With all the attention in the world of green autos focused on how they’ll get around (will it be electric, biodiesel or even something wilder like solar?), car companies seem to be forgetting about the ways they can enhance the eco-friendliness of their exteriors and interiors. But the limited edition Eco Elise that Lotus debuted last year at the London Motor Show didn’t just give a nod to greener components, it revolved around them.

The Lotus Eco Elise isn’t the first foray that Lotus has had into the realm of more environmentally-aware autos, but the company is usually involved in a roundabout way, like manufacturing the chassis for the Tesla Roadster or finding one of their Lotus Exiges used to develop a wind-powered car. For the Eco Elise, Lotus attempted to make the Elise as green as possible—without changing the way it was fueled. And while it managed to slip under the radar for the most part, it’s remains an innovation.

Hemp, the eco-wonder plant, was used to make composite body panels and a spoiler and to make up elements of the trademark Lotus seats (although one car reviewer described sitting in them liking being surrounded by itchy old mens trousers). The upholstery on the seats is made from what Lotus describes as “eco wool”, which is ethically produced wool that hasn’t bee dyed (the sheep it’s sheared from are selected for their natural car-appropriate coloring). Underfoot, sisal comprises the carpeting as a natural abrasion-resistant material. Click here to read more

Powered by Bookmarkify™

With the real estate market down it’s not a bad time to pick up a condo, but if your budget is down like the dollar, you may want to look for something a little smaller, say a condo for bees. Sure it won’t have the features that you’d look for in a new home, like stainless steel kitchen appliances and insulated windows, but it will support the survival of the dwindling bee population and even the agriculture of the United States.

Bees have been a buzzword in the world of environmental causes lately (even Haagen-Dazs has a bee campaign) and that’s because their populations are shrinking so suddenly and in such shocking numbers (bumblebees are lingering near the endangered list) . Scientists haven’t been able to determine the cause yet, but it’s thought to be a number of factors, with global warming and pesticide use as two main concerns. The weather variations caused by global warming can prevent flowers from blooming and, in turn, bees from surviving. Rampant pesticide use, on the other hand, results in pesticides accumulating in the layers of the honeycomb and has been linked to reduced longevity for bees. Click here to read more

Powered by Bookmarkify™

Following in the footsteps of nonprofit organizations like Greenpeace, Newsweek took on 500 of the biggest companies in the US last week to rank the greenest businesses (and those farthest from it). The list, called Newsweek’s Green Rankings, was published both in a special 12-page section of the print magazine and online, and assessed the 500 largest publicly-traded corporations.

Hewlett-Packard secured top spot for their commitments to reducing greenhouse gas emissions—even in its supply chain, a first for IT companies—and for their efforts to remove toxic substances from their products. The newly number one company has taken heat from Greenpeace lately, however, for their failure to follow on green promises. The ability for HP to rank first when it much of its green action is talk highlights a common concern some environmentalists have raised about Newsweek’s Green Rankings; namely that the division of scoring across three categories (Environmental Impact, Green Policies and Performance, and Reputation) leaves room for businesses with big green intentions to beat out businesses with smaller—but more concrete—green actions.

Dell found its way into the number two spot, thanks in large part to their major use of renewable energy and the (much debated) carbon neutrality they achieved last year. HP and Dell weren’t the only two tech companies to receive high marks, however; half of the top ten highest ranking companies were tech companies and, likewise, half of the top 20, and those findings have also resulted in some doubts on the Green Rankings from environmentalists. The concern being that comparing tech companies to other corporations is unfair because of the very significant differences in operation, but Newsweek has stated that they not only took into account the difficulties of comparing companies in various sectors, but that the issue was the hardest they wrestled with and where they devoted most of their time. Click here to read more

Powered by Bookmarkify™

We probably don’t need to tell you that bringing your coffee (or other hot beverage of choice) with you in a travel mug is much better for the planet that picking up a cup at the coffee shop. You’ll eliminate the waste created by your disposable cup, sleeve, lid and the coffee filter (if you buy a reusable version). Plus, you can control what kind of beans you’re brewing (opting for Fair Trade and organic, hopefully). Even if you’re addicted to your local java supplier’s offerings, bringing a reusable travel mug will still cut down on waste and often save you a little cash at the register. Here are our five favorite green travel mugs:

FOR THE CLUTZ

Timolino Spillproof Travel Mug, $22.50

Anyone who shows up to work every morning wearing their dark roast should consider this stainless steel spillproof travel mug from Timolino. It’s got a steady base that won’t tip—even in a desk disaster—and a Press’N'Sip Lever design that means coffee can only escape when you want it to and only into your mouth.

FOR THE DESIGN FANATIC

I Am Not a Paper Cup Reusable Coffee Mug, $19.95

This reusable mug is a nice homage to the paper cups you’re trying to avoid and will definitely get a few comments. The mug itself is porcelain (with a silicone lid), so it’s a little heavier than most; using it as a mainly stay-at-the-office mug is a good idea. Unlike real paper cups this reusable version can stand up to the microwave (for afternoon caffeine reheats) and the dishwasher. Click here to read more

Powered by Bookmarkify™

Despite Jay Leno’s new show itself (The Jay Leno Show) debuting to lackluster reviews, there’s been plenty of buzz in the internet world about one particular segment he’s doing: The “Green Car Challenge”. In the segment, which Leno hopes to do as much as two to three times a week, celebrities race electric cars around a track in hopes of beating previous racing celebrity’s times.

The segment is loosely inspired from a segment on British car show Top Gear called “Star in a Reasonably Priced Car”, which Leno recently competed in. In the Jay Leno Show version, however, the only car that will take to the track is the electric Ford Focus that Ford will be selling 2011, because of a sponsorship deal with Ford.

Leno has a longstanding reputation as a car guy, but the “Green Car Challenge” could shine the spotlight on his love of electric cars (he’s especially fond of historical electric cars) and of green cars in general.

Drew Barrymore was the first celebrity to take to the track, on last Saturday’s episode, and other celebrities like Tom Cruise have already expressed interest in tracking their time to Leno.

While consumers might appreciate a chance to see a wider variety of electric vehicles in motion, highlighting the cars in an entertaining way that also dispels the myth that electric cars are less functional is certainly a smart move to help Americans get comfortable with the idea of an all-electric ride—even if it’s strictly Ford focused.

Powered by Bookmarkify™