On (mental) Vaca

I've been a little inconsistent with posting because I'm currently in limbo, back in Michigan, and preparing to move back to campus. Since I'm finish with work at my summer job, before I get to campus, I'm home entertaining myself with my old pal Mr. TV. WOW! I've missed so much, but more importantly I've found a new home channel. My first favorite is the Food Network of course, but my new favorite is the HGTV Network. This show called House Hunters is amazing! What a great concept. You can watch people shop for a house, critique every little detail, and then die and anticipation waiting to find out which house they choose! I love it! lol Some of the shows feature domestic searches, but the coolest episodes are in international destinations like Buenos Aires and Nicaragua! Its a dream home (window) shopping spree!

Vegan Ice Cream Challenge

I sampled the winner. It was just ok to me, not SWEET enough for my taste, but try them all for yourself!

Rooftop Wind Turbines in Portland

The first rooftop wind farm for the city of Portland, OR.

An electric garden!

My first thought, "WoW! How BEAUTIFUL!" These are solar SunFlowers created by Mags Harries and Lajos Héder for Catellus Development Company in Austin, Texas. These creatively designed solar collector panels are public art pieces for the whole city to enjoy, bot visually and as a renewable energy resource. Click here for the complete article and more photos!

Friday. FUNday!

Watch CBS Videos Online

Hey how'd they do that? A map of the US made from Jell-o!

Where the desert meets the classroom

The term Greenscreen takes on a whole new and more sustainable meaning for students at Arizona State University. A wall was removed and replaced by "wire trellising and greenery." Now, the 1960s building is self-cooling with a more modern design. This is an example of GREEN planning and design at its best!

Back to School

Already?! Is it that time again?! YES! Kids can get on the GREEN foot and start the school year off right with these tips for going GREEN at school.

Nia Long for PETA!

As a fan of actress Nia Long, I was more than excited to see her in the latest PETA "Rather Go Naked Than Wear Fur" ad. Her animal rights activism was inspired by her children. She supports the PETA campaign and strives to be a role model for her children, fans, and the general public. Check out her interview with the PETA Files.

Green Guide Helps Businesses Prevent Greenwashing

Click Green Guide for more information.

GM wants to hear from YOU

Got an idea for the car of the future?! Want to tell GM exactly what you think about their eco-strategies? Great! GM wants to hear all this and more. Visit The Lab and leave your comments, suggestions, and ideas to help their ECOinitiative. Also, check out what projects they're developing!

A GREEN Collar Economy

URGENT: Please watch and share this moving, hope inspiring video, and BE the change you want to see! Courtesy of GREEN for ALL

A step in the WRONG direction!

Turns out, our global efforts are not getting result in the fight to cut total CO2 emissions. In fact, the German Insitiute for Renewable Energy has concluded that we emitted 1.94% more CO2 in 2008 than in 2007. This global pollution problem is a real detriment to our environment. We can and must do better! According to the IWR, "For emissions to be effectively cut, nations need to link the amount invested in renewable energy to their emissions, and track effectiveness on an ongoing basis." (Courtesy of Environmental Leader)

Kimpton, Boutique Hotel Chain, opens first LEED registered hotel in Philly

Last summer I worked for Kimpton, so this news is very exciting to me. At the property that I worked, I felt that management could do a whole lot more to make the property eco-friendly and less wasteful rather than waiting for corporate to enforce their GREEN company policies, but I digress. The Hotel Palomar Philadelphia is the only LEED registered hotel in the city, and it is eco-friendly as well as pet friendly. A few of the GREEN amenities are, an integrated recycling program for cups and clothes hangers, paperless guest check-in/out service, and unused and partially used bath amenities to be donated to community programs. If you noticed, the Hotel Palomar Philadelphia is only LEED registered, applying to be LEED Building certified. "Approximately 60 to 90 days after opening, Kimpton will know the Hotel Palomar Philadelphia’s final LEED status," according to Green Lodging News.

Nevada to lead the next American Revolution

I had the opportunity to attended the National Clean Energy Summit 2.0 today hosted by the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and US Senator Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) with guest speakers former President Bill Clinton and Vice President Al Gore. It was a gathering of clean energy advocates, politicians, executive entrepreneurs, press, and exhibitionists. As you may or may not know, Nevada is at the center of America's plan to develop and implement renewable energy due to its abundant natural resources particularly solar and wind energy. Moreover, Senator Reid is the voice of Nevada in the Senate and has worked fearlessly for policy change and federal funding.

Held at the Cox Pavilion center on the campus of UNLV for the second year in a row, the entire day was dedicated to discussing and brainstorming on two key topics of concern, renewable energy (renewables) and energy efficiency. The morning session was a panel discussion of twenty participants including Vice President Al Gore, US Secretary of Energy Steven Chu, White House Council on Environmental Quality Advisor Van Jones, and energy executive T. Boone Pickens, just to name a few guest from various backgrounds. The guest list was completed with several CEOs, entrepreneurs, and politicians of different levels. The round table was moderated by former Senator Timothy E. Worth (D-CO). Each guest was given the opportunity to speak on one or the other theme and add to the conversation from their perspective and expertise.

Former President Bill Clinton spoke during the afternoon session, delivering his ideas on how American policy reform can lead to action and real change in our struggling economy. Clinton explained that our nation's biggest detriment to the environment is CO2 emission, and 40% of all CO2 emissions escape from our homes, offices, and skyscrapers. As Secretary Chu would say, this problem is a "low hanging fruit." CO2 emission is all around us, but because it is odorless, tasteless, "out of sight, and out of mind," we don't move with a sense of urgency to resolve this manageable problem. Simply, America's buildings must be retrofitted with the latest clean technology in order to be updated and restored to emit close to or zero carbon dioxide.

With such abundant solar and wind energy resources and a staggering state unemployment rate of 12.1%, Nevada is looking to the future and ready to develop and produce clean energy for the nation. Here lies the overall goal of today's discussion, that is, to prepare people for the environmental and economical changes that must and will take place in our country, beginning with the region that is most susceptible to the Renewable Revolution making America more energy efficient, independent of foregin oil, and getting our people back to work.

Friday. FUNday!

Courtesy of the Casual Mafia.