Aside from the invasive species catching a free ride every now and again, the transport industry causes a huge volume of carbon dioxide emmissions annualy. A Maryland-based non-profit, Carbonfund.org, came up with a neat way of offsetting these emissions by launching a Carbonfree Shipping program, which allows retailers to reduce some of the carbon footprint created by shipping packages to customers. Four companies — BetterWorld.com, Evogear.com, 3R Living and alonova.com — have joined the program.
Category: Environment
Canadians Want to be Taxed
The idea of the carbon tax is gaining momentum here in Canada, which is great to see. Unfortunately the federal government is so out of touch with reality that it doesn’t realize that Canadians want to protect the planet. The environment minister, Rona Ambrose, is continually receiving criticism from all Canadians.
Canadians are vocalizing their concerns that Prime Minister Stephen Harper is embarrassing Canada.
Now here’s the purely good news:
“Most Canadians — including a majority of Albertans — believe the federal government should levy a tax on carbon-based energy sources, according to a new poll.
Surprisingly, the country’s top oil, gas and coal producing regions — Alberta, British Columbia and Atlantic Canada — showed the most support for a carbon tax.”
Yes, this may have to do with a lack of outdoor hockey rinks starting to trouble people.
I’m not even going to attempt to hide the fact that I despise Harper.
Air Shower Uses Less Water
Some Australians have invented a shower head that adds some air to water to get some super O in the H2O. The article points out that Australians are becoming more concerned about their water usage, yeah for environmental awareness.
“The scientists have developed a simple ‘air shower’ device which, when fitted into existing showerheads, fills the water droplets with a tiny bubble of air. The result is the shower feels just as wet and just as strong as before, but now uses much less water.”
Breathing Concretely
Concrete that breaths is getting a lot media coverage recently, and that’s great to see. Business Week recently ran an article about smog-eating concrete that is on display in Venice (ironically, a city with no cars). The idea of buildings using this concrete is really nice, it will make city air breathable, of course if less people drove this research wouldn’t be needed.
Previously, we looked at an artistic display of this concrete.
“Visitors to the Italian Pavilion of the architecture exhibition in the Venice Biennale, which will remain open until Nov. 19, will get a breath of fresh air. That’s because parts of the concrete walls and grounds have been built with cement containing an active agent that, in presence of light, breaks air pollutants such as carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxide, benzene, and others through a natural chemical process called photocatalysis.”
The UK, so advanced
In another move that proves its not all about the GDP, the UK is moving forward to regulating energy effeciency. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has been working on replacing “ineffecient” goods. This would set minimium standards for 14 energy using products, including commercial lighting. With a competative advantage such as this, the UK stands to make real progress in the environmental, financial and social fields.