Charcoal Kills 2 Million People & Vast Swaths of Forest Every Year. Can Biofuel Stop the Carnage?

Here’s the pitch: CleanStar, whose primary partner is Novozymes, the world’s largest industrial enzymes producer, will help farmers cultivate a variety of crops in a novel, sustainable manner.

LEED: The Infographic

LEED: The Infographic takes a look at LEED Certification which provides third-party certification of the environmental health of homes and buildings. LEED was created by the U.S. Green Building Council in 1998 and it provides a verification for both builders and building owners that their projects meet certain levels of sustainability standards decided on by LEED committees.

Wind, Solar…Coconuts: Small Island Developing States Commit to Renewable, Sustainable Energy for All

Tropical island nations are even turning back to one of their iconic trees, one that was in the past a driver of local economies and international trade– the coconut palm. The tall, flexible and strong swaying coconut palms that grace many a tropical island post card are a renewable, naturally recyclable source of a wide range of products, including transportation fuel, oil, food and fiber.

US Navy Thinks Renewable Energy is the Future, But House Republicans Don’t Want Them to Have It

We’ve covered many times the efforts of the US Navy, driven largely by a desire to secure stable and domestic sources of energy, to create a so-called Great Green Fleet and Green Strike Force—that is, ships and planes powered by biofuels. Check out the links to the left if you’re not up to speed on those effort.

Avoiding Food Waste with Your Smart Phone

Scientist at Germany’s Fraunhofer Institute are working on technology that can eliminate even more of that food waste by making every consumer a quality tester. They’re developing a miniature spectrometer which could attach to your smart phone and tell you at the point of sale how ripe that fruit or vegetable is (or, for that matter, how good a piece meat is).

Alcatel-Lucent is a Paris based company that has created a cube shaped antenna that fits right in your hand, called a light radio.

Advantages to the lightRadio cube:

• small in size with plans to use them to eliminate large, expensive cell phone towers.  For anyone that’s dropped a call this comes as good news.
• can be mounted just about anywhere, from your desk to office building.
• less expensive to create, use and maintain than standard cell towers.
• easily expansion of your network for personal or professional use.

According to Alcatel, “lightRadio is a smart solution to a tough set of problems: high energy costs, the explosion of video on mobile, and connecting the unconnected,” says Ben Verwaayen, chief executive of Alcatel. “lightRadio will signal the end of the basestation and the cell tower as we know it today.”

Look to see more about the lightRadio cube as it connects with Verizon, Samsung, Ericson, and Sprint to test drive it’s capabilities and features for the future.

Mother’s Day is a great time for showing appreciation to the many nurturing women in our lives.

While family gatherings and special dinners are wonderful ways to spend the occasion, green-minded gifts can add a special touch.

It’s always nice to receive a present. However, because everything eco-friendly is intended to make a positive impact on people (and the world around us), environmentally conscious gifts are often that much more meaningful.

Here are a few green items to consider as a surprise for your mother (or mothering figure) on this year’s Mother’s Day:

1. Plants: Since a little extra color and life indoors is always welcome one of the greenest gifts anyone can give is a simple plant or assortment of plants like a garden box of herbs. Flowers are nice but they only last so long.
2. Essential oils: Whether they are for moisturizing, aromatic healing, or even used as a form of bug repellent essential oils make excellent green products to have around the house.
3. A Water filter: Sometimes tap water just doesn’t do it for mom, which means some mothers may need to buy bottled water lugging liter after liter home. A water filter installed by the kitchen sink can be an amazing gift that will save time and effort when trying to quench a thirst. Also it will reduce the amount of plastic being brought into the home.
4. Sparkling water machine: Just like water filters cut down on bottled water purchases and plastic consumption, if your mother loves soda water a sparkling water machine can be an amazing gift to give her. They are easy to use and often don’t require electricity. The only maintenance is occasionally refilling the gas.
5. Energy saving appliances: When it comes to household appliances like refrigerators, which run twenty four hours a day, energy efficiency can make a big difference on the electric bill. If you really want to surprise the mother of the house secretly replace an older appliance like a fridge with an energy saving model.
6. Recycled gifts: Whether it’s the stock cards are made from or the wrapping around a box of chocolates try and make sure gifts are either packed with recycled materials, are biodegradable, or can be recycled after use.
7. Local produce: Buying local isn’t always convenient because of distance or availability but for Mother’s Day go the extra mile and purchase some produce, eggs, cheese, honey or other foods from nearby farms or artisans. Then prepare a hearty breakfast or Mother’s Day dinner.
8. Organic produce: If local produce isn’t available try having a healthier meal by supporting organic distributors and picking up some of their fruits and vegetables.
9. A compost bucket: A compost bucket gives mothers a chance to live a more eco-friendly lifestyle with little effort as food scraps that are returned to the ground cut down on waste going to the dump and provide important nutrients for the summer garden. This isn’t the most romantic gift but depending on its presentation it can be styling!
10. Camping gear: If a plant is one of the greenest gifts for the home then camping gear that includes a tent, pack, headlamp, and book of local trails tops the list for great outdoor green gifts. With the warm season here and this gear at arms reach going camping with the family can be a great way to get away from it all with the people mom loves best.

Jakob Barry wrote this article. He is a home improvement journalist for Networx.com and blogs on sites like Phoenix, AZ, tile contractors and carpentry contractors in Tampa, FL.

With the trend of being green and eco-friendly in the tourism industry becoming increasingly popular, I find it amusing to see how some marketing strategies are pushing their product to be the best eco choice for travelers worldwide. Take Bhutan, for instance. Tucked away in the Himalayas, its remote location screams environmental as there isn’t much else around except the “awe-inspiring surroundings … fresh mountain air and … towering peaks” (Eco-Friendly Treks & Expeditions, 2012). There isn’t much development in Bhutan – the people live simple lives where pollution, over-crowded cities and other issues never come to be. “The tourism industry in Bhutan is founded on the principle of sustainability, meaning that tourism must be environmentally and ecologically friendly, socially and culturally acceptable and economically viable” (Eco-Friendly Treks & Expeditions, 2012).

Prior to getting drawn into the magic of Bhutan’s many unclimbed Himalayan peaks, I was fascinated by the marketing scheme behind trying to get travelers to make a stop in Bhutan. The hook to draw people in was none other than eco-friendly treks and expeditions. It makes me wonder if there could possibly be a type of trekking/expedition tour that is not friendly to the environment. It is not as though outdoor adventurers are clambering over mountains to meet up at a secluded nuclear plant in the middle of nowhere. It is not as though tramping companies are setting out to pave pathways and level off forests to create more walking room. It is not even as though remote mountain rivers have become polluted from the non-eco trekkers of the world.

If there was such a thing as an eco-trek, what does mean for all the non eco-treks worldwide? Are those not advertising to be eco, suddenly less eco-friendly? Are these guiding companies now suddenly filled with the urge to encourage their customers to litter in the bush while on tour? Would these non eco-trekking companies be followed by an airplane carrying their food to the camp for the night, thereby polluting the air? What is it that makes one trekking company eco and another one not?

To me it is all simply a marketing scheme to get eco-buffs to buy into their product. Trekking as a sport is one of the most eco-friendly things a person can do when exploring a new place. Aside from perhaps the plane ride to get there, there isn’t much to the sport to make it much more eco-friendly than what it already is in its most natural form. Walking.

Travelling on foot is one of the best ways a person can get to know a place, whether in the city, country or remote wilderness. Putting one foot in front of the other forces us to take note of every little thing we pass. Touch. Smell. Hear. See. And yes, even all those bugs we somehow get to taste. There are many ways to go by foot – one can trek, tramp, hike, traverse, do an expedition, climb or even just walk. Whether on your own, with a friend/family or in a group of people you just met – it can be a short wander or a massive climb of a mountain. Regardless, being on foot makes us that much more closer to nature.

Sure, there are the arguments that doing a trek can be harmful to the environment when there are many people traipsing through an area, scaring the wildlife and ruining the vegetation. But as far as I’m concerned, I figure people should stop worrying about those that want to explore the nature we have and start worrying more about the nature that is literally disappearing before our eyes. Even New York is so short on places to plant trees that they have developed rooftop gardens to create a bit of greenery in the concrete-clad city. I personally think that a person who plants a tree on top of a 50-story building has kind of lost the point.

And what about all those forests being cut down for new developments that “must” be done? What about all the rivers that are too high and those that are too low? What about all the pollution that is pumped into our air on a daily basis? What about those issues?

When looking at the tourism industry, instead of trekking companies trying to advertise their product as being more eco-friendly than the next, I’d love to see a jet boat company come forward with an eco-friendly plan. Or what about Formula 1 Races? What are they doing to be eco-friendly? There are so many other tourist companies and attractions that need to be more interested in developing and promoting their product as being eco-friendly. Trekking has been, is and always will be one of the best activities to do at home or when travelling that is eco-friendly.

So go take your dog for a walk, do the day hike you always wanted or maybe start planning your next big adventure in Bhutan amongst the Himalayas. Regardless, take time to breathe in some fresh area and enjoy the nature that surrounds you.

Bibliography

Eco-Friendly Treks & Expeditions. (2012, January 1). Welcome: Bhutan Page. Retrieved May 11, 2012, from Eco-Friendly Treks & Expeditions: http://www.nepalholiday.com/bhutan/index.htm

Eco-Friendly Treks & Expeditions. (2012, January 1). Welcome: Bhutan Trekking. Retrieved May 11, 2012, from Eco-Friendly Treks & Expeditions: http://www.nepalholiday.com/bhutan/bhutan_trekking/bhutan_trekking.html

Info Please. (2012). Bhutan. Retrieved May 11, 2012, from Info Please: http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0107341.html

We are continuing our series on e-waste by talking to expert, Wesley Vaughn, from Rocky Mountain e-Waste.

What is the risk to the environment due to electronic waste not being properly disposed of?

• Americium: the radioactive source in smoke alarms. It is known to be carcinogenic.
• Mercury: found in fluorescent tubes (numerous applications), tilt switches (mechanical doorbells, thermostats),^[42] and flat screen monitors. Health effects include sensory impairment, dermatitis, memory loss, and muscle weakness. Environmental effects in animals include death, reduced fertility, slower growth and development.
• Sulphur: found in lead-acid batteries. Health effects include liver damage, kidney damage, heart damage, eye and throat irritation. When released in to the environment, it can create sulphuric acid.
• BFRs: Used as flame retardants in plastics in most electronics. Includes PBBs, PBDE, DecaBDE, OctaBDE, PentaBDE. Health effects include impaired development of the nervous system, thyroid problems, liver problems. Environmental effects: similar effects as in animals as humans. PBBs were banned from 1973-1977 on. PCBs were banned during the 1980s.
• Cadmium: Found in light-sensitive resistors, corrosion-resistant alloys for marine and aviation environments, and nickel-cadmium batteries. The most common form of cadmium is found in Nickel-cadmium rechargeable batteries. These batteries tend to contain between 6-18% cadmium. The sale of Nickel-Cadmium batteries has been banned in the European Union except for medical use. When not properly recycled it can leach into the soil, harming microorganisms and disrupting the soil ecosystem. Exposure is caused by proximity to hazardous waste sites and factories and workers in the metal refining industry. The inhalation of cadmium can cause severe damage to the lungs and is also known to cause kidney damage.^[43]
• Lead: solder, CRT monitor glass, lead-acid batteries, some formulations of PVC.^[44] A typical 15-inch cathode ray tube may contain 1.5 pounds of lead,^[2] but other CRTs have been estimated as having up to 8 pounds of lead.^[20]
• Beryllium oxide: filler in some thermal interface materials such as thermal grease used on heatsinks for CPUs and power transistors,^[45]magnetrons, X-ray-transparent ceramic windows, heat transfer fins in vacuum tubes, and gas lasers.

What are the benefits of properly disposing of electronic waste like music players, cell phones, or computers for example?

Recycling raw materials from end-of-life electronics is the most effective solution to the growing e-waste problem. Most electronic devices contain a variety of materials, including metals that can be recovered for future uses.

By dismantling and providing reuse possibilities, intact natural resources are conserved and air and water pollution caused by hazardous disposal is avoided.

Additionally, recycling reduces the amount of greenhouse gas emissions caused by the manufacturing of new products. It simply makes good sense and is efficient to recycle and to do our part to keep the environment green.

It also provides jobs and ability to raise money for charitable organizations.

What can owners of products that contribute to e-waste due to make the recycling process run smoother?  What advice do you have for them before they make a drop off?

To protect yourself or business, it is a good idea to keep track of your electronic equipment. Record on a spreadsheet the model numbers and serial numbers. Ensure your recycler records what is being recycled and sign a equipment release form. Update your records. Determine whether or not you will keep your hard drives or recycle them. Ensure your recycler gives you a record of the serial numbers if you decide to recycle them. The best thing to do is have us come to your location and shred the data on site.

I recently read about this report in 2009 the Behavior Research Center reported about how consumers typically dispose of electronics:

• 39% would donate to charities such as Goodwill Industries
• 25% would palm it off on a friend
• 15% would simply put it in the garbage destined for landfills
• 4% said they have no clue what to do with their electronic stuff

Would you say that since that time people are now more aware of recycling electronic waste and are making more efforts to recycle it?     Why or Why not?

This is a difficult question to answer. With technology increasing, electronics reach their End of Life quicker. I believe that more people are aware of recycling and its’ importance, but the percentage of items getting recycled is less. More needs to be done.

What can be done to make people more aware of how to recycle e-waste? 

There is no secret answer to this. I work with the Boy Scouts of America and that is how I got involved in recycling. There is not enough recycling companies who are actually going out and educating consumers and businesses on recycling. People need to get involved in their home, work place, and community and recycle and encourage others to do the same. Get involved with legislation.

I know that for our family, e-waste has become an important issue.  Our area seems to have many opportunities to recycle, but let’s remember not all of them are created equal.  Some could do more harm than good.  It’s important to use the recommendations provided here to keep track of your data and your ewaste recycling efforts as well as to make your efforts even bigger ones in your home, community and world.

Have you encountered an ewaste company in your community?  Do you have any suggestions or recommendations about ewaste disposal?  We would love to hear from you!

Nine out of 10 psychos agree: Heartland’s bonkers climate billboards need company!

Oh, Heartland Institute. We thought you were climate-sanity adversaries on par with Sauron, but your latest PR move reminds us more of Wile E. Coyote: desperate overreach followed by spectacular flameout.

Map Shows Which States Are Cranking Out Renewable Power

The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) has released a map that shows which states have the highest concentration of renewable power. The map compares 2001 to 2011 and displays the share of total net generation of non-hydro renewable energy for each state.

Smallest Seahorse in the US Set to Be Listed as Endangered as its Coastal Habitat Disappears

The dwarf seahorse, native to shallow seagrass along the Gulf of Mexico, Florida Keys and areas of the Caribbean, looks set to placed on the endangered species list, in part due to the destruction of its natural habitat. The National Marine Fisheries Service has issued a report backing a petition filed two years ago by the Center for Biological Diversity, which claims that the diminutive seahorse, the smallest in US waters, could soon become extinct due to a range of threats, from illegal fishing to bycatch mortality and habitat loss, the latter of which has accelerated with frequent oil spills (including the 2010 Deepwater Horizon disaster).

Japan Goes Completely Nuclear Free, But Greenhouse Gas Emissions From Fossil Fuels Surge

Tomorrow Japan will become completely nuclear free for the first time since 1970 as it shuts down the Tomari nuclear reactor on the island of Hokkaido. One by one the country’s 54 nuclear reactors have been shuttered for maintenance, but they have not reopened because of the public’s fears over their safety.

Hammocks Are the New Awesome

Yellow Leaf Hammocks make the variety of hammocks you see below, which includes a number of colors, patterns and styles (love the chair version – perfect for reading!) and they also have impressive social and sustainable cred, including economic health, environmental stewardship, social equity and cultural stewardship.

Check out their products, they’re helping support small tribes in Southeast Asia who were severely affected significant deforestation.

Ma Jun Takes on Technology, Apparel Industries and Chinese Government to Fight Factory Pollution

Ma Jun won a Goldman Environmental Prize last month for his work to improve corporate environmental standards in China by increasing transparency and accountability in the manufacturing industry. The organization he founded, the Institute of Public and Environmental Affairs (IPE), created two pollution databases exposing over 90,000 air and water violations by local and multinational companies. Jun also developed the Green Choice supply chain program, encouraging consumers to influence corporate behavior.

Thailand’s green car manufacturing took a beating, back to ticking

Last fall, Thailand was hit by a devastating flood that damaged parts of 65 of Thailand’s 77 provinces, killed 815 people and affected the lives and homes of more than 13 million. Some parts of Bangkok were under over two meters (6.5 feet) of water (PDF) and normal life in the city came to a halt. Those are incredible numbers, but the story of what happened since then is just as amazing. Aside from the intense work of the people, which is astonishing in its own way, we recently learned that the country – the local auto industry included – is bouncing back.

Top 5 Figures Influencing Renewable Energy in the U.S.

As Oilprice.com embarks on its Top 5 series, we thought it expedient to begin with our take on the key figures shaping and influencing U.S. renewable energy efforts, not least because the issue of energy security is being prioritized in campaigning ahead of U.S. presidential elections.

Underground Homes as Natural Disaster Shelters

It may seem obvious that underground homes often serve well as natural disaster shelters. This is especially true of the underground homes that are built from concrete and rebar. Some people use wood in their underground homes, but this is not as secure if you’re wanting your house to double as an emergency shelter.

Using green gamification for fun and fame

Gamification applies game design to make otherwise boring tasks more engaging. Think of airline points and loyalty cards. However, the rise of social media and mobile internet (smart phones, tablets) has taken games to whole new level of customer engagement (some say addiction!) and online sharing of brand loyalty.

Organic vs. Conventional Farming

Pesticides, fertilizers and antibiotics — the triadic mainstay of the conventional farmer/rancher but anathema to many concerned about how these modern farming “tools” affect our food and environment. The answer? Some say organic farming.
But is it really the answer?

This small West African country – tucked between Togo and Nigeria – is about to have a major change to the quality of life for the local people. Proniso has developed a “sola PV energy system to be installed in a foyer that provides accommodation to homeless young people” (Cruz, 2012). Because of this one simple initiative, 250 people’s lives will benefit.

Combining forces with Energy Without Borders, Movement for the Realisation of the Social Habitat (MIRHAS-Peru), Corazonistas Foundation, Caritas Yurimaguas and NGO Youth and Development. Benin isn’t the only country to benefit from Proinso’s project either. There are a total of 5 projects to be carried out that are all part of the “Solar Energy Solidarity programme… to help underprivileged groups lacking the financial or technical resources to generate solar PV energy” (Proinso, 2012).

Rather than simply focusing on a quick fix solution to providing electricity, Proinso has jumped at the opportunity to provide a more earth-friendly long-term solution to struggling communities. By using the sun, Proinso eliminates many of the issues associated with trying to get electricity to some of these communities. As great as this is, I am still left with the question as to why solar panels became such a priority for homeless youth. Are there no other issues that need dealing with prior to hooking up a few lightbulbs? Even still, though these youth are without a home – surely their lives are benefited through the eco-friendly solution of solar panels. Right?

Bibliography

Cruz, L. (2012, March 20). PROINSO’s Solar Energy Solidarity Project to Benefit 19,000 in Peru, Togo and Benin. Retrieved April 23, 2012, from Eco-Friendly Tips: http://ecofriendlytip.com/2012/03/22/proinsos-solar-energy-solidarity-project-to-benefit-19000-in-peru-togo-and-benin/

Info Please. (2012). Benin. Retrieved April 23, 2012, from Info Please: http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0107337.html

Price, T. (2012, April 11). Five PV charity projects earmarked for Pero, Togo and Benin. Retrieved April 23, 2012, from Renewable Energy Magazine: http://www.renewableenergymagazine.com/pv_solar-19974-71-Five%20PV%20charity%20projects%20earmarked%20for%20Pero,%20Togo%20and%20Benin

Proinso. (2012, March 20). PROINSO’s Solar Energy Solidarity project to benefit 19,000 in Peru, Togo and Benin. Retrieved April 23, 2012, from Proinso: http://www.proinso.net/_bin/noticias.php?noticias=2012&id_noticia=157#m157

Today we have the opportunity to hear from Wesley Vaughn, owner of Rocky Mountain E-waste, about e-waste and what his company does to help the environment and their community.

Wes, thank you so much for taking the time to talk to me about e-waste.   First, could you tell us what e-waste is?  Some people think it’s just computers, but it is a whole lot more isn’t it? 

E-waste is a popular, informal name for electronic products nearing the end of their “useful life.” Computers, televisions, VCRs, stereos, copiers, and fax machines are common electronic products. Other items include laptops, cell phones, printers, LCD & LED monitors, CRT monitors, GPS units, Ipods, MP3 players, UPS battery back ups, mother boards, graphics cards, CPU memory, processors, power supplies, heat syncs, keyboards, mice. All of this is e-waste if discarded by an individual or company.  To cut down on e-waste we encourage the philosophy of Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle.

You have your own business, Rocky Mountain E-waste.   What exactly does your business do? 

We partner with individuals and companies and educate them on what they can do to Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle electronics. Our mission is to help individuals and companies to leave no environmental footprints. We also partner to ensure their data is destroyed properly.

Who are some of the leaders that are recycling their E-Waste through you?

We collect from individuals and companies. Some of the leaders in this industry are…

• Microcenter
• Data Tech Labs
• DVD Your Memories
• On Site Consulting
• Murray Motors
• Freeway Ford
• Office Max
• Subway
• Colorado Eye Care
• Laptop Repair
• BCI Group
• Rocky Mountain Recycling
• Farmers Insurance
• Denver Federal Center
• More are being added everyday.
• Wayne Hagin , formerly Colorado Rockies broadcaster, is also assisting.

What is the process if someone is interested in recycling their used electronics using Rocky Mountain?  Is there pick up available?  Drop off?  Is there a fee for either one? 

Both pick up and drop off is available. Pick up comes  with a trip charge. It depends on how far and how much. Most trip charges are around $35 to $40. CRT monitors come with a $10 charge. Direct any questions (or to schedule a pick up), anyone can call call Wesley Vaughan at 720-254-8570.

What happens after the e-waste is collected?

We first determine if it can be reused. If it can be reused, the equipment is cleaned and wiped of data and resold or donated to various charitable groups. If it needs to be recycled, the equipment is broken down into individual components and turned over to local recyclers where it is melted down and the metals are pulled out. These metals then are sold to manufacturers to be used again.

Could you tell me a little bit more about Rocky Mountain’s e-waste school fundraising program? 

We partner with The Denver Public Schools Foundation and organize recycling drives. We pick a good day and location for the drive. When people drop off items we ask for a small donation to help offset costs, and in return we will properly handle all electronics. All donations are given to the schools.

Recycling my cell phone is pretty easy.  Verizon is my carrier.  They transfer the data to your new phone (and in my case even gave me my SIM card) and then collect phones for use by domestic violence victims.  But recycling a computer or laptop is a whole other creature.  Isn’t there a real fear about data left on a computer? 

How do you at Rocky Mountain E-waste preform data destruction on donated items?

We are partners with Data Tech Labs, located at the Microcenter Center Plaza. All hard drives are turned over to Data Tech Labs. All hard drives are wiped, as well as phones. For a small fee, customers can request a certificate of destruction or wipe.

Generally speaking, what happens to electronic waste after it is collected?  What does “disposed of properly” involve?   

This is a very good question. All consumers should know what happens to their items that are recycled. A lot of recyclers will tell you what happens to their items, but would they be willing to show proof?  Rocky Mountain E-Waste breaks everything down if it is being recycled, or resold if it still works. We welcome anyone to look at our records and see that it is all recycled here locally and in other states. 100% of all items are reused or recycled. We keep accurate records of all shipments.

If we aren’t in the Denver, CO area, where could we find a company that does electronic waste recycling in our area?  

The best thing to do is Google “Recycling Companies” and look at their websites, visit their location, ask them questions about what they do with what they collect. Do they contribute to the community? Ask for referrals.

It is important to get referrals. We recently attempted some e-waste disposal, and we ended up being very disappointed in the company.

Thanks so much to Wes for making the time to talk with us and for providing us with some much needed information on how e-waste disposal is conducted, as well as what to do with our old electronic equipment.

Learn more at Rocky Mountain E-Waste

Short dorm memory: Can software stoke college kids to save power?

Over a two-month period, 200,000 students from 100 schools around the United States saved 1.74 gigawatt-hours of electricity, avoiding 2.6 million pounds of CO2 emissions generating $157,925 in energy savings. That’s enough to power to take 151 U.S. homes off the grid for a year. And they did it all in the hopes of winning the honor of being the greenest school.

Man Relocates 30,000 Bees Found Living in an Attic

Given the imperiled state of bee populations across the U.S. due to colony collapse disorder, which has wiped-out as much as 90 percent of the nation’s wild honeybees, Victoria chose not to call an exterminator. Instead, she called a bee-rescuer.

Get your ass on that bike!

Today, America kicks off National Bike Month, our annual homage to two-wheeled travel. Here in Seattle, Grist’s hometown, every month can seem like bike month: Hearty souls ride in weather when full scuba gear is requisite. But today brought sunshine, and cyclists swarmed the streets, swerving through traffic, towing kiddie trailers through downtown rush hour, and generally acting like they owned the place.

Cadillac ELR extended-range plug-in could debut in 2014

The ELR will use a powertrain similar to the one in the Chevrolet Volt, though the ELR’s powertrain is expected to have a longer electric-only range than the current range of about 35 miles. ELR sales in Europe and China should follow the North American debut by about a year.

LEED Platinum Shoebox House in Santa Fe

This is The Shoebox House in Santa Fe, New Mexico. It’s an award-winning design — Citation Award from the Santa Fe chapter of the AIA — that also captured LEED Platinum certification with 88 points, a phenomenal feat given some of the challenges. Architect and builder Gabe Brown, Praxis Design/Build, was able to put a 1,700 square foot home on a 2,300 square-foot L-shaped lot, while still giving the owner a separate art studio, a gallery-like living room, two bedrooms, two bathrooms, and a study.