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1. Green Tissues for Cold & Flu Season
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2. UK Electric Car Distributors on the Brink as EV Sales Plummet
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3. Solar Industry Seeks Federal Aid, Stronger Incentives
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4. Will This Strange Water-Saving, Toilet-Washing Machine Really Help Sell Your Home Faster?
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5. Could Canada Tackle Climate Change And Boost the Economy?
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6. Get Yer Solar Wi-Fi Gear
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7. Aptera Eye-Candy: New Photos, New Name
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8. Daily Sprout
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9. DOE Doles Out Cash for Alternative Vehicle Tech
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10. Inventux Opens First Thin-Film Plant Using Oerlikon Micromorph Technology
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11. Dow Invests US $50M in BIPV
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12. E.ON Buys 11.8-MW Biogas Plant from Schmack
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13. Clipper & BP Complete Titan Wind Turbine Deal
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14. 3Tier Releases 5km Wind Map of the World
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15. Trina Solar To Open Offices In San Francisco
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16. Neah Power Systems Acquires SolCool One, LLC
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17. Conergy Americas announces brand integration of sister organization, SunTechnics
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18. Exelon and Conergy Complete Largest Solar Energy System on East Coast
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19. Bella Energy and EMC Engineers Install Solar Energy Systems on Remote, Lower Income Schools in Southern Colorado
Green Tissues for Cold & Flu Season
jchait - Home & Garden
In the last post, Eco-friendly Flu Fighting, I noted that I’m sick today. Since I tend to blog along the lines of how my day is going, it’s pretty much sick day here at Best Green Home Tips.
Right now let’s take a look at earth-friendly options for tissues.
Your most earth friendly tissue option are cloth handkerchiefs; but there are pros and cons.
Pros of cloth handkerchiefs:
- Reusable.
- Cost effective; much cheaper than buying oodles of tissue.
- Often won’t dry out your nose as much as paper tissue.
- Especially softer on a child’s nose.
- You can use them plain, or drop some essential oil on them for treatment.
- Can be used as cleaning cloths when they get too old.
Cons of cloth handkerchiefs:
- Washing! Seriously, how much laundry do you want to do while you’re sick?
- Can be icky.
- Kids, in my experience, don’t tend to handle cloth tissues as well. They leave them laying around, and or try to toss them in the garbage.
- You may need to purchase a lot in a bigger family, and if everyone wants their own, you’ll need to choose specific colors or monograms.
The next best tissue is recycled.
There aren’t too many pros and cons here, the basic gist is that recycled tissue is a good reuse product if you want paper tissue, but they’re not as green as cloth; because obviously they don’t last as long.
Options:
Organic cotton flannel handkerchiefs: Packaged in a brown paper bag. Available in your choice of natural colour or hand-dyed purple.
Colorgrown Organic Cotton Flannel Hankies
Organic Cotton HANKIES - Singles
100% Recycled Seventh Generation Tissues; Hypo-allergenic; Whitened without chemicals containing chlorine; No added dyes; No added fragrances
Green Forest Facial Tissue
Gaiam Facial Tissue: 100% recycled paper with a minimum of 20% post-consumer content; hypoallergenic, unscented and bleached with environmentally safe sodium hydrosulfite and hydrogen peroxide.
UK Electric Car Distributors on the Brink as EV Sales Plummet
Josie Garthwaite - Automotive
NICE Car Company, one of London’s two electric-vehicle distributors, entered administration yesterday. That’s akin to filing for bankruptcy, a term that does not apply to companies in Britain. Going Green, which distributes the G-Wiz, a popular electric two-seater, is also struggling as sales have slowed to fewer than one car per week, Reuters reports. Estimates from Clean Green Cars show UK electric vehicle sales, usually concentrated in London, sank to just 156 cars between January to October, a drop of more than 58 percent over the same period last year.
To be sure, the EV industry is not alone in losing business. But while general business activity in London has decreased as a result of the global economic downturn, relatively small electric-vehicle distributors have faced a perfect storm of lost or uncertain incentives, increasing likelihood of mass-market (read: more affordable) competition and growing public concern about the safety of cars so wee they’re technically quadricycles.
Sales faltered earlier this year amid talk of extending a waiver on the city’s congestion tax — from which EVs were already exempt — to the most fuel-efficient diesel and gas-powered cars (the proposal did not pass). Londoners lost another incentive to go electric in June when the city decided to start charging the previously-exempt vehicles for parking.
“Perhaps the market for quirky electric vehicles like the Mega City and G-Wiz have had their day,” Richard Bremner, editor of London-based Clean Green Cars told the Telegraph. “Buyers could be holding off for cars from mainstream manufacturers, although they may still have years to wait before mass production is a reality.”
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Solar Industry Seeks Federal Aid, Stronger Incentives
Josie Garthwaite - Energy
Automakers aren’t the only companies seeking federal aid this week. Yesterday members of the Solar Energy Industries Association, or SEIA, urged Congress and President-elect Barack Obama’s administration to help tide over solar companies until January, when a 30 percent solar investment tax credit passed in the economic stimulus bill will take effect. Until then, said Suntech America CEO Roger Efird, the trade group’s chairman, the credit should be refundable so that smaller companies with lower tax burdens can take full advantage of the allowance.
SEIA outlined this and other economic policy priorities in yesterday’s announcement, calling for solar installations on government buildings and lands, tax incentives for manufacturing equipment, infrastructure upgrades (such as a solar version of the transmission project AEP is considering for wind), and new requirements for utilities to generate a set portion of their electricity from renewable sources, with a special breakout for solar.
While SEIA stressed that the economic crisis makes these policies especially urgent (with enough support, the industry says it could create millions of jobs), this week’s announcement largely echoes the policies SEIA put forth last month with representatives from wind, geothermal, and hydropower trade associations. Another proposed initiative — creation of a government corporation, or clean energy bank, dedicated to investing in renewable energy projects — also sounds familiar. Last summer, the nuclear industry pushed, unsuccessfully, for a direct-loan and guarantee program, something like an independent version of the Loan Guarantee Program now run by the Department of Energy.
According to a senior Obama aide who spoke with the International Herald Tribune on condition of anonymity, at least one of SEIA’s proposed policies — infrastructure development — may come through in a jobs and energy-efficiency program that the future administration and Congress now have in the works. The federal government will probably offer “billions of dollars in grants to state and local governments for mass transit and infrastructure projects,” IHT reports today, and include at least $15 billion a year for green initiatives in a $400 billion to $500 billion stimulus plan.
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Will This Strange Water-Saving, Toilet-Washing Machine Really Help...
susan - Sustainable Ideas
With the housing market in the toilet, and the EPA saying that water-saving appliances may help sell your house faster (see last post) , we thought you should know about this unusual hybrid.
Take two essential household appliances and stick them together, and what do you get? This entry to the Greener Gadgets Design competition: the Washup washing machine-toilet by Sevin Coskun.
OK, it's a little scary – especially if you find yourself waking in the middle of the night to pee. But it's intriguing, right? I mean, would you have thought of saving water by plopping your washing machine on top of your toilet so that the gray water from the washing machine can be used to flush the toilet? No, you wouldn't. But Sevin Coskum did and entered the concept into the Greener Gadget Design competition. Check out the other clever gadgets. And thanks to the blog, Home Appliances Rule! for pointing out this unusual plumbing marriage.
One good feature: it will certainly teach the gentlemen in the house to close that toilet seat lid — at least before they take the clean clothes out of the washer. Or oooops, you may have to do that load of wash over again.
(Photo credit: Home Appliances Rule!)
Could Canada Tackle Climate Change And Boost the Economy?
David Ehrlich - Big Green
Canada could take a lead in tackling climate change while still prospering economically, according to a study released today. The report says that the country could reduce its greenhouse gas pollution to 25 percent below the 1990 level in the next decade, and at the same time grow the economy by almost 20 percent. Canada’s current target is a reduction of 3 percent below 1990 levels by 2020.
The study isn’t actually predicting a big boom in the economy if Canada gets tough on climate change, but it says it shows that the economy won’t take much of a hit if strong greenhouse gas reductions are implemented.
The study from the Pembina Institute and the David Suzuki Foundation comes on the same day that a struggle over control of the government led to Prime Minister Stephen Harper shutting down parliament. Leaders were arguing over a stimulus package for the economy, and the move by Harper (a Conservative), blocks a potential takeover by a coalition government made up of the more environmentally-friendly Liberal and New Democratic parties. The coalition will have another chance at taking over when parliament starts up again in late January.
The country’s gross domestic product will dip slightly under the tougher greenhouse gas targets, with the study showing a business-as-usual scenario is likely to boost the economy by another two percentage points. But the report points out that in the 2006 Stern Review on the economics of climate change, it’s estimated that the costs and risks of uncontrolled climate change are equivalent to a loss in GDP of at least 5 percent and up to 20 percent or more.
The study says meeting that tougher 25 percent greenhouse gas reduction target will require a significant price on carbon and proposes a starting point of C$50 ($64) per tonne in 2010, rising to C$200 by 2020. The study pushes for either a carbon tax or a cap-and-trade system, as well as targeted regulations and investments to expand the use of cleantech.
Those kinds of cleantech-friendly policies could be more likely to happen under a coalition government. The coalition has promised steep cuts to greenhouse gas emissions and a cap-and-trade system, according to the Canadian Press, but details of the coalition’s plans have yet to be released.
In the scenario laid out in today’s study, by 2020 Canadians could save more than C$5.5 billion each year on gas if there were more efficient vehicles, more public transit, and shorter commutes. A price on carbon could also generate a windfall in government revenue, with the study saying that it could bring in C$87-89 billion per year by 2020. But the government wouldn’t get a chance to spend that cash, as the study said that most of that revenue would go back to Canadians in the form of reductions in income tax.
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Get Yer Solar Wi-Fi Gear
Katie Fehrenbacher - Startups
At the GigaOM Network, we’ve been following Meraki for quite a long time. More than two years ago, I interviewed Meraki CEO Sanjit Biswas about how he was going to turn his MIT Roofnet project into a sustainable business selling Wi-Fi mesh network hardware, software and services to deliver a grassroots movement of small wireless Internet Service Providers that could offer free and low-cost Wi-Fi. The company ended up raising money from Google, Sequoia Capital, DAG Ventures and Northgate Capital, and it built a free Wi-Fi network throughout areas of San Francisco that put the city’s own (now defunct) free Wi-Fi plans to shame. It’s been busy.
Now, with its solar gear, it’s helping solve more broadband access problem. Many of the company’s target customers are in developing countries where communities, organizations and local ISPs are looking to offer broadband access for a low cost. These are the same places where the power grid could be spotty — so solar could be an important option for just keeping the network up and running. Meraki also says the solar kit can bring down the cost and time of setting up the system, because there are no electrical network connections, and there’s no need for electricians to be involved in the set up.
The solar package which includes a Wi-Fi repeater, is really for someone who is building their own network — a neighborhood, an apartment complex, a community group. If you want to buy their products to join a network that someone has already set up, you can buy their indoor and outdoor gear for less than $200. The solar radio itself uses a lithium iron phosphate battery — the company says its the same one used for the One Laptop Per Child project — and interestingly the battery charging is managed using Meraki’s web dashboard. (Could they partner with utilities somewhere in there?)
Meraki says solar customers already include the Harvard Square Business Association (HSBA), which added solar devices to its network in Harvard Square in Cambridge, Mass. The vendor that set up the Harvard Square network said it added the solar units as a way to expand the network in a short period of time.
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Aptera Eye-Candy: New Photos, New Name
Katie Fehrenbacher - Startups
Aptera’s three-wheeled vehicle — you know, the one that looks like it should be driven by Barbarella — is supposed to go into initial production before the end of the year and larger scale production in 2009. To meet those goals, the startup, which is backed by Google.org and Idealab, is adding in the final details of design and marketing.
Aptera is now calling its vehicle the 2e (a good upgrade from Typ-1) and has posted loads of photos of the car’s exterior and interior. The company is clearly trying to emphasize how roomy the car is — perhaps trying to combat the impression that the inside of the three-wheeled vehicle is small. The web site eagerly points out a “cavernous rear cargo compartment,” cup holders that “will welcome even the most enormous cup of Joe,” space for “14 more bags of groceries,” room for “all the sports gear” you need, and room for “your six-foot surfboard.” OK, we get it.
Here are some of the latest photos, which show the body of the vehicle in the most detail yet:
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Daily Sprout
Josie Garthwaite - Misc
GM Viability Plan Includes Smart-like Car: General Motors’ long-term viability plan, put together as part of its bailout plea to Congress, includes introducing a small four-passenger vehicle with better fuel economy than the Smart ForTwo. — Kicking Tires
Banks and Insurers Launch Climate Principles, Redux: Credit Agricole, HSBC, Munich Re, Standard Chartered, and Swiss Re have agreed to a best-practices framework called The Climate Principles. In February, another group of financial institutions unveiled a plan by the same name addressing climate risks in financing electric power plants. — Environmental Leader
Around the World in a Solar Car: The first solar-powered car to complete a trip around the world ended its 32,000-mile journey at the U.N. climate talks in Poznan, Poland today. — Associated Press
Recession Takes Toll on Cleantech Startups: CEO Bruce Jamerson of the ethanol company Mascoma says all companies in the clean-tech sector should consider cutting costs to make sure cash lasts as long as possible. — CNET
Chrysler Requests $7B for EV Production: Chrysler plans to ask Congress today for a $7 billion bridge loan to support production of more than 500,000 electric vehicles by 2013. — Green Car Congress
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DOE Doles Out Cash for Alternative Vehicle Tech
David Ehrlich - Automotive
This isn’t the bailout U.S. automakers are looking for, but it is government money. The same week the Big Three are back on Capitol Hill asking Congress for a big bailout, Ford Motor and General Motors are among a group of companies that have been awarded up to $14.6 million in funding from the U.S. Department of Energy for research and development in alternative vehicle technologies (hat tip Green Car Congress).
When matching funds from the private sector are included, the projects represent a total investment of up to $29.3 million, according to DOE. In addition to Ford and GM, 3M, BASF, FMC and Navistar International are also getting some funding for research projects covering battery materials and manufacturing, thermoelectric systems, and aerodynamic trailers.
In a statement yesterday, DOE said this cash is not part of the recently announced $25 billion government loan program, but is part of the agency’s continuing work to develop high-efficiency vehicle technologies. That loan program is getting its own share of attention, with electric car maker Tesla Motors and powertrain manufacturer AFS Trinity Power announcing plans last month to seek loans under the program.
Under this latest round of funding, Ford and GM are getting cash for the development of solid-state thermoelectric systems that can provide heating, ventilation and air conditioning in vehicles. Ford is getting up to $4.2 million and GM will receive up to $2.3 million, with both companies working on separate 3-year-long projects.
DOE said the use of thermoelectric materials could reduce or eliminate the need for conventional air conditioning refrigerants and enable a distributed system that cools or heats the people in the car rather than the whole cabin and its components.
Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers put some cash into the technology earlier this year, with Massachusetts-based GMZ Energy raising an undisclosed amount of seed financing from Kleiner Perkins in March. GMZ is working on thermoelectric materials for vehicle applications such as cooling and capturing waste heat.
In battery materials and manufacturing, 3M is getting up to $1.4 million from the DOE and BASF will receive up to $2.5 million. FMC will get up to $3 million. The projects will focus on increasing the performance and cutting the cost of batteries for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles.
Rounding out the funding, up to $1 million will go to Navistar for the development of advanced aerodynamic trailers that can reduce the fuel consumption of heavy-duty tractor trailers, with Navistar’s tractor trailer and tire combo expected to cut fuel use by at least 15 percent.
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Inventux Opens First Thin-Film Plant Using Oerlikon Micromorph...
Dow Invests US $50M in BIPV
E.ON Buys 11.8-MW Biogas Plant from Schmack
Clipper & BP Complete Titan Wind Turbine Deal
3Tier Releases 5km Wind Map of the World
Trina Solar To Open Offices In San Francisco
Neah Power Systems Acquires SolCool One, LLC
Conergy Americas announces brand integration of sister organization,...
Exelon and Conergy Complete Largest Solar Energy System on East Coast
Bella Energy and EMC Engineers Install Solar Energy Systems on...
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