Pointless Green Archives – The Green Optimistic

You Guys REALLY Don’t Like Selling Electric Vehicles, Do You?

Benji Jerew — Tue, 13 Jan 2015 21:08:11 +0000

With the introduction of the first commercially-successful electric vehicles, things have started to change in how vehicles are sold. Of course, we’re not talking about the General Motors EV1, which was more of a research project than mass-production electric vehicle. We’re talking about Tesla Motors’ Tesla Roadster and Tesla Model S, which started an electric […]

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Backfire – Michigan Says Burning Tires is a Renewable Energy Source

Benji Jerew — Mon, 08 Dec 2014 19:37:57 +0000

“Tire burning” and “Renewable Energy” doesn’t seem to make a whole lot of sense to me, especially considering that tires are made from synthetic rubber, which comes from petroleum, which is NOT a “renewable” resource. Please tell me, then, what fuzzy commodities calculator Michigan legislators are using to come up with House Bill 5205? Sponsored […]

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A Different Way of Having Turkey for Thanksgiving

Ari Luis — Fri, 21 Nov 2014 23:37:14 +0000

So what’s Thanksgiving without the turkey? I guess that vegans are missing out on the fun, or then again maybe not. And we’re not talking Tofurkey here. It turns out, you don’t need to get elected president to give at least one of these big birds a pardon. The folks at Farm Sanctuary are giving […]

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Painting A Green Future with Decorated Wind Turbines

Ari Luis — Wed, 05 Nov 2014 09:21:25 +0000

Australian-based wind farm, Hepburn Wind, has a unique way of drumming up support for renewable energy. Probably finding inspiration from the lyrics of Windmills of Your Mind, or maybe not, they are raising at least AU$10,000 in funds to promote wind power. The funds raised will go to the painting of their second wind turbine, […]

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Sino Skyscraper to Suck up the Smog

Ari Luis — Wed, 22 Oct 2014 04:10:51 +0000

The Great Leap Forward can be credited not only for years of neck break growth and for lifting up millions of people out of poverty in China. Unfortunately, it also left in its wake pollution, and lots of it, as the country burned more coal to drive industry, factories spewed more emissions and more people […]

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Solar Powered Hydrogen Fuel – The Rebellion

Benji Jerew — Wed, 18 Jun 2014 16:07:25 +0000

Hydrogen fuel cell and battery electric vehicles have one very important thing in common: they’re both emissions-free sort of. While it’s true that hydrogen fuel cell and battery electric vehicles do not generate any emissions in themselves, their upstream emissions cannot be ignored. Really, it all depends on where the power grid gets its electricity […]

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Designers Create Illuminating Art Powered by Goebacter-Generated Electricity

Mila Luleva — Mon, 19 May 2014 18:59:02 +0000

You know a concept is brilliant when even artists want to use it in their special collections and shows. This year, a surprising number of contemporary dance performances and art exhibitions are choreographed and design around renewable energy sources, raising awareness about the importance of protecting the environment, as well as admiring and mitigating climate […]

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Lexus Hybrids Muddying Electric Vehicle Waters

Benji Jerew — Tue, 06 May 2014 16:31:31 +0000

Look anywhere, at politicians, journalists, ignorantes, even in some of the comments here on The Green Optimistic, and you’ll find electric vehicle opponents. One place I wouldn’t expect have expected to see an opponent, however, comes from a recent ad campaign touting Lexus’ and, by extension, Toyota’s hybrid electric vehicles. Toyota Synergy Drive and Lexus […]

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Dealerships Would Rather Not Sell Electric Vehicles – Consumer Reports

Benji Jerew — Thu, 24 Apr 2014 19:41:37 +0000

As it turns out, just reading The Green Optimistic makes you better qualified to sell electric vehicle than the average new car dealership sales associate. According to some research done by Consumer Reports, involving some secret shoppers visiting 85 automobile dealers in four states. As we know, mass-market electric vehicles are a relatively new concept, […]

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Ridiculous – Guy Pees in Reservoir, Portland Drains 38 Million Gallons of Potable Water

Benji Jerew — Fri, 18 Apr 2014 17:18:00 +0000

Open-air reservoirs are slowly becoming a thing of the past, judging from what Portland did to its thirty-eight million gallon reservoir of potable water after someone urinated in it. The last time this happened, Portland’s reservoir of potable water only lost eight million gallons, at a cost of more than $30,000 to the city, all […]

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Corvette Reaches Fuel Economy High – Still a Dinosaur Suckling

Benji Jerew — Tue, 08 Apr 2014 14:50:06 +0000

As with most sports cars, such as the Corvette Stingray, fuel economy isn’t one of their strong suits, but Americans and their muscle cars seem to be inseparable. The 2015 Corvette Stingray will still come with the standard seven-speed manual transmission, which many prefer for driving pleasure, but the optional six-speed automatic transmission of yesteryear […]

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Toyota Prius / Harley Davidson Abomination Found on eBay

Benji Jerew — Fri, 04 Apr 2014 14:57:23 +0000

There are Toyota Prius drivers who thumb their noses at Hummer H3 drivers, and there are Ford F750 Drivers who thumb their noses at Nissan Leaf drivers, but I don’t think it’s ever turned as violent as this… Imagine a perfectly-running Toyota Prius hybrid electric vehicle, and then throw all caution and common sense to […]

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Chevy Volt Ad Playing Rough with Pure Electric Vehicles

Benji Jerew — Fri, 14 Feb 2014 16:11:38 +0000

Do automakers run attack ads? See for yourself as the Chevy Volt leaves pure electric vehicles to die in the desert! Whoa! Did you read that correctly? At least, that’s my impression on seeing a recent ad, featuring a Chevy Volt extended-range electric vehicle (EREV), cruising through the desert. Concerned, the kid asks his dad […]

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Research Says Electric Vehicles Don’t Reduce Emissions?

Benji Jerew — Tue, 28 Jan 2014 18:17:08 +0000

Fuzzy math is hard at work in North Carolina State University, specifically the engineering department, which released the results of a study that basically says that electric vehicles don’t reduce emissions. It’s widely accepted that electric vehicles, in themselves, generate no emissions. Still, the energy they expend must come from somewhere. The electricity that charges […]

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BMW i3 Range-Extender “Not For Regular Use”?

Benji Jerew — Mon, 20 Jan 2014 12:20:38 +0000

With all the great ideas that go into a BMW, such as those that make up the new BMW i3, one little piece of bad idea seems to have made it into the mix. For now, we know the BMW i3 to be an extended-range electric vehicle (EREV) with a battery range of 80 to […]

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Wait, No More Horse Carriage Rides in New York City’s Central Park?

Benji Jerew — Sat, 04 Jan 2014 20:41:56 +0000

If Mayor Bill de Blasio has his way, the Central Park carriages could be trotting on borrowed time. On the other hand, do they have a lasting place in New York City’s image? Ubiquitous to New York City, similar other great cities, is the yellow New York City Taxi, but gone are the giant Ford […]

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New Mexico Reduces Renewable Energy Requirements – More Backwards Thinking

Benji Jerew — Thu, 28 Nov 2013 18:41:44 +0000

In order to get power producers to do their part in reducing carbon dioxide emissions, federal and many state regulations require a certain percentage minimum of renewable energy sources. New Mexico, for example, uses a credit system to keep track of how much renewable energy power producers are using. Under the law, which was just […]

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Can Coal-Burning Plants Burn Wood to Reduce CO2 Emissions?

Benji Jerew — Mon, 04 Nov 2013 06:58:19 +0000

Coal-burning adds to carbon dioxide emissions at an astonishing rate, releasing carbon dioxide that was sequestered millions of years ago. Coal-burning also releases a lot of other problematic emissions, as is being seen today in coal-rich China, whose air is choked with smog and particulate emissions, ruining the skyline and residents’ lungs. In order to […]

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Is There Really a “Greener” Hydrogen, BASF?

Benji Jerew — Tue, 23 Jul 2013 14:47:47 +0000

Mention hydrogen fuel cell [HFC] vehicles and two opposites immediately spring to my mind. First, HFC vehicles are, in themselves, emissions-free. On the other hand, hydrogen generation is far from emissions-free. If generating hydrogen also generates carbon dioxide, then what’s the point of driving an HFC vehicle, especially when they cost upwards of $50,000? At […]

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The Fisker Automotive, Wanxiang, and VL Automotive Love Triangle Overseen by Bob Lutz

Benji Jerew — Thu, 23 May 2013 17:15:37 +0000

By now it’s no longer old news when we talk about yet another electric vehicle company going down, such as A123 Systems, CODA Motors, Better Place, and now Fisker Automotive. Bob Lutz, previously of General Motors and the driving force behind the Chevy Volt, has turned his attention to other projects. VIA Motors has designs […]

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Learn to Curb Emissions and Win Free Gas in Toronto, Canada

Benji Jerew — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 19:13:48 +0000

In an effort to educate consumers to curb emissions and the benefits of cleaner transportation, the Toronto nonprofit, Summerhill Group, is giving away free gas cards and other prizes. Learning how to commute more efficiently doesn’t have to be painful and from last week until the first week of May, you can actually win free […]

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Fuzzy Math, Washington State Wants to Tax Cyclist Carbon Emissions

Benji Jerew — Wed, 06 Mar 2013 04:29:53 +0000

That’s right, Washington State wants to tax cyclists for their use of the roads, citing carbon emissions and the fact they pay no gas tax. For the most part, the gas tax goes toward road maintenance, but since cyclists use no gasoline, then who pays for the infinitesimal wear and tear they inflict on the […]

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Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Electric Drive is For the Few

Benji Jerew — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 19:27:54 +0000

The Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Electric Drive is another beast entirely and, for its price, assures an even smaller market share than the top-of-the-line Tesla Model S. Mention a few names in the automotive business, and immediately something ought to spring to mind, some impressions such as Tesla Model S: Electric Vehicle, Cutting-Edge Technology, Controversial. It works the […]

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North Dakota Light Pollution Seen From Space UPDATED

Benji Jerew — Tue, 29 Jan 2013 08:01:31 +0000

When looking at satellite photos of the earth taken at night, it is easy to see urban areas as brights spots in a sea of black. Rural areas barely even register on these night shots. The reason for this is mainly because of street and building lighting, and light pollution on a grand scale can […]

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Snails Producing Electricity for Mad Scientists With Aid of Biofuel Cells

Mike Sandru — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 18:50:29 +0000

Scientists at the Clarkson University in Potsdam, New York have discovered another way in which snails could be useful, besides being eaten as a French delicacy: they can provide electrical power! Of course, the need for finding alternative sources of energy is indeed great, but it hasn’t yet come to this – using snails. What […]

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World's Shortest Range EV Features New Li-Ion Capacitor As Power Source

Mike Sandru — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 17:27:28 +0000

FDK Corporation in collaboration with Takayanagi Co Ltd has developed a new single-seater electric vehicle. The electric car is also equipped with a lithium ion capacitor that, according to the two companies, is able to charge it in under a minute. This could be the reason why the car has a range of just 5 km per charge.

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Solar Powered Ovens Made From Pizza Boxes Ehxibited on NYC Streets

Mike Sandru — Mon, 30 May 2011 17:43:24 +0000

While the green technology might still be a new thing for many, something our mind needs to get adjusted with, some other people already understood that this is their future. Or at least that's what students from 2 high schools in New York proved last week at the Union Square Greenmarket, when they showed up with a couple of green solar powered ovens.

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The Stirling Racer: Nice But Expensive Stirling Engine Toy Powered By The Sun

Ovidiu Sandru — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 19:23:53 +0000

It's nice for a toy, but difficult to understand when it comes to explaining the true greenness of this invention. A stirling engine-powered toy just hit the market recently, combining a 194-year-old engine concept touted today for its fuel flexibility with solar power-the baby that modern science wants to grow.

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Logitech's Solar Powered Wireless Keyboard: Pointless Green In a Plastic Case

Ovidiu Sandru — Tue, 02 Nov 2010 17:57:33 +0000

A solar powered keyboard has been launched by Logitech yesterday. Not only it will announce you through a special software that it needs recharging, the innovative keyboard also saves precious power... in vain.

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Danish Hotel Gives Free Meal to Anyone Cycling for 15 Minutes in Their Gym

Ovidiu Sandru — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 17:23:51 +0000

While pointless as a way to really change something in the course of pollution reduction, a Danish hotel found a way to both motivate their customers to go green by pedaling and give them a free $36 meal voucher.

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1998 Volkswagen Scirocco Powered by Coffee Granules

Mike Sandru — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 12:55:00 +0000

Today, the auto field is dominated by vehicles running on electricity or other alternative sources of energy but there is a team from the BBC1 science program “Bang Goes the Theory” who believe that coffee too is a good fuel. They have converted a 1998 Volkswagen Scirocco to run coffee granules, reaching a top speed […]

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SOccket – A Soccer Ball That Generates and Stores Renewable Energy

Mike Sandru — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 17:07:14 +0000

A group of students at the Harvard University have come up with an ingenious idea that could change the lives of African people. They have developed an energy harvesting soccer ball called sOccket that is able to produce electric energy when being kicked around.

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Pointless Green: Koreans Developing Weird Pedal-Powered Aircraft

Ovidiu Sandru — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 20:15:31 +0000

It's been a while since I've laughed at something this funny and pointless on this blog. Well, it looks like the Koreans don't (or do they?) have a practical sense when they invest $290,000 on a pedal-powered airplane.

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Pedal-Powered Blender: Saving The World One Carrot at a Time

Ovidiu Sandru — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 19:37:21 +0000

After so much seriousness, let's try and take a look at something else, a new invention that will surely change the way we live, think, and act during our irresponsible ride to the grocery store.

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Do Africans Plan to Produce Energy by Pulling a Roll After Them?

Ovidiu Sandru — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 10:59:14 +0000

An african inventor, by his name Cedrick Ngalande, has invented a device called the Green Erg, that could harness the pulling force of a person or moving vehicle, and convert some of it into electricity. Though I don't see his invention any soon on any European or US market, it seems some say that it will have a great success in Africa, there where you have to make electricity out of anything.

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