Solar train thingy

If renewable energies were Top Trumps, I reckon Solar would be the best card in the pack. Or maybe hydro, if you don’t like birds.  But anyway, here’s something cool which will use solar energy (You might argue this is old news – from March – but as it hasn’t happened yet I reckon you can shut up): Solar powered high speed rail plans unveiled by US Mid-West state.

Very interesting, and very ambitious. And probably a long way off still, but well done Wayne Rogers and Bill Schmidt for having brilliant names and also good ideas.

We could be so much greener if the things we buy lasted longer, instead of having built-in obsolencence. This is largely out of our hands though, because when you buy something it’s almost impossible to find out how long it will last for – the tests just haven’t been done yet. We’re largely in the hands of the manufacturers on this one.

So it’s a rare thing to come across a phone like the Land Rover Sonim. Granted it might just conk out after a year – who knows? – but given the Road Tests that Daisy Dumas put it through, I can’t help but be impressed. Shame it looks absolutely rubbish, but hey, green isn’t about image…

It probably does more than 8 miles to the gallon in an urban environment too, which has got to be good.

Has anyone read Gideon Defoe’s books about “The Pirates!” They are top. At the start of every adventure, the pirates start debating a minor issue such as what is the best thing about the seaside.  “Rock pools!” “No, it’s piers” “Shut up it’s the saucy postcards”.  It is about to turn into a scuffle involving running each other through when the Pirate Captain emerges on deck and settles the matter once and for all, by saying something along the lines of “The best thing about the seaside is the Punch and Judy stands.” And that’s that.

If there were a dispute about “What is the best thing about being green” the Pirate Captain would no doubt say “The best thing about being green, lads, is the way you save money.” And you can’t argue with that – I love it.   I decided dishwasher tablets were too expensive the other day, so have made my own.  Here’s the recipe, which has seemed to work so far (Hat Tip:Greenfoot

1. Squeeze the juice of the lemon into a cup.
2. Add about four heaped table spoons of soda bicarbonate– watch out because this will fizz up.
3. Add about a tablespoon of vinegar, which should help ease the fizzing.
4. Mix and keep adding soda bicarbonate until you have a thick paste that is pretty solid and doesn’t dribble.
5. Scoop the paste into your dishwasher’s powder holder.

Aaaarrrrr! No phosphates, no packaging!

To follow up my previous post on beekeeping, a report from the Soil Association has said that one of the main factors reducing bee population is the use of the certain pesticides classed as Neonicotinoids. It claims they’re impairing the bees’ communication, flight, immune systems and foraging abilities and thus making it difficult for them to survive.

In response, the Soil Association are calling to ban the use of neonicotinoids. Please sign their petition here.

via Do The Green Thing

http://www.flickr.com/photos/decadence/379792254/

What would encourage you to ride a bike? How about some discounted sex?

The good old Germans. First they come up with a ‘text for lighting’ system in a village, and now one businessman has decided to offer a 5 euro discount at his brothel for those who arrive by bike or public transport. And apparently it’s working, he’s seeing an increase in demand and less congestion in the surrounding area.
It’s an interesting model, I can’t see the high street catching on but I could see it in places of interests like museums or art galleries, as they’re usually centrally located.

What do you think, is this brothel setting a good (eco) example?

via The Indie

http://www.flickr.com/photos/66164549@N00/2484021030/

The Indie recommends since everyone is losing their jobs in the credit crunch, we should go out and look at butterflies.

The Great British Butterfly Hunt is being launched in hope of finding the 58 varieties of butterfly which roam across the UK; not only to appreciate their beauty but to emphasise the declining numbers.
I think it’s a great idea. I remember the childhood joy of spotting butterflies in my garden, my only concern is when the sun’s going to shine again so I can get out there and take part. I hope you all do the same!

Shamefully picked up the Metro on my commute this morning, where else are you supposed to find ridiculously unguided environmental news?

In the US they’re using “a giant tractor-pulled ‘hairdryer’” in order to kill pests and increase shelf-life of fruit and veg. “It provides a non-toxic, non-chemical pest-control alternative that is less problematic for the environment.” Apparently.

And what’s powering this ‘heat-shock?’ Gas. Just Google ‘gas pollution’ and the figures are there. In a time where our emissions are increasing exponentially, these are the ideas that are meant to be saving the planet.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/nikonvscanon/906727708/

Here’s a story that made me smile. As the population of bees are threatened by disease, more of us are expressing interest in becoming beekeepers which has led to the oversubscription of beekeeping courses in London. And they’re in good company, famous beekeepers range from Lib Dem deputy leader Vince Cable to Hollywood starlet Scarlett Johansson.
As much as this pleases me, the pricetag of £495 for the ‘complete beekeeping kit’ in the article to is not going to get me doing the deed personally. Nevertheless it shows how collectively, the likes of you and me can make a difference.

To rephrase a quote from the Dalai Lama: “If you think you’re too small to make a difference, try sleeping with a bee.”

via The Indie

I don’t think you can really argue with petitions to save the rainforest.(Aside from the fact that petitions from the “little people” never achieve anything – any examples to the contrary gratefully received).

http://www.rainforestsos.org/

We should still all sign it.    If we could cut out disafforestation we’d be in such a better position. Doesn’t matter how many energy saving lightbulbs we put in, if we lose the rainforests we’re stuffed.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/markhillary/3219207624/

Here’s some more genius from Gunther – his home town this time: Village Develops Street Lights-on-Demand System

They’ve turned the streetlights off, except when you text in asking them to turn them on.   So now lights can be just like push-button showers.  Except turned on by texts, not buttons.   Aren’t the Germans inspired?

I think it’s brilliant that when they came up with this idea not a single person in the room found any good reasons why it might not work, or might be a real hassle, or might be totally impractical?  They just went ahaed and did it.   Well done the Germans, I hope their eccentric and adminstratively intensive idea works out for them.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/soylentgreen23/3372771256/

People criticise this blog bitterly for being all about bad news. Well here’s some more – they’ve got rid of the Snowtrain

The Snowtrain was a great way for us light-greenies to pretend skiing isn’t really bad for the environment. I’m gutted.

It’s hard to be idealistic all the time.   I tell myself occasionally that the small effect I have on the world matters, and that I shouldn’t make sure I make things slightly worse rather than slightly better.  But the rest of the time, I accept that doing anything about climate change needs to come at a national level, it’s politicians who need to do it.  “It’s governments who need to stop the destruction of the rainforest” and so on.

But here is an interesting post on No Impact Man which sets out a fairly thought provoking list of all the things we do have control over, en masse.  Worth bearing in mind.