Tag Archives: healthy

Mix’n Match Prefab: A New Approach from Michelle Kaufmann

One of the problems of modern prefab is to find a balance between the efficiency of standard plans and the flexibility of customization. Michelle Kaufmann gives us an exclusive preview of a new concept, where you mix and match different, but standard, boxes. To use a clothing analogy, most modern prefab designs were never really “off the rack” but were more like “made to measure”, where a pattern would be modified and customized for the customer. Some prefabs, like the Acorn from Empyrian, were closer to “bespoke”. But the problem with customization is that it takes time to price, adds time to construc… Read the full story on TreeHugger

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Mix’n Match Prefab: A New Approach from Michelle Kaufmann

7 Great New Food Books For Sustainable Eating

Image: Jeff Nield When we published our list of 9 Must Read Books on Eating Well over a year and a half ago, it felt like the good food fad may have reached its peak: The 100 Mile Diet had swept the continent, Michael Pollan had laid out the common sense problems and solutions surrounding our food system plain enough for all to understand, and

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7 Great New Food Books For Sustainable Eating

"The Majestic Plastic Bag": Documentary on the Plastic Cycle of Life (Video)

Image credit: Heal the Bay I’ve wondered before whether plastic bags are a distraction , and Bonnie has marveled at the lengths people will go to to get a designer reusable grocery bag instead. But having just watched a fascinating online documentary, I am never going to look at the humble plastic bag in the same light again. For the first time ever, a team of crack wildlife film makers have tracked the “majestic” plastic bag on its … Read the full story on TreeHugger

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"The Majestic Plastic Bag": Documentary on the Plastic Cycle of Life (Video)

Whisky Biofuel Available in a Few Years: 30% More Power than Ethanol

Image credit: Future Atlas /Creative Commons The food versus fuel debate already has many people worried that we can’t feed the world and power our cars . but some folks are claiming we can power (some of) our cars, feed the world and have a drink in the process. Karin already reported on Scottish efforts to create biofuels from byproducts of distilling , and now it looks like such efforts are paying off. The resulting fuel may even offer significant performance i… Read the full story on TreeHugger

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Whisky Biofuel Available in a Few Years: 30% More Power than Ethanol

Calls for Australia to Drop Compulsory Bicycle Helmets Laws

Photo: Warren McLaren / inov8 Not that this is a fire that needs any stoking but Australia is yet again debating the relative merits of helmets for cycling. And remember this is the country that back in 1991, became the first to make riding a bike without a helmet illegal. Associate Professor Chris Rissel believes that “”What it does is it puts people off cycling and makes people think that cycling’s a dangerous activity, even though it’s a really healthy thing to do and it increases people’s physical activity.” Then there’s Professor Frank McDermott saying there is no question that if the current laws were overturned, head inj… Read the full story on TreeHugger

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Calls for Australia to Drop Compulsory Bicycle Helmets Laws

Chevrolet Cruze Eco to Have Variable Geometry Air Shutter for Better MPG

Photo: GM Don’t Let More Air In Than You Need There are all kinds of tricks to make cars more aerodynamic (and thus more fuel-efficient- here’s an extreme DIY example ). One of those tricks is to have a variable geometry air shutter at the front of the vehicle to let more air in when the engine needs cooling, and to reduce wind drag by letting less air in at higher speeds or when the engine doesn’t need cooling. Check out the video below…. Read the full story on TreeHugger

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Chevrolet Cruze Eco to Have Variable Geometry Air Shutter for Better MPG

Today on Planet 100: LEED Mosque (Video)

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Today on Planet 100: LEED Mosque (Video)

Nearly 80% of Oil From Gulf Spill Remains in Water, Threatens Ecosystem: Independent Analysis

photo: Tabitha Kaylee Hawk via flickr A new report from the University of Georgia and the Georgia Sea Grant contends that the amount of oil remaining in the water in the wake of the Gulf oil spill is far higher than reported. In fact 70-79% of oil not captured at the wellhead by BP still poses a threat to the ecosystem. That’s 2.9-3.2 million barrels of oil still in the water. … Read the full story on TreeHugger

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Nearly 80% of Oil From Gulf Spill Remains in Water, Threatens Ecosystem: Independent Analysis

George Monbiot Girds For Bruising Battle Against The Madness of Vertical Farms

StudioMobile: Vertical farm in Dubai George Monbiot is one of the better environmental writers around, and also one of the most controversial. He acknowledges the fact and says “I find myself at odds with other greens almost as often as I find myself fighting our common enemies. I’ve had bruising battles over a long series of miracle solutions supported by my friends.” And now he is ready to rumble once again, on that issue that is front of mind for every environmentalist: Vertical farms. He writes

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George Monbiot Girds For Bruising Battle Against The Madness of Vertical Farms

Bike Race Employs Female Cyclists (to Kiss Men and Look Pretty)?

Image credit: Richard Masoner /Creative Commons From riding in high heels to the safety of women riders , we’ve covered all kinds of topics relevant to female cyclists. But when April suggested the world would be better looking if there were more girls on bikes , the accusations of sexism came flying thick and fast. So I wonder what these same commenters wou… Read the full story on TreeHugger

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Bike Race Employs Female Cyclists (to Kiss Men and Look Pretty)?