The U.S. FDA moves closer to allowing genetically modified meats; virtually tour a carbon neutral island; and ride your bike for World Carfree Day. It’s today!

FDA issues rules for genetically modified animals: Genetically engineered meat — it’s what’s for dinner. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is moving in the direction of allowing genetically modified animals in your local grocer’s meat section. The FDA has just published a set of proposed guidelines which producers of engineered animals must follow before their products can be certified safe for human consumption. Under the current scheme, GM meats would not need to be specially labeled. The omission is drawing fire from health and consumer advocacy groups. (Reuters)

Ploggs Track Power Usage, Let You Know Wirelessly: It’s hard to manage energy use when you’re not aware of how much you’re using. While it’s only available in Europe so far, Ploggs outlets provide instant feedback of how much juice your plug-in devices are using. The Ploggs plus can talk to practically anything with a Bluetooth connection, such as a laptop or Blackberry. They’ll also record and display your energy use. A Plogg will set you back £55 in the UK, and the manufacturer is examining the possibility of entering the U.S. market. (EcoGeek)

SolCool’s Solar Air Conditioner Blows Off Hurricane Ike : Despite a nearly direct hit from Hurricane ike — which left the Texas coast reeling last week — the crew from Alternative Energy Group’s solar air conditioner project returned to their Houston installation to find their system had ridden out the storm without damage. The 1.5 ton Millennia solar air conditioning demo unit was unscathed and ready to run when employees came back to work last week. The pilot air conditioning program is said to reduce peak energy use by 70 percent, compared to conventional units. *Renewable Energy World)

Samso, the Danish island living off-grid : If you’re looking for some green inspiration to start your week, check out the Guardian’s stunning photo essay on Samso, a Danish island which now a a carbon footprint of near zero. They’ve done it with well-planned investments in things such as offshore wind and community solar water heating. Despite its remoteness, Samso is no longer dependent on offshore ebergy. In fact, it’s now an energy exporter. (Guardian)

How to Bike to Work (Or Anywhere Else): As mentioned last Friday, today is the 8th annual World Carfree Day, a showcase for alternative means of moving people from place to place. Over at our newly relaunched sister site, Lighter Footstep, we’ve put together a handy guide on getting started with bicycle commuting. Find out about route planning, equipment, and how to make it all practical once you arrive at the office. And if you’d like to follow Lighter Footstep in your RSS reader or on a web start page, click here to grab the site’s feed. (Lighter Footstep)