Tag: EU

EU Researching Green Planes

First off, sorry about all the posts on green airports and the overall greening of planes. The reason I post so much about it is because the primary reason I’m not jet-setting around the world is because of all the harm that flying does. Envirionmnetally friendly flying machines will allow me to see more of this neat-o planet.

So here’s some more good news on flying: the EU will invest 2.5 billion Euros into research and development of greener, leaner, air-focused transportation systems.

The thing that gets me most exicted is that the companies involved in the research have to share their findings, allowing for more innovation to happen!

Participating aerospace firms are agreeing to share their research, which should create a valuable exchange of innovative solutions. Among the ideas being explored are engines that use alternative fuels and more efficient engines to conserve fuel. Also being explored are technologies to make aircraft less noisy. This both helps to reduce noise pollution around airports, a frequent urban problem, and provides passengers with a quieter, more relaxing ride.

Germans Don’t Like Smog

Thanks to the BBCBerlin, Cologne, and Hanover have all decided to implement a neat way to make sure that their air is cleaner than other cities by using stickers. Drivers will have to buy stickers that denote how much pollution their cars emit and will be charge accordingly when driving in designated environmental zones. This is such a neat and simple idea.

Drivers now have to display a coloured sticker on their vehicle to enter the inner city zones. The colour depends on the pollutants the vehicle emits.

The cities are gradually phasing in fines of 40 euros (£29;$58) for anyone caught driving without a sticker.

Other German cities – but not all – plan to have such zones later in 2008.

The stickers – green, red or yellow – are mandatory not only for locals but also for foreign drivers, including tourists.

There is a one-off charge of five to 10 euros for the stickers, issued by Germany’s vehicle registration authority and authorised garages.