Be Eco Friendly

There’s only one certainty in life- we all will die someday. In our society there’s a trend towards funeral, either burial or cremation. Burial may soon become a thing of the past, as space/plots are already at a premium. Shortages of land and changing attitudes mean traditional burials are in decline in many parts of the world.

Around 75 per cent of people in the UK are cremated after they die, while in the US the figure has risen from 25 per cent in 2000 to approximately 35 per cent today.

Each cremation produces around 150 kilograms of CO2, according to a report by the UK’s Carbon Trust, a government-funded organization that helps companies reduce their carbon emissions. Cremations also produce toxic chemicals: a cubic meter of the exhaust gases can contain as much as 200 micrograms of mercury, largely from dental fillings, according to a review by José Domingo and Montse Mari at Rovira i Virgili University in Tarragona, Spain. UK legislation is already in place requiring crematoriums to fit mercury-capturing filters by 2012.

Read more: http://findtut.com/eco-friendly-funeral-may-soon-replace-burial-and-cremation-045008

Feed-in tariffs (FiT) have hit the UK and they are predicted to create a big boost for solar energy. A new report by PricewaterhouseCoopers predicts a five-fold increase in demand for photovoltaic (PV) solar panels this year as a result.

Victor Valley College in Victorville, California and SolFocus recently held a grand opening ceremony for the largest solar power plant in North America usingconcentrator photovoltaic (CPV) systems. After two months of construction, the one megawatt solar power plant is now providing clean power to Victor Valley College in Victorville, California. The SolFocus CPV technology employs a system of patented reflective optics to concentrate sunlight 650 times onto small, highly efficient solar cells.

Read more: http://www.solarthermalmagazine.com/2010/06/07/largest-concentrator-photovoltaic-system-in-north-america-inaugerated/

Eco-buildings come in many different forms: self-sufficient or autonomous structures, self-build, wooden timbre-framed, cob cottages, traditional mud and stud, to name but a few. Some are high tech, others are low tech and some eco-architecture has even gone underground to conserve heat.

Like all good architecture, of course, modern eco-buildings with closely with the climate and attempt to harmonise with their environment. The relationship is strengthened by them passively capturing solar energy, rainwater and harnessing wind to generate energy that can be subsequently stored and used – with surplus energy often being sold to the national grid!

Now, the more environmentally-conscious architects and builders have integrated this eco-concept into commercial developments across the UK, more notably in densely populated cities such as London, Birmingham and Manchester, to create work spaces that are more “self-sufficient” and “greener” to keep up with the insatiable demand from forward-thinking businesses. The balance of luxury and sustainability is now essential, and although still important, previous key attributes of a great view, gym and capacious canteen area are further down the list of requirements when searching for the right office space.

Full article: http://www.6633forestlandway.com/?p=945

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An electrically powered people carrier will provide easy, direct, environmentally-friendly access into the heart of Cardiff city centre during a three month trial.

The new bus will be free to use and is aimed primarily at wheelchair users and people with reduced mobility. It will replace the free ‘b’; a pilot scheme that began last October and will come to an end within a month.

The Free ‘b’ service was introduced to coincide with the opening of St David’s 2 last autumn, with the aim of providing support to the new ‘bus box’ system in the city.

The trial service, involving two single decker buses, has constantly been under review and although take-up has not been as high as expected, customer feedback has still highlighted demand for a smaller service that is able to reach more internal parts of the city centre and give added support to those who find it difficult to walk long distances.

Read full article: http://www.24dash.com/news/local_government/2010-05-13-New-electric-bus-to-provide-eco-friendly-travel-in-Cardiff

When you recycle a plastic bottle, you’re doing something good. When you recycle 111 of them, you’re doing something great. Help your bottle become something extraordinary again. Introducing the 111 navy chair™

About four years ago, in 2006, Coca-Cola came to us at Emeco with a proposal. Their recycling plant in Spartanburg South Carolina was brand new and processing thousands of plastic bottles a day and they were looking for ways to show the value of recycled plastic. Everywhere else in the world people recycle about 80% of their bottles while in the US we recycled only about 20%.

Coke asked us to make the classic Navy Chair out of a new, unproven formulation of rPET (Recycled Polyethylene Terephthalate- recycled plastic bottles). They introduced us to the scientists at BASF the international chemical innovator and together we developed proprietary mix made of about 60% and a special combination of pigment combined with glass fiber for strength.

Read full article: http://www.thoughtyoumayask.com/?p=1524

Wave Hub is creating the world’s largest test site for wave energy technology by building a grid-connected socket on the seabed, 16 kilometres off the coast of Cornwall, to which wave power devices can be connected and their performance evaluated.

The £42 million project has been developed by the South West RDA (Regional Development Agency) and is a cornerstone of its strategy to develop a world class marine energy industry in South West England.

Jim Price, Wave Hub’s head of procurement at the South West RDA, said: “The award of this contract is a significant milestone for Wave Hub and it means we’re all systems go for deployment this summer. The CTC team has already carried out some onshore surveys at Hayle and will be fully mobilised next month.”

Read more: http://www.southwestrda.org.uk/news_and_events/2010/may/offshore_contractor_appointed.aspx

The marsupials – which are said to be selling well – are described as being a great way of keeping the grass cut without any direct effort.

Wallaby breeder Mary Davies from West Sussex says demand is so high, she now has a waiting list of people wanting some for their gardens.

She says benefits include the face they ‘work’ all day and can get into areas that you would struggle to with a  lawnmower, though she admits they can’t chew nice lines into your lawn.

But before you place your order, bare in mind the £300-1000 creatures have to be bought in pairs and you will need a garden of at least half an acre… and tall fence.