2Sustain

Researchers at the Centre for Low Carbon Futures have concluded that cities could cut their energy bills by billions –if they exploited commercially attractive opportunities in energy and carbon management.

The study, which focused on cities in the UK, found that about 10 percent of city scale GDP leaves the local economy every year through payment of the energy bill . . . and, as you would expect,  that percentage is forecast to grow considerably over the next decade.

However, by investing 1 percent of GDP for 10 years, cities could see savings in their energy bills worth 1.6 percent of GDP every year. In addition, taking advantage of low carbon development would create jobs, mitigate energy risks and reduce environmental impacts. (more…)

Late last month, UPS released the latest edition of its annual sustainability report, and once again, the company has managed to reduce the amount of fuel it’s using to deliver each package in the United States.

Interestingly, the company’s US package volume rose 1.8 percent in 2010 compared to 2009, and yet UPS reduced the amount of fuel consumed per package by 3.3 percent. The company attributed the improvement to:

• deploying the right vehicle on the right routes,
• using technology to minimize the miles driven and
• focusing on how behavior can affect fuel use.

All told, technology has enabled UPS to avoid driving more than 63.5 million miles in 2010 with an associated emissions avoidance of 68,000 metric tonnes. As remarkable as it sounds, UPS estimates that distance is the equivalent of 251,987 trips to the International Space Station.

How, exactly, has the company used technology to reduce fuel consumption? According to a press release, UPS has specifically improved: (more…)

Could wind power help reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the shipping industry?

Cargill wants to find out. The company has partnered with Hamburg-based SkySails to use innovative kite technology to help power large shipping vessels.

According to a press release, next December Cargill will install a 320m2 SkySails kite on a handysize vessel of between 25,000 and 30,000 deadweight tonnes, which the company has on long-term charter. Reportedly, this will then be the largest-ever vessel propelled by a kite.

SkySails estimates that the kite, which flies ahead of the vessel, can generate enough propulsion to reduce consumption of bunker fuel by up to 35 percent in ideal sailing conditions. The kite functions at a height of between 100 to 420 meters and flies in a figure-eight formation, steered by an automatic control system.

G.J. van den Akker, head of Cargill’s ocean transportation business, called the SkySail’s project “a meaningful first step” towards driving environmental best practice within the shipping industry. (more…)

A global study conducted by Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) has found that transport companies are lagging behind other sectors in mitigating greenhouse gases and setting targets.

The first comprehensive report of its kind, this study surveyed 291 of the largest transport companies in the world, including those that cover road, rail, sea and air transport. The results show that: (more…)

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