Tackling global warming with chocolate seems an unlikely idea. In New Hampshire, a test to generate electricity using cocoa-bean shells has successfully been carried out.
This novel idea to combat climate change came about after the Swiss-owned Lindt chocolate plant in the state decided to change its operations. It makes truffles at the plant. To do so, it imports large blocks of chocolate from Europe.
Running a fuel efficient car isn’t just about the manufacturer’s fuel consumption figures. There are many simple things that you can do to run your car as efficiently as possible. Here are ten tips:
1.Make sure that your car is serviced regularly – it’s the best way to make sure that it’s running efficiently.
2.Check the oil each week – make sure that it’s topped up with oil to the manufacturer’s specification. For example, VW’s TDI PD engines need a high-spec oil.
Have you got a draw full of obsolete mobile phone chargers? Every different brand of phone seems to have a different design of charger. But now the phone industry has tackled the problem.
From 2012, most manufacturers (with the notable exceptions of Apple and HTC) will adopt the micro-USB standard.
This is great for reducing the greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to global warming. Adopting a standard charger should half the number of chargers produced every year. Standardization should save carbon emissions as an estimated 51 tonnes of chargers won’t be necessary.
1.Consider buying a laptop and docking station instead of a new desktop – laptops are much more energy efficient.
2.Look for the Energy Star logos on any computer equipment you buy – products with the Energy Star logo must use power below set levels and go into ‘hibernation’ when switched on but not in use.
3.Get rid of computer screensavers – they consume unnecessary power.
4.Buy a photocopier that uses low melting-point inks – the lower the temperature that fuses the toner to the paper, the less power that is used.
’1080p’. ‘Dolby’. ’100hz’ are the more usual labels that we look for when buying a flatscreen TV. But what about ‘w’ – for watts?
CNET says that the average LCD TV consumes 213 watts, whereas the average plasma one uses 350 watts. That’s a massive difference of 40 % more for the plasma.
With lower running costs and a smaller carbon footprint, go for LCD.
Aviation is often portrayed as a villian in the battle to reduce the emissions of greenhouse gases. It currently accounts for about 3% of greenhouse gas emissions in the European Union. That’s about as much as the estimates of computer equipment’s carbon footprint. So why all the fuss?
The problem with aviation is twofold. Firstly, it one of the only areas where emissions are predicted to rise. Much of the blame for this is being laid at the door of the low-cost airlines, who have made flying cheaper and more popular. The aviation sector has seen an 87% increase in carbon dioxide emissions since 1990, with an increase of as much as 25% being predicted for the future.
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