Environmentalists the world over are perturbed over the breaking of a large ice shelf extending to about 8 square miles from the 150 square miles large Ward Hunt area in Canada. The cracks in Ward Hunt indicate chances of more breakage following later this year. One can imagine the catastrophe in store for the earth’s inhabitants as this 3000 years old mass broke up and began slowly drifting into the Arctic Ocean. Findings indicate that temperatures in the Arctic have risen faster than the global average in recent decades. Yep, the root cause is global warming. Very few of us know that the rise in temperature of the earth over the last 100 years has not been duplicated over a history of 650000 years. And the first to melt because of the heat are the ice caps causing a rise in the water level. Apparently, every year we are crossing new thresholds in environmental change which will lead to huge repercussions in the near future.

And people were carefree thinking that melting of the mammoth sized chunks would take ages but the Canada episode of ice suddenly slipping into the oceans has shaken those myths. Probability of sudden avalanches and submerging of icebergs have increased tremendously that will eventually devour cities altogether.

Via GreenDiary

Architects of this era are focusing their creative energies to churn out futuristic model/designs that are green (as in less taxing on the environment), sustainable, stylish and comfortable. The green architecture, I am going to talk about today is an entire complex- a collection of five buildings that blend effortlessly with the nearby lush greens (read forests/jungles). This ITER complex has won accolades at the international competition (for new buildings) of the CEA Cadarache Research Center.
Designed by Juan Herreros Architects, this ultra-green complex respects the forest space by employing a site-tailored approach to construction. The philosophy behind the design of this complex is the construction of a symbiotic architecture which stresses upon minimum alteration of natural conditions so as to preserve the forest density and its microclimate.

The design as conceived by the eco-savvy architects at Juan Herreros comprises five lean buildings in a beautiful forest location-one brimming with a lot of biological activity. The construction of these tall buildings would involve removing only those trees that are growing along the sides of these slender corridors. A tightly-knit connection between the complex and its green surroundings will be established.

The height of the buildings will not exceed the height of the trees found in that forest so that a perfect blend between human and natural creations can be maintained. Because of such considerations, the jury at CEA Cadarache Research Center found this ITER complex to be a brilliant example of minimum-impact green architecture.

It is not yet decided where such a complex will be erected. In general, the CEA is dedicated to wide-ranged research work in climate and environmental science. It also is focusing on alternative energies including hydrogen and solar power so that structures, buildings and complexes of future leave a tiny carbon footprint and still retain their efficiency.

Via: Archdaily

Indeed we were surprised to learn that Hollywood actor Martin Lawrence owns a farm in Virgina but what was more surprising to know was of his farm mates. Looks like several different types of animals and birds like geese are calling the farm their home driving the comedian bonkers. A neighbour reported that Lawrence is struggling to find a way to deal with the situation and perhaps a gun may answer all his troubles. However, Lawrence’s publicist clarifies that there was a more humane side to the entire episode.

Looks like a hunting licence has been applied for by the farm manager but Lawrence is looking for all possible humane ways to tackle the problem of overpopulation while preserving the animal habitat in which they reside. Sources reveal that there are many different enterprises in rural Virginia that make their living assisting property owners on how to handle and manage migratory geese. It is very sad that a neighbour who has never met Martin or discussed the matter with him, would issue irresponsible public statements. Yeah, celebs do pay the price for their fame.

Via EcoRazzi

Dear readers this post is an update (well, almost) on the news piece that I shared with you all yesterday. I talked about Oregon’s announcement to build the world’s largest wind farm so far and there in I mentioned my doubts about the Pickens Plan. Business tycoon and gas magnet T. Boone Pickens had some time ago announced his mega project (to the American media) on tapping wind energy as USA happens to be one of the windiest places on earth. Beyond that announcement, no further details have been circulated and so the plan of constructing a 4000 MW wind farm in Texas does seems to be outlandish!

But as we all know these biggies of the business world work at their own pace. They like to tell the world about their plans in their own way. And this Pickens Plan is really big, so it’s a buzzword among media pundits as well. What else can one expect when a billionaire decides to invest his own money behind a project and announces his wishes? The project becomes worthy enough to be covered in the media circles – print, TV, internet etc. So, for all those who would like to know a bit more, here’s a video by ViroPOP which doesn’t elaborate excessively on what we already know. Nevertheless, it is still interesting to watch (the narration is swift) and post introduction, we get to learn a bit about sites, which facilitate eco-shopping. The viral is good enough for those who hardly know anything about the big plan. Happy watching!

Taking inspiration from the canary bird- to warn about disastrous effects of rampant human activity, The Canary Project was founded in 2006. Since then, the organization has produced several artwork and events using visual and mixed media on environmental concerns like Global Warming, Climate Change, Deforestation and likes. The Project aims at cultivating media attention to inform a broad public and encourage commitment to possible solutions. The latest offering of The Canary Project is the Green Patriot Bus Ads. The latter are designed by Michael Bierut- a Cleveland born artist world famous for his work. As part of the campaign, sixty buses bearing the Green Patriotic ads were released in Cleveland. The concept is good old environmentalism repackaged in a nouveau style to give it the punch and ferver similar to patriotism.

While the bus fulfils the facility of public transport, Bierut’s designs- posters on the body of the vehicle and inside it actively promotes green jobs in manufacturing sector. These buses and the ads on them are part of a larger plan-Green Patriot Posters, awaiting its official launch coming September. Under the Green Patriot Posters, motivating captions and posters were designed taking inspiration from WWII graphics. Here’s what the designer himself thinks, “Americans have a great ability to pull together in times of crisis. Each day brings headlines that make it clear that global warming and dependence on costly and scarce foreign oil will demand the same kind of resilience, self-sacrifice and ingenuity that we’ve exhibited in the past: in short, that special American brand of patriotism. Back in the 30s and 40s, folksinger Woody Guthrie had a slogan on his guitar: “This machine kills fascists.” I was looking for a similar kind of statement to turn every bus ride into a blow for the environment.” We surely need such kind of activism in places more than one on Earth today!

Via: treehugger

What’s summer fun without barbequing and grilling? But if you care for your planet then conventional barbequing is not a viable option. However, you can still enjoy grilled food in a truly green manner with the new Helios Solar Grill. Designed in a sci-fi manner, Helios brings the goodness of solar energy to you by grilling your food with sun’s heat. This grill is as efficient as a solar oven in terms of energy. While you grill your chicken on it the reflective solar dish is pointed away from you. This ensures maximum safety. This reflective parabolic dish focuses sunlight on a solar receptor ultimately changing sunlight into usable energy. This energy then travels to the grilling platform and heats up a coil which then helps in cooking food.

The solar grill stores upright so as to leave a small carbon footprint on the atmosphere. Its cantilevers open up with ease and when your are ready to cook they lock back in place. Helios can be used on a bad weather day as well so that your cooking doesn’t suffer on a not-so sunny day! For this, the solar grill comes with a retractable plug. The latter is an alternative energy source stored in the base of the device. As compared to barbequing which emits a lot of carbon – emissions that ultimately leads to global warming, Helios solar grill is a cleaner option. If you use less ghee (fat) for your chicken tikkas then with Helios grill by your side, you can stay healthy and go green in a delicious manner!

Via: Tuvie

Ganesh Chaturthi is a festival which many Indians look forward to as in today’s workaholic life, it sums up ten days of spirituality, fun, faith and socializing around. But what many people fail to admit (although, they know it very well) that the after festival picture is filthy with vast amounts of pollution on the beach and inside water where the Elephant God rests post Visarjan. Such people happily befool themselves giving excuses like, “God will take care of the fishes and the beaches.” But now, thanks to Goa government, this year at least in Goa the marine life will not have to ask God’s help for its survival for the much needed human awakening is already set into motion.

Goa’s power and environment minister Alexieo Sequeira recently announced a ban on the manufacturing of Ganesha idols from plaster of Paris in Panaji, in a media conference. These gigantic idols no doubt look wonderful but their molding and modeling involves the use of highly polluting agents like plaster of Paris and coloring pigments that contain toxic chemicals like lead and titanium. These pollutants leach in the waters where these idols are immersed and then, through wave currents the pollutants reach far off areas to disturb the marine ecology. These chemicals are known to alter the life cycle of fishes and other marine fauna. Not only this, the water post Visarjan becomes highly polluted .And this happens year after year. By this time the water has become filthy and polluted enough to give skin diseases and allergies to anyone taking a dip near the beach.

The serious environmental concerns regarding Ganesh and Goddess Durga’s Visarjan
During festivals have aroused enough hues and cries but nothing concrete has happened so far because the state governments have been busy protecting the religious sentiments of people (or may I say, the state authorities have been busy sleeping over the issue!) But now, a streak of positivity has emerged with Goa’s government taking a firm stand against the manufacturing and selling of such polluting idols. The ban if followed religiously can lead to a Green Ganesh Chaturthi this year-one which will not damage the coastal ecology (any further). Also, it will curb the cases of food poisoning in the state population as reported when people consume polluted fishes.

I whole heartedly appreciate this initiative taken by Goa and plead other states to join in for Indian coast lines and marine flora and fauna are quite unique and we must come forward to protect them for posterity.

Via: mapsofindia

HelioFocus Ltd., Setup at Ness Ziona, Israel in 2007 is into highly effective Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) systems. Recently this progressing firm has well thought-out to upgrade the existing C65 model of Capstone micro turbine to make it a solar powered turbine. Assessment is being carried out by Capstone specialists to study the prospects of alteration in existing turbine’s design. Capstone Turbine Corporation, primary company to promote workable micro turbines conventionally employs gaseous or liquid fuels for creating high ignition temperature air in their turbines. Intended for conversion of customary micro turbines, HelioFocus Parabolic Solar Concentrators would be utilized for transforming sunlight energy into grid electric power. Subsequently, the solar energy would be focused into a sunray’s activated receiving area and that would obviously supply comparable combustion heat to run the micro turbine.

This new ecofriendly technique would bless the established system with enhanced power density and higher efficiency, as a result of which the requisite assets and infrastructure would lessen. Accordingly, mingling the advantages of two finest technologies would endow us a matchless green renewable solution.

Via GreenCarCongress

Renewable energy projects are picking up pace in USA with Oregon Energy Facility Sitting Council giving it a green signal to build the world’s largest onshore wind farm- The Shepherd’s Flat Wind Farm .It will be built on private land (spanning Gilliam and Morrow counties); 5 miles southeast of Arlington and will consist of 300+ wind turbines, plus a combined installed capacity of 909 megawatts. According to Michael Grainey, director of the Oregon Department of Energy, this announcement marks a tremendous day for the state’s renewable energy options.

So far, the largest single wind farm (the Horse Hollow wind farm, located in Texas) holds a capacity of 765 MW. Development of the Shepherd’s Flat Wind Farm will be undertaken by Sacramento (California firm Caithness Shepherds Flat LLC) and it hopes to alleviate the current energy scenario in Oregon.The wind farm will double-up the Oregon’s wind capacity. While Shepherd’s farm might seem to be the largest so far, plan to build a 4,000 MW wind farm in Texas by business tycoon T. Boone Pickens by 2014, seems a wee bit outlandish.

As planned, Shepherd’s Flat Wind Farm will feed its power output to the Federal Columbia River Transmission System through Bonneville Power Administration’s Slatt Substation. Details about the commencement of this wind farm are still not announced. However, one thing is for sure, once completed the massive farm will be a boon to the state and will set an example for other countries which receive high wind velocities but haven’t tapped on this natural resource so far. Here’s wishing good luck to The Shepherd’s.
Via: treehugger

Conserving water is everyone’s duty. If you belong to those areas of the world where, rainwater harvesting is the premium source of water-supply through out the year then, conserving every single droplet is mandatory. The good thing is now-a-days a number of water features are available. The ones offered by H20 Designs are the ultimate environmentally friendly, modern and stylish systems. Normally, the harvesting process requires a system which collects rain falling on the building’s roof and collects it into an underground tank via connecting pipes. The water thus collected is cleansed through a filter and then consumed. However, this is the run-of-the mill kind of system. H20 Designs’ water features are no less than oriental Zen-gardens thus providing you a sense of immense calm in the environs of your house.

With these at your place, you don’t need to go to nearby park for your meditation sessions. These features recycle water in compliance with water restriction regulations. They require minimal maintenance and are flexible enough to be integrated into any other water feature. The added greenery as I said earlier, transforms your outdoors in to a mini heaven.

For the optimum functioning of these features till an extended time frame ,H20 Designs provide you with a hidden water storage unit which does not taps into external water supplies! Well, I bet it’s a good investment-one for not only your current needs but also, for those of the future.

Via: trendir