Sometimes the most simple things can be the key to the most amazing of revelations and can go a long way in energy conservation, ultimately benefiting the planet. A group of researchers from Ricardo-an automotive engineering firm in West Sussex, UK-believe that we are driving our hybrid cars like regular gas-guzzlers.

The main culprit is our air conditioner which stops whenever our car stops in the economy-mode. To get that AC back running, the drivers normally turn off the economy mode thereby switching to the petrol mode which means that the fuel-efficiency factor gets totally ignored.

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Shiso Pepsi in Japan

The Coca Cola, Pepsi war is nothing new but, this time it brings a smile to our face for the reason is very ‘green’.  Coca  Cola has launched a new drink-green tea Coke- to counter the stiff competition Coke faces from non-carbonated drinks in Japan. Also dubbed the Coca-Cola plus Catechin, this new drink contains tea antioxidants called catechins and leaves a slight green tea taste upon consumption.

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Japan’s supermodel Moe Oshikiri can be seen in this photo (center). Next to her is former major league baseball player Tsuyoshi Shinjo. The two, along with a whole bunch of other folk took part in a marathon (cough, cough) event at Tokyo Midtown on Monday morning.

The event was part of mobile carrier KDDI au’s “Green Road Project.”

A real runner, Olympic marathon silver medalist Yuko Arimori, also attended the event. Altogether there were some 50 runners who participated.

KDDI (Japan’s International Telephone Company) launched the project through which au users can donate 1 yen for each 1 kilometer they walk or run, after downloading the company’s online service “au Smart Sports Run&Walk.”

The money raised will buy seeds of bitter gourd and morning glory to distribute for free at au shops. All of this is part of KDDI’s greening project. So far, KDDI says that 2.7 million yen ($30K) has been raised since the project’s launch in February.

I remember when I introduced the idea of walking/running for pledges some 20 years ago. All, I got were blank stares. We eventually raised $100K over the years which we sent off to southeast Asia.

Glad to see a major company in Japan is doing something similar.

Via: JapanToday

Japanese stars are into the Green spirit.

Olympic marathon silver medalist Yuko Arimori is one.

Former major league baseball player Tsuyoshi Shinjo is another.

And, model Yuri Ebihara, also known as “Ebi-chan” is the third (left to right.)

The three posed for the press during a promotional event for a mobile phone carrier KDDI au.

KDDI in Tokyo launched its “Green Road Project.” au users can donate 1 yen for each 1 kilometer they walk or run AFTER downloading the company’s online service “au Smart Sports Run&Walk.”

The money raised will go towards buying seeds of bitter gourd and morning glory. Those seeds will be distributeed for free at au shops to promote KDDI’s greening project.

Ebi-chan gushed: “It is so cool and I like men who give it their all when they try something.”

Where do I sign up?

If you really want to get rid of plastic from your kitchen and your home, then there are quite a few modern alternatives available that will help you get started on your green path. The fact that many stylish modern utensils or cookware lying around your home are full of BPA, phthalates, PVC, lead and melamine which means that you are far away from going the eco-friendly way. But here is a simple and stylish alternative, especially for those dealing with kids around the home.

If you cannot switch over to porcelain or glass because the little devils would wreck them in no time, then the BPA Free Fedding Set from Thinkbaby is a very viable alternative. This complete set includes a cup, two bowls, a bento box and utensils and all that for $39.99. Yes, you will get cheaper deals, but the quality of those plastic replicas will be cheap as well. Made out of stainless steel on the interior and polypropylene heat resistant coating on the exterior, this is a fine balance between durability and green kitchenware.

Hitachi Lighting Ltd. in April has plans to mass produce high-efficiency fluorescent lights which use up to 50% less power than present fluorescent bulbs.

The Hitachi Ltd. group company has invested Y 1 billion ($10 million) to install production equipment at its plant in Ome, Tokyo. The company has plans to release some 10 models this fiscal year.

Hitachi’s high-efficiency lights will last 20,000 hours, almost two times that of existing products.

Hitachi will target convenience stores, factories and large commercial facilities.

It’s always about the money.

The company expects the market for environmentally friendly lighting to grow because of fiscal 2009 revisions to the energy conservation laws.

Hitachi Lighting with its high-efficiency lighting business is going head-to-head against many companies in the lighting industry that are putting therir efforts into LED lighting. Hitachi thinks its option is the more practical one.

Tokyo plans to begin a large-scale trial program to capture and store carbon dioxide this year. The goal -reduce emissions of global warming gases.

The technology can capture CO2 emitted from coal power stations and other such facilities, then store the greenhouse gas under the sea or ground.

After that – sell the technology by 2020.

Guidelines on capture and store will be drawn up by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry by April guidelines. After that rules on:

1.  the transportation of captured CO2,

2.  geographical formations that are suitable for CO2 storage,

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King Bauduin Base was closed some forty years ago.

On Feb. 15th Belgium inaugurated Princess Elisabeth Base - a scientific research station that combines high-end technologies and a total respect for the environment.

The base is a zero-emission station. It was built entirely during the International Polar Year, which was, well, um, I don’t know when it was. How come these International Years happen and nobody knows?

Still, kudos to Belgium for setting up shop at the bottom of the world and doing it with minimum harm now and in the future to the environment.

Unless a product is nicely wrapped up or advertised like hell, it’s really hard for people to choose it over another one. Same goes for eco-friendly products that are not getting enough promotion these days. But famous shampoo company, Pantene, is trying to do something different. They’ve got beautiful Padma Lakshmi as “face” for their new Pantene Pro-V Nature Fusion line and count on getting people jealous on her amazing curls.

Featuring several plant-based ingredients – Cassia plant that makes it shiny and soft, bamboo, avocado. ginger, aloe vera and calendula, the new line will sell for $3.99 for the shampoos and conditioners, and just $5.99 for the smoothing crème. Would you try it? (the new Pantene line, that is …)

There’s a company in China that makes eco-coffins, eco-friendly coffins, um…okay, you tell me what I should call them.

The company boasts caskets woven from wicket willow, bamboo, seagrass and corn skin. They have been “natural willow caskets, woven bamboo coffins, corn skin coffins, sea grass coffins or biodegradable coffins and eco-coffins, wicker urns, wicker pet coffin casket, wicker sofa, pet urns, wooden pet casket and pet bed, and children’s sizes.

Who’d a thunk there were so many ways to rest in eternity, eh?

The company has been making these coffins for some 15 years in “line with our company’s strong green beliefs.”