In February, Virgin Atlantic proved to 200 journalists and millions of people that biofuel could be used in aviation by having a 747 take off with one of it's engines having a composition of 25% mixture of biofuel and standard kerosene jet fuel. The biofuel was a combination of coconut and babassu (Brazilian tree) oil. However, not all individuals were thrilled with this first. Some are concerned that growing crops for alternative fuels cuts into the availability of land for growing food.  

“There is a finite amount of land for food" stated Kate Horner, a climate and energy campaigner for Friends of the Earth, “and using it for the expanded production of fuel is driving deforestation, which accounts for one-fourth to one-third of our global emissions.”

OfficeMax is offering new yet familiar products created by TerraCycle. The newest products is a pencil case made from discarded containers of Capri Sun juice. TerraCycle, a company that strives to innovate products from "waste stream" materials will be providing a whole line for OfficeMax - other products include binders made from 100 percent reused cardboard, trash cans made from recycled e-waste plastic and non-toxic cleaning products packaged in old soda bottles.  

The National Biodiesel Board launched a new website to help citizens keep up to date with sustainability issues as well as the Board's Sustainability Task Force activities. The website is comprised of information on environmental, economic and social sustainability. As well, the website has a link to the Sustainability Task Force where individuals can view meeting minutes.  

Eco-friendly mattresses are making their way to stores but none seem as convenient as the Keetsa. Not only is the mattress comprised of sustainable material but it also compresses to fit into a box. A wheeled box that is easy to move by one person and as such reduces transportation costs and carbon footprints while simultaneously giving the consumer a savings of 50-75% (according to Keetsa staff).  

A new San Francisco based company has created an upscale, friendly garage focused on hybrids. The Luscious Garage specializes in hybrid vehicle technology but also provides a great atmosphere. The Garage is woman owned and encourages all their customers to take an active role in the maintenance and repairs of their cars by watching mechanics at work.

All of the individuals that I know have always used the refrigerator as a modern given convenience, never thinking that it in fact would be a luxury to a third of the world's population. That's correct, a third of the world's population lives without electricity and so struggle with the basic need of preserving food due to heat and flies.   

However, Mohammed Bah Abba, a Nigerian teacher is trying to change all that with his invention of a pot-in-pot refrigerator - a refrigerator that does not require electricity.