An Inconvenient Truth: Oscar Winner

Like nearly every Grey's Anatomy episode, the Oscars generally make me cry and laugh out loud at least twice. This year of feel-good internationalism and "every nominee is a winner" egalitarianism was no exception. However, a brand new, twist complicated the customary emotional roller coaster: greenness. An Inconvenient Truth (unsurprisingly) won Best Documentary. At the podium: Laurie David (producer), ecstatic, and Al Gore emphasizing the nonpartisan nature of the climate change threat. Additionally, the Academy seems to have teamed up with the NRDC to make Oscar's molten foot leave a lighter print, and teach viewers to tread softly as well. Wow. Weird. Love it that millions of people around the world saw that a chunk of Hollywood wants to do something about the U.S.'s imbalanced CO2 contribution. Not so happy that the running Gore candidacy announcement jokes make such an obvious Hollywood/Liberal/Environmentalism punditry target. None-the-less, an amazing night for the folks at Participant Productions and the climate change message. An Oscar win can only mean more people seeing what could have just remained a former Vice President's slide show. ::Oscars


Source: Tree Hugger
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2007/02/an_inconvenient_8.php

Bloom goes green with new home

Jet-setting Orlando Bloom is using pre-Oscar parties to wave his green credentials.
The Pirates Of The Caribbean star has revealed he is building an environmentally friendly house in London.

He is also telling fellow stars to do their bit for the planet by ditching their limos and travelling to Oscar events in eco-friendly cars.

The 30-year-old admits not everyone can live a totally green lifestyle but says even the stars should unplug their mobile chargers and turn off their TVs when they are not using them.



Source: Metro (UK)
http://www.metro.co.uk/fame/article.html?in_article_id=38567&in_page_id=7

New towers paint the town green

Office towers aren't what they used to be. True, they're as tall as ever, if not taller, but now they mean something different – the symbolism has changed.

The edifice complex hasn't exactly disappeared, but today it's tempered by the sustainability reflex.

Originally, the skyscraper was all about corporate might – mine's bigger than yours. Now it's about doing what's right. There are examples everywhere. In New York, the Bank of America is building the tallest green tower in the world. In Europe, green skyscrapers have been around since the 1980s.

Finally, Toronto's getting into the act, and in a big way. After an absence of 10 or 15 years, when the only high-rises built in this city were residential – i.e., condos – the office tower is making a comeback. Last year 180 Queen St. W. was completed, though at 17 storeys it barely qualifies as a tower. And we mustn't forget the SAS Building, 280 King St. E., a mid-rise corporate headquarters notable for its "sustainable" features.

But three skyscrapers now under construction are all tall and green: Brookfield Properties' Bay-Adelaide Centre (50 storeys), Cadillac Fairview's RBC Centre (43 storeys) at Simcoe and Wellington Sts., and the Telus Tower (32 storeys) at 25 York St. near the Air Canada Centre (a joint venture of Halcyon Partners Fund, Hospitals of Ontario Pension Plan and Menkes Developments).

All three are going for LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) silver certification. That green building rating system, which has become the North American standard for evaluating sustainable architecture, is based on criteria such as materials, heating and cooling efficiency, green roofs and water recycling. The highest rating is platinum, followed by gold.

Source: Toronto Star
To read the full article visit:
http://www.thestar.com/article/182962