Ben & Jerry's

Ben & Jerry's ecology

Once again, Ben & Jerry’s is out to start a revolution! This time, it’s a technological revolution – by introducing a new kind of clean, green freezer to the United States. What’s the big deal? These new freezers use alternative refrigerants that, unlike current freezer gases, do not contribute to global warming nor the deterioration of the earth’s ozone layer if released to the atmosphere. That’s two big leaps forward on the path to more environmentally friendly refrigeration!Starting in the fall of 2008, we’ll be running trials of these hydrocarbon (HC) freezers in the Boston and DC areas while we seek approval for widespread commercial use from the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). If – and when – we gain EPA approval, we’ll share the technology far and wide, with the long-term goal to make HC freezers the standard in the United States. So what’s the need for new freezing technology? Most small freezers in the United States today use hydrofluorocarbon gases (HFCs) to generate cooling. HFCs work well in freezers, but they have a significant downside. With help from our friends at Greenpeace, we have learned that HFCs are among a group of refrigerants, known as “F-gases”, that are highly potent greenhouse gases. The most commonly used HFC (HFC134a) has a global warming potential (GWP) of 3,200. This means that a ton of this gas in the atmosphere has the same global warming effect as 3,200 tons of carbon dioxide. The problem is that, under normal use, freezers leak a small amount of these F-gases each year. Over time, all those leaking freezers as well as disposal at end of useful life can make a significant contribution to the problems of global warming.We believe HC freezers can be a big part of the solution. The HC gases we’re using in our Cleaner, Greener Freezers – purified propane – are just as effective at cooling a freezer as HFCs and are 10% more energy efficient. But HC’s contribute almost nothing to global warming, and have zero impact on ozone depletion.

Now, that’s progress!Hydrocarbon (HC) refrigerants are already in use around the globe. Household freezers and small commercial freezers outside the US have successfully used these hydrocarbon-based refrigerants for the last few years. So why has the US not adopted this technology? First, the three butane-lighters-worth of gas that is contained in the freezers is flammable. So, before we place any HC cabinets for commercial use, first we made sure the cabinets were tested and approved by Underwriters Laboratories to ensure they could be operated safely. Second, the EPA requires that any new alternative gases go through a rigorous evaluation process known as SNAP (Significant New Alternatives Policy).

This program is designed to evaluate and regulate substances for ozone-depleting chemicals being phased out under the Clean Air Act.Where does this leave Ben & Jerry’s? Fortunately we are able to conduct a trial of HC freezers in the US while we go through the lengthy SNAP process. In August 2008 the cabinets to be used in our trial received the first ever UL safety approval of an HC cabinet design. And in September of 2008, we submitted our formal SNAP petition to the EPA for consideration.We are excited to be the first company to test this environmentally friendly refrigerant in the United States – and to start the freezer revolution!

Solar Trees

SOLAR TREES

This is a great innovation — the streets of Europe could soon be lit by "solar trees". These self-contained streetlights could save cities energy and money too. Unlike regular streetlights, they do not require costly underground wiring to install, and they are immune to blackouts. Designed by Ross Lovegrove, the lights have 10 solar panels arrayed at the top of tree-like branches, which charge built-in batteries. The batteries then power LEDs for illumination. Compared to conventional streetlights, they emit much less light pollution, because LEDs generate a very directed light. The trees also incorporate light detectors! So the lights automatically turn on sunset and off at sunrise.

The solar trees went on display for four weeks in October on a busy street — the Ringstrasse — in Vienna, Austria. They were able to provide enough light during the night-time even when the sun did not show for as much as four days in a row. The director of the program, Christina Werner said. "Someday soon solar trees could well be the main form of street lighting in Europe."


Putting solar powered LED light systems on trees would cut down on the carbon emissions and also slash the bills of local authorities, she said.
Street lighting consumed 10 percent of all the electricity used in Europe in 2006 or 2,000 billion KWh, and resulted in carbon emissions of 2,900 million ton.
The use of more energy-efficient lighting in the Austrian city of Graz, with a population of almost 300,000 saved the city 524,000 KWh of electricity and 67,200 euros [US $96,800] in 2005.

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THE WORLD'S FAVORITE ANIMAL





"The dog might be man's best friend, but the world's favorite animal in the tiger", reports The Independent of London. After a series of documentaries, each featurig one of ten animals, a poll of over 52,000 people from 73 countries put the tiger ahead of the dog by just 17 votes. In third place was the dolphin, followed by the horse, the lion, the snake, the elephant, the chimpanzee, the orangutan, and the whale. Animal behaviorist Dr. Candy d'Sa explained the humans "can related to the tiger, as it is fierce and commanding on the outside but noble and discerning on the inside. In contrast, the dog is a loyel respectful creature and brigs out the lighter, more communicative side of human nature." Conservationist welocome the tiger's victory Callum Rankine, of the World Wide Fund of Nature, said: "If people are voting for tigers as their favourite animal, it means they recognise their importance, and hopefully the need to ensure their survival." It is estimated that only 5,000 tigers remain in the wild.

By Karla

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Surprise - Surprise!

The phenomenon of the climatic change begins to be a threat of national safety for the governments, specially for the United States, since it is very probable that in a short term they are going to have to intervene before the problems associated with the climate of the world that might alter notably the political map and put in risk the military operations.

The satellite of the NASA "Icesat" has revealed that the ice of the glaciers of Greenland and of the zones of the Antarctica melts to a 'record' pace. Equally I aim that the rapidity with which some glaciers go towards the sea “overcomes fully the maximum speed that the ice can be returned to the land across rainfalls ".

Nevertheless, in many other points, both of the Antarctica and of Greenland, the formations of ice are being confronted by hotter waters that erode their foreheads.

In addition the team makes clear that the break of the frozen floating barriers " also contributes to the intensive thaw, as well as the increase of the temperature of the air "

These irreversible changes that continue in increase would provoke in Bangladesh, an imminent rise of the level of the sea provoking the massive displacement of hundreds of persons to India increasing religious and racial conflicts, contagion of diseases and an enormous damage in all the infrastructures.


Are we prepared for these changes?


By Karla

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Lack of contact w

Lack of contact with
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Mother Nature
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is killing us!!!

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Krispy Kreme questioned over 1,000 UK workers and found that over half (53 per cent) of urbanites believe that their stress levels are affected by a lack of contact with Mother Nature.

I consider that our lack of contact with Mother Nature is one of the principal reasons why the humans beings are so unsensitive with the world that surrounds us.

Most of the times technology get us away from our environment and makes us be egoist with it.

Looking for solutions, I think is needed to promote the contact to Mother Nature.

Fortunately the antidote is close at hand – or more specifically at feet – with 81 per cent saying that a simple walk in the park makes them feel instantly relaxed.

Krispy Kreme created this awesome grass flip flops.

It take up to three weeks to grow and each shoe is covered with over 5,000 blades of grass. If watered regularly the unique footwear can remain in season for over 4 months.
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They are the perfect, head-turning summer-accessory for stressed-out men and women.
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I think it is very important that the companies of the whole world take care of the well-being of their workers, not only for the progress of the company, also for the well-being of our planet.


By Yajaira Álvarez

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No more smoke on the water!!!

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Recently, smokers had been restricted to "burn themselves" in public places because of all the non-smokers, who were the most affected in the process. Well, this won't be a problem anymore.

There is a healthy option for those who refuse to leave the pleasure of taking a puff from time to time

A new and revolutionary brand called Instead has launch to the market the E-cigarette, a device that acts much like a common tobacco cigarette but without any of its toxic effects over the human body, specifically the lungs. How? It produces vapor instead of smoke of the normal combustion process. It is also great to stop smoking if that is your goal.

Now we have the bad news. This brand isn’t available yet here in Mexico, but everything is not lost. You can find an e-cigarette working with the same mechanism called Cigatronik. How much? The entire kit costs around $990 but it’s worthwhile. It includes different flavor’s cartridges (mint, tobacco, chocolate, vanilla, coffee or apple) and all the stuff required to make it work.

Think about it and you’ll find it is not expensive. Your health is worthwhile and your lungs deserve it. Smoking is cause of pulmonary emphysema, many types of cancer (lung, larynx, mouth, throat, bladder and esophagus), and other health problems such as loss of bones density, cataracts, macular degeneration which is a cause of blindness and reduced fertility.

Finally, and really important, is better for our planet if we stop polluting with cigarettes smoke. Besides of all the health benefits, the Earth also takes advantage of this.

Do you want more? Check the G-link section for more information.

By Zuly

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