In this day and age, finding ways to lower our environmental impact are front and center not only in the minds of individuals around the world, but at the state, federal and international level as well. In fact, actions are being taken across the globe to combat the impact we are having on the environment by improving sustainability worldwide.

One of the first steps designers, builders, home owners and others can take is to get educated on, and learn more about the sustainability options that are available. Sustainability comes in many shapes and sizes, so we can all take measures to improve our quality of life, make us less dependent on the finite resources the Earth offers, and make us more independent and self-reliant.

In order to provide a little inspiration for those who are interested in living a little more sustainably, here are some examples of creative sustainable homes:

1 – This first one is a zero-energy home designed by LivingHome and priced with a single couple or small family in mind. It is officially known as the C6, and a portion of the proceeds from each sale go towards supporting “Make It Right“. The best thing about it? The fact that it is easy to build and is “the first Energy Star certified production home with a LEED Platinum level environmental program” makes this home quite a winner. Here is a video of the installation of the Home Depot LivingHome C6 in Long Beach:

2 – This next sustainable living project is titled “Containers of Hope” and involves the use of 40-foot shipping containers to build affordable and sustainable homes. One of the many features that makes these homes sustainable is the incorporation of enough windows to allow the home to have a refreshing level of natural light and a connection to the great outdoors.

Image from benjamingarciasaxe.com

3 – This is one of my favorite ones. It comes from urban designer and architect, Mitchell Joachim, and it involves growing your own home rather than hiring a traditional contractor to build it. Just take a look at the video and you’ll see what I mean:

4 – This next one comes from Habitats Hawaii and is a cool example of sustainability in a small, comfortable and mobile fashion. With an outdoor shower and composting toilet, these types of homes may not suit everyone, but you do have to admit they are pretty cute.

5 – The “Freedom House” comes courtesy of a JMU Alum. This house is a much larger house than the previous one, however due to some key innovations it has been designed and build to be extremely efficient and free from the electric and water grids. Maybe add a living wall out back and you would be good to go.

6 – This next home was a finalist in the Queensland Premiers Climate Smart Awards of 2011. It comes from Wagtail Homes and is built to maximize solar energy, natural ventilation, energy efficiency, material selection and more. Each home is tailor-made to owner specifications and strives to be stylish, unique and most importantly, sustainable.

7 – Now, I know this is more than one home, but I read this article the other day and thought these green portable homes were just too cute to pass up. To me these seem to be designed with the traveling single or nature-loving couple in mind. Even someone who simply wanted a little change of pace could probably find at least one of these to fit their needs.

8 – This last one is from Silicon Valley. I see it as kind of a hybrid home. It has been touted as “The World’s Greenest Home” with all manner of sustainable features including solar panels, rainwater collection, natural and recycled building materials and much more. In addition, it has been fitted with a hi-tech control system geared to keep the entire house functioning smoothly and energy-efficiently.

Most people think about solar panels, rainwater harvesting, wind energy, urban gardening and more when they think about how to become more sustainable. There are, however, so many different ways homes can be made more sustainable. Homes can be built using energy-efficient bricks made from industrial waste, from home-grown mushroom bricks, from recycled materials, from natural materials like seaweed, with living walls and more.

When it comes to sustainability, the possibilities are endless. I personally look forward to seeing Damien Hirst’s plans to build 500 sustainable homes in Devon come to fruition. When it all comes down to it, the key is making the decision to take that first step away from dependency and closer to independence and sustainability.

Image by Mike Behnken / Creative Commons

I have seen a number of posts recently pertaining to famous quotes on a variety of different topics. One post I haven’t seen, however, is something about renewable energy, solar and the power of the sun. So, I figured why not put one together?

In honor of both the power our sun provides us on a daily basis along with our current and future use of that power, here are some of the interesting and/or inspirational quotes I found about renewable energy, solar power and the ultimate power of the sun:

“We are like tenant farmers chopping down the fence around our house for fuel when we should be using Nature’s inexhaustible sources of energy – sun, wind and tide…I’d put my money on the Sun and Solar Energy, what a source of Power! I hope we don’t have to wait until oil and coal run out, before we tackle that.” – Thomas Edison

“I have no doubt that we will be successful in harnessing the sun’s energy. If sunbeams were weapons of war, we would have had solar energy centuries ago.” – British Chemist, Sir George Porter

“We simply must balance our demand for energy with our rapidly shrinking resources. By acting now we can control the future instead letting the future control us.” – Jimmy Carter

“Three things cannot be long hidden: the sun, the moon, and the truth.” – Gautama Siddharta

“The use of solar energy has not been opened up because the oil industry does not own the sun.” – Ralph Nader

“What we’re going is planing the seeds of alternative energy providers, so that a few years down the road we will have a diversity in sources of energy. That’s a far better position for an institution to be in than to be stuck with not many sources and sources that cause a lot of pollution and environmental problems.” – Paul Ruskin

“The two most abundant forms of power on Earth are solar and wind, and they’re getting cheaper and cheaper…” – Ed Begley, Jr.

“Earth provides enough to satisfy every man’s need, but not every man’s greed.” – Mahatma Gandhi

“There is sufficient (energy) in the Sun to maintain its output of heat for 15 billion years.” – Sir Arthur Stanley Eddington

And last but not least, an Apache Blessing: “May the sun bring you new energy by day, may the moon softly restore you by night, may the rain wash away your worries, may the breeze blow new strength into your being, may you walk gently through the world and know it’s beauty all the days of your life.”

Image by Tim Samoff / Creative Commons

Renewable energy, such as that found in the power of the sun, is an intrinsic part of our future. By tapping into the renewable resources found on the Earth and in the skies, we will be able to bring power to our world like never before. I look forward to seeing what the future of renewable energy holds.

Image by EnecoMedia / Creative Commons

“May all your months be November.”  So goes the ancient Chinese curse. Well, actually, the curse really goes: “May you live in interesting times.”  You see, “interesting” times – those that you read about in the history books – are times of war and famine and terror.

If you operate a solar generating system, November is an “interesting” time.  It is the month when there is the least solar radiation.  Short days and lots of clouds.  At least, that is the way it is here where I am writing from in eastern Ontario.  I know many readers might have a different climate, but your November will come, even if in a different month.

This is one of the things that many people don’t think about when they sign up for the solar panels.  In our case, the system was hooked up in November, so we have several months to go before we start to benefit truly from the Sun’s good graces.

What else do some people overlook when setting up their solar power?

Individual panel monitoring: Sure, you can monitor the total power generated, and through the inverter you most likely can monitor a whole bunch of things.  On my Aurora Inverter, I like to watch the fluctuations in watts/hour – I will figure out how to interpret  the rest of the readings later.  But what if you notice that the system is underperforming?  We have 24 panels on each of our two posts.  How do you know which panels are the laggards?  We have a Tigo Maximizer installed, so that we can monitor each one’s performance and also to make sure that one underperforming panel does not drag the others down with it.

Good installation company: In my neighborhood, solar installations are popping up like weeds.  The government is offering a fairly good compensation, locked in for 20 years.  Plenty of rumors that the compensation will decrease next year (we signed up at 75% of the original compensation of a couple years ago), means there is a “rush” to sell as many solar installations as quickly as possible.   Before you respond to all those just-sign-on-the-dotted-line sheets being shoved in your face, take the time to make sure the company you sign up with has a long-term record and has its own construction crew, not just solar technicians.

Paperwork: If you are allergic to paperwork, solar power is not for you.  The forms, the waiting, the fixing incorrectly filled forms…it is a lot.

Financing: Yes, it does cost a few dollars to build a solar generating system.  Ours cost close to $100,000 for a two-post, track-the-sun, 10 kw system.  We did not sign any contracts until we had word from the bank that every penny we would need was available.

Bridge financing: Ah…so you start to generate power and earn money.  But it takes 2 to 3 months to see your first check.  At least, that’s what we were told; we will have to wait and see.  Meanwhile, you are paying interest on a very big loan.  Allow me to rephrase that last sentence in the previous paragraph: We did not sign any contracts until we had word from the bank that every penny we would need – and a while pile more – was available.

Maintenance: This consists primarily of lubrication (only with very specific lubricants) and tightening bolts.  A rooftop system probably needs almost no maintenance, but ours does.  Looks like I will need to buy the lubricant, and appropriate ladder and a torque wrench of some sort.  Or a $500/year maintenance plan – but my preference is to do it myself.  A solar system is a much bigger investment than a car, so you really do not want to let it go to seed.

Insurance: Yes, this might seem obvious, but I understand that a lot of people do overlook it.

By-laws: Do you need a building permit?  Do you need to know about municipal easements?  Is there a by-law preventing “eyesores” – you might not think a solar generating system is an eyesore, but have you ever noticed how your neighbour has funny taste?  Exactly.  Before you spend that kind of money, make sure.

Maybe there is something I have overlooked here, either because I missed something when setting up my own system, because I overlooked it when writing this article, or because it is not applicable in my jurisdiction.  Please feel free to add anything I might not have mentioned in the comments below.

In some of his social media profiles, David says, “I love nature, but I live on the Internet. Go figure.”  Blogging about Solar Power gives him a way to love nature on the Internet.  You can visit his Solar Ontario blog to learn more about his real-life experience setting up solar power generation.  And if you happen to be a fellow Canadian, he invites you to participate in his Canadian social bookmarking community at Zoomit.ca.

Many thanks to David for his interesting and insightful guest blog post covering some of the key things people overlook when setting up their solar power.

Image by foto4lizzie / Creative Commons

New inventions come to light every single day. Many shoot into the spotlight as the latest and greatest thing to hit a particular market, while others only get so far as a design or prototype before they are shot down. It is almost impossible to try and keep up with the newest inventions. Sometimes the only way you can find out about a particular invention is by doing a Google search and seeing what comes up. Well, here are some eco-friendly inventions I came across recently, which you may not know exist.

The first is the iPhone 4 bicycle charger kit. There is a lot of talk, and efforts are being taken, in favor of more eco-friendly transportation options, to lower harmful emissions. Besides walking, riding a bicycle is one of the best ways to get where you need to go, get exercise while you are doing it, and have relatively no emissions along the way.

Image from EnviroGadget.com

For those of you who are getting back into bicycling, are bicyclists at heart, or who might want to give bicycling a try, there is a pretty smart invention you may want to check out. The bicycle charger kit allows you to ride your bike and charge your phone at the same time. Never again will you be left with no charge on your phone. Simply start riding and your phone charges right up.

The next eco-friendly invention is that of compostable car parts. As it is, around 10 million cars are recycled every year in the United States. In fact, the number one recycled product in the U.S. is the car. By adding in mushroom-based compostable car parts, car production climbs the next rung on the sustainable ladder. This particular material is a more natural option which can be used to replace bumpers, dashboards, side doors and other components without compromising safety features. Once buried, the product decomposes within about one month.

Take a look at some of the other actions Ford has been taking to make more eco-friendly materials for their vehicles:

This next one is one of my favorites because it is extremely simple and it uses/reuses materials that would otherwise have to be recycled or would end up in a landfill. This invention isn’t your typical invention, it’s more like a bright idea. A very bright idea in fact. This one is called “A Liter of Light” and is part of a program in the Philippines to bring light into the homes of people who either don’t have electricity, cannot afford to pay high electric bills or those who want to tap into the power of the sun. Solar panels are great, but the cost can be a major deterrent. This invention works right away and the cost is almost nothing.

This last one is a smog-eating roofing tile. Yes, you read that correctly. It’s a tile designed to help reduce harmful emissions and essentially digest smog. According to the company that makes the tiles, within one year, 2000 square feet of this particular tile can destroy the amount of NOx produced by driving a vehicle for 10,400 miles. In essence, your roof tiles could cancel out the pollutants produced by your vehicle. That, along with using Biofriendly Corporation’s Green Plus® liquid catalyst in  your vehicle, and you could end up getting rid of more pollutants than your vehicle generates.

It is interesting to see the different ideas people have and the eco-friendly inventions which result from those ideas. Sometimes instead of thinking bigger is better, it helps to think smaller and simpler. Either way, eco-friendly inventions are out there and I’m sure we will see many more in the next decade. Do you have a favorite eco-invention? Do you have an idea for an eco-invention? We’d love to hear your thoughts and ideas.

Image by Fredo / Creative Commons

When you hear someone talking about climate change, what is the first thing you think? Most people immediately think about global warming and the environmental controversy about who is to blame for this so-called “global warming”.

Climate change, however, is believed to come from two main sources. There is a cycle the planet goes through which is altered by natural occurrences such as volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, changes in the Earth’s orbit, solar events, the ocean’s current, and more. Then there are the actions we take which contribute to climate change and alter the greenhouse gas effect here on Earth. Every time you use the energy provided by the local utility company, fill up at the gas station, heat your home, or any number of other activities which produce carbon dioxide, you are contributing to the greenhouse gas effect.

The question then becomes, what can we do to combat climate change? Well, there are many steps which can be taken, but in this post I thought it would be good to highlight a number of alternative energies which could help us combat our contribution to climate change.

1) Solar Energy: The sun continues to provide us with a natural form of energy day after day. The problem becomes in the capture and processing of this resource. Currently only about 1% of the electricity in the U.S. is powered by solar.

Image by David Trebosc / Creative Commons

2) Wind Energy: The wind is another natural and renewable resource we can tap into. This study was done to look into the stability of wind energy in the face of global warming.

Image by Chuck Coker / Creative Commons

3) Tidal Energy: Tidal energy is another alternative energy which has the potential for becoming a major player in the renewable energy arena. Why? Because the tides will keep coming in and going out. Recently Scotland made a major move to boost subsidies in favor of tidal-power.

Image by Horizon2035 / Creative Commons

4) Wave Power: Like tidal power, wave power is another source of alternative energy which more governments and countries are investing in, in order to meet their renewable energy goals. In fact, the UK is determined to be the ‘Rolls Royce’ of marine energy (wave/tidal).

5) Plastic Conversion: Per reports, existing technologies could be used to convert all the non-recyclable plastics, that are tossed into U.S. landfills each year, into energy. Those plastics alone could power over 5 million homes a year. Just think what could be done with all the other waste.

Image by Mackenzie / Creative Commons

6) Energy Cane: It seems sugar cane is now front and center, ahead of corn, when it comes to crops which could be grown for energy purposes. The idea is that the sugar cane could be used for biofuel and the fibrous waste could be turned into alternative energy.

Image by Carolyn / Creative Commons

Now, let’s face facts here. Even if a person invests in a variety of alternative energies to power their home, vehicle, working environment and other activities in their life, they are still in some way or form contributing to climate change. This is because there are a variety of factors which cause man-made climate change. Additionally, regardless of our efforts, the Earth’s natural cycle will continue to happen.

Our contributions to climate change, however, can be lessened and we can take steps to help lower CO2 emissions below that critical level of 350 ppm. In my opinion, it’s all about deciding how you want to live and how you want your children, and their children to live. What are your views on the subject?

Image by Stefano Paltera, U.S. Dept of Energy / Creative Commons

Happy Monday! This week I decided to start off the week with a solar edition of my weekly greens. There has been so much, good and not so good, news about the solar industry recently that I figured it might be good to gather a few of the solar articles that crossed my plate this week and share them with you.

Here is this week’s solar edition of the weekly greens:

Solar, the Emerging Power: You’re probably quite familiar with the solar industry by now, even if simply due to the Solyndra scandal. However, there is one thing to keep in mind, regardless of what happened with Solyndra, the solar industry continues to move ahead. Who knows, at the rate it’s expanding, we may see solar stepping in as a major player in the not too distant future.

Solar Power in California: California continues to tap into the power of solar, making it one of the most popular renewable resources in the state. But what do you think is behind all the interest in solar power? Why are people all of a sudden turning to solar?

Solar Roadways (the company) to Build Solar Panel Parking Lot: It looks like Solar Roadways has received a grant by the Federal Highway Administration to build a solar panel parking lot in Idaho. It is a pretty innovative idea when you think about it. Plus, if all goes well, we could be seeing solar sidewalks, streets, and highways generating energy day in and day out.

Producing flexible CIGS solar cells with record efficiency:Solar panel and solar cell design continues to advance. One of the latest advancements is a flexible solar cell which yields a 18.7% record efficiency. Lightweight, flexible solar cells have a huge potential and could allow solar to be used in areas previously thought impossible.

University of Maryland wins Solar Decathlon for house design: Speaking of innovation, the University of Maryland managed to win 1st place in the U.S. DOE’s 2011 Solar Decathlon. Their winning design incorporated a number of sustainable features, including a green roof, rainwater collection, an indoor waterfall, and solar panels which will provide year-round power to the home. And better yet, their design is something that could be used in building homes starting…now.

Now is Not the Time to Back Down from Solar Innovation: Needless to say, it is not time to back down from solar innovation. With technologies advancing and maturing, now is the time to promote high-quality production and reward improved performance standards. The need for clean energy is not going to go away. We need to tap into the all the benefits of solar energy, in addition to the other forms of renewable energy.

Chu: Solyndra’s collapse doesn’t dent solar investment case: Energy Secretary Steven Chu made it clear that despite the bankruptcy of Solyndra, there is still a need for federal investment and support of clean, green energy.

As Secretary Chu stated:

“It’s not enough for our country to invent clean energy technologies – we have to make them and use them, too.”

The time to tap into solar, and other renewable energy resources, is now. If we can ween ourselves away from our current sources of energy in favor of more sustainable energy sources, we will go a long way. Solar plays an important role in the future of worldwide energy, don’t you agree?

Well, it’s been awhile since I’ve put together a weekly greens blog post. It’s not that I haven’t come across quite a bit of green and environmental news that I knew you’d be interested in. It’s simply that I didn’t get a chance between my move and all, to put something together for you. So, in honor of the first weekend of June, here is a weekend edition of the Biofriendlyblog Weekly Greens.

Image by Andrew Hill

Now, please remember this is only a small taste of some green and environmentally-minded articles and posts that caught my attention. If you’d like a more in-depth look at some environmental news, you can subscribe to my Enviro Daily.

Weekly Greens:

1) Volkswagen Aqua Hovercraft Looks Like a ‘Star Wars’ Landspeeder!: Okay, now this one is pretty cool. Who wouldn’t want to go driving around in a hovercraft? It’s powered by a hydrogen fuel cell and each of the forward thrust and directional fans are powered by electric motors. So it’s 100% gasoline-free!

2) Why the Past Matters for the Future of Fish: For all you fish eaters out there, please take note. It’s going to take a lot more than is currently being done in order to restore the oceans to the thriving levels of the past. If each of us learns a little about how the past impacts the future of fish, we can take steps to reverse a downward trend.

3) Celsius Biodigester Recycles Organic Waste into Usable Energy: I love hearing about any kind of workable alternative energy, especially when it involves recycling waste materials. I know, sounds like a “Back to the Future” movie, doesn’t it? However this particular machine can be installed right in your kitchen to recycle organic waste. Then you use that energy to cook. Cool!

4) Routine Home Maintenance: Get Ready for Summer: This one’s pretty self-explanatory. Summer is coming and it’s time to tackle those home maintenance items. This post will help you figure out what to work on and where to start.

5) Canadian Solar Headed to China to Build Two 600-MW Solar Technology Plants: China is opening its arms to clean energy companies and Canadian Solar is moving in. They plan on building both a 600-MW solar cell production plant and a 600-MW solar wafer production plant. Additionally, they have already stated they are anticipating being able to double the plants production in the near future!

6) Japan Firm Develops ‘Sun-Chasing’ Solar Panels: Speaking of solar panels, these particular solar panels have been made with moving mirrors that are designed to follow the sun throughout the day. As a result they can generate 2x the electricity of current models. Production scheduled to start in August.

7) Shark Finning is Wrong, Help Stop It: Last but definitely not least is the subject of shark finning. This is one I’ve never understood. Why would you do that to a shark? California residents can sign a petition supporting a bill that would ban the sale, possession, trade or distribution of shark fins.

And since tomorrow is World Environment Day and this year’s theme is Forests: Nature at Your Service, take a few moments to find out what forests mean to all of us. Then figure out how you can help plant a tree, because as the old Chinese proverb goes, “The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The next best time is now“.

Hope you enjoyed this weekend edition of my “Weekly Greens”. Have a wonderful weekend and remember to get outdoors!

The sun provides an amazing amount of natural energy each and every day.  It’s a resource, that thankfully isn’t going to disappear anytime in the near future. However, surprising enough, until recently it hadn’t been gaining the wide-spread popularity that some said it should.

Image by Ricardo Samaniego

I mean, with the cost of fossil fuels (both financially and to the environment), alternative energy options are finally being sought after and are in high demand. Everything from wind energy to tidal energy, from algae biofuels to solar powered energy and more.

So since we’re on the subject of alternative energy and solar power, let’s take a look at some really cool ways people have tapped into the power of the sun to run these solar-powered machines:

1) Solar Powered Plane: Wouldn’t you love to take a trip in a solar-powered plane? Personally I think it would be pretty cool. And as you’ve probably heard, the Solar Impulse is the first solar-powered aircraft to complete an international flight. It also holds the record for the longest solar-powered flight. Now, as you can see from the following video it’s not a very fast airplane, but it is solar-powered and that’s pretty cool!

2) Solar Powered Car: Another great machine is the solar-powered car. Designed and built by students, this particular solar vehicle is completely powered by solar cells. Even though it only generates enough energy to power a toaster, that same amount of energy was enough to secure it in the Guinness Book of World Records for the fastest solar car in the world.

3) Solar Powered Carousel: Now this is one you may or may not have seen before. The solar powered “Carousolar”. Debuted at SXSW 2011, this solar powered carousel shows that even your fondest childhood memories can go solar! Put together by GE, the “Carousolar” is a traditional carousel, except it is white and it’s powered by 100 80-watt ‘thin film’ solar panels. Now, how cool is that?! Just take a look at how they brought this solar machine to life:

4) Solar Powered Eco Train: I love trains, so this is one I think is pretty cool. Designed by an Argentinian industrial designer as part of the Bombardier train competition, the Inter Urban Eco Train was 100% designed with local transit services in mind. A clean, eco-friendly way for commuters and students to get to and from work or school. It’s powered by solar and better yet, it generates zero carbon emissions. Read here for more information and pictures of this innovative form of urban transportation.

And check out this video for more information on Bombardier Transportation:

5) Solar Powered Boat: I’m sure you’ve heard of the Turanor, the world’s largest solar-powered boat. If not, the Turanor set out in September of 2010 intent on being the first boat to circumnavigate the globe powered only by solar energy. It was a big goal and a long “road” ahead, but they are doing it. You can check out the original unveiling of the Turanor in the following video. Then to get the most up-to-date information on the Turanor and where it is on its journey, go to Planetsolar.org.

6) Solar Powered Theme Park: Of course, if the above solar-powered machines don’t float your boat (pardon the corny pun), how would you like to see an entire theme park powered by solar power? I know I would!

Unfortunately I don’t have any video or pictures of this one yet, however it’s one I plan on following. Announced in January of this year, Devon’s Crealy Great Adventure Park intends to become the first theme park in the UK to run its roller coasters on solar power. I know I’d love to check it out in person! How about you?

When you think about it, one of the nice things about solar power and solar-powered machines is that the possibilities are endless. So many things that currently use other forms of energy or fuel can be engineered to run on solar. What’s your favorite solar-powered machine?

Image by dorena-wm

Unbelievable as it may seem, the end of the week is already here. Therefore I figured I’d do a quick environmental round-up. These are just a few of the environmental or eco-stories I came across this week that I thought you might be interested in.

1) Emissions: Why Focus on the Supply Chain? – Lifecycle costs are not always factored in when it comes to purchases and supplies, yet it is a key factor related to environmental impact.

2) Taco Bell sells Fake Meat. So What? Everybody’s doing it – With all that came up in the news this week regarding Taco Bell, it kind of all comes down to the fact that people need to be aware of what they are eating. If you don’t want “fake meat”, then go organic. Don’t want contaminated fruits and veggies? Then grown your own. There are healthy solutions.

3) What Does Organic Mean? – Speaking of organic, it’s good to know what organic really means. What level of organic are you really looking for? Know before you go.

4) Fancy Solar Cooker Concept a Possible Solution for Off-Grid Communities – To me this appears to be a great idea. As long as it is affordable, this could definitely have possibilities. Seems like it might be good for camping, etc.

5) Eco-Kids Protecting Animals for One More Generation – I always love hearing stories about kids taking steps to save animals, improve the environment, raise awareness to eco-activities, etc.

6) Cornfields vs. Oilfields (Infographic) – So what are the impacts of using corn for fuel? Is it worth the investment? Take a look.

7) Freecycling at Work Drives Green Engagement, Business Growth – This one I thought was a great idea for businesses. Inspiring people at work often trickles into their personal lives as well.

Now here’s one that many of you can get behind…the 2011 Local Hero Award. Check it out and see who has already been nominated. Then if you don’t see someone you think should be there, nominate them for a Heart of Green Local Hero Award! There are lots of unrecognized green heroes out there.

Remember to have a biofriendly weekend and if you’re planning on watching the Super Bowl this weekend, please keep your waste to a minimum. Check out some of the cool Green Facts and Figures Surrounding the Super Bowl.

Image by Photo Extremist

Now that we’re almost half way through January, how are your eco-resolutions going? Are you on track or have you fallen off the wagon? Don’t worry because even if you’ve fallen short of your intended green New Year’s resolutions, there is plenty of time to get rolling. Here are a few articles I found this week that might help get you inspired to get rolling or keep rolling. So, onto the “Weekly Greens”:

1) Just Clean Up After Yourself: It is as simple as the title says. Instead of wondering what you are going to do to start helping the environment. Start doing something simple.

2) Food Trend Prediction for 2011: Now, those of you who have been reading my blog regularly are sure to be familiar with my friend, Mike, aka CanarsieBK. If you’re looking for some tips on growing your own foods, etc. you need to check out what Mike has to say. He’s not esoteric, he’s down-to-earth and has some great tips too.

3) Electric Car-Friendly Scenic Byway to be created in Washington State: Now, don’t get me wrong, I think this is pretty cool. But I really look forward to the days when this is more the norm than the exception. If electric cars are really going to be used in volume, then the infra-structure needs to be there to support them. Don’t you think? In the meantime, any way people can lower their vehicle emissions will help.

4) 3 reasons to reduce green house gases by carpooling: Speaking of lowering emissions, carpooling is a great and economical way to do just that.

5) Landfill to become solar power plant: Now this one is kind of inspirational in my opinion. It just goes to show that if people want to think of ways to be more eco- and environmentally-friendly, they can. Love it!

6) 12 Tips to end clutter: This last one is another one that you can start doing immediately. Some very simple tips, but a great way to get started on some “spring cleaning” before Spring even arrives.

If you have any other stories or articles you think would be great for the Weekly Greens, please email them to me at biofriendlyblog@gmail.com. I look forward to reading them. Have a biofriendly weekend!