Globalization has resulted in huge growth in international shipping. Off-shoring manufacturing and shipping products to far-away markets makes economic sense when oil costs are cheap. The models appear to be breaking down a bit, as reported by the New York Times earlier this month (Aug. 2008). And from a climate change perspective, the shipping industry is apparently worse than air travel.
A couple of renewable energy options are floating out there...
Could ships be mobile solar power plants? The Japanese plan to harvest some solar energy to power engines and well as living quarters, as reported by Reuters. And with some additional investment, other renewables could work. I assume all waste is dumped overboard (contributing to other environmental issues, including the Great Pacific Garbage Patch). This could be an option for a waste gasification project (if technically possible/safe). Methane/biofuels could be harvested from waste, as well.
And from the "everything old is new again" department, we have a startup using wind to pull boats. KiteShip has a steady track record over the past couple of years chatting up it's innovative sail system - even grabbing a Guinness World Record for the largest kite ever.
I thought they started out with commercial marine applications, but it looks like they have equal emphasis on recreational marine and even plan to harness solar and Martian winds. I see talk of trials but no named customers.
Let's hope these high oil prices tip the scale in favor of renewable energy in global shipping.
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Monday, August 25, 2008
EPEAT is Neat
EPEAT evaluates electronic products in relation to 51 total environmental criteria, about half are mandatory and half are voluntary. I don't remember seeing the logo ever, but it looks like a pretty solid program with checks-and-balances designed to keep it real and credible.
Like anything, people are bound to abuse the system, as it's valuable in winning big government and other procurement bids and to being seen as "green" by the market. But it's a great program to point procurement people to help them take the first step in sustainable businesses - vote with your dollars.
ZDNet notes that Dell tooted its horn about its newest EPEAT product - a cool-looking hybrid (the other king) desktop computer.
Other solid programs for sustainable purchasing include ENERGY STAR (which EPEAT includes), FEMP (Fed. Energy Mgmnt Program), and the NRDC Greening Advisor.
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Green Pols and Ham
Some thoughts on political campaigns and sustainability, posted on my employer's blog (Bitemarks):
http://blog.bitepr.com/2008/08/green-pols-and.html
http://blog.bitepr.com/2008/08/green-pols-and.html
Friday, June 13, 2008
Next-Gen Solar
The next big thing in solar launched this week -- Enphase Energy's Micro-inverter System.
The multimedia press release has all the info, with great pictures.
The training video shows it in action.
And this video of the web app shows the level of insight you get when you have per-module info. Check out the time lapse!
The multimedia press release has all the info, with great pictures.
The training video shows it in action.
And this video of the web app shows the level of insight you get when you have per-module info. Check out the time lapse!
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Sustainability at Bite
Posted on my employer's blog on the stuff I'm doing around global sustainability there.
http://blog.bitepr.com/2008/04/walking-the-tal.html
http://blog.bitepr.com/2008/04/walking-the-tal.html
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Don't Forget to Follow Your Own Advice
I was laughing a bit yesterday at the Green Party. A colleague of mine posted about political conventions going green, using the Republicans as the example. Ironic.
I'm sure the Green Party has "green" events. But in forgetting to tell the world, they got scopped by the Republicans, and depositioned a bit. It's a bit like living in Scandinavia and being asked what you do that is "green." The government mandates a ton of stuff, so you might not even think of it as a green lifestyle practice, though you may be doing more than anyone.
It reminded me of my own choices (and communication to my netowrk about what I was doing to live green).
Last week I finally signed up from PG&E's ClimateSmart program, to offset my energy use through funding of forestry projects in California. Despite the real concerns about forestry as an offsets category, I'm comfortable with a symbolic gesture, at the least. And I do think that California is ahead of the game on standards and enforcement, so I feel confident that carbon sequestration is going to happen through my investment. And, being one guy in a sub-1,000 square foot apartment who likes things a bit cool, ClimateSmart is going to run me well under $5 a month.
And I've been sulking about my reliance on a car for my daily transportation. I got rid of my 4 liter Jeep 4X4 recently. Suprisingly, it got about 17 MPG in the city, and about 22 on highway. Not bad for an old SUV ('97). My buddy is letting me use his '07 Audi A3. I assumed that would be a big jump in efficiency. Wrong. It gets 20 MPG in the city, and about 26 MPG highway. With the benefit of ten years of technology and 2 liters less of engine displacement, very disappointing. Plus, it demands premium grade, which is more refining.
I tried MUNI again today (San Francisco's public transpo system). It took me an hour to go 8 miles. Driving takes 30-40 minutes. That adds up over a week. Time is precious to me, so I'm going to continue to drive daily.
So, today I bought an offset for 5,000 pounds of carbon from TerraPass. That's for about 6,000 miles/year for this car. TerraPass seem to be the easiest, most well-known brand, and they give a bumper sticker to help block some shame vibes. Of course, all of offsetting is done as a last resort. Energy efficiency and other lifestyle changes come first.
A bunch of carbon footprint calculators are out there; here are some:
Cool California
3Degrees
LiveNeutral
BP
SafeClimate
I'm sure the Green Party has "green" events. But in forgetting to tell the world, they got scopped by the Republicans, and depositioned a bit. It's a bit like living in Scandinavia and being asked what you do that is "green." The government mandates a ton of stuff, so you might not even think of it as a green lifestyle practice, though you may be doing more than anyone.
It reminded me of my own choices (and communication to my netowrk about what I was doing to live green).
Last week I finally signed up from PG&E's ClimateSmart program, to offset my energy use through funding of forestry projects in California. Despite the real concerns about forestry as an offsets category, I'm comfortable with a symbolic gesture, at the least. And I do think that California is ahead of the game on standards and enforcement, so I feel confident that carbon sequestration is going to happen through my investment. And, being one guy in a sub-1,000 square foot apartment who likes things a bit cool, ClimateSmart is going to run me well under $5 a month.
And I've been sulking about my reliance on a car for my daily transportation. I got rid of my 4 liter Jeep 4X4 recently. Suprisingly, it got about 17 MPG in the city, and about 22 on highway. Not bad for an old SUV ('97). My buddy is letting me use his '07 Audi A3. I assumed that would be a big jump in efficiency. Wrong. It gets 20 MPG in the city, and about 26 MPG highway. With the benefit of ten years of technology and 2 liters less of engine displacement, very disappointing. Plus, it demands premium grade, which is more refining.
I tried MUNI again today (San Francisco's public transpo system). It took me an hour to go 8 miles. Driving takes 30-40 minutes. That adds up over a week. Time is precious to me, so I'm going to continue to drive daily.
So, today I bought an offset for 5,000 pounds of carbon from TerraPass. That's for about 6,000 miles/year for this car. TerraPass seem to be the easiest, most well-known brand, and they give a bumper sticker to help block some shame vibes. Of course, all of offsetting is done as a last resort. Energy efficiency and other lifestyle changes come first.
A bunch of carbon footprint calculators are out there; here are some:
Cool California
3Degrees
LiveNeutral
BP
SafeClimate
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Shrinking Bottles
As I don't have TV, I get excited (sometimes) about commercials. This past week, I saw one from P&G touting it's shrinking bottles of detergent. Fun creative and great message.
Although this move to concentrated detergents is old news, as reported by the WSJ in May 2007, it is a nice notch in the sustainable business bedpost.
Back when I consulted with the Feds on ENERGY STAR, we worked with P&G on campaigns around Tide HE, trying to get the word out through partnerships with utilities and manufacturers. This was as early as 2003, and was focused on the front-loading washer boom that required a more concentrated detergent. Good to see the full group has embraced the LOHAS market, even if it's been pushed there by Wal-Mart and others driving waste out of their businesses through pressure on the supply chain.
Shrinking bottles of detergent ties into the bottled water debate, which is gaining momentum. Detergent is basically large bottles of mostly water. It doesn't add any value to ship more water across vast distances. No added value + extra plastic + more transportation costs = waste. BrandWeek had a nice piece back in February 2008 that shows that the big bev boys are concerned about bottled water backlash.
Good to see Unilever changing too, though darker green brands such as Method, Seventh Generation and others (I have a super concentrated detergent at home that I'll update this post with) having been doing it for years.
Although this move to concentrated detergents is old news, as reported by the WSJ in May 2007, it is a nice notch in the sustainable business bedpost.
Back when I consulted with the Feds on ENERGY STAR, we worked with P&G on campaigns around Tide HE, trying to get the word out through partnerships with utilities and manufacturers. This was as early as 2003, and was focused on the front-loading washer boom that required a more concentrated detergent. Good to see the full group has embraced the LOHAS market, even if it's been pushed there by Wal-Mart and others driving waste out of their businesses through pressure on the supply chain.
Shrinking bottles of detergent ties into the bottled water debate, which is gaining momentum. Detergent is basically large bottles of mostly water. It doesn't add any value to ship more water across vast distances. No added value + extra plastic + more transportation costs = waste. BrandWeek had a nice piece back in February 2008 that shows that the big bev boys are concerned about bottled water backlash.
Good to see Unilever changing too, though darker green brands such as Method, Seventh Generation and others (I have a super concentrated detergent at home that I'll update this post with) having been doing it for years.
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