Green prefab homes rising in popularity
A modular home manufacturer in USA says that, where other builders are cutting projects in the down economy, his company is raising production of the energy-efficient model, called the 'i-house' – a solar modular home. South Africa has its own version that's caused quite a stir, known as Zenkaya – ready-made living space that is re-defining the term 'prefab' and giving it a new eco-friendly and eco-chic slant. They're cheeky, easy, chic and unique. The designs are based on core sustainable principles – efficient use of space, reducing waste in the factory, and all materials are recyclable.

Eskom shuns renewable energy
An Irish energy company, Mainstream Renewable Power, claims that Eskom does not want renewable energy to succeed in SA. Mainstream vented its frustration over what it said was Eskom’s unwillingness to accommodate renewable energy players in the SA power generation market. It last year established a joint venture with local company Genesis Eco-Energy to build wind farms to generate 500MW in the Eastern, Northern and Western Cape. “Eskom does not want renewables. They do not want competition,” Mainstream CEO Eddie O’Connor said yesterday. [businessday] read here about what Eskom should be doing...

Jamie Oliver wants to teach every child about food
If you haven't already seen the video doing the rounds, now is your chance to catch up on his wish to 'to create a strong, sustainable movement to educate every child about food, inspire families to cook again and empower people everywhere to fight obesity'. Oliver recently received a TED prize that allowed him to make a wish that the group's influential members would try to make real – one wish to change the world. [tedprize.org]

British Airways to fly jets on green fuel made by London rubbish
by 2014, 500 000 tonnes of landfill waste will be converted into 16 million gallons of carbon-neutral aviation fuel every year. Sound like a farce? It isn't. British Airways and the US bioenergy company Solena are setting up Europe's first green jet fuel plant in the East End of London. [independent]