Archive for February, 2012

Advancements in Natural Gas Vehicle Technology

The Honda Civic GX has become a standard  to grow from over the last couple of years, and the only Natural Gas Vehicle available in the US market as well.  2012 is going to be no exception for Honda once again. In fact it has received several awards and distinctions coming into 2012. This year, Green Car Journal gave it the “2012 Green Car of the Year^®” award as it featured countless innovative technologies and new approaches to eco-conscious motoring. It was also labeled the “Greenest Vehicle” by the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE) for the eighth year in a row.It was even named one of About.com’s Best New Cars of 2012. About.com’s Aaron Gold called the 2012 Civic “…hands-down the most comprehensive compact car on the market.” To read more about the Honda Civic GX you can visit http://automobiles.honda.com/civic-natural-gas/ We congratulate Honda for putting so much effort into providing consumers with such a great vehicle option that is not only great for the environment but more fuel efficient and affordable.

As the way has been paved to encourage more usage of Natural Gas Vehicles more companies are trying to break into this selective US market. An example of this is Vision Motor Company (VMC). It is a subsidiary of Noble Automotive Group, Inc., and designs, assembles and markets vehicles which run on 100% low-cost clean-burning compressed natural gas (CNG). Since 2008 the company has been working to develop a new range of natural gas vehicles for the North American automotive market, and is currently awaiting certification from the US Environmental Protection Agency for its small car product – the “SEER ngv”. The car carries the equivalent of 5.4 gasoline gallons of fuel in four cylinders, enough to drive more than 240 miles (about 390 kms). As of right now the car should retail for $17,900 for the manual transmission and $18,900 for the automatic transmission. The company estimates it should be able to begin sales in Canada in June and in USA in 1st quarter of 2013. VMC is also developing a double cab pickup truck under a HAWK brand name and a SUV under a HORIZON brand name. Both are dedicated natural gas vehicles.​

We look forward to seeing how much further we can expand our CNG and NGV possibilities and continually strive ourselves to make the difference in every service we provide as well.

In honor of Valentines Day… NY Has a Green Heart

The adoption of being “green” transcends too many different levels. The support of green and sustainable efforts must be maintained on all levels. Our focus this week is yet another demonstration on how we can all do our part. LOVE NEW YORK has turned their red heart green! The Green Heart NY program has a built in a sustainability element to ensure that we all work together to continue making NY greener and keep it that way for generations to come. The Green Heart NY program constantly looks to increase partnerships under the green heart logo. Partners in this program are green heart certified. In addition to that they also have an annual award that gives the title of  “Greenest New Yorker” to the deserving participant. The award recognizes New Yorkers for their everyday actions towards being Green.

As a traveler who is green conscious it is sometimes difficult to hold true to those beliefs. This program makes it easy for the New York State visitor. They spotlight green transportation and travel spots. They focus on eco-certified attractions, dining and lodging as well. Currently there are 40 golf courses and other green-certified attractions, plus nearly 80 restaurants and hotels across all 11 travel regions listed with their detailed information.

The program has a beautiful and doable message. “Leave a lighter footprint in your travels … make Green Heart NY your go-to resource for ecotourism in New York State!”  Visit http://www.iloveny.com/What-To-Do/Reasons-To-Love-NY/Green.aspx to get started on planning your next trip today.

 

Green Technology Support: The World’s Top 10 Influential Green Politicians

As green technology and sustainable solutions have grown over the years the need for extended support beyond the individual customer and business owner is needed. Many states now have tax incentives in place and have instituted green technology into their modicum of operations. In order for our green solutions to reach maximum capability it is important that we have growing and continuous government backing to keep the ball rolling and progress advancing.

Recently US Green Technology, whose mission is to share news and information about the latest advancements in green technologies and green jobs, highlighted some of the support that is out there today. Here are some excerpts of the top 10 influential green politicians pushing environmentally friendly energy and technology today. (For the full article click here)

1. Henry Waxman: Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) is the ranking Democrat on the House Energy and Commerce Committee and is a huge proponent of green energy subsidies. In fact, he argued late last year that Republicans turned the Solyndra debacle into an energy scandal in support of the coal and oil industries. He says green initiatives are necessary to safeguard Americans from floods and other dangerous weather-related events that stem from global warming. He has labored in support of pesticide legislations and the Lead Contamination Control Act.

2. Rocky Anderson: Former Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson actually aimed to decrease the city government’s carbon dioxide emissions by 21 percent from 2001 to 2012 and essentially achieved this goal six years before the target date. He also required new buildings in the city to be LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design)-certified. The former mayor recently accepted the presidential nomination of the Justice Party, which he helped to launch in December 2011 in an effort to end government corruption.

3. Barbara Boxer: California’s Barbara Boxer is the chair of the U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. She has co-sponsored major climate bills in Congress. Boxer was angry late last year about President Obama’s decision to get rid of the Environmental Protection Agency’s proposal for stricter smog standards.

4. Mike McGinn: New Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn this year is calling attention to how regional leaders are supporting transportation plans that worsen global warming. His city council also is focusing on the objective of achieving total carbon neutrality by 2050. He follows Mayor Greg Nickels, who started the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement, in which almost 500 city leaders promised to comply with the Kyoto Protocol to decrease emissions of greenhouse gases by 7 percent between 1990 and this year.

5. Michael Bloomberg: New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg is considered New York’s first sustainability mayor. In 2007, he developed a 25-year sustainability plan to reduce the Big Apple’s emission of greenhouse gases 30 percent by 2030. He also made sure that all taxis in the city were hybrid vehicles and has led a coalition of world cities to promote the decrease of greenhouse gases.

6. Arnold Schwarzenegger: Former California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger in late 2011 was honored as the “renewable energy leader of the decade” by the American Council on Renewable Energy. He signed the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006, which basically said that California agreed to trim its emissions of greenhouse gases to 80 percent below 1990 levels by 2050. He actually also developed a plan to monitor chemical levels in the bodies of state residents. Late last year, he urged Republican presidential candidates to encourage investment in green technology and green energy.

7. Bill Richardson: Former New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson delivered a speech late last year titled “Turning on the Engine of the Green Energy Economy.” While governor, he launched a new green jobs cabinet in 2009 in an effort to increase clean energy and clean technology economic development in the state as well. The former United Nations ambassador and U.S. energy secretary still is active in speaking engagements including a fellowship at Harvard’s Institute of Politics.

8. Ken Livingstone: Former London Mayor Ken Livingstone strove to make his city the greenest on the globe. His Climate Change Action Plan allowed London to receive 25 percent of its energy from green sources, and he wished to reduce the city’s emissions of carbon by 60 percent over the next couple of decades. This year, he is holding public meetings in all 32 boroughs in London in an attempt to improve the city.

9. Marina Silva: This Brazilian green politician served as a senator before becoming environmental minister in 2003 and was a member of the Partido dos Trabalhadores through August 2009. She actually received the Golden Environmental Prize for South and Central America in 1996 and was named one of the Champions of the Earth in 2007 by the United Nations Environment Program. The former Green party presidential candidate continues to fight for the protection of the Amazon and rainforests.

10. Angela Merkel: German Chancellor Angela Merkel currently is a leader of the G8 and said last year that she wanted to get rid of the use of coal, accelerate approvals for renewable energy technology investments and decrease carbon dioxide emissions. Making green electricity the major source of power in German residences and factories by 2030 is her goal. She is a strong supporter of the green technology movement to fight climate change.