Green

Get Wild with the National Outdoor Leadership School

by Alison Wellner (RSS feed) — Jun 18th 2010 at 11:01AM

If your summer vacation consists of lolling around in front of the air conditioner sipping a chilled beverage -- and you're not so happy about that, challenge yourself by signing up for a National Outdoor Leadership School course.

This Lander, Wyoming-based outdoors school primarily serves the school-aged -- teaching teenagers and college kids about leadership, nature and survival in the wilderness in courses that can run as long as a full semester. But it's less well-known that NOLS also offers classes for adults, which typically run a couple of weeks.

I joined one of their programs in the Wyoming Wind River Mountains almost exactly three years ago, and as a decidedly non-outdoorsy New Yorker, I will never forget it. In fact, I count it among the hardest things I've ever done -- but, since I didn't have to be helicoptered out I counted it as a raging success. (I hardly ever discuss how, on the last night, I took an instructor aside and said, you know, I've just realized that my people aren't woods people.)

I learned a lot about how you live a day-to-night life in the back country, for example, how to not freak out when crossing streams by jumping from rock-to-rock with a heavy pack on one's back, and how to keep hiking with two sprained ankles. Glamping this is not, but if you want to end the summer with a sense of pride and accomplishment, a NOLS course might be just the ticket.

Tags: adventure, adventure travel, camping, nature tours, NOLS, wyoming

Jewelry Line Raises Awareness And Funds For Gulf Oil Spill

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) — Jun 11th 2010 at 12:01AM

The Gulf of Mexico oil spill has generated plenty of conversation, controversy and compassion. New Orleans-based jewelry designer Mignon Faget, has a new line of cause jewelry to raise awareness and funds for the environmental disaster.

The new collection, called simply "In Mourning" pulls together animal-centered pieces that Faget used in previous collections. The collection takes the oysters, redfish, speckled trout, pelicans and other animals and uses them as tie tacks on black ribbons and pendants on black cords. Blackened oxidized silver pieces represent the effect of the oil on the oysters and other wildlife. The pieces are designed both to celebrate the diversity of the Gulf's marine and wildlife habitats but also to remind people of the tremendous losses caused by the spill.

Pieces retail from $65 to $300 and benefit the Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana, a nonprofit organization that has been around since the 1980s working on restoring and protecting the Louisiana coast. The collection is available at MignonFaget.com.

[via National Jeweler]

Tags: cause jewelry, Gulf of Mexico oil spill, gulf oil spill, mignon faget, new orleans, oil spill

Prada B.Y.O. Bags, Eco-Chic Goes Luxury

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) — Jun 4th 2010 at 1:01AM

With more and more places asking you to bring your own bags for shopping, luxury brands are getting in on the trend by providing chic ways to tote your goods around. The Prada B.Y.O. Bags are spacious and destructured bags in the traditional Prada fabric embellished with select archive prints. The lightweight (5 ounces) bags are meant to be carried around at all times and can be rolled up and tucked into another bag. They will be available exclusively at Prada boutiques starting this month for $295.

Tags: byo bags, prada, Prada bag, shopping bag

Heritage Aviation Creates Greener Private Flying

by Ariston Anderson (RSS feed) — Jun 2nd 2010 at 2:01PM

Just how green can personal jet travel be? Well, not very. There's no doubt that traveling by private jet wreaks havoc on our carbon footprint. One company in Burlington, Vermont, has set out to create the most green private aviation company ever. Heritage Flight has for 25 years broken down travel barriers. Offering aircraft charters from Turbo-Props to Bombardier Challengers, they fly you around the world, anywhere, anytime. No lines, no hassle. International returns allow you to pass through customs hassle-free. Pilots will even change routes mid-flights if you change your mind between say the French Rivera and the Italian Seaside. Today, private aviation in Vermont is a $2 billion industry.

Gallery: Heritage Aviation

Tags: burlington vermont, fbo, fixed base operation, heritage aviation, vermont

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Summer Star Parties at Utah's Cedar Breaks National Monument

by Alison Wellner (RSS feed) — Jun 1st 2010 at 11:02AM

Summer is the best time to let your inner space geek run rampant, but a truly dark night sky is hard luxury to come by -- most of the United States suffers from extravagant light pollution.

Overcome this challenge and head to Cedar Breaks National Monument in Utah. At over 10,000 feet of elevation, it's got a view on a perfectly dark sky and on nine nights this summer, throws a Star Party. You can bring your own telescope (which you could do any night on your own), but they'll take you to Point Supreme Overlook and let you look through their powerful telescopes, accompanied by park staff an astronomy volunteers to answer your questions.

The 2010 Star Party dates are July 8, 10, 12, August 7, 9, 11, September 6, 8, 10 and are free of charge. Be sure to dress warmly!

Tags: astronomy, cedar breaks national monument, light pollution, stargazers, stargazing, stars, utah

Daimler Teams Up With Toyota For Fuel Cell Development

by Jeremy Korzeniewski (RSS feed) — May 28th 2010 at 10:01PM

Daimler, the German parent company of Mercedes-Benz, has a long history of fuel cell development, as does Toyota. Both automakers have been busily developing their separate hydrogen fuel cell technology since the early 1990s, and it should come as no surprise that such projects don't come cheap.

As such, the two giant companies are reportedly pounding out a partnership that will see them jointly developing hydrogen fuel cell technology. According to the Financial Times Deutschland (via Reuters), Toyota and Daimler plan "extensive cooperation in the field of fuel cells for electric cars." At this point, neither automaker is willing to comment on the report.

General Motors, Ford, Nissan, Honda and Hyundai are also working to make hydrogen fueling a reality, but some significant hurdles still remain, including high cost and the lack of a suitable fueling infrastructure. Time will tell if high-profile partnerships, such as the one apparently being struck between Daimler and Toyota, will result in any zero-emission consumer vehicles.

[Source: Reuters]

Tags: daimler, daimler-benz, Fuel Cell, fuel cell vehicles, fuel cells, hydrogen, hydrogen car, hydrogen fuel cell, mercedes, Mercedes Benz, mercedes-benz

Bon Christiani Dog Collars

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) — May 28th 2010 at 3:01PM

Dog collars that are beautiful, durable, and sustainable are what bon Christiani is all about . The creative force behind the company, Jennifer Christiano, says she was initially inspired by two things: her background working with ancient Nubian jewelry at The Oriental Institute and a lack of beautiful but sturdy collar options for her German Shepherd, Padma. "There was nothing really interesting on the market for him. So, I took it upon myself to reach back in time and cultures, to create a unique piece for him."

When it comes to business bon Christiani operates on a model based in the Buddhist philosophy of "doing right by doing well." All the collars are equestrian grade and cruelty-free (5% of profits go towards sheltering animal survivors of biomedical research), made by hand by local master artisans, and created from start to finish with sustainability and the environment in mind. The collar shown here is called "Gainne" and features leather, your choice of bronze or sterling silver hardware, pretty Celtic 3-sided knots cast in pewter, and your choice of gemstone. Check out other designs (as well as some shots of the artisans in action) in the gallery below. $300-$400

Gallery: bon Christiani Handcrafted Luxury Dog Collars

Tags: bon Christiani, dog, dogs, eco-friendly, green, pets

Whisky Barrels Make Unique Flooring

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) — May 25th 2010 at 4:01PM

Any whisky aficionado knows how much of a difference wood makes in whisky flavor. Whisky barrels often have a history even before they get to the distillery, barrels used to contain sherry, for example, impart dried fruit notes to the whisky. But what happens to the wood once it has given all it can to the spirits? It used to just be used for fuel but lately the wood has yet another life. U.K.-based McKay Flooring Limited has used old casks turning them into flooring. The barrels have the stamps of the distillery but planks are laid down in scrambled order. It doesn't really have a strong whisky smell but it certainly tickles the imagination. McKay Flooring also sells reclaimed flooring from old gymnasiums, thankfully no smell there either.

[via Core 77]

Tags: decor, flooring, reclaimed flooring, whisky, whisky barrel

Innovative Design from New York's Contemporary Furniture Fair

by Carrie N. Culpepper (RSS feed) — May 25th 2010 at 8:02AM

Last week designers flocked from around the globe to New York's Jacob Javits Center for the International Contemporary Furniture Fair. Representatives from Japan, Germany, Italy, the U.K. and elsewhere showed their latest in home furnishings and decor while shop owners, buyers, architects and interior designers scanned the 2,000 vendors for inspiration.

Luxist was also there scouting the latest innovations for the home. What we discovered was designers creating furnishings out of unusual materials - like resin, rubber and reclaimed wood from the Coney Island boardwalk. Here we've collected a sampling of interesting new products - and sure-fire conversation pieces - that use materials in innovative ways. Perfect for the luxe home.

Gallery: Modern Materials for Home Furnishings

O'Neill's lighting in Bentley's Townhouse in Dublin

Tags: amaridian, bi-king, douglas thayer, eudenio menjivar, icff, international contemporary furniture fair, Jacob Javits Center, jspr, martha sturdy, modern furnishings, Plastic Fantastic, rachael oneill, ronel jordan, sung kung kim

A Black Rhino Airlift from South Africa to East Africa

by Alison Wellner (RSS feed) — May 24th 2010 at 11:01AM

Even the most jaded traveler is thrilled by the view out the window while landing in Serengeti National Park in Tanzania, but one has to imagine that five particular passengers who were indeed on a trip of a lifetime last week were somewhat less than delighted -- not that they had much of a view.

Five endangered black rhinoceros were transported by air from South Africa's Addo Reserve to the Serengeti Park yesterday -- funded in part by Singita Grumeti Reserves, the Tanzania arm of Singita, which runs a group of ultra-luxury African safari lodges. (Other benefactors:The US Fish and Wildlife Foundation and the Nduna Foundation.)The rhino relocation was part of a species preservation project over forty years in the making.

Gallery: Black Rhino Transport to East Africa

Tags: africa, conservation, preservation, rhino, Rhinoceros, safari, SouthAfrica, Tanzania

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BIO Attitude Certified Organic Cognac

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) — May 19th 2010 at 4:02PM

Preiss Imports, one of the nation's leading importers of specialty spirits and craft beer, has announced the impending release of BIO Attitude, Léopold Gourmel's new 100% certified organic cognac.

Gourmel is the creator of this new cognac category and aims to set a benchmark in terms of naturally-produced cognac. BIO Attitude received an approval from ECOCERT, France's organic certification agency, on the full process from the vineyard, wine cellar, distillation and aging to bottling.

Gourmel's process completely excludes the use of chemicals, pesticides and fertilizers, other than natural ones; in effect a return to the way cognac was made centuries ago before the advent of the machine age.

Gourmel's objective is to develop micro organic activity in the soil with green fertilizer, natural predators, and compost all working together. BIO Attitude is a young, refreshing cognac with a hue of cherry flowers during the April blossom. The delicate fresh notes offer a lingering finish of vanilla and fresh nuts.

Since its creation in 1972, Léopold Gourmel has chosen to respect the natural link between the roots and the bottle, and offers a non-standardized product; in their words, a cognac that is "alive". BIO Attitude is a fitting extension of this admirable philosophy.

Gourmel's vineyards maintain deep roots revealing a vertical minerality, absolute respect of each vintage, careful selection of extra fine grain un-toasted French oak casks, and absolutely no additives or artificial coloring. The BIO Attitude bottling is priced at $59.99 per 750 ml.

Tags: brandy, cognac, France, organic, spirits

BMW Promises More Hybrids, Compares Itself to Chanel

by Jeremy Korzeniewski (RSS feed) — May 19th 2010 at 6:03AM

BMW is out to prove that Ultimate Driving Machines can also be Efficient Driving Machines. The famed German automaker is already dabbling in hybrid technology with models such as the X6 and large, range-topping 7 Series, but soon the marque will expand the fuel-saving technology to its mainstream 5 Series and even 3 Series models.

Speaking at the automaker's normally scheduled annual meeting, Chairman Dr. Norbert Reithofer said that the upcoming 5 Series ActiveHybrid will go into production in 2011. This application should pair a larger 40-kilowatt electric motor to the mild hybrid system currently used in the 7 Series, and it will reportedly be capable of powering itself using electricity only. Closely following the 5 Series is likely to be a hybrid version of the next-generation 3 Series.

Interestingly, Reithofer also pointed out that BMW is poised for future success as it is apparently very highly thought of by the younger generation.

BMW is the most prestigious brand among Generation Y. Generation Y refers to the young people born between the late 1970s and the year 1994 in the U.S. This consumer group has an annual spending capacity of 200 billion dollars – and the most prestigious brands to this young generation are BMW and Chanel.

You can find the rest of Reithofer's speech after the break.

[Source: BMW]

Tags: 3 series, 3 Series Hybrid, 5 series, 5 series activehybrid, 5 series hybrid, bmw, BMW 3 Series, bmw 3 series hybrid, bmw 3-series, BMW 5 series, bmw 5 series activehybrid, bmw 5 series hybrid, BMW 5-series, Generation Y

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Land Rover Announces First-Ever Front-Wheel Drive and Hybrid Models

by Jeremy Korzeniewski (RSS feed) — May 19th 2010 at 5:02AM

Production 2011 Land Rover LRX rendering – Click above to enlarge

When you think of Land Rover, it's likely that scenes of bushwacking and overland travels spring to mind, and perhaps more recently, some of the most luxurious sport utility vehicles in the world. But the times, they are a'changing, and Land Rover needs to improve the efficiency of its brand of vehicles just the same as every other automaker the world over.

Hence, it should probably come as little surprise that the famous British marque has announced both its first-ever front-wheel drive model and its first-ever production hybrid. It remains to be seen whether or not the automaker is able to bake any off-road capabilities into its upcoming small Range Rover, which most of the world knows as the LRX.

Land Rover says the front-wheel-drive compact Range Rover will go on sale in 2011 and claims it will be the lightest and most fuel efficient vehicle the company has ever offered. Following two years later will be a hybrid version of the same vehicle that will pair a 3.0-liter diesel engine with an eight-speed automatic transmission and a large electric motor capable of powering the vehicle for 20 miles using no fossil fuels at all.

[Source: Land Rover]

Tags: front-wheel-drive land rover, fwd land rover, hybrid land rover, hybrid land rover lrx, Land Rover, land rover hybrid, land rover LRX, Land Rover LRX COncept, Land Rover Range Rover, land rover range rover lrx, LRX, lrx concept, LRX Hybrid

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Report: Diesel-Powered Audi R4 'Looks Good' For Production

by Jeremy Korzeniewski (RSS feed) — May 10th 2010 at 8:02PM

Audi e-tron Detroit Concept – Click above for high-res image gallery

Our British friends at Autocar are citing unknown "high-ranking Audi insiders in Ingolstadt" as saying that there is a strong likelihood that a new Audi R4, Volkswagen BlueSport and possibly an unnamed entry-level model from Porsche are in the offing.

Assuming there is a degree of truth to the report from the British mag, the R4 would get a pair of turbocharged gasoline engines (displacing just 1.4-liters and 1.6-liters, respectively) along with the intriguing option of a 2.0-liter turbodiesel mill. Previously, Audi has shown off a small sportscar concept, seen above in the image gallery from Luxist's sister-site, Autoblog, powered by an all-electric powertrain.

Volkswagen, the huge German automaker that owns both Audi and Porsche, will have the final say in the development of all three machines. The good news is that Autocar's unnamed insider reports, "Scale is important to a project like this... But with three different car makers working to a common goal, the chances [of it getting the go-ahead] look good."

[Source: Autocar]

Tags: audi, audi r4, Audi R4 Roadster, AudiR4, AudiR4Roadster, entry level porsche, entry porsche, entry-level porsche, Entry-levelPorsche, EntryLevelPorsche, EntryPorsche, porsche, porsche 356, porsche 914, Porsche356, Porsche914, r4, volkswagen, volkswagen bluesport, Volkswagen BlueSport Concept, VolkswagenBluesport, VolkswagenBluesportConcept, vw, vw bluesport, VW BlueSport Concept, VwBluesport, VwBluesportConcept

Conservation International's Seas of Hope Bash

by Ariston Anderson (RSS feed) — May 10th 2010 at 6:02AM

As BP's latest stumble over stopping the flow of upwards of 200,000 gallons of oil into our oceans reminds us, we don't need an excuse to start protecting our marine ecosystem now. While oil officials volleyed the blame back and forth, in another corner of the world, at New York's Museum of Natural History, Conversation International offered a new kind of hope, this past Thursday at their Seas of Hope Celebration gala.

Under the infamous blue whale hanging from the Museum's ceiling, New York revelers pooled together to offer a new kind of solution, donating toward Conservation International's mission of empowering local communities to care for nature and humanity. After an address from JP MorganChase CEO Jamie Dimon on the role of finance in sustainable growth, and an overwhelmingly successful fundraising appeal for CI's Protect an Acre program, guests retreated to the gallery halls for an after party sponsored by Havaianas.

The quintessential Brazilian brand teamed up with CI to protect the country's Albrolhos region, an area on the South Atlantic that contains some of the world's richest coral reefs. Albrolhos serves as breeding ground to the Southern humpback whale population, with nearly 10,000 members, and also represents several species of corals, mollusks and fish that are exclusive to the area.

Gallery: Conservation International and Havaiana's Seas of Hope Celebration