New articles in Our World 2.0
Apr 19th, 2009 | By admin | Category: PublicationsIntelligence to fuel cars of the future
by Brendan Barrett on March 16, 2009
The recent moves by the Obama administration to raise fuel efficiency for cars are an important step in the right direction. How about taking a gigantic leap?
Most people would probably shake their heads and warn, “Don’t push your luck.” While others might say: “Great idea! I wonder how far I can take this?”
The latter attitude is the type that led students and professors at the Swiss Federal Institute for Technology (known as ETH) in Zurich to develop the most fuel-efficient car in the world, known as the PAC-Car II.
Our World 2.0 came across this marvel in February at the 5th International Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Expo in Tokyo (which returns in 2010). On the crowded expo floor, where over 500 exhibitors and 63,000 attendees swarmed, we managed to find our way to the booth showcasing the PAC-Car II.
We were intrigued by a large poster that boasted: “World Record in Fuel Efficiency”. Our curiosity led us to discover that the car, on the hydrogen equivalent of 1 liter of gasoline, covered an astounding distance of 5,385 km. That landmark was achieved back in 2005, when the car won the Shell Eco-Marathon and was recognized by the Guinness Book of Records.
Will you eco-marry me?
by Johanna Stratton on March 17, 2009
Weddings are one of the few occasions in our lives when family and friends all gather in the same place. With the spotlight on the bride and groom, the event is an ideal chance for a couple to showcase their style and beliefs to a captive audience.
For the ecologically-minded, this means celebrating with an “eco-wedding” rather than a conventional one.
Tokyo couple Shigeru Komori and Tomoko Hoshino embraced the opportunity to create a beautiful wedding day without leaving behind a huge environmental footprint. Both are passionate about the environment, so applying their shared eco-philosophy to their wedding was a true reflection of who they are and what is important to them.
In essence, our wedding celebrations can be low carbon-emitting, socially-responsible, energy efficient and embrace the four Rs (reuse, reduce, recycle, repair). Even with all these commitments, the event can still live up to the expectations of being one of the most memorable days of your life!
