Suzuki's first Fuel Cell Scooter

If I lived in a warmer climate, this would be the perfect way to get around. Unfortunately, I live in Canada, and our harsh winters make this scooter obsolete.

For those of you, that do live in a warm climate, then you will be happy to know that the light, air-cooled hydrogen tank holds 70MPa, which is great for getting around. It can go 300 miles on one "fueling" , so depending on where you travel, it could last quite a while. The cities that get this scooter, will be the ones that have hydrogen fueling stations - California.

There is no word about the colors that will be available, but it is virtually silent and has no emissions. It looks just like every other scooter out there, so it will definately blend in.

Water Geeks New Filter Water Bottle

WaterGeeks has a new water bottle that filters the water as you drink it. Very Cool!!

http://www.thewatergeeks.com/Water-Bottles-More-p-1-c-3.html These bottles are made from stainless steel, so there is no need to worry about BPA leaching into your water, and then your body. They are specifically designed to filter out lead, chlorine, and heavy metals, odors, and other potential contaminates from TAP WATER. That is the catch, you can NOT use these in the woods when your camping, and decide to get your water from a near by stream.

They come in a couple of curvy designs with 60 different color combinations - something for every discerning taste. They retail for about $11. US and would make a great gift for just about everyone on your gift list.

Green Life Competition Winner

The Green Life Competition Winner is a "ROCKING CHAIR".

The rocking chair that won, uses the kinetic energy produced by rocking back and forth, to produce power for the attached OLED lamp. During the day it stores the power, and at night your can sit, rock and read a book...very cool!

According to Rochus Jacob, the designer, he was looking for opportunities to generate energy through activities we naturally do. I hope this inspires others to look at everyday objects and see how it can be improved upon. If you are looking to compete, then check out the website listed and see what category would best suit your design.

Green Life http://www.designboom.com/contest/winner.php?contest_pk=28 has all the results listed on their website.

Optibike OB1 (E-Bike)

The Optibike OB1, is the luxury model of bikes, and it has the price tag to go with it, retailing at $13,995.00 US. Only 24 of these bikes were made in 2009, and it will be interesting if they make more of them in 2010.

This bike features include a wireless PDA that displays the bike's performance, a lithium-ion battery with 850W of power for over two hours of continuous speed, and it is made from an ultra light carbon fiber. If that is not enough, it also features a gunslinger custom paint, which includes 23 ct gold-leaf designs to match the 23 ct gold-plated motorized bottom brackett (MBB).

MBB is a free geat system that enables the rider to pedal as much or as little as they wish. Visit http://www.optibike.com/ for more information.

VIOlight Toothbrush Sanitizer

I know several of you are wondering what a toothbrush sanitizer has to do with going green, but it really does. Any time you can prevent disease from spreading, you are helping the environment...thus it is green.

This is a really neat little toothbrush sanitizer, so please go to their website http://violight.com/. It claims to even work on H1N1, and they have the scientific proof to back it up.

A study* performed on the VIOlight Toothbrush Sanitizer by Dr. Philip Tierno, Jr., PhD, Director Clinical Microbiology and Immunology, Associate Professor, Departments of Microbiology and Pathology, New York University Medical Center, found that the VIOlight eliminated up to 99.9% of bacteria tested on toothbrushes.

Another study* by Bureau Veritas, a global independent testing laboratory, also found that the VIOlight Toothbrush Sanitizer eliminated up to 99.9% of germs tested on toothbrushes.

The Violight countertop sanitizer works with all electric toothbrushes, including Sonicare, Oral-B, and other brands. You can insert just the heads, or the entire electric brush and handle. The unit also works with battery operated brushes like SpinBrush and other popular models...so it is perfect for EVERYONE.

The Violight Countertop sanitizer has a special UV bulb that needs to be replaced every 12-18 months depending on how often you use your Violight. This ensures the maximum level of germ-eliminating power.

All of our other Violight products, including iZap and the new Zapi, use a LIFETIME bulb! These bulbs are similar to long-lasting fluorescent lights, which is why they last so long, especially since your sanitizer is only used for several minutes each day.

Christmas is coming, and this is a really great gift for anyone on your list, especially anyone with a compromised immune system, or anyone that is worried about H1N1. Order early, so you get the model and color you want.

"Fun Theory" project for Stairs.

Well this is a little different, but it definitely belongs here. In Odenplan station in Stockholm, Volkwagen did this Fun Theory Project, to see if they could get more people taking the stairs.

They installed pianio keys on the stairs, and tuned them up, then started filming. What they discovered was when you make something fun to do, then more people want to do it. They increased people taking the stairs by 66%, which is pretty impressive. They don't just walk up the stairs, they dance, jump, hop, and enjoy themselves. Taking the stairs is better for the environment, as it does not use electricity to move between floors, thus it saves on pollution.

The amount of electricity used to generate the pianio stairs is minimal. They also noticed that even the elderly and frail people, wanted to join in on the fun and take the musical stairs. Enjoying yourself and life, makes people happy, and getting some good exercise can improve your health, thus prolonging life.

I wish Volkswagen would come here and do this in Calgary. Perhaps all those C-Train stations could be transformed into a thing of beauty, and music to our ears with a project like this. If you want to watch the video click here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2lXh2n0aPyw&feature=player_embedded

Check out the fun theory website for other projects http://www.thefuntheory.com/

Ireland Bans Genetically Modified Crops

In the country of Ireland, genetically modified crops has been banned. It is a bold step, and I know they are erring on the side of caution, but I think they should be applauded, and I wish Canada would follow. Although some people claim the GM food is safe for humans, I just don't buy into it. Prince Charles, has said that it is the "Biggest Environmental Disaster of All Time".

A voluntary GM-Free label can now be placed on all animal products, such as eggs, fish, poultry, meat and dairy products, that are raised GM-free. Ireland joins Japan and Egypt as one of a few but growing number of GM-Free countries. Ireland is positioning itself, to deliver the safest, and most credible GM-free food in Europe, and also the world, which is a really smart move. I can see North America knocking on Irelands door, asking for GM-FREE produce in the near future.

NatureMill XE Series of Automatic Composters

Nature Mill has gone back to the classroom, and redesigned their brand new automatic composter. I saw Nature Mills automatic composters back in 2005, but what they have come up with is really great.

They now have a two in one composter, tables scraps and animal waste. For all of us that have a pet, this is great, as it means we don't need two composters. They are a great size, and fit comfortable under a sink with their great new sleak design and colors. The machine can comfortable handle 100 pounds of food scraps per month, then you just toss the nutrient rich compost back into the garden.

The Natures Mill composter has to be plugged in, but it uses a minimal 5 kWh of energy, which can be lowered even more in its energy saver mode. Althought Nature Mill does make composting easier, it still needs to 1 cup of sawdust pellets for every five cups of food waste, as well as baking soda, but in my opinion this sure beats the heck out the old method using worms.

Litterless Lunches - good examples

I know many people shutter at the idea of litterless lunches, so I thought I would give you some great examples.



FIESTA includes: 1 cup of bean salad, 1/2 cup melon wedges, handful of whole grain tortilla chips with 2 Tb spoons of salsa, and 8 cubes of reduced fat cheddar cheese.



HOLE NEW PB&J includes: Peanut butter and jelly on a whole wheat mini bagel, 2/3 cup of cherry tomatoes with 2 Tb spoons of low fat Caesar dressing, 1/2 cup pineapple chunks and 4 mini oatmeal cookies.



PIZZA PARTY includes: 1 slice of left over cold veggie pizza cut into squares, 3/4 cup cucumber moons with 2 Tb spoons hummus, 1/2 cup purple grapes, and 1/2 cup of popcorn.



POWER PITA includes: 2 mini whole wheat pita pockets with grilled chicken strips and veggies, 3/4 cup low fat vanilla yogurt with sliced strawberries, 1/2 cup sugar snap peas, and 8 animal crackers.



These are just a few examples of litterless lunches, there are many more variations, just let your imagination take over.



The important thing is to make it LITTERLESS.

It is WASTE REDUCTION WEEK

Welcome to Waste Reduction Week. What are you doing to Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle? Let me know in the comments section of this article.

Did you know that approximately 20% of the food we buy, ends up in the garbage?

By starting a backyard composter, and feeding it your table scraps and food waste, you can reduce your garbage by 33%. The compost is great for your soil, and it might encourage you to start a garden and to grow your own food.

Invest in a rain barrel, and use it for your garden and outdoor needs. This really cuts down on your water bill too.

Other things you can do to reduce waste, is buy a stainless steel water bottle, instead of buying plastic bottles of water. Invest in a good water filtration system, and use it by keeping a jug of water in the fridge, instead of running the water tap until it is cold.

Buy your food in bulk, instead of small quantities, as this cuts down on packaging.

Reuse, your glass jars to save left over food for another meal.

Mend and fix any clothing, books, toys and furniture, as it is always better to reuse then to replace, and it is a lot less expensive too.

Donate all your magazines & books to nursing homes, hospitals, and even doctor's offices.

Donate your old clothing scraps, yarn, buttons, wall paper ends, paper towel & toile paper rolls, egg cartons, apple baskets, and yogurt containers to daycare centers or kinder garten classes, so they can use them for crafts.

Donate old clothing to the Salvation Army, Goodwill, the Mustard Seed or the women's shelter. Many families can really use this type of help, as it can make the difference in keeping their children warm and able to attend school.

Donate your old eye glasses to the Canadian National Institute for the Blind, or even Operation Eyesight. They are refurbished and then distributed to the needy.

Donate your computer and some other electronic equipment to schools, churches, and the Mustard Seed. It is all refurbished and used to train people in need.

Visit http://www.freecycle.org/ and see what you can give away or find for nothing.

To learn more about Waste Reduction Week, go to http://www.wrwcanada.com/

River Cafe's Organic Cuisine in Calgary

If you live in Calgary, then chances are, that you have heard of the River Cafe which is located on Prince's Island Park. The River Cafe is one of those special places to eat, and getting there is half the fun. It is absolutely beautiful just about any time of year, no matter how you get there... Most of us will bike along the river in the summer months and stop in for a lite lunch, and in the winter we will go for a walk on the island and stop to warm up. I have seen families making snow men in the park, and they stop in for hot chocolate and a snack. I love to cosy up to the fire place and enjoy a glass of wine. Just about all of the cuisine is organic and locally grown. The owner of the restaurant lives just outside the city, and grows alot of the vegetables herself. The staff are very knowlegeable, friendly, and know exactly what you need to warm up in the winter. If you live in Calgary, or are planning to be here in the near future, then you really should stop by the River Cafe, and try out the cuisine.

Hopworksfiets Bike Bar is a great Pedal-Powered Party

There are so many new bikes coming out that are sleeker and lighter then the older ones, but this one is new to me. This Hopworksfiets Bike, is built by Metrofiets based in Portland. It certainly puts a new spin on biking to work...you can actually start delivering pizza with it, or like this person, have a portable party to go.

The main cargo area of this unique bike, contains the large metal bucket, which can hold two full sized kegs & 25 lbs of ice. Once the beer travels through 50 feet of cooling coil, the beer is delivered to your glass, perfectly chilled. What party would be complete, without a stack of pizza, which all fits comfortably in the rear rack, with the front of the bike having a counter of its own, where all your guests can gather around, and enjoy the sound system, which is cleverly hidden in the back panel around the tire.

Pharox 60 LED Bulbs expected to last for 25 years

Take a look at this light bulb by Lemnis Lighting, the Pharox 60 LED Dimmable Lightbulb. It uses just 6 Watts and has the equivalent light of a traditional 60 Watt incandescent bulb. It fits a standard sized household light fixture, and it is made of recyclable material, and is the most energy efficient light of comparable light quality on todays market. It is the most environmentally safe option on the market as well, as it contains NO lead, mercury, or wolfram, unlike its competitors the compact fluorescent light bulbs.

When you compare the Pharox 60 LED lightbulb, which is expected to last 35,000 hours to the incandescent bulb, which lasts an average of 1,000 hours, there really is no comparison. The only sticker, is the price tag of $35.95, and hopefully that will come down, once mass productions kick in.

Spotting Toxic Waste from Space

Sonia Silvestri works with an Italian construction firm, she does research on the use of GPR (Ground Penetrating Radar). Recently, Sonia's work has produced an accuracy rate of 50%, with 17 of 34 spots identified as potential dump sites coming up with contaminated toxic waste.

Illegally dumping toxic waste is a very big problem, as it contaminates the ground water, and ultimately affects the survival of the human race. Tracking down culprits, and making it harder to ger away with illegal dumping will be a big help to prevent it from happening now and in the future.

TEAM ALBERTA is in 9th Place

As many of you already know, the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon is taking place in Washington, D.C. - Just started October 9th, 2009. Our home team, Team Alberta is in 9th place. I am so proud of them. This team is formed by students from SAIT, Mount Royal University, Alberta College of Art, and the University of Calgary.

The homes technology boasts a centrally controlled system, electrical production from a 7.6 crystalline silicon photovoltaic PV system, mounted on two tilted rooftop structures seperated by a rooftop terrace. R-44 insulation from structural insulated panels, which is important for our Canadian winters. Heating and cooling by a solar assisted, ground-source heat pump with both air-side and water-side economizers.

The Classic rustic Western Canadian construction has many features, such as an exterior that integrates local wood, stone, and other materials. A programmable logic controller and numerous inside and outside sensors. Separate public and private halves with activity areas in each LED (light-emitting-diode) lighting designed to provide interesting visual effects and accent artwork designed into the home. It also has a vaulted-ceiling living room and kitchen area, a stone-clad core area for the bathroom and mechanical systems, a bedroom and home office space, a rooftop deck, a keyway dividing the bedroom/home office from the more public areas of the house, and even a yoga space.

Team Alberta has worked very hard on this home, and my hat goes off to them.

Shipping Container Kitchen

I thought I had seen everything, until this came along. If you work in a warehouse, this may be your new kitchen or office space. Take a look, it is rather neat. Shipping containers that have out lived their usefulness, are being reused as kitchens and offices. You can have glass doors put on them, and they will help keep the heat inside, which makes them energy efficient, and save money. It sure makes a dreary warehouse, a bit more hip and comfortable. It costs about $3,000 to configure and furnish these shipping containers.

Biomega's Boston Folding Bike

Biomega's Boston Folding Bike - Very Impressive. As many of us can attest to, the problems with bikes, is they are stolen or at least parts of them are stolen. With the Biomega's bike, it folds in way that makes it easy to take with you, which is a definite deter to thieves, and is still slick and portable.

Nissan Leaf EV

WOW, there are 22,000 people in North America that have contacted Nissan since the unveiling of their Nissan Leaf EV. In early 2010, Nissan will start taking reservations for their Leaf EV - it sure does look great. I actually drive a Nissan Sentra, and I get great gas milage, which was a real selling feature for me. The Leaf EV will get about 100 miles per charge, which is good if you don't drive more then that in a day. I am willing to bet if Nissan got that up to 500 miles per charge, these cars would fly off the lots.

Copper Sinks - great at killing bacteria

Heare is a really beautiful copper sink, and it is great at killing 99% of the bacteria within two hours. Copper is also used for countertops, evetroughs, and lining rain barrels for the same reasons.

This sink is hand hammered, and made from 100% recycled copper by Native Trails. With the winter season coming, so are the bugs, and a sink link this would help tremendously in cutting down on those bugs. Please note, you can not just leave the dishes in the sink, and hope the copper does the job...LOL. You must actually wash the dishes in hot water and use soap.

Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Centre in New York City, is looking at using copper in different applications throughout the hospital, because copper kills 99% of bacteria within two hours. I am sure there will be more hospitals looking at doing the same thing.

Manitoba Hydro Place - So Impressive

Wow, I am so impressed with this design. Take a look at Manitoba Hydro Place, designed by Kuwabara Payne Mckenna Blumberg Architects, with Architect of Record Smith Carter Architects. I am so impressed, this is one beautifully designed building, and very GREEN.

If you have ever been to Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada in the winter, then you know how cold it gets there, and how long the winter can be. Heating gets to be pretty expensive too, and this building has been designed with great GREEN features, to help keep the costs down. Manitoba Hydro Place, relies mostly on "passive free energy" (sun heat). Take a look at the 377 Foot tall "Solar Chimney". It is very efficient at drawing air out of the building during the shoulder seasons, and in the summer it uses the stack effect. Then, in the winter, fans draw the exhaust air down, and use it to preheat all the incoming cold air, and warm the parking garage.

Depending on the season, there is even a 24 metre tall waterfall in each of the atria, which humidifies or dehumidifies the incoming air. In colder temperatures, recovered heat from the exhaust air, and passive solar radiant energy are used to warm the fresh air, which is then drawn through the raised floors, and into the office spaces through under floor fan units.

Humans, computers, appliances and other sources of heat cause the air to rise, it is then drawn north and exhausted by the solar chimney. In the shoulder seasons, the building relys entirely on ourdoor fresh air, using automatic and manually operated windows.

This building uses a closed loop geoexchange system with 280 boreholes 400 feet deep; which cools or heats water which is piped through the thermal mass of the concrete floors, heating/cooling the space in the building. The podium rooftop has deep soil intensive green roofs and accessible terraces, which creates a lush landscape outdoors for employees to enjoy.

Go Green & Check your Furnace

Winter is coming, and with it we all bundle up to stay warm. It is time to get that furnace checked, before the coldest day of the year arrives, so you know that when you need it, the furnace will be keeping you warm. Direct Energy, will come out to your house, and give your furnace the once over, and make sure their are no carbon monoxide leaks, which could kill your family. You may also decide to go green, and get an Energy Efficient Audit, to find out where exactly your home is leaking heat, and how to fix it.

Did you know that most homes, if you add up all the heat leaks, they would amount to the size of a basket ball - WOW! You can go green, by turning down your programable thermostat, just a few degrees while you are at work, and when you go to bed, you could save between 5-10% on your heat bill. You may need to put new Sweeps on your doors, and recaulk your windows. Your furnace filter should be replaced every 90 days, or cleaned every 90 days, depending on what type of filter you have.

Dig out a few extra blankets to put on your bed, and keep one handy when watching TV. Change your socks to warmer ones to wear around the home, as damp ones will only make you cold. Eat dinner by eco green candle light a few times per week, and all of these things will help keep your energy bill in line. Also, do your laundry late at night or off the peak periods, and do line drying instead of using the dryer, will all contributes to going green and keeping your bills low.

Time to Harvest your Vegetable Gardens

I know it is hard to believe, with all the beautiful weather we have been experiencing, that it is the last of September, and time to start tending to that yard work before winter hits us.

It is HARVEST TIME, and this time my carrots did not grow as big as I had hoped, so I will be pickling them, as they are the perfect size to pickle and enjoy at Thanks Giving. My zucchini on the other hand, is huge, and really delicious, so it will be cooked up on the BBQ with many other vegetables, and I may even bake a cake with it. The onions, well they are great, very delicious, and again will be cooked up on the BBQ with other vegetables. I should tell you, that I take the green tops off the onions and chop it up, and then freeze it to be used in omlettes. Everything that can be used is used or composted. I planted onions around all my vegetables this year, as they are great at keeping the rabbits away, and so now I have a lot of onions to eat. My tomato's have never tasted better, they are so sweet, and that is because they are home grown and vine ripened. I just love fresh tomatos in a salad or a sandwich.

It is also time to get those trees in your yard watered, so they can make it over the winter. Once the leaves have fallen off the trees, you can mulch them into your compost bin or into your garden. Don't forget to turn off those outside water tapes and drain them, so they don't freeze, and remember to drain the watering hose too, so it does not freeze. Well I am doing all my yard work, I tend to check out the windows and doors, to see if they need to be re-caulked, so I am not losing any heat this winter.