Archive for the ‘transportation’ Category

It’s eco-ethical to run your car on this fossil fuel

Monday, March 26th, 2012

Yet, the Honda GX is neither manufactured nor sold in Canada. It’s made and sold only in the United States – where it exceeds the stringent pure-air standards of the famously tough California Air Resources Board and qualifies for carpool lanes that are open only to the cleanest of vehicles.

The Honda GX runs on compressed natural gas, the only alternative fuel so cheap that it doesn’t need government subsidies. Now sold in 197 dealerships in 36 states, it’s an assembly-line family car, the first mass-produced CNG vehicle. It lists at $26,000 (U.S.) and gets good mileage: 30 miles per (U.S.) gallon in city driving, 42 miles per gallon in highway driving. The price of CNG “at the pump” runs $2.50 a gallon – the same price, ironically, that Republican presidential contender Newt Gingrich has set as a long-term American goal for regular gasoline.

When will be get this car and many others like it that are running in Europe here?

via It’s eco-ethical to run your car 

Vessel finds new life in UVic research

Sunday, March 18th, 2012

An old coast guard ship could be transformed into the “world’s greenest oceanresearch platform” off B.C.’s coast by next spring.

“It’s going to be essentially a mobile observatory in the Salish Sea that will be studying oceanographic conditions that are important to survival of fish stocks,” said Kim Juniper, lead scientist for the project.

via Vessel finds new life in UVic research.

CLIMATE NEWS SCAN – 06 March 2012

Tuesday, March 6th, 2012

Some highlights from this weeks News Scan:

  • Investors worth $10 trillion issue direct call for carbon emission reductions
  • Digital tools for climate change conversations
  • Investors worth $10 trillion issue direct call for carbon emission reductions

The PICS News Scan is produced by ISIS at the Sauder School of Business and the Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions (PICS). To be added to the News Scan distribution list or to provide content feedback and/or suggestions about interesting news items, please email: isis@sauder.ubc.ca.

Authors: Neil ThomsonChris KantowiczNeil SalmondKristina WelchJustin Bull

Editors: James Tansey (ISIS), Jessica Worsley (PICS), Tom Pedersen (PICS)

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Natural gas presents B.C. with challenges, opportunities

Tuesday, March 6th, 2012

What few suspected then – and are surprised by now – is that another fossil fuel, natural gas, would end up on Obamas approved list. In a speech in late January, Obama, standing in front of two Kenworth T800 LNG trucks at a UPS truck-refuelling site in Las Vegas, shared a vision of natural gas powering cars, homes and factories, adding that the cleaner, cheaper energy source could support 600,000 jobs by the end of the decade. “Weve got a supply of natural gas under our feet that can last America nearly 100 years,” he said. Indeed, advances in extraction technology have allowed producers to access previously locked-in gas through fracking and new drilling techniques.

The low cost of Natural Gas is changing the landscape for clean energy in BC and beyond.  Read more about some of the implications here.

via Natural gas presents B.C. with challenges, opportunities.

Fisker Karma added to the list in BC

Sunday, February 19th, 2012

The 2012 Fisker Karma is the latest addition to the growing list of new vehicles available in British Columbia that qualify under the Clean Energy Vehicle CEV Point of Sale Incentive Program. The Karma, a battery electric vehicle with extended range, qualifies for a discount of up to $5,000 off the pre-tax sticker price when purchased or leased at a new car dealer in BC.

via EV Incentive Program

FortisBC Talks Up Natural Gas Fuel Opportunities for British Columbia

Thursday, February 16th, 2012

Walker explains that, as set out in the strategy, expanding the use of natural gas for return-to-base fleet vehicles in Canada’s transportation sector makes sense. By using natural gas instead of diesel or gasoline, a local business can save 25-to-40% on fuel costs and see a 20-to-30% reduction of GHG emissions. The transportation sector currently contributes almost 40$ of BC’s GHG emissions in the province.

Great to see that the interest and benefit for converting to CNG is getting support now. Read more at Natural Gas Fuel Opportunities for British Columbia

CLIMATE NEWS SCAN – 14 February 2012

Tuesday, February 14th, 2012

Some highlights from this weeks News Scan:

  • Climate damage to fisheries exceeding Canada’s response, report says
  • Finding profit in low carbon supply chains
  • Public looks to politicians for cues on climate change

The PICS News Scan is produced by ISIS at the Sauder School of Business and the Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions (PICS). To be added to the News Scan distribution list or to provide content feedback and/or suggestions about interesting news items, please email: isis@sauder.ubc.ca.

Authors: Neil ThomsonCalyn ShawNeil SalmondKristina Welch, Justin Bull

Editors: James Tansey (ISIS), Tom Pedersen (PICS), Jessica Worsley(PICS)

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PICS CLIMATE NEWS SCAN – 07 February 2012

Tuesday, February 7th, 2012

Some highlights from this weeks News Scan:

  • EU begins process to regulate carbon emissions from shipping
  • Big trees face uncertain future
  • Achieving zero: delivering future-friendly buildings

The PICS News Scan is produced by ISIS at the Sauder School of Business and the Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions (PICS). To be added to the News Scan distribution list or to provide content feedback and/or suggestions about interesting news items, please email: isis@sauder.ubc.ca.

Authors: Neil ThomsonCalyn ShawNeil SalmondKristina Welch

Editors: James Tansey (ISIS), Tom Pedersen (PICS), Jessica Worsley (PICS)

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The case for biofuels in our energy mix

Saturday, February 4th, 2012

Fossil fuels are an integral part of the global economy, and will be for many years. But that doesn’t mean we can’t continue to introduce alternatives into Canada’s energy mix or explore new, innovative fuel sources. One of the greatest hurdles we have to overcome isn’t technological or structural – it’s debunking myths and misperceptions about renewable fuels that prevent us as a society from seeing the benefits clearly.

via The case for biofuels in our energy mix.

Can solar power help shipping go green?

Sunday, January 29th, 2012

Electricity created by the solar panels and stored in a battery powers the engine while the vessel comes in and out of the harbour. Once out in the open ocean and a faster clip is required, the diesel kicks in. One of the fleet, the Solar Albatross, sports two sails covered in solar panels that can be raised to harness both the sun and the wind to further reduce reliance on fossil fuel.

Here is an interesting take on solar and wind applications for the marine industry.  Hopefully these concepts will work and allow ships to save 25-45% of the fossil fuel used.  Learn more about this concept here. Can solar power help shipping go green?.