Ultra chic and Eco-Friendly Home Accessories
These industrial strength pieces by designer Tammy Roy, were created in part, or entirely of reclaimed steel and celebrate a raw, eco-inspired look. They are as tactile and beautiful as they are strong and unique-reflecting the spirit of the maker.
Available at Sweet Organics and Naturals
— As gas prices continue to soar to record highs, motorists are crying out for an alternative that won’t cramp their pocketbooks.Look at the story I just came across. This is exciting to me as they can used non-food sources for our fuel!
MADISON, Wisconsin, March 27, 2008 (ENS) - A Wisconsin bioscience company and Royal Dutch Shell say they have developed a process to convert plant sugars directly into gasoline and gasoline blend components, rather than ethanol.The collaboration aims to create new biofuels that can be used at high blend rates in standard gasoline engines in place of fossil fuels. This could potentially eliminate the need for specialized infrastructure, new engine designs and blending equipment.
The patented and trademarked BioForming process pioneered by Virent Energy Systems, Inc. of Madison converts plant sugars into hydrocarbon molecules like those produced at a petroleum refinery. The biomass feedstocks are converted into conventional hydrocarbon fuels and products, including gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel.
“The technical properties of today’s biofuels pose some challenges to widespread adoption,” said Dr. Graeme Sweeney, Shell executive vice president Future Fuels and C02. “Fuel distribution infrastructure and vehicle engines are being modified to cope but new fuels on the horizon, such as Virent’s, with characteristics similar or even superior to gasoline and diesel, are very exciting.”
Traditionally, sugars have been fermented into ethanol and distilled. These new “biogasoline” molecules have higher energy content than ethanol or butanol and deliver better fuel efficiency.
“They can be blended seamlessly to make conventional gasoline or combined with gasoline containing ethanol,” the companies said Wednesday in a statement.
The sugars can be sourced from non-food sources like corn stover, switchgrass, wheat straw and sugarcane pulp, in addition to conventional biofuel feedstock like wheat, corn and sugarcane.
The companies have so far collaborated for one year on the research. They say the technology has advanced rapidly, exceeding milestones for yield, product composition, and cost.
Future efforts will focus on further improving the technology and scaling it up for larger volume commercial production.
Dr. Randy Cortright, Virent chief technology officer, co-founder and executive vice president, said, “Virent has proven that sugars can be converted into the same hydrocarbon mixtures of today’s gasoline blends. Our products match petroleum gasoline in functionality and performance.”
“Virent’s unique catalytic process uses a variety of biomass-derived feedstocks to generate biogasoline at competitive costs. Our results to date fully justify accelerating commercialization of this technology,” said Cortright.
Virent has 68 employees located in a state-of-the-art catalytic biorefining development facility in Madison. The technology is based on the Aqueous Phase Reforming process, which Virent has exclusively licensed from the Wisconsin Alumni Redation.
Cortright says the biogasoline process delivers more net energy and offers a scalable, cost-effective alternative to traditional biofuel production routes.
Headquartered in the Netherlands and the UK, Royal Dutch Shell companies have operations in more than 130 countries, with businesses including: oil and gas exploration; production and marketing of liquefied natural gas and gas to liquids; marketing and shipping of oil products and chemicals; and renewable energy projects including wind, solar and biofuels.
I wonder how long it will be until we have hydrogen passenger cars available?Ford Motor Company and U.S. Congressman John Dingell and the Wayne County Airport Authority today announced the delivery of two hydrogen-fueled Ford E-450 shuttle buses to be used for transporting airline passengers between terminals at Detroit Metropolitan Airport (DTW).Today’s delivery is the result of a partnership involving Ford, the Wayne County Airport Authority and the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments (SEMCOG). The project is being funded with a Department of Energy grant that was supported by Congressman Dingell, who represents Michigan’s 15th District. “These buses represent part of Ford Motor Company’s strategy to deliver transportation solutions that emit less CO2 and reduce our dependence on oil,” said Ziad Ojakli, Ford group vice president, Government and Community Relations. “We are pleased to partner with the State of Michigan and Wayne County to place these buses into service so that locals and visitors alike will be able to experience this unique form of clean transportation. The buses also serve as a visible demonstration of Michigan’s commitment to innovation and sustainable mobility.” “I’m so glad that people coming through Detroit Metropolitan Airport will see this fine example of American engineering when they visit,” said Congressman Dingell, who played a critical role in securing the funding for the project. “Ford is building some of the finest green vehicles on the road today. The company proves time and time again it is committed to reducing greenhouse gases and producing efficient vehicles. The airport and SEMCOG are also to be commended for helping protect our environment and deserve credit for their fine work on this project.” “The Airport Authority is grateful to Ford, SEMCOG and especially Rep. Dingell, for bringing this opportunity to Detroit Metropolitan Airport,” said Wayne County Airport Authority CEO Lester Robinson. “This cooperative partnership will provide the Airport Authority with new technology to support our ongoing commitment to reducing airport emissions and to transport customers in a more sustainable manner.” “We applaud the partners for providing these energy-efficient buses,” said Wayne County Executive Robert Ficano. “This is another example of the commitment in Wayne County to alternative transportation fuels. Wayne County already is one of the leading governmental users of biodiesel, having purchased nearly one million gallons since 2006.” Ford was the first automaker to deliver hydrogen-powered commercial vehicles for real world use in several cities. Ford has delivered buses to Greater Orlando Airport Authority (GOAA), Orlando Convention Central District, SeaWorld Orlando, University of Missouri Raleigh, city of Las Vegas, the San Mateo (Ca.) County Transportation Authority, and 10 buses to Canada for use in Prince Edward Island, Ottawa and Vancouver. To date, 23 buses of the 30 built have been delivered to customers for commercial use. Power for the Ford E-450 shuttle buses is provided by a 6.8-liter V-10 internal combustion engine that has been supercharged and modified to run exclusively on hydrogen fuel. DTW’s new buses will be fueled by a hydrogen pumping station located in Taylor, Mich., located just east of the airport. Hydrogen Internal Combustion Engine Technology Hydrogen Part of a Broader Effort Ford’s strategy for sustainable mobility is built around multiple technologies. This flexible approach allows the company to meet goals for customer needs, environmental impact and shareholder interests. The strategy does not focus on a single solution, but offers a flexible array of options, including near-term technologies such as Ford’s recently announced EcoBoost line of gasoline turbo direct injection engines. EcoBoost will allow Ford to deliver better fuel economy to millions of vehicles without sacrificing vehicle performance or affordability. Ford also continues to develop other alternative fuel technologies such as hybrids, clean diesels, biofuels, hydrogen fuel cells and plug-in hybrids. About Ford Motor Company About the Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport |
has just been approved by
Announcing the start of Sweet Organics and Naturals Lokta Gift Wrap line!
A paper that is exquisite, strong, sustainable and beautiful!
So far we have many colors of wrapping paper, a gift bag & 3 colors of lokta paper ribbon in our gift wrap line!
In addition to the gift wrap we also have lokta computer paper & envelopes that are sure to impress potential bosses or clients.
Now a bit of lokta paper information:
Lokta Paper
Lokta paper is made from the Lokta bush or Daphne bush that grows Himalayan mountain region at 6,500 to 10,000 feet. There are many different species of Daphne but only five of them are really suitable for making paper. The paper is handmade in the mountains of Nepal from the inner bark of this bush. Popular as the most exquisite and versatile papers on the planet, Lokta handmade paper has four deckled edges and is a very strong fiber.That all sounds great, but what makes Lokta paper so eco-friendly?
· Lokta paper is handmade and sun dried, so there are no machines putting C02 or other emission into our air.
· It is made from a bush that grows quickly and needs to be pruned to the ground every 3- 4 years to grow stronger. Without this pruned it will wither and die. The root base grown during this period of regeneration keeps the soil more stable and helps protect rural Nepalese villages from mudslides during the monsoon season.
· The bush grows in the shade, so bushes grown for commercial purposes don’t require that the forests are cut down to farm them. It can be grown in tiers so that the plants will be ready to prune in different years.
· It is grown without chemicals and requires no bleaches or other chemical processing.
· While only the skin of the Lokta bush is needed to produce the paper. The artisans dry the remaining stalk of the bush in the sun so that they can use it for fuel to cook with. Therefore the entire plant is used and there is no waste.
· The paper is colored with either azo free dyes or organic dyes such as indigo, tree barks, flower etc.
· The strength of the paper makes it easy to reuse and the beauty of it makes you want to.
Using Lokta paper is not only good for the environment, but it helps the rural people of the Nepalese of the Himalayan mountain region. Not only does the root growth help protect their villages, but paper making is their only source of income.
Lokta is a wonderful alternative paper source that is oh so versatile!
Lokta wrapping paper, gift bags, ribbon, computer paper and envelopes are available at my online boutique
by Molly Webster for the NRDC
In the carbon cycle, it’s not just about the individual tree-the entire forest plays a role. Leaves take in carbon dioxide, converting it to sugar, which is carbon-based. Some of the sugar is used immediately for energy, converted back to CO2, and released into the atmosphere. The rest is stored in living wood or dead matter, such as fallen leaves and branches. Old-growth forests, in particular, store vast amounts of carbon while continuing to absorb CO2.
The illustration below, by Mieke Roth
For a printable PFD version…visit:
http://www.onearth.org/files/onearth/08spr_carbonexchange.pdf
If you invest in planting new trees, realize that it takes about 20 years for newly forested clear-cuts to start sequestering more carbon than they release. Choose projects that won’t cut down the trees as soon as they mature or, even better, that allow trees to see their centennial. Also, avoid monoculture plantations-large swaths of land covered with identical species. These often increase pollution because they use pesticides and fertilizers. Another option: put your money toward saving forests that would otherwise be cut down. Check out World Land Trust, at www.carbonbalanced.org, which is working to conserve forests in Latin America.
Lastly, look to forestry projects that help sustain local economies, biodiversity, and watersheds. Two organizations to consider, both with projects in Africa, are Plan Vivo, www.planvivo.org, and The Green World Campaign, www.greenworld.org.
It would seem that my concerns over ethanol as an alternative fuel source are coming to fruition. Below is a paragraph from the article:
Wholesale inflation rate soars
By MARTIN CRUTSINGER, AP Economics Writer
Food prices, which have been surging because of increased demand stemming from ethanol production, rose by 1.7 percent last month, the biggest monthly increase in three years. Prices for beef, bakery products and eggs were all up sharply.
Soap Nuts are the dried fruit of the Chinese Soapberry tree (Sapindus mukorrosi), similar to the lychee. A long time ago, local folks in the South East Asia figured out that when the nuts get wet, they release saponin, a natural cleaner, making them great for washing clothes! Soap Nuts are the only household cleaner made exclusively from Nature, by Nature.
A single soapberry tree produces hundreds of kilos of nuts per year! Soap Nuts fall to the ground in Indian and Indonesian forests where they are collected by folks who have used the nuts for centuries.
Ayurveda, the primary form of healing and framework for wellness in India, is based in a holistic approach to healing. Rooted in early Vedic culture, Ayurveda translates to “the science of life” and deals with management of healthy living. Ayurveda provides a template for wellness in the body, as it relates to physical, mental, social and spiritual harmony of a person within their environment.
The Soapberry tree (Sapindus spp.) sends its roots back as far as the time of Buddha. The fruit of the tree, called Soap “Nuts” are a model offering from the ancient healing modalities to our modern lifestyles in the realms of cleanliness, aesthetics and medicine. Although Soap Nuts have been used in India for generations and in Europe for decades, it’s uses are as new to the United States as MP3s. Prized for its handsomeness, the leaves of the Chinese Soapberry tree are paripinnate and crowd at the end of the branches. On the branch ends, the “drupes” or berries hang in pairs or triplets. The fruits are green and smooth when fresh, and when dried become a light brown with silky wrinkles. The trunk is straight and cylindrical; the bark is dark to pale yellow with vertical fissures spanning the length. They can rise to as tall as 25 meters and as wide as 5 meters, the leaves forming a thick umbrella shaped canopy embedded with green flowers. For this reason, they are often planted along boulevards in the way we plant magnolias in the US.
The fruits of this special soapy tree, when peeled from their inner seed, are primarily used as a cleanser. The leathery fruit skins release saponin and become a magnificent detergent when immersed in water. In ancient India these fruits, known in Hindi as reetha, were used for soap and hair wash powders, used by jewelers for shining ornaments of gold and silver and used in the laundering of fine silks and wools.
In Vedic culture reetha is indicated in dravya-suddhi (physical and spiritual purification) for cleansing blankets. As a measure of hygiene and purity, Indian Pilgrim Ships required passengers to carry Soap Nuts onboard.
Today, you can easily purify yourself by using Soap Nuts in your washing machine. Just close 2-4 Soap Nuts into a small cloth bag and add it to the clothes in your wash. Soap Nuts naturally soften and add body to your fabrics, are safe for wool and silk, and keep your colors looking bright. You can also make a concentrated liquid soap by boiling or soaking the fruits.
Soap Nut powder is indicated in Ayurveda as the third in the family of extremely beneficial fruits, along with shikakai and trifla. All three are used extensively in Ayurveda for the treatment of scalp issues such as hair loss, dandruff, and to alleviate parasites such as lice. (You can use a solution of Soap Nuts in the garden to repel pests as persistent as aphids.) In modern India, Soap Nuts are an essential ingredient in hair care products to increase luster and softness of hair. The Soapberry is among the most important trees for beautification in tropical Asia, aesthetics being an important factor in Ayurveda. Used topically, Soap Nuts are used to eliminate freckles, fine lines, chemical stains and cracks in the skin. They are also used traditionally to treat mild to moderate skin complaints such as eczema and psoriasis. Soap Nuts are safe for people with sensitive skin, even people who suffer allergic reactions to store bought “sensitive skin” cleansers.
Soap Nuts are even safe enough to use as toothpaste and as a fruit and vegetable wash. A ten-minute soak in a solution of Soap Nuts removes 95% of the surface pesticides and chemical residues on fresh produce. Soap Nuts are also useful in the kitchen as a food-safe cleaner for countertops, appliances, and sinks.
In India the list of uses for reetha is impressive, claiming over 20 medicinal preparations, which alter the fruit to make it either 100% digestible or emetic. Reetha fruit is so rich in iron it is considered a hemolytic and is used often to treat anemia. When prepared by an Ayurvedic doctor it can treat chlorosis and epilepsy. It is also used as an expectorant for severe lung congestion, and can help to promote blood circulation in patients with low blood pressure. Reetha is a sedative to the uterus and is used to ease childbirth. It can also be prepared as a digestive aid, an anti-venom, or to treat diarrhea, cholera and paralysis.
Clinical trials have just finished on the use of Sapindus mukorossi as a spermicide (replacing Nonoxynal-9, which has shown to lead to widespread sexually transmitted infections.) Recent studies by Chinese researchers show that the saponins in Soap Nuts inhibit tumor cell growth in humans. Indian researchers show that a solution made from the fruit of Sapindus trifoliaus decreases behaviors associated with migraines in mice. Early Vedic medical texts describe thick solutions made by crushing and adding water to reetha fruit that were used regularly to pacify folks suffering from chronic viral infections and headaches. There is also evidence it was used to treat hysteria.
Certainly, preparations need not be so complex.
For example, you can easily create this traditional Ayurvedic recipe for a relaxing bath:
1 c. raw honey
10 drops lavender oil
1/4 c. papaya leaves
1/4 c. neem leaves (Azadirachta indica)
3 T. reetha (soap nut) powder (cracked soap nut shells)
3 T. shikakai powder (Fruit for the Hair)
2 t. kastrui manjal (Curcuma aromatica)
2 t. sandalwood powder
Blend herbs by hand with mortar and pestle and pour into bath with honey and oil.
I have personally tried these & while it does need an extra boost for those roll in the mud kid clothes. My ordinarily soiled laundry comes clean and is softer than it ever has been with the use of a fabric softener!
Available at: Sweet Organics and Naturals
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