Author: Lisa Frack
Website: http://www.enviroblog.org/2009/04/bottled-water-exposed—in…

[Cartoon by Steve Greenburg]

For more information click the following article source link for the full story:
http://www.enviroblog.org/2009/04/bottled-water-exposed—in…

Author: TerraCurve
Website: http://www.terracurve.com/2009/04/17/student-travelers-conne…

Today marks the official launch of XploreU.com, an international student life platform, which enables students to connect on a global level. This “Facebook meets Wikipedia” site for student travelers allows students to connect internationally, share travel tips and stories, and obtain information to plan future travels. Xploreu.com provides the ideal online platform for students to meet, share and grow with each other, no matter where they are located across the globe. With a wide base of content and advanced social features, the site expects, and actively ensures, its internationally based student members are global citizens.

The unique social network and global student life platform incorporates student travel, international programs, education and social responsibility; top issues that current students are fascinated with. Connecting students on a platform that takes it further than “You went to high-school together” speaks to the desire for a more intellectual connection…

(Read the rest of this article at the following article source link for the full story)

For more information click the following article source link for the full story:
http://www.terracurve.com/2009/04/17/student-travelers-conne…

Author: TerraCurve
Website: http://www.terracurve.com/2009/04/17/go-group-recognizes-maj…

In celebration of Earth Day, April 22, The GO Group, LLC, the world’s largest airport ground transportation provider, is paying tribute to the earth-friendly efforts of some of the largest cities it serves.

Among the cities cited for their green initiatives are: Chicago, Denver, Los Angeles, New York, Paris and San Francisco.

“As a green-conscious company, GO is proud to be associated with these metropolitan centers that are leading the way to a cleaner environment,” said John McCarthy, president of The GO Group.

Chicago was cited as a pioneer of roof-top gardens, which improve air quality, conserve energy, reduce the urban heat island effect and serve as building insulation. The city currently has more than 2.5 million square feet of city roofscapes, including those installed at City Hall, Chicago O’Hare International Airport and Soldier Field. Another 250 public and private green roofs - totaling more than 1 million square feet - are in design or under construction.

Denver’s…

(Read the rest of this article at the following article source link for the full story)

For more information click the following article source link for the full story:
http://www.terracurve.com/2009/04/17/go-group-recognizes-maj…

Author: TerraCurve
Website: http://www.terracurve.com/2009/04/17/its-not-easy-being-gree…

TripAdvisor, the world’s most popular and largest travel community, today announced the results of its environmentally-friendly travel survey of more than 1,200 U.S. respondents. Seventy-six percent of travelers sometimes incorporate green choices in their travel plans and 27 percent of respondents intentionally made environmentally-friendly travel choices in the past year. Fifty-two percent regularly find it challenging to incorporate “green” choices into their travel plans and 44 percent of travelers find that environmentally-friendly options are not readily available when traveling.

Being Green vs. Saving Green
Forty-five percent of travelers won’t go green if it means spending more green. However, 27 percent are willing to spend $50 or more to be environmentally-friendly when traveling. Thirty-three percent of travelers would pay more for a hotel with an environmental certification, 27 percent said they would spend more dough on a hybrid rental vehicle, and 25 percent are…

(Read the rest of this article at the following article source link for the full story)

For more information click the following article source link for the full story:
http://www.terracurve.com/2009/04/17/its-not-easy-being-gree…

Author: TerraCurve
Website: http://www.terracurve.com/2009/04/17/top-10-mountain-hiking-…

There are thousands of Asheville hiking trails in the surrounding Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. Popular online travel guide to Asheville, www.RomanticAsheville.com, selected its top 10 easy and FREE day hikes for 2009.

1. Gorges State Park
New parking and trails open in May for much better access to rugged river gorges. Hike along the Horsepasture River to see several waterfalls, including Rainbow Falls.

2. Mt. Mitchell
After enjoying the 360-degree vistas from the new observation deck atop the highest peak east of the Rockies, head to the Deep Gap Trail and hike over four more peaks over 6,000 feet.

3. Craggy Gardens
The Blue Ridge Parkway reopens here in May after more than a year of repairs. The Craggy Gardens Trail takes you across a rhododendron bald, and a 1.5-mile roundtrip hike to Craggy Pinnacle offers panoramic views.

4. Point Lookout Trail
This new 3.6-mile paved greenway climbs 900 feet in elevation in Pisgah National Forest. Bike or hike from Old Fort and…

(Read the rest of this article at the following article source link for the full story)

For more information click the following article source link for the full story:
http://www.terracurve.com/2009/04/17/top-10-mountain-hiking-…

Author: TerraCurve
Website: http://www.terracurve.com/2009/04/17/montage-beverly-hills-e…

Montage Beverly Hills, the 201-room luxury hotel that opened November 2008 in Beverly Hills, California has earned Gold certification under the U.S. Green Building Council’s (USGBC) LEED for New Construction rating system.

This is the first certified ultra-luxury hotel in Southern California for LEED for New Construction, one of just four Gold certified hotels worldwide designated by this third-party benchmarking system designed to encourage the design, the construction and the operations of more sustainable buildings. Montage Beverly Hills is also the first newly constructed mixed-use hotel and residential project to be LEED certified as a single development, denoting it as a high performance building that is a responsible, efficient and healthy place to live and work.

“We’re gratified to have created and be operating Southern California’s first hotel and residential project to obtain Gold level certification,” said Alan J. Fuerstman, Founder and CEO of Montage Hotels &…

(Read the rest of this article at the following article source link for the full story)

For more information click the following article source link for the full story:
http://www.terracurve.com/2009/04/17/montage-beverly-hills-e…

Author: TerraCurve
Website: http://www.terracurve.com/2009/04/17/central-americas-first-…

Continuing the boutique brand’s global rollout, Hotel Indigo today announced the opening of its first property in Central America. The 100-room Hotel Indigo is located in San Jose’s upscale neighborhood of Santa Ana, one of the city’s fastest developing areas and an excellent starting point to visit some of the world’s most compelling eco-tourism destinations.

Uniquely designed to reflect the local culture, character and geography of the surrounding area, Hotel Indigo San Jose Forum showcases Costa Rica’s tropical climate and natural settings by incorporating oversized and artistic photographic images throughout the hotel of tropical flowers, waterfalls, coffee beans and dynamic elements of the rain forest.

The use of water features at the main entrance and lobby along with contrasting colors and different textures from the floors to the ceiling are an understated homage to the country’s natural resources. From the locally-inspired murals to the seasonal renewal program where the…

(Read the rest of this article at the following article source link for the full story)

For more information click the following article source link for the full story:
http://www.terracurve.com/2009/04/17/central-americas-first-…

Author: TerraCurve
Website: http://www.terracurve.com/2009/04/17/nyc-surfing-event-for-y…

WAVES for Development (WAVES) is partnering with the Swim Strong Foundation, St. Francis College Water Polo team and the NYU Surf Club to offer an introduction to Water Polo and Surf clinic on April 19th. The clinic is available for participants between the ages of 12 through 17.

“Surfing provides accomplished swimmers a healthy outlet and connection to nature; the skills developed while surfing can be applied to other areas of their lives” states Dave Aabo, founder and executive director of WAVES for Development International. This effort is put forth by WAVES to continue their commitment of using surfing as a vehicle for education for underprivileged youth in South America. WAVES for Development helps communities connect surfing and sustainable community development through Educational Surf programs for local youth and Adventure Voluntourism for travelers.

With Educational Surf programming in Peru, this marks the first US based event available for any participants ages 12-17…

(Read the rest of this article at the following article source link for the full story)

For more information click the following article source link for the full story:
http://www.terracurve.com/2009/04/17/nyc-surfing-event-for-y…

Author: Jean-Paul
Website: http://www.thechicecologist.com/2009/04/recycled-glass-wine-…

Windshields are making a comeback, and they are being recycled to invade everything from wine glasses to flower vases. This is a great thing given how many cars are disposed of each year, just think of all the automotive glass windows and windshields we can save.
Most of the recycled glass designs I have found are [...]

Related posts:

1. Recycled Glassware - Winebottle Vases and Vessels
2. Amenity Home - Modern Chic Organic Cotton Linen and Sustainable Hemp Bedding
3. Green Greeting Cards, Notecards and Wrap - Whimsy Press

(Read the rest of this article at the following article source link for the full story)

For more information click the following article source link for the full story:
http://www.thechicecologist.com/2009/04/recycled-glass-wine-…

LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is the most well-known, visible rating system for energy efficient, high performance buildings today. A program of the US Green Building Council, LEED is taking the lead in educating professionals and consumers in the green building movement.

Can a timber frame home be LEED certified? Absolutely. LEED for Homes awards certification based on point totals in eight categories. Categories include:

An important first step in building a LEED timber frame home is to interview and hire a LEED architect registered in your state to design your home. After you have a timber frame design, your architect will help you find a qualified builder to construct the timber frame home and document certification points throughout the construction process. When the home is completed, a…

(Read the rest of this article at the following article source link for the full story)

For more information click the following article source link for the full story:
http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/PostAndBeamTimberFrameHomesBl…