Why Motors Cars and Women Matter
Posted by annied in greentech on 12. Nov, 2009 | Comments Off
By Chris Milton
Last month I was invited to the IAA Frankfurt Motor Show. Renault was launching a complete range of electric cars and they were gathering various journalists to their bosom to help spread the message.
So I went and wandered around, picking up all sorts of bumpf on the Renault cars and various other eco and green transportation solutions.
Some were good. Renault’s in particular was impressive , and I’m not just saying that because they fed me free coffee and chocolate cheesecake.
Biochar: How to make the market work
Posted by annied in Cantos, green business, greentech on 09. Nov, 2009 | Comments Off
“Biochar Will Save the World!” proclaims a group page on Facebook. Popular mechanics writes of an “ancient charcoal” that can “put the brakes on global warming.” More than its prospects as a carbon sink or a fuel, it has massive prospects for development (the economic kind) for developing countries and emerging markets. But is it really that simple? A very wise Finance professor* once told me, “Anytime anybody tells you they have a market for that, be very suspicious.” It’s not that biochar couldn’t work, but that the market to make it work would have to be nuanced and highly regulated.
5 more sites that make us green-geek out
Posted by annied in DECC, Oxfam, greenblogs, greentech, greentv news on 30. Oct, 2009 | Comments Off
5 more wicked-cool places seen online
5 greentech developments to be aware of
Posted by annied in greentech, greentv news on 21. Sep, 2009 | Comments Off
The non-use of technology is more important a technology story than the application of technology these days. Almost three quarters of Dutch economic activity takes place below sea-level and sea levels will rise 1 meter by the end of this century. But instead of adding mechanization and making plans that will have a carbon footprint the Dutch will create flood planes and wave breakers by adding sand offshore and expanding marshes and public spaces. Not only are they bracing for extreme weather events, they are greening their living space as well!
(Source: Ben Berkowitz, Reuters online, 4 Sep 2009)
Greentech is Radical Nature at the Barbican
Posted by annied in WWF, greentech on 07. Sep, 2009 | Comments Off
Last weekend I went to see the “Radical Nature” at the Barbican. The Exhibit features 23 designers who integrate green principles into their designs.
Some of it is indeed “radical,” like Luke Fowler’s schzoid musings, some how related to the construction of a bog (?!) and like Henrik Hakasson’s 16 meter square fragment of rainforest growing [...]