Eco News

The SOLAR IMPULSE HB-SIA is designed to fly both day and night without the need for fuel and without producing any pollution. The plane, which is scheduled to make its first flight later this year, was built to stay airborne for several days operating just on the power emitted by the sun and captured by its solar panels.

The HB-SIA is the first prototype of the Solar Impulse project. Its mission is to demonstrate the feasibility of a complete day-night-day cycle propelled solely by solar energy. The goal and challenge of the craft is to show the viability of renewable energy.

Is this the future of air travel? Head on over to Huffington Post to read all about it.

Many companies talk about social responsibility, but how many of them actually walk the walk and talk the talk? Unfortunately, when it comes to deciding between profits and the environment, the latter is often loses. But, despite this, a few companies are proving that eco-friendliness and profitability do go hand in hand. To learn about the top 5 greenest companies (2009) head over to Environmental Graffiti.

Radiohead frontman Thom Yorke is gearing up his efforts as an environmental campaigner – he’s stepping into politics by playing gig for Britain’s Green Party.The singer is well known for his efforts to promote planet-friendly schemes, even arranging to reduce emissions on Radiohead’s 2008 eco tour.

Now he’s throwing his weight behind the U.K.’s Green Party, which promotes eco-friendly policies, ahead of an upcoming election in Britain this year. Yorke will play a solo concert in Cambridge, England on February 25th to support his buddy Tony Juniper, who is campaigning to become a member of parliament for the Green Party.

In a post on the band’s website, the singer writes, “I’m doing a low key solo thing at the Cambridge Corn Exchange on the 25th Feb. It’s because a friend of mine Tony Juniper (who used to be head of Friends of the Earth and who I went to the Copenhagen Summit with) is hoping to become one of the first Green Members of Parliament in the UK. And i wanted to help him out somehow.”

Pretty cool Yorke!

Martha Stewart is coming clean, and she wants other housekeepers to do the same. The queen of home living has a green cleaning line of things good for the Earth — and your home. In collaboration with the Martha Stewart design team, Hain Celestial developed the eco products for this line, which are primarily derived from plants and minerals to create a clean and natural home and workplace environment.

The products are sensibly and attractively packaged with useful home keeping tips and instructions to ensure that consumers can clean their home safely and effectively, without harming family members or pets.

Home Depot received the exclusive rights to the new “Clean” collection — with each bottle being marked with the chain’s Eco Options label. Clean has even been recognized by the EPA, which gave the line a Design for the Environment award.

The products, which start at $3.99, are available at Home Depot and Amazon.

The Turbine Light concept will officially debut later this month at the Greener Gadgets Conference in New York City. The concept is super cool!

Turbine Light

The eco-friendly street lights work by attaching turbines to light poles, as traffic passed by the wind creating from each vehicle spins the turbines, which in turn harnesses that wind power in order to generate electricity for the lights.

Not sure if the power generated can be stored for the late hours of the night when not as much traffic is being generated, however more details will be announced on February 25th at the Greener Gadgets Conference. Make sure you stay tuned.

Modern Eco Homes is very proud to announce our new partnership offers Free online Energy Audits through their partners, significantly lowering and eliminating energy costs for their customers. The Program benefits both consumers and commercial building owners. It allows the user to receive calculations and information about their current energy usage and provides targeted by zip code information on incentives, credits, rebates and grants offered by the US government and utility companies for maximum energy savings. The Free Energy Audit, delivered through SEES’ proprietary Energy Calculator, provides a comprehensive report and suggests the most cost-effective efficiency improvements for the home or business, saving money, energy and improving the environment.

Sign up by clicking the banner below and start enjoying your energy savings!

Cass Community Social Services, a nonprofit group that works to help Detroit’s homeless, an new gym Wednesday intended to help people get fit while helping the environment at the same time.

The Green Gym, aimed at reducing energy costs, will include 10 stationary bicycles that generate electricity to be redirected into Cass’ power grid. How much? The non-profit estimates that if each bike is used in four daily classes for a year, they will produce enough power to light 36 homes for a month.

Most homeless shelters are drab, old buildings, but more are going green as local governments and community groups seek to save money by building new energy-efficient facilities or retrofitting old ones. New eco-friendly shelters have been built in California, Illinois, Texas and Virginia, among other places.

Not only is this gym a good idea for the environment, but it will also help keep the clients, who often struggle with diseases, active while contributing to the planet.

Making energy-efficient improvements in your home can drastically reduce your family’s carbon footprint since much of the energy used in our homes comes from the burning of fossil fuels at power plants. And while we all know increased energy efficiency means reduced energy costs in your home, did you know it can also translate into bigger tax breaks? Here are a few of the things you can do in 2010 to save more money and take advantage of lucrative tax breaks come next year.

Under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act passed last year, homeowners who purchase qualifying energy-efficient products or a renewable energy system are eligible for a federal tax credit. The credit can be equal to 30 percent of the total cost, up to a maximum of $1,500. In addition, there is no income restriction for the credit and limits on individual items (as there was with the 2007 credit) are no longer in place. So that means homeowners can claim the full credit for windows, a new water heater, or whatever it is they need.

Replacing windows? Look for those with the Energy Star label to take advantage of the federal tax credit.

However, homeowners should be forewarned that not all products with the Energy Star label will qualify for the credit. Qualification for the credit depends on the manufacturer and qualifying products will come with a certification statement. Keep a copy of the statement, which you may need when it comes time to file your taxes.

If you’re looking for an even bigger tax credit, look no further than alternative energy. Homeowners who install solar water heaters, geothermal heat pumps or another alternative energy system qualify for a 30 percent tax credit with no cap. Or if you are in the market for a new car, purchasing certain hybrid vehicles can yield the tax credit as well. Once the manufacturer of qualifying vehicles sells 60,000 models, the credit will no longer be valid.

Visit the official Energy Star website to learn more about the energy efficient tax credit and which products or home systems qualify.

She spends her days practicing Ashtanga yoga and tantric sex; she eats only organic; she’s keen on rainforests and would like, if at all possible, to save the planet. Oh, and her husband is a global pop superstar whose social conscience is almost as big as his bank balance.

Gaiam’s Celebrity Yoga Instructor Trudie Styler was on Martha Stewart this morning. As you know, Trudie is married to famed musician Sting and is an actress, film producer, director, human rights activist, environmentalist, organic farmer and UNICEF Ambassador. Styler has practiced yoga for years and has just launched the first of five yoga DVDs. She recently told the Daily Ma Main that she practices for 45 to 90 minutes every day, no matter where she is.

Gaiam is offering promotions on the yoga products featured on the Martha Stewart Show, plus you receive $.99 shipping on your order over $40 with code AFSNOW. Below are some of the great products available.

Trudie Styler’s Warrior Yoga DVD – As Seen on Martha Stewart. Save 13%, now only $13.00. Purchase HERE.

Trudie Styler Warrior Yoga DVD - Music by Sting

Gaiam Medallions Printed Yoga Mat – As Seen on Martha Stewart. Save 18%, now only $18.00. Purchase HERE.

Medallions Yoga Mat

Gaiam Medallions Aluminum Water Bottle – As Seen on Martha Stewart. Save 23% , now only $9.99. Purchase HERE.

Tres Medallion Aluminum Water Bottle