Green living

Norman Foster is a well-known British Architect that has helped build plenty of structures throughout the world, including Wembley Stadium, Hearst Tower, and plenty of others throughout his career of four decades. Efficient and green, his buildings are easily recognizable throughout various countries of the world.

In this TED Talk, he reveals how computers can assist in the building of "green" and nearly pollution-free buildings during the DLD Conference 2007 in Munich.

Watch this TED Video in which Foster explains more:

What is greywater?

Water that’s kinda dirty because it’s been used once, but clean enough to be used for something else.

Examples: Water from rinsing fruit that can be used to then water plants; or water from washing hands, laundry, or dishes that can be reused to flush the toilet.

Why I use greywater:

Last year I saw this Greentime video and began using greywater in my apartment. I was amazed by how easy it is to save lots of water.

The more I use greywater the more I realize how nonsensical our normal water system is. Think about it. Our bathroom sink is located a few feet from our toilet, but instead of using water from the sink to flush the toilet, the water from our sink is sent miles away to be purified, then sent miles back to our toilets. This is crazy. Why do we need water that is pure enough to drink for our toilets? As someone who loves efficiency (like any good social entrepreneur), I couldn’t stand for this normal water system, so I put a bucket under my sink and collected the water used for washing my hands, shaving, and brushing my teeth to flush the toilet. I do the same with water used to wash dishes. I also collect water that is normally wasted while it heats up and use it to water plants. By doing this, I save gallons of water everday and am more mindful of the global water crisis that is affecting billions of people.

There are a lot of great resources about greywater where you can learn more about the subject, as well as how to get started. Make sure to search for “greywater” on Goodsearch.com to support your favorite charitable organiation. Thesimpleway.org has a post on greywater that is short, sweet, and convincing. The greentime video mentioned above is a perfect introduction to the subject. And there are other videos that range from washing machine greywater system to ways to use greywater to irrigate your backyard.

If you are a student leader who wants to learn more about living a conscious lifestyle and get support for your student venture, apply now for a Conscious Lifestyle social entrepreneur grant.

Picture from thesimpleway.org

Ms. Frizzle's Magic School Bus may be able to glide through the Solar System, traverse on the ocean bottom, and cruise among human blood cells, but there's one indisputable feature the Scholastic-branded vehicle doesn't have: an environmentally-sound engine from the twenty-first century.

The Wake County Public School System, the 19th largest public school district nationwide, with 156 schools and 134,000+ students, has changed the notion of the conventional school bus. Over 99% of buses in the United States, including the 838 from Wake County and the one Magic School Bus in a popular children's book series, emit diesel exhaust into the air and directly contribute to respiratory illnesses in humans.

Last year, the school system in North Carolina decided to give a new idea a try. They became one of the first school districts in the country to operate a new plug-in hybrid electric school bus. Advanced Energy, a Raleigh-based non-profit corporation, led the Plug-in Hybrid Electric School Bus Project. The innovative vehicle holds the potential to double fuel efficiency and reduce emissions by up to 90 percent. It runs on a 25/80-kilowatt hybrid-electric powertrain parallel to the traditional V8 diesel engine. Plug-in hybrids, in contrast to regular hybrids, are recharged when they are parked overnight and allow more of the energy to come from batteries – another step to an environmentally cleaner world.

And, why not? Not only is the hybrid bus good for the environment, it may alleviate the pain at the pump that's currently been hitting the pocketbooks. School districts burn through 7,500 gallons of gas every 3 1/2 school days and, based on recent prices, they need to replenish with $29,000 worth of fuel.

Photo courtesy of ABC 11.

Ever wondered how environmentally, economically or even humanity-conscious your favorite products are? As conscious consumers, we have the responsibility to educate ourselves about these impacts before making our purchases. Well, a new website, BuyItLikeYouMeanIt.org, helps you do just that.

BILYMI lets people review everyday products and companies, and then publishes a core based on which of the factors matter to you as an individual – how green they are, how well they treat their employee, or even if they have a history of deplorable practices such as the use of child labor. Their goal is to give consumers some background on the where they’re getting their products from, and hopefully aid them in making informed purchases. Currently, their first focus research focus is the Chocolate industry. Seeing as there are so many companies nowadays claiming their products to be "green" go ahead and check them out -- just to make sure.

Well, it's about time. We have stations just for men, women, and even animals, so why not for our own mother Earth? Launching in June 2008, Planet Green aims to produce programming that promotes healthy, mindful living while demonstrating how to take care of this planet we call home.

"By representing a broad range of ideas and perspectives," Green's Website states, "Planet Green is taking an active role in generating conversation and motivating individuals to take action when it comes to improving the environmental status of our planet."

Want to know more? Want to see more? Well, if you didn't catch it last week, next Saturday, (April 26th) TLC will be re-airing the sneak peek featuring two of Planet Green's brand new shows

At 7 pm (EST) watch WA$TED! -- a show led by host Annabelle Gurwitch and "green" handyman Holter Graham, as they audit a household's waste, as well as its energy, water and transportation consumption. Each household has three weeks to reduce its consumption, going on a “green regime” to clean up their act.

Then, at 7:30, Greenovate, a new series that lets viewers watch as home improvements ranging from the simple change of a light bulb to the drastic installation of a “living roof” are made to reduce energy bills and carbon footprints, while increasing the value of their homes.

More information on Planet Green, their shows, and various tips and informational eco-articles can be found on the Planet Greenwebsite. Don't forget to check out TLC to see what time Planet Green will be re-airing in your neck of the woods, and don't miss out on more of their sneak previews in the upcoming weeks!