EcoGreenius

Image: Lloyd Alter

Between the upgrading of existing systems and the licencing of new carriers, the rooftop landscape of Toronto, Canada is changing rapidly as new antennae are added daily. While TreeHugger has discussed the question of cell phone safety many times, we are usually talking about the phone itself, where users have some control, rather than the base stations, where residents in apartment buildings with base stations on the roof do not. Is this exposure dangerous? A recent installation raises some questions….Read the full story on TreeHugger

It’s about time! Google Maps has finally added a Bike There feature. They’ve been plugging away for awhile now on ways to get directions for cyclists that avoids hills, excessive traffic, and points you in the best directions for pedaling to your destination. After a long time of lobbying by grassroots groups (it was all the way back in 2008 that we saw the petition circulating to add the feature), we finally have a thorough set of directions for alternative transportation, rounding out the walk there and public transit features. …Read the full story on TreeHugger

Photo of batteries via Moria, molecules via Technology Review

Chemists have figured out a new way to charge up electronics that drastically speeds up how long it takes to fill up to full. Ibrahim Abou Hamad at Mississippi State University show off a new way to recharge lithium ion batteries that could be a huge boon for electronics across the board, but while we immediately think of how much faster we might be able to text away on our cell phones, or go snap photos with our digital cameras, the real impact could happ…Read the full story on TreeHugger

Photo via WonderMike

Cornell University is about to have a fashion show. And at that fashion show will be clothing made of fabric that is simply electrifying. No, really. Juan Hinestroza, assistant professor of Fiber Science and Apparel Design, has developed cotton threads that, while remaining flexible and comfortable to wear, can conduct electric current as well as a metal wire. Simply knotting the threads is enough to create a complete circuit. A solar-powered dress with this technology literally woven into its fabric will be featured at the upcoming fashion show. Bu…Read the full story on TreeHugger

photo: BP

Greenopia has updated their guide to the greenest oil companies–though it may seem like it, it’s not entirely an oxymoron–and BP is still on top. The other positions have shifted a bit, with
Sunoco and Hess taking second and third place:…Read the full story on TreeHugger

Dog wounded in New Jersey black bear attack. Image credit:News 12, video.

Without getting into what constitutes a black bear “home invasion” or “pet attack” incident, all would agree that black bears frequently in the yard, tipping trash cans, smashing the chicken coup, attacking pets in the yard, and possibly breaking in on a search for food calls for action. There is an environmental side to this story, too, as reported on NJ News 12 Interactive and elsewhere and …Read the full story on TreeHugger

Dog wounded in New Jersey black bear attack. Image credit:News 12, video.

Without getting into what constitutes an officially recorded bear “invasion” or attack “incident,” all would agree that black bears frequently in the yard, tipping trash cans, attacking pets, and possibly breaking in on a search for food calls for action. There is an environmental side to this story, too, as reported on NJ News 12 Interative and elsewhere and it not just a NJ issue.

One fac…Read the full story on TreeHugger

We’re excited to welcome British author and green marketing guru John Grant back to the top of our reading list. His latest offering ‘Co-opportunity’ invites us all to “Join up for a sustainable, resilient, prosperous world.” In his recent Change Makers interview John said, “I actually think green should be a bi-product of us living co-operativ…Read the full story on TreeHugger

photo: Alex Lang via flickr.

Here’s a new twist on biomass gasification, one which more or less merges it with solar thermal. Technology Review is highlighting the efforts of Colorado-based Sundrop Fuels to develop a system which uses the heat of the sun to vaporize biomass and turn it into syngas:…Read the full story on TreeHugger

Photo via Tech On

When it comes to innovation in the greener electronics sector, there are ideas that are smart, but haven’t quite found their mojo when it comes to the finished design or prototype. And then there are just flat out bad ideas. This bike falls into that second category - unfortunate because an electric assist bike that requires no help from the grid is an attractive idea. But this one falls flat. In fact, the makers don’t even like it. But there is one benefit to this terrible bike. Starting out by listing what’s wrong, we can uncover more about what …Read the full story on TreeHugger