CandaceLombardi

Denmark: cargo trikes & cycle tracks

Candace Lombardi — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 16:54:23 +0000

In August 2011, I visited Denmark for about two weeks and was struck by the number of trikes, essentially adult tricycles, used by the Danes. It was also remarkeable to see a culture where bikes had their own lane, called cycle tracks, that are separated from cars and pedestrians by their own curbs. It completely [...]

Copenhagen: A city of SUV cyclists

Candace Lombardi — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 16:40:48 +0000

COPENHAGEN–The Danes practice what I call green pragmatism. It’s the realization that people, even those who believe in the cost- and health-benefit analyses of going green, are not going to change their behavior unless the new option is both practical and convenient. But presented with cool technology in the marketplace and education on why a [...]

Denmark of green pragmatism

Candace Lombardi — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 17:55:29 +0000

COPENHAGEN–Denmark is known to many for its progressive architecture, functional design, and leadership in wind and renewable energy. (Not to mention its Michelin-starred Noma restaurant.) But given the country’s green reputation, how much of Denmark’s electricity would you suppose is provided by wind turbines? By renewable energy in general? If you guessed 50 percent–or even [...]

Review of Philips LED, CFL, and incandescent bulbs

Candace Lombardi — Sun, 07 Aug 2011 18:05:28 +0000

Many sites have been doing head-to-head tests of various LED (light-emitting diode) bulbs coming on the market. However, I’m often asked where someone can find just a “regular person review” on how LEDs stack up against CFLs (compact fluorescent lights) and the soon-to-be-phased-out incandescents without getting too buried in stats on lumens, kelvins, wattage, and [...]

Vestas behind U.S. ‘WindMade’ label proposal

Candace Lombardi — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 18:19:45 +0000

On Wednesday, Global Wind Day, several organizations met in New York City to announce a ‘WindMade’ certification label for U.S. companies, services, and products. While the announcement marks the start of a two-month development period, the first draft of the standard for companies being allowed to use the “WindMade” label requires a company source at [...]

New York hails Nissan for its new cabs

Candace Lombardi — Wed, 04 May 2011 12:16:31 +0000

The New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission has chosen Nissan’s NV200 minivan to be its next taxicab, Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced yesterday. The Nissan van will join New York City’s taxi fleet beginning in 2013, and be the official taxi of New York for the following 10 years. All taxis currently on the [...]

Smart-grid apps to revolutionize electricity use

Candace Lombardi — Fri, 22 Apr 2011 11:49:26 +0000

Get ready for reliable electricity, and an automated world of electronics, appliances, and buildings, to become the new normal. That’s the main message in a report released today by GigaOm Pro and Pike Research. Smart-grid applications in six key areas will change the way people use, buy, manage, and think about electricity, according to the [...]

‘Eco-monastery’ opening at Siddhartha’s birthplace

Candace Lombardi — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 15:38:13 +0000

Lumbini, the UNESCO World Heritage Site so marked for being the birthplace of Siddhartha Gautama, the founder of Buddhism, will soon also be home to an “eco-monastery.” The Lumbini Udyana Mahachaitya World Center for Peace and Unity (LUM), which began construction in 2006, opens this April in Nepal. It will be the largest Buddhist temple [...]

Algae fuel crosses paths with Monsanto, cancer research

Candace Lombardi — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 20:11:34 +0000

March is known as the green month, so it’s fitting that only one week into it there’s already some interesting news for algae fuel supporters. Agricultural giant Monsanto today announced it’s signed a deal with algae-crude producer Sapphire to collaborate on genetic engineering research that could be applied to both algae and agricultural crops. The [...]

‘Morris Model’ solar financing shines

Candace Lombardi — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 16:03:24 +0000

In the last eight months, Morris County, N.J., has undergone a significant energy change of which many of its residents are probably not even aware. The partners involved call it the “Morris Model.” It’s a new financing model that allows municipalities to partner with solar-energy companies to incorporate solar energy into their energy portfolio for [...]