Golden Lion Tamarin. Leontopithecus rosalia , sometimes called Golden Lion Marmoset are an endangered new world primate. In the 1800s they had a fairly large population along the Atlantic coast of Brazil. They strongly prefer primary lowland tropical forest where they eat nectar , insects, fruit and small vertebrates. Much of their territory has been cleared by logging. They usually live in groups averaging six individuals. There is usually one breeding adult. The males are the primary care givers, but offspring are handed off to mom for nursing. National Geographic has some very good video here.
Aviat Networks Relocates Headquarters Functions to Silicon Valley – the news here is the lengths the company went to build green,
* Natural lighting – Installation of 144 new solar panels on the roof will provide 20% of the building’s lighting requirement. Additionally, glass panels have been incorporated along the top of the workstations to leverage the natural light streaming in from numerous large windows throughout the building. LED lights will be used to illuminate entrances at night.
* Energy efficiency – The company signed a contract with the city of Santa Clara to use 100% carbon-free energy (solar and wind); developed a low-energy server room; and added a new heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) unit which will allow a 20% reduction in energy through the use of a building management system for temperature control.
* Sustainable materials – The lobby desk is made of recycled paper, compressed into a hard surface. More than 80% of the paper used within the building will be recycled as well.
* Water-reduction – The bathrooms include water-efficient fixtures, toilets and sinks, and waterless urinals, which reduce water use by 40% compared to standard fixtures. Recycled water was used for landscaping to achieve greater efficiency and decrease water consumption.
* Green commuting – Aviat Networks will implement a number of internal programs to educate employees on environmental efficiency in the workplace, and encourage the use of public transportation including bike storage, showers and changing rooms that will decrease car-based commuting.
The one caveat I have about projects like this is the existence of so much office space already available and so much dilapidated buildings that could be rehabilitated, rather than breaking new ground. It seems to be the case in Silicon Valley ( Santa Clara valley actually) Aviat had no other choice. The building was already built, but they renovated it.
This headline doesn’t sound very complimentary, but is just part of Ford’s plan to use parts in multiple vehicles. Ford’s Plan to Hedge on Hybrids
Ford’s strategy will allow it to easily switch between making conventional gas-powered cars and a range of other, different designs: diesel-powered cars, hybrids, plug-in hybrids, and electric vehicles. Rather than making a distinct plug-in hybrid electric vehicle model, as General Motors is doing with the Volt, which it will start selling at the end of this year, Ford plans to make a variety of electric propulsion options available on all of its top-selling cars worldwide.
Since GM is well invested in the new Volt this might be something they could learn from as far as expanding that platform to say a cross-over vehicle or small truck meant for deliveries.
Some good news for Mississippi who had been hard hit by the BP Gulf spill – Toyota Resumes Mississippi Plant Plan to Boost Corolla Supply. The Prius could also conceivably be built there – that was the original plan – if sales pick up.
How to be ‘Fast, Fresh, and Green’ in the kitchen [book review]
This reminds me of a movie where a sleazy lawyer handed out cards at a funeral – Right-wing harmony: BP escrow account is “a slush fund”
Right-wing media figures have responded to the decision by BP and the Obama administration to establish an escrow account funded by BP to pay claims arising from the Gulf oil spill by calling the account a “slush fund.” Conservative commentators have habitually labeled progressive initiatives “a slush fund.”
Nothing shows classy behavior like inventing conspiracy theories to take political advantage of a terrible tragedy.
tangledwing 