carbon

You may not have heard of Tommy Remengesau, Jr. It could be that you've never even heard of Palau, the Pacific island nation of which he is President. However, his story is an inspiring one, and one that more people should be aware of.

As many know, low-lying Pacifc islands like Palau face the most immediate threat from climate change, as very small rises in sea level could reclaim great areas of land. » read more

Are you tired of your lead foot thwarting your best intentions to save gas? Then Nissan's new ECO pedal may be right for you. The car company will be installing the new pedal in Japanese models next year.

Irresistible force meets immovable object. 

Here's how it works: When the ECO pedal senses that you're accelerating too quickly, it will actually push back, applying pressure to your foot. The pedal can be switched on and off by the driver. While it is on, it could save 5 to 10% in fuel usage. 

Is it safe? » read more

Today, states are pushing the use of biofuels to combat use of tradition fossil fuels and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Biofuels are lower in carbon and can have a 50 percent lower life-cycle greenhouse gas than petroleum. Massachusetts is mandating numerous incentives to bring this product to market, and other states are contemplating the same. It's important to incorporate a broad based strategy when reducing traditional forms of energy consumption and reducing emissions. To our benefit, increasing our security and improving our environment are not mutually exclusive objectives. » read more

California policy makers are tired of ocean ships spewing foul air over the state, and they have now told these ships to clean up their act, at least when they are near the mainland.

In 2006, California passed similar legislation forcing large ships to reduce their emissions. However, the shipping companies defeated this legislation in a federal court, arguing that emissions standards were the domain of the EPA, not the state of California. » read more

The town of Rock Port, Missouri has become the first in America to derive 100% of its electricity from wind power. With the use of 75 turbines, the 1,300 residents of this small town are able to fulfill all of their electricity needs. Though Missouri has some of the best wind potential in the country, I still have to wonder why other communities are not following Rock Port's lead.

Everyone in the town seems to be thrilled with what they have accomplished. And why shouldn't they be? » read more

There is a power plant in New Hampshire that is doing big things for the environment, even if the story doesn't get the press that solar, wind and tidal projects receive. In 2003, Public Service of New Hampshire (PSNH) announced the Northern Wood Power Project, a plan to build a fluidized-bed boiler that would run off of wood chips. This facility, when completed, would replace one of the three 50MW coal boilers at Schiller Station in Portsmouth, NH (see below). The wood plant was completed in December 2006, and is delivering big environmental and economic returns. » read more

Can turtles fly?

I ceratinly hope so, because the Turtle Airship just might be the future of air travel - if it delivers on all of its promises. This airship doesn't look anything like the Goodyear blimp. It has a rigid exterior shell that resembles, well, a turtle shell. The shell is covered in solar panels that provide the ship's main source of power. When solar energy is not available, the Turtle is designed to run on back-up, biodiesel engines. » read more

All around the world, green rooftops are the latest trend. What's a green roof, you ask? Well, at its most basic level, a green roof is an urban rooftop that has been landscaped, so instead of a boring city rooftop, you get something like this:

Much better, isn't it. But looks aren't the only benefit of green rooftops - there are a host of other, more practical reasons to look into this new trend. » read more

I have just discovered that today is "Carbon Belch Day."  I am not pleased. 

Here's some links that you can visit to find out what Carbon Belch Day is (www.grassfire.org, Carbon Belch Day website), but basically it's an anti-environmentalism movement that is promoting the production of carbon emissions specifically for today (June 12th).  They plan to release over 100 million pounds of CO2 into the atmosphere today. » read more