Over 40,000 electric vehicles (EV) are currently used in the United States. Most are used in fleet applications, from maintenance to checking parking meters; these EVs are mostly limited to 25 mph speed and 20 mile range. A growing number of fleet EVs, however, are early trails of a new generation of freeway-speed EVs that will be available to the mass consumer market in 2010.

Mitsubishi is on target to sell its electric vehicle in the U.S. in 2010. The i-EV is a friendly looking sub-compact which easily handles freeway speeds. It’s expected 100 mile-plus range per charge will meet the needs of urban dwellers and most in suburbia. The drive system uses three permanent magnetic synchronous motors which receive power from a 16kWh lithium battery stack. Tokyo Electric Power is currently testing ten i-EV

Nissan’s and Renault’s famous CEO, Carlos Ghosn, plans to be selling electric vehicles in the U.S. market in 2010. He anticipates more cities following London’s model of expensive congestion fees, with fee exemptions and preferred parking for zero-emission vehicles. In many markets, Nissan will offer electric vehicles with permanently installed lithium batteries that will be trickle charged. Nissan owns 51% of Automotive Energy Supply Corporation, which plans to be producing lithium batteries for 10,000 vehicles annually by 2010. Plant expansion has begun to produce lithium batteries for 60,000 electric vehicles annually.

By 2012, Ghosn plans to have a Renault-Nissan alliance offering a wide range of electric vehicles in many major markets, charging ahead of all competition. Economist Article

In Israel and Denmark, Renault and Nissan will partner with Project Better Place. to sell electric vehicles without batteries. Project Better Place will lease batteries that can be quickly exchanged at many locations. The exchange will take no longer than a traditional gasoline fill-up, appealing to motorists needing extended range. The battery lease will cost a fraction of what most now spend on gasoline.

Popular in Europe, Think will bring its electric vehicle to the U.S. Think city reaches a top speed of 65 miles per hour and can drive up to 110 miles on a single charge. Think city meets all European and US federal motor vehicle safety requirements. At the Geneva Motorshow earlier this year, Think announced a strategic partnership with energy giant General Electric, also an investor in Think. By 2011 look for a larger TH!NK Ox. Think has also established partnerships in the US with battery suppliers A123 and EnerDel. Think has established a U.S. headquarters and will begin sales in the U.S. before 2010. A123 Technology Review Article

In 2009, the smart ev may be available in the U.S. The cars 70/70 specs are appealing for city drivers: 70 mile range, 70 mile per hour freeway speed. Daimler’s smart ev is in trail in the UK with the Energy Saving Trust, Islington and Coventry Councils, Lloyds Pharmacy, EDF Energy, BT, and other fleets. To achieve a range of 72 miles, it is using the Zebra sodium-nickel-chloride battery which has caused maintenance difficulties in some U.S. fleets.

The cityZENN is planned for a top speed of 80 mph and a range of 250 miles. Powered by EEStor barium-titanate ceramic ultracapacitors, the cityZENN will be rechargeable in less than 5 minutes! Venture capitalists are betting that stealth EEStor is real. On Friday, May 30, ZENN Motor Company announced that it had raised another $15 million dollars.

Most major auto makers continue to believe that most U.S. customers will insist on ranges exceeding 250 miles and a national infrastructure of fuel refilling (or recharging) in five minutes. Even as GM announces factory closings and plummeting sales, CEO Richard Wagner states that GM is committed to bring the plug-in hybrid Chevy Volt to market by the end of 2010. If it can deliver at under $30,000, the vehicle will offer tough competition to some of the smaller EV players.

As Toyota solidifies its number one global market share leadership, it also remains on target to deliver a plug-in hybrid to the U.S. market by the end of 2010. It is likely to have an all-electric range of 40 miles and a gasoline range 10X that amount. Watch Toyota use an expanded line of hybrid vehicles to unset GM, making Toyota the market leader is the U.S.

May rained on every auto maker’s parade in the U.S., except Honda, which set sales records with its fuel efficient Civic. Honda is passing Chrysler to become the #4 seller in the U.S. Honda is rumored to be bringing a new hybrid to the U.S. next year priced in the mid-teens. This will give hybrids a big boost in market share from the current 3% of total vehicle sales.

While I was giving a speech at the Fuel Cell 2008 , Honda announced that it would lease 200 Clarity FCX hydrogen fuel cell cars for $600 per month, including maintenance. In June, it will start selecting from 50,000 who have expressed interest in the 270-mile range four-door sedan. The FCX Clarity is aerodynamic and beautifully styled. Honda’s new hybrid is likely to have a similar body style.

Some critics have dismissed electric vehicles as golf carts for retirees and sport car toys for millionaires. These critics have missed a fundamental market shift that started with the success of hybrid-electric cars, light electric vehicles, and with e-scooters. Customer enthusiasm for electric vehicles is the result of many factors:

• Oil Prices
• ZEV Cities & Congestion Tax
• Electronic drive simplifies auto design
• Vehicle weight reduction with electric accessories and components
• Reduced maintenance because of few mechanical components
• GHG Regulation
• Battery technology advances that reduce cost and weight
• Increased battery safety
• Success of hybrid-electrics

At the FRA Renewable Energy Investor Conference (my presentation handouts), I led a panel discussion about electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids. Major private equity and project finance investors were optimistic in sessions about electric vehicles, solar power, wind power, and carbon trading. Many expressed discouragement in the biofuels sessions, but at the same time saw increased opportunities with bioenergy and bio-methane from landfills.

In a few years, millions will be driving full-featured freeway-speed four-door sedan electric vehicles. Look for a shift away from foreign oil to riding on local renewable energy.

John Addison publishes the Clean Fleet Report and speaks at transportation and energy conferences.

Citing green hotels, coconut oil fuel for airlines and even recyclable golf tees, executives in one of the world’s largest industries say they are urgently trying to shrink tourism’s oversized environmental footprint.

But with global travel projected to keep soaring, and those very leaders still eager to expand their own ventures, some doubt such efforts can significantly lessen global warming and other ecological woes.

“There are no simple solutions,” Anna Pollack, head of a British tourism consultancy, told a two-day conference which ended Wednesday. “Tourism is both a victim of and a contributor to climate change.”

Online you can read the a lot guides about how to reduce global warming. As you can see travel is only a little part of the main causes of global warming.

Below, I list of useful guides. You can use to reduce global warming.

Global warming refers to the Earth’s air and oceans gradually heating up to a point that disrupts balance, a problem that is continually getting worse. It sounds like a problem too massive for any one individual to take on, but it really isn’t. Combining any few of these suggestions can make more of a dramatic effect than most people understand. The goal is to emit less carbon dioxide into the atmospher

The part of Global warming caused by travel, is especially the ecotourism, practiced in remote destination. It’s so because it requires the use of air travel to land is those countries.

Some times ago an airline company used to travel with biofuel.

IN February, on a chilly, clear Sunday morning, Sir Richard Branson, president of Virgin Atlantic, along with the co-sponsors Boeing and GE Aviation, lured more than 200 journalists to a hangar at Heathrow Airport near London to witness what they said was airline history. Over flutes of Champagne and plates of mini-bagels filled with salmon, everyone’s eyes were fixed on a 747 as it took off on the world’s first biofuel demonstration flight.

Never mind that only one of the plane’s engines used biofuel, and that was about 25 percent mixed with standard kerosene jet fuel. It was still significant, given that air travel is the fastest-growing source of global greenhouse gases, and the race to find an alternative to kerosene is now crucial. The biofuel used — a combination of coconut and babassu (a Brazilian tree) oil, which Mr. Branson pretended to drink that day like an island cocktail from a coconut shell — worked in this very small test. But even its developers, Imperium Renewables, are aware it could never become a substitute for what John Plaza, president and chief executive of Imperium, another sponsor, says is the 87 billion gallons of fuel needed each year to fly the world’s airline fleet.

“This is just a first-generation product,” Mr. Plaza said. “But the test was meaningful in that it showed that a biofuel was viable with the infrastructure in a commercial jet.” Imperium created the fuel from oils harvested from existing plantations, but Mr. Plaza said he believed that algae was the fuel of the future. “You would only need the landmass of West Virginia,” he said, “to make enough fuel to replace aviation’s demand for kerosene.”

So I’m not scared about the future, because change is happened. I think that most airlines will become more green so traveling in foreign countries will be less environmental damaging.

The private car is the foundation of our transportation system in America and in my earlier entry, Transportation and Social Equity, I argue that the auto is also a barrier to participation in our greater society. But, if you consider all the pieces of infrastructure needed to support this system, the investment costs become clearer. These pieces include : roads, gas stations, mechanics, driveways, garages, parking lots, land and space, fuel, refineries, pipe-lines, car manufacturers, dealers, junk yards, traffic police, road signs and lights, regulations, the commute time we invest, bridges, tunnels, pollution, injuries, lives (1.2 million deaths/year), labor to build and maintain, insurance and the health care costs that result from the sedentary lifestyle it systematizes.

Even if we develop a car that travels 400 miles on a gallon of water, the costs are too high – the infrastructure needed to support it largely remains the same and continues to be inefficient, wasteful and a source of poverty. What is the alternative? Public transportation seems the obvious answer. The problem with this simplistic answer is that the domination of the almighty car has shaped American society into a suburban sprawl that makes our current paradigm of public transportation ineffective and not a realistic solution.

In our quest to achieve a sustainable civilization, if public transportation utilizing high speed trains, light rail and automated people movers is to become a reality, then we will need to change the paradigm by reorganizing how and where we live. That is to say, rather than build this system to go where people currently populate (the current mindset), we will have to build the system to connect strategic resources such as agriculture and energy, and let people populate along those routes.

Barriers to realizing this “Transportation System v2.0” reside in the public’s mindset – Americans are unlikely to lead the world toward a sustainable future because of our deep association of the car as a symbol of freedom and individuality. In this way our success also becomes our trap and sustainable transportation systems will probably appear in underdeveloped countries first. Why? One, with scarce resources they must be more strategic in their infrastructure choices. And two, neither their egos nor livelihoods are as invested in the current paradigm to resist such innovation.

“The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results” – Albert Einstein

The first innovative step towards stacking cars was the parking structure, where layers of cars could be stacked upon each other. The next innovative step is to actually stack cars up against each other to reduce the absurd amount of space we require for vehicular parking. The concept is a hybrid of car sharing systems, spatial planning, alternative fueling systems, and personal convenience.

Developed by MIT Media Lab students from the Concept Car Design Workshop sponsored by GM, the key behind this concept is the redesign of the wheel and axel. Rather than having a rigid axel, it will actually fold in a way that will allow the car to rotate upwards 90 degrees. In this, the long dimension of the vehicle is perpendicular to the ground while parked. Since each car has the same form and design, they perfectly nest together to reduce surface space consumption. The stackable car will be able to reduce required curbside parking space by about a third to a half. This allows for more sidewalk space, biking lanes, and comfortable city conditions.

Due to the small dimensions, the stacks of cars will be conveniently placed in locations all over the city- where you would normally come out of a building and hail a cab; you can jump in an electric city car and advance to your next desired location. The concept City Car system includes solar paneling on the rooftops of buildings adjacent to the stackable parking depositories. These panels will be the power supply to charge the electric cars while parked.

This car-sharing concept is a solution to the missing link between public transportation and the front door. Often people don’t use public transit due to the time necessary to switch from the subway to the bus to the next bus. Now people can commute into the city, get off the train, jump in a city car, and drive that extra three to ten miles to the office. This is a reasonable solution to a very prevalent problem. Instead of unnecessarily consuming a parking space while in the office all day long, you can use a city car in the morning and evening, while others use it all afternoon; and the convenience of hopping in a city car is what will make this work. In addition, since these cars aren’t personal vehicles and people will be in them on an average of five to thirty minutes, hopefully the new system will encourage people to share rides across town thus influencing our sense of community, status, and ownership.

In a car, you can’t hold hands with your loved one. The risk of driving one-handed is enough to make even the jovial Click and Clack of Car Talk tisk their tongues in disapproval. And sharing loving gazes from behind the wheel is more likely to cause a head-on than a heart-to-heart. There’s just not very much that’s very romantic about bucket seats, safety belts, and traffic.

But on public transit, you have both hands, both eyes, and your whole attention free. Trains, trolleys, ferry boats, and buses are where it’s at if you’re in love and en route. Imagine rolling through the countryside on a train with your loved one. Out the window, you see the beautiful landscape, which you’ve somehow never noticed quite as well before from the freeway. You’ve just been to the dining car, where you met a delightful couple on vacation, and now you’re relaxing together as you sip hot cocoa from the train’s kitchen. You sit next to one another, fondly gazing at one another and smiling. You’re free to hold hands, sit close, close your eyes and daydream, and look into one another’s eyes as you talk.

It’s moments like this that get lost in the hustle and hubbub of highways and freeways. Taking a trolley ride, strolling around the observation deck of a ferry boat, sitting arm in arm on the bus, watching the world roll past from the window of a train, or meeting your loved one at the station are wonderful experiences for every couple to share and enjoy.

If, by now, you’re not convinced that PT (public transit) is the best way for you and your sweetie to get around, then the following poem probably won’t do a thing to help change your mind. But what the heck, it’s fun. Enjoy.

PDA on the PT

While in the car, you must refrain
From holding hands, and do abstain
From loving gazes and flirting looks
From straying thoughts and reading books
From stealing kisses and nibbling ears
From playing games and sharing beers
From sitting close, both arm in arm
From cozying up, both safe from harm.

One hand’s just not enough, my dear
To steer the car when danger’s near.
And both your eyes must always stay
Fixed on the road and never stray.
Your bucket seats just won’t allow
For getting close, no way no how.
So don’t get stuck behind a wheel
Now that you know PT’s appeal!

Picture taken by Deepti Kalsi.

This first event, the American Democracy Institute’s Empower Change Summit, is a biggie. To be held this Saturday, November 3rd at UCLA’s Royce Hall, the event features Bill Clinton and centers on empowering yourself, your friends and your community to affect change in your everyday lives and thus, the world.

Sponsored by the American Youth Summit, the focus of the discussions has a decidedly environmental tilt. Additional panelists and speakers include Jonathan Greenblatt, Founder of Ethos Water, and Blake Mykoskie, founder of TOMS Shoes.

Entrance is free, but you must register in advance. I’d do it quickly…with this lineup, tickets are sure to go fast.

Next up, an event that is of particular interest here in LA. The Santa Monica College Environmental Issues Lecture Series continues with, "Can Technology Solve our Transportation Problems?" on Wednesday, November 7th at 6:30pm. The event is free, and features Intelligent Transportations Systems (ITS) Engineer Jesse Glazer from the US Department of Transportation, who will discuss the latest in ITS.

Lastly, the 2007 AFI Festival begins today, and runs through November 11th. As part of the International Shorts Competition (Program 2) the documentary film South Central Farm: Oasis in a Concrete Desert World will premiere. This film spotlights the controversy around the largest urban farm in the US, which pitted poor farmers and their supporters (including a few celebrity tree sitters) against developers and the city. Producer/Director Sheila Laffey will be at the viewings.

The film runs twice, on November 6th and 8th, but if you miss it now, you can catch it this fall as part of PBS’ Natural Heroes Series.

Sometimes, it’s hard living in Los Angeles. But when (free!) events like these come to town, it’s easy to say, "I love LA!"

The stage was in the presidential palace in the heart of Paris. The speaker was the President of France, Nicolas Sarkozy. And he couldn’t have chosen more illustrious guests for the occasion: José Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission, Wangari Maathai, winner of the 2004 Nobel Peace Prize and, the winner of the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize, Mr Al Gore himself. After Sarkozy outlined the results of four months of negotiations on the environment, Al Gore spoke. "I want to offer my congratulations to the French people. This is the beginning of an historic process," he said. "We need a ‘Grenelle mondial,’ a Worldwide Grenelle."

In May 1968, a time of great social upheaval in France, members of opposing camps met to discuss possible solutions to the crisis. Government representatives, employers and union leaders gathered to negotiate on labor terms and conditions. The agreements signed at the outcome were later called the "Grenelle accords" after the place where the meeting was held, in the Ministry of Labor building on Grenelle street in Paris. Sarkozy launched the environmental Grenelle last Spring, using the name of the labor agreements to emphasize the multilateral democratic nature of the process.

The Grenelle, or "environmental New Deal" as it has also been called, was organized in three phases. During the first phase, six heterogeneous working groups drafted plans of action to tackle major environmental issues, including climate change and energy needs, the loss of biodiversity, and unsustainable modes of production and consumption. During the second phase the general public was invited to join in by commenting on the groups’ reports either on an Internet forum hosted by the official site, or by attending regional meetings. I wrote about the Grenelle here on Green Options, once at the beginning of the process, and a second time at the opening of the public debate.

The phase of public debate came to an end on October 14, and last week at the presidential palace Sarkozy presented the synthesis of four months of talks. But what were the results of these "unprecedented negotiations?" There were irreconcilable differences on a number of issues, but happily, agreements were reached on others. About a dozen measures will be voted on by the French parliament in early 2008. It seems as though the greatest strides were made in two areas, transportation and building. These two areas are, needless to say, chief contributors to air pollution and climate change.

For example, Sarkozy announced that the construction of new highways in France will be slowed considerably, almost ceasing altogether, while in contrast the railway network will be expanded considerably. 2000 kilometers, or around 1250 miles, of tracks will be laid, benefiting both passenger and cargo trains, and thereby eliminating around 2 million trucks from French highways by 2020.

By 2012 all new constructions in France will conform to norms of "low consumption," and by 2020 all new buildings will be net producers of energy. Regarding household electrical equipment such as televisions, stereos and kitchen appliances, as soon as alternatives are made available, the old generation inefficient models will be banned. A deadline is already set for 2010 when incandescent light bulbs and single-paned windows will be prohibited.

Sarkozy also promised that the State will lead the way by greening public buildings and government transports. So, for example, starting in 2008, all public buildings will have to increase their energy efficiency by 20%, and by 2009 all vehicles used by the state will run on cleaner energy. Those two measures may not sound very impressive, but when placed in context, they take on greater significance. Indeed, mocked by the French themselves and scorned abroad, the French administration is infamous for its unwieldy size and relentless inefficiency. But, given such dimensions, just think of what a positive impact those otherwise modest goals for energy efficiency and clean vehicles will have by reducing CO2 emissions and air pollution. Why at this rate, Paris will be on its way to becoming the cleanest capital city in the world!

Certain issues discussed during the Grenelle talks were inevitably highly controversial and often the cause of tension between the various delegates. In my next post, I’ll be taking a look at some of those hot topics. So tune in to Green Options again early next week for Part 2 on the Sarko Eco-Show.

Official Grenelle Website

President Nicolas Sarkozy

Le Monde

Chicago Mayor Richard Daley certainly appreciates the importance of mass transit. "To me, it’s pretty clear," Daley said earlier this week. "Either (the General Assembly and the Governor) support public transit or they don’t. This is do or die time." He is calling for long-term solutions to the budget shortfalls that have plagued the CTA.

The Chicago Police Department is working with schools to mitigate potential safety problems that are likely to arise. The police presence will be increased in the 50 schools that will be most effected by the CTA cuts. Longer waits at bus stops and students crossing into gang territories to find new ways home are the source of safety concerns.

The CTA cuts can have significant effects on the accessibility of a college education as well according to a recent survey conducted by the City Colleges of Chicago. The study found out that more than 41,000 students use the CTA to get to school, and many of them don’t have access to another mode of transportation. 14,000 students said they’d have to drop out of City Colleges if the CTA cuts go through and another 11,000 would reduce their coursework or postpone it. Similar problems will likely exist with job opportunities as well. This highlights how significant the social and economic impacts of such cuts may be, particularly on people who do not own cars.

Chicago air quality is likely to decline if more people rely on personal vehicles for transportation. Chicago already ranks #11 for particle pollution and #23 for smog when compared to other major US cities. The CTA has a significant impact on air pollution, traffic congestion, and gasoline consumption. A study conducted by the American Public Transportation Association in January estimates that public transportation reduces American consumption of gasoline by 1.4 billion gallons annually.

With a population of 3 million within the city limits, the CTA rail system provided 159.3 million rides in 2006, which was the highest it has been since 1969. Meanwhile, 298.4 million rides were provided through the CTA bus service in 2006. The CTA anticipates loosing 250,000 rides daily due to service cuts and price increases. It is event certainly highlights the benefits of effective public transportation systems.

Dr Adam Best, project leader and employee of the CSIRO Energy Technology Division “predicts that the first power shirts – or flexible energy devices- could be developed within five years,” states a Sydney Morning Herald report. Their concept includes the technology of piezoelectrics as the energy generating material. This popularly researched material produces a charge displacement when it is flexed. It naturally occurs in soft chrystalline structures like quartz, and Rochelle salts.

The idea is to develop a fabric woven with piezoelectric material so that any movement on, in, or around your body would stimulate the fiber to generate power. The clothing would be woven with flexible batteries that could act as storage unit series for your devices. The next step is to figure out how to wirelessly transmit that power collected in your t-shirt to your mobile phone without damaging your body due to intense exposure to electro-magnetic fields.

Dr. Best believes that the development of this concept could revolutionize the form and usage of daily appliances. “With printable flexible circuit boards, the day may not be far off when people could make phone calls simply by talking into their collars.”

Interestingly, defense programs and departments are commonly funding projects that develop the potential for remote electrical energy generation. The Australian Defense Department sees this as an opportunity to power “back-to-base” medical monitoring equipment, radios, and other such powered devices used in the field. As it could revolutionize battle in the field, it could also serve as a highly effective tool in field research and remote backpacking trips to power gps devices, emergency radios, data recording and transmittance devices…

There are many similar ideas out there along the lines of energy generating wearables. A collaboration team with members from Michigan Technological University, Arizona State, and NanoSonic, Inc., is developing a backpack with piezoelectric fibers integrated into the straps. Alberto Villarreal, a young San Francisco-based designer, has gained recognition for a concept shoe that harnesses electricity from your step. With the development of these concepts into real products we could be actively moving towards an energy revolution.

Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak may be the first mayor in the nation to drive a plug-in hybrid vehicle as his official city car.

Since he was first elected in 2002, Mayor Rybak’s official car has been a Toyota Prius. But the dramatically superior gas mileage of a plug-in hybrid vehicle prompted him to make the switch: he had his hybrid converted to a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle, from which he expects to get about 70 miles per gallon (mpg) compared to his average 40 mpg with the Prius.

A plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) is like a regular hybrid with a cord. That is, its battery can be recharged by plugging it into a regular 120-volt outlet.

Typical of many PHEVs, Mayor Rybak’s car can travel about 30 miles solely on battery power if the speeds are 30 mph or less. If he drives further or needs to go faster, the car automatically switches over to using the gas engine. But for local city driving — when speeds are low and distances are shorter — he could go days without using any gasoline to power the engine.

Although most of Minnesota’s electricity comes from coal power, powering a vehicle with the electric grid is still cleaner than gasoline. But the Mayor and other city officials want to make it even cleaner: Minneapolis has applied for a state grant to install solar panels on some city buildings so that future plug-in cars could charge up using solar power instead of fossil fuels. Rybak told the Minnesota Daily:

It became clear to me that the two big things we had to do were convert to plug-in hybrids and find a way to have them use electricity from non-coal sources … I become very frustrated with people saying we need to do years of research on all these issues. Research is great, but the technology is there right now.

Last year, Minnesota became the first state in the nation to pass legislation promoting plug-in hybrids. The law instructs the state to buy plug-in hybrids on a preferred basis when they become available and encourages Minnesota State University – Mankato to develop flex-fuel plug-in hybrid vehicles (plug-ins that can run on an ethanol blend).

Minneapolis has about 100 government vehicles that are either hybrids or use E-85 fuel (an 85 percent ethanol, 15 percent gasoline blend). Leadership from the city and supportive government policies could make plug-in hybrids a more common occurrence on Twin Cities roads.

BIOconversion Blog
Cal Cars
City of Minneapolis
Minnesota Daily

Photo Source: City of Minneapolis

The UK’s Paul Curtis, also known as the "Moose," and Brazil’s Alexandre Orion are taking a new approach to graffiti to convey a sense of "clean," and to inspire pedestrians to keep it that way. Their cue comes from the "Wash Me" message commonly wiped away from the back of dirty semi trucks. They call this reverse graffiti, and they create their work by removing soot, sludge, carbon from exhaust, etc., from the wall to reveal a message.

Moose generated a message in a transport tunnel that reads "Go Gently" to remind drivers of the impact their cars have on the planet. "Once you do this, you make people confront whether or not they like people cleaning walls or if they really have a problem with personal expression."

Orion created a work in a Sao Paolo transport tunnel; his is a series of skulls that also depicts the impact drivers’ emissions have on the planet. As a result of this project, the transit authority washed the wall to remove the public expression. In reaction, Orion created the same artwork on the other side of the tunnel. This resulted in the transit authority cleaning the entire tunnel on both sides. They then continued to resist the public work by cleaning every transport tunnel in the city. Not such a bad idea on all accounts.

Another artist, Edina Tokodi, recently created a work of green graffiti in Brooklyn, New York. Edina saw the idea of graffiti as an opportunity to stimulate positive green thoughts and encourage city dwellers to resurface their connection to nature. She decided to maintain the venue while changing the medium. Her work consists of moss installations adhered to the wall where spray paint might commonly be seen. Using this much less harmful medium, she creates images such as prancing animals, and uses existing imagery to create trees and objects found in nature. The beauty of this medium is that it can continue to grow. As moss receives water from the air, condensation, and rain, it continues to grow as the artwork remains fixed to its site.

Findings from a new report examining insurance companies’ responses to climate change were released at the International Association of Insurance Supervisors last week. The study found that an increasing number of companies are implementing initiatives to reduce the risk of climate change’s impacts and reduce the emissions that cause the problem.

"From Risk to Opportunity 2007: Insurer Responses to Climate Change" was commissioned by Ceres, a U.S. group of investors and clean energy supporters that also directs the Investor Network on Climate Risk, which manages more than $4 trillion in assets. Mindy S. Lubber, President of Ceres, explained the report’s findings:

Insurers are beginning to respond to global warming – and not just by withdrawing from coastal markets with high financial exposure. We’re seeing a rapid proliferation of products that will reduce climate-related financial losses, as well as the pollution causing global warming. Yet, insurer responses to date are not nearly sufficient given the scale of the challenge. We need more insurers, especially U.S. insurers, to step up.

Indeed, Europe’s largest insurer, Allianz, said that climate change may increase insured losses from extreme events in an average year by 37 percent within a decade. Karolinska medical university in Sweden predicts cardiovascular health problems to rise along with global temperatures.

Some specific initiatives offered by companies around the globe include:

• Green building credits
• Drought protection
• Incentives for investing in renewable energy (London-based Willis Holdings will cover potential underproduction of wind power)
• Clean transportation (The Japanese company Sompo gives premium discounts to policyholders who drive low-emitting cars)

All in all, the report found 422 examples from 190 insurers, reinsurers, brokers, and insurance organizations from 26 nations. That’s more than double the number of products found in a similar report barely over a year ago. I was surprised to learn that forty percent of the initiatives are from U.S. companies, although not surprisingly only a small minority of companies overall are exploring how climate change may affect business or are offering products to mitigate it.

With billions of dollars lost this year from unprecedented flooding and windstorms in Europe and wildfires in the U.S., some are nervous that climate change threatens the entire industry’s long-term viability. While the products from a handful of companies certainly won’t slow the consequences on their own, they must multiply to be part of the global solution that includes private sector involvement, government leadership, and consumer response.

One British strategic communications firm argued that the airline industry essentially needs a PR makeover. Steve Dunne of the Brighter Group went so far as to say that the industry risks sliding into a reputation akin to that of cigarette manufacturers in the U.S.: "The aviation industry is just not representing itself properly or effectively to put the lobbying efforts of the eco-warriors into some kind of perspective."

I’m not convinced the risk is that dramatic — at least here in the U.S. While there are certainly efficiency measures airlines should be considering — such as being towed to a starting point on the runway instead of burning fuel to get there – advocating a total ban on air travel as some do (or even very high taxes) is a losing cause (by the way, I want to hear a convincing argument as to why flying on a commercial plane isn’t public transportation, like taking the bus).

But the pollution problems for the industry could take off: The United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) says that while the CO2 emissions per passenger kilometer have decreased, the increased number of passengers overall has negated that efficiency. Furthermore, the World Wildlife Fund predicts airlines to make up 15 percent of all global CO2 emissions by 2041.

So while the airlines may not be likened to cigarette manufacturers yet, they should consider some reputation management now. And there are good things happening: The International Air Transport Association says they saved 6 million tons of CO2 by shortening routes worldwide. Virgin’s Richard Branson just announced that he’s planning a 747 biofuel test flight for early next year, and Northwest put together a taskforce of employees and managers that came up with ways to cut inefficient fuel use by 31 million gallons per year. To keep up with the increasing number of passengers and the increasing concern about global warming (including carbon regulation), however, the airlines industry will have to continue decreasing their contribution to the problem and keep telling the public about it. Telling their side of the story — while performing real, meaningful leadership — will keep their reputation from taking a nose dive.

Cross posted on Maria Energia

International Herald Tribune

15. We spend as much effort packaging our food as finding and eating it. So much of our food these days comes pre-packaged that we don’t think twice about it. In order to package food in plastic, we spend billions of dollars and lots of time locating and drilling oil around the world; we then extract a chemical feedstock from the oil; we refine the chemical feedstock into plastic and mould the plastic into packaging; we take the shells off of things like peanuts and then put the peanuts in plastic packaging.

Squirrel says: “How backward! I spend all day getting rid of my food’s natural packaging: the shells. Plus, the shells biodegrade before next year’s nuts ripen. Be more like the rest of the animals by eating food in its original packaging.”

14. We drink the lactation of other animals. We farm animals of other species—like cows, goats, and sheep—to harvest and drink their lactation. We even sometimes ferment this lactation (cheese and yogurt, for example) and occasionally go as far as to let mold grow on it before eating it (blue cheese, for example).

Squirrel says: “EW! Be more like the rest of the rest of the animals by drinking water and eating juice-filled fruits and veggies.”

13. We’ll eat just about anything. Don’t believe me? Look here. Most animals have a pretty good idea of what foods they like and so they stick to eating one type of food. Sharks eat fish, cows and horses eat grass, most birds eat insects, fruit, or grain, and so on. We humans will eat fruit, grain, insects, birds, vegetation, horses, cows, fish, sharks, and more. Some people even eat cars! Our stomachs must truly be one of a kind on this planet. I can just see Mother Nature’s horrified expression, “what do you have in your mouth, child?!?”

Squirrel says: “That’s nuts! Or rather it would be nuts if I were eating it. Pick a diet, you crazy species. You can be more like your ancestors and relatives by eating more vegetables, nuts, and fruit and fewer weird things like octopus, oysters, and buffaloes.”

12. We travel without actually moving. Camels walk to find water, birds fly to find grub, and fish swim to get their food too. We say “I’m going to run to the store to get food,” but what we actually mean is “I’m going to sit down in my car and hardly move a muscle while decomposed dino-gas pushes me to the store.” Weird, huh?

Squirrel says: “Wouldn’t you get out of shape this way? Plus, who would want to avoid walking and running? I love to run and jump! I even have a cousin who flies. Be more like the rest of the rest of the animals and try actually walking or jogging to get food. You can even try wildcrafting, like me.”

11. For such social animals, we’re lonely a lot. We’re social animals by nature. We need other animals of our species to love us and we need to love others as well. It’s almost as important as food, water, and sleep for our survival. Yet, many of us travel alone to work, feel isolated at our jobs, travel alone home, and take part in solitary activities like watching television or spending time on the computer. Instead, we could spend this time talking, walking, singing, traveling, working, and playing with others.

Squirrel says: "Play and socializing are important. Have you ever seen us squirrels play? It’s a big ordeal. We’ll chase each other around the whole wood, tumbling head over tail over head and jumping from branch to branch. You’re a social animal, so socialize. Say hi to people, smile, be friendly and warm, and be happy knowing that the people you see around you are your kin and you’re one of theirs."

10. We spend most of our time working for currency, not food. This currency verifies that we have contributed to our species’ wellbeing and success. We trade the currency for food. By contrast, most animals bypass this complex social system and simply go and find food when they are hungry.

Squirrel says: “You mean to tell me that if I were a hungry human, I couldn’t just go forage food to eat? I’d have to build other humans burrows (or whatever you call them) or do some other labor first and then ask for food? Hm… it seems like a hard lifestyle. I usually find food and then have lots of time to play with my family. Well, when you’re through working and asking for food, I still highly recommend playing and spending time with family. That’s my favorite part of the day. You might also want to control your species’ population so it’s not so much work to support it.”

9. We make and hoard things we don’t need. With the currency left over from buying food, we purchase things. We do this so well that people are now often referred to as “consumers.” Many of the things we buy and keep have little or no utility, like electronic singing plastic Santa Clause figurines. One of the only other species that hoards shiny things it doesn’t really need is the magpie.

Squirrel says: “Why hoard anything you wouldn’t want to eat later? I don’t see the attraction to big collections of plastic toys or closets full of clothes unless you can put the clothes in a pile and make a nest out of them. I hoard nuts and it’s all I can do to remember where I put those when I want to eat them, so I don’t think I’d be very good at hording all the things humans do. My motto is, if it’s not edible, you probably don’t need it.”

8. We all seem afraid of the dark. There’s one thing most animals know for sure: when it’s day, there’s light; when it’s night, there’s dark. Now we humans are pretty easy prey. We have no claws, no sharp teeth, no spikes or spines, we aren’t very strong or fast, and most of us have more meat on our bones than we’d care to admit. Somewhere along the line, we figured out that we’re less likely to be eaten by nocturnal predators if we keep the nighttime light enough that we can always see around us. Flaming torches turned into electric torches, and even in our predator-free homes today, we still have the lights on—just in case, you know. See an ant’s response here.

Squirrel says: “I understand. I mean, I’m a pretty easy target for predators myself. But do at least try to keep the lights down when I’m trying to sleep. If you want your lighting to come from sources that are friendlier on my habitat and yours, buy green energy.”

7. We keep animals in our homes who would normally eat us for lunch. OK, maybe wild dogs wouldn’t really eat us for lunch, but judging by our folklore and fairy tails, I’d say that the relationship between humans and wolves has not always been a favorable one. On the other hand, traditionally, members of the cat species have found us pretty tasty. We’ve managed to breed canines and felines until they depend on us for food, not as food. Other animals that some people keep around the house include boa constrictors, venomous snakes, spiders, rats, and eels.

Squirrel says: “Are you nuts!?! This is a touchy subject for me. Cats and dogs hunt my buddies and me. In some places, pet cats are even threatening endemic native species. If you have pets, make sure they are spayed or neutered. I don’t want a whole litter of whiskers and claws chasing my tail.”

6. Our young spend most of their time stationary. Most young people spend hours each day watching television and only a few minutes each day engaging in outdoor, unstructured play.

Squirrel says: “We squirrels are way too rambunctious to be still for any amount of time. It’s too much fun outside to stay in the burrow all day staring at the wall. I couldn’t even imagine it. Plus, life’s too short. Encourage your young to play outdoors and join them when you get a break from gathering nuts… or money, or whatever it is you do.”

5. We heat our food before eating it. Unless you’re a human, a domesticated animal, or an extremophile living on an undersea volcanic vent, chances are you eat your food raw. We humans will do anything to avoid eating unheated foods: we’ll bake, boil, sauté, flambé, steam, and even cook our foods by submerging them in boiling lard and oil.

Squirrel says: “Why put food over fire before eating it? I don’t play with fire; it frightens me. Plus, the food’s more nutritious raw, so I don’t have to eat as many raw nuts to get my daily nutrition as I would if they were cooked. I recommend trying to be a little more like the rest of the rest of the animals by eating a little more of your food raw. Trust me, it’s tasty!”

4. We eat poisonous and toxic things for fun. In most of the animal kingdom, “recreational drugs” would be an oxymoron. But not for us. We eat poisonous mushrooms, we drink toxic levels of fermented juice (hence the “toxic” in “intoxication”), and we refine other natural toxins like coca leaf extract that we then proceed to stick up our noses. Some of our species who aren’t content with these milder poisons combine various ultra-toxic cleaning agents to make super potent concoctions that we call crack or meth, they then proceed to sniff, snort, lick, or inject into their bodies.

Squirrel says: “You eat toxins and poisons recreationally?? That’s nuts! Be more like the rest of the rest of the animals by eating what’s good for you and avoiding what’s not.”

3. We stick flaming pieces of paper and leaves in our mouths. We spend a lot of time and effort to grow tobacco because it contains a specific kind of toxin. We harvest and dry the leaves, cut them up in tiny pieces, then add anything from ammonia to tar (see this list of additives). We roll the result in paper, put it between our lips—and this is the kicker—we light the whole thing on fire while its in our mouths! Worse yet, we do all this just to breath in the carcinogenic smoke that comes from this little roll of leaves and additives.

Squirrel says: “HA! And you’re supposed to be the smart animals? Who does this kind of thing??! Be more like the rest of the rest of the animals by not sticking flaming, toxic pieces of paper and leaves in your mouths.”

2. We blow ourselves up. Like many species, we’re territorial. However, most animals just pee on trees or beat their chest to let others know where their group’s boundaries are. We launch explosive rockets at each other and plant landmines in the ground so that nobody can live there.

Squirrel says: “*Blank stare* What can I say about this? When I get in a fight, I tumble and roll around with another squirrel. It’s a good way to get the aggression out and the worst that happens is that somebody gets an ear bitten. Some animals kill each other one on one, but it doesn’t usually upset the whole ecosystem the way human wars and landmines do. Just try and get along a little better, would ya? Smile and be friendly with everyone and tell the people in charge to stop with all the explosions already.”

1. We gave up living in trees to live in caves. Somewhere along the line, our ancestors decided to give up the comfort of trees to live in caves. Today, we fabricate multi-story caves out of brick, stone, and wood and plant a tree in the backyard so we can see it from the second floor of our cave-like home.

Squirrel says: “This is the first thing I don’t understand about people. I love curling up in a small, cozy home. But at least some of you still have a fondness for trees. Take a look at this person’s tree home. If you can’t live in a treehouse, at least plant a tree for me.”

Photo Source:

…and she said what? | Flickr

Yea, I’m fat….got a problem with that? | Flickr

Carpool to work. Even if it is just a couple of times a week, sharing a ride with a spouse, neighbor or coworker can cut down on gas costs, and may even make your ride faster if your route involves an interstate or freeway with an HOV lane. And keep in mind that you don’t have to work at the same building or live on the same street to carpool if you live or work in areas near those with similar commutes.

Carpool to school. If you take your kids to school every day, you probably pass other moms and dads who do the same thing. See if there are other families in your neighborhood that you can trade off days of taking the kids to school. (Just make sure everybody is ready on time.) You also might want to consider carpooling with other families for after school activities or weekend soccer games.

Carpool for fun. Instead of meeting your friends at an event, drive together. If you’re going to a concert or major sporting event for example, parking can be a nightmare. Meet up at someone’s house and drive together.

Carpool on vacation. You wouldn’t normally think about carpooling with people outside your family when taking a road trip, but you might be able to find someone going your way. ZipCar founder, Robin Chase, began GoLoco to help you create your own personal transportation network to find people in your area who want to share the ride.

More from Green Options:

Daily Tip: I HOV You

While General Electric announced structural changes to compensate for increased business in its energy-efficient lighting sector, BP is planning to restructure itself to emphasize…more petroleum.

Once self-dubbed "Beyond Petroleum" because of its increased focus on clean energy — and even considered to be one of the friendlier oil companies by clean energy supporters — BP is now folding its gas power and renewables division into its two exploration and refining segments. But despite the de-emphasis on renewables, it will continue to use the "Beyond Petroleum" moniker (still good for business I suppose) and build wind turbines and solar cells.

Why the change? Simple business: The company’s new CEO, Tony Hayward, is frustrated with its performance compared to rivals like ExxonMobil. While Exxon and BP produce nearly the same about of oil each day (4.2 million barrels from Exxon compared to 3.8 million from BP), the stock market "values" BP’s barrels at $59 and Exxon’s at $122. So Hayward wants to realign BP with its core mission to boost profits: find oil and gas and make it into fuel. As James Harding of the The Times (London) put it, "Mr Hayward is setting out to make BP resemble Exxon, not The Body Shop."

But is this a "brutal reality check" for clean energy supporters, as Harding opines? Or did BP never really leave its oily roots in the first place? Should we be surprised that an oil company — that commits to a hardly-a-drop-in-the-oil-bucket investment of $8 billion in the next 10 years on clean energy — goes back to emphasizing fossil fuels?

I don’t think so. But nor should we discount the fact that they are investing in wind and solar. However, I do wonder whether this restructuring also alters BP’s plan for operating in a carbon-constrained marketplace.

Back in June, Hayward addressed policymakers in Berlin about climate change and how efficient and clean technologies – combined with a price on carbon emissions — will help slow global warming. While BP is talking the talk and making some overtures to clean energy, consumers – backed by a supportive marketplace and policymakers — will still need to be the driving force behind a clean and efficient energy future.

British Petroleum
The Times
Earth2Tech

Continued from Greening Your Groove.

The environmental movement has been rolling along fast this year, and rocking to boot. A green rhythm is beating in the heart of today’s music scene and music lovers young and old have their fingers on its pulse.

This summer, the SOS Live Earth Concert brought together musicians to stages around the world for one glorious day of music and festivities. The message: take personal action to reduce our species’ impact on the environment, and encourage governments and business leaders to follow. These round-the-world concerts were not an isolated, one-time event. Many of the artists who performed, as well as others, are making a concerted effort to help the environment, and grow concern for the well-being of the planet.

Some environmentally in-tune musicians hold benefit concerts; some even tour by bicycle or biofueled bus. Most incorporate environmental messages into their lyrics. When you buy music from the following artists or go to their concerts, you’ll be supporting the work they do for the environment. Whether you’re looking for green concerts or music festivals, discovering new bands, wondering what issues musicians care about, or looking for music with a message about the Earth for your children, you’ll find it in the list and links below.

Green(er) Music Festivals

Tennesse’s Bonnaroo Music and Art Festival website says, "The future of our planet is a big deal for Bonnaroo – and it should be for you, too." ‘Rooers are encouraged to offset their travel to the concert and have the option to buy organic foods and natural products. The festival also uses biodiesel generators on some of its stages, and offers 2,000 recycling bins throughout the concert grounds. Read more here.

Seattle’s Bumbershoot is made green with biodiesel generators, clean energy from the Seattle City Light, no Styrofoam, an optional $2 donation to offset carbon, and a plethora of information about how to get to and from the event by bicycle or public transportation.

Chicago’s Lollapalooza: organic local foods, bio-fuel, recycling, bicycle resources, and compostables make lolla green. There’s even a section called "Green Street" where concertgoers can learn more agout how to take action to improve the environment.

San Francisco’s Power to the Peaceful showcases artists with environmentally progressive messages. It also recycles and encourages listeners from out of town to stay in the Serrano Hotel, a member of the California Green Lodging Program.

Austin’s South by Southwest festival is offsetting its carbon footprint, giving tips on getting to and from the festival sans car, and donating $5,000 to plant trees.

Vans Warped Tour has a set of "Warped Eco Initiatives" (WEI) that it hopes will help it to become more environmentally friendly and to encourage eco awareness. Biodiesel, green catering, and solar-powered sound systems top the list of green highlights at this seriously wicked music fest. Read more here.

Green Musicians by Genre

Alternative

Will Thom Yorke of Radiohead be the eraser of global warming? He’s certainly making the effort as a supporter of the Friends of the Earth’s Big Ask campaign to reduce climate change. Watch a video interview with this artist and read more here.

Blues

Bonnie Raitt has something to talk about: the environment. Clean energy, sustainable living, electric cars, and energy efficient buildings are also things she advocates talking about. She’s even listed by the Department of Energy as a large purchaser of green energy, which she uses to offset her music tours.

Country

Willie Nelson may urge mamas not to let their babies be cowboys, but he’s quick to encourage them to be environmentalists. He’s on the road again, this time with his own line of biodiesel, Biowillie. He’s also actively involved in the Farm Aid concerts, which support producers of local, organic foods and humanely raised farm animals.

Folk

The Indigo Girls have more than just the power of two — they have a whole Green Team made up of their environmentally savvy fans who help the band to keep their concerts as environmentally friendly as possible.

Hot Buttered Rum is a green machine, or at least that’s what they call their biodiesel tour bus.

Hip-Hop

The Roots are carryin’ on the environmental message with their "Stop the Violence: Go Veg" campaign with PETA. The group also advocates composting. Watch this video and read more here.

Spearhead with Michael Franti have been bringing power to the peaceful for years now in the San Francisco Bay area. This year, they’ll be extending the green-themed concert internationally with a December 1 music festival in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Check it out on their website.

Pop

Justin Timberlake is bringing green back. He’s passionate about water issues, especially as the lack of drinking water throughout many African countries. Read more here.

Sheryl Crow hopes the power industry will be strong enough to soak up the sun with solar energy. She went on tour this year with concerts that educated her audience about the serious nature of climate change. Read more here.

Kylie Minogue has come into the environmental world as the face of the "H&M Loves Kylie" swimwear line, which is donating ten percent of its profits to WaterAid. Read more here.

Madonna once said that her ambition was to rule the world. Today, she’s helping to green it. A percentage of profits from the first million downloads of her hit inspirational song "Hey You" went to fighting climate change. Read more here and check out the video here.

Punk

Green Day came around a long time ago to the environmental movement. They put their green fingers to work with the National Resources Defense Council (NRDC) to come up with this great website about how to become involved in saving the Earth. You can also watch a number of their environmentally conscious music videos and interviews here.

Rock

If the Barenaked Ladies had $1,000,000, they’d probably spend some of it furthering environmental issues. The group is on the board of World Wildlife Fund Canada and runs a pretty green concert tour. Read more here.

Dave Matthews has a crush on the environmental movement. From offsetting the carbon of the band’s tours to using green diapers at home, he’s making the world better every day.

Jimmy Buffett has found one particular harbour in the sea of environmental issues: manatees. He’s the co-founder of the Save the Manatee Club, which encourages people to adopt a manatee and boat responsibly.

Pearl Jam is rockin’ the green world, raising funds for environmental causes from preserving the Madagascar rainforest to funding renewable energy. Read more here and check out their website on climate activism.

With Sarah Harmer aglow about conservation, you just know things are getting better. This folk/rock musician co-founded the group Protecting Escarpment Rural Land (PERL), which seeks to conserve the natural habitat Niagara Escarpment Rural Land. She’s even toured on foot to raise awareness for her conservation concerns.

Bon Jovi wants people to have a nice day and a green home. Lead singer Jon Bon Jovi jokes that he’s motivated to save the environment by guilt over the "huge hole in the ozone layer my haircuts created." He’s now the founding ambassador of the Habitat for Humanity Ambassadors Program. Read more here.

Jack Johnson is good people, and he cares about the environment. He tours by biodiesel, offsets his carbon, donates 1% for the planet, and co-founded the Kokua Hawaii Foundation to promote environmental education. Read more here.

Youth

Put On Your Green Shoes is a compilation by various artists.

The Banana Slug String Band strike a silly, fun chord with kids and also manage to bring serious and educational messages. They’re also a rocking group for adults to listen to. Albums include Singing in Our Garden and Dirt Made My Lunch.

Ella Jenkins has been on the green kids music scene for years. She has a "solution to pollution" and teaches kids how about the "environmental game." Check out her new CD, Come Dance By The Ocean.

References and Resources

For more environmentally happening musicians, check out the following websites:

Musical Partners | Rock the Earth, "Defending the planet one beat at a time"

Eco Music For Kids | Leonardodicaprio.org

15 Green Musicians and Bands | Grist

Links for Environmental Songs and Music | Planetary Exploration

How Green Is the Music? | Austin Chronicle

Celebrities Going Green | AOL

Photo Source:

Power to the Peaceful 1 | Flickr

Powered entirely by the sun, these high-tech homes that exhibit superior efficiency are “likely to help shape America’s clean energy future,” states a press release from the Department of Energy. The first Solar Decathlon was in 2002. I am partially inspired by this event as my old alma mater, the University of Michigan, competed in the 2005 competition. Although Michigan is not competing this year, many of the students from participating schools and prospective schools took notes on the flaws present in 2005, and went home to improve, reinvent, and discover new technologies for this year’s event.

As a result of seeing the 2005 University of Michigan MISO (Michigan Solar) home, I can tell you that these teams are consciously composed. With students from disciplines ranging from Engineering, Architecture, and Design to Urban Planning andEnvironmental Studies, these projects are guaranteed to be well-conceived. “These solar homes are powerful, comfortable, and stylish. They are relaxed, elegant, wasting neither space nor energy.” Since these projects come from an academic setting, a place where exploring concepts and visions for the future is fostered and encouraged, these homes are creative, innovative, and surprising.

Not only is this an opportunity for students to learn, explore, and experience solar home construction; it is also an occasion for the public to come view the solutions and learn about the best in energy efficiency and home design. If you are in the DC area and have a chance to stop by, the exhibition hosts an entrée of tours, seminars, workshops, and talks by students and professionals. Starting this Friday October 12, the exhibition is open to the public. Next Thursday, October 18 is a day devoted to building industry professionals, and the official awards ceremony is next Friday October 19. Enjoy!

Whether you desire to buy trees to help the environment for personal reasons, for investment purposes or you simply refer others to buy trees through our Affiliate Program,  PanAm BioFuels has made the process so simple that everyone can find a way to participate in it.

1) Purchase Trees for Investment

Jatropha trees can be bought directly from Pan-Am Biofuels for only $4 each in lots ranging from 250 trees for $1000 to 25,000 trees for $100,000.  Though delivery is possible for larger volumes, we will believe most people will take advantage of our Contract Farming Program where we will actually plant your trees on our plantations. 

With our Contract Farming Program we do all the work from planting to harvest to sale of the oil.  The only fee for all of this is a 10% fee from profits.  Then 90% of the profits are passed on to you, the tree owner.  All you have to do is purchase your trees in lots for only $4/each.

If you have priced trees at your local nursery you will see most prices range from $10 to $25. So now you may be thinking…

"How can you produce, plant and sell these trees at only $4 each?"

There are several reasons, including, but not limited to,

• Because the cost of living as well as labor is much cheaper in Central America where our nurseries are located.
• The efficiencies and economies of scale we enjoy by the huge volume of trees our nursery outputs allow us to save a tremendous amount of money passing the savings on to you.
• Our nursery is in close proximity to our Jatropha Tree plantation in Costa Rica where our Contract Farming Program is being implemented so there are minimal transportation expenses.

"So how much money do I stand to earn by buying your Jatropha Trees? What is the return on my investment?" 

Your trees can potentially bring  as much as 45% PER YEAR calculated  from your original investment once the trees start producing within 3-4 years.   Jatropha trees start bearing seeds the second year and reach maximum production at about 4 years.  You can review the full details and Financial Projections once you register and login.

Pan-Am Biofuels has truly created a unique situation and opportunity for the average person to take advantage of.

Now you can participate in an industry that has produced the wealthiest individuals and corporations in the world. The only difference is, instead of drilling for oil and destroying the environment, you will be growing oil and restoring the environment by owning oil producing Jatrpha Trees

2) Sell trees for Commissions as an Affiliate

We will pay you to refer customers! Pan-Am Biofuels has created a lucrative opportunity for webmasters,  business owners and individuals alike. By becoming an Affiliate you can help promote our Jatropha tree project, earn commissions and at the same time you’ll be doing your part to better our environment.  Learn more about how our Affiliate Program works.

The Weather Makers

The Future of Nature: Writing on a Human Ecology from Orion Magazine (Milkweed Editions, $18.00), just might be that book. A collection of thought-provoking essays selected and introduced by Barry Lopez, The Future of Nature includes writings by such heavy-hitters as Wendell Berry, Bill McKibben, and Derrick Jensen, all originally published in Orion, the seminal magazine covering the intersection of culture, nature, and the environment.

Released this past Thursday, the book is divided into six loosely-themed sections. Actions runs the gamut of activism, from small suburban grassroots efforts to stop construction on a SuperTarget store to bailing out direct-action activists in Appalachia. Refugees discusses those displaced by humanity’s interactions with the environment, giving a face to the faceless victims of climate change and the unending hunt for resources. Boundaries addresses the idea of the wilderness and our relationship with it. Reverence discusses how appreciation for nature, a love of and respect for it, is the essential guidepost for sustainable living. Monsters lays out just exactly what sorts of devastating things we’re doing to our only home, and Native leaves the reader with both hope and guidance for living in harmony with our ecosystem.

Highlighting both theory and practice of sustainable (and unsustainble) living, the causes of our ecological crises, and a vision for a lasting future, The Future of Nature provides a plethora of contexts for understanding just why we desperately need to change the way we live. Elegantly written and compiled, this book should be required reading for those interested in sustaining our future on Earth. The themes balance each other nicely; the reader understands the reality of the direness of humanity’s situation but is left with hope that good things are happening everywhere, those little pockets of positive change that will lead to a more balanced way of life. It immediately made me want to go read not only Orion, but every other piece of writing by this insightful group of writers.