Tag: Environment

Carbon-Neutral Buildings by 2030?

A Sante-Fe based architect has started the 2030 Challenge to encourage sustainable architecture. Modern buildings are notoriously inefficient when it comes to energy use and hopefully we’ll all benefit from green buildings in 2030.

“Simply put, he challenges architects, engineers and contractors to cut the carbon intensity of buildings by 50% from the average of their peers today, 60% below peer average in 2010, 70% below peer average in 2015, and so on, until 2030 by which all buildings should be carbon neutral (zero net carbon emissions).”

MIT Goes Crazy for Green Energy

MIT researchers are looking into perhaps the most ambitious energy programs. Right now they would like you to use solar panels that are so green they use spinach. Why use an alternator in your car when light is more efficient?

Wired news has more information on MIT’s green electricity project.

“David Jhirad, a former deputy assistant secretary of energy and current VP for science and research at the World Resources Institute, said no other institution or government anywhere has taken on such an intensive, creative, broad-based, and wide-ranging energy research initiative.”

India Blows Coke

india flagCoca-Cola and Pepsi Cola can no longer be purchased in some states in India. This is after the Centre for Science and Environment, a Delhi-based NGO, discovered that pesticides were inside the drink. The level of pesticides in the drink are technically legal, but also against voluntary standards set in India.

It’s good to see that some states in India are taking this public health issue seriously and banning the poisonous drinks. Still, it is not a complete ban; however it is very symbolic. Banned is the selling of colas a certain distance around schools because of health concerns for children.

“The sale of Pepsi, Coca Cola, Mirinda, Mountain Dew, Diet Pepsi, Pepsi Blue, Fanta, Limca, Sprite, Thums Up, and 7up will be banned within 100 metres of all schools, colleges and hospitals across the state, they said.”

This is getting a lot of media attention and should pave the way for more stringent health and environmental concerns in the country.

Boiling Point Reached in Global Warming

Global warming is happening, whether we like it or not. For the most part, corporations, politicians, and “scientists” have been proclaiming that global warming isn’t happening, and that if it is happening, humans are not to blame. Well, the good news is that this is changing!

New York State Governor has called for a 25% reduction in oil consumption over the next 10 years.

The Philadelphia Inquirer has had enough of politicians ignoring the truth of global warming. Now the paper is demanding action to protect the environment.

The best article is from the Montreal Gazette. They have an article written to show how some politicians, like Arnie and Blair, and some corporations are making change right now.

I know all of this is not perfect, but we are here to celebrate the good that is happening in the hopes that people don’t get discouraged.

Kayapó Tribe Fights Deforestation

The International Herald Tribune has a really nice article about a tribe in the Amazon that is fighting deforestation. The author recounts his previous experience of going into the Amazon and compares that to what it is like today. It actually starts off rather depressing since the environmental destruction is so prominent, but what makes the article so good is how hard the Kayapó is working to protect this invaluable natural resource.

“The Kayapó grand chief, Megaron, is leading the fight to preserve their lands that form the largest tropical rain forest reserve in the world.”

The tribe has had quite a few success in defending the forest from “development.” Let’s hope they never give up!