Vatican City going green

Everyone who have been to the Vatican City will know that the buildings are really old but well maintained with a museum full of beautiful artifacts and the much talked about painting on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel by Michelangelo. No impression? Click on the link I provide and you will know who and what I am talking about.

But the fact that I am talking about it here is not because of those paintings etc, I want to talk about them going solar.

The Vatican City is spending 660 million dollars to install solar to power all of its 40,000 households in the nation. This is really interesting because for an old school kind of nation with such a rich history, they are really very forward looking.

On top of the solar panels, the Vatican is reducing their greenhouse emissions by probably using an electric powered transport for the Pope and the Vatican cafeteria will soon be decked with a solar heating system to provide heating and cooling, and even the Pope’s summer residence is being fitted out to get power from the methane generated by the horse stables.

Peacock Republic

They don't sell peacock, they don't sell food, they sell organic children clothing, soy candles and some toiletries make from environmental friendly ingredients.

Their soap is not only cold processed, plant based, herbal soaps that will never contain synthetic dyes, fragrances or preservatives, no parabens or sulfates in any of their products, the packaging is handmade plantable paper embedded with wildflower seeds which you can plant and grow after you remove the products from their packaging.

They come in many fragrance too and I would love to try their Lemongrass Love cos I love the smell of lemongrass. Reminds me of delicious Thai food hehe. Best of all, their soap can be used on the face and body, 2 in 1, fabulous.

Visit them at their website to learn more about them.

Soy Prints

I mentioned months ago about toners made from coffee dredges or teabags. Now there is soy prints, toner powders derived from soybeans.

Each cartridge prints the same number of pages as the oil-based versions and does no harm to the printer itself.

It's manufactured by PRC Technologies and will be heading to stores such as Office Depot soon. May it reach our shores soon as well.

To read more about these toners, click here. Picture from SoyPrint's website.

Eco-friendly house cleaners

There is this brand from Sydney, Australia called Murchison-Hume, they are self-professed premium housecleaning products seller.

Their products are completely organic and come in a variety of essential oil fragrances and in fragrance-fee variety. Ecologically Friendly, superbly effective and easy to use but above all, they look and smell gorgeous.

Range of products include bathroom cleaner, food surface spray, glass cleaner, dishwashing liquid, natural bristle dish brush and many many more. Visit their website for more information and to shop and best of all they do ship internationally.

Green Treehouses

If you grow up reading Enid Blyton's books, imagining having a treehouse will never be far from your mind.

Here's a slideshow from Treehugger showing some of the green treehouses that exists around the world.

Enjoy!

President Obama's Guide to Going Green

In case you weren't aware, April 22nd (Wednesday) was Earth Day. Not sure what you were doing but I was at home on medical leave from food poisoning...yep...but at least my contribution to pollution that day is only my poo, nothing else.

Anyway, on Earth Day, President Obama made a proclamation. Extracted from Minor Matters. Highlighted are some takeaways.

"The story of the United States is inextricably tied to our vital natural resources. As we enter a new era filled with challenges and promise, we must protect our land, wildlife, water and air — the resources that have fueled our growth and prosperity as a Nation and enriched our lives. Doing this not only fulfills a sacred obligation to our children and grandchildren, but also provides an opportunity to stimulate economic growth.

To achieve these ends, no issue deserves more immediate attention than global warming. Scientists have already observed alarming shifts in the natural world, including thawing permafrost, melting glaciers, and rising sea levels.

Climate change presents a serious test for humankind, but it also provides an opportunity for great innovation and adaptation. The United States has risen to such challenges before, and Earth Day inspires us to transcend differences among nations so we may lead the world in protecting our planet from this global threat.

Americans across the country are working hard to help limit the pollutants that cause climate change and reduce their impact on the environment, but we must do more. Individuals and organizations can plant trees, use energy efficient lightbulbs, drive fuel efficient cars, hold clean-up drives, and teach young people about environmental preservation. Small changes in our daily lives can have a big impact on our environment. Individuals can walk, bike, and use public transportation; buy products with less packaging; and recycle and reuse paper, plastic, glass, and aluminum more often. American families can also save money by choosing energy efficient products, turning lights off, unplugging appliances, and cutting back on heating and air conditioning.

Government and business alike must also take serious and sustained action to protect our valuable natural inheritance. Through investments in scientific research and development, and the vigorous pursuit of alternative and renewable energy, we can create millions of green jobs that allow us to reduce greenhouse gases and excel in a competitive global economy. My Administration is committed to increasing fuel economy standards more and putting more Plug-In Hybrid cars on the road, weatherizing millions of homes, and catalyzing private efforts to build a clean energy future. My Administration is also working to achieve a comprehensive energy and climate policy, one that will lessen our dependence on foreign oil, make the U.S. the global leader in clean energy technology, and prevent the worst impacts of climate change.

President Theodore Roosevelt emphasized our obligation to future Americans, saying, “of all the questions which can come before this nation, short of the actual preservation of its existence in a great war, there is none which compares in importance with the great central task of leaving this land even a better land for our descendants than it is for us.” Heeding President Roosevelt’s call, and carrying forward his spirit of determination, we must commit ourselves to protecting our environment and ensuring the health of our planet so we may share the magnificent blessings of our Earth with our grandchildren.

We do this not only to acknowledge the environment’s central role in the development of our Nation but also to recognize the strong ecological interdependence among nations. History has shown that as we sow, so too shall we reap. Let us rededicate ourselves to a world that provides bountiful harvests for us all not just today, but for many generations to come.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim April 22, 2009, as Earth Day. I encourage all citizens to help protect our environment and contribute to a healthy, sustainable world.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand thistwenty-second day of April, in the year of our Lord two thousand nine, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-third."

I truly like it as a leader of USA, his push for renewable energy and walk the talk in the White House.

Soda up your life

I am not sure if anyone reuses their plastic bottles if they don't bring it to the recycling bins. I hope your answer is not that you just simply dump them.

Here at home, I use them to water the plants just by putting a nozzle on them. Now this new company call New Soap is selling brand new liquid soap packaged in old plastic soda bottles, plastic water bottles and glass beer bottles to help clean up our environment.

Each bottle is cleaned, sanitized and processed for reuse as packaging for your favorite brand of liquid soap.

I am happy to know they are only putting liquid soap in them because if they put detergent I am not sure if the chemicals in the plastics will react to them. Total meltdown maybe.

All purpose body cleansers

I know there is this brand Ginvera that sells a shampoo plus body wash for kids but so far has not come across any for adults but I believed some brands do have it out there just that I never checked them out.

Over at Apartmenttheraphy, they were sharing with the readers some of the all purpose body cleansers out in the market but the only brand that I know of that exists locally is Aveda and even so I am not sure if they carry the soap. I do like the Yves Rocher bottle, looking at it already brighten my day.

As far as I know, I never like to use soap bars for my hair, they make my hair so dry and tangled up when I used one that I bought from Turkey which is made of olive oil.

Torchlights

I once bought a LED torchlight at Discovery Channel store and the shop assistant told me that if I wind it up, it will always have power and I wonder if I did it wrongly but it so failed me. Once in a while, I try to wind it but all it gives me is 2 secs of light and out it goes. Crap.

So imagine my happiness when I see these solar powered torchlights, this will really allow you to go camping at ease, knowing that if you clip your torchlight just next to your backpack during the day, you can have all the lights you want in the night. That's so reassuring and cool.

The torchlights call Earthtorch, once place in direct sunlight for 8 hours and it will hold a charge for 45 days. A 6 hour charge will give you 8 hours of light. No batteries to change and no shaking involved. The 10 LED lights in the 10″ model have light penetration of 70 meters and can be seen 2 miles away. The solar cell is estimated to last 20 years, the nickel cadmium storage cell lasts 500 charges, and the LED bulbs will shine a lengthy 100,000 hours. The solar panel is in the handle.

Actually at first glance I thought this chair is made of cane and painted black in color but upon reading the description, I had a good shock.

This is actually made from discarded keyboard pads...hard to tell isn't it?

VOICE SYSTEMS is a company that creates computer systems with integrated laptops specifically designed for users with visual disabilities, resulting in laptops with their keyboard elements removed. Designer Dante Bonuccelli took these discarded elements and fashioned his pun-ny named Texte-ile, a lounge chair that incorporates keys as both material and pattern. Quite stunning, and as noted by Mocoloco, if the keys actually retain their ability to be pressed, the lounge would provide an interesting and comfortable sensation when sat upon.

Who would have guess sitting on a keyboard pad can be comfortable?

Ecology meets design

These are really beautiful if you asked me, if I own them I may not even bear to use them for fear of scratching the glossy exteriors.

Bamboo is a terrific eco-friendly material, because it grows twice as fast as a tree and its fiber has many uses — it can be woven into textiles, clothes, even coffee filters.

Ekobo which designed these products explained that "Every product is hand-crafted. Circular forms are made from an ancient technique called spun bamboo. Bamboo columns are cut length-wise with a machete into fine strips. The strips are then coiled into a spiral around a mold. A glue made from the bread tree and bamboo dust is used to assemble the strips. Using its natural form, tubular products are cut horizontally from a bamboo column. Each object is then sanded, polished and handpainted, before being wrapped in recycled plastic."

How can you not be touched by the efforts they put into to give us such eco-friendly products?

Green Alert for parents

We read so much about toxics in milk bottles and even in toys, you wonder if anything in this world is safe for your kids anymore.

But fret not, these days manufacturers are getting greener and greener just to capture the attention of parents who care for their kids and wants to give them what's best for them.

Introducing Green Toys, a US toy maker that produces environmentally-friendly toys, they are phthalates-free and BPA-free and are made from recycled plastic milk jugs. The products are designed with integral colors so that no external coatings are needed, thus eliminating the fear of lead paint. Even their packaging is made of recycled cardboard and is 100% recyclable.

Pretty, no?

Scrap paper and cardboard notepad

If you have many scrap paper lying around and even cardboard, why not trying making your own notepad today?

Try this method.

Although the more simple way accordng to me is just simply clip all the paper together and placed them next to your phone book for taking notes or bring them to your meetings.

Wooden Easter Eggs

These are not just normal wooden eggs..these are souvenir eggs sold by The National Park Foundation in US.

It's apparently a White House tradition whereby Presidents and First Ladies opened the gates of the White House grounds and hosted the festivities.

This year, these wooden colorful wooden eggs are signed by President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama, comes in many different colours and is sold at USD7 from National Park Foundation.

Just so you know, each egg is made in the U.S. from FSC-Certified hardwood from sustainably managed forests.

Lights

This is another creative way to recycle stuff...it looks kind of like the Colosseum in Rome at night doesn't it?

It is actually made from recycled egg crates...or make it into a vase like the picture below.

It is kind of appropriate to put it here now, assuming you have used up alot of eggs for painting Easter eggs or use them for your egg hunts. Don't throw the crate away, why not do something about it today?

Counter Evolution

When you look at the wood on this table made by Counter Evolution in NYC, can you tell it is recycled from what? Think....any guess?

It is made from recycled bowling alley...amazing...since I am so not creative, no wonder I can never think of creative ways to recycle materials, not only that, I was just telling one friend today that I cannot even think of where to get abandoned wood to use for construction! Sigh.

Babcock Ranch

Babcock Ranch in Florida is targetting itself to be the first city in the world to be powered totally by zero-emission solar energy. Who wouldn't want to live in a city where you practically don't pay any electrical bills?

I say it is way cool, Florida is always so sunny and making full use of the solar energy makes lots of sense..and my city is way sunny too year round but we have no green activists here to push our government towards the green direction...but oh wait, I forgot...does my city allow activists? Nah I don't think so. There you go...now we know why.

The White Garden

Obama is setting a very good example by deciding to create their own garden in the White House.

If you look at this picture, you will how big the garden is, hopefully one day you can see the President actually tending to his own garden haha.