Eco-Portal: An Information Gateway Empowering the Movement for Environmental Sustainability
Earth News
August 28, 2008
- How a College Grad Can Get Recruited
An expert shares his tips on getting your name in front of a recruiter. - 2 months
source: (U.S. News) - Podcast: Simplifying Your Finances
Author Liz Pulliam Weston explains how to do it. - 2 months
source: (U.S. News) - The 6 Coolest Jobs for Weird Majors
You can put an unconventional degree to work for you in a surprisingly cool career. - 2 months
source: (U.S. News) - E.ON to appeal over Scottish wind farm rejection
LONDON (Reuters) - E.ON UK is to appeal against a local government refusal to grant planning permission for a wind farm at Auchencorth Moss in Scotland, the German-owned utility said on Thursday.- 2 months
source: ( Reuters: Environment) - E.ON to appeal over Scottish wind farm rejection
LONDON (Reuters) - E.ON UK is to appeal against a local government refusal to grant planning permission for a wind farm at Auchencorth Moss in Scotland, the German-owned utility said on Thursday.- 2 months
source: ( Reuters: Environment) - Obama Needs to Win Over Reagan Democrats
He can get their votes by persuading them he can improve the economy. - 2 months
source: (U.S. News) - 5 Most-Joked-About Public Figures by Late-Night TV Talk Show Hosts
Bush tops the list, and Obama is joked about less than McCain. - 2 months
source: (U.S. News) - Data Points: Convention Highlights
People are most interested in tuning in to Barack Obama's speech. - 2 months
source: (U.S. News) - Public Opinion: What Does Barack Obama Need to Say in His Speech?
He addresses the Democrats and the nation—tell us what you think he should say. - 2 months
source: (U.S. News) - Origin of Nerves Traced to Sponges
A sea sponge has building blocks of nerves. - 2 months
source: (U.S. News) - USDA hands out $35M for cleantech projects
The cash will be used for renewable energy systems or to improve energy efficiency in farm and business operations. - 2 months
source: (Cleantech Group - Latest clean technology news) - Ethanol plant likely to win DEQ approval
A proposed ethanol plant for Hopewell is poised to win approval from Virginia regulators.
- 2 months
source: (Environmental News) - Environment is a priority (Vail Daily)
Restoring Trust, Building Community — Step 7: The environment is a community issue. Taking care of our environment is a fundamental step in building community. Our community must work together to build a cleaner, healthier and safer environment for future generations. - 2 months
source: (Yahoo! News Search Results for environment) - Ricardo Ramps Up China Operations
Ricardo is undertaking a “highly substantial”, two-phase development of its Shanghai-based operations is to take place in the remainder of 2008. The first phase—the move to a new technical center—includes a tripling of the existing working area, with space for a staff of approximately 100 employees. Approximately 90% of the team are in technical and engineering roles.
The new Ricardo Shanghai technical center—which will serve both domestic and overseas customers—is based in a central location, close to the Hi-Tech Park development at Caohejing.
The second phase of development—expected to be completed towards the end of the year—envisages the establishment of a satellite test-based operation within the expanding Anting Auto City area to the west of Shanghai, where significant automotive operations including the technical headquarters of Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation (SAIC) and the SAIC-VW assembly plant are located.
These developments take Ricardo beyond the level of an overseas engineering provider, giving the company crucial critical mass as a local supplier of engineering services in the Chinese market, with the back-up of the global resources of Ricardo. As such we will be far better placed to achieve our objectives for locally based engineering recruitment and further development of our Chinese business.
—Lee Sykes, executive VP of Ricardo ChinaRicardo is a leading independent technology provider and strategic consultant to transportation sector industries. The company’s engineering expertise ranges from vehicle systems integration, controls, electronics and software development, to driveline and transmission systems and gasoline, diesel, hybrid and fuel cell powertrain technologies.
- 2 months
source: (Green Car Congress) - GE reshapes the future of wind power
General Electric's wind energy division is trying to find a "Goldilocks" turbine design, one that's not too big and not too small.
Like other wind manufacturers, GE is benefiting from booming demand for wind turbines in Europe and in the U.S. even with the possibility of a ...
- 2 months
source: ( Green Tech ) - GM’s Opel Introduces New Corsa and Astra ecoFLEX Models
The Opel Astra 1.7 CDTI ecoFLEX. In Europe, GM Opel is introducing two new ecoFLEX (earlier post) diesel variants of the Corsa and Astra for model year 2009: the Corsa 1.3 CDTI ecoFLEX and the Astra 1.7 CDTI ecoFLEX.
The Corsa 1.3 CDTI version has a fuel consumption rating of 4.1 L/100km (57.4 mpg US), with CO2 emissions of 109 g/km. The Astra 1.7 CDTI version has a fuel consumption rating of 4.5 L/100km(51.3 mpg US) with CO2 emissions of 119 g/km. Both cars are fitted with a maintenance-free diesel particulate filter as standard.
With improved engine control and lower vehicle weight, Opel reduced fuel consumption and CO2 emissions of the Corsa 1.3 CDTI ecoFLEX by around 9%. On the Corsa, the calibration of the 1.3 CDTI engine is optimized and adapted to a longer transmission gear ratio.
To improve its aerodynamics, the car is lowered by 20 mm, air intakes are optimized and wheels are fitted with newly designed, more effective wheel caps. The Corsa ecoFLEX is also equipped with special roll resistance optimized smaller tires: 175/70 instead of 185/70, fitted to lighter—flow formed—14” steel wheels.
Engineers paid extra attention to the weight reduction, shaving off 45 kg (99 lbs). The optimized wheels and tires, for instance, allowed to reduce weight by 7.2 kg (15.9 lbs) alone.
The Corsa ecoFLEX is available with five-speed manual transmission as a three-door model in the equipment variants Corsa and Edition. Its performance figures are similar to its predecessor: 55 kW/75 hp output, maximum torque of 170 Nm (125 lb-ft) and a top speed of 168 kph (104 mph).
The new Astra 1.7 CDTI ecoFLEX is available as five-door, three-door and station wagon models which come with a six-speed manual transmission. The 1.7 CDTI common-rail diesel has maximum output of 81 kW/110 hp, torque of 260 Nm (192 lb-ft) at 2000 rpm and a top speed of 188 kph (117 mph).
GM engineers modified the Astra 1.7 CDTI with a longer axle ratio, optimized the engine management system and reduced the engine idle speed. The curb mass of the new Astra ecoFLEX has been reduced by 30 kg.
Moreover, engineers improved aerodynamics by lowering the chassis, optimizing the front air intake and including a drag reducing lower engine compartment panel. They also reduced the power steering pump idle speed and fitted low rolling resistance 15-inch tires (16-inch optional).
The two cars will be available before the end of 2008. In summer 2009, Opel also will introduce the ecoFLEX version of the new top model Insignia.
- 2 months
source: (Green Car Congress) - UK minister says energy comes before climate: report
LONDON (Reuters) - The battle against climate change must not take precedence over the need to guarantee energy security, British industry minister John Hutton was quoted on Thursday as saying in an apparent policy change.- 2 months
source: ( Reuters: Environment) - Raft made of plastic bottles crosses Pacific
Tanned, dirty and hungry, two men who spent three months crossing the Pacific on a raft made of plastic bottles to raise awareness of ocean debris finally stepped onto dry land.
- 2 months
source: (msnbc.com: Environment) - Hot Docs: Obama Vs. Olympics, Bankruptcies Soar, Banking Woes, and More
Today's selection of timely reports - 2 months
source: (U.S. News) - North Pole ice cap melting faster than ever
AFP - The Arctic ice cap keeps melting under the effects of global warming and in August saw its second largest summer shrinkage since satellite observations began 30 years ago, US scientists said.
- 2 months
source: (Yahoo! Green News)
