Lexus and Scholastic announce Lexus Eco Challenge #2 winners
All Winning Teams Invited to Participate in the Final Challenge for $270,000 in Grants and Scholarships
Creating rain gardens, building a biodiesel processor, and promoting the use of solar chimneys were some of the actions taken by the winning teams in the second round of the Lexus Eco Challenge, an educational program and contest that empowers young people to make a positive difference for the environment. The 15 winning middle and high schools teams in Challenge #2 were awarded $10,000 each and are now qualified to participate in the Final Challenge for a chance at one of two $30,000 grand prizes and 14 $15,000 first-place awards. In all, Lexus will award a total of $500,000 in grants and scholarships throughout this year’s program. All award money is shared among the students, teacher advisor and school.
“Since launching the Lexus Eco Challenge three years ago, we’ve enjoyed watching as thousands of students have stepped up to protect our environment, and this latest round of entries did not disappoint us,” said Mark Templin, Lexus group vice president and general manager. “We’ve been impressed, humbled, and most of all, inspired by the dedication of the teams and their teacher advisors.”
For each of the challenges, teams are required to define an environmental issue that is important to them, develop an action plan to address the issue, implement the plan, and report on the results. The Challenge #2 winning teams that best addressed environmental challenges associated with air and climate were (winners listed in alphabetical order by state along with city, team name. school name, and each project’s subject).
High School Winners:
– Florida (Newberry) – “P.A.N.T.H.E.R. – Providing a New Way to Help Environmental Restoration” – Newberry High School – “Green” Christmas initiative
– Georgia (Atlanta) – “Westminster Greencats” – The Westminster Schools – Reducing greenhouse gases and investing in renewable energy sources
– Hawaii (Honolulu) – “LEXgo” – W.R. Farrington High School – Preservation and recycling
– Illinois (Chicago) – “McAuley EcoMacs: Operation Haiti” – Mother McAuley High School – Built a biodiesel processor and solar-thermal heating system
– Missouri (St. Louis) – “Team Neon” – Parkway North High School -Addressed destruction of natural prairies
– New Jersey (Manalapan) – “Project Blue Sky” – Manalapan High School – Educated about renewable energy sources
– Pennsylvania (Souderton) – “SAVE – Students Against Violating the Earth” – Souderton Area High School – Encouraged use of solar chimneys
– Utah (Orem) – “R.A.W.R. – Rocky-Mountain Area Wildlife Research” – Timpanogos High School – Environmental research and education about effects of climate change
Middle School Winners:
– Florida (Boca Raton) – “Tap In Too” – Logger’s Run Middle School – Recycling plastic water bottles and switching to reusable water bottles
– Kentucky (Lexington) – “E.F.B.S. – Eco-Friendly Bag Savers” – SCAPA Bluegrass – Impact of plastic and paper bags on the environment
– New York (East Greenbush) – “Goff Gone Green” – Howard L. Goff Middle School – Conservation of fossil fuels
– New York (Rosedale) – “The Eco Team” – PS 270 – Air pollution reduction
– South Carolina (Hanahan) – “HMS Hawks” – Hanahan Middle School – Conserving fossil fuels by reducing energy use.
– Utah (Holladay) – “Unplug the Thug” – Olympus Junior High – Energy conservation by unplugging cell phone chargers
– Wisconsin (Milwaukee) – “Bayside Pollution Revolution” – Bayside Middle School – Energy conservation by reducing use of electricity
This year’s Lexus Eco Challenge launched on Sept. 28, 2009, and concludes with the announcement of the first place and grand-prize-winning teams during Earth Month in April 2010. All winners from Challenges #1 and #2 have been invited to participate in the Final Challenge with an entry deadline of March 16, 2010.
In addition to the ongoing contest, the Lexus Eco Challenge also includes educational materials developed by Scholastic to encourage teachers to integrate creative lesson plans into their classrooms to help teach students about the environment. For each challenge, the Web site (www.scholastic.com/lexus) has lesson plans and teacher instructions including questions to help guide a discussion about the current challenge, facts about the topic, and guidelines for a specific classroom project.
The Lexus Eco Challenge is part of The Lexus Pursuit of Potential, a philanthropic initiative that generates up to $3 million in donations each year for organizations that help build, shape and improve children’s lives.
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National Challenge inspires U.S. cities to recycle over 125 million Aluminum cans
“Cans for Cash” Winners Announced at U.S. Conference of Mayors Winter Meeting
The U.S. Conference of Mayors, Novelis Inc. and Keep America Beautiful, Inc. (KAB) announced the winners in the sixth annual Cans for Cash: City Recycling Challenge at the U.S. Conference of Mayors 78th Winter Meeting in Washington, D.C. The “Challenge” pits cities of comparable sizes in a competition of creativity and execution, offering monetary awards to the cities that conduct the most innovative campaigns and collect the most aluminum cans. During October 2009, more than 40 cities collected over 125 million used beverage cans.
“The United States Conference of Mayors applauds all the participants of the 2009 Cans For Cash City Recycling Program,” said Tom Cochran, CEO and Executive Director of The United States Conference of Mayors. “These cities had an opportunity to bring the benefits of recycling to the forefront of their communities, demonstrating that recycling does begin with ‘I Can’. Congratulations to the winning cities. Their commitment to environmental stewardship is unmatched. Once again, they are leading the way towards a greener and more sustainable tomorrow.”
“Novelis is committed to increasing the recycling rate for used aluminum beverage containers in the U.S. from 54% today to 75% by 2015,” said Jean-Marc Germain, President, Novelis North America. “Each year, Americans still discard over 50 billion aluminum cans which end up in landfills. Through campaigns such as this, awareness of the importance of recycling is increased and the message is spread that every can recovered is turned back into a new beverage can – saving energy, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and decreasing the use of natural resources.”
The 2009 campaign categories were modified to improve opportunities for smaller-size cities and encourage more innovative campaigns to promote aluminum can recycling. The Most Cans Collected category was determined by the ratio of the city population to the total pounds of cans recycled.
The winners of the $5,000 awards for the most aluminum cans recycled are:
– First Place: Milwaukee, WI – Mayor Tom Barrett
– Second Place: Mobile, AL – Mayor Sam Jones
– Third Place: Fontana, CA – Mayor Mark Nuami
– Fourth Place: Bowling Green, KY – Mayor Elaine Walker
To spurn innovation and creativity in local initiatives, a $5,000 prize rewarded originality in public education and awareness campaigns. Winners used the funds to further their recycling efforts. The top three cities recognized for the Most Innovative Ideas in 2009 are:
– First Place: Irvine, CA – Mayor Sukhee Kang
– Second Place: Canfield, OH – Mayor Bill Kay
– Third Place: Wellington, FL – Mayor Darell Bowen
Additionally, the Challenge rewarded creative partnerships between cities and local affiliates of Keep America Beautiful, a national nonprofit focused on litter prevention, waste reduction and beautification. The campaign awards the winning city $5,000 and the local KAB affiliate $2,500.
– First Place: Montgomery, AL – Mayor Todd Strange/Montgomery Clean City Commission
– Second Place: LaGrange, GA – Mayor Jeff Lukken/Keep Troup Beautiful
– Third Place: Angleton, TX – Mayor Patrick Henry/Keep Angleton Beautiful
– Fourth Place: Newport News, VA – Mayor Joe Frank/Newport News Public Works Recycling
“Keep America Beautiful encourages public/private partnerships that engage individuals in reducing waste and recycling,” said Keep America Beautiful President & CEO Matthew McKenna. “We’re proud that, through this partnership, our network of affiliates are helping communities save energy, reduce their carbon emissions, protect natural resources and raise awareness about the significant impacts of individual choices and actions.”
In November 2009, Cincinnati was announced as the winner of The American Recycler Video Award, a fun, new component of the national challenge. The winning short, web-based film promoting aluminum can recycling will be featured in the upcoming 2010 Cans for Cash National Recycling Campaign.
For a complete list of cities that participated in the 2009 Cans for Cash program and to view the “Recycling Starts with I Can” video, please visit: www.cans4cash.com.
Source: Novelis Inc.
Survey uncovers what consumers really think about being green
According to a recent online survey by Whirlpool Corporation, the majority of consumers (68 percent) want to live “green” but only if it is convenient to their lifestyle. The study, conducted on its behalf by Harris Interactive®, found that while finances are top of mind and consumers are still on the hunt for a good bargain, many are unwilling to compromise; searching until they find the right product at the right price.
Overall, the survey demonstrates that consumers are becoming more and more savvy about how best to spend – and save – their hard-earned money. In fact, more than half of adults (59%) said they would rather spend more money now to save energy (and money) later when it came to home appliances. With that in mind, Whirlpool Corporation continues to lead the industry when it comes to efficiency, offering more than 300 ENERGY STAR® qualified appliances, more than any other manufacturer.
“As consumers begin to adopt a greener lifestyle, and the concept moves from trend to norm, we wanted to see if the collective mindset was shifting,” said Monica Teague, senior manager brand business teams, Whirlpool Corporation. “We also know that people are still watching their wallets. What we discovered is that consumers want the easiest path toward efficiency and cost-savings, and will not compromise until they find it.”
A previous online survey of 2,042 U.S. adults ages 18 and over conducted by Harris Interactive between December 29-31, 2008 and on behalf of Whirlpool Corporation found that there were several gaps – be they marital, gender or generational – in terms of high-efficiency awareness with regards to laundry-appliances(1). The 2008 survey found that the majority (84%) of consumers rate energy efficiency (as opposed to water or time) as the most important efficiency feature, however this year’s survey revealed that, at the same time, one-fifth of all adults are willing to sacrifice certain features or eco-efficiency to get a more affordable price.
Sixty-eight percent of adults said they do their best to be green to the extent that it fits into their lifestyles and their finances. Fortunately, Whirlpool Corporation offers some of the most water and energy efficient products on the market, in the kitchen and the laundry room and across all price points.
The survey also found that the majority of adults (68 percent) said they will search until they find the product they are looking for at the right price. Opinions varied by region with those from the South indicating that they will search until they find the product they are looking for at the right price (77%), while Midwesterners indicated that they will buy what is on sale (25%).
And, no surprise here, men and women had different opinions. More women (71 percent), as opposed to men (65 percent), are willing to search until they find the product they are looking for at the right price. Interestingly, 35-44 year-old men are more willing than women to sacrifice certain features and/or eco-efficiency to spend less (24% vs. 21% respectively).
This survey was conducted online within the United States by Harris Interactive on behalf of Whirlpool Corporation from November 20-24, 2009 among 2,089 adults ages 18 and older. This online survey is not based on a probability sample and therefore no estimate of theoretical sampling error can be calculated.
Source: Whirlpool Corporation
Consumers Energy: Clean coal plant project reaches major milestone with air permit
Consumers Energy’s clean coal power plant reached a major milestone today with the issuance of an air permit for the $2 billion-plus project.
The 830-megawatt plant is expected to create 1,800 construction jobs, about 2,500 indirect jobs, and then more than 100 permanent jobs after it is operating in 2017. Overall, the plant is projected to provide a $1.2 billion economic boost to Michigan.
“The issuance of the air permit for our new clean coal plant is good news for Michigan. This permit moves our project a step closer to creating badly needed jobs and boosting the state’s economy,” said John Russell, Consumers Energy’s president and chief operating officer.
“It also provides best-in-class protection for the environment with an offset for carbon dioxide emissions from the new plant and a substantial net reduction in overall emissions from our coal-fired generating fleet. It also will allow us to fully implement our balanced energy plan and provide customers with reliable, competitively priced electricity in the future.”
The new plant is part of Consumers Energy’s Balanced Energy Initiative. That comprehensive plan calls for a portfolio of diverse energy resources to meet the power needs of the utility’s 1.8 million electric customers over the next 20 years.
A recent analysis of the plan details how two-thirds of the projected new energy resources needed to serve customers through 2018 will be provided by renewable energy sources, energy efficiency and demand side management (reducing customer usage during peak periods).
The utility launched its energy efficiency initiative in July with programs to help business and residential customers save energy and save money. In its first six months of operation this initiative has benefited more than 170,000 Michigan homes with energy-saving measures.
Consumers Energy plans to invest more than $1.2 billion to build 450 megawatts of wind generating capacity and has secured wind development easements for more than 57,000 acres in Mason, Tuscola and Huron counties. The utility already is the largest supplier of renewable energy in Michigan, with more than 4 percent of the power that it supplies to customers coming from renewable sources.
The air permit for the new clean coal plant includes a commitment from Consumers Energy to retire up to seven of its older, less efficient coal units after the new unit begins operating at the company’s Karn/Weadock Generating Complex, near Bay City. Five of these older units will be retired following operation of the new unit, with retirement of the additional two older units dependent on customer need. The utility has the oldest fleet of coal plants in the nation with an average age of 50 years.
Russell said the plant retirements are consistent with the company’s Balanced Energy Initiative and will substantially reduce overall emissions from the company’s coal-fired fleet. The Balanced Energy Initiative approach – the new plant plus the eventual retirements of some existing plants and expanded renewable energy and energy efficiency – is expected to provide emissions reductions by 2018 from the current levels from the company’s existing coal fleet. Emissions are expected to be down as much as 91 percent for sulfur dioxide; 83 percent for nitrogen oxides; and 81 percent for mercury.
“The new coal plant will use state-of-the-art technology and be one of the cleanest coal power plants in the world. We’ve said all along that building the new unit would have an environmental benefit because it would allow us to retire some of our older units and result in emissions reduction,” Russell said.
The new plant will be designed to utilize carbon capture and storage technology once it becomes commercially and economically viable. Consumers Energy has been working with Western Michigan University scientists to evaluate the suitability of the geology surrounding the plant site to store carbon dioxide. Preliminary analysis indicates that the geology surrounding the plant site looks promising for carbon sequestration.
The next major step for the project is filing a certificate of necessity application with the Michigan Public Service Commission. The company expects to file that application in 2010.
“The certificate of necessity process is new for Michigan and was established in the state’s new energy law, put in place last year. With that process, the Michigan Public Service Commission conducts a comprehensive evaluation of the new power plant and evaluates alternatives. It also gives all stakeholders the opportunity to analyze and comment on the project,” he said. “This forward-looking regulatory process is one of many public policy improvements made in the state’s new energy law.”
The Balanced Energy Initiative is a key part of Consumers Energy’s Growing Forward strategy, which calls for investing more than $6 billion in the utility over the next five years. That includes significant investments in energy efficiency, renewable energy, environmental and customer service enhancements, and new power generation.
The substantial investments make Consumers Energy one of the largest – if not the largest – investor in the state of Michigan. Those investments will help the utility maintain and improve service to customers, create jobs, boost the state’s economy, and expand the state’s tax base.
Source: Consumers Energy
10,000 companies prepare to start low carbon diet plans on Jan. 1
President Obama and the EPA are gearing up to put the nation on a low-carbon diet and their strategy would do Weight Watchers proud: Count first, cut later.
The counting begins on Jan. 1, 2010 when some 10,000 companies and other entities, including municipalities and even some universities, must start measuring their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
And while it’s uncertain when mandatory cuts will be announced – and whether Congress or the EPA will act first – the law firm of Plunkett Cooney said today that polluters might want to start dieting sooner rather than later because their GHG emissions, down to the plant level, will become part of the public record after March 31, 2011.
“New regulations to reduce carbon emissions are coming but public scrutiny will come first,” said Plunkett Cooney Senior Attorney. “Companies need to understand that from the standpoint of government regulation and public opinion, the debate about global warming is over. That means it’s time for them to develop sustainability plans and carbon reduction strategies before regulators, environmental advocates, shareholders and other groups force them to act.”
According to Mikalonis, entities that annually generate or emit at least 25,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalents, which includes gases such as methane, nitrous oxide or several fluorinated gases, must measure and report their emissions to the EPA or face fines of up to $37,500 per day for each violation. The reporting threshold is equivalent to the annual GHG emissions from approximately 4,600 passenger vehicles.
Entities covered under the new rules include fossil fuel-fired power plants, landfills, fuel production facilities, chemical plants, steel and aluminum works, cement factories and large livestock operations. Data collection for motor vehicle and engine manufacturers begins in 2011.
“The reporting rules will drive a lot of transparency and allow company-to-company and plant-to-plant comparisons,” Mikalonis pointed out. “They will create public relations issues and potential legal problems for some companies, especially if they have been marketing themselves as ‘green’ when the emissions report says otherwise. But they also may speed up the adoption of energy-saving technologies, which can flow straight to the bottom line.”
In Michigan, carbon dioxide accounts for the vast majority of GHG emissions, which are due in large part to burning fossil fuels for transportation and electricity. Methane is the next largest contributor, mostly from the anaerobic decay of solid waste in landfills. Nitrous oxide, the third largest contributor, comes chiefly from agricultural soil management and mobile source combustion.
In 2002, a study conducted for the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality estimated per capita GHG emissions in Michigan were 6.2 million metric tons of carbon equivalents (MMTCE), which is slightly below the national average.
In terms of mandatory GHG cuts, Mikalonis said new rules are a fait accompli now that the EPA has said that rising levels are a danger to present and future populations. Companies must therefore decide how they want to influence the regulatory process.
“The EPA is obligated to enact rules to drive down greenhouse gas emissions if Congress does not act,” Mikalonis said. “Congress must decide if it is willing to compromise on issues like carbon cap and trade and energy taxes, or accept the risk that EPA may implement ‘command and control’ solutions. Businesses may prefer a mix of voluntary and legislative solutions and that approach should inform their overall sustainability strategy.”
Source: Plunkett Cooney
Ford leads the industry on fuel economy improvement, driven by powertrain advancements
Ford Motor Company has improved in fuel economy more than any other major automaker since 2004, according to a recent report by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The EPA rated Ford’s combined car and truck fuel economy improvement at nearly 20 percent, almost double the next closest competitor.
Ford credits its recent gains in fuel economy in part to its introduction of the Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner hybrids and numerous incremental aerodynamic, mechanical, energy management and weight-saving improvements across its vehicle lineup. Going forward, it expects the 2009 introduction of the Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan hybrids and its fuel-efficient EcoBoost engines to further improve its fleet-wide fuel economy.
Dramatic fuel efficiency improvement is evident throughout Ford’s vehicle lineup – from cars and crossovers to sport utilities and trucks. Depending on powertrain specifications, the 2010 Fusion, Fusion Hybrid, Escape Hybrid, Taurus SHO, Flex, F-Series and Transit Connect offer best-in-class or unsurpassed fuel economy. The same can be said of the 2010 Lincoln MKS and MKT and Navigator, Mercury Milan Hybrid and Mariner Hybrid.
Ford expects to see its overall fuel economy continue to rise in 2010 with the introduction of the 2011 Ford Fiesta and redesigned 2011 Ford Focus – both high-mileage small cars.
“2009 has been a breakthrough year for Ford, leading with the launch of EcoBoost and the introduction of new products that will result in further improvement in 2010,” said Sue Cischke, group vice president, Sustainability, Environment and Safety Engineering. “Our commitment to delivering affordable, fuel-efficient vehicles for millions has never been stronger or better demonstrated.”
Not only is the improved fuel efficiency good for customers’ wallets, it benefits the environment as well. As a result of the boost, Ford lowered its tailpipe CO2 emissions more than any other automaker with a fleet-wide average of 434 grams per mile – 37 grams lower than its 2007 total and 25 grams lower than 2008.
A powerful difference maker
The fuel efficiency of the 2010 Ford Fusion improved 21 percent over the 2009 model, jumping from 28 mpg to 34 mpg in highway driving, and leap-frogging the competition. Powertrain improvements were a big difference maker. Fusion and other new models benefit from the introduction of Ford’s new six-speed transmission, which offers a wider gear span than four-speed transmissions.
The six-speed allowed Ford’s engineers the flexibility to tune the powertrain for greater responsiveness in low gears and better fuel economy in the taller gears. The new double-overdrive gearbox is designed to contribute up to 4 percent fuel economy improvement. Ford has committed that almost 100 percent of its transmissions will be advanced six-speed gearboxes by 2013.
Ford’s EcoBoost breakthrough
This year, Ford introduced its new line of powerful, fuel-efficient EcoBoost engines, available in the Ford Taurus, Ford Flex, Lincoln MKS and Lincoln MKT. Recently honored with a Popular Mechanics’ Breakthrough Award, EcoBoost uses gasoline turbocharged direct-injection technology for up to 20 percent better fuel economy, 15 percent fewer CO2 emissions and superior driving performance versus larger-displacement engines.
On average, nearly one in five buyers of the Taurus, Flex, Lincoln MKS and MKT have opted for EcoBoost since the engine lineup’s introduction in August. By 2013, Ford will offer EcoBoost engines in 90 percent of its product lineup with annual volume of vehicles with EcoBoost at 1.3 million globally.
“We are committed to delivering new products with the best fuel economy in every segment in which we compete – driven in large part by substantial advancements in powertrain technology,” said Barb Samardzich, vice president, Ford Global Powertrain Engineering. “We are focusing on sustainable technology solutions that can be used not for hundreds or thousands of cars, but for millions of cars, because that is how Ford truly will make a difference.”
It’s all about incremental improvements
The fact that the 2010 Ford Taurus and 2009 Ford F-150 are up to 12 and 17 percent respectively better on fuel economy than their 2004 predecessors isn’t due to one “silver bullet” solution but a host of vehicle enhancements, including aerodynamic refinements, weight efficiency and mechanical improvements.
The progress made by Ford during the past few years reflects an engineering philosophy that every joule of energy gained through incremental improvement is precious. Ford engineers work tirelessly using a systems approach to manage vehicle energy and implement a variety of design and engineering solutions that can each improve fuel economy by 1 percent or more. Taken together, the improvements help deliver significant savings for consumers at the pump.
Aerodynamics
The ease with which a vehicle moves through air greatly influences its fuel efficiency. Ford engineers use sophisticated computer modeling and wind tunnel testing to painstakingly tweak vehicle designs millimeter by millimeter to get the best possible aerodynamics without losing sight of the designers’ original vision. The energy saving can be significant. A 10 percent reduction in aerodynamic drag increases fuel economy by approximately 1 percent for cars and approximately 2 percent for trucks with conventional internal combustion engines.
The 2010 Fusion, Mercury Milan and Lincoln MKZ are 5 percent more efficient than outgoing models in terms of drag coefficient, which measures the force that pulls a vehicle back when it is moving. The Fusion S leads the group with a segment-topping 34 mpg highway rating, in part because it is 8 percent more aerodynamically efficient than the outgoing model.
Weight reduction
Reducing vehicle weight also is a critical part of fuel economy improvement. For every 10 percent reduction in weight, fuel consumption is estimated to improve by 3 percent. According to a recent study, replacing heavier materials with lightweight materials is nearly as important as hybrid technology for automakers to meet the expected increase in the One National Program regulations by 2016.
Ford increasingly uses light-gauge, high-strength steel and lightweight materials such as aluminum and magnesium to meet weight reduction goals ranging from 250 to as much as 750 pounds. In turn, weight savings in body and structural materials allow for the use of smaller-displacement engines and lighter-weight suspensions and chassis components.
The Fusion team eliminated 125 pounds for the S-Series fuel economy leader. The size of the radiator, for example, has been reduced in size by one-third with no degradation in performance. Also, 16-inch aluminum wheels and low-rolling resistance tires help aid aerodynamics while still delivering top performance.
Energy management
Ford is eliminating energy waste in every vehicle system, including power steering. Ford’s new Electric Power Assist Steering (EPAS) can improve fuel economy up to 3 percent, while reducing CO2 emissions and enhancing steering performance. EPAS saves fuel primarily because the steering system is powered by an electric motor connected to the vehicle’s battery, as opposed to engine-mounted hydraulic pump steering systems. By 2012 Ford plans to fit nearly 90 percent of the Ford, Lincoln and Mercury lineup with EPAS.
“While we are implementing our near-, mid- and long-term plans, we are continuing to achieve efficiencies throughout the vehicle in areas that can quickly lead to fuel economy improvement today,” said Derrick Kuzak, Ford’s group vice president of Global Product Development. “Whether we’re reducing wind drag, eliminating engine-driven power steering pumps or switching to low-friction engine oil, this attention to every detail and these small improvements collectively deliver significant fuel economy gains for our customers.”
A new frontier of electric vehicles
In 2009, Ford launched an aggressive plan to bring pure battery-electric vehicles, next-generation lithium-ion battery powered hybrids and a plug-in hybrid to market quickly and more affordably during the next four years.
The vehicles include:
– Transit Connect battery-electric commercial van in 2010
– Focus Electric passenger car in 2011
– Next-generation hybrid vehicle in 2012
– Plug-in hybrid in 2012
These new vehicles pave the way for additional applications in the future, using Ford’s high-volume global small car and midsize car platforms. The use of global platforms showcases Ford’s ability to develop products with worldwide market opportunities in mind. Powering the company’s electrification drive is its ONE Ford global product vision.
As part of Ford’s electrification plan, it will bring battery system design, development and manufacturing in house as a core competency in support of the development of its next-generation hybrid vehicle in 2012. This underscores Ford’s commitment and belief in the growth potential for electrified transportation. Ford will continue to work with supplier Johnson Controls-Saft on the design and development of battery cells and packs for Ford’s PHEV that also launches in 2012.
“Next-generation hybrids, plug-in hybrids and pure battery-powered vehicles are the logical next steps in our pursuit of greater fuel economy and sustainability,” said Nancy Gioia, Ford director of Global Electrification. “A growing number of consumers want that kind of choice, and we want to be in a position to deliver it to them across multiple vehicle categories.”
Source: Ford Motor Company
Copenhagen Forum sees natural gas as key to transitioning to a low-carbon economy
At a major event, the American Clean Skies Foundation (ACSF), the UN Foundation (UNF) and the Worldwatch Institute addressed the potential for natural gas to accelerate the world’s transition to a low-carbon economy. The Copenhagen forum, “Natural Gas, Renewables and Efficiency: Pathways to a Low-Carbon Economy” brought together energy and environmental leaders from industry, government and non-governmental organizations to explore the role natural gas can play in climate action and energy security.
Over the course of the afternoon, the audience heard from a variety of energy newsmakers and experts, including:
– Aubrey K. McClendon, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, Chesapeake Energy Corporation; Chairman of the Board, American Clean Skies Foundation
– Christopher Flavin, President, Worldwatch Institute
– David Sandalow, Assistant Secretary for Policy and International Affairs, U.S. Department of Energy
– Ian Smale, Group Head, Strategy and Policy, BP
– U.S. Senator Timothy Wirth, President, UN Foundation
– Vello Kuuskraa, President, Advanced Resources International
“Compared with coal, natural gas allows a 50-70 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions,” said Christopher Flavin, President of the Worldwatch Institute. “It’s a good complement to the wind and solar generators that will be the backbones of a low-carbon electricity system.”
Aubrey K. McClendon, Chairman of ACSF and Chesapeake Energy, the largest explorer of natural gas in the U.S., and Vello Kuuskraa, President of Advanced Resources International, discussed the abundance of natural gas in the U.S. and other parts of the world.
“There really has never been much debate about whether natural gas is a good fuel – its carbon light molecular structure guarantees that,” commented McClendon. “The issue has always been whether there has been enough of it to begin moving our electric generation system in the United States as well as other parts of the world away from carbon-heavy coal and oil. The major natural gas shale plays in the U.S. have made it clear we have enormous reserves of natural gas to successfully address our economic, environmental and energy issues now.”
In his remarks at the forum, U.S. Senator Timothy Wirth noted, “Now that economically accessible reserves in the U.S. have grown by more than 60 percent, it is important to rethink the role of natural gas in climate and energy policy. The dramatic new discoveries and reserves are almost a gift, giving us a chance to develop a faster and smoother transition toward a low-carbon economy.”
The premise that brought forum organizers together is that the expanded availability of natural gas makes it possible to accelerate the decarbonization of energy supplies by substituting natural gas for coal and to a lesser extent oil. In addition, a new generation of flexible, efficient gas-fired generators will facilitate the introduction of larger shares of wind and solar power into the world’s power grids.
Speakers and panelists — including Flavin of Worldwatch, Gigler of KEMA, and Smale of BP — discussed strategies for maximizing the environmental and economic advantages of growing amounts of natural gas in the world’s energy system.
The event also considered the policy issues that must be addressed for gas to play its potential role — ranging from a fair and level carbon market to regulation and taxation of the gas industry and open access and fair pricing in the electricity markets.
The politics and policies from the perspective of developing countries like India were also addressed by Dr. Jyoti Parikh, Executive Director, Integrated Research and Action for Development (IRADe).
“North America’s New Natural Gas Resources and their Potential Impact on Energy and Climate Security,” a comprehensive working document authored jointly by Gregory C. Staple, ACSF CEO and respected climate policy expert, and Dr. Joel L. Swerdlow, author of the noted National Geographic Society Book, Nature’s Medicine, was released at the close of the forum. The working document, which builds a case for why natural gas offers an immediate opportunity for climate action and policies for promoting the constructive transition, is available online at the ACSF Web site, www.cleanskies.org.
Source: American Clean Skies Foundation; UN Foundation; Worldwatch Institute
NASA to spotlight shrinking Arctic Sea ice and unprecedented glacier study at Copenhagen
NASA will take its Earth science research and educational programs before a world-wide audience Dec. 7-18 during the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change conference in Copenhagen, Denmark. NASA is one of several U.S. government agencies supporting the first-ever U.S. Center, an outreach initiative housed in Copenhagen’s Bella Conference Center.
Organized by the U.S. Department of State, the U.S. Center will host more than 60 events during the conference. The center’s meeting room is a 100-seat auditorium where U.S. and international leaders in the fight against climate change will headline presentations on a wide range of critical initiatives, policies, and scientific research. The center’s reception room serves as a welcome area where visitors can learn more about U.S. climate actions and programs.
The reception room will feature displays and videos using data from U.S. satellites, including NASA’s fleet of Earth-observing research spacecraft. Some of this imagery will be shown on the “Science On a Sphere” projection system, a six-foot, computer-driven globe that displays animated images of the Earth’s land, oceans, and atmosphere. NASA scientists also will be on hand to discuss agency research and programs with visitors.
The U.S. Center, which is open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. local time daily, is located in Hall C5 of the Bella Conference Center. NASA is sponsoring the following presentations during the Copenhagen conference:
State of the Science: Earth’s Changing Polar Ice Cover
The presentation will feature the latest observations and research findings on shrinking Arctic sea ice and the rapidly changing ice sheets of Greenland and Antarctica. Speaker: Waleed Abdalati, University of Colorado (Dec. 7, meeting room).
Climate Change Impacts on Civilizations: Lessons from Space Archaeology
NASA is pioneering the use of satellite observations to read the clues of how ancient civilizations reacted to changes in climate. Speakers: Tom Sever, University of Alabama; Ron Blom, NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (Dec. 7, meeting room).
“Extreme Ice” Multimedia Presentation
See images from the most wide-ranging glacier study ever conducted using ground-based, real-time photography. Speaker: James Balog, Extreme Ice Survey (Dec. 7, meeting room; Dec. 9 and 16, reception room).
Student Climate Research Campaign
This is a showcase of research projects by secondary school students from around the world conducted through the NASA-sponsored Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment (GLOBE) program. Speaker: Donna Charlevoix, University of Colorado (Dec. 8, reception room).
International Global Climate Change Observation from Space
NASA plays a leadership role in the Committee on Earth Observation Satellites. The committee’s international member agencies operate and plan missions to measure critical components of climate change. Speakers: Jack Kaye, NASA’s Earth Science Division; Makoto Kajii, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (Dec. 11, meeting room).
The World’s Forests as Carbon Sinks and Sources
This presentation will feature the latest scientific knowledge on how forests absorb and release carbon, and how human activities have changed that balance. Speaker: Jeffery Masek, NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center (Dec. 11, meeting room).
Many of the meeting room events will be webcast live on the State Department conference Web site. For a complete schedule of events, visit: http://cop15.state.gov/
Regular updates on events during the conference will be posted at: http://www.facebook.com/usdos.cop15
Source: NASA
Denmark, Climate Summit host, tops table of fighting climate change with wind power
In the run-up to the crucial climate change talks in Copenhagen, the European Wind Energy Association (EWEA) has published a league table showing which EU countries are best at exploiting CO2-cutting wind energy.
Top of the table is Denmark, with the highest amount of wind energy capacity per square kilometre of national territory. Germany comes a close second and the Netherlands third. Spain, in fourth place, has half the wind power density of Germany. Portugal and Ireland are above the EU average wind power density.
Italy is not far below average, while France and the UK each have less than half of the EU’s average density of wind power capacity. Romania, Slovenia, Malta and Cyprus are floundering at the bottom of the league with next to zero wind power generation per km2.
The density of wind power per km is the best means of measuring and comparing the extent to which different countries exploit their wind power potential. The future of wind power in Denmark looks bright as, according to an August 2009 survey carried out by an independent market research institute, 91% of Danes support the further development of wind power in their country.
If the eight geographically largest Member States had the same density of wind power capacity per km2 as Denmark, they would produce enough wind power to meet 19% of total EU-27 electricity demand and avoid 362 million tonnes of CO2 emissions – equivalent to meeting more than 30% of the EU’s 2020 climate target.
“Denmark, Germany and the Netherlands are European leaders in fighting climate change with wind-powered electricity” said Christian Kjaer, Chief Executive of EWEA. ”The figures released today also reveal the huge potential for wind power growth in most countries. Laggards in wind energy – including France, the UK, Sweden, Finland and Eastern European countries – can easily play catch-up,” Kjaer added.
“The future of wind power in Europe lies in offshore as well as onshore wind power, and some of the pioneer countries will add wind power capacity just by repowering existing plants – replacing old smaller turbines with bigger, more powerful ones which are now available on the market” Kjaer said.
The report containing the just-published league table – entitled “Pure Power” and published today – also outlines EWEA’s predictions for growth in wind power by 2020. The industry calculates that it can meet up to 16.6% of EU electricity demand by 2020, or 14.1% in a lower, business-as-usual scenario.
The eight geographically largest countries in the EU include Sweden and Finland as well as France, Germany, Spain, Italy, UK and Poland.
League table extracted from the Pure Power report: MW of wind energy capacity per 1,000 km2 (End 2008)
Denmark: 73.8
Germany: 67
Netherlands: 53.6
Spain: 33.2
Portugal: 31
Ireland: 14.3
EU-27: 14
Luxembourg: 13.5
Belgium: 12.6
Italy: 12.4
Austria: 11.9
Greece: 7.5
France: 6.2
UK: 5.9
Sweden: 2.3
Czech Republic: 1.9
Estonia: 1.7
Poland: 1.5
Bulgaria: 1.4
Hungary: 1.4
Lithuania: 0.8
Finland: 0.4
Latvia: 0.4
Slovakia: 0.1
Romania: 0
Slovenia: 0
Malta: 0
Cyprus: 0
To download the full report visit http://www.ewea.org/index.php?id=178
Source: European Wind Energy Association (EWEA)
Audi A3 TDI named 2010 Green Car of the Year
EPA-estimated 42 MPG highway is highest of any luxury car sold in the U.S. – Audi TDI clean diesel 2.0 engine delivers optimal power with uniquely low emissions
The Green Car of the Year(R) award is the industry measure of environmental innovation
Green and performance luxury needn’t be mutually exclusive concepts. That’s a core belief at Audi. Today, that philosophy paid off with the all-new A3 TDI earning the prestigious title of 2010 Green Car of the Year®.
The announcement came this morning during the Los Angeles Auto Show as Ron Cogan, editor and publisher of Green Car Journal and editor of GreenCar.com presented the award to Audi of America President Johan de Nysschen. The Audi A3 TDI was among five model finalists nominated for the award, which began in 2005.
The 2010 Audi A3 TDI arrived at U.S. dealerships last month and initial sales have been promising. The A3 TDI is the latest example of the fuel economy and greenhouse gas emissions benefits provided by the critically acclaimed TDI clean diesel product line, following the wildly popular Q7 TDI, which launched in June 2009. TDI clean diesel technology was first developed by Audi 20 years ago and has come to signify the brand’s commitment to trailblazing automotive performance executed in an environmentally responsible way.
The groundbreaking TDI 2.0 engine available in the A3 delivers 140 hp and 236 lb-ft of torque, yet achieves an EPA-estimated 42 mpg highway fuel economy that is the best of any luxury car sold in America. That means the Audi A3 TDI achieve 50% better fuel economy than a comparable gasoline engine.
“We consider the Green Car of the Year® title one of the most important industry accolades,” said Johan de Nysschen, President, Audi of America. “It is of paramount importance for us to develop vehicles that achieve the very touchstones this award stands for — fuel efficiency and environmental impact. Rather than novelty features, we consider these attributes imperative to the future of automobile design. We are honored with this recognition for the Audi A3 TDI.”
In addition to setting the new industry standard in fuel efficiency, the 2010 A3 TDI remains a stylistic pacesetter as well. All new A3 models now come standard with S line exterior equipment. In addition the wheels have been upgraded and standard Xenon headlights with LED daytime running lights are available on Premium Plus models. “The Audi A3 TDI really defines what a ‘green’ car should be,” said Cogan. “At 42 mpg, it sets the bar for highway fuel efficiency in the luxury car segment. Its 50-state certified clean diesel engine is quiet, responsive, and achieves its mission without the need for exotic technologies. Plus, it’s sporty and just plain fun to drive.”
Indeed, the TDI technology in the A3 has a strong performance heritage. Audi was the first automaker to find success with diesel engines in motorsports, winning several times at the grueling 24 Hours of Le Mans and the 12 Hours of Sebring, among other competitions. That same fundamental technology is found in the A3 TDI, meaning motorists do not have to sacrifice performance for efficiency.
Source: Audi of America Inc.