CT Green Scene

Video: Clean Energy Transition - Science Based, Rational Plan

Must watch - fully scientific based solution for transition to 100 percent clean energy! 

 

 

CT GreenScene Invited to Sneak Peak into CT Fastrak

The central Connecticut area will soon be home to a
new form of transportation that looks to revolutionize the way Connecticut residents commute. Projected to be finished in early 2015, Connecticut Fastrak will administer a swift ride for those who choose to utilize public transportation to get to their destination of choice. Stretching all the way from Waterbury to Hartford, this contemporary system will make travel in the area more convenient for all, and likely boost local economies with more folks having an opportunity to explore areas of the state they might not have had the chance to previously. CT Fastrak is a form of Transit Oriented Development (TOD), which is described by the CT DOT as, “A strategy to increase economic competitiveness through improved quality of life, reduced traffic congestion, lower transportation costs for households, improved air quality, reduced costs for providing city services, and growth management.”

On July 17th, CT Greenscene was invited to see what progress had been made on the Fastrak. Led by CT DOT’s Mike Sanders, we began in downtown Hartford, passing by many of the stations (Flatbush Ave., Sigourney St.) that are under construction. As you can see from the following photos, they are very modern looking and would appear to be quite comfortable. Having the opportunity to get out and walk around at a few of the stations was incredible. Simply seeing the signs with the map of stops, where the ticketing kiosks would be, and even the benches, helped me envision what the what this project is aiming to look like.

August 31 - Electric Vehicles at Lime Rock Park

Who: Westport Electric Car Club

What: The Westport Electric Car Club has been invited to exhibit club-member owned EVs at the prestigious “Sunday in the Park” Concours and Gathering of the Marques at the Historic Festival presented by Lime Rock Park. This is the first time EVs will be featured in the 32-year existence of this event.

The Lime Rock Concours d’Elegance exhibition occurs each year on Sunday of Labor Day Weekend as a part of the Historic Festival. The Concours is expected to feature up to 250 cars, augmented by another 750 collector cars. It has gained renown as the premier vintage racing and concours event on the East Coast since 1983. The honored guest this year is Sir Stirling Moss and the honored collector is Ralph Lauren who will be displaying 5 of his collector cars.

When: Sunday, August 31

Where: Lime Rock Park

For ticket information click here. 

For more information on The Westport Electric Car Club, please reach out to these resources with any questions: 

Leo Cirino, President: [email protected] (203)226-0034

Barry Kresch, Director, Public Relations: [email protected] (203)521-6731 

 

www.WestportElectricCarClub.com  

 

 

 

May 4th - WESTPORT ELECTRIC VEHICLE (EV) RALLY

Who: The Westport Electric Car Club

What: WECC announces its second annual Electric Car Rally. The club expected 20 entries for the 2013 rally and ended up with 33. The models entered were the Tesla Model S, Tesla Roadster, Chevrolet Volt, Nissan Leaf, BMW ActiveE, Smart Car EV, Ford C-Max Energi, Toyota Prius Plug-in, and Fisker Karma. This year the club expects between 50 and 100 vehicles to be entered. The public will have an opportunity to speak with EV owners, learn about EV technology, visit sponsor tents, and enjoy snacks and drinks.

When: May 4th - Rally registration begins at 9AM and the rally will start at 10AM. The public event will begin at 1PM when the cars are expected to finish.  

Where:  The Rally begins and ends at the Westport Saugatuck Metro-North train depot. Registration will occur in front of the Steam Coffee Bar on the New Haven bound side, next to the 4 EV charging stations. There will be a mid-rally stopping point at the Wilton GoGreen Festival, and a free public event at the finish in Westport.

Entrants must be “plug-in” vehicles, either partially (plug-in hybrid) or fully electric.  It is not necessary to be a member of the club or to live in Westport to participate. Any and all EV drivers are welcome! Eligibility for entry this year has been expanded to include plug-in motorcycles and scooters. Some of the newer models are expected to enter.

John Shuck is returning as rally master, along with co-rally master Larry Liesner. To register a car, visit the club’s website

Photos are available on the website. Visit the club’s Facebook event page for updates, as they are announced, and other news about EVs.

 The mission of the Westport Electric Car club is to promote vehicle electrification and the supporting infrastructure in the service of reaching low or zero emission transportation. The club welcomes for membership anyone with an interest in electric vehicles. It is not a requirement to be an EV owner or to live in Westport. In fact, for anyone considering an EV purchase, the club is a great resource for information. Prospective members may join on the website.

OCTOBER 5 - NATIONAL SOLAR TOUR IN CT!

Who: The 18th Annual National Solar Tour with People’s Action for Clean Energy and Sierra Club volunteers.

What: A Canton home with a large solar electric installation and exciting new heating and cooling technologies will be open for free tours. A new 2013 “Solarize Canton” photovoltaic installation features 18 Sunpower 250-watt panels which are leaders in the industry and are more than 20 percent efficient. The Daikin super-efficient air source heating, cooling and humidity-controlling system uses no conventional fuel, greatly reducing energy consumption. 

Visitors will also see the owners’ 2013 electric plug-in hybrid Prius. So far, the car has traveled 850 miles using solar energy and just one tank of gas. An electric Tesla automobile will also be on exhibit.

  

This unique home uses solar irrigation, a patio pool solar pump and solar hot water systems; energy-efficient appliances, a wood stove and window quilts. Many other earth-friendly practices include the use of LED bulbs; a sun tube; an organic garden and an aquaculture pond.

When: Saturday, October 5 - 12:00 noon to 4:00 p.m.

Where: To reach the home, turn north onto Lawton Road at the intersection of routes 44 and 177. Travel for .8 mile, bearing left at the fork. Turn right at the top of the hill onto the dirt driveway and follow the parking signs, or park on Lawton Road.

To learn about other buildings that are part of the National Solar Tour, see:  www.pacecleanenergy.org; www.solarconnecticut.org; www.nesea.org or www.ases.org.

 

April 27 Summit on Creating Bike-Friendly, Walk-Friendly Places

April 27th

9:00 AM-2:30 PM

Yale, Linsley, Chittenden Hall

New Haven, CT

Registration Required

Summit participants will hear from Bill Nesper, Vice President, League of American Bicyclists, about the Bike Friendly America program and from Keynote Speaker Jeff Olson, Principal, Alta Planning & Design, author "The Third Mode: Towards a Green Society."

 The summit will include breakout sessions on "Attacking the Application Process for Bike Friendly Communities, Businesses and Universities;" "Complete Streets Engineering - A Key Component to Bike and Walk Friendly Communities;" and "How to Get Your Project Funded."  The program will conclude with optional bike or walk tours of New Haven courtesy of Elm City Cycling, followed by a networking and social hour at O'Toole's.  Copies of The Third Mode will be available for purchase at the conference. Attendees who join Bike Walk CT will be awarded $10 off of their individual registration, registration ends April 15th.

Members, Full-time Students & Yale Employees:

Early BIrd, until April 15: $25

General Registration: $30  

Non-Members:

Early Bird:  $35

General Registraion: $45 

*Continental breakfast and lunch included.

Register Here: https://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/eventReg?llr=5vvygggab&oeidk=a07e74qzm1z79b79281

For More Information: http://www.bikewalkct.org/summit-2013.html

Celebrate Solarize Solar Tour April 13th

13 April 2013

1:00 PM-4:00 PM

$15.00 per Person

Canton, MA

People's Action for Clean Energy (PACE) is sponsoring a tour that will introduce the public to the latest trends in solar power. This tour will feature two seminars, where experts in the field will talk about how implementing solar panels can help everyone to live cleaner, healthier lives. There will be a presentation on how the solar panels will be able to charge electric vehicles enough that they will be able to handle an 18 mile commute before the fuel from the gas tank even needs to take over. Owners of these electric vehicles will also be available to share their real experiences with these cars. Later, guests will be able to see how entire houses can be customized to reduce energy costs both to the environment and to the family budget. Also, guests will see the incredible opportunity for cost shaving that can be captured by encouraging their entire community to go green. Registration for this tour is required and is non-refundable and it costs a mere $15.

Register Here: http://www.pace-cleanenergy.org/site/webtickets/tour20130413

For More Information: http://www.pace-cleanenergy.org/resources/includestatic?url=..%2Faction_files%2Fhouse_tour_20130413.html

6th Annual Global Environmental Sustainability Symposium: Transportation, Human Mobility, and Sustainability at CCSU

April 4th, 2013

9:45 AM-7:15 PM 

FREE, Registration Required

Central Connecticut State University

New Britain, Connecticut

The CCSU Global Environmental Sustainability Action Coalition invites the public to learn and to teach one another about the actions that we, as human beings, must take to ensure that we live in such a way that we are able to satisfy our needs while ensuring that our children and grandchildren will be able to satisfy their own. The symposium will offer 3 classes, two performances, a panel discussion, a tour, and an optional attendance at the town meeting, as well as opening and closing notes from distinguished professionals in sustainability. This event is FREE: anyone can register online to show up. *Exhibitor tables are still open.

Schedule

9:45-10:00 AM: Symposium opening and welcome with Dr. Charles Button and Dr. Jack Miller (tentative) at Alumni Hall

10:00-10:45: Transportation, Migration, and Sustainability in Four Worlds Alumni Hall

Dr. John Kelmelis expands upon a possibility raised by the United States National Intelligence Council when they published Global Trends 2030: Alternative World. This work explores four very possible future worlds. Dr. Kelmelis will explain what each of these worlds might mean for our future as well as what strategies we might use to make the most of each circumstance at the local, regional, national, and global levels. 

11:00-11:45: Panel Discussion: Electric Cars and Alternative Vehicles Alumni Hall

The president of the New England Electric Auto Association (Dave Oliveria), an environmental writer and speaker (Jim Motavalli), the Senior Associates Autos Editor for Consumer Reports (Eric Evarts), and a natural gas car owner (Joe Booth) all come together in one place to talk about the real value that hybrid, extended hybrid, and electric vehicles hold. This is a special opportunity to discover what users and reviewers genuinely think about these alternative vehicles.

12:00-1:45 (*with second free registration): Water Wars Performance and Lunch Alumni Hall

While you enjoy your lunch, the Sonia Plumb Dance Company will be performing Water Wars. This is an emotionally charged piece of art that exposes the very important and very tenuous relationship that human beings have with one of our primary sources of life: water.

Fairfield University explores impact of electric cars

Electric vehicles (EVs) are already being successfully produced by major automobile manufacturers, and even more companies are catching up in the race to make them.

Fairfield University’s School of Engineering will present a free, public talk exploring their importance, entitled, “Charging Infrastructure and Impact of Electric Vehicles,” on Tuesday, March 20 at 5:30 p.m., in the Kelley Center.

Fairfield alumni Michael Scala, president of Shelton-based LEX Products, and Tyrone Mellon, the company’s lead electrical engineer, will deliver a talk and answer questions. Their presentation will compare vehicle operation differences between EVs and internal combustion engines, the environmental impact of EVs, and the charging technologies.

In 2006, Scala joined LEX, an industry leader in both commercial and military power distribution markets due in large part to continuous innovation, award-winning customer service, and world-class manufacturing techniques. He earned his MBA from the Dolan School of Business. Mellon is lead electrical engineer at LEX Products and is responsible for the development of new technologies and products, including EVs as well as the compliance of products to safety standards. He received his M.S. in Electric and Computer Engineering from Fairfield.

Space is limited. Please confirm your attendance by sending your name, organization and number of attendees to [email protected].

The event will also present an opportunity for attendees to network.

Sponsors include the ASME student chapter of Fairfield University, Engineering Student Society (ESS) of Fairfield University, ASMEFairfield, ASME New Haven, ASME Hartford, the Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME), the Inventors Association of CT (IACT) and Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, IEEE.

For further information, please contact [email protected],  [email protected], or Dr. Shahrokh Etemad, at [email protected].

Image courtesy of RidingLust.com.

Jay Leno's Garage hosts Connecticut's EV Expert, Jim Motavalli!

by Heather Burns

Connecticut resident and former Editor for E the Environmental Magazine, Jim Motavalli, has been a long-time proponent and expert of EV's. Check out Jim's new book, High Voltage: The Fast Track to Plug in the Auto Indusry.

Jim predicts that by 2020, 10 percent of all new vehicles will be either electric or plug ins. Jay goes on to say that the Chevy Volt is "the perfect car because it's electricy when you want it and gas when you need it."

 

See more in this engaging video in Jay's garage.

NASCAR...Green?!?

This morning's Environmental News Network reports that NASCAR is greening it up these days. With 50 cars whipping around in races as long as 500 miles at five miles per gallon of gas, that sounds unbelievable. But the corporation has made a shift to use 15% ethanol made from domestic corn, planted trees to offset carbon emissions, and installed solar panels at their sports facility in the Poconos. Read the excerpt below.

The Greening of NASCAR
From: David A Gabel, ENN
Published October 18, 2010 10:30 AM

"NASCAR is a sport that certainly burns a lot of fuel. Realizing this, management of the association, under CEO Brian France, is making efforts to offset their carbon emissions. They have joined forces with sponsors to set up the world's largest recycling program. They maintain the world’s largest solar-powered sports facility at the Pocono Raceway. They have also done a massive tree-planting which NASCAR claims neutralized all carbon emissions produced by the Sprint Cup Series racecars.

Their most recent step is to change the fuel used in all three major national series to Sunoco Green E15, a 15 percent ethanol blend made from domestic corn. While the benefits of corn-based ethanol are debatable, they will help NASCAR lower carbon emissions while not affecting engine performance, the sport's biggest concern."

To read more, click here.

Image courtesy of NASCAR.com.

Solar Roadways?

by Heather Burns

Returning from a trip to Washington, DC to meet with legislators and understand more about the mission of the American Business Council, led me to realize the influence that public policy has - particularly on ushering in and ensuring which innovative ideas rise to the top and take hold. Take this one for example: solar roadways that end our addiction to fossil fuels and pay for themselves. Is it really that simple, or do we need to consider whether our fossil fuel addiction could be replaced by a lithium addiction. Techy experts, please weigh in...

Electric Bus

by Eileen Weber

Getting from Point A to Point B may be a little greener these days for some schools and universities. Hybrid buses are being used for transportation here in Connecticut and as far away as Wyoming.

According to IC Bus, an Illinois-based subsidiary of Navistar, Inc., the largest manufacturer of school buses in the country, the average school bus uses over 1,700 gallons of fuel annually. The average hybrid, however, uses less than half that at 600 gallons. The hybrid buses also reduce emissions up to 40%.

Here are some other amazing statistics IC Bus would like you to know: The daily fuel cost of transporting a child to school by private vehicle costs $3.68 while the same child taking the bus only costs 73 cents; One school bus has the capacity to take 36 cars off the road, with a total of 17.3 million cars every year; If 10% more children rode the bus, another 300 million gallons of fuel would be saved annually.

These quick, little facts may not pop into your head when you see a big yellow bus belching exhaust in front of you at the stoplight. But many school officials are seeing buses as a way to be greener and cleaner.

Green Cars

Electric cars used to be nothing more than science fiction. But for car manufacturers, it's the next step. Green technology is taking hold of an industry that plays a big part in climate change. More than a few people think it's about time. See the excerpt below from this morning's New York Times:

A Future That Doesn't Guzzle
By Bill Vlasic and Nick Bunkley
Published January 11, 2010

"The world’s automakers unveiled a number of hybrid gas-electric and battery-powered models, several of which might not be available for years to come.

It is a telling sign of how much emphasis that car companies are placing on the electrification of vehicles — even though consumers have yet to show widespread interest in alternatives to gas engines.

'Green technologies are the master key to the future of the automobile,' said Thomas Weber, the head of research and development at Mercedes-Benz, which plans to deliver the first 200 of its B-Class F-Cell electric cars to customers in the United States and Europe this year."

To read more of the article, click here.

Image courtesy of The New York Times.

Need A Ride?

by Eileen Weber

A few months ago, a friend of mine asked me if I wanted to carpool to a meeting we were both attending. I said, “Carpooling. It’s the new 'Driving Alone!'”

Well, not exactly. It seems not too many people carpool. According to the last U.S. Census, most Americans drive solo. In a survey conducted in 2005, 87.7% of commuters use their car to get to work and 77% of them drive alone. On the flip side, only 4.7% of workers use public transportation. In an earlier survey in 2004, Hawaii had the highest carpooling rate at 16.4% while Massachusetts was the lowest at 7.2%. Connecticut was not much better at 7.8%.

What’s so great about carpooling? At the end of the day, you’re still stuck in traffic. But now, you’re stuck in traffic with someone you don’t really know. The most obvious reasons for the commuting alternative are the decrease in traffic congestion and carbon emissions expelled into the air. Another benefit is that some people actually like the personal interaction from meeting new people. It can make the drive seem faster.

For those who choose not to carpool, they have their reasons. Many people often have to work late or their schedule is too unpredictable. But for some, it’s just the inconvenience of relying on someone else’s schedule that makes carpooling, or ridesharing, unappealing.

Inconvenience aside, carpooling is a necessary option in a bad economy. When belts are tightening and the gas prices are high, more people choose to bum a ride.

Field Test a MINI-E

by Heather Burns-DeMelo

I can't think of a better way to usher in the New Year than to be one of the 500 lucky ducks who will test drive a MINI-E for the next 365 days. And trust me, if I had a garage, OR $850 extra bucks a month OR more cash to upgrade my electric system, I'd do it in a heart beat.

So, those of you living in the NY/NJ metro area who meet the criteria, go for it. And don't forget where you read about it--hopefully it's worth you taking me for a spin!

Buyout Will Let Automakers off the (clean air) Hook!

Thanks to our friends at PACE for keeping us informed...

One of the most important issues concerning climate change is connected to the $34 billion bailout of the auto industry. You would think that giving them that much money should carry some conditions BUT one of most crucial ones is missing and that is to mandate the auto companies drop their lawsuits against three states of the thirteen (which includes Connecticut) who have passed a law (called "the Paveley Law") to adopt standards that would greatly reduce greenhouse gas emissions from cars and trucks.

So what can little ol' you DO? Thanks to the Law Offices of Matthew Pawa, it's as simple as filling in the blanks...

*NO PAVLEY-NO BAILOUT*!

Dear Congressman BLANK:

Thank you for telling the heads of General Motors, Chrysler and Ford last week that their lawsuits against state greenhouse gas laws are a "serious obstacle" to providing taxpayer loans to their companies. It is
now time to follow through on this statement. As a constituent, I am writing to demand that you */only /*vote "yes" on a Detroit bailout */IF/*the legislation includes a provision making clear that the federal
fuel economy law does not preempt the states' greenhouse gas laws.

I am outraged that Detroit may receive taxpayer money while continuing to push lawsuits against the states. These lawsuits seek to use the federal fuel economy law to strike down state greenhouse gas laws. Sixteen states have adopted or are in the process of adopting the "Pavley regulations," which would significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions from cars and light trucks. Half the nation's population lives in these sixteen states. The Pavley law is a vital step in the fight to reduce the U.S. contribution to global warming. And since GM, Chrysler and Ford have now said repeatedly that rescuing their businesses requires that they significantly improve fuel economy, then under the logic of their own lawsuits in which they argue that fuel economy improvements are the same thing as reductions in greenhouse gases, the Pavley law is good for Detroit and its workers, too.

As your constituent, I am fully expecting you to stand up and fight on global warming. While there are many good reasons to avoid the collapse of a major company at this moment of economic peril, it is unfathomable to me how Congress could fail to grasp this moment by requiring a simple act of good corporate citizenship as a condition of any bailout, i.e., no lawsuits against the states. I am expecting you to vote "NO" on any Detroit bailout that fails to protect our planet by stamping out the GM-Chrysler lawsuits against the states. Any "YES" vote MUST include a "Save Pavley" provision.

Sincerely,

[Your Name]

Keep reading for who to contact in your area...

Ticking Off the Ice Cream Truck Man

I was at the park today with my kids when a diesel ice cream truck pulled in. The man, in his fifties, kept the fifteen year old truck spewing smoke as he passed out frozen treats packed with artificial colors and flavors and enough preservatives to outlive the kids who ate them.

I stood by silently, my  young ones knowing better than to ask, since for the past four years their mommy claims not to have any money, or rambles on about how unhealthy that ice cream is, convincing them to go to the New Morning to pick up some organic, lactose-free, all natural, frozen desserts.

Then it hit me: this must have been what the first proponents of banning second hand smoke must have felt like. Unsure, insecure, timid. I marched up to the truck and asked if he'd be staying long. "Nope."
"Good, I replied, because we can smell your truck all the way across the park."  "If you're so worried about it, why didn't you walk instead of drive here?" he spat back.

Tonight, I'll dream of electric powered ice cream trucks that sell organic, healthy frozen treats on sultry summer days.

Rethinking miles-per-gallon

Cycling Activity vs. National Gas Prices

Thanks to Design New Haven  and Mark Abraham for this post!

Looks like the number of posts per day on the ElmCityCycling listserv, a forum for making New Haven more accommodating to bicyclists and pedestrians, is highly correlated with the national price of unleaded gasoline (click on chart to enlarge). Who would have thought?

With gasoline predicted to hit $6-10 per gallon as soon as a few months from now, the number of nonmotorized trips to work in New Haven is only likely to continue to increase. As a relatively flat and compact city, Downtown New Haven is already perfect for bicycling and walking, as evidenced by the fact that the city has one of the highest percentages of bicycle commuters in the United States (1.8%, versus 1.2% in Boston, 0.9% in Providence, 0.6% in New York City, 0.4% in Hartford, 0.1% in Bridgeport and 0.0% in Waterbury, according to the Census Bureau's 2006 ACS). During rush hour, there are already occasional bicycle "traffic jams" on the popular Orange Street bicycle lane. New Haven was also recently named one of the 20 most walkable cities in the United States.

However, improvements to the city's bicycle-friendliness are needed before the average area resident will choose to ride to work, or even use his or her bicycle for short trips (e.g., a 4-block run to the corner store). Considering that bicycles are already widely-owned (and very inexpensive), the most frequently given reasons why Connecticut residents don't bicycle more often - infrastructure and safety - are fairly easy to solve. According to numerous studies, infrastructure such as bicycle parking, bike-friendly street design, multi-use greenways like the Farmington Canal Trail and accessibility at train stations raise land values by an amount much greater than the investment put into them (in part because they tend to calm traffic). Reckless and high-speed driving and driver education can be addressed through community-wide efforts and traffic enforcement, and through measures such as anti-dooring ordinances like those found in Chicago.

Electric Cars? Cooler than You Think!

Imagine turning the key in the ignition and not hearing a sound? Or zipping around town on errands and not emitting ANY carbon! That's what it's like when driving an electric vehicle (EV). GEM (Global Electric Motorcars) are available for sale here in Connecticut for around $8,000 and they plug right into an outlet. If you're signed up for Clean Energy Options, you'll feel great about using this to run around doing errands.

The feel of the interior is similar to a VW beetle, with large windows, a sun roof and lots of light. The gas and break pedals are the same as any other car, but the noise--or lack of--is what I found most amazing.

The GEM I drove tops out at 25 mph, but is a perfect alternative to my other cars when doing errands or traveling short distances. The only hang up...while GEMS are street legal in all 50 states, you can't register them in Connecticut. Go figure. The one I drove was owned by EV proponent, John Papa. His property in New York state allows him to register his vehicle there. "It's great as a second vehicle to use instead of a SUV. The guys at the gas station love it when I drive by," Papa says.

Let's hope the guys who own the automobile industry feel the same way.

Come test drive one for yourself at the March 12th Fairfield County GreenDrinks event at iPark in Norwalk!