On the surface, it may sound like a miscalculation by Apple to pull its products from the EPEAT green electronics certification program. With many large companies such as Ford, hundreds of schools, and the US government pushing EPEAT-certified electronics to be purchased in their various departments, it can be argued that Apple is cutting itself out of a large piece of the pie. They aren’t. Design over environmental certification will win out in the end and the company will continue to thrive. The release of their latest version of the Macbook Pro marked the end of the certification. They knew…

Going green is getting easier, and the products and ideas reach every corner of life. You can get a greener car, a greener kitchen, and now, and a greener office space. Whether working from home, or organizing your own cubicle, these five great bamboo office products will help you work with a greatly reduced carbon footprint.   1) Bamboo Flooring Linoleum, tile, concrete, and carpet are often used in office settings, but if you really want a greener and warmer office, consider making the switch to bamboo flooring. It is not only aesthetically pleasing, but also strong, functional, and…

There are very few environmental perspectives that grab our attention. In 2011, we know we need to recycle, to not litter, to buy green — the basics are already embedded into western thought. It still isn’t enough, as we seem to ignore the “inconvenient truth” about the environment, but there hasn’t been a strong message with actual solutions popping up lately. This video by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation is a good start. It is thought-provoking and bold, building upon the concept of licensing merchandise rather than purchasing it. When a washing machine goes out, for example, we would return…

Every computer, hair dryer, and electric car that needs juice to operate takes a toll on the infrastructure of the various power grids around the world. It’s not a new revelation, but it’s something that should be remembered as the effects of climate change become more apparent with every passing day. And yet, it isn’t. It’s not remembered by most. We go about our business thinking that there’s always going to be power. Some take action in the way of recycling, cutting personal carbon emissions, and by making purchases from “green” companies, but it’s still only a small percentage. If you want to…

Soon, you may have an entirely new scapegoat for not attending all manner of functions: a printer jam. 3D printing gurus Stratasys took engineering company Kor Ecologic out to a couple fancy dinners, one thing led to another, and now we have the Urbee, the world’s first 3D-printed car. I guess I missed the memo; I had no idea 3D printing was coming along as blindingly fast as it is. For serious, the Urbee is a fully-functioning automobile, the parts of which are entirely fabricated via 3D printer, windows and everything. It’s only a two-seater, but it’s not the size of the 3D-printed car – it’s that…

Remember when internet refrigerators were attempting to become popular, way back in, like… 2001? Or, rather, I’m pretty sure all they did was attempt – I dunno anyone with an internet-ready fridge. Anyway, speaking of, the internet is in the garbage now. No, for real. This is Big Brother stuff, right here. In an attempt to increase recycling awareness, the city of Cleveland is installing RFID chips into new garbage and recycling bins, to keep tabs on your waste-handlings. What are those chips for? Why, to tell on you. If you haven’t brought your recycling bin to the curb for awhile, sanitation…

The green movement has stopped being just about saving our dying planet and has become the fashionable thing to do. I am not sure if this is a good or bad thing, as on one hand it gets a group who wouldn’t normally care to be pulled into the movement involved, but on the other we lose the reason and passion of what began the movement in the process. This new phone charger from Nokia looks as if it will walk the line between the two, balancing green power and posh-ness. Nokia has come up with a way to charge your phone using the static electricity created by your rotating tire on your bike, therefore charging…

As a gadget nerd, it’s important to carry only the very latest cell phone, mp3 player and camera. But poor old mother earth takes a hit each time you upgrade. The Aeolus is a cell phone concept that uses wind and solar power on the go in addition to charging. With a built in fan and solar panels, no one could accuse this device of being an energy hog. The phone is designed to be attached to the handlebars of a bicycle for easy hands-free charging, and will be built from renewable materials. With so many gadgets all milking the grid with inefficient rechargeable batteries, I love the idea of devices that help…

Going green can be beautiful. By the time of the upcoming 2016 Olympics, being held in Rio de Janeiro, a man-made waterfall will be used to power the future Olympic village. The Swiss architectural office RAFAA is undergoing this unique project named the Solar City Tower. The artificial waterfall will flow down the side of a 105-meter high skyscraper doubling as a hydroelectric power plant for the games. It will house a small power plant that runs on solar energy in order to pump water to the 105-meter height. There will also be a observation deck located on the structure providing a variety of cafes…

Apple is well known throughout the industry as being on the forefront of eco-friendly design and production. That is respectable, admirable, and all other sorts of great. But, honestly, why bother? After all, going out of your way simply to save a tree or two can’t be that worthwhile, right? Well guess what: Steve Jobs and Apple know something that others seemingly don’t. Having done something as simple as reducing the size of the boxes being shipped, Jobs noted, is already saving Apple hundreds of thousands of dollars — smaller boxes equals more efficiency in shipping, which results in not…