Some are hoping that the biofuel of the future will be jatropha. Jatropha is a leafy tree which is essentially a wild plant. The plant grows in warmer climates, making it a more difficult biofuel sell in the United States.

Jatropha trees, which are already grown in India and Africa, coast about $6 each. In addition, the trees are capable of producing about two gallons of oil each once they reach maturity. Approximately 400 of the trees would be able to be grown per acre.

One of the problems will jatropha is the fact that it can only be used with diesel engines. This, however, does not dissuade everyone.  The fuel has already been used in biofuel test flights for Air New Zealand and Continental Airlines. In addition, the fuel is being considered by the oil company BP, who is partnering with projects in India and Africa.

The California Air Resources Board recently passed another mandate for auto manufacturers selling vehicles in California. As of 2014, all vehicles sold in California will be required to have windshields which reflect the sun. The windows would have a metallic coating, a window technology said to be in use for some 20 years now.

 The board passed the mandate in hopes of not only reducing greenhouse gas emissions but also improving fuel efficiency. By using the sun-reflecting windows, vehicles will maintain a cooler temperature and therefore drivers will use less air conditioning. Apparently the windows are able to keep sedan interiors 14 degrees Fahrenheit cooler, while keeping a truck or SUV about 12 degrees cooler.

Starting in 2012, one-quarter of vehicles sold in the state of California will require the sun-reflecting windshields. These windshields must block fifty percent of the sun’s heat when a car is parked. By 2014, all vehicles will be required to have such windshields.

Time for our weekly Green QuestionVille round up :) I hope you can find some interesting questions and answers below and remember if you have a questions register today and ask, it takes 20 seconds to register :)

Popular Questions This Week

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  Do you think going to the moon will help us develop or improve existing green technologies? (See Answers)
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The EPA used data from 2002 to make their current estimations. All in all, the EPA analyzed 124 different chemicals considered hazardous air pollutants. These chemicals cause an array of issues, from cancer to respiratory problems. 80 of these 124 chemicals have been shown to cause cancer.

Chemicals released by automobiles, factories and other such sources put particular neighborhoods at a greater risk due to their location to these sources. In the approximately 600 neighborhoods at the greatest risk, the levels of these chemicals cause a greater than 100 in 1 cancer risk.

Refrigerants, also known as F-gases, are used in refrigerators and air conditioning. They are used in homes, buildings, cars, trucks and even trains. In addition, they are frequently used as foam blowing agents. Since the Montreal Protocol called for the phasing out of HCFCs, the use of these refrigerants (also called HFCs) has increased.

In a recent publication of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, scientists warned of the hazards of HFCs. The study was conducted by the Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency, the United States’ NOAA and EPA and the Dupont company.

According to the scientists, refrigerant usage will increase drastically in upcoming years and even decades. Due to the warnings of some scientists that greenhouse gas emissions need to be reduced sooner rather than later, HFC consumption is of great concern. According to the study, the use of HFCs could actually cancel out some of the greenhouse gas reductions underway, including clean energy.

Large skyscrapers such as the Sears Tower have very large energy bills and the like, giving them large carbon footprints. In order to reduce these issues, some skyscraper owners have decided to go green. Just like the Empire State Building in New York, the Sears Tower in Chicago has now dedicated itself to being green.

The Sears Tower, the tallest building in the United States, will undergo a five year green transformation that will cost about $350 million. The changes are expected to reduce electricity use by 80 percent and save upwards of 24 million gallons of water each year. Hopes are that the building will be given the LEED status, as in Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design.

Solar panels will be placed on the 90th floor roof in order to heat water for the building. Between 30 and 35 thousand square feet of gardens will be planted on the Sears Tower’s rooftops as well. Varying and numerous wind turbines are expected to be placed on the roofs as well.