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?
Just out of curiosity, are any of you getting the new iphone when it comes out on July 11? I am, but this is not why I’m writing the post. Instead, I want to tell you about something cool Apple is doing…with the box.
Apparently, Apple’s iphone will offer packaging made of potato starch, and supplied by PaperFoam. According to PaperFoam’s website, their packaging is carbon friendly, has low CO2 emissions, and 100% recyclable.
The company that I work for offers boxed software, so I often get pulled into meetings to talk about packaging. It’s been a struggle for us to find an eco-friendly solution (it costs a lot), so I’m totally digging the fact that there are more and more eco-friendly alternatives out there.
Refusing to be outgreened by Honda’s announcement of three new hybrids, Toyota recently confirmed that it will be introducing two new hybrids, in addition to a plug-in version of the Prius and a new third generation Toyota Prius due out next year.
Toyota’s executive vice-president of R&D, Masatami Takimoto, confirmed the new Toyota hybrid will be larger than the Prius. In addition, Toyota’s Lexus line of vehicles will have a new hybrid only model, which is rumored to be Lexus’ new entry level vehicle. Both of these cars are expected to debut in the Detroit Auto Show.
All of this comes on top of Toyota’s announcement late last year that it will be coming out with a Toyota iQ model. It’s Toyota’s attempt to answer red hot Mini Cooper sales and the new SMART car. The iQ concept, seen here in a comparison with the sub-compact Toyota Yaris, will be over 2.5 feet shorter than the Yaris. It’s expected to be powered by a 1-liter engine and will have room to sit four people. I’m not sure if it’s just me, but this car looks tiny! If we still have all those large SUVs on the road, I’m not sure how safe I will feel in one of these.
The hybrid and sub-compact battles will only get more heated as gas prices continue their endless climb upward. It’ll be exciting to see all the innovation and new cars over the next few years. Perhaps this is finally the time we will start seeing a real move towards smaller cars with less power… whenever I go to the gas pump, less (size and power) definitely will mean more (money in my pocket)!
It was only a matter of time before this happened. Planet Green, the first and only (so far) 24-hour channel devoted to eco-friendliness just launched. Planet Green is part of the parent company that own the Discovery Channel, which I admit is one of my favorite channels. I never thought non-fiction television could be so compelling – and I’m not talking about “reality TV” folks.
Planet Green offers both television and online content focused around all things green. This includes not only tips and suggestions to help make your life more green, but also the latest green technology, how others are going green, and how you can detoxify your home and your lifestyle. As Planet Green says, it, along with TreeHugger.com, is helping to energize and move the green conversation into the spotlight.
There is a handy channel finder for you to located the channel it’s on in your area and with your particular subscriber. It’s even offered in HD quality if you want to be really blown away by green! They appear to have some great programming that I can’t wait to start watching.
Congrats to my college buddies Thao and Rashida, glamorous entrepreneurs who recently started “
