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November 10, 2009

Changing the Paradigm

Could Rust Belt cities reclaim their appeal?
Radical changes in urban life may come not from the thriving, green-leaning West Coast cities but from the ashes of decaying industrial cities such as Detroit, writes Aaron M. Renn. By concentrating on the urban core and reclaiming green spaces on abandoned tracts of land for farming and recreation, these forgotten cities may be able to reclaim their sparkle, he predicts. Newgeography.com (11/4)

Pioneers

FedEx launches first all-hybrid fleet
FedEx is launching the first all-hybrid fleet in the country, with 100 vans running delivery routes through the Bronx. The addition brings FedEx's hybrid fleet to 325 vehicles, which will cut the company's fuel use by 30 percent. The company introduced hybrid-electric vehicles in 2004 and estimates that the vehicles have reduced fuel use by 150,000 gallons and emissions by 1,521 metric tons. Environmental Leader (11/9)

One man's trash is another man's ... electricity
A utility company in the San Francisco area is collecting food scraps from 2,300 Bay area restaurants and grocery stores to create electricity. The scraps are collected in large tanks and, after processing, they yield methane gas, which the East Bay Municipal Utility District then uses to help power its wastewater facility. The EPA estimates that processing 50% of the country's food scraps in the same manner could power 2.5 million homes annually. USA TODAY (11/10)

Clean-coal race loses another competitor in the U.K.
The United Kingdom is racing to be the first country to deploy carbon-capture-and-storage technology -- often called "clean coal" -- but it suffered another setback on Monday as one of the groups competing to design the first demonstration plant dropped out of the running. A consortium that included Denmark's DONG Energy, RWE npower and Peel Energy quit the government-sponsored contest, complaining of the slow pace and the lack of regulatory certainty. The resignation casts doubt on whether the government can effectively get the technology off the ground. The Wall Street Journal/Environmental Capital blog (11/9)

Solutions

Mandate may encourage investment in algae fuel
Lawmakers may expand a biofuel mandate in the proposed climate-change bill to include biofuel made from algae and microorganisms. Observers note that such a proposal could encourage investment in the development of fuels made from algae, which produces fats that can be refined into gasoline and jet fuel. The Cincinnati Enquirer/Gannett Washington Bureau (11/9)

Considering a more cooperative approach to water
Forget about peak oil, says Todd Jarvis, associate director of the Institute for Water and Watersheds at Oregon State University -- it's time to worry about peak water. One in six people lives without consistent access to safe drinking water, and about a third of the world's population lacks adequate sanitation. Rather than granting unlimited water rights to property owners, Jarvis suggests adopting a system for sharing access and responsibility for aquifers cooperatively. The New York Times (free registration)/Green Inc. blog (11/9)

Bacteria offer sustainable option for shipping
Fragile goods may one day be shipped in soft wrapping of bacteria, if a new design concept called Bacs takes off. The system works by coating an item with culture of the bacterium acetobacter xylinum, and then feeding it a sugary substance that the bacteria turn into a "fibrous nano-scaled cellulose network." The result is a custom-fitted, biodegradable wrapper that resembles paper. TreeHugger (11/9)

Green Living

Pop-up hotels become increasingly popular in U.K.
The recently released World Travel Market Global Trends Report 2009 found that hotel companies are looking for more efficient, low-cost ways to build properties, causing a rise in pop-up hotels. "Pop-up hotels are environmentally friendly and appeal to the younger generations who seek out green yet innovative travel options," said Caroline Bremner, global travel and tourism research manager at Euromonitor International. TravelWeekly.co.uk (11/9)

SmartQuote

Groundwater is the oil of this century."

--Todd Jarvis, associate director of the Institute for Water and Watersheds at Oregon State University, as quoted by The New York Times' Green Inc. blog

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