Latest Items from TreeHugger

8 of the Best Nominees for London's Design Museum "Design of the Year" Prize

Bonnie Alter — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 04:10:00 -0500

From a vacuum cleaner the size of a soccer ball to the most fashionable bike helmet ever, this year's selections cover a mish-mash of categories.

Tourism to Blame For Rise in Shark-Attacks Deaths

Stephen Messenger — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 22:57:58 -0500

Sharks have garnered a reputation as mean, cold-blooded aquatic killers, striking fear into the hearts of many would-be ocean goers -- but it turns out that in an increasing number of shark attack cases, it may actually be humans that are to blame.

Actress Zina Bethune Killed While Checking on Injured Opossum

Stephen Messenger — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 21:26:47 -0500

"Zina has been known to take care of all living things, from birds falling out of nests to relocating a snake; she's that type of human being."

12.4% of Europe Now Powered by Renewable Energy

Brian Merchant — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 17:49:26 -0500

A new report shows the European Union is continuing to make rapid progress in clean energy—the sector now employs more than 1 million workers as well.

A Self-Sufficient, Solar-Powered Barge and Houseboat

Sami Grover — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 17:21:43 -0500

This live-aboard Dutch barge in London can cruise using nothing but the power of the sun. And it may be for sale too!

Happy Valentine's Day, Big Oil. Love, the GOP. (Photo)

Brian Merchant — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 17:18:00 -0500

One Congressional staffer has some fun with a bill that's stuff with goodies for the oil industry.

Canada's Tar Sands: So Destructive It Makes Its Well-Paid Workers Want to Quit (Video)

Brian Merchant — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 15:38:00 -0500

A Reddit user who quit his job at the Alberta tar sands project shares a video that demonstrates the devastation he was no longer willing to be complicit in causing.

Hilly San Francisco to Get Shared Electric-Bikes

Michael Graham Richard — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 15:16:30 -0500

Do you live in San Francisco? If so, make sure to keep an eye out for new electric bikes that will be deployed by City CarShare!

Weekday Vegetarian: Red Mjadara

Kelly Rossiter — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 13:10:14 -0500

Delicately spiced, this makes a wonderful dish for mid-winter.

Department of Energy Loan Program Less Risky Than Expected by Congress

Mat McDermott — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 12:00:00 -0500

Expected losses on the program are just about one-third that anticipated by Congress when establishing it. Maybe now, finally, we can put the politically motivated Solyndra saga behind us.

Bill McKibben Talks Keystone XL on Colbert Report (Video)

Brian Merchant — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 11:24:00 -0500

On the heels of collecting over 600,000 signatures of citizens opposed to the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline, the environmental activist took to the Colbert Report to relay the message.

68% of Europe's New Electricity Came From Wind & Solar Power Last Year

Mat McDermott — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 11:20:00 -0500

That's an impressive stat for renewable energy growth, but it's balanced out by the fact that wind and solar power combined still remain 15% of the EU's overall electrical capacity.

Going to the office? Be Careful, It Is A Chemical Soup

Lloyd Alter — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 10:51:00 -0500

Not much point in having a healthy house if you spend all day in an unhealthy office.

The Fasano Las Piedras Complex in Uruguay is Pure Nature Eye Candy, with Basic Problems

Paula Alvarado — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 10:49:38 -0500

Hotel and restaurants, bungalows for rent, seem like a gorgeous idea for a vacation. Land development for foreigners? Not so much.

Even Farmers Cry When Lambs Are Led to Slaughter

Sami Grover — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 10:15:14 -0500

A farm-to-table dinner reveals insights on why farmers do what they do.

How Nikon is Killing Camera Repair

Elizabeth Chamberlain and Kyle Wiens of iFixit — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 10:00:00 -0500

On Jan. 16th, Nikon sent a letter to US camera repair shops saying "it will no longer make repair parts available for purchase by repair facilities that have not been authorized by Nikon Inc. to perform camera repairs."

Books Recycled Into Decorative Tower in Washington Museum

Lloyd Alter — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 09:15:39 -0500

Is this the future of printed books, to be turned into architectural fittings?

Wretched Excess Dept: Electric Bike For The 1/10th of 1% Costs $ 36,000

Lloyd Alter — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 09:04:00 -0500

They call it green. I call it too much.

Budding Penguin Love Offers New Hope for a Troubled Species

David DeFranza — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 09:01:00 -0500

The outlook for African penguins in the wild may not be positive but—in at least one breeding program—a budding love is offering hope for the species.

Clean Energy Microgrid Could Power Data Centers in Colorado

Megan Treacy — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 08:30:00 -0500

A plan for a data center energy park in Colorado includes energy-efficient data centers and on-site renewable energy generation that could operate as a microgrid, separate from the main grid.

"Buy One, Give One" Condoms Help Spread the Love in Haiti

Sami Grover — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 07:18:50 -0500

When you buy condoms in America, you could be providing protection for couples in Haiti too.

Art Project Brings Madrid's Public Fountains Back to Life

Alex Davies — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 06:40:00 -0500

An art installation protested the crumbling state of many of Madrid's public drinking fountains.

Ask Pablo: What's Better, A Lifetime of Phone Books or a Lifetime of iPhones?

Pablo Paster — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 06:25:00 -0500

What's Better, A Lifetime of Phone Books or a Lifetime of iPhones?

Plantagon Breaks Ground On Their First Vertical Farm

Lloyd Alter — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 06:24:00 -0500

Three years ago I thought it was just vaporware, but something is being built in Sweden.

New York Fashion Week: Edun's Fall/Winter 2012 Line is a Punk Rock Safari

Emma Grady — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 06:06:03 -0500

The latest from this green fashion label is all about electric colors, leather, mesh, and even a dash of school girl charm.

Priority Box Project Spreads Peace One Box at a Time

Bonnie Alter — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 05:42:00 -0500

Artist Franck de Las Mercedes has been sending these motivational boxes of ideas around the world since 2007.

Climate Change May Bring '100-Year Storms' Every 3 Years

Stephen Messenger — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 21:54:57 -0500

Due to climate change's effects on weather systems, powerful storms like Hurricane Irene, once considered rare, could occur every 3 to 20 years.

Greenpeace Protests Coal & Mountaintop Removal Atop 400 Ft Power Plant

Brian Merchant — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 17:25:00 -0500

The green activist group's stunt seeks to draw attention to the devastation wrought by coal.

Google and Stanford University are Testing the 2013 Honda Fit EV

Michael Graham Richard — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 16:44:37 -0500

Before commercial launch, the Honda is testing out a fleet of Fit EVs by providing them to Stanford University, Google, and the city of Torrance in California.

Bees Use Sign Language to Give Hornets the Finger

Sami Grover — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 15:18:35 -0500

Honeybees don't just communicate with each other through "sign language". They do the same for predators to warn them off. And it works.