VW: Possible All Electric Bulli (previously the microbus !)

Google Translated from German ...

VW recently showed off at the Geneva Auto Show a prototype 6 seat all-electric called "Bulli".   " ... maximum utilization of space ... driven ... by a powerful electric motor or alternatively efficient gasoline and diesel direct injection engines ..."

 See picture of concept car at right >>>> 

Via:  Volkswagen  LINK

Textile Sustainability with bluesign®

bluesign® is an independent standard for the textile inducstry.  It looks at the entire supply chain and seeks to exclude harmful materials at the start of the process … resulting in a safer product for consumers and the environment.,

Many outdoor clothing manufactures are supporting this standard including North Face and REI. 

Check out this YouTube Video for more info …

 

Via:  bluesign  LINK

Sheldon Crossing - Philadelphia's First Electric Car Charger

Sheldon Crossing in Manayunk (Philadelphia) Pa offers the latest in GREEN LIVING.   In addition to being LEED certified they offer a Coulomb Technologies electric  car charging station.

" ... will earn a Platinum LEED certification ... homes will use less energy, water, and natural resources ... "

Features include " ... solar panels, vegetative green roofs, insulation, plumbing, HVAC, water purification and smart home automation ..."

The model home's Charging Station for electric vehicles is the first in the city of Philadelphia.  Picture >>>>>


Via:  Sheldon Crossing  LINK and Philadelphia Inquirer LINK

Fuji Water is Carbon NEGATIVE

"Since 2008, FIJI Water has been a carbon-negative brand. ... first and only major bottled water company to make this commitment, ... offset 120% of our emissions.... "

They consider every aspect of the product life-cycle including transportation and implement and promote sustainable practices.


Via: Fuji Water LINK

CityCar - Fold Up Space Saving Commuter Car

The CityCar is a new look at what a car can be.  It can be "folded" when not used / parked to take up very little space.  It eliminates the traditional car's transmission / drive shaft tunnel by having power directy at the wheels.

The CityCar is an EV designed to take up minimum space while parked.  This is achieved by "folding" the car.  Instead of the engine and drive train of a gas powered car the drive components are in each wheel eliminating the need for a long rigid structure for the exhaust pipe or drive train components.

" ... weighs less than a thousand pounds, get the equivalent of 150 to 200 miles per gallon of gasoline. ... no tailpipe emissions."

" .. powered by four in-wheel electric motors ... enables maneuvers like spinning on its own axis ... moving sideways ... "

" ... park nose-in to the curb in ... possible to park three or four CityCars in the length of a traditional parking bay."


Via:  MIT LINK

NYK YAMATAI Uses Air Bubbles to Reduce CO2 Emissions in Bulk Carrier

schematic of bubbler system

NYK's (Nippon Yusen Kaisha) Yamatai will have a unique method to reduce CO2 ... by injecting air bubble at the bottom of the hull.  This reduces drag between the hull and sea water.  The result is lower CO2 emissions. 

" ... first vessel engaged in overseas transport to make use of a permanently installed air-lubrication system using an air-blower ...   generate bubbles ... to the vessel bottom ... expected to result in 10 percent less CO₂ emissions from the vessel."


Via:  NYK Group LINK

Lennar PowerSmart Energy Efficient Homes

Lennar PowerSmart

Lennar builds the PowerSmart home in several states.  These homes have efficiency and energy savings build it.

" ... PowerSmart home by Lennar. ... green home designed to save you money while ... saving the environment. ..."

• Features include " ... Tight construction ... Improved Thermal Systems ... 
• High Efficiency power vented gas water heater ... High- Efficiency Toilets ... Low- Flow Faucets ..."

Via: Lennar ™ LINK

Arizona Public Services & SunPower Create Largest Solar Project on Federal Property

The 15 megawatt PV plant will be located at Luke AFB in Glendale, Arizona.  Comprised of 52,000 SunPower PV panels it will be the " ... largest solar installation on U.S. government property."

SunPower

"Arizona Public Service Co. will own and operate ... hired SunPower Corp. to design and construct the solar plant ..."

" ... will ... follow the sun ... 25 percent more energy than if the panels were stationary. ..."


Via:  Arizona Public Service LINK

GreenandSave.com

GREENandSAVE has a Website and Blog with lots of good "green" information.  There are tips to increase your "individual green-ness" and links to many green items in the news including green job training.

Check out the Experts Tip section for lots of ideas you can use to save energy, money and the planet.  Tips I found include ways to save water this summer and ideas for a greener Christmas.

 ... strives to inform the public about eco-conscious living, environmental matters, ... feature daily news, information and blogs  ... mission is to expand readers’ awareness of environmentally conscious efforts ... and encourage participation."


Via:  Green and Save  LINK

Energy from the Seas from Pelamis Wave Power

"...  potential to be one of the most environmentally benign forms of electricity generation ... wave energy around the British Isles ... estimated to be equivalent to three times current UK electricity demand, ..."

The oceans and the power of the waves and tides waves might be the source of your electricity someday.  Systems that can convert the constant undulation of the waves into energy can harness  what seems like an unlimited renewable energy source.

Pelamis  are minimally impactful ... their visual impact is small as they are half submerged so are not nearly as visibly on the horizon as wind turbines.  They appear to have minimal impact on marine life as well and can be removed much easier than a wind turbine.
They currently have installations undergoing tests in Portugal and Scotland. 

 Pelamis has their HQ in Edinburgh, Scotland.



Via:  Pelamis Wave Power  LINK

 
Ever wonder how solar cells work?  Sun light hits a photovoltaic panel and somehow electrons start flowing. 

Check out this neat graphic that shows how suns rays are converted to power that flows from your home's outlets.

" ... Follow the path ... from the sun, through the pv panels, its conversion to AC electricity ... into the utility grid. ..."
ailed explanation of solar energy.


For a full size of the image CLICK

Via:  CoolerPlanet LINK

 My daily papers are rolled and covered with a plastic bags I noticed my newspapers were rolled in a new plastic bag before being tossed on my driveway.  I noticed a neat new bag called green15™.

" ... every ... bag is made with at least 15% recycled material.  ... allows us to use up to 15% less plastic ... join us to promote more recycled products & use less plastic ..."

Of course I collect these and recycle them at the local food store.

Via:  Green15bags   LINK


Via: xxx.yyy LINK

 Wallenius Lines, a Swedish owned car carrier vessel is testing a fuel cell for auxiliary power.  Fuel cells are clean power sources - in this case fueled by methanol (alcohol).  Wallenius Lines has a major commitment to being green (using non toxic paint to reduce barnacle drag, handling bilge water carefully, reducing impact overall, etc.) and this is the next step in the journey.


"Wärtsilä’s WFC20 fuel cell ... onboard the ’Undine’,  ... is the first of its kind in the world ... during the test period provide auxiliary power to the vessel while producing close to zero emissions...."

Methanol can be made from biomass so can be a renewable fuel ... in addition to providing clean power.  The trails started in May 2010 and extend until November 2010.



Via:  Wallenius Lines  LINK

Calstar Greener Bricks and Pavers Made from Fly Ash

Calstar bricks and pavers are targeted to the green market.  Among their features are that they use recycled materials and generate less CO2 when produced and they are priced to b e competitive with their non-green competing products.

" ... architectural facing bricks and durable pavers for the green building market. ...contain 40% post-industrial recycled material, use 90%" less energy ... generate 90% less CO2 than traditional fired clay brick and pavers."

To hear move about the technology and sustainability ... CLICK

Via:  Calstar  LINK

Dell's Three C's of Smart Packaging

In December of 2008 Dell announced an overhaul of its current computer packaging. 

" .... By 2012, Dell aims to reduce packaging volume by 10 percent; increase the amount of recycled content in packaging by 40 percent; and increase the amount of materials in packaging that’s curbside recyclable to 75 percent. ... a strategy based on the three C’s:

The three C's stand for Cube, Content, Curb.

"... How  big is the box?  Could it be smaller?"
 
"... What is the packaging made of?  Could it be made of something better?"

 "... Is is easily recycled?"


Via: Dell  LINK

Dell Uses Compostable Bamboo Packing Materials

Dell is using new bamboo packaging materials that are compostable making them easier to dispose of in places other than a dumpster (read landfill).  The result is a more sustainable packaging solution.


" ... mechanically pulped bamboo ... will compost and biodegrade ... comparable to known compostable materials ..."


" ... building on its commitment to make ‘being green’ easy and cost-effective for customers. "

So why bamboo ?  Bamboo is a natural as it is fast growing, strong and " ... doesn't require replanting after harvest".


Via:  Dell  LINK

While driving through Chester County, Pa to pick my son up from a camping trip I saw an Amerigreen gas station and thought I should check it out ... in addition to gas they sell diesel, propane and heating oil.  In addition to biodiesel and bio heating oil they have  E85.

"E85 Ethanol (85% ethanol, 15% gasoline) is a clean fuel with superior performance characteristics. It burns cleaner than gasoline, is renewable, and environmentally safer."

 "... we became one of the first oil companies in the United States to provide our customers with 100% North American made fuel--drilled, refined, and sold exclusively in North America. ..."

"In addition ... every gallon of our heating oil contains 5% soy oil, a renewable American farm product. ..."

" ... your heating oil and propane purchases will benefit the American economy, American jobs, ... we urge other energy companies to do the same. Because, ... it's simply the right thing to do...."

Via:  Amerigreen  LINK

Ready to drink once used water?  Folks in Cloudcroft, NM do - every day !

Cloudcroft NM runs 100% on recycled water.  From soup to nuts - washing to drinking ... toilet to tap !

" ... a town of ... 800 ... used to ... truck in upwards of 20,000 gallons of fresh water every day. ... got $600,000 from the state to put toward a $2 million water re-use system."

" ...“zero discharge” system is very unusual ... people tend get about phobic about the idea of drinking water that has been used for some other purpose ... sort of system you might find on a submarine ... everything is ... closed-loop. ..."

" ... ITT technologies ... include the Sanitaire membrane bioreactor, the WET reverse osmosis system, and the PCI ultrafiltration system.


Via:  SmartPlanet  LINK

Truck Stop Electrification

Everyone has seen trucks idling when they seem to be "just waiting" at a truck or rest stop.  Many drivers keep the engine running to allow for heating / cooling and even to run appliances in their sleeper cab

While diesels are efficient they are polluting ... and use fuel at the rate of a gallon / hour at idle.

TSE - Truck Stop Electrification "... helps drivers, their trucks and our planet rest a bit easier. Supported by Carbonfund.org ... reduces tailpipe emissions ... system consists of an in-cab service module ... that heats, cools, and powers the interior of the truck ... without forcing the engine to burn diesel while saving about a gallon of diesel per hour. ... over one hundred locations throughout the United States."

Via: CarbonFund.org Blog LINK

How to Keep the Miniuvan / SUV and Still Be Green / Greener ?

BLOG POST # 250 !!

Some people just need larger cars.  Not everyone can make life work with a small hybrid.  So, what can they to make their lifestyle green / greener?

" ...motivations behind EnviroCitizen.org, ... information about a variety of green topics with the ability to purchase carbon offset certificates via Carbonfund.org. ... 1,000 articles on the site focused on sustainable lifestyle tips and habits."

" ... EnviroCitizen ... acknowledges some of the practical barriers that prevent people from being as environmentally sensitive as they might like. .. 

Via: SmartPlanet LINK