Would solar panels mar Istanbul’s historic skyline? Photo by Jennifer Hattam . Can you imagine the Eiffel Tower with wind turbines? The Taj Mahal with rooftop solar panels? No matter how much you support renewable energy , it’s jarring to think about retrofitting such famous and historic structures, but one Turkish architect suggests it can — and should — be done…. Read the full story on TreeHugger
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21st Century Tech Meets 15th Century Architecture
Beef cattle feedlot. Image credit: WhyFiles, via USDA I was surprised to read in Business Week, via Bloomberg , that ” the U.S. cattle herd may have shrunk to the smallest size since 1958, … ” Farmers are culling herds because demand for red meat is down in this Great Recession (thanks Wall Street), while corn prices are way up (thanks Congress for the luxuriant corn-based ethanol incentives). From the farmer’s… Read the full story on TreeHugger
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‘Great Recession’ Plus High Corn Prices Are Changing The American Diet
Beef cattle feedlot. Image credit: WhyFiles, via USDA I was surprised to read in Business Week, via Bloomberg , that ” the U.S. cattle herd may have shrunk to the smallest size since 1958,… ” Farmers are culling herds because demand for red meat is down in this Great Recession (thanks Wall Street), while corn prices are way up (thanks Congress for the luxuriant corn-based ethanol incentives). From the farmer’s viewpoint: ” Co… Read the full story on TreeHugger
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Reduced Incomes And High Corn Prices Are Changing The American Diet
The ocean is swallowing their home – and it’s all due to the greenhouse gases emitted by oil, power and coal companies. So, the Alaska Native village of Kivalina wants Exxon, BP and others to pay the price for their sacrifice. As the city of Kivalina makes plans to move two miles away because of the encroaching seas, they believe that those who caused climate change in the first place should pick up the $400 million tab. The village was protected by sea ice, but higher temperatures have caused the ice to form later and melt sooner, allowing storm surges to erode the coastline. The villagers filed a lawsuit against two dozen defendants in 2008, which was dismissed by a federal court in San Francisco last year – but they’re not giving up that easily. Their attorney, Mike Pawa of Boston, is appealing the decision. Kivalina’s case was based on the notion that the defendants not only directly contributed to climate change in a major way, but also intentionally misled the public about the consequences. This sleeply little Inuit village isn’t the only entity pointing fingers this week in regards to climate. A new tape from Osama Bin Laden blasts the U.S. and other industrialized nations for causing climate change , which is beginning to brutalize the citizens of poorer countries. Bin Laden is not exactly a figure that we environmentalists want on our side, but we can’t argue with his assertion that “drastic solutions” to global warming are necessary, and “not solutions that partially reduce the effect of climate change.” Unsurprisingly, the terrorist mastermind doesn’t have a reasonable and rational suggestion, declaring that we must bring “the wheels of the American economy” to a grinding halt – something that probably involves explosives. Of course, the insinuation that Bin Laden gives a shit about the environment and its people is laughable – it’s all a power ploy to lure the secular world into his extremist flock. Something deniers have been saying about Al Gore for years. Dun dun dunnnnn! Link [ The Huffington Post ] Photo credit: USCG Press
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Disappearing Village to Exxon & Other Companies: This is Your Fault
Eco Factor: Toxin-free range of desktops eases recycling. Wipro Infotech has launched a new range of eco-friendly desktops, which is being claimed to be the first-of-its-kind in India. Dubbed the Wipro Greenware range, the new computers are free from carcinogenic materials including PVC and BFRs. The company stated that by removing toxins from the computers, recycling of electronic products would be much safer. The company has worked for two years with 37 overseas suppliers to come up with this new range of green computers. The Greenware range includes desktops and notebook computers that are based on the Intel dual-core processors. Via: Yahoo India
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Wipro debuts India’s first eco-friendly desktop computers
Eco Factor: Zero-emission electric tractor powered by solar energy. If you think that solar powered vehicles are no more than a fantasy at the moment, it’s time for you to think again. A bunch of students at the Bonham ISD High School , in Bonham, TX, are trying to build an E-Tractor as a part of their Electric Vehicle Project for the 2009/2010 school year. The tractor they’re using has been donated to them by the Ivanhoe Christmas Tree Farm, which will be converted to run on clean electricity. Moreover, once completed, the plan is to use the tractor in a farm tractor driving certification/safety course. The E-Tractor will be powered by a zero-emission electric drive, where the electric batteries will be juiced up by a solar array. If the sun doesn’t shine for a couple of days, the E-Tractor will have an option of a plug-in charger for quick charge requirements. Via: Make
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High school students to make an old tractor run clean on solar power
Eco Factor: Sustainable building maximizes daylight and natural ventilation. Designers over at FCB Studios are proposing a sustainable building which will provide green space for the first joint-use library in the UK by serving both the University of Worcester and the general public. Dubbed the Worcester Library, the building is to built at a cost of £50 million, and is expected to be completed by July 2011. The project team utilized parametric modeling to explore new design ideas that involves taking out 250 tons of steel from the roof and replacing it with laminated timber to save an estimated 2 months of design work. The gold shingled form is inspired by the historic kilns of the Royal Worcester works and the undulating ridge line of the Malvern Hills. The sustainable building will also be energy efficient by incorporating timber roof cones, which will optimize daylight and natural ventilation to save energy. Moreover, water from the nearby River Severn will be used to provide adequate cooling. Via: FCB Studios
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FCB Studios designs energy efficient library building for Worcester City
Eco Factor: Gadgets made from sustainable materials get powered by renewable energy. Lexon has announced a new range of renewable energy-powered small appliances at Maison & Objet. The appliances are made using sustainable materials that include corn bio-plastic and bamboo trim. Designed by Elium Studio , the devices are elegant and feature the artisan touch of bamboo. The small appliances include a crank-up radio, which can also be plugged into an iPod, solar-powered pocket flashlight, solar-powered calculator and a couple of clocks also powered by the same renewable source. Via: Gizmodo / Core77
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Lexon announces new range of sustainably powered gadgets
Eco Factor: Low-emission car to be powered by a hybrid engine. After years of speculation, Ferrari has finally announced that it will unveil a hybrid variant of the Ferrari 599 at the Geneva Motor Show. The car is expected to utilize an all-wheel drive hybrid propulsion system for which the company filed patents in June 2009. The details are scant, but according to the company, the car will represent a great path toward the future. The company unveiled the 599 GTB at the 2006 Geneva Motor Show, and since then rumors have been circulating that Ferrari would one day produce a hybrid version of its exotic sports car, which has finally gained momentum. Via: Left Lane News
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Ferrari to unveil hybrid sports car at Geneva Motor Show
Eco Factor: Concept car powered by a hybrid engine. Auto manufacturers around the world are now focusing on next-generation green vehicles that are either powered solely by electricity or adopt a hybrid approach to curb emissions. Designer Slavche Tanevski is proposing a hybrid for Lamborghini’s first green ride scheduled for 2016. Dubbed the Lamborghini Madura, the car has some similarities with the Lamborghini Silhouette and Urraco, and its name comes from an island in Indonesia that is famous for bull races. With a better drag coefficient, the aerodynamic vehicle promises energy savings. The Madura has a small wheelbase, with equally long overhangs. The headlights are oriented to emphasize the car’s width and the spoilers grow out of the side panels and connect with laser beams as a symbol of the onboard electric drive system. Via: Yanko Design
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Lamborghini Madura concept cuts emissions with a hybrid engine