Responsible Fundraising » phoneraiser

Lifestraw

phoneraiser — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 21:56:36 +0000

Water purification for the other 90%. A low cost ($2) water purification device for those living in third world countries.

(image borrowed from flickr user Nieuwslicht)

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2007/12/lifestraw_versi.php

http://www.lifestraw.com/en/high/maincont2.asp

Smart’s in Dallas!

phoneraiser — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 18:17:27 +0000

I had my first Smart car siting today! The land of the SUV has finally been infiltrated by tiny plastic cars! The strange thing about this though, is that the one I saw was a CDi with Ontario plates. Strange. I know their are more of them around, though. My wife has occasionally been seeing them on US-75 (central expressway to the locals) prior to today.

As far as I know, the CDi has not arrived in the states yet. (Hopefully someone will say otherwise in the comments.) This is unfortunate because a Smart car equipped with the CDi diesel engine can get up to 71 mpg. 71 MPG. Not a typo. The reason they are not in the U.S.? Emissions laws. That may seem backwards, but the most stringent emissions laws in the U.S. (those based on California’s) prohibit diesel cars because of the higher particulate levels in their exhaust. Newer “50 state legal” diesels are coming on-line in the near future because of new engine technology and new lower sulfur diesel, but it can’t come soon enough. High gas prices will be the major driver of demand for these cars, but America’s dependency on oil from weak states, the environmental cost from our insatiable demand for energy, and a myriad of other reasons highlight the need for these cars.

I look forward to when they arrive. For now, I am really happy to see people adopting tiny cars right here in DFW.

Mcdonald’s Backs Biofuels in Britian

phoneraiser — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 19:59:09 +0000

How’s that for alliteration? This is a little behind the times (well more than a little, the story broke over 7 months ago) but it’s great news none the less. As of this year, the Mcdonald’s fleet of trucks (lorries to those on the other side of the pond) in the UK will be using Mcdonald’s own used cooking oil as fuel. Mcdonald’s is often used as a punching bag by health advocates and is often seen as a symbol of what is wrong with American corporations, but this is certainly a step in the right direction. This action will prevent over 1,650 tons of carbon emissions and is an example of how a company can use take small steps towards becoming more sustainable. Here’s hoping they will bring this program to their home turf.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/6259328.stm

http://uk.reuters.com/article/businessNews/idUKMOL23573620070702?pageNumber=2&virtualBrandChannel=0

Wind Turbine Carnage!

phoneraiser — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 16:02:11 +0000

You hate to see any type of renewable energy source taken out of commission, but it sure is cool to watch. The wind turbine self destructs after it’s brakes fail to slow it down in high winds. Story.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7nSB1SdVHqQ&rel=1]

Repurpose that Ipod Packaging

phoneraiser — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 15:03:04 +0000

Reuse that ipod shuffle or nano packaging to create a set of ipod speakers. You could do this yourself if you were handy with a soldering iron and had a couple of speakers laying around, but here is an easier way:

http://www.tuaw.com/2008/01/23/bird-electron-ez17-b-ipod-recycling-speaker/

Urban Forestry

phoneraiser — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 16:37:44 +0000

What do you think of when you hear the word “trees?” You may think of greenery, your favorite tree at the local park, or the sound they make when the wind blows through their leaves. These things are all pretty positive. You may even call trees soothing.

Now scientists are starting to measure the physiological impact that trees have on people. Not surprisingly, people’s heart rates have been shown to drop around trees. Even more intriguing are the studies that focused on patients with views of trees outside their hospital room and those without. Those with the views of trees required less pain medication and were able to leave the hospital quicker.

This University of Georgia article goes over all of this and discusses the relief that trees may provide in an urban setting.

There are many groups that are championing the cause of urban forestry. There is even one dedicated to improving and expanding urban forests in the north central Texas area. Texas Trees Foundation plants trees, ensures a healthy supply of plant-able trees, and provides education on the importance of trees in an urban environment.

Nanosolar

phoneraiser — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 16:39:34 +0000

Solar’s day as an economical alternative to coal may have come. Nanosolar has started selling their “printed” solar cells.

http://www.engadget.com/2007/12/18/nanosolar-begins-shipping-world-s-lowest-cost-solar-panel/

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/18/technology/18solar.html?ex=1355634000&en=091b06819623f9d0&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss

http://www.nanosolar.com/blog3/2007/12/18/nanosolar-ships-first-panels/

Credo Mobile and Solio Solar Cell Charger

phoneraiser — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 16:31:43 +0000

Ever heard of Credo Mobile? Check them out. They are a cell phone carrier that donates 1% of charges to progressive non-profits such as Greenpeace, Amnesty International, and Doctors Without Borders.

They are also offering a Solio solar cell phone charger with purchase of a LG LX150. I hadn’t seen this particular device before, so I researched it a little. It seems to be a nice little gadget. From all accounts, the device is sturdy, well designed, and a simple, practical solution for power hungry electronics.

A Whole Year? Really?

phoneraiser — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 23:06:32 +0000

Wow, it’s been over a year since our first post. Doesn’t really feel like it. We have had a few posts, but could certainly do better. Look for more articles coming from this blog in the new year. We want to definitely beat our number of posts last year. There are already some in the pipe, so look for some in the next couple of days!

Thanks for reading!

Christmas Tree Recycling

phoneraiser — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 15:38:41 +0000

Most of you have probably already junked that Christmas tree, but if you still have that pine in your living room and are ready to get rid of it, consider recycling. Many local municipalities and some businesses will take that Christmas tree and turn it into useful mulch. Sounds like a dignified end to your friend that covered your presents and held your ornaments through the holiday.

To find a local drop off, visit the web address below and type in your zip code or select your state.

http://earth911.org/search-recycle?what=christmas+tree…..