Cross-posted from Planet Forward <http://community.planetforward.org/video/kinetic-hydro-meets-manhattan>
By: Planet Forward 26 Jul. 10
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Clean Energy
Kinetic Hydro Meets Manhattan
A Carbon Negative Fuel
Cross-posted from WorldChanging.com <http://www.worldchanging.com/archives/007427.html>
By Jeremy Faludi, 16 Oct. 07
“Impossible!” you say. “Even wind and solar have carbon emissions from their manufacturing, and biofuels are carbon neutral at best. How can a fuel be carbon negative?” But listen to people working on gasification and terra preta, and you’ll have something new to think about.
We’ve mentioned terra preta before: it’s a human-made soil or fertilizer. “Three times richer in nitrogen and phosphorous, and twenty times the carbon of normal soils, terra preta is the legacy of ancient Amazonians who predate Western civilization.” Although we don’t know how it was made back then, we do know how to make it now: burn biomass (preferably agricultural waste) in a special way that pyrolisizes it, breaking down long hydrocarbon chains like cellulose into shorter, simpler molecules. These simpler molecules are more easily broken down by microbes and plants as food, and bond more easily with key nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus. This is what makes terra preta such good fertilizer. Because terra preta locks so much carbon in the soil, it’s also a form of carbon sequestration that doesn’t involve bizarre heroics like pumping CO2 down old mine shafts. What’s more, it may reduce other greenhouse gases as well as water pollution: according to Biopact, a network that promotes biofuels and biomass energy, (continue reading…)
UK Music Festivals Go Green in 2010
Cross-posted from Green Weblog<http://www.greenweblog.net/2010/06/09/uk-music-festivals-go-green-in-2010>
By: Dan Greenslade 9 Jun. 10
When you think of a music festival, many people will think of nature-loving hippies at places like Glastonbury and Woodstock. But in fact, due to the enourmous amount of energy it takes to light and sound up to ten different stages at once, music festivals can contribute tonnes and tonnes of CO2 to the atmosphere.
This year though, some of the UK’s biggest festivals are striking back, with massive events such as The Big Chill, Latitude, Bestival, Reading & Leeds and Lovebox joining a campaign to cut carbon emissions.
Starting with Bestival on the Isle of Wight last weekend, 10 festivals have joined the Guardian-supported 10:10 mission to cut their greenhouse gas emissions by 10% during 2010.
The venues – hosting a wide variety of bands and artists including Jay-Z, Lady Gaga, Elbow, Lily Allen, The Prodigy, Hot Chip, Florence & The Machine, The Flaming Lips, Spandau Ballet and Seasick Steve – have joined up as 10:10 begins a wave of international launches from France to the west coast of the United States.
Making The World A ‘Better Place’
Cross-posted from CBS News <http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=4876897n>
19 March 09
Shai Agassi is on a monumental quest to make the world a ‘”better place.” He wants to replace everyone’s gas-fueled cars with environmentally friendly electric cars. David Pogue reports.
EarthSmart: FedEx Trades Purple and Orange for Green
Cross-posted from the Earth Garage blog <http://blog.earthgarage.com/2010/07/earthsmart-fedex-trades-purple-and.html>
By: Glenn Shorey 18 Mar. 2009
Ever seen a FedEx truck with this logo on it and wondered what it meant?
Earthsmart is a FedEx program developed with Etsy Enviromental Partners, a sustainability management consultancy founded by Yale professor Dan Esty, author of Green to Gold. The program has three main branches, business solutions, workplace culture, and community outreach. The most interesting changes are in the business branch, which includes trucks, planes, and facilities.
Some of the ways the Earthsmart program reduces environmental impact is the use of solar power, a new type of fuel cell called a Bloom Energy Server, and eco-friendly vehicles. The Express Hybrid Delivery Vehicle was introduced in 2008. In 2009 FedEx retrofitted 92 old trucks with hybrid technology and particulate filters. Hopefully FedEx will continue to reduce its environmental impact and in the process encourage other corporations to do the same.
If you feel like following suit, check out these green oil and exhaust filters on our website earthgarage.com.