Filed under: MPG, Legislation and Policy

US Senator Carl Levin, D- the State of Cars, will be offering an amendment to the proposed new fuel economy regulations next month that would provide a way out for carmakers. Under the new proposal, carmakers that commit to power using alternative fuels or new powertrains on all their cars by 2020 would be exempted from the new rules.

In principle it’s an interesting idea but as always the devil is in the details. Rather than leaving the car companies completely free of the new requirements perhaps they should have a slightly lower requirement. The other big question is what happens if the companies make the commitment and then don’t follow through? What kind of penalties will be put in place? We’ll have to wait and see the actual proposals when they’re released.

[Source: Automotive News – Sub. req’d]

 

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BOLD MOVES: THE FUTURE OF FORD Step behind the curtain at Ford Motor. Experience the documentary first-hand.

Like all industries, the design and visual communications industries are changing. The recent wave of green consciousness sweeping the world has rubbed off on everyone from designers to CEOs. This is an exciting time to be a designer in a changing industry and a changing world. And of course, I have high hopes for the future of my chosen field.

The design industry has come a long way. There are now many sustainable options for printing and paper, and even web hosting. With more sustainable materials and tools at hand, designers are able to explore greener options and lower the environmental impact of their work. And since graphic designers work hand in hand with the paper industry, which is the largest industrial consumer of water and the third greatest industrial greenhouse gas emitter, it's about time that sustainability became a bigger part of the industry. There is much room for improvement in design, and many changes are on the horizon.

When I was studying design in college, I became interested in socially and environmentally conscious design (it was even the subject of my thesis). It seemed that this consciousness was just beginning to take hold in an industry that had been mostly focused on commercial interests since the dawn of the advertising age. The fresh ideas coming from the industry excited me, and I predicted a future in which the role of the designer was that of a problem solver, applying the design process to more than just visual media, but to solutions that would have a positive impact on the world. I imagined that designers would begin going deeper, thinking more critically about each thing we create, and learning from the ultimate designer: nature. Slowly but surely, my dreams of a green design industry are becoming a reality.

Fast forward a few years, and I'm seeing even more exciting ideas propelling the design industry forward. I'm hoping it won't be long before green design is synonymous with good design, and designers are as concerned about the sustainability of their projects as the aesthetics. Design firms focused on environmentally conscious design are becoming quite common, and independent designers are beginning to realize that having knowledge of green design solutions is an asset to their businesses as well as to their clients. There is a hopeful air in the industry today and a call for change from designers themselves.

Visual design is one of the most powerful forms of communication. Designers have the ability to open minds to new ideas, explain complex issues, educate the public, persuade people to take action, and give ideas wings. As an image-driven culture, the ability to create and manipulate the images people are exposed to is an immense power. As designers realize this power and harness it, I am hoping that change on a massive scale will occur. I dream of a day when every step of the design process is accompanied by critical thought about environmental impact, when there is no trash because everything has been designed to be reused or recycled, when there's no such thing as virgin paper. I dream of all design taking a cradle to cradle approach, analyzing the consequences of every part of a product's life cycle. I dream of a redesign of our world to mimic the resourceful, beautiful, wasteless designs of nature. And I believe the design industry plays a big role in making these dreams come true.

We have a long way to go before design becomes a sustainable industry. But progress is being made, and minds are shifting in the right direction. As more and more designers realize the power they have to not only produce sustainable designs, but to change the world through their work, a greener future will be realized.

Links: Design Will Change on Business of Design Online, Cradle to Cradle, Design Can Change, my paper on The Future of Design

So many times once our concern about the environment is peaked, we become aware of so much more – our connection with the earth as well as what we put into our bodies. So how do we know "what's in" the stuff that we wash, slather, and spray our bodies with everyday? Cosmetics are not regulated by the FDA, so how do we know what's really in these things?

Well you check them on Skin Deep, the cosmetics database, of course! This database created by the Environmental Working Group claims to hold information of 1/4 of all cosmetics – over 22,000 items across almost 1,000 companies. They rank each product from 0 – 10, the higher numbers meaning more "concern" you should have about using the product.

They'll also tell you each ingredient in the item, which of those are on the sketchy side, and why (linked to cancer, reproductive issues, etc). Additionally, they let you know if that manufacturer has signed the Compact for Safe Cosmetics and if they conduct animal testing.

So, for example, we'll look at white Dove bar soap. It's got a score of 5 (so, middle ground). Unilever has not signed the Compact for Safe Cosmetics and DO test on animals. The fragrance seems to be the scariest ingredient of the bunch with an individual score of 8. And apparently, 67% of bar soaps are of "less concern". Four bar soaps wound up with a score of 0 – meaning whew! very little concern. They include Kiss My Face's Pure Olive Oil Bar Soap ($3.50), Lilie De Vallee Castile Unscented ($3.99), and two soaps from NeemAura.

Take a look through your bathroom and see how your products rate. You just might decide to make a change!

Rebecca says: This is something I've had growing concern about and will definitely be looking into our products at home. I'm a little nervous to find out the answers, but I guess ignorance is not bliss…

We've been thrilled by the recent pick up in blog comments and discussions going on at Green Options: we're glad many of you feel comfortable participating in discussions here. Ninety-nine percent of those comment have been constructive, thoughtful and informed. The other one percent… well, we're making some changes to address spam (which has picked up also) and uncivil behavior.

After deleting a ton of spam yesterday, I asked our developers to turn on moderation for comments submitted by users not registered at GO. This does not mean that you won't be able to add your voice to the discussion without becoming a member; rather, it means that those comments will have to be approved before appearing on the site. The content team will be checking the moderation queue frequently, so it shouldn't be too long before your comment appears.

On the issue of civility: let's face it — people find it way too easy to be rude or obnoxious online. We're not speaking face-to-face; we probably haven't even met the person with whom we're having a conversation. From our perspective, though, knock-down, drag-out flame wars add nothing to a given debate, and certainly don't add any value to Green Options. So, feel free to engage in spirited argument, but, if an exchange devolves to name-calling, insults, obscenity directed at another user, etc., we will remove those comments (or, if we're feeling cheeky, we'll disemvowel them). We don't want to stifle discussion; rather, we want to encourage it. We believe that a community is built by people who treat each other with courtesy, even when they disagree. We want all GO users to know that they can offer their opinions and knowledge without being bullied, insulted or otherwise mistreated.

We value your participation at Green Options, and are always interested in your ideas for making the site the place you want to discuss sustainability and green living. Let us know if you have questions or concerns.

Filed under: Diesel, MPG

This week, President Bush gingerly took another step towards reducing some of the U.S.’s oil dependence by 2017. Bush directed his cabinet to get work done by the end of 2008 (so, in 18 months) on the president’s plan to cut U.S. gasoline use by 20 percent by 2017. What were some responses from around the green car web?

Some groups fawned over the announcement. The Energy Security Leadership Council (ESLC), a project of Securing America’s Future Energy (SAFE), welcomed the President’s announcement, saying it “advances effort to reduce oil dependence.” The Diesel Technology Forum, in their response to Bush’s call, said that with the many companies bringing diesel vehicles to the U.S. over the next few years (but not as many as we’d like to see), will meet “consumer demand for fuel economy and high performance.”

The Auto Alliance, which basically speaks for most major automakers, gave a slightly vague response. Dave McCurdy, Alliance president and CEO, said that, “Automakers support reforming and raising car fuel economy standards, consistent with the need to preserve jobs and consumer choice. Determining the right level for the future will require sound science and engineering, in an open process that involves everyone. Automakers support DOT and NHTSA continuing to set fuel economy standards, and we believe that NHTSA should begin a rulemaking now to implement the President’s plan. The Alliance pledges to work constructively with Congress and the administration to help reduce oil consumption and carbon dioxide, while at the same time preserving the diverse range of automobiles that consumers require today.”

That “preserving the diverse range” bit sounds to me like they’re not looking for the hard hand of the law to come down, even though they say they’ll “work constructively” with the lawmakers.

The Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) took a firmer stance. The group said that Bush’s instructions to the EPA meant that Congress “must lock specific, mandatory goals in place.” David Friedman, UCS Clean Vehicles Program research director, said that, “If the president delivers what he’s promised, his proposal would take the nation a long way toward reducing its dependence on oil and cutting global warming pollution. But, given that the Supreme Court had to force the Bush administration to regulate greenhouse gases, Congress is going to have to enact guaranteed fuel economy improvements and low carbon fuel standards.”

Good old Grist says clearly that, “funneling a bunch of subsidies to Big Corn and Big Coal does not constitute a ‘response’ to the Supreme Court ruling, which was about the EPA regulating CO2 as a pollutant under the Clean Air Act.”

Related:

• Senator wants EPA to issue new regulations on CO2 emissions
• EPA Administrator in no rush to comply with CO2 regulation ruling
• Revised 2008 EPA mileage numbers may cause more vehicles to qualify as “gas guzzlers”

[Source: Reuters, Diesel Technology Forum, Securing America’s Future Energy, Union of Concerned Scientists, Auto Alliance, Grist]

 

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BOLD MOVES: THE FUTURE OF FORD Step behind the curtain at Ford Motor. Experience the documentary first-hand.

When you purchase carbon credits to offset your personal greenhouse gas emissions, do you really know where that money is going or how those credits are counted in the market? The Center for Resource Solutions (CRS) will make sure you do with their upcoming Green-e Certified Greenhouse Gas Reduction Product Certification Program.

CRS has been in the renewable energy certification and verification business for ten years. Their Green-e certification programs provide assurance to consumers that the businesses sporting the Green-e logo meet the program's requirements for renewable energy options. Now Green-e is expanding their certification guidelines to include Greenhouse Gas Reduction (GHG) products.

While most companies assure customers that money spent on GHG reduction products, like personal renewable energy credits, will go towards specific things like planting trees or funding wind farm projects, there are currently no standards or verification processes in place.

CRS hopes to fill this void with the Green-e GHG Product Certification Program, which will set product standards, develop a verification process and release consumer disclosure guidelines.

The details of the Green-e GHG program are still being finalized. CRS is working with a governance board, an advisory group and stakeholders in the development of the standard. While the governance board and the advisory group are made up of industry experts, and environmental organizaitons and businesses, anyone can be a stakeholder and give input on this process. All of the documents involved are downloadable at Green-e.org.

One important factor in this certification process is the issue of additionality, or making sure that GHG reduction products sold to customers are verified, that they aren't counted elsewhere and that money goes towards projects that would not have happened without the carbon market. Strict additionality standards will add credibility to the voluntary carbon market and ensure that your purchase really will make a difference.

Green-e analyst Lars Kvale stresses, however, that regardless of certification, consumers should not buy carbon credits in lieu of reducing their own green house gas emissions.

What we're trying to do with the certification program is to enable consumers to offset their emissions they can't reduce… For example, most environmentally minded folks still take airplane trips and you can't buy a ticket for a renewable powered airplane. That's just not possible right now.

So this is where folks are coming and saying, well if i can't do that, let me do what's the next best, which is to get a reduction somewhere else. Then on balance it will even out with the understanding that yes, it doesn't mean my airplane does not have any impact, it means I'm offsetting that impact. [This program will] enable that to work for consumers. It's not an instead of, but really in addition to energy efficiency and buying renewable energy.

Green-e has invited sellers of GHG reductions to participate, including the Chicago Climate Exchange (CCX) and Gold Standard. The Green-e GHG Product Certification Program is expected to roll out this summer.

Illustration: Ilana Kohn

Filed under: Etc.

With all of our eco-conscious viewers who are concerned with the environment, I am sure that a few of you have some questions regarding GE’s green technologies. Consider that GE makes jet engines and locomotives, along with a huge number of other products which cover the gamut of most everything each of us use each day. So, their CEO, Jeff Immelt, must have some interesting views regarding “the greening of America”. If you have a question you’d like to ask him, why not go ahead and do it? According to this YouTube video, said GE CEO will be answering questions submitted by YouTube users on ecomagination.com at 5 pm ET / 2 pm PT on Thursday, May 24.

[Source: YouTube via Ecorazzi]

 

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BOLD MOVES: THE FUTURE OF FORD Step behind the curtain at Ford Motor. Experience the documentary first-hand.

Editor's note: This week, Ecotality blogger Doug Snodgrass points us to a resource for information on green cars. While the site Doug points to is British, most of the cars listed are widely available. This post was orginally published on May 16, 2007.

VCARS, a website to help Brits find new and used cars, has compiled a listing of "The Greenest Cars on Earth." The list contains real-world info that’s important to not only the green-minded, but also the consumer at large; CO2 emissions, MPG combined, engine type, transmission type, BHP/torque, weight, NCAP rating (European New Car Assessment Programme), top speed, 0-62 MPH, warranty info…

Cars are categorized by hybrid, electric, biofuel, and future green cars. The bonus here is that every auto is accompanied by a photo, tre-cool in the future green cars category.

Winner of the most interesting name? The Venturi Fetish (shown in photo).

Despite the creep of corporatism, LOHAS 11 concluded this week in Marina Del Rey and delivered on its promise of an agenda built around social change and soy everything. Few conferences boldly include kundalina yoga, meditation breaks and taebo on the agenda, but LOHAS does so with perhaps a bit of pretension but a whole lot of active, eager practitioners. As someone who has attended previous LOHAS sessions, this year did not feel unique, though perhaps a bit more mainstream. Panels ranged from a thoughtful exposition on Virgin Unite, Richard Branson’s CSR platform to developing sustainable cities, to employing biomimicry techniques with a dizzying smorgasbord of samples scattered in between the sessions. The usual suspects from Green Hollywood ranged about the event. Ed Begley Jr. promoted his new website, Fixing the Planet, while Mariel Hemmingway plied her thoughts in her own session. Perhaps the most interesting moment at LOHAS happened not at one of the events packed into the tight schedule, but at an event that took place in the evening at the home of Lawrence Bender. Lawrence is among the most indefatigable activists in Hollywood, laboring during the day to create content that aligns with his values like An… (more)

(Posted by Jonathan Greenblatt in Transforming Business at 7:01 PM)

Posted by Page (in Amsterdam)

Top photo: a wounded mother humpback whale in the Port of Sacramento. Bottom photo: The mother whale and her baby surface. (Click both photos to enlarge, and for source.)

Although Sacramento, California is landlocked, back in 1963, construction on a deep-water channel between San Francisco Bay and the Sacramento River was completed, creating the Port of Sacramento. The port is a busy industrial area, with a railcar terminal, facilities to export rice and other grains, and deal with cargo such as fertilizer and cement.

All in all, it’s not a natural – or healthy – place for humpback whales. However, a mother humpback whale and her baby have manage to swim up the 90 mile long channel and into the port area. They have been in the port since about May 16, 2007. Biologists are trying to figure out how to get the whales out, for obvious reasons, not the least of which is:

The 14m female has a long and deep wound on her back in front of her dorsal fin that appeared to have occurred when she surfaced underneath a boat, said Frances Gulland, the Sausalito-based Marine Mammal Centre veterinarian who inspected the animals.

The whale’s 7m calf had a more severe wound on its right flank that may have been inflicted when the animal surfaced alongside its mother.

“The calf’s wound could have a long-term impact on that animal,” said Ms Gulland.

[Note: more current articles specify that a boat propeller probably caused the wounds.]

Biologists are trying to use recorded whale songs to lure the whales back to the ocean. You can see from this map that it’s not an easy or short journey.

Continue reading Meanwhile, in California……