If the world warms by two degrees, some of the changes to the biosphere are no longer gradual.
Six Degrees Could Change the World
Sunday, February 10 8 PM et/ 9 PM pt
http:/channel.nationalgeographic.com/channel/sixdegrees/?source=4003
Just because it has a hybrid badge doesn't mean you have to break the bank to buy one. CNET's Brian Cooley offers his Top 5 cheap hybrid cars that you can afford.
http://cnet.co/10vutag
Living Off the Grid - http://www.thriveoffthegrid.com/ - See how others are living offgrid using the advantages of wind and solar energy plus more for off grid power and ...
Living off the grid you must take advantage of renewable energy. This renewable resource originates from several sources, consisting of sun, wind and water, to start with ...
Researchers are constantly on the lookout for more ways of making green energy. Here are the 2 types you must understand now.
Living off the Grid: - Advantages of Solar Power
i. The energy that originates from simply one hour of sun suffices to supply energy for a year for the whole world
ii. A battery can be used to store off grid solar power for evenings and cloudy days
iii. Solar panels on a roof work when the sun's rays strike the cells in the panel and electrons are released, producing energy
iv. Using solar power will typically provide a saving of $100+ each month on utility costs for the property owners of off grid homes .
Living off the Grid: - Advantages of Wind Energy
i. When wind goes through the blades of a turbine that is connected to a generator, the energy produced by the spin is converted into electrical energy
ii. A single large wind turbine can provide electricity for around 500 off grid homes
iii. Last year, 42 % of the houses that were geared up with a source of off grid power used wind
iv. Unlike most other sources of energy, wind utilizes hardly any water; not only is wind energy carbon neutral, it helps water conservation also
v. There is around 10 times the amount of wind available in the U.S. than is needed to supply power for the whole country
vi. Wind energy is presently the fastest-growing source of renewable energy: - Around two wind farms are set up weekly in the U.S.
For living off the grid, the facts indicate that the advantages of solar power combined with the advantages of wind energy now exceed any advantages that fossil fuels may have had. However it is probably down to individuals to begin the shift to a larger scale adoption, so that we may all enjoy living off the grid.
NRG Energy, Inc. (NYSE:NRG), NRG Yield, Inc. (NYSE: NYLD), and SunPower Corp. (NASDAQ: SPWR) today announced the completion of the final phase of the California Valley Solar Ranch (CVSR) photovoltaic (PV) generating facility in San Luis Obispo County, California, bringing total electric generating capacity of the plant up to 250 megawatts (AC). NRG acquired CVSR from SunPower in 2011, and the project is jointly owned by NRG Yield (48.95%). CVSR is one of the world’s largest operating solar PV power plants and will sell its electricity to Pacific Gas & Electric under two long-term power purchase agreements.
To view the Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/mnr/64118-sunpower-nrg-energy-begin-commercial-operations-250-mw-calif-solar-ranch
On Friday, August 26th, Sephora brings its innovative BEAUTY TIP (Teach, Inspire, Play) WORKSHOP concept store to the Midwest with the opening of its new Michigan Avenue store. Chicago’s revolutionary new shopping experience will be the fourth Sephora BEAUTY TIP Workshop in the U.S., joining San Francisco’s Powell Street, Boston’s Prudential Center, and Toronto’s Yorkdale Shopping Centre locations which opened within the last year, and marks the global beauty retailer’s 400th free-standing SEPHORA store in North America.
Sephora Michigan Avenue’s BEAUTY TIP WORKSHOP, an all-new 10,040 square foot street-level store, is Sephora’s fourth largest and reflects the next-generation of the continuously evolving Sephora experience. The virtual paradise of endless beauty options includes an exciting footprint that’s both distinctive and intuitive, with over 13,000 products, and a pioneering store environment rooted in discovery and innovation. This includes a wide array of services and classes that will make a visit to the store a one-of-a-kind, individualized experience, every time.
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7749653-sephora-chicago-400th-store-opening
Children with physical disabilities are twice as likely to be bullied, impacting their educational, physical and emotional development.* In support of National Bullying Prevention Month this October, Shriners Hospitals for Children® and award-winning actor, model and philanthropist, RJ Mitte, are once again partnering to encourage the public to help #CutTheBull.
Teens and adults alike are encouraged to visit CutTheBull.org and see how they can help create a more positive, accepting environment for kids living with disabilities. There, Shriners Hospitals will announce “RJ's Heroes”, honoring individuals who have helped reduce bullying in their communities. Supporters can also share their anti-bullying stories and purchase #CutTheBull t-shirts, with proceeds going to Shriners Hospitals for Children to provide life-changing care to kids.
Born with cerebral palsy, Mitte was bullied as a child and knows firsthand the effects it can have. The doctors and staff at Shriners Hospitals for Children helped Mitte overcome many of the physical effects of cerebral palsy, which made him stronger and able to succeed despite the bullying. Now a successful actor and model, Mitte wants to help other kids with disabilities who may be experiencing the same thing.
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7559151-shriners-hospital-cut-the-bull/
As a leader in the senior living industry, Brookdale has released “Creating Enduring Value: 2016 Sustainability Report,” the first in what will be an annual summary of progress in making a positive impact on people, places and performance. The sustainability report comes after the company established the Brookdale Sustainability Leadership Council and developed a three-year roadmap for achieving its sustainability goals.
“The core of our business approach is simple, which is that Brookdale cares,” said Andy Smith, Brookdale’s president and chief executive officer. “The sustainability practices that we have developed are an extension of our mission of caring, and they reflect our efforts to create enduring value for our stakeholders. These practices will have a significant direct impact on our residents and their families, our associates and the environment, not just now, but for generations to come. As a leader in the industry and the first operator to establish this kind of initiative, we hope to offer a model for others to follow.”
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7722158-brookdale-sustainability-report/
The Häagen-Dazs brand is helping to change the way ingredients are grown to better support bee populations by working hand-in-hand with its farmer suppliers. The internationally-recognized ice cream brand has installed one of the largest, privately funded pollinator habitats on the farmland of its almond supplier in California’s Central Valley. No stranger to helping the bees, the brand aims to impact additional ingredients used throughout its super-premium ice cream portfolio and positively influence sustainable agriculture practices.
The “Häagen-Dazs Loves Honey Bees” program launched in 2008, and today is expanding from research and educational funding to hands-on initiatives that will rejuvenate pollinator habitats to allow native bees to flourish. Located in Chowchilla, California, the habitat consists of six and a half miles of hedgerow and 11,000 native drought-tolerant shrubs and flowering plants, impacting 840 acres of farmland. In order to supply what pollinators need, the Häagen-Dazs brand worked with expert agronomists and the Xerces Society to maximize the impact of the habitat by choosing regional plants that are attractive to pollinators. Looking forward, the team will work to create custom habitats for more of its ingredient suppliers who depend on bees to pollinate their crops.
To view the multimedia release go to:
https://www.multivu.com/players/English/8075051-haagen-dazs-sustainable-agriculture-bees-pollinator-habitats/
February 24 -- There are more than one billion cars on the road worldwide today, and only one tenth of one percent of them have a plug. OPEC contends that even in the year 2040, EVs will make up just one percent. But don't be so sure. By 2020, some electric cars and SUVs will be faster, safer, cheaper, and more convenient than their gasoline counterparts. What if people just stop buying oil? In the first episode of our animated series, Sooner Than You Think, Bloomberg's Tom Randall does the math on when oil markets might be headed for the big crash.
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XCMG, the world’s fifth largest construction equipment company, unveils the XE15R hydraulic intelligent excavator, its first fully remote-controlled excavator, signaling a new phase in XCMG’s intelligentization of its excavator series.
Without a cab, XE15R is the company’s smallest excavator at 1.35m in height and 1.08m in width. Nicknamed “Little Swan”, the machine is agile and flexible in challenging working conditions.
The newly developed XE15R features a wireless control function with a 100-meter range, and integrates mechanic, electronic and hydraulic control technology with a CAN bus interface design. Unmanned driving reduces labor intensity, particularly useful in severe operating environments, such as toxic conditions or extreme temperatures.
As an intelligent excavator, XE15R also features a self-learning function. It can save operating maneuvers and then replay them automatically on request, a breakthrough that further ensures security, agility and reliability in operation.
“Intelligentization is an inevitable choice as XCMG follows the path of new industrialization, and XE15R shows that we do what we say. Its design embodies our pursuit of efficiency and user friendliness.” said Wang Min, president of XCMG. The launching of XE15R expands XCMG’s product line, and improves its customers’ construction quality, providing them with a more human-friendly working environment and better project solutions.
To view the multimedia release please visit
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7605551-xcmg-xe15r-remote-controlled-excavator/
The Focus Electric is a 5-door hatchback electric car produced by Ford Motor Company. It was originally released for the U.S. market in 2011, while in Europe came one year later. It is the company’s first full production, all-electric passenger vehicle. It is based on the standard, third generation of Focus.
2017 Renault Zoe
Renault has introduced a new Z.E. 40 battery for ZOE. At the same, ZOE owners can benefit from a range of new connected services and equipment upgrades. Order books for the new ZOE line-up are open. The new ZOEs fitted with the new Z.E. 40 battery are made at Renault's Flins plant in France and will be available for delivery before the end of 2016.
Double the range for even longer journeys
As the pioneer of all-electric mobility and Europe's number one seller of electric vehicles, Renault has stepped up its innovation programme and the deployment of its Zero Emissions strategy.
Fitted with the new Z.E. 40 battery, the Renault ZOE now delivers a record NEDC driving range of 400km, which is twice the distance delivered by the model at the time of its original launch.
The new Z.E. 40 battery has a real-world range of 300 kilometres in urban or suburban areas, for example.
The range permitted today by the ZOE is the longest of any mainstream all-electric vehicle and motorists can take advantage of this step forward now.
The ZOE is the best-selling electric vehicle in Europe and provides a real alternative to internal combustion-engine cars, since average daily commuting distances are well within the ZOE's capabilities.
The new battery removes the final psychological barrier that stands in the way of buying an electric car since ZOE users can now travel further and enjoy a wider variety of driving situations without worry about charging. This makes weekend trips a real possibility.
The Z.E. 40 battery's charging rate is similar to that of the standard battery, so 'topping up' doesn't take long at all. For example, just 30 minutes are required on average to charge the battery for an extra 80 kilometres of driving range when plugged into one of the many public charging points in operation in Europe. The ZOE continues to be equipped with the Quick Charge function to take full advantage of the maximum capacity of fast charging points located predominantly along motorway corridors.
An innovation that doubles battery capacity with no increase in size
The ZOE's new Z.E. 40 battery boasts 41kWh of useful energy, equivalent to almost double the storage capacity of the ZOE's standard battery (22kWh of useful energy).
Developed in close partnership with LG Chem, the battery uses high-energy density lithium-ion technology.
Renault and LG engineers have succeeded in increasing storage capacity without making the battery any bigger or a lot heavier. It was optimised by working on the chemistry of the cells in order to increase their energy density, rather than stacking additional battery modules, a commonly used technique.
This major new technology has been developed while ensuring the battery's reliability or safety.
The battery's large storage capacity ensures longer range for the ZOE thanks to the meticulous work that went into integrating the battery in the vehicle. The electronic management system of the battery optimises the ZOE's energy use on the move, while the new air circulation system maintains the temperature of the ZOE's battery at a constant level, making the car economical to run in very hot or very cold weather.
