Quick Green Wall Of Shame Update

We launched the Green Wall of Shame recently and have already had some comments about what to add, so click over here to find out what’s been updated.

Thanks to Beth Terry and everyone else who made suggestions. If you want to make a suggestion yourself, just add a comment below.

More Eco Motoring News

One of the major problems with electric vehicles is the cost of the battery. Usually costing much more than the rest of the vehicle put together, this is a major stumbling block.

However Norway’s two-seat, electric-powered Think City car (set to go on sale in the coming months) will come with an owner financing package unheard of in the auto industry. Consumers will pay an estimated USD$15,000 to $17,000 for the vehicle, but the company plans to lease the car’s battery as on it’s own it would cost an estimated $34,000! Moreover, the Think battery’s useful life will depend on how the vehicle is used. Meaning if Think owners were compelled to buy the battery along with the car, they’d be assuming risks few vehicle buyers would tolerate.

The workaround Think has devised is a USD$100-200 per month bundle that will include the battery lease plus other services such as insurance and mobile internet access. The latter will enable the company to remotely monitor the battery’s remaining useful life. As the battery’s ability to recharge declines with age, the company will automatically offer owners the chance to replace it or alternately keep the battery in exchange for a lower monthly leasing fee.

Think’s battery-leasing business model differs sharply from that of US electric car maker Tesla Motors. With a batteries-and-all price tag of about USD$100,000, the sporty Tesla is being marketed as status symbol for Hollywood celebrities and Silicon Valley titans. Notwithstanding, under an agreement announced this spring, Tesla will help supply Think with battery packs. Notably, both Think and Tesla are start-ups, aptly illustrating how the switch to alternate fuels will make room for innovative upstarts in an industry dominated by giants.

The Prius is no longer the greenest car

According to a study recently released and conducted between Cardiff University and Clifford Thames an automotive consultancy, the Prius has been relegated to 12th spot in terms of “greenest car”. Green Options reports that despite this, the Prius makes up over 50% of all hybrid sales in the US. The study did not just look at emissions, but on its environmental footprint including raw materials used in the construction of the car, and what impact its disposal will have.

Finally (for now), Eco Shopper reports that Piaggio, manufacturers of the Vespa scooter, are producing a hybrid scooter that is 3 wheels- the Vespa MP3. It is safer and more stable than its 2 wheel cousins apparently, and looks pretty good. They start at $7,000 from http://www.piaggiousa.com/.

[Via: Springwise, Green Options and Eco Shopper]

US Carbon Footprint Map

Just a quick post, I received an email from Ed regarding a US Carbon Footprint Map, an interactive United States Carbon Footprint Map, illustrating the greenest states & cities. The site has all sorts of stats on individual state & city energy consumptions, demographics and state energy offices, state taxes and more down to the local US city level.

The interactive map itself is further down the page, tables explaining the data are at the top. When clicking on the map you can click through to further details, such as for California that contains an impressive level of data. Worth a look, especially if you live in the US.

Are Trains The Greenest Way To Travel?

Well, no walking is, but I couldn’t fit everything into the title. What I wanted to write was “Are Trains The Greenest Way To Travel A Long Distance?”. You can’t really ride a bike from England to France or from Maine to Florida, so Life Goggles decided to do some investigating on whether going by train is the best way to travel.

USA
The biggest provider of train travel is Amtrak and although it’s expensive for a traveller, you can get some good monthly deals on certain routes. But how environmentally friendly is it?

Statistics on Amtraks’s website show how much more energy efficient a train is compared to a car or a plane (measure in British Thermal Units):

• Airliner 3,587
• Car 3,549
• Train 2,935

Amtrak have introduced a more efficient and lighter “Auto Train” fleet reducing annual fuel usage by 640,000 gallons.

The introduction of Acela Express high speed trainsets and other new and remanufactured electric locomotives has enabled them to reduce energy consumption by eight percent through the use of a regenerative braking system. This returns electric energy overhead to the catenary power system and replaces some of the electrical energy consumed. And they’ve increased the use of dynamic braking, which involves the electric traction motors in locomotives, provides resistance to the rotating wheel axle. This method of slowing trains is more fuel efficient than braking with power applied.

It’s also revised an operating policy to reduce the amount of time that a powered locomotive sits idling and is installing a new automatic shut-off system in its diesel locomotive fleet.

And finally, with a state grant from the California South Coast Air Quality Management District, Amtrak is retrofitting a switch engine with RailPower Company’s hybrid “Green Goat” technology. The hybrid locomotive will be used in the Los Angeles Yard and will reduce fuel consumption by 75 percent and emissions by 80 percent.

You can find out more about their green intiatives, including their seedling giveaways, here.

Europe
Europe is a complex network of train companies and travel. France is dominated by SNCF, SNCB in Belgium and various companies such as OBB in Austria, ICE Deutsche Bahn in Germany, SBB in Switzerland and so on. All these companies and more have come together under Railteam and soon you’ll be able to book a journey throughout Europe, across different train companies, in one go.

So it’s easy to book train travel in Europe, but how environmentally friendly is it? Another member of Railteam is Eurostar which travels from London, England to Paris, France, Brussels, Belgium and other destinations in those countries.

It’s almost easier to list what Eurostar aren’t doing to be green as it’s probably the greenest mass transport carrier in the world. It’s launched it’s Tread Lightly initiative which has a ten point plan of how they’re going to be greener.

Eurostar say their journey is already 10 times less polluting than travelling by plane, but they aim to cut carbon emissions a further 25% per passenger by 2012. And they plan to be even greener by:

• Reducing paper usage by switching to e-tickets and bar code ticketing downloaded to mobile phones; undertaking direct marketing via email and web-based information; and where paper is unavoidable, sourcing from sustainable forests or recycled paper, and recycling all used paper
• Separating, sorting and recycling all on-board waste, including food waste, by the most appropriate methods
• Ensuring on-board disposable items (e.g. cups, plates, napkins) are either biodegradable (made from maize extract) or fully recyclable
• Replacing train air-conditioning refrigerants with the less environmentally damaging chemical R134a by 2008 – seven years before the EU deadline
• Refurbishing or de-branding and recycling used staff uniforms
• Sourcing on-train food from local sources in UK, France or Belgium wherever available, including organic suppliers, or Fairtrade for overseas supplies
• Ensuring that lighting, heating and mechanical plant at stations, depots and offices are as energy efficient as possible; developing a ‘switch-off’ culture; and sourcing electricity from greener sources of energy
• Reusing water from train-washing at the new Temple Mills maintenance depot, and investing in rainwater collection to further reduce consumption
• Sorting and recycling waste from stations, offices and the Temple Mills maintenance depot, with the goal of zero disposal to landfill; and with 80 per cent of waste to be recycled by 2009
• Helping travellers reduce CO2 emissions when accessing Eurostar services by providing journey planner information and ticket sales for public transport options, and developing new travel initiatives and partnerships.

Any remaining emissions will be offset, but not in the usual way. Instead of planting trees, the company is looking at schemes which help the community as well as offset – environmentally-friendly cookers in Africa for example – more details are to be announced.

It seems if you way to go green, go by train.

Feel The Fair Trade at the Adila Product Viewing

Just a quick note to say that fair trade accessories art and interiors online store adila is having an offline Christmas sale. It’s a nice idea. Here are the details:

“We would like to invite you to the adila ‘Product Viewing, Christmas Sale’
We love the internet for browsing and shopping, but sometimes it’s nice to try on the jewellery, hold the bags, feel the mohair, or just stand and admire the art of Altaf Kramer in person.

Our 2007 Product Viewing / Christmas Sale will be held at adila (just & fair), Gamlingay, Cambridgeshire, Sunday 2nd December, 2-6pm.

Please don’t feel you must come and buy! The whole point of the ‘product viewing’ is to do just that. Come along and take a look, help yourself to a glass of (fair trade) South African wine and browse around whilst humming along to some tasteful Christmas music. We will be roasting chestnuts and melting marshmallows on the fire, feel free to join in, or just help yourself when they are ready.

After the viewing please feel free to mention adila (just & fair) to ALL your friends! And remember us when looking for that unique fair trade and eco-friendly gift or treat for yourself in the future.

A 20% discount will apply to many items on the day. We look forward to meeting you and kicking off the Christmas 2007 festivities!”

If you want to be added to the list of attendees, email info@adila.co.uk

Cheaper Grey (Gray) Water Recycling

Previously we’ve talked about Greywater or Graywater and what it is and how to go about using to.

Garden watering bans are a fact of life these days, and not just in dry climes like much of Australia and the Western US, even Britain has it’s fair share too. But a new Australian invention can keep lawns and gardens green without using any extra household water.

The Water-Leech, which retails from AUD$200 is a breadbox-sized device with a universal hose attachment that hooks up to shower or sink drains. Instead of letting grey (gray) water escape down the drain, a pump in the unit draws it into a self-contained storage tank. The pump is powered by a rechargeable battery instead of a wall plug to prevent any possibility of electric shock while it’s in operation. When the Water-Leech tank is full, owners simply wheel the unit outside to water their plants. (Providing biodegradable soaps and detergents are used, water from showers, baths, laundry, sinks and dishwashers is completely reusable.)

Water-Leech inventor Paul O’Callaghan believes his product fills a vital need at a time when environmental experts point with alarm at fast diminishing global water supplies. Though attractively styled and relatively compact, the Water-Leech still might seem a cumbersome way to reclaim water. But competing systems used to collect grey (gray) water must be retrofitted into a home’s plumbing, a task which could cost thousands.

Of course, even in areas without restrictions, the unit’s ability to reuse water can help it pay for itself. O’Callaghan says the average households can conserve 35,000 liters annually, which adds up to a nice way to keep gardens green and help conserve precious drinking water.

[Via: Springwise]

Is Feng Shui Green?

No idea to be honest. But our favourite online shop, Nigel’s Eco Store, thought they’d find out recently. They invited a guy called Richard Ashworth to Feng Shui their office in Hove. And if he can’t make a difference, no-one can. He’s the most famous Feng Shui expert in the UK with his work featured by the BBC, CNN, The Sunday Times and The Guardian, but he is probably best known for his frequent appearances on television’s Housebusters.

A bit of blurb about Feng Shui in case you’re not sure what it’s all about:

Feng Shui is about creating harmony in your life by removing the clutter and negative energy from your environment. Applying Feng Shui to an office environment has become popular as it can lead to an enhanced business reputation, better business efficiency and better relationships with employees and customers. Those who use the office premises will also experience better health, motivation and happiness. Feng Shui is not usually synonymous with business in the West, however in Hong Kong, 90% of companies employ a Feng Shui consultant on a regular basis. Scientific research confirms what Feng Shui experts have been saying for years: that the environment in which we work can significantly affect our health, vitality and performance.

But the big question is did it work? Well the man himself, Nigel, reckons it does. He says: “I am really pleased with the result of our Feng Shui makeover and the interest that it generated. Business is on the up with a noticeable increase in sales figures, the atmosphere in the office has improved and we have had lots more press coverage than usual.

“We finished putting the final touches to the office last week – our front door has now been rehung, and our walls painted, the fountains are up and running and Emma (press and marketing manager) has moved through into the back office. Whether it is a result of the Feng Shui or not we are all looking forward to a really successful Christmas season and further expansion of the company in 2008.”

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