Green Energy News Items - 2/21/2008
Burning Bush in Namibia
A 1MW electricity plant powered by invasive species of bush will supply electricity, while improving the ecosystem for animals, plants and indigenous people in Namibia. Thinning the bush will add grassland for the cattle that are so important to the native people.
As a side benefit, the project will also produce “Bushbloks”, briquettes that can be used to fuel cooking stoves as an alternative to cutting down trees, which is the common method used now. Because of this, deforestation is becoming a major problem in many parts of Africa. Read about this Burning Bush Project here.
A Green Steam Engine That Runs On Almost Anything
According to the inventors, you can build this engine yourself, run it on anything from waste heat to solar power, and power boats, generators, heat pumps, air conditioners, etc. Lightweight and compact, the Green Steam Engine could even be used in vehicles and at 5 lbs, can fit into small spaces where other engines would be too large.
At GreenSteamEngine.com, you can read about its patented method of converting reciprocating movement into rotary movement.
Call For Climate Change Action From Top Brands
Twelve of the world’s leading brands have called for a greater than 50 percent gas emission reduction by 2050. The 12 companies, including Sony, Allianz, Nike and Nokia, met at the WWF Climate Savers Conference at Sony headquarters in Tokyo.
Their declaration is the most far-reaching one yet from the business community and also declares that emissions must peak and start to decline within the next 10 to 15 years. That Leading Brands Call for Action on Climate Change is a very encouraging start to what could be a trend in the business world.
Shopping For a Better World With Carbon Offsets
Eco-conscious shoppers at the Stroemmen Storsenter Mall outside Oslo, Norway can do more than bring cloth bags to pack their groceries in. They can also buy CERs, UN approved carbon emission reduction certificates, and they’re going fast.
Individuals and small business firms are purchasing the certificates as fast as they’re offered. This will certainly help Norway’s effort to be carbon neutral by 2030. Norway Mall Offers Shoppers Greenhouse Gas Credits has more on this story.
Auto Technology Pulled From Thin Air
Hard to believe, it’s true, but this car that runs on air may be a reality soon. French developer, Guy Negre and Tata Motors of India have been working on their concept for over a decade and are ready to produce a model for in-town driving and one with a longer driving range due to an additional diesel or ethanol fuel tank.
There are already prototype models of the MiniCat and CityCat (the CAT is for Compressed Air Technology) and plans for a stripped down model with no top, windows or backseat. At a projected price of around $6,000, the MiniCat would be a viable alternative to higher-priced hybrids. A Mighty Wind? Compressed-Air Car Idea Gains Tailwind With Tata Backing has more on this intriguing concept car.