"Not only will you get much better mileage consumption with our cars, saving you gas money and less gas used is better for the environment, but our diesel gas engines burn cleaner than all other car engines".
- a typical Volkswagen salesman "pitch" to a car buyer.
Dats VolksVagon.
Selling large numbers of “Clean Diesels” was central to VW’s scheme for cracking the American market, a weak spot, which in turn was a vital part of the plan to overtake Toyota of Japan as the world’s largest carmaker. The grand strategy that Mr Winterkorn had overseen now lies in ruins.
Yet the biggest effects of the scandal will be felt across the Atlantic. VW’s skulduggery raises the question of whether other carmakers have been up to similar tricks, either to meet Europe’s laxer standards on NOx emissions or its comparable ones on fuel economy—and hence on emissions of carbon dioxide. BMW and Mercedes, VW’s two main German peers, rushed to insist that they had not. However, in Europe, emissions-testing is a farce. The carmakers commission their own tests, and regulators let them indulge in all sorts of shenanigans, such as removing wing mirrors during testing, and taping up the cracks around doors and windows, to reduce drag and thus make the cars burn less fuel. Regulators also tolerate software a bit like VW’s, that spots when a car is being tested and switches the engine into “economy” mode. This is why the fuel efficiency European motorists achieve on the road is around 40% short of carmakers’ promises.
At least America’s regulators, unlike Europe’s, sometimes stage their own tests to verify the manufacturers’ findings. But it is time this whole system was swept away and replaced, everywhere, with fully independent testing of cars in realistic driving conditions. Now, with outrage at VW’s behaviour at its height, is the moment to act. That would mean overcoming the objections of carmakers. But it also requires European regulators to change their attitudes to diesel, which accounts for half of cars sold on the continent. Diesel vehicles can be very economical on fuel (and thus emit relatively little carbon dioxide) but often at the cost of increased NOx emissions. That trade-off has been decided in diesel’s favour by Europe’s lousy testing regime and more lenient NOx-emissions standards.
See no diesel
Even if other makers of diesel vehicles have not resorted to the same level of deception as VW, the scandal could mean that these cars struggle to meet standards applied rigorously to both types of emission. Some fear that this may be the “death of diesel”. So be it. There is still scope to improve the venerable petrol engine; and to switch to cleaner cars that run on methane, hydrogen and electricity, or are hybrids. A multi-billion-dollar race is already under way between these various technologies, with makers often betting on several of them as the way to meet emissions targets. If VW’s behaviour hastens diesel’s death, it may lead at last, after so many false starts, to the beginning of the electric-car age.
From the print edition: Leaders
full article: www.economist.com/news/leaders/21666226-volkswagens-falsification-pollution-tests-opens-door-very-different-car
saverio manzo
Friday, September 25, 2015
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Going Green is Expensive - Myth or Not?
Why you should care about going green, even if you don’t care about the planet
Some executives believe the myth that going green is expensive—and I
don’t blame them. When Conservative MP John Baird was Environment
Minister, he told a 2007 Canadian Senate hearing that meeting our Kyoto
goals would manufacture a recession. I ran into John in Toronto shortly
thereafter and asked if he’d seen the just-released McKinsey &
Company study showing that 40 per cent of the CO2 we have to cut in
North America to meet our Kyoto goals would be highly profitable, and if
society invested those profits in the next lowest-cost solutions, we’d
get all the way to achieving the Kyoto targets at no cost to society.
He hadn’t seen the study and wasn’t interested when I offered to send it to him.
There are a couple of important points in this story. First, the study wasn’t from an environmental group; this was one of the preeminent management consulting firms worldwide, the kind of people you’d expect Conservatives to trust. And second, McKinsey was alerting business leaders to the fact that going green is highly profitable.
Sustainability is profitable because it cuts costs, raises revenue and mitigates risks. And I can prove it.
Carpet maker Interface has been on an aggressive sustainability journey for the last 15 years, driving US$450 million to the bottom line in cost savings, equal to 28 per cent of the company’s cumulative operating profit over the period, and helping it double profitability.
General Electric’s Ecomagination initiative, launched in 2005, has seen GE grow revenues from green products and services by US$85 billion over the period. And GE’s green revenues are growing at twice the rate of the rest of the company, so the initiative is great for the top line, not just the bottom line.
And finally, going green mitigates risk. When oil rose to US$147 a barrel, General Motors, once the most mighty and powerful U.S. company, went bankrupt as consumers turned away from buying fuel-inefficient cars. Is your business and value chain prepared for oil to spike to US$225 a barrel, as predicted by Jeff Rubin, former chief economist of CIBC World Markets?
Energy and fuel efficiency are not only a strategy for mitigating risk against rising energy prices, they’re also a critical strategy for attracting and retaining the best and brightest employees. In North America, we are about to experience the largest number of retirements ever, as baby boomers head for the golf course. Younger employees are more idealistic, so if your company, organization or industry is not aggressively pursuing sustainability, then recruitment and retention will prove to be both costly and challenging.
Radical fuel efficiency
But wait, there’s more.
The financial benefit of going green is far beyond what most people realize. The fuel efficiency of the average North American mid-size car Ontario is 21 miles per gallon (mpg) in the city and 27 mpg on the highway. Shell sponsors the annual fuel efficiency Eco-Marathon competition, and the current record is 12,665 miles on a single gallon. As a caveat, what teams submit to the competition really aren’t cars, they are ultra-light, aerodynamically designed vehicles. Nonetheless, the competition highlights just how little innovation on fuel efficiency there has been among North American car companies. In this competition, even mass-produced cars have been modified to achieve almost 400 miles on a single gallon.
But it’s not just our transportation system that’s grossly inefficient: so is the way we produce electricity in North America. Co-generation is a simple technology that would triple the efficiency of our electric grid. Two thirds of the energy from burning coal, gas or uranium to generate electricity in North America is wasted as heat that’s vented from the process. By contrast, Denmark is the global leader in co-generation—also known as combined heat and power (CHP), which makes use of “waste” heat to heat buildings and even whole cities. The Danish also use very high temperature storage to store heat when energy isn’t needed.
And there are practical and proven existing technologies we could use to dramatically cut energy use. Take, for instance, lighting. The majority of North Americans still use a 100-year-old technology: Thomas Edison’s incandescent light bulb. This is a grossly inefficient device: 80 per cent of the electricity it burns generates heat, not light. In fact, incandescent light bulbs are misnamed; they should be called heat bulbs. And lighting accounts for 24 per cent of the electricity consumed in North America, and 18 per cent worldwide.
Shifting from incandescent lighting to LEDs (light emitting diodes) cuts electricity use by 80 per cent. According to the US Department of Energy, the adoption of LEDs will save Americans the equivalent of 334 million barrels of oil a year. We are at the start of a lighting revolution: the price-performance ratio of LED lights is currently improving 200-fold every decade, so by 2020 it will be the dominant form of lighting in Western developed nations.
Sears Canada
And the revolution is already underway. Sears Canada has just completed a US$4.5 million LED lighting retrofit that has a 13-month payback. Sears replaced 130,000 incandescent 60-watt spotlights with 15-watt LEDs in 170 stores across Canada. The change is saving Sears more than 20 million kilowatt hours (kWh) of electricity per year, making it the largest-ever LED lighting retrofit in Canada.
Because LEDs last for 50,000 hours compared to 4,000 hours for incandescent lights, there’s a significant labour saving in not having to replace burnt out bulbs: $800,000 a year, a 94 per cent reduction in maintenance costs over the lifetime of the bulbs. But these savings were not even included in the payback calculations, as no maintenance staff is going to be laid off because of the changeover. Instead, their time will be redeployed to other work.
The impact of energy efficiency on profitability is significant. Sears Canada reported a loss for its most recent fiscal year, but if the company was operating on three per cent net profits—as Walmart does—saving US$4.5 million in a year due to energy efficiency would be equal to generating US$150 million of additional top-line sales. In a challenging market, energy efficiency is a powerful profit driver.
With a payback of 13 months, shouldn’t every company be aggressively pursuing energy efficiency retrofits?
And Sears’ payback accelerates as electricity rates rise. And rise they will: Ontario’s electricity prices are predicted to rise 30 per cent from 2010 to 2015. Therefore, investing in energy efficiency pays financial returns that will increase over time.
Sustainability offers companies fantastic financial returns by cutting costs, raising revenue and mitigating risk. And members of corporate boards who are not ensuring their companies are doing so are failing in their fiscal duty.
He hadn’t seen the study and wasn’t interested when I offered to send it to him.
There are a couple of important points in this story. First, the study wasn’t from an environmental group; this was one of the preeminent management consulting firms worldwide, the kind of people you’d expect Conservatives to trust. And second, McKinsey was alerting business leaders to the fact that going green is highly profitable.
Sustainability is profitable because it cuts costs, raises revenue and mitigates risks. And I can prove it.
Carpet maker Interface has been on an aggressive sustainability journey for the last 15 years, driving US$450 million to the bottom line in cost savings, equal to 28 per cent of the company’s cumulative operating profit over the period, and helping it double profitability.
General Electric’s Ecomagination initiative, launched in 2005, has seen GE grow revenues from green products and services by US$85 billion over the period. And GE’s green revenues are growing at twice the rate of the rest of the company, so the initiative is great for the top line, not just the bottom line.
And finally, going green mitigates risk. When oil rose to US$147 a barrel, General Motors, once the most mighty and powerful U.S. company, went bankrupt as consumers turned away from buying fuel-inefficient cars. Is your business and value chain prepared for oil to spike to US$225 a barrel, as predicted by Jeff Rubin, former chief economist of CIBC World Markets?
Energy and fuel efficiency are not only a strategy for mitigating risk against rising energy prices, they’re also a critical strategy for attracting and retaining the best and brightest employees. In North America, we are about to experience the largest number of retirements ever, as baby boomers head for the golf course. Younger employees are more idealistic, so if your company, organization or industry is not aggressively pursuing sustainability, then recruitment and retention will prove to be both costly and challenging.
Radical fuel efficiency
But wait, there’s more.
The financial benefit of going green is far beyond what most people realize. The fuel efficiency of the average North American mid-size car Ontario is 21 miles per gallon (mpg) in the city and 27 mpg on the highway. Shell sponsors the annual fuel efficiency Eco-Marathon competition, and the current record is 12,665 miles on a single gallon. As a caveat, what teams submit to the competition really aren’t cars, they are ultra-light, aerodynamically designed vehicles. Nonetheless, the competition highlights just how little innovation on fuel efficiency there has been among North American car companies. In this competition, even mass-produced cars have been modified to achieve almost 400 miles on a single gallon.
But it’s not just our transportation system that’s grossly inefficient: so is the way we produce electricity in North America. Co-generation is a simple technology that would triple the efficiency of our electric grid. Two thirds of the energy from burning coal, gas or uranium to generate electricity in North America is wasted as heat that’s vented from the process. By contrast, Denmark is the global leader in co-generation—also known as combined heat and power (CHP), which makes use of “waste” heat to heat buildings and even whole cities. The Danish also use very high temperature storage to store heat when energy isn’t needed.
And there are practical and proven existing technologies we could use to dramatically cut energy use. Take, for instance, lighting. The majority of North Americans still use a 100-year-old technology: Thomas Edison’s incandescent light bulb. This is a grossly inefficient device: 80 per cent of the electricity it burns generates heat, not light. In fact, incandescent light bulbs are misnamed; they should be called heat bulbs. And lighting accounts for 24 per cent of the electricity consumed in North America, and 18 per cent worldwide.
Shifting from incandescent lighting to LEDs (light emitting diodes) cuts electricity use by 80 per cent. According to the US Department of Energy, the adoption of LEDs will save Americans the equivalent of 334 million barrels of oil a year. We are at the start of a lighting revolution: the price-performance ratio of LED lights is currently improving 200-fold every decade, so by 2020 it will be the dominant form of lighting in Western developed nations.
Sears Canada
And the revolution is already underway. Sears Canada has just completed a US$4.5 million LED lighting retrofit that has a 13-month payback. Sears replaced 130,000 incandescent 60-watt spotlights with 15-watt LEDs in 170 stores across Canada. The change is saving Sears more than 20 million kilowatt hours (kWh) of electricity per year, making it the largest-ever LED lighting retrofit in Canada.
Because LEDs last for 50,000 hours compared to 4,000 hours for incandescent lights, there’s a significant labour saving in not having to replace burnt out bulbs: $800,000 a year, a 94 per cent reduction in maintenance costs over the lifetime of the bulbs. But these savings were not even included in the payback calculations, as no maintenance staff is going to be laid off because of the changeover. Instead, their time will be redeployed to other work.
The impact of energy efficiency on profitability is significant. Sears Canada reported a loss for its most recent fiscal year, but if the company was operating on three per cent net profits—as Walmart does—saving US$4.5 million in a year due to energy efficiency would be equal to generating US$150 million of additional top-line sales. In a challenging market, energy efficiency is a powerful profit driver.
With a payback of 13 months, shouldn’t every company be aggressively pursuing energy efficiency retrofits?
And Sears’ payback accelerates as electricity rates rise. And rise they will: Ontario’s electricity prices are predicted to rise 30 per cent from 2010 to 2015. Therefore, investing in energy efficiency pays financial returns that will increase over time.
Sustainability offers companies fantastic financial returns by cutting costs, raising revenue and mitigating risk. And members of corporate boards who are not ensuring their companies are doing so are failing in their fiscal duty.
Compliments: Jim Harris, June 21, 2012
Saverio Manzo
Ontario car insurance regulator, The Financial Services Commission of Ontario (FSCO),
regulates over 30 car insurance providers that provide Ontario car insurance
quotes to consumers, all of which are in good standing. Recent legislative
changes are attempting to prevent ongoing fraud and reduce car insurance costs.
Ontario Provincial Police sergeant Dave Woodford
notes that Canada, and in particular Ontario, has some of the strictest
distracted driving laws and other regions in North America are looking to the
province when modelling their own programs. Distracted driving has become one
of the top four factors in collisions resulting in fatalities or serious
injuries. Where many regions focus only on text use, Ontario’s driving laws
cover texting and cellphones, plus factor in other acts of carelessness not
related to technology like applying makeup or fumbling with coffee.
Friday, December 23, 2011
Simple, Helpful and Useful Winter Conservation Tips
Some simple, helpful and useful winter conservation tips:
- Install a programmable thermostat: When properly set, a thermostat can reduce heating and cooling costs by up to 10 per cent. Set your thermostat to 20°C when you're at home and 18°C when sleeping or away.
- Protect against drafts: Install weatherstrip around doors, fireplace dampers, attic hatches and air conditioners. Reducing drafts can save up to 30 per cent a year on heating costs.
- Flip your furnace filter: Change your furnace filter monthly. It's also a good idea to have your furnace serviced by a professional every year to ensure it is running at maximum efficiency.
- Go off-peak: Take advantage of lower energy prices during off-peak hours. Run your dishwasher, washer and dryer early in the morning, in the evening or on weekends when electricity rates are lowest.
- Unplug it: Be sure to unplug electronic items not in use. Devices like computers, TVs, and cell phone chargers continue to consume small amounts of electricity unless they are unplugged. Try plugging these items into a power bar with a switch or timer, so you can easily turn them off when they are not needed.
- Lock in the heat: Block heat from entering unused areas of your house, like a storage room or crawlspace, by closing doors. Keep closet doors shut too.
- Opt for efficient lighting: When it's time to replace a light bulb, choose energy-efficiency compact florescent lights (CFLs, LEDs), rather than incandescent lights.
- Let the sun shine in: During the day, keep your curtains open to draw in sunlight. Solar energy can help naturally warm your home.
- Clean your fridge coils: Be sure to regularly brush or vacuum your refrigerator coils to make them more energy-efficient.
- Ditch the drip: Make an effort to quickly repair leaky faucets. Even a small drip can waste litres of water per month and add to your water heating costs.
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Monday, November 14, 2011
Getting Sustainable in German and How They Lead the World
Check out the living breathing sustainable city of Freiburg...
The city that is creating the biggest impact in the area of sustainability however, is Freiburg. Freiburg has, through sincere commitment, become the epitome of a living, breathing sustainable city. Their deep respect for both cultural and architectural roots, coupled with innovative and unconventional planning decisions makes them worth taking an even closer look at. A truly impressive model of sustainability for us all.
Freiburg is a 900 year old city of under 250,000 people, perched in the wine growing region of southwest Germany. Freiburg’s energy policy has three pillars: energy conservation, the use of new technologies such as combined heat and power, and the use of renewable energy sources like solar to meet new demand, instead of fossil fuels. Their goal is to realize an ecologically-oriented energy supply. They have an even deeper goal: to create sustainable regional development for the area as a whole.
Curious why Freiburg? It’s interesting that back in the 1970’s plans to build a nuclear energy plant just 30 km from Freiburg led to a major protest with civil disobedience. The result was a defeat of this plan in 1975. The people had spoken. A reminder that the power is with the people. This event raised the environmental awareness of Freiburg’s citizens and soon the city developed a reputation as Germany’s “ecological capital”. What happened next, adds to the city’s already rich history. Soon the city was attracting a wide network of environmental organizations, businesses and research institutes. The city was well on its way to realizing its goal.
Take a look, at Freiburg, Germany. An inspiring example of what is possible with a commitment to maintaining the beauty of our past, married to the need to work towards a sustainable future. Kudos to all the people of Freiburg who continue to live this possibility and show us all it is indeed within our grasp.
saverio manzo
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Ontario Car insurance for High Risk Drivers — 09/16/11
Whether you are currently shopping around for Ontario car insurance, your policy is about to expire, something in your record has changed, you’re looking to save money on your current policy or you have been refused car insurance coverage, a policy is out there for you. Here’s how to get your coverage with the best car insurance quote in Ontario
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Monday, August 1, 2011
Cradle to Cradle: what if we think about the entire life cycle of...
How thinking about a product’s entire life cycle is changing the way new products are designed
Vision for the future
That's where "cradle to cradle" or C2C design comes in. The concept evolved in the 1990s after architect William McDonough and German chemist Michael Braungart looked at the difference between how humans and nature create things.
They duo quickly realized nature creates no waste. In fact, one of the tag lines from their research is "Waste Equals Food."
Learning from nature
"What we do is take a leaf out of nature's book," said Ken Alston, CEO of McDonough Braungart Design Chemistry (MBDC), a consultancy firm created to provide businesses with C2C expertise. "We look at processes in nature that are predominately cyclical. So, when leaves fall off a tree, worms and bugs recycle those leaves back into nutrients that are used by the tree to create more leaves."
Ultimate Recycling
Every product needs the right environment to be recycled. For instance, composters will turn biological food scraps into healthy soil. But, put a car in your composting and it will take forever to break down into something useful for plants and animals.
Looking at this problem lead McDonough and Braungart to realize that are two nutrient cycles: the biological cycle and the technical cycle. The problems occur when the crossover happens. Take plastics as long as it stays in the technical cycle they can be used very effectively, but they make lousy biological nutrients.
Unfit candidates
"Most people only think of recycling as good, but it's only good if it is designed for that," said Alston. "If you recycle something you shouldn't have used in the first place, now you are poisoning the system a second time."
Alston describes how many products were recalled in the past few years because of unsafe levels of lead. Lead should never have been used in the first place in those materials.
Choosing the right material
Using the right materials ensures that the recycled material is of the same quality as the original product. C2C design does not believe in "downcycling", where a product is recycled into something less worthy. That means shoes don't get turned into tarmac, they get turned back into shoes.
C2C Certification
A huge component of MBDC's work is helping companies choose safe materials and design products with the end of its life and rebirth in mind.
For example, think of a desk chair. Many desk chairs are designed very well to sustain the kind of abuse an officer worker inflicts on them. However, when the chair is discarded they are almost impossible to be broken down into parts that can be recycled.
MBDC has worked with several chair manufacturers to design chairs that not only stand up to the rigors of an office but can also be taken apart in a few minutes with simple household tools for recycling.
Companies building sustainable and recyclable products with the help of MBDC are given a ranking and certification. There is a wide variety of products available at that can be viewed on the MBDC's certification website, everything from diaper liners to carpets, and whiteboards to U.S. Postal Service envelopes.
End of life cycle restructuring
But, while many companies begin to seriously re-imagine their products to be more sustainable, Alston notes that there is one crucial part missing in the cycle: the return mechanism.
"We have an incredible distribution loop. We can get a product around the world to our city and to our homes, but where's the reverse side of that? What do we do with packaging or washing machines to be recycled and turned into new products? We need to start looking at the infrastructure as well as the product."
Read the book
For more sustainable design for the future, check out McDonough and Braungart's book Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make Things. And, if you notice the book looks a little funny that's because it is isn't made of paper. Instead it is made of plastic resins that make the book more durable and waterproof and can be perfectly recycled in the technical nutrient cycle.
Written by: Graeme Stemp-Morlock
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Posted by: saverio manzo
Business consulting in Ontario
Financial well-being advice
Cheap car insurance quotes and advice in Ontario. Save now on car insurance
Friday, May 6, 2011
Waste Nothing! Try this...
I once read about a couple that decided to go one entire year without producing trash! As much as possible, they reduced their waste, reused containers and recycled packaging, composted, donated unused items and clothing and and borrowed or made by hand what they needed.
At the end of the year, their entire garbage collection for disposal - recyclable packaging, dull razor blades, etc. - fit within an average sized shoebox!
The feat was without question impressive. Though it didn't inspire me to imitate their example, it did heighten my awareness. I learned to appreciate leftover fragments and waste as little as possible to this day.
Saverio Manzo
Source: Julia DiSalvo
About me: I give Economic, Social and Global trend briefings from some of the world's brightest minds at my blog http://saveriomanzo.com/ and http://saveriomanzo.blogspot.com/. I also provide true and tested financial planning and wealth advice. Most recently, over the past few years, I have become socially conscious and have been attempting to practise ways in which I can live my life more environmentally friendly. Along with some truly exceptional friends, we provide consulting and business development for small-medium sized businesses. In addition, I truly believe in being philanthropic, giving and doing unto other as we would have them do unto us. Some of my fondest resources are from Barry Ritholtz of The Big Picture, David Rosenberg and what Warren Buffett of Berkshire Hathaway is up to behind the scenes, as an example. saverio manzo
http://www.everyoneweb.com/saveriomanzo/ http://saverio-manzo.jimdo.com/ http://saverio-manzo.yolasite.com/ http://saverio-manzo.webs.com/ http://saverio-manzo.weebly.com/ http://saveriomanzo.terapad.com http://www.shareowners.org/profile/SaverioManzo http://www.linkedin.com/pub/saverio-manzo/b/995/63 http://twitter.com/saveriomanzo http://www.facebook.com/people/Saverio-Manzo/854720596?ref=search
At the end of the year, their entire garbage collection for disposal - recyclable packaging, dull razor blades, etc. - fit within an average sized shoebox!
The feat was without question impressive. Though it didn't inspire me to imitate their example, it did heighten my awareness. I learned to appreciate leftover fragments and waste as little as possible to this day.
Saverio Manzo
Source: Julia DiSalvo
About me: I give Economic, Social and Global trend briefings from some of the world's brightest minds at my blog http://saveriomanzo.com/ and http://saveriomanzo.blogspot.com/. I also provide true and tested financial planning and wealth advice. Most recently, over the past few years, I have become socially conscious and have been attempting to practise ways in which I can live my life more environmentally friendly. Along with some truly exceptional friends, we provide consulting and business development for small-medium sized businesses. In addition, I truly believe in being philanthropic, giving and doing unto other as we would have them do unto us. Some of my fondest resources are from Barry Ritholtz of The Big Picture, David Rosenberg and what Warren Buffett of Berkshire Hathaway is up to behind the scenes, as an example. saverio manzo
http://www.everyoneweb.com/saveriomanzo/ http://saverio-manzo.jimdo.com/ http://saverio-manzo.yolasite.com/ http://saverio-manzo.webs.com/ http://saverio-manzo.weebly.com/ http://saveriomanzo.terapad.com http://www.shareowners.org/profile/SaverioManzo http://www.linkedin.com/pub/saverio-manzo/b/995/63 http://twitter.com/saveriomanzo http://www.facebook.com/people/Saverio-Manzo/854720596?ref=search
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Very cool Eco-speedy cars!
Did you think that speed would come with electric?
Enormous Oceanic Turbines
VESTAS MASSIVE POWER ROTORS
About me: I give Economic, Social and Global trend briefings from some of the world's brightest minds at my blog http://saveriomanzo.com/ and http://saveriomanzo.blogspot.com/. I also provide true and tested financial planning and wealth advice. Most recently, over the past few years, I have become socially conscious and have been attempting to practise ways in which I can live my life more environmentally friendly. Along with some truly exceptional friends, we provide consulting and business development for small-medium sized businesses. In addition, I truly believe in being philanthropic, giving and doing unto other as we would have them do unto us. Some of my fondest resources are from Barry Ritholtz of The Big Picture, David Rosenberg and what Warren Buffett of Berkshire Hathaway is up to behind the scenes, as an example. saverio manzo
http://www.everyoneweb.com/saveriomanzo/ http://saverio-manzo.jimdo.com/ http://saverio-manzo.yolasite.com/ http://saverio-manzo.webs.com/ http://saverio-manzo.weebly.com/ http://saveriomanzo.terapad.com http://www.shareowners.org/profile/SaverioManzo http://www.linkedin.com/pub/saverio-manzo/b/995/63 http://twitter.com/saveriomanzo http://www.facebook.com/people/Saverio-Manzo/854720596?ref=search
Offshore wind turbines with blades as long as nine London City buses are being planned for installation in the North Sea. The Vestas massive power rotors will have a diameter of more than 538 feet, which is slightly less than the length of two American football fields. The tough turbine design will not only stand up to the harsh conditions of the North Sea, but the lengthy blades will also be more efficient at harvesting wind power than their smaller counterparts. By harvesting wind energy more efficiently, the cost of energy production is reduced.
Prototypes fit with Vestas’ massive power rotors are set to be deployed in the North Sea during the latter part of 2012. If all goes as expected, mass production will be underway by 2015, helping Vestas to further embed itself in the offshore wind production frontier.
http://www.vestas.com//
Prototypes fit with Vestas’ massive power rotors are set to be deployed in the North Sea during the latter part of 2012. If all goes as expected, mass production will be underway by 2015, helping Vestas to further embed itself in the offshore wind production frontier.
http://www.vestas.com//
About me: I give Economic, Social and Global trend briefings from some of the world's brightest minds at my blog http://saveriomanzo.com/ and http://saveriomanzo.blogspot.com/. I also provide true and tested financial planning and wealth advice. Most recently, over the past few years, I have become socially conscious and have been attempting to practise ways in which I can live my life more environmentally friendly. Along with some truly exceptional friends, we provide consulting and business development for small-medium sized businesses. In addition, I truly believe in being philanthropic, giving and doing unto other as we would have them do unto us. Some of my fondest resources are from Barry Ritholtz of The Big Picture, David Rosenberg and what Warren Buffett of Berkshire Hathaway is up to behind the scenes, as an example. saverio manzo
http://www.everyoneweb.com/saveriomanzo/ http://saverio-manzo.jimdo.com/ http://saverio-manzo.yolasite.com/ http://saverio-manzo.webs.com/ http://saverio-manzo.weebly.com/ http://saveriomanzo.terapad.com http://www.shareowners.org/profile/SaverioManzo http://www.linkedin.com/pub/saverio-manzo/b/995/63 http://twitter.com/saveriomanzo http://www.facebook.com/people/Saverio-Manzo/854720596?ref=search
Saturday, April 2, 2011
Reduce your carbon footprint
Today's environmental tip: Reduce your carbon footprint!
Leaving your car at home twice a week can cut greenhouse gas emissions by 1,600 pounds per year. Save up errands and shopping trips so you need to drive fewer times. If you commute to work, ask if you can work from home at least some days, and you'll reduce air pollution and traffic congestion - and save money.
More information: http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/wycd/road.html
Podcast: http://www.epa.gov/earthday/podcasts
About me: I give Economic, Social and Global trend briefings from some of the world's brightest minds at my blog http://saveriomanzo.com/ and http://saveriomanzo.blogspot.com/. I also provide true and tested financial planning and wealth advice. Most recently, over the past few years, I have become socially conscious and have been attempting to practise ways in which I can live my life more environmentally friendly. Along with some truly exceptional friends, we provide consulting and business development for small-medium sized businesses. In addition, I truly believe in being philanthropic, giving and doing unto other as we would have them do unto us. Some of my fondest resources are from Barry Ritholtz of The Big Picture, David Rosenberg and what Warren Buffett of Berkshire Hathaway is up to behind the scenes, as an example. saverio manzo
http://www.everyoneweb.com/saveriomanzo/ http://saverio-manzo.jimdo.com/ http://saverio-manzo.yolasite.com/ http://saverio-manzo.webs.com/ http://saverio-manzo.weebly.com/ http://saveriomanzo.terapad.com http://www.shareowners.org/profile/SaverioManzo http://www.linkedin.com/pub/saverio-manzo/b/995/63 http://twitter.com/saveriomanzo http://www.facebook.com/people/Saverio-Manzo/854720596?ref=search
.
Leaving your car at home twice a week can cut greenhouse gas emissions by 1,600 pounds per year. Save up errands and shopping trips so you need to drive fewer times. If you commute to work, ask if you can work from home at least some days, and you'll reduce air pollution and traffic congestion - and save money.
More information: http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/wycd/road.html
Podcast: http://www.epa.gov/earthday/podcasts
About me: I give Economic, Social and Global trend briefings from some of the world's brightest minds at my blog http://saveriomanzo.com/ and http://saveriomanzo.blogspot.com/. I also provide true and tested financial planning and wealth advice. Most recently, over the past few years, I have become socially conscious and have been attempting to practise ways in which I can live my life more environmentally friendly. Along with some truly exceptional friends, we provide consulting and business development for small-medium sized businesses. In addition, I truly believe in being philanthropic, giving and doing unto other as we would have them do unto us. Some of my fondest resources are from Barry Ritholtz of The Big Picture, David Rosenberg and what Warren Buffett of Berkshire Hathaway is up to behind the scenes, as an example. saverio manzo
http://www.everyoneweb.com/saveriomanzo/ http://saverio-manzo.jimdo.com/ http://saverio-manzo.yolasite.com/ http://saverio-manzo.webs.com/ http://saverio-manzo.weebly.com/ http://saveriomanzo.terapad.com http://www.shareowners.org/profile/SaverioManzo http://www.linkedin.com/pub/saverio-manzo/b/995/63 http://twitter.com/saveriomanzo http://www.facebook.com/people/Saverio-Manzo/854720596?ref=search
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Thursday, January 27, 2011
Incentivizing Energy Efficiency across the Our Economy
Three major sectors of our economy—industrial, residential, and commercial—are ripe for tremendous energy savings. McKinsey & Company estimates1 that by 2020, capturing the economy’s full efficiency potential will save $442 billion in energy costs and 300 megatons of CO2e in the industrial sector; $395 billion and 360 megatons of CO2e in the residential sector; and $290 billion and 360 megatons of CO2e in the commercial sector. The total possible savings in energy costs and greenhouse gas emissions are staggering: more than $1.1 trillion and 1,020 megatons of CO2e by the end of this decade.
Moreover, efforts at capturing energy efficiency potential could ripple extensively across the rest of the economy. McKinsey estimates that a $290 billion investment in labor-intensive efficiency measures could create between 500,000 and 750,000 jobs over the next decade. The Center for American Progress makes a similar estimation,2 suggesting that retrofitting just 40% of all commercial and residential buildings in the United States would produce 625,000 jobs over the next decade and $500 billion in investment to upgrade 50 million office buildings and homes. And these statistics do not include new jobs and markets created by the development of next-generation energy-efficient technologies and industries.
Such figures are impressive, but they come with a cost. An estimated $113 billion in upfront investment is needed for the industrial sector to realize its total energy efficiency potential: $229 billion for residential and $125 billion for commercial.3 Such upfront costs erect significant present-day barriers to greater energy efficiency, even if they eventually lead to sizable returns on investment. Many industrial, residential, and commercial consumers don’t have enough free capital to invest in efficiency upgrades, aren’t aware that such upgrades are possible and can generate significant savings, or are hesitant to assume the potentially high transaction costs in implementing energy efficiency measures—particularly in the industrial sector, where upgrades may cause interruptions in production.
Overcoming these barriers is one of the great challenges facing each sector, but consumers need not confront them alone. Federal policymakers have at their disposal a wide range of options that can act as powerful drivers of energy efficiency. Even if, as is likely, the economy’s full efficiency potential is never captured, jumpstarting the transition to a more energy-efficient society will require a concerted national effort. Strategic government action is often the crucial spark for economic innovation: from the creation of the transcontinental railroads and interstate highways, to the Apollo Space Program and the Internet, government action has been an essential driver of change. The growing effort to transform the way we generate and use energy—one with the potential to reshape our economic and social landscape—is a challenge on par with sending a man to the moon. Energy efficiency, often regarded as “the lowest-hanging fruit” (or “fruit on the ground,” as Energy Secretary Chu likes to say), is an ideal place to begin. Government must assume a leadership role.
To that end, we analyzed a variety of steps the federal government can take to promote greater energy efficiency, and identified policies we think fulfill three key purposes: (1) mitigating the upfront costs each sector must bear to realize energy efficiency savings and curb greenhouse gas emissions, (2) incentivizing the research and development of new energy-efficient technologies, and (3) educating end-use energy consumers on the virtues of greater efficiency. These policies are just a sampling of a broader set of options, but are considered particularly worthy of attention. The ultimate tool for driving greater efficiency—a price on carbon—is not included because its chance of enactment is, at least for the foreseeable future, almost nonexistent. While no argument is made about an ideal policy mix, some combination of ideas from the three major categories (Direct Financing; Tax Incentives; Codes, Standards, and Mandates) can amount to a fairly comprehensive approach.
Direct Financing
• Establish a dedicated Advanced Research Projects Agency – Energy (ARPA-E) energy-efficiency grant program to drive innovation among companies developing next-generation energy-saving technology and equipment (including smart grid technology). ARPA-E’s funding also should be increased dramatically from its current level of $300 million. The vast, multitrillion dollar scale of the energy industry means ARPA-E needs higher funding levels if its initiatives are to have any impact on energy innovation.4
• Enact the HOME STAR Program included in legislation currently pending before Congress (S. 3663, the Clean Energy Jobs and Oil Company Accountability Act). The HOME STAR initiative establishes a $6 billion rebate program to drive residential investment in energy-efficient appliances, building mechanical systems and insulation, and whole-home energy efficiency retrofits.
• Establish an Industrial Energy Efficiency Revolving Loan Program (or similar refundable financing mechanism) with maximum financial incentives going to upgrades of industrial processes (e.g., blast furnaces in iron and steel manufacturing) and support systems (e.g., steam systems, motors, building infrastructure, energy management tools).5 Such upgrades are relatively rare because of the large upfront cost involved in installing new technologies and equipment, the perceived risks of early adoption, and concerns over interrupted production. Direct financial incentives may help address these issues.
• Establish a dedicated Department of Energy (DOE) or Environemtal Protection Agency (EPA) grant program for the installation of combined heat and power (CHP) capacity, from large-scale power facilities to smaller on-site units, such as those in commercial buildings, factories, or apartment complexes. CHP technologies that are especially efficient and low-emission, like microturbines, would receive funding priority. It is estimated that an increase in total CHP power from 85 GW in 2008 to 135 GW in 2020 can cut facility-level energy costs by $77 billion and greenhouse gas emissions by 100 megatons of CO2e.6
• Create a Clean Energy Deployment Administration (CEDA)7that can finance innovative efficiency projects—in addition to various other energy projects—and provide sustained streams of capital investment for residential, commercial, and industrial energy efficiency retrofits.8 Such a “Green Bank” would be one of the major driving forces of a deeper federal investment agenda in clean energy and energy efficiency.
Tax Incentives
• Create a tax credit for utilities, municipal power companies, and electric co-ops that provide support services and incentives to residential, commercial, and industrial customers who install energy-saving technologies and adopt energy-efficient measures. Utilities are in a powerful position to educate customers on the benefits of energy efficiency, and can potentially drive behavioral change and cement energy efficiency as a social norm.
• Revamp the existing Energy-Efficient Commercial Buildings Tax Deduction (26 USCS 179D, as amended by the Energy Improvement and Extension Act of 2008) so it is made permanent, increases the level of financial incentives for efficiency upgrades, expands the scope of qualifying energy-efficient improvements (to include energy management tools, among other improvements) and adheres to the most stringent efficiency standards.
• Renew, expand (to $5 billion at a minimum) and make refundable the 48C Advanced Energy Manufacturing Tax Credit (26 USCS § 48C). 48C encompasses manufacturing facilities that produce energy-saving equipment and technologies.
Codes, Standards, and Mandates
• Phase in, over the course of several years, more stringent energy-efficient building codes for new and existing residential, commercial, and industrial buildings. Residences as well as commercial and industrial buildings can be modeled on standards set by organizations like the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC); International Energy Conservation Code (IECC); or American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE). Stricter codes will drive property owners and developers to purchase and utilize energy-saving technologies and engage in concerted retrofitting efforts, spurring demand for such technologies and services across the economy.9
• Expand the ENERGY STAR voluntary standards and labeling programs to include more residential, commercial, and industrial subsectors, appliances, and systems. The ENERGY STAR labeling program has had some success as a means of educating end-use energy consumers on the virtues of efficiency, but its scope could be broadened considerably. Only 2% of existing homes, for example, have had an energy assessment performed to determine possible energy savings, although ENERGY STAR did capture 17% of new construction in 2008 and an estimated 25% in 2009.10
• Establish a national Renewable Electricity Standard (RES) that requires utilities to obtain an increasing percentage of their base quantity of electricity from renewable energy and energy efficiency.11 A majority of states now boast an RES that includes energy efficiency measures. Alternatively, the federal government could create an Energy Efficiency Resource Standard (EERS) that sets energy reduction targets—broken down by economic sector, industry, and utilities—to be met within a certain timeframe.
Written By Tyler C. Stone
About me: I give Economic, Social and Global trend briefings from some of the world's brightest minds at my blog http://saveriomanzo.com/ and http://saveriomanzo.blogspot.com/. I also provide true and tested financial planning and wealth advice. Most recently, over the past few years, I have become socially conscious and have been attempting to practise ways in which I can live my life more environmentally friendly. Along with some truly exceptional friends, we provide consulting and business development for small-medium sized businesses. In addition, I truly believe in being philanthropic, giving and doing unto other as we would have them do unto us. Some of my fondest resources are from Barry Ritholtz of The Big Picture, David Rosenberg and what Warren Buffett of Berkshire Hathaway is up to behind the scenes, as an example. saverio manzo
http://www.everyoneweb.com/saveriomanzo/ http://saverio-manzo.jimdo.com/ http://saverio-manzo.yolasite.com/ http://saverio-manzo.webs.com/ http://saverio-manzo.weebly.com/ http://saveriomanzo.terapad.com http://www.shareowners.org/profile/SaverioManzo http://www.linkedin.com/pub/saverio-manzo/b/995/63 http://twitter.com/saveriomanzo http://www.facebook.com/people/Saverio-Manzo/854720596?ref=search
Moreover, efforts at capturing energy efficiency potential could ripple extensively across the rest of the economy. McKinsey estimates that a $290 billion investment in labor-intensive efficiency measures could create between 500,000 and 750,000 jobs over the next decade. The Center for American Progress makes a similar estimation,2 suggesting that retrofitting just 40% of all commercial and residential buildings in the United States would produce 625,000 jobs over the next decade and $500 billion in investment to upgrade 50 million office buildings and homes. And these statistics do not include new jobs and markets created by the development of next-generation energy-efficient technologies and industries.
Such figures are impressive, but they come with a cost. An estimated $113 billion in upfront investment is needed for the industrial sector to realize its total energy efficiency potential: $229 billion for residential and $125 billion for commercial.3 Such upfront costs erect significant present-day barriers to greater energy efficiency, even if they eventually lead to sizable returns on investment. Many industrial, residential, and commercial consumers don’t have enough free capital to invest in efficiency upgrades, aren’t aware that such upgrades are possible and can generate significant savings, or are hesitant to assume the potentially high transaction costs in implementing energy efficiency measures—particularly in the industrial sector, where upgrades may cause interruptions in production.
Overcoming these barriers is one of the great challenges facing each sector, but consumers need not confront them alone. Federal policymakers have at their disposal a wide range of options that can act as powerful drivers of energy efficiency. Even if, as is likely, the economy’s full efficiency potential is never captured, jumpstarting the transition to a more energy-efficient society will require a concerted national effort. Strategic government action is often the crucial spark for economic innovation: from the creation of the transcontinental railroads and interstate highways, to the Apollo Space Program and the Internet, government action has been an essential driver of change. The growing effort to transform the way we generate and use energy—one with the potential to reshape our economic and social landscape—is a challenge on par with sending a man to the moon. Energy efficiency, often regarded as “the lowest-hanging fruit” (or “fruit on the ground,” as Energy Secretary Chu likes to say), is an ideal place to begin. Government must assume a leadership role.
To that end, we analyzed a variety of steps the federal government can take to promote greater energy efficiency, and identified policies we think fulfill three key purposes: (1) mitigating the upfront costs each sector must bear to realize energy efficiency savings and curb greenhouse gas emissions, (2) incentivizing the research and development of new energy-efficient technologies, and (3) educating end-use energy consumers on the virtues of greater efficiency. These policies are just a sampling of a broader set of options, but are considered particularly worthy of attention. The ultimate tool for driving greater efficiency—a price on carbon—is not included because its chance of enactment is, at least for the foreseeable future, almost nonexistent. While no argument is made about an ideal policy mix, some combination of ideas from the three major categories (Direct Financing; Tax Incentives; Codes, Standards, and Mandates) can amount to a fairly comprehensive approach.
Direct Financing
• Establish a dedicated Advanced Research Projects Agency – Energy (ARPA-E) energy-efficiency grant program to drive innovation among companies developing next-generation energy-saving technology and equipment (including smart grid technology). ARPA-E’s funding also should be increased dramatically from its current level of $300 million. The vast, multitrillion dollar scale of the energy industry means ARPA-E needs higher funding levels if its initiatives are to have any impact on energy innovation.4
• Enact the HOME STAR Program included in legislation currently pending before Congress (S. 3663, the Clean Energy Jobs and Oil Company Accountability Act). The HOME STAR initiative establishes a $6 billion rebate program to drive residential investment in energy-efficient appliances, building mechanical systems and insulation, and whole-home energy efficiency retrofits.
• Establish an Industrial Energy Efficiency Revolving Loan Program (or similar refundable financing mechanism) with maximum financial incentives going to upgrades of industrial processes (e.g., blast furnaces in iron and steel manufacturing) and support systems (e.g., steam systems, motors, building infrastructure, energy management tools).5 Such upgrades are relatively rare because of the large upfront cost involved in installing new technologies and equipment, the perceived risks of early adoption, and concerns over interrupted production. Direct financial incentives may help address these issues.
• Establish a dedicated Department of Energy (DOE) or Environemtal Protection Agency (EPA) grant program for the installation of combined heat and power (CHP) capacity, from large-scale power facilities to smaller on-site units, such as those in commercial buildings, factories, or apartment complexes. CHP technologies that are especially efficient and low-emission, like microturbines, would receive funding priority. It is estimated that an increase in total CHP power from 85 GW in 2008 to 135 GW in 2020 can cut facility-level energy costs by $77 billion and greenhouse gas emissions by 100 megatons of CO2e.6
• Create a Clean Energy Deployment Administration (CEDA)7that can finance innovative efficiency projects—in addition to various other energy projects—and provide sustained streams of capital investment for residential, commercial, and industrial energy efficiency retrofits.8 Such a “Green Bank” would be one of the major driving forces of a deeper federal investment agenda in clean energy and energy efficiency.
Tax Incentives
• Create a tax credit for utilities, municipal power companies, and electric co-ops that provide support services and incentives to residential, commercial, and industrial customers who install energy-saving technologies and adopt energy-efficient measures. Utilities are in a powerful position to educate customers on the benefits of energy efficiency, and can potentially drive behavioral change and cement energy efficiency as a social norm.
• Revamp the existing Energy-Efficient Commercial Buildings Tax Deduction (26 USCS 179D, as amended by the Energy Improvement and Extension Act of 2008) so it is made permanent, increases the level of financial incentives for efficiency upgrades, expands the scope of qualifying energy-efficient improvements (to include energy management tools, among other improvements) and adheres to the most stringent efficiency standards.
• Renew, expand (to $5 billion at a minimum) and make refundable the 48C Advanced Energy Manufacturing Tax Credit (26 USCS § 48C). 48C encompasses manufacturing facilities that produce energy-saving equipment and technologies.
Codes, Standards, and Mandates
• Phase in, over the course of several years, more stringent energy-efficient building codes for new and existing residential, commercial, and industrial buildings. Residences as well as commercial and industrial buildings can be modeled on standards set by organizations like the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC); International Energy Conservation Code (IECC); or American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE). Stricter codes will drive property owners and developers to purchase and utilize energy-saving technologies and engage in concerted retrofitting efforts, spurring demand for such technologies and services across the economy.9
• Expand the ENERGY STAR voluntary standards and labeling programs to include more residential, commercial, and industrial subsectors, appliances, and systems. The ENERGY STAR labeling program has had some success as a means of educating end-use energy consumers on the virtues of efficiency, but its scope could be broadened considerably. Only 2% of existing homes, for example, have had an energy assessment performed to determine possible energy savings, although ENERGY STAR did capture 17% of new construction in 2008 and an estimated 25% in 2009.10
• Establish a national Renewable Electricity Standard (RES) that requires utilities to obtain an increasing percentage of their base quantity of electricity from renewable energy and energy efficiency.11 A majority of states now boast an RES that includes energy efficiency measures. Alternatively, the federal government could create an Energy Efficiency Resource Standard (EERS) that sets energy reduction targets—broken down by economic sector, industry, and utilities—to be met within a certain timeframe.
Written By Tyler C. Stone
About me: I give Economic, Social and Global trend briefings from some of the world's brightest minds at my blog http://saveriomanzo.com/ and http://saveriomanzo.blogspot.com/. I also provide true and tested financial planning and wealth advice. Most recently, over the past few years, I have become socially conscious and have been attempting to practise ways in which I can live my life more environmentally friendly. Along with some truly exceptional friends, we provide consulting and business development for small-medium sized businesses. In addition, I truly believe in being philanthropic, giving and doing unto other as we would have them do unto us. Some of my fondest resources are from Barry Ritholtz of The Big Picture, David Rosenberg and what Warren Buffett of Berkshire Hathaway is up to behind the scenes, as an example. saverio manzo
http://www.everyoneweb.com/saveriomanzo/ http://saverio-manzo.jimdo.com/ http://saverio-manzo.yolasite.com/ http://saverio-manzo.webs.com/ http://saverio-manzo.weebly.com/ http://saveriomanzo.terapad.com http://www.shareowners.org/profile/SaverioManzo http://www.linkedin.com/pub/saverio-manzo/b/995/63 http://twitter.com/saveriomanzo http://www.facebook.com/people/Saverio-Manzo/854720596?ref=search
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
The easiest way to give to charity?
Came across this new service which I think is marvellous and hope many take advantage of... check it out...
sign up your (credit) card
round up your purchases
donate the change to charity
SwipeGood rounds up all of your credit card purchases to the nearest dollar and allows you to donate the difference to the charity of your choice. It's the easiest way to give to charity!
SwipeGood is all about making change simple and effortless so more people can be part of it. Together we can solve big problems with small actions. Together we will make a big difference in the world.
Click here to begin or learn more.....
Top 5 Questions
Is SwipeGood charging the change every time I spend money?
No. We aggregate your round up amounts for 30 days and then charge your card once a month to save credit card fees and maximize the money that goes to charity. On average people are rounding up around $20 per month.
Will my transactions be shared with my family and friends?
Absolutely not. Your transactions are only visible to you for review once you've logged into your SwipeGood.com account. We use the data to round up your transactions and charge your card to send the money to charity.
How do I know my information will be secure?
We use site-wide bank-level encryption and store your credit card information in a PCI-DSS compliant manner. We take security seriously.
Can I switch the charity that I want to support?
Yes. You can switch your charity any time you want. We are adding new charities every week and give you 100% flexibility on who will benefit from your roundups.
Can I set a monthly limit for my round ups?
Yes you can! Once you've signed up you can specify a donation limit to make sure you can easily afford the good you do on SwipeGood.
FAQs
How does SwipeGood make money?
SwipeGood takes 5% of each monthly donation which is well below the 15-20% that charities are paying for direct marketing and other ways of fundraising today. Taking a small percentage helps cover our costs and deliver the best product to you and to the charities.
Is SwipeGood a non-profit?
No, we're a for-profit business. Our goal is to make giving to charity as easy and as impactful as possible. By structuring ourselves as a for-profit business, we believe we can make a much larger impact on the world and help non-profit organizations become more efficient in their fundraising efforts.
How many credit cards can I enroll?
At this time, only one credit card can be enrolled into our round up program.
Will my credit card information be saved?
Yes, we use Authorize.net to securely store your credit card information for billing purposes. We take security very seriously and ensure that we are PCI-DSS Compliant.
Can I choose the charities my money goes to?
Yes you can! Just click on the "Charities" link on the top right menu and select the one that you want to support. You can switch at any time.
Will I be able to see my monthly transactions and round up amounts?
Absolutely! We send out monthly emails summarizing your transactions and round ups for that month. You can also see all your detailed transactional information on the SwipeGood Dashboard after you login.
How does SwipeGood get my credit card transactions?
We get your transactional information in the way companies like Mint.com aggregate purchase information -- through connections with your bank's website.
When is my donation processed each month?
We start your donation cycle the day you sign up. So, for instance, if you signed up on the 15th of the month you'll be giving each month on that date.
Can I pause my monthly donation?
Yes! On the SwipeGood dashboard, you're able to pause or re-activate your monthly donations.
How does SwipeGood send the money to charities?
At the end of each month we send your donations directly to each charity.
How do I update my credit card information?
On the SwipeGood dashboard, you're able to update/change your billing information including email, address, and credit card number.
Why do you need my credit card billing information (address, etc)?
Part of our security process is to ensure your cardholder information is correct. We hate identity theft and want to make sure our users are protected in any way possible.
Why do you need my credit card number and my online banking information?
Your credit card number is used to make your monthly donation. We charge your card at the end of your donation cycle. Your online banking credentials are used to gather the transactional data from your bank.
About me: I give Economic, Social and Global trend briefings from some of the world's brightest minds at my blog http://saveriomanzo.com/ and http://saveriomanzo.blogspot.com/. I also provide true and tested financial planning and wealth advice. Most recently, over the past few years, I have become socially conscious and have been attempting to practise ways in which I can live my life more environmentally friendly. Along with some truly exceptional friends, we provide consulting and business development for small-medium sized businesses. In addition, I truly believe in being philanthropic, giving and doing unto other as we would have them do unto us. Some of my fondest resources are from Barry Ritholtz of The Big Picture, David Rosenberg and what Warren Buffett of Berkshire Hathaway is up to behind the scenes, as an example. saverio manzo
http://www.everyoneweb.com/saveriomanzo/ http://saverio-manzo.jimdo.com/ http://saverio-manzo.yolasite.com/ http://saverio-manzo.webs.com/ http://saverio-manzo.weebly.com/ http://saveriomanzo.terapad.com http://www.shareowners.org/profile/SaverioManzo http://www.linkedin.com/pub/saverio-manzo/b/995/63 http://twitter.com/saveriomanzo http://www.facebook.com/people/Saverio-Manzo/854720596?ref=search
sign up your (credit) card
round up your purchases
donate the change to charity
SwipeGood rounds up all of your credit card purchases to the nearest dollar and allows you to donate the difference to the charity of your choice. It's the easiest way to give to charity!
SwipeGood is all about making change simple and effortless so more people can be part of it. Together we can solve big problems with small actions. Together we will make a big difference in the world.
Click here to begin or learn more.....
Top 5 Questions
Is SwipeGood charging the change every time I spend money?
No. We aggregate your round up amounts for 30 days and then charge your card once a month to save credit card fees and maximize the money that goes to charity. On average people are rounding up around $20 per month.
Will my transactions be shared with my family and friends?
Absolutely not. Your transactions are only visible to you for review once you've logged into your SwipeGood.com account. We use the data to round up your transactions and charge your card to send the money to charity.
How do I know my information will be secure?
We use site-wide bank-level encryption and store your credit card information in a PCI-DSS compliant manner. We take security seriously.
Can I switch the charity that I want to support?
Yes. You can switch your charity any time you want. We are adding new charities every week and give you 100% flexibility on who will benefit from your roundups.
Can I set a monthly limit for my round ups?
Yes you can! Once you've signed up you can specify a donation limit to make sure you can easily afford the good you do on SwipeGood.
FAQs
How does SwipeGood make money?
SwipeGood takes 5% of each monthly donation which is well below the 15-20% that charities are paying for direct marketing and other ways of fundraising today. Taking a small percentage helps cover our costs and deliver the best product to you and to the charities.
Is SwipeGood a non-profit?
No, we're a for-profit business. Our goal is to make giving to charity as easy and as impactful as possible. By structuring ourselves as a for-profit business, we believe we can make a much larger impact on the world and help non-profit organizations become more efficient in their fundraising efforts.
How many credit cards can I enroll?
At this time, only one credit card can be enrolled into our round up program.
Will my credit card information be saved?
Yes, we use Authorize.net to securely store your credit card information for billing purposes. We take security very seriously and ensure that we are PCI-DSS Compliant.
Can I choose the charities my money goes to?
Yes you can! Just click on the "Charities" link on the top right menu and select the one that you want to support. You can switch at any time.
Will I be able to see my monthly transactions and round up amounts?
Absolutely! We send out monthly emails summarizing your transactions and round ups for that month. You can also see all your detailed transactional information on the SwipeGood Dashboard after you login.
How does SwipeGood get my credit card transactions?
We get your transactional information in the way companies like Mint.com aggregate purchase information -- through connections with your bank's website.
When is my donation processed each month?
We start your donation cycle the day you sign up. So, for instance, if you signed up on the 15th of the month you'll be giving each month on that date.
Can I pause my monthly donation?
Yes! On the SwipeGood dashboard, you're able to pause or re-activate your monthly donations.
How does SwipeGood send the money to charities?
At the end of each month we send your donations directly to each charity.
How do I update my credit card information?
On the SwipeGood dashboard, you're able to update/change your billing information including email, address, and credit card number.
Why do you need my credit card billing information (address, etc)?
Part of our security process is to ensure your cardholder information is correct. We hate identity theft and want to make sure our users are protected in any way possible.
Why do you need my credit card number and my online banking information?
Your credit card number is used to make your monthly donation. We charge your card at the end of your donation cycle. Your online banking credentials are used to gather the transactional data from your bank.
About me: I give Economic, Social and Global trend briefings from some of the world's brightest minds at my blog http://saveriomanzo.com/ and http://saveriomanzo.blogspot.com/. I also provide true and tested financial planning and wealth advice. Most recently, over the past few years, I have become socially conscious and have been attempting to practise ways in which I can live my life more environmentally friendly. Along with some truly exceptional friends, we provide consulting and business development for small-medium sized businesses. In addition, I truly believe in being philanthropic, giving and doing unto other as we would have them do unto us. Some of my fondest resources are from Barry Ritholtz of The Big Picture, David Rosenberg and what Warren Buffett of Berkshire Hathaway is up to behind the scenes, as an example. saverio manzo
http://www.everyoneweb.com/saveriomanzo/ http://saverio-manzo.jimdo.com/ http://saverio-manzo.yolasite.com/ http://saverio-manzo.webs.com/ http://saverio-manzo.weebly.com/ http://saveriomanzo.terapad.com http://www.shareowners.org/profile/SaverioManzo http://www.linkedin.com/pub/saverio-manzo/b/995/63 http://twitter.com/saveriomanzo http://www.facebook.com/people/Saverio-Manzo/854720596?ref=search
Friday, January 7, 2011
Capture and store that energy
Energy: you can’t destroy it, but you can certainly waste it. That’s what most motorized vehicles do, including trains. Usually, the energy generated when you stop a moving vehicle is dissipated as heat, and is lost to the atmosphere.
With GE’s ecomagination we’ve discovered that you can capture and store that energy, then reuse it – that’s how our hybrid systems work. Watch the video to see a simple illustration of the physics behind dynamic braking.
Keep in mind an object’s force is measured in Newtons, using the equation “force = mass * acceleration.”
About me: I give Economic, Social and Global trend briefings from some of the world's brightest minds at my blog http://saveriomanzo.com/ and http://saveriomanzo.blogspot.com/. I also provide true and tested financial planning and wealth advice. Most recently, over the past few years, I have become socially conscious and have been attempting to practise ways in which I can live my life more environmentally friendly. Along with some truly exceptional friends, we provide consulting and business development for small-medium sized businesses. In addition, I truly believe in being philanthropic, giving and doing unto other as we would have them do unto us. Some of my fondest resources are from Barry Ritholtz of The Big Picture, David Rosenberg and what Warren Buffett of Berkshire Hathaway is up to behind the scenes, as an example. saverio manzo
http://www.everyoneweb.com/saveriomanzo/ http://saverio-manzo.jimdo.com/ http://saverio-manzo.yolasite.com/ http://saverio-manzo.webs.com/ http://saverio-manzo.weebly.com/ http://saveriomanzo.terapad.com http://www.shareowners.org/profile/SaverioManzo http://www.linkedin.com/pub/saverio-manzo/b/995/63 http://twitter.com/saveriomanzo http://www.facebook.com/people/Saverio-Manzo/854720596?ref=search
With GE’s ecomagination we’ve discovered that you can capture and store that energy, then reuse it – that’s how our hybrid systems work. Watch the video to see a simple illustration of the physics behind dynamic braking.
Keep in mind an object’s force is measured in Newtons, using the equation “force = mass * acceleration.”
About me: I give Economic, Social and Global trend briefings from some of the world's brightest minds at my blog http://saveriomanzo.com/ and http://saveriomanzo.blogspot.com/. I also provide true and tested financial planning and wealth advice. Most recently, over the past few years, I have become socially conscious and have been attempting to practise ways in which I can live my life more environmentally friendly. Along with some truly exceptional friends, we provide consulting and business development for small-medium sized businesses. In addition, I truly believe in being philanthropic, giving and doing unto other as we would have them do unto us. Some of my fondest resources are from Barry Ritholtz of The Big Picture, David Rosenberg and what Warren Buffett of Berkshire Hathaway is up to behind the scenes, as an example. saverio manzo
http://www.everyoneweb.com/saveriomanzo/ http://saverio-manzo.jimdo.com/ http://saverio-manzo.yolasite.com/ http://saverio-manzo.webs.com/ http://saverio-manzo.weebly.com/ http://saveriomanzo.terapad.com http://www.shareowners.org/profile/SaverioManzo http://www.linkedin.com/pub/saverio-manzo/b/995/63 http://twitter.com/saveriomanzo http://www.facebook.com/people/Saverio-Manzo/854720596?ref=search
Friday, December 10, 2010
How Big Is Your Water Footprint?
How much water does the average American use in a day? 1,981 gallons, according to the water use calculator on the National Geographic website. Luckily, the calculator provides us with ways to cut that use. But first, some facts about water use in the U.S.:
• Only five percent of the water we use runs through hoses, taps, and toilets. The rest comes from the food we eat, products we buy, and energy and services we depend on.
• On average, 10 gallons of water a day are lost to leaks.
• Flushing the toilet can add up to 20 gallons a day.
• Using a dishwasher is actually more water efficient than hand washing.
• The average pool takes 22,000 gallons to fill.
• A gallon of gasoline takes nearly 13 gallons of water to produce.
So, how can we reduce the amount of water we use on a daily basis? Start by completing the footprint calculator (it’s actually kind of fun, the duck is cute!), then try some of the following:
• Recycling a pound of paper saves 3.5 gallons of water.
• Cut down on car washing, or go to a commercial car wash where the water is recycled.
• Become a vegan, not eating meat or dairy, and consume 600 gallons less.
• Let your lawn go brown, or plant native/drought resistant species.
• Take a shower instead of a bath. Use a low-flow showerhead and save 15 gallons during a 10 minute shower.
• Repair leaky faucets and toilets.
• (This one isn’t going to be popular) Don’t flush the toilet every time you go to the bathroom.
I remember clearly a few years ago, during a drought in the Northwest, when the top news story in my area was a brown lawn contest and how we shouldn’t be flushing every time we go. Implement just a few of these tips, and you can help save one of our most precious resources, plus cut your water and sewer bill.
August 26, 2010 in Green Design
About me: I give Economic, Social and Global trend briefings from some of the world's brightest minds at my blog http://saveriomanzo.com/ and http://saveriomanzo.blogspot.com/. I also provide true and tested financial planning and wealth advice. Most recently, over the past few years, I have become socially conscious and have been attempting to practise ways in which I can live my life more environmentally friendly. Along with some truly exceptional friends, we provide consulting and business development for small-medium sized businesses. In addition, I truly believe in being philanthropic, giving and doing unto other as we would have them do unto us. Some of my fondest resources are from Barry Ritholtz of The Big Picture, David Rosenberg and what Warren Buffett of Berkshire Hathaway is up to behind the scenes, as an example.
Saverio Manzo
.
• Only five percent of the water we use runs through hoses, taps, and toilets. The rest comes from the food we eat, products we buy, and energy and services we depend on.
• On average, 10 gallons of water a day are lost to leaks.
• Flushing the toilet can add up to 20 gallons a day.
• Using a dishwasher is actually more water efficient than hand washing.
• The average pool takes 22,000 gallons to fill.
• A gallon of gasoline takes nearly 13 gallons of water to produce.
So, how can we reduce the amount of water we use on a daily basis? Start by completing the footprint calculator (it’s actually kind of fun, the duck is cute!), then try some of the following:
• Recycling a pound of paper saves 3.5 gallons of water.
• Cut down on car washing, or go to a commercial car wash where the water is recycled.
• Become a vegan, not eating meat or dairy, and consume 600 gallons less.
• Let your lawn go brown, or plant native/drought resistant species.
• Take a shower instead of a bath. Use a low-flow showerhead and save 15 gallons during a 10 minute shower.
• Repair leaky faucets and toilets.
• (This one isn’t going to be popular) Don’t flush the toilet every time you go to the bathroom.
I remember clearly a few years ago, during a drought in the Northwest, when the top news story in my area was a brown lawn contest and how we shouldn’t be flushing every time we go. Implement just a few of these tips, and you can help save one of our most precious resources, plus cut your water and sewer bill.
August 26, 2010 in Green Design
About me: I give Economic, Social and Global trend briefings from some of the world's brightest minds at my blog http://saveriomanzo.com/ and http://saveriomanzo.blogspot.com/. I also provide true and tested financial planning and wealth advice. Most recently, over the past few years, I have become socially conscious and have been attempting to practise ways in which I can live my life more environmentally friendly. Along with some truly exceptional friends, we provide consulting and business development for small-medium sized businesses. In addition, I truly believe in being philanthropic, giving and doing unto other as we would have them do unto us. Some of my fondest resources are from Barry Ritholtz of The Big Picture, David Rosenberg and what Warren Buffett of Berkshire Hathaway is up to behind the scenes, as an example.
Saverio Manzo
.
Friday, June 25, 2010
Eight Actions for the Gulf and Beyond
I am extremely grateful to all of you who have decided to be a part of Collective Creativity at LinkedIn, and for all your generous and valuable contributions so far.
There is a Cree proverb that says, "Only when the last tree has died, the last river has been poisoned, and the last fish has been caught will we realize we cannot eat money." The toxic oil spewing into the Gulf is so heartbreaking and massive that the warning of this proverb as it relates to the spill cannot possibly be missed by any one of us. This catastrophe is bringing each of us to our own personal crossroads about environmental stewardship.
Let's all heed the foretelling of the Cree and become part of the solution. Show that we are aware that organisms and the environment are one process, trees are our lungs, rivers and waters and oceans are our circulation, the earth recycles as our physical body, and the atmosphere is our breath. Let us show in action that we know we are one ecosystem. Let us not let the Earth become uninhabitable.
Many of us, overwhelmed by bad news on the ecological front for more than a decade, may almost by default find ourselves going down the road that allows shutting down and tuning out, passively letting bad go to worse. But let's change now to a way that leads to personal fulfillment and empowerment. Let's go down the road of action, following the invigorating, energizing, call to action that this current catastrophe has inspired.
Most of us have a little of both scenarios going on in ourselves. It is easy to be overwhelmed by the grief and complexity. This is why I invite you to continue to contribute to Collective Creativity, our LinkedIn group, to work together to create more proactive solutions and innovations to prevent problems like the Gulf from happening again.
The following eight steps are things that we can all do to become involved, compiled from feedback from my questions posted here at Collective Creativity on LinkedIn. Please continue your valuable contributions to this conversation and add your own!
1. Give direct financial aid through reliable agencies such as the United Way.
2. Support organizations such as Ocean Conservation Society, The Nature Conservancy, and others that are engaged in healing our ecosystem. Follow their recommendations for ways to help.
3. Volunteer and help organizations recruit others for habitat restoration activities and more. For example, gather hair from salons, groomers, llamas, sheep fleece farmers, feather donors, and others, for making oil-soaking boom via mattersoftrust.org.
4. Engage in global conversation and harness collective creativity with social networks such as our Collective Creativity group at LinkedIn.
5. Make conscious choices that are "green." For example, go through your cleaning supplies and stop using anything that has a Signal Word label with anything stronger than "Caution."
6. Support investments in technologies that are looking at sustainably and reversal of global warming such as Fuelcor Global
7. Educate yourself on very successful approaches to restoring the ecosystem such as of Allan Savory, who is the winner of 2010 Buckminster Fuller Challenge
8. Support spiritual education that teaches people, especially the youth, the relationship between all life. Much of all that has happened to damage the world is a result of a dualistic approach in science where we created a distinction between biological organisms and the environment.
A new global movement of planetary healing needs both a short-term approach addressing the urgent need to act swiftly, but at the same time, a long term approach with action steps people can take in their everyday life. Healing this planet will be empowering for all of us. Planetary wellness needs to become a global movement, yet it begins with you and me, and the time to act is now.
Deepak Chopra
www.saveriomanzo.com
There is a Cree proverb that says, "Only when the last tree has died, the last river has been poisoned, and the last fish has been caught will we realize we cannot eat money." The toxic oil spewing into the Gulf is so heartbreaking and massive that the warning of this proverb as it relates to the spill cannot possibly be missed by any one of us. This catastrophe is bringing each of us to our own personal crossroads about environmental stewardship.
Let's all heed the foretelling of the Cree and become part of the solution. Show that we are aware that organisms and the environment are one process, trees are our lungs, rivers and waters and oceans are our circulation, the earth recycles as our physical body, and the atmosphere is our breath. Let us show in action that we know we are one ecosystem. Let us not let the Earth become uninhabitable.
Many of us, overwhelmed by bad news on the ecological front for more than a decade, may almost by default find ourselves going down the road that allows shutting down and tuning out, passively letting bad go to worse. But let's change now to a way that leads to personal fulfillment and empowerment. Let's go down the road of action, following the invigorating, energizing, call to action that this current catastrophe has inspired.
Most of us have a little of both scenarios going on in ourselves. It is easy to be overwhelmed by the grief and complexity. This is why I invite you to continue to contribute to Collective Creativity, our LinkedIn group, to work together to create more proactive solutions and innovations to prevent problems like the Gulf from happening again.
The following eight steps are things that we can all do to become involved, compiled from feedback from my questions posted here at Collective Creativity on LinkedIn. Please continue your valuable contributions to this conversation and add your own!
1. Give direct financial aid through reliable agencies such as the United Way.
2. Support organizations such as Ocean Conservation Society, The Nature Conservancy, and others that are engaged in healing our ecosystem. Follow their recommendations for ways to help.
3. Volunteer and help organizations recruit others for habitat restoration activities and more. For example, gather hair from salons, groomers, llamas, sheep fleece farmers, feather donors, and others, for making oil-soaking boom via mattersoftrust.org.
4. Engage in global conversation and harness collective creativity with social networks such as our Collective Creativity group at LinkedIn.
5. Make conscious choices that are "green." For example, go through your cleaning supplies and stop using anything that has a Signal Word label with anything stronger than "Caution."
6. Support investments in technologies that are looking at sustainably and reversal of global warming such as Fuelcor Global
7. Educate yourself on very successful approaches to restoring the ecosystem such as of Allan Savory, who is the winner of 2010 Buckminster Fuller Challenge
8. Support spiritual education that teaches people, especially the youth, the relationship between all life. Much of all that has happened to damage the world is a result of a dualistic approach in science where we created a distinction between biological organisms and the environment.
A new global movement of planetary healing needs both a short-term approach addressing the urgent need to act swiftly, but at the same time, a long term approach with action steps people can take in their everyday life. Healing this planet will be empowering for all of us. Planetary wellness needs to become a global movement, yet it begins with you and me, and the time to act is now.
Deepak Chopra
www.saveriomanzo.com
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Pesticides, Cell Towers and the decline of the Bee population
The economic effect of a declining bee population is enormous. At best the price of food will skyrocket and there will be famine across the globe. At worst the entire human race is at risk of extinction. Albert Einstein once said that if the bees were gone the human race will be done in four years. The devastation to bee colony populations may be a result of cell phone towers emitting frequencies that disorient the bees. Dead bees are said to be found all around cell phone towers. This is serious stuff folks and it is not being widely reported
Fears for crops as shock figures from America show scale of bee catastrophe
By Lou Scatigna
Fears for crops as shock figures from America show scale of bee catastrophe
The world may be on the brink of biological disaster after news that a third of US bee colonies did not survive the winter
Disturbing evidence that honeybees are in terminal decline has emerged from the United States where, for the fourth year in a row, more than a third of colonies have failed to survive the winter.
The decline of the country’s estimated 2.4 million beehives began in 2006, when a phenomenon dubbed colony collapse disorder (CCD) led to the disappearance of hundreds of thousands of colonies. Since then more than three million colonies in the US and billions of honeybees worldwide have died and scientists are no nearer to knowing what is causing the catastrophic fall in numbers.
The number of managed honeybee colonies in the US fell by 33.8% last winter, according to the annual survey by the Apiary Inspectors of America and the US government’s Agricultural Research Service (ARS).
The collapse in the global honeybee population is a major threat to crops. It is estimated that a third of everything we eat depends upon honeybee pollination, which means that bees contribute some £26bn to the global economy.
Potential causes range from parasites, such as the bloodsucking varroa mite, to viral and bacterial infections, pesticides and poor nutrition stemming from intensive farming methods. The disappearance of so many colonies has also been dubbed “Mary Celeste syndrome” due to the absence of dead bees in many of the empty hives.
US scientists have found 121 different pesticides in samples of bees, wax and pollen, lending credence to the notion that pesticides are a key problem. “We believe that some subtle interactions between nutrition, pesticide exposure and other stressors are converging to kill colonies,” said Jeffery Pettis, of the ARS’s bee research laboratory.
A global review of honeybee deaths by the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) reported last week that there was no one single cause, but pointed the finger at the “irresponsible use” of pesticides that may damage bee health and make them more susceptible to diseases. Bernard Vallat, the OIE’s director-general, warned: “Bees contribute to global food security, and their extinction would represent a terrible biological disaster.”
Dave Hackenberg of Hackenberg Apiaries, the Pennsylvania-based commercial beekeeper who first raised the alarm about CCD, said that last year had been the worst yet for bee losses, with 62% of his 2,600 hives dying between May 2009 and April 2010. “It’s getting worse,” he said. “The AIA survey doesn’t give you the full picture because it is only measuring losses through the winter. In the summer the bees are exposed to lots of pesticides. Farmers mix them together and no one has any idea what the effects might be.”
Pettis agreed that losses in some commercial operations are running at 50% or greater. “Continued losses of this magnitude are not economically sustainable for commercial beekeepers,” he said, adding that a solution may be years away. “Look at Aids, they have billions in research dollars and a causative agent and still no cure. Research takes time and beehives are complex organisms.”
In the UK it is still too early to judge how Britain’s estimated 250,000 honeybee colonies have fared during the long winter. Tim Lovett, president of the British Beekeepers’ Association, said: “Anecdotally, it is hugely variable. There are reports of some beekeepers losing almost a third of their hives and others losing none.” Results from a survey of the association’s 15,000 members are expected this month.
John Chapple, chairman of the London Beekeepers’ Association, put losses among his 150 members at between a fifth and a quarter. Eight of his 36 hives across the capital did not survive. “There are still a lot of mysterious disappearances,” he said. “We are no nearer to knowing what is causing them.”
Bee farmers in Scotland have reported losses on the American scale for the past three years. Andrew Scarlett, a Perthshire-based bee farmer and honey packer, lost 80% of his 1,200 hives this winter. But he attributed the massive decline to a virulent bacterial infection that quickly spread because of a lack of bee inspectors, coupled with sustained poor weather that prevented honeybees from building up sufficient pollen and nectar stores.
WHY BEES MATTER
Flowering plants require insects for pollination. The most effective is the honeybee, which pollinates 90 commercial crops worldwide. As well as most fruits and vegetables – including apples, oranges, strawberries, onions and carrots – they pollinate nuts, sunflowers and oil-seed rape. Coffee, soya beans, clovers – like alfafa, which is used for cattle feed – and even cotton are all dependent on honeybee pollination to increase yields.
Saverio Manzo
www.saveriomanzo.com
Fears for crops as shock figures from America show scale of bee catastrophe
By Lou Scatigna
Fears for crops as shock figures from America show scale of bee catastrophe
The world may be on the brink of biological disaster after news that a third of US bee colonies did not survive the winter
Disturbing evidence that honeybees are in terminal decline has emerged from the United States where, for the fourth year in a row, more than a third of colonies have failed to survive the winter.
The decline of the country’s estimated 2.4 million beehives began in 2006, when a phenomenon dubbed colony collapse disorder (CCD) led to the disappearance of hundreds of thousands of colonies. Since then more than three million colonies in the US and billions of honeybees worldwide have died and scientists are no nearer to knowing what is causing the catastrophic fall in numbers.
The number of managed honeybee colonies in the US fell by 33.8% last winter, according to the annual survey by the Apiary Inspectors of America and the US government’s Agricultural Research Service (ARS).
The collapse in the global honeybee population is a major threat to crops. It is estimated that a third of everything we eat depends upon honeybee pollination, which means that bees contribute some £26bn to the global economy.
Potential causes range from parasites, such as the bloodsucking varroa mite, to viral and bacterial infections, pesticides and poor nutrition stemming from intensive farming methods. The disappearance of so many colonies has also been dubbed “Mary Celeste syndrome” due to the absence of dead bees in many of the empty hives.
US scientists have found 121 different pesticides in samples of bees, wax and pollen, lending credence to the notion that pesticides are a key problem. “We believe that some subtle interactions between nutrition, pesticide exposure and other stressors are converging to kill colonies,” said Jeffery Pettis, of the ARS’s bee research laboratory.
A global review of honeybee deaths by the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) reported last week that there was no one single cause, but pointed the finger at the “irresponsible use” of pesticides that may damage bee health and make them more susceptible to diseases. Bernard Vallat, the OIE’s director-general, warned: “Bees contribute to global food security, and their extinction would represent a terrible biological disaster.”
Dave Hackenberg of Hackenberg Apiaries, the Pennsylvania-based commercial beekeeper who first raised the alarm about CCD, said that last year had been the worst yet for bee losses, with 62% of his 2,600 hives dying between May 2009 and April 2010. “It’s getting worse,” he said. “The AIA survey doesn’t give you the full picture because it is only measuring losses through the winter. In the summer the bees are exposed to lots of pesticides. Farmers mix them together and no one has any idea what the effects might be.”
Pettis agreed that losses in some commercial operations are running at 50% or greater. “Continued losses of this magnitude are not economically sustainable for commercial beekeepers,” he said, adding that a solution may be years away. “Look at Aids, they have billions in research dollars and a causative agent and still no cure. Research takes time and beehives are complex organisms.”
In the UK it is still too early to judge how Britain’s estimated 250,000 honeybee colonies have fared during the long winter. Tim Lovett, president of the British Beekeepers’ Association, said: “Anecdotally, it is hugely variable. There are reports of some beekeepers losing almost a third of their hives and others losing none.” Results from a survey of the association’s 15,000 members are expected this month.
John Chapple, chairman of the London Beekeepers’ Association, put losses among his 150 members at between a fifth and a quarter. Eight of his 36 hives across the capital did not survive. “There are still a lot of mysterious disappearances,” he said. “We are no nearer to knowing what is causing them.”
Bee farmers in Scotland have reported losses on the American scale for the past three years. Andrew Scarlett, a Perthshire-based bee farmer and honey packer, lost 80% of his 1,200 hives this winter. But he attributed the massive decline to a virulent bacterial infection that quickly spread because of a lack of bee inspectors, coupled with sustained poor weather that prevented honeybees from building up sufficient pollen and nectar stores.
WHY BEES MATTER
Flowering plants require insects for pollination. The most effective is the honeybee, which pollinates 90 commercial crops worldwide. As well as most fruits and vegetables – including apples, oranges, strawberries, onions and carrots – they pollinate nuts, sunflowers and oil-seed rape. Coffee, soya beans, clovers – like alfafa, which is used for cattle feed – and even cotton are all dependent on honeybee pollination to increase yields.
Saverio Manzo
www.saveriomanzo.com
Monday, May 3, 2010
Eco-friendly, ethical and green ways to shop for food
Tips for more sustainable, eco friendly, ethical and green ways to shop for food rather than using supermarkets
In an ideal world, we would be totally self sufficient within a community set up. The next best thing would be to buy everything we could not grow or rear ourselves locally, seasonally, organic and therefore, fair trade. This would be a more sustainable way of life, more ethical, eco friendly and the perfect green option!
Unfortunately, this utopian vision does not exist for most of us and many of us rely on supermarkets to bridge the gap.
There are small, positive steps we can all take to shift the balance from supermarket shopping to more sustainable and ethical choices.
We still use supermarkets. Let’s face it, self sufficient changes don’t happen over night and old habits die hard, but we have probably quartered the amount we used to buy from them. We’ve recently switched to home delivery which has made a huge difference to the way I shop (and spend money). In addition one can join a food Co-Op, support local shops and use an organic farm shop. The aim is to gradually increase the amount of vegetables we grow ourselves and more importantly, learn how to preserve them better.
In reducing supermarket shopping, I have found that I spend less money. The convenience side of finding everything under one roof has been easily overcome when I’ve recognized the benefits.
How many of us come out of a supermarket with far more than we intended? Clever marketing encourages us to buy more than we need or want. Three for Two offers tempt us and more often than not we do not use everything and it gets thrown away.
Many “super”markets make you walk past books, cds, clothes and electrical goods before you even get to the vegetable aisle!
Changing shopping habits can feel very daunting but there are an increasing number of eco friendly and more ethical alternatives.
Local, independent shops.
Shopping in local grocery shops, butchers and bakers helps to keep your money in the local economy. Small retailers know they rely on your for their livelihood so you will feel more valued as a customer. Independent stores are often surprisingly willing to try new lines if you ask them and will often support local growers with a seasonal range of products. In some local village stores, around 80% of the fresh fruit and vegetables comes from nearby farms. At the local butcher, all lines are traceable; they know each farmer personally and packaging is kept to a minimum.
Box schemes
Sign up for a local fruit and vegetable box scheme where you will benefit from fresh, quality, seasonal and local produce delivered to your door. One great side effect of this is that you get to try new things. There is a while world of foods that you’ve probably never experimented with. Using a box scheme pushes you to be creative and explore new tastes. There are more and more schemes arriving almost daily on the net – look for a future post for some great options once I have had a chance to review them.
Food Co-op
Set up or join a Collective buying co-op. You will be able to buy bulk quantities of whole foods at around 25% less than health food shop prices. Ethical policies are usually top priority with food co-ops, so you can be sure you are making sustainable choices.
Farmer’s market
You can find some great things are farmer’s markets such as local, seasonal vegetables and fruit, organic lines, bread and preserves. They truly still a great option!
Grow your own!
The first step to self sufficiency! Even the most brown thumbed of us can manage a few crops. Herbs can be grown indoors in the kitchen windowsill, tomatoes can be planted in hanging baskets and sprouted seeds can be grown indoors. If you fancy having a go at growing your own but don’t have the space, look to rent an allotment through your local authority. This is a great way to meet people from your area and share tips.
As more and more people are interested in green living and embrace a sustainable lifestyle, our buying choices will influence the market. Prices for ethical, fair trade and organic produce will gradually decrease if we keep up the demand.
Source: lil'greenblog
Saverio Manzo
www.saveriomanzo.com
In an ideal world, we would be totally self sufficient within a community set up. The next best thing would be to buy everything we could not grow or rear ourselves locally, seasonally, organic and therefore, fair trade. This would be a more sustainable way of life, more ethical, eco friendly and the perfect green option!
Unfortunately, this utopian vision does not exist for most of us and many of us rely on supermarkets to bridge the gap.
There are small, positive steps we can all take to shift the balance from supermarket shopping to more sustainable and ethical choices.
We still use supermarkets. Let’s face it, self sufficient changes don’t happen over night and old habits die hard, but we have probably quartered the amount we used to buy from them. We’ve recently switched to home delivery which has made a huge difference to the way I shop (and spend money). In addition one can join a food Co-Op, support local shops and use an organic farm shop. The aim is to gradually increase the amount of vegetables we grow ourselves and more importantly, learn how to preserve them better.
In reducing supermarket shopping, I have found that I spend less money. The convenience side of finding everything under one roof has been easily overcome when I’ve recognized the benefits.
How many of us come out of a supermarket with far more than we intended? Clever marketing encourages us to buy more than we need or want. Three for Two offers tempt us and more often than not we do not use everything and it gets thrown away.
Many “super”markets make you walk past books, cds, clothes and electrical goods before you even get to the vegetable aisle!
Changing shopping habits can feel very daunting but there are an increasing number of eco friendly and more ethical alternatives.
Local, independent shops.
Shopping in local grocery shops, butchers and bakers helps to keep your money in the local economy. Small retailers know they rely on your for their livelihood so you will feel more valued as a customer. Independent stores are often surprisingly willing to try new lines if you ask them and will often support local growers with a seasonal range of products. In some local village stores, around 80% of the fresh fruit and vegetables comes from nearby farms. At the local butcher, all lines are traceable; they know each farmer personally and packaging is kept to a minimum.
Box schemes
Sign up for a local fruit and vegetable box scheme where you will benefit from fresh, quality, seasonal and local produce delivered to your door. One great side effect of this is that you get to try new things. There is a while world of foods that you’ve probably never experimented with. Using a box scheme pushes you to be creative and explore new tastes. There are more and more schemes arriving almost daily on the net – look for a future post for some great options once I have had a chance to review them.
Food Co-op
Set up or join a Collective buying co-op. You will be able to buy bulk quantities of whole foods at around 25% less than health food shop prices. Ethical policies are usually top priority with food co-ops, so you can be sure you are making sustainable choices.
Farmer’s market
You can find some great things are farmer’s markets such as local, seasonal vegetables and fruit, organic lines, bread and preserves. They truly still a great option!
Grow your own!
The first step to self sufficiency! Even the most brown thumbed of us can manage a few crops. Herbs can be grown indoors in the kitchen windowsill, tomatoes can be planted in hanging baskets and sprouted seeds can be grown indoors. If you fancy having a go at growing your own but don’t have the space, look to rent an allotment through your local authority. This is a great way to meet people from your area and share tips.
As more and more people are interested in green living and embrace a sustainable lifestyle, our buying choices will influence the market. Prices for ethical, fair trade and organic produce will gradually decrease if we keep up the demand.
Source: lil'greenblog
Saverio Manzo
www.saveriomanzo.com
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