by Michael Smith
A report released by the Environmental Working Group in October 2008 provides yet another reason not to drink bottled water: disinfection byproducts, fertilizer residue and pain medication. All these chemicals and more were found in multiple brands of bottled water EWG tested.
The cost of bottled water is about 1,900 times greater than tap water, but it is a price tag many people, however, appear comfortable in paying because they believe, falsely though, that they are drinking something "pure."
The Environmental Working Group's comprehensive report, however, does counter this assumption, with data indicating chemical contaminants in every brand of bottled water that they tested.
This report shows that bottled water is no more “pure” than tap water, also as regards to chemical residues and hence drinking tap, especially if filtered through charcoal and sand, in other words, the same stuff that is in, dare I mention a company here, Britta filters. That way your tap water more than likely is cleaner and safer than your bottled “mineral” water will ever be.
Tap water already has to go through much more stringent checks than any so-called mineral or spring water and hence the cleanliness and safety is, theoretically, much more ensured.
From what can be seen from the findings of this report is that, so it would appear, that municipal tap water, more than likely, is cleaner and safer than any of the so-called spring waters on offer. Help!
WalMart's and Giant's store brand of bottled water contained a cocktail of chlorine and fluoride found in municipal water, making these brands identical to municipal water with the exception of their price tags. In California these brands exceeded legal contaminant limits and were also found chemically potent in stores in North Carolina, Virginia, Delaware, Maryland and DC.
Maybe in this case one should ask as to whether it may not also just be repackaged tap water that has not even gone through any filtration process, let alone it being “spring”.
Sam’s Choice samples that the Environmental Working Group bought in the San Francisco contained disinfection byproducts, which have been linked to cancer and reproductive problems.
The Environmental Working Group has announced that it has filed a lawsuit to require Walmart post a warning sign on its bottles that the water contains a chemical known to the State of California to cause cancer, an act required under California law.
And this is aside from the fact that the bottles themselves, more than likely, will be leaching Bisphenol A (BPA) into the water.
Other brands tested by the Environmental Working Group contained other chemicals including fertilizer byproducts, chemical remnants of prescription medicines, industrial chemicals, bacteria, arsenic, and even boron.
The study also included assays for breast cancer cell proliferation, conducted at the University of Missouri. One bottled water brand spurred a 78% increase in the growth of the breast cancer cells compared to the control sample.
The bottled water industry, unlike municipal water sources, is not required to reveal the chemical components of its products but the EWG hopes that this report will educate consumers as to the impurities of bottled water and the risks associated with drinking it.
The Environmental Working Group recommends, just like the Green (Living) Review, that consumers drink filtered tap water instead of bottled water. Also insist on tap, filtered if possible, in restaurants, though I know that the answer often will be a “not possible”. If that be the case I would suggest that one leaves the restaurant and votes with one's feet.
© M Smith (Veshengro), November 2008
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Cancer-Linked Contaminants in Bottled Water Says EWG
36 gallons of water per mile
Ethanol from corn uses more water than any other biofuel
by Michael Smith
Yet another nail has been hammered into the coffin of corn ethanol and probably not too soon either.
According to findings by researchers at the University of Texas at Austin, the water requirements to produce corn ethanol are significantly higher than producing non-irrigated biofuels, hydrogen generated from renewable energy, or petroleum or diesel fuel.
In other words, corn ethanol is not very good for the environment, and that aside from the fact that water is becoming a rather scarce resource and more than likely the next one which war will be fought over (again).
The researchers compared the amount of water withdrawn (used and returned to the source) and the water consumed (water not returned to the source) per mile traveled in a typical car when powered by gasoline, diesel, corn ethanol, soy-derived biofuels, hydrogen and electricity and obtained rather interesting results:
According to the findings it is irrigation and not the biofuels themselves that are the problem. Though, as far as many of them concerned, the emission, though they are not what is being discussed here, appear to be worse and more harmful than those from gasoline and diesel. However, here are the findings:
Petrol and diesel, non-irrigated biofuels, hydrogen and electricity from renewable resources: <0.15 gal water/mile consumed water and <1 gal water/mile withdrawn water;
Hydrogen and electricity derived direct from the US grid (currently mainly fossil fuel and nuclear power): 2-5 times more consumed water and 5-20 times more withdrawn water;
Irrigated biofuels (corn ethanol): 28 gal water/mile consumed water and 36 gal water/mile withdrawn water;
Soy-derived biofuels: 8 gal H2O/mile consumed water and 10 gal H2O/mile withdrawn water.
This, I believe, is yet again a case in point that we must get away from the infernal combustion engine, regardless of what fuel is being used, including fuel cells, and find another way of transportation, personal private transportation, I mean here.
Water is too precious a resource to be wasted in this way and, if other research is to be believed, the emissions from most biofuels are worse than those from oil based fuels. Hence we must have another close look as to how we expect to get around.
Too many trips are made needlessly by motorcar anyway. There is no need to start up the car only to drive a quarter of a mile to a mile down the road to get the newspaper or a pint of milk. That can be done walking or cycling. But it would appear that we have, the great majority at least, especially in the UK and the USA, have become too lazy to walk or cycle. No wonder so many of us in the developed world are becoming obese.
Time for a rethink, methinks.
© M Smith (Veshengro), November 2008
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Existing homes must also be made more sustainable
Existing housing stock must not be ignored in the battle to reduce the carbon footprint of Britain's housing
by Michael Smith
That is the basic message behind a major report published by a number of key players in the sustainable housing arena. Instead of, and finally someone seems to get the message, looking at creating Eco-Towns with low-carbon and carbon neutral houses, the existing housing stock must be made into low carbon homes (and offices).
Low Carbon Existing Homes is the result of collaboration between the UK Green Building Council, the Energy Efficiency Partnership for Homes, the Sustainable Development Commission and the Technology Strategy Board at the request of Government.
The report highlights the problems of persuading professionals and the public to spend money up front to make savings in the longer term, and warns against focusing on building greener new properties at the cost of existing stock.
Paul King, chief executive of the UK Green Building Council said: "For too long we have been throwing our money out of the window, either indifferent about our energy bills, or completely turned off by the hassle and upfront cost of energy efficiency improvements.
"Spiralling fuel costs and concern about climate change now call for a revolution in attitude and approach - we can and must make it easy and affordable for everyone to slash their household bills and carbon emissions.
"The great strength of this report is in the sheer breadth and depth of those that contributed to it, and it should prove a line in the sand on this hugely important issue."
Mark Brown, director of the Energy Efficiency Partnership for Homes added: "To meet ambitious carbon saving targets in the housing sector, we need a confident delivery supply chain that will invest in the necessary capacity and skills.
"The current myriad of incentive schemes, funding programmes and policy drivers has not made it easy for the supply chain to deliver effectively and for householders to take action.
"This intensive stakeholder consultation has emphasised the need for a coordinated approach and some strong leadership by Government."
The report will inform Government's energy efficiency consultation later in the year, and the resulting Low Carbon Homes strategy next spring.
We also, in this, could look at some findings from studies conducted in the USA and Canada that found that the houses, whether tenements or offices, of the late 19th and early 20th century in the towns and cities of the USA and elsewhere, with the smaller windows, and their often fitted awnings, were better than todays houses with the big windows, especially as to summer heat and the need to then cool down a building. It would appear that in many aspects we should, nay must, move forward by going back to the past. There has been lots of technology there – though technology may be the wrong word – that might serve us very well now in our battle to be kinder to the environment.
© M Smith (Veshengro), October 2008
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ZINIO LAUNCHES THE READ GREEN INITIATIVE™, THE WORLD’S LARGEST FREE DIGITAL MAGAZINE OFFERING FOR CONSUMERS
Groundbreaking Initiative Teams Leading Publishers, Major Corporations, and Industry Leaders to Further Efforts to Continue Environmental Responsibility
by Michael Smith
Finally The Read Green Initiative™ is going live. On September 23rd, 2008 Zinio, the global leader in digital and interactive publishing, announced the launch of The Read Green Initiative™ but it did not go live until now.
The program is designed to increase the consumer awareness and use of digital reading alternatives, and a good idea this can be too. Even more so if, like many newspapers now, at home and abroad (at home means in the UK), who make their editions available free online, there is a download feature available to clip pages in PDF, for instance.
Many of the world’s most prominent magazine publishers, including Bonnier and Greenspun Media, have teamed up with Zinio to offer up to 50 million free annual subscriptions to the digital versions of over 200 publications through The Read Green Initiative™ website: www.GoReadGreen.com. Free magazine subscriptions are limited to one free subscription per person.
The Read Green Initiative™ was inspired by a growing number of efforts pioneered by leaders in the publishing industry to improve the environmental performance of magazines. These include increasing the recycling of magazines, improving newsstand efficiency, and using more environmentally friendly paper.
“It is our hope that The Read Green Initiative™ will be successful in creating an enjoyable, interactive digital reading experience that can further enhance the environmental successes we've already seen,” said Rich Maggiotto, president and CEO of Zinio.com. “Our research has shown that one of the main reasons consumers enjoy reading digital magazines is because they feel like they are doing something good for the environment. The Read Green Initiative™ will support and embrace this consumer interest as well as introduce the public to a medium that responds to their needs, without affecting the bottom line.”
Publisher participants in The Read Green Initiative™ include representatives from many of the largest publishing houses in the nation. A limited number of the publishers' magazines will be available on www.GoReadGreen.com at no cost. Visitors can also buy a subscription to these digital titles and more on The Read Green Initiative™ site. A portion of the proceeds for all sales made will be redeemed in exchange for eco-unit credits that will contribute to the greening of school and university campuses, through the planting of trees, to commemorate Earth Day 2009. The full suite of Zinio publications will still be available for sale at www.Zinio.com.
"As a magazine industry leader, it’s incredibly important for us to stay on the crest of change; that means providing our readers with the opportunity to receive our content in new and innovative ways,” said Beatrice Hanks, Senior Vice President of Marketing, Black Enterprise. “The industry is undeniably evolving, and the digital medium has opened a massive outlet for Black Enterprise to increase our audience exponentially in a way that is environmentally responsible. This is why we enthusiastically back The Read Green Initiative.™ Offering our publication in a digital format exposes us to a global audience with a paper-like reading experience, but provides all the eco-friendly advantages of going paperless. For us it's clearly a win-win."
“The Read Green Initiative™ is a thrilling new project. We are constantly seeking innovative ways to reach a wider audience. Our publications lead the pack in regional news and features for the Annapolis area, but through Zinio and an outlet like The Read Green Initiative™ we can continue to extend our growth potential beyond city limits, even beyond country limits,” added Veronica Tovey, publisher of What’s Up magazine. “Now if someone in Japan wants to learn about Annapolis, he or she can— instantly. The implications of an endeavor like this are tremendous.”
In addition to the commitment from publishers, The Read Green Initiative™ has also received support from a number of leading corporations and personalities. Supporting companies include Dell, The Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, and PlasticLogic. Notable industry supporters include Jennie Saunders, founder and CEO of CORE: club, and Stan Rapp, founder of the Rapp agency, current Chairman, Engauge, and noted author. Supporter statements from these backers will appear on The Read Green Initiative™ website during the duration of the project.
Zinio is the global leader in digital and interactive publishing products and services, currently distributing over 1,000 digital magazine titles currently in its stable. Partnering with American and International publishers, Zinio opens opportunities for revenue growth and wider circulation. Zinio also designs marketing programs that focus on consumer acquisition and retention, cross-promotion, and driving revenue. Zinio is also the founder of The Read Green Initiative™ (www.GoReadGreen.com).
As a worldwide distributor, Zinio has offices in San Francisco and New York and Distribution partners across the globe. Zinio’s partners include Bonnier, Hearst, IDG, Gruner + Jahr, Hachette Filipacchi, IPC Media, Mariah Media, McGraw-Hill, The National Magazine Company, Playboy Enterprises, Rodale, Rogers Publishing and Ziff Davis. Zinio is also the exclusive home of VIVmag, the world’s first fully digital and 100% interactive women’s luxury publication. For more information, or to purchase any of the digital magazine-specific titles offered by Zinio, please visit www.zinio.com.
I have had a look at the website – obviously – and, as I know the kind of service that is offered by Zinio it should a very fine effort though, I am sure, I could and will find a number of suggestions to make – once I have taken up a subscription, maybe, myself.
The first suggestion, if it is not already part of the service, is to create a possibility for readers to download articles from the magazines that they have a subscription to for them to be able to keep as reference or such. One of the many reasons that people buy paper magazines for, e.g. to keep the entire magazines or just particular articles from them for future reference and/or use.
Providing paperless magazines is also the reason for the very existence of the online magazines such as the Green (Living) Review here. I do, however, know that there are many people who would like to have, if paperless, magazines, anthologies of the same, or simply the facility to clip articles, in PDF.
One of the reason why this publication is still looking into the possibility of producing an occasional anthology of the best articles or series or articles and also and especially the product and book reviews, and such, in a PDF e-book.
© M Smith (Veshengro), November 2008
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1E And VeryPC Named Green Suppliers 2008 At The Green IT Expo Awards
Power-reducing software solutions provider 1E (www.1e.com) has been announced as the winner of the inaugural Green Supplier Award at Green IT Expo 2008, the UK’s first free-to-attend event focusing on sustainable computing. Head of Global Sales at 1E, Jon McKellar, accepted the award from Managing Director of conference organiser Revolution Events, Richard Tribe, during the afternoon’s keynote sessions on 5th November.
“The award recognises 1E for its innovative range of products, in particular its Nightwatchman software, which was seen to offer a great solution to the common issue of PCs and other peripherals being left switched on after office hours,” says Tribe.
CEO of 1E, Sumir Karayi adds, “We are thrilled to have been recognised as Green Supplier 2008. Ten million people across 1,000 organisations in 42 countries worldwide are now using our products, all helping to reduce IT energy consumption on a larger scale.”
VeryPC (www.very-pc.co.uk), the Sheffield-based energy-efficient PC manufacturer were also awarded the runners-up prize, for its ‘totally holistic approach’ to building low-energy servers and PCs, whilst clearly quantifying the power savings. VeryPC’s Managing Director, Peter Hopton, accepted the award on the company’s behalf.
The Green Supplier Award honours IT suppliers that have shown outstanding commitment to providing greener IT hardware and software for the future. 1E and VeryPC were voted for by end-users from Revolution Event’s database of commercial, public and third sector organisations.
Green IT Expo 2009 takes place on the 10th and 11th November. Please visit www.greenitexpo.com for further information on the conference.
Source: MCC International
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USB Cell by Moixa – Product Review
Rechargeable batteries you recharge on your PC's USB ports
by Michael Smith
Maybe I should add that these were not sent to me for review from the manufacturers or one or the other green vendor; they were picked up as a freebie, like the Eco-Button that time and which I also reviewed, on a trade fair I visited on behalf of the Green (Living) Review.
That shall not stop me, however, from reviewing those batteries for the readers of this journal – rather the opposite. In addition to those there shall be another couple of reviews be following, of some products and also a book, that we acquired in similar circumstances.
So, now first of let's have a look at the technical stuff for those batteries:
The battery type is rechargeable AA NiMH battery at 1.2v 1300mah with a built in intelligent charger and the charge by powered USB socket of PC or laptop
The battery chemistry is NiMH, that is to say, Nickel Metal Hyrdride. The batteries are 90%+ Charged after 5 Hours by powered USB and are also rechargeable by approved NiMH charger at 250ma for 7 Hours. I found that after about 7 hours on a USB they are also fully charged.
The retail unit is AA Batteries - 2 cell pack and the code for it is MXAA02. The price for UK is £10.99
Originally, it would appear that the batteries were sold in what I would refer to as blister pack but now they appear to come, for thus is how I got them, in just a cardboard carton with a cut out in the front and no plastic window or blister in sight. Nice to see this move.
After receiving those batteries I had to go out that evening to attend a press event in London. So, before I left from home I set the PC to run a deep systems anti-virus scan and at the same time took the opportunity to charge the USB Cells. Those were connected to the desktop PC via hubs and in less that seven hours, give or take a couple of minutes, they were fully charged and, from what I have seen so far, they perform very well and are of the same power grade as “normal” high grade AA batteries.
While it could be said that gadgets such as those may not be directly “green” - and I must say that only the tops are in that color – they do, definitely, fall under the category as they, during their lifetime and use, replace quite a number of traditional batteries; the kind that is not good for the environment.
Having said that I am aware that the USB Cells, like any other electronic gadget, must be recycled in a special way rather than going into the ordinary refuse. I do hope though, on the other hand, that they will not have to go there all that soon.
Traditional alkaline batteries = toxic landfill after one use
Each year, 15 billion batteries are made and disposed of which is the equivalent to a column of batteries to the moon and back.
USB CELL is, more than likely, the ultimate environmentally-friendly battery, though in itself, I know it is still a battery which is, though I am no scientist, made of some nasty materials still. The batteries are tested, so Moixa say, up to 500 charge cycles to guarantee optimum reusable performance.
In the UK, 680 million batteries are bought each year. The average household uses 21 batteries per year. This creates an estimated 19,000 tonnes of general purpose batteries waste alone, of which less than,1000 tonnes are recycled.
I don't know about the average household but I seem to be coming close, on my own, to such amount of battery usage myself.
Normal alkaline batteries are mainly disposed into landfill sites, which create significant toxic waste and environmental issues. As the battery casing corrodes, toxic metals such as mercury, cadmium and lead are released into the environment, contaminating soil and water, which in turn could cause serious health problems in the future. The world's oceans are already beginning to show traces of cadmium which can be toxic to aquatic invertebrates and can accumulate in fish, and makes them unfit for human consumption. Another common compound used in batteries is nickel-cadmium, which is a known human carcinogen. There is also a significant carbon expenditure associated with the metal extraction, manufacture, transport, packaging, storage and retailing of disposable batteries that are rubbish after a single use.
So, rechargeable is the way to go is and when we have to use batteries – and there are now already devices and gadgets that do not need batteries, per se, although some still use them internally as a means to store the energy generated by wind-up mechanisms and such, while some store the charge in slow-discharge capacitors – and those batteries such as the USB Cell that can be charged on USB sockets rather than needing to use a specific charger might be a great way to go.
My set of USB Cells is ready and waiting to go, one after the other, into a patrol flashlight once its current battery – yes, it only uses one AA cell – has been used up and then I shall bring the reader a little “in use” review as well some time in the future.
Some might consider the price of around £11 for a set of two rechargeable batteries a little steep but if the last as they are advertised, that is to say for at least 500 recharge cycles then they would well pay for themselves many times over.
© M Smith (Veshengro), November 2008
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Risks of global warming outweighs financial crisis
by Michael Smith
The risks of inaction over climate change far more dangerous than the turmoil of the global financial crisis, a leading climate change expert said, while calling for new fiscal spending tailored to low carbon growth.
"The risk consequences of ignoring climate change will be very much bigger than the consequences of ignoring risks in the financial system," said Nicholas Stern, a former British Treasury economist, who released a seminal report in 2006 that said inaction on emissions blamed for global warming could cause economic pain equal to the Great Depression.
"That's a very important lesson, tackle risk early," Stern told a climate and carbon conference in Hong Kong.
The problem that remains, on the other hand, is that everyone seems to think that we can stop climate change. This could be fatal, especially if it is not man-made or caused to the greatest degree by human action. If climate change is a natural phenomenon to which the pollution caused by humans has added some things then we are in deep problems if we continue to go down the road thinking that if we can but stop climate change everything will be fine. It is important – more important maybe than any attempt on CO2 reduction – to prepare for the results of a natural climate change, whether this be rising waters or changes in growing climate.
As countries around the world move from deploying monetary and financial stabilization measures, to boosting fiscal spending to mend real economies, Stern said the opportunity was there to bring about a new, greener, carbon-reducing world order.
"The lesson that we can draw out from this recession, is that you can boost demand in the best way possible by focusing on low carbon growth in future," Stern said, including greater public spending on mass public transport, energy and green technologies.
Leaders at the summit also urged countries not to use global economic upheaval as a reason for delaying a deal. Partly as a result of the darkening global economic outlook, Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi recently warned that 10 other EU nations backed his efforts to block an EU climate plan, prompting further doubts over European action on global warming.
Any deal would have to iron out differences between the United States, historically the largest greenhouse gas emitter, and rapidly developing countries like China, which by some accounts has surpassed the United States on emissions.
China, with its bulging output of carbon dioxide, the main greenhouse gas behind global warming, according to some experts (we must face the fact that we really do not know what has caused the planet to warm up – and apparently it may be cooling down again), was singled out by Stern along with the U.S. as pivotal in the talks, with the next U.S. president likely to be much more proactive than George W. Bush.
This may only be if Obama is the next president and the way this is being shaped here it would appear as if the decision had been made already. Maybe it indeed has been made already, though not by the US citizens in the voting booths.
"The U.S. and China will be the key leaders for a global deal. Either one of them could kill it, and I don't think either one of them will kill it."
Fresh back from a trip to the PR China, Stern said PR's next national economic blueprint, the five-year plan, would acknowledge China's key role to stave off a big rise in global temperatures, the melting of ice-caps and destructive rises in sea levels the world over.
He stated that he thinks that we would see the 12th five-year plan of the Peoples' Republic of China to focus on low carbon growth. Interesting to watch, methinks.
© M Smith (Veshengro), November 2008
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Comber Greenway completion brings good news for cyclists, walkers and wildlife
From Thursday, November 6, 2008 – seven miles of traffic-free tranquillity will be free to be enjoyed by thousands of walkers and cyclists as sustainable transport charity Sustrans announces the completion of the much anticipated Comber Greenway along the former Belfast to Comber railway line.
The Comber Greenway, Route 99 on the National Cycle Network is a green corridor from Dee Street in the heart of East Belfast to Comber providing both an ideal environment for walking and cycling, and a direct route for commuters cycling between Comber, through Dundonald to East Belfast and the city centre.
Sustrans Director for Northern Ireland, Steven Patterson said: "The Comber Greenway is already phenomenally popular with local people and the completion of the final stretch through the countryside to Comber adds to the feeling of rural escape from urban bustle. The completed Greenway gives the 150,000 people living in its vicinity an attractive and safer route for walking and cycling than the busy nearby road.
"It is a remarkable community walking and cycling route that will improve people's health and environment and I would like to commend the many people who have worked together to build and maintain the Greenway. We plan to continue our work with communities to increase usage and make the greenway even more useful by building links to facilities such as schools, shops and workplaces."
As well as being good for people the Greenway is also a haven for a diverse range of local wildlife. During the Greenway's construction special care has been taken of sites of local nature conservation importance, such as the River Enler and areas of woodland and wetland with the Northern Ireland Environment Agency advising on conservation of the protected species living along the Greenway. Over the last two years Sustrans Community Liaison Co-ordinator has been working with people along the Greenway and together they have planted over 1000 native trees.
The Greenway links to the Strangford Lough Cycle Trail, an 82 mile circuit of Strangford Lough on quiet country roads due to be completed later this month and contributes to the cycle tourism potential of County Down.
The Comber Greenway's environmental credentials have also extended into large-scale re-cycling - two bridges that form part of the route were originally a surplus temporary foot bridge that had spanned the River Bann in Portadown. Road Service transported and installed the bridges at the Ballystockart River and a farm lane just outside Comber. A third bridge crosses the River Enler near to Millmount Road, Dundonald.
Over the last 2 years the Comber Greenway has been developed between Sandown Road, East Belfast to Comber at a cost of £1 million. The project is supported by the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development through the EU Programme for Building Sustainable Prosperity administered via Sustrans. The Comber Greenway is a partnership between Roads Service, Northern Ireland Environment Agency, Armagh and Down Tourism Partnership, Ards Borough Council, Castlereagh Borough Council, Belfast City Council, Better Belfast and the Department of Culture Arts and Leisure.
A leaflet and route map showing access points can be downloaded from www.combergreenway.org.uk.
Source: Sustrans
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Sustrans Cymru, the Welsh Assembly Government and the cycle industry join forces to increase cycling by Welsh school children
On Thursday, 6th November 2008, Sustrans Cymru and Environment Minister, Jane Davidson, will be launching the highly successful Sustrans project Bike It at Traethmelyn Primary School in Port Talbot. This unique project encourages and supports young people to choose two wheels instead of four for the school journey.
With climate change and children’s health at the top of the agenda, Sustrans believes that encouraging young people to walk and cycle to school is a vital part of securing a sustainable and healthy future for Wales. Today, the ‘school run’ accounts for around a fifth of all cars on the roads during the morning rush hour and obesity levels in the UK are on the rise with 25% of 11 to 15 year olds being overweight or obese.
Bike It Officers tackle both these issues by working directly with pupils, parents and staff to help them overcome whatever it is that is preventing them from cycling to school – by organising cycle training, helping to install new bike sheds, contributing to classroom work and providing information about safe routes to schools. Currently there are 32 Bike It officers working with over 60,000 children across the UK. Participating schools across England have seen levels of cycling treble within the first year of the project – bucking the trend in declining numbers of children cycling to school.
Bike It Officer, Louise Powell said: “I am very excited to be working with 12 schools in the Neath Port Talbot area. It has been great to see the enthusiasm of pupils as they get involved with cycling. We know from our research that 47% of children would like to cycle to school when only 2% currently do. This means there is a huge potential for increasing the levels of cycling across Wales. Over the next year I am aiming to treble cycling across all the schools I am working with.”
Jane Davidson Minister for Environment, Sustainability & Housing said: “More cycling is a win - win situation. It gets people active, means fewer cars on our roads and reduces our carbon footprint.
“Getting children interested at an early age and encouraging them to travel to school by bike is to be welcomed, especially since the majority of car journeys are less than five miles long. Most of us will be aware of the congestion caused by the traditional school run.
“More children opting to use a bike will benefit all our communities. With the cost of motoring on the rise, cycling is a cheap, healthy, and sustainable means of transport.”
Phillip Darnton on behalf of the Bike Hub, a cycle industry initiative, said: “We are pleased to be able to support Sustrans Cymru and the Welsh Assembly Government in the launch of the highly successful Bike It project in Wales. The Bike Hub is the cycle industry’s levy scheme which is providing a third of the funding for the 2 Bike It officers in Wales. We are confident that Bike It will prove to be as great a success in Wales as it has in England”
Bike It is currently a pilot scheme in Wales with two officers working in Neath Port Talbot and Conwy and is managed by sustainable transport charity Sustrans. The project is funded by the Welsh Assembly Government, and the cycle industry through the Bike Hub. Locally Bike It is also supported by Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council and Conwy County Borough Council.
Staff, parents and teachers who are interested in promoting cycling and walking in their school are encouraged to call the Sustrans School Travel Team on 0117 915 0100 for free information and advice.
Source: Sustrans
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Recognise The Necessity For Measurability And Accountability Of Energy Consumption
First Day Keynotes At Green IT Expo 2008 – 4th – 5th November, Barbican Exhibition Centre, London
Potential methods and models for measuring energy efficiency and the cost and environmental impact of green IT, were the two major themes highlighted by the keynote speakers on the first day at Green IT Expo 2008, the UK’s first free-to-attend event focusing on sustainable computing.
At yesterday’s opening plenary, Senior Vice President of Forrester Research, Christopher Mines, discussed ways of accelerating and implementing successful green initiatives to ensure IT suppliers and their customers are actively reducing the harmful impacts of computing on the environment. Mines affirmed that green IT does not have to mean higher expenses and outputs for businesses and that energy savings can be acquired by simply turning off unused equipment, recycling IT consumables and implementing virtualisation techniques to cut down on commuting and business travel. He also highlighted the results of a recent Global Green IT Online Survey, which identified that as initiatives and methods of energy measurement are being discussed more publicly, the number of businesses implementing green IT practices has increased by 14% since October 2007.
Following Mines was Head of ICT for Sustainable Growth (Unit H4) at the European Commission, Colette Maloney, who outlined the EC’s initiatives to improve energy efficiency and establish policy frameworks for a lasting contribution to Information Communication Technology’s (ICTs) energy footprint. Maloney reinforced the importance of identifying a widespread standard for measuring and reporting energy consumption. Between 2007 and 2008 the European Commission spent 20 million Euros over 11 research projects that looked at ways of improving energy efficiency at the design phase and ways ICT can serve energy efficient systems.
Maloney explained that individuals cannot see how their energy savings can affect things but ‘if we were more aware of the energy we consume from engaging in different activities, then we could pro-actively work to change our consumption.’
Later in the morning, Chief Technology Officer at IBM, Steve Bowden, looked at what might happen to data centres if they do not start looking at methods to improve the environment and cost efficiency and start taking control of energy saving and cooling requirements. Bowden stated that if left unchecked, the cost to power and cool servers in the future might equal the cost of acquisition and by 2010, there will be over 35 million servers installed worldwide and the cost of powering and cooling them could increase by 54% (Source: IDC – Worldwide Server Power and Cooling Expense 2006-1010).
Energy efficiency is one of the top five concerns for leaders of public sector institutions, government officials, and for CEOs. Managing Director of Green IT Expo organiser Revolution Events, Richard Tribe comments, “We learnt that it is possible for businesses to reduce their operational costs whilst saving between 40-50% in energy, it is just a case of diagnosing which areas could be improved, measuring the energy that could be saved and implementing these processes. It is in our commercial interest to use less energy, drive fewer miles, generate less waste, recycle more, and we must reduce our impacts in these areas to the absolute minimum where the investment and payback is acceptable.”
Green IT Expo is supported by event sponsors including IBM, Adobe, Infor, Ricoh, Kyocera, Sun Microsystems, Bell Microsystems Ltd and Microsoft. Green IT Expo 2008 is organised by one of the UK’s leading providers of focused business forums, Revolution Events, in collaboration with the global Climate Savers Computing Initiative, a non-profit group of eco-conscious consumers, businesses and conservation organisations.
Green IT Expo 2009 will take place on the 10th and 11th November, at the Barbican Exhibition Centre, London.
Source: MCC International
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