Seasons greetings and welcome back for another edition of our weekly green news highlights. This week we feature: green building with an eco-friendly Hobbit House; Tesla attempts to offer their electric vehicle sedan for under $50,000; and a special tribute to the legacy of The Clash frontman, Joe Strummer on the anniversary of the day we lost him.

Hobbit Home in Wales Image Credit: simondale.net

I’m sure there are plenty of fans of J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit (check out the movie trailer here).  But how about those adorably cozy Hobbit houses?  They add a whole new level of charm to green building design.  There’s never been a better time to build a hobbit house.  This photo looks like it came straight off the movie set but it was actually created by self-taught builder, Simon Dale.  “The house is made of recycled and salvaged materials and features rainwater collection, a compost toilet, a green roof (obviously), and natural cooling and heating — all of which they probably had in the Shire too.” Sounds pricey, right?  Surprisingly enough, it was only $5,000 to construct.  Simon Dale built it with 1000 to 1500 man hours and within 4 months, his family moved in.  You can read more about Simon’s Hobbit hole journey here.  He explains how he did it, why he did it, the family’s perspective and the new house they are working on now.

I know it’s not for everyone’s budget, but Tesla announced Tuesday that the Tesla Model S gets the official price of $57,400 less a $7,500 US tax credit for Americans that meet a tax liability of at least that amount.  They will be available for sale in fall 2012.  Although the Tesla Model S electric vehicle will start accepting orders in summer 2012, the first models being sold are the Model S Signature Trim, which will start at a hefty $95,400 less $7,500 if you qualify for the tax credit.  “While all vehicles are powered by the same electric motor, the battery capacity will vary depending on what you’re willing to pay. The standard 40-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery allows the Model S to go 160 miles when traveling at average speeds of 55 mph. There are also 60-kWh and 85-kWh batteries with ranges of 230 and 300 miles, respectively. Each increase in battery size increases the price by $10,000 — so $67,400 and $77,400, respectively.”  Higher battery capacity also results in a slight increase in performance.  The Tesla Model S sedan also features a 17” touchscreen, 19” wheels and seats up to 7.

9 years ago today Joe Strummer, lead singer of The Clash, passed away. Joe’s generous spirit and passion for life and social justice continues to influence to this day. Joe accomplished much in his short life and all he left behind inspires his fans from previous, current and future generations. Beyond his music and wisdom, Joe was a key participant in establishing Future Forests which has since been renamed The CarbonNeutral Company. Through Future Forests, Joe became the first artist to make recording, pressing and distributing his music carbon neutral through planting trees in various parts of the world. RIP Joe – you’re missed every day.

Stay tuned for our Best of 2011 recap series next week which will include a summary of our most popular green news stories, CSR triumphs, Meatless Monday recipes and eco-friendly crafts from the past year.

December 22, 2011
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