. Sure, everyone’s pretty familiar with greening buildings and wind turbines by now, but this will take sustainability into a whole new publicity realm. I mean, every building that opts to shoot for LEED accreditation should be commended, but this is the Sears Tower we’re talking about here.
Photo by Top News
Posted on June 29, 2009 |
Seacology’s Indonesia EcoReef Project
By Ann Alexander Leggett
Filed Under The Big Picture | Leave a Comment
This amazing reef rehabilitation project is located at Manado Tua Island, a towering extinct volcano fringed with picturesque reef drop-offs and capped with a rainforest at its summit.
Posted on June 26, 2009 |
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