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China Goes on Climate Defensive

China, which could outpace the U.S. this year as the world’s greatest greenhouse gas emitter, says it opposes emissions caps and objects to much of the draft of the latest UN climate change report. China plans fast industrialisation for decades to come and says the government, “With uncertainties about climate change, there should not be premature or over-zealous setting of overall global carbon emissions caps.” The country doesn’t dispute the gravity of global warming – a recent official assessment noted that intensified droughts and floods, unpredictable weather and rising sea levels could threaten long-term development. Indeed, this week China sent 1000 firefighters to battle a forest fire across a 3 km (1.9 mile) area in its remote northeastern mountains. The State Forestry Administration said in January that China could face an “extremely serious” threat from forest fires this year because of global warming and the El Nino effect. Still, The Global Times, a newspaper run by the ruling Communist Party, accused Western politicians last week of using “climate terrorism” to undermine China’s quest for prosperity. China has been working hard to soften and change the wording of the soon-to-be released final UN climate change report. China’s climate change assessment recommends […]

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Breakthrough Agreement Announced with Appliance Industry on Efficiency

Major home appliance manufacturers, their trade organization, and a nationwide coalition of energy and water efficiency supporters announced an historic agreement today that will establish new mandatory federal energy and water efficiency standards, recommendations for new ENERGY STAR levels, and manufacturer tax credits for the production of super-efficient clothes washers, dishwashers, refrigerators, and dehumidifiers. The agreement, which seeks legislation for appliance efficiency standards and tax credits, represents significant energy and water savings for U.S. consumers. According to an analysis conducted for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), which supported the negotiations, the agreement will result in a savings of up to 3.3 quadrillion btus (quads) of energy and nearly 11 million acre feet (3.6 trillion gallons) of water over about 30 years – enough to meet the needs of about 44 million people for one year. Consumers will save up to $14.7 billion in cumulative utility bill reductions. The agreement, when combined with additional appliance efficiency standards for refrigerators and clothes washers, could increase total 30-year savings to nearly 15 quads of energy and 68 million acre feet of water. The specific efficiency levels for refrigerators and clothes washers will be determined by DOE and will depend on cost-benefit and […]

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ZAP Reinvents the Wheel with Advanced Electric Wheel Motor Technology Partner

US electric car maker ZAP (OTC Bulletin Board: ZAAP) has signed an exclusive agreement for an advanced wheel motor technology from PML FlightLink Ltd. of Hampshire, United Kingdom. ZAP secured the PML wheel motor technology to play a key role in the development of next generation electric vehicles being developed with Lotus Engineering. Electric vehicle concepts like the ZAP-X crossover SUV have targeted unprecedented performance goals, including a top speed of 155 mph, 0 to 60 mph acceleration in 4.8 seconds, and a peak 644 horsepower. Steve Schneider, CEO for ZAP, says PML’s wheel motor achieves the power to weight ratio to meet the performance goals of the ZAP-X. “Wheel motors are revolutionizing electric transportation, from our ZAPPY3 electric scooters all the way up to more ambitious projects like the ZAP-X crossover,” said Schneider. “We have witnessed the PML wheel motor technology in action and, without question, this the best drive system in the world. ” Schneider pointed out why wheel motors allow automotive designers to achieve greater efficiencies in the overall design, distributing the weight and displacement of the drive train to the four corners of the vehicle. PML’s wheel motors don’t require intricate braking systems, instead relying on […]

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