Green Technology

Want to reduce your holiday waste stream?  Need ideas and resources?  Look no further!

Reduce ... Reuse ... Recycle

Reduce:
* When shopping at the mall ... consider putting new purchases in the same bag as prior purchases.   Do you really need another bag?
*Buy products that have little or no packaging.

Reuse: 
* Consider bringing your own shopping bag ... canvas or mesh fabric bags last a L...O...N...G time.

Recycle:
* Take recyclable bags (typically those marked with a "2 - HDPE" or "4 - LDPE" to be recycled.  Most grocery stores have collection bins for clean bags.  Both newspaper bags and dry cleaning bags are typically recyclable and are often marked.
* Most glass used to package food is recyclable

For more tips see Link

Via:  EPA 

Posted by Green Dude at 03:44 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

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Fun Facts from the EPA ...

  Test Your Enviro-Q  

Household waste in the U.S. generally increases by how much over the holidays?

Correct! The answer is c.

Over the holiday season, consumers flock to malls, department stores and outlets to search for that perfect gift, that one card that says it all, that tree to end all trees. But as we feast, give gifts, decorate and travel, we also consume lots of resources and generate lots of waste. A recent report noted that the amount of household garbage in the United States generally increases by 25 percent between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day, from 4 million tons to 5 million tons.
Reducing Holiday Waste

Via EPA 

Posted by Green Dude at 03:39 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

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The EPA has announced a new Fuel Economy Rating System and Label effective September 1, 2007.  There are 2 major changes from the prior label - in use and unchanged since 1975.

Among the differences in the new label:

• high lighting of the estimated annual fuel cost and basis for determination
• bar graph of labeled vehicle to other vehicles

 The test used to determine the fuel efficiency has also been updated to reflect the reality of driving vs. a laboratory style test.

New Fuel Economy Label

Label and explanation from EPA 

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... "The company aims to significantly increase commercial crop yields (>10%) through gene enhancement technology licensed from the University of Washington. " ...

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John Doerr, Kleiner Perkins venture capital, collaborates with Al Gore to understand the full potential of investing in green and clean technologies.  The environmental for green technology requires navigating the challenging waters of politics.  ...

Via Financial Times:  The Green Valley ...

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... "The Governor's budget provides $30 million in lease revenue bonds for the Helios Project, a groundbreaking initiative by the University of California's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory to create sustainable, carbon-neutral sources of energy. The Helios Project will produce the next generation of super-efficient solar energy technology that will help reduce greenhouse gases and our oil dependency. The Helios Project's four goals are

1) generate clean sustainable alternatives to hydrocarbon fuels;

2) develop new energy sources;

3) improve energy conservation; and

4) reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The $30 million will be used to build a new energy/nanotechnology research building for the Helios Project. " ...

Via California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger: California's Green Technology Investment

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... "The NC Green Business Fund will begin with a minimum initial $15 million investment. The fund will include a mix of incentives and tax credits to spur green energy projects in North Carolina that are good for the environment and good for the economy.

Lt. Governor Perdue is working with environmental and business experts and legislators to adapt for North Carolina the best practices used across America in order to stimulate biofuel production, energy efficient technologies, green building design and other green technology.

Under the NC Green Act, the General Assembly will also require the state to develop a comprehensive strategy for green investing. " ...

Via NC Lt Governor, Beverly Eaves Perdue: Lt. Governor Calls for the NC Green Act ...

Posted by Green Tech at 07:22 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

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... "Ethanol from Peat: Dr. Mark Benvenuto, Department of Chemistry at UDM, will lead research involving the production of ethanol from peat and other cellulosic materials found in native-Michigan plants. Dr. Charles Winter of WSU is partnering on this research. " ...

Posted by Green Tech at 07:18 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

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Volvo plans car, XC60 concept, that uses E85 ethanol fuel to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 80%.  ...

... "The powertrain for the Volvo XC60 Concept uses the same six-cylinder, 3.2-litre, in-line petrol engine that was introduced in the all-new Volvo S80 and revised XC90 in mid-2006. The engine has been optimised for E85 (85 percent bio-ethanol, 15 percent petrol). This gives acceleration from 0–60 mph in 8.2 seconds and a top speed of approximately 143 mph. Fuel economy when running on E85 reduces to 19.2 mpg, as the energy content of ethanol is 40% lower than that of petrol. " ...

Via Volvo Release: SIX-CYLINDER BIO-ETHANOL ENGINE FOR THE VOLVO XC60 CONCEPT

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... "While viewers might wonder if this loving yet stormy relationship can survive Begley’s passion for recycling and saving energy, Living with Ed offers real tips on how to create a more eco-friendly home. For instance, Begley recommends replacing normal light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs which use a fraction of the energy and last nine times as long.

He also advocates energy-saving thermostats, extra insulation, double pane windows and an energy-efficient refrigerator as tools to conserve the environment. In fact, while humor fuels the fast-paced series, the show’s production is a green operation that uses hybrid vehicles and recycled materials, as well as taps into Ed’s solar power to charge phones and cameras. " ...

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... "WalMart says it will begin installing solar on its stores in five U.S. states: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Hawaii, and New Jersey. " ...

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... "RECs trade separately from a power plant's physical electric output, generating a separate source of revenue, and represent the premium that is paid to renewable generators by retail energy suppliers in order to demonstrate compliance with state-mandated renewable energy targets. In rendering its decision, DOER determined that the Wellons biomass energy system being installed by Laidlaw Energy in connection with the Ellicottville project qualifies as advanced, lower emission, power conversion technology. " ...

Posted by Green Tech at 01:19 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

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European venture capital firm, 3i, invests in Electrawinds to support renewable energy projects in Europe.  Electrawinds has installed base of wind and biomass energy with a capacity of 45 MegaWatts with plans for expansion up to 400 MW.  The renewable energy market has been growing at excellent rates and Electrawinds is positioned to benefit from this trend.  ... 

... "3i’s investment will allow Electrawinds to construct and develop additional wind and biomass projects across Europe. The company currently has branches in Portugal, Greece, Romania, Bulgaria and Africa and today’s investment will allow these activities to be expanded. Over the coming year, Electrawinds is planning to invest a further €100m in renewable energy projects. Electrawinds is aiming for turnover of €22.8m in 2006, €50m in 2007 and €100m in 2008. The worldwide market for renewable energy is estimated at $100bn pa and has been growing at 30% pa over the last 5 years. This growth is driven by concerns over global warming and carbon emissions, the impact of high oil prices and the desire to diversify supply sources and reduce dependence on imported fossil fuels. " ...

Via 3i: 3i invests €30m in Electrawinds

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... "The wind farm would generate electricity to be sold to a Pennsylvania utility company. White said the total acreage that is needed for the turbines is estimated to be 150 acres. " ...

Via Daily and Sunday Review: Read

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... "A compact and powerful two-cylinder 750-cc engine provides some 150 environmentally friendly horsepower for swift conveyance. Bioethanol that reduces CO2 emissions powers the tiny supercharged engine. With a projected vehicle weight of just 750 kilograms thanks to plastic lightweight construction each horsepower has to account for just five kilograms ... " ...

Via RinSpeed: RINSPEED EXASIS

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... "Enel has signed a contract with the Spanish company Gamesa for the purchase of 195 wind generators. The generators, which have a total capacity of 166 MW, will be installed in a number of wind plants in Italy, avoiding the emission of 249,000 metric tons of CO2 per year. The transaction is worth more than 138 million euros and is part of the plan to invest more than 4 billion euros to make Enel the world’s most advanced energy company in the search for innovative solutions to reducing the environmental impact of power generation and distribution. " ...

Via Enel SpA: ENEL PURCHASES 195 WIND GENERATORS FOR 138 MILLION ...

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... "The consent gives the go ahead for the offshore sections of the 1,000MW wind farm which, if built, will displace nearly 2 million tonnes of CO2 a year. The wind farm would also generate enough electricity to power 750,000 homes, equivalent to a quarter of Greater London’s households or every home in Kent and East Sussex. " ...

Posted by Green Tech at 08:51 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

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... "BlueFire has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with MECS, Inc. (formerly Monsanto Enviro-Chem Systems, Inc.) as its lead Engineering Procurement and Construction contractor for the Company's cellulosic ethanol plants to serve the burgeoning renewable fuels market. BlueFire's goal is to design, develop and construct 20 plants in the next 6 years totaling 1.5 billion gallons in production and approximately $2.7 billion in gross revenue by 2012 with earnings in excess of $1.6 billion. MECS will work with BlueFire and JGC to complete design and commence construction of its first cellulosic plant by the second quarter of 2007. " ...

Via BlueFire: BlueFire Announces Its Selection of MECS Inc., to Design and Build Its Cellulose to Ethanol Plants in North America

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... "The program will utilize BP Solar's EnergyTile product, a roof-tile design that blends seamlessly into the design of the roof. EnergyTile is integrated into the roof and offers homebuilders and homeowners an industry leading warranty and support. " ...

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... "Solar Night Industries in partnership with the Better Choice Group, have announced the first in a series of Solar Installation Training Programs to be held January 9th and 10th, 2007 in Baltimore, Maryland. The two day on-site training course, Connecting to the Grid will be led by top instructors and solar installers in the industry and will educate attendees on trade skills necessary to accelerate commercialization of modern energy. Solar Night Industries and Better Choice Group expect attendees to be educated on a broad spectrum of solar installation best methods and business practices necessary to grow their business. " ...

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... "New Jersey offers a full exemption from the state's 7% sales tax for all solar and wind energy equipment. This exemption is available to all taxpayers. All major types solar energy equipment, including equipment for passive solar design, is considered eligible for the exemption. " ...

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... "Trina Solar Ltd., China-based solar module manufacturer, hopes to raise $82.2 million through sale of 5.3 million American depositary shares in an initial public offering. " ...

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... "The duo has been able to take their combined 40-plus years of research with algae and apply it to use in air and water remediation, alternative fuels and animal feed. " ...

Posted by Green Tech at 10:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

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... "Some big, impressive numbers are floating around out there about renewable energy and particularly solar power. " ...

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... "The center is using a bank of photovoltaic solar roof shingles manufactured by the Auburn Hills company to fill some of its energy needs. " ...

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... "groSolar, a national solar energy firm, announced that it has acquired Energy Outfitters, an Oregon-based solar energy distribution company. The acquisition makes groSolar one of the largest solar distribution and installation firms in the U.S., with additional offices in western and eastern Canada. " ...

Posted by Green Tech at 09:53 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

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... "A Colorado electric cooperative well-known for its opposition to wind and solar power is offering renewable-energy credits for sale to its members who support green energy. " ...

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... "The breakthrough may lead to solar systems which cost only US$3 per watt to install and generate electricity at less than 10? per kWh, making solar electricity a more cost-competitive and integral part of our nation’s energy mix. ” ...

Via Refocus: Solar Cell Breaks Barrier

Boeing Spectrolab Terrestrial Solar Cell Surpasses 40 Percent Efficiency: "Boeing announces that Spectrolab, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary, has achieved a new world record in terrestrial concentrator solar cell efficiency. Using concentrated sunlight, Spectrolab demonstrated the ability of a photovoltaic cell to convert 40.7 percent of the sun's energy into electricity. The U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) in Golden, Colo., verified the milestone. "

Posted by Green Tech at 09:37 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

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... "DOE's Energy Information Administration, the primary source of government data and forecasts on energy production and use in this country, says that consumption of green fuels by 2012 in the United States will far exceed the goal of 7.5 billion gallons set by Congress. " ...

Posted by Green Tech at 09:27 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

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Massachusetts Institute of Technology scientists have found a novel way to increase MPG with ethanol - and it is not E85!

They found that a "carefully designed and timed direct injection of ethanol through the mechanism of evaporative cooling and its own intrinsic properties as a fuel , is equivalent to increasing the overall fuel octane rating of the mixture of ethanol and gasoline to more than 130."  Typical motor fuels are in the range of 87 (regular) to 91 / 91 (hi-test).  This is achieved by "use of a limited amount of separately stored ethanol."

One result of this is that a "3.0 liter V6 cold be replaced by a 1.5 liter 4 cylinder engine."

EBS is working with Ford Motor to bring this technology to market. 

Posted by Green Dude at 06:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

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VeraSun Erergy Corporation (NYSE: VSE)  has a process to get more energy from each bushel of corn.  They can make both ethanol and biodiesel from corn.  VeraSun is "the nations second largest ethanol producer". 

Here's the process.   "VeraSun identified an opportunity to utilize oil extracted from distillers grains, undervalued as a feed component, as an excellent feedstock for biodiesel. Removing the oil from distillers grains both increases the value of the oil for fuel use, and enhances the resulting distillers grains as a livestock feed by concentrating protein and reducing fat content."

"Biodiesel can be blended with petroleum diesel to run in all existing diesel engines."  Production has grown from "75 million gallons in 2005" and is expected to "more than one billion gallons by 2010 and double to two billion gallons by 2020."

Via:  VeraSun Energy   Link   Link

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There's good news .... its getting easier to be green when buying a PC.

HP's new dx2250 with "Advanced Micro Device's Athlon chip and Cool 'n' Quiet technology" saves energy. 

One beta tester of HPs product - Snohomish County Public Utility District in Everett, Washington - found that these PCs were quieter and generated less heat.  They determined that they "could save about 20 Kilowatts per PC" by using the type of power-savings supply in the dx2250.  They are considering replacing 900 PCs so this equates to significant energy and dollar savings.

 The current focus on energy savings within the IT space has mostly focused on the data center where hardware density has been increasing resulting in increased demand for electricity and cooling capacity (additional electricity).  PCs are now becoming a target for energy savings.
 

Look for manufacturers to highlight their energy savings features in new PCs.  Shop wisely and you may be able to save both money and energy! 

Via:  eweek Dec 4, 2006   Link 

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... "Metabolix Natural Plastics can be used as an alternative to petrochemical plastics in a wide variety of applications, including coated paper, film or bags, and thermoformed and molded goods. They are produced using a patented, biological fermentation process that converts agricultural raw materials such as corn sugar into a versatile range of plastics with excellent durability in use but that also biodegrade benignly in a wide range of environments, including marine and wetlands. The Natural Plastic commercial manufacturing facility will be located adjacent to ADM's corn wet mill in Clinton, Iowa. The plant will utilize starch from the mill's existing corn grind capacity as raw material for Natural Plastic production, and is designed to initially produce 110 million pounds annually. ADM and Metabolix are working together in a strategic alliance to commercialize Metabolix's patented and proprietary Natural Plastic technology. Permits enabling the start of construction were issued on November 30, 2006 by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. Commercial production of Natural Plastic is expected to begin in 2008. Metabolix and ADM are currently operating a pilot manufacturing facility to produce pre-commercial quantities of material ... " ...

Via Metabolix, Inc.: Metabolix Announces Commencement of Construction of Commercial Manufacturing Facility for Biodegradable Natural Plastic

Via Smithsonian: Corn Plastic: "WalMart and other companies leveraging green packaging made from plastic based on corn. "

Posted by Green Tech at 09:33 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

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Know where your automobile club dues are going? ...

...   "In 1999, AAA opposed new rules that required cleaner-burning exhaust systems for cars, trucks, and SUVs, and two years prior assailed an EPA proposal requiring states to reduce levels of smog and soot. In 1990, AAA even fought the strengthening of the Clean Air Act - a measure supported by three fourths of Americans - on the grounds that it would limit the personal mobility of motorists. "   ...

Via GreenLAGirl and BetterWorldClub: Link

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... "Germany subsidized the installation of 837 megawatts of photovoltaic systems last year. That amounted to more than half the world market. Japan, which launched an incentive program earlier, installed 292 megawatts of photovoltaics last year. " ...

Via San Diego Union-Tribune: California Solar Initiative

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... "NatureWorks polymer is the first man-made polymer to come from 100% annually renewable resources. Sugar is extracted from corn and is then fermented to create lactic acid which is then transformed into the new biopolymer - polylactide. This polylactide is branded as NatureWorks polymer and designed for use in packaging, consumer packaged goods, and a broad range durable applications where traditional petro-based plastics find use. The same polymer is used to create a new generation of textile fibres, identified under the Ingeo brand. This fibre is a real and sustainable alternative for fashion, home and personal care items - many products that consumers experience next to their skin in their every day lives. Being derived from plants, not oil, requires less fossil fuel usage for production and helps make NatureWorks polymer the first greenhouse-gas-neutral polymer available in the world today. " ...

Via NatureWorks: New Reality for Bioplastics

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Universal Electric Vehicle will launch their Electrum Spyder vehicle today. Universal Electric Vehicle Corporation (U.E.V.) mission is to design, engineer, and manufacture alternative fuel vehicles (AFV's). See video interview of UEV's CEO ...

Via Netscape and AutoblogGreen ...

Posted by Green Tech at 10:55 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

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There are quite a few terms to describe the various "grades" of green vehicles .... from clean to cleaner to cleanest.

Do you know your PZEV from your SULEV? LEV from TLEV?  Confused?  Then read on ...

Here's the lingo:

• TLEV: Transitional Low Emission Vehicle
  Least restrictive in California; phased out in 2004
  

• LEV: Low Emission Vehicle
  New minimum for California in 2004
  

• ULEV: Ultra Low Emission Vehicles
  "50% cleaner than the average new model year car."
  

• SULEV: Super Ultra Low Emission Vehicle
  "90% cleaner than the average new model year car."
  

• PZEV: Partial Zero Emission Vehicle
  meet "SULEV tailpipe emission standards, have zero evaporative emissions and a 15 year / 150,000 mile warranty."  "They have fewer emissions while being driven than a typical gasoline car has while just sitting."
  

• AT PZEV: Advanced Technology PZEVs
  meet "PZEV requirements and have additional "ZEV-like" characteristics. A dedicated compressed natural gas vehicle, or a hybrid vehicle with engine emissions that meet the PZEV standards would be an AT PZEV."
  

• ZEV - Zero Emission Vehicles
  "98% cleaner than the average new model year vehicle."  Battery electric and fuel cells are in this group
  
  

 
Via:  DRIVECLEAN.CA.GOV   Link 

Posted by Green Dude at 11:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

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The city of Santa Monica, California offers free parking to drivers of certain green cars.

Details:

- What:  Free parking at any meter in Santa Monica

- Eligable:  fully electric or CNG (compressed natural gas) among others

- Details: Contact Lynne.Taffert@SMGOV.NET    or call 310-458-2226

Via:  DRIVECLEAN.CA.GOV   Link

Posted by Green Dude at 11:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

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... "By manipulating the yeast genome, the researchers have engineered a new strain of yeast that can tolerate elevated levels of both ethanol and glucose, while producing ethanol faster than un-engineered yeast. The key to the MIT strategy is manipulating the genes encoding proteins responsible for regulating gene transcription and, in turn, controlling the repertoire of genes expressed in a particular cell. These types of transcription factors bind to DNA and turn genes on or off, essentially controlling what traits a cell expresses. In this case, the researchers targeted two different transcription factors. They got their best results with a factor known as a TATA-binding protein, which when altered in three specific locations caused the over-expression overexpresion of at least a dozen genes, all of which were found to be necessary to elicit an improved ethanol tolerance, thus allowing that strain of yeast to survive high ethanol concentrations. " ...

Via MIT: Engineered yeast speeds ethanol production

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Diesel fueled cars are very popular in Europe and are getting more popular in the US.  Early diesels were often noisy, smelly, slow to accelerate and emitted lots of particulates.

Newer diesel technology allows diesel powered cars to be as quite as gasoline engines and possibly emit fewer emissions.  Helping to drive this are newer low sulfur diesel fuels "(less than 15 parts per million) that becomes available throughout the U.S. this fall."

 Mercedes-Benz introduces technology for the "Cleanest Diesel in the World" - BLUETEC.

The BLUETEC diesel is "a modular exhaust treatment technology".  The system reduces diesel emissions that are typically higher than gasoline emissions, and the modular design is flexible, allowing it to evolve over several iterations with a series of components. BLUETEC technology offers the future potential to meet the world's most stringent exhaust emissions standards and superior fuel economy — without compromising power.

Posted by Green Dude at 09:05 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

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... "Reva is beginning to get global recognition and is among the pioneers in the electric car market. It will use this investment to expand its business by increasing its production capacity, developing newer models and further enhancing its international and domestic distribution. " ...

Posted by Green Tech at 09:13 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

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Do you know your Carbon Footprint ?

What is it:   Your Carbon Footprint is "is the quantity of CO2 emitted to the atmosphere as a result of household energy use, transportation and waste disposal in one year."  It is a way to look at your impact on the planet.

Calculate it:  You can determine your Carbon Footprint by using one of many "calculators".  Inputing answers to questions about where you live, how big your family is, what kind of housing / heating / air conditioning you have, etc and some magic you get a number and a comparison to the national average.

I found a good Carbon Calculator at BPs website.  Link

I trtied the Calculator and got these results:

Reduce it:   To reduce your Carbon Footprint
* Check out the Calculator and see what different choices make in the results
* Take the Quiz   -   Link
* Look at the FAQs   -   Link
* Look at What You Can Do - Link

Via:  BP.Com   Link:

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... "With an approximately 30-percent smaller footprint compared to current single-gate technology with the same functions and performance, the new transistors had quiescent current that measured a factor of 10 less. According to the researchers' calculations, this will increase the energy efficiency and battery life of portable devices up to two times compared to the 65nm technology going into production today. For future technology nodes (32nm and beyond), this factor will increase significantly. " ...

Via Infineon: Infineon leverages Multi-Gate Technology to achieve breakthrough results - New semiconductor structures significantly improve energy efficiency

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Ford has begun a program in Germany to encourage owners to recycle their older cars and buy new ones.  "Ford-certified dismantlers help ensure that all recyclables are indeed salvaged from the retired vehicles". 

To date "more than 300,000 vehicles have been recycled into 290,000 tons of metal".  Along with reducing vehicle emissions and pollution by replacing older cars with newer, lower emission ones Ford  "plants a tree with every vehicle retired". 

In addition to recycling cars; Ford is recycling tires.  Among the uses are "air deflectors and splashguards" and "ergonomic floor mats"  that are used on assembly lines to make new cars.

Via: Ford Motor Company Web Site - Link 

Posted by Green Dude at 10:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

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Wal-Mart has announced it will embacrk on a 5 - year plan to reduce packging waste. They will "measure its 60,000 worldwide suppliers on their ability to develop packaging and conserve natural resources. This initiative, scheduled to begin in 2008, is projected to reduce overall packaging by five percent." 

Not only will this prevent throwing millions of pounds of trash away it is "projected to save 667,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere.  This is equal to taking 213,000 trucks off the road annually, and saving 323,800 tons of coal and 66.7 million gallons of diesel fuel from being burned".

Posted by Green Dude at 09:33 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

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The Brazilian Obvio is coming!  This tiny car is smaller than a Cooper Mini and is to get "40 mpg on the highway and 29 mpg in the city, which is better than the Mini".  It is expected to retail for approximately $14,000 or half t he price of the Toyota Prius.

It is no performance slouch - "goes from Zero to 60 in 4.2 seconds and is competitive when it comes to fuel efficiency".

The Obvio! is a "hybrid-fuel three seater" with an engine that is "built to burn gasoline, ethanol or even natural gas". 

The first wave of 50.000 including some with electrical engines is expected to arrive in the United States in the fall of 2007.

 Via:  Newsweek, October 2, 2006 l Enterprise l Productivity.   Link.

 
For more details go to Link
 

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... "Unlike LCD, OLED does not need a frame around it, and it consumes less electricity. It also features a transparent cylindrical hinge that is used as storage for clean fuels such as methyl alcohol. " ...

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... "Cummins Westport Inc. will provide Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) 531 CWI engines to be installed as a combination of new installations and repowers (installation of a new power plant in an existing chassis). The new installations will begin in March 2007 and the repowers will begin in May 2007. The 531 engine order is made up of both the 2007 ISL G and the C Gas Plus engine models. The ISL G will surpass EPA and CARB 2007 phase-in levels and meet 2010 emission standards of 0.2 g/bhp-hr NOx and 0.01 g/bhp-hr PM at launch in 2007. Based on the Cummins ISL, the ISL G leverages Cummins proven Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) and stoichiometric combustion allowing for the use of a three-way catalyst, which is maintenance free and has been in common use in passenger cars since the 1970s. In addition to delivering ultra low emissions, the ISL G, with ratings from 250 to 320-horsepower, will deliver increased thermal efficiency and more than 30 percent higher low-speed torque. " ...

Posted by Green Tech at 08:42 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

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Can the United States Walk its Way to Energy Independence?

East Japan Railway has "begun testing rubber floor mats that generate electricity when walked on."  Currently the amount of power is rather miniscule - "a mat produces just 100 milliwatts with each commuters step".  This means that 700,000 commuters you get about 70 kW or "barely enough to light a 100 watt bulk for 10 minutes".

Is this a step in the right direction - energy wise?  Maybe future refinements can produce significantly more power.

Via: BusinessWeek l November 13, 2006 l Bright Ideas Link 

Posted by Green Dude at 10:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

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Traditional Christmas tree lights are made with incandescent bulbs.  These light strings made from incandescent bulbs have several drawbacks

A new product seen this year is the LED Christmas tree light. They use 90% less energy! They last 20 up to years!"  Best of all they plug right in like traditional lights.  The "bulbs" come in a variety of styles.

 They are available from many manufactures and are in stores and Web-stores.  They are even showing up in artificial Christmas trees.

For one source see Green Home Environmental Store.  Link 

Posted by Green Dude at 01:07 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

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