en-us Copyright Sightline Daily - all rights reserved newsfeeds@sightline.org newsfeeds@sightline.org Most recent Sustainable Living headlines from Sightline Daily, the Northwest news that matters http://daily.sightline.org Plone http://daily.sightline.org/logo.gif 427 69 Researchers believe the day is coming when the electricity you use will be your own. Instead of relying on large central generating stations - hydroelectric dams, coal plants and the like - scientists say we're moving toward an era of "personalized solar energy." http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2009/11/personalized_solar_units_could.html Climate Economy Energy Environment Solutions Sustainable Living Oregon United States 11/05/2009 Oregonian An Ashland High School graduate has created a reusable takeout container that is being used at 200 workplaces and universities nationwide - including Southern Oregon University. Audrey Copeland, 24, created the Eco-Takeout clamshell container after she was inspired by a college environmental studies project. http://www.dailytidings.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20091105/NEWS02/911050315/-1/NEWS01 Climate Environment Pollution & Toxics Sustainable Living Oregon 11/05/2009 Ashland Daily Tidings Portlander Berlin Reed used to be a militant vegan, until a series of off-restaurant jobs left him working behind a sustainably run butchery counter. "There was pretty much no argument against it. I knew exactly where the animals came from and how they lived. So I took a nice bite of rib eye at work and was like, 'I'm sold.'" http://www.willametteweek.com/editorial/3552/13275/ Environment Food & Farms Sustainable Living Oregon 11/04/2009 Willamette Week According to the latest UN population projections, the next 40 years will see an almost doubling of urban populations. This growth will offer both unprecedented challenges and great opportunities to cities around the world. http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/business/story.html?id=c9023686-bb53-4fd6-869e-9aa20fd01d87&k=4539 Climate Economy Environment Food & Farms Solutions Sprawl & Transportation Sustainable Living Water British Columbia US Northwest United States 11/04/2009 Vancouver Sun Auto companies big and small are so focused on the technology of green cars – the hybrid drive systems, the batteries, the electric motors, the controllers and software that are the “brains” of the things – they seem to have lost sight of something very important: electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids need to grab buyers with their looks. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/blogs/driving-it-home/wheres-the-wow-factor-in-green-design/article1350054/ Climate Energy Environment Sprawl & Transportation Sustainable Living United States 11/03/2009 Toronto Globe and Mail Improved energy efficiency reduced power demand by an amount equal to about 148,000 homes across the Northwest last year. http://www.theworldlink.com/articles/2009/11/02/news/doc4aef1f12abca3047806356.txt Climate Economy Efficiency Energy Sustainable Living US Northwest 11/02/2009 Coos Bay World Backyard cottages will be allowed in single-family zones throughout Seattle under an ordinance approved unanimously by the City Council. City Councilman Tim Burgess said it would help people provide housing for family members or to offer low-cost rental units. "That's a positive way to create affordable housing in our city." http://www.seattlepi.com/local/411769_cottages02.html?source=rss Economy Policy Solutions Sprawl & Transportation Sustainable Living Washington 11/02/2009 Seattle Post-Intelligencer If city planners have their way, Copenhagen will be the model for Portland's urban transportation network. Bikes account for 55 percent of all trips in the Danish city, and 37 percent of commutes. Portland's commuting number -- near tops among large US cities and growing -- is a comparatively scanty 8 percent. http://blogs.wweek.com/news/2009/11/02/bikes-viagra-for-the-urban-landscape/ Climate Efficiency Human Health Sprawl & Transportation Sustainable Living Oregon 11/02/2009 Willamette Week A New Zealand study claims a medium-size dog leaves a larger ecological footprint than an SUV. Sightline's Clark Williams-Derry disagrees. http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2010183212_dogcarbon02m.html Energy Sprawl & Transportation Sustainable Living United States 11/02/2009 Seattle Times