Green of the Week

Every week we keep track of the latest interesting, odd, special developments and ideas. This week we read about the Ecology of Conquering, about a World running on renewable energies alone, about Emission free gas (for only $1.50 per gallon) and about Sustainable Football.

Researchers of the Carnegie Institution’s Department of Global Ecology have found that 700 million tons of carbon emissions (comparable to the global annual emissions production from gasoline) were avoided in the 13th and 14th Century. This was, however, not done in an attempt to combat global warming, but was a coincidental result of the invasion of Europe by the conquering Mongolians. 

During a century and a half, an estimated 40 million people were killed. The disappearance of so many people led to a steep decline in their agricultural activities, and to the eventual reforestation of many acres of land. The difference between this historical event and others, such as the Black Death or the conquest of the Americas, is that this one lasted sufficiently long to allow the forests to re-grow and function as carbon sinks (absorbing more carbon than they released).

Thank you to the Recycle Times for bringing our attention to this research, and to the researchers of the Carnegie Institution for doing it.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

Researchers at Stanford University have taken up the challenge to design a world running solely on renewable sources, and have found it possible. They have found that "there [is] a way you could save 2.5 million to 3 million lives a year and simultaneously halt global warming, reduce air and water pollution and develop secure, reliable energy sources – nearly all with existing technology and at costs comparable with what we spend on energy today" (article by Louis Bergerson).

However, the retiring all vehicles and equipment, of refurbishing (or abolishing) entire industries would require not only enormous funds, but also tremendous political and societal will to make it happen. Though the financial burden might lessen with the advancement of science, it will still be up to politics and society to make a choice that is not likely to get any easier.

Thank you to the Recycle Times for bringing our attention to this research, and to the researchers of the Stanford University for doing it.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                           


If we can believe Cella Energy, however, an emission free world might be as far off and as difficult to achieve as we might think. They claim to have developed a synthetic fuel that does not produce carbon emissions and only costs $1.50 a gallon! On top of this, tests have shown that the fuel could be used in regular combustion engines without any engine modification! 

If this is the real thing, and Cella Energy can produce this fuel, this would stabilize the price of gasoline, reduce dependence on foreign oil & cut deeply into our emissions! Hope springs eternal...

Thank you to Inhabitat for bringing our attention to this (potential) new product.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

For those of us who are more down to earth, Qatar has just revealed its plans for the 2022 FIFA world cup. Next to expanding their current two stadia, they will also build state-of-the-art new ones, conceptualized by the German AS&P. All stadia will exceed environmental efficiency standards  and will be accessible from all relevant locations by public transport (including water taxi parking). Environmentally friendly, carbon-neutral technologies, including Solar Thermal Collectors and PV panels, will take care of the cooling of the pitch & the seats.The new stadia will, on top of that, be built in modules, for easy assembly & disassembly. 

A healthy mind in a healthy body, now on a healthy planet...

Thank you to Inhabitat for bringing our attention to this development and to AS&P for developing it.