Author: Emissions

Last updated on March 21st, 2018

If the Kyoto protocol taught the world anything, it was firstly that global warming exists. It also taught us that man was responsible. Man’s responsibility does not end with acknowledging this, however, they need to take drastic action.

Plans are implemented and governments are held responsible. Let’s have a look at some of the plans that have been implemented across the world.

Germany

Germany has undertaken a project called “Energiewende” or energy transition. They are implementing a few strategies, however, it seems that Germany might just miss its 2020 target. Instead of the emissions-reducing, Germany’s emissions have actually increased. Germany seems to be holding the companies responsible for their own emissions, and a type of emissions cap will be set for the various industries. They will sell permits to these companies. Should the company find a way to reduce its emissions, they are allowed to sell their permits to other companies. Incentives are the draw card for households and companies by implementing tax cuts for those reducing emissions.

South Africa

Carbon neutrality and recycling are terms that have just recently landed home in South Africa. The threat of high emissions is still something that seems to be taking time for corporates to prioritize. The government is, however, looking to hold corporates responsible, and no one is exempted. The latest battle regarding emissions involve the parastatal, Eskom, not being able to meet their emissions targets. This would result in large fines, something the energy provide just cannot absorb. There have been major outage problems in South Africa with rolling blackouts called load shedding affecting households and business. Whether the parastatal will piggyback on this forever, remains to be seen.

Venezuela

Venezuela has implemented a mixture of EU and US legislation where emissions are concerned. Their seemingly heaviest contributor to emissions are vehicles. They focus specifically on heavy cargo vehicles. Companies face steep fines should their vehicles be in contravention of the emissions standards.

China

Those who remember the Beijing Olympics will also remember the smog that surrounded the Bird’s Nest Stadium. An eye-opener into the terrible pollution in China but also something to be concerned about where the environment is concerned. China is known as the manufacturing power in the world, closely followed by India. China does, however, seem to take it seriously, as an emissions deal has been struck with the US. Barack Obama and Xi Jinping met late 2014 to discuss the deal. This deal will have an indelible effect on the world and could affect meaningful deals with Paris, according to Ban Ki-moon.

Russia

Even though Russia managed to reduce their emissions by almost a quarter since 1992, they are still the third largest contributor per capita in the region. Gas emissions seem to be the biggest concern. Alternative sources for fuel and heating are top of mind here. Developing renewable energy resources is key to delivering their strategy of meeting the 2020 target.

Last updated on March 21st, 2018

There’s a laudable trend directly affecting the reduction in carbon emission!  If this trend continues, the U.S. would no longer be the largest emitter of greenhouse gases by 2040.

What is this trend?  This is the continuing decline of two cars-households.

Survey research conducted by KPMG, a major global accounting and research entity, indicates that by 2040 fewer than 47% of American households will have multiple vehicles.  Currently, 57% of American households still have two or more cars.  This predicted 10% reduction in dual car ownership is due to several factors, one of them is increasing financial burden.

The other contributing factors identified in the report are increased urbanization, telecommuting, changes in travel preferences among the younger generation, and growing traffic congestion in big metro areas. With new cars typically costing the average families $31,000, families are looking at cheaper options with no fixed costs.

In major cities across America, car sharing companies like Zipcar, on-demand car services like Uber, and even bike shares are making significant headway, this is especially true in over 400 American Universities and colleges all across the country.

Car-sharing is an economical alternative for college students.  Take this information, for instance, membership with Zipcar costs just $60/year or $6/month and hourly rates start at just $8.25/hour with their Occasional Driving Plan membership.  College-aged members reported that they save around $600 per month using car-sharing scheme compared to owning their own car.

The flow-on benefits are also noteworthy.  Members of car sharing programs report a 46% increase in public transit trips, a 10% increase in bicycling trips and a 26% increase in walking trips since joining up. Significantly, a study by the National Academy of Sciences found that each shared car takes about 15 private cars off the road.  This is the sort of data that the American people need to hear.

The strategy is clearly twofold.  Save college kids money through cost-sharing, and at the same time get them hooked on the concept.  Over the next the few years, these young college kids would be the movers and shakers of modern, environmentally friendly metro and urban areas.

More and more people are also deciding to live in moderately walkable places that are not crazy expensive. But for those in more expensive, more gentrified neighborhoods, couples are also finding that when they’re not spending extra money maintaining two vehicles it is actually more affordable to live near work.

Significantly reduced gas emission is a direct result of all this declining trend.  About 19.64 pounds of carbon dioxide (CO2) are produced from burning a gallon of gasoline that does not contain ethanol and about 22.38 pounds of CO2 are produced by burning a gallon of diesel fuel. Multiply that by 1,000,000 cars and you could just about understand why Earth is choking.

Although it is possible to buy biodiesel fuel in many states, it is still carbon-emitting.  Even using 100% biodiesel, cars still emit 20.13 pounds of CO2.

Car-sharing and power walking are clearly the answer!

Last updated on March 21st, 2018

If you are shopping for a new car, fuel economy is probably one of the first things on your mind. Gas prices in the United States are currently one of the lowest in years, but they will inevitably rise again. The amount of gas your car requires will directly influence your decision to drive it when you have a choice of transportation. If you drive often, saving on fuel is essential. Most new cars are considerably more fuel-efficient than their predecessors, but what if you didn’t want to pay for gas at all? Here are the top five most fuel-efficient cars in the United States. All of them are electric.

BMW i3 Giga

This a four-seat hatchback with a rear-wheel-drive that is an electric car through and through. The car has an electric motor and an optional two-cylinder engine generator. The driving range on the motor is 75 miles, but it extends up to 130 miles with the optional engine installed. It takes about 4 hours to fully charge on a 240-volt charger. BMW i3 is a stylish-looking midsize electric car that is agile and fun to drive. Its fuel efficiency equivalent is 139 miles per gallon.

Mitsubishi i-MiEV

Mitsubishi managed to make the cheapest electric car currently available on the market. Priced at $22 500, it is definitely more affordable than BMW i3 or Tesla Model S, but it is not the fastest nor most attractive. The car range is just short of 60 miles. It takes a long time to charge: 21 hours on a standard 110-volt charger or 7 hours on a 240-volt charger. Its fuel efficiency is equivalent to 111 miles per gallon.

Ford Focus Electric

One of the most popular compact sedan models, Ford Focus boasts an electric version that has a fuel efficiency equivalent of 107 miles per gallon. The car runs on a 100-kilowatt electric motor. The battery takes less than 4 hours to charge fully for a 240-volt charger. Ford Focus Electric provides a quiet, agile ride with a range of up to 76 miles.

Nissan Leaf

Nissan Leaf is the most famous mass-produced electric car in the United States. Nissan Leaf has a range of 75 miles, just like Ford Focus Electric, but takes longer to charge (6 hours on a 240-volt charger or 16 hours on the standard 110 volts). The Leaf’s fuel efficiency equivalent is 106 miles per gallon. Overall, it is comparable to Ford Focus Electric, both in price and range, but has a more distinct appearance and more standard features.

Chevrolet Volt

The Chevrolet Volt is equipped with an electric motor and a 1.4-liter engine that extends its driving range from meager 35 miles to over 300 miles. The fuel efficiency equivalent in the electric mode is 99 miles per gallon. When driven with gasoline, the Volt’s fuel efficiency is 32 miles per gallon. The Chevrolet Volt is quiet and responds well to handle, but lacks room in the back and in the trunk. It takes 4 hours to fully charge on a 240-volt charger, whereas the standard 110 volts will extend the charging time to 10 hours.

Last updated on September 21st, 2023

If you live in the USA, you might have to think a bit more before you buy an electric car. The reason? Some areas of the States have it better than others. It turns out that a lot of things depend on where you live. The range your car will have and the emissions that it puts out can be hugely different. It seems that geography is actually a big factor in how your car works!

A report published in Environmental Science and Technology looked at a current electric car, the Nissan Leaf. This is a model that is commercially available right now. Drivers were monitored during their normal days. They found that regional energy sources play a huge part in the range. Climate can also play its part. Of course, all of the estimates from car companies are done at the optimal level. This means that only some consumers will ever see those top results. Others could be looking at a different picture entirely. Hot and cold temperatures can both decrease the efficiency of a vehicle.

Electric vehicles have a few notches against them already. They are great for the environment and this stands very much in their favor. Cost is also a great thing for them. However, they generally only have a 70 to the 100-mile range after one charge. But that figure could be even lower than stated.

It seems that CO2 emissions are highest in the Midwest. This part of the country is the worst place to charge electric vehicles. If you want to really make a difference to the environment, move to the West. This is where the best results can be found. The lowest emission scores were recorded there. If you live in the Upper Midwest, where it can be very cold, the range may fall to 45 miles. In the Southwest, temperatures above 100 F had the same effect.

The differences which they found are large enough to make a big impact. This means that it could have implications for the emissions of electric vehicles. Are they really as great as we all think? It could be that there is more to explore on this topic. There is definitely room for improvement. The main thing to work on at the moment is the battery. It can have a lower rate of efficiency at different temperatures. It is also, of course, true that cars need to be better adapted to weathers. Using the air conditioning to cool down can use a lot more battery power. Similarly, the heating will make a difference when the outside temperature is low.

Some have pointed out that the source of the electric charge matters too. Does your electricity come from coal? If so, you are really driving a coal powered car. More energy solutions are going to be needed in future. This will help to cut emissions even further. That way we can expect to see improvements in the power of the cars as well. It is important to remember that this is still a developing industry.

Last updated on March 20th, 2018

If you are on the lookout for buying a new car and you also like to be environmentally conscious, consider choosing a hybrid vehicle or investing into an electric car. It may seem easier to just go with a tried and tested gasoline-powered cars, and there are certainly arguments for it. For example, there is a lot more choice when it comes to regular cars – engine power, top speed, design, model and car maker – the possibilities are endless. If you are looking to buy a used car, it will be much easier to find a regular car that suits you. Gas-powered cars are ubiquitous and can certainly feel more normal, but consider the advantages of a new-generation hybrid or an electric car.

The most obvious advantage is that hybrids and electric cars produce much less environmental impact than regular cars. They emit less carbon dioxide (or none at all) and they rely much less on gasoline. As a hybrid/electric car owner, you will be buying less gas and, consequently, spending less. You will also be less dependent on the fluctuations of oil prices that directly affect the price tag at your local gas station. Hybrids and electric cars also run much quieter than regular cars, so you will be reducing not only air pollution but noise pollution as well.

Sounds good? If it does, you are one step closer to driving “greener”! The next important question is whether you choose a hybrid or an electric car. Hybrids have been on the market for over a decade. Consequently, they are cheaper when compared to an electric car and there are more models to choose from. Surprisingly, hybrids also leave a lesser carbon footprint than electric cars, since electric cars rely solely on electricity that, in turn, relies on coal-burning. Hybrids are easier to power and charge since they require both gasoline and plugging in. They have more range than electric cars, providing some peace of mind for drivers who do not want to suddenly run out of battery in the middle of nowhere. The most popular hybrid car models in the United States are Honda Accord Hybrid, Ford Fusion Hybrid, Toyota Avalon Hybrid, Toyota Prius V, and Hyundai Sonata Hybrid.

Electric cars, on the other hand, are often called cars of the future. They represent the new generation of car-making that emphasizes environmental consciousness, the thrill of ground-breaking technology and the good old coolness factor. Electric cars are hip; owning one puts the driver in a new category of a “green petrol head”. Electric cars require no gasoline, so you can forget about worrying about gas prices going up. The ever-expanding network of charging and supercharging stations in the U.S. means you will not have to worry about finding a spot to plug in either. Electric cars are pricey, but if you decide to invest in one, you will be eligible for a federal tax credit and an additional state tax credit, depending on where you live. The most popular electric car models in the U.S. are Nissan Leaf, Tesla Model S, and Chevrolet Spark EV.

Last updated on March 21st, 2018

Rideshare, originally out Hartford, CT, began in 1980.  At the time they were thinking ahead and wasting no time with their initiative.  Their agenda to fill a need was focused easing the pain of commuting by educating and innovating in the areas of ridesharing and commuting choices while expanding on them.  In 1997, they expanded their efforts to help companies and their employees that commuted into and within Rhode Island, Massachusetts and New York.  They followed this by helping to bring focus to other areas of need such as area group homes.

By 2008, the award-winning Rideshare created the groundbreaking easy green carpools, whose model was to, again, ease the burden of commuting on the employee and employer.  The big winner, in the long run, would be the environment.  The first big clients were Fox groups affiliates, the Big Ten Network out of Chicago and the National Geographic Channel out of Washington, D.C.

In 2011, they again partnered with Fox to provide a program called easy commute to one of its affiliates in Los Angeles.  Easy Commute was a vanpool service.  Rideshare has proven again and again to be a company with the right ideas and ethical motives and they are still growing as a result.

They now bring us a promising option for continuing down a path of environmental responsibility in the form of innovative carpooling.  It’s still called easy green carpooling but it’s much more attainable for employers and employees as it’s closer than ever before.  The exciting part, of course, is how the numbers break down:

For every one carpool vehicle, twelve thousand pounds of greenhouse gases are reduced.  Five hundred gallons of fuel are conserved and two tons of recycled waste are saved from our landfills.  That is the same energy savings as one household’s annual electricity consumption!

What this means for employers is savings.  Land premiums are at an all-time high.  For every one carpool vehicle put into service, three parking lot spaces are saved.  That might not seem like such a big deal unless you’re renting that parking space or might otherwise put that space to a different use.  Besides, the benefit of trading one space for four adds up, the more Carpoolers are employed.  There are other obvious aspects that go with providing such unique benefits to employees that finally result in higher employee retention.

The benefits of such a program for employees are much easier to point out.  It is enticing as well in our current economy.  For starters, the riders in a carpool scenario do away with the stress associated with the daily commute.  They enjoy the benefit of no wear and tear on their personal vehicles and may even be in a position to save money on their own car insurance premiums, being enrolled in such a program.  They have a chance to do other things with the time they spend along the way to work, like socializing with their fellow passengers or reading over the morning’s meeting agenda.  The carpool volunteer drivers enjoy a fuel-efficient vehicle with insurance, GPS monitoring, complimentary maintenance and repairs, 24/7 customer service and roadside assistance and other incentives where they are in the nation.  If you are interested as an employer, employee or just wants to be, visit www.rideshare.com for more information.

Last updated on March 21st, 2018

There seem to be many people in the world who walk for miles to reach their place of work, and others make use of a bicycle. This is, however, something that tends to be put off by those who live in western society. Is it just plain laziness, or is there more to not wanting to cycle to work?
Safety

Many cities are just not as safe as they used to be and with the amount of technology we have to cart around every day, the chances of being mugged are not just a financial loss. There is the exposure risk to loss of life or limb and the emotional trauma is just too much to bear for some. Many people’s livelihoods also depend on their technology and to have a stolen or damaged is just not an option.

There is also the risk of being knocked over by vehicles, especially in countries where cyclists aren’t regarded as the priority. Unless you have quick response times, high traffic areas should be avoided.

Convenience

A lot of people won’t make the switch simply for the fact that it is convenient. If you live on the outskirts, or even outside town entirely, cycling to work might just take a lot longer. If you happen to have kids as well and it is not safe for them to walk to school or use public transport, then cycling to work might just pose a problem. A lot of salespeople also function out of their cars like it’s a second office, and often have their demonstration kits in the trunk. For those who travel long distances every day, y the time you reach your destination it might already be time to move onto the next one already. It also helps that the car seat provides a whole lot more seat than a bicycle.
Physically impossible

Some people have to make use of highways, train bridges and subways to get to their place of work as there is no alternative route for them to get there. To try and travel this same route by bicycle may not be feasible or safe.

High profile jobs with high profile clients

Unless you have a shower facility at work which most people don’t, chances are good that you are unable to freshen up properly when you get to work. There is nothing worse meeting a potential new client or a high profile client smelling and looking like you’ve just cycled ten miles.

They may not look it, but they are expensive

If you buy a proper road bike that would not have to be serviced almost on a daily basis, it will cost you a pretty penny especially if you already have the means to get to work and back. They require regular upkeep even if you buy a decent one and the services on road bikes are almost as expensive as a small service on a car.

Last updated on March 21st, 2018

Carbon dioxide has long been public enemy no. 1 for whistle-blowers of climate change. The gas is notorious as the most effective of all greenhouse gases. Its increasing concentrations in the atmosphere the world over pose a grave threat to human life as well as the surrounding ecosystems.

These increasing concentrations can be attributed in chief, to the heedless burning of fossil fuel. Efforts at reducing these emissions have produced splendid results and awareness of this pestilence is now widespread.

But what about all the CO2 that’s already there? What about all the CO2 that will undoubtedly be produced and released into the air for years to come? Many CO2-producing activities are crucial daily activities.

A radical new solution has got scientists in a tizzy everywhere. The solution lies in recycling this atmospheric CO2 into a handy liquid called methanol. Methanol, which is primarily used as a clean fuel, has a plethora of other uses. It is one of the primary ingredients of several important solvents, paints, plastics, and adhesives. Methanol also finds importance as an antifreeze, battery fluid as well as being used to “denature alcohol”.

Carbon dioxide is mixed with water to form a mixture known as “Syn-gas”. The syn-gas, a cocktail of water, carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide, is catalyzed under high pressure to produce methanol and other carbonaceous compounds.

This process is very financially demanding. It requires a high supply of CO2 and a great deal of energy.  Plants of this kind, however, are no longer fiction and are operational in places like Iceland, Netherlands etc. One particular such facility, in Iceland’s South Peninsula region, uses carbon dioxide spewed by a nearby geothermal energy plant.

The above examples clearly bring to light the special circumstances that permit the operation of such a plant. Iceland is among the least expensive nations when it comes to cost of energy and the nearby energy plant accounts for their CO2 fuel.

Recently, a joint research by Stanford University and the Technical University of Denmark pointed out that using an alternative catalyst could make it possible for the process to be carried out under less demanding conditions. This new method also increases the yield of methanol while reducing the amount of harmful carbon monoxide produced.The scientists used a new Nickel-Gallium catalyst instead of the conventional one made from copper, aluminum, and zinc. The process was able to persist at low pressures, greatly reducing the demand for energy, and, by extension, the operating cost. The results were favorable enough to allow the scientists to dream of using the same process for synthesizing even more complex materials from the same two basic ingredients.

Another upcoming facility in Qatar aims at recycling 500 tonnes of CO2 per day. This is the rough equivalent of the annual CO2 emission of 32 million cars and would take 4.2 million trees ten years to recycle.

That carbon dioxide emission is one of the great malaise’s plaguing our society is indubitable. Efforts at treating atmospheric CO2 should be accorded equal gravity as those aimed at reducing the emissions. These recycling processes may just be the answer.

Last updated on September 21st, 2023

Everyone knows about the rise of hybrids, and many people may even know several people that own one type or another. These cars have been lauded as the wave of the future but it seems the future is already here and happening, and we are still vastly reliant on oil and gas to keep our cars running. One alternative that has been presented time and time again is a car that runs only on battery power. The batteries we’ve seen up to this point have been unable to deliver a car that keeps a charge and is a reasonable price, but experts say that this could change very quickly.

Car makers such as Tesla have been working tirelessly to attempt to discover how to optimize the battery itself. As is well known, these cars with a hefty price tag, but researchers have predicted that we will start seeing solely battery powered cars in the very near future and that they could become prevalent as quickly as 5 years from now. These cars will have the capacity to hold a charge for up to 200 miles, and the impact on the environment will be major.

One of the problems with hybrid cars such as the Prius is the reliance on gas, however, reduced from a traditional car. Running the vehicle solely on battery power will reduce the battery’s lifespan, and the replacement batteries are extremely pricey. This is the car was meant for the fuel system and battery system to work hard in hand for maximum efficiency and also simply because when the car was introduced in the early 2000’s, the technology for a better system just wasn’t there. Flash forward a decade or so, and we find ourselves almost perfecting the technology outside of incredibly expensive cars that have thus far mainly served as novelties for the wealthy. A widespread knowledge and more available materials will drive the cost down and make these cars more attainable for the working class. Once this large subset of drivers has the ability to own a purely battery powered car, the emissions rate will steadily drop.

The middle class is the class that drives the most, as they must commute to and from their jobs rather than take public transportation and often drive further for leisure time, as the cost of airfare can sometimes evade them. Targeting the middle class with affordable Eco-friendly cars will make the most impact on pollution caused by cars in major metropolitan areas. Fortunately, the future is upon on, and if the experts are to be believed, it may happen sooner than anyone thought possible.

The environment has been at the forefront of many recent discussions and people are starting to realize how urgent the need to change our ways is becoming. Though hybrids filled the void for a while, the time has come to move on to even cleaner technology. Since battery powered cars are just around the corner, we need to start getting used to the idea and finally accept something other than gas-powered cars.

Last updated on March 21st, 2018

Traditional taxis are no longer the only ones with some still competition.  Ever since an Uber entered the market, taxicab companies worldwide have been protesting.  They sensed a threat to their own existence the likes of which had never been seen and they weren’t going to take it lying down.  The fresh, new, technology friendly approach to getting a ride seemed to welcome and immediately took the world by storm.  Uber was and is everywhere!  They’re not, however, the only tech-savvy show on the road.  There are others, and they’re doing it big.  They’ve entered the market, as Uber did, with an edge…a green edge.

There’s a new kid on the block called Lyft.  They currently service San Francisco, LA and New York.  They are currently romancing their clientele with special programs that promote savings and a healthier environment.  One such program is called Lyft Line.  What’s Lyft Line does is offer its customers the option of sharing a lift.  A customer can arrange ahead, sharing their scheduled ride with two or three additional riders.  The result in this can be a saving all the way around.  The riders save anywhere from ten to sixty percent off standard fares.  The fuel and greenhouse emissions savings of driving four passengers in one car rather than four separate vehicles being on the road speak for itself, as does the inherent reduction in traffic.

Another innovative program that Lyft has in place is called Lyft Pioneer.  Lyft Pioneer is designed to promote its arrival in new areas.  Enrolling in such a program, when service becomes available, can result in savings for new riders, credits for their referral friends and ride credit vouchers.  Every new service area will have unique opportunities to save and will bring all the technology-friendly services to its clients that Lyft users have come to enjoy.

These technologies driven services, like Apps that can be downloaded to your phone or other device and get you a ride quickly are just the market-driven services that put Uber in demand.  They are the services that have traditional taxicab companies shaking in their shoes and protesting.  Gone are the days of unfriendly dispatchers and waiting out in inclement weather for your dirty, outrageously expensive cab.

Now that we’ve touched on the unpleasant traditional experience of days gone by, we look to the horizon of experiences yet to come.  The experiences I speak of are those of the new and well-dressed Driver.  Driver steps onto the scene with a sheik and best foot forward approach.  The feather in their cap is a fleet of luxurious Tesla electric cars.  These guys definitely know how to make being environmentally friendly look good!

With your mobile device, you can summon your state of the art carriage in a matter of seconds.  Each car has a “panoramic” glass roof and concierge service to ensure you receive only the most thoroughly enjoyable and remarkable services.  They even give you the option to do a little additional shopping or errand running at a reasonable hourly rate.  Though new to the market and not quite close to home yet, these gallant knights will soon be contenders in the marketplace.  That is, so long as the educated “other half” wants a ride fast, in style and for less…oh!  And greenly!