Rubber has gotten a bad rap from critics, but true to its nature, it has a way of bouncing back. Concerns about discarded tire accumulation have prompted a rubber recycling renaissance since 1991, when the EPA first began promoting use of recycled tire material for playgrounds and sports turf as a way of combating waste. But in recent years, some …
Harvesting Rainwater, Grey Water, & Landscape Water Recycling
So you’ve replaced your lawn with drought resistant natives, installed low-flow shower heads and faucets, upgraded your appliances to water saving efficient washing machines and dishwashers, and cut your water usage. What’s next? Well that’s where minds (and laws) are changing due to the long drought. Here in California, as with most of the Southwest, we are experiencing record drought …
Reservoir Floating Black Shade Balls – Saving Water Secondary
Making a big splash this year are millions of black plastic balls tasked with shading sunlight from the water, but it’s main purpose isn’t for saving water. The UV rays in sunlight can accelerate a chemical reaction between bromite, which is naturally found in groundwater, and chlorine, which is added to disinfect and kill disease-causing pathogens, to create bromate, a …
How Bike-Sharing Systems Are Revolutionizing Our Cities
According to PeopleForBikes, 31.5 percent of Washington D.C.’s Capital Bikeshare riders reported a reduction in stress levels. Meanwhile, Climate Central reports that Denver’s B-Cycle program is estimated to have avoided over 1 million pounds of CO2 emissions. It’s no longer necessary to own a bike or spend a small fortune renting one while on vacation. Bike-sharing programs are becoming increasingly …
The 2015 Santa Barbara Oil Spill: 5 Ways to Get Involved
The beautiful coastline of Santa Barbara, California, is no stranger to oil spills. Still considered the largest oil spill to occur along California waters, the 1969 Santa Barbara spill devastated the marine habitat. Although smaller, the spring spill still prompted the governor of California to call for a state of emergency in Santa Barbara County. Just like the spill in …
Waste from Shoes and Shoes from Waste
It’s estimated that 20 billion pairs of shoes are produced annually, with roughly 300 million pairs ending up in landfills after they have been worn. The Ethylene Vinyl Acetate, which usually makes up the midsole of most running shoes, can last for as long as 1,000 years in a landfill. There are a few organizations out there trying to reduce …
Secret Downtown San Francisco Urban Public Parks and Patios
San Francisco is full of hidden garden oases and public patio gems thanks to a little known program promoting called POPOS or Privately Owned Public Open Spaces. That is, many highrise buildings in cities have public ‘parks’ or public space viewing areas in them. This can include observation decks, terraces, patios, roofs and viewing floors that serve as public spaces …
The 5 Best US Cities for Doing Green Business
Green business is big business, and more and more companies are adopting eco-friendly and sustainable practices. Here’s a roundup of five American cities leading the way in green business: Austin, Texas The Texas capitol boats more than 206 parks, 26 greenbelts, 12 preserves and more than 50 miles of trails. Not only does Austin offer plenty of green space, the …
Reusable Mesh Produce Bag – Bag Again
There are a lot of great choices out there for reusable grocery bags, but Bag Again has created a recycled plastic mesh bag perfect for produce and bulk foods. Not only does it hold it, but you can wash, rinse, and scrub your produce in the bag for even more convenience. Bag Again sent me a few samples to try …
Best Electric Motorcycles
Electric motorcycles are starting to pop up everywhere now. The technology is here, and like the Tesla did for electric cars, the designs are starting to get sexy. A handful compete for top honors in the Zero emissions division at the Isle of Man TT to prove their power and reliability, but some are flying in under the radar. Prototypes …