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New AT&T Cell Phone Charger Eliminates Vampire Power Productive Pacifism: Upcycling Guns into Jewelry How to Turn a Blown Out Bike Tire into a Fancy Headband Plant Based Plastics that can be Recycled Over and Over Drink Recipes for a Green Saint Patrick’s Day
 
New AT&T Cell Phone Charger Eliminates Vampire Power

New AT&T Cell Phone Charger Eliminates Vampire Power

Even after we unplug our phones and other small electronics, the charger still takes a bit of power from the wall as long as it’s plugged in. The phenomenon is called vampire power, and it’s responsible for billions of dollars per year in wasted energy. In fact, if we cut out vampire power all together, we could save enough energy to shut down 26 coal-fired plants. For smaller devices, AT&T is close to releasing a solution for fighting that energy suck.

Productive Pacifism: Upcycling Guns into Jewelry

Productive Pacifism: Upcycling Guns into Jewelry

In many cities around America, and around the world, violence and crime are realities that even the smallest citizens must live with. For those that believe there are more peaceful ways to settle differences and earn a living, the weapons themselves have become the targets, as people come up with creative ways to remove guns, and the careless philosophies they support from the streets altogether.

How to Turn a Blown Out Bike Tire into a Fancy Headband

How to Turn a Blown Out Bike Tire into a Fancy Headband

Last week, Beth talked about recycled shoes made from TVs instead of leather or vinyl, and I've been coveting them ever since. I love a good leather alternative, especially one that isn't vinyl, so you can imagine my delight when I came across Becky Stern's detailed video tutorial on making a headband out of a spent bike tube. Her tutorial is based on one for making a chain link leather necklace, but in a stroke of genius she subbed a blown bike tire for the leather. The results are stunning! Check out the video:

Plant Based Plastics that can be Recycled Over and Over

Plant Based Plastics that can be Recycled Over and Over

Bioplastics have their problems, but scientists working with IBM and Stanford University may just have the answer. They've developed a plant-based plastic that holds up to recycling and could have a ton of practical applications from medical to automotive.

Drink Recipes for a Green Saint Patrick’s Day

Drink Recipes for a Green Saint Patrick’s Day

Imagine if we picked sustainably-produced beer and whiskey over the conventional stuff? We’ve got some drink suggestions and a list of organic stouts to help you do just that!

New AT&T Cell Phone Charger Eliminates Vampire Power

New AT&T Cell Phone Charger Eliminates Vampire Power

by Becky Striepe on March 19th, 2010

Even after we unplug our phones and other small electronics, the charger still takes a bit of power from the wall as long as it’s plugged in. The phenomenon is called vampire power, and it’s responsible for billions of dollars per year in wasted energy. In fact, if we cut out vampire power all together, we could save enough energy to shut down 26 coal-fired plants. For smaller devices, AT&T is close to releasing a solution for fighting that energy suck.

Read the full story

Posted in Gear+Gadgets, Innovation
2 Comments

Productive Pacifism: Upcycling Guns into Jewelry

Productive Pacifism: Upcycling Guns into Jewelry

by Beth Buczynski on March 18th, 2010

In many cities around America, and around the world, violence and crime are realities that even the smallest citizens must live with. For those that believe there are more peaceful ways to settle differences and earn a living, the weapons themselves have become the targets, as people come up with creative ways to remove guns, and the careless philosophies they support from the streets altogether.

Read the full story

Posted in Art, Clothes+Accessories
0 Comments

How to Turn a Blown Out Bike Tire into a Fancy Headband

How to Turn a Blown Out Bike Tire into a Fancy Headband

by Becky Striepe on March 17th, 2010

Last week, Beth talked about recycled shoes made from TVs instead of leather or vinyl, and I've been coveting them ever since. I love a good leather alternative, especially one that isn't vinyl, so you can imagine my delight when I came across Becky Stern's detailed video tutorial on making a headband out of a spent bike tube. Her tutorial is based on one for making a chain link leather necklace, but in a stroke of genius she subbed a blown bike tire for the leather. The results are stunning! Check out the video:

Read the full story

Posted in DIY
2 Comments

Plant Based Plastics that can be Recycled Over and Over

Plant Based Plastics that can be Recycled Over and Over

by Becky Striepe on March 16th, 2010

Bioplastics have their problems, but scientists working with IBM and Stanford University may just have the answer. They've developed a plant-based plastic that holds up to recycling and could have a ton of practical applications from medical to automotive.

Read the full story

Posted in Concept+Design, Innovation
1 Comment

Drink Recipes for a Green Saint Patrick’s Day

Drink Recipes for a Green Saint Patrick's Day

by Becky Striepe on March 15th, 2010

Imagine if we picked sustainably-produced beer and whiskey over the conventional stuff? We’ve got some drink suggestions and a list of organic stouts to help you do just that!

Read the full story

Posted in Food+Drink, Living
0 Comments

The Surge: Solar-Charging iPhone Case Hits Streets

The Surge: Solar-Charging iPhone Case Hits Streets

by Tim Hurst on March 15th, 2010

San Leandro, California-based Novothink has finally shipped the Surge, a solar-charging case for the iPhone and iPod Touch.

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Posted in Gear+Gadgets
1 Comment

Eco-Chic Vegan Shoes From Recycled TVs

Eco-Chic Vegan Shoes From Recycled TVs

by Beth Buczynski on March 11th, 2010

Vegan footwear designer Olsenhaus is making a switch of its own—by cladding its entire Fall/Winter 2010 collection of pumps, wedges, stiletto booties, and knee-highs in an innovative polyester microfiber made from trashed television screens.

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Posted in Clothes+Accessories
1 Comment

Postcarden: From Greeting Card to Edible Garden

Postcarden: From Greeting Card to Edible Garden

by Becky Striepe on March 10th, 2010

Oh, greeting cards! You make us feel so torn. Yes, conventional greeting cards have a super-short lifespan, but there’s something about getting a card in the mail for special occasions.

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Posted in Concept+Design, Innovation
2 Comments

Eco-Friendly Counter Tops Made from Cement and Reycled Glass

Eco-Friendly Counter Tops Made from Cement and Reycled Glass

by Becky Striepe on March 9th, 2010

IceStone's Cradle to Cradle certified surfaces are not only free of petrochemicals and VOC's, they're beautiful, too!

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Posted in Home+Decor
3 Comments

The Cleaning Power of Vodka

The Cleaning Power of Vodka

by Becky Striepe on March 8th, 2010

Getting that green cleaning regiment together means gathering lots of household ingredients from lemons to baking soda to vinegar to... vodka?

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Posted in DIY, Living
3 Comments

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