Posts Tagged ‘energy’
“Ride the Wind” CTrain
Posted in Models, RDAG by Kate Archdeacon on December 11th, 2008
An entire train system’s power-use is offset by the supplier’s payment to a wind-farm.
Tags: energy, new behaviours, Transport
No Comments » |
Email This Post
MagLev Trains
Posted in Models, RDAG by Kate Archdeacon on December 3rd, 2008
A maglev, or magnetically levitating, train is a form of transportation that suspends, guides and propels vehicles (predominantly trains) using electromagnetic force. This method has the potential to be fast and quiet when compared to wheeled mass transit systems, potentially reaching velocities comparable to turboprop and jet aircraft (900 km/h, 600 mph).
Tags: enabling technologies, energy, Transport
No Comments » |
Email This Post
Hydrogen Fuel Cell Buses
Posted in Models, RDAG by Kate Archdeacon on December 2nd, 2008
When used in fuel cells, hydrogen produces no pollutants with the only emissions being water and heat. This type of engine has the potential to reduce greenhouse emissions under conditions where the hydrogen would be flared (burned) as a waste product.
Tags: enabling technologies, energy, governance, Transport
2 Comments » |
Email This Post
Seeking academic contributors for the Green Series
Posted in Uncategorized by fedwards on September 18th, 2008
Please see a message below which may be of interest to Sustainable Cities readers from Ellen Ingber, Author Manager, Golson Media.
“We are inviting academic editorial contributors to the Green Series, a new electronic reference series for academic and public libraries addressing all aspects of environmental issues, including alternative energies, sustainability, politics, agriculture, and many other subjects that will comprise a 12-title set. Each title has approximately 150 articles (much like encyclopedia articles) on major themes, ranging from 1,000 to 4,000 words. We are starting the assignment process for articles for the first three titles in the series with a deadline of FEBRUARY 2, 2009:
Green Energy
Green Politics
Green Food
Tags: energy, Food, politics, Resource, seeking, sustainability
No Comments » |
Email This Post
Seeking Papers in Energy Policy for Low Carbon Communities
Posted in Research by fedwards on August 27th, 2008
Call for Papers in Energy Policy
Special Issue: Low Carbon Communities
Guest Editors: Yacob Mulugetta, Tim Jackson, and Dan van der Horst
We welcome a range of different contributions to the theme ‘low carbon communities’, including for example the following:
• The role of planning in facilitating (or impeding) community owned energy services
• Low carbon housing initiatives
• Co-operative energy programmes
• Technologies and communities
• Partnership approaches and the role of the private sector
• Social enterprises and their place in communities
• Low carbon outcomes through communities of place
• Achieving low carbon outcomes through community of interest
• Values and outcomes associated with a low carbon community
• Accounting for direct and indirect energy in community-based initiatives
• Participation, ownership and responsibility
• Social cohesion through low carbon community schemes
• Institutions for community-based initiatives: divergent experiences
• Community networks and their value for decarbonisation
• Food miles, diet and health in communities
• Low carbon travelling initiatives (work and leisure)
• Legislation, policy and governance to encourage distributed energy
• Community action: cycling, car sharing schemes
• Economic incentives and market mechanisms for collective action
• Social innovation and social ownership
• Localisation and carbon reduction
• Co-production and co-use arrangements
• The cost of decentralisation and centralisation
• Urban municipal cases
We welcome contributions from practitioners, researchers and scholars – and we are happy to provide feedback or guidance on abstracts or draft documents. We particularly invite submissions that use a comparative analytic framework and use empirical evidence to address theoretical questions. Full papers will be 6000 to 8000 words in length. We are looking for about 12 papers.
Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: alternative energy, climate change, community, energy
No Comments » |
Email This Post
Event - World Alliance for Decentralised Energy, Canada - deadline for directory 15 August
Posted in Events, Research by wynne.ma on August 13th, 2008
The message below is from WADE (World Alliance for Decentralised Energy) Canada Announcements. For more information regarding events, please visit www.ceri.ca/
2008 Decentralised Energy Conference, September 15-16, Calgary Telus Convention Centre
Please visit our conference website for the latest speaker confirmations including:
- Gary Holden; President and Chief Executive Officer
- ENMAX Corporation
- Dr. Mark Jaccard; Professor, School of Resource and Environmental Management
- Simon Fraser University
- François Nguyen; Senior Policy Advisor
- International Energy Agency
- Joe Van Belleghem; Co-developer
- Dockside Green
There are still some Sponsorship Opportunities for this event. For further details, please contact Deanne Landry at +1 403 289 2344 or Anouk Kendall at +1 514 409 0433.
The conference registration page can be accessed via http://www.ceri.ca/.
The 2008 Canadian Clean Energy Business Directory
URL: http://localpower.org/can_survey1/
DEADLINE APPROACHING – August 15, 2008
The inaugural edition of this Directory will be launched at the conference on Monday, September 15. This Directory has been created to recognise the value of small to medium sized enterprises (SME) in this rapidly emerging industry. To check if you have already entered your company in this directory, go to the survey website http://localpower.org/can_survey1/ and use the search function to find your company name.
If you have any comments or questions regarding WADE (World Alliance for Decentralised Energy) Canada and its current programs and initiatives do not hesitate to contact Anouk Kendall -Country Manager, WADE Canada (akendall @localpower.org).
Tags: energy, networks, Resource
No Comments » |
Email This Post
Event - Postgraduate International Course on “Global Environmental Change” - 9 to 16 November
Posted in Events, Movements, Research by fedwards on August 8th, 2008
GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE: CAUSES AND SOLUTIONS
BACKGROUND
Integrated Assessment of Global Environmental Change Many aspects of our planet are changing rapidly due to human activity. Over the last 50 years, humans have changed ecosystems more rapidly and extensively than in other comparable period of time. All these changes, including climate change, land use change, pollution and biodiversity loss are
strongly interrelated and cannot be seen in isolation. Because their impacts influence the entire planet, the combined changes are commonly recognized as global environmental change.
OBJECTIVES OF THE COURSE
To study and understand the causes of global change and possible responses and to learn how to use scientific information in Integrated Assessments. The course is not only meant to discuss the latest scientific findings on global change issues, but also to train skills that are needed for making this knowledge available for policy making
FOR WHOM?
This multidisciplinary course is especially intended for PhD students from the natural and social sciences.
WHERE AND WHEN?
The summer course will be held 9-16 November 2008, at a central location in the Netherlands.
PROGRAM
The course will consist of lectures by prominent international scientists, model exercises and exercises in writing texts for Integrated Assessments. Besides the regular lectures, each day will end with a stimulating aperitif lecture, which will include controversial and philosophical topics. Active discussion with the lecturers will be stimulated by asking participants to prepare propositions for each lecture. Interaction with lecturers and fellow participants will be further stimulated by poster presentations.
Finally, a small group assignment will encourage discussion the lectures, guided by topical questions. The study load is equivalent to 3 credits (ECTS).
APPLICATION
The course is primarily intended for PhD student, and is limited to 30 participants. However, motivated post-docs and other researchers are also encouraged to apply.
You can send your application to the SENSE Education Desk (educationdesk@sense.nl) before 1 September 2008., including:
- Your Name
- Name and address of research group
- Status: PhD student/ postdoc/ other
- If applicable: graduate school name
- a short motivation letter, and
- CV
After a selection procedure, you will be notified about participation by September 2008. You can also register online http://www.sense.nl/courses/course/S340.
FEE
The course fee is EUR 500, except for PhD students from the Research Schools SENSE, PE&RC and Mansholt with an approved Education Plan (TSP), for whom the fee is EUR 350. For a few participants from developing countries the fee may be waived. Fee includes B&B, coffee, tea, lunches, dinners and course materials.
INVITED SPEAKERS
- Rik Leemans, Wageningen University, The Netherlands
- Robert T. Watson, University of East Anglia, UK
- Ekko Van Ierland, Wageningen University, The Netherlands
- Frans Berkhout, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Pavel Kabat, Wageningen University, The Netherlands
- Carolien Kroeze, Wageningen University
- And many others
ORGANIZED BY
SENSE Research School for the Natural and Socio-Economic Sciences of the Environment (www.sense.nl)
FURTHER INFORMATION
Lindsey Wuisan
Environmental Systems Analysis Group
Wageningen University, The Netherlands
lindsey.wuisan@wur.nl
Tags: climate change, energy, Provocations
No Comments » |
Email This Post
Transport Resource - “Greener” Car Buyers Guide
Posted in Models by fedwards on August 7th, 2008
The section below is republished with permission from the Going Solar Transport Newsletter #70, 29 July 2008, compiled by Stephen Ingrouille. Going Solar, www.goingsolar.com.au/transport.
Car Buyers Guide
“Car buyers can now compare the running costs and carbon emissions of the various makes and models before heading down to the dealer, thanks to an innovative addition to the Government’s Green Vehicle Guide: www.greenvehicleguide.gov.au ”
Ref: Federal Government Media Statement, 20/7/07
Tags: energy, Resource, Transport, Urban Design and Built Form
1 Comment » |
Email This Post
Transport Model - Electric Bikes
Posted in Models by fedwards on August 6th, 2008
The section below is republished with permission from the Going Solar Transport Newsletter #70, 29 July 2008, compiled by Stephen Ingrouille. Going Solar, www.goingsolar.com.au/transport.
In The National Interest – Electric Bikes
Ref: ABC Radio National with Peter Mares 18/7/08, URL
See also the Listener Feedback
Ref: 25/7/08, URL
Electric Bikes in NSW 1/7/08
Ref: Transport Newsletter
Electric Cars
“Did someone kill the electric car? You wouldn’t know it … in Scandinavia, where the idea of a massproduced battery-powered vehicle is being resurrected and actual cars are scheduled to begin rolling off the production line by year’s end.”
Ref: Todd Woody, Business 2.0, 31/7/07, URL
“…Think Global, a Norwegian upstart plotting a U.S. invasion via pint-size, affordable electric cars. Think has been selling tiny gas-free city cars in Europe and will start peddling them to fuel-stressed Americans in 2009. The company’s newly formed North American division has high hopes for the upcoming Think Ox, a concept unveiled at the Geneva International Motor Show earlier this year.
Ref: http://www.think.no/think
“In theory, Battery electric vehicles (BEVs) are the ideal form of transportation. They produce no noxious exhaust fumes, and minimal pollution, especially when charged from renewable energy. They are capable of acceleration exceeding conventional vehicles, but are much more quiet. Widespread use of BEVs would also reduce dependence on petroleum, enhance national security, and help mitigate the effects of global warming. So what’s the problem? Historically, the issue with BEVs was the high battery costs, limited travel distance, charging time, and battery lifespan. However, new technology advancements have addressed most of these issues and some believe the time is right for the emergence of the mass
produced electric car.”
Ref: Daily Galaxy, 5/7/08, URL
Tags: energy, Resource, Transport, Urban Design and Built Form
No Comments » |
Email This Post
Resource - CSIRO’s new report, “An overview of climate change adaptation in the Australian agriculture sector”
Posted in Research by fedwards on August 4th, 2008
CSIRO (Australia’s national science and research agency) has produced a new report called, “An overview of climate change adaptation in the Australian agricultural sector – impacts, options and priorities“.
This report brings together the latest science from research groups around Australia, and provides an overview of the steps that need to be taken to adjust to the ongoing changes to the Australian climate. The report looks at each of Australia’s main agricultural sectors, including cotton, sugar cane, livestock, rice and grapes. To download it visit http://www.csiro.au/news/AdaptionForFarming.html
Tags: climate change, energy, Food, Health
No Comments » |
Email This Post