Eco-Vlog

In a SUN DAY Campaign review of energy production and consumption data, as provided by the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), it was determined that America was slowly shifting towards renewables . The domestic production and use of renewable energy hit an all-time high between January and June 2021. Energy sources such as biomass, solar and hydropower accounted for a larger percentage of all energy produced in the U.S. in the period under review. The latest data released by the Energy Information Administration provides figures for energy consumption and production from the start of January through June 30, 2021. The data shows that renewable energy sources accounted for 12.91% of the energy produced across the U.S. and 12.71% of the energy consumed. The data accounts for commercial and domestic power use in all areas, including transportation , heating and lighting. Related: Wind tech jobs are one of the fastest growing in America Compared to a similar period in ...

TRIWA is a watch-making company with a mission. Sea Shepherd is a non-profit working toward  wildlife  conservation. Finding common ground, the two collaborated to achieve both their goals.  Swedish brand TRIWA has designed a wristwatch made completely from recycled ocean  plastic . The team felt it was crucial to rely on plastic harvested from the ocean to make a statement about damage to the ecology of the marine environment. To further this goal, profits from the watch sales will help fund Sea Shepherd’s mission. Related: 4ocean and Poralu Marine present BeBot, the beach cleaning robot The watch collection, first launched in 2020, is called Time for Oceans . It was developed in a partnership with Tide Ocean Material, a group that turns ocean-bound plastic into a new premium raw material.  After a year of planning and discussions, TRIWA and Sea Shepherd Conservation Society launched the Time for Action campaign. In addition to being made completely from...

Twenty-three species are expected to drop off the  Endangered Species  list and into extinction. After no sightings for a long time, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has proposed delisting several birds, fish, mussels, a Hawaiian plant and the Little Mariana fruit bat. Wildlife lovers don’t want to say goodbye to any more species. As usual, the time to act was 20 years ago, last year, yesterday. But we can still act today. “With climate change and natural area loss pushing more and more species to the brink, now is the time to lift up proactive, collaborative, and innovative efforts to save America’s wildlife,” said Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland in a statement. Related: Trees face extinction, too. What can we do about it? Perhaps the most eye-catching member of the newly officially extinct, the ivory-billed woodpecker was once the largest woodpecker in the U.S. It was listed as endangered back in 1967 after not having been officially spotted since 1944. Other...

Minimizing waste through recycling is one action every business can take towards sustainability. Schwinn Hardware, a well-established manufacturer of cabinet hardware, has taken that idea to the design table with a new collection called Vegan by Design. The hardware offers a unique appeal because it is created from scraps of furniture linoleum . The innovative products are sustainable through the natural makeup of linoleum, which comes from linseed, otherwise known as flaxseed . The material is known to be durable, naturally antimicrobial and contain non-allergenic properties. In addition, linoleum is biodegradable and does not release harmful gases or toxins into the air as it breaks down. Related: This modern furniture collection is made from manufacturing waste   “Thoughtful and meaningful design is a priority at Schwinn Hardware, which goes hand-in-hand with sustainability ,” said Ulrich Hauser, CEO of Schwinn Hardware. “The Vegan by Design collection incorporates sever...

Architecture can reflect the culture of the area and showcase sustainable design. The Cagbalete Sand Clusters, located in Taguig, Philippines, is a multi-use development designed with respect for the surrounding ecology and history of farming and fishing in the area.  Cagbalete Sand Clusters is made of prefabricated sections that can be placed and added on to in a horizontal or vertical direction. Each of the units, individually or placed together, showcase the coral design inspired by the local marine ecology .  Related: GOMMAdesign’s Coral City is a Self-Sustaining Eco-Village for the Philippines Lead architect Carlo Calma Consultancy Inc. and client C Ideation envisioned a community they described as “ farm leisure.” They are developing a self-sustaining group of clusters that rely on electricity produced from solar umbrella pods and passive design techniques such as natural ventilation.  The structures include a private family home and a restaurant that o...

If you could bring a little bit of fairytale into the real world, it might just look like Pou de Glaç. This hotel combines sustainable renovation with historical architecture, and the result is truly stunning. Pou de Glaç is a Spanish farm in the hinterland of the Costa Brava, right on the Red d’Estany stream. The estate dates back to about the 17th century. Some structures from these long-ago days are still here. There’s an old flour mill, a vault, a barn and the ice fountain. The unique ice fountain was once used as a refrigerator of sorts thanks to natural ice stored within. In fact, Pou de Glaç means ice fountain. Related: Picture yourself on vacation at this floating eco-hotel The old farm has been transformed into an eco-friendly paradise that preserves many of the historic features. There are now several vacation homes here made with natural wood and stone. These materials contrast with the cement and steel that strengthen the design. Even the old barracks have been conv...

Michigan-based furniture manufacturing company Grand Rapids Chair Company has unveiled a sustainable addition to its repertoire of personalized chairs and tables. The Bowen Collection is a classically framed  table  with a twist — its top surface material is made using an ultra-durable blend of upcycled rice hulls that would have otherwise gone to waste . This agricultural byproduct of rice farming, called acre, actually holds up better than traditional wood, according to the company. Acre mimics the style of wood while providing upgraded weather, pest, water and UV damage resistance. It’s also guaranteed not to rot, crack or splinter. Acre is extremely lightweight and free from phenol,  formaldehyde  and adhesive that could off-gas into potentially harmful VOCs. Related: Designer Lucas Couto joins Precious Plastic for recycling project Veteran designers for the company, Tim Stoepker and Sara Gesink, are responsible for the collection’s aesthetic. “We landed on ...

Eighteen-year-old environmental activist Greta Thunberg has condemned global leaders for their lack of action to address the climate crisis . The outspoken activist has dismissed their words as empty talk.  Thunberg quoted U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson , saying, “This is not some expensive, politically correct, green act of bunny hugging.” She argues that global leaders have failed to live up to promises they made. Related: Rainn Wilson launches climate change web series featuring Greta Thunberg At the Youth4Climate summit in Milan on Tuesday, Thunberg called on world leaders to issue and commit to more stringent pledges. She also highlighted that carbon emissions continue to rise, despite many countries pledging to cut emissions. According to the U.N., carbon emissions are  on track to rise by 16% by 2030 . This is contrary to global environmental goals of reducing emissions to keep global heating below 1.5 degrees Celsius.  “Build back better. Blah, blah, blah....

When Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro addressed the  U.N.  General Assembly last week, he confused onlookers by boasting about his environmental record. Haven’t we been hearing about how the Amazon rainforest is collapsing on his watch? Science news service Newswise did some fact-checking to get to the bottom of Bolsonaro’s claims. After bragging about  Brazil’s  environmental protections, Bolsonaro claimed that Amazon deforestation was reduced by 32% this August compared to the previous August and that 84% of the forest is intact. Newswire consulted its trusted sources and concluded Bolsonaro’s statement was half true. Related: Annual Amazon deforestation rate hits highest levels in a decade According to The Guardian, the rainforest shrank by 10,476 square kilometers between August 2020 and July 2021. This is 13 times the size of New York City. Brazilian research institute Imazon said destruction in the  Amazon  is moving at its fastest pace in the la...

This past summer, a herd of 100 Asian elephants made their way across The Mall in front of London’s Buckingham Palace. They weren’t live animals , however, but life-sized elephant sculptures that were handmade by Indigenous community members from the jungles of Tamil Nadu in South India. The environmental art exhibition is called CoExistence. It was headed by Elephant Family and The Real Elephant Collective, a British Charity and non profit socio-environmental enterprise aimed at raising awareness for the Indian elephant. Meant as a response to the increasing overlap between humans and animals, the campaign’s goal is to trigger a movement of global empathy for members of the animal kingdom who, like the majestic elephant, have found themselves sharing natural habitats with overwhelming human populations. Related: “Extinction – The Facts” explores the global extinction crisis and its consequences The sculptures were made using an invasive weed called lantana, whose removal coi...