In the video above, Lucy takes us through Asus's all-new, very green, energy-saving Bamboo laptop. It's made almost entirely of recycled materials, and everything in it can be recycled after the laptop becomes obsolete. [Via Shiny Shiny]
Viropop is a site that should interest anyone of a green persuasion. Billing itself as "a green video network", it collects environment-related video content from a range of angles, from sustainability projects to how-to guides for getting more mileage out of your wardrobe.
I'm unsure how many of the videos on the site are produced by the Viropop folk themselves, but they're definitely behind the site's flagship show, Zaproot. Zaproot is a regular digest of environment-related news, and as its zingy name suggests, it's a rather self-consciously funky affair. But once you get used to the zippy editing it is very watchable, with easy-on-the-eye host Jessica Williamson providing an irreverent and engaging look at "the fast changing world of the modern Green Revolution".
Click over to check out the latest edition, which includes what Zaproot would like to see new U.S. President Barack Obama tackle over the next few years.
From our fashion blog, Catwalk Queen...
Last week Catwalk Queen reported how Kate Winslet rejected claims that her Vanity Fair shoot was airbrushed. Now, the actress has been forced to deny that she knowingly wore fur in the photo-shoot, insisting that she thought the garment was fake. Posing provocatively in Agent Provocateur stockings, YSL heels and an £11,500 silver fox fur throw, Winslet has admitted that she was misled into wearing the fur.
London mayor Boris Johnson has given his backing to a new scheme which seeks to transform unused land in the capital into gardens and plots for locally produced food.
Capital Growth is encouraging enterprising Londoners to convert as many areas as they can to green spaces capable of growing food - that means gardens of schools and nursing homes, as well as the flat roofs of commercial and residential buildings.
The hope is to achieve 2,012 new gardens by the time the Olympics come around. It sounds like a lot, but with four years to go and a large amount of unused space available, it's not unrealistic to imagine that green-at-heart city-dwellers will rise to the challenge.
Find out how you can get involved - whether by growing your own, or by offering space to others - at Capital Growth.
[via Treehugger]
Neal's Yard has been offering treatments for a while now, but its new massage deal, designed especially for stressed-out shoppers, is really not to be missed: for the great price of £25 (£35 in London), you'll get a full table massage, complete with natural aromatherapy oils by one of the company's highly trained therapists -- a far cry from the rushed chair massages that I'm used to finding in shopping areas, and actually cheaper than some, too! I had the chance to sample this new treatment yesterday, hoping for relief from my aching shoulders...
Read on for my review
Related: Neal's Yard therapy rooms - natural health and beauty treatments I Neals Yard Remedies adds to frankincence range
Despite competition from Westfield and other mega malls springing up all over the country, Oxford street is still seen by many as the UK's prime shopping destination. If all else fails, jump on the tube to Oxford Circus and within a few hours, you're bound to have found at least something you like. But how does it measure up if you want something a little more ethical? Green my Style's editor Sarah Woodhead went to find out...
In the first of a series on how to green up your home, we look at one kitchen appliance it seems us Brits can't live without: the kettle. Kettles use big bursts of energy to heat water up to boiling point, but the good ones will do this quickly, with as little energy loss as possible.
Eco kettles tend to fit into one of two categories: the first work by heating the water with as little energy as possible (sometimes to a temperature that's not quite boiling); the second are designed with in-built features to try and stop you boiling more than you need.
We've tried all sorts, and from an office that has far too many kettles for its own good, I bring you our roundup of kettles we've tested, and our verdict on which one offers the greenest cup of tea.
Follow the jump for the results
He's at it again! In this week's installment of Energy and Efficiency, uber geek Gary Cutlack considers the kettle: A massive household energy absorber. Mum wants tea. Dad wants tea. You want tea, often all at different times. And sometimes, if you're busy, you might want a coffee - all require the boiling of a kettle. It is an energy black hole.
So, how can you cut down on kettle use? Is there such a thing as an energy efficient way to generate hot water? Yes! There is! Allow Gary to demonstrate.
[Via Tech Digest]
Offices, like all communal spaces, are notorius for descending into messy chaos if people don't take responsibility for keeping them clean, and when it comes to ensuring a tidy carbon footprint, it's exactly the same deal.
The first thing to remember when trying to green up your office is to talk to everyone in it and make sure they don't have any funny ideas about what this might entail. Do they, for example, think it's impossible to recycle plastic, or that buying in bottled water is a good idea? Clear up any myths, assign roles and draw up a rota for recycling, composting, charity shop collecting and any other great ideas you might have. Then make sure you've got the following solutions in place...
Follow the jump to find out what else you can do to make your office a greener place
This week, I've been testing out the Baylis Revolution media player; the new and more streamlined version of the world's first wind-up MP3 player. The Revolution, which is available for £129 at Ethical Superstore, is similar to its predecessor, but has more memory and comes in a sexier-looking case that doesn't scream "I'm an eco gadget" too loudly.
Follow the jump for the rest of the review
In our continued quest to drive down the nation's carbon emissions this winter, we've got two great prizes to offer that will keep heat right where you want it: warming your frozen extremities instead of flying out of the door.
ECOutlet specialises in eco-friendly living in style, and are offering you the chance to win a vintage fabric snake draught excluder and Radiator Booster; both mighty tools in your war against energy waste.
Follow the jump to enter
The world has woken bleary-eyed and expectant to a new era in worldwide politics with the election of President Barack Obama. Backed from the beginning by many high profile environmental organisations, Obama has been seen throughout his campaign as the greener candidate. But what are his environmental policies, and do they have the potential to change the world for the better?
Follow the jump for a few factoids on Obama's green vision
Whether it's the state of the planet or your wallet that's concerning you more, heating your home with electricity or gas accounts for a hefty amount of fuel usage, and depending on your lifestyle, may well be the largest single contributor to your carbon footprint. So it's no wonder that many are looking to alternative heating strategies for what may be a hard and frugal winter. But just how green are those alternatives, really?
As our resident energy saving 'expert' Gary Cutlack recently pointed out, the washing machine is in many ways the scourge of the modern home. Most machines are fairly inefficient, and my own investigations into electricity usage made it quite clear to me that washing is one of the most energy guzzling activities we get up to on a daily basis. So it's well worth investing in a 'greener' washer now to save on C02 and cash.
That's what LG are hoping we'll think as they launch their state of the art 'green steam' washing machines; limited edition works of wonder that guarantee a greener wash.
Related: A waterless washing machine | Eco-friendly washing machine is 'fastest in world' with 14 minute cycle
The Guardian has a fantastic new column that's bound to become a major weapon in the war against eco bullshit: Fred Pearce's Greenwash. Dedicated to exposing the companies which aim to blind well-meaning consumers with dodgy science, the section has already questioned the reality behind so-called 'green' video games, flagged up the highly questionable thinking behind our old friend the Future Friendly label and pretty much buried the myth that coal can ever be clean. But the column needs input from consumers, and while you're out busily getting on with your greener life, will investigate examples of greenwash on your behalf. So if you've seen any glaring examples lately, pop your concerns down on an email and send them to greenwash@guardian.co.uk
From: Ethically produced jewellery by The Hairy Growler Jewellery Co.