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.
Sunday, March 31, 2013
Saturday, March 30, 2013
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.
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.
Monday, March 25, 2013
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
Recycling By The Numbers from TheNewEcologist.com
++ Click to Enlarge Image ++
Reusable Bags
Global Carbon footprint - literally
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