These Are The Voyages Of PlanetSolar

Posted on October 26, 2011 by quest

PlanetSolar is on a bold solar power global journey. It is the world’s largest solar-powered boat. It is now heading for Mumbai as part of its 18-month journey around the world.The boat, which started its journey on September 27, 2010 from the port of Monaco, will travel across the Indian Ocean before finally returning to Monaco in May next year. The goal of PlanetSolar is to be the first “solar” boat” to circumnavigate the globe driven by a silent, pollution-free electrical engine powered exclusively by solar energy.

With its crew of four they provide updates on the journey as it unfolds. Here’s one of their recent reports, “Weather conditions: Sunny and warm. Distance covered during the last 24 hours (from 20 o’clock till 20 o’clock): 0 miles (0 km). Today the crew had a day off after the intensive work during the last weeks. Nevertheless, Erwann and I discussed our route for the crossing of the Bay of Bengal. For the moment, all options remain open. We discussed 3 or 4 possible routes, namely, two direct ones, one southern route and one northern route. The sun is going to be rather modest, however, the wind and the currents are apparently going to be favorable. On our route there will be some islands, which we will be able to visit and explore. Moreover, in case of thunderstorms we could find a shelter there and recharge our batteries. By the way, I also updated the expedition diary, where the whole adventure is recorded. Wishing you all a good start of the week! Raphael and the PlanetSolar Crew“

Today, more than 100 people are working for the PlanetSolar project around the world. Some of its backers include the likes of Switzerland’s Federal Department of Foreign Affairs , Sunpower Corporation, visionary and founder Raphaël Domjan and Jean Verne great-grandson of the writer Jules Verne.

PlanetSolar’s purpose is to demonstrate the potential of renewable energies and photovoltaics, show that we already have the technology required for sustainability, take part in the technological development of renewable energy and advance scientific research, inform the public and make them aware of the importance of renewable energy, make the best possible use of energy efficiency and show that the economy and ecology can and must work together.

Solar Contributes To Zero Net Energy At UC Davis

IBM Grants $50 Million For Sustainable Eco Smart Cities

Posted on October 25, 2011 by quest

IBM today announced that it has opened the IBM Smarter Cities Challenge grant program to new applications for 2012. Smarter Cities Challenge is a three-year, 100-city, $50 million grant program in which IBM’s top technical experts and consultants provide actionable advice to urban centers. Issues that IBM’s consultants addressed this past year were diverse, ranging from transportation and public safety, to economic development and budgeting. One of the funded recipients of IBM Smarter Cities Challenge grants from last year was Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Leaders from Milwaukee’s private sector, and local urban agriculture organizations are establishing an Urban Agriculture and Aquaponics Council to advance the aquaponics industry, an eco-friendly approach to agriculture that recycles water from fish farms to nourish crops without the use of soil. Participants want to collaborate more effectively to make food healthier and more profitable, available, and affordable — and in the process, create opportunity and local jobs.

This highly successful grant program provides select applicant cities with access to teams of elite IBM employees with expertise on a variety of urban-related matters, such as finance, sustainability, public safety, and citizen services. After conferring with officials, citizens, businesses, academics and community leaders, the IBM teams recommend actions to make the delivery of services to citizens more efficient and innovative. Issues addressed include jobs, health, public safety, transportation, social services, recreation, education, energy, and sustainability.

Key factors for a successful grant application include strong city leadership, willingness to collaborate with many stakeholders, and the desire to make their cities smarter and more efficient. Cities will also need to champion actionable and measurable efforts that have the potential to make a real impact on the lives of its citizens. In addition to Milwaukee some of the other dozen cites participating included: Rio de Janiero, Brazil, Johannesburg, South Africa, Boulder, Colorado and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. As in 2011, selected applicants must demonstrate a commitment to using all publicly available urban data to help identify local problems and solutions. To that end, IBM will provide special assistance to each winning city on the use of City Forward, a free online tool it developed with public policy experts that explores trends and statistics in a visual way, and which can be adapted for the study of any number of issues across cities. The deadline for 2012 grant applications is December 16.

The Girl From Ipanema

Eco Friendly Sustainable Clothes You Grow

An Urban Garden Grows In The Bronx

Posted on October 25, 2011 by quest

More than 40 Alcoa volunteers including Alcoa Chairman and CEO Klaus Kleinfeld, created planter boxes and built concrete barbecue pits to provide MS 424 students and their neighbors with a community garden. In addition, Mutual Housing Association of NY (MHANY), a not-for-profit housing organization that owns and manages affordable rental apartments in New York City including the lot, received a $10,000 surprise grant that will be used to replace the old playground equipment in the lot. “On behalf of MHANY and the residents of Phoenix Estates, we are thrilled and most appreciative that Alcoa has provided resources to improve Bedrock Park for the use of residents and their families,” said Ismene Spiliotis, Executive Director, MHANY, This grant is one of 12 being made globally to bolster the impact of Alcoa’s volunteer efforts during its annual Worldwide Month of Service held in October. A total of $120,000 will be donated. Every community needs beautiful green spaces and playgrounds for families and children to enjoy. And today Alcoa volunteers, City Year New York Corps members and the students of MS 424 gave an overgrown lot in Bedrock Park, Hunts Point in the Bronx a well-deserved make-over—transforming it into an urban garden for the community.

“Partnering with City Year is a source of great pride for Alcoa, and we are excited to contribute our time and dollars to create a fun and safe place to play for the children of MS 424,” said Kleinfeld, who presented the $10,000 donation to MHANY.“Throughout October, Alcoa employees all over the world are volunteering during our annual Month of Service, finding ways to help their neighbors and improve their communities. Here in New York, we are pleased to be back in the Bronx to demonstrate our commitment to our City Year teams and their students.”

A Tree Grows In Brooklyn

Alcoa Foundation has been a sponsor of City Year, a national education non-profit that unites young adults for a year of service in high-needs urban schools, for the past eight years. As a team sponsor of City Year New York, Alcoa has supported two teams of 10 City Year Corps members, who serve in two public schools in the South Bronx “With the support of teachers, administrators, and community partners, the Alcoa-sponsored City Year Teams serving at PS 48 and MS 424 are helping students improve attendance rates and test scores,” said Itai Dinour, Executive Director, City Year New York. “Alcoa joins us in providing all children in Hunts Point with a strong education and high quality community programs and today is a great example of this, as Alcoa volunteers bring their knowledge and passion to work hands-on with local students. We are humbled and proud to have Alcoa as a flagship partner.”

Robert Redford Speaks Out Against XL Pipeline

Empire State Building Greens Up its Energy

Politicians Helping U.S. Lose Global Renewable Energy War

Posted on October 24, 2011 by quest

“America needs to learn from the example for future growth and long-term sustainability being set by China, and build the infrastructure and invest in the education and development of talent in growth industries, such as renewable energy and electronics, to achieve long-term growth and the continuation of the whole American experience,” according to Dr. Stephen Leeb, a recognized authority on finance, investing and economic trends. Leeb spoke with Peter Clayton, producer/host of TotalPicture Radio, a popular career and leadership development podcast.

Realizing the tremendous career and growth opportunities in “green” industries and technology, Clayton regularly features experts in the field on his program. However, the picture Dr. Leeb paints in his interview is troubling. China is gaining ground as a superpower and attaining competitive advantage over other developed countries, especially the United States, by using its profits to globally invest in and control mineral commodities such as coal, oil, zinc, silver, and gold. In his latest book Red Alert: How China’s Growing Prosperity Threatens the American Way of Life, Leeb argues that access to rare earth resources will determine the standard of living for future generations.

Leeb discusses how “U.S. officials and politicians engage in short-term myopic planning, endless legal maneuvering, scandals, and wartime investing that are crippling America’s economic viability.” Contrast this with China’s government, led by politicians with backgrounds in hard sciences. “China is spending enormous amounts of money planning for, and analyzing, the long-term consequences of global warming,” Leeb asserts. “The Chinese, I don’t think, hate Americans, by no means, but the Chinese are all for China. They would like to come off as the heroes in the environmental revolution.” “There’s a war going on

PBS Wins Environmental Wildlife Film Festival

U.S. And Chinese Solar Companies Square Off

Posted on October 23, 2011 by quest

Following is a statement by the Coalition for American Solar Manufacturing (CASM), led by SolarWorld Industries America Inc., the largest domestic crystalline silicon solar cell and panel producer. The statement responds to what CASM characterized as misleading and unfounded statements by China’s Ministry of Commerce regarding the antidumping and countervailing petitions filed by SolarWorld Industries America Inc. against China’s trade practices. The statement is authorized by coalition spokesman Gordon Brinser, who also is president of SolarWorld. “Finally, regarding environmental issues, China’s record is equally troubling. For example, only last month, China temporarily suspended the operations of Zhejiang Jinko Solar Co. after hundreds of protesters, some of whom overturned vehicles and ransacked offices, complained about ‘toxic smokestack emissions,’ large fish kills, and an unusual number of cancer deaths.”

“The Chinese government’s claims that our actions are improper and protectionist, and that its illegal subsidies and massive dumping of solar product are helping the global economy and the environment, are absurd. China is one of the biggest trade protectionists in the world. In the solar industry, China is gutting manufacturing and jobs here in America and abroad while China’s solar industry pollutes its own people. The accusations have no basis in fact. “Regarding trade issues, the use of antidumping and countervailing duty laws is a WTO-legal and quasi-judicial process. The determinations that will be made by the U.S. government will be based on fact and reviewable under U.S. and WTO law. For China to label the actions of a U.S. industry ‘protectionist’ when China is seeking to defend itself against egregiously unfair trade practices is baseless. China is a heavy user of the antidumping and countervailing trade laws to ‘protect’ its own industries. It is no coincidence that China has been named in the most antidumping and countervailing duty cases from countries all around the world: It is the worst violator of global trade laws. “Regarding economic considerations,

Sky Power Brings Solar Energy To Electric Vehicles

Solar Contributes To Zero Net Energy At UC Davis

Posted on October 22, 2011 by quest

Setting a national precedent in sustainable design, UC Davis West Village opened its doors Saturday as the largest planned zero net energy community in the country. Located on the UC Davis campus, this visionary development is designed to generate as much energy each year as it consumes. “UC Davis West Village illustrates our commitment to cutting-edge research in sustainability and the value and impact of public-private partnerships,” said UC Davis Chancellor Linda P.B. Katehi. “The success of these partnerships demonstrates what can be achieved when innovations in design, science and engineering come together for the public good.”

Hundreds of residents, neighbors and supporters attended a ribbon-cutting ceremony and open house celebrating completion of major elements of UC Davis West Village’s $300 million first phase: 315 apartments, 42,500 square feet of commercial space, a recreation center and village square. When completed, the ambitious 130-acre development will be home to about 3,000 people in 662 apartments and 343 single-family houses.  Zero net energy has never been attempted on the scale of UC Davis West Village. If the community achieves its energy goals, it will set a national precedent in sustainable design.

“UC Davis West Village is a visionary model for integrating pioneering sustainable principles with high-quality living environments, creating an eco-friendly lifestyle for students, faculty and staff,” said Nolan Zail, Carmel Partners Senior Vice President of Development. “We believe the success of this innovative public-private partnership and demonstrated zero net energy living community will inspire other public and private institutions to build similar sustainable communities.” UC Davis West Village will also be home to: