Category: Transportation

A Free Energy Future?

Here’s a documentary that aired in 1995 that looks at the feasibility of free energy. Energy from water is brought up a few times. It is very optimistic about the idea of free energy and I’m hoping that one day we get free energy that doesn’t damage the environment.

Most people scoff at the idea of free energy but it wasn’t that long ago that people scoffed at the thought of using water to power machines (steam trains for example) and oil to power more machines (smog machines for example). That being said there is some questionable science in the vide, but we can dream can’t we?

From the movies description at Google Video:
“In the opening stages Arthur C. Clarke explained how there were four stages in the way scientists react to the development of anything of a revolutionary nature. “Free energy” was now working its way through these four stages of reaction, which were:

a: “It’s nonsense,” b: “It is not important,” c: “I always said it was a good idea,” and d: “I thought of it first.””

Ship it Good!

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.

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.”

New Diesel Laws in USA Will Clean Air

Diesel fuel in the USA will have to contain a lot less sulfur thanks to a new law that just went into effect. This cleaner diesel is being compared to the removal of lead from gasoline in terms of its potential impact on air quality.

“The agency estimates that by 2030, when most old engines will have been replaced, 20,000 premature deaths, tens of thousands of illnesses, and more than 7,000 hospital visits will be prevented every year.

Officials said cleaner diesel fuel will immediately cut soot emissions from any diesel vehicle by 10 percent. But when combined with new engines hitting the road in January, it will enable emission reductions of up to 95 percent. ”

Government to Cut Greenhouse Gas by 2010

breathe.jpgCanada’s Environment Minister Rona Ambrose introduced a proposed clean air act during a news conference on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Thursday. The Tory Government has targeted industry sectors who will now have mandatory requirements that will be enforced to cut greenhouse emissions in half by 2050. These industries include gas and oil as well as the auto industry.

By 2011 further measures will be taken for more long term goals to cut smog emmisions, the act will take a baby steps approach toward a larger goal of reductions up to 65 per cent by 2050. Although it is a small step it is nice to see some action being taken. Ambrose said any polluter who goes over the regulated targets will be fined, with the money going to an environmental damage fund.