Energy News

From Toxic Fumes to Eco-Friendly Tunes: Music?s Green Makeover in the Last 20 Years

Discover how the power of music and the influence of bands are turning dedicated fans into conscious environmentalists.

I was a child of the 80?s and 90?s, and during those iconic years the only green thing about music was all the money that went towards elaborate videos and midriff shirts. Def Leppard proved it was cool to have a mullet. De La Soul took hip hop to another level by combining humorous lyrics with social commentary. A-ha had a one-hit wonder that will always be one of my favorite ringtones. Nirvana introduced a whole new genre of music and made it okay for kids to dress like thrift-store junkies. But one thing I don?t remember about music during those years was it ever promoting a message of environmentalism.

Image courtesy of Susty.com

If they weren?t spraying toxic fumes into their hair to make their bangs stand 3 feet high, or touring around the country on massive carbon dioxide emitting tour buses, then they were probably in elaborate studios creating songs that would end up on expensive LPs and cassette tapes?which would eventually end up in a landfill. It may have been a party for musicians, but it definitely wasn?t a blast for the planet.

I don?t blame the musicians back then for not being concerned about the environment. They were just doing their job, pumping out Top 40 hits and entertaining screaming fans with songs about broken hearts, how much love bites and why it?s their prerogative. But today there are musicians who actually do care about making good music, as well as promoting a message of sustainability, and these are the ones that are planting the green seeds of hope in our musical souls.

Take for example Pearl Jam, an alternative icon of the 90?s that still tours the world, but nowadays on a biodiesel-fueled bus. Then there?s Jack Johnson. When he?s not entertaining Curious George fans or making sweet summer jams, he works with the Kokua Hawaii Foundation, a non-profit organization that promotes environmental education in Hawaiian schools.

Learn more about the foundation by watching this video:

Moby, the electronic king, opened his own café called the Teany Café and Teas to promote vegetarianism. To round out this rock star crew I have to mention the Dave Matthews Band, a college crowd favorite and a fan of purchasing carbon offsetting credits to eliminate the CO2 emissions they create while traveling.

There?s Sheryl Crow, who has toured on biodiesel-fueled buses and even made a joke about ?using one square of toilet paper per restroom visit, except, of course, on those pesky occasions where two to three could be required" as an initiative to help save the trees. The Roots, one of my favorite hip hop bands, worked with PETA?s Stop the Violence: Go Veg campaign to promote eating healthier, meat-free foods.

Then we have Cake, who remade Gloria Gaynor?s ?I Will Survive? into a folksy indie rock hit and who also recorded their entire last album on 100% solar energy!

Watch how Cake?s album was recorded:

These are just a few of the famous musicians that are promoting environmentalism through their passion for music. But I don?t want to just give the famous music makers all the credit because there are so many other ways that music is spreading the message of going green. Some of the most creative ideas that have been featured on Greenopolis are:

• Recycler, a Rapping Robot from the UK that goes to local elementary schools to lay down the law on the importance of recycling.
• A Texan group called Vocal Trash (think of Stomp with vocals) that uses trash cans, car rims, buckets and more to bring to life some of our favorite pop culture hits.
• Artist Mikal Hameed, who takes music to the next level by making art from recycled stereo pieces.
• 10-year-old eco rapper Lil Peppi, who raps about saving Mother Nature when he?s not playing Nintendo Wii.

by artist Mikal Hameed

I?m not trying to say that music from the 80?s and 90?s was completely void of an environmental message. Both Madonna and Chris Isaak showed an appreciation for the ocean in their ?Cherish? and ?Wicked Games? videos, Duran Duran brought attention to an endangered species in ?Hungry Like the Wolf,? and Vanilla Ice showed respect for the polar ice caps before they started melting in his musical film ?Cool As Ice,? sort of, but I can?t think of many other musical acts that said it was cool to be green?except for Kermit the Frog.

As environmental issues get bigger and hairstyles get smaller, I think that more musicians are using their talent and celebrity status to help promote the protection of the planet, and that?s very okay with me. These musicians are not only inspiring their fans to go green, but they?re also inspiring other artists and musicians to do something green with their music. It makes me wonder how much greener fans would have been if MC Hammer told them that ?U Can?t Touch This? referred to the planet instead of his pants.

Featured Content - Front Image: 

Featured Content - Page Image: 

18 Green DIY Lamps You Can Build Before Dark!

A while back we featured a very cool driftwood lamp built by our own Mike Demma here at Greenopolis.

It was so popular we decided to surf the web and pick out examples of lamps you can build yourself from scratch - or at least from stuff that would otherwise be tossed out, like the iMac G4 lamp pictured below. It makes sense - almost anything can be turned into a lamp base or lamp shade, and every hardware or building supply store carries lamp wiring kits. Making your own one-of-a-kind lamp saves money and keeps stuff out of landfills and the lights on at home. You are limited only by your imagination. Here are some ideas to spark your creativity.

Photo: Randall 180

Lamp from Wine Bottles

Drain the bottle, wire it up, and build a lamp. Gives you a reason to keep drinking. Here are a few variations on that theme

The website Remodelista has a DIY wine bottle lamp project inspired by Maison Martin Margiela's home line. To make this reclaimed bottle lamp you'll need a wine bottle. Think ?vintage? - pun intended. Get a cork stopper lamp kit and put a lampshade on it. Fill the wine bottle with colored stones or shells or glass for extra ballast.

Bottle of Pixies Lamp

Is that a genie in your bottle or are you just glad to see me? Before you put away your wine glass, you might want to try this variation on the theme From Instructables - put a string of colored lights inside the bottle for a conversation piece. Add a dimmer switch or flasher for special effects.

DIY Upcycled Wine Bottle Gas Lamp

And Green Upgrader has a very cool wall mounted gas lamp you can make from a wine bottle - a beer bottle or whisky, cider, brandy? you get the picture.

Fill this with citronella oil and fend off mosquitoes this summer.

Simple Oil Lamp

You can also make a small oil lamp for practically nothing from some scrap cotton, a juice or iced tea bottle and a little olive oil. No electricity or batteries. Runs for 8-10 hours.

Just remove the metal cap from the glass bottle and poke a slit in it with a scissors. Cut a cotton strip about half an inch wide and five inches long and pull it through the cap. Leave half an inch sticking out of the cap. Fill the bottle with oil, replace the cap and light it.

There?s a DIY video here.

Plastic Jug Lamp

With just a gallon plastic jug and some chopsticks, you can make a very unique hanging lamp for your studio, office, or living room. Reuse that jug and last night?s carry out chopsticks. Another bright idea from AltUse. Power it with CFLs to save $$ and energy.

DIY Log/Timber lamp.

Pure Green Design has a timber model floor lamp that you could make yourself - either get a long drill extension and drill the timber up the center, or run the wire in a groove up the back of the lamp. This would work with a log too. Make it as tall or short as you like.

Reused paper or plastic cup lamp shade

Paper/Plastic Cup Decorative Lamp

Again our friends at AltUse have this very cool shade for a hanging lamp made from paper or plastic cups. Round ?em up after your party or picnic, cut out the bottoms and glue them together. Takes about 15 minutes. Add a colored bulb and create a cool mood. Use a CFL or low wattage bulb 40 watts or less. Don?t want to melt the shade.

Clothes Pins and Tomato Cage Lamp Shade

Another cool idea from AltUse. Start with a wire tomato cage. Take approximately 75 wooden clothespins and hang all over the cage. Use as a lampshade.

This last batch is a slew of lights we found on WebEcoist. These are the designs we liked the best.

Cardboard Fairy Lights

Images via: Esprit Cabane

This string is just made with a scissors from a cardboard egg carton. Cut out the shapes you want, slipover the lights and voila! Use led lights only so as not to turn your home into a smoldering ruin.

Fluorescent Tube Light

Images via: Inhabitat

This is my favorite - made from a bunch of old fluorescent tubes. Built by Toronto-based design collective Castor Canadensis.

Light Bulb Lamps

Images via: Craftzine

When you swap out your old lightbulbs for CFLs, why not use them as a techno looking shade? Bulbs Unlimited has DIY kits to turn old dead bulbs into a unique shade.

Water Bottle Chandelier

Images via: Treehugger

Very cool chandelier made from discarded water bottle. If you can?t find a GreenOps Tracking Station - here?s another option. Design by Stuart Haygarth.

Gold Toy Lamp

Images via: ryanmcelhinney.com

Perfect for a kids room and all those old plastic ?guys? lying around. Glue ?em together for a lamp base. Designer Ryan McElhinney did that with ?Gold Toy Lamp?. All the pieces are covered with gold polyurethane lacquer.

Vespa Lamp

Images via: Great Green Goods

You saw the Vespa scooter made into a kid?s rocking horse. Here?s the lamp to go with it. This design by Lamponi?s Lamps makes good use of the vintage moped?s headlight.

Cocktail Umbrella Lamp

Images via: Bright Lights Little City

If you get tired of drinking wine to make lamps, switch to tropical drinks and save the umbrellas. Glue them together, add a little lacquer and fire retardant (or use a cfl bulb) and you can have your very own ?Happy Hour? lamp like this prototype by the Rhode Island School of Design.

Plastic Spoon Chandelier

Images via: Ann Porter

I hate plastic flatware. But after the picnic, you can wash ?em and make a faux crystal chandelier like this one by Studio Verissimo of Portugal.

Blender Lamp

Image via: Instructables

Another favorite from Instructables. Why not turn that fried-out blender into a kitchen counter lamp?

Hanging Teacup Lamps

Image via: Domestic Construction

A pile of mismatched teacups make a quirky hanging light Use them singly for little spotlights or group together in a cluster. These lights by Domestic Construction are made from tea cups from flea markets and thrift shops. Hardwire ?em and hang ?em.

Photo: Caterina Purdy

What can you repurpose as lighting? Remember, it?s better to build a reclaimed lamp than to curse the landfill!

Featured Content - Front Image: 

Featured Content - Page Image: 

5 Simple Lunch Strategies

Give the planet and your pocketbook a week off with these 5 brown bag ideas.

The beginning of the year is a time when I?m already predisposed to upping my frugalness quotient. I always try to recommit myself to making the most of every opportunity, food wise, funds wise and eco-wise. So I thought it might be a good idea to try out some new lunch strategies.

Cutting a few dollars off my weekly food budget seems like as good idea. And small changes can make a big difference in many ways, especially where the environment is concerned. So why not commit yourself to trying out some of these eco-lunch ideas. Give your pocket and the earth a rest.

5 Simple Lunch Strategies

The Brown Bag ? I know, you?ve heard this idea before, but it?s a good one. Remember when you were a kid and taking your lunch was something fun? My mom was always sent me out into the world with a cheese sandwich, carrot and celery sticks, ginger snaps and a frozen coke. I think she is brilliant. And progressive, too. She froze a coke in the can the night before and wrapped it in foil the next morning. It kept my sandwich and veggies cold, and would be perfectly thawed and slushy by lunch time.
If you adopt this strategy today, you can also wrap your sandwich and veggies in paper or foil, so all of the lunch you bring is either consumed or recyclable.

Skip The Frozen Entree ? I do not like the idea of eating a bunch of chemicals that have been frozen for who knows how long. And according to a recent study, you can?t even be sure that the lean meal you?re eating is actually lean. But portability is the real problem here. Frozen dinners must be kept cold. Portable ice packs are full of harmful chemicals. They sometimes leak. They?re not recyclable. So if must carry a frozen dinner, wrap it in foil, but don?t leave it out of the freezer for more than 30 minutes or so. It will start to thaw and you risk bacteria growth. But consider all the package waste that goes with that frozen dinner. Lots of unrecyclable packaging gets thrown away every time you eat one.

Get fresh at lunch ?  Why not walk to a local farmer?s market and pick up something fresh to eat at your desk. Fresh fruit, portable veggies like carrots (not the baby kind wrapped in plastic, but real, honest to goodness carrots) and celery, even broccoli and peppers. You know you don?t have to peel them before you eat them, right? Just be sure to wash them well and enjoy. Bring your own ?green? cloth grocery bag and you?ll look stylish and eco-friendly while you shop for our lunch. Plus you get some fresh air and a little exercise. You can clear your mind and give your co-workers a break from your constant updating of your Facebook status.

Peanut Butter To The Rescue ? Keep peanut butter in your desk drawer. Bring or buy some bread, crackers or bagels to keep in your desk drawer with it and you literally have lunch at your fingertips. Add a piece of fruit and some veggie sticks ? PB makes a great lunch, it?s packed with protein and good carbs. And think of how many meals you can get from one jar. It costs pennies per serving.

Just say no - to 100 calorie snack packs, that is. ? They look tempting, I know, especially if your watching your weight. But think of all the waste. Those types of convenience foods use so much more packaging as the same item bought in bulk. So buy bulk and portion servings out for yourself. Store each serving in reusable containers, not plastic single-serve bags. You can take the containers to work with you and store them in your desk within easy reach. When they?re empty, take them home and start over.

It?s always good to think about what your consuming and why you?re doing it. A little planning on your part will save money and help save the plane, too.

Featured Content - Front Image: 

Featured Content - Page Image: 

Earn Rewards This Valentine?s Day With Recyclebank

Recyclebank is celebrating Valentine?s Day by helping you live more sustainably on this day for lovers.

From tips on choosing the right bouquet to healthier ways to color your cakes, they've got everything you need to be a sustainable sweetheart! Plus, you can earn extra points for submitting your favorite recipes for homemade treats.

They?ve even teamed up with some of your favorite brands to offer extra special discounts on stuff you really love.

Check out their special Valentine?s Day page for more information.

http://www.recyclebank.com/Valentines_Day_2012

Give To Animals In Need This Valentine?s Day

It?s no secret that animal shelters are always in need of volunteers. But they are also in need of supplies to support the animals that they care for.


This Valentine?s Day, show a little love to some furry sweethearts. Volunteer at a local shelter and give a little love to those who really need it.    

If you can?t volunteer, there are other ways to help, too  Here?s a list of items most local shelter can use.


Blankets and Towels?bedding for shelter animals is always in short supply. As are towels for hygiene use. Before donating, wash items in a hypo-allergenic soap and dry without using dryer sheets.

Pet food?any brand or type, wet or dry, it will be appreciated. 

Hygiene items?kitty litter, dog shampoo, pet wipes and grooming aids like brushes, combs and ear wipes. 

Toys?donate all those toys Fido has tired of to some pups and kitties that could use some playtime. Wash them first, as with towels and blankets above. And for toys (that will be in an animals mouth) I always rinse twice, just to make sure there?s no residue.

Office supplies?with budgets tighter than ever this year, your local shelter could probably use things such as paper, pens, stamps etc. A donation like this lets the group spend less on admin and more on the animals. And that?s always a good thing.

Pet Medicines?medication for animals can be expensive. For you to purchase for your fur baby, but also for your local shelter?where resources are scarce?to purchase. So if you have meds that your pet has not used, why not donate them. Shelters treat sick animals everyday. Your pet?s unused RX will be welcome. You can even include unused single doses of flea and tick protection. 

With the number of No-Kill shelters increasing each year, it?s so important to provide for shelter animals until they can find families that will care for them permanently. And even if your shelter is a standard one, you can help make the lives of these unfortunate animals more comfortable?and give them a little more time to find their forever family.

Find a shelter in your area, or learn about pet adoption at AnimalShelter.org

For more info visit The Humane Society.org or ASPCA.org

Featured Content - Front Image: 

Featured Content - Page Image: 

Influential Women in Cleantech: Top 10 Women of Sustainability

In this second installment in our series on leading women in cleantech and sustainability sectors, we offer up our top picks for the sustainability sector. Quite often this category is dominated by women working in Corporate Social Responsibility, as it’s a sector where women have made great strides to gain leadership roles in the last few de

Obama's Budget Good for Energy Efficiency

President Obama’s 2013 budget caused a lot of smiles this week among energy efficiency advocates — even if it is more of a wish list than anything else. Obama calls for about $1.2 billion in spending for energy efficiency. What does this mean for the energy efficiency industry? Kateri Callahan, president of the Alliance to Save E

Excellence in Renewable Energy Awards Announced! Check out Video Coverage of the Winners Here

http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/video?categoryId=62

Clean Tech's Challenge of "The Disconnect"

Who's harder to educate, investors or politicians?

Opportunities for Energy Innovators

For a long time "clean" and  "green" marked the forward trend in the energy industry. Then came the quest for "smart" energy.  And now "innovation" is the buzzword. It’s easy to see why.  As Americans, we believe our ability to innovate sets us apart in today’s international market.  Sure China can manufacture compu

Future of Geothermal Bright for Indonesia, Philippines ? Finance and Regulatory Stability Critical

Ahead of the GeoPower Indonesia & Philippines conference in Jakarta, I caught up with Edward McCartin, Senior Development Advisor at Alterra Power, a speaker at the June meeting that will host the key stakeholders in the Asian geothermal industry. Alterra Power Corp is a leading renewable energy developer, whose portfolio includes two geotherm

Community Choice Aggregation Lets Cities Buy (Cleaner and Local) Electricity in Bulk

In 30 states, citizens have just one choice for their electricity service.  It's like the old communist truism: "You can have any color car you want, as long as it's red."  What if citizens could collectively shop around for electricity in bulk to get lower prices and cleaner, local power? In six states they can with community choice agg

Renewable Energy Financing Mechanisms and Incentives: What Can We Expect?

While much attention has rightly been given to the expiration of the Section 1603 cash grant program at the end of 2011, there are other tax incentives for renewable energy that are also set to expire in the upcoming years. The decisions as to whether to renew these incentives will have a major impact on the future of renewable energy in the U.S. as these existing and new programs have been instrumental in sustaining investor and lender interest in the renewable energy sector, particularly in the wind and solar markets.

Influential Women in Cleantech: Top 10 Women of Sustainability

In this second installment in our series on leading women in cleantech and sustainability sectors, we offer up our top picks for the sustainability sector. Quite often this category is dominated by women working in Corporate Social Responsibility, as it’s a sector where women have made great strides to gain leadership roles in the last few de

Spanish Firms Gain Edge in Nascent African Renewables Market

A number of Spanish firms have been awarded 510 MW worth of renewable-energy projects in South Africa and are set to compete in future auctions as the continent hastens plans to develop its green energy sector.

Community Choice Aggregation Lets Cities Buy (Cleaner and Local) Electricity in Bulk

In 30 states, citizens have just one choice for their electricity service.  It's like the old communist truism: "You can have any color car you want, as long as it's red."  What if citizens could collectively shop around for electricity in bulk to get lower prices and cleaner, local power? In six states they can with community choice agg

Excellence in Renewable Energy Awards Announced! Check out Video Coverage of the Winners Here

http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/video?categoryId=62

Clean Tech's Challenge of "The Disconnect"

Who's harder to educate, investors or politicians?

Pathways and Challenges to Institutional Development of On-Site Clean Energy

Institutions seeking to deploy on-site clean energy solutions are facing a number of challenging questions:  How can solutions be deployed under tight budget constraints, with a minimum of upfront cost? What deal and financing structures are available to non-tax paying institutions?  Is it best to build and own a system internally, or use

Evaluating Institutional On-site Clean Energy

Earlier this month, I attended EUCI’s Utilizing Clean Power Development Conference in Philadelphia.  The conference attracted a variety of large institutions (hospitals, municipalities, universities, etc.), developers, and financers to discuss the opportunity and challenges surrounding deployment of on-site renewable energy.  Instit