Jurdy: Fact-based reality hits home
Jurdy finds the answer to the question, “Who are you going to believe: me or your lying eyes?” …
Latest
Porritt: 'Last chance' for sustainable future
Writer-environmentalist Jonathon Porritt argues in a new pamphlet released today — “Living Within Our Means” — that today’s economic and environmental crises both have their roots in the same flawed model of capitalism. Unless politicians act immediately to address the root cause of both crises, Porritt says, society faces a “perfect
cleantech
News you might have missed: 20 March 2009
Overwhelmed by all your end-of-the-workweek tasks? Not to worry: Greenbang is here to update you on recent cleantech news and developments you might have missed: * Japan says it aims to increase its solar-cell production from 25 percent of the world’s market today to more than one-third by 2020; * While
renewable energy
Urban farm goes green once, twice, thrice
A farm in Merton Abbey expects to slash its carbon emissions by some 10 tonnes per year through a new combination of wind, solar and biomass energy. Deen City Farm this week officially launched the new system, which features a 10-metre-tall wind turbine, an installation of 10 solar panels and
lighting
Kinetic power switches lights on wirelessly
A Canada-based subsidiary of Philips has developed an innovative system that uses photovoltaics and kinetic energy to wirelessly switch lights on and off. Ledalite’s Airwave™ technology requires no wiring or batteries. Instead, the simple action of pushing a switch generates enough kinetic energy to send a wireless command to
global warming
Fight against climate change, get sacked?
The Independent features a fascinating story this week about the first person awarded Employment Equality rights for his “philosophical belief” in climate change. Tim Nicholson was sacked last summer from his job as an environmental policy officer at Grainger plc. During an employment tribunal in London this week, a judge
photovoltaics
Doughnuts + tea = homemade photovoltaics
File this away in the “Do I Dare Try This at Home?” department: Register Hardware features a video link from a creative American who demonstrates how to make a homemade solar cell from doughnut sugar and Starbucks’ Passion Tea. While it might sound outrageous at first blush, watch the video
superconductors
The energy Holy Grail: Room-temp superconductors
British researchers say they’ve developed a new material that could help lead to more efficient electricity transmission with less energy loss. Scientists at the University of Liverpool and Durham University created the material from a football-shaped molecule called carbon60. They then used the material to study how superconductors might
Report: Firms without continuity plans 'living dangerously'
Too many organisations are still unprepared to deal with sudden business disruptions caused by such threats as electronic attacks or a global pandemic (PDF), according to a new report from the Chartered Management Institute in collaboration with Cabinet Office. “A Decade of Living Dangerously,” the institute’s 10th business continuity
alternative energy
With clean energy, it's save now, pay later: IEA
The global economic crisis might cause carbon dioxide emissions to drop — for now — but the longer-term impact could be higher emissions, Reuters reports. The article quotes Fatih Birol, chief economist of the International Energy Agency, who warns that slumping investment in alternative energy technologies could mean worsening greenhouse gas emissions
cleantech
Cleantech ticker: 20 March 2009
Cleantech news as it happens — check back for regular updates: * EU plans to rework a programme that pays developing countries to reduce carbon emissions could put climate-change investments at risk, officials warn; * Officials attending this week’s World Water Forum in Turkey have proposed a new certification standard for products
cleantech
News you might have missed: 19 March 2009
So what else is happening in the cleantech sector lately? Here are a few news stories you might have missed: * Mike O’Brien, the UK’s Energy and Climate Change Minister, said this week that continued investment in oil and gas are critical to “guarantee security of supplies at affordable