Recycled Canvas Bags and Hats by PAZ Apparel | Fashion Peace.

A Recycled Plastic Electric Bus Coming Soon To A Neighborhood Near You

From the Composites Technology Website, "Mobile Energy Solutions LLC (MES, Golden, Colo.) will soon premiere a “green” transit bus, featuring a fuel cell/hybrid electric motor optimized for fuel efficiency with an all-composite body made from recycled plastics.

The low-floor, 37-passenger vehicle is being developed under two Research and Development contracts from the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Transit Admin.’s (FTA) National Fuel Cell Bus Program.

The 35-ft/10.7m long bus bodies will be infusion molded plastic. The design will be fabricated in two sections: an upper shell (the roof from the window line up) and a lower shell comprising four separately molded sections that will be bonded together and then joined to the upper shell.

The body’s reduced weight will make the bus more efficient than a standard bus retrofitted with hybrid propulsion."

Now that's what I call taking recycled materials to new heights!! 

Wiki-Monday: Recycling

From Wikipedia: Recycling

Recycling is the reprocessing of materials into new products. Recycling generally prevents the waste of potentially useful materials, reduces the consumption of raw materials and reduces energy usage, and hence greenhouse gas emissions, compared to virgin production.

NRDC Lauds Passage of New York City Council Legislation Requiring Groceries, Retailers to Provide Plastic Bag Recycling for Consumers

NRDC PRESS RELEASE:

NEW YORK (January 9, 2008) – The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) today welcomed New York City Council passage of new legislation that would encourage recycling of single-use plastic bags at large supermarkets and other retail outlets throughout the city.

“The average American family takes home almost 1,500 plastic shopping bags a year, clogging our cabinets, kitchen drawers and landfills. They’re hanging from trees, and littering our beaches,” said NRDC Urban Program co-director, Eric A. Goldstein. “The bill ensures that retailers will give customers a better choice than simply throwing away a product made from oil that will sit in a landfill for up to a thousand years.”

Every year, Americans use and dispose of 100 billion plastic shopping bags, according to the Wall Street Journal, and an estimated 12 million of barrels of oil are needed to manufacture that many bags. Plastic bags and other plastic film, which is also covered by the bill, represents 4 to 5 percent of the city’s residential waste load, the New York City Sanitation Department has found. No more than 5 percent of plastic grocery bags were recycled across the country in 2005, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

“The proposed legislation will discourage the one-time use and throw-away of plastic bags, reduce energy consumption and global warming gases, and lead at least some New Yorkers to think about the cost to taxpayers and the city’s environment from wasteful packaging practices.”

Sustainable Pet Homes

I came across these unique homes via 'offbeat homes' thanks to Jennifer Chait. The GreenRRRoof Animal Home is a wonderful idea!

Stephanie Rueben, the owner of Sustainable Pet Design combined her love of outdoor landscape design with her love of animals and her interest in living sustainably into truly lovely homes for pets.

Wiki-Monday: Integrity

From Wikipedia: Integrity

Integrity is the basing of one's actions on an internally consistent framework of principles. Depth of principles and adherence of each level to the next are key determining factors. One is said to have integrity to the extent that everything he does and believes is based on the same core set of values. While those values may change, it is their consistency with each other and with the person's actions that determine his integrity.

Recylcing Resolutions

I know we're already well into January but it's not too late to jump on the new year resolution bandwagon. Especially one that will do good for you and the planet. 

Thanks to the folks at 'Tree Hugging Family' who have put together a list of 5 'Great New Year's Resolution's

The Story of Stuff

Here's a great piece sent to me by a friend who cares about our planet as much as I do. "The Story of Stuff"

Annie Leonard takes us on "a 20 minute fact filled look at the underside of our production and consumption patterns and exposes the connections between a huge number of environmental and social issues and calls us together to create a more sustainable and just world.