Fighting for the beaches

Fighting for the beaches

Reclaiming land in Ghana

Written by Lynn

An ambitious sea defence scheme in Ghana could have been successful but the job is not finished and thousands of homes still flood annually.

In Keta, South Eastern Ghana, land was being eroded at up to 14metres a year. Since 1900, 100s of metres of land were lost including houses, churches and even the chief’s palace. The town on a narrow sand bar between the Atlantic and Keta Lagoon, which floods during the rainy season, was threatened from two sides.

In 1999 Ghana’s government secured a loan from the US Exim bank and started an US$84million scheme - a combination of groynes, a revetment and raising the level of the land near the lagoon. A sluice gate was built so flood water from the lagoon could run into the sea.
The four year project did not go as planned. The government was supposed to build 800 houses for people displaced by land reclamation work but only 230 families received new homes. A further 70 houses, in various states of completion, lie empty apparently because the contractors have not been paid. The remaining 500 homes have not materialised so people have moved away, are staying with family or living in temporary houses.

In the village of Vodza only a third of the land has been raised and thousands of residents continue to live in houses below the level of the lagoon, experiencing annual flooding so severe they visit neighbours by canoe.

Resident engineer, Rex Edeckor, is frustrated the work has not been completed. He said: “The government would love to build these places but there’s no money in the coffers.” He explained, despite flooding, the sluice gate has never been operated because of fears people will be swept out to sea and that fish will escape.

The sea defences are protecting the town from erosion but the government has not awarded a contract for their monitoring, so cannot benefit from the contractor’s 10-year guarantee. Within 15 years more sand will need to be pumped on to the beaches but Edeckor suspects the government has no money for this either.

Despite the millions spent, it seems this scheme can only be a temporary measure and if, or when, the sea level rises the work will have been largely in vain.

Edeckor predicted: “If sea level changes by one metre perhaps a third of Keta district will be flooded.”

To see more photos from Ghana click here --> http://www.atlanticrising.org/gallery/photo-view.asp?id=30

Japanese policy mix needs strong shot of emissions trading

okyo, Japan: An effective policy approach to turn Japan into a low-carbon economy needs emissions trading at its heart, a WWF report has found.

The new research shows that a strong emissions trading scheme would have little impact on the Japanese economy, while allowing the Hatoyama government to effectively reach its ambitious targets for emission reductions.

“Japan has wasted years playing around with voluntary emissions trading, so it’s high time to finally get serious and design a strong scheme for this country, in order to regain our role as a competitive and modern economy”, said Naoyuki Yamagishi, Climate Programme Leader at WWF Japan.

At the centre of WWF’s new Policy Mix Proposal is an economy-wide cap and trade scheme, covering 60% of the country’s CO2 emissions and setting caps in line with Japan’s mid-term and long-term targets for emission cuts – 25% by 2020 and 80% by 2050 against 1990 levels.

The report includes comparative analysis of emissions trading schemes in Europe and America, suggesting that auctioning should be the preferred approach to allocating emission allowances to companies covered by the scheme, i.e. making polluters pay rather than giving them a free ride.

However, the report also looks at alternative allocation approaches for the initial phase of the scheme and other measures to assist polluting industries and major emitters in adjusting to operating in a carbon-constrained world.

“Our research shows that reaching the ambitious targets enshrined in the government’s Climate Bill is possible, and that a strong emissions trading scheme is key to making Japan fit for the low-carbon future”, said Yamagishi.

“Attempts by industry groups to weaken the targets in the Climate Bill or the emission trading scheme are essentially attempts to weaken Japan’s prospects to catch up with countries like Germany that are currently leading the race towards a low-carbon economy.”

The WWF report highlights that emissions trading approaches can also be applied to decarbonise non-industrial sectors which would not be covered by a cap and trade scheme. For example, it recommends reducing emissions from commercial buildings by strengthening a scheme developed for the Tokyo metropolitan area which could then be extended to include the rest of the country.

“We welcome the launch of Japan’s first real emissions trading scheme in Tokyo this week”, said Yamagishi.

“Tokyo’s example shows that the debate for or against emissions trading is over. Our entire country should now follow the capital’s lead to reap the benefits of going low-carbon. The question is no longer if we need such schemes, but how we can design them in optimal ways.”

Apart from emissions trading, the WWF report also outlines a range of other options for rapid decarbonisation in different sectors, e.g. reforming the fuel efficiency standards under the Top Runner scheme that’s aimed at cleaning up the transport sector, starting a nationwide “Energy Conservation Concierge” programme to reduce emissions from private households through advice on smart energy consumption, or introducing a carbon tax on fossil fuels Japan imports from overseas.

“Japan has been in a depression for a long time, and we urgently need to get this country back to dancing”, said Yamagishi.

“Our proposal is basically the perfect recipe for a low-carbon policy cocktail that would do the trick. And the best thing is: it comes almost for free.”


For further information:

Naoyuki Yamagishi, Leader, Climate Programme WWF Japan, m: +819064711432, p: +81337693509, e: yamagishi@wwf.or.jp; Masako Konishi, Project Leader, Climate Change Programme, WWF Japan, p: +81337693509, e: konishi@wwf.or.jp


Notes to editors:

The Policy Mix Proposal was written by WWF Japan and a group of scientists from various Japanese universities led by Professor Toru Morotomi of Kyoto University. An English translation of the report’s summary will be available by the end of April. The Japanese version of the report can be found at: http://www.wwf.or.jp/torihiki/

The Basic Bill on Measures to Prevent Global Warming was adopted by the Japanese cabinet on 12 March and includes the goals to cut emissions 25% by 2020 and 80% by 2050, compared to 1990 levels. It highlights emissions trading as a key policy to make these emission cuts reality. The bill is going to be discussed in the Diet (the Japanese parliament) over the coming months, with a vote expected by June when the current Diet session closes.

In addition to this debate about a legislative "framework", there are also ongoing discussions led by the Ministry of Environment on what is referred to as the "roadmap", dealing with the question how exactly the 25% emission reduction target for 2020 is going to be reached. In parallel to that, discussion on a so called "Energy Basic Plan" led by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry focus on ideas for Japan’s energy strategy towards 2030. Both processes are aiming at reaching conclusion by June as well. One key aspect in these processes is the design of the Japanese emissions trading scheme and carbon tax approach. WWF’s Policy Mix Proposal is meant as a concrete input to these multiple discussion processes on framework and substance at government and parliamentary level.

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government is launching its emissions trading scheme on 1 April. This will be the first real emissions scheme trading that gets implemented in Japan, after previous national governments only experimented with voluntary schemes.

We’ve Got Paper Cups—Why not Bottles?

Hey, look at this cool paper bottle from BrandImage! It may be leading the revolution against plastic.

The “forever in a landfill” environmentalist slogan is quickly becoming cliché and lost on the general public. Each day, Americans continue to throw out 60 million plastic bottles. Only 14% of which actually get recycled. So, forget landfill slogans. We aren’t getting it done.



plastic1Try this on for size: there exists an island of garbage out in the Pacific Ocean the size of Texas? Texas! Due to some interestingly dull oceanographic factors, nearly all of the refuse jettisoned into the Pacific meanders its way over to become trapped in the same area. Also, plastic is incapable of degrading. Not only has this resulted in a pile of trash larger than I am even capable of comprehending, but it will apparently never go away. Ever. Plastic does, however, break down physically into smaller and smaller bits until it resembles tasty krill. Krill is what a very large portion of sea life eats. So, you see the problem.



Plastic is an amazing substance that makes our activities more convenient and saves perhaps billions of lives through food packaging and medical equipment. Plastic has a variety of wonderful properties and high up on that list is the fact that it doesn’t break down. It doesn’t whither or turn bad. It doesn’t chemically react with food or medicine or anything really. But there is the problem. A substance that cannot be broken down by any environmental exposure and cannot be eaten by anything will fill its little nook in the world FOREVER.

A few decades of intense marketing for plastic made it out to be the end-all miracle material (which, it may be), but many great designers and high-end businesses are finally breaking out of that rut and embracing paper.

We are beginning to realize again that there is no loss of class in paper products. Even glass is seeing a packaging decline. Many fine mid-range wine makers have begun adopting boxes in addition to or instead of glass bottles.

The 360 Paper Bottle, for example, is a far more sustainable approach to water bottles and packaging in general. It is totally recyclable paper made from 100% renewable resources. The lining uses biodegradable PLA film. The end result is entirely food-grade material. The 360 Paper Bottle meets all criteria for all liquid categories and is sturdy enough for a variety of applications and multiple reuse. The paper bottle design has had a good critical and market response, including having received an IDEA (International Design Excellence Award) for this design.


Eco experts and enthusiasts will always stress the value of reusing, so keep in mind that filling the same bottle every day is far superior an option than even the most environmental paper alternative. However, we still applaud this great paper design and hope that it sparks the about-face of old industry packaging standards across the board. If we can get all packaging to be made from eco-friendly materials in the first place, then the collective hazardous waste and energy consumption could go down dramatically.

When Winter Returns, Cut Energy While Staying Warm

Using a small and efficient space heater instead of central heating can save a lot of money by allowing you to heat localized areas while appropriately neglecting others. There is no point in heating your living room when you are sleeping is there? Well, maybe you’ve been kicked out of the bedroom, but that advice column is for another website. The point is that eliminating the energy wasted on unused space is a great way to cut utility bills and, more importantly, save electricity.


A small unit mounted on wheels can be easily moved from room to room along with you while still being powerful enough to heat large areas. For example, the Honeywell HZ-315 weighs just under 3.5 pounds but can pump out 1,500 watts of efficiently distributed heat. This model also costs only $25 (USD). Honeywell space heaters come well recommended but really are indicative of what is available in general. Your local home supply store should have a variety of makes and models that are roughly the same power to cost ratio.

With the central heating turned off and your cozy space heater cranked up, you’ll be saving utility money every second you sleep. I estimate that your space heater will pay for itself after a single month of winter use.

Pumping the Heat Without All the Energy

I’ve had enough with the ebb and flow of the world’s volatile oil markets, causing the price of home heating oil to bounce around like a tweety bird. There is nothing worse than being faced with purchasing $4 a gallon heating oil or freezing to death. At that price -10 degrees becomes sweater weather.

As a result, I’ve taken a completely different approach to heating my house this year. Wood burning stove! That’s right, Cave man style. A cast iron box, a few cords of firewood, and I’m ready for another never ending war in the Middle East, record setting hurricane season, and pirates from Ethiopia.

Wood burning stoves are great options for many reasons. But there are a few negatives: Dispersing the heat from the stove throughout a house can be difficult, noisy, and potentially expensive with the cost of running an electric fan. The folks at Caframo have created a heat powered stove fan. “The Ecofan generates its own electricity through difference in temperature without the use of batteries or plugs. The base of the fan rests on the top of your gas, wood, or oil burning iron stove where the heat temperatures must exceed 150°F. As the base heats up, the difference in temperature between the hot base and cool top of the fan creates static electricity which is directed to the small motor that powers the blades.”

These fans are little, but they can generate up to 150 CFM of moving air. Not bad for being 9 inches tall, 4 inches wide and virtually silent while operating. They come with a few different finishes to match your home décor.

Daimler Chrysler To Release Emission Free Smart Car

Zero to 60MPH in 6.5 seconds, a sleek design that’s compact but stylish and plenty of torque – no, we’re not talking about the newest Porsche. This is the Daimler Smart Ed, a zero emissions, super eco-friendly smart car.

Refilling Smart Car The Smart Ed features a range of 71 miles using a Tesla provided 14 Kwh lithium-ion battery, while the cars 30kW electric motor pushes out an impressive 120 Newton metres of torque.

Originally the Smart Ed was set for an Early 2010 release, now Daimler has announced that their Hambach, France plant will have them ready to go by November 2009.



Smart Car Guage

Unfortunately due to extensive testing that still needs to be completed throughout European cities they won’t be readily “available to anyone interested” until 2012. Of course by 2012 I’m pretty sure 71 miles on a single charge will seem ridiculously out of touch with current models available at that time.

Seasons are changing

Rapid temperature changes affect the seasons, causing variations in season length.

Changes such as shorter winters can lead to mismatches between key elements in an ecosystem, such as feeding periods for young birds and availability of worms or insects for food. It also impacts on farmers’ growing seasons.

Climatic records put together with long-term records of flowering and nesting times show clear warming trends.

In Britain flowering time and leaf-break records date back to 1736, thus providing solid evidence of climate-related changes. Long-term trends towards earlier bird breeding, earlier spring migrant arrival and later autumn departure dates have been observed in North America, along with changes in migratory patterns in Europe.

The Homeowner’s Guide to Alternative Energy

The Homeowner’s Guide to Alternative Energy

Do you ever watch the sun hitting your house, or the feel the wind rushing at your windows, and wonder just how hard it would be to harness all that energy?

The timing has never been better for average consumers to start using alternative energy in their own homes. The technology is better than ever, more and more contractors specialize in installing green energy generators in homes and state and federal money will often help you pay for it.

The key is to find out what type of green energy is right for you.

“When you look at alternative energy choices for a home, the choice has a lot to do with geography, where in the country you are,” said P.J. Stafford, co-founder of the eco-consulting firm Green Irene. “Your cost per kilowatt you generate is going to vary significantly from state to state.” For example, solar power in Minneapolis may not be a good choice, but in Arizona it’s a no-brainer.

Since sorting through the options can be confusing, many consumers hire consultants to visit their homes and offer customized advice. Green Irene, for example, has 150 consultants in 37 states who help customers complete “Green Home Makeovers” to save money and energy.

Since you might not be quite ready to call in a professional, here are some basics for getting the ball rolling.
Twenty-nine states and the District of Columbia have adopted Renewable Energy Standards, which require that a certain percentage of all of their power comes from renewable sources, such as solar, wind, geothermal and biomass. - Lcv.org

29 states, including D.C., have adopted Renewable Energy Standards, which require a certain percentage of their power to come from renewable sources. - Lcv.org
1. Greening the Grid

“The first step is, people should opt for green power from their existing utility,” Stafford recommended. For an added price, you can often choose to buy green energy over conventionally-derived energy from your electricity utility company. In general, this option costs a couple cents more per kilowatt-hour (kWh) of electricity you buy.

The average U.S. monthly household uses 938 kWh per month, so if the household opted to replace 100 percent of its energy with green energy, at a 2 cents-per-kWh premium, its monthly electricity bill would cost about $20 more.

But since you usually pay a flat rate for, say, wind power, and the price of oil and coal power can fluctuate throughout the year, consumers may end up saving money if conventional energy prices rise. And you’ll be contributing to the solution of greening the grid.
2. Do it Yourself

Another option is to install the actual generating equipment on your property to create green energy, rather than simply buy it. Building a wind turbine in your yard or installing solar panels on your roof requires a larger investment to begin with, but can end up saving more money in the long run, since you’ll no longer have to purchase as much energy from utilities.

Plus, many states offer tax incentives, rebates and subsidies to encourage consumers to install alternative energy technology. The rates vary largely from state-to-state, and from energy technology to energy technology. For example, sunnier states often provide greater rebates for solar panels than cloudier states where the technology is less useful.
3. Solar

In many areas of the U.S., solar power is the most practical option. Installing an average 5 kW solar panel system in New York, for example, might total about $60,000. However, the state offers such generous rebates and tax credits, that the job will actually cost only about $11,000.

“There’s no better deal right now in the country,” said Robert Covello, a certified solar panel installer for Mercury Solar Systems of New Rochelle, NY. “If you look at the numbers, the payback is like five years. It’s like stealing.”

Since the entire system pays for itself in as little as five years, it sounds surprising that most residents of New York haven’t installed solar panels yet. “Why are people not doing it? Because they don’t know, that’s part of the problem,” Covello said. However, the news of the deal is spreading. Covello’s business has been doubling ever year recently. “It’s the only business where people call me up and say, ‘Thank you,’ because three months later they are getting virtually no electric bill.”
Companies like Wells Fargo, Pepsico and Starbucks have made significant investments in renewable energy in various forms. Why not try it on your home? - Commercialenergy.net

Companies like Wells Fargo, Pepsico and Starbucks have made significant investments in renewable energy. Why not try it for yourself? - Commercialenergy.net
4. Wind

Wind power is also a great option for many homes.

“Our most active markets are typically on the coasts,” said Scott Merrick of the Bergey WindPower company, based in Norman, Okla., which installs small wind turbines for homes and businesses around the country. “There you have incredibly high utility rates, good wind resources and large subsidies.” In situations like these, a typical 10 kW wind turbine system, that costs between $55,000 to $67,000 to install, will usually pay for itself in six to eight years.

Surprisingly, wind power isn’t as popular in places like Oklahoma, even though the Plain States get tons of wind. That’s because electricity prices are so low anyway, most people aren’t motivated to switch over to green energy. In areas where energy is cheaper, the same 10 kW wind system can take as much as 12 years to pay back its cost.

Those planning to install wind power generators also must contend with zoning laws and neighbors that don’t want the eyesore of a turbine “souring” their view. “We typically recommend people have about an acre of space,” Merrick said.
5. Geothermal

Geothermal energy, or energy generated from the heat stored in the ground, is another up-and-coming alternative energy source. To harness this energy, consumers can install a heat pump in their yards to transfer heat from the ground to the house in the winter time, and divert heat from the house to the ground during the summer. It can also be used to heat water. The systems start at around $15,000, and can usually pay for themselves after four to six years.

“Once you install the unit, it’s going to save about 40 to 60 percent on your monthly heating and cooling bill,” said Bridgette Oliver, marketing communications manager for ClimateMaster, a manufacturer of geothermal heat pumps. “It’s using energy from the Earth that’s already there, that’s free.”

Unlike solar and wind energy, Oliver said geothermal energy works about equally well all over the country. “You just have to have dirt,” she said.
6. Cutting Down on Energy

Ultimately, installing alternative energy generators in your home, or buying green power from your utility can do a lot of good, and even save you money in the long-term. But just as important, experts say, is reducing your energy usage in the first place. This makes it easier to meet your energy needs with alternative sources, and is the easiest way to go green right now.

“The best thing you can do today is not put in solar panels, but do some things to reduce the electric and gas usage in your home,” said Green Irene’s Stafford. “The best energy [people] can generate is saving the 30 to 40 percent of energy they’re wasting in their own house right now.” Insulating your house, using compact fluorescent light bulbs and switching off appliances and electrical outlets that aren’t in use is a great place to start.

The Net Zero Energy Home

How does a $0 electric bill sound? Read on to find out about homes that earn their keep.

A net zero energy home produces its own electric power and is efficient enough that it actually produces more than it consumes, resulting in no overall electric cost. These models of efficiency are not just limited to new construction. Older buildings can often be upgraded to peak efficiency. With the addition of renewables, they become net zero energy buildings.

In the middle of winter, even the most efficient home will consume more energy than it can produce from a rooftop solar system. This is where the grid intertie comes into play. The net zero energy home pulls from the grid at times of low energy production and pours energy back into the grid during times of high production.

Many of the net zero energy homes touted in the media top $1 million dollars, leading the rest of us to believe that we’ll just need to slog along with our polluting energy sources. Not so. Ideal Homes of Norman, Oklahoma, constructed a zero energy home featuring geothermal energy and photovoltaics for under $200,000. Net zero energy is far more about smart efficiency and balance than it is about the price tag.

A net zero energy home doesn’t have to have all the sexiest, trendiest green products available. In fact, it can be quite simple. The first step in turning an ordinary home into a Net Zero Energy home is tightening up–mainly through insulation and high quality windows and doors. Then the focus is turned on energy efficiency within the home, namely appliances and lighting. The third step is the addition of renewables, like solar electric and hot water systems.

You can take your first step toward net zero efficiency today by doing something as simple as insulating your hot water tank and making sure all your lightbulbs are compact fluorescent. A new energy-efficient refrigerator is far cheaper than a photovoltaic system but will have a significant and immediate impact on your electric consumption. Incremental steps over time will yield an impressive cumulative effect.

What if you’re designing a new home? Keep in mind the benefits of passive solar orientation and thermal mass. Thermal mass like a concrete slab or masonry stove will keep your interior temperature stable, while southern exposure allows you to make the most of the sun’s heat and light. Design your own or find plans at http://www.zero-energyplans.com.