Green Blogging

The green black cab!

I was excited to read in the EDP, about the new green black taxis being developed by Norfolk car manufacturer, Lotus, as part of a project to reduce car fumes and noise in urban areas.

At present, the EDP report says, there are 20,000 black cabs in London. It is hoped that the first fleet of 20 green taxis and six hydrogen refuelling stations will be running by the 2012 Olympics. It is part of mayor Boris Johnson’s commitment to make all taxis in London zero-emissions in 10 years’ time.

Its a bit different from what they normally do! Neil Parsons the project manager:

We have worked on trucks, lorries and buses in the past, but it is a quite heavy vehicle and we could have made it considerably lighter, but it was not an upgrade project. We want to get it on the road to support the 2012 Olympics.

It is quite slow compared to some Lotus vehicles, but it is quicker than a normal black cab by about six seconds [from 0-60mph].

This technology could be the way forward. Mr Pearson told the EDP that that hydrogen-powered vehicles would not cost much more than a regular petrol or diesel engine once it is mass produced.

Good luck to them! And, please can we have some in Norwich?

A friend has been working at Fairhaven woodland and water gardens for about a year now, and shockingly, we have only just got around to visiting.  We had been to Fairhaven before but it was a very long time ago… Continue reading

I was pleased to read recently in the EDP that there are proposals to recycle PVC windows by Norfolk manufacturer Ashford Commercial.

They have obtained a contract with the national social housing organisation Places for People to… Continue reading

I was excited to read in the Observer Magzine green column about a new product called pavegen.  This is a new sort of paving slab, which can store and use the energy from the people walking over it.  The idea is that this will power street lighting… Continue reading

I was intrugued to read in the Observer today about a vision for Europe which has been developed by Dutch architects firm Office for Metropolitan Architecture (OMA).

It is called “Roadmap 2050: A Practical Guide to a Prosperous, Low-Carbon Europe”.

The backgroup to the report is as… Continue reading

Huge, if slightly belated, congratulations to Caroline Lucas for being elected Britain’s first Green Party member of Parliament.

It is a massive achievement. Although many people believe in green issues, this does not always translate into… Continue reading

Is climate change real?

After reading and reviewing Ten Technologies to Save the Planet, I decided that I ought to read a book coming from the other side.  An Appeal to Reason: A Cool Look at Global Warming by Nigel

Voting for the Green Party

People often say “What is the point of voting for the Green party?  They are never going to get in.  My vote will be wasted!”

Well that was answered recently when Jenny Jones, one of… Continue reading

The Sportspark at UEA is a very successful venture. It has 1.3 million visitors per year, including both students and the general public. Visitor numbers have increased rather than diminished during the credit crunch, and last years its income increased by 12pc to almost 3 million and is now the largest community sport… Continue reading

Peas in their bottles

Goodness we have had a long cold winter!  As I said in my earlier post, last year I let the garden lie fallow, hopefully to replenish itself, and am starting again this year.  I’ve ordered the seeds and everything.  All we need is the weather.  But day… Continue reading