If you were wondering how one could stay warm and cozy right on top of an ice-capped mountain, you must seek the advice of the Department of Architecture at the Swiss Federal Technical University. They have constructed the autonomous alpine shelter at a height of 2,810 meters above sea level. Many students and researchers have already started to use the facility and have spoken of its convenience and safety. They surely were awed, too, by its majestic perch on a snowy peak.

Situated right at the tip of a glacier, it is as remote and far away from any energy source as it could get. However, an innovative mind can take one a long way on the journey towards energy self-sufficiency. The building could be used by mountaineers as a base camp before making an ascent on the Alps.

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Antarctica has been man’s last unchartered territory but only till sometime ago. Now the cold continent is seeing unprecedented growth in tourism and up to 40,000 people visited Antarctica in 2007. However, the tourists have a negative effect on the ecology of Antarctica and environmentalists have started to worry. Maastricht University in Holland seeks to solve this problem by dramatically controlling the number of tourists to the continent.

The problem lies in the fact that Antarctica has no government of its own and hence, no regulatory body. The university has proposed to auction off parts of the continent and limit tourists and their numbers in the auctioned parts. This could have a positive impact on the way the continent sustains itself and protect the unique fauna of Antarctica. Perhaps tour organizers and travel agencies must get in touch with the regulatory bodies in their own countries and inform prospective tourists about how their visit to Antarctica can affect the continent.

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The kind of megapolises we live in makes us wonder what is going to be like after a few decades. We may imagine crowded streets without enough space to move our toes. However, Nobel-Prize winner Dr. Daniel Kammen believes the cities can in fact be self-sustaining eco hotspots and can allow people to lead a healthier lifestyle than we do today.

Any of the polluting and energy consuming devices and technologies may be phased out and the cities would be blessed with cleaner air and water. Urban gardens could provide as an alternative to farm products, which strip the soil of its nutrients. Alternative fuels, good waste disposal systems, and also mass housing may help our future cities sustain themselves and not leave ugly carbon footprints. In fact, carbon footprints are left by each individual, even when one drives to the supermarket.

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Green activists have taken up cudgels against Starbucks now. The coffee-giant that boasted of eco-friendly credentials came under the scanner when investigations by Sun revealed that veryday 23.4m litres of water goes down the drains of 10,000 outlets worldwide due to a company policy that tells the employees to keep the tap running non-stop. Facts show that this much water is enough for the 2 million population of the drough-ridden Namibia to survive for a day.

Actually every Starbucks outlet is equipped with a cold tap behind the counter that trails down into a sink which they like to call “dipper well”. It is here that the utensils are washed. And as per the company’s health and safety rules, staff is especially asked not to turn the water off as they believe that a constant flow of water prevents the breeding of germs in taps.

Water companies as well as the green experts regard the wasting of water for hygiene as nonsense. It is a crzy thing to do indeed, considering the problems the world is facing with the shortage of this vital natural resource. Australia is suffering the worst drought in a century for over seven years now.

Via ENN

Death is a part of life and only when you accept that every journey has an inevitable ending will you realize that it is nothing beyond mere natural progression. Some people are scared of this end while others embrace it as a journey into the unknown. But those who wish to give their death a green spin are turning towards eco-friendly coffins. It might sound eerie and a touch lunatic, but many people across the globe are more and more getting attracted to a “green bed” for the eternal sleep.

Stuntman Andrew Stehlin is no stranger to death on the big screen. He has been shot, stabbed and strangled to death in movies like Lord of The Rings and Pirates of the Caribbean. But away from the glam world, the stuntman is making a business out of building eco-friendly coffins. These green kitset coffins stick together without the use of any nails are glue. They are made from either untreated pine or Italian poplar, and can be lined with recycled woolen mattresses. Every time he is not dying in a shot in the movie, Andrew spends time putting together the coffin.

Apparently Andrew has already sold 10 such coffins across New Zealand and is getting orders for more. Death is always a wonderful and peaceful affair for those gone and a traumatic experience for those still here. But why not give nature back what it has given us all our lives in a clean and eco-friendly fashion!
Via:� Ecorazzi

Going green is becoming fashionable not just in homes and offices but also when the lights go out and the party times roll. The world’s first sustainable dance club started with a gala night and rocked on with green energy late into Amsterdam’s chilly nights. While all the booze flowed and the music roared, the completely human-powered LED floor and loads of other sustainable features stole the show. The energy of the entire lighting of the dance floor is generated from the fancy footwork of the guests on dance floor and as the party got wilder, the lights got brighter and crazier!

Watt, the sustainable dance club in Amsterdam had its awesome opening and it set new standards when it comes to partying clean. The club sports a variety of efficiency standards established by the Sustainable Dance Club group that allow it to save 30% on energy consumption, 50% on water use, cut CO2 emissions by 30%, and reduce waste by 50%. The LED lighting, the water-less flushes and the green power generation hope to save not just the planet but also some cash for the club in the long run.

London already has a green club and this chain of sustainable clubs intends to spread its way across Europe and then across the Atlantic. While the green movement might be spreading a tab bit slowly it surely is rocking the nightlife in Amsterdam. If you wish to promote green among the teens, then this is pretty much the way to go!

Via:� Inhabitat

The American Film Industry has been up with the green philosophy for a long time now. But now the initiative has got the support from one of the big names in the business. The Queenstown Lakes District Council has come together with Film Queenstown to launch a ‘Green Screen Guide and Directory’. It was actually the backing of the producers of the film Wolverine that made the difference. Shot in and around Queenstown, the film managed a significantly reduced carbon footprint. The production made 670 tonnes of waste, 615 of which was diverted from the landfill letting the company save roughly around 55,000 dollars.
Actor Hugh Jackman, who plays the lead in Wolverine, is very kicked about the whole thing. “I am happy to be a part of a project that benefits the local economy.” Adding icing to the cake, the film’s producers expressed a willingness to return to the area with future productions.
Via queenstown

Sometime back we heard that actor Hayden Panettiere was issued an arrest warrant in Japan and was no longer welcome in the country. Well we heard the whole story only now and thought of sharing it with you. Actually, Hayden along with other animal rights activists had gone to the whaling town of Taiji in Japan to protest against the slaughter of dolphins. So the whole series of events.
But good news is that things were sorted for Hayden by Japanese Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura. In Hayden’s words, “I think it was an attempt to scare the protestors. But it’s okay now. The Foreign Minister was very kind and welcomed me to his country.” And now the pretty actor cannot wait to return. “Japanese culture is one of the kindest, most polite, most welcoming cultures you can ever run across,” she exclaimed happily.
Wow, quite a story that is!
Via starpulse

California is emerging on the world map as one city that loves adopting eco-friendly measures! � The latest addition in its green repertoire is the water conservation plan which began last year. The latter’s pay off is evident in the form of millions of gallons of (precious) water being saved. The city’s Long Beach Water Department adopted a strict water conservation plan in the wake of an impending drought like situation. The court’s directives on limiting the import of water from Northern California further led the water department of Long Beach to adopt measures that direct the city dwellers to judicially use water in their activities (especially outdoor applications). The water department also made use of media (print, online and television ads) to actively educate and promote this green move among the city’s inhabitants.

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This year in July Southern California sold 1.85 billion + gallons of water, a figure 13 percent less than July2007’s consumption records. Also, the water saving drive has resulted in a sixteen percent drop if one picks up the data of ten yrs average! When asked how the city managed to effectively employ water-conservation, Ryan Alsop (Director of public affairs, Long Beach Water Department) said, “We work with businesses to convert landscaping, and revert to reclaimed water”. The plan thus included slashing water consumption and its wastage in residential as well as business sectors of the city. The modus operandi employed till date includes offering efficiency rebates to companies and restaurants, promoting the use of effective plumbing devices like irrigation controls, shower heads& toilets. Incentives like a rebate of $60 per unit was given to those restaurants which opted for the use of pre-rinse spray heads and installation of high-efficiency urinals fetched a rebate between
$200 - $400. The department looks forward to a further more efficient implementation of this conservation drive in the upcoming three years.
The move taken by Long Beach water department is indeed encouraging and it is interesting to note that the water-conservation plan is well carved out. By using sustainable techniques and efficient equipments the city sure wants to embark on a green and ecologically safe future. Its time that other should follow this example!
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Via: greenbiz

As Brad Pitt enjoys fathering his newest borns with Angelina Jolie, looks like his ex Jennifer Aniston is finally ready to move on. The celeb world is hit by news that Aniston is making plans to tie the knot with beau John Mayer this fall. Even the wedding details have been leaked out. According to some, Aniston wants a low-key wedding that will be completely eco-friendly. Now that would be a real change from the fireworks and million dollar splash of her previous marriage to Pitt in 2000. �
Hmmm…you know we haven’t been sure of Aniston’s dedication for ‘green’. We get to hear of her practising water conservation and building an eco-friendly green mansion with a solar-heating system, drought-resistant plants and organic materials. But then the house is also11,000 sq ft and let’s not forget that she is also a spokesperson for bottled water band Smart Water. � Agreed that Mayer has influenced Aniston towards a greener way of life but it doesn’t seem to have really got on to her. Let’s be sure, even if everything is green at her wedding down to the organic tablecloths, tap water will surely not make an appearance.
Via ecorazzi