Hutcho's Blog

Photos from Indo: Bali Lombok July 2007

Seems RSS is the communication medium of the future. Maybe this will solve many of the problems associated with multiple versions of content?? In any case, this blog is detected through RSS feed! I wonder how it will evolve? Already google homepages and others make extensive use of RSS.

Well, made it to CeBIT, wondering if this is going to be posted to the BIG screen!

http://www.clearlysecure.com.au/

http://www.rain.org/~philfear/how2solar.html http://www.energyrefuge.com/how-to/solar_power_generator.htm http://www.siliconsolar.com/diy-solar-panel-kits.php

Sustainable Development: Prosperity Without Growth The assumption that economic prosperity requires growth seems so reasonable that most of us don't think much about it. After all, it's what we've always been told; politicians, business boosters, economists, and the media all seem to take it for granted. The assumption is so pervasive that virtually every American community is looking for ways to grow out of its economic problems, even when those problems are themselves the result of growth. The trouble is, the word "growth" has two fundamentally different meanings: "expansion" and "development." Expansion means getting bigger; development means getting better, which may or may not involve expansion. This is no mere semantic distinction. Many communities have wasted a lot of time and energy pursuing expansion because that's what they thought they needed, when what they really needed was development. To avoid confusion, let's define grow...

http://www.popsci.com/popsci/science/873aae7bf86c0110vgnvcm1000004eecbccdrcrd.html http://www.treehugger.com/files/2007/02/garbage_plasma.php Perhaps the most amazing part of the process is that it’s self-sustaining. Startech’s Plasma Converter draws its power from the electrical grid to get started, and the initial voltage is about equal to the zap from a police stun gun. But once the cycle is under way, the 2,200˚F syngas is fed into a cooling system, generating steam that drives turbines to produce electricity. About two thirds of the power is siphoned off to run the converter; the rest can be used on-site for heating or electricity, or sold back to the utility grid. “Even a blackout would not stop the operation of the facility,” Longo says. "The system is capable of breaking down pretty much anything except nuclear waste, the isotopes of which are indestructible. " Scary that even this extreamly powerful machine cannot deal with Nuclear waste!

http://money.cnn.com/2007/02/13/magazines/fortune/gunther_pluggedin_lightbulb.fortune/index.htm CFLs, as they're known, cost more than old-style incandescent bulbs, but they last longer, use far less electricity, save consumers' money in the long run and reduce greenhouse gases. All of which is well and good. But the next, next big thing in lighting could turn out to be the technology known as LEDs, or light emitting diodes, which are a whole lot "greener" than CFLs. The newest LEDs use even less energy than CFLs. They last for as long as a decade. And, unlike CFLs, they are mercury-free. LEDs are being rolled out as the technology has improved and costs have dropped. LEDs have a lifespan of up to 10,000 hours, or 11 years. That's why they are now in more than half the traffic lights in the U.S. California says discarded CFL bulbs must be treated as toxic waste because they contain mercury; this year, believe it or not, state legislators have introduced bills that...

http://www.physorg.com/news91171489.html Good job, leading from the top, with some political will, not a lot, I guess there aren't many light bulb lobbiest groups funding your department, but anyway it's a start. So, now that we've got political support to buy the cheapest eco friendly item you're ever likely to purchase in your life, how about looking at something a bit bigger, an eco friendly car? I know, you will have to fight the lobbiest groups who say carbon dioxide is good for us. A bucket of carbon dioxide a day keeps the lobbiest away, eh Minister?

http://www.dansdata.com/modularcar.htm Some interesting links from this blog: http://www.acpropulsion.com/ebox/specifications.htm http://www.acpropulsion.com/tzero_pages/tzero_Gallery.htm http://www.voltmasteramerica.com/products/LR105E.htm

http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,22606,21204062-2682,00.html Is there a conspiricy surrounding the electric car? I mean, why can't I buy an electric car in Australia, I can buy one in the UK, I can buy one in California, I can definetely buy one in India!! Could it be as John B comments that it comes down to state tax revenue? And, why is it that web sites like "Electric Vehicle Association of Asia Pacific" ( http://www.evaap.org/under.html ) show old information, or nothing at all? Also, why are the electric companies not actively pursuing this industry? Wouldn't they have something to gain? Why is there no company advertising that it is trying to get Phoenix SUV's imported into Australia? ( http://www.phoenixmotorcars.com/ ) or even the tesla for the sports car fans? ( http://www.teslamotors.com/ ) In response to Tim Daniels comments. Are you are aware that motorcycles are allowed to be registered in every state? In terms of safety do you belive the...

http://www.developmentcrossing.com/development_crossing/2007/02/blue_man_group_.html

http://www.exn.ca/video/?video=exn20051215-power.asx http://www.enviromission.com.au/ http://www.enviromission.com.au/project/video/video.htm

http://www.smh.com.au/news/opinion/no-time-for-nevernever-solutions/2007/01/31/1169919402348.html ...our options become more and more limited the longer we stand around like stunned mullets. We need to take action, now. ...we now have plenty of evidence to suggest that swings in the global climate can happen faster than we previously believed. Much faster. Mike Archer is dean of science at the University of NSW.

Scientists say rising greenhouses gases will make climate change unstoppable in a decade THE world has just 10 years to reverse surging greenhouse gas emissions or risk runaway climate change that could make many parts of the planet uninhabitable. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2087-2569944,00.html

Australian Conservation Foundation www.acfonline.org.au http://www.christinemilne.org.au/files/campaigns/Energy%20Efficiency%20Leaflet%20final%20Feb06.pdf Be a hero for Planet Earth. Take a moral stand. Lead byexample. Embarrass the Howard government into action.Help the Australian Greens lobby the government to: * Set a national standard for new electricity generators toensure investment in clean energy and rule out new coal-fired power systems and nuclear energy. * Set an energy efficiency target and implement projectsthat save both energy and money. * Invest in safe, clean and reliable public transport. Be active... flick a switch. 1. Stand-by Power • Most Australian households now enjoyDVD players, computers and a myriad ofother electronic equipment. But standbypower may be accounting for up to12% of your household power bill.• Get into the habit of turning off all yourhousehold electrical equipment at thepower point. It will save you heaps. 2. Traffic Jam • Transport is a growing ...

http://www.thebizpress.com/profiles/stories/BP_News_Local_D_bp0108_profile.e12e01.html

LPG sales up 139%. Imagine if they could buy a car that was 3 times more fuel efficent than LPG, Electric http://www.smh.com.au/news/business/small-cars-outgun-their-bigger-rivals/2007/01/04/1167777219282.html