Green Thing Blog

(Image: advocacynet)

Have you ever thought about living your life Plugged Out? Or did you think that it'd be far too difficult to live without the main grid to power your shower and lights?

Well, we've found some inspiring stories from around the world that might just make you think differently about Plugging Into Better Electricity long term.

Innermost House is the home of Diana and Michael Lorence. They live without electricity, and we mean no electricity, not even the solar kind. Their simple lifestyle seems a million miles away from what most of us know and yet they are completely self sufficient and content with the home they have built for themselves.

(Image: TransitionHeathrow)

The folks behind the inspiring community project Grow Heathrow live off the grid. They have transformed a derelict site near Heathrow into a community space that they power with their own energy sources. They produce their own food and use solar and wind power while collecting water from the greenhouse roofs and have fully functioning compost toilets. And they're still happy and living their lives without any grid hook ups whatsoever.

(Image: Ecoshopper)

Celebrities are getting in on the Plugged Out lifestyle too. Famous actress, Daryl Hannah, (star of movies such as Blade Runner, Roxanne and Splash!) has been living off the grid for 15 years. Her home is in the Rocky Mountains with her partner, Charris Ford, where they live off solar energy as well as a bio diesel generator. They also use bio diesel in their El Camino and tractor which helps them grow their own organic fruit and veg. Impressively, they even have a couch made out of mossy stone which they water with water from their very own spring to keep the couch alive. Quite the antithesis of LA living.

(Image: Greenupgrader)

Think you need to live in the country side to Plug Out? Then you haven't heard of No Impact Man who lives in Manhattan, New York. Colin Beavan and his family decided to live a whole year without creating carbon and documented the experience. This meant no more TV, no more take aways, no more lights, no more lifts, no fridge or freezer, no more electric showers - you get the drift. While the Beavans struggled at times, they make you step back and really think about what you do and don't need. Definitely watch the amazing documentary on their time Plugging Out for some true inspiration. Provided your telly is powered off your self pedal powered TV that is.

So whether you live in the woods or the city, are a celebrity or just one of us normal people, there's a Plugged Out lifestyle for all of us.

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(Image: Koostik) 

Bamboo speakers - check

(Image: Australia Design Awards)

Bamboo bikes - check

But bamboo surfboards inspiring bamboo cars?

(Image: Swellblog)

Not as bamboozling as you might think.

Greg Abbott is pioneering the technology over in Hawaii, having got the idea after test driving bamboo surfboards on the waves.

Abbott (who is on a course to invent the first electrical car) is applying his electrical vehicles know how and combustion-engine-to-EV-converter expertise to looking at one day building kit cars made from woven bamboo composite and vegetable resin instead of carbon fiberglass.

Bamboo is great as not only is it lightweight and highly resilient, it doesn't absorb the resin. According to Abbott, this means you “you can build thicker composites" which are lighter in weight but have a "strength-to-width ratio...somewhere between carbon fiber and fiberglass.”

Since battery packs weigh so much, it'd make for lighter cars all round.

Given that bamboo grows so quickly (up to 100cm in just 24 hours) and is such a durable material, surely making more stuff that lasts out of such a replenishable and green resource makes complete sense?

Here's to riding, surfing and driving the bamboo wave.

(Spotted on Good Design)

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Do The Green Thing, quite possibly the most creative, inspiring, environmental non-profit on the planet, is looking for a smart, well-connected, good human to help with business development and new partnerships.

About Do The Green Thing (registered charity number 1125013)

We’re a non-profit (with a registered charity) that believes in using world-class creativity vs. climate change. We make inspiring videos, we create inspiring products, and we find and share inspiring stories to inspire as many people as possible in as many countries as possible to Do The Green Thing.

About the job

We already have one wonderful part time Green Thing called Vicki working on new partnerships, managing the revenue pipeline and identifying opportunities, but we think things will work even better if someone with specific expertise and contacts in the worlds of sustainability and marketing works with her.

We’re looking for a rainmaker. Someone who can open doors with brands who want to use world-class creative content to inspire their staff and customers to do the green thing. Brands like current DTGT clients M&S and O2 and Coke and B&Q and Whitbread. Someone who can get us meetings and talk confidently, fluently and persuasively with the people responsible for marketing and sustainability at these brands. In other words, identify positive partnerships, open doors and work with Vicki to follow-up and secure new business.

Our ongoing mission is to inspire more people to lead greener lives and to do this we need to keep extending our reach. This means delivering a constant feed of great creative content and practical tips and ideas.  It also means developing relationships - like those with brand partners, that not only help us to reach new audiences but also fund our ongoing creative campaigns.

We work with brands to deliver consumer facing propositions (Inspiration Feed), internal engagement programmes (Work Feed) and we also partner for specific campaigns and content sponsorship opportunities.

The role will be working closely with our existing Partnerships Manager Vicki and sharing the client relationship function until projects are won and live. We expect this new member of the team to hit the ground running with a kit bag full of ideas, contacts, opportunities, expertise and a proven track record on landing client projects and relationships.

This is a part time and flexible role (2 days per week) and based in London. The basic day rate is £200 with the option to negotiate commission commensurate with experience.

How to apply

If you want to be involved please email your cv to Kim Rutherford at jobs@dothegreenthing.com with a short introduction and why you think you’re right for the role.  Thank you!

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Here's the latest update on my quest to cycle.

I now have my bike, it's all locked up, safe and sound but I'm a little nervous about my safety.

So I've asked Kim for some advice for staying safe on two wheels:

Liz: The all important one. Helmets. What type, where from and how much should I be forking out for one?

Kim: Helmets are extremely important if you are going to be cycling and making sure you get a good quality one that fits properly is even more crucial. I went into a bike shop and was recommended the one I wear today. If you're worried about not looking fashionable enough though, then these helmets are sure to make you want to don one with pride. Again, remember to make sure it fits properly and have a practice knocking your head against a wall just to check.

(Image: Guardian)

Liz: I'm perfectly happy pedaling along until I reach a main road which in a city makes things tricky. How can I find a quieter route so I don't have to cycle next to lorries and three lanes of traffic?

Kim: The best thing you can do is to get to know your area, see which roads are busier than others, which are wider and which have cycling lanes. If you get scared, you can simply hop off your bike and walk with it until you are comfortable again. There are some great apps to help you too. Sustrans maps the National Cycle Network and will definitely come in handy. The Bike Hub Cycle Journey Planner is like a sat nav but for your bike so you need never get lost again. And you can always ask fellow cyclists at the lights for their best tips on the local area.

(Image: SustainableGuernsey)

Liz: Now I'm all for visibility but does it have to look so unfashionable? How can I be 'seen' whilst still wanting to be seen?

Kim: If the classic high vis jacket really isn't your thing, you must get your hands on these adorable reflective buttons. You can sew them onto anything you like and you'll always be spotted when cycling at night. I recently came across a range by We-Flashy of clothes with reflective bits incorporated into the design. I LOVE the polka dot jumper. So now you have no reason not to be seen when you're on your bike.

I don't know about you, but I'm feeling pretty confident about keeping safe on my wheels. Tune in next week when I'll be getting the lowdown on bike maintenance and pimping your ride now that we're cycling pros.

Happy pedaling till then.

Liz

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(Image: Kickstarter)

Kate Schermerhorn is out to help us to Stick With What We Got by getting us to ask 'Do I Need This?' before we buy those slightly too small but on sale shoes.

Kate, an Emmy winning filmmaker, wants to make a documentary examining 'consumerism, excess, and what we really need in life'. She aims to make us reevaluate the gratification of consumerism and to look at the impact we are having on the planet.

In order to make her film, Kate needs some money and has set up a Kickstarter page to help realise her goal. She has 4 days left to raise her total of $10,000. At the time of writing she stood at $8,839. She's nearly there.

We love the sound of this movie because as we know, 'there is no away'.

(Spotted on Treehugger)

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