Hybrid Living

There have been tons of ways cooked up on how to teach children about solar power and the advantages that comes with using it. We surely would not be getting into that because you already know what those include.One of the latest gimmicks that I have come across is solar popcorn. Yes. You read that [...]

The European Renewable Energy Council and Greenpeace believe that 100 percent of the world’s energy could come from renewable sources by 2090. They’ve written up the blueprint in their Energy [R]evolution Report.

The report creates a scenario that includes biomass, geothermal, solar and wind energy providing the bulk of the world’s power. While the development of those sources is key, the larger component of the scenario is major increases in efficiency. These gains would be made by instituting rooftop wind and solar so that energy is generated close to the consumer, as well as retrofitting and maximizing the efficiency of buildings, particularly through better insulation. The report claims that the bulk of these changes could be made by 2050.

This projection is exciting to think about, but there is one aspect that could prove unrealistic. The scenario sees an overall drop in energy usage by 2090, while our knowledge of increasing energy usage in developing countries contradicts this possibility. Even if we maximize efficiency, it would be close to impossible for usage to drop within that time frame.

Even so, I think this report is encouraging and is particularly helpful because it provides detailed scenarios on how our current situation could be reversed. But it also further confirms that the path will be hard and dependent on all of us cutting back on our energy use. As we’ve suspected all along, a quick fix doesn’t exist.

via VentureBeat

All he had to do was make through the roads of Canada in the fastest time possible. It may sound simple but it is not. After all, you would never know what is coming up those roads. But Marcelo da Luz had been able to set a new world record. This Canadian was able to [...]

The office is becoming a major driver of climate change.

Despite ongoing efforts to improve energy efficiency in the workplace, the world’s growing reliance on the Internet is leading to a rapid increase in greenhouse gas emissions.

Rooting international strategies in sound science means reviewing the role played by the US White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) in enabling science and technology (S&T) to inform foreign policy, and overhauling the government’s Agency for International Development (USAID).

Recycling used electronics is pretty important – arguably more important than recycling paper and plastic. E-waste is loaded with toxic heavy metals such as mercury and cadmium. Such chemicals are bad for the environment, but worse for the impoverished citizens of developing countries who all too often need to earn their living by crudely mining valuable metals out of our discarded computers, TVs and cell phones.

It’s a good thing, then, that Radio Shack is offering some decent incentives to recycle your old iPod. They are starting a program which allows customers to register their obsolete gadgets and ship them (pre-paid, of course) to a collecting location, where they make sure your item is in the condition you said it was. If so, you get a Radio Shack gift certificate (hey, I never said there was nothing in it for them). You can appraise your item online.

Radio Shack is certainly not the first to come up with this recycling model; others are doing very similar things. And seeing as getting a bit of cash for an old cell phone makes so much more sense than throwing it into a bin with banana peels and coffee filters, this ecogeek is optimistic about e-recycling becoming the norm.

Via GoodCleanTech
Image via Radio Shack

In a move that seems to fall somewhere between greenwashing and legitimate green progress, the South Florida Regional Transportation Authority recently announced that its Tri-Rail regional transit lines would be running 8 out of its 10 trains on a nearly pure blend of biofuels. Let’s consider the pro’s and con’s.

First of all, any press is good press, as they say. Especially when we’re talking about a public institution such as a transit authority, whose endorsement of biodiesel seems more significant and far-reaching than, say, Willie Nelson’s. Plus, the fuel is cleaner than standard diesel. It emits less carbon monoxide, fewer particulates and pollutes less overall. If biodiesel spills and soaks into the ground, it is far more benign than old fashioned diesel. And, surprisingly, biodiesel is currently 30 cents/gallon cheaper than the competition.

My main complaint here is that the biodiesel comes from palm and soy sources. This might make some sense if the palm oil is produced locally (though I’m not even sure it does), but food crops-turned fuel crops such as these have been largely condemned by the green community as unsustainable solutions which aggravate food prices across the globe.

As an aside, the SFRTA’s report mentions that Florida is one of the only places where such biofuels could be implemented, because of its temperate climate. I’m assuming they mean that this biodiesel would not function at lower temperatures, perhaps due to congealing or freezing. Perhaps one of you readers can shed light on the issue…

Via Gas 2.0, SFRTA

They say knowledge is power, but in this case, it’s greater fuel efficiency. Ford has announced they will be installing SmartGauge with EcoGuide instruments in the Fusion and Mercury Milan hybrids, coming in 2010.

The instrument provides real-time information on the hybrids’ fuel economy and allows drivers to select what level of detail they want displayed. These levels are:

• Inform: Fuel level and battery charge status
• Enlighten: Adds electric vehicle mode indicator and tachometer
• Engage: Adds engine output power and battery output power
• Empower: Adds power to wheels, engine pull-up threshold and accessory power consumption

Long-term fuel efficiency is displayed as either a chart or as growing leaves and vines with the leaves and vines becoming thicker as efficiency increases. The gauge also compares current fuel economy with previous trips allowing drivers to make adjustments based on the feedback.

While we all wait for the many hybrid and EV options coming in 2010 and their respective built-in gadgets, there’s a new application for the iPhone and iPod Touch that monitors any car’s fuel efficiency. The greenMeter weighs the vehicle’s tonnage and price of gas against driving style, using the iPhone’s built-in accelerometer. The application then turns out real-time information including miles per gallon and carbon footprint.

The success of the application depends upon the driver inputting accurate information on the vehicle, but for only $5.99, it may be worth a little extra effort.

via Jalopnik and Green Inc.

A new miniature greenhouse gas sensor called MINIGAS is being developed by VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland. The super-sensor will be less than an inch long, twice as sensitive as current sensors and cheaper too.

In fact, the European Union has such high hopes for this sensor, they’ve invested $3.6 million in the project and created a consortium or European companies and research organizations to aid in its development.

In addition to greenhouse gases, the sensor will be able to detect explosive vapors and chemical agents like nerve gas, making it useful for governments in homeland security systems. Environmentally conscious consumers will also be able benefit from the sensor since cost effectiveness is a high priority.

No word yet on a timeline for the sensor’s release, but it’s encouraging to know that European governments will be the first in line to use it.

via CleanTechnica

Image via freefotouk