Ever wonder what your city or town looked like before all the roads, houses, and buildings?

To best sustain our modern lifestyle and reverse the damage done to our natural environment we need to reintegrate the basic elements of our ecosystem back into our cities and towns.  Eric Rothstein, Managing Partner at eDesign Dynamics.

The challenge is how we facilitate the return of wildlife and enable the natural flow of water.

Because of the work of environmental engineers like Eric, despite our modern habits, the natural habitat can endure.

View the full set of pics from the day here.

At the crossroads of the cold war and the global environmental revolution is former Russian President, Mikhail Gorbachev.

Chairman and Founder of Green Cross International, former President Gorbachev is  today’s Green Superhero. His record for the environment dates back to 1992 and his attendance at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro.  His mission to create a sustainable future between humans and the environment continues today.

By keeping it simple, the former Soviet leader has brought together 21 National Organizations that work off three basic programs:  The Environmental Legacy of Wars Program is designed to clean up the massive environmental mess produced by wars.  The International Water Conflict Prevention Program seeks peaceful solutions to the violent standoffs over  fresh water.  And the Earth Charter is a universal blueprint to guide people and nations toward a sustainable future.

Photo by Global Green USA.

The Greening of America is growing like wild and a massive surge of improvements are taking place in our cities.

Here are three cities which deserve special recognition in this week’s Green City Spotlight.

Richmond Virginia is easy to love as small businesses can obtain big loans to purchase Clean Air Act compliant equipment and agricultural structures that adhere to Green standards.

Seattle, Washington home of Microsoft, Starbucks, and the Webby Award winning environmental juggernaut, Grist.org. It’s become the publication of a generation when it comes to environmental information and commentary.  Make sure to visit them at g-r-i-s-t dot org.

And Goodland, Kansas home of Van Gogh’s super-sized “Sunflowers” is beautifying its reputation with a brand new ethanol plant, biomass electrical plant and a wind farm.

Photo by Daniel J. Ludwig.

Word of the day - kudzu! What is it and can it relieve our food AND oil crisis?

No, kudzu is not a samurai battle cry, it’s an Asian vine that can grow up to 6 feet per day and will survive just about anywhere.  It’s important because its long roots are high in carbohydrates ripe for ethanol production.  Its leaves are great feed for grazing animals and you can even make a jelly out of it that tastes like bubblegum!  So what’s the hold up on this miracle vine?

Due to its invasiveness, kudzu has already been called “the plant that ate the South.” Because of humid conditions and no natural predators there, kudzu is growing wildly out of control infesting vegetative lands with its deep roots and twisting vines and stifling the growth of indigenous plants.

Researchers and farmers are working together to quickly find ways to adequately harvest and control kudzu to fully realize it’s miracle powers.

Photo by a47nn.

With record temperatures predicted for this summer, you may be wondering how to beat the heat and still preserve the planet.

That rattling air conditioner hanging precariously outside your bedroom window may cool your jets for the moment but when your electric bill comes, it’ll be more than the summer heat waves that are burning you up.

So how can you keep cool and stay Green?  We’ve got a few ideas:

1.)  As warm-blooded creatures, we produce our own heat even in the hottest of weather.  A good way to keep your core temperature down is to drink cold water frequently, keeping those reusable aluminum canteens in the fridge and freezer for those super sweltering days.

2.)  Anything within your grasp that uses electricity also gives off heat so when not using lights, TV, computer, and your fan, switch them off for that much needed extra drop in ambient temperature.

3.) Say no to the stove!  Baking and roasting might be better served using the outdoor grill if you’re feeling McGuiverish.  If you’re stuck without a backyard and feeling crafty, hit the roof and make your own solar oven out of found wood and cookie sheets.
Photo by Nachiket Joshi.

The summer driving season is here and gas is nearly 5 bucks per gallon… so why aren’t hybrids selling?

America’s love/hate relationship with the SUV may have turned love/love had Detroit rolled out hybrid electric cars that actually live up to their promises.

So why haven’t GM and other manufacturers adopted true hybrid standards knowing full well the consumer isn’t willing to pay 20-30 thousand dollars more to save 6 measly miles per gallon in fuel economy?

Ron Ananian, the Car Doctor.

So while we’re waiting for manufacturers to cut production costs, smaller compact cars are still the better alternative to the larger gas guzzlers.