São Paulo: building over three stories can be required to install green roofs

Today, the Committee on environment and sustainable development of São Paulo, Brazil, will promote a public hearing to discuss a project that requires commercial and residential condominiums with over three floors and installing green roofs on their covers.

According to Marina Santanna, who requested the hearing, the aim is to "reduce the effects of global warming in urban centres, the formation of micro-climates that help dissipate heat in buildings and reducing the effects of precipitation, among other advantages for the urban environment".

Among those invited to the hearing, emphasis on architecture and housing-related associations, banks, green technologies and waste.

"It is well known that one of the environmental problems of large urban centres are heat islands, occurring with increasing ambient temperature caused by excessive concentration of the built environment and the lack of green areas," said Mrs.

"This initiative will contribute to the temperature control, with increasing the extent of green areas and biodiversity in urban spaces and consequently with the quality of people's lives," added Marina Santanna.

According to the rationale of the proposal among the many benefits of the adoption of the "green roof" include the maintenance of constant air humidity around the building, the formation of microclimate and micro-system, with the presence of various species of plants and animals, the increase in the amount of green in urban centers and the contribution in combating the greenhouse effectthrough the sequestration of carbon in the atmosphere. Already the conditions and deadlines for the implementation of the "green roof" will be established by State executive powers.

According to the draft, only will be admitted as "green roof" coverage of vegetation composed basically by waterproofing, protection against roots, drainage, filtration, substrate and vegetation.

Photo: Creative Commons/Garden City Institute

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Iceberg the size of Singapore is adrift in Antarctica

In July, an iceberg the size of Singapore began to become detached from the Pine Island glacier, the largest in Antarctica, which is located in the western part. However, the ice around him prevented him from letting go completely of the glacier.

However, with the arrival of summer at the South Pole, the ice started melting and iceberg freed completely. Since July that the iceberg, with approximately 700 square kilometres, is being monitored by Grant Brigg and Robert Marsh, professors at the universities of Sheffield and Southampton respectively.

"An iceberg this size can survive a year or more and can drive North, disturbing the sea lanes of the Antarctic Ocean and South Atlantic," says Robert Marsh, quoted by CNN. According to Brigg, "in recent days, the iceberg began moving and there is now a kilometre or two of water between the block and the glacier".

The slot in the Pine Island glacier was first detected by a NASA satellite, in October 2011. The iceberg that now came loose it was detected by a German satellite. According to Bigg, a block of ice has been identified in the Drake Passage, between Cape Horn, South America, and the South Shetland Islands in Antarctica. If the iceberg moves in the same trajectory there is a possibility the international sea lanes from the South being disturbed. If scientists discover that the iceberg is moving in the direction of these routes will be issued an international alert.

The Pine Island glacier is the largest in Antarctica and also what circulates faster, about four kilometres per year towards the Amundsen sea. This glacier give off large icebergs every six or ten years. The latest losses occurred in 2001 and 2007.

Scientists believe that this is a natural process and should not be linked directly to climate change.  This is the first time that an iceberg with such dimensions will be monitored.

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GreenBoots: the boots made with recycled tires ranging from Leiria to Moscow (with video)

In the North of the country is the bulk of the Portuguese footwear industry, but is of Leiria which reaches GreenBoots, a brand of hand-made footwear and that uses, among other raw materials, recycled tire rubber, which is worked and transformed into soles.

The project of Peter, 44 years, Olaio Luís Lourenço (48) and Ines Cunha (37) is still in its infancy, but the future looks bright for the brand that focus on sustainability and manufacture by hand to diversify on the market.

"The use of recycled tire rubber boots and make use of various scraps and waste [industry], as the insoles of skin. The GreenBoots is not only the name, also demonstrates the care that we have with the environment, "explained to the green economy and commercial Manager designer, Pedro Olaio.

In fact, the GreenBoots are no more than a tradition recovered, despite the brand being launched at the beginning of 2013. "We picked up our origins which was already used in ancient times â€" the soles [are made of recycled tire]. Now, they are even more resistant and comfortable. Then simply reinvent the story ", stresses the designer.

The genesis of brand is in 1955, at the factory of Master José Rodrigues. Is this weather heading the art of making the current GreenBoots. The boots are manufactured by hand by artisans of a factory of Benedita, at the gates of Leiria, and have arrived in stores of Moscow (Russia), London (United Kingdom) or Rome (Italy).

In Portugal, the GreenBoots is already selling in some stores, and can also be ordered through the internet. The price, however, is not for everyone: a few boots can cost between €90 and € 150.

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BIT: guess the future of mobility with talent in Portuguese

Between 2025 and 2040, the individual transport will be replaced by individual choice of transport mode. That is, people will depend on less than a single means of transport (car, bus, subway or train), to the detriment of an information system-and the referral and payment enabling them to optimize your time and money. "[This is] through multi-modal solutions, supported by intelligent systems," explains Green Savers the CEO of BIT (Breeze innovation and technology), Jorge Sales Gomes.

Another of the major changes in the area of mobility, takes us to a "growing complexity of solutions and systems of mobility". Here, energy efficiency and ability are the keywords. "Many major changes will occur in a time horizon of 15 to 20 years", explains the Executive.



The BIT is one of the less visible faces of Breeze-less visible, of course, to the common citizen. Still, several of the projects developed in this workshop of innovation are known from the Portuguese.

Founded in December 2009, after the merger of BAER (Acess Road Electronic Breeze) and DIT (Directorate of innovation and technology) of the breeze, the BIT was responsible, for example, by automatic number plate recognition system, already exported to the United States (granting Northwest Parkway), which allows the levying of tolls through photographs.

But there are more innovations: from development of all toll payments machines installed on the network, and Atlantic Breeze Brisal, Auto-estradas de Portugal, to the EasyToll system and the solutions associated with the Via Verde system â€" access to historic neighbourhoods, Trojan ferries or car parks.

"We work in an open innovation model. Innovation is increasingly collaborative development processes, in which internal teams working together with teams of partner companies ", explains the CEO of BIT.

Dynamization of the Portuguese economy

The 60 researchers from the company streamline, currently, about 100 projects â€" some are in the exploratory stage, others are already in the part of the investment. Researchers are attached to universities with which the BIT has partnership protocols, highlighting the ISEL (Instituto Superior de Engenharia de Lisboa), University of Aveiro and Coimbra University. In the past three years, funding to these three institutions amounted to €1,3 million.

According to Jorge Sales Gomes, the BIT works with an open innovation system, assuming the role of "an". "New product development is done using a virtual factory, in which each is focused on what it does best," explains the Manager.

Thus, the BIT takes a true role of "catalyst of innovation," contributing to "the country's wealth, by replacement of imports, and stimulating knowledge and national industry".

"We resorted to companies of different sectors of activity, from the industry-metalworking and moulds â€" to services such as consulting," continues.

Electing the Cashless system, implemented in the Nortwest, United States us Parkwy concession, as "flagship project" of the BIT, Jorge Sales Gomes ensures that the company is not limited to the area of action of Breeze. The number of start-ups that are just born of the BIT is the proof: "You were born eight start-ups due to the innovation of the model BIT. And the BIT has no relationship or investor financing with these entities, only guarantees, for a certain period, a portfolio of orders ", stresses.

Today, these start-ups already have their own customer base. In the last three years, the BIT provided to these companies a turnover of €7,1 million, an investment that also had an impact in terms of human resources.

In fact, innovation generated by the BIT has boosted the creation of value for the parent company, estimated at € 186 million between 2003 and 2009. The investment in I&D, in the same period was €11 million. On the other hand, between 2010 and 2011 a BIT commissioned approximately €32 million to Portuguese companies, between products and services.

Thus, the company invested €40,5 million in Portugal, between 2010 and 2011, between suppliers, start-ups and universities.

Portugal remains strong in research

Is the universities that are the future of the BIT. And even the economic crisis and eventual departure of Portuguese researchers abroad scares the company. Jorge Sales Gomes ensures that Portugal continues to produce high-quality researchers in the area of mobility, and that the company itself is a link to a professional outlet inside the House.

"Businesses cannot, and must not replace the State. However, their social responsibility must pass, too, by supporting the national economy, in its different aspects. By supporting universities, we are not only contributing to the improvement of their financial situation, but also to the promotion and development of national know-how ", concludes CEO of BIT.

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Russian courts release twelve of the thirty Greenpeace activists on bail

The courts of Saint Petersburg released between this Monday and Tuesday 12 of the 30 members of the group who was known for Arctic 30. The twelve detainees were released upon payment of a deposit of € 45,300 (R $ 139,900).

It is recalled that this group, composed of 28 Greenpeace activists and two freelance journalists, were detained in September, following a protest at sea against oil exploration in the Arctic.

Initially, the 28 activists and two journalists from 18 countries, were accused of piracy, which in Russia may take up to 15 years in prison. Subsequently, the charge was reduced to hooliganism, which carries a maximum penalty of seven years in prison.

See the profile of all activists.

This Monday, three Russian activists were released upon bail, but the courts have ruled that an Australian environmentalist stayed in custody until the trial, scheduled for February 24. This Tuesday were already released nine more members upon payment of bail, says Greenpeace. For this Wednesday are scheduled more requests for release, including the two Britons.

Greenpeace pointed out, already referred to in The Guardian, which will pay the bail immediately. The activists must be released when the money transfer is completed, possibly by the end of the week.

According to Greenpeace spokesman, Violetta Ryabko, the Organization has collected enough funds to ask the courts for the release of all activists.

Although they have been released, the charges against the activists were not dropped.  The Russia has until Sunday to prolong the detention of the activists, once that day expires the pre-trial detention order decreed in September, by the Court of the port of Murmansk, where Greenpeace members were detained until November 12, when they were transferred to St. Petersburg.

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The Portuguese who came to ride my bike to work (with video)

Every Friday, the Mubi (Association for urban mobility in bicycle) organizes the sixth cycle, an event that promotes the use of bike journeys per day. On the way home from work, for example, but also leisure exits, whatever the route, day or night.

It was through this initiative that Ana Santos, a university lecturer, began using the bike in their daily movements between Cascais, where she lives, and the Broken Cross, where he teaches at Faculdade de Motricidade Humana.

Ana pedal from one side to the other of Cascais, to the train station. Get off at Cruz Quebrada station, where climbs toward the University.

At the beginning, Ana had all the fears of a novice cyclist, especially the cars. "After two or three days I began to realize it was great: the course was excellent, couldn't stop anywhere he wanted, for taking photos, and I went shopping in the traditional trade," explained Ana Santos to the green economy.

The University teacher liked it so much the experience which was pedalling every day. And out of bike lanes â€" only the uses when riding for leisure.

According to Mário Alves, Mubi, the case of Ana is just one of many that the Association has to present. But, for the numbers being expressive, it is necessary to change urban planning. "In urban areas have to start managing much better cars and the entry of cars. Enters about half a million cars a day in Lisbon. This is unacceptable. We must also reduce the speed of these cars, "said the green economy.

The sixth bike already has 1,000 enrolled at the site and three thousand on Facebook. And the reader, have the courage and willingness to start doing it? See the episode 148 of the green economy.

Foto:  pedrosimoes7 / Creative Commons

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Oli and Aveiro University studying solutions to more inclusive bathrooms

The Oli, Iberian producer of cisterns, and the University of Aveiro (UA) joined in a project â€" "bathroom for everyone" â€" to make bathrooms more inclusive. The project is still part of the platform "Design Includes You".

The initiative focuses on the problem of daily use of the bathroom for users with special needs, such as the elderly, children and people with reduced mobility, whether temporary or definitive. Through inclusive design, the Oli and the AU intend to find solutions that increase the safety and well-being of these users, in domestic environment, public or in specific facilities, such as geriatric and hospital, increasing the quality of the exercise of active citizenship ", refers to the Oli in a statement.

According to the Director of marketing for Oli, Mariza Garcia, the project aims to "draw attention to the extension of the field of intervention of design in addition to the reduced scope of mere Profiler new differentiated objects".

The project is expected to be ready in early January of 2014, when they will be publicly presented three proposals selected.

In July, also within the study of health access, the Oli has concluded a cooperation protocol with the Gaia vocational rehabilitation Centre and the Design Studio of the Faculdade de Engenharia da Universidade do Porto.

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