Costa Rica an environmental bridge to the future

Posted on December 4, 2010 by quest

In recent weeks news has been flowing out of Costa Rica concerning a variety of environmental issues. For example, on November 9th the country’s legislative assembly voted unanimously to ban all new open pit metal mining projects in the country. There has been a major crack down on illegal shark finning as the Ministry of Agriculture (MAG) and the Costa Rican Fisheries Institute closed private docks in Puntarenas on December 1st to foreign fishing vessels. And Randall Arauz, a key Costa Rican environmentalist, won Sweden’s prestigious Göteborg Award for 2010 for sustainable development.“We needed to lead by exampled explained Hacienda Matapalo’s Executive Vice President Brian Albury. Hacienda Matapalo, is a gated community on the country’s South Pacific Coast, remains committed to ensuring the ecological impact it will have will be minimal. “Our goal from day one was to support sustainable development that guarantees that the South and Central Pacific Coast of Costa Rica remain pristine and free from any man-made harm.” said Albury. Hacienda Matapalo tasked key members of its development team with the sole purpose of implementing and maintaining extensive environmental stewardship before, during and after construction.

“It was and IS our goal to utilize the latest ‘green’ technology wherever possible without jeopardizing our commitment to deliver the highest standards to our homeowners. We believe that a balance and harmony with nature and our immediate environment will make Hacienda Matapalo a truly unique place to live.” As the property ramps up to resume its infrastructure construction with key strategic partner Su Casa Desarrollos de Vivienda S.A., the leading company of the Tu Hogar S.A. Real Estate Group, the management team at Hacienda Matapalo has made every effort to illustrate their ongoing commitment to the planet from sponsoring sea turtle protection programs to leading beach cleanup efforts to helping to replant the all important Costa Rica rainforests.

“One of the factors that has helped drive our efforts from the beginning to be a ‘green,’ low-impact development, is that our development is surrounded by a natural, lush rainforest,” said Albury, adding, “not to mention a 125-plus acre dedicated nature preserve and 90 acre nature conservancy parcel.” The environmentally-conscious development will include an equestrian center, nature trails for hiking and horseback riding and even announced it will add a 500-plus foot treetop suspension bridge to its development that will stretch across a ravine along the property’s nature preserve.

COSTA RICA CHILL

CLUB MED

Announces new Green Globe Certification

PlanetSolar heading to Climate Summit in Cancun

Posted on December 3, 2010 by quest

PlanetSolar the world’s largest solar powered boat continues its a round-the-globe expedition and is now heading for Cancun and the UN World Climate Summit. PlanetSolar is a pioneer for sustainable energy technology on water. The goal of the PlanetSolar team is to be the first to circumnavigate the globe in a “solar” boat, one powered by a silent, pollution-free electrical engine, driven exclusively by solar energy.

With this project the PlanetSolar team intends firstly to show that current technologies aimed at improving energy efficiency are reliable and effective, and secondly to advance scientific research in the field of renewable energy. Reporting on events from the Climate Summit in Cancun Ashley P. Lau, of MarketWatch writes

VISIT THE SOLAR WALL

Sustainable Food Revolutionary Planting Across the Nation

Posted on December 2, 2010 by quest

Was it John Turenne that has everyone ablaze with talk of childhood obesity, parents demanding healthier lunch choices, farm-to-fork programs, the revamping of the Childhood Nutrition Act and more? These topics might be fresh and new to many, but not to John Turenne, President and Founder of Sustainable Food Systems, who has been championing the sustainable food movement for years. Turenne and his team are determined to continue to bring about positive changes and healthier food options for all while advancing the Food Revolution across the nation.

In fact, just last year Turenne worked directly with Jamie Oliver on the Emmy-winning show Food Revolution. Behind the scenes, Sustainable Food Systems worked hand-in-hand with Oliver, the school cooks and administration, and the community to transition the food service in the 26 schools in the Cabell County, WV school district. The results not only won an Emmy for the show, but continue to bring about positive changes in schools. Jamie Oliver says, “John Turenne and the team at Sustainable Food Systems were a massive help. I absolutely couldn’t have done it without them. I wish we had Sustainable Food Systems here in the UK.”

Turenne was also invited to work with White House Chef Sam Kass and a small group of chefs nationwide to create the national Chefs Move to Schools initiative, part of Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move Campaign to address the childhood

Biofuels take flight

Posted on November 29, 2010 by quest

Global airline leader Lufthansa is set to begin a six-month trial using biofuel on commercial flights. is set to begin a six-month trial using biofuel on commercial flights. Starting in April 2011 with an Airbus A321 the test program is scheduled on commercial flights of the Hamburg-Frankfurt-Hamburg route. The primary purpose of the project is to conduct a long-term trial to study the effect of biofuel on engine maintenance and engine life. “Lufthansa will be the world’s first airline to utilize biofuel in flight operations within the framework of a long-term trial. This is a further consistent step in a proven sustainability strategy, which Lufthansa has for many years successfully pursued and implemented,” said CEO Wolfgang Mayrhuber.

At a joint press conference today, Lufthansa Chairman and CEO Wolfgang Mayrhuber, with Peter Hinze, Parliamentary State Secretary and Government Aerospace Coordinator, and Professor Dr. Johann-Dietrich Wörner, Chairman of the Executive Board of the German Aerospace Center (DLR), presented a biofuel project planned by Lufthansa. The project is backed by the government within the framework of its aviation research program aimed at underpinning the sustainability of air traffic.

About 77 per cent of German aviation research funding (LUFO) is directly or indirectly related to the environment and sustainability. The Germans believe an integrated research approach offers the best chance of achieving the ambitious climate protection objectives by 2020 and, simultaneously, safeguarding the technological competitiveness of the German aviation industry.

ECO FRIENDS SHOP

PlanetSolar crosses Atlantic to Miami using solar energy

Posted on November 27, 2010 by quest

It has taken 61 days for PlanetSolar to cross the Atlantic from Monaco to Miami, including stops at Las Palmas and St. Maarten. In total a distance of over 5,500 nautical miles. PlanetSolar, the world’s largest solar powered boat looks as if its a replica of the StarShip Enterprise from the StarTrek movie and television franchises. The big difference however is this is REAL!!! PlanetSolar is on a trip around the world to demonstrate the full capacity of solar energy. The wessel, I mean vessel, sorry got a little too much into StarTrek character Chekov, is 100% powered by the sun. When StarTrek opened with it timeless intro’ Space the final Frontier it’s producers and writers had maybe sorta, kinda overlooked the fact that right here on planet earth the world’s oceans still remain largely undiscovered and taken for granted. Philippe Cousteau, Jr. Co-Founder and CEO of EarthEcho and grandson of famed oceanographer who spoke about the BP oil rig explosion earlier this year put it bluntly saying,”we treat the ocean like it’s a toilet.

PlanetSolar helps us all see the relationship between clean renewable energy in transportation and the conservation of the worlds oceans. PlanetSolar has an impressive CREW and a group of supporters such as IMMOSOLAR, Candino Swiss Watch, SunPower and Jean Verne, Great-Grandson of the writer, Jules Verne who writes,” In the spirit of the PlanetSolar project that calls upon scientists, technicians, industries, financiers and scholars who are working together on an “extraordinary voyage into known and unknown worlds,” I am writing these few words at the same time our society is asking the unthinkable question of its own survival. A special thanks to my Great-Grandfather Jules Verne who has given the PlanetSolar team the idea, the will, the audacity and who has inspired such an exciting, valuable project.”

The leading-edge solar catamaran (without flaps) boosts 101 feet length, 52 length in width, and approximately 1,171 square feet of solar panels as the solar generator. The specially developed energy storage should permit the boat to move for approximately 3 days and nights without sunlight. The MS TÛRANOR PlanetSolar was designed by the extraordinary designer and constructor Craig Loomes and his company LOMOcean (New Zealand). It has been built by high-performance yacht builder Knierim, based in Kiel (Germany). The boat is navigating under Swiss flag.

The goal of the PlanetSolar is to circumnavigate the globe driven exclusively by solar energy.The current routing around the globe foresees stopovers in Miami, Cancun, San Francisco, Sydney, Singapore, Abu Dhabi and returning to Monaco. The project PlanetSolar will inform the public about the importance of sustainability and renewable energies. PlanetSolar has already made technological developments possible in many fields such as the production of composite materials and structures, and also the production and storage of solar energy. Each stage in the project and each day that PlanetSolar sails will enable science to progress. At the heart of this project is the conservation of our planet by the promotion of solar energy, energy efficiency and eco-mobility. This is a great occasion to advance knowledge and to inform and make the general public aware of the importance of renewable energy.

PODCAST

A sustainable rainforest reserve in South America

Posted on November 24, 2010 by quest

World Land Trust-US and BTS USA, a strategic consulting firm have agreed to purchase and protect 100 acres of threatened tropical rainforest in South America’s Chocó biogeographic region. BTS made a donation to the organization, which prevents deforestation through strategic land purchase, as part of a commitment to sustainability. BTS USA’s donation will assist in establishing the Las Tangaras Nature Reserve in Colombia. In addition to safeguarding an expanse of rainforest and species, the Las Tangaras Reserve will also protect the watershed of the Rio Atrato – the Chocó’s most important river – which serves as a vital economic resource for tens of thousands of inhabitants living in poor rural communities. Future strategic land purchases would also benefit communities of the Embera indigenous group – by creating a buffer between indigenous lands and non-native colonizers.

Jonas Åkerman, president of BTS USA said, “continued success and growth brings with it a responsibility to build more sustainability into our business by supporting a more sustainable world. From the simulations we develop for our clients to our own employees, we are seeing sustainability reach a critical priority and we’re pleased to be able to fulfill our responsibility through this excellent organization, where we know the investment will be extremely productive.”

World Land Trust-US is a conservation organization that specializes in land purchase for biodiversity protection, working with local partners to acquire and save threatened tropical rainforests and other habitats for endangered species. Over the past 21 years, WLT-US has protected over 1.6 million acres for biodiversity conservation.