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NEW YORK - Police have found a way to help save the planet and perhaps sneak up on bad guys at the same time: an all-electric, ultra-quiet scooter, Newsday reports.

Newsday further writes, “The New York Police Department will begin road testing four of the plug-in Vectrix scooters early next month _ part of a broader campaign to make the nation’s largest police department a greener one as well.

The 36,000-officer NYPD has been looking for ways to retool its massive motor fleet to guzzle less gas and inflict less harm on the environment. A handful of NYPD hybrid cars and so-called flex-fuel vehicles, which can run on both gasoline and ethanol, are already on the road.

Vectrix recently approached several big city police departments with the sleek, two-wheel scooters, but the NYPD was the first to take a serious look, said Andrew MacGowen, president of the Rhode Island-based company.

MacGowen said the Vectrix scooters, assembled in Poland, are the first all-electric vehicles to be government-certified to travel on any highway, street or road.

The Vectrix, which has a battery pack, is heavier than the Piaggio, but with a top speed of more than 60 mph, it’s nearly as fast. And riders cruise past the fuel pump: The scooters can be recharged simply by plugging into a standard outlet for two hours. MacGowen said recharging costs a fraction of refueling _ a savings he says would quickly cover the difference in price with Piaggios, which cost the NYPD about half as much.

The Vectrix can only travel 40 to 60 miles per charge, but police officials said they may be willing to sacrifice some range for zero emissions. Plus, the scooters would have the dual benefit of “reducing air pollution and noise pollution,” said Robert Martinez, the NYPD fleet director.” More at Newsday.

Commission proposal to limit the CO2 emissions from cars to help fight climate change, reduce fuel costs and increase European competitiveness.

Brussels — Dec 19, `07 — The European Commission today proposed legislation to reduce the average CO2 emissions of new passenger cars to 120 grams per kilometre by 2012.

The proposed legislation is the cornerstone of the EU’s strategy to improve the fuel economy of cars, which account for about 12% of the European Union’s carbon emissions. The proposal further underlines the EU’s leadership and determination to deliver on its greenhouse gas commitments under the Kyoto Protocol and beyond.

President of the Commission José Manuel Barroso stated: “This proposal demonstrates that the European Union is committed to being a world leader in cutting CO2 emissions and the development of a low carbon economy. At the same time, we are committed to promote the competitiveness of our industry and its global technological leadership.”

Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas said: “The aim of the legislation is to reduce CO2 emissions from cars in order to help fight climate change. The legislation will also ensure important fuel savings which will translate into considerable benefits for consumers. Moreover, it will encourage the car industry to invest in new technologies and actively promote eco-innovation, which is a driver for more and high-quality jobs.”

Emissions reductions
The proposal will be a major step in lowering CO2 emissions in the EU. It will reduce the average emissions of CO2 from new passenger cars in the EU from around 160 grams per kilometre to 130 grams per kilometre in 2012 as part of the EU’s integrated approach to achieve overall 120 grams per kilometre. That will translate into a 19% reduction of CO2 emissions and will place the EU among the world leaders of fuel efficient cars.

How the legislation will work
The draft legislation defines a limit value curve of CO2 emissions allowed for new vehicles according to the mass of the vehicle. The curve is set in such a way that a fleet average of 130 grams of CO2 per kilometre is achieved. A manufacturer must ensure that by 2012 measured fleet average emissions are below the limit value curve, when all vehicles manufactured and registered in a given year by the manufacturer in question are taken into account.

This means that the level of emissions by heavier cars will have to be improved proportionately more than lighter cars compared to today. Manufacturers will still be able to make cars with emissions above the limit value curve provided these are balanced by cars which are below the curve as long as the fleet average remains at 130 grams.

The proposal will now be communicated to the Council and to the European Parliament as part of the co-decision legislative procedure. More at European Commission here and here.

Eminent coral scientists have given world leaders more reason to act urgently against climate change, by producing a new report that warns coral reefs will disappear within decades if atmospheric CO2 levels continue to rise.

Their paper, published on Dec14, in the prestigious Science magazine, is the most compelling scientific case yet that unchecked global warming will be a disaster for coral reefs and the 100 million people and one million species depending on them.

CO2 concentration in the earth’s atmosphere is currently 380 parts per million (ppm) but the authors say if future emissions exceed 450ppm we risk losing reefs.

“This is a very ambitious target and should represent yet another reality check for world leaders meeting in Bali,” lead author UQ Professor Ove Hoegh-Guldberg said.

The study has found serious consequences follow on from even small increases in CO2.

“The warmer and more acidic oceans caused by the rise of CO2 from the burning of fossil fuels threaten to destroy coral dominated reef ecosystems, exposing people to flooding, coastal erosion and the loss of food and income from reef-based fisheries and tourism,” Professor Hoegh-Guldberg said.

“Increased CO2 not only warms the climate but also dissolves in sea water making it more acidic. “This, in turn, decreases the ability of corals to produce calcium carbonate, which is what the all-important framework of coral reefs is made of.”More at the University of Queensland.

EAST LANSING, Mich — Dec 05, ‘07 — The data are in. Divorce is bad for the environment.

A novel study that links divorce with the environment shows a global trend of soaring divorce rates has created more households with fewer people, has taken up more space and has gobbled up more energy and water. The findings of Jianguo “Jack” Liu and Eunice Yu at Michigan State University are published in this week’s online edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

A statistical remedy: Fall back in love. Cohabitation means less urban sprawl and softens the environmental hit.

“Not only the United States, but also other countries, including developing countries such as China and places with strict religious policies regarding divorce, are having more divorced households,” Liu said. “The consequent increases in consumption of water and energy and using more space are being seen everywhere.”

Liu and his research assistant Yu started with the obvious – that divorce rates across the globe are on the rise. Housing units, even if they now have few people in them, require resources to construct them and take up space. They require fuel to heat and cool. A refrigerator uses roughly the same amount of energy whether it belongs to a family of four or a family of two.

When they calculated the cost in terms of increased utilities and unused housing space per capita, they discovered that divorce tosses out economy of scale. Among the findings:

* In the United States alone in 2005, divorced households used 73 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity and 627 billion gallons of water that could have been saved had household size remained the same as that of married households. Thirty-eight million extra rooms were needed with associated costs for heating and lighting.

* In the United States and 11 other countries such as Brazil, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Greece, Mexico and South Africa between 1998 and 2002, if divorced households had combined to have the same average household size as married households, there could have been 7.4 million fewer households in these countries.

* The numbers of divorced households in these countries ranged from 40,000 in Costa Rica to almost 16 million in the United States around 2000.

* The number of rooms per person in divorced households was 33 percent to 95 percent greater than in married households.

To track what happens when divorced people returned to married life, the study compared married households with households that had weathered marriage, divorce and remarriage. The results: The environmental footprint shrunk back to that of consistently married households.

This new work also acknowledges that divorce is not the only lifestyle trend changing family living structures – the demise of multigenerational households and people remaining single longer are examples.

“Solutions are beyond a single idea,” Liu said. “Consider the production of biofuel. Biofuel is made from plants, which also require water and space. We’re showing divorce has significant competition for that water and space. On the other hand, more divorce demands more energy. This creates a challenging dilemma and requires more creative solutions.”

The research was funded by the National Science Foundation, the National Institutes of Health and the Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station. More at Michigan State University.

Amsterdam, The Netherlands — Dec 04, ‘07 — At the annual Nokia World conference today, Nokia Oyj announced it has agreed with the world’s largest music group Universal to offer free 12-month access to Universal artists’ music for buyers of Nokia’s music phones.

The world’s top cellphone maker said it has signed up Universal Music Group International, owned by French media giant Vivendi, for its new “Comes With Music” offering and is eyeing similar deals with other labels before the offer starts in the second half of 2008.

Nokia said the new offering would differ from other packages on the market as consumers can keep all the music they have downloaded for free during the 12 month period.

“We set out to create the music experience that people are telling us they are looking for - all the music they want in the form of unlimited downloads to their mobile device and PC,” said Anssi Vanjoki, Executive Vice President and General Manager, Multimedia, Nokia.

“Even if you listened to music 24 hours a day, seven days a week, you would still only scratch the surface of the music that we’re making available. Comes with Music fulfils our dream to give consumers all the music they want, wherever they want it, while rewarding the artists who create it.”

“The financial barrier to try new music is completely removed. It fundamentally changes a lot of business logic in the music industry,” said Nokia spokesman Damian Stathonikos. The free access to new music could hurt peer-to-peer networking while also raising pressure on Apple Inc.

Nokia outlines its vision of Internet evolution and commitment to environmental sustainability:

Ovi - your personal dashboard to life
Nokia also gave further details of the upcoming Ovi Internet services environment. Ovi, meaning ‘door’ in Finnish, enables consumers to easily access their existing social network and content, acting as a dashboard to a person’s life.

“Ovi combines the mobile, PC and web environments into an easy to use experience with common user interface elements that provide consistency and simplicity,” said Vanjoki. “We started the Ovi services rollout with the individual services in navigation, music and games, and the next step is to provide an integrated experience. The complete Ovi environment and new services will be rolled out continuously throughout 2008.”

Towards greater environmental sustainability
Nokia also outlined its long heritage in addressing environmental issues and commitment to driving new initiatives in the mobile industry in areas such as energy efficiency, materials used in products, take back, recycling, and packaging. This was against the background of the launch of the Nokia 3110 Evolve, a mobile device with bio-covers made from more than 50% renewable material. The device is presented in a small package made of 60% recycled content and it comes with Nokia’s most energy efficient charger yet, using 94% less energy than the Energy Star requirements. More at Nokia.

Billboard delivers up to 3.4 kilowatts of renewable, solar energy.

SAN FRANCISCO — Dec 03, ‘07 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Pacific Gas and Electric Company today unveiled the nation’s first solar-powered billboard,located in San Francisco, Calif. The billboard is part of the utility’s new advertising campaign, titled “We Can Do This”, which features information about a variety of programs and services PG&E offers that reflect the company’s commitment to the environment.

The nation’s first solar-powered billboard is prominently located at 1000 Brannan Street in San Francisco, visible from the Highway 101 9th
Street exit. It is outfitted with 20 solar modules that can provide up to 3.4 kilowatts of renewable solar energy to the PG&E grid. The power
generated by the system exceeds the power used at night to illuminate the billboard’s lights. In addition to installing solar, PG&E replaced the
billboard’s halophane light fixtures with energy-efficient LED lights.

The solar panels, provided by SunTech Power, collect direct current (DC) electricity from the sun’s rays. Using a Fronius IG 3000 grid-tie
inverter, the renewable energy is converted to alternating current (AC) power and fed into the electricity grid.

With the debut of PG&E’s solar-powered billboard, the United States joins Canada and South Africa as the only countries worldwide to utilize
solar technology in this innovative way. Unlike the two Canadian solar-powered billboards located in Vancouver and Toronto, PG&E’s billboard is interconnected to the grid, providing renewable energy to the utility’s customers. The South African solar-powered billboard is also interconnected.

To see how you can become involved in helping to slow climate change, visit PGE.com/WeCanDoThis

Know your contribution to climate change
mobGAS will challenge individuals to make small changes to their daily routine in order to achieve significant reductions of greenhouse gas emissions.

Brussels — Nov 30, ‘07 — mobGAS is a new mobile phone application available in 21 European languages that allows users to see how their daily choices impact on climate change.

This smart technology, developed by scientists working at the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre, allows users to see the implications of the choices they make every day, in terms of the three major greenhouse gases – carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide.

Information about everyday activities – cooking, transport, lighting, electronic appliances etc. - is put into the application, and calculations made of individual emissions. A user diary of daily, weekly and yearly emissions can be registered on a secure website, allowing a comparison with national and world averages.

The application also includes an animation reflecting the user’s contribution to the Kyoto Protocol target.

Individuals can have a significant impact on reducing emissions. According to recent Eurostat figures, 21% of emissions are related to industrial and associated processes, while 31% are from energy production, 20% from transport, 9% from agriculture and 3% from waste, and the remainder from other sources.

All of this shows that individual behaviour, such as how we travel, the appliances we use or the food we eat, can make a real different to emissions. Lifestyle and consumer choices are a key factor, so it is important that people are aware of the implications of their personal choices.

By downloading the application to a mobile phone – something people carry with them almost all the time – it is possible to make use of quieter moments – travelling on a bus, or waiting for an appointment, for example – to input the data for that day. This could include the means of transport they took, how they heated their house, how long they watched television and what they ate.

From today, mobGAS is being made available free of charge to anyone who is interested. Communication networks and mobile phone producers will also be involved in rolling-out the technology at national level.

This technology will be demonstrated by scientists of the JRC at the EU pavilion during the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Bali from 3 December.

To download the application visit mobGAS

San Francisco, Calif — Nov 27, ‘07 — Google said on Tuesday it plans to spend hundreds of millions of dollars to help drive down the cost of electricity made from renewable energy below the price of coal.

The project, which Google is calling RE<C, using mathematical symbols to denote “renewable energy cheaper than coal,” will be based in Google’s research and development group and is hiring dozens of engineers and targeting investment financing at advanced solar thermal power, wind power, enhanced geothermal systems and other new technologies, Google said.

The Web services and online advertising group will be a big customer for the project, running computers and networks on the electricity and selling back what’s left to the power grid.

“Our goal is to produce one gigawatt of renewable energy capacity that is cheaper than coal. We are optimistic this can be done in years, not decades,” Larry Page, Google’s co-founder and president of products, said in a statement.

A gigawatt can power a city the size of San Francisco. An analyst at broker Raymond James noted the entire US solar cell generation capacity at the end of 2006 was only just over half a gigawatt, while 11.6 gigawatts came from wind power.

“We see technologies we think can mature into very capable industries that can generate electricity cheaper than coal,” Page further added, “and we don’t see people talking about that as much as we would like.”

The company also said that Google.org, the philanthropic for-profit subsidiary that Google seeded in 2004 with three million shares of its stock, would invest in energy start-ups.

As part of the initiative, executives at Google.org said they are working with two companies that have “promising, scalable energy technologies.” One of these, eSolar, based in Pasadena, Calif., uses thousands of small mirrors to concentrate sunlight and generate steam that powers electric generators. The other, Makani Power of Alameda, Calif., is developing wind turbines that will run on powerful and generally more predictable winds at high altitudes.

Page, in an interview, said that failing to investigate new businesses could hurt Google more than any potential distraction. “If you look at companies that don’t do anything new,” he said, “they are guaranteed never to get bigger. They miss a lot of opportunities and they miss the next big things.”

In a conference call Tuesday with reporters, Sergey Brin, Google’s other founder and president of technology, said the effort was motivated in part by the company’s frustrating search for clean, cheap energy alternatives.

“It’s very hard to find options that aren’t coal-based or other dirty technologies,” he said. “We don’t feel good about being in that situation as a company. We feel hypocritical. We want to make investments happen so there will be alternatives for us to use down the road.” Both founders declined to specify what the company now spends on energy.

Idealism is hardly new at Google. In their Letter From the Founders before the company’s 2004 initial public stock offering, Page and Brin wrote: “Our goal is to develop services that significantly improve the lives of as many people as possible. In pursuing this goal, we may do things that we believe have a positive impact on the world, even if the near-term financial returns are not obvious.”

Google does not disclose the energy consumed in powering its online services, but local energy experts say it ranks as one of Silicon Valley’s biggest energy customers.

“As Google grows, we don’t want our core business to be part of the problem. We want to be part of the solution,” said Larry Brilliant, head of Google.org, the company’s philanthropic arm which will direct the energy investments.

Brin said he felt the company would be “hypocritical” not to do something. Google and its founders are big promoters of electric cars and the roof of its headquarters in Mountain View, California, supports a large solar energy installation.

The push comes as oil prices near $100 a barrel and coal, which generates 40 percent of the world’s electricity, faces regulatory and environmental pressures that may boost prices.

Google plans to spend tens of millions of dollars in 2008 on renewable energy development and other efforts. Its initial focus will be solar thermal and enhanced geothermal systems.

Eventually, the company would spend hundreds of millions of dollars in for-profit “breakthrough renewable energy projects.” Hydroelectric and nuclear energy are not part of the project.

Page believes no more than 1,000 researchers worldwide are focused on renewable energy cheaper than coal. “We would really like to get those people in one room and give them resources.” More at Google.

As global warming erodes their world, the residents of Kivalina battle the elements — and now one another.

KIVALINA, Alaska — Nov 25, ‘07 –Alan Zarembo of LA Times reports an in-depth article on an Alaskan island, Kivalina, losing its ground.

“Beneath a moonlit Arctic sky, Joe Swan Jr. and most of his 12-person crew were taking a cigarette break when a dump truck arrived and emptied another load of black sand at their feet.

The backhoe driver, who happened to be his wife, gunned the engine, spewing a diesel haze into the air as she dug into the pile and filled another 2,500-pound sandbag for the sea wall shielding the island from the Chukchi Sea.

The crew has been repairing the $3-million wall almost since the day it was completed in October 2006. They bring more sand. The ocean takes it away.

Kivalina is disappearing, the victim of a warming world and a steady natural erosion that probably began long before the Eskimos settled here 100 years ago.

“You see the white water out there?” Swan said, pointing to some ripples a couple hundred feet offshore. “That’s where the beach used to be.”

When he was growing up here in the 1970s, the ocean would freeze each fall into a slush the thickness of mashed potatoes. Waves from the storms would crash into the ice, not the shore.

Lately, the autumn ocean has been a vast, iceless expanse that leaves the beach vulnerable to waves. The island is now a sliver of sand and permafrost less than 600 feet across at its widest point. The Army Corps of Engineers estimates it will be 10 to 15 years before the ground beneath the clump of clapboard houses washes away.

The prospect of Kivalina’s disappearance has set off its own storm, jarring a place that, like most of global warming’s early victims, has long struggled on the fringes of the planet.

Most of the 400 residents — filled with dreams of a new village with running water, better homes and, perhaps, a chance at a job — want to leave.

The big questions are: To where? And how?

Village leaders have squabbled for years with state and federal officials over relocating, which could cost as much as $250 million. No one has offered to pay.

Residents themselves are divided over where to go. Some want to move to higher ground. Others want to stay on the coast, even at the risk of seeing their new homes eventually disappear to erosion and rising seas.

“We’d love to move — get off this island,” Swan said. There is no heroic battle to stop the advancing water.

“Every time they do something, the surge comes in and destroys all their work,” said tribal administrator Colleen Swan, who walks by the wall every day. “It’s like a bucket that keeps developing holes.”

From the air, the island of Kivalina looks like a giant tadpole. The tail is a barren wisp of sand six miles long. The ocean steadily laps at one side. A silty lagoon fed by two rivers is on the other.

“Kivalina is nothing but fine sand,” said Oscar Swan, 84, as a grandson served him canned sausages for lunch while static buzzed over a citizens band radio.

Located 85 miles north of the Arctic Circle, Kivalina was once an occasional hunting camp for the Eskimos, who moved with the seasons in their constant search for seals, caribou and fish.” More at LA Times. Photo Credits: LA Times.

Bangalore — Nov 22, ‘07 –Indian automobile major Tata Motors and Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) are gearing up to launch the prototype of the world’s cleanest car that will run on hydrogen and emit a mere wispy trail of water vapour, reports Rediff.

“Making this announcement in Bangalore on Thursday, ISRO chairman Madhavan Nair said that the car would roll out early next year. According to Nair, the car will run on Hydrogen and would emit water vapour, thus making it extremely environment friendly.

Nair said that an agreement for the pilot project to see whether hydrogen can be used as fuel for automobiles had been signed and work had already commenced on the project. He said that ISRO is working with the Tatas and, if all goes well, the car will be rolled out in early 2008.

This car will have engine as it will be completely electricity-driven, and hydrogen and atmospheric oxygen will be combined in the fuel cell to produce electricity that will propel the car. The car will also have hydrogen storage and regulatory control systems, Nair added.

It seems as though the first batch of cars will be launched in New Delhi. Currently, hydrogen-powered cars are being run in the research campus of Indian Oil Corporation. These cars will come out on the roads once the first hydrogen dispenser comes up in New Delhi.

Delhi is better geared to host hydrogen cars due to the CNG revolution that took place there. For vehicles running on CNG there would not be any major modification required as 10 per cent blend and the hydrogen could be stored in the CNG cylinder.” More at Rediff.

Nov 21, ‘07 — Digitimes is reporting on Taiwan planning to replace 460,000 traffic signal lights with LED lamps, with the total cost being between $31 million (NT$1 billion) and $62 million, citing a Chinese-language Commercial Time report, which cited Huey-ching, director general of the Bureau of Energy under the Ministry of Economic Affairs.

“All incandescent light bulbs are expected to be eliminated by 2012, with related production discontinuing in 2010″, noted Yeh in the report.

 More at Digitimes.

NEW YORK — November 11, ‘07 — Jon Friedman of Foxbusiness reports on the lunch and panel talk he attended by Time magazine to discuss possibilities for its Person of the Year issue.

In his words, “After attending Time’s discussion of who should be the magazine’s Person of the Year, I reached two conclusions:

Al Gore looks like a shoo-in. Time is blowing a major journalistic and marketing opportunity by bestowing only one award.

Gore, 59, looms as a timely and popular selection. Through his respected documentary, “An Inconvenient Truth,” and his presentations, he has sparked interest in global warming and the environment. He has jump-started America’s “green” movement more significantly than any other individual. That alone is noteworthy.

But over the past few years, Gore has come a long way. In 2006, the puffy ex-presidential hopeful looked like little more than a prime candidate for a Weight Watchers commercial. Then, in only the past nine months, he has accepted an Oscar and a Nobel Peace Prize.” More at Foxbusiness.

Beijing, China – Nov 09, ‘07 — A Chinese official gave the clearest sign yet that Beijing will reject binding caps on greenhouse gas emissions at a global meeting next month, saying developing countries must be allowed to raise emissions to fight poverty.

Beijing is about to overtake the United States as the world’s top greenhouse-gas producer. It is under pressure from Washington to accept binding limits at a meeting in Bali, Indonesia of environment ministers from 80 nations to discuss a possible replacement to the 1997 Kyoto Protocol on emission reductions.

Nations agreed in Kyoto to cut output of carbon dioxide and other heat-trapping gases to below 1990 levels by 2012. But China, India and other developing economies are exempt.

“Climate change is caused mainly by developed countries,” Vice Foreign Minister Zhang Yesui said. “They should have the main responsibility for climate change and to reduce emissions.”

“Most developing countries are in the process of industrialization and urbanization, and they face the arduous task of poverty reduction,” Zhang said. “So they need a large period of time for continuous energy demand growth with the growth of greenhouse gas emissions.”

Zhang did not say directly what Beijing’s position would be at the meeting on the Indonesian island of Bali, and he did not take questions from reporters.

A European Union official who met this week with Chinese leaders said they told him in private meetings that Beijing could not accept any binding obligations.

DRESDEN, Germany–BUSINESS WIRE–Nov 05, ‘07–Novaled achieved significant improvements for white OLEDs for lighting applications. An efficiency of 35lm/W and a lifetime of 100,000h were reached at a brightness of 1000 cd/sqm.

Based on its proprietary Novaled PIN OLED technology and materials, Novaled achieved significant improvements for white OLEDs for lighting applications. An OLED device with an efficiency of 35 lm/W at a brightness of 1,000 cd/sqm and a lifetime of above 100,000 h has been realized. The device exhibits CIE colour coordinates of x,y = 0,43/0,44 with a colour rendering index CRI of 90.

The OLED features a stacked setup with blue fluorescent and red/green phosphorescent emitter materials (hybrid approach). For the stacking layer and transport layer Novaled proprietary materials have been used. The OLED device is equipped with a standard outcoupling enhancement film. The measurement was carried out in an integrating sphere taking into account only the full forward emission with substrate edges and backside covered, thus corresponding to a real case application. At a brightness level of 4,000 cd/sqm the efficiency is 31 lm/W, with no significant changes in colour and CRI value.

“With this achievement Novaled proves once more the advantages of its technology and associated materials for an OLED device combining high performance and long lifetime”, says Jan Birnstock, Novaled VP Technology Transfer. “We are working on enhanced outcoupling solutions and large area devices. When associated with a proper phosphorescent blue, we are confident of reaching 100 lm/W combined with a long lifetime in the near future.” Novaled.

“Smart Cities” team at MIT Media Lab is developing this cool stackable electric car and concept scooter.

City Car:

The City Car is a stackable electric two-passenger city vehicle. The one-way sharable user model is designed to be used in dense urban areas. Vehicle Stacks will be placed throughout the city to create an urban transportation network that takes advantage of existing infrastructure such as subway and bus lines. By placing stacks in urban spaces and key points of convergence, the vehicle allows the citizens the flexibility to combine mass transit effectively with individualized mobility. The stack receives incoming vehicles and electrically charges them. Similar to luggage carts at the airport, users simply take the first fully charged vehicle at the front of the stack. The City car is NOT a replacement for personal vehicles, taxis, buses, or trucks; it is a NEW vehicle type that promotes a socially responsible and more effective means of urban mobility.

The City car utilizes fully integrated in-wheel electric motors and suspension systems called, “Wheel Robots.” The wheel robots eliminate the need traditional drive train configurations like engine blocks, gear boxes, and differentials because they are self-contained, digitally controlled, and reconfigurable. Additionally, the wheel robot provides all wheel power and steering capable of 360 degrees of movement, thus allowing for Omni-directional movement. The vehicle can maneuver in tight urban spaces and park by sideways translation. This technology is patented-pending and under design development at the MIT Media Lab.

Scooter with ITRI and Sanyang Motors:

The MIT Media Lab is co-developing with ITRI and SYM an innovative concept scooter. The vehicle design reflects innovations in new materials, ergonomics, emerging connectivity, mass customization, and social networks. The project embodies new aesthetics as a result of novel and re-organized functionality by achieving high levels of styling and product packaging.

Working with SYM and ITRI, MIT is also considering future product planning, branding strategies, and new ownership/business models. The final show-quality prototype will be formally presented at the Milan Motor show in November of 2007. More at MIT Media Lab here and here.

ROUND ROCK, Texas–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Oct 31, ‘07–Dell today extended its commitment to becoming the “greenest” technology company on Earth with the addition of an Energy Star 4.0-compliant desktop that helps consumers reduce their carbon footprint.
“We are committed to providing consumers a choice that helps protect the environment without sacrificing the performance needed to maintain a rich, high-definition digital experience.” said Karen Plotkin, director of consumer desktop marketing. “Consumers using this energy-efficient Inspiron 531 can reduce their carbon footprint while also reducing their electric bills.”

The specially configured Inspiron 531 is Dell’s first consumer PC to meet the Energy Star 4.0 requirements. Powered by an 80 percent efficient power supply, the system comes pre-configured to switch to a low-power sleep state after 15 minutes of inactivity and also includes a forest-friendly paperless owner’s manual. Using an energy-efficient desktop with a flat panel monitor for four years can reduce carbon dioxide (C02) emissions by approximately the same amount as not driving a car for eight weeks.1

With a starting price of $369, the Inspiron 531 is available to U.S. customers immediately. Entry-level configurations include an AMD Athlon 64 X2 dual-core processor, 1GB DDR2 memory, 160GB hard drive, CDRW / DVD combination drive, NVIDIA integrated graphics, Windows Vista Home Basic, and one year Limited Warranty with In-Home Service and support.

In addition to meeting Energy Star 4.0 requirements, the company is also advising customers on data center design to help reduce power needs. More information on Dell’s energy efficiency programs is available at www.dell.com/energy.

NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Shai Agassi, former SAP executive, has announced today the formation of Project Better Place, an entity focused on one of the 21st century’s biggest challenges – developing a sustainable, environmental solution for converting country-wide transportation systems toward electricity and away from fossil fuel.  

The company will deploy the regional and global infrastructure to support electric vehicles on a country by country basis. Project Better Place will establish a widespread grid of electric charging spots at current parking locations as well as battery exchange stations through software systems integration. These capabilities will provide consumers with the energy to keep their cars charged and driving without the need to wait for electricity at any point. The new grid presents a practical solution to address barriers to electric vehicle adoption.  

“Our global economy urgently needs an environmentally clean and sustainable approach to energy and transportation. We need to rethink how to bring together consumers, existing technology, and the entire car eco-system to establish the next generation infrastructure that provides energy for commuters and is not dependent on liquid fuels,” said Mr. Agassi. “We have crossed a historic threshold where electricity and batteries provide a cheaper alternative for consumers. Existing technology, coupled with the right business model and a scaleable infrastructure can provide an immediate solution and significantly decrease carbon emissions.” More at Project Better Place

New $3 Billion Facility to Produce Processors with Intel 45nm Hafnium-based High-k Metal Gate Transistors.

CHANDLER, Ariz., Oct. 25, 2007 – Production of a new generation of microprocessors for PCs, laptops, servers and other computing devices officially began today inside of Intel Corporation’s first high-volume 45 nanometer (nm) manufacturing factory in Chandler, Ariz.

Called “Fab 32,” the $3 billion factory will use Intel’s innovative 45nm process technology based on Intel’s breakthrough in “reinventing” certain areas of the transistors inside its processors to reduce energy leakage. The 45nm transistors use a Hafnium-based high-k material for the gate dielectric and metal materials for the gate, and are so small that more than 2 million can fit on the period at the end of this sentence. Millions of these tiny transistors will make up Intel’s faster, more energy efficient lead- and halogen-free processors for PCs, laptops and servers, as well as ultra low-power processors for mobile Internet and consumer electronic devices, and low-cost PCs. The first of the company’s 45nm processors is scheduled to be introduced on Nov. 12.

“The opening of Fab 32 in Arizona today is a testament to Intel’s continued investment in our most strategic asset — the most advanced, environmentally friendly manufacturing network in the world,” said Paul Otellini, Intel president and CEO. “The magic of 45nm and our new transistor design allow us to deliver high-performance, energy-efficient processors to our customers across the entire spectrum of market segments, from the most powerful servers to a variety of mobile devices and everything in between.”

Fab 32 is Intel’s sixth 300mm wafer factory and its second factory to produce 45nm chips. Intel first produced 45nm processors in its Oregon development facility, called D1D, in January and is now moving into high-volume production with the opening of Fab 32. Two additional 45nm, 300mm manufacturing factories are scheduled to open next year in Kiryat Gat, Israel (Fab 28) and Rio Rancho, N.M. (Fab 11x). Using 300mm wafers lowers the production cost per chip while diminishing overall use of resources.

With 184,000 square feet of clean room space, the completed Fab 32 structure measures 1 million square feet, so large that more than 17 U.S. football fields could fit inside the building. More than 1,000 employees will operate the factory in such positions as process, automation and yield engineers and senior manufacturing technicians.

A Focus on the Environment – From the Factory Down to the Transistor
Fab 32 will be among Intel’s most environmentally friendly factories, incorporating a number of energy and water conservation measures that have come to characterize Intel’s long track record of environmental stewardship in its operations.

Intel’s industry-leading 45nm process results in a 15 percent reduction in global warming emissions, and Fab 32 makes use of Intel Arizona’s innovative water conservation and reuse program which conserves more than 70 percent of the water.

More at Intel

Commission Fees go Directly to Carbonfund.org, a Nonprofit Organization Committed to Fighting Global Warming. NEW YORK, Oct. 22 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Eco-conscious publishing company Ogden Publications today announced the launch of the climate change-combating website EarthMoment.com. An innovative new shopping portal, EarthMoment.com provides consumers with millions of competitively priced products from top retailers while dedicating half of its commission-based revenues to certified carbon offsets, one of the most effective ways to fight climate change.

Consumers have access to more than 15 million products and services from over a thousand leading merchants including Apple, Barnes and Noble, Blockbuster, Circuit City, GNC, Kohls, Macy’s, Office Depot, Sharper Image, Wal-Mart, and many, many more. While other companies that put money toward “environmental funds” do so by tacking on fees to consumer purchases, EarthMoment.com contributes 50% of its revenue from vendors to carbon offsets — at no additional charge to the consumer.

Earth Moment allows consumers to compare prices from different vendors, then takes the shopper directly to the retailer of their choosing. Any purchase made on the retailer’s site within 24 hours will contribute to Carbonfund.org.

The commissions Earth Moment receives from each vendor go directly to Carbonfund.org, a nonprofit organization committed to addressing the issue of climate change by supporting projects that reduce carbon dioxide emissions. Consumers can decide how they want to reduce their carbon footprint: energy efficiency, renewable energy or reforestation.

EarthMoment.com shoppers create a profile to assess their total annual emissions and the dollar amount needed to offset their personal contributions to global warming. From there, users can set carbon-reducing goals and track their progress as they go from “red” to “green.”

“We think we offer consumers one of the easiest ways to make a positive difference in the world.” Said Bryan Welch, Publisher and Editorial Director of Ogden Publications and Managing Partner of Earth Moment.

More at PRNewsWire, EarthMoment

ROUND ROCK, Texas and FRAMINGHAM, Mass. - Staples and Dell today announced that starting on Nov. 11, customers will have the option to hit the “Easy Button” at 1,400 Staples stores for a wide assortment of Dell notebook and desktop computers, monitors, printers, ink and toner.

Staples, the country’s leading retail destination for printing, will be the only office superstore to offer Dell products in stores and through its Web site. As part of its ongoing efforts to extend the advantages of its direct business model, Dell’s relationship with Staples is the latest in a series of retail agreements aimed at reaching more customers worldwide.

“Dell pioneered the “easy button” in computing through our direct business model. Now with Staples we’re bringing all the benefits of direct to shoppers across America,” said Michael Dell, chairman and CEO, Dell. “With Staples, we are underscoring our commitment to listen to customers and deliver what they want – new and exciting ways to experience Dell’s award winning products with the same great prices and convenience.”

The initial products offered at Staples will include Inspiron 1721 and 1521 notebooks, Inspiron 530 desktops, Dell 948 and 926 all-in-one inkjet printers, Dell 1320c laser printer, Dell SE198WFP 19-inch widescreen flat panel LCD monitor, and the Dell E228WFP 22-inch widescreen flat panel LCD monitor. Additionally, Staples will offer ink and toner for most Dell printers.

“We know our customers will appreciate the ability to see, touch and immediately take Dell products to the home or office,” said Ron Sargent, chairman and CEO, Staples. “By becoming Dell’s first comprehensive retailer in the Americas, and deepening our offerings with one of the world’s most respected brands, we’re making it easy to buy great technology products this upcoming holiday season and beyond.”

Companies Partner on Environmental Initiatives

Staples today announced that it plans to join Dell’s “Plant a Forest for Me” initiative, which enables organizations worldwide to share best practices and, as partners, facilitate the planting of trees in sustainably managed reforestation projects. In addition, as part of its EcoEasy initiative, Staples is making it even easier to “go green” and support America Recycles Day (Nov. 15) when buying Dell products.

With this announcement Dell products are now available in more than 10,000 stores around the globe. By providing new products and services, and multiple ways to connect with Dell – via the Internet, over the phone and now at select retail outlets – Dell expects to connect with new customers and increase sales in all regions. Dell recently announced relationships with Gome stores in China, Bic Camera Inc. in Japan, Carphone Warehouse in the U.K. and Wal-Mart in the U.S., Canada, Brazil and Mexico.

More at Dell

Reuters reports this breaking news: “OSLO (Reuters) - Former U.S. Vice President Al Gore and the U.N. climate panel won the Nobel Peace Prize on Friday for their part in galvanising international action against global warming before it “moves beyond man’s control”.Gore and the United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) won “for their efforts to build up and disseminate greater knowledge about man-made climate change, and to lay the foundations for the measures that are needed to counteract such change”, the Norwegian Nobel Committee said.

They were chosen to share the $1.5 million (740,088 pounds) prize from a field of 181 candidates. “He is probably the single individual who has done most to create greater worldwide understanding of the measures that need to be adopted,” the committee said of Gore.

“The IPCC has created an ever-broader informed consensus about the connection between human activities and global warming,” it said.

“Action is necessary now, before climate change moves beyond man’s control,” the citation said of rising temperatures that could bring more droughts, floods, rising seas. It was the second prize to a leading U.S. Democrat during the presidency of Republican George W. Bush. The 2002 prize went to former President Jimmy Carter.”

More at Reuters