Monthly Archives: October 2008

Shift into Green

Green Driving

The transportation sector has always been of the biggest contributors to carbon dioxide emissions. Millions of dollars are being poured into research and technology by big auto companies trying to cater to demands for more efficient vehicles to save the Earth, and a large chunk of change. Many drivers do their part driving hybrids instead of gas-guzzlers, riding in carpools instead of by themselves, or taking public transportation every now and then.

However, we can save even more by changing our driving style. Many people are unaware that the way they do something as frivolous as shifting their gears can accrue over time and waste a surprising amount of fuel if not done correctly. Continue reading

Starbucks May Not Be As Green As They Claim

Starbucks Logo

Environmentalists and patrons are in an uproar over a recent discovery that, according to corporate policy, Starbucks shops around the country waste millions of liters of water every day. Making this fact even more upsetting is that Starbucks has a demeanor of being a green business and very environmentally aware, contradicting recent findings.

24.3 liters of water are poured down 10,000 Starbucks drains worldwide due to a policy of keeping a tap running for sanitary reasons. Continue reading

Farming Energy Underwater

Tidal Turbine

The coasts of Northern Ireland and Scotland are being targeted as having huge energy potential. However, none of the traditional methods will be used to harvest energy from this location. The project is focused around tidal energy. Locations off the Antrim Coast, Pentland Firth and the Sound of Islay may soon be home to underwater sea turbines.

ScottishPower has been working on an advanced tidal turbine known as the Lanstrom device. Continue reading

Toxic Soil Can Save Millions

Soil

Thanks to researchers at the University of California – Riverside, a large portion of the Earth’s current non-hospitable soil can now become inhabitable by food crops, taking pressure off of one of the most pressing problems facing the expansion of human life – overpopulation and limited resources.

Scientists at the university have developed a method to tweak a single gene in plants to make them tolerant of aluminum, a metal toxic to most crop plants which prevents the plants from growing in areas with high traces of the element. Continue reading

Presidential Candidates’ Stands on Issues

From the blog Britannica, a look at a few major issues facing voters today, with each of the candidates’ takes:

Britannica’s Advocacy for Animals site has provided a guide to the views of the U.S. presidential and vice-presidential candidates on issues related to the environment and animal welfare. Following is a summary of the voting records, official acts, and public statements of Senator John McCain, Senator Barack Obama, Governor Sarah Palin, and Senator Joe Biden on drilling, mining, and energy conservation and development; animal welfare, including the protection of endangered or threatened species; global warming; and environmental conservation.  We’ll offer this guide in four parts, one post daily on each of these four topics.

Drilling, Mining and Energy Conservation and Development

Animal Welfare (including the protection of endangered or threatened species)

Global Warming

Environmental Conservation

Desert Tortoise in Danger

Desert Tortoise

California’s official state reptile, the desert tortoise, is under attack yet again. However, this time the attack isn’t based on disease or predators. Despite the tortoise’s protection under both federal and state endangered species acts, the Bureau of Land Management has issued a proposal to transfer 365,906 acres of the tortoise’s natural habitat (the Western Mojave) to the U.S. Marine Corps for bombing, tank training and live fire testing and activities. Continue reading