Monday 21 October 2013

Some Interesting Tweets by Sustainability Experts

1. Net metering—an emerging idea to encourage people to start using renewable energy.
http://apps3.eere.energy.gov/greenpower/markets/netmetering.shtml
http://www.sunlightelectric.com/netmetering.php

This great concept does have some teething problems between renewable power generating customers and the utility companies (tweeted by Bill McKibben)
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-10-07/battery-stored-solar-power-sparks-backlash-from-utilities.html

2. A Massachusetts coal fired electricity production plant is closing down. One of the reasons stated is the surplus natural gas. Great news!!!!! (tweeted by Bill McKibben)
http://www.sfgate.com/business/energy/article/Largest-coal-fired-plant-in-NE-to-close-by-2017-4876159.php

3. The current fossil fuel divestment campaign is spreading in US and Europe. It is persuading investors to disinvest from fossil fuel sector. (tweeted by Bill McKibben)
http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2013/oct/08/campaign-against-fossil-fuel-growing

4. Sustainability Trends Are Driving Commercial Real Estate Value. (tweeted by Simon Mainwaring )
http://nreionline.com/green-real-estate-investment/8-reasons-sustainability-trends-are-driving-commercial-real-estate-valu#slide-0-field_images-94401

5. A small town in the southeast of Austria generates renewable energies by pioneering technology. The process uses steam to separate carbon and hydrogen from scrap timber. The molecules are then recombined to make a form of natural gas. (tweeted by Gil Friend )
http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/projects/stories/details_new.cfm?sto=1702&lan=7&pay=AT&the=68&region=ALL&obj=ALL&per=2&defL=EN

6. Lack of water affects energy generation. Enormous amounts of water are required to cool the steam created during generation of electricity in a thermoelectric plants.(tweeted by Neil Hawkins)
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/09/business/energy-environment/in-a-hot-thirsty-energy-business-water-is-prized.html?ref=energy-environment&_r=0

7. IPCC report shows states that it is very critical to work towards climate change and Global warming. Report also shows that by addressing the problem we can create opportunities. (tweeted by David Suzuki)
http://www.davidsuzuki.org/blogs/science-matters/2013/10/ipcc-report-shows-action-on-climate-change-is-critical/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+davidsuzuki%2Fscience-matters+%28

8. Chevrolet, GMC and few others to come up with bi-fuel versions of vehicles in near future. (tweeted by Julie Urlaub)
http://www.environmentalleader.com/2013/10/07/green-fleet-roundup-chevy-gmc-tesla-subaru-kia-ford/

9. The Investment Carbon Screener in the Bloomberg Terminal calculates the carbon footprint of equity investments. (tweeted by Gil Friend )
http://www.southpolecarbon.com/solutions/finance_solutions/carbon_screener

10. Cities those are moving towards urban sustainability. (tweeted by Alice Korngold)
http://downtoearth.danone.com/2013/10/10/10-most-innovative-cities-in-urban-sustainability/

Tuesday 15 October 2013

Trash Trail - Climate Miles' trip to understand the Urban Reality of Waste

Whenever a newby joins the Climate Miles Pvt. Team , he/she is asked to go for the 

The "Trash Trail" is an interesting journey which I must mention, changes your life. We all know about the waste problem in Bangalore & other cities in the country, yet no one truly knows the reality of it all unless they have been on this trip at-least once. 
Honestly, the truth of it all is a bit too overwhelming for anyone to WANT to go a second time! The images below will highlight a few stops during the trail.


This first image was taken at one of the biggest Landfills in Bangalore. Bangalore city generates more than 3500 tonnes of waste - a DAY! A large portion of this comes into this particular Landfill in giant garbage trucks.



The" Leachate" (liquid), which escapes out of the mixed waste, collects to form a huge lethal pool. The sight of it doesnt come close to the overwhelming smell of the area. 


When you move around the periphery of this pool, you can actually see the plant life wilt away. There are also many families living around this area, surrounding the landfill. 

The only good news here is that unauthorized people are not allowed to enter, so we can be sure that locals are not entering this toxic zone to get scraps of dry waste to sell and make some money. In other cities like New Delhi, you can often see many women & children walking around looking for old paper, tetrapak, wires, plastic bottles & caps etc.



The next stop is a recycling facility where old plastic bottles we all use and throw are pulverized and made into small pellets. These pellets are then melted and made into colourful plastic buckets. Plastic however, can only be recycled a few times depending on the type and quality. 
To know more on how many times plastic (and other dry waste) can be recycled  link


There are a few more stops during the Trash trail, however I will allow you all to go and see for yourself. These images do not do justice to the actual experience. Hope all of you consider going and for those who have been, do encourage others. 

The trail is conducted by Daily Dump every month , usually on the second Saturday. You can also do group bookings.

This trip can educate and inform each one of us, and we can together actively strive to be more aware and proactive about out lifestyle choices, consumption and managing our own waste. Not to go "Good" or to "Save the Planet" but for ourselves.

Look forward to hearing about your experience at the Trash Trail.