TreeHugger roundup

Solarcentury, a British solar company covered by TreeHugger extensively in the past, is now offering 50% more energy for free, bringing the UK one step closer to widespread solar feasibility.

How to grill greener. "Grilling with charcoal, the traditionalist's choice, gives off more health-harming carbon monoxide, particulate matter, and soot than other methods."

A few really scary pictures of pollution in China.

A new computer company, Zonbu, makes PCs that use less than 10% of the power of an average Windows PC, and can be sent back to the company, postage-paid, if it breaks. Combined with the relatively new practice of remote server storage, which facilitates interchangeability if a computer needs replacing, and it seems like a pretty good deal. (Did I mention it's $99?)

SOLARA is the first fully solar-powered apartment complex in California. (I was unaware there were any anywhere else in the US, either.) TreeHugger digs solar-powered multi-family units - as do I - much more than single-family homes because of the smaller infrastructure and land consumed. They claim to have a 95% smaller carbon footprint than a "conventionally powered community." And it's low-income housing too, not a playground for yuppies, which is definitely yet another step in the right direction. Wow.

Use ice to help keep buildings cool? I'll leave the detailed explaining to TH, but I will say that this is basically the same heat exchange technology that powers the famous $30 do-it-yourself home air conditioner (which I personally tried last summer, and does work if you do it right).

Photo of newly installed solar panels on the roof of Flickr user Bernd Sieker.