AUDI ON THE GREEN SCENE

Audi is making headlines like a Hollywood A-list celebrity, jet-setting this month from Miami to L.A.

First spotted, as the exclusive automotive sponsor both of Design Miami and of Art Basel – one of the most prestigious art shows in the world. Audi unveiled it’s flagship this week at the Audi Art Pavilion in Miami Beach.  The all new A8 TDI is the talk of the town amongst artists, fashionistas, art collectors, celebrities & VIP’s.

Then spotted over in Los Angeles, the Audi A3 TDI made it to the Green Car of the Year VIP list this year and raced towards the finish line – smoking the competition.  The A3 TDI was awarded the 2010 Green Car of the Year Award at the Los Angeles Auto Show on December 4, 2009.

ART + AUDI = GREEN

Audi returned as the official sponsor of Design Miami & Art Basel, with it’s worldwide unveiling of the all new A8 at the Audi Art Pavilion – The Art of Progression.   The Art Pavilion is a temporary structure erected at the 46th street parking lot, just north of the Fountainebleau.  The Art of Progression exhibit features exceptional pieces of art from the Rubell Family Collection, Tom Dixon, and of course… Audi.

Once the festivities are over and the massive pavilion is removed, Audi is donating a playground to the City of Miami Beach.  Last year, Audi partnered with the City of Miami, green architect Chad Oppenheim, and renowned landscape artist Enzo Enea – giving back to the community with the “re:design Simpson park project”.

In an effort to reduce it’s overall carbon footprint of the event, Audi is providing VIP shuttle service to guests in the Eco “fabulously” friendly stylish Q7 TDI clean diesel.  They can be spotted throughout the city whisking away VIP’s to galleries & art soirees around town.

AND THE 2010 GREEN CAR OF THE YEAR AWARD GOES TO…..

The 2010 Audi A3 TDI.  The A3 had stiff competition this year at the 2010 Los Angeles Auto Show.  Trailing behind were the following nominees:  Honda Insight, Toyota Prius, Mercury Milan Hybrid, and the Golf TDI Clean Diesel.

Clearly it was an obvious choice and the judges could not resist presenting the Green Car of the Year Award to Audi’s A3 TDI!   The A3 offers european styling, luxury, sportiness, and clean diesel technology all rolled into one.  It also has plenty of cargo room for your friends, family, groceries, luggage, sports equipment, shopping extravaganzas, and even your art collection.  And at 42 mpg how could anyone one resist taking it on a road trip to LA? MSRP: $29,950.

Costumes

Get creative!

• Use items from around the house to make a costume.
• Visit thrift stores & consignment shops for used clothes and accessories to make the perfect ensemble.
• Borrow or trade costumes among friends.
• Paper maiche a mask!
• Want something new? Silk costumes are considered more eco-friendly than petroleum based polyester fibers.

Examples we’ve seen that worked great:

• The Chef: chef’s hat, apron, a mixing bowl & wooden spoon…toss some flour on your face for the full effect.
• Leftovers: perfect for someone that has a lot of used but clean aluminum foil leftover. Place all over body. Ta da! (Thanks to Baby Posh Garage for this idea!)
• “Just Out of the Shower”: a robe, slippers, and a towel around your hair.

Green Costume Ideas & Resources: 50 last minute costume ideas, green halloween costume ideas, Planet Green’s Halloween guide

Decorations

It’s harvest festival time, so let’s feature some of the great colors that nature has to offer!

• Use pumpkins, gourds and apples to decorate, and later cook them into delicious snacks, meals, and pies!
• Hang sheets as ghosts…think old school!
• Stuff jeans an a shirt with old plastic bags or newspaper to make a scarecrow
• Use recycled materials and recycle or reuse whatever you can after the big day is over.

Treats

Times they are a changin’. Don’t expect to see the same old candy that you received when growing up. There are many more eco-friendly options available now.

• Candy: organic candy bars and lollipops are sold at stores such as Whole Foods
• Toys: instead of junk food (even if it is organic), kids will enjoy things to play with. We’ve recently stumbled upon these soy-based crayon rocks. See more ideas at Green Halloween.

More Green Halloween Ideas

• Bring an extra bag along when trick or treating to pick up litter along the way. via: About.com
• Use  wind up or shakeable flashlights (you make the power) to guide you through your tricks and treats. via: Green Halloween

The mission of 350.org really explains why “350″:

350.org is an international campaign dedicated to building a movement to unite the world around solutions to the climate crisis–the solutions that science and justice demand.

Our mission is to inspire the world to rise to the challenge of the climate crisis—to create a new sense of urgency and of possibility for our planet.
Our focus is on the number 350–as in parts per million, the level scientists have identified as the safe upper limit for CO2 in our atmosphere. But 350 is more than a number–it’s a symbol of where we need to head as a planet.

To tackle climate change we need to move quickly, and we need to act in unison—and 2009 will be an absolutely crucial year. This December, world leaders will meet in Copenhagen, Denmark to craft a new global treaty on cutting emissions. The problem is, the treaty currently on the table doesn’t meet the severity of the climate crisis—it doesn’t pass the 350 test.

So how do you get involved? Search for activities that are already planned in your community. Here in South Florida where Eco Echo is located, there are dune plantings, 350 Day Festivals, and eco-themed lectures.

You can also help “Build the Buzz” by spreading the word to your family, friends, and neighbors in some creative ways! We like the simple sidewalk chalk idea, and the yummy cookie idea (bake some at a perfect 350 degrees and others that get burned at 450). Visual and tasty!

How will you 350?

VW, whose 2009 Jetta TDI won Green Car of the Year, showed off the E-up! and L1 concept cars in Frankfurt.

The E-up! is a teeny electric car that is set to launch in 2013. It’s being dubbed the Beetle of the 21st Century by Volkswagen…meaning that they intend this little 10.5 foot long car to be huge!

It’s got a range of 80 miles and can recharge 80% of the battery in just an hour! Sign me up!

For all the technical details, head on over to AutoBlog.

The L1 is VW’s 1-Litre car. Claimed to be the “most fuel-efficient car in the world”, this puppy is coming in at 170 mpg. This is a hybrid diesel vehicle that could also be seen on the streets around 2013.

As you can see, this one definitely has a concept car / Jetsons feel to it. Very slick!

For more details, check out AutoBlog.

Well, back in August 2009, the CEO of Sigg dropped the bomb,

Prior to its transition, SIGG utilized a water-based epoxy liner which contained a trace amount of BPA.

(CEO continues thinking…) “Uh, and we knew about it. Since, for, like, ever.”

The story has been an ever evolving one, but for now, ends like this: if you have a Sigg bottle from 2008 or prior, bring it into a Sigg retailer (Whole Foods is one), and you can trade it in for a new one which is said to be BPA free.

The best (or most fun, at least) coverage I’ve seen on this water bottle scandal is on Ecorazzi, a site which I (Rebecca Carter) co-founded, so I could be biased:

9.8.09: Sigg CEO Apologizes, Says Company Will Fund BPA Research

9.8.09: Ouch. Patagonia Terminates Relationship With SIGG Over BPA Reveal

9.3.09: Take Your BPA-Tainted, Soulless SIGG Bottles Back To Major Retailers

Why would you want to do anything else with vodka but drink it? It is widely available, effective and less toxic than many of the chemical alternatives you might use for these tasks.

Some of our favorites:

Freshen up your clothes with a spritz of Smirnoff: spray some vodka on your clothes when your jeans are about to walk away on their own, but you aren’t ready to hit the laundromat yet!

Shine up that bathroom with some Absolut: pour some vodka on a cloth and rub it on your porcelain, chrome, and glass. Then spray it on the moldy caulking around your tub.

Other uses include treatment for poison ivy and jellyfish stings, insect killer & repellant, and even toothache relief (but no more excuses, just go see a dentist!!)

Of course, any vodka will do…not just brand names, though some say you’ll need 100 proof to get the job done. There is, however, a greener vodka. Organic vodkas are becoming more and more popular, and now there are dozens of brands to choose from.

via: The Daily Green

banner image courtesy: FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Any parent knows the story…once we find out that we are bringing a new life into this world, we start to analyze everything around us: will it be safe for my children? Healthy Child Healthy World is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping families figure out just that – especially in regards to chemicals and toxins. They published a book under the same name in 2008 that has become the guidebook for the “next generation of parenting”. They now also offer a way to learn more and spread the word to your friends and family.

Called Healthy Home Parties, HCHW has teamed up with corporate sponsors like Luna Bar to create a party package with everything that you will need to hold your own Healthy Home Party. There are product samples for all of your guests, and even nicer eco-friendly products that can be used as door prizes. They include materials that you can use during the discussion, as well as a DVD hosted by Judging Amy’s Amy Brenneman. The package requires a $20 donation (largely as a result of the organization getting listed on a “freebies” list and being bombarded with requests by people that only wanted free stuff!), and will arrive in 3-4 weeks from ordering.

We’ve ordered one of these kits, and there is definitely more than $20 worth of stuff in there. Plus, we just wanted another reason to have a party at our place! Get yours here.

Ingredients

1.5 Cup Almonds (soaked over night)
1 Cup Water
2 Tablespoon Lemon Juice
1 Teaspoon Sea Salt
1 Tablespoon Olive Oil
1.5 Cup Chopped Vegetables
Carrots – cut in chunks
Celery – cut in chunks
Red Belle Pepper – cut in chunks
Onion
1 Large clove garic, sliced
Salt and pepper to taste

In the bowl of a food processor, grind the almonds, add water, lemon juice, olive oil, salt and pepper. Add vegetables and mix them together. (Add more lemon juice or water if necessary to achieve desired texture).

Stuff on tomatoes or put it on top of a half of romaine lettuce.

Store in refrigerator for up to 5 days.

Recipe courtesy: Om Garden

Plastic shopping bags are as despised as corporate jets. But are their successors—reusable totes—really that eco-friendly? A look at form versus function from some of the key players.

We’ve got grocery totes, totes from conventions, cloth bags, nylon bags…in every shape, size, and color. And we keep accumulating more! The article tries to rate the bags of 6 different chains from Whole Foods to Dean & Deluca on eco-friendliness, reusability, and style. Some didn’t fare so well!

It’s true: we hate the plastic bags…but do we really need more totes?

One crafty eco-minded person out there has taken matters into her own hands. She was overflowing with totes, and low on throw pillows. You get the picture!

image via: notcot.com

Eco Echo is a weekly magazine style 30-minute television series bringing you The word on green living. Whether new to the green scene or already a treehugger, Eco Echo captures your attention through its fresh aesthetic and well-paced content.

Each episode revolves around six environmentally focused segments including: Food, Fashion, Technology, Products, Transportation, and of course Home. From electric cars to making your own natural perfumes, and from the latest in eco-handbags to new ways to save energy at home, Eco Echo covers all lifestyle topics in a simple, fun and entertaining way.

Eco Echo is hosted by Miami native Alina Sedano and created by Spiral Media in conjunction with Rebecca Carter, an eco social media expert.

Learn more about Eco Echo.