The quality of air in our houses, appartments, schools and offices is the subject of increasing worries. To fight against this inside pollution the Sentinel-Haus Insitute, in Germany, is training architects and workers to the construction of buildings respecting air quality norms. The pilot-projets realized since 2006 contain a much lower concentration of polluting agents with low overcosts.
Functionally illiterate or without any diploma, the villagers of the Rajasthan became thanks to Barefoot College, social workers, specialists in solar energy or mechanics. Since 1972, this research and social acitivties center gives to marginalized rural communities the possibility of supplying to themselves thanks to local know-how. 75 000 jyoung people and children already spent time in this teaching center built by and for the most destitute people.
The "eco-town" concept is sucessful in Great Britain. Ashton Hayes, near Liverpool, had the objective in January 2006 to become neutral in carbion dioxide emissions. Garry Charnock, the man at the origin of the project incited the inhabitants to change theit ways of living. Results : a fall of 21 % of the carbon dioxide in two years and ideas to give to the other claimants.
In 2008,more than 20 % of the international tourists are interested by the Southern countries.An important economic manna which is not always beneficial to the local population. Admiting this failure The Dun, hotel, on the Coromandel coast (India) offers to very rich customers high-quality services, privileging the implication of the local population and the respect of environment. This became an example to be followed, in the area.
Australia is spreading bio to fight against its locust pests
Since the 60's, the use of chemical pesticides allow the farmers to protect their cultures from any attack. But these products can be dangerous for the human health and the environment.There are alternate solution to stop the locust invasions which are compatible with biodiversity. One of them is Green Guard. This biological insecticide is obtained with a mushroom, is claimed in Australia since 2000 by the Comission on the Australian Locust (ALPC). Today, 73 000 hectares infested by locust grubs were successfully treated.
Belgium : a Volvo trucks factory without CO2 emissions
The Volvo Europa Truck factory, in Oostakker, near Ghent(Belgium), produces 35 000 trucks per year. In 2004, it emitted 14 400 tons of CO2. Since October 2007, the factory is exclusively heated thanks to a biomass boiler. The electricity necessary to the production and the enlightening of the site is supplied by three wind turbines, 150 solar panels and hydraulic energy. The result is conclusive: there is no CO2 emission anymore to produce the trucks.
Germany : the first second generation biofuel refinery is taking place.
The Choren company set up the first biofuel refinery of second generation. It is supposed to produce 18 millions of tons of a biofuel named BTL ( Biomass to liquids) every year and exclusively from 65 000 tons of dry wood. On June 14th & 15th 2008, at the 24h du Mans, it experiments its first application : all the cars run with a fuel having 10% de BTL.
Less than 1 % of the 110 000 vineyards in France got the reasoned agriculture label. The Château Larose Trintaudon, rewarded in 2006, continues a sustained development policy for ten years. Main points of its ecological engagement : the limitation of the phytosanitary products and the tretment of the effluents. 95 % of the required criteria in reasoned agriculture are respected.
The first carbon sink, carried out by a local authority in France, was born in december 2007. 27 000 trees will store the equivalent of 1 000 vols Paris – New-York, within the 80 years. An action which supplements the whole step of sustainable development led by the city since 2003.
In 2006, in Italy, Coldiretti (Farmers organization of the Veneto area) tables a bill which aim is to introduce quotas ol local products into the menus of the canteens and the restaurants of the area. While waiting the vote of this law, some restorers asked Coldiretti to create a label "0 Km Menu". Objective: incitethe restorers to provide themselves near local producers, in order to dynamise the local economy, reduce the logistics and transportation costs and so reduce the energy expenses which are generated. 20 properties obtained the label between February 2007 and March 2008.
The biggest rivers are very polluted. In a new district of Wuhan on the border of the Yangtzé, the local government uses phytorestoration to treat waters and reuse it with the French company Phytorestore. Inspired by the cycles of nature, this technique of decontamination is using plants as agents of treatments. A way allowing to reduce by half the tap water consumption.
Sahel : ecological and durable houses thanks to the "Nubian vault"
Because of the desertification, the wood ressources are lower in Sahel.That is why, since 2000, the Nubian vault association helps the local masons to be trained, to use and develop a construction technisue without wood, only with ground. Since 2000, hundred of masons thus built more than 500 buildings.
In January 2008, Pyro-6F, the first green coal machine is settled down in Senegal.
Imagined and conceived by Pro-Natura International (PNI),
this new technology produces a ton of plant-coal per day, from agricultural residues. A process with many advantages: the fuel is 50 % less expensive, its limits deforestation, supports the local development and also reduces the poisoning linked to the combustion of traditional coal.
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