the goode life

Green Maven, the Green Google

Google has picked Green Maven as a featured custom search engine.  I call them the "Green Google".  I always knew it was only a matter of time when everything would have it's green twin.  Green Maven searches turn up anything you want in a green version:

"People want to go green, but they often don't know where to start or even what questions to ask," says Joey Shepp, founder of Green Maven. "Green Maven makes searching for all things green as easy as using Google. If you search for socks, you get organic socks. If you search for cars, you get hybrid cars. Our mission is to make it easy for mainstream to go green."

If you are a business (green, of course) you can add your website.  If you have a blog you might want to consider adding their search box widget to your site (which I will be doing after I post this).  Green Maven is still new as it was launched in late 2006 by some very entreprising MBA students.  They make it easy for everyone now to live The Goode Life, because it's right at your fingertips!

Technorati Tags Green Maven Google search engine

REI: Introduces Environmental Icon

The outdoor equipment and clothing retailer REI which stands for Recreational Equipment, Inc. (I always wondered that!) will be introducing a new label to point out which items are eco-friendly.  This tag will designate which items are made with recycled, renewable, and/or organic fibers.  I love REI as my family are big campers.  So I am so happy to hear this.  They are a great company who have always done their part in the past to be environmentally friendly.  It just seems they are stepping their "game" up even more now.  By mid-September more than 40 items will have the label with more coming.

  "While we previously offered REI brand clothing that contained environmentally sensitive fibers, we are moving from a grassroots approach to a formalized commitment to environmental performance in our products," said Lee Fromson, vice president of REI Gear & Apparel. "Many of our customers recognize that their purchase decisions have a direct impact on the natural world, and we are committed to offering alternatives that are more environmentally friendly."

This is just one more step the company is taking in an effort to reduce its environmental impact in all areas of its business.  Goode Job!

Technorati Tags REI environment eco-sensitive

Eco-millionaires

Gone are the heydays of the Oil Barons.  Get ready to meet the Green Barons.  Here's an interesting article which interviews four entrepreneurs who are already seeing gr$$n.  Looks like green is the new gold.

Elsom

Thank God for Net-a-Porter.com or else we wouldn't be able to get our hands on Sam Elsom's organic jeans.  This is an Australian line which is already in stores in England, Dubai, and of course Australia.  But we Americans are always last in getting our hands on the next best thing and I tend to like to grab things before everyone else does and it becomes trendy.  Although I am a little worried as Kate Moss has already picked up a pair of Sam's jeans and I'm sure it's only a matter of moments before all the fashionistas jump on the trendy jeanwagon.  So who is Sam Elsom?

In 2006, Sam actually wanted to make clothing that was stylish, of high quality, attention to detail with old world tailoring techniques, AND sustainable.  Imagine that!  Here's an interesting tidbit, he uses horsehair canvas from a company in Antwerp who has only one other customer - Dries Van Noten!  Talk about hard to find stuff....Sam also sources from sustainable farmers in India.

Sam truly defines Eco and Chic!

Technorati Tags Sam Elsom organic jeans sustainable

Living Roofs

Matt Burge writes to me about his newest blog called Environment Solutions:  Reporting on environment solutions as they come in from across the globe.  I mention it because he has a posting on Grass Roofs in Norway which I think is very stylish, plus I just finished my article for Bellaonline on Living Roofs (check it out).  I swear, if you are going to build, remodel or re-design please be sure to try to incorporate a green roof, they are seriously eco-chic and offer a ton of benefits to the environment:

• Storm water management
• Cleans the air
• Natural Habitat for wildlife
• Conserve energy
• Doubles the life span of your roof!!!
• Insulation
• Helps those of us living in the concrete jungle reclaim some "green-ness" back
• They are really pretty
• An alternative to a garden for those without a backyard
• A better way to carbon offset

The best thing about living roofs is that everyone can benefit from it!

Technorati Tags green roofs environment Environment Solutions living roofs

The Real World Goes Green

I just found out that MTV's the Real World will be doing a "green" season.  "It will be the true story of seven strangers picked to live in a house and have their lives taped to see what happens when people stop being wasteful and start living green!"  This particular season will be filmed in Hollywood in one of their trademark, over the top, highly styled homes.  I'm most interested in seeing what building they choose to design for the show. 

"The Real World" house will include everything from solar energy solutions to bamboo flooring, recycled glass counters, some sustainable furniture and recycled vintage décor, energy star appliances, a solar heated swimming pool and energy efficient lighting. (they should do a natural swimming pool, these rock!!) Additionally, Bunim-Murray Productions has taken measures to reduce its environmental impact by adopting more environmentally-sound production practices on set. They also are working towards making the production and show carbon-neutral by offsetting remaining carbon emissions after these carbon reducing measures are applied. Eco-friendly elements will be added on a regular basis throughout production and within the show, including products seen with the cast and around the house. This initiative fits seamlessly with thinkMTV's continued environmental efforts which began with the launch of "Break the Addiction" on Earth Day 2006, a multi-platform campaign that encourages young people to make simple changes to improve their lives and to protect the planet.

"Our environment is changing, and young people are realizing that the choices they make in their daily lives can affect the future of the world they live in," said Christina Norman, President, MTV. "The Real World’ has a longstanding history of tackling the issues facing each generation of MTV viewers – and this season, we wanted to empower our audience by incorporating real, actionable solutions that they can take to make their own homes environmentally-friendly."

"Coming back to Los Angeles after 14 years, where else but Hollywood could MTV have brought ‘The Real World?" said Los Angeles City Council President Eric Garcetti, whose 13th district includes the production's location. "The combination of reality-TV excitement with strong ecological practices is a natural fit for Hollywood, the world's capital of entertainment and the place to look for the future of building a sustainable city."

Despite what you may think, this show is still really popular even though it has ventured far from it's "real" roots like the original way back in 1992 - New York!  But you must acknowledge that it was the Real World that launched the whole reality show genre.  I've actually been to the house that was used for the San Francisco season (my friend was remodeling it to sell), it was a nice house across the street from Susie Thompkins (former owner of Esprit), but nothing compared to what they live in today!

This particular season is going to be the most fun to watch as "Hollywood" and "eco-friendly" are exactly synonymous, unless they cast all "environmentalists" which, honestly could be quite boring.  In order to educate and entertain, they need to cast a mix of those who haven't quite yet adapted to The Goode Life, and those who have.  Nonetheless I do anticipate quite an interesting season!

Technorati Tags The Real World MTV eco-friendly Hollywood

Trixie Delicious

The ritual that is called "High Tea" never really caught on here in the US, after all we are the coffee drinkers that once drew crates of tea overboard in rebellion of "no taxation without representation".  In our current world of scandal obsession I think Trixie Delicious has found a way to get us to combine our passions of rebellion with controversy. 

She rescues vintage plates from flea markets and recycles them into tea cups and saucers with adorably naughty words written on them like:  Slut, Wanker, Lust, Misfit, Vicious, Queer, Harlot, and Dipshit; all done in motifs that would make your grandmother proud!

The cups and plates are usable as they have been painted with non-toxic, food safe paint, but if you prefer to just show them off, they do come with hangers. 

Technorati Tags Trixie Delicious teacups

Barney's: Recycle Your Denim

For those of you still holding on to a pair of Chic jeans maybe this might be just the incentive to get rid of them.  The shopping mecca that is Barney's is giving a 20% discount on a new pair of jeans if you bring in a pair to be recycled!  This is the perfect opportunity to drag your mom and her jeans and even your young friends who favor "mom jeans" and get them into a pair of Loomstate for Barneys Green or at least a pair of 7 for all Mankind (which seems to be the new "I'm a hip mom" fave!)

This discount is valid only from August 6th-19th and the jeans must be in wearable condition.

Brangelina's Eco-friendly Vineyard

I'm not intentionally trying to make today an all about wine day, it just so happens that the items in my mailbox that seem the most appealing to me are on vineyards.  Case in point, my friends over at ecorazzi have a story on the new eco-friendly vineyard that was just recently purchased by America's most famous couple, Brangelina.  1000 acres of pure privacy (I'm sure they are hoping)!  The vineyard is in France and is called Chateau Val Joanis.  The purveyors of the land say they believe in using only organic methods of tending the land and no chemical additives.  This comes as no surprise as Brad is know for his green ways and Angelina is a champion of humanity.  Being green never looked so beautiful!

Technorati Tags Brangelina vineyard Chateau Val Joanis ecorazzi

Clif Bar's Wine

Now that we know how to open a bottle of wine without a corkscrew (see below).  It gives me pleasure to introduce a wine bottle you might use to tryout your new found skill.  Treehugger.com is reporting on -the soon to hit the markets wine- called Clif.  If the name looks familiar that's because it's by the same people who bring us the energy snack called ClifBar and Luna (and don't forget those Luna Bar wrappers get made into some chic handbags).  The makers of Clif Wine source their fruits from growers who have a commitment to the environment and sustainability.

Cheers!

Technorati Tags Clif wine treehugger Clifbar