First Renewable Energy Self-Sufficient Island

The first self-sufficient island that is powered only by renewable energy is El Hierro, a tourist destination located in Spain's Canary Island group.  It has a population of just over 10,000 (2003) and is 107.3 sq miles (278 km²) in area. The island uses wind, solar and hydroelectric power.  The people of the island also use organic methods for livestock and crop management.

The Canary Islands are composed of El Hierro, La Palma, La Gomera, Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura, and Lanzarote. The website states that they have created the Canarian Agency of Sustainable Development and Climate Change and that they have enacted an Energy Plan for the Canaries. This plan is based on four main principles: it aims to guarantee the supply of energy; maximise its rational use through efficient consumption; promote renewable energy sources; and achieve sustainable development. They are also working on creating and developing laws and action plans designed to fulfill these goals.

This video from 2009 show their plans and shows off the island.

Cleaning the Plastic from our Oceans

The Clean Oceans Project is an organization trying to rid the ocean of plastic by turning it into a useable fuel.




Their mission is to eliminate plastic pollution from the world's oceans. They plan to clean up the Pacific Gyre by "integrating new and existing technologies to locate plastic marine debris, and develop effective and environmentally sustainable techniques for removing it from the world's oceans". Their technique will be to process the plastic into useable fuel.

We have all seen the reports about whole islands made of floating plastic (and other) debris. Birds and sea life are suffering and dying from ingesting the plastic we create. They are also dying from discarded fishing nets and lines that entangle the marine life and birds.

Below is a graphic from Clean Oceans Project that show some of the statistics and facts in a more visual way.

Cool Environmental Infographics

Here are the coolest infographics I have come across of late. Click below to access them.


Recycling By The Numbers from TheNewEcologist.com



++ Click to Enlarge Image ++
Reusable Bags

Global Carbon footprint - literally

Clean Water with a 10 cent Packet

For the millions who do not have access to clean water, a number of companies and non-profits have started to try to solve this problem.  Some organizations help raise money to install water pumps that allow them access to the clean water under the ground.  For most though, they have to drink dirty river, bay or runoff water.  About 1.8 million children die every year due to diarrheal diseases, more than from HIV/AIDS or malaria combined.

A good solution for these people would be to have a relatively easy and inexpensive way to do this.  PUR and the Children's Safe Drinking Water have come up with products that do just that. PUR states on their website that "more than one billion liters of clean drinking water have been provided by global relief organizations using PUR packets including PSI, AmeriCares, CARE, Samaritan's Purse and World Vision. PUR Packet

Children's Safe Drinking Water - This organization states that each packet costs 10 cents a piece and can treat 10 liters of water.
    $1.00 gives a child clean water for 50 days
    $7.50 gives a child clean water for a year
    $30.00 gives a family clean water for a year

Can you imagine what that could do for an individual or family? I think about that fact that I can buy a Starbucks Frappucino for around $5 and it lasts a few minutes whereas if I donated that money to this organization, then I could give a child a year of clean water.
How It Works



http://www.pg.com/home.shtml  This is a great flash demonstration where you can help treat some water on screen to see how easy it really is. 30 minutes to clean water. You can also buy your own water kit at local retailers to try it out yourself or take on your next camping trip.