Linda has been writing about the production of an air car as early as 2008. Earlier this week, I received an email from a friend (since Linda is still away) that just seems ideal for a post here at Forcedgreen. So… while our hover cars might not make it to the assembly line, see what I received regarding the upcoming (potential? real?) production of the Air Car out of India:

Tata Motors in India is ready to introduce Air Car. Will it be the next big thing? Tata Motors is taking giant strides and making history for itself. First the Land Rover/Jaguar deal, then the world’s cheapest car, and now it is also set to introduce the car that runs on compressed air.

Air Car Production Can’t Come Soon Enough

With spiraling fuel prices it is about time we heard some breakthrough!

India’s largest automaker, Tata Motors, is set to start producing the world’s first commercial air-powered vehicle.

The Air Car, developed by ex-Formula One engineer Guy N. for Luxembourg-based MDI, uses compressed air, as opposed to the gas-and-oxygen explosions of internal-combustion models, to push its engine’s pistons. Some 6000 zero-emissions Air Cars are scheduled to hit Indian streets by August 2011.

Air Car Costs

The Air Car, called the “MiniCAT” could cost around Rs. 3,475,225 (US $8,177.00) in India and would have a range of around 300 km between refuels.

The cost of a refill would be about Rs. 85 (US $2.00)

The MiniCAT which is a simple, light urban car, with a tubular chassis that is glued, not welded, and a body of fiberglass powered by compressed air. Microcontrollers are used in every device in the car, so one tiny radio transmitter sends instructions to the lights, indicators, etc.

There are no keys – just an access card which can be read by the car from your pocket. According to the designers, it costs less than 50 rupees per 100 Km (about a tenth that of a petrol car). Its mileage is about double that of the most advanced electric car (200 to 300 km or 10 hours of driving), a factor which makes a perfect choice in cities where 80% of motorists drive at less than 60 Km. The car has a top speed of 105 Kmph.

Refilling the car will, once the market develops, take place at adapted petrol stations to administer compressed air. In two or three minutes, and at a cost of approximately 100 rupees, the air car will be ready to go another 200-300 kilometers.

Lagniappes, From And To, Earth And Her Kids

The leaves are starting to turn and fall. A gentle wind catches and sails them across a dusty road, so calmingly beautiful. Gratitude is the dominate feeling, a little R&R from the normal stress of life we put upon ourselves.

Earth’s seasonal changes didn’t have to be so gracefully choreographed, leaving each one of us silently relishing Mother Nature’s little lagniappe moments. Lagniappe – pronounced lan-yap, originating in Spain – a Cajun word meaning “a little something extra”, like a bakers dozen (13 instead of 12 of an item), just for the kindness of it. Her gift to invoke our instinctive delight in the beauty that comes with seasonal changes and the enjoyment in the differences of our planet’s climate. (A cosmic instinct we should cultivate when engaging the differences of one another.)

Earth takes care of us, in seemingly intelligent and loving ways. And how are we reciprocating? Well, keep smiling because here’s a little lagniappe from us to her, scientists from the World Agroforestry Centre (WAC) found through detailed satellite imagery, that on almost half of all farmed landscapes around the world, landowners are either sparing some existing trees or planting new ones, leading to what the study calls “significant” tree cover. In fact, on more than 1 billion hectares (2.5 billion acres) of farmland, which is twice the size of the Amazon, tree cover exceeds 10%. That’s a huge increase from previous estimates, which were as low as 50,000 hectares.

So if only for a moment, no matter where you are on Earth, pause and let the soft autumn (or spring) wind blow through your hair and throw a little thanks into the universe. Thanks to whomever your good deity may be, God, Allah, Wonka Tonka, or the intelligent universal science of nature that can gel stardust into a beautiful planet with changing seasons and beings with the intelligence to stand in awe and enjoyment.

…  as the green future unfolds.

For The Preservation And Conservation Of Our World – Peace And Honesty Are The Most Vital Ingredients

Green Means: First, DO NO HARM! was a Forced Green post from September, 2009 concerning the intentional destruction of two radio station towers in Washington state by a group of environmental terrorist. Now fast forward to last week, a man walked into the Discovery Channel building in Silver Spring, Maryland, held three people hostage face down on the floor. For hours he made repeated threats to kill them and finally, after he pulled out a handgun and pointed it at one of them, SWAT shot and killed him. He harbored a grudge against Discovery, viewing the network as a purveyor of ideas he considered environmentally destructive and believed that humanity had polluted the planet and that human reproduction was the worst pollutant in giving birth to their “parasitic” babies.

Earth doesn’t need her children hurt or bullied into becoming better stewards. If you truly love and care about the ecological welfare of our planet, then you MUST love and care for all this world’s creatures – including the humans. It’s only logical to conclude that with the exception of mental illness, to use the environmental movement (or religion for that matter), as an excuse for acts of harm or maham is nothing less than bald faced lies. Thugs and criminals – nothing more.

We have enough problems with those of power and influence in this world whose “green dream” is only money. Fighting their history making disasters created when their greed trumps what small amount of common sense they begrudgingly dole out (attempting to patronizingly pacify the masses), in their pursuit of the almighty dollar.

And if that isn’t bad enough, the US Senate, blatantly ignoring the will of the people, refused to vote on a legislative bill from the House of Representatives (were it passed 420-1), that would have allowed the Presidential Investigation Commission the power to issue subpoenas in the BP oil spill investigation. Republicans senators repeatedly requested the Senate Chair not to allow the proposal to be read, heard or voted upon on the Senate floor. Because they know which side their bread is buttered on. And it is certainly not on the side of the 20 million Gulf Coast residents way-laid by this very foreseeable and preventable disaster.

In fact, just watch the it for yourself:

Meanwhile back at the Green Ranch, malicious lunatics are running around burning, bombing, and threatening/doing harm, in the name of environmentalism. Understand this, you are no ally of this planet nor of mine! So, stop your madness because you are pissing us off as much as big oil and greased-palmed politicians.

All together now, FIRST, DO NO HARM …
…. as the green future unfolds.

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Now, let’s set this anthem as our goal for the love of our posterity.

We were the future that Woody was speaking of.

Please take the time to view this video!

… as the green future unfolds!

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A Norwegian-American Woman’s Legacy To Our Green Future

Founded in 1889, the story of Foss Maritime based out of Seattle, Washington, is a quintessential example of the American Dream: Thea Foss, a young Norwegian immigrant and her husband, Andrew, turned one rowboat into what eventually became a world class fleet of tugboats. It started in Tacoma, Washington when Thea Foss bought a used rowboat, hoping to rent it out to help with the family’s finances. After painting it pristine white with green trim (nice foresight!), she sold the rowboat at a profit and used the money to buy several more boats. By 1904, the company boasted 10 launches, a shipyard, a 60-passenger oil powered boat, and a small rescue craft to help disabled vessels.

In the waters of the Port of Long Beach, California, the world’s first hybrid tug, the Carolyn Dorothy has been quietly hard at work since January 2009. Built by Foss Maritime in cooperation with the ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles as an innovative approach to reducing air pollution. The vessel was designed to retain the power and maneuverability of her conventional Dolphin class sister “tractor” tugs, while dramatically reducing emissions, maintenance costs, noise and fuel consumption. It can maneuver the thrusts from the propellers in any direction – sideways, crossways, even in circles. That’s extremely important when moving through narrow channels.

The hybrid technology used to develop Foss’ Green Assist™ Hybrid Tug aka the ‘Green Dolphin’ line, is environmentally responsible – without sacrificing horse power or maneuverability. With its efficient combination of batteries, generators and main engines, the Hybrid Tug is both powerful and green:

Reduces nitrogen oxide, particulate emissions, sulfur dioxide, and carbon emissions without sacrificing power or maneuverability.

Extreme noise reduction improves the quality of life on the vessel, on shore, and underwater.
Extremely flexible technology, allowing it to be used to convert existing tugs of all types to hybrid.
Improves fuel economy by reducing idling and increasing engine efficiency.

Unlike other tugs, the ‘Green Dolphin’ hybrid tug relies on batteries and an active power management system to minimize engine use. When the engines are used, they will run at power levels that maximize efficiency, reversing the trend of harbor tugs to spend approximately 60% of their time at less efficient low power levels. Main engine emissions reductions from using the hybrid tug is in the order of 44% for particle emissions and nitrous oxide. Fuel consumption is decreased by 20-30% with a commensurate reduction in sulfur dioxide and carbon emissions.

Foss is switching their entire fleet to ultra-low sulfur diesel including those vessels not located in California. They have completed an energy audit on their vessels and are developing an energy management plan to reduce fuel and energy consumption. Their harbor tugs use a vacuum truck service for their oily waste removal instead of an oily water separator in order to minimize their waste stream.

Foss Maritime won the Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean Air Technology Award for development of its low emission ‘Green Dolphin’ hybrid tug, the first time a maritime operating company has ever received the federal government’s prestigious honor. Foss was the first maritime operating company accepted into EPA’s SmartWay Transport Partnership and on May 11, the Association of Washington (state) Business announced Foss won an Environmental Excellence Award in the Green Enterprising Technologies category for the Carolyn Dorothy.

Gary Faber, President and COO of Foss said, “At Foss, we have a ‘zero trace’ corporate goal. The Carolyn Dorothy and our hybrid technology is an important part of that strategy. Think of all the world’s ports – and all the harbor tugs working in them. What an opportunity we have to bring cleaner air and greater fuel efficiency.”

Thea died in 1927, a day before her 70th birthday. Members of the Foss family, including Thea’s three sons, continued to operate Foss Maritime for many decades. The city of Tacoma named the Thea Foss Waterway after this pioneer. She is said to be the inspiration for the character “Tugboat Annie”, first appearing in a series of stories in the Saturday Evening Post, then evolving into 3 motion pictures (1933 – 1945), and a TV series in 1957. And in 2006, the documentary film about her amazing life, “Finding Thea” premiered.

Today, Foss Maritime is a legacy to Thea and Andrew’s hard work, determination and vision. The green and white colors she painted the first rowboat are still used on the company’s powerful state-of the art tugs, which can now be seen in waters throughout the world.

121 years ago, unaware of the environmental legacy her actions would ultimately produce, a young woman started painting her rowboat white and – green.

….. as the green future unfolds.

The New Era Of Zero-Emission Mobility Has Arrived

Want to hear something outstanding? After more than 115,000 Americans had gone on the Internet and registered their interest in the 2011 Nissan LEAF all electric car, last Tuesday (April 20), Nissan opened the reservation lines and in the first 65 hours 6,635 customers paid their $99 and signed up to reserve their zero emission car for a December delivery. Far exceeding the expectations of the company which hoped to have 25,000 reserved customers lined up by the car’s roll out in December. Better than 25% of their goal reached in hours instead of months.

The $99 is refundable if you buy a LEAF or opt out of the program and includes a home assessment with a written estimate of what it would cost to get your 240-volt charging dock installed. Which also has a federal tax credit covering 50% of such installations (up to $2,000). The docking station is weatherproof so it can be installed inside or out.

Nissan also announced Monday (April 26th), it will work with General Electric to develop smart charging stations for electric vehicles. The two companies signed a three-year agreement to study what needs to change in the power grid and in consumer homes to effectively bring electric vehicles to market.

Nissan priced the LEAF within the comfort zone of many American car buyers at a list price of $32,780 plus the up to $7,500 federal tax credit.and various state incentives. For instance, in Oregon buyers will receive a $1,500 tax credit on top of the federal tax credit of up to $7,500, bringing the price down to around $23,780 and in California a $5,000 cash rebate would put their price around $20,280! The LEAF will also be available for a 36-month lease, running $349 per month with an initial payment of $1,999.

“LEAF” from the acronym Leading, Environmentally Friendly, Affordable, Family Car), is an all-electric four-door, five-passenger, med-size hatchback that has a top speed of about 90 mph (144.84 kph), and a range of more than 100 miles (160km) on one full charge, based on the LA4 drive cycle (the EPA’s testing and rating system). The range will vary with driving habits, conditions, weather, and battery age. Running the heater or a/c will have an impact on the range, similar to a gas-powered car. But you’ll be able to pre-heat and pre-cool the car while charging before you leave to reduce battery load and optimize range.

Snuggly fitted beneath the LEAF’s floorboards is the 24 kWh lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery, (a location that allows for a low center of gravity, creating great handling), storing the energy for the 80 kW AC synchronous electric motor. This green energy battery technology consist of 48 lithium ion battery modules. Inside each module is 4 laminated battery cells.

It has LED headlights, a 3.3 kW onboard charger, plus a whole host of other bells, whistles, and creature comforts.

The acceleration of the front wheel drive LEAF is said to be surprisingly quiet and effortless. It has “coasting” regenerative brakes which means when in ‘Drive’ mode every time you coast or apply the brakes the electric motor acts as an electric generator, converting energy that would otherwise be wasted into recharging battery energy.

Since 95% of Americans don’t drive more than 100 miles a day, a zero emissions vehicle like this is right up our green alley.

With two packages to choose from, either the basic SV trim level or the higher SL package that includes a rear-view monitor, solar spoiler panel, fog lights and automatic on-off headlamps. Five color choices: blue, black, white, silver and red. (What, no green?!)

Deliveries of the LEAF will begin in December, the first cars going to the Seattle-Puget Sound area, Phoenix and Tucson, and the states of Oregon, California and Tennessee. Soon thereafter it will be available in the Washington, D.C., area, Orlando, Houston, Vancouver, and the states of Georgia, Texas, North Carolina and Massachusetts. The LEAF is scheduled to go national at the end of 2011, with global market roll-out planned for 2012.

Now didn’t I tell you 2010 was going to be a remarkable year in the greening of our market place? This year we are stepping out of the past and into our sustainable future. … Even if we have to drag some folks kicking and screaming all the way.

….as the green future unfolds.

What Have We Really Done In 41 Years

On Tuesday night April 20th, in the Gulf of Mexico, 50 miles southeast of Venice, Louisiana, the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig exploded.

Two days later on Thursday afternoon the blazing inferno of wreckage sank 5,000 feet to the bottom of the Gulf. 126 people were on board at the time of the explosion, 17 were injured, and on Friday rescuers suspended the search for the 11 people missing from the British Petroleum leased Transocean Ltd oil rig explosion in the Gulf of Mexico.

On Friday the Coast Guard said crews were continuing efforts hoping to have it all “cleaned” up before the estimated shoreline arrival in nine days. They had recovered 181 barrels of an oil-and-water mixture by midday Friday, with ‘only’ about 200 barrels remaining within a 2-by-12-mile-long oil slick spreading through Gulf waters 40 miles offshore.

But by Saturday morning the Coast Guard reported the spill now covers a 20-by-20 mile area as remote vehicles found the rig capsized and lying on the sea floor about 1,500 feet northwest of the well. Oil shooting from the end of the pipe that had connected the rig to the well at the sea floor. Spewing out at a sickening rate of 42,000 gallons a day.

Forty-one years after an oil well blowout off the Santa Barbara, California coast gave rise to the environmental movement and the first Earth Day event, look how far we have come. An accident that is likely to be one of history’s worst in terms of human loss and environmental destruction.

Without a doubt, the major talk will be around the financial cost. So, let me ask you this, would the ‘cost’ have been this severe if the accident had been a blown out wind turbine rotor or a faulty solar panel? I think not. And neither do you.

Bless the fragile waters, wetlands and coastline of the Gulf of Mexico that are now is serious peril. Bless the families of the lost. Bless our world and her children.

…. as the green future unfolds.

For Every Sector, Little Earth Day Ideas For A Better World

For everyday people like you and I:

Celebrate Earth Day by doing simple things like checking the air pressure in your car tires. Keeping tires properly inflated can earn you another 10 cents per gallon. If everyone’s tires were properly inflated, we would be saving about 4 million gallons of gasoline every DAY.

Did you know the average American receives 41 pounds of junk mail each year? You can be removed from direct-mail mailing lists by contacting the companies or:

http://www.41pounds.org stops your junk mail for five years for only $41 (less than 70 cents a month). 41pounds.org donates more than 1/3 of each new subscriber’s fee to an environmental or community organization of their choice.

http://mailstopper.tonic.com/ (formerly GreenDimes), will stop 90% of junk mail in 90 days, for $20 a year, plus MailStopper plants 5 trees on behalf of each member.

Swapping one incandescent bulb for a CFL reduces carbon dioxide by 500 pounds a year; replacing 17 has the equivalent effect of taking one car off the road for a year.

Buy and install a foot activated kitchen faucet. Prices start at around $118 up to around $1,000 (USD). It’s more sanitary and saves about 3,000 gallons of water a year.

For Retailers:

Hey Walmart! You sell reusable bags for no less than $1.00 a piece with ‘Walmart’ printed on them. How about, to celebrate Earth Day, you folks start selling reusable bags for no more than 5 cents each. Come on now, you will still make a profit and your corporation will help us help our planet.

Why? Well, for one thing over 46,000 pieces of plastic litter are floating on every square mile of ocean today. (United Nations Environment Program 2006)

If people can get 20 bags for a $1.00, you better believe they will fly off the selves.

And it’s not just pick on Walmart time. All of you retailers worldwide utilizing plastic bags to pack our purchases can do the same thing. Put you name on the bags, we don’t care! After all, these bags are free (make that profitable), advertisement for your companies. Give up a little profit – not all – and give us and the Earth a break. After all it’s your planet too and the only one we’ve got.

For local city governments, businesses, and concerned citizens, (comprised from a previous Forced Green article):

Combine two great innovative ideas, hydroponics and urban vertical (skyscraper) farming. Now add into the equation the existing empty/abandoned warehouses, buildings, and parking structures in cities around the world.

Renovate these buildings to access the maximum amount of sunlight structurally allowable. Keep any existing water based fire suppression systems (sprinklers), for irrigation. Add in tubular natural solar lighting and solar powered grow lights. Install wind turbines and rain capturing systems on all the roofs. Utilize buildings with sturdy roofs and the top level of parking structures for fruit tree orchards. On the buildings’ upper levels, start the seedlings for the hydroponic leafy vegetables and herbs. Arranged along the perimeter of the floors, rotating along to each level, like canal locks. Timed to reach the lower level loading docks at the harvest stage. On the interior of the floors, elevated planters (for easy access), for the root crops like potatoes. carrots, onions, and etc.

For the large areas of ground level concrete parking lots, leave as they are but, pattern cut large circular holes through to the earth and plant fruit trees. Or rectangular cut-aways for large plants like corn or vine grown vegetables like peas, beans, cucumbers, and etc. Leaving concrete pathways between would assure weed control, easy crop maintenance, access for electric maintenance/harvesting vehicles, and water collection systems. Add a canopy of solar panels over these pathways to not only generate electricity, but to keep the pathways cool. Better for the soil, for water retention, and more comfortable for the workers.

The entire project could be totally self sustainable, or darn near it.

Projects like this could easily turn the tables on the plague of urban blight that has hit every major city on this planet. Creating jobs, eliminating homelessness, and hunger. Reducing CO2 and the community’s carbon footprint by reducing “food miles”. Restoring neighborhoods to their intended glory. Not to mention more appealing to the eye!

And finally, to all you Earthlings – Happy Earth Day!

…. as the green future unfolds.

“What’s the use of a fine house if you haven’t got a tolerable planet to put it on?” – Henry David Thoreau

The Energy Department said a white roof can knock 10% to 20% off a building’s electric bill. To that end, it is encouraging anyone replacing or building a roof to take advantage of substantial tax credits and promoting “cool roofs,” which don’t have to be white and could include silver reflective paint or even rooftop gardens.

Whitening the world’s roofs and roads would have the same effect on global warming as removing all the world’s cars for 11 years.

__________

Once or twice a year, the familiar ‘sonic boom’ at American front doors marks the arrival of the “yellow pages” – one or two books, 2 – 4 inches thick, making up the local telephone company’s Yellow, White, and Blue pages. Wrapped in plastic so that the pages don’t get ruined by the rain, dew or sprinklers.

It takes 19 million trees, 1.6 billion pounds of paper, 3.2 billion kilowatt hours of electricity, and 7.2 million barrels of oil to produce the 500 million directories that are delivered across the U.S. each year.

YellowPagesGoesGreen.org will contact your local phone company for you if you no longer wish to receive yellow pages, their service is free. This organization works to stop the delivery of unwanted Yellow and White Pages Books.

— OR Call —

Verizon (Superpages/Idearc): 800-888-8448
Dex (Yellow Pages): 877-243-8339
Yellow Book: 800-373-3280
ATT/YellowPages (formerly SBC/Bell South): 800-792-2665 for AR MO and TX only
All other states call 800-848-8000

— and ask them to stop delivery to your household and/or business.

___________

Swapping one incandescent bulb for a CFL reduces carbon dioxide by 500 pounds a year; replacing 17 has the equivalent effect of taking one car off the road for a year.

____________

Foot activated kitchen faucet saves about 3,000 gallons of water a year

____________

Americans run through about 100 billion plastic bags annually, using up an estimated 12 million barrels of oil. How to stop this? By bringing your own reusable canvas totes to the supermarket or store.

____________

And finally, in the words of Chief Seattle more than 150 years ago, much more incredibly poignant today:

“Teach your children what we have taught ours, that the Earth is our mother. Whatever befalls the Earth befalls the sons of the Earth. The Earth does not belong to man; man belongs to the Earth. Man did not weave the web of life; he is merely a strand in it. We do not inherit the Earth from our ancestors; we borrow it from our children.”

Enough said ——

—- as the green future unfolds.

Norway’s Doomsday Seed Vault Hits 1/2 Million Mark

In November 2008, Forced Green posted an article on the Svalbard Global Seed Vault. The “Doomsday Seed Vault” lies 620 miles (1,000 kilometers) from the North Pole, in Norway’s remote Svalbard archipelago, quite literally an Arctic island. The vault complex is designed to withstand global warming, earthquakes and even nuclear strikes. A safeguard against wars or natural disasters wiping out food crops around the globe. A master backup to the world’s other 1,400 seed banks, in case their deposits are lost. A wise move especially in the face of such events as the war wiping out seed banks in Iraq and Afghanistan, and another bank in the Philippines was flooded in the wake of a typhoon in 2006.

Days after celebrating its second anniversary, the trust that oversees the seed collection announced on Thursday (March 11), the vault now houses half a million seed samples, making it the world’s most diverse repository of crop seeds. Since it opened for “deposits” two years ago the facility amassed at least one-third of the world’s crop seeds. Since it opened for “deposits” two years ago the facility amassed at least one-third of the world’s crop seeds

The bank still has gaps in its collection such as unique seeds from Ethiopia, China, and India. The most recent additions include a mold-resistant bean from Colombia, a collection of nearly every agricultural soybean species developed in the U.S. in the last century, and a third seed shipment sent to Norway by the U.S. Agricultural Research Service earlier this month that included a wild Russian strawberry which an expeditionary team braved bears and volcanoes to collect.

… as the green future unfolds.