Environmental News Network - Spotlight

Efficient Jeans: Those Made With Organic Cotton Or Hemp

Mon, 24 Nov 2008 09:29:00 EST

Efficient jeans are still hard to find. Conventionally grown cotton requires more pesticides to grow than any other crop. The more efficient method is to grow organic cotton or hemp. The surf company Reef makes some good organic cotton jeans, like their Heritage Jean

BMW announces the MINI E electric

http%3A%2F%2Fwww.examiner.com — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 10:29:00 EST

BMW, the parent company of MINI, introduced the MINI E electric vehicle at the 2008 Los Angeles Auto Show this week. The MINI E is a pure electric, not a hybrid, and runs on lithium-ion batteries. Best of all, MINI is inviting 500 folks to have the opportunity to drive one on a daily basis.

Green Your Thanksgiving, from Travel to Turkey

Fri, 21 Nov 2008 20:43:00 EST

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday – I show up, stuff myself with some of my favorite foods, help clean up a little, and then lay on the couch and watch TV. No agonizing over the perfect gift, no holiday crowds…I don’t even have to cook. But all of that gluttony does have a price that’s paid by the environment. From travel to turkey and beyond, there are many ways that this wonderful holiday can be more eco-friendly.

Revamped LEED ratings emphasize climate, energy conservation

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 07:32:00 EST

The U.S. Green Building Council is remodeling its LEED rating system for buildings, giving greater weight to design elements that reduce energy use and greenhouse gas emissions.

LEED 2009 Passes Member Ballot

USGBC — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 08:40:00 EST

BOSTON (November 18, 2008)– LEED 2009, the long-awaited update to the internationally recognized LEED green building certification program, has passed member ballot, and will be introduced in 2009 as the next major evolution of the existing LEED rating systems for commercial buildings. It includes a series of major technical advancements focused on improving energy efficiency, reducing carbon emissions, and addressing other environmental and human health outcomes.

New bacteria discovered in raw milk

Society+for+General+Microbiology+ — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 08:27:00 EST

Raw milk is illegal in many countries as it can be contaminated with potentially harmful microbes. Contamination can also spoil the milk, making it taste bitter and turn thick and sticky. Now scientists have discovered new species of bacteria that can grow at low temperatures, spoiling raw milk even when it is refrigerated. According to research published in the November issue of the International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology, the microbial population of raw milk is much more complex than previously thought.

Pakistan to launch fisheries 'megaprojects'

Tue, 11 Nov 2008 09:21:00 EST

[LAHORE] Research into marine fisheries will form part of a plan to improve Pakistan's fisheries sector, following a ban on its exports by the European Union (EU) in February 2007. The ban was imposed when EU inspectors observed that offshore fishing and onshore handling of the catch was conducted in an unhygienic way.