Green Technology

Idling buses  and trucks waste lots of fuel and add to pollution.  Can technology provide a solution ?

You bet !

" ...  The Provider, a school bus operator in Brentwood, N.H., ... first embraced wireless navigation technology from Navman Wireless ... thinking that it could helps with better tracking the mileage and hours related to individual busing contracts."

" ... realized that excessive idling ... could be addressed and controlled with the technology. ...  When an alert is triggered, dispatchers call the driver in question ... because idling wastes fuel. ..."

Via:  SmartPlanet  LINK

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Amtrak is experimenting with a bio-diesel fueled train ... called the Heartland Flyer.  

" ...  nation’s first-ever test of a cleaner and renewable biodiesel fuel blend to power a daily interstate passenger train between Oklahoma City and Fort Worth ... research project ... on the daily Heartland Flyer train operated by Amtrak ... biodiesel blend includes beef byproduct and is provided by a Texas-based vendor."

" ... the biodiesel blend known as B20 (20% pure biofuel and 80% diesel) reduced hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide each by 10 percent, reduced particulates by 15 percent and sulfates by 20 percent. ... measurements will be taken ... at the end of 12 months so any impact of the biodiesel on valves and gaskets can be measured...."

Via:  Amtrak LINK

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David de Rothschild has built a boat from recycled plastic bottles and plans to sail it from San Francisco in the US to Sydney, Australia. 

 Yes he is from the famous Rothschild family. 

The boat and crew will travel in a green manner (composting toilets and vertical green garden fertilized by composted poop) Power for on board electronics comes from solar cells and wind turbines.  The boat uses glue made from cashew nuts.

Follow the journey and check out the web site for lots of geen info.

Via:  Plastiki  LINK

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San Francisco International (SFO) is committed to being green.  They have efforts underway to reduce their environmental impact by reducing noise, reducing global warming and preserving natural resources like air and water.

" ...  recognize the importance that environmental sustainability plays in helping achieve this goal ... committed to drastically reducing its environmental impact over the next decade.  ... working to reduce contributions to global warming, improve air and water quality, reduce noise impacts, and preserve natural resources."

SFO now offers the Climate Passport program; a way to help travelers reduce their travel carbon footprint by purchasing offsets.  

Here is how it works ... " ... drop by a kiosk that will calculate the carbon impact of your travel ... buy offsets from the kiosk manager, 3Degrees, ... Some of the money will also go to the San Francisco Carbon Fund ... offsets purchased ... are verified by the Climate Action Registry."

Check out the interactive carbon calculator ...

On Sunday Oct 18, the cost for a carbon offset for a round trip flight from Philadelphia to San Francisco and back would cost $22.82 and off set 3,727 lbs of CO2.

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So you are going on a trip and want to be green and rent a hybrid.  Sounds easy enough ... except that only approximately 1% of the rental fleet consist of hybrids.

"Booking a hybrid rental car can be a big hassle. To boost your chance of scoring one of these green rides, follow Budget Travel's advice in four easy steps ...".

For the Video "How to Rent a Hybrid" click the LINK ...

Via: BudgetTravel  Link

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Want to travel Green?  Vroom, Vroom, Vroom is a car rental service that works with all the major rental aagencies and offers both lower prices and a carbon offset for your rental (based on the miles driven and carbon emissions of your rental car).  You can even get a green hotel as well!

" ... paying for all of the carbon offsets for all car rentals reserved through VroomVroomVroom.com. .. Help the environment by renting a car with VroomVroom Vroom.com. The average contribution to offset carbon emissions for each car rental is $3.32. ...be "environmentally responsible" and drive to a green hotel available in every price range in almost every city."

Via:  Vroom Vroom Vroom Link

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Ever wonder what impact your choice of travel destination / hotel has on the environment?  Wonder just how green your hotel / resort really is?

Check out wholetravel.com .... 

" ... Feel good about your vacation from the moment you start planning, and long after you return. ... sustainable travel options for everyone – from high-class luxury hotels to huts in the rainforest ... Whole Travel works against "green-washing" and ensures the sustainability of our destinations through Whole Ranking ®. You can see each hotel's Whole Ranking ® scores, and read about their philosophies in "Their Story".

Via:  wholetravel.com  Link

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 Element is a new hotel chain from Westin - owned by Starwood.  Element takes into account the 3Rs .... Reduce, Reuse and Recycle.  For those who would like to continue being GREEN when they travel this might be the way to go.

Read on for more >>>

" ...  being kind to the environment. All ... guest room ...  kitchen appliances are Energy Star rated. ...use as many recycled materials as possible in design and construction."

" ... incorporates eco-friendly materials wherever possible. ... carpets with up to 100% recycled content and recycled carpet cushions. Art ... is mounted on a base made from recycled tires. And low VOC (volatile organic compounds) paints improve indoor air quality ..."

" ... silverware and glassware to reduce waste generated by plastic utensils and paper cups. Bath amenities are in a dispenser system rather than wasteful multiple mini-bottles. ... guest rooms include recycling bins for paper, plastic and glass."

The first locations are:  Lexington, MA, (summner 2008), element Summerlin (Las Vegas, NV);
element Houston Vintage Park (Houston, TX), and element Arundel Mills (Baltimore, MD)

Via:  Element by Westin  Link

Continue reading "Element by Westin - New Eco Friendly Hotel Chain" »

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Green Fuel for airplanes! 

Green Flight International has made history buy having "... completed the world's first Jet aircraft flight powered by 100% biofuel ..."

They are planning an around the world approx. 22,000 nautical mile flight to further demonstrate their capabilities.  The date has not yet been set but he flight will "... set an example to the International community that it is possible to implement Alternative energy into mainstream transportation sources."

Green Flight International is based in Apopka, Florida.

Via:  Green Flight International Link

Continue reading "Bio-Diesel Flight Around the World" »

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California makes it easy to find out more about Green Hotels, their benefit to the environment  and more. 

" ... Green Lodging Program encourages State and local government travelers to seek out and give preference to these certified “green hotels.” ...Check out Green Resources for Travelers to find related forms and links."

Learn how to “green” your hotel and become part of the Green Lodging Program. Move towards reducing your impact on the environment through: Environmentally Preferable Purchasing (EPP), increasing your recycling and composting, and reducing your energy and water usage. ..."

"Why "Green" Hotels?"

• "Average-sized hotels purchase more products in one week than 100 families do in a year. We want at least 50 percent of those purchases to be environmentally preferable products."
• "Waste generation can be as high as 30 pounds per room per day; as much as 80 percent of these materials can be recycled."
• "Hospitality industry spends $3.7 billion a year on energy. Electricity use accounts for 60-70 percent of the utility costs of a typical hotel. We can introduce you to energy-efficient" products and practices that will reduce energy consumption, therefore lowering energy costs.
• "Two percent of California’s food waste comes from the hotel and lodging industry (112,000 tons per year). This food waste can be composted and/or donated to charities."
• "Typical hotels use 218 gallons of water per day per occupied room. Water-efficient fixtures can reduce water and sewer bills by 25-30 percent."

Via:  California Green Lodging  Link

Via:  California Green Lodging Program   Link 

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