The latest photographic work of Chris Jordan brings awareness and human scale to everyday consumption patterns in the United States. In the project, titled Running the Numbers, An American Self Portrait, distant statistical numbers are suddenly put into perspective and visualized as oversize composite images, illustrating the intensity of industrial society.

In one example, a wall-sized photograph depicts two million plastic beverage bottles, the number of bottles used in the United States in five minutes. Another massive image shows 1.14 million brown paper bags, representing the amount consumed every hour.

The League of Conservation Voters (LCV), an independent, nonpartisian environmental advocacy organization, has released its 2008 Primary Voter Guide. The guide assigns a score to each candidate based on their proposed policies and lifetime record on environmental issues.

The goal of the LCV and its voter guide is to give citizens the information necessary to choose elected officials shaping the future of environmental and conservation policy. In the latest voter guide, Democratic candidate Senator Barack Obama scored the highest of any candidate in the field.

Today at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda introduced the "Cool Earth 50" initiative, aimed at cutting global greenhouse gas emissions in half by 2050. Fukuda, who will host the G8 summit in July, also said Japan would continue to cut its emissions beyond the expiration of the Kyoto Protocol in 2012, despite, last month at U.N. talks in Bali, siding with the U.S. in rejecting a European Union plan to set an emissions cut target beyond 2012.

Addressing the 2,500+ business and political leaders at the WEF, Fukuda insisted "there is no time to lose in addressing climate change, [Japan] will extend the hand of assistance to developing countries suffering severe adverse impacts as a result of climate change." That hand will come in the form of the

Beluga SkySails, a ship that is the result of a cooperative effort between two German companies, embarked on its maiden voyage today. During its journey to Venezuala, the 10,000 ton ship will be partly powered by a giant sail that rises up to 300 meters, where there are stronger winds. The computer

guided kite will allow the ship to reduce its daily fuel consumption by up to 20 percent, thus reducing

Brought to you by the staff and students of the University of South Australia, the Trev operates on just a fifth of the energy required by your every day car. It uses a lithium ion polymer battery that allows the car to travel just over 90 miles (city driving) on a full

charge. The Trev only weighs about 660 lbs. and is made of a composite tub chassis with foam and plastic body panels. It has a single rear wheel that simplifies the suspension and allows for a more

Michael Berk, the creator of the GreenMobile concept, is ready to unveil his newest prototype this March. After winning the Lifecycle Building Challenge in the Professional Unbuilt category last year, FEMA awarded Berk $5.8 million for further development.

The structure includes Energy Smart certified low impact footings and solar ready BIPV (building integrated photovoltaics) overhangs. It also features east-west axis design for solar orientation, natural ventilation and green SIPs (structural insulated panels). The home is expected to cost around $50K.

[via Jetson Green]

This year's Superbowl in Phoenix, AZ is expected to draw upwards of 150,000 fans. Not only the game itself, but The NFL Experience (a fan-focused event)draw the crowds and the two events create an estimated 150 tons of greenhouse gases. On top of this, the NFL's fleet of 3,000 coach buses, 1,500

vans and limos, and 300 - 400 official staff cars produces an additional 350 tons of greenhouse gases. The director of the NFL's Environmental Program, Jack Groh has developed green initiatives to offset the

The World Future Energy Summit begins in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates. The Abu Dhabi Future Energy Co. hosts the event and they will be unveiling a model of their Masdar Initiative on Monday. The Initiative's goal is to develop the world's first zero-waste, zero-pollution city. Masdar (which means "the source" in Arabic) is expected to break ground in February and take 10 years to complete. The 6 km square city will house 47,500 people, who are scheduled to start moving there in 2009.

Designer Foster and Partners envisions the city to be a model of sustainable architecture.

The first step toward reaching sustainability is procuring a clean energy source. Masdar will rely on a solar photo-voltaic power plant. Solar canopies will also permeate the city, providing both shade and

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