Bosco Verticaleis a project for metropolitan reforestation that contributes to the regeneration of the environment and urban biodiversity without the implication of expanding the city upon the territory. Bosco Verticale is a model of vertical densification of nature within the city. It is a model that operates correlated to the policies for reforestation and naturalization of the large urban and metropolitan borders (Metrosbosco). Metrobosco and Bosco Verticale are devices for the environmental survival of contemporary European cities. Together they create two modes of building links between nature and city within the territory and within the cities of contemporary Europe.
The first example of a Bosco Verticale composed of two residential towers of 110 and 76 meters height, will be realized in the centre of Milan, on the edge of the Isola neighbourhood, and will host 900 trees (each measuring 3, 6 or 9 m tall) apart from a wide range of shrubs and floral plants. On flat land, each Bosco Verticale equals, in amount of trees, an area equal to 10.000 sqm of forest. In terms of urban densification the equivalent of an area of single family dwellings of nearly 50.000 sqm. The project is now underway.
The Bosco Verticale is a system that optimizes, recuperates and produces energy. The Bosco Verticale aids in the creation of a microclimate and in filtering the dust particles contained in the urban environment. The diversity of the plants and their characteristics produce humidity, absorb CO2 and dust particles, producing oxygen and protect from radiation and acoustic pollution, improving the quality of living spaces and saving energy. Plant irrigation will be produced to great extent through the filtering and reuse of the grey waters produced by the building. Additionally Aeolian and photovoltaic energy systems will contribute, together with the aforementioned microclimate to increase the degree of energetic self sufficiency of the two towers. The management and maintenance of the Bosco Verticale’s vegetation will be centralised and entrusted to an agency with an office counter open to the public.
Build It Green, a California leading expert on residential green building, announced a major milestone today: 10,000 single- and multi-family homes will receive the GreenPoint Rated label, representing the gold standard in green home construction and remodels, by the end of 2011.These GreenPoint Rated homes are saving California over 112 million gallons of water — enough to fill Crystal Springs Reservoir five times over — and avoiding nearly 9,000 tons of greenhouse gases, the equivalent of taking over 1,500 cars off the road for a year. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, an estimated 17 percent of the nation’s greenhouse gas emissions are from residential homes each year. GreenPoint Ratedis designed to help homeowners and builders ensure their home or development is built or remodeled to meet high environmental standards. Like a report card for green homes, the rating system assigns points based on five categories: Energy Efficiency, Resource Conservation, Indoor Air Quality, Water Conservation and Community Benefits. Point values are determined based on the use of verified green construction practices and sustainable materials that exceed California’s residential building and energy code requirements.
To ensure a home is built or remodeled to maximize efficiency and minimize environmental impacts, GreenPoint Rated assesses points based on green building techniques including: Increasing energy efficiency by implementing energy saving construction techniques and equipment such as solar power, solar water heating and ENERGY STAR appliances. The GreenPoint process also includes; Conserving water, creating livable communities, enhancing quality of life and minimizing pollution through community benefits like proximity to public transportation, stores and other services. “In designing my green home, it was important to me to create a home that is not only good for the environment today, but establishes a legacy of sustainable living practices for my children and future generations,” said Ian Macleod, owner of a GreenPoint Rated home in Albany, CA that won the American Institute of Architects, San Francisco Chapter, Energy + Sustainability Citation Award in May 2010. “As an architect and Certified Green Building Professional myself, I knew the GreenPoint Rated label represented the high environmental standards I wanted for my family’s home.”
In addition to environmental benefits, homes that have been built or remodeled using green building techniques have been shown to lower the cost of monthly utility bills, home maintenance and repairs. Early research also indicates that green homes may retain their value better, even in a tough real estate market, and are attractive to a growing number of homeowners and buyers.“With so many homeowners and developers now building green, we could see the number of GreenPoint Rated homes in California double over the next five years,” said Tenaya Asan, Build It Green’s senior program manager for GreenPoint Rated.
Hornblower Hybrid, the nation’s first vessel powered by diesel, hydrogen, batteries, wind and solar energy, arrived today in the New York Harbor. After nearly two years of construction and the work of more than 300 individuals, the Hybrid will service New York City upon completion of United States Coast Guard sea trials and certifications. The innovative vessel reduces emissions, uses minimal diesel, and features several recycled and reclaimed materials, LEED-certified carpet and energy-efficient LED lighting.
Terry MacRae, CEO of Hornblower Cruises & Events said, “The Hybrid marks a milestone in sustainable maritime transportation. What better time to unveil it to the world than on the anniversary of one of America’s most iconic national parks and landmarks. As a concessionaire to the National Park Service, we constantly strive to help conserve and protect the parks we serve,” “The Hybrid marks a milestone in sustainable maritime transportation. What better time to unveil it to the world than on the anniversary of one of America’s most iconic national parks and landmarks.”
Marking its public debut, the Hybrid will participate in the Statue of Liberty’s 125th Anniversary Flotilla on Oct. 28 at 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., from Pier 40 to the Statue. It will exhibit in the parade of ships in honor of the Statue’s original dedication from France on Oct. 28, 1886. Next year, the Hybrid will run harbor cruises with close-up views of Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty. Corporate, social, school and wedding events are bookable on the Hybrid now, while public harbor cruises begin in early 2012. The Hybrid is part of Hornblower New York’s four-vessel fleet, which will include three other luxury entertaining yachts arriving next year.Hornblower New York is a subsidiary of Hornblower Cruises & Events, one of the largest charter yacht, dining cruise and eco-tour companies in the country. The company operates America’s first hydrogen hybrid commercial vessel, the Hornblower Hybrid, and will launch a four-boat fleet in 2012.
Attorney General Kamala D. Harris today filed a first-of-its-kind “greenwashing” lawsuit against three companies that allegedly made false and misleading claims by marketing plastic water bottles as “100 percent biodegradable and recyclable.” Under California law, it is illegal to label a plastic food or beverage container as biodegradable. Plastic takes thousands of years to biodegrade and may never do so in a landfill. Today’s lawsuit is the first government action to enforce the state’s landmark environmental marketing law. “These companies’ actions violate state law and mislead consumers,” Attorney General Harris said. “Californians are committed to recycling and protecting the environment, but these efforts are undermined by the false and misleading claims these companies make when they wrongly advertise their products as ‘biodegradable.’”
Balance and AquaMantrasell their products in plastic water bottles marketed by ENSO Plastics LLC; according to the label, ENSO claims that a microbial additive created the “first truly biodegradable and recyclable” plastic bottle. The bottles’ labeling states that the bottles will break down in less than five years in a typical landfill or compost environment, but that claim is false because the additive does not speed up the centuries-long process required to break down plastic. The claim of recycling is also deceptive. The microbial additive put into the bottle is considered by the Association of Post Consumer Plastic Recyclers to be a “destructive contaminant” that can compromise the strength of the products they make. Consumers may buy these defendants’ bottles and either dispose of them incorrectly, on the assumption that they will biodegrade quickly, when in fact they will simply take up space in landfills, or they will try to recycle them, creating problems and costs for recyclers.
A recent Gallup pollfound that 76 percent of Americans buy products specifically because of their perception the product is better for the environment. In 2008, the California Legislature banned the use of words like “biodegradable,” “degradable,” or “decomposable” in the labeling of plastic food or beverage containers. Senate Bill 567, signed into law by the Governor this year, will expand that law to all plastic products beginning in 2013. Deputy Attorney General Raissa S. Lerner and Deputy Attorney General Laura J. Zuckerman are handling the case for Attorney General Harris’ Environment section. A copy of the complaint filed today in the Orange County Superior Court is attached to the online version of this release at www.oag.ca.gov.
Nature, the number one documentary series on PBS, adds to its accolades a coveted Grand Teton Award for Broken Tail: A Tiger’s Last Journey, given at the 2011 Jackson Hole Wildlife Festival recently at Grand Teton Park. This is Nature’s first time in receiving the Festival’s top prize, considered as one of the wildlife industry’s highest honors. In total, Nature received six of 22 awards bestowed by the Festival. Two of the winning films will premiere this fall on PBS. They include the season opener Radioactive Wolvesand My Life as a Turkey. The series Executive Producer Fred Kaufman, and his colleagues Bill Murphy and Janet Hess were honored to be part of this historic night.
Launched in 1991, the Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival’s biennial conference is an unmatched international industry event drawing 650+ international leaders in science, conservation, broadcasting and media. Internationally renowned as one of the largest and most prestigious competitions of the nature genre, this year’s competition included 510 films from more than 30 countries — a record number of submissions competing for 22 special category awards. More than eighty judges from North America, Europe, Asia and Africa participated in the preliminary selections.Celebrating its 30th season, Nature is a production of THIRTEEN in association with WNET, the parent company of THIRTEEN and WLIW21, New York’s public television stations and operator of NJTV. For nearly 50 years, WNET has been producing and broadcasting national and local documentaries and other programs for the New York community.
“We are elated that Nature has received this honor,” said Paula Kerger, President and CEO of PBS. “In today’s crowded media landscape, Nature stands out as a high quality wildlife series that continues to attract audiences and leading filmmakers alike. As one of our most broad-reaching series, we have WNET and their producing partners to thank and congratulate them on receiving the Grand Teton Award.””We are privileged to join the pantheon of past winners of Jackson Hole’s Best of Festival prize,” stated Neal Shapiro, President and CEO of WNET. “The recognition is a testament to Nature’s 30-year commitment to bring the wonders of wildlife and critical environmental concerns to millions of public television viewers each week. I am truly proud of our team.”
The Alaska cruise industry is having trouble getting traction with legislators to abolish a strict water-pollution rule approved by voters in 2006, Anchorage Daily News reports.
The cruise lines and some communities see the environmental rule as detrimental to tourism.
The 2006 law requires cruise ships to meet tougher pollution standards and puts new taxes, fees and environmental monitoring on the industry. It also bans cruise lines from applying for state permission to use mixing zones. Mixing zones allow cruise lines to discharge pollution that exceed the state’s water-quality standards. The mixing ban for cruise lines goes into effect in 2009.
House Minority Leader Beth Kerttula, D-Juneau, says revising the pollution rules may be a hard sell and seems premature because the cruise lines have until next year to comply.
Cruise ships emit three times more CO2 than airplanes, EL reported last year.
Cruise ships contend they are working hard to lessen their environmental impact. Royal Caribbean said it had installed advanced water purification systems on board and smokeless gas-turbine engines and that it also burns bio-fuel when available.
INCEPTION ON A ROLL
“SOLARMOBIL” – solar-power vehicle
The association that runs Freiburg’s (Germany)
“play bus” travels round visiting children. The
Solarmobil runs off solar power.
________________________
Urban farming is catching on in New Orleans
Linked by Michael Levenston
Jane Stubbs poses for a photo with her chickens, Breakfast, left, Lunch, center, and Dinner, right, at her home in New Orleans. Photo by Rusty Costanza, The Times-Picayune.
This is a neighborhood that doesn’t have a grocery store - By Matt Davis, The Times-Picayune
“It would be great if everyone on this block had some kind of animal and grew vegetables. We could be almost self-sufficient,” said Frank Carter, an engineering technician who trained with the farm network and keeps 12 chickens with his wife, Laura Reiff, in a 60-by-50-foot foot pen in their backyard in Algiers. Their chicken breeds include Rhode Island Reds, Brown Leghorns, and even a Buff Orpington — ordered via the U.S. Postal Service from a breeder in Texas.
“The post office called us at 8 o’clock in the evening and said, ‘We have your live chickens,’ ” Carter said. ” ‘They’re peeping.’ ”
As well as the chickens, Carter and Reiff grow peaches, grapefruit, peppers, watermelons, blueberries, tomatoes, persimmons, figs and bananas. They also have a bee hive that produced 50 pounds of honey this year.
The chickens are “very entertaining to watch,” Reiff said, although there is still some resistance among the couple’s friends to taking the eggs. Some say they’ll eat only white eggs, not the blue eggs from the Brown Leghorns. Others are concerned about cracking an egg open to find a chicken embryo, which is impossible unless a broody hen has sat on a fertilized egg for at least a month.
Jenga Mwendo runs the Guerilla Garden in the Lower 9th Ward. Once a vacant lot, Mwendo petitioned the city to let her buy it for $4,000 last year, and since then, more than 400 volunteers have developed the plot into a working farm producing fresh vegetables.
“This is a neighborhood that doesn’t have a grocery store,” Mwendo said. “And yet a couple of generations ago, everybody had fruit trees in their yards. We’re just trying to preserve and encourage that tradition.”
Frank Carter collects chicken eggs from his coop at his Algiers home. When it comes to raising and slaughtering livestock, New Orleans also affords unique opportunities for free experimentation. Simply put, the New Orleans Police Department seems to have bigger fish to fry than cracking down on urban farmers.
______________________
BP set to begin oil drilling off Libya
The Gulf of Mexico spill has raised serious safety concerns for BP. Oil giant BP has confirmed it will begin drilling off the Libyan coast in the next few weeks.
The deepwater drilling will take place in the Gulf of Sirte following a deal signed in 2007 with Libya on oil and gas development.
The news comes amid major concerns over BP’s environmental and safety record following the Gulf of Mexico spill. It also follows claims, denied by BP, that it lobbied for Lockerbie bomber Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi’s release. The Libyan was convicted of blowing up a Pan Am jumbo jet over the Scottish town in 1988, killing 270 people, but was freed by the Scottish government on medical grounds last August.
When the deal with Libya’s National Oil Company was announced in 2007 BP set a minimum initial exploration commitment of $900m.Chief executive Tony Hayward at the time hailed it as “BP’s single biggest exploration commitment” and “a welcome return to the country for BP after more than 30 years”.
BP spokesman David Nicholas told AFP news agency on Saturday: “We expect to begin the first well in the next few weeks”, adding that the wells “can take six months or more to drill”.
Bosco Verticale is a project for metropolitan reforestation that contributes to the regeneration of the environment and urban biodiversity without the implication of expanding the city upon the territory. Bosco Verticale is a model of vertical densification of nature within the city. It is a model that operates correlated to the policies for reforestation and naturalization of the large urban and metropolitan borders (Metrosbosco). Metrobosco and Bosco Verticale are devices for the environmental survival of contemporary European cities. Together they create two modes of building links between nature and city within the territory and within the cities of contemporary Europe.
The first example of a Bosco Verticale composed of two residential towers of 110 and 76 meters height, will be realized in the centre of Milan, on the edge of the Isola neighbourhood, and will host 900 trees (each measuring 3, 6 or 9 m tall) apart from a wide range of shrubs and floral plants.
On flat land, each Bosco Verticale equals, in amount of trees, an area equal to 10.000 sqm of forest. In terms of urban densification the equivalent of an area of single family dwellings of nearly 50.000 sqm. The project is now underway.
