What if the Electric Car was not Killed?

Last night I (finally) watched Who Killed the Electric Car? and it did not disappoint. It really made me angry to be honest. The electric car, which will supposedly renew the automobile industry and lead us into a clean green future, was available at least 10 years ago in a viable format. We all know what happened but watching the movie in light of the auto bailouts really got to me.

GM could have been a leader in the electric car segment. Instead they did things the way they still do and ended up bankrupt and needing billions of our dollars. Now, the technological edge that would lead us out of recession and into a more sustainable future has been squandered. If they were left to go bankrupt we may have saved ourselves from future blunders of this sort. I also find it odd that during the auto bankruptcies and bailouts there was never a mention that GM had already developed and destroyed the technology that the governments were demanding they develop as a condition of the loans. The whole thing stinks and it makes me really upset that we are still 10 years away from a breakthrough. I'm afraid that this business as usual approach will keep us 10 years away 10 years from now.

Brownfields to Renewable Energy Sites

I found a couple of links about converting brownfields to sites for renewable energy via an article on Slashdot. The first is an article about the idea from The Daily Climate and the second is a list of brownfield sites from the EPA.

Despite the fact that we have thousands of these contaminated sites this sounds look a good idea. It puts recycling to work in a whole new way. It looks like Detroit could become the green capital of the U.S.A. the way it was the automotive capital since it has lots of industrial sites that could be repurposed. It is such a simple idea that makes so much sense I'm surprised it hasn't already been going on. I look forward to seeing how this develops.

GM is Bankrupt. Now What?

Everybody knows that GM is bankrupt.  Many people probably thought it has been for a while. The broader impact is still unknown.  Thousands of people will be out of work and see reduced benefits.  Where is their bailout?  The upsetting part is that individuals have to suck it up and deal with the hardship while companies are too big to fail and have to be rescued.  

However painful this is going to be maybe something good will come out of it.  I hope at some point that we realize a few important things.  GM was an integral part of suburbanization and expansion of our economy.  By extension, this created the environmental difficulties and mass consumerism we are currently living with.  While many may look at the bankruptcy of GM as a business failure it is actually a social failure.  The bankruptcy of GM represents the bankrupt economic model we are currently trying to revive.  It is a reflection of our lifestyle.  When we awaken to this point then we can move forward to create a sustainable economic model that respects the ideals of democracy and free enterprise.

No Dirty Gold

The No Dirty Gold campaign is trying to raise awareness around the mining practices of gold at the consumer level. For example, they are highlighting the amount of cyanide used to produce gold and how that impacts the areas surrounding the mines. The television EcoTrip recently had a show covering the same issue and examined how much it really takes to make a gold ring.

The environmental damage from some gold mining is astounding. On top of it all some of the mining in the U.S. takes place on land that has disputed ownership. Makes you wonder if the jewelry is worth it.

Madagascar in Peril

There is ongoing strife in Madagascar resulting from a recent coup. This has put the local environment at risk. Reports from the area have indicated that forests are being logged illegally and many animals and plants unique to the island may not survive. It is already difficult to preserve natural areas but in the face of civil unrest like this it is impossible. Hopefully more international attention can be focused on this area of the world to help create the conditions to preserve their natural resources while they sort out the political situation.

Green Jobs Create Negative Job Growth

Citing a Spanish study, a Bloomberg article reports that green job creation programs actually cost jobs elsewhere in the economy. I haven't been able to find the study to see for myself but some of the point raised in various news articles citing the study have been rational. Basically there is one conclusion: subsidies don't work very well. The part I find odd is that when it is applied to the green economy it becomes a negative news story but there is no shortage of "stimulus" and bailout money. I fail to see the difference between that and green job subsidies. Competition is what will make or break technology and industries. By continually financing failing sectors and companies we build failure in to the economy and then forget how to get by without the extra money. Either way we're missing the point. We need to redevelop our economy in a more sustainable fashion. We don't have enough money or resources to continue this way.

The Price of Progress?

Developing countries are trying to build their economies and societies to offer a better standard of living for their citizens. However, progress comes at a price and tough choices need to be made. Ethiopia is currently finishing a hydroelectric dam project that will meet the energy needs for the development of the country. However, by seeing the BBC reports not everyone is in agreement. It is difficult to judge development projects in other parts of the world based on our perception of the impact. We don't know what it's like to live without electricity. It does raise an interesting point. If we think these projects are not the best way for countries to develop why are we not changing our development pattern? If what we have done is wrong why don't we redevelop following a better model? From an environmental perspective, our policies in this current economic "crisis" are not really doing anything different. It's tax code changes, bailouts and making business as usual easier rather than fundamental change. I don't have a complete alternative system but looking at what we have done and what we are doing what we are doing is not changing.

Nano Unveiled

The Tata Nano was released yesterday in India. I understand the reasoning for a small, inexpensive car for the masses. I also realize that other countries want to develop a standard of living and a lifestyle like that of North America. However, none of us can afford it any longer. The financial, environmental and social implications of consumerism are becoming pretty obvious. To replicate that in India and China will have disastrous consequences for all of us. Until we can develop a sustainable system to support our desires we're all going to run out of resources. The hard part is determining whether we lack the capacity or the desire to accomplish it.

Is Recycling the Best Option?

We have stuff kicking around that is still useful but one piece is missing or broken. We think were choosing the best option by recycling the product and maybe take it apart to separate more materials. What about repair? Platform 21 has prepared a Repair Manifesto as an alternative to recycling. They raise a good point and are asking people to submit their repair methods for anything. Repairing will reduce waste and maybe counter the throw away culture we've become.

50 Green Gadgets

A recent contest for green gadgets was held in New York City. Here is the list of the 50 finalists. The winner was Tweet-a-Watt which sends your electricity usage to Twitter. They were all really well thought out concepts and the designs were inspiring. I didn't see one that I thought wasn't good. Some of the online comments may have been negative but it is the design and thought process that matters to me. That people are thinking of solutions is a good thing and we should all be happy with that.

Energy Conservation

In the current economic situation people are looking for savings anywhere they can get them. Energy conservation is one area where you can generate significant savings for the long-term. Any business and homeowner can invest in energy conservation that will provide better returns than safe investments like a bank account. Obviously, scale plays a large role because if you have more to save on your return is magnified. For example, if you spent $5,000 on a conservation measure and it saved you $1,000 per year in operating costs you'll recover your money in 5 years. But that is payback, not return on investment. If it is a new HVAC unit that will last around 10 years your return is greater. When evaluating these projects you need to look beyond payback and look at the life of the project and the savings (returns) it will generate. This will make these projects look like better investments than a lot of places you can put your money these days. Finally, tax credits and grants will make the projects even more financially sound. That's putting your money to work.

Consumption vs Production

It has been noted recently that we are a consuming society and not a producing society. Cheap Chinese labor has eliminated the profitability of doing anything for ourselves. It is now obvious that pursuing profit before any thing else will lead to economic collapse. Now that the shell game that is our economy has been exposed what do we do? The stimulus package is not going to create the structural change needed to move forward. Producing goods close to where they will be used is looking like one option. Eliminating excess and waste is another. There needs to be a complete approach that can embrace structural change and make our economy less reliant on consumption and waste. Environmentally sustainable thinking in our economic planning is the quickest way to drive the change because it has built in checks on waste and over consumption. By modeling our economy on sustainability we have a better chance than business as usual government spending.

Food Films

There are many documentary films made that don't make . Treehugger made a list of 5 films about food issues that they feel are Oscar-worthy. After reading the summaries and viewing the trailers I will be looking for these films. Agriculture and food production are crucial issues that go largely unaddressed by the public. Any changes are usually buried in 700 page legislation that implement the views of a few people with specialized knowledge and access to government. Then everybody wonders how massive subsidies for ethanol become a reality.

Top Issues for 2009

In 2009 there will be several competing priorities that will shape the upcoming year's environmental agenda. I don't think anything of them can be addressed exclusive from each other. Alternative energy will require dealing with transportation issues and if we include biofuels that extends to agriculture. No agriculture issue can be dealt without realizing the extent of the impact on water use and pollution. Then everything ties back into the consumption-based economic model we are using. Don't forget air pollution and global warming.

A comprehensive program will not fit with the incremental approach of government and will be a major shift from what has been done. Is the public prepared? Will the economy adapt with it? Every element that is changed creates great uncertainty when framed in our current expectations.

So where do we begin?

Will monitoring make people live green?

I've been reading that some places with large recylcing programs and garbage separation have bylaws to regulate how much recyclable waste can be included in regular garbage. SOme are as low as 5%. Apparently, if you put too many recyclables in the garbage you could get a fine. I also read about "Eco-towns" in the U.K. having everything monitored to ensure it is being eco-friendly.

All this monitoring and regulation makes me wonder if people would be more apt to particpate or will everyone just be compelled and scared into it without thinking. Frankly, I'm getting tired of recycling and separating recyclables. I hardly buy packaged stuff but I seem to have no shortage of recyclables to be put in the appropriate bin. I'd rather see more thought be put into the front-end of the production stream and less focus on waste recovery.

Can Renewable Energy Change Everything?

There is a growing interest in the economics of renewable energy as well as the environmental benefits. New investment products for the renewable sector are being launched and coverage of the solar and wind companies in the stock market is increasing. The world operates on electricity and according to an article in the Economist, global electricity use could double by 2050. With rising prices of fossil fuels, heightened environmental awareness and growing demand for energy renewable energy is at the point where they can become viable economically. This article also discusses the potential economic boom and the impacts. A very interesting read.

Shopping Local

Shopping local for produce is becoming more popular as people realize the impact of their shopping habits. We are realizing that what we buy has impact far beyond our use of the product and impacts the producers, the waste stream, and more. The economy is inextricably linked to all of this. Mass retailing combined with mass production has wreaked havoc on many communities across North America. Small Biz Survival is a blog that discusses business in smaller towns in the United States. They have collected a few links about how local businesses have a larger, positive impact on local economies.

The idea to "think global act local" is truer than ever. By shopping locally for locally produced goods we can help our local economies and minimize negative global consequences. The question that will need to be answered is how do we make global trade work in relation to the environment and distributing wealth around the world?

Innovative Transportation

Transportation poses one of the most significant environmental challenges. People the world over find the freedom of being able to go anywhere indispensable. Finding fuel for transportation and the pollution resulting from finding and using that fuel is the challenge. Over the weekend I have come across several innovative modes of transportation and fuel.

Sourcing Bio-diesel in Sierra Leone.

A truck that runs on used coffee grounds. This makes you think about saving the coffee grounds for something other than the compost bin.

How-to for building your own solar powered trike. A nice way to get around town.

I continue to be amazed by the creativity and drive of people all over the world. It gives me hope to continue searching for a better way. I hope these things inspire you to find your own way to make the world better.

All Trails Lead Back to Overpopulation

This article links current population and projected growth to many environmental problems. A well written piece that has compelling arguments.

The only problem I have is with the solution. We either need a lot of people to die or a lot of people to start using/wasting a lot less. Unfortunately, I think the waste reduction will happen after it is too late.

All Trails Lead Back to Overpopulation

Home Improvement and Construction

Despite the current problems in the housing market home improvement is still something many people do and home construction continues. If we look at our homes there are many areas we can improve to minimize environmental impact. Water use, electricity, heating and cooling, and materials used are some of the areas where improvements can be made.

Window replacement is something that many people do. Mike Holmes, who has a popular TV show and writes for the Globe and Mail, recently wrote about energy efficient replacement windows and what to look for. There are many options and energy efficient ones are more widely available than ever.

When it comes to new home construction or more extensive renovations environmental concerns can be addressed in just about every area. It is unlikely that any home will have zero impact but you can strive to keep it to a minimum. Another article in the Globe and Mail highlights many of the developments in green homes in the Toronto area.

"Green" has permeated just about every aspect of our lives these days. Home improvements and construction should be no exception.