Mass Production of Electric Car Starts

Every 5th of June is a day used by the United Nations to stimulate worldwide awareness of environmental issues and encourages political action. It is fitting that on World Environment Day, June 5, 2009 — Mitsubishi Motors Corporation , unveiled the production version of the i-MiEV new-generation innovative electric vehicle (iEV), describing it as “the pioneer that will open the door to the next 100 years of our automobile society.”

Production is expected to begin at its main plant in Okayama Japan,The i-MiEV will go on sale on the Japanese market in late July of this year. Mitsubishi will be the first world's automaker to mass produce an electric vehicle.



From the Mitsubishi brochure:

"The i-MiEV is a zero-emissions vehicle (ZEV) which produces no CO2 emissions while being driven. Even when the CO2 gas emitted at power generating stations is taken into consideration, the i-MiEV generates approximately one-third of the CO2 produced by the gasoline “i” minicar (Calculated in-house based on the average of electric energy frameworks in Japan).

The i-MiEV is powered by a very high energy-density lithium-ion battery manufactured by Lithium Energy Japan*9. The large-capacity drive battery is comprised of 88 lithium-ion cells connected in series and is installed under the floor in the center of the vehicle. This configuration contributes to outstanding handling and stability due to the car’s low center of gravity."

Ecopod - Recycled Paper Coffin

The Ecopod

There is a new coffin alternative developed in Ireland, it brings together: care for the environment; biodegradability; hand manufactured from recycled materials, unique shape, form and colour.

They have exclusive agents and distributors in North America, The Netherlands and Ireland. Lists are available on their site.

"The Ecopod is a revolutionary and beautiful new design in coffins that brings together artisan skills with style, elegance and a respect for the environment.

Made by hand from recycled newspapers and hand finished with paper made from recycled silk and mulberry leaves, the Ecopod is available in a range of colours with screen printed motifs, plain white, or gold."

To read the rest of the article and check out the ARKA Acorn Urn click here and go to the Ecopod site.

Ecopods are not the only biodegradable alternative; for instance, EcoffinsUSA offers bamboo coffins and banana caskets made from all natural (organic) plant material which naturally biodegrades.

Recycled Cargo Containers Converted to Homes

Container city in London is probably the best example of how contains can be recycled into living space:




I thought I'd post this YouTube video of London's container city after reading the CNN story about a container home built recently in South Carolina. click here for the CNN story

The Daily Green has 46 pictures of cargo container home photos including interior shots and Amsterdam's massive Keetwonen complex houses 1,000 students: TheDailyGreen

Pope John Paul II's 1990 World Day of Peace Message

Peace with God the Creator - Peace with all of Creation Pope John Paul II’s, 1990 World Day of Peace Message, is probably his most quoted message on the environment. Here is my attempt at a summary of the environmental issues addressed in it .

In the introduction we are warned that peace is threatened by among other issues “a lack of due respect for nature, by the plundering of natural resources“.

Further in this message Pope John Paul II stresses that the ecological crisis has a direct correlation to the moral crisis in society; indeed the ecological crisis reveals the moral character. The particular ecological concerns stressed in this message are:

greenhouse effect

pollution

submersion of low-lying lands (I generally associate this with global warming)

Resolutions stressed include:

education in ecological responsibility

good urban planning

respect for natural contours

We are adjured to acknowledge that the harmonious universe requires respect of order and order is characterized by mutual interdependence; interdependence requires coordination. The entire human community (all catholics) must take seriously the responsibility.

Read the entire message at the Vatican website
The quotes below are specific to the environment and are pulled from his message in the order they appeared(the italicized words are italicized in the original):

“Moreover, a new ecological awareness is beginning to emerge which, rather than being downplayed, ought to be encouraged to develop into concrete programs and initiatives.”

“Many ethical values, fundamental to the development of a peaceful society, are particularly relevant to the ecological question. The fact that many challenges facing the world today are interdependent confirms the need for carefully coordinated solutions based on a morally coherent world view.”

“Certain elements of today's ecological crisis reveal its moral character. First among these is the indiscriminate application of advances in science and technology. Many recent discoveries have brought undeniable benefits to humanity. Indeed, they demonstrate the nobility of the human vocation to participate responsibly in God's creative action in the world. Unfortunately, it is now clear that the application of these discoveries in the fields of industry and agriculture have produced harmful long-term effects. This has led to the painful realization that we cannot interfere in one area of the ecosystem without paying due attention both to the consequences of such interference in other areas and to the well-being of future generations.”

“The gradual depletion of the ozone layer and the related "greenhouse effect" has now reached crisis proportions as a consequence of industrial growth, massive urban concentrations and vastly increased energy needs. Industrial waste, the burning of fossil fuels, unrestricted deforestation, the use of certain types of herbicides, coolants and propellants,: all of these are known to harm the atmosphere and environment. The resulting meteorological and atmospheric changes range from damage to health to the possible future submersion of low-lying lands.

While in some cases the damage already done may well be irreversible, in many other cases it can still be halted. It is necessary, however, that the entire human community—individuals, States and international bodies—take seriously the responsibility that is theirs.”

“ The most profound and serious indication of the moral implications underlying the ecological problem is the lack of respect for life evident in many patterns of environmental pollution.”

“Theology, philosophy, and science all speak of a harmonious universe, of a "cosmos" endowed with its own integrity, its own internal, dynamic balance. This order must be respected.”

An education in ecological responsibility is urgent: responsibility for oneself, for others and for the earth. …. a true education in responsibility entails a genuine conversion in ways of thought and behavior.

Good urban planning is an important part of environmental protection, and respect for the natural contours of the land is an indispensable prerequisite for ecologically sound development. The relationship between a good aesthetic education and the maintenance of a healthy environment cannot be overlooked.

Today the ecological crisis has assumed such proportions as to be the responsibility of everyone.

When the ecological crisis is set within the broader context of the search for peace within society, we can understand better the importance of giving attention to what the earth and its atmosphere are telling us: namely, that there is an order in the universe which must be respected, and that the human person, endowed with the capability of choosing freely, has a grave responsibility to preserve this order for the well-being of future generations. I wish to repeat that the ecological crisis is a moral issue.

Going Green from the Top Down! Planted Roofs

Going Green from the Top Down! The roof top that is.


Planted roofs, green roofs, turf roofs, turf and green roofs, sod roofs, roof terraces, whichever you prefer to call them, are becoming a popular concept in the USA. Some cities, such as, Portland, Oregon provides incentives to participants through its green roof initiative; other states have also implemented incentive plans.

I've been interested in planted roofs ever since reading about the sedum roof on the eco-convent. The thought of picking herbs off the top of my shed, with its flat roof, seems appealing, but not very safe. I've seen them before on houses built into hillsides and flat roofs, but more and more they are showing up on pitched roofs too. The benefits of this type of roof to the owner and the community are numerous.

Benefits:

Shades and insulates building

Conserve energy

Absorb storm water, reduce runoff

Absorb pollution

Acoustic insulators (green roofs may reduce indoor sound by up to 40 decibels

Urban areas, especially, benefit from additional green space

A Wikipedia article, Sod Roof, refers to the all sod/turf roof as "a traditional Scandinavian type of roof", which was "most common on rural log houses".

Roofs types for the “planted roof” are typically low pitched and flat roofs, however if the roof is strong enough to support the weight of the turf and/or plants when fully saturated (including snow if applicable) and the roof is watertight they can be planted on other pitched roof surfaces as well. General structural calculation are made when purchasing. It is not unusual that foundation and roofing timbers may require upgrading to support the weight.




Plants are typically chosen with consideration to the depth of the soil they will require. There can obviously be more variation on a flat roofs. Typical choices are the biodiverse rooftop, sedum blankets, small shrub and flowering plants. These choices are also referred to as extensive: with a thin layer of growing material, such as sedum matting; or intensive: with a greater soil depth with shrubs and even trees. The biodiverse roof is often referred to as a brown roof, the biodiverse roof is constructed similarly, but is designed to maximize biodiversity or provide a habitat for a specific species.



There are also options for planting medium, some companies make biodegradable mulch mats made predominately from waste paper, the area you live in and the type of plants you use may make an irrigation system a must.

Lots of options available with this new, [or not so new in the case of the sod roof (see wikipedia link below)], creative take on the rooftop.




In my search on the www for information on planted roofs I found most of the vendors were in Europe. The few vendors and/or organizations I found in the United States encouraging this type of roof seem to be centered in the Northwest and in the Northeast. Some of the sites have instructions for self installation.

More Info:
Wikipedia:: Sod Roof

Home Wind-Turbine Energy System

Ace Hardware will soon be selling wind turbines designed for homeowners.



The Honeywell 6000 Wind Turbine looks more like a large fan or bicycle wheel sitting atop this house. Just a 2 mph wind is need to operate this turbine.

EarthTronics Inc. unveiled the WindTronics Honeywell Wind Turbine plans for a household wind-turbine energy system, in Grand Rapids, Michigan, in May 2009, it is expected to hit market in October of 2009. The Wind turbine designed can produce up to 1,580 kilowatt hours of electricity per year (15% of average household energy needs).

Electricity is managed through a closed-loop management system, or smartbox. Power is either run directly to the home or stored in a battery.

Details:
Size: 6' in diameter, 95 lbs
Output: 15800 kilowatt hours per year, starts generating at 2 miles per hour
Features:quiet, stores excess energy in a battery, auto directional operation
Price: suggested retail $4,500
state and federal incentives may offset purchase
Availability: Ace Hardware; Other premium retailers and contractors in December



YouTube video of wind turbine

EarthTronics website

Prayer of gratitude from the Book of Common Prayer

We give you thanks, most gracious God,
for the beauty of the earth and sky and sea;
for the richness of mountains, plains, and rivers;
for the songs of birds and the loveliness of flowers.
We praise you for these good gifts and pray that
we may safeguard them for our posterity.
Grant that we may continue to grow in our
grateful enjoyment of your abundant creation,
to the honor and glory of your name, now and forever. Amen.

-Book of Common Prayer

Go Green from your feet up! Radon.

Is your home free of radon gas? Go green from your feet up!
EPA Launched Living Healthy & Green Media Campaign in 2009
Have you heard it advertised? hope so.




The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) launched a campaign in January of 2009 focused on clearing the air from the ground up making radon gas in the home an easy target as enemy #1. The concept of the campaign is good--we should all make a commitment to go green from the ground up and begin by ensuring that the air in our homes and buildings is safe. In addition radon is also a target this year for Cancer Survivors Against Radon CANSAR because of "radon induced cancer", they launched a nationwide call to action in May of 2009. CANSAR's website lists 21,000 as the number of Americans every year who die from radon.

Radon is a radioactive gas caused by the natural decay of uranium, it is found in nearly all soils. Radon moves up through the ground to the air above and dissipates, in an outside area this is not usually a concern, it becomes a problem however when it enters a home, or any occupied building:

How does it get in - it enters your home through cracks and other holes in the foundation.

What happens when radon enters the home - your home traps radon inside, where it may build up to levels considered dangerous for humans.

Any home may have a radon problem.

new and old homes,

well-sealed and drafty homes, and

homes with or without basements.

Radon can also get into your well water and enter the home.

Some building materials have radon, but usually not enough to cause radon problems on their own.

The new campaign is designed to educate the public about how easy it can be to detect and rid the home of radon. Basic remediation, such as, sealing cracks, installing fans, and additional piping are often all that is needed to correct a problem. Pamphlets are available on the EPA site with remediation information.


Although it's a multi-media campaign with TV and radio materials, I actually haven't seen any of them on my local TV or heard ads for it on my local radio stations. It's great that they have taken on this campaign, if any one is interested in using their materials EPA website offers that the entire campaign is available in multiple media formats and sizes for newspapers, magazine, billboards and the Web in both English and Spanish. All elements can be viewed and ordered on line at www.epapsa.com

The EPA site also list states who have received grant money for the State Indoor Radon Grant Program (SIRG) on their site. Contact your state to find out how the money is being spent--EPA lists state contact information on their state.

Kits for radon testing are available from many environmental testing laboratories and often through your states department of health.

If you haven't tested for radon gas in your home, why not? Maybe it's time for you to go green from the ground up.

"We want Americans to know that a big part of “living green” is breathing clean, healthy indoor air."~EPA.gov




Visit EPA website at: EPA

Informative videos:

Radon in Air video on youtube.com
Radalink's video mentions sellers interfereing with the test, this isn't a concern when your testing for your own purposes, in which case you may just want to purchase a kit locally.

Radon in granite counter-top; how to test for Radon in granite counter-tops
Updated - Testing your granite counter-top for radon by AirCheck, who also has a video on why you should use a geiger counter to check for Radon -- basically it comes down to the fact that other radioactive elements are in granite and the geiger counter may be reacting to those elements.

Cistercian Monks Soy Toner

"We don't just sell black powder. we offer ink & toner that changes lives."~lasermonks.com

The monks at the Cistercian Abbey of Our Lady of Spring Bank are now selling laser toner cartridges for printers made with soybean oil (instead of petroleum).

If you've ever owned a laser printer you know how expensive replacement cartridges are. When the monks of Our Lady of Spring Bank faced sticker shock they quickly decided to buy recycled cartridges at a fraction of the cost, this eventually led to a recycled ink cartridge business, which in turn led to the development of SoyPrint™ toner. The benefits are listed on their website and quoted here:

"Soy toner represents the latest environmental breakthrough in office printing! Made from renewable, environmentally-friendly soybeans, SoyPrint™ toner allows you to print greener without sacrificing cost, quality or page yield! Every conventional petroleum-based toner cartridge replaced with Soy represents up to two liters of oil saved, and prevents the release of harmful volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

Soy Ink Benefits
* Vibrant colors/High Quality that matches brandname toner quality/performance
* Lower rub-off - soy inks show a greater rub resistance
* Cost effective
* Laser Proof - in a laser printer, the ink is exposed to heat. The boiling point of soy ink is lower, therefore there is less chance of the ink being transferred to parts of the machine rather than the paper.
* Stability - Soy ink has a lithographic stability
* Environmentally friendly and sustainable - no crude oil used to produce the toner
* Reduces dependence on foreign oil
* Higher yield - for many of the toner cartridges, soy ink yields 10% more pages
* Simpler and less capital intensive in the de-inking process (recycling)
* Reduction of carbon dioxide emissions"

Expenses and the cost of products are 80 percent of profit, leaving 10 percent for the monastery and 10 percent for charities.


For more information visit the Monks website and read the New York Times article below:


lasermonks.com website


New York Times "Laser Monks"

Garden Africa Project - Spiral Gardens

Lovely spiral garden plans, developed by GardenAfrica a UK based charity, are designed 100 sq m family plots that will feed and medicate a family of 5 year round. Go directly to their site to hover over the garden and read the detailed plan (see link below).


The special features of this garden combine nutritional information, Permaculture principles and natural African farming techniques.

central spiral feature allows optimum spacing for companion plants to ward off pests, retains water and enables the gardener to harvest without expending too much energy, or damaging the beds.

design takes into account the need to harvest, store and sink water

relies heavily on recycled materials

oil drums used as compost bins

sunken drum used for collecting surface run off

water drums above ground ued for collecting roof run-off

tires and crates set in and filled with sand and dirt to create up slope steps and prevent erosion

plants specifically selected for fertilizer, medicinal, and nutritional requirements

low bound swale strategically placed for retention of water

African shade tree stategically placed

"GardenAfrica fosters self reliance by training people to teach others in their community how to grow food and medicinal herbs with the most effective use of water and other available resources, this is key to their acceptance in the area. GardenAfrica equips communities to plant and harvest their gardens without relying on further aid and inputs. GardenAfrica's role is to set up the projects, train community leaders, provide support, and capture and disseminate data, and then withdraw. Each project should ideally have the capacity to grow into a small business, and support continued training within each community. Thus the gardens are sustainable in every sense of the word." ~gardenafrica.org.uk

Focused in Southern Africa GardenAfrica has worked in schools and hospitals growing medicinal and nutritional gardens. They work directly with local partners when offering donor support to provide a more sustainable future to the people of the area.

To learn more about GardenAfrica or the garden project click on the link below:
Garden Africa garden project


To read the BBC article on GardenAfrica's garden project click here

Eco-Catholic

Eternal Reefs - Cremation Urn alternative

Eternal Reefs

There is a new memorial choice that replaces cremation urns and ash scattering. Eternal Reefs, Inc. creates permanent environmental living legacies that memorialize the remains of those who have passed. If you've ever imagined resting eternally on the ocean floor or becoming a natural habitat for sea life, this urn alternative may be for you.

Coral reefs are one of the most diverse ecosystems on the plane, but people are damaging them. Don Brawley, the founder and a diver, saw this deterioration of the reefs firsthand when diving off the Florida Keys. Don and his college roommate set about creating system that replicates that natural marine environment—which became known as the Reef Ball. The Reef Ball is essentially an artificial reef, cement outcropping, that over time encourages marine growth.

The company began mixing cremated remains with the material used to make Reef Balls when Don’s father-in-law passed away. In and interview with National Geographic Don quotes his father-in-law as saying, "I'd rather spend eternity down there with all that life and excitement going on then be with a bunch of old dead people."
News spread quickly, others began selecting an Eternal Reef as their final resting place.

The Memorial Reef is a process which typically includes: mixing the ashes with a cement, casting the reef, creating a rubbing of the loved ones memorial plaque, ceremony, lowering of the Memorial Reef into the ocean, and an inspection of the Eternal Reef after three months.

This is a unique option particularly for those concerned about the use of land for burials, the recent rash of “metal thieves” violating urns in cemeteries.

More about Eternal Reefs and its founders can be found on their website at
http://eternalreefs.com


Eco-Catholic Home

Eco-Convent in North York Moors:

New 'green convent' for Benedictine nuns


Nuns arrive at eco-convent and leave behind high-carbon habit
announced the Guardian. The picture of the nuns of the Conventus of Our Lady of Consolation leaving their old abbey with its stained glass windows and cathedral ceilings was stark next to the picture of the new flat roofed convent with clear windows located in the North York Moors national park. Monastery living has indeed moved into a new era for these Benedictine nuns as they take on this new challenge to live a life in a more ecologically responsible way.

Green features in the new facilities include:

Rainwater harvesting tank

solar panels to provide hot water

woodchip boiler fueled by locally-sourced trees

roof covered in sedum grass to better insulate the buildings and attract local wildlife.

a reedbed sewage system - effluent from the monastery will filter through the reedbed and, after it is processed through natural anaerobic digestion

low energy light fittings

'passive' main drainage'

'A' rated appliances

There is still much word to be done as only Phase I is complete, according to their website. The new facilities are a vast improvement environmentally over their old quarters in Victorian Stanbrook Abbey, in Worcestershire, where they were spending an excess amount of money and time maintaining the older building with its large halls and an oil and gas heating systems.

This note is posted on their website: Unfortunately, as much as we would like to, we cannot afford to build the new monastery in one go. For this reason, we must phase the building. On 18 June 2007, work began on phase one and, as funds become available, we will build on

Phase two: the church

Phase three: the library

Phase four: guest accomodation

Plans for the new facilities can be found on their website (link below):

Become a Friend of Stanbrook Abbey (click here)


Guardian article: New 'green convent' for the Benedictine nuns of the Conventus of Our Lady of Consolation


ecocatholic blogspot

Welcome to Eco-Catholic!

"So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. And God blessed them, and God said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the air and over every living thing that moves upon the earth’" (Gen. 1:27–28)

Welcome to my blog celebrating unique and upcoming projects dedicated to improving the quality of life by championing the ecology of the Earth and protecting the environment. I needed a place to share and keep track of the projects I come across in real and virtual life and a blog is as good a place as any; so this is it.

Eco-Catholic recognizes efforts, especially unique advancements, in "green living' and discusses the importance of catholics, and more particularly "Catholics", role in being "stewards of the Earth". The blog name is a combination of the abbreviated form of ecology, "eco", and the word "Catholic", or "catholic", either one; it is a universal call, hence catholic, as well as a commission to the Christian community, hence Catholic. The definitions for eco and catholic are discussed in more detail at the end of this article.

The universal "catholic" community is called to be environmentally friendly for the good of the community; the Catholic, or whole Christian community, is entrusted by God to care for the Earth; "Catholics", as in Roman Catholic should be particularly familiar with the literature of John Paul II and his call to be mindful of the ecological crisis and the serious obligation to care for all creation.

During his lifetime Pope John Paul II gave speeches and wrote several papers calling on each one of us to be more ecologically aware. It is my intention to use this blog to echo his call to ecological awareness, take note of those practicing stewardship particularly with new "green" technologies, and link to sites providing information on ways to be environmentally friendly. The call to "go green" is important to all catholics, but for those catholics, who are also Catholic, it is part of fulfilling their role of "Stewards of the Earth".

“Simplicity, moderation and discipline, as well as the spirit of sacrifice, must become part of everyday life, if we are to become stewards of nature.”Pope John Paul II, Message for the World Day of Peace, 1990

In his message for the celebration of the World Day of Peace, January 1, 1990, Pope John Paul II also reminded us that,"God entrusted the whole of creation to the man and woman, and only then—as we read—could he rest "from all his work" (Gen 2:3)" The universal community has been entrusted by God to care for the universe, let us recognize here those who are making strides in this arena and follow their example by looking for areas in our own lives where we can be more mindful of the ecosystem. Non-governmental projects are highlighted because of the entreprenuerial spirit behind the individuals and companies who run them and their supporters.


Realizing that the definitions for eco and Catholic are controversial I have attached snapshots of web definitions below:
"eco" defined:






Note: eco is not recognized as a word, although originally added as a prefix to other words to refer to "ecological" it is now used more to indicate "environment".


"catholic" and "Catholic" defined:


Merriam Webster online (click here to go directly to definition )




dictionary.reference.com (click here to go to site)dictionary.reference.com has actually changed their definition since I posted this on wordpress; they still have the "uh" for second syllable pronunciation however. Expanded on optional definitions and added a 4th. (–noun
4.a member of a Catholic church, esp. of the Roman Catholic Church.)




thefreedictionary.com online (click here to go directly to website)

Please refer to the dictionary sites for a more readable version of definitions

We can use the word catholic as an adjective when referring to all people; all Christians are Catholic; some Catholic Christians are Roman Catholic.

Note: All of them identify the word catholic as defining the universal, or whole, Christian body; all of them also identify it as being comprehensive, or involving all humankind. Interestingly enough dictionary.reference.com does not recognize that the word is often a direct reference, particularly as a noun, to a member of a Roman Catholic church; Merriam-Webster while recognizing the use of “Roman Catholic” only lists it as an adjective. Thefreedictionary.com is the only one of the three that lists it as a noun on its own with a capital C as pertaining to a member of a Catholic church, especially a Roman Catholic church.

Lest you think the word, and its use, is not controversial read
Property of Rome"?Does the Vatican have exclusive rights to the word "Catholic"?

ecocatholic blogspot