Category: Environment

Consumers ignoring ‘green’ products

Posted by Nexus – 26/02/2010

[via bit-tech.net]

While our investigation into energy efficient hardware might have confirmed that choosing lower-power hardware can make a difference to your running costs if you’re willing to sacrifice performance – or buy Intel processors – it seems that the public isn’t yet switched on to the benefits of ‘green’ technology.

In a report released this week by consumer electronics site Retrevo – via CNet – a full 42 percent of those queried about their buying habits stated that they were unconcerned if “a gadget I buy is not green.”

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Portugal rushes aid to Madeira after deadly floods

Posted by Nexus – 21/02/2010

[via bbc.co.uk]

The Portuguese military has sent specialist rescue teams to the island of Madeira, where at least 38 people are known to have died in rainstorms.

Tonnes of mud and stones were brought down the slopes of the island, flooding the streets of the regional capital, Funchal, and other towns.

Officials fear the death toll could rise. Water, power and phones were cut in some areas.

PM Jose Socrates, who is in Madeira, said he would “do everything to help”.

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Eco shocker: Turbine Light concept uses wind to light highways

Posted by Nexus – 06/02/2010

engadget.com]

Ingenious, eco-friendly concepts are all around us, there’s no denying that. This one caught our eye because it’s pretty innovative, seemingly well thought out, and good looking to boot. The Turbine Light concept (which is going to be a part of the upcoming Greener Gadgets conference in New York City at the end of this month) harnesses the power of the wind from cars rushing past to light up the ever-darkening roadways.

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Phishing for Carbon: Hackers Steal Millions in Emissions Certificates

Posted by Nexus – 04/02/2010

[via gizmodo.com]

Credit cards numbers? Puh-lease. Medical records? Booooring. The modern hacker knows that the real money’s in carbon emission trade credits. No, seriously: a recent phishing expedition reaped over $4 million from carbon-emitting companies in Europe, Japan, and New Zealand.

The hackers sent emails to 2,000 companies in Germany alone, claiming to be from the German Emissions Trading Authority, which keeps track of carbon credits and transactions. The email requested that the companies re-register their accounts, and the information the duped employees provided was then used—you guessed it—to access the companies’ GETA accounts and and clean them out.

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Mars and a Colorful Lunar Fog Bow

Posted by Nexus – 03/02/2010

[via APOD]

Even from the top of a volcanic crater, this vista was unusual. For one reason, Mars was dazzlingly bright two weeks ago, when this picture was taken, as it was nearing its brightest time of the entire year.

Mars, on the far upper left, is the brightest object in the above picture. The brightness of the red planet peaked last week near when Mars reached opposition, the time when Earth and Mars are closest together in their orbits.

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Lake Macquarie Sunset (widescreen)

Posted by Nexus – 26/01/2010

[via deviantart.com]

Click image for full-size picture (1280x800)

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Food costs to soar as big freeze deepens

Posted by Nexus – 11/01/2010

[via guardian.co.uk]

A farmer and his tractor in Denshaw near Oldham, as heavy snowfall continues across most parts of the UK. Photograph: John Giles/PA Archive/Press Association Ima

Britons have been warned to brace themselves for an increase in food prices as plunging temperatures leave farmers unable to harvest vegetables and hauliers struggle to distribute fresh produce.

Gordon Brown, who will chair a meeting of the Cobra emergency committee early this week to discuss the freeze, was today forced to reassure the country that it would not run out of gas or grit for its roads during the coldest weather in 30 years.

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Nintendo still most eco-unfriendly console maker

Posted by Nexus – 08/01/2010

[via bit-tech.net]

Nintendo is still the most eco-unfriendly of all the console manufacturers, says a Greenpeace report.

Greenpeace has once again checked in on some of the biggest technology companies in the world, including all console manufacturers, and has labelled Nintendo the most eco-unfriendly company of them all for the third year running.

Manufacturing electronics on large scales is an obviously eco-unfriendly activity, but Greenpeace campaigns to make the process as efficient as possible. The new report ranked 18 companies according to factors such as e-waste, energy efficiency, recycling protocols and commitment to reduce greenhouse gases.

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Snowy Tracks (widescreen)

Posted by Nexus – 05/01/2010

[via interfacelift.com, more screen sizes available there]

Click image for full-size (1280x800_

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Tuscan Sunset (widescreen)

Posted by Nexus – 05/01/2010

[via interfacelift.com, other screen sizes available there]

Click image for full-size (1280x800)

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