News this week fueled speculation about carbon in the Amazon rainforest and energized the biofuel market in the United States. A major UK-based initiative is employing “smart street lights” and an American startup company is hoping to build solar roadways. Mercedes released an electric bicycle to accompany its SmartForTwo EV and the King of Jordan invited “Trekkies” worldwide to visit his nation’s new theme park when it opens in 2014.
A new study shows that climate change may affect carbon cycling in the rainforests. The researchers have found that, even as climate change nurtures the growth of trees in Earth’s tropical jungles, the resulting increase in litterfall – leaves, bark, and twigs that plummet to the ground – may stimulate the release of carbon from the soil. The researchers estimate that a 30 percent increase in litterfall could release about 0.6 tons of carbon per hectare from lowland tropical forest soils each year.
The U.S. Departments of Agriculture, Energy, and Navy will invest up to $510 million during the next three years, in partnership with the private sector, to produce advanced drop-in aviation and marine biofuels for military and commercial transportation, President Barack Obama announced on August 16. “Biofuels are an important part of reducing America's dependence on foreign oil and creating jobs here at home,” said Obama. “But supporting biofuels cannot be the role of government alone. That's why we're partnering with the private sector to speed development of next-generation biofuels.”
In the UK, the biggest street lighting project ever involves the replacement and maintenance of 250,000 streetlights across Hampshire, West Sussex, and Southampton. This £225 million (US$370) 25-year South Coast Street Lighting initiative is employing smart lighting control. Los Angeles-based Wireless Logic, an independent aggregator, is delivering connectivity, which is enabled over the Internet via the mobile network.
Put the snow tires away. According to Idaho-based Solar Roadways, your sidewalks, parking lots, driveways – and streets and highways – will be clear and dry after the next snowstorm, if solar paving is installed. The company has been awarded $750,000 by the U.S. Federal Highway Administration to design and build a solar parking lot. The solar panels, along with heating elements and LED lights, are embedded into a type of glass that provides the traction of asphalt. The lights can be used to “paint” the road lines, to provide easy-to-see lanes, as well as street lights, all in one. They also can be used to warn drivers about detours, accidents, or construction ahead.
When Mercedes-Benz introduces the third generation of its tiny, two-seat plug-in EV, SmartForTwo, next month, it will come with a companion vehicle: a new plug-in Smart Ebike bicycle that can actually be mounted on the back of the electric car. The Ebike will offer a 250-watt brushless electric hub motor mounted within the 26-inch rear wheel to supplement the pedaling of the rider. The bike provides three gears and four power levels, so riders can pick a combination of electric power/human power that's right for them (as in...minimal electric assistance in pedaling on flat areas, but extra electric power uphill). The bike is good for electric power up to 100 kilometers (about 62 miles) in distance.
Fifteen years after King Abdullah II of Jordan made a cameo appearance as a science officer on the 1996 “Investigations” episode of the TV series, Star Trek: Voyager, he now wants everyone to travel “where no man has gone before.” In fact, the King , who is an unabashed Trekkie, will be the majority investor in a $1.5-billion theme park in Aqaba, Jordan– to be called the called the Red Sea Astrarium – which celebrates the cult U.S. sci-fi program. In addition to a futuristic, multisensory Star Trek space-flight experience, the producers plan to feature state-of-the-art renewable technologies throughout the facility, as well as to host a “future” pavilion, where visitors can learn about alternative energy sources, ranging from solar and wind energy to greywater harvesting.
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Cheryl Kaften is an accomplished communicator who has written for consumer and corporate audiences. She has worked extensively for MasterCard (News - Alert) Worldwide, Philip Morris USA (Altria), and KPMG, and has consulted for Estee Lauder and the Philadelphia Inquirer Newspapers. To read more of her articles, please visit her columnist page.
