http://www.greenolla.com an eco bookmark website Fri, 13 Apr 2012 13:51:33 PDT en http://www.greenolla.com/story.php?title=white-house-epa-need-national-plan-to-save-sea-life-curb-ocean-acidification Fri, 13 Apr 2012 13:51:33 PDT environmental-news News 4 http://www.greenolla.com/story.php?title=white-house-epa-need-national-plan-to-save-sea-life-curb-ocean-acidification http://www.greenolla.com/story.php?title=hundreds-of-dolphins-dead-on-peru-coast Fri, 13 Apr 2012 13:51:33 PDT environmental-news News 4 http://www.greenolla.com/story.php?title=hundreds-of-dolphins-dead-on-peru-coast http://www.greenolla.com/story.php?title=1-2-million-dec-fine-marks-significant-new-level-of-enforcement-and-underscores-a-pattern-of-violations-at-indian-point Fri, 13 Apr 2012 13:51:33 PDT environmental-news News 4 http://www.greenolla.com/story.php?title=1-2-million-dec-fine-marks-significant-new-level-of-enforcement-and-underscores-a-pattern-of-violations-at-indian-point http://www.greenolla.com/story.php?title=community-environmental-center-receives-3-million-hud-grant Fri, 13 Apr 2012 13:51:33 PDT environmental-news News 6 http://www.greenolla.com/story.php?title=community-environmental-center-receives-3-million-hud-grant http://www.greenolla.com/story.php?title=885-research-and-industry-contributions-from-61-countries-received-for-the-20theuropean-biomass-conference-and-exhibition-eu-bce-sustainable-bioenergy-one-of-the-programmes-key-topics Fri, 13 Apr 2012 13:51:32 PDT environmental-news News 6 http://www.greenolla.com/story.php?title=885-research-and-industry-contributions-from-61-countries-received-for-the-20theuropean-biomass-conference-and-exhibition-eu-bce-sustainable-bioenergy-one-of-the-programmes-key-topics http://www.greenolla.com/story.php?title=climate-ride-grows-70-in-2012-nyc-dc-ride-nearly-sold-out-national-environmental-bicycle-event-expands-staff Fri, 13 Apr 2012 13:51:32 PDT environmental-news News 6 http://www.greenolla.com/story.php?title=climate-ride-grows-70-in-2012-nyc-dc-ride-nearly-sold-out-national-environmental-bicycle-event-expands-staff http://www.greenolla.com/story.php?title=honduras-stove-project-proyecto-mirador-sells-100000-carbon-credits-and-rolls-out-a-data-management-system- Fri, 13 Apr 2012 13:51:31 PDT environmental-news News 5 http://www.greenolla.com/story.php?title=honduras-stove-project-proyecto-mirador-sells-100000-carbon-credits-and-rolls-out-a-data-management-system- http://www.greenolla.com/story.php?title=alabama-ends-commercial-harvest-of-wild-freshwater-turtles-other-states-feds-should-follow-suit Fri, 13 Apr 2012 13:51:31 PDT environmental-news News 5 http://www.greenolla.com/story.php?title=alabama-ends-commercial-harvest-of-wild-freshwater-turtles-other-states-feds-should-follow-suit http://www.greenolla.com/story.php?title=proyecto-mirador-honduras-sells-100000-carbon-credits-and-rolls-out-a-system-of-electronic-data-management- Fri, 13 Apr 2012 13:51:31 PDT environmental-news News 4 http://www.greenolla.com/story.php?title=proyecto-mirador-honduras-sells-100000-carbon-credits-and-rolls-out-a-system-of-electronic-data-management- http://www.greenolla.com/story.php?title=denmark-sets-goal-of-100-renewable-energy-by-2050 Denmark will add 1500 MW of offshore wind and 1800 MW of onshore wind by 2020 in order to reach its goal of 35 percent renewable energy by 2020. By 2016, the government will invest $18 million in renewable energy research and $4.5 million in wave power research.
The government is also offering incentives for companies that invest in renewable energy and energy efficiency improvements. Power plants will receive incentives for switching from coal to biomass. By next year, no new building will be allowed to have oil or gas heaters and by 2016 no existing buildings will be able to install them.
via Climate Progress and Energy Efficiency News
Image via skagman ]]> Fri, 13 Apr 2012 13:51:30 PDT green-technology Technology 4 http://www.greenolla.com/story.php?title=denmark-sets-goal-of-100-renewable-energy-by-2050 http://www.greenolla.com/story.php?title=crusaders-taking-electric-bikes-on-cross-country-tour Boris Mordkovich, an original team member of RelayRides, a peer-to-peer carsharing service, and Anna Mostovetsky, an environmental scientist, will begin their 4,000-mile journey in New York this Saturday that will take them to 25 cities, ending in San Francisco in mid-June. Along the way, they'll be doing talks and presentations, attempting to turn people on to commuting via e-bike. Their trip has three goals:  increasing awareness of e-bikes, proving they're reliable and efficient, and gathering information on commuting via e-bike in the various cities they're visiting.
The bikes they'll be using are the Aries and Aurora from EVELO bikes, who is sponsoring their tour. The bikes have a 40-mile range per charge, so they'll each be carrying a spare battery to extend their range. They'll also be towing cargo trailers to hold all of their essentials for the trip.
You can follow their progress and see a schedule of events at the tour's website.
 
  ]]> Fri, 13 Apr 2012 13:51:29 PDT green-technology Technology 9 http://www.greenolla.com/story.php?title=crusaders-taking-electric-bikes-on-cross-country-tour http://www.greenolla.com/story.php?title=pentagon-isnt-abandoning-leed-after-all Last week, we joined in with the speculation that the issuance of an internal building code for the Armed Services based on ASHRAE 189.1 would be further sign that the Pentagon was moving away from using LEED. However, the Pentagon's Media Relations Division has offered clarification to Building Green, saying that the Army is not abandoning LEED. Congress has already moved to explicitly limit funding for LEED Gold or Platinum certification, although how that limit has been interpreted is interesting.
The Congressional Prohibition on Use of Funds for LEED Gold or Platinum Certification states that "No funds authorized to be appropriated by this Act or otherwise made available for the Department of Defense for fiscal year 2012 may be obligated or expended for achieving any LEED gold or platinum certification."
The approach the military is taking with respect to the Congressional requirement is based on avoiding added cost, which is what the specific language in the legislation speaks about. As Katherine Hammack, assistant secretary of the Army for installations, energy, and the environment, told Building Green, "The challenge right now is one of education," she explained. "If a building got a Gold-level certification and we were striving for Silver, that does not mean there was an incremental cost. We're working to help prepare a report for Congress so they understand the benefit of high-performance buildings."
Furthermore, there are communities and local governments where incentives, such as reduced building permit fees or rebates, are available for projects that use LEED. Also, LEED certification fees are waived if project receives Platinum LEED Certification. In the long run, better performing buildings will be less expensive to operate and maintain. In fact, just a week ago, the Navy opened its first LEED Platinum facility at the Naval Operational Support Center (NOSC) Phoenix at Luke Air Force Base in Glendale, Ariz. Whether the Pentagon uses LEED or ASHRAE 189.1 or its own code, it is clear from numerous programs undertaken by all branches of the military that they understand the value of building good buildings.
Previously on EcoGeek: US Army Abandoning LEED Certification
image: U.S. Navy photo by Senior Chief Mass Communication Specialist Gary Ward/Released
via: Building Green ]]> Fri, 13 Apr 2012 13:51:29 PDT green-technology Technology 8 http://www.greenolla.com/story.php?title=pentagon-isnt-abandoning-leed-after-all http://www.greenolla.com/story.php?title=portable-high-altitude-wind-power High altitude waind power systems continue to be explored with new systems and new approaches. The latest comes from Altaeros Energies, who recently tested the Altaeros Airborne Wind Turbine (AWT), a prototype 35-foot diameter, helium-filled, tethered structure with an onboard turbine. The prototype turbine is able to be transported and deployed from a trailer, which makes it potentially very useful for use at remote locations.
Using a Southwest Skystream turbine, the test model of the AWT was flown to an altitude of 350 feet where it produced more than twice the power as what is generated at a conventional tower height. The company is interested in developing high-altitude wind resources at elevations over 1,000 feet (over 300 meters) above the ground, where the winds are stronger and more regular.
According to the company, "The Altaeros AWT will displace expensive fuel used to power diesel generators at remote industrial, military, and village sites. In the long term, Altaeros plans to scale up the technology to reduce costs in the offshore wind market."
link: Altaeros Energies Press Release (PDF)
via: Ubergizmo ]]> Fri, 13 Apr 2012 13:51:28 PDT green-technology Technology 8 http://www.greenolla.com/story.php?title=portable-high-altitude-wind-power http://www.greenolla.com/story.php?title=scishow-the-dark-lord-of-nutrition US agricultural policy provides billions of dollars of subsidies to corn farmers every year, which helps to support the industries that produce ethanol for fuel and corn syrup for sweetening (among many other products).
In this week's Sci Show, Hank looks at high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) - the new "dark lord of nutrition" - and the controversies around its increased use as a sweetener in many of the processed foods. Some studies have indicated that HFCS may be linked to increased obesity.
But HFCS is pretty similar to "regular" cane sugar or table sugar, and other studies are less conclusive about the negative effects. Watch this episode for some further information on the ambiguities around all the claims being made about this sometimes controversial food product and the American diet.
Reference information from this episode is posted in this Google Doc. ]]> Fri, 13 Apr 2012 13:51:26 PDT green-technology Technology 8 http://www.greenolla.com/story.php?title=scishow-the-dark-lord-of-nutrition http://www.greenolla.com/story.php?title=the-electric-delorean-could-hit-the-market-next-year








Yes, you read that right. An all-electric DeLorean made its debut at the New York Auto Show last week and not just as a cool concept, but with an actual plan for production -- and soon. According to Autoblog, DeLorean Motor Company president Stephen Wynne said the DMCev should hit the market in early 2013.
The production model will feature a so-called "Flux Power" 32-kWh lithium iron phosphate battery pack and will have a max speed of 125 mph and a range of 100 miles. The EV will be able to go from 0 - 60 mph in under six seconds and the price tag is expected to be a steep $95,000.


The carmaker is currently testing different motor/inverter combinations for the EV and has about 200 pounds to shave off the prototype before a production model is ready for the road. When those problems have been solved, the DMCev will be built in Houston, TX. Check out the video above of a ride in the prototype.

via Autoblog ]]> Fri, 13 Apr 2012 13:51:26 PDT green-technology Technology 4 http://www.greenolla.com/story.php?title=the-electric-delorean-could-hit-the-market-next-year http://www.greenolla.com/story.php?title=largest-solar-thermal-system-installed-at-university-in-saudi-arabia The world's largest solar thermal system, with a collector area of nearly 400,000 square feet (over 36,200 square meters). The system is providing hot water and heat for the entire campus of the Princess Noura bint Abdulrahman University in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The campus covers 8 square kilometers (over 3 square miles) and houses 40,000 students and faculty.
Special solar glass as well as a special mounting system for the panels were used to help protect them from the region's sandstorms, which could otherwise ruin the $4.7 million dollar array. The array is nearly twice as large as the previous record holding array, located in Denmark. Panels for the project were built by Austrian manufacturer GREENoneTEC
via: Engineering News-Record ]]> Fri, 13 Apr 2012 13:51:24 PDT green-technology Technology 9 http://www.greenolla.com/story.php?title=largest-solar-thermal-system-installed-at-university-in-saudi-arabia http://www.greenolla.com/story.php?title=prototype-battery-explodes-at-gm-tech-center A battery pack undergoing "extreme testing" caused an explosion at the GM Technical Center in Warren, Michigan earlier this week. Local news reports indicate that 5 people were injured in the explosion. According to a statement from the company, the battery that caused the blast is "unrelated to the Chevrolet Volt or any other production vehicle."
The GM statement also indicated that, "Chemical gases from the battery cells were released and ignited in the enclosed chamber. The battery itself was intact." Conventional automotive batteries can produce hydrogen gas which can explode in the presence of a spark or flame, as well.
This kind of news is likely to spur concers about the safety of electric vehicles from some corners, and GM has been quick to note that the accident was not related to any of their production vehicles in order to allay concerns from drivers of their vehicles. Accidents are an occasional consequence of stressful testing, and this shouldn't be taken as a sign that electric vehicles are somehow far more dangerous than previously thought.
link: Edmunds Inside Line
via: Michigan Radio
image: WXYZ News ]]> Fri, 13 Apr 2012 13:51:23 PDT green-technology Technology 9 http://www.greenolla.com/story.php?title=prototype-battery-explodes-at-gm-tech-center http://www.greenolla.com/story.php?title=envisat-environmental-monitoring-satellite-goes-silent Envisat is equipped with 10 different instruments for collecting environmental data that has been used in 4,000 science projects by 70 countries. The data has been crucial in studies on climate change.
The ESA hasn't given up hope for the satellite. It has brought together engineers, flight dynamics scientists and mission operators to work on re-establishing contact. But even if that is not possible, climate change science won't suffer for long; the ESA already had plans to launch seven Sentinel satellites in 2013 to replace the Envisat.
via Phys.org
Image via ESA ]]> Fri, 13 Apr 2012 13:51:22 PDT green-technology Technology 4 http://www.greenolla.com/story.php?title=envisat-environmental-monitoring-satellite-goes-silent http://www.greenolla.com/story.php?title=corkscrew-wind-turbine-brings-juice-to-indians-stadium Fri, 13 Apr 2012 13:51:18 PDT ecogeek News 7 http://www.greenolla.com/story.php?title=corkscrew-wind-turbine-brings-juice-to-indians-stadium http://www.greenolla.com/story.php?title=nest-labs-to-honeywell-well-see-you-in-court Fri, 13 Apr 2012 13:51:17 PDT ecogeek News 5 http://www.greenolla.com/story.php?title=nest-labs-to-honeywell-well-see-you-in-court