Green-News: Friday 12.19.08
- Computer giant Dell has announced plans to reduce product packaging by 20 million pounds over the next 4 years. It’ll save the company $8 million. They’ll use 40% more corrugated materials and 75% of packaging will be curbside-recyclable by 2012; SustainableBusiness News reports.
- A group of 14 U.S. technology companies has teamed up to build advanced electric car batteries. They’re seeking $1 billion in federal aid. Currently Asian battery-manufacturers dominate the market. Batteries are the most expensive component in plug-in electric cars; via GreenTech.
- Yesterday, Santa Monica Bay, California lived “A Day Without a Bag.” It was the brainchild of community organizers seeking to clean up Los Angeles County. Shoppers and retailers were encouraged to ditch one-use plastic bags in favor of reusable shopping bags; from EarthFirst.
- Speaking of plastic, students at Penn State are campaigning school administrators to ban the sale of plastic water bottles on campus. In true college-fashion, they’re singing songs in protest, like “O Scorching Night” to the tune of “O Holy Night” and other holiday jingles; via TreeHugger.
- Wind turbines could harm crops. Stronger turbulence might make land surfaces warmer and dryer. But there are a bunch of proposed solutions, like determining the optimum space between turbines and integrating wind power with the natural kinetic energy cycle; ENN investigates.
- Testing in California has revealed a floating sea buoy that uses waves to generate electricity, works! The 10-foot device contains rubber-like metal parts that rise and fall with the ocean, producing electricity that can be transported through underground cables; from CleanTechnica.
