China Announces New Energy, Water Efficiency Goals

BEIJING — China has issued new targets to curb carbon output and improve efficiency in using energy and water, state media reported Monday.

A government official announced that China aims to reduce energy use and carbon emissions per unit of economic output this year by 4 percent, the official Xinhua News Agency said.

The government also wants to reduce water use per unit of output by 7 percent this year, Zhou Changyi, an official in the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, said during a conference in Nanjing.

China’s government says it successfully completed a five-year effort last year to reduce energy use per unit of output by nearly 20 percent from 2005 levels.

Meeting the energy efficiency target was seen as a key marker of China’s commitment toward fighting global warming. It has surpassed the United States as the world’s largest producer of greenhouse gases, largely because its economic development over the past three decades has relied on labor- and energy-intensive growth.

The new cuts are part of China’s wider plan to reduce both energy consumption and carbon emissions per unit of GDP by 18 percent over the next five years, said Deputy Minister Su Bo. The government pledged a 30-percent reduction in water consumption per unit of GDP over the same period, he said.

The targets are slightly higher than what China had pledged to do in its 12th Five-Year Plan released earlier this year during its annual congress. In the original plan, energy use and carbon emissions would be cut by 16 percent while water use would come down by 25 percent.

As the world’s largest carbon emitter, China had pledged to reduce its carbon use per unit of economic output by 40 to 45 percent by 2020 from 2005 levels as part of its contribution toward combating climate change. In essence, China has vowed to cut the rate at which it consumes energy, though not the overall amount of carbon it emits.

Government data shows China saw a 26 percent decline in energy use per unit of GDP in the five years to 2010, as the country closed down thousands of outdated and heavily polluting power plants.

Fuente: http://www.huffingtonpost.com

Autor: Staff

Fecha: 28/03/11

Invertir en Turismo sostenible estimulará la economía verde y la creación de empleo, según un informe de Naciones Unidas

‘La planificación de los destinos y las estrategias de desarrollo llevan al reverdecimiento del Turismo’

Invertir en un Turismo sostenible puede ser un motor del crecimiento económico, según el informe.

NEXOTUR.com / Una mayor inversión en Turismo sostenible puede contribuir al crecimiento económico, al desarrollo y a la creación de empleo, asegura un estudio realizado por el PNUMA y la OMT. Invertir en un Turismo respetuoso con el medio ambiente puede conducir a un uso más eficiente de los recursos.

Preparado en colaboración con la OMT, el capítulo dedicado al Turismo del informe sobre la economía verde dirigido por el Programa de las Naciones Unidas para el Medio Ambiente (PNUMA) demuestra que invertir en un Turismo sostenible puede ser un motor del crecimiento económico, de la reducción de la pobreza y de la creación de empleo. El Turismo es uno de los motores de crecimiento más prometedores de la economía mundial, según el informe, pero su desarrollo va unido a problemas de sostenibilidad.

Una inversión de un 0,2% al año del PIB mundial de aquí a 2050, permitiría que el Sector Turístico siguiera creciendo de manera constante en las próximas décadas y contribuyese a un crecimiento económico sumamente necesario. Igualmente, ayudaría a crear oportunidades de empleo y desarrollo, ofreciendo a la vez ventajas ambientales significativas, como la reducción del consumo de agua (18%), del consumo energético (44%) y de las emisiones de CO2 (52%) en comparación con lo que sucedería en un escenario “sin cambios”, afirma el informe.

Conclusiones del informe

“Las conclusiones del informe corroboran algo que la OMT lleva tiempo defendiendo: que el Sector Turístico puede ser un agente de cambio precursor de la transformación hacia una economía verde”, ha explicado el Secretario General de la OMT, Taleb Rifai. “El informe es un hito. Si avanzamos en nuestro programa de sostenibilidad, el Turismo podrá reforzar su capacidad de seguir generando crecimiento y empleo en todo el mundo”.

Para movilizar y maximizar esta inversión turística, el informe pide un mejor acceso a herramientas y financiación para las empresas pequeñas y medianas, en particular de los gobiernos y de las organizaciones internacionales, con los que pueden entablarse asociaciones público-privadas. Asimismo, asegura que las políticas públicas y el apoyo en forma de subvenciones para alentar la inversión privada en el Turismo verde crearía las condiciones adecuadas para un mayor desarrollo del Turismo sostenible.

Este avance hacia un Turismo más sostenible crearía más empleo y generaría mayores rentas para las comunidades locales, respondería a la tendencia de los consumidores de demandar una experiencia de viaje cada vez más sostenible, incrementaría la competitividad y reduciría los gastos de explotación de las empresas turísticas. Finalmente el estudio concluye que la planificación de los destinos y las estrategias de desarrollo se consideran un primer paso hacia el “reverdecimiento” del Turismo.

Fuente: http://www.nexotur.com

Autor: Staff

Fecha: 22/03/11

Costa Rica’s Alternative Energy Future

Costa Rica’s past administration showcased their ambitious Carbon Neutral plan for 2021 and the current administration of President Laura Chinchilla is talking the same talk. But how serious are they?  This past weekend, the pride and joy of China’s donation, the New National Stadium, opened its doors with a smoke free environment while at the same time using a diesel generator to power the stadium.

This type of contradicting action by the Costa Rican government has environmental and renewable energy groups holding their hands on their heads, questioning Costa Rica’s intentions of being an eco- and environmental-friendly country.  Currently, the country has a mandate to achieve 10% biofuel blends by next year. However, due to the lack of stimulus and incentives, this mandate seems highly unlikely to reach its goal.

Click on this image to view the enlarged version. 

The growing conditions for agro fuels is ideal in Costa Rica and with native plants like Jatropha Curcas, an oil bearing tree that does not compete with food crops, the setting is ripe to allow for a perfect combination to help Costa Rica reduce their carbon footprint and energy independence.  Daniel Yepez, President of United Biofuels of America (UBA), a leading biofuel organization, says that “Jatropha Oil can and should be used as the fuel to power the stadium’s generators.”

UBA has been recognized by Shell Oil as a top 25 energy entrepreneur company in the world.  Their initiatives cover the “Million Gallon Challenge,” which is to produce a million gallons of crude oil per day. With 80% of all hydrocarbons imported and consumed by the transportation industry, it is evident that renewable energy will not only significantly reduce Costa Rica’s energy dependence but also greenhouse gas emissions.

“If it’s good enough for the airlines, it’s good enough for Costa Rica” states Mr. Yepez as he discusses the benefits of Jatropha as a drop-in fuel replacement for the aviation industry.  For the last couple of years, UBA has been working alongside Aviation Assurance with a R&D test plantation in Florida to gain plant knowledge and help bring the highest quality product to market.

With oil prices on the rise, climate change, and turmoil in the Middle East, one has to wonder how humanity left the Stone Age behind without having run out of stones. Can the same be done with crude oil (petroleum) or must we run out to make the change to renewable energy?

Fuente: thecostaricanews.com

Autor: Staff

Fecha: 27/03/11

Organic Building in Osaka is Clad with Plant-Filled Pockets

Space is limited in densely packed Japan meaning there is hardly any room remaining for garden space – but one great solution to this constraint is to place gardens right on the exteriors of buildings! Possibly a precursor to Patrick Blanc’s famous living walls, Italian-born architect and artist, Gaetano Pesce designed and built the plant-clad Organic Building in Japan. The exterior of the building is an eye-catching vertical garden that takes its conceptual cues from bamboo.

Completed in 1993, the Organic Building has since been named a civic landmark by the City of Osaka, which has undertaken its maintenance in perpetuity. The exterior is covered with steel-encased concrete panels glazed with a red finish that feature rather cute extruding pockets. Inside these containers are fiberglass planters that contain more than 80 types of indigenous plants and trees selected in collaboration with Osaka horticulturists, and they are all irrigated via a computer-controlled hydrating system of mechanical pipes.

The Organic Building is Pesce‘s most famous structure and features 7,052 square meters of interior space, and nine stories with restaurants and retail on the street with office space above. Qualities of bamboo – “its distinctive verticality, undulating surface, and tendency to grow into a network of interlocking but nonetheless unique spaces” inspired the building’s wavy skin and window placement. The red exterior is also in direct contrast to the surrounding neighborhood’s gray uniformity.

Fuente: http://www.stumbleupon.com

Autor: Bridgette Meinhold

Fecha: 05/07/10

Alice Waters: Eat local

Local food pioneer Alice Waters talks about her favorite weekly outing and why she’s hopeful that we’ll finally start making smarter choices about what we eat.

THE FOOD PIONEER: Alice Waters. (Photo: David Liittschwager)

Editor’s note: The following is a guest essay written by chef, restaurateur, activist, author and humanitarian Alice Waters. She is the owner ofChez Panisse, a Berkeley, Calif., restaurant famous for its organic, locally grown ingredients and for pioneering California cuisine. She created the Edible Schoolyard program at the Martin Luther King Middle School in Berkeley, Calif. You can learn more about her work and on Twitter andFacebook.

To find out how you can make a difference and to get recipes from renowned chefs like Alice Waters, Mario Batali and Barton Seaver visit earthday.nature.org.

I believe that cooking should be based on the finest and freshest seasonal ingredients that are produced sustainably and locally. One of my favorite weekly outings is shopping at my local farmers markets in Berkeley and San Francisco. As I make my way through the delightful maze of stands, smelling and tasting and filling my bags, I talk to producers and learn what one week’s time has brought us, what has come in early or even a bit late. We also frequently talk about their devotion to sustainable farming methods and their true love of connecting people to their food. Time and time again, I walk away knowing that I have supported the people who are truly taking care of our land. The responsibility falls on each of us to make that choice.

In addition to shopping at farmers markets, there are many other ways that we can support and grow the local food economy. For instance, I believe that Edible Education in which students learn about ecology and gastronomy should be integrated into the curriculum of every school, as we have done at the Edible Schoolyard. I also believe that all children should have access to free lunch, and the cafeteria should utilize as much local food as possible.

[Check out our Earth Day chef recipes featuring Alice Waters’ Spring Minestrone with Peas and Asparagus]

There are certainly challenges to eating locally, such as the decrease in the variety of food that is available in the winter months. At Chez Panisse in Berkeley, Calif., we are lucky because we can find local produce all year long. However, we are always thinking about food in a sustainable way. In the winter, we focus on the winter squashes, root vegetables, and we use canned tomatoes and huckleberry syrup that we’ve made in the summer. I think eating locally is so much about being creative with your choices.

I am hopeful, as I believe we’re waking up to the fact that for the past 30 years, we haven’t been eating food that’s really good for us, and we’re not taking care of the land or the farmers in our country. I’m seeing that this is changing as evidenced by the drastic increase in the number of farmers markets in the country in recent years, the fact that there are now vegetables growing on the White House lawn, and the incredible number of school gardens popping up across the country.

Fuente: http://www.mnn.com

Autor: Cool Green Science Blog from The Nature Conservancy

Fecha: 29/03/11

NYC Local Law 84 Will Require Buildings to Benchmark Energy & Water Use

New York City’s buildings account for 80 percent of all greenhouse gases produced by the Big Apple. In order to meet Mayor Bloomberg’s goal of reducing emissions by 30 percent by 2030, a major focus of PlaNYC has been making our buildings more sustainable and energy efficient. Local Law 84, a policy enacted in 2009 as part of the Greener Greater Buildings Plan, requires buildings that are 50,000 square feet or larger to benchmark (or measure and rate) their energy performance and water usage. The original deadline for submitting benchmarking data to the city was May 1, 2011, but due to confusion over the requirements, the deadline has been extended to August 1. Local Law 84 affects 16,000 buildings in New York City, and it has the potential to transform how we understand our energy usage and pave the way for better sustainability laws.

The law will still take effect on May 1, but if building owners do not submit their reports, they will not be hit with penalty fines until August 1. The Urban Green Council, which has been conducting educational outreach about the requirements at the request of the city, found that the law needed a little “breathing room.” The Office of Long-Term Planning and Sustainability will launch a hotline starting March 31 to answer questions.

Building owners are to use the EPA’s free online Portfolio Manager to measure their energy use. The interactive tool allows you to track and assess the energy and water usage of a single building or a series of properties. Users can set goals, identify under performing buildings, check efficiency improvements, and receive recognition from the EPA. Every year, building owners must submit their benchmarking reports to the city’s Department of Finance. Those who do not comply will receive a $500 fine for every quarter the information is not submitted.

All of the information will be available to the public within two years, meaning that if your building is a water-wasting, grid hogging beast, everyone will know. Consumers will be able to clearly see how much they will spend on utility bills before signing a lease. Greener, more efficient buildings would easily win over tenants thanks to higher efficiency rates. Plus, owners of outdated, inefficient buildings will see that they are paying more in operation costs than owners of buildings that have undergone green renovations. Ultimately, the city hopes that this will make all building owners want to retrofit to include more efficient systems.

The bottom line is that Local Law 84 will allow us to more clearly understand how energy is being used by the city and who is using it. It’s one thing to say that our buildings account for 80 percent of our greenhouse gas emissions, but it’s another to break it down building by building. By knowing exactly what a building is wasting, we can know exactly what needs to be done to fix it.

Via Treehugger

Fuente: inhabitat.com

Autor: Jessica Dailey

Fecha: 29/03/11

Germany’s solar panels produce more power than Japan’s entire Fukushima complex

Germany is the world leader in installed solar photovoltaic panels — and they also just shut down seven of their oldest nuclear reactors. Coincidence? Maaaaybe… Anyway, it’s worth noting that just today, total power output of Germany’s installed solar PV panels hit 12.1 GW — greater than the total power output (10 GW) of Japan’s entire 6-reactor nuclear power plant.

Now before the trolls come out, let me just note that 12.1 GW is max power (the output whose name you’d love to touch). The panels generated that much at one instant in time — when the sun was at its apex — but of course solar power production varies with the weather and the time of day. To find out how much energy those panels generated today in total, you’d have to calculate the area under that curve in the lower right hand corner. (Which, come to think of it, we should probably use as the CAPTCHA on the comment field on this post.)

Update: the folks at The Breakthrough Institute did the math. Their analysis has a slant — it’s impossible for anyone at the BTI to talk about what they view as the woefully inadequate state of current alternate energy technology without getting red in the face — so their comments don’t, for example, reflect the fact that solar panels produce power when it’s needed most. But, short version: the area under the curve is a significant portion of the total energy that could potentially be produced by Japan’s Fukushima reactor, which wasn’t running at full capacity when disaster struck. (Hence my 10GW figure, above, which reflects the amount of power it was producing when it was brought down.) Also, and I’m sort of paraphrasing here: “If you talk smack about nuclear, we will shot this dog.”

Regardless, Japan’s facing rolling blackouts until next Winter, and it’s undeniable that if the country had more distributed power generation like Germany’s roof-based solar PV system, the entire country would be much more resilient in the face of catastrophe.

Fuente: http://www.grist.org

Autor: Christopher Mims

Fecha: 22/03/11