Cycling Monarchy: Prince Charles is attempting to go green by ordering his chauffeurs to take bikes on palace errands and suggesting that he himself will take the metro as opposed to helicopters, jets and the royal train.

“He wants to be known as the Green Prince and to leave what he calls a small carbon footprint and there is a lot of support for that. But there has been quite a bit of hair pulling over this one.”

Related:
“Get out and ride the transit like you tell everyone else”: The LA Times call on Mayor Villaraigosa to ride the MTA to work instead of a chauffeured SUV.

And as an aside to the aside:
An article in this month’s Dwell magazine, Perpetual Motion Volume 4, deals with the evolution of transportation in the West, its impact and meaning and the future of alternative fuels.

I personally dig on the synthesis of thought regarding transportation and alternative fuel sources as metaphor for urban development.

Fortune magazine has an interesting article this month about envisioning the buildings of tomorrow as trees.

Written by William McDonough, of Cradle to Cradle fame, it’s a neat organic concept about building design and implementing green technologies.

Also of interest is his article, Buildings Like Trees, Cities Like Forests.

Via Futurismic.

An Australian company has found a way to use 1/3 less water for showers - by aerating the water. The new technology adds tiny pockets of air to the water stream through a vacuum process.

“Small-scale experiments using the aeration device found that people detected no difference in water pressure, sensation, or overall perception of showering.”

The new showerheads are expected to cost about $20 AUD.

Via Futurismic.

Toyota is bringing their first E85 flex fuel vehicle to market, a full-size Toyota Tundra, which should make the 2008 lineup.

In regards to flex fuel vehicles for the US market, Toyota has been following in the footsteps of GM & Ford, but now there is word they might be bringing the first electric / E85 hybrid to the US.

It’s been great to see Toyota innovate with the electric / gasoline hybrids. It’ll be interesting to see what they can do to ‘charge’ the E85 hybrid market.

Freitag, a company founded by two brothers, has opened their first retail shop using recycled shipping containers.

Stacked 86 feet high and nicknamed ‘bonsai-skyscraper,’ it is “low enough not to violate the city’s restriction on high-rise buildings. High enough to send shivers down anyone’s spine.”

I’m reminded of Resolution 4 Architecture’s designs for their prefab homes.

The brothers Freitag, btw, founded their company on designed handbags from recycled trucker tarps.

Via Telstar Logistics.

Suzuki Motors announces the MIO: a fuel cell-powered rascal wheelchair.

Powered by four liters of a methanol solution, it can go for 25 miles on a single fill up. While only a concept, Suzuki is holding production while it “judges consumer interest.”

Via Engadget.

The 2006 annual Green Build Expo will be happening here in the Denver area November 15th - 17th at the Colorado convention center.

From their site:
“For three days in Denver, thousands of green building industry professionals will come together to learn about the latest advancements in green building design, construction, project financing and building management.”

It looks to be an awesome event for those interested in green building practices.

Organic Irish Cream liqueur
Sunlight Direct Lamp
Organic Basket from Gus Modern
Unpaving Paradise
For Sale: Case Study House #21
Fall House Checklist
Conan O’Brien
A Colorado home-builder reflects on his attempt to go green
Australia: World’s Largest Solar Power Plant
Autonation CEO Pushes for Higher Tax on Gasoline

“If you read Al Gore’s book, he doesn’t call for anything effective,” said Jackson. “The inconvenient truth is that we need a higher gasoline tax.”

Autonation CEO pushes for higher tax on gasoline as a solution to drive fuel efficiency. It’s like a bartender rallying against alcoholism. I love it.

Related:
Auto-Oil Marriage Over
The year’s most fuel-efficient cars

Australia announces plans to build the world’s largest solar power plant and concentrator.