Posts Tagged ‘eco-friendly’


Google bike maps make for smart pedaling

May 17th, 2010 by chelsea

Some athletes are born; others are made — that’s why Google Bike Maps allows you to choose your route’s difficulty.

The recently developed Beta version is just in time for National Bike to Work Week, providing routes for 150 U.S. cities and 15,000 miles of off-street bike trails, according to an article in Netted.

The new feature is especially convenient in the eco-minded Northwest where bikes aren’t just a mode of transportation — they’re a lifestyle. Simply select “bicycling” from the drop down menu in the directions section, and you’ll see a color-coded list of trails that specify whether it is for bikes only, if it is shared with cars or if it’s preferred for bicycling.

An added bonus: you can choose to avoid hills, too.

Now that’s energy efficient.

 



Photo via http://gadgetwise.blogs.nytimes.com





 

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Posted in L.A., Los Angeles, Orange County, Portland, San Francisco, Seattle | No Comments »

Portland takes a hand in ecoroof movement

January 5th, 2010 by chelsea

Portland’s taking a top-down approach to sustainability — it’s beginning with eco-friendly roofs.

Portland is gaining ground as a leader in green building by jumping on the ecoroof movement, according to an article in the Oregonian. These alternative roofs reduce runoff by trapping stormwater with its layer of vegetation, saving energy, pollution and erosion.

The city is ramping up more support for ecoroofs by hosting a free event March 12 and 13 for homeowners and businesses to learn about purchasing or building one of their own ecoroofs.

Flowers and plants on roofs — now that’s eco-chic.



Photo via portlandonline.com

Photo via portlandonline.com



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Seattle startup rates eco-friendliness of products, technology

November 3rd, 2009 by chelsea

A Seattle startup knows it’s not enough to just be eco-friendly in one aspect, so it’s on a mission to determine just how green products are.

The approprately titled company, Eco-Innovations, spent nearly two years perfecting Eco-rate, an online product and technology rating system, according to an article in the Seattle Post Intelligencer. Have you ever wondered how green your TV is? This system takes into account green attributes, like environmental impact, toxicity and use of natural resources as well as price, making your purchase easy on your budget and the environment.

“It allows people to sort products according to what’s important to them,” said Brycelaine Self, co-founder of Eco-rate.

Be green. Save some green.

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L.A. universities drive energy efficiency

September 15th, 2009 by chelsea

In L.A., USC and UCLA are keeping the green initiative moving with efficient, eco-friendly rides.

The schools recently added 12 more hybrids and SmartWay-related vehicles to their collection, according to an article in the L.A. Times. That means with each Zipcar added the schools are removing between 15 and 20 personally owned cars from the road.

“This is an environmental home run,” Councilman Bill Rosendahl, chair of the Transportation Committee, said. “It’s a no-brainer.” The goal: limiting traffic congestion, reducing exhaust fumes and emissions and keeping drivers from circling for days around the parking lot trying to find a vacant spot.

Driving energy efficiency was never so…zippy.

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Burgerville lets Portlanders cycle through drive-thru

September 10th, 2009 by chelsea

It’s a good thing bicycles have drink carriers because Burgerville is opening its drive-thru to cyclists.

Now the Vancouver-based chain is not just supporting the Northwest economically with its locally sourced ingredients, it’s also celebrating the region’s eco-friendly culture.

Before, Burgerville let its general managers decide if and how they would serve their bicycle-riding customers, according to an article in the Oregonian. “It’s a brilliant example of how to be responsive to consumers,” Sarah Gilbert, a cyclist and Burgerville customer, said. “Most policies against bicycles are based on baseless fears of phantom liability.”

Now, how to eat and cycle on the go?

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