If you are vary about the facts and the figures that are reported by various bodies to warn us about the dangerous levels of toxics in our environment then watch out for an assured source in the near future. To keep a tab on the CO2 levels, precisely, NASA is gearing up for a new mission called the Orbital Carbon Observatory (OCO). Scheduled for 2009, it will take care of the complicated task of measuring carbon dioxide in our environment. Synchronizing with the sun, OCO will fly over the planet in a 483-mile-high orbit in 16-day cycles.
Obama, touted to be the greenest American leader is living it up to his newfound tag. Recently he was on Greenlaunches as he had promised a greener White House. And today he is back with a billion dollar green news. Since he is in the mode of making plans and promises, over the weekend he has pledged his support for the largest public works program. And a part of that includes a $100 billion package for eco-friendly reasons solely. All these greens will be utilized to cover many green projects like electric grids, alternative fuels, wind farms, solar panels, and efficiency upgrades. It is reported that to tackle these green-collar issues, the estimate could run as high as $100 billion over two years. Source
White will be the new green in America as the White House will soon be modified to be more eco-friendly. US president-elect Barack Obama intends to change, not the color white of the structure but the energy consumption of this Presidential address. Aiming to pursue ‘Practice before your preach’, Obama is all set to inspire his country men to follow his green footsteps. Stating a few effortless, everyday ways like turning off lights and unplugging chargers for electrical devices when not in use, he wants to demonstrate that it’s not hard to go green. In the past ex-President, Jimmy Carter, put solar panels on the roof of White House but now, Obama is gaining popularity as the greenest American President.
With all the alternative energy techniques and products hitting the horizon, the current generation has an array of options to switch to an eco-friendly lifestyle. But NASA has some plans to duck the looming threat of global warming with ………ducks, literally! The rubber duck is actually a highly technical device that will throw light on how fast Greenland’s ice caps are melting. Though folks dwelling far off from Greenland may not feel the heat, it is estimated that if Greenland’s 2.2 million square miles of ice ever melted completely, sea levels would rise by an estimated 24ft (7.3m), destroying cities such as London and New York. Roll over to understand how these cute ducks swim in to help NASA fight global warming.
Targeting television users, that we all are, Sony has stepped forward in a true eco-friendly style to find a solution for the rising amount of e-waste in the landfills of U.S. Dubbed as the Green Glove Service, this project will help people to chuck out as well as recycle their old televisions in a green manner. However the company also intends to cash on such a green move by offering this service only for Sony buyers. Only folks who will buy a 32 inch diagonal or larger new Sony BRAVIA LCD television at a Sony Style store or at sonystyle.com. are eligible for this green service. When the new product will be delivered, Sony service professionals will also pick up, at the consumer’s request, old televisions for proper recycling as part of its national Sony Take Back Recycling program in partnership with Waste Management Recycle America.
Most people excuse themselves from their responsibility towards our planet by believing that one person’s deed cannot change the world. I am annoyed by such a callous attitude and certainly believe in Mother Theresa’s words – “We ourselves feel that what we are doing is just a drop in the ocean. But the ocean would be less because of that missing drop. And Louis Palmer from a town Lucerne, in Switzerland, too holds the same thought. Since the young age of fourteen, Louis has been nursing this dream of being the first person to travel across the globe in a solar powered vehicle. Last year, 3 July 2007, he managed to materialize his dream and set off in his solar taxi. Since he didn’t come across any such commercial vehicle in the market, the guy built his own version to fulfill his dream and make a point to the world. Fitted with highly efficient solar cells and its ZEBRA High-Energy Battery, the Solar taxi hits the road powered in broad daylight.
The need to conserve energy and water has been under prime focus in the recent past and in the present times too for an inhabitable future. It has become mandatory to inculcate conserving habits in every act of the day. UK designer, Jonathan Banton, has fabricated a simple yet green product that nourishes the idea of making the best out of the otherwise wasted energy while cooking. Dubbing it as Osmos, this concept resembles a raised lid or tray from the kitchen cabinet. Crafted out of bone china, it is shaped to stay on a cooking vessel and absorb all the steam and heat that is lost while cooking food. The top of Osmos houses tiny green herbs and plants that thrive on all the nourishment provided by the base layer. It is designed to recycle all the lost energy during the cooking process to grow more greens for further cooking.
Most of us answer the nature’s call without given a second thought to the amount of water wasted in doing so. I am not suggesting that we stop or avoid relieving our bowels, but certainly we can pull ourselves up for using water efficiently while doing so. With the onset of the 8th annual World Toilet Summit in Macau, issues related to affordable and environmentally-friendly sanitation will be tackled. The meeting will also focus on the grave problem of about 2.5 billion people worldwide who still do not have access to hygienic toilets. Developed countries like U.S is also struggling to tackle water efficiency and clean complete flushing issues. A study states that inefficient toilets are responsible for most of the water wasted in American homes. Though we have seen water efficient flush systems and dual flush systems hit the shelves in the recent past, this meet will focus on newer sustainable technologies. A few noteworthy ones are – self-cleaning toilets, solar-powered commodes that run without water, units that can convert waste into bio-gas, to heat water for bathing and washing.
It is time to turn to another planet as our globe is facing the trial of being fiercely overpopulated. Overpopulation in turn is leading to disappearance of reserves and resources. In spite of all the attempts to save our earth and its natural wealth, the future doesn’t seem to be promising. WWF Living Planet Report 2008 sums up that the world is heading for an environmental credit crunch! Thanks to the never-ending human demands that are stripping this planet of its natural treasury at alarming rate. Pushing aside the ongoing global financial crunch, its time to wake up to the non-reversible damages that humans have incurred upon their own livable planet. James Leape, the director general of WWF International rightly states that “Reckless consumption is endangering our future prosperity.” The report also pinches us with a terrifying fact that if our demands on the planet continue at the same rate, by the mid-2030s, we’ll need the equivalent of two planets to maintain our lifestyles.
Exxon announced profits reaching up to $11.68 billion which makes it the highest profit ever made by a US company. The company maybe earning the most with its investments into oil related deals, but how much does this company invest into alternative energy research? The company officially comments that it regularly invests into alternatives but a recent ABC news cast says that the company just pushes 1% of its profits on alternative energy investments sources.
