T-Shirts
Posted on February 9, 2008
Filed Under Qype Reviews | 3 Comments
We are still looking for eco-friendly t-shirts.
The story so far:
One of the best give aways to the Qype community are our t-shirts (the green ones).
We have checked with several suppliers, with different results:
- One supplier who was recommended to us by our users proved to not really do wholesale. Costs were four times too high.
- One supplier can currently deliver only black or white. No problem. But then the quality of the fabric proved to be too light. We don’t want to give people t-shirts they can’t wear.
So we are still scanning the market.
We start offsetting our flights
Posted on February 9, 2008
Filed Under Travel, Sustainable? | Leave a Comment
It still feels strange to me to pay someone for some kind of offsetting scheme. Reminds me of medieval times (does anyone know how to say “Ablass” in english?)
I have been relatively successful in reducing the number of flights during the past months, but by far not enough.
But as the carbon emissions of a return flight HAM-LHR can appearantly be offset for less than 5 Euro, we have decided to do it as well. Was one more click on the BA homepage. Did not hurt.
But I still believe that to reduce is better than to offset.
Tags: flyless
Airmiles…
Posted on February 4, 2008
Filed Under Sustainable? | 2 Comments
I found this on a bottle of Pret Orange Juice.
In case you can’t see the image: ‘We believe air freighting fruit and veg is completely over the top. It’s unnecessary and with the exception of fresh basil leaves, we don’t do it.’ - I hope this attitude catches on.
Lufthansa’s disappointing approach…
Posted on January 26, 2008
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At last weeks DLD08 conference in Munich, Thiery Antinory from Lufthansa had a 5 minute session. Contents: A very vague statement that Lufthansa is doing their part to reduce carbon emissions. The only precise statements where: He stressed to the present executives that Lufthansa is the only major airline to offer executive jet service to more than 1000 airports. Finally he selected the best suggestion from the DLD07, which was: “Let me drive in my car to the gate”.
Both extremely disappointing for me.
He could have said: Lufthansa is trying to limit carbon emissions by introducing more turboprop planes. Or that Lufthansa was rethinking the via the hub and spoke system which forces everyone to switch planes at Munich and Frankfurt and therefore to have to ineffecient climb phases for each connection. In that later respect, many low cost carriers offer more convenient and energy efficient connections.
Google’s green image.
Posted on November 29, 2007
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I like Google. Most of the time.
But I really don’t understand most press articles about Google. Take a look at today’s article in FTD and many newspapers or blogs. Everyone is upbeat about Google’s initiatives to develop alternative energy sources. I think this is great. But:
1. Why not publish the energy consumption of Google’s server farms in the first place? Why not start a discussion about all the website’s energy consumption (including ours)?
2. What do you need a Boing 767 for? Page and Brin are investors in the Tesla electric car. Which is good. They have Mr. Climate Change Al Gore on to their advisory board. Also nice. But, they also own a Boeing 767. Which gets favourably mentioned in the FTD because of their great relationship with Nasa. What on earth do you need a 280 ton private jet for? I can understand the need for a business jet. You need to have a way to get around your empire. And I hate waiting in line for the security checks too. But a 767? The only reason I can see is the good old “mine is bigger than yours” Of course they have to be outdone by the arab sheikh who just has ordered his A 380.
3. And, most disturbing for me: Why is space travel one of the hobbies of ultra hip web entrepreneurs such as Esther Dyson (I really like you Esther, but…), Jeff Bezos and also Larry Page and Sergei Brin? Space travel to me is simply the maximum amount of carbon dioxide a single person can possibly produce.
It seems like the ultimate status symbols today are still linked to the ultimate in waste of energy or maximum pollution.
Qype: Mayfair Audi in London
Posted on November 23, 2007
Filed Under Cars | Leave a Comment
Whenever I am at Piccadilly, I feel more or less like a tourist. Being German, I can’t stop looking at the marvelous display of the latest Audi models in this flagship store.
As “white” is en vogue this year, every car on display is currently white.
Interesting are the energy efficiency ratings. I did not know there is even a “G” rating like the one for the R8. I think the best on display was an “F” for the 3 litre diesel engine…
Check out my review of Mayfair Audi - I am wahlhamburger - on Qype
The Source! - The original UN Global Environment Outlook
Posted on October 26, 2007
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Yesterday, on October 25, 2007, the UN has published GEO4, the Global Environment Outlook. We are all constantly bombarded with snippets of information. If you do not know which numbers to trust any more, you may want to go directly to the source. Althought the reports has 550 pages, there is an easy to digest “decision makers summary“. We are all decision makers.
Top 10 of environmental blogs…
Posted on October 26, 2007
Filed Under Sustainable? | 1 Comment
has been compiled by Klaus Eck, I encourage you having a look.
Some comments:
I do like treehugger a lot. Pleases the eye as well. Great structure: Get Informed, Interact, Take action.
I recommend having a look at EcoGeek. Despite it’s name, you will be presented with a regular stream of nice posts.
For a perspective from New York, it is worth looking at Noimpactman.
My personal favourite, not on Klaus’ List, is still: ethicalliving. This blog from the people at the Guardian newspaper is definitely worth subscribing to.
Conferences.
Posted on October 10, 2007
Filed Under Sustainable? | 2 Comments
Just received a nasty comment (anonymous) about unnecessary air travel to conferences. This exactly the point. I have not yet been to great conferences like reboot, SIME, leWeb, Picnic. But the few successful conferences I have attended just demonstrate the point that you can not replicate the experience via video conferencing. In fact, I need to attend more conferences. Meeting great people is too important.
As I have said before in this blog: I do not drive an SUV, we are not using much energy at home. But I will stop feeling guilty about travelling to meet great people.
I did it.
Posted on October 9, 2007
Filed Under Sustainable? | Leave a Comment
Finally. It hast taken me longer than I wanted. And I just read today that only 2% of all German households are using electric energy from renewables. We will be one of them now.
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"I never had a particularly green attitude. I just think that there are a couple of things we need to change." More about me -
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