We’re obviously big believers in greentech or cleantech here at TTMYGG, so it was interesting to see this list of high-tech luminaries who have made the changeover. There are some big shots on the list, which shows that cleantech is getting serious.
- Vinod Khosla, Founder Khosla Ventures.
- John Doerr, Partner, Kleiner Perkins.
- Elon Musk, Chairman, Tesla, Chairman, CEO SolarCity
- Steve Jurvetson, Partner Draper Fisher Jurvetson.
- Bill Gross, Founder Idealab.
- Al Gore, Chairman Generation Investment Managment, Partner Kleiner Perkins.
- Bill Joy, Partner Kleiner Perkins.
Unfortunately, unless you’re a big shot, it’s unlikely that you’d be able to invest with them or in them, but one thing you could do is join them! Here, thanks to earth2tech.com, is a map of 101 cleantech startups. Take a look at what’s around you, or somewhere you wouldn’t mind living, and get in on the ground floor!
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The Olympics start in a mere 11 days.
As you’ve likely heard, China has embarked on several measures to improve air quality, such as limiting the use of cars and the closing of dozens of factories.
Apparently, these efforts have had little impact. The Air Pollution Index, or API, (the API measures particulate matter) in Beijing has hovered over 101. To qualify for a “blue sky day,” which is supposedly safely for athletes, the API must be below 101.
As a result, the Chinese are implementing an “Emergency Green Plan”, banning 90% of the 3.3M private cars from the roads, and temporarily closing even more factories.
What do you think? Is it going to work? Or is it too late?
Since the 9/11 attacks, conservatives have been fond of branding liberals for being un-American. Well, it’s official. The real traitors are those who continue to deny that global warming is real.
Their resistance is not just preventing us from slowing down the melting of our planet, but is also endangering our national security. A few proof points:
- In April, a Pentagon funded report published back in April of 2007 found that global warming is a “serious threat to America’s national security”.
- In June of this year, Dr. Thomas Fingar, Deputy Director of National Intelligence for Analysis and Chairman of the National Intelligence Council, testified to congress that global warming had the “potential to seriously affect US national security interests.”
- John McCain, in a new ad states, “I believe global warming is real - it’s not just a greenhouse gas issue, it’s a national security issue.”
So if you love America, pull your heads out of sand and join us! If not, you are betraying the country, and the world. Harsh? Yes. But also true.
I just read an interesting article on Live Science which argues that with the rising costs of food and fuel, and the financial costs of global warming, the average American will be on a stricter budget…and could be eating less as a result.
Let’s face it - as a nation, we’re not exactly the healthiest. I read a startling statistic in this article: “the average American consumes an estimated 3,747 calories a day, - at least 1,200 more than health experts advise.” That is crazy!
So anyway, with us eating less, this means that our waistlines get smaller, and greenhouse gas emissions get lower (since everything we consume impacts our environment). I guess it’s true when they say that there’s a silver lining in every cloud?
Before you wait in line for 3 hours at your neighborhood AT&T or Apple Store, more bad news on global warming. The LA Times reported recently that the chemical nitrogen trifluoride (NF3) used widely in the manufacture of LCD screens and chips (like the ones in that iPhone you’ve been eyeing) has 17,000 times the global warming effect as carbon dioxide, and potentially lasts in the atmosphere for 550 years! Oh, and it’s not regulated.
Ironically, NF3 started becoming popular as a replacement for perfluorocarbons, which were phased out because of… global warming!And while the article goes on to explain that the worldwide production of NF3 by 2010 will only be roughly equivalent to 5 or so coal plants, (so it’s not that bad?) what this NF3 problem indicates to me is that the best way to reduce the impact we have on the planet is to not buy so much shit.
Personally, I believe in buying better stuff, and using it longer. What about you?
