Green cars in line for better lithium-ion batteries

SAN JOSE, Calif. - The lithium-ion battery, already a fixture in personal electronic devices, soon will become the answer to high oil prices and environmental concerns as it bulks up to power rechargeable electric vehicles, government, university and industry panelists predicted Monday.

But although the technology shows great promise, battery makers worldwide still are grappling with high costs, the impact of charging and depletion on battery life, keeping the batteries cool and other issues, according to panelists at the Plug-In 2008 conference in San Jose.

Tien Duong, who works in emerging battery technology with the U.S. Department of Energy, told the group he believes lithium-ion batteries are ready to start displacing the nickel-metal-hydride batteries now used in many hybrid gas-electric vehicles.

Full Story: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25803020/

51 Things We Can Do to Save the Environment

Can one person slow global warming? Actually, yes. You—along with scientists, businesses and governments—can create paths to cut carbon emissions. Here is our guide to some of the planet's best ideas.

1.Turn Food Into Fuel
By Alice Park

Are corn husks better than corn for producing energy? Ethanol is the alternative fuel that could finally wean the U.S. from its expensive oil habit and in turn prevent the millions of tons of carbon emissions that go with it. The Department of Energy has doubled its 2005 commitment to funding research into biofuels—any non-petroleum fuel source, including corn, soybean, switchgrass, municipal waste and (ick) used cooking oil. Already, half of the nearly 11 billion bushels of corn produced each year is turned into ethanol, and most new cars are capable of running on E10 (10% ethanol and 90% gas).

Yet the eco-friendly fuel is beginning to look less chummy of late. Some of the 114 ethanol plants in the U.S. use natural gas and, yes, even coal to run the processors. And ethanol has to be trucked. Existing gas pipelines can't carry it because it corrodes iron. Then there are the economics. Producers depend on federal subsidies, and increasing demand for corn as fuel means the kernels keep getting pricier.

That's why researchers are prospecting for more alternatives, preferably ones that don't rely on food crops or a 51 cents-per-gallon tax break. Municipal waste, wood pulp and leftover grain and corn husks are all quite attractive; they can produce something called cellulosic ethanol, which contains more energy than corn. But they don't give up their bounty easily, so for now they're more expensive than corn-based ethanol to produce. Undeterred, researchers at several cellulosic-ethanol plants are developing innovative enzyme concoctions and heating methods to make the process more economic. Nothing like haste to make something out of waste.

2. Get Blueprints For a Green House
By Laura Locke

Reducing your impact on the earth is not just a question of what you drive but also of what you live in. Residential energy use accounts for 16% of greenhouse-gas emissions. If you begin thinking green at the blueprint stage, however, low-tech, pragmatic techniques will maximize your new home's efficiency. Installing those systems from the ground up is cheaper than retrofitting. "Doing simple things could drastically reduce your energy costs, by 40%," says Oru Bose, a sustainable-design architect in Santa Fe, N.M. For example, control heat, air and moisture leakage by sealing windows and doors. Insulate the garage, attic and basement with natural, nontoxic materials like reclaimed blue jeans. Protect windows from sunrays with large overhangs and double-pane glass. Emphasize natural cross ventilation. "You don't need to have 24th century solutions to solve 18th century problems," Bose says. Next, consider renewable energy sources like solar electric systems, compact wind turbines and geothermal heat pumps to help power your home. When you're ready to get creative, GreenHomeGuide.com will help you find bamboo flooring, cork tiles, and countertops made from recycled wastepaper.

To Read the rest of the article, http://www.time.com/time/specials/2007/environment/

How you can create less trash..

# Buy items in bulk from loose bins when possible to reduce the packaging wasted.
# Avoid products with several layers of packaging when only one is sufficient. About 33 of what we throw away is packaging.
# Buy products that you can reuse.
# Maintain and repair durable products instead of buying new ones.
# Check reports for products that are easily repaired and have low breakdown rates.
# Reuse items like bags and containers when possible.
# Use cloth napkins instead of paper ones.
# Use reusable plates and utensils instead of disposable ones.
# Use reusable containers to store food instead of aluminum foil and cling wrap.
# Shop with a canvas bag instead of using paper and plastic bags.
# Buy rechargeable batteries for devices used frequently.
# Reuse packaging cartons and shipping materials. Old newspapers make great packaging material.
# Compost your vegetable scraps.
# Buy used furniture - there is a surplus of it, and it is much cheaper than new furniture.

Source:http://www.seql.org/

ways to use less water...

# Check and fix any water leaks.
# Install water-saving devices on your faucets and toilets.
# Don't wash dishes with the water running continuously.
# Wash and dry only full loads of laundry and dishes.
# Follow your community's water use restrictions or guidelines.
# Install a low-flow shower head.
# Replace old toilets with new ones that use a lot less water.
# Turn off washing machine's water supply to prevent leaks.

consumption of water efficient is an important issue in saving the environment.

Kandalama Hotel: how they went environmental

Have you ever seen a hotel like this before? a hotel which is actually built around the nature Literally? Hotel Kandalama a Aitken Spence Group Hotel is located in the city of Dambulla in Sri Lanka. This hotel is classified as 5 Star Hotel and is one of my favorite hotels in the world.

"Heritance Hotels represent a unique Green Philosophy that combines responsible tourism with environment friendliness. The Heritance Kandalama has won awards as the most eco-friendly hotel in the world. It is by far the most environment friendly hotel in Sri Lanka..."

Innovations: Inflatable Solar Panels

Water heaters are one of the primary power-hungry devices in most households. That’s why the prospect of an affordable solar panel system is particularly exciting. I have always argued that green energy alternatives must be affordable in order to be a viable choice by the masses.

The inflatable SolarStore by British company, IDC, is planned for commercial availability at less than 100 pounds ($200). While most domestic solar systems take 10-20 years to return the initial investment, IDC promises that their system will pay back its cost in six months.

The company press release notes, “Although the SolarStore is inflatable, the structure of the system is strong and robust and it is anchored down by the weight of 30 litres of water. It is manufactured from a heavy-duty polymer that is designed to protect against dirt and rain. SolarStore is an eco-friendly solution, which saves nearly 0.2 tonnes of CO2 emissions each year.”

I think this is great news, and I hope we see more and more such viable environmental alternatives in fashion, technology decor and design.

Source: http://www.trendhunter.com/