03 | December | 2013 | Indoor Air Quality Lab

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 12.3.13 share

A daily roundup of the most important energy, environment, and climate news from around the world.

EMISSIONS

UN carbon offset market seen “in a coma” for years after Warsaw (via Planet Ark)

Beijing starts China’s third carbon exchange with first trades (via Bloomberg)

US EPA chief to share air pollution lessons with China (via Reuters)

EPA to be “flexible” on carbon standards (via The Hill)

RGGI tells EPA: Keep cap-and-trade alive (via National Journal)

California’s carbon market caps off successful first year of auctions (via Environmental Leader)

Bloomberg LP launches first tool that measures risk of “unburnable carbon” assets (via InsideClimate News)

ENERGY POLICY

Report: China’s green economy faces significant challenges (via Environmental Leader)

Canada at crossroads in bid to become energy superpower (via Bloomberg)

Slashing fossil fuel consumption comes with a price (via NPR)

RENEWABLES

Solar PV “competitive” with natural gas in 2025 (via Recharge)

Wind could generate 18% of global electricity by 2050 (via RTCC)

For Minnesota utility, wind backed by hydro is “holy grail” (via Midwest Energy News)

Poll of businesses finds support for Ohio clean energy standards (via Cincinnati Enquirer)

KEYSTONE XL

Billionaire “absolutely” wants to sway Keystone XL decision (via The Hill)

US pipeline safety official admits he’d avoid buying a home near pipelines like Keystone XL (via DeSmog Blog)

CLIMATE

Scientists warn global warming “will be hard to reverse” (via Climate Central)

More droughts, heavier rains predicted for warmer Europe (via Agence France-Presse)

EPA leader urges cooperation on climate ahead of trip to China (via National Journal)

OIL

OPEC scrambling to keep oil prices stable (and high) as it meets (via Washington Post)

TRANSPORTATION

Delayed auto emissions targets will cost EU £21 billion (via BusinessGreen

ENERGY EFFICIENCY

London switches on to LED lighting revolution (via BusinessGreen)

Five of the most important changes to the LEED green building rating system (via Greentech Media)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING

Who’s really cashing in on the fracking boom? (via National Journal)

10% of US earthquakes are in Oklahoma – is shale drilling to blame? (via EnergyWire)

GRID

Power struggle: Green energy versus a grid that’s not ready (via Los Angeles Times)

Stem looks beyond utilities to lead charge on batteries for the grid (via GreenBiz)

OPINION

Is EPA on the right track with the biofuels mandate? (via National Journal)

How do meteorologists fit into the 97% global warming consensus? (via The Guardian)

Why the utility death spiral myth needs to die (via Forbes)

Posted: | Categories: battery, biofuels, california, canada, cap and trade, Carbon bubble, Carbon market, China, climate, drought, emissions, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, EPA, europe, Extreme weather, fracking, Gina McCarthy, global warming, green building, grid, Hydropower, Keystone XL, LED, LEED, London, minnesota, natural gas, News, Ohio, oil, oklahoma, OPEC, Renewable energy standard, Renewable Fuels Standard, renewables, RFS, rggi, solar, solar pv, Tom Steyer, Transportation, wind

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DIY Planter from a Repurposed Trash Bin share

Can you believe that this super cute DIY planter used to be a humble waste basket?

Hit the thrift store for a wire waste basket, pick yourself up some eco-friendly yarn, and you are ready to make a cute planter for your favorite house plant! This is kind of a time-consuming project. Tranae at Becoming Fabulous says it took her about 10 hours over three days to complete it, but this DIY planter is what I like to call a "couch craft." Put on some bad TV or a favorite movie, kick back, and weave.

I love how Tranae used a mix of bold colors for her bin, and you could really play a lot with your colors to get different effects. She's got a lot of contrast, but I think you could get a cool ombre effect by using a few yarns that are different shades of the same color. You could also have fun with art yarn or even play around with mixing in some plarn or newspaper yarn to add extra texture.

This DIY planter tutorial uses a waste basket from a big box store, but you can make this a green craft by hitting the thrift store for your waste basket instead. It might take a little bit longer to find, but you'll save money on materials and you'll be upcycling, so it's totally worth the extra leg work!

All that you need to make your own DIY planter are:

a reclaimed trash bin
plenty of yarn
tape
scissors
a plant in a pot that's slightly narrower and slightly shorter than your basket

Got your materials together? Head over to Becoming Fabulous for the complete DIY planter tutorial!

Posted: | Categories: Craft Recycled, crafty reuse, creative reuse, DIY, DIY decor, DIY planter, green decor, planter, reuse

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