Photo by Kivanc via Flickr

Who doesn’t dream of their own private island - especially one that’s eco-friendly and self-sustaining?

Celebrity islands are nothing new - but as more superstars adopt green lifestyles, we’re seeing the number of celebrity eco-islands steadily rise. From hydrogen and solar power and desalination systems to organic gardens amid nature reserves, these green celebrities are going all out to decrease their carbon footprint.

Private Eco-Islands

Photo by Moria via Flickr

Johnny’s pirate days are far from over - Little Hall’s Pond Cay, spanning 35 acres of the Bahamas, has belonged to Depp since 2005. The island features 6 private beaches, a cottage, and a tiki hut but will soon boast the third, completely off-grid, solar hydrogen powered home in the world. Mike Strizki - featured in a previous post about amazing ways to use hydrogen power - designed the system that will power Johnny’s eco island retreat.

Photos by Lower Mills Estate Architecture

This odd-shaped beauty is one of several eco-homes integrated into the beauty of the Cotswolds. 48 unique designs will scatter the lakes of the 550 acre, privately-owned Cotswold nature reserve and will make up the Landmark Houses of Lower Mills Estates in the Cotswold Water Park. The Orchid House seen here was recently purchased by an unknown buyer, thought to be in the entertainment industry, and will take 3 years to complete. The house will operate on geothermal energy and an underground pump and is expected to produce a surplus of power.

If you prefer to buy your own eco-island getaway…

Kylie Minogue’s charming 4 bedroom French Island farmhouse has been on the market for nearly a year now and was recently reduced to a $1 million price tag. The home, surrounded by organic gardens and orchards, is set on about 50 acres with panoramic views of the ocean. An additional 171 acre farm is also available as part of the Minogue estate, offering plenty of room for animals to complete the self-sufficient home. Solar and wind power generate the home’s energy, with a back-up generator operating on diesel.

Or maybe a celebrity eco-island vacation is more your style?

This eco-paradise belongs to rocker Nick Hexum of band 311. While Nick is on tour, beautiful (and sustainable) Melody Key is available for rental for $8,000 per week and includes complete access to the 5 and a half acres of natural island pleasure as well as the 5,000 square foot home. A large-scale desalination system provides the island’s water while a solar inverter generates all the necessary power. Whoever rents this celebrity eco-island getaway will definitely not be roughing it - state of the art WI-FI, a heated pool, and jacuzzi are just a few of the amenities. If you have an extra $4.9 million on hand, you could always buy the island. The price includes a couple of boats and a mainland lot for parking.

Leonardo DiCaprio’s private island was purchased in 2005 for $1.75 million. Blackadore Caye is 104 acres of sandy beaches and tropical plant life, situated off the coast of Belize. DiCaprio’s plans for the island include an eco-resort with private, beach front villas as well as a landing strip for visitors with private planes. While many of the features on this eco island seem far from environmentally friendly, the structures are supposed to be carefully integrated into the landscape so local wildlife is undisturbed. Construction is scheduled to start on Blackadore Caye sometime this year - you can see DiCaprio’s eco island vision here.

Located just a mile and a half from Sir Richard Branson’s glamorous Necker Island, Moskito Island is a part of the British Virgin Islands and is Branson’s third private island. Plans for the resort are still under review but include a beach front restaurant serving organic food grown on the island and 20 private villas constructed from local timber. The eco island will be powered by wind turbines and solar energy, while taking advantage of the Caribbean breeze to minimize cooling needs. Biofuel-powered beach buggies will provide transportation around the carbon neutral resort. Plans to create a more eco-friendly Necker Island are said to be underway as well.

The last eco resort on our list is not really a celebrity island but well worth a mention for its eco friendliness and star appeal. Amidst the ancient Mayan ruins of Belize, Francis Ford Coppola’s tropical paradise is compromised of 3 unique resorts - the first, Blancaneaux, featuring Coppola’s personal villa; La Lancha, with exquisite river front cabins; and Turtle Inn on the Belize coast, boasting private seaside villas with secluded gardens and outdoor showers. Organic gardens and orchards provide 80% of the resorts meals and fresh eggs are gathered daily from the on-site chicken coop. Guests can also enjoy a bottle of Coppola’s fine wine while taking in the scenery from their open-air cottage.

Whether it’s a private retreat to get away from it all or a fabulous resort to share with their wealthiest fans, green celebrities are going all out with their eco islands. Melody Key is my personal fave - too bad its way out of my budget! What are your thoughts on these celebrity eco islands?

Want to green your ride, but can’t afford a Tesla? That’s okay… there are plenty of cool (if not quite so flashy) new transportation options coming down the pike that will cost you less than $100,000. Some of ‘em you can even build yourself.

Seriously Strange Fossil Fuelings:

Who needs hydrogen? Some energy alternatives have been around for years, and are making a comeback.

1. Wood

It’s not talked about as much as the Manhattan Project, but there was a big energy crisis during WWII, when the military sucked up a huge portion of the world’s petroleum output. Individual car-owners across Europe converted their cars and trucks to run on… wood.

Wood?

Wood. Engines don’t run on liquid gasoline - they literally run on fumes. Same goes for the fire in your fireplace – when you see flames rising, that’s the fumes of volatiles coming off the logs and igniting. You can do the same thing in your car.

Some folks are working on making this high-tech, with scrubbers and sealed, carefully controlled burners. Renewable Energy Systems are currently running a demonstration coast-to-coast tour with a couple of modded 1991 Dodge Dakota V8 pickups.

But for now you can go very low-tech – plonk a stove on the back of your pickup and run a vacuum hose to the carburetor; after that your spark plugs ignite the fumes as per usual. You can get information on the web to rig your vehicle with a hundred or so dollars in parts: Jim Mason offers workshops and info, or order a how-to guide from Mother Earth News.

But either way, your fuel can be wood if you want – or any scrap biomass.

2. Steam

The British Steam Car looks like the Batmobile and runs like an iron horse. It is not quite road-ready just yet, though, as it guzzles 1,000 litres (one ton!) of water per 25 minutes of travel time. So for now it is recommended only for shorter commutes (or perhaps not at all).

3. People Power

HumanCar is driven by people - even the steering is human powered, like on a bicycle or motorcycle.

How does it work? They’re being very, very cagey – there’s lot of talk on their website about patents and proprietary trade secrets, not too much on how it will run.

But for sure, this won’t be a Flintstones-style feet-through-the-floor operation.

Already on the Market:

4. ZAP Xebra

Perfect for in-city commuting or shopping, this little car only has a 25-mile range. Still, it brags that even after counting emissions from generating the electricity it uses, it produces 98% less pollution than a gas vehicle. And it’s available now. Next up: A ZAP trucklet with a solar panel to fuel itself.

5. Smart Fortwo

This may look like a toy, but it pumps out 110 horsepower (between a 4-cylinder gas engine and a 50-kilowatt electric motor) And it is kind of cute. This vehicle seats two comfortably (depending on the individual, of course); at a stretch you can cram in thirteen contortionists.

Future Green Transport:

6. Zoop

This little electric flitter can travel at up to 120 mph (although that prospect raises the specter of “Unsafe at Any Speed”). The Zoop is more about being seen – hence the clear canopy and the flashy design by EV-proponents André and Coqueline Courrèges of Paris-based fashion house Maison de Courrèges.

7. Ecooter

It is hard to say whether this Chinese offering is even a car, and even the name implies it is some sort of scooter…

Still, it has four wheels (in a diamond layout, rather than the standard “four corners” formation) and there is a roof over your head to keep out the wind and rain, so perhaps it qualifies.

The way it parks is particularly interesting - thanks to the diamond wheelbase, you can do some remarkably tight turning with this little thing:

7. Loremo

The name stands for “Low Resistance Mobile” This just goes to show that you don’t need to wait for next decade’s technology to accomplish amazing things with milage: The Loremo combines a highly-efficient German-engineered diesel engine with extremely low-drag design to achieve 150 miles per gallon. Coming next year to Europe, with US launch to follow.

8. Helios

Want to really get off the grid? Helios has the answer: a solar-powered buggy with a saurian solar sail that spreads out to soak up the sun and recharge, photovoltaicly. This concept car won the Best Use of Technology at the Interior Motives Design Awards 2008. Note to racers: do NOT attempt to deploy the sail as a drag chute…

9. The Air Car

Coming as early as spring 2009 from MDI and Zero Pollution Motors, it runs on compressed air. Developed by Formula One engineer Guy Nègre, the Air Car is expected to make big inroads in India, where it will be sold as the Tata Nano for $2500.

10. VW 1-Liter

A few of the mainline automakers are trying to break out of the gas-guzzler mode (although not GM, who have announced they won’t be bringing their min-cars to the US market, further demonstrating their brilliant business acumen and why the government should give them a big bailout.) VW wanted a car that would go 100 miles on one liter of gas, but it’s taken them more than six years to perfect the high-tech low-weight materials like carbon fiber and titanium. Along with a super-sleek aerodynamic shell, this diesel-powered commuter car is scheduled to get a spectacular 235 mpg when it hits the roads (in a limited edition test release) in 2010.

Can’t wait - or really want to do something now? Don’t despair - you can upgrade your current rustbucket to at least make it a little more fuel-efficient.

The information revolution helped spark the green revolution.  Computers have been instrumental in everything from designing more-efficient engines to running alternative-energy power plants to distributing information on the Internet that allows us to make smarter, greener choices.

But computers themselves can be a bit of a problem. Many of their components are manufactured using noxious chemicals, other components present safe disposal problems, and of course, they can be power-hungry consumers of electricity.

Here are a few ways you can do your computing in a more planet-positive way.

1) The good news on cost: on the whole, greener computers don’t cost much more than their non-green siblings. And you’ll save money every minute they’re running, not to mention the peace of mind you’ll get.

2) Before you buy, do the research, using sites like Metaefficent.com. They’ll tell you which companies are doing the most, and which models are the greenest (and which are the worst) The EPEAT system was created by electronics manufacturers working with the EPA to evaluate computers; they’ve got a great set of search tools on their website.  And Greanpeace has a great greener-electronics guide on their site.

3) Energy costs have gone up so much that businesses that use large numbers of PCs are finally starting to take the power consumption of their computers seriously, pushing manufacturers to get serious about efficiency. Dell offers some good models, like their Studio Hybrid; if you’re on the Apple side, the Mac Mini is another energy sipper.

4) The European Union has implemented a Restriction of Hazardous Substances ban that cuts allowable levels of lead, cadmium, mercury, hexavalent chromium, and flame retardants. Even if you don’t live in Europe, you can use RoHS information when buying your home computer.

5) Go with a laptop rather than a desktop. Laptop computers typically have energy-efficiency built right in, to optimize battery life. Add an external monitor, mouse and keyboard for when you’re working at home, and you’re set.

6) For peak efficiency, go for a peak monitor. Lenovo is one of the best; among EPEAT’s gold-certified monitors, 11 of 15 were made by Lenovo. Dell is also making a big push in this area. Look for monitors with reduced energy consumption, often made from recycled materials.

7) Just about everything comes with excessive packaging these days, with huge cardboard boxes full of bulky, non-biodegradable styrofoam. But not all – for instance, HP’s DV6929 laptop comes packed in a messenger bag, itself made of 100% recycled material. Hint: when companies go the low-packaging route, it’s often for units that are already very green; the DV6929 is EPEAT-silver.

Recycle your old computers and components responsibly! That probably means more than just taking it down to the landfill. In some places, it’s even the law – Texas just passed mandatory recycling.   There are a number of resources online, like technocycle.com. A Google search can help you find resources in your area.

9) When your computer is running, you want to optimize your power usage. Verdiem has a free software application, Edison,  that allows quick, easy, one-step setup to optimize your computer’s power usage.

10) Do you know about vampire power? Even when off, many computers and monitors can draw a watt of power or more. Put your systems on a power strip, and when you shut down, turn off the power switch on the strip.

11) Finally - really, turn it off! Many people leave their systems running 24/7, burning enough energy to light a small city. Give it a rest!

Photo by Lili Vieira de Carvalho via Flickr

From disposable to reusable, many people are looking for a greener alternative to traditional dishes and flatware. There are a number of reasons individuals are making the switch to biodegradable cups and recycled plates - and there are several eco-friendly products available, from disposable plates made with nothing more than fallen leaves to elegant serving platters from recycled glass and much more.

Why Go Green at the Dinner Table?

Traditional plates and dinnerware raise a variety of concerns for both the environment and overall health. Studies have found that about 30% of the dishes used at America’s dinner table contain dangerous levels of lead and cadmium. Another study claims that when the ceramic is properly fired, these toxins will most likely not leach into the food. In light of several different cases of lead poisoning linked to dinnerware, the National Safety Council advises:

“Avoid eating off any colorfully painted ceramic plates, and avoid drinking from any ceramic mugs unless you know they do not leach lead. This is particularly important if the pottery was made in Mexico or another Latin America country, or in Asia.”

Plastic bottles, cups, and food containers can be even more harmful. Polycarbonate plastics - including most reusable bottles and containers - are made with a material called bisphenol-A. BPA has been linked to several types of cancer, type II diabetes, and can have ill effects on unborn children as well. Baby bottles, toddler cups, and plastic flatware also contain BPA. Heat from the dishwasher or the microwave allows small amounts of the chemical to surface, contaminating the foods and liquids inside.

Styrofoam (or polystyrene foam) products also contain known carcinogens, or cancer-causing materials, that can leach into food in a similar way as the plastics mentioned above. Styrofoam products are manufactured from petroleum, a nonrenewable resource, and are not biodegradable. In fact, the Great Pacific Garbage Patch is proof of the harm both Styrofoam and plastic containers cause.

Green Alternatives for Your Dinnerware

Whether you’re looking for biodegradable plates for your restaurant or just a safe option at home, there are a variety of choices currently available. Stainless steel is the best decision for water bottles and drinkware - when it comes to plates, bowls, and flatware, the possibilities are much more exciting.

Plates with Purpose by Riverside Design Group

Made from post-industrial and pre-consumer recycled glass, these plates are dishwasher and microwave safe and feature 8 custom designs. What makes Plates with Purpose unique is that each design promotes awareness for a specific charity and a portion of the profits are donated to the noted charity depending on the style you choose. The flower pictured above benefits the Alzheimer’s Association of Greater Pennsylvania, while the wheat plate below it raises funds for the Greater PA Community Food Bank.

Lauren Becker at Recycled Glassworks turns old glass into gorgeous dinnerware.

These recycled plates are made from the old glass lenses that cover traffic lights. Recycled Glassworks offers a variety of green tableware, each rescuing some sort of glass otherwise destined for disposal. Old windows, doors, glass shelves, and tabletops now find their way to the dinner table with amazing plates, bowls, and platters and each piece is dishwasher safe. Recycled Glassworks also accepts old glass for recycling at their San Fransisco office.

Compostable, reusable plates by Verterra made completely from fallen leaves.

Verterra plates are disposable dinnerware that are sturdy enough to be used several times before throwing them out. The dishes are all-natural, without any harmful chemicals or dyes, and are made of nothing but fallen leaves. Safe for the microwave, the oven, and the fridge, Verterra plates and bowls can also be washed by hand and are quite durable. Best of all, these green dishes are naturally biodegradable and will vanish without a trace within about 2 months after disposal.

Restaurant owners looking for a greener alternative to traditional take-out containers may find the Harvest Collection from the Hubert Company meets their needs. The plates, cups, and containers withstand temperatures up to 130° and are made of compostable and renewable resources like corn, wheat, and rice. Lids are also available for the biodegradable plates and cups, made of 20% post-consumer recycled materials and completely recyclable.

Photo by Alexander H.M. Cascone via Flickr

If eco-friendly flatware is what you’re looking for, WheatWare offers a reusable as well as disposable option for forks, spoons, knives, and chopsticks. The Biomass-75 resin line eliminates 75% of the plastic used in conventional plasticware by using wheat biomass in its place. These utensils are dishwasher safe and withstand temperatures of more than 212°. The Cornware line from WheatWare contains no plastic at all. These disposable forks and spoons are biodegradable and made of 100% compostable materials.

All Occassion Veneerware by Bambu is certified organic, from organically cultivated bamboo.

Bamboo is another great option for green tableware. The disposable line of bamboo Verneerware from Bambu is approved by the FDA and biodegrades within 6 months of discarding. The company also offers bamboo cutting boards, festive lacquerware bowls, and all-natural cooking utensils - all carefully crafted from abundant and durable bamboo.

There are several other earth-friendly products available that eliminate both the environmental and health hazards associated with conventional dinnerware. Feel free to add to this list in the comments and share your own feedback on green tableware!

Ever consider going green with your furniture? Chances are you may have but are concerned about the cost. Green furniture can be quite expensive and hard to find at times. Whether you want to go used, are a do-it-yourselfer or simply prefer to buy new here are some ways to get started on your green furniture shopping.

This article will help you excel in green living by providing you with a few general tips as well as specific furniture pieces to consider while developing a green den or living room to its full potential potential - and will help you create these green living spaces without breaking the bank.

Green Living Room Furniture - Go Used

Going used is the simplest and shortest route to going green and is an easy option for those looking to go green without spending too much money. Buying used furniture effectively recycles an old product and isn’t wasteful, and it’s economical, too. One problem is: you may not be able to go quite as eco-friendly as you would like to be able to. Additionally, you are going to have to go on the buyer’s word that your product is free of toxic finishes, convenience-based chemicals, and more. This is the quickest solution for those looking to go green in their living room, but there are more unknown variables in play. If the risks are not worth it to you then read on for other green living room furniture options.

Green Living Furniture - Do It Yourself

It isn’t necessary to obtain a pre-made piece of green furniture for your home. Instead, you can take matters into your own hands. Recycled, FSC-certified (Forest Stewardship Council) wood can be purchased and put towards your next living room piece, if you’re at all handy and looking to perform some of the processes yourself. Add the least-toxic finish of your choice onto the wood, and you’ve saved yourself a wad of cash while meeting at least some green guidelines. You’ve also automatically avoided harmful fire-retardant chemicals and other PBDEs, as well as unnatural wrinkle and stain-resistant treatments. However, be sure to track the source of your recycled wood if buying from a third party and if the wood is uncertified. Don’t be afraid to ask questions! You will want to be sure what you have is really recycled as there are only roughly a dozen or so certified recycled wood furniture manufacturers, so double-checking won’t hurt and is always wise.

Green Living Furniture - Pre-Made

If you don’t mind spending a little extra cash, you can save yourself the hassle and purchase already-made  green living room furniture made and ready to go (especially if your skill set does not allow for option two above). Items that are made from recycled materials, are products of the FSC, and avoid highly toxic glues and finishes are all available.

IKEA and Crate & Barrel feature recycled wood product lines as do some online outlets. Places such as Greener Lifestyles offer organic cotton, hemp and wool fabrics on green furniture, as well as natural latex foams, recycled polyester fabrics, and more.

Another option would be non-forest materials like bamboo are available that can better fit into your green lifestyle. And, these also won’t hurt your too much financially.

Now that you are versed on what to look for when it comes to green furniture, Viva Terra and Greener Lifestyles are some places to getstarted if you’ve decided to go the “buy new and now!” route. Whatever approach(es) you choose: good luck with making your house and furniture that much more green!