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First skyscraper in Paris for 30 years given official go-ahead
New skyscrapers will once again grace the skies of Paris after officials cleared the way for the first high rise construction since high rise buildings were banned in the city by Jacques Chirac when he was mayor in 1977.
They voted to allow the construction of Project Triangle, the first of about 20 high rise projects that will transform the skyline of France's capital city. Work could start as soon as the end of next year.
The 200 meter tall, 50 story glass building to be built at Porte de Versailles, will be the third largest in Paris after the Eiffel Tower and the Montparnasse Tower when it is completed in 2012.
It marks a complete turnaround for planning in the city. When Chirac was mayor of Paris he limited new buildings to a height of 37 meters. But a shortage of housing and office space has led the current political regime to overturn the ruling.
Plans for Project Triangle, designed by Swiss architecture practice Herzog & de Meuron who also designed the iconic Bird's Nest Olympic stadium in Beijing, include offices, a conference centre and a 400-bed hotel as well as restaurants, cafes and gardens.
'Paris has always put economic development, employment and innovation at the heart of its ambition. This must now be translated into concrete which will reinforce its economic attractiveness,' said Deputy Mayor, Anne Hidalgo.
The design is a pyramidal block structure which won't cast shadows on adjacent buildings, according to the architects. While one side looks like a pyramid, the other is an ultra thin triangle resembling a shark's fin. It is also designed to optimize solar and wind power generation.
However, not everyone will welcome the return of high rise buildings to Paris. A recent survey found that 62% of Parisians are opposed to new skyscrapers being built. New skyscrapers will once again grace the skies of Paris after officials cleared the way for the first high rise construction since hi... more -
go green or go under
Are there any political leaders in the EU who say we must (urgently) move towards renewable-energy-transport and that road-building can no longer be our top transport priority? The issue is getting urgent and we must prepare for the risk of oil depletion and global warming, which could result in a six-metre rise in sea levels. Are there any political leaders in the EU who say we must (urgently) move towards renewable-energy-transport and that road-building ca... more
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The 10 Eco-Best Fish
Let’s face it: It’s hard to keep track of the right things to eat, especially when it comes to seafood. That salmon on the menu is tempting, but is it line-caught or farmed? Imported or domestic? Atlantic, King, Pink, Silver or Sockeye? More importantly, was it caught in a way that’s sustainable, and is it safe to eat?
Ordering a piece of fish shouldn’t be this stressful. Our good friends at Environmental Defense Fund agree. We’ve long been fans of EDF’s online Seafood Selector, and the handy pocket guide version. With their help we’ve pulled together this short list of the 10 eco-best fish. Enjoy them often -- the fish below are either wild fish caught from healthy, well-managed populations using low-impact fishing gear, or they’re farmed fish raised in systems that control pollution, chemical use and escapes. Let’s face it: It’s hard to keep track of the right things to eat, especially when it comes to seafood. That salmon on the menu is tem... more -
How Eco Is Your Wardrobe?
Trace back your clothing, as manufacturers embrace the Eco mantle.
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Eco-adventure Nepal, David de Rothschild
Join adventurer David de Rothschild and Dustin Lynn in their expedition to Kathmandu, Nepal to put spotlight on some of the world's most pressing environmental issues. He mixes adventure, ecology and education taking his audience the most fragile corner of our planet while exploring the idea of responsible travel. Also join him in his mission in Greenland to explore the effect of climate change in the arctic.
Check out the full episode of High 5 Extreme Sports featuring Eco-adventure Nepal at
http://www.xbb.tv/ Join adventurer David de Rothschild and Dustin Lynn in their expedition to Kathmandu, Nepal to put spotlight on some of the world'... more -
Eco Development: Suzlon Brings Tons Of Green Energy For India And China!
EcoFactor: Development of renewable energy.
The development of wind power in India began in the 1990s, and has significantly increased in the last few years. The dependence on non-renewable energy will drastically change thanks to green companies promoting alternative energy. Suzlon Green Power, owned by India’s Tanti family, has done the aforementioned by recently announcing a commitment to bring 3500 MW of electricity to nearly 10m people with the development of $5bn in green energy assets over five years, primarily in India and China.
The company’s efforts are global, as a majority of the green power projects will be located in India and China, two areas with escalating energy needs. This initiative is definitely commendable, as it will give rise to a cleaner and better future for the next generation!
The Dark Side:
I don’t find any flaws in this project. In fact, I am really happy that India is rapidly depending on alternative energy. Kudos to “green” companies like these. I’m sure our country, and the whole world, will see a brighter tomorrow with such initiatives. EcoFactor: Development of renewable energy. ... more -
New eco MP3 player is a wind-up
Yup, crazy windup radio inventor Trevor Baylis has come up with an MP3 player that can play purely on elbow power, which means you can take it anywhere without the need for batteries or a powerpoint. Impressively, the Eco media player doesn't only play music, but also displays photos (with up to 12MB of memory), is compatible with iTunes and has an integrated phone charger just in case your mobile isn't similarly wind-up-able.
Wind-up technology is the way forwards, man! Yup, crazy windup radio inventor Trevor Baylis has come up with an MP3 player that can play purely on elbow power, which means you can... more -
A new law of nature:Ecuador next week votes on giving legal rights to rivers, fore...
Ecuador next week votes on giving legal rights to rivers, forests and air. Is this the end of damaging development? The world is watchingClare Kendall The
The South American republic of Ecuador will next week consider what many countries in the world would say is unthinkable. People will be asked to vote on Sunday on a new constitution that would give Ecuador's tropical forests, islands, rivers and air similar legal rights to those normally granted to humans. If they vote yes - and polls show that 56% are for and only 23% are against - then an already approved bill of rights for nature will be introduced, and new laws will change the legal status of nature from being simply property to being a right-bearing entity.
The proposed bill states: "Natural communities and ecosystems possess the unalienable right to exist, flourish and evolve within Ecuador. Those rights shall be self-executing, and it shall be the duty and right of all Ecuadorian governments, communities, and individuals to enforce those rights."
Thomas Linzey, a US lawyer who has helped to develop the new legal framework for nature, says: "The dominant form of environmental protection in industrialised countries is based on the regulatory system. Governments permit and legalise the discharge of certain amounts of toxics into the environment. As a form of environmental protection, it's not working.
"In the same way, compensation is measured in terms of that injury to a person or people. Under the new system, it will be measured according to damage to the ecosystem. The new system is, in essence, an attempt to codify sustainable development. The new laws would grant people the right to sue on behalf of an ecosystem, even if not actually injured themselves."
Until now, all legal frameworks have been anthropocentric, or people-based. To file an environmental lawsuit requires a person to provide evidence of personal injury. This can be extremely difficult. To provide a conclusive link, say, between a cancer and polluted drinking water is, legally speaking, virtually impossible.
The origins of this apparent legal tidal shift lie in Ecuador's growing disillusionment with foreign multinationals. The country, which contains every South American ecosystem within its borders, which include the Galapagos Islands, has had disastrous collisions with multi-national companies. Many, from banana companies to natural gas extractors, have exploited its natural resources and left little but pollution and poverty in their wake.
Now it is in the grip of a bitter lawsuit against US oil giant Chevron, formerly Texaco, over its alleged dumping of billions of gallons of crude oil and toxic waste waters into the Amazonian jungle over two decades.
It is described as the Amazonian Chernobyl, and 30,000 local people claim that up to 18m tonnes of oil was dumped into unlined pits over two decades, in defiance of international guidelines, and contaminating groundwater over an area of some 1,700 hectares (4,200 acres) and leading to a plethora of serious health problems for anyone living in the area. Chevron has denied the allegations. In April, a court-appointed expert announced in a report that, should Chevron lose, it would have to pay up to $16bn (£8.9bn) in damages. Ecuador next week votes on giving legal rights to rivers, forests and air. Is this the end of damaging development? The world is watch... more -
MoveOn.Org....Clearing The Air in Santa Barbara, CA
MoveOn.Org members led by Ms. Lois Hamilton held a demonstration in front of City Hall in Santa Barbara, CA on August 19, 2008. The demonstration was to release a report on John McCain's energy policies and how the billions being given to Big Oil companies could be used to fund Alternative Energy providers and create more jobs. Congressional nominee Marta Jorgensen is the keynote speaker. MoveOn.Org members led by Ms. Lois Hamilton held a demonstration in front of City Hall in Santa Barbara, CA on August 19, 2008. The d... more
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The methane time bomb
Arctic scientists discover new global warming threat as melting permafrost releases millions of tons of a gas 20 times more damaging than carbon dioxide
The first evidence that millions of tons of a greenhouse gas 20 times more potent than carbon dioxide is being released into the atmosphere from beneath the Arctic seabed has been discovered by scientists.
The Independent has been passed details of preliminary findings suggesting that massive deposits of sub-sea methane are bubbling to the surface as the Arctic region becomes warmer and its ice retreats.
Underground stores of methane are important because scientists believe their sudden release has in the past been responsible for rapid increases in global temperatures, dramatic changes to the climate, and even the mass extinction of species. Scientists aboard a research ship that has sailed the entire length of Russia's northern coast have discovered intense concentrations of methane – sometimes at up to 100 times background levels – over several areas covering thousands of square miles of the Siberian continental shelf.
In the past few days, the researchers have seen areas of sea foaming with gas bubbling up through "methane chimneys" rising from the sea floor. They believe that the sub-sea layer of permafrost, which has acted like a "lid" to prevent the gas from escaping, has melted away to allow methane to rise from underground deposits formed before the last ice age.
They have warned that this is likely to be linked with the rapid warming that the region has experienced in recent years.
Methane is about 20 times more powerful as a greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide and many scientists fear that its release could accelerate global warming in a giant positive feedback where more atmospheric methane causes higher temperatures, leading to further permafrost melting and the release of yet more methane.
The amount of methane stored beneath the Arctic is calculated to be greater than the total amount of carbon locked up in global coal reserves so there is intense interest in the stability of these deposits as the region warms at a faster rate than other places on earth.
Orjan Gustafsson of Stockholm University in Sweden, one of the leaders of the expedition, described the scale of the methane emissions in an email exchange sent from the Russian research ship Jacob Smirnitskyi.
"We had a hectic finishing of the sampling programme yesterday and this past night," said Dr Gustafsson. "An extensive area of intense methane release was found. At earlier sites we had found elevated levels of dissolved methane. Yesterday, for the first time, we documented a field where the release was so intense that the methane did not have time to dissolve into the seawater but was rising as methane bubbles to the sea surface. These 'methane chimneys' were documented on echo sounder and with seismic [instruments]."
At some locations, methane concentrations reached 100 times background levels. These anomalies have been seen in the East Siberian Sea and the Laptev Sea, covering several tens of thousands of square kilometres, amounting to millions of tons of methane, said Dr Gustafsson. "This may be of the same magnitude as presently estimated from the global ocean," he said. "Nobody knows how many more such areas exist on the extensive East Siberian continental shelves.
"The conventional thought has been that the permafrost 'lid' on the sub-sea sediments on the Siberian shelf should cap and hold the massive reservoirs of shallow methane deposits in place. The growing evidence for release of methane in this inaccessible region may suggest that the permafrost lid is starting to get perforated and thus leak methane... The permafrost now has small holes. We have found elevated levels of methane above the water surface and even more in the water just below. It is obvious that the source is the seabed."
cont..... Arctic scientists discover new global warming threat as melting permafrost releases millions of tons of a gas 20 times more damaging t... more -
Urban Air Trees
No trees? No problem. Here come the air trees, to provide shade and fresh air to a boulevard near you!
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65 MPG Ford the U.S. can't have
If ever there was a car made for the times, this would seem to be it: a sporty subcompact that seats five, offers a navigation system, and gets a whopping 65 miles to the gallon. Oh yes, and the car is made by Ford Motor, known widely for lumbering gas hogs.
The ECOnetic will go on sale in Europe in November.
Ford's 2009 Fiesta ECOnetic goes on sale in November. But here's the catch: Despite the car's potential to transform Ford's image and help it compete with Toyota Motor and Honda Motor in its home market, the company will sell the little fuel sipper only in Europe. "We know it's an awesome vehicle," says Ford America President Mark Fields. "But there are business reasons why we can't sell it in the U.S." The main one: The Fiesta ECOnetic runs on diesel.
Automakers such as Volkswagen and Mercedes-Benz have predicted for years that a technology called "clean diesel" would overcome many Americans' antipathy to a fuel still often thought of as the smelly stuff that powers tractor trailers. Diesel vehicles now hitting the market with pollution-fighting technology are as clean or cleaner than gasoline and at least 30% more fuel-efficient.
Yet while half of all cars sold in Europe last year ran on diesel, the U.S. market remains relatively unfriendly to the fuel. Taxes aimed at commercial trucks mean diesel costs anywhere from 40 cents to $1 more per gallon than gasoline. Add to this the success of the Toyota Prius, and you can see why only 3% of cars in the U.S. use diesel. "Americans see hybrids as the darling," says Global Insight auto analyst Philip Gott, "and diesel as old-tech."
None of this is stopping European and Japanese automakers, which are betting they can jump-start the U.S. market with new diesel models. Mercedes-Benz by next year will have three cars it markets as "BlueTec." Even Nissan and Honda, which long opposed building diesel cars in Europe, plan to introduce them in the U.S. in 2010. But Ford, whose Fiesta ECOnetic compares favorably with European diesels, can't make a business case for bringing the car to the U.S.
Too Pricey to Import
First of all, the engines are built in Britain, so labor costs are high. Plus the pound remains stronger than the greenback. At prevailing exchange rates, the Fiesta ECOnetic would sell for about $25,700 in the U.S. By contrast, the Prius typically goes for about $24,000. A $1,300 tax deduction available to buyers of new diesel cars could bring the price of the Fiesta to around $24,400. But Ford doesn't believe it could charge enough to make money on an imported ECOnetic.
Ford plans to make a gas-powered version of the Fiesta in Mexico for the U.S. So why not manufacture diesel engines there, too? Building a plant would cost at least $350 million at a time when Ford has been burning through more than $1 billion a month in cash reserves. Besides, the automaker would have to produce at least 350,000 engines a year to make such a venture profitable. "We just don't think North and South America would buy that many diesel cars," says Fields.
The question, of course, is whether the U.S. ever will embrace diesel fuel and allow automakers to achieve sufficient scale to make money on such vehicles. California certified VW and Mercedes diesel cars earlier this year, after a four-year ban. James N. Hall, of auto researcher 293 Analysts, says that bellwether state and the Northeast remain "hostile to diesel." But the risk to Ford is that the fuel takes off, and the carmaker finds itself playing catch-up—despite having a serious diesel contender in its arsenal. If ever there was a car made for the times, this would seem to be it: a sporty subcompact that seats five, offers a navigation system,... more -
plant a tree in hawaii, collect a check 30 years later
Go to Hawaii, plant a tree, watch it grow, and reap the benefits.
Guests at the Mauna Lani Resort get the chance to pay $37 for a tree, and then receive the opportunity to plant it and watch its progress online, which includes seeing how much carbon dioxide the tree absorbs and whether it ends up as a skateboard, koa canoe, or part of a wind-power generator.
The eventual plan for this project is to send tree investors a check for 5 percent of their plant's value at harvest time, which could be up to $2,500 on a koa tree that's worth $50,000 in today's market.
Founder and director Jonny Dubowsky calls this project an "investment toward a carbon-neutral planet through transparent reforestation and renewable energy projects."
Dubowsky and partner Chuck Barker are turning an old sugar mill into a hardwood products mill powered by 100 percent renewable energy. "It'll be zero-waste," he said, "We'll use everything, even the sawdust." Go to Hawaii, plant a tree, watch it grow, and reap the benefits. ... more -
The 65-mpg car Ford won't sell in US
If ever there was a car made for the times, this would seem to be it: a sporty subcompact that seats five, offers a navigation system and gets a whopping 65 miles to the gallon. Oh, yes, and the car is made by Ford Motor (F, news, msgs), known widely for lumbering gas hogs.
Ford's 2009 Fiesta ECOnetic goes on sale in November. But here's the catch: Despite the car's potential to transform Ford's image and help it compete with Toyota Motor (TM, news, msgs) and Honda Motor (HMC, news, msgs) in its home market, the company will sell the little fuel sipper only in Europe.
"We know it's an awesome vehicle," says Ford America President Mark Fields. "But there are business reasons why we can't sell it in the U.S." The main one: The Fiesta ECOnetic runs on diesel.
Automakers such as Volkswagen and Mercedes-Benz have predicted for years that a technology called "clean diesel" would overcome many Americans' antipathy toward a fuel still often thought of as the smelly stuff that powers tractor-trailers.
Diesel vehicles now hitting the market with pollution-fighting technology are as clean as, or even cleaner than, gasoline-powered cars, and they are at least 30% more fuel-efficient.
Yet while half of all cars sold in Europe last year ran on diesel, the U.S. market remains relatively unfriendly to the fuel.
Taxes aimed at commercial trucks mean diesel costs anywhere from 40 cents to $1 more per gallon than gasoline. Add to this the success of the Toyota Prius, and you can see why only 3% of cars in the U.S. use diesel.
"Americans see hybrids as the darling," says Global Insight auto analyst Philip Gott, "and diesel as old tech."None of this is stopping European and Japanese automakers, which are betting they can jump-start the U.S. market with new diesel models. Mercedes-Benz by next year will have three cars it markets as BlueTec. Even Nissan Motor (NSANY, news, msgs) and Honda, which long opposed building diesel cars in Europe, plan to introduce them in the United States in 2010.
But Ford, whose Fiesta ECOnetic compares favorably with European diesels, can't make a business case for bringing the car to the United States.
First of all, the engines are built in Britain, so labor costs are high. Plus the pound remains stronger than the greenback. At prevailing exchange rates, the Fiesta ECOnetic would sell for about $25,700 in the United States.
By contrast, the Prius typically goes for about $24,000.
A $1,300 tax deduction available to buyers of new diesel cars could bring the price of the Fiesta to around $24,400. But Ford doesn't believe it could charge enough to make money on an imported ECOnetic. If ever there was a car made for the times, this would seem to be it: a sporty subcompact that seats five, offers a navigation system ... more -
GM unveils the Volt plug-in hybrid car… again? Now it's official!
GM Officially unveiled the 2011 Chevy Volt today. The design has changed quite a bit from the Volt we've been seeing for the last year and apparently people are not thrilled. I think it looks good. Check out the gallery... GM Officially unveiled the 2011 Chevy Volt today. The design has changed quite a bit from the Volt we've been seeing for the las... more
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Bottled sugar water is worse than bottled water
I'm not sure why we need two dozen campaigns to fight against buying what already comes out of our faucets for free, but I have this nagging feeling that all of that concern and effort would be better spent elsewhere. Like, how about getting congress to pass a tax credit for renewable energy.
I'm also concerned that we've somehow overlooked that bottled water isn't nearly as popular as bottled sugar water. Bottled sugar water, it turns out, is actually worse for the environment than bottled water, because you have to get the sugar. Something we enviros don't like to talk about is the fact that soft-drink purchases have actually declined significantly since the advent of bottled water. This can't be a bad thing, especially considering the obesity epidemic.
Read the full story here I'm not sure why we need two dozen campaigns to fight against buying what already comes out of our faucets for free, but I have t... more -
Belize's All-Green Resort First Built in Caribbean
Luxury Real Estate: The first eco-planned Caribbean luxury resort from inception to completion is being raised on the Placencia Peninsula in Southern Belize, making the idyllic tropical paradise an official part of the phenomenally pervasive "green" consciousness of the 21st century. The Palmetto Bay Resort at Maya Beach, helmed by luxury property developer, Ravenspur Investments, is the first planned from inception eco-friendly resort to dot the Caribbean Islands.
Sustainable eco-driven technologies used by Ravenspur include geothermal- solar- and water-filtration technologies. It is projected that such methodologies will conserve 1,000 gallons of water daily when the resort is at full occupancy. The ensuing conservation of water is beneficial both environmentally and financially. It is a measurable example of how planning "green" protects the environment and saves money for owners too. The Palmetto Bay Resort is being raised on 16-miles of white-sand beaches and a picturesque view of the Maya Mountains. The first phase of the gated mixed-use resort, which includes 36 beachfront condominiums with floor plans from 1,100 up to 4,500 square feet, is under way. Luxury Real Estate: The first eco-planned Caribbean luxury resort from inception to completion is being raised on the Placencia Penins... more -
Google CEO announces Energy Plan
Google CEO Eric Schmidt talks to his peers at the Corporate Eco Forum. He argues the business case for investment in renewables and efficiency and blast the political realm for their failure to address the looming energy crisis. Google CEO Eric Schmidt talks to his peers at the Corporate Eco Forum. He argues the business case for investment in renewables and e... more
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Vintage fabric as eco-friendly fashion
Retro purses made from vintage car upholstery fabric are cool and green!
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Vintage fabric as eco-friendly fashion
Retro purses made from vintage car upholstery fabric are cool and green!
Asha Blake, KTLA News
Kim White found a way to make some green by sewing green; use vintage car upholstery fabric that was just sitting in a warehouse. White bought the entire warehouse, which was full of unused fabric from the 70's and 80's. What was made to sit on years ago now fits neatly under your arm...as a handbag. KTLA's Asha Blake reports. Retro purses made from vintage car upholstery fabric are cool and green! --------------- Vintage fabric as eco-friendly fashion ... more -
Teen Green Fashion Show Hits The Runway
In this video, we meet Erin, 16, a green teen that helped start a movement to make fashion and cosmetics safe and green. She takes us behind the scenes of "Turning Green", an teen eco fashion show that she organized in New York city for earth day. In this video, we meet Erin, 16, a green teen that helped start a movement to make fashion and cosmetics safe and green. She takes us ... more
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