Ok, ok, one more look back at 2008. And it’s from Grist. Here is their list of the top environmental stries of the year. From Barack to BPA, it’s a great read.

Treehugger looks at the state of the Eco-Matrix, circa 2008.

Maura Judkis from Huffington Post looks at our biggest enviro-newsmakers of 2008.

The Environment Site looks at its four best threads from 2008.

Treehugger looks at four green trends from 2008 that set us on a better eco-path for 2009.

And to end on a high note, Alan Harten of Fair Home says the war to save the environment is over and that now is the time to accept defeat.

Speaking of Energizer, it seems we missed out on the release of their USB charger for rechargeable batteries. Nice idea. The Energizer Duo USB Charger is capable of charging batteries via USB or a regular wall socket. They also, to our delight, have come up with a fun time waster - widgets, one for Macs and one for Windows, that let you monitor the charge as it’s happening in real time.

The charger comes in 3 colours and is capable of charging both AA and AAA batteries. 2 AAA batteries are included with the charger.

We’ve touched on the ZENN before, but we have some new information. New information!

According to Toronto Life…

The challenge for manufacturers is energy storage. Gas tanks are a surprisingly efficient way of carrying energy. Even cutting-edge lithium-ion batteries, which most carmakers are depending on for their proposed electric cars, provide about 20 times less energy per pound than gas. The huge battery packs required for a car of even average performance don’t leave much room for a back seat. The high cost of creating an energy-efficient battery explains why the Tesla Roadster, a sports car developed in Silicon Valley and already on the market, costs $109,000 (U.S.). A battery that can provide adequate range, speed and price all in one is the car industry’s Holy Grail, and at this point, no company has found one.

ZENN Motor Company, a small carmaker headquartered in Don Mills with a factory in Saint-Jérôme, just north of Mont­real, has a serious chance of being the first to complete the quest. Read on.

Back in 1991, Graham Bergh of Resource Revival discovered a flat tire on his bike. Replacing the inner tube, he took the old one home and used it to hang a set of speakers in his living room. Now, Graham and his Oregonian artisans make an amazing range of resourceful items from used bike parts.

Our favourite? Definitely the Recycled Bike Chain Bottle Opener. As they say, they are so fun to play with you’ll wish twist-offs had never been invented. Features include a flexible recycled bike chain handle and a colorful anodized aluminum head.

Courtesy of Grist, we bring you a most fantastic list of natural sparkling wines that will definitely help you ring in 2009 with eco-style.

Dom. de Montbourgeau Cremant du Jura / Region: Jura, France

Avinyorose / Avinyo Cava Rosado / Region: Penedes, Spain

Avinyo / Avinyo Cava Brut / Region: Penedes, Spain

Foreau Brut / Foreau Vouvray Brut / Region: Loire Valley (Vouvray), France Varietal(s): Chenin blanc

Pinon Brut / François Pinon Vouvray Petillant Brut / Region: Loire Valley (Vouvray), France

Read the entire breakdown, with useful reviews, here. And thanks to 3CUPS for all the links!

Feel like getting more flop for your flip? Then check out these unique, colorful storage baskets made from the scrap foam rubber generated by flip-flop factories, found at Uncommon Goods.

Instead of heading to the landfill, the scrap foam rubber gets a second chance at utility. Handmade in the Philippines Can be used indoors or out. May also act as emergency shoes (but don’t quote us on that one). Roughly 15” wide by 17” high.

Some interesting words from Toronto Star’s Peter Gorrie:

For environmentalists, 2008 has reinforced the need to link the environment and economy, and made that connection more possible. People won’t spend much time considering Energy Star appliances and low-flow toilets when their livelihood or savings are at stake. But they might be open to techniques that cut their costs…That puts them ahead of most politicians and business leaders, who are pouring billions of dollars into trying the save a crumbling system instead of creating something better…The beginning of a wider understanding that the environment and economy should be friends might be the most significant outcome of a year that seemed to demonstrate just the opposite.

Click on the jump for TechSoup Global GreenTech Initiative’s top 10 tips for a greener new year for individuals and organizations. Yes, it’s true, the entire press release is after the jump. After the jump!

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Cool Green Attitude is three women and mothers to six happy children. They share a strong desire to make the best quality, organic and sustainable clothing, at prices that are affordable and cost no more than conventional high street clothing brands. And here they are.

Click here to check out a NOW on PBS report about an entire nation being washed away because of climate change.

Just this month, a top UN official predicted that by the middle of this century, the world should expect six million people a year to be displaced by increasingly severe storms and floods caused by climate change. But for many island nations in the South Pacific, climate change is already more than just a theory — it is a pressing, menacing reality. These small, low-lying islands are frighteningly vulnerable to rising temperatures and sea levels that could cause flooding and contaminate their fresh water wells. Within 50 years, some of them could be under water.

NOW travels to the nation of Kiribati to see up close how these changes affect residents’ daily lives and how they are dealing with the reality that both their land and culture could disappear from the Earth. We also travel to New Zealand to visit an I-Kiribati community that has already left its home, and to the Pacific Island Forum in Niue to see how the rest of the region is coping with the here-and-now crisis of climate change.

Check this out: Energizer’s new Rechargeable Solar Charger. As seen on Engadget, this new gizmo will feature a USB port to power other gizmos, and will be able to be charged at an AC outlet if it’s, you know, night.

Inspired by Britain’s love of tea, U.K. designer Christine Misiak customizes features and design details from antique style tea sets and blenda them with contemporary styling. Through her ‘Original Recycled Tea Sets’, Christine rejuvenates old neglected tea sets, by recycling, restyling and resurfacing them, transforming them into elegant one-off pieces that are a celebration of the past and present.

Made from old recycled metal tea sets found at garage and stoop sales and flea markets, the tea sets are available in a range of colours and styles. Check them out!