Green

Win a Ride With Harrison Ford in His Private Plane & More in Bid to Save the Earth Auction - Part I

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) — Mar 23rd 2011 at 3:30PM

A host of international celebrities, creative icons, industry leaders and conservationists are joining together with famed auction house Christie's to support the 2011 Green Auction -- a momentous live event and companion online auction raising funds and awareness for the preservation and sustainability of the planet.

Tags: auctions, Beverly Hills Hotel, Cannes Film Festival, celebrities, celebrity auctions, charity, charitybuzz.com, green+auction+2011, greenauction2011, Harrison Ford, Oscars, Ritz-Carlton, superyacht, Tiffany Co., Vanity Fair

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Volvo V60: The World's First Diesel Plug-In Hybrid

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) — Feb 22nd 2011 at 4:02PM

Volvo is known the world over as a leader in safety features, but at the upcoming Geneva Motor Show, the Swedish automaker will show it can be a leader in environmental friendliness, too.

In what the company is terming "the world's first diesel plug-in hybrid", the V60 prototype combines a 215-horsepower, 2.4-liter five-cylinder turbo-diesel with a 70hp electric motor. The vehicle is capable of operating under electric power only (Pure mode) for 32 miles, or can run in Hybrid mode at the touch of a button for a 746-mile range. Or for an extra boost, the driver can select Power mode for a total 472 lb-ft of torque.

While the car is just for show at the moment, it could make it to production in the near future.

Tags: 2011 geneva motor show, geneva, geneva 2011, geneva motor show, v60, v60 plug-in hybrid, volvo, volvo v60, volvo v60 plug-in hybrid

Imperia GP is Hybrid, Retro and Belgian All At Once

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) — Feb 22nd 2011 at 2:02PM

If you're anything like us, you're a little torn when it comes to your automotive acquisitions. On the one hand, you want to do your bit to help the environment and reduce our dependency on foreign oil. On the other, a Toyota Prius doesn't exactly embody the style and excitement you'd like your car to. Presenting the Imperia GP.

Active throughout the first half of the 20th century, Imperia has been resurrected the same way Bugatti and Mini were. But while those brands brought their classic caché back with a modern twist, the Imperia GP steps even further into the modern era with its hybrid powertrain. The Belgian retro hybrid packs a 207-horsepowr 1.6-liter turbo four and a 134hp electric motor. Driven only by the electric motor, it can hit 62 from a standstill in a solid six seconds, or just four with the gasoline engine kicking in.

The product of some three years of development, the first pre-production prototype was recently unveiled at the Belgian Auto Show and is set to hit the market shortly with a 90,000-euro price tag, or 120,000 euros for the first edition.

Gallery: Imperia GP

Tags: hybrid, imperia, imperia gp

BMW Presents its new i Brand

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) — Feb 21st 2011 at 10:01PM

With its EfficientDynamics program, electric Mini prototypes and an electric Rolls-Royce under development, the BMW Group is getting serious about its environmental credentials. And now the German automaker has announced a new venture.

Announced earlier today, the i division will be a new range of environmentally-friendly vehicles produced under the BMW banner. Two vehicles will lead the way: the i3, a city car in the same vein as the Smart and the Toyota iQ, and the i8, a production version of the Vision EfficientDynamics concept car.

The company has set up BMW i Ventures with $100 million in capital based in New York City with a variety of initiatives under way, and we expect to head more as they progress.

Tags: bmw, bmw i, bmw i ventures, bmw i3, bmw i8, efficient dynamics, efficientdynamics

Steel Billionaire Lakshmi Mittal Plans Green Mega Estate

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) — Feb 21st 2011 at 9:01PM

Steel billionaire Lakshmi Mittal is going green. He's already hard at work on the most expensive estate in Scotland but he's also turning a country estate in southeastern England into a new green palace. The home, Alderbrook Park was built as a country estate during the 19th century but that home was partially demolished and replaced with a less attractive one in the 1950s.

Now Mittal, one of the world's ten richest men, plans to create the ultimate green estate. Plans including using outdoor temperature differences to create natural air conditioning and an ambitious idea to grow enough wood to feed large boilers to provide heating and hot water. Workers at the home will cut down 110 tons of wood a year for the boilers but plant trees to replace them. Solar panels on the roofs of two outbuildings will also provide electricity. Steel tubes will draw cool air from the estate's wooded areas in the summer and in the winter, solar-heated air will be drawn down from the roofs to add additional warmth.

Mittal bought the home for a reported £5.25 million but is expected to spend another £25 million making it conform to his customizations. He will need approval from the local planning authority to develop the estate. The only issue, according to The Telegraph India, may be the preservation of badger habitats on the estate. The badgers are protected and Mittal will need to prove they will not be harmed. The home will have at least 10 bedrooms, indoor and outdoor pools, and underground art gallery, tennis courts and a croquet lawn.

Tags: alderbrook park, england, Lakshmi Mittal

Driftwood Conference Table Draws Attention To Environmental Issues

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) — Feb 15th 2011 at 2:01AM

A Table from the Sea's Edge from Neon Otter on Vimeo.
A large conference table and 12 chairs isn't usually considered art but A Table from the Sea's Edge by Silas Birtwistle isn't just any table. The British furniture maker and artist Silas Birtwistle created the table from driftwood gathered from Belize, Vancouver Island, Tanzania and Borneo. The exhibit, now on display at the World Museum in Liverpool, England, is meant to promote conservation of the world's seas, oceans and forests. Birtwistle gathered his wood with help from indigenous communities and the World Wildlife Fund as well as other organizations.

Tags: biodiversity, driftwood, environment, liverpool, museum exhibit, silas birtwhistle

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The New York Palace Goes Green In A Big Way

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) — Feb 5th 2011 at 8:01AM

The New York Palace in Manhattan takes its green practices very seriously. The 899-room property is one of the few hotels in New York to have a full-time green practices manager on staff and has an enviable list of 2011 initiatives including operating on 100% renewable power, participating in "Clean the World," and implementing a Green Meetings program.

As of the first of this year, The New York Palace is the largest hotel in Manhattan to operate on 100% green energy. The hotel offsets its overall electricity usage through the purchase of renewable energy certificates from Hess Corporation, offsetting some 22 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions. A renewable energy certificate is a tradable commodity representing that 1,000 kilowatt hours of electricity were generated from a renewable energy resource such as solar, wind or geothermal technology.

Tags: green hotels, new york hotels, new york palace

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Jay Leno On Hand As Ford Focus Electric Prototype is Donated

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) — Jan 28th 2011 at 9:01AM

Calling it best thing to come out of a failed television show, Jay Leno was on hand at the Petersen Museum in Los Angeles as Ford donated one of the two Focus Electric prototypes used on "The Jay Leno Show" during a celebrity driving segment called Green Car Challenge.

The car was shown at the Petersen Museum alongside the The all-new Focus Electric, Ford's first-ever all-electric passenger car, a zero-emissions, gasoline-free vehicle that will be available in North America and Europe. The official handing over of the keys was meant to signify the transition from a prototype version of Focus Electric to the real production vehicle.

Tags: ford focus, jay leno, petersen car museum

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Ocean Empire LSV Carbon-Neutral Life Supporting Superyacht

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) — Jan 20th 2011 at 8:01PM

If you've ever wanted to sail away into the sunset and never be seen again the Ocean Empire LSV Superyacht could be just the thing that makes that dream a reality as it's designed to support life and stay out at sea indefinitely. LSV stands for 'life support vessel' and refers to several key features including three sustainable energy sources (4,305 square feet of solar panels, an 861 square foot skysail that collects wind energy, and a MDR system that captures energy caused by the boat bobbing on the waves) plus two hydroponic farms and fishing facilities for an endless supply of food. And even if you're not interested in never coming home all those gadgets mean it's capable of traveling up to 12,000 nautical miles a year in a 100% carbon neutral state. You (plus nine friends and a crew of eight) will be set for life.

Designed as a charter vessel the Ocean Empire LSV is available from Sauter Carbon Offset Design for $17 million.

Tags: carbon neutral, sailing, superyacht, yacht, yachts

WeWood All Natural Wooden Watches

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) — Dec 29th 2010 at 2:01PM

WeWood finds a unique balance between design, luxury, and sustainability with their watches that are made entirely of wood and are all about natural beauty and health, for both the wearer and the planet. They're made without any artificial or toxic materials and are "as natural as your wrist," plus they're fully adjustable via removable links, 'splash proof' against basics like kitchen mishaps or inclement weather, and to keep things planet-friendly a tree is planted for every one sold.

WeWood offers a variety designs but regardless of external styling they're all made of 100% natural wood with Miyota movement and no chemicals whatsoever, which means they're hypoallergenic and perfect for sensitive skin types. The various color combinations are achieved by using four different types of wood: Red Wing Celtis, Ebony, Maple and Guaiaco. Personally I think these are some of the most impressive and unique watches I've seen in a long time -- they look exclusive and expensive but not at all pretentious. They're also all priced the same and are surprisingly affordable at $119.

Gallery: WeWood Wooden Timepieces

Tags: watch, wewood

Russian Billionaire Launches Hybrid Cars

by David Kiley (RSS feed) — Dec 14th 2010 at 7:01AM

Mikhail Prokhorov, the Russian billionaire perhaps best known in the U.S. for purchasing The New Jersey Nets NBA franchise, is launching a line of hybrid vehicles, named Yo, in Russia this week.

Prokhorov said Monday the cars, powered both by gasoline and electricity, are "socially important products" that he hopes will "overcome existing stereotypes ... that Russia cannot make normal cars."

The vehicles are to be sold in three models - sedan, sporty and a small truck - with an expected price of around $10,000 (€7,550).

The name is written in Russian by the letter E with two dots over it.

There are no plans to introduce the cars to the U.S. Eastern Europe still has much lower standards than the West for safety and emissions standards, so the cost and difficulty of entry into the Russian market is much lower than in the U.S.

Tags: Hybrid Cars, Mikhail Prokhorov, New Jersey Nets, Yo hybrid cars

Buy A Porsche Get A Tax Credit?

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) — Dec 6th 2010 at 11:02PM

Yes, it's true, if you buy a Porsche you can get a Federal tax credit. The 2011 Porsche Cayenne S Hybrid, Porsche's first production hybrid, has been certified as being eligible for the Alternative Motor Vehicle Tax Credit as a Qualified Hybrid Motor Vehicle. That means that buyers who pick one up before the end of the year are eligible for an Alternative Motor Vehicle Tax Credit of $1,800 on their 2010 taxes.

The Cayenne S Hybrid accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in just 6.1 seconds and delivers an impressive EPA-certified 20 mpg city/24 highway. it has a combined power output of 380 horsepower from the supercharged V6 combustion engine and an electric motor, giving it a performance nearly equal to the Cayenne S which has a 400-horsepower V8. The base price before the federal tax credit is $67,700 (excluding destination).

Tags: porsche, Porsche Cayenne, porsche cayenne s, Porsche Cayenne S Hybrid

Great Gardens of the Hudson River Valley

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) — Dec 3rd 2010 at 10:01AM

Winter may be fast approaching but verdant greenery abounds in Gardens of the Hudson Valley, a new photographic portrait of the region's lush private landscapes. The luxurious volume chronicles 25 gardens chosen to give "a sense of place and convey the romance of the landscape" abutting the majestic Hudson River in New York state. Photographers Steve Gross and Susan Daley selected gardens from Yonkers up the river to the town of Hudson, including famous formal estate gardens like Kykuit, Boscobel, the Vanderbilt Mansion, and Olana, along with smaller, more naturalistic plots that combine sweeping views and lush plantings. Each of the gardens tells a story about the people who made them, and collectively they evoke "the grace and grandeur of the Hudson River landscape" underscoring the central role the Hudson Valley played in the birth of an American garden tradition.

Tags: books, coffee table books, estates, garden, gardens, Hudson Valley, New York, photography, river, Vanderbilt Mansion

World's Largest Solar Boat Heads To Miami

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) — Nov 22nd 2010 at 10:01PM

Earlier this year we mentioned the plans for the world's largest solar boat. The boat is now on the water. It left Monaco in late September 2010 and will arrive in Miami on November 29, 2010. The 102-foot yacht has a 50-foot beam and weighs around 60 tons. The topside of the ship is covered with 5,300 square feet of solar panels and it can hit a top speed of around 15 knots. The catamaran is being piloted around the world by five men and one woman to raise awareness of the carbon footprint created by boats used to ship goods. Craig Loomes of LOMOcean Design designed the Turanor Planet Solar to piece waves, which uses less energy than riding atop them.

Raphaël Domjan, a Swiss engineer and founder of the PlanetSolar project, entlisted German entrepreneur Immo Ströher, an advocate of renewable forms of energy, to join forces with him in this project. Ströher invested $17.5 million into the development of Turanor PlanetSolar. "We want to help drive forward the development of sustainable energy technologies on the water and in other mobile applications," says Ströher. "The aim is to offer future-proof solutions for sustainable living in major cities and environmentally responsible mobility concepts."

After Miami, the yacht will held to Cancun, Mexico, the site of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

Tags: planet solar, planet solar yacht, solar power, solar powered yacht, Turanor

New Green Hotel Planned For Shanghai

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) — Nov 18th 2010 at 12:01AM

URBN Hotels & Resorts is collaborating with Vanke, China's largest residential real estate developer, to construct a new green hotel in Asia. The boutique hotel is part of a larger commercial, retail and residential development in the Sanlin district of Pudong in Shanghai, China. The project will include 55 hotel rooms, 50 URBN serviced residences, and dining, wellness and art spaces.

URBN Hotels & Resorts created China's first carbon-neutral hotel in Shanghai's Jingan district. The goal for the new hotel is to go beyond carbon-neutral and make the hotel the first positive-impact hotel in China. There are several ideas being developed which will be revealed over the course of the 18-month construction period but including increasing the biodiversity of the site and sending out water that is cleaner than the water from the city's water supply. The hotel will aim for LEED and China Green Star certifications. The URBN Hotel Pudong hopes to surpass the 35% energy savings target hit by the first URBN Hotel. The hotel will open in Spring 2012.

[via Breaking Travel News]

Tags: china, green hotel, leed, shanghai, sustainable hotel