Carbon capture and sequestration - what's that all about?

We could talk about todays General Election but I'm sure you've had your media fill on that topic.

So instead, we thought we'd bring to your attention a new term - Carbon Capture Sequestration.

CCS (as it's referred to) is the process where CO2 is chemically separated from emissions with the greenhouse gas then being pumped and buried deep under ground, never to pollute the atmosphere again.

As Smart Planet reported, it's an expensive business but seen by many as a way of "weaning us" off of coal as we move over to large scale renewable energy sources.

Now to a layman like myself, this process seems fraught with disaster that would make Towering Inferno look like a camp fire.

What happens if the CO2 escapes back to the surface? Can it contaminate the land around it? How will it effect any local residents in years to come?

Presently such a operation has been operating in the North Sea (well under it actually) by a Norwegian project which has been running for 10 years now.

As you may have guessed, the topic has its supporters and sceptics - more of which you can read via Smart Planet's article.

One opponent to the idea of CCS likened the piping of CO2 underground to "putting a bicycle pump nozzle against a wall, saying the gas will eventually escape and find its way to the atmosphere".

photo credit: jesse millan

Slow down and save - Container shipping fleet saves 30% per journey

I was intrigued by a 'Tweet' last week (thank you @greenforyou which led me to a post on Treehugger.com, regarding changes made two years ago by the Danish shipping conglomerate Maersk.

The world of cargo shipping is, it seems, a cut-throat business with various carriers vying to get your shipments from a to b as quickly as possible.

Unfortunately, this means running ships at full speed which is not the most fuel effiecient way of running these giant ships (or any other vehicle for that matter).

So Maersk decided to slow things down - a journey that used to take 3 weeks now takes a month but the saving in fuel - as much as 30% on a trip is paying off big-time.

And less fuel means the company is able to make substantial inroads on its co2 reduction targets.

I'd like to quote this passage from Treehugger: "According to the Times, Soren Stig Nielsen, Maersk's director of environmental sustainability, says that slowing down is "a great opportunity to lower emissions 'without a quantum leap in innovation'," and he notes in presentations to clients that "Going at full throttle is economically and ecologically questionable." And he's right."

Of course we all know (don't we?) that by driving our cars at 55mph rather than 65mph, reduces emissions by 20% and saves fuel at the same time.

Do pop over to Treehugger.com and read the full article. There's also links to other stories that involve fuel savings made by slowing down.

photo credit: jdnx

The Government wants me to be a green driver - I thought I already was?

Yes - the Government wants you to be a green driver. The sum is simple - reduce the mileage and you reduce the CO2.

Amongst their suggestions is car sharing for trips to work, walking rather than driving to places under 2 miles away (schools etc), car sharing with other parents for school runs, planning your journeys to take in appointments / work with shopping rather than making separate journeys... and on it goes.

They even suggest shopping online and having your groceries delivered rather than all driving to the supermarkets ourselves.

Did you know that 75% of people live within 2 miles of a national cycle route?

Unfortunately, many of us live in the real world - you know, the world where buses run once an hour before dropping you off at least 30 minutes walk away from your work-place. Where car sharing equals 'thumbing a lift' and to cycle would mean leaving the house an hour earlier. OK but only when the sun shines!

Sure there are always going to be occasions when you could walk instead of take the car and its up to the individual to take advantage of these opportunities as fuel costs continue to rise and car ownership in general is more costly.

Or perhaps you're exploring a hybrid vehicle of some kind for your next car?

The Energy Saving Trust website has loads of practical suggestions for cutting down your own personal car usage - including links to a national scheme of car sharing - remember to stay safe out there people!.

photo credit: skippyjon

Toyota Prius saves 7 million tonnes of CO2

Spotted over at Renewable Energy Focus -

"Toyota Motor Corporation has been awarded the 2010 Zayed Future Energy Prize for its third-generation Toyota Prius, the world’s first mass-produced hybrid vehicle."

"The Zayed Future Energy Prize jury cited Toyota Motor Corporation’s revolutionary technologies, which have set the global standard for fuel efficiency and innovation, as the key factor behind selecting Toyota as the 2010 winner. The original Prius was launched in 1997 and the judges estimated that in the last 13 years has saved around seven million tonnes of carbon dioxide from polluting the atmosphere, due to fuel efficient technology."

Since last year when I enjoyed a very impressive drive in a UK Toyota Prius, I've added it to my list of possible next cars. In fact, the drive prompted me to ask, on this very blog, "Will your next car be a hybrid design?"

"For drivers in and around London (and other cities that may follow London's example), the other major running cost to consider is the Congestion Charge. As most hybrids are in PowerShift Band 4, they receive a 100% discount on the London Congestion Charge (although owners of hybrids need to register with Transport for London and pay an annual £10 fee). With a £8 payable daily charge, this could provide a potential annual saving of up to £2000. The PowerShift Register lists vehicles that qualify for London Congestion Charge discounts." Read the full post by clicking here.

It's certainly food, or should that be 'fuel' for thought.

photo credit: Wellington Grey

CO2 emissions cut by 95% in our lifetime?

The Environmental News Network last week published an article claiming that Europe was reasserting its international leadership in the fight against global warming by offering to cut its co2 emissions by 95% by 2050 and 30% by 2020.

The deal is dependent on a pact being sealed in Copenhagen in 5 weeks time.

This is against a backdrop of doubts concerning enough time remaining for Europe to agree to such proposals. The EU still has to resolve disputes over carbon trading schemes and how the developing world is to be paid to cope with the impacts of global warming.

Apparently Poland and other poorer eastern European countries are unhappy at being asked to subsidise action in countries like China and India.

You can read the Environmental News Networks full report here. It makes very interesting reading and we hope Europe is able to reach agreement.

You can start doing your bit now of course by getting a free quote for having solar panels installed on your property. Visit SolarPanelQuoter.co.uk to day.

photo credit: foto43

Jaguar Land Rover cut 13,000 tonnes of emissions

Cuts of a rather different kind in the luxury car market - and most welcome they are too...

"Jaguar Land Rover is probably not the first company that springs to mind when one is asked to think of green businesses.

The firm's two main brands are better known for their size and luxury than their green credentials. But internally the firm has a target to reduce CO2 emissions by a quarter over the next five years.

Jaguar Land Rover has removed more than 13,000 tonnes of emissions from its supply and delivery chain's annual carbon footprint through efficency measures over the past five years – a reduction of about 6.5 per cent.

The firm's supply and delivery chain is a huge operation, clocking up some four million road miles a year, on top of a million nautical miles and 54,000 rail miles, all to deliver some 250,000 vehicles annually."

Read more of this supply chain logistics story at Business Green.com