Somehow “green” has shed its hippy image and become hip, intelligent, even trendy. Verdier has done the same for the classic hippy ride—the VW bus. Not only does this camper look like a work of retro urban art, it’s also got 2008 eco cred. The hybrid engine can run on diesel and electric. It sports a 40 watt, 12 volt solar panel. It’s GPS and wireless internet enabled. In an admirable effort at transparency, Verdier even lets you know that it still belches out 160 grams of CO2 per kilometer. It also puts you back $69,000. So is it the new Greens Mobile or what? LINK

Simple. Fun. Meaningful. Whatever you think of Darwin Designs organic cotton t-shirts, which are made with low-impact water-based dyes, they get noticed on the street (or hiking trail). Each shirt features an endangered animal and a positive succinct message: “re-think big” (under a blue whale) or “live gently” (under a sea turtle), or, our favorite, a polar bear with the tagline “start global cooling.” “Climate change is an issue we feel passionate about and this is an effective way to spread a global message on a local level,” says Darwin Designs co-founder Otto Pohl. “Every person out there wearing our shirts becomes a billboard for change.” Sure, much larger steps are needed to stop global warming, but broadcasting a positive message (and wearing a comfortable, eco friendly shirt) is a positive way to spread the message. LINK

Then reference this guide.The ReDirect Guide, which is available for the Denver, Portland, and Salt Lake City metro areas, is the most current list of organizations and retailers who have ecological and or social uplift goals in each region.  You can pick up your copy at Sarah Haynes office at UMC 355 at the University of Colorado, Boulder, or order online—and remember your neighbor probably wants one too! Live Well in 2008!

The best present you can give is the chance for someone in need to be able to thrive. A donation to Micro Business Development does just that by helping disadvantaged people who want to work find the capital to build their dream business. It is a truly sustainable solution, an example of how to actually strengthen our society through economic profit.According to the non-profit’s web site. “Micro Business Development (MBD), a Colorado non-profit organization, was founded in 1993 to eliminate barriers to economic independence for community entrepreneurs, both youth and adult, through access to markets, resources, and business capital. These underserved populations include, but are not limited to youth, entrepreneurs with disabilities, refugees, women, non-native speakers and individuals facing the challenges of poverty.”We learned about the group through Nau, which lists MBD as one of the companies where consumers who purchase Nau’s apparel at its Boulder, Colorado store, can donate five percent of the sale.Let MBD know that SustainAbler sent you.DONATE HERE

Your carbon footprint is the sum total of the amount of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide, or CO2, your day-to-day activites (work, recreation, transportation, home, etc.) pump into the atmosphere. Calculating your carbon footprint is a quick and easy first step toward a greener lifestyle. It doesn’t cost you anything or take much time. It does, however, give you a baseline so that you can use to start reducing your impact on the planet and live a more sustanable (is that sustainabler?) lifestlye.To get started, try using this quick, painless carbon calculator.Then move on to the next step—reduce your output. Use SustainAbler to make green, sustainable choices in the products and services that will help you reach that goal.

Are you ready to cut your carbon emissions (and save money) by buying a higher mileage car? Before you ink the deal, take a peek at our reasons why a hybrid car is only one of two great options…

Hybrid cars are super popular–and for good reason. Toyota, Honda are in the right place at the right time with cars that make financial and environmental sense (Ford and Lexus are playing catch up). Hybrid cars are great if most of your driving is in the city.

If you are more of a long-distance driver, high mileage diesel-fueled cars are usually a better solution. When hybrid cars go long distances, their engines switch to gasoline, reducing fuel economy. Recent improvements in refining standards and engine efficiency (both mileage and emissions) makes newer diesel engines much more attractive. VW offers the best diesel sedan alternatives to hybrids (including the 38/46 mpg Golf hatchback).

Here’s a quick way to know which kind of car is best for you.

If you’re more of a short-distance driver, check out this side-by-side comparison of most hybrids on the road today…

If diesel fuel is in your future, check out this comparison of most new and used models out there today.