PlanetSolar on world tour heading for Miami

Posted on November 6, 2010 by quest

After a four days stopover, the largest solar powered boat, PlanetSolar left Las Palmas. After its stay on the Canary Islands the solar catamaran continues its transatlantic crossing, setting course for Miami. The boat is expected in Miami by end of November / beginning of December. For the 1st solar boat expedition has commenced and the longest leg since the start in Monaco at the end of September. The goal of the PlanetSolar is to circumnavigate the globe driven exclusively by solar energy.

The current routing around the globe (subject to suitable weather and nautical conditions) 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 (or electricity). 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

Planet Solar has an impressive 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 31m in length, 16m in width, and approximately 540 square meters 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.

PLANETSOLAR ON WORLD TOUR

VISIT THE SOLAR WALL

Colin Powell to Give Keynote at Green Conference

Posted on November 6, 2010 by quest

Former Secretary of State and retired Gen. Colin L. Powell will give the keynote address at the annual Greenbuild International Conference & Expo being held Nov.17-19, 2010, in Chicago, Ill. The Greenbuild International Conference & Expo is sponsored by Washington, D.C.-based U.S. Green Building Council that is committed to a prosperous and sustainable future for our nation through cost-efficient and energy-saving green buildings. With its 80 nationwide affiliates, 16,000 member companies and organizations, and more than 155,000 LEED Professional Credential holders, USGBC is the driving force of an industry that is projected to contribute $554 billion to the U.S. gross domestic product from 2009-2013. General Powell will deliver the keynote address. Greenbuild 2010 will feature an array of inspiring speakers and more than 100 education sessions and the world’s largest exhibit hall devoted to green building with over 900 exhibiting companies with over 1,800 booths showcasing the latest in innovative, cutting-edge products and services. “General Powell has made another career of sharing his lessons of leadership.” said Rick Fedrizzi, president, CEO and founding chair of USGBC. “His keen insights and global perspective are especially relevant to our movement in these times of great challenge and change. He exemplifies that leadership is about more than a title: It’s about taking charge during times of great crisis.” As a sign of General Powell’s wide-ranging leadership and the powerful message he will bring as Greenbuild’s opening keynote speaker, a LEED Platinum affordable housing building in his childhood neighborhood bears his name. The General Colin L. Powell Apartments in the South Bronx, N.Y., is a cutting-edge 50-unit multifamily project resulting from a partnership between Habitat for Humanity-New York City and Blue Sea Development. General Powell participated in the LEED certification ceremony.

BUILDING GREEN

Solar power sustains winemaking operations

Posted on November 5, 2010 by quest

The Sonoma Wine Company and Cogenra Solar have entered into an energy power agreement to purchase the heat and electricity generated from the installation of a new 272-kilowatt (kW) installation, now supplying renewable heat and electricity to support the company’s winery operations. Under the company’s Heat and Power Purchase Agreement (HPPA) Cogenra will maintain ownership of the solar cogeneration modules, and Sonoma Wine Company will hedge against rising and volatile electric and gas prices throughout the 15-year contract.

Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair and Vinod Khosla of Khosla Ventures were among honored guests at a ceremony yesterday afternoon to flip the switch on the new solar power plant. Khosla Ventures is the lead investor in Cogenra and former British Prime Minister Blair was appointed as a senior environmental advisor to Khosla Ventures in May of this year. In his remarks Tony Blair said, “It’s up to companies that are both visionary and savvy, like Cogenra, to set us on the right path to decrease our use of fossil fuels and build a more sustainable future.”

The historic commissioning represents the first commercial-scale installation of its kind, combining proven photovoltaic and solar thermal technologies in one solar array in an important move toward more affordable and efficient utilization of solar energy.“In vetting renewable energy solutions for Graton, we found Cogenra was the perfect match — high impact without high cost,” stated Derek Benham, founder and owner of Sonoma Wine Company. “Their solar cogeneration offering serves our energy requirements for hot water and electricity, and Cogenra’s innovative financing solution provides all the benefits and savings of on-site generation without the capital costs.”

“This is a very significant milestone for Cogenra as we bring our first project online in California’s wine country and toast to a bright future with solar cogeneration,” Cogenra CEO Dr. Gilad Almogy said in his welcoming remarks. “Cogenra’s technology merges the best photovoltaic and solar thermal technologies to meet two valuable industrial needs, low cost heat and electricity. Our solution produces five times more energy and three times the greenhouse gas reductions over traditional solar offerings.”The solar cogeneration installation employs 15 individual Cogenra SunBase™ modules to displace approximately 64,000 kilowatt-hours and 12,500 therms of natural gas annually. The solar thermal element will heat water to 165°F to sustainably fuel Sonoma Wine Company’s wine tank wash and wine barrel washing system. Implementing the system will eliminate more than 120 metric tons per year of greenhouse gases, the equivalent of removing nearly 25 passenger cars from the road annually.

ECO FRIENDS SHOP

Madrid completes first green apartments

Posted on November 3, 2010 by quest

Telvent a leading real-time IT solutions and information provider, announced that a project it collaborated on with Cisco, in building Madrid’s first green dwellings, received recognition at the eighth annual Sustainable City Awards. Telvent and Cisco partnered with the Municipal Housing and Land Company of Madrid on the project. The development culminated in a public building located at 52 Las Margaritas Street, where young adults live in rental units. The two companies created all of the building’s connectivity and network infrastructure, enabling residents to control energy use, thereby contributing towards a cleaner Madrid.
“These apartments are equipped with an energy efficiency manager that enables residents to monitor carbon dioxide emissions and make decisions regarding energy use, individually and at the community and urban environment levels,” explained Telvent CEO Ignacio González. “The system can be accessed from inside the home, using any Internet-connected device.”

Residents are able to set energy consumption limits, and compare them on a regular basis, helping to lower their domestic impact on the environment. This also allows them to manage energy costs at the same time. These benefits were critical factors for the judging panel in selecting the project, which was executed under the Connected Urban Development Program — a finalist in the Sustainable City Awards. “It is a pleasure for Telvent to participate in projects that make energy efficiency available to citizens,” said Ignacio González, at the awards ceremony held at the Rose Garden Pavilion in Madrid’s West Park. Also in attendance were Crown Princess Letizia and Mayor of Madrid Alberto Ruiz-Gallardón.

CAREERS

Ecotourism on the Pacific coast of Nicaragua

Posted on November 2, 2010 by quest

On the Nicaragua’s spectacular Pacific Coast comes Guacalito de la Isla, a $250 million, 1,670-acre resort development that embodies the principles of ecotourism. Guacalito de la Isla is the first in a series of Grupo Pellas’ unique Ceiba Collection eco-retreats in Central America, socially and environmentally sustainable communities benefiting not just residents and guests, but employees and locals as well. “This new generation of green destinations will be in some of the world’s most unspoiled locations,” said Don Carlos Pellas, Pellas.

The Pellas family has been a leader in the economic development of Central America for more than a century and has holdings in the sugar, rum, banking, transportation and credit-card businesses. “Each will cater to homeowners and guests who wish to make a difference in their families, their communities and their environment This year alone, Pellas Development has donated computers to the local school and 5,000 forest plants to the communities surrounding Guacalito de la Isla. “This new generation of green destinations will be in some of the world’s most unspoiled locations,” said Pellas.

“We are proud to be at the forefront of Nicaragua’s emergence as a destination for North Americans who seek an idyllic natural and sustainable refuge and an authentic experience,” said Pellas. Guacalito’s amenities will include a boutique luxury hotel; a beach club and restaurant; a marina; water sports from surfing to deep-sea fishing; hiking and biking trails; a championship 18-hole golf course; ecology, cultural and adventure-sports programs; an equestrian center; a world-class spa and family wellness center and a variety of multigenerational activities.
Guacalito de la Isla coincides with recent efforts by the Nicaraguan government to entice North American second-home buyers, investors and retirees with generous tax incentives. It is also in step with new interest in Nicaragua among North Americans seeking an exotic yet affordable destination for eco-tourism and vacation real estate. In the past few years, tourism has surpassed coffee as Nicaragua’s leading source of revenue, and Nicaragua has been deemed the safest country in Central America.

GUACALITO DE LA ISLA

ONLINE GREEN WEBINARS

Only the best organic pet food for Muffy

Posted on November 1, 2010 by quest

“With the sustainable, organic, grass-fed beef revolution well underway, we believe it’s high time for the same quality meats to make their way from the dinner plate to the pet bowl,” said Melissa McGinnis founder of Original Pet Food Company. Melissa is on a mission to bring humane and sustainable agriculture practices to the $47 billion pet food industry. Pet food made from organic, grass-fed beef promotes better pet health, environmental responsibility and economic vitality. Dogs and cats are no different from humans in the fact that their bodies were not designed to process all of the artificial hormones, preservatives and additives that entered the food supply in the past century.

Organic, grass-fed beef is high in beneficial Omega-3 fatty acids and conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), shown to reduce cardiovascular disease and the growth of cancerous tumors. By eating a diet low in saturated fat and free of additives, preservatives and fillers, pets will enjoy shinier coats, healthier skin and improved digestion.

Original Pet Food Company uses only the highest quality grass-fed beef from Uruguay. Their cattle graze on the Pampas, the fertile grasslands of Uruguay and are never confined to feedlots or factory farms. The cows are never given antibiotics or growth hormones.

In addition to the numerous health benefits of grass-fed beef, there is also a positive environmental impact. More than 50% of all grain and corn grown in the U.S. is fed to livestock, adding to the buildup of pesticides and chemical fertilizers in the soil and water. This diet is harmful to the health of cows, whose stomachs are specially designed to break down the cellulose in grass, leading to disease and an epidemic of antibiotic use. Grazing cattle on Pampas grasses, by contrast, is a natural feeding method that causes none of the pollution problems associated with feedlots and factory farms (including that of waste management). By supporting farms in Uruguay, the local economy is boosted, the biodiversity of the Pampas is preserved, and sustainable farming is encouraged throughout the country.