July 2011

Wow, folks! We've just plugged into the future, and let me tell you, it's electrifying! Picture this: A sleek, modern electric car that looks like it could be the Nissan LEAF's cooler cousin is cruising down a road that's more high-tech than your smartphone. On one side, we've got wind turbines spinning like nature's own pinwheels, and on the other, solar panels soaking up the sun like it's going out of style. It's like Mother Nature and technology decided to have a block party! But wait, there's more! In the background, we've got a cityscape that looks like it's straight out of a eco-warrior's dream. Green buildings are reaching for the sky, and charging stations are popping up like daisies. It's as if the whole city got a sustainable makeover, and boy, does it look good! And who's that giving us the thumbs up? It's a portrait of a smiling Senator, looking as pleased as punch. He's probably thinking, "Now that's what I call progress!" It's like he's giving the whole scene his seal of approval. The colors? They're so vibrant, they make a rainbow look dull. It's all blues, greens, and sunny yellows, painting a picture of optimism that's brighter than a solar farm at high noon. This image isn't just eye candy, folks. It's a snapshot of the future we're building right now. It's showing us how electric vehicles are the key players in our clean energy game. They're not just cars; they're rolling symbols of a greener, cleaner tomorrow. Remember when Senator Alexander, Nissan, and PEW were talking about the importance of electric vehicles back in 2011? Well, this image is like their vision come to life. It's proof that their ideas weren't just hot air – they were the blueprint for a revolution on wheels! So, next time you see an electric car zipping by, give it a nod. It's not just a vehicle; it's a little piece of the future, right here in the present. And if this image is anything to go by, that future is looking mighty fine! Now, who's ready to hop in an EV and drive straight into this eco-tastic tomorrow? Because from where I'm standing, the road ahead is looking greener than ever!

EV Clean Energy Economy: Powering a Greener Future

greenlivingguy15 years ago10 months ago03 mins

Sparking the EV Revolution: Senator Alexander’s Vision Picture this: It’s a sweltering July day in 2011, and Senator Lamar Alexander is fired up about the future of transportation. As a longtime advocate for clean energy, he’s been pushing for a greener America, and electric vehicles are at the forefront of his vision. The good Senator…

100% Electric Nissan Leaf™ takes historic Pikes Peak win

greenlivingguy15 years ago6 months ago03 mins

– Brad Lovell and Nissan Frontier place second in Pikes Peak Open Class –
Under beautiful blue skies at the 89th running of the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb yesterday, veteran Nissan off-road truck racing champion Chad Hord and the 100 percent electric Nissan LEAF™ made history as the first winners of the Electric Production Class. The Nissan LEAF™ completed the run with a time of 14 minutes 33 seconds for the 12.42 mile run. Even though the Nissan LEAF™ was virtually stock except for interior safety modifications and more aggressive wheels and tires, it out ran several competitors with highly modified internal combustion engines.
The race is run on a 12.42 mile course with 156 turns that begins at 9,390 feet and finishes at the 14,110 foot summit of Pikes Peak. As the drivers climb toward the summit, the thin air slows reflexes and saps muscle strength. The thin air also robs internal combustion engines of up to 30% of their power at the summit but the Nissan LEAF’s™ electric motor is not impacted by the thin air. It produces the same amount of power at the start and the summit.

Sustainability Seals the Deal: Ford Recycles Tires and Soybean Oil in the Engine Compartment

greenlivingguy15 years ago8 years ago02 mins

Ford and supplier Recycled Polymeric Materials (RPM) have found a way to put discarded tires to good use. By combining recycled tires with bio-renewable content, they are delivering environmentally friendly seals and gaskets for Ford Motor Company vehicles.
The gaskets and seals are derived from 25 percent post-consumer particulate from recycled tires and 17 percent bio-renewable content from soy.
In total, more than 2.2 million pounds of rubber from recycled tires has been made into RPM seals and gaskets and more than 210,000 used tires have been recycled. Additionally, 150,000 pounds of soy has been used to create the materials.

The generated image captures the essence of the grassroots Fair Trade chocolate campaign in a supermarket setting. A well-lit aisle filled with chocolate products dominates the scene. In the foreground, a hand is visible placing a small, handwritten note next to a selection of Fair Trade chocolate bars. The note clearly reads "Choose Fair Trade for ethical cocoa farming," effectively conveying the campaign's core message. The shelves display a diverse array of chocolate brands, with Fair Trade options prominently featured alongside conventional products. This visual contrast highlights the choice consumers face and emphasizes the article's focus on informed decision-making and ethical consumption. In the background, several shoppers can be seen examining various chocolate products, representing the broader consumer base that the campaign aims to educate. Their presence adds a sense of everyday reality to the scene, reinforcing that this is a grassroots movement happening in regular supermarkets. The image uses warm, inviting colors, creating an approachable and familiar supermarket environment. This color choice helps make the Fair Trade message more appealing and less intimidating to viewers. Overall, this visual representation effectively captures key elements from the article: The grassroots nature of the campaign The focus on consumer education at the point of purchase The contrast between conventional and Fair Trade chocolate options The power of small actions (like leaving a note) to raise awareness This image serves as a powerful companion to the article, making the concept of promoting Fair Trade through consumer activism more tangible and relatable to viewers. It encapsulates the idea that small, individual actions in our everyday shopping experiences can contribute to significant global change.

Choosing Fair Trade Cocoa: A Step Towards Ethical Consumption

greenlivingguy15 years ago1 year ago03 mins

This summer, concerned consumers are taking a high-tech stand in supermarkets across the nation to inform other shoppers about the labor violations associated with Hershey’s chocolate products. Individuals are leaving smartphone-enabled “Consumer Alert” cards
(http://www.raisethebarhershey.org//srv/htdocs/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/SmoresAlertColorJPG.jpg)
on the shelf in front of Hershey products, as well as on Hershey’s S’mores promotional displays, reading: “Hershey’s chocolate is tainted with child labor.”
The alert cards include an innovative use of a QR code to allow shoppers to take action on their smartphones right in the store as part of a larger campaign, including an online petition with over 13,000 supporters.

Case Study: Wells Fargo Florida Branch Roof Protected by APV eCoolRoof® to Conserve Energy

greenlivingguy15 years ago8 years ago04 mins

Pensacola, Florida, can get pretty hot in the summertime, with several days where the temperature clears 100 degrees. When this happens, the air conditioner in a building often runs continuously in an effort to keep inside temperatures down – and the effort isn’t always successful.
With this challenge in mind, an official with Wells Fargo® made the decision in January 2011 to redo the roof of the Northview Branch building in an effort to conserve energy and preserve the life of the roof. APV eCoolRoof® from APV Engineered Coatings®, a new cool roof coating system comprised of a Kynar Aquatec® resin-based topcoat and an elastomeric acrylic basecoat, was applied to the roof in April 2011. Working together, these two products can provide as much as 63 percent increase in life cycle energy savings for a structure.
Patrick Murrell, owner of Structure Cleaning and Coating and the nation’s first Pro-X Certified Contractor™ for APV eCoolRoof, was instrumental in the choice by Wells Fargo of the APV eCoolRoof coating system. A strong relationship with Wachovia led to the relationship with Wells Fargo as the company goes through the rebranding process of its bank branches. While this is Murrell’s first bank branch job using APV eCoolRoof, he suspects it won’t be his last.