Sunday, Aug 23, 2009 11:00 AM PDT (10:00 AM Doors)
at Thunderbird Stadium, UBC tickets are available at www.a4k.ca

Scrap-It is a voluntary program that provides incentives to help British Columbians to trade in pre-1993, high-polluting vehicles for cleaner kinds of transportation with lower emissions.

The Scrap-It Program was previously available only in the Lower Mainland. This additional investment means the program will be expanded across the province and redesigned to put a greater emphasis on reducing CO₂ from older vehicles.

The $15 million in additional funding will go towards doubling the largest incentives to $2,000, which would apply to the choices with the largest GHG reduction, such as a hybrid car or transit passes. A base incentive of $500 will apply to choices with low GHG-reduction benefits, and a new middle-level incentive of $1,000 will be created to encourage choices with medium emission reductions, such as the purchase of more fuel-efficient vehicles.

To qualify for the program, the vehicle to be scrapped must be a 1993 or older model, have been insured for the past year, and be driven to the collection point under its own power.

It is expected the program will scrap between 10,000-20,000 older vehicles over the next three years. If an average of three tonnes a year of CO₂ is secured from 15,000 scrapped vehicles for a three-year remaining life, it would reduce CO₂ emissions in B.C. by an estimated 135,000 tonnes.

The Scrap-It Society is in the process of re-designing the program that currently operates in the Lower Mainland, and developing the program that will be offered across the province.
For More Information:

Scrap-It Program
#70 – 10551 Shellbridge Way
Richmond, B.C.
V6X 2W9

Fax: 604-214-9965
Toll-free Infoline: 1-888-655-1000

http://www.scrapit.ca/

Wind power is the fastest growing form of alternative energy in the world today. Skilled workers are being sought after and the wind energy industry seems to be ahead of the educational field in turning out wind trained employees. If you have been looking for a career change or just graduating from high school and looking for direction in what future markets may hold, receiving wind training certification or other studies in this area would be a terrific way to go.

Wind training classes offer a basic knowledge and in many instances, hands on training in the wind industry field. There are schools based all across the US with more being developed and offered all the time. Degree programs also exist at some of the major universities in wind. Some examples of classes available include programmable controllers, industrial controls and motors, industrial codes and troubleshooting and wind system technicians. You don’t have to earn a degree in engineering in order to learn about the basic structure of wind energy but mechanical engineers will always have a place in this industry.

Some schools offer research facilities where the most up to date testing takes place in the development area of wind training. One such school in Texas offers laboratory areas including a 200m tower, SODAR, low-level profiler, weather balloon facility, SMART-R mobile radar, boundary layer wind tunnel and a huge wind library. If you have an interest in behavioral science mathematics, communications social science or communications, wind research could be just what you are looking for. Research will always be a continuing contributor in the wind energy area, testing and improving the technology of our resources.

Perhaps you are just coming out of the automobile industry and looking for an area that you are familiar with. For the more mechanical in nature, courses are available in valves, hydraulics, industrial electrical wiring, welding, machine tooling, mechanical drawings and OSHA safety. This would be a perfect time for you to use what you already know and freshen up toward the new applications of your existing career skills.

The Consortium for Education in Renewable Energy Technology (CERET) is a term that is becoming well known in the educational field for students and becoming readily available at universities and online study. This certificate program offers students the theoretical knowledge necessary to begin a career in all renewable energy technologies, including renewable energy and alternative vehicle fuels. Energy management careers are also started with this certification program.

The world is evolving into an entirely new area of technology with wind energy. Whether your interests lie in the manufacturing segment of turbine production and tower production or wind farm development and site prospecting, this is the way of the future. Research and development, manufacturing and management positions require additional education in order to phase into the alternative fuel industry but not one that will be put to waste. Know your field of study and begin on a brighter tomorrow with our changing trends in energy.

Auto manufacturers interested in producing plug-in hybrid or battery-powered vehicles are facing two problems. First, they are determined to use Li Ion battery technology that remains unproven for automobile traction applications. Why are they not using the long-proven NiMH traction batteries that are still in use today?

Secondly, these auto manufacturers will be buying their batteries from foreign manufacturers because there are no domestic manufacturers. In our rush to develop vehicles that will free us from petroleum acquired from foreign countries, are we not swapping one foreign dependence for another? Let’s examine both of these issues. Every hybrid automobile in production today uses NiMH batteries, all of which are produced outside of the United States. As pointed out in a recent Union of Concerned Scientists newsletter, these NiMH batteries have been performing extremely well, even though most are far smaller in capacity than drivers would like. However, nearly every auto manufacturer that has announced future production of a plug-in hybrid or fully electric automobile claim their vehicles must run on Li Ion batteries. With the exception of the Tesla and AC Propulsion limited implementations, Li Ion batteries have no track record in traction applications. Yet the Panasonic EV-95 NiMH battery packs used in fully electric Toyota RAV4 EV mini-SUV’s have demonstrated lifetimes in excess of nine years and average vehicle miles in excess of 100,000 miles.

Some technologists anticipate only a 50,000-mile lifetime for Li Ion batteries. If NiMH batteries are being used so successfully, why are American manufacturers fixated on Li Ion batteries?

Part of the reason is that petroleum company Chevron owns the patent for the Ovonics NiMH traction battery. Under the ruse of saying they have not had sufficiently convincing proposals brought to them, Chevron continues to deny licenses to any company proposing to manufacture new NiMH traction batteries. Equally aggravating is Chevron’s having filed suit against Toyota in 2003 after Chevron had acquired the Ovonics patent. Part of the settlement reached in this suit enjoined Toyota-Panasonic from manufacturing any additional EV-95 batteries. So every RAV4 EV on the road today (about 320 in private hands and an unknown number of fleet use) is running on its original NiMH battery pack. There were some NiMH battery companies “grandfathered in” at the time of the Chevron/Toyota settlement, but their products are either too small to use in place of the EV-95 or they are inferior in performance.

Surprisingly, Chevron’s legal constraints on NiMH traction battery manufacture are never mentioned as reasons for American manufacturers’ choice of Li Ion chemistry for their batteries. For example, GM has argued that NiMH batteries are substantially heavier per kilowatt-hour than Li Ion batteries. While this claim is true, such weight had not been a barrier to using NiMH batteries to power the more than 500 Toyota RAV4 EV’s currently on the road for more than 110 miles per charge and for a fleet-average use of over 80,000 miles. Nor was it a barrier when they powered about 400 EV-1’s for more than 110 miles between charges before 2003. Ironically, the Li Ion traction pack proposed by GM for the VOLT will weigh more than an equivalently performing EV-95 battery pack because GM has derated the Li Ion pack’s state-of-charge range compared to that used by Toyota for the EV-95.

Finally, regardless of technological base, there are no NiMH or Li Ion batteries manufactured in the United States. One of the reasons many people are pushing for the manufacture of plug-in hybrid and fully-electric vehicles is to reduce the United States’ dependence on foreign oil. With such advocacy, are we not merely switching problems here: from dependence on oil extracted from Middle Eastern countries, whose populations are hostile to Western countries, to dependence on batteries manufactured in the volatile economies of the Asia?

SEA should lead the much-needed discussion of how we can obtain an adequate supply of NiMH or Li Ion batteries from American, not foreign, manufacturers for our hoped-for next generation of automobiles. SEA and other “green” organizations, interested in bringing to market as quickly as possible the next generation of hybrid and electric automobiles, should be holding Chevron’s feet to the fire over Chevron’s deliberately blocking the licensing of Ovonics-derivative NiMH technology. They should also be advocating federal subsidies to encourage American industries, such as Johnson Controls and Ovonics, to develop the battery manufacturing plants needed to supply the traction batteries for this next generation of vehicles.

The sooner this advocacy begins and stakeholders are engaged, the sooner plug-in hybrid and battery-powered vehicles will appear in auto dealer show rooms. Paul M. Rybski is an associate professor in and former chair of the Department of Physics at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. He joined UW-Whitewater in 1987 after having been a research scientist at Yerkes Observatory of the University of Chicago.

This entry was posted by Michael Stebbins on February 26, 2009 at 12:35 pm.

The Sears Tower in Chicago is to undergo a “green” change that will cost a cool $350 million. The plan is to make the 110-story office tower,the tallest building in the United States as well as in the Western Hemisphere at a height of 1,450 feet, “a beacon for environmentally sound space.” Green Sears Tower American Landmark Properties, which owns Sears Tower, expects to cut the building’s electricity consumption by 80% and water consumption by 40%. Sears Tower, built in 1973, will be renamed Willis Tower later in the summer of 2009.

The 9-point “green” plan for Sears Tower includes the following measures:

1.Replacing the tower’s 16,000 tinted single-pane windows and creating a ‘thermal break’ between Chicago’s chilly winters and hot summers and the interior.

2.Installing gas boilers equipped with fuel cells, which generate electricity, heat and cooling.

3.Revamping the tower’s 104 elevators and 15 escalators to reduce their usage of electricity by 40%.

4.Conserving 24 million gallons of water with new restroom fixtures and ‘condensation capture.’

5.‘Harvesting daylight’ by installing systems that automatically dim lighting based on available natural light.

6.Installing solar panels to heat water.

7.Erecting wind-turbines, if possible.

8.Planting green roofs in order to reduce storm runoff and the urban heat island effect.

9.Replacing granite plazas and walls surrounding Sears Tower with trees, terraced park space, glass storefronts, and an interactive digital display.

Countertops are often showpieces in kitchens and bathrooms. They speak to the style and environmental sensibilities of the homeowner. And because we assemble our meals on them and use them every day in the bathroom, their environmental and health effects are intimately linked with our daily lives.

KEY CONSIDERATIONS

Because of the beating counter tops take over their lifetime, durability and stain resistance are key considerations. Carefully choosing your material and adopting common-sense practices, however, will allow you to minimize burns, stains and cuts and have a beautiful, environmentally sound countertop that will be the envy of visitors. There are several green options for counter tops and here are the top three to consider when redesigning your home.

MATERIALS IN DEPTH

Solid Surfacing: Paper Composite Paper composite surfaces are composed of paper and other fibers that have been impregnated with resin. Paper composite handles heat well, is very durable. PaperStone and Richlite are two of the more well-known brands. Both companies take steps to make their products more environmentally sound. Richlite uses pulp from sustainably managed forests and Paperstone incorporates up to 100 percent recycled paper pulp, much of which is post-consumer. Both can be sealed with mineral oil to improve moisture and stain resistance. Maintaining paper composites over their long lives will reduce their overall environmental impact; a nonabrasive cleaner and a sponge are adequate for routine cleanings. This material does not nick easily or dull knives (it’s often used in cutting boards), though, as with all materials, be wary of cutting directly on it to prolong the life of your counter as well as your knives. * easy to clean * durable (particularly impact and heat resistant)

- Handles up to 350 degrees of direct heat * Can be scratched, very stain resistant *

$33 + per square foot

 With the lighter color options, the countertop will have a slight mottled appearance. Although the countertop does contain UV inhibitors, the color will patina into a darker look with a rich, warm appearance.

www.richlite.com/countertop

www.paperstoneproducts.com/

Stainless Steel Stainless steel is an alloy of steel, nickel and at least 10.5 percent chromium. Because of the impacts of mining, particularly those associated with chromium mining, and the energy used to produce it, stainless steel is not inherently a green material. However, stainless steel typically contains 65 to 80 percent recycled content-up to 100 percent is available-and it’s fully recyclable. A good place to go to get money in exchange for your steel is NorthStar Metal Recycling. www.northstarmetalrecycling.com/home.html

Stainless steel is a wonderfully hygienic product to have in the kitchen. Since stainless steel countertops can virtually be entirely seamless they make cleaning a dream! Stainless steel countertops offer very high durability and low maintenance, and do not offgas. They scratch easily and show fingerprints, but if stainless steel is sanded to a brushed finish, it helps hide prints. Scratches can be reconditioned in place if they are shallow, though the nicks and marks of daily use give stainless steel a nice patina over time. Leaving extremely hot pots on stainless steel may mar it. Use near cooking or wet areas. Because it can come pre-assembled, you can use stainless in a variety of places mixed with other kitchen counter surfaces. Stainless steel can seem a little cold and industrial but when combined with softer color palettes and warm woods, it can actually add great beauty to your space.

Maintenance:

Use a cleaner with a high alcohol content that dries quickly and does not leave a film. Buff scratches with a scouring pad, following the grain of the metal.

$85 to $150 per square foot installed.

This price variance depends on your choice of thickness, design and installation process. www.questmetal.com/index.htm

Terrazzo Terrazzo consists of crushed stone and glass set in a cement or epoxy substrate that is buffed smooth. Overall, terrazzo can be a good green choice due to its 40-year-plus lifespan, low maintenance and high recycled content, especially if you use local materials to avoid the transportation-related energy and emissions. Glass, stone and other recycled materials can make up as much as 95 percent of the materials in terrazzo. Products like those from EnviroGLAS and Icestone have particularly high recycled content. An exciting new material becoming popular for counter tops is Icestone® which is a mixture of 100% recycled glass and concrete. It looks and performs like mined stone and is installed and maintained like granite. It needs to be resealed yearly just like natural stone to keep it stain resistant. It can be shaped, cut water jet, inlaid, mounted vertically or horizontally. While there are 24 standard colors available, the color palette is infinite. IceStone® durable surfaces are strong like granite, not as porous as marble and heat-resistant like stone. Ice stone is VOC free. easy to clean resistant to stains and burning

$60 + per square foot www.icestone.biz

www.enviroglasproducts.com

Icestone and Paperstone are available through Greenworks building supplies. www.greenworksbuildingsupply.com

If you would like further information regarding this topic or if you have interior design question please contact us at New Leaf Interior Design at 604.603.1999 or by email at info@newleafinteriordesign.com

Sample challenges include:

Collect five pieces of trash in a park or other public place and throw them in a garbage or recycling bin.

Catch rainwater to water your plants.

Buy 5 local products next time you go grocery shopping.

I would love to hear stories from anyone who is participating. Share this link with your friends and get others on board as well. Remember, together we can make a difference.

Blogs

@greenoptions – Green Options is a blog that covers a wide variety of environmental issues, from conservation to green products. Their tweets provide similar content. A sample tweet:

@IdealBite – Ideal Bite is a blog that focuses on small changes you can make to create a greener life. Their tweets offer tips on making your life more sustainable. A sample tweet:

@jetsongreen – Preston is a contributor to the JetsonGreen blog. His tweets cover tons of green building topics. A sample tweet:

@maxgladwell – Max Gladwell is a blog founded by Rob Reed (check out his recent Mashable article: 10 Ways to Change the World through Social Media) that focuses on green living and social media. The blog’s tweets cover both topics, with a focus on how green living and social media intersect. A sample tweet:

@sustainablog – Jeff McIntire-Strasburg is the founder of Sustainablog. His tweets span the spectrum of environmental issues and sustainable living topics. A sample tweet:

@treehugger – Treehugger is a leading environmental blog owned by Discovery. Their tweets cover every aspect of green and environmental news. A sample tweet:

@TwilightEarth – Adam Shake is the founder of Twilight Earth, an organization that promotes news, discussion, activism, and advocacy to save the environment. He tweets about issues related to the organization’s mission. A sample tweet:

@gmcheeseman – Gina Cheeseman is a freelance blogger and writer who focuses on social justice issues. She tweets about social and environmental issues. A sample tweet:

@GreenAdvantage – Andrew Winston is the author of “Green Recovery” and co-author of “Green to Gold.” He’s also an environmental strategist, and tweets about green news, especially issues with global impact. A sample tweet:

@greenergirl – Dianne Hanlon-Druyff runs the GreenerGirl blog about eco-friendly beauty, fashion and food. She tweets about the same topics. A sample tweet:

@greenlagirl – Siel is an environmental writer and blogger. She tweets about sustainable living. A sample tweet:

@greenrobeen – Robeen tweets about green living on a budget, sharing tons of great tips and tricks for living an eco-friendly life without spending tons of money. A sample tweet:

@GreenSara – Sara Rampersaud is the founder of YourGreenReview.com, a sustainable business consultant, and eco-preneur. She tweets about sustainable businesses and other environmental topics. A sample tweet:

@greenskeptic – ScottEdward Anderson is the founder of The Green Skeptic. His tweets focus mostly on green economics issues. A sample tweet:

@greenyourdecor – Jennae Petersen is a graphic designer and amateur interior designer. She covers green interior design and related green topics. A sample tweet:

@hyperlocavore – Liz McLellan is the founder of the social network hyperlocavore.com. Her tweets mostly focus on the local food movement and related topics. A sample tweet:

@jejacquot – Jeremy Jacquot is a writer for DeSmogBlog, Discover Magazine, and Science Progress. He tweets about a variety of environmental topics, mostly related to his articles. A sample tweet:

@jenandcricket – Jen Boulden is the founder of IdealBite.com and an animal lover. Her tweets cover a huge variety of green topics, but often focus on animal-related issues. A sample tweet:

@joannayarrow – Joanna Yarrow is a sustainable living “explorer” and founder of Beyond Green. She tweets prolifically about green news and issues. A sample tweet:

@kgrandia – Kevin Grandia is the managing editor of DeSmogBlog.com and a co-founder of VoteForEnvironment.ca. He tweets about environmental issues with a focus on green transportation. A sample tweet:

@kiwimeg – Meg is a blogger and environmentalist. She tweets about environmental issues, focusing on sharing resources to help people make a real difference. A sample tweet:

@KSuzJ – Kristin Johnson is the web producer for the National Wildlife Federation. She tweets about tons of eco topics, especially those related to the NWF’s mission. A sample tweet:

M – R

@molfamily – The producers of the Energy Trust Better Living Show, the largest sustainable living festival in the Pacific Northwest. Their tweets revolve around sustainable living and environmental issues. A sample tweet:

@MomGoesGreen – Doreen is the mom behind the MomGoesGreen blog. Her tweets follow her progress as she moves toward the goal of “greening” her life. As a result, she very often tweets great eco resources, useful for anyone with a similar goal. A sample tweet:

@MyGreenSide – Wendy Gabriel is a green living writer for Examiner.com. She tweets about sustainable and green living, including retweeting tons of great resources from others. A sample tweet:

@NikkiJade – Nicole McCallum is the co-founder of The Green Rocket. She tweets about eco news and green living. A sample tweet:

@OliviaZaleski – Olivia Zaleski is the host of CNN and Fortune Magazine’s “Business of Green” series. She tweets about green living and green business. A sample tweet:

@podcarnews – Bryan Williams is a Personal Rapid Transit (PRT) enthusiast. His tweets focus on new PRT news and developments. A sample tweet:

@revkin – Andy Revkin covers environmental issues for The New York Times. His tweets explore environmental issues worldwide. A sample tweet:

S – W

@sroakes – Summer Rayne Oakes is a model and environmental activist, and the host of Discovery Network’s “Planet Green.” She tweets about tons of different environmental topics. A sample tweet:

@starfocus – Danielle Brigida is an employee at the National Wildlife Federation. She tweets about NWF and other green subjects. A sample tweet:

@steveoffutt – Steve Offutt is an environmentalist and climate change expert. He tweets about climate change and related issues. A sample tweet:

@sweetorganics – Sandra Schwarz is the owner of online eco-boutique Sweet Organics and Naturals. Her tweets cover a variety of environmental issues, as well as information about green products. A sample tweet:

@swimwithswain – Christopher Swain is swimming more than 1000 miles in the Atlantic Ocean in orders to help students start projects related to improving the condition of the world’s oceans. He tweets about his journey and ocean-related topics. A sample tweet:

@thegoodhuman – David is the writer and publisher behind TheGoodHuman.com. He tweets about his blog posts and green living. A sample tweet:

@windpoweruk – “Tipi Man” tweets about renewable energy, specifically focusing on wind energy in the United Kingdom and offering up tons of great resources. A sample tweet:

Twitter has a huge green community. There are green media, green companies, and green charities all active on the microblogging service, as well as a whole bunch of individual environmentalists and green bloggers. The #EcoMonday hashtag — the environmental equivalent of #FollowFriday, in which Twitter users suggest “green” tweeters to follow and share green news and info — has grown into a regular trending topic every Monday, along with a variety of other green initiatives.

Below are more than 75 environmentalists, conservationists, green-living enthusiasts, eco experts, and green organizations that offer up some excellent eco information on Twitter(). We’ve broken the list up into two categories, people and organizations/publications. Please leave other great green Twitter users that deserve a follow in the comments, because we couldn’t possibly list them all.

People

The first part of our list is focused on individual people whose tweets are mostly related to environmental issues like sustainability, conservation, green living, alternative energy, and climate change. Our list touches just a small number of the essential Twitter users anyone interested in the environment should follow. If you’d like to recommend additional users, please add them in the comments below.

A – F

@brightgreen – Tom Savage is the founder of brightgreentalent.com. His tweets cover a variety of environmental subjects, including green jobs. A sample tweet:

@britesprite – Chris Milton is a journalist who focuses on sustainability topics. His tweets largely focus on environmental and social issues. A sample tweet:

@carbonOutreach – Erica Grigg is a British Council Low Carbon Futures UK Advocate for 2008-2009 and the blogger behind Carbon Outreach. She tweets about environmental issues and climate change. A sample tweet:

@EcoFan – JD Carr is an environmentalist and media entrepreneur who’s planning to launch a new site, Greenenergy2030.com, this summer. He tweets about alternative energy and other green issues. A sample tweet:

@ecofashionista – Kelly Drennan is an eco-fashion and sustainable living activist. She tweets about green fashion and living, as well as green issues. A sample tweet:

@EcoGlamourista – Sheila V. Flores tweets about sustainable beauty, fashion and lifestyle topics. A sample tweet:

@ecopolitologist – Tim Hurst is a writer and editor at Green Options and Ecopolitology. His tweets cover a broad spectrum of green subjects. A sample tweet:

@ecosphericblog – BethBot is the blogger behind The EcoSpheric Blog and a freelance writer who writes about all things sustainable and green. Her tweets cover the spectrum of green news and issues. A sample tweet:

@ecovegangal – Whitney Lauritsen is a filmmaker and eco-friendly vegan. She tweets about green living and retweets tons of awesome green information. A sample tweet:

@ecowarriorr – Hillary Newman covers green news and issues for the Huffington Post. She tweets about trends in green and eco living and is very involved with her followers. A sample tweet:

@ejgertz – EJ Gertz is a journalist and editor. She’s written for Dwell, Popular Mechanics online, and Scientific American online about technology, science, and environmental topics. Her tweets run the gamut of environmental topics. A sample tweet:

@elaineishere – Elaine Hsieh is a green building specialist and US Green Building Council Pacific Regional Council Chair. She tweets largely about green building topics and other environmental issues. A sample tweet:

@focusorganic – Stefanie is a blogger and nature lover who tweets mostly about organic and local foods. A sample tweet:

@follownathan – Nathan A. Winters is on a bike trip across America to support the Nature Conservancy. He tweets about his trip, his experiences, and green issues. A sample tweet:

@ForestPolicy – Deane Rimerman is a Forest Policy Analyst, editor and writer, among other things. He tweets about conservation issues. A sample tweet: