Green energy systems are no longer just a ‘nice to have’ but are essential in securing our energy supply and protecting the environment, according to a new report from Lloyd’s 360 Risk Insight and UK think tank Chatham House.

As cities like Auckland grapple with ever increasing demand for road space, places like Barcelona are working to to spread the road space around different modes.

Honda have announced the CR-Z hybrid coupé, signalling that Honda is about to change how the world views hybrid technology.

SBN's Carbon4Good tree planting programme is now well underway. 

A study from the UK has reavealed stagnant water in your washer fluid reservoir might be a breeding ground for legionella.

Toyota are teaming up with Massey University to trial its new Plug-in Hybrid technology.

It’s a city of bicycles, 9 million to be exact as you can be. While China's driver population is growing at the rate of 4 million new drivers per year, the common bike is still a significant part of day-to-day getting about in Beijing.

North Shore based publisher Hachette has extended their tree planting programme to include offsetting for flights.

For many people, cycling and work don't usually go together. SBN member Stephen McKernan runs a successful consultancy business and is an avid cyclist. For Stephen, cycling is part of his business and the way he travels to most meetings.

Demand for oil in New Zealand could almost halve in the next 20 years because of more efficient cars, hybrid and electric vehicles and the use of biofuels, a report featured in the NZ Herald indicates.

The 2010 EECA Biofuel and Electric Vehicle Conference provided some interesting persepectives on where transport is heading. With developments in new fuel feedstocks like algae as well as fuel cell and battery technologies, there are many spaces to watch.

The planting season is now upon us. It's a great time to reflect on the the effect that restoration planting has on our landscape. The top photo was taken in August 2006 with the lower photo showing the same area now.

Recently Google has launch its "Google Cycle Maps." With maps containing detailed routes, integrated bicycle shops, and recent cycling hazards, Google offers one single convenient location where anyone can plan their cycling adventures in Auckland.

A new website on cycling in Auckland has been launched. http://cyclingauckland.co.nz is a grass roots collaborative website that is written by a diverse group of people, with different opinions and ideas about cycling that are borne out of their own experiences of riding in Auckland.

The end of daylight saving means it is time for cyclists to dust off their lights and add a bit of fluorescence to their riding wardrobe. Cycling Advocates' Network (CAN) chair Bevan Woodward said as the days get shorter, cyclists need to get brighter. Lights and high-visibility riding gear make you easier to see,” said Mr Woodward.

Hybrids are becoming an increasingly larger part of the car market. Both Toyota and Honda have announced forthcoming additions to their hybrid lineups.

In an effort to save money on fuel costs, while reducing CO2 emissions, Fullers ferries to Waiheke have decided to drive at a slightly reduced speed. Additionally, the ferries have been outfitted with more energy efficient technology to further save energy.

A pilot study by Otago Polytechnic's Centre for Sustainable Practices is underway to test the success of New Zealand made biodiesel in Queenstown. With funding from EECA, they hope to encourage the growth in New Zealand's biodiesel industry.

For the 10th consecutive year a Honda vehicle has received the number one ranking in the The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy ranking of environmentally responsible vehicles.

Transport and vehicles are one of the categories on Greenlist, the World’s first Product and Services Directory where listings are compared with sustainable principles.

Toyota’s Hybrid Camry – with combined power of 140kW from its 2.4 litre petrol engine and electric drive motor – produces only 142 grams per kilometre of CO2 when tested to the Australian Design Rule standards.

The Hybrid Scorecard has been developed by the Union of Concerned Scientists to compare hybrids with their conventional counterparts to determine how effectively automakers are installing hybrid technology into their respective fleets.

 

 

When Tauranga based SBN member Gord Stewart was looking for a new car, he resisted the temptation to re-live his youth and buy an old muscle car.

 

Toyota are about to launch their third generation Prius in New Zealand and Toyota New Zealand are quick to dispel the myths surrounding hybrid vehicles.

With a motivated band of approximately 30 people, made up of some of Bay of Plenty’s GreenFleet members along with the helping hands of Garden Art and under the watchful eye of Tauranga City Council Craig Fea, close to 3000 trees have planted in the Kopurererua Valley.

Lexus has developed the Eco-Vehicle Assessment System (Eco-VAS) to evaluate the impact of a vehicle on the environment and society, throughout its lifecycle.

GreenFleet in conjunction with the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA) are offering free vehicle Fleet Check reviews for fleets up to 50 vehicles. The reviews use EECA’s process for auditing vehicle fleets and are based on EECA’s fleet management guidelines “EconoDrive”.

Catalyst R&D have released a new version of their popular Annual Carbon Emission Calculator (ACE) tool. The latest version of ACE (ACE 2009) includes the latest emission factors and vehicle efficiency rates.

Biofuels have graduated from the garage and are now part of the mainstream fuel supply. John Van der Beek of NZ Ester Fuels outlines some of the benefits that have led to the growth of biofuel supply and demand.