Transition Island Blog

Biofuels have had many warnings.

One of the original problems with biodiesel was clogging up filters. This was because it cleans the residue left behind by the mineral diesel out of the fuel lines, which then collects in the filter. Which is why all fuel lines have filters - to stop unwanted solids going into the combustion chamber.

So the answer was to change the filter, usually only necessary once.

new problems

Now, a new warning has emerged. It’s not just the vehicle engine dirt that gets cleaned out. It’s also the grot in the garage’s storage tank.

(more…)

A new craze has taken off - competing against the car to get the highest MPG (miles-per-gallon) possible.

The aim is to maximise fuel economy against the backdrop of increasing fuel costs.

It’s said to be the automotive equivalent of skateboarding.

As a sport, it is more like golf than football - the battle is against engine inefficiency, aerodynamic drag, rolling friction through the tyres, power-to-weight ratios, and kinetic energy lost to braking.

Having started in America, this sport is spreading. As part of the American Dream, the right to drive is almost synonymous with low-cost mileage. The biggest perceived cost is the motor-car itself, a reflection of success. But a counter-cultural movement took off, aiming to double the MPG of any car, inverting the  meaning of success.

(more…)

Big cats protected in Kenya’s Maasai Mara game reserve are threatened by a fall in tourism.

Tourists have stayed away mainly because of the violence which followed last year’s disputed election.

But in time, rising fuel costs will reduce holiday flights, and income from richer countries will drop, leaving many endangered species with less protection.

Loss of compensation schemes could force local people to kill lions and leopards in order to protect livestock. There are also risks from locals hunting protected animals for meat as the food crisis worsens.

taking flight?

With cheap flights, international travel is in a boom era. But things are changing.

(more…)

While action on Climate Change appears to be moving ahead, action on Peak Oil appears to be desperately slow.

Peak Oil is upon us - we now have 10% rises in the price of crude oil every month.

Burning fossil fuels contributes to Climate Change. 

Back in February, we reported that the UK & USA have the lowest level of people saying that they are personally making a significant effort to reduce their carbon output.

WHY?

(more…)

A new poll has found that majorities in 15 out of 16 nations surveyed around the world think that oil is running out.

People think governments should make a major effort to find new sources of energy.

Most think that future oil prices will be much higher.

So why do so few governments publish peak oil policies?

minority unconcerned

On average, a 22 percent minority believe that “enough new oil will be found so that it can remain a primary source of energy for the foreseeable future.”

(more…)

Transition Island will be at the Robin Hill Garden Show 26 & 27 April.

You can find out how green is your garden?

Report from Sue Lupton, Isle of Wight County Press

Visitors to the show are invited to visit a straw-bale house to learn from the experts how they can make their homes and gardens greener.

Dave and Vav Simon, of Aldermoor Earthworks, and a team of environmentally minded volunteers are creating a demonstration that is designed to inspire people to try green techniques at home.

Aldermoor Earthworks runs weekend workshops on country skills, ecological issues and green topics. Dave and Vav active campaigners on ecological issues and leading lights in Transition Island, a group that encourages people to take action on problems like climate change

Dave said: “In the past two years, show has been mainly about flowers and the organisers approached us because they wanted to extend it by encouraging people to ask `How green is my garden?’

“They invited us to do something about energy efficiency in the house and garden. What we want to do is to demonstrate how you can build a shed or lean-to with straw bales. You can collect water off it in water butts - that is called rain water harvesting. You can use the harvested water in the garden or to flush the toilet.

“We will also show how you can use water from the kitchen sink for watering the garden. People think that detergents will be a problem but plants are survivors, used to filtering out impurities.

“We wanted to demonstrate principles that might get people thinking, so they go home and try out some of the systems.

“This project fits in with the whole Eco-Island movement, which also ties in with what Transition Island is trying to do. Climate change is a long-term problem, while peak oil (the rising price of oil) is likely to affect us all in a matter of years. We believe there is a lot people can do themselves, but the problem is we are all addicted to the easy life. It is not easy to do without modern conveniences.

“We want people to understand these issues and apply them to their own homes and gardens. It is about getting people talking and thinking and doing, rather than waiting for the government to take the initiative.”

Driving less miles, converting to smaller cars, and using more public transport - they are going in the right direction!

Having delayed on the Kyoto Agreement for so many years, the USA is now driving in a different direction.

Less miles

Americans cut back on their driving for the first time in more than 20 years, according to the U.S. Federal Highway Administration. Total travel fell 0.4 percent to 3.00 trillion miles from 3.01 trillion miles in 2006.

That might not seem much, but subway and public bus use is at the highest level in more than 50 years.

(more…)

There are better ways to make biofuels than cutting down forests to plant palm oil trees.

Actually, there are many, many ways.
All you need is a relatively concentrated source of carbon and some new technology…

And the technology is constantly being improved. 

The newest breakthrough involves cellulose being rapidly heated in the presence of solid catalysts, and then rapidly cooled to create a liquid that contains many of the compounds found in gasoline.

The entire process was completed in under two minutes using relatively moderate amounts of heat. The liquid can be further treated to form the remaining fuel components or can be used “as is” for a high octane gasoline blend. Once in production, this should all take much less energy to make than ethanol, giving it a smaller carbon footprint and making it cheaper to produce.

Meanwhile other sources of carbon include:

(more…)

I found a wonderful idea that brings the global problems home to each of us.   

Climate Change seems almost to be a global Act of God - a natural event, not preventable by any human action - even though we know we have caused some global warming and have in place the Kyoto Agreement, etc.

Peak Oil describes the oil-based lifestyle as addictive - this idea goes beyond that. It’s more like we’ve all caught a psychiatric illness.

(more…)

The Conference is a great success! Well-designed, well-attended and well-addressed by relevant speakers.

Organised by the Island Strategic Partnership (ISP) to launch the Eco-Isle Vision, their many speakers repeatedly brought the message home - we WILL get there.

journey planning

Setting the scene were David Pugh, speaking as leader of the Isle of Wight Council, and John Owen, Chair of the ISP. They reminded us that we have to commit to our destination before we plan the journey. And what an ambitious destination!

(more…)