SusHI

“start some new thinking that will surprise the world”

Written by Ken
08/21/2008
That’s how John Adams urged Americans to embrace revolution. Now, Bill Vitek argues that Americans “must change to a way of life as inconceivable to us as the invention of the modern factory or heart transplant would have seemed to a peasant or professor in medieval Europe” (via commondreams). “We are living in revolutionary times!”, says Vitek. [...] Read more...

can Hawaii substitute imports as transport costs shift?

Written by Ken
08/21/2008
Trade has decreased Hawaii’s ability to be self sufficient, and now the benefits of trade are slipping as transport costs slide up the scale. Does this mean Hawaii should resurrect import substitution? Yup, says Nathan John Hagens, although he’s not just talking about Hawaii. “Import substitution policies (are) not only for LessDevelopedCountries, but for the US [...] Read more...

putting the eco in town planning: brits show how

Written by Ken
08/20/2008
Great Britain is setting out to build 10 new eco-towns in 12 years, each big enough to hold the entire Kauai population (via bbc). Each town will build on good links to surrounding towns and cities in terms of jobs, transport and services, and put back as much or more energy as it uses. All buildings [...] Read more...

species relocation service: new focus for conservation

Written by Ken
08/20/2008
We got to see early science findings last March when Lee Hannah reported on ‘translocation’ as a method to save certain species at the Oahu climate change form. Now the mapping of habitat movement is becoming a high art in great demand as conservationists ponder where to focus next. Peter Aldus reports from the Society for Conservation [...] Read more...

the irony of hubris: on human control issues

Written by Ken
08/18/2008
Just as humans are gaining significant control over our environment, we’re starting to lose it, says Richard Heinberg in a marvelous essay (via postcarbon). “Humankind has control issues, and they’re about to get a lot worse.” “Even our great grandparents were relatively powerless against the cold, the heat, famine, insects, diseases, and the rest of nature’s inconveniences [...] Read more...

tracking green markets: on one index that’s rising

Written by Ken
08/18/2008
As a metrics maven, I hold undying affection for stats that paint provocative pictures…like 7th Generation’s new index of market trends, observations, and responses. Inkslinger introduces the index as a snapshot of leading environmental indicators that paint a portrait of the state of our world. These “facts and figures that we think say a great deal [...] Read more...

coming soon to airports near you: far fewer fearless flyers

Written by Ken
08/18/2008
Those who live far from family, or work for the airline industry, or depend on tourism or airfreight for an income will have few options, says Richard Heinberg (via globalpublicmedia). Why? The airline industry has no future, and this includes airfreight. “In a few years jet service will be available only to the wealthy, or to [...] Read more...

collapsing empires compound system instability

Written by Ken
08/16/2008
So, the dust has hardly begun to settle from the Soviet collapse, and we should not expect global stability for many years, says John McLaughlin (via beyondthebeyond). Meanwhile, Stuart Staniford thinks we’re brewing our own version of collapse around the food versus fuel thang (via oildrum). Oh, and, Jeff Vail sees a viscious cycle threatening to induce [...] Read more...

3 bins for single stream recycling: new math for waste diversion

Written by Ken
08/15/2008
Let’s see how 3 bins can be simpler than 2 once you get the hang of ’single stream’ recycling (via gristmill). Confusing at first, yes, yet when you learn that ’single stream’ refers only to the recyclable material, like paper, plastic, glass and metal, you gotta be liking it already. Why? ‘Cause all those recyclables go into [...] Read more...

inflation prompts conservation as footprint gains popularity

Written by Ken
08/15/2008
A whopping 7 in 10 Americans are trying to lighten their carbon load, according to another set of results from a poll by ABC News, Planet Green, and Stanford University (via sightline). As Eric Hess notes, that’s the same share of Americans who are watching Michael Phelps make Olympic history. Yeah! That’s right: 71% of Americans say [...] Read more...

who’s on first: why should econ trump ecol in hard times?

Written by Ken
08/15/2008
Poll findings that 93% of young, affluent, prospective home buyers are NOT willing to pay more for green or energy efficient features when building a home suggests that the pocket book still comes first, and the environment comes second (via jetsongreen). But, wait: Isn’t this the same false choice that got us into this mess? After [...] Read more...

where’s the fat in your footprint? two views

Written by Ken
08/12/2008
Looking to trim your footprint? Here are two ways to slice and dice the source of your emissions. The Oregon Dept. of Enviro Quality looked at footprints from both a sector and an activity perspective, with insightful results (via sightline). The conventional view (bottom chart) shows most emissions coming from keeping the lights on and the car [...] Read more...

3Cs for climate change: count, cut, compel

Written by Ken
08/12/2008
Forget about carbon offsets, because we need to reduce the creation of these gases in the first place, says a Canadian consultancy. The 3Rs - Reduce, Reuse, Recycle - have been around for decades, encouraging waste awareness. Yet the Sustainability Solutions Group feels it’s time for a new, and equally important message to get out into the [...] Read more...

on sustainability and planning for post carbon communities

Written by Ken
08/11/2008
Sustainability will be top-o-mind when the annual conference of Hawaii Congress of Planning Officials (HCPO) convenes on Maui next month, as reflected in the choice of keynote speakers. Both Michael Shuman (SmallMart) and John Kaufmann (Portland Peak Oil Task Force) will address the network of island planners, and then participate in a breakout session on globalization [...] Read more...

hugged your watershed lately? on valuing ecosystem services

Written by Ken
08/11/2008
Gretchen Daily was kind enough to send along the graphics from Pam Matson’s presentation to Stanford Alumni last month, so we can see how the Natural Capital Project is progressing. ‘Tis a treat to observe the rapid advances in valuation of ecosystem services, ’cause we need this stuff like yesterday. Why? Nothing is more important than re-balancing [...] Read more...

peddle to the medal: ebikes win big on energetic efficiency

Written by Ken
08/08/2008
Before I get into some new data on the earth benefits of ebiking, go watch this video by bicycle2work (via ATIVsolutions). Now, the good news is we finally have the kind of detailed energy efficiency data we need to make smart decisions about our vehicles. A new journal features “The Energetic Performance of Vehicles” in its [...] Read more...

peddle to the medal: ebikes win big time on energetic efficiency

Written by Ken
08/08/2008
Before I get into some new data on the earth benefits of ebiking, go watch this video by bicycle2work (via ATIVsolutions). Now, the good news is we finally have the kind of detailed energy efficiency data we need to make smart decisions about our vehicles. A new journal features “The Energetic Performance of Vehicles” in its [...] Read more...

world saved by MIT’s solar invention? good for some laffs

Written by Ken
08/08/2008
Hope ya didn’t jump on the media bandwagon after MIT’s Daniel Nocera published a report in Sciencepress on a new electrolysis method for splitting hydrogen out of water. As JoulesBurn writes, “these modest research findings have been transformed into a calming salve for the public’s current angst over high energy prices” (via oildrum). Notes Burn, “Moving to [...] Read more...

wither real estate? on Kauai’s prospects as economy tanks

Written by Ken
08/07/2008
Good buddy Ron Margolis blogs on the latest outlook for Kauai real estate from Bankoh economist Paul Brewbaker (via activerain). Don’t hold your breath for a rebound. Brewbaker anticipates the question at a recent gathering of Kauai realtors, and quips, “October 26, 2012”. Then he repeats it (heh). “Sheesh, we were just getting used to the island [...] Read more...

Kaya coming to Kauai: the renewable energy messenger

Written by Ken
08/06/2008
Guess Kauai’s in for a bout of ‘Mo’ messianics, as Maurice Kaya leads the presenters at KEDB’s upcoming Renewable Energy Conference. Kaya (’Mo’ to friends) recently played his new theme of energy independence at a Hawaii Island gathering sponsored by Kohala Center and others. Says Kaya, “the crisis is here and it’s going to be a long [...] Read more...

are we responsible for China’s export-related emissions?

Written by Ken
08/06/2008
Speaking of imported carbon, which is one of the factors McKinsey didn’t consider in Hawaii, it bears noting that our islands were be rated far less green if we accounted for all the carbon dioxide emitted during production of all the goods we import. The inverse is true for China. Just because the developed world moved [...] Read more...

cool tool for solar energy: geo data on Hawaii sun power

Written by Ken
08/06/2008
Having just spent time on Kauai sustainability issues with UH Architecture’s new Dean, Clark Llewellyn, it’s great to find his faculty hard at work on sustainability solutions. In this case, determining in advance with greater precision how much solar energy one might expect to capture on rooftops in Honolulu (via urbanenergy). Stephen Meder and Olivier Pennetier have [...] Read more...

another day, another ebike rider: on cycling benefits

Written by Ken
08/05/2008
Good buddy Jack just called with news his ebike (just like mine) arrived today. Yeah! We’re gonna get many more islanders switching to bikes, despite the 4-wheelers running us down (which is, thankfully, still a rarity). Makes no sense to resist cycling because of jerks on the road. Aside from the benefits to your wallet, how about [...] Read more...

stimulus with a green tinge: cash for clunkers

Written by Ken
08/05/2008
Say Uncle Sam offered you $3500 for your clunker just to get your fumes off the road. Would that be a good deal for America? Face it, half the car pollution comes from a tiny fraction of clunking spewers. And, wot’s a ton of carbon dioxide worth these days? Wudja believe an economist came up with this [...] Read more...

farther, faster GHG reduction: McKinsey on Hawaii prospects

Written by Ken
08/04/2008
Getting back below 18 megatons of GHG (Hawaii’s 1990 level) won’t be easy, even with all the easy-sounding initiatives Mckinsey pinpointed for Hawaii’s emissions reduction Task Force in early June (via EnvironmentHawaii). Especially since Mckinsey’s ‘biggie’ (biofuel from sugarcane) ran into a buzz saw with the Task Force. Why? Sugar is thirsty. Nor is it obvious [...] Read more...

Rss Sign-up