Daily Archives: December 23, 2008

(Photo from rigapowv)

Sunset at Hamaoka: the nuclear power plant debate in Japan has suddenly reached a new level with the announcement that Chubu Electric will close its two oldest reactors at Hamaoka, in Shizuoka prefecture near Tokyo. These reactors have not been up and running for a long time due to fears about earthquakes in the region, and the electricity company also announced that instead, they will replace them with a new, bigger reactor at the same location. Local residents have tried to get all five reactors shut down permanently. To echo J

Wind turbines on a ridge near Centralia, Columbia County Pennsylvania, USA, “a town that lived and died by coal production.” Image credit::Reading Eagle, Renewable energy push signals winds of change

The best coal mine is a closed coal mine. And, a closed coal mine is a great mine if there are trees and a wind farm up top. A State that makes it’s own wind turbine equipment to top off its abandoned mines and surrounding ridges brings jobs to replace the anthracite life and delivers wind power to the people. <blockquo

Looking Back on Green Transportation in 2008
It’s the time for a year-end wrap-up of the green car happenings of 2008. We can’t possibly included everything here, but we’ll try to cover most of the major announcements. To better organize things, we’ll look at them by carmaker, from Aptera to Volkswagen. Read on

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Well, better late than never — to help you find and connect with other Cleantech Investing readers, I’ve set up a Facebook group.
Click here to visit and join.
Hope it’s useful…

Image courtesy Eco Gift Festival

Did you know the tradeshow industry is second only to the construction industry in the amount of waste it generates? Garbage from discarded packaging, samples, handouts and more piles up for days creating countless tons of unused of garbage! So, as someone deeply into reducing waste, I’ve been drawn away from participating. A few weekends ago, though, I actually had a great trade show experience, and my views have shifted.

Glacier National Park, photo: B D

With the economy foundering at the moment, it’s not surprising that many people are proposing projects to the incoming Obama administration that will create new jobs and benefit the economy as a whole. A new report from the National Parks Conservation Association does its part for promoting reinvestment in the US National Parks system as another worthy area for green investment.

The report says that they are $2.5 billion worth of job-creating projects in the National Parks, and furthermore that for every do

:: At a loss for last-minute gifts? Find inspiration in seven sustainably simple ideas.

:: Meet the change maker using t-shirts to combat climate change.

:: Luxuriate in an easy, crowd-pleasing Lasagne dinner

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We cover the thriving green gingerbread architecture scene, where architects still can find work, the ingredients and the mortgages aren’t toxic and meltdowns are expected if you carelessly leave your work outside. We also show the occasional un-treehugger entries:

NOT: If you are not moving toward vegetarianism yet, you will be after contemplating Linda Duffy’s “Low Carb” Gingerbread House. She asks “who says a gingerbread house has to include gingerbread?” and uses Slim Jim and cheese walls, jerky strip roofing and holds it all together with a delectable mortar made from cream c

Creative Commons: Invisible Hour

It would be no big deal if this photo were taken in Buffalo or Montreal, but Seattle? There is climate chaos everywhere; In Canada, it is the first coast-to-coast white Christmas in thirty years, and parts of the Northeast are still without power from the storms. Now you are freezing in the dark. Collin advises how to Weather the Storm with These 6 Green Tips, but what could you have done to prepare?

Over the years, TreeHugger and Planet Green have suggested a few t

Baby New Year photo: Will Powell

As 2008 draws to a close it seems natural that a post looking back on some of the trends in green thinking was in order. Since I mostly cover issues related to energy, I’m going to focus on those; I’m sure frequent TreeHugger readers can pick out others and I encourage them to discuss at will in the comments.

Though the financial meltdown in the fall (which as Lloyd pointed out James Kunstler correctly predicted) has changed the trajectory of these somewhat here are four broa