Quest for Zero Waste

Life in the Japanese village of Kamikatsu used to revolve around the state of the rice crop and the arrival of tourists to soak up the restorative waters of the local hot spring. Now the village is obsessed with rubbish and has adopted a strict recycling regime. Recycling rates have gone from 55% a decade ago to around 80% today. 100% recycle is a daunting target. At stake is Kamikatsu’s quest to end its dependence on incineration and landfill by 2020 and claim the title of Japan’s first zero waste community.

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The Solar Cyclists

Three intrepid cyclists left City Hall, London on European Solar Day, 15th May, in a bid to cycle round the world - powered by the sun (and their legs). The Solar Cycle Team - Susie Wheeldon, Iain Henderson and Jamie Vining - are making the 12,000 mile trip through 14 countries to raise funds for Solar Aid, and to demonstrate the viability of solar technology highlighting its potential in the fight against climate change. Solar Aid is a UK charity established by Jeremy Leggett, one of the world's leading thinkers on environmental sustainability. Along with leg power, the cyclists are equipped with thin-film photovoltaic (PV) panels - custom-built into their panniers by G24 Innovations - to power Nokia navigation, communications and sports technology, allowing supporters to follow them second by second around the globe.

Greenbird and Wind Power

Greenbird is a land craft and an ice craft in one - powered only by the wind. The aim of the Greenbird Project is to break both the land and ice world speed records. It is a new venture for the green electricity company Ecotricity, and a partnership with Richard Jenkins and the Windjet Project, designed to push the boundaries of wind technologies for zero carbon-emitted, wind-powered transportation.

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Biotruck Expedition

Follow Andy Pag and his Biotruck team as they prepare for their next adventure. After the extraordinary success of the first Chocolate Powered Biotruck Expedition, which was independently certified as being the world’s first Carbon-Negative Expedition, and the later Grease to Greece Rally, the Biotruck team are now planning their most ambitious sustainably fuelled adventure. ‘Energy for a New Perspective’ is an ambitious journey around the world powered entirely by sustainable energy sources. The team will be driving a bus converted into an eco-home with gadgets to make their every aspect of thier life on the road ‘low-impact’ and it will be fuelled by waste vegetable oil, biodiesel, hydrogen and solar energy.

Zero Carbonista

This blog is about ideas, policies, innovation and change around the three big issues of energy, transport and food. It discusses how we can engineer our way towards the next industrial revolution and the journey to a low impact lifestyle or zero carbon living. Come and discuss a life post-oil and post-carbon.

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The Solar Tree

Solar Tree was designed by Ross Lovegrove described by the Independent on Sunday newspaper as “one of the very few superstars prepared to take a stand on environmental issues, producing conceptual products such as solar-powered cars and low energy houses that point to a greener future”. This project, a solar-powered street lighting system, is currently being showcased at design fairs around the world.

The Solar Tree was selected as one of the 20 Great Green Designs by eco-design expert Marcus Fairs, author of ‘Green Designs’ (to be published in 2009), in an article which recently appeared in a Green issue of the Independent on Sunday.