Hawaii: the endangered species capital of the world

Hawaii accounts for less than 0.2% of the territory of the United States, but more than 25% of the country's most endangered species are endemic to the archipelago â€" what is worth the title of "endangered species capital of the world".

The preservation of native forests is critical to support these species but, unfortunately, invasive species are a major threat in the region. As Josh Serrano explains in the Unreal blog Hawaii, "not all plants brought by humans are invasive, but those that are tend to grow quickly, very quickly, and produce many seeds, which allow them to invade native forests over a short period of time".

"Native forests ensures the control of erosion," explains Serrano. They also provide habitat for native species, cultural resources, clean air and water. " In other words, the preservation of native forests and the protection of endemic species should be a priority.

See the five endangered species that can only be found in Hawaii (click on the photo to find out the name of the species).

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New portable solar charger for mobile phone's coming soon to Europe

The mobile solar charging is becoming increasingly popular â€" what it was a few years ago a niche market, is now a very wide range of chargers for portable computers, for phones, for campers and many more. Now there is a new and interesting solar charger, this very small and modular.

The ClicLite can even function as key ring, having only 4 x 4 cm. The device features a mono crystalline solar panel, but has a modular design that allows you to add other similar panels, or Cliccs, in order to generate even more clean energy.

To use ClicLite, simply put the modular panel in contact with sunlight and click a button. If the appliance is equipped with a Panel, the internal 500 mAh lithium-polymer reaches full charge in 10:0. Enclosing two additional Cliccs, the charging time is reduced by up to three hours. With a total of six Cliccs stuck to each other, the battery is loaded at a time.

There is also the possibility to load from a computer using a USB cable, in two hours. A small green light illuminates in sign that is charging-when the battery is full, the charger can then be connected easily to a smartphone.

According to TreeHugger, the battery completely full lets you load an iPhone unloaded up to 20%, which is impressive, especially considering its small size and its extreme portability.

The ClicLite also features a LED reflector with three brightness settings. In the brightest setting, the light will operate for a full battery or 3:0 pm, with the lowest brightness, up to 600 hours.

The magazine is on sale in Germany for about €36 ($ 108) unit, with each additional costs € 7 Clicc ($ 21) and a set of three costs €19,50 (£ 59). Soon, will go on sale in the rest of Europe.

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First solar in Europe boat navigates in Alvor, Algarve (with video)

Remember the truckers ' strike of 2008, in Portugal, and as many of the essentials, with the fuel, have been unavailable for several days? This was one of the reasons that led Louis Lemos and his wife to send build the first solar boat in Europe. In Alvor, Algarve.

"We had to build this craft because we wanted something different, more economical. At the time there was a lorry drivers ' strike, there was no fuel, and we thought something different soon, we shouldn't be dependent on [anyone], "explained to the green economy Luís Lourenço.

Called appropriately Alvor Flower Sun, this is the first electric boat powered by the Sun and built in Europe. The vessel has 15 and 12 solar panels, batteries being energetically self-sufficient. The boat does not pollute and original batteries will only be changed in a few years.

The Flower Sun leverages all rays of Sun, even on days where he doesn't show up. "It is a craft like any other, but solar-powered. The batteries have enough power to work the whole day, "explains Luís Lourenço.

The boat has a capacity of 14 people and does not use normal fuels. The route is silent, allowing customers to make the most of the natural resources of the Algarve.

See the episode 123 of the green economy.

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USA: is renewable energy cheaper than coal

A new study advances that, in the United States, the wind farms are less expensive than new coal plants and cost the same, if not less, than the new natural gas plants. If you look at the costs of heating and for the health problems caused by emissions of sulphur dioxide and carbon, the numbers quickly begin to fall in favor of renewable energy.

According to Inhabitat, the report examines the Social cost of carbon (SCC) â€" the metric is currently used by the u.s. Government and assesses the damage that a tonne of CO2 emitted today have and will have in the us.

Even the most conservative of the CMS calculations show that it's cheaper to build a new wind farm than a new coal-fired power plant â€" including coal with carbon capture and storage, whenever possible. The cost of natural gas-fired plants are significantly smaller than those of coal, but continue to be located adjacent to or above the cost of wind farms.

"The results of the study show that our electric power system, which generates 40% of the total carbon dioxide pollution in the country, is expensive," he said in a press release the study's author, Laurie t. Johnson, Chief Economist of the National Resources Defense Council. "The transition to cleaner energy will not only help protect us and our children and grandchildren of climate change, is also a good economy."

Photo: under Creative Commons license

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Portuguese launch transportation company of medicines based on reuse

Smart & Cold is Portuguese and the first company in Europe to undertake the re-use of isothermal systems for transporting medicines in controlled temperature â€" a cheap and ecological solution. As many of the projects that you bring, comes at the hands of two Portuguese entrepreneurs-Filipe Araújo, 36 years, and Fernando Marques, 47 years.

Philip, with a background in industrial engineering, and Fernando, a degree in pharmaceutical sciences, have come together to respond to the high costs and lack of quality in the transport of temperature-sensitive products, namely between 2ºc and 8ºc. "for the transport of this type of medications â€" normally vaccines and cancer drugs and Biologics-we had two options: buying boxes already validated with a fairly high cost or getting styrofoam boxes and we put ice accumulators to do 'cold ', "explains Green Savers Philip, who in 2011 exercised functions on a large pharmaceutical logistics operator.

The first option is clearly expensive and the second makes uncertain the State in which the products arrive the end point of the chain â€" hospitals, clinics, regional health administrations, pharmacies and stockists. In addition, explains Philip, all the boxes after used are in possession of the final customer, following so into the trash and wasting all its components â€" "almost always in optimum conditions of reuse". Is an option that involves great environmental and economic costs.

Philip started in 2011 to study the possibility of creating a closed-loop transportation that would allow the reuse of these boxes and, in may 2012, founded the Smart & Cold. Shortly thereafter, Fernando joined the project.

The service provided by the company allows a quality improvement in the transportation of products, a smaller price. To this end, the Smart & Cold opts for reuse of your vacuum systems. The boxes are delivered to customers, according to your usage profile, and they use them in their deliveries of medicines. After the delivery is complete, the boxes are readily collected and forwarded to the rewrapping Centre of the company. There, boxes and accumulators are sanitized and ready for new uses. "Currently we have the pharmaceutical industry three sizes of boxes-four, 15 and 40 litres â€" all of them validated for 48 hours," explains Philip.

The founder of the project also States that, by preventing the production and destruction of styrofoam boxes amassed, the company provides annual savings of 56.926 tonnes of CO2 emissions.

Smart & Cold is currently working with three of the largest logistics operators in the health area â€" customers that distribute all over the country. The plans for the future include the export of the concept, including African countries, such as Angola and Mozambique, "which feature plenty of problems in the distribution of medicines in positive cold".

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Van is converted into familiar ecological housing

The Salman, built by Phil Duloy, is a House on wheels, sustainable and energetically efficient, coated with cedar wood. Duloy felt inspired after seeing a truck converted â€" the result is a familiar housing, with seating for three people, which is as green as attractive.

Phil has a stepfather of Lebanon, so that the Salman pays tribute to your family heirloom. Its name derives from an Arabic word which means "little piece of heaven" and the Cedar of the work abroad is the national symbol of Lebanon. Since moving to the United States to England, for 15 years, Phil has sought to create a comfortable accommodation for your bride-and now also his newborn son.

The exterior of the housing, built by hand by Dan McMahon, consists of Cedar panels with ash and oak. The roof and sides are equipped with a series of Windows that allow natural light. The room can accommodate a double bed, two wardrobes, a storage room and a set of reading lamps.

The main cabin is separated by sliding doors â€" Japanese houses a bathroom with shower and a fully equipped kitchen. There are still two doors with exterior access, a salamander and a seating area with a capacity for eight people around a table. This table can also be converted into a double bed for guests.

The Salman is powered by solar batteries and radiators combined with ample insulation to keep the interior of the vehicle warm and comfortable. All lighting is LED and hot and cold running water, is powered by tanks of 200 litres of fresh water and residuals.

According to Inhabitat, this magnificent House-truck can be seen floating around United Kingdom, mainly in the vicinity of Cornwall.

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Sesimbra: swimming with sharks to preserve the Portuguese sea (with video)

Most of the Portuguese is unaware of this fact, but it is possible to swim with sharks, in the national coast, and help promote biodiversity and preserve the Portuguese sea. The initiative is led by the company Neptune, founded by life and maritime enthusiasts that gives customers the possibility to stroll

"Portugal is a paradise for those who love sharks. We have dozens of species, including the anequins, the ", hammers, basking sharks, whale sharks and, occasionally, white sharks," explained to the green economy, the founder of Neptune, João Correia.

On a typical day, can attract three or four sharks off the coast of Sesimbra, according to officials of Neptune. According to Walter Canelas, skipper and champion of bottom fishing, the Portuguese coast sharks "are not very aggressive".

An hour away from the coast, diving to the surface allows you to be within an armful of a shark. But the important comes later: the shark is marked on the fin, being made the record the size and features, location and conditions under which it was returned to the sea. Then, this data is sent to a global research network.

"It's much more profitable to work with sharks alive than be killing them to sell the meat for a few cents", concludes João Correia.

See the episode 122 of the green economy.

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