Introducing the U.B.C Car

At present, all automobile companies are in the race to develop and advertise the most ideal type of car, a car that is efficient in saving both fuel and money. Taking this perspective, it is perceived that universities are not far behind in developing a model of their known. In particular, the University of British Columbia displayed a car that is nevertheless evidently compact but also is a 'Shell' sponsored vehicle that holds great potential for a high degree of fuel consumption, and consequently producing a positive effect upon the environment of BC.

Energy Subsidies

India has historically subsidized energy with the objective of protecting its consumers from international price volatility and providing energy access for its citizens, especially the poor. However, energy subsidies place a heavy burden on government budgets, while often failing to reach their targeted beneficiaries.

In addition to forming a large part of government expenditure in India, subsidies for energy have a tremendous impact on the lives of citizens. At the most immediate level, these subsidies affect how much people pay for energy. However, digging deeper reveals that they have a profound effect on the environments in which people live and the economies in which they earn their living.

Pedestrian Power

'Tiles' May Help Shrink Carbon Footprint by Harnessing Pedestrian Power.


These newly invented tiles are being used in a large urban mall in England upon which millions of residents and tourists walk.The well- designed squares aren't just ornamental. They are designed to collect the kinetic energy created by the estimated 40 million pedestrians who will use that walkway in a year, generating several hundred kilowatt-hours of electricity from their footsteps. That's enough to power half the mall's outdoor lighting.


The power generated from millions of footfalls can be used to operate a range of low-power applications, including lighting, signs, digital ads, and Wi-Fi zones.





Gradually, this new 'Pavegen' technology is slowly dispersing itself across the country, and hopefully, soon around the world. Now, along with some malls, even elementary schools have these tiles which proves to be the source in lighting up the corridors.

City of Surrey- A Waste Diversion City

The City of Surrey has engendered a new waste collection and recycling program which is to be put in action by October 2012.

This plan has been implemented keeping in mind the provincial goal of a waste diversion of 70% by 2015. This particular program included 3 bins being placed on the curb-sides of Surrey homes: one for organic waste, one for recycling, and for garbage.

Food scraps and yard waste collected in the organic waste bin will be processed to generate carbon neutral fuel, which will be used to refuel Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) garbage and recycling collection trucks.

Surrey's Waste Reduction Challenge is a call to all Surrey residents and businesses to reduce the amount of waste ending up in landfills by creating less waste, recycling more, and reusing all that one can.

Through such actions, the benefits that will result are abundant and the illumination in status that the city receives will be widespread.

Great Lakes on Crisis Pathway

Ontarians are being asked to imagine what it would be like if the Great Lakes disappeared.

The Council of Canadians said that could happen if something is not done to protect the lakes. Canada holds 20% of the world's fresh waters, much that is comprised within the Great Lakes. Though, due to variant sources of contamination and over-consumption, the freshness and abundant quality of these lakes is under threat.


Maude Barlow, a chair of the Council of Canadians, says it is often heard how much people love the Great Lakes but she warns that we don't love them enough. The lakes are under attack by pollution, invasive species and a host of other threats, the populace in proximity to the fresh water bodies.
Millions rely on the lakes for their drinking water.


If the Great Lakes are being pumped at the same rate globally ground water is being pumped, the Great Lakes could be bone dry in 80 years.

Protecting our Fresh Waters

Despite living in a country that houses the greatest percentage of fresh water in the world, efforts are still constantly taking place to keep this percentage and the ultimate freshness of the water forever constant. 


University of British Columbia's professor John Richardson is trying to find the best way to protect freshwater streams in logging areas. Since many decades ago, loggers and environmentalists have come up with the idea of 30-meter buffer, a notion in which 30 meters of trees are left on the sides of streams in order to reduce erosion of the stream-bank, shade streams to keep temperatures down, protect fish habitats, prevent sediment from accumulating and increase the overall stability of the ecosystem. Professor Richardson is working to introduce a variant strategy which will prove to be more efficient in protecting our freshwater. 

To read the full article of this buffer and the endeavor to protect our precious fresh waters, see
http://www.publicaffairs.ubc.ca/2012/04/04/protecting-our-freshwater/

'TITANIC' Geography

With Apri 14,2012 marking the 100th year of the sinking of what was deemed to be 'unsinkable', director James Cameron, naval experts, geologists,and engineers took a dive down to 'The Abyss', the location of what is now left of the massive ship.

The primary cause due to the catastrophic event is well-known but these researchers took over 30 dives into the ocean for reasons that lead to its disintegration.
Amazingly, the one factor that was predominant was HYDRAULIC ACTION, the powerful force of water. This method of erosion is behind the steepness of walls and the formation of landscape features but who would have known that it also behind the splitting of the ship.
The particular facet of why the ship had sunk the way it had and how it had slowly made its way a few miles from the coast of Newfoundland from where it primarily sank was clarified through the observation of water qualities.
Who knew something so blue and liquid'y' could be so powerful?