It’s not quite a Michelin Star, but it could be soon. The newly formed “Sustainable Restaurant Association” will rate restaurants according to how green and sustainable they are. Launched with the backing of leading restaurants and seriously important English chefs, participating restaurants will be visited by a green inspector. They had better watch out…

The awards are a bronze, silver or gold status and will be listed in restaurant guides. And they will be judged on very rigorous standards.

Started by the founder of Leon, along with top Michelin chefs Tom Aikens, and Raymond Blanc, the Sustainable Restaurant Association is being launched with the pledge that restaurateurs and customers will have a sustainable and healthy eating experience.

MORE >>>> http://www.treehugger.com/files/2010/03/new-group-rates-restaurants.php?campaign=th_rss&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+treehuggersite+(Treehugger)

The $90 million building called ” Cleantech One ” will offer about 404,000 sq ft of office space that could house up to 50 green businesses when it is completed by December 2011.

The building will incorporate green features such as solar systems, rainwater harvesting, sky gardens and green architecture, said JTC at a briefing on Monday.

‘If the solutions we implement are successful, we will replicate this throughout the rest of the Cleantech Park and share it with the rest of Singapore and the region,’ said JTC director [Aerospace, Marine and Cleantech cluster] Tang Wai Yee.

JTC launched a design competition for the building last December and local architecture firm Surbana International Consultants emerged the winner from 31 entries.

JTC said Surbana’s entry won for its highly compact design and ecological features, it said.

source: http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_507968.html

Earth Day 2010 can be a turning point to advance climate policy, energy efficiency, renewable energy and green jobs. Earth Day Network is galvanizing millions who make personal commitments to sustainability. Earth Day 2010 is a pivotal opportunity for individuals, corporations and governments to join together and create a global green economy. Join the more than one billion people in 190 countries that are taking action for Earth Day.

Earth Day is April 22nd every year.

To learn more and join in activities you can go to http://www.earthday.net and http://www.earthday.org/

India has more than 250,000 cellphone towers which consume 3-5 kilowatts power depending on the number of operators using the tower. These towers consume about 2 billion litres (about 530 million gallons ) of diesel every year.

Cellphone towers are quite energy intensive as they use power non-stop without any interruption. Air conditioning of the equipment housed in the nearby hubs also takes up substantial amounts of energy. Thus any change in the power generation method of cellphone towers would make tremendous impact in terms of resource savings and reduction in carbon emissions.

India has about 500 million mobile phone subscribers, more than even the population of any country except China, but continues to be one of the two fastest growing telecom markets. With telecom operators looking to expand operations in the rural areas, even more telecom towers are set to come up.

Reduction in carbon emissions

Taking a conservative approach and assuming no increase in number of towers India.

Number of towers = 250,000

Diesel used every month = 530 million gallons

Carbon emissions from diesel = 22.2 pounds/gallon

Total carbon emissions from cellphone towers annually = 11.76 billion pounds or 5.3 million tons

Cost of diesel every year (average price of diesel = $0.7) = $1.4 billion (INR 6400 Crore)

Thus by replacing diesel generators with solar panels in cellphone towers more than 5 million tons of carbon emissions could be prevented from entering the atmosphere.

Designed by EDAW AECOM, The CLEM7 Tunnel is the first major green infrastructure project road tunnel in Brisbane, Australia. A series of 3 distinctive canopy structure that conceived by AECOM’s Design + Planning team Brisbane City Council, became the center of media attention during the official opening last week.

AECOM Associate Director James Dorrat said the canopies for the CLEM7 tunnel were designed to be iconic while also functional for tunnel users. “ The canopies ” distinctive sculptural design and flowing forms mimic the protection of Brisbane’s expansive subtropical shade trees. Metal louvres set within the structures filter sunlight, transitioning motorists’ eyes as they enter the tunnel.” said Mr Dorrat. Each canopy is supported by complex rolling steel trusses covered in metallic copper–coloured architectural panels which have been individually cut and fitted to match the complex curves. At night the canopies are washed with coloured light which enhances the copper tones of the metal panels.

The largest of the canopies, located at Bowen Hills on Brisbane’s north side, is made up of 2,000 unique pieces and weighs 230 tonnes. AECOM Principal Mark Fuller hopes the canopies become a long-lasting legacy of Brisbane’s design expertise and the city’s forward-thinking approach. Mr Fuller says “ The CLEM7 canopies exemplify Brisbane’s maturing urban landscape and AECOM is proud to have contributed so strongly to such a significant project. ”

“ The Alley Flat Initiative ” exhibition from 6-8 pm. on March 26 at Austin’s City Hall.

The Alley Flat Initiative, conceived in 2005 as a challenge for architecture students to design sustainable, affordable housing in East Austin, grew into an award-winning collaboration between the ” Center for Sustainable Development “, the ” Austin Community Design and Development Center ” and the ” Guadalupe Development Corporation “.

The initiative simultaneously addresses issues of sustainability, high cost of living and urban sprawl in Central Austin neighborhoods through the provision of green affordable infill homes that connect with the smart grid model of distributed infrastructure, while retaining the neighborhood character.

Alley flats are small, detached secondary residential units, often accessed from Austin’s extensive network of underutilized alleys. they are carefully designed to use 40 % less energy and 20 % less water, minimizing the ecological footprint of the building.

The 2 flats completed under the program to date both received the highest rating from the Austin Energy Green Building Program are already being rented to low – and moderate – income households in East Austin. Ten more of these green, affordable units are in some stage of design or development.
The initiative includes not only efficient housing designs constructed with sustainable technologies, but also innovative methods of financing and home ownership that can benefit neighborhoods in any city in the United States.

source: http://www.gogreentoolshed.com/collaboration-between-school-of-architecture-and-city-of-austin-addresses-sustainability-affordable-housing-and-urban

Many countries in Europe use BMW sedans as patrol and pursuit cars. Now, BMW says it will sell more than 240,000 engines to U.S. police-car startup Carbon Motors for that company’s cruiser.
The big shock? They’re diesel engines. Specifically, BMW’s 3.0-liter twin-turbo straight-six clean diesel, as used in the 2010 BMW 335d and 2010 BMW X5 xDrive35d sold in the U.S. since late 2008.

Also, it’s not every day you see a BMW press release boasting about its cooperation with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

Unless Carbon plans to sell exclusively to Federal agencies, BMW’s claim of a “substantial reduction in US government fleet’s CO2 emissions” should probably be rewritten to reflect that fact that most police vehicles in the U.S. are purchased by state and local forces, not Federal ones.

source: http://www.greencarreports.com/blog/1043667_carbon-cop-cars-to-go-green-with-bmw-clean-diesel-engines

The Rochester Area 2010 Think Green Fair will take place from 10am-9pm on June 26th, 2010 at the Olmsted County Fairgrounds, Graham Park. Join us for this full full day celebration of green living and sustainability in southern Minnesota!

What is Thinking Green? Thinking green means learning to live in a way that will reduce your impact on the environment, improve your quality of life, and save you money. Thinking Green is about coming together with neighborhoods, communities, organizations, and businesses to ensure that the choices we make today will not compromise the quality of life for future generations.

The fair will include a green expo, workshops, speakers, musical entertainment, local food, artisans and children’s activities providing you the opportunity to think green in all aspects of your life.

MORE >>>> http://www.cleanenergyresourceteams.org/get-answers/11/03/2010/rochester-area-think-green-fair-invites-exhibitors

Americans are looking for clean energy, that’€™s been confirmed by many polls conducted to see whether people support green, renewable energy.

And though the economy has to some extent slowed progress in the world of renewable energy, there are still many amazing green energy innovations popping up across the globe as both artists and engineers play with how to create energy sustainably.

Green Energy Innovation #1. Cross-wind Bridge
By far one of the most interesting bridges you’€™ll ever see, the cross-wind bridge developed by designers Tiago Barros + Jorge Pereira and their team harnesses wind energy from passing cars.
As drivers pass under the bridge, they help to increase the wind velocity within the bridge, which in turn helps to rotate the 2,188 lightweight panels that generate energy and send it through an electromagnetic band. The energy is then used to light up the bridge at night, providing illumination in the local community.

Located in Lisbon, the bridge also houses a pedestrian and cycling bridge that connects people to the nearby residential park. To add to the green credibility of this design, the structure is made of punctured cladding that is sourced from recycled steel from the auto industry.

Green Energy Innovation #2. Invisible Streetlight
Modeled after tree branches and leaves, the Invisible Streetlight, which was presented at the International Design Excellence Awards, brings solar-powered illumination and beauty together. Collecting solar energy throughout the day, these lights then provide soft, elegant light throughout the night.

Intertwined with branches of existing trees, these lights also minimize the resources needed to construct them (although one has to ask about the risk of theft). They not only enhance the scenic beauty of a local park or sidewalk, they make it safer without contributing to climate change.

Green Energy Innovation #3. Solar Curtain Walls
Konarka, one of the leading manufacturers of printable solar cells, has recently announced a pilot project to test the viability of solar curtain walls. Although perhaps less dramatic than the other two renewable energy systems on offer here, when applied to surfaces as ubiquitous as windows and walls, the potential to create energy on virtually any building goes through the roof.

Their Power Plastic is extremely flexible and versatile, making it possible to apply solar energy generators to a wide variety of surfaces €”everything from sun shades to bags to vehicle surfaces. The technology could also make renewable energy much more affordable for the average consumer and transferable to developing nations, too.

Green Energy Innovation #4. Blights
The Power Plastic technology is not unlike that used on these highly practical Blights (think blind + light). Providing both protection from solar heat gain (important for areas that face higher air conditioning bills due to hot weather) and surfaces through which to generate renewable energy, the Blights are another example of bringing the extraordinary into real life.

They can be adjusted throughout the day to obtain maximum solar collection and shielding from solar glare. Applicable for really any window—in homes, offices, and industrial facilities alike—they provide convenient solar energy.

Green Energy Innovation #5. Solar Impulse
Putting a new spin on sustainable travel, Solar Impulse is working on a solar airplane that could potentially be used for taxiing people and other transport purposes. They’re attempting to go around the world in the Solar Impulse.

Green Energy Innovation #6. Solar Highway
The world’s first Solar Highway project opened in Oregon to rave reviews. Providing 104 kilowatts of energy through a ground-mounted solar array, the energy generated will power lighting for the site.

Green Energy Innovation #7. I-SWARM bots
An interesting twist on solar enery, these three-legged I-SWARM bots are solar-powered gadgets that could one day form the foundation for other larger-scale renewably-powered computer systems. Measuring about 4 mm square, they can do ant-sized jobs totally powered by the sun.

source: http://alternativeenergymutualfunds.us/?p=631

Some of the green materials can save homeowners money on their energy bills. Some will qualify for government tax credits and rebates. All promise to make your home just a little bit greener.

” There are so many things you can do: spray foam, LED recessed lights, bamboo floors, floors made out of cork, ” said Hersh Ruhmel of Ruhmel Contracting in Orefield. ‘ ‘We have built a model home that incorporates all of them .”

The home, which Ruhmel calls HoudenHAL ( renewable home in Dutch ), will become his company’s offices in Weisenberg Township. It features the recycled paper countertops, called Paperstone.

Ruhmel said the surface is as hard as granite. People can cut on it and clean it with normal household solutions. The countertops come in different colors and can be detailed for custom edges. The prices, Ruhmel said, are comparable to granite.

Driveways were another place where homeowners could go green.

Jim Engelman of Engelman Construction Inc. of Macungie, displayed some pervious concrete. The material is mainly a mix of cement, water and little sand, creating pockets where water can penetrate.

Instead of rain running off a driveway, as it would normally on concrete or asphalt, this material allows the water to drain through the surface like a sieve. The water collects in an underground basin and drains into the soil.

The environment benefits because there is less water runoff, which carries pollutants into streams and rivers. Meanwhile the underground water table is replenished with clean water filtered through the soil.

More: http://www.mcall.com/news/local/all-a7_5green.7212930mar21,0,1077254.story