Archive for the ‘Travel’ CategoryIn that every day hustle and bustle, we’ve all seen those boring, reusable shopping bags and bland, carry-all totes. Don’t get us wrong—they’re eco-friendly so they’re totally great—but we’ve got something to show you that’s more, well… hip. New to Verde Lifestyles is a line of Organic Cotton Tote Bags that can please everyone from the most traditional likes to the bold and trendy needs.
These vibrant, earth-inspired totes are for you daring, environmentally-friendly folk. Adorable nature prints adorn the entirety of the bag and are sure to catch the eye of those passer-bys. Measuring approximately 12.5″ wide, 14.5″ tall and 17″ deep, the bags function perfectly as reusable shoppers or daily tote bags. They only cost $17.95, so don’t be afraid to make a green [or blue!] statement!
This subtle striped tote is for our less intrepid crowd. Clean, green stripes against an ivory background add just enough oomph to this reusable tote bag. Priced at $34.00, this tote is a bit larger than the bags described above. It’s great for toting your daily essentials and can easily carry an abundance of groceries. Be careful, though—once everyone sees you keeping the world green with this classic tote, you’ll be fighting them off with a stick! The green movement has finally spread to the travel world! After much demand, several eco-friendly hotels have been popping up all over the globe. Although the most environmentally-friendly vacation includes taking a hike and spending the night below the stars, there are now other viable options. While there are several outstanding green hotels, we thought you’d most enjoy this one: voted the most eco-friendly hotel in the world, the Hamanasi Resort in Belize is the best in its game!
Hamansi began building with environment conservation in mind. They built around the existing trees, leaving animals’ homes and “nature’s air conditioners” intact. When they ran out of space? They built luxury tree houses in the forest! Down on the beach, Hamansi left a strip of vegetation six feet wide past the point of high tide. This little strip heavily reduces erosion and minimizes silting, which eventually chokes the reef. They have set aside over 10 acres around the hotel, keeping it as a stunning nature preserve. This preserve adjoins the swampland savanna which overlooks the Maya Mountains.
Not only is the Hamansi Resort built on eco-friendly ideals, but they maintain these practices in daily routines. All fruit and vegetable scraps are added to the compost pile and used to maintain the rich lands. When replanting, they minimize the use of pesticides and chemical based fertilizers. Old room linens are used for cleaning tools [just like we suggest!] to eliminate waste. The icing on the cake? Any leftover products are distributed to local community! The Hamansi Resort produces virtually no waste, recycles every product, and gives back to the planet by maintaining nature’s natural beauty. Hamansi is a great role model for every resort out there!
In an attempt to make air, land, and sea green, PlanetSolar is taking environmentally friendly travel to a whole new level. The solar-powered boat will attempt to sail around the globe and expand on energy efficiency to benefit all of civilization. Below is the inspiration and thought behind the project, as well as some details on the world’s first solar-powered boat.
PlanetSolar is a boat covered in multiple photovoltaic solar panels. It will “of impressive proportions, and yet… both silent and clean.” The size and shape are still being determined, but are based on a multitude of factors: “propulsion, solar panel design, energy storage, materials, and the external environment.” Make sure to follow this production, as it is sure to change the green world as we know it!
I’ve been spending so much time in my car lately that I started thinking about public transportation options. But then I realized I live in metro Detroit aka “The Motor City” and that there really aren’t many options here for public transportation. I know there has been some talk of more public transportation in the state, especially with all the commotion over the past year within the automobile industry. What really peaked my interest was an article in Inhabitat about a solar and hydrogen powered interstate rail in Michigan. The article was from 2008 and said that construction was set to begin that year and the rail system would connect Ann Arbor and Detroit. I haven’t heard or seen anything since, but that would be great if it became a reality!
The project was designed as a solar powered, hydrogen-fueled, zero emission mass transit system that would carry anything from people to cars. The highway would be made up of systems called the rail conduit cluster and would provide an integrated system for public/private transit and a municipal infrastructure network. Essentially, it would serve as a public transport system AND distribute electricity, potable water, liquid waste, fiber optics, hydrogen, oxygen, and fuels. I won’t go into more detail than that because frankly I’m satisfied just knowing it works lol! (See resource blow for original article.) To give you a little background on public transportation in Michigan, a professor of urban planning at the University of Michigan said that “if Michigan got a grade on its current public transportation system, it wouldn’t be pretty. Michigan’s public transit system would probably be given an F”. The reason being the predominant role of the big three in Michigan, there has been a hesitancy to put a transit system in place. It would be perceived as competition with the state’s largest industry which is why it has been ignored for so long. But hopefully that will change soon. With that being said, where do other states rank as far as public transportation? Top 10 States For Public Transportation
Resources Follow us on Twitter here… -Danielle- Since we’re all trying to better the world by “going green,” why not do it in every possible aspect of daily living? Environmentally friendly home decor, fashion, and travel have taken the world by storm, so why not apply earth friendly behaviors to nightlife? One of the most fun, beautiful, and responsible nightclubs in the world is Greenhouse, located in New York City’s legendary Soho district. Besides having unbelievable decorations [including bamboo/grass walls and a crystal rain effect], this club aims to fulfill its environmental responsibility. Below are some of Greenhouse’s unique qualities that keep it #1 in eco-friendly nightlife. Now you can go green when you go out! Greenhouse is L.E.E.D. certified by the U.S. Green Building Council. It strictly uses LED lightbulbs, which use 1/30th of the energy of regular club lights. There is even wind-generated energy to cover its electricity usage. Greenhouse’s 6,000-square-foot space includes waterless urinals and low-flow toilets to reduce water usage, in addition to bamboo walls and floors. Even high-rolling club goers goers make a green contribution by signing up for a table with bottle service and purchasing eco-friendly Vodka 360. Var staff wear uniforms made of organic materials designed by Edun. Next time you’re in New York City, make sure to support the green efforts because helping the Earth has never been so glamorous!
Dec
14
Eco-Tourism In ItalyAfter my initial post on green travel, I thought I would write about eco-tourism at my favorite travel destination – Italy. I’ve always wanted to travel to Italy because of it’s natural beauty, my Grandmother’s Italian heritage, and my passion for Italian cuisine (although I’m sure my experience of Italian cuisine is quite different from a locals!). So what can an eco-conscious traveler do in Italy? There are organic farms galore, quaint eco-villages, walking tours, and plenty of volunteer opportunities as a starting point. Organic Farms
Part of Tuscany’s Riserva Naturale Alto Merse, this 1,100-acre organic estate includes managed forests, vegetable gardens, and hiking trails. The estate is dedicated to preserving the region’s cultural and agricultural heritage. Parts of the property are used to raise endangered breeds of livestock, others for sustainably harvested wood which is used for heating. Rooms are tucked into original stone houses that are restored with a rustic simplicity exemplifying the farm’s philosophy. Not only is the Spannocchia a working organic farm, it is also a center for education focused on both ecological and cultural history driven from its multinational community. With hiking paths, farm animals, gardens, cooking classes, beautiful vistas, eight centuries of rural history, friendly people, and great food and wine, how could you go wrong? In the beautiful Siena province of Tuscany, the San Martino organic farm practices biodynamic/homeopathic agriculture along side its farmhouse bed and breakfast. The Villa has been recently restored using the rules of bioarchitecture, which uses exclusively natural and ecological materials such as lime, wood and stone, natural earth and beeswax for finishings. Morning breakfast is prepared only with home made or local organic products. Outside, guests can enjoy a Biolake (bio-swimming pool), free of chemicals. The farm produces saffron, extra virgin olive oil, honey, cereals and grass. The Agriturismo Antico Uliveto is in the heart of Chianti, between the city of Siena and the medieval fortress of Monteriggioni. The Agriturismo is part of the Gardinia Organic Farmhouse (Azienda Agricola Biologica Gardinina), where the Taddei family has been using organic methods for its production of wine, olive oil, honey and grains for the past ten years. Activities include hand made pasta, painting, tennis lessons or a trip in a hot-air balloon. They even have a “Wellness Nest” that offers massages! A recently restored 14th century farmhouse, once believed to have been a monastery, is situated on a 500 acre organic teaching farm, in the Pietralunga Forest of Upper Umbria. “Here, life in accordance with Nature is a philosophy: the tree is not an inert shadow dispenser, while the spider hanging down from the beam is not an inconvenience, nor a rainy day is a bore.” The eco-policies they’ve adopted include: Energy saving measures such as insulating houses and using high efficiency rated appliances and energy saving light bulbs. Water conservation in the form of low flush toilets and low pressure showers. They also ask guests to reuse towels and sheets more than once. They recycle glass, metal, paper, plastic, and feed food scraps to the animals. Plus they use the Internet to cut down on paper-based advertising and print marketing material such as brochures on recycled paper. Eco-Villages Frustrated with Sicily’s loss of traditions from when she was a child, Carmelina Ricciardello resolved to preserve its way of life. In the village of Sant’Ambrogio, she’s now creating Sicily’s first eco-village, by preserving traditions threatened by emigration, unemployment and mass tourism. Tucked behind the city of Cefalù on the north coast of Sicily where life continues much as it has for the past 500 years. “Old men still sit in rows on the benches in the little piazza, while their wives gossip on the doorsteps.” Damanhur is an eco-village based on ethical and spiritual values. It has around 1,000 citizens and extends over 500 (5 million metres) at the foothills of the Piedmont Alps. Founded in 1975, the Federation of Damanhur is more of an an eco-society with their own social and political structure . “The Federation of Damanhur is a centre for spiritual, artistic and social research” with a world renown reputation. Courses and events are offered all year round and visitors are welcome for longer visits as well for study or relaxation. Walking Tours Country Walkers is a walking tour company that operates in Europe, Asia, Africa, the South Pacific, North America, Latin America, and even Antarctica. Guided, private, and custom tours are offered, but they may not be your least expensive option for seeing Italy by foot. Their tours include The French and Italian Alps, Amalfi Coast & Isle of Capri, Cinque Terre, Italian Lakes, Signature Tuscany, Sicily & The Aeolian Islands, and the Piedmont. The one advantage to Country Walkers is that you have a tour guide who will give you additional insight to the history and culture of a region and will assure that you stay on the path. Losing your way in a foreign country is not something most people enjoy. Even though it might turn out to be an adventure of a lifetime. Via Francigena If your looking for a more cost effective way to travel by foot, the Via Francigena is another option known as a pilgrimage to Rome. The ancient pilgrimage route starts in Canterbury in England and was the main route for Christian pilgrims in Europe. While not as well maintained as other pilgrimage routes such as the Santiago de Compostela in Spain, the Via Francigena can still be traveled through Italy to Rome. You can find sites dedicated to the pilgrimage route such as Walk for Italy or sites that have information on the route under the category of religion such as Life in Italy. Volunteer Opportunities Opportunities to volunteer abroad are endless, you can volunteer for a couple of days, weeks, or even 6 months to a year. You can assist the elderly or the disabled, stay with a family to teach them english, research whales in the Ligurian Sea, assist in the historic preservation of buildings, maintain beaches, and even work in exchange for food and accommodation. Most programs have a cost associated with them and will arrange lodgings for you whether in a dormitory or with a local family. Volunteering abroad offers a different perspective of a country from the traditional tourists attractions. Whether you have the option to volunteer through a program or plan on making your own arrangements once in a country, you can start your research at Volunteer in Italy or Transition Abroad. Now that everyone has the itch to travel, feel free to share your plans or experiences! When I decided to write about green travel, I was thinking of highlighting various green destinations. But the more I read about it, the more I realized how broad the topic of green travel is. As far as definitions of green travel, I had no idea there was a distinction between eco-conscious travel, eco-friendly travel, eco-tourism, responsible travel, and green travel. There are so many great topics to chose from that I’ve decided to make this a two part post. This week I’ll be focusing on green travel and eco-tourism: Green travel can be defined as:
Eco-tourism can be defined as:
Another interesting way to categorize green travel is by extremeness. There are those that would hardly go out of there way to make greener travel decisions and the extremists that won’t fly in planes, only eat organic foods, and camp out in their own tents rather than stay in a hotel. Whether you prefer luxury hotels or camping, what drew me to the topic was the destinations: Top eco-tourism destinations include Belize, Dubai, Brazil, Kenya, Gabon, Laos, Canada, and Ireland. These destinations were chosen for their biodiversity as well as local commitment to sustainability. They were also ranked by established destinations, destinations making progress, and countries on a watch list. Those that were considered established eco-tourist destinations included Brazil’s wetlands, Northern Ireland, Belize’s barrier reef (the largest in the Western Hemisphere), and safaris in Kenya through local ranchers (allows them to supplement their income with eco-tourism). Or for those traveling in luxury there is the Al Maha Desert Resort and Spa on Dubai’s Desert Conservation Reserve. The resort recycles 100% of its water and has an impressive seed bank of 6,000 indigenous plants.
If your interested in going to the world’s greenest countries, in general Norwegian and Eastern European countries ranked the highest. A recent Yale repost ranked countries based on “an environmental performance index (EPI)–a weighting of carbon and sulfur emissions, water purity and conservation practices.” The top five were Switzerland, Sweden, Norway, Finland, and Costa Rica. If your wondering how the US ranked, we were 39.
There are so many options for green travel, be it your choice of travel, lodgings, or activities. As I mentioned, since this is such a broad topic, I’ll be writing about my favorite eco-friendly destination next time. Feel free to mention yours!
Nov
11
The Future of DubaiTotal Read Time: 3 Minutes Background: Dubai is one of the seven emirates and the most populous city of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). What differentiates Dubai from other middle eastern economies is that its main revenue comes from tourism, real estate and financial services. Revenue from petroleum and natural gas contribute less than 6% of Dubai’s $37 billion (US currency) economy. Dubai is also known for Burj Dubai, the world’s tallest man-made structure. While Dubai has also attracted attention for it’s self-sufficient architectural designs. Below are just a few projects that I wanted to highlight. Self-Sufficient Rotating Tower: The Italian-Israeli architect David Fisher has just unveiled the latest design for his twirling tower, and construction is set to begin soon. The building has been named Rotating Tower as the floors will be capable of rotating around a central axis. It will be continually in motion, changing shape and giving residents the ability to choose a new view at the touch of a button. The building is actually in constant motion as each floor rotates separately giving a new view of the building as it turns. The building also ensures a very high resistance to earthquakes as each floor rotates independently. The new tower is also the first building of its size to be produced in a factory. Each floor, complete with plumbing, electric connections, and air conditioning will be fabricated in a factory. Even better, the 59-floor building will be powered entirely by sun and wind energy. And, the architect claims that the building will generate 10 times more energy than required to power it, thus making it a positive energy building. Solar panels will be fitted on the roof to harness sunlight, and a total of 48 wind turbines will be sandwiched between the rotating floors, placed so that they are practically invisible!
This past February, the Dubai Chamber of Commerce authorized the development of a “free zone” called Food City. A green landscape architect firm, proposed a plan for the city to turn it into an off-the-grid, self-sufficient metropolis. Ideas for sustainable urban planning include vertically stacked landscape surfaces, artificial roof landscapes, aquatic farms, and thermal conditioning. Food City has been described as the “the marriage of landscapes and urbanism“. The project integrates a variety of proposals to decrease overall energy use — concentrated solar collectors, towers covered in thin-film photovoltaic cells, and methane harvesting through sewage percolation tanks. Water conservation measures will also be critical for off-the-grid survival in Dubai, like atmospheric water harvesting, grey water recycling, and application of hydroponic sand to minimize water loss. Essentially, the idea is an combination of nearly every urban sustainability initiative in the past few years. It’s certainly utopian, but it may ultimately prove necessary.
Considering Dubai is surrounded by seawater and relies on imports for nearly all of its food, there is a strong need for addressing the region’s lack of natural resources. So designers have conceived of a Seawater Vertical Farm that draws upon local resources to create a sustainable source of food for a cleaner and more self-sufficient city. Envisioned as a spire that branches off into soaring sky-gardens, the design uses seawater to create an ecosystem conducive to growing crops amid the clouds. Many areas of the earth are subject to water shortages considering agriculture consumes nearly 70% of the world’s fresh water. Saltwater, on the other hand, is available in abundance, which makes sustainable desalination an enticing option for producing water for food production. Dubai’s lack of fertile soil and fresh water make it a perfect candidate for seawater farms, which stand to cut down on the emirate’s regular import of goods while significantly reducing the region’s greenhouse gas emissions. Essentially the Seawater Vertical Farm will utilize seawater to cool and humidify the air that ventilates multiple greenhouses, while sunlight distills the saltwater into fresh water to provide life for plants. While the Seawater Vertical Farm offers an interesting source of sustainable agriculture, its implementation may be quite a ways off.
-Danielle- You should follow us on Twitter here! |
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