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The news broke today: The Chevy Volt will be produced in 2010 as revealed by the UAW contract that was recently ratified, and reported by USA Today.

Whether or not the Volt concept car would make it to a production vehicle has been kept tightly under wraps since the unveiling of the Volt this January. Lips were sealed this week during the 2008 GM Collections Event, where no one would commit to a date certain for the Volt to reach production.

No word on the lithium-ion battery technology coming into fruition, but something must be developing for the Volt to reach a place in the UAW contract.

From the article:

Volt is about the size of a Chevy Cobalt small car, and GM says it could run up to 40 miles on electricity from on-board batteries. They recharge in about 6 hours plugged into a conventional household outlet, or they can be recharged on the go by a small engine in the car. Unlike gasoline-electric hybrid vehicles, Volt’s engine never runs the car, only recharges the batteries.

Solar panels are quickly going from bulky roof installations to integrated works of art. The theology library at Regent College on the University of British Columbia campus is the first installation in the world to utilize solar panels in stained glass. The art is a central element of a new aerodynamic 40-foot wind tower that will work “as a natural ventilation system for the underground library building and a functional symbol of the college’s commitment to a sustainable environment.” From the release,

“Although the window components (art glass, photovoltaic cells, tempered glass, and LED’s) are well known, they are combined here using a patented method that produces a reliable and attractive source of energy. The solar cells are sandwiched between two panes of extra-clear tempered glass. In this way, the window provides insulation through double-glazing, while at the same time generating electrical energy that can be stored for later use. This energy can be applied to illuminate the interior at night or else directed into any number of designated illumination requirements.”

Beautiful! Hit the jump for more!

Shorter Wall St. Journal: Kids are annoying their parents by actually making them think about the decisions that they are making in their daily lives.

They do mention this little eco-warrior, 4 year old Ailer Thomas:

Nicole Thomas thought her 4-year-old son’s interest in the environment was cute — until he told her she needed to quit drinking coffee. Ailer said he’s worried that coffee growers in Central America are cutting down forests to grow their crops. “Going to a coffee shop with a kid who’s saying, ‘Mommy, you can’t have a cup of coffee’ isn’t very pleasurable,” says the 35-year-old mom from Boulder, Colo.

Ailer’s obsession with the rain forest started when a neighbor gave him a copy of the book “The Umbrella” about a boy who walks into the Monteverde Cloud Forest in Costa Rica and discovers exotic animals like the kinkajou and toucan. His mother was soon raiding the library to find more books, like Jane Goodall’s “The Chimpanzees I Love: Saving Their World and Ours.”

Ailer often tells his mom about the wonders of composting and runs around the supermarket parking lot picking up trash. He has pestered her, his grandmother and a Safeway cashier to get rid of plastic bags and use reusable cloth ones instead. In response to his complaint, the cashier fired back that eating fast-food hamburgers is worse than using plastic, referring to the environmental impact of beef production. Now Ailer is bugging his mom to stop buying hamburgers.

Article: Inconvenient Youths

I caught this video today over at Dancing Rabbit TV. It’s a great look at building your own earthen walls. Head on over for a look:

This isn’t your Grandma’s electric power chair… The Shoprider Flagship provides cover from the elements, a cruising speed of 7 mph, and a 50 to 75 mile range between charges. I don’t think that she’s quite street-legal, but maybe sidewalk-legal? Its built for all weather conditions, and re-fuels at night with a plug in 8 amp charger.
From OhGizmo:

This may look like a concept car for commuting in a crowded city but it’s actually a top-of-the-line, all-weather electric scooter for people with mobility issues. The enclosed canopy means it can be used outdoors in all but the worst of weather conditions and even includes a wiper/washer system for maximum visibility.

Available from Drugstore.com

More information on the Shoprider Flagship here.

When some people think of Global Warming, a vision of comfortable winters, more days at the beach, and less sweaters comes to mind. For those living away from coastal regions, the concerns of hurricanes or sea levels is non-existent. Out of sight, out of mind.

The realities are that climate change will affect each and every one of us. From the ways our communities rely on food produced in other states and nations; to the costs of energy and sourcing of water. But it gets worse. Much worse. We now present to you The Top 5 Nasty Creatures Getting Stronger Due To Climate Change. Some of them seem straight out of science fiction.

Brain-Eating Killer Amoeba
Back in grade school we all thought amoeba were the innocent fat blobs sharing space with paramecium and hydras under the microscope. No longer. 6 Americans have died this year, all young men, from a strain of amoeba that attaches itself to the inside of your nose and quickly burrows through your brain. Scientists are considering this death toll a spike; since only 23 people in the US were killed between 1995 and 2004. “This is a heat-loving amoeba. As water temperatures go up, it does better,” specialist Michael Beach said. “In future decades, as temperatures rise, we’d expect to see more cases.” Great. Keep plugging your nose when going underwater. So far, Florida, Arizona, and Texas have had the most cases. [Associated Press]

The False Black Widow Spider
As if the real Black Widow spider wasn’t enough to deal with; there’s an impostor out there moving across the warming United Kingdom and sending grown men to the hospital. Generally, this little guy wouldn’t cause so much trouble, since the UK’s cold winters kept populations in check. However, thanks to warmer temperatures, their numbers have rocketed into the hundreds of thousands and spreading north to new locales. Apparently, the pain is more severe than a bee or wasp sting and can lead burning sensations, inflammation, and a couple days in the hospital. Worse, they love to hide in gloves or other clothing accessories and will bite almost immediately. Great. [The Daily Mail]

Deadly Irukandji Jellyfish
Australia has some incredible beaches and swimming/snorkeling areas. Millions come every year to enjoy the Great Barrier Reef and other popular marine haunts. Sure, sharks have always been a concern, but a new deadly organism is spreading and raising alarm in areas once thought safe for recreational activities. Call the Irukandji — this nasty, translucent jellyfish (about the size of a thumbnail) is one of the most toxic creatures on the planet. Due to warming oceans, the jellyfish are now 400 miles further south from their previously known habitat. “We don’t want a perception to spread that every Sunshine Coast beach is a killing field,” said Daniel Gschwind, the head of the Queensland Tourism Industry Council. I’ll stick to a pool, thanks. [The Telegraph]

The Disease-Bearing Mosquito, Tick, and Mouse
Your standard nasty critters are getting upgrades in the form of deadly diseases and life-altering viruses. Carriers like mosquitoes, ticks, mice are surviving warmer winters and expanding their range. Malaria is reaching higher elevations, Cholera is spreading in warm waters, and Dengue fever and Lyme disease are moving north. The West Nile virus has infected more than 21,000 people in the United States and Canada and killed more than 800. As one biologist said, “Things we projected to occur in 2080 are happening in 2006. What we didn’t get is how fast and how big it is, and the degree to which the biological systems would respond. Our mistake was in underestimation.”
[The Washington Post]

Vibrio Vulnificus — The Flesh Eating Bug
A flesh-eating bacterium that normally makes its home in the warmer waters of the Gulf of Mexico is now headed into the cooler Northern areas of the world. According to MSNBC, recent tests in Germany showed that Vibrio vulnificus was present in more than nine out of 10 samples of Baltic Sea water. The microscopic marine bug enters the human system through a cut or scrape (and even through ingestion) and devours flesh along the way. About 50% of cases are fatal; with patients dying within the first 48 hours of infection.

Thanks to the work of the Goat Justice League, ruminants now have the right to life and limited liberty in Seattle.

On Monday, the City Council acknowledged the miniature goat’s attributes as human companion, weed whacker and milk maker, and unanimously voted that the goats could be kept as pets.

“One small step for man, one giant step for goatkind,” said Councilmember Richard Conlin, who sponsored the legislation.

As of late, goats have gained the environmental status of hybrid cars and bovine-growth-hormone-free milk, prized for their ability to mow lawns without using fossil fuels. University of Washington and Seattle City Light recently hired herds to clear slopes of blackberry brambles.

Monday’s vote marked yet another gain for miniature goats, which are about the size of a large dog. Also known as pygmy or dwarf goats, the animals weigh between 50 and 100 pounds and grow to about 2 feet tall. Owners keep them as pets and sources of milk.

I live in a city just outside of Seattle. Recently our fair city adopted Seattle’s domestic animal regulations. This was a big step for our city and the adoption allowed me to keep chickens. Hopefully this change in the regulations in Seattle will filter out into other cities.
Read more »

via:StreetFilms.org

We’re all for reuse and recycle, but Romain Jerome’s Titanic DNA Watch is borderline macabre/bizarre. Granted, we really dig the design — but taking actual steel from the titanic and incorporating it into a watch? From the release,

“The watches will have black dial faces thanks to lacquer paint, the ingredients of which consist of coal from the Titanic, while pieces of steel from the vessel will also be used in their creation.

Yvan Arpa, Chief Executive of Romain Jerome, revealed that the number of watches made will be limited to 2,012, to coincide with the centenary anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic, when it struck an iceberg on its maiden voyage from Southampton to New York on April 14th 1912.”

We’re pretty sure these things are not going to be cheap; but if you can’t afford the Heart of the Ocean, this might be your next best bet. Hit the jump for more.

Just like the mood ring you had in grade school, the new response kettle from Kenwood changes colors to let you know when things are getting hot. It’s not all for show however, as countless energy is wasted ever year boiling water that’s already perfectly ready for use. One glance and you’ll know it’s time to cut the heat.

Additionally, you also have the option of either boiling or simply maintaining a constant temperature of 80 degrees — a perfect way to keep things warm for refills without reheating. Unfortunately, this “21st Century Kettle” is only currently available in the UK. Hit the jump for more.