Starbucks to Encourage Reusable Cups - with a Chalkboard 

The winner of Starbucks "Betacup Challenge" for encouraging reusable cups is a "Karma Cup" chalkboard. Every tenth reusable cup gets a free coffee. CNET http://bit.ly/a5jGBt

Plant a Million Trees In China 

The Jane Goodall Institute's "Roots and Shoots" program is involved in efforts to plant one million trees in the arid regions of China's interior. We'll all benefit. James Fallows blog http://bit.ly/cZVwAU

Cow Poop Tea Bags 

A box of nine costs $21.95. They are used to make fertilizer liquid (5 gallons per bag), not tea. Inc. Magazine http://bit.ly/a2KVCA

Turning Wastewater into Gold (or at least Fertilizer) 

Ostara Nutrient Recovery Technologies takes wastewater and produces fertilizer, while also capturing phosphorus and nitrogen. CNET http://bit.ly/dyhGfX

Put Data Centers Next to Cow Farms 

HP researchers are suggesting siting new data centers next to industrial cow farms in order to use waste methane to power the center. CNET http://bit.ly/aAz3eu

Reduce Shipping Costs with Giant Kites 

The company SkySails cuts shipping costs (and pollution) through the use of giant kites. CNET http://bit.ly/dckRwg

Replace Your 60 Watt Bulbs 

New excellent replacements for traditional 60 watt bulbs are coming on the market from Philips and Sylvania. They use 1/5 the energy, are brighter, dimmable, and last 12 times longer. CNET http://bit.ly/aKUl1K

Hi-Tech Concrete 

New concrete from C-Crete Technologies is stronger than traditional concrete and produces less CO2 in production. Winner of MIT $100k business plan contest (304 entries). http://bit.ly/dAcbYQ

Emulate Photosynthesis through Viral Modification 

Researchers at MIT have succeeded in modifying a virus so it can split water into hydrogen and oxygen - the first step in photosynthesis. This could lead to new approaches to solar energy. Economist http://bit.ly/917JOz

Forget about Global Climate Agreements - Just Deal With China 

Secretary of Energy Steven Chu argues that we should expend less efforts on international treaties and more effort on bilateral discussions with China. The US and China combined create 40% of the world's pollution. An innovative, aggressive, bilateral treaty will represent great progress, and encourage other nations to join. Wired Magazine profile http://bit.ly/bttpI8

Clean Energy Incinerators 

Clean energy incinerators, which use dozens of filters to catch pollutants, are popular in Europe, but not the US. NY Times http://nyti.ms/aeTQ79

Floating Nuclear Power Plant 

Russia is building the world's first floating nuclear power plant, which can be towed to where it is needed - even remote areas. Yale Environment 360 http://bit.ly/aTpjoo

Keep Your Clunker 

"Cash for Clunkers" programs can be a bad deal for the environment: they encourage producing a new vehicle, and they often don't make a big dent in fuel consumption. Washington Post: http://bit.ly/aBKMkM

Share Electric Cars 

Paris is considering a plan which would allow citizens to share 4000 electric cars. Spiegel Online http://bit.ly/bS1lOP

Roll Down Your Window Instead of AC 

Rolling down your window to cool the car on a hot day uses less energy than the AC - except when driving on the highway (where wind resistance matters more). Slate http://bit.ly/d65p04

Don't Drink Water from Fiji 

Why is drinking bottled water shipped from halfway around the world considered cool? Isn't it absurdly wasteful? Mother Jones http://bit.ly/arjT5P

Put Cars on a Diet 

In order to meet new fuel standards, cars will need to employ more efficient engines, but will also need to be lighter. Lighter cars are more fuel efficient, can be just as safe, but cost more. Economist http://bit.ly/aaRFTR

Green The Sahara 

Researchers have devised a plan to combine desalination plants, aqueducts and drip irrigation to grow forests in the Sahara. Science http://bit.ly/dBlouV

Don't Reduce Traffic Jams 

Efforts to alleviate traffic jams only encourage more cars and create more sprawl. Traffic jams encourage ridership on more efficient mass transit. Wall Street Journal http://bit.ly/cDS0lE

Turn Unused Streets Into Parks 

San Francisco's "Pavement to Parks" program reclaims unused stretches of streets and turns them into public plazas and parks. http://bit.ly/ah1Mzs

Power Europe with Sahara Solar Plants 

Covering 1% of the Sahara with solar plants - about 90,000 square kilometers - would be enough to power Europe (with enough left over to power the rest of the world). One company is starting | Der Spiegel http://bit.ly/baNNmv

Don't Worry About Car Pollution, Worry About Ship Pollution 

Because ships are so large and can burn dirty fuel, they are terrible polluters. The 16 worst ships create more sulphur pollution than all automobiles in the world combined. Daily Mail http://bit.ly/cSoq7I

Bamboo and Hemp Bicycles: Light, Strong, and Eco-Friendly 

Bicycles made out of renewable materials, including bamboo and hemp, are highly functional and environmentally friendly. Der Spiegel: http://bit.ly/cJOKDb

Heat Your Furniture Instead of Your House 

Sitting on warm furniture in a cool house is more comfortable - and efficient - than heating the entire house. We need to heat our furniture the way some cars heat their seats. http://bit.ly/948cr7

Power Electric Vehicles with Underground Strip 

A new tram system in Seoul uses underground power strips to power and recharge the electric vehicle. NY Times http://nyti.ms/9Pcahk