Over the next few months, Seattle-based Nordstrom Inc. plans to phase out its non-recyclable shopping bags in favor of paper bags with recyclable cotton handles.
The switch is expected to take place between April and September, as the retailer runs out of supplies of its current propylene-handled shopping bags.
Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels thinks the city’s taxicabs are guzzling too much gas. So he’s proposing a switch to taxis that get at least 30 miles per gallon by 2013.
According to a report in the Seattle Times, most of the city’s taxis are now Ford Crown Victorias that get less than 20 mpg.
Many cab drivers aren’t thrilled with the proposal, which would still have to be approved by the Seattle City Council. And a proposal similar to Seattle’s is also sparking cabbie criticism in San Francisco.
In my post of February 26th, I looked at how builders and developers are tackling the challenge of building green for the residential market. A good case study from the Pacific Northwest is the company of Pryde + Johnson, whose Ashworth Cottages were the first homes in the state of Washington to achieve LEED for Homes Platinum Certification (in August of last year).
Ashworth Cottages offers traditional, craftsman-style homes grouped around an outdoor commons. Somewhat different in feel are two condominium projects which Pryde + Johnson currently has underway. Florera (in Greenlake, like Ashworth Cottages) and Hjarta (in the historic town of Ballard) are located in two of Seattle’s best-known urban neighborhoods. And as some of the first homes in the country to be designed according to LEED principles, these projects give us a glimpse at the changes that green design — and green living — will bring to our daily lives.
The term “eco-terrorism” is getting thrown around again today after four multi-million dollar “green” homes in a Seattle suburb were torched by arsonists claiming affiliation with the Earth Liberation Front (ELF). Others have argued eloquently that “eco-terrorism” isn’t much more than a political language game: “terrorism” doesn’t describe the aims or methods of the “perpetrators,” but simply creates fearful associations. It’s an easy (and intellectually lazy) way to discredit environmentalism in general, and not worthy of the term “argument.”
With all of that said, though, I have to ask: What the hell do ELF members think they’re accomplishing?
A standard car that got 376.59 mpg? In 1973? Where has it been hiding all these years?
Well, the record-breaking 1959 Opel T-1 wasn’t exactly tucked into a crate among millions of other crates in a giant warehouse a la “Raiders of the Lost Ark” (”We have top men working on it right now.” “Who?” “Top men.”)
But it did spend years, all but forgotten, at the Talladega, Alabama-based International Motorsports Hall of Fame until it was discovered — and purchased by — Evan McMullen, who owns Cosmopolitan Motors in Seattle.
The High Point neighborhood in Seattle, Washington — a mixed-use, mixed-income community that is seven miles from the space needle — has been winning national awards since its redevelopment began in 2003. At the end of 2007, it achieved worldwide recognition, receiving the Urban Land Institute’s 2007 Global Award for Excellence.
Before its redevelopment, the 120-acre site was occupied by barracks-style housing that had been built to accommodate wartime workers at Boeing. Then the Seattle Housing Authority, a public corporation that provides affordable housing to over 25,500 people, initiated a renewal effort that resulted in the largest sustainable mixed-use urban neighborhood in the U.S.
Denim, jeans, dungarees - whatever you want to call them, those traditional indigo pants are an iconic part of American culture, like Chervolet trucks and apple pie. Finding the right pair of jeans is often a nightmare, especially for women, thanks to the variety of cuts and brands available.
We've all been schooled on the benefits of organic cotton, but eco-friendly denim is still often quite pricey, usually ranging from $150-350 a pair. Hailing from
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It's Earth Day weekend, so get on out there and celebrate this greenest of holidays!
Atlanta: Arms Around Atlanta sounds like a blast. It's all going down at Grant Park on Saturday & Sunday.
Boston: Clean Up the Charles on Saturday, April 21!
Chicago: Check out Green Festival happening all weekend long! Green vendors & organizations galore!
Dallas: Run, don't walk to downtown today for EarthFest from 10am - 2pm.
Denver:
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Move over Oprah: the University of Washington has started their own book club (of sorts), The Common Book program. The next book on the list is Elizabeth Kolbert's Field Notes from a Catastrophe
The UW began the Common Book program last year. They give incoming freshman a free copy of a chosen book during summer
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