Eco-friendly urban today: a new use for old jeans, tracking fireflies and green mobile homes
Eco-friendly urban articles and features in the news
Old jeans made into new insulation (9News.com): "Loveland Habitat for Humanity began rounding up the jeans three months ago. Four thousand pairs are now waiting to be transformed, says Marketing Director Karen Murray-Boston. "It only takes 500 pairs of jeans to insulate the average home," she said. "They shred the jeans, they work them through the normal process. They are non-toxic, give off no off gases, and are completely safe to install in your home."
The birds and bees: natural habitats attract beneficial wildlife (Pocono Record): "There are five reasons to garden for wildlife: to bring wildlife home by restoring habitats; to be ecofriendly and improve air, water and soil quality through sustainable gardening; to have fun and view birds, butterflies and more from home; to provide curb appeal and replace lawns with native plants and increase the beauty of property; and to increase a sense by community by sharing gardening passion with neighbors."
Backyard volunteers helping track firefly numbers (Associated Press): "Scientists concerned by reports from the public that they are seeing fewer of the luminous insects each summer have turned to a network of backyard volunteers spanning much of the nation to track their range and numbers. Their observations may shed light on whether fireflies are indeed declining — a trend that could dwindle the targets for the childhood rite of passage of chasing fireflies."
Two approaches to green living: from a cob home to an eco resort, helping the environment pays off (Times Colonist): "We wanted to try and build a house that was as sustainable as the building code would allow. The philosophy of a sustainable structure is different for everybody. For us, it's about thinking that we're a part of the ecosystem, so we wanted to build something that was integrated -- from the house to the system to everything outside."
Ecomobile: a green mobile home in a spiritual trailer park (Treehugger): "What we really need is a sort of green trailer park, where people can own their unit but share common resources. It turns out that it exists, and has since 1962; Dr. Graham Meltzer just built his own home, the ecomobile, in the Park at Findhorn, a "growing eco-village and spiritual community." in North Scotland."
