The air that I breathe

All things being equal I should be back on my bike and commuting next week. I'll be faster and fitter, but how will my lungs be? Another cyclist has the same question for Umbra at Grist Magazine, and the answer is reassuring.

via Treehugger

Technorati tag: Cycling, Pollution

Selling Sellafield

The government is planning to sell off British Nuclear Group, the main operating arm of BNFL, which handles nuclear generation, reprocessing and clean-up businesses. The most worrying aspect of this sale is some of the bidders- Halliburton and Fluor have only one reputation these days, that of incompetent, thieving Bush cronies. I don't want to see them in charge of anything in this country, let alone anything nuclear.

Technorati tag: Nuclear, Halliburton

Manchester Bobber

It's not anything rude, but a design for a wave power station from Manchester University. The design uses the rise and fall of the water's surface to transmit energy and then generate electricity. They could be mounted on old oil platforms initially to cut roll out costs.

via Worldchanging

Technorati tag: Wave Power

If you drive your car then the hurricanes have won

Something you thought you'd never hear- George Bush telling Americans to drive less. Shame it's only because Katrina and Rita have cut oil production and the Republicans still insist on pushing through tax breaks for oil companies.

"I mean, people just need to recognise that these storms have caused disruption and that if they're able to maybe not drive ... on a trip that's not essential, that would be helpful.

"If it makes sense for the citizen out there to curtail non-essential travel, it darn sure makes sense for federal employees ... We can encourage employees to car pool or use mass transit, and we can shift peak electricity use to off-peak hours. There's ways for the federal government to lead when it comes to conservation,"

Technorati tag: USA, Petrol

Annual weather forecasts

Draft legislation would require the Prime Minister to give annual updateson the UK's progress in cutting greenhouse gases.

Last week, a report from academics at Sussex and Southampton Universities and Imperial College London said that micro-renewables hold great promise, but were fighting on an uneven playing field.

"Our research shows that some basic changes in regulations could make a significant difference," said study leader Dr Jim Watson from Sussex University.

"This is a classic 'chicken and egg' problem that needs some government intervention and up-front investment to achieve a breakthrough."

Technorati tag: Greenhouse gases, Global Warming

Sun Trap

The Sun Trap solar handbag charges onboard batteries that then light up the electroluminescent material inside so keys that have sunk to the bottom can be found more easily.

Technorati tag: Solar, Handbag

No Batteries

The last time I rode my bike after dark the lights (front and back) died because I'd forgotten to charge the batteries because it was Summer. I should have had a set of these. The Goddbye Batteries lights use magnets mounted on the bike's wheels to generate all the electricity needed through induction. The manufacturers claim a 20%reduction in accidents when the lights are used.

via Blue Collar Mountain Biking

Technorati tag: Cycling

How Green is my roof

Two pieces on green roofs for you (that's green as in grass, not just solar or whatever).

City Hippy has a feature on them and Treehugger actually participated in laying one.

Technorati tag: Green Roof

World Solar Challenge

The world's most gruelling solar vehicle race is about to start in Australia.
via Jalopnik

Technorati tag: Transport, Solar car

LIFECar

September 23, 2005 A wholly British partnership yesterday unveiled plans to develop the world’s first environmentally clean sports car, powered by a fuel cell which converts hydrogen into electricity. The partnership is made up of legendary British sports car manufacturer, the Morgan Motor Company, QinetiQ, Cranfield and Oxford Universities, BOC and OSCar. The new vehicle, known as LIFECar, will be ultra quiet and its exhaust systems will produce only water vapour. It promises a clean vehicle combined with sound motoring performance and stylish good looks.

via Jalopnik

Technorati tag: Transport, Hydrogen, Morgan Cars

TIGERS

The Turbo-generator Integrated Gas Energy Recovery System, works in a similar way to an ordinary turbocharger except, instead of using the power from exhaust gases to pump fuel and air in at a higher pressure, it generates electricity to run the vehicle's onboard systems. The saving on "parasitic losses" can help to improve the engine's output and efficiency. Treehugger sees it as another way to charge batteries in hybrids.

Technorati tag: Transport, Turbo

Hybrid Storm Chasers

Running away, actually. Tales from Texas of the joy of having a hybrid when the evacuation traffic is jammed up.

My folks drove to Austin from League City in their lexus hybrid and 21 hours of driving later still had 1/8 tank of gas left - plus they had my 87yr old grandfather with them and ran the air conditioner all day unlike most people who ran out of gas. 3 cheers for the hybrid!

via BoingBoing

Technorati tag: Hybrid

Naro Car

Currently under development in Wales- a two seat commuter vehicle that drives like a bike but has the safety features of a car and should do 100 miles per gallon.

Technorati tag: Transport

Hair tearing time

George Monbiot, long one to blame industry for the lack of movement on Green regulations, discovers that many would welcome restrictions but it's the Government that's holding things up.

via Worldchanging

Technorati tag: Regulation

The Colour of Money

I was thinking of starting an ethical investment blog, but haven't got round to it yet. In teh meantime, Enviropundit has links to a few resources for anyone considering investing in the Green revolution.

Technorati tag: Investment

Greening the Tories

Michael Ancram, former Conservative party leadership contender and possible pretender to the throne, says that all the other runners for leadership of the UK's third party are ignoring the coming energy crisis.

Mr Ancram added: "Some politicians dismiss the energy crisis as a hyped green agenda. It is not.

"Our political system will be severely challenged the day a British citizen turns on the light switch and nothing happens or switches on the kettle and the kettle stays cold."

Technorati tag: Politics, Tory Party

Put the oil in the coconut...

Coconut oil has proved to be a particularly good biodiesel, not needing the same level of pre-treatment as other biofuels.

Unlike with many biofuels, coconut oil doens't need to be transesterized - mixed with sodium hydroxide and alcohol to change its chemical composition - to run in a diesel engine. Filtered and warmed to temperatures about 25C, coconut oil is a better than satisfactory substitute for "mineral diesel" - it burns more slowly, which produces more even pressure on engine pistons, reducing engine wear, and lubricates the engine more effectively.

via BoingBoing

Technorati tag: Biodiesel

Two wheels tax deductible

I'm working as a contractor, officially my own company, and as such can deduct transport costs against tax. I know this counts for bus fare, but I have yet to find out if it would apply to bike maintenance. (Especially as my first claim would be for about £100 because of having a load of bits nicked.) However, if a cycle courier can claim his high calorie diet as deductible, it has to be worth a try.

Technorati tag: Cycling, Tax

Car Free

Thursday is World Car Free Day. As ever, every day is Car Free (and now television free) at Casa Spinneyhead.

via City Hippy

Technorati tag: Car Free Day, Transport

More Katrinas to come

A massive global increase in the number of strong hurricanes over the past 35 years is being blamed on global warming, by the most detailed study yet. The US scientists warn that Katrina-strength hurricanes could become the norm.

Worldwide since the 1970s, there has been a near-doubling in the number of Category 4 and 5 storms – the strength that saw Hurricane Katrina do such damage to the US Gulf coastline late in August 2005.

Technorati tag: Global Warming

Green energy costs 'extra £1bn'

It seems that builders of wind farms etc. are getting more money in subsidies than they require to break even. Personally I'd rather see my money go into future-proofing the energy supply than further fiascos like Iraq.

Technorati tag: Wind Power

City Cycling.

Cycle security has been occupying my thoughts today. Despite the attentions of scallies, and inattention of drivers, I still reckon cycling is the only sensible way to travel in the city.

When I'm not cycling I tend to get a MegaRider bus ticket- £8.50 for a whole week. With the bus fares from the nearest stop, the card pays for itself within 3 days. However, a whole year's worth runs to £442, more than enough to pay for a decent commuter and have a decent amount left over. I wouldn't like to guess how much a year's worth of commuting by car would cost.

There are drawbacks, of course. Yesterday I was nearly hit by a blind man in a Nissan Micra who sailed across a particularly badly designed staggered junction and would have driven straight into my side if I hadn't been watching out to see what sort of stupid thing he would do. And it's always unpleasant to cycle in the rain. And, of course there are the scallies, who'll have off with any half decent bike or bits they can get their thieving little hands on.

Give me a bike any time. And a good stout D-lock for the front wheel as well as the back.

Technorati tag: Cycling

From the Inbox

I was struggling to find a way to recycle my mountains of plastic milk cartons from Tesco, when I realised I was missing the obvious solution… I got a milkman! http://www.expressdairies.co.uk/ They use old school glass bottles which they collect to re-use hooray!

They even tell you the name of ‘your’ milkman. How quaint.

Technorati tag: Recycling

The ethical, economical, new Casa Spinneyhead

Casa Spinneyhead has relocated. A new house seems like a good place to start putting into effect more of the stuff that How to Save the World for Free is about. So that's what we're going to do.

We're still unpacking- we'll still be unpacking at Christmas- but that doesn't mean we can't start to implement our low energy, low impact plan. First step was the acquisition of low energy bulbs. Clare managed to get them for free by filling out questionnaires on energy consumption. They'll be fitted tomorrow.

Next up will be the oxidising cleaners for the washing machine. 3p a wash sounds like great value and makes the £30 initial investment less daunting.

Then there'll be the energy saving plugs for fridges, recycling, cycling to work etc. etc. Expect regular updates.

Technorati tag: EcoHouse, Low Energy, Low Impact