Comments for The Ecoangeleno

Comment on Green Celebrities? PLEASE! by Daniel Emmett

Daniel Emmett — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 23:31:47 +0000

Dan, great post! While the enthusiasm by “eco-celebrities” for hydrogen fuel cell cars is great and will help to create demand and awareness about the technology, I agree that cars like the Honda Civic GX are great environmental vehicles and are available at reasonable prices today! It would be nice to see a few celebs pony up with a CNG car like the GX with a “Do it NOW” statement. However, while the Civic GX has the lowest emissions of any commercially available vehicle on the road today, even Honda readily admits that is more efficient to reform natural gas into hydrogen and run it in a fuel cell than it is to use CNG directly in a combustion engine. This is due to the dramatically better efficiency of the fuel cell over the internal combustion engine and is the reason Honda is so committed to fuel cell technology.

Comment on ‘Water Features’ Need To Be Jettisoned Now by UK Water Features

UK Water Features — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 18:09:41 +0000

I live in the UK and couldnt imagine life without my water feature, you poor thing!

Comment on The Bottled Water Story by H2OKits.com

H2OKits.com — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 20:15:44 +0000

An Environmental Working Group analysis of Nitrates and nitrites tests reported by 15,803 public water suppliers in 28 states shows that between 1998 and 2003, 96.4 million people in 10,920 communities drank water contaminated with Nitrates and Nitrites. In 97 of these communities, tap water was contaminated at levels above health-based thresholds.

Texas had 1,302 water supply systems serving 13.9 million people contaminated with Nitrates and Nitrites, which was the highest state in the study. Coming in second was Washington with 1,257 systems serving 3.9 million people.

Nitrate & nitrite is a chemical that enters water from fertilizer runoff, leaching septic tanks, and erosion of natural deposits. Potential health impacts associated with Nitrate & nitrite include cardiovascular or blood toxicity, kidney toxicity, and reproductive toxicity.

The Maximum Contaminant Limit (MCL) for Nitrates and Nitrites is 10 parts per million (ppm). Water suppliers report an average of 0.7 Nitrate and Nitrite tests per year. 23,948 water suppliers failed to report any Nitrate and Nitrite tests at all. Testing for Nitrate and Nitrite can be done by anybody, accurately and safely at home. Our water test kits provide the accuracy of a laboratory to everyone with fast and accurate results. Please visit our site H2OKits.com for more information.

Comment on Big Week for California’s Proposed High-Speed Train Network by rafael

rafael — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 17:03:47 +0000

The reason this will be a big week for high speed rail is that Gov. Schwarzenegger has indicated he may pull the initiative off the ballot unless AB 3034 is passed. The bill amends the original proposal, mostly to ensure that the state of California does not overextend itself financially.

The Assembly has already voted in favor by a margin of 60-3. The bill currently states that none of the bond money can be spent until at least matching funds from non-state sources have been secured, on a section-by-section basis.

However, passage requires a 2/3 majority in both houses. All amendments to theis November’s bond measures must be finalized by the end of the June.

A recent report to the Senate’s transportation committee contained a lot of constructive criticism of the California High Speed Rail Authority’s (CHSRA) work and approach to date. These relate mainly to closer oversight of the Authority going forward, refocusing its effort on securing private investment and, to construction phasing.

CHSRA has held fast to the original goal of a north-south link as the “starter line” and argues that operating profits from that will fund future spurs to San Diego and Sacramento, respectively. To that end, the Authority wants to prioritize tunnel construction because that is difficult and protracted in earthquake country.

The Senate report turns that on its head, arguing that construction should begin in bottleneck sections at the ends, specifically citing the SF peninsula and the LOSSAN corridor section between City of Industry and Fullerton. It also recommends that the HSR bond money be spent immediately as a regular public works effort to avoid further cost inflation, rather than wait for matching funds to materialize. It also recommends priority for the San Diego spur over crossing Tehachapi Pass.

The committee is chaired by Sen. Lowenthal (D-Long Beach). A senate debate on AB3034 has been scheduled for June 24, so expect a flurry of amendment proposals and some last minute negotiations with the Assembly to secure the majorities needed to let voters have their say.

Comment on Big Week for California’s Proposed High-Speed Train Network by Matt

Matt — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 00:35:46 +0000

We just posted a link to your page under “selected blogs” - keep up the great work!

http://losangelestransportation.blogspot.com

Comment on News Clip: Edison Making Some Solar Moves by Andrew

Andrew — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 02:44:22 +0000

I am surprised that more companies have not followed Google’s leadership and invested in solar to defray future energy costs. Hell, if I was a mall developer and saw the amount of square miles of concrete parking lots I would be itching to install solar panels as shade. Not only would this reduce future energy bills… imagine the PR bonanza one could get… in addition to marketing to a more upscale market as ecofriendly.

I really do wonder about the inability of corporate leaders to gauge risk and reward sometimes.

Comment on Plastic Bag Ban: Malibu Won’t Give it Up by Adi

Adi — Tue, 20 May 2008 20:32:27 +0000

I’m going to check the source of the data you posted to see if it’s industry-generated. Most is.

Comment on Plastic Bag Ban: Malibu Won’t Give it Up by Andrew

Andrew — Thu, 15 May 2008 05:32:32 +0000

Dude, I know you mentioned this on your post, yet the clear answer is for people just to bring their own bags to a grocery store. I have this outstanding Trader Joe’s bag I bring into Ralphs, Wal-mart, Fresh n’ Easy…

Besides, I don’t have to worry about the bag breaking apart when walking back home.