Kind of a weird photo, I know, but I get the meaning; it’s organic power in a purse. More specifically, it is a handbag for females that has a special place where you can charge your mobile phone, iPod or camera. Pretty cool. Here is another photo that explains the mechanics:

The man behind the bag, 29 year old mechanical engineering student Joe Hynek said, ‘It begins working every time the user steps outside. People are very excited because it expresses ecological and environmental themes in addition to the function provided of charging your phone and iPod.’

I love the idea. I’d also love to see some more variations. Can we make it happen in a soft bag? Anybody know? In the mean time, I’d like to see one of these in person and next Tuesday is my birthday. Hint, hint. For more information, visit www.solarjo.com.

Thank-you Philip.

A glimpse into the future: Masdar City–the world’s greenest place on earth

Ok, this is not a science fiction story I’m about to share with you. Although if it were, I’d be one of the first to read it…especially since it pertains to the future of our planet.

So check this out. The city of Masdar in Abu Dhabi located in the United Arab Emirates (together with The Worldwide Fund for Nature) “launched a Sustainability Action Plan to deliver the world’s greenest city – Masdar City. Located near Abu Dhabi International Airport, Masdar City will be the world’s first zero-carbon, zero-waste, car-free city, aiming to exceed the 10 sustainability principles of ‘One Planet Living™’– a global initiative launched by the Worldwide Fund for Nature and environmental consultancy BioRegional.” ::Source: The Masdar Initiative

Model of the future city with 50,000 inhabitants

Here are some of the green details as stated by The Masdar Initiative:

ZERO CARBON: 100 per cent of energy supplied by renewable energy – Photovoltaics, concentrated solar power, wind, waste to energy and other technologies

ZERO WASTE: 99 per cent diversion of waste from landfill (includes waste reduction measures, re-use of waste wherever possible, recycling, composting, waste to energy)

SUSTAINABLE TRANSPORT: Zero carbon emissions from transport within the city; implementation of measures to reduce the carbon cost of journeys to the city boundaries (through facilitating and encouraging the use of public transport, vehicle sharing, supporting low emissions vehicle initiatives)

Check out the car rail system…How fun! That definitely appeals to my inner 7 year old.

SUSTAINABLE MATERIALS: Specifying high recycled materials content within building products; tracking and encouraging the reduction of embodied energy within materials and throughout the construction process; specifying the use of sustainable materials such as Forest Stewardship Council certified timber, bamboo and other products

SUSTAINABLE FOOD: Retail outlets to meet targets for supplying organic food and sustainable and or fair trade products

SUSTAINABLE WATER: Per capita water consumption to be at least 50 per cent less than the national average; all waste water to be re-used

HABITATS AND WILDLIFE: All valuable species to be conserved or relocated with positive mitigation targets

CULTURE AND HERITAGE: Architecture to integrate local values.

EQUITY AND FAIR TRADE: Fair wages and working conditions for all workers (including construction) as defined by international labour standards

HEALTH AND HAPPINESS: Facilities and events for every demographic group

Sound like a green utopia? Maybe. Or maybe, world leaders are starting to catch on to higher thinking in terms of dealing with the global crisis And just maybe, Masdar City will lead other world cities into doing the exact same thing and we’ll be out of this mess before it’s too late. That thought gives me the goose bumps all over…

Renewable energy is now a thing of the present…Easy and affordable…

Ok, one of the sexiest things about eco-chic-ness is the ability to harness what is safe for the environment, bringing it into our personal lives to make a difference. What am I talking about you might wonder? The subject here is the availability of renewable energy and the maverick movements of some city governments (like my own!) across the globe that are starting to offer renewable energy options to help residential and business customers reduce our reliance on fossil fuels….Ok, let me back up for a minute…

Several months ago I was walking around the urban zone in Portland, Oregon and was stopped by a guy sitting at a PGE (Portland General Electric) table outside the cute store where I was shopping. He explained a new service offered by PGE called Green Source—100% renewable energy power from new wind, new geothermal and new biomass sources, now available to customers in the city….That’s pretty cool, I thought…

Cut to many months later (I’m embarrassed to admit), yesterday morning in fact, when I pulled that same literature out of my desk drawer. I stood there not believing that I hadn’t signed up already (it only costs an average of $7.00 more a month or $0.008/kWh or less than $0.01/kWh. That’s a totally affordable way to help save energy. I immediately picked up the phone and signed up. Later on that evening, I shared my story with my friend Linda, who is also going to sign up. Right there, my eco-loving friends, we are making a difference.

Bonus: Now when I go to turn on my lights or my electric stove, I can feel proud in knowing that 100% of my usage is offset with renewable resources…It’s so easy to understand, even a seven-year old could get it…Kind of a no-brainer, huh?

For more information on PGE’s Green Source program, click here or call (503)228-6322.